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sanguine-tenshi · 3 years

Text

I just finished Inazuma and I have words

TL;DR: Hate the story, mixed on characters, love the design and tired of being treated like a 4-year-old with a learning disability.

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT

Let’s start with what I like.

Inazuma is absolutely beautiful. I’ll admit Inazuma hits a lot of aesthetic points for me. All the islands are different enough to feel unique but they still look like they are a part of the same land. There are a lot of secrets to discover through just exploring. Each island has a world quest to help it (make it less hostile towards you) so it very much feels like you are saving Inazuma from itself.

The puzzles are alright.

I like the cubes that rotate, I always put in the effort to figure them out properly.

Hate the ones that don’t rotate, they just aren’t engaging enough for me, so I just hit them at random and hope for the best.

The glowing floor tiles were fun, once you actually realized what they wanted you to do. A little bit too easy if I’m honest.

The electro compass isn’t really much of a puzzle, more of a fetch the nearest electrograna quest.

Those little pillars that require an electro connection are kinda boring to me, again not much of a puzzle, the hardest part is finding both pillars.

I love the new electro seelie, kinda hard to follow the jittery thing in certain parts but they make a nice contrast to the regular seelies.

I’m very much mixed on characters.

Yoimiya is adorable. She is so bright and bubbly. What little game play we had with her was fun and I love her over the top style of fighting. Kinda disappointed she’s another pyro archer but I do admit it fits her character well. It was also wonderful seeing her just settle down and be quiet, just be a part of that moment that obviously meant a lot to her. It’s always nice to see that bubbly, energetic character have that one quiet thing, ya know. Kinda funny it’s fireworks, of all things, for her.

Gorou I like, from what little we’ve seen of him. My man killed a dude with his thighs so I’m down. I do find it kinda ridiculous that a resistance general has his whole damn belly exposed. There is also something about his voice that just does not fit. I cannot for the life of me put my finger on what exactly it is. Could be the tone itself, could be just voice acting. It sort of feels like the VA is trying to sound deeper than he actually does.

Sangonomiya Kokomi, mixed. I like her design, she looks like some sort of mystical priestess. Again something about the voice is jarring. I expected her to sound sort of airy, like she isn’t 100% present, like she’s seeing something we can’t. TBH she reminds me of Luna from HP for some reason.

Yae Miko, I was interested because of her design. She sounds very arrogant and up her own ass, which would have been fine...if she hadn’t given us that god-awful line. “...I have high hopes for you, child. Don’t disappoint me.” Dear lord I wanted to punt her off the mountain. Or fucking what! Also she’s some bigshot priestess of the Sacred Sakura and yet she can’t do her damn job properly. Why couldn’t her arrogant ass come down from her high perch and cleanse the stupid roots? Why did the traveler have to do that shit?

Baal looks dead inside. Booba sword is overrated, get a life. I want a remach! And no cutscene shenanigans this time!

Kujou Sara seems like one of those ‘honor above all else’ characters. Those are either hit or miss with me. You have my attention for now. Also what are those shoes woman?! I’d rather you wear those leg-killing, needle point stilettoes instead of those Wish gag shoes. How in the name of all that is holy can you run in those?!

Thoma, I like him. At first I thought we were gonna get another Childe incident, but Thoma is too much of a innocent puppy to pull anything that horrible. To me he fits a fox a lot better than Childe does. Childe is a dingo and I stand behind that.

Kamisato Ayaka...hate her. At first I was neutral on her. Nothing about her design really spoke to me, but I was willing to wait and see. But then miHoYo started to violently push her friendship at us. We are totally friends now, this is the first time you see my face, but we are so totally friends now. And during her story quest everyone was like “Ah, you are so good Ayaka. You are so nice Ayaka. You are so perfect Ayaka. We all love you so much Ayaka. And oh, how could a mere merchant like myself...” Ew, go away. This is the first time I’m actively not pulling on a character banner. Normally I pull even if I’m not particularly interested in a character, because you never know how good their gameplay is until you take them out in the map. But I think I’ll be skipping this one. No thanks.

And now, the worst part, the story.

We’ve been hearing about the situation in Inazuma for a long time. There has been also a lot of talk about how hard it is to get there. About the wall of thunderclouds that surround the islands. So to have it cut to black and then voila Inazuma, feel just so cheap.

I was expecting something. An animation. A struggle. A quest. A minigame. At least show us the horrible weather! Something! Anything!

Hell if they wanted to be assholes about it they could have made it so that if the player fails at this point the ship is damaged, you return to Liyue and have to wait until tomorrow for the ship to be repaired. No Inazuma for today. That sure as hell would have raised the stakes.

The next complaint I have is with Yurika, the 2 milion mora processing fee girl. Later on Thoma mentions that the agency people see the fees as easy money, so her attitude doesn’t make much sense. After all someone like her would want to extract as much money as she can, but you still want the people to be able to pay that.

So it would make more sense to me if she was overly friendly and asked way too many questions. She’d need to get a much information as she can and after all the previous hostility people would be very open with her. So she’d be able to quickly find out why someone is here, what they are selling and roughly how much money they’d be able to pay. A merchant selling expensive silk would have more many than a regular ore merchant. So she’d be able to extract as much money as she could.

“I know this is a lot of money, especially for something so simple, but there is nothing I can do about it. I’m so very sorry.” And people wouldn’t say anything bad to her because she’s the first friendly face they see in Inazuma.

The stealth mission was just god-awful and I hope we never have to do that nonsense again.

Getting off of Ritou was a bit janky at the end, Chisato should have had a better reason for coming along. But I’m honestly just glad we didn’t get out the usual way...getting stuffed in a crate and smuggled out.

As a side note, I’m getting really tired of characters overexplaining things to me, especially Paimon. Dear lord, not everything has to be said, you can leave me to come to my own conclusions and solutions. Just please, who cares if a few player struggle for a bit, you don’t have to hold my hand through the whole thing.

Ayaka’s three were...ugh. It was basic emotional manipulation. Oh no this guy forgot about the love of his life and he’s been waiting for decades. And oh how sad this guy was so good and he helped these people so much but now he can’t remember. And oh the tragedy this guy forgot his life goal and is now hunted by the demons of the past. Oh the humanity!

And it did not work. Know why? Because I have no emotional investment in any of these people, in this land. What is happening to the vision bearers in Inazuma is tragic, true, but that doesn’t make me want to overthrow the government. I don’t live here. I just got here. I wanna ask a question or two and then move on. None of this concerns me.

I was so happy when the traveler just flat out refused to start a revolution. And then we had to go and meet some people and immediately I knew this was going to be some oh noes the tragedy moments and then we would agree to help them.

It’s so forced.

Wanna know what would have been better?

Just as we are leaving the Kamisato estate Thoma catches up with us. And he tells us he gets it. We are an outsider and this doesn’t concern us. He was hopeful but he expected the denial. We shouldn’t hold it against Ayaka.

He joins us as a guide because he knows of the people we have to meet.

And so as we help these three we also get to know Thoma. We find out he was an outsider too. He got in just before the worst of it started and then he was stuck in Inazuma. He lost someone to the Vision Hunt. They slowly lost their mind after loosing their vision, their ambition too closely tied to their personality to continue without it (what is happening to Domon hits a little too close to home and he has to walk away, this is where we hear the story of the one he lost). And the same would have happened to him if the Kamisatos hadn't taken him in. He owes them his vision, his sanity and his life.

So this rebellion is personal for him.

At the end of the three wishes the atmosphere is somber. We tell him we understand why Ayaka fights, why he fights. We know that this is all wrong, that it should be stopped...but not by us. We came here to get a lead on our brother. And rebellion isn’t an overnight affaire and we can’t loose so much time in Inazuma.

And yeah, he expected as much. He just asks that we let Ayaka down gently. It’d be a shame if someone as idealistic and hopeful as her lost their spark.

And so we are gentle but firm with Ayaka. She looks like she wants to argue with us but Thoma shakes his head at her. So she sighs and tells us that a promise is a promise. We should come to the Komore Teahouse in a few days and she’ll have a plan for us to meet with the Shogun.

Now we can still have a character story quest with Yoimiya and we can still somehow get involved with helping Master Masakatsu, but it’s through Yoimiya instead of Ayaka.

And instead of a character story quest with Ayaka we have one with Thoma. Hell, give him a whole damn hangout event even.

You can probably guess why I’m pushing the friendship with Thoma so much.

Because. He. Gets. Kidnapped. For. The. 100th. Vision. Ceremony.

And that would have been the perfect emotional in to get us involved in the rebellion. After all we just saw what happens to people who have their visions taken away and we are not letting that happen to Thoma, someone we just got close to.

So Baal makes it personal for us as well.

I have a few more minor complaints.

Aoi is stupid for asking for compensation after she tells us everything we needed to know because, ya know, we could have just walked away. We should have.

The whole stupid misunderstanding about the value Kurosawa’s sword holds. Kinda obvious he meant emotional value instead of monetary.

The suspicious amount of visionless NPCs and by that I mean this is the first time we have NPCs with vision. This wouldn’t have been a problem if we’ve seen NPCs with visions in Mond and Liyue.

The whole rebellion camp bit feels incredibly rushed. We just sort of lollygag over there and then there is a fight (against Sara and her stupid shoes).

Don’t make us fight Baal just to force us to lose. It would have been better if we were forced to retreat, because Thoma was injured, because there are too many soldiers for us to handle on our own. Hell, you can have a funny scene where we straight up jump off a cliff with Thoma clinging onto us and screaming bloody murder until he realizes we are slowly gliding away and he’s not about to plummet to his death.

The Sakura cleansing quest should have been voice acted.

The Mirror Maiden and Pyro Agent are totally on a date, I will not be told otherwise.

#genshin impact #inazuma #genshin inazuma #genshin 2.0 #Thoughts #opinion #yoimiya #gorou #sangonomiya kokomi #yae miko #baal #kujou sara #thoma #kamisato ayaka

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g-on-ef · 3 years

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Blitz decides to take up Strikers offer because frankly, he’s confused. For the first time, someone has gave him respect, and treated him like an equal. Is this what life could be like for him? He can feel the chemistry between himself and Striker, it’s different than the transactional fucks with Stolas.

He leaves a note for M and M and Loona, explaining everything, that he’ll be gone for a while, because he has things he has to work out. Honestly, Blitz thinks they won’t even miss him.

Blitz leaves with Striker that night, with Strikers tail curled round Blitz’s hip.

A/N: saw an opportunity to turn this into a mini fic and I did ^^ characters might be slight oc

Blazing red eyes met emerald green ones.

It was so tempting to say yes to give in to Strikers words and join him and his crusade.

His words screaming in his head, drowning out every other thought and reason as to why he shouldn't agree to Strikers plan.

But why not? After all Striker was right Stolas saw him as a plaything and treated him like he was lower than the Prince.

Blitz would never admit it but Stolas's words cut him deep.

Reminding him how he's only an imp, always sexualizing him, talking down on him, making him feel like all he's good for is a good fuck.

Not to mention how that while he agree to be his bodyguard he realized what a fool he was, Stolas could have easily defended himself and his daughter and yet he invited him and his employees and all that it got them was Blitz being reminded of the awful time he spend there, Moxxie and Millie getting hurt and that cheap ass robo clown reminding him yet again how everyone feels about him.

But if agree to join him ... What would happen to Moxxie and Millie ??? His precious Loony ??? He doubts that Striker would let them join them, what will he do without them?

"Well Blitz?"

Blitz felt like he was drowning in his thoughts and Strikers voice was able to pull him out from the very depts of his mind.

"What's your answer?" His tail wrapped itself around Blitz's waist and pulled him closer to Strikers body.

Blitz placed his hands on Striker's chest, their eyes never leaving each other.

However Striker placed his hands down and backed away a little leaving enough room for Blitz to breath and not feel like he was being corner into giving the answer Striker wants to hear.

His tail however remain wrapped around his waist.

Blitz looked away as his hand began to pet Striker's tail the cowboy began to purr making Blitz smile a little, his smile however fell as he thought about the situation they are in.

"I...I don't know," there he said it, he wasn't sure if he should agree to this or not. While the idea was tempting he wasn't sure if he could do it, if he was the one to help Striker to fight along side with him. Sure they tied in the games but does that even mean anything? Is he qualify to stand beside Striker.

After all Blitz maybe a good assassin but he wasn't that good.

Than again his insecurities sure were screaming loudly today reminding him that he'll never be good enough.

He felt a gloved hand under his chin, lifting his head, making him look Striker in the eyes.

"What do you mean?" His voice was soft, not annoyed or angry nor demanding but soft as if he was going at Blitzs pace.

Blitz gulped. This was another thing about Striker that Blitz admire.

The patience he had with him.

Blitz wasn't a fool he knew he could be a bit to much but the short time he and Striker spent together Striker showed him he genuinely liked Blitz and his company.

Last night definitely proved how much Striker loved Blitzs company.

Shaking his thoughts from straying he focus on the question he asked.

"I can't abandon M&M or Loony they're my family,"

H expected him to say something rude about them, find some way to manipulate him into turning his back against his employees.

Striker looked at Blitz and could see how vulnerable he was being, how sacred he was of something awful happening to him after saying no. Not only that but he could see his insecurities clear as day.

They were slowly rising up from whatever cage Blitz had them locked in, could see how they were giving him doubts reminding him of all the lies that everyone has ever told him until they became his version of the truth.

He can't help but wonder exactly what Goiesha and others before that pompous asshole did to him to make him scared to say no. Or feel like he wasn't good enough. Striker vow to hunt them all and kill them.

Striker pulled Blitz closer to him wrapping his hands around Blitz he hugged the smaller imp.

He could feel Blitz body freezing and the contact and not knowing what to do.

Striker ignored that and instead kissed the top of his head.

"I hate being being a weak ass bitch but for you I'll be one Blitz, if you want a better life for them then getting rid of Goiesha and the rest of the overlords is our best bet, I may fuck around wit Moxxie but even I can see how much you care for him and Mildred. Not to mention how much you love your daughter. I won't force you to say yes but think about it okay?"

He tighten his arms around him.

"You have so much untapped potential, don't let fucktards like Goeshia make you think otherwise.

He pulled back from Blitz his tail gave him one last squeeze before uncoiling itself from his body he gave Blitz one last smile before giving him a piece of paper.

"my number if and when you're ready to join me,"

Striker left him alone before he was out of the room. Leaving Blitz alone with his thoughts.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Blitz packed his things away Striker was gone, neither Millie nor her parents knew where he went they were however mad he left them without a warning.

Blitz packed his things away, last night he barely got any sleep hell he was ready to just off himself so that he could sleep.

Last night all he could think about was Striker and how the other imp made him feel.

It wasn't just mutual respect it was the fact that he was attracted to the other imp their fuck before the games was the best fuck Blitz had.

Not only that but he trusted Striker enough to bottom and he rarely did that.

He remembers how Striker made him feel, challenged, appreciated, cared for, Striker was bringing so many feelings out of Blitz he never knew he had.

Not to mentioned that Striker made him question everything he knew.

Striker referring him as a plaything to Stolas cut deep, not because it was Strikers intentions but because how true they were.

Not to mention it didn't matter how far Blitz got he was still a lowly imp who only existed to obey orders from those higher than him.

Him giving into Stolas's demands proved that.

Sure he could use that he gets to keep the book and only has to visit him during the full moon but that didn't change the fact that he was basically Stolas's bitch.

Loo Loo Land and The Harvest Moon Festival were perfect examples of him doing whatever Stolas said just because he got paid or he was wear down until he gave in.

Striker ... Striker did the one thing no one has ever done for him ... he gave him a choice ... he asked him to join him; not once did he try to force Blitz to say yes or kept pushing till h gave in.

Even now he was giving him the choice to say yes or no.

He could've done so many things to force him to say yes instead he gave him space didn't push for more than what Blitz was willing to share nor did he manipulate the situation into his favor he just respect Blitz and left him be.

Blitz wonder if he should give into temptation, say yes and see how far he could go and the extent of his power.

Looking at Millie, Moxxie, and Loona ... he wonder how they would feel if he left.

He secretly wonders if they would even care that he's gone.

Loona didn't really care for him and Moxxie was only there because of Millie and we'll Millie loves killing so he wonders if she even cares about him or just loves that she gets to kill humans.

Fitzorallys words cut deep because it was a question he always tried to avoid asking himself because he knew deep down no one did.

He wasn't stupid, he knows he can be a bit much, overbearing and annoying so will they even miss him?

He takes a deep breath and shoves that question deep within his subconscious, just another query that he will avoid as much as he can.

"Sir are you okay?"

Blitz lifted his head and looked at his fam- employees

He could see them eyeing him carefully wondering what was wrong with their boss.

"Yeah Moxxie everything is fine,"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Three weeks later

Striker open the door before he could even knock.

The cowboy IMP wasnt wearing his hat which made him look sexier than with it on.

"You came,"

"Yeah ... I did ... I'm in,"

Striker nodded his head he grabbed Blitz's bag and jerk his head a movement that told him to follow him to wear Bombproof was.

Blitz followed him. After much deliberation Blitz decided to follow Striker. He couldn't give a good reason as to why he wanted to join him.

Perhaps it could be do to his words, or maybe because he genuinely like Striker and wanted to see how far their relationship could go there many reasons as to why he decided to join Striker but he did know one thing for sure

He knew that if he wanted to make it to the top he'll need to stop serving bitter sinners and partner up with Striker and kill the unkillable. Make them pay for all the shit they put him and IMPs and hellhounds through.

Striker was right if he wanted his employees to have a good life he'll need to change the system

He already left a note to M&M as well as Loona he told them that he would be gone for a few weeks as he had somethings to figure out.

He of course before meeting or contacting Striker, Blitz met up wit Stolas told him that he can have him for a whole day to do whatever Stolas wanted the only thing he asked was for him to give Millie, Moxxie, and Loona 2.5 million dollars each that way they'll at least have money and not worry about anything for the time being.

Worst day of his fucking life but it was worth it. Stolas of course wanted to know why Blitz demanded for such a thing.

Blitz just gave him the finger threw his book in his face and left.

Striker put his bags over Bombproof before his hands grabbed Blitz's waist and hoisted him up placed him on Bombfires back.

Striker got on his hellhorse with ease.

He felt Striker's lips on his forehead before Striker's tail wrapped itself around his waist pulling Blitz closer to him.

"You won't regret this,"

Blitz smiled at Striker before cupping his face leaning forward he kissed Striker the two shared a soft passionate kiss

The two pulled back giving each other soft smiles. Blitz curled up on Striker's chest letting out soft purrs as Striker ordered Bombfire to move.

Blitz for the first time in weeks slept peacefully while Striker brought the smaller imp closer to his body his tail tightening itself around his waist not once did it let go of his beloved.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: Imma be honest with y'all ... It was not supposed to be this long ... Oh well tell me what you guys think ^^

#blitzo helluva boss #helluva striker #blitzo x striker #helluva blitzo #helluva boss #answers asked #anon #anonymous #ficlet

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the-insomniac-emporium · 4 years

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Hey! I saw you were taking requests :3 would you mind writing (hcs, scenario, anything!) a thing where, shortly pre-OVW recall, McCree and his old teammate (f or neutral pronouns are fine but it’s up to u!!) accidentally meet again after he left without warning? Bonus points for “I thought u were dead/I was never gonna see you again” type stuff :p thanks! Sorry if this was confusing!

{This was, like, super fun to write? I did kinda flip part of the script, but it still fits what you asked for (hopefully). Minor warning for implied alcoholism though, oops. It can also be read as more of a “bars exist for brawls” than “alcohol is my coping method” though, so maybe that’s not as bad??? IDK, at least the ending feels cute.} {-J}

After the fall of Overwatch and its subdivisions, there were certain things that you had been forced to accept: Dozens of your friends and coworkers had died, you were out of a job, and everything you had worked so hard for had crumbled into oblivion. So yeah, shit, you ended up drinking away your pain more than once. At this point you weren’t even sure how many places you were banned from. Still, you held onto the pride that came from never starting any fights, instead waiting for some asshole to decide he wanted to rumble with an ex-Blackwatch agent. It was messy, dangerous, and only added to your nasty reputation.

Few organizations would even think of hiring you. Did that make your drinking worse, or did your drinking make the job search harder?... It wasn’t something you wanted to dwell on, especially considering how desperately you were trying to change things. Mercenary work hadn’t suited you for long, as all your clients were faceless, mysterious forces pulling strings from the shadows. How could you trust that they weren’t like Talon?... Or like Blackwatch had become? In the end you had been forced to slink back into the shadows, praying to whatever gods may be that you could still do some good for the world.

That was a couple years ago. You had changed your name, traded out your old gear for something less suspicious, and set yourself up along the halfway point of Route 66. The area was known for its problems with gangs, violence, and a general lack of government intervention. Sure, the road itself spanned across eight different states, but most of it had been in a state of disrepair for a few decades now. The Omnic Crisis was the final push that sealed the region’s fate. Or, at least, it had been. Some people still cared.

Like you. Why else would you be here, now, scanning the horizon, a beer in one hand, binoculars in the other? There certainly weren’t any good birdwatching spots nearby. Just a rundown gas station perfect for staging ambushes, an old school diner with shitty coffee, and a dusty, dirty crevice up high, wonderful for keeping an eye on it all. You didn’t like it up here, but it was the only discreet place to perform surveillance on the local miscreants.

Apparently a new gang was starting to harass people in the area, despite the proximity to Deadlock turf, and were trying to sell “insurance”. Understandably, that really pissed you off. Sweet-talking one of the locals had gotten you insight on the gang’s general daily routine. Nothing too specific, unfortunately. Now all you had to do was wait for the scum to show up so you could pound them into the dirt.

Taking a quick swig from your beer, you settled in a little, preparing to wait for who knows how long….

Dust flew into the air like a trail of smoke, blurring your vision but not deterring you in the slightest. You slipped around your target, barely avoiding his second kick, before slamming your elbow into the back of his head. Sure enough he went crashing down with a thud. More dirt was kicked up in the process. At least it made it a little harder for the gang members still outside to target you. Another quick dash landed you behind cover, where you could finally take a moment to breathe.

“Damn it,” you grumbled, hearing yet another bullet whiz past your hiding spot. There were still four or five gunmen outside. Truthfully, that was the total number of people you had expected to find, not just the backup boys. Sure, you had prepared for unforeseen hiccups, but apparently not enough. In over your head, stuck sitting like a duck, reminded more and more of the old days. Shit, you missed your teammates. Normally Jesse or Genji would have saved your ass by now.

You missed them. So much, in fact, that you were pretty sure you just heard Jesse’s signature “high noon” line. It almost made you feel like you were a bit more tipsy than you had thought. When the sound of a revolver firing reached your ears, you couldn’t help but wonder if you had actually died; if so, this was the weirdest form of afterlife known to mankind. Curiosity ended up getting the best of you. Crawling to the side, you made sure not to reveal any part of yourself to your enemy, working your way towards the building’s secondary entrance. That was still within the gang’s line of sight, but you hoped it was far enough to the side that they wouldn’t immediately notice you poking around the corner.

Sure enough, nobody shot at you when you turned the corner. Someone did, however, raise a silver revolver in your direction. Air got caught in your lungs as you stared down that ever-so-familiar barrel. Relief started to flood your chest… until you realized that the gunman wasn’t wavering in his stance. Your gaze follows up his arm, to his face, and you suddenly wish you weren’t wearing this stupid goddamn mask.

“Hold it, buddy, unless you want to end up like your compadres back there,” Jesse McCree drawls, tipping his head back towards the fallen gang members. Evidently he hadn’t seen you beating the crap out of the ones inside. Still, you raised your hands slowly, showing your lack of weapons. “There we go. Now, take off that there lil’ mask, nice and easy, alright?” You complied, of course, tossing it to the side before throwing a grin in Jesse’s direction. His reaction made you really, really wish you had brought a camera. The normally smooth and put-together cowboy is now slack jawed, a sense of wonder (and something else…?) in his eyes. Soon your name drops from his lips, whispered like a sacred prayer.

“It’s good to see you too, Jesse,” you manage to reply, still grinning like a fool. Hardly a moment passes before the wind is suddenly knocked out of you. Jesse had holstered his gun, closed the distance between the two of you, and pulled you into a hug in a matter of just a couple seconds. The action catches you by surprise, now making you the one to choke on the words caught in your throat. Still, you manage to hug him back, leaning in to gently rest your head against his chest.

“Goddamnit, who gave you the right to surprise me like this?” He asks after a few moments of silence, his voice on the edge of breaking. His grip was tight, like a man desperate to keep his sanity clutching onto a lifetime of coping methods. Words failed you, barely managing a confused noise, as you pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes. There was something you couldn’t comprehend in his gaze. Something you were missing, that required knowledge you didn’t have. Your head tipped to the side as you hoped for at least a little elaboration. Jesse seems to realize your cluelessness, and shakes his head with a bitter laugh. “I thought you were dead,” he murmurs, the words settling on his tongue with an all-too-familiar weight.

Shit, you thought, eyes going wide for a moment. Thoughts raced through your head as you tried to process what he said, thinking back to what had happened after Blackwatch’s disbandment, wondering why he could possibly have thought that you were-

….

Fuck.

Yeah, that tracked. Going from constantly fighting in bars to fucking off to nowhere, changing your name, and turning to the vigilante lifestyle? No shit people thought you were dead. How had you ever thought that this was a good idea?... Sure, most of your old friends had done the same, scattering across the four winds without so much as a “lol bye” (or, you know, a proper farewell). However, that didn’t mean that there weren’t still people who cared, who you could have at least made the slightest effort to keep in touch with before disappearing. People like Jesse.

“Now that you mention it, I realize I didn’t exactly leave much room for thinking anything else,” you replied, barely managing to speak through your embarrassment. A laugh tried to move past your teeth, even though you knew the timing was bad, but the sound died as soon as your gaze met Jesse’s.

“That’s one hell of an understatement, old friend,” he said, hardly a trace of mirth to his name. Both of his arms were still around your frame, gently cradling you, as if a stiff breeze might sweep you away from him once more. You could feel his body shifting with every breath he took, slowly finding yourself matching the movements. One of Jesse’s hands moves to cup your cheek, fingers sliding so carefully that you almost didn’t feel it, but you lean it instinctively, finding your lips placing a whisper of a kiss against his wrist. “Darling,” he breathes, voice caught in his throat, blocked by joy and surprise alike.

“I’m sorry for worrying you, Jesse. I swear I never meant to just vanish like that,” you plead, tears pricking the corner of your eyes. “Things were bad, and I… I just ran from that, I guess. But you didn’t deserve that, at all, and I swear to whatever passes for high heaven these days, if you give me a chance-....” Pulled in closer, you couldn’t help but squeak a little when Jesse plants a kiss on your forehead. One of his hands is rubbing gentle circles into your back. A reassurance, one you desperately needed. “I can make it up to you. We can do better this time, right?...”

Jesse didn’t say anything, at least not at first, but the feeling of his hat settling down on your head gave you all the answers you’d ever need.

#jesse mccree x reader #mccree x reader #jesse mccree

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colorfullfalls · 4 years

Text

Warm me up

Embry Call x Reader

Between Forks and La Push, supernatural occurances were constant. Vampires, wolves, but the new visitors were witches. A coven of witches moved directly between Forks and La Push, which created a massive headache for the Cullen's and Quileutes.

The witches were unpredictable and everyone seemed weary about them. The imprints were strictly told to steer clear of them. Worry coursed through the wolves veins as the thought of the love of their lives being magically hurt in any way.

Y/N was bored. Embry was patrolling a lot lately for the Black Pack due to the additional supernatural beings. She admired his dedication and hours upon hours protecting the people. But she missed him. And even more so, she was bored.

"Sweetheart, please don't go anywhere without someone who is.. well... A wolf or vampire. It sounds dumb but we aren't sure with what we are dealing with."

Embry's honest genuine worries flowed through her brain every time she thought about saying fuck it and leaving the small house.

She watched movies, cleaned again and again, organized a thousand times, played with the dogs in the yard, danced in the kitchen, painted and even sewed. Still, she yearned to actually go out in public. Walmart roaming at 2 am seemed like an absolute dream, but Embry would go into cardiac arrest if you went there, let alone so late.

He always claimed that late nights made people lonely and that led to them doing bad shit. He was so paranoid that you would fall victim to someone's boredom gone wrong. He loved Y/N more than the world and God, he wanted to shelter her and keep her safe.

The imprints were alright with doing whatever their wolves said. Stay inside- they did. Don't talk to the cullens- they did. But Y/N was not like that. She was stubborn as a mule, and Embry knew better than to try to treat her like that. She was a free woman who refused to bend to whatever others wanted.

Embry grew up respecting women. Growing up with his mom made him realize how strong women are. Tiffany didn't need a man's presence, money, or help to raise her son. He knew felt proud to have his mom. He loved her almost as much as he loved Y/N. Which is an insane amount considering Y/N was his life.

Sitting on the counter with Embry standing between her legs, she knew shit was serious. His wide brown eyes held sorrow and fear as he explained how dangerous the witches could potentially be. And that he knew she hated trying to be told what to do, but she would save him loads of worrying if she would please listen.

Y/N solemnly agreed because she knew that this matter was serious. What she didn't realize was that he would be absent so much. She missed him. Having him home would make the time fly by. His very presence was all that she needed. Craved it.

Y/N had a sudden idea. Having a hammock would be nice. Two beautiful oak trees rooted close by would be a wonderful place to hang one. She could read on it, paint on it, and stare at the sky for hours. She blushed as images of her and embry on it ran through her mind.

Leaving was a bad idea. Her mind said, no. Be smarter than that. Her heart said that she wanted that hammock and needed it. She bit her lip as she glanced at the clock. Embry wouldn't even know. Y/N decided she would lie and say she had the thing all along if he were to ask about it.

That's it, she was going. She went, got it, and felt great. Happy. Fulfilled. Excited to put it up.

She was halfway home when her car slowly halted. Gas pedal was down but the car was not moving.

"What the fuck?!" She stated, hitting the gas pedal a few times. Y/N groaned as she threw her head back. If she wasn't home soon she would be found by a very angry and dissapointed wolf. A metaphorical dog house, ironically.

Tapping left to her head made Y/N jump, screams rippling out of her throat. Hand on her throat in surprise she turned.

Gorgeous piercing green eyes looked expectantly at her. Tattoos spread down her arms, but they were almost unnoticeable due to the black hair cascading over them. Y/N swore that she never saw such beautiful hair before.

The woman had a calm look on her face, but she was intimidating none the less. She opened the car door and all Y/N could do was watch as her heart beat out of her chest.

"Wolf girl.... Could sense you miles away." She said, leaning on the door.

"Im- uh- hah, I'm not a wolf..." Y/N stammered, clinging to her seat belt in fear. Embry was for sure going to scold her for hours now.

"An imprint, whatever. You have association with them. It's simple. See, you came from La Push, their territory. No one goes there really. So you're a wolf girl one way or the other."

Y/N sheepishly nodded, glancing away from the woman and to her phone. Maybe if she got ahold of Embry he could save her before anything happened. Her hand twitched to grab it but suddenly she gasped, crippling pain invading her body.

Y/N cried out in pain as she sank into the seat. An instant headache crept up the back of her head as tears spilled.bShit shit shit. This witch meant business, and wasn't scared to use powers already.

Flame like feeling stopped and Y/N gasped for breath in her driver seat. She hit the steering wheel a few times in frustration.

"God, maybe use your words next time?" Y/N venomously spat, glaring at the green eyes witch.

"Waste of my breath, hun. Girl talk isn't girl talk if you call your wolf man."

"Don't want girl talk." Y/N mumbled, still calming down from being hurt. She didn't want to anger her but sometimes it was hard to bite her tongue.

"Let's cut to the chase. You need to tell the wolves to lay off. Stop pacing around our area. Witch business is none of their concern" The witch knelt down and got closer to Y/N's face.

"Tell them that... You think they listen to me? Sure, I'm an imprint and I can voice my opinion, but the pack does as it chooses. I have no power over them." Y/N softly said.

"Seduction. You own your wolf. I'm familiar with how imprinting works. You control this man's life! So don't give me that 'I can't control anything' speech. You can and will relay the message."

Anger coursed through Y/N's veins. How dare the asshole witch act like Y/N can just suck off Embry and then he does whatever she says? He didn't own her, and she didn't own him. Insinuating that Embry was Y/N's toy made her want to scream. She kept calm and shook her head.

"You're oh so wrong..." Y/N mumbled shaking her head, "You should've talked to them because Embry is not going to be happy when he finds out you did this. Infuriated, actually."

"Wow, so Embry is his name? It's a handsome one, truth be told." The witch stood back up.

"Don't."

The witch's tongue poked out to wet her lips before she spoke in a scary calm tone, "Do as I say...you'll live. Simple. task. Look, I'm not stupid, I would never face a wolf alone and right now I'm the only one home. But you see, 'm getting rather fed up with all the sneaking around our place. I'm actually angrier than I thought...."

"shit" Y/N whispered

The witch looked at Y/N thoughtfully, "Maybe if I hurt you a bit, they would get the hint..."

Y/N shook her head, "You said you know about imprinting, but obviously not enough because going after a wolf is idiotically stupid. They're sacred. Not to be messed with. They would die for us."

At that moment snarking was heard. Y/N felt a tear of happiness roll down her cheek as she felt relief rush through every cell in her body like a river that had been dammed up. Embry was about to save her ass.

The witch jumped around in time to see Embry approach. She flicked her wrist as if to hurt him the way she hurt Y/N, but she was quickly jumped on by Bella. Bella choked her so that she would pass out.

Jacob ran out of the woods to help Bella tie up the woman's arms and legs. Embry shifted back, scrambling to throw on shorts and racing to your side.

His hands grasped her face as he checked her for any injuries. His stony expression broke as he cried out in relief, kissing Y/N's face all over.

"Baby, thank God we found you!" Em exclaimed, hugging her to his chest. Tears flowed down her face. That witch scared the daylight of out Y/N, and Embry saved her life.

°°°°

Hours later Embry sat with his chin on the edge of the bathtub while his lovely imprint sat inside of it. Bubbles filled the area up to her chest. Embry's heightened eyes couldn't see anything besides her shoulders and head. Her hair sat delicately in a bun to avoid getting damp.

Embry smiled smittenly at how pretty she looked in the candle light. Her doe eyes stared back at him equally lovingly. She blushed, looking away and sinking deeper into the water.

Baths always made her feel better, and after the day the imprint had, she needed one. As soon as they got home Embry ran the water and helped her in.

50's music softly played through the bluetooth speaker as the couple shared such an intimate moment.

Embry interlocked one of his hands with his imprint's soapy ones, "Thought I was gonna lose you today..." He murmured, brining the interlocked hands up so that he could kiss hers.

"For a while there, me too..."

Embry whimpered and kissed her hand a few times to center himself. Seeing that witch in front of his soulmate awakened things inside of him that he never knew he had in him.

He wanted to rip the witch's limbs slowly one by one, her screams echoing through the land. He wanted the witch bitch to beg for mercy and apologize relentlessly until her last breathe. But then his eyes moved to his scared girlfriend, and all he thought about was getting to her as soon as he could. Holding her in his strong arms and assuring her that all would be okay.

"Talked to Jake and I'm not patrolling for a while. Can't leave you again." He said with every fiber of his heart.

Y/N nodded, understanding that his inner wolf was still going crazy from the danger she had been in. She felt guilty for being dumb enough to leave the house over a hammock.

"Thank you for not yelling at me. I deserve it, like big time. I went to buy a fucking hammock. All of this, over a fun outside prop..." Y/N ranted, angry with herself.

"I was going to, but three seconds after I realized you were in danger... Scolding you was the last thing on my mind. Telling you to stay home and then never being there was hard on you, I get that. I'm sorry." He confessed.

Embry blamed himself. He knew Y/N hated being at home and with him not being there, she would hate it even more. His Y/N was a social woman and restricting that wasn't right. Not without him keeping her company.

"Apology isn't necessary, but thank you. Im a grown woman who should have more common sense."

A comfortable silence settled over the pair. Embry stroked his thumb across her hand as her eyes fluttered shut. She was tired and he could tell.

"Love bug, why don't we dry you off and go to bed? We could both use sleep, hmm?"

She sleepily nodded.

Ten minutes later Embry spooned Y/N, squeezing her close as he could without hurting her. He felt her body shake a bit. Concern filled his face as he lifted up to look at her through the moon light.

"Y/n?"

She turned and instead of crying, she was laughing. Laughing so hard that her body was shaking. Embry slightly smiled, unaware of how to react.

"I bought a hammock today. I risked my life... For a hammock. But hey," she laughed harder, "now we can use it whenever. Because we have so much time alone. Trapped here."

Embry now grinned. He knew she was delirious and tired, but he thought it was cute, "We can lay in it tomorrow, all day. Just us." He whispered, nuzzling his nose agaisnt her cheek.

Y/N stopped laughing, "Id like nothing more. I'm so in love with you," she whispered suddenly serious. He felt his heart flutter as her lips brushed against his. He lost his breath as she kissed the corner of his mouth.

"Tease" he mumbled, caressing her face to bring her in for a propper kiss. She hummed as she pulled her wolf closer to her, drugged by his closeness. His warm body heat made her toasty as he slipped his tongue in her mouth. She slightly pulled away.

"Warm me up, wolf boy." She said, kissing him once again. Embry almost lost his Y/N, but God was she alive with him at 2 am. Very alive.

#embry call imagine #embry call #twilight imagine

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suffering-and-happy-about-it · 4 years

Text

The Mystery (White Demon's Love Song, Part 4.)

Series description: A new job was what the reason you found yourself on a lonely roadtrip on the western coast, ending up in the woods of Olympian Peninsula. Yet a sudden car malfuction was what cause your unplanned stay in Forks. To your surprise, there was a lot of sinister things going on under the veil of fog.

Part summary: There was no denying inside your mind - Jacob was suspicious and something was going on with him. Yet as you try to make up your mind about the whole thing, you encounter an unwelcomed visitor.

A/N: So, honestly, there is a LOT going on in this chapter alone. But I like that, at least we ain’t static and we keep pushing the story forward. Also, Charlie’s here’

Tagging: @missdictatorme

Word count: 4.7 K

Twilight playlist: ✨ Twilight Crackheads ✨

Series masterlist: H E R E

The muscle pain was too much for you as you tried to get out of the bed. You knew you won't get up when you were walking up the whole night. Even your mood was moron-ish. Jacob was still sleeping on the sofa when you took a shower and made all of your morning rituals peacefully. Great. It was roughly seven in the morning. There was a deep mist and it was raining outside - but dear God, you couldn't wait to go on a long walk. As you watched Jacob sleeping, you decided to leave him a note.

'Jake, I went outside. It was raining, so I borrowed a raincoat from the hanger. I'll be back soon.' - That was all you wrote there. You didn't know there you were about to go yet, but the idea of Jacob knowing where you were venturing made you worried. At first, you wanted to go to the city center to look around Forks - but then you turned in the woods. You should try to look around... Maybe for a walk at least a mile or so.

There was a small path, a barely visible one - you were pretty sure that this was the spot where Jacob disappeared last night. Quickly, you looked around and ventured between the trees. God, it was cold again. The mist was leaving your mouth again and you had goosebumps. The wet ferns weren't helping at all; the leaves were smoothing your calves and it was making small maps of water on your legs. Your skin was freezing at those small spots. The ground was soaking wet but hard nonetheless.

You were walking down the path with your head more or less empty. There were no thoughts - sure, the suspicions were trying to make their way into the spotlight, but you didn't still want to believe that Jacob would be a killer for real. The fear was purely irrational, the whole deal was coming out of a troubled relationship you had before.

The man was an asshole. A serious one. You were young and dumb when you started dating him. There was no domestic violence involved in the relationship, but he was making an advantage out of his physical appearance. Ever since that moment, you didn't have the best feeling about physically noticeable men. Yet although the fear was inside you, it didn't mean at all that Jacob would be similar to the said ex-boyfriend and he, indeed, wasn't. Yet this behavior was particularly strange. Who would be walking into the woods in the night, coming back in the early morning?

It took you almost twenty minutes to stop and look around. Small raindrops were falling onto the soil, the ambient sounds of the forest were like a blessing to your soul. Then you noticed. At first, you didn't notice anything. You almost thought that you were delusional. Quickly, you glanced around and walked off the path, to rise a piece of cloth laying on a lonely root. It was still there when you walked to it and picked it up. It was... It used to be a torso of a t-shirt with a print of sorts. It was torn to shreds.

Something clicked inside your brain. When Jacob took you inside his flat, there were shreds of clothes laying everywhere. At first, you suspected that Jake might be a monster in the sheets or something like that - yet the ghost of Bella and an absence of a woman in the flat made you sure it's not the case. Now, there were shreds of clothes in the woods. It was at that moment when you heard a thud. You couldn't tell what it was. At first, you thought that Jacob might've caught you at his sacred place - yet when you turned around, there was no one. Okay, it was time to go back. You were freezing anyway. Quickly, you turned back to the path and started walking in a quick tempo - your palm pushed the shred deep into one of the pockets and fastened without realizing it. Another thud canceled the silence - it was way closer than the last time.

Your blood froze when you realized you've heard a growl. Quickly, you ran for your life. It didn't matter what it was, you didn't look back - you were terrified. Once, you almost fell on the ground. The shop was just behind the trees when you realized something growled just a step behind you as if something was playing games with you. A horrified squeal came out of your lips as you jumped forward, landing on the small lawn at the back entrance. There was a feeling of stupidity as you started crying, but you indeed were laying on your back, watched the sky, and cried. Soon after, you realized someone was touching you. With a scream, you pushed yourself off the someone before realizing it's just Jacob. Just Jacob who was going on walks in deep nights. Honestly, it was better to be killed by someone you already knew than getting harmed by something that was chasing you down in the woods.

"Did something happen to you?" - The man started to check you - his palms were searching for something in your arms and face as if he was expecting to find something. - "I swear that it might sound crazy, but I know something was chasing me down. Something was there in the woods with me, Jacob, I swear." - Dear Lord, you were chaotically mumbling without knowing what was coming out of your mouth. Then something else clicked. - "Dear God, you're burning, Jacob." - As you wanted to put your palm on his forehead, Jacob suddenly pulled away and got back on his legs. - "You're just freezing, trust me. Did you see anything?" - The man asked. He didn't think you're crazy. More so, he was taking you dead serious. And fuck, you couldn't tell what was worse.

"No, I just heard weird thuds... You know... As if something was jumping from tree to tree..." - It was coming out of your mouth unconsciously as you were getting up as well. - "Forget it. I think that Forks is just stressing me the hell out. I'm not used to this atmosphere and weather." - But Jacob didn't answer this allegation. More so, he was getting more and more serious.

"I... Need to go somewhere. Would you mind if I leave you at Charlie's for a while? You're going to be safe with him, I swear." - Jacob asked seriously. This was making you crazy. What was happening? Why did he know that something might be happening? - "Don't you want to tell me what's going on here?" - This was everything you were capable of saying. - Jacob froze down for a second before he knew what to say. - "We have a lot of mountain lions here in the last few months. I'll drive to my friend's to assemble a hunting party." - Wait a moment... You just told him something was jumping from a tree to tree, like a monkey, and he told you about mountain lions with a dead ass face. This wasn't adding up.

But it was a good idea to spend some time at the police station. It might calm you down, it lets you come to different thoughts and conclusions. Charlie might know something about all of this too, why wouldn't he? - "Yeah, that's probably the best idea." - This was all you need to say. Jacob instructed you to take the towtruck and gave you the address, which you then wrote to navigation. He told you he's going to take the bike - it was Saturday, so he didn't have to pull a small board with 'Closed' written on it, but he still made sure it's hanging on the garage door. Just before you took off - after you changed your clothes and put the dirty ones into the laundry, Jacob called Charlie and asked him if it's okay to send you there. Sure, Jake might as well send you to Newton's outdoor shop or he could straightaway take you to La Push with him to hear every fucking secret.

Charlie's was most likely the safest place right now. Why? Jacob knew precisely what was hunting you in the woods and Charlie's house was monitored almost all the time since Charlie was a part of the La Push family and he still was Bella's dad. They were keeping an eye out there. It was one of the leeches - and it was so insolent that it almost hunt you down to a werewolf's liar. It was late to chase the thing down, yet the smell gave it away. It was the same woman he, Seth, and Embry encountered just two days. Now, it knew where he lives. Honestly, Jacob couldn't care less. Sure, vampires could be a problem, but not a real danger for a shifter like him. If the bloodsucker would try to sneak into the flat, he would have no real problem defending it. The problem was that this was too close to the city - the group was trying to get closer and closer with each day. They needed to change schedules again, serrulate around Forks.

Thanks to God, Charlie didn't have any problem with taking you in for the afternoon - he even told Jake he might be going on a visit to Billy's, which sounded like a good idea. Jake knew you were there on a road trip and the beaches were a must-see. Also, La Push was soaked with their stench and guarded all day. Every werewolf that was trying to rest after the watch was ready to strike any time. - "Hey..." - Jacob made you roll the window down. It was raining more than before, so he was soaking wet within the next minute. Yet he didn't seem to notice it. - "I know it's weird, but trust me, you don't want to do one-v-one with a mountain lion. It would win for sure." - This made you grin as you shook your head. - "Maybe I have superpowers. What can you know?" - For a moment, you just chatted and neither of you knew there was a pair of curious eyes sitting up high in the trees, listening to every word of the conversation.

Hell, this whole trip was already too crazy, why would you get scared by spending your afternoon at some policeman's house? If anything, this seemed to be the most reasonable thing you did in the last three days. The stay in Forks was straight out of a movie or a book. Soon after you took off, you noticed that the navigation certainly wasn't taking you to the police station. You were driving to the other side of Forks, to a pretty large neighborhood. - "Evergreen Loop... One... Three..." - You counted the housed, crouching out of the window like an idiot. Well, you didn't have a chance of missing Charlie Swan's house - the man was standing there with an empty expression, waiting for you outside the door in old jeans and a flannel shirt. How did no-one living here feel cold? You've seen a guy in shorts, in this heavy rain, when you were on your way here.

Carefully, you put your car behind the chief's police car and you ran to the door as quickly as you could, nervously grinning at Charlie when you were climbing down the stairs. - "I... Hey. I know it's weird, but when I was on a walk this morning, I stomped upon a mountain lion and it made me scared, so I refused to stay at Jacob's workshop." - This was a fabricated lie, but some facts here and there aligned. Honestly, Charlie wasn't in a mood of finding out what was happening - the only thing he knew was that you needed babysitting for the day and since he was alone at home, why wouldn't he let you stay there?

The house was big on the inside, although it could be seen that it's very old. The colors were faded, the furniture was old... Well, at least the house was nicely warm and there weren't shreds of clothes laying everywhere. You could appreciate that. - "Do you want something warm to drink?" - Charlie asked, still standing behind you, which made you freak out a bit. With was going on since last night, when you noticed Jacob's spending excessive time in the woods, you were kind of jumpy. Who wouldn't be? - "That would be great, thank you." - The smile wasn't convincing at all, but Charlie wasn't the one to ask. He just started to make you a cup of tea. Quietly, you've sat at the table in the kitchen and took a look around. There was a lot of photos held by magnets on his fridge.

On one of them, there was Charlie next to an old, white-haired man. Both of them were dressed in fishing equipment, holding their rods proudly with a big smile. Then, there was Charlie and a girl... Who was strikingly similar to him - the resemblance was undeniable. Both had dark, brown eyes and hair, the same uneasy smiled and awkward posture. But the girl was pretty. Her features were balanced and calm as she smiled to the camera - this must've been Bella, you concluded. On another picture, there was Bella and fuck, someone had to figure out her angle there - because she was breathtaking. There was an equally handsome man next to her, holding a small girl on his forearm. Her husband and daughter, you figured out without a problem. The girl was resembling her mother a lot too, so this must've been in the family. On the last, and presumably the most recent one, there was Charlie with a beautiful black-haired woman his age. Yet her skin was russet's, like Jacob's. Was Charlie his dad? No, you stopped yourself. These two were nothing alike.

"What you're studying there?" - Charlie muttered out suddenly, making you feel like a guilty five-year-old. Well, you didn't have to stare at the fridge so obviously, yet you did. You deserved this. Although the Bella questions were itching your tongue, especially after seeing her happily married on the photo, you decided to ask on the last one. - "Is that your wife? I mean, she's really pretty." - Quickly, you pointed at the photo of him and the black-haired woman. Charlie was kissing her temple there while she was laughing at the camera. The man got flustered pretty easily. Maybe, you shouldn't ask about such personal things. God, what if she was dead? Oh, no. - "That's not my wife. It's my girlfriend, you could say, I guess... Her name's Sue and she's from La Push. She's staying here for the most part, but her son isn't feeling too well lately, so she wanted to stay at their house for some time." - Wow.

Charlie himself was surprised by how many did he tell you about his relationship with Sue. It was probably just that he wasn't used to being alone - Sue and he were taking it seriously for the last few years and she was there for him the whole time since Bella moved out of Forks. Yet he was alone in the house for the last week... So it was probably showing a bit. Usually, he wasn't this opened with strangers, but you were in Bella's age and honestly, he needed someone's company. Sue barely picked up the phone in the last few days and she was very worried about Seth for the most part.

He was a cop, right? And ever since he knew about Jacob's funky business, he naturally figured out what was wrong with Seth. The young boy was in the same business as Jacob. He needed Sue to take care of him, and Charlie, being a single parent himself, could understand that. Naturally, Charlie didn't know everything about the werewolves - he didn't ask Jacob a single question about it, because he refused to be directly involved in their 'wolf thing'. And the wolves re-appearing meant that most likely, something much more dangerous than a few overbred mountain lions is lurking around Forks, which was also the reason Jacob drove to Sam's. That was all Charlie knew and he wanted to keep it that way.

The man wouldn't say it out loud, but you were kind of a welcomed guest at the house. You welcomed the stay there since, in this house, you felt much safer - and Charlie had some company. He knew that he won't be talking much, but he was glad he isn't entirely alone in there. - "You've told me that your car broke down, right?" - He asked as he sat down at the table as well, giving you the cup of tea. In answer, you nodded. - "You also talked about Tacoma." - "Yeah. I wanted to travel a bit before settling down because of my job at Tacoma. Which led me here." - "Great!" - Charlie exclaimed all of a sudden, making your eyes widen at such a reaction. - "I was planning on visiting a friend of mine living in La Push and trust me, the beaches are something you can't miss. The friend is Jake's dad." - Charlie said with an important smile. Oh no, he thought that you're having... Something.

First off, it was too early to even get to know each other, let alone have something with the 'split-personality Jacob'. Second off... Why on earth would you fancy a guy about who you thought he might kill you in a gruesome way? He had his chances and truly, he hadn't killed you yet, but maybe he was just waiting for a chance. Especially after his late-night walks, that were super-off in your opinion. - "Uhm, I would like to come along. Not... Not to see Jacob's dad, of course. I would like to see the beaches. If you're saying I have to see them, then I have to see them." - Once more, you smiled at took a sip of the hot drink. You needed just that.

The conversation between you and Charlie was rather subtle and not too personal. But it was nice. Charlie was a calm, reserved man who was better at listening than talking. When there was nothing left to talk about, he invited you to watch a baseball game - and just after a few minutes after it started, you found yourself dead asleep in the armchair. No wonder there - you've spent at least half of the night awake, so you were tired as hell. The man, to your surprise, threw a blanket over you - and since he wasn't the cooking type, he ordered pizza, one for each. He didn't wake you up to ask you about the ingredients, so he just hoped he'd get it right. And to his surprise, you almost cried when he woke you up, telling you the lunch is served on the table.

It took you a grand total of ten minutes to pay Charlie for the food. Jacob might've noted something about being low on budget when Charlie asked him why he's having you at the workshop, so naturally, he presumed the lunch is his treat. It was just a damn pizza, for God's sake. It wouldn't ruin his financial plan or anything like that. When he refused to take the money again, you just put it on the table as you were leaving for La Push. He was driving first in his police car with you just meters from the back of his police car.

The reservation was a magical place, you had to say. The woods were strikingly similar, but... The feeling was different. The houses were smaller and less frequent. As Charlie took a turn, you followed - both of you stopped in front of a small house with a red facade, which was almost entirely gone. It was a tiny house - a young woman was standing in the subtle rain, smiling at Charlie mostly. Next to her, a man was sitting in a wheelchair - his smile was even wider. His hair was just like Jacob's, long and black. Their features were also very similar. So this was Jacob's dad, you assumed. And this... Was either his mother, a friend, another family member, or Jacob's sister. Your bets on sister, but who knew?

Since the very first moment, it was evident that Charlie and Billy, as the man introduced himself to you, knew each other for a whole eternity. There was a lot of laughter, internal joke and for the most part, they weren't paying you any attention at all. Which was good. But the young woman didn't let you go unnoticed. She, also, was strikingly similar to Jake and charming. It was one of those girls which you think you already met and knew, even when you met them for the first time. - "My name's Rachel. Hi." - She walked to you with her arms entwined on her chest and a big smile on her face. - "I'm Y/N, nice to meet you." - Oh, the phrase sounded bad after a total of two days you've spent in Forks and near cities. How many times will you introduce yourself to someone? - "And you're driving my younger brother's most beloved car." - She joked, but it didn't come across as funny to you. Another extremely weird smile appeared on your face as you got flustered. Charlie and Billy had disappeared inside the house some time ago, so now you were alone with Rachel.

"Um... That's a long and wild story." - This was all you answered. - "Charlie told me about the beaches here and that I have to see them? Can you give me instructions on how to get there? I don't want to bother you." - This taken Rachel away. So, you surely weren't Jacob's fling, because the whole topic made you unnerved. Yet she was interested in the story. - "What if... We take Jake's car and go there together? It might be fine to have some company." - She smiled. This time, there wasn't anything flustering about what she said. And to be honest, it was nice to go there with someone... Who wasn't a man? Except for Mrs. Peterson, and the weird conversation between you and Mrs. Newton, you hadn't talked to a girl... In a few weeks. - "Okay then, take the lead."

Throughout the whole time, Rachel was pumped about driving in the towtruck. From what she told you, you understood that the car was Jake's most beloved possession and that he rarely let it out of his sight. She made you swore not to tell him she was driving the truck. It was as you approached the beach when it struck you - why Charlie told you that you have to visit the beach. It was the atmosphere. The sea was lazily rolling small rocks around, there was a lot of washed-out logs on the beach, used as benches and an impressive number of people. - "Welcome to La Push." - Rachel smiled at you when she saw the way you looked around the beach. The most interesting thing for your eyes were two small isles just hundreds of feet from the beach. One could swim there.

"So, will you tell me the story?" - The woman asked when you walked to the beach, deciding that you will have a small walk to the nearby pounds in the woods. You started talking - how you planned on moving to Tacoma and getting a job there, about the whole road trip, and how you got stuck in Forks - highlighting the part where Jacob helped you out a big-time to make her little brother look good. Of course, you told her about the mountain lion thing. Rachel knew that was a lie, but she kept her mouth shut. - "Don't tell him I told you, but... Jake was never a bad guy. Sure, he had his moments and periods of being... A big asshole, but he has a good heart. After our dad." - Rachel smiled when you stopped just a couple of yards from the trees, standing there with your palms in the pockets of your jackets. The wind was really cold, but it didn't make the place less magical. - "Billy seems like a jolly person." - You acknowledged. - "Oh man, you should've seen him before the car crash. He was running around like crazy." - Rachel smiled sadly. There was a banter that kept you from asking about what happened to Billy, but Rachel started to talk on your own.

Just like you felt nice in her company, you seemed like a nice, trustworthy person as well. Since it didn't look like you'll be telling Jacob everything she told you, she started talking. It would be hard to talk about Sara, that was their mom, and the night just a few years back. But since she got back to La Push and started dating Paul, one of Jake's friends, she found reconciliation there. It was like a cure for her soul when she could tell someone who was simply listening. No dumb questions asked, no weird looks, anything - just listening to the story. Of course, she let out everything about the shifters, but she gave you a pretty good idea about what was going. - "I'm sorry if this sounds weird, but... Something's bugging the living hell out of me since we visited Mrs. Peterson because of her old car." - You started on your way up to the pounds. Rachel didn't need to hear the rest of it. - "Bella Swan, isn't it?" - She asked, knowing precisely what you had on your mind.

"The girl wrapped Jake around her finger pretty well. To be honest, I know Jake wasn't always the nicest to her either, but... I don't know. It was wild if I can be honest with you. She left Forks after she married one of the Cullens and sometimes, she stops by. Thanks to God, she knows better than visiting Jake. It would just wake up some nasty things." - Oh, so this was what happened... Naturally, Jacob had a different approach to the situation - something else happened in his perspective, but you sure as hell weren't about to ask him. Without further questions, you nodded and focused on the path under your legs.

The walk to the pounds was very nice - Rachel told you some stories about the pounds and then she talked about her twin, Rebecca, and Jake, telling you stories from their childhood. When she described how many times Jacob fell to the pond, you were kind of worried about him - it was a miracle that he hadn't drowned before reaching the age of six. Honestly, it was amazing how many stories she had - all of the stories had a specific story and each of the small pieces of history was making a nicer, clearer picture of La Push in your head. When first thunders hit your ears, it was still too far away, you decided to walk back to the beach and ride back to Billy's. But Jacob changed your plans without doing anything.

He was just standing above the beach with his hair let down, it was reaching way below his jaws, standing there with his elbows over his chest. His chocolate, dark eyes were watching as you and Rachel slowly walked closer to him. - "I see you two have already... Introduced." - The man looked at both of you, there was a hint of when he saw you both slowly walking down the beach. - "She wanted to drive here alone, so I've just asked if she wants someone to go with her." - Rachel vindicated both you as soon as it sounded kind of suspicious coming from Jacob. Then, after a slight moment, a small smile appeared on his face. - "That's nice of you, sis. One would've suspected you did it just because you had a chance to drive my truck, which is it?" - Jake asked with a small smile on his face. With that, you listened to the brother-sister bickering as you walked back to the truck.

Neither of you knew that the whole time, a wolf was watching over the whole beach, protecting you from the danger you could be in.

#jacob black x reader #la push #forks washington #charlie swan #mike newton #jacob black #seth clearwater #sue clearwater #sue clearwater (swan???)#the uley pack #the black pack #twilight saga #the twilight saga #twilight crackheads #twilight renessaince #i am once again going against the cannon #i am not even ashamed at this point

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artificialqueens · 4 years

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hotel california. (gigi/jackie) — chapter four, roza

summary: jackie begins to feel herself collapse under all the pressure of the iranian revolution and gigi just wants to help anyway she can. her idea of help however, might prove not to be the best idea.

author's note: thank you jankie candle for all the support, alex for being the best beta and after this last episode: I write jackie because she's my favourite and because she's my representation and this fic (though completely gay as shit) is for showing how important middle eastern history is and how complicated and awful the situation was for any persian at that time. I lost so much confidence and pride after that maddening question jeff asked jackie and writing this made me realize that this story is powerful purely for the fact I'm even getting this message to an audience. do your research, take some time to understand that anyone middle eastern has been fighting to be in america and has been discriminated for decades: this unfortunately isn't something new to america.

AO3 Link / My Tumblr: @leljaaa / (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

— *.✧

One week had officially passed since Jackie had stepped foot on to the soil of the United States. One week since the day she landed in Los Angeles, utterly horrified from what was going on back home in Iran as the revolution exploded, as she took to the city with only a single suitcase and all of her savings.

A deer in the headlights; she had begun to get adjusted to the timezones, to the activities, her English had only gotten better and better bit by bit yet her anxiety had only worsened.

The morning after her and Gigi's first makeout session she found herself on a cloud of euphoria, before she finally fell back on Earth as she listened to the radio in her room.

The words that left the lips of the announcer made her drop the mug she held before she saw it break into dozens of decent sized pieces on the floor.

"Prime Minister Jamshid Amouzegar resigns; his successor, Jafar Sharif-Emami, undertakes reforms…"

"Shit…کُس نگو."

However, all of the difficulties aside there was a shining moment of light despite the current events happening right before her: one week since she kissed Gigi in a spur of the moment decision.

Jackie was thrilled that it had become somewhat of a routine for the both of them.

The blonde would lean against her door before they would go on their much anticipated daily ride's together on Gigi's bike. A subtle and sneaky kiss placed across her lips when the Persian would open the door and see her friend right in front of her.

Gigi would grab her wrist whenever Jackie walked down past the recreational building that both her and Crystal worked at and spent most of their time on the weekdays in.

The redhead would snicker and keep an eye for any passing people and Jackie would brush their lips together, Gigi happy to steal a million and more kisses from the Persian who came to enjoy the danger and surprise of kissing in public any moment they got.

A simple shove would do if they heard footsteps, even if most of the time it was just Crystal being nosy and wanting to run around the hallways like a toddler.

"It's my exercise!" She would scream as she attempted every gymnastics trick possible with Jackie giggling, before they decided that keeping the kissing to a minimum unless they were inside of the Persian's complex would be the best idea.

Another growing evening saw Gigi inside of Jackie's apartment, watching her get dressed and style her abundance of curly hair.

"An endless supply of Kaftans," Gigi grinned as she stared up and down Jackie's body finding it interesting she managed to fit so much into that tiny, blue suitcase. These flowing, light-weight garments had become somewhat of a brand with Jackie.

The Persian rolled her eyes.

"It is all I wear," she joked with a wink as she tied it with a belt across the waist, knowing that they were probably going to once again go riding.

It had become their new sacred activity, along with baking and cooking together; Gigi was happy beyond words to be Jackie's taste tester and help with every miniscule task in the kitchen.

"You look hot, I'm not saying anything against it," Gigi replied as she stood up and wrapped her arms around Jackie's waist, the two of them swayed in silence hearing only the faint blare of radio from outside.

They couldn't possibly be a thing .

Jackie was far too focused on the revolution and all of the idiotic responses from the American government attempting to "help" the people and the government.

She was worried about her family, her friends, her entire life—she feared every passing minute that she might never get to return to Tehran.

It was also the seventies: this wasn't the era to come out, despite all the sexual revolutions that had begun the decade before; it was a death wish to be gay or lesbian or trans or anyone who was different. Especially considering the growing anti-Iranian sentiments that grew in the United States.

They couldn't be together.

Gigi understood. She knew that Jackie had a plan to be in Canada with close family and that she would most likely never see her again; she was on the run and the blonde tried to enjoy as much time with the Persian as physically possible.

She kissed her long and slow, Jackie always returned the favour and would find her arms snaked around the blonde's neck or waist, just attempting to live in this little safe haven she had built with Gigi over the past week.

"You want to go and get some food? Your fridge is looking just a little empty."

"If it is not a bother with you to make the stop."

"You're never a bother," Gigi mumbled before kissing her forehead as she grabbed her hands, interlocking them as they began to race once again to the blonde's house just across her complex.

Gigi hopped on to her bike, inserting the key in the ignition of the motorcycle. She turned on the fuel petcock before she turned the key to the ignition. Jackie jumped on behind her, her arms around her partner's waist before the blonde began to ride off out to the familiar streets once again.

— *.✧

"How is it back home? I heard about some stuff on TV and wanted to check on you earlier," she whispered near her earlobe as Jackie winced, not wanting to even give it the time of day currently.

"It is not something I wish to think about at the moment…" Jackie admitted with a somber tone as she picked up three entire bundles of spinach. The blonde nodded in response, apologising, though the Persian chuckled with a bright smile growing across her lips.

"Don't apologise for this, none of it is your fault. I appreciate you trying to stay educated and up to date for me."

Gigi grabbed two entire bars of chocolate with a slight smirk plastered across her face. She didn't want to admit to Jackie that she truly couldn't care less about politics until the day they had met.

The blonde was far too young and dumb to even know half of the vocabulary used, but seeing Jackie every single second of her life fighting to even stay alive and not get beat up on the street, not get heckled or screamed at - it was powerful.

I was so sheltered and normal my whole life, I didn't even realize that this stuff can even happen in America so frequently.

She truly hadn't felt herself become so well educated in politics since having to pass her senior year exam on the American government and current economic system. Crystal had always pushed her to become more and more educated even as they both would skip to the bleachers and smoke every cigarette possible, watching the jocks run miles on the track.

"I'm Mexican, I have to see all of this criticism on TV, I'm not just going to ignore it. I live my life truthfully and speak up, I suggest you do the same."

Crystal's words had always hit hard and now they felt like a punch right in the stomach when she would kiss Jackie.

"Do you possibly need any more sweets?" The Persian teased as she noticed half of their basket filled with American candy and deserts.

"Don't test me," the two of them giggled as they headed for the check out, Jackie bit down on her lip as Gigi added one more sweet to the basket, noticing the judging look from the Persian beside her.

"How very dare you."

— *.✧

The two walked out as they managed to successfully collect all of the groceries in two plastic bags, Jackie squatted down as she began to tie them to the throttles of the motorcycle and Gigi leaned against the front of her bike, paying no mind as the sun began to set across California.

There was a light conversation between two men and the Persian girl, the blonde feeling a heavy uneasiness build in her stomach as she looked away, trying not to look completely and utterly defensive of her friend.

Her fingers slipped in her back pocket, a slight relief building over her as she realized her pocket knife was still present in case of any funny situation.

She heard Jackie yelp and turned immediately on impact of hearing the noise realizing that some asshole decided it would be absolutely hilarious if besides the subtle catcalling they would grab her wrists and try to touch her.

"Leave her alone," Gigi yelled with firm anger, her fingertips fixated on her collar as the two men made eye contact and only ignored her, as if she was a brick wall.

I know I look young but Jesus.

"I said leave my partner alone you fucking prick," she yelled seeing the clear level of discomfort build across Jackie's face as she walked over to them, kicking the one male right in the shin as he crumbled beneath her.

Partner… shit.

"On the bike, now ," was all Gigi muttered before she spit on the man beneath her, beginning to walk back to her motorcycle before the other man; far bigger and stronger than she was dug his fingers into her wrists—she was pulled back to where she had been standing as the older man took a punch right at her eye.

"Fucking lesbo," he muttered as Gigi bit her lip, feeling both men get up and laugh about how weak and pathetic the blonde was.

She could hear Jackie scream but the blonde was absolutely determined she wasn't going to let her guard down. She had utterly snapped upon hearing their response, knowing her choices were to either let them win this fight or leave them absolutely regretting they ever even touched her or Jackie.

I'll go with the second option.

Gigi grabbed the pocket knife from her back pocket before she slit the leg of the man in front of her, Jackie gasped as she covered her mouth. The blonde kicked his knee cap before hearing something crack as he collapsed to the concrete.

All of this and yet no one had even tried to stop them or noticed.

"Fucking prick," she screamed in utter prolific disdain as she sent the other one to the ground, the two of them fumbling. The final straw had been one of them attempting to apologise as his hands strayed down to her hips.

"Your girlfriend is pretty but I can definitely change your mind."

She felt absolutely no remorse as she stabbed him in the shoulder, kicking him to the ground as she bolted for her bike.

Jackie grabbed the knife, putting it back in the blonde's pocket as her entire body seemed to be shaking, Gigi wiped the blood off of her cheek as she started up the bike again.

The two men were left completely crushed and down on their luck and the blonde could only keep silent as they rode off back to the complex.

"Gigi," she whispered at a stoplight, feeling the cool wind against her hair as the blonde stood silent. "Can we talk about all of that?"

That entire ten minutes felt like three hours and Jackie was more horrified about Gigi's injuries than anything else. The blonde made the turn to the familiar street.

"Not now."

— *.✧

Narrowly escaped a homophobic attack, what an American dream.

Jackie stared down at her fingers, swallowing a breath as she realized that there were still a few scratches and bruises that showed up across her skin. She hadn't been hurt even an inch as bad as the blonde beside her.

Gigi sighed, inhaling her cigarette as she stood in the doorway of the old and deserted barn that her father wanted to transform into another recreational center.

"Gigi, you can't just punch people and throw them to the ground like that…"

The blonde fidgeted with her burnt out cigarette as she blew out the puff of smoke near the cascading scene of rain unfolding in front of the two. "He was yelling too loud," Gigi said cooly as she leaned against the chipped away, red exterior wall.

"Not to mention he was being a fucking prick."

"Gigi I don't appreciate violence, that's the thing I fled in the first place from," Jackie yelled, frustrated, as she glanced at the younger woman's purple and blue bruise that was beginning to show up under her eye as Gigi rolled her eyes.

"You don't have to keep staring at my bruise, I'll be fine. I hope that fucking dick suffers with his broken knee cap. Regardless of where you came from, the violence in this situation was justified."

"I'm not going against the first rule of my religion," the Persian hissed as she threw her friend's dead cigarette butt straight in the scene of heavy rain as the American gasped, explaining that she had just littered.

"What are your parents going to say?"

"I will handle this, nothing some makeup can't fix. If not, I'll just say it was a riding accident!"

The older woman's stomach twisted: she didn't even want to even think about what plan Gigi had to try and explain this situation to her parents.

Jackie brushed her fingertips past the bruise as they were both left breathless and staring into each other's eyes. The rain poured, but every ounce of focus was on the Persian's dark brown and hypnotic pupils that seemed to grow at the sight of their exchange.

"Gigi..." she choked out in a hoarse whisper as her fingers slid into the blonde's wavy hair. She was currently unable to communicate the growing feeling buried at the pit of her stomach in any language.

I want you so bad, I need you.

"Kiss me, we're all alone Jackie," Gigi desperately replied as both of the girls flushed, not wanting to currently think about all of the homophobia raging around the world.

It was almost the eighties, a new turn of the decade; there had to be some grand development of human rights with Stonewall and all the protests and small legal action passed to protect LGBTQ citizens.

Right now it was just the two girls and a rabbit hopping about near them on the grass patch as they stood in complete silence. Jackie pushing away the minute Gigi leaned in to kiss her.

"We will be targeted more than ever," Jackie worriedly cried out, halfway to the verge of tears as Gigi shook her head instantaneously. The Persian grabbed the blonde's collar with her hands as she stared up and down the gently blood-stained pastel motorcycle outfit.

"I will protect you, I won't ever let anybody hurt you," her words crisp and honest and pointed with every emotion, knowing this might be the only chance they would get to genuinely confess their feelings and utter devotion.

Jackie was never one to make a spur of the moment decision, but the minute their lips pressed against each other, she felt every worry of her life and the revolution melt away.

She can't put a finger on exactly what was making her act so odd and completely puddle over the blonde but it hit all too suddenly as they locked lips, Jackie tugging at the blonde's hair.

I'm in love with her… I'm in love with Gigi.

This was a growing cultural difference that the Persian had begun to notice since she moved to California for the time being and since she watched every movie or show that played on the television.

American's would say "I love you," constantly.

It was used for just about anyone and every situation. Jackie had no idea if it was just a compliment in the western world or if it was truly the intimate word and expression that she had grown up knowing was saved only for the moment something clicked.

Jackie knew that this had to be that special moment. Everything clicked.

The blondes lips tasted like cigarettes and cherry chapstick; Jackie was never so turned on by such an odd combination in her life.

Every possible butterfly rapidly bounced in their stomachs as they kissed, acting as if it was the end of the world about to hit and this would be the last time.

Gigi was completely in a euphoric state of mind as she grabbed Jackie's waist and began snaking her lips to her neck. Her lipstick lightly smeared across the Persian's skin as she heard her friend yelp in surprise.

They grabbed each other's hand tightly as Jackie admitted that they should probably not be doing all of this so out in the open, right outside the complexes.

"Your room… please," the three worded response enough to make the Persian completely fly by as she grabbed Gigi's hand gigging, running past the fields as they shushed each other and entered the hallway of Jackie's floor from the back door.

Jackie couldn't possibly open her door fast enough for Gigi's sake as they silently retreated into her room. The blonde did a long and hard take of the hallway making sure nobody saw them enter the room.

Locking the door, she whipped around to the blonde who was waiting to kiss her once again. Their lips smashing together as Jackie pushed aside every awful and anxiety-ridden thought from her brain.

I can't wallow in negativity for the rest of my life.

I need this.

Every thought immersed in getting to be in sync with each other's bodies and the idea of kissing each other all night alone and in secret.

"Your lips are so soft," Gigi grunted as the two continued to kiss, Jackie impatiently unbuttoned her biker jacket as she tossed it across the floor.

Every dream she had of the two of them ending up together suddenly was worth the pull as the Persian huffed, carefully trying to choose her words.

"My… my bed," the words slipped from the Persian's mouth as they both panted, breathing heavy from both the running and the make out session, Gigi going in to kiss her again as she stopped and tilted her head a bit confused.

"What?"

"I want you in bed with me Gigi!"

Jackie almost shouted the response as the blonde gasped, pressing a finger to the other woman's mouth as they both realized they needed to be a bit more conservative with the loud declarations of love in a complex.

"Stay the night."

The reply came in the form of Gigi jumping into Jackie's arms, the Persian shrieked in worry of dropping the shorter woman before she got a good grip on Gigi who was surprisingly light.

"You look so beautiful," she complimented as they became a continuous stream from Gigi as they both made their way to Jackie's bedroom.

The blonde tossed her partner's jacket to the floor, their lips still focused on one another as they naturally seemed to collapse to the bed.

Holy shit.

Everything seemed light and easy from that point on—both of them in awe of each other and trying not to shout out each other's names every two seconds.

Jackie's thoughts occasionally strayed to what her religious and Middle Eastern family would possibly think of her enjoying herself intimately with Gigi. However, thinking about it while you simultaneously are making your partner moan your own name probably wasn't the smartest idea.

I won't let their disapproval define me.

Especially not when I'm about to frivolously pound Gigi into the ground.

— *.✧

"Wow," Gigi whispered in complete awe as she felt her leg brush up against the Persian's.

Jackie's fingers ran down Gigi's bare skin as the blonde gently laid her head in the crook of her neck, occasionally kissing her jaw, trying not to think about all the hickeys or even worse, all the internalized homophobia.

"I never thought I would love a woman again…"

"I never thought I'd get to actually sleep with one," Gigi laughed aloud as they gently brushed lips, turning on her side so that Jackie could wrap her arms around the blonde.

The Persian giggled, unable to hold back her pure enjoyment of the entire situation.

"Would my words be cheap if I said that I'm completely in love with you?" Gigi finally asked as she felt Jackie breathe out a heavy sigh. Whether it was one of disappointment or relief was something that the blonde couldn't exactly pinpoint.

"Love is a strong word for you to use so soon," was all Jackie could say even if she was being utterly and completely hypocritical.

"But it's the truth Jackie," Gigi whispered softly as she attempted not to break and keep her cool and composed facade.

"I don't want your heart broken when I leave eventually," the Persian finally managed to choke out as she kept her fingers tangled in the blonde's hair. "I don't want us to regret being in love."

"You're the only person I've ever said that to, do you really think I'd regret it?" Gigi asked seriously as she laid beside her lover, completely in a limbo between heaven and hell.

Jackie shook her head, impressed to hear that Gigi had never said it before to anyone, though that only proved to make the Persian's heart grow twice the size it already was.

"I love you as well Gigi," she finally mumbled as her lips pressed against her cheek. The blonde left a gentle kiss on her mouth before she cackled, hearing Jackie tell her to stop before she would get ideas again.

This is dangerous... and yet I'm enjoying every second of it.

#rpdr fanfiction #jackie cox #gigi goode #crystal methyd #gigi x jackie #song fic #decades au #seventies au #hotel california #roza #tw violence #s12

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atamascolily · 4 years

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Lily liveblogs: “The Rise of Skywalker”, part one

I only made it through the first hour tonight because I had to keep pausing to yell at the screen.

"The dead speak!" Okay, but I don't get it: how do they know the Emperor isn't a recording or a hologram? Or, I don't know, someone pretending to be him like the "Hand of Thrawn" duology?

"Supreme Leader Kylo Ren" will never not be a stupid title, gag.

So the Sith wayfinder is just... there. In a forest. In a box with a conveniently removable lid. Okay, I'm going to need some context here. (Ironically, this scene was added back into the film to provide context, lol.)

I actually really like the whole "Force compass" idea, although I wouldn't have made it a plot point in my fix-it if it hadn't already been a thing.

Why the hell would you fly a TIE when you’re supreme leader, those things are shitty af.

So he's the Supreme Leader and he just... runs off to Exegol alone? No backup whatsoever?? I guess Hux or the moffs or whatever does all the actual work, lol.

What can I say? Ian McDiarmid's still got it.

10/10 for aesthetics in the evil Sith pyramid ruins. Kylo looks so out of his league.

So Kylo did actually hear Darth Vader's voice in his head.... or thought he did. Wow.Does Kylo recognize the Emperor's voice? Who knows! But the look on his face when Palpatine says he played him is priceless.

It will surprise absolutely no one that I love the secret underground evil lab with Snoke clones floating in tanks and a "Black Hooded Robes" dress code.

The throne reveal with the flickering light and the medical stuff... excellent.

Kylo's really more a follower than a leader and it shows at how quickly he's willing to serve Palpatine.

Uh, Palps, the last time someone ordered Kylo to kill Rey it didn't go well.... I can't imagine you don't know that.

Poe and Finn teaming up to play against Chewie and still losing is delightful. Also: DATING.

Who the hell is Klaud? Should I know their name? What are they doing there on the Falcon randomly?

I gotta say, I love Poe and Finn and Chewie's dynamic in the drop-off scene. Also blasting through the wall. And the aesthetic of the ice planet in general.

Lightspeed skipping's still dumb, though. Like, everybody is totally right to ream them for it.

Rey's flip to the ground when she's done meditating is perfect.

The Leia footage looks like it ought to fit, but it doesn't look right to my eyes, even if though I can't figure out what's off about it in context.

The training course run is awesome, but I can't help wondering how that hood doesn't choke her in the process or at least get in the way. Nice improvised quarterstaff there.

What the hell is this moment with touching Vader's mask and making a connection with Rey, I don't get it. It's clearly meant to be a moment. Both Kylo and Rey have flashbacks to traumatic past memories, but why right at that moment???

Ahhh, I love Connix's new look here.

why is Rey giving the saber back to Leia?? She's totally earned it several times over in the last two movies. And who else is going to use it??(And when did it get fixed, last time we saw it was split in two as a ~metaphor~ or something.)

Aww, Rey's doing her Jedi independent study with the sacred texts that ghost!Yoda told Luke were so boring he was glad that they were burning just to fuck with Luke. (Ghost!Yoda was an asshole. I am offended on Yoda’s behalf.)

Yay for Poe and Rey interacting, but this is such a stupid conflict--or at least a stupid way to have written this kind of conflict. And yet somehow they still have more chemistry when Rey calls him "difficult" than Rey and Kylo have had in two entire films.

Why didn't Rey go on this mission again? I don't get it.

Poe's eyeroll on "Somehow, Palpatine returned" is the best.

Rose says what I'm thinking: "Do we believe this?" GOOD FOR HER.

"Dark science. Cloning." Dark Empire, here we come!

I would have bought Palpatine hiding in the Unknown Regions better if we already hadn't had Snoke hiding out there with an entirely different fleet/organization. Even assuming Snoke is Palpatine's puppet, how could Kylo not... notice?? Maybe he's just that self-absorbed.

And they only have 16 hours before the attack. What a stupid arbitrary deadline to create suspense that ALSO makes no world-building sense. Got it.

(There are times when adding a deadline is a smart narrative choice and there are times when it is stupid. Guess which one this is.)

How does Rey connect Exegol to the books? I feel like the movie skips a step or two in explaining that.

What is Maz doing here?? I thought she was a free agent. Wouldn't it have been easier for her to bring the news from the FO mole, since she's usually the Agent of Exposition in these films?

Looks like the start of a Fetch Quest! Wow. Like I said, I really like the idea of the wayfinders, but not the execution. Also, way to shit on Luke for not finishing the job earlier.

What sort of relationship do Rey and Poe have that Poe is just casually gonna go along with her? I'm not complaining, I just would have liked to see some build-up... literally anywhere.

Finn invites Rose to come along... and she conveniently declines. WTF. I mean, there could be some UST here if you squint and I don't like this pairing, but... I don't get why she declines, except plot, I guess.

Poe is rocking that scarf action.

Leia gives the saber back... all of Leia's scenes with Rey are literally the same. I think that's what bothers me. They just.. happen and they're all the same, because they're re-using old footage, and it doesn't quite fit the context of the narrative. And we just saw Rey give Leia the saber, so it doesn't quite pack the emotional punch it ought to when Leia gives it back so quickly before Rey has "earned" it. WASTE.

Kylo with the Knights of Ren, re-forging the mask he discarded in the last movie with the help of someone from... Planet of the Apes, I guess. Oh, hey, and there's no context or characterization for the Knights, they're just faceless background minions.

Also, WHY DO THE STORMTROOPERS CALL THEM "GHOULS"? That would actually be interesting to know why!!!

This movie is a bunch of ideas held together with duct tape and the barest streams of logic.

The moff council: most awkward meeting ever. Hux is legit trying not to laugh the entire time. Also, you can easily pick out the New Asshole Villain we're supposed to hate instead.

Kylo snaps at the one moff who actually asks a sensible question, lol, about Palpatine's ulterior motives. Kylo announces he's going to just fuck off with his biker gang to hunt for Rey, because it's not like he's Supreme Leader and actually in charge of anything...

Oh, hey, Space Burning Man. How about that. Poe actually facepalms, lol. ... How did they not notice that when they were landing??

There are just random First Order patrols on Pasaana? Really? Wouldn't they... I don't know, stand out? I need more context, this worldbuilding is so confusing.

Oh, fuck, Poe suggests they split the party, that's a terrible idea. I get that you're supposed to be a spymaster as well as a hotshot pilot, and your colleagues aren't exactly subtle, but...

All the aliens on Pasaana look like Ganesha, lol. I actually like the scene with the kid, because you can see how it pains Rey not to have a family--it's a good scene, it's just in the wrong place.

Geh. Time for more Force(d) Skype sessions with Kylo Ren, sigh.

"Serving another master?" Rey has Kylo's number 100% right there.

Oh, okay, so apparently they saw each other's worst moments in that vision sequence, got it. Still no good reason as to why, though or what Darth Vader’s mask had to do with it.

Kylo sounds like such a stalker here. Scratch that--he IS a fucking stalker here. I don't find that attractive at all. "When I offer you my hand again, you'll take it" is a THREAT, and I want to deck him, especially since it’s very clear it will come true (but the context will have changed, which is supposed to make it okay, but is still gross to me).

What the fuck it got worse, he actually touched her and pulled the necklace off GROSS. (Also, HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE???? Didn’t Luke die from pushing himself through space like that???)

Like how does the stormtrooper just start pointing a gun at them and nobody in the crowd notices? And nobody bats an eye when Lando shoots the stormtrooper, either. What?? And that stormtrooper was just patrolling by... himself? WHAT?

This fetch quest is SO STUPID whhhhhhyyyyyyyyy

Makes sense that Luke would hunt down a "Jedi Killer" except... what Jedi did this Ochi fucking kill? All of Luke's students died when Kylo destroyed the temple, so who was left to kill???? I DON'T GET IT. Also, is Ochi a Sith himself, or just in the employ of the Sith? NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE.

How does Poe know where Lurch Canyon is? Do they have local planetary maps in the Falcon??

Poe would 100% know how to hotwire a speeder. But why do they have to take two of them??

How come this is the first time FINN has seen a FO stormtrooper with jetpacks? Is he mad that they never gave him one???

Personal jetpacks are one of those things that sound cool, but are actually really difficult to work with in practice, lol. I can't imagine strapping something that explosive against my back.

Wait, Rey is able to shoot out an entire craft with a small hand blaster??

Ochi's ship is just... there. On the rocks. the entire time. I guess there aren't any scavengers on Pasaana.

Conveniently, they only start sinking in the sand once the trooper is no longer firing.

"Rey, I never told you..." what?

what is the point of the exchange with General Leia to build tension wtf. But Rose is just there, I guess!

Poe's eyeroll when Rey turns on the lightsaber and he flicks on his lamp and realizes... hers is bigger. LOL.

Poe is so jealous of Finn and Rey, it would be cute if he weren't an asshole about it. Finn's like "tell us about all the shifty stuff you do" which would make more sense if the films actually showed us spymaster stuff in action instead of just talking about it most of the time. (Yes, I know, there was that mission to get the map at the beginning of TFA, but that was... it? And also two movies ago, so hasn't played a role in character development since. FINN got the spy mission in the last film.)

that dagger is... just conveniently there, huh.

Rey gets a vision when she picks up the dagger, she is TOTALLY A PSYCHOMETRIST, fight me.

Why would you put the location of the wayfinder on a dagger, this makes no fucking sense, this fetch quest is so dumbbbbbbbbbb. Also Threepio's programming is such a STUPID OBSTACLE TO OVERCOME on so many levels gaaaaaahhhh.

We're a half-hour in, and most of the movie so far could have been cut without missing ANY of it, fuck.

Threepio yelling "Serpent!" is actually kinda funny to me, but not in this particular context.

I really love the serpent-creature-sandworm-thing and I'm just sad this side quest has so little relationship to anything in the actual main plot because THIS COULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING. Also, convenient healing magic time! (Introduced here so it seems like less of an asspull later.)

Rey is just so casual about how she transferred a bit of her life energy to the worm. Does it come back? Is it renewable? Is this permanent? I NEED MORE CONTEXT THAT THIS. I feel like I would be hella shaken to realize I’d just done something like this.

If the Knights of Ren had any distinguishing features or personalities, I'd be more nervous about them, but no, they're just mooks with better armor.

So they just assume the FO is watching the Falcon instead of impounding it? Seems like a bold choice, but okay. And what are the Pits of Grig?

Between the lightsaber when Rey was healing the worm and her bag and staff just now, Finn is really just there to carry Rey's things, isn't he? What a WASTE. I HATE THIS SO MUCH.

And the Sith ship... just works. Hasn't been scavenged or damaged at all in years. Okay then.

Gotta admit, I love Rey wandering off into the desert, lightsaber on her belt and blaster on her side holster like a badass.

Finn says, "It's Ren," and I'm like YEAH FINN, but also.. how does he know? Lucky guess? Process of elimination. LET HIM HAVE THE FORCE YOU COWARDS.

Oh, the FO captured Chewie and now they conveniently have the dagger. Sigh. THIS STUPID FETCH QUEST.

Rey's leap over Kylo's TIE is fucking EPIC and I love it. Sadly, Kylo is not dead for some reason despite his ship fucking exploding.

Also FUCK YEAH Rey just grabbed the ship out of the SKY with the FORCE, she is not fucking around. Of course Kylo starts playing tug of war and it explodes, and everyone's devastated except there were TWO TRANSPORTS in the last shot, so I'm just like... I see what you did there.

Also, the same thing happened the LAST time Kylo and Rey tried to play tug of war with an object (the Skywalker lightsaber, which Rey re-built off-screen, so you'd be forgiven for forgetting that happened--which again, would have actually been interesting instead of all the handoffs to/from Leia) so LITERALLY NOTHING HAS CHANGED, so I don’t even understand what the writers are trying to accomplish here.

Also, why does Kylo go for the ship instead of trying to Force choke her directly?? I don't get it.

i'm sad she doesn't bring the transport down on his fucking head, lol.

Wait. Force lightning. She pulls FORCE LIGHTNING??? wtfffffffffffffff?

Where the FUCK did Kylo go while Rey's angsting over Chewie? Was he even there to begin with? What is reality in this movie? What the FUCK??? (Normally, questioning reality would be my jam, but that's not supposed to be a theme of this movie.)

Nope, he's just standing there, not attacking her, because... why?? He's scared and horny because she blasted Force Lightning, and he thinks she's about to turn it on him? (I WISH.)

And he just... lets her go... WHY????????????

Meanwhile, in an asteroid field, Finn and Rey are having a moment, and it's really sweet, and maybe it's just my shipping goggles talking, but would this pairing have been so bad? It would have been so great instead of what we're getting with Kylo. Sigh.

Rey also has a vision of the throne room of the Sith with her and Ren as emperor and empress, gag, gag, gag. John Boyega looks so sad, here, and dude, #same.

Threepio uses the word "sinful" to describe the procedure they're going to use on him, which... actually says a lot about droids in this universe and I am drowning in feels.

SO NOW THEY'RE GOING TO KIJIMI FOR THIS STUPID FETCH QUEST AAARRRRGGGHHHHH dagger macguffin blew up and this quest is still not ovvvveerrrrrr

(I actually don't hate this movie as much as I hated TLJ - this is still dumb, but it's dumb in a way that is just dumb, as opposed to TLJ, which was still dumb but trying to be clever and smart and special and sophisticated about by winking knowingly as it "subverted expectations" by shafting all of my faves. This movie doesn't have the self-awareness to wink.)

They all clasp hands and I'm supposd to feel something but I don't because the group bond doesn't feel real to me or developed or EARNED, and also Threepio rushes in to join them and they're about to shaft him (and he already had that conversation with Artoo about how Artoo was his only real friend, sob). sigggghhhhhhhh.

They only have 8 hours to save the world and it takes HOW long to fly to Kijimi in that derelict ship? Just asking.

But somebody EVVILLLL was following them the whole time, lolololol.

D-O looks like a lamp, but he and BB-8 bond over being Round Things, I guess.

Rey tries to reassure D-O that he's safe, but considering what they're going to Kijimi to do to Threepio, I'm not buying it.

(Apparently, since Han and Luke are dead, and Leia's off-limits for the moment, it's Threepio who gets shafted in this film? Sigh.)

I actually like the landscape of Kijimi, even though it feels more like Disney World with fascism and snow than an actual place. Maybe it's just because Poe looks so good in that hooded jacket.

Zorri can't resist Poe when he looks at her like that. Oscar Isaac's just that good. I literally don't know why this character is here except to provide an unncessary love interest, though.

Poe as a spice runner (aka drug smuggler) is SO STUPID and also MAKES NO SENSE WITH THE REST OF HIS ESTABLISHED BACKSTORY. Also, like... way to make the Latinx character the classic stereotype even in a futuristic space film. Like, you have to go OUT OF YOUR WAY to do that. gag

Funny that Rey doesn't ask the translator droid WHO'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER what Babu Frik says.

So Sith is a language now? Why do the Sith have their own secret language and the Jedi don't? What are the Sith in nu!canon? A culture? A cult? Is the Rule of Two still canon? WTF is even going on here??

Threepio deciding to sacrifice himself to save the world breaks my heart, especially since he's trying to console himself by calling the party his "friends". YOU DESERVED BETTER, THREEPIO, I'M SO SORRY.

Poe and Zorri are up on the rooftop... she's still wearing her helmet. I'm not sure why you cast a famous actor if you're never going to show their face, but whatever, fine. Zorii says the FO took all the kids, and she's going to the "Colonies", whatever that means. I'm not sure how that's possible, this world-building really sucks. Would they take ALL the kids? Somehow, I doubt it. Even the rich kids? What about the non-human ones? What is the FO's relationship to Kijimi, anyway??? I DON'T GET IT.

Oh, hai, another macguffin. This one's a FO captain's medallion, which lets you land anywhere. And she's just going to give it to Poe because... he's just that hot.

Why did the Emperor put a wayfinder on ENDOR of all places. (Okay, it's not the "forest moon" of ROTJ, it's Kef Bir or something like that, but still. WTF.)

We're an hour in and this fetch quest is still GOING. WHHHHHHHHYYYYY.

I'm surprised Rey hasn't realized that Palpatine has made contact with Kylo and doesn't just fed-ex herself to him and pretend to join him so they can go visit and she can destroy Palps. I mean, that TOTALLY worked in the last film, right??? Why wouldn't she do that again???

(Alternately, there's stealing Kylo's wayfinder, which again nobody seems to consider as an option. Do they not know about that one? I'm sooooo confused.)

"Only this blade tells" is super-creepy in that robotic monotone, y'all.

There is literally NO REASON for Zorii to give up her dreams by proxy through the medallion macguffin except that Poe is so hot. No reason at all. Sigh. SHE COULD COME WITH THEM BUT SHE DOESN'T, BECAUSE PLOT. She’s literally a living plot device instead of a character and I hate it.

#star wars #WHY DISNEY WHY #lily liveblogs

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ridiasfangirlings · 4 years

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Ooh I love a good fantasy AU. So say Yata is a fire elemental and Fushimi a water elemental who live in opposing kingdoms. The border between the land of fire and the land of water is a place filled with nothing but mysterious plants and strange glowing mist and it's the one place where both water and fire can exist simultaneously without any kind of pain. Fushimi was abandoned there as a child, he wanders along the very borders of the water kingdom as this lonely lost elemental. One day he runs into Yata, who was playing near the fire border and was dared by his friends to cross over into the water lands. For a long time things have been tense between the two kingdoms, ever since Fire King Mikoto came down with this strange sickness after a meeting with Water King Munakata. No fire elementals have crossed the border since that time but Yata's not going to look like a wimp so he flies across the border. He's all proud of himself but then he gets attacked by one of the strange monsters that lives in the borderlands, Yata almost gets eaten but he's saved at the last moment by Fushimi, who just happened to be in the area and was also targeted by the monster. Yata's super thankful for Fushimi's help but Fushimi just clicks his tongue and says he only was saving his own skin, and he has no interest in dealing with fire elementals.

Yata's annoyed at that asshole water elemental but he's also thankful still to Fushimi for saving him and he wonders if Fushimi's living all alone in this place. Fushimi says it's none of Yata's business and Yata's like fine, stay here all by yourself then. Yata flies off but he keeps thinking about Fushimi all alone in that dangerous land and he ends up risking danger to return there to see Fushimi again. Fushimi doesn't get why Yata's so interested in him, no one's ever cared about Fushimi before and water and fire elementals aren't compatible at all. Yata thinks Fushimi's really amazing though and wants to know more about him, he feels like Fushimi knows all kinds of things that Yata's never even thought of but then at the same time Fushimi seems ignorant of things that should be obvious. Eventually Yata manages to break down Fushimi's walls a little and the two of them are able to become friends.

Slowly Fushimi begins to realize that his feelings for Yata might be deeper than friendship but he refuses to recognize it, because he knows that fire and water elementals really can't be together – even as close as he and Yata are they can never touch each other due to their opposing natures. Eventually things start coming to a head when Yata is invited to join Mikoto's court, meanwhile Fushimi is also discovered by Munakata and brought into the court of the water elementals. Fushimi doesn't tell Yata this though because he's worried that Yata will abandon him if he knew, since Yata hates Munakata so much. Meanwhile though Mikoto is getting sicker and Yata starts spending more and more time with him in the fire court, which leaves Fushimi waiting for him in their usual spot and left all alone.

Finally Mikoto dies and Yata goes back to see Fushimi, super upset about how that asshole water elemental killed his hero. Something in Fushimi snaps, his hands clenching as he realizes that Yata's been neglecting him the whole time for Mikoto and feeling like his relationship with Yata is just doomed anyway because after all they can't even touch. And besides, if Munakata's touch could kill Mikoto what could happen if Fushimi ever let Misaki get too close (and maybe when Yata shows up after Mikoto dies he does try to touch Fushimi for comfort and Fushimi almost gives in). Fushimi decides he needs to destroy this friendship in order to save Yata and he tells Yata that he's been working for Munakata and that he's been using Yata to spy all this time, laughing as Yata stares at him in heartbroken betrayal.

They separate and soon a war begins between the fire and water kingdoms. Fushimi doesn't care about defending the kingdom, all he wants to do is have the chance to fight Yata and make Yata hate him even more, because that way he knows Yata will be safe from him. Except the more they fight the more Fushimi notices that Yata's becoming weaker and weaker, his flame fading in the same way Mikoto's did and Fushimi probably thinks that he somehow 'infected' Yata even after all he did to save him. Munakata notices Fushimi's worry and tries to speak with him over it, Fushimi rebuffs him and scoffs over how Munakata can say such things when Mikoto died because of him. Munakata reveals that in fact he didn't kill Mikoto – he was trying to save Mikoto, whose flame began to die after his close confidant and former lover Totsuka was killed in the borderlands. It turns out that fire elementals are weak to a sickness that will cause their flames to begin to die if their hearts become broken and even finding a new love afterward can't stop it. Fushimi realizes that in trying to save Yata he may have doomed him and Munakata tells him that there is one chance, for someone who may wish to search for such things – Mikoto would not let Munakata do it, because he didn't want Munakata to risk his own body for it, but legend says deep under the borderlands there's a sacred flame that can rekindle the fire of an elemental suffering from the sickness. The sacred flame is only reachable by a water elemental, but the water elemental who touches it risks their own body evaporating away.

Munakata offers to show Fushimi the way to the sacred flame but Fushimi refuses, even so Munakata gives him a knowing smile and leaves him behind this map in the form of a puzzle. Fushimi stares at the puzzle for a long time and then begins to piece it together, traveling to the borderlands once more. It's there he runs into Yata, all weak and flickering out due to his sickness. Yata doesn't understand how Fushimi could betray him this way and Fushimi calls him an idiot, if he'd never tried to be kind to Fushimi in the first place this wouldn't have happened. Yata doesn't get what Fushimi means and Fushimi clicks his tongue all 'And me, I'm a bigger idiot,' right before he dives down into the glowing mist. Yata tries to follow him but doesn't have the strength, Fushimi meanwhile can feel his body being destroyed even as he keeps flying downward to where he finally finds the sacred flame. He takes it in both hands and gives a bitter smile as he slowly makes his way back up, by the time he reaches Yata his body is almost gone.

Yata flies straight towards him, shocked and frantic as he sees that Fushimi's fading away. Fushimi weakly calls him an idiot and pushes the flame towards him, it merges into Yata's chest and suddenly his fire begins to burn stronger than ever. Yata doesn't even care though, all he can see is Fushimi apparently dying in front of him. Fushimi weakly calls Yata an idiot and tells him not to cry, Yata's like shut up you asshole why did you do this for me. Fushimi opens his mouth but all that comes out is 'Misaki...' before he starts to fade. Yata yells his name and for the first time he takes Fushimi's hand, saying he can't lose Fushimi and that he's always loved him. Suddenly all the mist around them freezes, rushing in and swirling around Fushimi as his body returns to normal, Yata's love having restored Fushimi the same way Fushimi's love restored Yata.

#sarumi #Talking K #yeah I eat this shit up :P #ahh I wanna draw them this sounds so cool #and then afterward Yata and Fushimi are able to touch each other #bc their love like merged their natures slightly #and together they stop the war and bring about peace and all that

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airlock · 5 years

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airlock grades the Conqueror archetype

and this one will wrap up the series! or, perhaps, trample it with iron boots -- because this is the realm of the ones who declare the wars, control the huge empires, storm the protagonistic homelands!

(do note: under cut are spoilers for… everything, and also a significant amount of me criticizing or blamming characters that you might like. you’ve been warned! but all hope is lost; whether you read on or not, I will post this and you can’t stop me. ahahahahaaaa!!)

the scourge of akaneia

(8/10)

Medeus is the launcher of some sort of an archetype of his own, in the sense of the big honking draconic/demonic being whose defeat seals up the plot, but he also distinguishes himself very much from that pack -- in that he’s never really idly awaiting for the endgame to come, but instead, he’s pushing the buttons and making things happen, even if his signature pose is the lazy villain slouch.

he’s easily one of the stronger villains in the Akaneia saga -- active, intense, and, quite rarely for this point in technology, a splendid realization of the motivations that drove him to villainy. it’s hard to disagree that he did the “as long as there’s evil” clincher better than Loptyr.

the scourge of valentia

(6.5/10)

the remakes have breathed much of the good and the bad of the series’ modern instances into the man who knocked Mycen up.

there’s a frequent criticism of Rudolf in that the convoluted plots he weaves, leading up to his death, make no sense and feel like deliberate plot behavior; I’d say Shadows of Valentia does good on clarifying the need for all of his scheming, though, as he has to contend with a decadent church that steadily eclipses his crown’s influence and has the furthest possible goals from his.

the problem, of course, is that all of this clarification comes about in the fashion that these things tend to on this side of Awakening: past the point when it’d have fang. why only have the red-armored reindeer start acting like Alm’s father right at the time of the final showdown? there was plenty of time to build him up in the cutscenes before that, but we waste all of that time on him bullying his nephew instead. and that particular thing ends up making no sense at all!

it sucks not only for making Rudolf weaker as a villain, but also for how much it cheapens Alm’s subsequent drama. we’re really supposed to buy that he’s all torn up about committing patricide, when the father he killed was no father to him at all except for a half minute before croaking? and seriously, this time, all the people being like “don’t judge him too harshly” after Alm went and killed him just end up sounding fiercely insensitive to him.

and last but definitely least, seriously, his older sprite was better lookin’.

the scourge of akaneia, book II

(6/10)

what, you give me a chance to use that gif, I use it, plain and simple-

ahem! so what to make of our here fallen hero? his tragic downfall is quite compelling, truly striking as a situation that no particular individual can be blamed for but was merely the sad result of the trappings of the system. alas, that much is cheapened quite a bit when the result of it in actions tends to run the gamut of arbitrary villainy; it feels like the last real character-informed action in his arc is when he finally gives in to the Darksphere, and from there, it’s all because plot.

still, having a formerly playable character turn crooked as a main plot point is a player punch that other titles have rarely shown similar bravery to pull off, and that’s very much to merit. Shadow Dragon even goes the distance in trying to strengthen the punch by giving Marth and Hardin one or two tidbits of extra dialogue with each other, but those sadly end up landing quite stifled and fail to contribute to the buildup.

it has to be said, though, I really hate how this side of the remake makes his evil self look like a lunkering zombie when old Mystery of the Emblem dodged the gonk and gave him some kind of sexy vampire look instead. that was working better. so I guess that makes Medeus the only one of the list here who didn’t strike the remake fortune with a worse character design?

the scourge of jugdral

(11/10)

Arvis is my favorite Fire Emblem villain bar none. he’s the full package, and should be zenith to with any antagonist in this series aspires to.

starting off, he boasts an extensive backstory that not only establishes his motivations, but even his personality, his neuroses. but what’s better yet is that he’s such a good villain, he carries himself perfectly in the game proper despite most of the detail of what made him who he is falling to the wayside of additional material. none of that text exists to make right the deeds that he gets up to, too; it’s hard to blame him in the end, but he’s not to be absolved, anyway.

he’s also masterfully crafty, and unlike certain toadies I’ve covered earlier who dip into his pool and pretend to be the real mastermind, he’s out there doing exactly what needs to be done in order to turn the bickerings of his continent into a cycle of mutual destruction that naturally pulls him all the way to the top. you know how, if you get enough of the gang killed, you can have an ending where Seliph ends up having to take over the whole continent, leaving him stuck being Arvis 2.0? folks sometimes call that a “wtf seliph” moment, but I’d call it the crowning excellence of Arvis’s schemes -- his M.O. is never to take over the empire, but ever to undermine the existing leadership so thorougly as to make himself the only option left.

and what’s more: although the zenith of his arc is the stuff of late-term plot twists, this is that rare occasion when the plot twist is done well and doesn’t just ruin the rest of the story because of the secrecy required. the tipping point is built up to very well, with Arvis’s uncertain allegiances and sketchy character -- masterfully played so that he’s suspect, but hard to instantly point fingers at. the cherry on top is when he fakes coming to your aid at the very end, making it so look like that’s his place in the plot, until it isn’t and he betrayed you and murdered everyone. what magnificent brutality!

my god, is this long enough yet? because seriously, I could keep going. I’ll spare you all since we’re not even halfway done with this list yet, but I think I’ve made this much abundantly clear: Arvis is a master class in how to write a primary villain, and nothing less.

the scourge of leonster specifically

(5.5/10)

technically, a conqueror per se he isn’t, but he’s very much occupying a similar role in Thracia 776, as the one who directly made possible the imperial occupation of Manster and also the one who actively pursues Leif.

as far as villains in that particular game goes, Raydrik is one of the better inserted, having been given a place in the story of Jugdral that doesn’t encroach on anyone else’s but still makes him more than relevant enough of an enemy to Leif. it’s unfortunate, however, that having to play second fiddle to a stooge like Veld dials down the extent to which he can seize on that in full.

the scourge of elibe

(4.5/10)

the world’s sharpest fidget spinner has a fairly interesting concept going, specially with how it fits into the grand scheme of Binding Blade -- is it easy to disagree with the misanthropic antagonist, when the majority of the enemies you’ve faced up to that point were the assholes that were supposed to be on your side?

unfortunately, it’s still pretty easy to disagree with Zephiel in the end. I might be thinking of the earlier and more stifled fanslation, but he’s far too stoic to sell the bread that he’s supposedly growing. were that he ever really showed the sorrow and anger he feels at the lot he’s been dealt, and how it compels him to such drastic lenghts as attempting to erradicate humanity itself, he’d have made for a far more convincing villain; alas, depressive emotionless doesn’t really mesh all that great with the sort of arc he’s trying to build.

in fact, it weakens his impact quite a bit that so much of his backstory only ever goes through in the form of his sister lengthily expositing about it; he only gives his own words on the matter obliquely, and the thing ends up landing like it’s a sob story intended to drum up cheap sympathy, even though it actually explains what he’s doing.

Blazing Blade puts in the valiant effort of showing you in actions not words what led him down the path of villainy, but your prequel should not be tasked with the work of establishing you as the villain you are in your actual game.

credit where credit is due, though, this guy’s theme song slaps so hard, you end up in a dungeon with Sophia. in terms of audibly announcing how fucked you are when he’s in the neighborhood, he’s second only to Arvis.

the scourge of caelin specifically

(5/10)

Blazing Blade is mostly about preventing conquests from taking place to begin with, but this guy fits the bill neatly enough, as someone who sparks the conflict of Lyn’s story by making moves on his ambitions.

I can’t help but feel like he could have been written to be more interesting and compelling -- like, if he didn’t look like he’s roughly as close to death’s doorstep as his brother is anyway, and/or if he’d mentioned having heirs of his own that he wished to pass Caelin down to instead of Lyn... or maybe if he dropped the cacklevillainy for a moment to seize on what a genuinely frustrating feeling it’d have to be, being all but the designated heir for 15-odd years and THEN some random granddaughter appears out of nonwhere.

that said, he wasn’t intended to be a particularly complex villain; he’s the tutorial villain, with the tutorial villainy. I ultimately can’t grade him higher than such a role merits, but it’s ultimately understandable that he wasn’t written better.

the wooden scourge of magvel

(7.5/10)

although he’s not actually there at any point of Sacred Stones, it’s not for no reason that Lyon put his undead inflatable doll self to work -- and I mean that both in the pragmatic sense and in the character sense.

Vigarde’s presence is palpable, echoing through the backstories of a great deal of characters and informing their actions and choices for the greater part of the game; that’s a very impressive thing to accomplish without being there in the first place, and it builds him up to quite the solid character.

the scourge of tellius

(8.5/10)

so, this guy’s motivations are kind of wack; the clear intention there to mirror and contrast the protagonist ultimately lands flat, and his ideology does little to impress meaning upon his actions. also, it’s pretty lame that he has all the cool battle quotes he has when only Ike is special enough to actually hurt him. I’m getting the criticism out of the way now because the rest of this is going to be nothing but gushing.

what an incredibly entertaining villain! his great crooked grin never feels like an affectation -- he may be theatrical and cruel, but he has his firm reasons for doing everything he does. and the plot doesn’t tell him what to do; he tells the plot what to do, with flair. and his master plan, if hard to conciliate as an entirely human thing -- again, his ideology doesn’t land that well as an explanation for the things he does -- shimmers in its sheer audacity: provoking a world war in order to intentionally enrage the gods! holy shit. and he almost succeeds, at that.

his backstory is also a point-for: it’s not the sort of backstory that explains things, per se, but it serves instead to establish that Ashnard has been Ashnard for as long as there has been Ashnard, and that’s splendid. not everything has to go all the way to the egg!

right, right, again I’m going to try not to go on forever, but I’d be remiss in not closing with one of Ashnard’s greatest strengths: the banter. this guy has the guillotine-sharp tongue to match the extent to which he doesn’t give a shit about anyone, and it makes for magnificent lines. the part where he tears Bryce a new one and still gets to deploy him to the final battle is easily one of Path of Radiance’s standout moments, in my opinion.

the scourge of valm and good arcs

(1/10)

this guy gets quite compelling dialogue for what’s easily one of the most batshit villains in the whole franchise, and even Awakening itself.

as usual, the game elects to make the parts of his motivation that makes sense a secret for after you kill him -- which not only makes them irrelevant by the time they land, but also make him sound like he’s bonkers while he’s still around. all of his playing at being Rudolf 2.0 lands seriously flat in a story that has otherwise not really established the gods he keeps talking about breaking free from. and once the cards are down, well, he succeeds in being Rudolf 2.0, in that, as far as I hear, Rudolf made a lot less sense before Shadows of Valentia came about; his M.O. of imperialism to prevent the apocalypse is just one big honking what the fuck??. how hard can it be to just tell people about that? who’s going to stop you, Excellus?

and I will also never forgive him for directly influencing his ancestor’s weaker design in the remakes-

the scourgoo

(??/10)

so from where I’m standing, his plot twist also sounds pretty lame, but hey, I’m not going to start rating Fates people now, right

so, how are you all enjoying your brutal subjugation under The Empire (TM)? do you welcome your new militaristic overlords, or are you already mounting the resistance? the ins and outs of what sort of catastrophe we’ll be facing in the upcoming Three Houses are yet to be revealed, but before we set about blaming the crests, what would you expect from the sort of figure who’d be pushing the lances to make it happen? comment what you will through replies and reblogs, but rest assured that you’ll never figure out the master plan behind this invasion... ahahahahahahaaaa!!

#airlock grades the villain archetypes #fire emblem is tagged in this post

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adilynia-kiden · 5 years

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The Trinity Wedding: Part 6

An enormous roar of approval is heard from the gathered crowd and the High-Priestess visibly winces. Indeed, everyone standing on the dais feels the wrath of Condea about to descend.

Instead, everyone else receives the ‘wisdom’ of the Council of Nobles’ Old Man. “I object to how long this is taking. You realize there’s food getting cold right now, right?”

Larcos steps forward to address the bitter vampire in their midst. “Do you happen to have, for once in all your many years my friend, a warm body to return to? In a cage, perhaps? Or, a box?” The audience roars with laughter, much to the other man’s consternation.

"You wanna talk shit, but here’s the deal: They all want to fuck, and we all wanna eat. So–let’s all just agree to shut the fuck up and let them get to fuckin’ so we can get to eating.“

Larcos is about to make a follow-on assault on Condea’s verbal tirade, only to be interrupted by the irritated noble’s thoughts in his head. Sobo'Avill, pay the fuck attention. Shut these assholes up, or this wedding ceremony is going to go down in history as the most rejected match up in Nishanian history; and that’s bad for my business. Understand?

The Baron’s brows rise, more in surprise that the Count is - after his own fashion - attempting to safeguard the Marquis’ matrimonial bliss, but also in understanding of what must be done. Condea falls silent, and Nerenna raises her voice a second time. "Does anyone object to the union of these men and this woman in marital bliss?”

Discreetly, Larc uses a somatically empowered spell to cast a brief but expansive Silence spell across the assembled crowd. Ten seconds pass. Twenty. Thirty; and he releases it in time for Nerenna to turn once more to the Trinity to continue. The time to object passes and the ceremony continues uninterrupted. “Now, that we’ve gotten Count Condea’s request under consideration, I believe it is time for the three of you to share your vows.”

More that satisfied with Teren’s answer regarding holding her hand, the adoring look heats with the weight of his promise for things to come. Good… I’d have it no other way…. There was no other way, as far as she was concerned.

Addie’s anxiety returned with a vengeance as the required path to marital bliss gave open cause for all of Nishan to rise up in defiance of their union if they wished. A thousand terrible thoughts were then personified in a single cry of objection that crushed her heart but didn’t make her posture falter at the reaction from the crowd, no matter how much she might want to crumble.

For Addie’s family, the reaction is no less visceral as their spine snapped straight and every bit of smiles on their faces became neutral and stone like expression, save Tanner who’s green eyes narrowed in defiance of the noble’s outburst.

Teren and Lycan surely felt their soon to be wife’s heart skip and her breathing start to hitch as Condea spoke, only to turn into absolute confusion once more in actually listening to what he was saying. Her certainly wasn’t wrong in his reading of the situation, but she could have hugged Larcos for his quick retort and dousing of the spark that could have sent everything up into flames.

The second time the question was asked, she didn’t breathe, think or move. Ten seconds felt like an eternity, and everything else after that was absolute torture. Only when Nerenna spoke again was the palatable sense of relief enough to break her formidable poise and see her shoulders move down from her ears.

With a deep breath and look between Teren and Lycan that anchored the storm brewing, she waited, as she always would, for them.

With their hands intertwined and bound by the braided ribbons chosen for their ceremony, Teren psychically unifies the Trinity so that their recitation of the traditional Nishanian wedding vows arrives in a perfected chorus of unison; rich with the depth of their love for one another and the precipice of the shared future they stand on. .

“Heart to Heart, Hand to Hand, Bound forever to this land Never to waiver, Always to be, Bound together n matrimony.” "Soul to Soul and Eye to Eye We bind ourselves to this sky Never to waiver, always to be, Bound together in matrimony,” "Blood to Blood, Skin to Skin United are we, until the end. Never to waiver, always to be, Bound together in matrimony.” "Ashes to Ashes, Above and Below Always together, wherever we go. Never to waiver, always to be, Bound together in matrimony.” "Soil to Soil, In Spring and in Fall In life and in death, let us recall. Never to waiver, always to be, Bound together in matrimony.”

As the vows are spoken, even Condea is affected by the emotion pouring out across their collective tongues. Rising from his seat, the vampiric noble calmly exits the ceremony, making a beeline for the Mansion’s roof from which to brood in peace.

Nerenna calmly clears her throat at the conclusion of the Trinity’s perfectly woven notes, smiling as a crystalline film shimmers across her pale green eyes. “Well then. After a performance like that, what more can I say?” She muses before cementing the marriage in proper Nishanian fashion. “By the powers vested in me as the High-Priestess of the Church of Light in the Federation of Nishan, I now pronounce you Husband–” She bows to Teren, “–and Husband–” she turns to bow her head to Lycan, “–and wife.” she finishes, bowing her head to Adilynia and taking a step back before concluding. “You may now kiss your Husband and wife; your wife and your Husband; your Husbands, and your wife.” Snickering to herself, she teases. “I hope I got everyone in there on that one.”

Baron Sobo'Avill triggers a much appreciated and long-delayed spell, and sparks explode high over the top of the Trinity, the Mansion, and the thousands of Nishan Federation’s citizens gathered in and beyond the gates.

Uproarious applause echo for miles in every direction, burdening even the most hard of hearing and reaffirming for As'eh Condea the wisdom of having left before the ceremony concluded. Even from his perch, the roar was stupendously unpleasant. Looking up at the extraordinary array of red, gold, brown and blue lights shimmering and exploding across the night sky, he muses to himself. “Not a bad light show, though.”

For the Praetorium, the moment of the vows arrives with solemn expressions that turn warm in the Trinity of voices that rises above the crowd. Formality is cast aside for the Commander’s arms wrapping around Tanner and Brilaria as they watch their Pixie take the last steps away from them. All three are moved by the vows spoke, so much so that the Confessor and squire’s eyes spill soft emotion down their cheeks that is wiped away by the careful hand of Mal with a knowing and brave smile of his own.

Even for Raelin, the moment is profound and leaves the ginger heathen wiping at the corner of his eyes with one hand, while the other still has yet to move from the braid in his hair.

Anxiety and objections faded away to nothing but the sound of the Trinity’s combined voices rising together to create a chorus of unequivocal love and devotion, that while they could try, none could deny. Together they speak the sanctified vows that would cement a future so hardly fought for, which once had seemed impossibly far to reach for, let alone earn, in the multi-colored cords wrapped around their hands. Word for word, the small Outsider matches the strength, purpose, and reverence of the sacred vows spoken by Teren and Lycan, as if she had always known the words in her heart, but never had reason or cause to speak them.

Until now.

Now, the divinity found in the Nishanian vows spoken between the Trinity is held with all the sanctity one expects of a Light-wielding paladin, the bravery and commitment of a Valkyr, the pride and purpose in a joyful heart, and the promise that would never be broken. Held higher than even the tabard of blue and silver she once coveted, the Trinity’s commitment to one another would stand as the most reverent oath ever promised, and held in exalted rank until the last star fell.

For Addie, the moment is overwhelming, surreal, and seared into her memories with misty eyes; March 19th. The day the most exalted vow she’d even taken, or would take, came not with the promise of armor and glory, but the peace in knowing the places they had promised one another were now fully realized. It settled in her heart and across bonded connection as nothing else ever had, and would ever again. Not even Larcos’s brilliant and beautiful spell catches her attention, nor the thousands that ring in her ears, as the world, and everything in it, became almond and sapphire, and centered on Teren and Lycan. Looking between them as the tears in her eyes threaten to spill over with the profound happiness felt in that moment, the small knights hand finally shifts to wrap more firmly around theirs.

The hand that had stayed so still against theirs curled slowly so the tips of her fingers could brush against the warm skin of her now husbands. The thought and promise of sealing it all with public kiss, doesn’t at all rattle her, but pushes her toes into the ground with expectation of what is to come with the tenderest of smiles for both of them. Yes, gentleman….by all means, do kiss your wife, Addie shared with a laugh between them as the mist in her eyes gathered to send salted tears to her softly blooming cheeks. The singular title that rolled off her thoughts instantly became her favorite and was spoken with such pride and happiness in knowing she was theirs… and they were hers. …and don’t ever stop…

Wait for it… Teren teases, looking down into Adilynia’s eyes.

Lycan stifles a laugh as his heart explodes with happiness. Pretty sure that's Nerenna's line.

#The Trinity Wedding #Teren x Lycan x Adilynia

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behindheremeraldeyes · 7 years

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SasuSaku Month 2017 . Day 01- First Love . Title: Boys Will be Boys . Summary: AU- They are at their high school reunion, and much for his dismay, a certain veterinarian won't take his eyes off of her. They might have grown up, but some things won't ever change. . A/N: Happy SasuSaku Month, everyone!! The biggest and most amazing event of our fandom has officially began, and I can’t wait to see what everyone has prepared! The themes this year are amazing and I’m sure we’re all gonna have so much fun celebrating our ship’s month together! I promise I’ll try not to take too long to finish this time (yeah, right) and I’ll do my best to give you the best fics I can write! Have fun, and don’t forget to tell me your opinion! . . . High School reunions have always been a bother for him.

It’s one afternoon in 365 days where he has to reschedule his entire agenda so he can make it to a weird and noisy reunion that happens for no particular reason. It’s a day where he will meet old faces from people he was supposed to remember, and where the word ‘nostalgia' will be said at least 10 times per minute. People will pretend like they actually miss each other and there’s always that one person who says— but doesn’t really mean— that they should all keep in touch.

How annoying, he thought, with his arms crossed over his chest. Annoying and utterly unnecessary.

With his characteristic, stoic expression spread all over his face, Uchiha Sasuke was standing on the furthest corner of that saloon, watching everything from afar and trying to figure out a way to make time pass by faster. He had tried paying attention to the conversations, giving up, eventually, after realizing everyone was talking about who married who, and what happened to that one kid no one truly remembers.

Unbelievable, he sighed, as his dark eyes drifted around, eventually spotting the one, familiar face, whose name could never be forgotten due to the unnecessary amount of time they meet every week.

Just to make matters worse.

Loud, blond and annoying, Uzumaki Naruto naturally blended in all the conversation circles, laughing and chatting with every single one of their ex-colleagues. As always, he was acting like his goofy-self and it was clear that he was the one cheering up the entire reunion, as a good clown should do. Through the years, his personality only grew friendlier, and for as annoying as it could be, it made him an accessible person for most of the people. He has this contagious aura that makes everyone want to at least talk to him, even if they weren’t really aware of it.

He has always been good at making friends, Sasuke knew.

And he could have chosen any of those cheerful people around that saloon to be his best friend, yet, he decided to pick the grumpiest of them all.

What an idiot, for sure.

Unlike him, Naruto knew how to socialize and how to be a pleasant company around others. He looked everyone in the eye with those sapphire orbs of his, and it was clear that he wasn’t simply pretending to enjoy doing all those things. He really was having a great time with all those old memories, and just like back in their school days, he was having fun with everyone else. Just like always, he was trying to be friends with everyone, something Sasuke was never capable of.

The Uchiha never wanted nor tried to be a nice person around his classmates, and yet, he ended up being the popular one. Girls wanted to be with him, guys wanted to be his friends, and all he has ever wanted was to be the best among them all. It has always been all about him, and apparently, people didn’t seem to notice— or care about that. They even found that attractive, to be honest, not mattering how delusional that could sound.

He used to be an asshole during their school days, and things only changed when a certain pink—

“ Oi, Sasuke!” Naruto screamed, approaching his best friend, who was abruptly brought back to reality. He might have been surprised by such loud words, yet he made sure to show no reaction. “ Are you really just gonna stay here all the time? People will think you’ve become a weirdo.”

“ Tch, shut up, Dobe.” He scoffed. “ I don’t know these people.”

“ Of course you do—ttebayo! They’re our classmates and we haven’t seen them in ages! Aren’t you at least excited to know how everyone turned out?”

“No.”

“ Oh, come on, Teme! You can’t tell me you’re not even a bit curious about your friends.”

“ I know about y-“

“ I don’t count.”

“ I wasn’t just talking about you.“

“ Neither do Ino nor Sakura-chan.”

“ Tch..." He pouted, giving up. "The rest doesn’t really matter.”

A defeated sigh escaped the blond’s lips, and much for Sasuke’s dismay, he leaned next to the Uchiha, their shoulders bumping. As Naruto could notice, his best friend was as grumpy as ever, and if he didn’t do anything, the corner where they were currently standing would be warm by the end of the night. The Uzumaki had to do something to motivate the raven haired man, and even if he didn’t like to use his ultimate trick, he knew better that it would be the only thing that would make Sasuke move.

He would certainly be pissed.

But at least he would talk to a few people.

And it would also be quite amusing, if the Uzuamki were to be honest.

With a smirk gracing his foxy lips, Naruto used his elbow to poke Sasuke’s ribs. He earned a glare from the Uchiha due to the unnecessary amount of strength put on that move, but since he was more than used to that reaction from his best friend, the blond simply lifted the hand he was using to hold a glass of beer, motioning to the man in front of them. Unexpectedly, such gesture captured the raven haired man’s attention, and he followed the direction pointed by the beer, regretting it as soon as his eyes landed on the person in front of them. “ You remember Kiba, don’t you?”

“ Hn, Not much.”

“ Oh, I bet you do. Apart from me, of course, he was the only one in our class who ever fought you for Sakura-chan’s attention and undying love.”

“…” He stared at Kiba, bluntly, trying not to show off any reaction. “ Doesn’t ring a bell.”

“ Bullshit-ttebayo! I’m sure you remember the time you pushed him against the wall and-”

“ What’s your point, Dobe!?”

Listening to the sudden discomfort in the Uchiha’s voice mixed with the deadly glare he was giving their old classmate made it clear to the Uzumaki that, not only his best friend remembered what had happened in their last year of High School, but also that he was still bothered by it. Naruto knew how to get on Sasuke’s nerves, and if he was already bothered by that, then he had no idea of what was still to come.

“ You see… I was passing by and I heard him saying he couldn’t wait to see Sakura-chan again! Honestly, I think he still has a crush on her.”

“ Hn, This is ridiculous.”

“ Why? He’s still single and she just got prettier with the years.”

“ It’s been 10 years. He can’t be that stupid.”

“ Wanna bet?”

“ Do you mean you wanna lose?”

“ Hehe If you say so…” There was a smirk around his lips, and Naruto could see how his friend was dying of jealousy inside. It was just a matter of time until the Uchiha completely succumbed to his words-- which were mostly true-- and when that happened, the fun would finally begin.

It was just a matter of time, Naruto knew.

He has always known.

For the following half hour, the Uzumaki continued to prepare the ground for Sasuke’s eventual explosion. He spoke about all the guys who tried to get to the pinkette and also about the ones she even considered dating back then, not sparing him from any details. He even told him about the time he was drowning and was saved by her kiss of life, making sure to describe how soft and warm her lips felt against his.

Naruto was not going easy on him.

And to make matters worse, the main character of those stories had just showed up.

She arrived by the time Naruto was about to start his last story, capturing the attention of everyone around the saloon. Her hair was still as short and as pink as it used to be back in high school, and the emerald eyes of that girl were still as bright as ever. A light make up was spread over her face, and the delicate, pink dress she was wearing made her look even prettier, as it fell over her mature and feminine body.

Unlike in their school days, the pinkette’s body was no longer something to be made fun of by the other girls, and just like always, her former male classmates couldn’t take their eyes off of the only medic of their class. Sakura was a beautiful girl, and now she’s a beautiful woman arriving late due to an emergency at the hospital where she works at. It was only natural that all the eyes were set on her.

But thanks to Naruto, the way that one, brown pair of orbs looked at her was annoying the hell out of the Uchiha.

It was impossible to tell if the scene happening in front of him was real or if his jealous mind was distorting it, but Sasuke could feel Kiba’s intentions under his gaze. As the pinkette was innocently chatting with her long-seen friends, the veterinarian seemed to be eating her alive with his eyes. He was eyeing her from head to toe as he muttered something to that weirdo who was wearing sunglasses next to him, and as he brushed his chin with his thumb, Sasuke could only feel his anger growing.

Damn that stupid Naruto, he thought.

More than anyone else, the Uchiha should’ve known better that his blond best friend was only trying to mess with him, and that above all, he should keep control of his own emotions.

Sasuke knew he should've kept his cool.

But as soon as he saw Kiba approaching her with that doggy smirk of his, the raven haired man lost it.

It was just like back in High School.

Shouldn’t he have given up already?

His feet had never walked faster than that time, as he left behind not only his sacred spot but also a dumbfounded Uzumaki. Dark eyes were holding a deadly glare, as his hands balled into fists at the sight of Kiba stopping next to her. Sasuke gritted his teeth, now stomping his way towards them.

Damn that bastard. Kiba waited for her friends to leave so he could try and make his move. In his misjudged perception, the pinkette was all alone and defenseless against his charm.

Barely he knew.

“ I can’t believe my eyes!” Kiba started, drawing the attention of her emerald eyes.

“ Oh, hey, Kiba. Long time no see.” She smiled, politely, causing his grin to grow bigger.

Poor veterinarian, she thought, as her eyes caught the sight of the raven haired man approaching them. That was certainly not Kiba’s lucky day.

“ Haruno Sak-“

“ Uchiha Sakura.” Sasuke’s voice was strong and precise, as he pronounced the name of his wife with all its letters. His last name left his tongue like snake poison, leaving the vet completely stunned, much to the Uchiha’s pleasure.

Apparently, Kiba didn’t know he had married the girl during their college years.

Not that Sasuke had invited him for the ceremony.

“ Oh, darling, you’re already here.”

“ You’re late.” He said, stepping closer to her in somewhat of a territorial move. There was a smirk gracing her lips at that moment, as she was clearly aware of her husband’s intentions.

Silly Uchiha, she thought.

But for the moment, Sakura decided to take advantage of his jealousy so she could escape Kiba’s failed attempts to get her heart. He didn’t stand a chance back in high school, and now things were no different.

“ You know I had an emergency at the hospital.”

“ So what? I wanna go home."

" What!? But I've just got here! I wanna talk to everyone and see what's changed."

" Nothing changed. People are still the same."

" We've all changed, Shannarou."

" Hn, you're still annoying, Sakura."

"Tch, and you're still impossible, Sasuke."

An awkward silence suddenly enveloped the three of them after the couple's usual disagreement. Sasuke was still purposely ignoring the Inuzuka boy, who was answering the gesture with a glare, even if it was clear that he was still shocked by the revelation.

It didn't take long for the Uchiha to mirror the vet, and soon, they looked like two dogs showing their teeth. They were acting just like they did in high school, and if she didn’t do anything, those two adults would soon start to fight in front of everyone.

Boys, she thought. They never change.

In a blink of an eye, the pinkette stepped in between them, tugging her husband by the arm. She gave him a warning look, which he acknowledged, yet did nothing about. ” Tch, don’t be rude, Sasuke-kun. Say hi to Kiba.” She said, turning to the vet once more. “ You remember Sasuke-kun, don’t you?”

“ Ye-Yeah…” Kiba started, gulping as the reality sunk in after those heated glares. “ You two are together… I mean, Are you guys—“

“ Married.” Sasuke declared, earning a new glare from his wife.

“ We got married during college. First Loves are impossible to forget, right?”

The soft and kind way she was talking to the Inuzuka boy was slowly starting to irritate her husband. His possessive side was getting tired of wasting their time with him, and more than anything, he just wanted to go home. He had had enough of that high school reunion, and if he could, Sasuke would’ve taken her by the hand and dragged her out of that place and away from that boy.

But since she had yet to meet the Yamanaka girl, Sasuke couldn’t simply take her home. Still, he could take her away from there.

“ I guess… Well, congrats.” Kiba said, faking a smile. “ Wish you both all the—“

“ Sakura.” He held her hand, not even listening to what the vet was talking. “ Let’s go. Ino wants to talk to you.”

“ Eh? But what abou— Ah!“ He started pulling her, almost making her trip over her heels.

“ Oi, Sasuke, you bastard! I wasn’t finished!”

“ Hn.” The raven haired boy stopped and looked back at his high school rival. He was glaring at Kiba, who, for the first time, felt threatened by those cold, dark eyes of the Uchiha.

“ ...You better take care of her, you hear me.”

“ You don’t need to tell me that.”

His answer left both Kiba and the pinkette surprised. Her eyes widened, and she barely noticed when he resumed pulling her across the room. Sakura knew that when he was jealous, anger was the first thing that crossed his mind when replying to someone. He would be cold and harsh, and even if his answer was, indeed, provocative, it was possible to feel a certain companionship shared by that unsaid promise.

Sasuke made sure to tell him he was going to take care of her. The Uchiha told him— the one boy who had explicitly declared his love for Haruno Sakura— that she would be safe with by his side.

Her husband was growing up, she realized, with a smile on her face.

That, or he was simply mocking Kiba for being the one given such chance. Not that he would ever have to, she thought, confidently. Sakura didn’t need to be protected and more than anyone, she was aware of that.

She was aware of her fortes, and most of all, she was aware that Ino had already left the reunion by the time she got there.

Still, she wasn’t going to tell him that so soon.

What a silly Uchiha, indeed.

“ You look cute when you’re jealous, Sasuke-kun.”

“ Tch, keep quiet.”

A giggle escaped her lips, and the sight of her husband's pouting face made her heart flutter in pure excitement.

It was just like High School all over again.

#sasusaku #sasusaku month 2017 #ssmonth17 #ssm17d1 #sasusaku month #ssmonth17fanfiction #myssfics

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justagoddamnbranch · 7 years

Text

Dissension part 4

Words: 2415 (holy moly!) Rating: T for mild violence

Chomper hung up the phone and thanked the postmaster for letting him use it. They just nodded and turned their attention back to the customer they were helping, leaving Chomper to, well, leave. The walk back to the beach wasn’t so bad, it was mostly downhill, but the rocks were getting pretty challenging as he aged. He swore it wasn’t this bad last year...wait no he took a different trail last year. This was the trail he’d used back in high school to get to town. Wow it’s really gone downhill.

Chomper laughed at his own pun before slipping momentarily as a rock fell from beneath his foot.

“Ok, Chomper, focus.” he whispered to himself, and he did just that. All the way back to the reef where he grew up.

The reef wasn’t too bad, most people were pretty kind to him and welcomed him back with open arms. His mother, Maude, seemed a little concerned as to why he was there but she understood once he explained it. The leaders though, god they were a bunch of assholes. The leader of the elder council was the same guy who told him that he couldn’t live on land or he’d be banished from the reef. That sounded a lot more dramatic than it was, basically the guy’s plan was to sully Chomper’s good name until no one wanted him around anymore.

What he wasn’t expecting was that the people weren’t going to listen to him. Chomper’s name already held no creed, and thus was basically worthless. You see, in siren society your worth is measured by what you can provide for the community. That’s another story for another time, the point is Chomper was almost a detriment to the community, but his optimism and stories is what kept him in good prospects. So because he went against this nature, he and the elder butt heads quite a lot.

And technically Chomper wasn’t part of the community anymore.

That was going to change though. Chomper was done being pushed around. He’d realized that everything good in his life he’d had to work for and was initially turned away from doing. He only succeeded in adversity. No more cowing to what other people said, no more getting hurt, it was time for reconciliation or revenge. It only took him almost 50 years to come to this conclusion, and he wished he’d come to it sooner, but hey that’s the past. And this was now.

“Hey Hole,” a voice behind him startled Chomper from his thoughts.

“Oh hey, Funnel.”

Funnel was one of Chomper’s first mates, it didn’t end well but Funnel stayed more or less friends with him after.

“Did not think I was going to see you around here anymore.”

“I come here every year, haven’t you seen me?”

“No, but I am usually very busy so it makes sense why I have not seen you.” Funnel looked around, checking to see if anyone saw them talking, “Why do you come here every year?”

“I visit my mother, and have her talk with my family.” Chomper eyed him, Funnel used to be one of the people who enforced the rules, “And since they’re family, I get a pass.”

Funnel grumbled, Chomper knew there was a reason he was so far out. The elder had probably sent him out to shoo him away.

“Why are you here now then? I do not see your family.”

“I’m here to see Budweiser.”

Funnel nodded, ushering Chomper into the middle of the town into a large underwater cave that formed beneath the reef. It was covered in seaweed, urchins, anemones, and fish that darted around. Lining the hall leading to a clearing there were abalone and oyster shells that glistened, even in the dark. These were obvious signs of luxury to sirens, and it made Chomper a little bit angry that all this was reserved for such an awful man. Once they made it into the center of the clearing, Funnel went on through another tunnel on the other side of the wall while Chomper waited there. He looked around, it seemed like nothing had changed since he was a teenager and was asking permission to go on land to attend high school.

The clearing was almost perfectly circular, except for a couple slabs that jut out here and there. In front of him was a series of stones arranged from smallest to largest in a spiral, with the largest in the center. A few holes dotted the ceiling, and the sunbeams shone down around the spiral and marked where the person addressing the council was supposed to stand. Chomper had always liked the look of sunbeams, he thought the way the light shone of the debris floating around made it look like there was fairy dust in the water. He was glad that crossed over onto land. What he didn’t like, though, was how in here the beams didn’t sparkle as much. It seemed rather ominous, and almost otherworldly. It was too sterile.

Funnel passed through the curtain of kelp, which led to the council’s living quarters, back into the clearing. Behind him followed Budweiser, a stately older male with rather unusual horns and fins. He looked like a mix between a dragon and seahorse, but that wasn’t possible. Not if he were to keep his status as full blooded siren. Budweiser assumed his position above Chomper, behind the tallest rock. He glanced over to see where Funnel was, he was stationed behind one of the smaller rocks, before turning his attention back to the task at hand. He had a sour look on his face as he examined Chomper, and cleared his voice before he spoke.

“Hole, I warned you not to come down here again. You have been banished and except for sacred meetings, you are not allowed in our territory.”

“Yes, I’m aware.” Chomper straightened up to his full height, he wasn’t nearly big enough to intimidate the elder but it felt better to do it anyways. “And I’d prefer to be called Chomper, if you will.”

“I cannot honor that request, as you see, you were bestowed that name upon banishment.”

“And I bestowed the name ‘Chomper’ onto myself when I was married.”

“You know I do not know what that is, and I will not honor landfolk’s tradition here.”

“Don’t worry, you won’t have to for long.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Budweiser purposely let his teeth flash, a warning.

“Well, sir, if you’d allow some background on my proposal before I pitch it.”

Budweiser eyed him suspiciously, “I will allow it.”

“I know you and I haven’t really seen eye to eye, ever. I know you didn’t really want to accept my mother and myself into our school but back then you weren’t nearly as powerful and went with the decision of the current elder.” Chomper seated himself on the sandy floor as he continued, “From there you tried proving that we weren’t contributors. You were angry that my mother was one of the top hunters, despite never have hunting in a reef system before. You were happy though, when it came to light that I wasn’t efficient in hunting.”

“You have no real evidence of that, but go on.”

Chomper glared at him, “That was when you disallowed males to be artisans, which left the only job for me to possibly do was community services. Which, I was found to be unsatisfactory at until it came to child rearing in the nursery. You were very unhappy that I was doing that.”

“You were unsuccessful in every breeding season, how could I trust someone like that to properly raise pups?”

“You allow children to look after pups, do you not?”

Budweiser scowled. “Point proven, I take my comment back.”

“Thank you. Now- when I came to the council all those years ago asking to get permission to go on land, you practically jumped at the chance to use your newfound power to disallow that.”

“It was unwise for you to do so.”

“I did it anyways and nothing bad happened! In fact, only good came from it. I was not only extremely productive on land, but now I have a house and a family and a rewarding job. But that’s not why I’m here.”

“Ah, so this was not a gloating trip?” Budweiser spat.

“No. This is about settling a score. You see, all those years ago I talked over laws with the merfolk elders. And there was a very interesting one.”

Chomper held the suspense, really drinking in the look on Budweiser’s face. He’d been waiting so long to do this, and it felt amazing.

“It said that if I were to fight you, that I could assume some power and you would be taken off the council.”

Budweiser growled, “That is an archaic law, and it is not followed.”

“It was never categorized as archaic, and as such I wish to challenge you.”

Funnel spoke up, “And what would be the stakes?”

Chomper looked directly in Budweiser’s eyes, “Until one of us taps out and is shamed, or death.”

“Feh,” Budweiser waved his hand dismissively

“You say ‘feh’ now. but consider this: you’re twice my size and were much better at hunting.”

Budweiser looked him over, obviously thinking it over.

“Also, this would be your only chance to honorably kill me.”

“...fine. I accept your challenge. We will go over to the flats this moment.”

Chomper nodded, and left without waiting for permission. He went directly to his mother’s house and warned her of what was to come, and not to follow. She followed anyways. It seemed like the entire school did. Funnel and Budweiser were already waiting there, talking between the two of them. When Chomper was within sight, they stopped. Funnel was obviously supposed to be referee, but Chomper had a feeling this wasn’t going to be a fair fight.

“Are you ready?” Funnel looked to Chomper, then to Budweiser.

They both nodded, and Funnel nodded in response. He turned and swam a little ways away.

“Alright, to tap out you must grab my shoulder. If not, it’s to the death. Do you two agree?”

“I agree,” they both said in unison.

“I understand. Now, let the fight...begin!” Funnel whacked his tail on the ground, sending up a cloud of sand as a marker for them to start.

Budweiser came rushing in at Chomper, but didn’t account for his powerful legs propelling him off the bottom. Chomper miscalculated and landed on Budweiser’s back, but worked quickly held fast to the much larger siren with his thighs. Budweiser tried slamming his back against the bottom, but Chomper only gripped tighter, it was starting to limit his breathing. He changed tactics and tried grabbing him by the foot and pulling him off, but Chomper was faster. As he gripped Budweiser’s dorsal fin, he slipped his foot away from his hands and brought them down directly on his gills. Budweiser choked, but Chomper didn’t relent. He kept hitting him over and over and over, until he felt Budweiser’s sides tremble instead of steadily going in and out. He was drowning.

Budweiser was afraid for his life for the first time in years, and from such a feeble person as Chomper. He didn’t want to admit defeat though, and as a final act, was finally able to grab hold of Chomper’s leg. Chomper, however, was ready for this. He was pulled forward, and as he passed Budweiser’s eye he punched it with all he could muster. Budweiser reeled back, and Chomper shuddered, got he hoped he’d never have to do that again. Budweiser let him go, and in his stupor accidentally clutched Funnel’s shoulder. Funnel called out, ending the fight. Chomper blinked, and someone came over to help Budweiser steady his breathing.

Funnel got between them and made an announcement, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, an emergency council meeting will be held immediately. Please, council members, come forward.”

The leaders of the school swam towards Funnel, and Maude came flying over to Chomper. She looked him over thoroughly, but other than a few scrapes he was perfectly fine. She told him repeatedly how proud of him she was, and he started crying. Not really out of sadness though, more out of rage and relief. It was a weird feeling. The rest of the school went to their houses, and once everyone had cleared out the council approached Chomper and Maude.

“Well, Hole, as you previously had no rank this trial has bumped your status up quite a bit.”

Chomper and Maude’s tails perked up, neither of them expected a status change of any measure. Sure maybe being unbanished, but not ‘quite a bit’.

“You are now eligible to train for the starting rank of the council, this-”

“I don’t want it.” Chomper interrupted, both the councilperson and his mother looked surprised

“What do you mean? You could outrank Budweiser some day!” Maude squawked.

Chomper thought about it a moment, “Could she have it then? All I really want is to be a recognized member of the school and to have my name changed.”

The councilperson looked over the both of the, before shrugging. “I do not see why not, it was never specified that you could not appoint someone in your place.”

Maude blinked, before smiling wide.

“And we will honor your new name of Chomper.”

Chomper nodded, but inside he felt ready to burst.

“Good, good.” Chomper sighed before going on, “But I really gotta go now, I’m going to be late home.”

Before the others could say anything, Chomper sped off towards the shore.

The councilperson shook their head, they were utterly baffled by these goddamn hybrids. Maude continued smiling, and followed them back into town to start training for her new position. And to maybe give Budweiser a piece of her mind now that he held no power.

By the time Chomper made it back to land, it was already starting to get dark. He winced, god he was going to be a lot later than he thought. It was too late to use the post office’s phone since they were closed, and no one was milling around town this time of year. Chomper cussed, he was going to have to hope the bus depot would let him use their phone. Either way, at this rate he’d be home at midnight, if that.

He hoped his family was well.

#dissension #chomper #siren #sfw

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serenakbelieves · 7 years

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Blog Tour: Damnable Grace by Tillie Cole

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EVEN THE BROKEN, THROUGH LOVE, CAN FIND GRACE...Secrets never stay hidden.The burden of guilt never lifts from the heart.Born and raised in The Order of David, Sister Phebe knows nothing but cult life. Head of the Sacred Sisters of New Zion, Phebe was groomed from childhood for one purpose: to seduce. Prized as a harlot, as a New Zion whore, Phebe is taken from the doomed cult by Meister, the notorious leader of the Aryan Brotherhood. Taken as his possession. Taken to be the woman who will obey his every sexual demand. Under his heavy hand, Phebe finds herself in a place much worse than she could ever have imagined... with absolutely no one to help. And no glimpse of hope. Xavier ‘AK’ Deyes is content with his life as Sergeant-At-Arms of the Hades Hangmen. Leader of the infamous ‘Psycho Trio’ and ex-special ops sniper, AK knows how to fight. Experienced in warfare and schooled in military operations, AK is vital to the Hangmen. When his Vice President needs help retrieving his missing sister-in-law, Phebe, from a Klan-funded trafficking ring, AK volunteers to go in. AK remembers the redhead from New Zion. Remembers everything about her from the single time they met—her red hair, blue eyes and freckled face. But when he finds her, heavily drugged and under Meister’s control, her sorry condition causes him to remember more than the beautiful woman he once tied to a tree. Saving Phebe forces hidden demons from his past to return. A past he can never move on from, no matter how hard he tries.As AK fights to help Phebe, and in turn she strives to help him, they realize their secret sins will never leave them alone. Kindred broken souls, they realize the only way they can be rid of their ghosts is to face them together and try to find peace.Despair soon turns to hope, and damaged hearts soon start to heal. But when their deep, painful scars resurface, becoming too much to bear, the time comes when they must make a heavy choice: stay forever damned; or together, find grace.Dark Contemporary Romance. Contains explicit sexual situations, violence, disturbingly sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language and very mature topics. Recommended for age 18 and over.

“Well?” Ky asked.Tanner ran his hand over his head. The brother hadn’t attended one of our cookouts or slutfests in weeks. Not that he ever entertained himself with sluts—still too hard for his piece of pussy down in Mexico. He’d been busy trying to track down Meister. Unlike most of the white-power shit Tanner and Tank grew up with, this Meister was untraceable and off the grid. As much of a computer whizz kid as Tanner was, Meister was proving to be one slippery fucking snake to pin down.“Gotta be honest, I didn’t think I was anywhere close to finding anything on this prick.” Tanner nodded toward Tank. “We knew of him, of course. I knew he had dealings with my father and uncle, just never met him myself. He’s Aryan Brotherhood, but works closely with the Klan. And there’s nothing on him. No email traces, no invoices, no texts. Nothing.”I gritted my teeth and glanced at Styx, who was listening closely. Ky wasn’t originally gonna tell the prez about the plan to get Phebe, because of his fucking wedding, but that didn’t last long. Styx knew something was up with his VP. He read him like I read Flame and Vike. So Ky fessed up, and Styx was all for the plan. He’d had to push his wedding back by a month anyhow to get the pastor Mae wanted to conduct the ceremony, so he had time to kill.“But you found something?” Ky translated as Styx signed.Tanner sighed, the black circles around his eyes showing how hard the brother had been working. “I got something.” He shook his head, and my blood ran cold. I knew whatever he had found wasn’t good.Tanner opened the file in front of him and threw a photograph toward the prez. Styx looked at it, then gave it to Ky. “Some middle-of-nowhere ghost town?”Ky passed the picture around. Vike handed it to me, and I studied it. It was an aerial shot, and the picture was grainy, but from what I could make out, it was just a huge piece of land scattered with decrepit old buildings.I passed the picture along. “Fucker owns this?”Tanner faced me. “Yeah, or at least his father did. He’s dead now, but the deeds are still in his father’s name. Been in the family for decades. Took me a while to trace it.” He shook his head. “Meister is notorious among the Klan. Right, Tank?”“Yeah,” Tank agreed. “Never met him either, but we’d all heard of him. Prick has been mobilizing for years for the race war they think is coming. Real serious, Oklahoma-City-bomb shit. From what we’ve heard, the guy has a one-track mind when it comes to advancing the white race. You think Hitler was fucked up? Well, imagine if he had a kid who was one built motherfucker, with a fucking carbon copy of his psycho mind; and you’ve got Meister. Fucker ain’t even German. Just wishes he was, spouting German phrases around like he’s born and bred Berlin. Delusional asshole.”“This ain’t gonna be easy,” Tanner finished, looking at me, Vike, Flame, Hush and Cowboy. It was the five of us who had agreed to go looking for Phebe. Hush and Cowboy nodded at me to let me know they were still in.“So he’s in this ghost town?” Ky asked, translating Styx’s sign language again. “If so, we’ll all just go in and get him, make the fucker talk and tell us where he’s got Phebe.”Tanner sat forward. “He ain’t just living in the ghost town or hiding out. That’s where he has his enterprise.”“Enterprise?” Ky echoed. It was his own question this time.Tanner nodded. “From what I can tell, it’s a fucking brothel. Members of the Aryan Brotherhood, Klan, or Klan sympathizers, can go there for a night or a few days at a time.” Tank shifted uncomfortably next to him. “Ain’t sure, but I’m thinking it ain’t just getting your dick sucked and fucked. It’ll be real fucked-up shit. If Meister’s reputation is anything to go by, we would be walking into an organized, armed hellhole.” Tanner’s eyes darkened. “I get the Klan has a reputation for being full of backward rednecks. I ain’t gonna lie—growing up, most of my father’s cronies were that way. Thick as fuck and couldn’t do shit without screwing it up. Skinheads, lower-ranked soldiers, you know?”“But there were some members that weren’t,” Tank continued. He cast an embarrassed glance at Tanner. “We weren’t, for starters.”Tanner nodded. “It’s not the norm, but some of us were good. Smart, strong fighters, or just outright fucking psychos. The skinheads and rednecks are the foot soldiers. The likes of us, the likes of Meister, are the fucking SS. The planners, leaders, the generals—the ones who believe in the cause so much that they’re fucking lethal with what they’ll do, what they’re capable of. Meister is true Aryan Brotherhood; he’s preparing for war. He’s the real fucking deal.”“And now he’s in our neck of the woods to stir up shit?” I asked.Tanner nodded. “Comes from northern Texas. Never moved our way before. But the Klan are building day by day, joining forces with other white supremacist gangs—like the Brotherhood—and with the shit that’s on the news twenty-four-seven, blacks and whites at each others throats, he’s moved to the headquarters.” The brother’s jaw clenched. “To my father and uncle, who’ll be protecting him from being found out by the feds.” He sighed and ran his hand down his face. “From what I can figure out, this ghost-town brothel of his has only existed in the last year or so. He’s looking to fund something.”“They ain’t dealing guns?” Cowboy drawled. “I thought that’s what Rider said the contract with the cult was for?”“Rider was sure it was guns. At least it was when he was dealing with the Klan—it was all about arms. The Klan was selling them on and taking a cut.”“His fucking twin,” Hush spat. “He changed the arrangement, didn’t he? When Rider was locked up in cult prison?”“Think so,” Tanner said after a few seconds of silence.“Then what the fuck are they dealing? What was Judah giving them if not Israeli guns?”“Women.”

Tillie Cole hails from a small town in the North-East of England. She grew up on a farm with her English mother, Scottish father and older sister and a multitude of rescue animals. As soon as she could, Tillie left her rural roots for the bright lights of the big city.After graduating from Newcastle University with a BA Hons in Religious Studies, Tillie followed her Professional Rugby player husband around the world for a decade, becoming a teacher in between and thoroughly enjoyed teaching High School students Social Studies before putting pen to paper, and finishing her first novel.Tillie has now settled in Austin, Texas, where she is finally able to sit down and write, throwing herself into fantasy worlds and the fabulous minds of her characters.Tillie is both an independent and traditionally published author, and writes many genres including: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance, Young Adult and New Adult novels.When she is not writing, Tillie enjoys nothing more than curling up on her couch watching movies, drinking far too much coffee, while convincing herself that she really doesn’t need that extra square of chocolate.

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serenakbelieves · 7 years

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Excerpt Reveal! Damnable Grace by Tillie Cole

Coming April 18th

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#blogg #tillie cole #hangmenharem #oneclick #booknerd #bookworm #amreading

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