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#but can we please not forget about THIS WOMAN WHO IS POWERFUL ALL ON HER OWN TOO
hotvintagepoll · 2 months
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Propaganda
Julie Andrews (The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins)—Oh where to start .... I'm not sure I even know how. She's just perfection. And it's not fair I can't bring post 70s work into this, because she just gets better and better, and her drag performance in to die for. But in the era I CAN talk about, she shows she has THE RANGE. Beautiful, feisty, funny, holding her own against Christopher Plummer, Paul Newman, Rock Hudson. Oh she's luminous.
Edwige Fenech (The Seducers, Madame and Her Niece, Heads or Tails)—this might be a slightly cheeky submission but please understand that i must try given that she is the most beautiful woman in the world) Number 1 European sleaze babe! The star of many giallo movies and with a beautiful face like that, is it a surprise? Whether she's screaming in horror, making evil plots or seducing a hapless detective, I cannot avert my gaze from her striking eyes. Wonderful actress and absolute style icon <3
This is round 1 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.
[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]
Julie Andrews propaganda:
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"She has such a simple but amazing beauty to her. Not to mention her amazing and melodic singing voice!"
"Roles like nannies and governesses can make us forget how attractive she was! A perfect combination of elegant and adorable, with the most incredible vocal range to boot!"
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"Besides having one of the most amazing singing voices ever to grace the silver screen, Julie always had an understated beauty to her that wasn't always shown off on screen. But it's there nonetheless because her characters managed to pull some of the hottest men ever to grace the screen."
"The juxtaposition between carefree Maria and stern but fun Mary Poppins shows the power of the acting of this HOT VINTAGE MOVIE WOMAN"
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"Charming, genteel, incredibly charismatic, beautiful, and has an angelic singing voice to boot. Her screen roles as Maria in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins are absolutely iconic for a reason and she originated several well-known Broadway roles before those."
"the most beautiful woman 12 year old me had ever seen possibly"
"OMG OMG OMG she’s definitely been submitted before how could she NOT but!!!! I loveeee her so muchhhh rahhhh prebby!!!! cool!!!! mary poppins the beloved <33333 some people dislike it but I love jolly holiday so much because it IS a jolly holiday with Mary!!! no wonder that it’s Mary that we love!!!!!"
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"I know many people who were taught in singing lessons "when in doubt, pronounce words how julie andrews would pronounce them." THATS CALLED INFLUENCE. THATS CALLED MOTHERING THOUSANDS."
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tocomplainfriend · 3 months
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SEE!? THEY DON'T CARE!
TW: Rape, SA, Homophobia, Misogyny, Misandry
The specific censored word with "-", it's for my own reasons and comfort. It's not censored up and in tags due to filtering! Sorry if I made mistakes like forgetting of filtering or similar, I haven't used tumblr much before!
THIS IS A R-PE JOKE! THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN FUCKING SAYING! ONE OF MY BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH EPISODE 4 IS THE FACT OF "we want to write an empowering story about men getting sexually assaulted. Men victim don't get that attentio-" BITCH, YOU MADE MANY R-PE AND SA JOKES ALL THE FUCKING WAY THROUGH HELLUVA AND KNOW HAZBIN! You are the one making fun of scenarios where your male characters get assaulted or r-ped.
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HOW TF DO YOU PRETEND TO BE SOOO ABOVE PEOPLE (INCLUDING VICTIMS OF SA AND R-PE) THAT'S EXPRESSED HOW THEY FELT ON THE EXECUTIONS AND WHO WORKED IN EPISODE 4. WHEN YOU YOURSELF MAKE JOKES ABOUT IT????? For some context, Sir Pent is trying to get with Cherri, but always deflects first in case she rejects him. He offers her a drink, but immediately says it's because he'll buy a drink for everyone on the club. Then he asks Cherri if they can have sex- and deflects back (a repetition joke) "Because I'll have sex with everyone here". Then he gets dragged into a room by other people, yelling wait and no! And the door closes as you heard him scream.
Out of context in the screenshot, you might even think it might be a serious scene where something happens to Pentious. BUT NO! IT'S BRUSHED OVER REAL FAST AND PLAYED AS "HAHA SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN TO SIR PENTIOUS AGAIN LMAOO"- it's the punchline.
Then at the end of the episode he gets out asking "Where is Cherri" (who btw is having sex with a random guy).
And please don't say "Well, he asked for it"- you know how you sound. The whole point of the joke is that he is trying to get with Cherri and failing astronomically. The point here is that he really doesn't want to have sex with a bunch of random people, but he has to do it because he is getting dragged into a room. (Again, Pentious is like Moxxie Their joke it's getting trashed and bullied by the world or people around them).
You made a whole episode about dealing with a male character's sexual assault, abuse or r-pe. Saying how much you respect victims, and your episode, it's just perfect about the topic. BlaBlaBla- no, you don't. You made all this jokes since HB season 1. This new joke was episode 6 of HH. You never acknowledge power dynamics, or coercion. You never acknowledge anything bad in your show.
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Remember, as much as this shows go for LGBTQ+ representation and Queer media. As a ""Female lead show"". This jokes link back (not only to making fun of SA and R-pe itself, but to) homophobia and Misogyny. A scenario of where a man gets SA'ed or r-ped by another man or woman- leads to a scenario where the character is made fun of for not being "masculine enough" for being a victim or for not being able to defend themselves. In a scenario where this happens by a man to man, "It's funny because the victim is viewed as gay. As less masculine = gay and that's bad cause gay = weak and feminine and the idea of feminine = weak".
(There are a few jokes here and there, like Blitzo touching Moxxie's dick after making fun of him for having a baby penis.)
If you didn't notice, Moxxie gets attacked by multiple succubus, and that's apparently funny. KEEP IN MIND is not basic physical violence-no he comes out with lipstick kisses marks, the sounds effects are (ugh)... and Blitz tells him "Don't let them access any of your holes". In other concepts, I want to point out that the times when Moxxie is viewed as a bottom or feminine- he is made fun of. When Millie pegs him, he is made fun of because he is the man of the relationship, being implied as the bottom. When he wears the outfit of unhappy campers, he is extra objectified or made fun of even more than in any other episodes. He is also forcefully put on a dress in his wedding.
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He is made fun of for being SA'ed for being uncomfortable scenarios:
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These aren't jokes made by characters that "are bad because they are from hell". These are scripted jokes written by a person searching for the audience to laugh.
AND the reason why many audiences accept this jokes or even find them funny is because of some of these views (internalized or not) above. You'll also notice how all these jokes are directed at men (if you find an R-pe or SA joke directed at a woman in this two show, say something about it! POINT IT OUT!). People accept and write these jokes more because they care less about the idea of a man being a victim of such situation. More often than not- in the present, a woman getting assaulted or anything similar in any media gets noticed and called out. THESE JOKES OR THE NORMALIZATION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, ASSAULT, COERCION, OR SIMILAR TOWARDS WOMAN STILL HAPPENS!!!! There is an idea that men just tend to just want sex all times at any time. -And that a man getting SA'ed or r-ped by a woman it's just sex, cause "Why wouldn't you like free pussy". When it's a gay perpetrator is viewed as funny cause "that makes you gay or a woman" and that's apparently hilarious. Men can be r-ped no matter what. Men can be targets of all of these acts.
Remember that all the scenes of sexual abuse, harassment and r-pe in Poison are directed by the R2. Who, once again, is into r-pe porn- and they themselves said they are not an SA victim either. So remember, not even a victim trying to cope with their own R-pe or SA. This person draws and ships "R-pe ships", and tags it as "naughty men uwu" bullshit. Also, a person so obsessed with the character of Angel that they changed their name to Tony (Angel's real human name), make themselves look like him, and become a sex worker like Angel. They themselves looked at a comic of Val threatening r-pe and abuse on Angel as "thank good you have balls to draw something mean with these too, I was so bored" ???? (this stuff is in:) and cosplay and take photos of your Val x Angel ship
Congrats if you as a victim yourself thought that the scene with Angel was good. If it helped you be and feel seen. But remember the rest of the show, the hypocritical writers, don't care enough to view it as a serious topic to not joke about. Both HB and HH written by the same people (as in Vivziepop), take their sweet time to turn these topics into jokes.
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What pisses off more, it's the trying to make yourself be viewed as a sensitive person about such topic. Make it seem like you are a savior for writing about it in such "serious, powerful and not sugar coded" way. But then you drop that on the fucking ground to make a joke about it when you are tired of pretending you are so good. If you were so informed of SA and r-pe, you wouldn't be making these jokes. If you knew how much SA male victims struggle to get viewed as serious or their stories taken into account-you wouldn't be this shitty.
God, you are so proud of the joke too.
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My poor snake guy... one of the few characters that I like-
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ordowrites · 1 month
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some arlecchino headcanons
we are about 34 days away from her debut and i'm excited, so i am here, with a fever and nothing to do until i recover so it's time to ramble about this woman who i've been excited for since her debut in winter night's lazzo
cw: some fluff, some not sfw mentions, afab reader but no pronouns used, use of pet names, mdni, minors dni, general warnings for canon typical violence, some mentions of D/s, sort of a sugar relationship, power imbalances, pet play, possessive behaviors. everything is consensual. please ask if something should be tagged i didn't get already
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arlecchino is, for the lack of a better word, a kind lover. she isn't inherently cruel nor would she never intentionally raise a hand to you unless you ask very nicely. she is attentive for someone of her stature and position, she knows many things about you although you know very little about her - still, having your likes and dislikes, favorite color, dream wedding, and so on is to her advantage. she touches you as if you may shatter beneath her touch and you're the last person in this world that she wants to corrupt.
while she is kind, she does get condescending sometimes. she likes making the decisions in the relationship and calling the shots, such as where you guys eat, what you guys eat, sometimes what you wear, simpler decisions - although, she also wants a partner who knows what they want and can speak up for themselves. being confident is important, but not egotistical. (after all, she may be calling the shots, but your thoughts are still pretty important to her)
she will pay for everything. oh don't you worry your pretty little head, she's a Harbinger, she can pay. you sit pretty and enjoy your dinner and conversation. she'll gift you things you like, get you necessities should you only ask for them. so long as it brings a smile to your face, she will do it to an extent.
in comparison to others, such as diluc, whose love language is gift giving and he loves showering his partner with expensive gifts no strings attached - arlecchino's can be underhanded and come at a price. not everything comes from the kindness of her heart, and she's more than frank enough to tell you when she wants you on your knees to work for that dress you've been eying. (and of course, you will do so)
she likes to refer to you as pet, precious, and similar names to that. maybe she views you a bit as a pet, what with that collar she presented to you sometime ago? "oh, it's so everyone knows you belong to me. would you rather something more permanent?" (of course, if you stutter out your protests about wearing a collar in public, she'll just smile, cup your face, and tell you how sweet you look). she did also gift you a lovely necklace to wear at all times after your initial shock of the collar. after all, she still does value your comfort. nothing is ever non-consensual with her. after all, she teaches her "children" the importance of consent and valuing their own lives, so she should model such teachings with you.
you have dinner at home, together, at the same time, six days a week. once a week, she will take you out to the fanciest place she can in order to show you off to the public. her arm wrapped around your waist, your dress matches her red lip stick, and she shows you off proudly to the public. everyone knows you're the Harbinger's most beloved one. And she is quick to remind anyone who forgets. (and hold your head up high, goodness sakes', she wants you to be proud of yourself. if she didn't find you worth her attention, you wouldn't be at her side.)
the two of you will also have daily tea and cake, at the same time. always your favorite or whatever you are craving at the time. she loves to spoil you with these sorts of things.
She will never allow you to meet any of the other Harbingers. For your safety, of course. You are but an innocent person in this world, but if she ever does take you to a banquet, her clawed hand will never leave your hip. Her eyes will always be on you should you ever have a need to leave her side, and soft, veiled threats to her colleagues should they dare to even look at you wrong.
Sex with Arlecchino happens whenever it happens, and she's always happy to indulge if you're feeling particularly horny. But she doesn't make it easy for you to find the relief you're chasing. She likes to draw things out, she likes to hear you make noises that make you blush, and see tears prick at your eyes as you struggle to not orgasm without her okay to do so.
She's also not the biggest fan of bondage, but if you're being particularly naughty, she'll tie you up. Or if you ask her, nicely of course. (the reason being is because she likes feeling you touch her, your touch is always so soft and gentle)
However... something has caught her eye recently - a type of bondage hailing from Inazuma. Shibari. Oh yes, she will have you in soft red rope in her office just to look at. That is, if she doesn't have you already half naked and eating her out while she works while desperately humping her shoe because she issued you a challenge and it's been a few weeks since you've last had an orgasm. Really, whichever has her fancy at the time. (she does this because she loves seeing you fucked out and needy and pliant)
she also likes marking you - bright red marks or purple all over your neck where people can see. and she's always disappointed if you try to hide them. ("for shame, do you not wish for people to know who you belong to?")
("look at you, my most perfect pet. i must say, that is a good color on you. now, hold your head up high and don't cower. let everyone see the same thing i see in you.")
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sp1d3rzz · 1 month
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The Devil's Bride
Ryōmen Sukuna
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Warning!! : Mentions of death/killing, forced marriage, and basically Sukuna being an asshole and having no respect for reader.
Summary : After Sukuna reclaims his throne and becomes known as the King of Curses once again, he decides on bringing forth a Queen. You
A/N : I somewhat switch pov's during this so don't get confused. Part 2 coming soon!!
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Days have passed since Sukuna has once reclaimed his throne. Yet, he seems to be bored out of his mind. There's nothing to occupy him from his apathy.
Sure, he has countless people at his feet he can order to do as he pleases. But what's the fun in that? He needs something exciting to happen. Something to fill his empty pit of boredom.
He contemplates on whether or not he should start a war, find more slaves soldiers to do his bids, or perhaps even go on a killing spree somewhere random in this dark, dark world. Better yet— why not just kill everyone??
Well, not yet at least.
His teeth grind together and his fists clench in annoyance to this endless pit of nothing he can't seem to shake off.
But just before he rips someone's eyes out with his bare nails from frustration, he forges an idea. And with that idea, comes a no-good smirk spreading across his face.
What does every king have in every fairytale, movie, and book? That's correct. A Queen.
"You." His thundering voice reaches the ears of a guard who could be approximately 52ft ahead of him. "Come here." he motions with his fingers.
Almost immediately, the soldier makes his way up the steps and to the throne of his King. "Yes, my Lord?"
Sukuna makes a simple face of boredom, supporting his head with a propped up fist. "Gather 5 of my best soldiers and find me my Queen." his eyes squint, which silently says 'Hurry it up.'
And without another word, the guard takes off to seek out to the Kings orders.
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Not many people could get in the mind of Ryōmen Sukuna. To understand what goes on in that so called empty mind of his is mildly impossible. But, taking a wild guess, the soldier puts together things the King takes an interest in.
Power, Control, and Cruelty.
To find a Queen fit to the Kings likings, she must be innocent. A girl who can't stand up for herself, but when she attempts to, she cowards out.
A girl who needs someone to make the decisions for her. But also a girl who has a little spark in her soul. A spark that can carry her to victory no matter the battle.
This shall be the woman who Sukuna finds quite delightful.
The next step was finding a girl who fits this description.
While this soldier is pondering off into space, he almost forgets about his group of men. Which, he's surprised to see catch up to him with a younger looking woman.
"P-Please!! Let me go!" she sobs, loud enough the birds in the trees fly away and flee from the scene.
Tears flow down her cheeks and onto the dirt. Her clothes are scrunched up and dirty, most likely from how roughly his men handled her. And her breathing is so uneven, she might just pass out.
"I swear I'll never tell a soul—" hic! ",if you just let me go!"
There's two men on each side of her, both practically dragging her through the ground. "We found her out here by herself. She seems to be lost." The one on the left inquires.
Once she's dragged to be met face to face with the lead soldier, he grins.
She's a mess. Forehead so sweaty strands of her hair stick to it. Panting so rapidly, she might use up all the air she has left in her lungs.
The soldier takes one last look at the girl, eyes scanning her over, just to analyze how fit she is to take the role as Sukuna's Queen.
"What do you want for me?! Why– why are you doing this!" the girl begs to know any sort of information. Anything to get a grasp on herself.
No one responds.
She looks to her sides, expecting any kind of answer. But is instead met with the men completely ignoring her.
"She'll do perfectly."
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Heavy footsteps echo throughout your head, which by now has been ruined with a horrible headache. Lucky you.
It's hard to tell how long you've been out for. If they've hurt you, or if you've somehow died and awoken in the after life.
The only thing you're sure of is how much pain is coursing through your body. It's to the point you're numb all over and you can barely lift your head up. Barely lift a finger for that matter.
"My lord." A familiar voice rings in your ear and back out. "Your Queen." Another one seems to say in-front of you.
In a desperate attempt to figure out what the hell is happening, you weakly lift your head, blinking a couple of times to regain your focus.
Your vision still remains slightly blurry, but you're only able to make out a set of stairs. Stairs that lead to what seems to be a throne. And in that throne, sits a man.
As you concentrate on this mysterious man, your vision slowly begins to recover.
He has spiky pink hair, long black nails, two eyes on one side, with a plated set of 2 more next to it, and 4 arms? His chiseled shirtless body seems to be tattooed with stripes and dots on each of his shoulders. No, no, this can't be right.
"Bring her here." his voice practically echoes into the air.
Your eyes widen to this sudden command, and you wiggle your arms, attempting to loosen yourself of the men who have you a strict hold over you.
Though it seems to not work, because the men ignore you and continue to their orders. Step by step, the men take you to who appears to be the lead of this whole situation. The man who looks to be the devil himself.
In protest, you kick your feet a little, trying to gain balance and hopefully escape wherever you've been brought to.
But before you can successfully break away, it's too late.
You're met with the horrifying (but somewhat sexy) face of the man who has caused you all of this misery. You scowl at him, which in return earns you a small look of satisfaction.
Disgusting.
His men hold you up to him like a piece of meat, dangling you in-front of his nose as if he was meant to devour you with one swift bite.
His eyes scan up and down your figure. Almost like he's purposely invading your personal space. "Pretty little thing, aren't you?" his words taunt you in a sense you'd never thought you'd feel.
You avert your eyes from his. Turning your head away so he's only in view of your cheek. You're mentally unable to face him.
The prideful moment you had was quickly interrupted. With one swift move of his arm, his hand snatches your chin and snaps you back so you can looking him eye to eye. "Did I say you could look away?" he growls.
His sharp nails press into your skin, making you wince. With how tight his grip is on you, it feels like your skin might tear.
His brows scrunch together lightly as his eyes lock with yours.
"I-"
"Silence." he's quick to cut you off.
Your mouth closes shut almost instantly, and your head drops once he releases you from his grasp. Pathetic.
Everything hurts so much. Your head, your body, and apparently your voice now too.
Small whispers spread around you. From one person to another, you can hear all sorts of comments the strange people are making about you.
If the men holding you up right now were to let go of you, you're sure you would collapse and never get back up again. Fall into an endless abyss and never awaken.
"Take her to the cellar. I shall deal with her later." he orders.
You groan a little when the men tighten their arms around yours. But your vision fades back to nothing as they take you away.
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It's been hours.
Hours of crying, screaming, and wishing upon your own death. To end this confusing mess that has somehow been brought upon to you.
You're curled up in the corner of the cell, cold walls and bars keeping you away from whatever source of life might be out there.
It almost pitch black in the haunting cellar. The only things in sight is your arms, which wrap around your legs to pull yourself into a tight ball.
Everything feels dirty. You feel dirty.
Small droplets of damp moisture fall from the ceiling and hit the rough concrete. Your skin is hot, tingling up your bones to the point you might overheat.
Your mouth is dry, deprived from the lack of water you've had in the past week or so.
Before you were captured, you were on the run from home, escaping the endless chains of torment your parents had put you through.
It might have been a stupid decision, especially since you had no where to go at the time, but it had to happen. Your life wasn't meant to be lived like that, and neither was it for this life.
Your eyes close shut, mind struggling to block out the unbearable sound of water meeting cold, hard, ground. It itches down your skin with every fall.
Abruptly, the creak of a wooden door captures your attention quickly. Lifting your head up out of curiosity to see who's there.
"H-Hello..?" You call out, but it seems useless since no one replies anyways. Though you know someone has to be there. The evidence of lingering footsteps tells enough.
Seconds pass by to what seems to be an eternity before the footsteps stop in-front of your cage cell.
Everything, including the man in-front of you, seems so unreal.
He doesn't say anything, just stares down at you as if you were just some dirt on the floor.
"What do you want from me!" You shout at him, but it appears to get you no answer except a irritating frown.
Your teeth are gritted together, and it take everything out of you to not pounce at him. Well, not like you have the strength or energy to do so anyways.
He rests his bottom two arms on his hip, and crosses his other two over his bare chest. "Y'know, you're starting to piss me off."
A moment of silence rests between the two of you before he finally speaks up again.
"What's your name?" it's more of a demand than a question, but you don't care. You don't owe him anything.
And once again, another pass of silence flows by.
He raises a brow, giving you another chance to answer. But, it seems you wont of any use for the time being.
"Name's Sukuna, but you can call me your King."
His words catch you by surprise, lifting your eyes up in a shockingly manner. "W-What..?" you have to confirm what he just said was actually him and not just an imaginary voice in your head.
He let's out a huff, shaking his head to your stupidity. "Do you know why you were brought here?"
Well obviously not, or else you wouldn't have been taken aback to his statement. "No, I don't."
"You were brought here to stand beside me as I rule over this.. kingdom of mine."
And just like that, his words crash and bring down your whole life. Everything you've been through, fought for, and accomplished are all worth nothing. It was all useless.
"No, I refuse–"
A hand slams down on the bars, causing you to flinch. "I don't remember asking how you felt, did I?"
Immediately, you go quiet. The hurtful beating of heart being the only sound audible as he glares down at you from behind the bars.
"Tomorrow shall be the wedding. I'll have my men bring you to me first thing in the morning."
Leaving you no time to protest, question, or even give him a snarky reply, he disappears.
You're left all alone, mind now pounding with how quick this is all happening. You have no say in anything, it seems.
Nothing seems to matter when you feel your eyes flutter close. Too exhausted to reject this rest, you fall asleep.
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Thank you for reading! I'll try to have part 2 out as soon as possible (which contains the smut 👀) but I hope you guys enjoyed this so far ^^ Reblogs are also greatly appreciated 💗💗
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Blue Blood and Rain [1]
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King John X F!Reader • Rating: 18+ pals Masterlist• ao3• want to be tagged? | request info •ko-fi•
Summary: You meet a stranger in the stables.
Series Masterlist
A/N: I have totally made up servant/nobel dynamics because I wanted to and also let's forget about the plot of the film, yes?
Warnings: kissing, reader is in their early 20s, overuse of italics, typos, power dynamics because he's the king, please let me know if I've missed a warning.
Word Count: 2820
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It wasn’t that going to the royal castle was boring, as much as it was exhausting. And very, very boring, now that you thought about it. 
You were the personal attendant to The Dowager Countess of Bowhale, who was visiting the court for the spring festival with her son, The Earl of Bowhale, a man who was only seven months your senior. They were both on average kind, well-meaning people, even if they were set in their own ways, who paid well and certainly granted you with a degree of personal freedom that you knew many servants didn’t even dream of. 
Hugo, the Earl, was his mother’s, Edith, only surviving child. A fact that obviously made The Countess fiercely protective, however in the last few years that shielding behaviour had metamorphosed into a safeguarding of a different kind: the continuation of the family name. 
Barely a day passed without her bringing up the need for her son to either marry (a complicated matter) or take a mistress.
Which was why she had been hell bent on attending the spring festival to peruse a suitable noble from the court, believing that ‘seeing a young woman face to face is the only way to tell if she would be a good mother to her son’s children.’ 
You helped The Countess into her dress for the evening, making sure you nodded and said, “yes, my lady”, at all the correct moments as she spoke. 
“I think there will be some chance of seeing a suitable suitor tonight, if not tomorrow. I know most of the court is present, but many outer nobles are not arriving until the morning.” 
“Yes, my lady.” You adjusted her skirts. 
“Hugo needs to seriously consider his future, the legacy of his father’s name.” She sighed. “I spoke to him again this morning.” 
“Yes, my lady.” 
“He is as insolent as ever. His father was never like this. I do not know where he gets it from.” 
You smile, “Perhaps his lordship takes his strong-willed nature from his mother, my lady?” 
She looks down at your grinning face and laughs at your tease. “You are terrible my dear,” but she beams and puffs out her chest, enjoying the praise. “And far too kind on him, there’s no way his will could match my own.” 
You laugh, and are about to speak when the door to The Countess's rooms open and Hugo barges in. 
“Mother, I- Oh,” he gives you a little smile and half bow as a greeting. You nod back.
“So I see she is deserving of a formal greeting and not I?” The Countess scows, but you know from experience that if someone had entered without acknowledging you they would have also faced reprimand. 
Hugo pulls a face. “Mother-”
“And what about knocking Hugo? Since we are in his highness’s house, on his highness’s hospitality I do not think that forgoing manners should be our way forward.” 
He sighs, but nods, before waiting for a moment to see if she will continue talking. 
The Countess nods. 
You stand up, watching them going back and forth in their regular verbal sparing matches.
“Mother, is it completely necessary for me to join-”
“You surely are not speaking of the possibility of not attending tonight? Are you?” 
“Mother-”
“Because if you were, I would be-”
“It wouldn’t be anything, an Earl can retire to his-”
“An Earl would not insult the hospitality of his King.” 
“Mother-”
She held up her hands. “I will hear nothing of it.” 
Hugo sighed dramatically, his shoulders slumping in defeat. 
“And what are you wearing? You are covered in mud.” She tutted.
“I was riding and-”
“Riding? At this hour?” 
He nodded. “Some of the knights and other Earls went to the forest and-”
The Countess tutted dramatically. 
“I was going to take Stefen to the stable and brush him down instead of attending.” 
She raised her eyebrows. “You intended to brush your horse instead of attending? There are servants for that exact duty Hugo.” 
He shrugged frowning, you knew how much he enjoyed taking care of his horse. “I do not trust the staff here, they do not know Stefen, they-”
The Countess shook her head, “you are attending. Go, get bathed and dress, Robert will assist you.” 
“But Mother, Stefen-”
The Countess turned to you quickly, “Will you do me the favour of going to the stables and getting Stefen ready for the night?” She smiled kindly at you and you nodded.
“Of course my lady.”
“See?” She turned to her son. “Now we have a trusted member of staff to care for him.” She said triumphantly. “Or do you not trust her to look after him here?” 
Hugo gave you an apologetic look, he hadn’t meant to lump you with the task. But you smile back, and he returns a weak nod. 
“Of course that’s fine,” he said defeated. 
You often groomed Stefen, he was a powerful and grumpy animal that tended to only obey four people, Hugo, the two main stable hands at Bowhale, and you. He tolerated others for the most part, but was quite difficult when something set him off. 
“Good.” The Countess clapped her hands together. 
.
You finished helping The Countess get ready before you stepped out of her rooms and headed for the stables. The evening light was just starting to dim into twilight. 
Hugo caught up with you on the stairs, gently touching your arm to get your attention.
“I’m so sorry.” 
You smile kindly, “what for, my lord?” 
“Making you settle Stefen in, I,” he sighed, “I could have easily done it earlier, I just wanted an excuse to… not go…”
Your smile widened. “I know, Hugo, please don’t worry, besides, I like taking care of Stefen.”
He gives you a grin, his spirit lifting as they always did when you used his first name. “Thank you, I-”
“Hugo!” The far-off call of The Countess echoed around the castle and you chuckled while he groaned. 
“Have fun!” You waved as you continued down the stairs. 
He nodded disheartenedly. 
You got a little lost on your way to the stables and had to ask a stern looking guard the way. When you arrived and introduced yourself to the head stable hand the poor man looked relieved. 
Stefan greeted you happily, and had no qualms about letting you brush and clean the mud and grime from his coat. Much to the other stable hands's shock. 
It wasn’t long before the sky was dark and you were left alone in the stables with the horses. 
“You need to be nicer to others Stefan.” You scowled with a grin. 
He whinnied, seeming to laugh playfully at you as you stroked his neck. 
“That’s a beautiful horse.” 
The low voice behind you made you jump and you spun around quickly. Stefan sensed your discomfort, snorting and stepping forward to try to put himself between you and the stranger. 
“It’s alright,” you hushed, patting his side and calming him. You turned to where the voice had come from, the stranger’s outline was just visible in the low candlelight. “Thank you, it is The Earl of Bowhale’s horse.” 
“A fine beast for sure.” The stranger nodded, but did not step closer. “I have heard he has a temper.” 
You smile and nod. “He is a little set in his ways, strong-willed,” you stroke Stefan affectionately, “but he is a loyal companion if you earn his trust.”
“And it seems that you have.” 
You smile again at the stranger. “I would like to think so, The Earl and I used to train him when he was a colt. He is used to me.” 
“You ride?” 
“A little,” you turn back to Stefan briefly as he nudges your shoulder and stroke him again, “occasionally I accompany The Earl or Countess when they wish.” 
“Hmm.” 
“And what of you stranger? Do you ride, or are you just of this disposition to watch horses while they rest and harass servants with questions?” You tease playfully. 
He chuckles lightly and waits a beat before he steps closer and leans against the wood of Stefan’s stall. The flame light flickers against his features and dread grips your inside in its icy hold. 
You freeze for a second, eyes wide before you bow your head and curtsy as low as you can. “Your Highness, I apologise, I did not realise it was you in the dark.” 
Your mind rushes with thoughts, you were going to get punished, put in the stocks, maybe even imprisoned, why wasn’t he at the event? Why was he here seemingly stalking about in the dark? 
He wasn’t wearing his crown, his clothing obviously expensive but not the attire for entertaining the court. 
King John laughed again, but the sound wasn’t unkind. “You were all for questioning me a second ago, am I so fierce that you can’t even raise your head to look at me?” 
You keep your position, looking down, panicking on what to do, how to-
“Hmm?” He hooks his fingers under your chin, tilting your head up to look at him. “Has the servant lost her voice?” 
You shake your head. “No, Your Highness.” 
“Then answer my question.” His voice is low, nearly a growl. The pretence of softness hiding something much sharper underneath. 
“You are fierce, Your Highness.” You whisper and he grins. 
“And yet, you look at me?” He keeps his touch on your chin light.
“You are making me, Your Highness.” The words slip from your tongue before you truly have a chance to understand them and you screw your face up the second they are spoken. 
But he laughs quietly and drops his hand to his side. “There, I wonder what you will do under your own will.” 
You pause and swallow, taking a deep breath before opening your eyes and looking back up at him. 
His grin widens. He observes you for a moment, the look in his eyes dark, predatory. And for a second you are sure that you made the wrong choice. 
“Stand,” he says, his voice still soft and you obey slowly, “much better, I do not need you to stay in a curtsy, my pride is not so vast that I need to have everyone at my feet.” 
You stay quiet, biting at your lip and pulling at the skin around your nails, but watch him carefully.
“You are Edith Bowhale’s personal attendant, are you not?” 
“I am.” You nod, not wanting to fall short and lose whatever small grace has decided to put you in the King’s favour and not chagrin. 
He hums a response, looking away from you for a second and you can feel relief flood your veins as you are out of his sharp glare. The consolation is short lived however, as he quickly stares back at you. 
“She was speaking to me about many things, though I have to admit upon seeing you I wished I had been paying more attention.” He smiles, his voice like silk as he takes a step closer.
You pause for a second, your mind slow to catch up with the meaning of his words. “I, wait, I’m sorry, Your Highness, I-”
He chuckles and brushes his fingers against your cheek, a light touch that makes you jump and startle back. 
“So skittish,” he teases, “over just a touch.” 
“I-”
“A touch from your King no less,” he tuts, “I should be insulted.”
“No, that’s not, not my intention, I-”
Stefan whinnies, seemingly unhappy with how close the King is getting to you and King John uses your brief distraction to his advantage. He grabs hold of your bicep and pulls you out of the stall and swings the wooden door closed. 
You can hear Stefan neighing in distress as he pushes you up against the door, his griping your arm tight. 
“Calm the horse.” He says softly, his piercing eyes seeming to sink into your very soul.
You swallow, your mouth dry, but tap the door. “Stefan,” you say softly. 
The horse calms slightly at your voice.
“It’s alright, don’t worry,” you repeat your words a few times until you hear him start to settle and wish they could have the same effect on you. Your heart races, your breath catching in your throat. 
He delights for a moment in your obvious discomfort. “My, my, I have never seen a servant to a Countess so shy.” 
You stay quiet, heat rising to your skin. You try to focus on his mouth, but no matter how hard you try you are drawn back to his striking eyes, as if he holds some bewitching magic to keep you under his control. 
Slowly he raises his left hand up, giving you plenty of time to see it before he gently touches his fingertips to your cheek, lightly stroking your skin. You still jump a little, naturally trying to flinch away. 
It makes him smile even more, taking a deep pleasure in your flustered reaction. He breathed in deeply, as if he were savouring a flower, “aw, what’s wrong? Does the little servant not know how to address her King? How to behave in his presence?” 
“I… I’m sorry, Your Highness.” Your voice is barely above a whisper. 
He grins wickedly at how timid you have seemingly become. “Now, now,” he teases, his voice thick and heavy, “there’s no need to apologise with those words… how about you tell me something sweet instead?” 
You frown in confusion, “something sweet?” 
He leans a little closer, caging you in. “Something nice.” He languidly runs his fingers down lower, along your jaw and to your neck. Your racing heartbeat drums against his fingers and a giddy thrill runs down his spine. 
“I…”
“Something nice,” he repeats, “something that you could never normally say to someone like me, something that will make me smile.” 
Once again your words slip out of your mouth as if you had no control over them, his hypnotic gaze seemingly completely destroying your survival instinct, “you’re beautiful,” you whisper. 
He freezes the moment you utter the words, your eyes going wide as you realise what you said. The syllables of your sentence seemingly echo around the stable, ringing and repeating clearly in your mind as if you had screamed them from the rooftops. 
A faint dusting of pink highlights his cheeks, but thankfully you cannot see it in the candlelight, he smiles slowly, moving his hand up and tracing your bottom lip with his thumb. 
“Repeat that.” He breaths. 
Your heart beats so forcefully you’re sure you're going to faint. “You’re so very beautiful.” 
He chuckles, leaning closer until his nose bumps against yours and preening a little at the compliment. “You know such words from such an unexpected source only mean more… thank you.” 
He dissolves the last centimetres separating you and presses his lips to yours, swallowing down your little gasp of surprise and licking into your mouth without hesitation. His hand is warm on your neck, his body pressing up against yours as if he expects you to push him away, to run. Instead, your fingers sink into his shirt, pulling him closer as you kiss him back with equal further, a lamb happily going to the slaughter. 
He growls, low in the chest when you reciprocate, heat blooming in his lower stomach as he pushes even closer and rubs his quickly hardening cock against your hip. 
You gasp a little in surprise, but quickly regain yourself, wrapping your arm around his neck and urging him closer, needing to feel every part of him. 
This couldn’t be real, this was impossible, you had to be dreaming. Maybe Stefan had reared up as you brushed him and you’d stumbled and hit your head, it was seemingly the only logical conclusion. You might as well enjoy this delusion as long as it lasted. 
His kisses grow more demanding, more urgent and he nips at your bottom lip, groaning at your high-pitched sigh. And then whining himself when you repeat the action on him, forcing your tongue into his mouth and pulling sweet sounds from his lips. 
There was-
The stable door slams open, “Your Highness, I have come to-”
King John turns furiously, “What?” He yells at the poor servant sent to fetch him. 
It’s like a dam has been broken, your mind snaps back to your senses. What were you doing? What the hell were you doing? Kissing The King in a barely lit stable. 
The servant stammers a little, saying something that you can’t for the life of you hear. He is silhouetted in the darkness, unseeable and the King steps closer, giving him a verbal dressing down.
You slip out the side door, and rush back to your room. Thankful for the clouded night sky that keeps your face in shadow and identity hidden from possible prying eyes. 
____________________________________
Thank you for reading!
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unluckiestmember · 11 months
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Hey. Could do headcanons of Gwen Stacy x No Powers! Reader, please? Recently I remembered Gwen's story and especially the incident with her Peter Parker, so I felt curious to know what her relationship would be like with a Reader who admires Gwen's heroic figure, however, as well as her old Peter, they are powerless, without any notorious particularities and feel interested in becoming something more, someone special like Gwen. Y'know, an uncertainty of seemingly everything is repeating itself.
Coming right up!
Gwen Stacy X Powerless! Reader
Characters: Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman
Tags: Can be read as platonic, can be read as romantic, oblivious!reader, supportive friend/girlfriend, confidence boosts, bullying and semi fluff.
Warning: None. SFW.
A/N: Yeeeeeaaaah, so I know you were probably looking for a dark outcome, but I feel we don't have enough fluff around these parks and I'm a sucker for that, so ya. Enjoy, I am so sorry!
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For such a fan of Spider-Woman, Gwen was surprised you couldn’t connect the dots.
She loved how you were inspired by her heroic persona enough to try and make little changes around you.
Was especially proud when you even used that to stand up for others who couldn’t take care of themselves.
This did result in you getting bullied though.
But Gwen would always be there to pick you up and chew out your harassers.
She loves how you talk about Spider-Woman being an icon to live up to, trust me, she does!
But she wishes you saw how powerful you were.
All you could see was someone who was ordinary, maybe the lowest of the low.
But in her eyes? You were way more than that.
You were her best friend, just like Miles. Just like Peter…
She would voice it at random moments during lunch or when you are both hanging out at the arcade.
She would also remind you in your lowest moments, touching your cheek and proclaiming in a whisper how spectacular you are.
You would believe her. But it was so hard when you are so normal.
You weren’t like her, you couldn’t easily go up against rude people and take care of others successfully.
You weren’t like Spider-Woman, who made everything look so easy.
That’s why you went to work in the lab, creating serum after serum of liquids that could hopefully give you the powers you desired.
You wanted to be like Spider-Woman? This was the only way.
… Until it wasn’t.
One day, you were visited by Spider-Woman herself! In the flesh, speaking to you of all people!
She told you how amazing you are, even without powers. Even if you tried to argue against it, she would just shut you down with the best of claims;
“You stood up for a kid the other day at school, even if the bully was twice your size! You helped your best friend Gwen with her project! You were there for her when she was at her lowest and lifted her up!”
It was a bit odd that she knew everything you did for your best friend, but that didn’t cloud the adrenaline and serotonin you gained.
You two talked all night, forgetting about everything and for once in your life, you felt invincible.
After that night, you realized something; You were normal, but that was okay.
Being ordinary didn’t mean you were weak or helpless, especially when you still try your best for yourself and for others.
Powers don’t make the hero, you do.
You also realized something else; How the hell did it take you this long to realize your best friend was the Spider-Woman?!
Spider-Verse Requests are open!
Likes and retweets are always appreciated! I love you all, stay hydrated and have a good day!
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look-at-the-soul · 8 months
Note
Hi! I'm new to the Peaky fandom and am in need of some Tommy fics because he's my favourite character! If your requests are open, (if not, there's no rush!) may I pretty please have a drabble or imagine -- whatever is easier -- with this gif?
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*A little spice is okay, just nothing explicit. Also, my pronouns are she/her, but a gender neutral story is totally okay, too! :)
Thank you in advance!
Hello Jessyca! 🥰 Thank you so much for sending this gif!! I decided to make it part of Adele challenge using one of my favorite songs! (Lyrics in italics) 🔥🥰 edit and welcome to the fandom!! 🥰 I forgot to reply this sorry! I hope so far you’ve found incredible stories and lovely mutuals around (I’m always reblogging stories I really enjoy reading 💖)
🔥🔥🔥although the gif is extra hot, you’ll find nothing but fluffiness in this little story…
Women like me
By the corner of your eye, you found Mr. Shelby trying to catch his breath. Resting on his back against the pillows, he was looking at the ceiling completely lost in his own thoughts, his thumb rubbing absently between his brows.
You're driving me away, give me a reason to stay
I want to be lost in you, but not in this way
Don't think you quite understand who you have on your hands
How can you not see just how good for you I am?
In silence you started the same routine you knew by heart now; get up, get dressed and sneak out of his bedroom in silence, head down.
Ah, yes you were almost forgetting about his generous payment in between.
I know that you've been hurt before, that's why you feel so insecure
I begged you to let me in, 'cause I only want to be the cure
You could still feel his seed dripping down your legs, but tried to pick up your clothes scattered on the floor as gracefully as you could to get dress in the corner.
You’d been serving him for several months now, rumor has it Lizzie Stark wasn’t his mistress anymore because she got pregnant, so that was your job now; being Thomas Shelby’s whore.
Complacency is the worst trait to have, are you crazy?
You ain't never had, ain't never had a woman like me
But tonight there was something different, out of place. Mr. Shelby was still in the same position, his chest was now moving at a more normal pace. Looking at the floor, you felt embarrassed to ask for the money so you decided to pretend to fix your hair to see if he got the hint.
But he didn’t.
So after he longest seconds of your life, you decided to walk out without anything, feeling disappointed because you really needed to money to support your family. Perhaps he’d pay you double the next time, you thought to yourself but as you reached the door, his voice stopped you.
All you do is complain about decisions you make
“Y/N…” Your mouth hang open, surprised to hear him say your name.
“Is there a chance for you to stay all night?”
“I-I don’t know Mr. Shelby.” You stammered nervously, the instructions were clear; let him do whatever he wants, pick up your stuff and leave.
“You can call me Tommy… is there somewhere you need to go?”
Your eyes found his briefly, but you instantly dragged them down. “No, it’s just I’m not supposed to stay for the night.” You answered in a low voice.
“Why not?”
Feeling more embarrassed than ever, you didn’t want to point out the obvious, but as his intense blue eyes stared at you, you didn’t have another choice.
“Sir-Tommy,” you corrected yourself, “I’m just a whore.”
We come from the same place, but you will never give it up
It's where they make you feel powerful
That's why you think I make you feel small
But that's your projection, it's not my rejection
You knew that’s what you were, anyone could tell without even knowing you. But calling yourself that, hit you differently.
“Come here,” he extended his hand at you, and you didn’t have any other choice but take it and climb into bed again. “How long have you been coming here?”
“Six months.”
I put my heart on the line for the very first time
Because you asked me to, and now you've gone and changed your mind
But loving you was a breakthrough
You saw his head moving up and down slowly, but he was still oddly quiet.
He was still trying to organize the thoughts inside his mind as he saw you absently picking on your stockings. How could he put into words the way he felt about you?
“Y/N over the last couple of months, you’ve been the only one willing to spend some time with me, when everyone else finds an excuse to walk out the door, you’ve been the constant of my days, or nights for the matter.”
I saw what my heart can really do
Now some other man will get the love I have for you
'Cause you don't care, oh-oh-oh
Was he going to ask you to stop coming every night? You couldn’t speak, terrified of saying something that would piss him off. You had fallen for him secretly, blame it to the intimacy, the frequent late night calls, the way please took over him, but you did and deep down you knew it was all wrong.
“You’re not like the others, you don’t take and leave. You fill my glass with whiskey before you go or you pick up my clothes and fold them… you’ve listened to all my shit without judging me.”
Confused, you gave him a long look. “Tommy, what are you try-”
“I’ve feelings for you, Y/N.”
“That can’t be true, I’m a whore… men like you don’t fall in love with women like me.”
Consistency is the gift to give for free, and it is key
To ever keep, to ever keep a woman like me
“Women like you?” He was suddenly kneeling in bed in front of you, his hands cupping your cheeks. “Who says that?”
“Everybody knows that.”
This was just a fantasy, a dream. You were worthless, the worst of the worst.
“Just so you to know, I’m not so different than you… we just sell different parts of ourselves, Y/N.”
His eyes fixed on you, his intense gaze penetrating every layer, tearing down every single wall. And as he realized your guard was coming down, he pulled you in for a kiss, breaking the only rule you set when you first walked into his bedroom; no kissing.
That first kiss felt totally different to anything you’ve experienced until now, because men usually take what they want and leave right away, but Tommy took his time to explore your lips, the way they molded to his, tentatively, switching his pace and tilting his head from time to time as if he didn’t want to leave a single spot unattended.
He broke apart allowing you to take a deep breath, your head was spinning.
“Beneath, there’s a good woman, I just know it.” His knuckles carefully caressed your chin. You wanted to believe him, but you had been used in the past you no longer knew who you were.
He saw the hesitation in your eyes, so he took your hand and placed it over his heart. “Y/N I’m not going to hurt you, I genuinely fell for you, for he woman you are, for the little things I know about you… for the way you allowed me to be myself when the door is closed.”
He had been fighting it for so long, but with you he was allowed to strip down not only from his clothes, but from the heartless cold bastard he had to be in front of everyone else.
“Will you give me the chance?”
Looking down you fought against the lump that formed in your throat. “But how will you deal with my past and all the burden I’ve?”
“I’m not going to erase it, just like you can’t delete mine,” his fingers sunk in your disheveled curls, “but we can look forward and take it from there, together.”
As a single tear slid through your cheek, his thumb came to wipe it away, right before he crashed his lips once more and you believed him with all your heart because deep down you knew he was right.
A woman like you wasn’t so different than a man like him.
***
Master list
A/N: I’ve had this idea for a while now, guess it was time to post it, and I apologize because although I absolutely adore the concept I have been feeling a bit down and I’m not sure I was able to portray what I intended to…
Like always I’m so grateful if you decide to share your thoughts x
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lains-reality · 8 months
Text
Once a young woman came to Hafiz and said, “What is the sign of someone knowing God?” And Hafiz became very quiet and stood in silence for nearly a minute. Lovingly looking deep into the young woman's eyes, he then softly spoke: “My dear, they have dropped the knife. The person who knows God has dropped the cruel knife so often used upon their tender self and others.”[source]
please give yourself the grace of forgetting, of being sad, of failing, of fearing. you are allowed to. all is Self. you are okay now and here.
allow yourself to look at the insecurities, shame, guilt and fears.
give yourself the chance to respond, not react.
let vanessa be. vanessa is just a person like anyone else. thinks they are born and will die. every vanessa, no matter how well off they are, is scared shitless. but you treat your vanessa so badly.
you hate it. you want it gone. you see the body and mind as a cage without a key. it hurts. you curse it and nothing changes. you try to convince it and nothing changes. you curse it more.
It is not a matter of enduring, it is a matter of you being so crude to Vanessa, and expecting so much of her when she has no power. Do you feel the same way about the homeless man on the street corner? Do you constantly chastise him in your head, blame him for his circumstances? Even if you are the kind of person to judge based on appearances, you do for a moment and move on with your life. That's because you never thought he was you so how could you feel pain on his behalf? You may do the opposite and feel bad for his situation for a bit, but you still leave the matter alone as he's none of your business and you have your own things to worry about. - post source
vanessa is doing the best it can. it sings, dances, loves! it bleeds, it shudders, it hurts. all is the wide expression of Self.
and yet you hide from the pain, from the hurt, from the thoughts, the feelings. this is not the fullness of Self.
forgive yourself. let go of the shame and guilt. stop shaming vanessa for exsiting just like any other person in the street. stop carrying all responsibilities of the world. it's already taken care of.
you breathe with no help, you shit with no help, you eat with no help, you sleep with no help. and even if you do need help, the inability to do so, happens without your help. your amazon package comes through, your sibling grows 2 cm, the sun rises and falls, the seasons pass by. all by itself. what's orchestrating it all? Self. what other reason have we given ourself the world, other than out of love?
Leave poor Vanessa alone and stop assigning her the responsibility and accountability of everything that the dream shows. The entire dream is all an expression of the Infinite Being, not hers (the ego) which she is just one more creation of. And it doesn't have to be your (the Self's/I AM's) dream anymore when you stop identifying with it. - post source
its already out of vanessa's hands. vanessa can't do anything. let that be a celebration: all is taken care of. unconditonally.
"why is it all taken care of?"
"why not!"
"but why should *i* get the world?"
"why not?"
"but-"
its already all here for you. its already as it is. what is vanessa gonna do to change the infinte? why would the infinite need changing anyway?
Treat it with compassion, stop bullying it, it's not its fault you're not where you should be. You think he's in the way so you get mad, you get frustrated it's not following instructions or refuses to step aside. But the ego is not the problem, nor in the way. Your attitude toward it is the problem. Let it be, it doesn't know any better! - post source
give yourself the permission to exist as you are. give yourself permission to be as you are, right now. start asking 'did i give permission for this?' you'll find how much stuff is not even your choice. as ada said its just tolerance and endurance of the forced vanessa.
now you realise you don't have to be a forced vanessa. so you go completely the other direction and try to (forcefully) change the vanessa. you're still holding up standards, ideas & roles to yourself. the things that made you hate vanessa in the first place. just maybe, for this moment hold nothing. drop the knife.
“Stop trying to heal yourself, fix yourself, even awaken yourself. Let go of letting go. Stop trying to fast-forward the movie of your life. It gets so exhausting, doesn’t it, always trying to get there, chasing futures that never seem to arrive, living on second-hand promises. Instead, bow deeply to yourself as you actually are. Be here. Honour this present scene in the movie. Your pain, your sorrow, your doubts, your deepest longings, your fearful thoughts, are not mistakes, and they aren’t asking to be healed. They are asking to be held. Here, now, lightly, in the loving arms of present awareness…” — Jeff Foster
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keepyourpantsongohan · 2 months
Text
Ayesha Liveblogs Spy x Family S2
Awww, I like that Bond Forger the Dog also gets an intro about HIS secret identity. Equal opportunity deceit
Are we finally going to learn who exacty Yor is fighting? I would like to know!
Been there Anya, I also had little patience for watching the news as as a kid. Though, it seems more important in a pre-internet era
"Okay, you can change the channel." Loid Forger, International Spy, defeated by one (1) sad look from his little daughter
"I absolutely cannot tell him that I got shot in the butt while fighting a group of armed men." 10/10 episode plot, I cannot wait
"I've been relying on her too much without realizing it, and it's upset her. Yes, that must be it! I must do everything in my power to remedy this at once!" Loid immediately blaming Yor's mood on himself and deciding he has to be respond by being a better husband!!! I will keep saying it. He is THE Husband. World's Most Husband
"Why don't we go on a date?" HEE HEE
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Puzzling that Yor thinks she hasn't been on a date though, when I can think of at least three dates so far (party-grenade-proposal date, lunch date, and drinks-and-reassurance date)
"I can't leave Anya alone at home, and this is a very important mission to ensure that we remain one happy family." It seems Loid has learned from the spy transmission debacle
"Last night, I came up with 862 date plans to ensure that Yor has fun." He's insane. I want to give him a leetle kiss
HAHAHAHA Franky being absolutely thrilled to bother Loid and Yor on their date. What a friendship 💕
Intriguing that Anya's telepathy has a distance limit. Tell me more!
Honestly, Yor having to position herself in a specific way to avoid pain is relatable. We love a chronic pain queen
"This woman had built up an immunity to poisons." HAHAHAHAHA the poison fixing Yor's pain. Sometimes, drinking does solve your problems!
LMAOOOO them censoring the bomb components. A real "don't try this at home" moment
NOT THE BABY MAKING THE BOMB. ANYA PLEASE
"I'm going to forget all this and live a normal life." Perfect. Forgers reforming their enemies left and right
"If it's not too much trouble, please invite me out again sometime." Never let being married stand in the way of your husband becoming your boyfriend 🥰
SCREAM at Bond's perception of what Loid does for work. I guess he's closer to the truth than most:
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"Are you trying to do this for your... no. Are you trying to get revenge for your friends who were experimented on?" HAHAHA is Loid blushing because he wants to call himself his dog's dad?
FBKFJHFFHKJHF Loid taking on Bond as his mission back-up. He truly can be swayed so easily
WHERE DID LOID GET A DOG-SIZED SKI MASK AHHAHAHA
I love the giant puppy spy sidekick, employ this dog ASAP
"While they're busy playing, I'm going to work hard to get to the top," said Damian Desmond, Six Years Old, for whom The Top was beating all the other little bougie first graders
"Your friendship... preciously elegant." Me whenever I finish hanging out with my friends
I love that Henderson-sensei sends the kids out on a picnic as a punishment. He really is as silly as he is strict
I don't know if this is a vegetarian thing or a cultural thing but it always seems wild to me how people in anime bite into fish, scales and all
"Did you know that the most recent studies in neuroscience suggest that your brain feels really revitalized when you're spacing out?" I like Mr. Green, Grizzled Navy Custodian, too
HAHA Damian trying his hardest to space out. Me when people tell me to practice mindfulness
"Oh, you don't [have a goal], eh? That's perfectly fine!" "Actually, I want to live my life eating lots of snacks." "Splendid! You'll have to think earnestly about how to make that possible." I take it back, I LOVE MR. GREEN
Ready to sob about this field trip actually. AHHHHHHH:
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"Good evening, Mr. Vile Trash." ACAB; All Cops are (Weird) Brothers
"What's so wrong about trying to improve the country my family lives in?" Nothing but the hostile, paternalistic nationalism of a Cold War, Frank Perkin, Newspaper Sensationalist and Adult Bully of Wealthy Children
"I'll request that your father gets some financial aid to get by." I feel like that will not make up for imprisoning his son, Yuri, but whatever helps you sleep
"Blech." That's also how I feel about Weird Brother Yuri, Anya
"Revenge will only make you sadder. I'll make you forget about all that with my love." This is the plot of Naruto
Honestly, I was super sold on the Bondman Polycule when it was just him, his spy partner Agent M, and the enemy spy lady who had all linked arms together. I feel like this could work:
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"How was anything he did gentlemanly?" Loid said: I'm a one-woman kind of spy
"Lord Damian, how could you possibly pick the joker there." "Shut up!' [Internally] She's so unfair... Damn it! I like to believe Loid might approve of Damian's crush purely because he is also willing to do whatever Anya wants if she makes one (1) sad face
Poor Anya. She's really most suited to using her street smarts
"Garden? The group of assassins who have been in this country for ages? They're basically urban legends, aren't they?" FINALLY we're finding out more about Yor's job!! They do in fact seem at cross purposes with the spies
[Loid already walking away] "He's such a heartless jerk." I bet you $5 he has already decided to help Franky LMAO
Update from 8 min later: Alright, I owe you $5, he didn't care
"Am I normal?! Oh, thank goodness!" said Yor excitedly, as if that were not a moderately suspicious response to being called normal
Excited for an ep with no double-barreled title. Plot progression!
I truly don't know where this falls on the spectrum of ways that anime will depict black and brown characters LMAO. Like Donovan Desmond, the Shopkeeper has an extremely haunting aura:
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"You will be providing protection on this mission." Oooooh, change of pace!
"Is there actually any reason why I should continue my job as a killer?" A question every assassin should ask themselves, I think
"HQ may or may not be trying to cut back on our shady overtime practices." Incredible. I can't believe even the underground spy agency has PTO. I wonder who regulates spy labour law
"If not for this bodyguard job, the three of us could've enjoyed this vacation together." AWWW Yor loves her family so much
"You can say this is a gangster's destiny." [Reba voice] A single mom who works too hard, who loves her kid never stops!
"Papa! We need to hurry up and explore the ship before it sinks!" "It's not going to sink! Stop scaring everyone." The fact the staircase looks distinctly modelled after that one scene from Titanic really sells Anya's point
Loid incapable of framing having fun as anything but a mission ljggkjgj truly he might benefit from a Real Psychologist
"That family's just for camoflauge, right?" "Yes, you're right... Is... that true?" I love Yor slowly admitting that she loves her family for their own sake 💗
As Yor was declaring doing her best, I did worry briefly that someone was going to [redact] Olka. Other anime have been less kind to me than Spy x Family
I love Yor making another mum friend in Olka 💞 Gal pals
Finally saying suspicious things in public has a consequence!!
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"It's been a while since we've had dinner without Mama." "Yeah, it's a bit lonely." Hee hee, Loid misses his wife
I love the immediate transformation in Yor's face as soon as Olka/Shaty says she didn't order room service
I don't have much to say but I am really entranced by the assassin vs. assassin + informant goings on!!
"I may not look it, but I'm a married woman, so I'll have to decline." Absolutely loving Yor quietly and efficiently beating these hitmen unconscious as she passes through the cruise ship
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"Which is it?! Would normal parents buy their child something in this situation or not?!" Loid is incapable of making a decision without thinking about how it looks in relation to him being a spy. Anxiety king
[In Anya's mind] "Yor! You're an assasin who hates frogs? Let's get a divorce. The Forgers are done." Like father, like anxiety-ridden daughter
"I am a normal father. A good father," said Loid, which is frankly not usually something a good or normal father would say
"Papa, you're not excited at all." Loid defeated by one (1) six-year-old's piercingly accurate psychoanalysis
Loid is facing a true Psychological Battle: The Fitting Room
Anya Ultimate Wingman Award for convincing everyone her mum's battle is actually a circus act
Awwww, Zeb, Fake Husband to Olka, likes her. I hope this is a healthy experience in Yor seeing other fake couples work it out, but I do also think Zeb could mega-die
"As long we people continue to be people, conflict will never end." Alright, Director Doomsday, calm down
"What am I? What am I doing this for?" [B Eilish voice] What was I made foooooor?
"Does she hate me? Or is she just going through a rebellious phase?" Loid whenever one of the Forger girls looks upset: THIS MUST BE MY FAULT SOMEHOW
A hasty and confident NO to Assassin Sniff's whole vibes
We interrupt this program to think about how cute Loid and Anya are!! I love Loid entertaining Anya and also supporting her while he thinks she's missing Yor
"Nice, Mr. Husband!" Oh good, we love a bulletproof vest for Zeb!
Truly a wild juxtaposition of Forger Family Fireworks Night:
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"This might be a bit late to ask, but would you consider just peacefully going home?" I love you, Compassionate Combat
I'm having a hard time believing all this will happen without Loid eventually noticing; the fireworks are long gone. I actually do hope Loid crashes her battle, Director Doomsday is out cold
"I'm doing this to support my family.... wait. I guess I am also doing this for money. But... no, I make enough to survive now. I'm hunting down bad guys for my country! For my country? Have I always been so righteous? What am I doing this for?" Poor Yor, this is like the worst possible time for an existential crisis
YOR AND LOID BOTH BEING MOTIVATED BY THEIR DESIRE FOR OTHERS TO LIVE A PEACEFUL LIFE 😭💘😭💘😭💘😭💘
[In Yor's flashback] "Be it for someone else, or for a specific reason, having to endure a merciless job... That's something to be very proud of." I'm sure Loid will acknowledge me. He'll forgive me. I like to think so too, Yor!!
Never mind to Loid helping Yor out, he is busy disarming a bomb threatening to sink them. This truly is the Titanic LMAO
LGLHGLGJHGLJHG Anya accidentally tripping the assassins so they shoot each other. Like mother, like daughter 💖
"You'll be able to enjoy the symphony of agonized screams and roars coming through the wiretaps on this ship." I can't wait for Loid to sink this guy with his own clock-bomb
Update from 30 seconds later: See? Self-owned and sunk
Awwwww Yor really does deserve the baby hug after the day she's had:
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"I pray that, someday, you and your family will be able to find true peace." OLKAAAA
"I know it was an emergency, but I ended up casting my family aside again." Loid and Yor having the same crisis about whether to prioritize their family or their jobs 🥺🥺🥺
Loid's blush at Yor catching him skipping as he continues to skip over in her direction. Hee hee
"I hope peaceful days like this will continue forever." ME TOO, YOR!
Get you a mum who would secretly beat up sharks for you ❤️‍🩹
Setting aside how fun snorkeling is, absolutely terrible idea to go into the ocean with an open wound OMG
Loid carrying his whole family is the cutest thing I've ever seen, 10 bajilion/10zo; perfect:
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[Internally] "You did a great job." Loid is in loooooove
"I can never tell if he's actually clever, or clumsy." Me either, Handler
Anya learning about the vacation disparity of rich kids LMAO
"If youre going to create a persona for yourself, you need to be strategic and commit." Not Loid turning this lie lecture into a spy lecture in his mind
"Lying is too much work, so I'll try not to do it anymore." Anya's entire set of adult role models do nothing but lie all the time, she really has no frame of reference for honesty
I do a little bit hate the Becky fantasizing about Loid thing, I have been Cardcaptor Sakura'd too much in life
NOT ANYA SELLING OUT HER MUM FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF BECKY BEING HER RICH SIX-YEAR-OLD STEPMUM OH MY GOD
I feel like they take a lot of liberties in translating "Loid-sama" as "my precious Loid" but hey, he is precious
"Yor's going to get the wrong idea, somehow." Loid has finally registered that this child is obsessed with him and he is only concerned for wife not thinking he's a freak. A good husband above all else
"I really don't understand the children of rich people." Me either, Loid
I need you to see Loid's face as Becky declares that this is his expression of love for Yor:
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"Your heart is as vast as the sky, and you're stronger than the earth itself. You're the perfect lady." Correct, Becky! Yor is amazing
"I had some extra souvenirs left after handing them out to everyone else. Do you want them?" LMAO @ the implication being lost on Fiona that he doesn't even think of her enough to warrant her own souvenir
I will say, I really do resonate with the theme of the ep being Loid is Hot and Amazing to Everyone But No One Will Ever Measure Up to Yor in His Eyes
"Maybe you're too nice, and biting and barking don't really suit you." Everyone in the Forger family is too nice for their job, including Bond Forger, Precognitive Puppy
Awwww Bond trying to help out all the humans with his visions
LNKFHKFHKJFH Loid really just got reprimanded by his dog
"And he went into save [Daisy the puppy]? What an impressive dog!" I love the Spy Dad-Psychic Puppy tag-team ❤️
[Internally] "I am a cool-headed spy. I cannot let my emotions show." Loid remains deadpan through SO many things but his dog looking a little funny while wet is his limit. What a man!
"Don't push yourself too hard. There's someone waiting back home who would be sad if you died." 1) V sweet, dad first, hero second. And 2) This is the second time Loid has directly spoken to his life situation with a simultaneous thinly-veined dog metaphor
WAHHHHHHH Loid and Bond's heroics being acknowledged by Anya giving them little paper Stellas:
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Yor immediately joining in and congratulating them for their hard work on their walk!!! I LOVE ONE (1) SPY X FAMILY 😭😭😭😭😭 IT'S A NICE SHOW
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xximpressions · 2 years
Text
Raging Fire
Daemon Targaryen x Velaryon!reader
Summary: Your Uncle has betrothed you to the King's brother, and when you meet, you are not at all what he expects.
Word Count: 1,320
A/N: Daemon intrigued me so I felt the need to write this. Depending on the response, I may continue it. We'll see *shrug* Enjoy! 😊 And don't forget to leave a comment below! They're how I'm going to determine if I continue 😘
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House of the Dragon Masterlist
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“Lord Corlys, please. See sense.”
Not even bothering to hide his scoff, the Lord in question side-eyed the King before looking ahead as he gruffly responded.
“See sense? Let us be clear, your Highness. I saw sense when I agreed to your marriage with my daughter. It was you who insulted my house after you chose to marry the Hightower girl instead.”
Knowing this was a truth that could not be avoided, King Viserys dropped his eyes to the table. He reclined back into his chair and raised a hand to rub his temple as he gave a deep sigh.
“I can see how my…choices might have been a slight against your family. What can the crown do to make up for its actions?”
Lord Corlys simply glanced back to the King in order to gauge the sincerity of his offer.
Upon seeing the man look back at him in earnest, the renowned sailor put a hand to his chin in thought.
After taking a moment to contemplate what to ask for, Lord Corlys began to speak.
“Your brother’s marriage recently came to an end, did it not?”
Not seeing where he was going with this, Viserys hesitatingly replied.
“Yes, it ended with the death of his wife, Lady Royce.”
With that confirmation, a small sly smile joined the expression on the Sea Snake’s face.
“Excellent. Then I have the perfect match in mind.”
However, before he could continue speaking, the King interjected.
“Now hold on a moment. Are you suggesting we betroth your daughter to my brother?” 
As Viserys thought about such a union, he could not see it being very successful with Laena at such a young age in comparison to Daemon.
Chuckling lightly, Lord Corlys waved off such an idea.
“Not at all. What I am proposing is a marriage between your brother and my niece since it is high time she was settled.”
As Viserys allowed his surprise to show, the other man continued.
“Prince Daemon showed great strength and character while we fought together in the Stepstones. I can think of no one better to take the hand of my niece.”
As the King’s surprise turned into confusion, he asked,
“But who is your niece? For I have surely never heard of her.”
“That is because she has been absent from court in order to follow in the footsteps of her Uncle.”
Still confused, his Majesty gestured for the Lord to continue his explanation.
“Her parents were lost to us when she was at a young age and has been living with my family and I ever since. As a high-born dragonrider, she is a woman that holds more power than most.” 
The Lord said with a reflective look in his eyes, 
“Being the sole heir to her family’s estate, as well as Commander of my fleet in my absence, she has a raging fire burning in her that could only possibly be tamed by a dragon. I believe your brother can be that dragon.”
Caught up on one particular aspect of his explanation, the King incredulously said,
“Your niece is in charge of your fleet?”
Lord Corlys’ smirk was proud as he responded,
“Yes, she has a strategist’s mind, so I rely on her counsel often. It only makes sense that she is the one to lead them when I cannot.”
As Viserys thought on all that had been told to him, he found himself eventually nodding in acquiescence.
“Very well. We shall betroth them to one another so that there may be peace between our two houses."
Pleased, Lord Corlys nodded as he stood from the table and said,
“Then I shall inform my niece of her impending nuptials.”
“The girl is here?” asked the King.
“She arrives in a fortnight, but I will write to her today.”
Lord Corlys replied before giving his thanks, bowing, and exiting the room.
*********************
The cool feel of the crisp wind whipped about you viciously.
But as you flew through the air on the back of your beloved dragon, it was like you did not even feel the cold.
All you ever felt when you were up this high, was free.
After flying a few circles around the city to enjoy such a feeling a bit longer, you began your descent.
As you neared the Red Keep, you could see a small group of people gathered near the landing area.
Once your dragon touched ground, you took your time in dismounting from your saddle.
After your feet were on solid rock, you turned to make your way to what looked like a welcoming party.
As you approached, it was Lord Corlys who stepped forward to greet you with his arms held out.
“Ah, my beautiful niece. Welcome to King’s Landing.”
Having not seen him in a few months, your smile was bright as you made your way into his paternal embrace. 
“Uncle!” You exclaimed with obvious joy before pulling away. He took both of your hands in his as you said, “It gladdens my heart to see you once again.”
The smile on his face was affectionate as he took a step back in order to take you in.
“I am grateful to see you as well. Even if it is not in proper court attire.” He finished with a teasing note.
Looking down to see the leather trousers and tunic you were clothed in, you could not help smirking as you looked back to his eyes and replied,
“Well, one cannot properly ride a dragon if they are dressed in proper attire, can they Uncle?”
His sigh was fond when he said,
“No, I suppose they cannot.”
After you both shared one last smile, you each turned toward the rest of the welcoming party who had been watching your interaction.
“My King, may I present my Lady niece, Commander of my fleet, and heir to High Tide.”
With a bow of your head, you said,
“Your Majesty, you and your family honor me with your presence.”
You then made sure to smile at him, his young wife, his heir, and his brother. Though, your eyes lingered when they landed on the Prince.
You held each other’s gaze for a moment before he began to speak.
But it was only after he finished asking his question that you realized he was not talking to you.
“Does she even speak High Valyrian?”
He had looked toward his brother as he spoke in the tongue he was inquiring about, so he did not see your smile grow wider at his condescending tone.
It was only when you said,
“She does. Though if you wanted to know, you could have asked her yourself.”
That the man known as the Rogue Prince glanced back to you with poorly concealed surprise.
Smirking to yourself, you forgot about the rest of your audience as you took a few steps in his direction until you were standing directly across from him.
In the Common Tongue, you simply said,
“I presume you are my betrothed.”
The prince merely clasped his hands behind his back before giving a single nod to your question.
With a hum, you continued talking.
“Then allow me to give you a word of warning: I have been underestimated my whole life. I caution you against making the same mistake.”
And allowed the kind smile to remain on your face, before turning back to the rest of the party.
“Now, it has been a long journey. Might I be shown where I will be staying?”
Sensing the tension growing between you and Daemon as he continued to openly stare at you after you dismissed him without a backward glance, the Queen was quick to say,
“Of course.”
Before leading you inside.
And as you followed after her, you could not stop the pleased smile from growing on your lips as you felt the stare of your future husband burning into your back.
Next
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hotvintagepoll · 19 days
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Propaganda
Julie Andrews (The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins)—Oh where to start .... I'm not sure I even know how. She's just perfection. And it's not fair I can't bring post 70s work into this, because she just gets better and better, and her drag performance in to die for. But in the era I CAN talk about, she shows she has THE RANGE. Beautiful, feisty, funny, holding her own against Christopher Plummer, Paul Newman, Rock Hudson. Oh she's luminous.
Nadira (Shree 420, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai)— She had a blast playing the femme fatal in Indian films in the 50s. Also the costumes she wore in Shree 420 are absolutely iconic. It's important to mention that she was Jewish. She was born Farhad "Florence" Ezekiel in Baghdad to an Iraqi Jewish family. They moved to India sometime in the 1940s. The funny thing is that she originally wanted to convert to Catholicism and become a nun but joined the film industry instead as her family desperately needed money. Even though she was unfortunately typecast in femme fatale roles after playing the nightclub entertainer Maya in Shree 420, she always gave 110% to every role she was cast in. Apparently she acted in a German film as well? She was also one of the most highly paid actresses in the Indian film industry and was one of the few Indians to own a Rolls Royce.
This is round 3 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.
[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]
Julie Andrews propaganda:
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"She has such a simple but amazing beauty to her. Not to mention her amazing and melodic singing voice!"
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"Roles like nannies and governesses can make us forget how attractive she was! A perfect combination of elegant and adorable, with the most incredible vocal range to boot!"
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"Besides having one of the most amazing singing voices ever to grace the silver screen, Julie always had an understated beauty to her that wasn't always shown off on screen. But it's there nonetheless because her characters managed to pull some of the hottest men ever to grace the screen."
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"The juxtaposition between carefree Maria and stern but fun Mary Poppins shows the power of the acting of this HOT VINTAGE MOVIE WOMAN"
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"Charming, genteel, incredibly charismatic, beautiful, and has an angelic singing voice to boot. Her screen roles as Maria in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins are absolutely iconic for a reason and she originated several well-known Broadway roles before those."
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"the most beautiful woman 12 year old me had ever seen possibly"
"OMG OMG OMG she’s definitely been submitted before how could she NOT but!!!! I loveeee her so muchhhh rahhhh prebby!!!! cool!!!! mary poppins the beloved <33333 some people dislike it but I love jolly holiday so much because it IS a jolly holiday with Mary!!! no wonder that it’s Mary that we love!!!!!"
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"I know many people who were taught in singing lessons "when in doubt, pronounce words how julie andrews would pronounce them." THATS CALLED INFLUENCE. THATS CALLED MOTHERING THOUSANDS."
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Nadira:
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I just submitted a whole list of golden-era Bollywood stars without whom I thought this tournament could not conscionably be considered complete BUT Nadira has got my personal vote for Hottest of the lot. She played a bunch of delicious vamp roles in her youth before graduating to being a creepy spiderlady antagonist type in middle/older age. Rare is the still in which she looks like she's NOT about to gnaw your face off. Yow!
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atopcat · 3 months
Note
alicent believing it was Aegon that Viserys was talking about always makes me laugh lol Aegon? our son Aegon? the one you can't even remember the name of?
God help me I don't know why this show is so allergic to ambitious women, for some unbeknownst reason they are doing everything in their power to stop it from happening. Alicent did not crown Aegon because she misheard Viserys' dying words, she crowned him because SHE WANTS HER SON ON THE THRONE!
She was literally telling Aegon he'll be king THREE episodes ago.
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Or did the morons once again forget their own writing?
It goes back to the overall problem with Alicent’s character, the writers don't know what to do with her because they're so desperate to keep her as a 24/7 victim with 0 agency.
She needs to crown Aegon but we don’t want her to turn against her bestie from 16 years ago who she was literally accusing of high treason one episode ago, what do we do??? I know! Let’s have her mishear Viserys’ dying words, that way we won’t break out in hives by writing a woman who can think for herself! 😃
Which btw makes it all the more hilarious that they’re parading their show as a "feminist" retelling of George's work.
Please explain to me how a woman defying her husband, creating her own political faction, raising a successful coup, and seizing power is sexist writing.
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Look at Alicent's positioning, the men are looking to her for instruction because she's Team Green's leader. Not Otto and certainly not Aegon but Queen Dowager Alicent of House Hightower!
Please explain how a woman in an authorative role who men look to for leadership is more sexist than a feeble pushover who had no clue the men around her were planning a coup because they didn't respect her enough to keep her in the fold.
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Please explain how it's "feminist" to write a woman who only takes action when the men around her tell her to.
George wrote a politically minded Queen who staged a successful coup and crowned her son King, usurping her husband’s chosen heir. House of the Dragon wrote a sobbing mess who won’t say boo to a goose without some man directing her every move.
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murdererofthumbs · 1 year
Text
Seeing reactions after this episode is actually slightly hysterical? It proves that this fandom can be so blind-sighted by characters relations, that they forget what show they are watching. Like, I have always been a self-proclaimed Roman-girl, because I find him compelling and extremely psychologically interesting, and like all of these characters, to a certain extent, I do empathise with him on the level of trauma that he went through. But why the fuck are people surprised that THIS is how he behaved in this episode is beyond me. Oh, suddenly Roman is dead to you because he behaved in the way that was very much consistent with who he is? That’s who all of these people are, like come on, what do we think we are watching here? You didn’t really think he will suddenly become a defender of democracy because it serves a greater good of the country? He was the one to fucking choose Mencken as a president, he cherry-picked him for Logan, because he knew that their views align, that Mencken will be a smart business decision. This whole thing is a transactional procedure - they needed to get someone who will be willing to serve their corrupt interests. Roman doesn’t see a problem in having fascist as a president, because he will never be touched by the consequences of having that kind of man in power. He is very much safe at the top of the mountain, and who the fuck cares what will happen to the peasants at the bottom of the chain? In this way, he imitates Logan the most, because in the end of the day, people are units to him, to all of them really, some of them are just more willing to admit this than others.
Also, like, “uuu, Roman was such a misogynist to Shiv this episode, he just didn’t listen to her at all”. Look, can we stop being delusional here for a second or is it some sort of selective memory situation? Roman is a misogynist. Kendall is a misogynist. Shiv, in fact, has a lot of internalised misogyny going on, and her being a woman never stopped her from pushing other women under the fucking bus, so let’s be real here for a second. And that is not to be said in defence of Roman, frankly nothing what I’m saying here is supposed to justify his behaviour in this or any other episode, but it’s more of like… reality check? I know that Roman’s self-destructive spiral and semi-decent behaviour at the beginning of this season might have clouded certain aspects of who he is, but please, go back to season 3 and count all the instances of him throwing misogynistic and, frequently incestuous jokes and innuendo, at Shiv? How many times he undermines her position on the basis of her being a woman? Or how Kendall, for that matter, uses similar arguments in 03x02? All the siblings use aspects of each other as weapons. Kendall is undermined because he is unstable, because he is a drug-addict, because he has a tendency of flying off on the cloud of mania, and crashing in the heap of depression. Shiv is crossed out because she is a woman, because she frankly has no real experience in the firm (which, although people might be super angry about that, because she is such a “girlboss” apparently, but this is a factual argument), because of her relationship to Tom and tendency to take several sides at the same time (with not much thought put into it). And Roman is frequently undermined because he is a freak and a pervert, because “there is something wrong with him”, because he is the weakest dog that is most easily manipulated, who crumples like a wet tissue if only to receive a bit of affection. They all weaponise their “weak” points against each other, because this dog-eats-dog mindset is focal to who they are as a family, to how they were brought up, to how Logan wanted them to be. So please, let’s not be surprised, when Roman suddenly uses misogyny as an argument against Shiv, because it’s not sudden at all, and it’s always been there.
I think what we have on our hands, is the same situation we had in 03x07 during Kendall’s birthday (and previous episode with Mencken), where some people are so outraged by Roman, and by his ability to shove the knife where it hurts, that they suddenly cross him out completely. Again, all these characters are bad people, there was never any doubt about that. They are compelling because of the complexities of their familial relationships, because of their childhood trauma and the consequences that this trauma has on them as adults. But they are still completely reprehensible as human beings, and I think some viewers forget about that and then get outraged when show about awful people features awful people. And I’m sure, either in next or final episode, something will happen and Roman will become sympathetic again, and he will regain his position as a “poor meow meow”, just as he did in the finale of season 3. Its always a fucking carousel with this character and people get sucked in and have their eye’s covered just to realise that nothing really changed, and nothing will change, because in this show people, at their core, remain the same.
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propheticeve · 6 months
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"Holiness Hoodoo: Rediscovering Ancestral Roots Without Jesus"
The term "Holiness Hoodoo" may leave some people puzzled, so allow me to clarify its meaning. In my view, Holiness Hoodoo represents a return to the traditional practices of my ancestral lineage, a way to decipher who I am and what my purpose entails. Many of our forebears were devout Christians, and this undeniable fact forms the backdrop of my spiritual journey. Despite the complex relationship that many Black Americans have with the Bible due to the scars of slavery, it's essential to remember that it wasn't the Bible itself that caused harm, but the people wielding it as a tool of oppression.
As I delved deeper into the realms of ancestral magic, I began to notice striking parallels with church practices. To some, I seemed too "churchy" for hoodoo, and to others, too "hoodoo" for the church—there appeared to be no middle ground. However, I've come to understand that my connection to my ancestors is the cornerstone of my spiritual practice. I've realized that perhaps the reason some individuals struggle to communicate with their spirits is that they try to venerate them through African traditions, tarot, or other methods their ancestors might not recognize.
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The Bible, as a potent tool in hoodoo, is not revered because we live by its teachings but because it contains powerful scriptures. My mother, for instance, believed in Jesus, yet she was a practitioner of hoodoo—a tongue-speaking, spirit-conjuring woman. Her approach, which I now embrace, is what I refer to as "Holiness Hoodoo."
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So, what does Holiness Hoodoo look like for me?
1. Setting the Atmosphere:
I play inspirational or gospel music that resonates with my specific needs, allowing it to fill my home as I clean, pray, or perform spiritual work. Gospel music serves as a direct conduit to my ancestral spirits, and sometimes, when I hear a song I haven't listened to in a while, an ancestor's presence is assured.
2. Keeping a Bible on the Altar:
While I don't read the Bible frequently, I keep it open to the Psalms as an offering to my spirits. The Bible also serves as a powerful tool of protection, and specific verses and pages can function as talismans and petitions.
3. Baptisms:
Baptism, in my lineage, is a ritual practice to wash ourselves of sins and start anew. It's not just for babies; it can also cleanse generational curses and traumas passed down from parents.
4. Shouting:
Listening to gospel music, I engage in the practice of shouting, a form of ecstatic dance that connects me with my spirits. This practice fills me with light and often results in downloads of ancestral wisdom.
5. Laying of Hands:
I perform the laying of hands, a practice I'll discuss in more detail in the future. It's distinct from Reiki and is a significant part of my spiritual tradition.
6. Fasting:
Fasting is a part of my spiritual practice, serving as a means of both elevating my spiritual consciousness and cleansing my body. I firmly believe that one's health plays a pivotal role in their spiritual journey.
Holiness Hoodoo is about preserving the traditions of our ancestors and finding connections with them. It doesn't rely on dogma or strict religious doctrine; instead, it is a pathway to tap into the wisdom and spirituality that has been passed down through generations. In this practice, there is no room for being "too churchy" or "too hoodoo"—it's about embracing the rich tapestry of our heritage and harnessing it for a profound and authentic spiritual experience.
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lendeah · 3 months
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After the Weave 4.
series masterlist
Summary: Following the Duke's murder, Elara and Astarion find themselves detained by the Flaming Fists and interrogated by detective Valeria. Somehow, they are forced to spend a pleasant evening in the barracks' basement, and the outcome is far from what they anticipated.
Pairing: Astarion x OFC!Tav, past Gale x OFC!Tav
Tags: Angst, Drinking to Cope, References to Depression, Eventual Fluff, Eventual Smut, Emotional Baggage, Unresolved Emotional Tension, Post-Break Up, Tav finds herself again with Astarion, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD.
Word count: 5.2k
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"How come every time there is a series of murders, it's always you guys around?" Valeria asks, their pipe perched as always.
The Basilisk Gate Barracks are filled to the brim, with every fist trying to talk down the nobles assembled there. Most of them are still in formal attire, adding to the chaos of the situation. Meanwhile, Blaze Elin, a gruff woman with a thick scar running down her cheek, stands at the front of the room, trying to maintain some semblance of order. She had called all of the Flaming Fists in for an emergency meeting, and now they stand tensely, waiting for her orders.
"We have no idea who is behind these murders," she barks, voice booming through the barracks. "But I can assure you, we are working tirelessly to solve this case. I urge you all to share any information you may have so that we can bring justice to the Duke's murder. And then you can go home and rest easy knowing we are doing everything in our power to protect Baldur's Gate." Her eyes scan the room, daring anyone to go against her judgment.
Valeria flies around the room, their eyes narrowed skeptically. "That's what they always say," they spat lowly, their words like venom.
Astarion is slumped in his chair, his white hair falling across his face as he rolls his eyes dramatically. "Must we linger in this dull abode any longer? We have divulged everything we know," he complains, casting a side glance at the detective.
We both knew that was a lie, of course. We hadn't told Valeria about the spawn under the city. Or the ones in the Underdark, for that matter. It was too risky to spread the word about their existence.
But Valeria wasn't easily fooled. They perch on top of a bookshelf, piercing gaze fixed on us. "I know you're hiding something," they state matter-of-factly.
Astarion scoffs. "And what makes you think that?"
Valeria tilts their head to the side, their pipe still clenched between their teeth. "How about your sudden return to Baldur's Gate socialite? Your involvement in an apparent "charity hospital for children"? And let's not forget your companion here, which you have suddenly reunited with after months." They gestured towards me with a wingtip.
I can feel my stomach knotting with anxiety, but Astarion just laughs, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh please, detective, I'm flattered that you find my life so interesting. But I assure you, the only thing I am involved in is solving this terrible murder case."
Valeria raised an eyebrow skeptically, as they calmly blew a puff of smoke.
"Is that so? Then tell me, why does every corpse we are finding present bite marks? Vampire bite marks?"
My heart skips a beat at Valeria's accusation. I know they are onto us. Astarion, however, remains once again unfazed. He leans forward in his chair, his lips curling into a sly smile. "My dear detective, are you implying I am the culprit just because I'm a vampire?"
Valeria's expression remained unreadable, their pipe still clenched between their teeth. "I'm not ruling out any possibilities," they replied evenly.
Astarion chuckles, leaning back in his chair with a casual shrug. "Well then, I suppose anyone could be the culprit."
Valeria's eyes narrow at his nonchalant attitude. "You seem awfully calm for someone who is being accused of killing multiple people," they state, their tone laced with suspicion.
Astarion's smile falters for a moment before he regains his composure. "My dear detective, I assure you, I am not responsible for these murders. Do you have any evidence to suggest otherwise?" He crosses his arms over his chest defiantly. "And in this case, the simplest explanation is that there is a vampire on the loose, preying on unsuspecting victims. Just because I am a civilized vampire, doesn't mean every of my kind is." he ends with another casual shrug. Gods, he is good.
I take a sharp breath and blurt out. "You know, this could be considered vampire discrimination!"
Valeria raises a skeptical eyebrow at my outburst. "Vampire discrimination? I highly doubt that, Miss. Not when we have solid evidence pointing towards a vampire as the suspect."
I clamp my mouth shut, realizing that I may have just made things worse. Astarion gives me a warning look before turning his attention back to Valeria.
"Forgive her, detective. As you know, she tends to let her emotions get the best of her," he says with false charm.
Valeria seems to consider this for a moment before speaking again. "Then why would this vampire target specific people? The past victims were normally lower class, but the Duke and his family were well-protected and respected individuals."
Astarion shrugs again. "Perhaps it was just a simple case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Just like we were."
I can see Valeria nod reluctantly at Astarion's words, but their eyes continued to bore into us with suspicion.
"Well then, if you come across any information or leads from your kind, be sure to inform me," they say sternly before standing up from their perch on the bookshelf. "I trust you, but I will be keeping a close eye on the both of you."
We both nod solemnly and finally get up to head out. At this point, only a handful of nobles are left to be interviewed. Among them is Lady Saphira, her elegant dress sparkling in the dim light. When she catches sight of us, her painted lips curl into a warm smile and she waves us over eagerly.
Regrettably, just as we are about to exit the building, I catch a glimpse of the first rays of sunlight peeking over the horizon. The soft orange and pink hues cast a warm glow over the city, signaling the start of a new day. I look at Astarion with a grimace, knowing this means we are unable to walk outside. The elf lets out a heavy sigh, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of cover.
"Well, well, it appears we'll have to find some shelter until nightfall," he mutters.
I nod in agreement, my mind already racing with thoughts on where we could go. And then I realize: we are in the Barracks. I look to the corner of the room, where the door to a small staircase lies hidden out of sight.
"Maybe we could rest in my old basement until then?" I ask.
Astarion turns to me with a raised eyebrow. "Your basement? Well, I suppose it's better than wandering out in the open..." he says with a hint of skepticism.
However, as I lead him to the door, I notice a guard is currently standing in front of it, and he would surely notice if we were to go down. During my time here, the Barracks were often pretty empty, so I didn't worry about the Fists finding out I was using their basement as my home.
I try to call the magic to my hands to cast an invisibility enchantment, but it is so rusty from months of no use that barely a few sparks appear.
Astarion, noticing my thoughts, places a hand on my arm and smiles. "Darling, you can just ask me to cause a distraction."
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued by the mischievous glint in his eyes. "And just what kind of distraction are we talking about?" I ask.
Astarion smirks, his charming smile reaching his eyes. With a flick of his wrist, Astarion reaches into his cloak and retrieves a small vial filled with a shimmering liquid. He holds it up to the light, the liquid sparkling like stardust. "This," he says, waving the vial playfully, "is a little something I acquired during our time apart. It's an enchantment potion that can cause illusions. But not just normal illusions, big illusions. Trust me, it'll be quite the spectacle."
I nod, dubious of the effectiveness of said potion. "Alright then, show me what you've got."
He smirks, and gets closer to my ear to whisper, "¿Ready to run?"
Without another word, Astarion forcefully throws the vial to the other side of the room where it explodes in a thousand shards. I watch in amazement as an image of a huge ogre appears in the corner of the room, letting out a deafening roar.
Panic erupts among both the soldiers and nobles as they scramble to either arm themselves and prepare for battle or run away. The Fist in front of the door immediately runs to help in the chaos, leaving the door unguarded. The image of the ogre is so realistic that even I start to panic for a moment, but then Astarion's hand grabs mine and pulls me towards the stairs. As we run, my ball gown gets caught on one of the tables, causing me to stumble and almost fall. But Astarion quickly catches me and effortlessly detaches my dress from the table.
"Come on, we need to move fast," he urges, his grip tightening on my hand.
I nod and we continue our escape. Soon, we reach the small door, and it takes all my strength to open it since I haven't used it in so long. Finally, with a loud creak, it swings open revealing a dimly lit staircase that goes down into the basement. I quickly urge him forward and close the door behind us, making sure to lock it. The sound of chaos from above fades as we hurry down the stairs into the darkness. I can feel Astarion's hand gripping mine tightly, guiding me through the narrow staircase.
As we reach the end, I see another door, this one larger and made of metal. It has a large lock on it, but before I even remember where I left the key, Astarion quickly takes out a set of lockpicks and skillfully picks the lock. The door opens with a soft creak, revealing a small underground room, barely lit from a small window to the street. Astarion collapses onto a nearby chair with a grin on his face.
"Well, that was exhilarating," he says with a laugh, catching his breath.
I take a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief as I sink down onto another chair beside Astarion. My hands shake as I begin to remove the layers of my ball gown, leaving only the outer scarlet texture that falls freely over my feet. Astarion watches me with amusement in his eyes as I struggle with the intricately designed dress. Finally, I manage to pull it off and throw it onto the floor, feeling suddenly free from its suffocating hold.
"I can't believe you had an enchantment potion on you," I say.
Astarion shrugs nonchalantly. "What can I say? I like to be prepared for any situation."
I chuckle and then take a look at my surroundings.
As I take in the room, my chest constricts. Despite it only being two weeks since I last stood here, it feels like a lifetime has passed. The room is dirtier and more somber than I remembered. A small bed sits in one corner, with a tiny window near the roof as its sole source of light. Two old chairs and a table, coupled with an old sofa, make up the rest of the barren furnishings. Empty bottles of alcohol litter the floor, along with many plates of half-eaten food. Oh, and it absolutely stinks.
I can't help but feel ashamed of Astarion's presence; I don't want him to see this place. Don't want him to realize how low I fell before he took me in.
Astarion takes note of my discomfort and raises an eyebrow. "Is everything alright, love?" he asks, concern coloring his voice.
I force a smile and shrug it off. "It's just...I didn't think it had gotten this bad," I say, trying to brush it off casually.
Astarion's eyebrows furrow in concern as he takes in the state of my basement. "What do you mean?" he asks softly.
I sigh and avoid his gaze. "I hadn't been taking care of myself properly since... since Gale left," I admit with a hint of sorrow in my voice.
Astarion's expression softens and with a tenderness that surprises me, he takes my hand in his and gives it a gentle squeeze.
"I'm sorry, Elara," he says, sincerity lacing his words. "I didn't mean to leave you alone for so long."
I shake my head, feeling a touch of guilt for bringing up the subject. "It's not your fault, Astarion. I'm sure you had your own reasons for leaving," I say, trying to reassure him.
Astarion nods, but I can see the guilt still lingering in his eyes. He stands up and starts looking around the room, "Let's clean this place up a bit, shall we?" he says with a grin, picking up empty bottles and plates.
I can't help but laugh at his sudden enthusiasm for cleaning.
"Oh, you? Engaged in the noble art of cleaning? I am astonished."
Astarion gives me a mock offended look. "Why yes, my dear, I am capable of more than just thievery and seduction," he retorts with a smirk.
I laugh again and join him in cleaning up the mess. Together, we spend the next hour tidying up the basement. It's a surprisingly cathartic experience, feels as if we are washing away the memories of my past struggles together.
When we finish cleaning, Astarion looks around with satisfaction. "Much better," he says with a smile.
I look around as well and feel a weight lift off my shoulders. The room is no longer dark and depressing; although still austere, it feels a bit more cozy and welcoming now.
"Thank you," I say sincerely to Astarion.
Just when I am prepared to sit on the makeshift sofa, I notice a stray bottle hiding between the wall and the bed. Curiosity getting the best of me, I reach for it and realize it's still full.
"I really spent five months drowning my sorrows in ale. What a brilliant strategy, right?" I say, reaching it with a heavy sigh.
I sit defeatedly back on the sofa. Astarion looks at the bottle in my hand, deep in thought. After a moment, he turns to me with a determined expression.
"Why don't we make a different kind of toast?" he suggests, his voice filled with genuine warmth.
I raise an eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean?" I ask.
Astarion settles beside me on the plush sofa, grabbing the last bottle of ale. "Let's share this final bottle, closing the chapter as it began," he suggests with a wistful smile. "And then let us make a promise to each other – to move forward as one."
I look at Astarion in surprise, not sure what to make of his sudden declaration. But something in his eyes tells me that he is being genuine, and I can't help but feel touched by his words.
I nod slowly, and Astarion opens the bottle with ease "To new beginnings," Astarion says, raising the bottle in a toast, and gulps with a grimace. "Gods, this ale is awful."
I chuckle and take a sip myself. The drink is strong and bitter, but I find myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. We sit in comfortable quietness for a few moments, passing the bottle back and forth.
"I can't believe the Duke is dead..." I say, breaking the silence. "Wyll..."
Astarion nods, his expression grim. "Yes, and he won't have a clue unless he graces us with his presence again."
I let out a sigh, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "I wish there was a way to contact them."
Astarion leans back against the sofa, taking another swig from the bottle of ale. "It seems we are also very screwed," he says bluntly."No noble will want to help a vampire now, even with a charming hero by my side."
I roll my eyes at his choice of words, but can't deny the truth in them. I bite my lip. "And now everyone will hate you even more," I murmur.
"I'm used to it by now, that is the least of my worries," Astarion shrugs nonchalantly."The problem is the Underdark spawn. We can't keep covering to sustain them if the nobles don't pay us."
Astarion takes another swig of the ale, his expression troubled despite trying to conceal it. I can't help but admire his genuine dedication to the well-being of the spawn.
"You're right, but we can't just let them starve," I say, thinking of the innocent children that were turned into spawns by Cazador.
Astarion nods in agreement. "We'll have to come up with a solution soon or else things will only get worse."
I take a deep breath and try to think of a plan. "Perhaps we could find the culprit spawn? That way, instead of being labeled as monsters, the nobles might see us as saviors in the end. Plus, you know, prevent further harm to innocent lives."
Astarion looks at me with a smirk. "Ah, always the hero. But finding the spawn? That's a risky move, my dear. They're not exactly known for their civility or cooperation. Much less yours or mine."
I raise an eyebrow at Astarion's comment. "I never said it would be easy, but it could be worth a try. We can't just sit here and do nothing while they go around killing more innocents."
Astarion nods slowly and then gives me a sly smile. "Well, looks like we'll have to go on a little hunt. We'll most certainly find them, but we must tread lightly and play our cards just right."
"I agree," I say with determination. "We can start tomorrow and see what we can find out."
A heavy silence settles between us, the warmth of the ale slowly creeping into my mind. Suddenly, I feel emboldened by the alcohol and ask the question that has been nagging at me for months: "What did you do during all that time we were apart?"
Astarion looks at me with surprise before a small smirk forms on his face. "Oh, just the usual. Drinking, gambling, and charming my way into the beds of highborn virgins."
I raise an eyebrow at him and he chuckles. "Just kidding, of course. Well, mostly kidding."
I roll my eyes at Astarion's flippant response. After what I saw at the party, I am more than sure that he has indeed been visiting a lot of bedchambers. The thought, for some reason, doesn't sit well with me.
"Seriously though, what did you do?" I press on, trying to distract my thoughts. We are so close our arms are touching, sending pleasant shivers down my spine.
"As much as I wish to boast about how I was far off better than you... I cannot" He sighs. "Hiding in the shadows once again took a toll on me, and I fear it may have shattered me completely. I never thought I would have to resort to such methods again. It was like reliving a nightmare."
Astarion takes another swig of ale before continuing. "I spent most of my time huddled in my bedchambers. My appetite disappeared, along with any sense of purpose or thought. All I could do was lay there, consumed by my own despair."
His raw confession tugs at my heart, causing it to clench painfully. My mind struggles to process this new side of Astarion - so unlike the guarded and closed-off man I thought I knew. It's almost as if he's a completely different person now, changed by the events of these past few months. Or perhaps, his sudden honesty is simply a result of the alcohol loosening his inhibitions.
I find myself reaching out to gently place my hand over his in comfort. He just looks to the wall, as if his mind is elsewhere, and keeps talking. "I was utterly alone. Everyone else had found their own happily ever after - Lae'zel fulfilling her duties to her people, Shadowheart finding her true calling, Wyll and Karlach, you know, at least they were together. And then there was you and Gale..." He looks over at me with an unreadable expression before turning his gaze back to the wall. "I couldn't help but feel envious of all of you. It seemed like everyone had moved on except for me."
I take a deep breath, his thoughts resonating so deep within me, reminding me of my own struggles back when I was alone and trying to help everyone. "I understand what you mean," I say softly, squeezing his hand lightly. "I've been there too, feeling like everyone has moved on and left me behind."
Astarion shrugs, a bitter smile on his face. "It's not their fault. It's just... hard being alone after so long. It reminded me too much of my old life."
I nod, "I can imagine how hard it must have been for you," I reply sincerely.
"Surviving wasn't easy, but I managed." He says with a hint of amusement, "Dalyria found me cowering in the bedroom after a month and gave me quite the scolding. But then she helped me dust off my pride and put me back on my feet. She knew we needed all hands on deck to deal with the spawn, and apparently, I was deemed the most capable." With a shrug, he sums it up, "And that's how it went."
His final words are a bit slurred as if the alcohol is getting to him too. I grasp his hand tightly, not wanting to let go even as the world around us spins. His skin is cold against mine and I can feel the tremble in his fingers.
"Well, we're not alone anymore. We're together." I whisper, my words also a bit slurred.
Astarion looks at me with surprise before a small smile forms on his face. "Together," he repeats, his voice muddled, before pulling back and taking another swig of the bottle. My gaze follows the movement as his strong hand grips the bottle, his soft lips enveloping the tip, his translucent eyelashes fluttering shut in pleasure. My mind reels as I watch his throat move while he gulps, and for some reason, my drunken haze makes me ache with desire for him.
His red eyes connect with mine, and I can feel myself getting flustered under his intense gaze, caught in the act.
A faint smirk appears on his lips as he takes another swig of ale. "Do you like what you see?" he teases, and his voice is now low and husky.
I have the urge to look away, a blush creeping onto my cheeks. But instead, I reply emboldened by the alcohol, "Maybe."
Astarion's eyes widen in surprise, and a mischievous grin spreads across his face. He leans closer, his breath fanning against my ear. "Well, isn't that interesting," he whispers, his voice dripping with playful suggestion. "Perhaps we should explore this newfound curiosity of yours."
My heart skips a beat as his words hang in the air, my mind buzzing with a mixture of desire and confusion. A part of me wants to push him away, to remind myself that this is just the alcohol talking, but another part of me yearns to indulge in this intoxicating connection we share. It's been so long since I've felt this desire, this need. So long since I've been touched.
Summoning up the courage, I lean in closer to his ear, our knees now touching.
"Do you like what you see?" I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper. From this close, I can admire the small moles dotting his cheek, and fight the urge to trace them with my fingertip.
Astarion chuckles softly and pulls back slightly, his red eyes locking onto mine. His lips curl into a mischievous smile as he places his free hand on my thigh. His touch sends an electric jolt through my body, igniting a fire within me. "Who are you and what have you done to my dear Elara?" he asks teasingly.
Our faces are now mere inches apart, our bodies pressed against each other.
"Do you like what you see?" I repeat, surprised at how low and sultry my voice comes out.
Astarion leans in closer, his nose barely brushing mine. "I do," he replies, his voice filled with desire. "Who could resist such a stunning creature?"
The tension between us is palpable as Astarion's hand continues to trail up my thigh, his touch igniting a burning desire within me even through the thick fabric of my dress. I don't know if he is pretending anymore, my head is swimming, my thoughts clouded by the alcohol and his touch. I know he can hear my heartbeat, his pupils expanded to the point where there is no crimson in them. He licks his lips, briefly showing his fangs, and I can't help but shiver, my body remembering the way they felt on my neck.
Without fully realizing what I'm doing, I take my trembling hand to his neck, touching the bite mark there softly, and caress my way to the base of his throat. My fingers tremble as I tug on the strings of Astarion's black shirt, feeling the smooth fabric open to reveal his sculpted chest. The dim sunset light from the basement window casts a golden glow over him, accentuating his every muscle and curve. He looks like a creature carved out of marble, perfect in every way.
Astarion watches me with intense eyes as I trace my fingers down his chest, feeling the softness of his skin under my touch. His breath hitches slightly and he leans in closer, his lips brushing against mine, sending a shiver down my spine. I can feel his hunger for me radiating off of him, and it only fuels my desire.
"How long has it been?" Astarion's hand goes up and cups my cheek gently, his thumb stroking my skin softly "How long has it been since someone touched you?"
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging within me. "It's been a while," I admit, feeling vulnerable and exposed under his intense stare.
A small smile tugs at the corners of Astarion's lips as he leans in closer once more. Our lips brush lightly again, sending all kinds of electric feelings along my skin. "You are drunk," he whispers.
And then, he pulls back completely, retrieving his hand. A wave of disappointment washes over me and I can't help but whine at the lack of contact.
"B-but I want to," I say, my words almost gibberish.
He just shakes his head and gets up to get even further away, allowing me to see I wasn't the only one affected by our exchange.
"You will regret it tomorrow." He adds, "If you still want to when you sober up, I will more than oblige."
The room suddenly feels cold and empty with Astarion away from me. I can't help but feel disappointed, my desire still burning strong within my veins.
"I won't regret it," I say with determination, but my words are slightly slurred from the alcohol. "I want you."
Astarion's eyes darken with desire as he looks at me, but he shakes his head again. "Oh darling, you are clearly drunk," he repeats, "And a whiny, obnoxious one at that."
I pout, feeling rejected and frustrated. Why won't he just give in to our mutual desire? Is it really because I'm drunk? Or maybe because he thinks I'm not good enough for him? Is this even his true self, or is he simply pretending to be flirty as usual?
"Can we please go home now, precious little crybaby?" he drawled with a smirk, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
My pout deepens as I watch Astarion head towards the door. "Fine," I mutter, standing up and swaying slightly as the alcohol starts to hit me harder.
Astarion's teasing grin transforms into a devilish chuckle as he observes my unsteady steps. "Oh, darling, is this your attempt at seduction?" he quips with a wink. "I won't fall for it, but I'll gladly watch you stumble."
But then he comes to stand beside me and with his firm grip, he assists me in walking up the stairs once more. The barracks lay eerily quiet and devoid of life in the cover of night, the moon casting an eerie shadow over our movements. As we walk through the empty hall, Astarion's arm finds its way around my waist for support, and my mind is still consumed by thoughts of our previous interaction. The alcohol in my system makes me more aware of his touch and the way his body presses against mine.
Before leaving the place, Astarion turns to face me with a mischievous grin on his face. "Now, shall we finish our little promise?" he asks in a low voice.
I can feel my cheeks heating up at his words and I nod eagerly. I hold out my hand "I promise to move forward from this place. And from Gale. And from the ale."
Astarion raises an eyebrow at my wobbly words, but he takes my hand in his and gives it a firm shake. "Together," he says with a smirk, his grip surprisingly steady despite the amount of alcohol we've consumed. How is he not drunk? He drank more than me!
As we make our way back to the Palace, Astarion keeps his arm around me, guiding me through the now-dark streets of Baldur's Gate. Despite the alcohol clouding my senses, I can't help but feel safe and protected by his presence, and I unconsciously lean into his touch. As we reach the metal gates of the Palace, I am starting to sober up, and he finally releases his grip on me and opens the door.
"Well," Astarion says, leaning against the door frame with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "That was certainly an interesting day."
I roll my eyes at his comment, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. It's bad enough that I made a fool of myself in front of Astarion, but now he's going to tease me about it too?
"Can we just forget about it?" I mumble, trying to brush off the embarrassing events of the evening.
A cunning smirk spreads across Astarion's face as he gazes at me. "Oh, don't worry darling," he drawls. "I will most definitely forget." but his words drip with sarcasm.
I roll my eyes at Astarion's teasing comment, but I can't deny the small flicker of disappointment at the thought of him forgetting about our drunken encounter. Despite trying to push those memories away, they keep resurfacing in my mind. The way Astarion's fingers had felt against my skin, the desire burning between us... I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts.
Astarion leads me inside and we have barely taken two steps when two figures appear in front of us.
"Are you two drunk?"
Astarion and I freeze in our tracks as Shadowheart and Lae'zel stand before us, their arms crossed and disapproval etched on their faces. My heart stops at the sight of the two women.
I straighten myself, attempting to regain some semblance of composure. I can feel my face flushing with embarrassment, desperately wishing for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. Astarion, ever the smooth-talker, steps forward with a sly grin.
"My two favorite companions!" he replies, feigning innocence. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit to my modest property?"
Shadowheart and Lae'zel exchange a doubtful glance before turning their attention back to Astarion.
"We've been waiting here the entire day for the both of you," Shadowheart says, her tone serious. "We heard the Duke died, and it's clear you two were entangled in the mess somehow."
Lae'zel finally speaks up, her voice cold and commanding. "We are here to deal with the wreckage you left behind."
Tag List - @astarioffsimpmain, @amazingnerd, @ayselluna
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mechaknight-98 · 3 months
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Gathering Side story: Overwhelming stampede
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Author's Note: when I started this series it was all vibes and now that it some somewhat coherent a character who got pushed to the wayside was Dino. Which sucks because he's a lot more interesting to write for me than the others. However, at times his powers were tied to Dinosaurs and the toku inspiration I did with his powers seemed incongruent with the tone I was trying to go for. which made writing him harder and harder as I wanted it to gather to be more introspective, but for side stories I can do whatever I want. Dino for me was always a mix of Hayato and Eji from Kamen Rider. Z from Ultaman Z a little bit of Gambit/Deadpool (Comic Deadpool) from X-men, and my personality. As you will see by his slightly changed powers. Whereas TJ was always meant to be more Takeshi, Ren (Ryuki) from Kamen Rider and Cable/Wolverine from X-men, and Max McDaniels from the Tapestry series by Henry H. Neff … (please read it if you haven't.) So this is meant as a mini-story that gives him space to be as crazy and outlandish as possible so for all of my long-time readers here is Dino restored in all his over-the-top Toku temur comic(y) glory.
You know who we should call to fill our game...," Sakura starts before pausing dramatically to Connor and Yunjin. Yunjin and Connor stare at the young woman pensively, before she makes her suggestion.
"Cival," Sakura said suggesting me to her group of friends. Connor and Yunjin look at her wary as the last time they saw me, I was (successfully) trying not to freak out as Sakura let me down easily by telling me that she was a lesbian. Yunjin however saw the excitement on Kkura’s face and ran with it.
"You know what? it's been a while since we've seen the madman and even longer since we have played with him. let's see what he's got?" Yunjin says exuberantly. This leads to them calling me. well, Sakura calling me.
"Yo Kkura what's up?" I ask
"Oh great answered you answered Civy. we need a fourth for our commander game. You down?" Sakura said
"What about Dexter he's usually y'all's resident Temur player," I asked confused
"He's exploring Naya so currently we need an Unhinged Calm Man." Sakura teases
" So you are telling me that Dexter Mr "Yeah I am so Ketria" is trying the shard I told him he would like, and best suit him? Wow, I'm surprised; not really of course, but you thought of me in his stead...well...I am touched. Okay, I'll be there in a bit. Does it need to be a Temur deck or can it be something else?" I respond
"Yes. We are playing our wedges and shards so you need to as well." Yunjin insists in the background
"Okay, Kkura." I groan. I end the phone call. I finish my in-n-out order adding them to it. After getting the food I teleport to Le Sserafim's dorm. the popping noise that accompanied it jolted the people present.
"Yah Cival-oppa you just can't pop in on us like that," Yunjin says holding her heart
"But I have food," I say as I hold the in-n-out bag with their food. Kkura and Yunjin smile. Connor groans.
"Ah no shake shack," he says disappointed
"Hey, when you're willing to pay for it I will pick it up for you all you want. In n Out is cheap and delicious so don't complain. " I say to him.
I hand Kkura her strawberry shake, Yunjin her vanilla, and Connor his chocolate one.
"Oh, you remembered our orders," Yunjin says elated
"Of course. yall are still my friends." I reply
Sakura looks at me guilty and says, "Sorry for forgetting about you Civy."
"It's no big deal. I couldn't afford to move to Korea, and you guys moved on. No hard feelings. the only hard feelings I have are for Dexter. I mean how did he of all people get Eunbi freaking Kwon?" I joke which gets the laugh I was kinda fishing for with Yunjin, Connor, and Sakura.
"So how have you been Civy?" Sakura asks
"Ah, you know same old, same old. fighting monsters taking pictures writing stories.. I reply
"Oh, how are you adjusting?" Connor asks
"Ehh, it's fine. It feels scummy at times but it's a job someone has to do" I answer
"Yeah, it can be weird," Connor says and leaves it at that.
I stayed silent about Voruna and her training me because last I heard Connor and her had a falling out
"So Cival" Yunjin says in a tone and a shoulder shake that lets me know I am not going to really *appreciate* what she says next, "Meet anyone "Lovely?" I groan and reply
"No Jen. I am still a single pringle although I am less ready to mingle." I reply. Sakura looks dejected hearing that.
"I am sorry," Sakura says as she takes a dejected sip of her shake.
I turn to Kkura look her in her eyes and say, "Look Kkura, I don't want this to be awkward. You are fantastic and while I believe we would have made an excellent power couple I understand that your heart is elsewhere, and honestly good for you Siyeon is such a hottie I mean sheesh." Kkura finally cheers up and Yunjin just has to sour the mood.
"See this is why we need you Cival around more. You are the best hype man and Cheerleader." Yunjin exclaims.
"I have been told I am good in limited amounts so that's why I stay in the background," I say before taking a bite of my burger and some fries. Kkura and Yunjin laugh.
"So Madman what crazy build are you on now?" Connor asks
"Borb and Phb food chain, but casual. I have a Thrasios Krark deck in the works but it needs time to bake. Or maybe I should just switch it to Jeska Thrasios." I answer as I ponder my next higher-power deck.
"Is it your definition of casual?" Yunjin asks me pointing. I nod which makes her bring out her "Big Guns"
"Oh, Kaalia my favorite," I say sarcastically. Sakura laughs and pulls out her equally menacing. Simmone and Dina deck. I face her and she points to Yunjin. This leads to Connor bringing out Narset Enlightened Exile.
“Narset!” I point out exaggerated “bleugh now I have to play mean.” I tease
Yunjin smirks before saying, “Cival you always play mean.”
I laugh and give a hyperbolic groan before taking out my deck. Sakura grabs my commander and reads it “Oh I like it.” she says. As we get ready for the game Kazuha walks in and smiles when she sees me.
“Oh hi Percival long time no see,” she said as she walked over to hug me. We hug and I say
“Yeah well, your friends called me up to beat them and I couldn't say no.” I relate to Kazuha. She laughs as she steals a couple of fries “Eh? How rude!” I scoff feigning disapproval while Kazuha just rolls her eyes as she walks out. I turn to face my opponents who laugh.
“I forgot how friendly you were,” Kkura says.
I shrug and say, “Yep friendly and ferocious like a bake kujira.”
Yunjin rolls her eyes before saying, “Ugh you and those yokai.” I shrug her off as we start. I mulligan down to four and then we begin. Sakura opens up with turn one lotus petal and goth Triome. Yunjin starts the game with land, a “Sol ring” and a “talisman of conviction”
“Wow, an overloaded vandal blast or cyclonic rift would be so good here.” I joked and the look I got from the table was hilarious. So I just played a land and mystic remora.
“Civil please don't scare us like that,” Connor whined
“Well gotta keep you on your toes because I know y'all get complacent and that's when bad things happen,” I respond. Curious as to where my replacement was I asked “So where is the big man?”
“Oh, he and Eunbi are working. He's filming a bunch of videos for her new mini album.” Sakura answers
I nod and smile as I say, “You know what…good for him.”
The next turn Sakura plays an arbor elf and an overgrown tomb. Yunjin gets more ramp for her commander plus another land, and Connor plays an esper Sentinel and arid mesa. On my next turn, I play commander and I pay for remora having played another land. To play my commander I needed to use the Jeweled lotus, lotus petal, and rejuvenating springs to play Borb and Phb. On his ETB Sakura flashes in orchish bow masters and kills Esper Sentinel. I chuckle and pass. The door opens and Chaewon drudges in along with Eunchae. I turn around and I see Chaewon and Eunchae make the visible connection.
“Percy!,” the two girls yell excitedly. I groan and stand up as the two race over to hug me.
“How are my two favorite Chaes?” I ask
Chaewon holds me tighter while Eunchae says, “Oppa please bully Kkura unnie and Yunjin unnie they have been teasing me and calling me baby all the time.” Eunchae lamented
I turn to my friends who look at me in terror. I shrug and say, “I have to win now.” they look at me in abject terror as I hear both Chaes laugh maniacally in the background.
Chaewon smiles as she and Eunchae break the hug and say something in Korean I couldn't pick up (because it was too fast) all I got was Astrid Wesker.
“Hold up Astrid who?” I asked
“Astrid Wesker.,” Yunjin said confused.
I turned to Connor who read my confused expression and said “The Weskers are cool now. They have done their time and are repentant.,” My eyes widen as I get back to the game it's my turn and I swing my commander at Sakura. She takes six which leaves her almost out of ad nauseam range. On Yunjin’s turn, I exile Kaalia in response to her equipping a swift foot boots to it. This leaves me open to using counterspell on Narset the next turn. On my next turn I swing at Sakura again leaving her completely out of naus range which gives me space to breathe I play a Ragavan and another land as well as paying for mystic remora and pass. Sakura biting the bullet destroys mystic remora. I shrug and make sure to kill Kaalia, and Narset again. Sakura is missing land drops Simone and Dina aren't opposed to me, and the other two decks are so commander-reliant that facing them equated to don't let the commanders resolve. which I told them, and now they're realizing it firsthand. This beatdown goes on for three more turns before I just draw into the food chain and hit draw my deck before casting Laboratory Maniac. Only for Yunjin to have me lose the game by killing it with Esper Sentinel, with a little help from Kkura and Connor. Instead of casting the breach that was in my hand and brain-freezing them to death. I let them have their pyrhic victory, which of course leads to Narset winning because Narset is good at punishing health totals. After the game Yunjin winces.
Connor laughs at Yunjin's expression then turns to me and says, "Dang Cival back at it again with the big beaters." I shrug and tell them that play better which gets a laugh out of Kkura and Connor Yunjin just scowls then joins in.
Cut to 45 minutes later the girls had just finished getting ready and looked like they were about to head out, "So, what's next?" I ask hoping to tag along like old times.
"Well, we gotta go to Astrid's office. you can come if you want." Connor suggests.
"Ah, I don't know," I replied still reluctant because of Weskers being well Weskers.
"There will be pretty girls there," Sakura said
"I'm there," I responded without hesitation. I didn't come off my adrenaline high until we were outside her office and thought this would be a bad idea. I debate whether this is a good idea but I remember that I have no self-control around pretty girls. So here I was walking into the intimidating gray building with the only thought being "Oh God why am I here"
"Oh hey, Muffins," I say out loud as I walk over to the bakery. The lady working the counter is super nice and knows English which makes my attempts at broken Korean invalidated. Admirable but invalidated nonetheless. I pay for my blueberry Muffins (Because they are top-tier) and begin to eat them. As I walk back into the Lobby I look to see several men with guns pointed at my friends
"I take it you're not security are you," I ask. One of the men angrily gestures at me and yells in Korean. I groan as I can only really make out "That black guy." I finish my muffin and outstretch my hand. when I bring it back to my face I am surprised to see Destroyor. I shrug and slot it into my Riser. I transform in a flash of colors before my Destroyer armor comes on. The guys shout more Korean before shooting me. I sigh as the bullets melt before they can reach me.
"You'd think that they would see the transformation and ponder. Hey, maybe we shouldn't fight the one who just did that." I lamented as I summoned My Lava Lance. I ran to the nearest man in the suit and slashed at him he fell to the ground with a searing wound. I charged to the next one who was still reloading, and slashed at him as well. I turn to the last few who look at me confused. I lift the Lance and spin Lash letting the lava spread all over them. After they were handled The elevator opened and I could hear a high-pitched voice say
"Well it's about time you apologized TJ." I am shocked to see a young lady who bears an uncanny resemblance to Ada Wong, and to her left a tiny blonde woman who is following her.
"You're not TJ. you're much too colorful and vibrant." The not Ada said.
I deactivated my armor and replied, "Sorry to disappoint but I did just help you I think."
"Yes, you did a fine job. Do you want a medal?” the not Ada says sarcastically. I look at her confused before she apologizes and says, “Sorry it's just usually my person who handles this is not here..." The not Ada trailed off.
"You must be Astrid Wesker. I am..." I started but was cut off by the blonde woman
"Percival you are a nexo from southern California, and friends of Connor, dexter, and le Sserafim." The blonde woman says bluntly in her high-pitched voice
"That's not creepy at all." I sigh. "Well, I should probably get going. This was not enough excitement for me, and I am growing bored with this conversation." I say feeling uncomfortable.
"No, since you're here and a powerhouse maybe you can help me," Astrid said not taking the least subtle hint I could give. "I'll pay you good money too."
"Oh well, That works," I say as I follow The two ladies into the Elevator along with Connor, Sakura, and Yunjin. The ride is awkward.
"That's quite some psionic power you've got there Percival how does it work?"
I turn to Emma confused, "So you know who I am but not how my power works." I exclaim
"I can't be bothered to learn every Nexogebics power, especially one so extravagant as you," she said exacerbated
"Your tone indicated that was supposed to be insulting, however, I am choosing to take it as a compliment. To answer your question since you are too lazy to do basic research my power is channeling Primal Elements that have combined with spirits to make armor, and weapons and increase my abilities. I also have some legendary forms based around mythical creatures but if I use those forms my opponent is trouble," I explained, like she was five but hey this blonde lady lost her right to complain when she insulted me. we get to the penthouse overlooking the massive view of the city and we all sit down.
"So how much money are we talking for helping you, and what would I be doing for it?" I ask Astrid excited
"Well you'd be head of Supernatural security for the event and making sure no one gets any ideas. As for payment how does 21k sound for the three weeks of filming and an additional 9k for the preproduction, and POS production (flights travel, etc.)? Also, there is a chance for a bonus if you intermingle with the girls seamlessly to not cause us fuss but that will be based on your performance." Astrid says
"That's tempting, but can I ask why you're not asking your last guy to do this," I ask
"He and I had a falling out of sorts. He didn't like changes in my personal life, and so I made an excision." Astrid says with an extremely rigid tone
I sigh and say, "Fine deal but based on the way you said all of that weird stuff you should just apologize." I reply
"Wait why?" Astrid asks
"Your diction about the whole thing was weird which to me implies you were close and you're trying to use weird jargon to not fall apart about it. So, my take is you should reach out, and see if he is willing to help you." I reply
Astrid looks at me with Narrow eyes, before saying "You are extremely presumptuous you know that right?"
"Okay and. I am just calling it as I see it. you don't get a lot of friends in your life. Especially long ones so keep them close and keep them happy. You'll live longer that way." I said annoyed. The room was silent except for Sakura who was laughing.
"How is he worse than TJ." I heard Emma whisper as the meeting ended as we all discussed setup and various emergency plans.
I turn to her and say, "I don't believe in obstruction of my path I walk forward. Based on your interactions it sounds like TJ plays the game more, " With that I exit the office. the smell of the two ladies competing perfumes made me irritated. As I wait for the elevator I hear a voice I don't recognize. I turn to see an absolute bombshell of a young lady walk to me.
"Oh thank you." the young woman says. her blonde bounces around her neck in cascading waves of gold. to distract myself and not be caught staring I pointed to Sakura and company who were close behind.
"I was waiting for them but you are welcome....um what's your name?"I ask
"Oh, Ahin." the young lady says with a smile.
"Oh like the Momoland Member," I say. the girl chuckles and then looks at me with sparkling eyes.
"Yes that's me she says." my eyes widened at that because my limited recollection of Ahin had more in line with the girl next door and not a vivacious vixen.
"You seem surprised."
"Well, the last time I heard or saw Momoland y'all were cuter...not...this( I say gesturing to her.)
"Do you not like all of this?" Ahin questioned as she gestured to all of her actively alluring curves. I sense the game she's playing but I am too stupid to play.
So my response is not the most Euridite, "Look I wasn't expecting you to be an absolute smoke show or babe okay." I sputter out.
Yunjin, and Connor both laugh at my crash and burn while Ahin just smiles and says, "So you think I am pretty like this."
I turn around confused before replying, "Yeah absolutely." before I can make a further fool of myself the elevator opens and my friends drag me out of the Elevator, but not before Ahin gets my number to all our surprise.
we get back in Connor's car and Yunjin says, "Huh would have never thought she'd be into a black guy." Sakura and Connor look at her wonky. She's from the east coast so I just expect outta line stuff from her. We get back to the apartment when I get a call from an unknown number.
“Hi Ho it's Cival.” I greet
“Hey Cival it’s Ahin wanna come to
A party with me?” the other voice asks. I remain silent for a moment most parties bore me as they only really lead to debauchery and not much else.
“Come on it will be fun. Plus I'll make it worth your while,” Ahin says
“Deal,” I say with no hesitation. I could almost hear Ahin smile over the phone.
“Perfect” the young lady on the other phone purrs. “Send me your address and I'll pick you up in 15 minutes,” Ahin says giddily.
“Okay,” I reply.
Sakura smirks after the call ends at me. I shrug
“Oh does little Civy have a date?” Yunjin teases.
“Kkura I'm still older than you, but no Ahin wants me to probably be her “guard dog at a party.”
“Why do you say that? She was totally into you earlier today” Yunjin laughs.
“Well, little sis I read her body language and it was less. Oh, he's cute and more hmm he's built menacingly but is an awkward dork. Which is the same look Astrid gave me when she saw me after the fight. So based on that and other previous experiences, she's going to use me as her guard dog.”
“So why did you say yes?” Connor asks confused.
“Either there's going to be pretty girls, Food, or Excitement that I don't have to pay for. all I have to do is play the lost puppy role it's a win-win.” I elaborate
Yunjin’s eyes narrow before she says, “I can't tell if that is insanely smart or insanely dumb.”
“It's probably both,” I reply before taking a quick nap.
I wake up to my phone going off and I go down to the apartment lobby to meet Ahin. Upon entering the car I see Ahin is with a guy. The way they're attached makes me assume they are together (or en route to it) I sit in the back and the man who looks about Connor or Siyeon’s age says, “he looks a lot less goofy than you said earlier Ahin.”
Ahin looks back at me. I smile and wave hiding my confusion.
“Will there be food at this party by chance I'm starving?” I ask
The man nods and chuckles “Yes but you're going to need a suit for this party though. I nod and teleport back to my apartment to get the suit, shave, shower, etc, and put the suit on before I teleport back to the car to both of my companion's surprise.
“Neat trick,” Ahin says with a smirk. I chuckle and as we drive a bit more
Ahin noticed I was fidgeting with something and turned back to me
“Nervous," she says with a head tilt that is somewhere between flirty and friendly
I nod lightly, Ahin smiles pleasantly and reaches out her hand. I take it. "it will be fine. You will fit in, and if not you can just teleport out of there."
"You're right," I said which made Ahin smile. She took her hand back as she sat forward and she took my card.
Ahin looks at the card confused, and says as she turns back"Imperial Mega Dragon. Is this a part of a game or toy?"
"Not exactly" I respond and before she can ask more questions we arrive at the party which turns out to be more of a gala/ball. I walk in with Ahin, and her significant other and they guide me to… I squint and see that it's Kim Lip of ARTMS. Kim lip looks at me shyly but Ahin consoles her.
“See Lippie told you I'd find a nice piece of arm candy for you tonight,” Ahin says with reckless energy
“He is also foreign so he can't bore you too much.” I notice Ahin whisper before turning back to me and her date waving at the two of us. we follow the girls in. Kim Lip and I look at each other. As a fan of Loona, I knew that she spoke a lot through nonverbal communication. So it made sense that when I saw her stealing glances at me they were often accompanied by questioning looks.
“Aye don't worry it will be fine,” I tell her.
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