#but they'll only realize how much they loved me once that love turns to grief. they can only recognize love in retrospect

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS I ADORE YOUR WRITING!!!

“I need you, why do you always leave me?” With Narinder from Cotl with a reincarnated mortal s/o who always dies young? I’m such a sucker for this kind of troupe oh my lawd

Thank you so much and have a wonderful day/night!

Ong this trope is so good it hurts </3

Request more angst/horror prompts here!

.......

"Lamb, you must perform the resurrection ritual again."

"Narinder, it's barely been two days.." With a weary sigh, the sheep closed their gospel book, already becoming irritated with their former master's blunt request. "I may have taken your role as death, but even I have my limits. I can't just do that ritual whenev-"

"I had to bury my spouse yet again."

".....oh." A small pit in formed in their stomach, knowing exactly who he was talking about. "Again? What happened this time?"

"Some fool thought it would be funny to dare [y/n] to eat a deadly dish...and they accepted it, only to die puking their guts out." Narinder huffed, although deep inside it killed him to know that your death this time around was entirely avoidable.

He never thought he'd ever care for a mortal..much less one of Lamb's first followers, who somehow kept dying young and became the first one they resurrected.

Your existence has become a never-ending cycle of death and rebirth, and he wondered when they'll finally accept that you're simply not meant to live a prolonged life.

However, now that he himself was in the cult and wedded to you...he saw things differently. From a new perspective.

After you died once right before his very eyes--and not through the Red Crown--he suddenly understood that same grief Lamb endured ugh after they killed one of their spouses, who became mind-controlled by Shamura.

He thought of them as weak.

But not anymore.

Not when it became his turn to suffer in a similar fashion, counting the hours (or days, even) until Lamb could resurrect you.

He lost count of how many times you've died since then, although he knows you aren't trying to kill yourself on purpose. You were very "accident-prone" and sometimes did stupid things that you shouldn't have---such as accepting a dare to eat a "deadly dish" stew.

You might've been a fool for that, but he still loved you.

Unfortunately, not even the golden skull necklace Lamb gifted you provided any protection from death....besides old age, of course.

At least Narinder knew you'd never pass away naturally, but knowing it couldn't spare you from other causes didn't make him feel any better.

"Fine..I will do the resurrection at dawn." Lamb finally caved, understanding how much you truly meant to him. "But you must talk to [y/n] about this. With each rebirth, they slowly forget more and more of their past lives."

"....is that so?" The black feline raised an eyebrow, surprised.

This was new information to him--although he never exactly had the chance to revive somebody over and over, except for his former vessel whenever they foolishly perished during a crusade.

But they were very different.

They were nigh-immortal...you weren't.

"First they forgot how they previously died, then they forgot which shelter they slept it, and then they forgot how to cook their favorite meal...you see where I'm going with this?"

He didn't speak, afraid that his former vessel was correct. But it's not something he wanted to think about at all...even though it's certainly possible.

Suddenly he was beginning to realize the repercussions of the same doctrine that got him exiled over a millennia ago..

"I can't watch over them all the time..as their spouse you're gonna have to step it up, or else...they might-"

"Just do the ritual, please.."

Lamb's ears flicked up with surprise, never expecting Narinder to grovel at their podium. The only other time he acted this way was when he begged them to kill him instead of sparing his life, although it didn't do him much good as they chose mercy.

But this time, they felt a bit of pity for him.

He must truly care about you.

They simply nodded. "I will need more bones."

.........

You found yourself back in a familiar place:

Floating over a glowing red sigil, followers in hoods kneeling all around you, Lamb's eyes glowing with a powerful energy....and you expelling ichor from your body in a rather disgusting display.

You never did get used to puking out this black magical goop.

But once you landed on the floorboards of the temple, you sighed in relief, wiping your mouth on your sleeve before gazing at everyone surrounding you.

"So...what have I missed?"

A few of them uncovered their hoods and greeted you, happy to see you return to the land of the living. Others kept their distance, looking rather annoyed that Lamb decided to resurrect you for the umpteenth time.

One, however, stood there motionless, refusing to remove his own hood.

You looked to him, watching as he approached you, being unsure of his intentions. Although judging from the way other followers hastily moved out of his way...this person must have held great influence over them.

The fact that he had three glowing red eyes was most alluring.

Have you met him before?

Before you could ask him who he was, he suddenly grabbed you by the wrist. "H-Hey! Ouch!" You winced, feeling his claws slightly digging into you as he began dragging you out of the temple.

"Where are you taking me??"

"....stop talking."

His voice was low and quiet, and also....sad?

You were immensely confused by this mystery follower's behavior, especially as he led you to his hut--one that was more decorative than the standard shelters on the other side of the cult grounds.

While you remained silent, you couldn't help being bedazzled by the outside of it, although you didn't have time to really get a good look around the inside.

Because the next thing you knew...

You were pushed onto the bed, with him crawling onto it and laying beside you. Then he uncovered his hood, two long cat ears flicking upwards as his eyes met yours for a brief moment.

And in that split second, you swore they were filled to the brim with tears.

You blinked, afraid to speak considering how angry he sounded just moments ago, but you were even more perplexed when he flopped onto your chest. From his throat, a purring sound rumbled, and you could feel it throughout your entire body....and in your very soul.

"Please..don't do this to me..." His ears flattened.

"Do....what?" Reaching down, you awkwardly placed a hand on his head, slowly petting his fur and hoping it provided him some comfort. "I don't know what's wrong, but..I hope this is okay."

Your uncertain tone only further devastated Narinder. This was exactly how you'd comfort him after his nightmares. He only ever allowed you to see him in such moments of vulnerability, so you never needed to ask for his permission. You would simply do it.

Had you forgotten that, too?

Was that damned Lamb right after all?

Were you forgetting.....him?

"I need you, why do you always leave me?" He mumbled, heartbroken as the tears slid down his cheeks, droplets splattering onto the symbol adorning your ragged shirt. "With each new life, I-I'm...losing more and more of you, [y/n]. I don't know if you are cursed or if it's fate deciding to test me....o-or maybe Lamb's followers wish to see me suffer....but...I'm so tired of watching you die and being unable to do anything about it. I've taken you for granted.."

"................."

".....forget it. You don't even know what day of the week it is..why do I bother trying?" With a sniffle, he reluctantly removed himself from your arms, believing he blew his last chance to save your memories..

Now you were acting like a total stranger to him, and it honestly felt as though you had already died before you even left the temple.

Maybe this was a sign that he needed to stop and move on.

Maybe he simply wasn't destined for love.

Maybe this was karma for all the atrocities committed in his name.

Maybe the next time you perished, no matter the reason, he'll-

"It's easy to forget things like that, Nari...but how could I ever forget the love of my life?"

Blinking through his tears, Narinder felt his breath hitch when your hand gently grasped his own. He looked back at you with astonishment, before glancing down at the matching rings that still adorned your fingers.

Then he gazed into your eyes, seeing your smile.

"You..remember me?"

"Of course I do, you silly kit---woah!!" You were suddenly tackled back onto the bed by your husband, feeling him nuzzling up to you and purring even louder than before.

But you simply giggled and held him closely, petting his fur in a comforting way. "I'm sorry for scaring you...it takes a while for all my memories to come back. D-Did I do anything dumb last time?"

"Just...promise me you'll never accept a dare from anybody again." He huffed, trying to hide the fact he was still sniveling like a helpless kitten.

"Alright." You sighed. "I promise to be more careful. I'll try harder to watch my back, too."

"Do you swear it?"

"...I swear it."

"Good."

#clanask #cult of the lamb x reader #cotl x reader #cotl narinder #cotl narinder x reader #narinder x reader #angst #hurt/comfort #angst/horror prompt

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

OKAY SO IVE HAD AN IDEA FOR A WHILE

Imagine the M6 and MC proposing at the same time. Like they pull out a ring only to turn around and see that the other person also pulled out a ring. I think its very silly but also very cute :3

The Arcana HCs: MC and M6 proposing at the same time

~ ahaaa I love silly and cute! This is a wonderful suggestion and I adore it. another addition to the marriage themed hcs! - brainrot ~

Julian

Fumbles and almost drops the ring in shock

Is quick to pull himself back together and relax into his typical roguish grin

"Well that answers the question for me."

Will 100% forget to put the rings on because he's too busy frantically making out with you in relief

You'll have to be patient when you do go to put the rings on, because he's trembling all over

Is it the leftover nerves? The excitement? The week of sleepless nights he suffered overthinking it ahead of time?

Will need you to reassure him later that your answer was in fact yes

Will suggest you kiss him again to prove it

You're about to watch him agonize over one of the most difficult decisions of his life regarding his ring

Does he wear the original size that fits his finger? Does he request it be sized up to wear over his glove? He wants to show it off, but he wants to wear it all the time, and he can't ask you for two, and -

He's pacing? If you pin him he'll stop

Asra

Moment of silence while they turn bright red, because seeing you offer your commitment unprompted instead of themself suddenly makes it 1000x more real

Says yes so quietly you'll have to ask him to repeat

Will zone out staring at you adoringly until you make a move or they realize that you're looking at them too

Kisses you before you can give him the ring but at some point they'll magically appear on your fingers

You keep having to pause because they can't stop chuckling

Teases you relentlessly about it later

"So eager, MC. When did you become so forward?"

Picks up a new habit of kissing your wrist, palm, and ring finger every time you hold hands

Develops a strong preference for holding the hand with his ring on it

Doesn't make any kind of announcement, just visits all of their friends and acquaintances and waits for them to notice

Selasi the baker has the quickest time

Nadia

Delighted and trying not to show how peeved she is

She loves you. You love her. You love her so much that you're proposing

But she was already proposing

She's in the middle of following through on an elaborate plan that she's been putting together for weeks

She has a lot of backup plans too for when things can and will go wrong -

- she just doesn't have one for when they go right!

It's only a second of her grieving her initial plan of sweeping you off your feet before she's nodding and smiling and saying yes

Puts the rings on before kissing you

"I had a wonderful event planned. May I show you?"

Will have the grandest engagement announcement and celebration you're comfortable with

Decides in hindsight that the proposal was much better this way

The story about who proposed to who changes depending on whether she's talking to family or to friends

Muriel

Secretly relieved, he'll let you take it from here

Immediate reaction is to pull you into a hug. He's so happy and he wants to savor this moment

Doesn't need to say anything more unless you ask him, just let him enjoy this

He made the ring he gives you

Even more shy than usual about kissing you. He really wants to, but this is something he's been working up to doing for months now and it's a lot

Inanna gives him so much grief about it

Avoids going into town for a week after the news gets out. He knows he's going to be congratulated and he appreciates it but that requires responding to lots of people at once

Will frequently get lost in thought admiring his ring

It takes him a few tries to say "my fiance" out loud without overheating

Those first few tries happen in front of Asra, who brings it up regularly in conversation for years

Portia

Squeals high enough to make your ears bleed

You proposed at the same time! That's so romantic!! That's so in sync!!! This is clearly meant to be!!!!

Screams yes before kissing you breathless, the rest of the proposal completely forgotten

Talking excitedly between kisses about how much she loves you and how perfect that was until she remembers she didn't see the ring you chose

"Where's my ring? Oh, it's so beautiful! Quick, let's put them on!"

Nonstop ecstatic giggles for the rest of the day

Announces it to every person she meets and shows off the ring like it's a trophy

Has an ongoing story about how the rings are also in love with each other, and sometimes her ring gets lonely for your ring and wants a kiss, and oh look, now you're holding hands

You two should kiss too

Uses this story to introduce you on every single one of her ambassador trips

Lucio

Pouting at first because you interrupted him in the middle of proposing before he realizes that it's because you're proposing too

Well hey if you thought of it too then it must the perfect plan

Very aggressive making out, regardless of the setting he chose and whether anyone's watching

Secretly ecstatic about the ring

It's been a while since he's received something new and shiny to wear, and this one's a lifetime of special

Consistently fishes for compliments on the ring he chose for you. He just wants to ensure that his taste is the best

Mercedes and Melchior are so tuned in to him that they start going nuts every time he glances at his ring or introduces you as his fiance

If anyone asks, he proposed first and then you proposed immediately afterwards

Will either completely forget to mention that you're engaged or introduce himself to everyone he meets as "MC's fiance"

Forms a habit of flipping people off with his ring finger because "it's extra powerful if you're involved."

#ask arcana brainrot #the arcana #the arcana headcanons #the arcana hc #asra the arcana #julian the arcana #nadia the arcana #muriel the arcana #portia the arcana #lucio the arcana #the arcana game #the arcana fluff #asra alnazar #julian devorak #nadia satrinava #muriel of the kokhuri #portia devorak #lucio morgasson

[little-peril-stories]

Whumptober 2023, Day 3 & 4: Solitary confinement, shock

Whumptober 2023 Masterlist

Read at your own risk! They're only snippets of a larger story, with no resolution that will be posted online anytime soon; they are being posted out of order; and the characters don't have names. Enjoy!

Contents: blood (barely), guilt, arrested, fear, angst (a lot—what else is new?)

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Word count: 600 || Approx reading time: 3 mins

Solitary Confinement

Teaser: There was no running, not for him. Not anymore.

"They'll kill me if I'm lucky / They'll torture me if not"

All the scholar could hear was his own rapid, fraying breath.

The panicked rasping.

The frantic gasp of each intake of air as he tried desperately to regain his senses.

Dead. He’s dead.

They’d thrown him inside, heedless of how his sight failed him and his feet stumbled and scrabbled beneath him. Now he lay motionless, tasting blood, pretending that this was all part of his plan. He didn’t move from where he’d fallen.

He’s dead, and I killed him.

He couldn’t move. He barely wanted to. The deed was done; the choice was made.

I’ll distract him, he’d promised.

He’d known what he was sacrificing when he walked into their midst.

Now. Run. Please.

There was no running, not for him. Not anymore.

The room was quiet, but it was distinctly unlike the soothing peace of the library where he had spent so many hours of his life. This—this was an ominous quiet, heavy with dread, slippery with promise. The promise—and memory—of death.

Leave him in there, they’d said, until the prince arrives.

The thud of a body striking rough stone rang in his ears. It was only once he was already prone—still reeling from the impact—that the scholar realized it had been his own weary, grief-stricken bones and his own torn skin scraping against the floor.

Let the prince decide what to do with the bastard.

The scholar’s wrists stung, unused to anything harsher than the silk of his shirtsleeves. He wore metal bands now, heavy and pinching and dark, suppressing what little magic he possessed—the only weapon, truly, he had to wield. Snuffed out, as much a prisoner as he.

Magic he’d used to kill a man.

Dead. The word repeated in his mind. The commander was dead, and soon, the scholar would be, too.

Quiet.

So quiet.

Too quiet.

He loved such stillness, usually—relished it. Most of the time, it meant solitude. Solace. The tender whispers of turning pages, muffled footsteps, and contented sighs.

Today, it meant something else:

Death.

He hadn’t meant to.

But he had.

I chose this.

He’d chosen her.

Soon the prince would arrive to decide his fate. He would know what his old tutor had done. He would pass judgment and, in all likelihood, sentence him to death.

I didn’t mean to.

The scholar had written the end of his own story, or rather, he had tried. He could never have imagined that this was where his life would lead him—to an empty, airless holding room, mere corridors from the dungeon cells that would no doubt become his tomb. And what for?

I did it for her.

If he closed his eyes, he could feel the ghost of her hands in his.

Don’t get hurt, she’d said. A promise he’d known—even as he agreed—he could not keep. He wondered what she would say if she could see him now. If she—more full of fight than he had ever been—would rage and rail to see him prostrate and shaking. Or if, instead, she would merely weep.

Get up, she would urge. Please.

The barest sliver of him wished his cruel, craven mind—soaked with pain and fear and shock and terror—would let him be, that his conscience would simply rest. He almost—almost—wished her voice would just stop.

But if it did, he would be left with the emptiness and silence of the room, and in a sea of fear and foreboding, he would drown.

If it did, the scholar knew, he would never again hear her voice, out loud or in his head, so when death came for him, he would be nothing more than a wretched husk of a man, despised and heartbroken and alone.

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#whumptober2023 #no.3 #no.4 #solitary confinement #shock #oc #original content #fic #arrest tw #murder tw #guilt tw #blood tw #arrested #fear #angst #death mention #lps man of letters

[waitingforwinterwinds]

Game of Thrones - 67 SANSA VI (pages 716-725)

Sansa struggles emotionally and mentally in the aftermath of her father's death. Joffrey stops pretending he's any kind of decent human being.

-

Perhaps I will die too, she told herself, and the thought did not seem so terrible to her. If she flung herself from the window, she could put an end to her suffering, and in the years to come the singers would write songs of her grief. Her body would lie on the stones below, broken and innocent, shaming all those who had betrayed her. Sansa went so far as to cross the bedchamber and throw open the shutters... but then courage left her, and she ran back to her bed, sobbing.

Ummm, holy fuck?

Well there's something the show cut out, but I suppose D&D aren't the kind to let us sit with the grief of a young girl unless it's immediately turning her into some kind of badass.

Poor Sansa. I remember having those kinds of thoughts 'dying would be easy' and 'this will punish them' and 'they'll feel bad about it when I'm gone' but it's bullshit. The kind of people, who hurt others to that point, do not give a fuck what they do to others, don't give a fuck what their actions make others do to themselves. The only people who get hurt or punished by those choices, are the ones who love you. Joffrey and Cersei? Definitely won't feel shamed, just aggravated they've lost a valuable playing piece.

The best revenge, is living (well). It's the living who can make people pay for their crimes.

Once Grand Maester Pycelle came with a box of flasks and bottles, to ask if she was ill. He felt her brow, made her undress, and touched her all over while her bedmaid held her down.

Fuck off and die, both of you. Bad Touch!

Sansa stared at him, seeing him for the first time. He was wearing a padded crimson doublet patterned with lions and a cloth-of-gold cape with a high collar that framed his face. She wondered how she could have ever thought he was handsome. His lips were as soft and red as the worms you found after rain, and his eyes were vain and cruel. "I hate you," she whispered.

Yeah, it's a little hard to see the world through rose tinted glasses when someone splattered them with blood. I'm so sorry you had to have your world view shattered like this. In a fair world, people would have been kind and just and righteous like you always believed. But this isn't a fair world, because GRRM is a sick and twisted man. (joking)

When the time came to dress, she chose the green silk gown that she had worn to the tourney. She recalled how gallant Joff had been to her that night at the feast. Perhaps it would make him remember as well, and treat her more gently.

Yes, good, use what you know, use what you've got. Ihatethisihatethisihatethisihatethisihatethis Association, good, now if only he had ever actually been what you thought he was, this would have a good chance of success. Though, the success would still be mild.

This is a good use of defensive manipulation, subtle, using something associated with a better mood, to subconsciously promote a better mood. ... but iirc, that feast ended with Cersei in a row with Bobby B, so... *sigh*

Kinda odd that she refers to him as Joff here though, it may just be a way to separate the idea of him from the reality of him. Like the inverse of what we saw Dany do a few chapters ago, when she tried to psych herself up for cruelty and her narrative voice referred to her as Daenerys, instead of Dany.

"Did he instruct you to hit me if I refuse to come?" "Are you refusing to come, my lady?" The look he gave her was without expression. He did not so much as glance at the bruise her had left her. He did not hate her, Sansa realized; neither did he love her. He felt nothing for her at all. She was only a... a thing to him. "No," she said, rising. She wanted to rage, to hurt him as he'd hurt her, to warn him that when she was queen she would have him exiled if he ever dared strike her again... but she remembered what the Hound had told her, so all she said was, "I shall do whatever His Grace commands."

That has to be so terrifying, to be faced with someone who has such apathy, to know you aren't even seen as human. Her threats wouldn't have held water even if she'd said them, she'd be queen (if the dissolving of the engagement hadn't happened in the future) but queen by marriage, all her power would come from her husband, she'd have no say in anything if he disagreed. Maybe if she had a loyal following within the court, had her own power, but right now her only power comes from the fact Cersei can still use her for political plays, from being a hostage.

But a voice inside her whispered, There are no heroes, and she remembered what Lord Petyr had said to her, here in this very hall. "Life is not a song, sweeting," he'd told her. "You may learn that one day to your sorrow." In life, the monsters win, she told herself, and now it was the Hound's voice she heard, a cold rasp, metal on stone. "Save yourself some pain, girl, and give him what he wants."

Oh, sweetheart.

I hate that she has to experience such an enormous mental reset, but if she doesn't get this sorted away, she's not going to have the wherewithal to get through this.

"You truly are a stupid girl, aren't you? My mother says so." ... "I'll get you with child as soon as you're able," Joffrey said as he escorted her across the practice yard. "If the first one is stupid, I'll chop off your head and marry a smarter wife. -"

Says the boy-king who can't even form his own opinions without his mother spoon feeding them to him, unless it's in the name of unnecessary levels of violence on his behalf.

"Do it, girl," Sandor Clegane told her, pushing her back toward the king. His mouth twitched on the burned side of his face and Sansa could almost hear the rest of it. He'll have you up there no matter what, so give him what he wants.

mmm, and there's the rub. There's where people look and say 'Sansa's a completely passive hostage, she never fought back' like they were paying zero attention.

She's facing an opponent with such a different level of power to her own, she has no way out, no resources, effectively no allies, she has to pick her battles knowing she is always going to lose. Any strike she makes has to be done with delicate precision and any defiance done knowing she will get away with it, because she isn't going to get away with anything. She knows what Joffrey is now, she's beginning to truly understand the kind of situation she's in.

The bamboo bends, so it does not break. (but even bamboo has a breaking point.)

The heads were mounted between the crenels, along the top of the wall, impaled on iron spikes so they faced out over the city. Sansa had noted them the moment she'd stepped out onto the wallwalk, but the river and the bustling streets and the setting sun were ever so much prettier. He can make me look at the heads, she told herself, but he can't make me see them.

This whole section you can sort of feel the vibe of her starting to almost intentionally disassociate. ihatethisihatethisihatethisihatethis

A kind of madness took over her then, and she heard herself say, "Maybe my brother will give me your head." ... The outer parapet came up to her chin, but along the inner edge of the walk was nothing, nothing but a long plunge to the bailey seventy or eighty feet below. All it would take was a shove, she told herself. He was standing right there, right there, smirking at her with those fat wormlips. You could do it, she told herself. You could. Do it right now. It wouldn't even matter if she went over with him. It wouldn't matter at all. ... The moment was gone. Sansa lowered her eyes. "Thank you," she said when he was done. She was a good girl, and always remembered her courtesies.

Ooph, she snapped a bit. I hate that she was struck bloody and it's a situation where "thank goodness that didn't end worse" is an applicable statement. I know "maybe he'll give me yours" is treated like her big bad girlboss moment, but looking at this as 'a victim and her abuser,' fuck that was dangerous, especially with someone whose ego is that inflated, and their power that unquestioned. That wasn't even something she meant to say. Think it, sure, but out loud?

Kinda icky circle with this chapter, ends where it began, with Sansa being suicidal, and shrugging on her courtesies to protect herself even though she really doesn't want to.

(I have mentioned in a previous chapter review, the 5 F's, those are Fight, Flight, Freeze, Flop and Fawn, they're the inherent trauma and fear responses of humans, Fawn is also called Friend, and it's the trauma response Sansa is exhibiting, also being forced to exhibit. This trauma response is less physical in its characteristics, and plays to the emotional side of the threat. (Think of scared side kicks of villains like LeFou to Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, or Shang Qinghua to Mobei Jun if you're into SVSSS) the idea of Fawn is "I'm not a threat, I'm your friend, I'm not prey, I'm helpful.")

#a song of ice and fire #asoiaf #game of thrones #sansa stark #suicide #suicide mentions #thoughts of suicide #a chapter a day reading #got #long post

[tsukihimeyfan]

We gotta Talk about Bruno (pt. 2)

Here's a link to part 1, if you hadn't already read it.

Now, back to business, let's keep listing all the ways Bruno is amazing!

Let's take a look at The Last Vision scene. There’s so much to love about it. If you want a more in-depth look at only that scene nael-opale made a whole post devoted to it, but here are the things that stood out to me:

1. The expression on his face when Antonio hands him his plush jaguar: he goes from surprised (seemingly at the fact that someone is showing him kindness??) to a smile so gentle and full of gratitude that it breaks my heart, (also he turns the jaguar to “face” him a little bit so he can look it in the eyes as he smiles? omg HELP-),

2. How he lets Mirabel place her hands on his instead of just grabbing them, and then closes his hands around hers so softly, gently, without gripping her too tight despite how anxious he obviously is about the whole thing (hnnng I'M IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION)

3. Then there's this look of absolute despair he has when he thinks this is just another "unlucky", terrible vision like the one before, the strangled "I have to stop", the way he curls into himself and raises his hands towards his face as if to cover his eyes - (great, I made myself emotional... I need a minute)

4. Next, as the vision starts to take a turn for the better, he still mistakes an embrace for a fist fight (maybe because he hasn't had any physical affection in at least ten years) and Mirabel snaps at him a bit, and he gets this startled/sad look that just makes me wanna cover him with a blanket and cuddle him, the poor thing

And then when he realizes the true content of the vision he looks so excited about finally, for once, giving someone a happy vision, until he realizes Mirabel is angry and he looks so... defeated and resigned. I know they played it for laughs but it still breaks my heart when I think about it, because he went from this

to "yeah, this has happened a million times before in a million different ways, but the result is always the same... no matter what they say at the beginning, if the vision is not something they wanna see then they'll get angry at me. Every. Single. Time".

(and don't get me started on how he was probably super pumped about this one despite Mirabel's angry shout of Isabela's name moments before because he hasn't had a chance to hug his own sisters in over 10 years and he'd give anything to have a chance like that and so this must obviously be a happy thing for Mirabel too, I-)

And then there's that little scene after the vision where he tells Mira “YOU’RE EXACTLY WHAT THIS FAMILY NEEDS”, just BRUNO GOING OUT OF HIS WAY TO GIVE MIRABEL THE VALIDATION SHE’S ALWAYS NEEDED, from someone who is not her parents and therefore obligated to do it. And he does it so sincerely too, with such a tender look on his face (*sobs in Bruno-feels*)

Next let's take a moment to appreciate how after Casita comes down he gets a horse from god knows where to search for Mirabel, and when he finds her he CONFRONTS HIS MOTHER, DESPITE HIS PREVIOUSLY STATED FEAR OF HER, JUST TO PROTECT MIRABEL, AGAIN (and his grand entrance was FANTASTIC btw)

We're near the end of the movie, and I want to add a little bit of speculation about Bruno's relationship with his sisters here: looking at how they immediately accept him as soon as he returns, they probably never bore any genuine dislike or hatred of him. Maybe they let some of his reputation get to them, as I said before, but I don't believe they were antagonistic at all.

Pepa in particular probably used her anger about the Wedding Incident to ground herself after he left, to drown her grief over his absence and push it to the furthest recesses of her mind. I bet they did grow a bit distant after the wedding thing, yes, but it was never true anger until he disappeared. It’s probably another reason why his name is a taboo subject in Casa Madrigal – thinking about him just hurt too much.

On the topic of Pepa, I am 100% sure Bruno and Camilo got along like a house on fire after his return, much to Pepa's amusement, once Camilo got over his biases against his tio (they both have such strong Theater Kid energy after all)

And I’m convinced Pepa’s children are all huge fans of Bruno’s rat telenovelas (Antonio because rats, Camilo and Dolores because

D R A M A 😂)

As a bonus, let us end with Bruno just being Soft™, gentle and cute - a compilation:

a. That one time he slightly raises his voice against Mirabel and then immediately apologizes like he can't bear the sight of her startled face, like he can't stand the thought of her being frightened of him or hurt by him, pLEASE I CAN'T-

b. THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WHEN MIRABEL PROMISES TO BRING HIM BACK HOME, IT'S JUST SO FULL OF HOPE IT'S MAKING ME TEAR-BEND

c. HE TOOK THE TIME TO SAVE HIS RATS EVEN WHEN THE HOUSE WAS COLLAPSING ALL AROUND HIM WTH

d. When his sisters and Agustin hug him after his return to Casita, he looks very awkward at first, probably because he hadn't interacted with an actual human being for 10 years and even before that he had been isolating himself, but then he looks so very happy in this moment look at himmm T^T (also Camilo, he's a smol king, 7-foot frame my ASS)

e. His excitement over helping with the spackle for Casita’s new foundation (I know you can just barely see it in the picture but he's smiling under that bucket, jesus)

f. When they hand her the doorknob to the new house he looks SO FULL OF PRIDE for Mirabel, JUST LOOK AT HIM HE’S LOVELY. And that whole "You're the real gift, kid" thing?? My hEART-

g. Also from this video, look at the 1:26 minute mark. I adore the way he steadies Mirabel like 3 times when Casita moves them all over for the family photo, like he's concerned only about her well-being and helping her keep her footing. Zero care about steadying himself :'(

In conclusion, Bruno Madrigal is an immeasurably kind, gentle individual who is capable of showing compassion even to the smallest, most disliked of creatures. He got a bad reputation because of a gift he cannot control and a quirky, introverted personality, and despite being subject to hatred and disdain from his community as well as the disappointment and pressure of his family he continued to do his best to improve all their lives and was willing to give up everything he had in order to protect one of his niblings, and presumably would have done the same for any one of them. He also can be quite spunky, and is capable of great acts of bravery, especially when protecting those he loves. And for all of those reasons, I would die for him. Protect him at all costs

If you want to read some fantastic Bruno-centric Encanto fics that explore his childhood and his relationship with his niblings, I recommend these two:

I'll brick by brick rebuild us (out of how's and why's not when's), by Acewithapaintbrush

We don't talk about Bruno, by Moonybird

Also please watch this Encanto animatic about Bruno and Pepa's relationship because it's beautiful and it crushed me emotionally

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk

#encanto #encanto spoilers #bruno madrigal #bruno my beloved #protect him at all costs #thyf rambles #encanto meta

[thyandrawrites]

Do you think Dabi would die in the end or be saved where he can also go to therapy to get slowly better? Since Natsuo is going to college and studiyng something with medicine or psychology (I forgot which one it was) Maybe Natsuo would be the key to help his brother Dabi back up to get better, since Touya also confined mostly to Natsuo as a kid when no one else understood him. Do you think Dabi actually still likes or cares for his siblings?

I also would love to hear your thoguhts about the relationship between Fuyumi and Touya/Dabi how it would also be like in the end

I think Dabi's being set up to be saved! His death would add nothing to the story and instead only leave open ends to smaller narratives that need closure. Saving Dabi is instrumental to many side plots:

1. Offering Endvr a chance to atone for real by doing something that puts his family first instead of his own reputation

2. Giving closure to Natsuo's unending grief for the past ten years

3. Providing Shouto with a narrative challenge that will make him prove how he plans to follow in All Might's footsteps as a hero who helps others

4. Allowing the Todoroki to finally be on the path to a healthier family dynamic through this second chance

So no, I don't think at all that he'll die. If he dies, then there's literally no way for Endvr to atone (his family would never forgive him for screwing up a second time) and at this point it's a given that Endvr will atone. Horikoshi has been building up to this for over two years now. Ever since pro hero arc.

Secondly, yeah, Dabi still cares about a lot of things, actually. His caring is just overshadowed by his suicidal intent, though.

As for his and Fuyumi's relationship... they didn't have much of one as kids to be honest, because there was a lot of miscommunication happening there that made them grow less close than Touya and Natsuo. But Fuyumi was just as impacted by her grief as Natsuo. Natsuo pursued medical welfare and Fuyumi became a school teacher. Both are professions meant to help/guide others through the most vulnerable parts of their lives, so it's always been a given to me that both felt a lot of misplaced guilt for their powerlessness to change Touya's fate as kids. So I expect both to be very welcoming of Dabi once the League is no more. And I think that both Fuyumi and Touya will have to make more of an effort to communicate, but they'll be better for it.

As for Natsuo, I don't think he'll be able to be there for Touya because of his major, per se, but rather because he's his brother. Touya never quite understood his role in the world, and I think the only way he'll ever heal from that void inside of him is by learning that his "death" is what created a void, a hole, in the family dynamic in turn. He's clearly meant to fill that hole because without him, the puzzle is missing an important piece. His existence has always had meaning to those who love him, he's just never realized before (but he can, once he reconnects with them after coming down from his mental breakdown)

#ali replies #bnha

[amazingdriverfics]

Hi! I have a new Kylo Ren requests: after he turned back to Light and therefore became Ben Solo, he and his love start a new life on a distant planet (maybe Tatooine) where neither the Resistance or First Order can find them. They get married and start a family. I can imagine how happy Ben is when his wife tells him that he's going to be a dad and they'll be having twins ❤️❤️

A/N: hey love, how are you doing? I’m so glad you like the things I write for you, it means a lot to me.

I hope I was able to capture what you were hoping for and I’m also sorry that it took me this embarrassing long time to finish your request, I hope that the quality pays off for it. Anyways, hopefully you will like it as well as everyone who is taking their time to read this. Thank you all.

Warnings: a bit of angst, nothing too much, is basically just fluff.

My masterlist

Ben watches the two suns rise up in the sky with a sense of peace spreading through his body, not too long ago he was stuck in a spaceship watching endless halls with the same colors, watching the Galaxy and never being able to know what time it was just by looking at it since the view was always dark, only with some stars to bright things up, bossing the same bucket faces around without even bothering to know their names, their age or anything at all that made it clear that those stormtroopers were alive, that way, it was easier to kill them in a tantrum or just because he was bored and had nothing left to do.

He still remembers the moment when he decided to leave Kylo Ren in the past, knowing that it was the only way to be able to feel alive again, able to breathe without fearing his past, his enemies and of course, fear losing y/n. The moment he first saw her in the interrogation chair, Ben felt something from his Jedi years coming back to him, he felt light strongly once more, he felt like she could give him something to live for, not to kill for as Snoke had given him. As the days passed and y/n joined him in the First Order, a new kind of worry started to haunt him, as Kylo he was always vulnerable to possible attacks, no matter how strong with the Force he was, there wasn’t a way to be sure that he could effectively protect y/n, the resistance kept on attacking whenever they could and even inside the Order, Kylo wasn’t completely sure that he could trust his subordinates.

And if that wasn’t reason enough to abandon that place of grief, pain and death, y/n kept on remembering him of who he truly was, of the light inside of him, that no matter how hard he tried to suppress kept on tearing him apart, begging for him to come home, to leave all that nonsense he had putting himself through on the past, to accept that Ben Solo would never really die and that this was for a bigger reason, that the Force had plans for him that could not be changed.

The decision was made slowly, it started to come to his head when he would lay by her side in the bed talking about their dreamt future, about how they would raise their kids freely, how they would be able to discover themselves without too much pressure or abandonment, how they would have domestic moments when they would cook, clean, sing, dance, shower together, how they would have a small garden where they would plant some herbs. At the time, Kylo had not really thought that he would have enough courage to leave the Order behind, but the realization he had that he would never be able to give y/n all the nice things she wanted and dreamt about as long as he was the Supreme Leader caused him too much pain. And of course y/n knew that too and despite wishing that someday he would leave it all behind with her, she also knew that as long as she was by his side, she would be right where she wanted to be, right where she belonged.

Little by little, Kylo started to be more confident in himself and also more aware that he didn’t belong in the First Order and that he had to do something about it and y/n had all to do with that growth. Every night, she would listen to him as he talked about his joys, fears and hopes, reassuring him that she would go wherever he wanted to go, she would also hold him tight when the memories of the years of abuse he had suffered came back to haunt him, remembering Kylo that he was loved, safe and in the arms of the woman he loved. It took five years since he got her back to make the call and he would never forget the way her eyes shone with happiness when he told her that he was ready to leave Kylo in the past.

It was tricky to get away, Ben knew that neither the Resistance or the First Order could be able to find them, and he also knew that he would have to live somewhere people didn’t really knew his face, after all, he had committed horrible crimes and terrified thousands of souls with his red saber, bringing death and destruction upon thousands all throughout the Galaxy. Y/n and him made an infallible plan, which they had studied over and over again, making sure that it didn’t have a single flaw. It happened during a night, he had sent most of the troops away and given the generals a lot of work as y/n got the tracker off one of the Order ships, which they would trade for an old ship in some deserted planet before escaping to Tatooine finally.

If he closes his eyes and thinks about that moment, Ben can still feel the way y/n’s arms hugged him when they finally made it to Tatooine, when they finally realized they were free from the past and ready to start over. He kneeled in front of her in that exact moment, the golden ring he had bought her two months before in his hand as he asked y/n if she wanted to spend the rest of her life loving him.

The start of their stay in Tatooine was hard, they didn’t know anyone and were still a bit scared to meet someone from the Order, the Resistance or anyone who could possibly ruin their cover ups. Y/n started to work first in a small bar, serving customers and getting a very low payment that was barely enough for them to pay the bills. Ben took a bit longer to become confident enough to work and he started helping in a mechanic shop about six months after they first arrived on the planet. Slowly, they built a life there, making some friends - not so many -, buying a house, starting to plant a small garden, getting a pet and rediscovering themselves as people who didn’t have to deal with the pressure of ruling a reign of terror.

Their marriage took place three years after they arrived, it was at their small house with some friends that were glad to join and watch the ceremony. That was the happiest day of Ben’s life, he cried through most of it, but there was no way he could keep it together as she walked into the living room holding some flowers from their garden and wearing a white dress she had bought just for the occasion - nothing too expensive, of course -.

“Ben?” he hears her hoarse voice coming from behind, she would always get scared when she woke up alone in their bed, fearing that the worst had happened.

He turns around quickly, taking in the sight of his wife, her bare feet on the sand, her hair a bit messy from sleep, but shining in the light of the suns, her beautiful smile adorning her features and her body covered in a pink pajama Ben had given her not too long ago.

“Sorry, love, I wasn’t able to sense you were waking up, I was remembering how we got here” he says truthfully with a kind smile to her, just her presence making him feel better than before as she always made him feel.

“It’s okay, darling” she replies before making her way to him, step by step getting closer. As she stands before him, she takes her hands to the side of his face, kissing his lips gently. Once she parts the kiss, her y/e/c eyes look directly into his. “I have the most wonderful news”.

“And what would that be?” Ben asks in a joking tone, ready to hear about her being able to cook some recipe she had been dying to cook for a while.

“We need room for two” y/n states.

“We need what?” he questions, his beautiful face showing confusion.

“We need to make room for the twins, darling”.

In this moment, he finally understands, their dream is finally ready to be complete.

He starts crying in the same moment, joy and excitement pumping through his veins. Ben doesn’t think twice before hugging y/n, holding her tightly into his big arms, whispering countless “I love you”s into her hair, feeling as her tears also fall onto his skin, feeling her happiness as if it was his own, their connection through the Force the strongest it had ever been. At this moment it is as if they are one.

There is nothing in the Galaxy that could take Ben away from their family - about to become larger - and away from their small home in Tatooine where they will grow old together, surely loving each other as hard as they ever have.

#adam driver #kylo ren #kylo x reader #kylo ren x reader #kylo ren x you #kylo x you #star wars #ben solo x reader #ben solo x you #ben solo #request #lovinghufflepuffgirl

[kitkatopinions]

Tbh, in regards to Hazel I'm just upset they axed him so quickly. It's honestly to the point where part of me thinks he's not actually dead and they'll have a "big reveal" later, but you never know with RT. Feels like they could have done a lot more with the character.

Heck, I know this isn't surprising coming from me, but do you know who he could have been a great villain for? Yang. From themes, to character, to even the potential fight, it could have been great. Maybe when I wake up I'll make a whole post about that.

You're right, in his first couple scenes, he seemed like maybe he'd be a refreshing change of pace. Villains that have boundaries and morals are good, villains that seem normal at first glance are also interesting. Hazel didn't seem to fit much with the other villains in Salem's circle and he clearly had something to do with Ozpin, who - when V4 dropped - was one giant mystery.

But he was absolutely wrecked in the Haven fight, and then it just kept going. Like, oh, okay, he doesn't want to avoid violence, he isn't above hurting children, he doesn't have these boundaries, his connection to Ozpin is frankly stupid, none of our heroes but Oz and Oscar even seemed to learn his name, his stupid motivations never got properly addressed as the hypocritical garbage it was, he was tabled for most of V6 and all of V7, and then he returned only to dig even further down into being hypocritical, moral-free garbage... And then he 'turned good' because he saw that the lamp worked, and then he just died. No real exploration of his supposedly important relationship with Emerald, his 'change of heart' was totally unbelievable and the 'life lessons' he left Oz with felt totally pointless and shallow, shoved into the narrative, and just as hypocritical as Hazel has been since the Haven fight, and on top of that... Seriously, do our mains know him as anything other than 'the one guy who kept screaming 'Ozpin' at Haven who electrocuted Nora?

Honestly, I don't even mind some of the ideas of his character. The massive hypocrisy and deluding himself into thinking things that aren't true, is a good villain trait. But because the writers tried to portray him as right without actually... Making him right, the whole thing just turned out incredibly frustrating. Him being calm and softer spoken, but still kind of intimidating, and then switching to blowing up, screaming, and willing to hurt anyone and everyone because he doesn't actually have any emotional control, that's a great villain trait, except that the Haven fight was full on comical, and anything actually scary about that behavior wasn't there. (I can't stop laughing about the scene in the Haven fight, where Hazel starts like, ripping off his jacket, and the whole fight around them stops and Qrow's like o.O like he's just thinking "sir, please keep your clothes on?" The pacing was just so horrible XD)

You're right that he could've been a good villain for Yang, especially V5 Yang who was already questioning some of her stances and beliefs, but also starting to learn how to regulate her temper and be less impulsive. Hazel could represent both of those struggles at once. Honestly, Yang's relationship with Ozpin is something I wish they'd focused on more. And that's true of all the main four, but idk, I think since Yang was the one literally being told by Raven to doubt him, I just think that should've been explored properly (and with less author hatred towards Ozpin.) And Hazel really could have continued on that story. Plus, his 'switch on a dime' massive temper and short sightedness because of it is literally something Yang works in volume five to try and fix in herself. I know we already have a bit of 'this is what I could've been' in Raven, but I feel like the importance in Yang's dynamic with Raven isn't actually about Yang comparing herself to Raven, and is more about Yang realizing she never needed and doesn't want Raven, partially because Yang is different than Raven and values other things. Hazel is a man who turned into a resentful, cruel, violent, anger driven person after the loss of a family member that he loved, specifically a younger sister who wanted to be a hero, and audiences can see clear parallels between who Hazel is and who Yang could be if she lets herself. Hazel lashed out and turned against Oz and humanity itself not out of cowardice or selfishness, which were things Yang (up to V5) didn't really suffer from more than most. Instead, Hazel did so out of grief, anger, reckless abandon, mistrust - which are all themes in Yang's story. It could've been good and meaningful to see Yang confronted with these things more and then rise above them and be better. I mean, I do this quite a lot though lol, where I'm like "they missed an opportunity with Yang and almost any other character." XD But this is mostly because so many villains feel so disconnected from the mains, but Yang was my favorite of the four girls, so I guess I gravitate to her relationships more than most of the mains (though I'll forever be upset that Blake wasn't allowed to sympathize with and be understanding towards Ozpin.)

Hazel is a wasted opportunity, but what we got in canon was so frustrating and badly done.

#rwde #anti rwby #rwby bashing #rwby hate #anti hazel reinhart #anti hazel

[mischi3f-manag3d]

In and Out of Love

George Weasley x Reader x Fred Weasley

Summary: You and George had made a silent agreement, a silent promise, the minute you stepped into the twins shared bedroom after Fred had passed. You both knew how intense and unforgiving the grieving process could be. It would be relentless and terrifying, but you both couldn't bare to talk to the other, to share in your feelings of loss. It was all too much. So, the room stayed silent. For weeks. Neither of you daring to glance in the other direction unless absolutely necessary. Unable to bare witness to what the grief had done to the other.

But, promises were meant to be broken, and the realization comes quicker than expected that you would have to face each other in order to heal.

Chapter One| A Silent Agreement

Warnings: lots of angst and some fluff?

A/N: yikes, sorry if this sucks but this idea has been on my mind FOREVER. And I needed to get it out. Sorry if George's character isn't great so please let me know if there's anything I can improve on!!

The first step into what was once George and Fred's shared room was terrifying. His clothes were still left scattered around on what was "his" side of the room. His scent, his personality, lingered on everything. A sob caught in your throat as you entered, making your way to sit on the bed you shared with Fred many nights before.

//

"Shhh Darling, they'll only find out that you're in here if you keep giggling." Fred chuckled quietly as you held back a laugh threatening to escape from your lips.

"I'm sorry, I can't help it Freddy." You whispered back as you snuggled closer to his side. He had snuck you out of Ginny's bedroom and into his for what seemed like the millionth time, but each time felt like the first time.

He watched as you made yourself comfortable, sleep eventually engulfing you.

"I love you Y/n." He spoke, more for himself to hear than anything.

You smiled to yourself, hearing the words neither of you had said yet in your relationship.

"I love you too Freddy." You smiled to yourself as he tensed, making you realize he hadn't noticed you were still awake. His face turned crimson as he chuckled, pulling you impossibly closer to his warm chest. He placed a soft kiss to your forehead as he let sleep take him as well.

//

The memory left as fast as it had came and you were left with nothing. The loneliness hit you like a dump truck, the same way it had hit you when you saw Fred, lying there, unmoving.

A few stray tears escaped, bringing you back to the reality you now had to face. A reality without Fred Weasley.

You hadn't let yourself break down completely, not yet. The feeling of loss too overwhelming. It had only made you feel numb, cold, lost. It hadn't let you succumb to the tears you knew would one day wreak havoc on you. A day you knew was coming sooner rather than later.

Footsteps brought you out of your trance. You looked up to be met with the eyes of the other half of the weasley twins. One you couldn't bare to look at too long as it reminded you far to much of the love you had lost. George knew this too. He knew just looking at him broke you into pieces. He insisted you sleep in Ginny or even Ron's room, to avoid the pain he would inevitably cause you. But, you disagreed, you wanted to sleep in Fred's bed. You hoped that maybe it would help you grieve, help you move past what once was.

If only you had realized how hard it would truly be to wake up every day, met with George sitting across the room from you. It pained you to look George in the eyes. It hurt more than you could've imagined when you agreed to stay in the twins room.

~~

The first week was awful. Neither of you could sleep. Neither of you said a word. George stared up at the ceiling, hoping that maybe this was all a nightmare, and that he'd hear his twin laugh from across the room. That his twin would offer up some ridiculous new thing to add to the store that he of course would agree too.

But that didn't happen. The silence was deafining. It was making him go insane. He looked over to see you curled up into a ball, facing away from him. You were holding on to something but he couldn't quite tell what it was. He let out a sigh, the grief had left him numb too. His body not yet giving in to the cries that would eventually take over in the process of healing. To say he was terrified was an understatement. Terrified of what this world would be like without his brother, without the dynamic duo that was once him and his brother, Fred.

You had felt his eyes on you, but you couldn't bare to roll over and look at him, to say something. The stuffed bear Fred had given you for your second anniversary was tucked tightly underneath your arm. Serving as the tiniest bit of relief to what you had bottled up inside.

Everytime you closed your eyes you saw Fred. But not an image of Fred you wanted to see. It haunted you and kept you from the sleep that oh so wished to take over your body.

You couldn't remember when you finally fell asleep. Had it been an hour? 10 minutes? You were unsure. The light from outside streamed into the room through the faded curtains on the window. Sitting up, you noticed George was awake, but facing away from you.

A knock from the door tore your eyes away from the red headed boy. You swallowed hard, afraid of any social interaction outside of the thoughts you fought with inside your mind. The door creaked open only far enough for the mystery person to set a tray of food down on the floor. You could see a small note left with the tray, assuming it was for the two of you to read.

You waited for them to be gone before you slowly got yourself out of bed to grab the tray. There were two sandwiches, some fruit and some granola bars. What you could only assume was breakfast.. or lunch. You still hadn't looked to see what time it was. The clock on the wall giving you the answer you needed as it read 11:15am.

The note sat on the tray, folded in half with the words "George and Y/n" written in it. You felt bad for opening it without George, but he'd have the chance to read it later. Slowly, you unfolded the note. It was easy to tell Molly's handwriting from the rest of the Wesley's.

"My dearest children George and Y/n.

Please eat something. Just a little for me darlings?

You're not alone in this. We have to be here for each other through this loss. We're stronger as a family.

I love you both, take your time.

Molly"

A few tears escaped as you placed the note down. You realized how selfish you both had been in pushing away the rest of the family. It wasn't just you two who had lost Fred, there was a whole family downstairs who had also lost Fred. Molly and Arthur had lost a son, Ginny and Ron had lost their older brother, someone they looked up to. Bill, Charlie and Percy had lost their younger brother. A brother who they saw themselves in every day he grew.

It felt unfair to hide away from everyone else when they just wanted to help. They wanted to grieve with you and try to make it easier. But it was so hard. It was hard to move, hard to make any sense of the thoughts constantly screaming at you inside your head. You knew eventually you would face the rest of the family.. but it couldn't be now. No, not now.

Picking away at the food, you eventually were able to down the sandwich and an apple, stuffing a granola bar in your pocket for later.

Looking up you saw George was still sat in the same position he was when you first got up. Staring off at the wall away from you. He needed to eat too. Slowly, you got up off the hard ground and carried the tray over to his bed and set it down lightly. It felt wrong to touch him. Like you were invading his personal space. Yet, you didn't stop yourself from gently placing a hand on his shoulder. He jumped at the sudden touch. He didn't want to turn around. Didn't want to face you, knowing the pain he brought you. You knew this too. You had to let his face not haunt you, but heal you.

You tugged on his shoulder lightly, giving him the silent okay that he could turn around. He sighed, knowing that even through your approval that it would hurt you. Eventually, he turned around, looking up at you as you stood next to his bed. His eyes were puffy and red, a quick reminder of the reality you both faced.

You tried to give him a small smile as you gestured to the tray of food in front of you. Gently you pushed Molly's note towards him, to signify he should read it too. Goerge gave you a nod, and looked down at the food in front of him. He gulped, not knowing if he'd be able to stomach the food, given his current state. But, he tried. He got half the sandwich and a granola bar down before he had to push the tray away, afraid he'd throw it all up.

The room had somehow gotten darker. The light that once invaded the room slowly slipping away behind the horizon. The clock now read 7:30pm. You wondered how the time went by so fast, but realized how fast time had gone by lately for the both of you. It was lunch one minute and before you knew it, it was dark out. Time meant nothing to you two. At this point it was simply a way to know when to expect a mystery person at your door.

One time Ron had tried to come in, to say something to the two of you. Needless to say he was immediately met with a shoe inches away from his face. George couldn't handle the rage of his emotions. He just wanted to be left alone. It made him happy that you two had made the silent agreement to not say anything to each other. At least not for now. You had hoped that one day Molly wouldn't try to come in as you were afraid she'd be met with same fate as Ron. A heavy object thrown merely inches from her face. That would be the day he hears it, grieving or not.

~~

A few more weeks went by of the same routine. Sleep barely at all, get up, try to eat whatever food had been left by the door, and then try to go back to sleep. The nights had been silent, neither of you daring to let yourself succumb to anything. It was still too numbing. You felt crazy for not crying. Every muggle movie you had watched where someone died, the main character broke down in tears, sobbing until no air was left in their lungs. You assumed it would be like that if you ever lost someone you loved. However, it was completely different. You had barely cried, same with George. Everything was just numb. Nothing felt like it had life to it. It felt like everything was moving in slow motion. It felt like you were living with 1000 pounds on your chest everyday, constricting everything, making you feel small and helpless.

This night though. This night would be different to what you were used to.

You had been used to quiet nights. Sleepless, but quiet nights. Especially from George. He slept less than you, at least thats what you thought. His eyes were always red with bags under them as if he hadn't slept for months. Sleep had finally granted you some peace, but not for long as a blood curdling scream scared you wide awake into a sitting position. You had no hesitation looking over to George who was now sitting up, sweating buckets, his hair sticking to his face. He had his head buried in his hands, with his knees tucked tight up to his chest. He was shaking slightly, afraid that he was still stuck in the nightmare.

It pained you to see him like this. It hurt to see how badly this nightmare affected him. You waited up with him silently to see if it would pass and he could go back to sleep. Minutes passed that seemed like hours, yet he stayed stuck in the same position, haunted by what he had seen.

Something pulled you out of bed. Something that knew, in this moment, George Weasley needed someone. He needed someone to comfort him, and if that person was you, so be it. As you walked over to his bed, thoughts plagued you of what could happen. You were afraid he'd lash out, not wanting you near him. Afraid he'd want to deal with this on his own. But you knew, you were being drawn over to his bed for a reason. He needed your help.

You slowly made your way to the side of his bed. As you looked down at his shaking figure, you couldn't stop a tear that fell down the side of your face. Thinking he already knew you were there, you gave him a second to look up. Yet, he didn't. The fear incapsulated him, took control of his mind and body in this moment. He hadn't even realized you had gotten out of bed, let alone that you were stood next to him. Realizing that you'd have to do something, you sat down next to him, carefully, afraid he'd snap at any minute. He did however feel the bed sink next to him. Still, he didn't dare to look at who occupied the space.

You knew you'd have to do more. To help him get out of whatever he was stuck in. Looking him up and down, he resembled a young boy. A scared, helpless young boy. Carefully, you lightly grabbed his hand and pulled them away from his face. He tried to hide his face again to no avail. It forced him to look at you, to realize he was indeed here, at home, safe.

He read the sadness in your eyes, but he was too afraid to do anything. So, you did something for him. You gently cupped his cheek with your hand. A way to signify that you were real, you were here. He leaned into your touch, feeling weak and helpless. You wiped a tear away that fell down his cheek and gave him a weak, half-assed smile. The line of the silent agreement had definitely been crossed, but if for just this moment, you felt it was ok, and he did too.

Gesturing to the part of the bed that was unoccupied, he knew what you were asking and he nodded, a silent plea in hopes that you would stay with him. Lifting the covers, you made yourself comfy underneath them, joining the weasley boy in the small twin size bed. In any other scenario you would think this was wrong. Sleeping in the same bed as your late boyfriends brother? Any other time you would've felt ashamed, but you knew that this moment between you two wasn't anything, but platonic. It was a friend trying to comfort another friend who was dealing with the same loss.

George looked down at you, scared that you'd disappear at any second and leave him alone. You knew what he was thinking and for the first time since you had entered the room many weeks ago, you spoke to him.

"I'm here." You spoke, barely above a whisper. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding as he slowly laid down next to you. You let him lay his head on your chest as you gently wrapped your arms around him. Letting him know you weren't going anywhere. It was in this moment that he finally let himself release everything he had bottled up. He felt safe in your arms. He felt like he wasn't alone for once.

George turned into a mess in your arms, sobs escaping his lips, as he gripped onto you. You stroked his hair lightly, letting him do what he needed. He was on his way to letting himself move past. Letting himself hurt and feel. Tears stained your shirt as you continued to comfort him. His hair was sticking to his face and in every direction imaginable. But it had flattened down nicely as you ran your hands through it. You wondered why you hadn't felt this way yet. Why you hadn't let yourself break down. Maybe it was the walls you had built up over the last weeks. Unable to let yourself become vulnerable like George had now. You knew it would hit you eventually, not wanting to think about that moment. All you could think about now was helping George.

Eventually he calmed down, your shirt soaked from his tears, but it didn't bother you. He was sound asleep, his head still resting on your chest and his arms wrapped tightly around you. Afraid to let you go. You let out a sigh. You were scared of the day you'd end up like this in George's arms as he held you, your sobs controlling you, making your body shake uncontrollably. Scared of what consequences that would bring the two of you. Scared of the clear line you had both crossed tonight.

#harry potter #george weasley #george weasley x reader #fred weasley #fred weasley x reader #harry potter imagine #george weasley imagine #fred weasley imagine #in and out of love chapter 1 #in and out of love

[starktonyx]

I could never forget you - Peter Parker x reader

Word count: 2.9k

Description: After years of mourning and people telling you to move on from the blip, Peter and you finally reunite since he vanished five years ago.

*Flashbacks are in italics

Masterlist 

Peter Parker was your very first love, and you never imagined you would have to live one day without him, much less five years. Since you started dating his whole world revolved around you, and the way he looked at you? It was like he stared at the entire universe being held by your eyes. Every kiss, every touch, always so special, so passionate you never got tired of each other. You both were inseparable. The kind of high school couple that swears they'll be together their whole lives.

But all of that stopped with a single snap.

Five years ago Peter Parker was taken, ripped away from you. The love of your life was gone, along with 3.5 billion people because of a damn snap. The whole world was torn, everyone lost someone, everyone was broken. You were broken and lonely, with just the memory of what Peter and you used to have.

You mourned him for a long time, the five stages of grief really were a pain in the ass to get through. Some would say five years are enough to forget someone, to move on and continue with life, but everyone recovered differently. Because, how could you forget the way Peter squinted his eyes when he laughed? how could you forget about the way his eyes shined every time he talked about something he loved? how could you forget about how cute his messy curls looked in the morning after he woke up? How could you, his best girl, his darling, forget about the way his hands tenderly caressed your body as his lips devoured you everyday?

How could you even dare to think about forgetting Peter Parker?

So you certainly didn't, the thought of him was always a part of your day. And even though you didn't cry anymore, even though it didn't hurt as much now, you still replayed in your head the last time you had seen him as one of your most treasured memories.

"Peter stop, you can't leave a mark now" You giggled as your boyfriend left soft wet kisses on your neck while you played with his brown curls.

You both had managed to ask for a bathroom pass and sneak into the janitor's closet – very classy – to make out before Peter left for the school trip, one you wouldn't be able to go to because you didn't share that class with Peter, and your trip was set for another day.

"I just can't seem to stop, darling" Peter chuckled and stopped for a second to give you a smirk, to then continue playing with your neck.

You laughed again, at first glance you wouldn't think Peter Parker would sneak out with a girl to make out during class, but what wouldn't that boy do for you.

"Baby, you know how much I love it, but..." You slurred and pushed his chest with your hands to stop him, to which he pouted and crossed his arms. "Oh come on love, we'll have more time later, in a more comfortable place" You said as you pointed out the cleaning supplies around you.

"I know, I just needed to kiss my girl before I left. You have no idea how you light up my day" He admitted and your eyes softened as he cupped your cheeks in his hands, you put yours on top of his. "I just love you so much, you know that right?" He asked and even though the room had poor illumination, you could still see the admiring gaze he was giving you.

One thing you loved about him is that he always made sure you knew how much you meant to him.

"Yes Peter, I know" You smiled and gave his right hand a side kiss, to which he smiled back. "And you know I love you just as much, you make me so happy" You affirmed and pecked his lips. You both enjoyed that moment for a bit, until Peter's watch alarm went off.

"Alright, it's time to go" Peter sighed after checking the watch on his wrist. "I guess I'll see you later darling"

"See you later spiderman"

Except that never happened and you never saw him again. And you thought it would stay like that, because weeks after everything happened you went to the avengers compound seeking for answers, to see if they had a plan to bring them back, only to be sent back home by the defeated heroes.

So years passed by, and the world never fully recovered. Thankfully your parents weren't part of the dusted ones so they kept you sane throughout the years, until you graduated and moved from their home to an studio apartment on your own to start your college life. Even though it's been a few months since you moved, there were still scattered boxes here and there, ones you couldn't bring yourself to open.

When the snap happened, in the midst of all confusion you ran to Peter's apartment, only to find out May was gone as well. Months later people were being relocated in empty apartments and the stuff of the people who disappeared were removed and taken to storage units. You didn't want Peter's stuff in a random cellar, so you took it into your own hands to take his stuff and some of May's to put it in a safe place. Just in case. Those tear stained boxes now laid in a corner of  your current bedroom.

You curiously stared at one of the boxes, it's been a long time since you saw what was inside of them. You slowly walked and sat on the floor next to it, wondering if you were ready to go through it. I mean, you didn't cry anymore, right? So you cautiously cut the tape that kept it closed, and the first thing your eyes landed on made you smile.

No. You didn't cry anymore.

It was a framed picture of you both being as happy as ever. Your eyes were squinted from your laugh as Peter kissed your cheek and side hugged you like there was no tomorrow. You still remember everything so clearly, it was the day of the homecoming and May insisted for photos.

"Come on guys, just be serious for a moment" She sighed as you both kept making funny faces to the camera instead of posing.

"Alright alright May" Peter laughed once more.

He suddenly made a serious face, as he straightened his posture and put his hands together in front of him, looking like some secret agent. So you went along with it and lifted your chin, putting a hand on your hip as if you were his secret agent partner. May just rolled her eyes but still smiled at the teenagers.

"Sike!"

Just as she was about to capture you, Peter quickly grabbed you and kissed your cheek, you laughed at the sudden movement as the flash went off.

"Peter!" May whined at her nephew, but when she saw how cute the picture turned out, she couldn't help but smile at it.

Peter had loved that picture so much that he framed it and kept it on his desk.You looked so young in that picture, years had gone by and you weren't a teenager anymore after all. You carefully swiped a layer of dust that covered the frame and placed it in your bedside table. The next thing in the box was his favorite sweater, a beautiful blue crewneck that he seemed to wear almost every single day making it impossible for you to steal it, but you couldn't complain when Peter looked so cute in it. You wondered if the soft fabric still smelled like him, but after a quick sniff you realized that was not the case. It was a cold day today, so you happily threw the sweater on, feeling instantly cozy and warm.

You kept going through things that brought you memories and even though tears weren't present, the nostalgic feeling was still there. You decided one box was enough for today, so you went to take a little nap, after you found Peter's fuzzy blanket you both loved to cuddle in.

After what appeared to be hours of sleep, you were woken up by loud knocks on your door. Confused, you realized it was dark already. You quickly got up from your bed and, irritated by the persistent knocks, hurriedly walked towards the door turning on some lights on the way. You looked through the peephole first, but what your eyes saw made you choke a cry and cover your mouth with your hands.

It was like a bucket of cold water was thrown over you, your whole body paralyzed as your heart started beating faster and faster and suddenly you stopped hearing the knocks, all you could hear now was your heart beat ringing in your ears. You felt dizzy as the whole room started spinning and tears blurred your vision. Your brain couldn't process the image of Peter standing right on the other side of the door.

Your Peter.

You placed a shaking hand on the doorknob and slowly twisted it, revealing your dead vanished boyfriend. You stood there, lips quivering and teary eyes, as you took in how he looked in front of you.

His hair was wet and all over the place, his once defined curls now tangled and falling over his forehead. He was wearing an iron-like suit you hadn't seen before, but instead of looking new it was torn apart in most places. His beautiful face – that hadn't aged a bit – was adorned by scratches, dry patches of blood and dirt. But his eyes were what hurt you the most, you could see the heartbreak in them, the pain. They were swollen and red, like he'd been crying for hours.

He looked torn. And even though you didn't physically feel that way, you spent too many years feeling like that on the inside too.

"H-hi" His broken voice came out almost inaudible, and it made your heart ache grow.

You never thought you'd hear his voice ever again,yet here you were. You tilted your head as you contemplated for a moment the idea of him not being real, not being alive. I mean, you just opened his belongings this morning, was your mind playing sick games with you? because, what were the odds of the universe giving you back what it had relentlessly taken from you?

On the other side of the door, Peter was terrified. Scared that you might had forgotten him in those five years he got unfairly stolen, scared that you wouldn't welcome him like he expected. His hands were shaking and he didn't exactly know what to say, and his fear only increased more when you just stood there staring at him, and that's when he analyzed your crying appearance.

Only five years had passed by, yet you looked noticeably older than when he last saw you, and considering that for him it was just 'yesterday' that was crazy for the teenager. Your messy hair wasn't the length he remembered, and you had surprisingly lightened it up a little bit. Your lips were partly open, and he noticed how you struggled to keep your sobs to yourself, but the tears just kept falling. This action only broke Peter's heart a little bit more, he hated seeing you cry. Even more when the reason was him.

"You ... you weren't at your parent's house" Peter said softly, as if a louder voice would scare you away. "So I- Karen helped me find you here"

The boy explained as he slowly took a step forward, waiting for you to back off, but he was surprised when you got even closer. Your mind was going wild, and you just needed to confirm he was really there.

You slowly guided your hand to meet his cheek, and when your hand finally made a gentle contact with his skin, real skin, you let out another choked sob.

"Y-You're real" Your nervous laugh followed by Peter's filled the room. "You're really here"

"I'm here darling, and I'm not going anywhere this time" the boy affirmed constantly nodding his head, and a bright smile accompanied his sparkling eyes.

"Oh my god, Peter" You sobbed when you finally jumped in his arms, and he gratefully welcomed you, strongly wrapping you in his embrace. "It's been s-so long" You cried in his chest as he caressed your head with his hand.

"I know darling, I know" he mumbled and he couldn't help but join your sobs. "I'm so so sorry" He apologized about a million times as you both cried in each other's arms.

You stood there for a moment, just embraced in each other's arms. You had miss his arms so much, you had miss him. But happiness doesn't last forever, as you were brought back to reality with three simple words.

"Tony is dead" Peter abruptly announced and you separated from him to meet his eyes, confusion was evident in your features. "He sacrificed himself, he's the reason we're all here"

He never called him Tony, ever. And that's when you realized that was the reason of his somber appearance when you first opened the door. The reason why he looked so torn.

"Peter I- I'm so sorry" You were now the one apologizing trying to somehow comfort the boy, and now he was the one sobbing on the crook of your neck.

"He's gone Y/N, he's really gone"

You realized it was time to bring him into the apartment and take care of him. After he took a shower you gave him some clothes you had found earlier in the box. You patched up most of his wounds, and you were grateful for some of them already healing. You were finally able to cuddle in your bed, tightly gripping each other as if he would vanish at any given moment. You both were quiet for a while, ever so slightly caressing each other, and occasionally dropping a tear.

Peter was still scared that you might reject him – even though you were laying in the same bed – for all he knew, you could be a totally different person, but he had wanted to kiss you since he was brought back to the world. So he gently cupped your cheeks, you stared into each other's eyes, sharing different types of pain and heartbreak, and finally decided to merge into a kiss. It was slow, yet needy, gentle, yet passionate. It was filled with so much love and desperation.

It was perfect.

Your hands traveled through Peter's hair and you felt him smile into the kiss, to which you corresponded. You both devoured each other until your lungs craved oxygen and you had to separate, only to admire Peter's swollen red lips.

"Is this my sweater?" He suddenly asked staring down at his favorite piece of clothing, and you let out a genuine laugh for the first time in a while.

"Yes Peter, I found it today" You sighed as you explained, and he curiously looked around the room to find his things scattered around a box. He guessed it had something him finding out earlier that his apartment was no longer his. "I- I just couldn't bring myself to open that stuff before, and when I did today I certainly didn't expect you to be here with me"

Peter felt so many emotions in that moment, anger being the main one, for being ripped away from you for five years. And he certainly was surprised by how you easily you welcomed him back considering the time you involuntarily spent apart, but never doubt for a moment that he was grateful that you still wanted him.

"I ... It's so hard to wrap my mind around what happened, it's been so long, but for me it's like I never went away" He confessed, sighing deeply. "When I woke up in another planet the first thing they told me was how many years passed, and I didn't have time to process what that really meant until the fight with Thanos was over. And then all I could think about was wether you still loved me or had forgotten me. And I was so scared darling, so damn scared because I wasn't ready to lose you"

"I could never forget you Peter" You assured softly. "The day you vanished everything changed so suddenly and I was terrified because I didn't know how to live a life without you, I mean, we were supposed to graduate and have a life together and then you were gone. People kept telling me to move on, but how could I? How could anyone move on from something like that? The world was ripped in half, some people lost everything Peter, it was so hard and I-"

"Hey hey hey" He interrupted you when he noticed you would start crying again. "It's okay baby, it's okay I'm here. Like I said, I'm not going anywhere" He hugged you and you enjoyed feeling safe in his arms for the first time in a while.

"I need you to know I still love you, I never stopped loving you" You mumbled with your head buried in his chest. He laughed and gently kissed your head.

"I love you too darling"

Since that moment Peter didn't have more doubts about your feelings towards him, because even though five years were a long period of time, they weren't enough for you to forget your first love.

#peter parker imagine #peter parker #spiderman x reader #peter parker x reader #marvel imagine #mcu #marvel angst #marvel x reader #tom holland #tom holland x reader #tom holland imagine #marvel lockscreens #marvel smut #marvel fluff #far from home #endgame #marvel masterlist #marvel icon #infinity war #marvel fic #peter parker fic #fanfic

[giorgiastastes]

버닝 / Burning (2018)

"It's too close, you might not see it"

What to say about this movie...

The film itself is quite simple, even too easy at first sighting I'd dare to say, but the meaning behind, the interpretations and smart details is what makes it unique and pretty much a masterpiece.

I'm sure that most people, or at least those who usually watch unchallenging to elaborate movies, won't like it. If you're looking for something what will be "explained to you", for the director to give you that big plot twist or long monologue, you won't find it here. But if you want to watch a work of art that'll make you think, reflect and crash your minds, you have a good journey in front of you.

I remember that as soon as I've finished watching it I went online to look for theories, to see if someone else had the same idea as me, if I got it right and what I've missed, and then I planned to write here my thoughts on the real explaination, but after rewatching and searching I've figured it out BURNING doesn't really have a "true" explaination in my idea, or better, the director definitely knows what he believes is the so called truth, but the strength of it is how free of interpretations it is. I've read hundreds theories and honestly all of them could fit just right, so for once I've decided to do something different.

In here I will summarize all the theories, under layers and explaination that I've read, figured out or found, and I will leave to you, the reader, to believe your own "truth"

This will be full of spoilers, it's actually a summarization of the after watch, so read at your own risk, and since I'm taking for granted that you've watched the movie and remember it quite well too, I won't always repeat the plot when not necessary.

• Ben sells organs on the black market. That's how he gets his money and Haemi is aware of this, and decided to sell her own organs to pay off her debt. She even says I'D SELL MY ORGANS IF I WERE YOUNGER. She could also be unaware of this and that's why she dissapears.

• Ben is a serial killer. He seduces fragile women who are very easy preys to such an handsome and carismactic young man, and then gets rid of them after he gets tired. This happens about every couple of months, which corresponds to his journey in Africa timeline. They are the greenhouses he burns, because he knows nobody will look for them, and in fact the police does not care about the greenhouses, just like they don't care about missing women nobody knows about.

Ben also owns all the qualities of a maniac sociopath who's keen on control and feels no emotion or empathy. He never cries for example. He also feels pride in his crime and he's almost tempted to confess them to show how good he is. That's why he says to Jongsu that he will burn a greenhouse close to him, but he didn't mean it in a special terminology, but more like in an emotional sense. He will kill the the closest thing the other has, which is Haemi. He also states that she dissapeared like "smoke".

This would also be justified by the creepy call the protagonist receives by Haemi before she dissapears. The biggest evidence placed by the director to prove that this theory is the most correct one is in the last scene, where Ben is putting makeup on a new girl. For a non Korean speaker it's quite hard to get the reference but Makeup and corpses' cremation are spelled in the same way in the hangul language, therefore the movie showing us Ben doing the girl's makeup is the alternative way to say he's killed her and is now cremating the body, hence his obsession with fires.

He's the one who cleaned Haemi's room and took her cat. He also keeps his victims personal objects as a throphy of some sort.

• Ben is a pimp. He's the trainer for these beautiful, young but poor women who are ready to sell themselves when he convinces them to do so. This is shown as Haemi also become less and less shy as the movie goes on, as seen in the undressing scene, while being more bold and provocative too. He changed her drastically, or maybe only let her discover a different, more free, part of herself. He also applies makeup on them how he would do to a doll, playing dress up for a woman who's now becoming just an object of desire that can be bought.

• Ben is a human trafficker. He sends women into slavery while promising them a life of luxury and happiness. That's why he shows off his idyllic lifestyle, and then sells them in Africa (where he goes frequently), where they'll never be found.

• Ben is a life guru. He teaches unsecure and frustrated women to feel liberated and less oppressed, to leave it all behind and start from scratch. They pay him, that's why he's rich. He also keeps a "souvenir" of every woman he has turned. This could explain why he shows up to the meeting with Jongsu in the finale. If he actually killed or sold these women he wouldn't fall into the other man's trick.

• Ben doesn't exist. He's just the symbol of everything Jongsu is not but aspires to be. He's rich, confident, cultured and attractive. Every flaw and layer of insecurity Jongsu seems to have, Ben lacks. And in the end, when the protagonist finally becomes brave enough to mature, to actually chase the woman he loves, he's able to kill the shadow of himself that only reminded him of how miserable he was.

• Ben and Jongsu are the same person. Much Fight Club like, they're the same human being, just different, extreme sides of one. Jongsu could have a personality disorder or maybe we're just shown two sides of him that prove his mental health issues. That's also why Haemi seems to be involved with both of them without choosing a side, because one is the gentle but insecure fraction, the other the bold but arrogant one. And then, in the end, when such division is making him go insane, he decides to kill his alter ego.

• It's just a love triangle. One of my favorite songs of all time had a similar topic. There's the main character, a shy and quiet boy, who falls in love with a girl who feels foreign and unreachable to him. But he's not the only one in her life. She also has another lover who's much more attractive and manly in a way, and all three start to share this peculiar poliamorous love story, mostly platonic. She's very pretty and feels as free as Venus, torn between two men. Then one day she leaves, and she'll never come back. But while the second boy easily moves on with his life, figuring out it was just a näive fling, the singer remains stuck, obsessing over her day and night, trying to find answers and solutions just not to deal with the realization of her not loving him enough to stay.

• Every character represents a social stereotypes and criticism of modern South Korean classes. I think this is very straightforward, especially Jongsu's jealousy of Ben's wealth, and Haemi's attempt to RISE in the social pyramid, surrounding herself with high class people like Ben or his friends, even letting them make joke of her, to mock her, all of it just to feel part of their group and reality.

• It's all in Jongsu's head.

• The disappearance of Haemi, whether it happened or not or HOW it happened are not the main focus on the movie, which instead is the characters dealing with such loss and lack of knowledge on what happened. Much like the Russian movie Loveless (2017), where the event is only used as an artistical device to let the story progress and the characters' grief culminate. Maybe we really don't need to know what happened to her, maybe she's dead, maybe she's alive and better than ever, but to the movie's intent such information is superficial, it's just the human need to fill our curiosity when were too afraid to deal with the pain of remaining unaware of it. Jongsu is sure she's been killed and that brings him to his next move, but the viewer, he doesn't need to know, because he doesn't need to act, to keep the story going.

• Haemi might have killed herself. Ben is the only one who knows about this and that's why she gives him her cat. She also shows multiple signs of advanced depression, for more than half of the movie is almost like she's not there, like she's already just the memory, the ghost of a girl who once was there.

• The movie itself is just a metaphor. The metaphor is many times used by the characters and maybe not only as a word, part of a dialogue, but the overall film might be A BIG, CRIPTIC METAPHOR.

• Everything is hereditary. From family's fortunes and richness to behavior and inner rage. Jongsu was born poor and will die as such just like his father, and even though he seems like the most innocuous being, he's able to take out his rage on other just like this father. I guess it's in the genes.

• Jongsu is the calf. The calf represents Jongsu's pureness and naivety. And when he sells it, he's also selling his soul in a way.

• Haemi represents South Korea, Jongsu North Korea, Ben is the new Korea, the one always more and more Westernized.

• We're just reading the plot of Jongsu's book. When Haemi leaves for Africa he has plenty of time to write the story he's planning to put into words, and that's what he does. Everything we see after she comes back from her journey is just the plot of the book, and the creation of Jongsu's imagination.

• A modern reinterpretation of the Great Gatsby. Yes, obviously a VERY liberate view of the novel, but many details seem to be quite evocative.

• A criticism to how South Korea treats women. Even the movie itself does this, probably on purpose. The one who disappears is a woman, but the ones who are the main centre of attention are men. She's only a story device, never the real protagonist.

• Ben wanted Jongsu to discover his crimes so he could reach fame if the other ever made a book out of it. He's so full of himself he'd rather be punished for his crimes than never showing off how good he was at covering every proof. That's why he dies almost peacefully, and shed a tear, which he claimed to have never done before.

• The well Haemi reference to, symbolizes falling into prostitution. That's why Jongsu's mother knows about it too, since it's quite obvious she's now an escort. But she states the well is dry, as a way of saying that it's not how easy and fun it might seem.

• This is just the tragic story of a boy who's lost every possible source of love. From his father in jail, his mother who abandoned him, to the only girl that ever showed him affection disappearing, and a new friend who he decides to kill.

• Ben is Death or maybe the devil personified. He helps Haemi get the courage to end it one for all, and even pushes Jongsu to kill, cursing his soul.

#burning #burning 2018 #lee chang dong #Steven yeun #steven yeun #yoo ah in #jeon jong seo #beoning #버닝 #버닝먹튀 #south korea #cannes

[bbrandy2002]

The Fall of Cordonia

Prologue

The Royal Heir AU

Summary: After a failed alliance and inability to secure a marriage pact between their children, King Bradshaw's forces attack and overthrow Liam and Riley's kingdom, leaving death and destruction in his path.

Violence and profanity.

Characters belong to Pixelberry.

Thank you @burnsoslow and @emceesynonymroll for giving me the courage to actually write this.

Auvernal 6:32PM

"Your Majesty, we have received word from General Phillips on the ground....the attack on Cordonia was a resounding success".

With those words, the delighted, King of Auvernal, knew he had dealt a massive blow to the small, neighboring kingdom. This is, however, what happens when your back is against the wall, using power and strength to gain even more. A failed alliance between his country and Cordonia, meant a desperate power grab for it's wealth and prestige was inevitable. Without a military to match, Liam's kingdom was a ticking time bomb.

Bradshaw remained composed as his informant shared the details of the surprise attack, that included toppling, simultaneously, each duchy, the communication grids and the Cordonian capital.

He adjusted his tie and slicked back his perfectly coiffed black hair, feeling an aura of invinsibilty, "And what of the King and Queen?".

"It is assumed they are both dead sir".

King Bradshaw turned confidently from the railing of his balcony, fingers steepled and a slight grin cast on his face, "Perfect......and the package was delivered unharmed to the Princess?".

"It is en route to Monaco as we speak, sir".

****************

Cordonia-Underground Bunker 10:15 PM

A shaky hand tightly grips a bottle of scotch, while his bleary eyes study a picture in the other. Exhaustion, chaos, heartache and defeat had consumed every single fiber of his being and death would be a most merciful dweller. Slumped into the corner of a barely lit room, the weight of his losses had completely engulfed him. How is it possible to lose everything you love and live for in literally the blink of an eye. Was this all a cosmic joke, karma, a way for evil to overpower all the good that he had amassed?

Rubbing his thumb along the photo, his heart hurting more than he could withstand. His lip quivered as he thought about this morning, always a perfect day when one could rise as the sun barely broke through the clouds. He had placed a tender kiss on the temple of the most beautiful woman in the world, his rock and foundation, still sleeping peacefully. Shuffling down the hall, his Saturday routine included surprising his son in the nursery. He could already hear the joyous noise of faint cooing as he approached the door; nothing warmed his heart more than that sound.

Liam begins to sob uncontrollably as he falls listlessly onto his side, the cold concrete floor having no effect on him. The flashes of his son's large smile as he entered the nursery this morning, playing repeatedly like a cruel joke in his troubled mind.

Bastien sat on the floor across from him, two guards stood, heavily armed at the doorway, ready and willing to die for their King. All was quiet and still, except the whimpers of unimaginable pain that escaped Liam's lips and echoed throughout. Bastien knew there were no words to make any of this easier; a country abliterated was one thing, to feel the horror of your wife and baby's absence was another. If there was a way to make decisions, fight back and regain control, it would have to wait; Liam was present physically, but, emotionally he was a fucking mess.

Bastien clutched his communication device, making another attempt to speak with anyone in the outside world, to no avail. He tried to stop himself, yet, his thoughts meandered to the Queen and the young Prince in Valtoria, getting ready for the Lantern Lighting Festival that was scheduled for tomorrow. Riley had left with Nikolas after breakfast this morning, she was like....no...she is like a daughter to me. Bastien swallows hard in an attempt to keep his emotions in check. Getting the initial reports of the destruction on Valtoria was a huge blow, then having to share that news with Liam as Auvernese Forces were approaching the palace, was the most gut wrenching thing he had ever done. If Queen Amalas had not insisted on meeting with Liam this afternoon, he too, would have succumbed to the carnage.

Most of the court was staying in Valtoria in preparation for tomorrow's events. This attack, by Bradshaw, may have effectively eliminated the Cordonian royal line of succession. In his head, Bastien calculated the destruction of the nobility, Olivia, Bertrand, Maxwell, Hakim, Adelaide, Emmaline.....then there was, Drake. Bastien quickly shook his head of this distressing realization; he had to remain focused, he couldn't allow his mind to go there....not yet.

Hours passed before Liam's tears finally ran dry and his cries drifted away. Sleep was not an option, although, it would provide some solace. As the stage of denial and grief shifted, anger was the only emotion he could muster.

Liam pushed himself off the dusty floor, his body so weak from despair and a heavy dose of alcohol, he had to catch himself from falling over. His shouts of curses and rage bounced off the walls of the safe room, his hands sweeping clear a table of supplies.

Bastien watched with a careful eye as the King completely came undone, if he thought for one minute he could stop him, he would, but what was there to do?

Bastien hung his head low, the anguish was too much to witness, even for someone like himself, trained to ignore the emotional aspect of his job. He didn't understand exactly what Liam was dealing with, yet, his imagination took him to a very dark place.

*********

10:15 PM Valtoria

Drake pillaged through the massive rubble of a local dining establishment. A nearby fire from the explosion, lighting his recovery efforts. The blood that poured from the gash in his scalp, had seeped into his eyes, causing his vision to blur and sting. His brute strength was doubled by pure adrenaline and fear, as he lifted heavy beams and sheet rock.

A river of red flowed by his feet and his heart pounded; Drake was never one to pray, but, as he moved a large piece of ceiling, he did just that. The mangled body was almost indescernable, but, the waiter uniform was sadly, a relief for him.

"Beaumont!.....Brooks!....Olivia!.....can you all hear me?".

Everything happened in slow motion, he last recalled the drinks, laughing, the witty banter between he and Olivia. He remembers Brooks calling the nanny to check on the baby, when she heard shouting and gunshots in the background. As she rose in panic to her feet, a sudden blast occurred that collapsed the building, scattering his friends to who knows where.

Drake removed his shirt and held it to his wounded head; he wasn't prepared to give up, but, didn't know where to start looking. He decided that anything he did was better than nothing.

His eyes suddenly shift behind him as a pile of debris begins to erupt; he steadily makes his way to it, assisting whomever was buried underneath. "Maxwell? Is that you?", Drake yelled out.

With a weakened voice, "Yeah....I'm stuck under something....I can't...I can't move it".

Drake sighs out in relief, knowing that at least one of friends was alive and accounted for. "Don't worry....I'm going to get you out okay? Just hang tight".

He works diligently as he clears the pile until he is able to see Maxwell, his legs trapped under a wooden beam and covered in blood from broken glass and splinters. Another patron, who was able to free himself, helped Drake lift the broken beam from Maxwell and pull him out to safety.

"Maxwell....do you have any idea where Brooks is at?".

Maxwell's sad eyes darted to a point ten feet away and he gestures in that direction, "She was thrown over there."

Drake and the other man step carefully to the location Maxwell pointed out and began cautiously clearing it away. Within minutes, much to his horror, Mara's lifeless body was discovered, and under her, the Queen of Cordonia. Drake immediatly dropped to his knees, his heart falling into the pit of his stomach, "Oh, Brooks".

*********

3:00 AM-Monaco

Princess Marguerite is awakened from her peaceful slumber. She eagerly gathers her robe and hustles to her bedroom door; once open, her eyes immediatly light up at the servant waiting for her.

With anticipation, she holds her arms out. Once satisfied, with the delivery, she dismisses her servant and closes the door.

She gently walks to the other side of her room; sitting on the edge of the bed.

She bounces the baby boy on her knees and smiles at his sleepy face, before speaking to him in baby talk "your daddy and mommy are not going to be happy about this.....oh no, no, no, they're not". After a brief pause, she chuckles to herself, "what am I saying...they're both dead....they'll never even know, you're my little boy now".

#trr liam #trr fanfic #liam x riley #liam x mc #trh #the royal heir #choices trh #trr #the royal romance #choices trr

[awed-frog]

The latest chapter of your fic made me think how do you think the show will deal with Crowleys death? From my side I think they'll make Sam and Dean either literally or metaphorically raise their glasses to him

Hi! Well - I think that’s a good guess, but I’m not sure if and when it’ll happen.

See, one of the problems with Crowley’s death is that it was overshadowed, to both audience and characters, by Cas’ death and Mary’s disappearance. If S13 starts exactly where S12 finished, I’m betting Crowley won’t be on anyone’s mind - Dean will be too distraught by Cas’ death to function, and Sam will be Sam - repressing his own feelings and grief and worry about his mother because Jack Kline is about to possibly destroy the world, and Dean’s in no shape to stop him. So, you know - I think that the realization of what Crowley did, and the consequences of those actions, will take a little time to surface - if they do at all.

Because another problem here is that no one will actually miss Crowley at all - except for Dean. 

If you’re reading my fic, I assume you know why I think their relationship was so interesting and significant, so I won’t get into that, but it’s a fact that Dean was the only one who got to see Crowley for who he truly was (also the only one who understands what being turned into a demon is like, because it basically happened to him twice), and therefore he’ll be the only one to feel anything other than relief. And what worries me there is that the show doesn’t have a, uhm, stellar record of allowing Dean to come clean about things he can’t, or won’t, tell Sam about - we’ve seen he’s come to rely on Cas for this, which is Beautiful and Meaningful but also a problem because a) Cas already knows everything Dean is, read it on his soul way back then, so Dean has no reason to talk to Cas about All The Things and we, the audience, are left guessing about many of them, b) Cas is not human, which means he sometimes reacts bizarrely and not in any useful way and c) at the moment, Cas is pretty dead, so there’s also that. In my story, I had Dean talk to Jody, which is sort of the only option Dean’s got left at this point, and also a Terrible Idea if it’s Crowley’s death he needs to discuss because, well, Crowley did try to kill her - jerk move, Dean.

(In his defence, he was very drunk.

Dean, that is, not Crowley.) 

And also: the reason Dean will miss Crowley (and it’s text that he will, because Cain said so) is Highly Problematic. As much as I loved whatever that thing between them was, I think Supernatural crossed the line without even realizing it, because writing our hero, the Righteous Man, sleeping around with the King of Hell (and they’re! both! men!) - I don’t think they actually wanted to o there, I have a feeling it was some kind of joke gone wrong, like the beginning of Destiel. And whatever point this show makes about shades of grey, in the end its moral compass is pretty on point, which means there’s no place for Dean to have any kind of feelings for someone like Crowley, who may have changed, sure, but was still a demon up to the moment he died and never much repented about anything bad he’d ever done (including being a very visible threat to Dean’s heterosexuality).

Furthermore, Supernatural is peculiar in that it is both very self-aware and extremely patchy with past events? Like, there’s all sort of parallels, both visual and narrative, to other seasons, but at the same time, what’s dead stays dead and once the episode is over, goodbye and good luck. We never hear Sam and Dean staying in touch with people they’ve saved or helped (even in cases where that should definitely happen - you’d think Sam would try and text Magda, for instance, and maybe he did but we don’t know anything about it; same thing goes for the Cuevas - me, I would have stopped by and said hi at some point, if not to see them then to remind myself that happy endings do exist, but, again, that never happened), and we never hear them mention dead people at all, which, again, as someone who lost people, I always found Weird, because it just happens, you know? You go somewhere or you see something or you dream about stuff or simply, after enough time has gone by, you find it pleasant to discuss these things even out of the blue - Charlie would have loved this movie and Hey, remember the way Bobby used to -? And yet, nothing. Same thing goes for season continuity - last year, they basically found out that God exists and they had waffles with Him and there was that whole awe-inspiring and traumatizing Amara business - stuff that hasn’t been brought up once in S12.

(Maybe it’s because they want casual viewers to be able to just start watching whenever, I don’t know, and it’s true that it happens on other shows as well, likely for the same reason, but still - it’s weird and unnatural and I don’t like it.)   

Anyway, all of this means that the scene I sort of want probably won’t happen, and what we’ll have, if anything, will be Dean pouring himself Crowley’s brand of scotch and Sam raising his eyebrows at him and Dean going, whatever, bitch and Sam saying something funny which will totally undercut any possible gravitas the moment could have had. The whole thing will take, what? one minute? yeah - sounds about right - and then we’ll go right back discussing what Lucifer is doing next (personally, I think ‘possessing a rich dick who doesn’t know how society works’ is a good bet).

#ask #crowley #spn season 13 #spn speculation #dean and crowley #drowley #my writing #blues run the game