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marivenah · 2 years

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WIP Day! because guess what everyday is wip day

I was tagged by the beloveds @adelaidedrubman and @shellibisshe to share something I’m working on, thank you!

tagging @cousingregstan @sstewyhosseini @hoesephseed @preachercuster @vasiktomis @indorilnerevarine (sorry if you’ve done this already I’m like really late for this)

huh would you look at that, an interaction that doesn’t involve Silco but Marcus? in my fic? impossible

All she needs is a good plan on how to lure him away. The presence of his guard dogs might evoke that simulated feeling of confidence in him, but he’d never even consider a deal with a trencher as long as the other enforcers are around. Zoiya has to get rid of them somehow. But in what kind of situation would they be willing to leave their superior? Especially now that he’s injured. The thought of the enforcers makes her heartbeat quicken its pace. Their uniform covering them from head to toe, faces completely covered by mask and eyewear, inducing uneasiness within her. Zoiya has never seen a ‘bare-faced’ enforcer before. At least not the big ones. Were there even people hiding under all that gear? She always had a hard time believing they’re anything but monsters, concealed by royal blue and gold. Warmth spreads through Zoiya’s hands and they stick to each other as she rubs them together. She runs them over her legs to get rid of the sweat. Then she lets out a small huff and rolls her eyes at herself. This is not the first time. She went through this already. Silco taught her. She told him she can do this. He trusts her with this. He wouldn’t have sent her if he didn’t. Right? Zoiya will not disappoint him. Not this time. She will fix her mistake. She closes her eyes, inhales deeply through her nose and releases the heavy breath through her mouth. Tensed muscles now relaxed again. A small peek around the corner and she spots the group of enforcers who are now back to investigating people, after their little clash with Vander’s kids. What a coincidence Marcus ran into exactly the four kids he’s looking for. Too bad he didn’t even realize it. Now, Marcus is a funny little guy. He doesn’t appear half as intimidating as the other enforcers, especially whenever he opens his mouth. He seems to be easily irritable. That’s something Zoiya is definitely good at. So, focusing on him only, tuning out the ones who are actually scary, is probably the best way for her to approach this. She leans back, one foot now resting on the wall behind her. As she waits, she starts picking on her fingernails and keeps her thoughts fixed on the officer to the best of her ability. There’s no plan on how to separate him from the others, so she has to improvise. Her body begins to quiver slightly at the thoughts of what can go wrong. She bites her lip to drown them out. The group of enforcers rounds the corner, and they stop at the sight of her. Zoiya turns her head to face them. She raises an eyebrow. Her eyes meet his and they linger for a second before her view wanders to his left arm. She can’t help but smile at his slightly hunched form, right hand clutching his injury. A short huff of laughter escapes her lungs, and she jerks her chin in his direction “What happened?”

--- ok maybe I lied, no interaction yet (I didn’t want to spoil their meeting), this is still very rough, since this happens in chapter 2 and I still need to get the first one done rip

#wip tag #ty for the tag! 💕#it's almost 4 am #pls send help

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gwaean · 3 years

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The Rescuers

Part One: “Old acquaintances meet again"

Summary: You are a mandalorian rebel friends with Captain Rex so you are well aware of the entire "clone situation" going on. And of course you want to help as much as you can. You then go to Ryloth trying to help the Syndulla's and maybe find your old friend Cody.

Pairing: None. Yet. But will be a Crosshair x Reader.

Gender: There'll be no mentions of gender or pronouns on this part yet. Though further in the story it might have she/they pronouns used.

Word count: 1.6k

Tags: Injury recover, post-clone wars story, rescuing clones/friends, a bit of melancholy?

Warning: Brief description of injury.

Notes: So, I literally dreamed most parts of this story (I know, crazy Star Wars obsession here). I filled up some parts as I was writing of course. And it turned out a bit like a beautiful sad tragic. I might even do a playlist for this fanfic actually. Hope u enjoy it :)

The war, the republic, the jedi all have ended. Literally on the same day. And what it seemed like a fresh start, finally a moment of peace in the chaos turned into nightmares. You weren’t there when it happened, you just heard the news of Obi-Wan saying the jedi order and the republic had fallen and you also heard the now Emperor Palpatine telling everyone that the clone wars has ended and the jedi were traitor, they’ve tried to assassinate him according to well… himself. And now he’s forming this new galactic empire, giving people numbers like the ones clones used to have and killing off any resistance against this new order. Everyone seemed to believe him, you gotta give him that he was a pretty damn’ good liar indeed. But you knew better than that. You are mandalorian after all and were friends with no one less than Duchess Satine and Senator Padmé. You helped them countless times in their diplomatics and you even fought with the jedi and the clones at times. They were good people, yes, the order might have messed up at lot but traitors? Murders? They sure didn’t deserve to die like that and I guess… No one does.

You quickly then joined the rebellion. There you found many of former politics like Senator Organa and even a clone… Captain Rex (or is it Commander now?). You’ve met him once before and he seemed like a good person and looks like he’s really a great man just like you thought. You soon became friends. But sadly, the other clones you knew before like Cody were still with the empire. Though both you and Rex were very determinate to help others like him. And also, obviously, protect your allies against the empire.

Well, as expected trouble begins. There’s been rumors about what’s going in Ryloth with the Syndulla’s and the empire occupation. Worried about them and their people, you go there to help as you can. And if there’s need, you’d call more rebels to help too though you didn’t want to envolve more people yet because you’re afraid of the reaction it could cause ( and what that would cost for ryloth and its people). You also have a tiny tiny hope that maybe just maybe Cody could be there.

Arriving in Ryloth, you discover the Syndulla family have indeed oppose agains the empire occupation and they’ve went into a lot of trouble because of that but apparently a group of mercenaries (?) have already rescued them from the prison they were sent to. One less problem for you to fix I guess. You were glad for them but you still want to spy a little on the empire and see what you could find out after all, the trip couldn’t be for nothing.

You find your way and get to a particular high hill with a great view of one imperial base. You pick up your binoculars and the only person you see in a sort of balcony is a very depressive-looking Crosshair. You remember him from that one time clone force 99 saved your butt from the mess you’ve yourself in. He was… quite unfriendly, let’s say. But he did get the job done and made sure you were okay so you just ignored his behavior. Looking at him now it was looking at a shadow of him.

It made you remember what Rex told you once:

“We clones were all created with this chip thing in our my minds. We were made for the war and the war only but apparently someone thought it would be great if they let us think we've got free will. That we could be anything we wanted to be after the war. So we made friends, some of us found a family with our jedi. They let we hope. Just so we have all of that taken away from us with order 66. The war had ended for everyone except for us. We had our will taken from us, our minds controlled by this chip and we had to follow orders. While we're still there conscious of what we were doing we had to kill the people we fought together the entire war. I remember her face... I'm so glad she didn't see my face. I couldn't bare.”

Thinking about what all the clones been through, you can’t just leave him like this. He did save you once and this was your chance to repay that. Rex keeps saying we can’t save everyone (more to himself than to you) but one person is better than nobody, right? At the time you improvise a plan: neither the empire nor Cross can’t know yet that you’re a rebel. You haven’t done anything yet incriminating (at least not that they were aware of). So you can just jump in there where he was standing and talk to him. Worst case scenario he ignores you. However you sure knew how to annoy him enough that at least he would call you out and when that happens you act. Ok, that you still have to figure out exactly how you would act. Well, half of a plan is better than no plan.

You just jump in behind his back and of course he points his gun at you as expected. But he apparently recognizes who it’s standing in front of him and put his riffle down.

“ Hello there.” You say.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He replies.

“Oh, please, don’t act like you aren’t happy to see me.”

He gives you a faint of a smile. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

You smiled back. “But seriously, what you’re doing here all alone? And why- You finally noticed the burn mark on his now bald head. - are you like this? Doesn’t the empire takes care of its soldiers? Nor your squad? The bad batch, right? That’s what you called yourselves?”

His face closes again. “You have nothing to do with that. I’m-”

“By yourself?” You pause for a moment. “Alright, I get it. You’ve probably been through a lot. We all have. Not sure why you’re like this but it doesn’t matter right now. I just wonder… Don’t you want to get out of all of this?”

Cross pauses for a moment. It seems like he's considering the possibility. “I… I can’t.”

“But…” You then think. You remind yourself of how protective he was that one time you were saved by them. Maybe this instinct was still there, you had to try. You saw a pointed rock close to where you were standing and decided that you would accidentally cut yourself. “Ouch!”

“What’s up?”

“Oh! Nothing! Just might have cut myself here.” You show your hand now with a bit bigger than you expected cut and some blood.

He almost laughs at it. “What a little clumsy one you are, eh?”

His mocking at you, that’s something, right? “Yeah, I guess….”

“Well, let’s go?” He points to the door.

“Go where?”

“Don’t you wanna take care of that, sweetheart?”

“Right, medical bay then?”

“Obviously.” Perfect. He would be right where you needed him to be.

The both of you enter the facility and walk directly to the medical bay. The empire base is pretty much a bland dark and boring military base with some troopers walking around, some commanders (you think) yelling at the soldiers and some droids doing whatever they have to do. You knew only that they were “r - unities” but droids weren’t exactly your area of expertise. However you do notice that the troopers walking around still wear the same clone armor from back the war. And you feel guilty. Because as much as you’d like you won’t be able to help them all. They’ll stay there with their chips on being controlled by the empire…. By the force, that was a hole guilty trip you knew you shouldn’t take. It wasn’t your fault. No, no. They did this. Palpatine and his men were the monsters. Not you. And certainly not these poor clones. One day, yes, one day maybe you could come back and save them?

“Hmmm…. You wanna me to do this?” Cross says. You were so distracted in your thoughts you don’t even realized you were already in the medical bay.

“Oh. You don’t have to.”

“It's fine. I’m used to do this anyway.”

“Ok. Be my guest then?”

“Wow, you’re so funny.” He jokes.

“Whatever. Just do your thing.”

“Give me your hand.”

You give him your hand and he takes it. And to your surprise he’s very gentle while taking care of your wound. He applies some alcohol pads to clean the wound. And as he presses the wound to stop the bleeding you reach for your gun and keep looking at his face. His very concentrated. It’s almost like the rest of the galaxy doesn’t matter. He’s only there at the moment focused on helping you. And you’re trying to plan how you’re gonna knock him out to take his chip off.

“Now I’m gonna get some stuff to make a bandage for ya, ok?” He says and turns his back. Now is you chance. You turn your blaster to stun only and shoots. He falls.

“I’m sorry. But there’s no other way.” You whisper as if he’s actually listening.

It takes some effort (seriously, Crosshair's heavier than he looks) but you manage to put him on one these surgical stretchers. You also have to learn super quick how to use the pad control to see where the chip’s in and take it off. But it’s done. And you wait and wait… For what it seemed like hours though it was only like 15 minutes.

And he wakes up very confused.

#swwriting #tbbwriting #the bad batch #tbb spoilers #the bad bad spoilers #the bad batch fanfiction #crosshair #crosshair x reader #ct 9904 #crosshair x y/n #crosshair x oc #female reader #gn!reader #clone wars #star wars #clone troopers #writers on tumblr

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makeste · 4 years

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BnHA Chapter 285: You Looked Like You Needed Saving

Previously on BnHA: Deku was all, “hey guys I’m just gonna fight Tomura one on one and risk my own life rather than risk letting him do the whole Destroying Everything bit again.” Kacchan was all “WAIT NO ARE YOU SERIOUS THAT’S THE EXACT THING I HATE THE MOST” and indignantly launched into his “P.S. I CARE ABOUT DEKU” flashback, which was a revelation in that it proved exactly what Bakugou fans have been saying this whole time, AND YET OUR MINDS WERE STILL BLOWN ANYWAY, BECAUSE HOLY SHIT, HE REALLY WENT AND SAID IT OUT LOUD THOUGH. Anyway, so Deku’s strategy for defeating Tomura is to, you guessed it, break his fucking arms again; and meanwhile a frantic Katsuki is gearing up on the sidelines to do something really awesome and incredibly stupid, probably; and all in all it’s a pretty terrible situation our boys have found themselves in. Terrible for them, but GREAT for me, and I’ve never been so hyped in my life omg.

Today on BnHA: Deku breaks both of his arms like a dozen times over. Like, just pages and pages of arm breaking. Just like in the good old days! Meanwhile Kacchan is all “jesus christ, okay you know what would be a better idea, JUST SETTING HIM ON FIRE AGAIN”, and so he grabs Shouto and Endeavor, and they do a whole Prominence Burn combo thing. The AFO-inside-of-Tomura is all “‘sup it’s me again, but seriously now would be a REALLY good time to let me take over your body”, and so Tomura TOTALLY DOES LET HIM TAKE OVER, WHOOP, and so AFO is all “HELLS YEAH.” And then he STRAIGHT UP STABS MY SON, WHOSE BODY WAS SIMPLY MOVING ON ITS OWN, YOU KNOW, JUST HERO THINGS. Anyway so now Kacchan is fucking dead*, and so if I were AFO I would start putting as much distance as possible between myself and Deku right the fuck now, because boy, IF YOU THOUGHT HE WAS MAD BEFORE? Holy shit. We’re about to see a whole new level aren’t we.

LOL WE’RE OFF TO A GRAND OLD START

Deku’s arms should sue for legal emancipation. I think most of us can agree that they’re probably better off without him. sure they’ll have to buy their own food and stuff, but I think the trade-off is more than fair

oh wow that 100% shit really is something though

too bad it did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! spoiler alert. I don’t even have to scroll to the next page, Deku. we already know

OH MY GOD ARE YOU SERIOUS

did Deku really pull off some “three hits in one” bullshit, or is this a mistranslation referring to the fact that Deku’s already hit him twice with his left arm, and so this is now the third 100% hit. kinda hoping for the latter, ngl. either way though, I’m really getting a “Deku’s arms are legitimately done for” vibe from this

ESPECIALLY SINCE:

DEKU YOU SHRUB!!! WAS IT WORTH IT YOU EGG FDKF KKDJ YOU DON’T GET BONUS POINTS FOR BREAKING THEM TWICE

goddammit I’m pretty sure he just Detroit Smashed the last remaining hero brain cell. now they have diddly squat to work with, oh this is bad

...

do you guys remember a few weeks back when I was joking about him breaking the rest of his bones and using Blackwhip to move his shattered body around like a grotesque marionette. do you specifically remember the part where that was a joke

holy shit Deku. it’s like we’re all the way back to square one with you. wasn’t that like the first thing Aizawa taught you, not to break your whole body apart? how are you supposed to fight Tomura if you can’t move?? why didn’t you wait for one of your pals who could hit him with an attack from long range WITHOUT BREAKING EVERY SINGLE BONE IN THEIR BODIES. WHERE DID YOUR BIG HERO BRAIN GO

boy you better pray one of those remaining quirks is a healing factor, or else you’re gonna be on IR for a LONG time. anyway. idk why I’m getting so worked up when I already knew this was going to happen lol. it’s just like Katsuki said; he takes himself out of the equation. it’s worth sacrificing his own body if it means he can take out AFO and prevent Tomura from hurting anyone else again. it’s just that... well. you know that saying about taking calculated risks when you are bad at math?

GUH I REALLY HATE THAT TOMURA IS STILL COMPLETELY FINE KSKWOILWKKJ AT LEAST PRETEND TO BE A LITTLE HURT, WOULD YOU

please ignore all of those worried-sounding thoughts; I think we all know that’s a bunch of bullshit. completely and utterly fine. the only person Deku’s attacks hurt was himself. hip hip hooray

anyway. so now, this!

pretty sure he can’t use Decay or AFO without at least touching SOMETHING, so I’m guessing this is another one of his new quirks. dammit Tomura why are you so fucking invincible

HAHAHA MEANWHILE

if I were you, Deku’s Arms, I would simply detach from his body altogether at this point. cut my losses. mmm

OOF HE HIT HIM WITH THE WHOLE OF TEXAS

spoiler alert: again, it did nothing. SORRY TO KEEP RUINING THE SUSPENSE FOR YOU GUYS. is there a single human being reading this who thought for even for the milliest of seconds that this stood a chance of working though

OH MY GOD

DEKU GET IT TOGETHER YOU’RE STARTING TO LOOK LIKE THE ENIGMA OF AMIGARA FAULT AND I CAN’T STAND THIS ACTUALLY

so Tomura is all “there must be something I can do to stop this fucking kid” and shuffling through his quirk pokedex while he’s tossed around bleeding in the air

hey Tomura I’ll tell you right now that you don’t actually need to do a damn thing except not die for roughly the next thirty seconds or so, and then you’ve got this. the quirk that can stop this kid is called “One for All”, and it just so happens he’s already got you covered bruh

and Katsuki’s realized the same thing, apparently!

SHOUTO YOU’RE NOT EVEN LOOKING?? wow that is some trust right there. focused on cauterizing Gran and Aizawa’s wounds, I guess

MEANWHILE KATSUKI IS PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS. HE FOUND A NEW BRAIN CELL! A WHOLE DAMN CACHE OF FRESH NEW BRAIN CELLS, LOOK AT THIS

THANKS FOR THAT, PROFESSOR

OH SHIT SON ARE WE MOUNTING A COUNTERATTACK?

I like how Endeavor is just SITTING THERE in the background looking all disgruntled. yes, sorry about that sir, this is now Kacchan’s show. he’s in charge now. time for that long-range attack I was complaining about them not doing earlier?? hopefully?? omg

OH MY GOD YOU GUYS IT’S A BAKUROKI TRIPLE COMBO?!?!

ARE YOU GOING TO YEET THEM A LA GANG ORCA?? ALSO OH MY GOD, HE REALLY IS IN CHARGE. FIRST DEKU TOOK OVER FOR TWO MINUTES UNTIL HE BROKE ALL HIS BONES, AND NOW IT’S KACCHAN’S TIME. I’M SO PROUD OF YOU KIDS

LOL SHOUTO’S GETTING IN ON THIS TOO

THIS JUST IN, THE KIDS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE MANGA, ADULTS OF BNHA IN SHAMBLES

WELL MAYBE NEXT TIME DON’T LET AIZAWA GET SHOT THEN, YOU HAT!!!

WOOP OKAY WE FLYING NOW

Kacchan, tired of sitting back watching Deku invent new ways to die, decides to improvise a few of his own. hmmmmmmm

(ETA: HE LEARNED FROM THE BEST ORZ.)

OKAY WAIT A MINUTE NOW

why does this sound like he’s planning something on his own after the Todorokis have done their part. KACCHAN. EXCUSE ME, KACCHAN

SDLFKJLKJLJ

OKAY HOLD THE FUCKING PHONE

IS THIS LEADING WHERE I THINK IT’S LEADING, HOLY --

-- ooOF

I WASN’T FUCKING READY FOR THAT ONE. BAKUBULLYING FROM HIS OWN NOW-REMORSEFUL POV. SHIT. FUCKING FELT THAT. HERE I THOUGHT YOU WERE BUILDING UP TO AN “ALL FOR ONE FOR ALL” REVEAL, AND THEN YOU GO AND PULL THAT INSTEAD, WHAT’S GOING ON

-- HOLD UP WE’RE NOT DONE WITH THIS ONE YET MAYBE!!

“ONE FOR ALL IS”??!? KDSLFJAKLSJLKJLKJL AND THEN INTERRUPTING ME WITH THE CUTE BABIES WATCHING THE ALL MIGHT FOOTAGE, OH MY GOD. I’M JUST WILDLY REACTING TO EVERYTHING THAT’S BEING THROWN AT ME RIGHT NOW LMAO I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS IS LEADING

OOF THE NOTEBOOK

KACCHAN THIS ISN’T EVEN YOUR MEMORY HONEY, GET IT TOGETHER

OH MY GLOB

THIS IS THE MOST NONSENSICAL SEQUENCE OF PANELS RIGHT NOW. I’M SURE THIS IS ALL SHORTLY GOING TO COME TOGETHER IN SOME PROFOUND WAY THAT’S GOING TO KICK MY EMOTIONS SQUARE IN THE BALLS, BUT RIGHT NOW I’M JUST ALL “OOH AHH” LIKE SOME HAPLESS RUBE ALONG FOR THE RIDE. p.s. this chapter still doesn’t have a title!! p.p.s. Horikoshi is a knave

(ETA: HORIKOSHI IS A FUCKING MALFEASANT!!)

I CAN’T TAKE THIS??

PLEASE STOP BUILDING UP TO WHATEVER IT IS YOU’RE BUILDING UP TO AND JUST SAY IT ALREADY, I’M DYING OMG

...and we’re cutting back to the action. godfuckingdammit it’s gonna be one of those chapters where the entire thing is just buildup to some huge reveal on the very last page isn’t it

(ETA: [sounds of screaming heard in the distance])

anyway so this next page is just Deku flying in the air, and Tomura flying through the air, and Endeavor+Katsuki+Shouto flying through the air, and everyone’s flying through the air, and we’re all just flying. TALK TO ME MORE ABOUT THE CURSE OF OFA DAMN IT

OOHHHHHH

guess if it was good enough for Hood, it’s probably their best shot huh. better than whatever the fuck Deku was trying to pull at any rate

OOP

gotta admit, if I didn’t already know full well that Tomura could not possibly die here, I’d have been pretty convinced he was dying here lol

DSFKJL ENDEAVOR BUDDY YOU MIGHT HAVE POSSIBLY OVERDONE IT JUST A BIT

wait... is that Blackwhip...?? or???

OH SHIT

WHAT EVEN IS THIS CHAPTER, COME ON

-- FMMMJAKAKJDJL, UM

TIME TO SCROLL BACK UP TO THAT PANEL OF TOMURA BEING MELTED, AND READ WHAT AFO WAS SAYING A LITTLE MORE CAREFULLY LMAOOOO. LOL. WHOOPS. OH NO KATSUKI WHAT HAVE YOU DONE

AHHHHHHHH

WHAT’S WITH THE NARRATION SQUARE ALL OF A SUDDEN AHHHHHH

oh my fresh and citrusy lord. this is it isn’t it. all of my theories converge at once. Tomura being possessed by AFO; OFA is AFO/Deku has AFO; Katsuki does something stupid and loses his quirk. THE PERFECT STORM. THEORY SINGULARITY

oh my lord oh my god oh my lord oh my god honey what are you doing, honey, no

his body’s moving before he can think. WHAT ARE THESE FLASHBACKS OF ALL HIS DEKU RELATED MEMORIES. BULLYING DEKU, BEING SAVED FROM THE SLUDGE MONSTER, RECONCILING WITH HIM AT GROUND BETA, OH MY GOD. I’M NOT READY. [WRAPS MYSELF IN A BLANKET BURRITO AND SLOWLY SCROLLS DOWN FROM THE SAFETY OF MY COCOON]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HORIKOSHI KOUHEI: [LOADS GUN WITH CHAPTER TITLE AND AIMS DIRECTLY FOR MY HEART]

ME: [SWEATING]

HORIKOSHI: [SMILES, REACHES FOR THE TRIGGER... AND THEN SUCKER PUNCHES ME SQUARE IN THE FACE]

excuse me WHAT. PARDON, THE FUCK. WHY ARE THE FIRST FEW LONE PIANO NOTES OF ADELE’S “SKYFALL” PLAYING. WHAT THE FUCK

excuse me, Horikoshi. excuse me, could I just -- could I get. COULD I JUST GET A WORD WITH YOU FOR A MINUTE. SIR

son of a. ...how am I even supposed to wrap this up. just

sob okay. so let’s just. ...

All for One 100% just took Tomura’s body over. like, he was all “Tomura, you’re fucking dying, just give me your body you muppet”, and Tomura couldn’t really argue on account of he really was dying, and so, YOINK. which is the sound that a body makes when it’s being taken over, I think

All for One then activated his forced activation quirk?? which OF FUCKING COURSE he passed on to Tomura as well. so THAT’S JUST GREAT

Kacchan is seriously the fastest character in the series. the reflexes, the sheer speed necessary to intercept that hit? goddamn

every single one of those BakuDeku flashbacks are now wanted by the FBI for first-degree murder of me

this has nothing to do with Kacchan fucking dying and stuff, but is it just me or were there HUGE “Kacchan as Bakugou’s hero name” vibes earlier on in this chapter with the flashbacks to Deku explaining the meaning behind his own name, HMM

and speaking of, this is the first time we’ve gotten Kacchan narrating in the little box panels, unless I’m completely mistaken somehow. Horikoshi really waited almost 300 whole chapters to do that. and it was worth it. holy shit

fun fact, this moment is something that’s been on my wishlist since chapter 12 lol, you can go back and check the recap if you want. back then I called it a long shot. oh how the times have changed

I DON’T KNOW HOW I’M EVEN SO STUNNED ABOUT THIS, GUYS. this is exactly what I predicted at the end of the last chapter. MY CHILD IS DUMB. THAT’S ALL THERE IS TO IT. HE’S THAT EXACT KIND OF SHOUNEN DUMB. WE’VE KNOWN IT ALL ALONG

oh my god. and now Deku’s gonna go ham, arms or no arms. AND BETS ON WHICH NEW QUIRK HE’S ABOUT TO UNLOCK? because the last time someone so much as insulted Kacchan in his presence, he SPONTANEOUSLY GREW SHADOW TENTACLES OUT OF THE BLUE AND ATTEMPTED TO MURDER THE PERSON. so if this kid has got ANYTHING left up his sleeve, I have to imagine that SEEING HIS PRECIOUS CHILDHOOD FRIEND TAKE A DEADLY ATTACK MEANT FOR HIM is gonna leave him feeling SOME KINDA WAY. I literally have no idea what’s going to happen next but I would not count this angry little broccoli out yet. not as long as he’s still conscious

anyway. so I wonder what’s the world record for continuous screaming, and whether or not I could break said record by doing such nonstop from now until a week from now when I finally get to read the next chapter

...lol apparently the record is only 8 mins and 45 seconds so GOOD NEWS GUYS, WITH THE POWER OF THIS NEW CHAPTER, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE HISTORY. DEEP BREATH. -- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

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the-maidofmischief · 3 years

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both zukos and catras characters arcs are great and amazingly written, so i always feel uncomfortable when ppl compare them, because not every redemption arc has to be the same in order to be good.

THANK YOU. This is gonna be long lmao, please bare with me.

Zuko and Catra share some similarities, but at the end of the day they are very different characters, with different backgrounds, story and psychology.

And that’s AMAZING.

It’s amazing because we were shown two different but effective ways to tell a story about how childhood’s abuse can affect a person’s mental health, and how they can get better and grow up, showing that there is hope for everyone, as long as you do the best you can to change.

Want to know why their redemption arcs worked, where others like Kylo Ren’s or Snape’s failed?

I could start by saying that Kylo and Snape where two grown ass men, only written as negative characters with literally no background on why they acted the way they did. Kylo has a change of heart at the last minute (which is okay, because I believe that anyone can change at any point), but its not enough to be redeemed, because he should have also actually took responsability for his past actions. But he didn’t, he simply died for the good side and...that’s it. That’s why it doesn’t work. And also, because, let’s be real, it wasn’t planned for him to get a redemption arc in the first place. He was supposed to be de main villain, Rey and Finn were supposed to be the main characters of the sequels trilogy, but the fans decided that it was all about the white sad man uwu instead, and that, plus the lack of story planning, is what ruined the movies. What about Snape? he was an abusive teacher and a negative character for seven books straight. Then, in one of the final chapter we get his whole backstory and we are supposed to feel sorry for him. And we are, at least I sure was, and I won’t deny that he is actually a complex character, and that not everything is black and white. But it’s still not enough for him to be forgiven of all the bs he put the other characters too, even when he was supposed to be a good guy. So, at the end of the story, when Harry named one of his children after him, it just feels wrong, especially when Harry actually had a lot of positive people in his life that helped him way more than Snape - or Dumbledore - ever did. (I also have the feeling that jkr totally improvised snaped backstory at the last minute, but maybe that’s just me lol)

Both Catra ans Zuko were literally children/teens, and the reasons why they acted the way they did were shown by the very beginning. It is something that makes you emphatize with them, but that at the same time it makes you realize that their past sufference can’t be use as an excuse to hurt others. They both had many wake up calls/chances during the shows to simply join the good guys, but they both do that in the final season because they needed to take a look at themself first, and realized why they fucked up so many times. Because guess what? abuse victims fuck things up. You guys support abuse victims only when they fit your ideals of hurt and sweet damsel in distress, but when they actually have personality/anger disorders they’re monsters. The shows NEVER justified or romanticized the bad things that they did. And if you want a well-written redemption arc, you HAVE TO let the characters do bad guys stuff. What makes them different is that even when they were on the villain’s side, they both showed moments of kindness that enstablished potential for a future change. What makes them different, is that we actually follow their story arcs too, and we see them growing up and changing.

And, most importantly, they actually face the consequences of their own actions. Before joining the gaang, Zuko is already starting to have doubts. During season 4 Catra has constant nightmares of the portal, and she tries to repress the guilt that she is feeling, because she is slowing realizing that this time she hurted a lot of people, and that there’s no one else to blame but herself. And she doesn’t fully accept it until DT slaps the truth to her face. And at this point of their story, what Zuko and Catra need is NOT more punishment, but forgiveness. IF they actually try to be better people. And they do. In different ways, but they do.

Zuko joins the gaang that accepts him and he constantly tries to be good. The only person that is giving him an hard time is Katara (rightfully), but eventually she forgives him too, because she is realizing that he is making an effort.

Catra sacrifice herself saving Glimmer, goes through more physical and psychological trauma and abuse by Horde Prime, and literally almost dies. Then Adora saves her, and Catra joins the squad, but it’s not easy. It’s not easy because she knows that she hurted them in the past, and doesn’t think that she deserves their forgiveness. But she decides to try. She shows genuine remorse of her past behaviour, and makes sincere apologies to the people that she hurted, without expectation of forgiveness. It is easier for Adora to forgive her, because she grow up with her, and knows her better than anyone else. It’s easier for Glimmer to forgive her because they started to bond on Prime’s ship, and the princess realized that they are more similiar that she thought. But they all know that the road to redemption is hard and long, and that Catra need to work on herself. And guess what? she does.

After they join the good guys Zuko and Catra show constant effort to improve throught both big and small actions of true selflessness. And that’s why they works as characters. We can’t really compare them because they have different stories. But that doesn’t mean that one arc is better than the other.

#catra #catrademption #zuko #zukodemption #anti kylo ren #anti snape #she ra meta #she ra #atla #atla meta #that was long asdfghjkl

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highly-flammable · 3 years

Text

Reacting to Legacies 3x03 (SPOILERS):

1. So ARE we FINALLY getting to some proper firstborn Mikaelson witch breakdowns?

2. Oh well, apparently no. They'll just try to wave it off as some one time thing probably.

3. So Hope and Landon are on a break. Okay. TBH watching them sass each other is interesting.

4. The guidance counselor is pretty much a compulsion monster, is that it? Well, I do like his wardrobe.

5. Alyssa's concern for MG is so fake I can't.

6. Nobody other than Jed read for Stefan? THE DISRESPECT.

7. Lizzie playing Caroline makes total sense but them asking Josie to play the lead without even an audition looks a bit bad TBH. Like, give the other interested people a chance, at least.

8. I find it a bit repetitive how there are mind-controlling monsters popping out again and again.

9. So MG is basically going through a phase similar to what Cami was going through when Klaus used to compel her at the beginning of TO. Considering Quincy's fondness for Cami, he must have liked playing that.

10. I understand that Landon is supposed to be a capable songwriter in-universe but it takes more than that to write and direct a musical and it's very weird that they didn't even find a guest star to pose as a Drama or English teacher who is guiding him or something. WHERE ARE ALL THE TEACHERS?

11. I kinda feel like some of the lead characters in this show are colour-coded. I see Hope and Landon in red and blue a lot (the two gowns we have seen Hope wearing also fall into this pattern) and Josie wears yellow in like, every other episode. If I recall correctly, Lizzie wears a lot of white, too. I wonder what the reasoning behind these choices are.

12. Well, I liked Hope and Landon's relationship in S1, I have no idea what was going on with it in S2, and I still don't know what to think about it.

13. Lizzie casts herself in Caroline's role and then chokes at rehearsal. Not totally unrealistic but still feels a bit forced to me. Would have been better if Landon cast her because she's Caroline's daughter and Lizzie was a bit apprehensive in the first place because she didn't want to mess up the role.

14. I appreciate the show taking a moment to talk about Lizzie's bipolar disorder though. It's been a while.

15. "Bonnie just disappears for long periods of time"? Dude, she's still super important and you're putting her in the play. Right? RIGHT?!

16. Landon, THANK YOU for pointing out how weird Caroline and Alaric's relationship was. The guy deadass got engaged to her and had a pissing contest over her with Stefan, that will never not gross me out.

17. So the monster is mind controlling Landon to put Klaus into the play. Saw this coming IG.

18. Hope is painting again, like her dad used to do when he felt things were going out of control. I've been rewatching TO and this is making me so emotional. I MISS KLAUS AND HIS SHENANIGANS. And not a single character on Legacies comes close to Klaus, Elijah and Hayley for me. (Sorry if this hurts anyone's feelings but Legacies really is a downgrade from TVD and TO)

19. Ugh, why would he use the contents of the letter as lyrics? Dude, is it because you're mind-controlled? No, I don't like this. Klaus loved Hope to the ends of the earth and wanted everyone to know but Hope wants to keep things private, and her wishes should have been respected.

20. So apparently Landon tries not to put Klaus' villainous antics into the show. Well, okay, it's definitely a copout but since he is Hope's boyfriend, makes sense. But I don't understand why the musical HAS TO BE about the Salvatore school. The accreditation excuse is lazy, writers! Also, Landon, my dude, Klaus was a major donor of the school. Put that in instead of the other things, stop pissing off your girlfriend FFS. Even if you're mind-controlled 🤦🏻‍♀️

21. I do find it funny how Landon is all gaga over Klaus' use of language though. The guy really did have the best lines, didn't he? (Tied with Elijah, I suppose, for me)

22. The other singers of the first song are really good so Kaylee sounds a bit rusty in comparison. Also, she reminds me too much of Dark!Josie with the hair and makeup. From a distance, she can be mistaken for Nina though.

23. I love that the backstage activities are being shown.

24. I'm digging Jed as Stefan and I really like his singing voice. And the Hero Hair wig cracked me up. Kaleb is obviously good at singing at it's nice to hear more from him. I also like how Chris Lee didn't try to exactly emulate Ian and played Damon how someone who has only heard about him might play him.

25. Is Hope painting herself before the pit or something? Or is this supposed to symbolize her despair at her parents' loss? ALSO, I WANT SOMEONE TO MENTION HAYLEY :( Why is Hayley so ignored?!

26. The same person probably wrote MG's notes and Caroline's letter IRL and therefore, in-universe, MG has Caroline's handwriting and it's funny to me.

27. Jenny sings well, I like it. I don't understand the song though, was Caroline actually ever feeling this insecure? I feel like the song became a lot more about Lizzie than her mother. (It's been forever since I watched TVD, if anyone has yet to guess, I prefer watching TO)

28. The doppelganger thing cracked me up.

29. Wait why did the monster attack Josie?! Ohhhh he's forcing Landon to improvise and put Klaus' song at the end. Well, I guess it makes it seem a bit less like Landon's fault. But would Hope know that?

30. It's hilarious how they lowkey make a call back to Nina leaving TVD and them having to put Elena in a sleep spell though.

31. Landon having a hissy fit is funny to me. Aria needs more comedic scenes.

32. Wait, where did Jade come from? Has she been in the school all these weeks?

33. While the scene seems a bit shabby to me, Klaus talking to Hope reminds me of their scene from TO 4X03. I needed more of Summer Fontana and Joseph Morgan together. Also, the donation did get mentioned, YASSSS. Man did some horrific things but he did fund the school so maybe a little less badmouthing in the presence of his daughter now that you know the story, eh, students?

34. The fact that the guidance counselor actually wore a leather jacket and a henley is cracking me up. It's really bizarre.

35. "Terrible painter" XD Klaus would have eaten you for saying that if he were alive.

36. Um, Hope, wouldn't you ask your family if you are doing enough to make your father proud, instead of this random bloke who supposedly met him once?! Maybe call Freya or Rebekah.

37. Why is this monster being nice to Hope? Doesn't it try to break people up or something? You'd think he'd try to piss her off even more and ruin her relationship with Landon.

38. Stefan was trying to be more like Damon by sacrificing himself? Um, what?

39. Well, this musical at least gave Stefan and Caroline a goodbye scene. I wonder how much the twins remember Stefan, must have been a bit emotional for Lizzie to play that. Jenny's singing was gooood, really liked it.

40. JED WAS GONNA KISS LIZZIE AND I WANTED IT TO HAPPEN. But a forehead kiss does work.

41. Hope's playing Elena now? What?

42. Ngl I want Hope and Jed to be friends. She needs more of a connection to her wolf side. Both of her parents wanted her to be surrounded by wolves and she's barely interacting with the wolves in this show, which always makes me sad.

43. So this monster can also do little spells and move physical objects eh? Whatever, this is random.

44. And this monster brings people back together? Why?

45. So when Hope is singing, is she doing it as Elena or Hope? She came on stage as Elena, but I thought the song is about Hope. So WHAT IS IT?

46. Oh Damon's on stage, so Hope is singing as Elena and it's a call back to the graveyard scene from the TVD finale.

47. Danielle sings pretty well. It's good she decided to perform this time.

48. Okay, that lifting up scene was adorable. I feel like Hope and Landon are at their cutest when they're a bit spontaneous. But she's Elena on stage and it lowkey looks like Landon crashed her romantic scene with Damon to kiss her so I'm cackling.

49. How much older is Jade supposed to be than Josie?

50. So is Josie going to leave the school for a while and that's why Ethan will be back in the picture?

51. Jade used to babysit Josie? Okay, it is hella awkward.

52. Josie why, don't do this, yikes. Kissing her once doesn't make it non-creepy.

53. The Sheriff feels kinda shoehorned to me. Also, I don't care for Matt Davis or his character.

54. So Candice did the voiceover for Caroline's letter. That's nice for the show. I still don't understand why the letter showed up in Hope's fireplace though LOL.

55. This episode should have spent more time exploring the aftermath of the loss of Rafael. The abrupt shift from the last episode wasn't nice.

56. Yeah, kids, talk out your problems, thanks.

57. I feel like Klaus is too much of a controversial figure that Hope's conflict about her father's reputation would be resolved in one day. This is feeling undercooked. Speaking of, when is one of Klaus' or Hayley's enemies coming after Hope, because she did inherit all of them. Would make for better storytelling than this monster of the week nonsense. And yeah, still no mention of Hayley, I hate this.

58. The monster's characterization was really odd to me and I am so tired of this format SMH.

59. So they toyed with MG for weeks to get a vampire for the spell? That sounds like too much effort. There are tons of vampires from Klaus and Rebekah's bloodline, they couldn't find another? Also, I wonder who is the wolf that they will use.

Well, I felt like this episode was mostly okay, but not that well-cooked or epic or whatever. What is horrific is that they didn't show Bonnie, though. They could have at least gotten a female black guest character who is one of the witch students or something. This is very offensive.

Also, I don't think it makes sense for the show to do any more musicals in the future. This ain't Riverdale.

#legacies #legacies cw #hope mikaelson #landon kirby #lizzie saltzman #josie saltzman #kaleb #jed #milton greasley #alyssa chang #jade #klaus mikaelson #hayley marshall #elena gilbert #damon salvatore #stefan salvatore #bonnie bennett #caroline forbes #cami o'connell

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inkedmyths · 4 years

Text

Evening Breeze

Here it is!! After so long! More Feral!

This one's pretty soft ngl

---

Night had long since settled. The skies were clear, giving Twilight a perfect view of the stars. It was fascinating, really. He didn’t think he recognized any of the constellations. Was this Hyrule the same one he’d walked across, just countless years in the future? Or was it some sort of parallel plane of existence? He had no idea, and perhaps was putting too much thought into it. Did it really matter, in the end?

Wild had drifted off to sleep moments before. He wasn’t sure exactly how comfortable the boy was in the position he’d fallen asleep in, legs tucked close and body curled at an odd angle, but he wasn’t about to question it as it seemed it worked well enough for the younger Hero. Perhaps, he decided, the less he questioned about Wild, the better.

He couldn't see Feral nearby, and glanced around momentarily. Had he wandered off somewhere? He was still concerned about the outcome of the earlier conversation. A quiet sound met his ears, and he whipped his head towards the source in surprise.

Feral was leaning against a tree nearby. That wasn't necessarily odd, but Twilight was surprised to see he had a ukulele in his hands and was quietly strumming it. With a glance at Wild's sleeping form, he pushed himself to his feet and quietly made his way to where the shadow was sitting.

He paused midstrum, looking up. "What's up?"

"Nothing, really," Twilight said, shrugging. "Came to see what you were doing. Where'd you get the ukulele?"

"I carry it around." That answered exactly nothing, but Twilight decided it wasn't important. Though it did raise the question of if Feral had his own storage. He obviously didn't have his own slate, so…

He shook the thought away. Not important, and he suspected the answer would give him a headache. "Didn't think you were the musical type," he said instead, sitting beside him.

Feral shrugged. "Fair enough, but I'm far more musical than Blondie Bumble-fingers over there," he said, nodding at Wild's sleeping form.

"That so?"

"Oh yeah. He couldn't play three notes in tune if his life depended on it." He strummed a chord. "Not a bad singer, though. It's pretty funny actually. Can sing, can dance, but hand him an ocarina and you're treated to the most offkey playing of a nursery rhyme you've ever heard."

Twilight snorted. "But you can?"

"Sure thing." Feral grinned. "I've used this here instrument to annoy the hell out of many an enemy. The banana fuckers give the best reactions, but it's fun to lead lynels on a wild chase while improvising a song on exactly how ugly they are."

"So it's a tool of chaos?"

"Of course!" Feral paused a moment. "Well, part of the time, anyway. I do actually play. Like, real songs, I mean."

Twilight nodded thoughtfully. They sat in silence for a moment before he spoke again. "So… how'd you pick it up in the first place?"

Another pause. "It's been a while. But… it was the first time we visited Lurelin Village. It's a little place on the coast, a fishing town. Nice place, good people. We go down there when we're in the area, sometimes take a raft out to sea and hang out, look for treasure."

An image flashed to Twilight's mind of another Hero, younger than them, with a freckled face kissed by the island sun, hair swept by the ocean breeze, and sea green eyes. Wind would love Wild when they met, he was sure of it. "Sounds nice."

"It is. So, anyway, one day we were wandering around, doing our normal thing. And we passed by this dude with a group of kids at his feet, and he had a ukulele and was strumming a song and singing with them." Feral strummed the instrument in his lap, replaying the chords in his mind. He was silent again.

"What song?" Twilight asked after a moment.

"Well, I think he played a few. The one I really remember…" He played a few chords, and a familiar tune stood out, and now Twilight was reminded of a different Hero.

"Zelda's Lullaby," he said, reminded of a quiet night where the eldest Hero had taken first watch, playing the tune on his beloved ocarina.

Feral nodded. "You know, I'm not sure why I stopped. It's not like I had any reason to when there were other things to do. I guess I was curious about it, so I stayed and listened for a little while." He fingered the strings, more fidgety than actually playing. "The guy, Cloyne, noticed me, and beckoned me over. Asked me if I knew any songs or knew how to play. I said no, of course. Asked if I wanted to learn how to play something. I said sure. Maybe it's just another quirk of mine or something, but I caught onto the simple chords pretty quickly. It was actually pretty fun, and I liked it, so I stuck around a little while."

It was an odd mental image, Feral among ordinary Hylians, singing and playing a song, but perhaps not an overly outlandish one. If you didn't pick up on his too-bright eyes and cold skin, it was easy to pass the shadow off as one of the Sheikah. Perhaps that's what they did. He'd have to ask about that at some point.

"Of course I left a little later with Link, but before we left the village path, he stopped me and asked about the playing. I shrugged and said it was just kind of something that happened on a whim. Link being the way he is pressed further, asking if I enjoyed it and had fun. I said sure, because it was, and then…" Feral smiled down at the instrument, shaking his head. "That blond idiot ran all the way back to the village to run around and ask anyone if they had an extra he could buy."

Twilight laughed. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, he did, and ran around from building to building until he found someone with one they were willing to sell. Proudly marched back up the path and presented it to me, telling me to learn how to play whatever I wanted. So here I am, playing whatever I feel like."

"That's a little ridiculous, but from what I've seen of Wild, completely believable."

"Yeah," Feral laughed. "He's a dork like that. It wasn't the first or the last time he did something like that, too."

"Some sort of compulsive gift giver?"

"A little, yeah. It's more like he goes out of his way to help people and show them he cares, y'know?"

Twilight hummed, smiling. Yeah, he could easily picture that being a trait of the younger Hero. All of the Heroes had something like that, in a sense. A drive to help others. An inherent kindness. He himself traveled cross-continent to help others.

They said nothing for a while, the only sounds being the faint rustling of leaves and the soft plinks of the strings as Feral brushed his fingers across them. Twilight found himself beginning to grow tired, the day's traveling and the incident with the Lynel catching up with him. He rubbed his face in an attempt to stay present.

"You can sleep, you know." Twilight glanced over as Feral spoke. "It's been a long day. I can keep watch."

"You sure?"

"Of course. Besides, I'll probably do a better job of it than you." The shadow grinned. "Perks of being nonmortal: I don't need to sleep."

That was certainly a perk. "Can't argue with that. Wake me up if there's trouble, though?"

Feral shrugged. "No worries. If anything worth knowing immediately happens, expect a face full of Energizing Elixir."

Twilight made a face. "On second thought, I'll stay awake."

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" Feral snickered.

He frowned. After the frog incident, he wasn't so sure. Though, speaking about nonmortal… "Are you doing alright? After earlier, I mean. I know it was… a lot."

Feral quieted. "Yeah, I'm okay. Like, it doesn't surprise me, I mean. I told you before, I'm well aware I'm the exception to the rule." There was a weight to his words, something being implied there, though Twilight couldn't be sure what. "I guess I'm just… on edge."

"How so?"

The shadow looked him in the eye, growing unusually serious. "Look, I may not know everything about what's happening, but I do know this: other things like me out there? Things that have ill intent? That are completely unchecked, unbound, with no thought to anyone else's well being? That's bad. Really bad."

His throat tightened. "It is."

"I don't like that situation with the Lynel. If what you said is true, and there are more monsters out there that are affected like that, then that puts a lot of people in danger." He glanced towards where Wild lay sleeping. "People here are just beginning to get out and explore, see the world, rest easy. If they get hurt or worse by this…"

"I know. Believe me, I know." Twilight thought of Ordon village, surrounded by forest. Forest that could all too easily hide infected monsters. "That's why we're here. Why we're looking. It's a Hero's job to protect people, and that's what we're going to do."

"Of course. I'll be there too." His signature grin returned to his face. "I want to find out what it's like to punch another shadow in the nose."

Twilight snorted. "Maybe you'll just pass through each other."

"Or maybe his face will explode."

Groaning, he covered his eyes. "That is not a mental image I needed. Now I'm more tired than before."

Laughing, Feral waved him off. "Go to sleep then, Frog Foot. I'll let you know if I punch anything."

Rolling his eyes, Twilight stood up and returned to where he'd set out his stuff for the night. He glanced at Wild, who was still fast asleep, and now in a somehow more uncomfortable looking position. What a pair these two were. He settled down, giving the tree where Feral was sitting one last look before he closed his eyes.

Just in case, though, he slept face down.

#i finally sat down and finished it #here you all go #feral and wild #the chaos verse #feral #wild #twilight #myth writes #fanfic #lu #linkeduniverse #linked universe #loz #tloz #the legend of zelda

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exhaustedfander · 4 years

Note

Can I request a Moceit fic where Janus is trying to impress Patton, it fails each time, but they get together anyway?

Here ya go! This was a fun one to write, I absolutely adore these two! Feedback and reblogs are really appreciated, have a nice day/night!

a03 link

My writing masterpost

word count: 2,196

To Woo Morality [Moceit]

It was stupid, really, to think that winning Patton’s heart would be an easy endeavor. It’s not as though they’ve been on the best of terms for most of their existence, indeed they’d been considered enemies for some time. Just because Janus was now accepted by Patton and he’d received an apology card from Patton for everything that had been between them – it really was a nice card – didn’t mean that they were immediately on the best of terms.

Janus didn’t mean to fall for Patton. Any positive feelings he’d felt for the moral side in the past had quickly been pushed to the back of his mind; Jesus, Janus should’ve known better than to think repression would work. But now that they’ve been spending a lot more time with one another, Janus can no longer ignore the affection that blooms in his chest when he’s in Patton’s presence.

At first, he’d been under the impression that even if they were becoming friends, Patton would want nothing to do with him in a romantic-sense. They’d just be pals, and Janus’s heart would just have to burn a little more with each passing minute together. Except…recently, Janus has noticed a shift between them. It could be in his head, though he highly doubts that, but it seems as though Patton has seemed somewhat more nervous in his presence. It’s little things, hands accidentally making contact earning a blush, lingering hugs that the moral side just seems to melt into, passing glances that clutch at Janus’s heart and a look in Patton’s eyes that he prays is admiration.

For some time, Janus has been telling himself that perusing Patton is a horrifically bad idea. He and the others are by no means on good terms. Logan tolerates him as far as he’s aware, but he has impersonated him a few times now. Things are decidedly very shitty between him and Roman, and conversations between him and Virgil usually end in hissy-fits. Remus has been a friend to Janus for some time now, someone who while strange and quite a bit to deal with also knows him better than most, so having his company is somewhat of a relief. He’d like to tell Remus of his feelings for Patton, but if he knows his friend, and he does, it will only end in an onslaught of teasing and Remus running to Patton blabbering. That just won’t do.

The idea of the others knowing of his feelings for Patton was something that, truthfully, concerned Janus. They're fiercely protective of their fatherly figment; who wouldn’t be? It had held him back, thinking of how they’d react. But it’s those moments of hesitation, lingering hands, lingering eyes that push Janus over the deep end. He’ll seduce Patton or die trying. The only question is how.

Janus’s first attempt is a gift. Nothing fancy, but rather innocuous and simple in case things go belly-up. Unfortunately, they do.

“Aw, Jan, you’re too sweet,” Patton coos, holding up the frog stuffed animal with a gleam in his eyes that Janus foolishly sees as promising. Patton sets the plushie down and wraps him in a tight hug.

“I’m so lucky to have such a good friend!” Yikes. That’s not quite what Janus was hoping for.

“Likewise, I’m pleased to call you my friend as well,” Janus says as he pulls away, far smoother than he assumed the words would come out. “I’m glad you like it.”

And then, Janus is back to scheming. The only problem is, he's never been very good at scheming. Sure, he might seem like the type to pull together an elaborate plot, but most of his best work is done on the fly. But impressing Patton can’t be improvised, he tells himself angrily, passing the length of his bedroom, it has to be perfect. So he thinks. And he plans. And he overthinks.

“A picnic?” Patton asks, excitedly. Janus grins, already proud of this plan.

“Yes, if you’d like to join me,” Janus offers, suave. Yes, this will be fine.

“Well, I’d love to, kiddo,” Patton says energetically, and Janus tries his best not to wince at the “kiddo”, “Only…you’re talking about picnicking in the imagination, right?”

“Yes, of course,” Janus replies.

Roman and Remus’s realm is the perfect place for a romantic picnic. With lush, rolling hills of green and skies as blue and beautiful as baroque paintings, it’s the best place Janus can think to woo the moral side. There are fantastical beasts, most of which harmless, at least on Roman’s side of the imagination (save for the dragon witch, but she hasn’t been seen for some time). They’d be sure to steer clear of Remus’s more unruly section of the realm. But then he catches the look on Patton's face.

“Is there a problem?” Patton huffs, fiddling with the end of his shirt. Goodness, that’s not a good sign.

“Oh, I’m just worried it might upset Roman,” Patton explains, “I know you two still have a lot to work out. And Remus’s side…well, I’m not too sure if I want to encounter anymore of the horrific monsters that live there. Once is enough for me.” Damn it, why did Remus ever have to drag Patton on a quest, and why in the world had Patton agreed?!

“Ah, that’s…understandable.” Janus set the picnic basket down, trying to hide the hurt that was surely showing on his face. For a liar, he sure was getting bad at masking his emotions.

“Oh, Jan, I didn’t mean to make you sad! I’d love to still have the picnic, if you still want to. Just somewhere else, maybe?” Janus does what he can to hide how deflated he feels, nodding and forcing on a smile.

“Sure, Patton. The common room, or one of our rooms, perhaps?” Janus flinches as Patton grips onto his wrist. His grasp isn’t hard or painful, just startling.

“C’mon, let’s go to the common room. Maybe someone else will want to join us too.” Janus couldn’t shake the hurt that sentence provoked if he wanted to. Even so, he picks up the picnic basket again and allows Patton to lead him away.

Later Janus sits at his desk, his head in his hands. Why does it have to be so hard? Why can’t his efforts be enough? He’s seen it, surely, he’s seen a twinkle in Patton’s eyes that has to mean something. Or maybe he’s just been far too optimistic. Perhaps the idea of Patton having any interest in him is absolutely preposterous.

Plans flutter through Janus’s mind, gifts he could give, attention he could provide him, but none of it matters in the end. It’s all sure to fail – god, when did he get so depressing?

Janus sighs looking at the clock: nearly 12 am now. He’s been holing himself up in his room since the picnic. At least Patton seemed to be having fun, and Logan even joined them for a bit. That certainly didn’t thrill Janus, but the smile it brought to Patton was something he couldn’t discredit.

Reasonably, it’s too late for a snack. But he’s also imaginary, and moreover, doesn’t really give a shit.

He doesn’t expect to find Patton in the kitchen and considers turning on his heel before the moral side catches sight of him.

“Oh, hiya, Janus,” he greets, friendly as ever, “What are you doing up so late?” Janus bites back a sigh, walking into the kitchen and eyeing Patton.

“I could ask you the very same question.” Patton giggled sheepishly.

"I suppose you could. I couldn’t manage to fall asleep, and I’ve always heard warm milk might do the trick,” Patton explains, holding up a mug, “But boy, this stuff’s nasty. It’s no cowincidence I’ve never been much of a fan.” Janus chuckles lightly, leaning against the kitchen counter. “So, what about you? What brings you to the kitchen this time of night?” “Same as you, I suppose,” Janus says, hoping Patton won’t challenge his vagueness, “I found difficulty sleeping.” That isn’t entirely untrue. Perhaps it was because he was getting lost in his failed plans, but Janus still hadn’t been able to sleep. It seems that Janus has lost his desire for a snack, as seeing Patton is only upsetting him more. He doesn’t want to be like this, so at the mercy of his emotions, and it’s driving him near-insane.

“I think maybe I’ll try again, though. Goodnight, Patton.” “Wait.” Janus pauses in the doorway, turning back to see Patton worrying his bottom lip.

“Is something the matter?”

“No, no. Nothing like that,” Patton sounds uncharacteristically anxious, something that strikes Janus as odd, “I just wanted to…thank you, I guess.” Janus quirks an eyebrow.

“Thank me?” “For being so sweet lately,” Patton clarifies with a flickering smile, “I mean, you’ve been so nice, getting me things, and having a picnic, and just sitting and talking with me as much as you do. Things were so bad between us for so long, I know I’m a lot of the reason why –.”

“We’ve already had this conversation before, Patton. It’s okay,” Janus interjects.

“I know we have, but it doesn’t make me any less sorry. But I feel really lucky that we get to hang out as much as we do now. It’s really nice, you make excellent company.”

Janus half expects himself to fall into a love declaration right then and there. Patton, always so kind and well-meaning, is thanking him for all the extra work he’s been putting in trying to get Patton to notice him. Evidently, he has noticed him, just maybe not as much as Janus wants. It’s selfish, he realizes, to desire so much, so soon. He needs to stop his futile attempts to win Patton’s heart and simply enjoy what he can get.

“It’s not nearly the same as everything you’ve done for me,” Patton splutters, pulling something out of his pocket and pressing it into Janus’s gloved-hand, “But I made you this.”

Janus looks down at the blue and yellow bracelet, the two colors woven tightly together. Janus half expects to start weeping because, yes, this is a friendship bracelet, but it’s also something that Patton has made for the others, but never him.

“I hope you like it,” Patton says nervously, messing with the sleeves of the cardigan tied over his shoulders. Janus slips the bracelet onto his wrist and, in a very un-Janus-like fashion, engulfs Patton in a tight embrace. Patton lets out a sound of surprise before sinking into the hug, pressing his face into the crook of Janus’s neck.

“I love it,” Janus breaths out, feeling like the luckiest side in the world just to be holding Patton, “Thank you.”

“Of course, I-I’m glad you like it,” Patton manages to sputter out. The hug drags on far too long to be considered platonic. Neither men let go.

“Janus…” Patton trails off, letting go of Janus’s back and instead cupping his face in his hands. Janus could feel the moral side’s hands beginning to tremble. He waits a moment, wondering if Patton has more to say, feeling as though his heart might just beat out of his chest before it's unanimously decided action will speak much louder than words.

The kiss begins feather light, just the slightest brush of the lips before Janus’s fingers dig into Patton’s curls, pulling him as close as possible. There they stand in the low-light of the kitchen, kissing and holding onto one another as if the other might disappear if they let go. Unfortunately, the need for oxygen eventually arises and the two part briefly, smiling wide. Patton ducks his head against Janus’s chest, still holding close to him.

“Wow…” is all that Janus can think to say. Patton giggles.

“Wow is right. I was so worried that you didn’t feel the way I did.” Janus chuckles lightly at that, carding a hand through Patton’s hair.

“That's funny, considering it’s not like I’ve been trying to get your attention for some time.” Patton let out a noise of confusion before catching on.

“Oh, Jan, honey. You could’ve just told me.” Oh, he already likes the sound of Patton calling him “honey.”

“In all fairness, you could’ve told me yourself.” Patton laughs again, pressing his lips to Janus’s again, lighter but much of the heat is still there.

“I guess you’re right. We were being silly, dancing around each other, huh?” Janus hums in response, a content, relaxed sound. “Why don’t you try and get some rest now? You sound tired.”

“Come with me,” Janus requests. It’s suddenly so easy to ask, so easy to show Patton how much he cares for him and desires to be in his company. “You look quite tired yourself.”

“Okay, Jan,” Patton says, releasing him from his grasp before lacing their fingers together. The pair walk hand-in-hand to Janus’s room, both smiling wider than they have in quite some time.

As it turns out, Janus’s plans were not a complete waste of his time. He’s relived there’s no need for anymore scheming, though. He’s got everything he’d ever been searching for.

=+=

#moceit #romantic moceit #patton sanders #Janus Sanders #Janus deceit sanders #deceit sanders #fluff #getting-together #a failed attempt at wooing patton that manages to work out in the end #they're soft and cute #sammy writes #my writing #exhaustedfander #exhaustedfander writes

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spiiderwiick · 4 years

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Compared to the first day, in which they had a clown chomp on their hand, today had gone much smoother. They’d had the idea to set up a little blanket fort for her and later made many home-made circus tent jokes to themself. Patches had taken well to it and mostly remained in there, much like a cat hiding under a bed in a new home.

Wick had learned quickly that Patches had a thing about the idea of magic. She seemed genuinely unsettled by it. They found that odd given how clearly magic she was with her rainbow clown jelly, unnatural healing ability, not to mention the ability to get anywhere she pleased. They’d made a point to let anyone interacting with her know not to bring it up. At all. No magic allowed.

Patches had rediscovered her phone today and Wick had to very quickly come up with a mundane, non-magical reason that it works. They weren’t sure how old she was or what her current worldly perspective was, but they figured carrier pigeons and mailmen were a close enough analogy. She called it a birdbox. They nodded in agreement, it’s a birdbox.

Soon after, someone introduced her to cat videos, which thankfully took up most of the day, except for the parts where she ended up on a rabbit hole that took her to food videos and she started demanding fish and other tasty things. That was fine, they’d been wanting sushi lately anyway.

The day was winding down, the sun was setting and nothing had exploded. Wick wouldn’t ever truly let their guard down, not around Patches, but from the other side of the room, they were confident they could move quickly enough to outrun a baby.

They take a seat across from the blanket fort, leaning their back against the wall, “hey patches? you mind if i ask you a couple questions?”

Patches lifts the blanket curtain blocking the entrance to her lair. She doesn’t look terribly thrilled to be bothered, but since Wick has been feeding her, she’s willing to humor them, “What?”

Ah. They decide they need to tread carefully, “how uh.. how old are you? you seem kinda young to be out on your own.”

The clown narrows her eyes at them, “Dunno.”

Wick isn’t sure if she’s being difficult on purpose or if she genuinely doesn’t know. Even the Patches they knew was always vague with her age. They decide to try a different approach, “do you remember how many winters you’ve seen?”

“Winters..?” Her eyes drop to the floor in thought, “I think... Seven? I don’t like winter. It’s cold and there’s less food.”

Wick nods. Seven was a good ballpark, depending on the sort of critter Patches is, she might not remember her first year or two, most seemed to lose those early on. They’d hazard a guess at her being eight or nine. Still absolutely a baby, even if not a literal toddler, “yeah? yeah.. it’s not so bad here at least. what was.. what is your home like?”

“I don’t have one.” Her frown returns, “I never had one.”

They can feel their heart breaking with every little detail Patches reveals, and have to keep reminding themself about who she is when she grows up. Regardless of how they try to help her now, she’s almost assuredly going to return to her usual awful self later. They already knew the answer to their question, “really? what about family?”

Patches shakes her head, “I came outta an egg but I never saw another monster like me. I am all by myself.”

“then where.. where in the world have you been living?”

She crawls a little further out of her fort to sit on the floor, “Everywhere. I sleep in trees and in alleys and sometimes hide out in people’s houses when it’s too cold or rainy. Sometimes I can even get away with taking their food before they can catch me!”

Wick is only mildly perturbed by her sense of pride at that. They’ve read enough novels about kids on the run, on their own, “you just scavenge for food wherever you can get it, huh?”

“Or I hunt.” Patches lifts her head and those round pupils thin a bit into predatory slits at the thought, “I’m really good at hunting!”

“heh.. i bet you’ve got lots of practice.” Wick does not like the way they’re being watched all of a sudden, “you just hunt whatever you can catch, yeah?”

Patches nods, “I’m really good at catching rabbits and squirrels and birds and people and fish and stuff.”

Wick’s expression falls, “...people?”

“Uh-huh!” Patches doesn’t see anything wrong with this and hops up onto her feet in her excitement, “They try to hurt me sometimes, cause I stole food or something from them! They wanna do bad things but I don’t let ‘em! Sometimes.. They try to catch me cause they think I’m just a weak little kid but I show ‘em! And then I’m not hungry for a lil bit either!!”

Somehow, the news that she’s killing and eating people in self defense doesn’t seem to make Wick any less anxious, “w-well, that’s. not very nice of them at all, is it?” Oh they want to abort this conversation so badly. How can they leave?

“They say they’re good people cause I’m evil.” Patches is staring right at them with those glowing red eyes of hers, “Cause I’m a monster.. But you said I’m not evil.”

Goddamnit they did say that. Or something close enough to it. They choose their next words very, very carefully and slowly, “being evil is.. a choice. it’s something you choose with your actions, not something you inherently are.” They pause, “plenty of people who say they’re good and think they’re the purest person on earth do evil things.” And you Patches, have been choosing to do many evil things, even as a baby, apparently.

The clown seems confused by this, it looks like she’s thinking hard about things. After what feels like an eternity to Wick, she speaks, “You think I’m evil, don’t you?”

Yes, yes they do, but they shake their head in response, “i- don’t think.... i don’t think i know enough about your situation to judge whether or not you're evil.” They are growing increasingly anxious with the way she’s staring at them, “i think.. killing and eating people is wrong.. even if you are doing it in self defense, two wrongs don’t make a right. it’d be better to just.. you know. do something to get ‘em to let you go like bite them really good?”

Patches ears flatten defensively, “I’ve tried that!! They just get madder and try to hurt me worse!!!”

Of course she had, Wick thinks, she’d bit them pretty good when she was feeling threatened. She already had a concept of warning people to leave her alone. That last sentence did remind them of a question they’d wanted to know, and.. Maybe it would be a way to steer the conversation away from eating people, “hurt you? i’d heard a rumor you couldn’t feel pain.. which is kinda silly sounding to say out loud, it can’t be true, right?”

A rumor? Maybe this place wasn’t as far from “home” as she thought, if they knew things about her that she hadn’t told them. That did explain why the man the other night knew her given name, “That’s stupid. You’re stupid. Being hurt hurts. Who told you that?”

That was interesting news. Wick shrugs, thankful for their years of acting training to lean on as they improvise and try not to look too freaked, “some rando from the birdbox. guess they were full of it though. why would someone think you don’t feel pain?”

Patches steps back a bit and her long tail curls close as if she’s worried someone might try to grab it, “Cause... I’m a monster.. And when I get hurt it goes away... But it still hurts until it goes away.”

“you can.. heal yourself? that’s pretty cool.” Hm.. Maybe they should show her a certain movie, one they know she’s referenced in regards to her healing before.

“Cool..? You think that’s cool?” She sounds hopeful, like this is some of the first validation she’s received in her life. For all they know, maybe it actually is.

“yeah? i think all that magic stuff is pretty neat.” Oh. They said the M word. They are full of regret before she can even react.

At first, she doesn’t react, she just freezes up. Patches.exe has encountered a problem, would you like to end the program? When she does speak it’s quiet, barely above a whisper. Wick is afraid to ask for her to speak up because they don’t know if they want to know what she said. They don’t get a choice, “I’m. Not. Magic. I’m a monster. I’m a scary evil monster. I’m not magic.”

“hey- hey it’s- it’s okay. i’m probably wrong. it just- sounds like- something magical. it’s-” They’re at a loss for words. They don’t get it. Why is magic such a bad thing to her? Maybe they should just ask, “is.. why are you- why don’t you like magic?”

“It’s bad.” That’s it. That’s all the reply she gives them. It’s bad. Magic bad.

Somewhere in their terror, something clicks, “and you don’t.. want people to think you’re bad? or.. treat you any worse than they already do?”

The penny drops when Patches nods. She’s a product of her times. Magic is bad and scary and they need to burn the witch. She’s just as scared of the idea of magic as anyone else would have been from her time, and she’s magic herself.

“okay.. patches, i need you to listen to me.. magic- it’s. it’s just like monsters. it’s only bad if someone chooses to use it to do bad things. it’s not some inherently evil thing on its own.” When it doesn’t look like she believes them, they continue, only fumbling a little, “there is nothing evil about healing magic, for example. healing is in the name! it’s good, it’s healthy. it makes people better! i don’t think it’s even possible to do evil with healing magic”

They know it is possible because Patches uses her magic for evil things all the time. Or at least uses the knowledge that she can rely on it as an excuse to take normally life-threatening risks when it comes to ruining other people’s lives. None of that matters in this moment, talking to a kid scared of.. Apparently herself.

Said kid doesn’t look convinced, but Wick is opening new doors as they try to liken it to the monster conversation, “Then why does everyone say it’s bad? Why does it hurt more?”

What?

“hurt.. more?” Another nod from Patches. Wick is not an expert in magic, they didn’t even think magic was real in their world. Assuming Patches is from their world and didn’t hop over here one day on a whim, it would mean magic was real and secret and probably a lot easier to abuse that way.

“that.. sounds like.. someone really wanted to hurt you. maybe that someone was evil, or thought they were doing good by trying to hurt you. people.. don’t always like things they don’t understand. magic ‘n monsters both. it’s easier for them to call those things bad and be afraid of ‘em than to take the time to learn about them.”

While that doesn’t make Patches look any happier, some of the confusion and worry seems to fade, “Why aren’t you afraid?”

Because they’ve lived most of the past year in constant fear of murder clowns and baby murder clowns are a lot less scary, “i think.. if i’d met you a year ago, i’d probably be pretty freaked out, honestly, but i’ve met a lot of nice monsters recently, learned magic was real and not scary. it’s.. actually incredible. some of it really beautiful to watch.”

Wick can tell at a glance how full of doubt she still is, “why don’t you give it a chance? maybe you’ll be surprised.” They glance at their bandaged hand, “i have an idea.. why don’t i let someone use some healing magic on me? to show you that it’s not so scary and can be good.”

Bold of them to allow someone to use magic on them, she thinks, but better them than her. A short nod before she retreats into the safety of her fort. The red slit peeping out from the darkness is the only indication that she’s waiting for them to follow through.

With a small sigh, Wick pulls out their phone. Time to call in a friend.

#drabble #f2f #jpstandsforjustpatches #(( read more'd for length ))

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tvlovesfandom · 4 years

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Mandalorian Season 1 Finale predictions

Or: how all those ‘Filler Episodes’ are foreshadowing the end of Season 1.

(Take 2 because tumblr ate the original)

Contains so many spoilers for The Mandalorian, Episodes 1 thru 7.

Aight, so.

Episode 7 of The Mandalorian walks up to you with a baseball bat and beats you over the head. It opens with Mando receiving a ‘plea for help’ from Greef Karga that raises more red flags than a Soviet Convention. While our protagonist can clearly see every single one of these red flags, the idea of getting the heat off his tail is just too tempting. Who can blame him?

Mando, proving to be Genre savvy, heads out, looking for backup.Of course, it all goes to hell anyway.

In Episode 7, we bring back characters from previous episodes and we also bring back certain aspects of Mando himself.

Hoo boy this is a long one. I’ll give you my best guesses for what goes down in Episode 8.

Episodes 1-3: The main plot line of course.

1-Greef Karga is a man of honor, same as Mando. His personal sense of honor is different than that of a Mandalorian of course, and it’s built around the Bounty hunter’s guild. But the honor is there, and it comes out in Episode 7.

(I find it really funny that Greef hasn’t repaired the hole in his jacket, FYI. Looks like he still has the beskar plates in there too.)

2-Kuiil and IG-11.

3-Episode 3 showed us that Mando can go on a rampage of destruction when he feels the need. It was not a heavily planned out rampage, clearly the plan was made up as he went along, but he is clearly a good improviser.

4-We were introduced to the Mandalorian clan on Navarro, even if it is pretty clearly stated that they’ve moved after Ep 3. Or were planning to before the Imperials rolled in.

5- Mando does have a short temper when he’s been having a rough go for a bit, look at him using his flamethrower to ‘negotiate’ with the Jawas.

6-He hates droids, but he is willing to work with one and can form something of a bond… not enough to let the droid kill a child though.

Episode 4: Hey look! It’s Cara Dune!

1-Episode 4 introduced us to Cara, and the fact that she and Mando can go toe to toe. The brief scene of her and Mando talking after their initial fight tells us a lot about her: She’s a shock trooper for the new republic, she was part of strike forces meant to take down Imperial warlords. She deserted when the republic set her to acting like a riot cop.

We see Cara as a no-nonsense fighter who knows the risks, and attempts to find the best solution. Look at her trying to get the villagers to move away after she learns about the AT-ST. But when spurred, she helps the fight and defend their home. She shows off her mettle, coming up with a plan on the fly and putting herself in danger to lure the AT-ST in.

When she comes back in Episode 7, we see her having fun with combat when it isn’t life or death. We also see that her and Mando can relax around each other and josh, as their arm-wrestling bout shows.

2-Episode 4′s ending was to emphasise to us that Mando can’t just leave the kid behind, that the baby is unsafe unless with a highly trained killer prepared to go to lengths to protect him.

3-In character building moments, we see Mando break his usual stoic nature to actually explain to first Omera, and then Cara, aspects of his culture. He turns out to be reasonably talkative when you’re not a bounty target or someone he distrusts! When Omera asked how long since he’d taken his helmet off in front of others, just the age he was would’ve been enough, but he adds more information about joining the Mandalorian clan unasked. Also, at the beginning of the episode, he makes a point to talk to the baby when it’s clearly demanding attention.

Episode 5: You know, initially I was going to say “uuuuhh… IDK”

1-MANDO CAN’T FIND WORK. He’s cut himself off from the only source of income that he’s familiar with. He has to take what’s offered, even if he knows it’s a bad idea.

2-Mando doesn’t have any way of keeping the baby safe when he’s working other than to lock him on the ship and hope for the best. He got really lucky with Pellli.

3-This episode reinforces again that the baby will be constantly hunted right from the opening scene.

4- We’re not done with Fennec Shand, I suspect. Or the person who found her body. Was it Moff Gideon? Maybe, though why would he have gone to find her himself?

5-This episode shows us what we might’ve forgotten from the opening of Episode 1: That Mando is actually a really competent Bounty Hunter overall. He has lots of tricks up his sleeve. Those flares were a chekov’s gun used within the same episode. Wonder if we’ll see them again.

Episode 6: Which buttons to press to piss off Mando.

1-Mando is really good at keeping his cool around people who are absolute motherfuckers to him.

2-Harass him, insult him, he doesn’t give a damn unless you actually try and start shit. He will end that. Don’t touch his things, don’t touch his kid.

3-Again this episode brings up that Mando is having to do work that he really doesn’t want to because he has few other options.

4-We see just how violent Mando gets on droids when he has the chance, but we also see how coldly calculating he is about them. To rope a droid, take it’s arm and use it to escape a cell like that? Damn impressive.

5-I can’t believe he didn’t kill those three who were on the prison ship with him. They’re out there, still alive. Just waiting to be brought back into the show.

6-We see that Mando knows how to turn the odds to his favor very quickly. We also see that he can go full on horror movie monster when he wants. He’s proving to be one hell of a Determinator.

7-Baby’s learning from the best! The fact that the little goblin can play hide and seek like that could easily come up! Honestly, that kid seems to understand more than you’d think.

SO! This brings us to episode SEVEN: What have we seen within the episode that calls back to the rest of the season? What predictions can we make based off what has happened, and the general style of the show?

Well, A couple very important things we’ve seen, some of which reinforces things brought up in previous episodes:

1-This episode makes it very clear that Mando KNOWS Greef’s offer is a trap, but he also knows that he’s running out of options. All those moments of him and baby being hunted down, all that effort to find work? That’s flashing through his brain as he considers this red-flag laden offer.

2-Baby can float? Wall-climb? He was hanging upside down from the ceiling SOMEHOW. Let’s add this on to his hiding abilities.

3-Baby can force choke a bitch.

4-Baby can heal a fatal injury.

5-Greef Karga, like Mando, cannot bring himself to betray a being that has saved his life. Lovely cinematic parallel there.

5-IG-11 is on Mando’s ship. According the Kuiil, the droid won’t attack people anymore, but it will defend. This droid has all the tools to lay some serious hate if sufficiently motivated though.

6-We see Mando relaxing and playing with Cara during the arm wrestling. He’s playfully competitive with her and joshes with her. Again, a good character moment.

7-Another character moment we see: Mando’s panic when he doesn’t know if the kid and Kuiil are safe. The stoic, self-contained man who doesn’t panic no matter how bad the odds is reduced to screaming into his comm, desperate for answers.

8-Kuiil introduces himself by name, and Mando uses it. It’s a small moment, but I suspect it’s light foreshadowing.

9- it is not for nothing that this episode opens straight up with a flashback to Episode 6. “You were hired to do a job. So do it. Isn’t that your code? Arn’t you a man of honor?”

ALRIGHT SO. SEASON FINALE PREDICTIONS. After I watch the finale I am going to see if any of these were right and I will be delighted if even a single one is accurate.

1-First and foremost, I think we WILL see the plot wrap up. Maybe not entirely, but by the end of Episode 8, we should see Mando and Baby reunited, and have a more-or-less happy ending to season 1. It’s fucking Disney, after all.

2- The fact that it was VERY SPECIFICALLY SHOWN that baby can heal fatal injuries in episode seven? Chekov’s gun, thank you, Kuiil is NOT DEAD. Yes, that scene narratively fits in because it’s what was needed for Greef to join the protagonist’s team, but I will feel cheated if we don’t see baby do more Force healing. If Kuiil is actually dead, someone else will be getting healed.

3-Mando’s helmet and how important it is that it isn’t removed comes up CONSTANTLY in season 1. I rather hope we don’t see it come off in the season finale, it is possible, but I do hope that they wait until at least season 2 before going there. There’s something else I’d like officialy revealed first.

4-And that thing I think should be revealed is Mando’s name. It’s something that he has yet to give out, accepting his culture as a title. Same as how Kuill corrected him in episode 7 when Mando called him Uganaught, it would be wonderful if some friend of our hero called him Mando again, and he simply said to them “I have a name. It is Dyn.”

Not only would that be a moment of reinforcement of how relaxed and friendly he can be around his allies, but I feel like it’s be satisfying from a narrative perspective.

5-In the trailers for the Mandalorian, there are only a few scenes or dialogue now that we have yet to see in the show:

-A-Mando comin out of a door and shooting a stormtrooper with Greef right behind him.

-B- Kuiil patting Mando’s shoulder while they’re in the cockpit of the Razorcrest (MORE PROOF THAT I AM RIGHT THAT HE’LL COME BACK. HELL YEA-Gonna be heartbroken if that was a deleted scene from ep 7) ((EDIT: Nope, that’s a scene from Ep 2. Damnit.))

-C- “Mandalorian… Look outside… they are waiting for you.” Aight so, Werner Herzog’s character seems to be dead… but he might not be! Maybe we’ll get some exposition from a dieing Imperial with nothing left to lose. Of course, it could be from a scene that they had planned out before deciding to kill off his character.

-D- Cara Dune being a badass and shooting with her big gun.- I mean yeah, to be expected.

-E- Mando clinging to a flying TIE fighter with his rappeling line and pulling himself up on to it. We see Moff Gideon look up to see a likely very pissed off Mando on the roof.

-F- Stormtroopers moving in on the Mandalorian Armourer.

(I actually gasped out “OH NO” at seeing this in the trailer. I honestly would’ve thought the Mandalorians would’ve relocated ASAP. ))

-G- This guy:

SO!

6-We’re definitely going to see the Mandalorian enclave again. My thoughts were that it was empty, but still hard to find, and Mando and friends were going to head there to have a few minutes to plan. They still might do that, but it’s not going to be an empty hallway like I would’ve thought.

7-I really hope that that brief cut of Stormtroopers moving in on the Mandalorian Armourer is not indicative of the clan being wiped out. Everyone go in being braced for it. I am going to be optimistic and say that Episode 3′s ending of the clan coming to our Protag’s rescue and being an absolute unstoppable force means that they’re going to help clear out the imperials, though there will be losses. Season 2′s overreaching plot will be helping the Enclave find a new place to settle down.

8-This does hint that Baby will meet the Clan. Will they continue to support Dyn, or will he be blamed from bringing this hellfire down on them?

9-IG-11 is going to come rain down HELL on those who took down Kuiil. He will likely pick up both Kuiil and the communicator and be an important link to Mando and crew remotely. Will he pilot the ship to pick up Mando and gang? Very likely yes.

10-Baby is gonna Force Choke a bitch. Hopefully Moff Gideon. I don’t expect baby’s efforts to be fatal, however.

11-Paz Vizla is going to be back in style. Is it too much to hope that, at some point, likely not Ep 8, him and Cara get into a “whose gun is bigger” match?

12- Baby’s going to be more than his imperial handlers know how to deal with.

That’s it for now. I’m sure at some point I’ll edit or reblog this with “AND ANOTHER THING.”

#mine #the mandalorian spoilers #the mandalorian #I spent TWO DAYS on this post and Tumblr didn't put it in the tag for some reason #TUMBLR PLEASE PUT THIS IN THE MANDALORIAN TAG I BEG YOU

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ohgodwhy151 · 4 years

Text

EreAnnieweek2020

I’m really happy with how this turned out. It’s a series of short snippets that chronicle Annie’s pregnancy and how she and Eren deal with it! Enjoy!

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

Reluctant parents/Expecting parents

Annie pulled her head out of the toilet bowl and groaned loudly. Weakly she reached for her phone and squinted as the light blinded her. “Five. Are you kidding me.” She sighed.

From the bedroom she heard a familiar voice. “You okay in there?” Eren yawned.

“Yeah I’m having a great time throwing up at five in the morning.” She snapped.

“I take it you’re not okay then,” Eren said as he stood in the bathroom doorway. “Any idea what it is?”

Annie rubbed her temples. “I don’t know. It can’t be food poisoning, we ate the same food last night.”

Coming to her side Eren sat beside her and rested a hand on her knee. “What can I do?”

“Kill me.”

Eren scoffed as Annie let her head fall onto his shoulder. “That bad?”

“I feel like I’ve been turned upside down and violently shaken.”

“That bad then,” As he did his best to soothe her Eren kissed her forehead. “It’ll be okay, you’re not going to be sick every morning. Whatever it is, it’ll pass.”

Annie’s eyes shot open. “What did you say?”

“It’ll pass.”

“I’ve been sick in the morning.”

Eren nodded. “Yeah, it’s okay. Just a bit of nausea.”

“Morning sickness.”

With a furrowed brow Eren nodded again. “Yeah, that’s what this is.”

Pinching her nose Annie sighed. “Could I be… you know… pregnant.” Eren froze in place with wide eyes. “Eren. Did you hear me?”

Swallowing the lump in his throat Eren took a deep breath. “Y-yeah. I heard you. Is it possible?”

Annie slowly shrugged. “I mean. Those things are never 100% effective.”

“Things?” Eren echoed.

“Oh come on. I know you get embarrassed.”

As it dawned on him Eren felt his chest tighten. “Those things?” Annie nodded. “I… I guess it’s possible.”

“I mean it’s probably not.” Annie added.

Eren nodded. “Yeah you’re right. But just to be sure you should do a test.”

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

“Eren,” Annie moaned. “Your kid hates me.”

Eren stifled a laugh. “First of all. Our kid, second of all no they don’t.”

Lying down on the sofa Annie watched as Eren sat across from her. “Then why do they keep kicking?”

“They’re probably just excited to see you,” Eren shrugged.

“Easy for you to say,” Annie pouted. “You’re not being woken up all the time as a little monster kicks you from the inside.”

With crossed arms Eren leant back in his seat. “Have you ever considered you’re being kicked because you keep calling them a little monster?”

Annie took a moment to soothe her abdomen. “They know I’m a terrible mother.”

Hiding his excitement Eren said. “You’re not a terrible mother,” He huffed as he came to her side. “You’re just tired and cranky. Look, no one said being pregnant was easy. It’s difficult but you don’t have to face it alone and just think at the end of it we’ll have a kid. An actual kid who loves their parents.”

Taking Eren’s hand in her own Annie did her best to relax but with every kick her patience grew thinner and thinner. “Okay, in that case,” Annie said, taking a deep breath. “Our kid hates me.”

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

It struck her in the middle of the night. While she wouldn’t admit it Annie knew it was her growling stomach that had woken her up. She did her best to ignore it, to push the hunger from her mind but it didn’t work. No matter how many times she rolled over, stretched or soothed her growing bump nothing could distract her from her newest hardship. Eventually she reached over to Eren and reluctantly woke him.

“Ann?” Eren groaned. “What is it?”

“I… I can’t sleep.”

Rolling over, Eren rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Okay. So you’ve woken me up because?”

Annie bit her lip. “I’m hungry.”

“For what?”

“Pie.”

“Pie?” Eren echoed. “Is this an Annie thing or a pregnant thing?”

“Both.” Annie pouted. “Look I’m sorry I woke you up but I really can’t sleep.”

Throwing the covers off of him Eren stretched as he stood. “Okay. Time to be a hero,” He smirked. “What do you need?”

“Apple pie, but we don’t have any and it’s three in the morning.”

Eren double took as he left the bedroom. “Three!?” He gawked. “I’m sure I can figure something out.” Eren sighed.

Annie wasn’t sure exactly how long Eren was gone for but as time passed she felt increasingly guilty about waking him for something like pie. Laying back Annie looked down at her bump and sighed. “You’re lucky you’ve got someone like him for a dad. He’ll look after you better than I ever could,” There was a slight kick in response. “You could make things easier as well. Why pie? Why not something simple like… anything other than pie.” She groaned. Ready to give up, Annie pulled the covers back over herself when a particular smell hit her nose. Taking a deep breath her mouth quickly grew wet as the smell of cooking apples and cinnamon floated up from the kitchen.

Sneaking downstairs Annie did her best to remain silent despite her growling stomach. She followed the smell and peered around the doorway to see Eren standing over the oven tapping his foot impatiently. “Does it have to be caster sugar?” Eren hummed as he looked down at his phone.

“Are you making apple pie at three in the morning?”

Doing his best to hide his surprise and the mess he had made Eren turned around. “Y-yeah. We had most of the ingredients so I thought I could improvise.”

Annie giggled as she looked past him. “And how many ingredients did you get on the floor, wall and ceiling?”

“The recipe said to thoroughly beat the eggs so that’s what I did!”

“Well it smells good so you must be doing something right,” She said planting a light kiss on his cheek. “Plus I think it’s calmed our little monster down as well.”

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

Annie was dreading this day almost as much as her due date. As she opened the door to a sea of beaming faces she thought she was going to throw up. “Y-you’re early.” She stuttered.

Hitch stepped forward and threw her arms around her. “Well some of us, totally not me, were just really excited to see you. Also I think Sasha was going to eat your present if we didn’t get here quick enough.”

Calming the anxiety that pooled in her stomach Annie led Hitch, Sasha, Mikasa, Ymir, Historia and Pieck inside. As she did, Annie sent a text to Eren.

‘How long do I have to keep this up?”

She didn’t have to wait long for a reply.

‘I’ll check up on you and if it gets too much I’ll find a way to get them out.’

With all the strength Annie could muster she made her into the living for her baby shower. When Hitch had found out she was pregnant Annie pleaded with her to reign in some of her more outlandish ideas and after weeks of begging it seemed to have worked. “I didn’t think you’d be the first one to get pregnant.” Ymir hummed as Annie walked in.

“It wasn’t exactly planned. It just happened.”

Ymir snorted. “So I take it you’re having a great time then?”

“Judging by the rings under her eyes I’d say pregnancy is just a little difficult.” Mikasa added.

Historia shook her head. “Don’t be mean. Annie is growing a baby in her. Cut her some slack.”

“Please don’t remind me,” Annie sighed. “I try not to think about it.”

“Why not?” Pieck asked.

“It’s just… weird. Me being a parent. I didn’t think it would happen.”

Pieck laughed. “True I didn’t think it would either but it looks like you won’t be able to ignore it much longer.” She said gesturing to Annie’s swollen abdomen.

A lump formed in Annie’s throat.

“At least you have Eren with you,” Mikasa shrugged. “Knowing him he’ll be doting on you… more than usual.”

Annie smiled. “He’s been amazing. He’s so excited I think he’s sleeping as much as I am. I wouldn’t be able to do this without him.”

As Annie talked with Hitch and the others Mikasa’s eyes darted to the door. Standing up she excused herself before leaving and with crossed arms leant against the doorframe in the corridor. “Eavesdropping now?”

Eren rubbed the back of his head. “I was curious, I’ve never been to a baby shower before.”

“You’re not missing out on much,” She shrugged. “How are you coping?”

“I’m fine.”

Mikasa narrowed her eyes.

“Okay, okay. I’m tired, excited, worried and just really tired.”

From inside they heard Sasha presenting an apple pie Nicolo made.

“I didn’t think Annie would have a baby shower. Too many people.”

Eren laughed. “Yeah but we couldn’t hide it forever.”

“Were you ever going to tell me or did I have to have Hitch tell me?”

Feeling his heart sink Eren sighed. “I’m sorry. We only wanted to tell people when Annie was ready.”

Mikasa offered him a warm smile. “Well if you ever need a babysitter I’ll let in on a secret. Pieck and Ymir are really eager.”

“Ymir!?” Eren echoed.

“Bertholdt and Pieck want to have kids so I’m sure they want some practise but Ymir just really loves babies, but don’t let her know you know or your kid will grow up without a dad.”

Blinking back his confusion Eren nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good, now I gotta get back in there before Hitch starts coming up with names.”

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

“Let’s go over this again,” Eren said as he examined the large duffle bag. “Spare clothes, towels, toothbrush, slippers, pillow… anything else?”

Annie looked at the bag and felt her chest tighten. “I-is this all really needed?”

“The book said to pack a lot of things so that’s what we’re going to do.”

Annie bit her lip. “I’m not ready for this.”

Putting the bag down Eren came to her side. “I know it doesn’t feel like it but I know you are.”

“It just feels really real now.” Annie scoffed.

“And it hasn’t for the past seven months?” Eren laughed as he took her in his arms. “Just think, it won’t be long before we can finally spar again.”

Annie let herself relax in Eren’s embrace. “I’m really looking forward to beating you again.”

“That’s more like it.”

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

Eren winced as Annie gripped his hand with all her strength. “Save some energy for pushing Ann.” He chuckled dryly.

Between her accelerating contractions Annie looked up at Eren from the hospital bed. “You make one more joke and I’ll throw you out the window.”

“I’d believe her if I were you,” The midwife laughed.

Minutes turned into hours as Annie’s cries echoed through the ward but Eren never left her side, never let go of her hand. “When this is all over you’ve got to tell me how you’re so strong?” Eren’s was choked up.

Annie rolled her eyes. “Because for the past nine months you’ve been telling me that I can do this now I’ve started to believe you and in myself.”

With tears welling up in his eyes Eren scoffed. “You’re amazing Ann, you’re doing amazing.”

“Would now be a good time to think of baby names?” Annie asked.

“You want to do that now?” Eren gawked. “I mean you’re doing all the work, maybe you should choose.”

“How about Jean?” Annie laughed.

“So you’re allowed to make jokes?”

Annie screamed with the contractions. “I’m allowed. I’m giving birth. How about Gabi for a girl, Falco for a boy?”

“Yeah,” Eren nodded. “I like those names now hurry so we can meet them.”

It was barely an hour later when Eren finally held his daughter in his arms. He stood speechless looking down at his child with tears now freely streaming down his cheeks. “You did it Ann, you really did it.”

With a heaving chest Annie lay back in the bed. “H-how is she?”

Doing his best to steady his voice Eren cleared his throat. “She’s amazing, and loud,” He scoffed over Gabi’s wailing. “Do you want to hold her?”

“Am I ready?”

Eren nodded. “I think you already know the answer.”

Gingerly Annie reached out as Eren passed the screaming baby to her. Annie could hear her heart pounding in her ears as she wrapped Gabi in her arms. “So you’re the little monster that’s been causing me so much trouble. It’s nice to meet you at last.”

#Ereannieweek2020 #ereaniweek2020 #Eren Jaeger #Annie Leonhardt #EreAnnie

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somefinelipstickonthatpig · 4 years

Photo

rated: t

fandom: Tales of Symphonia

prompt: “Was Too Hard on Them” + Zelos (& the gang)

requested by: @kohakhearts

BACK AT IT AGAIN MAN i have fantastic friends & they all gifted me so many more ToS req’s for the bad things happen bingo after “Apnea” and honestly...i’m so happy man. Returning to ToS is recipe for instant joy

my AMAZING friendo taylo req’d “Was Too Hard on Them” w/ Zelos, if I remember right, the req was for the group being too hard on him. and what a GREAT prompt it was!!

also, how could i not toss my boi Lloyd in here to try and help??

it’s Zelos Angst Hours, babey. hope you enjoy!! feel free to req any of the last remaining bad things happen bingo prompts if you see something you like!

o - o - o

That’s My Emotional Support Acute Stress Response, Sir [Read on AO3]

o - o - o

There’s fight, flight, freeze, and then there’s Zelos, who is pretty sure he has improvised a hidden fourth option of saying fuck it.

He’s not sure if it’s morally right to storm off in a--let’s be honest--deliberate, if petty, effort to guilt everyone else. Hell, Zelos isn’t one to think he typically has the luxury of debating the morality of anything in his cursed life, but being around those losers with all of their starry-eyed hope and determination has made him…think. And he hates that. He’s bad at that. Just like he’s bad at everything else.

So why is he overthinking his own anger again? He’s right to be angry. He knows he is.

Why does he feel pathetic?

“Zelos, wait!”

Zelos shuts his eyes, as close as he will let himself get to a grimace in someone else’s company. He adds a well-plastered smile, which usually does the trick. “Lloyd, I’m fine. I’m just takin’ a walk.”

“Yeah, away from camp.” Lloyd’s careless, heavy footfalls are one of his many signatures that make Zelos think, Y’know if I kept my eyes closed, I think I’d still know who it was walkin’ beside me. The brunet has a wild way of creating so much more clumsy, eccentric noise than he needs to. “What if you run into monsters?”

“Aw, are you worried about me? That’s cute.”

“Zelos…”

Zelos shrugs and lifts his hands. “I think I can take care of myself. Though it’s sweet of you to worry.”

“I’m always worried about you.”

Oh.

A twig snaps under Zelos’ shoe. He pauses, the small sound enough to break his train of thought. Or maybe that was courtesy of the humble honesty in Lloyd’s words; Lloyd who is always so forthright he doesn’t even have it in him to have a dark, knotting mess in his own head like Zelos.

“Colette’s worried too. I think everyone is, really.”

Damn.

Lloyd continues as if he doesn’t see or notice the internal knot winding itself tighter and tighter inside Zelos. Or maybe he does and he’s trying in his own Lloyd-ish-way to make it better. “If we took it too far, you can always tell us. Y’know? It’s not funny if it hurts you.”

Zelos chuckles. It sounds genuine even to his own ears. He fixes his gaze on the dark greenery around them. “What, you think I can’t take a good ribbing now and then?”

“I know that you haven’t looked at me once since I followed you out here.”

Zelos exhales and turns, which admittedly is probably exactly what Lloyd wants. The brunet even proves it by softening, the hard look in his brown eyes melting.

“There,” Zelos says and he throws on his own breathtaking smile for good measure, the one he knows gets a rise out of the girls in Meltokio. “Now I’m looking at you. Does that convince you that I’m fine? Will you leave me alone?”

Lloyd’s eyes openly search his face.

How does he do that? How does he feel comfortable enough to wear his heart on his sleeve where anybody can see it? Where anybody can take it and judge it for its own value?

How is he that brave?

“Do you want to talk about it?”

The idea is so, so ludicrous. Zelos can’t hold back the scoff that bursts up out of him. “Talking about it--”

“--you’re not looking at me again--”

“--talking about it would be suggesting that there is something wrong.” Zelos bites his words off his tongue as he turns back to Lloyd again because the young man is infuriating when he wants his way. “Which, for the record, there isn't. I’m fine. I’m not going to be bothered or put-off by a little thing like a good joke.”

Lloyd’s frown is as much of an answer as anything.

“Don’t believe me? Here, then listen to this,” Zelos adds and points to either side of his cheeks, “listen to the sounds my mouth is making: I’m glad they’re laughing at me. We’ve all been having a time of it lately. Sheena, especially. You know, I think I actually saw her smile just now?”

Lloyd blinks like he hadn’t thought about it.

It sets Zelos off again. “In fact, I think that was the first time I’ve seen her legitimately laugh after what happened with Corrine. And if that’s the case, then so what if a few things might rub me the wrong way? It’s fine. Good, even. It’s not like I’m good for anything else other than a big joke, am I right--”

“--what did you say?”

There it is again.

Somewhere out there, somehow, a roulette wheel is spinning with a grand marquis sign high above it, labeled: “What Will Zelos Do Now?” There are only three spots on this multi-colored spinning disk, each of them more exciting than the last: Flight. Fight. Freeze.

Freeze. Flight. Fight.

Fight. Freeze. Flight.

Freeze.

“Fuck,” Zelos breathes and Lloyd grabs at Zelos’ shoulders like he’s just said he’s going to jump off a cliff or something. Zelos would be lying if he tried to say he hadn’t thought about it before.

“What are you talking about, Zelos? You’re good for a lot! You’re not just a punchline!”

Lloyd shouts and hot and cold and iron and sand are a strange mixture to throw into the interior of his ribcage but it’s there, all clanking around and spinning like someone set a mixer to the highest speed and forgot the damn thing was plugged in. Zelos squeezes his face shut. “Aw, shit. Okay. Fuck. I know I started it, but can we not have this conversation?”

“But--”

“Listen.” Zelos’ chest is tight, tight, tight, and he doesn’t know how to loosen it. “I know you’re great and you mean every word you say--” --because if there’s one thing vastly different between Lloyd and him it’s that Lloyd couldn’t tell a lie to save his life-- “--but it’s just not gonna work right now, okay? Believe me.”

Lloyd’s hands on his shoulders tighten for one awful stretch of a minute.

Slowly, they pull away.

Zelos rubs a hand over his face and doesn’t want to think about what look Lloyd’s probably got on his face now. “Don’t…take this the wrong way. I appreciate what you’re trying to say. But right now? I think it’s best if I am just our local ‘punchline’ guy if that’s what you wanna call it.”

“But it hurts you.”

And Lloyd says it like it’s the only thing that matters.

Is it?

“Today, maybe.” And that honesty is harder than Lloyd knows for him to admit. When he meets Lloyd’s open-field brown with his guarded-shield blue, a small smile unwittingly stretches across his face. “But not tomorrow. Or the day after. And listen, I know I goof a lot, but I mean it when I say that it usually…doesn’t hurt. Not like this. Today was just…”

Thinking back on it, Zelos isn’t even sure he can remember just what it was that set him off into fuck it mode. Maybe it wasn’t important in the end.

“You really do mean that?”

“I told you I did, didn’t I?”

“I just…” Lloyd’s face twists and okay, Zelos kind of hates that. He hates that he’s the cause of it more. “Can’t always tell, I guess. I hate sacrifices and this whole thing kind of feels so close to being another one, y’know?”

Is a mask a sacrifice?

“But I’ll trust you,” Lloyd slowly says. “So that means you’ve gotta tell us: if someone says something that goes too far or we’re being too hard on you, speak up. You don’t have to sit through it because you think what we need to feel better is something that’s at the expense of you.”

I’ll trust you.

Oh, if Lloyd only knew those are the last three words he should ever be saying to him.

“No one is going to resent you because you were being honest with us when something actually hurt you.”

Ah.

When Zelos looks away this time, Lloyd doesn’t challenge him or call his attention back. Instead, he waits. And he waits. He waits as long as Zelos needs until finally, he thinks his throat has stopped being too tight to allow his stupid vocal cords to function.

“We should return to camp,” Zelos rasps.

“Yeah. If that’s what you want.”

And Lloyd--stupid, silly, open, brave Lloyd--stubbornly doesn’t leave his side the entire walk back.

There’s flight, freeze, or fight. And then there’s Lloyd, who Zelos is pretty sure has improvised a hidden fourth option to just face it.

#bad things happen bingo #symphonia #tales of symphonia #zelloyd #lloyd irving #zelos wilder #fanfic: lloyd #fanfic: zelos #fanfic: zelloyd #bth bingo #was too hard on them #angst and hurt/comfort #the usual uh #let's talk it out kind of fic #mod krissey writes a thing #mod krissey

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yetanotherbuffyblog · 4 years

Text

CASTER FIGHT! CASTER FIGHT!

And I finished Season Six! WHOOOO!

Giles fights Willow, and actually manages to contain her despite both acknowledging that he’s nowhere near as powerful as her. This doesn’t last too long though; Anya breaks her out when Willow mind controls her to do it, and in her rematch with Giles she kicks him six ways to Sunday. Buffy escapes to go save the remains of the Trio when Willow sends a giant flaming ball to go kill them; and she does, after which Jonathan and Andrew completely disappear from the Plot.

And then Buffy and Dawn fall into a hole where they talk and then fight monsters for the rest of the episode.

But Willow absorbs the magic from Giles, and somehow this absorbs… pain from the world, or something? And then Willow decides there’s too much pain in the world, so she’s going to destroy it. So she pulls up a Satanic temple (what???) from the ground and starts shooting magic laser at it. Then Xander arrives, because he ran here when he realized that Willow wanted to destroy the world, and despite Willow being all omnicidal, he talks her down without fighting by reminding her that even though Tara died, there are people who love her and care about her no matter what.

The episode closes out with someone singing the prayer of St. Francis?

Oh and after completing all these trials, Spike gets his soul back! What!

Notes!

-I said last time that I didn’t think that Giles was really that powerful, from what we’ve seen? That’s confirmed here, where he mentions that he’s been in contact with a coven in England, and they were the ones who gave him some magic to use, and it’s implied they teleported him over when he heard what was going on. The witches apparently sensed Willow going axe crazy?

-Why… why is there a Satanic temple that’s just… there, and why is that the thing that Willow uses to almost destroy the world? Can she do that? Does she really have the juice to destroy the world? Would no one else stop her? One would think that all the demons that love causing havoc in the world, they’d take issue with it.

-According to TV Tropes, the original plan was for Buffy and Dawn to fight a DRAGON, but they had to cut that for budget issues. How the fudge a dragon would appear I have no idea.

-I feel as if every time guns come up, there’s this tendency to be like, “Nah, man, those aren’t cool/are useless!” But really? Would a headshot from a sniper have killed Willow? I feel like if things get desperate, that’s a thing they could have tried. Goes against the theme of the episode/arc, but just sayin.’

-I was very weirded out by the use of the prayer of St. Francis at the end. Like, I get that compassion is a part of the story and all, but that specific prayer has a specific Christian context and using it as a feel-good way to end the episode feels a bit like cheapening it. Maybe I’m just very emotionally attached to it, because I have a little plaque with the prayer that used to sit on my bedside.

-When Buffy tells Giles about everything going wrong, he bursts out laughing. I thought it was meant to mean that he didn’t believe her, especially about sleeping with Spike, but she joins him, and it goes on for a while. Apparently that was something Anthony Head improvised that they kept in.

-Spike… has a soul. That’ll be an interesting development.

-Willow, at the very least, should have a very complex character arc in the next season. If not, then I will be severely disappointed.

-Is Giles going to stay? [shrugs] I dunno.

-I don’t have an issue with Willow turning evil, or even being the Big Bad, I guess, but I do feel like, in a way, it didn’t feel earned? At least, how it was done. Because going from trying to get revenge to trying to destroy the world is a HUGE leap, and she’s evil for three episodes. I would have liked Evil!Willow to have gone on longer.

-I did like how Xander talked her down. That was a good scene. Good stuff.

-TV Tropes insists that Xander saving the world is symbolic because he’s a carpenter, and the world is saved by a carpenter, so… Jesus? And look, MAYBE that was intentional, but I’m going to ignore that possibility because I hate the idea of someone saying Xander = Jesus.

-Dawn finds out that Spike tried to rape Buffy and is… not thrilled that she wasn’t told. Which I get, but at the same time, look, things were happening very quickly and they didn’t exactly have time to sit down and have this conversation.

-And Buffy feels good about the world again! That’s great. I suppose the threat of it being destroyed will do that to you.

-I will probably take a while to get to the next season. I am almost finished with season two of The Expanse and the first season of Locke & Key, and now that Samurai Jack is streaming for free I’ve been catching up on that as fast as I can (about two episodes a day; I just finished the first season). So it might be a while after Lent that I make updates on Season Seven!

#BtVS #6x22 #Buffy Summers #Willow Rosenberg #Tara Maclay #Xander Harris #Spike #Rupert Giles #Anya #Dawn Summers

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sporesgalaxy · 4 years

Note

Oh god Sylvie's story is so wild. I need to know how that battle ends! Is he ok afterwards? Does he die?! GAAH! THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME!

He’s ok!!

FUCK IT, full play-by-play!!!!!!!! Direct quotes!!!!!!! Deal with my weak improvised connectors!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAA

The party defeats his monster form but it’s just Dream Big beefed up by shadow realm magic and unchecked rage, so Sylvie is fine. He’s launched out of the room they’re in by the final blow, though, and the party But Especially Rick goes running after him.

He’s lying on the ground, beaten up but alive. He laughs harshly. “I lost again. Of course! I don’t know why I expected anything else.” He sighs. “Finish me off.”

Rick steps forward first, and says very earnestly “Sylvie…it…it must have been…SO hard for you. I’m really sorry.”

Mera sort of steps forward, looks over at Rick, and awkwardly asks, “Should I– should I, like, do a thing?” Rick nods enthusiastically. Mera kneels down next to Sylvie.

“I. I’m. Not going to kill you,” She says, as reassuringly as possible.

Rick does the universal mime for “GO ON,” so Mera tries very hard to continue smoothly, “Um…………Hey.”

Sylvie stares at her from the ground.

“Sorry,” Mera continues, “I’m…bad at this. Look–” She takes a deep breath, “–you were right. You were right about…a out all that stuff I did. Those are indeed. Things I did. I’m–” she suddenly takes on a truly earnest tone. She’s really trying. “I’m genuinely sorry. About the tournament [the event she and Sylvie met at in AC]…and the scar. Especially the scar. I still don’t remember you from the tournament, to be totally honest, but it seems like what I did…REALLY affected you. So. I’m sorry.”

She looks back at the party, wondering if she just did that right. Rick is nodding again!

She turns back to Sylvie, and leans a little closer to him, lowering her voice. “Look, Sylvie–” she winces, not 100% sure that was actually his name, but when he doesn’t react negatively, she keeps going, “They told me you used to study Epithets. That you wanted to know all about them, and you thought I’d be a good mentor for that. Well, um, sorry, but…I kind of suck. At that. The mentoring…and the epithets.” [She then explains how her epithet affects her, which you’ll be familiar with if you watched the cartoon.] “…and I thought, maybe if I put on airs like I was this big, tough, smart, scary lady, maybe it would actually happen.”

[MINOR MERA CHARACTER ARC SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT. No specifics as to WHY she’s Character Developing, but still, just in case!]

“And, it did! Finally, today, but now I don’t have Indus, and….I don’t have anything. So, none of it was even really worth it. So, i guess I kinda get what you’re feeling right now?” She chuckles nervously, “We’re both at the bottom!”

AWKWARD BEAT.

“Y-Y'know, Indus used to tell me that honorable warriors share their Epithets when they fight, and I always thought he was an idiot for that, but I feel like it’ll help? So, uh–”

She glances at the party, who are all very much in earshot, and decides to lean down and whisper her epithet into Sylvie’s ear.

EDIT: Oh Sylvie apologizes back too Im just very tired. It’s sweet he admits he’s been way too intense. About the whole murder thing.

THIS gives Sylvie the 60TH PROFICIENCY POINT HE NEEDS TO BECOME CLASS 2: DREAMWEAVER!!! His wounds magically heal and he gets a cool outfit upgrade a special final move called an Outclass! He uses it to help the party so they can get to the FINAL final boss of this episode!!! yay!!!!!!

#anime campaign spoilers /

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digimonadventuretimelines · 4 years

Text

[14 - It’s Not Like it Seems to Be]

“Daichi left” Kiyoko told her mother, “and mom Eiji called me to say he also got a digimon.”

“Wait what!?” Miyako stopped preparing their lunch to look at her daughter “Eiji too? How about his sister?”

“Uh… He said she got a digimon as well.”

“Why are our children getting digimon all from a sudden?”

“Doesn’t exist like, Chosen Children around the world?”

“They do, but… My generation, and Taichi’s decided to hide our identities from the world. Because of you and the other kids of the group. We built families, and then were facing the same problem our parents and relatives were struggling during our Chosen Children days.”

“I don’t understand…” Captain frowned “The number of Chosen Children keep increasing, right? So, at this point… Isn’t useless to hide their identities?”

“You got a point. We were young adults when we did it, and didn’t know one day our kids would get digimon partners.”

“And other issues happened that time” Hawkmon added “We had to, at least our identities.”

“Where’s that boy?” Miyako sighed “Daichi is acting strangely lately, going out almost everyday and skipping meals. Are you sure he’s not a Chosen Child too?”

“Nah, he’s not into battling or saving the world. I guess he’s at a bookstore or at the library.”

The bird-like digimons looked at each other.

[ ???, Summer of 1999 ]

“W-what do you mean with that you found the 8th child Taichi!?” “It’s a long story. Can’t talk now, just gather the group-- H-huh!?”

In a rush, an eleven year old Taichi crosses his path with… three strange people falling from the sky.

“I hate those landings” Ulforce growled.

“Who are you-- Wait, Daisuke?”

“U-uh, I’m not Daisuke-- Mr. Yagami?” Daichi blinked “You’re m-mistaking me with him.”

“Wait, do we know each other? And Mr. sounds like that I’m an old man… Please call me by Taichi.”

“O-okay… I’m Daichi and I uh… came from another world looking for… A person, but I think that’s might not be the right place.”

Taichi and Agumon looked at each other and then to the strange trio. Taichi shrugged, as if he were saying it can’t be helped. He then helped Daichi to get up, while the other two got up by themselves.

“Who’s that person anyway?” Taichi asked “I’m… Not available to give you a hand, because there’s a digimon invasion right now. And… I guess you know what digimon meant.”

“Yes, he does” Natsu nodded “But um… Isn’t you with your sister?”

“Sister?” he blinked, “I have no sister.”

“Wait what!?” the three exclaimed.

“I have a little brother and he’s quite of a problem sometimes...”

“Wait, a brother??” Natsu was lost “Is Hikari a boy here??”

“Who’s Hikari? My brother’s name is Daisuke.”

Shock. Natsu wouldn’t expect that kind of world. Oh no, it’s just another alternate timeline where things are pretty wild.

“I have no time to introduce him” Taichi said “I have to protect him, he’s the 8th child and his partner and Wizardmon had been captured” then he and Agumon left “See ya, good lucky on finding whoever they are!!”

“... My dad is a Yagami in this world!?” Daichi was petrified “Can we go back, Natsu?”

“I’m afraid we cannot” she showed him her pendant “We will have to stay out of the action, or do you want to erase this world by accident?”

“I’m not a Destroyer of Worlds, I’m just passing by… Accidentally passing by.”

[Daichi’s world, 2027]

Ken was about to leave when he received a phone call from Hikari. She seemed nervous, but then relieved. Hard to describe her emotions, she decided to be straight and tell Ken what she had just witnessed.

“W-wait, WHAT!?” He was shook “Hoshi and Eiji… They were in a battle? And they got digivices and partners? Like Kiyoko?”

Wormmon took a snack from Ken’s backpack, started to unwrap the candy and eat it. Hikari on the phone kept explaining and reporting the current events.

“... I understand. I will try to bring Daisuke back as soon as possible. In the meanwhile I leave this in your and Miyako’s hands.”

“Kenchan.”

“Don’t worry I will be fine. See you soon,” he ended the call.

“Let’s go, Wormmon” He said with a determined glare.

Kiyoko and Captain just learned from Eiji and Hoshi about the battle, the witnesses of them seeing Hikari having a digimon partner and being one of the legendary Twelve… It was a shock. But what even made her much more petrified was…

“... So this kid named ‘Brave Tamer’ was there fighting the white-furred WereGarurumon.”

“WereGururumon” The Wormmon and the BlackTailmon corrected Hoshi.

“Whatever…! He seemed… Younger than me.”

“Huh, a kid. Younger than you?” Kiyoko raised an eyebrow “Another child with a partner and a digivice…”

“Yes,” Eiji nodded, “I’m concerned about it. Remember of what Taisuke said?”

“What did the pipsqueak do now!?” Hoshi asked, somehow she was very annoyed by being the only one to NOT know there.

“Nothing else… He said he got a digimon” Kiyoko explained “But he didn’t show us, and we don’t know if he has a digivice.”

“To be partnered, you need a digivice” Eiji mused “If our mom and Mrs. Motomiya are Chosen Children… Does it mean…”

“According to our nanny Natsu, yes our dads and your uncle are part of the Twelve.”

“What? That’s weird...” Hoshi’s surprise was predictable, but she also was upset, “Why didn’t they tell us that before!?”

“... To protect us, by what Natsu told me.”

“Speaking of Natsu… Where is she? And where is Daichi?” Eiji asked, “Usually they’re around…”

“Oh they will come back soon, don’t worry!!”

[ Another world, Summer of 1999 ]

“Let’s review those facts,” Daichi begun musing “One, we’re in an alternate future events from Summer 1999, technically August 3rd. Two, mr. Yagami and my dad are siblings instead of mrs. Hikari being mr. Yagami’s sister.”

“That’s right” Ulforce nodded.

“Does it mean… mrs. Hikari is my aunt Jun’s sibling? Or does not exist in this world?”

“I can’t tell…” Natsu answered, “We’re in the middle of those events. The events that made Daisuke be selected as Chosen Child three years later.”

“Right… Does it mean… Another person will be chosen three years ahead instead” Ulforce added “And might not be Daisuke if he’s the Chosen of Light.”

“... We need to help mr. Yagami” Daichi clenched his fist, “Not changing everything else, but protecting the innocents from Vamdemon’s troops.”

“That’s a reasonable idea” she smiled.

“Let’s go then!” Ulforce punched the palm of his hand, with a determined glare in his face.

… The whole artificial island had been taken by the digimon, and a huge mist barrier kept everything inside it. Just as what happened in the other world, the seven Chosen Children planned to counterattack, and began gathering to fight the invasors. Daichi, Ulforce and Natsu felt it wouldn’t be a good idea be found by the other six or even by Daisuke from that world, so they took extra caution when fighting the evil digimon taking innocents as hostage.

While Daichi wanted so much to know about the rest of the legendary Twelve -- since he had met six of them already thanks to another alternative line -- he didn’t desire to mess with that world’s story.

“This way, please!”

Ulforce, as XV-mon, assaulted a bakemon squad taking a group of people to somewhere. But he felt like doing a bad thing. What if one of those would’ve been… the future Chosen Child from year of 2002?

“Mister dragon, there’s some other monsters in that direction” said a little girl.

“It’s okay, We will go to that area.”

“Huh?” Daichi looked at the direction the kid pointed out and saw some troops there, but one of those captives were super duper familiar to him. Big and messy haircut, in her teen years… “Aunt Jun” he whispered.

“BACK OFF!!”

Jun was fighting with a baseball bat, trying to beat those Bakemons.

“... Jun it’s useless” the little girl with Jun was indeed Hikari, she looked like the same except her hair was a bit red rose-ish, “We need to find a way to escape!”

“Hikari, calm down I will protect you even if it costs my life!”

“NO! Don’t say that!”

Natsu stood by Daichi’s side and took a look at whatever was he watching in the horizon. She gasped then grabbed both him and Ulforce out of the sight, her senses telling that they shouldn’t help those two, or the others in that scene.

“Why not!?” Daichi growled, protesting at Natsu’s action “Aunt Jun isn’t a Chosen Child, it makes no sense!”

“But Hikari is, this world… It seems to have switched Daisuke and Hikari’s roles but not personalities.”

“I think that’s clear, digi-girl. Remember what Taichi said? His lil bro is a troublemaker.”

“Ulforce, Natsu… I don’t think we should--”

“AAAAAAAAAH!!” “HIKARIII!!!”

“... Nevermind, we will follow them and help there!”

[Daichi’s world, 2027]

Ken and Wormmon -- now as Stingmon -- ventured into the Digital World’s deep forest, following the coordinates given by the Special Digimon Cases Unit. They hadn’t found anything suspicious till now, which it was odd considering the reports.

They heard something coming in their direction, a shadow of the size of a Tyrannomon. The duo dodged the frontal attack, and Ken took one of those vines growing near him to use as whip. He grabbed the shadow by its paw.

“Hold on big guy, I’m not your enemy since a long time ago!”

“Kenchan,” Stingmon tried to pull the Tyrannomon away from Ken, “Be careful.”

“I am, don’t worry” he nodded, but seconds later Stingmon had to block an attack of another Tyrannomon “Wha--”

A squad of Tyrannomon surrounded them. It brought Ken awful memories of the time he had done the same with Daisuke, Miyako, Iori, Takeru and Hikari. He could feel the universe’s irony right now so he chuckled nervously.

“What should we do?” he talked with himself and Stingmon, “Think, Ken…!”

“How about you give up on fighting and surrender, DigiChosen?”

That voice…

“Whoever is here, better you show yourself!” Ken hated to be channeling into his best friend in a time like that, but sometimes he can’t simply be the cool headed guy when under pressure. He prepared his improvised whip to face the mysterious voice.

Stingmon also got ready for another enemy joining the fight.

“Seriously? You can’t win, human. Give up, I can let you go home if you cooperate.”

“You wouldn’t. And I know you guys are with someone important to me.”

“Oh? Well then… Let’s play a game. If you catch me, I will let you know where this ‘someone important’ is but if you don’t... ”

“I see,” Ken smirked “I have plenty of time to play games.”

“Kenchan--”

“Miyako and the others are going to handle the rest, I don’t care. I will bring him back home this time, no matter what happens.”

Stingmon nodded. Then, they saw a shadow jumping at high speed to the ground, running past the Tyrannomon blockade. Stingmon grabbed Ken with his hands and flew after the silhouette.

White noise.

“Hey there everyone, MoonAngel speaking! I know there’s a big crisis happening right now, with all those attacks and lies being spread around the globe. But fear not! Everything will be okay! Stay positive, but don’t let your guard down!”

Explosions are heard in the background.

“Well, there’s a digimon battle happening right now and… Wait, what’s this? Seems like a phone?”

A police officer appeared, “Get outta here, boy!”

“Fine fine. Well, as you can see -- or hear -- there had been another attack in this area, next to a gate to the Digital World. Old stories of a long long time ago said that once the worlds are in danger, the legendary Chosen Children will appear to save both humanity and digimonity.”

“Hey you!” The voice of the same officer is in the background, talking with the mysterious Brave Tamer “What are you doing here!? It’s dangerous!! Wait where did you get that digimon!?”

“Get outta here you!” Brave Tamer’s voice is heard, Takaishi Mitsuki zooms in on the kid, “I won’t let them close the gate…!”

“Mitsuki!!” Kiyoko’s voice is heard, the camera zooms out and shows her behind him, with Hoshi and Eiji next to them, “What are you doing!?”

“Ah… I was recording a video. Smile, you’re online! Actually, it’s just for Mirai’s gang not anyone else…”

“Mirai sent you here!?”

“I volunteered.”

“Anyway go back,” Hoshi said and approached from Mitsuki “It’s dangerous. You need to evacuate everyone, hurry!!”

“Seriously?” Mitsuki frowned, he took the phone down and returned to the chat mode of the chatroom, “Mirai is asking why I stopped the transmission. Wait, are those digimon with you?”

“We will talk about it later,” Hoshi gently shove him aside “Eiji, let’s go.”

“Hey, don’t forget I’m here too, ugh!” Kiyoko followed the Ichijouji siblings.

“Could it mean they’re the legendary Chosen Children?” Mitsuki mused.

He left the scene, heading back to Mirai’s house.

#datl text chapter #daichi arc phase 1

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writingpaperghost · 4 years

Text

I Would Offer It Happy With a Smile On My Face (Chapter 7)

Chapter 7: You Don’t Need a Shooting Star, the Magic’s Right There in Your Heart

Asahi meets an old friend of Tomomi and the three of them talk about a lot of things.

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24860734/chapters/60990913

Tomomi ended up working sort of odd hours, so he and Asahi mostly saw each other in the mornings and the evenings. Asahi spent a lot of time during the day running around the city. She wasn’t really the type to stay inside all day, but that had really increased the longer she was in Kurokita. Sometimes, she tagged along with Tomomi, but that was only every once in a while. Still, today, Tomomi had a bit of time today, during lunch, so he ended up dragging her to a cafe.

Asahi had been to this cafe before, it was the one by KPaRS base. It was... well a bit of an odd choice. It was a bit out of the way, Asahi had only stopped there before because she’d been walking in the area. Regardless, Tomomi was the only person she actually talked to regularly, she was a bit... wary about people around the city, so she was fine with spending some more time with him. Honestly, he was kinda like a cool uncle or something. At the very least, he didn’t constantly worry about her whenever she fought a Kaiju, which was kinda nice. Her family worried a bit too much.

They were sitting at a table, a bit before the lunch rush. Tomomi had a cup of what coffee, though Asahi was pretty sure it barely qualified as such, given about half of the coffee was actually just creamer. Alongside that was a salad, which he would passively (aggressively) stab with his fork. Asahi had her, according to Tomomi, “ridiculous sugary abomination” that she’d had before. In front of her was a bowl of soup and a cookie. Despite what Tomomi said, Asahi thought this counted as a perfectly good lunch.

They talked about this and that for a bit, in between bites of food and such. Then, Tomomi, who was facing towards the the main part of the cafe, smiles and waves at someone. Asahi turns her head to see who he was waving at. She watches as a man, the one who Tomomi had waved at, walked over.

“Tomomi,” The man greeted with a smile, a pastry in one hand, what appeared to be a smoothie in the other. He had a KPaRS jacket on, though Asahi noted it was different than the other ones she’d seen. “I’m surprised to see you here,”

Tomomi gave him a smile in response, “Yeah, but I had some time and thought I’d drag Asahi out here.”

The man looks over at Asahi, then looks back to Tomomi, “Hm... Is she you’re younger cousin? I believe you mentioned one of uncles had a daughter about her age.”

Asahi wasn’t sure how to feel about that comment. Tomomi, on the other hand, judging by his face at least, was surprised at the comment. Either he was surprised that the man remember him having a younger cousin, or surprised that she got mistaken for said younger cousin. Asahi wasn’t exactly sure.

“Uh, Kaoru,” Tomomi said, “She’s not related to me. She’s just, uh, staying with me since, she’s a, a family friend.” It would be hard to say that his statement was at all believable. With all the “uh”s and such, Asahi would be surprised if the man believed it.

“Hm... I see, sorry about that.”

Tomomi quickly gestures to one of the extra chairs at the table, “You should sit with us, we haven’t talked much in a while.”

“I can’t intrude on the two of you,” He seemed hesitant, but Tomomi kept insisting, so soon he was sitting with them, placing his smoothie down.

“Oh!” She hasn’t introduced herself yet, “I’m Asahi Minato by the way!”

“Kaoru Matsuoka,” The response is returned with a smile.

There’s a lull in conversation for a moment before Tomomi takes a drink of coffee, prompting Matsuoka to make a comment. “You still drink that with half creamer?”

Tomomi looked at him with mock offense, “I’ll have you know,” he said, “That it is otherwise too bitter. Besides, why are you giving me flack, look at Asahi’s drink. It’s nearly entirely sugar!”

While Matsuoka looks at her drink, Asahi gives Tomomi a look, “What are you talking about?” She asked, “This is perfectly fine. Besides, it’s got fruits, so it’s healthiness balances out.”

“I... don’t think that’s how that works,” Matsuoka commented, “Though I am curious as to how you manage to drink such a thing.”

“Honestly,” Tomomi adds, “I think, what with all the sugar she consumes on a daily basis, she just uses all the sugar to keep herself cheerful.”

“What? That’s not-” Despite her best efforts, Tomomi was giving her an amused smile and Matsuoka did the same, though a bit less noticeably. “Geez, you’re as bad as my brothers!”

“Do you brothers tease you about the amount of sugar you eat too?” Tomomi asked, somewhat teasing though still genuinely curious.

Asahi huffs, “Katsunii always says how I shouldn’t eat so much sugar and Isanii just keeps teasing me about it.” As if to spite her brothers, even from another universe, she takes a long and slow drink. Matsuoka let’s out a mostly hidden chuckle while Tomomi doesn’t even bother trying to hide his amusement.

“Well,” Matsuoka began, “It sound like they care about you.”

Asahi’s annoyance ends at that point, replaced with something else. She gives a small smile, “Yeah, they do.” Her smiles grows when she thinks about not just her brothers but her parents too, “They’re great. Even if they might worry a bit too much for my taste. I always know they care.”

“Having family who cares about you is good,” Tomomi states, “You... You miss them, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” She laughs, “I guess I’m not used to being this far from them and not texting them like twenty times a day.”

Matsuoka hums, taking a drink of his smoothie, “I have to ask you, Tomomi, what sparked that article you wrote? About Ultrawoman Grigio.”

Tomomi quickly and gently (violently) stabbed a piece of lettuce and shoved it in his mouth, if only to buy himself more time before he had to respond. Asahi knew the answer to the question, but it was a bit trickier to answer without outing Asahi as Grigio. As it turned out, most of the people that Tomomi worked with were used to all his slightly unusual Kaiju articles and apparently hadn’t given the one on Grigio too much more than a second glance.

“Well,” Tomomi began, slow enough that he could still think, but not so slow it was noticeable. The wonderful thing about the human brain, is that it was pretty good at improvising on the spot. The downside, was that it usually needed a bit of a preexisting plan. Something that Asahi was pretty sure Tomomi didn’t have. She just hoped he was good at improvising. “She managed to stop that Kaiju and she showed up twice, so I didn’t think it was a one off thing... I figured it would be best to spread awareness, get the word out.”

“Why give her a name? And why Ultrawoman Grigio?”

“Well, we couldn’t keep calling her the grey and yellow giant... So Ultra because she, uh, can do really cool stuff, woman because well, that’s obvious, and Grigio because... Well it’s Italian for grey.” Asahi could tell that Tomomi was doing his best and frankly, she didn’t think she’d be able to come up with a much better answer herself, so she figured it was good enough. Hopefully Matsuoka would believe it.

She couldn’t really tell, but Matsuoka seemed to believe it. He seemed to be mulling over the response before giving a nod, “I suppose that makes enough sense.”

Quietly, Asahi let out a breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding. Tomomi did the same, though she was pretty sure his was a bit more noticeable. If Matsuoka noticed, though, he didn’t say anything.

“What do you two think about all the Kaiju attacks, then?” Oh boy, he was full of questions.

Tomomi responded first, “I mean, it’s not good, all these Kaijus just inexplicably rampaging through the city.”

“Same, really, it’s very not happy... Personally, I think that there might be...” Asahi wasn’t sure if she wanted to finish the thought. She’d been thinking about it for a while now. It was odd that the monsters, at least the ones that didn’t seem to be rampaging for the normal reasons, always focused on her right away when she appeared. That and the Kaiju that appeared in Ayaka before that portal she fell through. She had a feeling that the Kaiju in Ayaka, the portal, and most of the Kaiju attacks on this Earth were all connected. But she didn’t have much proof, it was mostly observation and a sort of gut feeling. But Katsumi always said to trust your gut. Of course, she wasn’t sure if she should voice it to someone who didn’t know she was Grigio. “Well I think that a bunch of those attacks are connected. Maybe their all being controlled.”

“Being controlled,” Matsuoka seemed surprised at her idea, which was fair, it was a bit out of left field. “What makes you say that?”

“Uh, well, in a bunch of the Kaiju attacks, they just randomly start rampaging for seemingly no reason. They can’t be stopped through normal means... and when I-Ultrawoman Grigio shows up, they focus on her right away.” She shrugs slightly, hoping she was believable, “It just... seems like there’s someone else behind it all.” It wasn’t like she could list all of her reasons. But she could list enough of them.

Matsuoka considered her words, “You may have a point, though it’s hard to say.”

“But why would someone even bother? It’s such an odd thing to do...” Tomomi wondered, placing a hand on his chin.

“Because there are things out there that do stuff like that just for the sake of it, I guess.” Asahi sighed, taking a drink. “I mean, it’s not exactly unheard of.”

“Well, I’ve never heard of someone using Kaiju in such a way,” Matsuoka says, “But you are right. There are some people who do horrible things for no real reason.” Oh right, they haven’t had a “fate of the planet” scenario or something here. At least not one involving Kaiju.

“Anyway...” Tomomi seemed to be trying to change the subject, “It’s a real roadblock, but I’m sure given time and effort everything will work out.”

“Yes,” Matsuoka agreed, “Hopefully, after this people won’t just lose all trust in Kaijus all together.”

“You guys really want to see a world where Kaijus and people can really just live peacefully, huh?” Asahi comments, “I mean, that’s pretty cool.”

Tomomi grins, “It’s been Kaoru and mine’s dream for... Geez, I’m not sure how long. That’s what we bonded over in highschool, actually.” He leans back and closes his eyes, a wistful expression, “I mean, we knows it’s pretty unrealistic, but still... I guess that’s what dreams are for.”

“I think it’s good that you two have such lofty dreams. It’ll make every step closer feel all the more happy!” She insisted, “My brothers have... someone they’ve worked with who always says that you should never stop trying to reach your dreams. That even if they seem impossible you should still try and never give up, because dreams can always come true.”

Matsuoka chuckles, “Well, I suppose I have to agree with that person.”

“What about you?” Tomomi asks, poking (stabbing) his fork through his salad, “What’s your dream, Asahi?”

“My dream?” Asahi hums in thought, then responds, “I guess… I’m not sure… Really, I’m just happy if I can be around my friends and family!”

Tomomi chuckles a bit before saying, “I guess you must miss them then, huh? Since you’re so far away from your home and your family.”

She’s quiet for a moment, before answering, “… I mean… Yeah…” She trails off, “ But it’s okay! I’ll see them again soon enough! Worrying about that would be really not happy.”

Matsuoka laughs, not even trying to hide it, “You’re very cheerful, aren’t you?” He asks, then adds, “Well, that’s good. There’s so can be so much negativity in the world.”

“Exactly,” Asahi grins, “The way I see it, you can’t control the world, but you can control how you’re feeling! And I choose to feel happy!”

Their conversation continued on various topics, but Matsuoka had to return to KPaRS and Tomomi had a few other things to do, so they all had to leave.

---

Today’s Kaiju of the Day (a title that isn’t entirely accurate, but neither is Monster of the Week, as monster don’t appear daily, but still more than weekly) was apparently called Gudon. It’s appearance was more akin to a bug than a reptile, though resembled both. Spike decorated it’s body, barring the stomach area and the neck up, with long horns on the top of it’s head. Instead of hands, Gudon had whips.

The most advice Tomomi had given Grigio before she began the fight was something along the lines of “Same as most Kaiju, tail and teeth, but also those whips”.

So yeah, there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly unusual to worry about, which Grigio was pretty grateful for. It seemed, in order to attack her, Gudon would have to get close to her, which Grigio could avoid just by keeping her distances and shooting her arrows. As long as it doesn’t break building’s too much, it shouldn’t have much ammunition to throw at her. She’d learned last time that that was something that some Kaiju’s did (like the one she’d fought, then, which she was told was a Red King).

She’d been doing pretty well with her plan, or at least she thought so. She was pretty sure that it would have continued going pretty well, but, unsurprisingly, there was a wrench thrown into her plans. KPaRS’(... You know, she still hadn’t figured out the best word to describe it. Plane? Jet? She really never knew, she’d have to ask someone later. Maybe Tomomi had an idea. Anyway.) Their jet (That’s what she was going to call it until proven otherwise, because plane sounded a bit wrong) had flown near, trying to assist. In the past, that’d... Well if it didn’t work, it didn’t hurt. Today though, was a bit of a change of form.

When KPaRS got close, Gudon took the chance to try to grab something. That something, being probably the worst possible thing it could have grabbed. KPaRS’ jet.

Crap.

Grigio knew that she couldn’t just stand there and hope for the best. The biggest issue was how to make sure that KPaRS got free of Gudon but stay pretty safe. She honestly wasn’t sure what to do. Should she just launch an arrow at Gudon? Would KPaRS be fine?

KPaRS was trying to pull free of Gudon’s grip, finding little success.

She needed to do something. But she didn’t know what! What would be the best thing to do! She didn’t want to mess up and make things worse! What if instead of letting go, Gudon tightened it’s grip?!

She was snapped out of her thoughts by an irritated Jun, who didn’t even sound like she was meaning to be heard by Grigio. “She’s not really making me think she’s not behind this!” It sounded like a response or maybe just a comment made with the knowledge that Rin would understand who she was talking about.

“Performance anxiety?” Rin offered in response, then let out a groan of frustration, followed by, “I’m sure she’ll do something.”

“Well I’m not so sure!”

Grigio really needed to do something. She needed to stop thinking so hard and move! Do something! Anything! At that point, she hadn’t even realized she was running at the monster until she was nearly close enough to touch it. And then she tackled it. Not her preferred way of attacking, but seeing as Gudon was preoccupied prior, it hadn’t noticed her coming and was thoroughly startled. It released KPaRS as Grigio was left to come up with what to do next.

In something of a panic, she punches it,trying to stall to make sure that KPaRS got a far enough away. Now she needed to put some distance between her and Gudon before- Shit. Okay, new plan. Gudon had a grip on her wrist with it’s whip, using the other to attack her.

She tries to wrench her wrist free, wincing with every hit of it’s other whip, but found that her attempts weren’t effective. Grigio shifts slightly and kicks it in the stomach, causing it’s grip to loosen, at least enough that she was able to practically throw herself away from Gudon.

Her color timer was beeping now, she didn’t really have a lot of time left to finish fighting the monster. With KPaRS flying farther away now, keeping their distance, she was able to use her bow to keep Gudon occupied long enough to tie it up with Grigio Bind.

Grigio hoped that Rin and Jun were alright, she wasn’t sure if Gudon had done any damage when it grabbed them. Although she was sure that it wasn’t going to stop them.

She did wish that she hadn’t panic so much before though. She didn’t have a lot of experience fighting, and as it turned out, there was a lot to take into account when a Kaiju grabs something with people in it.

#i would offer it happy with a smile on my face #my writing #asahi minato #ultrawoman grigio #waiting at the end of the road is happiness

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