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#i feel like all the participants were one big family regardless of competition
seyaryminamoto · 1 year
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Fic-to-Art #25: A decade-long journey with Sokka and Azula
Yep. I can't believe it's been a full decade either, but here we are. Ten years later and it feels like it was yesterday, almost.
On this month on Patreon, I figured I'd just make a larger sort of tribute to my long journey as a fic writer. I've had ups and downs, big moments and small, but ultimately, that I've had the chance to be here for as many years as I have is certainly a privilege, and one I don't take for granted.
I've met lots of great people because of my participation in this fandom, particularly in the Sokkla community. I've honestly made some of the best friends I've ever known through the past ten years. I've graduated from university, I've grown in many ways as a person, artist and writer, something that kid right out of high school would have never imagined possible when she first set out on this journey with zero clue of how far it would take her, and how important this would be for her in the years to follow.
After all this time, it feels like the red string of fate from The Reason has woven itself through all my stories afterwards, resulting in a very curious relationship between all these stories and the one that started it all. I mean, technically it was OoPB that started everything X'D but The Reason is by far the flagship of that particular setting. I haven't even revisited those stories in forever, but I really am glad that I did it for this particular purpose.
Alright then, if you would like the specifics regarding which story is being referenced (in case you don't know), keep reading!
The Reason, the source of the red string that then spills down into the rest of the artworks!
Gladiator Part 1, the handshake that started it all.
It Had To Be You, their unintentional first date!
Gladiator Part 2... this is honestly just a general thematic Sokkla make-out session, which as we know they were very likely to do throughout Part 2 x'D
The Love Advisor, reading a book together for the first time.
The White Lotus International Games, their rejoicing after they rushed their finals to watch each other winning at their competitions.
Matching Heartbeats... I picked the Yakuza AU as a reference to this one because people really missed it this year. But DAMN did those tattoos kick my ass to kingdom come, most difficult part of this entire mini project x'D
Underneath Starlit Skies, I picked the final scene of the Happy Family prompt because I couldn't decide on a better scene from any of the other prompts that year hahaha.
Leap of Faith, here I chose my personal favorite story from this year, Toph matchmaking Sokka and Azula, with Sokka in his councilman outfit and Azula in her ambassador attire.
Gladiator Part 3... spoilersssssss!
Alas, it was crazy to work on a project like this one on relatively short notice and pull it off regardless. I did know I wanted to do something like this, should the chance arise, and it kinda did? So I'm really glad I could finish it, maybe not exactly on time (two days late actually), but still within this month, haha.
I really hope you guys enjoy this massive piece, thank you to everyone who has been supporting me for the last decade, whether those who have been here all along, those who have only come by my work recently, as well as those who come and go. That my stories have touched anyone's lives is a miracle to me, and one I won't ever stop cherishing.
Thank you for ten years of Sokka and Azula <3
(... and as ever, feel free to join my Patreon too if you would like to do so...)
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saintobio · 3 years
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sincerely not. (5)
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↳ gojou satoru/reader
with an arranged marriage set in place, the sacred bond is doomed with a wife who wants to make the relationship work and a husband who’s ready to ruin it all. unbeknown to him, a tragic fate already lies within the pages of his romance book.
genre. heavy angst, unrequited love, arranged marriage, modern au, 18+
tags/warnings. profanity, slight misogyny (hi naoya), alcohol consumption/intoxication, cheating, breeding kink, explicit smut
notes. this chapter has 9k words on god pls excuse my writing i couldn’t be bothered to edit sdjnsj also !! here is the playlist for the series <3
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series masterlist -> episode six
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One of the many events where wealthy people gathered together was in auctions. Charity auctions, to be exact. There was nothing more exciting than to be in a room filled with the most affluent people in the country, flaunting their riches by bidding on different valued items with exorbitant amounts of cash. In all rich people’s handbooks, it wasn’t a secret that raising a bid was more of a competition than an intent to help a certain charity. This was all because of the mindset that if you were in the same place as your rival business empires, the most satisfying feeling in the world was to know that you had more fortune than everyone else in the room. It boasted of luxury, power, and abundance in money. You weren’t exactly supporting the principles that the people from your elite social class upheld, but this was the norm that you had grown accustomed to.
That being said, it didn’t feel any different for you when you entered the hotel’s grand ballroom. Greeted by the euphonious melodies of the pianoforte, the cluster of high class people in their tailored suits and dresses, and the redolence of expensive champagne made you feel like a monarch of the new age. Everything was upscale for a ballroom that oozed glitz and glamor.
Perhaps you really were seen as a princess with a godly prince holding your hand as you walked further into the venue. You and your husband received greetings from the elders and garnered looks of admiration from the bachelors and bachelorette. You could very well discern through the sparkles in their eyes that they didn’t see Satoru and Y/N, but rather, the heir and the heiress of The Gojou Group and the Creston Financial Group. They could see money and power before your faces—a superficial trait common to the elite.
If you had no name, there was no place for you in there. As kids born from old money, people would recognize you by being represented as someone’s daughter or son which was the raw indication that you could never truly be yourself without your lineage or inherited wealth. The upper class would also consider factors such as how big your business was, how many properties you had, and how much assets you owned for you to be classified as influential enough to find your belongingness with the high society. You couldn’t just simply be rich, you had to be the richest of the rich. This was the key to be a part of the exclusive circle of aristocratic families.
Fortunately, status didn’t blind you. Nor did money and material things. You believed that there was no reason to form a clique when anyone regardless of their bank account could participate in events like these for their own philanthropy. The sad thing was how those born from old money tend to raise an eyebrow for the nouveau riche, releasing scoffs of mockery and side-eyeing them whenever they noticed that an arriviste had managed to find their way into the elite society.
Everyone hated the new rich. Even your own husband, simply by how terribly he treated his step-mom claiming that the woman was a status-seeking parvenu who would be in the streets if she didn’t climb up the social ladder by sleeping with his dad.
A bit harsh for him to say, but what was new for Satoru?
“Where’d you get this?” With the said husband stopping at one of the cocktail tables, he grabbed your wrist and eyed the gold bracelet around it.
“From Nana,” you answered, tidying up his collar as he placed a hand on the small of your back. Satoru displayed contemporary elegance in his tailored Zegna suit—truly a man of class and effortless sophistication. “She said it was your family’s heirloom.”
Satoru remained stiff when he chose not to say another word, taking a sip from the glass of champagne to distract his thoughts. You could tell that he wanted to make a comment about the bracelet but could not do so when all eyes were constantly glancing at the two of you. “They’re all looking.”
Well, who wouldn’t find a newlywed couple intriguing? Gossips about how you landed Gojou and contrariwise were probably the topic of their sotto voce remarks for tonight. Their eyes were green with envy, but their lips were upturned into inauthentic smiles.
“Don’t mind them,” you told your husband just as he tugged at the hem of your Chanel tweed skirt, scrutinizing your outfit with his slender fingers that brushed on your thighs. “H-Hey.”
“Don’t you have a pantyhose underneath? This is too short.” His criticism was laced with irritation. “Just change into that other dress you brought along.”
Acting. He could be acting. You had to remember that he was quite a good actor and that he wasn’t truly concerned about the lack of fabric that covered your thighs. “Oh, that... It’s my piece for the auction.”
Diamond blue eyes quickly met your gaze at the information. “From your closet?”
“No, I designed it,” you clarified, acknowledging your auntie from two tables away with a smile before you looked back at your husband.
He placed a hand in his pocket and held yours on the other, brushing his thumb on your skin as he spoke. “You make clothes?”
If no one was around, would you even have this conversation at all? Your heart was somersaulting from all the downpour of affectionate gestures, something that you rarely received from him. “I just design them. I have a professional seamstress that makes them for me.”
Satoru averted his eyes to check the multitude of high class people around the two of you. “Didn’t know you do fashion design.”
You did, in fact, wish that you could have pursued fashion but was pressured to take up Business Management and Entrepreneurship just like him.
“Well, you never asked.” You didn’t say it bitterly, but it was plain true that Satoru was never curious enough to know about your hobbies and interests.
And as expected, he didn’t further ask about you until Shoko Ieiri in her Anna Sui peplum dress appeared on your side with an enthusiastic grin to greet you and your husband. Because she came from a family of renowned doctors, she held her own reputation within the elites.
“Hey, you two,” she exchanged quick kisses on the cheek with you before she nudged Satoru on the rib, “How was the honeymoon? I saw the pictures.”
A nightmare. Just thinking about Iceland was enough to release a gnawing ache through the crevices of your heart. All you could remember in your head during that trip was how badly you tried your best to spend it happily with Satoru, only to have him constantly remind you that he was basically doing it out of obligation.
“It was fine." He took the initiative to answer but was visibly stultified based on the tone of his voice alone. He then released your hand and looked around the place as if he was searching for someone. “Ieiri, have you seen Suguru?”
Shoko could only offer a shrug. “Who cares? He could be waiting on some chick,” she answered, quickly changing the topic, “I’ll borrow your wife for a while. Don’t miss her too much.”
“Whatever,” your husband muttered concurrently to how he rolled his eyes with lack of concern.
Your eyes widened as the woman tugged at your wrist and dragged you with her while you were looking at Satoru in panic. “Wait, I—”
“Relax, we’re just gonna join the youngsters for a bit,” said Ieiri as the two of you strutted across the table, “Mai wants to meet you. Besides, Gojou is a a self-righteous asshole. I bet all he talks about with you is how he’s the richest man here.”
Satoru wouldn’t even initiate conversations with you on the daily and realizing that was more hurtful than you imagined. Since that night when he asked you to stay with him, your guilt allowed you to submit to his request because you felt some sort of responsibility for finding yourself caught in between him and Sera. His words were clear in your head, reminding you of the pain that you owed them for having agreed to the marriage and for simply existing.
You sighed, choosing not to plague your mind with depressing thoughts as Shoko guided you to a table where the Zen’in twins and Yuuta were seemingly having a lighthearted conversation. Satoru’s step-brother immediately acknowledged you with a welcoming grin by the time you reached them.
“Yuuta, hey,” you greeted, waving a hand before turning to Maki and Mai, in nearly similar dresses, who both gave you a quick bow of respect. “Ah, you two look really pretty!”
Ieiri supported your compliment. “Right? As a Zen’in should be. Their genes are something else.”
Now that she mentioned it, the Zen’ins truly were quite notable within the elites. Their clan was well-known all over the country for being one of the biggest business empires across Japan. They highly rivaled the Gojou Group when it came to industries such as real-estate and investments, and they also owned the biggest department stores nationwide. You weren’t sure what drama they had within their family, but you could alike their popularity to the Kardashians in the US.
It was flattering to know that the twins looked forward to seeing you because you’ve always admired how strong and independent they were even at such a young age. If only you had the same trait growing up, you would probably be powerful in your own regard.
“I’m so excited to bid on your dress!” Mai cheerfully informed you, “I can imagine myself wearing it. Your designs are so amazing.”
Before you could respond in gratitude, Maki decided to add her thoughts as well. “Maybe you should start your own line.”
You considered the thought. “I’m not confident yet, but...”
“Nee-chan, you’re already amazing at it.” Yuuta’s eyes turned into crescent moons with his smile. “We’ll support you. The whole family will.”
It was the same thing Gen told you when she encouraged you to start your own clothing line, but you heavily insisted at the time that fashion design was only a hobby and you knew that you couldn’t really just abandon the family business. You were set to take position in your father’s company soon so it might only give you a heavier weight on your shoulders to handle two things at once. Or three, because Satoru was the primary cause of your stress.
“They kinda have a point,” said Shoko before she shot you an encouraging wink. “You should definitely have me as your model.”
Along with a chuckle, you nodded your head, “I’d be honored to.”
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Where the hell is he? Gojou was getting more and more agitated at the fact that his best friend was still not around. He already checked his phone thrice within a short period of five minutes but there had been no reply after the last one.
Satoru: You coming?
Suguru: Yea, you owe me for this
Satoru: Make sure she’s safe
On a good note, his father was not here in the auction because he had to meet up with your dad to try and persuade the man with the thought of a mergers and acquisitions deal. The only thing that was adding onto Gojou’s irritation was the fact that his witch of a step-mother was here, currying favor among the elites like a desperate social climber.
Satoru tried not to give a damn about his step-mom while some of the influential men approached him to discuss his business ventures and blatantly comparing it to theirs. While you were with Ieiri, your husband had to hold conversations with his uncle and his elders to talk about business politics, stock trading, and investments. In between those commerce-related topics, they all also congratulated him for his recent marriage and for choosing the ideal woman to spend his forever with.
There was no way Satoru would admit it, but you gave him some leverage when it came to receiving approving nods and praises full of respect for the power that you two held together as a couple. Being married to you was a boost to his ego because no one had ever treated him higher than they did when he was still a bachelor. Now that there was the prospect of your companies merging together, everyone else started to feel inferior to Gojou. Sure he was selfish for utilizing you, but he realized just how much he loved gaining power and superiority because of the marriage.
The last person that he expected to approach him was one of the possible heirs of the Zen’in Group, Naoya Zen’in, whose smirk and sharp eyes promptly elicited Satoru’s pique. He had known him after a series of business events where they would run to each other since their teenage years. Gojou deemed it was safe to say that the man was a rascal who often annoyed him with his competitive nature.
“These upstarts, they don’t know their place,” said the blond man as he stood next to Gojou while looking at the two unfamiliar guys from another table that both reeked of overflowing pretentiousness. “Good thing your wife isn’t like them, right? She’s born from old money.”
Satoru exhaled and placed his hands back inside his pockets. “What do you want?”
The corner of Naoya’s lips only lifted itself higher than before—a clear sign of his incoming mischief. “Can I not greet the best actor in this room?”
“Watch your mouth.” For a fleeting moment, Gojou’s eyes followed you as he watched how you timidly laughed around Ieiri and the younger members of the business empires. “Who says I’m acting? I love her.”
The heir of the Zen’in clan was ruthless enough to ridicule Satoru with a sardonic laugh. “Please. Rumors have been flying around, you know? They say you only married her to acquire their company. You’re quite bold, Satoru-kun. You deserve an Oscar for those skills.”
It was the first time he ever rendered himself speechless in front of Naoya because Satoru was often one to make clever comebacks, yet he couldn’t even deny this one. “It’s what our fathers want. Why don’t you focus on your own business? It’s why you can’t ever surpass me.”
By choice, Naoya ignored the guy’s last remark. “Shame. You’re counting on a woman to achieve your success? If I married Y/N, I’d put her on her place and simply use her as a fuck toy. Maybe that’s what you’re doing, huh—”
Gojou’s firm hand latched onto Naoya’s velvet suit, provoking him for a fight but the latter only chuckled and raised his hands in surrender. “Keep her name off your mouth.”
“Right, right. The acting thing,” Naoya sneered as he looked straight into Satoru’s sky blue orbs and grinned at his face. “Acting like you care and all, I ge—”
“Is everything okay here?”
Satoru had to roll his eyes in annoyance when he saw his step-mother getting in between them, showing her pretentious attempt at being concerned. “Get the hell away from me,” he didn’t hold back at saying those words to her before he looked back at Naoya who seemed to have found it by himself to just walk away.
“See you later, Satoru-kun.” The guy left him with a few taps on the back as he walked towards their table, forcing Satoru to be alone with the witch.
The said witch was gritting her teeth, holding her faux fur purse while narrowing her dark brown eyes at her step-son. “If you wanna act like a bastard in front of everyone, I’m not stopping you. At least they can see how my son has better manners than you.”
He hoped that his clenched jaws were enough to scare the woman off. “I said, get the fuck outta my face. You disgust me.”
The woman opened her mouth to retaliate but was cut off when you came back, looping an arm around your husband with worried doe eyes.
“Baby?” Your gentle voice somehow softened Satoru’s antagonistic stance and he instinctively held you closer to his chest. “What’s wrong?”
He would’ve hated you for being clingy, but frankly, he could thank you for distracting him away from his step-mom who now couldn’t say anything else but to fake a smile to you and say, “I’ll leave you lovebirds, then.”
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The auction was crazy to say the least. It wasn’t like this for the past year, but everyone was more prepared this year to bid higher prices just to seal the deal in getting the most worthy items displayed. As a representative for your family, Gen was better at making bids compared to you because it was innate for her to be confident in a room full of businesspeople. She took after your dad for having the same leadership qualities while you took after your mom for being softer and unassuming by nature.
You wished that Gen was here to witness the on-going war for the dress that you designed because you were highly certain that she would find it entertaining how Mai was doing her best to get the cream asymmetrical dress that you brought as your piece for tonight’s auction.
“One hundred thousand yen!” yelled Mai, crossing her arms beside an amused Maki.
The host announced her bid price, “I’ve got one hundred thousand yen, any more?”
“Here, two hundred thousand!” From the opposite side of your table, it was the daughter of Mrs. Suzuki who proposed the bidding price.
You could hear Mai’s groan even from a distance, but being a Zen’in whose pride soared higher than the ceiling of the grand ballroom, she fought back with another bid, “Five hundred thousand!”
“Oh my God.” Your eyes grew wide from her determination to get the dress. Even Maki was stunned to hear her twin’s offer. “Mai really wants it.”
“Five hundred thousand! Going once, twice,” the host counted off, “and that’s it, the beautiful dress designed by our gorgeous Y/N Gojou is officially sold to Mai Zen’in!”
Mai’s triumphant squeal was loud enough to make the elders laugh. And while you chuckled at her reaction, you couldn’t also get over the fact that the host said your name with your husband’s surname attached to it. It was those simple things that made your heart flutter naturally.
“She’s crazy,” Satoru yawned, meeting your eyes for a brief second. “She likes your dress that much.”
“I know...” And had you known how desperate she was, you would have willingly designed a special one and gifted it to her because you absolutely adored just how supportive Mai and Maki were and they were not even your relatives.
Throughout that night, more items were up for bidding including Naoya’s ancient katana which was sold for seven hundred thousand yen, Ieiri’s limited edition Hermés china set which was sold for three hundred thousand, and Satoru’s Zegna suit which garnered a whooping one million yen.
On the other hand, you noticed how your husband kept glancing at his phone while looking around the ballroom. His eyes searched for every corner—all except you. The only time where his attention actually came back to the auction was when the most awaited item was finally put on display.
“And now, our main item for this night is the rare and stunning Jimmy Choo flat pumps that Princess Diana once wore. Embellished with south sea pearls and ornamented with Swarovski crystals—these elegant shoes are truly fitting for a princess! Now, who will be the next owner?”
All women in the room gasped, including you, when the light blue heeled shoes were displayed in a glass box for everyone to see. It was not only breathtaking in person, the sentimental value it had for being Princess Diana’s shoes were what made every single woman in the room competitive at raising their bids up. It was war, indeed.
“It’s so gorgeous,” you whispered, eyes coruscating in fascination at the sight of the majestic shoes. As much as you wanted to bid, the women already started going through hell just to get it.
“Three hundred thousand!”
“Me, I’ll do five hundred thousand!”
“I’ll get it for one million!”
You were taken aback when your husband suddenly snatched the bidding card from your hand and raised it for the host to acknowledge. “Five million yen.”
God. As soon as he threw his bidding price in, everyone in the whole ballroom turned to the two of you and you were about to melt on the spot because of the sudden attention that you and your husband received from every single person in the room. There was no way that you expected that Gojou would go out of his way to actually bother purchasing a woman’s shoes at an auction. There were gasps of astonishment and a fusillade of Oh my Gods that followed after he sealed off the deal.
“Jimmy Choo shoes sold for five million yen for the handsome Satoru Gojou,” the host was just as astounded, “What a lucky wife.”
Somehow, later that night, you managed to see Suguru Getou who approached you and Ieiri while the event was still on-going. He was showing his trademark smile, one that turned his eyes into curved lines as he greeted you with a kiss on the cheek.
“Suguru.” You gave your husband’s best friend a warm hug. “Satoru has been looking for you since we came here.”
He scratched the back of his head, taking the glass of champagne that Shoko handed him. “Is he?” he casually drank from the glass and oddly avoided your eyes. “Where’s he now?”
“Bathroom,” you answered, realizing that it had been a couple of minutes since Satoru excused himself. Was he actually wandering around the hotel? Or was he caught up in another situation like earlier with his step-mother? You’ve gotten quite worried so you decided to follow. “Hey, um... I think I need a quick bathroom break as well.”
Panic then stretched across Suguru’s face. “Wait, Y/N... Don’t you wanna stay here and talk for a while?”
Ieiri took it upon herself to answer him. “Jesus. Let her,” she said, urging you to go off, “Go and have that quickie with your hubby.”
Heat suffused your cheeks as you chuckled and politely took your exit by walking out of the ballroom in measured footsteps because your feet were getting sore from the stilettos that you were wearing.
You lied. You weren’t actually heading to the bathroom. What you did was to ask one of the waiters if he had seen your husband somewhere. Lucky enough, he guided you to one of the dressing rooms behind the grand ballroom which was void of people with nothing but classical music ricocheting through the walls. After thanking the guy, you walked closer to the room—door was ajar as you got near and immediately stopped in your tracks when you heard a familiar woman’s voice echoing from inside.
“Satoru, this is so beautiful!”
You didn’t mean to peek. And strangely, it felt like you weren’t supposed to see this specific moment between Gojou and Sera knowing that your heart was going to crumple like a bottle of can that had been squeezed and twisted to release everything it had inside. Perhaps what you experienced behind your ribcage was more painful than that.
“Cost me a lot,” your husband said, crouching in front of her as he placed her feet inside the shoes that you stupidly believed was meant for you. “There’s only one pair in the world. Princess Diana wore this.”
None of them were aware about your presence behind the doors, neither would they care enough had they known. Gojou and Sera seemed to have always lived in a bubble of fairy tales whenever they were together—so passionate, so dreamy, so in love. You hardly received the same gaze that he would give her nor did you share the same kiss that he willingly saved for her. Sera was truly the only woman in his eyes despite being a married man and you thought that you could accept it, you thought that you could be fine seeing him with her, you thought that you could live with having another woman occupying your husband’s heart. Your level of masochism was not strong enough to endure this much anguish.
“I booked the presidential suite for us tonight,” he informed her after a quick peck on her lips, holding her by the waist and smiling at her with love in his eyes. “I can’t wait to be alone with you again.”
Why do you torture yourself at watching them step over your dignity? Why couldn’t you go in there and yell at his face, call him out for how awful he was making you feel? He was unfair and you knew that he didn’t value your marriage, but you thought that you were prepared enough to see him cheating on you. You weren’t, and you definitely wished that you didn’t allow it. So how exactly did you find yourself in this tortuous situation?
The answer was simple: you were paying the repercussions for splitting them apart.
This was what Satoru meant when he said those words to you back in the penthouse. You would have to go through this much pain in order to feel even a little bit of theirs, when in truth, their pain was not even half as close as the gravity of yours.
You had to leave. Even when your eyes pooled with tears, you started walking away from the scene with your heart tightening heavily each second. The pain was astronomical that you had to place your hand over your chest just to ease the growing ache. Your breathing turned rapid as your heart pounded but you continued to walk aimlessly, wanting to just escape the image of Satoru and Sera kissing because tonight was the first time where you have actually seen how sweet your husband was with another woman. A great contrast to how he treated you.
Tears blurred your vision while you gasped for air, walking and walking and walking until you stumbled inside a place where you could find solace away from the torment. It was never your plan to end up here, but you found yourself entering the hotel’s bar and sliding to sit at one of the bar stools with a face clouded in deep sorrow. How could Satoru hurt you both directly and indirectly? How could he let you suffer this much and you still wanted the best for him? These questions were left unanswered, but they burdened your mind nonstop.
“Can I get a forty-two on the rocks, please?” you requested when the bartender came, eyes worriedly looking at you because desolation infused your voice when you spoke. You weren’t much of a drinker but believed that this was the only way to alleviate your pain. Even for tonight. You were so overwhelmed from the heartache that you’ve become numb because it scared you that your emotional pain was mixing with the unusual physical throbbing in your chest.
You didn’t notice that the bar barely had people inside, only a couple from a distance and a man who was seated one stool apart from you. The mop of raven hair, the infamous scar on his lips—you used to only see this man through media outlets and it was rare for you to come across him because he had always been laissez-faire about their family’s business ventures, yet here he was now, distracting you from your pain with his presence alone.
“I have a son,” was the first thing he jokingly said to you, downing a glass of Scotch before meeting your eyes fleetingly.
Confused by his words, you had to clarify, “Excuse me? I wasn’t trying to...” You showed your ring. “I have a husband.”
Did he think that you purposely sit next to him because you were trying to make a move? Surely, many women probably approached him this way but it somehow offended your soft heart. You could never find yourself being confident enough to even initiate a conversation to someone like him.
In your limited knowledge, you’ve heard that Toji Zen’in was a man full of pride. It was an intrinsic trait for a Zen’in to have, but Toji’s vainglory had always been his remarkable trait. He could live an independent life away from his family because he was powerful enough to run a business by himself. He was adroit, sagacious, and a good decision-maker which were some of the prime qualities that a CEO must possess to successfully handle a conglomerate. He was indeed as intimidating as the sound of his last name.
You’ve always thought that he was a serious man who never joked around with others, much less talked to them, so you were not expecting to see a playful smile tugging at his lips when he studied your face for a good minute. “Y/N, right?” he asked, clearly entertained. “So where’s the husband now?”
With the woman he loves. You sighed just as the bartender placed a cold up of 42 in front of you, urging you to sip from the drink to let the burning taste numb your throat. You had to veil your forlorn expression before Toji could notice. “In the auction.”
“Interesting.” Toji swiveled from his chair just enough to face you, playing with the cubes of ice by slightly shaking his glass. The clinking sound was almost a form of mockery as he watched you try to pull yourself together. “It’s arranged, isn’t it?”
How could he have possibly known? Was it that obvious? In your own effort, you still tried to deny it. “No, Satoru and I have known each other since we were kids. We’ve grown fond of one another.”
While he shrugged in response, the glint in his eyes reflected just how much he didn’t believe your words. “You can admit it. You should know the difference by how a man looks at you. There’s no love in his eyes, not even a little bit.”
“Gee, thanks a lot,” you retorted, spitefully chugging all the liquor as tears welled up your eyes. It was as if your heart was being excavated out of your chest thinking of the plans that Satoru had for Sera tonight, plans that he never made with his own wife. “You’re right. He hates me, actually.”
There was no reason to hide it from a man who came from an aristocratic family himself. Arranged marriages were common and it was even more likely to happen than a casual marriage because everything about the world that the people like you lived in held importance for money, power, and assets. Toji would not judge you for it, and in fact, he had softened a little as he sympathized with you.
“Wanna talk about something else?” he offered, pivoting on his chair to signal another glass from the bartender. You did the same by politely asking for a glass of tequila mojito this time.
You were grateful that Toji wasn’t one to stick his nose into private matters and you found it very comforting that he would rather talk about anything to distract you from your emotional turmoil. “Why are you here and not with your family there?”
He drummed his fingers onto the counter’s smooth surface. “I’m not into events like these. They just want me to show up and that’s it.”
Choosing momentary silence, you nodded your head. “Makes sense. It must be tough to be in your family, huh?”
“Tough?” A bitter grin spread off his lips. “It’s hell in there. If not for Megumi, I’d have cut ties long ago. They put too much pressure on your shoulders and expect you to be perfect enough to handle the business. You have no place in the clan if you’re incompetent.”
You drank from your cocktail and stared at his side profile. “That’s sad to know. My dad doesn’t enforce that much pressure on Gen and I.”
“Gen,” he uttered her name in remembrance, “your sister? We went to the same school. She always stood out.”
As the alcohol blazed your throat with fire, you traced your finger along the edge of the glass in deep thought. “Yeah, I just expect her to run the company better than I ever will. I was never really interested in banking and finance.”
He tilted his head slightly to gauge on the emotions that painted your face. “Anything that interests you, then?”
You had to admit how good it felt to have someone interested enough to listen to the things that made you happy because you doubted that your own husband would ever hold the same curiosity. “I design clothes,” you shared, sipping from your glass and scrunching your nose from the spirit that left fumes in your nostrils. “Well, I don’t make them. I just design and then I have trusted people who create those pieces for me. I’ve always dreamed of having my own team who would plan out all these amazing concepts that I have for the collection and it’s just such a perfect setup that I wanna be in someday.”
“So why don’t you?” he immediately responded with an encouraging question. “You have the money. If you’re looking to lease the perfect space for your clothing line, we have our luxury malls for you.”
You chuckled at his offer, being reminded that they owned some of the largest malls in the country. “I don’t know. I’m just... I’m not prepared.”
Ever since your mom died, you have lost track in life because she was your greatest supporter who encouraged you to always follow your dreams and to enjoy your life like it was the last. Your mom was your heart, and now that she was gone, you didn’t know how to fill the void that she left behind. In a room full of people, you were lonely without the most important person in your life. That was how everything started to feel when your mom vanished from this world.
“You’re only in your mid-twenties,” Toji pointed out, sounding as if he was going to give some helpful advice for you to ponder about. “You have time to build that confidence in.”
You would blame your liquid courage, but it was definitely the alcohol talking when you decided to tease him. “Right, I forgot you’re pushing forty.”
Never did you think that you would be entertained to see Toji’s reaction as his eyes widened and his lips upturned into a grin. “Watch it. I’m only thirty-five.”
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Gojou had to drag his feet laboriously after he was told by one of the staff members that you were in the hotel’s bar after he had left you at the ballroom with his friends. He was deeply vexed at how much of an attention-seeker you were for doing this just to make him chase for you. Frankly, if people wouldn’t be suspicious, he never would’ve cared to come down to the bar. He would have gone straight to the presidential suite where Sera was waiting for him so they could spend some time together.
But you had to ruin it for him, just like with everything else.
Along with his established annoyance, Satoru was flabbergasted when he saw you laughing together with his biggest business rival, Toji Zen’in.
What the hell? He held his breath and stomped towards you, snatching the glass from your hand and forcing you to look at him. “Get a hold of yourself. You’re out here drinking?”
You were clearly inebriated out of your wits because you wouldn’t have had the bravery to put your hand on his cheek, presenting him to an amused Toji who listened to you intently. “Here he is. You see this fucking face?” You giggled and leaned back on your husband’s chest. “This is the face of Satan. Haaa... Handsome, but evil.”
Satoru swatted your hand away and drank the rest of your liquor so you wouldn’t consume more alcohol before he sent the other man an accusatory look. “Did you make her drink?”
The Zen’in heir only scoffed at him. “Why would I?” It was more of a statement than a question, something that deeply irked the hell out of Gojou. “She came in here crying. Why don’t you blame yourself that she drank this much?”
“You know nothing. Stay out of it.” Satoru had no ounce of care when he warned the man, later pulling you up as you stumbled on your feet. Why are you even crying? “I’ll take you home. You’re such a burden. I still have somewhere to be, you know?”
You tried to squint your eyes, tilting your head to the side as you lightly threw your fist on your husband’s chest. “S-Somewhere…? I don’t wanna… Can I stay?
Toji got up from his seat and paid for the drinks, which included yours, and Satoru took it as him trying to flex his money. The former’s eyes didn’t leave yours even as he took a few steps closer to pat your back. “You good, Y/N?” he asked, watching as a territorial Satoru locked an arm around your waist. “I’ll take her home if you can’t. She’s not that much of a burden. She’s actually interesting to talk to.”
Was he actually trying to insult him? Satoru’s eyebrows were now furrowed in annoyance. He just couldn’t believe the audacity of this man to even offer such a thing. “Stay away from my wife.”
“Then treat her better.” Toji matched Satoru’s hostility with his own一staring at him with an unfazed look that showed how willing he was to defend a stranger like you. “You’re lucky that your wife stays with you. Others wish they still had theirs.”
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“Aaah一my head hurts! I wanna… I wanna go home!”
“Be quiet. We’re already home.” He could smell alcohol in your breath and had to hold his growing ire for your sake or else he would simply snap. He was already on the verge of it, but was trying his best to keep his temper settled.
Satoru didn’t know that you could be so loud when you were drunk. It was hard enough to deal with you when you squirmed out of his hold as he carried you in bridal style, entering the penthouse and heading straight to your shared bedroom. All he had to do was get you to bed so he could leave and head back to the hotel to see Sera.
Unfortunately, when he did place you down in bed, you managed to get up and throw your heels at him. “I said I don’t wanna go home!”
Jesus Christ. Satoru undid two of his buttons to allow himself to breathe while standing at the side to see you struggling to strip yourself off your clothes. “What are you doing? Just stay down!”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” you replied, pouting when you successfully rid yourself of your clothing before you teetered your way into the bathroom. “I’m gonna… shower!”
So annoying. Was he babysitting a kid? “Fine. Do what you fucking want.” He shouldn’t even have bothered to drop you off, and yet he was nice enough to. The least you could do was to act like the decent woman that you were, not this wild intoxicated girl that could barely hold herself together. “Next time you drink, I’m not doing shit for you.”
His murmurs were ignored when you continued to enter the bathroom, not even sober enough to open the lights although he did hear the sound of the shower echoing through the glass walls. As exhaustion chased his body, Satoru pulled his phone out to see text messages from Sera asking him how long he would take. He was about to type in a response until he heard you bursting into tears from the bathroom.
“Now what,” he groaned, placing his phone on the bedside table before he hurriedly went to check on you. He didn’t need to open the lights to see your silhouette, hugging your knees in front of the shower as you sobbed. Gojou had to release a weary sigh knowing that he had to deal with you whether he wanted it or not. How could a person go through so many phases of being drunk? You had a broad spectrum in that aspect—going from being an angry drunk to an emotional drunk, Satoru knew he was bound to see more later on. “Stop crying and hop off the shower.”
You sniffed, chest heaving while your tears cascaded down on your face the same way the shower rained on you like waterfall. “Wh-What’s wrong with me?” Gojou halted on his footsteps as he listened. “I-I know I’m not that p-pretty, but… is it really hard to love me?”
He wasn’t planning on staying, but hearing you cry had his feet stuck on the bathroom floor because he couldn’t outright admit how easily he could get swayed by tears. Seeing you cry during your first night back in Iceland was already difficult to go through, and now hearing you voice out your pain made Gojou’s heart a tad bit soft. He didn’t want to lose his cold demeanor towards you, but his guilt would eat him alive if he didn’t warm up even just for tonight.
“Who says you’re not pretty?”
“My husband… he doesn’t look at me when I talk.” There was undeniable pain behind your slurred words that possibly came from your deepest feelings. They said drunk people speak the most sober thoughts. Alcohol was a truth serum that allowed one’s feelings to pour out from the bottle where it was long kept in. “I’m trying my b-best but he… he’s just…”
“Maybe he has reasons,” he tried to console as much as refused to do things for you. And he would never do things for you, yet he found himself sighing in complete submission as he unbuttoned his shirt and slipped off his pants to join you in the shower. You hardly noticed his presence from behind until he pulled you up by your arm and grabbed the bottle of your vanilla and jasmine body wash. “Let’s get you cleaned up so you can sleep, okay?”
There was no sound that came out of you while you rubbed your eyes, allowing your husband to start rubbing soap all over your back. “What if I just stop caring?” you mused just as Satoru was spreading the suds on your waist and going further down to your buttocks. He could feel the rush of internal panic that overpowered his mind because the thought of you considering that question somehow messed with him. “It’s easier that way. No one would get hurt.”
“You think?” he egged on, turning you around so he could rub the soap on your chest, running his hands around your mounds and gliding the suds down to your stomach. He was doing it as quickly as he could because he would grow a boner just by touching you. “Arms up.”
Like an obedient girl, you did as told and suddenly broke out into fits of giggles. Satoru recognized this phase as the giggling phase, watching as you beamed at him while he cleaned your body. “Your hair’s s-so funny.”
For the next few minutes, Gojou tried his best to clean you up while hearing your series of chuckles that didn’t stop even until he had a towel wrapped around your chest and another one around his waist. He wasn’t supposed to be doing this and he couldn’t exactly explain to himself why he felt such a need to care for you. All he knew was that one night of being a caring husband wouldn’t hurt and he could just go back to being an asshole the next day like you deserved.
“Why are we naked?” you innocently pondered, tugging at the towel around your chest as he carried you to sit on the vanity.
“We’re Adam and Eve,” he dryly answered, reaching for your hair dryer before he started blowing your hair with it. “Too hot?”
You giggled, swinging your dangled legs like a kid. “No, you are.”
Fine, at times like this, you weren’t too bad. Despite the marital situation that made him grow resentment towards you, your soft nature was quite adorable in some ways. He didn’t want to give in to it, but he was lucky that you weren’t as terrible as he thought. A snob, an entitled brat一you had not actually shown these traits while living with him in your domestic household. “Did you get your period yet?”
You answered him by shaking your head, soon holding his wrist with a playful grin. “You can’t give me a baby.”
Confusion was then plastered on his face. “Why not?” he asked, placing the hair dryer down. “Is that a challenge?”
“...No, you just can’t.” You offered him a smile of mischief.
“Yes, I can.” He hoisted you up by carrying you with your legs enclosed around his waist as he walked out of the bathroom in haste. “I’ll make you a mommy, then.”
He could feel your giggles vibrating on his chest while trying to squirm out of his hold as he sat on the corner of the bed, adjusting himself so he could lean his back on the headboard with you on top of him. The lights were off so he couldn’t see your face clearly, but he could discern your womanly figure even through the dark. He soon slipped the towel off your body simultaneously to how he snatched the same cloth around his waist, revealing the boner that he could no longer stop from growing.
Should he still limit his affection this time? The image of you crying in the shower somehow stuck with him and he considered easing up on you tonight and be more affectionate. “Come here,” he pulled you to sit on his crotch, sliding his fingers to play with your clit and palming your entire pussy with gentle strokes. “You think you can ride me right now?”
“W-We’re gonna have sex?” You pressed a hand on his chest, sitting on his shaft and instinctively grinding your folds along his length.
Satoru feathered soft kisses on your neck. “Do you want to?”
You gave a sheepish nod, hiding your blushing face. “Yeah...”
“How much?” he pressed, now trailing his lips along your jawline. “Look at my eyes and tell me you’re a hundred percent sure about this. Tell me you’re even sober enough to remember this. Tell me how much you want me.”
“I am! I want you.” On your own, you left kisses on his neck before you looked at his eyes intently. It was at that moment when he realized that sobriety finally returned to your gaze, and the aching lust was there. “So much,” your answer was full of desire, “...until I’m sore.”
The thought had his lips forming a smirk. “Yes, you will be.” He guided your hips as you coated his throbbing cock with your slick, and while he shouldn’t have been this affectionate, he still ended up squeezing your breasts and pressing his lips on your ear. “You’re gonna give me a baby. Hm?”
Your response was a hum of satisfaction—arms wrapped around his neck before you raised yourself up a bit, allowing your husband to penetrate your entrance when you lowered yourself down. “Nngh!” Gojou could feel how his cock was splitting you open, but he was far too engrossed by how warm and tight you felt around his length. “S-Satoru—!”
He didn’t hold back a moan this time. “Uh—fuck, does that feel good?” Snapping his hips upwards, he watched how your tits pleasingly bounced with every move. “I’m gonna fuck you so hard ‘til you get pregnant.”
“Ah-ah! S-Slow,” you mewled, leaning forward with your palm pushing against the headboard and the other squeezing your own breast to keep it from moving wildly. Shit, Gojou knew he was going crazy at the sight. And he hated himself for it because he had to control just how much he was willing to give you during sex, but his mind and body wanted to go all in. No holds barred. He wanted nothing but to stuff you full with his cum, fucking you all night until your cunt was sore the next morning. It was only recent when he realized how much he actually liked the thought of having a wife to have a sex with, not holding back in making a baby by accident because in the eyes of everyone, this kind of intimacy between a husband and wife was right. You were married after all.
Besides, he was doing you a favor for being the only man that could rightfully give you a child. “You like this position?” he asked, tracing your curves before leaning in to suck your tit. He could hear your titillating moans as he swirled his tongue around your sweet nipple, kneading the other breast with his hand—all while he was rutting his hips into you. “Tell me.”
“Y-Yes!” You arched your back from the immense pleasure that washed over your body. “Mm—Daddy!”
It took one word. One fucking word for Gojou to take a halt from his movements. His eyes widened, his breathing hitched, his whole world paused. How in the goddamn hell did you just manage to make him more aroused than he already was?
“What’d you call me?” he pulled away to look at your grinning face before you attached your lips onto his. The kissing was sloppy and your tongues couldn’t meet in perfect coordination because you were too embarrassed to properly do the job. What your husband did instead was to shift your position by laying you sideways as he got up and knelt between your thighs. He threw one of your leg above his shoulders while positioning his tip back on your entrance, rubbing slit to slit and allowing your sweet pussy to suck his swollen head. “Why’d you drink earlier?”
“I—Aaah!” He buried all of his fat cock at once, desperate to fuck a baby into you when he held your waist in place. “I don’t know.”
In his recent memories, he recalled the way Toji looked at you and felt the need to bring it up. “Why were you talking to that guy?”
“T-Toji is... nice.” Louder cries escaped your lips from the harsher thrusts that your husband gave you. “You’re mean. Very mean.”
While he didn’t like how you called his business rival ‘nice’, he couldn’t exactly disagree when you called him ‘mean’. He chose to simply remain silent throughout your intercourse, focusing on reaching his orgasm as he slammed his cock deeper through your walls. The sound of his skin slapping against yours filled him of his needed arousal until he finally felt a coil in his lower abdomen.
As promised, all of his warm load coated your walls and filled you in before he collapsed on top of you. Both of you were panting out of breath as your sweaty bodies were tangled in bed. “Don’t drink without your husband ever again, okay?”
“Okay...” Your eyelids were heavy while you moved to place your head on his chest. “Hug me ‘til I fall asleep, please.”
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It felt like you were possessed by a sex goddess last night.
Your head was pounding when you woke up on top of a naked Satoru Gojou who had your waist caged around his arms while deep in slumber. You recalled yourself crying after seeing him with Sera and proceeding to drink with Toji—Oh God! You cringed at the thought, burying your face on the crook of your husband’s neck. Just how embarrassing were you in front of Toji last night?
More importantly, seeing yourself naked and sore on top of a husband gave you flashbacks of your steamy sex. Now that you thought about it, you remembered him saying that he booked a night at the hotel with Sera so how come he still stayed with you throughout the night?
“Ugh,” you groaned, shaking your head and pulling yourself up to look at Satoru’s angelic face. His arctic lashes were even more beautiful in his sleep, making him look twice as heavenly. You couldn’t help but lightly press your lips on the tip of his nose while asking yourself: did you really just do all of those with him? His overflowing affection towards you during your lovemaking must be driven by liquor courage because you couldn’t believe that Gojou was capable of being sweet during intercourse.
The shooting pain in your head forced you to get up and move out of Satoru’s hold as you stumbled to reach for your thin silk robe. You didn’t care if the robe was slightly see-through and you didn’t have any underwear underneath, all you wanted to do was to get a glass of water to ease your headache from last night.
As you headed to the kitchen, you tried to think of how you should act around your husband while terribly hungover. Do you just pretend that nothing happened? Or should you bring up the topic?
You couldn’t stop weighing your options in your head as you grabbed a coffee pod, turning the machine on while hoping that Satoru would allow you more time to think of your next move. Surprisingly, however, the sound of the doorbell awoke you from your trance and led you to the front door in urgency.
The doorbell rung a few times as though the person was impatiently pressing the button. “Coming!” you raised your voice so that they could hear, but blood rushed out of your face when you opened the door to see Sera with tearful eyes, looking at you from head-to-toe in absolute disgust. “Sera—”
“I knew it,” she accused, tears falling from her eyes as she balled her hands into fists. “I thought I could trust you, you liar!”
You desperately shook your head. “I was meant to—”
“Sera.” Gojou’s voice stole both of your attention, seeing how the man was scrambling to pull his sweatshirt down in desperation to get to his lover. Not one second did Satoru’s eyes ever meet yours because Sera was all he cared about. “Let me explain.”
Before he could do so, Sera already ran away while painfully crying her heart out. You were stuck not knowing what to do because you started feeling nausea along with the sudden stabbing pain on your chest.
“Satoru, I...” You held your chest in desperation, but he pushed you out of the way to chase after Sera. “Wait, I’m...”
He turned around, not to show the slightest worry for your current pain, but to spit out words that hurt you a thousand times worse than the physical agony in your heart. “Stop being an attention-seeker,” he accused, thinking that you were faking your chest pains so you could prevent him from chasing his lover. If looks could kill, you would be dead already. “Know your boundaries and leave us alone.”
And as you watched him run after the woman that he loved, even your soul was not spared of the paroxysm of negative emotions that you felt after being hurt countless times by the man that you were supposed to love.
You figured that you could die today and be forgotten in this world with no husband to grieve for his loss because you were never once seen as an important person in his life. No matter how hard you tried, Satoru no longer had space in his heart for you to ever be in—the truth hurts, but lying to yourself would only hurt more.
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class1akids · 3 years
Note
I think Haikyuu and Full Metal Alchemist both did really strong epilogues. In particular, FMA I think probably has the best-handled romances (both explicit in Winry/Ed and implicit in Mustang/Hawkeye) in all of battle Shōnen. What would be your hopes for a satisfying conclusion to BNHA? More than just seeing all the kids as pro heroes, but smaller goals which feel fulfilling to their character?
Oh, for me, a satisfying ending would have sort of these points:
1. Hero society:
Civilians given more agency through changes to quirk laws, less of a division between the people and heroes - “you can be a hero” being a message to everyone regardless of quirk
No more hero ranking system, more teams, more recognition to niche heroes
Better support to vulnerable people, especially kids with difficult quirks
2. Some tangible way on how new generation surpasses the old one - possibly putting focus on cooperation and diversity, rather than competition and putting one type of quirk on the pedestal
3. Deku:
His ending should make clear that OFA didn't make him a hero
Saving Tomura by connecting how similar they were at the start
I want him to head for a life that has time for friends and family and to be the kind of caring hero he is, who not only saves people, but takes time to be involved and make candy apples after instead of becoming a burnt-out, lonely workaholic like All Might
I want the vestiges gone from his head one way or another
4. Bakugou:
I'd love to see him in a strong, charismatic team leader spot - that's who he was originally, someone who pulled all his neighbourhood kids along
Good relationship with Deku finally being free from his own past sins, and just having good friendships in general and being comfortable in them
Give him a really satisfying, cathartic win and an opportunity to be someone's hero, like Deku is for Kota and Eri
5. Shouto:
A real radiant smile and a non-murderous hug from his family
Saving Touya, maybe even participating in the final take-down of AFO as a Todoroki family combo with everyone's fire
Seeing him put people at ease like he wanted to stepping out of Endeavor’s shadow and being seen on his own merits
Getting a badass finishing move that combines his two sides seamlessly
6. Return of the Remedial Squad / saving of the kindergarten kids
7. All Origin Characters (TDBKDK + Shigaraki) having a part in bringing down AFO
8. Todoroki family: Endeavor's dream to come true about them laughing at the table, Touya getting a hopeful ending
9. Ochako saving Toga
10. Momo having finally a big operation that is a complete success.
11. Iida saving Stain, so Stain gets a hand-on confirmation of his bullshit ideology.
12. Hawks getting agency over his own life and becoming the kind of person he wanted to be - maybe reconnecting with his mom. I'd also love him to take over HPSC.
13. Rooftop trio - god, I don't know what I want for them - their story is so painful and I don't think Shirakumo can be brought back, not even with Eri, but I want a good ending for them with some closure and some happiness down the road. Aizawa watches the class graduating.
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doctors-star · 3 years
Note
16 for cowboys??
“Look, I care about you, alright? Quite a bit, I’m afraid.”
Johnny flops on his back, head slightly downhill of his feet in a way which makes the blood in his skull rush and whirl bewilderingly and his eyes pressed closed against the burning-bright sun, as yet undimmed by the afternoon. Someone drops a hat on his stomach and he flinches as though it had been a cannonball, sticking his tongue out and playing at being injured like the hognose snake Will had found in the shade under the general store’s porch - he’d rescued it from being killed as a copperhead, scooped it up in his hat, and brought it round to Ainsel’s back window to show the kids, thoroughly derailing all schooling for the day, as they all crowded around the hat to watch the creature resolutely turn on its back and stick its tongue out in repeatedly feigned death.
He stretches massively on the grass, smiling at the gentle laughter and the feeling of someone sitting near him and reaching across to give him two firm pats on the flank like a well-behaved horse. It’s been a long day, and it started early, but Johnny does like the big drives and hay harvests - all Danser collected together for one purpose, to help their neighbours and be rewarded in turn. Before dawn, he’d been drummed awake by fists on his door and had dressed quickly in the dark to stumble out into the street and go about mustering up others in turn. Of their little gang, he’d been first out of doors, followed by Will - looking bleary but drawn out by the other men staying in the saloon - then Ainsel, who seems to think they might be more use in bed than on horseback every time they see their own horse, then Tommy and Finn looking respectively disgustingly bright and alert, and still mostly asleep. Will, with his extremely biddable broad-chested nearly-a-draught horse, is quickly co-opted into driving one of the carts out of town and along the dusty prairie roads, uphill to the Wilder ranch to deliver tin pails of food and heavy stoneware bottles of drink and the very young and the very old, so that all of Danser may equally participate in the drive. Johnny, Finn, Ainsel and Tommy saddle up and cut north through the prairie, up the steeper side of the hill where the road can’t run; there, Diaz, Wilder, and Wilder’s eldest lad are calling instructions over the heads of the crowd and pointing in disparate directions to where the cows oughtta be, and where the cows oughtta go. A further crowd of skirts and fine hats - for today the town congregates, and it had better be in full finery and Sunday best - has collected around Mrs Wilder and Mrs Diaz to make tea and grits and beans cooked with salt pork in molasses, the scent sticky and inviting on the air even now, with hours of cooking left. Johnny tilts his nose into the air and breathes deeply, shooting a wink at Jody Masham when she passes near and earning a delightfully saucy grin for it. Her ma notices, of course, and gives him the evil eye, but Jody lets her fingers trail down his thigh from hip to knee on the pretense of admiring his horse and looks up at him through her lashes and he could perish on the spot for love of her, so what does he care anyhow.
She passes up chunks of soda bread, steaming in the dawning light and golden with butter, and he tosses them to his fellow riders - dinner will be late today, what with the distance the herd might have gone. And then they’re away, riding nearly the full complement of the town’s horses across the plains to where the herd stands, sedate and well-fed on the last of their summer grazing and ready to be collected up, split once more between Wilder and Diaz, and stowed in smaller paddocks with good solid barns over winter.
There ain’t no point in racing, really. There’s no advantage to getting there ahead of any other person. Johnny grins up at the sky, remembering the wind in his hair, hat brim in his teeth, crouching low over his horse to eke out those crucial inches that keep his horse’s nose ahead of Finn’s as they hoot and holler with the freedom of the run.
“Aww,” Finn says in a tone of very mocking gentleness as he nudges Johnny’s knee with the toe of his boot. Johnny cracks an eye open in preparation to glare at him for the inevitable teasing; against the bright and sunny sky, Finn’s hat is like a halo though his face is dark in the shade. “Didya go too fast today? You ain’t got no endurance, Johnny.”
Johnny allows the glare to settle, but before he can retort, someone on his blind side snorts. “No endurance - how many girlfriends has he got, again?”
Johnny chokes on startled laughter. Finn is wide-eyed in delight as he stares across Johnny’s prone form. “William,” he says, sounding scandalised.
Johnny props himself up on his elbows and sticks his hat back on his head so’s he can watch Will spread his hands defensively. “What,” he says, “I can’t be crude sometimes?”
Finn gestures at his own cheeks. “Naw, sure ya can, only it makes your face go so red that I get worried about ya.”
“That’s just the sunburn,” Tommy says cheerfully, clapping Will on the shoulder hard enough to make him sway and dropping to the grass next to Johnny. As promised, Will’s fair skin is flushed with embarrassment and striped with an angry red across his angular nose and cheekbones, the skin already starting to peel from a day under the sun. He huffs and folds to the floor, knees up to his chest and sleeves shoved up to his elbows to display a bar of red down his forearms too.
“I hope you weren’t teachin’ my kids that kind of joke,” Ainsel says, an enormous black umbrella hooked under forearm and over shoulder to shield them from the sun as they carry a wicker basket in two hands packed with tin pails, bread, biscuits, and bottles over to their little circle. The rest of the town is ranged likewise on the hill overlooking the town and, beyond that, the desert; the horses are tacked out near the farmhouse; the kids themselves are enjoying the freedom and sunshine having been released from hay harvest duties and are tearing up and down the hill, weaving in between groups and only occasionally stopping by their families to grab more food before haring off again.
“I have done no such thing,” Will objects crossly, but Ainsel gives him first choice from the basket and tucks him under the umbrella and out of the sun when they sit beside him so it’s quickly forgiven.
“He was exceeding useful,” Noel pronounces, kneeling by the big enamel dish which represents their share of the molasses and beans and salt pork, and wielding a large spoon like a sword. Johnny gathers that she had appeared some time after dawn, to the disparaging muttering of many of the elder town ladies, but had done so with such a quantity of fine bread and pickles and preserves that her critics had been forced to quiet down to faces of pinched displeasure while Noel held court, knowing that it was not a competition and that she had, regardless, won. She had then gone about supervising the hay harvest, keeping the younger kids in line and occupied while those trusted with scythes cut the hay and Will, on horseback, ran the new hay tedder up and down the field, and then releasing them to stack the hay under her exacting eye. Jody and Peggy had been amongst the scythers and had told Johnny with mouths full of giggles how Will had been left “in charge,” and then done every single thing Noel told him to without complaint or thought of defiance - but the harvest had been done, and Danser is too fond of Will to mock him for being hen-pecked by a woman he hasn’t even married.
Johnny reaches across to ruffle Will’s hair, but he ducks away like a feral cat. “Aww,” he laughs, “you’re useful.”
“Wish the rest of you were,” Will grouses, folding sulkily around his plate.
Tommy catches Johnny’s eye and grins wickedly. He beams in reply; Noel sighs in advance. “It’s true,” Johnny says, assuming a woebegone expression and trying not to snigger when Tommy looks similarly sorry for himself. “We ain’t good for anything whatever. Wholly useless, and you don’t love us.”
Will sniffs, mouth turned down comically in disdain. “You’d be mad to do otherwise,” he tells them sternly, in his finest clipped tones - brought out for special occasions, and their amusement.
“Why, Mister Williams, that don’t reflect very well on me at all,” comes a voice behind Johnny’s left shoulder, light and familiar fingers coming to rest there in accompaniment. Distantly, Johnny is aware of Finn choking on laughter and cornbread, and of Will straightening awkwardly with an air of panic, and of Tommy smirking and kicking at the sole of Johnny’s boot in a teasing, vaguely encouraging fashion - but mostly Johnny is aware of those five delicate points of gentle contact over the ball of his shoulder, and the swishing press of skirts against his side, and how if he tilts his head right back and left he can see all up the willowy line of Jody Masham, hip to hair, her blue eyes and golden curls like a field of cornflowers. There’s a little compressed mischief at Will’s expense tucked into her smile, and Johnny wants to kiss at it until she shares it with him; and there’s a loose, frizzy loop of hair that has escaped from the large bonnet that keeps her pale skin free of the sun, and become darkened with sweat and flyaway in the heat, and Johnny wants to press his nose to it, smooth it between his fingers, tuck it carefully away with pins so that she needn’t mind it - he could do that, he thinks, could give up on all other professions but following Jody around to tidy her hair and carry her basket on one arm, shielding her with a parasol with the other hand.
“Um,” Will says guiltily. “I - well-”
“Don’t you dare say you didn’t mean it,” Ainsel says sternly. Jody is smiling fully now; she is so beautiful Johnny could burst.
“I’m not going to lie to the lady,” Will replies, relaxing out of his tense, guilty stance to be indignant at the idea that he might. She is rubbing little circles into his upper arm with her thumb now: Johnny could not tell you for love nor money what Will just said.
“Well,” Jody says, a laugh bubbling in her voice, “how ‘bout you lend me this young man in recompense an’ we’ll call it quits? I’d like a word.”
Johnny is already scrambling to his feet, pressed up on his toes in eagerness to follow her away. Her hand slides down his arm, shoulder to elbow, and the press of it leaves hot lines in its wake that make him shiver. “Ma’am,” Finn says politely, not without amusement, “you keep him.”
Jody curls her fingers around his elbow joint and guides him gently a ways away from everyone else. Once done, he scoops her hands up in his own and holds them carefully like something immeasurably precious. She smiles indulgently and nods at the basket on her other arm, which he’d barely noticed. “Present for you,” she says.
Johnny juggles her fingers into just one hand, freeing up the other to push aside the flannel cover and fetch out a thin, steaming disk of fried batter. “Johnny-cakes,” he says, delighted.
“Couldn’t resist.” He takes a bite, savouring the salty cornmeal cut through with sticky maple syrup, and grins broadly at Jody. She laughs at his enthusiasm and allows him to feed her the other half without letting her hands go, chasing the syrup from his sticky fingers with her tongue until he can barely breathe.
“So, what’s the word?” he manages, biting the tip of his thumb to keep from kissing her, here where her ma is almost certainly watching.
“The word.” Jody bites her lip, huffs a big breath, and looks away - and a solid feeling of dread settles in his stomach. He’s had it good for so long - with Jody, and Cathy, and even Peggy and Anne-Marie, in a way - and he’s always known it wouldn’t last, and that it would ruin him, and-
“The word is baby,” Jody says eventually, tilting her head to one side and pinning him with her gaze, eyes narrowed in consideration. All thoughts leave Johnny’s head in a moment, to be replaced with vague, foggy panic. “Not-” she squeezes his hand until it relaxes a little and ceases crushing hers, “not right now, Johnny, jesus. Come back.”
The fog recedes and he musters up a gentle pat of her fingers in apology for squashing them in his paw. His hands are so much bigger and stronger than hers, tanned and weatherbeaten where hers are pale and delicate with flour worked into the nailbeds, and he oughtta be more careful with them. With her, and with - with the word, if there is to be one.
He can’t tell how he feels about that, in the moment.
“Sorry,” he says ruefully, offering her a clumsy, lopsided smile. “I weren’t - anyway. You go on.”
Jody takes a deep breath and nods firmly, gaze fixed at some point on his left shoulder. “Alright, I will. Johnny, I’ve spent the day cutting hay with a whole herd of the town’s kids, an’ it’s occurred to me, I want one.”
“I’ll get you one,” Johnny says on instinct, like he does with everything Jody says she wants however unrealistic, from hair ribbons to haywains to the entire Union Pacific Railroad. And then she raises an eyebrow at him, and he remembers how that’s what they’re talking about, actually, and to deflect from this he nods his head at one of the kids pelting past on little chubby legs. “That one’ll do - will he suit ya?”
Jody’s face relaxes into amusement and she huffs, leaning forward to press her forehead into his sternum. He must stink of sweat, and wants to tell her to shift in case he does, but he doesn’t want her to move like he doesn’t want to lose his right arm and she doesn’t seem to care. “Sweetheart,” she says into his shirt, “you ain’t never gonna be friends with my ma if you go about giving her grandchildren by stealin’ em.”
“Not even a little one?” Johnny says, tilting his head to catch her eye and watch her giggle. “‘Sides,” he says, considering it with a slight frown, “not sure she’s over fond on my givin’ her grandkids the other way, neither.”
Jody leans back, smiling. “Only ‘cause we ain’t married,” she corrects brightly, and then falters back into seriousness, biting her lip. Johnny squeezes her hands in careful encouragement, for he feels (fears) they have reached the crux of the matter. “Johnny, I - I wanna have kids. Not today, or tomorrow, or maybe even a year or two yet, but I want ‘em. An’ - I know we’ve not ever been traditional, but my ma - my ma really is gonna disown me if I ain’t married when I have ‘em, so.” She shrugs, fingers tapping in agitation against his palm and her gaze fixed back over his shoulder. “I’m not saying now, but I am sayin’ someday, and if that don’t fit with you someday then - I gotta find someone else. An’ I don’t know how that someday fits with you and Cathy, or Peggy and Anne-Marie, or - or I guess just with you, but I’m sayin’... I don’t mind, I guess, so long as you do right by the kids, and we’re…” She trails off.
“Miss Jody Masham,” Johnny says solemnly, raising her hands between his own, “are you askin’ me to marry you someday?”
She meets his gaze at last, frowning shrewdly at him. “Depends,” she says shortly. “Are you gonna say yes?”
Jody hasn’t never said she loves him. Johnny doesn’t need her to: he knows she does, on account of how she smiles at him and teases him and trounces him at cards to win kisses five nights in seven on lamplit nights where her ma can’t see them. And he bandies about words of love to everyone and everything, enough for the both of them, and they’re well-settled into the kind of long-standing devotion that doesn’t need professing very much. She’s told him before that she’s no good at romancing others (though personally Johnny reckons she’s not bad) ‘cause of how she can’t be sentimental with them; she loves them, and they gotta figure that out, or they ain’t trying hard enough.
Johnny told her he loved her on their second meeting, but then, he’s like that. Always has been. And it doesn’t mean he loves her any less, or any more, than she does him; he’s just got an awful lot of love to share, and she doesn’t mind him sharing it.
He could be married, he thinks. He and Jody could do it, and do it well, and marriage was always waiting for him somewhere - now that he’s not looking at it down the barrel of some angry pa’s shotgun, and without the threat of that too, it looks mighty appealing. They’ll have to get a house, of course; somehow stop renting, and own outright, but how hard can that be? He’ll get her fine printed calico, and build a table for her sewing machine, and Ainsel will school the kids. Finn and Tommy can teach them to ride and make great pets of them, and this time years from now Noel will have them harvesting hay neatly under her stern eye, and Will can bring them hognoses cradled gently in a hat.
He could live in that future, and live long and well.
Johnny pretends to think about it, but lets his grin slip through so’s she knows he’s teasing. “Well, you ain’t hardly romancin’ me.”
She purses her lips against a real smile and uses their hand grip to punch him gently in the chest. “I brought you johnny-cakes, special,” she objects, and he laughs. “Look,” she says firmly, “I - care about you, alright? Quite a bit, actually, and so you’re just - gonna have to deal with that.”
Johnny ducks in close and presses his forehead to hers, beaming. “An’ I love you too,” he croons to make her blush, and then ducks under her bonnet and kisses her softly. He can do that, now - here before the town, on the day of the hay harvest and cattle drive, for they are, someday, to be married.
Jody pulls back, smiling secretly in the corners of her eyes, and strokes a hand through his hair. “I always forget,” she says absently, eyes on her fingers as they comb and tangle in his curls, “how nice your hair is without your hat on.”
Johnny frowns, puts a hand up to his own head. “Where is my hat?”
“It fell off when you leaned back to see me,” Jody supplies. “You didn’t seem to notice.”
“Oh.” He doesn’t remember that.
Jody smiles with resigned amusement. “Lord help me,” she sighs, “for I’m marryin’ a moron.”
Johnny puffs up in indignation. “You don’t have to.” Of course she doesn’t - Jody Masham is the prettiest girl in the county - the west - the world - and could have any man she pleases.
“Naw,” she says, rubbing her thumb along his chin. “I’m gonna.”
6 notes · View notes
softsweetsuffering · 3 years
Text
OC LIST (New)
Trey:
Has an ability to mimic or amplify abilities/powers of others, as well as telekinesis
Was previously part of a group of people who also had abilities, however after mistreatment and other issues within the group, he left.
He's got a good wealth behind him.
Extremely gentle
Handsome ;)
Loves photography
Has lavender hair
Respects all
'Secretly' Plays violin
Lowkey a sugardaddy
Hamrish Benat:
Has four eyes!
Pink and blonde hair
He loves parkour (as in climbing buildings and leaping around in gyms)
Has PTSD (There are two AUS of which I default as to how he obtained it)
Ready to deck a bitch
Trained nurse
Loves teddy bears and fuzzy pink socks.
Also goes by Hami/Hayden
Andy peters:
Strong, kind.
The quiet Big Type, doesn't always talk, but his heart is in good places.
Wishes he could do more
Buff + Tall
Wears a pair of dogtags.
Has red streaks in his hair for the fun of it
Is extremely brotherly to Adrian
is friends with Hami
Adrian Géarán:
Nervous Malnutritioned anxiety filled tired mess
Has emotionally linked fire abilities (does not like having them)
likes to make little robots!
Easily bullied
Missing an arm
Struggles with normal life
Blames himself for Andys death
Looks unintentionally vaguely like Fry from Futurama
Chris:
Leader of a summer camp for kiddos
Huge fan of the outdoors
Loves to garden
Red head with freckles
Healthy!
Good build, a little on the below-average male height
Likes to hike
Loves kids
Strong but pacifistic
Great smile
Surprisingly a little shy around other adults
Bisexual
Himbo energy
Douglas Connelly:
Just a regular chubby guy
His chub is only important because this man gives some of the best hugs, he's like a marshmallow
He is outwardly confident about his size, even if it sometimes worries him internally
He loves music, loves to groove in the kitchen while making snacks
Always open for roommates and new friends (one of his roommates is a hot bartender called Donovan)
A bit awkward but he tries his best.
Tucker:
Badass
Bunny hybrid (ears :3)
White hair
Likes to wear denim jackets
Fast runner
Has had experience working in the force
Izekiel Iris:
Bruised and abused in a facility
Was turned from human into A being of made of Paint (Useful? no. Fun? yes. Rainbow blood anyone?)
Loves painting
Wallflower
Easily anxious
Loves to draw on his own arms
Matthew Libelle:
Aka Matty Very delayed development wise as well as Autistic
Very much a texture lad, soft blankets are his thing.
Doesn't like loud sounds ( who does honestly).
Tries his hardest to function normally but it's hard.
Watermelon colours are his fav. Green hoodie is his fav.
Has watermelon pink hair.
Gale:
Eldritch bab
Was cursed by a group of guys who were messing with magics they didn't understand
Did in fact murder said group of guys and is traumatised by the idea he has become a monster
hears voices
Has Tendrils that have burst out of his back
Has the ability to move from this realm to the Eldritch planes and back. (is terrified of said planes)
Doesn't have a home
Black curly hair- frizzy- shimmers like Slick oil
Shy type kinda, tall Pale. cold.
Kinda wishes he could just go back to normal.
Would really like to eat some fresh warm bread.
Rowan maverick
Was abandoned as a teen
Also known as Rogue/Red.
Lost some of their tongues making them mute
Trained Assassin.
Previously part of a cult
Addict to painkillers (Caused by the mental issues from the cult and the loss of tongue.)
Bad with Physical affection
Could use a friend
Jace
Cop/Ex Cop.
Laid off after an incident
Has a pubby called Otis
Likes the occasional beer
Dad energy
Issac Merewen
Was previously a Teacher - grade 11/12s
Kidnapped and kept Drugged the hell up.
Was given the new name: Jess/Jack. AKA The Jester
Now has Amnesia problems .(Anomic aphasia)
Was stored Cramped in box.
Needs glasses. (Long sighted. Cant see Infront of him for shit without glasses. He specifically likes round ones :3)
Natrually Blonde
He was very inspired by the Chitty Chitty bang bang scene, “Doll on a music box”.
- He naturally has two different coloured eyes :D
-He likes podcast n occasionally audiobooks. Its good for learning/remembering words, and way easier than straining his eyes. Although it is upsetting occasionally when he can remember more of a book/podcast he’s into more than real words or real-life things.
Tyrone Li
Incubus.
Wise, Patient, caring.
Brown tattoos wind up his hips and torso, curling around his chest around his heart, and around his back, flaring at his neck.
Glasses.
Loves plants and flora
Sex lost meaning when he was younger. He wants true intimacy again but he wants to find the right person..
Glamors hide the following features:
Tail, brown that gradients into Green, Leaf like tip.
Horns, curled. (green tipped :0)
Glamors break usually after a certain period of time regardless of feeding, however, during bad situations/fight the body may unglamour to reserve the last of its energy.
Caspian:
Basically immortal but can die (Reincarnations)
Not a pacifist, but not instantly into violence
He was blessed by the Heart of the Ocean (Shes wonderful <3)
Can control water, can do minor healing with water
Can make water bubble/ boil when angry
Glowy veins when powers are active
He has had many many lives
Soft..caring..Doesnt remember alot of his past..
Doesn't know how many times hes died
Doesn't have alot of family or friends
Goes on many adventures
Elio Solren.
Nickname: Sunshine
Good lad.
Is a shapeshifter Dealt with being told he was happy and always upbeat. People leaving or ignoring him whenever he wasn't started building this sense of need to be happy all the time for others.
Lots of struggles with self image. Being perfect. Appeasing everyone. Poor self body love/self body image.
Is scared about The hate from humans about shifters. The jealousy and fear about them being able to hide behind other faces.
Smiles to hide the pain
Punk/hipster vibes
Intricate golden tattoos
Doesn't open up easily
Doesn't like to admit to being in pain
Kotori
AKA Corey
Owl lad!
Bright yellow piercing eyes. But is totally blind. (Face scars)
Loves music.
Plays the uke.. hums..sings sometimes.
Big wings- like barn owl.
Likes to perch in trees
Jeremey Caulfield
Winter baby
Was left bleeding in the snow at some point
Father Lovely old man (John)
Mother died (Ellie)
Birthday December 23h
Blue eyes
Black hair
Russel
Box boy
Glasses
Red hair
Real sweetheart
Really needs more dev ; ;
Jules
Loves tofu n chicken
Touchstarved
Stubborn af
Kicks ass!
Has Sass
Wears binders/sports bras for Lotsa running n such
Black hair big messy pigtails
Dark brown eyes.
Has a navy bear sleeps with it ‘doesn't care’ about it but does
Gymnast/kickboxing. Bandages around hands
Loved swinging bars since being a kiddo
Trampolines!!
Participates in Underground fight ring to make easy money
Sleeps on just a mattress
Has a laptop for study work but she's slowly giving up on bothering.
(She's not one originally but Werewolf Jules is one of my fav things)
Miles
Part mole, part orphan
Lives underground
Very light-sensitive
Is colourblind
Absolute nerd
loves tinkering with things
is scared of humans
very foggy memories of his parents.
Leilah/ Lei
Can make/control shadows.
Owns a Magic skull(Speaks to it)
Lives in the woods
Wears a skull to spook off people from her woods
Has Tattoos that are shadow/absorb shadows
Kinda bad at maintaining friendships
Emotionally Distant
Wears a cloak.
Bao Ketsuyki
Blood magic bab
Short
East Asian.
Pink/red medium length hair
Big pretty red flower scar from blood magic use on her shoulder/ back.
Little bit foolish, little bit reckless.
Has almost died a few times from her magic use.
Oran Audun
Pale
Punk
Irish
Plays Guitar
Writes in journal, occasionally song lyrics, occasionally little messy ink drawings.
Easy to aggravate (On edge) however is trying to learn how to meditate and be calmer
Covered head to toe in scars but still tries to find confidence in himself. He doesn't find it unattractive, but he feels like others have no need to witness his scars.
loves wearing leather/fabric wrist bracelets
Unwelcome hands have used his body as a research object
Very very against physical contact, needs to break into it.
Ray
Social worker works mainly with kids.
Has a Shy guy tattoo.
His family consists of a Good ma, younger sister, and super baby brother
Dad died but dad was good.
Dirty blonde hair, kinda messy
Short, 5’
Socks the pupper is his helpful lil buddy (hes so round and white and fluffy)
Super dad vibes.
Owen
a hockey player n gymnast.
His mother died when he was about 9.
has an older brother who is a bit of a big jock type
quite protective and caring of his two much younger siblings.
ended up in a nasty scuffle though at some point during his more competitive years in Hockey
This leads to following his passion for Gym
Pole vault, the rings, trampoline.
Still plays hockey among mates or strangers on the weekends in the cold months tho
Ends up taking a position as a gym teacher for kids after taking a childhood course since he was so good at it.
actually a really sweet guy
Soft but likes his sport and jokes.
He can hold his own somewhat more than he appears.
has blue tips/stripes in his blonde hair.
He often wears varsity jackets or baseball tees. As well as a couple other sport wear shirts. (A. Good few are from his bro ofc. Free merch)
He's short but he's got a fairly decent build on him.
He's got a surprisingly good tackle if you aren't careful. And a good grip strength.
Nohea
but everyone calls him Noah.
Works at a Boba tea cafe..
likes to surf.
has an Epic board.
Back and shoulders all littered with lines and tic tac toe-like scars.
he's the type to brush off any questions and change topic while smiling. But not super bubbly. Just. Go lucky.
has a few friends who like to hang out at the cafe
Was in a surfing accident that involved a lot of rocks.
Ila
4’8 Soft. Short.
Ready to protect.
Loves to bake!!!
Smells like a vanilla cupcake most of the time
Isn't afraid to fight although isn't trained
likes Yoga ( and yoga pants)
Needs glasses but doesn't wear them (tsk tsk, unless tryign to read recipes)
Dyes hair silver/white
Jake
Homeless
Snake hybrid can transform his lower half from human legs to tail
Also has fangs, and therefore venom
He's got a lot of sass
Can be a bit of an asshole but soft around the right people
Isn't used to kindness
doesn't cry easily
Steals food
Mac Hiato
Also known as Caf
5’6
Very Grumpy.
Very often has bags under his eyes.
Hoodie is life
Insomnia has serious trouble sleeping.
Has nightmares of strangulation
Occasionally sufferers sleep paralysis
Scared of dark- night lights
Owns a mouse called Bean
Does freelancing webdesgisn/coding as job.
Sits like a gay.
Lives on coffee
Minorly Lactose intolerant
Has One bad eye
Neema
Egyptian
Mechanic
Her dad's a mechanic and used to bring her to work all the time
dead mum: which affected her ability to emote.
Works part time at the garage
Dad likes to bring gifts on their small catch-ups that happen every once in a while.
Sheeee. Suffers a bit of resting bitch face.
she's kinda stunted emotionally because she was raised by her dad, who, isn't great with emotions himself being a man's man and all.
She's very much a tomboy gal. Doesn't exactly get dressed up. because she finds it tiresome and not "her".
Also if she did/does have friends the nickname Nemo 100% crops up because it's sadly alll too fitting but also kinda sweet.
She's actually really into cars and mechanics. Which is one of the few good reasons her dad and her are close.
She's hard to get to know, very quiet. And if you're someone who dominates the conversation she won't speak up much, but you'll be surprised to how much she's listened.
Just because she looks tired and done doesn't actually mean she feels that way.
Samson (Lemonade boi)
His name is Samson, but he prefers Sun/Sunny. (Other more affectionate nicknames include Lemondrop and Sunflower.)
He really likes going out to markets and stuff like that, little stalls or knick knack shops to find the odd kinda items.
He also really likes wandering big forests. (Hes got some o that fae energy) He collects various cool stones/rocks/plants from some of them. He also has some small vials from waterfalls and ponds he’s encountered)
He wants to practice magic to become a witch! He loves the candles and rocks and other cool things that come with the craft. (He inherited things from his father)
He really likes loose fitting shirts too, like flowy things, ones with sleeves that drape past your fingers, or has extra fabric on the bottom that dangle down past hips. (Sometimes they come from the ladies section just because they’re softer and have more variety. Others from op shops and other niche little stores.)
He bought a cologne from a witch that looks cursed but the only curse is that it makes the one who puts it on smell like citrus..so not much of curse. (The bottle looks fuckin neato tho)
He looves fizzy drinks. Doesn’t mind his alcohol either, however it takes a surprising amount to get him on his ass despite looking like a serious lightweight.
He’s pretty average in build, bit of muscle in his arms, some fat on his thighs. Slight pouch of a tum (cause no ones flat and thats unrealistic :<)
He’s about 5′4. So not tall, but not the shortest of the short.
He kinda likes to backpack about. Not staying in places long if they get boring. Which means he is kinda jack of all trades when it comes to work, offering to fix things for pay, lots of casual work doing various things.(One of his favorites was helping a little old lady run a paint shop.)
He occasionally snorts when he laughs and tries not to.
He has his ears pierced, and he has a little yellow gemed stud in his nose.
The ring around his neck he found in the middle of a patch of mushrooms.
He has a couple other tattoos. One of them is of bubbles up his wrist :3 He also has some stars on his ankle, and a sunflower on one of his fingers on his left hand.
He’s not super in to gardening but he does have his lemon tree. He also wants to grow some mandarins
His eyes look silver in a lot of lights, but occasionally there’s some strange hints of yellow, and other times blue.
He has freckles!!!! that look alot like bubbles ;)
He has a twin brother called Fraser.
Scrunches his nose
Hides his laughter behind his hand
1 note · View note
wrestlingisfake · 3 years
Text
Full Gear preview
Jon Moxley vs. Eddie Kingston - Moxley is defending the AEW men’s world championship.  (He’s also the IWGP United States champion, but that title is not at stake.)  This is an “I quit” match, so the only rule in effect is that the match cannot end until one participant verbally concedes the match; the other participant thereby wins and will be the champion.
Kingston is an unlikely headliner for such a stacked show.  Despite a long and storied career, he’s mainly known for his work on the indies, and his reputation among wrestlers who hold his work in high regard.  It took him until 2020 to get to this level (when he was on the verge of retiring), and even now that he’s in the majors he’s not a top contender.  Lance Archer “eliminated” him to win a September 5 battle royale for a title shot, but the elimination was a blown call.  Kingston bellyached about the finish until he was granted a title match of his own, which Moxley won by ref stoppage.  Kingston continued to make excuses, and had his “family” beat down Moxley.  At this point, Mox is so pissed at his former friend that he’d probably demand this second title match even if Kingston hadn’t issued the challenge.
A big part of this match is that wrestling fandom has woken up about how great Eddie always was, and there’s a lot of excitement about him possibly disrupting the AEW topcard to score a rich reward for 18 years of hard work.  But to me the real selling point here is that it’s an “I quit” match where I genuinely believe both guys would rather die than say the words.  When WWE does these matches, they usually have a heel give in to cowardice, or a babyface surrender to save a friend in distress, or some screwjob with a tape recorder.  I don’t think any of that stuff is going to happen here.  These guys are going to endure some sick shit just for the sake of pride.
I think Moxley has to win and retain the championship, which means he has to make Kingston verbally quit.  I don’t know what the fuck Mox can do to achieve that condition, but it should be fun/gross finding out.
Kenny Omega vs. Hangman Page - This is the final match in an eight-man elimination tournament to determine the next challenger for the AEW men’s world title.  Page defeated Colt Cabana and Wardlow to get here, while Omega defeated Sonny Kiss and Penta El 0M.
I was gonna run down the whole Hangman Page saga, from the day he lost to Chris Jericho to the day Omega walked out on him.  But then AEW did that “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)” video, so now any summary I can provide seems superfluous.  The point here is that Page fell into depression and let his friends down, so Omega broke up their tag team to return to singles competition, and now they’ve managed to cross paths once again.  Is Omega slowly turning heel?  Will he complete that apparent heel turn by mercilessly destroying Page?  Or can they work out their problems in the ring and shake hands when it’s over?  We’ll soon find out.
The smart money is on tonight’s show setting up Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega.  However, I don’t think AEW needs to get to that destination right away, so we could potentially see a Page win here to keep the story going.  Expectations are high for this match being very, very good.  Will the story be enough to put it over the top?  I’ve got a good feeling that it will, and that the icing on the cake will be an upset by Page.
Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood vs. Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson - Wheeler and Cash are FTR, the AEW tag team champions.  Matt and Nick are the Young Bucks, and they earned this title shot by winning a four-way match on October 21.  Matt Jackson has vowed that if the Bucks cannot win this match, they will never again challenge for this championship.
This match has been in the making for years, going back to when Wheeler and Harwood (as Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson, the Revival) emerged as rivals for the Bucks’ status as the top tag team in pro wrestling.  “Fuck The Revival” became a running joke on the Bucks’ Youtube show, right up until Wheeler and Harwood got their releases from WWE in order to come here.  FTR stands for the kind of old-school wrestling that the Bucks thumb their noses at, and FTR’s gimmick is that they bitch just like the kind of old-school wrestling fans who thumb their noses at the Bucks.
The Bucks have been trying to win the tag title since it was first introduced, but they’ve always managed to come up short.  After FTR manipulated Hangman Page into screwing them out of a potential title shot (clearing the way for FTR to win the gold), the Bucks snapped and started trying to regain their edge.  This hasn’t really made a lot of sense, though, because instead of getting more ruthless and intense against their opponents in the ring, they’ve just been behaving like dicks to non-wrestlers backstage.  If their bad attitude had directly led to them getting this match, I think the story might have landed better; as it is, they were selected literally at random to enter the 10/21 four-way, so it didn’t really make any difference.
The stipulation has people buzzing because a) Cody Rhodes had a similar stip a year ago, so we know it’s not a joke, and b) Matt Jackson is working through a knee injury, so it may not make sense for him to win a championship right this minute.  I suppose it’s possible that Matt knows his in-ring days are numbered and this stip is the beginning of the end of his career.  But I think it’s more likely that they just want to set up a scenario where we know the Bucks are behind the 8-ball, to build to more drama when they finally win the belts.  The knock against a Bucks title win is that it’s too soon for FTR to drop the title, but then again I think it would work for the two teams to trade the championship back and forth for a few months.  I’m going with new champs here.
Hikaru Shida vs. Nyla Rose - Shida is defending the AEW women’s world championship, after somebody finally remembered Rose exists.  I’m fine with some major title matches in AEW being thrown together without an epic drama behind them.  But in this case it’s just annoying because everything in the women’s division feels thrown together without much consideration.  I’m guessing Shida retains to keep everything on the same treadmill it’s been on.
Chris Jericho vs. MJF - This is a rare heel vs. heel battle.  If MJF wins, he will be permitted to join Jericho’s stable, the Inner Circle. I was curious what MJF’s next move would be after losing to Jon Moxley on September 5, and this is it.  He’s been angling to get into the group through a series of goofy skits, and he’s assured Jericho that he will do anything to win this match.
The main intrigue here is that the Inner Circle seems divided on whether they even want MJF to join.  Sammy Guevara and Ortiz are so down on MJF that they tried to take him out so he couldn’t get to this match.  Jake Hager and Santana are apparently cool with him, or at least uncommitted.  Jericho acts like he sees MJF as a kindred spirit, but he’s too wily to trust the guy, so his real intentions here are unclear.
The easy way to book this is for MJF to do “anything” by way of convincing some (or all) of Jericho’s lackeys to help him win the match and kick Jericho out of the group.  I think the only fans who aren’t expecting that are the ones who think it’s too obvious.  Of course, any such breakup doesn’t have to be on this show, so everything could be civil here and then the big angle happens in six weeks, or six months.  One way or another, though, we’re going to see how far MJF is willing to go to win, and we’ll be starting the next chapter of the story.  And I really think that chapter has to begin with an MJF victory.
Cody Rhodes vs. Darby Allin - Cody is defending the AEW TNT championship.  This will be their fourth match; Cody currently leads the series 2-0-1.  It feels like they’ve been building up to Darby getting a big win over Cody, and I don’t see the point of going back to this match now unless that win’s finally going to happen.  If Cody retains I think it’ll leave a sour taste in everyone’s mouth, regardless of whether it sets up a Darby win down the road.  So I sure hope Allin wins, because I can’t imagine what else will work in this context.
Matt Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara - This is being billed as “The Elite Deletion,” and I’ve heard it was pre-taped, so I’m guessing it will be a mini-movie kind of match like Undertaker vs. AJ Styles.  Matt Hardy fans will of course recall that he was doing that kind of nonsense before it was cool, going all the way back to 2016′s Final Deletion in TNA and 2018′s Ultimate Deletion in WWE.  (How many deletions can one guy have?)
Everybody knows Hardy and Guevara have had a string of bad luck in their feud, with blowoff matches getting cut short or botched spots leaving Matt injured.  They were supposed to settle things once and for all on September 5, but that turned into a trainwreck so I guess they decided to call a mulligan on that.  The best thing you can say about this match is that, because it’s pre-taped, you can be assured that if anyone got severely hurt it would already be in the news, which makes it easier to watch.
I can’t remember Matt ever losing a mini-movie match, and I don’t think he’ll lose this one either.  Even if I’m not sure how one wins an elite deletion.
Orange Cassidy vs. John Silver - After going 2-1 with Chris Jericho, Cassidy made three unsuccessful attempts to win the TNT title, so he really needs to regain some momentum with a win.  Silver is a prelim guy, so he should be perfect to put Orange over...except there’s a lot of buzz around Silver lately, which is probably what got him booked for this show.  I don’t think Silver can win here, but watch for them to do some stuff to let him look good on his way to doing the job.
Serena Deeb vs. Allysin Kay -  This has been announced for the pre-show.  Deeb is defending the NWA women’s world title, as part of an ongoing collaboration between the NWA and AEW.  What makes this unusual is that Deeb recently signed with AEW, and Kay recently announced her NWA contract has expired, so no matter who wins the belt will be in the hands of an outsider.  I expect this is something of an AEW tryout match for Kay, and if so I doubt she would win here, but I’m rooting for her to do well because the women’s division can use all the help it can get.  I think Deeb retains, although I have no idea what that means for the future of the NWA women’s division.
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ywtaewoong-blog · 4 years
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howdy folks! this is overdue and not very well organized because i was woefully unprepared for opening so please bear with me! you can call me nat (she/her). this isn’t my first time at yangwon but this is a new muse - call him taewoong or woong if you’re close to him. he’s twenty five, a riding instructor at sweetgrass stables, and the p1 canon! i have a profile and a bio page up for him if you want to know more, but no plots as of yet (i’m working on it!). i’ll drop some quick info under the cut, but please like this post if you want to plot and i will hop on over into your ims (‘∀’●)
EDIT: I’M BOOBOO THE FOOL AND FORGOT TO MENTION BUT I HAVE A DISCORD IF YOU WANT TO PLOT THERE... JUST ASK...
ABOUT:
like i mentioned, part of the park family - they own and operate sweetgrass stables so it should be fairly obvious that horses are a big part of his life
grew up in yangwon, caused havoc with his friends (jk, but he wasn’t the best behaved kid growing up. boys will be rowdy and all that). generally got away with a lot of shit because (1) he’s a park and (2) by sixteen he was a kind of a local celebrity
o yeah that’s right, has been riding since he was a kid, trained to be a horse jockey, participated in his first race at fifteen and never looked back. wracked up a bunch of wins and public recognition for the town which is why a lot of the locals had soft spots for him regardless of whether he deserved it or not
attended baeksu after graduating from high school but took longer than the standard year to finish his race horse groom training certificate mostly because he’d frequently miss class for training and races! also his grades sucked
people think he went ~*bad*~ in the city because he met a girl there and got her pregnant. then (and this is the BIG SCANDAL) he and the girl decided not to get married because they didn’t like each other that much. also he was super young and didn’t want to be tied down at the time
his parents were super pissed and like, generally tried not to let the whole fiasco reach town but it did. so... his daughter is an open secret around town though stories surrounding this whole situation vary
(also basically people are like how did a good boy go so wrong... he was one of yangwon’s eligible bachelors... why this)
anyways, juggled his career and infrequent visits to see his daughter as best he could but was still kind of flighty and irresponsible and drunk on his own importance? spent little time in yangwon because he was always travelling
reality check came in the form of his beloved equine companion passing away x actually the full story is really traumatic and he refuses to talk about it but if you google his final race you will see... retired from the sport after that and moved to yangwon full time to help out at the stables
decided he wanted to like, grow up and be more responsible and what not so he agreed to take care of his daughter while her mother went back to finish her degree at a university in seoul
his daughter is super cute btw her name is boram, she’s five, and she started kindergarten this year. she’s a little bit on the quiet side because she still isn’t used to yangwon and her new family but she’s really sweet and once she’s comfortable around you she can get really sassy. she loves horses like her dad... 
tl;dr weird horse boy became good at racing and thought he was the shit, got a girl knocked up but didn’t wise up, now he wants to be a good responsible dad
neighbourhood grandmas and aunties are into that, and now they’re like hmmm maybe we need to... play matchmaker! let’s find him a wife (meanwhile he’s screaming inside)
PERSONALITY:
he’s generally like, a pretty nice and laid back person, doesn’t get riled up or bothered easily unless boram is involved somehow. he can be really protective over her but he’s chill otherwise. he’s open-minded, not adverse to newcomers. in fact, he’s happy to show people around yangwon and takes pride in the town. also genuine, sincere, sucks at lying like he gives himself away immediately
trying his best to be more responsible but still has this streak of like, childishness in him that rears its ugly head sometimes. also stubborn and hates asking for help so sometimes he creates more headaches for himself that necessary but he’s very much a ‘it’s my mess, i will fix it’ kind of person
fun loving, excitable, impressionable - a little less so thanks to boram’s influence (he’s struggling to be a good role model) but sometimes he just stares mournfully at his old friends when they’re hitting up the bar like take me with you...
LOVES the outdoors, loves staying active, hates being stuck inside doing nothing because it kills his vibes... trying to instill the same kind of drive in boram and she humors him most of the times but sometimes a girl just wants to stay in and play with her dolls, you know? 
avoids conflict like the plague, will literally ghost you irl rather than get into an argument. also kind of bad at talking about his feelings as a result like emotional communication is not his strong suit. also despite the fact that he is competitive as shit, he can be pretty passive when it comes to like, fighting with someone... will accept blame, try not to fight it, yeah he sucks x
he’s trying to be a good boy brent and some days he almost succeeds... jk despite his scandal(s) a lot of people around the neighbourhood actually love him because he’s low key charming and winsome and they can see he’s turning his life around. but how long will this last... (dun dun dun)
wow i said this was going to be quick and it’s not
anyway hmu let’s plot something out! ♡
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spadesinglasses · 5 years
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Coconuts and Whales
Title : Furry Rocks and Big Fishes.
Pair : Pre- Lonnie / Uma and Jay / GIl
Fandom : Descendants (specifically the movies)
[Ao3 link]
Lonnie just got back from staying with her family for a week and when she found out what had happened, she couldn’t help but feel left out. Her friends all had gone thru a huge quest in saving Auradon, had obviously grown closer to one another in ways that neither the past two tragedies had made them.
And now the barrier surrounding the Isle is gone? Lonnie was devasted for missing all of these and wished that she could’ve insisted heading home a day earlier.
Nevertheless, she was happy that everyone was safe, and that Audrey had been recovering well.
The change in Auradon and the Isle was obvious, but subtle at the same time. There are people who she met on the streets whom would sometimes stand awkwardly, not knowing what to do and where to go.
Then she would see the people she knows try and guide them around.
The central marketplace had become way noisier than before. She would sometimes see people from the Isle heckle and barter in ways that no people from Auradon ever did.
It brought a certain jolt of excitement in her to see something so new and fresh.
Her experience in the Isle may have been short, but something in there brought her to heights she never felt before. It was exhilarating that no sport had ever made her feel.
And then the grand sword fight with the Uma and her crew happened. The rush, the danger, and the pressure made her feel alive in ways she could not imagine. She still dreams of it every now and then.
Her shock after hearing how Uma and her crew had played a major role in saving Auradon was embarrassing. She tried not to hold other people with prejudice, but given that how she last saw Uma, as a huge octopus wanting to drown their vessel, did not really help her contain her surprise.
But she still listened as Jay filled her in with the detailed version of the story.
Two days after the reconnecting the Isle and Auradon, King Adam had decided to hold a feast and celebration in the center of the city to formally welcome the people of the Isle.
Some of them had decided to find places to live in Auradon’s soil, while the others had been satisfied with still living in the Isle, but still go to the city for supplies and new garments.
The celebration had been going on for a few hours now but the people of both the Isle and Auradon were still vibrating in joy and laughter.
There are others who were still reserved with interacting to one another, as Lonnie eyes each side with people who would rather talk to themselves than the other side, while some brave souls would freely go to one side or the other to converse.
So far so good, no trouble had happened, yet.
Lonnie was sitting on her table with the rest of her friends when Jay and one of Uma’s crew, a blond named Gil, son of Gaston, captured her attention.
The two had been mostly inseparable when she got back.
The first thing happened after she’s back in her dorm was Jay knocking on her door to ask how she had been with her family. They had grown closer during their practices. She had been relentless when it came to coach them, sparring them without holding back, trying to ignore Chad’s never ending complain.
Despite the stress, and the way some tried to keep her from participating in the sport, regardless of how good she is, Lonnie had come to love them all.
But she had a different relationship with Jay.
See, she thought they have something, and knew that Jay thought the same. So they tried it, they dated for a while after their dance during the cotillion. But eventually their relationship had settled down to friendship, platonic camaraderie that would often result to a friendly competition over the simplest things.
They had shared their hugs, hand holdings and resting on each other’s shoulders. But they never really had that feeling of wanting to kiss one another.
After telling what she felt to Jay, the guy had said the same to her. And that was that.
A slight nudge brought her back to the table. She blinked before focusing to the guy beside her. Jay was looking at her, while the blond guy, Gil – she should really remember to use his name, was also looking at her.
“So, Lo. This guy here is Gil.” Jay brightly grinned, while nodding towards Gil.
Gil beamed, his smile mirroring Jay’s, waved at her. Jay nudged him with his shoulder and then mouthed something she missed.
Gil then dropped his hand and thrust it out for a hand shake. “Hi! I’m Gil, son of Gaston! You might know my father from Ben’s father!” He said, still grinning.
Still surprised, Lonnie took her hand and shook it. “Hello,” Gil had a strong grasp, and had kept on shaking. “My name is Lonnie, daughter of Mulan.” She grinned before pulling her hand back.
“So Gil and I had been talking, and thought we wanted to go around and outside of Auradon. I might have to take a gap year, but I just can’t take my mind off of this.” Jay smiled at Gil before looking back at Lonnie. “And I might actually do it!”
“Are you sure about that? I mean, what about the tourney and the swords & shield?” She asked.
“I’m quite sure the rest of the guys would be fine without me. And like I said, I can’t really take this idea off my mind. You know how I am with ideas like this.”
Lonnie surely knew how impulsive Jay could be when it comes to these stuffs.
She laughed, “Of course, who am I kidding. Go and enjoy the world Jay, you definitely deserve it after saving Auradon.” Lonnie tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice, but it was slightly difficult.
Jay spared her a knowing look and knew that this will be revisited later when its just the two of them.
“Oh! I have to tell Uma about this.” Gil grinned happily before going back to his bowl of fruits he had been munching.
Lonnie watched as Jay’s eyes softened watching Gil, and there she knew that something was going on with the two that her friend had failed to tell her before.
 Jay and Gil were now sharing a huge bowl of fruits and other sweet delicacies. The celebration was now starting to soften down as the sun is at the horizon, the sky painted a mellow orange, and various lamp posts lighting up around the place.
She heard a chair being pulled on her other side that made her look. It was Uma, settling down on the seat that was Jane’s earlier. “After the whole issue with the princess, these two had been inseparable and insufferable.” She groaned, her cheek on her palm.
Despite her words, there was a certain tint of fondness in it that Lonnie was able to catch.
With a raised brow, she eyed Uma. “Have you heard what they wanted to do now?”
Uma huffed a chuckle at that, “Yes. Harry went straight to me when he heard them.”
Lonnie was a bit confused with what kind of relationship the three shared. It wasn’t the same as what Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos have. This was more, personal, familial. Lonnie wonders what kind of stuff they had went through before.
“Gil seemed excited to share that to you. He will be devastated if he finds out Harry already told you first.” Lonnie smirked, it was weird to tease a VK, or well, Uma like this.
She watched as Uma just stared at her. A surprise on her eyes, and something else tinting her face. She cleared her throat and straightened up. “Well, it’s a good thing I’m a good actor.”
Lonnie laughed so hard at that, which caught both Jay and Gil’s attention.
Gil beamed, “Uma! Jay and I are going to places with furry rocks and big fishes like what you said. And also, penguins! Oh I want to see a penguin so much!”
And then Jay cuts in, “And we also thought that it would be great if you can join us! Imagine the great adventure! We can set sail and just keep on going somewhere!”
“And of course you are welcome to go with us Lonnie! Jay told me just how much you also love going on adventures!” Gil chimed after. Looking at them both with a sheen in his eyes.
Startled, Lonnie couldn’t answer. She thought about it, wanting to just take a backpack and just go on an adventure without knowing what’s before her. She thought about exploring ancient tombs and buildings in her homeland, about going through thicket of trees with her sword, or going under vast ocean to find treasures.
She turned around and saw Uma just staring at Gil, and then went and stare at her, and then Jay. She too seemed not aware of what to say.
Knowing that she wouldn’t be able to do this by herself, and would hate herself to miss this opportunity, she did what her mother did, she grabbed the chance and said, “I’ll do it! I’ll go with you! And really, it would be great if you come with us Uma.” Lonnie said before looking at her, whom she found starting at her with eyes filled with filling excitement.
Lonnie knew then that Uma was definitely going to agree.
Uma cackled, her hand on her thigh as she looked at the skies. Now with the attention of the other kids on the table pointed at them. “I guess that’s that then. We’re setting sail to dance on the backs of big fishes and eat furry rocks!”
Lonnie smiled. Despite their rocky introduction, Lonnie decided that seeing Uma happy, unburdened and just vibrating In youthfulness she did not have when they met, was going to be a sight she will treasure deeply.
‘AND PENGUINS!” Both Gil and Jay shouted at the same time, hands on each other thrust upwards between them.
Giggling, Lonnie punched upwards as well, “TO PENGUINS!” She shouted, which Uma did repeated in between fits of laughter.
And with the rest of the table looking at them confused but with smiles on their faces, Lonnie had decided that despite what she had missed, she was so ready to make new memories with her friends.
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askamaravox · 4 years
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90 Question’s for Your OC
What is your purpose or your biggest goal in life?
Power and revenge. 
Of all your belongings, which are most important to you? If there is a story about them, please share.
All and any belongings that I once loved are probably now locked up in some police facility as evidence. So, I try not to get attached to anything physical. However, I do like my revolver. I keep it on me at all times.
I got it engraved a few years ago, you know, before it was a murder weapon.
Who is your best friend, or the person you are closest to?
That’s a difficult question to answer. I feel as if Ralsei and I have a relationship that runs deep without words, but it’s so much easier to talk to Julian.
Who are a few other people you know, and how do you feel about each of them specifically?
I would defend Amanda with my life. Even if that meant putting my reputation on the line. I think she’s a lot like Ralsei and needs to be protected and safe. They both don’t deserve this life. 
Blix. Ah, very similar boat to Amanda, but she can handle herself. Or at the very least, I think she can. I care for her deeply, and want her to be safe.
Now that friends are out of the way it’s time to discuss enemies!
Sophia is a bitch and I can’t wait to bring her down. To tear at her reputation, and take her down to rock bottom. Let’s see how she likes it.
Fuck Xavier. Fuck the Butcher. Fuck The Prince. They don’t even get explained, they’re merely honourable mentions.
Do you have any romantic interests, or have you in the past?
Romantic? Not necessarily. Past nor present - as much as I hate to talk about it... Ryan and I had a fling a few years back but it was hardly serious.
What is your general outlook on life? Are you optimistic, pessimistic, or maybe just very neutral?
I like to think of myself a realist. It helps me keep a level head and not to overestimate or underestimate things. However, a touch of optimism never hurts.
Describe your relationship with your parents. If they're no longer alive, how did that happen? How do you feel about it?
Well. Prior to all this, my relationship with my mother was sturdy. We talked occasionally, I went to her for advice on business meetings and cases. We met every Christmas at the holiday home with Camilla to have a warm home cooked dinner.
My relationship with my father was and always has been estranged. We weren’t close when I was a kid. He was distant, rude and enforced sexist ideals in the family. Something my mother always argued against in quiet.
The day she divorced him and took everything he will always be a momentous day in my childhood. I wont say it was the best day, because it certainly was difficult. But it was a good introduction to law... and well, fucking over those who treat you wrong.
Mother was always much better at the subtle long game than me.
Do you have any siblings? If so, talk about them. If not, do you wish that you did?
Camilla. My twin sister. We used to get confused a lot in school, but she tended to be the nicer sibling. A little less boy focused and more concerned about her close friends.
We were both very competitive though. Always fighting to get the best grades. Some years she won, some years I took the title. In our final year I took the cake by getting the highest ATAR score between us. 1.7 points higher than her.
Regardless, we both got into our respected fields. She entered the police force, and I got into law. We split off after that, but were still close. There was still that sibling rivalry sometimes. But we got along.
I still wonder what she thinks of me now. 
What is your favorite childhood memory? Make it a happy one!
Perhaps... When I was young and my father went away on business trips in the holidays. Camilla, Lillian and I used to go down and stay at the holiday home for a few days. We’d go down to the beach and walk along the esplanade, get ice cream and just enjoy the sun. Camilla and I would sometimes make sandcastles on the beach while mother would read on a towel.
I miss days like that. Even before I became kindred, I missed those days.
What are your favorite things to eat and drink?
I used to like red velvet cake a lot. That and caesar salad.
And red wine, of course. Something expensive, the older the better, usually.
Who is somebody that you look up to?
My mother, most likely.
When you're alone, how do you like to spend your time? Hobbies and Interests?
I love reading, reading and learning. I used to practice at the gun range, but I’m getting the feeling that it’s not exactly safe to go there anymore. 
What is something you're really good at?
Persuading, manipulating, knowing the law, being a general nuisance to the Camarilla... I’m generally pretty good at a lot of things.
What is something you're really bad at?
Uhg... understanding others, I suppose? Having good morals? Computers... 
What is something that you're constantly working on improving?
Having better morals.
Share a memory that involves the person you are closest to.
I - well... There’s a lot. I watched Ralsei murder Christina and did nothing about it, that’s a pretty prominent memory. I prefer the ones between the violence though, those feel like the real Ralsei. You know, when he’s not riddled with guilt. It wasn’t necessarily a big moment, but after the court session with the Prince wrapped up, we went home and Ralsei thanked me. I turned back to him and told him that I wasn’t going to let them kill him. That was a nice moment. Something very personal.
What is a custom of your family or culture that you participate in?
My family were very big into Christmas, and we always put the tree up together in the holiday home wearing the ugliest Christmas sweaters we could find on the internet. Whoever wore the ugliest sweater and brought the worst Christmas ornament got an extra present from everyone.
There were some heated arguments about the worst ornament and sweaters sometimes. I once didn’t talk to Camilla for three days because her poop emoji ornament won over my drunk Santa one.
Still annoyed.
But, not sure what I’m going to do this year... it’s going to be rough, that’s for sure. First Christmas away from them.
How well educated are you? Do you speak more than one language? Are you well studied in a specific subject?
I have a Bachelors of Law, and consider myself well educated. I speak fluent French and am highly versed in aspects of American History.
What was your childhood like in general? Sad? Happy? All over the place? Describe it.
As mentioned prior, my childhood was... varied. Very school focused. But there were some good family moments too. Had father issues, but they were dealt with.
Are you at all religious? What do you believe happens when you die?
I’m not religious. When we die, we die. That’s it. The end.
Describe your clothing and your usual style.
Sharp. Stylish. Business. Red and black.
Do you have a job or attend school? If so, what is your job or what are you learning in school?
Not anymore! Well, I suppose I help Satya from behind the scenes, but I try to remain as hands off as possible.
Do you have any tattoos, markings, or scars on your body? What are they like?
Nothing notable
Is there anything about your appearance that you would like to change?
Well, a couple of months ago I honestly would’ve said nothing and that question would’ve been over and done with. But now? Fuck, I wish I wasn’t so goddamned pale!
Aside from your closest friend, who would you like to enjoy a relaxing afternoon with?
Satya, definitely. If I could, that was.
But if you want something more realistic - then perhaps Amanda or Blix. Perhaps we could go to a spa or something. That’d be nice. 
Do you listen to or create music? Do you enjoy it?
I listen to music occasionally. It’s nice, I suppose. 
What is something about the world you live in that is constantly on your mind? (War, Political Unrest, etc)
Discrimination, sexism - segregation. You know, the usual things.
If you were to pass a homeless person in the streets, what would you do?
Ignore them.
Where were you born, and where do you live now?
Adelaide... and I still live here. Unfortunately.
Do you prefer Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter? Why?
Summer, pump some warmth into this cold, lifeless body.
What is something you dream of accomplishing, but don't think you ever will?
Well, I like to think all my dreams are obtainable. Although ultimate power seems so far away, I still think it’s obtainable.
What's something that would make you really angry?
Someone touching literally anyone in my friends circle. I know that threat you made Sophia, I will hold you to that. Lay a single finger on them, I dare you.
What's something that calms you down when you're angry?
Cats, I suppose. Breathing, reading, being alone. All of the above.
Do you struggle with any physical or mental disabilities?
None that I’m aware of.
What are your three best and three worst personality traits?
As much as I hate to admit I have... flaws. I am aware of their existence.
My three best personality traits would probably be:
Resourceful Charismatic Determined
and my worst traits would be:
Bashful Blunt Complacent
Did you have any friends as a child that you are no longer in contact with?
Well, Satya I suppose. But everyone else I really didn’t keep close contact with. I didn’t necessarily care for them after high school ended.
If you fight with weapons, what are they? If not, what weapons do you think are cool?
My revolver, I use that a good chunk of the time.
Do you identify as the gender you were born with?
Yes.
What is your sexuality? Are you treated any differently for it?
I’m bisexual. I’ve never necessarily been treated too differently for it, I believe my father had some scorn when I brought a girl home one night, but that never really bothered me. I hated his guts.
What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?
Starting my own law firm with Satya.
How did you meet your closest friend?
Well. We were both brought to the Prince after being illegally turned into Kindred. It was interesting circumstances, but I know if we weren’t forced together then... well we would most certainly not be friends now.
How did you meet your second closest friend?
He walked down a staircase to the song Applause by Lady Gaga played on a portable speaker. He raised his arms and exclaimed “Darlings!” He went to shake my hand but ended up kissing knuckle.
It was one hell of an entrance. But, we’re close now.
Do you have any enemies? Who are they, and why are you enemies?
Oh, a good handful actually. Let me list them:
Xavier - I failed a ‘simple job’. Pretty sure he hates my guts.
Ryan - Brought me unwillingly into this life, assaulted me in doing so.
The Butcher - Assaulted Amanda, that made me mad so I shot his dick off after I met him.
The Prince - Things I’m an annoying nuisance fledgling. He holds the title I want. He’s also a dick.
Sophia - The bitch herself, genuinely hate her. Treats Amanda and Julian like shit, and shit talks Ralsei.
Facey - Some strange shapeshifter we met. Not sure if he’s dead, probably not knowing the Prince. But, he mistreated dogs then tried to manipulate Ralsei and I by shifting his face into those we care about.
Joe - I don’t know who you are. But believe me, you’re a dead man.
The Werewolves - I never want to see another one for as long as I live.
What is something that annoys you?
Disrespect, sexism.
What is a mistake that you've made in your past? Do you regret it?
Snowtown.
I regret every decision made there.
Have you travelled a lot? What was your favorite part of it? If not, where do you want to travel to?
I travelled a bit. I’ve been to Paris, Rome and New York. I loved learning new things and seeing different cultures in action, meeting other important people. Now... I think I’d actually like to go back to France again. With Julian, particularly. I’d like to see what he has to say about the place. I think that’d be very interesting.
Are you comfortable around people? Could you befriend a stranger, if given the opportunity?
No, not at all. I’m at my friend limit.
Have you ever been in a life or death situation? If so, what was it?
Every day of my fucking undeath.
Do you want to get married one day? What are your thoughts on children?
Well. I can’t conceive a child anymore. So that’s off the table. I also never really believed in marriage. It’s merely a legal binding, which makes death of a loved one a hell of a lot easier. So, maybe back when I was human, Marriage would’ve been a consideration, for law reasons alone. But, children? I’m a very work orientated person, I understand that having a child takes you away from you own life until you can set them up with their own. That’s a big commitment.
In terms of social status, where do you stand?
Well, I used to be pretty high up on the social ladder. Then some prick bit me, so, I’m not anymore. I’m pretty close to the bottom. And I’m sure i’ll be here for a bit longer, despite my best efforts.
Does anybody rely on you for something?
I suppose Ralsei. It’s always ‘Amara and Ralsei’, so we seem to rely on each other.
Also Jack. He relies on me for regular supplements of my blood source
Do you rely on anybody for something?
Julian, for literally fucking anything and everything.
What is a cause that you fight for?
Rights, fairness - any of my friends.
Have you ever been drunk or otherwise intoxicated? If so, what is something that happened while you were?
Quite regularly.
I vaguely remember one night when Satya and I went out a few years back... we drunk way too much. It was a fantastic night, I can tell you that much. But, the next morning - waking up in a bed with two unknown guys to the sounds of Satya retching in the bathroom was certainly an experience I’ll never forget.
Is there anybody you would die for?
Ralsei, Julian, Amanda probably. Blix too, I suppose.
Think of a friend or acquaintance you haven't yet spoken of. How do you feel about them?
I only keep a tight circle of friends. Everyone else either hates me or has a neutral disposition towards me currently.
Jacob interests me. But I don’t have enough information on him to back up any initial thoughts.
Are you competitive? Do you engage in any sports or competitions?
Quite. I like to win and come out on top.
I used to be on the debate team in high school and in Uni, but since then my competitiveness has shifted over to my work-life.
I’ve never really been a sport person. Camilla played netball, I did.. yoga. Well, she also did yoga, but I was better at it than her so she doesn’t matter.
Are you creative? If so, what do you like to create? Are you good at it?
Not necessarily. I have to come up with plans on the fly, so if that makes me creative, then, sure. I’m creative.
What are you the most afraid of in the entire world?
Well. The idea of Ralsei dying is pretty terrifying.
There’s also this... ambition that I have - and I don’t know how far it’s going to go to get what I want. I want Ryan dead. I don’t want to be Generation 13. Things line up, and it’s chilling.
Describe, start to finish, an average day in your life.
I wake up. Probably about 7 or 8pm. If I’m lucky, I wont get called to go on some incredibly dangerous and usually borderline suicidal mission.
Then, I would start researching, learning everything I can about kindred and the Camarilla - anything. When that all get’s too heavy, I take a break, check on Ralsei and ask if he’d like to go out and get anything to eat.
He’s a bagger so it’s hard. I’m trying to track down somewhere secure for him to get a supply source from.
Depending on his answer, we might head out. Mingle a little, get a drink. If I’m in the mood, I might drop by and see Julian.
Otherwise I’ll just head home and go back to reading, researching. Maybe I’ll watch a movie. Maybe I’ll watch a movie with Ralsei.
Then I’ll go back to sleep.
Do you celebrate any holidays? If so, which is your favorite? What is your favorite memory from that holiday?
All the usual holidays, Easter, Halloween (faintly) and Christmas. As mentioned above Christmas is my favourite.
My favourite memory from Christmas... well, there’s no specific memory, but the taste of mum’s food, air conditioner on full to justify us wearing our stupid sweaters... Camilla and I arguing over something, probably. Mother telling us to shut up...
Good times.
Would you prefer a peaceful nature walk or a trip to a busy city?
Busy city.
Growing up, did you have any important teachers or mentors? What's the most important thing they taught you?
My mother, really. She taught me to hold my own, to play the long con even if every second otherwise is painful.
If your parents or mentor knew everything about you today, would they be proud of you?
I don’t know. I really don’t.
Mother... might be proud.
What is something that excites you or makes you really happy?
Cats. Just, cats.
Do you have any really important secrets, or are you generally secret free?
Well, what Ryan did to me was one of my most well guarded secrets, but I apparently announced that in front of the whole court so not anymore. I try to keep my motives secret, but everything else about me open. It’s easier to mislead that way. 
If you were walking on the streets and you were attacked, do you think you could fight and win?
More than likely. Depends on who and what though. My hand-to-hand combat is... less than desirable. But if I had my gun, then perhaps.
Have you ever killed somebody? If so, why and how? If not, do you think you ever would?
Too many times to keep track. I’ve shot people, burnt them alive... And I’ll likely do it again. This life requires it.
What is your strongest physical trait? (Fast runner, very strong, super flexible, etc)
I can walk and run really well in heels. Otherwise I’m relatively flexible and balanced.
Have you ever been in love? If not, do you want to be? If so, with who, and are you still? If you aren't, how did it end?
I have never been in love. No one has proven themselves to me.
When you're alone and relaxing, what are you usually thinking about?
Revenge, plans... how to achieve my goals.
Do you have a lot of responsibilities? If so, what do they include?
A handful. I make an effort to take care of Ralsei, and others... even if it’s behind the scenes. I’m working on trying to find us a house, and finding a food source.
Among a variety of other things, I have a few.
Have you ever felt really guilty about something? If so, what was it?
I didn’t feel guilty at the time, but when I first met Julian and we were ambushed by hunters - I left him out in the open to die.
I think about that a lot.
Killing that 16 year old boy.
Not to mention, trying to drink Ralsei’s blood.
Do you have any habits, ticks, quirks, or anything like that?
Not off the top of my head. 
What complaints do you have about your best friend?
Ralsei is... well, he’s too soft. I understand he doesn’t want to kill - that’s okay. But a lot of our problems can be solved with just a little bit of killing.
What complaints do you have about your next closest friend?
Answer your fucking phone. I don’t care if you’re in the club, when Ralsei, Blix and I are facing people-dogs, I expect you to respond immediately.
Do you have any special abilities or talents?
I have my disciplines. Dominate and presence are very helpful.
Do you have any addictions or obsessions?
I’m sometimes obsessed with power. I’m sometimes obsessed with finding Ryan.
What drives you? (Your motivation or inspiration)
Keeping Ralsei and Amanda alive and safe.
What do you find attractive in a person, both physically and in terms of personality?
Confidence. Suave. I’m a sucker for brunettes. Both literally and figuratively. Brown eyes are nice too.
What do you think a stranger's first impression of you would be?
Intimidated, most likely. Impressed, perhaps.
Are you ashamed or embarrassed about anything?
Snowtown, messily failing to kill Detective Dickface.
Would you consider yourself to be trustworthy and honest? Would you lie if it benefited you?
I’m trustworthy and honest when it benefits me. I lie when it benefits me. 
Has anything huge happened in your life that you feel shaped or changed the person you are today?
Snowtown. Definitely.
What are some of your short term (less than 1 yr) goals?
Helping Amanda shrug herself free of Sophia.
Getting revenge for what that gang did to Julian.
Just... fucking Sophia up in some way.
Building my reputation back up.
How do you deal with stress? How do you respond to stressful situations?
Just keep going. Don’t stop.
What is something that most people don't know about you?
That I have an undying dedication to the Christmas Holidays.
Blank questions here!
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phroyd · 5 years
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LONG BEACH, Calif. — Her hair pokes out of the back of her sky blue helmet and flaps like a cape as she flies around in circles. Poised confidently on her skateboard — knees slightly bent, infectious smile engaged — she gains speed and fearlessly attacks the bowl. Sky Brown is not here to take it easy, and she doesn’t have time to wait behind the older, bigger skateboarders.
She’s 10 years old, about the size of two skateboards stacked end to end and has a big mission on tap.
“I want to go to the Olympics,” she says. “I want to be the youngest one out there and show the girls it doesn’t matter how big you are or how small you are. You can do anything.”
Sky is a member of Great Britain’s national team, hoping to be among the world’s best athletes who gather in Tokyo next summer when skateboarding makes its Olympic debut at the 2020 Games. No one who has seen her on a skateboard would dare rule her out. Her outsize talent and charisma have made her one of the most popular and intriguing skateboarders — even if she’s just now wrapping up fifth grade.
She has several sponsors, a giant social media following and several viral videos to her credit. She’s a prodigy of sorts on a skateboard but also has made waves in surfing. Last year she even won “Dancing with the Stars: Juniors,” and she says there’s a purpose behind everything she does.
“If they watch me skate or do this trick, they’ll think maybe they can do it, too,” she says. “That’s why I want to do the Olympics — to inspire those kids who think they can’t do it."
Sky caused a stir when Great Britain put her on its national skateboarding team this spring, but she has since shown that she’s no novelty act. She took first in the U.K. national skateboarding championships in April. At last week’s Dew Tour stop in Long Beach, the first Olympic qualifier in the United States, Sky was the youngest skater in the field. She posted the highest score in the qualifying round of the park event and was third after the quarterfinals, though she failed to advance to the finals.
Sky commands attention whenever she’s on her board. She doesn’t generate the power of her competitors, who are often more than twice her age, but she can be every bit as aggressive, smiling almost the entire time.
“To be able to create the speed and get the height she’s getting with the weight she’s got — she’s like a feather — you almost think it’s impossible,” says Lucy Adams, the chair of Skateboard England and Skateboard GB.
From the beginning
Sky and her tight knit family — parents Stu and Mieko Brown and brother Ocean — split their time between Southern California and Japan, where Sky was born and first learned to skate.
“I started skateboarding when I was 3 or 4,” she explains, “but I’ve been playing with it since I was zero, kind of.
“It was always my favorite toy,” she continues. “I’d just always want to play with it.”
She would watch her dad and friends skate and then study YouTube videos. She wasn’t content to be simply balancing or slowly rolling. She hit the backyard ramp with her dad and was a natural, performing kick turns on the ramp and kick flips with her board.
Stu Brown uploaded some footage of 5-year-old Sky onto Facebook. The clip bounced around and soon amassed a few million views. Sponsors and event organizers started noticing. Invitations and opportunities started piling up.
She did her first local contest at 7 and the next year became the youngest girl to compete in the Vans U.S. Open Pro Series. The family is selective about what to take on and says it has had to turn down many opportunities.
The Browns spend at least half the year living in Miyazaki, a city in the southern part of Japan known for its surfing conditions but lacking in skate culture.
“I feel like I’m the only girl skating sometimes,” she says.
They often travel around to skateboard, and the family has been spending more and more time in Southern California. Stu says he and his wife are careful about putting too much on their children’s plates — 7-year-old Ocean also skates and surfs — and they want to make sure Sky remains a kid first, a skater second.
“She’s so self-motivated. We would never want to push her, but she’s the one pulling us in all these directions,” he says. “She just loves skating. How do you stop her from doing something she loves?”
A young Olympic dream
Sky met Adams, a British pro, in 2016 at a competition in the United Kingdom. The two struck up a friendship and stayed in touch. A few months later, skateboarding was formally added to the program for the 2020 Tokyo Games, and Adams later would take a position with the Great Britain national skateboarding team.
“I was like, ‘Skateboarding’s in the Olympics?’ ” Sky recalls. “Everyone was like, ‘You don’t know what the Olympics are?’ ”
As Sky learned more, she became increasingly excited. The Olympics offer a big platform, and she thought girls all around the globe might see her and want to pick up a skateboard. But she will be just 12 years old during the Tokyo Games, which her parents felt was too young. Maybe in 2024, they told her, when she will be 16.
“But I was like, ‘Please, please, please!’ ” she recalls.
Adams and Sky swapped social media messages and chatted on WhatsApp. Sky couldn’t shake the Olympic dream, and Adams started entertaining the possibility, too, excited by the impact Sky could have. Because Sky’s father was born in England, the young skater could compete for Japan or Great Britain in international competition.
“I knew that Sky would be inspirational, and she’d help us raise the participation of skateboarding in this country, especially among females,” Adams says.
The governing body for most every other Olympic sport has age restrictions that prevent athletes as young as Sky from taking part in Olympic competition. Skateboarding does not.
"The idea is if a skater can earn enough points and do well enough in competition to qualify to participate in the Olympic Games, you shouldn’t eliminate their chance to participate based on how old they are,” said Josh Friedberg, the chief executive of USA Skateboarding.
Even though Sky was named to Great Britain’s national team, she’s not guaranteed a spot in the Olympics. She has to accumulate points at competitions over the next year and show that she’s among the most competitive park skaters, regardless of age.
Even if she makes it to Tokyo, winning a medal would be a stretch, but the history books would take notice. It’s not often someone as young as Sky reaches the Olympics. Inge Sorensen won a bronze medal in swimming for Denmark as a 12-year-old at the 1936 Olympics. Italy’s gymnastics team in 1928 had competitors who were 11 and 12. The youngest Olympian ever was Greek gymnast Dimitrios Loundras, who was all of 10 years old for the 1896 Games.
Over the years, teens have left their marks on the Games, particularly in sports such as gymnastics and snowboarding. More recently, snowboarder Chloe Kim won two gold medals as a 17-year-old at the PyeongChang Games, and swimmer Katie Ledecky was 15 when she won her first gold medal at 2012 London Games.
‘Like a playground for me’
With the help of her mom, Sky is active on a social media, an important link to skateboarding fans but also a vital vehicle for her sponsors. Sky now has more than 375,000 Instagram followers. Her videos on the platform can top 100,000 likes. She shares her travels, training and exploits. After a skating mishap this month, she captioned one midair photo: “a Broken wing, will NOT stop me Flying!!”
Sky had been skating at a school in Oceanside, Calif., where she was trying a kick flip off some stairs. A bad landing sent her tumbling on her arm.
“It hurt really bad,” she says, “but I kept skating after.”
The pain didn’t subside, and doctors explained that she had fractured a bone, and Sky was outfitted for a pink cast that goes the length of her right arm. The injury has kept her from surfing, which meant more time to spend on her skateboard. Another tumble resulted in her cracking the cast, which is now reinforced with some tape.
Despite the injury, she insisted on competing in this month’s Dew Tour event. “It would’ve hurt her so much more to miss out,” her father says.
Sky skates well beyond her age, but there are competitors who are able to go higher and faster and execute tricks that Sky’s not ready for. It doesn’t stop her from trying, and in the coming years, she will be able to create more speed, more power and more air when she launches skyward.
During last week’s competition, Sky was limited by the broken arm but still skated with a smile.
“Skateboarding is like my happy place,” she says. “It’s like a playground for me.”
She found her parents immediately after popping out of the bowl. During practice sessions, Stu Brown would chat with her between runs, sometimes lovingly poking her nose or wrapping Sky in his arms.
“We always come back to: If this isn’t fun, we shouldn’t be doing it,” her father says. “If she’s not happy, we’ll stop it. But as long as she enjoys the journey, we’re going to support her. We love what we have as a family. Everything works right now. I know the Olympics are huge, but if there’s a time where it’s not working, we can just walk away.”
Phroyd
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a-woman-apart · 4 years
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Don’t Go Alone
I’ve been thinking about Ecclesiastes recently. Yes, the “Vanities of vanities, all is vanity” and “there is nothing new under the sun” Ecclesiastes. Pretty much the most nihilistic book in the entire Bible, even though it tries to redeem itself in the end by saying that obeying God and keeping His commandments is “the entire duty of man.”
There are a lot of interesting concepts presented in the book, though. I will go ahead and quote some passages here from the 4th chapter (emphasis added by me).
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: 
There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, "For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?" This also is vanity and a grave misfortune. 
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.  Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:7-12)
While it is true that you remain the person primarily responsible for your own life, that self-love is important, and that when it comes down to the quality of your life, your choices matter the most, there is a reason why human beings have a general tendency towards forming groups. Human babies who were deprived of human touch can experience poor health outcomes and even death. Even if many of us need far less interaction than others (i.e. introverts), we still need to bond and connect with other human beings on some level.
We live in a highly individualistic society that is ruled by capitalism. Profit—and by extension, individual productivity—is prized above all else. This fosters a spirit of unhealthy competition that can often drive a wedge between us and our peers. Our worth is based on our physical, academic, or corporate achievement. We are expected to sacrifice our health, time, and current desires in order to one day earn the right to lead our own lives. This right—known for many years as “retirement”— has grown further and further out of reach for most Americans. This isn’t that one bicycle-riding-electricity-generating episode of Black Mirror, but sometimes it really feels like it.
What I am starting to realize, is that without a sense of togetherness and belonging—regardless of whether it is experienced in a small community or a big one— life quickly begins to lose its luster. It’s great to keep yourself as no. 1, but in the end, we all need to depend on others for support. It doesn’t matter if that support is financial, emotional, or physical.
Also, let’s talk about the Happiness dilemma. It feels like the more your try to pursue things that make you happy, the more elusive happiness becomes. Mark Manson discusses this at length in “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck”. He came to the conclusion that Happiness is not something that you “arrive” at through achievement or by acquiring a predetermined number of things or a specific assortment of relationships, but rather happiness is in the small moments. You feel happy when you are having ice cream with your kids, feel the wind on your face in autumn, or you’re allowed to leave work early. It isn’t a destination that can be reached through pure effort. It comes effortlessly. You just have to enjoy it while it is there and then be prepared to move on from it. It is temporary and fleeting, but it is tangible. You know it when you feel it.
Learning to recognize and embrace the joy in small moments helps make the long stretches of sadness and mediocrity more bearable. When I look back at my own life, I see how many of those moments were shared with other people. I remember my brothers and I making dumb jokes out of serious movie quotes, playing video games with my sisters, family movie nights, etc. My childhood was far from ideal, but, if I look back there are still joyful things to remember. There are highlights. Getting my first drivers’ license, passing the GED, and so on; these were things that would’ve been much harder without the support of my parents.
We live in an imperfect world with imperfect people. Until we can learn to accept the imperfections in others—and in ourselves—we may find ourselves feeling incredibly isolated from other people.
Even as I emphasize the importance of human relationships, I am aware that throughout history there have been those who have sought to isolate themselves for others for religious or spiritual reasons. Even many of these people, however, still interacted with other humans on some level. In fact, I would almost venture to say that the stereotypical view of hermits who stayed in caves and did not interact with anyone else for the remainder of their lives, is somewhat of a mythological concept. Even the most strictly disciplined monks and nuns of varying religions still form groups or look to the outside world for support. Their stories demonstrate to us that even when we are deprived of most of the material pleasures of life, we can still find meaning through sharing a spiritual practice with others.
As an atheist—who is also wrestling with whether or not to have a spiritual practice—I have found myself feeling incredibly othered by my peers. While around 22.8% of the U.S. is “religiously unaffiliated”, only 3% of that group call themselves atheists, with another 4% claiming agnosticism. The world as a whole is only 16% “nones” (religiously non-affiliated) with an unknown—but lower—number being full atheists (Stats from “Irreligion in the United States” and “Demographics of Atheism” on Wikipedia). I am already in a very small minority, but it is further complicated by the fact that my atheism still involves some belief in unseen forces (e.g. chi or some other inexplicable life-giving force in the universe).
My saving grace is being able to absorb some atheist content on YouTube, talking to atheist and agnostic friends and family members, and the increasing openness of [some] religious people to at least consider the concept of a world without God. Sadly, though, I haven’t been able to find a community as wide as the community I had when I was an actively practicing Evangelical Christian. I am, however, learning to compromise and practice gratitude for the equally strong—albeit smaller—community that I have now. I have people in my life who love, accept, and support me, and every single one of them matters to me.
A lot of people find their community online. There are people in fandom communities, online gaming communities, etc., who have found lifelong friends and even spouses by participating in online communities. Hell, I found some of my closest friends—two of whom I am still in touch with—on sites like Fanfiction.net, Fictionpess.com, and Gaia Online. Yes, it was years ago, and yes, those sites aren’t what they used to be, but without those friends I would not have made it through my teenage years.
Your communities can form around literally anything—games, knitting, quilting, coffee, whatever. You just need to go out there and find your tribe. You may even have an online tribe already, and while there is no substitute for face-to-face conversation, your tribe is valid.
Anything that gets you outside of yourself—as long as it isn’t hurting anyone—is good. While having people physically near you is ideal, sometimes just having them be a part of your day remotely is a big help. My best friend and I live thousands of miles apart, but something as simple as being able to text him a screenshot of something I think is funny or rolling my eyes when he sends another YouTube video to me in the middle of the day, really makes my day much easier. Same goes for going with my family’s group chat; we post some pretty cringey memes on there and it’s life.
Look into yourself and see how you feel when you’re participating with others. If you’re happy, that’s good. If there’s another emotion going on there, it may be something to look at. You may not be receiving the support you really need.
P.S. If you’re tired of living alone, but you don’t know anyone who you can move with, there are still options for you. Lots of millennials have been moving into rooms that are rented out by older homeowners, and while this sounds like a net loss, the relationships that form in these kinds of situations can be beneficial. The millennial has an affordable place to live and someone to share meals with, and the senior has someone to help with chores and keep them company.
Also, more and more cohousing communities are popping up throughout the country. They allow families to live together in a close-knit community. There are also other communal living situations in which one rather large home is rented out room by room. Each person has their own bedroom and shares bathrooms with a limited number of fellow housemates, but the living areas and kitchen are shared by everyone. These “non-college dorms” allow people to support each other socially and financially and live together affordably.
Of course, safety first! Do your due diligence and make sure that the place you are moving to is safe and that your rights are being respected.
Happy hunting!
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frederator-studios · 6 years
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Amanda McCann: The Frederator Interview
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You can tell by talking with her that Amanda McCann is good at her job. ‘Cause it feels good to talk with her! And in a big way, Amanda’s job involves a lot of making people feel good: about the work they’re doing; the show they're making; and themselves. As Line Producer on Costume Quest, Amanda is a leader among the unspoken heroes of any animated TV show: the production crew. She gives awesome insight here, for anyone interested in producing, voice acting, writing... actually, as it turns out, Amanda’s good at A LOT of jobs.
Did you always want to work in animation?
I wanted to be an actress! Starting in high school, I studied improv comedy at ComedySportz. I joined their college team and eventually their main stage. After graduating with a degree in Theater, I performed and taught high schoolers there. And I was working at a restaurant - as you do in LA. Finally I had a heart to heart with myself, like “Do I really want to act?” It’s so competitive, and like having a job interview every day. I had friends 10 years older still working it, working hard at it. And I didn’t know if it was for me, because I value stability - a paycheck, insurance, benefits. It was hard to picture myself not having that.
The grips of an existential crisis. What’d you do?
I asked myself, if not acting, what do I want to do? What makes me happy? And that’s cartoons! I’ve always loved cartoons. And yes, as an actor, ideally I wanted to do voice over. But I knew how competitive that was. I also had a writing background - I wrote for The Simpsons comic books for a while - but writing: same deal. So I was looking for the way that people got into animation when they weren’t artists and didn’t have an “in” as an actor or writer - and I discovered production. This whole other side to cartoon-making, and the path to producing. That’s where I wanted to be: making cartoons for a living.
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That’s awesome. So you found a job in the industry?
Yup, about 9 years ago I put it out into the universe. I asked if anyone had a connection to an animation studio, and luckily a family friend did. I got a job as a receptionist at WildBrain; at the time they were moving studios from San Francisco to LA. Yo Gabba Gabba! for Nickelodeon was the big property they owned, and they were working on a number of projects for Mattel, as well as producing an animated podcast, The Ricky Gervais Show, for HBO. So I started there and made it very known that I was interested in moving up—I was a bit older than most receptionists (laughs). I put that out there, and within 2 months I was a PA on The Ricky Gervais Show. I’ve been bouncing from job to job in production ever since.
What a journey! And animation was the right fit like you thought?
It immediately felt like a good fit. Animation people are my people. The animation and comedy worlds are very similar and there’s a lot of crossover, so it was a natural transition for me. I love being on a crew. Working with people, and artists - I admire artists so much, because I’m not one, at least in terms of drawing. So people with artistic talents are incredible to me - they’re like unicorns. And actually, by way of working in production, I’ve gotten to live my other dreams! I’ve been doing professional voice-over, for Costume Quest, The Loud House and others. I was just forced to join SAG-AFTRA. I booked enough jobs that I became a ‘must-join’! And I’ve gotten to write for animation too; I wrote a few episodes of Monster High for Mattel and an episode of Ask the Storybots for Jib Jab and Netflix.  
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(Amanda and her pooch Dobby, by storyboard revisionist Serena Wu)
Wow - so ‘taking a day job’ brought you all these creative opportunities?
Yeah! Sort of through the backdoor, I was able to put it out there that I had these other talents, and get hired for them. I get to tackle it all, which I’ve always loved—being a renaissance woman. Especially since working in production is creative solutions, but it’s not exactly creative. It’s paperwork and hiring and pipelines and schedules and budgets. So being around the creative is really exciting for me, and then also being able to participate through VO and writing at certain points.
That’s amazing. So would your advice to people be, ‘just get in the door?’
Just be there! If you’re at the right place, you’re more likely to be there at the right time. To people looking to break into animation, I always say, “Take anything”. Any opportunity that comes your way, jump in and do your best. I was overqualified to be a receptionist, but I knew that was the step I had to take to launch my career in animation. I know people who started at Nickelodeon in the mailroom and became writers on Spongebob. Stuff like that happens all the time! It’s all about timing. But you also have to hustle in your own way. You have to make people aware of what your interests and goals are.
How do you recommend people put themselves out there? It’s really hard for a lot of people! Especially of the introverted variety.
It is! But I think just doing your best, working hard, and proving that you’re capable is huge. As well as treating everyone equally and with kindness, regardless of their position. You want to be the person that you would want to work with, and people will want to work with you! So start by focusing on the job at hand and executing it as well as you can. At the same time, be vocal about your goals. There’s a finesse to it. You don’t walk around with a sign around your neck that says, “I actually want to be a writer”. Just when an opportunity arises, put yourself up for it. And it’s okay to ask people in the job you want out to lunch or coffee, to pick their brains! I find that people are pretty receptive when you put yourself out there. The last thing that I always say: find your people. This is a big industry, and you can always find people you’ll gel with better. The people you gel with best will be the best advocates for you, propelling you forward. So if you feel unsupported where you are, then move, move on, keep going! I think people get stuck in a rut, or feel obligated to one place. But trust your instincts - if it doesn’t feel right then it’s not. If you move on, you might shine. I’ve seen that happen so many times, where someone makes a lateral move and finds their niche of support. When people become too complacent, I think it stifles them.
What was your path after WildBrain?
I’ve worked with 7 studios: WildBrain, Hasbro, Mattel, Oddbot, Jib Jab, Nickelodeon, and Frederator. Which is great because I have connections at all these places - and people move all the time, or companies get absorbed, so your connection at one studio might move to another. I’ve also been lucky to have pretty long stints at places - jobs that have lasted a lot longer than most production gigs do. Because being tied to a production, whenever the season ends, you’re done. The production crew, though, is the first on and the last off.
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How about responsibilities in production - what’s different between being a line producer vs. a production manager, say?
It’s crazy, because every studio’s pipeline is different. Every production’s pipeline is different! But the biggest differences are in level of responsibility over the production overall. As a manager, you don’t have as much say over final decisions; whereas being a producer, you’re often giving the stamp of approval. I once had it broken down really well for me: PA is day to day; coordinator is week to week; manager is month to month; producer is year to year. And that’s how the tasks are viewed. PAs do a lot of daily tasks: copying, scanning, stamping, filing. Coordinators do a lot of shipments that are over a week. Managers look at schedules ahead of time to plan out needs along the way. And producers lay it out as a whole, to see where start to finish lies. The roles blend, a lot of the time, especially manager and producer. The production crew adapts to the needs of each show.
What are the most important qualities of those who do well in production?
Communication skills. That sounds basic, but really - if artists were able to organize all of their stuff and communicate effectively to everybody, we wouldn’t have jobs! Being personable - we’re the deadline keepers, the schedule pushers. It’s like trying to be the cool dungeon master. We have to pull things away from artists who just want to make them beautiful! So I like hiring people for production who have creative backgrounds, because I think they empathize better with artists. It is a lot to ask someone to produce something beautiful and artistic and creative within THIS strict timeline. Taking initiative; I’m not a micro-manager. If I hire you and tell you the things I want you to take care of, I won’t check up on you—I’ll assume you’re doing your job. On top of that, people who collaborate. Voice concerns; pitch me solutions to problems. I’m looking down the road, so I can’t see everything on the day to day. I need people who take the initiative and tell me what’s up. You have to be organized; basic, again, but crucial. We’re working on a bunch of episodes at all different stages: animatic, storyboard, designs, shipping. Your head will explode if you’re not a little OCD about how things are organized and prioritized - and labelled! Asking questions is important: I’d rather you ask me than do it wrong and make things harder for you. There’s no shame in getting help and being mentored! But there’s also no shame in failing. I learn so much from messing up, because it’s like, “Welp! I don’t want to do that ever again.” And coming from the comedy world, especially improv, you fail a ton. I grew up learning how to fail, and I think it’s been critical in letting me progress and grow as a leader and person.
Do you still do improv and comedy?
I do! I’m still with ComedySportz, but I’m not as active. Mostly, I’m applying those improv skills to voice over. I’m auditioning a bunch, and I did some voices on Costume Quest. I was production manager on an upcoming Nickelodeon show, Glitchtechs, and I also have a voice in that when it comes out!
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(Denise, one of Amanda’s voices on Costume Quest!)
That’s so cool. What's your advice to people who want to get into VO?
Classes, classes, classes. You get to know your tool and what you’re capable of. There are resources online, some YouTube channels about VO. But classes are where you really grow, because like anything, it’s about repetition. It is very competitive, but I really believe that there’s a part for everyone.
What do you love most about Costume Quest?
I love the collaborative nature of this production. Frederator bought the series to make it, but its original visionary - Tasha Harris, who wrote the Double Fine game - isn’t involved. I’ve never worked on a show before where it wasn’t someone in particular’s baby. Instead, we’ve all adopted it as our baby. And really, we all get a say! As a line producer, generally I wouldn’t get to give comments on material: it’s all about paperwork, pipeline and budget. But the showrunners, Will McRobb, Bryan Caselli, and Nick Bachman have been so gracious in letting me give notes on storyboards and animatics. I go to every voice recording session and get to try my hand at that stuff. Partly because it’s a Frederator show - a little smaller crew, a more independent company - the show’s been able to give a lot of opportunities to talented, deserving people. For so many of the artists, this is their first show ever, and that’s just so cool. And the show looks incredible. We have an amazing voice cast. Some of the most talented people, between the four kids and all of the adults we’ve peppered in. Of course we’re biased here, but we do think it’s going to be something that kids really enjoy, and hopefully adults too. Plus: I’m a huge Halloween nerd. I always had homemade costumes as a kid because my dad is an artist. He would get really creative.
What was your favorite costume he made you?
One time I was Phantom of the Opera. None of the other kids knew who I was. But I knew. 
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Do you have a favorite character from Costume Quest?
They’re all really great. But of the four kids, I always go back to Reynold. He’s the voice of reason, and the scaredy cat, which I could relate to as a little kid. I was always the youngest cousin, the one who’d be like, “Maybe we shouldn’t throw rocks at this window? Maybe? No? Ok”. So his sweet-natured cautiousness I relate to. But it’s a package deal, and his sister Wren too… I relate a lot to her determinedness and her no-nonsense attitude. That’s something I admire.
What are your favorite cartoons?
I was a Nickelodeon kid, so I grew up on all those series. Rocko’s Modern Life was one of my favorites. Also The Simpsons, The Critic, and Home Movies. For features, Little Mermaid was my jam - and Lilo & Stitch. And Ranma ½ is an anime that I love. Those are some favorites, but I have so many, it’s hard to keep track!
What are your biggest aspirations, or your biggest dream?
I would love to work in animation features someday. I have a ton of experience in TV, and just to see the other side of it - in voice over and producing - would be great. It’s not like a tomorrow thing, but if an opportunity came down the road, that’d be really cool.
Thanks for the interview Amanda! I’m so excited to see all of your creative paths unfurl. And can’t wait to hear your voice in the ‘toons! ❀
- Cooper
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portcadorpg · 3 years
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Congratulations, Steph! We are delighted to welcome Nathaniel Keaton Delmore to Port Cado.  Please complete our after acceptance checklist. We are looking forward to seeing you develop him! Please send in his blog within 48 hours.
Out of Character
Alias: Steph
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her
Age: WELL over 21 (in the 30s now but we shant speak of it)
Timezone: EST
Anything else? Outside of normal tw content? Just clowns. I will find out 6/4 if I have to be out of town for the federal government for a month. Will keep you posted but I’m being optimistic I’ll be around regardless.
Character
Name: Nathaniel “Nate” Keaton Delmore
Birthdate and Age: June 13 (39)
Preferred Pronouns: he/him
Faceclaim: Chris Evans
Profession: CFO of Delmore Industries, a
Guild/Obsidian Syndicate: STEM Guild
Designation: Dominant
Claim: Unclaimed
Children: None
Neighborhood: Mount Verne
Sexuality: Demisexual / Sapiosexual
I guess simply put, he identifies as “not straight” but doesn’t use the term “queer” and I couldn’t find a term other than “Queer” for someone who isn’t straight and needs to have an emotional connection to an intelligent person to be attracted to them sexually. If you want to use Pansexual then that’s fine too. He's still inclined to lean towards women due to his family's conservative views.
Kinks: d/s, praise, orgasm control/teasing/denial, temperature/sensation play, begging (consensual), Impact/Rough play, marking, thigh riding, cockwaming, unprotected sex (probably more but I’ll have to get a feel for him)
Anti-kinks: Don’t call him Daddy/Baby, urine/blood/scat/vomit play, feet, degradation, age play, most roleplaying, most anal play (probably more but I’ll have to get a feel for him)
Biography:
Nathaniel Keaton Delmore was born into the Delmore empire, a leading chemical company in the United States. Being part of the one-percent had a singular perk: never having to worry about money. Nate learned pretty quickly that that was where its benefits stopped. He was the second of the Delmore children, and his mother never let him forget it. While she had reluctantly taken time off to care for his older sister, Samantha Marion Delmore, they waited until she was eight before they had him and more often than not they left Sammy to take care of him as if he was part living doll and part puppy. The lack of care, attention, and education led to Nate being developmentally delayed in walking because he was either carried or strolled around. It had also resulted in a stammer that was made worse by his parents' frustrations in his inability to articulate words correctly. Though he would overcome those issues with little to no trace in his adult life, the overarching experiences of a neglectful and abusive parentage left him with anxiety and a fragile sense of self.
He learned that if he kept good grades and kept his head down there wasn’t really anything his parents wouldn’t let him try. Anything he showed a natural talent for they supported until he was no longer the best in show, once again treating him more like a pet than a person. Be it piano, singing, basketball, horseback riding, or fencing; Nathaniel found himself having to find his own way. In high school, when his interests turned to debate and forensics teams because of a friend, his parents tried to put their foot down. Despite the lack of a stammer, they told him he’d be no good at it, seeing their quiet son as damaged once more. It was with his uncle’s support that he managed to make excuses and even attend summer camps. Public speaking became a way for him to face his anxiety and, with practice, he became unbelievably good at it.
With no support for college unless he legally agreed to major in microeconomics, Nathaniel finally left home to experience a slice of the real world. MIT was practically an entirely new planet for him and, despite being low key, there was really no surprise that people figured out who he was with the last name of a major American business which several of the top students hoped to one day work for. Just when he thought he was settling into a routine after a few years at MIT with a bartending job (much to his parents’ dismay), a co-captain position on the forensics team, and a close group of friends, he was kidnapped, tortured, and held for ransom by members of the Obsidian League.
After his rescue, Nathaniel would find the hardest part of the ordeal being the realization that no one knew he was missing for weeks. His job thought the rich kid had quit, though he never flaunted his money other than picking up the tabs shitty people cut out on. His friends thought he was sleeping with ‘that one girl’ that kept flirting with him at every party, though he swore there wasn’t anything there- just lending an ear to a heartbroken friend. His professors’ T.A.s were too overwhelmed to note his absences in the large classes. Then the forensics team thought his parents had finally pulled the plug on his participation because he’d divulged that they never really supported it when they didn’t attend any of the big competitions. The only person that ever trusted that Nate was missing against his will was, once again, his uncle and the calls to action were quickly hushed by the family, not wanting any bad press.
Through physical therapy his body healed from the torture, even though the scars remain. Concerned that therapy would look bad for the family they decided to allow him a service dog that was discretely trained and, after a hefty donation to the university and NDA paperwork, Sirius was allowed to follow him into his classes and any place around campus. Trying his best, the rest of his college experience was very much left in recluse. He took to reading and running to clear his head and avoid the reality that upon graduation he would be stepping into the CFO position of Delmore, Inc. Life seemed to be filled with dread outside of the travel the job would entail.
Managing to coerce his parents into agreeing to a masters, he delayed the inevitable a bit longer. Now, a decade later, he has settled into the monotony of corporate life. His secretary regularly schedules all meetings and travel in clusters to allow Nate as much time to himself away from the company as possible. After Sirius passed, he took on a new service dog with the refusal to hide that part of his life any longer. It wasn’t lost on him that Samantha’s pep talk to do so likely stemmed from her own desire to climb Delmore’s corporate ladder, but he couldn’t seem to care and completely anticipated that the company would be passed to her when that time came. The result was the same, his parents used him as the mouthpiece for the company’s charity work. They called the dog Cosimo to keep the ‘beast’ classy; meanwhile, he called him Cosmo because of his affinity for stargazing. They called him a survivor, he held his tongue that they’d treated him just as poorly. Through it all, he remains a dutiful, loyal, reserved; if not a bit more inclined to speak out against injustices than the average person.
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