#i want them to stay being partner in crime all the way to adulthood | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

roobylavender · 3 months

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Omg I'm glad I found a fellow new teen titans hater (or at least critic) because while I think Wolfman had some really neat ideas it really amazes me how so much of what he's written for Dick is like the polar opposite of his character for 40 years and how people ignore that simply because they don't read golden/silver age batman... like I hate reboot Nightwing as much as anyone but it's crazy to me how people think he's always been the most anal about his moral code as if it didn't take years for him to develop it after watching Bruce (like in canon: https://64.media.tumblr.com/f20ae729d626788129a371dab7f790db/5b84ba907a5dc5f9-ac/s1280x1920/e0e719108502d4fa51364eb748450141fd1bcedd.png), or how he'd give up college/a day life to be Robin when in canon he was the one all gung-ho about going to college while Bruce hoped for him to stay home (and ironically enough Bruce quit Wayne Industries himself so he could focus full-time on being Batman lmao: https://64.media.tumblr.com/48945b33fa70a2bfbded0fe6c83017d0/68e853c82fce0d82-5a/s1280x1920/32e3b3ab44fa7364ca82eb63bb8c6d5bbbbb7132.png), or even that Dick wouldn't have the patience to mentor children or something when the literal purpose of creating Robin was to be a role model for children to relate to and sef-insert themselves as his friend, hence why he always excelled in school and sports and stuff...like Bill Finger even created this concept of "Robin's Regulars" to show that Dick liked kids and inspired them (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wpPLG-yJpJw/S5v2_3KXjdI/AAAAAAAADnM/1aOMBWuCmT0/s400/robinsregulars.jpg)... the good part is that NTT took place when Dick was just 18-19, I can easily pass it off as his angsty phase that he grew out of in the same way Peter's Ditko era is passed off as his edgy college kid phase in-universe that he outgrew thanks to his friends lmao

admittedly i think trying to ascertain any kind of moral code from bruce or dick in the golden age is a bit of a directionless endeavor bc the writers switched things up soooo often depending on whether they want to pander to morality or comedic value 😭 like there's a golden age issue where bruce quite literally lets= someone die in an electric whirlpool of some kind omds it was hysterical. but yeah interestingly with wolfman i like a lot of the things he did with dick as a character if i view them as developments resulting not only from his personal foray into adulthood but also from the distance that started to grow between him and bruce. it was completely logical for dick to reassess a lot of the things he wanted back when he thought it was going to be him and bruce forever versus at present when bruce clearly no longer wanted to sanction him being robin and dick took that to mean he wasn't good enough (even though bruce was merely being protective and trying to respect dick's own ability to choose his own path in life). the problem with wolfman is that rather than portray it as a series of newfound assessments made in context of newfound developments in dick's life, he wrote these assessments as if they had been lodged in dick's mind since the day he was taken in. which to me at least seems to diminish the significance of dick's development into a more agitated, hyper-emotional control freak. it's not supposed to be something that's always been there. it's more latent. dick's belief in himself with respect to his relationship with bruce sort of hung by a thread for the entirety of their tenure together. that's what happens when you let a nine-year-old become a vigilante and spend nearly nine years together thereafter fighting crime with him as your exclusive partner. it builds expectations, hopes, dreams. for his entire life dick was building up to this.. fantasy almost. and when he went to college it still wasn't so bad because even if there was a desire to be independent he still felt like he had bruce's support. the fantasy remained intact. it was only when dick started to realize that being in college hindered what he really wanted to do with his life, and then bruce opposed him on it, and then they proceeded to disagree on a number of other things—as respectfully as they could admittedly. that was the nice thing about the early 80s. they actually talked in the truest sense of the word—and then bruce finally cut the cord (so to speak) on robin existing as a required extension of batman, that the floodgates really opened. every latent positive emotion that dick had ever felt in his life because of what he believed bruce had given him unconditionally was suddenly up for dissection. and that's how you proceeded to get the neurotic ticking time bomb we know and love so well today. or at least that's how i like to conceptualize it in my head

#outbox #dick age eighteen: i'm coming out.. as depressed #also love the panel about bruce quitting his management position at wayne industries bc you know he's lying to himself lmaoo #he doesn't love the management work obv. but we know full well he only sacrifices things for himself in the civilian world #bc he feels like he isn't doing enough in the vigilante world. he likes being bruce wayne. but he can't Justify being bruce wayne #and that subsequently makes it a lot easier (well. that's debatable) for him to be a helicopter parent with respect to everyone else #he's fully entitled to rob himself of his little civilian joys. but it'll upset him if anyone else does the same for themselves

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hahanoiwont · 3 years

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I am awaiting the inevitable shock and existentialism Fell will feel when he realises that Frisk is no longer in stripes. Patiently. Cheerfully. >:D

okay so imagine. imagine ur fell. imagine with me. let's stand in his shoes.

You are Papyrus. You are also known as Fell.

Your childhood was rough and isolating. You were alone often, and when you did see other people it was overshadowed by resentment or just a violent experience overall. You killed someone before you could reasonably be called an adult, and your brother, whose visits were already few and far between, nearly vanished from your life. You didn't know where he went, but you can only assume he had some other life where he pretended you'd never even existed, and he'd left you to dust alone. The only sign that he still remembered you at all was the food in the pantry, and you started wondering if maybe he wouldn't always be there to bring it. Then one day he came home half dead, and suddenly you're the one putting food in the pantry, having to navigate a world you've only seen glimpses of. Things are rocky. You know intellectually that your family dynamic is fairly gentle, and you could consider yourself lucky...but you remember when he loved you. And he doesn't act the same anymore. You think that maybe he loved you as well as he was able, but once he realized what you are he couldn't care for you anymore. Maybe there is something so terrible in you, so cold and ruthless, that even your gentle, patient older brother couldn't stand to be around you. Maybe you did this to him.

No, you decide. You know better. Perhaps this is partially because of you, but it is also because of the things Sans can see that no one else can--a tally of pain inflicted by every person he meets. You watch him come back to life just for something to break inside of him, seeing all of those numbers tick up. Something in him drives him and he mutters that every single monster deserves to die. But that gentler Sans is still there, staying his hand. He never could stand to hurt anyone. Neither could you, once.

You should probably take this as an indication that things only ever get worse and you will never have anything better. You do not. You're going to change this world. Some small corner of it will be safe, and maybe then Sans will find it in himself to forgive you--for what, you don't know. For existing, or for being a monster, or some sin of your personality. You tell yourself that you'll be satisfied even if Sans never loves you like he used to again, as long as he's not in pain anymore. He's dying. You need to save him. You don't have the luxury of being a softer person.

A softer person comes along.

With a human soul, you could break the Barrier. You could give it to Sans and let him leave this place. You could surrender it to Asgore and the reward would see you and your brother safe for a long time, maybe even safe enough to go far away on the Surface and never see another monster again. There are people you would miss, but it would be worth it to rest in safety.

The time comes to kill them.

They are a child.

You don't ask Sans whether he has even bothered trying to kill them--their budding adoration tells you that he hasn't. They whisper to you that he offered them mercy. You try not to be glad for that stupid mistake. Still, there are more important things--Sans is likely to hate you for killing a defenseless child, but Sans has hated you for greater and lesser crimes, and this is for him. This is for both of you; your ticket out. This is a golden chance. You just have to kill them.

They are a very flattering child. Sans has never cared to notice your fearsome armor or malignant traps. They are a creature of superior taste.

You have to kill them. Things will be so much better if you just kill them.

Your attacks become more dramatic. You switch out the swift and lethal attacks for the showier, cooler attacks. The human is impressed. You think that they are having fun--to your surprise, you find that you are, too. You regret that you have to kill them.

They are surprisingly difficult to kill. It reminds you of practicing your bone attacks when you were a child, waiting for Sans to finally come home so you could show him, waiting for him to be so proud of your progress that he would stay with you this time. You find that it's more fun with a partner. You bring out some sequences that you've discarded for being all flash and no substance. The human loves them.

You don't want to lose this, you realize. You don't want them to die.

You find that you are sorry for hurting them. They have seemed fearless, but they have sustained great deals of damage to their tiny HP count. You can't see the numbers like your brother can, but it can't be greater than 40 total. You have harmed them.

This tiny, innocent creature...you have harmed them. You did not have to. They were not forcing you to fight. But you harmed them.

You apologize. The human seems surprised, but pleased. They offer you a big grin and instant forgiveness, because they are a child. Living in your world, this is likely the best anyone has treated them.

Not anymore.

You bring them home. Sans is there, watching the doorway for your return with hopeless eyes. Perhaps he thinks you will not notice how they brighten and his whole face softens when he sees your LOVE, unchanged, and the child, alive. The child does not seem to recognize the difference, but greets him like a dear friend. He fakes ambivalence and disappears to one of his sentry stations.

You have a child, now.

This is a Concern.

You were hardly a child, yourself--how can you possibly provide the things that a child may need? Most especially a human child, who may need all sorts of things that you have no way of knowing about. You have seen them eat, so you can assume that they need to be fed; they are wearing clothes, so you can assume they need to be clothed; but what of entertainment? Affection? Training? What sorts of guidance will they need?

You have doubts. One of the only things that you are confident of is that the child does not need doubts. You must choose to be bold. If you are denying the very murderous nature of monsters by taking in a child, then so be it: you will not do this in half measures.

You set about creating the optimal environment for child-rearing. Plenty of doors and windows that lock only from the inside. Enrichment in the form of attack training. Weapons for self-protection. You make it clear that you will always have time for them, no matter what else may be at hand. You will interrupt even the most important of work days to tend to their childhood accidents--a stray stab wound here, or a timely rescue there. You prepare to put the changing of your world on hold for as long as it takes to see this human into adulthood.

You wonder what kind of adult they will be. Bold and strong like you, or wry and clever like Sans, or as passionate as Undyne--or none of the above, perhaps. If you raise them right, maybe they will be different from all of you. Maybe they will stay small and loving forever.

You do not look forward to seeing their heart break, seeing their first kill, seeing them turn to LOVE. These rites of passage seem suddenly gruesome. But you want to be there, all the same--you want to take them home afterwards, and see them find their feet again every time they stagger. There is a whole tiny person in your home, and you can ensure that they are never alone.

Then, the world changes.

Perhaps you will not need to guard them so fiercely. Perhaps you will be able to devote your efforts instead into becoming something softer and kinder. You will finally find the words to say when they are lonely, or frightened, or when you have been too harsh and their eyes fill with tears. You will no longer be too harsh. You cannot ever be human, but perhaps you can raise one nearly as well as another human would. For the first time, you feel as if there is love in you--in all of monsterkind.

Then, the child dies.

Sans said he would bring them home. He left to go retrieve them. And they disappear forever. His guilt is plain to see, but you allow him to fool you--he says that he has killed a child, and you sympathize with him. You provide comfort. You do not realize.

Several people take you aside, one by one by one, to gently break the news to you. Sans encountered the human, they say. The two of them had a disagreement. Sans took them somewhere and he came back alone. The evidence is clear--you have Sans's confession, even.

He would not have snuffed that tiny life out. He loves them. You have seen him come back to life by inches, resurrecting the brother you thought you'd lost. This cannot be.

You wait for Sans to tell you that.

He does not.

Your brother has stolen your child's life. Your tiny sibling, who you have sworn to protect--who each of you have promised to raise gently, to treat well, to absolutely spoil with safety and affection, as much as you can. You finally had a warmth in your heart and in your home, and so did Sans. But he smothered it. He killed them. You cannot believe it. But, you think of the creeping insanity that you thought had been defeated in him, and you don't know. You don't know what he is capable of anymore.

Sans used to stand for mercy--if not for its own sake, then because killing is not a virtue. He was the only person who believed LOVE was not a good thing, and now, he is the only person who is not changing his mind.

You're furious. You're betrayed. You're heartbroken. You want to confront Sans. You never want to see him again. You want your sibling back, to protect them better this time, to do things differently so that somehow it goes right. Sans would not do this. You must have caused it somehow. You identify your failings after a week: you were too slow.

The world was changing, but not fast enough. Sans took his own action first.

You leave. You intend to come back, when you have changed the world into something Sans can stand, when your fury has calmed--you leave. That is what matters.

You do come back, once. Sans's pantry is empty. You fill it. You do not think that there are any grocers willing to do business with him, not with the worries about food shortages. Not with what everyone knows he's done.

In his basement, you discover something odd: hope. A skeleton with your face who claims to have seen your sibling, calls them "Frisk." They never shared their name with you. You had hoped they would, in time; but they did not, and now they cannot.

But perhaps they will.

Perhaps you have not lost that child, that place of warmth in your home and heart. If grief is love with no one to direct it to, then you no longer need to grieve. They are alive. Your brother has done an awful thing, but not what you feared. You can get them back. You will not miss the landmarks that were not to be. You would give anything to scoop them up and hold them again.

You find them. Finally, you find them again--or they find you. They approach you, and you approach them, and at first you are puzzled by this human: a grown, adult human, standing half in front of a skeleton who is almost your brother but not entirely, and watching you with caution that turns to unbridled delight when they realize who it is they have been brought to meet. Your phone begins ringing. You ignore it. The skeleton who is not your brother is watching your stats with a sort of horror. You ignore that, as well. This human looks at you with warmth and trust that you have only seen from...

It's your sibling. It's your sibling, and you have them back, they are just in front of you, and you have missed them. You have missed so much of their life. The child you were raising is gone, with no hint of them in this human's scarred HP and protective stance. They do not have your boldness or Sans's wit or Undyne's passion or even the sheltered softness you had secretly hoped they would keep...you weren't there to shelter them.

You have the human back, but not the child. They don't need you anymore.

In this moment, you have the realization: searching for them, you have met people who are gentler than you, cleverer, kinder, less awkward and violent...all of them who counted your sibling as part of their own family. They have had such a life beyond you that you cannot grasp the whole of it. With so many better selves, so many better brothers...

They don't need you any more. Why on earth would they want you?

#undertale #whither then fic #i crossposted this on ao3 #bc it's a long boi

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champion-of-thedas · 2 years

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The Negative Character Arc of Vito Scaletta Part 4: Act 3

Ah yes. It’s the final act of the story! Time for the resolution and a neat wrap up of all of the subplots, including our protagonist’s character development. For the Disillusionment Arc we’ve been studying, that means that the character will finally fully embrace the truth and all of its consequences. This usually covers the last fourth of the story. Also I am now 100% convinced (I know nobody mentioned it but it seems like fun after all the reading I’ve been doing) to do Joe’s aborted positive character arc at some point. I just want to.

Also this was a weird one to write. I kept skipping back and forth between putting certain events in different parts. Part of what took so long is that I had a whole three LONG paragraphs written for part 8, but then realized when I started to write beat 9 that what I was writing for beat 9 was beat 8, what I was writing for beat 8 was part of beat 7, and that some of beat 10 was beat 9 and some of it was beat 10. It was weird and it made beat 7 so long on rewrite, but here it is.

Quick recap for those who haven’t looked at this in a while:

Vito’s Normal World is one where the lawful system does not work. The working man is a sucker and those that take for themselves are the ones that are successful. The system of crime that exists in the world is more effective than that of the law-abiding one. This is important for the themes of adulthood and maturity and masculinity that permeate his story, as for Vito financial success is equivalent to adulthood (being a man). Being dependent on others is being a child, especially considering that his father was not able to provide for his own family and, in fact, made their situation worse. This is vital for understanding the last act of the story. Vito’s Lie is that he can use the system of crime to be successful, to gain clout, to be considered mature. It is extremely similar to the one his father believed, but using a different system. The Tragic Truth is that Vito overestimates the clout/influence/success that the system has given him. He won’t succeed in it and was never going to succeed. His status in society as a poor immigrant from poor immigrants was never going to work for him. He was not lucky enough for it to work out that way, and despite his hard work he is just as disposable as ever.

Now, onto Act 3.

Beat 7: The Tragic Realization

Starting off for poor Vito, it is time for devastation! Here, the character recognizes that they’ve been operating under the Tragic Truth and its been working in their Normal or Adventure World (here it is the normal world), but something happens that tips their hand. Here, the character is forced to watch as their tragic truth is either their undoing or the undoing of those they love.

This is most certainly exemplified in the latter half of A Friend of Ours. First and foremost, the decimation of Vito’s life as he knows it when Frankie cuts him out of her life after he beats up her abusive partner. This is not nearly as damning as what comes next, but it directly shows how Vito’s way to solve problems just creates more of them. The way he has been taught to operate took away his own remaining biological family.

Then, his house gets burnt to the ground, and with it all that he has put his sweat and blood into. Over the course of a single day, Vito loses everything: his family, the home that he built, even a place at Joe’s. He has to flee to Joe’s in the middle of the night (with a stolen car in my playthrough). Joe’s success is juxtaposed to Vito, even if it is success by Joe’s standards. Suddenly Vito is back where he started, depending on Joe instead of being his own man. It also doesn’t help that this time Joe provides him a place, making it feel more permanent than a stay on a friend’s couch (and feel like he’s less welcome there). Full disclosure: I do think that if Joe didn’t have Marty’s apartment in his back pocket, he would 100% let Vito stay with him. It’s just that he does and having Vito stay with him would be incompatible to Joe’s current lifestyle, and he probably thinks that letting Vito have his own place will give him a sense of agency. Unfortunately it can come off (although I don’t think he meant anything by it at all) like he’s just helping a ‘friend’, but doesn’t want to be there to be emotional support. I just think Vito is not expressive in the same way that Joe is and they don’t have the same values.

The distance between them and just how much the night has hurt Vito comes after he’s gotten his revenge, but doesn’t feel better. Joe says, “All the stuff that got burnt up? It’s just things Vito.” and doesn’t realize that to Vito those things and that money are what make him an adult and everything his father wasn’t.

Vito’s Tragic realization is that all of the hard work that he put into this life and working to gain what his father couldn’t have was his own undoing. It was operating in this lifestyle that put the target on his back in the first place and it was operating by the rules of that system that pushed his sister away. Now, he has nothing and also thinks he has no one. He sits in Marty’s apartment and laments that he is stuck there without any of the money that he had found comfort in, only with a roof over his head and the charity of his friend.

The tragedy of the Truth is full realized in the Sea Gift and Exit the Dragon. Keep in mind that the reason Sea Gift happens for Vito is because he has just lost everything. This whole plot, for Vito, was a desperate attempt to get what he had back, no realizing that system he was a part of isn’t working for him and actually being able to do something about it. Henry, knowing his friend needs money, decides to put this up as an option. I don’t think Vito here is trying to get out of the life, despite knowing that staying within the system will only cause him problems, but he is still stuck knowing that after losing everything he is nothing. There is a cycle of violence here that will continue by existing in this system and Vito is a grunt at the end of the day. Nobody is going to post bodyguards around his house and rival gangs/mobs are going to feel perfectly safe retaliating against him as they did just then, because the only person to fight back will be Vito. Money is safety and comfort, so Vito goes searching for it.

Then, his world is shattered as Vito and Joe find Henry’s body. This person who may not have been always next to him but was nevertheless an important part of his life is dead. Not only that, but they’re money as part of the deal is gone because they spent it, Falcone is demanding a cut, they still have to pay off the broker, and it only gets worse. Joe and Vito, while still working together, have to immediately begin taking jobs as they are on the chopping block and no one is going to hold their hand and say it’s okay. They go to war with the triads as revenge for what happened to Henry, and only succeed in angering their bosses, although that doesn’t come to a head yet.

Vito has just been forced to realize just how fucked the system was for them. They tried to pull themselves away only to succeed in being dragged back into the cycle. In this moment, while dealing with his relationship with the Henry and the man’s death, not to mention all that he is going to have to do in order to keep Joe and himself alive through this. It’s desperate and he is driven to despair here. It has undone everything, and now he sees, really sees how the truth of this world has harmed him.

Beat 8: The Third Plot Point

Now, the character has seen the Lie and the Truth for what they really are and no hope for the future with the one they’ve been operating under. They can no longer fool themselves into believing that the Tragic Truth is not true and that their old Lie is true. Here, they accept the dark truth and reject their Lie. The biggest point of this is to recognize that the Lie they found comfort in is nonexistent.

This point of the story belongs solely to Stairway to Heaven. You know what I’m talking about.

Set up: at this point in the story, Vito has lost everything, really lost it. Now, he is no longer even trying to get it back anymore. He’s just trying to get himself and Joe out of danger before something worse happens and they both die. More and more he’s been seeing how the system has fucked them over and how every single time things start to get better, specific institutions or by products of doing the jobs they do in the system push them back down. He’s been told a friend betrayed him and pressure has been put on him since he tried to avenge that friend’s death, not to mention that he, Joe, and Henry spent enough of the money that they won’t be able to pay back the person that got the money from and give Eddie a cut.

So, he goes back to the beginning after a job or two doesn’t cut it and works for Derek at the dock, strong-arming the workers for the man. As he is doing his job though, he finds out about his father’s death and Derek’s role in it. Vito, for the first time, seems to claim ownership of his father. At least, he feels responsible for avenging his father’s death instead of working for the man that killed him. In a way, he sees that his father and he were a part of the same system and that it murdered his old man.

But, that’s not where Vito accepts the truth. But first, Eddie tells Vito that his friend was a snitch for the feds. This is just more proof, to Vito, that he was disposable to the man and a tool (whether or not this is true is up for debate, but nevertheless this is how Vito felt as well as conflicted over the truth of the declaration). Not to mention that there’s potentially a war starting and it might come back to bite Vito and Joe if anyone finds out about they’re involvement. After a kerfuffle, it becomes clear that the Vincis do think Vito and Joe are a part of it and plan to punish them for it, and I personally believe it’s pretty clear that if the Falcone’s find out about the whole thing, there might not be retaliation. After all, a couple of low level wise guys who almost set everybody to war with the Tongs. Giving them over would be a lot less trouble, and if they did bother to do anything about it, it wouldn’t be because of Vito and Joe. No, if they bothered to retaliate, it would only be because they were itching for war and Vito and Joe gave them a good enough excuse. Vito gets to realize that in this moment and rescues Joe in a manner that no one would know they were there so that it doesn’t get back to Falcone.

And the final nail in the coffin. The moment where Vito sees and accepts the Tragic Truth of it all. He goes to pay back Bruno.

This, I feel, is where his story truly comes to a head. Vito goes to pay back a debt, something his father never got to do, only to find out that the man he is giving the money to is the same one his father took out a loan from years ago. It is the same man that strong armed his sister and mother into paying, despite knowing that they couldn’t, and Vito can’t touch him. Suddenly, everything is put into sharp relief. There are no separate systems, his father wasn’t a sucker. Vito is the sucker for ever believing that he could do what his father couldn’t. There is only one system, both Vito and his father were a part of it, and both of them folded to it in the end. There he was, making the same mistakes as his father while trying to be everything but. Here, he accepts that he was never going to succeed, not the way he wanted to. “The working man is a sucker,” said Joe, but no one bothered to tell Joe that Vito that the lifestyle he craved wasn’t what Joe wanted. Joe was fit for the life, quick cash and quick spending. He could go with the flow, but Vito wanted maturity and adulthood. He wanted to be successful and to have respect. In this world though, Vito was never going to have either. He had the same dream his father did when coming to the U.S. of a better life, but didn’t realize this was not the place to get it. All of the people in the mob were there when it was established in Empire Bay, they were the old guard, an institution. Where there are institutions there are systems, and where there are systems, there are hierarchies. Vito would always be the fall guy, which meant he could never move up.

Beat 9: The Climactic Moment:

Now, the protagonist fully acknowledges the truth, and uses it and all it has taught them to get the thing they need and occasionally the thing they want, but if they do get the latter, they usually realize that it’s worthless in the face of their new Truth or they sacrifice it somehow. They end the conflict between them and the antagonistic force. Oftentimes, for a Disillusionment arc, the character will experience one final tragedy, usually as the result of what they’ve previously set in motion (this is usually found in the resolution or at the very very end of the climactic moment).

No more is this more obvious than Per Aspera Ad Aspera. Vito literally spends the beginning of the chapter basically lamenting the truth by discussing how his life is nowhere near what he thought it would be. He gets a call from Eddie Scarpa about meeting at an observatory, but before that he is stopped by Leo Galante, his dark father figure. Leo gives Vito his real ultimatum and shows Vito that he has the real power here compared to a figure like Falcone. He likes Vito, so he’s going to give him this chance to make things right. This is a short beat, but it goes up until the point where Vito convinces Joe to side with him, even as Joe is being promised everything by Falcone. Vito is wielding his friendship and the knowledge that he and Joe both have now (as Falcone admitted to using them as pawns) to fight. They both know the system won’t work for them, so they have to work for each other. It’s triumphant! Together they beat Falcone and manage to break free of Empire Bay’s mob families, moving along with Leo Galante, but then tragedy strikes as we move into the resolution, one that ends the bitter-sweet moment of knowing the Truth and using it to put themselves in a new place. Sure they are alive and together, but there is still the knowledge that they both were in a place where they were never meant to succeed, Falcone’s words ringing in their ears. Their only hope of getting out of this is at the mercy of Leo Galante.

Beat 10: The Resolution

Now, the character is fully faced with the reality left in the wake of all of their actions and the consequences of their Lie and the Tragic Truth. They will either enter a new Normal World or return to the original, but now jaded with the Truth in face of the world that operates on the Lie.

You may have noticed that I am ignoring much of the actual confrontation with Falcone, and that is true. While I do believe the ending of Per Aspera Ad Aspera is vital to Vito’s story as the resolution of it, namely seeing what “happens” to Joe due to the way the new Normal World operates, but the actual confrontation is more important for Joe’s arc. While friendship is an important part of Vito’s story thematically, that more has to do with how Vito relates to the men in his life. Joe’s arc in the story is more about friendship, and I will address that in the next part. So, importantly, Vito, by the end of this, gains a new darker mentor that has been steadily hinting at the Tragic Truth since they met. Notice how large turning points for Vito’s character usually involve Leo Galante somehow. While up until this moment, Vito has acknowledged and even wielded his Tragic Truth, Galante finally confronts Vito with the world he was always a part of.

By stepping into the car with his dark mentor, Vito Scaletta agreed to join a New Normal World and start to use the new connections he has, aware that his only value in the system was how much he still meant to Leo Galante. But what Vito forgot was how expendable everyone was, how the system chewed up and spat everyone out, not just him. He was fully faced with reality at the end of this when Leo Galante made clear who he valued and who he didn’t. All he needed was a simple line to drive home the consequences of forgetting this Truth for even one second, disillusioning him to it completely.

“Sorry kid. Joe wasn’t part of our deal.”

#vito scaletta #Mafia II #Mafia 2 #mafia remake #character analysis #long post

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nekoabiwrites · 4 years

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How Not to Help Your Nerd Boyfriend Find a Swimsuit

Long title... but it’s all I got lmao.

It’s @maeofclubsandart‘s birthday and she deserves good stuff - I hope this falls under that :P This is like a few hours early for her, but I couldn’t wait to post!!

AU: Human Pairing: Intruloceit Words: 3002 Warnings: Nothing. Let me know if there is anything you want me to add!

Summary: Logan realises he doesn’t have a swimsuit. His boyfriends want to help. They are no help.

Logan was quiet as he sat on the couch, face pensive. One of his boyfriends had suggested a ‘date day beach trip’, and the other had tentatively agreed as long as a list of stipulations were agreed to. Now the two of them were playfully bantering back and forth, a pad of paper being scrawled on to get each stipulation in writing. Logan was not listening to anything they were saying, however. He was too busy thinking about how to bring up the topic that he didn’t own attire appropriate for the beach.

It wasn’t for lack of trying that Logan didn’t own a swimsuit. It was more to do with the fact that he had not required one since he was a child and thus had had no reason to go searching for one in his adulthood. He’d barely even given the summer displays in stores a second thought when he had passed by them in recent years. A hand gently resting on his thigh had Logan suddenly jolting back to reality.

“Logan? Are you alright?”

“You haven’t added anything to our list yet. I thought you’d already have a contract to hand me, checked by a lawyer and everything!”

Logan cleared his throat awkwardly, “Apologies. I was simply… lost in thought for a moment.”

“What about? What about?” The more excitable of the two leaped over the coffee table and cuddled up against Logan’s side, looking up at him with a grin.

“Remus. We’ve mentioned time and time again. No pressuring anyone into talking about things they don’t want to talk about.”

Remus pouted, “But Jannyyyyy, I wasn’t tryyyyingggggg toooooo.”

“Stop. Both of those things. Immediately.” Janus sighed, grimacing exaggeratedly at the nickname.

Logan felt himself relax a little as the tension of the situation dissipated. He cut through the continuing argument, “It is alright. I just realised that I do not own a bathing suit.”

A beat of silence passed before a wide grin spread across Remus’ face and his eyes twinkled with mischief. He grabbed a tight hold of Logan’s wrist and began to drag the bespectacled man across the room towards the front door. “Let’s go remedy this immediately!” As his hand touched the door handle, a shout stopped him in his tracks.

“REMUS!” Janus stood back at the couch, hands on his hips and a disappointed downturn on his lips, “Are you really going now?”

“Of course! What better time than the present, right, Lo-Lo?” Remus wrapped his arms around Logan’s waist, fluttering his eyelashes in a way that was supposed to be innocent before placing an uncomfortably wet kiss to Logan’s cheek.

“Oh, yes, right. And you’ll be getting so far without these…” He held the car keys up between two fingers. Remus gasped and practically threw himself over to his partner in order to snatch them out of the other’s hand, but Janus moved the keys out of Remus’ reach only moments before he could get them in his grasp. “You might also want to consider changing out of your…” Janus gave Remus a once over, “current outfit… and put on some shoes… and take your wallet… y’know, just a suggestion.” He dramatically checked his nailbeds, pointedly ignoring Remus’ continued attempts to grab the car keys.

Remus soon gave up and huffed as he walked away to change his outfit into something deemed appropriate for the outside world. Once the bedroom door had shut behind him, Janus sighed and turned to Logan with a gentle smile, as the taller man wandered back towards the couch. The car keys were handed over, their touch lingering for longer than necessary, “I managed to buy you some time to prepare. You can thank me later. Do try not to die out there, the increase in rent would be far too taxing on me.”

An amused snort fell from Logan’s lips as he slipped his shoes on and retrieved both his and Remus’ wallets from the table in the entryway. He was just slipping his into his back pocket when the bedroom door swung open once again.

“Is this better?” Remus asked, twirling and posing excessively for his partners. Neither could deny that the outfit was indeed far better, though it still had that… Remus flair that would likely cause passing parents to gape and tug their children away faster.

“It will have to do if we want to get this done today.” Logan said in an already defeated tone. He turned and headed to the door, making sure to obviously jostle the keys in his hand to get Remus to follow him, instead of annoying Janus for them.

Only once they got into the store did Logan realise what he’d gotten himself into.

Remus had him stand before the display of bathing suits. The eccentric man circled Logan, poking and prodding him in ways that seemed completely unnecessary. It was only once Remus poked Logan’s ass with a high-pitched “Boop!” did Logan snap and finally move from the spot he’d been placed in.

“What on earth are you doing?”

“Oh, I was just trying to figure out your size is all! And what would look good on you.” Remus practically purred as he approached Logan once more, his arms coming to rest around the other’s waist.

“What did all of the… touching have to do with that? Enlighten me.” Logan deadpanned, practically able to hear the response Remus was about to give him.

With yet another fluttering of his eyelashes, Remus grinned cheekily and responded, “I just wanted to touch my boyfriend. Is that a crime?”

“It depends, obviously.”

“Ooh? I do love a bit of crime…”

“Remus.” Logan’s voice held a note of warning, letting his boyfriend know that he was getting close to pushing his luck.

“Fine, fine. Back to swimsuits. We can figure out crime later!” Remus let go and turned back to the wall beside them. As his partner was taking a moment to breathe and compose himself, Remus was busy grabbing a variety of pieces off of the wall. He grabbed the last one and then grabbed a hold of Logan’s arm once more to pull him over to the changing rooms. “Here! Try these!” He dumped the pile onto the bench in the small space behind the curtain.

“Alright… but you are staying out there.” Logan said hesitantly, lightly pressing against Remus’ shoulder to get him out of the changing room. He moved without much of a fight, though the disappointment was clear on his face.

Logan couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips as he pulled the curtain across in front of his boyfriend’s face. Though he could be impulsive, reckless, overly sexual and a number of other descriptors, Logan could not say that any of it changed his feelings about Remus. Somehow, all the strange things he did brought Logan deeper into his affection. The playful nature of it all just helped Logan relax, even when things did start to border on illegal activity.

Speaking of illegal, it was the only work Logan could conjure up in his mind to describe the swimsuits Remus had left him with. Every single one was too revealing, either due to a complete lack of fabric or the fabric used happened to be extremely translucent. He took his time looking through them all before even considering disrobing to try some on.

“Um, Remus?” Logan asked, staring in disbelief at the choices laid out before him.

“Yeah, Logan?” Remus parroted back in the same tone, teasing him.

“Are you quite sure about these, uh, choices of yours?”

“Of course I am! They’d all look just so good on you. Trust me, I have an eye for this stuff.” Remus had approached the curtain so he could lower his voice, in an attempt to both be seductive and save Logan from the embarrassment of public flirting.

“…Okay…” Logan muttered under his breath as he slowly began to strip down in order to try at least one of the swimsuits – specifically the one that offered the most coverage. After far too long, Logan stood in front of the mirror looking at himself. He had to give Remus one thing; it did suit him quite well, though he couldn’t say it would work for outside of this changing room… or other, more private, areas. “Uh, Remus…? Would you… would you mind, joining me? I don’t think I can come out…”

Remus clapped loudly before his footsteps approached the curtain, “I thought you’d never ask!” The curtain swung open as the moustachioed man entered the changing room. As the curtain fell from Remus’ hand, his eyes swept Logan’s body and an almost lecherous smile spread across his face. He reached out and gently held his boyfriend’s hips, coaxing him to turn so Remus could see everything. “It’s even better than I thought.”

“Remus. This is not suitable as a swimsuit.” Logan hissed, a dark blush coating his cheeks as he was observed from every conceivable angle.

“I dunno. It seems good to me.”

“Remus.”

Finally, Remus looked up at Logan’s face and his grin faltered. The clear unease and worry behind the thick framed glasses that rested on Logan’s blushing cheeks, the hunch of his back and the twitching of his arms as he fought to not wrap them around himself, the tension in his entire body. It cut Remus to his core. “Okay. None of these.”

The voice that responded was no more than a whisper, “Thank you.”

“Gimme that one and I’ll go put these all back while you get dressed, yeah?” Logan nodded as Remus filled his arms back up with the rest of the swimsuits. Logan dropped the one he’d tried on atop the pile and Remus slipped out of the changing room. Internally, he mourned the fact that he was unsuccessful in getting Logan to agree to one of his ideas. He did look so good, and he was sure that Janus would have agreed with him too. But Logan’s comfort came first and so all of them were put on the return rack.

The couple left the store once Logan had emerged – fully dressed - from behind the curtain. Remus was gentler for the rest of their trip out, not dragging Logan from place to place – instead just guiding him. They stopped off at a small café nearby for a quick snack before heading home.

To say that Janus was unsurprised when they returned empty handed was an understatement. “Are you truly surprised that your suggestions were received so poorly?” Janus asked, shutting the cover of his book and resting it in his lap.

Remus rolled his eyes and cocked his hip, “Duh, of course. Logan looked so good and he would have looked even better in some of the others I picked out!”

“I’m sure he did…” Janus’ eyes flicked to Logan, raking his body for a moment before returning to Remus’ gaze, “Even so, we all know your taste in fashion is… different, to ours.” He gestured between himself and Logan for emphasis.

“Just because you two are adorable little squares when it comes to your outfits, doesn’t mean you can’t step out of that every once and a while!” Remus flopped into the space on the couch nearest Janus’ armchair, reaching to grab a hold of his hands, “I mean, it’s not like you two have any issues when its just us…” He grinned, pulling the hand closer to his lips.

Janus slipped his hand from Remus’ grip before he could even place the ghost of a kiss onto his fingertips – though it was highly unlikely to just be something that insufferably sweet – and turned his attention to Logan, “We’ll go and sort out this little issue ourselves tomorrow. Just us two.” He directed his statement at Remus, who slumped over the arm of the couch, defeated.

---

He knew he’d be bored without his boyfriends around, but Remus couldn’t have imagined just how restless he’d be knowing that they were out looking at swimsuits without him. He did eventually manage to lay on the couch and distract himself with some cheesy horror movies, but the moment the front door lock clicked, Remus was up on his feet. “How did it-” Remus cut himself off as Logan’s voice preceded him even entering the home.

“I truly did not think that the two of you would be at such extreme ends of this spectrum!” Logan said, as he stormed through the door. Janus shut it behind him, leaning against it. He said nothing, only gesturing to himself. Logan quickly back-peddled, “I didn’t mean- I’m sorry. I just…”

“No, no. It’s alright.” Janus held up a hand to quiet his now nervously stuttering nerd, “I have specific needs when it comes to such things.” He approached Logan and placed a chaste kiss to Logan’s cheek, a display of love that assured Logan he was fine. Logan couldn’t help placing his own kiss to Janus’ lips to replace the gentle smiles they were sharing, a kiss that slowly turned into something… more as it continued for longer than expected.

As he was left out of the affection, Remus couldn’t help himself and made a noise of frustration. The two separated and Janus rolled his eyes playfully then headed over to give their sulking boyfriend his own kiss. Immediately, Remus perked up, “It didn’t go well then?”

“No, it went fabulously. We just didn’t bring anything back because it went so well.” Janus drawled, sarcasm dripping through his voice.

“No need to be so salty about it, Janny.”

“What did I say about that?”

The two began bickering, but Logan tuned it out. He was deep in thought about his current experiences. While Remus was more than comfortable showing his entire body to the world, Janus was a completely different story. Due to his heavy scarring, it made sense that Janus would be more concerned about covering up as he needed to take extra precautions for his safety. Though, it couldn’t be said that he didn’t like to show off.

Janus had revealed that he preferred wetsuit-like outfits. What Logan hadn’t realised was how tightly some would cling to the body. He was extremely uncomfortable with the amount that was showing when he tried one on, even after his boyfriend complimented him so thoroughly.

Eventually, Logan stood, “I’m going to spend some time in the study.” His eyes were not focusing on either of his partners, as he was still deep in thought. Without waiting for a response, Logan wandered off.

Remus and Janus sat in silence, watching as the study door shut behind their boyfriend. They shared a worried glance before delving into a conversation on how to fix what they had both messed up on.

Days passed and the topic slipped from Logan’s mind. His work started getting extremely busy which provided an excellent distraction. It wasn’t until he came home one day weeks later and was greeted with the sight of his boyfriends wearing their own swimsuits that he thought about it again. He dropped his bag in its usual spot by the door with a heavy sigh, “If you are about to try and convince me to go out and look at swimsuits again, please do not.”

“We’re not.”

Logan paused in the middle of pulling off his jacket, “You’re… not?”

“Nope!”

“So… what are you… doing?”

“We don’t need to take you to look at swimsuits-” Janus started.

“-Because we have one for you right here!” Remus chimed in, holding a box out in front of him.

Logan cautiously eyed the gift as he walked towards them. As he took the box into his hands, Logan found that he was being guided to sit on the couch between his boyfriends – both of whom were eagerly watching him. The lid was lifted slowly, as if Logan assumed something venomous was going to jump out and bite him. Logan’s expression shifted to one of surprise when he saw the swimsuit inside.

The dark blue swim trunks were long and loose, something that Logan was almost ashamed to say he internally sighed in relief at. They also had a few silver coloured stripes wrapping around in an asymmetric design and – upon closer inspection – had the Ravenclaw house crest in the upper left-hand corner at the front.

“Sooooooo?” Remus asked, the silence clearly getting to him as he impatiently bounced up and down.

“I… I don’t know what to say… I uh… they’re perfect.” Logan said, a genuine smile pulling at his lips. After coaxing Logan into putting his new swimsuit on, the three of them relaxed in a makeshift ‘beach’ that had been set up in the back garden. It was made up of a small, blow-up kiddie pool and a tarp covered in sand – which had clearly been hastily placed on the ground. Remus lamented over the fact that Janus had stopped him from going and getting actual sea water and seaweed to bring the “smell of the beach to us”, instead having to settle for scented candles. Despite the odd set up and the unnecessary nature of it all, Logan couldn’t stop the deep fondness he was feeling for their beach. Though there was one question he needed answering.

“Why did you do all of this?” Logan asked suddenly. Remus stopped forming his phallic shaped sand sculpture to turn his attention to Logan, while Janus simply lifted his sunglasses. “I had never said anything about the beach setting being a difficult place to be, so I was just wondering why you set this all up…”

Janus’ wry smile crossed his lips and placed his sunglasses back down onto his nose as Remus responded casually, “It was just so you could get used to how good we look like this. Couldn’t have you getting all worked up over us in public now…” Remus playfully winked and stuck his tongue out, causing Logan to blush heavily at the implication.

---

My other stuff: http://nekoabi.tumblr.com/myworks Mobile Accessible Masterlist: http://nekoabi.tumblr.com/post/181954641376/fic-masterlist

General Tag List: @not-so-innocent-bi-sander @didsomeonesayprince @llamaly @justanotherpurplebutterfly @iaminmultiplefandoms @ultimate-queen-of-fandoms2 @lowkeyvirgilobsessed @louisthewarlock @fangsandrainbows @xxladystarlightxx @sleepyssnail @ao-koshka @notalwaysthevillian @pumpkinminette @doces-e--tuga @coloursintheblur @safesandersides @hogwarts-my-love

#sanders sides #fanfiction #logan sanders #janus sanders #remus sanders #logic sanders #deceit sanders #dark creativity sanders #intruloceit #swimsuits #human au

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roxa-sos · 4 years

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beautiful faces - rafe cameron

rafe cameron x kook!reader

tw; alcohol and hard drugs mentioned. it’s rafe cameron, people.

not requested (but i got someone to say they wanted it lmaoo); song fic based on beautiful faces by declan mckenna. the reader watches rafe cameron fade away from them and ruin his life, straying from the life they once had.

a/n -- i fucking LOVE declan mckenna. i’ve been listening to him since like 2016. also i’m still in love with drew starkey. anyways. stream the key to life on earth for clear skin and serotonin.

------

and as the earth returned to calmly dress itself in white we got a glimpse of all the people going out tonight big guys and little guys, and bad guys in cuffs i bet they can’t get enough

“jeez, rafe, will you slow down?” you called after your best friend, chasing him around his house.

fourteen year old you and rafe cameron. inseparable, bound to take over the world. you two were partners in crime, best friends, and the young rulers of the kooks on the island.

“come on, this isn’t gonna be any fun if we don’t get to see it.” he laughed back at you, trying to keep himself quiet. you caught up to him as he snuck through the back door of his house, putting your hand on his shoulder to let him know you were there.

his parents were holding a party, and both of you knew that when your people got drunk and partied, something was going to go wrong. that was what made people watching at your age so fun. sitting up at the top of the spiral stairs, you two were able to look down at all of your neighbors and family friends.

“is he doing coke?” you whispered eagerly, pointing at a chubby man in a suit who was hunched over next to the door.

“who is it?” rafe huddled up next to you, nodding. “probably.” he gave you his answer, and you couldn’t help but laugh in shock. man, things got crazy.

“rafe cameron?” you could hear his dad calling his name, which meant you two were definitely busted.

“shit!” you whispered to him, dragging him further up the stairs, running to his room.

you two were on top of the world when you spent your summers together, promising each other you wouldn’t end up too much like your parents, spending every waking second together.

tonight i wanna be on broadway and in cabaret tonight i must go out and celebrate st. patrick’s day tonight i must demand a raise so i can grab, let’s say some part replacements and strawberry laces, no spaces

“y/n, will you come to this one single party?” sixteen year old rafe was sitting at the desk in your room, turned around so he could face you as you dug through dresses that sat on your bed.

“for the millionth time, cameron, my dad would kill me. and you. and then we wouldn’t be able to steal the boat this weekend for our little atlantic camping trip.” you responded to him, holding up a shimmery blue dress to your body. “how’s this one for midsummers?”

“but parties are way better than spending two days out on your dad’s boat.” rafe complained, getting up out of the chair. “i like it, but the yellow one goes better with the suit i’m supposed to wear.”

you two were still best friends. it just seemed like he had more friends that were more important.

he partied more, drank more, and you always cleaned up the mess. you wanted to, though, that was what best friends did.

at least he was still taking you to midsummers, just like he did every year.

“i can’t, rafe. maybe next weekend?” you spun around to face him after holding the yellow dress up to your figure.

“next weekend.” he nodded, giving you a positive expression for the dress you’d pulled out. “i have to go, but that’s definitely the one.”

“alright. love you, dumbass.” you called after him as he left your room, a smile on your face.

“you too, y/n.”

tossing the dress on your bed, you already missed the nights where you had secret sleepovers in his bedroom and when you two made promises to each other you still kept.

though, you didn’t know if he kept his promises.

beautiful faces smiling over us lift your hands up and lead us back home beautiful people won’t remember you, honey i bet you can’t get enough

“holy shit, how fucking drunk are you?” you laughed, watching rafe cameron stumble by you.

eighteen now, it felt like you hadn’t gotten a moment alone with him in forever. he was scrunching up his nose like it was irritating him, looking confused, like he didn’t know you. “i don’t know, like, eight or nine beers.”

“christ, you don’t know when to stop, do you?” your hands were in your pockets, and you were completely sober. other than a few glasses of wine you’d shared with your mom in the past, you didn’t drink.

it was nice to talk to him, though, you two only seemed to hang out in the company of others lately.

“you don’t know when to start.” he said in a joking manner, but it was delivered a little sourly. apparently that was the end of the conversation, because he walked away from you, towards some of his friends.

watching him stray away from you was painful, but you didn’t know how to save him... and it wasn’t your job to do so. a few girls pushed by him, walking towards where you stood, mumbling about something you couldn’t hear until they passed you.

“shit, those guys’ll give you a gram of that shit as long as you have tits.” one of them laughed under her breath.

tonight i’m good staying inside but i’ll be dancing for sure going to the stores, pulling socks out of the drawers of the people who you don’t love anymore

two houses down the street from the cameron residence, you could hear the booming party.

being nineteen sucked in itself. college, adulthood, the future.

what seemed to suck the most was knowing you’d lost your only best friend to drugs and money. and maybe it was for the best that you weren’t a part of his life anymore, because he was becoming everything you swore to not become.

a/n -- this was short as hell but i needed to post something rip also rereading it i hate it lmaoooo

#outer banks #obx #rafe cameron #rafe cameron x reader #outer banks fic #drew starkey #obx fic #rafe cameron outer banks #outer banks netflix

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rebelsandtherest · 4 years

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ok now I'm interested: what about nation friends? 🤔 Alfred and Mathias eventually start getting along but does Alfred always gravitate toward the loud and boisterous ones?

Oh now this is a really interesting question!

I feel like the twins hang out with many of the same people, but of course have different dynamics with them all. The two most obvious being:

France: France is close to both brothers, but treats them quite differently. He still treats Matthew like he is younger than he is; maybe it’s because he longs for the days when he was small and sweet and dependent on grand frère, or maybe because he admires Matthew’s soft earnestness and feels the need to coddle him somehow. He treats Alfred more like a peer. Actually, he treats Alfred not unlike how he treated England, back in the day. Alfred and Francis fought side by side in the Revolution, but Alfred neglected to help Francis during his revolution, and Francis has never really let him forget it. The bad blood has dried, but the bickering continues. It’s incredibly easy for Francis to get a rise out of Alfred (not unlike Arthur) so he agitates him on purpose for the fun of it. But beneath it all, they’re close friends.

England: Unlike France, England treats Matthew more like an adult than Alfred. This is not to say that England treats Alfred like a child, but rather as an adult who is painfully childish. Matthew and Arthur fought side by side for years, through two world wars and worse. Arthur gave Matthew his independence willingly, but Matthew continued to stay by his side anyway. They have a very easy affection between them, and despite all the rumors that Arthur forgets about Matthew at the drop of a hat, he has a soft spot for the boy. He doesn’t understand Matthew (though he understands America perfectly, because sometimes it’s like looking into the mirror of four centuries ago) but he appreciates his quiet strength. Alfred, on the other hand, is someone who can speak one syllable and still have Arthur rolling his eyes. Alfred and Arthur disagree quite often, and will at any opportunity differentiate themselves from the other. However despite it all, they’re so similar and so compatible that bickering with anyone else just doesn’t seem worth it. In many respects they are each others’ best friend in the world, though Arthur wouldn’t want to admit it. The “Special Relationship” is still very special to them both.

Those are two big ones. And obviously, they both know all of the other nations, or at least nearly all of them. But as far as friends go, they share some but not all. Quickfire, here are some nations that I think both Alfred and Matthew are reasonably close friends with:

Prussia: This one is a weird one; Canada is friends with Prussia mostly because Prussia never forgets that he exists. Likewise, as a now-defunct country, Prussia likes hanging out with Canada’s chill vibes, even if he does complain about it. Alfred and Prussia are friends because... well, come on. Prussia brings out Al’s worst maniac instincts. They never really spent much time together until Alfred was helping break Gilbert out from behind the iron curtain. It was then that they realized that the other was a pretty awesome dude, and have since been partners in sometimes-literal crime.

Finland: Alfred and Tino are bromance made in gun-show heaven. They both appreciate a good hunting rifle, and like hitting the range together (much to Berwald’s horror). Tino and Matthew, on the hand, bond over winter sports, and much to Alfred’s confusion, heavy metal rock. They also argue over who has larger moose.

Australia: Both Alfred and Matthew were well on their way to adulthood when Jett was still young. They remember him as the wildly irreverent little brother who would wrestle anyone and anything, and they both adore him. All three bond over their local wildlife and national parks; Alfred and Jett argue over who has bigger crocs (it’s Jett).

New Zealand: As Matthew is to Alfred, New Zealand (do we ever learn his/her name??? I always headcanoned NZ as a girl, but apparently it’s a guy?) is to Jett. NZ gets along with Matthew better than Alfred, but idolizes Alfred in some respects. They very much have a “small dog complex”, and are willing to throw down with their three much older, bigger, stronger brothers. Refuses to be left out of a fight. NZ teaches Matthew how to knit sweaters.

South Africa: Again, one of the old empire crew. They get together and bitch about Arthur sometimes. If put into a room togther, Alfred, Matt, SA, and Jett will start talking/complaining about wildfires.

India: ...and again, empire crew. India is closer personally to Matthew, and is easily irritated by Alfred (his imperialistic tendencies and all that), but generally they get along. Alfred cannot get enough of Indian food. India and Canada play cricket whenever they see each other.

Ireland: Ireland is the twin’s favorite (and only) older sister, and she knows it. She adores the twins, and sometimes takes credit for how they turned out. She’s taught them both a lot about music and poetry, and perhaps a little too much about food. She takes credit for the popularity of American as well as Canadian whiskey.

Scotland: Scotland took a little longer to warm up to the twins, but likewise likes them both. He’s tried to teach Alfred to play rugby, but Alfred either can’t understand or refuses to accept the rules. Bizarrely, Scotland loves skiing, and loves traveling to north america to get in some practice with the twins. Scotland also takes credit for American and Canadian whiskey. He and Ireland fight about this often.

And here’s a few countries whom Alfred is friends with that Matthew isn’t quite as close to:

Germany: Of course Matthew is friends with the guy, but only casually so. America was friends with Ludwig back when Ludwig was still quite young. Alfred saw them as peers back then. Alfred also took in a lot of German immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries. They obviously avoided and hated each other for much of the 20th century, but they’ve come back around. Ludwig is a little bit older than Alfred, and he often finds himself giving Alfred brotherly advice. Of course, he does the same thing to his own older brother. Poor Ludwig is often confused as to how he ended up being everyone else’s voice of reason, considering 20th century history...

Japan: Alfred isn’t always friends with the loud ones. They have a bit of a strange relationship, considering how America forced Japan to open up to the world, and then bombed it to an unconditional surrender, but nonetheless, Alfred and Kiku are inexplicably extremely close. They bond over video games and manga. Kiku appreciates how much Alfred loves all the food he makes. He is, however, a little horrified when Alfred tries to mesh Japanese cuisine with American (see: sushi burrito). Alfred loves Kiku’s sense of style, and especially all the cherry trees he’s sent over the years.

Denmark: As previously discussed, I see the relationship between Mathias and Alfred being very much a two-spidermen-point-at-each-other-in-the-parking-lot kind of deal. They’re extremely similar in personalities, and when they first meet, they despise each other for this reason. But after a while, they loosen up and have a few beers together, and they’re off to the races. Gilbert is the friend whom Alfred does absolutely insane and probably illegal shit with. Mathias is the guy he calls when he wants to have a beer or ten and run around the city at 1am drunk singing 80s rock ballads. Mathias has tried to teach Alfred Danish. It has never gone well.

And a few that are more of Matthew’s friends than Alfred’s:

Mexico: Okay, Mexico and Alfred are “”””””””Friends”””””””””, but Mexico and Matthew actually you know, get along. They get together once in a while and it usually turns into a bitching session about Alfred.

Cuba: Kinda the same situation as above. They met when Cuba mistook Matthew for Alfred and beat him up, and he’s been apologizing ever since. When Matt needs to relax and get away for a while, and maybe wants some ice cream, he’ll call Cuba.

Netherlands: The Netherlands is one of Matthew’s closest European friends aside from England and France. He’d hardly ever seen Ned prior to the second world war, but they became best friends afterwards. This has mostly to do with Canada’s role in sheltering the Dutch royal family during the war and their role in liberating Holland from occupation. Ned still personally brings Matthew tulips each year. They enjoy discussing gardening and music. Matt looks forward to his visits every year. Even though everyone says that Netherlands is a stoic and mean individual, Matthew thinks he’s a big softie.

These are all incomplete lists, but you get the idea. I think they hang out with a lot of the same people, not always.

As a bonus, there are two “friends” of Alfred’s that Alfred doesn’t really like that much, and by extension, Matthew doesn’t like all that much either because they’ll probably mistake Matt for Alfred and beat him up: Russia and China.

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snowbellewells · 4 years

Text

CSSNS: “A Cottage by the Sea” /// Part Four

I’m terribly sorry once again for the delay, but I can see the end in sight on this on now, and I have a good vision for where the rest of this story is going. I hope you will enjoy some of the happy developments in this installment, and (as always) I’d love to hear what you think!

~***~ Excessive thanks and flails once more to @searchingwardrobes for this lovely cover art! ~***~

Summary: Princess Emma has always been drawn to the shores of Misthaven, where the sea meets the shore near her parents’ castle. When an unknown boy washes up on the sand, with eyes as fathomless and blue as the waters that brought him to her, he soon becomes Emma’s best friend, her partner in crime, and her other half. But the tides give and the tides take away, and as her blue-eyed boy sails in her father’s navy and risks all in defense of those who made him family, unexpected danger and challenge will try to tear them apart, and might well show him just where he came from that day he first appeared to her from the sea…

Previous installments, from the beginning, on TUMBLR and on AO3

Part Four

Princess Emma had not been alone at sea for long when self-doubt and questions began to gnaw at her confidence and left her wondering if she should really have set out on her own. She was keeping the small vessel afloat and on course (she couldn’t wait to show Killian she really had been listening to his scattered lessons in their moments alone, even if she had been trying to steal glancing touches and quick glimpses at his unknowing features at the same time), but all the same, once the sun was overhead, beating down hot and unmercifully and she could see only unbroken ocean as far as the horizon in any direction, some of her fearless resolve left her. Why had she not tried to convince or bribe someone who knew more about navigation to come along? What if she were sailing further away from her beloved, instead of closer to him? How would she even get them back if she did locate Killian? What if he were hurt and she didn’t know how to help? She should have brought a healer!

The plaguing worries circled round and round, wreathing her head like a swarm of gnats, and Emma was unable to bat them away. Though she felt the gentle rhythm of the waves beneath her small craft, and knew that they were moving, there was no sign that she was closer to land - or any living thing at all. If she hadn’t been so desperate, so swept up in her emotions and determined recklessness, she would have brought more food and fresh drinking water than the couple of jugs and the bread and cheese she had grabbed. She could be out here for days or weeks, unable to find her way back - or to locate where Killian might be.

By the time the sun had fully risen, and she was well out of sight of Misthaven’s shore, and any other in any direction, Emma had worked herself into enough of a state that the adrenaline which had propelled her down the side of the castle walls, to the docks, and out to sea, was flagging in earnest and she sunk to the rough planks of her vessel, finally feeling the need for rest which had completely eluded her all the previous night. Despite that, she fought valiantly to keep her eyes open and to stay alert. She was sure she couldn’t even imagine all the danger she might face if she didn’t remain on her guard. Still, as time crawled forward, the steady rise and fall of the calm waters served to nearly rock her gently closer to slumber, her eyelids continually growing more and more weighted, until they fell closed and she leaned against the boat’s side in a doze.

For some time, the princess was lost to her surroundings, regaining the peace she had lost upon the moment she learned Killian was missing. But, ever-so-slowly, then gaining speed and clarity, images began to swirl in her mind’s eye, even as she slept. At first there were only blurs of color and flashes of hazy light, then the pictures playing in her head sharpened, allowing her to focus and understand.

Stirring fitfully, Emma began to wake, brought back to awareness by her effort to take in the vision as it came to her. When she clearly saw Killian, his dearly beloved face caught at her breath and caused her to shoot upright in excitement, she was fully roused once more. It seemed she was receiving some message - both not to give up as he still lived, just as her heart had known, and also as some guide to where he might be.

This Killian in her mind’s eye looked distinctly more bedraggled than she had ever seen him willing to appear in his uniform before - the material ripped and stained, and his hair half-dried and standing up in salt-clumped tufts. He walked along a beach strewn at intervals with pieces of what Emma knew must be his ship, and inwardly she cringed, knowing it would pain him to see it destroyed, and also at the thought of all the other lives which must be utterly lost as they had believed. Killian seemd completely alone in his surroundings.

Emma noticed that the image before her was beginning to go hazy about the edges and fade, but she clung to it for every second she could, drinking in the view of him in a way she had never seen her straight-laced lieutenant before. A traitorous blush colored her cheeks as her eyes trailed along his bared collarbone from where he had removed his uniform jacket, and she itched to run her fingers along his forearms and feel the muscles she hadn’t been able to look at before on display from his rolled-up sleeves. She was almost ashamed to admit the way she was feasting on the view of his chest and the dark hair smattered generously across it. Emma had never seen his shirt fully opened like that since they had entered young adulthood; Killian was much too considerate of her station and sensibilities, plus self-conscious as well, to show off so much skin in her presence. Still, Emma could not seem to pull her gaze away, her palms sweating with the heat as she even imagined touching those unexplored planes of her sailor’s body.

When the image before her faded and re-formed, returning to her again in a slightly different setting, his reappearance nearly bowled her over. Killian wore no shirt at all; all tanned skin over strapping shoulders and darkly furred chest narrowing down to a trim waist. Though stained with dirt and sand, and ripped in places, Killian still wore the breeches and boots of his uniform as he fought his way through what looked like a jungle of island vegetation. Sweat trickled down his brow, and Emma wished desperately to be there at his side to wipe it away for him, to venture forward shoulder-to-shoulder toward whatever he was seeking.

Abruptly, he reached the end of the thick trees and undergrowth he had been fighting his way through, stumbling out of the dense tangle of leaves and vine into a large, quiet clearing, housing a calm, turquoise pool, green grass and a large rock near the water’s edge. It was a tranquil little oasis after the terrain Killian had just left behind, and Emma found herself wondering again just where this could be and how she might reach him there. In her vision, Killian hurried forward to the water’s edge, bringing hands up to splash his overheated face and neck then drinking greedily from his cupped hands as well.

As much as she wanted to linger there with him - in her mind, at least, if not in actual reality - this scene too began to disintegrate and vanish before Emma was ready. She strained her eyes to see him even a few seconds longer, or in hopes of another scene appearing, but soon all she could see was unending ocean and sky all around her once more. Rousing fully from the sort of trance she had entered at the vision’s arrival, Emma found that one thing did remain in the forefront of her awareness - as cearly and definitely as if it had been spelled out across her retinas. ‘Ogygia,’ a quiet, melodious voice seemed to whisper impossibly in her ear, ‘You may find him on Ogygia.’

Princess Emma’s brow furrowed, recognizing the name, but confused by the implication. She had studied folklore, legends, and mythology in her schooling - quite avidly in fact. It was was one of the few subjects that genuinely interested her, memory and understanding coming easily, and she remembered the place. But, Calypso’s island? It was real? And how was she to find it?

Even as she wondered this, the same voice which had whispered the name into her consciousness now spoke again, offering Emma direction she wordlessly followed, plotting her course as this unknown entity directed. Indeed, such impulsive trust might be folly. She might live to regret listening to the siren song that led her forward - if she lived at all and was not lost upon the rising waves. All the same, she had no other directions to follow, no other way of knowing how to seek her missing love, and, for good or ill, she sensed this being speaking to her so sweetly and with such gentle care, meant her no harm.

She carried on the way she had chosen; better to take action and face the resulting consequences than to simply bob along the surface indefinitely until hunger, thirst or exposure took her while she waited. That would do Killian no good, wherever this island was that he had landed upon, and it would bring her no closer to him. These efforts at steering in a fixed direction might. Keeping her gaze ever forward, searching the horizon hopefully as the surface glittered at the noonday touch of the blazing sun as though strewn by diamonds, Emma forced herself to calmly follow through, to listen and obey the continued calm voice, which now felt as though it lodged within her own chest, at home, a thrumming part of her, and welcome as such.

Though she knew thirst and exhaustion, and the heat that began to weigh on her head and shoulders like a heavy cloak, made the time seem longer, she still felt the strain. It seemed as though hours had passed when finally, at the furthest reach of her sight, Emma thought she could make out a piece of land, rising like a beautiful mirage from the ocean stretched before her. Blinking, she leaned forward, even as she slumped with relief against her vessel’s wooden side, praying she was not mistaken.

‘No, my dear,’ the soothing voice assured her, a subtle breath of cool air accompanying it as though the phantom blew by her ear on enchanted wings. ‘You’ve done it, Princess. Ogygia is straight ahead now.’

And with that, the mysterious presence which had served as her guiding companion was gone. As suddenly as it had appeared, Emma also knew in an instant it was with her no longer.

Grateful all the same, she didn’t have it in her to be troubled. As this new shore drew ever closer, she felt a burst of endurance. She had no doubt now; she was about to look upon her sailor’s face again.

~~***~~

Killian, meanwhile, had been far from idle since his reunion with his mother, his purging of his grief and loss, and the long talk and reacquaintance they’d had after. When she had left him, Calypso (It was still nigh impossible to fathom (the goddess Calypso - his mother!) had vowed to return that evening so they could speak further, and he had made his way back to the beach where he’d washed ashore.

Though admittedly, Killian no longer felt as shaken, alone, or desperate as he had when first awaking on the strange spit of land, seemingly its own little world in the surrounding deep, he still intended to make his way back to his adopted home and kingdom. Not only was it his duty as a lieutenant of the Royal Navy, but he was the only surviving member of his ill-fated crew. How else could Misthaven’s royals and his fellow sailors’ loved ones know what had befallen them and pay their sacrificial struggle due homage? Beyond the demands of his honor, however, Killian also knew that his adopted family - monarchs though they might be and unworthy as he had always somewhat felt himself - would be grieving him along with his lost ship and comrades. And Emma… though he had long marveled at how it could be true, she loved him. He could see the depth of her feelings in her eyes as soon as she had confessed it at his departure. Perhaps it had always been there - even as they had played tag and crawled under the hedge to hide huddled together in the Royal Gardens, as they had curried their ponies after a ride and sloshed buckets of cold water at each other before they helped in the animals’ bathing, when they had watched Granny at her baking in the kitchens and Emma had nicked bits of chocolate or minced dates and offered him part of her prize with a gleam in her lively green gaze. He knew she would be mourning; her heartbreak on his account was nearly unbearable to consider. He knew that were he in her place, and he believed her lost, there would be no recovery. And that knowledge lent urgency to his actions.

Upon returning to the sandy shoreline, it had taken no time at all to salvage various wooden pieces and parts of the ship that he began to stack in a pile. Always able to make do resourcefully, Killian used shoots and vines in the surrounding vegetation to begin binding the boards together as he needed - working swiftly. It wasn’t long until he had fashioned a sturdy raft with a reasonably straight mainsail near the water’s edge. It was certainly no vessel like the one which had been lost to the stormy deep when he had landed on this beach, but he was both determined and impatient enough to take his chances. He also knew enough of the sea and of sailing to recognize that the tempest which had sunk Misthaven’s finest ship had been unnaturally malevolent - as if summoned with evil intent for their specific destruction. The strength and size of the ship in a gale such as that would have made no difference, and if one blew again as he attempted to find his way home, he would be every bit as lost, regardless of his craft. All things remaining as they should though, his makeshift vessel ought to prove seaworthy, despite not being much to look at.

As Killian had focused on his task, the time had slipped away almost without his notice. He obviously would never have left his mother after finding her again without speaking to her more and saying goodbye, but at the same time, he was anxious to be starting, to reach his princess’ side once more. So, when he fastened the last slat of wood in place, tying off the knot as securely as he possibly could, and stood to mop his brow, Killian was rather surprised to realize that the bright sun had slipped toward evening and he had not even started on his way back toward the lagoon where he had met Calypso that morning.

Just as he was wondering how to make his way there with the most haste, he felt the brush of a light breeze and sensed her presence nearby. He would have guessed that she needed to stay within water, but clearly that was not a requirement, as soon, soft, gentle fingers brushed over his shoulder like a refreshing trickle of cool water, and his mother appeared, unassumingly human, beside him.

“You’re leaving me, aren’t you?” she murmured lightly, a tinge of melancholy in her sweetly hypnotic voice, but no judgement or condemnation, only the regret of one soon to be separated from her child.

Killian bobbed the briefest of stiff nods before turning his head to face her, reaching to take her hand in his own and press it tightly, only hoping he could make her understand. “I’m sorry, but… I must,” he replied huskily.

The unearthly grace bestowed her by her nature shone through in the benevolent smile she offered him, leaning in to brush a kiss upon his forehead, just as if he were still a little boy, a gesture barely remembered but immediately soothing. Her elegant fingertips caressed the faded scar running high across his cheekbone, as if having not been there to patch it when it happened, she wished to take it from him. “You love her,” she answered simply, “the Princess. And since you do, of course you wish to return to her.”

“Aye,” Killian confirmed, “I do.” He was grateful that she seemed to grasp his dilemma and did not blame him or begrudge him the choice he had to make. “And she loves me as well, wonder of wonders. I have no claim to court a Princess, but while she wants me, I will not fail her.”

“That is as it should be, my son,” Calypso assured, pulling him close to hug him once more to her chest. “But bear in mind that you are more worthy than you know - a sort of royalty in your own way…” She winked as she pulled back again to look him in the eyes with a mischeivous twinkle in her own. “You have never failed to be a man of honor, just as I would have wanted, just as your dear brother did all he knew to teach you, and so I knew you would desire to do no less. In fact, if you look out into the distance, you will see I have helped someone along on her way to you, making your raft rather unnecessary.”

Lightly placing her hands on his shoulders, his mother turned him to face out on the waves, where just at the horizon, he could see the sails of an oncoming ship appear. Still quite far out, it sailed closer with each passing moment - almost as if granted unnatural speed - but his heart genuinely leapt when the waning light caught the glint of gold atop the head of the form he could now see at the vessel’s wheel. Emma!

“Is that…?” he asked, gawking and struggling to believe it could be so. “Did you bring her?... But how…?” His curiosity and awe made the words trip over each other, but the grin that broke across his face unawares told Calypso all she needed to know.

Smiling back at her little boy, now a man grown, the sea nymph nodded sagely. “She was already on the water; I merely granted her eyes to see the way forward. This place is generally cloaked from outside discovery, to keep out Davy and his minions. But clearly, your Princess - this Emma of Misthaven - is bold and true and every bit as in love with you as you are her.”

Killian felt the warmth flooding his cheeks even beneath the growth of unshaven stubble as he dipped his head in slight embarrassment. Though it felt wonderful to hear confirmation from another of the glorious truth he had only very lately begun to accept, it was also a bit daunting to see that his feelings were so crystal clear, even to one he had just met. When he glanced back again, he could only smile at his mother, beaming from the joy in his heart at seeing his princess again and knowing she had not given in to despair. “Thank you,” he managed to croak through a throat tightly closing. “Truly. For saving me… and then for bringing her safely.”

As if allowing herself one last precious caress, Calypso brought her cooling hand to glide along her son’s forehead and brush aside the dark fringe of his hair. “You are most welcome, my love.” Her understanding smile barely wavered as she added quietly. “Now, go to her, as I know you wish to do.”

Killian caught his mother’s hand where it had come to rest at the side of his face, turning his head to kiss the center of her palm, squeezing it tightly in gratitude. Then, he gave her a bright, crooked smile before turning to dash down to the water’s edge, where Misthaven’s princess and her pilfered boat were drawing near.

~~***~~

Calypso lingered, looking on fondly as her son dashed into the tide when the boat reached the shallows. Despite the twinge in her own chest at the brief reunion she had been allowed drawing to a close, an indulgent smile still curved her full lips at how eagerly the Princess leaned over her little ship’s prow, trying to reach Killian sooner. She looked ready to dive in and swim to him if it would get her there faster.

Killian meanwhile had splashed into the gentle swells, nearly reaching the tiny craft where it bobbed on the waves. Water kicked up all around him, soaking his weathered clothing and flattening his hair to his skull, but none of that dampened his thrilled exuberance in the slightest. He was waist-deep when, lungeing forward, he caught the side of Emma’s boat, hauling it forward on the next rise, and then Emma was catapaulting over the edge and into his arms with a cry of delight that couldn’t help but warm the watching sea nymph’s weary soul.

Yes, all was as it should be again. Seeing the two reunited made their belonging to each other undeniable. Somehow, even in the ebb and flow around them, Killian kept his feet - barely - as Emma wrapped herself around him tightly, her hair whipping hin the breeze and hiding their faces behind its curtain as they placed frantic kisses all across each other’s cheeks and noses, and her royal gown trailed unheeded behind her in the water. Their lips broke from each other’s only to laugh in stunned joy and exclaim fragmented greetings, their voices overlapping each other front he soft echoes of the sound Calyps could catch on the wind from where she stood.

Joining hands, they began to tow the boat in the rest of the way to shore, each of their free hands holding to a side. However, about the time the water was only lapping at their calves, a larger swell swept up behind them, sending the boat knocking into them with force, and both Killian and Emma tumbling headlong into the water.

Coming up spluttering and laughing harder, they merely caught their tiny craft once more as it bobbed nearby, and carried on cavorting and splashing each other with more quick kisses and caresses stolen in youthful bliss at being together again. And in some ways, in that moment they were more free together than ever before; free of conventions, rules, propriety and disapproving stares. It was then, with that lovely, bone-deep happiness to remember on his face, that Calypso slipped away as well, leaving them to their well-earned privacy and celebration, darting and playing in the sand and foam.

She could give them this moment in her protected haven; wished truly that they could stay forever with her. But they could not remain hidden on Ogygia indefinitely; both had a destiny to fulfill back in Misthaven and too much sense of their duty to shirk it. The goddess could only hope fervently that their worst trial was now behind them - even if her better judgement warned her that Davy Jones would not yet be ready to admit that his second son had escaped his grasp.

Tagging: @cssns @kmomof4 @jennjenn615 @searchingwardrobes @whimsicallyenchantedrose @laschatzi @spartanguard @therooksshiningknight @tornadoamy @xhookswenchx @stahlop @lfh1226-linda @tiganasummertree @optomisticgirl @thislassishooked @donteattheappleshook @revanmeetra87 @teamhook @winterbaby89 @hollyethecurious @darkcolinodonorgasm @ineffablecolors @let-it-raines @drowned-dreamer @kday426 @carpedzem @mayquita @shireness-says @snidgetsafan @xsajx

#cssns20 #cs au ff #cs au mc #a cottage by the sea #part four #cs ff #lieutenant duckling fic #EF AU fic

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mssjynx · 4 years

Note

6, 7, 38: ohmtoonz?

ohmtoonz drabble | 6. coffeeshop!au | 7. childhood friends | 38. “i think i would rather eat expired spam.”

The sound of the steamer filtered into the white noise of the busy cafe.

Luke moved in autopilot, wiping down the metal prong as he filled the metal jug with milk, hooking it under the steamer and getting two mugs in place just as the espresso started pouring. The tray clattered as it landed on the bench beside him, Craig’s cheerful humming breaking Luke’s attention as he spun the milk and tapped his fingertips on the metal.

The younger barista began stacking clean cups atop the machine and Luke spared him a glance before tightening the steamer knob and retrieving both mugs from the coffee machine. As he poured, Craig finished stacking, but the Brit didn’t remove himself from Luke’s side. He stayed, waiting, as Luke finished the two drinks and placed them at the serving counter, calling out the name assigned.

As he began flushing and cleaning the machine, he glanced to his coworker. “Can I help you?” he asked, shoulders tense at the glint in those blue eyes.

Once, just once, did Luke want to have a normal conversation with a coworker who wasn’t plotting something devious.

“We’re all going out for drinks tonight,” Craig said, wiping down the bench as Tyler strolled past and gave him a pointed glare. Luke had already wiped down said bench, but Craig was notorious for finding bullshit reasons to get absolutely nothing done while looking and behaving productively on his shifts.

It had gotten to the point where their boss had stopped bothering him about staying on task and Luke had a hunch it had something more to do with Craig’s flirty looks and insistent physical contact than it did with Tyler’s lack of care. There was definitely more going on behind the scenes that any of them knew about.

“I got study to do,” Luke said, starting the next two orders and turning to fetch a fresh jug of milk.

Craig remained by his side. “Too bad. And you need to bring a date,” he said, stealing the rag off Luke’s shoulder and heading out the door to where a few tables needed bussing. “It’s for Scott’s birthday and he doesn’t have enough friends, so he wants us to all bring someone new to the pub,” he explained further, not bothered in the slightest when Luke ignored him to take another order.

When the bench was clear and Craig was nudging the mini-door open with his hip, plates lining his arms and mugs grasped safely in his hands, he passed a serious look to Luke. “You have to come and you have to bring someone.”

“I’ll bring Jon,” Luke responded, wiping his hands and checking the next order.

Craig scoffed. “No you won’t. We all know who Jon is and he’s on the list. He’s got someone that he’s bringing,” Craig explained, handing a piece of cake to a customer and starting the next few coffees.

At that, Luke laughed, grinning at Craig for a moment before acknowledging that the barista was being serious. “The fuck? Who?”

Craig shrugged, continuing on as he lined up four more drinks. “Find someone to bring, or I’ll organise a tinder date to show up for you,” he said and the two paused in their conversation as Luke handled three more customers before taking a tray of used mugs out the bag to be cleaned.

When he returned, he resumed with a short, “I don’t have tinder, dipshit.”

To which, of course, Craig replied: “Yeah you do. I made you one on my phone last night.”

Luke froze. “You what?”

“Yep!” Craig said cheerfully, ignoring Luke’s look of horror and anger as he tugged off his apron. “And if you don’t find someone to take tonight, I’ll be inviting Taleesha to come along with you. So text me who you’re bringing or I’ll text you her address,” he offered, voice calm and pleasant as if the conversation wasn’t absolutely absurd in every way. Luke had to force himself not to strangle his coworker.

“What the fuck, Craig?”

“Enjoy your shift,” he beamed, and the sparkle in his eye told Luke just how much the other man was enjoying his torment. “Bye Tyler!”

Before Luke could get in another word, the barista had fled the front counter and he was forced to serve, unable to intercept the Brit as he skipped out of the cafe and escaped Luke’s murdering-distance all too easily.

It wasn’t until the end of Luke’s shift did his stress about the night ease. It took a lot to distract the man when he was worried about something. It was just his luck that “a lot” happened to be a face he hadn’t seen in about seven years.

“Hello, how can I help you this evenin’?” The usual greeting fell from his mouth with no trouble at all, finishing an order off on the screen before looking up to meet a pair of hazel eyes and a soft, pretty face he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Said soft, pretty face was lined with disbelief as Ryan, his childhood partner in crime, undoubtedly recognised him too.

“Luke?” His voice had a warmth swirling in the barista’s chest and it took all of Luke’s strength not to jump the counter and gather the man up in his arms. The few seconds of disbelief passed and a grin broke out on Luke’s face.

“No shit,” he exclaimed, reaching forward without thinking. Ryan’s hand immediately came to his, catching his fingers and squeezing tightly. “Fancy fuckin’ seeing you.” The words fell with laughter and Ryan’s disbelief broke away to a smile that made Luke’s head feel fuzzy.

“Since when have you worked here?” Ryan asked, taking his hand back and reaching for his phone. “Could I get a caramel macchiato please?”

Luke jabbed it into the tablet. “Sure thing. I’ve been working here for three years; part-time while I study. How long have you been back in town?”

He had known Ryan since he was three. For God’s sake; the two used to take baths together. They rode to school together, they snuck out together, they planned adventures together and went on them together. They’d been stuck side by side until Ryan had turned twelve and had been forced to move school by his family. They moved to the next town over and Luke only saw Ryan a couple times each month.

Soon it became a few times a year, and then before Luke even realised it, he was finishing high school without having seen his best friend in over two years. He heard three months following his graduation that Ryan had moved to Europe to live with extended family while he studied, and he hadn’t been able to help the selfish and hypocritical feeling of bitterness over not hearing the news from Ryan himself.

Their gradual split had sucked for Luke but it was soon that he met his sister’s boyfriend Jon and the two had been like pees in a pod for their first few years of adulthood.

“I got back last week,” Ryan said slowly, tapping his card and moving aside to leave the space empty for anyone wishing to order. To Luke’s pleasure, the door remained shut and he was able to comfortably lean against the counter and study Ryan’s aged features.

“For- For how long?” He couldn’t stop himself from asking and the smile that broke out on Ryan’s face told him the answer before the man’s mouth did.

“I finished my degree and I got a job here. I’ve been waiting to move back for years. I… I missed this place so much,” he said and Luke so desperately wanted to tell the man just how much he had missed his best friend.

The barista started on the macchiato, steaming the milk and listening to the rumble off the coffee machine between them. Several times Luke caught himself glancing up at Ryan, only to find that the other didn’t seem capable of looking away from him.

“I can’t believe you’re here. You look- You look so different from when you- from when we were twelve!” Luke laughed and Ryan’s smile made everything else around him blurry. “You look good.” The words were tight in his throat as Luke poured the milk, focusing his eyes on the drink. He couldn’t help how his chest felt hot and his throat felt tight. Ryan, his best friend, was back and he was, to say the least, gorgeous. His eyes were soul-revealing in a way that Luke felt intimate just looking into them, and his smile was infectious like no disease Luke had ever caught before.

He was losing his mind and his fingertips burned with a need to touch the man, to embrace him, to feel that he was real and he was back.

“Can I ask you something crazy?” Luke asked, sliding the mug across the table and watching with apprehension as Ryan raised it to his lips and took a sip. The immediate smile of satisfaction left the barista preening with pride though he kept it to himself.

“Go ahead,” Ryan said, taking another drink as Luke mulled over how to word his thoughts without totally scaring the other man off.

“Are you seeing anyone?” It seemed his mind made itself up, words jumping from his mouth before the pregnant silence between them became awkward. And despite a slight flush of pink across Ryan’s cheeks, the other man didn’t have much of a reaction to the question at all. He shook his head lightly, taking another drink to perhaps prevent himself from needing to talk or explain or anything like that. Luke didn’t leave him enough time to consider it. “I have- I have a birthday thing tonight at the local pub down the road and I- Would you wanna come with me as my… my date? Or just a friend, of course. I just need someone to come with me and the last thing I want to do is bring the girl my mom is trying way too hard to hook me up with because, honestly, I think I would rather eat expired spam then spend more than two minutes with her.” Luke tried to ignore the embarrassing fact that he’d just rambled uselessly like a whipped teenage boy for a minute and a half as he held Ryan’s eye contact.

The other man had listened in silence, taking slow sips from the mug he cupped with both hands. And as Luke pursed his lips to stop himself from backpedalling his request or finding an excuse to escape the cafe all together, he placed his cup down on the bench and smiled with a bashful look in those pretty eyes. “Expired spam?” he asked and Luke let out a loud laugh. Relief. Hopefulness. Stress.

Ryan hadn’t outright rejected him.

He shook his head and hid his grin behind a grimace. “You have no idea just how bad it is,” he said and Ryan’s smile lifted all the weight off his chest.

“I’d love to come,” he said. “Is it a nice place?”

“It is at seven, but by ten everything gets a little chaotic and it gets a lot less nice and a lot more rowdy,” Luke explained with a half shrug. “Just wear a nice pair of jeans and I’ll buy you a cocktail; you’ll fit right in.”

Ryan’s smile widened, twisting the idea around between his fingers. “Well,” he said, reaching forward and picking up the pen on the counter. He reached forward and snagged Luke’s hand by his fingers. Quick and easy, he scribbled his number down onto the barista’s wrist. “Pick me up at 6:30 and I’ll gladly be your- be your date tonight,” he said, eyes flickering away from Luke’s as the pink of his cheeks turned red.

Luke felt his own face warm in fluster at the emphasis of the title, having given the man the option to accompany him to the pub as a friend. It seemed his afternoon was working out in the best case scenario and as he watched Ryan walk out, he couldn’t shake his smile. He had a great feeling about their upcoming night and he had never been more excited to go to the pub. He would go anywhere if it meant he could bring Ryan along as his date.

#ohmtoonz #fic #fanfic #coffee shop au #barista au #childhood friends au #drabble #banana bus squad #bbs #i fucking loved this one honestly #anon

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ofxdcath · 4 years

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( ben barnes, 37, cis male, he/him ) Was that JULIAN BONES? I heard a rumor they work for the VASILE family, but who knows for sure ? They can be a bit APATHETIC & CRUEL, but I also heard they can be LOYAL & OBSERVANT. You’ll usually find them at COOK’S GUN RANGE in their spare time, when they’re not being an TORPEDO. You may want to keep an eye on that one !

GENERAL

name: Julian Bones alisas/nicknames: None age: 37 occupation: Torpedo family: Vasile gender: Cismale height: 6′1

PERSONALITY TRAITS

Loyal, observant, perfectionist, apathetic, blunt, cruel, friendly, fake, selfish, dishonest, ambitious, passionate, immoral, violent.

OTHER

orientation: aromantic demisexual birthday: january 1st skills: expert marksman, master martial artist, stealth mastery.

BIO

Julian was born to the founder and leader of a doomsday cult. This was where he learned all he knows about fighting and all of his other skills. His father was an old army man who spent the better part of his adulthood really honing on these skills. He taught them to his son as a way of their cult, from a young age Julian could handle himself against the best.

Once he’d hit eighteen, Julian left the compound, and went off on his own. Given the year to figure out if he wanted to stay within the cult or find his own way through the world. What he found was that he didn’t care much about what was going on, or who it was going on with. Due to his fathers paranoia, it had Julian unable to trust those he was around.

He’d hop from job to job, town to town, until he fell into the dark hole that is the criminal underworld. His skills were very much wanted, by many, to be used for their own desires. Some people had to disappear, and it was hard to find those that weren’t undercover cops or general rats. That’s where Julian fits in, he’d take on a job, get it down well, and vanish as if he never existed. That’s how he got through the years, taking odd contracts, fulfilling them, and moving onto other things.

At the age of twenty seven, he came to Chicago, the place was a bed of criminal activity, run by families of organized crime. At first, he paid them no mind, left them alone as they had him. Eventually, his skills would be found useful by someone within these families. He was sought out, in particular, by the Russians.

The way they got him into their fold was through a very clever trap, drawing him out with a contract. One he did well, cleanly, and left without a trace. This had been a test unbeknownst to him, and they came to him days later with an offer he couldn’t refuse.

He’s been working for them for ten years now, and has complete loyalty in them. He wasn’t dumb enough to think otherwise, he didn’t need to know the details of what happens to those who weren’t.

Julian also has great survival skills, if he were to ever be stuck out in the desert he’d be able to survive it. He has had to use them at various points in his past, but not since he moved to Chicago.

PERSONALITY

He’s a bit of a hard egg to crack, he keeps a lot of his personal life to himself. He doesn’t have a whole lot of close friends outside of the family. At this point in his life, he has shed some of that hard exterior he held up for so long. He does have a few people that he is close to, that he feels the most comfortable allowing in, which is a huge deal for himself. He was raised to never trust anyone but yourself, not even the blood that he shared with his own family. It’s taken many years to unlearn this aspect of himself, and he’s caused quite a bit of hurt along the way.

WANTED CONNECTIONS

Good friends; those that have managed to get close to him, have been able to get through that wall he’d put up for himself.

Rivals turned friends; This would be for people that are aligned with the other families. Maybe they started out as rivals but have realized they had more in common than they thought?

Ex partners; pretty self explanatory, someone he had been seeing but is no longer seeing. Pretty open to how this could go.

these are all just suggestions~ he’s open for much, much more!

#crimson.intro

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shieldslinger-a · 4 years

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so you know i think there’s a lot of comparison between robin and bucky and batman and captain america and i think that’s... honestly i can see why they get compared, but they actually have very little in common when it comes to the sidekick thing?

tl;dr: steve would kick batman’s ass for allowing a child to be put in harm’s way, no matter how bullheaded the child, because despite bucky dying at an older age (20), he was essentially steve’s younger brother, and he never recovered from that loss, and made damn sure that bucky’s death meant something--that no other child was going to meet the same end that he did. not if steve had anything to do about it.

so like, first thing and most obvious thing i want to point out: steve and bucky are partners in world war ii. they are partners during a war, where it was likely that if bucky wasn’t steve’s partner, he was going to enlist in the army anyway. like, not that that justifies anything, but bucky was bound and determined to throw himself into that war one way or another. he was not going to be dissuaded, and frankly, the culture surrounding him wasn’t going to discourage him either. everyone was doing all they could to support the war effort. and a lot of people were volunteering for the war. did you know that kids as young as 16 could enlist with parental permission? and there’s no telling how many soldiers were enlisting and lying about their age. so there was a definite culture of younger men enlisting and serving when steve and bucky became partners. and like--sure, maybe steve’s complicit in noticing that bucky’s too young to be enlisting--but keep in mind, bucky’s an orphan at this point, and in the custody of the army. the army can approve whether or not (or int his case, when) bucky can enlist. he wants to join up at 16? yeah, they’ll take him. bucky was going to join the army one way or another, and frankly, at least by being captain america’s sidekick, bucky wasn’t going to be shoved into a trench where his chances of dying were super fucking high.

batman and robin? 2/3 robins were 12 year old boys. the difference between a 12 year old and a 16 year old is drastic. 12 year olds have barely touched puberty. a 16 year old can drive a car. like there’s a huge difference in age there, and the difference between 16 and 18 isn’t nearly as drastic. and there’s no war going on in gotham, there’s no culture of enlistment or all-encompassing... effort? like there’s no organization, no real reason for someone to be trying to play hero before they’re an adult. kids could be kids in this area--tho crimes committed often interrupted that. but there’s still like... no real, pressing reason for a 12 year old to put on a fabric costume and face down people with guns, aside from someone who is supposed to be a parental figure thinking that’s a good way for a kid to deal with his misplaced grief and rage instead of like, yknow, therapy.

which kinda goes into my next point: there’s only 4 years difference between steve and bucky when the cap + sidekick stuff starts. they’re close in age. their relationship is that of siblings, of brothers, not father & son. and lets also realize that the first year as cap and bucky, they were stateside--bucky only hit the frontlines at 17, and a year after that, was 18. for a majority of his time on the frontlines of the war, he was of age.

and if you look at when he died? he was 20. he was a young man, a young soldier, but legally an adult. jason, the second robin? dies at 15. still very much a child.

like. taking a step out of in-world stuff for a moment, their roles are also very different. both were to bring in younger audiences, sure, but bucky’s overall statement is that young men were lost in a terrible, terrible war. bucky was an example of why it was so important that adults protect society, and children specifically. bucky’s death devastates steve. he never gets over it. and he never allows another child to take that role--when rick jones tries and tries and tries to be his sidekick and be an avenger, steve says no, over, and over, and over again. he will not let anyone die like bucky again. period. end of story. if you are a child, your job is to be a child and enjoy life, worry free--not get hurt, not train for combat, not die, like so, so many people steve saw die. because again, remember, he worked with bucky and lost bucky, for sure, but he also saw so many young men die in wwii. that tragic loss stays with steve, even when the young avengers begin trying to form, where he almost completely tries to shut them down.

but fuckin batman man. jason todd, aka the second robin, dies at 15, and not too long afterward he takes a 13 year old sidekick under his wing again. like.... don’t get me wrong, tim drake is my fave robin and he legit gave batman very little choice... but also: bruce is a grown fucking adult and he just had a child die on him. he should know better than to let another child volunteer for the dangerous job of his sidekick. all of steve’s sidekicks after bucky? adults. people who could decide for themselves and realize what they were signing up for. because they frequently did die, or get terribly close to it over and over again.

like there are some similarities between batman and captain america, especially when it comes to plucky sidekicks, but the context is really important to differentiating between them. bucky is a lot older than most robins when he becomes a sidekick, he’s underwent military training, it’s a period of war and he reaches adulthood by the time he dies. robin 1 & 2 are 12 when they’re made robin and really don’t have any business being robin, as there’s no external pressure or cultural push for it, and robin 2 dies at 15, only for batman to... not have learned a thing, apparently, and just picked up another child sidekick not too much later.

#mun :: reads comics.#steve rogers :: headcanon.#steve rogers :: captain america.#bucky barnes :: winter soldier.#[ like. comparing them is an insult ]#[ you wanna blame someone for bucky being so young ]#[ blame the army ]#[ blame the culture ]#[ but don't point the finger just at steve ]#[ yeah he probably should've pushed harder to not allow bucky ]#[ but consider that bucky was going to join the army one way or another ]#[ he could've died in a trench at 16 ]#[ or in a plane blast at 20 ]#[ but it was so highly likely both of them would die ]#[ because it was a war ]#[ batman and robin? completely and fully irresponsible ]#[ and only really comparable on the surface ]#[ any deep read and comparison just... shows how fucked up batman is ]#[ and how much bucky's death really fucked up steve ]#[ anyway no one asked for this but here it is ]#[ there's no snacks i'll get off my soap box now ]

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ilusionis · 4 years

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THE MEGA RP PLOTTING SHEET / MEME.

First and foremost, recall that no one is perfect, we all have witnessed some plotting once which did not went too well, be it because of us or our partner. So here have this, which may help for future plotting. It’s a lot! Yes, but perhaps give your partners some insight? Anyway BOLD what fully applies, italicize if only somewhat.

Mun Name: vinn (or ila, for close friends) Age: 22 Contact: IM, discord

Character(s) I rp: aizen sosuke on here, askin nakk ke vaar (@ levaer) and lille barro (@ firstritter, sideblog) Which muse(s) inspires you the most atm?(for MM): all of them actually. Current Fandom(s): bleach. Fandom(s) you have an AU for: none. i’ve been debating about making a modern au but i wouldn’t be sure what to explore in it. within the context of bleach, though, i’m very interested in developing a bunch of AUs. My language(s): i’m only confident in writing in italian or english. Themes I’m interested in for rp: Fantasy / Science fiction / Horror / Western / Romance / Thriller / Mystery / Dystopia / Adventure / Modern / Erotic / Crime / Mythology / Classic / History / Renaissance / Medieval / Ancient / War / Family / Politics / Religion / School / Adulthood / Childhood / Apocalyptic / Gods / Sport / Music / Science / Fights / Angst / Smut / Drama / etc. Themes/Genres you have an AU for: none.

Preferred Thread length: one-liner / 1 para / 2 para / 3+ / novella. Asks can be send by: Mutuals / Non-Mutuals / Personals / Anons. Can Asks be continued?: YES / NO only by Mutuals?: YES / NO. Preferred thread type: crack / casual nothing too deep / serious / deep as heck. Is realism / research important for you in certain themes?: YES / NO. Are you atm open for new plots?: YES / NO / DEPENDS. Do you handle your draft / ask - count well?: YES / NO / SOMEWHAT. How long do you usually take to reply?: 24h / 1 week / 2 weeks / 3+ / months / years. I’m okay with interacting: original characters / a relative of my character (an oc) / duplicates / my fandom / crossovers / multi-muses / self-inserts / people with no AU verse for my fandom / canon-divergent portrayals / au-versions (as main or only verse). Do you post more ic or occ?: IC / OOC. Are you selective with following others?: YES / NO / DEPENDS.

Best ways to approach you for rp/plotting: if you want to plot, it would be best to send me an IM and ask me, then we can definitely move to discord if you’d rather. it’s possible to approach me for rp without plotting first, best way would be to send me a meme when i reblog them or simply an ic ask, which i will answer, while memes might get lost. ic asks are good ice-breakers, we can continue plotting from there.

What expectations do you hold towards your plotting partner: i need my partners to be as interested in our plot as i am. it would be great if you already have an idea, but it’s still good if you don’t, i get that coming up with ideas can be hard sometimes; mostly, i require honesty. you can definitely tell me that you got no ideas and i will do my best to help, ask questions, try to spark something. i do require the feeling of having that commitment reciprocated.

When you notice the plotting is rather one-sided, what do you do?: i tend to straight up drop the conversation lmao. no hard feelings, but if i get the feeling you’re not interested, i will take my distance - i won’t waste my energy on a plot if my partner doesn’t share my enthusiasm. still, you can always approach me again, if you’re feeling up to it / have new ideas / whatever. nice thing of online convos is that they don’t have an expiration date lol.

How do you usually plot with others, do you give input or leave most work towards your partner?: i always ask if they got any ideas to begin with. if my partner already knows, more or less, what kind of dynamic they wanna build with my character(s), that makes it infinitely easier to build something meaningful. it’s still fine if they don’t, i will usually ask a lot of questions regarding their muse’s opinions / feelings / etc., and try to navigate from there. a question i usually ask is: is there any aspect of your muse you’d like to explore? i think that’s a pivotal point in any interaction.

When a partner drops the thread, do you wish to know?: YES / NO / DEPENDS. - And why?: if they feel like telling me, why not. but usually, i don’t warn when i drop a thread, so it’s not expected of my partners ever. - What should your partner do when dropping a thread?: nothing in particular tbh. they can tell me or approach me to start a new thread if they wish to, but it’s not required.

What could possibly lead you to drop a thread?: i might lose interest in a thread, especially if i feel like it’s going nowhere or if the inspiration for it simply doesn’t come. it’s never happened so far that i had to drop a thread because it was making me uncomfortable, but that could still be a reason for me to. in general, though, i would approach my partner in that case. - Will you tell your partner?: YES / NO / DEPENDS.

Is communication in the rpc important to you? YES / NO. - And why?: absolutely. i’d rather avoid awkward situations or misunderstandings of any kind; if something’s up, tell me. i also like to communicate with my writing partners (be it in the tags of our threads or in IMs), makes me feel like the enthusiasm is not one-sided and i find it generally pleasant. - Are you okay with absolute honesty, even if it may means hearing something negative about you and/or portrayal?: sure. we gotta stay polite, but honest. - Do you think you can handle such situation in a mature way? YES / NO.

Why do you rp again, is there a goal?: to have fun, to cultivate my writing skills and my english, and to explore my favorite characters.

Wishlist, be it plots or scenarios: i want to develop aizen’s wandenreich verse, because i’m deep in quincy hell and i think his dynamics with quincy muses could be super interesting. anything involving the intricacies of bleach politics is super interesting to me, be it with aizen or with my two quincy muses - who, btw, are also good to explore dynamics between quincies / their culture / relationships etc.

Themes I won’t ever rp / explore: i won’t write anything pertaining to sexual assault.

What Type of Starters do you prefer / dislike, can’t work with?: it’s gotten difficult to work with starters such as “you summoned me / do you need anything / did you call for me” etc. i used to receive that kind of starters all the time with aizen, and i can’t come up with something new every damn time. i also have a hard time working with starters / replies that already feel like a closed conversation and don’t give me anything to reply to.

What type of characters catch your interest the most?: i’m not sure i have a type. aizen is pretty much an exception, the only example of an already well-built character i write, since i tend to gravitate around minor ones that don’t have much material and that i can work on and expand without being affected by the fandom’s opinion or whatever. somehow i always tend to rp tall guys-

What type of characters catch your interest the least?: children and teenagers don’t interest me for the most part. characters who don’t have a shred of an opinion or can’t offer any interesting conflicts. overly friendly, mushy, affectionate and flowery characters are really not my cup of tea either.

What are your strong aspects as rp partner?: oh god i have no idea. i’m very laid-back, i guess. i’ll never pressure my partners for replies, i don’t think i’m owed a reply in the first place because we all have lives offline, so i’ll never take it to heart if a partner drops a thread. if i really feel like our roleplaying styles don’t mesh, it will be at my own discretion to do something about it. another strong aspect i have ....... i think i have a decent grasp on all my muses? especially aizen. of course ur free to disagree lol. also, lately i’ve been p active, so that’s it.

What are your weak aspects as rp partner?: i’m really slow. i might speed up for my closest friends, with whom i plot / rp regularly, but usually i take quite some time to reply to random unplotted threads. i probably have a thousand other flaws as a rper, but this is the biggest one that comes to my mind rn.

Do you rp smut?: YES / NO. Do you prefer to go into detail?: YES / NO / DEPENDS. Are you okay with black curtain?: YES / NO. - When do you rp smut? More out of fun or character development?: i don’t write detailed sex scenes. sorry lmao they’re just not interesting to me. however, i’m super-ok with writing anything around it, like intimate scenes etc. in fact i find it somewhat soothing. - Anything you would not want to rp there?: the nitty-gritty part is already a no, but i guess also sexual violence and shit like that. it’s a no.

Are ships important to you?: YES / NO. Would you say your blog is ship-focused?: YES / NO. Do you use read more?: YES / NO / SOMETIMES. Are you: Multi-Ship / Single-Ship / Dual-Ship — Multiverse / Singleverse. - What do you love to explore the most in your ships?: all my ships are with snow 8′) and ur never bored with her. in general, i love being able to explore the muses’ relationships, their conflicts and their peaceful moments, especially in relation to canon events! - What is your smut tag?: nsfw / ........ my n*sfw posts are rare anyway.

Are you okay with pre-established relationships?: YES / NO. - And what kind of ones?: to an extent, i prefer pre-est relationships to first meetings - which they can get a bit dull after some time. i’m ok with mostly anything, and only more selective when it comes to relationships that might severely alter my muse’s canon / past / overall character.

► SECTION ABOUT YOUR MUSE.

- What could possibly make your Muse interesting towards others, why should they rp with this particular character of yours now, what possible plots do they offer?: not to stroke my own feathers but aizen offers a perfect chance at character development to any and all bleach characters. he’s the main villain, he holds some wild opinions, and whether you agree or disagree with him, he leaves no one indifferent. aizen is the main cornerstone of bleach, and if you want your muse to questions themselves and the system / world around them, interacting with him is the best way to start. also, aizen interacted with a fuckton of people, knows practically everything there is to know, is responsible for significant amount of canon events, so you see ... whatever character you write, aizen has the full potential to be extremely relevant in the course of their development.

- With what type of Muses do you usually struggle to rp with?: children, ordinary low-ranked shinigami (i find it hard when it’s out of the blue, even in aizen’s captain and lieutenant verses ... because interactions would likely be only work-related, and won’t go far), characters whose personalities really have nothing to do with aizen. unfortunately, he’s not my easiest muse, and i don’t want to force interactions with him. - With what type of Muses do they usually work well with?: characters who have opinions, some political involvement, in general characters with whom aizen had a dynamic in canon.

- What interests your Muse(s) in general: reading, calligraphy, philosophy (especially in-world philosophy), science (again, mostly related to the specificity of the bleach universe), the very careful crafting of his plan- - What do they desire, is their goal?: kill the soul king and take its place, destroy the institutions of soul society, subdue them. and then rule, as the soul king never did before. - What catches their interest first when meeting someone new?: the idiosyncracies in their behavior, the particularities, their possible weaknesses. - What do they value in a person?: very little, usually. he may appreciate a resolute personality, strength, and intelligence. - What themes do they like talking about?: speaking mostly of mundane talks, he likes conversing about his interests. it takes a lot for him to share any personal information, though. - Which themes bore them?: anything about the greater good, friendship, love, very human topics.

- Did they ever went through something traumatic?: seeing the soul king, in all things like a ghost stalking his dreams, and well ... spending his early life in rukongai as a whole. being forced to consume other souls in order to survive. the first times his reiatsu killed anyone who tried to get near him. - What could possibly trigger them?: it’s rare that he will outwardly show signs of distress, i’d say almost impossible. the few times the soul king still appears in his mind, greatly upsets him though. - What could set them off, enrage them?: the soul king gets him particularly heated. urahara, as we witnessed. after his defeat, ichigo, to an extent. - What could lead to an instant kill?: kubo was a coward who didn’t dare let him kill any relevant character, but actually aizen kills very liberally.

- Is there someone /-thing they hate?: the soul king, urahara. he has a strong disdain for yamamoto, and that joke of C46. - Is there someone /-thing they love?: himself. tousen

Is your Muse easy to approach?: YES / NO. - Best ways to approach them?: he’s only really easy to approach for bleach characters, who, depending on who they are, have different eligible verses to further facilitate the interaction. humans / powerless bleach characters can’t really interact with him tho. - Where are they usually to find?: soul society or hueco mundo. i have a verse set in the wandenreich.

Something you may still want to point out about your muse?: aizen is not a particularly easy muse, but it’s part of his overall mosaic to be somewhat unapproachable and distant. i’m not out to make him someone he is not, so forgive me in advance if plotting with me turns out to be difficult in a way or another. he’s very dear to me, and i try my best to do him justice! while my main headcanons may not affect our interactions specifically, i still ask my partners to look them up (they’re linked in my about page) because they’re essential to my portrayal and it makes me happy to have them acknowledged. i think that’s all lmao. come visit me over at my quincy boys too.

CONGRATS!!! You managed it, now tag your mutuals! ♥

Tagged by: @skyvar I DID IT AT LAST. Tagging: i don’t know who has been tagged so, you know what to do.

#ooc.#whew #this took forever

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littlelovelymemes · 6 years

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( * & . --- MORE POPULAR TEXT POST STARTERS .

‘ forgive and forget ?? hahaha no . resent and remember . ’

‘ when i get murdered i want it to be so perfect and mysterious that i get featured on buzzfeed unsolved true crime with one theory and it’s about aliens . ’

‘ in the middle of sex he stopped to tell me he loved me then he slapped my ass and said ‘ back to business . ’ i’m going to marry him . ’

‘ do you ever just crave domesticity ? to coming home to a partner , meld into them like you do your bed after a long day , soak your mind in the serenity of theirs like a warm bath to soothe the knots on your body , wrap yourself in their warmth and just fucking sigh from pure comfort . ’

‘ * whispers seductively * i don’t care . ’

‘ if anyone wants me i’ll be in the dirt thinking about love . ’

‘ girls get made fun of for everything might as well do what you want . ’

‘ i mean i’m cute but also really fucking creepy . ’

‘ concept : someone hugs you tight and tells you they love you . you feel it . ’

‘ it’s hard when you constantly feel so fucking unwanted . ’

‘ pro tip : instead of having feelings , try being dead inside . everything is still horrible but you will not care at all . ’

‘ i just need a hug(e about of money) . ’

‘ i’m a power couple with myself . i love us . we work hard . ’

‘ my female role model ? the t-rex from jurassic park . she just screams and eats . that’s a mood baby . ’

‘ i’m at the ‘ we’ll see ’ stage in my life . with everything and everyone . we will see . ’

‘ can you believe some people can see a cat and not immediately be filled with absolute unconditional love for that animal ?? they don’t even get the urge to kiss them right on their little baby cat head . that’s in comprehensible to me . ’

‘ do you ever just feel super unlovable . ’

‘ hey , quick question , what the fuck is going on ? ’

‘ i’m a person who wants to do lots of things trapped inside a body that wants to SLEEP at all times . ’

‘ i’m so datable . . . and yet here i am . . . . not being asked on dates . . . . tragic . . . . ’

‘ you ever fall in love with somebody like five times ? like damn , i thought i loved you before but wtf is this next level shit . ’

‘ i learned that people leave even if they promised a thousand times they wouldn’t . ’

‘ get a man that STAYS geeked over you , not just in the beginning . ’

‘ i’m following my heart but it doesn’t seem like she knows the directions either . ’

‘ mace . bug spray . . . but for men . ’

‘ my favorite winter activity is staying inside in my pajamas and being antisocial . ’

‘ tbh i can’t imagine changing my vocabulary when i get older and it’s so surreal like i’ll meet my buddies at the shuffleboard place and i’ll be like ‘ sup you fucking nerds you’re gonna get wrecked . ’ ’

‘ adulthood is just understanding why shrek just wanted to be left alone . ’

‘ hmm . . . anyone else feel halloween coming ? because she’s on her way . ’

‘ concept : looking at the stars while your significant other is kissing your neck . ’

‘ i hate it when people ask ‘ what’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done ? ’ like awfully bold of you to assume i’ve reached peak dumbass . ’

‘ for the last time , we are not sending you to space just so you can , and i quote , ‘ chase that sweet , sweet alien ass . ’ ’

‘ i have this weird self - esteem issue where i hate myself but i still think that i’m better than everyone else . ’

‘ i’m literally impossible to kill ( professionally diagnosed ) . ’

‘ how is ‘ pretty boy ’ supposed to be an insult ?? i’m the prettiest goddamn boy in down . ’

‘ if you don’t listen to abba . . . get well soon i guess . ’

‘ when you have a bad childhood god makes you hot in your twenties . ’

‘ there are only five genders : scary , sporty , posh , ginger , and baby . ’

‘ ‘ are you ready to stop acting like a brat now ? ’ first of all , this is no act . ’

‘ you want a man with a strong jawline so you have a sturdy place to sit . ’

‘ i’m such a tease . i’ll tell you how bad i want to fuck you and then probably fall asleep . ’

‘ i need to be fuckin kissed . get on top of me and kiss the fuck outta me . i just need to be fuckin kissed , man . ’

‘ why talk about your feelings when you could repress them until they evolve into self - hatred . ’

‘ do you ever just realize that you’re not a good person . ’

‘ am i straight ? oh fuck no , god forbid . ’

‘ i need some physical affection and three bottles of vodka . ’

‘ if you call me baby in that soft voice i’ll do whatever you want me to do . ’

‘ from the bottom of my heart , please know , that i’d appreciate being slammed against a wall with your hand down my pants and your breath against my neck saying that i’m yours and only yours . ’

‘ what turns me on ? attention . ’

‘ like you can boss me around in sexual situations but you better not try to tell me what to do in regular life . ’

‘ me ? constantly afraid of being abandoned and replaced ? hell yes . ’

‘ wear your scars proudly . whatever tried to kill you failed . ’

‘ don’t forget to smile while intimidating someone . ’

‘ life’s too short to pretend you’re not into some kinky shit . ’

‘ am i a good person ? no . but do i try to be better every single day ? also no . ’

‘ yes i hate men . yes i am attracted to men . we exist . ’

‘ yes you’re allowed to have other friends , you just have to love me more . ’

‘ i ain’t no weak bitch but i didn’t deserve to go through half of the things i’ve experienced . ’

‘ food will never break my heart . ’

‘ i love making people who already hate me hate me more . ’

‘ squad is over . we’re cults now . ’

‘ caterpillars have more muscles than humans but i’d like to see one try to fight me irl and see what happens . ’

‘ look , pal , i just wanna hold your hand and make out . ’

‘ thank you for showing me what love should look like . ’

‘ unless you hit me in the face with a brick that says ‘ i’m flirting with you ’ i’m most likely just gonna think you’re being nice . ’

‘ sorry i didn’t reply , i was having twenty - seven panic attacks about my future . ’

#ask meme #rp ask meme #indie rp #sentence starters #inbox meme #askbox meme #ask #rp ask #rp ask box meme #rp sentence meme #sentence starter meme #rp sentence starters #inbox memes #rp inbox meme #starters #rp meme #askbox starters #Inbox Starters

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keyorsomething · 5 years

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►єυ∂ιєgσ яαит

✿Hello everyone!✿

Today, I'm going to simply be ranting about my thoughts on Eudora's character, and the ship between her and Diego.

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Warning! This will contain spoilers for any episodes past number three, and will discuss some serious and rather touchy topics. Reader discretion is advised.

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►1. єυ∂σяα'ѕ ¢нιℓ∂нσσ∂ (domestic violence trigger warning.)

!!!THIS IS JUST HEADCANON. DON'T ATTACK ME FOR MY WEIRD ASS HEADCANONS!!!

Eudora spent a lot of her younger years in a violent situation. She grew up in the ghetto of the city, and took up martial arts when she was young to learn to better defend herself. Her father abused her mother often, and her grandfather was the main reason she grew up to be as functional as she's shown to be.

Most children who grow up around intimate partner violence (IPV) have a lot of issues. She was lucky enough to have a grandfather who kept the violence as far away from her as possible. When she was eight years old, her mother was nearly murdered by her father, causing her grandfather to call the police. They were helped out of the situation, and Eudora's father was sentenced to 38 years in prison. She dreads the day that might come- where he lives long enough to get out of where he belongs.

Often times, children are distrustful of their female caretakers who were victims of IPV. They don't believe that the victim will care for them, causing independence to be forced at a young age, even after escaping the abuse. I believe that Eudora likely loved her mother a lot- but never fully trusted her, even into adulthood. Ever since she was nine years old, she'd decided that she never wanted to be like her mother. She saved thousands of dollars through all of her years in middle school and high school, so that when she was 18, she could move out immediately.

Seeing the violence in her home caused Eudora to want to stop it. She wanted to be someone who could prevent people getting hurt as her mother was, and was determined to become a cop. She saved up as much money as she could, and once she graduated highschool, she enrolled in the police academy, and bought a small apartment near it.

Update as of May 20th, 2019:

So, I saw a comment that I absolutely agree with, and slightly adjusted my headcanon.

Perhaps, instead of actually experiencing abuse in her own home, she experienced it second hand. A childhood friend, or someone like that. A less violent headcanon that I've also had for a while is that maybe her father just left, around the same time that Eudora's mother and her would have left in the other headcanon.

This version of my headcanon could still leave Eudora's mother wary of men, raising her to be careful around them. If her mother had a close friend, or sister, who escaped from a domestic abuse situation, it could also work better. Leaving Eudora wary of men, but not a direct victim of the abuse. Idk- tell me what y'all think?

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►2. тнє єαяℓу уєαяѕ σf ∂ιєgσ αи∂ єυ∂σяα'ѕ яєℓαтισиѕнιρ.

Both Eudora and Diego had little experience with relationships. Eudora, from a young age, was raised to be scared of men. She didn't think she'd ever want to have an intimate relationship with a man- mostly because she was terrified of becoming like her mother.

Diego grew up as a Hargreeves. Romance was strictly forbidden. He followed the rules as strictly as he could- he wanted nothing more than to be better than Luther at the Academy. In high school, though, he had many girlfriends. Never a long term relationship, though- everything was touch and go for him.

Things changed when they met in the police academy.

Eudora helped Diego through a lot. She tried her best to understand him, and listen to him when all he needed was to know that he's not worthless. He did the same for her, building an incredibly strong bond between the two. Eudora struggled a lot when she fell in love with him.

Diego wasn't dangerous, and she knew he'd never hurt her. But her whole world fell apart when she fell for him. She found reason after reason not to tell him, but she eventually confessed, after months of agonizing over the possibilities. He confessed the same, and their relationship extended to be romantic.

They both had no clue what they were doing, but they figured it out together. They were more alike than they thought, and just grew closer.

They explored a lot together. What their boundaries were romance wise. Their desires sexually (more on this later.)

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►3. ∂ιєgσ тнє ∂яσρσυт.

Diego was kicked from the academy when they weren't far from graduating. He couldn't seem to agree to the laws, so despite being undeniably good at what could've been his job, defiance clearly isn't a trait suitable for a police officer. Eudora was advised to stay away from him after that, due to suspicions that he'd interfere with her career, but she loved him, and he loved her.

Eudora allowed him to help her with assignments. They made an unstoppable team.

Or, what seemed to be an unstoppable team.

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►4. тнє ∂σωиfαℓℓ σf єυ∂ιєgσ.

Diego was bored with bureaucracy. He felt as though he wasn't helping the way that he should. He managed to get access to the police radio, and listened for hours, trying to find any crime to go after. He had moved into Eudora's apartment at this point in time- so it wasn't like she had to do much digging to figure out what he was doing.

Three nights in a row, he disappeared, without her knowing. He'd stopped minor crimes- convienent store robberies, small burglaries, etc. Though one night was different- Diego snuck out as usual, to the scene of some hostage situation at a Circle K just down the street. He didn't like to have to kill the bad guys- but he did.

That night, a lot of gunfire rang out. Eudora got a call at 1:00 AM, telling her she needed to get to the scene. Diego wasn't home, obviously- so she put two and two together. She'd waited just a few minutes, when he got home.

They fought. For the first time in their whole relationship, they fought. She kicked him out of her apartment- she felt hurt, betrayed, and angry at him. They broke up, and despite both parties trying numerous times, they couldn't seem to make it work.

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►5. тнє мσяє... ѕєχυαℓ вιтѕ.

SEXUAL TOPIC WARNING- I'M GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT BDSM AND SHIT LIKE THAT SO-

TUA doesn't exactly hide the kinkiness of Diego and Eudora's relationship. I mean- seriously.

Diego: "It's not spandex, it's leather. And you used to like it. A lot, if I recall."

Eudora: "God, please unremember that."

Diego: "Etched into the data bank, Eudora."

It's actually fucking hilarious to me- I'd probably break up someone too, if they were running around fighting crime in a BDSM suit. It's kinda great.

This subject is probably my favorite to talk about with Eudiego, cause it's really entertaining. A lot of people say that Klaus is the kinky Hargreeves sibling but uh?? No?? It's Diego?? Clearly.

Anyway, so about who would top- Eudora. I'm sorry, but her BDE is WAYYYYY too much for me to handle. Diego is, y'know, a switch- like, with Klaus, Diego would probably top (don't attack me for my opinions I swear-), but Eudora definitely topped in their relationship.

I mean, hell, she tased Diego instantly upon seeing him- like?? Hello?? Also, she shushed him just by putting her hand up. Idk, maybe I'm crazy, but I'm just obsessed with thinking about this part of their relationship. Especially when people try to argue with me about it, cause I fight anyone who dares to act like they think more about Diego and Eudora than I do lolol.

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►6. ωну ι ℓσνє тнιѕ ραιяιиg.

M'kay, so this is gonna be kinda sad. And serious- but ya. Just be warned I guess.

So, a lot of my friends ask me why I'm so obsessed with Diego and Eudora getting together again. A lot of them write it off as because it's just a ship of mine, but, actually? It's because of the ultimate feelings it gives me.

I constantly listen to "This Year's Love" (If you're somehow unaware, that's the song that played when Diego found Eudora's body.) Every time I listen to it, I can just feel the relationship they once had (and have the potential to have again). It speaks volumes for the way that they once felt about each other- and I love it.

I have been in multiple horrific relationships. Abusive, toxic, unrequited, etc. But, that song so clearly reminds me of the love that I adore. The love that I crave feeling.

One line that I constantly hear in my mind is "When ya kiss me, on that midnight street, sweep me off my feet, singin, 'ain't this life so sweet.'" The image it puts in my mind? Stunning.

As to why I think in the show that it's actually a really good pairing- they clearly care for each other. When Diego was in front of the station, waiting for Eudora, she seemed really annoyed. But the moment he mentioned his mom dying, everything about her softened. Her expression, her demeanor, and her voice changed.

Diego said "I just don't know how to-" and clearly began struggling to speak. Before he tried to continue, she just placed her hand on his arm- she didn't need him to continue. From this, I can assume that she's helped him before- or at least, she understands his emotions and struggles to some degree.

Another thing: their whole dynamic works really well. Almost a good girl likes the bad boy kinda thing, but different in a good way. Y'know? Because in most stories like that, the girl is really submissive and such- but Eudiego absolutely defies that. And I love it.

Finally, who was the first person Eudora called? Diego. The MOMENT he found out that she called- he left Five with Luther, and went after her. He was so clearly in anguish when he found her body. Luther had to hold him back from trying to attack Five when he got back to his place.

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►7. ωну ι ℓσνє єυ∂σяα.

So, I adore that we don't get a "soft" Eudora moment. We get plenty from Diego- and sure, she softened up when talking to him about Grace, but uh- we never really see a point where she's showing too much emotion. And I really like the insight that gives into her personality.

Also- I saw this article that was rating TUA characters, and it said that Eudora was the worst character in TUA. I, obviously, disagree- while I despise what they did with her, the character herself was really good. Her personality was honestly great- she was entertaining, kind, beautiful, amazing, and god dammit, I love Eudora.

She was also clearly passionate about her job. She cared about Diego- but her job came first. She did the right thing- the moment she found out where Diego's brother was, it didn't matter that she didn't have backup. She knew something needed to be done, and she did it. And even though Hazel had a gun pointed straight at her, she made sure that she clearly didn't shoot him.

Eudora is an undeniably good person. She loves helping people- otherwise, why would she be a cop?

There was a lot of potential lost, when they killed her off. Luckily, though- season two. The Hargreeves are going back in time. I understand that we got some good Diego development through her death- but what about the development we could have gotten if she lived? She knows Diego better than anyone. I think there was an entire background there that TUA really missed out on by killing her.

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My conclusion? Eudora is way underrated. I wish there was such an endless supply of fanart for her as there is for Klaus. That's why I myself draw her so frickin much- because she doesn't get as much love and appreciation.

Also- I actually once got told by this person that they don't ship Eudiego cause it's straight.

And I just-

Huh?? Like, it's still a good ship. Why once a ship is straight is it not shippable?

I don't care if you don't like Eudiego. What I care about is the reasons- and because it's not gay? That is a bullshit reason, man-

Anyway, I digress. I conclude my rant.

Oh, and, yes, I'll likely update this rant in the future :/

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If you saw this on TUA Amino, that's because I posted this there first- so ya uwu.

#eudora patch #eudora #queen eudora #eudiego #eudoriego #diego hargreeves #diego #i love them #bring her back in season 2 or i'll eat all your socks #ship: diedora #diedora

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gentleladyaims · 5 years

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Euphoria: Reflections

Just started watching Euphoria this weekend and I’m almost done (two more episodes to go, please no spoilers!!). I was really excited to watch it because from the premise, it seemed like a current day version of Skins, in some ways, and I love my dramatic high school coming-of-age shows, haha.

Euphoria reminds me of Skins alot, but also has its own quirks for sure. I really like how each episode opens with a vignette about a central character to the show and describes their childhood, family dynamic, how they grew up/how they were raised and how that impacted them into adulthood. It’s so helpful to get a more in-depth perspective into the characters, rather than just seeing them as superficial, vain people. I did have a little trouble getting into Skins at first because the character development was slower and it just seemed like sex/drugs/partying for the sake of it (I’m so glad I stuck around though!). I like that both shows are not afraid to show the hedonism, fast pace of teenage life (where emotions run high and things are constantly up and down like a rollercoaster), the falling in love and heartbreak, and tough topics like mental illness, addiction, death, etc. There are definitely some character parallels I see, like Nate Jacobs share similarities with Tony Stonem, Maddy Perez with Michelle Richardson, Jules Vaughn with Cassie Ainsworth, Rue Bennett with Effy Stonem... Nate scares me to death and it’s a little creepy how he shares character traits with Tony- the same hypermasculinity, wanting to be the alpha male, always winning/being right no matter what the cost, seeing others (even loved ones, like girlfriends) as pawns in their own game, and being super manipulative. It’s like the world is their playground and they’re kings in their own world, expecting and demanding everyone else to obey to their whims and being tyrants. The white male privilege (especially for Nate, combined with his powerful, rich father who has influence in the town) is so real and it’s really disturbing. But it reflects real life for sure. I mean, how many times have you heard about shootings or rape cases where oh, just because it’s a white guy, that they’re suddenly found to have “mental illness” or some other reason to write off their crime??

Even though I didn’t live a super crazy “wild child” life, there were definitely periods of my life that I’ve experienced that make me feel like these characters’ lives on Euphoria are not as extreme as some critics may think. Yes, parts of it may be played up, but the core of these situations are very real and can absolutely happen to anyone. Even though I’m not a recovering drug addict like Rue, I can relate to breaking my parents’ hearts and their trust and having them worry about me because of certain actions I’ve done. I can relate to wanting to meet strangers, smoke, or do drugs to feel out of body or as a route for escape. I can oddly relate to Maddy and the way she feels trapped in her relationship with Nate, yet she feels like he’s the only one who understands and even though he’s abused her, she continues to love him and is willing to defend him to the end. One of my exes had some of the same toxic traits as Nate (thank God I got out of that relationship!!) and although they weren’t as extreme, they were definitely red flags. He’d mess up, do something really immature, broke promises, be super selfish, then come back and say he’ll change and that I’m the only one for him, that he couldn’t live without me, etc. Despite many of my friends and family warning me to stay away from him, I was tempted to believe his lies and sweet nothings for quite some time and thought I was the only one who saw the light in him. I wanted so badly to believe him and to think it was us against the world. Our relationship was a secret one for a long time and we would meet in hotels just like Nate and Maddy did, thinking we were alone in our own little bubble where everything would be okay, shielded from the world. But I realised that it’s totally not healthy to hid your partner and that relationship from others, especially from family and friends and that no relationship can exist in a void. I really hope that Maddy can break out of this toxic cycle she has going on with Nate :/ She deserves so much better!!

This show is amazing at showing the world that we’re all flawed. Life is hard and especially for young people navigating the world today, it’s a really messed up place out there. It’s okay to make mistakes and find yourself along the way. I don’t know if the show would’ve encouraged some of my more indulgent urges when I was younger, but watching it now as a 26 year old, I feel like it’s very relatable and it makes me feel glad that I made the mistakes that I did and was able to move on from them. I’ve messed up, lived out some fantasies, and I’m happy to put those days behind me. I used to idealise this sex/drugs/lovers against the world mentality until I realised it wasn’t realistic and that being in a healthy, fulfilled relationship where it’s not codependent and toxic is actually a really! good! thing!! We hear so many mixed messages from the media, songs, movies, etc etc and it’s hard to decode it all. But I’m thankful for this show’s existence and my heart is pounding in anticipating of watching the final two episodes!!

#Euphoria #Euphoria HBO #personal #Skins

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justsomewritingsandshit · 6 years

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“Will You Stay?”

M’Baku x Fem!Princess!Reader

Length: 2340 words

Warnings: yeah, serious SPOILERS for BLACK PANTHER, Y/N is T’Challa’s other sister - obviously POC

The Jabari had separated themselves from the other four tribes long ago. They were the lone tribe not to join Wakanda, under the leadership of the first Black Panther. Instead, they went off into the mountains and built their own homes there – secluded from the rest of Wakanda. The Jabari stayed that way, secluded that is, and it allowed them to closely follow the way of those who came before them.

So, it was not until your brother’s coronation ceremony, that anyone even truly saw a member of the Jabari. Even you, a princess in your own right hadn’t seen them, despite your decades on Africa’s soil and your work as a Wakandan diplomat.

It had been M’Baku, the current leader of the Jabari, with several of his closest warriors. The Jabari Lord was a mountain of a man, so obviously a descendant of the mountain dwellers. He was as large and tall as his home, but with a rugged handsomeness too, that you hadn’t quite expected when you thought of someone called the ‘Great Gorilla’.

It was unfortunate that his attractiveness had then been marred by the words he had spewed. He spoke of disgrace, calling the Wakandan people traitors to their traditions. The ‘Great Gorilla’ had then shouted that your sixteen-year-old sister was not appropriate in spirit, that Shuri did not adhere to the traditions, and as such she should not be in charge of the advancements of Wakanda.

M’Baku then challenged T’Challa for his kingship, sending a roar of discontent through the watching crowd. The two men had battled for a what seemed like an age, both gaining several wounds and gashes to their bodies. They pushed closer and closer to the cliffside, teetering on the very mouth of the waterfall, before T’Challa forced M’Baku to concede – if only to ensure he lived to govern his people another day. M’Baku took his defeat like a true warrior, nodding to the king in belligerent respect before he was escorted back to his mountain by his warriors.

His dark eyes didn’t catch yours, but yours were firmly planted on his form until he was out of sight.

It seemed after T’Challa’s coronation, your brother’s life became as confusing and busy as it had after your father’s death. He was called away with Okoye and Nakia almost as soon as he had taken his throne. Taking Nakia, his ex-girlfriend, on a mission had made Shuri and yourself giggle, seeing as she had an odd power to unwittingly make T’Challa freeze in his actions when the two were in close proximity. The two of you provided mission assistance from the safety of Shuri’s lab in Wakanda, and everything was fine until your brother brought home ‘another broken white man’, also known as Agent Ross of the American CIA.

Shuri had commented slyly, “Perhaps he is starting a collection.”

“A pretty weird collection, but then again he needed a hobby.” You had quipped back quickly, before the two of you began working on your separate projects.

The issues hadn’t ended with the ‘broken white man’ though, in fact it only seemed to get worse. A man, who called himself Eric Killmonger, arrived with the dead body of Klaue – the man wanted for his crime in your country, that T’Challa had attempted to bring in during his mission. Eric spoke in an American accent, but proved himself to be of Wakandan blood, even revealing his parentage to be that of royalty.

It seemed your cousin had come home to Wakanda.

He immediately called for ritual combat, a chance to take the throne. Your heart had stopped at his words and was only awakened again (at a frightening speed) when he won. Killmonger had flung your older brother from the cliffside, and Nakia shepherded what was left of your family away, taking you to safety with Agent Ross, as she knew your lives were in danger if you had stayed.

She led you all up into the mountains, to seek sanctuary with the Jabari people.

M’Baku had lounged on his throne, making ill-timed jokes and commentary until he was offered the powers of the Black Panther. Nakia had stolen away the very last heart, watching as Killmonger apparently burned the rest of them. Your mother, the former queen Ramonda, had begged for M’Baku’s help, explaining (with pain oozing from her very soul) that her son had been killed. These words stirred M’Baku, and he ordered you all to follow him.

Pulling away a piece of heavy cloth, he revealed a sight most unexpected. Clinging to what was left of his life, and hidden under a blanket of snow, was T’Challa.

Nakia returned his gifts, in hopes it would return him to the living. Then you all kneeled over him, chanting the rituals words that you had witnessed only days before, ensuring he had contact with the ancestors before his return to this earthly plane. T’Challa did return, and you all wept in happiness.

Later, you thanked M’Baku for his actions. He gave you a look, which you would never reveal but sent shivers through your very being. “I did what was right, no thanks are necessary.”

Your family began to argue over the next actions to take, but it was ultimately decided that you were all going to take back Wakanda, by force if you had to.

The effort hadn’t gone over too well, with the border tribe backing Killmonger and only a few of the king’s guards on yours. At least until M’Baku arrived, with his warriors. They held back those who’d been ordered to kill T’Challa, with the Dora Milaje by their side. It felt like ages, but in the end; your side was victorious. Afterwards, T’Challa told you of Eric’s last wish – he got to see a Wakandan sunset, like his father had always wanted.

“In light of everything that’s occurred, I think it wise to send an ambassador to the Jabari.” T’Challa was sitting casually upon his throne, in a weekly meeting with his council, of which he asked for your attendance. You were suspicious, as usually he preferred you not to be in attendance – not after you threatened to ‘throw down’ when it had been suggested that the council set up a partner for your eventual marriage.

“I agree,” The river tribe lord spoke, “They have proven to be our allies, I say we welcome them into our politics with open arms. The past is the past.”

Ramonda, your mother, agreed, “The Jabari should not be isolated, they should be a part of Wakandan councils.” There were murmurs of agreement.

“However, the Jabari should have the choice to accept an ambassador into their homes, as well as the decision to be involved in our politics.” The lady of the mining tribe inserted, making a good point, “They will not accept us making such verdicts for them.”

T’Challa nodded, resting his fingertips to his lips as he thought through the words spoken. You could practically see him thinking, and then reaching his conclusion. It disturbed you at how quickly he came to such decisions. Though, perhaps T’Challa had already thought this through? Your eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Since Shuri and Nakia are already away, I suggest we send Y/N.” What? T’Challa’s eyes teased you slightly, but they still held a seriousness inside them. He was being truthful, “She already has had contact with the Lord M’Baku, and there is no one I trust more than my own sister.”

Your slack mouth snapped shut, all the kind words in the world wouldn’t sway you. You, live on a mountain? In the cold? “My King…”

“I think it a wonderful idea,” Your own mother agreeing? “Y/N, you are capable and diplomatic, no matter your own opinions on such matters.”

The remainder of the council nodded in agreement. The lady who headed the merchant tribe spoke then, “I put forward we send Princess Y/N to the Jabari. She can then offer them the choices we have discussed today, and remain there if Lord M’Baku agrees.”

T’Challa interrupted, “An escort will be needed, as well as a way to ensure Y/N has direct communication with us.”

It turned out, that those two things were easily sorted out, because you were at the gates of the Jabari tribe within the next day. Behind you was a member of the Dora Milaje, whom had been your personal guard for most events throughout your adulthood. The two of you were stopped at the gates by a guard, “What do you want?” His tone was gruff, but you weren’t offended; it was his duty, after all.

“We seek a council with Lord M’Baku,” Your words were clear and calm.

The guard eyed you warily but let you in. You were led to a familiar throne, M’Baku again lounging on it, looking the epitome of casual. Bowing, you announced yourself, “Lord M’Baku, I am Princess Y/N of-”

The Great Gorilla cut you off, “I know who you are. Why are you here?” He eyed you as if expecting another sudden call for aid.

“My king has asked me to come to you and offer the Jabari myself, as an ambassador of Wakanda. The king asks the Jabari to become involved in Wakanda councils, as the decisions made there can affect the Jabari.” You went on to explain fully the idea behind your sudden arrival.

M’Baku looked only vaguely interested but listened either way. When you were done, he muttered something to the guard to his left, who briskly walked out. “I will allow you to remain here, to be an ‘ambassador’, for one month. It is a probationary position. We will see if you are worth our time, after that.” You lifted your palm to stay your guard, who had stood straighter at the thinly veiled insult. “Limited uses of your ‘technology’ are to be used. We adhere to our traditions here, Princess.” The Gorilla watched you and your guard carefully, observing her hand tightening on her staff, and you realised that he was testing you both.

Your head tilted in understanding and acceptance, though your eyes glinted with a challenge. “Wakanda thanks you, my Lord M’Baku.” Yes, that was diplomatic.

M’Baku’s lips twitched, in an attempt to smother his amusement. “A room had been prepared for you.” It was a dismissal, but it wasn’t a rude one.

The Jabari ended up being both curious and closed off, an odd combination if any. They eyed you and your technology, but kept their distance. Instead, most of your time was spent with the Jabari warriors and their king. You learned from the warriors, as their skills and fighting styles were different to those taught to you in Wakanda.

M’Baku often joined to watch you end up on your back, laughing heartily at your failures. To be fair, though, you’ve never been much of a warrior. At some point he decided to teach you moves that would work more with your height and body type. His guards watched the two of you diligently, ensuring you were not going to harm their king. “…Then, bring your arm up.” His hands were large and warm against your skin.

Slowly, you mimicked the motions, “Like this?” You did the move again, but faster.

He nodded, impressed with how quickly you were picking up what he taught you. “In battle, you would be dead. You must move even faster to survive.”

Your eyes struggled to not roll, “In battle I have my blasters, and a variety of tech to save my ‘slow’ body.”

M’Baku grunted, seeming to ignore your argument. The guard closest to you looked to be smiling, but you couldn’t be too sure as M’Baku’s hulking body removed him from your sight. “Do the move again.”

When the month came to a close, you felt you had not accomplished much with the Jabari. Assuming that you’d find yourself back in Wakanda by the next morning, you began to pack away the items you’d decorated your temporary room with. You were packing up some carvings a few sweet (and uncaring) Jabari children had made for you, when M’Baku asked to enter your room. You consented.

“You plan to leave?” There was an attempt to hide his unhappiness at such news, but you saw it either way.

“I assumed that you would no longer need me here, Lord M’Baku.” The next item into your bag was the pair of boots Shuri had sent to you from California. They were what she called ‘Ugg’s’, which you assumed was short for ‘ugly’ – they weren’t repulsive, but they did look rather plain to you. “You seem reluctant to even talk about the benefits of Wakandan technology, and your people reflect your distaste.” Next, was a beautiful painting of you, done by the children with paints made from pigments found in their mountain. It had one eye bigger than the other, but it was still dear to you. “I was supposed to talk with you about upcoming legislation, but you thwart any discussions of politics I try to bring up.”

M’Baku’s silence ended at those words, “Fine.” You thought him to be acquiescing to your leave, but he surprised you. “If you’ll stay, I will consider it all.”

If you stayed? Why would he consider it, if you stayed? You met his intense eyes, and there you saw an emotion that you hadn’t even considered to ever be there. Desire, longing, something very close to wanting… “Lord M’Baku…” What could you say? That you didn’t return his feelings? You couldn’t, because you definitely did. That it wasn’t appropriate? It was, you were a princess and him a lord, it was a most appropriate match. That you were scared? You were, but your mother always told you that most adventures in life came with a fair amount of fear.

He didn’t give you more time to talk yourself out of anything, “Will you stay?”

“I… yes.”

M’Baku smiled, “I’ll expect to see you tomorrow morning, I’ll be calling a meeting.”

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