#if you'd like to be removed from these comic responses please let me know

[jesncin]

A Failure of Asian Lois Lane: Pt 2: My Adventures with Superman, an honest discussion

If I had to pinpoint the fundamental problem with My Adventures with Superman's depiction of Asian Lois Lane it's in their attempt to subvert the classic two person love triangle: Lois loves Superman but is indifferent to Clark Kent. In MAWS, Lois insta-crushes on Clark Kent and hates Superman. In the show's attempt to make sense of this dynamic, Lois' Asian identity becomes at odds with a story meant to touch on xenophobia and immigrant themes.

Let's have an honest discussion about a show that made fandom cheer as an Asian character removed the one thing that made her most visibly Asian.

Disclaimer: While I am of East Asian descent, I am not Korean. I'll be discussing general Asian diasporic experiences but the specifics of Korean culture are outside of my knowledge (as usual I can't and don't speak for every Asian person ever, I am 1 opinion). Secondly, I'll be pulling from my personal experiences every now and then particularly pertaining to being a butch Asian person watching this show. It'll be a mix of formal analysis and personal anecdotes. Thirdly, this isn't an exhaustive analysis of MAWS Lois' character. We'll be sticking to what I consider is relevant to themes of Asian identity and immigration. Lastly once more, I do not believe the MAWS crew had malicious intent in any (of what I consider) poor writing decisions. We're here to analyze and challenge these writing decisions.

Please read Pt 1 of Asian Lois analysis that covers the comics, as it provides the groundwork for the ideas expanded on in this essay.

We need to talk about Lois' design. In the follow up to MAWS' release, people have been speculating on Lois' ethnicity. CBR writes that the show has "some fans believing that she's at least part Asian" and other articles have the show crew confirm Lois Korean heritage via her hanbok outfit in episode 4. The existence of these articles, my own anecdotal experience of streaming MAWS with Asian friends, and comments I receive from people asserting Lois' Asian identity was never explored in the show ("you'd only know she was Asian if you searched up articles about it"), tells me we have a case of an ambiguously designed Asian woman. Tangentially many people had no idea Livewire, the white haired and blue eyed woman, was meant to be South Asian.

There's a lot to be said about art styles that don't properly stylize ethnic features, but for the purposes of our analysis that means the writing has to deliver the heavy lifting where the design fails. This is the opposite case of American Alien: a comic that relied on the art to portray Asian Lois.

Let's start at episode 3. In it, Lois finally manages to conduct a private interview with the elusive Superman. When she asks where Superman comes from, how his powers work, etc- Superman comes up empty. In this version, Superman can't talk to his Kryptonian father (Jor-El)'s hologram because of a language barrier, so he knows very little about his alien heritage. He leaves Lois, assuring her he's here to help the people of Metropolis. When Clark Kent congratulates her for interviewing Superman, Lois rebuffs him. "Oh, he's [Superman's] a liar." smirking as she says it. This is the start of the Lois Hates Superman For Being a Liar arc.

I'd like you to consider the optics of an Asian American woman interviewing an alien immigrant who honestly told her he doesn't know where he comes from and is still figuring out who he is, only for her to think he's lying. Because she didn't get the answers she wanted. I can't help but think about my own experiences, where I was asked "but where do you really come from?" or "okay but what's your real name?" I think of my Asian American peers who would honestly say they're from Texas or Atlanta and get a vindictive "you're lying" as a response. People want to hear you're from China. They want their biases confirmed. I think about how I honestly can't tell you where my elders hailed from, because of cultural genocide and language barriers. This scene makes me uncomfortable, but let's press on.

Episode 4 is where Lois is most visibly Korean. In this episode the trio of Lois, Clark, and Jimmy are tasked with interviewing rich techbro Prof. Ivo of Amazo tech at an investor event. It's a prom episode. Lois wears a "hanbok inspired gala outfit" designed by Dou Hong and Jane Bak in a deliberate move to showcase Lois' Korean heritage. Bak comments "I remember feeling strongly about wanting to inject some aspect of her Korean heritage without disrupting her characteristic as a spunky and resourceful intern/reporter." while the wording poorly implies that Korean heritage is at odds with Lois' spunky personality- I do want to challenge a couple of the decisions that went into this design.

I want to acknowledge as an Asian butch that there are many ways to sport traditional garments and it's okay to mix and match to figure out what reclaiming culture (and your comfort) mean to you. However we're talking about the opportunity to showcase culture in an episode of a fictional animated show. I also encourage cultural gender expression that thinks outside of western white people's idea of gender (in both fiction and real life).

Whenever artists try to do a non-conforming spin on a cultural outfit, I always have to ask: "what standard of masculinity are we basing this on?" It's clear that MAWS is pushing for a "tomboy" Lois, and this gala outfit is an extension of that. But what's the standards of masculinity in a Korean lens? Men wear hanbok too, so why can't Lois imitate how Korean men wear hanbok, by traditionally accompanying her look with baji (baggy and loose pants)? This design notably has tight pants that hug the form, instead. I know the hanbok look has been modernized in and out of Korea in many ways, but in a show where you have the opportunity to showcase cultural non-conformity, I feel more thought should be put into the outfit outside of a potentially western lens- or the idea that cultural heritage of any sort "disrupts" a character's personality.

Now that we've discussed the design of the outfit, let's look into the narrative role it plays in episode 4. While we can celebrate cultural representation in media, I consider it important to ask "what is this media's relationship with the cultures it represents?" and the answer for Lois' hanbok in this episode is: nothing! It's an aesthetic acknowledgement of culture. "Hanbok" or "Korea" are not terms explicitly mentioned in the show. When Prof Ivo offers beautiful women as compensation for Clark to keep quiet about his company's corruption, Ivo looks over to Lois- who spills food on her clothes, and remarks that she's unclassy. She's not judged for wearing othering cultural clothes- which would have tied nicely into Clark choosing to be silent on issues of Ivo displacing a neighborhood, making Clark realize his complacency actively hurts marginalized people. Despite wearing cultural outfits being a political statement in America, nobody reacts to it. It's clear what the actual goal of this scene is: Clark looks cool for defending his "tomboy" crush.

In a scene blatantly made for fanservice, Lois offers to sew up Clark's ripped tuxedo by undressing her hanbok so she can reach her little sewing kit. Lois never wears her hanbok again afterwards. This scene haunts me. It's a scene that tells you that fanservice is more important than cultural representation. It's a scene meant to set up that Clark gives his tuxedo to Lois later on for warmth. Lois removing her hanbok is meant for not one, but two fanservice scenes.

Lois talks to Clark at the stairwell. She opens up about her estranged relationship with her father, how her mom has passed away, and how she's been an intern at the Daily Planet for a year with no sign of being hired. This makes the narrative decision for Lois to lose her hanbok far more tragic. Lois being a diasporic child with so few familial ties to her culture would mean garments like her hanbok would hold a lot of sentimental value! It's hard enough finding a cultural outfit that fits with your butchess (many of my cultural outfits are hand made to fit my form and gender expression), and yet Lois unceremoniously loses her hanbok. You would think in Lois opening up about being distant from her parents that Clark would be able to culturally relate with the distance he has with his Kryptonian parents. But the narrative opportunity to link their immigrant experiences is not taken, because the show simply doesn't recognize the parallel between the two.

Instead MAWS pushes for the Lois Thinks Superman is A Liar thing again. A far less narratively substantial and fundamentally flawed arc. This episode starts with Lois calling Superman a liar and has Lois ranting about him "dodging her questions" (remember, he was honest with her about not knowing his heritage) thereby rendering her interview unpublishable. She resorts to conspiracy tabloids giddily provided by Jimmy for information. She rather cruelly says "nobody normal believes in aliens". We are uncomfortably seeing the build up of Lois being allegorically xenophobic towards alien immigrants- a Lois on a quest to out an alien before he's ready. This is their justification for flipping the love triangle. Lois loves cuteboy Clark from work, and hates Superman for not confirming her biases that would help her publish an interview that would promote her at work. What a love story.

To wrap this episode up: Prof Ivo ends up challenging Superman to a fight so he can flex his Parasite suit to investors, only for it to backfire, destroy his reputation, and greatly damage the Amazo building (remember this it'll come back later). The episode ends with Lois discovering Superman is Clark Kent. Anecdotally, I was so frustrated with the treatment of Lois' hanbok in this episode, that I went online to search if anyone else felt similarly. All I was met with was fandom thirsting over the stairwell scene where Clark and Lois were undressing. Consider the optics of an Asian character who removed the most visible signifier of her heritage (the outfit far more culturally specific where her character design was racially ambiguous) and how people cheered because that meant they could see her in her undergarments. They can happily thirst over the body they desired now that the othering cultural garment was out of the way. It's just clothes after all. Diversity clothes. This show continues to be very uncomfortable, and a little too real.

In episode 5 Lois is passive aggressive to Clark and Superman, trying to get Clark to admit he's Superman and vice versa. She eventually confronts Clark by jumping off the roof of the Daily Planet, causing Clark to fly down and save her. She proclaims she doesn't want to be friends with him anymore for "lying" to her. This episode caused a huge ruckus online as people were divisive over Lois' actions. Some defended Lois, saying that "women should be messy" and "it's not Lois Lane if she doesn't do something crazy for journalism!". Ignoring that opinion's very flandarized view of Lois' character for a second, let's thoroughly discuss how this relates to themes of immigration and Asian identity.

By this episode, Lois had known Clark for 5 days. In that time she's entitled and angry to the point of friend-breaking-up with him because he wouldn't disclose his marginalized identity to her within less than a week. "A secret is another type of lie!" Lois says, regardless of her lying on sight to both Jimmy and Clark upon meeting them at work, and continued to lie in episode 3 (after promising not to in ep 1) about her intentions to interview Superman. Only Lois gets to lie in this relationship. The hypocrisy of her character is never recognized. Clark calls out Lois for having previously admitted to him that she wanted to dox Superman and "publish all his secrets. MY secrets!". Keep in mind that when Clark brings up Superman feeling uncomfortable about his secrets being published by Lois in episode 3, Lois' response was "yeah, but HE doesn't know that's my plan!". She explicitly admits that she would publish private information about Superman without his permission. But when she's confronted by Clark in episode 5 about that, her response is "I would never do that to you, I didn't know it was you until after the gala. How could you think that?" It's only through conflict of interest that Lois spares Superman of being doxed. He's supposed to magically know this. Extremely cool of Asian American Lois to be entitled to an alien immigrant's identity within four business days.

Episode 6 wraps up the Lois Hates Superman For Being A Liar arc, so let's quickly summarize what happens. Lois and Clark set aside their fight to find Jimmy in an abandoned scientific facility (he's being cared for by Mallah and the Brain). Jimmy admits (very smugly) to having known Clark was Superman all along because he kept breaking stuff. As the trio are chased by killer robots, they emotionally confront Clark for not trusting them with his alien secret- despite neither Lois or Jimmy creating a safe environment for Clark to come out to either of them (Jimmy outed Superman as an alien on his video channel). The moral of the story is Clark should have trusted his friends anyway, because lying is bad. Not once does the narrative hold Jimmy or Lois accountable.

We have Black Jimmy Olsen and Asian American Lois Lane being entitled to their white passing friend Clark Kent's marginalized alien identity. A joke is made at Jimmy's expense that he doesn't understand bigotry, and Lois clearly doesn't understand why an immigrant wouldn't be forthcoming about his identity to his hostile friends at work. This is how that arc ends.

I'd like to quickly compare this Lois Hates Superman For Being A Liar arc to my favorite scene in Superman Smashes the Klan. In this story, Superman debuts as a strongman superhero instead of an alien, suppressing his more othering powers to pass as human. He jumps instead of flying. Roberta, the Chinese American girl targeted by the Klan, calls Superman out for not using his full abilities to save people who could've gotten hurt. Yet, as she's calling him out, Roberta understands Superman's fear of not wanting to be othered. She sees the way her father dresses up to pass as an accomplished scientist, how he tells her mom to speak in English, how her brother makes racist jokes at their family's expense to fit in. She's not mad at Superman, she's mad at the world that would be scared of Superman if he flew.

"I wish it were okay for you to fly!" Roberta yells. This is a beautifully empathetic scene that shows a marginalized person frustrated at a systemic problem, instead of blaming the marginalized for being marginalized. It's the empathy and perspective we're missing from MAWS.

Episode 7 is a metatextual episode where MAWS addresses how their Lois isn't like the other Loises you've seen before. Lois and Jimmy are brought on to a team of alternate dimension Loises to find interdimensional troublemaker Mxy. In seeing the other more accomplished Loises in the multiverses, Lois ends up feeling inadequate about her self worth...in connection to being Superman's girlfriend, of course. Because Superman only loves Lois Lane after she wins a couple of Pulitzers, right?

I'm open to a version of Lois Lane that isn't as accomplished as she's historically known to be. I can like a Lois that's young and idealistic, like in Girl Taking Over. It's hard not to compare this episode to 2022's Everything Everywhere All At Once, another multiverse story about an Asian American woman who is the "greatest failure" version of all the parallel iterations of herself. But while that movie talks in depth about themes of generational trauma, expectations, and self potential within Asian immigrant families, MAWS uses the multiverse to say that while their Lois is less accomplished, she's still a good girlfriend to Superman! Why should I bother giving grace to a different take on Lois only to get such a superficial story out of it. This is metatextual-ly frustrating.

Why is it, the minute we get an adaptation of an Asian Lois in something as prominent as an animated show, we get "the worst Lois in the multiverse"? Lois is historically depicted as excelling in her field. She's an award winning journalist, jaded and mean from having to work her way to the top. She owns her sexuality, she's the experienced city girl. Instead of taking the opportunity to inform Lois' jadedness and excellence with her Asian American identity like in Girl Taking Over, instead we have an Asian Lois that's simply incompetent at her job. Why are we now adapting historically accomplished women into adorkable quirky screw ups? She went from being sexually confident to being insecure over sending a text to Clark. Is it more relateable to see an Asian woman that way? Is it too intimidating to see a butch Asian woman who excels at her job? Who's romantically confident? This is what MAWS would rather do than humanize her excellence or her failures.

Are you tired of an ambiguously designed Asian American woman reporter being xenophobic to Superman in MAWS? Well too bad because episode 8 introduces us to Vicki Vale, voiced by Andromeda Dunker (an Asian actress), with explicit notes in leaked concept art to design this character as "Indian American or Asian American" (as if those are mutually exclusive...) inspired off of real Asian reporter Connie Chung. Vicki wants to write a hit piece on Superman and interviews Prof Ivo's assistant, Alex, for a negative biased opinion on Superman (to Lois and Jimmy's dismay).

This episode is where it's abundantly clear the writers don't know how to talk about xenophobia. They'll make nods to xenophobic rhetoric, but they don't know what the rhetoric means. In response to Alex's derisive opinion on Superman destroying Amazo tower thereby bankrupting the company and putting "thousands out of work", Vicki responds "Superman wiped out good American jobs". This is a misplaced nod to Replacement Theory: the fear white people have over people of color, but particularly immigrants, coming to "their" country to "steal" jobs they're entitled to, ultimately becoming demographically replaced by non-white cultures and people. This rhetoric is also commonly applied to Jewish people.

The problem is, that's not what Superman did in the show. Amazo tech was going to go bankrupt because of Prof Ivo's poor business decisions. Prof Ivo made the mistake of antagonizing Superman and ruining his own image. Superman damaging the building came from his fight with Prof Ivo, not a deliberate attempt to get hired (if anything don't the building repair people have new jobs now?). No one's job is tangibly being taken by Superman. None of this is called out by Lois or Jimmy, who know the full story and were even the ones to attack Alex for helping Prof Ivo (let's be real the writers forgot this happened). In fact, Lois and Jimmy don't react to Vicki's Replacement Theory remark at all! It's like they don't even recognize she said something with racist implications!

Jimmy and Lois meet up with Superman who learns the people of Metropolis are becoming scared of him (from causing some recent property damage in an attempt to hunt a criminal down) and writing mean comments on social media. A user writes "he should go back to where he came from." This is a transparently xenophobic comment. It doesn't work in the context of the show because of a huge plot hole: Superman never publicly came out as an alien to Metropolis. No verified newspaper has explicitly made this fact known. The only source that mentions this is Jimmy's conspiracy channel, which the citizens of Metropolis are apparently treating as fact- therefore (if we're to believe this is how people knew) this means Jimmy absolutely outed Superman as an alien without Clark's consent.

So how does Asian American Lois respond to seeing her alien boyfriend go through xenophobia? She says "Take a break from being Superman and just try being normal." To be fair, the narrative does portray Lois saying the word "normal" as charged (only here at least, not in episode 4), and when she tells Superman to "take a break" it's because he had been overworking himself after suddenly unlocking the ability to hear when someone's in trouble. But was this really the response Asian American Lois thought to say? To her boyfriend going through such explicit xenophobia? At this point it's abundantly clear that racism doesn't exist in the world of MAWS. Being "normal" is to be human. And to be marginalized- or as the show likes to call it "different" is only reserved for white passing alien man Clark (along with gorilla and robot that was once a white man). Any hope of an immigrant parallel between Asian American Lois and Superman should be fully discarded at this point.

After the events of the previous episode where Superman is kidnapped by Task Force X, in episode 9 Lois regrets being allegorically xenophobic to Clark. At least I think that's what's happening. I often describe MAWS as a show that's extremely squeamish with getting political- and I believe the vagueness of Lois' Dark Night of the Soul moment reflects that. "I said awful things to Clark. I doubted him when he needed us most. I was wrong and now he's gone..." Lois says as she cries to Jimmy. Is this dialogue implying she shouldn't have told a sleep deprived Superman to take a break? What did she doubt about him? This dialogue is purposefully vague about Lois being xenophobic. They've universalized Clark's immigrant identity to such a point that they can't keep their argument consistent. Was Lois in the wrong for telling her overworked superhero boyfriend to take a break? Or was she being xenophobic for telling him to lay low for a while? Or is she regretful for hating Superman for Being A Liar? How is that possible when the narrative sided with her and Jimmy in episode 6? It's woefully non-committal. Regardless, the intent of this scene is to pay off in the climax of the episode.

In the end Superman has a showdown with Prof Ivo Parasite, who has grown into a large godzilla-esque kaiju creature. In typical MAWS fashion, the show is more interested in a surface level nod to Asian media instead of engaging with the specific themes of nature and post-war trauma kaijus and godzilla serve in Japanese culture. I digress. Using Jimmy's massive social media platform, Lois delivers a hope speech that instantly heals Metropolis of its xenophobia towards Superman.

Lois says to the people of Metropolis.: "People have told you to fear Superman because he's different from us. But we humans are capable of causing hurt and pain too. [...] Because we want to punish those who don't look or act like us." I mean this in the most polite way possible, but who on Earth thought this line was a good idea for Asian American Lois Lane to deliver when talking about white passing man Superman?? Why did the writers feel the need to specify Superman not looking like us. I simply don't understand how nobody considered the terrible optics of this.

After Superman defeats Parasite, episode 10 is about Clark, Lois, and Jimmy celebrating Thanksgiving at the Kents' house. At the Daily Planet, the trio of interns are promoted to finally being reporters. It only took Clark and Jimmy a few weeks while it took Lois a whole year! Now feels like a good time to remind you that Lois as a character was historically frustrated at sexism in the industry and despised how men were treated better than her (including Clark Kent). Well in MAWS episode 4, Lois has no idea why she isn't getting picked up to be a reporter. According to the narrative, and Perry White's dialogue ("you're terrible interns, so the only thing to do was to make you reporters")- she simply didn't break enough rules yet! Thank goodness she had the help of two men to show her how it's done! This is a pretty clear case of character regression. Keep in mind that in American Alien, at the very least that Asian Lois still underwent sexism, and I gave it the grace that the story could eventually expand to talking about both sexism and racism if it were to continue. But in MAWS? I don't think even sexism exists, let alone racism. Somehow Thanksgiving does, though.

Half the final episode is spent on Thanksgiving shenanigans where everyone's trying to be polite but they dislike Lois' stoic dad (Sam Lane)- who Clark recognizes as the Asian American xenophobic man who tortured him in Task Force X's government bunkers. A parallel is pulled between Sam and Jor-El, two fathers with different ideals when it comes to protecting their kids. There's a huge missed opportunity to have Lois and Sam speak in Korean with each other, to create a parallel in the language barrier between Clark and Jor-El. Maybe Lois isn't as fluent in Korean as Sam is depending on how culturally connected she is. Oh, but the existence of non-English human languages would imply some sort of minority, who would be marginalized, and we can't have anyone outside of aliens and a gorilla be marginalized in MAWS. Non-English languages in America are political, after all. Oh, but they also got a Filipino actor to voice Sam. Generously Lois could be Filipino-Korean but if we're being truly honest it's clear the MAWS crew think Asians are interchangeable.

Let's talk about Sam. In terms of optics, it's already not great that the main villains who represent the face of America's secret government xenophobia are Amanda Waller and Sam Lane- a Black woman and an Asian man. What's doubly notable is that of the antagonistic villains, Sam and Vicki are the most xenophobic. When Sam tortures Superman, he shouts "When is the invasion? How many of your kind will come through this time?" without a hint of irony. Reminder that historically, Asian immigrants were (and still are) considered invaders in America. They are the perpetual foreigner. MAWS loves making nods to Superman being an immigrant allegory, and yet they can't fathom the human beings that allegory is inspired by.

It's not impossible to portray people of color or even Asian American characters specifically being xenophobic. In Superman Smashes the Klan, Dr. Lee is initially antagonistic towards Superman but we understand why. We see him trying desperately to assimilate into whiteness, to the point he rejects assistance from his Black neighbors who help put out a fire in their backyard (that the Klan started as a threat). We understand why he's a character who would turn on fellow people of color, or fellow immigrants, in order to fit in. For MAWS, if we had a flashback scene where Sam was serving in the military and fought against Asian soldiers, showcasing his loyalty to America over his own people- that would narratively explain why an Asian American character would be xenophobic. Writing bigotry from within marginalized communities requires specificity. Otherwise, you've just got a diverse villain. In the end, Lois defends her immigrant alien boyfriend from her xenophobic Asian American dad.

Whenever I bring up how MAWS fails its characters of color but especially Asian Lois, I'm met with people telling me that "hopefully they'll make Lois more Asian in S2" or "they'll just retcon the bad writing in S1" and I hope this thorough analysis on the treatment of Lois' Asian American identity can help enlighten why I personally think that's impossible. The entire concept is flawed from the very beginning. The story MAWS wants to tell is at odds with Lois' Asian identity. In trying to justify an Asian Lois that loves Clark but hates Superman, they never considered what it means to hate Superman. To hate the alien immigrant. The alien other. What it means for an Asian American character to do all that. MAWS is a show that wants to have its cake and eat it too, they want a diverse world without racism or sexism but still want to reap the clout of lightly portraying Superman as "different".

They'll make the most surface level nods to Lois' Korean heritage- but remove all of the cultural context from them. They can't be bothered to acknowledge the inherit political identity being a person of color means in America, they're too busy doing that with Clark. I'm told "MAWS didn't have the time to go over Lois' Asian identity, it's a 10-episode series that focuses on Clark's alienation", and to that I say the potential of an immigrant love story and time frame was there, they simply chose to go another direction.

When I bring up things like Superman Smashes the Klan, Girl Taking Over, and Everything Everywhere All At Once, it's not to say MAWS should have used those stories as reference when crafting their allegory. All of those specific media were released while MAWS was deep in production already. Girl Taking Over was released the same year MAWS premiered. What I am saying is that we, as the audience, should have higher standards. Because better media portraying Asian American characters already exist. Better media portraying Asian characters relating to Superman mythos already exists. What we're doing when we celebrate the breadcrumbs of representation that is MAWS, is allowing mediocrity to exist uncritically.

Shows like Wednesday are known in the discourse for their portrayal of Black characters as being functionally white, yet that kind of scrutiny doesn't seem known for MAWS. The diverse reimagining of Lois and Jimmy is so poorly handled in MAWS that it would honestly make more sense if Jimmy and Lois were white here. The joke made at Jimmy's expense that he doesn't understand bigotry would be actually funny if it was calling out his white privilege. If, for whatever reason, the writers are compelled to write a xenophobic Lois that unlearns her bigotry and falls for Superman, I'd rather she be white for that kind of story. I wouldn't personally root for that kind of couple, but at least it'd make sense. It's a common joke among DCAU fans of color that we like to headcanon Lex Luthor as Black, or Lois Lane and Terry Mcginnis as Asian. It's a cruel irony that the one time we finally have a canonized Asian Lois in an animated show, she honestly feels and acts whiter than actual white Lois ever was.

I mentioned in Pt 1 of my essay that Asian Lois and Superman has the potential to be a definitive love story. One that considers both their backgrounds as immigrants, othered in different ways by American society. The story of a jaded but accomplished Asian city girl who finds hope to be herself again in an alien immigrant superhero. One where she gets the courage to wear traditional clothes again, to practice languages she once suppressed. The story of Superman, an alien immigrant, finding hope in someone with a painfully similar experience.

As of writing, we have yet to see this dynamic in any canon DC media. A second season of MAWS will not give us that story.

#ramblings #media criticism #jesncin talks maws #lois lane #warning LONG LONG POST #this is a 30 minute read for reference. read it in chunks if u like but this is a big lad fellas #as always please be kind! #jesncin dc meta

[bruh-myguy-what]

If Not Him, Perhaps Me

Hoooooooo boy! I cannot believe how long it's been. It's almost criminal I've let this go on for so long without an update. I hate doing that...but the ADHD and life decided that just couldn't- which was great (derogatory). However! I am back. Fully, entirely, and totally invested in restarting this series because I still love the idea and want to see it through. I now have an AO3 as well, so I will posting all of the updates and original parts there once I get everything organized.

If you were part of the original tag list and would like to not longer be apart of it, no hard feelings- just message me to let me know and you will be promptly removed for the notifications!

But! If you would like to be added or I forgot to add you- since it's been 140000 years- please just let me know! (whether via message or comment)

________________________

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3

Pairing- Thrawn x f!reader x Luke Skywalker

Summary- After being aboard the Chimera, for who knows how long, you've grown accustomed to the troopers and how things operate, but one thing that just won't become easy is dealing with Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Word Count- 3.5K

Warnings- Mentions of kidnapping, confrontation, angst

Days turned into weeks which, you could only assume, was closely turning into a month. There were no signs of Luke knowing where in the galaxy you might be or even where to begin looking for you. At the earlier stages of your confinement, fear settled in your heart when the thought of being left aboard an Imperial Star Destroyer alone...without Luke, reared its head. Over time though, complete loneliness dissipated and was replaced by the friendly interactions you participated in with a few Storm Troopers that were in charge of your immediate well-being. "Are you ready for your lunch today," a familiar modulated voice echoed through your small confinement as he called your name.

Lifting your head from the notebook given to you a few weeks prior, a sigh escaped your lips. "I don't know, Danver, is it that gross mush stuff again or, will I be allowed to eat normal food for once while here?" Your comment garnered a laugh from the trooper as he opened the cell doors, setting the plate on a table given to you at Thrawn's request.

"Sorry, pal," the soldier replied, his modulated voice still resonating with a smile, "not even we get to enjoy delicacies like that aboard the Chimera."

While scooting yourself off the comfortable cot you currently spent your time nestled in (which too had been replaced at the request of the Grand Admiral after you'd mentioned off-handedly something about neck and back pain), you set aside the drawing book. A look of displeasure crossed your face, "who honestly eats this stuff willingly?" A disgruntled mumble was all the trooper beside you needed to hear, to pat your shoulder assuringly in response.

"Apparently, you do," his laugh caused your shoulders to slump. "Don't act so melodramatic. At least you're the admiral's favorite prisoner," Danver's joke hardly seemed comical to you as the cell forcefield reappeared behind him. "You might be the admiral's favorite person entirely aboard the Chimera, in fact." 

A snort escaped from between your lips as you disregarded the boring plate, preferring the growling in your stomach over the same taste of dried fruits and cold meat. "That's real cute, Danver." You quipped, "Next time, why don't you let him know that so maybe I can go home instead of being held captive here."

Raising his hands in defense, the trooper shook his head. "Listen snarky, all I'm saying is that if you complain about something, it changes, and at a good speed too. If you mention that you're bored, you receive gifts to prevent said boredom- again- at a pretty astounding rate. You also have an array of soldiers at your doorstep to keep you company- though that one could be because we all like you," he laughed at the end of his explanation. His words surprised you, the conviction in which he mentioned the favoritism Thrawn had seemingly shown you caught you off guard. Skepticism lurked in your glare at your newfound "friend" as you stole a glance at the journal gifted to you. "Everyone else has mentioned it, not just me. I've just been the first one to say something to you, apparently." He chuckled again at the suspicious look on your face.

"You're laughing, but I don't find the joke funny..." you grimace at the trooper.

"That's because I'm not joking, snarky," Danver responded steadily and even behind the black visor, you could feel his unwavering stare. "Believe it or not, the admiral has taken a liking to you and all of the Chimera crew can tell." And with a salute, the trooper left you with a thousand thoughts swirling.

There was no way someone as stern and withdrawn as Thrawn would have any kind of favorites, at all, let alone aboard the Chimera. He was only using you to get to Luke, that was it.

Though...

Your thoughts drifted to the conversations you'd been having recently. While you couldn't recount exactly how long you had been on the Chimera, you knew it had felt long enough to feel an odd...growth to your chats with Thrawn. He had been what, you guessed, would be considered "kinder" when he spoke directly to you. At times he had even invited you to his office merely to speak about your art or have you critique some other interesting pieces he had gathered over his years of travel. Thinking about it long enough it did seem that you were learning more facets of the Grand Admiral, though nothing about him personally, just...small details that one could only learn about someone from being in their presence enough.

Of course, even under this realization, there was hardly any way you were going to be kind back to him. He was an Imperial Grand Admiral using you to gain control over the rebel cause, 'Over my dead body.' You thought stubbornly to yourself.

If Thrawn wanted to bring the Empire back into power again, he'd have to do it without your knowledge or help. You just hoped he wouldn't catch onto clues about things as easily as he'd seemed to have with your previous art.

Picking at the pages of your journal, you fidgeted in thought.

____________________________

"She seems to be acclimating very well, sir," a modulated voice spoke in reply to an earlier command, "the troopers all seem to love her. While the other crew members don't seem to interact with her all that much, when we escort her on her strict walks around the vessel, she keeps to herself and doesn't seem to nose around."

Something about this sudden growing knowledge of how well you had been treating his troopers bothered Thrawn. You'd been aboard the Chimera for going on three months and yet in your constant visits with him you still refused to open up at all, quipping with biting comments and passive-aggressive retorts, even when asked simple questions.

The duality perplexed him. Of course, he understood very well that he had never been known for his social skills, even back in the Ascendancy. Even then he expected that at some point you would see he didn't desire for your entire stay aboard his vessel to be excruciating.

Though at times it seemed you'd rather it be such way.

You were unbearably tenacious.

Difficult to speak with about any subject, and downright defiant at some intervals.

It...astonished Thrawn.

"Captain," the cold, calculating voice finally broke the long growing silence, "tell me, why do you believe our captive is so," he pondered for a moment, "agreeable with you?" The Chiss stopped his journey, to stand before the large sculpture in his office- scrutinizing it.

Silence ensued once more as the Storm Trooper considered the question, "U-Uh...sir?"

Turning only his head to glance over at the soldier standing taut by the door, Thrawn encouraged, "I am simply endeavoring to understand what it is she sees so sociable in my troopers, Captain."

"W-Well sir, it seems to me that since she trusts us to not harm her, we have gained her confidence. She's mentioned how scrutinizing you are about her, she..." The trooper wavered for a moment, "She seems to distrust you, uh, sir."

"I see."

The curt reply concerned the captain, but he remained diligent in his stance.

"You are dismissed, Captain. Thank you for your time." Thrawn returned to look back over at the large statue.

"Y-Yes sir!" The trooper bowed quickly and retreated through the doors behind him.

Left alone in the quiet of his office, the Grand Admiral considered what he’d been told. "She does not trust me, hmm?" He wandered back over to his desk, lowering himself into his seat. "It would seem my efforts have not had their desired result. Perhaps I must attempt something more... suitable."

____________________________

"Ya know, I feel like at this point, we could honestly just," you paused dramatically, gesturing for a moment with your hands, "stop wasting our time with these meetings, don't you?"

Thrawn sat idly in his chair, behind his desk, elbows propped up on his desk to steeple his fingers in thought, silently watching you. He'd called you in for another round of conversation at random and it had felt as if all fear had left the atmosphere that surrounded him- now you were just annoyed.

"I feel like we've gone back and forth enough for you to understand that your little gifts?" You lifted the journal he requested you to bring this time, "They aren't going to sweeten me up to you."

"Are you unhappy with the opportunity to practice your art once more?" His sudden question caught you off point as you opened your mouth to continue your tirade, mouth now hanging open dumbly. "Perhaps I have misunderstood your subtle requests then. If you are so displeased with my efforts, then you are more than welcome to return the journal."

Was this guy serious? Was he guilt-tripping you?

Lost for a response, you sat back in your seat, contemplatively. Were you being ungrateful? Had this "warlord of the Empire" truly tried to do something nice for you?

No.

He kidnapped you!

No way!

A small intake of air and the soft rustle of clothing caught your attention and looking back over the desk you saw Thrawn had resumed his casual position in his seat- inclining back a bit, a long leg crossed over the other as he grabbed up his datapad. "I have arranged for you to be transferred into your own personal quarters. Your things are being moved as we speak, please come to me if there is anything out of place. There shall be a set of Storm Troopers at your door to ensure your safety," then his glowing eyes met yours, severe and still unnerving, "and to dissuade your premature and unannounced departure from my ship."

Narrowing your eyes at the admiral, you cocked your head in confusion and irritation. "Wha-?"

"It would seem we have nothing further to discuss," Thrawn interrupted with an oddly soft use of your name, averting his eyes back to the datapad in his hands, "you are dismissed. A trooper outside shall see you to your new space."

Why did he keep interrupting you?!

"But I'm not finished!" You protested heatedly, rising from your seat to place your hands and journal on the desk. Leaning furiously toward the Chiss, "Why are you being so weirdly nice to me? You want information, I know it, but I'll be damned if you think I'm stupid enough to fall for these petty acts of kindness as your method of manipulation."

Your frustration was only met with calm silence, not a shifting of his red eyes, nor a flinch in his body. He seemed thoroughly unimpressed by your outrage. 'How dare he ignore me!' You fumed, gripping the desk edge until your knuckles were white.

"Damn it, Thrawn! I don't care if you're a Grand Admiral of some extinct Empire, I will not be ignored!"

"It would surprise you then, to hear that perhaps I am not manipulating you?" Again with his dumb questions as responses!

That didn't settle your anger any and it seemed as if Thrawn could sense that, as he sat down his datapad, leaned forward, and grabbed the discarded journal from in front of you. "Perhaps", he spoke casually, surveying the worn cover, then before speaking again, met your eyes with what seemed like....warmth? "You have genuinely piqued my inquisitiveness and whether you are connected to a Jedi is no longer an appeal of mine, but rather you are."

An odd feeling settled over you at his gaze. Whereas before Thrawn had only ever seen through you- or so it felt- he was staring...at you now. His eyes seemed to carry the oddest hint of tenderness, maybe? It was something new, something you hadn't seen in his stare before, and you had been the subject of most of his glaring recently.

Even as you stood there, voiceless, the admiral's eyes simply observed you. A warmth spread into your cheeks at his open stare and you withdrew from the desk clumsily, eyes averting to anything else around you.

Were you blushing?

Over Thrawn!

How embarrassing...you were supposed to be furious, not...bashful at such an odd compliment.

Was it a compliment?

Standing from his desk, Thrawn positioned his hands behind his back in his typical way, "Come, allow me to show you to your room then."

Once outside the hall, the Storm Troopers began to follow behind, to which Thrawn coolly discharged them. You were so wrapped up in what just happened in his office, you hardly recognized the confused glances they had given one another. The metal grating below you was suddenly far too fascinating to care about the odd looks of the passing Chimera crew.

The entire walk had been silent, Thrawn never tried to quell any uncomfortable energy you were clearly giving off, he was just...quiet.

That was until the two of you had reached your new room and he greeted the two Storm Troopers already stationed, "Please see that she is satisfied with the room." Thrawn then turned to you, to which you slowly met his glowing eyes. His height was as intimidating as ever, that had never changed. "As I previously mentioned, if you find anything not to your liking, I would request that you address me personally about the matter. You know where my office is by now, I assume?"

"Yes, I do." You quietly replied, nodding meekly.

"Good. Then I shall see you for our next meeting when I call for it." And after handing you off to the guards, the admiral departed down the hall from where the two of you came.

Confusion upon confusion racked up in your mind as you stepped forward, one of the troopers pressing the button to open your door for you. "Weird he brought you here himself, huh?" One of them chimed in as you passed him. Thankfully you recognized the voice and it brought some ease to you.

"Shut up, Arrance, I'm already confused enough." You grumbled, the door sliding shut behind you.

Once you reached for the light, you were shocked to see how...cozy the room actually was. An enormous bed sat in the left quarter of the room, framed by an even larger window that looked out into the starry ocean of space. The bed seemed large enough for four people, fitted with a plush comforter and so many warm-colored blankets it looked like a nest you could crawl into and hibernate for months. The pillows looked just as inviting, their matching covers pulling the colors together beautifully. There was an expansive couch that seemed to go on forever and had nearly as many pillows as the large bed, behind it, butted up against the steel wall, and beside the window sat a desk.

As you explored you noticed that you had a private fresher with everything you could need to pamper yourself, an easel with canvases, paints, and paintbrushes, and a very small kitchenette. Everything.

Thrawn had thought of...everything.

There was nothing this nice aboard the Falcon...

Though, your family was there.

Han and Leia.

Chewie.

R2.

...Luke.

As you sat on the couch, thinking about how much you missed everyone, your heart ached for Luke. Hearing his sweet laugh, feeling his warm touches- as few as they were. And while the room Thrawn had given you was nice...you couldn't help but be reminded of how long you must've been away from the group by now. No one had given you an exact frame of how long you'd been aboard the Chimera, not even Thrawn, but it’s had to be months at this point. Months with still no sign of Luke...

You knew he wouldn't leave you in the hands of the Imperials indefinitely, even if just because you were friends...and nothing more.

Nothing more.

Never more.

Not for a Jedi.

Not for Luke.

Though, that would never stop your heart from yearning for more. Luke meant the world to you and loving him came so easily, especially when that precious smile appeared on his face whenever Han would say something stupid, or Leia would mention something about the twins. His gentleness when it came to those he cared about. His determination and love for others.

Luke was a wonderful man. A strong, compassionate man.

You missed them all so much...

You missed Luke even more.

Maybe they'd come to save you soon.

You just had to hold out hope.

_

A knock roused you unexpectedly.

You'd fallen asleep?

Of course, you had. The couch was the most comfortable thing you'd relaxed in for weeks- besides that seat in Thrawn's office that was arguably snuggly.

"Oh right..." you mumbled to yourself as you wiped at your tired eyes. You'd forgotten you’d yelled at Thrawn earlier and then he gave you that weird compliment. "What a jerk."

Another knock brought your attention back and you stood to answer it. With a whoosh, you were met with a trooper holding out your journal. How'd he get that? Didn't they move it in with everything else?

"The admiral wanted me to make sure this made its safe return to you." Danver's voice reached your ears and you looked at him confused.

"The admiral?" You echoed curiously.

The nod of his plastoid helmet made everything click back into place, "Yeah. He said you'd left it in his office."

You hadn't left it! That insufferable Chiss had swiped it from you while you were shouting at him! What was with him, anyway?!

You took a deep breath, leveling your irritation, this wasn't Danver's issue. No need to yell at him. No, you’d save that for Thrawn’s next meeting. "Thanks, Danver. I appreciate it."

Muttering a response, he peaked his head in and glanced around with a whistle, modulator crackling slightly from the sound. "He really did give you the best quarters on the ship. That's nuts."

"I'm sorry?" You responded.

Danver moved to stand out of the doorway once again, "word's been going around that the admiral moved you to the nicest room, aside from his, on the Chimera." He chuckled in good humor, "Looks like they weren't lying. Now you really can't argue with me that you're his favorite, huh?" With a nudge to the arm, the captain left after a farewell, the door sliding shut.

You blinked a few times, trying to process what he’d said. It took a moment, but in stunned silence you walked over to slouch into the bed, the journal still in hand. "What the hell is happening?" You muttered, opening up the pages aimlessly, trying to comprehend the last few hours or so of the day.

Thrawn had allowed you to yell at him, instead meeting you with a very oddly placed compliment.

He then gave you, what Danver called, the best room on the Chimera- after having shouted directly at him.

What in the galaxy was going on?

Then your eyes caught something out of place as you flipped through the filled pages, "huh?" Annotations had been made on one of your drawings of a Storm Trooper- coincidentally, Danver- speaking to what seemed to be another person not pictured on the page. The script looked familiar and you realized why quickly after reading the comments.

It was Thrawn's handwriting.

'Captain Danver's plastoid chest piece has a notch or two more than you have decided to add here. Though overall I find your attention to detail praiseworthy. Not many see things as you seem to. The way you've drawn him, opting to illustrate him speaking with a fellow trooper, shows your level of personal esteem for him. Your art is beautiful, your talent is unmatched. Please, continue, I would like to see more.'

Snapping the journal shut and throwing it on the floor, cheeks hot, you curled yourself into the cozy blankets "Stupid Chiss."

________________________________

Tag list:

@blueberry-thrawn @myevilmouse @blackmonitor @coffeeorsomething-irl @torchbearerkyle @agenteliix @rebelmarylou @danger-xylophones @srryxmate @dindjarinsluvbot

(there are people I know were following but didn't request to be tagged, and I feel bad to tag them but I know they were asking for updates so if that's you and you want to be tagged, please let me know!)

#star wars #thrawn #grand admiral thrawn #luke skywalker #the flacon #the chimera #rebels #imperials #Star wars fanfiction #fanfiction #Luke skywalker fanfiction #luke skywalker x reader #luke skywalker x femreader #thrawn x reader #thrawn x femreader #thrawn fanfiction #thrawn fanfic #heir to the empire #heir to the empire series #heir to the empire fanfiction #han solo #leia #leia organa #leia solo #leia organa solo #senior captain thrawn #old man thrawn #writer #writers on tumblr

[griffinblogsgw2]

(Responses to Where Did You Go? page 17)

#oh baby... i understand those feels all to well ;-; #all the hugs for baby tora #gdi phone i ment feelings but sure (x) @denimwingsface

Me too. I’m sorry to hear that :c

#AHH BABY AHHHHH #NOOOO #BBY NO CRY PLASSS #mood #oof #ouch #owie (x) @theauseer

#oh no torraaa (x) @woozyintyria

#QmQ #Ow my heart #-hugs Tora- (x) @callumthorn

#TORAAAAA #*sobs* #I like your art Tora (x) @fallenqueero

We’re through the worst of it! Mostly!

#i'm going to cry #also fight Ascon but while crying (x) @sylvari-bouquet

#Ascon is gonna catch these hands (x) @thetyrianthree

I honestly didn’t know how people were going to react to Ascon. I’m relieved.

(And honestly feeling a lil validated frankly. This page was difficult and very personal)

#yo im ready to throw hands with the blacksmith and ascon #my girl nocte might have some words #thats mostly a joke but i will gladly throw down for baby tora #how dare they make him cry (x) @nocte-argentea​

I just imagine Nocte dropping everything she’s doing to dash over to The Grove and punch some grouchy sylvari in the face

And this amuses me very much

#damn tora the world already took it job of breaking you huh #he feels too much which is why now he hides it behind cocky mask #like he learned from baya #this hurts too much (x) @galaxypuddle

Pretty much, eh?

Tora’s backstory is a tad.. bleak? I’m hoping this stuff is filling in the holes though.

#oughhhhh tora #griffin i so admire how u make your panel layout work for u like the whole page just bleeds emotion (x) @aameyalli

Tyvm! I’m very fussy about panel layouts haha

I only do more abstract layouts like this if it helps communicate the story. The only reason I can get away with a page like this is because we already know from previous pages where Terin is, what they’re doing, and what those flashbacks are in relation to Terin. We’re very much in Terin’s head this page, much like Terin themself.

Anyway, ranting. Thank you! I worked very hard on this one!

#gw2 #Guild Wars 2 #fan comic #tora response #if you'd like to be removed from these comic responses please let me know

[fungifaggot]

Polaroids

Request: You write for LiS ^_^ i would love to read m!reader x Nathan if you'd like to write about him :) perhaps something with reader taking photos of him constantly and pissing him off which leads to sexy times? 

Warnings: lots of swearing and suggestive themes.

A/n: Loved this request, I didn’t write full on smut (sorry bout that) because that’s all I've been writing so far. Even if its a lil janky I hope it’s close enough to what you wanted. Thanks for requesting

!Feel free to send constructive criticisms and requests are open!

_____________

*CLICK*

“Jesus Y/n, again? Seriously?” Nathan scoffed after being met face to face with the lens of your Polaroid for what felt like the hundredth time today.

“Aww what, is someone angwy~” You said as you jutted out your bottom lip, laughing when he rolled his eyes. You pulled out the image and shook it for a bit before rolling over to add it to the comically large pile you had created on the side of his bed.

“You’re annoying you know that right?” He stated bluntly.

“Yeah, and you’re hot. What about it?” You said turning your head towards him to send a wink, hiding the smirk that crept onto your face when you noticed the light shade of pink that dusted over his cheeks.

“I can’t stand you” he muttered

“Tch- oh c’monnn, you know you love me” you giggled out while nudging your elbow into his lower back.

What you didn’t know was that; Yeah. He did. Quite a lot actually.

Despite the contrast in your personalities, Nathan had fallen head over heels for you. For the longest time he didn't know why and he didn't want to believe it either, but with the way you made that boy blush, stutter, and trip over his own words like a fool, he knew he was fucked and that there was no denying it. 

He couldn't help but to think about you all the time. Think about the way you actually listened to him, the way you genuinely enjoyed his company, the way you made him laugh like no one else could, or even just the fact that you  genuinely cared for him as a person. 

Whatever it was, he liked it about you. And you were the exact same way. 

You had liked Nathan for a while now. When you first met him you knew right off the bat that he was attractive, but the more you talked to him and the longer you knew him, the harder you fell and the harder it was to be around him all the time. 

As much as you loved being around Nathan, controlling your emotions eventually became hell. And no matter how many flirtatious jokes you made or how close he was to you, it was never enough. You wanted him to be in your arms (and in your bed). You wanted him to be yours.

And for now, he wasn't. 

You sat back up and began to search through your pile. A lot of them were actually quite good, there were pictures of him from inside his truck, some from when you went to the Two Whales Diner, and a few that you had taken on campus. 

While looking you laughed abruptly when you came across multiple photos where he was very clearly pissed off or in the process of trying to snatch your camera away. This caught Nathans attention and he turned around immediately

 “What?” He asked with furrowed eyebrows.

“Nuthinnn~” You replied with a snort.

“Don’t be an ass, just show me.”

“Me being an ass? Nathan all you ever are is an ass” You sneered, yanking the picture away when he attempted to reach for it. 

You knew this wasn’t going to end well, but there was no way in hell you were just going to let him win. In a rush you quickly gathered the pile and stood up. You both stared at each other from opposite sides of the bed, awaiting each others next move.

“They’re pictures of me, if anything I should be the one who gets to look at them.” He said, pointing a finger at you accusingly.

“Yeah yeah sure, but how are you supposed to do that if you don’t have them.”

“Just give them to me.” he growled

“Hell no.” you said, laughing at the way his eyebrows raised in a brief moment of shock. You on the other hand stood there with a shit eating grin waiting eagerly for his response. 

What you weren't expecting though was for him to jump up onto the bed and lunge directly at you.

“Oh n-”  You started, dropping all the pictures and going to catch him instead. As soon as he landed in your arms, you tossed him aside like trash and raced towards the fallen pictures. As soon as Nathan got onto his feet he did the same, shoving you to the floor in the process.

He frantically grabbed as many as he could. That is, until you picked him up from under his armpits like a toddler, body slammed him down onto the bed, and belly flopped on top of him without a second thought. 

“ACK- Y/n you fat asshole get off of me!”

You perked your head up at that, gasping heavily while placing your hand on your chest clearly pretending to be offended. 

“How dare you” you said mockingly

“Oh my god Y/nnn, seriously just get off of me I can’t breathe.” he groaned out.

You laughed and finally lifted your body weight off of him, now trapping him between your legs as you hovered over him instead.

You couldn't help, but notice his flustered cheeks and disheveled hair. Or the way his chest rose and fell as he tried to catch his breath from his tantrum. 

Shit. You were really turned on.

You looked into his eyes and noticed him staring right back at you, and maybe you were just imagining things, but for a split second his eyes drifted down to your lips and back up to your intense gaze. Neither of you spoke for what felt like hours until Nathan finally chimed in 

“Keep staring at me like that and I might just think you’re in love with me or something” He said following it with a dull laugh. 

“Who says I'm not?” You ‘joked’ raising your eyebrows up and down, making him roll his eyes once again. 

“Y’know, that’s what I can’t stand about you Y/n. You’re always joking around and I can never tell when you’re serious.” He mumbled, sounding genuinely upset.

He roughly shoved you in the chest, making you sit up straight and just about straddle him.

“What, do you want me to be serious?” you asked.

A few moments of silence passed by and he didn’t bother to respond. Instead he tried to wiggle his way out from between your legs, stopping instantly when he felt the warmth of your hands on his face. You cupped his cheek and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. When you opened your eyes back up he looked damn near paralyzed. 

“Oh... No? I just thou-” You started to rush out in a panic before getting pulled back into a kiss by the collar of your shirt. You placed a hand on the back of his neck, and the other on the headboard in order to maintain balance.

His lips were impossibly soft and tasted of vanilla from the shakes that you had drank earlier. As cliche as it is, in that very moment you swore that you could feel sparks fly inside of you.

What had started out as a gentle kiss quickly became one full of desperation and need. His hands gripped your shirt pulling you as close to him as possible. You bit on and pulled his lip before going back in, this time forcing your tongue into his mouth. He whined into the kiss as your hand danced along his sides and then down to his ass, where you gave it a firm squeeze.

You both pulled away, breathing heavily. You looked him up and down, analyzing everything about him. Analyzing the way his shirt was lifted up just enough to expose his v line, the way he had spread his legs further apart, and even the way his pants seemed to be much tighter than they were before.

You looked back at his flustered face and smiled at him softly, leaning back down to kiss him, but before you did so you shifted so that your knee was up against his crotch, making him moan out loud. His cheeks turned a deep red and he turned his head, unable to look you in the eye. You took a hold of his chin and directed it towards your face, running your thumb over his bottom lip before giving it another kiss. 

You moved down to his jawline, trailing kisses alongside it while he tilted it back to give you more access. You nipped at his ear before proceeding to make your way down his neck, sucking and biting as you did so. You pulled his collar down and began to leave marks. He arched his back and rubbed his chest up against yours before pathetically moaning out

“Y/n, please just fuck me already.”

You pulled away from his neck and looked him dead in the eyes before responding nonchalantly with

“Nah."

His eyes widened in a mixture of both shock and anger. He sat up immediately and pushed you so that you were no longer hovering over him.

“You bitch, and why not!?”

“Cause we’re not even dating.” You replied as if it were obvious. 

He knew that you couldn’t care less about whether you were dating or not and that you were obviously just trying to get on his nerves. And goddamn were you succeeding at that. 

“You’re such an asshole” He muttered, much too horny to bother yelling at you.

“Yeah yeahhh, but I could be your asshole.” You countered, chuckling a little at how stupid you sounded.

He scoffed and turned away. 

“Yeah. Sure. Whatever I guess.” he mumbled while crossing his arms. 

You smiled widely and peppered kisses all over the side of his face before crashing next to him on the bed and pulling him against your chest.

“Just put your fucking third leg away, its distracting.”

________

Tags: 

@katsukispicycaramel @marvelgbtposts @ablake-x082 @myfeetkeepdancing @eliotsbambimargo @jerod-writes @malereaderinsert @dis-boi-be-a-gay-peter @malereader-inserts @hotjellycow @baldsaitama @sodapopblogs @smygarding @luv-hqs @skysyama @sowa534 @that-bi-bitch-writes

(Don’t be afraid to ask to be removed if it bothers you.)

#male reader #male reader insert #x male reader #life is strange #nathan prescott #seme male reader #nathan prescott x reader #nathan prescott x male reader #dom male reader #top male reader #lis

[scandeniall]

mirrors for friends //ch.5

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wc: 1741

pairing: TBD x reader

notes *this is the version of the song they cover 

chapter 5: We drive, We Film

The music is blaring when Atsumu pulls up. He's bobbing his head along to the guitar, hardly sparing you a glance as you slide into the passenger seat. Despite that, you offer a quick greeting as the car speeds off before you even finish putting your seatbelt on. You nod along to the familiar song as the two of you shoot through the street, 

“And I don't care if you're sick, I don't care if you're contagious,” you begin Atsumu chiming in matching your pitch.  

“I would kiss you even if you were dead” “Would somebody make me go blind for the rest of my life, cause I’d do anything to hold your hand.” 

You find your hand hanging out the window as you two sing along to the rest of the song. Once it ends, Atsumu lowers the volume, enough to have a conversation. “I see ya changed from a sweaty slob and are now looking better.” You roll your eyes at the bassist, and had he not been driving you probably would’ve resorted to slapping the back of his head. “Why do I willingly hang out with you. And, where are we going anyways?” You question, remembering your promise to Iwaizumi

 You ignore his comment about you clearly not having any other friends as you send a message to Iwaizumi confirming your location. You let out a little laugh at Iwaizumi’s complaint about the blonde always running his plans, before locking your phone. “Who ya texting?” Atsumu takes his first real look at you for the night as he slows at the red light. “Iwa, just telling him if I die tonight it's all your fault.Your driving fucking sucks” You follow up the sentence flicking off your friend who looks unbothered. 

“Speaking of our dear Iwa, you know something that me and Kuroo don't.” Your eyes widen just the tiniest bit as he grants you a knowing smirk. “But I’ll let that go for now. How's the tattoo healing?” Just like that Atsumu’s voice shifts into a more serious tone and you groan loudly. You instantly catch on to the real meaning of the question. How are you doing?  “Not you too”. 

“C’mon, I’m just checking on ya (Y/N). Making sure you’re ok. Took me a minute but then I remembered you showed me the picture a few months ago.” His gaze focuses back on the road giving you at least the relief from his stare down. “First Iwa, now you. And I know Kuroo is gonna pick my brain the second he gets the chance,” your words come out in a huff of annoyance. “What can we say, we care about ya. The band would flop without our front man.” His tease is enough to lighten the tension that began to grow as you rolled your eyes again. “Our combined hotness would drop by like 90% without me.” 

“More like 5%” He could only laugh as you promptly told him to go to hell, as you turned the music back up some. The rest of the drive was void of any conversation. The only noises coming from the radio and any time either of you would sing along to what was playing out. Atsumu would only shoot you annoyed looks, whenever you’d skip one of the songs he had to which you'd just shrug without a care.  

“Hey Samu.” You and Atsumu spoke at the same time as you slid into the booth. “What are you two sharing a single brain cell now?” Your look of disgust is enough to cause the gray haired twin to laugh. “The only thing I’d ever share with Atsumu is my foot up his ass.” 

“That’s a real cute way of saying you’re the dumb one of us.” The blonde catches the wrist of your arm that aims a punch at his shoulder easily. “Take you and your shitty dye job over there next to your brother,” you mutter pushing your bandmate out of the booth next to you. He obliges, moving so that him and Osamu are both sitting across from you. 

“Now Tsumu’s stupidity is gonna seep into my head.”

 ---- 

“Hello boys, and piss head,” you greet cheerily as you enter the unlocked door of Iwaizumi’s place. You shift the drink carrier in your hand as you remove your bag, lightly placing it on the floor. The owner only raises his eyebrows at you while your guitarist just laughs.”What’d he do now,” You make your rounds handing off the coffee drinks you’d bought for your bandmates. You stop by Iwaizumi first who accepts it with a grateful smile. Next is Kuroo, who raises the cup in thanks. “Every time I hang out with him, I wonder why I do. He sucks,” you speak before handing Atsumu his drink. “Osamu really is the better twin, not by much though.” 

“You claim to hate me, yet you bring me food. Thanks mom,” the bassist mocks. You mutter something about it being the only thing that gets him to shut up before shifting your attention towards Kuroo. “Hey, can you go get our instruments, couldn’t hold them cause of the drinks.” He only nods, you asking him to please lock your door after. 

“We’re filming that song today right?” You nod at Atsumu’s question. While he goes back to typing away on his phone you settle onto the couch next to Iwaizumi. He looks at you and you raise your eyebrows in excitement. He shoots you a small smile and a thumbs up, and you struggle to contain your excitement. You shoot him a knowing look that the two of you have to talk later as Kuroo enters carrying both your guitar cases. “Bring my drink down would you,” is the only thing he says before making his way towards the basement. The three of you wordlessly follow.  

“Why are we doing this song again,”

“Come on old man, it’ll be fun, plus our dear (Y/N) gets to show off that growl today. Doesn't happen very much,” Kuroo smirks at Iwaizumi, shooting you a quick look from where you are tuning your guitar. “Plus, the viewers wanted us to do Gaga.” 

“Oh, you're just happy ya get to be heard more with this song,” Atsumu chimes in before fiddling with his bass. “Maybe,” is Kuroos response as he sits on a stool to tune his own instrument. “Besides, Judas is a pretty badass song. And our arrangement is pretty sick.” Iwaizumi can’t help but agree with you, opting to get the video equipment set up. After he finished you all ran through the song a few times before you were ready to go.  

“Hey guys, we’re Mirrors For Friends,” the four of you said in unison. Before introducing yourselves as individuals. “So, you guys asked, and we answered. You all wanted us to do Lady Gaga so bad,” Kuroo started before pausing for his self-proclaimed dramatic effect. “So, Judas here we are.”

 ----

 “Judas- Gaga” You practically screamed out the last words of the songs, before bursting out into laughter. The entirety of the song both Kuroo and Atsumu were making ridiculous facial expressions at one another, and with you being in the middle of the two, you saw it all. That, paired with post singing adrenaline and the fact that you all were even singing it in the first place seemed absolutely comical You had been so caught in laughter that you didn’t even notice Iwaizumi come up from behind his drums to nudge at camera perched on the tripod in front of you. 

“Fuck- do you guys see what I have to go through with these guys. Iwa is the only normal one,” you joked out after your laughter died down. You ignored the said members exclamations about not being that bad. “Alright that's it for us today, we hope you enjoyed, and we’ll see you when we see you.” You stuck up a peace sign heading towards the camera and picking it up. “Say bye you idiots.  

You first pointed the camera at Kuroo who was the closest to you. “I feel like (Y/N) is catching my double chin at this angle. Stream our songs and we love you.” With that Kuroo just walked off the frame, and you turned towards Atsumu. “Say bye to the video fake blondie.” 

“I just want to say that I’m the hottest member of the band and-hey” Atsumu exclaimed as you just cut his segment short, before walking to Iwaizumi.  

“You know the drill Iwa. Your turn” This time you moved the camera up and down as if you were giving the audience a chance to check him out. “Now this is the real hottest member of this band,” you teased before aimling back towards his face. You stifled your laugh at Atsumu and Kuroo in the background yelling for him to take his shirt off. “I hate this band. See you all in the next video.” With your drummers closing you stopped the recording before letting out a sigh of relief.  

“Well that was exhausting,” you automatically made your way to the couch where you had your laptop resting. “I can probably get this edited and uploaded by tomorrow guys.” You felt the couch dip next to you and the voice of the band’s guitarist. “I can do it. I know it's been an interesting week for you,” he gestures towards your ribcage, where your new tattoo rests under your tshirt. The tone of his voice lets you know there’s no point in countering. When Iwaizumi gets into his band labeled ‘dad’ mode, you won't win. “You're acting as if I have a choice,” you huff handing him the camera’s memory card.  

“Shit- guys, I gotta go. I forgot the team got a last-minute practice match with another school,” Atsumu’s panicked voice cut through the room. “Were done here right?” He looked between the three of you sighing in relief as he quickly started putting up his instrument. “Hey, don’t forget next week we’re at Bauhaus.” He only nodded mindlessly, before making his way to the stairs, before stopping halfway. “That's the 3rd, right?” 

Kuroo’s thumbs out caused him to practically run up the stairs and out the door. Once the bassist leaves, he plopped himself next to you on the other side of the couch. “So lovely band members of mine, what secret are you two keeping from me and Tsumu.”

⤿taglist: @o51oc​ @suna-allie​

a/n: yall know that one tiktok audio from what bgc? wheres like awkwardly quiet then its like “hey guys”--- thats how I feel after coming back to this fic after a month. But yeah life and then more LIFE. So with that, sorry this chapter is kinda awkward writing bc i literally havent written for this in that month at all. Anyways, now that we’ve gotten our band dynamics established we are kicking off the real plot starting next chapter. I still don’t know which boy to do so pls help a loser out. I think I’m gonna take out the possibility of Iwa though ????

#haikyuu x reader #hq x reader #haikyuu imagine #haikyuu imagines #atsumu x reader #mirrors for friends #kuroo x reader

[eversall]

I saw this headcannon and was really hoping you'd write a fic? simon gets hit with a curse that makes everyone fall in love with him except for jace, simon thinks its because jace’s disregard for him is so strong not even MAGIC can effect it but really its because jace’s regular life involves him keeping his feelings for simon under control so this is just another day for him.

based off of @neonlightwood‘s hc!! thank you anon for taking my waffling desire to write one of those ideas and pretty much motivating me to DO IT

love by any other name || jace/simon, 4k+, love spell au || read on ao3

“I see Jace wasn’t hit.” Magnus says, his tone light even as he waves a hand and freezes Clary in mid-lunge towards Simon. He waves a hand over Alec and Izzy and they become similarly frozen; Simon nearly cries in relief.

“Yeah, no.” Jace says, curiously moving to poke at Alec’s outstretched, still hand, and then pouting as Simon slaps his hand away. “It hit me too, but since I - “ He freezes mid-pout, his eyes going comically wide, and then he turns away, facing Magnus and running a hand through his hair. “I just wasn’t affected.” He finishes, his voice curiously blank.

What? How could Jace not have been affected if he was directly hit by it? It’s a love spell, it should automatically make everyone fall in love with Simon, unless -

The first thing Simonnotices when he gets back to the Institute after being stuck in a meeting withthe Pennsylvania vampires is the unnaturally strong smell of flowers. He pausesby the front doors as his senses are suddenly overwhelmed with - rose, it seemslike. Did someone spill cologne or something? 

He gets his answerwhen he walks into his room and sees that it’s covered in roses. In fact, there’s no room towalk except a tiny path from the door to his bed, the rest of the placeengulfed by roses of every shape, size, and color. Simon’s seen a lot of weirdshit over the past few months as a Daylighter, but this is absolutelyridiculous. 

He doesn’t even like roses, what the fuck. 

He backs slowly out of his room and shuts thedoor, counts to ten, and opens it again. Nope, the roses are still there. He’sbeginning to panic. 

“Clary!” He hisses, spinning on his heel withthe intention of tracking her down so she can help him figure out what’s goingon. Instead, he runs headfirst into Izzy, who smiles broadly at him. 

“Well hello, Simon.” She purrs. She sashays forward - there’s really noother word for it - and pouts prettily at him. “Didn’t you see mysurprise?” 

“Hey, Izzy,” Simonsays, laughing nervously, “I, uh, yeah, I saw the roses! Haha, good…joke…”He trails off weakly as she runs a perfectly manicured nail down his arm, hertouch light and very alarmingly sensual. 

“Did you like it?” Izzyasks, her eyes darkening as she licks her lips and presses forward evencloser. “I just want to make you happy, you know.” 

And no. Simon can write off most of the other stuffas a joke, but the soft sincerity in Izzy’s voice is usually only reserved forher girlfriend,who is - who is stomping down the hallway right now, her eyes glittering withanger. Simon gulps and uses his speed to put some distance between himself andIzzy. 

“Listen, Clary,” hebegins, his hands held up in surrender as Clary draws closer, “I’m not tryingto - “

“I cannot believe you!” She screams angrily - at Izzy.Simon frowns uncomfortable. “Simon is mine!” 

What. 

“No he isn’t.” Izzyhisses back, her hands on her hips as she glares Clary down. Claryactually shoves Izzy at that,and Simon’s immediately between the two of them, pushing them apart. 

“OKAY.” He announces loudly. “Let’s calmdown and think about this.” 

“There’s nothing to think about.” Clarydeclares, still glaring at Izzy. “I’m in love with you, and she’ssabotaging our relationship.” 

“Our what.” Simon says flatly, even as Izzy snapsback, “He’s been there, done that. He wants me now, because I love him better.” Simonhas barely any time toprocess both these horrifying revelations before he hears the sound of someoneelse coming down the hallway, and he looks up to see Alec striding up towardsthem. 

“Oh thank God.” Heslumps in relief, letting go of the girls and taking a stepforward. “Alec, I never thought I’d say this but I am so glad to see you.” 

“Really?” Alec asks as he draws near, hisvoice quiet and - off. Something about it is definitely off. Simon stops and staresas, slowly, ever so slowly - 

Alec smiles at him. 

It’s slow, and shy,but definitely aimed at Simon, and oh God, what is happening here? Alec doesn’t smileat him. Alec tosses out things that are borderline hateful, and barelytolerates Simon most of the time; they work okay when they’re on patrol, butpersonality-wise Alec genuinely finds Simon exhausting. (And not the kind ofexhausting Jace seems to find Simon, the kind where Jace half-smiles ateverything Simon says and keeps coming back to hang out with him.)

“I’m glad to see you too.” Alec continues, hiseyes earnest as he stares at Simon. Simon backs away before he remembers thatClary and Izzy are behind him, and he lets out an embarrassing whimper as hespins in a slow circle, trapped by three people smiling at him with varyinglevels of intensity.

“Oh please,” Izzy snorts, “Alec’s hardlydeserving of you. You need someone who loves you for you.” 

“Yeah.” Clary says.“Which is why you should be with me, because I’ve loved you since we were six.” 

“He need someone who understands him.” Alecargues in response.  

At some other time, maybe, this would befunny, but it’s starting to genuinely freak Simon out. Seeing his friends actcompletely unlike themselves is messing with his mind and making him feeltrapped here, the walls closing in as everything familiar is pulled out fromunder him. He desperately tries to edge out of the tiny circle they’ve created,but the three of them are clamoring for his attention. 

“I gotta go,” he says, physically flinchingwhen Alec reaches out, presumably to touch him, “no, please, don’t- “

“Simon?” a voice callsout, strong and steady, and Simon almost whimpers with relief as he turns tothe source. Jace. Jace, who is comingdown the hallway with his usual half-smug look firmly in place, his eyescurious as he takes in the scene. Simon ducks under Alec’s arm and races down the hall, ignoring the poundingfeet as the other three follow him, skidding to a stop in front of Jace anddesperately shaking him. 

“Quick!” Simon says. “Are you suddenly inlove with me?” 

“No.” Jace spits out, his eyes wide, the answercoming so fast it sends a tiny pang of hurt through Simon’s chest. It’s -he’s accepted the fact thatJace doesn’t like him that way, but still. Every once in a while he’s remindedof the fact again and it hurts all over again, a quiet, thick layer ofheartbreak that never quite goes away. 

Whatever. Now isn’t the time to dwell onit. 

“Great.” Simon says,manhandling a bemused Jace in front of him as a human shield as Clary, Izzy,and Alec push and shove at each other. “Because they are, and generally I’d think something likethat was funny but it’s scary as fuck and I really just want everything to goback to normal it’s freaking me out Jace - “

“Slow down.” Jace sayslowly, one hand going to the knife strapped to his thigh holster and the otherheld out in front of Simon, an extra barrier between Simon and his crazedfriends. Simon nearly cries in relief - Jace has immediately dropped intoserious Shadowhunter mode, Jace is taking him seriously and has his eyes trained on the otherthree. He’s subtly shifted so his body’s shielding Simon even further, anddespite everything - Simon feels safe, with Jace there. 

“I don’t know how thisstarted.” Simon confesses, a sudden tremor in his voice as he takes in the uglylook on Alec’s face as he glares at Jace. It’s wrong. 

“I think I do.” Jace says slowly. “Ishould have figured. We were going through Central Park and there was a warlockwho was practicing his spells. He was young, and he didn’t have amentor.” 

“All of you?” Simon asks, reaching out a handand tangling his fingers in the back of Jace’s shirt as something to anchorhimself with as he keeps eyes trained in front too. Alec doesn’t have his bow,but Izzy’s drawing a blade out of her boot and Clary’s removing her stele fromher pocket. He’s not sure what’s happening, but he’s pretty sure that it’s notgoing to be good. The arguing hasn’t stopped - Izzy and Clary are still tradingbarbs - but Alec’s eyeing them sharply, his stance predatory. It’s easy toforget that Alec’s head of the Institute not only because of his diplomaticskills, but because he’s second only to Jace in his skills. 

“All four of us.” Jace confirms. “Hefreaked out and put a little too much power into a spell he lobbed atus.” 

“Okay.” Simon says, slowly sliding his handdown Jace’s back. “Don’t freak out, I’m getting your phone.” He addsquietly as Jace’s body stiffens at the contact. In any other situation, Simonwould never have been so forward, but he needs Jace’s phone since he left hisin his room. 

“I’m not freaking out.” Jace mutter sullenly,and Simon smiles slightly at that, at the normalcy of Jace being grumpy. “I’ve beenpressing against my parabatai bond with Alec. It feels like something’scovering it, stifling it, but - I think I can get through long enough to gethim to back off.” 

“I’m going to call Magnus.” Simon says softly,his fingers creeping across the waistband of Jace’s jeans until he feels thesolid outline of a phone and pulls it out. At the same moment, Alec leapsforward, slamming into Jace and sending SImon scrambling back.

Jace grunts with the force of the shove andstaggers sideways, his expression unsure as he clenches his hands and ducks outof the way of Alec’s swings. Clary and Izzy seem content to continue circling,slowly pacing forward, and Simon scrambles to unlock Jace’s phone. 

“Passcode!” Simon hisses, and Jace sighsminutely. 

“011216!” He callsout, catching Alec’s punch and pushing him back with the force ofit. “Alec, stop, rememberyour boyfriend.”Alec doesn’t respond, and instead snarls, a terrifying expression, and Simon gulps as he holdsthe phone up to his ear.

“Jace, be careful!” He cries out as Izzy takes her own stabat him, her blade whistling sharply through the air. Jace twists and steps intoher throw, deftly maneuvering her blade out of her hand and sending it thuddinginto the wall with a flick of his wrist. “Oh God - Magnus!” He shouts with relief,hovering uncertainly at the edge of Jace’s fight as the dial tone cuts off andthe line connects. 

“You’re…not Jace.” Magnus’ says, surprised,and Simon groans. 

“It’s Simon, lovespell, everyone’s under it, even Alec.” He fires off rapidly, his eyes trackingJace’s movements, the way the blonde Shadowhunter has his teeth gritted, a beadof sweat rolling down his temple. He looks strained, fighting through theparabatai bond while still holding his own in the fight. “Come quickly, Jace is the only one who’s sane - “

“I’ll be there.” Magnus says briskly, and theline cuts. Simon shouts as Izzy’s heel nearly slams into Jace’s skull, and hestumbles forward into the fight, putting himself between Jace and the others.

“Nope, nope, nope, no murder today!” Simonsays, panicking as Jace slumps forward and rests his forehead againstSimon’s. 

“The bond - it’s so - feels like slamming myhead against a brick wall.” Jace mutters against Simon’s back. They’re in astrange role reversal from just five minutes ago, with Simon standing as ahuman shield in front of Jace. 

“Simon, come on.” Clary cajoles. “It’llbe just us, Simon and Clary, like always - “

“What can Fray give you that I can’t?” Alec demandsbrusquely, and Simon blinks. 

“How you wooed Magnus, I’ll never understand.”He whispers under his breath, and despite the severity of the situation hehears Jace snort from behind him, finally straightening up. They hear theunmistakable noise of a portal  then, and turn to see Magnus step out nearthe end of the hallway and stop, his mouth half-open. 

“What on earth?” He exclaims, and then snapshis fingers, blinking when nothing happens. “Hm. Powerful warlock spell,but nothing we can’t solve.” 

“He’s mine,” Izzy snarls at Magnus, “so backoff.” 

“Rest assured,” Magnus says dryly, “he isnowhere near who I want.” 

“Great, okay, let’ssolve this now.” Simon bemoans, andMagnus glances over at the two of them, a curious expression crossing hisface. 

“I see Jace wasn’t hit.” He says, his tonelight even as he waves a hand and freezes Clary in mid-lunge towards Simon. He wavesa hand over Alec and Izzy and they become similarly frozen; Simon nearly criesin relief. 

“Yeah, no.” Jace says, curiously moving topoke at Alec’s outstretched, still hand, and then pouting as Simon slaps hishand away. “It hit me too, but since I - “ He freezes mid-pout, hiseyes going comically wide, and then he turns away, facing Magnus and running ahand through his hair. “I just wasn’t affected.” He finishes, his voicecuriously blank. 

What? How couldJace not havebeen affected if he was directly hit by it? It’s a love spell, it shouldautomatically make everyone fall in love with Simon, unless - 

Unless, of course, there’s a feeling thatoutweighs even the love. Hate. Jace hates him, more than he apparently letson. 

Simon reels back,feeling like he’s been slapped, his heart shattering into pieces on the floor.He thought he and Jace were friends, at least; he’d long since accepted that Jacewould never look twice at him in the way he’d like to be looked at but friendship, he would have taken the friendship, because it’s one of the most preciousfucking things in his life, but no - of course Simon Lewis doesn’t get thateither, of course he’s fucked that up too, of course he’s managed to drive away yet anotherperson he cares about with his obnoxious personality, an endless cycle ofloving and losing - 

“Simon?” Jace asks, his voice concerned asSimon goes eerily, supernaturally still, his mind falling apart and reformingin true Simon Lewis fashion. He can go on. He can do this. He’s done it before,and he’ll do it again.

“Fine.” Simon says shortly, hating the wayJace’s eyes are worried as he takes in Simon’s blank expression. Jace doesn’thave any right to pretend he’s worried about anything other than his siblingsunder some spell. 

“Right.” Magnus says, staring between the twoof them. “Lovely. I’m going to portal us all to my loft, if you don’tmind.” Simon nods his assent, and Jace grunts in affirmation, his eyes stilllocked on Simon’s with a burning unfamiliarity. Simon averts his eyes, insteadwatching Magnus create a portal and send the still frozen bodies of Clary,Izzy, and Alec through, then stepping through and waving a hand at Simon andJace to follow. 

They step through, andSimon’s struck for a second with the familiar nausea, something’s he’s still not gotten used to. He staggers forwardas he lands in the loft, his stomach dry-heaving and a brief flash of paingoing through his body; Jace, who landed much more smoothly, catches him in hisarms. 

Simon blinks as Jacehauls him upright, caught in a cage between Jace’s impressive biceps. Muscles! his brain helpfully screams at him, while hisheart is stuck somewhere between swooning over Jace’s eyes and Jace’shalf-smile as he takes in Simon. 

Hates me, Simon remindshimself forcefully, stepping out of Jace’s arms and biting his lip. 

“Thanks.” He sayssoftly, and for a second he swears it’s just them as Jace smiles for real,genuine and soft. Simon hates it, hates how much he loves that smile and craves it, even with definitive proof that Jacedoesn’t like him. At all. 

“Still haven’t gottenthe hang of it, Lewis?” Jace asks, and Simon huffs out a laugh. This is familiar. This he can deal with. 

“Still haven’t learned how to drive?” Simonshoots back, and Jace grimaces. 

“Fair.” He allows as Magnus reappears, hishands uncorking a bottle of green powder. 

“This should help.” He says cheerfully, wavinghis hand over the others and unfreezing them. They immediately spin in acircle, taking in their change of surroundings with a confused expression ontheir face. 

“This is different.” Clary says, even as Simonducks behind Magnus’ kitchen counter. He glares at Jace, who is still in hisline of sight and snickering at Simon’s desperate attempt tohide. “Where’s Simon?” She continues. 

“I’ve composed a poem for him.” Izzyannounces. It seems like they only turn to violence when Simon is actuallythere, and he sighs in relief and makes himself comfortable on the floor.“Where is he? Poetry is another one of those things, like cooking, that I’mgood at - “

“No.” Jace says delightedly. “Pleaseshare, Iz.” 

“No. And that is my cue to stop this.” Magnus hastilysays. There’s a muted green hue that covers the apartment then, and the sharp,smoky smell of magic, and then silence. Simon holds his breath, hoping - 

“Oh no.” Alec groans. “Please tell me I’mdreaming.” 

“I’m afraid not,darling.” Magnus says apologetically, and Simon lets out a whoop and popsup from behind the counter, taking in his restored, sane friends. 

“Finally!” He crows, and Clary looks over athim, her expression bemused, arching an eyebrow. 

“Did I…seriously attack you, Izzy?” Sheasks, and Izzy grimaces, looking at Jace. 

“We all attacked Jace.” She says, staring ather brother. “I’m so sorry - “

“It’s fine.” Jace says, waving her apologiesoff. “You were all under a spell.” 

“I’ve never felt anything like that.” Alecsays, his expression bewildered. “That’s not what being in love feels like. Itwas so…desperate, and bittersweet.” 

“I felt as though I had already lost Simon,”Clary agrees, frowning, “which doesn’t make sense because I was still trying towin him over.” Simon frowns as he leans against the counter, looking at all ofthem. 

“Maybe the warlock just didn’t know what lovewas.” He offers, and Jace shrugs. 

“Or it was just a poorly executed spell, withonly raw power.” He points out, looking at SImon, and Simon nods. 

“Oh, no.” Magnus says, making his way to hisarmchair and reclining lazily in it. “Far from it. It was perfectly executed.”His voice is dramatic, and Alec groans. 

“Mags, really?” He asks, his voice coloring indisbelief. “You’re up to something.”

“Alexander, I cannot believe you’d accuse meof such a thing.” Magnus says with as much dignity as he can muster as, hislips twitching despite his efforts. He snaps his fingers and summons himself amartini, looking in turn at all of them, like he’s gearing up to tell astory. 

“Well don’t keep us in suspense.” Izzy says,amused, as she perches on the ottoman. “Share with the class, Magnus.” 

“It wasn’t a love spell.” Magnus announces, lazily stirring themartini with the tip of his pinky, sparks dancing along the rim for addedflair. “It was an amplification spell. The warlock took what someonealready felt for Simon, and directly poured all that emotion into all of you.Emotions are meant to grow, and change; you adapt with them. Getting all ofthem dumped on you all at once - “

“ - can lead to catastrophic decisions likebuying out a rose shop.” Izzy finishes, laughing. Clary snorts. 

“Who feels so stronglyabout Simon?” she muses, then looks at Simon quickly. “No offense - not ina rude way - but we all love you in a normal way, I think. The emotions I felt - that wassad. Pining, even, like - “She cuts herself off and inhales sharply, understanding settling over herfeatures. “Oh”

“Oh what?” Izzy asks.

“Jace,” Clary says slowly, “why weren’tyou affected?” Jace stiffens, his face going blank, and Simon looks on inconfusion. 

“It just didn’t.” He says, and Simonshrugs. 

“Jace doesn’t like me,like, at all.” He tries to saylightly, his voice coming out choked up instead. “It’s hard to emulatestrong feelings when there’s like stronger feeling of annoyance covering it, Ithink - “

“What?” Jace askssharply, swinging around to face him, and Simon blinks in the face of the angerin Jace’s voice. “That’s whatyou think? That I wasn’t affected because I don’t like you?” 

“I - “ Simon begins, unsure of what tosay, but Jace cuts him off with a bitter, dark laugh. 

“Fuck, no.” He says,shaking his head and continuing to laugh brokenly. “I don’t like you, I’m in love with you. That - that pathetic, bittersweet pining everyonefelt was mine becauseI’ve been in love with you for so long I don’t remember how not to be.”

For the second time that day, Simon’s heart shatters- but this time it’s into something hopeful and unbelievable, a little flutterof possibility Simon had thought he’d lost long ago suddenly resurfacing andhitting him with a wave of emotion. An unfamiliar nervousness takes upresidence in his stomach, his mind slowly catching up to his heart as heprocesses what’s happening. 

But Jace turns and leaves before Simoncan do anything, frozen as he is. Simon watches him stride away, his mouthparting in surprise, before Alec stomps over and socks him in the shoulder asthe door shuts behind Jace. 

“What are you still standing here for?” Alecgrowls, and Simon stares at him, uncomprehending. 

“Is this happening?” He mutters, mostly tohimself, but it’s Magnus that answers, leaning forward and lookingserious. 

“That boy is so used to being in love with youthat the spell couldn’t change a single thing about his emotions. He wasalready too deep.” Magnus says, holding Simon’s gaze. “I’m guessing youknow the feeling.”

And how can Simonargue with that? Because he knows. He does. He always has, when it comes toJace Wayland. 

“Okay,” Simon croaks out, nodding andstraightening up, “okay.”

“Good luck!” Izzy calls out to him, and henods distractedly, using his speed to run out of the loft and down the stairs,bursting out of the front doors into the cool night air - and running straightinto Jace at the base of the front steps, sending them both tumbling to theground. 

“Fuck!” Jace grunts, landing on the ground andbearing the brunt of the fall. “Simon?”

Simon looks down athim, really looking.He takes in Jace’s blond hair, fanning out around him like a blonde halo; histired blue-brown eyes, an indescribable sadness in them that’s been there sinceSimon met him - probably for longer than that - and his absurdly long lashes;the firm press of muscles under Simon’s body, his thighs thick between Simon’sown legs; the graze of stubble against the tips of Simon fingers where he’sclutching Jace’s collar, staring down at him in a daze - 

“You need to shave,” Simonblurts out, his heart in his throat as Jace’s brow furrows inconfusion, “and also, I love you. Like, I’m in love with you, the whole nine yards, I -am so gone for you, honestly.” 

“I.” Jace looksshocked, his mouth opening and closing, his gaze vulnerable and a littledisbelieving. “I shaved yesterday?”

“Okay.” Simon says,his head still spinning. “You – yeah. Okay.”

“Okay.” Jace agrees,his hands moving to cradle Simon’s face, and suddenly they’re kissing, stillsprawled on the ground. Jace surges up against him and Simon presses down, lipssliding together urgently as something unlocks in both of them; there’s a moanlost in the kiss, a breathless whimper swallowed down, tongues slipping in andmapping mouths. Simon doesn’t know where he ends and where Jace begins and hedoesn’t want to find out – the kiss is desperate and thick with pent-upemotion, a promise to make up for lost time and a plea to make the most of thetime they do have. Because it’s anuncertain future for both of them, so while he can he’s going to clutch at Jace’swarm skin like a lifeline and memorize the feeling of Jace’s body under his.

Maybe not on thesidewalk, though. That part is getting a little inconvenient – until Jaceslowly manouevers them upright, not breaking the kiss as Simon leans back, nowstraddling Jace. Then, in a move straightout of every harlequin romance novel he’s ever seen in bookstores, Jace’shands slip down to grip his thighs and he hoists Simon up, pushing himself offof the balls of his feet and smoothly getting them both upright.

“I could get used tothis.” Simon says, grinning in delight as Jace effortlessly carries him to thestaircase railing and perches him on it.

“Mm, well, don’t.” Jace smirks, ducking down andnuzzling Simon’s nose. “You’re theone with the vampire strength, you can pick me up next time.”

“This is something you’reinto?” Simon asks interestedly as a light flush creeps over Jace’s cheeks.

“Shut up.” Jacegrumbles, and Simon rolls his eyes and presses a kiss to the underside of Jace’sjaw, instead. He’s about to kiss him properly, his hands tugging at Jace’shair, when –

“Ah. Lovely, but noton my front steps.” Magnus says, opening the door. Simon makes a surprisednoise and jerks backward, forgetting that he’s perched precariously on the thinrailing, and nearly falls over. Jace’s arms tighten around him and haul himback up, and he’s laughing even as Simon balances himself and then socks Jace’sshoulder. “I see nothing has changed.” Magnus continues, dryly.

“Wonderful.” Alec’svoice sounds from behind Magnus. “I mean, I only had to go through the most embarrassingmoments of my life to get there, but it’s all great.”

“Hey.” Jace frowns. “You went through an entire marriage beforekissing Magnus, give me a break.”

“Clearly,” Izzy says,making her way past Magnus and Alec with Clary in tow, “we both got togetherwith far less drama, proving once again that lesbians really do it better inevery way.”

“I love girls.” Claryagrees, sighing dreamily, and Simon grins.

“Gay.” He mockwhispers to Clary as he hops off the railing and tugs on Jace’s hand. “Come on,let’s leave Alec to stew in the horror of being madly, desperately in lovewith me and go back and figure out what to do with all the roses.”

“The roses.” Izzygroans, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I’m definitely broke from that, youguys.” Clary hums thoughtfully and begins listing suggestions for the flowers,but Simon doesn’t hear her because Jace nudges Simon’s shoulder.

“Simon.” Jace saysquietly, leaning in. “For the record. Being in love with you, it’s – pretty great.”

“Being madly, desperately, in love with me?” Simon whispers back, snickering, buthe’s surprised by Jace’s soft smile as he squeezes Simon’s hand.

“Being madly,desperately in love with you, yeah.” He confirms, and Simon is suddenly hitwith the feeling that this, this iswhat they mean by a love worth fighting for.

(Izzy and Clary end uppressing all one hundred roses, and they show up as decorations for Simon andJace’s wedding, four years later.)

#y'all i am exhausted so i hope this is written correctly #and not GARBAGE #jimon #jace wayland #simon lewis #shadowhunters #sh fics #i write sometimes

[griffinblogsgw2]

(Responses to Where Did You Go? page 25)

╰☆☆ Don't know what this is? It's a GW2 comic! Check out Tora Steals Things here! ☆☆╮

#Tora is best boy as always #Such a sweet heart #told them how to get out #to protect them #even tho he doesn't like Terin #run to safety babes! (x) @callumthorn​

#thank god they all escaped safely #thank you tora for having that heart of gold (x) @sylvari-bouquet​

-Tora throws you some finger guns in the distance-

#Tora you softy (x) @braham-is-bi​

oh no

#the awkward silence.... (x) @rabicano​

#sounds like theyre gonna have a awkward n quiet drive home (x) @commander-titania​

it’s going to be a great trip and they’ll go to McDonalds or something

wtf does Tyria have for fast food

#howd they get down from there without ouchies #but oof #oof oof (x) @theauseer​

Have you done the Tears of Itlaocal mini-dungeon before? That drop into the swamp is literally the only way out at the end.

#oh tora... oh terin... #the saplings continue to be a delight #and so does your use of light & color griffin!! i love the contrast between b&w characters and rich color background it’s intense (x) @aameyalli​

Tyvm! It’s a hellova lot of work though haha

honestly after this episode, I’m not sure I’ll use so much color - it’s incredibly time consuming

#awww he saved them #he does have a heart (x) @likemesomesalads​

are... are we surprised by this?

Ngl y’all, I’ve been a lil baffled at the number of comments I got this episode questioning whether Tora would hurt the saplings and being surprised when he doesn’t and like...

I try to get where it’s coming from but I’m not sure I get it? I don’t recall ever showing Tora to deliberately hurt innocent people, so I’m not sure where this is coming from?

Can’t help but wonder if we’re gettin’ a lil distracted by Tora’s sharp tongue (which admittedly is what he’d want). Tora’s bread and butter when dealing with conflict is his words, and he’ll use all variety of lies, half-truths, and truths to get out of a situation. Read between the lines of what he says, and pay attention to his actions - they tell a different story!

He got Terin to attack him, but never retaliated.

Even in his last confrontation with Terin, he didn’t hurt Terin even when he could have.

Tora’s not straightforward, but you can read him if you pay close attention!

#gw2 #Guild Wars 2 #fan comic #tora response #if you'd like to be removed from these comment responses please let me know

[griffinblogsgw2]

(Responses to Where Did You Go? page 21)

#TORA'S FACE IM #'the boys are fightin''' #local babysitter picks fight with ex while on a fiedltrip #Terin has a phenomenal heart shaped butt ngl (x) @commanders-sole-braincell​

Tora’s expressions are pure joy for me to draw hahaha

and uh, actually Terin’s got a classic bubble butt? You just can’t really see it with their leaf skirt jazz goin’ on.

Unless yer one of my $5/$10 patrons, in which case you’ve definitely seen that booty in the sketch for this page. I can’t tell y’all how many booties I hide in this comic. It’s so many.

#that face on the lower second panel #that's a mood #the last tho #that scares me a little #boifightboisfghtboisfight (x) @likemesomesalads​

#fight! fight! fight! #dont actually tho boys #not in front of the children #the way Tora looks at the sword then back up? 100/10 love that panel design (x) @ascalonianpicnic​

Seein’ a lotta “bois fight” comments - this a reference or something? Or just a common sentiment?

And oh god, ty, I had just like, way too much fun drawing Tora’s absolute unimpressed face

#gw2 #comic #tora response #if you'd like to be removed from these comment responses please let me know

[griffinblogsgw2]

(Responses to Where Did You Go? page 23)

╰☆☆ Don't know what this is? It's a GW2 comic! Check out Tora Steals Things here! ☆☆╮

#omg the ‘New Reader? Start Here!’ im almost certain that was inspired by my lost dumb ass XD #but also oH BOY HERE WE GO.. #EITHER HEARTFELT APOLOGIES OR CRUEL REJECTION OF A SORT OH NO #Im not ready for either ?? i might cry (x) @phnx-rosemary

ONLY PARTIALLY, I PROMISE! The “new readers not knowing where the starting comic actually is” issue has been a longstanding problem going back as far as when I was working on the Terin and the 3 Saplings episode. I’ve had a NEW READER link on the end of every comic post but it, along with my Patreon link, aren’t very noticeable. I’ve been meaning to rework them for awhile so... IT’S NOT ALL BECAUSE OF YOU -DON’T WORRY!

AND YES, HEARTFELT OR HEARTBREAKING - WHICH WILL IT BEEEEEE

I DON’T KNOW, I’M JUST THE AUTHOR

#to be fair terin his mender can frick himself #this is gonna be hearfelt or heartbreaking #and i can decide which i'm more looking forward to (x) @nocte-argentea

#OW MY HEART #but alos 'you hurt yor mentor' fool Ascon doesnt have feelings #and if he does get me a shovel he wont for long (x) @commanders-sole-braincell

#Okay Terin... #but do you have any idea how much Tora was hurting? #check yoself (x) @callumthorn​

Right? Interesting that Terin doesn’t seem to acknowledge that Ascon was awful when they of all people saw directly what Tora was going through.

It’s almost as if admitting Tora’s home life was terrible would mean having to admit something else...

#oooop #terin is so close to admitting something #but i have this sneaking suspicion that something is gonna happen before they say it (x) @braham-is-bi

;3c

#gw2 #Guild Wars 2 #comic #fan comic #tora response #if you'd like to be removed from these please let me know

[griffinblogsgw2]

(Responses to Where Did You Go? page 22)

╰☆☆ Don't know what this is? It's a GW2 comic! Check out Tora Steals Things here! ☆☆╮

#oh my goodness #you can't just make fun of sapling's fashion choices like that #or can you (x) @woozyintyria

#tora you springy bastard #leave the babies and their developing fashion sense alone (x) @ascalonianpicnic

They’re either wearing ill-fitted second-hand human clothing because they’re saplings who haven’t grown their own yet, or they’re making a fashion statement - it’s a fair question if you ask me! hahaha

#NDIXKSND me too soheon.. #tora #fenix would react the Same Way if tora told her that #and itd be really funny because she and tora have the same hairstyle sKSN (x) @phnx-rosemary

omg, ngl, having the same haircut is like a guaranteed way to have Tora comment on it. Just like.... be prepared for him to joke about it (”HEY GOOD LOOKIN”) till the end of time or until they get a different haircut.

And fully expect him to act as if someone DIED if the latter happens.

#ok i know its literally all i say but #TORA HOT #also oh my gossssh #i love terin and toras dynamic here #the dialogue is so#catching? #idk!!! its charming and im invested! #tora is so delightfully sassy! (x) @chyoatas

This honestly means so much to me to hear - thank you! ;u; Terin and Tora’s dynamic was straight up lifted from a different project of mine where Terin is a cop whose sole job is to arrest Tora (it’s like a Phantom Thief genre thing if you know what that is). So for me, hearing that their dynamic works is just... really uplifting? It means they work like I want them to, and when I finally have the time to make that other project I just, feel way more reassured that it’ll work.

Seriously, thank you

#😭 #but honestly.... welcome back shenanigans tora... missed ya (x) @aameyalli

Right? Me too.

#alskdfjkldf #tora off the shits #please saplings don't look up to him #it's what he wants (x) @braham-is-bi

Oh my, are you sure about that?

#gw2 #Guild Wars 2 #guildwars2 #tora response #comic #if you'd like to be removed from these please let me know

[griffinblogsgw2]

(Responses to Where Did You Go? page 20)

I’m late on comic responses again - HERE WE GOOOOOO

#Now its Toras turn to BE ANGERU #Also myos face in the last panel #perf (x) @callumthorn​

#Good job Miz #it's been quite awhile since I last saw a Angery Tora >:0 (x) @thetyrianthree

Right? It’s just been sad Toras for awhile now.

#asdflkjfddlkfSJDFLKD #something about the panel where Tora says 'I fake my own death' gives me strong disney voice energy #and it's so funny #meanwhile Terin is just waiting for Tora to finish talking #love the sapling faces #Myoisia is learning something from Tora rn #not sure that's a good thing (x) @braham-is-bi​

Wh-What is “Disney voice energy”? ....Are we expecting him to break out into a villain song or something? Cause I mean, he totally would.

#i want #the tea. where is it what happened here #also wb tora i adore ur design (x) @phnx-rosemary​

Thank you! He’s my fav to draw. Also sorry in advance for scaring you in yer notifications again probably. As for the tea, uh, hm. For the most part that’s been spilled already? Might be a good time to reread The Warden and The Thief and the current episode. Or at the very least the flashbacks from that episode and this one.

Unless we’re just talking about why Tora is so incredibly angry in general? Cause ya, we don’t quite have that info yet. Could probably make a pretty good educated guess at this point though.

#we got the glaredown of the century #oh goodness covering her ears (x) @woozyintyria​

#hfgshdfgs the saplings #but it's FINALLY HAPPENING (x) @rabicano​

#tora's got a lot of pent up anger to let out right now it looks like #love the saplings' faces at the bottom tho thats so cute (x) @ascalonianpicnic​

;3c

#ooooooooh dear #oh gosh #oh golly #im nervous #pls keep all of the cabbages safe (x) @nocte-argentea​

......

#gw2 #Guild Wars 2 #fan comic #tora response #if you'd like to be removed from these comment responses please let me know

[griffinblogsgw2]

(Responses to Where Did You Go? page 21)

#✨👀✨ #Tora bringing the ultimate sass #Tora the Sass Master #he is not impressed by you Terin (x) @callumthorn​

I love that you sorta pretend you didn’t already read this entire scene because you literally colored it - bless you haha

And yes, Tora is the sassiest thing

#im either going to be Enthralled or Crying #I Am Not Ready For Either #gw2 #sylvari #tora #he gets his own tag now.. (x) @phnx-rosemary​

He gets his own tag? hahaha I assure you, he’s honored.

#:0c #terin that's not what the kids mean when they say 'lemme smash' (x) @denimwingsface​

Right? They’re not even using the right greatsword...

-gets shot-

#well im weak(er) for tora now thanks #you wanna dance is a personal fav line of mine #the next bit is either gonna be really heartfelt or a badass battle #or both #and im here for it 👀 (x) @nocte-argentea​

hahaha! oh man, ya mind me talkin about that line for a bit?

I’ve always known that to be a line Tora would use for like years now. Pretty early in Tora’s development I decided “flirting” would be something of a key point of his character. It’s meant to be ironic - Tora can only flirt when he’s not actually interested. He’s demisexual and usually just flirting for fun or as a social defence mechanism. In fact, the original script for that Aftermath comic where Tora tells Myo his shitty love life? He was originally supposed to be more explicit about it being a result of him accidentally flirting with dangerous people when he didn’t mean shit by it (this is still hinted at in the comic as it is now. He warns Myo “don’ wink at ettins”).

Anyway, one of the odder ways this flirting trait manifests is in his anger. When Tora is at his absolute most furious, he has a tendency to say things that could easily be heard as a threat or him flirting. Combine this with how he tends to flit in and out of that “poker face” he’s got when he’s THAT angry, and you got a hot mess giving crazy mixed signals even if that’s not his intention. Like he absolutely IS threatening Terin here, he’s just not really paying attention to how those words sound out of context.

That’s literally what’s been happening in this scene - why Tora seems oddly hot here, and why he’s saying lines like “you wanna dance with me?” and “big boy.”

Anyway, rant over - I just love talkin character design. I hope that’s cool.

#gw2 #Guild Wars 2 #fan comic #tora response #if you'd like to be removed from these comment responses please let me know

[griffinblogsgw2]

(Responses to Where Did You Go? page 24)

╰☆☆ Don't know what this is? It's a GW2 comic! Check out Tora Steals Things here! ☆☆╮

#mam come pick me up Im scared #Terin's not getting that babysittin tip (x) @commanders-sole-braincell

Right? Come on Terin, step up your game. This is why Becky keeps gettin’ all the good sittin’ gigs.

#Well papa Terin this did not work out well huh? #Get the children and run#You can't jsut stop at that sentence!! #What Tora wanna say? #I must know! (x) @likemesomesalads​

#...what is he saying to the smol #i love tora but slight distrust ngl (x) @nocte-argentea​

The best part about me being late with comment responses is I can’t be all OHHH WHO KNOWS WHAT HE SAYS I’M JUST THE AUTHOR OHOHOHO

cause you already know now. whelp.

#tora get yo creepy vibes away from baby (x) @just-eyris-reblogs​

Ngl, one of my fav parts of Tora’s design is that he just like, looks naturally shady even though he’s basically a teddy bear.

I screwed him over a lil like that: he’s all angles and crooked smiles, and you can bet yer ass he wishes he was softer lookin’.

#AGH a tantalizing resolution dangled in front of us and then so cruelly snatched away... #also tora don't scare the saplings! (x) @rabicano​

I love that we’re more inclined to think Tora is the thing scaring Miz here and not the murderous frogs that NO ONE LISTENED TO HER ABOUT - WHY DOES NO ONE LISTEN TO MIZAEL AAAAAAAAA

(also yes, I am terrible)

#oh shit the frogs are awake #I guess none of them #croaked (x) @woozyintyria​

Bless you for this beautiful pun, god damn look it at!

Gorgeous -chef kiss-

#gw2 #Guild Wars 2 #fan comic #tora response #if you'd like to be removed from these comment responses please let me know

[griffinblogsgw2]

(Responses to Where Did You Go? page 19)

#HOOOOOOOOOOO boy #the next page is gonna be a doozie #@ the saplings: y'all ready to see a lot of unresolved feelings #cause it's gonna happen regardless (x) @fallenqueero​

-sweats loudly-

#AH ITS THE PRETTY PAGE #the super pretty page #go back in time to hug tiny tora #pls #sob #also shits gonna go down (x) @theauseer​

-sweats louder-

#SWOOON!! #😱😍😍😍😍 #Tora the hot disaster #best boy (x) @callumthorn​

I can’t even deny this - he IS a hot disaster

#👀 #this is about to get *good* #i mean better #because its already phenomenal #ngl im kinda weak for that expression #tora’s that is (x) @nocte-argentea​

tysm! And yer defs not alone haha

I pretty much get comments every time Tora is being... er, himself.

#HI...Your child is illegally hot in that last panel #oh boi oh boi #that won't end well will it? (x) @likemesomesalads​

Pfft I’mma be real with y’all - Tora is the hottest character in this comic. And I say this knowing Terin is wearing basically nothing and Wester wears a god damn boob harness

It’s all in his attitude, idk what to tell you ;)

and well... we’ll see how this ends, eh?

#WE'RE HERE #TORA BBY #or terin bby rather #goshhh #please don't immediately drop a smokebomb and run tora #or shoot people #let people care about you!! even though you have solid reasons not to #my heart needs it #but emotions aside #i really love how this panel is set up #with the ribbons from the previous pages especially #vv good buildup (x) @celticrune​

Ty! I’m quite proud of this sequence of pages! They were a lot of work!

And if it’s any consolation, he definitely lets at least two of the characters here care about him in the future

not even a spoiler haha

#gw2 #Guild Wars 2 #fan comic #tora response #if you'd like to be removed from these comment responses please let me know

[griffinblogsgw2]

(Responses to Where Did You Go? page 18)

#this gives me bad feels :o (x) @likemesomesalads​

#obligatory ASCON GONNA CATCH THESE HANDS tag #Poor Tora #bb boy #its hard to do art when youre too tired and have no motivation (x) @callumthorn​

#h when hes asked abt his sculptures and just gets Depressed #i felt that #i rlly felt that how do i. hug tora #✨✨✨ (x) @phnx-rosemary​

#*slams hand on desk* #JUST SEEING HIS EXPRESSION...... god Tora so much has happened to you (x) @thetyrianthree

;u;

#BABY #WHISK HIM AWAY TO HAPPINESS PLS #waaahhh (x) @theauseer​

if it’s any consolation, he’s much happier later. thas not even a spoiler, you’ve read it

#;w; #god the last three panels rip the heart out of me #i love the build up in these pages (x) @sylvari-bouquet​

ty! I’m quite proud of the flashback montage pages!

#oh no;; #someone get that boy a different mentor (x) @woozyintyria​

and a new mender.

just like, give him new everything? just start over.

#;-; #tora is so good how dare people be mean (x) @nocte-argentea​

right? up yer game people

#gw2 #Guild Wars 2 #fan comic #tora response #if you'd like to be removed from these comment responses please let me know

[griffinblogsgw2]

(Responses to Where Did You Go? page 12)

#holy shit two lil lite dots #oh he pissed (x) @galaxypuddle​

#TERIN IS HERE #TO SAVE THEIR BABIES #\o/ #MAD DAD #MAD DAD!!!! (x) @callumthorn​

#the GASP i made seeing Terin's face (x) @thetyrianthree

#mad dad to the rescue #you're all grounded (x) @voidthoughts7951

#angry dad to the rescue #i'm very thankful that the saplings are safe. at least for now #that death glare in the last panel is so good (x) @sylvari-bouquet​

#YER IN TROUBLE NOW KIDDOS (x) @rabicano​

#oooh #oh no #terin looks angy #im actually intimidated (x) @nocte-argentea​

#gw2 #Guild Wars 2 #fan comic #tora response #if you'd like to be removed from these comment posts please let me know