#might as well find beauty in death not just tragedy

[bermudarhombus2]

GOD I know this is literally the entire point of the show but there's just something about hadestown being based on a several thousand year-old story about the inevitability of human grief. You know exactly what is going to happen, you know it's not going to end well, Hermes even spells it out in the opening of the show. "It's an old song, it's a sad song, but we're gonna sing it anyways". Humans have been suffering for the entire time that we've existed and yet the only thing that we as a species are capable of doing about it is singing, making music and joy in spite of the tragedy, and hoping that maybe next time it will end up better. "To know how it ends and still begin to sing it again, as if it might turn out this time".

Death is inevitable. We all face the same fate. One by one our loved ones will die until we ourselves die and yet we as a species make music and find joy and love and hope. And the entire musical ends with a reorchestration of the opening in a major key, a happy ending in spite of the tragedy.

The most moving experience I've ever had in a museum was standing in an archaeology museum in Madrid, staring at the 2000 year-old grave of a 6 year-old daughter who's parents loved her enough to make a stone monument to her memory, engrave it with her name and their grief in a beautiful epitaph, only for humans to stare at that epitaph preserved as a monument for their love for their daughter.

Humans have not changed at all. People thousands of years ago loved and cried and died and lived just the same as we did now, and I find comfort in the fact that every pain I've ever felt has been felt millions if not billions of times before by people before me, who's names I may never know, but who I feel connected to, and frankly, love none the less.

#hadestown #hadestown broadway

[ancientcraftnoccultism]

🌿 Herb Of The Day

Title: Lilac

Gender: Feminine

Element: Water

Planet: Venus

📜 Folklore & History 📜

Lilacs are an old, old, species that originated in Persia and then traveled to Europe. They were brought to America in 1750 and then planted at New Jersey Governor Wentworth’s home. Other prominent men fell in love with lilacs. They were reportedly one of Thomas Jefferson’s favorite flowers, and he documented his lilac-planting-methods in 1767. George Washington followed suit and moved existing lilacs on his property to his garden in 1785.

In Greek mythology, Pan, the god of the wild, chased a nymph named Syringa. She turned herself into a lilac bush to escape Pan, and in anger, he broke off the reed-like branches which made pipes. With regret, he tried kissing the broken branches, and as his air pushed over them, sounds were made. Lilacs were responsible for the creation of “Panpipes.”

Russian folklore believed that hanging lilacs above a baby’s bed would bring the child wisdom.

American folklore thought that lilacs could drive away evil and that placing them in a haunted house would displace ghosts. Thought to be symbolic of “old love,” Victorian widows often wore lilacs as a sign of remembrance. One hundred and fifty-five years ago today, April 15th, Abraham Lincoln died after being shot by John Wilkes Booth. Any American — and much of the world — knows the story of the self-educated, country lawyer who became one of our nation’s most beloved presidents. But what many Americans might not realize is how the death of Lincoln reverberated into so many areas of our collective psyche, including literature and horticulture, thanks to Walt Whitman. Walt Whitman was a reporter, printer, writer, traveler and Civil War nurse who is considered one of America’s greatest poets. He self-published Leaves of Grass and worked on it throughout his lifetime, eventually modifying it so that there are eight different editions. Whitman felt a great affinity with President Abraham Lincoln, and when Lincoln was assassinated in the spring of 1865, Whitman grieved.

He wrote years later in Specimen Days about learning of the President’s death:

"I remember where I was stopping at the time, the season being advanced, there were many lilacs in full bloom. By one of those caprices that enter and give tinge to events without being at all a part of them, I find myself always reminded of great tragedy of that day by the sight and odor of these blossoms. It never fails."

While lilacs are first to bloom, their flowers are short-lived. The heady fragrance lingers sweetly at first, but then the blooms start to die, leaving a heavy, cloying smell. One of the first flowers of spring, lilacs contain a natural compound called indole that’s found in flowers — and feces. It’s that undercurrent of the “bottom note” of fragrance that suggests decay and death.

🔮 Metaphysical Properties 🔮

The beautiful May-blooming lilac is one of the loveliest tokens of spring. But they are much more than beautiful shrubs with showy, sweet-smelling flowers. Originally lilacs were planted to repel all evil. Planted near the entryway, lilacs were believed to send out protective vibrations. When the flowers are cut and brought into the home they cleanse any living space. And they'll also remove any unwanted spiritual presence. Blue and white varieties work well for this purpose. Since lilacs are ruled by Venus, they are also used in love spells. Try placing some pink lilacs on your altar while performing a love spell. The dried flowers make a powerful addition to any love sachet.

🍴⚕️ Culinary & Medicinal Properties

The simplest way to enjoy lilacs is as an infusion of the flowers for a lilac sugar. The sugar can then be used in recipes to add lilac flavor to baked goods. This also works with a lilac simple syrup which is just a liquid form of the same thing that’s perfect for making cocktails. For my money though, I think lilac infused honey sounds the best. The sweet floral flavor of lilacs translates beautifully into an ice cream base.

To prevent the recurrence of disease, lilac flowers were used to help strengthen the system and prevent relapse after a patient had healed. They’re said to be specifically good after cases of malaria. Tasting the raw flowers you can actually pick up some of the astringent qualities, as they make your mouth dry and pucker a bit (along with their floral flavors). This astringent quality makes them good for use in skin care products. Lilacs are used as a folk remedy for intestinal worms, as well as a treatment for gastric discomfort and gas. Regardless of the purpose, the most likely medicinal lilac preparation is a tincture, which is just a lilac infused alcohol

#elder witch #baby witch #beginner witch #dark witchcraft #herbalism #herbology #herbs #whimsigoth #witch aesthetic #witch herbs #divination #spirituality #spiritual #witchblr #witchcore #witchcraft #witch tip

[kusagrasskusa]

I saw @yns-world do this so I kind of wanted to steal their thing XD But it’s really entertaining! So here’s my version of…

MK Villains meeting/hearing about their (and your) child

Erron Black, Shang Tsung, Baraka, Kano, Quan Chi, Shao Kahn edition!

Part 2!

Tell me whoever else you may want! I want to do a heros one after this, so tell me who you want!

Edit: I’m not even kidding, I was looking for some Erron X Readers, saw this, read this, said “ohh I like that one” and “ew that’s cringy” without knowing this is fucking mine XDXD I looked back at this and just gasped because I fr didn’t think I wrote this

Erron Black

Erron: Ye look a lot like me. Ya one of them alternate universe me’s?

Son: No, but I’m here to kill you unlike what other me’s could do

Erron: Well if I die, tell other me’s to kill Y/N after pulling out

—

Erron: You got my eyes and your mother’s bad attitude

Daughter: And her hatred for you

Erron: Nah, our bloodline is filled with hate

—

Son: I wonder what she saw in you when you first met

Erron: Beats me, I wondered what she saw in the first hundred guys she fucked

Son: I’m gonna make you take that back!

—

Erron: If only I raised you instead, you wouldn’t be this big o’ a pussy

Son: My mother raised me better without you in my life

Erron: Yeah, never mind. You and yer mom are too ignorant to hang around

—

You: Your daughter is a horse girl, y’know. Ya should go show her ‘round here on one

Erron: I’m too busy for that demon girl

You: Of course you are. And she’s a demon because of you

—

Kotal Kahn: You have a child who asked for you

Erron: I don’t have a kid

Kotal Kahn: Well I shall introduce you two after this then

Shang Tsung

Shang Tsung: I have been awaiting this day, my child

Daughter: Why? To destroy every woman’s life who meets you?

Shang Tsung: No, but I wonder what might a limp, pitiful creature such as yourself do when their whore of a mother is killed

Daughter: You are beyond fucked up.

—

Son: I remember the last time I saw you

Shang Tsung: It was quite the tragedy, indeed

Son: You couldn’t fucking stop laughing at me suffer through my mother’s death

—

Daughter: Whenever she died, did you care, father?

Shang Tsung: Why of course, I feared how her death would affect my precious child

Daughter: You feared so much you threw your precious child into the claws of death

Shang Tsung: At least the Kahn didn’t kill you instead.

—

Shang Tsung: When I was your age, it was customary for sons to protect and serve their parents

Son: I protect and serve my mother. You are a mere parasite to me

Shang Tsung: Oh, the parasite within you will enjoy tearing you apart

—

Shang Tsung: Does [child] know we are meeting?

You: She is sound asleep, and I promised she will awaken with her father home

Shang Tsung: She will awaken to her mother in pain so she never wants to see me again

You: All she wants is 5 minutes, Shang!

—

Raiden: You look just like your mother

Daughter: But I’m stronger than she’ll ever be

Raider: And you are as blind as your father

—

Lui Kano:

Baraka

Son: It’s funny that people try to kill me for being your child rather than for being tarkatan

Baraka: How’s that funny?

Son: They’re killing your people to get to you, father. You’re why your people are disappearing.

—

Baraka: Female tarkatan gather, not fight

Daughter: Come on father! One round! You know I’m better than my brothers, anyways

Baraka: This is why you’ll be the man in the family once I’m gone

—

Baraka: My favorite fighter

Son: [daughter] said she fights better!

Baraka: Let us find out then

—

Daughter: I remember the tribe before mother died

Baraka: You will never honor or lay eyes on it again, traitor!

Daughter: I put good deeds over personal victory, father

—

Mileena: You’re beautiful, for being Baraka’s

Daughter: You’re ugly, for being Sindel’s

Mileena: Hehe, I’ll bite that tongue if you don’t, savage!

Kano (he’s so fucking hot)

Kano: Before anything else, ya motha’ came onto me first

Son: I- did not ask

Kano: Well, she asked- she asked for more every night

��

Daughter: My mom is obsessed with you, still

Kano: And lemme tell you, she was crazy over me back then too. A freak, really

Daughter: Are we both talking about [Y/N]?

Kano: Oh yeah, she never told you? She loved me

—

You: Still as fine as the day we met

Kano: You must be thinking of the wrong Kano, but I’d love to show you what the young me can do

You: Yeah, like give me a kid to raise on my own

—

Sonya: I thought I killed younger you already!

Kano: Hah, I always knew me boy would be useful one day

Sonya: Oh, shit- It was your son?

—

Kano: Y/N?

Daughter: Mother died a few years back

Kano: And you look as beautiful as she did

—

Kano: There’s no way. I pulled out!

Son: You pull-out game sucked then

Kano: Like father, like son then, ay?

—

Daughter: Mom said you promised to take me out today!

Kano: Daddy.. was probably drink’n’ ay

Daughter: If I have to drag you all the way out there, I will!

Quan Chi

Quan Chi: I sense demon within you. You aren’t from Earthrealm

Daughter: I’m the perfect mix of holiness and unholiness

Quan Chi: Then you are a worthless mutt

—

You: Shinnok won’t take us fighting lightly. We’re supposed to unify and serve

Quan Chi: I shall not let him take [child] from us

You: You are a traitor

—

Raiden: You betray your realm for what?

You: I am sorry, but my child’s safety is worth more than Earthrealm’s would ever be

Raiden: So you aid the destruction of the safest realm?

—

Quan Chi: My son

Son: Do not call me that, demon

Quan Chi: Your demon workings are put to sleep within you, allow me to show you what you really are inside

—

Daughter: There was a time when mother thought you loved her

Quan Chi: A demon cannot feel love, my child

Daughter: You loved her enough to have me, yes?

Shao Kahn

You: Wait until your queen finds out

Shao Kahn: Finds out what?

You: I am pregnant, emperor. And I am keeping it

—

Sindel: I’ll kill that disgusting monster of a child!

You: Do you speak to their sister that way?

Sindel: Kitana is more royal than your child will ever be

—

Daughter: You know, I was only doing what was good for the kingdom

Kitana: No, you were doing what father would want you to do

Daughter: It is better he likes me than throw me out like he did you

—

Shao Kahn: My little princess

Daughter: Mileena said you were planning of disposing me, father

Shao Kahn: Why ever would I do that?

—

Mileena: I told you not to touch my things, sis

Daughter: I told you not to touch me!

Mileena: Hehe, royal blood just tastes too good to leave alone

—

Shao Kahn: To be emperor, you must be able to defeat me first

Son: I will do you proud, father

Shao Kahn: Not until Kitana is dead, will you make me proud

#mk x reader #mk10 #reader insert #mk erron black #mk shang tsung #mk baraka #mkxl #mk 9 #mk11 #mkx #mk fandom #mk kano #MK Shao Kahn #MK Quan chi #erron black x reader #mk mortal kombat #mkx mortal kombat x #mortal kombat #mortal kombat xl #mortal kombat x reader #mortal kombat x #mortal kombat 11 #mortal kombat villians #shang tsung #erron black #shang tsung x reader #baraka x reader #kano #Kano x reader #quan chi x reader

[bi-widower-dads]

bi-widower-dads' February Fic Rec: AUs

Thank you to everyone who submitted recs for us! We've done some sorting and collating, and we've got two posts for you: AUs and Canon-'verse - and a whole load of excellent fic for you to get stuck into while we wait for Barduil Month in April! So without further ado, here are the AUs for you, with a little bit about why our recommenders love them...

Header image by mod @piyo-13!

(a note about tags and trigger warnings: tags are selected from those on AO3 as being those that best describe the story for the purposes of this event; trigger warnings are supplied by the recommenders and may not be comprehensive - your mileage may vary. We've tried our best to include Tumblr handles wherever we can, but if we've missed yours out and you want it included, just let us know!)

One-shots

In the Wake of the Second Horseman by EldritchMage / @eldritchmage | M | 2272 words | tags: angst with a happy ending, implied/referenced drug use, post-traumatic stress disorder - PTSD, implied warfare/violence | trigger warnings: mention of drug use, mention of violence in a war zone, PTSD, nightmares

Summary: When addiction threatens to consume Thran, his lover Bard is desperate to help - but Thran isn't. Yet in ending his relationship with Bard, Thran savages both of them, not just himself. Four years later, Thran's about to discover what remains from his cruelty. What he finds is a surprise - and humbling. What do you love about this fic? Even when things fall apart, redemption is possible if you give it half a chance. Out of tragedy comes hope and a chance for a better life.

love remains by likethenight / @nocompromise-noregrets | G | 11,093 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, grief/mourning, Thranduil never sailed west, mythical beings & creatures, folklore, alternate universe - reincarnation | trigger warnings: none

Summary: There is a legend in Dale, that somewhere deep in the forest that borders the city lives the forest king, an ancient being with a special care for archers, and for all things that grow. Bard, camping in the woods after his finals, finds a place that isn't on any maps and begins to dream of something - someone - familiar; and years later, after the heaviest loss he has ever had to bear, he goes back out there again, hoping to find something that might help him recover. What do you love about this fic? Absolutely beautiful fic, such a touching story and excellent writing!

Petrichor by b_ofdale_archive / @beesinspades | G | 14,598 words | tags: alternate universe - reincarnation, alternate universe - modern setting, alternate universe - bookstore, books and cats | trigger warnings: slight mention of past life character death

Summary: It's been six thousand years since Thranduil last laid eyes on his husband - Bard. The world has changed and the great Elvenking with it, lingering in the shadows of Men; as hope for a miracle festers within his heart that grows weaker with every passing day, the only thing keeping him going is a promise he made, many moons ago. What do you love about this fic? I love its overall theme, and the thought that Thranduil will meet Bard again. A lovely and poetically written reincarnation AU, well worth the read!

Multi-chapters: in progress

Love in a time of change by myeaglesong / @myeaglesong | M | 22,840 words | tags: eventual relationships, eventual romance, elf/human relationships, fluff, romance, slow burn, alternate universe - regency, oblivious Bard | trigger warnings: none

Summary: For the longest time, Thranduil has wanted to find a good match for his son, Legolas, to marry. His search leads him to consider Arwen for Legolas to marry, but what if Legolas has already got his eye set on another match that Thranduil may not approve of? What will will happen when Legolas finds out about his father's intentions to marry him off? What would happen when the question of if Thranduil were to marry again was to come up, who could he marry? What do you love about this fic? I am not usually one for Regency AUs but this one is so adorable, and between the kids and the dads there is plenty of potential for shenanigans and some tentative romance! I'm really looking forward to seeing how events unfold…

The Moth Effect by BiSquared / @scary-grace and Dogblessya / @dogblessyoutascha | M | 35,658 words | tags: mothman is real, mothman Thranduil, mothbaby Legolas, park ranger Bard, non-graphic violence, but there is still gore so you've been warned, twilight references | trigger warnings: mothman lore, gore

Summary: (in chaos theory) the phenomenon whereby a mothman moving into your place of employment can have a large effect on the rest of your life. What do you love about this fic? I love the Supernatural/Horror element to it and Park Ranger Bard trying to make sense of all the really weird s**t that's happening around him. Lovely bits have to be the introduction of Mothman Thranduil and adorable Mothbaby Legolas. But best of all is that Mothman Thranduil isn't the weirdest thing happening in Olympic National Park 👀….

Vena Amoris by Patch / @patchoffeathers and Piyo13 / @piyo-13 | M | 72,843 words | tags: crossover with Dracula Untold, alternate universe - vampires, Bard is Dracula, canon-typical violence, slow build, alternate universe - some people live/not everybody dies | trigger warnings: none

Summary: Bard has a secret, one that stems from far to the east, in lands far forgotten and times long past. It's one that no one must know—but times are changing for the people living on the lake. Even for those who, technically, aren't alive. What do you love about this fic? The author does such a great job at merging Luke Evans' two characters here (Bard and Dracula) while still keeping Bard distinctly canon-shaped. Because Dracula!Bard is an immortal, there's a unique comparison of mythological immortalities and the relative costs of them that reflects back onto the plot.

show a little faith, there's magic in the night by BiSquared / @scary-grace | M | 342,922 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, slow burn, music industry AU, indie musician Bard, opera singer turned pop star Thranduil | trigger warnings: none

Summary: Bard Bowman's not the type to give up on his dreams easily, but when DJ Smaug's dirty tricks leave his family band stranded in Denver with a forfeit fee the size of Mt. Everest crashing down on their heads, there's really nothing to do but drink about it. The last thing Bard expects is to meet a beautiful stranger in a similar predicament -- and the last thing either of them expects is a rescue. Luckily for them, Thorin Oakenshield's feeling heroic this evening. What do you love about this fic? I am such a sucker for the rock scene (I've spent my entire adult life kicking about there) and it's not often I see it portrayed so realistically in fic (or indeed in original fiction). The characters are all beautifully drawn, the humour frequently makes me chuckle, and Bard going head over heels while trying to tell himself he isn't, it's not happening, not really, because he can't believe his luck, makes my heart go all funny.

Multi-chapters: complete

Followthrough by ofplanet_earth / @ofplanet-earth | M | 26,737 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, alternate universe - military, alternate universe - spies & secret agents, snipers, sniper Bard, military captain Thorin, mob boss Smaug, revenge, character death | trigger warnings: violence

Summary: Bard and his children have been living in a little cabin on the edge of Laketown for five years, hiding from Bard's dangerous past. But when that past comes back to haunt them, Bard will have to team up with Thorin and his company to face down his demons, confront the man who killed his wife, and fight to save the people he loves. What do you love about this fic? Great spies/military AU with Bard and the gang!

The grey sea and the long black land by Black_knight100 and Blueberryrock / @blueberryrock | T | 29,702 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, alternate universe - cruise ship, first kiss, angst, fluff, angst with a happy ending, eventual romance | trigger warnings: quite angst filled but has an eventual happy ending

Summary: Bard Bowman is thirty-seven years old, widowed and heckled, and he's had enough. If his children want a cruise trip with their lottery money, then so they will have. Bard will only have to work twice as hard to take them out of their little corner of the world. It has been three years. Three years of him raging, and sobbing, and grieving. Three years in which he has turned away from his children. Three years to reach this ship, to put together whatever snapped that day. And the first morning, Thranduil wakes up late. It is going fabulously. Or, in which the two meet on a ship, and there are ups and downs. What do you love about this fic? Thranduil and Bard getting together in the end

Modern Love by Shampain / @abner-krill | M | 65,267 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, alternate universe - coffee shops and cafés, alternate universe - human | trigger warnings: none

Summary: Bard is a down on his luck single father working a thankless job as a courier, eternally worrying over when his daughter is going to start sneaking out of the house with boys. As if that wasn't bad enough, his assignments delivering files to Greenleaf Acquisitions puts him in contact with Thranduil, a stern businessman whose only champion is his assistant, Tauriel. And finally, to make matters worse, his friendship with Bilbo Baggins sends everything else into a tailspin. The summer is just beginning, and it's going to be a weird one. What do you love about this fic? Lovely, lighthearted modern AU that is a delight to read!

hands; eyes; voice by bishkebab / @bishkebab | T | 70,163 words | tags: slow burn, alternate universe, accidental cottagecore, governess/single dad romance but make it gay, autistic Thranduil, Thranduil and Bard both have physical disabilities | trigger warnings: mention of autism, fire accident, PTSD

Summary: An isolated life in a too-small cottage was never what Bard dreamed of for his children – especially sharp, scholarly Tauriel and sensitive, insightful Tilda. But school is a distant dream for a large family living off the land – at least until a storm and the subsequent house fire bring a former scholar to their doorstep. Wealthy recluse Thranduil could never have anticipated leaving his family's manor for a shack in the woods and a single father with five – FIVE – children who can barely write ten words between them. But when disaster strikes, he is left with little choice – and maybe close quarters with a handsome widower won't be so bad after all... What do you love about this fic? This is a rare work of art in which Bard is the loveliest dad ever, stubborn, strong and gentle and Thranduil is an introverted autistic lonely lad. The author writes their story in a very poetical way and family is the main protagonist of the story, as is their small cosy cottage. I do love the gentle feeling this story conveys from the start. It feels like a warm cup of tea after a very rainy day and each word is carefully written. This story deserves to be read and reread and rereread. Slowly. (With a nice cup of tea. <;3)

Those Colours We Share by b_ofdale / @beesinspades | M | 84,709 words | tags: alternate universe - soulmates, alternate universe - post-war, set in 1956, Bard owns an animal shelter, slow burn, fluff and angst, disabled character, asexual characters, period-typical homophobia | trigger warnings: none

Summary: Had anyone told them, Thranduil Oropherion and Bard Bowman would never have believed they would see the world painted in colours again. Until that fateful day of December 1956, when one little boy entered a former soldier's animal shelter. What do you love about this fic? I'm a sucker for two lonely people who find each other and forge a new life together.

Beast by Nuredhel / @nuredhel | M | 132,354 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, all humans, Bard is a cop, Thranduil is a profiler, mentions of suicide, slow burn, crime and investigation, bonding while working, romance, past problems | trigger warnings: gore, violence, abuse, human trafficing, child abuse, murder, suicide

Summary: Bard Bowman is the leader of a team of investigators trying to solve a very complicated case, when the serial killer they are chasing proves to have a far longer history than they expected the feds call in a profiler. Bard has never believed he could feel attraction again but now he does, how can he express what he feels when they are chasing a beast which seems to defy the very laws of nature? Can Thran feel the same way? The road to love can be bumpy, in special when it is surrounded by murders. What do you love about this fic? It is very exciting, very romantic and intense.

seeking a friend for the end of the world by BiSquared / @scary-grace | M | 238,799 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, apocalypse, road trips, family issues and family bonding, opera singer Thranduil, Bard and Thranduil are good parents who are having a bad year, or years | trigger warnings: disease-apocalyptic setting, zombies, major character death, medical injections

Summary: Between dealing with his boss, getting over his ex-wife, and keeping his kids fed and clothed, Bard has more than enough on his plate. He doesn't have time to worry about the frightening rumors coming out of New York City or the lunatic in his service bay who tells him to take his kids and run. But when he stops to help a mysterious stranger on the side of the road, he gets a lot more than he bargained for -- a sexuality crisis, a partner in crime, and maybe, just maybe, a chance for all of them to make it out of this mess alive. What do you love about this fic? Incredible worldbuilding and an edge-of-your-seat plotline! The bonds between all the characters are just beautiful, and it has great worldbuilding. The action is also really well written, and it does tension/dramatics right.

In The Woods Somewhere by Ias / @hubristicfool | M | 249,074 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, vampires, vampire Thranduil, mechanic Bard, blood drinking, slow burn, dark, angst, violence, horror, psychological horror, unhealthy relationships | trigger warnings: vampires, blood, angst, sexual content, violence

Summary: These country roads were rarely traveled by any that didn't need to. When Thranduil pulled up beside the man's stopped vehicle and offered him a smile and a ride, there was no one to see the man's grateful expression as he slipped into Thranduil's car. No one to stand by and call out a warning as the taillights were swallowed by the dark branches of the trees. What do you love about this fic? The writing is excellent

Angels and crooks by Nuredhel / @nuredhel | M | 259,072 words | tags: sequel to Beast, alternate universe - modern setting, all humans, Bard is a cop, Thranduil is a profiler, solving crime, family, violence, drug abuse, everyday life at a police station | trigger warnings: violence, abuse, dark stuff, murder, blood, evil, deviousness

Summary: Bard and Thran are getting used to their new life as a married couple, and their new responsibilities as a family. But they still have their jobs and my oh my does that bring some interesting situations and challenges into their existence. Having both experience and special gifts does help, but at times reality can be more bizarre than anyone can expect. What do you love about this fic? It is a good story with very interesting twists and many great characters

When The Pale Swan Flies by EldritchMage / @eldritchmage | E | 290,646 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, circus performer Thranduil, cabinet maker Bard, Thranduil's name is Luka, Bard's name is Taliesin (which is Welsh for Bard), slow burn, Thranduil needs rescuing and Bard is happy to do it | trigger warnings: sexual abuse mentioned, underage sex mentioned, prostitution/pimping mentioned

Summary: A year ago, when a carpenter met a caged bird, his good intentions left despair in their wake. Is he a fool to hope he can atone for his missteps? What do you love about this fic? It's got circus acts! It's got two sad men learning to trust and love again! It's got an epic visit to a grocery store! It's got bad guys getting their just desserts, and everyone else getting delicious Spanish teacake! It's got a cute little boy who finds his voice while making puppets! There's a sad short-story prequel to set the stage, as well! And who doesn't like a parade?

Season of Light and Shadow by EldritchMage / @eldritchmage | E | 914,703 words | tags: alternate universe - modern setting, Thranduil is a ballet dancer, Bard is a building super and welder (and artist), slow burn, NSFW, blended family | trigger warnings: momentary violence, momentary mention of drug use, adult bedroom games

Summary: It's the week before Thanksgiving. In an apartment building somewhere in the middle of New York City, the mood is far from festive. Upstairs in Apartment 5B, an injured ballet dancer is having a rotten day. He's lost his job, he's had to walk home in the snow and rain, getting thoroughly soaked and frozen in the process, and the radiators in his rooms are as cold as the New York City streets. He limps downstairs to vent his fury on the night super who didn't fix the heat. Downstairs in Apartment 2A, the night super is also having a rotten day. No money, three overtired and cranky children, a slapdash boss, and not nearly enough sleep. And now someone is pounding on the door like a SWAT team. When an angel knocks on the door of a saint, neither finds what he expects. But with a little luck, the upcoming holiday season might give them both something to treasure. What do you love about this fic? It's two lonely men forging a blended family! It's got ballet! It's got home renovation! It's got four cutie children! It's got cooking! It's got an artist regaining the wherewithal to make his art! It's got lots of cool side characters (ten points to everyone who spots all the Dwarves :-). It's got lots of steamy love! It's even got 3 short follow-up stories! What's not to like?????? This was my introduction to the world of modern AUs with these two, and oh, it's SO GOOD. The kids are brilliant and so realistically drawn, and the dads are - well, they're incredibly hot. XD And the development of the relationship between them is beautifully done, as they go head-over-heels for each other while trying to take things slowly for the sake of the kids…oh, it's great. :D

#barduilmonth2024 #barduil month fic rec february #fic recs #the hobbit #the hobbit fanfiction #the hobbit fanfic #barduil #bard/thranduil #barduil fic recs #long post

[oskea93]

✦ It Had to be You: Two ✦

John “Bucky” Egan x OC Gale “Buck Cleven x OC

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and not associated with the real people mentioned from the show. This is simply based on the portrayals of the actors playing these characters. Warning for this chapter: Cursing, mention of death, suicidal ideations.

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“You need to eat something, Carolina – “ My mother’s voice straining. “You’re withering away to that of a corpse.”  

The thought of eating anything at this point, especially the pickled beetroot, was enough to make me want to vomit. I moved the spoon around in the liquid, playing with it as if I were still a child. You really don’t feel like eating after watching the love of your life be lowered into the hard, cold ground.

I leaned back in the chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m not hungry.” Mother darting her gaze in my direction. “Thank you anyway, Mother.”

I knew her patience with me was starting to wane, her emotions taking a direct hit as well. I didn’t want to do anything – eat, bathe, talk – I just wanted to be left alone and that was killing her to see. My father on the other hand just pushed everything to the side, whispering to mother that this too shall pass. He had fought in the Great War – seeing many of his fellow colleagues and friends shot down right in front of him. He knew the tolls of war and what they could do to someone’s psyche, especially the wives of the soldiers that never made it home. To him, this was a natural part of life. To my father, Gale was taken for a reason that we didn’t have any business knowing. It was his time to go and there was nothing that any of us could do about it.

She took a seat at the table across from me, pushing her greying hair from her face. The air was silent between us, neither her nor I making direct eye contact. She finally broke the ice, clearing her throat before speaking,

“Carolina –“She took a short pause as she gathered her words. “I won’t tell you that I know how you’re feeling right now because I’ve never had to deal with such tragedy, but I can’t stand seeing you act this way, darling.” Tears brimming her lined eyes. “You're love for Gale is something that I admire greatly and I know he was your everything if not more –“I narrow my eyes as she speaks. “But you can’t keep pushing yourself down this rabbit hole of self-neglect and mourning.”

I was appalled – dumbfounded that she would even say such a thing.

“He was you're first love – and while that is important – you are still young, and I don’t want to see your beauty go to waste.”

“I just buried my husband less than four hours ago and you’re telling me that I need to suck it up and go find another man?” My voice low. “Do you know how ridiculous you sound right now?”

She was taken back by my question – her eyes squinting at my argument. “I just want what’s best for you, Ca-“

“No-“ I cut her off. “I’m not gonna sit here and be lectured by someone who’s never been through what I’m going through at this moment.” My voice quivering with anger. “Gale was the love of my life – and I’m sorry if you’ve never felt that way towards Daddy, but there’s no man on this planet that could ever fill Gale’s shoes and there never will be.”

My chair scrapped against the hardwood floor as I jump up to leave. I could hear her calls as I marched back to the bedroom, slamming the door with all my might. The sobs that I had held back escaped as I slid to the floor – my knees curling into my chest as the tears streamed down my face.

I didn’t even cry when they lowered his casket into the ground.

The shock of that being the last image of Gale that I would ever see again sending my body into a hypnotic state. My mother’s words finally breaking the damn open – my anger allowing the floodgates to open…

“You see that soldier over there – “Her painted finger pointing in the man’s direction. “I bet you I can get him to ask me to dance during the next song.”

I rolled my eyes as I sipped on my coke, watching as Brenda and the other girls at the table laughed and flirted with the man in question. He was tall and dark headed – not really that handsome – but that was for her to worry about. Brenda Cogsworth was a girl that my mother forced me to be around. Her mother and my mother had grown up together, becoming friends while our fathers were fighting in the First World War. The Cogsworth family had money, but class was missed with their precious Brenda. She was wild as a stallion, kissing ever boy that looked in her direction. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up knocked up or infected by a disease that Penicillin couldn’t cure.

“Why aren’t you putting yourself out there, Carolina?”

Brenda smirked to her friends as she waited for my reply. It was obvious they were teasing - knowing that I hadn’t spoken to a single fella since I arrived. My mother had forced me to come to the dance – telling me that I needed to be cordial – silently demanding that I find a future husband. Initially, I was a very shy person, but I opened like a flower in the Spring once I got to know someone. By coming to dances such as these, I didn’t think I was up to par with the other ladies, such as Brenda and her gaggle of friends. They had bright blonde hair and smooth skin – I had dirty blonde hair and chastity pustules that would pop up during my flow. My mother always made sure I was well dressed but you must have a pretty face, not just a nice dress to get a soldier to notice you these days.

I kept quiet as I watched the man in question smile to his friends before sauntering towards our table. He removed his cap, tucking it under his arm, as he slicked back his already oiled hair. He introduced himself, taking Brenda’s hand in his, pressing a kiss against her skin. The table swooned as they watched the events they had just discussed unfold, quietly celebrating as the solider lifted Brenda was from the table and onto the dance floor. I guess you would call them good friends for being happy for her, but these girls were calculative. They would be happy for you to your front, but their bodies were raging with envy. They all wished they could be Brenda at that moment – dancing away with a soldier that you’d be lucky to see again once the war was over.

“Now he’s a looker.”

I followed the glances of the girls as they watched the man walk towards the bar. He was dressed in slacks and a collared shirt – his blonde hair positioned in a tousled fashion.

They were right – he was very attractive – too attractive to be from around here. I watched as he spoke with another male – his smile big and bright – as he laughed at their words. The girls continued to whisper about him, telling each other to make the first move before someone else decides too.

“If you ladies will excuse me.” I took one last sip before standing up, smoothing down my dress before turning towards the gentleman. I don’t know what had gotten into me – the fact that I was tired of being the butt of their jokes – or the gumption of just trying to find out if I could confront someone of the opposite sex. My mother always told me it was the man’s place to approach for the first time. Make him do the work as you sit back and bask in the attention.

Mother’s rule went flying out the window that night.

I let out a deep breath, my hand reaching out to tap his shoulder. His friends were the first to notice me, grinning at me as the man I had sought out slowly turned around. He was about a foot taller than me – his blue eyes connected with mine.

“Hello –“My cheeks blushing. “I’m Carolina Davies.”

His eyes trailed down my body – his friends snickering as they nursed their drinks. “Carolina?” His voice deep. “Like North Carolina?”

The tone of his voice having a hint of tease, “Yeah.” My confidence starting to slowly deflate as he looked at his friends, knocking into each other as they laughed.

“Not to be a drag or anything, Carolina-“He paused as he stood a little straighter. “But your looks aren’t doing it for me, sweetheart.” He spoke matter of fact. “Sorry if me looking over at the table you were sitting at made you think that I was interested in you –“Another pause. “But I was looking at the girl you were sitting next to – the pretty one.”

I could feel tears welling in my eyes as the shame and embarrassment draped over me. I had just made a complete fool of myself – knowing damn well that I should’ve just kept my butt in that chair.

I didn’t bother saying anything else to him – there was nothing to say to be honest. I just gave him a small smile before excusing myself. The girls I had been sitting with watching the interaction, hiding their smiles as I walked by.

My stride grew faster as I pushed past the dancing couples, needing the immediate feel of fresh air on my skin. I felt like an utter fool – a reject – ugly.

The cool autumn air provided me a sense of relief as my body pressed against the brick wall of the hall. I ignored the glances of those that were entering, wiping away the stale tear that would occasionally drop from my lashes.

“Carolina?”

My eyes darting over to the man standing to the right of me. “Carolina, right?” His smile growing as I looked at him confused.

I nodded, “Yeah?” My voice weary.

He took a step closer – his facial features coming to light as he stood under the singular bulb. His smile started to fall slightly as he ran a hand through his blonde hair. “Just wanted to make sure you were okay.” He shuffled his feet. “Saw what those guys did back there – should’ve never happened.”

Silence struck me – my brain trying to wrap around the words he was saying.

“I’m Gale Cleven.” A twinkle showing in his blue eyes.

“Carolina Davies.” My voice cracking.

His charming smile reappeared causing the theoretical butterflies to migrate around my stomach. He was very handsome – much more attractive than the guy at the bar. “Beautiful name for a gorgeous girl.”

I watched as the birds hopped around the yard – pulling the early worm from the soggy ground. The weather mimicked my mood – dark and grey – the sun disappearing the morning of Gale’s funeral. It had been over a week – a long week – full of sympathetic gestures and “I’m so sorry for your loss” sentiments. I had sent my parents away two days ago – no longer able to take their constant supervision – hiding sharp objects and medications so I wouldn’t harm myself in anyway.

I constantly thought about it though.

Just a flick of the blade one right way or a handful of the right pills – Gale and I would be reunited, and the worries of the world would dissipate. I could never get the gumption to do it. I was positive that Gale was looking down on me – just the way the wind would blow a certain way – or a red cardinal sitting on the fence that sat in front of the kitchen window. He wouldn’t want me to reach that level of despair. He would want me to go one and be happy, but it’s hard to do so when your heart is breaking into a million pieces. It’s hard to remain happy when lying in bed, reaching across to the spot where he once slept – the sheets cold – the empty void of waking up alone every morning.

The distant sound of a truck pulled me away from my thoughts – the familiar black Ford kicking up dust as it came closer. I let out a sigh, pulling Gale’s shirt tighter around my body, hiding the thin lace of my nightgown from John’s view.

“Morning, Carolina.” His gruff voice sounding as he removed himself from the driver’s side.

I stayed silent – rolling my eyes at the sight of him. I had gotten rid of everyone except him – John was like a piece of lint that just kept popping up – no matter how many times you swept – he still lingered long after.

My eyes glanced over as he walked to the back of the truck, pulling two suitcases from the bed. Worn leather and seeing better days, he placed them on the wooden steps. “Good to see you getting some fresh air.”

Pushing out of the rocker, I retreated into the house, the screen door slamming against the frame. Muttered words slipped past his lips; his boots heavy as he followed my direction. I had made myself a pot of coffee earlier, forgetting about it until reaching the kitchen. Pouring the dark liquid into my cup and the rest down the drain, not up to sharing with the likes of John Egan. I took a seat at the table – our eyes connecting over the coffee cup as he entered the room. Silence blanketed the room as he leaned against the counter, his gaze focused on the backyard.

“Why are you still coming around?”

His neck turning – our eyes meeting once again. “Pardon?”

Sitting up a little straighter, Gale’s shirt opening slightly as I moved. “I said –“My tone low. “Why are you still coming around? He’s dead and gone – your services around here are no longer warranted.”

“And what services might those be?” His jaw clenching.

A loud sigh blew through my nose, “Those of the mighty hero – the devoted friend – the courageous major who led his team out of the trenches. Only thing –“ I paused. “You weren’t brave enough to take the bullet yourself, letting your dear friend, Buck, take the lead instead. That’s a real heroic act if you ask me, Mr. Egan.”

The words dripped with venom – John’s eyes burning with utter rage as the room acquired a deafening silence. His diaphragm moving at a rapid rate as the anger coursed through his body – his fist balled together as he resisted the temptation to start swinging.

I struck a nerve – Gale’s death was the nail that was hammered into John’s figurative coffin on the daily. The thoughts of seeing his friend being shot down – only following his commands to go over the wall to a hopeful escape. Seeing Gale’s lifeless body lying on the snow-covered ground as blood seeped from the open wounds – John deserved to see that every time he closed his eyes.

“I never claimed to be a fucking hero, Lina.” His voice thick with emotion.

I rolled my eyes at the mention of the nickname he had given me. Crossing my arms in a defensive motion as he stepped close to where I sat.

His knees cracking as he crouched down, his blues level with mine.

“You think hiding behind this hateful wall is gonna make you feel better? Sayin hateful things to the people who are just trying to help you?”

My eyes narrowed.

“Get off your high horse, little girl. Your husband was my best friend – the only person that kept me going during those God-awful days at that fucking camp. You think you’re the only one hurting – honey, you don’t even know the half of it.”  

Our faces were centimeters away – his eyes searching mine for a reaction.

Kicking my leg out as I stood, I bumped purposely into his body as I retreated to the front entrance. His bags still sitting by the door – no reason at all why they should even be in the house to begin with.

Taking each case in my hands, kicking open the screen door, I haphazardly tossed them into the muddy yard – a smile forming as they landed with a splash in the dirty water.

The thunderous sound of his footsteps met my ears, his jaw slacked at the sight of his things lying in the yard.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I couldn’t help but laugh, watching as he raced down the steps, pulling the leather out of the puddle, water dripping as he held it away from himself.

It was the first time I had laughed since the news of Gale’s death – coming at the misery and expense of John Egan.

#john egan x oc #john bucky egan #john egan x reader #john egan #john egan smut #callum turner x oc #callum turner x reader #callum turner smut #callum turner imagine #callum turner #masters of the air imagine #masters of the air fanfiction #masters of the air #mota fanfic #mota #austin butler major gale buck cleven #austin butler fanfiction #austin butler smut #austin butler imagine #austin butler #gale cleven x oc #gale cleven #bucky egan smut #bucky egan x reader #callum turner major john bucky egan #bucky egan x oc #buck cleven x oc #buck cleven

[sirenologyyy]

SWEET TO ME !

ao'nung x fem!sully reader

✷ premise : as tensions rise and your family is forced out of the only home you've ever known, fish boy meets forest girl and the rest is history (tragedy)

✷ warnings : kidnapping, swearing, injury, blood, violence, and death

✷ author's note : this ones gunna be a rollercoaster of emotions so... sorry about that

part 3 of the SOLD OUT OF LOVE series

He's brought you to a cave, the ocean seemingly only a gateway to a hidden world, for there lay an island surrounded by water, home to a plethora of lush fauna, full of bright flowers of different colours, leaves spread open like fans double the size of a Na'vi, the sand like crushed up gemstones glittering and shimmering underneath the sunlight, a throng of giant trees towering over you, almost brushing the ceiling, the ceiling in which had a hole big enough to allow sunlight in, giving justice to the island's glory.

You couldn't contain your awe and so you simply stood there, admiring the whole cave as your heart practically swelled at its beauty. "Oh my fucking Eywa" was all you could say, and everything you wanted to say.

"No one knows this place but me" says Ao'nung, stepping closer to you. "Here you will be able to feel simple again"

At that you turn around, looking at him in disbelief. "Ao'nung-"

"No" He stops you. "I won't hear any of it, this place is yours now... as much as mine"

So you recalculate your approach. "Thank you" You say instead.

He bows his head. "You're welcome"

You walk towards the island, well, more like ran, you were eager to see every bit of it, Ao'nung simply stood and watched as you leaped around, pointing things out he himself hasn't seen before, your laughter the only thing he could hear.

"So why'd you bring me here? To your secret spot?" You insist after a while, taking a seat on the rock as your eyes followed him, taking a seat beside you.

"It is my way of making my peace"

"You already said sorry"

You see him shake his head. "It is not enough, even after I have apologised I found that not even that could chasten the guilt burning inside me"

It made you think.

"It's me... doing you a solid " He says, the unfamiliarity of the phrase to him making it known, despite all that it made you bite down on a grin. "I'm still not entirely convinced I was the first person you've brought here"

"You don't believe me?"

You shake your head. "Nah"

He scoffed.

"So you're telling me you didn't even bring Rotxo here?"

"No"

"Not even your other friends?"

He sneers at you. "Especially not them"

"Not even a few girls?" You grinned suggestively.

He shoves you away, both of you laughing. "Cut it out, of course not"

You stood in front of him now, showing him your hands. "Maybe I'm getting this all wrong, what about boys?"

He half-shrugged, staring up at you. "A few close calls but... no, they did not want to pursue the son of the Olo'eyktan"

You give him a small smile, a distant one. "Back home, neither did they, no one there took me seriously, it's the problem with keeping your options open, they get scared, run for the hills, leaving you with nothing"

His eyes snapped up. "Wait-"

"You're kidding me, you didn't take a guess?" You laughed. "Like calls to like"

His aquamarine eyes still on you, he lets out an amused scoff. "Huh"

This was where you hum, nodding in understanding. "So, i'm the only girl you've ever brought here?"

"The first and the last" He replied darkly.

"Am I just gunna turn into one of your Na'vi sacrifices?"

"Keep talking and you might find out"

You let out a lone cackle, pulling your head back and allowing your laughter to let loose, seemingly drunk off of nothing but the pure idea of having a good time with the same boy you wanted to kill just a few days ago, and he sees all of this, from your cheeky grin, to your flushed cheeks, to your narrowed amber eyes that glistened as your body shook with laughter.

"I feel like you'll tell me that you don't actually like leading people and that you want to become a Tsahík instead" You say, turning your back on him and walking towards a white flower that grew on stringy vines, you rub the petal, feeling the smooth, delicate surface in between the pads of your fingers before propping yourself up.

"I do"

"Wow, that was spot on" You say, mostly to yourself.

"But how do you know that Forest Girl?" He wonders, looking you straight in the eyes, the huskiness of his accent mixing with the silvery nature of his voice only inclining you to tell him why.

"Your face, your bruises healed quickly than your friends, and I expect they paid a visit to your mother after the fight" You explained, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. "Your hands were dyed purple when you saw me by the rocks, and I recognised the smell, you used tam'bon on your face and your knuckles mixed with other poultices from the many mixtures your mother has in your Marui, you'd have to be paying really close attention to know which to use on your face"

"My mother is the Tsahík, I see her healing people everyday"

"No" you stop him. "Only someone this passionate about healing would be taking note of everything the Tsahík does, it isn't a coincidence, you were listening on purpose"

His eyes widened like saucers. "Wow"

"You used yalna bark too, I can tell"

He nods, standing to his feet. "Impressive"

"One of my many, many talents" You bragged, giving him a sly smirk. "You should try guessing me next"

"Fine uhhh" He sang, rubbing his knuckles together. "You don't like being told what to do"

"Yes, but very obvious, dig a little deeper"

"Fine" He says again. "You're the oldest daughter?"

"No, you forgot about Kiri, Lo'ak goes after her, I go after Lo'ak"

"Really?" He asks. "I always thought you were older than her"

"How?" You questioned him genuinely, until a light bulb buzzed to life above your head. "You know what? this could be a thing"

"What thing?"

You sit down in front of him. "There's this game we play back in the Omaticayan Village, it's called 20 questions, instead of us trying to guess we'd have to ask, and the other person has to answer no matter what"

"No matter what?" He asks.

"No. matter. what" You reiterate gravely.

"You go first then" He says nodding at you.

"How old are you?" You began, already grinning like a maniac.

"16" Ao'nung answers. "17 in 2 months, how old are you?"

"14, turning 15 in..." you stopped to count. "6- no, 7 months"

He nods. "Next question"

"How tall are you?"

"8 foot 5"

You raise an eyebrow at him. "Really? Some people say they're 8 feet tall but in reality they're only 7 foot 9"

"How can I be 7 foot 9?" He exclaimed, almost scandalised.

"I dunno, you ask yourself that" You frowned.

"Just ask the next question" He says boredly.

You bite your inner lip in thought, exhaling when you finally think of the next question. "Why do you hang around them?" You found yourself asking instantly. "Those boys, you don't even seem to like them all that well"

That seemed to have ceased the lightheartedness of the situation, silence settling in awkwardly, quickly, like a virus finding a host.

"I dont know why" He tells you quietly. "It's a comfortable choice, they never seem to care about anything except the present, they don't care that I am to be the next Olo'eyktan, that I am to lead our people for the many years to come, if I stick with them maybe I can forget what is to be my fate"

You stay quiet, so does he. It's almost a dizzying experience, to have Ao'nung pour himself out to you like that when 5 days ago all you wanted in life was to rip his head clean off his shoulders, half of you were expecting for him to stand up, laugh in your face for believing such a thing but as time progressed you found that flame dying rapidly.

But he exhaled, making you glance at him. "What about you Forest Girl?"

You snort, grinning. "What about me??"

"Do you have any secrets worth my time?"

"I got no secrets, I'm an open book"

"Surely there must be something you aren't telling me" He pressed. "What's your favorite food?"

"Pizza- well used to"

"What's that?"

"It's sort of like this triangular shaped snack with meat, and cheese, and sauce on it"

"Oh, well alright" He says, all while having no clue what that is. "What's your favorite food now then?"

"I'm torn between melon tree fruit and yovo fruit"

He grinned. "That, I can get behind by"

"Oh!" You exclaimed, snapping your fingers. "What's your favorite colour?"

"Yellow " He answered.

"Really?" You scoffed. "I thought you'd say blue or something"

He gives you a look. "Blue? Why Blue?"

You gesture to him, making him frown. "Why wouldn't you say blue?"

He gives you an insincere laugh. "Very funny Forest Girl" He drawled. "What about you then? What's your favorite colour?"

"Y/F/C" you state, pushing your hair back away from your face.

He half-shrugged, staring at his finger nails. "Yeah, I guessed as much"

You draw a line on your teeth with your tongue. "If you could leave right now, where would you go?"

"Anywhere but here" He replied, standing up as well. "As long as I can get far away from this place as possible"

You watch him as he starts picking up branches on the sand, realizing he just needed to do something with his hands. "This is my home yes, I've never known any place else but I just want to leave, my knowledge only goes as far as riding a skimwing, but I know the ocean will end eventually"

"Then ride an íkran"

"Well I don't know how to, do I?"

"I'll teach you" You offer, leaning against a tree. "If you taught me how to ride an ilu, surely I can teach you how to ride an íkran"

He gives you an incredulous look, tossing the branches into the water. "So you can throw me off 50 feet in the air? no thank you"

"No, I'm serious, do you really want to learn?"

He thinks, almost entertaining the idea. "I would not oppose once the opportunity presents itself"

"The opportunity is practically waving at you, Ao'nung"

"Maybe another day" He says instead, so you decide it was an answer enough.

Whatever stars have aligned, whatever curse was cast on you, the both of you spent about an hour talking about the most aimless things that made even you wonder what kind of sick stunt the universe was trying to pull.

"Stop it! You are throwing me off!" Ao'nung exclaimed trying to stop you from doubling over and laughing.

You wipe the tears collecting at the edge of your eyes, trying to catch your breath. "Just- just say it again-!"

Ao'nung clicks his tongue against his mouth. "I will not, all you'll do is laugh at me!" He protests.

You sit on the rock again, pulling, well, practically forcing him to sit down before he could run away again. "I promise I won't laugh just- just say it again"

He sits back down unceremoniously, no thanks to you. "What is a castrated smurf anyway? Why do I need to tell Neteyam he looks like a castrated smurf? "

"Because you can" You insist, trying to resist your laughter again. "It's a glowing compliment amongst Sky People, trust me"

"Fine" He says, rolling his eyes at you. "I trust you"

You giggled through your nose, a smile breaking on your face as you look at him.

amber meeting aquamarine.

Your eyes trail to the giant purple bruises that littered his face, then to his neck where you had cut him with your dagger, all the millions of white freckles on his face like Eywa had kissed stars onto the afternoon sky.

You blink, so does he, and suddenly you tear away from eachother, you turn away from him, Ao'nung starts rubbing at his nape as you feel silence encapsulate you once more.

"Where did your necklace go?" He asks, almost on cue a wave of coldness washes over your collarbone.

"It snapped off during the fight, I went back for it, tried finding the pieces but with all the sand flying around during it I barely found half" You replied.

Oh great. another thing Ao'nung felt responsible for. "I see" He replies.

So you stand up, looking at everything but him, the trees, the white petals fading into purple then yellow at the very middle, its orange stigmas standing tall, you walk up to it, leaning into it to take a whiff, light, musky, sweet, you found yourself sniffing it again, you hold it by its stem but a bug reveals itself and crawls onto your hand, you flinch and flick your hand away. Ao'nung laughs at you. "It is just a little insect, you cannot be that afraid of it"

"I can feel it's legs all over me, it's gross and weird" you explain before you shudder involuntarily.

He looks at the vines again and plucks a flower before handing it to you. You stare at it warily and he sighs when you did not take it instantly. "I promise there are no bugs on there"

"You might be lying"

"Why would I lie?"

"I don't know, but you could" You state, watching as he rolls his eyes. After a moment of contemplating you decide to take it before you stand up on your toes and you tuck the flower between his ear, landing back to your feet to see an unimpressed Ao'nung staring back at you.

"Oh Jesus do I wish I had a camera" You sighed longingly.

You see him cross his arms over his chest, a ball forming at his temple as he tightened his jaw. "I look like a joke"

"You look pretty"

"I'm not pretty" He said. "I'm hot"

You let out a laugh. "Whatever helps you sleep at night"

"take it off" He whined.

"Nuh-uh, I don't want to"

"You're a child" He declares sanctimoniously.

"Uh-huh" You nod absentmindedly.

"Come on, take this stupid flower out, I don't want it"

"Take it off yourself" You say.

He lets out a disparaging groan and pulls it out of his ear, you were about to prove your point but that was before he places the flower behind your ear instead. Your eyes widen a centimeter and your cheeks flush to a lilac as your hand instinctively reaches up to it, your fingertips barely brushing the tips of the petals.

"There" Ao'nung says, pulling you out of your trance. "Now you look like the joke"

You narrow your eyes at him and walk away towards the water, the bioluminescent creatures making your stomach drop.

"Fuck" you say, making Ao'nung turn around. "Ao'nung how long have we been down here?"

"I know as much as you do Forest Girl" He retaliates.

"We gotta go back"

The sound of the conch shell make your heads snap upwards, towards the hole of cave where the moon was only a ways off from casting it's silvery glow onto the island.

You turn to Ao'nung. "Oh you're so fucked" You laughed.

"Says you" He laughed back, pointing a finger at your face before you slap it away, he rolls his eyes and shakes his head at you for what seemed like the umpteenth time that day before running back to the way you came with you tailing him. Once the two of you reach the water he dives in, barely even making a splash and resurfacing mere seconds later.

"Come on!"

"But my-"

"It'll stay on" He cuts you off mid-sentence, seeming to know what your next words were. So you jump in, paddling alongside him as you tried swimming out of there before he did, eventually you made it out of the structure, swimming upwards like your life depended on it, glancing at Ao'nung every now and then only for you to pick up your pace as he picked up his. You resurface at the same time, he beats you at calling his ilu first while you took a while catching your breath, he saddles his ilu the moment yours arrived, laughing at you as you struggled to get on.

You tell Hinewai to put the pedal to the metal and you finally managed to catch up to him, his eyes widening as he sees you pop up on his peripheral.

"Hurry up!" He tells you.

You let out a disparaging groan. "What do you think I've been doing smart ass??"

He only laughs, pulling his head back before he dives under the water, shooting out moments later, his ilu spinning on the air before landing back onto the water.

Show off.

The pair of you decided to round the island, turning to Ao'nung when you see all the village people crowding the docks, muttering your name, only for him to avoid your eyes.

You hop off your ilu as does he, trudging up the sand as you feel the eyes of every Metkayin trained on you. Parting the crowd was your mother, your father, Neteyam, and Lo'ak, followed by your sisters close behind.

"She's here!" Dad calls out to the people, you couldn't help but frown as he began checking your arms and your face. "She's alright! She's fine"

"My son" Tonowari starts.

"Father, I see you" Ao'nung addressed, placing his hand over his forehead and bringing it to his chest. You cringe subtly and do the same. "I see you, Olo'eyktan"

He geeets the both of you with the same gesture.

"Is it true what they say?" He began as you felt Ao'nung tense up beside you. "That you have brought Lo'ak beyond the reef? That you have risked his life?"

You snap your head towards Ao'nung, your face falling only to see him glancing up at his father with a pensive look.

"Yes" He replies without hesitation.

Ronal jumps down the platform only to pull his ear, making him wince. "What were you thinking?! Leading Toruk Makto's son to his death??" She hissed, Ao'nung avoiding her face. "This behavior is beneath you"

Jake takes your shoulder and makes you face him. "Where the hell have you been? I thought I taught you better than to not keep track of the time"

"I know but i-"

"No, no excuses" He snapped, hopping over the platform, you trying to follow him.

"Dad just please-" You insist.

He turns to you. "You'll get to talk when we get back to our pod, now drag your ass back home"

"Toruk Makto please-" says Ao'nung, almost stepping in between you and your father, he meets your father's gaze and he immediately regrets his decision, his eyes flicking towards you only to see pure hatred burning back into his retinas. "I am at fault here" He began again cautiously.

You try and ignore the whispers that reverberated around you, the looks of your brothers practically burning into your scalp. "I brought her with me to apologise for our altercation a couple of days ago, I did not mean to bring her home this late, we were caught up in eachother, we lost track of time, believe me, my intentions with your daughter are pure-"

Jake blinks, you could practically feel his anger radiate off of him. "-i'm sorry what?"

"-Dad, this is not what it looks like" You jump in front of Ao'nung, your eyes wide as the whispers around you only intensified.

Ao'nung nudges you away. "-Please, Toruk Makto do not blame your daughter, she has done nothing wrong"

Ronal walks up to Ao'nung grabbing his chin and tilting it upwards, giving everyone a perfect view of his scar. "She might as well explain what is this then"

Neytiri comes forward, feeling her behind you. "My daughter will not answer to you"

"We've discussed this alright? We've buried the hatchet, it's done and dealt with" Jake explained hurriedly, eyes switching from you, to the Tsahík, to you, to Ao'nung.

"While I commend you for trying to make peace on your own terms I cannot forget the fact that you have put Lo'ak in grave peril and returned Y/N home past eclipse"

"No," says Lo'ak. "Going past the reef was not Ao'nung's fault, it was my idea, he tried to talk me out of it, really "

"Lo'ak-" Neytiri started.

"I'm sorry" was all your twin could say before he too hopped up on the platform.

You begin your walk of shame, plodding through the woven pathways as Lo'ak appeared by your side, donning the same downcast expression as you did, your eyes meet, sending eachother whatever was the most microscopic amounts of optimism left in you before your father caught up to you.

"Dad, you told us to make friends with these kids that's all I was trying to-"

"-I don't wanna hear it"

"-Dad" You start, trying to back Lo'ak up, all while having no desire to lengthen this argument any further, but he dosen't even look at you.

"You have brought shame to this family" He tells Lo'ak, who simply stood beside you with an impassive expression.

"Can I go now?" He wonders impatiently.

"Anymore trouble I jerk a knot in your tail, you read me?"

"Yes sir, Lima Charlie" He replies before walking off, you pivot your heel and follow him, trying to put as much distance away from you and your parents as possible only to have Jake pull you back and face them.

"That's strike 2 for you young lady" He says, showing you two fingers to make himself clear. "Look, I dunno what went in your head when you decided to follow Ao'nung when your brother had been missing for hours-"

"-I didn't know he was missing"

He opens his mouth to say something but closes it quickly and sighs. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph" He exclaimed, raking his face with dread. "You're still a kid, I don't want you making decisions that'll make your life go up in smoke, you know that right?"

You nod, your jaw still tight.

"I gotta worry about Lo'ak, I gotta worry about Tuk, I gotta worry about Kiri, do I gotta worry about you too?" He ejaculated, throwing his hand in the air.

You shake your head. "No sir"

"Good" He tells you, his eyes darting up to the flower stuck to your ears and you couldn't help but notice it. "Then we're done here, am I understood?"

"Sir, yes, sir" You nod, your feet already itching to get away.

"Good, get out of here" He nods towards the docks and you didn't telling twice. Pushing past the villagers, you hop down the platform, knowing full well who you were going to find next.

And you do find him, walking alone on the beach, almost sulking.

You didn't exactly try and mask the sound of your footsteps and so he sees you about 5 feet away from him.

His eyes light up. "What are you-"

You slam your hands onto his chest, sending him staggering back several steps away from you.

"Are you fucking brain dead? " You seethe, narrowing your eyes at him, pushing at him again and watching him collect himself. "Are you crazy? "

"I don't think I am, no" He exclaimed, watching you go on a rampage.

"What the fuck is wrong with you??? Trying to embarrass me in front of your whole goddamn clan?? Is that what you wanted this whole time? Try- try and get me to lower my guard down? Make me laugh? Make me reveal my secrets? so that in the end I can make you look like a fucking hero???" You yell at him, bashing your fists against his chest.

"Stop it-!" He shouts, trying to grab your fists.

You push him away. "No! No! Let me go!"

"I will when you calm down-!"

You yanked your arms away from his grasp, pointing a slender finger at his face, looking at him with unbridled rage and fury. "Is that what you wanted? To make a fool out of me??"

He swallows, hesitating. "No-"

"Do you know what you did??" You ask him, your voice cracking. "Do you know-"

"-No!" Ao'nung shouts. "No! I don't know-!"

"You made me look weak! Like I needed to rely on some man for protection!" You screeched into the sea before whirling towards him.

"I stood up for you! I defended you and this is what I get?? Not even a thank you???" He yelled.

You slapped him across the face, he turns to you, clutching his cheek.

"I never asked you to defend me did i?" You tell him.

"I still did"

"Learn to take a hint next time"

"You should be grateful" He spat.

You hummed, staring at his face. "The next time you raise your tongue against me I won't hesitate to give you a matching set" You say, prodding his bruised cheekbone, hearing him hiss in pain before pulling the flower from behind your ear and throwing it to the sand, you gave him one last look and with that you turn around, marching back to the village.

"I hate you!" He shouts after you.

"Suck my dick!" You yelled back.

#ao'nung x fem!reader #metkayina #omatikaya #jake sully #neytiri #ao'nung fic #ao'nung x reader #ao'nung x you #tsireya #neteyam #spider #lo'ak #kiri #tuk #rotxo #atwow ao'nung #atwow #avatar the way of water #sold out of love ao'nung

[hamliet]

What do you think about the romance in titanic?

It's truly great. Titanic is a good story and a good movie. I would actually recommend Lindsay Ellis' video on it.

But as for my thoughts...

The romance itself is a little alchemical, at least in terms of their names. Rose DeWitt-Bukator: Rose=red, symbol of the stone and red stage; DeWitt="of white," or the white stage. Rose is the philosopher's stone. Jack Dawson: reference to jackdaws, a symbol of the black stage). Which makes sense since James Cameron pitched it as Romeo and Juliet on the Titanic, and Romeo and Juliet is mega alchemical. (Also Cameron captured the spirit of Romeo and Juliet far better than most. It's hopeful!)

Jack and Rose aren't the most complex characters to grace the screen, but they don't have to be to be compelling (and they don't pretend to be more than they are, either). Their struggles are timeless and complementary, which helps them resonate with audiences around the world and across cultures.

Jack wants a better life, but he wants a better life for those around him, too. His joy and way of finding beauty in everything around him is contagious. He might have "nothing in [his] pocket" to offer, but he still finds moments of cheering about being the "king of the world" at the bow with Fabrizio, makes friends with those around him, plays with kids like Cora, and is fundamentally... kind. He saves a distraught woman from ending her life and didn't even defend himself when he was accused of attacking her. He captures his joy of life in his art, drawing what he sees as beautiful.

Rose wants a better life, just like Jack, but instead of being determined to live her best life where she's at, whatever she has or doesn't have, she has no freedom. Instead of being contagious in joy to where she draws others in like Jack, Rose must instead withdraw to survive. She can't trust anyone around her because they're all counting on her to save them (her mother wants Rose to save them from financial ruin, her fiancé wants Rose as arm candy). But Rose is seventeen. Jack's kindness to her inspires her to save him when he's accused of attacking her, and his love for life and for her just--they give Rose hope.

Is there anything more hopeful than seeing someone else truly alive?

Of course, then Jack dies saving Rose. And no, he could not have fit on the wood and also when water's that cold your limbs do not work perfectly so they could only make so many attempts to get on the wood in the first place, and yes if she'd stayed on the lifeboat he may have lived. but--that's not the point of the story. Rose is a seventeen year old girl who is tired of having people value her life as only what she can give them. Even Cal saving her by getting her on a lifeboat has nothing to do with Rose living and everything to do with her surviving to benefit him, not Rose.

Rose jumping off that lifeboat is her choice to live, even if it means she'll die.

It's a powerful choice, and people who nitpick or act like an abused, suicidal 17 year old facing trauma would think rationally are just... idk killjoys. Go watch Batman vs Superman or whatever pseudo-noir pretentious drivel tickles your fancy instead.

Anyways. So this motif of life coming from death is again, alchemy! It's a romantic tragedy, because even though Jack dies... there is life that comes from his sacrifice. Rose does live, physically as well as emotionally and spiritually. Even when she "dies" in the end, it's left ambiguous as a deliberate question--is she dying or dreaming? Does it matter, when the point is the same--that she's alive and Jack is alive and they are all together, whether in the afterlife or her dream?

#ask hamliet #titanic #titanic meta #titanic 1997 #rose dewitt bukater #jack dawson #rose x jack

[mcflymemes]

ALISTAIR THEIRIN QUOTES *  dialogue from dragon age: origins, updated version

excuse me while i begin projectile vomiting.

you were the first person i ever spent the night with, and if i had my way... you'd be the last.

do you think you might ever... feel the same way about me?

will you miss it once it's over?

i care for you so much.

i love you. more than i ever thought possible.

i wish i could be better at this.

you know that i've never done anything like this. with anyone.

i guess i was raised not to take this sort of thing lightly.

it's just like being home again.

i can't run away from it anymore.

given the circumstances, things could have been so much worse.

i locked myself in a cage once, when i was a child. for an entire day. ah. good times.

i'm willing to... give it a shot. if you are.

aw, that's sweet.

you're beautiful. i am a lucky man.

i know it might sound strange, considering we haven't known each other for very long, but i've come to... care for you. a great deal.

now's as good a time as any to talk, right?

i'm so grateful that you're... you.

let's get back to... what we were up to before.

i hope it hasn't... put you off.

anyway, uh, sorry about that. i'll take it from you right now.

great. they just love me.

i was just thinking about you! isn't that a marvelous coincidence?

now that i've handled that with my usual deft brilliance, time to move on! and take a cold bath, maybe.

locking the door and throwing away the key was plan b.

is it just me, or did i do really badly back there?

don't look now... but. well. look now!

i don't think we're alone. i really don't think we're alone.

all right! let's go!

oh? you want to... right now? well, who am i to refuse?

um... that sounded better in my head. i just meant to say that i can't imagine having done this without you.

we're not exactly traveling in the lap of luxury here.

you feel that? it's actually colder up here.

is this place even on a proper map?

look at it all!

i'll be... standing over here. until the blushing stops. just to be... uh. safe. you know how it is.

maybe it likes you?

swooping is bad.

what is it, then? rats running amok? cheese supplies running low?

i see you can't sleep, either.

i was just thinking... here i am doing all this complaining, and you haven't exactly been having a good time of it yourself.

why are you smiling like that?

that just seems so excessive.

are you just making these up right now?

now that's dedication!

it's all been death and fighting and tragedy.

make fun of you? perish the thought.

old books. you think any of those might still be readable?

do you get the feeling things are just getting worse as we go up?

more crazy? i thought we were all full up.

i thought maybe i could say something. tell you what a rare and wonderful thing you are to find amidst all this... darkness.

they say you can get anything here. i once got pick-pocketed.

this is where the nobility come to get drunk and debate who's the most self-important of them all.

we get lost, people die, and the next thing you know i'm stranded somewhere without any pants.

now that's just unnecessary.

have you ever licked a lamppost in the winter?

can't... keep my eyes open. someone... pinch me.

where do you think they get all this stuff?

oh! here i am! and there you are! you just disappeared!

why do they call it a brothel? there's no broth. or is there?

we're not going to be mobbed, right?

now that is a big tree.

i hate you. you're a bad person.

i'm not falling asleep again!

we seem to be heading... up? yes. i think these caves are going up to the surface.

can we expect more of those?

what is that smell? fish? and something else. oh. more fish.

uh oh. i'm terrible at puzzles.

i know most guys would probably leap at the chance to be with you, but i don't know if i'm ready for that. it's a big step.

maybe i should touch them. or stand on them?

pleased to meet you. nice campfire you have there.

let's try not to get lost here.

bluff called! damn! you saw right through me!

i think there's something ahead. something big.

you have my condolences.

and here i was going to name one of my children after you.

you seem more "ooh, pretty colors!" than "muahaha! i am princess stabbity! stab, kill, kill!"

i gazed, glanced in that direction, maybe. but i wasn't staring. or really... seeing anything, even.

what? lead? me? no no no. no leading. bad things happen when i lead.

they're really quite tasty.

we take our ingredients, throw them into the largest pot we can find, and cook them for as long as possible until everything is a uniform grey color.

watch as i thrash our enemies with the mighty power of floral arrangements!

i will overpower you with my rosy scent!

i was looking at your nose.

your desire is my command.

i guess that must make me sound like an idiot.

just what every man wants to hear.

now if we could move right on past this awkward, embarrassing stage and get right to the steamy bits, i'd appreciate it.

#rp meme #rp starters #rp memes #rp prompt #rp musings #roleplay inbox prompts #roleplay memes #roleplay prompt #roleplay meme #writing prompt #askbox meme #ask memes #rp asks #ask meme #inbox meme #inbox prompts #inbox prompt #rp inbox meme #sentence starter #sentence starters #sentence starter prompt #mcflymemes #alistair theirin #dragon age #da:o #dragon age origins

[henghost]

Twig Liveblog for Arc 11

"too real" of an arc, as plague stories have taken on a special kind of resonance post covid. the plague itself, however, was very interesting. the imagery of red flowers bursting forth from people dying in agony was beautiful, as well as thematically congruent with the rest of twig: there is a potent sort of echo with the stories of the jamies, life flowing from death, ecstasy from torture. it's the circle of life, man....

the bulk of the plot, though, is taken up not by the plague but by running away from the mercenaries, which felt quite wormlike. the line between superweapon and superhero is thin. dog and catcher my beloved! the meeting between them in the bakery where they just start chomping on sandwiches was like the diner scene in michael mann's heat with deniro and pacino, just a few kings at the top of their games, separated only by the razor-thin barrier of the "law." man telling them that gordon had died, gordon who was one of the few people who had made the effort to understand dog--heartbreaking. i hope they end up okay, dog and catcher. a truer bond is hard to find in this story--they deserve to retire and love each other for the rest of time.

the like cynical camaraderie between experiments is really the crux of the matter. what is needed, in my view, is some pan-experimental solidarity. why don't the experiments, the largest, most powerful players on the field, simply eat all the other factions?

i already did a post on sy/jamie but that is the other major component of the arc. they love each other so much 😭 the tragedy of inhabiting sy's best friend's body, the feeling of betrayal, the love despite it all oh my god. tearjerking fr!!!

then the long duncan interlude had several incredible moments. he is really hateable lol but still pretty entertaining. the most grating aspect of his perspective is the way he clearly does not view the lambs as human. ashton et al are just another few dangerous experiments he has to tolerate to advance his career. also, it frames his lust for helen in quite a sleazy light. the detail about how he had to watch helen undress and popped a boner with ibbot watching and ibbot had to be like "😐 unacceptable, please leave" had me fucking dying lmao. i think it also explains lillian's rage (more intense than the other lambs') at him for betraying the lambs: the parallel between duncan/helen and lillian/sy is an uncomfortable one. i think it indicates that lillian feels a lot of guilt and insecurity about her position in society and her position vis a vis the lambs. when lillian and mary see sy again it might just be the most awkward moment of all time. i can't wait.

#twigblr #twig web serial #henghost's twig arc #twig liveblog #sylvester lambsbridge

[bogkeep]

berserkblogging, spoilers for the golden age arc

(for the record, i'm halfway through volume 10 so i haven't caught up to the eclipse yet, i just have too many feels as they say)

the golden age arc is such a perfect tragedy, i have never considered myself someone who enjoys tragedies in particular but this one is just so extremely well executed i CANNOT get over it.

my outsider impression of berserk was that ok u have big muscly man who had a presumably homoerotic anime friendship with a beautiful man and then a betrayal happened and now they hate eachother. i was a little surprised to find that it's So Much More (AND CASCA EXISTS. I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CASCA)

they Loved each other......... all three of them...... but in such a complicated way because they're all a little fucked up but like. who isn't

for guts it's how, he never learnt how to Want anything. he couldn't know that he had so much he wanted already, because he never learnt how to, and standing so close to griffith and his all-consuming longing, how could he? he was only part of the band because griffith wanted him so badly, and all guts knows is how to be a sword, and when griffith asks him, do you think it's cruel of me to wield you as a sword? guts only says it's a little late to be asking that now. it's like guts is that sword to griffith that guts' sword is to himself - an extention of his body, of his reach, to get bloodied,

and casca always wanted to be that sword. guts never tried to take it from her, but all her pain over it lands on him nonetheless. and it really is so painful to see someone be everything that you've ever wanted, effortlessly, accidentally,

but maybe her tragedy is that casca really was a sword to him after all, and only that, and griffith's tragedy is that guts was not. it would've been so much easier if guts was just a sword, wouldn't it?

guts asked. twice, he asked griffith, why did you save my life? and griffith could have answered, because i want to have you around, because you're my friend, because i love you. but he didn't. guts was only ever a sword that belonged to him.

how many times had griffith said guts belonged to him, his life and his death? but at some point, he had become mistaken. if just, for one moment, griffith could have admitted, to guts, to himself, what they are to one another...

maybe it wouldn't have been enough. maybe he would never have quit the restless pursuit of his dream. we might never know.

so when guts left, how could he have known what he was to griffith? all he's ever been is someone else's belonging, to be sold out or won as a prize...

how can anyone know anything, in the blinding light of griffith's ambition? it becomes so clear when griffith is gone, the people who had stood closest to him can suddenly look around them with clear and open eyes, look at who they themself are - guts and casca share this, it's hard to be a person and a sword at the same time, and maybe together they can be people, a man and a woman. and the band loves guts, and the cohesion of the group - it was never just griffith who held them together. they are all real people, flesh and bone, not just the wisps of a dream.

i think there's something so.... i don't know, if you've ever known someone who makes life feel like a dream, and when they're gone, you feel like you're blinking awake, your head clearing up, their influence on you seeping out of you like fog?

and when griffith returns - imagine holding all these souls as swords in your hand for years and years, and now they're people. they're not your swords anymore. and THEN

i don't know if this is coherent or just increasingly high pitched screaming. i just feel like there are so many moving parts of this tragedy, one so inevitable and preventable at the same time, each piece moving with chess board precision, waiting to lunge a blade directly into your chest.

#haiz reads berserk #MIGHT AS WELL HAVE A TAG FOR IT AT THIS POINT

[animebw]

Okay, I’m abuzz with Black Panther 2 thoughts, so I clearly need to make a more in-depth most than just “It’s even better than the first one.” No spoilers beyond vague indications of what happens, but proceed at your own risk.

Something I don’t think the MCU gets enough credit for is how good it is at turning audience doubts into the backbone of its best features. People don’t think that a superhero team-up movie could ever work? The Avengers’ in-universe thematic thrust is about proving that a superhero team-up is possible, and it changed global cinemas forever. But how do you just do normal superhero movies after such a huge event? Well, Iron Man 3 is all about Tony Stark asking himself that same question and figuring out who he wants to be after the Battle of New York. What place does a goody two-shoes like Captain America have in today’s more cynical world? Easy: his place is confronting the ugly realities of modern politics and fighting like hell to bring back some semblance of what America should be like he does in Winter Soldier. Even more recently, She-Hulk has a lot of fun toying with its fans and haters alike, and it does it wall because it’s so perfectly able to predict how people will react to it and what issues people might take with it. Time and time again, the MCU turns proving skeptical audiences wrong into the very backbone of its stories, and it’s really damn good at it.

I don’t think anyone expected they’d ever have to pull off something like this, though.

Chadwick Boseman died far too young, and now Black Panther must move on without him. But even aside from the inherent tragedy of his loss, he so perfectly embodied the character of T’Challa that the thought of recasting him- or passing the title to someone else- felt impossible. And there was probably no way to make a Black Panther sequel under those conditions other than by, once again, making the movie all about addressing those conditions in-universe. The actor and character are so closely tied, there’s just no way to avoid the weight of his loss in another story about him, so you might as well lean into it. King T’Challa died far too young, and now Wakanda must move on without him. But even aside from the inherent tragedy of his loss, he so perfectly filled the shoes of the Black Panther that the thought of anyone else taking his mantle, especially with the heart-shaped herbs gone, feels impossible. And all of us, on both sides of the screen, must grapple with the grief of his death while finding a way to carry on his legacy anew.

And it could’ve so easily been a disaster. This is the only way they could’ve made Black Panther 2, but it’s also the riskiest way they could’ve made it. Trying to grapple with such a raw, open wound of grief in the context of a superhero sequel, to answer everyone’s feelings about this real person they’re mourning, is such an insurmountable challenge I wouldn’t have blamed Marvel if they decided to just shelve the property and not risk it blowing up in their faces.

But I’m so glad they let Ryan Coogler take that chance. Because he fucking nailed it. This is one of the most beautiful blockbuster films I think I’ve ever seen, and it easily ranks among my top 5 all-time Marvel films.

I’ll avoid spoilers for now and let you all experience it as mostly blind as I did. You deserve to. But one more thing I want to shout out is that this is a giant movie, all but guaranteed to make a billion dollars, and it’s completely led by black women. Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Dominique Thorne, Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright (god, Letitia Wright is so fucking good in this) are this movie’s driving force, its beating heart, its raison d’etre. This is a story about black women in all their complexities and differences, and that is truly something worth celebrating.

#black panther #black panther 2 #black panther: wakanda forever #black panther wakanda forever #chadwick boseman #letitia wright #danai gurira #angela bassett #dominique thorne #lupita nyong'o #marvel #mcu #the anime binge-watcher #tabw

[withlovemark]

i want to be with you, everywhere.

warning: i need to get better with my warnings so um, grief, hospital, mentions of death, nightmares, angst! as always

pairing: steve x female reader

words: 5.1k+ (hoping i edited this well enough)

an: despite the warnings, take this as my apology note, especially for those who had to go through all the cliffhangers! im so sorry! AND this is the last chapter of this mini series, thank you so much for reading and for all the kind words!! <33 your reactions make me laugh so much and they do brighten my day more than you think! maybe you can also help me think of what to write next? my ask is always open! :> hope to see some of you there!

one. two. three.

four.

steve.

he had your favorite flowers in hand, hopping into his car and dreading the familiar drive. it’s been a week and five days since the tragedy that left him crying out your name. 

for the past 12 days, the boy makes sure he picks up something you like before his daily visits. cassette tapes, vanilla ice cream, strawberry flavored chapsticks. 

everyday, he talks to you. everyday, he gets no response. 

a familiar figure was already there once he arrived, “hey max,” he greets her gently, a light tap to her back, soft smile making an appearance upon his pink lips, tired eyes crinkling slightly. she looks up from sketching in her notebook, the flowers in his hands makes the girls’ heart swell at the thought of your reaction if you were to see it. 

“she’ll love those,” a quiet hum of approval. 

“you think?” an eyebrow going up, a tiny smirk dancing upon his face, proud of his choice. 

“i know.” the girl nods, he places the flowers beside the numerous gifts your friends have left for you. 

taking his seat on his usual spot next to you, fingers immediately wrapping yours, “hey beautiful, i’m back,” he whispers, planting a gentle kiss on your temple. the heartbeat through the monitor filling the corners of the pale, gloomy, walls, his only assurance that you were listening. 

“the doctor said her vitals are improving,” max breaks the silence, hope blooming in their maimed hearts, “she should wake up soon.”

“that true?  will you let me see your pretty eyes soon?” steve asks you, his hold on your fingers gently tightening. carefully watching the way your chest slowly rises and falls. max collects her things, the tender hearted moment making her believe that love is veracious. 

“i have to go to class, ping dustin if anything happens,” handing the extra walkie-talkie and a quick hug to the brown haired boy, leaving you and steve alone. 

the boy gets comfortable, head gently laying on your mended stomach, “eddie’s still in jail,” he starts,“it’s looking up though, they can’t really find any evidence that he did it, y’know?” updating you about the events that were taking place. 

“he might just make it to graduation,” he chuckles, looking up at you “by the way, you really need to wake up or else they’ll hold you back and i know how much you hate doing homework,” he teases, tucking the stray hair out of your eyes, the light bursts of air slipping from your lips providing the comfort he needed. 

“when will you wake up?,” he sighs, eyes starting to get glassy. 

he was exhausted. ever since he got you out of the upside down, unresponsive body blanket wrapped around his back, steve hasn’t had proper rest, leaving only to change out of his wrinkled clothes and rid of tiredness under cold showers, coming back the next morning, wanting to be there when you finally wake. 

once, he spent a night at his house, against his will, dustin and robin forcing him to get some proper shut eye. they were unsuccessful. your body in his arms as you took your last breath playing in his mind, haunting him. he found himself thrashing around, looking for you, greeted only by shadows in the dark. it’s easier in the hospital because when the nightmare reoccurs, he wakes up to you and for now it’s enough to calm him down. 

he can’t forget that night. the paramedics sending electricity through your chest, barely finding a pulse. it took three charges before a melodic beeping finally echoed through his ears and steve swears it’s the best sound in the world as he hid his face in the crook of robin's neck. 

“we won,” he reminds you everyday.  “everyone’s okay…all we need now is for you to come back to us,” letting out a shaky breath, he hasn’t quite figured out how to remain stable in moments like these.

“i need you to come back to me, y/n” a desperate confession. 

—

nine days has passed. exactly three weeks of steve’s words being met with silence. 

“i have a secret,” he whispers like you weren’t the only two people under the moonlight shining through the window. 

“i always had this dream,” the boy starts “in this dream, i have six kids,” he chuckles quietly, “crazy, right? me? a dad?,” he imagines the way your face would have contorted once you heard that. 

“anyways me and my six little harringtons, three girls and three boys…we would be away from here, traveling, seeing the world, just driving anywhere and everywhere our little camper van can take us,” confiding in you the future he had always hoped for. 

“but here’s the secret,” sliding a little closer to you, voice barely audible, “you’re sitting in the passenger seat,” he sighs, a sad smile, confessions in the air taking with it a bit of weight from his shoulders, “like you always are…smiling at me with that beautiful smile of yours,”

“singing at the top of our lungs, making our kids complain about how grossly in love their parents are,” every word stretches out the boy's smile, lost in the creation of his dreamland. 

“and then you’ll laugh, that laugh that makes my heart light up and i couldn’t ask for anything more,” he brings the back of your hand up to his lips, placing soft gentle marks of love, “does that sound okay to you?,” breath hitching in his throat. 

no response. 

taking a deep breath, emotions surging through him, feelings of loneliness and despair escaping through his eyes as silence one again took over the night. 

—

 “do you want to know the day i fell in love with you?” 

“it was when you walked in to scoops ahoy, my first day on the job, i was scared and nervous about people coming in and seeing me, “king steve” he quotes, “working only at an ice cream shop because i wasn’t good enough for anything else” a hand going up to his locks, pushing back the strays of hair that’s blocked him from seeing you. 

“then you walked in, in that cheerleading uniform that drives me crazy by the way, and you smiled at me, congratulating me, and i knew at that moment that i didn’t care about what anyone else thought as long as you’re there… believing in me,” 

“i kept on making you try every flavor of ice cream in hopes that you would stay longer and you did and i just felt so happy, like a boy having a crush for the first time” soft chuckles escaping the boys lips, recalling memories that were keeping his heart glued together. for someone who was labeled as a ladies man, he had no idea what to do when it came to you. 

“but i was so scared… i was scared i wasn't good enough for you, that i’d just mess it all up like i always do and so i pushed those feelings to the side and flirted with any girl who made their way into the store…im sorry,” his voice a faint whisper. he wasn’t proud of those actions but sometimes we do things that we think is best at the time. 

“i just wanted to keep you with me and feelings usually ruin things that are good and god i just couldn’t risk it, i couldn’t risk losing you,” both hands going up to his now, very disheveled hair, he looks up at your silent figure, the sun peeking through the window, illuminating your face. the thought of your twinkling eyes sparkling under them, the way they do every time you look his way, urges him to keep going. 

“then word got out that you and carver were seeing each other and fuck, i was pissed, i served so many customers the wrong order that day y’know?” he can almost hear your laugh. can almost hear the way you would tease him for being whipped. but he wasn’t, he was just a boy who had so much love to give to someone who he thought was unreachable. 

“i didn’t say anything though, cause who was i to tell you to stop seeing him? but you stopped coming around and i was so sad, i convinced myself that i liked robin to finally get you out of my fucking head,” 

“we both know how that ended up,” he smiles to himself, the memories fondly playing in his mind. the way you looked at him that night while he sat on the white tiled floors, bruised and beaten up. soft fingers ghostly grazing over his face, treating him like he was porcelain. handling him with so much care, an emotion he’s never had the privilege of feeling before. something he never thought he deserved. 

truth settling in his heart. 

you came back to him. visiting him every single day. your daily visits were the only thing keeping him from clocking in at work. you had him wrapped around your tiny little fingers and you didn’t even know it.

and then you started coming home with him, after every shift and he was keen on never letting go. home was where your laughs filled the air. 

and it’s been four weeks since he felt it. 

—

“steve,” a soft voice, small taps on his shoulder, carefully shaking him awake.

he sits up, mind still in a haze, slumber in his eyes, before looking up at familiar eyes and for a second, in his half-dazed state, he thought it was you. 

you had your mother’s eyes. 

“you know, you don’t have to sleep here, these hospital couches are really bad for your back,” she warns him, a concerned smile on her lips. steve noticed the wrinkles on her face, now more prominent. he wondered what it was like to be a nurse and having to take care of sick people all the time, to be in these rooms and still feel sane. then he wondered how hard it was for the sick person to be your own child. 

he offers her a smile, “im okay, y/m/n,” the two have grown close this past month. your mother was grateful you had someone who loved you this much. she grew to love the boy like he was her own son. 

“at least eat something, ok? i don’t think my daughter would love to wake up to someone that no longer resembles her steve,” her steve. he loved the sound of that. he nods, completely understanding her concern. 

the boy hasn’t had an appetite lately, his hair always a mess, farrah fawcett long forgotten. despite the doctor’s positive feedback, they had no idea of what monsters you fought. the possibility of you not waking up was becoming more prominent each day. but your mother was right. if you ever saw him in this state, he won’t be able to forgive himself. he can already see the sadness in your eyes, can hear the voices of guilt in your mind. 

he nods. she forces him up and pushes him towards the door, “go, i’ll call you if anything happens,” your mother’s orders. 

he obediently follows, taking one last glance at you before your mom playfully shoves him out, sending him a reassuring smile, “i’ll be quick.” 

he was back in your room that night, the smell of aftershave filling the air. 

–

he’s polite. he started taking care of himself.

he also started decorating your room. cassette tapes, vanilla ice cream, strawberry flavored chapsticks, books of all genres, paintings from the kids adding color onto the walls, beer bottles in the mini fridge, your pom-poms sitting on the couch across the room, the scent of your perfume in the air. 

steve has made it his secret mission to make these walls feel as homey as possible even when your guests started turning up less and less, life becoming busy, with graduation coming up in just four months. college applications. jobs. family. 

he never left. 

with every passing day, his hope is as strong as the first day. everyday for the past six weeks, he’s there. reading you books, telling you stories, playing your favorite songs. 

a light tap against his fingers. a fleeting moment, leaving as soon as it came causing him to stumble out of his seat. 

“y/n,” eyes searching for yours, name tumbling out of his lips. a second passes. heart beating to the ticking of the clock. waiting. hoping. one minute. nothing. 

he slouches back into his chair, “y’know you really shouldn’t lead people on,” he jokes, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice, “i’m supposed to be the player, remember?,” his heart yearning for you. 

the monitor beeps, responding to him. an ungodly tune that makes the boy spring out of his chair and into the halls, calling out for help. 

__

you.

a distress cry, a white bright light shining above, almost blinding. one, two, three people in scrubs looking down at you like you were some rat in a lab experiment, except their eyes seem to crinkle into a warm, inviting smile. 

there’s a boy in the room, a pretty one. he’s looking at you, tired, glassy, eyes, lips, red, hair, disheveled and you can’t help but blush under curious eyes. even in this situation you’ve awakened to, beeping monitors, hospital gowns, scrubs, he was beautiful. he gives you a reassuring smile and you look away, noticing that you were staring for far too long to be considered normal. 

you hear a static noise and then the words “dustin, she’s awake.” you realize he’s talking about you but before you could find your voice, a woman comes bursting into the doors, your mother, in all her glory. her long hair swaying with every step she took towards you, “m-mom?,” you finally were able to mutter. your throat felt so dry, like you had eaten a pack of saltine crackers and had no water to push it down. 

you think you hear the boy let out a sniffle, blocked by your moms own tears falling to the apples of her cheeks, her hand immediately stroking your hair like she used to do when you were younger and had a nightmare, “hi honey, how are you feeling?,”

“a little lost.” is what you want to say. the events that transpired are lost in your memory and you can’t quite figure out why you were here, who that boy is and why he was telling a “dustin” about you. you’ve always had a need to please your mom, to let her know you were fine because if you weren’t, you can see the way her brain gears into tricking herself that it’s all her fault. 

mustering up the best smile you could give, “i’m fine, just a little thirsty,” she chuckles. right answer. it was somewhat true, you’ve never felt as well rested before in your whole life. she hands you a glass of water, “that’s great honey, they’re just going to run some tests, ok?,” you nod at her ever so politely, the cold glass still placed between your lips. since when did water taste so good?

the boy is still there, still staring at you, you can feel it from your peripheral vision. you couldn’t help it. couldn’t stop the three words that came stumbling out of your lips. you wish you could’ve because his face immediately fell and you wanted nothing more than to take it all back and take care of him. 

“mom, who’s that?,” her face torts in confusion, she hides it quickly. she’s a nurse, she’s dealt with patients before, she’s quick on her feet. “that’s steve, he’s a friend of yours,” softly smiling at you. it’s not the whole truth, you can tell by the sympathetic smile she gave him. 

“we’re going to leave you with steve for awhile if that’s okay, y/n?,” the doctor chimed in, clipboard in hand, you assume that’s where all the information about you is. you nod. somehow, you trust steve and if your gut was wrong, you certainly trusted your mother. 

one by one they left the room, leaving a static silence behind. you finally take this time to take in your surroundings. the white, gloomy walls that you hated seeing every time you would come visit your mom at the hospitals, we’re covered in color. some drawings were better than others. stick figures and 3d animations. you glance at each one. 

there’s a particular one that catches your eye. a boy who looked like steve, brown, wavy long hair sitting next to a hospital bed, with who you presumed to be a smiling, twinkling you. he’s holding the most beautiful bouquet you’ve ever seen. those same flowers littered across the floor, yellow in the background, the name max signed on the bottom corner. whoever max was, they were good. 

focusing your attention on steve, he quickly looks away, suddenly finding interest on the ground. you notice the small blush that’s made its way upon his face after being caught staring. you have questions and you feel like he can answer them. 

“do you want to sit here instead, steve?'', pointing to the chair beside you. his name slides off your tongue like it was a practiced prayer. one your mind has forgotten but your body has memorized.  

“i promise, i don’t bite,” you send him a soft smile, you're proud of yourself, the way you made his face lit up. he wastes no time, sinking into the chair like he owns it. unbeknownst to you, it is his chair. 

“how long have i been here?,” you ask the boy. there’s no way your room could be covered with so many various trinkets if it was only for a short time. unless you have many, many friends. but you don’t. or you don’t think you do?

he’s hesitant to answer, you can tell by the way his bottom lip made its way between his teeth, “45 days,” he quietly replies, eyes avoiding yours.

45 days. 6 weeks. a month and a half. 

you couldn’t believe it. how about school? cheerleading practices? graduation? you look up at steve, ready to bombard him with questions. he’s picking at his fingernails. you can tell he’s trying his best to keep his composure and all you want is to calm him down.

“are we really friends, steve?,” he finally looks up at you, golden brown eyes shining into yours. they seem familiar, like the daylight that would peek through the windows in the mornings while you’re covered in soft blankets, waking up with warmth right next to…

who? you try to rack your brain for some sort of answer. none. 

“yeah, we’re really friends, y/n,” your name off his lips leaving a sweet taste in your mouth. you’ve decided it’s your favorite sound. 

“were …,” you hesitate, feeling a bit shy under his gaze, mind going back to the drawing, “were we more than friends?,” you find yourself playing with your hands, unable to keep eye contact with him, even though you wanted to so badly. to get lost in his brown eyes. to drink it up like it’s your favorite coffee. 

he chuckles, a quick, quiet laugh, grabbing your full attention, “you could say that,” a sad smile, your heart bursting at the thought of what more is. 

did you get to taste his rosy lips? play connect the dots on the beautiful freckles that lined up his pretty face? run your hand through his silky hair? why couldn’t you remember? 

you can feel the way he wants to say more so you wait, just looking at him, “we never quite got to labeling what we were?,” he sighs and you want to reach out to him. to tell him to put a label on it. now. but you’ve only met him an hour ago and it would be absurd to fall in love with someone you’ve known for an hour. 

“why’s that?,” you ask, curiosity leaking off of you. to have someone in front of you know everything, to know you more than you know yourself. it’s absolutely frustrating. 

“i was too late.” 

you wanted to cry, you don’t know why, but you did. you felt awful for the boy in front of you. felt awful at the fact that you couldn’t remember him or anything that you went through. before you could stop yourself, a tear escaped your eyes. and then another and another. like a broken, leaking faucet that needed to be fixed. 

“hey, hey, hey, it’s okay, you’re okay,” hushed whispers, hands making their way to your cheeks, thumbs ghostly grazing over each tear, wiping it away. 

you’ve felt those hands. you’ve heard those words.

and then you made the mistake of looking into his golden eyes. 

transported back in the red laced world. memory after memory hitting you like a truck. steve at will byer’s house, makeshift bat in his hand. steve in the driver's seat that halloween night, beer bottles and unspoken truths. steve and his farrah fawcett advice, an arm around your shoulder. steve’s whine of cries, max! driving his car. steve scooping vanilla ice cream, scoop after scoop, rosy lips and blue sailor outfit. steve and the tiled bathroom floors, flowers blooming, singing, driving, late night talkings, kissing, steve, body molding as one, jealousy, pining, confessions, steve, despair, loneliness, hope, love. 

steve, steve, steve.

you remember it all. the basketball game. chrissy. eddie. max. vecna. you remember dying in steve’s arms. you remember it. and you remember hearing him. you heard him. every single day. every story he told, every book he read, every song he sung. 

you heard every word, every pause, every sigh. 

“where are we gonna get a camper van?,” you cry out, tears freely streaming down your face, you smile at the boy you love. he’s stunned, mouth agape, piecing the puzzles together. and then he’s looking at you with so much adoration, almost like you hold all the stars in the sky. 

his own tears fall and he doesn't bother wiping them away. “we can save up for it, y’know? get a job? somewhere that pays well,” he babbles out, hand tight around yours, like he’s afraid you could disappear at any given second. 

“we can get an apartment, far from here, start over,” you continued for him, hands just as tightly enclosed in his. letting him know that you’re there. that you’re with him and you’re in it. whatever it is. as long as he was there. 

he laughs. creating a sound that brings the sunshine in. the one where birds sing. where the trees are green. the one that feels like you’re in a fairytale. 

“i love you,” you’re in the clouds. flying. free. three little words that sent your heart hammering in your chest.

“i love you too, steve harrington.” you feel his chest pounding as hard as yours. you see the smile that’s made it’s way upon his pretty face. your hands in his hair, holding him close to you, feeling his breath upon your lips and it’s taking so much out of you to not devour this man like he was your last meal. 

closing the space between the two of you, he tasted like vanilla and mint. for a second you wonder if this is all in your head. you wonder if you have somehow convinced yourself to create a heaven you’ve only heard of in books. but then the boy pulls you a little closer, kisses you a little harder and you know that he’s real.

and he’s yours. 

your steve. 

—

6 months later

the last box finally sitting pretty in the back of the car, you let out a sigh of success, admiring your work before two large hands made their way around your waist, enveloping you in a warm embrace, feet coming off the ground as bubbles of laughter rang through the neighborhood, “steve!” his name echoed out. 

he puts you down soon after, laughters creating a melodic tune of happiness and love. your boyfriend’s face coming into view, sun shining brightly, creating a halo, making him look like an angel “we did good, baby,” he smirks, capturing your lips between his, a soft peck. enough to send butterflies throughout your body. 

“hm, yes we did,” you smiled, arms finding their way behind his neck, pulling him closer, ready to hear the sound of the bells that play every time he kisses you. 

“god, can’t you guys go a second without eating each other’s faces,” dustin mocked, eyes rolling, cutting the moment short. don’t let his tone fool you, he secretly loves it. you hear the boy wrapped around you groan in annoyance. 

“i’m so happy we’re finally moving away,” he whispers, tickling your ear, causing you to scrunch up your nose in a way he finds absolutely adorable, playfully shoving him away. 

“yeah, seriously, we get it! you’re in love! you don’t have to rub it in our faces all the time, we are just kids!” max adds, clearly not hearing steve’s quiet complaints. 

at the sound of the girl's voice, you finally pull away from your boyfriend's embrace, earning a pout from him as you focus all your attention on the girl in front of you. wide smiles mirroring each other’s expressions, walking over to her and pulling her in a quick hug. 

“do you guys really have to go?” lucas’ voice coming from behind max, a tinge of worry resonating in his voice. you pull him into the hug. 

“we’ll only be two hours away, if you really need us, we’ll be back in a second” eyes stern but soft, you make sure you look at all of them. max, lucas, dustin, reassuring them. 

“but please just call first,” steve adds, breaking up the warm moment. you give him a warning look, one to say this is not the time and he surrenders to your feet “kidding, we’re always here for you kids,” he quickly adds, a forced smile etching onto his lips. though everyone knew he meant every word. these are practically his kids. and after his little hospital confession, you’ve teased him so much about his love for these kids, making him want to take back every word he said. he never does. because nothing has changed. that is still the future he envisioned. especially with you. 

“well, i guess this is the last of it,” robin joins. 

the kids keep themselves busy on your front porch, “found these upstairs, you really shouldn’t leave these behind y’know” she hands you your diploma and on the other hand, the tape that saved your life on multiple occasions. 

taking the diploma out of her hands, you thank her for double checking everything. 

eyes glancing down to the cassette tape you grew to dislike, steve’s messy handwriting:

everywhere - fleetwood mac.

“keep it,” pushing it back towards her, “i don't think i can stand listening to that song anymore,” you shrug. you really hated vecna for that. you hated vecna for a lot of things, especially the lingering nightmares he left you with. but every night, steve is there, holding you, comforting you. every night he whispers hushed i love you’s into your ear and it’s enough. you no longer needed a favorite song to keep you grounded. 

“i hate this song,” she says bluntly, earning a laugh from you. robin looks happier, despite the fact her two best friends are leaving town. she was finally able to muster up the courage to talk to her long-time crush and the two have been hitting it off, going on dates, spending hour after hour just talking to each other, telling jokes. she told you all about it during the times you weren’t here and she continues to do so. you loved each story. 

“well, i happen to like that song so i’ll take it, thank you very much,” eddie intervenes, grabbing the tiny clear tape out of the girl’s hand, his cheeky smile meres away from your face as you mirror his expression. warm, large hands gently disheveling your hair. eddie was able to walk the stage. hell, you both did. he flipped off the entire school afterwards, it was a sight to see, one you were glad you were a part of. his band is doing well. 

steve quickly pushed his shoulders back, “too close, munson,” and you can’t help but look up at your boyfriend, who had every right to do that now. a jealous steve harrington. you loved it. 

“oh c’mon harrington, it was the fifth grade! and i rejected her!,” he jested, sending you a smile, earning an eye roll from you. lips still happy.

“it’s true,” you nod at your boyfriend, who was now standing in his signature pose, arms crossed, biceps protruding, “but even if it wasn’t, i’d still choose you, no offense eddie,” you smile between the two boys, robin chuckling. steve tries to hide the effect those words had on him, hands going to your waist, pulling you closer to his side. 

“none taken, i would also choose harrington,” he cheekily replies, sending a wink to the golden boy, leaving the three of you laughing at an unamused steve.

the others finally join, this time accompanied by nancy, jonathan, will, mike, and el. 

you and steve bid each one of them a see you later, followed by a tight hug, ignoring the tears that are dying to escape. 

“i’m happy for you,” nancy whispers to steve, a small smile on her lips as he looked at the girl that hit his head hard enough to finally get his shit together, he thanks her, “i’m happy for you, too.” 

you hear the exchange between them and you can’t help but feel like this chapter is really closing. you were happy that they were happy. 

—

“you sure you really want to leave all of this behind, harrington?” you ask as the sign that stated you’re now leaving hawkins, indiana came to view. 

“it’s still not too late to change your mind,” a small smile playing on your lips, teasing him, your body turned towards him, a hand laid on his thigh, eyes twinkling. you know nothing in this world could ever change his mind. 

taking a quick glance at you, he smiles. a genuine smile. one that sends all the stars into his honey eyes. placing a soft kiss in the back of your hand that was laced between his fingers, he makes you fall in love with him all over again, deeper, harder.

“l/n, i want to be with you, everywhere.” 

it’s true. because home is where you were. and if that meant being an hour away from hawkins, or being on the other side of the world, hell, even just living on the streets, he’ll take it. steve harrington has lived a life without you sitting on the passenger seat, without laughter engraving his heart, without eyes as beautiful as the cosmic space boring into his. and he swears he could never live through that again. 

side note: i had the beginning and the ending finished since tuesday but i could not, for the life me, figure out how i wanted you to wake up and how the hell i was going to get to the ending. it was so infuriating, i literally though about it every second i wasn't writing. i thought about it so much to the point i ended up dreaming about it and now we're here and it's done. once again, thank you so much for reading!!!

taglist:

@preciousbabypeter @dabria14 @earthkissedcalum @lettyshush @m1ke-wheeler @fujiihime @zeusmyster @buckys-bbarnes @rexorangecouny @impala1967666 @crying-caro

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x y/n #steve harrington angst #steve harrington x you #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington #stranger things x y/n #stranger things x you #stranger things x reader #stranger things #steve harrington stranger things #everywhere we were there #i’ll follow you everywhere #everywhere #i want to be with you everywhere #love.c.

[rainbowcarousels]

Nicki for the character asks thing

Sexuality Headcanon: Somewhere on the bisexual spectrum but god only knows where. I think it's harder to label him because he doesn't really ascribe to them, but the way I see it, Nicki finds someone interesting or he doesn't, what's under their clothes is generally not part of that decision making process.

Gender Headcanon: Cis dude.

A ship I have with said character: Lestat/Nicki might be my OG m/m ship. I did ship Buffy/Faith Back In The Day, but this was the ship that lit things up for me because the interplay of them being sort of Sun and Moon really appeals to me. The bitterness of it and the beauty, that it's a tragedy that leaves such a mark on Lestat (and I think to a degree, Armand because of where he was mentally at the time) and that they got to have this brief period of being happy lost boys before they lost each other.

A BROTP I have with said character: I mean, I did literally write Nicki & Bianca's Excellent adventure but I understand why that might be a strange choice. Other than that, definitely Eleni, like she gets him and he doesn't want to set her on fire. That's as close as it gets.

A NOTP I have with said character: I don't know if I have one. Maybe Louis, actually, because I feel like he'd gack at the idea of it.

A random headcanon: That he talks to himself a lot, but it was generally under his breath before he became a vampire or just looked like pacing. Post-death, it comes out in full blown alliterative monologues. I think I showcased it pretty well in the disobedience that holds us together, but I think it's just that switch between being able to show a level of control and losing that control so everything just spills out like a broken faucet. I love looking at what gets amplified by the process of being a vampire and I think a semblence of civility is up there for Nicki, like the control of his mental vs what comes out is definitely compromised.

General Opinion over said character: He's an asshole and I love him. There's just something about the sheer will of it, like discovering the thing that brings you joy a little bit too late and wanting more time but the moment you get more time, you're too broken by a traumatic experience with a cult and the sense of betrayal with Lestat.

It is something I think gets forgotten sometimes, that he got gaslighted over his experience of seeing him pulled away out the window and everything he see's at Renaud's is dismissed so he spirals. Music is the only thing that makes sense and there's all this desolation of the soul wrapped up in that.

Also, he was Armand's first connection to the world after being out of it for so long, and I think some of that bitterness towards the world did infect him too. Nicki has one of the strongest imprints on the series while having so little 'screen'time, his ghost haunts those hallways and leaves its mark everywhere. There's always going to be something of him in Lestat's shadow.

#ask meme #nicolas de lenfent #answered #anonymouse #vc

[the-sun-and-the-sea]

Hey hey,

I’ve read all your fics and a lot of your recommendations, and love them, simply amazing! 🤌🏼 Do you have any recommendations for odesta ship fics that start at her reaping but end without finnick dying? (Like where soul meets body, but happy end?)

I feel like every long fic ends sad😫

Hi, thanks so much! I definitely get what you mean - there's a lot of inherent tragedy in Finnick and Annie's relationship, so I don't blame you for wanting a happier ending. I hope this list helps!

First, I thought I'd bring this up in case you weren't aware, Where Soul Meets Body has an alternate ending called Joy. It's only on ff.net so a lot of people don't know about it, but this is an AU where everything is the same but Finnick lives.

Oh Lord, Who Made Us This Way? by BeesKnees - This fic isn't long, it's a one-shot, but it covers the time frame you want and has a joyful ending. It's an AU where Finnick is a girl but beyond that, their relationship is relatively unchanged. I love everything by this author and this is a beautiful fic that could be worth checking out.

Annie's Games by jeanvaljeanralphio - This is a really cool take on Annie's Games, but it doesn't reach the point in canon where Finnick dies. I thought I'd mention it just because it's a good read and has part of what you're looking for. I'd suggest this one if you're in a pre-canon mood.

Wipe Away the Tears by HogwartsDreamer113 - Honestly I have not read this whole story, but I have read enough to know that it seems well written and fits your request. It starts at Annie's reaping and has an alternate ending where Finnick lives. The downside is that it's on fanfiction.net because I was running out of options on AO3, but this could be a good read if you don't mind that.

until the moon's upside down by sidelined - This is a decently long one-shot that starts before Finnick's Games and ends a few years before canon picks up, so it doesn't reach Finnick's death. I still think it's a really poignant piece and the ending is hopeful, so I suggest this one.

Ain't nothing but a family thing by kawuli - This is a series that really examines Finnick and Annie's dynamic and the different factors that go into it. I really love how the author captures their relationship; something about it just feels very organic and real. It's not marked as complete but the current ending is hopeful and makes it to canon without touching on Finnick's death, so you might like it.

I wish I could have included more, but these were surprisingly hard to find. As always, feel free to reblog with any additional recs or self-promo. I hope you can find something good to read, thanks again for the ask!

#asked and answered #fic rec list #thg fic recs #odesta #finnick odair #annie cresta #thg #the hunger games #thg fic #I had to go to fanfiction.net to find stuff #not that there was a lot there #although I'm so used to ao3's superior filtering system that it was hard to find what I wanted #anyway making these lists is fun #because I get to look at fics from so long ago #about so many topics #plus it's a fun challenge when you get something like this #that takes a little more searching #thanks to everyone who's been asking for recs #because it does genuinely mean a lot to me that people notice my content

[animehouse-moe]

Akiba Maid War 12: A Crowning Achievement of Anime Originals

Watch this show. If there's one thing that people take away from reading my entirely incoherent ramblings on this batshit crazy shitstorm of a delusional ending, it should be that everyone needs to watch this show.

A campy show about the Western perception of Japanese culture via Maids and Yakuza is something you'd never have on your list of potential shows, let alone good shows. But it's here, and has been the entire season. But this ending, this ending takes it another level upwards. If there was a graph of episode count in relation to the seriousness of the show, you'd see an exponential curve. Not that the beginning isn't serious, but that P.A Works drags you deeper and deeper into the abyss where Akiba Maid War exists.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead (both ep 11 & 12)

I mean, they go as far as to literally make comments about maids hosting a funeral. They go all out in portraying the Maids how people see Yakuza.

And it's hardly the start. It's a revenge arc, not an anime revenge arc but a Yakuza one. Nagomi is on a mission for vengeance, and come hell or high water is going to accomplish it. She threatens, she brutalizes, the only thing she isn't willing to do is kill. And it's badass.

But Nagomi's not badass, and she's not a one man army like Ranko. The tables turn quickly and she falls into a delusional state of fear and sadness.

Her insanity really is... something. Not exactly accurate, not quite "beautiful". But closer to fitting, closer to what makes her moments what they are.

Alongside Nagomi's descent into madness though is Nagi's backstory. Which, isn't really shocking to anyone. But, bringing it up and using it in the episode it's very well executed. It's exactly how it should be, used right where it needs to be. And really, that's what this episode is all about. It brings the insanity, it brings the fear, the sadness, the hope, the tragedy, at the perfect time. You might be able to guess it's coming, but it still shocks you. You'll think there's "no way" they'll do something, and then they go right ahead and do it.

It's perfectly unhinged, it perfectly subverts expectations and knows when to deliver on them instead. It knows just when to take things where they need to go, to deliver that gut punch that turns the story around and brings it full circle.

Akiba Maid War is.... something else. It's like using a formula for a completely different question, and still getting the correct answer. By every measure of the imagination, being able to take campy Yakuza media and port it to 80s Maid culture is entirely improbable, but P.A. Works does it. And they hit every note.

The constant and meaningless deaths that perpetuate the cycle and cause future events. The reveals, the guilt, the history. The emotion, the approach, the flashbacks, the foreshadowing. It's everything it set out to be, and by doing so became something even greater than the sum of its parts and origin.

Akiba Maid War is a one in a million anime. It's impossible to find something remotely similar to it, and it's near impossible someone else will come along and do something similar, let alone it be anywhere near as good as Akiba Maid War is. It was the dark horse of its season by a mile, and in hindsight remains probably the best anime original of the year, earning a spot alongside giants like Vivy or Sonny Boy from the year prior. It's something that has no peer in what it does, has nothing that stands alongside it, and it deserves respect for that. Hell, it deserves renown for what it did not only as an original series, but an anime in general.

#akiba maid sensou #akiba maid war #akiba meido sensou #アキバ冥途戦争 #wahira nagomi #mannen ranko #anime recommendation #anime review #anime and manga #anime #anime original

[moody-avocado]

Since I am still salty about this

Every time I see a Reylo post, I get reminded just how much I hated the ending of TROS, which includes the abrupt change in Rey’s character, so here’s rant & some lists/meta.

I am still very annoyed by Rey's reaction to Ben' death, so here’s a list of 5 times Rey was grieving or was at least extremely concerned about someone’s well-being vs. TROS ending. The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker are all there. Daisy Ridley is an amazing actress, and this has nothing to do with her.

I am also including a second list of all the times Rey expressed concern and compassion for Ben, almost all of which were more emotionally intense and satisfying than her reaction to his death.

Rewatching all these scenes has reminded me what a sweet character Rey is; she expresses her emotions so easily and is really in touch with her feelings. The ending of TROS is so out of character for her. Making these lists has also reminded me just how frequently Rey experienced tragedy over the course of the three movies.

I wish Ben lived, of course.

Please keep in mind that a good part of this post talks about character deaths in Star Wars, so please proceed with caution. You might find the content triggering; I have used all the trigger warnings/“tw” tags that I could think of.

Let’s go.

1-2 - TFA

1. Han dies

At this point, Rey barely knows Han (I think she has known him for exactly one day here), and still, this is her reaction to him being stabbed/thrown off the bridge. She gets easily attached to people and that she cares deeply. Rey yells, she cries.

Interestingly, her grief lasts in TFA - this is her returning to the Resistance base after Han’s death:

For contrast, here is Rey returning to the Resistance base after Ben Solo’s death; they had known each other for some time and had a very complex relationship, where they were both vulnerable with each other/bonded through the Force, saved each other’s lives multiple times, and were in love/attracted to each other:

It’s almost scary how quickly she gets over the whole thing.

2. Finn get injured

This scene lasts for a a pretty long time - unlike the segment where Ben disappears/dies and Rey is alone. When it comes to the emotional reaction, while you can argue that Rey is aware that she may die as well (the planet is collapsing), and that that adds to her sadness and concern, it’s still pretty clear that she cares about Finn deeply. She is again crying, and she also starts hugging him almost immediately after she finds him passed out.

Bonus - we can feel the despair in this shot of the gloomy forest:

There was nothing to even symbolically indicate Rey’s profound sadness/loneliness/despair after Ben dies. She does end up alone in a desert, but this is presented both as a happy event and unrelated to her Force dyad soulmate dying. The return to the desert was also awful, but that’s a rant for another time.

This is also a beautiful and very dramatic shot:

This TFA scene would make me think that Rey cares more about Finn, even after knowing him for a very short time and very superficially, than she does about Ben at the end of the trilogy, if I were to compare her “shrug emoji” reaction to this one. However, I would assume that she cares about someone that she shares a connection that spans across space and time and that she is in love with, and a person she met that day, who is admittedly very likeable and who has helped her, in equal measure, at least.

Like with Han, this is Rey still being concerned after they get back to the Resistance base; she is reaching out to see if Finn is alright:

3 - TLJ

3. Luke’s death

Luke dies in this one. Rey talks about it with Leia, and says that it was peaceful and purposeful, which I believe is meant to, in part, explain why they are both not grieving more than this:

Please keep in mind that what I say in this paragraph is completely within the confines of the movies/the narrative and fantasy - it does not apply to real life. I guess that something along those lines could be applied to Ben’s death in TROS - that it was with a purpose - saving Rey. However, I just cannot compare Luke - who had a much longer life and a much less tormented existence overall, and who sacrificed himself to “right the wrong that he did”, which was “creating Kylo Ren” in the first place - dying to save the Resistance, to his nephew dying after he knew happiness for probably the first time in his life, after decades of abuse. A digression, but here is Luke vs. Ben, who is shaking, around the time when they made the decision to sacrifice themselves:

TROS had one of the most depressing movie endings I have ever seen.

4-5 - TROS

4. Rey accidentally zaps the ship that she thought Chewbacca was in

I have no idea how close Rey and Chewbacca are, but here’s how she reacts when she is convinced that Chewie is dead:

5. Leia

Leia dies and Rey senses it in the Force. This is probably the most miserable we ever see Rey. She has just lost her mother figure - it is difficult to watch:

Ok, now Rey expressing concern for Ben:

1. TFA - planet collapsing

This is a subtle one, and she is either concerned (she left Kylo Ren/Ben to die, injured) or she is intrigued by their meeting and is reflecting on it (some third option is a possibility - for example, she noticed a ship come pick him up):

2. TLJ - Ben explains to Rey that Luke tried to kill him

She calls him a liar, and while she might also be crying because she is shocked to learn such a thing and is disappointed in Luke, she is clearly sad about the whole thing:

3. TLJ - Rey is mad that Luke tried to kill Ben

Rey is protective when it comes to the people (and droids) she cares about. You could argue that in this scene she is angry about all the events that stemmed from “Luke creating Kylo Ren”, and that that’s why she is in fight mode. Still, it’s shown that she has developed some feelings for Ben:

4. TLJ - Rey sees Kylo getting strangled during the Throne room fight:

5. TLJ - The “you are breaking my heart! You are going down a path that I can't follow” moment:

6. TROS - Rey healing Ben

While she is still overwhelmed and crying due to Leia’s passing, Rey turns towards Ben (my interpretation is that she is also wondering what his feelings concerning his mother’s death are, due to their strained relationship) and then looks at his wound:

Rey informs Ben that she wanted to take his hand after she is done healing him:

She shifts from grieving for Leia, to grieving the relationship that she could have had with Ben.

7. TROS - Rey realizing Ben has arrived to help her fight Palpatine

I love this moment ^

I think that all of these moments show that Rey does care about Ben, deeply. These are her reactions to events that are not as final as his death.

And finally - Ben dying:

The way this scene is presented, it really seems that Rey is frowning primarily because she is confused - she doesn’t understand why Ben is acting all weird:

Rey when she comprehends that Ben is dead:

That’s it. There is no screaming, crying, trying to hold him, nothing.

And then

She doesn’t even mention Ben dying to anyone (there is no discussing Luke’s death-type scene). I am presuming that she has to bring it up, and fast, since this is also the Supreme Leader who has just died, she is the only one who knows for certain he is dead, and Rey and all her friends are... politically involved, but this probably happens off-screen then.

I could add that Rey holds a sort of a funeral for Leia and Luke (burying the lightsabers), but that she does not do anything similar for Ben.

If you have made it to the end of the post, please let me know what your thoughts are!

Thanks for reading, This has been therapeutic.

I do not own any of the materials used/any of the characters, entertainment purposes only.

#reylo #star wars #avocado meta #meta #still salty #tlj #tfa #tros #rey #ben solo #kylo ren #trigger words #tw: death #tw: character death #tw: sadness #tw: parental death #sw #death #tw death #tw abuse #tw: abuse #tw: grieving #tw: grief #tw grief #tw grieving #moody avocado #the last jedi #the force awakens #the return of skywalker