#not to be all like 'calm down son its just a drawing' but can we maybe not hold this show to impossible standards | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

gilmore-angel · 5 months

Text

everything has changed | aaron hotchner x reader

swiftmas ♱ heyyy.... so this is super late😬. I am now on break so hopefully the future ones will be on time💋

summary ♱ working at a daycare has its perks, a big one being a certain single dad.

warnings ♱ awkward flirting, my lack of understanding how daycares are run, ooc aaron probably cause I haven't watched this show in forever

swiftmas ♱ navigation ♱ follow my library account @baysfics to see when I post!

loud. if you had to use one word to describe your job it would be loud. you of course loved your work, but being completely overwhelmed has become a normal thing.

the end of the day was always the hardest. trying to gather all of the kids items, putting shoes on, getting through checkout, and cleaning up afterwards.

one little boy in particular however made your job a bit easier. Jack Hotchner, an adorable three year old, was polite, well behaved, and sweet. his father, aaron hotchner, was serious but seemed nice.

all you new about him was he worked a lot, and rarely was the one to pick jack up. 90% of the time it was his aunt to come pick him up.

but today was different. when your coworker said jacks parent was here for pickup you help his little winter coat on and backpack and walked with him to the front desk for checkout.

there stood arron, dressed in his usual black suit. his jet black hair was shiny and put together like always. his blank almost cold expression shifted to a much happier one when he saw jack running towards him.

the little boy hugged his father's legs in greeting, receiving a hug in return. you smile as you walk up to aaron and pass him the drawing jack made in class today.

"jack wanted to make sure u gave this to you," aaron smiles softly and takes it, looking over the two little stick figures playing in the snow, representing them.

he glances back up at you, nodding once at you, "thank you. youre jacks main teacher, correct?"

his voice sounding so clear is surprising to you. the most you heard from him was a quiet goodmorning or bye. you would see him mutter words to jack, but they were only for jack to here. the fact he talked to you at all was completely out of the norm.

you feel your cheeks heat up, suddenly realizing now that you have to speak directly to him how handsome he really is.

you smile softly and nod, "yes, I am." you realize too late how awkward you sound.

he nods, reaching out his hand to shake yours, "jack talks about you a lot. you seem to be his favorite here."

your heart swells at that, knowing jack was your favorite too. your heart also skips a beat at the feeling of shaking his hand. his skin is rough, yet his touch is gentle.

"thats so sweet. he brings you up a ton too." your hand drops back to your side and you fiddle with your jeans, suddenly feeling very flustered, a butterfly party happening in your tummy.

he smiles, a bit brighter now. he picks up his son, who is growing more and more tired by the second. he glances away before meeting your eyes again. "I uh, I appreciate all you do for my son. I work a lot out of state so, knowing my son has a good place to go is uh, comforting."

your smile widens, and you chuckle softly, "it my pleasure. he's a great kid."

you both continue to hold eye contact, your breathing calming a bit. he has kind eyes. tired ones, yes, but kind. he finally breaks the little bit of silence by clearing his throat, glancing down.

"well uh, we should be heading out. thank you again." before you can speak again he walks out, son in his arms.

even after he has disappeared from your eye site, you continue to stand and tare at where he was. you almost feel giddy, like a teenager who just met their new crush. you snap out of your daze when you realize you still need to help with checkout. you quickly get back to it, but can't help but thinking that everything has changed.

#swiftmas (fayes version)#aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner x you #aaron hotchner x y/n #aaron hotchner x female reader #aaron hotch hotchner #aaron hotch x reader #aaron hotch imagine #aaron hotch fanfiction #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #bay writes🌻

516 notes · View notes

greg-montgomery · 1 year

Note

hey fay! I hope you're having a beautiful mornin

I am here to request like SWOONING hotch, touchstarved, red-cheeked, brain shortcircuited hotch, who is left a puddle by reader's lingering touches at the office.

I feel like if y/n was the type to just grab him by the hand when they need to show him something, the type to cradle the back of his head with their hand whenever they pull him in for their signature hugs, the type to casually doze off on HIS SHOULDER 😳🚨 he would simply be putty in their hands, he's just enamoured every time they open their mouth and say HIS NAME? HIS? and if they gave him his very own nickname like not even aaron not hotch but a personal nickname because THEY think about HIM enough to think he needs his own special word (personally I imagine they call him beam and he never knows why - but its bc when he smiles, like really smiles that gorgeous face thats nothing but smile lines and dimples ear-to-ear, he's beaming, he's a beamer, its just what he does. I. dont make the rules).

basically i would love to just read about lovely little hotch to get butterflies and blush and be enamoured by somebody, and of course reader is clueless bc they think thats just how he is but NO when they touch him he feels sparks and he'll follow them like a magnet, its this force they have on him, he's just a willing participant in any aspect of their life they're willing to let him see.

i would totally get if this was not your vibe or not something you want to write/elaborate on but GOD i need more swooning hotch in my life

bestie i'm embarassing late to this 😭 you're just so sweet - if you read this pls tell me you saw it lmfao <3 ily

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

“Aaron!”

Hearing the sound of his first name coming from your lips made him pause for a second. Impatient from watching him standing there frozen, you grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the direction you wanted his attention at.

“Come on, look at this. I found his son’s drawings. This could give us some insight of what their relationship looks like,” you explained, but Aaron was unable to pay any attention to your words, as your hand was still holding his.

“Beam, are you listening to me?”

Here goes that nickname again, he thought. He would sell his soul to find out what that nickname meant. He had asked you about it before, but your only response was a sneaky smile. A smile he would do anything for.

“Sorry,” he said. “I was distracted.”

“That’s okay,” you answered, softly. “I know our last case was tough and we jumped into the next one without having a chance to recover first.”

Aaron was grateful you assumed that the cause of his distraction was the last case and not your beautiful face, and even though you weren’t necessarily correct, his heart still melted at your comforting words.

“Yeah,” he simply said, and nodded.

“Well, you can always talk to me if you want. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

You wrapped up the case quickly so you flied back home that same night. Everyone on the jet was already asleep, except for the two of you.

Aaron was lucky enough to have been chosen as the one you sat next to, and his heart hadn’t calmed down for a second.

He felt embarrassed by the feeling of butterflies in his stomach just because his crush sat next to him, but he was glad his heart could still feel those emotions.

“Can I?” you sweet voice interrupted his thoughts.

As he turned to look at you, he saw you pointing at his shoulder; you were asking for permission to fall asleep on him. As if he’d ever say no to you.

“Of course you can,” he said, almost breathless.

“Thank you, beamy,” you grinned as you let your head fall on his shoulder, and it was impossible for him not to smile too.

His smile grew bigger when you turned your head slightly to look up at him.

“That’s why you’re my beam,” you whispered.

“What?”

“Everyone says you never smile, but I see you smile all the time. And when you do you’re just beaming. You light up the whole room, no joke.”

“Stop,” he laughed, unable to keep his cheeks from blushing.

“It’s true!”

“You’re usually the reason why,” he admitted.

His words got you shy, he could tell, but you wrapped your arm around him and snuggled closer in the crook of his neck. “That’s the biggest compliment I’ve ever been given,” you mumbled against his neck.

Aaron breathed out a laugh, and it was his turn to wrap his arms around you, making sure there was not even an inch of space between your bodies.

#aaron hotchner x reader #hotch x reader #aaron hotchner #hotch 🪐#ask

805 notes · View notes

raven-at-the-writing-desk · 2 months

Text

I've been dreaming of the Loyalist of Clubs.

There are so many regrets born out of ignorance. So many bonds lost to time.

He wishes he could have done more then.

How does a moment last forever? How can a story never die?

“Wh-What’s happening, Trey?”

The question comes from the boy huddled on the guest bed. He’s smallish and demure, like a rose bud yet to bloom. His eyes and cheeks are the same color as his hair—red, from crying.

Trey awkwardly peels himself away from the door. Even shut, shouting is audible from beyond it.

“HE KIDNAPPED MY SON!! Bring him back this instant, or I’ll call the authorities!”

“Ma’am, please calm down. They’re children—”

Trey pictures Mrs. Rosehearts as a balloon, bright red and inflated with hot air. The more she screams, the more air leaks put of her twisted mouth. She shrinks and shrinks until she poofs out of existence.

It doesn’t feel right to stand, so he sits on the bed beside his friend. The frame groans from their combined weights, light as they are.

“… I’m not sure,” Trey admits. “I saw you upset and grabbed your hand and ran. I didn’t want you to be stuck in that situation anymore.”

He pats a pillow. Attempts to comfort his friend.

“You can stay here.” Forever, if you want. But he doesn’t say that, only hopes it in his heart. The solution is so simple in his kid mind. “At least until your mom isn’t mad anymore.”

“Is that… allowed?”

“Sure it is. My parents won’t mind—er, probably. They like having new people over. We’ll pretend it’s a normal sleepover.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s when you sleep over at another person’s house—that’s where the name comes from. You stay up late, watch movies, play games, eat snacks, and then fall asleep together.”

Riddle’s eyes widen. “That sounds like breaking so many rules,” he says nervously.

“Those are the rules for sleepovers. The point is to have fun.”

“Fun…” Riddle nibbles on his lip, drawing his knees closer to his torso. He hugs his legs, collapsing into himself with a sniff. “I-I don’t know—I don’t like not knowing. I’m scared, Trey. Mama is so angry with me. I’m not supposed to…”

“It’s okay to not know. No one knows everything.”

“Mama does. Everyone says so. That’s why she’s always right.”

“That’s not true. I know she’s wrong about this—about us, and about Che’nya.” He grabs Riddle’s clammy hand and squeezes. “She can’t keep us three from being friends.”

“We are…?”

“Yup.” Trey pokes him, then points to himself, “We’re friends. And friends stick up for each other, watch each other’s backs.”

Riddle hesitates. “Is that… the rule?”

“You can think of it like that if you want. But I didn’t do any of this because of some rule, I did it because I wanted to help you somehow, any way I can."

"B-But we're just kids. What can we do?"

Trey worriedly glances at the door--the adults' voices haven't quieted at all--then at Riddle and the stress deeply etched into his round face. This isn't a good place for him right now either.

"We could... go over to Che'nya's. He and his grandpa will be happy to see us, and we can all have that sleepover.”

Riddle looks bewildered at the mere suggestion. "We're going to leave?"

"Shouldn't be too hard. We've already played hooky before," Trey says, tugging him up and off the bed by the arm. "Besides, a walk can help take your mind off of things."

We can be ourselves. We can forget our worries. Everything can be as it was.

Riddle’s eyes are wide with alarm. His knees wobble, and Trey catches him.

“It’ll be fine! I’ll be with you all the way—so if we get yelled at, we can be yelled at together. You won’t be alone.”

Not ever again.

Riddle responds in a shaky mew. His cheeks are wet from crying, and his words trembling—but his trust is firm. “O-Okay… I believe in you. Let’s go. Let’s go see Che’nya.”

Trey smiles reassuringly. “Alright, we’ll escape through the window. It’s a classic. You know how to do it safely by now, right?”

“Yes…!”

The two boys scramble to the bedroom window, undoing its latch and sliding it up. Trey leads the charge, easily clearing the sill. He looks back, urging Riddle to follow.

The threshold is daunting, less the boundary between inside and out and more like the bridge to a world unknown. When Riddle charges at the open window, he expects to smack into the wall. To fall, to fail.

The ground rumbles,

Splintering, fissures appearing.

“You got this!!” Trey cheers from the other side.

Riddle vaults too early and slips.

Panic shoots through him like a bolt of lightning.

Something erupts from out of the floor, racing under the boy to break his fall. Riddle lands on a thick, cushy stalk, leaves twisting around it. Above him, a giant head of petals--blue, bell-shaped, and ringing.

Bluebell.

Another flower sprouts by the boy's feet, bearing a crimson mouth--two lips, pulled back in a laugh. "Frolic, rejoice," says the Tulip. "Be free.”

“Free, free,” a patch of tiny, shrinking violets choruses.

“To dance around the posies and spin daisy chains and search for four leaf clovers.”

“We’ll lift you up when you’re down.”

Plants are poking out from every inch of the guest room, making their own quips and banter. Trey should be startled, but instead he laughs and waves for Riddle.

He waves back shyly, then gasps. His feet find something squishy yet solid under them.

Mushrooms with flat caps, a whole flight of them, in ascending height. The boy clumsily crosses them, each step sending up a cloud of fat, lazy spores. Riddle sneezes, nearly careening off the side—but a wall of snapping dragons or sly gloves in foxes closes in, surprisingly gentle as they support him.

He hops over the sill with ease.

And the flowers follow.

It’s a rainbow come alive, color sprawling over the roads and knitting rooftops with new lattice designs. Some designs dare to go higher and flashier: beanstalks that pierce the clouds, fruit clusters so heavy they bend and droop, petals dripping with jewels. Even the air is more jubilant, filled with shimmering particles--pollen?

Sunshine opens on Riddle’s face.

“Whaaaa~ So pretty!!”

“Isn’t it?” Trey’s grin is so wide his teeth ache. “We should hurry and get Che’nya so he can see this too.”

“It’s going to take so long to wade through all of this.”

“Fine by me." Trey grabs his friend's hand. It feels so small in his, and he thinks of a seed in need of water and light. "We can take our time to stop and smell the roses!”

His other hand reaches out and finds the stem of a large passing dandelion tuft. It forms an umbrella from its fuzzy white tendrils, the perfect shape for sailing on the wind.

Whoosh.

Trey and Riddle squeal as they're whisked off.

Up, up, and away, where their troubles can't chase them.

#twisted wonderland #twst #Trey Clover #Riddle Rosehearts #disney twisted wonderland #disney twst #twst imagines #twisted wonderland imagines #twst scenarios #twisted wonderland scenarios #twst anni #twst anniversary #twisted wonderland anniversary #twisted wonderland anni #twst countdown #twisted wonderland countdown #I’ve been Dreaming…#book 1 spoilers

115 notes · View notes

itsdeathofabachelor · 11 months

Text

Remember the post I made about Jotaro being the same level of fucked up as Kakyoin but in different ways? I think I need to give examples because I have a very distinct thing in my brain I need all of you people to grasp to some extent here.

Jotaro is fucking huge. Ginormous for no reason considering he very likely hadn’t had the time to work out in between beating the shit out of local gang members, dashing and dining, and being a bitch to his mother. But because he hasn’t really been in a setting with a bunch of people with similar physiques as him, he has no idea how to act outside of being ‘cool’. Like, he sees no point in flaunting how he looks so he doesn’t, unlike with someone who, say, worked at their body image for months.

So I am being dead serious when I say Holly didn’t make him a school lunch one time (she had such a bad flu bug she couldn’t get out of bed) Jotaro skips all of his classes, entire day ruined. He goes out to the convenience store, red faced, puffy eyed, and shoves a packet of donuts down his shirt. No one even fucking notices. He eats all of them and cries, it’s so fucking funny.

I should probably mention, Kakyoin is one hundred percent the only one who Jotaro could give less of a shit seeing him do this. So he’s there, gingerly explaining the breeding cycles of salmon and trout in hopes of engaging Jotaro’s autism enough so he doesn’t choke and fucking die around the three donuts he shoved in his mouth.

So, six foot five, bulging muscles, could pop a can of tomatoes open if he put it in between his thighs and squeezed slightly, having a breakdown under a tree somewhere in a national park, defeated. A red haired, twitchy twunk drawing with a stick in the ground saying some shit like, ‘you can tell it’s a type of mammal because of its fin bones, even if it’s exclusively in the water now— please slow down Jojo I really don’t want you to throw up again’.

No, like, he’s a mess all the time but would rather die than be around literally anyone when he has that ‘calm before the storm’ meltdown feeling. So he just sort of shows up at Kakyoin’s doorstep like a stray and lays on his bedroom floor for three hours. Sometimes he falls asleep and Kakyoin uses him as a backrest because he always chooses to be face first directly in front of his Atari and Kakyoin wants to play his games.

Kakyoin’s mother one hundred percent thinks Jotaro is some dangerous delinquent who is going to put her son into a grave, life or death peer pressure situation until she sees Jotaro being dragged out of the house by his ankles with an out of breath Kakyoin carting both their bags under one arm, Jotaro’s coat over one shoulder, and Jotaro’s foot in both his hands. Like, ‘We have a math test. I need good grades. I am not explaining to Miss Holly why you have to retake highschool’.

And Jotaro’s completely limp, like three hundred fucking pounds of pure muscle, wearing a tank top, face down with his hat brim dragging on the floor. He looks fucking dead. He looks like a dead fucking rat. And Kakyoin’s mother no longer has nearly as many worries about Jotaro but also is forever cursed with the knowledge that, even if she were to gossip to her book club about it, they would never believe her.

Also, she’s seen Jotaro cry three separate times on the kitchen floor as Kakyoin makes his grilled cheese in the shapes of dolphins because his favourite cereal changed their packaging or Sadao calls and he’s just losing it in a puddle of tears. He never mentions it again and literally goes back to normal like nothing had happened.

He could beat the shit out of a whole biker gang, spear and set their leader on fire, all stoic and angry and totally badass. Everything falls into place with perfectly timed catchphrases and comebacks, but he’ll still be at Kakyoin’s house, twenty minutes later, face down infront of his Atari. And Kakyoin will use him as a back rest to play his games.

#I love when Jotaro Kujo is a fucking train wreck it’s the best #I have some more seriously fucked up headcannons but this one is one of my favourites #jjba kakyoin #jjba jotaro #jotaro #noriaki kakyoin #jojos bizzare adventure #jojo stardust crusaders

67 notes · View notes

tonberry-yoda · 2 years

Note

HELOOOOO

ONCE AGAIN REQUESTING FOR CROCO MAN

fr the moment i saw your post i def did not go WOOOOOOWOWOWOWO HAHAHHA

Made my day 🕺

Anyway back to business 😤

You can add more things and it doesnt have to be the same

no problemo👌

Crocodile about to kiss his S/O when their 6 year old ran into the room screaming for their father to look at their new arts and craft creation and also begging croc to play with them, crocoman plays it off smoothly by adjusting and combing what atoms there were to rearrange while turning to his child in his usual calm demeanour like "Hm?" while, his wife tries to hide her laughter and panic with crocodile's attempts in trying to nudge/hold her arm to tell her to hold whatever she has in as to not raise questions from his curious child full of energy, silently

That may be too much details but yes its alright even if you take 1% of that HAHSHAHAHHA

Yuh

Thank youuu

And dw, take as much time as you need 💪

omg you dont understand how excited i was to get another request from you anon! i love writing croc as a dad, like i am seriously obsessed with these, so thank you so so much! also, if you want to be an anon on my account with a cute little nickname, go for it! i have heart anon on here, who i adore talking to, and i would love to interact with you more if you would like and if you see this!

Crocodile as a father part 2

Pairing - Crocodile x reader (implied f!reader as reader is called wife and mom)

Warnings - a little suggestive, but not anything far

Word Count - 475

Notes - thanks again anon! i really hope you like it! i tried to use everything you had, but added along the way! thank you so so much and i hope you have an awesome day and stay hydrated!!! <333 (also, image below not mind) (omg this man is so fine)

“Oh, my love,” Crocodile smirked at you, holding up his glass of wine as if he was making a toast. “You are the best wife any man could ask for.” He adjusted the strap of your tanktop and put his hand on your exposed thigh.

You giggled softly, holding up your glass as well. “Well you’re the best husband and father I've ever met. I love you, Sir Crocodile.” You slid your hand under his jacket with flirty eyes.

He felt a chill down his spine hearing you say those words. “Don't.” He gave you a sly smile before wrapping his arm around your waist to pull you in for a kiss.

Only to be interrupted by your six year old child running in the room, exclaiming that he had made a beautiful (or bootiful in his case) piece of artwork worthy of a museum. “Daddy! Daddy look!!!” He held up a drawing of what you assumed to be your entire small family. Crocodile was a giant looking creature holding you, his wife, who looked like a little… princess? And then your son, who was in a superhero costume. It was adorable, but Crocodile never knew how to react to something like that. He didn't want to be mean and saw it was awful, but he didn't want to lie and say that it was the best piece of work he’s ever seen.

“You see, daddy! Isn't it great! I made it all by myself!!!” Your child was hopping up and down, showing both of you his creation and you giggled, watching Crocodile set down his wine and slick his hair back with a deep breath.

“It uh… looks great, bud.” Crocodile quickly panicked, remembering what little clothes you had on so he quickly threw the blanket over you. You just kept giggling as Crocodile squeezed your hand, praying that his son didn't have the brain cells to notice what was going on.

“Daddy, can we play please?” Crocodile turned to you, who was sipping on your wine, holding back laughter. He nudged you to try to stop you from laughing, which made your face turn bright red.

“Uh, buddy, your mom and I were-”

“Pleeaaaaaseeee daddy?! I wanna playyyyyy!!!”

“Buddy, I-”

“Momma! Tell daddy to play with me!”

You giggled and pressed a kiss onto Crocodile’s cheek and pushed him towards your child. “Honey, play with your son,” you leaned closely to his ear, your lips brushing against it with every word. “I expect you to put him down for a nap soon though. I'll see you soon, love.”

Crocodile’s face went bright red as his son grabbed his giant hand, leading him to the living room. “What was that about, daddy?”

“N-Nothing, son.” He shot you a dirty look as you giggled, forcing him to hold back a smile.

God, he loves you.

#crocodile one piece #crocodile #sir crocodile #sir crocodile x reader #one piece crocodile #crocodile x reader #one piece #one piece x reader #x reader #request #anon #thanks again!!!#i love these omg #writing #fanfic #fanfiction #my writing

247 notes · View notes

blackjackkent · 5 months

Text

The area with the House of Healing seems to have been a whole settlement back before the corruption spread; lots of nearby buildings to check out, but in particular, the one next door seems to be the distillery!

This is where that weird guy "He Who Was" asked us to retrieve a ledger so he could prove that a dead lady had stabbed some people in the back, so he could drag her soul back from the Fugue Plain and put it on trial.

Hector is still skeptical about all of it, but he's at least going to go look around and see if this lady did what the dude said she did.

Once again, we're given a sneak preview of likely upcoming weirdness by picking up some ambient dialogue coming from inside.

I dunno, man, you tell me. I just got here.

Like everything else in this area, the place is super abandoned and rundown and clearly has been for some time. Here's the fellow who's talking; he's hanging out next to some boilers that are still inexplicably steaming.

He's not alone in here. There appear to be a few other rambling undead, as well as...uh...this guy.

Man, the Thorm family sure is something, huh?

Closer inspection does not improve him; rotating his model in the details screens shows that he has four legs, tits out, and a tail.

Interestingly...we heard a lot about Thorm's wife and daughter in the mausoleum and elsewhere - that they were Selunites, that they died - but nothing about any sons. So who the hell are these mutated weirdos?

His current status effects also make me think this fight is going to be gross and unpleasant:

Numb: Your puny attacks can't break through the numbness Thisobald feels. He is Immune to Slashing, Piercing, Bludgeoning, and Thunder damage.

Gaseous Reflux: Physical attacks have added gas to Thisobald's special brew.

Ugh. Hector and Karlach pretty much ONLY deal bludgeoning and slashing damage so this is going to be...interesting.

Hector has calmed down a bit, though, so maybe we can talk our way through this one.

Ughhhhh this is going to suck.

OK here we go.

Amazingly, the cutscene opens by having Hector just belly up to shattered, no doubt foul-smelling bar as if it's an average Saturday night.

Gods, what an awful creature. What a stink.

He - it? - pours a foul-looking concoction into an enormous stein and pushes it across the bar at Hector. "Drink..." it rumbles, a raspy, grating voice like a small rockslide. "Gulp it down...wet your whistle...tell your *story.*"

Hector peers into the mug with considerable skepticism, then up at the giant fleshy blob that is his host. "What in all the Nine Hells *are* you?" he asks bluntly.

"Son of Thorm. Sot of Sword Coast," Thisobald booms. "Go on." It nudges the mug closer to Hector in a horrifying parody of good humor. "Cheers. Bottoms up. Down th' hatch."

"This guy looks like he had a long, long, *long* night," Karlach mutters in Hector's ear as she slides onto the stool next to him at the bar. "Might be best to keep him happy for now."

Hector winces and looks down at the mug again. The liquid is most certainly not ale; it's thick and goopy and has an iron scent to it that makes his stomach turn. He glances sideways at Karlach and gives a slight gesture at the mug, as if to say, you mean I should drink this?

She shrugs. Maybe? He can feel the flash of her uncertainty along the thread of the tadpole connection - along with muted amusement.

He rolls his eyes at her, draws a breath, and holds it.

Pick up the tankard.

Narrator: Leaning in, you can see how the creature's skin barely holds it together. The bulge of its belly is on the cusp of bursting wide open.

"Ugh," Gale mutters with disgusted relish. "Look at the thing. A few more tastes of its own medicine and it'll burst."

Well, Hector thinks. That's a strategy. He looks again at the mug, then up at the heaving bulk of the creature across from him.

"Go on," Thisobald growls in its closest approximation of good cheer. "Drink. Make it drank. Be *drunk.* You and I both. To our good health." It raises its own enormous mug expectantly.

Hector grimaces. All things with her strength, he reminds himself firmly. Even this awful concoction. As the masters taught you - find the center, hold it steady, and all discomfort will pass...

I don't know if the masters ever pictured anything quite like this, though...

[MONK][SAVING THROW] Steady your body and mind, then drink.

Narrator: The liquid burns your throat as you swallow, but otherwise you feel no ill effects.

Hector sputters into a cough as he finishes swallowing the bitter draught. Gods, that's awful...

Meanwhile, the creature is draining its own enormous mug with considerable enthusiasm. "Ahhhhh..." it rumbles. "Elixer. But such a small sip you take..." Beneath its mask of cloth, something shifts, as if it has smiled. "Fear not. You will soon quaff as I do!"

With surprisingly deft movements, it rapidly refills both mugs from the enormous, steaming keg strapped to its back. "Now," it commands, placing the mug back before Hector, who looks at it with distaste. "Tell me a story. A fable. A saga. DELIGHT me."

Hector glances at Karlach, who raises her hands in a gesture that he does not need the tadpole to tell him means, I'm staying out of this. He is quite sure he can sense her amusement now.

Great. A story. What the hell would this thing want to hear about?

He raises the mug with a dramatic gesture, tactically sloshing a little of it off to the side. "From aboard a mind flayer vessel, I've witnessed the hells themselves," he intones.

The creature's face is hidden, but its scowl is still obvious. "A wasted journey," it snarls. "The Hells can be seen right here." The words are punctuated with a horrible rumbling noise from its stomach.

Truer words were never spoken, Hector thinks with distaste.

"Spin a more fantastic fable," Thisobald demands. "Entertain, engross, *amuse* me..." For the first time, its voice takes on a distinct note of malice. "Or be amusement..."

Hector gulps. What he would not give in this moment to be a bard with a knack for oratory and a taste for invention...but he is only himself, and his mind feels blank and empty.

The one time Volo would be useful. He thinks on their bard companion, back in camp - and remembers something Volo said to him, early in their acquaintance. My friend, he'd said, every story benefits from a dragon.

"I...slaughtered a gold dragon and collected its vast hoard," he tries, puffing up his chest deliberately and squaring his shoulders.

And...astonishingly, it works. The creature seems fascinated. "Hoard, you say?" it booms. "Sounds like you can stand me a round or seven. But later..." It pokes an enormous finger towards him. "You ask. You drink. Then you amaze, enthuse, astound me. AGAIN!"

Oh, gods...he wants to be anywhere else but here. But he grips the mug with intensity that turns his knuckles white, and prays.

[CLERIC][SAVING THROW] As you drink, call upon your god to steady you.

Narrator: Your belly rumbles as the vile brew fills it - yet your mind remains miraculously clear.

All things with her strength, he repeats desperately to himself, white-knuckling the edge of the bar and struggling against the urge to vomit. My Lady, stand by me now...

The creature comfortably drains another of its enormous draughts and laughs, refilling the mugs again. "More stories!" it demands. "Tell me of foes felled! Villains vanquished! Beasts bested!"

Well, he's certainly had no shortage of those. He casts his mind back across their adventures, picking out some of the most dramatic battles.

"A towering creature rose from molten lava," he tries, remembering the golem that battered them about in the heart of the Grymforge. "I felled it with great wit and might!"

The creature laughs uproariously, satisfied with this tale. "Huh. Molten. Hot. Heavy. I saw such a beast in my latrine. A fierce foe." It gestures again at the mugs. "Ask. Question. Make your query. And drink once more."

Hector looks down at the swirling brew in the mug. If Gale is right...he needs only to endure, and not for much longer. He can do this. He is a monk of Selune; endurance is his mastery.

And...he broke down, lost his discipline, in front of Karlach in the house of healing, mere hours ago. He does not want to fail in this in front of her again so soon. He cannot let her down, cannot let them all down. Even Shadowheart, who has not spoken a word to him since his outburst.

[MONK][SAVING THROW] Channel your focus to a sharpened point as you drink.

Narrator: Each swig is as painful as the last, but you remain in otherwise sound mind and body.

Gods, he feels ill. Every part of him squirms with discomfort. But he holds his focus, stares into the wood of the bar until he begins to steady.

The creature is staring at him intently. It downs another huge swig of the drink and lets out a hoarse groan; something inside it rumbles warningly. "I...know you. I knew...I know...I am knowing..." It leans forward until its face is almost touching Hector's; the stench it brings with it is almost enough to shatter his tenuous control over his digestive system.

"You want father's personal...mysterious...secret..." Thisobald slurs. The drink is starting to affect even his massive bulk and there is an odd straining noise within his body, like a balloon starting to overfill. "No -- not -- never!"

Hector leans back a little on his barstool away from the creature as it begins to ramble more urgently, one arm flailing. "Father said...ordered...commanded. Don't say it, don't say it! The cage. HER cage..."

What is it talking about? Hector listens with a blank expression, his mind churning rapidly in spite of the drink he's consumed.

"Talk..and perish..." Thisobald mumbles. "Die, buried. Buried in Thorm tomb. Father told me."

It looks down at its own distended stomach, which has begun to groan ominously. "I can't perish...no..." it whispers. "Nay...neither... too strong... too--"

There is only a second's warning. Hector tumbles backwards off his barstool, crashing into Shadowheart behind him, as the horrible creature explodes in a wet burst of liquor, blood, and flesh.

----

"Ugh," Karlach mutters, leaning over the bar to look at the remains of what used to be Thorm's son. "Seems you were right on the money, Gale."

"I wish I weren't," Gale says, his nose wrinkling with distaste. "That was one of the least pleasant things I have ever borne witness to, and coming from anyone in this group, that is saying something indeed."

"No kidding." Karlach glances over her shoulder. "All right, Soldier?"

Hector is sitting very still on the ground next to Shadowheart, staring at a point in the middle distance. "I am going to be sick," he pronounces very carefully. "I am going to go outside and be sick, and no one is going to stop me. You can all search this place. I am going to go outside. And be sick. Goodbye."

He pushes himself to his feet and staggers out the door into the endless night beyond.

#bjk plays baldur's gate 3 #hector carlisle #ok this one was fun XD #super gross enemy but hector nailed these speech checks without even needing any inspiration #thaumaturgy and resistance were doing a lot of work here #hector would like a nap right now immediately

13 notes · View notes

sambhavami · 9 months

Text

The Lost Flute - Part 7 (Welcome to the Family)

Despite Krishna's best efforts to hide the appearance of the slayer of Shambara from Rukmini, by the time he reached her quarters, the queen's attendants had already informed her of the court proceedings. Upon returning to his chambers after setting up the boy in a guest room, Krishna found his wife sitting on his bed, fuming. "I was coming to you just now, Vaidarbhi-" Krishna began, but Rukmini cut him off. Krishna was somewhat taken aback to see his first wife's temper. He was used to Satyabhama's outbursts and Jambavati's cutting remarks, but he had never seen Rukmini so much as annoyed in all these years of marriage. He slumped down onto the couch, resigned to facing her well-deserved wrath.

"So Devarshi proposed, and you accepted without so much as a single word in protest? What is the use of your strength and valour, if you will dance to the tunes of any random person that walks into your parliament? Is your grandfather not the King of this land? What is the use of that Nandaka sword if it could not even protect the only son of its master?" She cried, "Is this why I left behind my family, my friends and my entire life? For you to bring home any random child and make me call it my blood? You should have left me to die by the sacred fire of my marriage to Shishupala, then. It was better than enduring this abject humiliation at the hands of your people!" Krishna desperately shook his head, his own throat heavy with emotion. He hated to see Rukmini so distraught.

Krishna tried to hold her close, but Rukmini swatted his hand away. She was breathing heavily, drowned in a deluge of conflicting emotions. The logical part of her brain understood her husband's predicament, but before her eyes, the empty crib in the centre of her bedroom kept floating. Krishna whispered to her, "I'm begging you to once consider the situation sans emotion Rukmini, I truly don't have a choice! If this news gets out of the palace, the people will revolt. I can fight any enemy that dares attack our kingdom, but I cannot suppress the infighting forever. If there's a revolt, it will draw a wedge in the Yadava family as well, Dwarika will be left a bloody wasteland, and enemy kingdoms will swallow Mathura whole!"

"Have I kept you prisoner Krishna?" Rukmini retorted, "You go do whatever you want! Make whomever your son, why do you make this farce of asking for my permission? Did you ask me before rushing off to the forest after that cursed gem? Did you ask me before bringing home two wives right on the heel of making me think I'd lost you without so much as a single message? If you did not need my permission then, you do not need it now. I have accepted that I'll always be alone here, cut off from my father and brothers and everything else that I know and love. You all cannot hurt me more than this!"

Krishna sat with his head lowered. He could not refute her accusations. It was true that he had been rash in all these instances. He had always been grateful for Rukmini's calmness. In fact, in doing so, he had almost forgotten that she was born a princess, and was raised to be a queen. She had perfected the art of hiding her emotions behind an icy demeanour. Krishna now regretted having taken her stoic silence as acceptance rather than the swirling silent resentment that had exploded at this last betrayal.

"I am sorry," He whispered, "That it came to the point of you having to spell it out for me. I should have understood your pains a long time back,"

Rukmini stared off into the distance with no indication that she heard him. Looking at her, Krishna sighed. "Vaidarbhi, I accept my part in the injustice done to you. I am truly sorry that I made you feel like you couldn't air your grievances freely to me. However, please consider Devarshi's proposal. Do not reject it out of anger for me. The issue has become bigger than either you or me, and as members of this wretched family, like all our predecessors we must make sacrifices." Krishna sighed and shook his head, "And as much as we call it a proposal and sugarcoat it, it is in fact an order: a motion passed in parliament. To reject it would be to openly defy the established government. It will give a free pass to our opposers to launch a public offence. However, Vaidarbhi, whatever you choose, I'll be at your side, but I will not be able to control the consequences."

Krishna and Rukmini sat in silence, facing each other as the sun travelled across the horizon, settling over the ocean bed, colouring it crimson. Finally, Rukmini spoke, as the last rays of the sun highlighted her cheeks, glossy from exhaustion, "Despite everything, Krishna, I have vowed to be at your side no matter what. I chose you as my life partner simply by hearing of your wise judgement. If you have accepted this proposal so easily, there must be something special in the boy. Something which convinced you to pull him out from the slums and install him as the future ruler of the Yadavas. I will accept Devarshi's proposal, but on two conditions. First, I must be allowed to meet him before any official proceedings, and second, the boy must marry my niece, brother Rukmi's daughter. I wish to reestablish the channel of communication with my brother." She turned her face, "I need my family to endure yours."

Krishna swallowed in apprehension, "Vaidarbhi, that is quite a radical proposal! Your brother was prepared to take your life in order to spite me. Do you not want some time to think this through? You know your wish is my command, but I must urge you to think of your own safety."

"These are my conditions, swami. Take it or leave it." Rukmini walked out of the room leaving Krishna deep in thought.

---

Upon placing Rukmini's conditions to the parliament Krishna had been surprised to find how quickly the sabha had agreed. Only Balarama had objected, going so far as to declare that he would slay Rukmi if he did as much as to lay a foot on the soil of Dwarika. Krishna had barely managed to calm him down at the moment. However, what none of them had expected was for the young Manmatha to object. The boy spoke clearly, cutting down every logic the parliamentarians presented in favour of his adoption.

Finally, Krishna had to pull him aside to inquire what his actual issue with the proposal was. Which orphan would choose to reject the proposal that would catapult him to the top of the royal food chain?! The boy, softening a bit on account of the individual attention from his proposed father, had admitted that he was afraid of losing his caretaker, Mayavati.

Krishna had been surprised anew by how similar they were. Manmatha had whispered to him, "I know how these royals take care of the family in cases such as ours. Tell me, why have you never gone back to your old village? Why do your so-called parents need to make an appointment to see you? You must know how I feel! If I become your son, I'll never see Maya again!"

Krishna had been taken aback by the boy's direct words, and the desperation in his eyes. The boy had caught the thread of his inner battles with such ease. He was willing to give up the chance of ruling an entire country out of the love he had in his heart. Could Krishna have not done the same, those many aeons ago? Krishna had made up his mind right then to protect his interests at all costs, even if it meant clashing with either Rukmini or Balarama. As he walked the boy back to his seat, he had already formulated a plan.

Addressing the parliament with his quintessential smile he had spoke, "My Lords, Manmatha agrees to our proposal if one desire of his is fulfilled. He has formed quite an attachment to the young lady he grew up with," he laughed indulgently, "and wishes for her to become his better half, united in matrimony. Lady Mayavati is the perfect blend of wit and dignity and is the perfect choice for the future queen of the Yadavas. Assisted further by princess Rukmavati of Vidarbha and under the careful guidance of devi Rukmini, she will bring great happiness and prosperity to our great kingdom. I hope you will extend to this young family the same love that you have showered upon me and my better halves."

As he sat down, he glanced above at the balcony, where Rukmini sat with her attendants. As her eyes met his, Krishna attempted to send a silent apology, but Rukmini simply shook her head and looked away. Krishna forced himself to focus on the sabha, vowing to rectify the situation with his wife later. Manmatha, like the rest of the sabha, sat with his mouth agape. Marry the woman who was practically his mother?! A wave of gasps went around the sabha, most members shaking their heads, and some openly mocking Krishna.

Krishna, still smiling brightly, whispered to Narada, "Devarshi, I kept my end of the bargain, I convinced my wife. Now it's on you to bring it home." Narada smiled and nodded. He called upon Mayavati who had been fidgeting by the gate that led to the balcony. He led her to the centre of the podium, and spoke to the crowd, "Gentlemen, this is no ordinary woman that stands before you. She has been blessed by Lord Shiva himself, in a previous birth, to become a companion to Lord Pradyumna, and rule over Dwarika alongside him as his better half. Say, who are we to argue with the almighty? I move that we complete all legal proceedings regarding the young Lost Pradyumna's adoption immediately, and then organize a great festival for his marriage to the devis Mayavati and Rukmavati! Who's with me?"

Understandably, at the mention of the almighty, most hands in the sabha went up in favour. Satyaki rushed down to the young boy. Lifting Manmatha atop his shoulders he and his attendants went out to celebrate his integration into the family. Krishna stole a glance at the balcony in the middle of the chaos, but Rukmini along with her maids had already left.

---

In accordance with Rukmini's ask, Krishna escorted Manmatha to the royal gardens himself in order for him to meet her. Mayavati followed them hesitantly from a little distance behind. Krishna had wrapped his arms around the boy. Within a short span, Krishna had grown somewhat fond of him. Not only was he a highly skilled warrior, but he was also polite and intelligent. Even Balarama seemed to be charmed by his manners by the end of it.

At the far end of the garden, Rukmini was seated atop a grand throne. Krishna was mildly surprised to see her poise. Rukmini had adorned herself with the most luxurious of the silks that she owned. Her petite frame seemed to be dripping with gold and pearls, and on her chest, sitting proudly, Krishna spotted his famous kaustubha. On her face, she wore a proud smile that was unlike anything Krishna had ever seen. On either side of her sat Satyabhama and Jambavati, squirming in their seats. When their eyes met, both of them shot apologetic looks at Krishna. At her feet, sat the coy Rukmavati, who had been summoned to Dwarka already. She immediately turned and hid her face once she saw Manmatha approaching. Behind Rukmini stood Subhadra, looking worried.

Looking upwards, on the balconies, Krishna spotted Devaki and Rohini looking down curiously, with Yashoda lurking a little further away. Vasudeva's other wives had also flocked along with the very old Queen Padmavati, King Ugrasena's wife, who had made a rare appearance to see her newfound great-grandson. Krishna and Balarama's other brothers and cousins had also come down to see the spectacle.

Manmatha walked up close to her and bowed, offering his respects to Rukmini and the other queens. Subhadra quietly came down and led Mayavati to the balcony. Rukmini smirked briefly at them but quickly turned to face the young man.

"I heard you had a gift for me." She spoke calmly, looking into his eyes. Manmatha sputtered, having been caught off guard. Rukmini continued smiling, but her eyes had hardened, "Something that you were very eager to offer to me. I would like to see that." Krishna tried to intervene, but Rukmini held out a hand to stop him.

"I'm sorry, devi, I was imprudent. I should not have created such a scene. I promise this will never happen again!" He apologized, his head bowed.

"Let him go, Rukmini, he's a child. He made a mistake, and he apologises." Krishna spoke, "I'll apologize on his behalf if you so command, devi!"

Rukmini's eyes were still stone-cold, almost drilling a hole into the boy's head, "I think my command was pretty clear, swami." She said. Her eyes seemed to play a game with Krishna. You're not the only one who can be tough, they seemed to say.

Krishna sighed and sent off an attendant, as everyone stood awkwardly trying to avoid Rukmini's gaze.

Once they brought the severed head, soaked in a vat of oil, Rukmini only glanced at it for a second before turning her gaze back to Manmatha. "Why have we put it in this container, instead of displaying it in the town square?" She asked.

Manmatha nervously looked down at his feet.

Krishna came forward, "Out of common decency, devi. Shambara might be a demon; he might have hurt us beyond repair, but he also had a family, and we would like to return his mortal remains without disrespecting them."

Mayavati who had been standing quite fearfully to the side ran up to Rukmini, and fell at her feet, scaring Rukmavati, who had already heard the many rumours surrounding this mysterious lady, causing her to jump to her feet. Mayavati looked up at Rukmini, "Please, mother, he only meant to do well. He never intended to hurt you, please do not punish him for his childish mistakes! He never meant any disrespect! He adores you and looks up to you like a mother figure. He fell in love with you the very day when he saw you playing with the children at some charity event. I know he will never replace your son, but he has always loved you from afar like a mother. When he heard of the terrible tragedy, he was determined to hunt down the demon with his bare hands! And if you're upset because of me, please do not be. If you command I will go away forever, and the princess will remain his sole queen. I have never wished to marry him or be a queen, I'll be satisfied by his happiness alone."

Rukmini felt a pang in her heart at this woman's words. She seemed to break out of a trance, as she looked at the boy properly for the first time. She almost couldn't believe the sight before her eyes. The boy who could defeat even the God of war in battle seemed to be trembling like a leaf before her. How much he must look up to her, that her mere indifference caused him this much pain! Rukmini could not believe herself. As she stared at the vat of oil, the long-dead Shambara's round, red eyes seemed to mock her. He didn't only succeed in snatching her child from her, he also took her mercy. Rukmini couldn't bear it any longer, she turned and rushed into the palace.

Krishna ran behind her. As they reached a secluded corner of the palace, Rukmini finally broke down in his arms, sobbing into his embrace. She kept apologizing to him and the young boy in a feverish rush, as Krishna tried to console her. On Krishna's signal, the servants and other family members dispersed into other parts of the palace to give them some privacy.

Eventually, Rukmini fell asleep in Krishna's arms, exhausted from the ordeals of the past year and a half.

When she awoke, Rukmini found herself lying in her own bed. As she turned to her side with some effort, she found Krishna reclining beside her, wide awake, his eyes fixed upon her face.

"What time is it?" She asked, her face red from a combination of exhaustion and embarrassment.

"Time enough for you to let yourself rest a bit," Krishna smiled, gently caressing her open hair, "I won't be here to catch you every time you pass out, devi!" He sat up, much to her dismay. He smiled again, as she tried to pull him back. She clung to his arms as though she was afraid that he might disappear. Enclosing her palms in his, Krishna whispered, "Manmatha and his two companions have been waiting for you to wake up. Several attendants from the different elders along with Bhama and Jambavati are also lining up for receiving some for news on you. Let me inform them that you've woken up, and then we can lie here as long as you want."

Hearing of the elders themselves, Rukmini had sat up, fixing her uttariya. "Can you summon the boy to see me once?" She asked meekly, "I have been unfair to him. I'd like to apologize."

Krishna led the boy in himself, an arm wrapped around him. He still looked shaken up from the events of the day. Rukmini held his hands and pulled him close, indicating to Krishna to give them privacy, "I must apologize for what I did, Manmatha. Can I call you Manmatha? I am still not ready to give up my Pradyumna." She said as she felt her eyes well up again.

Manmatha shook his head vigorously, "You may call me whatever, your grace. I never intend to take the place of Prince Pradyumna! I understand my position."

"No, you don't," Rukmini smiled sadly, "You are the single most important person in this kingdom now, as the future heir." She ran a hand through his smooth, curly hair, "I take it that you're not in love with your mother?"

Manmatha shook his head, smiling briefly to consider the absurd situation he had found himself in the matter of a day. Rukmini nodded, "Rukmavati is a good girl. Be nice to her." Rukmini sighed. "However, be careful where her father is concerned. He once tried to kill me and Krishna both." She hesitatingly added.

"Then, your grace, why did you ask me to get married to her?" Manmatha looked at her.

"Because you need to keep your enemies closer. The very first rule of politics. Before my marriage, I had heard some rumours that Jarasandha, Rukmi's overlord, was planning something big. He is also a sworn enemy of your father." Rukmini laughed at herself, "Look at me, adapting so easily to something I loathed until a few hours ago! Whatever he is planning has the potential of harming the Prince greatly. By reinitiating contact with my brother, I might be able to sniff out some details. Nevertheless, you may focus simply on keeping his daughter happy. Do not let our animosity seep into your life as well."

Manmatha couldn't stop himself from asking a question that was burning in his mind for a long time, "Devi, can't we trust anyone in this palace?"

Rukmini thought for a while, "Balarama is on our side, you can trust him wholeheartedly. Same for his family. Your other mothers, and grandparents. Akroora. Satyaki, maybe? Apart from that, be very careful! Talk less and watch more. You have to be your father's eyes and ears now." Rukmini smiled a genuine smile after a long time, "Welcome to the family!" She sighed immediately, "Do not make me regret this."

Out of the corner of her eye, Rukmini caught a glimpse of her husband leaning against the doorframe, facing away from them. "You can stop pretending that you're not listening, Krishna." She called out, as Krishna immediately turned around with a sheepish grin. Rukmini spoke, "You will never put me in this position again." She cautioned him, as Krishna shook his head in approval.

Rukmini found her heart swaying vigorously between cautious optimism and overwhelming longing as she saw the young man laughing nervously with his newfound father.

#krishna #hindu mythology #balarama #fanfic #original writing #india #subhadra #vrindavan #mahabharata #the lost flute

11 notes · View notes

kermodeiiii · 1 year

Text

Forgive Your Heart

Chapter 1: The Encounter

Summary: Nevarro was never a place for surprises after you had come accustomed to it's unyielding atmosphere of danger, however a small green child just might change your view on this planet.

A/n: I've seen so many fics that often either poorly portray chubby bodies or just make the readers thin and dainty and so I'm taking matters into my own hands. :)

I have watched all of the Mandalorian but not many Star Wars movies so excuse me if I use improper lingo but I will do my best to research things I'm not sure of.

Masterlist

Nevarro was a shithole. That was known not only throughout the planet but throughout the outer rim, it was where they needed your help the most, that's why you’re here. Being a medic was never going to be easy no matter what planet you decided to work on, but Nevarro was another level of filth. The bounties, the bounty hunters, thieves, scammers etc. were all on Nevaro, you cursed your kind and giving heart, you wanted to give what you could see people thrive in this decrepit place. Constant blaster shot cases and near dead bounties were never uncommon at your Medcenter, it’s practically what kept the lights on in the place, and being the head medic of your station made the atmosphere much more daunting.

Snapping out of your daze and drawing your attention to a shouting patient, and making your way over to see what the fuss was about. He was yelling on and on about someone getting away that ‘I’m gonna kill that son of a bitch!’ and ‘He’ll never get off this planet alive!’ a male bounty hunter from the looks of it, various weapons and ammunition hanging off his struggling body to get off the gurney one of your Medics was pinning him down on. As you slightly jogged alongside the gurney making your way to the operating table, you put your hand on the man's shoulder pushing him against the gurney making his head jerk your way. You needed to stay calm.

“Sir, we need you to take some deep breaths and calm down so we can do our job.”

“To hell with your job! That bastard’s gonna die! Today!”

When you tried to speak again the man tried and failed to knock you and your medic to the ground, you yelled for assistance from passing medics asking them to get and IV started while you held his arm down as well as getting 20mg of morphine to try and calm the man down. You pinned down his arm with the help of the other medics, he writhed under your grasp as the IV was inserted into his arm, the morphine quickly made its way through his body helping calm his nerves and lessen his pain. As you entered the operating room you were greeted by the head medic of the trauma unit.

“I’ll take care of this, you’ve done plenty already by drugging my patient.”

“Hey, if i hadn-”

You were cut off by the operating door before you could finish your defense, your fists balled tightly at your sides as you walked down the hallway leading back to the medic station. You noticed something odd, it looked like a burlap sack you’d take with you to the market. You made your way closer and noticed the sack sprouted two long green ears, was this someone's kid? Once you had reached the child you knelt down with an outstretched hand and spoke in a soft voice.

“Are you lost hun? Do you need help finding your parents?”

Two massive black eyes stared back at you when the child turned around, you had never seen anyone like him, he only stared at you and looked down at the ends of his robe that draped on the ground. The hallway was getting busier as you stayed there in the middle of it, you gently scooped up the kid and made your way to the side of the hallway out of everyone's way. He gripped your lab coat and whined out, something clicked in you, vaguely you could hear a voice in your head. Hurt. You looked at the child and he stared back at you once again, you noticed he only held your jacket with one of his clawed hands, carefully you took his small hand in yours and examined it. A simple cut, something that could’ve been fixed at his home with a med patch, maybe he thought it was a bigger cut than it is?

“Let’s get this taken care of, yeah? You wanna choose a cool med patch?”

You began listing all the cool patterns of kids' med patches to him, rocket ships, rainbows, camouflage, glitter etc. Entering the supply closet with the little green child in your arms you dug out the med patches you had listed and held them out for him to choose from, you’d have to cut them down to his size of course, he was so tiny you couldn’t help but feel a bit protective over him even if it had been only two minutes since you met him. His big eye scanned over the patches his eyes landed on a patch that had droids in a pattern with a blue background. He pointed at the same patch and looked up at you with a little grin, another vague voice ran through your head, Him. You let a warm smile grace your features, handing the patch to him to hold and putting the rest away, you make your way into a vacant examination room and shut the door. Setting the child on the cot and turning around to pull the scissors out of your pocket to cut the patch to fit his tiny hand. Moving across the cot to sit on the rolling stool, you held out your hand silently asking for permission to see the cut, he placed his hand back into yours. You placed the patch onto his hand and let out a disappointed sigh.

“Hang on, I have to cut it a bit smaller buddy, your hands are so small I have to make sure it fits properly. ”

Taking the patch back you once again cut off slivers so it would fit his small hand, you took off the plastic backing of the patch and firmly placed the sticky side against his skin. You ran your hand around the border of it to ensure it was secure on his hand. He looked up at you and cooed, that voice made its way in your head, Kind. You gave his head a simple pat and rubbed his cheek as you stood.

“How about you stay here for a bit ok? I’ll see if I can find your parents.”

He gripped the bottom portion of your lab coat and looked up at you, he seemed agitated Dangerous. The voice was a bit louder this time you could feel anxiety in the voice, was he doing this? Does he know he can? You set your hand on his head once more, smiling down at him and pulling the blanket on the cot closer to him, making a small nest for him to comfortably lay in. He still held your wrist, not wanting you to leave, but you still can’t tell if he’s scared for you or for himself.

“It’ll be ok, I promise sugar. I’ll be back in a few minutes. How about that?”

Slowly he let your wrist go, as you made your way out of the room you mentioned again you'd be right back and closed the door. You quickly made your way back to your computer at the medic station, searching through files and profiles of all patients and employees. You had searched for nearly 10 minutes before rolling away from the desk and running your hands over your face with a defeated sigh. You raked your hands through your hair and scanned the people coming and going through the hallways, your eyes landed on an armor clad figure, the T shaped visor already pointed at you. A Mandalorian? He made his way over to you, parting the crowd with little effort. You stood and made your way around the desk to meet the beskar clad man, you had a feeling in your gut but couldn’t tell if it was to run or to trust him. His body language was clearly agitated, balled fists at his sides, looking through the crowd almost frantically. He tilted his head down to meet your gaze.

“Can I help you with something?”

“WheR- s K-d”

“Excuse me?”

He hit the side of his helmet harshly, seeming to fix some malfunction with his hardware. At the same time the Mandalorian grabbed your collar and held you close to him by your lab coat, his stature was intimidating but you never let that faze you. You held your ground and kept your stare even and brows furrowed, his fist tightened noticing your lack of fear.

“I said, where's the kid?”

#mando x reader #the mandaloria/reader #the mandalorian #star wars #reader insert #chubby reader #mandalorian x chubby reader #idontknowimnewatthis #someonehelpme #medic reader

37 notes · View notes

mouseinthegreenhouse · 10 months

Text

Angel's Kiss

This is a snippet of my WIP set in 1800s England, called Just Otto. Thought i would share my lad here as I go through all my OG WIPs and pick out lil bits to share <3

“Here we are, young sir,” Mrs Bolston says cheerfully, peering back at him with the same smile he has seen parents give their children as they wait for a show to start. It says that she thinks he’ll be excited and that is an almost sickening thought.

He smiles back weakly. She’s good sort.

For a moment, he hovers, unsure if he is meant to go ahead. He’s relieved when Mrs Bolston opens the door, walking inside with a respectful bow of her head at whoever is inside. Otto follows at her heels and tries not to feel like a little duckling waddling after its mama.

“He has arrived, my lord,” Mrs Bolston announces and Otto raises his gaze from where it has been fixed resolutely on the floor. The drawing room is stunning, a show of elegant wealth, but, as rude as it may be, Otto cannot take his eyes of the man sitting on one of two settees facing opposite each other.

Even as he sinks into the plush creme fabric, he still holds incredibly poise, as though he is suspended like a statue above the settee itself. He’s lean and long, like a cat, and dark brown hair, even darker than Otto’s own, is pulled back behind one of his ears, framing a widow’s peak. His features are sharp and his bright eyes sharper as they dig into Otto like daggers, assessing every inch of him.

He tries not to flinch.

“I can see,” Viscount Henneton says slowly, tilting his head just so. His voice is more rumbly than Otto thought it would be. He raises a hand and gives a small nod. “You are dismissed, Mrs Bolston.”

The housekeeper nods back and bows her head before sending Otto a encouraging smile and trotting out of the room. He jolts slightly as he instinctually goes to follow her before the gaze of Viscount Henneton pulls him back to reality.

Otto ducks his head in a bow. “Pleasure to meet you, my lord,” he says quietly, trying to mimic Mrs Bolston’s manner of speaking and way of address. He isn’t sure he pulls it off.

He leaves his head ducked and hands clasped behind his back. He fiddles with his fingers uncomfortably, picking at his cuticles and biting his tongue to keep him from saying something untoward. God knows how many posh adults he has upset in his lifetime, seeing as he has always been better and joking and making jokes that children find funny. Jokes that adults, especially the well bred ones, do not.

“Look at me boy,” the viscount orders, tone even in a way that makes Otto much more antsy than relieved. Lifting his head to see the man’s calm yet greatly indifferent demeanour makes him feel even worse.

“Otto, is it?” Otto nods and the viscount hums lowly. “Not my first choice but it will do,” he says and Otto can’t help but baulk at the thought that Viscount Henneton might have decided to change his name.

Does… does this mean the viscount is taking ‘Otto’s’ claim as his son at face value? That’s not–

That’s not what he would have expected from a man like him and before Otto can stop himself he finds himself questioning it.

“Are you quite sure I’m your missing son, sir?” he asks, unable to make himself feel complete regret even as he is sure he has just sped up his rejection, real son or not. Can viscount legally kill people? Is that a thing?

Confusion spreads across Viscount Henneton’s face, clear as day, and his eyebrows shoot up. His mouth parts and it is obvious he wasn’t expecting that but then he smiles.

It’s small, merely a soft turn up at the corners of his mouth yet it is surely a smile. Otto doesn’t know what to think—what he should think—and he knows even less so when the viscount leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees and tilting his head with interest. He looks like the large bird that used to perch atop their tent when they stopped down north, with its intense gaze and raised wings right before it swooped down and caught something in its mouth.

Dahlia always drew him away before he could get closer and see what it was.

“I am sure,” Viscount Henneton says, almost softly. He says it like a fact, like it is undeniably true in a way that Otto knows it can’t be. Even if he is this missing son, they will never know for sure.

Something gentles in the viscount’s eyes and then–

“You have the same birthmark you did when you were younger.”

Otto’s breath catches. He knows the birthmark the man is talking about, as does anyone who meets him. A distinctive red splodge beside his left eye. Its unusual colour has always gotten him odd stares from strangers who weren’t the troupe (family) but it was mostly accepted as he was entertainment anyway. It just added to that. Something interesting to gawk at.

He can’t imagine the people of the ton will accept it so easily, nor the viscount. Yet the disgust never comes.

Instead, Viscount Henneton’s smile grows slightly. He sighs something wistful and adds, almost to himself, “Your mother refers to it as your angel’s kiss.”

Your mother.

Otto’s hands shake.

Viscount Henneton shakes his head and he seems to shake away that softness with it. When he meets Otto’s gaze once more, his eyes are steady and his face tells nothing while the boy feels himself tremble as his world flips upside down. Clearly, the ability to shed vulnerability as if it is a cloak is not one passed down.

Because, it does seem, that there are things that have been passed down, that can be passed down. For Otto is the viscount’s son. He wishes he could fool himself for a little bit longer.

“You are my son,” Viscount Henneton tells him resolutely. It’s said without shame but also without pride and it's with a great deal of disgust that Otto realises that it bothers him. He tells himself, like a pigeon-livered fool, that it is only the fact that he hates the unpredictability of it all.

Otto doesn’t need pride from a father he never knew.

#writblr #my writing #original fiction #writing snippet #truly a touching family reunion where everyone is happy as pie <3 /s #it'll get better... maybe

7 notes · View notes

thefamilyeldritchabomination · 5 months

Text

Chapter Twenty: Sonne Pt. 6

“Good, you can take Envy then for your new sideshow attraction, I’m sure they’ll have a happier time there with their current looks.” Freddy said in a snarky manner, hoping to whatever divine force out there that it’ll be granted.

“Mr. Elric, I’m going to have to politely request that you do not feed Greed with any more ideas, he won’t shut up otherwise. Mouse, we are not selling Envy to Greed’s hypothetical circus scheme.” Lust advised bitterly as she finally decided to rest now that Envy was safely inside and not eating villagers at the moment.

Greed pouted at being called out like that, but it certainly didn’t kill his new drive to build a circus once Dante was six feet under and no longer a problem. Sure, there was still that trivial matter of Pride still on the loose, but that would be a later problem to fuss with at another time. This also proved to be a massive factor to the entire household, Greed was completely illiterate at reading the mood of the room as Greed sat there like a ball of sunshine. Hughes was very wisely in a different room with the other group, waiting a bit for the mood to calm down before attempting any sort of advice in regards to Envy’s predicament. This tension was given a raise when there came a clattering upstairs, drawing everyone’s attention at once. Immediately, Edward and Lust went up the stairs with Greed following behind for a show to watch as they went towards the source of the noise. They certainly didn’t waste time reaching the source of the commotion, the room that Lust and Dolly had earlier set up as the recovery room for Envy as the intruder lay splayed on the floor, having tripped over on the dresser placed by the window. As though the fates had felt this grease fire needed a bit more fuel to its inferno, it was none other than Hohenheim of Light who lay on the floor before the trio. Edward’s eyes grew cold and hard upon seeing the man who had abandoned him and his little brother all those years ago laying on the floor like a ragdoll. Lust was prepared for a fight to erupt in this forest cabin while Greed wished he had some popcorn to enjoy with this shit show.

“What the hell are you doing here? You have some fucking nerves to even show up here after everything you put my Brother and I through!” Edward had to be held back by Lust as he shouted profanities at his failure as a parental figure suddenly popping back into his life like that.

“That is enough Mr. Elric, just breathe, this is too small of a space to pick a fight in!” Lust held Edward in a bear-like grip to prevent any more drama from erupting. “Shit man, you’re also Dante’s Ex? I’m her Ex too!” Greed nonchalantly said with the social grace of a rock, Edward’s attention focusing in on that new little key detail. “Hohenheim, what the hell does he mean by ‘You’re Dante’s Ex’!? Did you leave us for that horrible bitch that ruined our lives!?” Edward was ready to murder his awful, rotten father right there and then upon being given that tidbit. “Edward no! No, I would never go back to that woman, not after what she did a long time ago.” Hohenheim said as he slowly got up and it was clear, he never recovered from the yellowjacket attack back in the botanical garden; in fact, they were necrotizing something fierce.

“Damn, you look like hell..” Greed was surprised with how much of a zombie Hohenheim appeared as Edward started to wrench at the odor.

“Before this entire thing is derailed, why did you break in here? How did you even find us?” Lust put her foot down at how this is going, simply put, she just wanted straight up answers.

“I guess I deserve to look like this… I managed to follow the one you call ‘Greed’ back here, I had to do some stalking to figure out where my Son was at. To finally answer the first one, I came because I owe my first born son, WIlliam, an apology after wrongfully abandoning him. It’s clear that he wasn’t a monstrous mockery afterall..” Hohenheim confessed as he held his head down low after realizing that mistake all too late.

“I..have an older brother?” Edward was shell shocked by this revelation being handed to him by Hohenheim, staring out into space a little bit.

“You do, you already know him as ‘Envy’.” Hohenheim said, adding more fuel into the disassociation that Edward was experiencing already.

Lust caught Edward as he nearly tumbled backwards from the news flash of being related to the deplorable reptile downstairs as Hohenheim attempted to make himself look proper despite looking ready to be placed in a morgue. It was clear to Lust and Greed that Hohenheim was very much out of the loop about Envy being sorta inhuman looking at the moment along with the fact they had a human eating spree not too long ago. This, however, didn’t last long as Hohenheim finally noticed the rotting fish smell of old human blood lingering about in the cabin having failed to give Envy a proper washing from their feast of terror. With a sigh, Lust motioned for Hohenheim to follow her downstairs as she helped Edward along the stairs, still very much out of it from the horrible new information his deplorable father revealed. Greed, once more, was silently wishing he had popcorn for this dramatic scene to enjoy, trailing along for this garbage fire to burn even brighter. Lust motioned for Hohenheim to look down on the ground as she carefully got Edward to sit down on the couch, his brother Alphonse worried for his well being. The look on Hohenheim’s face upon seeing what had become of his eldest child on the floor with a death grip on some fluffy creature was one that could’ve been a prime example of an expressionist’s painting of dread. Things were racing in Hohenheim’s mind before finally coming to the absolutely truthful conclusion that this whole thing was his fault for leaving Envy in the care of their horrific mother.

“What happened to my Eldest son?” Hohenheim finally asked after his moment of mortified silence had concluded.

“Funny story, Envy went on their own to confront their mother, it ended horribly. Did you know that ouroboros tattoos allow alchemists to override their chemical makeup and basically hijack their bodies in horrific ways? Yeah, that’s what happened to Envy, Dante hijacked them and turned them into a monster. A really fucking rude monster that was a very difficult patient to work with.” Freddy grumbled, not realizing it’s the same man he called a DILF back in the garden.

“...Okay I’d like to hear how my son ended up looking like…that without the commentary from the rude tiger pirate.” Hohenheim asked, his memory very strongly clear about Freddy and his mouth.

“I’ll take over from here, as the mouse said, Envy was being difficult for us when trying to change them back. Dolly, the unconscious fluffy one you see being held there, basically attempted to fix them. Unfortunately, as you can see, she had no experience in changing people back from being monsters and resulted in this display.” Lust explained as she emphasized on Envy’s pronouns.

3 notes · View notes

hoeratius · 10 months

Note

I’m doing my dissertation with Flowers in the Attic as a case study! Penny for your thoughts?

Okay, with the caveat that I haven’t a clue what your dissertation is on so not sure how relevant any of these thoughts are – here I go!

Note – this contains spoilers for Flowers in the Attic.

Who is the target audience for Flowers in the Attic?

This is not me describing the target audience.

This is me not having a clue what the intended audience is for a book that features phrases like "Oh, golly-lolly!" as well as erotic descriptions of a toddler’s underwear.

I read this for the first time when I was about 12 and again now I’m nearing my thirties. The first time round, it felt naughty and like I was reading something that was clearly Adult Literature. Now, I see the childlike phrases and excessive use of exclamation marks and think it’s not just because of the narrator, but because of the audience as well.

Like, this book is twee.

It’s about so many layers of incest and child abuse and neglect and religious extremism and repression and it somehow manages to be twee. HOW?

The incest (let’s just get that over with)

Everyone in this family is into everyone. My edition has questions at the back for a book club discussion, and one of them goes:

Had their father not died and they were all still living together, do you think Cathy and Chris would have instead developed sexual feelings for their parents? Why or why not?

And like, those sexual feelings are there the entire way through.

Cathy wants a husband like her father, who gives her a ring and ‘vows to forever love my Cathy just a little bit more than any other daughter’. When their mother calms Chris down, you get a paragraph like ‘Kiss, kiss, kiss finger his hair, stroke his cheek, draw his head against her soft, swelling breasts, and let him drown in the sensuality of being cuddled close to that creamy flesh that must excite even a youth of his tender years.’

Like – Okay! Cool! That is a way to describe your mother! And your brother! Like, this could just be an embrace between a mother and her son and instead it becomes this incredibly loaded, sexual passage. And that happens constantly. The narrative is obsessed with sex, with the sin it might bring and with the changes bodies go through to make it happen. I didn’t count how often Cathy thinks with jealousy of her mother’s breasts but it’s a recurring theme, and I’m kind of glad their father died before Cathy hit that part of puberty because I do not need to hear whatever feedback he’d have given her when she first goes shopping for a bra.

The Aryan perfection

Did you know they are blond? And blue-eyed? And so pretty, prettier than anyone else their age? Perfect? Like dolls? Did you get that??

Maybe it was a eugenics plan to maintain the most Aryan family in the universe, but good lord, has Cathy internalized it.

The good bits

After Cathy and Chris have a sexual encounter where he kisses her breasts after stabbing her with scissors, Cathy asks:

“Chris – what we did just now – was it sinful?”

Again, he cleared his throat. “If you think it so, then it was.”

I’m too early in my thoughts to have anything very coherent to say about this, but it does show their complex relationship with sexuality in a really interesting light. Does anything other than P-in-V count as sex? What is the boundary between normal familiar affection and incest? (Personally, I’d say the family cross the line from ‘normal familiar affection’ constantly but equally, I can see why kissing people on the mouth doesn’t have to be inherently sexual or inappropriate. It’s just that V.C. Andrews’s prose makes everything sexual.)

I also thought it was very bold of VCA to have Chris describe the sex as ‘rape’ immediately after it has happened. Keeping in mind that this book came out in 1979, he is the romantic lead, and it was (I think???) aimed at teenage girls, I was not expecting them to name the beast by its name. Even if Cathy assures him it wasn’t rape (and let’s not get into the victim blaming paragraph, jfc), having it out in the open immediately? Actually sensational.

On a different familiar note, I loved the way they kept waiting for their mother to return and the way their love faded differently for all of them. Cathy’s turning to bitterness sooner (prompted by jealousy over Chris’s affection?), versus the twins becoming alienated and addressing her as ‘Ma’am’ by the end… And yet that constant hope that she’ll show up, the disappointment when she brings gifts rather than freedom…

Corinne’s wilful closing of her eyes to justify the neglect haunted me– the way she stops looking at the twins, doesn’t see how Chris and Cathy are maturing. Especially because Cathy is in exactly the age where so much is changing in her body and there is the horror of being perceived (the paragraph where she describes wearing loose clothing to hide her new curves and feeling like she’s being seen anyway – I remember that.)

And at last: the reveal of the arsenic. Iconic.

The bad bits

Other than the writing (so many exclamation marks!! What the fuck!!! The action of going down the stairs doesn’t need this emphasis!!!!!), I just want to say, with my whole heart, that the twins are the most annoying characters in literature. And their insistence at the start that everyone will surely love them, they are so cute and perfect?

Honestly, if I’d been the grandmother, I’d have thrown them out of the window during their first tantrum.

Overall verdict

Do I like this book? I don’t know. I tried to come up with more bits that I disliked, but everything – the twee-ness, the weird sexualization of everything, the “Oh boy”s and stilted dialogue – it all feels very organically entwined. I definitely understand why it became a middle school obsession when it came out in 1979 and it’s going to haunt me for quite a while to come, I think.

I don’t think I’ll read any of the follow-ups, but I might (might) treat myself and reread the De Beers series one day, or that one set in New Orleans with the evil twin. VC Andrews(‘s ghostwriter) was not afraid to go big and there is a certain appeal to such shameless commitment to drama.

#flowers in the attic #fita #I've got my book club on this next week so might come back with more thoughts later #Because I'm finding I do have a lot of thoughts #This is gonna haunt me pals #VC Andrews #< Might as well start a tag in case I do ever go back to the De Beers series

6 notes · View notes

tubboscored · 1 year

Note

YOU GET IT!!!! sbi as literal family didnt make sense at all in and it shouldn't because they aren't actually a family. Phil for example is some old guy Tommy feels safety with because well he's wilburs dad!!! but to Phil Tommy is just some kid running around and its SUCH an dynamic to look into because their views of each other is not reciprocal and thats what makes it interesting!!!!!! why make phil tommys dad when he can literally just be some guy tommy attached himself to

THIS IS LITERALLY EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN YOU GET ME SO BAD!!!!! like. canon angelduo is so gut-wrenchingly sad and unsatisfactory in a GOOD way when you think about it for more than two seconds BECAUSE of that lack of reciprocation of care!!!!!

of course tommy seeks phil out for advice and sees him as someone who can Protect him because yeah, that's will's dad! (there's obviously complications with the whole "tommy watched phil murder wilbur right in front of him" situation but like. baseline, i think we can agree that post-revival phil is a source of safety and security for tommy, because this is consistently and explicitly shown to the audience. tommy goes to phil's house and asks him for advice. as dream chases him, he sees techno's house in the distance, and it's when he realizes phil will be there that he starts crying for help. there's undoubtedly a paternal draw that pulls tommy closer to phil is what i'm getting at

but from phil's side? there's NONE of that! there's a lot to be said about phil's rp style but something i honestly love is this ability he has to simultaneously offer comfort to tommy while also maintaining such a drastic emotional distance from him. it's not for lack of caring! phil absolutely cares for tommy--the way, really, anyone who's had an emotionally precarious teenage son before would care for the local traumatized kid running around getting into scraps. phil knows how to calm him down, knows how to keep up with his antics the way a lot of other adults on the server don't have the patience for. phil cares for tommy. he just doesn't care about tommy the way fanon loves to think he does?? when tommy shows up at phil's house screaming and crying that dream was chasing him, there's no way phil believes him outright. the forest is empty and there's nobody else around. phil tells tommy outright that he helped dream escape and defends his own actions to tommy's face even as tommy sits in the corner, cowering with his shield up and axe drawn away from phil because up until now this was somebody he thought would be safe. and it's only AFTER tommy tells phil the whole story about dream finding him in logstedshire that phil gets overtly mad and says anything about getting back at dream, and his reasoning for it? he's angry that dream would get out of prison and immediately "torment a child". not tommy specifically! A CHILD.

anyway tldr tommy's attachment to phil is out of necessity for a beacon of safety, and by contrast phil's care for tommy is deeply impersonal because tommy's not his kid. thanks for watching

#sbi #dsmp #dream smp #angelduo #sorry for turning ur ask into a thesis ro. i blacked out and all these words were in front of me #i also literally had to go get my computer when i saw ur ask bc i knew i wanted to sit down and yell about it properly QHKEJEHKJWE #angel duo #romeoposting #meta #asks

18 notes · View notes

juipterjim · 2 years

Text

MIKEY AU PART 2

Mikey’s POV

We finally cross paths and the krang lunges his arm trying to land a hit, but I duck under his arm, punching at his slimy body. Its back hunched over, but then it quickly turns back to me.

“Lucky shot”

“Awwww did I WuRt YoU ToO HaRd?” I mock right back at him.

Realizing what I did, its face automatically shifts into infuriation as he charges toward me ten times more pissed. Despite the fear that was shaking in my bones, I prayed to the pizza universe in the sky that my facial expression is calm as I throw my arm once again to meet up with theirs and swipe it down and hold it. They attempt to use their other arm to get to me but I block it as well and punch it in the face since it’s at a level where I can reach. Once it loses stability, I quickly kick him in the knee. Once it kneeled, I slapped it in the face with my palm stretched out. It felt like it all happened in slow motion. Again, I quickly punched its body, then took its head and slammed it with my nunchucks. Finally, I did a quick sweep the leg and it flew off towards some debris, leaving the effect of it so big that I thought for sure that I left a mark there.

Once the dust cleared up, it was laid face down on their front. But ever so slowly, it rose back up. Should’ve known it wasn’t gonna go down that easily.

“ok….MY TURN” it spoke in a bitter, cold voice that I physically flinched and took a step back. By the time I blinked…, it was gone. Suddenly I felt a presence right behind me. Before I could even register what was going on, its arm lunged at me and picked me up then threw me on the ground HARD. I cry out in pain from the force. Then it took out its foot and put it down towards my plastron. The air rushed out of my lungs and I felt something warm come out of me…blood? I tried to budge out of their grasp but I could barely move an inch. “ I am forever known what you FAIL TO UNDERSTAND!!” Its voice gradually raises louder. “STRENGTH…ALWAYS…PREVAILS!!!” With each word, it kept applying pressure on my body and everything felt stiff and painful. As I squint one of my eyes to catch a glimpse of their face, it contained a sinister grin and their eyes have completely gone red slitted, making them look menacing. It thinks that it won. But I will NOT let it end like this.

After the fifth try, I successfully managed to free the arm that had my nunchuck and take out the hidden blade from it, throwing it towards its armor and stabbing it. I slowly give it a wicked grin in return.

“hehe...you know… it’s not good to be overconfident...otherwise, you’ll miss out on what your enemy can do”

“And just what exactly would that be? You can barely MOVE. You’re under MY hold.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that”

Very quickly, I draw the mystic energy from my nunchuck, the orange spots on my body glowing as well, and create a huge energy burst, sending the both of us away.

Donnie and Raph’s POV

I take another deep, slow breath. Okay… Raph is right. I’m not alone in this. I just gotta do what I do best. Think. “Ok so-” “ GUYS?!? WHERE ARE YOU?!?!” Leo’s voice cuts me off from my communicator. I answered him quickly. “We’re in Staten Island” “Ewwwwww!! Staten Island! Gross!” Even though we’re in this whole “world is ending'' situation, the barbs still continue. “Yeah Yeah I know, just get your butt over here Leonar-” Before I could even finish the rest of his name, I already saw his blue portal from my peripheral vision and him quickly running through it to give Raph a hug which he quickly returned, then gave me one. What is it with everyone hugging me? Seriously? “I’m just so glad you guys aren’t dead and are okay,” Leo said, relieved his voice was muffled. “MY SONS!!” “You guys!” He pulled from the hug as we all looked to our right and saw dad and April run quickly towards us. I realized that future boy wasn’t with us and it looked like I wasn’t the only one that noticed. “Wait. Where’s Casey?” Leo questioned. “ He’s trying to get the key. We heard about what happened to Mikey. What are we gonna do?!?!” April shrieked. “ MY BABY SON IS OUT THERE FOR GOD’S SAKE!! MAYBE IF WE GET BLUE TO PORTAL BACK- “He’s WAY too injured to go back there. What if we- “ “NO! WE DON’T KNOW IF THAT SPECIFIC WIRE IS GONNA GUARANTEE YOUR SAFETY DONNIE?!?”

With all these voices overlapping each other, I can’t get my head set straight and it’s only making the pressure worse. As the oldest, it’s my duty to make sure my family stays safe. But I clearly can’t do that right. Mind Raph isn’t helping me come up with any ideas at all. The thought of my baby brother taking his last breath and di- NOPE! Not even gonna THINK about that.

“ENOUGHHHH!” I shouted, which silenced everyone.

“ We’re not getting anywhere like this! Donnie, if you wanna start telling us what you had in mind, NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME!!!” I yelled. Everyone just looks at me in shock. I didn’t even realize I was catching my breath from shouting so loud. “.... I was just gonna plug in the wires that I grabbed earlier and plug them in the right spots so I can get my battle shell to work…” His voice getting smaller.

“Okay… you get on that as quick as you can. As for the rest of us-”

“...Guys…I don’t really have a whole lot of time left…so I just wanted to tell you guys one thing before I go…” I hear Mikey's loving but resigned voice from my communicator.

Part 3? 🙃

#rottmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt fandom #tmnt2022 #tmnt fandom #tmnt #au idea #mikeyau #agnst #rottmntleo #rottmnt donnie #rottmntraph #rottmntmikey

32 notes · View notes

talkingandwatching · 6 months

Text

Halloween special: Cobweb, a.k.a why the hell did I waste two hours of my life watching this garbage

Happy Halloween everyone and welcome back! Today I would like to talk about a movie I watched back in september which is called Cobweb. I'm not gonna blame you if you havent heard of this movie, since its marketing was almost nonexistent, also it came out two days before Barbie and Oppenheimer, but Cobweb is a horror movie, starring Antony Starr and Lizzy Caplan, and let me tell you, I did not enjoy it a lot.

I'm gonna be brutally honeest, I had no idea what this movie was about when I went to watch it with my boyfriend, I just saw that there is a new horror movie that came out and I was in the mood for going to the cinema, so we just went with it. And let me tell you something, I did not like it AT ALL. Its actually criminal how much I disliked it.

The story is about a family and the movie starts as every haunted house horror you've ever seen, kid hears noises and the parents are like "You are imagining things son, go back to bed already", so it was nothing special, not to mention that the movie plays on the Halloween theme a lot, which is pretty important though, because at some point in the movie, the parents tell the kid a story that years ago, a girl in their neighbourhood was murdered, and thats why they dont let him out trick or treating.

This takes a good 1/3 of the movie, until we get to know that the voice in the kid's (Peter) walls can talk and interact with him. This becomes important as soon as in school, when the kids have to make a Halloween themed drawing, while everyone is drawing bats and witches and skeletons, Peter draws himself in his bedroom and a talk bubble to the wall that says HELP ME. This obviously worries Miss Divine, his substitute teacher (who was probably the only valuable character but WE GET THERE-) and tries to contact the parents about it. She goes to their house and the mom opens the door and thats when the parents start to act out of character, since they were very calm and collected at the start of the movie, and she says that everything is okay with Peter, he just has a an overacting imagination and takes the drawing. Later we find out Peter is bullied in school and it escalates very quickly into Peter getting suspended because he pushed his bully down the stairs and break his lack very brutally (which is honestly a slay from me but you know).

Because of the suspension and the drawing, his parents take him out of school and become homeschooled and we find out, the father, Mark, also found out about the drawing (which the mom tried to actively avoid) and thats when the movie started to get some enjoyment out of me, because Mark just straight up puts Peter into the basement and tells him he's grounded. This is the point when I thought this movie is about abuse, which made me think "You know what? I'm gonna give this movie that chance, this looks amazing". Miss Divine meets the parents in their house (while Peter is still in the basement) and its just so surreal seeing Peter trying to be as loud as possible when he heard Miss Divine's voice, trying to kick the door and scream but the washing mashine fades his voice and she doesnt have a clue whats going on. At some point they let him out anyways and we find out, the voice in his walls is actually his sister and shes actually a ghost and they killed her since Peter found her skull at the pumpkin patch in the backyard? but at the same time she's physically in the walls? and shes also the girl who was killed at Halloween, so the parents not letting him go trick or treating didnt even make sense? Okay lets move on. She manipulates him into killing his parents with rat poison and until that moment, I enjoyed the movie and then it just got ruined, but there was still some story left so I couldnt be just a little bit unsatisfied. Peter's bully and some of his friends came to Peter's house to get revenge, thats when Peter find the key at his mom's belt, to let his sister out and that time, the mother was alive and said DO NOT LET HER OUT but it was too late. When Peter lets her out, probably the worst CGI monster in 2023 comes out and starts to act hostile towards Peter and at some point his bullies too. After a very brutal chase and slaughter scene, Miss Divine goes to save the day and honestly the last ten minutes of this movie is so unnecessarily messy yet so pointless that I dont even want to write it down, so I'm just gonna put the monster's CGI face here because I almost audibly cringed when I saw it:

At the end, the sister gives a monolouge before Peter and Miss Divine could escape, that she will always be there with him, wherever he is, because theyre family and this is how the movie ends. Let me tell you, I never would've thought I'd get so angry at such an underwhelming movie ending, but here I am.

Characterwise, no character was willing to put more than maximum two dimensions onto the bigscreen, but I have to give a shotout to Lizzy Caplan and especially Antony Starr. Every single minute they were on screen would've been perfect if the movie had enough runtime to explore them as well, their acting talent was aced here and its such a shame they had to be killed, they didnt have enough screentime AT ALL. Cleopatra Coleman was also great as Miss Divine, she was the only likeable character in this movie and the only one we can root for, Woody Norman was also okay as Peter, even though he wasnt an interesting protagonist at all, but hey, homie has an acting job at 14 and I dont at 18 so I better shut up. Ellen Dublin as the girl in the walls, well, I dont want to say it was hideous, because its not the actress's fault, its the fact that her character was the weakest out of all, it wasnt scary in the slightest.

This movie''s biggest flaw is the fact that nothing made sense. First of all, if the sister was the girl who was killed at halloween, why didnt the parents let Peter out trick or treating? Why did they keep her in the walls if they knew she was hostile and dangerous? Why did she manipulate and punish Peter for it, even though he didnt do anything against her? Why did the parents say the voices in the walls arent real if they knew their daughter is in there and did they even think about how their extremely hostile and supernatural daughter could eventually try and go after the son? and honestly even more questions.

But honestly, my biggest question is, what this movie tried to tell? It feels like the movie isnt sure what to be about because there is about three storylines and none of them works together. I was extremely dissapointed about this movie, I think a movie about childhood trauma and abuse would've worked so much better and the timing was also the worst.

Thank you for reading this, if you agree/disagree, write it down in the comment section and until next time, see ya, happy Halloween

#movie critic #film #halloween #cobweb #antony starr #lizzy caplan #bad horror #happy halloween

2 notes · View notes

duhragonball · 1 year

Text

Dragon Ball GT 51

✨GT Stands For Gull Tactics✨

✨Positivity Page✨

Normally, I have a hard time coming up with something for GT to stand for with each episode, but this one has an embarrassment of riches. Gyre Turbulence, Girl Tornado, Gross Tentacle, Guzzling Tequila, Grabbing Trout... I can’t lose. So props to Episode 51 for satisfying a dumb bit I came up with 26 years after the show went off the air.

✨"Good" "Ideas", Poorly Executed✨

So it’s finally time for YOUR favorite Shadow Dragon. The people have spoken, and it’s Oceanus Shenron, also known as “Princess” and “the one that looks like a chick.”

In fact, Oceanus looks a lot like a slimmed down version of Haze, but he uses spinning powers to cast an illusion. This leads to the big issue I have with the episode’s plot, and Oceanus’ character. Let me back up and explain the setup to this.

So Giru has tracked the next Dragon Ball to a quaint fishing village, but he runs out of power before he can pinpoint its exact location. Before anyone can act on this, fish start dropping from the sky. Pan flips the fuck out and screams for like... a full minute? It felt like it anyway. Pan, you’ve been to space and you’ve seen your grandfather nude. Your parents got possessed by alien eggs and they tried to murder you. It’s just fish. Calm down.

Everyone in town rushes out to gather up the fish in wheelbarrows so they can make a quick profit selling them in town. But one local kid, Bish, isn’t so happy about the situation. Ever since “The Princess” started dumping free fish onto the village, the fishermen have stopped doing any work, and now they just drink all day and wait for more fish to fall from the sky.

Bish’s dad, however, disagrees with his son’s assessment. His counterargument: “Shaddup, you blasphemous ingrate, or I’ll throw my hip flask at you.” From what we see of Bish’s father, I’m pretty sure he’d be a surly drunk with or without this whole “free fish” deal.

Anyway, he throws the flask at Bish, and Goku catches it in his teeth because he won’t stand for child abuse. You can bring your grandkids along on dangerous martial arts adventures, sure, but don’t throw shit at ‘em. That’s where Goku draws the line.

Bish explains the whole bit to Pan while Goku cooks fish and then gives his frying pan to Giru. Aw, this is kind of nice. Everyone’s just chillin’ out, havin’ a fishfry. I’m not sure why Pan is so bummed out, but Bish is worried because he doesn’t know who Princess is or where she came from, but he doesn’t like what she’s done to his village, and also the seagull population has been terrorized lately. Bish has tended to their injuries, but they all hide inside a drydocked boat, because they’re too frightened to go out to sea.

Bish thinks there’s a connection, and he’s right. As soon as Giru recharges, he locates the Dragon Ball, and it’s on the forehead of the village’s Princess, who flies into dump more fish on them. Goku and Pan recognize her as a Shadow Dragon, and it’s clear that this is just part of their “destroy the world” agenda.

Here’s my question: How long has Oceanus been at this? I say this because the Shadow Dragons only came to be back in Episode 48, and Goku and Pan have been tracking them down ever since. They found Haze very quickly, and it seemed like they immediately went looking for Rage and found him without much delay. So I just assumed that Episodes 48-51 all take place in the same afternoon. Actually, if the entire Shadow Dragons Saga is just a single day, that wouldn’t surprise me at all.

And yet, everything about Oceanus implies a long con. Each Shadow Dragon seems to have picked out a “home base”, where they go to work ruining things. I almost get the sense that they’re competing with each other. Haze threatened to expand his territory until it covered the whole world, which would make it a paradise for himself. Rage claimed to have stolen the whole world’s electricity. Their individual goals don’t seem to mesh well, so I wonder if this is some deal where they’re all out to destroy the Earth, but only one of them gets to do it. And this is all some weird contest to see who gets to pull the trigger. By that logic, Oceanus seems to be doing her own thing her own way, but it feels like she’s been at it for a lot longer than the others.

Like, okay, the disguise is a neat bit. I just like her “Princess” design a lot better than her true form. I wish the other Dragons had similarly diverse looks to them. But why does Oceanus need a disguise at all? Apparently she’s been giving free fish to the villagers for a while now. They’re so used to it at this point that they call her a goddess and have given up working for a living. She warns Goku that no one has ever seen her true form and lived to tell about it, which is a cool line, but not for a villain who’s only a few hours old. Who else has seen her true form?

The premise for this story suggests that she’s been at this thing for weeks, or even longer, but that just doesn’t add up. Maybe Goku and Pan stopped at a Holiday Inn between Episode 50 and 51. So at most, Oceanus has been operating in Bish’s village for a full day. And yet the whole town has already gotten accustomed to her routine. It doesn’t add up.

And what’s the point of this whole charade? This is her only appearance, so she dies before we can find out her plan, but it seems like it would take forever to pull off. I mean, I guess her plan involves corrupting the village’s fishermen and damaging the local ecology, but wouldn’t it make more sense to just... I don’t know... use her wind powers to break stuff? That’s what the other dragons are up to. Haze was making land uninhabitable, Rage was forcing people to abandon cities, and when we get to Naturon we’ll find him digging tunnels and wrecking cities in the process.

Oceanus’ strange tactics might be explained by a quirky personality, which brings me to the Underwear Wish that created her. The Dragon Ball Wiki has a lot of words devoted to trying to connect each Shadow Dragon to the wish that birthed them, and while I respect the effort, it’s a lot of reaching. Someone might suggest that Oceanus uses the Princess disguise because Oolong’s wish was so frivolous and pervy. And maybe her weird plan is supposed to be tied to the nature of the wish. Like Ooong only asked for panties in order to stop Pilaf from wishing for world domination, so maybe that has something to do with it. There are people who spend a lot of time trying to connect these dots, but it just doesn’t make sense.

For example, Haze Shenron originated from the wish to revive Bora. What does any of that have to do with pollution? What does the wish to revive Goku have to do with electric slime? Nothing. These were just trivial matters that Toei slapped together. There is no underlying explanation for Oceanus Shenron. Someone wanted to write a morality tale about a fishing village corrupted by a false goddess, and so one of the Shadow Dragons was tailored to suit the role. It didn’t matter that the Shadow Dragons were only a few hours old, or that this one came from a wish for panties. It all just got slapped together.

✨Is This Episode Worse than "The Roaming Lake"?✨

All right, so how is the fight? Well, it’s a step up from Haze and Rage, but that’s not saying much.

Goku gets his clothes shredded by her initial attack, but Pan has a spare dogi in her backpack, so they’re back in business. Then Goku figures out that Oceanus just spins a lot, so he starts spinning too, and then they slam into each other really hard. It’s very dumb, but at least they’re hitting each other.

Oceanus still gets the upper hand, though, and manages to keep Goku pinned down. He just can’t get past the wind she creates. It blocks all his attacks, even the Kamehameha. You’d think Goku would try transforming to even the playing field, but maybe Rage Shenron spooked him out of that.

Anyway, all hope seems lost until the seagull Bish was carrying suddenly flies out of his hands and divebombs Oceanus from above. It can’t do a whole lot to her, but it does manage to get through her defenses, which gives Pan an idea. She flies directly over Oceanus and fires a Kamehameha straight down on her head. It’s like how there’s no wind in the eye of a hurricane. Oceanus is defenseless from that angle.

They make a lot out of this Kamehameha, like it’s Pan’s first, but I’m pretty sure she’s used it before in GT. This is the first time she’s used it to win a battle..... or it would have been, except Goku fires his own Kamehameha at Oceanus to finish her off. I don’t know if Pan’s was just meant as a diversion, or if the writers decided that Goku had to be involved in the finish because of Kozo Morishita’s rule against Pan actually getting to win fights or do anything cool.

The main point I want to make here is that none of this would be possible without the seagull literally showing our heroes where to shoot. As with the last two Shadow Dragons, Goku and Pan just sort of screw around the whole time, wondering why their attacks aren’t working, and then something else comes along to save them, like the underground spring Giru found, or the raincloud over Rage’s city, or this seagull.

After the fight, the fishermen thank Goku and Pan for showing them the error of their ways, and all the seagulls come out of that one boat. But they don’t have the budget for animating a flock of seagulls, so they use a bunch of still images instead. Hey, maybe don’t write stuff into the episode if you know you’re not going to be able to animate it.

Bish asks Pan to teach him how to fly next time, and Pan responds by inviting him to Mt. Paozu for lessons. Well that’s a brush-off if I’ve ever seen one. Why should he schlep all the way out to Mt. Paozu, Pan? You’re the one who can fly!

Then the episode ends with this shot of the four remaining Shadow Dragons. This is the first time we’ve seen them since the arc started. Episodes 48 and 49 had some shots of Rage and Oceanus, but the rest weren’t shown, which leads me to wonder if they hadn’t finalized their designs until this point. But that’s a problem for later.

Anyway, this episode is a lot better than the two that came before it, but that isn’t saying much. I’m still annoyed with the way they used a seagull to expose Oceanus’ weakness. Also, it’s kind of dumb that Oceanus’ weakness is just “attack from overhead”. Imagine if you could defeat Frieza that easily. But you can’t figure that out on your own, you need a seagull to demonstrate first.

✨The Blade Braxton Memorial Haiku*✨

Can Goku restore

The cracked Dragon Balls? Or will

They Break like the Wind?

#dragon ball #dragon ball gt #really sucks #2023dbapocryphaliveblog #*haiku does not come with crown as illustrated #goku #pan #giru #bish #oceanus shenron

14 notes · View notes