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gregoftom · 9 months

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omg on the marriage topic who d'you think would bring up the idea of marriage first?

do you think tom's been stewing on it a while and brings it up to greg carefully that he'd like to marry him (bc they're In Love but it makes tom vulnerable and tom's been hurt before). and greg's all wide eyes, small growing smile. bc greg's over the moon and stars insides dancing to be wanted to be husbanded by tom.

or maybe it comes from greg. being assertive. like, I want to get married. I want to be married to you. (and for tom that's like. Amazing. bc it's not him chasing someone else with love. someone's actively wanting to love him and only him. so he's like...okay, yeah, yes, and they'll sort something out.)

or do you think it's straight to proposal, like tom did with shiv. they're out at a gorgeous place. and tom does it all classic like. gives greg a box, and a ring. tells greg honestly how he feels and wants greg by his side always, always greg. (his sporus)

or do you think it's like. accidental. spills out during sex. one of them, all breathless and heated, just being like, god, I would marry you. and then the other's like. hitting stark reality. yeah? and it's suddenly Out There. and the one who said it actually thinks about it and is like. yeah. (I feel like either could be in either role in this???)

aaa gimme your thoughts

HELP ME OMG THESE ARE ALL PERFECT AND I CANT PICK AAA like. i love all of them omfg like. tom. bringing it up again and like no like, i Really wanted to marry you i wasn't kidding [rpdr meme voice I'M NOT JOKING BITCH] i want you with me forever and greg being like. omg....... bc like. already the i got you and wanting to keep him after Everything is crazy bc everyone else has given up on him nothing is good enough when he makes a mistake that's it etc etc. but tom. doesn't care and still loves him and wants to spend the rest of their lives together fuck. fuck!!!! like you say stars dancing inside him, stomach flipping heart pounding tears brimming because oh my god. someone really actually really wants to be around me all the time. with me. for life.

but THEN on GOD the wayyyy you said about. finally tom is not the one doing the chasing and He's the one actively pursued and sought after by someone he's so deeply in love with, someone he's afraid to truly express how he feels without some proxy or shield of a phone or joke afterwards or reference, something, anything to mask just his true feelings... greg being the one to be like. i wanna be your one and only. i kinda hinted at this, like? already? on election night. [bc he did. when he asked where he stood in terms of them? like. to me it read as personal. it couldn't be professional, really, bc he already knows, and he referenced their earlier relationship by proxy of matsson like, he treated me badly, but i liked the trust, so... which is like. the development of his and tom's relationship, but tom didn't Really get the hint. i want you gregging for me! was good enough in the moment though, i think. greg seemed to be tired of being the side piece/other woman. he wanted to be tom's lover!] so like. yeah i wanna get married. marry me. and tom is like. H.

but OHHHH TOM CONSIDERING AND THEN PROPOSING TO GREG Ajdl;akfle that's so fucking, cute, and like. tom is SUCH a hopeless romantic he would absolutely do something like that and. he would figure that greg was Worth It, was Worth the danger of having his heart broken again like. maybe this time we'll be fine. /ref and yeah god. sporus. fuck. come with me sporus. be with me. marry me. and greg. would say yes nero. because what other answer could there possibly beeeEEE ON GOD I'M PERISHING.

and. this last one is the one i've actually considered the most and believed to be how it would go. like the first time, even, the very first time they have sex [which i believe would be post show, now, i'm a post show truther despite it being fun to think of earlier times] they just. lose themselves in the moment and go crazy go stupid, absolutely bestial and passionate and loving and clawing and gripping at one another, foreheads pressed fingers interlocked kisses and stealing breath away, and yeah the subject of marriage comes up exactly as you said and alksjalsj yes. i think. tom. would say that and then be like FUCK, blurting something like That out, but greg would look up with stars in his eyes, pull him in closer and. yeah? maybe we should. maybe you should marry me, nero. and that's it lmao tom is Gone and they just continue hissing oaths and promises and vows and aslaska;slkasa yeah. yeah. yeah

HONESTLY ALL OF THESE ARE. SO GOOD. I CANNOT PICK i thought the last one was how i think it would go but omg. i could see All of these. ACK! i'm. going down! mayday! mayday!!!!! aaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkssssssssshhhhhhhhhh [radio static]

#tomgreg #lord help ME!!!11 hekolp. jelp. help. hEP!!!

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beebrainedstudios · 1 year

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Either Cypher or maybe Syren 👀👀👀

Alright, two this time! Going to put it under a Read More since this got long!

Cypher:

one aspect about them i love That despite being a sure antagonist Cypher is one of the only ones that is consistently proven right, over and over by the narrative. They weren't ready for Overlord? Yep. HIVE wasn't safe for Wing? Yep. Number One and Overlord were linked? Yep. Nero cannot keep Wing safe for more than a few months at a time? Yep, yep, yep. And Otto-Overlord was going to kill Wing? Yep. He's the series Cassandra (the prophet) and I love that about him. Also, he's so effective and efficient. Raven and Wing couldn't infiltrate HOPE on their own, but he snuck in without breaking a sweat. After breaking out of HIVE by himself- what a legend.

one aspect i wish more people understood about them

That by the time the series roles around Cypher's toxic parenting comes more from a place of over-parenting than under-parenting. It's not so much that he doesn't care about Wing's feelings- he acknowledges them a lot! He just doesn't think they're as valuable as Wing's physical safety (don't get me wrong, still very bad though). Also, Cypher has some very valid concerns about Nero's abilities, even if he's such a terrible parent on his own that he shouldn't be responsible for Wing at all. According to Cypher, Nero had one job after OP, and as soon as Cypher got out in Rogue Nero had botched it so badly that Wing was in Brazil with Overlord. No wonder he thinks Nero sucks.

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have about this character

I've mentioned this one before, but Cypher does physical therapy daily after his fall in OP! There's no way he broke so many bones and didn't have a regimen afterwards to deal with it. Dr. Scott showed him how and he keeps all of his equipment tucked under his bed when he doesn't need it. He still gets sore a lot though and has chronic pain for the rest of his life from it.

as well as

one character i love seeing them interact with

His time with the girls in Rogue was very entertaining- I've tossed around the idea of writing a continuation of it involving a (non-intentional) helicopter crash where the four of them + the pilot have to spend a night in the Amazon jungle. There's just so much salt between them all.

one character i wish they would interact with/interact with more

Pike! He and Cypher seemed to get along great; Pike hardly seemed bothered by him and vice versa. I think they'd work on stuff and complain about Nero to each other. Also, Darkdoom! If Cypher was apparently such a Darkdoom fan, why didn't we get to see it referenced again? It could have been hilarious!

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have that involve them and one other character

Xiu Mei gave him his own pendant when she gave Wing his so it'd be less suspicious- something like a little gear or Sun. He wore it religiously, even after her death; the one time he took it off was on the Kraken right before he went to HIVE... after which the Kraken sank and it was lost forever. He has a habit of clutching where it would be sometimes, even after it's gone. Syren: (AKA @wing-shot-first 's fantastic antagonist OC, so take everything after with a grain of salt- he's not mine! But I love him)

one aspect about them i love He's so, so awful. The motto of "If Syren can do it, he will" is perfect, he will kill, mock, maim and torture if it gets him to his goals... or if he just thinks it's funny. He is the Sh/tty Man. (Also his fancy socks.)

one aspect i wish more people understood about them

Looking at you, Sylvie- he will never be better. He cannot be redeemed or bargained with, because he just loves hurting other people too much to ever stop. Nothing will ever change that. He will always be a monster- a proud one too.

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have about this character

His prosthetic has a quick release for emergencies- it's a little hinge that only the other Hydra know about. Early on he got his arm caught in machinery and was nearly crushed- it took Sylvester holding him back and Dante switching it all off to save him, and that prosthetic was ruined. Now he has a safety switch. He throws people into the underground river of the Forge to dispose of them, especially Soldiers that are either too injured/sick or defective; they don't swim well due to their modifications. Also, he drags people around by hooking them with his claws and pulling. Sometimes he isn't even trying to be mean, it's just his habit, so Sylvester eventually had to make sure the guards' uniforms had a tear-resistant patch or two so they wouldn't keep getting disembowled- it was messy and expensive to deal with.

as well as

one character i love seeing them interact with

Axon and Parker! I can't lie, it doesn't usually go well for them and I love the angst. But also the moments discussed where the two find some way to defeat him is so satisfying, especially when it leads to his rather gruesome end :D Also, how could I not love it when he and Sylvester are together? So much useless longing on Sylvester's part that leads to murderous rage towards others, and so much apathy and sadistic satisfaction on Syren's. I can't wait to see how the serial cheater reveal plays out.

one character i wish they would interact with/interact with more

I'd love to learn more about him and Dante's relationship, especially since it's not-very-pleasant for Dante even though he's still preferred to Syren's husband. I want to know more

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have that involve them and one other character

One of the reasons he hates Sylvester so much is because Sylvie is one of the few people who saw him while he was recovering/still adjusting to his prosthetics, and it gnaws at him that Sylvester saw him weakened at any point. Any time Sylvester talks about that period, he's liable to get slashed for it- maybe the scars will teach him not to broach the topic again.

#two of my favorite terrible men #thanks mikey!#h.i.v.e.#h.i.v.e #higher institute of villainous education #mark walden #sight of our future #SOOF #SOOF ocs #bees ocs #other peoples characters #Cypher #wu zhang #syren #sylvester #axon #parker #others ocs

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solynaceawrites · 4 years

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Wires [1] A Fresh Start

Rating: Mature Archive Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death Categories: F/F, F/M Fandom: Devil May Cry Relationships: Dante/Original Female Character(s), Implied Nero/Kyrie, Implied Vergil/Original Female Character(s), Implied Lady/Trish, Dante/Lirael Thorne, Dante/Lir Characters: Dante, Morrison, Nero, Original Female Character(s), Lirael Thorne, Lir Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Detectives, Violence, Gore, Dark, Horror, Supernatural Elements, Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Serial Killers, Angst, Eventual Romance, Eventual Smut Summary: In Red Grave City, a serial killer stalks the streets. Lirael Thorne, recently transferred from Fortuna and looking for an escape from her past, winds up on his trail. Hunting him with her veteran partner, Dante Redgrave, they try to piece together the wires that bind the three of them together. In a race to catch him before he leaves more victims in his wake, the things thought buried will come to the surface, tearing lives and comfort apart.

»»————-　⚜　————-««

“Everybody has a geography that can be used for change; that is why we travel to far off places. Whether we know it or not, we need to renew ourselves in territories that are fresh and wild. We need to come home through the body of alien lands.” — Joan Halifax

»»————-　⚜　————-««

Holding an aspirin tablet between her teeth, craving a drink, Lir listens to the clacking of the keyboard and blinks against the watery light streaming between the blinds. The office of Red Grave’s chief of police is smaller than the one in Fortuna, but neater: gone are the numerous potted plants, the maps and spreadsheets tacked to every available surface, the bookcases littered with little knick-knacks and family photographs. Those personal touches have been ignored in favor of something that is neat, organized, the little bit of warmth the room has coming from the soft bulb of the desk lamp and the mahogany of the furniture. It’s a bit of a relief, really. Sanctus had been old—too old, in the opinion of many—and took on a fatherly role that often left Lir feeling chafed and angry. At least here, going from first impressions, there will be no blurring of the line between duty and her personal life.

Seated with his back rod-straight is her new superior. A gold nameplate on the desk reads J.D. Morrison, and as he reads whatever file he’s pulled up on his monitor, Lir wonders what the initials stand for. James Dean is her first thought, and she finally crunches the aspirin, using the bitter flavor to smother her budding laughter. Sure, yeah, why not? Red Grave is a big city, and maybe Morrison’s parents had been so attached to the ill-fated actor that they’d saddled their son with his name. Certainly wouldn’t be the strangest thing she’s heard of.

“Detective Thorne,” Morrison says. He opens a drawer and pulls out a cigar, which he lights in clear disregard of the signs posted on the doors to the building. “Says here you transferred out for personal reasons.”

“Yessir.” The dull throbbing behind her temples grows at the scent of smoke. “Wanted a change of scenery.”

He coughs, clears his throat. “That so? Well, we’ve had people do it for less. Though your track record . . . You seem to have been on a fast path to promotion. ” Lir says nothing. The expectant silence stretches between them until it turns uncomfortable, but she’s not in any particular mood for niceties. She has an apartment to unpack and a bitch of a headache brewing and she wants to get this introduction over with as quickly as she can. Finally, Morrison sighs, silver plumes curling through the air. “Normally, you’d get a tour and time to sort out your desk, but we got a call this morning and it’s all hands on deck. You up to fieldwork?”

His shrewd gaze rephrases that question nicely. You willing to actually work? “Sure.”

Morrison studies her for a few seconds longer, then nods and stands up, raising his voice to a shout that makes her wince. “Officer Simmons!”

A young man with untidy white hair tucked messily under his cap stumbles in. “Yes, Chief?”

“Take Detective Thorne here to the alley.” Simmons’ face pales, and Morrison barks, “Now!”

“Yes, Chief!” Simmons snaps into a hasty salute before scurrying out of the office.

Lir gives one of her own to Morrison and follows, feeling a sort of bemused pity for the officer. She’d been there once, bright-eyed and eager to please, thinking that the law enforcement they showed on television, with its friendly camaraderie and kind-yet-stern chiefs, was the truth of it. Simmons must still be clinging to that, and she pops another aspirin into her mouth and chews it as they weave through the bullpen to the doors that lead outside.

Simmons doesn’t say much, though he opens her door when they reach the cruiser, flushing under her raised brow, and his uneasy quiet persists well into the ride. Definitely fresh, Lir thinks. Probably still spit shines his shoes in the morning and tells people he’s a cop with pride.The thought is bitter, and angry, and distasteful. Not that it really bothers her anymore; her mind has been particularly not tasty as of late.

They drive through cramped, winding streets that turn unexpectedly into one-ways and cross over themselves into a maze, closed in by the dingy buildings until it all feels more than a little claustrophobic. Red Grave City is coastal, just like Fortuna, but it’s much larger, with more crime, and rumors of rampant corruption and greased pockets give it an unsavory reputation with other law enforcement agencies. Yet in stark contrast, it’s as much of a tourist hotspot as Fortuna, its historic district and scenic parks and ritzy downtown drawing numerous crowds every year, regardless of the season. Lir takes all of it in, the cafès and hotels and convenience stores fighting for space, their colorful signs and banners almost garish against the dull brick, and it’s not until they pass into a more modern area with skyscrapers of steel and glass that she decides to ask where the hell Simmons is taking her to.

“What’s in this alley?”

Simmons jumps, the wheel jerking under his hands and sending them partially over the white lines. A minivan behind them lays on the horn, and Lir watches the driver raise his middle finger as he speeds by once Simmons has corrected. “Sorry, ma’am. Uh, Detective. I thought the Chief filled you in.”

“No.” She straightens. “Just that it’s serious.”

“That’s one way to put it,” he mumbles. “Mind if I smoke?”

“Yes.” The sight of his momentary pout sends irritation flaring hot and thick along her spine. Lir swallows it and rubs her temples. “Just crack the damn window.”

“Sure thing.” He does, and then reaches for a pack on the dash and. Drawing a cigarette from it, he says, “Call came in maybe twenty minutes before you showed up. Jane Doe found in an alley. She, uh . . . Well, it might be better for you to see for yourself, but it’s . . .” His fingers tremble as he tries to flick his lighter. Lir takes pity on him and pulls her own from her coat, and he smiles gratefully as she holds it to his cigarette, though his face is pallid and shiny with sweat. “First body?” At his nod, she sighs. “You’ve probably heard it gets easier.”

“Does it?” Simmons looks at her hopefully.

Lir snorts. “No. Eyes on the road.”

He retreats into a silence that’s not quite sullen, leaving her to her thoughts. Which mostly center around whether or not she’ll have time to find a new bar, one of the nice and private ones where no one wants to get friendly or gives a shit that she’s a cop, only that she pays her tab. When they arrive at the crime scene, Simmons stays in the car, looking ready to puke. Lir raps on the door once it’s closed and jerks her chin, signalling for him to head out, and she waits until he gives a shaky thumbs up and pulls away from the curb to head towards the yellow tape strung between a nightclub on one side and a sports bar on the other. An officer at the corner stops her until she shows her badge, then lifts the tape for her to step beneath. Immediately, she’s assaulted by the wet, mossy stench of death and viscera, and she takes the gloves and shoe covers and slides them on to buy herself time to adjust to it.

Cops swarm outside of the alley, keeping the rabid press contained. Inside, there’s only four others, three men and a woman, but Lir ignores them in favor of taking in all that she can before she’s forced to talk. Four dumpsters are present, two on each wall with the city’s waste disposal logo printed on the side; bits of trash and litter surround them: used condoms, soda cans, scraps of newspaper, all of the usual findings. There’s no spray paint graffiti, and a security camera faces out into the busy street. Maybe they’ll get something useful from it, though she doubts it. In her experience, they’re usually for show, just a weak-hearted attempt to prevent crime or a way to deter violence on the premises of businesses who host rowdy crowds.

The scenery accounted for, Lir turns her attention to the misshapen body in the center. Nude and pale, the woman is covered from chest to knee in red that’s gone black with time, her unseeing eyes staring at the sky with a terror that won’t disappear until the medical examiner closes them on the slab. She walks towards her, offal and iron making her throat constrict against nausea, and the woman kneeling next to the corpse looks up at her approach with a friendly nod. Dressed in a black jumpsuit, she’s no doubt the M.E., or someone affiliated with them, and she stays quiet as Lir kneels to fully take in the mutilation inflicted on the victim.

While the rest of her is untouched, her throat is slashed, and she’s been split open from rib to hip, the skin and muscle peeled away to reveal her organs beneath. As far as Lir can tell, nothing has been removed, but something has certainly been added: a pendant rests on top of her stomach, glistening wetly in the daylight. “I pulled it out,” the maybe-M.E. says. “Dante wanted to see it.”

“Dante?” The woman tilts her head, and Lir turns to see a man speaking quietly but furiously to two uniforms. “Uh-huh.”

“You must be the new detective. My name’s Trish.” Lir looks blankly at the hand she holds out before taking it, and Trish’s handshake is firm and cordial. “I’m the medical examiner, coroner, whatever you’d like to call me. Your stiffs go onto my slab, anyway.”

Her dry humor draws an unwilling smile from Lir. “Okay. Trish. I’m Lir, Detective Thorne, take your pick as long as it’s not Lily. What can you tell me about our Jane Doe?”

“Not much, other than the obvious.” Trish points to the wound. “This was more than likely done pre-mortem, going by the amount of blood—there wouldn’t be so much of it if she was already dead—and there are a couple of hesitation marks at her throat. But as to which of those killed her, and how long ago, why she didn’t fight back, I won’t know all of that until I take her out of here.”

Lir considers all of that. “Why do you think she didn’t resist?”

“No self-defense wounds on the hands or arms. At least, not that I can see.”

“Mm. Your guys get pictures?”

“Not yet.” Trish smiles wryly. “Chief wanted you to see it first. It’s why Dante’s giving those two a lashing, though he’s just shooting the messengers at this point.”

“Right.” Standing, Lir peels off her gloves and drops them into the bag Trish holds out to her. “Guess I should go save ‘em.”

“Good luck.”

Lir snorts as she turns. On first sight, she’s already unimpressed with the so-called Dante. He’s handsome, sure, model or film star handsome even, with his straight nose and strong jaw dusted with a five o’clock shadow, but he’s dressed like a detective from a noir novel: pinstripe trousers and a matching vest, a red tie, white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to expose his forearms, brown Oxfords polished to a dull shine. The only things that break the illusion that he’s stepped off the silver screen are the watch at his wrist, the gleaming handcuffs clipped to the back of his belt, the radio at his hip, and the Beretta in its holster next to the radio. She more than half expects him to pull out a flask from somewhere and take a swig mid-tirade, but the only time he pauses is to draw in a breath.

“—how the hell he expects us to carry out an investigation when he’s waiting on some country bumpkin—” “Howdy,” Lir drawls.

He whirls on her so fiercely that she instinctively rests her hand on the butt of her own gun, her pulse roaring into her ears. Dante seems to catch himself, straightening to his full height to scowl down to her, and she’s startled by the pale, frozen blue of his eyes. “You Detective Thorne?”

She shrugs. “Country bumpkin works, too.”

Dante doesn’t have the grace to look embarrassed that she overheard him. “I’m Detective Redgrave. Yes, like the city, no, I don’t give a shit. You done lookin’ at the body?”

“Sure.”

“You hear that, Trish?” Dante hollers. “Take her out.”

Behind her, she hears the telltale metallic clatter of a gurney being placed on the ground, followed by a bit of huffing, the rasp of a zipper, and more heavy breathing and the rustling of fabric. “Are you going to give me the details or am I going to guess?”

He barks a laugh. “Morrison sent you out here blind? Doesn’t surprise me. Sure, I’ll humor you.” With a grin that’s more mocking than genuine, he says, “Call came in at 7:45. Some poor schmuck takin’ out the trash found our body and had the decency to lose his breakfast outside of the crime scene before he called. No witnesses so far, no clothing, no I.D., just—” “What about the camera?” Lir points over her shoulder with her thumb.

“Can’t get to it until the owner shows up, which, according to his staff could be anytime between noon and midnight.”

“Alright. What do you need me to do?”

Dante considers her, that cruel smile still playing at his lips. “You want to help?” She nods. “Go keep those fuckers away.”

“The press?” His expression doesn’t slip, and she shakes her head. “That’s uniform work. Send them to—”

“Either deal with them or go home. I don’t have time to hold your hand.”

Just like that, he turns away in a clear dismissal. Lir stares at his broad back, her head throbbing from the night before and the rage that’s been building since she stepped into Morrison’s office: rage at the incompetence of her former chief, at the glares that had followed her once she entered the precinct, at Simmons’ earnest naivety, at whoever butchered a woman and left her in an alley like she was no better than the trash already there, at Dante himself. It’s familiar, and choking, the same burning that’s festered within her all her life with every snide, “Are you sure you can handle that? Wouldn’t you rather answer phones and let the men handle the rest?”

Instead of giving into her urge to punch him in his smug mouth, she inhales deeply and holds it until spots dance in her vision. Then she exhales and heads towards the bright yellow tape and, beyond it, the reporters and photographers craning their necks to get a look at the violence that’s visited their city. Two steps, and cold fingers curl around her wrist, sending numbness crawling along her skin from where they touch. Lir closes her eyes, counting to ten, and then she pulls free. Only on the other side of the tape does she look back, and the sight of a woman in a red dress with pale hair staring back at her sadly, her lips moving soundlessly, is exactly what she expected. Definitely getting a drink, she muses.

The reporters are no different from the ones Lir dealt with in Fortuna, just more persistent. She repeats the phrase, “No comment,” so many times that it begins to lose meaning to her, until a uniform comes to relieve her and she’s able to hail a taxi. But she doesn’t go back to work straight away. The cabbie drops her at a liquor store, waiting at the curb while she hurries in to buy a mini bottle of vodka and hurries back out, and she cracks it open and takes it like a shot, stowing the empty bottle in her pocket as they reach the precinct. Lir tips him double, then heads inside, and the bustling and noise is so at odds with the sullen silence of only hours ago that she nearly stops in her tracks. It’s only force of will that keeps her moving to the stairs in the back and up them, to where her desk sits just outside of Morrison’s office.

Dante is seated at the desk across from hers, a phone clamped between his face and shoulder while he writes on a notepad. Lir waits until he hangs up to say, “You’re an ass.”

“Been called worse,” he replies distractedly. “Trish’s report get in yet?”

“Not in my inbox. You got a problem with me?”

“No offense, sweetheart, but city crime is different from country crime.”

“I’m from Fortuna. Not the mountains.”

“Uh-huh. I’m sure you dealt with a lot of purse snatching.”

Lir bristles. “Listen, jackass—”

“Go see Trish. See if she’s got a report yet or not.”

Her mouth hangs open. Then she stands, slamming her chair back into her desk loudly enough that Morrison looks out from his office with a frown, and stalks back the way she’d come, heading for the elevators. On one hand, she understands Dante’s shit attitude; she’s new to Red Grave, new to their force. On the other, she transferred from Homicide to Homicide, and there were enough of them in Fortuna that the sight of another isn’t going to send her running, and he’s a sour bastard with a chip on his shoulder who probably thinks he can do nothing wrong and his word is law. Which she’s only proving, she realizes, running his errands for him, and she jabs irritably at the button that will take her to the basement and the morgue. Next time he demands she do something, she’s going to tell him right where he can shove it. In the back of her mind, however, disappointment is bitter. So much, she thinks, for a fresh start.

#dmc #devil may cry #dmc dante #dante #dante sparda #dmc oc #lirael thorne #lir #dmc fanfic #dmc fanfiction #writing #story #myfic #wires #dmcweek #dmcweek2020 #holy shit i'm so nervous for this lol #i've been working on it for over a month

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annabethisterrified · 5 years

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Book Review: THE TYRANT’S TOMB by Rick Riordan (The Trials of Apollo #4)

“Today, one way or another, the fate of New Rome would be decided.”

THERE ARE NO SPOILERS UNTIL YOU GO BELOW THE CUT!

Reeling from the loss of Jason Grace and the mounting danger of his mission to stop the evil emperors ascendance, Apollo (aka Lester) and Meg arrive disheveled and devastated in New Rome...with a coffin in tow. Getting into Camp Jupiter is tricky enough, and once Apollo and Meg get caught up to speed on the chaos that’s been wreaked in the Bay Area, they realize that the impending battle will be the culmination of everything they’ve been fighting for. Reyna, Frank, and Hazel’s leadership roles put them to the ultimate test as they scramble to prepare for their final stand against Caligula and Commodus. Together, Apollo, Meg, and the inhabitants of New Rome must mourn who they’ve already lost while simultaneously gearing up for the inevitable confrontation that will seal the fate of their home once and for all.

The penultimate installment of The Trials of Apollo picks up on the heels of The Burning Maze’s tragic conclusion. Through Apollo’s perspective, the reality of what went down in the third book continues to weigh heavily upon the whole cast, but most of their focus is forced forward to an incredibly dangerous confrontation slated for the Blood Moon. Loose ends from the Heroes of Olympus series are tied neatly yet surprisingly, and the continued evolution of Apollo and Meg’s bond shines as the book’s true, gleaming heart. Apollo’s own recognition of his past failings, his father’s abusiveness, and the reality of what his humanity has taught him all come to a head, setting up what’s sure to be an impactful fifth and final book-- not just for Apollo’s journey, but as a capstone for what the whole saga’s implications about what it means to be a hero, and to be a human.

The Tyrant’s Tomb is consistently entertaining and heartfelt, but the final third of the story proves to be the most deftly-crafted and meaningful. Though not as heavy as its previous installment, this fourth book gives plenty of focus on some lovely development from our main protagonist, priming the series for its finale next fall.

If you click below, there will be spoilers.

Hello? Okay. You promise you’re good for spoilers...?

All right, just because of who I am as a person I guess, I’ve broken this down into like ten sections. Ooof. Generally, I will say that I was super pleased with how this story went. My only disappointment was that I’d hoped for more of a prolonged or “on-screen” unpacking of the effects of Jason’s death on the Camp Jupiter kids, specifically Reyna. However, I get that that’s kind of hard to do through Apollo’s perspective. I wasn’t totally sold on the idea that he sang a song haha, but I’m glad that Jason’s loss wasn’t just addressed at the beginning and then “moved on” from. It was threaded throughout, showing that grief is not something that you can check off a list. This is something that will always stay with these characters, and alter how they live and feel about things. It ebbs and flows. In addition, I think there could’ve been just a bit more action in the first half of the story, but it was never boring or aimless. And the concluding battle was expertly written and soooooo amazing omfg. Still reeling.

Anyway, let’s go.

FRANKLY, I HAVE NOTHING BUT LOVE

I’m so happy we got the chance to see Frank leading Camp Jupiter as praetor! He did such a good job, but also acknowledged that this is still a new role he’s transitioning into. I was so pleasantly surprised at how he managed to be both authoritative and gentle, and it was gut-wrenching to know that he intended to take Caligula down with him. When I imagined the fallout of Jason’s death, I always pictured Reyna being the one to tear down the emperors in revenge, which was why I was so affected by Frank’s commitment to honoring his friend. Not only did he order Jason’s designs to be built in like thirty hours, but he was so ready to avenge Jason that he was fully prepared to die.

What. An. Arc. I LOVE HIM. I’m glad he’s finally free of his burden, and that he gets to keep doing an epic job as praetor (though hopefully during more future peaceful times). Camp Jupiter’s lucky to have him.

SHINE ON HAZEL

Words can’t express how infatuated I was with Hazel in this book. She’s always been one of my favorites, but she really shone in this story. She was already so strong and developed at the end of Heroes of Olympus, but this book still brought her out better and smarter than she was before. She cannot be stopped. Hazel’s determination and grit make her formidable, and she definitely proved to be Rome’s greatest asset throughout the entire story.

I think it’s great that she gets to step up and take on Jason and Reyna’s former role of praetor...alongside Frank, too! I didn’t expect her to react with anger towards Jason once she found out about his death, but it hit me hard. She initially took Jason’s death to be a reflection of the Seven’s failings as a team. Hazel loved how powerful the bond between them all was, and when Jason took on the burden of TBM’s prophecy alone without confiding in anyone, I can totally see why she felt like that was a betrayal. UGH hit me hard.

REYNA REYNA REYNA!

Reyna is just objectively an amazing character. I’m so so so glad we got to revisit her in this story, and loved where she ended up going. Starting this book, I had literally no idea how she would be handled. She’s always been the quintessential strong leader, which is awesome, but I’m glad we got to unpack the implications behind her very...layered...existence. Leaving Puerto Rico in a traumatic situation, going straight to Circe’s Island, escaping as a pirate, carving out her path in New Rome, getting roped into the Titan then Giant War? Damn. She’s been through a lot, and none of it of her own free will.

Like I mentioned earlier, I wish we’d learned more of how she dealt with Jason’s death. They were obviously really close growing up, and though it was clear she was devastated and things were referenced “off-screen”, I still kind of wish we’d gotten a bit more. Regardless, I liked that the focus of her presence in this book was about HERSELF and nobody else.

And hello!!!!! She has a red truck!!!! and goes out hiking with her greyhounds??? makes me so glad.

And yeah-- that ending, huh? I know it got mixed reactions. Personally, it felt pretty natural to me. I’m so glad she stayed in touch with Thalia after the events of HoO, and knowing that they’ll be on eternal adventures with a bunch of other wonderful girls....happy sigh. Reyna’s right-- this is kind of a much-needed vacation by joining Artemis’s team. No matter how long or short she stays with them, it’s important that she’s able to reclaim her destiny and figure out what and who she’d like to be.

APOLLO & MEG

These two!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy shit. Their bond was so well handled and I loved seeing how it developed in this installment. They can communicate on an instinctual level-- they can call each other out, and recognize the abusive patterns both of their fathers have over them. They have so much in common, but also have so much to teach one another. I loved that they were both able to tell each other “I love you” and ughhhh yes the sibling dynamic is so epic. (Also, the whole Reyna and Meg ganging up on Apollo about Koronis bit was hysterical.) (And the “I thought you loved me?” “I’m multitasking.”)

WHERE TO NEXT?

Just because I haven’t said this yet, but HOLY MOLY I adored Lavinia. Oh my god. She was amazing-- hilarious, presumptuous, go-getter, kind...what a star!!! What a joy to read!

Anyway, now it’s onto the fifth and final installment...THE TOWER OF NERO. I’m so happy that we’re going back to where this story started (in both Hidden Oracle and The Lightning Thief)....New York! And it sounds like also a potential field trip to Delphi, Greece? I’m down!

I’m assuming we’ll be able to tag up with Annabeth, since she’s the only main-player we haven’t yet revisited in ToA. And probably also Percy, Nico, Will, Austin, Kayla, etc. at Camp Half Blood.

There’s a lot of ways this could all go down, but I think this book set up a heart-wrenching conclusion. I’m looking forward to Apollo and especially Meg standing up to their fathers and claiming their own lives. I’m not even sure if Apollo will want to be returned to godhood by the time his trials are up. We delved into some really interesting threads in this book-- he mentioned several times that he’d only ever felt comfortable and “at home” when he was human. What will that mean for his final trial?

In either case, this book was fabulous and I’m so glad we got a chance to learn more about Camp Jupiter and New Rome...and I feel like a lot got resolved, so it felt like a satisfying way to say goodbye to the California crew. I doubt they’ll be in the last book, so it was bittersweet but fitting to leave them as we did!

Now, we wait. One last time! Thanks for reading this if you made it all the way down, haha!

#review #tyrant's tomb #the trials of apollo #rick riordan #toa spoilers

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thomasroach · 5 years

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Devil May Cry 5 Review: Ssstylish Perfection

The post Devil May Cry 5 Review: Ssstylish Perfection appeared first on Fextralife.

Capcom’s Devil May Cry 5 Review: Action game reviews are often hindered by the issue of accessibility and the skill of the reviewer, which can skew impressions depending on what fence you sit in: the casual audience or the min-maxers aiming to do flawless Hell or Hell runs. In this DMC5 review, I will aim to breach that gap between skill levels, and explain why Devil May Cry 5 is a game you really should buy and enjoy, regardless of how “good” you think you are.

Devil May Cry 5 Review: Ssstylish Perfection

Genre: Action Developed by: Capcom Published by: Capcom Release date: March 8th, 2019 Platforms: PS4 (review platform), Xbox One, PC Price at the time of the review: $59.99

Devil May Cry 5 Review Story and Setting

DMC5 follows DMC4 hero Nero and newly introduced V as they set forth to stop a dangerous demon from awakening and overtaking earth. New players are treated to a short introduction to the events so far in the form of a video, which is “just the highlights” but still provides enough context to ease newcomers into the world of Devil May Cry. I was happy to see that the horrible aberration by Ninja Theory DMC did not make it into the game’s cannon. Thank you Capcom!

The story is delivered via a complex back-and-forth that makes the player take on the role of different characters at different points in the game’s timeline. Despite the initial confusion this generates, it is not long before the player gets the hang of the storytelling method and can follow through easily. However, it does create an issue where you just learn one characters controls and then switch to another, which can be frustrating at times.

The game also provides detailed records on characters, enemies and situations that may be referenced in an internal library. This is particularly useful for those wanting to understand the actually complex lore of the series, which is an underappreciated aspect of the title as most coverage focuses on gameplay.

That’s the kind of outfit one wears to hunt demons! What? It might distract them?

Of course, Devil May Cry follows the tradition of manga titles such as Bastard! and is a demonic hard rock paradise of cocky demons who flaunt their stuff with the addition of naked girls wherever possible. The game embraces the corny and rebellious hard rock teenager feel of its origins and unabashedly commits to making you, the player, feel COOL. And that, I did, as I fancied myself an unstoppable force of awesome wrapped in a mantle of tricksy shadows with a side of several swords, all to the tune of some modernized metal. Feels good, man.

In short, the game walks the right line for an action title, delivering decent worldbuilding and over-the-top characters that match the over-the-top action, with intermittent humorous moments – mostly provided by a demon bird called Griffon who is most certainly inspired by Jafar’s parrot Iago (from the movie Aladdin). Seriously though his voice nearly sounds identical. The one-liners and punchlines had me chuckling, which only added to the giddy overall feel that results from kicking demon butt “SAVAGELY”.

Combos feel fluid and pack a satisfying punch.

Devil May Cry 5 Review Gameplay

Gameplay is the main appeal of this title, as players take on different characters and master their skills. Nero is down an arm from the previous game, but this has been replaced with a powerful Devil Breaker that adds depth to his range of actions, which are certainly not few. Players will gather Red Orbs dropped from enemies and the environment or by completing missions Stylishly, and use them to upgrade and unlock skills, adding to a veritable arsenal of combinations that make it so no encounter is likely to be the same for any two players. The complexity of move combinations are further reinforced by the fact that each playable character has their own set of moves, unlocks and weapons.

As I progressed through the encounters, I found myself wanting to redo them to get that combat rank up and showcase my moves to perfection, and that drive to keep playing comes from the fact that any frustration I felt with the fight was 100% my own fault and a result of my execution mistakes. I never felt an enemy was cheap, or an attack unwarranted, but rather that I could have done better and gotten that SSS ranking “if only I had just…”

The gameplay fun factor is simply off the charts, and the more you play the more you want to play.

And thus, DMC5 lures you into its cycle of progressing through the game’s difficulty options and replaying each mission dozens of times on all its 6 difficulties. This is where the misconception that players must be skilled to enjoy this title should be addressed: just like Dark Souls requires you to be patient and learn, so too does DMC require you to invest time learning mechanics. To enjoy the game, you don’t need FPS no scope headshot skills, but rather you need to learn the combos, figure out the counters, and be creative in your battling.

DMC5 is here and with it action games are back for real. Many players are likely eagerly awaiting the release of Sekiro Shadows Die Twice, and to them I say: go buy DMC5 now, as Sekiro will likely be your From game of the year but DMC5 is THE action game of 2019, and rightly so!

Devil May Cry 5 Review Audio & Visual

DMC5 has excellent voice acting, which is saying something when you consider how cheesy some of the lines must have felt to the actors. The music does not disappoint, bringing each demon encounter the right amount of tension and excitement, and even delivering some unique nostalgia feels as players can customize their jukebox with tunes from DMC1 through DMC4. I can hear Capcom in the idle screens, that vaguely reminded me of Resident Evil and even Dragon’s Dogma. Overall, a well-balanced and well-implemented combination of calm and quieting tunes, tension-building violins, modern techno and hardcore metal.

The game’s visuals are, without a doubt, the best that Devil May Cry has ever looked, and the most important part is that the glorious graphics do not affect performance at all. I played for hours and hours, on 4k at 60FPS and did not see 1 frame drop. There are zero stability issues and I encountered zero glitches. Combos are executed flawlessly with accurate and responsive controls that have zero input lag or deficiencies. This is where action games must deliver or they fail: both controls and performance must be perfect. Devil May Cry 5 nails it on both counts.

Griffon can act as convenient transport and give you a great view to boot

Devil May Cry 5 Review Replayability

DMC5 is a pure action game, which means that if you don’t want to play it over and over again, the game is doing it wrong. Fortunately, Capcom has delivered in the gameplay department, and provides ample reason for re-visiting missions in the form of hidden collectibles, secret missions, and of course to farm red orbs and unlock more skills. Further, the game has tons of unlockable artwork and even unlockable skins that open up as you progress in difficulty.

Each difficulty mode adds its special touch, making enemies tougher and adding different combinations of them to the mix. If you start on normal difficulty (veteran players), you’ll find yourself quite enjoying NG+ on Son of Sparda, as you get to chain longer combos and make full use of your new abilities and extended powers. If you’re new to the series, you might be surprised to learn that you can get better mission ranks on higher difficulties, and this can be incredibly satisfying.

You’ll get to pull of better combos as you unlock more abilities, face tougher enemies, and get used to the flow of combat

There’s also the new multiplayer component, that gives players both asynchronous and real time options for interacting with other players. In some missions, secrets and collectibles on “your side” of the mission depend on whether your online partner has done specific tasks that affect your progress. Multiplayer also adds the option to rate other players, and good ratings result in Gold Orbs (a continue for your mission), so we can expect new players to be able to obtain several of those from generous strangers, or even from signing in as there’s a daily login bonus. This further enhances the appeal to new players, whilst adding a fun factor for veterans.

Please note that multiplayer interactions were sparse at the time of review, so we only had limited experiences with this aspect.

You will get a daily login bonus, and daily rewards for your rankings from “Link” missions.

Devil May Cry 5 Review Price Point

DMC5 is hitting a sweet spot for a release window, as there’s a lull in all action, rpg and adventure genres in late february-march. This puts the game in a good spot as it won’t be competing for your time with other titles, but of course the question is whether it is worth your hard-earned cash. At 60USD, the game gives a basic 15 hours of content for a playthrough for a casual player. From there, the replayability kicks in and you would be looking at 70+ hours for full completionism, depending on your skill.

For the average player who enjoys action titles but doesn’t want to unlock everything and see every secret, 60USD for 30 or 40 hours of content might be steep, but the game more than makes up on it in terms of fun. The fun factor is simply off the charts with Devil May Cry 5, and playing it is an enjoyable endeavor regardless of your skill level, so long as you give yourself a chance to learn a combo or two and get satisfaction from smashing demons.

Many hours of content for the dedicated, average for the casual, but all of them packed to the brim with action

Devil May Cry 5 Review Final Thoughts

I had been waiting for DMC5 (the “real” one, not the DMC abomination) for many years. I am positively thrilled that the title is here, but as all fans I am always wary that microtransactions or modern business practices could ruin a beloved series.

Those fears were unnecessary, as Capcom (much like they did with Monster Hunter World), kept to the title’s original appeal and amplified it rather than reinvented it. Microtransactions are there for certain cosmetics such as previous title soundtracks, and there’s an option to buy Red Orbs for those who do not want to farm them, but none of this made me feel as if the base title was lacking, or if any mechanic had been tinkered with to favor an extra purchase.

All in all, Devil May Cry 5 is unexpectedly leading the pack for Game Of the Year due to great production values and an incredibly polished delivery.

I’m sexy and I know it

The post Devil May Cry 5 Review: Ssstylish Perfection appeared first on Fextralife.

Devil May Cry 5 Review: Ssstylish Perfection published first on https://juanaframi.tumblr.com/

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recentanimenews · 6 years

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The 5 Most Loved and Hated Hair Antennas in Anime

The humble hair antenna. A cowlick that can say a lot about a character. A single strand of disorder in an otherwise immaculate air or, showing that the character isn’t all business or, perhaps, will just never be as cool and composed as they want. A single standing follicle might top of off a disorganized appearance like a cherry on a sundae, showing you that, from top to bottom, the character is incapable of keeping things together.

Love them or hate them, you have you admit, they have a certain charm. Although you may not say that about the character wearing them. Our friends over at Anime-Planet spend day and night cataloguing these unique features and leaving it to the fans to vote on the best and worst possessors of this springy crown. A note before we again, these are the result of popular votes that I can and will disagree with. Only your democratic will can determine who makes it on this list. With that out of the way, below are the 5 most loved and most hated anime characters with hair antenna!

Loved

5. Furukawa Nagisa - CLANNAD

Nagisa is exceptional on this list as a two-for-one, possessing a pair of antenna where with most we have to settle for one. As a character you can’t really argue with her being loved. Showing kindness and understanding despite struggling with her own issues and with one of the most charming character quirks in whispering the name of snacks to motivate herself. You basically spend the series hoping she finds a happy ending. Or, at least I did.

4. Saber - Fate

Saber’s a character hard not to love, possibly because there are so many of her. Arthur, Nero, or whatever sword-wielding conqueror takes her form, Saber always appears as a central character with the same springy hair. Filling in so many roles in the famous Fate franchise, you’d be hard pressed to find at least one you didn’t like. Her antenna was an inspired bit of character design, adding just a bit of disarming charm to her usually dignified aura.

3. Izumi Konata - Lucky Star

One of the fan favorites from an iconic self-referencing slice of life, Konata may be a surprise on this list, but definitely a welcome one. As an otaku and insomniac gamer who happily reflects a lot of the habits most of us try our best not to slide backward into, she’s definitely relatable. Umaru might be considered a more modern spiritual successor, but lacks the credentials to creep up on Konata in this list.

2. Alex Louis Armstrong - Fullmetal Alchemist

Like the rest of Armstrong, his hair antenna is superbly thick, causing it to droop into more of a curly q, but if those things on moth’s heads count then I can’t think of any reason to disqualify Armstrong. Making number two on the list is only natural with his larger-than-life attitude, musculature, and fighting style. In fact, the only character that could beat him would be...

1. Edward Elric - Fullmetal Alchemist

Arakawa has a thing for antennas and the popularity of FMA in the West means her characters are sure things for this list. As one half of the main duo of the series, it’s only natural Ed edges out Armstrong on the top of his list. Although lacking the same flash and remarkable supportiveness, his imperfections and dedication to his goal of getting his beloved brother’s body back make him impossible not to root for. His antenna's a bit short, but so's he, so it all balances out.

Hated

5. Rose Thomas - Fullmetal Alchemist

You monsters. Gonna have to disagree with everyone here and if you don’t like that you can meet me down in the comments. Rose serves dramatically different roles depending upon which FMA anime you’re talking about but it’s likely this vote was the result of her drastically expanded role in the original ending of the 2003 anime. But, like, she’s been through a lot, okL She’s just trying to do her best. How could you do this to her?

4. Horada - Durarara!!

Easy to forget this jerk even had a hair antenna but I couldn’t agree with his spot on the list more. You don’t really have to go much further than attempted murder followed by trying to frame a 16 year old to land him here. He’s a bully and a coward without much in the way of redeeming qualities, not even an intriguing villain but just a pathetic thug. Perhaps the least charming of all characters possessing antennas. There, I said it. His antenna sucks. He sucks.

3. Solf J. Kimblee - Fullmetal Alchemist

I gotta say I was confused with Solf even buying on this list until I saw the above screenshot of him. There’s just no other way to justify the lift those two strands of hair get over his face. He definitely qualifies and deserves his spot among the most hated. Basically just a mass murderer with a fetish for explosions who unbearably plays off his villainy as some higher art. He’s Megumin except evil and not cute or funny. Not a whole lot going for him, basically.

2. Saionji Sekai - School Days

Oh boy. How do you even judge an anime like School Days? It makes sense Sekai’s here since she did some pretty messed up stuff, but that’s basically what the anime is about? I guess she initiated the daisy chain of events at the very end (after a STRONG push). Basically this isn’t too surprising although I can’t help but notice Makoto has an antenna himself but isn’t up here. Honestly, I mostly resent everyone who voted on this for making me think about School Days...

1. Rossiu - Gurren Lagann

Normally I’d say we should cut Rossiu some slack given the position he was put in, but we all know the reason he’s up here and I have to admit I’m getting a visceral sense of satisfaction seeing him up here. It’s kind of Rossiu’s fate as a practical, down-to-earth character in a series as relentlessly over the top as TTGL to come off like a stick-in-the-mud but his betrayal of Simon in the second half really sealed his fate. He should’ve believed in the Simon who believed in him..

Agree or disagree, it seems like Hiromu Arakawa possess an unmatched mastery over the use of hair antenna, making memorable use of it on both characters we cherish forever or… don’t. Personally, I’m surprised Hetalia’s America didn’t make it anywhere on either side of the list.

Didn’t see your favorite on this list? Want to know where they appear among the most loved and hated on their kind? Head over to Anime-Planet’s list of characters with hair antennas to see where they rank or comment below with your most beloved flipped up follicle. Tune in next week, where the subject will be the lovely snaggletooth.

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Peter Fobian is an Associate Features Editor for Crunchyroll, author of Monthly Mangaka Spotlight, writer for Anime Academy, and contributor at Anime Feminist. You can follow him on Twitter @PeterFobian.

By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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