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#so i get to see diana and i get to lead programs and i get to have a more flexible schedule...

inkedroplets · 4 months

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how many stars am i allowed to send!?!?!?!!!! ⭐️🌟💫

Just as many as you would like! So I picked a couple sections from Rich Girl at random because I could ramble way too much about all of my fics. Alex set the box back down on the desk and pushed it back towards Lena, daring her to take it. She crossed her arms tight over her chest, almost looking like she was trying to hug herself. “I don’t believe you, Lena.” Lena smiled or at least tried to. “I am a Luthor,” she said offhandedly. “Never a good idea to—” “You know that’s not what I meant,” Alex said testily. “I don’t believe you’d let me leave here without taking the suit.” “Believe what you like,” Lena said patiently, neither confirming nor denying Alex’s hypothesis. “Either way, it doesn’t matter.” “No?” “No,” Lena said and reached across the desk and took the box in her hand. She noticed the abrupt shift in Alex’s body language, the way her already tense shoulders hitched even higher than they already were. She cradled the box in her hand and held it out to Alex. “Because I know that you love Kara,” she said and pressed the box gently into Alex’s open hand. “And that to protect her, you’ll do whatever you need to. That there’s not a line you wouldn’t cross to do it.” So in Rich Girl when Lena makes Kara a new suit, the trouble of how to get it to Kara presented itself. Their relationship at the time was still in such a precarious and careful rebuilding phase that having Lena simply give it to her felt wholly anticlimactic and too grand of a gesture to not lead to some kind of reconciliation. Something that Lena is still(was) tiptoeing around. I tinkered with the idea of Lena giving Kara the suit while she was in her vigilante-guise. I actually wrote a little bit of it but it didn't feel right so the idea of Lena approaching Alex came to mind.

At that point in the story, Lena and Alex's relationship is not only non-existent there was the nasty matter of Alex trying to bug Lena's office. There's no love there between either of them but there is some common ground. They both love Kara and they have done or would do questionable things to make sure she was safe. It was a nice moment between the two of them and what led to Alex giving Lena the kind of silent go-ahead a little later. She might not like the idea of Lena and Kara together but there was a moment of understanding that let her at least be okay with it.

“Bruce told me about your mother,” Diana said delicately, the expression on her face a mixture of sadness and unease. “You called out for her while Bruce was synthesizing an antidote… Lena, you were only a child when it happened. You can’t blame yourself.” “I know I was. I know that logically there was probably nothing I could have done. If I had run for help, if I had screamed until my throat was raw, if I had swam after her, it probably wouldn’t have changed a thing but no matter how many times I try to tell myself that… It doesn’t make me feel any less responsible, any less guilty.” Something Bruce understands, she thought, thinking of the sorrowful kinship the two shared. How he understood better than most that some guilt, some wounds were ineffable. They remained. They persisted. Guilt wasn’t always logical and it often left deep scars.

“Even if I could portal out, I need to make sure the program never triggers. I can’t risk it, Bruce, and you know that.” She reached behind her neck, meaning to re-engage her helmet. “You’d do the same in my shoes. I need you to activate the Endgame protocol." He sighed and Lena couldn't help but notice how much like Alfred he sounded. "It needs your voice confirmation," he reminded her gently and she could hear him typing as well, the sounds of the keys being struck sounding somewhat echoey in the cave. It was a sound she would strangely miss. "Elizabeth." "I'll see that it's done, Lena," Bruce said. "To the letter."

I had a lot of fun drawing parallels between Bruce and Lena as the story went on beyond their bank accounts. Both of their lives are defined in a lot of ways by loss. Obviously they took far different paths but at their core, they're people who still feel a deep sense of guilt for not being able to save their parents. There's a sense of their parents names almost being taboo. They're not spoken aloud a lot even when they talk about them and I think it's simply because it's still too painful. So having Lena choose her mother's name for the protocol she would only activate when she thought she was about to die seemed right. To want to speak it one last time. A reminder of one of the biggest driving factors in her wanting to be a force for good.

#ask game #my writing #supercorp

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rudolphsb9 · 2 months

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I was originally going to write an entire rant about the treatment Skip Woods gives to his female characters across both his outings in the Hitman franchise. I started going through Hitman (2007) with the intention of studying how Nika was portrayed as a character with the sole purpose of ranting about problems I saw in the way Woods handles women, female leads in particular (to be frank, there are few other female characters of note in either film; Diana is grandfathered in as an important character, but as I've ranted about before and will do so again, Katia's mother doesn't get the grace of a canonical name despite haunting most of H:A47). But, as I was doing that, I realized how similar the films are overall, at least in how they set themselves up.

One of the big points for me was the similarity between Katia and Nika, not in minute details but in overall character sketch: a woman in a bad position in life who is in need of rescue and (perhaps by necessity of genre convention) sexy. But not just any kind of sexy, she also has to be exotic. Nika is a Russian sex slave, a stereotype that may have flown in 2007 but needed necessary updating for 2015. So, Katia's mother is Sri Lankan Tamil. (She's initially implied to be mixed, which would slot her into the But Not Too Foreign trope where acceptable love interest territory lies, but when the story shifts gears to sibling team up mode and John is revealed to be a straight up antagonist, Katia is directly stated to be the product of mad science. It's highly probable that but for necessary modifications, she is a direct clone of her own mother--"You are the reflection of the woman I loved.")

There are other points I observed, too, mostly in setup (the details of deviation allow for the films to run different courses in their second halves). The prologue of the program that produced 47, the placements of any flashbacks (they taper out by the half-way point), the entire plot of "initial hit kick starting the action, followed by find the girl (whether that was an original goal or not), followed by kidnap the girl and deliver to her a series of key revelations, followed by drag her along to help on the mission". I don't watch enough movies (action movies in general or Woods' work in specific) to know whether this is scènes à faire or if H:A47 is really just Hitman (2007) with a different coat of paint. But I also don't think it's a bad thing. Lots of creatives have pet themes that make it into almost all their work.

The similarities also make it really easy to see where I think one version did better than the other. The prologue and flashbacks 47 has to getting tattooed from Hitman (2007) are something I prefer over H:A47, for example. Instead of the clinical sterility of medical exams, we get glimpses into the actual training the boys were given, including the implication that they were the ones responsible for shooting any of their number who tried to escape. 47 fixates on the tattoo because it caused him a lot of pain. There's a similar moment in H:A47 but instead 47 is asked if it hurt, and says yes. Coupled with the fact that in the 2015 version of the prologue, we do see 19 get his number, and the machine doing the stamping... gets it done in a couple of seconds and 19 doesn't even flinch. In the 2007 version somebody is using an actual tattoo gun, forcing him to keep a steady hand and 47 to hold as still as possible to not mess up the lines. To quote Dan Olsen: "inference is dramatically inferior to being shown."

(As a random aside, the monks in the 2007 version go completely unexplained. I think they were only included because in the second game 47 briefly converts to Catholicism and lives in a monastery. I have a web of theories about how the movies and games play off each other; this and 47's wearing the stripe tie from Blood Money for the first act are on that pin board.)

On the other end, I think Katia is an improvement, character wise, over Nika, and that boils down to one specific change. Katia is 47's little sister, a product of the same experiments that produced 47 himself. Because Katia also has Agent abilities, this handily allows her to participate freely in the action, in part because 47 spends the second half forcing/teaching Katia to use her abilities for combat until she can manage without prodding. Nika, for her part, acts in her storyline in spite of 47. She's told over and over again to stay put and not wander off or interfere, and she wanders off and interferes (though she does only interfere once; 47 scared her straight after that). Nika's primary story function is... teaching 47 to love? It's unclear, and her method half the time is to attempt to seduce him which, given his explicit rejection of the idea, counts as assault. Making Katia 47's sister eliminates the need for any weird "romance" dynamic involving 47 himself, and makes them much more equal in their interactions.

I want to make another point of comparison, too, and this is going to bring in ideas from the games. It's 47's relationship to his own name, which has clearly changed as time goes on. In Blood Money (which I'm certain influenced Hitman (2007)), 47 states "Names are for friends, so I don't need one." In Hitman (2007), he tells Nika "The place I was raised, they didn't give us names, they gave us numbers. Mine was 47." Both of these statements imply that he doesn't view 47 as a proper name but as something imposed on him (there's an argument to be made that in the 2007 film, the Organization used numbers as a means to strip their orphan charges of identity to keep them in line and foster loyalty).

However, in H:A47, he has this exchange:

Sanders: "So why don't we start with your name." 47: "47." Sanders: "That's... not a name." 47: "No, but it is mine."

Additionally in the prologue sequence of Hitman (2016), he has this exchange:

47: "I believe they called me... 47." Diana: "That's not a name." 47: "So make it one."

The acceptance of "47" as a name in its own right implies a version of the character more at peace with his clonehood and circumstances. In H:A47 especially, there are implications that the clones had a sort of subculture, or cultural identity among themselves (47 outright states that while each clone gets barcoded at birth, they only get the corresponding number stamped on them "when [they] become Agents", and if that's not a rite of passage I'm a wheel of cheese). One could surmise that their numerical identifiers were given appropriate significance, and I have nothing to go on here but I do think they lined up in numerical order for everything that required them to assemble in an orderly fashion (which is everything they could have been required to do at the lab).

The point I'm trying to make here is that as the Hitman franchise has progressed, the character of 47 has changed his relationship with the fact that his name is 47 (and everything that implies). Here I'm not going to say one or the other is bad, but I do think it's interesting and worth further study.

#hitman: agent 47 #hitman 2007 #tw sex slavery #one day I will make that unhinged post explaining how the games and movies are interconnected #also noteworthy is Katia's name which was chosen to kind of fill two requirements:#to sound like a normal name for the region (katya)#and to also fit in with the rest of the clones (she's no. 90)#and so they somehow ended up at quatre-vingt-dix/katia van dees #I'm guessing 47 helped with that one #phew that was a long boi

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longwindedbore · 3 months

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Super Bowl Ad: ‘He gets us’…UNLESS we got HIV?

A young mother with more courage than 95% of blustering, bragging ‘god-fearing’ born-males who wouldn’t be caught dead doing what she did …”In April 1987…[Princess] Diana’s decision to shake hands without gloves and hug [HIV] patients was a huge moment for breaking down the stigma.” [a]

********************

She paved the way for (or shamed) this religious leader so that five months after Diana, “Pope John Paul II drove past several groups of angry protesters Thursday to embrace a teary-eyed 4-year-old AIDS patient and assure all AIDS victims of God’s love for them.”

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But when I Google “Evangelicals who have touched HIV patients I only get articles such as

‘He was a minister with a lovely family…

‘His wife became infected from a blood transfusion during a pregnancy in 1982, before blood was screened for H.I.V. Since then, she and an infant son, Bryan, have died from AIDS. The older son, Matthew, now 10, has survived. Both sons were infected in the womb.’

‘What he learned about intolerance since 1985…”My case proves that you don't have to be gay to be kicked out," he said in a recent interview. "I used to see bumper stickers in Dallas that said, 'You're Welcome in Our Church.' Every time I saw one I got angry and felt like suing them for false advertising." ‘Eventually, he stopped trying to find a welcoming church, quit his ministry…’[c]

**********************+

It’s easier to find articles about Evangelicals saying something like ‘In 1993, the Reverend Billy Graham asked an audience rhetorically, “Is AIDS a judgment of God?” He then answered his own question: “I could not say for sure, but I think so.”’ [d]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Not holding Catholics up for approbation because they, at least, have real pictures of foot-washing. Wouldnt need AI to generate pictures for a Hobby Lobby-type Super Bowl Advert.

The foot washing is essentially mandatory for the Pope and at least one priest in all the parishes worldwide on the day before Good Friday. Bishops also participated in the areas I lived in when I was a believer and involved in a lay ministry.

Some of the priests I knew , through, who would smiling participated in the foot washing were also judgmental SOBs we wouldn’t and didn’t invite to dinner.

Observing the Vatican for over seven decades now I’ve observed that the warmth of human kindness between Popes varies greatly.

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the-firebird69 · 10 months

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Princess Diana Grave Empty -- Royal Buried At Family Crypt St. Marys Brington England

The article says that they were swapped and we believe it and people are looking into it and it looks like someone you might know someone a lot of people might know

Thor Freya

Tons of people suspect Dave's shot Tommy f or Trump I understand I think about it finally

I think we see what happened that's not sure they haven't done an investigation or verified or anything

Hera

It's true we can't access there

Mac

We're sitting on it for a reason they think they did something and he says I'm a jackass and they're doing something and you haven't verified where they are it's kind of like simple math he says if they're there the robot computer and the robots are checking on her well-being and if you find those robots if she's not there you don't have that clue or lead and he says he's sick of us were stupid so I get it we are not very bright and we miss this and we're in trouble and it's responsibility of people who know to try and fix it and they can't and we won't let them but I can certainly figure out if she's there and it makes a lot of sense if there's a future kill on the computer and it's time the damn thing has to know so trying to get her out and or if it has a future kill with different nature they think and it was it would be the Cooper computer we have to find out something we need to find out if she's there and we need to surveille it and we're going to see computerized people this is going to be very strange it's almost a guarantee if she's there he says no the machine must it's program too in the first place now I'm following it

Bja

All this is cold hard math and robotics we don't want you to know but you have to do something other than what you're doing and we know where Dave was and we don't know if he's there and for Christ's sake it's right across the state nobody can figure it out he can probably go figure it out he said if he's bigger forget that too okay I don't see anything this is terrible we have to find out if what's going on and he says he might have an idea with Dave and he's got one with Paris Hilton and it's not very complicated to go and see if the body's there if not we have an issue he's right to the robots will come around no matter what wherever the body is which means it might be on Australia and we're losing ground and that little idiot is collecting information she says he just figured it out

Billium

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alexsfictionaddiction · 1 year

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Review: Your Place Or Mine? by Portia MacIntosh

It would seem that I am a sucker for these cute cartoon covers. I am literally a magpie for them and I really need to start being more selective with them because they often end up not being as great as they appear.

When Serena’s boss Diana dies suddenly, Serena’s living and work situations are both in the hands of Diana’s children. It quickly becomes apparent that Serena doesn’t have long to move out of the flat she inhabits and her job at the tea room is also gone. So, when her friend calls her looking for a housesitter for a while, she jumps at the chance. Only when she gets there, it appears that her friend’s husband also arranged a housesitter. A handsome musician called Ziggy. Can Serena stand to share a house with this loud, sociable, messy stranger?

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read a love interest as cookie-cutter as Ziggy. The reason for his name is mentioned (his parents were both Bowie fans) but I’m afraid that I do know a Labradoodle who shares his name, so I couldn’t help but laugh. He’s hot, he’s edgy, he’s talented, he’s (probably) misunderstood by everyone who knows him. You know the type!

Of course, Serena fancies him. After all, women are ‘genetically programmed’ to find lead singers of rock bands attractive. Despite the fact that she is a clean freak who appears to have such little personality that it has resulted in her having no friends at all, Serena sees Ziggy as a reminder of her past when she was apparently an alternative angel (there is no evidence of this in the woman that she has since become). It takes her a long time to admit the glaringly obvious fact that she likes him though. This is enemies to lovers but I’m not sure that the trope really needed to be here. The story could have been told just as well if there had been no friction between them at all.

Serena is seeing a guy called Dean, who is a sleazebag gaslighter. There were several times at the start of the book where I wanted to shake Serena into seeing what was clearly happening. Thankfully, when it’s spelled out for her, her attitude changes but Serena is a complete sap for Dean at first. ‘Am I stupid for apologising?’ Yes! Yes, you are!

I didn’t really understand the beef that Diana’s daughter Agatha had with Serena. I get that Diana probably preferred Serena to her own daughter but Agatha is a woman in her 40s. Her actions towards Serena were very much the behaviour of a woman in her early 20s and I was astounded at the pettiness.

Your Place Or Mine? is a light-hearted romance with a few moments of comedy, although it wasn’t laugh-out-loud. I did enjoy the scheming that Serena and Ziggy got up to and I actually think this could have been a great unlikely friendship story. However, I didn’t really believe that they’d date in the real world, so the romance aspect was lost on me. Serena did also make some questionable decisions throughout the book and I struggled to connect with her. There are some great side characters though!

#your place or mine #portia macintosh #romance #blog tour #book review #review #books #bookworm

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linnet92holder · 2 years

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unstable-sapphic-hoe · 3 years

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The Ultimatum

AN: OK, so I haven’t decided yet so I’ma ask your guys’ opinion. Would You want Diana as a mother figure or as a sister? Tell me what you want cause I’m fine with both. Also, my wifi’s being a little bitch.

Ukr - Father

Jeju - Mother

Italics - they’re speaking in Kryptonese.

Note: Kara’s 16 here, Y/N is 5, and Kal is 2. Also the Kryptonian clothes I was referencing to was taken from here.

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Chapter 2

Masterlist

Kara gasped as she jolted upwards into a sitting position, her heart drumming in her chest, breath labored. She was once again startled by all the sound baring down onto her, and as if that wasn’t hard enough, she could suddenly see through the walls.

When she got her senses back she then took in the room she was in, noticing that she was lying on a bed that smelled faintly like one of the flowers Kori gave her when she last visited Krypton. The next thing she noticed was that there was a man sitting opposite her in the corner of the room.

The man was wearing a suit that somewhat reminded Kara of the clothes they wore on Krypton, albeit less colorful and lacked character. He had dark brunette hair that was gelled away from his face, his face was cleanly shaven, and he had dark eyes that felt like they were piercing through her soul.

“Good, you’re awake” the man spoke, his voice deep. He stared at her, making her feel uncomfortable. But she was an El, and El’s weren’t one to back down so quickly.

“Where am I? Who are you? Where are they?” She asked frantically. When she realized she was speaking in the man’s language and could understand him, she thanked Rao her Ukr thought to initiate the learning program for her.

“Before I answer your questions I need to know who YOU are. You and those kids come out of nowhere, in a pod, those kids babbling on in a strange language none of us can understand, so it’s safe to assume you’re not from around here, are you?” He said, somehow sounding both bored and accusing in his monotonous tone.

“Where are they?” Kara asked firmly, glaring at the man. Just then the door to the room opened revealing a woman.

“Bruce leave the child alone” The woman interrupts as she enters the room. She was tall and a slim yet had a muscular physique, long silky brunette hair, so dark that it was almost black, cascaded down her shoulders, soulful brown eyes that held a gentleness to them. She wore a white button down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to her forearms, black pants and black heels.

“Should I be concerned that every security measure I’ve had so far has been bypassed by you multiple time?” the man, Bruce, said as he glanced at the woman, lacing his fingers together as his elbows were propped up against the arms rests of the chair.

“Yes, you should look into that, it might become a problem.” the women replied with a teasing smile, her eyes filled with mirth. “I am Diana, princess of Themyscira” she said, finally introducing herself, “and he is Bruce Wayne”

Kara stood and did the traditional Kryptonian greeting for noble houses, placing her hand formed into a fist above the left side of her chest, her left hand behind her back as she bent at the waist to bow slightly, just like her Jeju had taught her. “Greetings princess Diana of Themyscira, I am Kara El, formerly Zor-El, and head of the great and noble house of El. Now if you wouldn’t mind, where are the children?” she said.

“You need not worry Kara El, they are safe with one of our friends J’onn” Diana reassured. “If you would like, I could take you to them.” She offered, Kara gladly accepted and followed her, passing by so many halls it almost felt like a maze.

They arrived in a living room. The walls were a muted shade of dark green, there was a fireplace surrounded by brown leather couches, a white rug on the floor, and pictures hung off the walls. By the couches she saw her cousin and sister, they sat on the rug with a man in his mid-40’s watching them. She immediately ran to them and engulfed both in a hug. Diana and J’onn only smiled at the sight with a scowling Bruce behind them.

“Kara I’m hungry” Y/K/N whined with a pout, Kal agreeing with her as the two of them pulled out the famous puppy dog eyes. Kara smiled fondly at them as she ruffled their hair, earning a few disgruntled yells.

“Kara who are they?” Kal asked, pointing at the, now four, people watching them, with Y/K/N peering at them curiously above Kara’s shoulder. Diana noticed this and smiled at her, giving a small wave, and receiving a shy one in reply.

“Friends… hopefully” she answered with a sigh as she glanced back at them. “Could we please get food? Kal and Y/K/N are hungry”

“Of course sweetheart, come” Diana said, Kara stood up with Kal in her arms as Y/K/N clung onto her hand. She placed her arm around Kara’s shoulders when she got close enough, which startled the girl, though she found that she didn’t mind and leaned into the comforting touch of the woman as they were lead into the kitchen with Albert and J’onn trailing behind them, Bruce leaving to go to his secret lair.

There they sat on one of the stools by the counter as they waited on Albert, who insisted on doing it, to make them a little snack. The silence was filled with the two children babbling together in Kryptonese.

“If don’t mind me asking, where did you come from?” J’onn asked, despite already having a clue as to where.

“A planet called Krypton” she answered, confirming his suspicions.

“Why are you here now? Are you alone?” Diana asked concerned. So far all she has seen are these 3 children, unless there are more of them.

“I… Krypton is… gone… everything and everyone-” Kara looked down as she quietly answered, barely audible, with tears forming in her eyes, but the two still heard it. “It exploded”, she said in a broken whisper.

At that Diana and J’onn were stunned. That would have meant that these children would have been alone, the last of their kind. Though they were particularly more concerned about Kara, she would have to be burdened by all the loss, the only one to remember what the essence of what their home truly was, the only one that is left to carry and pass on the legacy of their people. Diana abruptly stood up and pulled the poor girl into her, trapping her in an embrace, Kara reciprocating a few seconds later.

Just then Albert sat down a plate full of pb&j sandwiches, and another filled with cut up fruits. Kal and Y/K/N eagerly devoured the food, making Kara chuckle at their enthusiasm as she took a sandwich for herself.

A few hours later, when the kids were put down for a nap, Kara was lead down to Bruce’s secret lair, or as Albert jokingly called it, The Bat Cave. Her eyes immediately landed on the pod that she quickly rushed to, though what she wasn’t expecting was to crash straight into the wall, which surprisingly created a crack and a small dent where her body was. Diana quickly rushed over to her and checked over her.

“Are you hurt?” she asked, her hands on Kara’s shoulder.

“Rao… What was that?” Kara asked shocked. “Oh Rao” she breathed out.

“It seems like you have a few tricks up your sleeve, Kara” Diana said with an airy chuckle as Kara tilted her head to one side in confusion.

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What would you guys prefer, Diana as a mom or a sister?

#marvel x dc #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff x female reader #supergirl #marvel #dcu #mcu x dcu #dc #kara danvers #diana of themyscira #bruce wayne #j'onn j'onzz #clark kent #arrowverse #Avengers #supercorp

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radiantmists · 3 years

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more pjo/rqg crossover thoughts

so i can’t turn my brain off once it’s started and i realized thinking more about this that rqg has a very good mechanic for true crossovers in that it contains several characters getting yote by a planar shift, which... they could end up anywhere!

(fair warning: i havent read the apollo books, and ive only read the last couple seven-demigods books once, so i’m mostly basing this on the first PJO series bc i remember them)

so: sasha and grizzop emerge in the PJO universe, probably still in nero’s palace, which in our world has sunk into a hillside and from what i can tell is a) partially tourable, b) an active excavation site. and c) partially unsafe, which as far as I can tell translates to it being infested with monsters in the PJO world. plus its in rome so like. very dangerous.

this means they get into a fight fairly immediately, at which point a few issues rear their head:

the mist affects sasha. she’s probably more resistant to it than the average mortal, and can see things when theyre pointed out to her with enough insistence, but it is absolutely interfering with her perceptions.

the (ambient) mist does not affect grizzop. they dont realize this right away, but it’s because he pings it as a monster.

sasha isn’t quite sure why he starts firing on the lost-looking people wandering around this weird buried palace; grizzop feels like at this point sasha ought to know a zombie when she sees one. she gets with the program when they start attacking and don’t go down with a stab to the kidneys, though.

one thing grizzop does realize fairly quickly, to some only marginally well-managed panic: artemis is weird here. probably he thinks at first that this is what azu and ed were talking about: he can feel something when he prays, she’s not gone and after a hot second of delay she does bless his aim, but he can’t channel positive energy to just blast the zombies, and his armor isn’t glowing. there’s something wrong.

but they win the fight, barely; sasha’s not in good shape, and grizzop can’t heal her, which is becoming a pattern and he doesn’t care for this shit at all.

they find their way out of the palace, and start to notice that (nearly) all of the people around are humans, but they don’t dwell on it, partly because theyre also in the future and partly because no one seems to be remarking at grizzop, which means there must be other goblins around and just not that many here right now. grizzop is especially willing to accept this because he sees a (fairly small) number of monsters around.

theyre much more concerned about the fact that theyre very much not in kansas anymore. theyre looking for a place to buy healing potions, at which point some kind stranger approaches sasha and asks if she wants an ambulance/directions to a hospital. she reluctantly accepts directions; the aphrodite and artemis temple hospitals weren’t bad, but this is rome and she’s concerned. but it also becomes clear that this person thinks that grizzop is her child. they’re mildly alarmed when he gets upset and cusses them out about this, but... clearly these tourists are going through it. is sasha sure she doesn’t want an ambulance? it’s a ways to walk, especially with a toddler to manage... (she’s sure)

there’s no magical healing at the hospital; sasha tells grizzop that magic just doesn’t seem to work in rome, but he points that the sun works wherever they are, and most of it doesn’t seem that monster-infested, so... unclear.

they sneak out of the emergency room before sasha has to give any personal information, and wander around rome for at least a day, trying to figure out what’s going on. grizzop prays a lot, and he has a dream akin to percy’s more symbological ones: he encounters a beautiful doe that he knows is artemis in an unfamiliar forest, but she’s standoffish. he asks what he’s done wrong, but she doesn’t answer; she leads him to some wild place outside rome-- probably Lake Nemi, close to a temple of Diana-- where Grizzop sees some hunters from a distance, and then the dream ends.

so the next day grizzop drags them out there-- maybe someone points them there, it seems to be a tourist attraction of sorts and i just remembered that grizzop has pretty shit survival skills. and they go off into the woods and get a bit lost, and then theyre found by the hunters.

it turns out artemis has sent thalia a dream to come there, but was... light on information, so the hunters aren’t sure what to expect. i think probably sasha and grizzop are arguing when the hunters find them, and they see this situation and think: likely recruit is being harassed by monster, except when they go to ‘help,’ sasha takes grizzop’s side.

i’m not sure how this would go on, or even when exactly pjo canon it would be set, but it would involve a lot of the hunters (and maybe artemis) wanting to recruit sasha, her being uncomfortable with this, but not wanting to leave grizzop. grizzop, meanwhile, is absolutely fascinated with this group of women who actually get to hunt with the goddess, and have immortality until they find something worth giving their life for, and yet they’re all suspicious of him-- which he’s used to from humans, but he’s rarely met something he wanted this much and being rejected hurts. artemis herself is probably a bit thrown at being worshipped again, because the hunters and demigods certainly revere her but i feel like it doesn’t have the same flavor of faith that grizzop would have?

they also want to get back; maybe trying to figure out how to do this takes them to camp half-blood and the oracle, where they meet the core pjo cast? idk if they’d be able to get back, though, i can’t think of a mechanic for it in the pjo universe? much to think about...

#pjo #rqg

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bqstqnbruin · 3 years

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87 and 96 for vince dunn pls ♥️

ty !!

87. “Oh my god, I love you.”

96. “I haven’t seen these photos in years”

My family love for the UConn women basketball program came out in this fic and I’m not sorry

Also in writing these fics I have found that if you have tags blocked you also can’t see gifs that have those tags when you search them rip

Happy blurb weekend!

____________

Your niece was turning 1 year old, which meant you were going to a toddler’s birthday party thrown by your brother. You were excited, wanting to see your family for the first time in a while, while Vince was nervous to meet your entire family for the first time ever.

“Can you calm down? Just imagine a room full of me,” you reassure him in the driveway of your brother’s house as Vince struggles to get the presents out of the trunk.

“Ok, you’re a psychopath, so now that makes me more scared,” he laughs, handing you one of the boxes, “Why did you buy a million things for her?”

“It’s not a million,” you tell him, “Only like twenty. Jason and Andrea would do the same thing for me if I ever have a child.” The two of you walk into the house, the sounds of your family’s voices carrying through the entryway. “Hey, it’s me,” you call, your brother coming running.

“Hey,” he says, kissing you on the cheek and taking the presents from you before shaking Vince’s hand and leading the two of you to the kitchen.

You fall into conversation with your family, huddled around the food like you always were despite the size of the house and the open space that was occupied by your cousins children and hopefully at least one adult watching them. You stayed by Vince’s side the entire time, you hand in his hidden from the family as a way to hopefully calm him down.

“Oh, Y/N! You have to come see this!” Andrea, says, dragging you and Vince away from the family and into another room. “Look what your mom put together.”

You were standing in front of pictures from when you, Jason, Andrea, and her brothers, Eric and Joseph were all a year old. “Jeez, I haven’t seen these pictures in years,” you say, smiling as vague and probably slightly fabricated memories your parents passed down to you from that time came flooding back. “Wasn’t I cute when I was a year old?” you ask Vince once Andrea leaves you two to admire the photos.

He wraps his arms around you, hugging you from behind as he rests his head on your shoulder. “You’re still very cute. But you have to explain this one to me,” he says, pointing to the first picture that caught your eye.

You were smiling big, thankful that your mom put that photo even though you knew you were older than a year old for it. You had just gotten out of the bathtub, wrapped in a bright green towel, your hair long enough to be pulled into a makeshift bun.

“So you know how my mom went to UConn? Well, they are huge women’s college basketball fans, especially when it comes to UConn. Geno Auriemma was a God in our home. There was one player from 2000 to 2004 when they won the national championships in a row, Diana Taurasi, who apparently, I would start jumping up and down for whenever she was on the screen,” you explain, Vince letting out a small laugh in your ear as he presses a soft kiss against your cheek. “She always wore her hair in a tight bun at the top of her head when she played, so my mom put my hair like that when it was wet so I could be Diana Taurasi. She was the first athlete I ever loved.”

He exhales, his breath tickling the back of your neck. “Sounds like I have some competition.”

“She was my gateway to loving athletes, what can I say?” you smile at him, turning around to give him a kiss.

You get interrupted by one of the kids, whisking the two of you away to play with them for the rest of the day. You watch your brother and his wife take pictures with their daughter, before and after her little fist goes right into the cake in front of her, smearing frosting all over her face.

By the end of the party, you and Vince were exhausted, leaving as your brother sent you home with food and left over cake that wasn’t handled by your niece. The two of you drive, your feet up on the seat as you carefully eat the cake while Vince talks about something you weren’t listening to.

“Oh my god, I love you,” you blurt out, pieces of cake definitely spraying over the dash of Vince’s car.

“Are you talking to me or the cake?” Vince laughs, already having a feeling he knew the answer.

You swallow the cake, looking at him while he focused on the road. “I’m not sure you want me to answer that,” you tell him, both of you laughing.

“As I was saying before you professed your love for the food you’re eating, I really liked that picture thing your mom did. I think that’s something we should do for our kids.”

“Our kids?”

“Yeah, ok,” he smirks, “Act like you haven’t thought about that before.”

#vince dunn #vince dunn imagines #nhl #nhl imagines #hockey #hockey imagines #blurb weekend

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amandajoyce118 · 4 years

Text

Agents Of SHIELD Series Finale Easter Eggs And References

This is it. The last two hours. What is it they say? It’s all been leading to this? Yeah.

As always, and for the last time, if you haven’t yet watched the episodes, you should stop reading now. This list of Easter eggs assumes you’ve already seen the episodes.

Spoilers.

Also, I’m going to say, since I’m writing about two episodes at once here, and I’m assuming everybody reading this has actually watched the earlier episodes of the show, I’m probably not going to explain every single callback to earlier storylines. When series end, they tend to do even more than usual, and I think most people will pick up on the majority of them. So, they might not all be here.

Now, let’s go.

S7E12 “The End Is At Hand”

Malick wants to set Kora free

I’ve pretty much said this since Kora met Malick, but yeah, their dynamic is so, so, so much Ward and Kara. It’s creepy. But I think Kora recognizes it more so than Kara did.

The Fitz stance

I love that Deke recognizes that Fitz has a certain stance when he tries to jog Jemma’s memory. Does he know that they stand the same way sometimes? Probably.

The blue and purple of it all

Okay, so maybe this is just my tv, but the stuff in space is very much in Daisy’s color palette. Purple has always been her color, and a lot of the stuff in space the last two years has had either a lot of red or blue. When Daisy heads into the chronocom ship, there’s a lot toward the blue end of the colors, showing that this is still Daisy’s story.

Garrett being left to die

I know they call this out in the show, but I do like Garrett being left to die by the bad guys too and realizing he can switch sides, just like in the original timeline.

The shock stick

Admittedly, I don’t remember what this is called, but this a very Whedony throwback. It was first used in the second episode of the series by Grant Ward in Peru. It’s based on a weapon used in the series Firefly. I don’t think it’s been used on the show in quite a while.

Jemma wants a suit

Is Jemma the only member of the team who hasn’t had a formal tactical suit/super hero costume. I think so. She’s had the standard SHIELD ones like everyone else, but not the suits like Daisy, Bobbi, and May have worn. Even Elena doesn’t wear the standard one. Of course she wants one.

Jemma’s rambling

While DIANA is melted away in her brain (which, uh, seems like it would not be good for your brain, just saying), Simmons starts to ramble a whole lot. She references a lot of past events in the show, but also, she kind of sounds like dialogue in Alice In Wonderland, which just seems fitting for a woman who keeps ending up in strange places she doesn’t want to be in by strange travel devices.

The 084 Meet Up

I love that we get slightly familiar faces without them being named. I mean, Victoria Hand is obvious, but not sure who the rest are. I also love that we get pay off for what Enoch and Koenig bonded over when he was left behind way back when. The two of them (and the rest of the Koenigs) distributing 084s throughout time to loyal agents for this moment is genius.

And yes, both episode titles are said out loud in both episodes.

S7E13 “What We’re Fighting For”

Quantum Realm

Yes, that’s the same realm they use in Avengers: Endgame to gather the infinity stones and move between timelines. Fitz is using some Ant-Man tech.

1983 NY

I just want you all to know that there was a major blackout in New York in 1983 in Manhattan…. On August 11, as reported in the New York Times on August 12. The same day this episode aired. I did not know this random bit of information. I googled it.

Back to the season 6 finale

When we get the first tidbit of FitzSimmons backstory for Jemma’s refrain of “we had time,” we get to see Fitz, Simmons, and Enoch go back to the events of the season six finale as they intercept Piper and Flint. Not only that, but the people Jemma brings with her to the temple to save everyone are the actual team. That is some paradox level science fiction right there. Very comic booky. (Edited to say: I can’t believe none of y’all corrected me because I had season five here when this just happened in season six! I literally woke up in the middle of the night remembering that I wrote it wrong. Hahahaha)

The stars in their skies

I love that this episode really laid it on that Jemma’s first love was astronomy. We get the scoliosis story again, but we get to see how Jemma has worked her love of the stars into her life. Her favorite star system as a child is where she starts her family, what she names her daughter after, and she even repeatedly utters the phrase “stars in your skies” as a nod to love. Nice.

A situation in Moscow

Look, all I’m saying is that last time SHIELD was in Russia, Bobbi and Hunter were disavowed by the agency. And Mack is now there with a helicarrier? Hmm.

The anniversary meeting

This is very reminiscent of how Natasha leads her meetings from afar in Avengers: Endgame, though probably enhanced by whatever alien tech Fitz and Simmons have put together here. It’s perfect that Daisy, Sousa, and Kora are in space while Mack and Elena are still part of SHIELD and May is teaching at the Coulson Academy. I really thought Mack would retire, but he just can’t let go, huh? Fitz and Simmons are really the only ones to truly retire. Though Coulson has more time.

Piper’s wish

She gets an LMD/Chronocom version of Davis. I just - that’s adorable. She wants her best friend back. And yes, he’s tech. They didn’t go back and save him. Fitz and Simmons built him because he mentions being programmed to be stupid.

Code 136

The code Coulson puts into his briefcase to get the keys to his new Lola? Yeah, that’s how many episodes there are of the show.

Edited to add: And one I missed, courtesy of VFX guru Mark Kolpack:

And that’s it. The end of the SHIELD we all know. I hope some of these actors will come back to play these characters once in a while for Marvel all over again because I think, despite it ending at a solid point, we’re all going to miss this show a lot.

#agents of shield #aos season 7 #aos finale #aos spoilers #aos easter eggs

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thepeacetea · 4 years

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Mistake of a Lifetime

I LIVE!!!!!!! Hey everyone! I don’t know what happened last month. It was like my brain shut down. It was the worst feeling ever. I just couldn’t write. Which was insanely frustrating. But I’m back and off of work for the next three week due to COVID-19. And since I’m not venturing into the outside world, hopefully I’ll be able to get more writing done!!! So thank you all for being patient with me. I honestly have absolutely no idea where this story came from, but enjoy my beauties. Warning, there is a tiny, little bit of swearing but nothing major. As always, if you have any questions or comments feel free to let me know. Anyway, hope ya’ll enjoy!!! Peace!!!

Damian was frustrated. He couldn’t find that girl anywhere. He knew when he explained what he had done what he did that she would understand. His angel always did. She loved him too much to stay mad at him for long. Once she learned why, Damian knew that she would come back. That’s one of the reasons he loved her, she was so trusting and forgiving. No matter what he did, he knew she would welcome him back with open arms. But right now, he was irritated with his girlfriend. She hadn’t been in contact with any of the family in five months. No one knew where she was. Tim couldn’t even find her. It was as if she just disappeared. Which is what led him here, to what was hopefully the door of his best friend’s apartment. If anyone would know where Marinette was, it would be Jon.

Finding the apartment had been a slightly more difficult then Damian had first thought. Jon wasn’t one for covering his civilian tracts, usually allowing anyone, if they so wished, to track him down. But he had been strangely quiet the past few months. Superboy had also been absent from the hero scene. When Damian had inquired as to why, no one could supply a straight answer. Jon had spoken to his parents every few weeks to assure them that he was fine, but other then that, no one knew much.

The search for apartments rented out to a Jonathan Samuel Kent had turned up blank, as did all the other alias that Damian could think his best friend might possibly use. It eventually arrived at the point that Damian had run his handwriting through the data base to find a match for a signature. Eight states and eleven empty apartments later, Damian Wayne found himself climbing the squeaking steps to the apartment located above a little Chinese restaurant in the middle of Chinatown, San Francisco.

‘Honestly Jon, the other places where far better off then this,’ Damian muttered as he knocked on the door. The sound of scuffling followed by multiple items falling sparked a flicker of hope from the Wayne heir. Though he would never tell Jon this, Damian had missed his idiot of a friend.

“Buy too much at the market again? M, I told you, just get what we need for dinner tonight and we’ll get the rest tomor . . .” Jon said opening the door, the laughter that was oh so evident in his voice died the moment he saw who was at his door.

Damian watched as a wave of emotions filtered across his friend’s face. Surprise, confusion, and doubt where all understandable, at least in Damian’s opinion, but when Jon’s face finally settled on a mixture of anger and disgust, Damian grew confused and slightly irritated. He had not come all this way nor spent all that time looking for him to be received like that. Not by Kent, not by anyone.

“What are you doing here, Wayne?”

Now that caught him off guard. Damian could not, for the life of him, remember a single moment when Jon had referred to him, or anyone, by their last name. Ever.

“Tt, came looking for you. No one’s seen so much as a flutter of your cape in five month. The last time anyone heard from you was your parents, six weeks ago.”

“Well, as you can see, I’m fine. Now if there’s nothing else . . .” Jon said, closing the door, causing Damian to bit back a growl. He did not come all this way to get a door shut in his face.

“Actually, there is,” Damian countered, forcing the door back open as Jon sent a chilling glare his way, nearly causing him to laugh. If Kent thought he could scare Damian, the only blood son of Bruce Wayne, the Batman, with that poor excuse of a glare, he was in for a nasty surprise. “I need to know if you’ve seen my girlfriend?”

Damian was expecting many things, but none of them was the utterly disgusted scoff that came from the dark-haired young man as his face twisted into a scowl.

“Yeah. Two weeks ago. On tv. At the Wayne Gala. You remember, she was hanging off your arm like one of those rich people’s lapdogs. You know, the really yappy ones.” He said, something sparking in his eyes, though Damian couldn’t quiet place it.

“Not the Italian she-devil, you idiot. I mean Marinette.” Damian strained, actively using more force to push the door open as Jon was closing it. The disbelieving laugh that left the young half-kryptonian surprised Damian.

“Mar is not your girlfriend anymore, Wayne. Remember? YOU broke up with her five months ago. And then YOU announced that you were dating that – that – Rossi girl the next day on national tv.”

“Look Kent, all I want to know is if you know where she is or not, because I need to talk with her.” Damian ground out as he began to lose what little leverage he had on the door. The half second hesitation and slight dilation of Jon’s eyes was all Damian need to know whatever came out of his friend’s mouth was a lie.

“No.”

“You were always a terrible liar Kent.” Damian stated. Taking advantage to the slight surprise, Damian force the door open, stepping inside before the other man could react.

The apartment itself was rather small, though Damian was use to having far more space then needed. The apartment was an open floor concept. The only thing separating the kitchen from the living room was a counter that extended from the wall, cutting the room in half. A worn couch was sitting in the middle of the main room with a small coffee table in front of it. A tv was pushed against the wall, a few open movie cases lay scattered across the stand with a gaming console tucked neatly underneath. A bookshelf was shoved into the far corner. A fallen stack of books lay by a beaded doorway that Damian could only assumed lead to a bedroom. A few pictures adorned the walls, though Jon drew Damian’s attention before he could get a chance to identify who was in them.

“What the heck do you think you’re doing? I didn’t invite you in! Get out!” Jon said, his voice raising an octave, jabbing his finger towards the door.

“And here I thought your mother taught you hospitality,” Damian countered, enjoying the growl his comment caused. “As for what I’m doing here, I already informed you why. I want to know where my angel is and I need you to tell me.”

“Never. Gonna. Happen! What makes you think you have any right to see her let alone call her ‘yours’?” Jon growled, actually growled, at Damian. Under any other circumstances, he would have been impressed that the cheerful, happy Kansas native sounded so . . . threatening in his questioning. But Damian was quickly reaching the end of his already short patience. Pinning the other man with a glare that would have made his father proud, Damian watched as the other subconsciously straightened to his full height.

“I’m bringing her back, where she belongs. The Rossi mission is over and I want my Angel back.”

For five seconds, Jon stood there, brows drawn together in confusion as his brain processed what was said. Five seconds where he could have been telling Damian where his girlfriend was, Jon just stood there.

“. . . what?”

“Lila Rossi held vital, insider information of a new program which my mother and Dr. Hugo Strange were developing. We needed the information, but more importantly, we needed Rossi to trust us. I, obviously, was the best candidate for the job. Father and the others helped plan and execute it. We have the information we need and the parties involved have been dealt with appropriately, including Rossi.”

“. . . all of this . . . everything . . . was for a mission?” Jon asked quietly, his voice calm as he bent his head, his bangs covering his eyes. Damian let a small smile slip. He knew Jon would understand, and once he told him where his angel was, she would too.

“Yes. Now I need to know where . . .” Damian began to say when the left side of his face erupted in pain as the sound of something breaking filled the air. Whether it was his jaw or the picture frames he landed against, he didn’t know. He didn’t have the time to figure out as he was hauled to his feet and slammed into the wall, his head smashing into an other picture. Once Damian’s vision cleared, confused emerald met rage filled electric blue.

“You mean to tell me, that everything, Every hatful word, Every cutting remark, Every. Single. Day! Marinette spent CRYING was for some GOD DAMN MISSION!?!” Jon yelled, pulling Damian closer as his eyes flashed back and forth between blue and red, and for the first time in a long time, Damian felt fear. “Do you have any idea how much you hurt her!?!”

“It was a sacrifice necessary for the completion of the mission. Once she knows that, she’ll understand!” Damian shouted, defending himself. Everyone who knew agreed. The action was necessary for the mission. Without it, the whole mission would have been unnecessarily complicated. Even Clark and Diana had agreed, so why couldn’t Jon?

“Sacrifice? Is that what you think this was?” Jon hissed, eyes steadily changing from blue to solid red. “You broke her!”

“I didn’t . . .” Damian started to say before he was slammed against the wall again, causing the remaining pictures to fall, glass breaking on impact.

“SHUT UP!!!” Jon screamed. If it was possible, Damian saw his eyes fill with more rage then he had ever seen in one person, Jason included. “You know nothing! You broke her Wayne. She trusted you! After everything that happened to her, after being abandoned by so many others, she trusted you and you broke her! She gave her heart to YOU! Marinette gave you everything, only for you to turn around and throw her away like trash!”

“Jon,” Damian tried to say, but Jon wasn’t done.

“Do you know how I found her? After I found out you not only broke up with her but then decided to date the person that made her life a living hell, I spent six, SIX, hours looking for her. I finally found her on the roof where we first met her. She was just sitting there, on the edge, looking over the city. When she finally looked at me, her face was completely blank. No trace of emotion. The only real sign of life was how red and swollen her eyes were from crying. Do you want to know the first thing she said to me? ‘He left me.’ ‘He LEFT me!’” Jon snarled. “You have no idea how hard it was to keep her going after that. What it was like seeing her like that. Do you know what its like seeing someone who’s so full of life to just wilt in front of you. To see them lose everything that made them who they are.” Jon asked, his voice dropping in grief as his grip on Damian shirt loosened.

“Jon, I know. I hurt her. I know. That’s why I need to talk to her. I know my angel. Once I tell her, once I explain, everything will be fine.”

“No, Wayne. I don’t think you do know her.” Jon said, completely letting go of him as if he couldn’t stand touching him. “I know Mar better then my own mind at this point. She is the most trusting and kindest person you will ever meet, but even she has her limits.” He hissed, turning his back on his once friend, running his hands through his hair in anger and frustration.

All Damian could do was stare at the person, who had for the longest time, been his only friend. Steadying himself against the wall, the young Wayne looked down. Trying to gather his thoughts. To think of something to say when one of the picture frames caught his eye. Gingerly picking it up, Damian found himself looking through shattered glass at what appeared to be an ultra-sound photo sitting beside one the soon to be mother. Barely legible through the broken glass was Jon’s handwriting, ‘Mama and baby at eight months.’ The photo was dated three days ago. Damian couldn’t stop staring. There, through the shattered glass, stood HIS angel, her belly swollen to the point where it looked ready to burst, smiling at the camera.

What Damian was seeing wasn’t making sense. Eight months pregnant. They had broken up five months ago. He knew she had never slept with another guy before. Her first time had been with him. Once. Three months before they broke up. Eight months ago. She was pregnant. She was eight months pregnant.

His mind flashed to the last time he had seen her. The day he had ‘broken up’ with her. She had an appointment the day. A doctor’s appointment. She hadn’t been feeling well for the last few weeks. She had wanted to tell him something after the appointment. She had sounded so excited over the phone. She promised she’d tell him over dinner but he had gone first, telling her they were over. She had looked so heartbroken. So devastated. She never got a chance to tell him her news

Suddenly, the frame was torn from his hands but the damage had been done. He knew. Lifting his eyes, Damian met Jon’s gaze. Utter shock met panicked anger. For a few moment’s neither spoke. Neither man knew what say or how to react.

“Jon, I’m so sorry I’m back late! I distracted chatting with Aunty Liu and Grandpa Zhao wanted to know how the baby’s doing and then Mama Zhang wanted to give me some tea that’s suppose to help with my back pain an . . .” The sweet, sweet voice of his angel broke through the apartment before abruptly cutting off.

Damian’s whole body twisted toward the door faster then he thought possible. There, standing in the doorway, was the most beautiful sight Damian had ever seen. His angel, dressed in a soft, baby blue shirt that proudly displayed her heavily pregnant belly and black pant, stood completely frozen as her eyes, her gorgeous blue eyes that he had missed so, so much, darted between the apartment and the two occupant.

Damian took a step forward, she instinctively took one back, panic blooming in her eyes.

“Beloved I . . .”

Damian never got father then that. As soon as he spoke, Marinette’s face drained of colour as she turned and bolted from the apartment as fast as a woman of her condition could. He raced to follow, to hold her and tell her everything would be alright. That he would take care of her and their child. Their child! The very thought of his child sent an unbelievable wave of joy coursing through him! He was going to be a father! Damian was going to spoil his angel, his beloved, rotten. They would need to have one of the manor rooms renovated into a nursery. He would need to have someone take over his patrol for the next few month, his child and soon-to-be wife would need him and . . .

Both Damian’s train of thought and path was halted by the very painful grip on his arm. Fully ready to bite Jon’s head off, Damian was silenced by the red tinted glare his friend was giving him. He immediately notice how tense Jon was. He looked like he was ready for a fight, one that the kryptonian knew he would win.

“No. You are not going after her. The last thing Mar needs is this kind of stress this far in the pregnancy.”

“But . . .”

“I said no Wayne! Mar almost lost the baby once already. I am not going to allow her to go through that again! She can’t go through that again. I can’t handle going through that again!” Jon hissed, dropping his hold on Damian’s arm as he made a beeline for the stairs.

“Jon!” Damian yelled, hoping against hope that he would change his mind. That was his girlfriend and his child, damn it. He needed to be with them.

“No, Damian! Just . . . just go. You’ve done enough.” Jon shouted as he disappeared down the stairs.

Jon’s last comment caused the young heir to pause. He had done enough? He hadn’t been given a chance to fix what he had done. How could he have done enough? Sure, he had messed up royally, but he wanted to fix it. Why wouldn’t Jon let him fix it?

Pushing those questions aside, Damian ran down the stair, praying that he would at least catch a glimpse of his beloved. But the scene that met him as he burst into the street somehow drove Jon’s parting words home. There, braced against the wall of the building across from him, was Marinette. She was curled up as tightly as she physically could be, her face buried in Jon’s shirt as she let out the most heart wrenching sobs. Damian’s body refused to move as he watched Jon gently rock the mother of his child. His body refused to move as he watched the other man stroked her hair, promising to never leave her, whispering soft words of comfort to her as he planted butterfly kisses on her head. That he would always be there. That no one was going to hurt her. That she was safe.

Seconds turned into minutes before he could summon the strength to do what Jon had said. Casting one last look at his angel, his Marinette, Damian knew that taking that mission, that leaving her, had been the worst mistake of his life.

#maribat #daminette #jonette?#angst

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fanfics4all · 4 years

Text

Green Light, Red Light

Request: Yes / No Hi can I please get a Spencer Reid x reader where if you’ve seen the 12 season where cat has his mom and tells him that she’s pregnant with his kids and tells him she did it because she Convince him that he was doing it with Maeve and reader over hears them and she starts to feel the she was just a rebound to him and they get in a fight about how she’s Insecure about their relationship and can it end in fluff please and if you can thank you 🙏🏼 sorry if this doesn’t make sense or sounds Messy Anon

Requests are open, but please read this! <3 Have a nice day/night

Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

Word count: 8910

Warnings: Honestly not much I think.

Y/N: Your Name

PLEASE DO NOT STEAL MY WORK, I WORK HARD ON MY FICS AND IT’S NOT COOL TO STEAL SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK!

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Masterlist

(Not my photo, credit to whoever made it!)

Emily had just called me and told me to come to the office. I dropped everything immediately and rushed to work. I just knew it was something about Spencer. God I hope he’s okay… As soon as I got there I rushed into her office, Rossi was already in there.

“Emily, I came as fast as I could. What’s happened? Is Spencer okay?” I asked, worry clearly in my voice.

“Thank you for coming Y/N, Fiona and I went to see Reid.” She said.

“And? Is he okay?” I asked.

“He said his Mother was in trouble.” She said and I looked at her confused.

“Were Reid and Diana scheduled to have a visit?” Rossi asked.

“He didn’t think so, but it happened anyway.” Emily answered.

“What did Cassie say?” I asked.

“Cassie didn’t bring Diana. Another nurse did, a Carol Atkinson.” She answered and I looked at her confused.

“Cassie would never let another nurse take care of her.” I said.

“Garcia’s running a search on the name now, but it’s an alias.” She said.

“For who?” Rossi asked before I could.

“Lindsey Vaughn.” She said.

“Lindsey Vaughn? From that case in Chula Vista ten years ago?” Rossi asked.

“You remember it.” Emily said.

“But how could it be her now? And why?” He asked.

“I asked him the same thing.” She said.

“And how did that go?” He asked.

“He slammed the table and ended up being escorted out by guards.” She said and I bit my lip. My poor Spencer…

“Any chance he’s wrong?” Rossi asked.

“Well, Reid did smell Scratch’s drugs before the murder, and he said there was another woman in the room with them.” She said.

“No, there’s no way he could be wrong, this is Spencer we’re talking about!” I said and they sighed.

“Well, if Lindsey took Diana to visit, where’s Cassie?” Rossi asked.

“We don’t know. Her phone goes straight to voicemail, she’s not returning texts either. Y/N, when was the last time you talked to her?” She asked me.

“Um, a few weeks ago. She was giving me updates about Diana and said that I should come and visit, that it might help her.” I answered. I was now regretting not visiting her sooner, who knows what might be happening to her now…

“And Garcia pinged it?” Rossi asked.

“She tried, but the battery must be dead. The GPS was turned off. Walker and JJ are on their way to Reid’s apartment now.” Emily said.

“I should be going with them.” I said, but Emily shook her head.

“You’re too close to this Y/N.” She said.

“We’re all close to this Emily.” I said and she sighed.

“I know, but I can’t send you out there until we have something.” She said and I sighed. I understood why, but I just wanted to help Spencer and save Diana if she was really in trouble.

“So what if this has been a Scratch-Lindsey partnership this whole time?” Rossi asked.

“If that’s true, given his mental state, I’m not sure Reid makes it to trial.” Emily said and I felt my heart break.

“I-I need to see him.” I said and Emily shook her head.

“You can’t right now, he’s not being allowed visitors.” She said and I bit my lip to keep from crying.

“Hey, he’ll be alright.” Rossi said and I nodded.

“Here, take some paperwork to keep you distracted, I’ll call everyone in when we get news from JJ.” Emily said and I nodded. I took the papers and went to my desk. I needed to keep my mind off Spencer, but that was probably the hardest thing to do.

It was maybe ten minutes later when I heard someone walk up to my desk. I looked up and saw Garcia giving me a sad smile. I returned the smile and she pulled me in for a hug.

“Emily wants us in the round table room.” She said and I nodded.

“Is Diana okay?” I asked.

“We don’t know yet...” She answered and I bit my lip once again. We all sat down and everyone gave me a sad smile. I wanted this done with, I wanted the pitty looks to go away. I wanted everything to go back to normal.

“We first came across the Vaughns ten years ago when Lindsey Vaughn and her friend Katie Owen were abducted outside of a crowded movie theater by three men.” Emily said as Garcia handed us the files.

“Ryan Phillips, the traid’s dominant, tortured and strangled Katie.” Rossi said.

“Jack Vaughn then took matters into his own hands, using his skills to find Lindsey.” Emily said.

“It ended when Jack murdered Phillips in front of her and Reid.” Rossi said.

“They let him stay in the program after that?” Luke asked.

“Jack was too important a witness to cut loose.” Rossi said.

“And no one’s heard from either of them till now?” Tara asked.

“That’s right.” Emily said with a nod.

“Lindsey was posing as a nurse named Carol Atkinson, and was able to get Diana Reid in and out of the Millburn Correctional Facility.” Garcia said, pulling up the prison’s security video.

“And despite all the cameras, this is the only one that picked her up.” Rossi said.

“So she knew exactly where they were and how to avoid them.” I said. The phone started ringing and Garcia immediately answered it.

“Please tell me you have good news.” She said.

“Well, Diana and Cassie aren’t here.” JJ said.

“There’s no forced entry and no signs of struggle. And Cassie’s car is gone.” Walker answered.

“Garcia, where are we on that APB of her car?” Emily asked.

“I don;t have anything yet.” She answered.

“Okay. Also, search recent traffic in and out of Reid’s apartment. Lindsey probably entered as Carol.” Emily said.

“Copy, copy.” She said and got to work.

“I know Diana’s routen, I should go out there.” I said.

“No Y/N, you’re not allowed to investigate this outside of this office, not yet.” Emily said. I was growing desperate, I needed to help Spencer.

“I know her routen too, Stephen and I will hit up those places first.” JJ said and hung up.

“The rest of us need to find Lindsey ASAP.” Emily said.

“I know a marshal that can help cut through Witsec’s red tape.” Luke said and walked off.

“Yeah, I’m friendly with some people at Homeland Security.” Tara said, also walking off.

“I got a buddy at the DOJ, lost a lot of money to him at poker. He owes me.” Rossi said.

“Garcia, there was degraded female DNA and prints found at the crime scene. No matches in Codis, but there might be something in Witsec.” Emily said.

“I’ll pull every favor, turn every stone.” Garcia said and walked off.

“Are we gonna tell Spencer?” I asked.

“Not yet. I don’t want to add more stress for him.” Emily said. Rossi walked off to go see his friend.

“Emily, you need to give me something to do. I can’t just sit here and do nothing and we both know I can’t just go home.” I said following her into her office.

“Go help Garcia, I can’t let you go out there right now, I’m sorry.” She said and I nodded.

“I get it, I’m way too close to him, more than you guys are, but when it comes time to go out there and do something I need to be there too.” I said and she nodded.

“I wouldn’t keep you from that.” She said and I nodded.

I was helping Garcia with whatever she needed. I wasn’t as tech savvy as she is, but I was good enough to help out. We were working on anything that could give us a lead when her phone rang.

“Garcia.” Luke said.

“What do you need?” She asked.

“Metro P.D. found Cassie’s car and called it in immediately. No signs of her or DIana. No foul play. There are… There are three visible cameras. One nearby and two down the way.” Luke said.

“I can tap into them, see what I can find.” Garcia said getting to work.

“Oh, oh, oh, uh, Walker and JJ are calling in. You want me to patch you through?” She asked.

“Please.” He said and we were all in the call now.

“Walker, JJ, you’re on with Alvez, me, and Y/N.” She said when she answered.

“Hey guys, no luck finding Cassie or Diana.” Walker said and my heart sank.

“Alright, well, I’m at Cassie’s car right now. Forensically, it’s a dead end, but, us, behaviorally we might have something.” Luke explained. It’s parked down the block from a high school.” Luke said.

“A high school is where Jack Vaughn killed Lindsey’s abductor in front of her and Spencer.” JJ said.

“Well, placing the car there could be a taunt at us.” Walker said.

“That’s what I’m thinking.” Luke said.

“I can look into that. I can- Oh!” Garcia said cutting herself off. I looked over at her screen to see what was happening.

“Garcia?” JJ asked.

“Oh, uh, uh, per Emily, I was supposed to look at the recent foot traffic in and out of Reid’s building. There is no sign of Carol Atkinson, but a Jaime Lamantia keeps popping up. She lives in unit 26 down the hall from Ried. She paid six months of her rent up front in cash, and there’s been not a peep from her since.” She said and I looked at the document she pulled up with wide eyes.

“How’s Jaime connected to Lindsey?” Luke asked.

“Jaime is Lindsey…” I said shocked.

“I’m twenty minutes from Reid’s apartment.” Luke said.

“Yeah, we’re ten.” JJ said and they were on their way.

“I-I have to go out there…” I said.

“No, you can't, Emily said you can’t.” Garcai said.

“This is my boyfriend we’re talking about! I have to do something!” I said, tears threatening to fall. Garcia pulled me in for a hug and held me tightly.

“I know hun, but we’ll get her.” She said.

Emily came in and caught us up, Cassie was dead. Lindsey killed her and took Diana. Spencer was right. Emily went back to her office to have a meeting with Luke and his friend, but I followed and stayed in the bullpen.

“I’m going to the prison. Reid deserves to know everything.” Emily said walking out.

“I’m coming with you.” I said.

“Y/N, you know you-”

“Emily please, I need to see him. I need to know he’s okay.” I begged, cutting her off. She looked at me and sighed.

“Alright, let’s go.” She said and off we went to the prison.

“Wait here, I’ll give you two some time once I finish telling him okay?” She asked and I nodded. Emily was inside and they were talking. Spencer walked up to the door and banged on it. I stopped the guard from opening it and I opened it instead.

“Y-Y/N?” Spencer asked shocked. It’s the first time we’ve seen each other since he was arrested.

“Spencer, oh my God…” I said with tears in my eyes. I knew the rules, I knew I wasn’t allowed to touch him, but I didn’t care. I threw my arms around his neck and buried my head in his chest.

“Hey, no touching allowed.” The guard said.

“It’s alright.” Emily said walking over to us.

“You two have until I come back, then we leave Y/N.” She said and I nodded. Spencer and I walked back into the room and once again hugged him.

“I’ve missed you so much…” I said finally letting the tears I’ve been holding back for so long free. Spencer wrapped his arms around me and it felt like home.

“I’m so so sorry about your Mom Spence, but I swear to you that I will find her no matter what. Even if it costs me my job I will find her.” I said gently caressing his cheek.

“Does she know about us?” He asked referring to Lindsey.

“Yes…” I answered.

“You need to stay away from this.” He whispered.

“You know I can’t do that.” I whispered back.

“You need to, I can’t be the reason you get hurt.” He said.

“I’ll be find Spence, everything will be fine.” I said. I leaned up to kiss him, but he pulled away from me…

“You need to go. You need to stay off this case, you need to work on something else.” He said turning his back to me.

“You know I will not do that. I won’t stop until you’re free and your Mother is home safe!” I said. I stared at his back in shock, Spencer had changed… The door opened and Emily walked in.

“It’s time to go Y/N.” She said and I nodded.

“I promise Spence, we’ll find her and get you out of here.” I said before leaving the room with Emily.

“How’d it go?” She asked.

“Not as well as I hoped…” I quietly answered.

“He’ll come around.” She said and I just nodded. Why would he want me to stop? Why wouldn’t he want to kiss me? Why wouldn’t he be happy to see me?

We made it back to the office and Emily went straight for the roundtable room. I was still in a daze, but I followed her in. The team was there walking and Rossi looked up at us when we walked in.

“How’d it go with Reid?” He asked.

“As expected. He thinks Lindsey’s using her father’s gun as a way to carry on his legacy.” Emily said.

“Makes sense, given her Daddy issues.” Rossi said.

“And I spoke to the Warden about putting Reid in protective custody, but he said no.” Emily said and I sighed.

“Okay, more ballistics literally just came in on Jack Vaughn’s gun, and, oh my goodness, Lindsey has been a busy evil bee.” Garcia said.

“How busy?” Tara asked.

“That gun has been involved in fifteen murders in the last five years.” She answered.

“Single shot to the back of the head with a modified hollow-point.” JJ said.

“That’s our Lindsey.” Rossi said.

“You guys see the geographical pattern? All of the kills are along the U.S-Mexico border.” JJ said.

“And each of the victims have apparent Cartel ties.” Garcia.

“So, Lindsey’s been a Cartel hit woman ever since she left the program.” Tara said.

“Okay, but why is she using her Dad’s gun? That helps us, and it’s risky for her.” Garcia asked.

“It’s an impulse, not a choice.” I said. We continued talking, but we came up with nothing so we all went to get coffee.

“Why would Scratch choose Lindsey? I mean, her ties to Reid are distant.” Tara said.

“Walker and I, we kicked it around on the flight, and we imagine that Scratch was digging further into Reid’s past and he saw that Lindsey had become a contract killer. Realized she could get to him in a way that he couldn’t.” Luke said.

“It may be logistical, too. Scratch has never run out of drugs before, but now he’s a fugitive and might not be able to get them.” Walker said.

“Well, Lindsey knows the border. She’d be a good drug mule.” JJ said as I was making myself a second coffee.

“Good news, bad news.” Emily said walking up to us and I immediately turned towards her.

“I am on the books first thing tomorrow with Judge Frost and AUSA Martinez.” Emily said.

“But all we have is a theory and no support from the brass.” Rossi said.

“That’s never stopped us before.” She said.

“I guess we gave twelve hours to make an airtight case for you to bring to them.” I said.

“Yes. Not only that, we also need a paper trail.” Emily said.

“I’ll put on more coffee.” Rossi said.

“Excuse me.” Emily said and went to take a call.

“Y/N, you should go get some sleep.” Rossi said to me and I shook my head.

“There is no way I’m going home when Spencer is stuck in that prison and Diana is who knows where.” I said taking a sip of my coffee.

“I will inject coffee straight into my veins before I go to sleep.” I said and walked off to the round table room. Soon everyone followed and we were all looking for anything we could find.

“We leave no stone unturned.” Emily said walking in with Garcia and a box. She started handing out files and we got to work.

“Hey, guys.” Tara said after an hour and a half.

“Okay. I got Carol Atkinson crossing the border at Los Indios.” She said.

“There’s a factory nearby that manufactures non-FDA-approved seasickness tablets. Essentially, scopolamine pills.” She said walking over to the map.

“Los Indios is only a 40-minute drive to Matamoros.” Luke said.

“Looks like we’ve got Lindsey where we need her.” Rossi said.

“Now we put the knife in her hand.” Emily said. We continued working, trying to get anything to match with Lindsey and that would be able to set Spencer free. I must have drank at least six coffees, maybe more. It was light out now, but none of us cared.

“Rick, what have you got?” Luke asked, answering his phone.

“Well, okay, guys, Jack’s gun was used in Mexico the day before Nadie’s murder.” JJ said.

“What? Another Cartel hit?” I asked.

“No, the victim was a Victor Flores. He was a local real estate broker, a model citizen.” She said.

“Point-blank. Back of the head, with a modified hollow-point bullet. That’s Lindsey, alright.” Rossi said looking at the file.

“Why are we only hearing about it now?” Walker asked.

“Because it was in Monterrey. It’s a different jurisdiction.” JJ answered.

“Okay, so, she crosses the border at Los Indios, which is very close to Matamoros, drives three hours west to Monterrey, kills Victor, and then drives four hours east to Matamoros?” Tara asked confused.

“All possible within a day’s drive.” Walker said.

“Sure, but why go to all the trouble?” Tara asked.

“Why pick Victor Flores?” Emily asked.

“It sounds too random to be random…” I said shaking my head.

“Alright. Alright, thanks, Rick. I owe you.” Luke said and hung up.

“Mexican authorities found an abandoned truck last week that matches the one Reid described. It was dumped two states over.” Luke said.

“Did it belong to a Victor Flores?” JJ asked.

“Yeah, how’d you know that?” He asked.

“Lindsey killed him before Nadie. Must have stolen his truck too.” Rossi said.

“Alright, well, we’re making some real headway here.”Luke said.

“Yeah, it’s great guys, don’t get me wrong, but it’s all circumstantial. Garcia, any luck finding Lindsey’s prints from her Witsec file?” Emily asked.

“I called in every favor I can think of and then some. It’s gonna take me, like, five more hours to cut through all this red tape.” Garcia answered.

“I have to be at the courthouse in one.” Emily said and we continued to go back to work.

Emily left soon after and we all kept working. We hoped that we could get something in time, but the odds were against us. An hour later my phone rang and I saw Emily’s name pop up on my screen.

“Emily?” I answered confused and everyone’s eyes were on me.

“I need you to go to the prison that Reid is at and bring him home.” She said and my eyes started to water.

“A-Are you serious?” I asked.

“I am, bring him home Y/N.” She said and I hung up immediately.

“What’s going on?” Garcia asked.

“I have to go, I have to go get Spencer.” I said with a smile.

“He’s coming home?” JJ asked and I nodded.

“Yeah.” I nodded and everyone smiled.

“I’m coming with you.” JJ said.

“Me too, I gotta take care of something there.” Luke said.

“I’m coming too!” Garcia said and I just nodded at them. I quickly gathered my stuff and rushed to my car. My Spencer was finally coming home. They were driving in a separate car from me. I got to the prison as quickly as I could and soon after they brought me to a room with Spencer standing there. Spencer saw me and smiled slightly.

“We’re taking you home baby.” I said with a smile and a tear falling down my face. He looked relieved and I rushed over to hug him.

“You’re coming home Spence.” I whispered. He held me tightly and started sobbing. I held him tightly. He kissed the side of my head and everything just felt so right in that moment. Spencer got dressed in the suit we brought him and we walked out to see Garcia standing there waiting. He went up and hugged her and I smiled.

“Let’s get my Mom back.” He said.

“Yeah.” Garcia said and we all left. We got back to the office and we were catching Spencer up on everything.

“So we know Lindsey convinced Scratch to run drugs across the border.” Luke said.

“And that Lindsey’s been operating from to locations- An apartment next to Reid and a house in southeast D.C.” Rossi said.

“That’s where we think she’s keeping your Mom.” Walker said.

“Scratch isn’t afraid to plot an elaborate trap. I want a full breakdown of that house before we set one foot inside.” Emily said and everyone walked off, except for Spencer and I.

“Um… Spencer…” Emily said stopping us and closing the door.

“You can’t officially go until you’re reinstated.” She said.

“So that includes going to my apartment, since it’s a crime scene.” Spencer said.

“That’s right. It’s sealed and guarded by Metro P.D. But you are the resident. You got it?” She said.

“Got it.” He said and she left. Spencer took a step up to the closed door, but just stared at it.

“Are you alright?” I asked and he looked at me.

“Um… it’s, uh, it’s open.” I said and he looked back at the door.

“Of course.” He said and opened the door. We went to Spencer’s place and I had to show the guard my badge.

“He’s the resident. He’s just gonna grab a few things.” I said and the cop nodded. Spencer sat on his couch and started looking at an open photo album.

“What is it?” I asked.

“This picture was on a different page.” He said and picked it up. He flipped it over and on the back in red it said XX-XY.

“Does that mean anything to you?” I asked.

“Only the obvious, male and female chromosomes, Lindsey’s way of telling us she’s with Scratch.” He said and I sighed.

“Let’s grab some things and you can stay at my place.” I said.

“Yeah…” He said. We grabbed a bag of clothes and dropped them off at my apartment. Emily had called me and told me all about what was going on. Spencer had to go back to prison to see Cat Adams. I was going with him. We got on the jet and made our way to Car Adams. We walked into the other side of the interview room, we saw Cat sitting at the table. I saw Spencer was comfortable, but this was the only option to find his mother right now.

“I’ll be here the whole time, promise.” I said and gently grabbed his hand. He nodded and walked inside, I followed, but stayed in the back.

“Spencie.” Cat said with a smile.

“Where’s my Mother?” He asked.

“I missed you.” She said.

“What did you and Lindsey do to her?” He asked, ignoring her.

“How did you-”

“No stop! You don’t get to walk in here and hiss at me like I’m the criminal.” She said cutting him off.

“Now, we do this my way.” She said and kicked the chair in front of her. Spencer caught it as she told him to sit. Spencer sat as I stayed on the side watching.

“How was Prison? Did you like it?” She asked.

“No.” He answered.

“It’s not fun, is it?” She asked.

“Unlike you, I didn’t deserve to be there.” He said.

“How did you stay sane?” She asked leaning closer. I was confused as to who she was or what her and Spencer’s past connection was. Her case was before I was even on the team. I had only joined three years ago and Spencer and I have only been together for two.

“A brain like yours needs stimulation in such a gray place.” She said.

“I worked in the laundry room and I played chess.” He answered.

“That’s three, maybe four hours, tops. What about the other twenty?” She asked.

“I read.” He answered.

“That’s still not enough. You have to… go someplace. Up here.” She said looking at me for a split second.

“Or else you go crazy.” She said with a slight laugh.

“Do you want to see where I go? I’ll show you. Com here.” She said, motioning him to come closer. Spencer leaned in closer and she went to touch his face.

“No touching.” I said and she stopped. Spencer looked at me then back at her and she smirked at me.

“Close your eyes.” She said and moved his eyes to close them.

“Good. Now keep them shut. Sit back and relax.” She said leaning back in her chair. Spencer also leaned back.

“Now, when you open your eyes, I want you to look at me like I’m the first woman you’ve seen after being in prison for three month.” She said and my heart clenched at this. She looked at me and smirked then looked back at him.

“Now… Open.” She said and he did.

“Hello Cat.” He said with a smile.

“You’re here!” She giggled.

“You’re really here.” She said.

“There’s nowhere else I would rather be.” Spencer said and I took a deep breath, this is what he needs to do to get the information.

“You’re good at this. You’re so good at this, I almost believe you don’t want to kill me.” She said crossing her arms.

“I don’t want to kill you.” He said.

“No?” She asked.

“No.” He said, shaking his head.

“What if I let your Mother die? Then would you kill me? Or would you just… hurt me? Would you pin me down and leave bruises that don’t go away?” She asked with a very sexual tone.

“Is that what you want?” He asked and my eyes widened slightly.

“I guess I just want to know if you would.” She said and glanced at me with a smirk.

“If you could.” She said looking back at him.

“No.” He said.

“No?” She asked.

“That’s not the kind of man I am.” He said.

“Do me a favor and tell your girlfriend over there to step aside, because we’re gonna play another game. And this time, we’re going to find out exactly what kind of man you are. I’m sure she’ll love to watch that.” She said. Spencer looked over at me and gave me a nod. I didn’t feel comfortable leaving Spencer alone with her, but I left anyway and she gave me a wave goodbye. I was now watching from behind the glass, luckily I could still hear them.

“Let’s play.” He said.

“Let’s!” She said excitedly.

“Are you hungry?” She asked him.

“No.” He answered.

“Me neither.” She said.

“So, the same game as last time?” He asked leaning back in the chair.

“I answer every question you ask honestly?” He asked.

“No, this time you get to ask the questions.” She said.

“About what?” He asked.

“Well, I know a secret. About you. And you can ask me as many questions as you like to figure it out. But you only get one guess as to what it is.” She said leaning forward.

“Now, guess correctly, I take your phone, I call our friend Lindsey, and I tell her to release your Mother unharmed. If you don't…” She said and put her fingers into a gun shape and stuck it in her mouth. She then mimed like she was getting shot and giggled.

“Is there a clock?” Spencer asked.

“There’s always a clock.” She said and put her hand out.

“Give it to me.” She said. Spencer took off his watch and handed it to her.

“You’ll have four hours.” She said and he went to ask a question, but she stopped him.

“Not yet.” She said.

“You have to wait till the second hand comes around.” She said.

“You want to give me a hint before we start?” Spencer asked.

“Do I look like a girl that gives hints?” She asked.

“Actually you do.” He said.

“Okay, how about this? It’s a secret you’ll never admit to.” She said and I furrowed my brow.

“Go.” She said. It’s been half an hour, I told the team that we had four hours to find Diana or she’s dead.

“I know what the secret is.” Spencer said.

“You do?” She asked.

“Why else would you put me through all this?” He asked.

“Ooo. Phrasing it in the form of a question. That way it doesn’t count as a guess. Very smart, Doctor.” She said.

“I’m gonna walk you through a scenario and your face is gonna tell me how close I am.” He said.

“From the moment I arrested you, you watched and waited for the right time to take your revenge. When you learned I was going to Mexico, you took it. You and Lindsey framed me for murder so I’d be in prison and treated like a criminal, and then you kidnapped my Mother so I would know how it feels to have a parent manipulated, because you wanted to prove that you and I are the same. Am I right?” He asked and she yawned.

“Sorry, I couldn’t hold that in any longer. What were you saying?” She asked.

“Psychopaths get bored easily.” He said.

“You’re right. Let’s speed this up.” She said getting up.

“Shall we?” She asked and sat on his lap. Jealousy raged through my body, but I kept watching.

“Why don’t you think about all the pain you’ve suffered in your life. What would I capitalize on, do you think? Is it the death of your mentor, SSA Jason Gideon? ” She asked while touching his chest and face.

“No. Because we caught the man who killed him.” Spencer said.

“What about Agent Morgan? And your guilt over not visiting his little boy.” She said.

“I was in prison.” He said.

“Yeah, but you had time before that.” She said moving her face closer to his. I was feeling so uncomfortable and jealous, but I had to stay perfectional and Spencer was just playing into her fantasies to get what we needed, right?

“Why didn’t you go?” She asked.

“Truthfully, I got distracted. I was trying to figure out a way to help my Mom. She didn’t have time. Morgan, Savannah, and little Bobby did. So there’s absolutely no shame in admitting that. Morgan would understand.” He answered as she nipped at his ear. That wasn't Morgan's son…

“I agree. That’s why that’s not the secret.” She whispered and got off him. He looked back at me and I smiled.

“Good job baby.” I said and pulled out my phone.

“Go ahead, Y/N.” Rossi answered.

“So Cat has deep background on Spence. She knew about Gideon’s death and Morgan leaving the team for his family.” I said.

“She’s throwing him off-balance.” He said.

“Yeah, but Spence also purposely gave the wrong name of Morgan’s son, and she didn’t correct him.” I said.

“She must have gotten her hands on Reid’s confidential FBI file. It would mention relevant team information but wouldn’t name Morgan’s baby because of confidentiality reasons.” Emily said.

“We were thinking she’s been getting help from someone inside the prison. This goes deeper than that.” Rossi said.

“I’ll keep you guys updated.” I said and hung up.

“Working deductively, the secret wouldn’t be any of the topics you’ve already volunteered, because you wouldn’t want to make it that easy on me.” Spencer said after a few minutes of silence.

“Genius, truly.” Cat said, playing with his watch.

“So what is left that I wouldn’t want to admit?” He asked and they stared at each other in silence for a moment.

“Love.” Spencer finally said and my eyes widened. My heart rate picked up and I gulped. Cat stopped playing with his watch and just stared at him.

“Is that what this is all about, love?” He asked leaning forward.

“For my Mother?” He asked and she just stared.

“No. For you.” He said and I felt a pain in my chest.

“You want me to admit that I am actually in love with you.” He said.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love my fairy tales, clearly, as much as the next girl, but I’m not delusional.” She said.

“Are you sure about that?” He asked.

“Very sure. So sure, in fact, that I had Lindsey leave a clue for you in your little scrapbook in your house.” She said with a smirk. XX-XY.

“I couldn’t have you come all the way down here and make a guess until I was positive. That is…” She said looking down at her stomach and my eyes widened.

“Until I tested positive.” She said placing her hands on her stomach.

“What, you’re pregnant?” Spencer asked.

“We’re pregnant.” She said and it felt like my heart leaped out of my chest. No. No it couldn’t be possible…

“No.” Spencer said, shaking his head.

“Oh, yes. Mazel tov.” She said. I needed to know. The team needed to know. I asked one of the guards for her records and waited for them.

“Here you are ma’am.” A guard said, handing me the files.

“Thank you.” I said and immediately checked them. She was pregnant. Her due date was November 15th 2017… I looked up in complete shock.

“It’s not possible. Even if you are pregnant, the baby’s not mine.” Spencer said, now standing.

“Except for the part where it is.” She said.

“That’s completely preposterous. You’ve been in prison.” He said sitting back down.

“So have you.” She said.

“And we’ve never had-”

“I know. We’ve never…” She said.

“Ask me how I did it. Come on, ask me.” She said.

“Ask her…” I whispered.

“How did you do it?” He asked.

“I had Lindsey dose you in Mexico. You lost time. And I gave her very specific instructions to get you in the mood.” She said with a little laugh.

“What, did she pretend to be you?” He asked and I bit my lip.

“Why, would that have worked?” She asked.

“No.” He answered leaning closer to her.

“Yeah, I know, I know. Believe me, I know exactly where I stand on the Spencer Reid hot or not list.” She said.

“So you told her to pretend to be Y/N.” He said.

“No. I told her to pretend to be Maeve.” She said and my eyes widened.

“Maeve Donovan. The love of your life.” He said and my heart broke. I knew Spencer loved her at one point, she was his first and she was taken from him. But when we met he said he was over her, that it was in the past…

“Who had her brains blown out right in front of you before you two could even kiss. So dark… Yet, so useful.” She said.

“You’re lying.” He said, slightly shaking his head.

“Spencer, it’s Maeve. It’s okay. Spencer, Spencer… Spencer, it’s Maeve. It’s okay. Come here. Shh. You want this. It’s okay. You want this.” She said in a soft voice.

“It didn’t happen.” Spencer said.

“Hey, I was thinking, if it’s a boy, we should definitely call him Spencie junior.” She said and spencer got up to leave.

“But if it’s a girl, I think we should call her Maeve.” She said and Spencer walked out.

“I mean, after all she played such a huge role in her own conception.” She said and Spencer stood next to me.

“Spence, we might have something.” I said and he took the files from me.

“She’s three months.” I said and Spencer threw the files at the window.

“I’m sorry, it’s not you.” He said and I nodded.

“I just need a minute.” He said and I bit my lip.

“Is she right?” I asked quietly and he turned to look at me.

“What?” He asked.

“That Maeve is the love of your life?” I asked. I knew I should wait, Spencer had so much to deal with right now, but I needed to know. I needed to know if our whole relationship was just a lie for him to get over Maeve, or if it was real.

“I told you about this already.” He said and I nodded.

“But are we just together because you can’t be with her?” I asked and he looked at me with wide eyes.

“No, no of course not!” He said, but a part of me didn’t believe him.

“I don’t believe you Spencer…” I said.

“Now’s not the time for this!” He shouted and I flinched. Spencer has never raised his voice before.

“I’m gonna go call the team…” I said and walked off. I took out my phone to call the team, but my phone rang first.

“Y/N, you there?” Emily asked when I picked up.

“Uh, yeah. Yeah, go ahead.” I said trying to compose myself.

“So far we don’t have anything on the prison employees. Somebody in there is helping her, but nobody jumps out as the obvious culprit, and it doesn’t help that they’re blocking us at every turn.” Luke said.

“We have something, but, uh, it’s out there.” Tara said.

“I’ll take out there.” Emily said.

“The gun store owner was more of a libertarian than you would think. He talked about how he never judged his customers or who they love.” Walker said.

“That’s weird.” JJ said.

“Yeah, not as weird as when he mentioned Obergefell.” Tara said.

“The supreme court decision that legalized gay marriage.” Emily said.

“You said we were missing something in the relationship between these two women. What if it’s this?” Walker said.

“The risks that Lindsey’s taking, the bond she has with Cat, it’s not professional. It’s romantic.” Tara said.

“This casts a big shadow over Lindsey’s next move. By exposing their plan to us, she knows there’s no happy ending, no future with Cat.” Walker said.

“And she’s going to take Reid’s Mother with her. And that’s the ultimate act of revenge against the guy who took her lover away.” JJ said.

“Y/N, what do you have?” Emily asked.

“Can you take me off speaker?” I asked.

“Okay, it’s just us now.” She said.

“Cat is three months pregant and she’s claiming it’s Reid’s…” I said.

“Are you kidding me? Are you kidding?” She asked.

“Well, here’s where it gets tricky. Do we believe her or not?” I asked.

“On the one hand, getting pregnant is a power control move straight out of the female psychopath handbook. On the other hand-”

“If her story is true, it meant she sent her lesbian lover down to Mexico to get Reid to- Ugh.” Emily said, finishing my thought.

“Yeah… Either way, she is pregnant. I just refuse to believe it belongs to Spence…” I said choking up a little.

“It could be the person inside the prison who’s been helping her. Getting pregnant serves two purposes- Gasslighting Reid and emotional blackmail against that employee.” She said.

“Yeah, but, Emily, we don’t know who that guy is yet. And Luke and Rossi aren’t going to in the time we have left.” I said.

“Y/N, I gotta call you back.” She said and hung up. I sighed and walked back to Spencer, he had gone back inside.

“Let’s pretend you’re telling the truth. That means I guessed it, right? The secret, the one I don’t want to admit to? It’s my child?” Spencer said.

“Is that your guess? You only get one, remember?” Cat asked.

“No. it’s too easy.” He said.

“Believe me, getting pregnant with your baby was not easy.” She said.

“You misunderstand. It’s too easy emotionally. Because I can take your child from you. The child I had absolutely no role in creating, but a child that I would care for better than you.” He said and I gulped.

“That’s rude.” She said.

“It’s true. You can’t be a Mother, Cat. I’m not trying to insult you. It’s your psychological makeup. You literally do not have the emotional skills to care for another human being. You’d lose interest in your own baby the way a six year old loses interest in a pet hamster. This baby is simply a means to an end, which is to keep me here playing your game, guessing like a fool, assuming something I never should have assumed in the first place.” He said.

“And what would that be?” She asked.

“My Mother’s already dead.” He said and I shook my head. No. That can’t be right.

“She was dead before I walked in here.” He said.

“She’s not dead.” Cat shook her head.

“Yes she is.” Spencer said getting up.

“No, because that would be cheating and I don’t cheat! You cheat!” She said.

“I’m done playing.” Spencer said.

“Get back here!” She said.

“Goodbye, Cat.” He said opening the door.

“I’ll let you talk to her!” She said which made him stop in the doorway. He looked at me and I looked at him in shock. He smiled and walked back in. I quickly called Garcia.

“Yes, I’m here.” She answered.

“Garcia, get ready to trace a call on Spence’s phone.” I said.

“Fired up, plugged in. Ready to go.” She said. Spencer handed her his phone and she called Lindsey.

“You’re early.” Lindsey answered.

“Yeah, I know.” Cat said.

“Did he guess?” She asked.

“No, not yet. We need proof of life.” Cat said.

“Alright. Hold on.” She said.

“Spencer!” Diana said scared, only a moment later. Spencer grabbed the phone out of Cat’s hand so fast.

“Mom! Mom, are you okay?” He asked.

“I don’t… know.” She answered and then there was a gunshot.

“Mom!” Spencer called.

“Gotta go.” Lindsey said and hung up.

“Mom! What the hell was that?” Spencer asked and I quickly rushed inside.

“I don’t know.” Cat answered.

“Spence…” I said trying to calm him.

“Lindsey said you were early. Was that a signal?” He asked.

“No.” She answered and Spencer slammed the table.

“Was that a prearranged signal to kill my Mother!?” He shouted.

“No!” She shouted.

“Spencer-”

“Tell me the truth!” He shouted.

“I am!” She shouted back.

“Tell me the truth!” He shouted again.

“I am!” She shouted back.

“You wanna know the truth? Your Mother is an alzheimer’s-ridden moron who’s getting dumber day by day, and if she’s dead, it’s your fault.” Cat said. Spencer shoved the table away and grabbed Cat. He shoved her up against the wall and wrapped his hands around her neck.

“Spence!” I shouted and tried to pull him off her.

“I’m going to kill you.” He whispered to her.

“Spence!”

“I’m going to kill you.” He said again.

“Spence, she’s pregnant. She’s pregnant Spencer! Stop it! Come on!” I said and finally pulled him off her.

“Come on.” I said and pushed him to the other side of the room. He walked out. I made sure she was alright and ignored her teasing comments about how she was having his baby and how I was protecting their baby.

“How does it feel knowing he really only loves Maeve and you’re just her replacement?” She asked and I took a deep breath and walked out of the room. My phone rang and it was Garcia. She told me about what the explosion was. I walked into the hall where Spencer was sitting with his head against his knee.

“Richmond County police just reported a gas station explosion. One victim, a male. Whatever Lindsey did, we have to assume your Mom’s still alive.” I said and he just looked up at me.

“Hey.” I said and sat down next to him.

“I’m really scared this is who I am now.” He said.

“No, don’t say that.” I said.

“Y-Y/N, you don’t know…” He trailed off.

“I do know. I know two inmates, Frazier and Duerson, killed your friend Delgado in front of you. And I know they wanted you to move their heroin, and I also know that if you didn't you would have been next, right?” I asked and he looked down at the floor in shame. He nodded, but still didn’t look at me.

“Spence, anyone in your spot would have done the same thing.” I said.

“You wouldn’t have.” He said.

“Yeah. Yeah, I would have, Spence. Because if someone was threatening my life, You bet your ass I would. I would do it a million times if it meant I got to eventually come home to you. It doesn’t make you a bad person.” I said and he looked at me for a second before looking back down.

“Because you know who does think like that, that- that doing what you had to do to survive somehow makes you a psychopath? She does.” I said and realization hit me. I looked over at Spencer and he had the same look on his face.

“She does. She does. Because she- she knows.” I said quietly.

“That’s the secret.” He said getting up.

“What I don’t want to admit about myself.” He said and I got up as well.

“Hold on, let’s play this out, because she will not lose to you twice. She already said that this wasn’t about you two being the same.” I said.

“And she’s all about the game. She thinks that I cheated last time because I lied about her dad, so it’s integral to her that she beats me by following the rules.” He said.

“Yeah, but, Spence, she controls the rules, and she will change them to ensure that she wins.” I said.

“Which means that I’m locked in.” He said.

“Like she is.” I said.

“And she needs me locked in, playing by her rules a game I can’t win, so she-” He cut himself off and looked at me.

“I got it.” He said and went to turn around, but I stopped him.

“Wait.” I said and he turned back to me.

“I’m sorry…” I said and he looked at me confused.

“For before, I shouldn’t let her get in my head.” I said and he pulled me to him.

“Y/N, I love you, but we both know that there will alway still be some love for Maeve in my heart. That doesn’t mean that you’re a rebound or that I’m using you as a way to replace Maeve, because I’m not. I love you. Everything we have together, is real.” He said and I looked up at him. I pulled him down for a kiss and put all the love I have for this man in it. We pulled away and we were both smiling. I was on the phone calling the team to get everything ready.

“Let’s get your Mom back.” I whispered and he nodded. Spencer Walked back inside and Cat was sitting down playing with his watch again.

“Guess that’s one way to get you to put your hands on me.” She said.

“Dance with me.” He said and she looked up at him.

“Why?” She asked.

“Because I don’t want the people watching us to hear what I’m going to say next.” He said and offered her his hand. They started dancing.

“You guys got this up?” I asked.

“Streaming now.” Garcia said.

“Okay, uh, listen, you’re gonna hear a lot of weird stuff, like Spence saying he is the Father of Cat’s baby. Don’t let that distract you.” I said.

“I’m sorry. Full stop. Why would he say he’s the Father-”

“Quiet.” Emily said cutting Garcia off.

“You had eyes on me while I was in prison, didn’t you?” Spencer asked.

“Spencie, don’t ruin the moment.” Cat said.

“I don’t want to, but I’m on the clock. Answer my question. Am I right?” He asked.

“Yes, you’re right. I wanted to make sure things were just as uncomfortable for you as they were for me.” She answered.

“That’s what we missed, the inside man that’s been helping them.” Luke said.

“He didn’t just work at Cat’s prison, he worked at hers and Reid’s.” Rossi said.

“Garcia, look for any overlap.” Emily said.

“Compiling now.” Garcia said.

“Here’s something. Lionel Wilkins. He worked at both Mount Pleasant and The Millburn Correctional Facility.” She said.

“Okay look, this guy could have gotten her pregnant, but there’s no way he could have gotten his hand on Reid’s file.” JJ said.

“Well, not directly. He could have called in a favor from a friend at the bureau.” Walker said.

“So someone must have wanted to screw us this whole time.” Tara said.

“Someone who’s not gonna work for the bureau much longer.” Emily said.

“That’s how you timed everything so perfectly. Like sending my Mom and Lindsey to visit me when I thought was at my lowest.” He said.

“Thought? You sure you weren’t?” She asked.

“No, I wasn’t. Because I didn’t feel bad. I felt scared. At how much I enjoyed poisoning the other prisoners. I had a hundred ways of getting myself out of that situation, and I picked the one that would cause them the most pain.” He said.

“Well, look at that. You might end up saving your Mother’s life after all.” She said.

“Okay, Lionel Wilkins’ primary residence is in Fall Church, but I also have a second address. Uh, it’s a cabin off of the Rappahannock River.” Garcia said.

“Well the cabin is in Lindsey’s zone based on the gas station.” Walker said.

“Helos are on the roof warming up. Let’s go.” Emily said and hung up.

“They won’t get there in time. They must be on their way, right?” Cat asked.

“Your team is too good to wait around, but, you know me. I always have a contingency plan. So, they’re walking into a trap. And the only way out is if you give me your phone and your guess, right now.” She said. Spencer handed her his phone and she sat down.

“When we first sat down, you said you were going to show me what kind of man I am. And you have.” He said, sitting on the corner of the table.

“Every time I touch this, you’re getting warmer.” Cat said.Garcia was calling Emily to facetime her so she could show Lindsey everything.

“At first I was furious, because the secret had to be the baby inside you. How could it be anything else? But then I realized that somehow, you knew I liked hurting those men. But now I know it’s both things.” Spencer said.

“So which is it, Spence? Come on. Don’t fumble it now. You’re at the one-yard line.” Cat said.

“You’re not pregnant with my child. You got pregnant with Wilkins to put me in as compromised a position as possible. But it should be mine. I wish it were mine. Because you and I… We deserve each other. That is the real secret.” He said and she pressed the call button.

“Kill her.” Cat said.

“Lindsey, I said-” She said getting up, but stopped talking. Cat looked at the camera and glared slightly.

“Lindsey, sweetheart, it’s complicated, okay?” She said.

“Y/N, we got her.” Emily said.

“We’re clear.” I said walking into the room and Cat hung up. Spencer took his phone and turned back to me.

“Is my Mom okay?” He asked.

“Yeah, she’s fine.” I answered with a smile.

“We do deserve each other, by the way. You guessed right.” Cat said sitting back down.

“You lied, by the way. You were going to kill my Mother regardless.” He said.

“Yeah, I think you really liked hurting those men. And once you cross that line, you can’t ever go back.” She said. Spencer walked over to her and grabbed her arm. He took his watch back and looked her right in the eyes.

“Watch me.” He whispered and we left. We went back to the office and Spencer was so excited to see his mother again. We walked out of the elevator and the team with his Mother, she looked uncomfortable.

“Spencer’s here.” Emily whispered. Diana looked over at him and they both went to hug each other.

“Hi, Mom.” He said holding her close.

“Don’t leave me. Every again.” She pulled away to say.

“I won’t.” He said and I smiled at them. They pulled apart again and Spencer smiled at me.

“Y/N! You should come visit more.” His Mother said and came to hug me. I hugged her back and laughed slightly.

“I will, I promise.” I said. We pulled apart and we went back to his apartment. Everything was going to be okay.

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#Criminal Minds #criminal minds imagine #criminal minds season 12 #spencer reid #spencer reid imagine #spencer x reader #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x you #spencer x fem!reader #spencer reid x fem!reader #fanfic #request

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imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl · 4 years

Text

Dangerous Love (Pt. 12 of 13)

Pairing: Bruce Wayne (Batman) X Harley Quinn's sister!Reader

Word count: 2.8 K

Summary: You're Harley Quinn's sister, Havoc, one of the many villain's of Gotham. But you've been caught, and has been tortured constantly for an year in Belle Reve. But when your think your life can't be anything else than the nightmare you find yourself into, Bruce Wayne, the Batman, takes you in for a project. He has a program to rehabilitate villains, and you're his lab rat. But soon enough confusing feelings start getting in the way. You know falling for Bruce is stupid. But can you keep your heart under control?

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{Justice League - DC Masterlist}

So The Whole World Knows

Bruce loves you. It's the first thing that comes to your mind when you wake up. You talked for hours, until late at night, and Bruce told you exactly when he started falling for you. It was on the day he went to Belle Reve to take in your papers. That was the first time he saw you, through the camera they had in your cell. You remember that day because the lights were turned on for fifteen minutes or so. But you would never guess it was for Bruce to see you. From that moment on, Bruce told you, he felt something change inside him. He also tried to push it back, ignore it, misread it. But he knew he had to help you.

It got a little messy when it was your time to speak. You stuttered like an idiot, struggling to find the right words to express yourself. Bruce did seem to find it a little funny, so you playfully slapped him a couple of times. But in the end, the three words finally came out, from your lips and from his. Bruce is dead serious about your relationship, and this time he told you with all the words. He assured and reassured you this is not just a fling or a crush. He wants what you have to be serious, solid. And you want the same.

Smiling, you move closer to Bruce, felling as his chest rises and falls with his steady breath. “Morning, sweetheart.” He says.

“Hey...”

“It's a little late, I bet.” He turns his head to look at the digital clock by the nightstand on his side of the bed. “Almost ten.” He starts moving to get up and you let out a groan.

“Five more minutes. C'mon.”

“I'm taking you out today, remember?” He sits up, looking down at you. “So get up and get ready.”

He's way more excited about this than you are. But you get on with the morning routine. Shower, breakfast, and you have to add dressing up on something other than sweatpants and tank top. You have just two pairs of jeans to choose from and a few blouses. Bruce got them for you a while ago, but you never had any reason to use them. You have a pair of white sneakers too. When you're done, you do look different. Normal... These simple-looking clothes are expensive, you can tell. You've had your share of stolen high fashion clothes, so you know the difference between clothes that normal people can buy and the clothes Bruce Wayne has access to.

“Are you ready?” Bruce calls and you leave the bathroom. “You look–”

“It's just sneakers, jeans, and a purple blouse.” You cut him off, rolling your eyes at the smile that comes to his lips. “You look very handsome in this suit.” You can't help but say, trying not to look for so long and leading the way out of the bedroom.

Bruce rathers have his driver taking you, so he can stay on the back seat with you. Seeing the city after all this time, almost a year and a half if you count with the time you were in Belle Reve, feels different. Even more because you're in the daylight, not trying to hide, and not planning any kind of mischief. It's like seeing everything for the first time. Gotham has it's a beauty... at least here, the good part of the city.

When Bruce tells the driver to stop, your heart skips a beat. He gets out first, and you're frozen, suddenly aware of people walking up and down the street. “Let's go,” Bruce says in a soft tone after he opens the door for you.

“Let's go,” you repeat, more to yourself than to him.

And you're off the car, holding Bruce's hand as you walk at a slow pace. You get the feeling that people are staring. At you, at Bruce, and them at your holding hands. It's good to know that they don't seem to know who you are. Bruce takes you to a few stores so you can buy your own clothes. You resist a lot because you keep checking the price tags even though he told you not to. You stop by a restaurant to have lunch before you hit different stores. At some point you know you have more than you need right now, but he doesn't seem to see it that way.

“They don't recognize me,” you mutter as you pass by a small group of people.

“You're different. And not just because of the hair color.” He looks down at you, smiling.

Biting your lip, you hold back a smile too. As you look at the store's display, you slow down until you stop before a window. There's a necklace in a display, with three pink stones. Acting out of pure instinct, your eyes scan the store's entrance for cameras. Two. “I could steal it, you know.” You decide to tell Bruce, just to tease him. “One of those cameras is broken. And even if it wasn't, it never stopped me before.” You wink at him as he raises his eyebrow, starting to move again.

“Come.” He grabs your arm, pulling you inside the store.

“No,” you exclaim, trying to pull him back to the street. Which is useless. “Bruce, c'mon.”

“Ma'am. I'd like to see that piece you have on display. The necklace with the pink diamonds.”

“Diamonds?”

The woman does as he says, and seconds later she puts the piece on the desk before you. “This is a unique piece. The designer never makes the same piece twice. A true jewel.”

“It sounds super expensive.”

“Well, you can't expect to buy something unique for a low coast.” She says, even though you weren't talking to her. “Are you going to take it, Mr. Wayne?”

“Let's see.” Bruce takes the necklace from the display and moves to stand behind you. “Pin your hair up for me, please.” He asks when he notices that you won't move. Taking a deep breath, you do as he says, and Bruce puts the necklace around your neck, pulling you to stand before the mirror. “What do you think?”

The delicate stones looks beautiful, obviously, and you touch it with your fingertips. “I think it wasn't meant for someone like me,” you whisper.

“I think you're wrong. And it's you that makes the necklace look even more beautiful.” Bruce places a soft kiss on your shoulder before turning back to the woman. “I will take it.”

Unbelievable. “You shouldn't spoil me, Bruce Wayne,” you tell him when you're leaving the store.

“After everything you went through in that hell, I will spoil you... Just a little bit.”

“Well... I think we can go home now. Or do you want to take me somewhere else?”

“You will need a dress for today's gala.”

“What?” You stop walking again, turning to look at him. “What gala?”

“I have another dull party to attempt, and I thought it would be a good chance to introduce you to the city.” He says as if it's no big deal to take a wanted criminal to a high society party, where everyone will not only see but photograph you.

“Bruce, people will... Everyone will see that we're together... What will they–”

“Haven't you considered the possibility that I might want people to know we're together?”

“But...”

You don't even have the chance to think about what the hell you were going to say next because Bruce pulls you into a kiss. It's slow, as if you're weren't in the middle of the sidewalk of a very hectic street. But soon enough there's no one else. As you step closer, wrapping your arms around his neck, you deepen the kiss. The world fades away, and nothing else matters. And you feel like you can deal with the gala as long as you're with him.

• • •

As much as you love the silver dress Bruce gave you for your birthday, your back is still a little messed up. So your new dress, in a dark shade of blue, covers it. It's crazy how Bruce has to help you figure out what to do with your hair. Luckily, Diana is still here to intervene. She helps you make some waves and pin half of it up, to so it'll stay away from your face except for a few locks. You're worried sick about this gala thing as you go downstairs, and to the living room, where Bruce is waiting. He smiles when he sees you, and you blush and look down.

The short trip to the gala is silent because you're gathering the courage you'll need. When the car stops, you're taken aback by the countless photographers and journalists.

“Are you ready, my love?” Bruce asks, holding your hand. You nod, taking a deep breath. “I'll open the door for you and those flashes will be on your face. There will be questions, and probably a headline about Bruce Wayne's girlfriend tomorrow.”

“I know.” Nodding at him, you watch as he gets out. Bruce stops and waves for the cameras for a while before walking around the car and opening your door.

The world slows down as you step out, holding onto Bruce's arm, trying your best not to look more misplaced than you already do. “Just smile.” He whispers before placing a kiss on your cheek. And you do as he says, smiling and even waving a little. There are countless cameras flashing, microphones, and a lot of questions, so many you can't even understand most of them. Some want to know your name, why you showed up with Bruce Wayne if it's right to assume you're in a relationship. But since Bruce doesn't seem like he'll answer any of them, you keep your mouth shut. “Time to go in. Let them freak out about it.”

“Okay.” You let him guide you inside, a hand on the small of your back.

This gala takes place in a luxury hotel, and its main hall is sophisticatedly decorated. Everything seems terribly expensive and breakable, and the people seem to be stupidly rich. You even recognize some of them. Politicians, philanthropists, CEOs... You stole from some of these guys and here you are now, at the same party, as if you belong.

“Bruce...”

“What is it?” You stop by your table, and he pulls the chair for you to sit.

“What happens if only one person here recognizes me?” Would they call the police? Start running? Yelling? It would certainly be a mess, and the last thing you want is to ruin this. Bruce decided to bring you here so the city will see you, and to make a point to those women who still insist on trying to get him... And because he wanted your company. You can't even count how many times he told you that having you here would make this dull gala become something great... Bringing yourself to believe it it's still hard, but you're trying not to doubt him anymore. He has been proving that everything he says is true.

“They won't, my love. And even if they did... You're with me, remember? Nothing is going to happen to you.”

“Bruce Wayne.” A woman stops by, the same you saw some time ago from your window, hugging him in the garden. “So the rumors are true. You actually came with a girl.”

“Angela, this is (Y/N), my girlfriend.” He says, smiling as you reach out your hand to shake Angela's. There's a sting of anger in your chest, and for a moment you don't know why. But it must be jealousy, right? Bruce told you they're just old friends, but the image of the hug, and what you thought it meant back then floods your mind. But you bring back to memory everything Bruce said, and everything he has done.

“Nice to meet you, Angela. Bruce told me a lot about you.”

“Only the bad things, I hope.” She giggles and you offer her a smile. “You better be ready to see your face on every news channel tomorrow night. The woman who finally got into Bruce Wayne's heart.”

“I've been warned,” you say, exchanging a glance with Bruce.

“Well, take good care of him. He can be a little... Complicated.”

“You have no idea how.” Oh, if she only knew about his night job...

“I will leave you two. I still need to make my presence known to some very boring people.” With a last smile, she walks away.

“And I should do the same.” Bruce stands up.

“Okay.” You're starting to accept the fact that you'll have to sit here alone for a while when he reaches out his hand. “What?”

“Did you think I'd leave you here?” You take his hand and stand up, and he pulls you to his side. “I won't leave you alone.”

Biting your lip, you hold back a smile.

Now you get why Bruce finds these parties so dull. He walks around, meeting people, engaging in small conversations, complimenting random things... The difference now is that he's introducing you to every single one of them, as his girlfriend. Saying that they're surprised is a misunderstanding. They're perplexed because they don't seem to recognize you from any of the high society families of Gotham. Or from anywhere else.

As the night goes by, you feel the anxiety vanishing. You even give your opinion about some things. Politics, company administration, economy. It makes Bruce give you a proud smirk, that you'll make sure to tease him about later.

When the formal talk is over, and the music starts playing, Bruce takes you to the middle of the hall, and you dance among the rest of the people. The photographers are allowed in, but not the journalists. And it doesn't take much until some of them reach you, and the cameras start flashing.

“As soon as they get a few good shots, they'll leave,” Bruce reassures you.

“I'm alright. It doesn't bother me.” You have your eyes fixed on him, but you close them when your foreheads touch.

“There's something else I need them to get on camera. To make things one hundred percent clear.”

“What?”

Bruce closes the final distance between the two of you, capturing your lips on a soft, warm kiss. And it happens again, the rest of the world disappears. The flashes, the gossip... Nothing else matters.

• • •

“Bruce, I'm on TV,” you yell from the living room. “And not because I broke the law.”

He comes from the kitchen with a smile, handing you a bowl of ice cream before sitting beside you on the couch. “What are they saying?”

“The girl who came out of the blue stole Bruce Wayne's heart. The most wanted bachelor is now taken. Sorry, girls.” you add the last sentence, shrugging your shoulders. “Same thing that channel five.”

“I got calls. People asking for an interview with you.”

“Oh, no. They'll ask about my past. What the hell am I going to say?”

“You don't have to say anything. They don't have to know.” He gestures for you to move closer, and when you do, he pulls you so you're seated in between his legs, comfortably leaning against his chest. “Nothing else matters, remember? Just you and me.”

“Nothing else matters,” you repeat, closing your eyes for a moment to feel the soft kiss he places on your shoulder. “Life is good, you know? It's finally good.” Your mind floats back to your troubled past, when you had many things, expensive things, everything money could get. And how empty it was. Flash forward to today, here, in Bruce's arms, you finally feel complete, loved, like you found your place in the world without having to steal it, or put on a mask to conquer it.

“There's only one thing left, my love. Your freedom.”

Moving so you can look at him, you sigh. “Even if I have to be here, not being allowed to go out there again, I'd still be happy, you know.”

“But I want you to have everything. To be free to go for a walk if you want, to make friends and hang out with them. Graduate and find a job you enjoy... All the things you never had.”

“Maybe it's more than I deserve.”

“You deserve it. More than those guards who torture you. They're criminals too, as were you.”

The simple fact that the said it in the past makes you smile. “I love you, Bruce.”

“I love you too.” You both focus on the news again, watching an entire show decided to talking about you. Countless photos and videos of Bruce come to the screen, and you can't help but look with admiration. You look good, despite seeming a little clueless in the beginning, but then you look almost normal, holding onto Bruce's arm. The gala was nice, and you felt a little special by being there, but the best part was coming home with Bruce and having the silly little things you have. Having dinner together, falling asleep together. Happiness isn't enough to describe it. You'll have to create a whole new word.

@fionanovasleftnut @glitterypinkkitty @mybabyboytony @chipster-21 @agustdpeach @yaakimoon2 @chloe-skywalker @rosalynshields

#bruce wayne imagine #imagine bruce wayne #bruce wayne x reader #bruce wayne x you #bruve wayne x y/n #imagine bruce #bruce imagine #bruce wayne fanfiction #bruce x reader #bruce x you #bruce x y/n #batman imagine #imagine batman #batman x reader #ben affleck batman #justice league imagine

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kaichan24 · 4 years

Text

Favorite Ballet AUs

1. Fondue. Male dancers are not supposed to dance en pointe. Yuuri knows that. Everyone knows that. But he can't help but want to. He wants to be graceful and beautiful and float across the stage. And if he can find the confidence to explain that to Viktor, Viktor might just be able to help.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8990779/chapters/20541793

2. Somebody Make Me Feel Alive and Shatter Me. Victor Nikiforov is the renowned Premier Danseur for the Mariinsky Ballet, but his life has turned into a meaningless round of practices and performances and public appearances. His emotional exhaustion is leading him toward and early retirement when Madame Baronovskaya, the severe Ballet Mistress, determines to produce an all-male production of the ballet Carmen. She naturally casts Victor as the wild Don Jose. Victor’s best friend Christophe Giacometti, one of europe’s premiere danseurs is brought in to dance the part of the Toreador. Victor eagerly anticipates a sharing a production with his friend, but looks forward with dread to the prospect of having to dance a passionate duet with a stranger when his own desire has shriveled within him. That is, until he meets the danseur brought in for the part of the male Carmen and falls hopelessly and instantly in love.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/18148781

3. Hilarion's Last Wish. Victor finally recognized that Yuuri hadn’t just started to dance without waiting for him. Yuuri had started to dance a pas de deux, performing half a dance with the expectation that Victor would catch up and join him, filling in the empty space Yuuri was leaving for him.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8437213

4. croisés, écartés, entrelacés. St. Petersburg, the early 1900s. Yuuri has left everything behind to follow his dream and Victor is the city’s darling. Both danseurs at Mariinsky theatre, their paths continually intertwine as they are fated to meet again and again. However, as love blooms, looming shadows of war lie in wait.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12534796/chapters/28544700

5. When I am lost, On broken streets. Victor is losing his love for dance as he feels suppressed under his director's hard rules and with his dance partner Diana moving closer to retirement with out anyone to fill her place. A video of a pair of young dancers doing one of Victor and Diana's pieces emerges and has Victor intrigued. Mesmerised by the ballerina Victor goes to see him in the lead for Sleeping Beauty.It's a night that changes both of their lives.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20763008/chapters/49336853

6. A Ticket to the Ballet. Victor grew up to think that he always had to deal with all his troubles on his own. He never asked himself why he was doing something and he never thought of himself as lonely, but one day there he was – wondering what was the point of it all. And along came Yuuri Katsuki – one of the best ballet dancers the world has ever seen.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21554881/chapters/51386977

7. you forgot this. Viktor spends the Nutcracker season pining after one Katsuki Yuuri. From afar.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12883989

8. premier dans mon coeur. Viktor, long-reigning champion of figure skating. Yuuri, premier danseur of the Bolshoi ballet.

(And Yuri Plisetsky, the up-and-comer who somehow drags them together in St. Petersburg).

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9411251/chapters/21305573

9. Adagio. As promised, Viktor choreographs a short program for Yuri’s senior debut. However, when Yuri just doesn’t seem to get the meaning of Agape, Yakov enlists the help of Lilia, who brings with her, her prodigy student, who Viktor can’t take his eyes off.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8527243/chapters/19546594

10. pick lilacs for the passing time. In which the outlandish prodigy Victor Nikiforov hits Yuuri’s life like a whirlwind after he transfers to a prestigious ballet conservatory in Moscow, two grumpy teenagers learn to be friends, and Mila’s Straight Girl CrushTM might not be so straight after all.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9055756/chapters/20601349

11. Attitude or Arabesque. alternatively, Yuuri follows his dream of becoming a danseur, but life decided to screw with him by adding his long-time idol into the mix of weird school faculty

https://archiveofourown.org/works/10989501/chapters/24475152

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letterboxd · 3 years

Photo

The Eyes of TIFF.

Programmers for the 46th Toronto International Film Festival chat about the degrees of intensity they look for in a festival film, and help us zoom in on the gems from TIFF’s 2021 program, by genre and region.

“Intensity can be achieved in so many different ways. I know it when I feel it. You feel it in your gut.” —Cameron Bailey

It’s almost business as usual for TIFF this year. In-person events and red carpets return, but a healthy virtual program is also available for Canadian-based folk unable to travel, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues its onslaught.

TIFF co-head and artistic director Cameron Bailey has been with the festival for just over half its life, and says while some of the technology has changed in that time—“you’re no longer sitting in front of a TV monitor with VHS tapes… or waiting for 35mm prints to be spooled up and projected for you”—the “basic process of falling in love with movies” has not.

It’s a challenge, Bailey says, to winnow down the films he falls in love with for the final TIFF lineup. And even then, it is an annual challenge for film lovers tight on time to narrow down their own selections. So, ahead of the fest, Bailey joined fellow TIFF programmers for a Twitter Spaces conversation with our editor in chief Gemma Gracewood, in order to help Letterboxd members make some watchlist decisions.

Joining Bailey were Thom Powers (TIFF Docs), Peter Kuplowsky (Midnight Madness), Robyn Citizen (senior programming manager), Diana Sanchez (Special Presentations, Spain, Latin America, Portugal and the Caribbean), Diana Cadavid (International Cinema) and Nataleah Hunter-Young (Africa, “the Middle East” and the Black Diaspora).

Edited highlights of the conversation follow, so have your watchlists close at hand.

‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’, written by Abe Sylvia and directed by Michael Showalter.

Thank you all for joining me today. You watch a lot of films as you’re going through the selection process. How does one make itself stand out to you? Cameron Bailey: For every programmer it’s going to be something different. For me, it comes down to an intangible quality of intensity. That can be emotional intensity, it can be the intensity of formal elements, the cinematography, the performances, the writing. Some sense of concentrated emotion and momentum, where you get the sense that a filmmaker is trying to find a way to distill the essence of what they’re trying to do and communicate it to an audience through all of the tools that cinema provides. That doesn’t mean the movie has to be fast-paced or have a lot of dramatic jolts, as intensity can be achieved in so many different ways. I know it when I feel it. You feel it in your gut.

What would you say are some of the performances that have struck you the most this year? CB: Jessica Chastain is the lead in a film we’re premiering called The Eyes of Tammy Faye, directed by Michael Showalter. If you were watching TV in the ’80s and ’90s, you will remember Tammy Faye Bakker, and her husband, Jim Bakker, who were TV televangelists. You couldn’t miss Tammy, as she had these giant eyes and makeup with giant eyelashes, and this is essentially her story. It’s hard to know at first that it’s Jessica Chastain underneath all of that makeup, but she gives a performance that’s not just about the exterior. It’s about a woman who is shaped by a difficult upbringing, shaped by this incredibly deep need she has for affirmation, to be on TV, to be in front of the camera, and that guides her decisions into extremes. She’s fantastic in it.

Benedict Cumberbatch is back with two films. He is the lead in Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog. It’s an understated, slow-burn performance in some ways, which he can do so well. He’s also in a film that’s on the opposite end of the dramatic spectrum, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. It’s based on a real person, and when you watch the film you will be amazed that this person actually existed. Wain, in the early part of the twentieth century, was a prodigious painter who turned his talent towards painting thousands of cats. Cute cats, big eyed cats, fuzzy, adorable cats. He’s largely responsible for cats becoming as big as they are as domesticated pets. It’s a wild story.

I’m still recovering from watching The Power of the Dog’s trailer earlier today, and had to promise myself that I wouldn’t take up this entire time talking about Jane Campion’s obsession with hands. The Spencer trailer dropped as well, which has a lot of buzz around it. CB: Yes, Spencer is a remarkable portrait. Some of us remember Princess Diana, some of us have watched The Crown, and so have a very recent image, but this is a completely different performance that Kristen Stewart gives. She’s remarkable in it. I think everybody’s going to want to see this film.

‘Charlotte’, written by David Bezmozgis and Erik Rutherford, directed by Tahir Rana and Éric Warin.

Are there any other titles you’d like to get the buzz started for, Cameron? CB: On the animation side, I would say people should look out for a film called Charlotte, by Tahir Rana and Éric Warin. It’s a Canadian film telling a story based in World War II Europe about a woman in a Jewish family [exiled] in France during the occupation of France by the Nazis. She can feel what is coming. She decides to paint everything about her life, and her family’s life, trying to document what she feels is going to be very fragile, and what she might lose altogether.

As it turns out, before the end of the war she was taken away to a death camp by the Nazi regime, and she didn’t survive, but her paintings have survived and they were turned into a book, along with the story of her family. The animation is just gorgeous. I think that’s one that awards bodies are going to be paying attention to. It’s one of the best animated films I’ve seen in quite a while.

Thom, what are some of the documentary titles that you and the team think those awards bodies will have their eyes on? Thom Powers: A big one to pay attention to is The Rescue, by Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, who won the Oscar for their last film, Free Solo. Their new film is looking at the Thai cave rescue [in 2018], when a group of young soccer players and their coach got trapped by monsoon floods in a cave. When we were watching the news, we were seeing the journalists reporting from outside the cave. What this film does is bring you inside that rescue using footage that’s never been seen before. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin are masters at the documentary adventure genre, and also [at] bringing a real human side to the people involved, which they do again here.

I’ll also mention Becoming Cousteau, by Liz Garbus, and Julia, a film about Julia Child, directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West, who made the Oscar-nominated documentary RBG a few years ago. So many of us during the pandemic had to rediscover ourselves in the kitchen, and Julia Child’s life was about making people feel more comfortable in the kitchen, which makes it a terrific film to watch at this time.

‘Saloum’, directed by Jean Luc Herbulot.

Peter, what’s a movie from this year’s Midnight Madness lineup you’d love to recommend? Peter Kuplowsky: We’ve got a lot of firsts at Midnight this year. We have Saloum, the first time a West African film has ever been in Midnight. We’ve also got Zalava, which is the first Iranian film to play in Midnight. Our opening film for Midnight Madness is Julia Ducournau’s Titane, which is playing at the Princess of Wales theater, and will be a spectacle to behold. When I’m looking for Midnight Madness, I like hearing the audience make certain noises in the room, whether that’s a gasp or screams or laughter. I feel that every note on the scale is going to be played during Titane by the audience.

Brilliant. Now, we’re going to bring in some audience questions. First up is Vincent, who says that one of their favorite films is Georges Franju’s Eyes Without a Face, and asks if there are any films in this year’s TIFF lineup you could recommend for a fan of that film? PK: I’ve really been encouraging people to check out the films I just mentioned, Zalava and Saloum, and I think Zalava especially would fit here, as it’s more of a horror-drama. It begins as something that is steeped in the supernatural, but as it escalates it becomes something of a pitch-black comedy while still maintaining a gravitas to it. I think it’s one of the most fascinating discoveries in the genre space this year.

CB: I’d also add Good Madam, by Jenna Bass, from South Africa. It is a chilling movie, with a bit of an Eyes Without a Face vibe. If you like that sort of approach to cinema, I think you’ll like that.

PK: Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash just won the Golden Leopard at Locarno. With a title like that, this is a film that feels like it’s going to be sort of a strictly pulp crime film, but it’s so much more. It’s deeply romantic, incredibly eclectic, and beautifully shot on 16mm film. It feels like a film that was hidden away, shot in the late ’70s or early ’80s. It’s a throwback to 1980s Hong Kong action films, while also, I can’t stress this enough, being one of the most romantic films in the festival. You’ll fall in love with this relationship while it’s also working in fight sequences and magical realism.

Nataleah, what’s something you would recommend from your TIFF selections from Africa, “the Middle East” and the Black Diaspora? Nataleah Hunter-Young: One I’d highly recommend is Costa Brava, directed by Mounia Akl, from Lebanon. Even amidst what’s going on in Lebanon right now, the film offers a beautiful and engrossing portrait of a family that includes a grandmother who’s a non-actor, but has impeccable comedic timing (that travels through the subtitles if you don’t speak Arabic).

‘Snakehead’, written and directed by Evan Leong.

Robyn, what’s a movie that surprised you most during your selections this year? Robyn Citizen: I always recommend that people check out our Discovery section because that’s where we find new talent and nurture new voices. The film that really surprised me this year was Snakehead, by Evan Jackson Leong. Some people will know him from a documentary called Linsanity, and he did another documentary about evangelism in Korea. Snakehead has been a ten-year labor of love for him. He had to do a Kickstarter for the film, which is loosely based on the life of a woman named Sister Ping, who had a human trafficking ring that was the biggest trafficking ring for about 20 years.

The film tackles what’s going on now with vulnerable populations being trafficked into America, in particular Chinatown in the US, and the main character, played by Shuya Chang, has to fight to find her daughter. It’s an exciting film, and very moving. It’s extremely tightly edited, and it looks fantastic.

We’ve got our next question here from a member who says their favorite genre is science-fiction. While Dune is at the top of their watchlist, are there any other sci-fi selections you could recommend? PK: I would recommend After Blue (Dirty Paradise), which is a perverse science-fiction by Bertrand Mandico. It reminds me a lot of the French animated film Fantastic Planet. This one is about a planet which is inhospitable to men because of the way hair grows. The plot follows a young teenage girl who accidentally unleashes a notorious criminal that she and her hairdresser mother have to stalk through the alien landscape that is full of bizarre creatures and liquids and gases. I feel it’s kind of like the inverse of Dune, and an opportunity to explore a bizarre ecosystem.

NHY: I would totally insist that this member see Neptune Frost, from Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman. It’s a difficult film to put into words, but I’ve been summing it up by calling it an Afro-sonic sci-fi musical.

Whoa, that sounds like a whole new subgenre. NHY: That’s just the beginning. There’s a lot to experience in this film. It’s a cosmic romance that follows an intersex hacker and a coltan miner who make their way to this kind of dream space where they connect with others as they travel through these lush mountainous regions of Rwanda and Burundi. It’s a beautiful anti-narrative that is impeccably colored and totally consuming. It’s a must-see for anybody who loves cinema.

Diana, what would you say is the best debut feature that you’ve seen among this year’s international selections? Diana Cadavid: There are so many wonderful new talents, but I think I’ll go with an Argentinian filmmaker named Agustina San Martín. Her film, To Kill the Beast, is a co-production between Argentina, Brazil and Chile, and she worked for nine years to put this all together. She started working on it when she was 21, and we were actually having a conversation yesterday about her process, and how it’s a film that deals with the growth of a woman, and female desire. There’s this idea of the beast, something that’s either from inside or from outside forces, trying to control the human mind and body. It’s a very interesting film, gorgeously shot and very atmospheric.

‘Yuni’, written by Prima Rusdi and Kamila Andini, directed by Andini.

We’ve got another question here from David, who says their favorite films are humanistic dramas, citing Hirokazu Kore-eda as one of their favorite directors. Would anybody have any recommendations for David? CB: I can recommend at least one film, called Yuni, an Indonesian film from Kamila Andini. This is a naturalist drama about a high-school girl who is one of the top students in her class, and has a great group of friends. We slowly begin to see that her life is being constrained by one man after another, and then something happens at school, which begins to narrow her possibilities for her future. She’s trying to figure out things like sexuality and romance and what she wants to do with her future, and all of these obstacles keep getting placed in her path. It’s told in a very gentle way, but very incisive as well. Each scene really matters, taking you deeper inside this girl’s life.

RC: Our senior programmer Giovanna Fulvi programmed a film called Aloners, a South Korean film by Hong Sung-eun. This is her first feature, and it’s very much a film of our time. It is about a woman who works in the gig economy at a credit-card customer-service call center. It’s a very transient existence. She doesn’t talk to anybody, she eats by herself, she doesn’t really want to associate with the people in her apartment building. One day, one of her neighbors who has tried to talk to her many times passes away, and she has to re-interrogate the way that she’s been living her life, and figure out if it’s worth starting to form some human connections.

Next up is a question from Matt Neglia, from the Next Best Picture podcast. Matt says that he’s a massive fan of epics, whether they’re three hours long or just telling an expansive story with lots of world-building. Apart from Dune, are there any other films in the lineup that you would describe as epic? CB: While Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World might not strike you on reading its synopsis as an epic, I think it actually is an emotional epic. It’s the story of a young woman who’s trying to figure out her life. Her romance with one boyfriend doesn’t quite fit the bill for her, and she begins this looking and exploring. Trier and his writer and lead actor do remarkable work, blowing open the idea of a person trying to define who they are at this turning point in their life. They make these stakes massive and they have all kinds of interesting, innovative, formal elements in [the film] as well. It’s incredibly cinematic. If you’ve seen Joachim Trier’s other films, this is kind of the conclusion of a trilogy that he’s made.

‘Listening to Kenny G’, directed by Penny Lane.

Next up, we have Sarah, who is looking for movies about music, and also some body horror. CB: We’ve got a number of great music docs this year. I have to mention Dionne Warwick, the queen of Twitter, who is the subject of Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over. It tells the story of this incredibly talented, determined and glamorous musician who broke so many barriers. She toured in the south during the Jim Crow era, making gains as a Black woman in the music industry and in the pop-music industry, not the so-called race-record or Black-music industry, which simply wasn’t done at the time. This documentary tells that story, and also shows her later work in the ’80s contributing to the fight against stigma and hysteria during the AIDS crisis.

PK: I’ll follow up Cameron by mentioning the Alanis Morissette film Jagged. We’ve also got a film about the great jazz pianist, Oscar Peterson, called Oscar Peterson: Black + White. Lastly, there’s a film about Kenny G, called Listening to Kenny G.

Diana Sanchez: For the body horror, I’d like to mention the debut film by Ruth Paxton, titled A Banquet. It’s about a young woman who insists her body is no longer her own, and is a service to a higher power. Her mother has no idea what to think. She stops eating, and her mother doesn’t know [whether] to believe her or not. I love Ruth Paxton’s work, the way she shoots the film, the way she shoots the food. It’s almost, as she refers to it, pornographic. It looks delicious and gross all at the same time.

I’d also like to flip to comedy quickly to mention Official Competition. The film stars Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martínez. Cruz plays a filmmaker who puts together a well-known theater actor and a well-known box-office glamor guy, played by Banderas. The film speaks to the tension between high art and more popular art, testing those boundaries. It’s incredibly funny.

We’d love to squeeze a few more films out of everyone for our watchlists. Could you each recommend one film and try to sell it in ten words or less? CB: Let me try. Sundown, by Michel Franco. Tim Roth falls apart beautifully in Mexico.

TP: I’m going to go with the Mexican documentary, Comala. Filmmaker Gian Cassini explores the legacy of his father, who was a Tijuana hitman.

PK: I’ll go with Saloum, which is basically From Dusk Till Dawn in West Africa.

RC: I’m going to say The Wheel, a movie by Steve Pink. If you like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, this is like that with a younger couple in a much more humane, intimate key.

DS: I’ll say I’m Your Man, a sci-fi where Maren Eggert dates a robotic Dan Stevens.

PK: I know Diana has been recommending a film called OUT OF SYNC, about an artist who begins to experience the sound of the world going out of sync. She starts hearing sounds from the past because people and things are out of sync with their surroundings.

NHY: I’ll go with The Gravedigger’s Wife, directed by Khadar Ahmed. It showcases the horn of Africa unlike you’ve ever seen it on screen.

Finally, for Cameron: with fall coming, what is the best TIFF 2021 movie to watch under a blanket, either because it’s cozy or because you’re terrified, or both? CB: Great question, which gives me a chance to talk about Earwig, the new film by Lucile Hadžihalilović. If you’ve seen Innocence or Evolution, her two most recent films, you’re prepared in terms of tone, but you’ve not even seen Lucille make a film quite like this. It’s eerie, disturbing, hypnotic, mesmerizing. You can’t stop watching, but you’re always afraid that something awful and horrifying is about to happen… and maybe it might.

‘Night Raiders’, written and directed by Danis Goulet.

To bring it all back home, what would you say is the Canadian film of 2021? CB: It’s always hard to say, but I think in a year where we have Danis Goulet’s feature Night Raiders, that’s got to be the one. Danis has made some exceptional short films over the last few years that people might know. Her feature takes on the horrific, devastating story of residential schools and children torn from Indigenous families and put in institutions where the goal was to erase their Indigenous identity. She takes that terrible, real history that we’re grappling with right now in Canada, and turns it into a piece of speculative fiction, a kind of propulsive thriller.

By turning it into fiction rather than reality she can use all of the tools of cinema to tell a terrific story that’s exciting and has high stakes, but also has this deep resonance of a truth that we are, I hope, coming to terms with in this country.

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 9 to 18. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Follow TIFF on Letterboxd, and follow our Festiville HQ for regular festival updates.

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