#the first part was canon but the second two popped into my head after she said that | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thewisebyers · 10 months

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I Feel So Good if I Just Say the Word (R.B x Reader)

prompt: reader is in love with her best friend Robin and has a hard time saying it; based off Sussudio by Phil Collins, takes place in 1985 (only because Breakfast Club and No Jacket Required came out that year, no canon events happen) warning(s): internalized homophobia, a little angsty but happy ending, not proof-read, not edited so let me know if there’s any errors requested?: no but this song screams Robin and i needed to write for my girl word count: 1.9k

There's a girl that's been on my mind All the time Sussusudio

"Put on something" Robin pleaded from the plush bean bag chairs you had set up down in your basement. You were trying to pick out the perfect movie to watch with your best friend but you were having a hard time choosing between two movies. Breakfast Club or Carrie? Breakfast Club was newer; only coming out earlier that year but Carrie was one of your favorites. You always rooted for Carrie; the poor girl was just trying to survive high school. You knew what that was like all too well and maybe that was why you resonated with Carrie a little too much. You just wished you were normal; instead you questioned who you were and why you didn't like boys like the other girls in your class. You'd pretend to check out Billy's butt like the other girls in your class but you didn't get the appeal; boys' butts were usually flatter than a pancake.

"Breakfast Club or Carrie?" you turned toward your friend holding each tape beside your head to show her her limited options. She scrunched her nose but pointed to Breakfast Club, you were a bit disappointed but popped the VHS into the player anyway. After pressing play, you quickly make your way back next to your friend. She hands you the bowl of fresh popped popcorn you had finished preparing on the stove before she had arrived for your weekly movie marathon. Marathon was pushing it; the two of you watched about one and a half movies before talking over the rest of the second movie and then forgetting about the TV completely. "Did you see how short Faith Gilmore cut her bangs?" Robin started; not even five minutes into the movie. You giggled at the memory; Faith walking into third period with part of her bangs sticking up because they just wouldn't flatten correctly.

Before you knew it; the two of you were absorbed in each other, forgetting the movie entirely. You listened as she rambled about a test she surely flunked because she forgot to study. You scowled her because you had spent the night together and she had never mentioned a test; you would have made her study instead of gossiping over magazines and gushing about the new Phil Collins album that had been out for a few months now. Robin didn't understand your obsession with the album but you found yourself rewinding the first song over and over again on your cassette player. She makes me nervous and makes me scared.

Her smile lit up her entire her face and you swore you could get lost counting the freckles on her freckle splattered face; your heart ached in a way that you wished it wouldn't. You weren't supposed to feel this way; not about girls. Not about your best friend. Her body was turned towards yours; blanketed knees touching, fabric getting in the way of physical contact. You felt your cheeks grow warm at the thought of entangling your legs in hers and rubbing the soft skin of her thigh. Your body suddenly felt too warm and you had to fling the blanket off of you but in the process you accidentally knock the popcorn off of your lap. "Shit," you curse as popcorn flies everywhere.

Robin raises an eyebrow. "Okay, spaz, what was that about?" she questions while picking popcorn off of her lap. She had a few pieces in her hair and you cursed yourself again for being such an idiot. Your face burned as you frantically began picking up the popcorn; you didn't answer her, refusing to look at her. How could you explain yourself? Sorry I got too deep in thought about how adorable your smile is. No, never. You knew Robin liked girls as well; you had been best friends for so long and she had confided in you were she was struggling with her feelings. You didn't say anything at the time but her telling you about her sexuality had made you realize your own. When Robin said she liked girls it was like something had clicked in your brain and suddenly you were seeing girls in that way. "Okay," Robin says slowly, stretching out the word, after you didn't answer; putting an emphasizing the 'o'.

She begins to pick up popcorn which makes you feel worse for some reason; like you shouldn't have ruined the mood to begin with. Like you shouldn't have a crush on your best friend. Your hands begin to shake and before you can stop yourself; a stream of tears begins running down your face. "Hey! Whoa!" Robin exclaims once she notices the tears and sniffles; she throws the popcorn she had been collecting back on the ground before moving over to you and grabbing your shoulders. "I was just kidding. Are you okay? It's really no big deal. It's just pop-"

"It's not that," you cut her off; you felt raw and exposed like you shouldn't be crying right now. You really shouldn't be crying right now but sobs shook your body as you look down at the half-empty bowl in your lap. You couldn't look at her and you needed a moment. "Excuse me," you said quickly, getting up and running up the basement stairs. Robin didn't know if she should follow or finish help cleaning up the popcorn; she decided to do the latter figuring you needed a moment and she didn't want you to have to worry about the mess when you returned. But she'd be lying if she said she wasn't confused; what had happened to make you suddenly burst out like that? Were you okay?

Once the mess was cleaned up, Robin took the bowl full of floor popcorn and went upstairs to throw away the food and to also find you. She dumped the snack into the trashcan and put the empty bowl into the sink. "Y/N?" she called from the kitchen. She started making her way down the hall towards your bedroom; stopping to smile at your sixth grade that your mom kept hanging in the hallway. You hated it; your braces were very present and were basically the star of the show. You look beautiful, your mom had said but you just didn't believe her. It was Robin's favorite picture of you ever because she had been giving the cameraman bunny ears to try to get you to smile because you hated your braces. "Y/N?" she said again, knocking on your door. The room right at the end of the hall. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, in her sweet raspy voice.

The softness made you want to melt and your heart began to race again. Your face flushed when you realized there was no avoiding this-her. A sigh rumbled through your body as you sat against your door; your heart ached knowing Robin was on the other side, worried about you. You didn't know what to say, what to do. Maybe if you were so quiet she'd just disappear. But she wouldn't; she'd worry and wait the whole night if she had to. "Y/N?" she repeated; worry creeping in her voice. She tried to open to door but it was locked. "Y/N? Come on, what's going on? Are you okay?" She tried the door again; as if it would magically open for her if she tried enough times.

You quickly got up from your spot; standing in front of the locked door. "I'm in love with you," you finally blurted out, not being able to hold it in any longer. You instantly wished you could take the words back but now the air was thick with anticipation and anxiety. Your body shook as the silence was eating you alive; devouring you, leaving your stomach in knots. Tears begin pooling in your eyes again; panic taking over when you heard clicking noises coming from your lock. Was she trying to pick your lock? Oh my god she was trying to pick your lock. You quickly leaned your weight against the door as she tried to make her way into the room. "No! Don't!" But it was too late; it was like Robin had suddenly become the strongest person in the world because she was pushing her way in despite your best efforts.

You turn away from her once she's made her way into your room; you couldn't face her. You couldn’t look at her, you felt sick. You were ruining your friendship right then and there but you couldn't take it back. You couldn't get her out of your head; your only thoughts were her and her dorky smile and how she smelled like vanilla and old books despite you hardly seeing her reading anything besides a magazine or an assignment for school. "Look at me," she turns your body by placing her hands on your shoulders and forcing your face close to hers. "You don't have to say it again," she breathed, her cheeks glowing a shade of crimson. "I just-I love you too and I don't want you to think you can't tell me anything because- fuck! I've been in love with you since you moved to Hawkins!" she admitted, throwing her hands up in exaggeration. That was in third grade; when Dick Robertson kicked dirt in your face (because you were new and because he could) and Robin pushed him into the mud, telling him next time she'd push him in front of the tire swing. You didn't think she'd actually do and later on she admitted she wouldn't have but the two of you still laughed at the look on his face.

Your face burned at her admission; had she really liked your this entire time? Every sleepover? Every lingering glance that you thought maybe something was there. There had been something there; from both of you and you had never realized. Had she told you she liked girls because she wanted to know how you'd react? To know if you liked her too? Well you did; it just had taken you a painfully long time to fucking realize it. Had she really liked you this entire time and you didn't realize it? "Really?" you finally found your voice; quieter and softer than usual but it was all you could muster. She nodded; moving her hands to hold your face to look at her. Her eyes were the most beautiful shade of blue you had ever seen in your life and you knew you could get lost in them if you left yourself. You wanted to get lost in them; in her. As if reading you thought; her eyes flickered to your lips before closing the space between your lips.

She tasted like cherry chapstick, a peppermint she had been sucking on earlier, and the salty popcorn the two of you had been sharing before you spilt it everywhere. It was a beautiful combination that had your mind going completely blank as you kissed your best friend back. You had only ever imagined kissing Robin; wondering exactly what she tasted like and now you couldn't get enough. Your hands gripped the front of her t-shirt; as if she'd float away if you let go, you kissed over and over until you were both out of breath. "Weird way of getting out of watching Breakfast Club," she said once you were apart and she had caught her breath from your frenzied kissing. You just laughed; relief filling your body as your watched your friend with what you could only call heart-filled eyes. You pull her into another kiss before she can say anything else; happy to be honest with yourself and free to be with the girl you couldn't get off your mind.

#robin buckley #robin buckley imagine #robin buckley x reader #reader x robin buckley #robin buckley x y/n #robin buckley x yn #stranger things imagine #stranger things #thewisebyers #my work #yn x robin buckley

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velvet-vox · 21 days

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The paradoxical nature of Qilby: part 2

Going back to the end of the previous part where I declared Qilby an autism icon, it came to me the realisation that autism is really the only way to justify some of Qilby's actions and odd behaviour; as a big brother and autistic person myself I also would force the people I care about to engage in my interests, I understand on a subconscious level that what I am doing is wrong, but I just care about it so much that I need to share it with them at all costs.

(Even though I would never go as far as starting a war with another species just to force my race to go on a family trip with me).

And like, no offence to Yugo or the Elatrope council but it is my theory that all the Yugo haters have begun popping up due to some people head cannon that him and his family is inadvertently ableist, which (although I might agree considering their dynamic and who their mother is) I don't think it's completely warranted; as someone else pointed out if mental health and psycho analysis existed in the Krosmoz then Nox would have never come to be; if somebody explained what autism is to Yugo then maybe he would be more lenient on Qilby (or maybe not, after all he is his brother), Nora also doesn't know about autism but she is more accepting of Qilby's oddities even if she doesn't like them, and Qilby SURE AS HECK DOESN'T KNOW WHAT AUTISM IS.

Side note: Shinonome is not necessarily autistic, since my sister understands me perfectly and she isn't on the autism spectrum herself, but she clearly has inherited her more passive personality from her mother while Qilby has probably taken more from his father meaning that even if she was she probably wouldn't go about it in the boisterous manner of his twin.

However all of this is just a head canon and not the focus of this post. What I instead want to point out and analyse is the list-like approach of Qilby to anything and how that reflects the way many autistic people approach mostly every conflict in their life. Let me explain:

The way this list-like methodology works is entirely centered around a priority system, so basically Qilby schematizes in his head what he needs to do and say in which order and he has to follow it religiously in order to get anything done, so like on his to do list there is:

First: Confront Adamai and Grougal. Second: Get Rushu's army and alliance. Third: Confront Yugo and Phaeris and take them out. Fourth (interchangeable with third): Get the Dofus. Fifth: Go the Emrumb to get the children. And Sixth: Leave the planet.

And he has to do them in this order because this is the way that he has envisioned them.

This is also reflected in the way that he goes about science and space travel: he reaches a planet, discovers his species, analyses them, classifies them, compartmentalizes them, collects some, rinse and repeat in the next world.

And finally, I want to bring up his two most famous sentences of season 4 to showcase how this priority based thought process carries on to his speech pattern and family view.

"My dear Yugo, we are brothers, before being enemies"

See?

Qilby realises on his relationship list that Yugo is its enemy, but that before that he is its brother, that's what has the biggest priority for him in this moment and in general. But that's not even the most interesting part:

"Farewell Yugo. My brother, my king."

This phrase of course has been plastered all over the fanbase, but like.... did anybody ever think about how weird this sentence is? You would expect Qilby to say brother as his last word, as a final acceptance nod to the fact that deep down he does care about Yugo. But no. Instead he says:

"Good luck"(the situation's dramatic, so he's giving Yugo an encouragement as the first thing)

"My brother,"(Yugo is his demigod brother born from another Dofus)

"My king."(lastly, Yugo is also his king, as sentenced by Chibi in a previous life)

Qilby could have just called Yugo brother as his last word to show that he cares, but instead he decides to call him king, a title that means very little to him on their relationship chart, to show that he values him so much that he is going to use a term that means very little to him just to let Yugo know that he is willing to acknowledge the part of their brotherhood that he doesn't care about as a substitute acceptance nod to the aspect of their dynamic that he values the most.

<<<<Previous part

Oropo analysis

#wakfu yugo #wakfu season 2 #wakfu qilby #wakfu season 4 #wakfu adamai #wakfu grougaloragran #wakfu phaeris #wakfu shinonome #krosmoz #ankama #autism #autistic traits #autistic trauma #wakfu nora #wakfu nox #wakfu eliatrope #wakfu chibi #wakfu

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aliensunflower-fics · 1 year

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CHANGING FACES Chapter 3: Where Are We Going

[ Prefer to Read on Archive of Our Own? Link HERE! ]

[ Previous Chapter - Next Chapter ]

After years of dealing with each other Lila Rossi win's when she convinces Hawkmoth that Marinette is Ladybug. In order to throw off suspicion and keep the Miracle Box safe Marinette and her supportive parents leave Paris and head to Gotham of all places. In this new place away from her friends and her unhealthy routines Marinette is forced to confront herself and change for the better. Helping her on her journey is a surprising new friend and potential ally. When Alya missing her friend learns about the chance to win a free trip to Gotham she convinces the class to work hard to qualify. When her new life clashes with her old one will Marinette be able to hold on strong to her new confidence or will she crumble under the pressure?

( This fic will be for the most part comedic, fluffy, and sweet, with only a bit of seriousness to tie it together. With only the mildest salt because I don't think the class or Adrien are bad people just that they can be naive and selfish thanks to the canon writing. I hope you enjoy reading this work and have fun with me on this journey. )

CHAPTER 3:

Where Are We Going

Marinette felt tired. Not the kind or tired that could be slept off but something DEEPER. It was an exhaustion that seeped deep into her bones and left her feeling heavy. Her limbs felt like rocks and her fingers ached. Her mind begged for the sweet escape of dreamless sleep. Yet voices tickled the edge of her conscious mind slowly leading her back to the waking world. Whoever was talking was trying to be considerate of her, speaking in hushed tones with all the lights but a small table lamp off.

Blinking slowly, Marinette’s groggy mind took in the hideous pattern on the hotel's cheap curtains and the smell of cheap greasy takeout pizza somewhere in the room. Finally her ears seemed to pop and the whispered voices of her mother and father hit her brain causing her muscles to relax. They were here, they were all safe, as Marinette’s eyes drooped she smiled contently ready to let her mind drift away to the black seas of sleep once more. That is until she heard Tikki’s signature squeaky voice thanking ‘Tom’ for the sugar cookies. All at once Marinette felt wide awake and bolted upright, shocking everyone in the room into silence.

There on the other side of the hotel room sitting in the too small, too cheap wooden chairs eating cheap pizza and terrible store bought sugar cookies and holding a conversation like old friends was Marinette’s dear parents, her kwami and Trixx who looked like they were delighted by everything.

The silence stretched for a moment or two before Sabine sighed, shook her head and smiled warmly at her daughter.

“I think we have some things to talk about mon petite choux, but first why don’t you grab a bite to eat you must be hungry and its going to be a bit of a late night.”

At her mothers words Marinette felt her breath hitch as she swallowed down her panic, with a small nod she inched closer to the end of the bed nervously taking the offered slice of pepperoni pizza. It was lukewarm and greasy but biting into it felt like heaven as her body finally registered just how hungry she was, as usual her mother was right. For a while Marinette just ate her pizza with her parents while the Kwami nibbled on their provided cookies. It was strange and peaceful. As Marinette finished up her second slice and reached for her third the silence was finally broken again by her mother who seemed to know what she said while her father still languished in uncertainty.

“Marinette… We… We just want you to know. How proud of you we are.”

Marinette swallowed hard and looked away, unable to make eye contact with her family.

“H-How did you figure it out? Kwami can’t tell others who there chosen are a-and… I thought- at least Fu told me that magic was protecting my identity?” Marinette heard her father’s nervous throat clearing as Tikki swallowed down her cookie and hovered up to Marinette eye level.

“They figured it out earlier after you fell asleep, Marinette. I let them see me and told them who I was. It all seemed to fall into place after that.”

“But…Tikki WHY? T-The rules w-we cant just… Have… Have I not been a good enough Ladybug? Are you leaving?”

Tikki gasped in horror and flew over quickly soothing Marinette by hugging her face.

“No, no! My little bug it's nothing like that I… I decided you needed some help. Marinette you have been doing such a good job and you have been doing it all alone for so long. Master Fu was foolish to think anyone could or should carry such a heavy burden without support and we should have broken the rules a long time ago!”

Marinette nodded numbly trying to process Tikki’s words. She did not want to admit it but she’d been drowning for so long that as horrible as it felt to have her identity exposed as terrifying as it was to go against the rules she felt relief flooding her system as she exhaled a shaky breath.

“How much did you tell them?” At this her father let out an awkward cough and shifted in his far too small hotel chair trying to get comfortable.

“She told us a lot. Marinette sweetie… We're not mad. We could never be mad, you’ve been so strong and so brave, your mother is right, we are so proud of you.”

Marinette felt her face flush and her eyes burn as hot tears gathered in her burning tired eyes. She had never once become Ladybug for the praise or fame she had never expected or wanted it, and in fact she had many times resented being Ladybug hated the lies and the act she had to put on each and every day to keep others safe and to keep them out. But hearing her parents tell her how proud they were felt like a weight being lifted off her heart. A broken hiccup left her body and Marinette realized she was crying.

“M-Mom Dad… I’m- I'm so sorry! I n-never wanted to lie I-I had to I-I’m sorry im so so sorry.”

“Oh non! No no no my little one my sweet pastry!” Marinette felt the warm heavy arms of her father envelop her as he moved to the bed, the cheap mattress dipping under his weight causing her to fall into him. “You don’t need to apologize for anything.”

“Your friend Tikki told us about the rules the previous master put in place. She told us about everything you have been through. Our big strong girl. If anyone should be sorry it's us. We should have known it was you, even with magic guarding your identity how could we be so blind.”

Marinette sobbed harder at her mothers words, opening her arms to accept her mothers embrace as she cried harder.

“B-But I’m the reason Hawkmoth burned down our home! I’m the reason the bakery is gone! I-Its all my fault!”

Marinette felt her mother stiffen at her words and was shocked when her mother pulled back and grabbed her face firmly into her calloused hands forcing Marinette to stare into the fiery eyes of her mother.

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng none of this is your fault! That reject Disney villain has been tormenting Paris for years! He has killed people with his akumas and never once shown remorse or guilt for using even babies to achieve his goals! And you, our brave beautiful girl, you have saved people's lives over and over, you have given up hobbies, concerts, and your own peace of mind to be a hero. Your father and I are scared for you, were angry at Hawkmoth, we wish we knew sooner but angry? Never, not with you my beautiful little peanut.”

As her mothers words sunk in, Marinette felt a fresh wave of tears fill her eyes and she threw herself into her mothers arms while her fathers large warm hand rubbed circles into her back.

They let Marinette cry until she was done and had her breathing back under control at which point they gave her water and more food. While she drank and ate, a sudden thought hit Marinette.

“What are we going to do now?”

Tom and Sabine exchanged a look before nodding and smiling at each other. As Sabine got up to retrieve something from there meager belongings Tom beamed warmly at his daughter though Marinette did not miss the tired bags that hung under his eyes.

“Did we ever tell you about how we met my little choux bun?”

Marinette’s eyebrows creased together as she thought about it.

“You met… At college right? Dad was doing a baking course and mom was studying business. Mom had been working herself too hard and not eating so her blood sugar totally crashed and you found her half collapsed on a bench and offered her pastries right?”

Tom chuckled fondly at the memory and nodded.

“Yes, that's right. But do you know WHERE we met?”

“Where? … Dad, what do you mean? Wait… You didn’t meet in Paris?”

Sabine giggled at her daughter's shocked expression and sat next to her once more, opening the old family album that had been lucky to survive the fire in a fireproof safe. As she flipped through the pages Marinette took in all the familiar pictures of herself and her family, the bakery, and her childhood from her first time making cookies to her first tooth, but as they flipped to older pictures Marinette began to see more things she did not recognize. Her parents' marriage, a small private affair in some miscellaneous park. But then they flipped past even those going back to even younger images and Marinette realized quickly what her father was hinting at.

“These pictures… You guys met in… America?”

Sabine smiled warmly as she touched a picture of her and Tom’s first cake together. “We met in Gotham.”

Marinette sucked in a breath of air as her eyes widened. She looked between her parents' confusion and questions evident on her face. After a brief silence Sabine cleared her throat and flipped back to some older photos and began her tale.

“When I was little, your grandma had very big dreams for me. She wanted me to become a big shot business woman, make lots of money and take care of the whole family. She made me study endlessly and never cared about my own dreams and passions. Just like your great uncle I liked to cook but your grandma did not care. I worked hard and got accepted into an American college. I knew how dangerous Gotham was but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get far away from your grandma and your great uncle encouraged me. He told me I needed to free myself and learn what I wanted to do. The rest you know, I was studying so hard I never ate and then your dad found me.”

Marinette nodded slowly then looked at her dad curiously. He smiled and leaned over to flip the albums pages before pointing at a beautiful old building with a much younger Grandma Gina and Tom in front of it.

“As you know your Grandma Gina and Granpa Roland had a rocky marriage. Your grandma liked to go fast, and she liked to see the world and everything in it. Your grandpa thought moving that often wasn’t good for me so he refused to go, this made their relationship rocky, they were always fighting. Finally your god-father Alfred got in the middle, he suggested a compromise. A second home somewhere fun and exciting for Gina and we could spend our summers there. Grandma chose Gotham the same place Alfred lived and I spent my summers there growing up even after the divorce. So when it was time for me to go to college I decided I wanted to live in Gotham and attend the college baking course. And then I met your mother.”

Marinette mulled over the new information carefully taking in the photos carefully.

“How long did you and mom live there?”

Tom chuckled slightly and flipped through several pages until they landed on a photo Marinette had never seen before. She was a newborn baby in her mothers arms as her parents were posed in front of an old bakery. Marinette realized that it was the same building as the earlier picture with her grandma and her dad.

“I was… BORN THERE?” Marinette touched the image in awe and then felt a sting in her heart, “Why didn't you ever tell me? Why not talk about it? H-How did it never come up once when grandpa Alfred came to visit!?”

Sabine exchanged a look with Tom before she cleared her throat.

“We… Your father and I… We loved Gotham. It is a gloomy place with a lot of crime and problems but the people there are GOOD people. They protect their own, and they work hard to try and make their city better. It was the place where we met, the place we got married, and the place where we had you, our beautiful little girl. But…”

Marinette felt her stomach drop. “But?”

“It is dangerous there Marinette. And when you were still just a baby you and your mother got pulled into a bad attack, you both came out okay thanks to Batman but we realized then that our life wasn’t a safe one to raise a baby in.”

Sabine nodded gravely to her husband's words.

“Your father and I both knew how to defend ourselves. We even taught other people self defense on weekends at the local gym as volunteer work. But you were just a baby and we got scared about losing you. So we made the decision to abandon our lives in Gotham and come to Paris. We always told ourselves we’d go back to Gotham someday when you were older and until then we didn’t talk about it, not because we didn’t want to but because I wasn’t ready yet I got so scared remembering almost losing you and when we were finally ready to tell you and move back to Gotham you… Met Alya.”

Marinette blinked confused and furrowed her brows. “What does Alya have to do with this?”

“Well…” Sabine looked over at Tom who took over the conversation.

“You had been getting bullied by Chloe all those years. We were doing everything to get you out without pulling you from Dupont because we knew it was one of the best schools, but it wasn’t working. We saw how your confidence was dipping and how you were so unhappy so we thought that maybe it was time to make the move. You were 12 and knew how to defend yourself thanks to all your lessons with your mom and me. But then you came home from your first day of school and you were so happy.”

Sabine smiled fondly. “You had made a friend and you were talking about how excited you were, then you ran for your class president position and won and we saw how you were blooming and we could not take that away from you so we pushed Gotham aside.”

“But… But you both love it there?! Why would you do that why didn’t you tell me at least I-I don't understand-”

“We didn’t want you to make a decision for our sake.”

Marinette snapped her mouth shut, denial dying on her lips. She knew exactly what her parents were talking about. Since Lila had begun manipulating the class and having them ask more and more of her, Marinette had learned that she had a serious problem standing up for herself. If her parents had approached her wanting to move to Gotham when she was younger even with her Ladybug responsibilities she would have folded like a deck of cards and likely stretched herself thin trying to make everyone happy and do everything.

“We wanted you to have a choice about the move. And you have always been so caring and considerate of others and if you had known how much me and your father loved Gotham we knew you’d agree to move even if you didn’t want to. So we held off saying anything and we were just happy to see you become so confident and happy.” Sabine bit her lip and chewed at the loose skin. “Recently… We had seen how stressed you were becoming, and how your friends were treating you. Before all this happened we were planning on telling you again and asking you if maybe you’d like to move to Gotham, but now with everything… Well the conversation happened a bit sooner than we had planned. But what do you say Peanut? Wanna go on a new adventure and move to Gotham?”

Marinette nodded slowly and looked at Tikki and Trixx on the table who had been enjoying there cookies in relative silence the whole time.

“Tikki, what do YOU think?” At the name the small god blinked her antenna twitching.

“I think you need to be the one to decide Marinette this is your life, and you are our guardian. We trust you because you have always taken such good care of us all these years.”

Marinette flinched at Tikki’s words and dug her nails into her skin. She wanted to deny Tikki’s words but she knew the tiny god was speaking from the heart. Marinette often gave the kwami freedom, she talked with them, she was their friend and guardian and she valued them as people, something Tikki and the others had told her was rare so even though Marinette did not believe in herself she believed in the honesty behind Tikki’s words.

“I… I’ll need to use the horse Kwami Kaalki to travel back to Paris whenever an akuma happens.”

“That's not a problem, you have the same blood sugar problem as your mom so we can inform whatever new school you go to that you might need to leave class at times to take care of that.”

Marinette blinked, shocked at her dad's willingness to lie but then she snorted and smiled. It felt nice having someone to help her guard her secret identity.

“If Marinette leaves Paris Hawkmoth will stop suspecting me as Ladybug so that's a bonus, I’d be able to decompress after fights and let myself feel emotions without worrying about akumatization. I also won't have to worry about the bakery getting crushed by another toddler akuma.”

Tikki and her parents watched her in silence letting her talk herself through her thoughts and plan as she often did when processing her stress and fear.

“Gotham has some of the best schools, and I’d be living in Uncle Jagged city AND in grandpa Alfred’s city… But… But where will we live, how will we make money, and what about school and then there's Alya and everyone back home and what if Ladybug gets to Paris too late??”

Before Marinette could spiral further her mother took her hands and squeezed hard pulling Marinette out of her downward fall as she tools several deep breaths and focused on her mother who was guiding her through the breathing slowly.

“You don’t need to worry about all the details, Marinette. We still own the old bakery from the pictures, your father and I could never bring ourselves to sell it so we kept it. It will need a bit of paint and the Marinette touch but it's got good bones and it's a bigger building.”

“As for school, well… You may not know this but your godfather Alfred is the butler and in many ways the father and grandfather to a very rich and influential family He’s told us all about Gotham Academy and I know my beautiful incredible daughter will be a perfect fit.”

“Gotham Academy? Are you sure we can afford it? And don’t tell me your gonna have grandpa Alfred ask his employers for a favor! I don’t need or want the help of some rich people we don't know.”

Sabine laughed openly at Marinette's pouty face. “My daughter? Need a hand out? No, but Alfred has told us all about the scholarships there. You are as brilliant as you are talented even if it is a bit past the start of the school year I’m sure we can get you one and if not we will find another school that recognizes what a talent you are.”

Marinette’s cheeks flushed red at her mothers teasing proud words and she pulled nervously on her long dark hair as she bit her cheek and thought about it.

“What about… Alya and my friends? Moving it sounds so amazing, a fresh start, somewhere new, the ability to let myself feel, and the distance from Hawkmoth it all sounds incredible but… What if I lose everyone here?”

Tom squeezed his daughter's leg comfortingly and smiled at her warmly. “Do you think Alya and the others are the type of people who will just forget you?”

“... No… I trust Alya. It's… Someone else I don’t trust and I’m worried what that person will do.”

“You're talking about that Lila girl again aren't you?” Marinette nodded stiffly, leaning into her mother for comfort.

“If she hasn’t succeeded yet, then I don’t think you need to worry. BUT if she does succeed then painful as it may be you will learn who your real friends are, but what you need to decide now is where you trust Alya to be your friend even if you're across an ocean.”

Marinette took a moment to think, letting her mothers words hit her fully. Alya was her friend and despite all the damage Lila had done and all the problems shed created Marinette still cared about Alya and valued her friendship and she knew despite everything that Alya felt the same. They were bffs and for now Marinette was willing to trust in the bonds she’d made and believe that Alya would be there for her ocean or not.

Marinette took a deep breath and felt her heart and mind settle. She knew what was best now, for ladybug, for the kwami, for her family, for paris, but most importantly what would be best for herself and who she wanted to become moving forward.

Looking at her family, Marinette smiled warmly.

“Gotham, sounds perfect.”

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( I hope I’m releasing the chapters at a good steady pace and that you guys like it so far feedback and comments are always appreciated and thank you for your patience with my spelling and grammar english is not my first language! )

#daminette #salt fic #class salt #alya salt #alya sugar #alya redemption #adrien salt #lila rossi gets exposed #lila salt #lila bashing #class redemption #Marinette deserves better #BAMF Marinette #miraculous fanfic #marinette x damian #maribat #my fic #Changing Faces Fic

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cherrygorilla · 25 days

Text

Ice Pop 🍃

Aaaah, Happy Birthday, Danelle! I hope you're having a wonderful day! I honestly didn't think I'd be able to get anything done to celebrate this year with how busy I've been, and I felt terrible, but luckily being at home for the last week has given me some time on a night to whip a little something up. It's not the best, or the most exciting, but hopefully it can somewhat make up for my months of radiosilence, and bring you a little joy today. 🥰

Now, this can pretty much be considered a standalone AU one-shot, but it was supposed to be a section in the third part of ASDO - yes, I know I haven't even finished the second part yet, I'm working on it lol - however, due to changes in timelines and things, it's not going to be able to work like this anymore. Still, I wanted my idea for two certain characters meeting for the first time to have some sort of a home, even if it is no longer canon. And who knows? Maybe it'll help for their appearances in other stories haha. But yeah, if you're wondering about the context of the rehearsal it's centred around - that's what it's for 😂

Anyway, enough of my rambling! I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you have a great day however you end up celebrating! You're the best internet friend a girl could ask for, so you deserve it! Happy birthday, Danelle!! 🥳

"Ugh, she just gets prettier every time I see her."

As rubber sneaker soles met blistering asphalt, Vivien couldn't help but giggle. Swinging the door of the sky blue convertible shut, she turned to face Carrie, affectionately rolling her eyes as she saw where her gaze, and flattery was aimed. Proudly plastered across the side of Sound Stage 4 was a colossal banner advertising the newest season of Find Your Voice, decorated with the gigantic heads of eight of its core cast members. And off to the left hand side, beaming down the camera lens over the top of an advanced geometry textbook, was the very same blonde as the one standing there admiring it.

"And Miles wonders why he can't get Royce to stop calling you vain," Vivien sarcastically teased.

Reluctantly tearing her gaze from the studio's prime position billboard, Carrie settled the younger brunette with a contented smirk. "I don't care; it's true," she said, holding back a giggle of her own as she swung her car door shut. "And besides, a little self-love's healthy."

"A little?" Vivien snorted with a raised eyebrow.

Carrie didn't have a comeback for that one, instead just laughing along with the teenager as she locked up her Mustang and rounded the car to join her. Bidding the oversized version of herself a final goodbye with a proud grin and a mock salute, as a way of thanking her for her contributions to their show's ever-growing ratings, Carrie began leading Vivien out of the studio parking lot.

Jogging a few paces to match the blonde's brisk walking pace, Vivien soon returned to scanning her surroundings like she'd just set foot in Munchkinland after a tornado. By now she had thought she was somewhat familiar with the movie world her extended family lived in, or at least the portion by the beach where they all resided. But exploring the downtown area brought that same giddy novelty of her first visit flooding back to her. It was like the whole city had a filter over it, turning up the saturation of the colours in the brickwork or shop signs, and bringing out their warmth to match the sunrays kissing the freckles up and down her arms.

Once she'd finally regained control of her childlike wonder, and had stopped gawping at the buildings lining the street they were strolling down as though they were exhibits at a science museum, her attention returned to the same question that had been plaguing her since Carrie had ushered her into the passenger seat of her car. "You know, you still haven't actually told me where we're going."

"I'm taking you to the venue."

Despite her nonchalant tone, Carrie's revelation made Vivien's breath catch in her throat. "Already?"

"Well yeah," Carrie replied, seemingly confused by the panicked squeak in the girl's voice. "I thought you'd want to get some practice in first."

Melting into a smile with a relieved sigh, Vivien let her shoulders relax and her feet be guided by the clunky, patterned platform boots parading her down Sycamore Close. Acting as a rather effective tour guide, Carrie gave her a walking tour of her and Miles' weekday stomping ground - she pointed out the mechanic shop where he worked, where their favourite sandwich shop was, which place did the best coffee, which place did the worst coffee - she even pointed out the laundrette Miles almost flooded after an unfortunate lunch-break run-in with a meatball sub, and threw in the anecdote that went along with it for good measure. There was the florist shop, the record store, the pharmacy - the whole street looked like it could have been plucked straight out of a movie set. And, in a way, Vivien supposed it had been. But as they rounded another corner, the pastel awnings and inviting smells disappeared.

It was far from a dump; palm trees still sporadically lined the road, and storefronts held haphazard displays of their products to entice the sparse crowds of customers. But the trashbags sitting at the curbside, and the uneven sidewalk slabs, made this part of town feel a little less polished than the rest. Just as Vivien finished reading the intricate chalkboard sign hanging outside a local bookstore though, and she turned back to follow Carrie's lead, a cloud of smoke obscured her view of the path ahead.

Thankfully, the haze had dispersed by the time the girls approached, but the stench of weed that replaced it made Vivien's nostrils itch. Scrunching up her nose, she slightly quickened her pace, hoping to get to a bakery down the street that could drown out the smell before her eyes started watering. But in the seconds that followed, she didn't know what surprised her more: the fact that Carrie was acknowledged by the stoner responsible for the smoke show, or the fact that she actually stopped to talk to him.

"Heyyyy, Carrie-oke! What the hell are you doing here so early?"

"We're down a drummer, so we need an emergency rehearsal with our stand-in," Carrie replied, a hint of amusement colouring her tone - whether that was due to the circumstances, or the fact that she sensed Vivien's utter confusion was a mystery to the brunette though.

"You lost another one? What happened? She didn't-"

"Yeah, Amber dumped him… Again."

"Fucking hell," the guy snorted, taking a quick drag on his joint and blowing the smoke out of the corner of his mouth, away from the girls, which Vivien appreciated. There was something about his entertained grin that drew her interest - or maybe it was that mischievous twinkle she spotted in his dark, albeit bleary chocolate brown eyes as he lifted his round sunglasses onto the top of his head. Either way, her intrigue towards the young man was making the weed smell more and more tolerable with each passing second. "Two drummers in four months? Is she trying to set a record or something?" he cheekily continued.

"I don't know," Carrie sighed with an eyeroll at her friend's expense. "But she definitely made the right call with that last guy; he was a total deadweight."

"Was that the coupon guy?" he checked. And once Carrie nodded her confirmation: "Oh yeah, he was a fucking moron. She can do so much better."

"Exactly," Carrie replied, throwing her head back with a hearty laugh at the brunet's earnest response. "But, yet again, her commendable level of self-respect has left us without a drummer less than eight hours before doors open. Hence the emergency rehearsal."

The deeply pensive expression, pulling the guy's eyebrows together, had Vivien biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from giggling, especially when he revealed what he'd been thinking so hard about.

"Hence…" he mumbled, through a mouthful of the BLT sandwich he'd picked up from the plate balancing precariously on the windowsill beside him. "Gnarly adverb... Respect."

Carrie just shook her head with another amused grin. "That stuff's hittin' good this morning, huh?"

"Oh yeah," he chuckled with a contented nod of approval. "You want a hit?"

Whilst the offer itself wasn't too much of a surprise to Vivien, the length of time Carrie appeared to consider it for certainly was. For a moment, she even thought she saw the blonde's arm twitch, as though instinctively moving to accept, before she caught herself and shook her head. "No, I can't-"

"Oh come on, just a little one."

Again, Carrie almost appeared convinced, before her better judgement won out. "No, I- Look, maybe later," she eventually compromised, taking a step towards the propped open, painted brown door beside them to prevent any attempts at further complaints from the stoner. "I already told you, I'm not here to just hang out. We've got to rehearse."

"We? What are you talking about? Who's-?" But as Vivien followed Carrie's lead, inching towards the doorway, she looked up to find that set of bleary brown eyes fixed on her for the first time that conversation - any traces of an end to his question completely falling out of his head the second he spotted her.

Now that she'd actually been acknowledged by the guy, Vivien took the opportunity to fully take in his appearance: fascinated by the fact that such a creature even knew Carrie, let alone spoke to her like a friend. His dark, taupe hair fell in half-hearted curls by his shoulders - more in limp waves than anything, which were pushed away from his face by the arms of the scratched, round sunglasses balanced atop his head. His scrawny frame was hidden by a baggy denim jacket that looked as though it was about four sizes too big for him, with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, and a shirt beneath patterned so intensely she couldn't look at it for long without seeing spots in her vision. Old, flared, brown trousers; scuffed, but clearly well-loved, maroon boots; and a jumbled collection of leather bracelets, fabric wristbands, and peace sign pendants completed the look - a look she could only think to dub: dishevelled bohemian. If he'd have been on the cover of a history book about the hippie movement she wouldn't have batted an eyelid. And yet here he was, standing right in front of her, looking at her as though she'd just been beamed down from a spaceship.

Apparently her very existence was all it took to stun him into silence; his brain clearly needed all the energy it could get to process what he was seeing. She could practically hear its cogs spinning on overdrive as he searched her face for some recognisable quality. And just when they were starting to sound like her old laptop loading up The Sims, he tore his gaze from her and fixed it back on Carrie.

"…Who the fuck is that?"

The genuine confusion riddling his expression amused Vivien to no end, having to catch herself before a giggle escaped her lips as Carrie, evidently more familiar with his antics, simply replied: "It's Viv."

But the explanation made absolutely no difference in that empty, freckled head. The guy still looked as lost as ever.

"It's Vivien," Carrie tried again. But when she was met with a further, if not slightly more irritated, blank stare, she let out a frustrated scoff and turned so that she was fully facing the airheaded brunet again. "Vivien O'Brian-"

"You say that like you expect me to know who she is," he cut in with an incredulous scoff of his own.

"You do know."

"Then who the fuck is it?"

"Vivien," Carrie fired back with great exasperation - the kind that could only come from years of friendly, pent-up frustration. "She ice skates. She reads books. Miles talks about her like once a fucking week!"

Ethan's eyes lit up like a Roman candle. "Yoooo, where is Miles?" he asked, all inquiries about the brunette forgotten in an instant at the very mention of that all-important name.

But his eager grin was met with a look of disapproving disbelief. "I don't know," Carrie snapped, left floundering for an answer thanks to the stoner's inability to hold a properly structured conversation. "At work, I assume."

He looked about as satisfied with Carrie's answer as she had with his question though, tipping his head up to the sky and letting out a frustrated groan that would have given a sulking six-year-old a run for his money. "You seriously didn't bring him with you?" he checked, quirking an eyebrow at her out of the corner of his vision - clearly hoping this was just some dorky prank set-up.

"No, I don't think he gets off 'til 5," Carrie flatly fired back.

"Ughhhhh." There went that stroppy groan of frustration again. "That's fucking forever away. What am I supposed to do 'til then?"

"You could help us set up for our rehearsal," Carrie suggested with a smirk. "You know, like any respectable entertainment coordinator would."

He just rolled his eyes. "It's gonna be so boring without him though," he whined, scuffing his boot along the sidewalk as he dejectedly kicked a pebble against the side of the building.

Now it was Carrie's turn to roll her eyes as she let out an incredulous scoff. "Need I remind you, we were friends way before Miles came into the picture?"

The stoner levelled her gaze for a beat before a knowing smile tugged his lips into that same mischievous grin from before. "Yeah, but from that point on, nothing else really mattered, did it? Let's be real," he chuckled. Despite the ribbing, and obvious penchant for a certain mechanic, there was a glint in his blood-shot eyes that revealed his fondness for the blonde after all though.

And the feeling was clearly mutual since she was still willing to continue the conversation - she couldn't even successfully stifle her smile back as she shook her head and muttered a quick: "You're such an idiot."

The brunet made no attempt to argue - in fact he let out an amused snort of agreement as he reached for the rest of his half-eaten BLT.

Seizing the opportunity to take control of the conversation again, Carrie attempted to steer it back on track with an exaggerated, "Anyway." Tugging her guest closer, and dramatically gesturing to her, she continued, "That Vivien we talk about all the time: this is her."

The guy nodded thoughtfully. "Vivien…" he mumbled through a mouthful of bread - still playing that oh-so challenging game of connect-the-dots.

"Yes, Vivien," Carrie confirmed, as though encouraging a kindergartener. "She stayed with Miles and his brothers last April."

"Mmm," he nodded, finally showing some evidence of understanding. "She's dating that other mechanic guy - the one Miles lived with for-"

"No," Carrie cut in sharply over Vivien's incredulous laughter. "That's Mick and Butchy."

"Well how the fuck am I supposed to-?"

"Viv's dating Royce," Carrie explained, cutting off his complaint before he could derail the conversation any further.

"She's dating Royce?" he questioned, half-mumbling to himself as he fought through the disbelief the new information carried. His eyebrows scrunched in incredulity, his lips curled into a sort of confused grimace-

But then it finally clicked - the force almost popping his eyes out of his head in the process.

If the sudden change in the stoner's expression hadn't already set Vivien off to laugh harder, the sharp gasp that followed, and sent what remained of his mouthful of sandwich flying into the back of his throat, certainly did.

"Holy shit!" he eventually managed to choke out between the hacking coughs to help dislodge the piece of bread. "That was actually real?" he went on to ask once he'd caught his breath again, staring at Carrie with tear-stained eyes and a look of utter stupefaction. But she just nodded and chuckled as she handed him a bottle of water from her purse. "I thought Miles just made that up so I'd stop thinking his brother was a lame-ass," he continued, pausing to gulp down the offered water and rid himself of any remaining evidence of his mini choking fit. Holding the water bottle out to its original owner with a heavy, contemplative sigh, he levelled her gaze and lowered his voice to ask a dubious: "You're definitely sure it's real then?"

"You do know you can talk to her yourself, right?" Carrie checked, raising her eyebrow as she took back the bottle and gestured to Vivien yet again.

The guy paused, mouth slightly agape, as the realisation steadily dawned on him. Shifting his gaze to the brunette, he instead posed the question to her. "...You're actually dating Miles' brother?"

"I am indeed," she replied, smirking through poorly stifled giggles at the caricature of a guy's reactions.

"And they're definitely not paying you to say this?"

"I wish I was getting paid," Vivien snorted. "Easiest buck I'd ever make."

A thoughtful nod followed, as though impressed by the girl's honesty. And then came another bite of that BLT as he mulled over the revelation a little more. "Well, shit," he eventually settled on, with an amused smirk of his own. "Good for him… And you, I guess," he added, with a vague nod in Vivien's direction.

And then there was silence. It seemed as though he felt his role in the conversation was over now if the way he engrossed himself in inspecting the limp piece of lettuce sticking out the side of his sandwich was anything to go by. But Carrie had other ideas.

"Is that it?"

"Is what it?"

"That's all you have to say?" she raised an eyebrow and pressed.

"Well what else do you want me to do?"

But Carrie's disgruntled eye roll told Vivien she wasn't about to spell it out for him. "You have the social skills of a fucking garden snail," she muttered, before turning to the younger brunette with an almost apologetic shake of her head. "Well, since he's not gonna introduce himself - Viv, this Ethan. I had other, cooler friends I wanted you to meet first but, unfortunately fate had other plans."

Ethan still frowned despite her teasing tone. "I know you don't mean that, Cole," he protested, to which Carrie just smirked and rolled her eyes again.

Vivien felt like she was constantly on the brink of laughter watching the pair interact, caught between genuine amusement and utter disbelief. "So you two are like legitimately friends then?" she asked, feeling the need to check since her brain still didn't feel ready to process what her eyes were telling her.

Matching mischievous grins graced their faces as Ethan nodded and Carrie stifled another chuckle. "Don't look so surprised," she added after clocking the girl's reaction.

"No, I just-" Vivien floundered, struggling to articulate everything her brain was trying to process into a proper sentence. But after several failed attempts, she let her straight-to-the-point inner voice take over talking duties, with a spluttered laugh to join it. "How the hell did it happen?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well I just- I thought I had an idea of what your friends would be like…" Vivien trailed off, again at a loss for words.

"And this isn't it?" Carrie asked with mock-surprise as she jerked her thumb in Ethan's direction, just as he took another hit of his joint.

"...Well, we call you Barbie for a reason," Vivien teased. "I just didn't expect Little Miss Perfect to hang out with…"

"Someone who looks like they crawled out of Fraggle Rock?" Carrie offered with a smirk that quickly set the girl off to laugh.

Luckily, Ethan started laughing along with them - but not for the same reasons. "Yooo, they call you Barbie?"

"That's what you took from that?" Carrie checked in disgruntled disbelief.

"That's so fucking good," he mumbled as another amused grin settled on his lips.

But Carrie just rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Vivien. "I swear you kids think I'm some sort of saint," she chuckled before teasingly adding, "You're not the only one who can have cool, weird friends, you know?"

"I never said I was," Vivien argued through a laugh. "I just don't know where you two could have ever crossed paths. Where did you guys meet?"

"He works on the sound for Find Your Voice and a couple of other shows on the lot. So I've known him ever since I booked the part," Carrie explained whilst Ethan worked on finishing what was left of his BLT. "He was just another part of the crew at first, but, because I talk to anyone and everyone all the time-"

"'Cause she loves the sound of her own voice," Ethan cut in through a mouthful of bacon, cheekily licking mayo off his thumb.

Carrie silenced him with a withering stare - but his lingering smirk told Vivien that he wasn't phased in the slightest. Still, Carrie was able to finish the rest of her explanation uninterrupted. "-I started to talk to him between takes, you know, since he was always there with the boom mic. And then one thing led to another, and before I knew it, he was sacking off lunch with the other tech guys to come and raid my dressing room for cookies."

"Oh come on," Ethan frowned at the light ribbing. "Don't pretend you wouldn't do the same for your mom's snickerdoodles."

"You ate crumbs out of a trash can."

"And I'd do it again," Ethan shot back with an earnestness that just made his and Carrie's sibling-like bickering even more entertaining. "You can't talk anyway; you ate that piece of pizza Miles spat out into a napkin the other week."

Ethan's accusatory frown, paired with Vivien's grimace just made Carrie's attempts at a justification even harder to come by. "Listen, I was not…" she began, eyes darting to the brunette on her left as she tried to phrase this in a way that wouldn't tarnish her reputation any further. "...of sound mind that evening. Plus, he's my boyfriend - I've tasted worse than saliva."

As if the first part of the confession hadn't shocked her enough, Vivien jerked her head back in reaction to that last line. "Eww, Carrie!"

Ethan's loud bark of laughter was a completely different response though. "Hey, I never said there was anything wrong with it," he eventually chuckled. "I'd have probably eaten it if you didn't."

"And I bet you'd have loved it too, you freak," Carrie fired back with a smirk despite her nose wrinkling in disgust.

Ethan's proud grin was all the evidence she needed to know she was right.

Once Vivien had recovered from her future sister-in-law's nausea-inducing revelation, she was able to continue with her inquiries about the scruffy stoner she'd become so fascinated with. "Wait so you know Miles too?"

"Know him?!" Ethan squawked.

His reaction sent Carrie's eyes to the heavens as she tipped her head back in despair. "Don't get him started, Viv," she wearily warned.

But Ethan didn't even give the brunette the chance to question any further, seizing the opportunity to talk about the mechanic with both hands, and a lovestruck smile. "Miles is my soulmate; my cosmic chaperone - we're spiritually bound by the very threads of our existence."

The edges of Vivien's smirk twitched, dying to let the guffaws it was holding back free as she raised an eyebrow. "That close, huh?"

Ethan gave the girl a solemn nod. "He's the ketchup to my mustard."

"Well shit," Vivien deadpanned, matching the guy's energy perfectly. "You can't get closer than that."

Shaking her head at the pair, and the situation in general, Carrie went on to explain: "The second I brought Miles on set it was game over. He asked Ethan some dumb question about a song on the radio and he's been following him around like a bad smell ever since."

Both physically and metaphorically.

"It was Money by the Rolling Stones, and we still say it's our song to this day, thank you very much," Ethan cagily retorted, as protective as ever over his friendship with Miles, before adding a slightly more in character: "That guitar line is gnarly."

"'Our song'?" Vivien questioned with a snort. "Are you guys gonna use it for your wedding or something?"

But the teasing remark bounced off Ethan like a rubber bullet as he mulled over the proposal with a mellow grin. "I could dig it."

Again Carrie just fondly shook her head, at both Ethan's response and Vivien's reaction. "Believe me, Viv," she went on to say. "They'd need no encouragement. I mean, you'll see it for yourself later, but they're inseparable when you get them together. Like, think of the biggest bromance you know, then times it by four…and you might be getting close."

"They're really that close?" Vivien chuckled in disbelief.

Carrie nodded intently. "They're like fucking limpets."

"I can't believe Miles has been hiding the fact he's got a best friend from me for all these years," Vivien said with cheeky incredulity. "I'm never letting him live this down. I didn't think losers like him were capable of having best friends."

"Well believe it, because he's not going anywhere," Carrie snorted. "Believe me; I've tried."

"Protest all you want, 'oke. You and I both know you'd be lost without me," Ethan said, slinging his now free arm around Carrie's shoulder and pulling her towards him, before affectionately squidging her cheeks together in a way that immediately had her trying to squirm out of his grip.

"I'd have one hell of a mopey boyfriend, that's for sure," Carrie compromised with an affectionate roll of her eyes as she finally somewhat relaxed into the awkward embrace. "And a pretty boring social life."

"Exactly!" Ethan said, that same mischievous grin from earlier making its fateful return. "Who else would you have to go and play midnight mini golf with? And who'd you get to play ice tag with you on set?"

"Isn't it called 'freeze' tag?" Vivien teasingly questioned. "And why are you adults playing freeze tag at work?"

"Uh, we're 22, we're not dinosaurs," Carrie retorted. "And it's not 'freeze tag', it's 'ice tag': a Carrie and Ethan original."

"Well if it's not freeze tag then what is it?" Vivien laughed.

"Duuude, it's so fun!" Ethan enthused. "You've gotta sneak to one of the craft services ice buckets, grab a couple cubes, then pick your victims. If you get one down the back of their shirt - or pants - without them noticing 'til it's already down there, and without it melting, you get a point - and they then have to be the next one to go get the ice."

"The camera guys hate it," Carrie laughed. "But it makes long filming days so much more fun. We've got like half the cast and crew playing now."

"Yeah, the scoreboard in her dressing room's insane," Ethan added.

"So you've built an entire friendship around a game about ice cubes?" Vivien questioned with an amused quirk of her eyebrow.

"Pfft, no, we hang out all the time!" Ethan said.

"Yeah, believe it or not, Miles and I do voluntarily hang out with him when we're not running around after you guys," Carrie chuckled.

"To do what?" Vivien snorted.

"All sorts. We've had a few good movie nights lately 'cause we found out Ethan's got like the weirdest taste in movies ever; he's seen shit like 'Attack of the Crab Monsters', but not The Wizard of Oz."

"Well I have now, but it was fucking weird, man," came Ethan's review. "The scarecrow guy's face looked like it was melting off." Directing his next point at Vivien in particular, he departed his first bout of wisdom on her. "Not one to watch high, dudette, trust me."

"Noted," Vivien acknowledged.

"So yeah, we've had a couple of rogue movie nights if Ethan's been in charge of securing the projector reels," Carrie continued. "But other than that it's just like general, everyday stuff. At least for us, anyway. We don't really get much chance to properly plan stuff out - it kind of just happens. Like the other day, after work, Amber started trying to teach us all how to do one of her crazy yoga routines - we'd never have suggested that until we did it, but it was some of the most fun I've had in weeks."

"Yooo, I was so fucking good at it. I might get her to show me some more stuff next week; I really felt like I was tapping into something powerful with it."

"Oh it was powerful alright," Carrie acknowledged with a giggle. "Miles couldn't believe it - I haven't seen him laugh that hard since he watched you take 20 minutes to make that packet ramen."

"Look, I just have other skill sets to most people," Ethan retorted with a resigned sigh. But a fleeting memory soon had his confidence racing back. "You've gotta admit I was a key player in helping you wreck Eric's car though."

Vivien's jaw dropped to her purple sneakers. "I'm sorry, you did what now?"

The guilt was written all over Carrie's pretty little face. Knowing she had no leg to stand on if she attempted to deny it, thanks to Ethan's unending honesty, she caved with a sigh. "Ok, yeah, so we may have totaled Eric's sports car-"

"Fuck, it was so fun!" Ethan exclaimed. "Me, Amber, and Carrie went to town on that thing. And Julie-"

"Anyway," Carried quickly cut in, trying to change the topic of conversation.

But the disbelief glittering in Vivien's emerald eyes wasn't about to let her get off the hook so easily. "Oh no, I'm not going anywhere until I hear this story," she grinned eagerly.

Letting out a defeated huff, Carrie compromised. "Alright, fine, I'll tell you later. But not a word of it gets back to Miles, ok? Because he has no idea we were the ones responsible for that - and we need to keep it that way."

"Oh come on, why can't I hear it now?" Vivien asked, sticking Carrie with her classic puppy dog eyes for extra, black-mail-y effect.

But unlike her other half, Carrie wasn't so easily won over by the pleading. "Because we need to go practice," she fired back. "We've wasted enough time talking to this bozo already."

"It's not been a waste," Ethan indignantly replied. "I've had a great time."

"So have I," Vivien agreed with a chuckle.

"And I'm very pleased for you both, but that doesn't change the fact that we need to rehearse. So hurry up and unlock the function room for us, tech boy," Carrie bossily snapped back despite her affectionate eye roll.

"You see how she speaks to me?" Ethan snarkily muttered to Vivien as though behind the blonde's back.

"I thought he was the sound guy for your TV show, what does that have to do with us rehearsing here?" Vivien asked, scanning the outside of the building for some sort of clue as to what the place even was.

"He is, but he's also the entertainment co-ordinator here, which means he's in charge of all the live music equipment, and the emcee for the night," Carrie explained as he stamped out the end of his joint with the toe of his boot. "So we're stuck with him all day, I'm afraid."

"I'm also your number one competition, so you'd better be fucking good," he retorted with another mischievous grin. "'Cause you've yet to beat us once."

"You've got a band too?" Vivien asked.

"Yeah - me, Miles, Donny, Rizzo and Desky. Don't let Carrie brainwash you about her bogus trio though, 'cause she can talk all she wants, but she knows she only put it together 'cause she was jealous of ours."

"You're so full of shit," Carrie retorted.

"Oh yeah? Then how come you've lost the crowd favourite vote to us every single time?" he cockily shot back. And when, for once, she didn't have a snapback at the ready: "That's what I thought. Fucking. Poser."

"Brag all you want, but we're gonna make you eat those words tonight now that we've got Viv on our side," Carrie coolly replied, sparing the brunette a smug smile.

"Oh shit, yeah," Ethan said, his competitiveness vanishing once he remembered the reason for his new friend's visit. "You're filling in as their drummer, right?"

"Yeah," Vivien confirmed, trying to hide the fact that her stomach did a backflip at the very thought. "At least that's the plan."

"Gnarly," he acknowledged with an impressed nod. "Where'd you learn to play?"

"My brother Riven taught me back when we were kids."

"Nice, you ever done any shows before or-?"

"Hello? What part of, 'we need to go practice', do you not understand?" Carrie cut in with a pointed glare in the stoner's direction.

"Uh, we're having a conversation here," Ethan countered, totally oblivious to her frustration.

"We actually have a band of our own with two of our friends that we've played a couple of shows for, yeah," Vivien carried on with a giggle at Carrie's expense.

"Oh really? No way!" Ethan exclaimed, seeming genuinely excited by the prospect.

"Yeah, and we write all our own songs."

"Seriously? That's so-"

"Guys!" Carrie tried again - one more stall away from stamping her platform go-go boot on the ground and throwing a toddler-style fit. "Come onnnn."

But yet again, Ethan wasn't bothered in the slightest by her rising irritation. In fact, he was rather irritated himself by her impatience. "Carrie - can't you see I'm talking to my new friend here? She has great knowledge to bestow, and I have much to learn - so quit interrupting; we're having bonding time. You're being rude."

"You can't pull the 'friend' card on me with Viv; she's like my little sister-" Carrie tried, but her indignant protests were drowned out by more of Ethan's senseless rambles.

"So, we'll circle back to the band thing later; I need to do some mental collage-work first, 'cause your canvas is feelin' a little blank, dudette," he began, leaning back against the brick wall and closing his eyes, as though to better visualise the 'memory version' of the brunette before him. Pressing a couple of fingers to his forehead, in an attempt to strengthen their cerebral connection, he continued, "We'll lay down some basics first. Quick-fire: name, birthday, last bone you broke."

Vivien had to bite back a laugh before responding: "Vivien O'Brian, August 22nd, and it was my wrist when I was 10."

Ethan's eyes peeled open, shining with intrigue. "No way, you've actually broken a bone?"

"Why are you so surprised? You asked," Vivien chuckled.

"'Cause most of these losers I ask don't do anything exciting enough to risk bodily harm," he snorted back, with a smug glance in Carrie's direction, relishing the steam that was practically rising from the top of her head. "How'd you break it then?"

"My skating partner dropped me," Vivien said, luckily able to look back on the memory with a more optimistic view than the other participant.

"'Skating partner'?" Ethan mused.

"Yeah, we're figure skaters - my friend Riven and I; the one who taught me to how to play the drums," she explained, catching on quickly that the more context clues she offered, the sooner they'd get to the point.

"What, like roller skating?"

"No, ice skating," Vivien clarified with a giggle.

Ethan's eyes glazed over in understanding. "Ohhh, right. Like ice hockey."

"No, not like ice hockey," Carrie cut in with an exasperated sigh, trying to break it down as simply as she could. "Figure skating. It's like ice dancing. Think the winter olympics - lots of twirling - little dresses-"

"Ohhh, no way! You do all those crazy jumps and shit?" Ethan exclaimed - finally catching on.

"Yeah," Vivien acknowledged. "At least three times a week, usually."

"At the olympics?" he asked, genuine amazement coating every word.

"No, we're not at olympic level," she chuckled, deciding to forgo the explanation that the olympics, at most, happen 3 times a decade. "Not yet, anyway. Our coach is working us towards it though, so who knows? Maybe one day."

"Holy fuck, we're talking to a future olympian, Carrie," Ethan enthused, bumping the blonde's arm in an attempt to share the excitement with her. But when she just rolled her eyes, yet failed to hold back her smile, he continued. "Do you do other competitions and stuff though? Or do you just like practising and doing it for fun?"

"No, we compete. I've got like a whole shelf of trophies in my room," Vivien said, poorly stifling a laugh as Ethan's eyes grew wider still. "We're the reigning national champs for our age bracket."

"Woahhhh, far out, man," he breathed. "That's awesome!" Thumping Carrie's arm again, this time a touch harder to coincide with his growing excitement, he gave her another aside, "Yo, Carrie, we're talking to like a legit celebrity here."

Vivien didn't know what she ended up laughing harder at, Ethan's genuine awe at her achievements, or Carrie's deadpan look of resignation. Those blue eyes of hers looked like they could have melted steel.

Snorting out a laugh of his own at the blonde's expression, he turned back to Vivien with a smirk. "That never gets old," he grinned, evidently well-versed in teasing Carrie about her level of fame. "Anyway, enough about her; she gets more than enough attention. What other cool, hidden talents are you hiding under those glasses?"

"I don't know, I don't think anything else really counts as a talent," Vivien downplayed. "I've taken a few archery lessons, I like going and exploring abandoned buildings-"

"Woah, woah, woah, 'abandoned buildings'?" Ethan questioned - bloodshot eyes once again sparking to life. "What the hell? You're so cool. She's so cool," he said, turning to see if Carrie was sharing in his bewilderment too. "How the fuck did you end up dating Miles' lame-ass little brother? No offence, but like-"

"Ethan," Carrie scolded.

"No, come on, not in like a mean way; he sounds great - I'd protect him with my life - but like, all I ever hear from Miles is that he fucking reads nerdy library books," he attempted to justify.

"Well I like reading too, you know," Vivien countered with a teasing smirk.

"Yeah, but you still seem to have a life," Ethan retorted, with all the social graces of an ox. The hearty laugh Vivien let out in response soon had him back to grinning like an idiot though. "Yo, why's Miles kept us apart for so long? You're awesome - we've got such a good energy going here," he chuckled.

"Yeah, why has Miles kept us apart?" Vivien agreed, looking to Carrie for some sort of explanation.

Begrudgingly rejoining the conversation, she explained with a teasing smirk at the stoner's expense. "Because you're a terrible influence - I speak from experience. He's gonna kill me when he finds out I've introduced you two without his supervision." But then she turned her attention to the younger brunette. "And because the second you see them both together, his cover as the somewhat responsible adult looking after you kids is gonna be blown out the water."

"Oh come on, how bad can he be?" Vivien laughed.

"It's not bad, necessarily - it's just that when they're together, and you're not around, all responsibilities go out the window, and the 22 years of pent-up stupidity are unleashed," Carrie explained with a laugh of her own.

Grinning mischievously, Vivien said, "In that case, I can't wait for his shift to end."

"Yeah, which is gonna be soon if we don't hurry up and get our asses inside," Carrie said, shooting Ethan with another pointed look.

"Huh? D'you hear something, Viv?" Ethan asked his new protege, intentionally blanking the steadily seething blonde.

"Ethan, come onnnn, please," Carrie pleaded, bouncing on the balls of her feet like an impatient child. "You can continue this while we're setting up."

"Weather's pretty nice this morning, huh? Not too humid, not-"

"Fine, I'll just have to kick the door down," Carrie resigned, hiding her smirk behind his back. "I hope no one's left their guitar lying around where it could get damaged if-"

Whirling around with a look of pure horror, Ethan muttered a sombre, almost warning, "Don't even joke about that; you know she's my baby."

"You play the guitar?" Vivien questioned.

"'Play's putting it lightly; I think I can noddle away on that thing better than I can talk," Ethan snorted.

"Like that's hard," Carrie teasingly retorted before continuing. "As much stick as I've given him this morning, he is really good on that guitar," she went on to acknowledge with a genuine smile. "Riven, Miles, and Butchy can talk all they want, but they're not a patch on this guy - I think if he wasn't so mentally stunted he'd be considered some sort of prodigy or something."

"You know, you can just give me a genuine compliment," he said, frowning slightly at her friendly jab.

"I know… I'll start when you start," she retorted with a smirk he soon reciprocated, before shaking his head and letting out another snort of laughter.

"Ok, we'll stick with this; we've got a nice thing going here, why ruin it?"

Grinning at the pair of old friends, and the way Carrie squeezed him into a hug from the side, Vivien's ever-active brain started formulating a new idea - one that would hopefully get her in the good books of both cartoon-cliches come-to-life. "Well, if you're this good on the guitar I've obviously gotta hear it for myself," she prompted, drawing the brunet's attention back to her.

"Shoot, of course, I'd love to play something with you - you know any-?" Ethan began to gush, shoving Carrie away from his side in favour of chattering away to the brunette again.

"Don't we need to get into the function room first though?" she asked, sparing a quick glance at a suddenly very excited Carrie.

"Oh shit, yeah. You shoulda just said, Viv. I'll go unlock it for us," Ethan chuckled as though the concept was entirely new - sending Carrie's eyes to the heavens again.

But the blonde's groan of frustration was drowned out by Vivien's optimistic giggle, as she teasingly mumbled under her breath, "See? That wasn't so hard."

"You two are really gonna make me regret introducing you both, huh?" she said with a weary chuckle of her own as Ethan disappeared into the building.

"On the contrary; I think we're gonna have more fun than ever," Vivien laughed back. "I need to see more of this 'wild' side he brings out of you. First I find out you're bi. Now I find out you smoke weed and could go down for criminal damages to your ex's car with that…thing. I feel like I barely even knew you before."

Carrie just chuckled to herself at the teenager's amazement. "I did try to tell you I was more than just Miles' girlfriend."

"What else are you hiding now? Surely there can't be more," Vivien demanded. "Are you gonna introduce me to your secret three-year-old or something?"

"Eww, no," she laughed. "Just be patient, you'll find out when you're ready," she smirked with a confident mystique Vivien could only have dreamed of. "I've gotta keep at least some of the mystery alive."

Before Vivien could press the older girl for any further clues though, a bedraggled head of shoulder-length brown hair appeared in the dark doorway. "Come on, Ice Pop. It's all unlocked."

Vivien looked from Ethan to Carrie and back again, perplexed. "Ice Pop?"

"Yeah, Ice Pop," Ethan simply confirmed, with a dopey grin.

"Nicknames are kind of his thing," Carrie explained, her voice barely above a whisper as she leaned in to inform the brunette. "It's just how his little pea-brain works. And once he's settled on one for you, you're kind of stuck with it - unfortunately," she added, thinking back to the months of convincing it took to get him to stop calling her 'Coleslaw'.

"Why 'Ice Pop'?" Vivien questioned - as amused, and fascinated, by the guy's thought process as ever.

"'Cause you ice skate," he explained as though it was obvious. "And you're wearing purple - you've actually just got like a purple vibe."

"What does purple have to do with ice pops though?" she asked.

"Well the purple ones are my favourite, and you're my favourite ice skater, so…" he replied, miming the fusion of ideas with his hands for added effect. "Ice Pop."

Poorly holding back her flattered, yet still slightly amused grin, Vivien tried to protest. "You've never even seen me skate."

"Minor details," he dismissed with a wave of his hand. "You're the only one I know by name though - so, you don't have a lot of competition. But that still makes you my favourite."

All the skating talk was lost on Carrie, but there was something about the conversation that caught her attention: "The purple one's are your favourite? They taste like ass."

"Probably why they're my favourite," he snorted as Carrie just wrinkled her nose. Not wanting to delay the imminent jam session any longer, he quickly turned back to Vivien though, managing to catch her attention between her hearty laughs. "What do you say then? You like it?"

"Yeah, I like it," she grinned, warmth spreading throughout her chest as she watched the stoner's eyes glow with appreciation.

"Sweet," he breathed, holding her gaze for a beat before beckoning her towards the wooden archway in the brickwork. "Come on then, Ice Pop. Welcome to The Grapefruit."

Following a nod of approval from Carrie, who promptly trailed behind her, Vivien let Ethan lead her through a bead curtain and into a dimly lit, oak-panelled hallway. The floor almost immediately dropped into a stairwell, lined with black and white photos of musicians, and prints of various fruits in the same assorted shades of orange, yellow, and green from the beads at the entrance.

As they descended, Vivien, as talkative as ever, especially now that she was more at ease around the guy, decided to start probing Ethan for more details. "So if I'm Ice Pop, and Carrie's Carrie-oke - does Miles have a nickname?"

"Nah, you can't improve upon perfection," Ethan sighed, grabbing the railings of the staircase and launching himself down the last four steps. "I do have a 'government name' I call him though when he needs me to talk some sense into him," he continued after landing with a thud in front of a two-way corridor.

"Which is?" Vivien prompted as they turned to the left and reached another door.

"Miles per Gallon, Miles per Hour, Miles from Anywhere - there's a couple variations," he replied as he pulled a bunch of keys from his back pocket and started working on the lock. "Just depends on my mood."

"Oh my god, I can't wait for him to get here," Vivien giggled. She didn't know what she was laughing harder at: Ethan's nicknames for her honorary big brother, or what she imagined his face would look like when he realised she now knew about them.

"Well, in the meantime, make yourself comfy. 'Cause it sounds like you're gonna be here a while," Ethan chuckled as he pushed the door open and stepped aside to let her enter first. "Behold: your performance space for the evening."

As Vivien stepped into the room, that same surreal feeling she got the first time she set foot in the Wet Side Story world flooded through her - it felt like a dream, like everything would disappear in a puff of smoke if she touched it. But as her sneakers met scuffed, wooden floorboards, she stayed very much in one piece - as did everything else around her. The wood-panelled walls continued into what she now understood was an underground bar - but, despite the lack of sunlight, it was far from dingy. The overhead lights bathed everything in a soft, golden light, which complimented the room's colour scheme perfectly. The same shades of rust orange, mustard yellow, and olive green from the beaded curtain at the entrance clung to the upholstery and decorations - and yet brighter pops of colour, in line with the bar's citrussy namesake, made the whole room come to life. The earthy tones, mismatched furniture and clashing patterns made it feel so quintessentially 60s, but that just made Vivien love it even more - even if it did smell vaguely like stale beer.

"Hold up, how old is she? D'you think I'm allowed to have let her in here if she's not 21?" Ethan asked Carrie as the pair followed Vivien into the function room.

"It's not like you're gonna serve her any alcohol, she's just here to perform," Carrie said, brushing off his concern with ease. "And besides, if she wants anything she can just sneak some of mine," she added with a mischievous grin the stoner quickly shared.

"Yeah, what am I even saying? Since when did I start giving a shit about following the rules?" he snorted, pocketing his keys and crashing onto the nearest, faded leather couch.

"Alright then, Viv," Carrie continued, stepping up behind the teenager, who was still gazing around the room in wonder. And yet it wasn't until the blonde put her hands on her shoulders and steered her towards the centre of the room that she even noticed the sprawling stage - complete with mic stands, a dusty piano, several guitar amps and that all-important drum-kit. "You ready to take her for a spin?"

Vivien's first instinct told her 'absolutely not', but there was something about the warmth in Carrie's hopeful smile, and Ethan's earnest encouragements, still fresh in her mind, that gave her pause. Maybe she could do this after all; they certainly seemed to think she could. And she wasn't going to get over this stage fright without trying, so she might as well give it a go with a supportive audience - a rather unconventional, supportive audience; but one that, given her newfound fondness of the pair, and their apparent abundance of love for her in return, one that she wouldn't have traded for anything.

#p.s. there might be another surprise later that coincides with this 👀#probably not as exciting - but definitely necessary by now lmao #Vivien #Carrie #Ethan

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thevelria · 1 year

Text

Electric Love (Gojo x Reader) Chapter 1

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Pairing: Gojo x fem!reader

Summary:This is the first chapter of an AU story, some parts might be canon, but mostly not. It's going to be a love story between you and Satoru with some spice. Warning will be at the beginning of the chapters. Please read them carefully and skip if any of the listed warnings might trigger you. Otherwise have fun!

Warnings: domestic violence, abusive relationship, blood and fight.

Wordcount:3401 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spring knocked at the front door or we could say it double foot kicked itself into the life of yours. Sun was finally shining and you were more than happy after that seemingly endless long winter you had. You were not a winter person nor a sun bug, but the spring. Spring was your shit and you were more than happy. Swinging your anime themed jacket around your back, heading to work on that Monday morning. You had no idea that your life was about to change…forever.

The counter looked like a mess and you tried your best to clean it as fast as possible. Working in a Coffeehouse wasn’t your dream job, but it paid well enough and you actually had fun. Silly colleagues and a pretty nice boss you had, so it was a win-win situation. After you left the university a few years back you tried to find yourself. Applied to several different jobs, worked at a millions places, but this time you felt like it could be something you had desire to do. Sinking into your thoughts deeply, moving your hands left and right with a cleaning cloth between your fingers, zoning out completely. When you heard the tiny door bell rang above the entrance of the shop. You turned your face to the direction, witnessing two men walking in. One with funny, spiky black hair, while the other had the whitest crystal clear hair color you have ever seen in your life. He was wearing some kind of blindfold, which confused you, but you made a fast self note “not to stare, offering help, he’s probably blind”.

You dusted your apron, rubbing your hands in the side of it, before you grabbed your notebook and pulled your biggest smile possible.

“Good morning” you greeted the two men “I’m Y/N, how can I help you?”

“Morning” the black haired man smiled “Can we get a menu please? I’m not sure what I want to drink, yet.”

“Sure” you walked back to the counter and stepped back at the table in a few seconds, handing a menu to the man.

“And what about me?” the blindfolded man asked you “I don’t get one?”

You froze in your action, blinking fast and uneasy. “Sir, I’m really sorry, but we don’t have menu with braille”

The second he bursted out in a loud laughter made you feel even more embarrassed.

“I’m not blind” he smiled softly “I can perfectly see.”

“Do you?” you frowned your brows, being totally confused, why would someone wear a blindfold with completely fine vision.

“Yeah, for example I can see how pretty your smile is” he smirked.

Your eyes popped wide and feeling the blush crawling up on your face you turned and rushed back to the counter for another menu.

“Thank you, sweetheart”

After they ordered the drinks you started to prepare them, but overheard their conversation.

“Satoru, it wasn’t cool at all.”

“Oh, c’mon. What did I do? It’s not my fault she thought I couldn't see.”

“You are horrible. I swear to God!”

“Watch your mouth, kid.”

“Here you go” you placed a latte before Megumi. “And that is for you, sir.” you carefully placed the expresso before Gojo. “If you need anything else, please let me know.” you bowed slightly.

“I would like…” Gojo raised his index finger.

“Yes? What else can I get for you?”

“Your phone number, please.” His cocky smile made your blood boil. Rolling your eyes with a loud huff you spun on your heels and walked back to the counter. Murmuring “Asshole.” under your nose. You couldn’t know of course, but he heard you just clearly and fine.

***

“Gojo” Nanami snapped at his training partner “Focus, for fuck’s sake. What’s wrong with you?”

“Huh?” he shook his head slightly, trying to focus, but the only thing he could think of was you. The way your cute apron hugged your body, your sweet smile and beautiful eyes. And the way you called him asshole made him almost chuckle. Nanami ran out of patience, he wanted to train and so did he. Punching Gojo right in the stomach, making him bend over, hands on his tummy.

“Fucking hell, Kento” he hissed. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I warned you like 5 times” he smirked, attacking again. This time Satoru dodged the hit and threw a proper punch back. They didn’t use any cursed energy, only their human strength, but still it turned into a hell of a fight.

“Is it enough?” Nanami asked Gojo, kneeling on his chest, fist pressing hard against his cheek.

“I’ll kick your ass…” he tried to form the words. But he couldn’t, Kento almost beat the shit out of him. Bruises and cuts covered his face and it made him furious. He never loses, he’s not that type of a person. And witnessing a failure like this made him relentless.

Standing in the shower, letting the hot water hit his tired muscles was the only way the anger slowly sank out of his mind. His palms rested against the tiles of the walls, head bending down and enjoying the water massaging his neck. He kept his eyes closed, still thinking about you. “I need to get her number.” he shook his head irritated.

This whole thing was new to him. He would hook up here and there with some random girls, but all were meaningless. More like easing the physical needs but nothing much. But with you…he felt it was different. With only one meeting, one short conversation and you got him around your fingers. He made his decision to make you his and you had no chance against his will.

Roughly grabbing the shampoo bottle, sighing loudly while rubbing the gel into his beautiful white hair. “What the heck is wrong with me?” he frowned. The whole shower session was filled with irritation and anger. He had never had such an angry shower before and the thought of his action made him laugh. A desperate, maniac chuckle left his plum lips while he was leaving the shower with only a fluffy towel loosely dropped around his waist.

***

Gently turning the key in the keyhole, making as little noise as possible. You entered the house and hoped he was already sleeping. Mostly you ran two shifts in a row in the coffeehouse. And even if you always felt tired as hell, but it gave you the opportunity to save some money, plus you didn’t have to spend too much time with your boyfriend. The love once you shared was gone long ago. The sweet boy you fell for with years ago became a jealous, rude, disrespectful person. You were more than sure he was cheating on you, but you didn’t say a thing. He wouldn’t admit it anyway, probably just beat the shit out of you as usually. Leaving him was your first priority after you realized you’ve been stuck in a toxic relationship. The only reason you stayed was that you had nowhere to go, so you needed to save some money to rent a flat for yourself. “Just a few more weeks.” you told yourself every time he screamed in your face or worse.

Calmness rushed through your body, when you heard him snoring loudly from the bedroom. “Thank God” you thought as you entered the bathroom for a well deserved shower.

***

The next morning came with a rush and you were walking into the coffee shop with your typical smile on your face. No one knew the troubles you had to face at home, but it wasn’t their business anyway. Working hard made you distracted, freeing you from the burdens of your personal life.

The little bell sang some sweet noise, when the first customer arrived. You turned your face just to notice the annoying white haired guy with the blindfold from yesterday.

“Good morning” you greeted him like you weren’t irritated by his presence.

“Morning beautiful” Gojo pulled an adorable smile.

“What can I get for you?”

“First I would like to apologize for my actions. I was an asshole, I know that. Can we just start over?”

You stood still behind the counter, looking with confused eyes. What did he expect from you? Why would he say things like that? It just didn’t make any sense.

“Sure” you shrugged “No problem. So what can I get for you?” The bored look you gave him made Gojo uneasy. He thought you would appreciate him saying sorry and shit like that.

“Just an espresso” he forced a smile.

He stayed for hours, ordering here and there. Trying almost all the cakes you had, drinking like five different types of coffee. You truly believed he was going to get a heart attack after the huge amount of caffeine he poured down his throat. The second you noticed he was about to order again you pinched the bridge of your nose.

“Can I get the bill please?” he tapped his tummy, being way too full with all the sweets he killed this morning. You nodded without saying a word, spinning on your heels, when hearing him clearing his throat.

“Anything else?” you asked.

“Yeah…your number, please.” he chuckled.

“Oh for fuck’s sake” you rolled your eyes, leaving his table in an instant.

This little scene repeatedly happened on every day of the week. Gojo tried to get your number so desperately you started to feel bad for him. Everyday you talked a bit more about sweet nothings really. Like how was the weather or what you would recommend him to try from the menu.

On Friday as he was standing in front of the counter, telling you a super old dad joke and you bursted out in a loud laughter.

“That was a good one.” you wiped your eyes with the back of your hand. The bell rang above the door and you froze like you’ve seen a ghost.

“What’s wrong, beautiful?” Gojo tilted his head slightly, being confused by your reaction.

“Nothing” you cleared your throat “Please get back to your table. I’ll serve your coffee in a minute.” You sounded too serious and scared, but he followed your ask and took his seat with his legs crossed.

“Who was that guy?” Daniel asked with a raspy, irritated voice.

“He’s just a customer. What are you doing here?” you gulped big, trying to hide your nervousness.

“Why? Can’t I visit my wonderful woman, who is seemingly whoring around with her customers?” he clenched his jaw.

“Don’t make a scene! Order or go home.”

“I heard him calling you beautiful.” he hissed “Since when are you fucking him?”

“Stop this, I’m begging you!” your voice cracked.

Satoru heard every single word clear and clean, it made him way too upset and appeared next to Daniel in a second.

“Excuse me.” Gojo pulled his typical smile, standing in front of your boyfriend.

“What do you want?” he clicked his tongue.

“Could you please talk with some more respect to this beautiful lady?”

You almost facepalmed yourself, because even if he wanted to help…he dragged you into bigger trouble.

“Mind your own business, freak!” Daniel rolled his eyes. “We’ll finish this at home…” he shot you a look which sent shivers down your spine.

***

The scream that bursted out from your lungs echoed through the entire house. You begged, cried and swore to anything just to make him stop. But Daniel didn’t care about any of your words. He felt like Gojo humiliated him and it made his blood boil. After the first few slaps your face felt numb, the taste of your blood in your mouth made you nauseous though. Daniel was huge and strong compared to you. Of course you were no match to him and he knew that too. That even if you’d love to mop the floor with his arrogant face you couldn’t do anything in your defense. He beat you up really bad this time. “Teaching you a lesson.” as he repeated several times, while hitting your face harder and harder until your lip ripped up and your nose started to bleed.

That night you swore to your life that the next day after work you’re going to move out. No matter where or how, but you leave this piece of trash behind once and for all.

In the morning getting ready in front of the mirror was a hard task to accomplish. Seeing your swollen, ripped lip, the bruises under your eyes, the cuts on your cheeks. You tried your best to hide them with makeup, but you already knew you were going to wear sunglasses all day long.

Satoru walked in with a huge, cheerful smile on his face. He was truly looking forward to seeing you again. These past days made him feel excited, weird and happy at the same time. He was thinking about you all the time and today was the day he was about to ask you out. Even if he witnessed you had a boyfriend. The brief seconds he talked to him made him realize that your man was a dick, and him being more than confident he was sure you would say yes to a dinner or something like that.

Zoning out and sinking into his thoughts he automatically took the seat at his usual table.

“Good morning” you walked up to him. “What can I get for you?”

“Morning beaut…” his word died mid sentence, when he noticed your wounds “What the fuck happened to you?” he clenched his jaw.

“Oh, uhm.. I was clumsy.” you turned your face away, pretending to look for something in the pocket of your apron.

“Y/N” Gojo frowned “Look at me, please.” his soft voice felt like honey to your ears. “Who did this?”

“As I said I was clumsy.” you cleared your throat “And now please make your order so I can get it for you.”

“It was him, wasn’t it?”

“With all due respect, sir… it’s none of your business. I don’t even know your name and you expect me to…I don’t even know.” you sighed irritated. The source of your anger wasn’t him, but everything else that happened to you last night. And him sitting here, asking you as he would know you, made you feel way too frustrated.

“My name is Satoru Gojo” he gabbled his name “Now tell me who did this to you!”

Since it was early in the morning no other customer arrived yet. Only you and him stuck in that uneasy environment, which was slowly eating you both up. The grab on the chair’s backrest was tight and irritated, he noticed the way you pulled that chair out and hesitantly dropped yourself down, looking down at your feet.

“Daniel got mad last night.” you poked your inner cheek with your tongue.

“Why?”

“Because of you…” pulling an awkward smile, while fidgeting with your sunglasses.

“What?” he rocked back on the chair, before leaning forth again “What did I do?”

“Hmm…” you hummed with so much pain in your voice “Well, you called me beautiful in front of him. So he beat the shit out of me, just to show me where my place is…But today is the day. After work I’m gonna go home, pack my stuff and leave him once and for all.”

Gojo kept silent, slowly raising his hand and gently taking off your sunglasses. The second your bruised face got revealed in front of him his jaw clenched tight.

“I’m so sorry” he whispered, gently placing his huge palm on your cheek and you automatically rested into it. Closing your eyes, because somehow you felt safe. You had no idea how or why, it just felt right.

“Where does he work?” he asked out of the blue, breaking that special moment.

“4 blocks down the road. There’s a box club, he’s a coach. But why do you ask?”

“Excuse me, Y/N” Gojo pushed his chair back, standing up “I’ve something important to deal with. But here…” he grabbed a napkin from the table and a pen from his pocket, writing down his number “Please call me after you get home, okay?”

Staring at his back as he was rushing out of the door, disappearing on the street in a few seconds. You felt confused. This barely known guy seemed so caring, but probably he just felt guilty because of what happened.

Trying to keep his breathing even, but the anger which rushed through his body made it quite difficult for him to achieve it. “Fucking asshole” he shook his head angrily “I’m gonna rip your freaking head off” he fisted his hands, while walking to that box club.

As the door shut open Gojo immediately noticed Daniel, standing next to the ropes, giving instructions to his students.

“Coach?” one of his students asked, when he looked at Gojo.

Daniel turned to face who interrupted their training and rolled his eyes, when he realized it was the guy from the coffee shop.

“What do you want?” he clicked his tongue, pulling a face.

“I want to train” Gojo walked closer “With you” stepping in front of Daniel.

“What?” Daniel bursted out in an arrogant, loud laughter “Do you want me to beat the shit out of you, pretty boy?”

“Well, if you can beat me I’m gonna pay your bills for a whole year. How does that sound?”

“Oh, so you are stupid and rich at the same time. That’s a total win for me!” He stepped on the ropes, waving to the kids to get out of there.

As they stood in their fighting stance all the eyes glued on them.

“Let’s go, coach’” one of the kids yelled.

“Yeah, beat him, coach!” another one chimed in.

Gojo smirked slightly, before waving at Daniel. “Come” he growled.

Daniel had no chance to even touch him. Gojo dodge every single attack, mostly not even using his hands, just simply stepping away from the hits. It made his opponent furious, he got so angry, he couldn’t control himself anymore. Pulling a dirty trick and trying to kick Gojo in the guts.

“How dirty!” Satoru chuckled, spinning aside from the attack, resting his back on Daniel’s. “Since your students are watching us” he whispered “I think I’m gonna show off a little.”

Daniel's eyes widened the second he felt Gojo’s first punch. It felt like something would have squeezed his inners to make them explode. But Satoru didn’t stop and threw several similar punches at him. Blood was running down his face, his lips and brows were ripped, bruises covered his whole body. The fear in his eyes made Gojo even madder. As Daniel was laying on the ground, begging for mercy, Satoru sat on his heels next to him.

“What, brat? Are you afraid? As afraid as Y/N was last night, when you beat her up?” Daniel’s Adam’s apple bobbed, because he realized he was fucked up.

“Listen carefully.” Gojo whispered, pulling down his blindfold to make direct eye contact. “You’re gonna head home right now, pack your stuff and leave once and for all. IF I see you around her again I’m going to end your pathetic life. Do you understand me?”

Daniel stared into his eyes. “What are you?” his voice cracked.

“Your worst nightmare.” Gojo pulled his most terrifying smirk ever, causing Daniel to get up and rush out of the place.

***

“Okay, okay, you can do this” you tried to boost yourself before opening the front door. The second you stepped in you felt something was off. He wasn’t home and as you looked around you noticed all his stuff was gone. “What the fuck?” you frowned, walking around the house to check it. All the clothes, all the belongings, everything was gone. HE was gone.

You dropped yourself down on the couch, when you found a torn piece of paper on the coffee table.

“I’m sorry for everything! Please never contact me again!”

Your hands were shaking, holding the paper and reading it again and again and again. Did he really leave? Did he seriously make this whole thing easy for you? It was nothing like him. You knew Daniel and he would have never done anything for you. “What happened to you?” you bit your inner cheeks fighting with confusion and happiness at the same time.

#gojo x you #gojo x y/n #gojo x reader #jjk gojo #jujutsu kaisen gojo #jujutsu gojo #jujutsu kaisen #gojo satoru #satoru #satoru x reader #gojo fluff #gojo smut

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tamras-shieldmaiden · 1 year

Note

Okay, I am gonna ask on the Beifong sisters. Suyin und Lin!

Oooh, the Beifong sisters! I would totally watch a spin-off with nothing but Beifong drama. That's how much I love this family, warts and all precisely because in their imperfections they're so fascinating. @mikaharuka also wanted to know about them so let's begin with the elder, dutiful sister, the one and only Chief Lin "that lady is my hero" Beifong and I'll get to Su in a separate post.

1. sexuality headcanon

Besides being a workaholic and married to her job, I believe Lin is queer (undefined but definitely not straight) and demiromantic.

2: otp

OTP for Lin? Lin/happiness. Although I enjoy Kyalin, I don’t really have a strong OTP for her but I want her to live her best life with whoever she chooses. I’ve seen her shipped with a lot of characters and it’s funny how she’s been paired with both of Tenzin’s siblings. One ship I admit I find intriguing is one that I stumbled upon through a fanart and it’s Lin/Iroh II and honestly, I can see it work. Yeah, she’s older than him but it’s about the same age difference as the canonical Tenzin/Pema. Besides. Lin is hot and she definitely doesn’t move or look like a woman in her fifties so age ain’t nothing but a number here. I can get behind cougar Lin 😉

3: brotp

Mako. Although she still has a good relationship with her old flame Tenzin, I believe Mako is the closest to a BROTP for her. I’ve seen Lin romantically paired with Mako but personally, I prefer the “momboss and detectiveson” dynamic for them. They just understand each other well since they’re both the oldest children and they had to carry the burden of responsibility early in their lives. I also like to think that she could be a great mentor and friend to Kuvira and I love the idea of the two of them sharing drinks while spilling the beans about Suyin.

4: notp

Although I like the enemies to friends to lovers dynamic, I don’t see her with Tarrloq.

5: first headcanon that pops into my head

The reason Lin and Tenzin spent a lot of time together growing up is Aang, since he was for all intents and purposes, Lin and Su’s main father figure. Like Tenzin once noted, “my father and Lin got along famously.” After training with Tenzin, he would take some time to practice earthbending with the Beifong girls and Lin admitted that Aang made learning more fun that her mom. It took her a long time to recover from Aang’s demise so part of her initial skepticism toward Korra is the fact that it reminded her that Aang was gone and this chaotic energetic girl was his successor.

6. favorite line from this character

This gem 🤣

7: one way in which I relate to this character

I can relate to her in the way she shows how she cares through actions and not words.

8: thing that gives me second hand embarrassment about this character

She definitely needs to improve the recruitment standards for the RCPD because the detective pair from Book 2 were painfully mediocre at best and it hurts to see them associated with her.

9: cinnamon roll or problematic fave?

She’s a grumpy, gruff cinnamon roll.

#character ask game #headcanon ask game #character headcanon ask game #headcanons #the legend of korra #legend of korra #tlok #lok #lin beifong #chief lin beifong #mako #tenzin #aang

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thesiriusmoon · 10 months

Text

Alligator Valley

Summary: there’s a not so new agent in town, and Bonnie is helping out on her first case with him. A cannibal case in Florida.

Characters: Bonnie McBride (OC), Aaron Hotchner, David Rossi, Spencer Reid, Derek Morgan, Jennifer Jareau, Penelope Garcia

AU: Criminal Minds

Episode: Lucky (S3, Ep 8)

AN: follows canon but I tweak it to fit my story lol

TW: Possible mentions for gore and death, drugs use, abuse (all aspects).

Please reblog and like!! It really helps me out <3

———————————

A couple of days had gone by since Bonnie physically saw her mother, nor heard much from her at all. She was always away, and it had taken a bit of a toll of her mood. Second guessing whether or not her mother really wanted her anymore. No text messages to let her know she’s alright, just things about microwave dinners and pop tarts. Ever since Bonnie could, she had worked. From age 14 earning $5 an hour. She helped pay the bills and whatever was left was for school work and clothes. Now that she had this assistants job she had felt a little lighter. Not having to worry too much about what she would have left over, but that didn’t stop her mother from disappearing for days. The longest was two weeks then one day she walked in, drunk out of her mind Bonnie was amazed she could stand, and walked straight past her and into bed. The next morning ate cereal from the same table without lifting her head, continuously scratching her arm full of needle piercings.

The woman she looked at was not the same in old photographs when she was a baby or toddler. Her brown hair was thin and greying at only forty. Her skin so tight that Bonnie could see her mothers cheekbones and ribs as clearly as she could see her eyes. It made her wonder, if she was watching her mother wither away.

Bonnie had became quite agitated. Everything said to her must have been against her. If she were asked to do her job she’d take it as being bossed around, but would comply quietly, seething under her breath. Or if she had been given constructive criticism she would convince herself it was because someone didn’t think she could handle her own.

David Rossi was quite the character. She had read one of his books before. Detailing his journey from the army, to the FBI. It was really quite interesting. She never thought she’d be standing in the same room with the man who caught Ryland Posey. The man who set off five bombs, almost six, if David Rossi hadn’t gotten to him in time. The man was made of stone. Every time Bonnie were in his presence she found that she was too intimated to talk. His legacy was bigger than her whole life.

He spoke sternly and low, creeping her out a little bit. Also adding to her quiet teeth gritting as she didn’t like how much of a know-it-all he could be. Speaking to the team as if he owned them.

It was an hour after starting her shift, 11am, when her phone beeped, and the team were getting ready to leave for Florida.

Before Bonnie could get to the jet first like always, Penelope had appeared, popping out of nowhere, and grabbed her arms with haste. “Guess what!” Her cheeks were rosy pink and the smile on her face was just ready to burst and spew confetti.

“What?!” She jumped up and down with Penelope, the woman’s excitement rushing through her hands and intertwined hers.

“I met a guy!”

Bonnie gasped dramatically. “Shut up! Who!” Stopping jumping to get to the serious parts.

“Well, his name is James and I met him at a coffee shop!” Penelope squealed with delight.

“That’s so cute! That’s literally the ideal place right? Going in for a cute little coffee and just bumping into someone!”

“I know!” Penelope strained her voice in attempt to remain a little composed in the office.

“Well you’ll have to tell me everything and more when I get back!”

“I will! I’m very excited for our sleepover young lady!”

Bonnie felt her heart melt and ache at the same time.

There was no hiding anything from Penelope Garcia. She was infamous for it. Literally smelling mood changes. It didn’t take long for the woman to question Bonnie on why she had been acting off. And it was easy to talk to Penelope. She actually listened to her. She was just like an open diary all ready to be written all over

So then the door of Penelope’s apartment was open to her 24/7. She had insisted at first that it was too generous to offer her a place to stay until her mother returned, because it would be too often and might be longer than Penelope had expected. So Bonnie had negotiated that she’d go for a night or two, for snacks and movies, just like having a best friend. Something Bonnie never had the time to have, skipping grades and going to college at 16 being surrounded by people much older than she was.

“Don’t take too long!” Penelope waved Bonnie off as she sped towards the jet.

“So, this guy is a complete and utter psychopath!” David Rossi ranted at the screen which showed an assortment of body parts. No faces. Just legs and arms. Fingers and toes.

“Someone very mentally ill Rossi.” Derek said from across the table.

“Obviously.” The older man sassed and Derek rolled his eyes, clenching his jaw like he always did if someone pissed him off.

“Guys. Listen up please.” Hotch scolded the two like a pair of kids, before clearing his throat and putting his attention back onto the computer. “This is Abby, nineteen, she left for college and never returned home. A pair of joggers found her body in a nearby park three days later. Everything below her waist had been eaten. All ten fingers gone, and her throat slit.”

This girl was only a year older than she was. Bonnie couldn’t help but feel attacked herself. Why must it always be women?

“What did that to her?” Derek asked, pointing to what would have been the girls bottom half.

“Bridgewater's off of i-75, Which is often referred to as alligator alley For reasons that are now apparent.” Hotch answered and Emily grimaced.

“I suddenly don’t feel so bad about my alligator purse.”

“Ah, the circle of life.” Rossi commented casually.

“An alligator couldn’t have carved an inverted pentagram on her torso though right? Or slit her throat? Unless he’s really skilled.” Derek conspired.

“The locals believe that a satanic cult is at fault.” Hotch replied, and Spencer quickly intervened.

“S-Satanic cults have been debunked as a myth actually.”

“What?” Jennifer looked unconvinced.

“Yeah, it was Rossi who debunked it.” All heads turned to the older man.

“Thanks kid.” Rossi gave Spencer a nod and Bonnie almost laughed at how his face radiated.

“Cult or not, this is ritualised.” Said Hotch and Emily sighed.

“So… satanic cults don’t exist, but satanic killers do?” She asked and Bonnie also rolled the question over her head.

“Lasciate ogni speranza ch'entrate.”

The team looked at Rossi with clueless eyes.

“Oh. Thanks for clearin' that up.” Derek tutted.

“Uh, it's from dante's inferno. Abandon hope, all ye who enter here." Spencer answered proudly.

“So… yes?” Emily asked and Rossi nodded.

“Precisely.”

But the boy genius wasn’t quite done yet. “There are two types of satanic killers actually. One is the rebellious teenager. Looking for a way out of reality. Mix this with some drugs and alcohol and it could turn violent. In some cases deadly.”

Rossi looked up at Spencer who smiled. “That’s from my book.”

“Trust me, we know.” Jennifer laughed and Spencer’s happiness faltered slightly.

“And the other?” Hotch asked.

Spencer continued, a little quieter and less enthusiastically this time however. Looking down towards the computer. “The adaptive. The worse one of the two I believe. I-it’s when a serial killer begins to blame his doings on fantasies. They will adapt satanic beliefs to fit their cause.”

“He doesn’t kill because he believes in satan. He believes in satan because he kills then. Is that it?” Rossi nodded at Derek who rubbed his head. “I don’t believe in all this crap!”

Spencer never missed a beat as his mouth ran faster than his thoughts. “Maybe that’s because you never really let god into your life?”

Derek whipped around, his thick brows crossed. “No offence kid, but you don’t know what I believe in.” And Spencer gulped, sinking into his chair.

“Alright well… we’re almost there. So when we land Bonnie you’re with me and Rossi, the rest of you visit the police department.”

Bonnie didn’t have that many notes yet. All she had picked out from the group was that they were looking for someone who believes that satan is real because they have committed such a heinous act. It wasn’t much to go on, there were probably lots of people who believed that.

Following Agent Hotchner and Rossi, they were led down to an examination room where Abby’s body- what was left of it- was being autopsied.

“Sir, I’m SSA Aaron Hotchner with the FBI.” Agent Hotchner shook the doctors hand after the man removed his glove.

“David Rossi.” Another shake.

“Bonnie.” She smiled and kept her hands on her notebook.

“Thank you for coming. I’ve been needing to speak with you.” The man said shaking every so slightly. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Agent Hotchner lifted his head with interest.

“Fingers. Ten of them found in Abby’s stomach. They’re away for testing right as we speak.”

“He made her eat them?” Bonnie asked and the man nodded.

“Yes.”

“Are they hers?” Agent Hotchner asked.

But the man shook his head. “No… these belong to other people I’m sure of it. Three are index fingers.”

“More victims.” Rossi said aloud.

“He fed her other peoples fingers… why?” She asked the other two agents with her pen in hand ready to write.

“To send a message he’s killed more. And that…” agent Hotchner sighed and looked away from Bonnie. “He’s possibly eating them.”

The man from the autopsy stopped dead. “Serious?”

“Yes.” Agent Hotchner stated in his classic monotone voice.

“Well if it’s satanism, I think we should talk to the local priest don’t you think?” Rossi suggested and Agent Hotchner nodded.

“Yeah good thinking.” And she followed the two out of the room.

Rossi and Derek decided to go to the church, while Bonnie and Agent Hotchner returned to the police station to share their findings. Jennifer and Emily had just returned from visiting Abby’s father.

“He fed her fingers? That’s messed up.” Jennifer scrunched her nose like being hit with a bad smell.

“You ever wonder what human meat tastes like?” Emily pondered to herself and Agent Hotchner ignored her, while Bonnie shook her head.

“Never thought about it, never want to.”

Before Emily could go on further about eating people, an officer barged into the office and all heads turned.

“Sir, we’ve just got a call about a woman being abducted at a rest stop near the state park. We’d like you to check it out. We think it’s your guy.”

“Alright. Emily come, JJ and Reid stay and wait for Rossi and Morgan.” The boss had ordered and Bonnie could easily see how restless Spencer was getting being stuck in this small room from the minute they arrived.

At the rest stop, the team were brought into a bathroom, a smelly one. In one stall, a red inverted pentagram had been drawn on the door, marking which one the act had been committed, possibly to tell satan it was here. The toilet lid was down and a stack of books perched on top.

“Books?” Emily questioned.

“Satanic ones. And they’re nice and neat. This unsub may have been institutionalised, seeing as we’ve profiled he’s mentally ill. The only form of control he had was being tidy, almost military. Everything else was stripped away.”

Then he paused, his thumb running over the rest of his fingers. “Host a search party. Five o’clock today.” That was in two hours.

“You think she’s still here?” Emily asked as the three strolled back to the SUV.

“Maybe. There’s only one way to find out. Plus, the woman at the store said no cars have driven in…”

“Maybe she just didn’t see it or something? On break?” Bonnie suggested but Agent Hotchner shook his head.

“I don’t know. But… hopefully this search will help us.”

Two hours rolled on very quickly, and the whole team arrived to see a whole town at the park. Flyers being handed out, snacks and water, even hot food.

Father Marks had volunteered as well, he was the priest that Rossi and Derek spoke to. Bonnie wasn’t very sure of the man, she’d never met him, only that the team are assuming the unsub has some sort of connection to worship… and could tell that neither was Derek.

“What the fuck is that guy doing here?” The man mumbled next to Agent Hotchner who rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“He’s helping with the search.”

“Hotch you know that unsubs will sometimes insert themselves into the investigations right? This dude knows about this satanic stuff!”

“Morgan, chill out. Rossi said he was very cooperative right? He knows his stuff, you interviewed him… i don’t think your dislike for this man has anything to do with this case.” Bonnie feared that Derek may land a punch on Agent Hotchners face the way the man stepped back and clenched his fist. “Let’s just focus on finding Tracy Lambert alright?” Derek huffed, shoving his hands deep into his pockets and shoved on his dark sunglasses and walked alone into the forest.

Meanwhile Bonnie landed herself beside Spencer. “They’ve got chilli over there. Who eats chilli on a search party?” Bonnie chuckled, pointing out the stand to Spencer who hummed.

“Apparently Emily.” He said as they watched Emily take a bowl and scoop some into her mouth. “I hate public food. Don’t know where it’s been.”

Bonnie didn’t mind it. Sometimes it was better than buying ingredients from the shop which costed more than a simple takeaway. She couldn’t really afford to care about who handled her food. As long as she wasn’t hungry and it tasted good.

She signed the searchers sheet and herself and Spencer stuck close together. The memory of going off alone in the woods during the Sandy Parker case crept up on her like a stalker and choked her from behind. She started combing her hair with her fingers, protecting it.

Her breathing became heavier as her eyes frantically scanned her surrounding, instinctively looking for short red hair.

“Hey.” Spencer’s voice didn’t exactly make her stop, but she now had something to focus on. “Everything’s gonna be alright. I’m here with you. And I’m allowed to use a gun now!”

That made her feel a little lighter, but with each step further into the woods she felt the trees closing in on her.

“I hope so… just the last time I did this I almost died… on my first case as well.”

“You ever hear about my first case?” Spencer asked, trying his hardest to comfort the younger girl.

“No?”

He laughed at the reminiscence. “I was twenty one. I’d never been in a fight or-or anything like that my entire life. I had just been granted permission to be allowed in the field. Hotch took the lead like always, and-and told me to go round back with Morgan. I was basically a look out.” He was smiling. “So we went around the back of this big house, and he told me to stay put while he checked the inside was clear. I couldn’t shoot by then, I was awful.” She managed to laugh a little, still keeping close to Spencer, grazing his arm as she walked through the woods.

“The unsub jumped me from behind. And I wasn’t stocky or strong like Hotch or Morgan, hell I’m still not! He took me down and whacked me hard on the head and I couldn’t see from how dizzy I was. I genuinely thought I was gonna die. That was until morgan shot him. The first time I’ve even been close to a bullet. When I sat up, I threw up all over myself. Like literally everywhere.” He began to really laugh now. So hard he could barely finish his sentence. “And then- and then, Morgan took of his top and had to physically change me. Mind you we’re in this person back garden with a dead man behind us and he’s stripping me! My shoes at that point were covered in vomit and y’know the first thing I said was?”

“What?” She asked laughing along, despite how scary it must have been.

“I asked for my mom. My mother! At my grown age being an FBI agent I asked for my mom. Morgan had to take my shoes off and carried me bridal style to the SUV. I’ll never forget that. Or Gideon… while I was in the hospital getting stitches he stayed by my side the entire time. Reading from his bird books… he knew I hated hospitals…” Bonnies smile slowly faded to a frown.

“I know you miss him… he was a great guy. From my little time with him I learned a lot! Like that time he called that man’s mum a whore? Who does that?!” She hadn’t been present from the amount of guns pulled, but agent Hotchner told her everything once they were back safely in the jet. How Gideon confronted this man named Frank and simply insulted his mother, before the man and a victim jumped in front of a train.

That insult must have really hurt.

“Only Gideon.” Spencer laughed again, but distantly. Sadly almost.

“I’m sorry he left Spencer. If I could bring him back for you I would. I know what it’s like to-“ she stopped and cleared her throat. There were some things in the world that aren’t meant to be said. Like how it was actually quite obvious Spencer lacked a parental figure. Seeing how much he admired… and actually loved Agent Gideon as if he were his own flesh and blood.

“It’s that obvious?” Spencer turned to her with a smirk. “Shit I thought I was doing well with hiding the fact I don’t have a dad.”

Bonnie snorted. “I understand. My dad passed when I was little. Just been me and my mum ever since.” Thought now it seemed like it was just her alone. Eighteen and all by herself in this big big world.

“I’m… I’m sorry to hear that. This team… it’s a family. I’ve gained a father, lost him, but I also gained brothers and sisters, and whatever Hotch is… I can’t put my finger on it…“ perhaps Agent Hotchner just had that dad vibe. Considering he had a little boy at home.

Or maybe it was his age actually…

The Tobias Hankel case file flashed quickly in her mind, and she remembered Spencer’s name very clearly, and wondered if she could risk asking about it. If there was something wrong, she’d like to know. It could help her understand the team better, seeing as this went down before she had joined them.

“Spencer…” she started anxiously. Sandy Parker no longer in her thoughts.

He hummed back.

“When I was sorting the case files, I saw one with your name in it.” The man shifted and cleared his throat.

“Oh really?”

“Yeah… Tobias Hankel?” You couldn’t have missed the flinch even if you weren’t looking. And with that she regretted every opening her mouth. “I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“No…” he scratched his arm. “No it’s ok. We’re a family now.” She wondered if he knew how much that had meant to her. “He was a sick man. Mentally unwell. He kidnapped me, drugged me. I dug my own grave.” He scoffed sourly. “But the team found me just in time… sometimes I wish they hadn’t.” He whispered the last part, but having it be so quiet around this forest Bonnie heard, and tentatively reached for Spencer’s hand which he flinched at.

“Sorry… I forgot you don’t like to be touched.”

His face of fear turned soft, and he gave a small smile, and took her hand in his. “Only with family.”

A surge of warmth coated her body as she really smiled.

Unfortunately, after a couple hours no girl had turned up. So both Bonnie and Spencer reluctantly left the forest, despite how much they wanted to keep looking, and were met with a serious faced Agent Hotchner, and they let go of each other.

“It’s getting too dark, we have to go back to the station, JJ has an idea.” And the two younger ones shared a worried look before getting into the SUV, driven by Agent Hotchner.

Back at the station, Jennifer began reading over the search list and volunteers from the church, hoping the theory of the unsub being part of the church was right, but so far had nothing.

“Garcia’s I’D the fingers. No two are the same. That’s ten victims.” Spencer began drawing on the map. “Hey look at this.”

Jennifer, Agent Hotchner, and Bonnie stood closer.

“The hunting ground is in the middle of it all. The last time any of the woman were last seen.” Agent Hotchner thought aloud.

“He likes to stay close to home then. Gives him familiarity.” Jennifer said and Spencer nodded.

“It was prostitution that helped Garcia with the ID. I think they were easy to catch.”

The thought of her mother out all alone with strange men was too much for Bonnie, so she slipped outside and pulled a cigarette from her blazer pocket, walking around the side of the police building for a bit of privacy. Hoping none of the team would discover her disgusting habit.

It was a simple little thing that filled her with relief. A break. She started when she was 14 after getting her first job in a small take away shop that was always busy. Nipping out the back for five minutes was a blessing. The nicotine high would relax her tense body and she’d go back in after drowning herself in perfume, and feel as if she had rested well and could continue.

Quitting was very hard and sometimes she regretted ever picking up a cigarette. But on the most stressful times such as thinking about her mother, it was the only escape. The only thing to take her mind elsewhere.

It was later that night when Derek left the station, only to come running back in with the news of a body which was already on the way to the hospital, and father mark was brought in for questioning.

Agent Hotchner began. “She’s Hispanic for one. She’s not either of the women we’ve been looking for.” As amidst the searching for Tracey, another woman had been abducted. Every single member of the team had felt absolutely hopeless. How could they host a search only for another woman to go missing?

“Her names Maria Lopez, 31, 2 kids. Numerous arrests for solicitation and prostitution. But she was reported missing nine months ago.” Jennifer furrowed her brows in confusion.

“How does that work? He’s holding them?” Emily asked Agent Hotchner who was double checking the search sheets while Rossi and Derek spoke to Father Mark.

“Get Dr Fulton on the phone.” Agent Hotchner demanded and Jennifer began to dial.

Once the man answered, Agent Hotchner started immediately. “Has Maria Lopez’s cells burst?”

“Why?” The doctor asked and Agent Hotchner groaned.

“Because we think she was killed, frozen, kept, and eaten.”

The line went silent. A couple of seconds passed and the doctor replied. “Yes, her cells were burst.”

“Thanks.” And the man ended the call.

“Well that explains why we haven’t found any other victims.”

Bonnie took a shaky breath. “Garcia’s checking mental institutes still, there’s two but we’re gonna have to narrow this down.” Agent Hotchner sat down and failed Penelope’s phone.

“Now call Garcia.”

“A please would be nice.” Jennifer held her phone in her hand waiting.

“Please.”

And she then dialed.

“I’m your fairy godmother Garcia, you may grant me one wish!”

“Have you found anything in the institutions yet?” Agent Hotchner asked.

“So I can't find any patients in florida Who have the charmheg of being both a satanist and a cannibal. However, hazelwood mental institution is the place to go When looking for florida's most dangerous kinds of wackos, And they had a fire in 1998 that destroyed all their records.”

Agent Hotchner listened intently, not moving a single muscle.

“Let’s give hazelwood a visit, JJ call them and tell them we’re coming. Reid, Bonnie let’s go.” As tired as she was, Bonnie went, lunging her first steps and cracking her neck that Emily gagged at.

“What are you expecting we find?” Spencer asked from the front seat.

“A man who would have been young at the time, very mentally ill, and hopefully someone who will know of our description.”

“That’s really vage.” Bonnie piped up from the back and agent Hotchner nodded.

“But this man would also be prone to biting, like during fights or something. Hopefully someone will have a file.”

So when they pulled up to Hazelwood, that’s exactly what they did.

They were brought into a doctors office, not much decorating the area besides a couple diplomas and such.

“As I told agent Jareau on the phone, We have no existing record of that patient you described.” The doctor said feeling helpless. His hands out in front of him on the table, as if trying to grab any sort of memory that would help.

“We know. We were hoping you might actually remember a patient. He would have been an adolescent when admitted.”

“Dr Lorenz was in charge of adolescents.” The doctor replied as grief covered his sunken face.

“Is he here?” Agent Hotchner asked and the man shook his head.

“He died in the fire. He was leaving when he heard the alarm and ran back in.”

“Why?” Spencer asked.

“He was a very dedicated man.”

“Like he had something to protect? Something to risk his life over?” Bonnie then asked.

The doctors wrinkled forehead creased, and he stood up from his chair. “There was one thing…” moving towards a desk and sliding one of the drawers open, pulling out a worn out notebook.

“This boy… he wrote about taking a bite out of his nine year old sister… cannibalism’s what you’re looking for isn’t it?” Agent Hotchner took the book from the doctors hands and flipped to the front.

“Floyd Feylinn Ferell.”

The sirens were on, speeding down streets and running red lights, Bonnie gripped onto her door handle in fear of her life. She’d never been in a police car like this before.

Rossi and Morgan were closer than they were, having been at the church with Father Mark.

By the time they arrived, the suspect was in Derek’s hands, shirtless, being pushed into the back of a police car.

“That’s him?” She asked peeking to look out of the front window with wide eyes.

“Yep.” Agent Hotchner answered, and began following the car down to the station.

The team were all together again, and their anxieties had dropped slightly, all hoping this truly was the man the town was looking for. To bring justice to those dead.

The entire team stood outside of the double sided glass window of the interrogation room, all very eager that this was the one.

Father Mark was waiting with the rest of the team.

“Kobe girl steak.” The man began. “That’s where you prepare the meat isn’t it?” The man was unresponsive. “You’ve got a lot of unusual recipes in here Floyd.” Derek held up a better looking journal than the one found at the institute. “Must have tried some of ‘em?”

“Hm.” Floyd hummed down to himself.

“Talk to me.” The agents eyes digging holes into the smaller, much weaker man. “Which ones?”

Floyd slightly lifted his head in the direction of Derek. “Some have smiley faces. Some have sad.” It was the first time any of them had heard him speak. It was soft, calm, unnerving.

Despite how sick Derek just have felt, he carried on. “You ever hear voices Floyd?”

“I’m not smart. But I have a smart friend who tells me things.” Floyd responded.

“What’s your friends name?”

Floyd ignored him. “He wants me to tell you something.” And Derek waited. “Your watch has stopped working.”

“He’s trying to spook him.” Agent Hotchner commented from the other side of the glass

“Yeah uh… I’ve been meaning to change the batteries for a month.”

Bonnie hoped Floyds plan wouldn’t work on Derek, because she was certainly taken back.

Derek then proceeded to suggest that Floyd took fit women due to the fact they would have more ‘meat’ on their bones for his recipes. To which Floyd answered he thought that skinny people who took drugs didn’t taste very nice.

“Where’s Tracy Lambert?” Derek drilled, and Floyd smiled.

“I can only tell Father Mark.”

Derek excused himself and even though Agent Hotchner was against it, the man was able to take Father Mark into the room. “I do all the talking. Alright?” And the priest nodded.

Floyd immediately looked up when he saw Father Mark. “Thank you for coming father.”

“Anything I can do for-“ Derek paused the priest with a finger in the air.

“I had to pull a lot of strings to get him in here Floyd. My bosses really didn’t like to idea of him sending him in at all. So he’s gonna sit here nice and quiet, and you’re only gonna talk to me, alright?”

“Ok.” Floyd answered. “I’ve done bad things.”

“We’ve all done bad things we’re not proud of Floyd. The only thing that helps is to tell others.”

“Not everything” Floyd shook his head.

From beyond the glass, Bonnie’s head had tilted in interest looking at Floyds demeanour. He had completely opened when Father Marks had came in, and could not stop taking glances every couple of seconds to the priest. He looked, like he was planning something.

“This isn’t right.” Agent hotchner’s brows were furrowed as he too stared at Floyd. “When Floyd was at the search he signed the sign in sheet, but not the searchers.”

Inside, Derek pressed. “Come on Floyd. I got him in here because you wanted him, now it’s your turn. Where is Tracy Lambert?”

Bonnies eyes faltered around the room in thought. She could see some stalls. Snacks and drinks, then she looked up to the people. Those handing them out. “Something wrong…” but she hadn’t made it out yet.

“I feel so alone father. That god had abandoned me.” Father Mark looked at Derek for permission to speak, and the man nodded.

“You are not alone, my son. God is in all of us.”

“We have to stop the interview.” Agent Hotchner panicked.

The man, Floyd, began to grin sinisterly, twisted his head upwards, and laughed.

“So is Tracy Lambert.”

Then it all made sense.

She could see him so clearly now. Standing behind the stand where chilli was being served. She had watched him give a bowl to Emily.

Bonnie spun around to watch the said woman run out of the room covering her mouth with her hand.

“You son of a bitch- you son of a-“ Father Mark flung his body of the table and lunged for Floyds throat, Derek catching him by his waist and yelled for back up. All while Floyd watched with a grin on his face.

A face Bonnie would not forget.

Back on the jet, after Emily was done throwing up every piece of food in her body, everyone was silent.

Derek was not present, but no one paid much mind.

Bonnie brought out her small flip phone and texted Penelope. She first had to collect her things that she left at the BAU, then find a way to get to Penelope’s apartment. Maybe Agent Hotchner would give her a lift. Or Jennifer. Not Emily… Emily would want some alone time. Probably to make herself throw up some more.

Well at least she knew was human meat tasted like now…

Bonnie screwed her face up at the sudden thought.

‘Hey Penelope, we’re on the jet now, I won’t be long!’ She texted and sent, before passing out on the plan ride home.

——————————

“Bonnie! Bonnie wake up!” A strong hand was shaking her from her slumber and she jumped out of her chair in a panic.

Agent Hotchner grabbed her shoulder and hurried her out of the jet, her still being in a sleepy state.

“What? What’s wrong?!” She breathed heavily as she tried to keep up with the man’s long strides.

“I…” his grip on her tightened. “Penelope’s been shot.”

#criminal minds #spencer reid #derek morgan #aaron hotchner #emily prentiss #jennifer jareau #david rossi #moreid #jemily #penelope garcia #thesiriusmoon bonnie cm #cm fandom #cm fanfic #cm fanfiction #criminal minds fanfiction #dad!hotch #father figure hotch #thesiriusmoon writes cm

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sullustangin · 1 year

Text

Fluffy February Day 24: Bubbly

SWTOR

Pairing: Jace Malcom/Satele Shan

Time: Two days after the Battle of Alderaan, 14 BTC (3667 BBY)

Words: ~1200

A/N: Drew Karpyshyn already wrote the beginning and ending of their relationship in Annihilation. I only remembered that at the last minute, so I had to scrounge my copy to check things. That’s why this is a little late... but still very fluffy. Last minute edits to make the canon timeline work.

Satele Shan never dithered about her duties as a commander. She visited those under her command and those she was coordinating with. She went to the medical sector as part of that.

At times, Satele felt like an interloper or maybe someone who was demanding a lot of them by her very presence. Jedi could be intimidating. Force Users in general were for a lot of them; her duel with Malgus was probably the first time some of them had seen a high-end fight with Jedi and Sith. That didn’t help.

At the same time, it was Jace Malcom. They’d known each other for almost fifteen years now. He’d seen it all, from the beginning. They grew up together in this war. Satele had to acknowledge that. They weren’t the same people they were when they’d first arrived at Korriban.

She’d kissed him last night.

…and they’d always kept contact, even if it’d been years since they’d been on the same planet. He’d bought her Hoth chocolate right after Korriban. She’d seen his face on a cereal box. She’d met his ‘dopey brother’ Kal (and he apologized, profusely, for the ‘trauma’). He’d watched her silently panic when a Jedi master accidentally drank a fish in a cup of tea she’d procured (long story, nobody died).

…and just last year, he’d taken her out on a pair of speeder bikes. No helmets, no troops, just them being stupid, getting rushes of adrenaline, as if they were normal people.

She’d kissed him last night.

And now he was here. In the medical wing. Just past those doors and down the hall.

He’d initially been recuperating in his tent. She’d gone to him.

Stars, she’d kissed him last night.

It did feel inevitable, because they two had been in this the entire time, from the second it had started.

…then he’d taken a turn, suddenly, in the early morning hours, after she’d tucked him in.

He’d sacrificed himself for her. He…

Satele bit down on the inside of her lip. She… she knew Jace was in love with her and had been for years. Now she knew he loved her. And she…

He was right. There was a lot more going on inside of her than she let on.

And he was one of the major agitators of that activity.

Enough. Time to go in.

Satele crept along the floor on quiet feet, all the way to the rear of the medical sector in Organa Castle.

…the more severely injured people were, the further back they were. Jace… was close to the very back.

Satele could see him sitting up in his bed even before she reached him. Jace wasn’t a small man. And yet… he seemed so uncharacteristically frail as he sat up in bed, hooked up to machines that monitored his heart, his lungs, his brain… the list went on.

“Jace?” she softly whispered.

He heard her. She felt his emotions suddenly perk up, because before...

His heavily bandaged head turned toward her and instinctively a hand went up to his one visible eye –

Oh, Jace.

Satele kept walking toward him.

“H-hey, Satele,” he whispered back. He was the only one awake in this part of the ward.

She stood at the foot of his bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Bubbly,” he answered her. “The kolto in my blood – it makes me feel fizzy, like a soda pop.”

He made her smile. She loved his descriptions. They were so colorful and lively compared to neutral terms Jedi strove to use in diplomacy and in securing their own equilibriums.

Satele didn’t have any of that right now. She decided to get closer, sitting down on the side of his bed. He scooted his legs over slightly. “How –” Words failed her for a moment. “When are you getting out of here?”

The side of the mouth she could see hitched. “Another week or two. I ate a lot of dirt. They think it’s an infection. Or a mushroom.” He smiled, one-sided, as she smiled. “And anything else that’ll take a week to grow.”

The tremor in his voice.

Satele decided not to be diplomatic today. She’d already kissed him; she could take some liberties in being direct. “You were crying.”

“Was not.”

“Were too.”

“Was not. You need to stop lurking in the shadows. Doesn’t suit a Jedi.”

“I’m a visitor today. Off-duty.

The only man she’d bickered with – ‘bickering’ was a word she’d read in novels about people who were committed to each other long term, romantically or platonically.

Fifteen years fit that description.

Jace sighed. “Just feeling sorry for myself. …it’s going to be a lot to explain to family. Friends. Some of the guys I talked to when I was doing my service shifts at Coruscant Veterans – they worry about being pitied. Getting felt sorry for. And depending how bad it is…” Jace’s hand ghosted up to the side of his face that had been burned and bloodied. “…I don’t wanna scare little kids.”

There was something inside her that was crumbling down. Satele reached for his hand. “You have been and always will be quite handsome. You were on a cereal box,” she gently teased him.

“…I don’t think they’re gonna give me a call back for a second edition.” He gripped her hand so tightly, so small in his massive palm.

She felt like she had to say it, even if he was going to tell her he didn’t need it from her. “You know that doesn’t matter to me. I understand –”

“I know – you’ve always understood. Everything about this war. You’re the only one like me.” Another smile, another painful twitch of a nerve. “Why I’ve been chasing you for so long.”

The words came out of her. She didn’t want to stop them. “I don’t know what I would have done if you’d been killed in front of me.”

Jace sighed. “You would have been fine. You’re the best thing the Republic has,” he reassured her.

“But I would have lost my oldest friend.” Now she reached for the other hand, to hold her and be held by her.

“Thought we were more than just friends now,” he teased her.

A voice mumbled next to them. “What a weird-ass dream this is.”

Satele froze like a deer in the headlights of a speeder.

Jace immediately dropped into Captain Malcom mode. “Yes, this a dream. Get back to it, soldier.”

“Aye, aye!” came the drowsy response.

There was even a floppy salute before the man in the bed next to Jace’s bed resumed his sleep cycle.

The Jace’s expression became something a little panicked, as if this would scare Satele off, if the almost being caught had put her off of being with him entirely –

She giggled.

And then he started giggling too, and that was funny within itself, because Jace was huge –

Satele just had to leave, because she couldn’t stop giggling, even at age 32, but before she did, Jace got another kiss off her.

…and that made him feel bubbly too, even more than the kolto did.

A/N 2 -- In the comic Lost Suns, Theron complains that his blood "feels carbonated” after spending some time in kolto. Some people have weird sensations from IVs and IV dye, so I decided it’s hereditary, from Jace.

@fluffyfebruary @ayresis @starlightcleric @ermingarden @bluephoenix1347

#fluffy february #swtor #jace malcom #satele shan #jace malcom/satele shan

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saikokirakira · 2 years

Text

Breaking the Curse (pt. 1 of 2)

word count: 4.2k

a/n: so i went back on my word and split this into two parts because i passed the 4k word count. had a half hour cry in the shower and posting this after proofreading it once. gets a lil weird in the end, but i'm feeling good enough to post it anyways.

as the locals say... bahala na si batman.

Set between III. Marc pt.3 and IV. Jake pt.1 | AU Masterlist

warnings: death, violence, trauma, arthur harrow, heavily implied poly themes, non-canon Philippine mythology; non-canon depiction of babaylans (Filipino shamans), steven being an atla nerd (if you squint), steven being a clueless cinnamon bun, layla being girlboss and the object of bisexual panik, proofread once (1)

Someone who can free you from this curse.

You sat in the backseat of Layla’s jeep on the way back to the desert, muddled in your thoughts. It was dangerous, what Harrow planted in your head, and you would be a liar if you said that you weren’t considering his offer. But it was your life at the cost of thousands. Your conscience wouldn’t allow it.

Maybe you were destined to be alone, to be cursed. You were cursed the moment your powers emerged. Before Bakunawa, before the initiation rites, before everything…

“You know, he’s trying to get in your mind,” Marc spoke up, both to you and Layla. “Don’t let him do that. He’s got this idea that he can see the true nature of people or some baloney like that.”

“So, it’s not true? What he said about you and—”

“No, it’s not true,” Marc cut Layla off rather quickly. “He’s just trying to divide us. Don’t let him get in your head.”

“He already did,” you mumbled, too low for them to hear. The farther Layla drove from the city, the more you wanted to jump out of the moving vehicle and hop on the first plane back to London. Away from Harrow, away from Khonshu, away from Layla and Marc.

Away from Steven.

“Every time I learn something new about you, I think, ‘That’s it. There can’t possibly be any secrets left between us,’” Layla said, her voice wavering as she tried to keep her eyes on the road, “and then something else pops up, and it’s like I’ve not known you at all.”

“Yeah, you haven’t,” Marc said, his voice stoic and unfeeling.

“Ass,” you whispered under your breath. You slid lower in your seat and pressed your head against the window. This felt like a conversation you shouldn’t be an audience to, and despite Layla being silent, you could literally hear her heart break in the car.

“How are you feeling?” Layla broke the silence, glancing at you from the rearview mirror.

“Fine,” you shrugged, smiling stiffly at her. You’ve always though there should be some awkwardness between you and Layla, but no, you appreciated her company, especially when Marc was present. He was more bearable around her. “I definitely know what I’m painting when I’m back in London.” You pointed your thumb outside the window, gesturing at the sands.

“I never knew what you do back in London,” Layla said, genuinely curious. You thought it was her way to ignore Marc’s recent dismissal of her, but unknowingly to you, she tried to comfort you in her own way. Something happened – maybe it was in Mogart’s estate or maybe before that – that broke you.

It was apparent to Layla that you were also facing your demons. All three of you in that vehicle were. Layla just hoped you don’t completely shut down like Marc did… does.

“I restore antique paintings for snobby rich people,” you answered. “That’s how Steven and I bonded.”

Layla laughed at your reply. For a someone who ‘recovers’ antiques and relics from thieves, she certainly knows those specific type of people. Little did she know that her few seconds of amusement released a flutter of butterflies in your stomach. Even melted a bit of Marc’s icy exterior.

“That’s what we’re doing? Just making small chat while a bunch of homicidal maniacs are trying to find us?”

And Marc just ruined the moment by acting like a grumpy old man.

“I summon the gods; you summon the worm.”

“Marc, we can’t wait,” Layla urged. “It’s okay. Just let go.”

“We don’t have time,” you added.

In a burst of frustration, Marc pulled the side mirror from the jeep and stomped away with the torn pieces of the map. He stared at the mirror for a minute while Layla and you watched his back from afar. Then suddenly, his demeanor changed, even from his posture alone.

You felt a nudge on your side, and you looked to see Layla gesturing you to approach Steven, who was already quickly working on the map and probably didn’t even know you were still here in Cairo with them. You wanted to move, but your feet felt cemented in the sand. Marc’s words echoed in your mind, and your heart seized.

Steven doesn’t deserve this. Steven deserved better than you. It was better that you start accepting that.

So, you shook your head at Layla and offered her to go instead. Layla looked at you, trying to figure out the storm that was raging in your eyes, but thought it was best to leave you and go to Steven for now. You watched as Layla knelt beside Steven, who noticed her presence and had to do a double-take with a lovestruck look before they started a conversation while proceeding to interpret the map.

You stuck your hands in your jacket and walked away, leaning back against the rear of the jeep to stare at the moon. You had a few seconds of peace before you sighed wearily, “What do you want, Khonshu?”

“I figure the serpent is still asleep.”

“Thanks to you,” you retorted.

“Ammit does not have the means to free you from your curse. She will only seek to control you for your powers, to destroy the gods that had once banished her. You will become a weapon of revenge.”

“I already know that!” you snapped, not wanting to deal with this. “It’s what everyone always wanted from me. It’s what you want from me. You want revenge as much as Ammit does.”

“Do not compare me to that murderer! I only punish those who have already done wrong.”

“Right, right,” you huffed, not trusting him one bit.

“And yet,” Khonshu said, “I do need you. Marc Spector will need you, whether he likes it or not.” Then he vanished into the night. “You will protect him while I’m gone.”

“Love?”

You turned to see Steven standing, star-shaped map in hand, looking at you as if it was the first time. Khonshu was right beside him, looking between the map and Layla’s tablet. Never did you felt so torn between running away and running into Steven’s arms.

“Hey, puppy,” you replied softly but stayed where you were beside the car. That move alone caused hurt to flash in Steven’s eyes.

“What did he do?” Steven asked calmly, but his eyebrows furrowed as if he was trying not to get angry. He decided to close the physical space between you and march straight towards you. “Love, are you alright?”

“No, no, he didn’t do anything,” you said, unwillingly melting as soon as Steven’s hands held at your shoulders. You knew Marc wanted to protect Steven more than you ever did. You would hate that you would be the reason that wedged them apart.

“Talk to me. I’ll fix it.”

You choked from trying to hold back a sob. “Steven, we have to find the tomb.” Your words came out in a raspy breath. “Okay? Don’t worry about me.”

“I’ll always worry about you, love,” Steven said, pressing his forehead against yours. “Coming all this way for me.”

“Steven.”

“Hm?”

“The map.”

“Oh.”

Ten minutes later, you and Layla were chasing an unconscious Steven rolling down a dune with a jeep of Harrow’s men circling the area. You patted his cheek when he stopped midway. “Steven, Steven,” you called.

“Let’s go,” Layla said, tugging you back to her jeep. She hoisted you to the back and closed the door behind you, pulling both of you flat on the trunk.

You held your breath as their jeep neared and flashed lights to find you. You heard them converse in Arabic. You looked at Layla in question.

‘They’re looking for you,’ she mouthed. ‘Bakunawa?’

You held a finger up, a sign for her to wait as you attempted to summon the deity again. Then, there it was. A slither crawling up your spine as you felt the nonexistent scales move under your skin. He was weak, but he was willing to protect you three.

I see the Moon God got himself into a rocky – or should I say, stony situation.

Seriously? Now really isn’t the time.

You heard an amused hiss before you felt him truly awaken.

“Stay here,” you ordered.

Layla watched as you sat up and grabbed a couple of flares from her supplies. Under the dim light, she could make out the shimmer from the back of your hands as well as the iridescent glow from your elongated fingernails. As soon as the jeep circled away, you jumped out and lit the flares, shutting the door behind you.

Even though Layla wanted to peer through the window and offer you some cover, Harrow’s men rained bullets towards your direction, causing her to duck back down. It was a whole five minutes of yelling, mostly from Harrow’s men, followed by a loud explosion. When Layla heard the jeep driving away, she opened the door to see you simply standing there, watching them drive away.

“Are you okay?” Layla rushed over to you. She paused when a steady flow of blood was pouring from your arm. You were shot.

“It’s fine,” you said, your voice not quite yours but not otherworldly as well. “It’ll heal. The bullet went right through.”

Layla noticed you refused to meet her eyes. She knew you hated facing people directly when you were still in Bakunawa’s half-human form. Still, she grabbed your scaled hand and squeezed gently. “Thanks.”

You smiled back, and for a moment, it was just you and Layla holding hands under the faint moonlight.

… with Steven unconscious in the corner.

Really? The Avatar’s wife too? Let me remind you that our body is still bleeding.

“Thanks for the reminder,” you huffed, finding the moment completely ruined.

Layla was surprised by the outburst for a mere second before it clicked. Her eyes lowered to where your hands connected. She raised your hand and gently ran her fingers over the tattoos swirling around your wrist.

“He looks harmless like this,” she noted. Her fascination sparkled in her eyes as the snake followed her fingers than lingered on your knuckles. All the butterflies in your stomach flew around in a frenzy at her mere touch.

As much as you didn’t want to admit it, you liked Layla.

I like her too.

Not now, Bakunawa.

“Love?”

Both of you glanced back to Steven, who was now on his feet, disheveled and still a little out of it. His eyes looked at Layla, then at you, then at your hands still together. Then he turned panicked and rushed over to you. “Oh, my God,” he said. “You’re hurt.”

Oh. Right.

“Steven, it’s fine,” you assured. “The exit wound stopped bleeding.”

Steven only looked aghast… and maybe needed to throw up.

“I’ll get some water,” Layla said. “Then we have to go. Harrow must be headed back to the tomb.”

You and Steven followed her to the jeep and handed us bottles of water, including one for herself. You took a sip, mostly to calm your nerves, then with a flick of your finger lifted the water out of the bottle. The sight of a blob of water floating in the air had Layla and Steven looking bewildered.

The water covered your hand like a glove as you placed pressure on your shoulder wound. You grunted and hissed as you felt both wounds closing and the bone fracture binding back. When you put your hand back down, you were panting and completely worn out, but the gunshot wound was nothing more than an angry bruise. It will be gone by tomorrow.

“Wow, so you’re like a waterbender, love.”

“What?” Layla said, while a short laugh escaped you.

“Let’s go,” you said. “I really need a nap.”

“Hadn’t he disappeared from your life already?”

You stirred awake from the sound of Steven’s voice. Turns out he was still talking with Layla from the passenger seat. Opening your eyes, the sun had already risen and shining down from the window in the backseat where you were lying down.

“Yeah. I mean, whatever. His suit was his best feature, wasn’t it?” Layla scoffed. “Didn’t even have that anymore.”

You remained still and tried to pretend you were asleep. As much as you wanted to dislike Marc, you knew how important he was to Steven and Layla. In a way, maybe you did like him too.

“Plus, I know him,” Layla continued. “He’d want to lone wolf this thing. That’s why I sent her to keep an eye on him in case, and even he tried to send her away.” She smiled, pained, at Steven. “It’s not happening. We’re not gonna do that.”

“We are not,” Steven agreed. “We’re a team, us three. Just us and the open road.”

Then the car jerked to a rough stop, sending you flying off the seat. Your body was bent in half as your torso rolled to the back of Steven’s seat. “I’m good, I’m good,” you groaned in the midst of Layla’s giggles. “Loving your driving, Layla.”

You followed them out into the desert heat and walked between towering desert landforms. The shade from those structures didn’t help the arid head that bombarded you for the past hour of travelling by foot. You were about to plead for a break when Layla spoke up.

“There they are.”

Beyond the piercing sunlight, you could see a dig site in the distance.

“Let’s keep moving.”

It took fifteen minutes to get to what seemed to be an abandoned site. “Looks like they’re already inside,” you mentioned. “We need another way to beat them to the tomb.”

“Supplies, then we go in,” Layla declared, and you all nodded in agreement. “Go with Steven. I’ll look there.”

Steven and you headed to the east side of the site and decided to split between the two tents. From the foldable cots and lack of anything else, the tent looked to be sleeping quarters. You didn’t have much luck except for a medical kit and an emergency flashlight. After searching, you decided to head over to Steven and heard muttering from the inside.

“… anything that comes out of your mouth just shows what a plonker I am.”

There were more muttering and noises as he searched around the tent.

“I know I’m not alone,” he said, his voice rising. “I know I’m bloody not alone. I’ve got Layla and my girlfriend. They’ve got my back.”

“Puppy.” You decided to make your presence be known. “You okay?”

“I… I-I…”

“Was it Marc?” you asked gently, glancing at the mirror.

“Uh, no?” Steven smiled with the lie clear as day on his face. “Okay, yes, Marc has been talking to me through reflections.”

“Is he telling me to leave?”

“No, he’s talking about Layl— is that what he told you?”

“You know, I don’t mind.”

“Mind, mind what?”

“You and Layla,” you answered coyly.

“Me, me?”

You gently patted Steven’s cheek knowingly. “You’ll be okay. I trust her.” You pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “Come on. We’re burning daylight.”

Now, Steven had no idea what Marc had been telling you while he was asleep, but that kiss felt sadder than comforting. It felt like a goodbye.

“I don’t like this place.” That’s what you first said when you first reached the bottom of your climbing rope.

“I don’t like this place.” Was what you said again when you saw the embalming tools and canopic jars dripping with fresh blood.

“I really don’t like this place.” Again, when you were being chased by heka priests.

You, Layla, and Steven broke off into three different directions while you tried to draw the mummy away from Layla and Steven. You managed to subdue one of them, slashing and digging your clawed hand deep in its sternum. Necromancy was one of the worst types of magic you ever felt, and pulling the magic out of that corpse was even worse.

“That probably didn’t feel good, did it?”

You turned and saw Harrow calmly standing a few feet away, his cane in hand.

“I really don’t like this place,” you muttered again.

“I must say,” Harrow began, stepping forward.

“You stay right there,” you warned, your eyes flashing gold.

“I admire your ability to take all that pain, all that suffering. Ammit admires such strength.”

It’s a lie. It’s all false promises. You can’t be saved.

“I assume you think I give false promises.”

“I’m not listening.” You stood down, sensing that he wasn’t necessarily hostile. You decided to walk back to where you came from. Unfortunately, he just wouldn’t stop talking.

“Don’t you want to know what your curse really is, langga?”

“Shut up.”

Langga, I need you to run. Run away to where they can’t find you. Live your life. He will protect you.

“To know the curse, you know what you have to do.”

“SHUT UP!” you screamed, sending a burst of power towards Harrow. The force rumbled through the tombs and split the ground, creating a massive hole between you and the insane cultist.

Your display of fury only seemed to incite him even further. “Amazing,” Harrow praised, walking to the very edge of the precipice you just made. “Imagine the power you can have if you just release the serpent.”

“You want snakes?” you hissed. You unsuspectingly reached in your pockets for the snake skins you swiped from the mummy table, summoning life back into them. “Have at them.” You sent two-headed cobras in his direction before you dashed back down the hall where you came to continue looking for Steven and Layla.

Turns out you weren’t that far off when you took a left down the labyrinth that was this tomb. You heard Layla’s and Steven’s voice bouncing off the walls while you approached them. You were about to make yourself known by telling them to keep their voice down when Steven’s voice suddenly changed.

“Of course not,” Marc clearly spoke. “Of course, I didn’t.” His eyes wavered and found you coming their way.

“That’s the reason that we met,” Layla laughed derisively. “You just had a guilty conscience.”

A thud in the distance was enough warning to break the heavy atmosphere and alert you three to ready for violence. “Go, I’ll hold them off,” Marc urged Layla and you.

“I’m not leaving. I promised Khonshu I’d protect you,” you insisted, lightly shoving Layla to hide as Harrow’s obvious shadow moved closer from the hall.

Marc growled in frustration before pulling a golden axe from the sarcophagus. “Come on!”

Once Harrow appeared with a group of armed men, the rest of what happened was a blur.

“Get behind me!” you hissed at Marc.

All the weapons pointed at Marc before Harrow warned, “Move one step, and it’ll be his head.” He stepped forward. “If you transform, it’ll be his head.”

You never expected Harrow to shoot. Twice.

That was your mistake.

A mistake that cost him his life.

As Marc stumbled a few steps back, clinging to his fading life, Harrow lowered his gun. He knew you were harmless at this stage as you rushed to Marc who fell to the water. You pressed firmly on his chest, but his eyes looked at you without seeing.

“No, no, no, please,” you gasped, feeling you blood rushing in your ears as your breathing grew erratic. Your hands glowed in a desperate attempt to heal him. To bring life back to him.

He’s gone.

Your bottom lip quivered as you struggled to process your feelings. Rage, guilt, grief, emptiness. You felt everything at once, yet you were also filled with an overwhelming sense of clarity.

You knew how to bring Marc and Steven back.

Don’t. Take the ushabti and go! It’s one human over the rest of the world. GO!

Water splashing about echoed from your side as two of Harrow’s followers made their way to retrieve Marc. You mindlessly looked at them with empty eyes that glowed the angriest shade of golden fire. You pressed a kiss on the top of Steven’s head before facing them again. As you stood, your feet hovered about the water as you stared them down.

“Don’t touch him,” you warned in an otherworldly voice. It wasn’t yours or Bakunawa’s. Your own powers had consumed you, the very powers that had drawn the deity to you in the first place.

The followers kept on wading through the water but not for long. They halted in their steps for a few second before shrill screams pierced through the tomb, echoing down its halls. Both of them frantically scurried away from the deadly water in sheer panic, but not before they breathed their last breath on the steps by Harrow’s feet. Their eyes turned hollow and their cheeks sunken, and from the two lives that you took, the flame in your eyes burned brighter and more menacing.

“Come if you dare, Arthur Harrow,” you taunted, gesturing to Marc’s lifeless body. “Come retrieve your goddess.”

Stop it! I cannot let you do this! It is forbidden!

As expected, Harrow had protection to some extent. The water did him no harm. Still, he had no hesitation pulling the gun and fired its remaining bullets at you. Two shots hit your abdomen, and five hit you straight in the chest.

Just like Marc, you fell into the water, but it took longer for you to die. Long enough for Harrow to step right beside your head, looking down on you with contempt and disappointment. “You didn’t put much of a fight,” he noted passively.

Your attempts to chuckle came out in a fit of bloody coughs instead. “You… wanted the snake?” you wheezed, grasping to your remaining last breaths. “You shall… get him and more.”

In the end, Harrow will help you break the curse.

When you woke, your bare feet were submerged in a flowing brook. A little further, you saw it extended into a clearwater river that glistened under the bright, comfortingly warm sunlight. You looked around and saw towering bamboos and coconut trees where songs of birds were sung and the whistling of the bamboos travelled in the wind.

You were home.

But you knew you couldn’t stay.

You stepped out of the water and followed a path that was still very much clear in your memories. How could you ever forget it when you saw it – experienced it every time in your nightmares? The familiarity of it was as if you never left.

Either time flowed differently in this dimension or the way to the river bank was much closer in your mind palace.

Just behind the curtain of crawling flowering vines lied a totally different room. You looked back and saw the bright sunlit riverside while the room was pitch black all around with moonlight illuminating the water tank. A water tank with Steven in it.

Panic rushed through your veins, replacing all the fear inside you. “No, no, Steven, hang on!” you banged on the glass while Steven struggled and thrashed wildly in the water. When the glass was too thick enough to breach, you changed your stance and rammed the tank with your shoulder instead.

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to stop,” a voice said from behind the curtain. “I can’t let you break that tank.”

Ignoring the throbbing pain in your fists and shoulder, you faced the direction where the voice came from. The shadowy figure took a few steps forward, and… what? Oh, it’s a hippo. A giant hippo that for some reason, looked familiar, like you’ve seen it before.

“What do you mean I can’t?” you asked breathlessly.

“It’s highly dangerous to give a deity free access in your mind, miss.”

“A dei— no, that’s… that’s Steven.”

“Steven?” There was a brief silence from the hippo. She looked between you and the tank, glancing back and forth. “Oh!” she chirped, clearly unbothered that Steven was still currently drowning in the tank. “It’s a common thing in your mind to associate people you know with parts of who you are. That includes lil ol’ snakey here.”

“’Ol’ snakey?’” Bakunawa looks like Steven now. Okay…

“Bakunawa is the deity of one of the afterlife planes. That is why you are here, is it not?”

“Y-ye—”

“Then again, it has been centuries,” the hippo drawled out, “since he returned. Odd how he came back still cursed.”

That captured your attention. “So, you know about the curse?”

“Yes, all gods do, including me, Taweret. That’s me,” Taweret gushed, her ears fluttering at her words. That’s why she was familiar. Steven mentioned her before you asked about those plushies in the gift shop, which felt like a lifetime ago. “That is why I cannot have you release him in this plane. Far too dangerous.”

You deflated at the goddess’ statement.

“But if he came to you when you were alive and joined you in death…” You looked up as Taweret continued, “then I might be able to make an exception.”

“Taweret,” you said, “thank you.”

“Heed my warning though,” Taweret began, “you must break the curse. It’s the only way you can proceed to Paradise.” When you nodded in understanding, she walked forward to the tank. “It’s strange,” she noted, running her hand over the glass. Her ears twitched again, but it wasn't cheerful this time. “The curse was done by humans, but...”

“But…?”

“The magic used for the curse was bestowed by a god.”

#steven grant x reader #marc spector x reader #layla el faouly x reader #moon knight x reader #bakunawa!reader #bakunawa au #moon knight fanfic #moon knight fanfiction

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chattegeorgiana · 20 days

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Hey Chatte hope all is well! I saw your special Narusakra comic and your most recent post on IG showing off the Crown of the Sun for Sakura. Can’t wait to read & see how she gets there. I saw a lot of awesome pieces for NarSaukra day so I want to thank you and the rest of the community for keeping it alive.

I have been rereading Kaika and the chapters 11-13 so far are my favorite. I’m excited to how you are going to make the aliens/gods work and to be honest you have done a better than the canon. As for everyone’s favorite snake sanin I’m interested to how he ends in the plot. While personally I didn’t care for him be a “good” guy in canon in the present. He will always be a creature of habit and self serving. So I’m excited. Also a headcannon I thought of regarding him and Shina’s Gen. He would be interested Shina the most compared to the U twins probably feed up with Uchilas in general. Also given the fact that he probably shoot’s himself for overlooking Naruto and Sakura originally for the more polished product in Sauake. Shina also looking and sharing personality with Minmato would be funny because he would take as Minmato ghost coming back and trolling him. Best part is Shina would have no idea how much his presence would be triggering for him lol.

One last point it’s a little something I wanted to share with you. So I used to live in this suburb next to Newark NJ, USA and in Newark there is this section called Forest Hills. This neighborhood is famous for two reasons one is its old fashion mansions and Branch Brooke Park, which has over 5,000 Japanese cherry blossoms trees planted there. They have their own cherry blossoms festival and everything.

Hiii dear, welcome back again to my inbox!

Glad to hear you liked the NaruSaku special and Sakura's Crown of the Sun art.

To be honest, can't wait to get there myself. I have sooo many interesting ideas about how she gets it. Too many even, lol. I finally got to understand what other writers were meaning when they said you will get to discard some ideas at some point.

In the beginning I was like naa, I won't be doing that. But with time the ideas developed so much, that I see no other way than to drop a few from the beginning or better said, reform some of them to fit the new, updated idea lol.

Also thank you for your kind words. It is my pleasure, and many other artists, I'm sure, to keep the community alive.

After all, it's just pure love for them and that's it. We're free of the shackles of canon, so yay for us!

Now, to get back to Kaika.

First of all, thank you once again for your compliments! I'm so happy to see you liked what - at least - I'm trying to do there with the Otsutsukis.

I believe that the idea with them was not bad. It's the execution that's problematic, imo. That's why I tried to take a different route with them, while still referencing the canon element. I will be referencing a lot of elements from the OG franchise, because I do like the idea. I just don't like the execution.

As for Orochimaru well... We have a here saying in my country that says the wolf changes its fur, but not its habits.

What I can say is that, that's what I'll follow. Narratively as well.

Because like you said, deep down, he's a creature of habit. Habits are our second nature. That's why it's not that easy to change one self and you first gotta change your habits.

In OG it is shown to us that Oro didn't actually changed his habits at all, he is just being let loose. Which narratively makes so little sense?

You tell me that the man who basically put in motion everything that we've been witnessing along the path of Naruto manga, is just going to be left to do whatever he wants because... he's a necessary evil?

That's not how you act with the necessary evil. You don't let it loose and just barely keep him under supervision, imo.

If anything, he's a "joker" type of character. You never know when he's gonna pop off the box to scare ya away with some machiavellian ploy.

As for your headcanon of him and Shina, well, there is a common element in there that we have. I can't say that he's fed-up with the Uchihas (after all, Uchihas were his obsession), but...

I have a certain idea in mind about the path I have with him and him overlooking Naruto & Sakura's family, generally, because well, Sakura Haruno doesn't come from any prestigious clan that could benefit his pursuits, right?

And yet, surprise-surprise, the ones you least expect are the ones who get to bring the biggest turnarounds.

The thing is, I have two routes I want to take with him in terms of his eventual demise and I'm undecided on which side to go with, lol.

One involved him and Tsunade and was kinda dramatic, and the other one involves NaruSaku family, ironically. So I really don't know which way to go.

Because all this will be happening in Kaika Shinsei's timeline, which I am yet to settle.

I guess I'll see after I finish writing Saisei how things evolve until then, so that'll probably help me decide.

And WOOW, thank you so much for sharing that piece of info with me?! I ADORE cherry blossoms.

I grew-up with them and other types of blossoms, so for me, spring blossoms, especially cherry ones, are very special.

Actually the city where I moved has some parks filled with

I dream of travelling to Japan one day and live the original cherry blossoms season experience. But until then I enjoy the wanna-be one from here haha.

ANyway, thanks once again for the ask. Hope you have an amazing rest of your time today/tonight. <3

#kaika saiseik #kaika shinsei #kaika au #narusaku #orochimaru #shinachiku

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supercorpsbian · 2 years

Text

Entropy (part 2)

content: slow burn ? but not really , hurt/comfort , eventual romance , wlw , kara x reader , reader needs therapy , reader is very socially anxious lmao

word count: 2,033

pair(s): Kara x Fifth Dimensional Imp!Reader, and all the other canon SG couples (Nia and Brainy, Kelly and Alex, etc)

A/N: it took a bit to edit this one, i have many parts written already they just need some adjustments:) thanks for the likes and reblogs!! it's nice to see this in my very first fanfic, English isn't my native language so if I make any mistakes that may be why

this part is more cutesy and a bit shorter !

Also happy pride month everyone:)

part 1 here

Mxyzptlk left you in a really bad space mentally, you were trying to focus on work but the only thing in your head was how permanent this change was. You thought you could just somehow return to the fifth dimension if anything went wrong, but apparently you were trapped in here for Brpxz knows how long.

Kara was the one who took you out of your thoughts by waving her hand in front of your face. "Hey, are you okay?" She looked at you worried, making your heartbeat speed up like earlier today.

"Uhm- I- Yes! I just... Got some bad news from a family friend but that is all, don't worry." You smiled nervously as you ate the very last bite of your cake desperately and threw the small plastic container into your trash can.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry... It's just that me, Nia, and.. Barney- We're going to get some sushi, and since those two will be kinda like on a date I was wondering if you'd want to make me some company? I promise I'll tell Cat you were with me. It can help you clear your mind a little bit" She pointed to the man standing right by her, just a few inches shorter, and your eyes almost popped out of your face. IT WAS BRAINY! You haven't even seen him during your stay in this dimension, and you barely expected to do so but you admired him so much too. You could barely speak, just nodding as you had to take any chance to be around the superfriends, especially Kara.

Giving Kara a wry smile you got up and grabbed your purse. Brainy went to Kara's office to wake Nia up, she just looked distraught and they had a short conversation while you wondered if she'd be able to dream about you and Mxyzptlk as you glared at them from your desk, Kara's voice getting you out of your thoughts.

"They're such a cute couple aren't they?" She smiled as she eyed them then you, making you tremble.

"Oh- Well I'm not close to Miss Nal but it seems like they're really happy together." You managed to slur out as you just walked to the elevator, Kara following you.

"Hey, there's no need for formalities around us, well I know Nia would prefer it if you call her by her name, and same with me. You can call me Kara." She reassured you as you just smiled shyly and nodded again. God it'd be so hard to even get yourself to have a decent conversation with this woman. Brainy and Nia joined the two of you shortly after, they held hands and beamed at you when the elevator arrived and all four of you stepped in.

"Oh! Forgot to introduce you, Nia, Barney, this is Cat's assistant..." Kara froze for a second, realizing she didn't really remember your name, she did remember what your boss called you, but she also knew damn well that wasn't your actual name, so she just stared at you somewhat embarrassed for not even knowing your actual name.

"Uh- Y/n-kz-'' You bite your tongue, almost slipping your actual name. But tried to distract them from it with a slight cough. "Y/n. Y/n L/n. Nice to meet you two, well, I already knew Miss Nal- Nia, but it's still a pleasure." You shook both their hands and just stood awkwardly in the corner as the trio chatted joyfully. A part of you thinking about just staying inside whenever they got off, they wouldn't notice and just go on about their day without you. Yes it was definitely a plan.

Until Kara intertwined her arm with yours.

"So the sushi restaurant is like a bit of a hidden spot so it's easy to get lost and from what I can remember you're new here right? Not only to CatCo but to the city." She looked at you with that pearly white smile of hers.

"Uhm- Yes. I am new to National City... It's like... A whole new dimension to me." You took your eyes off Kara and set them on Brainy's hair since he and Nia were walking in front of you. Damn you'll need to ask for his hair routine.

"I get that. Well, you may know why." She snorted and laughed. "Where are you from? Well, after Krypton, I grew up in Midvale, it was nice. Then I came here for university and the rest is history."

"I'm from-" Your brain freezes as you try to remember more of the fake story Mxyzptlk had built up for you to pass as a normal human. "I grew up in a really, really small town, you probably wouldn't know it. Then I moved to Metropolis but things were always too... Wild? There. So I decided to shoot my shot here since Jump City seemed too extreme too."

"Oh! Metropolis, so did you work at The Daily Planet?"

"No- It's my first time in a company this big, I was a- Uh... Secretary? For a small business though. But this job has been very helpful in teaching me new things."

"Oh..." She looked at you for a second as you caught her gaze from the corner of your eye. "That sounds great, it really looks like you got the hang of it already, if anything I can see you as the next junior reporter next year- Oh, look! We're here! You're gonna love this place."

Was it too late to tell her you've never had sushi? Well, you didn't know if you'd like it, you had only seen it in movies and shows but never got the curiosity to try it so you never did. Restaurants aren't really a thing in a dimension where you can summon anything with a snap of your fingers.

As soon as you got in, Kara was greeted by several waiters and the four of you were given a private booth to eat, your head looking around at the beautiful decorations all around the place.

"Y/n? What would you like to order? The waiter will probably be here any minute." Nia spoke, suddenly getting your view out of the menu, which left you confused as to how humans could spend so much on meals. You weren't poor, but Mxyzptlk didn't give you much money either, so you were kinda on a budget, especially since you started getting your salary from CatCo. The whole concept of money had always been so weird to you, well it seemed similar to how monarchy had always more power and magic, but it was all still weird.

"I think I'll go for... This one." You pointed at the cheapest roll available, Kara peeked from her seat right by your side, looking at your choice.

"Only that? Don't worry! It's on me. You can pick any rolls you'd like, and drinks too." She reassured you with a little spark in her icy blue eyes, making you shiver completely as you nodded.

After a bit of thinking you went for the non-sushi options, especially since you were afraid of not knowing which ones were spicy, you weren't going to risk it. Picking a meal of tempura shrimp and vegetables. Kara, noticing your fear of trying new flavors, whispered something to your ear.

"If you'd like to try anything you can take it from my plate, and if you like it you can order it." Her breath soft against your ears, you just squealed very softly and gave her a quick nod.

[...]

Best. Meal. Ever.

Kara and you ended up just pretty much sharing food and gave each other whatever you felt the other would like, plus the food and ambient of the place were amazing, it almost felt like a double date. For the first time in years you felt like you truly belonged somewhere, at least for an hour or two.

"And then he started yelling at me! All because I complimented his bald head." Brainy finished his anecdote about his first meeting with General Lane, who you totally forgot about since he hadn't been on the show since season two or something.

"I didn't know Lois Lane had a father in the military." You lied as you sipped your drink through the straw.

"And a sister." Kara responded whilst rolling her eyes. "She's hot though."

"Lois or her sister?" You arched a brow and bit on the straw with a smirk.

"Lucy. A hundred percent. Lois is cute but I won't be caught dead thirsting over my cousin's wife." She smirked back and then both of you looked at Nia who spoke up.

"I will. Lois Lane is an absolute milf." She confessed with a playful smile, to which both Brainy and you looked confused, but Kara knew exactly what she meant because she choked for a second on her drink.

"NIA!" She bursted out in laugh as she held her own stomach. So did Nia.

"Speaking of Lois, how's your little cousin? Well, maybe he sees you more like an aunt. I don't know." Nia finally asked what you didn't dare to ask, honestly wondering what had been of those two because you haven't seen them on screen for ages.

"Oh! They're in Argo City, they want Jonathan to grow up around Kryptonian culture and all that. I'm planning on visiting them this summer, basically to take some time off and see my parents too." She seemed so happy when speaking about her family, that made you know so well how much they loved her and she loved them. "Oh and Alex, Kelly and Esme will be coming too! I want Esme to meet my parents. And Alex will totally love Argo." Kara beamed as she ate the last roll on her plate and then looked at you, remembering how Argo City wasn't really a known topic amongst the public. You faked a confused expression, hoping the group would buy it.

"So Argo is like a city of Krypton that survived destruction and visiting it is like going to the middle of nowhere, but in space, from what I've heard." Nia clarified your doubt and you just hummed with a nod. It was hard to pretend you didn't know all of this already but it was nice to have a recap every now and then.

All four of you were having a nice relaxing chat until Nia's phone rang, it was an alarm apparently.

"Oh god, I have an exclusive interview with the governor in thirty minutes, see you later guys. Kara I'll venmo you my part of the bill. Bye, love." Nia got up hurriedly and pecked Brainy on the lips before running out of the restaurant.

"I should get going too, I have... Work." Brainy looked at you realizing he couldn't really spill anything about the DEO in front of you, at least not yet. He felt like he knew you from somewhere but he couldn't quite place his finger on it.

"Okay! Take care." Kara waved both of them happily, giving that perfect smile of hers as she just still sat by your side.

Neither of you knew what to do now, but the silence was comfortable.

"D'you want some dessert?" Kara finally spoke after a couple of minutes.

"Only if it's chocolate. Or a cheesecake." You joked but apparently she was dead serious because in a few minutes a huge slice of cheesecake arrived for both of you.

"We're sharing this as a symbol for a long friendship. Because I have the feeling we'll be good friends." She announced as she handed you a spoon and the waiter came back with two small sauce packets, both of them were strawberry syrup.

You smiled as you took the first bite out of the dessert, moaning as the sweetness melted on your tongue, Kara looked at you with red on her cheeks and you just covered your mouth with your hand as you kept chewing.

"I'm- I'm soffy- It's just so goof-" You swallowed and both of you started laughing just to get in a small competition on who could eat more cheesecake. And Kara clearly won.

[To be continued]

#kara x reader #kara danvers #kara danvers x reader #fem reader #x reader #fanfiction #fanfic #supergirl #supergirl fanfic #supergirl x reader #femslash #lesbian #pride #kara zor-el #kara zor el x reader #kara zor el #dc comics #supergirl fanfiction #supergirl fic

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abittersweetraisin · 8 months

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My thoughts on the miraculous movie.

You know that speech about how one person can make a huge difference even if they’re just one? Well, that was probed right with this movie. It is amazing the leap forward just by not having had Thomas Astruc in the writing team.

They payed attention and really learned from the show, they improved the story in many many ways. In my opinion there were just a couple of things that I would had tried to make different.

More about my thoughts after the break. Spoilers ahead of course.

There are many details I want to talk about, I fear I will forget something. I’ll write in the order in which things pop up in my head.

I want to start by saying I loved how they made the characters’s behavior more human. More realistic. This Gabriel was easy to understand, easy to forgive. At least for some people. I haven’t read much of the fandom’s thoughts, but I imagine there must be people who still hate him with all their guts. He was the antagonist, but was still a father. He still cared about his son. He made a huuuuge mistake, lost his way big time, but his behavior was coherent. He was grieving. That part when Nooroo told him about how it was in times of chaos that the two miraculous appeared, that was a smart to include. In the show Gabriel looks like a mad man having a big psycho tantrum. In the movie it’s like “ok, he’s desperate enough about bringing back his wife that he’s willing to go full villain mode to get her back”. Oh, and when Gabriel first showed up, seeing him walk into an actual workplace was a great idea. In the show, in five seasons we have at best just seen two seconds of him doodling. That gift that he gave Audrey at the end of season three... I rest my case.

Marinette, I’m glad they removed that stalker side they gave her in the show. Some may say “But what about the library scene? Or in the movies?”. He was already in the library when she arrived, she wasn’t chasing him. And in the movies; they went together, she wasn’t following him. Anyways… I do think they overdid it with her clumsiness. It looked more like she was a bad luck magnet. Reminded me of that girl, Sam Greenfield from the movie “Luck”. Kinda made me wish they had given her the cat miraculous.

Adrien. I also preferred his personality in the movie. There was clear signs of depression from his mother’s death. And then we started seeing him changing. The first step happening after he transformed. I don’t know what has been confirmed as canon for the movie but it looked like the kwamis really affected their personalities. I mean, Master Fu did told Tikki and Plagg not to start quarreling right before opening the box. And that’s how Chat Noir and Ladybug’s relationship started. I loved that quarreling. Love at first sight may seem super romantic, but I prefer love at “second sight” because this means that they have had a chance to get to know each other, so they fall in love of who they are, not first impressions, not just of appearances.

Adrien talking back to Gabriel… Either Adrien is not a sentibeing here or Gabriel was human enough not to use that to control him. Either option I like.

I imagine Adrien haters reaction to the movie. They must have hated him even more.

Chat Noir calling Ladybug his side kick was hilarious to me considering how he was demoted to side kick in the show and then further demoted when he was declared a simple accessory by Astruc.

I loved how ten minutes later he swallowed his pride and called himself Ladybug’s side kick. That moment showed maturity in him. And I also loved how Ladybug told him they were partners.

The movie focused more on Ladybug than Chat Noir, but I think they still left both of them as equals inside the plot. I mean, we were shown Ladybug’s full transformation, not just a flash; and those first moments between holder and kwami, etc., things we didn’t see for Adrien. But I think it was left clear that they were equally important. No leader there. Just partners. Again, I liked that.

I bet lots of people got incredibly upset with Adrien when he noticed his ring flashing and he didn’t get up. He’s representing a 13 year old person who had his heart broken at that moment. What did you expect? We saw how that flashing was the other person calling them. So, he could had thought that it was Ladybug simply wanting to talk to him, the same way he had done before. But he did react once he looked outside the window and saw how serious the situation was. If he still hadn’t reacted after that, then I would had been mad at him too.

That scene of that guy taking a selfie with Ladybug in troubles in the background…. that was so realistic. People do has exchanged “Safety first” for “Selfie first”.

Another scene like this that I loved was that old lady in her balcony when Ladybug was fixing everything. She was so adorable!

I liked seeing Alya in reporter mode again. That was part of who she was and they shouldn’t have taken that away from her in the show.

Chloé. It was a bit sad seeing her back in square one after having seeing Chloé season two, but I’m grateful for the way they wrote her. She’s a bully, but at least she wasn’t written as bad as in seasons 4 and 5. She’s spoiled, but not irredeemable at this point. I hope they give her the bee miraculous, but after Astruc’s hate campaign on her I doubt she will get it. I hope the writers won’t try to please both Chloé’s fans and haters at the same time, they could give it to her but then be like “Sorry Chloé, we were wrong. You have the potential but you’re not there yet, we’ll pick someone else. Byyyeee!” I wouldn’t like that. Let’s see what happens.

I think there’s a chance she’s incredibly lonely in the movie. Her father could be like “not now sweetie, here’s my credit card, go away” and Audrey may be already in New York. She talks and talks about going to the dance with Adrien, but we didn’t see them not even talking, did we? Maybe I missed it, it was kinda late when I could sit to watch the movie. I also liked that little Audrey foreshadowing when Chloé called Marinette by a wrong name.

One little tiny detail about her appearance… the eyeshadow make up. In my opinion they should had gone for matte, not metallic. But maybe that’s just me.

Oh my goodness, now that I mention appearances… Young Gabriel. I’m sorry I can’t not go mean here.

I’m no expert in fashion, but something about it looked like vintage. Like from the 60s or something like that? Maybe it’s just that it felt too contrasting with the personality they gave him in the show.

Plagg. Poor little underappreciated kwami. In the show he’s rarely seen, rarely heard. In the movie he was reduced to a farting machine. It was clever in a way, bet it must had made many kids laugh, but he could have been more than that, more than the two seconds when he took Adrien out of bed. Plagg’s personality could bring many funny moments, he could be sort of what Salem was for Sabrina in Sabrina the teenage witch. He could be super sarcastic, the one who is not afraid of being super direct,… funny in more ways.

The reveal. I’m so grateful it happened. I’m not sure how I feel about the superhero suit being able to be partially destroyed. I think that makes it less magical. I would had expected it to be all or nothing, but well, it helped for the reveal to happen, so I guess I’m happy. I’m thankful Marinette chose to let him know her identity. It’s silly the show’s excuse for not having the reveal. The Sailor Scouts know each other’s identities and they’re not in any danger. Buffy’s identity as the vampire slayer was revealed in the first episode of the first season and the world didn’t end for her. Jim’s identity as the trollhunter was also revealed in season one and we had many tales of Arcadia seasons.

Choosing the miraculous holders. I think it was wise that it happened because the kwamis chose them. In the show it didn’t make sense to choose teenagers who had limits to their powers when the enemy was a full grown adult who didn’t have much limits.

Speaking of their powers,… In the movie we didn’t have a scene where they had to feed the kwamis in order to keep fighting. But I think there was a moment where Chat Noir’s ring flashed? I don’t remember having heard him yelling ‘cataclysm’ either and I think he only used it once, right towards the end. Was this the reason why we didn’t see them having the five minutes time limit?

Their powers. I have mixed feelings about this topic, both in the show and in the movie. I don’t know how much I’m just overthinking and how much the writers didn’t sit down and really discuss about them.

When Ladybug fixed Paris, that showed her as a very powerful character. It was way better than the swarm of tiny ladybugs from the show. It reminded me of Chat Noir in the Chat Blanc episode, just going in the healing direction.

I strongly think you cannot make a character that incredibly super powerful. You need to set strong limits and define the powers characteristics incredibly well otherwise things can become fuzzy, pointless, inconsistent or just weird. I personally don’t like it when they write a super powerful character but then suddenly it’s not that powerful when it’s convenient for the plot. Or when they have the power to do something but they choose not to and we’re given no explanation for that choice. I hope this won’t happen with the second movie (Haven’t heard news about a sequel but I’d be super surprised if they weren’t going to make one).

About defining the power’s characteristics. Again, maybe it’s just me, but… Tikki is the kwami of creation. But she seems to me more like the kwami of restoration. Ladybug purifies the akumas, she’s not creating new butterflies. And she fixes Paris; strictly speaking she’s reconstructing, not creating. If her power sticked to creation, then all the debris would remain there since she would be creating new stuff.

This same goes for Hawkmoth. That balloon being that the mime villain and his partner had, that was like a sentibeing. The same happened in the Kung Food episode. Marinette’s uncle had this floating eyes that were more like sentibeings. The moth miraculous seems to be stepping into the peacock one’s territory.

The moth miraculous’ power: I guess this applies more to the show, but… I really wish they could give us an explanation on how that one works. I mean, wouldn’t it make more sense if they drew power from Hawkmoth? And shouldn’t their powers be less powerful than the other miraculous? I still find it weird how he can give them just about any power. In the fifth season of Sailor Moon, when a victim got attacked and lost their star seeds they were turned into evil sailor scout villains, they were powerful, but they weren’t really at the same level the real Sailor Scouts were. I’m talking about something like this for miraculous.

And finally I want to talk about Sabrina.

I loved Sabrina. I think she was my favorite character in the movie. Sure she was with Chloé and Chloé bullied people, but she was good. In the show, there were moments when her expression was the one of a mean person (The origins episode), then there were moments where she was just Chloé’s assistant, other were she was basically Chloé’s slave and finally just like that she left Chloé. In the movie we’re being shown since the beginning how she’s actually a good person. I loved when she helped Marinette by not saying she had seen her and then at the end when she shrugged. Hope she’ll take some sense into Chloé and I’d like to hear more about her motivation to remain with Chloé.

Let’s see what they give us for the second movie. Hope it will keep this level of quality. And maybe a very unpopular opinion… I would love it if they added less songs. 😅

#miraculous awakening #mlb analysis #mlb #unpopular opinion

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