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#victor: if it has my face its me. and by face i mean the mask.
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IDEA. AIRON MAN BESTIES WITH A ROGUE DOOMBOT WHO'S JUST TRYING TO BUILD THEIR OWN PERSONALITY AND LIFE OUTSIDE OF THEIR IMPLANTED MEMORIES..........
COULD BE AN ACCIDENTAL GAINING OF FREEDOM OF CONSCIOUSNESS, LIKE W/ SENTIENT ARMOR, BUT I ALSO THINK IT COULD BE RLLY NEAT IF THEY WERE A PROTOTYPE DOOMBOT THAT ENDED UP HAVING MORE FREEDOM AND CAPABILITY FOR GROWTH THAN INTENDED AND THEY'VE BEEN LIVING THEIR OWN LIFE SINCE (IDEALLY W/ VICTOR'S SUPPORT BC RESPECT FOR THE AUTONOMY OF HIS CITIZENS AND CREATIONS AND ALL THAT)
BONDING OVER THE TECHNOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF THEIR FORMS, THE PRESSURE TO APPEAR A SIMULACRUM OF A BIOLOGICAL ENTITY AND THE FEAR OF HOW OTHERS WOULD VIEW AND REACT TO THEIR TRUE SELVES, THE "I AM CONNECTED TO MY CREATOR, BUT I AM NOT HIM IN THE WAYS HE WAS HIMSELF AND I AM MORE THAT WHAT HE MADE ME FOR," THE STEMBOY SWAG, ETC........
I ALSO THINK IT COULD BE FUNKY TO EXPLORE LIKE. I AM AN INDIVIDUAL DISTINCT FROM MY CREATOR BUT I AM STILL TIED TO HIM. DO I FEEL OBLIGATED TO ONLY DRAW FROM HIS VISION? DO I FEEL GUILTY FOR ADDING ELEMENTS OF MY PERSONALITY TO HIS DESIGN OF ME? WOULD HE BE PROUD OF WHO I'VE BECOME?
TRULY THIS WAS JUST MEANT TO BE A VAGUE NOTION OF A POTENTIAL CHARACTER BUT I STARTED THINKING AND GOT HOOKED DJSLHFLSHFLS BUT YES HELLO
oh there literally are already feral doombots just Around. thats canon. they are... already sapient as far as im aware (but like, sapient in that they have enough of victor's memories and personality to successfully pretend to be him and sometimes for them to not know they aren't him. also they can feel pain. questioning why victor has made ten thousand cannon-fodder robots with also his whole brain in them which also can fully feel pain is a different post) but yeah feral doombots my beloved
there’s like…. at least two i know of. the one with the fancy coat and the one calling himself vincent that actually looks like a human, i love them. i have so many thoughts about feral doombots just Around and Vibin and its not like victor gives a shit. he can make new ones. whatever.
but also ;-; that's So good, especially if its somehow pre-reveal for iron man being Known as anything other than like, a human in an armor so perhaps he meets a doombot somehow (maybe it's stealing replacement parts from SI and when IM realizes that its not... actually taking anything dangerous hes like. oh. oh. because he's smart enough to also know why he isnt just going to get repaired like normal) and it's just, this sense of Recognition that iron man cannot say anything else
i think it would be good if it was like. iron man offers to help fix the bot. oor just, helps him. no expectation of anything else. and the doombot is supicious because of course it is, it was programmed by Paranoid Bastard Supreme, and it's not like iron man can even tell it why he wants to help it so badly, because even if he doesn't think it's actively a danger that doesn't mean giving it the information that he isn't human like everyone assumes wouldn't be... an incredibly bad idea. it's still attached to a supervillan, after all
(also sidenote but i am frothing at the mouth about potential doomquest in this universe it would be SO funny,,,,,, king arthur sends a pretty lady to iron man's room for "companionship" and iron man is just like. ah. ok. i dont know what is expected of me right now. also doomquest is very good to me, specifically, because its one of the only early comics things where almost anyone has more respect for tony than for iron man, which i enjoy, i think it would be SO good for airon man au especially if iron man is like. in danger of just... running out of power. technicallyyyyy i think this should also be a problem in canon, i think doomquest happens during chestplate era, where hes largely not able to go more than about a day without Dramatic Wall Outlet Time and yet hes fine just vibin in camelot (famously deprived of wall outlets) for at least a couple of days, but YEAH SEND AIRON MAN TO CAMELOT i think hed be both freaked out and also. sad that tony couldn't experience it. i think the background radiation of iron man's life is just... sadness that tony cannot experience any of the cool things he does)
but like... him continuing too help this doombot. maybe the doombot also helps him out somehow, as well. maybe subtly interveening in some fights. maybe giving iron man some neat lil tech tips. maybe a;klsdjfasdf the doombot still wants like. Something To Do and not just sit idle all the time or something so iron man hooks 'em up with a fuckin. tech support job. or like, product testing, for SI. something where he can just fix shit thats been broken in the stupidest ways or, try to destroy other things. who knows i dont. but maybe theres an attack at SI and iron man deals with it but hes damaged, and normally he'd like. hide away and do a quick n dirty patch job just so theres not obvious holes into nothing, but. the doombot follows him. and finds him. and its just... looking at eachother. knowing "oh fuck we're the same" and also "oh fuck he knows"
i think they should help fix eachother up and be buddies anyways it'd be good
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volatilechemicalz · 2 months
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elaborating on my bad end theater blakeworth au more because its driving me insane a little bit . spoilers for both bad end theater [kinda?? barely] and vtsom . also long [like seriously I was not expecting 2 write this much about it] ft. my writing of questionable quality
So victor n vincent's incidents happen on the same day here for plot convenience , I haven't really figured it out yet so . shrugs . anyway victor gets taken somewhere 2 get his prosthetics n vincent goes 2 the basement n gets turned into a cyborg like usual but the thing is vincent is gone for a whileee . Like half a year ish . n victor has no idea where the hell he is so after staying at the mansion n waiting 4 vincent 2 come back 4 a while he goes out to look for him because he doesn't believe [or doesn't want 2 believe] that vincent is dead [he's right not 2] . so he doesn't come back for a bit . in that time vincent comes back to the mansion n has a huge what the fuck moment because he has no idea how long he was gone since there wasn't a calendar or anything in the basement obviously so he was expecting victor 2 be there so now its his turn to freak out . but he doesn't wait at all n immediately leaves to try n find him since he assumed something happened . oh also neither of them know about eachother's incidents .
Anyway both of them r panicking n looking 4 eachother all the time with no luck @ all . vincent is still plotting his revenge against myers but he knows he needs some1 2 help him [cough cough victor] 2 fully carry out his plans . So that's kinda put on pause temporarily . anyway theater time :]
I haven't fully figured out why vincent makes the theater yet because it doesn't fully make sense but it's like . partly because its something 2 do so he doesn't fucking lose it [escapism] partly because he's a cyborg n needs human flesh 2 survive n this would lure people in [also possibly victor might come here but that's a maybe 2 him] n partly because he was probably a theater kid you can't convince me otherwise . Anyway the stories play out a little differently 2 be metaphors 4 what happened @ myers but the characters n stuff still have the same roles n every story still has a bad ending . He doesn't wanna get recognized because his involvement in the g4 cyborg incident is all he would hear about n he did this to escape not be reminded of all that shit . So he goes by Tragedy n wears a mask to conceal his face [hey wow just like tragedy in bad end theater . see what I did there]
Eventually victor goes to the theater n as soon as vincent starts speaking he recognizes his voice but isn't sure + this guy doesn't really act like vincent [stage personality] so he'll wait n see . Also I'm aware that vincent can't lie to victor 4 shit but the mask also conveniently covers any sort of telling facial expression . Anyway at first vincent wants 2 just go out n say that it's him n all that but also he's afraid how victor will react to what happened 2 him n the things hes done 2 sustain himself if he finds out . Also he's surprised at seeing that victor has robotic arms/eyes now since he still doesn't know what happened 2 him in the time gap . He wants 2 question him soooo bad but he'll wait . Mostly because if he questions victor that means he'll be questioned in return n that is the absolute last thing he wants .
Everything would play out as it does in bad end theater [going through all the different storylines n fighting Tradgey] except when the mask breaks some of vincent's cyborg parts[??] are visible since as seen in chapter 4 it looks like his body deteriorates pretty easily under stress n it's painfully obvious what he is now . But he's still him , so all of that is basically ignored when victor realizes that he was right and this is vincent and holy fuck he is alive n right here in front of me ‼️ so uh . reunion yayyyy . Questions come later which isn't fun for either of them but it doesn't matter because oh my god they're together again n alive . anyway reunion stuff .
They hug . a lot . for wayyy too long . but when it's been over a year since you've seen the best person in your entire life you're gonna b a little clingy . Not much is different about their relationship after all of this they just do not want 2 leave eachother alone 4 a while because . well . widely gestures to The Everything . After that they just sit in the empty seats [absolutely nobody else is there] n talk . it's pretty casual 4 now , neither of them r in the mood 4 anything else . Vincent explains that he's closing the theater down after this . he doesn't want it anymore n people don't come here anyway so it would b a waste . He wants everything 2 go back 2 how it was before . victor suggests that they go home n vincent says they should . They probably kiss r whatever @ some point as a treat its been 2 long . Also sometime later they have a conversation about being stuck in the past n everything since victor obviously noticed the glaringly obvious parallels between their experiences n the characters' . vincent explains that he had this whole revenge thing planned out but maybe this is okay [4 now @ least] . Holy fuck pixle writes a happy ending it's a miracle [it's more bittersweet but . shhhshush]
Hi if you somehow read all of this congrats . here's some extra little details
-the parallels between vincent n tragedy r the main inspiration 4 this since they're both hyperfocused on the past n their partner is more focused on moving on/the future it makes me ill
-the theater isn't around for long, maybe like a month or two ?? A little more ??? This timeline is really fucked. shrugs
-also nobody really comes there, only a few once in a while n half the time vince has 2 kill them anyway because yk . the whole eating flesh thing . so he doesn't have many regulars . not that he really cares about this much anyways . also he wonders what victor would think of it allll the time .
-the cats r fine b4 any1 asks victor took them with him n before then they probably have automatic feeders n water stuff [also vincent is extremely happy 2 see them again]
-vincent is extra bitter towards myers because of the whole separation thing
-night terrors after they get back . Soooo many 4 both of them it's not fun
-draco still exists because vincent already kind of started his plans with winston but he didn't have any memories 2 use n didn't want 2 use winston's since he doesn't really know what's in there so eventually he convinces victor 2 lend some because its kind of awkward 2 have a lifeless cyborg/clone just lying around + I just wanted him 2 be here because he's 1 of my favorites . sue me [don't . I do not have money]
-The plot of vtsom doesn't happen after this because vincent decides that it isn't worth it 2 go after myers n he's tired of all this shit n he has victor again so that's all that matters + victor convinces him not 2 during their conversation when leaving the theater . that doesn't mean he won't murder a few of the core members though teehee . I cannot write anything w/o murder sorry its a condition <3
-when albert calls vincent in one of the endings in twdak [don't remember the number but yk the 1 .] he doesn't answer because he's not there but eventually he calls back after a bit because why not n they talk . not entirely important just something i thought about . also they still hate eachother obviously nothing has changed about that .
-not a detail but I do plan 2 make a playlist 4 this eventually , if/when I do I'll just link it here or post it separately idk . [update I did that check reblogs if you want it] also I do have a tragedy vince somewhere that i need 2 post . victor looks basically the same I think idk what I would change
-also I'm calling this cyborg theater for brevity not sure if I'll keep that name or not but we'll see
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a-reformed-heart · 2 years
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Humm… this is probably going to sound weird if I’m wrong but are you the author of any other IFs? The style of your intro post seems familiar for some reason 😅
Anyway, your game sounds really promising, may I ask how the ROs would react to a fake-out make-out scenario? Thank you and have a lovely day 💛
I am! You can find all of my other IFs on my main writing blog @thesesilentwords!
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Charles: As her lips breeze across his cheek, Charles could feel himself tense up. The familiar tightness within his chest when he thought of her loosening ever-so-slightly; only for it to be replaced by a fluttering feeling within his gut. Could this mean what he thought it meant? Of course not. He’d be a fool to think otherwise.
“Was that necessary, Anon?” Is the response he finally settles on, forcing his heart to calm down. The forest green shade of his eyes glinting with varying emotions. “I think you could have done something else to get your point across.”
… Even if anything else wouldn’t have foolishly given him hope.
Elizabeth: An amused look graces her face as she stares at her darling step-daughter. For the briefest of moments her façade of a meek wife falls away and in its stead is the face of a predator; a predator that’s staring at the most delectable prey she has ever seen. The crystalline blue of her eyes darkened to an enchanting cobalt as she leans forward.
“Next time you do that, darling, I promise you won’t be able to escape.” An elegant hand cups your cheek, crimson painted lips briefly quirked upwards. “Once I have you completely I’m never going to let you go. Remember that before you do a stunt like this one again.”
She couldn’t wait to see if you would…
William: A pout forms on his lips at the brush off. Hazel eyes clearly broadcasting his annoyance at not being able to have fun with you. You had been an enigma within his brain for quite some time; he couldn’t get you out no matter how much he tried. It was quite annoying that all of his usual tactics wouldn’t distract him from his desire to have you. From his wish to be yours…
“That wasn’t nice, Anon.” His pout becomes even more exaggerated; his arms crossing over his chest. “You’re gonna give someone a heart attack if you keep that up. I don’t think I’ll be able to handle having your presence that close again.”
Oh, but I crave it so…
Ivy: An alarmed expression flits across her face as your own brushes past her; an almost embarrassed look following soon after. She couldn’t believe that you’d do something so forward. Something that she would never imagine doing in all of her years. Though you had always been more forward than her. That’s something that seemed to have not changed; even after all your years away.
“Can you warn me next time?” She clutches her book tighter to her chest; hoping it’ll act like a semi-shield to make sure her emotions don’t go too unchecked. “I feel like that’s something you warn someone about, no?”
She didn’t want to think about how your nearness made her feel…
Victor/Victoria: They recoil at the feeling of you getting closer; it was too familiar, to welcoming, and they hated it. Hated that you could still make them feel like this even after all this time. They hated that they got transported back to the day all those years ago when they thought everything was finally coming together; that they’d finally get the happily-ever-after they had always foolishly dreamed of. Until you had ruined all of that…
“Don’t do that again,” they hiss, eyes filled with anger before the look hides behind their mask of stoicism. “I don’t wish to kiss you, Anon, and I hope you remember that.”
Please remember that…
August/Audrey: Their smile could rival the sun in brilliance as you pull away; an amused look gracing their face. Something that causes their golden-brown eyes to glow that much more with their amusement. They don’t quite understand what exactly you had been aiming for, but they hope you were able to find it all the same. Even if you confused them while doing so.
“Did you get what you want, Anon?” They tilt their head, their earlier grin softening into a gentle smile. “I’m curious what you thought you’d get from doing that, but I hope I was able to help all the same.”
They weren’t going to question you. After all you put up with their odd quirks too…
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they-didnt-last · 2 years
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i've been thinking about this for a while and i think i've figured out why (for me, at least) season 3 of hoa feels so different from the other two. i'll focus on sibuna here because i think that's where the main "problem" lies.
besides them getting rid of two of the most beloved characters, which obviously had an important role to play as to why it felt so different, i think the general plot in season 3 was no longer about a mystery, or at least not in the same way it was in seasons 1 and 2.
season 1 was mostly about finding the many pieces of the cup of ankh, figuring out why the cup was important, understanding why victor and the teachers seemed so eager find the cup, as well as rufus, and try to figure out how this corelates to joy's "disapearence".- it was mostly a mystery, while you had the pov of the teachers and victor, you still had no idea about frobisher and where the pieces of the cup where and why it was so important. you, the viewer, were sort of an extra sibuna member in that sense, you were discovering all of this information at the same time as nina, fabian, amber, alfie and patricia were. frobisher's mind is a mystery to you as well.
in season 2 the main concerns were senkhara and the mask of anubis. which, again, you discover about them at the same time as sibuna. while we do see vera's and victor's pov they don't reveal a lot of super relevant info. the plot focused on the tunels as well, since they lead to the mask of anubis, which is another of frobisher's creations that we, and sibuna, don't know anything about. the mystery here is focused on the mask and its meaning/purpose, on who senkhara is and on the tunels and each individual puzzle within the many sections of the tunels.
the thing about these seasons is that there is a mystery that everyone is figuring out at the same time. even the teachers, who were undoubtly smarter than the kids, were still not that ahead of them.
season 3, however, is built different. i honestly struggled to come up with a concise summary of it but basically 3a was about sibuna figuring out denby's ritual to revive frobisher and either stop it or do it themselves. they fail to do either and frobisher is revived, except he's evil now. and 3b was about stopping frobisher and the sinners while trying not to become one of them. i know this description is very basic but i can't really add much more without having to describe other minor plots. - there isn't really a big mystery in this season. frobisher is alive and we can now finally see his pov, now we know what sibuna has to face next, and as a viewer you can't really feel like a part of them anymore. of course there is still some of that mystery aspect to it but it's not the same as it was before.
this is why i'm so conflicted about season 3, beacause while it was a very good season with an amazing plot, the vibes were different and the plot was formulated in a way that i wasn't used to see on the show, to the point where it almost felt like something else.
anyway this is just my opinion as to why i feel like season 3 is different. feel free to disagree, i'd love to hear other people's opinions on this.
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starshipsofstarlord · 3 years
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An accidental flash - Barry Allen x Wayne!reader
Masterlist link
Word count - 1749
Summary; interruption is often than not present in the life of justice, this time Barry Allen is involved
Warnings; nudity, fluff, awkwardness, erection, making out, swearing, brief mention of the talk, mention of murder and prison
The mission had been long and gruelling, and you were just happy that it was over. Being a member of the justice league was hard all on its own, throw being the daughter of Bruce Wayne into the mix, it was understandably a nightmare at times. Sweat riddled your body as though you were the ploy of a river, drowning in your own body’s function as you ripped off your mask and tossed it carelessly onto your bedroom floor; next, your target was the zipper at the front of your suit, luckily your father had fixed it, in the past it had a tendency to get stuck.
Though maybe it’d have been better if it were to have upheld you for a few minutes as you struggled to descend the line of metal teeth downwards, that way you’d have been covered whence an intruder whisked into your room. Everything usually ran slow for him, however this time appeared different, for he showed up just when your suit hit the ground, leaving you half naked, in nothing more than your panties. It took you a moment to even realise that he were there, at your doorway, mouth agape as he took in your exposed beauty.
His heart was practically fluttering out of his chest as he saw you in all your glory, even if it were from the back, and you were sufficiently oblivious to his wondering eyes. Your father would kill him if he ever knew that he were getting this kind of a view of his daughter, but he had yet to panic at that prospect, he was more so focused on how the wading of your spine rippled and the tiresome joints of your shoulders rolled as you stretched your back. Without much of a thought you turned around, with the mental security of the door to your room being closed.
But no longer was it as your eyes widened, and your hands scurried to cover your bare breasts; Barry too realised that his ogling had been a mistake, he knew it was wrong from the get go, but he was so fastened with the concept of being hypnotised by your oblivious magnificence that he’d hardly registered how definitely rude his wordless actions had been. “Oh- I, um- I’m sorry.” The boy stuttered, a flush ravishing his cheeks from being caught shamelessly peeping as he turned around, blocking your entrancing body from his eyes.
“I-it’s, it’s okay Barry.” You confided in him, as you desperately searched for a tee. This base was so new that you’d hardly had the time to move in, a shower sounded absolute, however you were going to need some clothes to change into afterwards. “Do you think you could get me a robe or something please, if it’s not too much?” Barry considered the or something portion of your enquiry as he removed his infamous red hoodie, turning towards you before realising his mistake once more.
“Sure.” He grimaced from his exact mistake again, trying not to begin too drool at the sight of you, moonwalking to reach you and handing you the hoodie, however he tripped over your suit, leaving him in despair on the ground, and you whom had also fallen atop of him. If he hadn’t been so distracted, he could have avoided the awkward scenario that had stumbled the two of you into the current position that you were clambered in. Barry gulped, feeling your breasts pressed straight against his chest, he could feel a masking of nervousness creeping over his neck, as his breath fanned over your upper lip.
“Hi.” He spoke softly, his eyes locked on your own. Doing so concealed his nervousness, and it showed that he had no intent to look elsewhere on your body. A smile sprung onto your lips as you felt the constant pounding in the speedster’s chest, it ravaged against your body as it pulmonary beat through the cage of his ribs, sending unintentional shock waves through your body. You licked your lips, a light furrow distorting your brows as you quirked yourself head at his words, eyes also engaged with frolicking in the visual of his own.
“Hi.” Was your repeat. It was strange to be so close to Barry, especially in this sense, but you weren’t entirely complaining. It was unknown how you were supposed to revel out of this position without him seeing you clad in nothing more than your underwear, a part of you was frustrated that you’d have to. And then you felt it, a solid notion against your leg, spurring from his jeans, and resting against your covered mound. “Please tell me that is your phone.”
An awkward smile, with stretched lips and shown teeth justified the truth; it indeed was no device. He had gotten hard from the accidental predicament that the pair of you had quite literally tumbled into. “Sorry.” He mumbled, about to look down, but remembering that was not such a good idea. “I can’t help it- you’re so beautiful in and out of clothes, and like, it’s my body, that has yours against it, if you get me?” He rambled, making you shake your head at him, and laugh lightly, causing him to freeze.
“Okay.” You replied, hardly believing that you were about to do such an act, as you learn down and pecked his lips. His entire body, and you meant entire, went rigid, lulling in the brief moment that your lips were against your own, a dazed and dopey expression contorting his face. “You good Allen?” You enquired with a pat to his chest, as he licked his lips, reminiscing in the taste of your own. He dumbly nodded, though he intently pulled you back down for another, elongated encore of the action.
The pair of you were enduring a passion, more innocent as it seemed, making you oblivious to the footsteps that gained closeness every moment that you spent revelled in one another. Perhaps no one would have known that you and Barry were entangled like so if your door were closed, but it was not, leaving a sufficient glance for any passers by. When Victor walked passed, he gave you a small applause, and a light catcall, making your head jolt up, only for Barry to pull it back down.
Arthur smirked and shook his head; kids. He said nothing and stoically traipsed past, whilst Dianna recalled that she ought to direct a motive talk to the pair of you later on. Those two were away from your senses. Barry’s hands found refuge on your back, pinning you closer against him as he felt you slither your tongue against his lips, and he was certainly more than happy to allow you entry into the warm and wet cavern of his mouth. He groaned when you tugged delightedly upon his dark locks, feeling how your tongue swirled around in his mouth, fighting and winning dominance in the realm.
It was quite the conjuncture to be caught in, more so by the billionaire in Gotham, the Batman. As soon as Bruce saw you, his daughter, and the young man that he recruited for the team attached in such ways that he did not appreciate, he called out your name, making you shiver against your team member as you looked up, terrified of the fact that he had seen you like this, with Barry! Really, you should have expected nothing more, or at least have shut the door, but you had been too occupied.
Bruce cleared his throat as a blush blossomed over Barry’s skin, he was internally terrified. If you weren’t atop of him, he’d have definitely sped away, saving his skin from the hell that he’d endure from your father. You expected your parent to shout, to scold you, to threaten the life of the man beneath you, but instead he diverted his eyes, and raised his brows, as he thought of the talk that he’d have to have with the pair of you later on. “The two of you missed the meeting, now I see why.”
“It’s not what it looks like.” Bolted from your mouth, but the only response that you earned from your father was him shutting the door, to everyone’s relief. “Fuck.” You groaned, dropping your head upon Barry’s chest. It was embarrassing, sure you were no longer some teenager that needed to be checked on every five minutes, or directed down a narrow path, but it was nerve wrecking all the same. You’d never wanted your father to see you like that, and if he had reprimanded you, that’d have been highly hypocritical all the same.
“He didn’t kill me.” Relief embezzled Barry as he heaved a heavy sigh, dropping his head back onto the carpet. “I mean if he did, then both our fathers would be in prison.” He spoke with a shrug, and you placed a sweet peck onto his jaw, causing a smile to reprimand presence onto his handsome and well structured face.
“Eh.” You shrugged considerably, Barry raising his brows at your reaction, that had yet to be finished. “He’d have someone cover it up, and he’d still be a free man. Money can do quite a lot. For all we know, he’s plotting on taking you out when you least expect it.” You reasoned, making his hands pause their stroking on your back.
“I must insist on another kiss before that happens then.” He puckered his lips, but rather than receiving a diligent peck opposed onto the surface of them, your forefinger pressed down on them, halting his hopes for a continuation.
“Take me on a date Allen.” You winked at him as you stood, no longer covering up from his gaze as you grasped his hoodie, and retreated into the attached bathroom. You were certainly something else, and if Bruce were to kill him in some way, he was sure it’d be worth it. When he was with you, he liked to endure everything slowly, and appreciate every notion in progress that you made, whether it be a true smile or a blunt roll of your eyes.
The sound of the stream from the shower turning on alerted his ears that you were now cleansing yourself, he too thought that sounded like a good idea, and thus he vacated to his own room and did so, singing lightly in the shower as he thought of where he could take you for a first date.
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ladyartemesia · 4 years
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The Terms
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◐ PART III of THE ALPHA ◐
◐ Part I ◐ Part II ◐ Series Masterlist ◐
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Pairing: Alpha Werewolf Jimin x Omega Reader
Rating: Mature (for this installment)
Warnings: ABO sexual dynamics including discussion of scenting, marking, mating, and claiming. Violence and discussion of violence relating to ritual combat. Jin’s pheromones need their own warning. Yoonji and Yunli are not the same person.
Word Count: 2300
Author’s Note: As promised, this chapter is twice as long as the previous two and a lot of what people have been speculating about in the asks is discussed in this chapter... along with a few surprises...
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“Luna rex provocatione means ‘the moon king’s challenge.’ It is never invoked lightly as its consequences are grave indeed... If an alpha believes that he is the true Alpha and the goddess has placed another in his path as a test of worthiness and dedication to the pack, then he will acknowledge his acceptance of this test by declaring luna rex provocatione. Once the challenge has been set forth only the death of the Luna’s first mate or the total surrender of the challenger can satisfy it...”
Text of the traditional speech given by a chief elder to begin a luna rex provocatione ritual [7th century]
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“I know you won’t understand, but this isn’t personal-”
Jimin offered his rival an overtly feigned smile.
“You plan to kill me and claim my mate. Which part of that could I possibly take personally?”
Tae snorted somewhere in the background and Yoongi elbowed him hard.
Tradition dictated that both alphas meet with their second-in-commands in the chief elder’s chambers to discuss the terms of combat.
Namjoon brought Min Yoongi and Jimin had somehow ended up with Taehyung.
He didn’t remember actually agreeing to make Tae his second...
It just sort of happened somewhere between calming his hysterical mother and quickly reading up on archaic pack law.
The chief elder coughed uncomfortably. Goddess, this ascension was supposed to be easy. He never in a million moons thought he’d be in this position.
The last chief elder who oversaw a luna rex provocatione ritual had immortalized it in his journal as “the single most horrific moment of my life,” describing in detail the Luna howling in torment at the loss of her mate and the victor collapsing over the corpse of his foe in misery and guilt.
As in the past, the outcome of this conflict was already decided by fate...
Pain and regret weighed heavily on the older man as he considered the younger of the two alphas.
Park Jimin was going to die violently and there was nothing he could do about it.
“Because Kim Namjoon issued the challenge, his opponent will decide combat form. Your choices are human form, half-shifted, and wolf-form. After your choice is declared, Namjoon may add a minor alteration if he so desires. Park Jimin, please declare form.”
“Human,” he answered softly - and every single occupant of the room recoiled in response.
It was bad enough to witness a fight in wolf form or half-shifted... but to engage in ritual combat as a human-
It would be brutal - even psychologically disturbing - without the benefit of a wolf’s hide to mask the savagery.
Namjoon’s eyes widened in shock, but he recovered quickly.
“I request teeth and claws.”
Not quite a half-shift. Teeth and claws allowed for attacks using lengthened canines and claws.
It could make a kill slightly more... humane.
Jimin nodded and the elder pressed his seal over the first of the terms.
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The were no windows in the small, stuffy chamber and between the heavy ceremonial garb and the nearly twenty braided praesidium bracelets wrapped around his wrists, Jimin felt as if the blood in his veins was literally coming to a boil.
Though he dared not remove them to relieve his discomfort.
Each bracelet represented a prayer to the goddess. They were given as protection to a loved one before a great trial.
His mother had not stopped making them since the ascension. She’d torn apart her most expensive dress and spent hours twisting the fabric strips into intricate traditional braids while she prayed...
Jimin’s fingers sought them out for comfort as the miserable parade of ritual legalities marched past the two hour mark.
Many agreements (like Jimin’s insistence that his mother not be allowed to attend the fight and Namjoon’s pledge to financially support the Park family in the event of their alpha’s death) were settled quickly, however the sheer number of details to be solidified was overwhelming.
“I think it best if we adjourn for a short recess,” the chief elder sighed wearily and Taehyung nearly ran Yoongi over in his desperate scramble to finally use a restroom.
Jimin turned to leave, but a hand on his elbow drew him back.
“I want you to know, I did this for you as much as for the rest of them.”
His tone was low and carefully respectful, but Jimin’s wolf snapped irritably at the elder alpha’s presumption.
“What an... interesting statement to make.”
He pointedly removed Namjoon’s hand from his arm with calculated nonchalance.
“No one expected you to be chosen... Jungkook, or even Hoseok, would have been an understandable alternative, but you’ve never taken being an alpha seriously-”
“According to you,” Jimin fired back, finally allowing his voice to harden in cold fury. “I have always known and valued what I am. I simply never felt called to your version of it.”
Namjoon tilted his head in acknowledgement.
Park Jimin might not look particularly dangerous ... but for the first time, the Kim alpha considered that he may have underestimated his opponent.
“Either way - the pack does not trust you. They are not confident in your ability to lead them,”his hands fisted reflexively at his side as he considered the weight of his next words, “...but if you beat me, they will never question your strength.”
Jimin’s hands tightened into fists.
Namjoon might be an overconfident windbag, but he had a point.
He faced an uphill battle to subdue a restless pack as well as increased threats from rival clans looking to expand their own power and territory.
The challenge was a chance to establish his claim.
Or die trying.
“You think rather highly of yourself,” he chuckled and Namjoon bristled indignantly.
“I have devoted my life to the pack. I have never questioned my duty to them.” He leaned forward a bit, holding the younger alpha’s gaze with purpose. “That is why I will not hesitate to kill you.”
“And what of the Luna?” Jimin wondered in mock contemplation. “Do you think she will take kindly to the loss of her mate if you win?”
Namjoon’s jaw clenched. The Luna was clearly a sore subject.
“If I win, then you were never really her mate were you? Your entire existence boils down to nothing more than a sacred test in my destined path.”
Silence stretched heavily as the two alphas regarded one another with open hostility.
“I will fight you till the last shred of life is ripped from my body,” Jimin snarled.
A shiver ran down Namjoon’s spine, though he was far from intimidated.
“At least now you sound like an alpha,” he scoffed.
Then he was gone.
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Jimin waited till the sound of the older man’s footsteps faded before slamming his fist into the table.
He needed air and to be alone with his thoughts for moment before he could civilly resume the endless negotiations.
Unfortunately, the only place offering both of those things was a cluttered balcony near the back of the building.
The room traditionally designated for luna rex provocatione proceedings had been used as a storage closet for at least the last hundred years (and therefore needed to be hastily cleared after Namjoon’s inconvenient declaration). Consequently, the room’s former contents (piles of toys from this season’s charity drive) were now strewn haphazardly across the narrow outdoor space like debris from a brightly colored bomb.
Jimin carefully navigated his way to the balcony’s wooden rail and lifted his eyes to the moon.
“Please,” he begged softly “... send me a sign.”
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“If he did not hate me before, he surely does now,” you sighed, staring morosely at the lights flickering in the old chamber building. Somewhere within the bowels of that archaic fire hazard, your mate of less than twenty-four hours was negotiating a nightmare.
“This is not your fault, Luna-“
“Isn’t it?” you snapped. “That’s who I am. I’m the Luna, if I could just accept another mate without someone getting their throat ripped out, then none of this would be necessary.”
Jin sqeezed your hand sympathetically.
The council placed you under guard in a small cottage across from the elder’s chambers in order to prevent the alphas from having any contact with you. Since then you kept a constant vigil from its rickety porch, hoping to catch a glimpse of the young man whose life you had ruined.
“Would you do it then - if you could?... Would you accept another mate to spare the Park alpha?”
Bitter tears burned at the corner of your eyes.
“Yes,” you whispered, “...I think I’d do almost anything to save him.”
Comfortable silence settled between you for several minutes - until a small flutter of movement drew your gaze to the chamber balcony.
Then he walked out.
And just the sight of him was enough to slam your heart up into your throat.
Jimin...
Jin quickly turned to your guard and unleashed a wave of pheromones that would have knocked out a grizzly bear. The guard whined and abandoned her post to follow him inside without a second thought, leaving you conveniently alone.
Male omegas are a rare and dangerous breed, you observed wryly, before retuning your attention to the man across the path.
A painful ache twisted hungrily in your gut as you watched him tilt his face to the sky. Somehow the relentless beauty of his features was even more captivating in the moonlight...
Suddenly a strong breeze braided though the air around you, playing with the loose strands of your hair and carrying your scent away from the small cottage and up to the balcony where the young alpha sought solace.
Jimin’s eyes shot open as the rich, unforgettable essence of you exploded over his senses. His gaze immediately locked with yours, cutting through the distance and darkness with an intensity that left you reeling.
You could not see his face at the ascension - instead the blindfold left you burning with curiosity as your mind conjured a thousand variations of how he might have looked on you in that moment...
Yet every last one of them fell short.
You could never have imagined the naked longing - the fierce desire - that burned boldly in his regard.
A strange, desperate frustration overtook you.
He was too far away - and Namjoon was going to take him from you before you could touch him again - before you could breathe him in again-
The cruel wind continued to pull your fragrance toward Jimin like an erotic incense, yet it offered you no such gift in return. You could not discern his scent and you wanted to - needed to - with a voracity that was almost blinding.
Please...
A mournful whimper tore from your lips and Jimin’s body reacted instantly to your distress.
Suddenly he was digging through the piles of mismatched trinkets and toys on the balcony, tossing aside all manner of discarded treasures till he finally found what he was searching for.
“Jimin-hyung! Where are you? Chief elder wishes to resume-”
Jimin glanced toward door as his fingers worked frantically over the object his hands.
“I’m on my way!”
His eyes found yours one last time, then he drew back-
A muted thwack echoed a few inches from your shoulder as whatever Jimin threw embedded itself into one of the porch beams.
Your fingers trembled with anticipation as you reached forward to retrieve (what appeared to be) a pointed metal dart - probably from a wall-mounted Darts game someone donated...
A length of braided cloth was tied tightly to the shaft and you recognized it immediately as a praesidium bracelet.
Soothing waves of Jimin’s scent drifted up from the fabric where it had rubbed repeatedly against the glands in his wrist.
Your body calmed instantly. Cold desperation gave way to the soft warmth of tenderness.
He knew.
He knew what you needed and he found a way to send it to you.
Your hand closed tightly over the bracelet as you crumpled to your knees and sobbed.
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A gentle knock sounded at Namjoon’s door and a familiar figure slipped inside.
“...Yunli?”
Namjoon blinked for several moments in confusion before closing his evening read to approach her.
“Yunli... why - what are you doing here? It’s late - the ritual set to begin at sunrise.” He glanced at the door behind her, “Is Yoongi with you?”
She shook her head.
“My brother doesn’t know I’m here.”
Namjoon’s eyes widened as he considered all the ways his best friend’s younger sister sneaking into his house (in the middle of the night no less) could go horribly wrong.
“Ah. Well... that’s ...not good,” he mumbled, running his hand over his face. “Are-um - are you here to wish me luck for tomorrow?”
He reached for a glass of water to soothe his suddenly dry throat.
“No. Frankly I hope Park Jimin beats you to a bloody pulp.”
Water sprayed comically out of Namjoon’s mouth as he began to cough violently.
“What?!” *wheeze* “Why?!”
She offered him a sad smile.
“You know why, Kim Namjoon.”
He did know why.
Yunli had loved him (or believed she loved him) since she was a little girl.
He sighed heavily.
“Yunli, we’ve been over this-”
“One week. The change comes to me in one week-”
“You’re Yoongi’s sister-”
“I’ll be twenty years old, and for the last time I’m not your sister-”
“Goddess above, Yunli!” he shouted, “You’re just a child!”
Yunli’s hands gripped the collar of his shirt and yanked him down to her level.
“I am not a child!” she growled.
Then her mouth was on his and every single thought he ever had disappeared.
There was only her.
Heat poured through him like heavy syrup as his senses surrendered one by one. His arms wrapped around her without the slightest hesitation, as if their sole purpose was draw her in.
Sweet... Oh goddess, she’s sweet.
Yunli whined needily and a possessive growl rumbled from his chest in response.
Then she was pulling back - wrenching herself away from him with an anguished sob.
Bitter tears flowed freely down her impossibly beautiful face and Namjoon - who spent the majority of his life barely acknowledging his heart - suddenly felt it shatter.
“You should have waited for me,” she whispered.
“Yunli-I-” he tried calling out to her, but it was no use.
She was already gone.
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“Are you sure you have everything you need?”
Jimin offered his second a distracted smile and nodded. His room looked the same as it did the morning of the ascension, yet his entire life was different...
“You were great today, Taehyung. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Tae felt his chest swell with pride. He didn’t want to think about what sunrise might bring, but he was determined to serve his old friend well.
For as long as he could.
“I don’t know about that,” he chuckled, recalling that he fell asleep on his feet for three entire terms before anyone noticed. “You’re a surprisingly ruthless negotiator. I barely contributed.”
“I wasn’t alone though...” Jimin whispered, “and when Namjoon first issued the challenge... I thought I might be.”
Taehyung gulped, pushing back the oppressive sorrow settling in his gut in favor of some levity.
“You - uh - you actually missed the wildest part of the whole day.”
“...I did?”
“Yeah it was bizarre. Did you notice the table was different after our break?”
Jimin shrugged. His thoughts had been... elsewhere at that point.
“We couldn’t find you at first, so you missed the whole ordeal but - when we all came back to the room, that big oak table was split in half.”
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Hello my precious readers! If you would like to be added to the taglist, let me know in the comments.
(If you are already on the taglist, I will automatically tag you in all future chapters, you do not need to ask to be tagged again.)
Please please please PLEASE let me know what you think! This chapter was HARD and I genuinely aganized over it. Your feedback and support are what kept me pushing though. Truly. I would love to hear from you! I treasure every word of feedback like diamonds.
End Note: Yoonji was mentioned earlier in the story. She is Yoongi and Yunli’s cousin. Yunli and Yoonji are separate characters.
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applesontheground · 3 years
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sister sinclair 🕯️
i saw talk of a hypothetical where the sinclairs had a sister and was immediately enamored with the idea. so, take a couple of blurbs that i wrote out as warmup and polished for reader’s eyes 👁 👁 (also, @imbleedin-out​​ ‘s writing on it was what originally got me thinking, so totally go check out what she has to say too! i mean this in the nicest way when i say lily is to blame for these, lol.)
just some notes about my little sinclair sister: she was too young to really remember trudy and victor before shit hit the fan, got separated from the family for a majority of her life (but was pulled back by morbid curiosity), and is eight years younger than the twins/three years younger than lester ❤ again, i just added this because i needed to put it somewhere regardless if it provides context to what i wrote below the cut. many thoughts head full ;w;
SFW | Word Count: 1,273 | The Sinclair Brothers & Sister!Reader
contains: canon typical/murder
The man didn’t put up that much fight. He flopped against the wax floor rather abruptly after you had ripped into his soft throat, holding the crafted handle of the blade just as you had been shown to, parts of it worn to better fit your hand. The last few jolts of life shot through his body, and a puddle coagulated around his head. When his eyes couldn’t meet yours anymore, you fumbled with your free hand for your lighter.
Despite standing over him, averting danger in the way you had grown accustomed to, you still shivered like you were dying with him. Your inhales came long and hollow through your dry mouth, then your exhales were tense and rushed from your nostrils.
The footsteps coming in from the other room were recognizable, and you gripped the knife with white knuckles. When you turned, teeth slightly bared and eyes wide with anticipation to tear through another if need be, Vincent became rigid. His broad frame was frozen in place, eye flashing to mirror yours in its size. You caught your breath again, slowly bringing the cigarette you had bummed off of Bo to your lips. It was just him. The fight to preserve the town was about to be over.
You shuddered and finally looked away from him again. With a tremoring hand, you took a long drag of the while watching the man’s last leg of succumbing, the joint sitting between fingers that were littered with family rings.
You knew he saw Trudy. They all saw Trudy. Some days, she was the blood in your veins, the person you grew into whose resurrected image had only been stoked by your brothers. She lived under the hands that sloppily smoothed over wax creations, not because they really wanted to but because they knew they should. Other days, she was nothing. Just a body in the church at the end of the street in town. A phantom you never got to recognize. You figured the grief and the sadness would be there if you had anything to feel for her besides a dull ache from the lifetime of being unable to reach her.
A hollow breath rang out from behind the mask, and Vincent walked with more purpose as he approached, stepping over the corpse at his feet. You let his large hand clasp the knife, gently prying it out of your clammy palm.
“...You know I did it because I had to, right?” You croaked, turning your head to let your eyes glue to the detail of the mask again. The blood was starting to dry against your face, embedding into your complexion and plastering as a stain that would take more than a wash to truly get out.
Vincent’s other hand slowly came up to brush your hair back over your shoulder, revealing the glassy sheen to your eyes that was forming fast. In was then that he decided to clear his throat, and the words were warbled but firm enough to bring you into his chest to hide from the world, if only for the moment.
“I know.”
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Sometimes, the dinner table was too quiet.
Since finding your “real” family in the Sinclairs – or rather what was left of it – you had learned how to take the good with the bad. The trips down the desolate roads in one of their trucks, where you sang at the top of your lungs, even if they fucking hated the song playing on the radio. The nights where you had to pick up broken glass and broken wax, finding where the pain truly lied underneath each of their eyes. Nights where you chased Jonesy through the streets, giggling to the point where your voice touched every edge of town, meeting anyone that was still alive to hear it. Days where you ventured far into the pits of the forest to bury some poor soul that just wasn’t up to par for Bo and Vincent’s elaborate love letter to your dead mother, Ambrose.
Things weren’t always bad, though. When the twins were too much, you had Lester. Whenever Bo’s outbursts and bitching got to the point where you felt suffocated, or Vincent’s long stares and persistent inquisitions about everything you were doing gave you the kind of headache that would shock you into being just as quiet as him, you usually heard the gallop of the truck that had something wrong with it other week (no matter how many times Bo took a wrench to its innards) and a dumb joke that could crack even your worst moods. Every group of siblings needed someone like that; you firmly believed that after a few months of being with your brothers.
While drowning in the tense ambiance of no one speaking, a nudge from under the table got you to look at him from the corner of your eye. You could see that smile from a mile away, and every breath hiding the laughter that was too contagious to snub. You tipped your chin down, hiding your own twisting expression as you busied yourself by picking at your food. It was all unbeknownst to the twins still, which only made you have to hold your breath so that you wouldn’t wheeze in a premature fit. Before you could give him an honest look, your smile starting to reveal itself, Lester acted.
“You usin’ this?” Your eyes flew up again when you saw him not only gesture at a dish of sauce at the center of the table, but stick his entire index finger in. It sat for a few seconds, and when Bo’s tired eyes registered, they immediately hardened and blazed alive with shock.
“Hey, what the fuck are you doin’?” He leaned a bit if only to swat his hand and sneered, “That’s disgusting, Les. Knock it off!”
You coughed, and then he was on your case, nodding with a squint that shot right through you. “Oh, so you think that’s funny? Bad manners are so goddamn hilarious, huh?” You immediately gave him an apologetic bat of your eyes and shook your head, gnawing on your bottom lip if only to stop the grin from getting you in deeper shit.
You weren’t one to egg him on when he was mad, but Lester took the sour tone as a means to up the ante. “What ‘bout this one?” His middle finger went straight into the open sugar dish that was left on the table, making your jaw fall half open and your back to hit your seat to keep out of the way. Bo shot up from his spot at the table, ripping into both of you with a colorful vocabulary and an occasional lunge of his body as he barked about “you touch dead shit all day, gonna make us all sick” and “don’t fucking laugh at him, [Y/N], he ain’t even funny.”
Vincent gave his brother’s hand, still hovering in the dishes, a bemused stare before his focus landed back on his plate. Lester gave him an oblivious shrug and asked, “I’on’t see why you’re so mad, Bo. I was just askin if-“
“Get-“ Bo grabbed his hand mid-sentence and yanked it from its home in the center of the table, “Your goddamn hand out of that.”
Vincent was still silent, almost frozen in place, and you could imagine he was musing over why he didn’t usually join the family for dinner. He met eyes with you, and you flashed a warm smile at him, a reminder of why before Bo stuck his finger in your face to drag you back into his outburst.
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butterflies-dragons · 3 years
Text
GRRM has projected his love for medieval tourneys, heraldry, pageantry, knights and chivalry on Sansa Stark
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Art credit: Heinrich von Breslau (Codex Manesse, 14. Jahrhundert)
GRRM:
“That whole story (The Hedge Knight) is built around a tournament. I love medieval tournaments, reading about them, writing about them. There's of course some of them in the main books, but this was an opportunity in a time of peace, not war, to look at a medieval tournament with all its pageantry and the jousting and the combat and reveal a little of Westerosi History”.
—In conversation: George R.R. Martin with Dan Jones FULL EVENT- August 2019
SANSA:
"The talk in the yard is we shall have a tourney, my lord," Jory said as he resumed his seat. "They say that knights will come from all over the realm to joust and feast in honor of your appointment as Hand of the King."
Arya could see that her father was not very happy about that. "Do they also say this is the last thing in the world I would have wished?"
Sansa's eyes had grown wide as the plates. "A tourney," she breathed. She was seated between Septa Mordane and Jeyne Poole, as far from Arya as she could get without drawing a reproach from Father. "Will we be permitted to go, Father?"
"You know my feelings, Sansa. It seems I must arrange Robert's games and pretend to be honored for his sake. That does not mean I must subject my daughters to this folly."
"Oh, please," Sansa said. "I want to see."
Septa Mordane spoke up. "Princess Myrcella will be there, my lord, and her younger than Lady Sansa. All the ladies of the court will be expected at a grand event like this, and as the tourney is in your honor, it would look queer if your family did not attend."
Father looked pained. "I suppose so. Very well, I shall arrange a place for you, Sansa." He saw Arya. "For both of you."
"I don't care about their stupid tourney," Arya said. She knew Prince Joffrey would be there, and she hated Prince Joffrey.
Sansa lifted her head. "It will be a splendid event. You shan't be wanted."
—A Game of Thrones - Arya II
Sansa rode to the Hand's tourney with Septa Mordane and Jeyne Poole, in a litter with curtains of yellow silk so fine she could see right through them. They turned the whole world gold. Beyond the city walls, a hundred pavilions had been raised beside the river, and the common folk came out in the thousands to watch the games. The splendor of it all took Sansa’s breath away; the shining armor, the great chargers caparisoned in silver and gold, the shouts of the crowd, the banners snapping in the wind…and the knights themselves, the knights most of all.
“It is better than the songs,” she whispered when they found the places that her father had promised her, among the high lords and ladies. Sansa was dressed beautifully that day, in a green gown that brought out the auburn of her hair, and she knew they were looking at her and smiling.
They watched the heroes of a hundred songs ride forth, each more fabulous than the last.
—A Game of Thrones - Sansa II
GRRM:
“Tolkien imitators who came after him, a lot of them created a sort of Disneyland Middle Ages, you know, a sort of Middle Ages like you might see at a Renaissance Faire, but you don't have the dysentery, or the torture, or the leprosy, or the innate sexism, or classism, or racism that was so built into so much of that world for so many centuries, you really have to take, you know, I like the knights in shinning armor, the heraldry and pageantry as much as anyone, but you also have to include the fleas."
— Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival - NIFFF 2014
The novelist is midway through something of a European tour. After his trip to Switzerland, he is due in Scotland for the Edinburgh book festival. It has often been suggested that Ivanhoe (by the Scottish 19th-century novelist Walter Scott) was, alongside the War of the Roses, a major influence on A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones.
Martin was first turned on to Ivanhoe by the 1952 MGM movie starring Robert Taylor, George Sanders and a young Elizabeth Taylor. "I think it was Elizabeth Taylor at the peak of her...," his voice tails off before he clarifies. "She was the most beautiful woman in the world. I think I was nine years old when I saw that movie. How could you not fall in love with her? But the jousting and the pageantry of it made me love that story. Later, in high school, I did read that book. For a modern reader, it's a little tough to get through. The prose is very Victorian and thick but if you fight your way through it, the story is there. It has everything the movie has and more – the heraldry and jousting and the insight into the times. It was an influence in that sense."
—GRRM - Independent - 2014
SANSA:
The green knight laughed again. "Barristan the Old, you mean. Don't flatter him too sweetly, child, he thinks overmuch of himself already." He smiled at her. "Now, wolf girl, if you can put a name to me as well, then I must concede that you are truly our Hand's daughter."
Joffrey stiffened beside her. "Have a care how you address my betrothed."
"I can answer," Sansa said quickly, to quell her prince's anger. She smiled at the green knight. "Your helmet bears golden antlers, my lord. The stag is the sigil of the royal House. King Robert has two brothers. By your extreme youth, you can only be Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and councillor to the king, and so I name you."
—A Game of Thrones - Sansa I
No one ransomed the northmen, though. One fat lordling haunted the kitchens, Hot Pie told her, always looking for a morsel. His mustache was so bushy that it covered his mouth, and the clasp that held his cloak was a silver-and-sapphire trident. He belonged to Lord Tywin, but the fierce, bearded young man who liked to walk the battlements alone in a black cloak patterned with white suns had been taken by some hedge knight who meant to get rich off him. Sansa would have known who he was, and the fat one too, but Arya had never taken much interest in titles and sigils. Whenever Septa Mordane had gone on about the history of this house and that house, she was inclined to drift and dream and wonder when the lesson would be done.
—A Clash of Kings - Arya VII
Petyr had given her a roll of arms to study, so she knew their heraldry if not their faces. The red castle was Redfort, plainly; a short man with a neat grey beard and mild eyes. Lady Anya was the only woman amongst the Lords Declarant, and wore a deep green mantle with the broken wheel of Waynwood picked out in beads of jet. Six silver bells on purple, that was Belmore, pear-bellied and round of shoulder. His beard was a ginger-grey horror sprouting from a multiplicity of chins. Symond Templeton's, by contrast, was black and sharply pointed. A beak of a nose and icy blue eyes made the Knight of Ninestars look like some elegant bird of prey. His doublet displayed nine black stars within a golden saltire. Young Lord Hunter's ermine cloak confused her till she spied the brooch that pinned it, five silver arrows fanned. Alayne would have put his age closer to fifty than to forty. His father had ruled at Longbow Hall for nigh on sixty years, only to die so abruptly that some whispered the new lord had hastened his inheritance. Hunter's cheeks and nose were red as apples, which bespoke a certain fondness for the grape. She made certain to fill his cup as often as he emptied it.
—A Feast for Crows - Alayne I
Harry was staring at her. He knows who I am, she realized, and he does not seem pleased to see me. It was only then that she took note of his heraldry. Though his surcoat and horse trappings were patterned in the red-and-white diamonds of House Hardyng, his shield was quartered. The arms of Hardyng and Waynwood were displayed in the first and third quarters, respectively, but in the second and fourth quarters he bore the moon-and-falcon of House Arryn, sky blue and cream. Sweetrobin will not like that.
—The Winds of Winter - Alayne I
GRRM:
Firstly, thanks for that very thorough response on the tournaments and knighthood. Fascinating. In particular given the notes about _Ivanhoe_ and its influence -- I've only witnessed the A&E production of it, although maybe about time I read it. Seems it might be ripe for ideas.
IVANHOE is well worth a read, although the style is very old fashioned, of course. Still it has some fabulous characters and scenes, and so far as I know the definitive portrayal of a medieval tournament, both melee and joust.
It has been filmed three times that I know of. The recent A&E production had some good moments, as did the older Sam Neill version... the CLASSIC version, however, is still MGM's 50s version, starring Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, and George Sanders. The jousts are wonderful, Liz is radiant, and George Sanders steals the film as Bois-Gilbert. You should definitely rent that one and have a look.
—GRRM - 1999
SANSA:
She loved King's Landing; the pageantry of the court, the high lords and ladies in their velvets and silks and gemstones, the great city with all its people. The tournament had been the most magical time of her whole life, and there was so much she had not seen yet, harvest feasts and masked balls and mummer shows. She could not bear the thought of losing it all.
—A Game of Thrones - Sansa III
She closed the window, gathered up the fallen papers, and stacked them on the table. One was a list of the competitors. Four-and-sixty knights had been invited to vie for places amongst Lord Robert Arryn's new Brotherhood of Winged Knights, and four and-sixty knights had come to tilt for the right to wear falcon's wings upon their warhelms and guard their lord.
The competitors came from all over the Vale, from the mountain valleys and the coast, from Gulltown and the Bloody Gate, even the Three Sisters. Though a few were promised, only three were wed; the eight victors would be expected to spend the next three years at Lord Robert's side, as his own personal guard (Alayne had suggested seven, like the Kingsguard, but Sweetrobin had insisted that he must have more knights than King Tommen), so older men with wives and children had not been invited.
And they came, Alayne thought proudly. They all came.
It had fallen out just as Petyr said it would, the day the ravens flew. "They're young, eager, hungry for adventure and renown. Lysa would not let them go to war. This is the next best thing. A chance to serve their lord and prove their prowess. They will come. Even Harry the Heir." He had smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead. "What a clever daughter you are."
It was clever. The tourney, the prizes, the winged knights, it had all been her own notion. Lord Robert's mother had filled him full of fears, but he always took courage from the tales she read him of Ser Artys Arryn, the Winged Knight of legend, founder of his line. Why not surround him with Winged Knights? She had thought one night, after Sweetrobin had finally drifted off to sleep. His own Kingsguard, to keep him safe and make him brave. And no sooner did she tell Petyr her idea than he went out and made it happen.
—The Winds of Winter - Alayne I
GRRM:
Amon Shin in Maine asks, “If you lived in Westeros, which house would you like to be part of, or in which area would you like to live?”
Well, you know, there’s something to be said for being an honorable Stark, but you’re kinda cold all the time and poor and so forth. And you have a lot of land, but there’s not a lot of stuff on it, you know? On the other hand, if you’re a Lannister, you have a nice house and all the gold you want and all of that stuff.  So, there’s a lot to be said for being a Lannister.  I don’t know.  Maybe I could probably see me being a Lannister.  And I would always pay my debts.
—A Dance with Dragons | George R.R. Martin | Talks at Google - July 2011
SANSA:
They were going to take it all away; the tournaments and the court and her prince, everything, they were going to send her back to the bleak grey walls of Winterfell and lock her up forever. Her life was over before it had begun.
—A Game of Thrones - Sansa III
* * *
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Art credit: Loras Tyrell gives Sansa Stark a rose at the Hand’s Tournament by Jonathan Burton.
As you can see, Sansa loves tourneys because GRRM loves tourneys.
During the events that take place in the ASOIAF Books, we find 5 tourneys and Sansa Stark is directly or indirectly linked with all of them:
The Hand's tourney, a tourney in honor of Sansa’s father, Eddard Stark. Sansa was unofficially crowned the Queen of Love and Beauty by the Knight of Flowers, Loras Tyrell. GRRM wrote this passage as a resemblance to the Great tourney at Harrenhal, hiding hints and reversing colors. 
Tourney on King Joffrey's name day, a tourney in honor of Sansa’s betrothed. Sansa defended and saved Dontos Hollard’s life.
Melee at Bitterbridge, Brienne won the melee and earned a place in Renly’s Kingsguard. Later she swore his allegiance to Sansa’s mother, Catelyn Stark, and made an oath to find Sansa Stark. Brienne also wields Oathkeeper, a sword made of Ice (House Stark ancestral sword).  
Melee at Runestone, this event was organized with the sole intention of knighting Harrold Hardyng, Alayne Stone’s betrothed.
Tourney at the Gates of the Moon to select the members of the Brotherhood of Winged Knights, created and organized by Alayne Stone.
Sansa is also linked with other important tourneys that happened previously to the events of the ASOIAF Books:
Tourney at Ashford Meadows (The Hedge Knight), GRRM wrote the Hedge Knight when he was in the middle of writing A Clash of Kings, and he made sure of link the five initial champions of the Tourney at Ashford Meadows (Baratheon, Lannister, Tyrell, Hardyng & Targaryen) with Sansa’s suitors and betrothed. So Willas Tyrell and Harrold Hardyng are not a coincidence in Sansa’s arc, GRRM had already planned for this since he was writing A Clash of Kings.    
Great tourney at Harrenhal, this tourney was won by Rhaegar Targaryen and as the champion he crowned Lyanna Stark (Sansa’s aunt & Jon Snow’s mother) as his Queen of Love and Beauty. And take note at this very interesting detail: Rhaegar Targaryen wearing an armor adorned with rubies (red) gave Lyanna Stark a crown of winter roses (blue), while Loras Tyrell, the Knight of Flowers, wearing an armor adorned with sapphires (blue) gave Sansa a (red) rose.
Sansa loves knights because GRRM loves knights. Remember that George’s Catholic high school (Marist) football team is called the Royal Knights: 
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Sansa loves pageantry because GRRM loves pageantry. Just look at his collection of knights and ladies figurines:
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Sansa loves heraldry because GRRM loves heraldry. Take note that GRRM took inspiration from the antagonist of Ivanhoe, Brian de Bois-Guilbert’s sigil, to created House Corbray’s sigil:
Bois-Guilbert’s new shield bore a raven in full flight, holding in its claws a skull, and bearing the motto, Gare le Corbeau.
—IVANHOE: A Romance
The youngest man in the party had three ravens on his chest, each clutching a blood-red heart in its talons. His brown hair was shoulder length; one stray lock curled down across his forehead. Ser Lyn Corbray, Alayne thought, with a wary glance at his hard mouth and restless eyes.
—A Feast for Crows - Alayne I
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(Not to mention that Sansa loves books because George loves books...)
There you have it, GRRM self inserts in a few of his ASOIAF characters, and Sansa Stark is one of them.
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yurimother · 4 years
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LGBTQ Manga Review - Goodbye, My Rose Garden Vol. 1
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Dr. Pepperco’s Goodbye, My Rose Garden is by no means the first Yuri work centered around a maid or even the first set in late 19th or early 20th century England. Indeed, recent titles such as Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid and Blackberry Honey only scratch the surface of these factors’ presence in the genre. Elements of servitude and Victorian English society go way back, even being featured in the works that inspired the early genre, like Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess. (On a side note, A Little Princess was itself re-imagined as a Yuri visual novel in the highly unappreciated A Little Lily Princess.) This maid culture is almost as omnipresent in Yuri as senpai and kohai relationships. An easy test to determine if something is intrinsic to the Yuri genre is to ask yourself, ‘did Strawberry Panic parody this?’ If so, then the element in question is almost certainly a Yuri trope.
Yet, despite the plethora of Yuri stories that incorporate maids or are set in the Victorian era, I found Goodbye, My Rose Garden to be a refreshing and thoughtful story, one in which the setting plays a vital role in the series’ politics and drama. The manga, set at the beginning of the 20th century, follows a young Japanese woman named Hanako, who travels to England in hopes of meeting her favorite author and becoming a novelist. Shortly after her arrival, she meets a young noblewoman, Alice Douglas, and bonds with her over their shared love of literature. Hanako becomes Alice’s personal maid, and, to her astonishment, Alice offers Hanako all that she was she has wanted on the startling condition that Hanako kill her.
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Throughout the first volume, Hanako struggles to come to terms with Alice’s disturbing plea. Her situation becomes even more precarious as her relationship to Alice grows stronger and more profound, moving them beyond master and servant and even beyond friendship. These developments are believable, as Hanako is quickly set up as Alice’s sole confidant, and seemingly the only person undisturbed by the scandalous rumors surrounding Alice. The details of these rumors that Alice prefers women over men are slowly hinted at and revealed throughout the manga. Most of the story is built on such slow hints and reveals, which are incredibly well-paced. Some information answers the reader’s questions, such as the truth of the mysterious author Victor Franks, while other details set up mysteries for future volumes, like the events that led to the disappearance of Alice’s governess.
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The story is not only well-paced but beautifully told. Narration clues readers into both main characters’ insights as it switches between Alice and Hanako. This detail helps cement the relationship between the two and further expresses how fond Alice is of Hanako. However, my favorite aspect of Goodbye, My Rose Garden is Dr. Pepperco’s attention to detail. The author clearly did a fair amount of research, which is confirmed in the afterword, about Victorian society and fashion, such as Hanako’s “Margaret” hairstyle, literature, which is frequently referenced in the manga although such allusions are hardly more than surface level, such as name dropping Frankenstein, and same-sex relationships. This last point is perhaps the most important. Alice’s predicament is compared to that of Oscar Wilde, who was imprisoned and exiled because of his alleged homosexuality. As a noblewoman, Alice is trapped between her feelings, an impending marriage she dreads, and her responsibility to her family. It is as thrilling and precarious as the best historical dramas but has a chilling air of historical realism.
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The characters in Goodbye, My Rose Garden are incredibly likable. Readers will easily sympathize with Alice’s plight, as her dismay is effectively communicated, but also love her for her kindness and vulnerability. Alice herself admits to Hanako that her warm persona is a mask to hide her shame and grief, but readers are quickly able to determine this fact before the admission, thanks to her desire for death and the private thoughts and moments we glimpse of her. Hanako shares Alice’s kindness, although she is somewhat more flustered and bumbling, often expressing embarrassment and humility at Alice’s generous actions. However, she is also quite outspoken and very progressive, making her thoughts about love and acceptance clear to a salesman, “Love is Free. To me, being shackled by expectations is what’s truly unnatural.”
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Even the supposed villain of Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Edward, is impossible to hate. He is betrothed to Alice, although he suspects the nature of her feelings for Hanako. However, he is still a reasonably kind man who makes every effort to show Alice and Hanako generosity and respect, although the bad company he keeps occasionally spurs him to take rash action. I favorably compare him to Reiichi from the early volumes of If I Could Reach You, a sympathetic character in unfortunate circumstances who stands in the way of the central Yuri relationship.
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Dr. Pepperco’s art is highly detailed. Especially the fashionable attire presented; however, it never oversteps and invades the core of the story. One particular aspect I noticed was the way Hanako’s face is drawn slightly differently than the others, taking on a more moe appearance with a rounded face and large eyes. Her expressions are also the only ones that are ever exaggerated. This detail helps separate Hanako from the world around her, which fits within the manga’s narrative, as she is a Japanese woman living amongst the English upper class. It is a lovely visual reinforcement of her position.
There are also plenty of gorgeous scenes featuring the two women. While not sexually explicit, the scenes depict a different kind of service. It could be one woman crying into the other’s shoulder, or else them sharing an umbrella. Such moments occasionally come off as somewhat lazy and catering to the genre’s tropes, but they serve the purpose of showcasing Alice and Hanako’s closeness and make for great art inserts for reviews.
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Goodbye, My Rose Garden is a thoughtful and slightly sad manga. While the beats of the story are somewhat predictable and unremarkable, the careful consideration of the setting and realism of the narrative helps prevent it from sliding into melodrama. This attention to detail surrounds everything from the art to the loveable characters. It is an engaging and beautiful period piece. I applaud it for the strong presentation, its sincere and moving narrative, and the inclusion of historic LGBTQ struggles. I cannot wait to read more about Hanako and Alice’s journey in the next volume and wholeheartedly recommend the series. On a final note special thanks to Amber Tamosaitis, Cae Hawksmoor, and Kaitlyn Wiley for their fantastic translation, adaptation, and lettering respectively.
Ratings: Story – 8 Characters – 7 Art – 8 LGBTQ – 6 Sexual Content – 0 Final – 8
Purchase Goodbye, My Rose Garden Vol. 1 here: https://amzn.to/3ejm6ZF
Review copy provided by Seven Seas Entertainment
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kurama-is-love · 3 years
Text
An unusual proposal (Oneshot)
It's been a while since I wrote in english, so please bear with me if this is not perfect. English is not my first language ;-;
Oh and this time it's a female Half!Demon/Human Reader x Kurama. Just to let you know! Again as warning, much much fluff between you and Kurama.
The Dark Tournament was looking forward to its grand finale.
Team Toguro faced Team Urameshi, consisting of Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei and Kurama. Their fifth member, Mask, or rather Genkai, was 'killed' in battle by the younger Toguro brother the night before. Although you and your friends mourned about your deceased comrade, the others were not allowed to give in to their feelings now. One single mistake could result in the next death, everyone knew that.
You hadn't left your friend's side since the beginning of the Tournament and you were even allowed to stay at their side near the battle field. Though now you were concerned about the last battle.   You had asked to stand in for Mask as the fifth participant, but before you were able to speak to the competition officials, you were prevented from doing so by your friends, mostly Yusuke and especially Kurama. It was a lengthy and exhausting discussion that followed with the two of them. Yusuke was anything but calm and tried to dissuade you from your idea with irrelevant threats for "beating the shit out of you if you continue to try to participate". Of course he would never lay a finger on a friend, especially not if he were to draw the wrath of a certain fox on him ..
Speaking of the fox. It was Kurama's empathetic and factually convincing words that finally led you to abandon your idea and not take part in the fight. As much as you hated not being able to stand by your friends, it was clear to you aswell that you would not survive 2 minutes in the ring against a member of this diabolical team from Toguro .. It was just maddening ..
Before the fight started, you cleared your throat to attract the attention of your friends.
"Before you fight, I want to get rid of something .." you began and looked at the ground slightly.
"Spit it out, [Y/n]-chan." Kuwabara tried with a calm and understanding tone of voice to reassure you that none of them were mad at you for your earlier discussions. He thought that, because you were trembling all over and he could also tell that you were fighting back tears.
"I want you .. to be extra careful this time .. Your opponents are of a completely different caliber than all your opponents before .. And if ..Uh.. when you notice that you .. can't do it .. that you. . " you stopped, the thought of what should follow your sentence stung your heart. "... you will die if you keep going .. I beg you to give up .. just give up and end the fight .. Fuck this stupid tournament, your lives are way too precious ..!" you spoke a little louder and more determined as you looked at your four friends.
Hiei's expression was disinterested as always. Kuwabara looked away, slightly embarrassed, while Kurama had put on an illegible expression. Yusuke crossed his arms before briefly closing his eyes.
"Sorry, but we can't promise that." he said then.
"W-What ..?"
When you looked up, startled, you felt a hand on your shoulder. It was Yusuke's.
"If we give up, everything was in vain. Our training, the preliminary fights. And ... also the death of that old witch ... The least we owe her is to try to defeat her killer." He continued serious, but his face showed no sign of annoyance or anger towards you. He showed you .. friendliness and a small smile. "Anyway, thank you for taking care of us all. With that knowledge, we can do our best," he added.
"B-But .." your quiet objections were stopped again when Kurama took Yusuke's place and put both hands on your shoulders. A slightly worried smile graced his pale lips.
"Yusuke is right. If we give up here, everything we have been through so far will be wasted. Besides .." he continued and his expression darkened slightly as he looked at his opponents, especially at Karasu. "..we can't allow these .. monsters to continue their mischief to continue their murders in the world of spirits, demons and humans. If we don't stop them, who should do it?" he asked you.
You didn't know the answer and looked to the side. Kurama smiled sadly and put his hand on your cheek to turn your face back to him.
"Just trust us, okay?" He said softly and lovingly before placing a gentle kiss on your lips.
"Kurama .. I trust you. But I'm still scared okay ..?"
"That's perfectly okay." The redhead whispered and you sighed softly.
"I'm serious. I don't want to go through the same fear that I did during your fight against Bakken ..."
"Mhm .."
[Flashback]
The battle against the members of Team Masho had reached worrying proportions after Kurama lost consciousness while standing shortly after he was named as the victor in the battle against the ice demon Touya by Koto. The rules of this match were like an endless battle. As long as a member could fight, he fought against any opponent. This is exactly how he had defeated Gama at first and was able to win against Touya with the last of his strength. But now the luck of the kitsune seemed to have run out when he stood bleeding and unconscious on the battlefield and Koto checked whether he was still alive.
"That's enough now! I'll take over for Kurama!" Yusuke called to the judge when the third opponent, a tall, dark-skinned man with short black hair, stepped out.
"Not so fast. That guy is still there, so I'm his opponent now." The shinobi grinned maliciously and was already flexing his fists.
"You can't be serious! You can see that he is not able to fight!" You said and looked angry at Bakken.
"You stay out of it, you brat. I say: He can fight." With these words he turned to Koto, who looked back and forth between the two parties, perplexed.
"Well .. Well .. I also think that Kurama is incapacitated. We have to wait for the decision of the competition committee before an exchange takes place .." the cat demon spoke uncertainly.
All attention was then turned to the speakers when the committee announced its decision. They disagreed with the exchange and declared Kurama's ability to fight.
Yusuke and you had to watch in shock when Bakken started hit the unconscious Kurama again and again and injured him so badly that it was a miracle if he could survive this ordeal for long. When Bakken pulled Kurama up by his top and beat him again, the fabric on the top tore and Kurama fell to the ground. Blood ran down his forehead.
While you could only watch in shock, the stadium echoed under the calls of the demonic audience, who very unanimously demanded only one thing.
"Kill him!"
"Kill him, Bakken!"
"Yes, kill this traitor !!!"
You clenched your fists in anger before turning to the bleachers.
"SHUT UP YOUR DAMN MOUTHS ALREADY!" you shouted so loudly that the stadium fell silent and Yusuke and the others looked at you too. "I CAN'T STAND YOUR HATE TIRADS ANYMORE! The next one who says anything about 'kill this bastard' will get a free ticket to hell from me. WAS THAT CLEAR?"
Your friends had seldom seen you so loud and serious. The girls, Botan, Shizuru, Keiko and Yukino were very shocked by your exclamation.
Suddenly one of the demons jumped down from the stands and stood next to you.
"Pretty loose mouth for such a shitty, weak half-breed, darling."the green-colored beast grinned and licked its lips with its iguana-like tongue. "You are nothing but a shabby one demon, who has human blood in them. It doesn't surprise me that you are on the traitors side. But don't open your mouth like that if you know what's good for you. " He threatened you.
Your eyebrow twitched menacingly as the demon extended its claws and tried to slit your stomach. You reached for your weapons,  chakrams, and a reddish-orange aura flooded the metal, your Reiki, mixed with Yoki. The audience held their breath when they could only hear lightning-fast cuts and white clouds of energy sliced the demon that was attacking you until the attacker fell dead to the ground.
"Anyone else has something to say to a " failed half-breed "? you asked the ranks, but the audience fell silent before you could finally devote yourself to the fighting again.
"T-That's enough! Kurama is on the ground and can no longer fight! I think a countdown is also unnecessary .." Koto interrupted the scene now when she saw the battered Kurama.
Bakken seemed to disagree and lifted Kurama up in the air again by his top.
"Now he's standing again. That means the fight goes on."the black-haired man smirked and wanted to make the final punch that should blow out Kurama's life light forever.
"Stop. That's enough, Bakken." a masked figure behind Bakken, another member of Team Mascho, spoke up.
"Why are you stopping me, Risho? I was just about to finish it." Bakken grumbled while Risho pointed to the opposite side of the arena.
"If you had landed this punch, that would have been your death." Risho spoke only dryly, while Bakken blinked and looked in the direction in which Risho was pointing.
Yusuke and you stood there, both of you in your strongest attacking postures. Yusuke was ready to use his "Rei-Gun" while your chakrams had turned into icy-tessen (Metal fans), the tips of their spikes were reinforced with your Reiki and turned into razor-sharp blades that could be shot individually. You were both ready to kill Bakken if he made any move.
"Tch. Fine. Well, you can have him back." Bakken sighed and threw Kurama carelessly out of the ring. Yusuke and you immediately rushed to the passed out Kitsune and Yusuke carried him to the edge of the ring. You were right behind him. After Yusuke dropped him off, you kneeled down at Kurama's side and looked up your human best friend.
"Yusuke." You spoke in a serious tone. Yusuke turned to you. questioningly. "... Beat the shit out of him. Hit that asshole really hard with a greeting from me." You muttered with bared teeth. Yusuke grinned and gave you a thumbs-up.
"Rely on me, [Y/n]. I will make sure that he gets a proper rubdown. And greetings from you. Just take care of our Kurama." Yusuke answered with a wink.
You nodded gently and put your hands on Kurama's damaged chest to let your Reiki flow into his body. That should give him enough energy to activate his own self-healing powers. At least that was how it prevented him from having too little energy.
He almost died ..
When Kurama woke up a little later, he promised you to never again risk his life so lightly.
[End of flashback]
"Remember your promise." you said softly and took Kurama's hand in yours to give it an affectionate squeeze. The fox just looked at you apologetically, but he was weighing whether he could really tell you that he couldn't keep this promise.
"I'm sorry. This may be my first promise, which I can't keep, as much as I would like to. But ..." he began before you could sigh in frustration. Kurama smiled and put a strand of hair behind your ear. "I'll give you a new promise for that." He said and made you blink in curiousity.
"One that you will keep?" you asked.
Kurama smiled and pulled you close for a moment.
"Yes. I promise you, if I survive my fight against Karasu .." he almost sounded as if he didn't believe in it himself, which only unsettled you even more. "... I will take you as my wife as soon as my human body is 18 years old."
Your eyes widened, speechless, at these words. Kurama, who had sworn off love and certainly did not want to settle down in the human world, had just given you the promise of marriage if he should emerge victorious from the battle ..
"K-Kurama .." you started, touched, when the Kitsune put his index and middle fingers on your lips and gently shook his head.
"I have to go into the ring now." He said, because the referee Juri had to call his name again.
Kurama broke away from you and went to the battlefield, where Karasu was already waiting for him. You held your breath as the fight began. It was going to be the hardest fight of all time for him, you were sure of it.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The fight was clearly dominated by Karasu for a long time, who seemed to foresee every one of Kurama's steps. His rosewhip basically crumbled to dust before it could hit Karasu due to a miniature bomb that the black-haired man had already placed. Knowing that Kurama would resort to his signature attack.
Even the transformation into his Youko form only briefly gave Kurama the upper hand in this fight.
Karasu was strong, incredibly strong. Kurama was already bleeding profusely on his legs and arms from the bombs that hit his flesh. The transformation into his demon form had already reached its limits. Now everything seemed to be over for the redhead when he went down and his robe was already completely bathed in red blood.
It was a horrible sight, almost worse than Bakken's back then. Kurama stopped moving when Karasu tried to put an end to it.
With the very last of his strength, Kurama was able to mobilize his last reserves and thus also make his Reiki to zero when he conjured up a large, gray plant. Shortly afterwards he sagged dead and his friends, as well as you, cried out in agony.
"KURAMA!"
Karasu stopped. Not because he thought his opponent was dead, but because something had pierced his chest. Everyone stared in disbelief at the three vines of the plant that Kurama had conjured up with his last strength. They seemed to suck out Karasus blood.
"What is happening?" Kuwabara asked in disbelief.
"The plant sucks out its blood. Like a vampire." You explained and looked a little more composed again. Apparently you knew this technique. Since dated Kurama, the others weren't surprised.
Before the crowd could properly process what had happened, Karasu fell to the ground. His skin was pale from massive blood loss and his eyes were blank and torn. He was dead.
But what about Kurama?
Kurama opened his eyes. The bleeding wounds had closed again as if by a miracle and he straightened up slightly wobbly. Did the vampire plant fed him with the blood of his victim to save his life? It was the only logical explanation.
Tears now ran down your cheeks. No tears of sadness, tears of infinite joy. He was alive. Kurama had kept his promise and survived this fight.
Without hesitation for a second, after Juri made him the winner, you ran onto the battlefield and threw Kurama to the ground in a stormy embrace. The Redhead was unprepared for the impact and lost balance when you buried your face in the crook of his neck.
"Idiot. Idiot idiot idiot." You repeated several times, still sobbing slightly. This kitsune almost seemed to enjoy causing you so much grief by letting himself be beaten up in every fight.
Kurama smiled gently and caressed your back soothingly.
"Ssh. Everything is fine.", He whispered and heard only briefly loud sobs before you pulled away from him and stared at him.
"DO. THAT. NEVER. AGAIN." You warned and if Kurama wasn't grinning at you so sweetly, your anger would also come across convincingly. Instead, you just sighed softly and patted him gently on the shoulder. "But you also have to keep your promise," you added.
"Don't worry, I will." Kurama chuckled and turned to Yusuke with a hand sign. You blinked perplexed when Yusuke grinned and threw a small velvet box to him. Out of the corner of your eye you could see that it was a box with a beautifully decorated rose on the lid.
"Kurama .."
Kurama got on one knee and took your hand in his.
"I should do this formally and properly, don't you think?" He laughed and you suddenly realized something.
"... You already planned everything in advance, right ...?" You wanted to know.
Kurama gave a small laugh and kissed your palm lovingly before looking intensely into your eyes.
"Quite possible. No, but .. I've never met a woman like you in my life - and that applies to my human and demonic life - and I never expected to lose my heart to someone who makes me as happy as you. "
"Kurama .."
Kurama smirked when you didn't let him finish and cleared his throat to continue.
"Originally I wanted to stay in the human world because my mother and my friends were so close to my heart. But now there is another reason why I don't want to leave this world anymore. I want you by my side until the end of my days and ... start a family with you. In the human world. That is why I ask you, here and now, [First Name] [Last Name], do you want to be my wife and eternal mate? ", He asked and opened the box. Inside it was the most beautiful diamond ring you ever saw. Its sides were adorned with two beautiful jewels, a shiny [gem with your eye color] and a shimmering emerald. It was more than obvious that these jewels symbolized the eye colors of the both of you.
"Yes .. Yes, I want Kurama. Of course I want that!" You said overjoyed and let a smiling Kurama put the ring on your finger before he pulled you to him and kissed you passionately.
"U-Unbelievable! A marriage proposal during the final of the Dark Tournament! I've never seen anything like it!"Koto announced, she sat in the crowd as the second announcer and looked dreamily at the engaged couple.
You smiled and looked at the ring.
"So beautiful. But something's missing," you mumbled.
"Huh?", Kurama asked and you turned to him and grinned slightly.
"A topaz." You answered with a smile.
Now Kurama was the one whose eyes widened and he even blushed a little.
A topaz as golden as Youko Kurama's eyes. His demon form.
Now he was more certain than ever. He would never let you go again. He swore to himself.
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jeromesxreader16 · 3 years
Text
Such a Joker (53)
Part 52 Here!
~o0o~
I pack two sandwiches in my purse and proceed to cover my hair with the large silk scarf. "Where are you sneaking off to?" Babs asks walking past me and downing a drink. "Secret date? I figured you would get sick of the pale faced clown." I smile at my hands. I could never tire of my boy. I'm as crazy as him, maybe more, but he would never turn me away, and I could never leave him.
"I'm married." "Even better." I narrow my eyes at her. "Babs, I'm going to see my dad." She widens her eyes. "Now you're asking for a death wish." I walk out the door, my heels clicking every step. "If you say so."
I walk into the GCPD and can sense the chaos and tension thickly canned in the air. Not seconds later two individuals start brawling over bread. "Hey! Break it up!" My father pushes them back. "For all the new people here... everyone is welcome in Haven, but there are rules. And one of them is we leave the fighting outside. Government already thinks we don't deserve help. We have to show otherwise. Gangs want to tear themselves apart outside, that's their business. In here, in Haven... we help each other survive."  I hum with a slick smile as the two dispute the issue and the tension falls. Saved for another day.
I walk up to him nudging his arm. "Nice speech. I think it worked." He turns to me and gasps, but recovers quickly. "(Y/n). You're so big. No... Just-" "Pregnant, dad." He nods smiling. "So what happens when they find out the government abandoned them?" He sighs, shaking his head. I pat his back. "Come on paper man. You need some real food." I pull him into his office and remove the disguise. "Italian sub for you, and tuna for me." "You hate tuna." I smile sitting down. "They don't." I pat my swollen tummy. "So there are two of them?" I nod smiling.
"And you're happy? He treats you well?" I nod again smiling at him. "Of course he does. He's not a monster, dad." He grabs my hand over the desk and squeezes it. "I don't... like him. You know this. He destroyed the damn city for christ's sake, but he is the father of my grandchildren, and the husband of my only daughter, so I can promise you... I will never kill him." I kiss his hand and smile. "Who knew that'd be so comforting to hear."
~
I walk into the elevator with the smile ghosted over my lips. Crackling from the speaker erupts my mind causing me to shake and grab the wall in fright. "Aw, honey, I'm sorry." Ecco's voice pipes up from the speaker. I wave my hand in front of the camera with a smile. "No worries. All good here." I laugh placing a hand on my stomach. "Where is Jerimiah?" "Working down below. Would you like me to get him?" I smile up at the camera. "Let me go down."
"Uh... Miss, I think we should wait. He doesn't want you around the-" I press the button to the bottom floor faster than light. "Oops," I smirk up to Ecco as the elevator skips the main floor and descends below.
The two doors slide open revealing a steamed room with the funk of hard labor. I step on the uneven ground and see Jerimiah fanning himself as he watches his workers. I rest my hands on his shoulders and kiss his cheek. "You're working hard." He spins around with a glare. "And you're not supposed to be here." He grips my hips pulling me towards him.
"I missed you." I nuzzle into his chest. He hums as we rock back and forth. "I missed you, my love. Come on. No lady should be exposed to this heat." He places his hand on the small of my back leading me to the elevator.
Holding me the entire way up and then carrying me to our bed, never letting us go. "Are my darlings all suggled up?" He asks resting my head on his chest. The icy colored flesh proving wrong to the touch of fire on my fingers. "Yes, Jer." I mumble feeling my eyes draw to a close. "Never will I go a day without my family... even your father." He kisses my head before I can ask the question.
~
Jeremiah POV:
My workers work endlessly day and night to break the walls of the under the earth. Slowing down each day, getting on my nerves in the end. You're pushing my men way too hard. "We're not gonna break through for at least a couple more days. There is absolutely no way to make it on schedule." The leader of the pack of sweat cogs comes in.
My wife doesn't need to be kept in this filth any longer. How dare he disrespect my future.  "Well, not with that attitude, you're not." I slice the man's throat, as he falls to the ground, blood flowing on the dirt.
"Now... everyone... let's reach inside and dig... a little deeper, shall we? 'Cause that's the only way you're all making it out of this hole." I hum watching their fear thicken.
Two taps on my shoulder break my gaze from the project. "Oh, Echo. Are these all the recruits?" Skinny, no brains, slim Whitted. These are my soldiers?
"Well, I thought you would want quality over quantity. Not everybody can pass a .38 caliber test of faith." I smirk thinking of the trials and tests they've suffered.  "Yes... you certainly have set a very high bar for devotion."
"Oh. Almost forgot. Bruce Wayne and his sidekick Curls... Or is he the sidekick? Anyway, they tried to infiltrate our little operation here."
"Oh?" " Oh. And Curls can walk, really well, especially... for a paraplegic. Ah. And she wants to kill you." I glare at her with a snarl. This doesn't help that my wife is being cared for in the same building.
"A lot, FYI. If I see her, I'll give you a shout. Oh... and kill her." I nod rolling my eyes. Finish the job and move on for the better of my wife and children.
~
I walk into the GCPD questioning room with my scarf wrapped around my head, and my belly protruding out. Quite the look I must say. I open the door to see Victor Zsasz pushed on to the table by Harvey.
"Ow. This is a really nice table." I snicker and take my glasses off. "You do realize her thrives on the pain." The three pairs of eyes look at me.  "We got a dozen witnesses that saw you walk out of that building before it went kabooey."
"Yeah. I heard some gangs had taken over." Zsasz says turning his eyes to me.  "Figured, with you guys occupied, I might help myself to some of your supplies. Hey, do you guys have any canned peaches? Man, I'd trade an arm and a leg for that right now. Not mine, somebody else's. Maybe little baby Maniax's." He laughs reaching for my stomach before Jim swats his arm down.
"If you're innocent, why shoot up a city block full of cops?"
"Because it was full of cops." Zsasz and I say at the same time.
"Who were also trying to shoot me. And, guys, those were warning shots. I mean, if I really
wanted to kill you... you'd be dead. You got a pen? I want to write this guy a thank-you letter. Do the math. If I blew up a building full of people, I would have covered
every inch of my body in sweet, sweet scars. Mrs. Valeska...  want to do a strip search?" He winks before my father punches him. "She's married, pig."
I lock arms with my dad and walk through the station. "Got Lucius on the horn for you, Cap."
"Lucius, talk to me." I grab the phone holding it close enough for the both of us to hear. "Haven wasn't destroyed by a bomb. It was an RPG, like the one that took down the chopper."
"You sure?"
I'm holding what's left of it in my hand right now. We found pieces of it in the rubble. It was fired through the basement window, detonated the fuel oil tank. And we're still trying to figure out exactly which rooftop it was fired from.
"Rooftop?"
"Yes."
"Dad, the only angle you could hit this place from is above. Zsasz was on the ground. Looks like you need a new suspect. I think we need to-"
"Jim! Ah. I know the wheels of justice turn slowly, so I'm here to provide- a modicum of grease."
Rushing up towards the front, Oswald, the Mayor of fallen Gotham, stands tall and proud.
"You need to leave right now."
"Still claiming he's innocent, is he?"
"Yes. And as much as I hate to admit it, the evidence is backing him up."
Harvey busts out, "What the hell's going on?" "Harvey, according to Lucius, Zsasz couldn't have done it."
Oswald huffs with a smile. "I did not expect you to go soft, Jim. Actually, I did. Behind a grandpa and all must've changed your ways. Which is why I didn't come alone." Several gunmen come out armed and ready to fire. My father huddles me close and shields me from the view of guns.
"Bring me Victor Zsasz!"
"Leave, (Y/n). Go home!" Jim pushes me away towards the doors.
~
Jeremiah POV:
I wave my hat fanning my pale skin placed upon the crippling bones. It's so damp and hot in here, but I'm freezing. My heart has gone cold without her scent around. Not a touch, not a wiff, not a glace for days it seems. Where is my angel with my bundles of joy?
"You see, a river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence. So what do we do when we feel like giving up? Dig a little deeper. And what do we do when we can't possibly go on any longer? Dig a little deeper. And what do we..." A sharp blade stabs into my side crippling my speech. I look down seeing the masked figure in the striped coat. I gasp feeling my footing slide as the attacker shoves the blade into my stomach further.
"Deep enough?" The individual removes the mask revealing the little pussy of them all. "Well, Selina, I must say..." She pulls the blade out plunging it back in sharply.
"Don't say anything." Over and over again the blade is shoved into my side. The light dimming, the hot steam hitting my brow, the devilish laughter of my brother. This is near my end? Maybe so...
"Selina!" The rat is stripped away from me causing me to fall to the ground barely clinging to the life of happiness I have.
"Selina!" Bruce Wayne holds the fierce kitty back. "Stop. It's done! It's over."
~
The building is quiet. The entire place is quiet... Not one swing of an ax hitting limestone, making a light clink sound. Not the ring of my husbands voice calling to his men. Not even Echo meeting me at the door with my slippers and milkshake. Something is not right.
"Jeremiah?" I call out as if he could hear me from below. If not him then someone. One of the members at least, but no one came. I proceeded to enter the elevator only to see blood on the buttons and floor. They were having the graduation today, not everyone makes it.
The doors  open to the pool room and I could almost drop to my knees at the smell. Thick scent of blood coating the walls. I walk out of the elevator and down into the pool counting the dead. No Echo or Jeremiah. Good so far.
I make my way down to the tunnels where silence has taken over. Just a simple lone man sitting in a chair. "Where is Jermiah?" I panic pulling my jacket closer. Could he have left me?
"Mrs. Valaska!" "Where is my husband?" "He's off in the tunnels. He's got injured. I'm supposed to take you to him." "Well, go on!" He shuffles his feet in a pace of nervousness, tripping over rocks and pickaxes. "How did he get hurt?" "Someone came in and just stabbed the boss. She was taken away by Bruce Wayne." I feel fire ignite in my blood. Selina and Bruce. What a treat. Trying to kill my husband in my own home.
Down the tunnels I hear him. Groaning in pain as Echo stitches him up. "How could you let this happen?" I shout at her. "She was fast." "And you're supposed to be faster." I glare at her as she cowers at my words.
"Don't stress, darling. It's not good for the babies."
"Jeremiah." I kneel down next to him grabbing his face. "Are you alright?" He places his hands over mine, kissing them each. "I'm still alive. One thing I've still got on my brother. How are you, my love? I'm sorry. You must've been wrecked with worry." Jeremiah pulls me into his lap. I nod with my bottom lip out. "Yes, I was. I was so scared, Jer." He pulls me to him. "Aw my darling. I know. I know."
I shift my weight slightly causing him to jet in a sharp inhale. "Oh, honey. Stitches still sore?" He nods. "Never would have happened if you wore that armor I prepared." Echo hums, causing me to roll my eyes. "That bullet makes you sentimental of the wrong things." I huff out pushing her out of the view.
"Why would you not check who was working? You always do. You're always prepared." Jeremiah places his hand on my cheek again. "I had to let Selina thrust the knife into my flesh at least once. Verisimilitude trumps precaution, you see." "They think you're dead." I think putting everything together.
Echo stands to the side bouncing with information. "What is it?" She giggles jumping on her heels. "All systems go." Jeremiah lifts himself, placing a hand on the small of my back and leading us along behind Echo.
"You could've died." I whisper looking at the dirt. "I didn't." "But you could have, Jeremiah. That's my point. You have two children growing, and soon they'll be out in this world. They need their father. You've kept me safely away, but that won't mean shit if you're not around to protect your children." I move ahead of him in a fit of fire.
A hand grabs my shoulder spinning me around. Jerehimah dips me and pushes our lips together. His grip on my arm and hip so tight, keeping me pulled to him with no fight. He pulls away only an inch, looking at my eyes, looking into the soul. "Now, you may not understand everything I do, but I do it for you and these two kids. I think and I plan for hours. You sit up in the bed resting your feet like I tell you. When you start questioning if I'm going to make it, that's when this will fall apart. You're my darling. You've been mine for thousands of years. Never doubt me, (Y/n)." He places his hands on my stomach and pecks my forehead. "Come along now. We have things to do."
Leading me through the tunnels I start to see less of the dirt and more solid grey rock already formed into tunnels. "Where are we?" Jeremiah giggles pulling me alongside.
"Doctor. I'm hearing good things." Jeremiah says holding in laughter.
What is he up to?
The Doctor nods. "The bandages are ready to come off. Your assistant thought you'd like to see the results." Echo shakes her head in praise like a dog while Jer nods his head. "Indeed, I would."
He turns to me. "You won't want to miss this, (y/n)."
The Doctor unravels the bandages on the individuals faces revealing a profile built from professional lifestyle and diets. This is Thomas and Martha Wayne before my eyes... ALIVE!
"Oh, you two look beautiful." I smile looking down at her pearl necklace. "Down to the very detail with you." Jeremiah kisses my cheek. "I love family reunions, don't you?" "More than Christmas!" I cheer and giggle.
24 notes · View notes
belovedstill · 3 years
Note
pssst hi my friend I love YOU I love your WRITING and I love Gavin and Kiro !!!!
is it possible I could request something fluffy between those two boys and MC? Doesn’t necessarily have to be romantic in any way (but if they’re poly you know I’m all for that 👀) but I would just love something cute and sweet between all of them. thank you in advance <3
you're spoiling me, letting me write these three ahh i hope you like it as much as i enjoyed writing it! 💖
here's a nice sleepy little gavin/kiro/mc moment from and they were housemates!, my poly mlqc series c:
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Kiro’s room is empty, Gavin can tell even in the darkness of the 5-am autumn morning. The bedsheets are messy, but it’s not unlike Kiro to not make his bed most of the time.
It’s even more unlike him to be awake before Gavin; usually, he has to be dragged out of his bed for their morning run and only begrudgingly blinks his eyes open when they’re both in the living room and Gavin pushes a cup of sweet coffee underneath his nose.
If he’s not in his bedroom, he must have fallen asleep in his office, Gavin thinks, and heads there next.
But Kiro’s not there, either. The monitors Gavin expected to be turned on and displaying some video editing software or another are black. The couch in the room is tidy as ever, the star-print thin blanket thrown over the backrest.
That leaves only one other possible place.
—Well, three, to be exact, but Gavin’s woken up alone in his bed and Victor and Lucien are out of the city on a business trip and a conference respectively, rendering their beds empty and cold.
He knocks on the door to MC’s bedroom, quietly enough to warn her of his presence in case she’s awake but not to wake her up if she’s sleeping. With no answer, he opens the door, looks in and—
There he is.
Kiro’s fast asleep in MC’s bed, one arm loosely wrapped around her middle, his chest pressed against her back as they lie on their sides. From the doorway, Gavin’s able to see perfectly well their peaceful faces bathed in the warm, dim light of the nightlight they must have forgotten to turn off before falling asleep. One of MC’s hands is still loosely curled around her phone, now black with its battery dead.
They must have stayed up till at least 3am, he thinks as he plugs the phone to charge and sets it on the messy bedside table, littered with several empty small-sized chip bags and two emptied glass soda bottles.
Finally, he turns to look at the pair on the bed again and sighs. “You did this to yourself,” he mutters at Kiro, props one hand on the bed, and leans over MC to stroke Kiro’s hair away from his sleeping face with gentle fingers. His voice is hushed. “Come on. Wake up, it’s time for our run.”
Kiro doesn’t even twitch; his face remains an undisturbed, blank mask of peacefulness.
“Kiro.” Gavin’s voice is just a touch louder now. He drawls his name a couple of times, but when that doesn’t work, he starts tapping his finger against Kiro’s forehead.
Normally, he wouldn’t hesitate to pick him up, covers and all, and carry him to the brightly-lit living room to wake up there. MC’s trapped in Kiro’s hold, however; pulling him up would mean possibly tousling her awake, and while she joins their morning exercise sometimes, she’s recently had a workweek straight out of hell. Some sleeping in was in order.
“Mmmm…”
His eyes dart to Kiro again—Kiro, who’s frowning and blearily opening one very sleepy eye.
A ping of regret needles at Gavin’s heart for a moment. Maybe it’s too cruel? He must have gotten—what, 2 hours of sleep? 3?
(“I’m not an early bird at all,” Kiro told him the first time they finished an impromptu gym session and were drying their hair after hitting the showers, “but I had so much fun today. Can I join you from now on?”
They were both high on endorphins; had it not been the case, Gavin might have said he preferred working out alone, or left Kiro’s question unanswered.
Kiro’s smile was radiant, though. Blue eyes sparkled up at him, even in the shade of the towel and the frame of wet, water-darkened blonde hair sticking to his forehead.
...He looked gorgeous like this, at 6am, with nobody but the two of them in the locker room.
“Sure.”
“Awesome!” Kiro’s sunny smile grew even wider. “Wake me up from now on, by any means necessary.”
“Okay…?”
Kiro’s face grew serious in the blink of an eye. “I mean it,” he said, looking seemingly straight into Gavin’s soul. “Any. Means. Necessary. I don’t ever want to miss this.”
Something about that look—about those words—stirred something deep, deep inside of Gavin, rendering him speechless. All he could offer was a measly nod.
From that morning on, he had barely ever worked out alone.)
“There you are,” Gavin says in a quiet tone and pats Kiro’s shoulder. “Get up, it’s time.”
The blue eye looks lazily around the room—starts on Gavin’s face, moves to the dark, dark sky behind the window, then rolls to half focus on MC’s messy hair in front of him— and falls shut again.
Immediately, Gavin shakes his head. “No no no,” he says, a little louder than before, “You’re getting up, mister.”
“‘s nigh’...“
“It’s morning.” He curls his fingers around the arm Kiro has wrapped around MC and gently, slowly pulls it away. “Get up.”
But Kiro frowns and burrows his face against MC’s hair. “She’s so warm…”
He can’t help but chuckle. “Of course she is.” They both must be, right now. “She’ll be here when we come back.”
“Mmnngh…”
“Come on, up you—”
Before Gavin gets to finish the sentence—
—MC grabs his arm and hugs it to her chest; he leans in closer, purely on instinct, not to disturb her.
Kiro snorts. “Guess there’s no run right now.”
“Hey…” Ignoring Kiro’s comment, Gavin softly strokes MC’s hair away from her face. “Pumpkin, let go…”
She brings his stolen hand to her face instead, and rests her cheek against his palm. With how his hand is currently cushioning her head, he’s effectively trapped.
Oh...
Kiro’s quiet laughter is all he needs to know that his face looks as hot as it feels. And when Kiro scoots back, pulling MC along, and makes a grabby-hand in his direction, the warmth in Gavin’s cheeks travels straight into his heart.
“Give it up, officer,” Kiro murmurs with a satisfied smile on his face. “You’re ours now.”
As if he weren’t already.
It’s a tight fit with the three of them in one bed, but when MC snuggles against his chest and Kiro wraps his arm around the both of them, any remaining thoughts of the morning run disappear.
He could definitely get used to this.
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littleoddwriter · 3 years
Note
So in the comics, Sionis's skull mask is actually NOT a mask and the result of him cutting off his face. What about a story where Roman entrusts with Zsaz with disfiguring him?
Perfection | Roman Sionis x Victor Zsasz | ZsaszMask
1) Anon, please, you need to tell me what comic you saw/read this in, because I've read pretty much all of the ones Roman is in and it's always a mask (he's called Black Mask for a reason after all). It's usually just fused with his face because it was burned to it.
So, I'm genuinely just curious in which comic book version he cut his face off, because I'm not aware of it, fjdhfjkskfsl. And I need to read it. Please, dhjgsdjfhsf.
2) This turned more into a character study, whoops. I hope it's still to your liking anyway. Thank you so much for the request, it was super interesting and it totally got out of hand again... (cue no one being surprised).
I hope you enjoy! :)
summary; see above.
notes; TW / CW // Dissociation; Delusion; Psychosis; Visual Hallucination; Murder; Violence; Blood; Cutting; Disfiguration; Scars; Identity Death. That should be everything important.
A/N: Also, Roman suffers from BPD, like always in my Fics, so that's where this is all coming from, as I headcanon that it started out as the general symptom of having a distorted sense of self, and developed into a delusion, and then he suffered a psychotic break with hallucinations and such, resulting in his disfiguration.
[And remember that psychosis is a very serious thing and that I'm not using it lightly here. Psychotic people suffer. They're not bad people for having psychosis. They deserve love and respect. Don't use it against people, don't disrespect them with it and do not under any circumstances use it as a synonym for evil. Thanks.]
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Everybody knew just how much Sionis cared about his perfect looks. Always, at any time, he had to look and be presentable, and he had to be perfect doing it. His parents had drilled it into him from an early age on, not caring much about anything about him, other than his appearance. He was one of the faces of Janus Corp after all. He had to be perfect in order to make the cosmetics sell better.
Still, when Roman looked in the mirror he couldn’t recognise himself. It was as though he was staring at a stranger. He painted his face and took great care of it; always making sure it looked immaculate. It didn’t help the disconnection he felt from it, though.
Sometimes it only made it worse, because really – he was just putting on a mask, wasn’t he? He made himself look absolutely perfect, so that others couldn’t possibly see what was underneath the surface.
He was a cruel and sadistic man, one with many issues, and a crime boss behind his businessman persona. That was all him, but it also wasn’t.
No, this cruel man was Black Mask.
The persona he’s made up to make a name of himself in Gotham’s underbelly. That was who he really was. Not Roman Beauvais Sionis. No, that man was just a mask that his parents had constructed and that he’s kept up all his life in a desperate attempt to gain approval and respect.
But every single day, one more crack appeared on this mask, and another piece broke off on worse days. Soon, none of this ‘Roman Sionis’ would be left.
He could feel it.
He could see it.
When he looked in the mirror, all he could see then was this broken mask, an empty shell, waiting to fully break apart and let the inside rear its ugly head to its fullest.
Some days even, he would sit in front of his vanity and look at himself for a while, seeing the way he cracked and broke apart slowly, but surely, how his skin was crawling with the feeling of it. It made him itch. He desperately needed to get it off.
So far he hasn’t dared to do it, though. He couldn’t make himself take a knife and just carve into this fleshy mask.
He hated the way he hesitated every time.
This mask didn’t mean anything.
It was just an unnecessary hurdle he had to overcome to be who he really was, to the fullest.
He’s already made a good progress of realising himself with the Black Mask, but it was just there to hide his perfect exterior, to seem more malicious, to protect his precious skin.
That particular night, he’s worn his Black Mask and had gotten into a nasty fight with some other criminals. While Zsasz and his other goons were usually so good at keeping him out of it, this time wasn’t so.
Victor had been busy fighting off three men at once – and really, Roman admired the way he’s overpowered them after all, soaked in their blood, three new tallies on his skin. It was magnificent. Zsasz was so gorgeous to him. He knew who he was; he had no qualms about whether or not he looked perfect. He wore each tally as though it was a medal – and in a way, Roman guessed it was. Sionis envied him – this freedom Zsasz had that he so desperately wanted.
Black Mask had been attacked by two men of his rival. He had tried shooting them, but one of them managed to knock his revolver out of his hand. It was okay, he wasn’t entirely incompetent when it came to hand-to-hand combat after all. Still, that didn’t mean he liked it.
During the fight, he’s taken some punches to the face, which was fine; the mask saved him of some of the damage. But then one of the muscles took it off his head, leaving him vulnerable. He hated it. It enraged him. His rage caught on fire, bursting into roaring flames. He went to beat them up with more fervour. He didn’t care anymore. He just wanted them dead.
And he did kill them, after one of them had swung a knife at him, slashing his left cheek. He wrestled it out of the guy’s hand and stabbed them both in the neck, watching with cold eyes as they bled out right in front of him.
The turmoil around him and Victor had started dying down by then. Eventually, they were able to go back home, death and victory hanging fresh in the air, excitement buzzing under their skin. And for that one night, Roman hadn’t even cared that there was a cut on his otherwise immaculate face, or that it would most likely heal into a nasty scar.
Of course, that hadn’t lasted very long.
The next morning, he had started crying because of it, too upset over his ruined skin, the evidence that his mask was slowly but surely breaking apart. He couldn’t stand it.
When the cut had healed, though, and it was merely a pink scar, and not as ugly as he had expected, it was easy to cover it up with make-up. He did that for a while, until he seemed to have reached his breaking point.
Roman has just gone through his usual nightly routine, which always took way too fucking long anyway for the fact that he’d never look as perfect as he wanted – no, not wanted – felt like he had to. And like so often, he just sat there in front of his vanity and looked at himself, staring at his face.
Was it really his face? He just couldn’t tell.
Was that really what he looked like? He didn’t feel like it.
It was just all wrong, so far away, not him.
No, that was underneath.
Everything important was only skin deep.
Or was it?
What if everything important was under the skin?
What if skin was nothing but a fucking hindrance?
What if perfection was nothing but an illusion? He was sure that it was.
Perfection didn’t exist.
Nothing and no one was perfect. He should know. While his parents tried to appear as though they were above everyone else, they really weren’t. They struggled with the fact that the Wayne’s were above them financially, but also as humans. Roman’s parents haven’t ever felt human to him at all. All affection was nothing but a lie, all ‘perfect and happy family’ was nothing but a show.
So no, perfection didn’t exist.
Then why did he even bother conforming to something that was only a construct anyway?
No more, though.
As he looked at himself in the mirror, it had become distorted. That wasn’t unusual for him. It happened a lot, especially as of late. He saw the crumbling mask that was his supposed face. Pieces broke off, starting by the scar on his left cheek. Those pieces were falling away, revealing only darkness. It was as though one was breaking a porcelain doll’s face in. Hollow inside. But that wasn’t what he was. He wasn’t hollow. His true self just needed a little help to come out.
“Zsasz!” he shouted for his partner.
It felt far away, as though someone else had shouted it, someone that wasn’t him. But then again, this wasn’t who he really was anyway.
“Boss?” Zsasz came into his dressing room.
He didn’t take his eyes off the mirror, looking at Victor through that.
“I need you to help me with something. You’re the only one I trust to do it right,” he stated, holding up the carving knife Zsasz usually used to peel off faces and slit throats on his command.
Victor looked at the knife and then back at him, looking confused. “D’you need me to kill someone?” he asked, unsurprisingly.
“No- well, technically yes, but not really,” he answered cryptically.
“Uh, sure, alright. Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it, boss.” Zsasz was always so fucking loyal and obedient. It was truly lovely. That was exactly why he trusted him with it – and because Victor’s knife skills were definitely superior to his own.
“Good boy,” he purred and let Zsasz take the knife from him. “I need you to ruin this,” he continued, gesturing his hand around his face in circles to let Victor know exactly what he was talking about.
“Your face?” He nodded. “Are you sure, Roman?”
“Don’t call me that,” he hissed angrily, “And fucking do as I say! Ruin my face. I trust you to do it right and not have this body end up dead. ‘Kay?”
He didn’t know if Zsasz understood what he was on about, although it was so very clear to him, he couldn’t fathom the possibility of someone like Victor Zsasz not getting it.
“Alright, sure. Whatever you want,” Victor murmured then, “I need you to turn around, though. I can’t reach you well like this.”
Nodding, he turned around in his seat, facing Victor, who stood beside him on his right. “Go on then.” He twirled his hand, index finger up, for emphasis, like he always would.
In a way, he felt giddy with excitement, although some underlying anxiety lingered beneath it all. It would be okay, though. He was certain of it.
This was right.
This was what was supposed to happen.
Zsasz took a deep, steadying breath. Then he pressed the blade’s point against his right cheek. For a moment he didn’t do anything else, looking him over, giving him an exit to all of this. But he was so absolutely certain of himself in that moment; he wasn’t going to back out.
Not this time.
“Do it, Victor,” he ordered with a steady voice, conviction clear in it.
Nodding, Zsasz put pressure on the knife and pressed the tip into his skin, drawing a three inch line down his cheek with it. He didn’t react to the pain. He couldn’t feel it. He was so disconnected from it all.
Zsasz continued to slice into his face’s skin, making bigger and smaller cuts, all deep enough to scar, just like he did for his tallies. Blood was oozing out of them, running down his face, his chin, falling on his precious pyjamas – those with his face on it. It was alright, though. He wouldn’t need them after this anymore, anyway.
Eventually, Victor stopped cutting. “Is that enough, boss?” he asked.
He turned around and looked at himself in the mirror. He’d have to wear bandages over his face for a good while, that was for sure. It was worth it, though, because now it was perfectly ruined – disfigured.
Roman Beauvais Sionis was no more.
Due to the blood all over his face and running over his lips, he could only nod a little. He didn’t dare talk just yet.
Then Zsasz cleaned up all the cuts and bandaged them, making sure it was all safe and secure for the night.
While his face was slowly healing, Zsasz had inquired why he’d asked him to do it in the first place. He explained it to him and Victor understood – just like he knew he would. That was exactly why they were so strong together; why they had been meant for each other; why there was never a question about whether or not their relationship had been a good idea.
No one but Victor Zsasz could understand him. And no one but him could understand Victor.
When he was able to leave the bandages behind, Victor ran his fingers over the would-be scars. His eyes reflected the admiration and wonder he must have felt. It delighted him. He knew it had been right.
“Thanks for trusting me with it, by the way,” Victor had murmured that night as they lay in bed.
“Of course. No one else could have ever done what you have,” he replied, kissing his partner, “Thank you for not refusing to do it,” he added, his lips brushing against Zsasz’s as he talked.
“Anything for you, boss. Told you so.”
“I know. Still, saying something doesn’t always have to mean anything. Only actions truly say what words can’t.”
“Yeah, I s’ppose you’re right.”
It was just so easy to be with Zsasz. He couldn’t have possibly asked for someone better at his side.
The next morning, he looked in the mirror without any kind of bandaging and for the very first time in his life, he felt a connection to his mirrored image. He could finally see himself.
Now when he wore his Black Mask it wasn’t to hide, or to protect – no, it was only to symbolise his true self, put emphasis on it. He had nothing to hide anymore.
Perhaps perfection existed after all. Just not in the ways that society believed in.
He realised that, when he stared at himself in the mirror, in awe.
“Perfect,” Black Mask whispered, stroking his fingers over the scabs on his face.
And he truly was perfect.
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wordsoflittlewisdom · 3 years
Text
Watching bop again
I kinda forgot Cass was at the roller derby game. Love how all the characters are connected
Why does Roman’s voice...sound like that
Boss Bitch is weirdly nostalgic now
I like that the whole roller derby team is wearing like. team jackets. and harleys got her whole fringe sleeves thing going on
YES LOVE WHEN SHE THROWS THE NECKLACE AWAY
The chemical plant blowing up as fireworks was a very Harley choice
“So I’ll start where I fucking want” four minutes ago
huntress huntress huntress huntress huntress
I read somewhere that this huntress and Montoya scene was one take and they just changed the lighting to show the change
romans middle name being beauvais is probably the clearest clue they could have given that he was from a rich family
Love that Renee finds the necklace and knows Harley and the joker broke up. I like this idea that superheroes/villains are kinda like celebrities in this world
The egg sandwich scene is great what more can I say
Love that there’re cars and people just living their lives in this city
It’s a crime that we never see Harley wear this glittery fanny pack
The music is really good in this
It’s neat how the line between her narration and her dialogue is blurred, like how she’ll say the first part of something in narration and the second part in dialogue
Huntress’s little flute theme
And Montoya knows Cass; c o n n e c t i o n s
Montoya’s been going after Roman, too
And now we’re flipping back to the bertinelli massacre and diamond
Even if the whole missing diamond plot isn’t that unique, everything’s woven together so neatly
And now Dinah and Renee are on the phone about Cass and the diamond
It’s all connected
Harleys whole “I’m here to report a terrible crime”—she could have just run in there but she wanted to be Dramatic
I do wish the vocals were a little louder here maybe?
Big fan of this fight choreography
Harley pausing on a frame where she’s making a weird face before rewinding to explain about the diamond—it’s so rare to ever get to see women like. making weird faces in movies. All the women in his this are gorgeous but they don’t always have to be; they look beat up after fights and get dirty and make weird faces and it’s great
Dinah singing? Exceptional
“Loans, liquidity, laundering” ah yes the three L’s of illegal business
I unironically listen to Black Canary’s man’s world.
I like that everyone just calls Dinah “Canary”
“I’m all on my lonesome. It’s great” Harleys even an unreliable narrator when she’s just talking
I’ve really never seen a movie that feel like it’s from the female gaze visually as much as this one—all the rings and earrings, the hair, the makeup, it feels like what women might fantasize about dressing like
Dinah yelling “you motherfucker!” While beating some creeps up is quality
What time of day is it? Dinah would probably be leaving early in the morning, but I Refuse to believe that Roman would be awake particularly early any morning
She either canary is leaving her nightclub singing gig in the late morning/early afternoon or roman is still awake from the night before and is going to go to sleep soon
Cass and Dinah in the same building. (Bernie voice): I am once again talking about the connections
I’ve riffed on this before but i refuse to believe that Roman can drive
This Dinah and Renee scene establishes character, backstories, and moves the plot along all at once
Jesus some of ewan mcgregor’s acting in this is painfully bad
I love that Cass has a big bomber jacket and longer, looser shorts
Jurnee’s abs wow
The lights from behind the hands with the eyes behind Harley, who’s surrounded by people and then Roman and Victor emerge from the back, whispering to each other? Beautiful
One of the grievances roman has against Harley is “constantly interrupting him, like I’m doing right now”
Harleys “you’re really not as complicated as you think” bit is almost satirical of this cult we’ve created of “complicated” white male movie villains who have massive fan followings (cough cough joker)
Interesting that Roman holds the knife to Harleys face but hands it off to Victor to do that actual cutting
Someone handed Roman a bowl of popcorn
Harleys pocket tampon
It’s diamonds are a girls best friend yeah babey!
The male backup dancers are wearing muzzles/masks (Roman has one too for a split second) is an interesting flip on the way women are typically the ones being silenced, as well as Harleys desire to silence the men around her and be the one telling and controlling her own narrative
“Hey! you’re that singer no one listens to!” “Hey! You’re the asshole no one likes!”
Harley with her glitter gun
Harleys reaction when the sprinklers go off is perfect—Margot makes her feel like a living cartoon
This cell block fight scene is a showstopper
I like that cass doesn’t immediately want to stay with Harley. It gives her some agency in a story where she’s mostly just following the curveballs life throws her
Harleys little stare straight into the camera when cass admits to eating the diamond
Harley at the grocery store really emphasizes that she’s a total weirdo
I think I heard somewhere that the pic of child Harley with the nuns is a pic of young Margot??? Not totally sure though
Cass not knowing who the joker is goes with the whole supers are like celebrities thing—cass probably follows a whole different group of them (like how most kids follow different celebrities than their parents)
Huntress huntress huntresssss
“Give me number 32. Mild”
This kid in helenas flashback doesn’t really look like she’s grow up to look like Mary Elizabeth Winstead
This filming in this flashback has so much style
Helena practicing in the bathroom mirror with her drawing and her multiple bottles of travel mouthwash
We’re in the scene where Roman makes the girl dance on the table and oh god it’s so uncomfortable
No no no no no not this hate this
Alright that nightmare’s done
“and that’s why you should never pay federal income taxes”
Harley offering to bring cass to Roman after hearing doc say “business is business is interesting
OH ITS HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT TIME
Dinahs car is yellow because it’s...canary yellow
Roman putting on the mask is cool and all but he’s just gonna have to take it back off to get changed
This Harley vs Renee fight is fun because they keep mirroring each other—they’re fighting each other, but they’re really on the same side
The way the women all kind of circle each other at first and don’t immediately get along
Cass popping up with the gun also gives her some agency—she’s at the end of her rope with the diamond and being betrayed by Harley
“I am nOT THE CROSSBOW KILLER”
The way Huntress sounds so uncertain when she says “...and now I’m done” Mary’s acting really popped off
Roman’s a bitch but I like his outfits
Helenas little smile when Harley says “you just killed his BFF”
I love how excited Harley is when they all agree to work together
Roman’s giving his little speech in the back of a pickup truck?
When all the guys turned around with masks on I got chills
“I love this chick she’s got rage issues.” “I DONT HAVE RAGE ISSUES”
Huntress stabbing the guy while going down the slide is peak cinema
This set lights up as the scene progresses and reveals more
I love love love that Helena is genuinely caring towards Cass and recognizing that children shouldn’t have to go through trauma like her
“When the fuck did she have time to do a shoe change?”
THE HAIR TIE YEAH
Forgot to mention this but it’s a stroke of genius for this place to be called the booby trap
Love me some canary cry
“Told ya she had a killer voice”
Harleys chase was a real group hurrah—the canary cry cleared the way and pushed her forward, Huntress towed her, Renee gave her the gun with one bullet
Cass and Roman are just sitting in the back seat. That must have been an awkward car ride
Cass pulling the gun away from Roman when he tries to shoot up at Harley when Harleys on top of the car is elite
Damn this is one foggy pier
When Harley starts with “your protection is based on the fact that people are scared of you” you expect her to say that it’s wrong or something but she says “I’m the one they should be scared of” this movie messed with tropes so much
That also includes the whole “one bullet” thing—Harley misses with her one bullet, and you don’t really know what’s gonna happen next
“I took your ring”
You can pinpoint exactly when Harley and Roman realize what Cass did
I’d put the entire taco scene here if I could
Renee moving the drink away from cass shows her caring side—she doesn’t want a kid to get into alcohol and make the mistakes she did
“Does she always talk like the cop in a bad eighties movie?”
Harley and Cass stealing the car is a fun way to show that she may be on the side of the good guys sometimes, but that doesn’t necessarily make her one
“Woman” by Kesha
Wow the outfits in this scene are iconic
I mean they are in the whole movie but I especially like these
Cass riding around with Harley and a hyena, wearing cute outfits and learning the ways of chaos
Harley got her sandwich!
The credit art for this movie is cool
Especially how they represent each character
In conclusion this is still my favorite movie
I know I’ve been kinda absent recently, but watching this again has really reminded me how much I love it. I got really busy but I’m going to Make An Effort to be a contributing member of the bop fandom again.
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r3almellow · 4 years
Text
MLQC Boys With A Famous S/o
Here we go! Thank you anon for this request I hope its to your liking!! Apologies for typos as always!
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Kiro (YouTuber S/o)
How did you meet ?
You were a YouTuber that had over 500,000 subscribers. During a Mukbang Q&A video you received a question in regards to your celebrity crush. 
“I think the big ass poster currently behind me kind of gives it away, but my ultimate crush is Kiro. I’d give anything to meet him at least once.” You went even as far as to give him a shout out. “Hey, super star! I heard you were a big foodie and since you like to eat and I like to eat, maybe we can eat together sometime? Okay, that was dumb, please ignore this!”
Little did you know, Kiro was a huge fan of your videos and just so happened to see your request. Next thing you knew a clip of you “shooting your shot” made its way to his social media page with a caption of “Its a date ;)” right above it. You just about died when you saw his post. You were only joking around! Well...not 100% joking, but you didn’t expect him to respond! 
You spent weeks talking to each other through private messages soon after. Your messages filled with gushing over your similar interests, playful banters and light flirting. He offered to be a part of your next Mukbang stating that it was better to have two people eating themselves into a coma on camera than one. You couldn’t argue with facts and took him up on his offer! Kiro only had one condition...you let him take you out on a date afterwards.
And the rest was history. 
Dating
The cutest couple to have ever existed! 
Both of your social media pages are filled with couple photos. 
You both get to dress up in disguise whenever you go on dates! A baseball cap, sunglasses, and face masks are your usual go to’s, but depending on where you’re going you might be required to get a little creative. 
Dealing with overly excited fans and even more persistent paparazzi was a bit new for you, since your interactions with people is mostly through the internet, but you handle it pretty well.
Interviewers practically threw themselves onto every opportunity to get information about your love life. Kiro was more skilled than you about these things, so you tend to just laugh awkwardly and let him take care of it. 
Kiro appears a little more in your videos whenever he’s free which the fans are grateful for. Of course, your channel doesn’t turn into all things Kiro and you never use him for your own personal gain. 
Dating Kiro did open up some opportunities for you, like getting to experience award shows and networking with other celebrities and content creators. Again, you refused to throw Kiro’s name around just to get the things you wanted. 
You both like to bounce ideas off of each other, whether its for his music or for your latest video. Having two creative minds come together does wonders! 
You’re almost always somewhere in the background during his live streams.  
Gavin (Actress S/o)
How did you meet? 
High school. You were a part of the drama club and Gavin was...well...forced into being a part of the stagehand after being threatened with expulsion from his last brawl. 
You were the first one to welcome him. You were kind, funny, and cute. And when you were on that stage? Mesmerizing was the best way to put how Gavin saw you. You were inspiring. 
After graduation Gavin lost contact with most of his acquaintances, but he never once stopped thinking about you. Gavin wasn’t big on celebrity news, but he actually kept up with your progress once he got wind of a newcomer taking the entertainment world by storm. 
Fast forward to a few years later and he was playing bodyguard for one of the most successful actresses in the world. You. This was just an undercover job that was going to last as long as his target was still out there. 
There was definitely chemistry between you. And while Gavin wanted to act on his feelings, his work had to come first. You respected that, but that didn’t mean you weren’t going to let him know you were interested. How could you not be? You had a huge crush on him back in high school and now that he was by your side practically every day those feelings came back with a vengeance! 
As soon as Gavin’s objective was complete he continues being your bodyguard stating, “Only I can keep you out of trouble.” Which you responded by kissing him.
Dating
Once word got out about you dating your “bodyguard”, it shocked many that you decided to be with someone that wasn’t a celebrity. 
Even so, Gavin doesn’t look like your average Joe. He has the body and face of man who could easily be on the cover of Vogue or Vanity Fair, but you know your man isn’t about that life. 
You’ve spent years being a private person, so when you and Gavin start dating not revealing much was easy. The public only knew what you wanted them to. 
There are a lot of at home dates filled with takeout and movie night. Just being in each others company is more than enough for you!
You work out together a lot! He’s really good about motivating you especially when you have to prepare for an upcoming movie. You honestly don’t need a personal trainer when you have Gavin. 
The paparazzi are afraid of Gavin. Like they won’t even get within six feet of you whenever he’s around. The last poor soul who got a little too close for your liking ate asphalt within seconds.
Gavin isn’t one for the limelight or the glitz and glam, which you appreciate. Its nice to be around someone that isn’t a part of the entertainment world. 
You don’t have to hide a part of yourself, in fear of judgement, whenever you were with him. You appreciated Gavin’s genuine nature. He was always truthful with you and he never gave the impression that he was only with you because of your status. 
Gavin does a great job with making you feel special. Whenever you feel like you don’t meet the standards of what the industry wants, he pulls you out of that dark hole and gives you the pep talk you need to get through the day.
You could walk around without an ounce of makeup on or trade in a Dior dress for sweatpants and a t-shirt, and Gavin still found you beautiful. 
Victor ( Famous Pianist S/o)
How did you meet? 
Victor was a fan of your work for quite some time. There was something about your raw talent that drew him to your work. He always made it a point to go to all your live shows whenever he was available, but has never met you personally. 
It wasn’t until you waltzed right into his office out of the blue. When he saw you enter his office with Goldman and two security guards tailing right behind you, he didn’t even recognize you. You looked as if you had just rolled out of bed with a messy bun, ripped jeans, t-shirt with some random cartoon character and thick rimmed glasses. His first thought as you stared him down with a frown was, “Who let this homeless person into his office?” 
When Goldman called your name as the two security guards grabbed your arms, Victor had to do a double take. The elegant and graceful woman, who commanded the stage with just pads of her fingertips, was...YOU?! 
Victor allowed you to stay, curious to know why you were here. You business with Victor was simple. You wanted funding to create music schools for low income families. You had sent countless emails to LFG with hopes to do business with them, but after being ignored the first few times and receiving a rude rejection email that morning, you were ready to take the bull by the horns. 
Surprisingly Victor found himself intrigued by you and thus started an interesting partnership. 
The more Victor got to work with you the more he became attracted to the headstrong, smart, and talented person who seemingly enjoyed ruffling his feathers every chance they got. 
You were also attracted to the blunt, detail-oriented man and it bothered you to no-end. What you saw in a man who probably would critique drawings from a toddler, you had no idea. But you appreciated his work ethic. He genuinely wanted you to succeed with this project and you couldn’t deny his heart was in the right place. 
The day the first school opened was the day Victor decided to stop tiptoeing around the mutual attraction and asked you out.
“We can celebrate your accomplishments over dinner.” 
Dating
The CEO of LFG and the child prodigy turned world famous pianist dating?!
CAN WE SAY POWER COUPLE?!
Whenever paparazzi get a picture of the two of you, you both look as if you just finished a professional photoshoot. You NEVER look bad in those photos. Never! 
And when you do professional shoots? It leaves people SHOOK. Magazines like Forbes have never had such a beautiful couple grace their covers before. Just wait until people see your wedding photos.
You always ask him to visit you during your rehearsals which he almost always declines but shows up anyway, if he’s not too busy. He’ll also bring a box of his homemade pudding because knowing you, you probably were too busy with preparations for your upcoming concert to eat. He’ll take you out to eat afterwards, but the pudding should hold you over for a bit.
Victor will never admit this to you, but your music helps him de-stress after a long day at work, so whenever he isn’t with you, your music helps him fall asleep. 
Victor also likes to watch you work. Seeing you so focused as you create your next piece was a sight to beheld. The pensive look in your eyes as you went over your music sheet, the slow nod of your head as your fingers danced across the keys as you intently listened to the melody, and the way your eyebrow twitched when you hit a key you didn’t like; all things oddly enjoyed seeing.
You’ll never catch him staring. He’ll pretend he’s working whenever you feel his eyes on you and if you try to call him out on it, he will most likely deny it. 
Lucien ( Novelist S/o)
How did you meet? 
You needed the help of someone knowledgeable with neuroscience for your next book. Someone recommended a Professor at Loveland University who specialized on the topic. That was how you met Professor Lucien. 
You two worked closely together once you started your manuscript, going over various topics under the neuroscience category. It wasn’t surprising just how intelligent the man was on the subject, but you were in awe about how much you knew.
Your meetings would often start at the university which led to you going home together once you found out he lived in the same building as you. You leveled up from the lecture hall to aquariums, movie theaters, restaurants, and his apartment where you had lunch or dinner. 
Your conversations never stayed on the topic of work. It often changed to your interests. You found that you and Lucien had a lot of similar interests like your taste in books and art. He also developed a love for teasing you. 
Seeing the look on your flustered face turned into one of his favorite pastimes.
When it came to the topic of your books, you learned Lucien has read quite a few of them and was very intrigued with your work. He asked you numerous questions, questions no one thought to ask. 
He admitted to you his favorite of yours was the first book he ever read titled, “The Boy Who Dreamed.” You jokingly offered to sign his book, but he declined with a smile.
“I’ll admit I do enjoy the book, but I’m more interested in the woman who wrote it.” 
Dating
More dates at your favorite places. 
Almost every other week, Lucien seemed to have tickets to art exhibits, festivals, or the movies. 
His teasing intensifies by a hundred! That man loves to tease you and you hate it! You love it. 
The closer you got to Lucien, the more you realized he didn’t enjoy talking about himself, so it takes a while to learn about him or his past. You never press him for information, but he does reveal things to you within time.
Lucien loves when you read to him. Its how he falls asleep and once you find out he has trouble sleeping, you always suggest what you call “story time.” 
In truth, having you by his side is more than enough to get him to sleep, but if you aren’t there hearing your voice will do the trick. You could be reading anything and he’d be fine with it. From Dr. Seuss to H.G. Wells, Lucien was fine with it as long as he got hear your voice.
You like to ask for his opinion on your latest projects. He does a great job making you think outside of the box which will make things easier or challenging during your writing sessions. 
Whenever you encounter writer’s block, Lucien will pull you away from your laptop and mountains of papers to enjoy a nice relaxing day with him. 
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Doooone! Please comment if you enjoyed this! I’d love to know what you guys think!
Want to read more of my writing? Check out my MLQC masterlist here!
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nanagoswife · 3 years
Text
Bending The Law - Part 10
Summary: Roman comes to save you but at what cost?
Warnings: swearing, mentions of death, mention of serious injury
“Zsasz, have you found anything yet?” Roman noticed how worried he sounded. At the moment, he didn’t care.
“No.”
His phone buzzed on his desk. Quickly he went over and answered, “What the fuck have you done?”
“Hello to you too, boss.” Michael chuckled from the other end of the line. “You’ll be glad to know that Y/N is still alive.” He really was.
“What the fuck do you want?” Roman was really trying to maintain as much composure as he could. For your sake.
“How about you come to me, alone. Then we can talk with Y/N witnessing it all. Consider her out presiding attorney. If not, I guess my old friend will no longer be able to please you anymore.”
“We don’t have to do this, Michael.”
“Oh we do. And you better hurry. Listen.”
Through his anger, he listened. Quietly, he heard you crying and then a scream was ripped from you after what Roman could only assume was a slap. What the fuck had Michael done? His anger only grew.
“The sooner you get here, the more time she may have to live.” Before he hung up, he told Roman where to meet.
He dropped the phone to the floor. His breathing became shallow.
“Victor, get ready. I’ll tell you the plan later,” he said as evenly as possible. Zsasz had left without another word. Good.
He went to his pedestal. The mask sat in all of its glory as he slid his hand over the surface. Raising it up, he slid it from the stand. Admiring it a moment longer, he slipped it over his head.
No more games were going to be played.
Zsasz and some men would be ready. They were going to get you back.
~ ~ ~
You didn’t know how to feel anymore. Betrayed, devastated, confused, and so much more. Not to mention doubt.
Doubt had filled you. You doubted that, if what Michael has said is true, you meant enough to Roman for him to come get you.
Confusion. What did Michael hear that made him think he would be abandoned, or left hanging? There was nothing that you heard or saw that gave that impression. All Roman did was speak very highly of him.
There was your colleague, your friend. He never deserved to be caught up in this. The only reason he was in this situation was because you asked for his help. Now, his vacant expression is all you see. His blood splattered across your face.
On top of it all, betrayal. Never would you have thought Michael would do this. Not to you anyway. You saw him as a brother, and you knew he saw you like a sister. You guessed that was no longer the case. It didn’t stop it from being painful.
Cutting off your thoughts, a man came over and cut the ropes that held your legs. He then proceeded to make you stand and pushed you towards where Michael walked back in.
“Time to see what he has to say,” Michael sneered. Another push came from behind you, and you followed.
Walking outside, it was starting to get dark. Looking around, your eyes landed on the infamous Black Mask. You knew how this was going to go.
Without much warning, you were practically thrown to your knees. Pain shot through them at the gravel ripped your skin. You could see Roman’s eyes move to you.
“Alright, Michael, I’m here. What do you want to discuss?”
“First, take your fucking mask off. I’m not that fucking stupid.”
Before he did, his gaze met yours. There was something in it that helped reassure you. You watched him take the mask off and place it carefully on the ground. His eyes never left yours.
“Now, what the fuck do you want, Michael?” You could tell he was trying to keep his anger at bay.
Something that you didn’t originally notice was that there was a gun aimed at your head. This explained why Roman was being so careful now.
“I would like to know why you’ve been trying to get rid of me,” Michael blurted.
Roman looked shocked. “What do you mean? I was trying to give you more fucking freedom. Now I see that might’ve been too much.”
“I’ve been building up on my own without you knowing for months. After that little stunt, that would’ve been the perfect way to get rid of me, wasn’t it?” Michael yelled. You flinched as you saw him take out his own gun and point it at you.
Roman’s eyes never left Michael. He was going to face this himself. “That was a slip up. If I or Zsasz were there, it never would’ve happened. Besides, I knew you were building your own faction. I was actually proud of you.”
Then, you heard a click. Michael had pulled the hammer back. At any moment, he could pull the trigger and it would be done.
“Why the fuck would I offer you my best lawyer? Why do you think I did everything in my power to keep you out of fucking jail for so long? If I wanted you gone, I would have just killed you right then and there! Not just leave it to fucking Gotham PD!” Desperation started to fill Roman’s voice. Most of all, his anger was starting to come out again.
For a moment, you saw Michael’s gun drop. It only raised back up and he struck the butt of it to your head, causing you to yell out in pain.
Then you heard Roman, “Fuck this. Why did I think we could negotiate?” Looking up, you saw him quickly draw his gun and shoot Michael. Many more gunshots were suddenly heard accompanied by screams and yells of pain.
When you felt a hand on your shoulder, you flinched. You relaxed when you looked up and saw Roman. He was kneeling beside you, cutting the ropes that held your hands.
“Come on. We have to go,” he said as he helped you up.
“But what about-”
“I didn’t shoot to kill. Besides, I already have it covered.”
All you did was nod. You looked over and saw that Michael was only writhing in pain.
Holding you close, Roman brought you over to the Rolls. Someone came running up behind you and handed Roman his mask before he slid in beside you.
After he put his mask into the passenger seat, you all but launched yourself at him. He wrapped an arm around you and pulled you close. One gloved hand gently rubbed at your wrist that was raw from the rope.
Your head throbbed painfully. You definitely had a concussion. Roman pressed a soft kiss to your temple. Tears once again began to fall.
He brought your face up and wiped them away with a gloved thumb, giving you a comforting smile.
“I’m sorry about your colleague,” he said gently. You buried your face back into his side. That wasn’t something you wanted to think about right now.
“He was a good friend. I’m just sorry I ever got him involved.”
Once again, he brought your face up to meet his, “You could’ve never seen this coming. I’m sure he knew what he was risking when he agreed.”
“Roman?”
“Yes?”
You had to ask. The thoughts that were brought up earlier couldn’t just be shoved aside. “Have you been sleeping with anyone since all of this started?”
“No. Did he say I was?” You could hear a twinge of anger cut through his comforting tone.
“He didn’t say it directly, but he made me think you were,” your tears started again.
He gave a slight sigh, “Y/N, I will tell you this now. I value the importance of loyalty and honesty. I will never lie to you. Nor have I.” He brought his hand up and wiped away your tears again.
Cupping your cheek with that hand, he leaned in and gave you a soft kiss. You melted into it.
When he broke the kiss, he looked into your eyes and placed his forehead to yours. “Come to the club with me. I have a doctor who’ll check on you.”
You gave a small nod. After this, you didn’t want to be alone.
@stardancerluv @madmax2003 @jaydenwoo
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