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#who even knows what will eviscerate me next!!!!!!!
yowyowyaoi · 2 days
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Hidan's Daily Texts from the Akatsuki, Part Two
From Konan
Why would it gross you out? You basically deal with blood for a living!
Flattery might get you a hug but it won't get you out of your share of the food bill.
In all seriousness that's ridiculous.
Just pretend he’s Kakuzu. Problem solved.
You guys need to keep it down. I need my beauty sleep!
Sasori has a variety of things he could give you to ease the pain. But be warned he’ll likely give you a three hour lecture on “proper dental hygiene”.
I'm sure he just meant it as a joke. No need to eviscerate him.
I need that like I need a hole in my head.
Love is not about looks, it's about feelings and personality. He's the kindest, most gentle man I've ever known in my life.
If you're that curious, just transform into one and feel them yourself!
He doesn't take betrayal very well. I'd strongly reconsider if I were you.
Being immortal is a hell of a thing to have in common, isn't it?
I wish you and Dei would leave him be. Just because he *chooses* not to fight back doesn't mean he can't, or won't at some point. And I think that will be a scary day for the two of you.
Ladies don't curse but if you heard even half of what I was thinking it'd blow your mind, Hidan.
From Itachi
Looks mean very little to me.
If you're that interested in seeing them, then just ask him to pull down his pants for you the next time you see him. See what he says.
A compliment coming from you sounds very, very odd.
I would not just leave something like that to chance and never, ever to the two of you.
We're close. That's all you need to know.
I'll admit, the honey and ants in my bed was a clever, if sadistic, touch.
You've got ten minutes to return it to my door or I promise your eternity will be one long inescapable nightmare.
No.
The last time I went with you guys you ate $1000 worth of food and then tried to stick me with the bill!
If you'd just admit it I'd be willing to go easy on you.
Of course he's an attractive man but I couldn't deal with that personality on a daily basis.
In that way I'm better than you, aren't I? You clearly fear death. I don't.
If my opinion counts for anything: hold on to Kakuzu. I don't believe there's a single other soul in this universe that would care for you the way he does.
I suppose not all the time. He does brush my hair out for me a lot. Very gentle.
From Tobi
If it isn't something that could work, why would it be the plot to SO MANY homoerotic stories??
You left it sitting there for three days! If I didn't eat it, it would have spoiled!
Just woke up not in the mood for your shit rn
If he thinks you're like a brother than one day me and you can be in-laws!
You didn't even spell "delusional" right.
Are you the one who left the jar of crickets on my bed?
Actually your hair would probably look good longer.
You're not going to lecture ME on something like that!
I think of him like a little cousin. So STOP messing with him!
If you think Kakuzu looks "sexy" without his mask you couldn't handle ME, man.
Come with us, the water should be fine by now.
The Hidden Leaf? Nope. Never heard of it.
Sharingan?? LOL
Be warned, Hidan. I'm not as stupid as you think I am.
Do YOU want to see my FIST? Okay then.
So is "Jashin" just looking the other way while you love Kakuzu, then?
From Nagato
I think of you all as my children. Some more problematic than others.
Yes it works! And even if it didn't, she wouldn't leave me!
I almost teamed you up with Deidara but I don't think I could have afforded that sort of damage.
Ultimately that would be Kakuzu's decision.
Tell your God to meet up with me and we'll see who's more "real", brat.
What. Did. You. DO?!
If I hear that you "accidentally" walked in while she was changing again, you'll wish to the heavens that you WERE able to die.
Yes but a mostly vegetarian diet is easier for my body to handle.
I did not form these teams with the intention of being a matchmaker.
I wish you would put as much effort and planning into your missions as you do to harassing your fellow Akatsuki teammates.
From Deidara
Yes I blew him up but I didn't rob him. Standards, man.
Me and Kisame going fishing, you in?
Come see me we gotta get our stories straight before Leader questions us.
He stepped on a beehive. Spent all day pulling stingers from his arms and legs. STILL wouldn't take off his mask.
I knoooooow. God you sound like Sasori.
I did but I don't think they can prove that it was me ...
You can't just sculp some little mouse and then call yourself an artist! It doesn't work like that!
I think the chicken was bad I can't stop puking and my ass is literally on fire!
If you won't listen to me talk about my REAL art, what makes you think I'm gonna listen to you talk about your FAKE God??
Me and you and Itachi. Yes he'll go if we drag him out.
Yeah but she's sooooooo pretty how can I help it?!
Why are you bragging? That just means you'll be old and ugly before me!
Honestly I just bring him a body and some tools and he stays distracted for like a week. Lets me do whatever without even questioning it lmao
He likes to carry me. Don't ask questions, I just enjoy not having to walk for a few hours.
I really, REALLY don't need to know what "gets you off". Pervert.
From Kisame
I have no idea how to answer something like that.
I don't know what's going on with you and Kakuzu but please stop "accidentally" sending me pics like that or I'm blocking you.
I'd die for him but all I really want is for him to live for me.
I think we're the only two who like it ultra-rare and dripping blood. Well, maybe Zetsu.
Yeah I have my suspicions as well but it's like that thing is glued to his face or something. Deidara is the only one who could get close enough to him to try it but he seems scared for some reason.
You can join us but no screaming in the water this time or you'll scare them all off.
I've got at least 11 years up on you so yes, you ARE a brat to me.
I don't think there are any decent shortcuts, we just have to walk straight through. Ask Kakuzu to lend you his tall boots.
There's doing our job and then there's crossing the line. Guess which one you did.
Yes it's warm but that doesn't mean we wish to see you sitting out there in the nude.
Itachi's not feeling well so I need a replacement weight for my other arm. Deidara is already helping, now I need you too.
In the old days they used leeches as a cure for everything. A few aren't gonna kill ya, kid. Don't be a baby.
He's literally perfect. And he's MINE. So onsen or not the next time I catch you looking like that I'll snatch your eyes out and eat them like grapes :)
From Sasori
Come see me before the infection spreads.
Mint, rosemary, and a tiny bit of thyme.
Unless you’re looking to get bent over, brat, how it works is none of your goddamned business.
You would likely be a terrible one.
No, he’s it for me. I’ll either marry him or kill him, haven’t decided yet.
I can imitate eating to fool enemies but the food will just stay in my throat until I manually remove it.
You kill humans nearly every day, you can handle a spider.
It would break my metaphorical heart.
I’m not “betting” you anything. I KNOW it won’t kill you. But the poison is both expensive and time-consuming to make and I’m not wasting it on you.
18 and 34.
Leave the ones that I’ve marked alone. They’re perfect specimens and I won’t have you ruin them with that heathen ritual of yours.
Yes but I’m slowly coming to accept that sexuality is a spectrum and nothing is black or white.
You and Tobi will be coming with. Pack extra food and warm clothes. No whining that you’re hungry or cold later on.
It won’t be as amusing when I nail your skull to the wall.
From Zetsu
He tasted so good. My many thanks.
I haven’t any idea why the others seem so perturbed by it, considering their *own* “atrocities".
Too loud. Sensitive ears.
Aren't you having relations with him? Surely you could convince him.
Unfortunately we need them alive and well, so please, none of your antics.
Couldn't hurt. But I doubt it would help, either.
Out of everyone here, you and your blood-scented skin smell the best.
I'm beginning to think your obsession with penises is more than a passing curiosity and an indication for serious concern.
Deidara is correct, everything is ephemeral. This world is temporary.
I wouldn't know the first thing about manipulating anyone. I'm just a plant.
From Kakuzu
Try me and see. I DARE you, brat.
Either help me or stay home and shut up about it.
You stimulate me, but not in all good ways.
If I wasn't "obsessed with money" this entire organization would be nothing, we'd be homeless and everyone would be starving.
Just wait until I get you alone.
Next time I suggest you think before you act.
Deidara will face Sasori but YOU will have to deal with ME. Consider that.
It's your turn to pay for dinner. I could go for either seafood or steak.
Call it gay if you wish but you won't change my mind.
I'm not sure if your body could handle multiple hearts, immortal or not.
Endurance training. My room. Ten minutes. Hydrate yourself beforehand.
You're going to eat something green if I have to pry open your mouth and shove it down your throat.
Because I CARE, asshole.
Why should I have to fight them off because you can't keep your hands to yourself??
I happen to like Itachi so watch your manners, if any exist.
Can't "believe" in someone I've never met. Which is why I don't understand why YOU do.
If I ever went, I'm taking you out with me. "'Til death" is inaccurate.
Sure, sure. While you're at it pray for money to drop out of the sky and into my lap.
Handcuffs aren't doing it for me anymore. Bring some rope and maybe some honey this time.
Get back here and clean this shit up before I come kill you.
Love you. <3. Delete this text immediately.
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qrovidcore · 4 months
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absolutely EATING THE DRYWALL over the act 2 resist!durge scene. it’s been three fucking days and im still like. you MEAN i have to Get Up and Go To Work and Function when ALL i can think about is this and it makes me go INSANE. like the absolute emotions of that are something i haven’t felt from anything less than actual tabletop and it’s just. here. in this goddamn video game. and fucking. we all know the scene. probably everyone knows the version of the scene i personally got, even if they didn’t get it themself. and yet. and YET. i cannot even put into WORDS exactly how all of that hit because it’s not even just the one goddamn scene it’s the 60+ hours of choices i have been making up to that point and 60+ hours of time i have put into the relationships i have built with the rest of my party and cutscenes before it that maybe only went the same way for like 0.1% of other people as they did for me or even happened At The Same Time as they did for me and i just. i just!!!!!!
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bananami · 5 months
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A little couple's trivia with Nanami proves that he knows you all too well.
I did use the term wife and she/her pronouns just as a brief cw. The whole thing is just fluff. Nanami is in love with you. That's the whole things.
(I am delulu and in love with this man. Hope this helps us all heal. He is alive and well and no one can convince me otherwise. Also I love including Gojo's dumbass in everything. Also Yuji is a sweetheart and Nanami's son basically.)
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"Please?" You're practically begging your husband, who doesn't seem to be budging.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Yeah Nanamin-"
"Don't call me that." Nanami cuts Gojo off immediately.
"But Yuji calls you that!"
"That's different." He glares at the white haired man like he's trying to eviscerate him with just his eyes. "And I'm not playing some stupid game just to prove how well I know my wife." He tries to pay attention to the paperwork in front of him again, wanting to finish it before 5pm. Because there was no way he was working overtime again today.
"Scared?" Gojo baited him. "Afraid I'm gonna ask you a question that's just too hard?"
"Gojo, there is nothing you could ask me about my wife that I wouldn't be able to answer."
A few of the students sat around watching the two go back and forth, inevitably waiting for Nanami to either get so annoyed that he walked away, or to take the bait. They hoped for the latter.
"Prove it! Or you forfeit your marriage."
"That's not how that works."
"C'mon Nanamin, it's just a game." Yuji gives the blonde sorcerer a sincere smile, hoping to lighten the mood and sway his decision just a bit.
"Don't call him Nanamin, Yuji- OW." Gojo is cut off as Nanami reaches over and smacks him in the head with the papers in his hand.
"Don't tell him what to do." Nanami sighs and rubs at his temple. He looks at the clock, then at you. It's the look in your eyes that gives way to his final decision. "Fine. You have until that clock reads 5, and then I'm taking my wife and we're going home."
Gojo wastes no time. "Who is your wife's favorite person? And think before you say yourself because-"
"Itadori. Next question."
"I'm your favorite person?!" Yuji jumps from his seat, latching his arms around you for a hug. It's obvious from the way that you smile and hug him back that Nanami is probably definitely right. You had a soft spot for the kid since you met him, playfully telling everyone that you and Nanami had basically adopted him since he arrived at Jujutsu High. Nanami would probably never verbalize it, but you could tell he felt the same about the boy.
"Ok, ok. Next question." Gojo thought hard before coming up with it. "How does your wife take her coffee?"
"She doesn't drink coffee."
"Yes she does, I bring her some like every morning."
"And she gives that coffee to me because she doesn't like it."
"You're telling me I've been buying you coffee this entire time?"
"I make her tea every morning when we get to work. You hand her the coffee, we trade cups. I don't understand how you've stared right at us when we do it and you somehow haven't noticed."
"Ok, then what tea does she drink?"
"Earl Grey, three sugars, a little bit of milk at the top. She'll say she's ok with English Breakfast or Lady Earl Grey if they're out of the regular. She's not, she's just being polite. She'll drink half and throw it away when she thinks no one is looking."
Gojo groans, not having as much fun as he thought he was going to at the beginning of all of this. "And I just bet you have a contingency plan for when your wife doesn't get her tea, don't you?"
"Of course I do," he ignores the even louder groan from Gojo, "I walk across the street to the cafe that sells her favorite pastries and I buy her five because I know that she'll want to share with her students and she'll try to split one with me even if I refuse. They have teabags they leave out so long as you're ordering something. Earl Grey, always in stock."
"Adorable." Gojo rolls his eyes.
"You're so smart, Nanamin!" Yuji jumps in. "Let me ask one! What's her favorite color?"
"Yuji, that's too easy."
"Yellow."
"Ohhhh, mine too," Yuji says, "why yellow?"
"Because it's-" Nanami stops mid-sentence and looks at the clock, like it will give him an excuse. Almost. "We don't need to worry about the why, that wasn't the original question."
Gojo perks up, clearly realizing he'd struck a nerve. And he was ready to work it. The red dusting across Nanami's cheeks told him everything he needed to know. "Are you embarrassed, Nanami?"
"Shut up, Gojo."
"Or do you just not know the answer? It's ok if you don't, I guess you just don't know your wife as well as you thought you did."
"If you don't stop talking, I'm going to tell everyone about the one time in high school when you and Geto got caught in the-"
"OK!" Gojo turns back to the students and motions them toward the door. "Time to go! Don't you all have something better to do? Go be little trouble makers somewhere. Go TP Yaga's lawn or something. Get out of here."
He'd ushered everyone out except Yuji, who stayed behind to wait for you and Nanami. The boy shyly looked away as you kissed Nanami's cheek before standing up, stating you just needed to grab your bag before you could leave.
Yuji waited for you to exit the room before he asked. "Is it because of your hair?"
Nanami sighs. "What makes you think that?"
Yuji just shrugs. "She loves you. Answers don't always need a complex reason."
Nanami can't help the smile that graces his face. "You're a smart kid sometimes, you know that?"
"That's why I'm her favorite!" His goofy nature is back in an instant. "Can I come over for dinner again tonight?"
"Of course you can."
"Can I stay over?"
"If you'd like to."
"Can I pick the movie we watch?"
"Don't push your luck."
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euniexenoblade · 4 months
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Anyways, baeddel is a slur against trans women.
Yes, there once was a weird group of girls who ressurected this long dead word for representing an ideology (I'm not getting into it but it did suck, just not cuz they "hated" men). This group self destructed before ever getting that many people. It was small. A tiny group. Their ideology wasn't popular either.
But, truscum, anti-sjws (conservatives by another name) and hate sites like kf would start to use the term to refer to any trans woman that they decided wasn't "trans enough" or "woman enough" or more importantly, was "too political" (ie talks about transmisogyny, talks about feminism, talks about leftism, etc.). Baeddel became a stand in for "tranny" "faggot," it's the trans woman stand in for the "nasty man hating dyke" sentiment.
Now, a small niche group of trans mascs on Tumblr dot com have created this concept that the baeddels didn't self destruct, apparently they actually are this insanely popular group whose ideology has spread into modern LGBT politics and has "poisoned" everything. This is just a lie. The baeddels group never had enough members to spread that much, the group didn't last long enough, and it was almost entirely located on Tumblr. The people with "baeddel" in their url or bio or whatever these days have no connection to the political group of old, it's a reclaiming of a word used against them, as explained in the third paragraph.
If someone is calling trans women "baeddels" or talking about baeddels in their posts or whatever, they're just calling trans women faggots. It's "gay agenda," but for the transmisogynists. This is a small bit of why I can't take the "transandrophobia is real" crowd seriously. I knew actual baeddels, the ideological ones, they are not the women they're referring to. They are using a slur to refer to trans women they don't like and are trying to hide it behind some dead ideology that most of them don't even know.
Baeddel is meant to be a scary word, it's meant to silence women. Just like, 5 or 6 years ago, claiming a trans woman was a baeddel was enough to effectively get her "canceled," no matter what she said. But, that doesn't work as easily now. And now these trans masc people are getting information from terfs and lesbophobes and violent transmisogynists about how violent trans women are, about how privileged trans women are, about how transmisogyny is actually fake ("we all experience transmisogyny!") and they did this by lacing it with actual trans masc issues. They present an issue trans mascs do actually face, that could use discussion, and then in the very next post talk about the scary baeddels, the mean baeddels, trans women are so terrible. And these people assume this person can't have an ulterior motive, reblog it, file it away in their brain, so when trans women come in and are like "hey no that's bigotry" these trans mascs froth at the mouth to eviscerate her. It's the dreaded baeddel. Here to oppress me.
I'm going off topic but I digress, if you're calling trans women "baeddel," stop it. You don't know what that word means.
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c-e-d-dreamer · 1 month
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Just Looking At You Got Me Thinking Nonsense
A/N: happy Day Four of @nestaarcheronweek! Sometimes, to really be a lover, you have to risk it all in a bidding war, ya know? This was a fun little fic to write, and I want to give a big ole shout-out to the Anon who sent me this prompt! I hope everyone enjoys :)
Read on AO3
Cassian digs his phone out of his back pocket, opening back up the group chat and the most recent messages still waiting there. With a nod, he pockets the phone again, rolling out his shoulders. There’s a glass case full of pictures and some sort of awards on the wall opposite him, and Cassian uses it as a makeshift mirror. He’s always had a bad habit of running his fingers through his hair when he’s nervous, and now his curls are a tangled mess as a result.
A door opening down the hall has Cassian almost jumping out of his skin. He turns just in time to see the exact woman he’s here for walking down the hall, her arm looped with a red head that Cassian is pretty sure was in his trig class last year.
“Trust me, it will be over before you know it,” the red head says as they walk.
“Until I have to sit through some stupid dinner after… You’re lucky that I love you.”
“I know, and I am lucky you’re doing this with me. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to go up there alone.”
“Hey, Nes,” Cassian calls in greeting when they’re close enough, raising his hand in a wave.
Whether she doesn’t hear him or is just ignoring him, Cassian isn’t sure. But both women don’t acknowledge him, walking through another door further down the hall. One that, he presumes, leads into the large hall.
“I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you,” Cassian mumbles to himself, letting his hand drop back to his side. “Idiot.”
“Idiot is certainly one word I’d use to describe you.”
Azriel’s low chuckle echoes Rhys’s remark, and Cassian turns to glare at both his brothers. He knocks his shoulders against both of them, leading the way back toward the front of the building and the main doors into the hall. There’s more laughter, but at least his brothers fall into step behind him. He doesn’t have time for their teasing. Not tonight at least. This is his one chance, and he’ll be damned if he fucks it up, if he loses it. He needs to focus.
Cassian knew that Nesta Archeron was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen the first time he saw her walk into his gen-ed English lecture earlier this semester. Her blue gray eyes had been piercing beneath the lights of the lecture hall, and Cassian wanted to dive into them and drown in them right in that moment. Even more so when he watched her roll those eyes at something said at the front of the lecture hall.
Gods, he wanted to make those eyes roll.
He was sure that the Mother must be smiling down on him when Nesta had ended up in his seminar after the lecture too. It was clear that she was smart. That she had a passion for books. That she didn’t take any bullshit. He could sit and watch and listen to her in that seminar for the rest of his life and be happy. And when she absolutely eviscerated Tamlin for his “analysis” of Lolita, Cassian had been ready to drop to his knees right then and there.
It made him try harder. He made sure he actually paid attention in the lecture, made sure he did the readings, made sure he came to each and every seminar with his analysis prepared in hopes of impressing her. He wasn't sure it was working or not, but sometimes, he swore he saw her lips twitch with the barest hint of a smile, of a smirk, when he spoke. He swore that sometimes he could feel her gaze on him when he wasn't looking.
And then, one day, he’d walked into the seminar room to find the seat next to Nesta open. He’d practically stumbled over his own feet in his rush to slide into that open seat, earning an amused head shake from Kallias. Using the few minutes before the seminar started, Cassian had called her Nes and gotten a withering glare in response. He was sure the look was meant to cut him down where he sat, but it only stoked the embers in his chest into a full wildfire, only made him grin wider.
It became a game after that. Every seminar, he’d take the seat beside Nesta, and every seminar, he’d spark a back and forth between them. He cataloged every look, every response he was able to draw out of Nesta. Every eye roll. Every derisive snort. Every sarcastic quip. He got drunk off it all and kept coming back for more and more. And when he made Nesta blush, the pretty pink spreading across her cheeks, he knew that was it for him.
He spent the whole rest of the week after that trying to figure out the best way to ask Nesta out, sure that she wouldn’t appreciate being asked in front of their whole seminar group. He wondered if it would be weird to ask her to speak to him after the seminar, prayed to the Mother to take pity on him, and blessedly, take pity on him she did. It’s what led Cassian to finding out that Nesta was pledged to Mor’s sorority.
How he found out that she would be here tonight.
One of the sorority members greets Cassian and his brothers when they step through the doors to the hall, her name tag reading Deidre. She holds out three paddles, but Rhys and Azriel both wave her off, only Cassian taking one. Lucky number nineteen, just like his jersey. They settle into seats at an empty table, and then it’s just a waiting game.
It doesn’t take long before Mor is stepping out onto the stage, giving her welcoming speech as president, but any words she says fade away as soon as the women participating tonight walk onto the stage. As soon as Cassian catches sight of Nesta. Her dress is a silky, silvery blue that, along with the stage lights, brings out the blue of her eyes, and the hem is short enough to show off the stretch of her legs. She has that look on her face that’s Cassian’s favorite, and just the sight of her has his mouth going dry. She’s gorgeous.
“And next up we have Nesta Archeron.” Cassian’s attention snaps back to Mor. “She’s pre-law and minoring in English. She loves romance novels, so you better be ready to bring out all the stops if you’re the lucky one who gets to take her on a date. Now, we’ll start the bidding at–”
“One hundred dollars,” Cassian calls out before Mor can finish, jumping up to his feet and holding up his paddle.
“Mother save us,” Rhys mutters under his breath.
“Wow. That’s…” Mor clears her throat. “That’s quite generous. I guess we’ll be starting the bidding at one hundred.”
“One fifty.”
Anger flares low in Cassian’s gut at the second bid, and it burns even brighter when he turns his head and finds the owner of the voice. Eris Vanserra. Cassian has hated the man ever since he had the misfortune of sharing a class with him freshman year. Ever since he watched him stroll into a college class wearing designer clothes and look down on everyone. He’s pompous, pretentious, and has a face practically asking for Cassian to punch.
And punching Eris’s snooty face is definitely something Cassian’s fist itches to do right now.
“Two hundred,” Cassian declares, turning back toward the stage.
“Two fifty,” Eris echoes.
“Two seventy five.”
“Three hundred.”
“Holy shit,” Mor mutters before seemingly remembering that she has a microphone in her hands. “I mean wow. That’s officially our highest bid. Ever. Do we have a response?”
“Five. Hundred.”
Gasps and murmurs of surprise sweep through the room at Cassian’s announcement. He glances toward where Nesta still stands on stage, her eyes wide and pink settled high on her cheeks. But those wide eyes are pinned on him, not Eris, not Mor, and her attention has his heart stuttering between his ribs, has it tugging toward the stage as though she holds the thread so firmly wrapped around it.
He dares to toss Nesta a wink before turning to smirk at Eris, but Vanserra is still lounging casually in his seat with a sort of cool arrogance that ice starts to prickle beneath Cassian’s skin.
“Five fifty,” Eris declares, eyes cutting toward Cassian with a smirk of his own.
“Fucking prick,” Cassian mutters under his breath before he leans down to speak to Rhys. “Okay, I’m going to need to borrow more than what we originally agreed to.”
Rhys sighs, raising an unimpressed eyebrow. “Seriously, Cass? This is getting a little absurd for a single date.”
“She’s worth it.”
“Is she? You know, I’ve heard stories, and–”
“Fuck you,” Cassian growls, turning back toward the stage before he runs out of time. “Five seventy five!”
“He’s clearly dedicated. You’ve got to give him that,” Azriel mutters with a low chuckle.
“You know Vanserra’s not going to stop, right?” Rhys adds, his tone almost bored.
As if in answer, Eris’s voice rings out again. “Six hundred.”
“Seven hundred,” Cassian calls out quickly before dropping his voice again. “If you’re so worried about your rich boy checkbook, then do something about it.”
“What am I supposed to do about it?”
“Seven fifty,” Eris’s voice drowns out Rhys’s question.
“Alright,” Azriel sighs, pushing up to his feet. “This is just sad to watch now.”
Cassian sighs as his brother walks away, knocking his fist against the table in frustration. “Eight fifty!”
He waits for Eris’s answering bid, but there’s only silence ringing out in the hall. Cassian’s brow pinches in confusion, and he snaps his attention back toward Eris’s table. The man in question is on his feet, standing toe to toe with Azriel. There’s a suspicious looking stain across Eris’s shirt, and his lips are pulled back in a sneer.
Whatever lashing Eris is giving for his now ruined designer shirt, Azriel takes it unfazed. He merely reaches for a napkin, the movement nothing short of sensual as he wipes it against Eris’s shirt, against his chest and down his stomach. Even from across the room Cassian can see the way Eris’s face has turned a color to match his face.
With Eris thoroughly distracted, Cassian looks back toward the stage, raising his eyebrows pointedly at Mor.
“Oh! Right,” Mor speaks into the microphone. “We have eight fifty. Do we have higher than eight fifty?” Cassian motions with his hand to hurry up. “Eight fifty going once. Going twice. Sold for eight fifty.”
Cassian falls back into his seat with a relieved sigh, unable to bite back the wide grin that pulls across his face. He did it, he was the highest bid. He gets to see Nesta outside of their lecture, outside of their seminar. He gets to spend time with her one on one and to find out what really makes her tick.
He gets to take Nesta Archeron on a date.
He’s practically bouncing on his feet waiting for the rest of the women to have their bidding, for the evening to come to a close. He all but jumps back up to his feet, plucking the check from between Rhys’s fingers. The look on Mor’s face is all too knowing when he hands over the money, but even that doesn’t deter him.
He gets to take Nesta Archeron on a date.
“Eight hundred fifty dollars, huh?”
Cassian spins around to come face to face with the exact woman in question, her arms crossed and her expression unimpressed. But Cassian has learned a lot sitting next to Nesta this semester, and he recognizes the light sparking in her blue eyes, the slight pinch at the corner of her lips. Try as she might, she can’t hide her amusement from him.
“What can I say, sweetheart?” Cassian drawls, grin still wide. “I’m quite dedicated to getting what I want.”
“Oh? Is that why you pulled that stunt with Eris?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. That was merely Azriel flirting.”
Nesta laughs, and it’s already Cassian’s favorite sound, a sound he wants to draw out of her again and again. “He flirts by spilling drinks on people?”
“Everyone has their own version of flirting. Look at us, with our back and forth.”
That comment does earn him an eye roll, Cassian’s blood singing and his heart soaring at the reaction. He dares to step even closer to Nesta, until he has to tip his chin down to keep smirking at her. Dares to reach up between them for a stray strand of Nesta’s hair and tug on it teasingly. Dares to tease the backs of his fingers along her now pinkening cheeks.
“You might actually be crazy, you know.”
“Only because you make me that way, Nes.”
Taglist (let me know if you’d like to be added or removed): @moodymelanist @nesquik-arccheron @sv0430 @talkfantasytome @bookstantrash @eirini-thaleia @ubigaia @fromthelibraryofemilyj @luivagr-blog @lifeisntafantasy @superspiritfestival @hiimheresworld @marigold-morelli @sweet-pea1 @emeriethevalkyriegirl @pyxxie @dustjacketmusings @hallway5 @dongjunma @glowing-stick-generation @melonsfantasyworld @lady-nestas @goddess-aelin @melphss @theladystardust @a-trifling-matter @blueunoias @kookskoocie @wolfnesta @blurredlamplight @hereforthenessian @skaixo @jmoonjones @burningsnowleopard @whyisaravenlike-awritingdesk @ofduskanddreams @rarephloxes @thelovelymadone @books-books-books4ever @tenaciousdiplomatloverprune @that-little-red-head @readergalaxy @thesnugglingduck @kale-theteaqueen @tarquindaddy @superflurry @bri-loves-sunflowers @lady-winter-sunrise @witch-and-her-witcher @fieldofdaisiies
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nunalastor · 1 month
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Serial Roommates
Guy really wanted to know why Lucifer disliked him so much. He can understand Husk since Alastor owns his soul, but hopefully Guy can convince Alastor to let his contracts go, eventually. But Lucifer was a different factor all together. Could it be his friendship with Alastor? He’s heard Lucifer and Alastor don’t really like each other, so it could be hatred of association kind of thing but he’s noticed how Lucifer treats Nifty and Rosie, so it didn’t make sense. Every time they passed each other, Guy would greet him but Lucifer would just give a dirty look.
It became more obvious whenever Alastor and Guy would plan an outing together. Show Guy around hell and reminisce old times, Lucifer would suddenly bring up a task that Alastor would have to do. Like the toilet’s clogged again, guest has an issue, you have paperwork to finish and etc etc. Once Alastor left to deal with one of the tasks, Guy decided to confront Lucifer.
Didn’t work in his favor as the fallen angel refused to even listen to him until he brought up the fact he was trying to redeem Alastor.
“What’s your problem with me? I’m trying to redeem my friend who by the way you hate, so if he gets into heaven you’re never going to see him again.”
Once he said that, Guy could hear a demonic growl and the whole room turned pitched black. The only light source was the glow of Lucifer’s eyes as they glared hatefully at the Angel and his horns already sprouted.
“YOU INSIGNIFICANT INSECT, YOU DARE PRESUME TO KNOW THINGS ABOUT ME?! IF YOU WEREN’T UNDER HEAVEN’S PROTECTION I WOULD TEAR OUT YOUR WINGS BEFORE EVISCERATING YOU!”
“Oh Guy, what did you do to make our majesty so riled up?” A cheerful taunting voice broke through the tension and suddenly the room was filled with light. Lucifer was back to form but still menacing look that promised suffering. He walked towards Alastor and said,
“Alastor, make sure to keep your dog on leash because next time I won’t be so merciful.” That was the only thing he said before he disappeared in red smoke.
👀
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Text
𝒥𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑜𝓊𝓈𝓎, 𝒥𝑒𝒶𝓁𝑜𝓊𝓈𝓎
Featuring: Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Art the Clown 
Word Count: 1.4k
Warnings: creepy men, murder, cat-calling, murder boyfriends coming to the rescue (sort of), kind of more protective than jealousy but still, suggestive content, i will probably make more of these if wanted 
Jason
You never have the opportunity to interact with others, usually, most often staying behind in your shared cabin as Jason lurks around the camp. 
Still, there are times where it happens, though rare.
Specifically, there was a time you were near the water’s edge, a swimsuit on as you dipped your feet into the cool water.
Jason was out somewhere, leaving you alone as you watched the sun begin to set.
You moved to wade into the water, but a voice behind you caught you off guard.
“Hey, sweetheart,” a male called, and you turned to spot a man in hiking clothes with a map in his hands.
You raised a brow. How did someone manage to get all the way back here?
“What are you doing here?” you asked, leaving the shore to meet the man in a grassy clearing. 
“I was trying to find an old camp, but it seems like I found something even better,” he replied, a smile on his face that made you cringe.
You frowned. “You should leave.”
“Don’t be like that, baby, c’mon! I can’t leave a poor girl like you all alone out here! There’s some real bad guys out there, ya know.”
You recoiled when he tried to place a hand on your shoulder.
You crossed your arms. 
“It’s not me you have to worry about,” you replied. “Now go back the way you came.”
The man stepped closer to you again, and you were forced to back up until the lake water lapped at your heels. 
“Don’t be scared, honey,” he cooed.
You were about to let out a frustrated groan when you spotted a familiar hulking figure looming near the cabin.
A smile appeared on your lips, and you shot a small wave.
The man noticed your actions, and turned, only to stumble backwards and splash into the water at the sight.
Jason had returned.
Disregarding the man, you trotted to Jason, standing on your tip-toes to plant a soft kiss to his mask. 
You looked to see a machete in his hand, already dripping with a dark red substance.
“Jay-baby,” you whispered, leaning against his solid chest. “I almost thought something happened to you.”
A large hand rested on the small of your back, and you felt him nestle his face into your hair. 
He grunted in response before gently guiding you behind him. 
Though he didn’t say, you could tell he was upset, and you simply watched as he trudged over, large lumbering steps leaving massive footprints in their wake.
The terrified hiker finally scrambled upwards and out of the water, but he only made it a few stumbled steps before Jason grabbed him by the back of his shirt, yanking him backwards.
You knew what would happen next, and so turned your back.
Jason hated when you saw him kill, though you never really minded, but you still wanted to respect his concerns.
Screams echoed behind you as you climbed the steps and swung open the door to the small cabin.
“Wash up when you’re done!” you called out. “I’ll be waitin’ inside!” 
Freddy
Though he’s only really present in your dreams, you know he can see every mundane thing you do, including your trip to the supermarket.
He’s a crazy dream demon who thrives on blood and violence, so it’s no surprise he’ll jump at the chance to eviscerate anyone who dares to talk to you.
You stepped inside the small store, grabbing a cart and swinging your purse inside.
You only needed a few things for dinner, and prayed nobody would be stupid enough to catch your attention.
The rumor was you were cursed, since everyone who ever attempted anything was always found dead, mutilated in ways previously unseen—all in their own beds.
You didn’t mind, a loner anyways, and it’s not like you were ever really alone.
You grabbed a can off the shelf, tossing it into your cart before continuing down the aisle.
A man blocked the way, his own cart by his side as he examined a section of cans.
“Excuse me,” you called, catching his attention.
He looked to you, smiling bashfully before swinging his cart to the side so you could pass.
“My bad,” he replied, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
“You’re okay,” you said, beginning to pass by him.
“Wait—” he spoke, a hand shooting out to land on your shoulder softly. 
You flinched, turning around.
“I’m new in town—any idea where to get a cup of coffee around here?”
“Try Starbucks just up the road. See you around.”
“Would you, umm, mind showing me?”
You let out a sigh. “I’ve got a dinner to make. Sorry.”
With that, you left the man alone in the aisle, your hands gripping the cart handle. 
You knew you’d never see that man alive again.
Sure enough, as soon as you fell asleep that night, you appeared in a darkened room, looking just enough like your bedroom to make you believe you’d woken up, but you knew you didn’t go to sleep in crotchless lingerie.
You rolled your eyes. “This is a bit tacky, don’t you think?” 
A presence made itself known in the corner of the dream room, and you shot Freddy an annoyed look.
He stepped close enough to brush his clawed glove against your cheek. “Would you rather be naked?”
“You’re a jealous bastard, you know,” you replied, your own hand resting over his glove. “He was just being nice.”
“He’s not anything anymore—” he laughed wickedly— “that weasel drowned in his own blood.”
You leaned into his touch, letting him push you back against the soft blanket. 
You noted a particularly devious glint in his eye, and if he still had enough skin to show it, you knew his cheeks would be flush with excitement. 
“You’re lucky I think you’re hot when you’re angry,” you teased. “Else I might actually get mad at being the talk of the town.” 
Art
Despite his refusal to talk, his over-exaggerated facial expressions always let you know what he’s thinking.
One such facial expression appeared on his white-covered face as you chatted to a man in a Halloween store, trying to get some help in finding a costume. 
 You thought it would be cute to surprise your clown with a clown costume of your own, but this man wasn’t any help, and you could tell the only reason he still chatted with you was the direct line of sight to your low cut tank top.
Finally, you brushed him off, deciding to look around yourself.
“Let me know if you need anything, little lady!”
You grit your teeth, trying to ignore his eyes still on your back as you flicked through the hanging costumes.
Finally, you found something that looked decent, and begrudgingly walked up to the counter.
“Wanna try it on first?” the man asked, a dirty smile on his face upon seeing the short black and white dress.
You resisted the urge to climb over the counter and fight him, but luckily a certain someone caught your attention.
You looked over to the changing rooms, locking eyes with a familiar murderous clown. 
He peeked his head out from the changing room curtain, shooting you a toothy grin.
“Sure,” you finally replied, taking the costume back and heading towards where you just saw Art disappear back behind the curtain.
You stepped inside and pulled the curtains closed, seeing Art sitting lazily on the bench.
You smirked, shaking the revealing costume at him.
“You thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?”
You grinned when he smiled widely, hand reaching out to snatch the dress off the hanger. 
You knew that peeping tom cashier would want to sneak a peek soon enough, and it didn’t take long before you saw his shoes standing just outside the curtain.
You sat, still in your regular clothes, feet up on the bench.
Finally, the curtain slid open just slightly, and the man recoiled when his eyes met those of Art.
He sported the short dress, and he put his hands under his chin, batting his eyelashes.
The man’s lips curled into a disgusted frown, but quickly changed into a look of fear when he spotted the large hatchet dangling from Art’s gloved hand.
You waved from behind the slasher, a soft smile on your face. “Like what you see?”
The man didn’t have a chance to scream before the hatcher buried itself deep within his skull.
You stood up, giving your lover a cheeky grip to his rear end. “You should wear this more often,” you teased. 
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thevulturesquadron · 19 days
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THAT LATEST EPISODEEEE
Okay okay I have many thoughts and I apologise if this is gonna end up very incoherent and disjointed but I NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE AHHHHH
You know what the episode did very well (the writers, man)? Make the audience feel like they're taking crazy pills. There's this almost cognitive dissonance from the rest of the squad (Charles esp) with the way they say and behave because as Rogue stated "none of you were there". This is SO good in showcasing that you can be as understanding as you want, be literally a part of the same group... and STILL it's not enough because you didn't have the (in this case unfortunate) exact experience. The previous episode is a great addendum to this. The rest of humanity's (majorly the big wigs of course but you get what i mean) scared and at worst callous and apathetic reaction to the genocide. They're not scared because of what happened to those mutants, they're scared because of what Magneto would do in retaliation. Cooper is another example of how much actual experience can wholly change a person. She's not a mutant... but she was THERE. Erik and Rogue were there... right in the middle of it. How does anyone expect SOMETHING to not happen. You know who else saw what happened? Us, the audience. The latest episode felt frustrating and cathartic in the best way. It felt like decades of repressed righteous anger spilling in the most messiest manner, but it's OUT there. It needed to be said. Rogue's rant at the group before joining Erik, Erik's iconic "SHUT UP" line (yo lemme tell you istg i said the EXACT thing after that drivel Charles said). That's another thing that was so well done. Showcasing that no matter how well meaning Charles is... sometimes it feels like the dude's not LISTENING (Erik talks about watching a child be eviscerated in front of his very eyes, and I feel like all he's getting from others is an 'aw im sorry thoughts and prayers now can you please CHILL out') and does need this slap in the face. And the consequences keep piling up (the last big thing being what happened to Logan). Nothing will ever be normal and it's sad and scary and I'm very much looking forward to what comes next.
On a small note, showing how Roberto's decision was unsure with him trying to apologise to Jubilee and then his shocked reaction at her not wanting to hear him was so sad. It truly felt like a boy who only realised how massive of a consequence he's facing but just wanting his friend back.
I'm pretty sure I had more things to say and a more thoughtful way of saying them but anyway... 10/10. VERY ANGERING AND FANTASTIC. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE LAST EP!!!
HI!!! ✨SAME!! 💜💜💜💜 thanks for coming in kicking the door down and shouting my way cause I needed that!! My brain has been stuck on a loop with the events in E9.
I love, love, love this episode exactly because of the strong emotions it made me go through. To see the division, to see where everyone stands, to see what matters most to them: what they are going through or an ideal? It. Was. So. Good! It was skin itching to see it at the same time. Each episode has continued to take me by surprise and go beyond my expectations.
I love how well the writers have been able to portray the difference between people who have been through horrible events, and those who have seen them ‘on screen’. Remember in episode 7 when Amelia said 'a survivor is the last thing I’d wanna be.’? Now it resonates even more than ever. It’s poetry. And yes, Cooper isn’t just someone who ‘saw it Magneto’s way’. No. She was one of the perpetrators caught in the middle.
So that when Scott goes around saying ‘Magneto is responsible for this.’ When Wolverine is out for blood - it should make you angry cause it feels like the crimes that Bastion has orchestrated are secondary to the X-men's agenda of 'righting a wrong'. Bastion is just a battle, another villain they need to defeat. But the call was coming from inside the house all along.
I’ve seen people online saying that this episode did Magneto dirty. But I think it’s the opposite. Magneto had always been capable of awful things in his pain and anger, but that’s not the point the writers are trying to make. The name of the episodes is ‘Tolerance is extinction’ - the whole point is to put the viewer in the uncomfortable position of understanding Magneto’s anger, but knowing his actions have big consequences, all the while making you lose your mind at how backwards and ignorant Charles' side seems. People are dying because ultimately his dream is more important than the people the dream is made for. And Rogue and Magneto are calling him out on it. The beauty of it is that Charles is preaching an ethical way where everyone matters, but how entitled and arrogant he must come across when everyone else around him is just ‘sacrifices he is willing to make’ for the sake of an ideal. It’s beautiful and awful that the cry for battle and survival is coming from the mouth of those that have nothing left but violence in them, while the champions of the just offer shackles and tell those that suffer to endure more for the greater good.
Yes this episode is supposed to make people angry and confused. And I think it succeeds.
If there is one less positive thing to say about the show, it's the pacing. You can feel that they were forced to put everything in just 10 episodes because there are a lot of moments throughout the show that are either missing or rushed. (For ex. in this last episode I would have liked to have scene with Rogue and Roberto on Asteroid M, in a similar fashion to what we got for the two X-men squads; just a glimpse at how things are impacting them instead of immediately seeing them in a 'villain guards' roles.) But I am not going to hold it against the show; from what they've delivered it reads a lot like cuts that they needed to live with.
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swan-lite · 5 months
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Dang it, okay, I have thoughts
James Somerton made an apology video in which he says "I'm sorry" several times but
Couches it in a pity party
Does not directly address any of the people whose work he stole by name
Never uses the word "plagiarism," instead referring to his theft almost exclusively as "citation errors"
James discusses how many videos he and his team were releasing and the frequency of releases as if someone was pressuring them to release a high volume of videos, as if to say it isn't his fault that there were quality problems
James offers to make his videos public again and add "citations" in a pinned comment or in the descriptions as a means of crediting the people he stole from
He also insists that some of the videos won't need these citations because some of them were his own "original work"
(In other words: that he has nothing more to hide)
James states that he isn't bigoted against ace folks, bisexual folks, trans folks, or women and that the several disparaging remarks he has made against these communities in his videos were not written by him
Because we have receipts for several of these remarks thanks to Harry's (hbomberguy's) video on James, we know that they didn't come from the articles and books he was stealing from, so if James didn't write them then the only other person who could have was his cowriter Nick
James then immediately says that he's not trying to blame Nick
James does not try to explain the ace/arophobic, biphobic, transphobic, or misogynistic remarks he has made on his Twitter or Patreon accounts
James mentions - and seems genuinely bothered by - the "people online" who are spreading lies and misinformation about him
Finally, James discusses future projects he would like to work on
He then deleted the apology video
Harry states near the top of Plagiarism and You(Tube) that "When someone more competent than Filip uses [his] techniques in a subtler way, we can recognize them for what they are."
This is not competent. It's not even subtle. James's career was so thoroughly eviscerated literally overnight that this is the best he can do, and it's not even good.
James says that he's sorry, but doesn't actually explain what he's sorry for. He doesn't admit to, or take responsibility for, the extent of what he actually did. In this way, he can now say when confronted that he apologized. But with the wording, he still manages to avoid actually taking ownership of his actions. In other words, it's using passive language to imply that what he has done just happened. He definitely didn't sit down and choose to commit extensive plagiarism - of course not! What really happened? *shrug* Anyway, sorry for it.
When iiluminaughtii (henceforth referred to as Blaire) tried to explain the many times in her video essays she has misspoken or misused words, she played it off as a byproduct of the amount of "work" she churned out for her fans. James is trying to do the same thing here, only it is deeply ineffective. It's quite upsetting to me to think that some of his fans - young queer folks who are probably used to having to make themselves small - might on some level fall for this trick. The idea is to make you the viewer feel guilty for the demands you have placed on this creator, when in reality this is a grown adult who knew exactly what he was doing.
I'm not going to spend too long on this next point. If you've read this far, you're probably invested enough to be well aware that James has used the trick of burying a citation under a mound of text no-one will read many times. It's the same trick Blaire used, and the one The Internet Historian used as well after he was caught.
James stops short of making a "Colombo villian speech" in this apology video. He does, however, take the time to say that he has nothing more to hide. Again, if you've watched Harry's video, you know this literally always means that the person who insists they have nothing to hide is absolutely hiding something else. Whether this is more plagiarism or some other skullduggery we haven't yet found out about, I'm sure it will come to light eventually. I'm honestly surprised and a little disappointed that James tried this tack. Obviously he's thought better of it, since the video is gone now. But I would think a grown human who has just been the subject of an hours-long piece of, frankly, journalism would know better than to say something like this.
With the comments about his bigotry, James is trying to simultaneously redirect attention and perform allyship by saying "Look, I have an asexual friend! Who may or may not be public about his sexuality at this time!" This is the kind of thing I think a lot of us in the queer community are used to - supposed allies downplaying microaggressions by pointing to folks in the ally's proximity who happen to have an identity that they are being accused of speaking badly about. "This one person can stand to be around me, so clearly I can't be all bad." Personally, as someone whose racist parent tries consistently to downplay their own racism by pointing to me, their mixed race child, I can tell you that this is always misleading. In this case, I feel comfortable saying it's intentional. James tries to excuse the bigotry that "ended up in the videos" by saying that he didn't have time to edit the scripts properly. He doesn't seem to realize that time constraints often make people much more honest. In reality, this is James trying to make excuses for the bigotry he put in his videos because the time constraints he put onto himself made it much more difficult to disguise how he really feels.
James then directs some indignation at the people who are online discussing what he did. I would interpret his discussion of his income as an oblique reference to Dan Olson's thread about his recording equipment if I had a degree in literary analysis. My degree is not in literary analysis, so I'll leave it there. Ahem.
James makes reference to future projects he hopes to work on, as if this endeavor has in any way preserved or helped to bolster his shattered reputation. Jessie Gender makes a great point in saying this feels like a promise of work we could get out of him if we all just collectively decide to ignore all the harm he has caused. And James has caused harm. Whether he meant to or not, given the sheer magnitude of his plagiarism, there is absolutely no doubt that he has caused significant harm to a community he claimed to defend.
I want to spend a moment on something others have already pointed out. Actually, Harry pointed this out too. If James's theft were in any way defensible, he would have defended it. He would not have gone to such great lengths - up to and including deleting videos - to hide it. He wouldn't have used Nick as a shield, he wouldn't have outright lied in his livestreams, and he wouldn't have deactivated his Patreon (before reactivating--y'know what, this post is long enough, we don't need to get into that). James lied and dodged and beat around the bush for years BECAUSE he knew what he was doing was wrong. I had a justice studies professor once tell my class that nobody wakes up in the morning and decides to be A Criminal. People make choices, and choices have consequences, but most people don't choose consequences. People choose the thing that benefits them and consequences follow. James made a long, long series of choices, and I would like to remind everyone that they always had consequences. Even before Harry's video came out, James was facing consequences. Those didn't come from nowhere, they came from the people he was hurting. He knew about them, he just didn't stop because of them. He stopped because he literally couldn't keep going anymore.
Finally, James deleted his misguided response to the multitude of accusations against him. I don't think I need to explain to anyone what that indicates.
I would like to finish by saying that nobody should be harassed. Nobody should be bullied, or dogpiled, or doxxed. Nobody should wake up in the hospital because their dad realized he needed to call an ambulance. James's life is undoubtedly in a really difficult place right now, and while he absolutely deserved to lose his career, that's all he deserved. I hope he regains his health, I really do.
And I hope Harry and his team don't feel any responsibility over this. It seems easy from the outside to believe they wouldn't, but I also know that if I had just released a 4-hour long video detailing someone's fraud and then found out they had been in the hospital because of an incompleted suicide, I would feel pretty conflicted about a project we know Harry already felt conflicted about.
I hope Harry and his team are doing okay, and I hope James starts doing okay soon, and I hope James realizes this was the wrong damn time to try any release and apology. It was a bad apology.
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imitationgame77 · 8 days
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ART and Human Adolescents
~ Reason Why ART Befriended Murderbot in AC ~
A sort of theory...
In Network Effect, Murderbot notes several times that ART likes adolescent humans. For instance,
I'd noted that ART's tone when it spoke to Amena was completely different than it was to the other humans. [...] Whatever else ART was, the classroom space and bunk-rooms said it was actually, on a regular basis, a teaching vessel. And before this when I was stupid and we were still friends it had talked about human adolescents in an indulgent way.
[Network Effect, Chapter 9]
Murderbot uses ART's soft spot for adolescents to its advantage!
And then, a couple of chapters later,
Amena still had questions. "Then why did you do it? You didn't - you don't care about me. You didn't really even know me then."
Why does ART like adolescent humans? This was exhausting.
[...]
ART must be recovering because it had to butt in with, Tell her you care about her. Use those words, don't tell her you'll eviscerate anything that tries to hurt her.
[Network Effect, Chapter 10]
ART does show protectiveness towards Amena's feelings, and urges MB to do the same.
ART also shows indulgence towards young people, who probably have left adolescent recently. In Artificial Condition, Murderbot's young client Tapan gets herself into a dangerous situation (again), then in a relatively safe environment of a hotel accommodation, inadvertently upsets MB with personal questions. ART helps MB calm down by playing its comfort media's soundtrack, then
In my feed, ART turned down the soundtrack to say, Young humans can be impulsive. The trick is keeping them around long enough to become old humans. This is what my crew tells me and my own observations seem to confirm it.
[Artificial Condition, Chapter 7]
An American psychoanalyst Erik Erikson has developed a theory of personality development which consists of 8 stages from infancy to old age. Each stage has a central theme with basic conflict. Successful resolution of conflicts at each stage results in development of healthy personality and acquisition of virtues.
Adolescence (12-18 years) is defined by its conflict of Identity vs. Role Confusion. Adolescents search for a sense of self and personal identity, through exploring values, goals, interests, and so on. If they are not given enough support and/or restricted in their exploration, they are left with role confusion - struggle to identify their purpose in life, not knowing who they are and what they want. Social relationships are also important in finding their roles in society. Successful resolution of this stage will lead to the virtue of fidelity that involves being able to commit one's self to others on the basis of accepting others even with differences.
The next stage is Early Adulthood (19-29 years), whose basic conflict is Intimacy vs. Isolation. This is when people learn to establish intimacy and relationships with others. If an individual can successfully form intimate, reciprocal relationships with others, love is the virtue to be gained. But, unsuccessful resolution in earlier stages can cause failure in this stage, resulting in isolation. Isolation can be the result of unresolved identity crises, fear of rejection, etc.
This stage thoery was developed in the 1950s. Since then, societies have changed somewhat and many young people can afford to be in "not a child, but not quite grown-up yet" stage for longer.
Presumably, machine intelligences, however sophisticated like ART, do not need to be influenced by physiological changes associated with hormones. Humans are largely influenced by nature part of nature/nurture, but for AIs, nurture (experience) is a lot more significant in forming their personalities. Having been "brought up" in loving human family environment with Iris as its "sibling", ART has developed very good understandings of human development as well as enormous tolerance. Having been interacting with many, many university students (presumably still 18-22 ish), it knows how important adolescent is to their later development in their characters.
One of the fundamental reasons why ART immediately took to Murderbot, in my view, is that it recognised adolescence in it. Whatever its human-equivalent chronological age was when they met, MB had only been governor-module-free for 4 years or so, and its experience of interacting with real people autonomously was very limited. MB was smart and competent in its functions, but also extremely vulnerable and awkward. It fits the definition of adolescence of not knowing its new role (not an appliance anymore)in the world.
So, ART's initial interaction with MB and protectiveness it exhibited were largely because ART was basically kind to vulnerable young people and MB was one. (Their 'relationship' evolves rapidly, but it is getting too long, so I stop. For now.)
----
Addendum
ART was not exactly gentle to Three which had had less-than-1-cycle of experience at being autonomous. It was more like a colt than a human adolescent. Must have been stress and anxiety talking.
Does an advanced AI have an equivalent of adolescence?? (probably mild, being hormone-free)
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woosaaghh · 5 months
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Spoilers for Wyll's story!
I'm so fucked up about Wyll's storyline. He has quite literally never made a selfish choice in his life. He exudes goodness in almost every interaction the player has with him. His kindness is infectious, his optimism is overwhelming. He spends every moment thinking of how to help others simply because he thinks it's the right thing to do. He's been that way since he was a boy, going so far as to be entrapped by Mizora into trading his soul to save Baldur's Gate. He's 17 years old and has never made a selfish decision in his life, but his father can't give him so much as the benefit of the doubt. He makes a life for himself as a savior of the people, and then gets kidnapped by mindflayers and infected with a mindflayer tadpole and his immediate reaction is "Whelp guess I'd better go help these tiefling refugees near where I crash landed from this spaceship."
In my playthrough I saved Florrick with Wyll, speaking with him made her choose not to give up and hold on to hope, she thanked him for helping her see it wasn't too late. What a lovely interaction. That night we spoke to Mizora and she offered Wyll his freedom, I told him to take it. The next day when I entered the city the same Florrick came and literally spat at my Tav's feet, told me that she was there for Wyll's head because Mizora said he killed his father because he was mad with power. The man who saved her life THE DAY PRIOR.
No one in this damned game other than the tadfools are ever willing to give Wyll the benefit of the doubt, nothing he could ever do would be worth them having faith in him. He accepts his banishment as his father doing what he believed was right and never resents him for it, still loves and misses him. He takes on Mizora's punishment for not killing Karlach without flinching because he knows what he did was right and Karlach deserves to live. At the tiefling party he isolates himself to keep from making others uncomfortable with his devilish appearance. And he's so alone: no mother, his father abandoned him, he has been travelling alone for the past 8 years just helping whoever he sees in need of it. Then, when you go through the steps of saving his father, that ass is willing to make Wyll a villain again, until Tav steps in and shares their memories. You needed a stranger to show you all of this to believe your own child wasn't evil incarnate? Was it not enough to have known him, did you ever even actually see your boy when he was in front of you?? Or was he just something to be molded and thrown away when you thought he didn't turn out right?
As someone who grew up closeted and still am to my relatives outside of my immediate family Wyll's tragedy hits far too close to home for me, the idea that no matter who you show that you are or what you do, the people you love the most, who are supposed to love you, are willing to drop you immediately and take back their love because of a single fact about you, without ever trying to understand more.
Wyll's story may not be as hard of a life as some of the others, but it messes me up in a way I hadn't expected. I wish Wyll had more story, and I wish I could use the tadpole to mentally berate and verbally eviscerate Ulder Ravengard for 30 real life minutes about how no matter how honorable and just he may be seen as in the eyes of the people of Baldurs Gate that he'll always be a failure of a man and a father.
(Also, I understand that they all have grounds in reality: terminal illnesses, chronic pain, indoctrination, physical and sexual abuse. But for the severe lack of Wyll content in the game you sort of have to read between the lines for it to hit as hard as it did me, it just made me wish there was more exploration of Wyll's feelings in game.)
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yarrayora · 3 days
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I bet there's a not insignificant portion of people who don't think Mahiru is doing that on accident
🪩kaitov3official follow
kjbdkjabKJSBDKJASDB ok. ok. so, mamahiru got his first ever talk show debut which is great. but it's also one of those japanese variety shows hosted by a comedy duo which really shows how much people are taking him seriously right now, which is not great.
but back to the thing that made me laugh. the hosts were trying really REALLY hard to make mamahiru the butt of the jokes. he brought up about how vampires are the best people for dealing with other vampires and the host was like "but wouldn't they just help their friend escape??" and mamahiru was like "you and [insert rival comedian name] are both comedians but you're not friends."
the Funny Guy laughs it off and says "well, i mean, i'm just saying vampires catching other vampires... it wouldn't be weird if they end up covering each other's asses."
and my beloved tumblr mutuals you will not believe what happened next.
mamahiru in his full glorious kindergarten teacher voice asks "we have cops in charge of catching criminals. are the criminals they're catching humans or vampires?"
funny guy once again fumbles "well, yes, they're humans but"
and mamahiru claps. CLAPS. tells funny guy he did a good job remembering!!! im going insane!!!
🎚️lichtansbootlicker follow
im losing my shit theres no way that wasnt on purpose
🪩kaitov3official follow
BUT IT WASN'T!!! mamahiru got REALLY embarrassed afterward he apologized
#hi sorry for spamming about this like threeposts in a row #i think we can fix the tories if we treat them like toddlers on live tv too
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🪩kaitov3official follow
beloved mutuals you would not believe what just happened during this week's nichiyo toron
for context it's a sunday morning talk show discussing Serious Issues in japan
guess who got invited as a speaker. guess what happened for the fourth time this week
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read more
☠️alwaysunnyinthedas follow
jesus christ hes killing them
📯napoleonbonapartescockandballtorture
not sure if this is still relevant or even remembered by today's internet but you know that thing in evil overlord list that's like "one of my advisors is going to be an average toddler and if they can see any flaw in my plan then i'll correct it first" or something
this is what's happening in japan right now
#they should stop inviting him to live shows #EVISCERATED
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leiawritesstories · 9 months
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Kiss Me Again
Rowaelin Month, Day 5: A Bad Date
Word count: 998
Warnings: mild swearing, Chaol
enjoy!!!
@rowaelinscourt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chaol Westfall was a terrible kisser. 
Aelin resisted for as long as she possibly could, but the second she got into her house and closed the door behind her, she was wiping her mouth vigorously with the back of her hand and doing her utter best not to gag at the too-recent memory of Chaol’s uncomfortably moist hands on her shoulders. The kiss had been both too short and far too long, barely more than a press of his quivering lips to her carefully painted lipstick, and she’d watched him lick his lips right before going for the kiss. 
The oblivious jackass hadn’t even noticed that her eyes had stayed wide open. 
“That bad?” 
Aelin jumped a little at the unexpected question. “What?” 
“Tell me I didn’t just see you trying to bleach Westfall’s slobber off your lips,” Elide deadpanned. She’d been Aelin’s roommate since they were in college; they were as close as sisters. 
“That’s it.” Aelin shrugged. “I’ll give him points for paying, but that won’t get his dating score up from absolute zero.” 
“I told you not to go on that date.” 
Aelin sighed heavily. “Ells, I’ve been single and horny for way too long. I need an orgasm that I haven’t given myself, and a date is usually the best way to get there.” 
Elide shrugged. “There’s so many other options, and you went for Mr. Vanilla from your workplace? Please, you’re as cliché as a YA romance.” She looped her arm around Aelin. “But I love you, and I can help you get a worthwhile date.” 
“Fuck off,” Aelin laughed. “Remember the last time you set me up?” She grimaced. “I’m still shocked I made it home in one piece.” 
About six months ago, Elide had set Aelin up on a blind date with a guy she’d met at a club. He’d hit on her, but Elide was very much taken, so she’d offered to set him up with Aelin, and he’d accepted. The date was spectacularly awful–Aelin came home in a taxi barely an hour after she’d left. Apparently, the guy had showed up off-his-ass high on something and made a sleazy comment. So Aelin had punched him in the face and left. 
“Yeah, maybe that wasn’t the best idea,” Elide agreed. “I’m still not letting you stay single and horny, though! I’ll think of something else.” 
“Oh gods,” Aelin groaned, theatrically. “I’m scared.” 
Elide snickered. “Don’t be.” She was already texting, her fingers flying across her phone screen. “I’m just asking Lor which one of his friends he’s willing to sacrifice.” 
“Funny,” Aelin drawled. “Am I really that bad?” 
“Of course not.” Elide winked at her. “But I will eviscerate the next guy who hurts you, so it might very well be a sacrifice.” 
Laughing, Aelin headed upstairs. “Let me know when you’ve figured it out, Ells!” 
The very next morning, Elide greeted Aelin with a big mug of fresh coffee and an even bigger grin. “Good morning, Ae!” 
“Uh, good morning, Ells.” Aelin eyed her roommate–who was far too cheerful for seven in the morning–warily. “What’s got you all bright-eyed this morning? I didn’t hear Lorcan crawling out of the window last night.” 
Elide blushed bright pink at the memory. “You’re the worst.” She perked up astonishingly quickly. “You have a date!” 
“That’s…great, I guess.” 
“Aelin Ashryver Galathynius. At least pretend to be excited.” 
“I don’t know about that, Ells. I’m a cynic at heart, and even if I wasn’t, I have shit luck with blind dates.” Aelin drained her coffee. “I need to get dressed.” 
“You do not have shit luck, most guys are just douchebags.” Elide took her empty coffee mug and squeezed her hand. “This guy is Lorcan’s oldest friend, though, and Lor promised to beat him up if he does anything wrong.” 
“All right, I suppose I can deal with that.” A grin flicked across Aelin’s face. “Text me whatever details I need.” 
~
It was nearly midnight when Aelin walked up to her house, hand in hand with Rowan–the unexpectedly chivalrous, impossibly gorgeous man Elide and Lorcan had set her up with. Her eyes were bright with alcohol and excitement, and she walked slowly, careful to keep her heels from clicking too loudly on the cement of the driveway. 
“Shhh,” she whispered when Rowan’s shoes scuffed at the pavement. “We don’t want to wake my lovely roommate.” 
He chuckled, the deep rumble setting her nerves alight. “I dunno, Ae. What about payback for all the times she and Lor have woken you up?” 
“I knew there was a reason I liked you.” She flashed him a wicked, conspiratorial grin. “C’mon.” Swiftly, she unlocked the door, let herself and Rowan into the house, locked up, and led him upstairs. 
“I like your room,” he murmured, his hands coming to rest hot and heavy against her waist. 
She smirked up at him and slid one of the straps of her dress off her shoulder. “I like you being in my room.” Fueled partially by liquid courage and partially by some inexplicable spark burning between the two of them, she closed the gap between them and pressed her lips to his. 
He melted into the kiss, shifting his hands down to her hips and hoisting her effortlessly into his arms. “Aelin,” he groaned as he pulled back for breath. 
“Rowan,” she whispered back. Trust glimmered deep in her eyes. “Kiss me again.” 
“I might not be able to stop if I do that,” he murmured. 
She carded her fingers through his hair. “I don’t want you to stop.” 
He caught a sharp breath and tipped his lips down to hers, stopping barely centimeters away. “Are you sure?” 
“I’m sure.” It was a near-desperate breath. 
“Good.” Rowan kissed Aelin again, completely banishing the faint traces of Chaol’s pathetic kiss attempt from her mind. 
And they spent the rest of the night making Aelin’s bed creak and squeal so loudly that Elide wore her earplugs downstairs to breakfast the next morning.
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eluxcastar · 28 days
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Ok lets go SImply reblogging your oneshot for my req isn't enough i need to analyze and annotate the entire thing like a literature professor and tell you Everything. (✿◡‿◡)
pantalone might be ooc
He's not!!!!!! by which i think this is fairly a Really Good portrayal of the guy considering the 5 sentences we know about him. He's strict!!! frankly a little scary!! And also chill and positive about loverboy!! But it felt Just Right!!!! ( •̀ ω •́ )✧
descriptions of blood
description so good i might as well have killed that man myself
...pretend that his lore has a spot where this fits perfectly
I think i can make it fit!! would you be cool with making minor changes if so?
"You're very good at what you do."
Imagining the same voice as sebastian michaelis saying this with the sexiest buttersmooth voice is eviscerating me. Very self-indulgent but praise kinks will always slay so hard.
...on the verge of stabbing him a moment ago. 
This,, and the small thing i wrote about loverboy launching them both out the window to escape an onslaught of assassins in my other req. get you a ship where one of them has completely normal knee-jerk reactions to kill the other <3
...as he crushes their hand beneath his shoe without mercy
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Fatui Harbingers - House of Wolves - KIERU 0:15
...Instead, Pantalone looks unfazed by it all, stopping as he reaches the other side of you, free of most of the blood. He greets you with a knowing smile as he usually does.
hey ririto this is so ominous and eerie for some reason not known to me. Just the backdrop of grey and snow and probably a gruesome corpse right next to loverboy and Pantalone has a silent smile through everything. Delicious sentence 10/10.
"I knew making you a banker was a good idea,"
THIS IS SO. The confidence and quite calm assurance that pantalone says this with is SO. You'd never be sure whether to lean into it and let out a sigh of relief,, o r back up further becuase it sounds so good but all in the wrong ways.
...thumb brushing across your bottom lip slicked with blood.
fellas is it professional to feed double edged words of honey to your young inexperienced subordinate while kneeling in front of his battered and bruised self who killed someone for you,, and run a gloved thumb across his blood soaked lip. ( ͡• ͜ʖ ͡• )
"Who knew you had so many other talents,"
you are infusing these dialouges with crack cocaine giggling kicking my feet while being slightly concerned because Sir. What do you mean by that.
"Ah ah," he says, a harshness seeping into even just that sound. "Stay."  You stay put,
thank you for making loverboy so Ouppy.
"Lord Harbinger," you try to say
yes,, this could be a minor thing to adjust: i think we could actually fit this oneshot somewhere AFTER he gets his vision,, and BEFORE Pantalone becomes the Harbinger Regrator. Can be a valid reason for Pantalone to see that reader failed to kill the assassin from their shitty negotiation meeting,, and wanting to newly test him again after he had his vision + ambitions awakened to see if he can get past the fear of killing NOW. (Even then,, maybe due to inexperience/unfamiliarity of using visions, reader didn't think to raise his advantage of supernatural powers against another visionless man in this scenario.)
I'd think his first kill was one of the factors that caused him to leave after his 3year duty, not sticking around for Pantalone's promotion to Regrator.
"You are much like your father."
Top 10 things Not to say to someone with daddy issues-
...they're as wet behind the ears as you are.
Dear diary, Today i learned a new speech of expression
...Pantalone's hand that rests on your chin moves... "Now, try again. Dear banker, whatever do you mean?" 
this whole paragraph. What on earth do you mean 'ooc pantalone'. This is the MOST pantalone thing you could've written. Strict and intimidating about improving reader's meek attitude. a Push in the right direction.
"Is this a test?" you manage, words muffled by the way he squishes your face like putty beneath his fingers.
(thank you for making loverboy so Ouppy) x2
...and you know who, regardless of how 'anonymous' that source may have been in his words.
I MAY BE STUPID. (;´д`)ゞ I CANT TELL. who you are hinting towards 😭😭
"Hold this," he adds, an unnervingly tender instruction for the way he was just behaving. 
There he is. its reminding me of: the same pantalone that washed reader with a clock in my very first req to you.
...looking probably about as pathetic as you think you do.
POV: You're Pantalone looking down at Loverboy.
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I forgot how much of a bug-eyed wet dog loverboy is before his time-skip "character development" so to say. Thanks i love him.
"next time someone approaches you from behind, don't wait to stab them. Don't reach for your wet knife with your wet hands, either. Both of those things will get you killed."
I think pantalone is entirely having too much fun with observing Loverboy try climbing the ropes to how REAL fatuus run business.
"Come now. You want to go home and back to Liyue, don't you? I'm tired of this cold." 
Σ(っ °Д °;)っ back to liyue??? Loverboy is Liyuean??? pantalone stays in liyue??? I ALWAYS THOUGHT arlecchino called pantalone a bitch in Signora's funeral for "never leaving the comfort of his homeland?" Whuh-?
ALL IN ALL,, CLOSING THOGUHTS,, GOOD FOOD RIRITO DINNER HAS BEEN SERVED, ATE, AND LICKED CLEAN 10/10 ILY
I GOTT THIS JUST BEFORE I WENT TO SLEEP AND ONLY JUST GOT THE TIME TO ANSWER IT BUT I KNEWWW YOU WOULD GET THE HOUSE OF WOLVES REFERENCE
That is true actually and I realised after I posted it that like, wtf is in character for him?? 😭 he's said like two things and while I have memorised those things they're not a lot to go off but I'm glad you enjoy him (ノ´▽`)ノ♪
Also if you can make it fit, feel free ☆(≧∀≦*)ノ I sorta only had a vague idea of where it might go, but at that point in time, loverboy works abroad in the Northland Bank. I'll also throw in that he travelled there for that job and unfortunately does not come from Liyue 😔 (unless he's supposed to?? I got the impression he was from Snezhnaya) it was more a "I bet you'd love to be back at a desk job rn" or something to that effect, loverboy is going back to the bank once things are settled where he belongs but Pantalone isn't going with him (hence why they're in Snezhnaya when this happenscause I also interpret at as him not liking to leave Liyue)
I'm so glad the J Michael Tatum love never stops but also you're so right praise kinks absolutely do. I also noticed that them trying to kill each other is like, a repeated theme so far 😭⁉️ LIKE WHEN PANTALONE WENT TO FIND HIM LAST ONESHOT HE WAS GONNA KILL THAT FUCKER
Confident possibly mildly degrading Pantalone is literally my favourite thing, like I chew on him. I chew on him being unnervingly calm because what would he have in the eyes of a wet mop boy besides an unwavering poker face. Get yourself a man who uses the blood of your enemies like your lipstick and knows he made good choices stationing you at his shady probably money laundering black hole of debt he calls a bank
Yk I agree actually I was trying to figure the timeline out in my head and realised it would've made more sense to happen before he was a Harbinger so I agree with this revision that actually makes it fit the lore and if I ever decide to make it a longer multichapter fic I'll definitely fix that 💀 t'was a victim of laziness
YES YES THIS Pantalone basically shaping him up so he doesn't literally die and being strict with it get so him. He'll prompt him to say it again but won't let it slide because that behaviour isn't going to be beneficial, especially not with someone who may be working under him long-term
I went back to read the part about the anonymous source line came from, and I think I figured out what happened here, so allow me to explain  (;゚д゚)   Ok so, it has a bit to do with the weird way I wrote this because when I said I wrote this on the train that was half a lie. I wrote some of it on the train and the rest at the library where I also edited what I already had because the spelling mistakes were atrocious. I did write down who it was but cut it when I decided it cluttered the story a bit which retrospectively was also a mistake because I didn't think about the fact it would seem like I was hinting at something at the time (゚▽゚*) the shorter, boring answer is that there's no one Ririto did a big silly and cut context in the chaotic editing this suffered
LMAO NOT THE CLOCK AGAIN
I love him the wet mop boy. I was like I want him to be at least a lil pathetic rn because his concerns are completely different. He's thinking about how to not die, and how much he misses his mom and his much fatui dick his dad must've been riding before death to think this career path was worth it (slash JOKING but he is still wondering why his father would have done this job willingly) that and I think men who whimper are cute thanks for coming to my Ted talk
HE IS ENJOYING IT and I love it sm
Hehe I am glad to know you haven't gone hungry today (^o^) and such high ratings for the banker and loverboy
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tired-reader-writer · 2 months
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Arslan Senki Reread
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I thought that, based on the spoilers kindly provided to me, that in the novels Andragoras was quite... indifferent in the scene of Osroes' death? That he didn't care, just standoffishly to the side, watching Osroes ramble in delirium? And mind you, that might still be the case in the novels, I can't check the source material over there, but it's really interesting how Andragoras is depicted here. Seated next to Osroes' sickbed, leaning forward, just, the body language! I'm just noticing how it seems to defy the impression we were given before, that those two were beefing and were not close at all.
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He even holds his brother's hand. Or well, Osroes is the one doing the holding here but Andragoras lets him. I'm quite shook at what we're being shown here! I do believe they did fall apart over who gets Tahamenay (still a gross conflict like she's some trophy...) but maybe, just maybe, they could've reconciled?
Never once in my life did I think I would be going all conspiracy theory over their dynamic of all things. What do you guys think?
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It's really hard not to feel for him here. He's devastated. I mean, who wouldn't be? To know that you aren't who you thought you were, that you were unwanted by the person you loved, the person you thought was your parent... It's made even worse by the fact that Hilmes built his entire identity and sense of self and self-worth on that false premise, not knowing the truth. Attack that, and his... everything just crumbles.
I think Andragoras knew what it would do to Hilmes.
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He's still calling out for his father (the one he thought was his father) even now. Just as he did during the fire that scarred him.
His world got eviscerated in both instances. It's clear how much he loved Osroes and really thought of him as a loving father who he could find solace in and could rely on.
:(
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Again, the moon is being brought up in relation to Hilmes here.
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Their conversation really does mirror Tahamenay and Arslan's. Arslan also asks, “Why did you tell me now?” and the intentions of Tahamenay and Andragoras couldn't be more different. I don't think Tahamenay did it to hurt Arslan. I think she decided he deserved to know the truth, that he's ready for it, and she does it as an act of compassion— she can't love him as a son, but she can give him the truth. And she can give him an out of this pointless conflict he didn't even have a stake in.
Andragoras did it to hurt Hilmes. That's it.
Actually, now that I think about it, Tahamenay and Osroes also foil each other in a way? Both being put into this situation where they have to pretend another's child as theirs and resenting that and resenting the people who put them in that situation and resenting the child. The difference was in how they expressed that resentment. Tahamenay was cold from the start, because she simply couldn't bear to face Arslan. But in the end, she tried to give him kindness in a way she could. She gave him the truth. Osroes on the other hand... pretended and pretended and pretended for eleven years before he went “MURDER IT” like...
I really really think that's interesting. Not only do the two conversations mirror each other I think the stories they tell also mirror, and not just about the lineage stuff.
Both stories about children and the parents who resented them.
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Andragoras looming over Hilmes.
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And then Hilmes has a realization.
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Not much to say about this panel, except that despite being on the smaller side and off to the side, it does paint quite the imposing picture. We're looking up at the throne. We're looking up at Kaykhusraw's banner behind it.
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captainjunglegym · 3 months
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WIP WEDNESDAY - 13/03/2024
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Tagged by jon @bigassbowlingballhead love u pal <3
I am on somewhat of a short writing sabbatical I tell myself. I've posted nearly 75,000 words in six weeks which is a lot for me. So I'm taking this week to relax from my WIPs before starting to post scheduled oneshots and start a new chaptered fic.
That being said i wrote a 1500 word fic this morning which you can just have here lmao.
Summary:
Exes Alex and Henry meet at the funeral of Henry's twin George who was killed suddenly aged only thirty-five. They haven't seen each other in four years.
The wind is bitter as it blows down from the top of the hill. It’s March, so it’s that time of year where the sun isn’t quite ready to negate the feel of the chill early in the morning and late into the evening. It’s already eleven am and the sun does feel warm when the wind dies down. A few moments reprieve where Henry doesn’t have to pull his coat tighter around his body or wish that he’d worn something that was more wind proof.
They don’t really make raincoats that are funeral approved, however.
Still, he pulls his thin black pea coat so it doubles over him. It’s too big. It’s not his. It was too big for George too, but his brother loved to wear oversized things. Said it made him feel small and holdable.
The thought crushes Henry. What he’d give to hold George now.
Everyone else has already gone. His mother didn’t even show. Her grief is exponential, increasing and deepening at such a fast rate now that she cannot be touched. Losing her husband young destroyed her, but burying one of her children eviscerated her. Not even the scars of her former self remain anymore.
And Henry understands. More so maybe this time than when his father died. He loved his father so much, but George was his twin, the other half of his soul. Maybe this is what his mother felt. Maybe this is what it feels like to break apart. Except she isn’t haunted by her husband by every reflective surface, by every future birthday. By every photograph of his childhood, every fucking Instagram post. By every friend they had because they didn’t even have separate friendship groups. Everything they had they had together and now Henry inherits it all.
It's too much.
(continues under cut, tags following)
It’s times like these that Henry curses being raised as an atheist. He wishes he could believe that something came after this, that he and George will meet again, but he can’t. People tell him that George is in a better place. A dark part of him agrees that six feet under some fucking dirt is probably better than living in a two bed on Peckham Highstreet. It’s a lot cheaper.
Henry gets the sudden urge to jump into the grave. It’s open, waiting for someone to come and cover George and seal him down there forever. Henry could just jump in with him.
“I didn’t think anyone would still be here.” A voice says from behind Henry, startling him.
He turns to see a beautiful man wrapped up in a warm black coat and scarf. It’s Alex, because of course it is. Who else would be so late to a funeral they miss the entire service. Who else would spring up out of the ground at Henry’s moment of despair like some kind of macabre dandelion.
“Right on time, I see.” Henry tries to snark, but his voice comes out small and fragile.
“My flight was delayed.”
Henry hums. “Nice to know George wasn’t worth flying out a day in advance.”
“Don’t.” Alex says, firmly but not aggressively as he moves to stand next to Henry. “Don’t do that, H.”
“Don’t do what?”
“Don’t act like I didn’t care about him too.”
Henry feels crazed, like he wants to scream and tear off his clothes and jump into the lake and inhale the water.
He lets out a forced laugh instead. “Oh right! Of course. My apologies. Of course my ex-boyfriend who I haven’t seen in four years also cares about my fucking dead twin brother, so much so that he shows up uninvited at his funeral an hour too late. I’m sorry for being so insensitive.”
“H-”
“-No!” Henry shouts. It’s so out of character that it snaps Alex’s mouth shut. He lowers his voice. “No. I don’t know why you’re even here.”
Alex looks down at his shoes. “Would you believe me if I told you Philip invited me?”
Henry scoffs. “Pull another one.”
“It’s true,” Alex says gently. “He called me…after… He called me when, uhm-”
“-When George was stabbed to death in a pub in broad daylight?”
Alex lets that sit for a moment. “Uhm. Yes. He called me again to invite me.” He takes a deep breath and when he speaks again his voice cracks, “we were together for ten years, Henry. I loved George like he was my own family. We were a family.”
And they were. Alex had met Henry at university, and they fell in love almost immediately. Alex had transferred to London and George was assigned to be his ‘buddy’ and he’d always taken credit for introducing Alex to Henry. Always said that he’d have to mention that in his speech at their wedding.
The air leaves Henry’s body, but he doesn’t breathe out. It just evaporates in his lungs. He and Alex never got married. George never got to give his speech. And now George will never be able to give a speech at his wedding. Never be his best man.
But he has to give it to Alex. George was his friend and he know that they’d sort of kept in touch over the years, in an Instagram comment every couple of months. He never begrudged George of that. Their breakup was hard, and Henry got everything. Got their friends, their flat, the whole fucking country. Alex had gone back to Texas and not looked back. George was collateral in their breakup too and Henry knows that losing Alex was tough on him as well.
“H?” Alex is hesitant, but he gently takes Henry’s hand in his.
“I don’t know how to do this.” Henry says suddenly. “I don’t know how to do any of this without him.”
George was his better. The two-minute older brother who was confidant and sociable, who looked after Henry every fucking day for thirty-five years. Who literally and metaphorically held Henry’s hand throughout all of their hardships. Henry remembers their father’s funeral, how Philip was stone silent, and Bea was high, and their mother was vacant. How George, only eighteen, took charge and read a eulogy. He was a lighthouse built onto the rock, so strong and bright.
Afterwards George had cried, they’d both cried, in each other’s arms. But the next day George had got out of bed and forced Henry to do the same.
“It’s going to be hard; I know.” Alex says, squeezing his hand. “But you’re stronger than you give yourself credit. I mean. Look at me. You left my sorry ass.”
Henry thinks about how Alex had lost himself in his work and how their relationship had degraded over six months of broken promises and missed dinners and sitting alone in their apartment. And how it broke him down into nothing before he’d finally had enough. They’d both had enough.
He’s heard that Alex is doing better now. That he’s finally learning how to have that work/life balance that was only a dream to them back then.
“I’m all alone this time.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes I am. Bea has Michael and the twins. Philip is…well he’s Philip. Mum is completely vacant and our friends are all grieving.”
Henry knows Alex is going to say some placating bullshit like, ‘oh it’s okay you have me,’ like he doesn’t live thousands of miles away.
“You should come stay at the lake house.” Is what Alex says instead.
“What?”
The lake house was their place. Before everything went to shit, they often spent time there, sometimes with their friends, sometimes with Alex’s family, sometimes just the two of them. It’s a haven, really. A place where time doesn’t exist. All sunshine and water and blues skies.
“Come stay at the lake house. Get away from London for a while.”
“But my family-”
“-Be a little selfish for once, H.” Alex turns to him and looks him in the eyes. “I don’t have to be there. You can just come and unwind in the sun. Take a break from this all and have time to grieve properly.”
It’s insane. It’s irresponsible. It’s not possible. He buried his brother an hour ago, his family is falling apart again but.
But this time they all have their own families to fall back on. Their own spouses and kids. Even his mother lives with Philip and Martha and has them to look after her.
Henry lived with George, not out of necessity, but out of love. George who’s dead. George whose dirty tea mug is still on his bedside table and his laundry still in the hamper.
He can’t go back there.
“Okay.” Henry says. “Okay I’ll come with you.”
And, later, it’s hard to get on the plane. But once he’s in the air, he takes his first deep breath in weeks.
[End]
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