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away-ward · 7 months

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To the anon who posted "one thing i hate about will was his manwhore tendencies/lowkey maybe “flirty” personality.", i agree with you 100%. Even worse when i remember that will said that he could easily "sink into alex" implying that he can have alex and alex have him, just like how rika could easily have kai if em and banks were not around. There's no "exclusivity" for their romance as if intimacy with others were so easy, so it does cheapen their feelings for their partners, and it can be seen like "so mich talk, but no actions". This was my main gripe with will too, because if he had the time to fuck around with other women, he had the time to email or call emmy and asked if she was homeless or dying, alright.

That's why i said, no MMCs in this book is possessive, not even damon, they all aint shit. The romantic parts were not giving, the bias were so obvious it ruin the fun of "a story with variety of couples" type of series, the men were scums from hell, even worse than mafia romances (and mafia romances had better arc, can you imagine that?! Even these mafia guys practice loyalty and monogamy wtf?!). Like if you guys want great dark romance, better not expect it from PD srsly, because if there's one constant thing i noticed that pd loves to use in their storytelling is to romanticise (?) something ugly, then abandon that ship and expect the reader to lap every second of it. They always wanna write something that goes beyond ugly (whoch is fine, many other authors like k. Webster and other do it too), but PD'S wrap up of their stories were always just pure shit. It's even disappointing because pd's idea was usually fun to read but man, the execution was just so 🗑️☠️

If there is one thing pd was really bad at, it's the middle and redemption arc, that's why whichever character that gets the shorter end of the stick in any of their books will always just have to stow in their hurt feelings without any further just ending for them. It happens in DN for banks and emory, it happens in Fall Away, it happens in credence noah and jake, in tryst six venom too, and at this point, only birthday girl and maybe hellbent were free from this, only because they dont have much "bully" elements to their stories. Even if there were some rough scenes in hellbent, the romance was still sweet, hot, monogamous and everything great you'd expect from the romance genre, but with a sprinkle of hot spice in it.

IMO, i didnt have much thoughts or feelings when will complimented banks, because he's literally like that with everyone, but when you guys discussed about it, he really was a bit too flirty with these women, huh? 🤣 now he made me pissed off to, and this just adds more to my will grayson's ick list, LOL! Becaus that mad sense, if we cant get angry at michael for looking at banks and kai at rika, why cant we with will?

Hey, I hope the Anon sees your message. And I also hope you don’t mind me popping in with some thoughts!

But you can ignore them too. I'll post if Anon replies.

Even worse when i remember that will said that he could easily "sink into alex" implying that he can have alex and alex have him

So I actually found this line interesting, because it can have two meanings, depending on how deep you want to look at it. One, is the obvious. He means penetration.

But the second is like drowning. Like how he used Alex, along with drugs and booze to, drown out his pain. It would be so easy to just try to love Alex and to sink into her because she doesn’t fight him; she numbs his pain. But at this point, he's come so far that he doesn’t want to be numb anymore. He’d rather fight with Emory than forget with Alex.

At least, that’s how I understood his thoughts in that scene.

because if he had the time to fuck around with other women, he had the time to email or call emmy and asked if she was homeless or dying, alright.

You’re not the first person to say this and, I hope you don’t mind, but it always struck me as a bit funny. Because if I was Will’s friend after he got out of prison and he told me he was going to try and contact Emory, I would have lost my mind.

Because, looking at the situation with only the information Will has, this is a girl who had repeatedly for three years told him ‘no’ and to ‘leave her alone’. Then, when he goes to prison for brutalizing her brother (who rightfully deserved it), she doesn’t reach out to him at all.

He's not sleeping with other women in prison. He’s not going anywhere. She knew exactly where he was every day and night.

I’d say with all of that, Emory had made it abundantly clear she didn’t want to be contacted by him.

So if he told me he was going to reach out “just to check on her” I would have tied him to a chair, and removed all access to the internet. No email. No calls. Hell, he doesn’t even get pen and paper. He can’t do smoke signals or morse code. Nothing.

It just seems to be that when a girl says no, we should respect that. So we can’t say we want Will to respect her but also ignore her when she says she doesn’t want him in her life. Because that’s what she told him. Repeatedly.

But also, it sort of does a disservice to Will to expect him to roll his heart out to her once again.

For three years, he begged, followed, and pleaded with her to see him. He goes to prison, and she still says nothing. Not even a thank you letter. Now, whether Em owned him any communication is up to the reader.

But even before then, Will was lost.

I propose Will didn’t just not like himself, but that he hated himself. He hated himself for wanting her so much. And he tries for years to root her out of his mind and heart. He tries to numb the pain with women and booze, because if the woman he wants doesn’t want him, what would be the point of acting like he’s in a committed relationship. Why mourn the loss of someone who was never his?

And I still think all of this is to cover up the fact that he hates himself. He’s trying to deaden the voice inside that says he’s worthless because Em didn’t see anything worth in him. He’s heartbroken and sick.

Now, if I were Will, and I had gone through all that and had tried to get this person out of my head and heart, only to see them once and realize they are still so deeply entrenched in every part of me? To realize that for years, all the stuff I’d done to try and kill off the love I felt for them, was useless because at the first sight of them I know without a doubt I’m still in love with this person who has made it very clear they want nothing to do with me?

I would feel so stupid. Just dumb. And broken.

But in NF, Will of course has a layer of anger to cover up his feelings. He wants to hurt Em for hurting him and it’s messy and wrong, but people often are.

All I’m saying is expecting Will to come out of prison wanting to get right back to where he left off in high school would be unfair to both of them.

but PD'S wrap up of their stories were always just pure shit. It's even disappointing because pd's idea was usually fun to read but man, the execution was just so 🗑️☠️

Unfortunately, I think this is the case. PD has great ideas, but somewhere along the line, at least for me, the story I’m interested in reading and the story they’re interested in telling diverge until I’m just confused as to how we ended up here.

because they dont have much "bully" elements to their stories

This is an interesting analysis. I wonder what it is about the “bully romance” trope that causes them to do this?

I know a lot of author get tripped up with arc enemies to lovers storyline because they don’t give enough time to let them come to respect each other before making them lovers? At least in my experience, it seems some authors try make the enemies part ‘oh they don’t really hate each other; it’s just hidden attraction’ but that’s not enemies to lovers!

Does PD do the same thing? Where they try to make it a bully romance but once the romance picks up, there’s no time to deal with all the previous bullying?

I don’t know. I’m just throwing things at the wall…

I never minded Will be flirty with the women in the inner-circle, because I don’t think there was any real intent behind it, but I won’t waste an opportunity to bring up this clip so…

#shout out to kennie #asked and answered #devil's night series stuff #will grayson iii #asked and answered 135 #response to prev ask #asked and answered 127

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darrisgrove · 2 months

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A Clockwork Orange Notes

PART ONE

-Already the book starts differently than the movie, don't hate me for watching the movie before reading the book. The boys hassle a smoke shop before the homeless man, which was not included in the movie. They sweeten up some old ladies at a diner (?) as an alibi.

-"It's a stinking world because it lets the young get on to the old like you done, and there's no law nor order no more."

-"--The attempt to impose upon man, a creature of growth and capable of sweetness, to ooze juicily at the last round the bearded lips of God, to attempt to impose, I say, laws and conditions appropriate to a mechanical creation, against this I raise my sword-pen" pg 27. Foreshadowing.

-Alex is the alpha of the pack, just as he was in the movie.

-Alex is a teenager, or college age student.

-Alex's dream of Georgie being a general is also foreshadowing.

-P. R. Deltoid's warning to Alex tells us that Alex has been caught and in trouble before, enough times for him to have a post corrective advisor stop to visit him in his home. Sent there by Alex's mother.

-I think it's important to note that Alex using the same "my friend has fainted" play has it's own glimpse onto Alex's intelligence. While he does make himself appear to be high and mighty, no one is smarter than me, type character, why would he use the same play to lure people into opening their doors for him? If it's worked a few times in the past to get him what he wants, eventually people will catch the repetition and become warned of that phrase. Maybe that is why the cat lady was suspicious of the phrase from the start. She'd been warned and did the right thing but denying him entry and calling the police right away. Our Humble Narrator isn't as smart as he thinks.

-Alex is 15 at the the story takes place.

-Alex's lingo has a chokehold on my every waking moment. It haunts me how fluid it feels when I'm reading it, even though I have no idea what he's saying most of the time. I do find it interesting how the author indicates that the adults in the story speak without Alex's lingo, they speak "proper".

PART TWO

-Alex is now 17.

-It seems like in the film they completely removed the second murder Alex was convicted of, which I feel would have been important towards telling his story. In the film, they show Alex having taken responsibility and showing interested in becoming a better man. In the book, Alex is still manipulative and a bad character. He hasn't learned from his crimes. He's just annoyed that he is forced to be around people he considers to be lesser than him. He's disgusted by them. He's looking in the mirror and refuses to see his own reflection.

-Aversion therapy is what is happening here, where the patient is given an undesirable stimuli while being shown images, or in Alex's case, films, in order to treat the unwanted behavior. This was also administered as treatment for "curing" homosexuality back in the day alongside castration to cure gayness. While the practice has been looked down upon and shamed for the mental harm it causes patients who underwent this treatment, unfortunately conversion therapy and aversion therapy is still practiced today. However, there are proper non-harmful ways to use aversion therapy and is sometimes recommended by therapists. Aversion therapy is a type of behavioral therapy. It is sometimes used to help treat nail biting, alcoholism (some medications used to treat alcohol abuse trigger a sick feeling response when alcohol is consumed), and smoking.

-The "vitamin" injection was the undesirable stimuli, making Alex feel weak and the showing of the criminal activities on film made Alex condition criminal activity with feeling sick. Which is why later on when Alex is kicked around and shown breasts, he becomes sick. This is similar to the alcoholism aversion therapy medication which makes the patient nauseous when they consume alcohol. The author writing about this therapy did a great job at expressing the thoughts and actions and makes me wonder if he did this on purpose or if it was accidental.

-Alex is quickly beginning to realize the horrors he had committed. While it was fun and games for him before, now having the undesirable stimuli to punish his behavior is teaching him that crime is not fun and games.

-I wonder why they didn't show a scene of Alex hitting his head against the wall and showing sickness from it in the film. I feel they grazed over this part of the book, showing Alex and the films, his shouting and anger at the doctors playing his favorite music, but the read pain is in Alex's physical reactions. A duality can be found between pre-cured Alex and the correctional doctors, the violence is different but still violence. Same with the police violence towards the end.

-"Am I just to be like a clockwork orange?" page 129.

PART THREE

-Alex still feels higher than everyone else, that he's more important than everyone else.

-In the end, Alex didn't learn anything. He went right back to worshipping violence.

#elven legions #book recommendations #book review #books #books and reading #elven readers #goodreads #storygraph #elven reader #A clockwork orange #clockwork orange #Anthony burgess

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btpbyalison · 5 months

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Brandon+Alex

There aren’t enough words to fully explain how much I love shooting weddings.

I am incredibly selective about which ones I shoot. And I’m thorough in the planning process. This includes a dinner a week or so before the big day to go over everything. Alex & I took care of that the Monday before the big day.

Jason Squared and I arrived in Hannibal on Thursday night so I could get settled in. My myriad of battery chargers were set up, and I cleaned my gear. I learned quickly I would find Mark Twain…aka Samuel Clemens EVERYWHERE.

Friday morning we headed to the Rialto to check out the space. I knew I wouldn’t get to see it before the ceremony, so this was necessary. A girl’s got to have a plan. Again. I'm thorough.

The space was being decorated for another event, but I got what I needed. All my favorite things would be doable.

After I went mural chasing, we drove to Brandon’s chosen park, I made a plan for the big day and a timeline. I knew if we were to get sunset shots, I would have to stick to the plan. I needed the wedding party to be on board.

Then came the rehearsal at Central Park. The fall leaves were gorgeous, and the bandstand created the perfect backdrop.

The wedding party learned I didn’t play, and realized why I was brought in from Saint Louis.

Then it was time for dinner. We ate. We drank. The Mother of the Bride gave the best speech describing Alex and Brandon’s love.

Their love is a sweet one that started during the Pandemic. Alex thought she’d give Facebook Dating a try, and only messaged Brandon. Brandon told her, at that moment, he was listening to what would be their recessional song "Renegade" by Styxx....which she had referenced in her profile. Listening to this story on the wedding day, I knew it was just magical enough to be true. Brandon couldn’t make that up. And he sure wouldn’t lie about it.

He proposed on a Bingham family trip to Ireland. The wedding reflected that trip: a ring-warming ceremony. A guardian of those rings, complete with a Celtic sword and dagger. The wedding was so "them."

To add another touch of them, there was a ring bear. Roar.

I sure fell in love with the bridesmaids. They understood their role.

To be frank, at times, the groomsmen drove me nuts. But they wormed warmed their way into my heart by the end.

Alex has two sets of parents, and both of those guys at the first look. Then the moms. Y’all. C'mon!

Watching Rob, Alex’s Dad, officiate the ceremony, warmed my heart to no end. He loves that girl.

And Brandon sure does, too. This is the moment I lost it.

After the “I do’s” we made our way to Riverview Park. A spot special to Brandon, and it provided an absolutely BEAUTIFUL view of the river.

The wedding party played along nicely as I did my thing making sure to capture the magic that was the day.

Then we partied. Boy, did we party. Brandon & Alex hadn’t practiced the first dance at all which would be to “Satellite” by Guster.

Rob & Alex boogied to “Sweet Child of Mine.”

Brandon & his gorgeous Mama Veronica swayed to “Mama Said.”

The cousins opened the dance floor with the Cupid Shuffle.

And the dance floor was hot for the rest of the night.

Alex’s Mama is one of my dear, dear friends. One of my besties. So, I have had a front seat to this love story from the beginning.

I remember when they found each other. Everyone knew Brandon was it. I would hear stories and say, “That’s not boyfriend stuff, that’s a future husband move.” I feel like we have talked about this wedding forever.

And here we are. They are married. The day was absolutely spectacular.

So many sweet memories. Then some memories that will make for great stories. Who knew it would take my going to a Hannibal wedding to witness a homeless man crashing a reception? And, to top it off, the Best Man dropped his pants and got down next to him.

Just another Saturday in the life of a wedding photographer.

Congratulations to one of my favorite couples.

Getting to capture this day was an honor. I laughed. I cried. I danced. I drank far more tequila than I’m used to these days. And I ended the night forever grateful for Aunt Charlene.

I’m incredibly thrilled for you two. Remember a good debate makes things fun. But, sometimes you do have to just go to bed after an argument. You can be right or you can be happy. Keep things sweet and respectful, as you already do.

Love you both. Big.

#btpbyalison #stlouisphotographer #storieswanted #tellyourfriends #weddingphotographer #weddingphotography #makestories #hannibalmo #showmestate

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halothenthehorns · 1 year

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Chapter 3: WE HAIL THE TAXI OF ETERNAL TORMENT

Enjoy my birthday gift to all of you! Next one on Monday, which all updates will continue on!

PJOPJOPJOPJO

Nico read casually enough this time, just trying to blend in and pretty sure he was doing it alright and that the others were muttering in confusion about the odd chapter title as usual, not him.

"Does Hades own a taxi?" Jason fidgeted in place if they were being dragged back to the Underworld for some reason.

"Do you never get the gum off the seats?" Alex asked in disgust.

'I've never been in a taxi, what would qualify as torment in them?' Hearth asked.

'The same thing that qualifies out of them,' Magnus uneasily promised, though he'd never been in one either.

Annabeth was waiting for us in an alley down Church Street. She pulled Tyson and me off the sidewalk just as a fire truck screamed past, heading for Meriwether Prep.

"I wonder if fire stations took bids on putting a homing beacon on you," Thalia grinned.

"More like begged the police to take it," Percy sighed.

"Where'd you find him?" she demanded, pointing at Tyson.

Now, under different circumstances, I would've been really happy to see her. We'd made our peace last summer, despite the fact that her mom was Athena and didn't get along with my dad. I'd missed Annabeth probably more than I wanted to admit.

Percy smiled sadly now. According to Thalia, he'd only been away from her for three days, but since she was the only memory he'd woken up with before he'd started getting them back, it felt much longer.

But I'd just been attacked by cannibal giants, Tyson had saved my life three or four times, and all Annabeth could do was glare at him like he was the problem.

Percy was grateful for the first time Annabeth wasn't here though, he felt like the center in a tug-o-war all of a sudden as his first impulse was to snap at her for being so rude to his friend, when he wasn't even sure that's what Tyson was to him. He groaned and rubbed his temples in frustration the smartest person he knew always gave him such a headache.

Thalia gave him a commiserating pat on the shoulder and hated not being able to explain this to him even if she could, she wasn't quite sure herself why this cyclops had latched onto Percy and sort of wanted this whole story herself.

"He's my friend," I told her.

"Is he homeless?"

Magnus and Alex frowned for the spurn they could imagine in Annabeth's voice Nico tried hard to hide, but it was a strange question even without that. If Tyson was some kind of monster, where did she expect him to live?

"What does that have to do with anything? He can hear you, you know. Why don't you ask him?"

Hearth ducked low in his seat as Magnus shifted closer to him with real frustration for his cousin. Tyson was being treated the same way his deaf friend was for what reason again?! After he'd just saved Percy's life!

She looked surprised. "He can talk?"

"What is he that you are not seeing?" Alex demanded even knowing nobody would answer.

"I talk," Tyson admitted. "You are pretty."

"Ah! Gross!" Annabeth stepped away from him.

I couldn't believe she was being so rude.

Even Nico and Will were clearly surprised about Annabeth's dislike of Percy's brother and exchanged a mystified look for it, only Thalia was left truly guilt ridden again while holding her tongue and not speaking of their mess of a journey.

I examined Tyson's hands, which I was sure must've been badly scorched by the flaming dodge balls, but they looked fine—grimy and scarred, with dirty fingernails the size of potato chips—but they always looked like that. "Tyson," I said in disbelief. "Your hands aren't even burned."

"Of course not," Annabeth muttered. "I'm surprised the Laistrygonians had the guts to attack you with him around."

Annabeth might not like him much, Jason reasoned out, but she wasn't trying to stab Tyson either, she wasn't concerned he was around. Whatever he was, this must be something personnel to Annabeth, like his odd feelings about faw- satyrs.

Tyson seemed fascinated by Annabeth's blond hair. He tried to touch it, but she smacked his hand away.

"Annabeth," I said, "what are you talking about? Laistry-what?"

"Laistrygonians. The monsters in the gym. They're a race of giant cannibals who live in the far north. Odysseus ran into them once,

'They're not the only thing you and Odysseus will run across on this trip,' Thalia kept to herself.

but I've never seen them as far south as New York before."

"Laistry—I can't even say that. What would you call them in English?"

She thought about it for a moment. "Canadians," she decided.

The eight of them burst out laughing hard, and then Alex had to escalate the joke, "did they have to get visas to come here and try to eat you?"

"I thought they were only violent about hockey," Magnus's laugh was a touch more forced than the others, but he wasn't holding a grudge against whatever Annabeth's ignorance was until he could talk to her about it.

"Now come on, we have to get out of here."

"The police'll be after me."

"Again," Will added. "Does that happen before every time you come to camp?"

"Man I hope not, my mom doesn't need the extra stress," Percy sighed, feeling awful already for the knock she'd be getting on her door about this.

"That's the least of our problems," she said. "Have you been having the dreams?"

"The dreams ... about Grover?"

Her face turned pale. "Grover? No, what about Grover?"

I told her my dream. "Why? What were you dreaming about?"

Her eyes looked stormy, like her mind was racing a million miles an hour.

"Camp," she said at last. "Big trouble at camp."

"My mom was saying the same thing! But what kind of trouble?"

"I don't know exactly. Something's wrong.

They wanted to believe her and give benefit of the doubt thanks to her fabulous reappearance and saving Percy's skin, but since there was already something she wasn't saying about Tyson, they were still pretty on edge.

We have to get there right away. Monsters have been chasing me all the way from Virginia, trying to stop me. Have you had a lot of attacks?"

I shook my head. "None all year ... until today."

"None? But how ..." Her eyes drifted to Tyson. "Oh."

"What do you mean, 'oh'?"

Tyson raised his hand like he was still in class.

'The polite way to interrupt a conversation,' Hearth nodded.

'As opposed to Blitz kicking that guy in the shins,' Magnus agreed.

"Canadians in the gym called Percy something ... Son of the Sea God?"

Annabeth and I exchanged looks.

I didn't know how I could explain, but I figured Tyson deserved the truth after almost getting killed.

"Big guy," I said, "you ever hear those old stories about the Greek gods? Like Zeus, Poseidon, Athena—"

"Yes," Tyson said.

"Well ... those gods are still alive. They kind of follow Western Civilization around, living in the strongest countries, so like now they're in the U.S. And sometimes they have kids with mortals. Kids called half-bloods."

"Yes," Tyson said, like he was still waiting for me to get to the point.

"So am I," Alex said impatiently.

"Um, noting his lack of surprise here for Percy," Jason mock raised his hand.

"Duly noted," Percy sighed.

"Uh, well, Annabeth and I are half-bloods," I said. "We're like ... heroes-in-training. And whenever monsters pick up our scent, they attack us. That's what those giants were in the gym. Monsters."

"Yes."

I stared at him. He didn't seem surprised or confused by what I was telling him, which surprised and confused me.

"And I now vouch for a third surprised and confused party," Magnus assured.

"So ... you believe me?"

Tyson nodded. "But you are ... Son of the Sea God?"

"Yeah," I admitted. "My dad is Poseidon."

Tyson frowned. Now he looked confused. "But then ..."

A siren wailed. A police car raced past our alley.

"We don't have time for this," Annabeth said. "We'll talk in the taxi."

"We're not about to have to overcome another rivalry or something are we?" Percy asked, how many other gods could hate his dad? He just knew Tyson tied into Poseidon somehow...

"Um, no?" But Thalia didn't sound to certain herself, she wasn't looking forward to Percy feeling in the middle of his little brother and Annabeth until they made nice, but at least she knew they did eventually. Annabeth spoke fondly of Tyson nowadays.

"A taxi all the way to camp?" I said. "You know how much money—"

"Trust me."

I hesitated. "What about Tyson?"

I imagined escorting my giant friend into Camp Half-Blood. If he freaked out on a regular playground with regular bullies, how would he act at a training camp for demigods? On the other hand, the cops would be looking for us.

"I guess your mom wouldn't just hide him in the closet for you," Alex mock agreed, though she recalled Sally could see through the mist and must have known Tyson wasn't mortal this whole time, so he was more assured than ever Tyson meant Percy no harm.

"We can't just leave him," I decided. "He'll be in trouble, too."

"Yeah." Annabeth looked grim. "We definitely need to take him. Now come on."

Annabeth's reluctant acceptance of Tyson was even stranger than Percy's though, Jason was more uneasy than ever. Did the monster have some way to lull people into falsely trusting him? Yet why had he saved Percy then?

I didn't like the way she said that, as if Tyson were a big disease we needed to get to the hospital, but I followed her down the alley. Together the three of us sneaked through the side streets of downtown while a huge column of smoke billowed up behind us from my school gymnasium.

"Here." Annabeth stopped us on the corner of Thomas and Trimble. She fished around in her backpack. "I hope I have one left."

She looked even worse than I'd realized at first. Her chin was cut. Twigs and grass were tangled in her ponytail, as if she'd slept several nights in the open. The slashes on the hems of her jeans looked suspiciously like claw marks.

"What are you looking for?" I asked.

All around us, sirens wailed. I figured it wouldn't be long before more cops cruised by, looking for juvenile delinquent gym-bombers. No doubt Matt Sloan had given them a statement by now. He'd probably twisted the story around so that Tyson and I were the bloodthirsty cannibals.

"Found one. Thank the gods." Annabeth pulled out a gold coin that I recognized as a drachma, the currency of Mount Olympus. It had Zeus's likeness stamped on one side and the Empire State Building on the other.

"Annabeth," I said, "New York taxi drivers won't take that."

"Percy, I think she knows that," Alex promised.

"Doesn't make me feel better about what she is doing," Percy promised.

"Stêthi," she shouted in Ancient Greek. "Ô hárma diabolês!"

As usual, the moment she spoke in the language of Olympus, I somehow understood it. She'd said: Stop, Chariot of Damnation!

Magnus was looking around pleadingly for someone to tell him he hadn't heard what he just heard. No such luck. His cousin was actively summoning damnation now.

'Why couldn't it be a Dalmatian,' Hearth pouted. 'I would love a chariot of dogs.'

'Same buddy,' Magnus nodded.

That didn't exactly make me feel real excited about whatever her plan was.

'After your plan was to blow up a boys locker room, I can't imagine this'll be worse,' Hearth reminded.

"Do I want to know what he said?" Percy asked, as Hearth had been looking at him when he signed that.

"He says your plans are equally as bad as Annabeth's so you have no room to complain," Magnus translated.

Alex was practicing the sign for boy in fascination and Hearth leaned behind Magnus to correct his fingers while Percy didn't even deny it.

She threw her coin into the street, but instead of clattering on the asphalt, the drachma sank right through and disappeared.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, just where the coin had fallen, the asphalt darkened. It melted into a rectangular pool about the size of a parking space—bubbling red liquid like blood. Then a car erupted from the ooze.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Jason protested. "You could have taken a Taxi to LA last time!"

"Oh no," Thalia corrected, "they work out of that tri-state area only," she drew an invisible circle in the water like that would clear it all up.

"Plus tipping them is the worst," Nico sighed. He'd only been in it once and had gotten nothing but fake compliments from them about his dad, he'd figured out how to shadow travel the very next day out in the middle of nowhere when they'd dumped him out. He'd rather sleep in China for another week than try summoning them again anyways.

It was a taxi, all right, but unlike every other taxi in New York, it wasn't yellow. It was smoky gray. I mean it looked like it was woven out of smoke, like you could walk right through it.

There were words printed on the door—something like GYAR SSIRES—but my dyslexia made it hard for me to decipher what it said.

"Why wouldn't it be in Greek considering their cliental?" Alex asked.

"Why do you keep expecting anything in this to make sense?" Magnus asked back.

Alex reached over and gave him a mock pat on the hand to sympathize, and Magnus would swear all the blood rushed to his face and that tingling bit of nerves for several moments.

The passenger window rolled down, and an old woman stuck her head out. She had a mop of grizzled hair covering her eyes, and she spoke in a weird mumbling way, like she'd just had a shot of Novocain. "Passage? Passage?"

"Three to Camp Half-Blood," Annabeth said. She opened the cab's back door and waved at me to get in, like this was all completely normal.

"Oh, so it's not just me," Magnus said in relief.

"No, it is," Alex mocked, "I'm a little jealous actually, do you know how hard it is to get a taxi? Let alone in an even busier city!"

Percy wanted to come to the guy's defense and assure he was still catching up too, but Magnus always looked so riveted anytime Alex spoke to him it felt rude to interrupt.

"Ach!" the old woman screeched. "We don't take his kind!"

She pointed a bony finger at Tyson.

What was it? Pick-on-Big-and-Ugly-Kids Day?

"You do hear what you just thought right?" Alex confirmed.

"They're my thoughts," Percy protested, "I don't have to be nice and censored in my head! Just because the guy wouldn't win a beauty pageant doesn't mean he should be treated like that!"

Alex raised his hands in surrender to let that one go.

"Extra pay," Annabeth promised. "Three more drachma on arrival."

"Done!" the woman screamed.

Reluctantly I got in the cab. Tyson squeezed in the middle. Annabeth crawled in last.

The interior was also smoky gray, but it felt solid enough. The seat was cracked and lumpy— no different than most taxis. There was no Plexiglas screen separating us from the old lady driving ... Wait a minute. There wasn't just one old lady. There were three,

"They're not knitting blue socks again are they?" Jason asked.

"Wrong old ladies," Will corrected.

"How many are there?" Jason sounded way to excited about more crazy triplets out there.

"To many to count," Nico promised, and he'd once tried to collect them all. Stupid exclusive packs...

all crammed in the front seat, each with stringy hair covering her eyes, bony hands, and a charcoal-colored sackcloth dress.

The one driving said, "Long Island! Out-of-metro fare bonus! Ha!"

She floored the accelerator, and my head slammed against the backrest. A prerecorded voice came on over the speaker: Hi, this is Ganymede, cup-bearer to Zeus, and when I'm out buying wine for the Lord of the Skies, I always buckle up!

I looked down and found a large black chain instead of a seat belt. I decided I wasn't that desperate ... yet.

"I'm curious what the limit on that desperation is," Thalia asked.

"I'd be wearing it now," Percy settled farther back into his beanbag now for this coming ride.

The cab sped around the corner of West Broadway, and the gray lady sitting in the middle screeched, "Look out! Go left!"

"Well, if you'd give me the eye, Tempest, I could see that!" the driver complained.

Wait a minute. Give her the eye?

"I have so many questions," Magnus rubbed his own eyes in exhaustion what bizarre thing was going on on top of a taxi coming out of the ground.

"Give it a chance to explain," Alex leaned forward eagerly in his seat and wondered who he could most easily steal a drachma from to try this next.

I didn't have time to ask questions because the driver swerved to avoid an oncoming delivery truck, ran over the curb with a jaw-rattling thump, and flew into the next block.

"Wasp!" the third lady said to the driver. "Give me the girl's coin! I want to bite it."

"You bit it last time, Anger!" said the driver, whose name must've been Wasp. "It's my turn!"

"Is not!" yelled the one called Anger.

The middle one, Tempest, screamed, "Red light!"

"Brake!" yelled Anger.

Instead, Wasp floored the accelerator and rode up on the curb, screeching around another corner, and knocking over a newspaper box. She left my stomach somewhere back on Broome Street.

"These chicks put GTA to shame," Will was wondering if the mortals were somehow inspired through the Mist and an accidental ride in this thing.

"What's that?" Nico asked, trying not to make the same mistake as last time and wanting to stay on at least Will's good side today in case there was anything else he might be warned about before hand rather than bumbling along even slower than Percy putting this together.

"A game, the Stoll's sneak them into camp sometimes and we all take turns playing and keeping Chiron from confiscating it as long as possible. Anyways, very violent, lots of car crashes," Will had felt morally guilty just for playing the stupid thing and had never been allowed more than one turn as he wouldn't run over the pedestrians, let alone what Clarisse got up to.

"Excuse me," I said. "But ... can you see?"

"No!" screamed Wasp from behind the wheel.

"The blind person is driving!" Magnus repeated like they'd missed that.

"And probably still better at staying in their lane than half of New York," Will grinned.

"Speak for yourself," Percy said as he rubbed his stomach again.

"No!" screamed Tempest from the middle.

"Of course!" screamed Anger by the shotgun window.

I looked at Annabeth. "They're blind?"

"Not completely," Annabeth said. "They have an eye."

"One eye?"

"Yeah."

"Each?"

"No. One eye total."

"Because that clarified things," Magnus frowned, but he'd swear he remembered seeing some cartoon movie when he was little about Hercules and three ladies arguing over an eye declaring they knew everything...it wasn't one of his favorites and his mom had shut it off when she caught him watching.

Next to me, Tyson groaned and grabbed the seat. "Not feeling so good."

"Oh, man," I said, because I'd seen Tyson get carsick on school field trips and it was not something you wanted to be within fifty feet of. "Hang in there, big guy. Anybody got a garbage bag or something?"

The three gray ladies were too busy squabbling to pay me any attention. I looked over at Annabeth, who was hanging on for dear life, and I gave her a why-did-you-do-this-to-me look.

"Payback for something I'm sure," Thalia shrugged.

"I'd still like to see that look," Alex chuckled as he imagined the puppy eyes Percy could give, but all he got for his troubles was Percy scowling at him too along with Thalia.

"Hey," she said, "Gray Sisters Taxi is the fastest way to camp."

"Then why didn't you take it from Virginia?"

"That's outside their service area," she said, like that should be obvious. "They only serve Greater New York and surrounding communities."

"We've had famous people in this cab!" Anger exclaimed. "Jason! You remember him?"

"Wait, what!" Jason sat up so hopefully in his seat, it sort of broke Thalia's heart to remind, "um, she might not mean you."

"That Jason of myth might have sought them out, and well, immortals aren't very good at keeping track of time," Will sadly pointed out. Nobody needed clarification after Oceanus himself had gotten Magnus confused with Annabeth and countless other unnamed kids just this morning.

"We can ask them when we get out of here though if we don't find out," Thalia promised.

"Oh, right, yeah," Jason sat back in his seat and tried not to look as dispirited as he felt. It was of the most mild comforts he might have another option in Thalia for getting some sort of answer as he glanced at Nico, who kept reading without missing a beat like his words from last night had still never happened.

"Don't remind me!" Wasp wailed. "And we didn't have a cab back then, you old bat. That was three thousand years ago!"

There was his answer anyways, but somehow he wasn't surprised. The idea of going to New York just didn't sit right in his mind, where as he still felt homesick if he even considered looking for a place in California Nico had only mentioned if he thought about it for to long.

"Give me the tooth!" Anger tried to grab at Wasp's mouth, but Wasp swatted her hand away.

"Only if Tempest gives me the eye!"

"No!" Tempest screeched. "You had it yesterday!"

"But I'm driving, you old hag!"

"Excuses! Turn! That was your turn!"

Wasp swerved hard onto Delancey Street, squishing me between Tyson and the door. She punched the gas and we shot up the Williamsburg Bridge at seventy miles an hour.

The three sisters were fighting for real now, slapping each other as Anger tried to grab at Wasp's face and Wasp tried to grab at Tempest's. With their hair flying and their mouths open, screaming at each other,

"That chapter title was no lie," Magnus looked past carsick, "this is eternal torment for them, and us for having to know they exist."

"I'll be sure to scratch this one off your datebook," Alex grinned, but there was no mocking, doubled edged, teasing tint to it like usual. He sincerely meant he wouldn't drag Magnus into this thing with him when he tried it himself.

Magnus was very glad he wasn't reading as his brain shut down for just a moment.

I realized that none of the sisters had any teeth except for Wasp, who had one mossy yellow incisor. Instead of eyes, they just had closed, sunken eyelids, except for Anger, who had one bloodshot green eye that stared at everything hungrily, as if it couldn't get enough of anything it saw.

Finally Anger, who had the advantage of sight, managed to yank the tooth out of her sister Wasp's mouth. This made Wasp so mad she swerved toward the edge of the Williamsburg Bridge, yelling, "'Ivit back! 'Ivit back!"

Tyson groaned and clutched his stomach.

"Uh, if anybody's interested," I said, "we're going to die!"

"That does interest more people than you'd think," Nico said.

"There's a reason we don't use this thing unless we're in a hurry," Will agreed, but he was just a tad grateful for their arrival that day considering the camp might have burnt down if they'd gotten there any later.

"Don't worry," Annabeth told me, sounding pretty worried. "The Gray Sisters know what they're doing. They're really very wise."

This coming from the daughter of Athena, but I wasn't exactly reassured. We were skimming along the edge of a bridge a hundred and thirty feet above the East River.

"So only Percy would survive, ironic as this was Annabeth's idea," Will looked a little queasy like he was in the ride too.

"Consider velocity rates and the angle they crash," Jason seemed weirdly calm in the face of this danger as he did some mental imaging's and math, "he might get launched onto dry land and still die."

"Thanks man, real comforting," Percy snorted.

"Yes, wise!" Anger grinned in the rearview mirror, showing off her newly acquired tooth. "We know things!"

"Every street in Manhattan!" Wasp bragged, still hitting her sister. "The capital of Nepal!"

"The location you seek!" Tempest added.

Immediately her sisters pummeled her from either side, screaming, "Be quiet! Be quiet! He didn't even ask yet!"

"Great, now people are throwing quests in your lap before the disaster's even happened," Magnus frowned.

"The disaster did happen," Percy reminded, tapping his temple impatiently. "Something's wrong with Grover, I hope he's the location they mean but-" he stopped with an ugly wince for trying to sort any of this mess out and Nico kept reading quickly.

"What?" I said. "What location? I'm not seeking any—"

"Nothing!" Tempest said. "You're right, boy. It's nothing!"

"Tell me."

"No!" they all screamed.

"Never say it's only the Aphrodite girls that can be a tease," Will looked just as offended as everyone else they'd brought it up and denied what they meant.

"The last time we told, it was horrible!" Tempest said.

"Eye tossed in a lake!" Anger agreed.

"Years to find it again!" Wasp moaned. "And speaking of that—give it back!"

"No!" yelled Anger.

"Eye!" Wasp yelled. "Gimme!"

She whacked her sister Anger on the back. There was a sickening pop and something flew out of Anger's face. Anger fumbled for it, trying to catch it, but she only managed to bat it with the back of her hand. The slimy green orb sailed over her shoulder, into the backseat, and straight into my lap.

Percy made a squealing noise of disgust and surprise, jumping out of his seat so hard the water launched him into the domed ceiling and right back into his beanbag chair. He didn't even seem to notice as he kept rubbing his lap with a look nobody needed to imagine anymore had been there at the time.

I jumped so hard, my head hit the ceiling and the eyeball rolled away.

"I can't see!" all three sisters yelled.

"Give me the eye!" Wasp wailed.

"Give her the eye!" Annabeth screamed.

"Nobody ever mention eyeballs again!" Percy snapped at the book, this was definitely a memory with Annabeth he might have been happier leaving where ever he'd lost it.

"I don't have it!" I said.

"There, by your foot," Annabeth said. "Don't step on it! Get it!"

"I'm not picking that up!"

"What would happen if you like," Alex mimed stabbing it, and Percy was still holding his pen even with no monster around, he felt to threatened to put it away.

"I don't want to find out," Thalia shivered at what could happen to such a powerful magical object.

The taxi slammed against the guardrail and skidded along with a horrible grinding noise. The whole car shuddered, billowing gray smoke as if it were about to dissolve from the strain.

'That would not surprise me,' Hearth nodded.

"I don't think anybody's ever taken a taxi to the Underworld, please don't try to be the first," Nico muttered.

"Going to be sick!" Tyson warned.

"Annabeth," I yelled, "let Tyson use your backpack!"

"Are you crazy? Get the eye!"

Wasp yanked the wheel, and the taxi swerved away from the rail. We hurtled down the bridge toward Brooklyn, going faster than any human taxi. The Gray Sisters screeched and pummeled each other and cried out for their eye.

At last I steeled my nerves. I ripped off a chunk of my tie-dyed T-shirt, which was already falling apart from all the burn marks, and used it to pick the eyeball off the floor.

"Oh thank the gods," Percy scrunched his hands up into his shirt one last time to get the idea of the residue off.

"Nice boy!" Anger cried, as if she somehow knew I had her missing peeper.

"I'm half surprised they didn't leap over the back of the seat and strangle you for it," Jason wasn't so surprised they had a sixth sense for the thing, they had to have found it somehow in that lake.

"Give it back!"

"Not until you explain," I told her. "What were you talking about, the location I seek?"

"No time!" Tempest cried. "Accelerating!"

I looked out the window. Sure enough, trees and cars and whole neighborhoods were now zipping by in a gray blur. We were already out of Brooklyn, heading through the middle of Long Island.

"Percy," Annabeth warned, "they can't find our destination without the eye. We'll just keep accelerating until we break into a million pieces."

"First they have to tell me," I said. "Or I'll open the window and throw the eye into oncoming traffic."

"I am going to take the sharpest arrow I can find and embed a sense of danger into your skull," Thalia promised.

"I've always wanted a tattoo," Percy said without concern, his face still hilariously scrunched up like the biggest regret he had of all this was that eyeball still in his hand while he threatened his own death.

"No!" the Gray Sisters wailed. "Too dangerous!"

"I'm rolling down the window."

"Wait!" the Gray Sisters screamed. "30, 31, 75, 12!"

"4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42, see, I can scream random numbers too," Alex threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Maybe he wins the lottery on it," Magnus hadn't taken his eyes off him again for half the chapter.

"Maybe I have to do a math problem with it to find the square root of a castle and we're all doomed, I can promise we won't figure it out until we get there," Percy sighed.

They belted it out like a quarterback calling a play.

"What do you mean?" I said. "That makes no sense!"

"30, 31, 75, 12!" Anger wailed. "That's all we can tell you. Now give us the eye! Almost to camp!"

We were off the highway now, zipping through the countryside of northern Long Island. I could see Half-Blood Hill ahead of us, with its giant pine tree at the crest—Thalia's tree, which contained the life force or a fallen hero.

"Percy!" Annabeth said more urgently. "Give them the eye now!"

I decided not to argue. I threw the eye into Wasp's lap.

Percy looked far to relieved when the vehicle hadn't even been stopped yet, but he even repeated the motion now like he was still trying to get that thing away.

Alex mock caught it and pretended to study it for several moments before Magnus started snickering and Nico tried to finish.

The old lady snatched it up, pushed it into her eye socket like somebody putting in a contact lens, and blinked. "Whoa!"

She slammed on the brakes. The taxi spun four or five times in a cloud of smoke and squealed to a halt in the middle of the farm road at the base of Half-Blood Hill.

Tyson let loose a huge belch. "Better now."

"At least somebody around here is," Will nodded.

"Whew, that is one worry off my check list," Alex mock wiped his forehead and really rolled his eyes.

"All right," I told the Gray Sisters. "Now tell me what those numbers mean."

"No time!" Annabeth opened her door. "We have to get out now."

"Is Annabeth in on what that means too!" Magnus groaned, his cousin sure had the best and worst of all the timing.

I was about to ask why, when I looked up at Half-Blood Hill and understood.

At the crest of the hill was a group of campers. And they were under attack.

"There's never a welcoming party when I arrive at camp, only world saving quests and monster attacks!" Percy grumbled as Will took the book. "Just once I'd like to arrive to some handshakes and slaps on the back for showing up."

"We'll throw you a whole dang celebration when we get back," Will promised, "if Annabeth doesn't kill you first."

#PJO #Percy Jackson #reading the books #fanfiction #HDYSG #Thalia Grace #Jason Grace #Hearthstone #Magnus Chase #Alex Fierro #Will solace #Nico di Angelo #solanglo #fierrochase #Sea of Monsters

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popculturebuffet · 2 years

Note

So, who would you say are your favorite voice actors and the favorite character they voice? Also, are you okay with answering questions along the lines of say "which scene would you say the main cast of (insert cartoon) did the best job in individually and why" ?

To answer your second question first, absolutely. As for the first there's quite a few I could list so (cracks knuckles) Jason Mantzoukas: The man just has one of those voices you can't help but recongize and a manic energy all his own. He's america's homeless shady uncle and I'm here for it and he brings that energy to every role. Like the rest of this list hearing he's going to be involved will instantly get me to check out a series. Faviorite Role: Alex Dorpinberger, Close Enough. Admitely this one is playing to all his strengths as Alex is a role he easily could've played in live action: a hairy weirdo in his own weird little world who gets too loud, is way too confident and way too weird for his own good. But it's also the perfect version of that: alex is more sympathetic, being weird and obnoxious sure but also being supportive, kind and thoughly himself. He's also just really fucking funny from connecting garfield to jesus, to badly singing the friends theme, to being entirely into his biking insturctor when she reveals herself to be an alien. And said last scenario also shows his heart as while he's willing to do some freaky shit, his friends.. his family really.. come first.

Kimiko Glenn: A rising star Kimiko Glenn is a wonderful, witty lady with a great penchant for playing the snarkiest people imaginable but a great range too, currently playing pinkie pie but as a unicorn in the new mlp series. (Sunny is great but that is what she is and you can't convince me otherwise). She also has a hell of a voice. Seriously she's been on broadway. Why more shows aren't captalizing this is beyond me. Faviorite Role: Lena, Ducktales. Yeah BIG SUPRISE but this is the role I feel really rose her star in the voice acting world. She got to play her both as the surface, a cool teen mentor/love intrest to Webby... and the abused child underneath who slowly grows a concienous and is able to fight back against her abuser and break free, finding a loving home in the process. I would've done the retrospective for her for free and would gladly do it all again. The character is amazing and kimiko is a large reason why.

Zeno Robinson: Easily the freshest face on the list and one of the best rising stars in the industry. And I say that with the utmost respect: Zeno has blew up in the past few years and for good reason, able to play some of the best characters of this generation of animatoin with ease, having a youthful energy that can go from bouncy nerd to tortured homnculus to kid playing green arrow to cyborg in an instant. He's a one in a million talent and I look forward to seeing what he does next. Faviorite Role: Hunter, The Owl House> Again pretty easy to see coming and while as always a good part of it is the writing, Zeno really makes hunter his own, having his sense of authority, playfulness and the scared child underneath all mix effortlessly.

Keith David: You all fucking knew this was coming. And this is without seeing gargoyles but ANY TIME live action or voice acting Keith David shows up expect him to fucking bring it. Keith is a fucking legend for a reason and is still going to this day and can do just about anything from outright joke rolls to dead serious villiany. He's a damn talent and a sex machine and was guarnateed a spot here. Faviorite Role: King Andrias, Amphibia. I know it's a fairly recent one but not only is it complex, he just bounces between his three faces, jovial king, tortured soul and giddly evil tyrant with pure ease and skill only keith david could do.

Danny Cooksy: Now that's a name I haven't hear din some time. Seriously where are you danny. Where are you? WHERE ARE Y... point is he's an all time faviorite and I hope he does more. He did do the bygone gulch pilot so there's hope it's just weird he vanished like that. Faviorite Role: Jack Spicer. His other roles are fine mostly bullies and stoop kid was close but this overdramatic weiner is one of the best villians i've seen in a show.. not really a threat half the time but so enjoyably over the top and decidated to a job he's just not good at you can't help but love him.

Jim Cummings: This one is also not a shocker nor someone I need to overhype. The guy has a decades long career, hasn't stopped for a second and continues to keep going up to the recent Chip N Dale Movie and I hope he never retires. Jim Cummings can do anything and you damn well better respect him. Faviorite Role: A very hard choice... seriously he has so many. But I gotta go with his most iconic: Big Pete. He wasn't the first guy to voice him and won't be the last, sadly, but he's theo ne who took him from one dimensioanl bully to the lovable egotisti of varying levels of villany we know today.l

Kate Micuci: I saved the best for last but while I started liking as her a va because I had a crush on her (for good reason), her talents go far beyond my simping. She can play just about anything, from childish glee to velma skeptcisim with ease, and while her voice is always recongizable her range with it is phenmonial Faviorite Role: Webby Vanderquack< Ducktales. Again, not a huge suprise but the comedic timing, emotional depth and sheer fun she had with the role cannot be undrstated.

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morning-star-whump · 2 years

Text

Smile for the Camera! 3

Chapter 3: Getting to Know Each Other

Masterlist || Previous

Introducing our whumper >:)

CW: Kidnapping, intimate whumper, panic attack, drugging mention, torture mention, threatening family

Tag List: @livingforthewhump @thecitythatdoesntsleep @thebaffledtiewriter @whumpkinpie @pretty-writing-things @make-it-gay-please @onlywhump @heeheehooho0 @basicallyachild2004

Everything was foggy. The room was dark, yet Alex could see it spinning– wait, what room? Where was he? Why did his head hurt so bad? He reached up to cradle his head, but his hand recoiled when it felt flakes of… blood. His fingers were covered in smears of crimson. What happened?

His mind began to focus. He could hear the rattle of the chains his arms and legs were attached to. Why am I chained up? WHY AM I CHAINED UP?

His vision began to clear. The room was still dark, but he could make out some objects. A wooden table in the center. Knives on the wall. A computer and camera. Items he couldn’t identify, but hoped he wouldn’t get acquainted with. Stairs to his right. A door on the left side leading to god knows where. He was in the corner, chained to the corner.

The darkness was swallowing him up. He couldn’t move. It wasn’t just the chains. He was frozen. This can’t be happening to me. I’m just a kid. I watch silly little cartoons and buy silly little merchandise. I can’t be locked up in some sicko’s basement.

Alex noticed his breathing speeding up. He was hyperventilating. He wasn’t getting enough oxygen. He gasped for air, but it was never enough. The room started spinning again. He was shaking. He began to taste salt on his lips and noticed the tears flooding down his face. This can’t be happening to me. Why is this happening to me? WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?

“Help…” he whispered. He couldn’t bring his voice to be heard. “Please help me. God, help me, I can’t, I can’t…”

He descended into panic as the memories from the night before started flooding back to him.

He had been attacked. He had helped a man he thought was homeless, and the man pointed a gun at him. He didn’t even think to use his pepper spray, God, he was so useless. Then, the man had smashed a jar over his head. And now, he was in that man’s cellar, wasn’t he?

He had been kidnapped.

Alex continued rocking back and forth, his head in his knees. The crying made the pounding in his head worse, but he couldn’t stop it. He couldn’t calm down. There was nothing to be calm about. He kept whispering pleas to himself, knowing it was futile. Let me out of here, please let me out, I don’t know what’s going to happen to me, I don’t want to know…

He went silent when he heard a creaking noise. A door at the top of the stairs had opened. Light flooded in from the upstairs until it was suddenly cut off with a slam. He heard footsteps coming down the door. Someone was coming towards him. Someone’s coming for me.

The footsteps were getting closer. Then they stopped.

“Look at me, Alex.”

The voice was right in front of him now. How does he know my name?

“I said, look at me.”

Alex slowly raised his head to see the man from the alley crouched down, smiling at him. Not a kind smile. A smile like a predator that had just captured its prey. His hair was neatly brushed back now, and his suit looked far out of Alex’s price range. He balanced on his black leather boots.

The man grabbed his chin. He tilted Alex’s head from side to side, examining him. “You’ve been crying, haven’t you?” He tutted. “I haven’t even done anything to you yet.”

Another tear rolled down Alex’s face. What is he going to do to me? He tried to speak, but only stutters came out. “I… I… please…”

“Can’t even talk right.” The man sighed. “What’s the fun in breaking what’s already broken?”

“W-what?” Alex sobbed.

“Do you want me to kill you?”

“NO! No, nononono, please don’t–”

“Then stop acting so pathetic,” the man said, annoyed. “I’d like to be able to enjoy watching you break.”

Alex trembled with fear, beyond terrified at this point. “Who are you?” he managed to choke out.

“Nathan Carlton,” the man responded nonchalantly. Alex furrowed his brow. Why would he tell me his full name? As if reading his mind, Nathan answered, “Doesn’t matter. Not like you’re going to make it out of here alive.”

Alex’s breathing sped up again. “What are you going to do to me?”

Nathan chuckled. “You’ll be my little plaything for however long you can last.” Alex shuddered at his casual tone. “I hurt you, livestream it on the dark web, and get paid for it. Got it?”

Alex nodded slowly. He’s going to hurt me. But he’s going to livestream it. That means someone will see it. Someone will find me. Someone will get me out of here. Someone please get me out of here.

“And don’t even think about trying anything funny,” Nathan continued, studying his nails. “You wouldn’t want anything happening to your precious mother, Selena Diaz, or your boyfriend, Jordan Fielding, would you now?”

Alex’s blood ran cold. How long has he been following me? Does he know where I live? “How do you know–”

“I did my research.” Nathan got to his feet and began walking out of the room, finally. He turned back to look at the shivering figure beneath him. “Alex, I think you and I are going to make great friends.”

The minute the door closed, Alex let himself fall back into a hysteria of sobs. The darkness was back. Swallowing him up. Closing in on him.

Alex never liked the dark.

#whump #whump writing #whumpblr #whump fic #original writing #original characters #my ocs #alex diaz #nathan carlton #jordan fielding #selena diaz #smile for the camera #kidnapping #panic attack #whumper #whumpee

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oh-hush-its-perfect · 3 years

Text

Alex Fierro's Introduction Full Breakdown

Okokok so. This is going to go full English-professor mode, where I'm drawing conclusions that are gonna seem a little far-fetched. That's what's fun about media analysis! I can say something is a symbol, and even if I don't have enough faith in RR's competency to know if he meant for it to be a symbol, it's still true! That being said, a lot of these choices I'm sure are intentional, either at a literal or subliminal level. Page numbers are going to be used not to assert a kind of authority or whatever— this is a Tumblr post, not an essay— but to help readers find the pages I'm referencing in case they'd like to do some digging of their own. Also, this is going to be really long. Really sorry to anyone with ADHD; I might make an audiofile of this so you can get the information without having to read the whole thing. With all that, let's get into it!

To kick off, let's talk about Alex being in the form of a cheetah when she first meets Magnus. Of course, there's the obvious impact of him seeing her but only so breifly, as well as introducing the conflict between her and the rest of Hall 19. But that could have easily been accomplished by almost any animal. The choice of a cheetah being implicated implies two qualities of Alex that will be recurrent throughout the two books she's in: 1. She has a tendency to run away, as we'll later learn when she describes how she became homeless, and 2. To Magnus, she's elusive. She can't be caught or held down. The event that shows this so transparently is how Alex refuses to define their relationship at the end of the series, despite it clearly surpassing the normal bounds of friendship.

But the cheetah isn't the animal Alex is in the form of when Magnus first gets a good look at her; she's a weasel. Weasel's bring up all kinds of connotations: ferocity, slickness, a lack of charm. When we want to describe someone as an untrustworthy person, we call them a weasel. RR had Alex take this form to play up her comrades' feeling of distrust towards her. She could be a double-crosser. But paradoxically, the up-front and vicious mannerisms of a weasel also have a transperency. She does not try appealing to her Hallmate's sense of goodwill because she doesn't have anything to gain from it. So even though there is the implication that she might be an antagonist, there's also evidence from her actions and mannerisms that she isn't. The weasel's long and skinny frame also allow for a smooth transition into Alex's actual body, which is convenient.

As Alex transforms into her usual human form, Magnus describes her as "a regular human teen, long and lanky, with a swirl of dyed green hair, black at the roots, like a plug of weeds pulled out of a lawn" (pg. 50). That simile at the end is of particular interest. Let's compare it to another time Magnus describes Alex's hair, in Ship of the Dead: "Her hair had started to grow out, the black roots making her look even more imposing, like a lion with a healthy mane" (pg. 136). By contrasting these two different examples, we can see the development of Magnus and Alex's relationship. The first time he sees her, he thinks of her hair as something nasty— note the word choice "weeds." Later on, though, he becomes more affectionate towards her, more complentary. The immedient negative reaction is less his actual impression, though, and more the reaction he expected to have based on everyone else's reaction to Alex.

Her clothes are equally as interesting; as Magnus describes it, Alex wears "battered rose high-tops, skinny lime green corduroy pants, a pink-and-green argyle sweater-vest over a white tee, and another pink cashmere sweather wrapped around the waist like a kilt" (pg. 50). Aside from the obvious fact that this outfit is a) bizzare, b) fire, and c) Alex's signature colors, which add a layer of style to what can otherwise be a somewhat boring series fashion-wise (excuse me, Blitz), the outfit reveals a crucial facet of Alex's backstory in a kind of subtle way. These are expensive clothes, like the Stella McCartney dress in Alex's room. Note the mention of fabrics (corduroy, cashmere) and patterns (argyle). These indicate wealth and status. Even the high-tops; shoes like that don't come cheap. But I'd like to return to the very first word of the section: "battered." Alex's wardrobe show-cases a proximity to wealth, but also shows that that proximity has been strained and lengthened, maybe for an extended period of time. Alex dresses like a rich person, but she isn't one. Least, not anymore.

The last word of that outfit-introduction is also of interest: "kilt." At the current moment, Magnus thinks that Alex is male. No one has indicated otherwise to him. Everyone has been referring to Alex with he/him pronouns. Samirah called Alex her "brother" (pg. 29). His first thought in seeing what he at first perceives as a guy with a jacket wrapped around the waist is That looks like a kilt. This thought tells us about Magnus: despite being open and accepting, he still has some lingering notions of gender conformity from his years in wider American society.

Magnus also indicates that the outfit "reminded me of a jester's motley, or the coloration of a venomous animal warning the whole world" (pg. 50). This is rather self-explanatory, but it's still worth noting that Magnus sees the outfit as something bizzare, strange, and even perhaps comical. This places Alex at odds with the other people Magnus has met. It also reveals that Magnus has zero fashion sense. But we already knew that.

After finishing up staring at the ensemble, Magnus finally gets around to actually looking Alex in the face. First Magnus says that he "forgot how to breathe" (pg. 50), which, yeah, relatable. This is justifed by saying that Alex has the same face as Loki, but the very same sentence that asserts that that's the case also suggests an alternative reason: Alex has "the same unearthly beauty" as her father. Here we can see the beginnings of Magnus's attraction to Alex, though at this point, he still has a lot of internalized homophobia. Though there's certainly some truth in that Magnus was unnerved by Alex's resemblance to Loki, the idea that Magnus pointed out that Alex was pretty without elaborating on that thought until about a chapter later— after he was informed that Alex was presently a girl— can tell us a lot about how Magnus perceives sex and beauty.

Of course, Alex's eyes are given special attention. She has cool eyes; what can I say? But I'd like to focus in on how Magnus here depicts Alex's heterochromia as "completely unnerving" (pg. 50). Again, let's contrast this with how he describes them after getting to know Alex a little better in Ship of the Dead. In Chapter 3, Magnus describes "[Alex's] dark brown eye and his amber eye like mismatched moons cresting the horizon" (pg. 25). Once again, this shows the development of their relationship— but this time, it's in a much more personal way. Eyes are the windows to the soul; they are culturally important and biologically important in inter-personal connections. In you look into someone's eyes, you're giving them your full attention, and you're implying a kind of closeness. The way that Magnus describes Alex's eyes in the second passage is downright intimate. At this point, he is in love with Alex, and it is clear when contrasting the two descriptions.

As my last point, I'd like to discuss Alex's first words on page: "'Point that rifle somewhere else, or I will wrap it around your neck like a bow tie'" (pg. 51). First of all, Alex saying this with a "perfect white smile" (pg. 51) on his face implies that she is used to being threatened. She is not afraid of being shot; she counters the promise of an attack with a promise of her own. This pleads the question: why is Alex accustomed to violence? What events of her past or qualities of her life have brought her to this point? The threat itself reveals Alex's trauma from being genderfluid in a society with rigid gender norms, as well as her antagonistic relationship with her father. Magnus makes a comment that Alex "might actually know how to tie a bow tie, which was kind scary arcane knowledge" (pg. 51). Like Alex's wardrobe, the idea that she may have experience in high-class fashion also implies her former status as a rich kid.

I could go on. I could break apart Alex saying "'Pleased to meet you all, I guess'" (pg. 51). There is a wealth of information in this short page span that tells us things about Alex Fierro in the present moment, quietly demonstrates things about her past, and characterizes the narrator Magnus Chase. This passage is also effective in hindsight in marking the progress of Magnus and Alex's relationship.

But I'd like to take a step back and look at not the pieces, but the whole picture. Alex Fierro gets a full page of pure description— her outfit, her face— and about a chapter of introduction. This comes after several chapters of build-up. Alex Fierro is an important character you need to keep your eyes on. Alex Fierro is emotionally significant to the main character, Magnus Chase. Alex Fierro is one of the most developed and well-rounded characters that Rick Riordan has ever written— heck, she's one of the best characters in middle-grade books period. The extended emphasis on her and her alone tells us exactly what role she's going to play in this story: she's the star.

#she IS the moment #I'm sure I missed a few things too #alex fierro #mcga #magnus chase #magnus chase and the gods of asgard #fierrochase #magnus chase/alex fierro #mcatgoa

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chickwiththepurpleguitar · 3 years

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For a prompt, maybe Bobby having a job in high school where he teaches guitar to kids and Emily and Mitch mistakenly sign Luke up for lessons? (Bobby just doesn't sound like a teenager on the phone) Belated congratulations on the 500 milestone, btw ✨

Here you go, friend! I hope you like it! My first jatp AU fic lol :)

Read on ao3 here:

Here’s the thing: Luke already knows how to play the guitar.

Has he ever taken a lesson? Officially? No, of course not, because he’s not a nerd. But he’s been learning from YouTube tutorials for almost six years now, been writing his own stuff for four, been the lead singer and guitarist of an epic, legendary rock band for two. He’d say he’s pretty well covered in the “knowing how to play the guitar” department, without some crusty old guy showing him the chords to songs no one’s listened to since the 60s in the grimy basement of a church two hours a week.

And yet, here he stands, on the sidewalk outside said church, guitar case in hand and a truly menacing grimace on his face, staring up at the hand-painted sign on the door detailing “Guitar lessons for kids! Room B38” in big block letters.

“Well?” Alex, who drove Luke here because Luke is currently not on speaking terms with his mother and father out of pure unadulterated spite, claps a hand on his shoulder, already stifling giggles. “You ready for your lesson, kiddo?”

“I will kick you out of the band,” Luke threatens.

“Then you can walk home.” Alex jingles his keys teasingly, then tugs Luke into a quick hug. “Come on, man, I think it was a nice gesture. Try to make the most of it, at least your parents are trying.”

Right, because the whole reason Luke’s here is because his mom thought the lessons would be a good reward for Luke passing all his classes this semester. Because she heard him complaining that Sunset Curve needed a rhythm guitarist to fill out their sound and decided that meant he needed to learn how to do it himself, even though Luke tried to explain to her that he couldn’t play rhythm guitar and face-melting solos at the same time.

Of course, she didn’t listen, and then his dad found a flyer for this guy Robert giving lessons out of the local church, and before Luke could say no, the first month’s worth were already paid for and he didn’t have a choice.

And he supposes Alex is sort of right. At least his parents know what a guitar is. At least they’re trying to be somewhat, relatively supportive of his music, instead of pushing him to apply to college or get a job over the summer like they did constantly until he ran away for six months after Christmas and almost died (he’s fine now, but that near-death experience really changed his parents’ tune).

At least they actually acknowledge that he’s in a band at all, unlike Alex’s folks, whose friends think Alex volunteers at homeless shelters in his free time, or Reggie’s, who just don’t care.

Luke knows he’s got it good, compared to his friends, compared to himself a year ago. But that doesn’t mean he’s gotta be happy about it.

“All right, I’ll pick you up in an hour,” Alex says, giving Luke’s shoulder another friendly squeeze. “Try not to pout so much, it’s unbecoming.”

Luke gives him the finger, and Alex’s laughter echoes behind him as he heads back toward his car.

And then Luke sighs, grips his guitar a little tighter, and heads inside. He’s already here, he might as well get it over with.

Room B38 is a tiny classroom deep in the bowels of the church, reserved for Sunday School or daycare or some other such activity. The door’s closed, so Luke knocks, and a voice from inside calls, “Come in!”

A voice that does not sound like it belongs to the crusty old man Luke had been picturing.

He frowns, wondering if maybe he’s in the wrong place, but tugs the door open anyway and maneuvers himself and his guitar inside.

There’s no crusty old man waiting for him. There is, however, a handsome (Luke can’t help noticing and then feels stupid for noticing), young man, no more than a year or two older than Luke at most, sitting in a comically small plastic chair and tuning an acoustic guitar.

“Hey,” Luke greets him, raising an awkward hand. “You’re… Robert?”

“Please—Bobby,” the guy corrects, laying his guitar down on the carpeted floor next to him so he can stand and shake Luke’s hand. There’s a gleam of confusion in his eyes, and he glances over Luke’s shoulder like he’s looking for something as he says, “You must be Luke’s… older brother?”

Oh, Luke is going to kill his parents. “Uh, no,” he says, clears his throat awkwardly. “No, um… I’m Luke.”

Bobby lets out an undignified snort, and then claps his hand over his mouth. “Sorry, sorry,” he says, still sort of giggling. “I shouldn’t laugh, it’s just—most of my students are in the four to twelve age range? I thought you’d be, like, eight.”

Luke rolls his eyes. “Well, I thought you’d be, like, sixty, so I guess we’re both disappointed.”

“Not disappointed,” Bobby corrects, and his smile makes Luke’s stomach flip in a way he’d really rather not analyze too closely right now. Bobby nods down at the guitar case in Luke’s hand. “Should we get started?”

Luke’s tongue feels dumb and thick in his mouth, but he manages to stammer something vaguely affirmative, and Bobby grins at him.

They settle into the kiddy chairs across from each other, and Bobby picks his guitar back up while Luke pulls his own out of its case.

He briefly considers pretending to actually need guitar lessons so that Bobby will have a chance to show off, because Bobby’s cute and funny and clearly cares about music, and Luke doesn’t know how to flirt.

But Luke also doesn’t know how to play guitar badly. So they only get about twenty minutes into the lesson before Bobby stops and says, “You don’t need me, do you?”

“I really don’t,” Luke apologizes. “I play lead guitar in a band, I’ve been teaching myself since I was twelve, my parents are just—” he starts to say stupid, then remembers Alex’s words and amends—“a little clueless about this kind of thing.”

Bobby puts his guitar aside and leans forward in his chair. “What, have they never heard you play before?”

Luke resists the urge to roll his eyes. “No, they have, they just. We’re looking for someone—my band and me—to play rhythm guitar for us? My parents asked why I couldn’t do it, and when I explained it to them, they thought ‘I can’t play lead and rhythm at the same time’ meant I couldn’t play rhythm at all. I don’t know.” He shrugs a little, busies himself with putting his guitar back in its case.

“I could.”

Luke looks up, frowning. “You could what?”

Bobby raises his eyebrows pointedly, nods at the guitar lying at his feet. “Play with you guys. If you’re still looking for someone, I mean.”

Luke’s heart skips a beat, and a warm smile spreads across his face without his permission. “Seriously, man? That’d be amazing! Here, let me give you my number and you can come over sometime and meet the band.”

They exchange information, and Luke spends a little too long staring stupidly at the contact in his phone that Bobby has named “Guitar Teacher <3”.

“Plus,” Bobby says, and Luke looks back up to see him smirking as he returns his own phone to his pocket. “Now I get an excuse to see you again. Since you obviously don’t need the lessons.”

“Yeah,” Luke agrees. “Yeah, I’d really like that.”

“But, uh, maybe don’t tell your parents that. Cause I can’t give them a refund.”

Taglist: @whenweremarried @sunsethimb0s @pink-flame @penguin0613 @fighttoshine @sunsetcurvecuddles @apples-bees @reggiescrookedteeth @brightattheorpheum @queenmolina @jandthephantoms @lexilucacia @sapphossidechick @acnhaddict @shrimp-colours @sunset-bobby @lenacarstairspotterstewart @conversationaltreestump @burntchromas @shellydominique @julieandthequeers @joyandthephantoms @it-tastes-like-lizard

#prompt fill #500 followers aaah!!#my fics #jatp #julie and the phantoms #fanfiction #jatp fandom #modern day/everybody lives au #bobby wilson #luke patterson #alex mercer #lukebobby #lobby

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templedragon · 3 years

Text

Supergirl 6x09 Dream Weaver

Batwoman did corruption in the prison and orphan system than Supergirl. For starters, Batwoman did a whole season on them as the main character had experienced them. Kara is a hollow shell here. Given she just got out of her Phantom Zone prison, the idea she would send people back to a place that exploited them to death is inconsistent. It's not the Kara of season 1, whose main task in becoming Supergirl was rounding up escaped prisoners, and listening to them to see if they were wrongly incarcerated (and letting them go). Supergirl standing on the side of free prisoners to ensure their continued freedom would be a powerful message, not feeding people back into a system designed to promote inequality and exploitation. Kara does take after her parents in letting the system go unchecked, whether it's filling up prisons or harming the environment. We know how that turned out.

More characters are talking about their Phantom Dreams. Last week it was Nia and Lena (who both went from 'this is our found family' to 'I want my birth family' in rapid turnaround), who are isolated from the main cast this episode. Lena literally absent, though connected to Kara as she informs everyone at games' night that she is 'East' looking for her birth mother (apparently she is looking in all European colonised countries with Irish slave populations, starting with Newfoundland). Nia is being lead astray by Nyxly to get out of the dream world and restore her magic, in exchange for one day with Nia's mother. Um, what on Earth can be taught in one day to get Nia up to speed with her dream powers? And what would it matter when she's ignoring the owl symbolic messages here? And why would a Harry Potter fan (seems suspect now the author is transphobic and still benefitting financially from it) kill Hedwig?

The isolation of Nia means she's not reporting with Kara at CatCo. I've said it numerous times before, a reporter that can dream the future and scan the present for psychic clues makes a human reporter redundant. While William is inoffensive in his actions here by doing his job, the point remains it should be Nia doing it.

Despite the title Dream Weaver, the big story in this episode is Kelly deciding to become Guardian. While Kara feeds prisoners back into their cells, and openly uses her powers in a place full of cameras, Kelly is using camera footage to hold abusive care providers accountable by getting them arrested. First day in social care - go you first Ethiopian lesbian super hero! Not that anyone but die hard fans would tune in, as the CW did zero promotion of this episode, and Azie Tesfai herself came online to express her disappointment (as well as share amazing fan art). Meanwhile, fans trended 'Guardian is Coming' worldwide at number 6. Motorbike, check. Brother's hand me down helmet, check. Supportive girlfriend saying training will be tough when she's ex-military... check? Discharge flag is over the fireplace of your new shared apartment, so even Alex with her memory issues should remember that.

Blink and you'll miss it, but there's a supercorp parallel on the Tower balcony, with girlfriends giving pep talks while the other cries.

Brainy is officially homeless and jobless.

#supergirl #supergirl season 6 #episode review #6x09 Dream Weaver #Kelly Olsen #Golden Guardian #Dansen #Alex Danvers #Kara Danvers #Supercorp #CatCo #andrea rojas #J'onn J'onzz #William Dey #Nia Nal #Dreamer #nyxlygsptlnz

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luverofralts · 2 years

Text

Arkhelios University

Emilia Rivales stood in her home after months away, shocked at what she was seeing.

“What the hell is this?” she shouted. “This should have been done weeks ago!”

Her house was in ruins with chairs and beds shoved together, walls knocked down, and drywall exposed. She and Yvette had just returned from their cruise, relaxed and recharged, only to come home to a disaster.

“The outside renovation looks finished, but nothing is done inside!” Emilia was trying to remain calm, but she had hired contractors to work specifically while she was gone so that she and Yvette could spend their retirement in a move in ready dream house, not this mess.

“Oh yeah, the contractors ran into some problems, which are delaying things. Something about water damage?” Emilia turned around to see her husband’s little sister, Ginevra trying to fix her mascara in a mirror. Her presence was yet another surprise.

“What are you doing here Ginevra?” she demanded angrily. “Why are you in my house at this hour? Why are you here at all?”

Ginevra shrugged, and continued trying to apply her makeup.

“Well, I don’t have a ton of gigs these days, and my latest album isn’t selling, and I remembered Gio promising me a place to stay if I ever needed one...so here I am.”

Emilia’s head was starting to ache from the stress. Of course her dear Giovanni had promised his sister a place to stay. He had always been kind, and worried about her. Emilia had always seen her for what she was though. Ginevra hadn’t even come to her brother’s funeral.

“While I’m sure that he would want you to stay temporarily here, clearly this house isn’t livable at the moment,” Emilia said sweetly. “You should find somewhere else to stay while the house is still being worked on.”

Ginevra shrugged again, just as impassively as before.

“It has a functioning bathroom and stove, I’m okay here.”

Emilia was just about to ask Yvette to draw up a legal notice about squatting in people’s houses when the doorbell rang.

Emilia excused herself from her sister in law, and left to go answer the door. It was nearing ten, who would be out at her door at this time?

To her extreme disappointment, it was her son Fabio and his family, including his cat.

“Can I help you?”

“Mom! You’re home! We saw the shuttle drop you off and wanted to say hello.”

Emilia rolled her eyes. Fabio never just stopped by, he always wanted something from her. Before she left, it had been money to buy the twins new shoes for school. He was their parent, that was his job to provide for his children, but like the sucker she was, she had still given him the money. After Kaeileen’s death, she only had the twins left for grandchildren. Maybe Jolanda might have a surprise kid sometime soon, but even if she or Pia had kids, Emilia didn’t know if she’d be around to enjoy them. Giovanni had died so suddenly, and without warning. She remained determined to love the grandkids she already had, even if their parents were intolerable.

“What do you really want?” she asked, feeling her headache worsen with every passing second.

“Well, now it’s not my fault, but Wanda’s kicking us out of our house at the end of the month and we need a place to stay,” Fabio said quickly. “We’d only stay until we found somewhere else to live.” “Why is Wanda kicking you out of your home? She’s president, not Jacob of Yacothia.”

Fabio looked sheepishly at his mother.

“Um, yeah about that...neither Alex or I have ownership of the house. It’s in Cain’s name, and he’s not technically dead. Even if he were dead, apparently Alex isn’t in his will as heir. Soooo, Wanda’s reclaiming the house as government property.Your grandchildren are going to be homeless because of that witch.”

Well, it looks like Wanda’s getting my vote next election. Does my idiot son really think he can steal a house when the real estate market in Arkhelios is already insane?

“My grandchildren will never be homeless,” Emilia said finally. “I’ll take them in until you two can get back on your feet. They need a stable environment to grow up in, which you can’t provide. All of the rooms are under construction still, so I can’t offer you a place to stay unfortunately. You could certainly rent an apartment.”

Alex and Fabio looked relieved. They weren’t getting a free place to stay with all their meals included like they’d hoped, but pawning off the twins for an undetermined amount of time was still amazing.

Just when Emilia didn’t think her family could sink any lower, Alex and Ginevra started up a very flirty conversation, right in front of everyone. They had a history with each other that Emilia and Giovanni had been convinced was in the past, but evidently not.

Cain ran to his grandmother and hugged her tightly.

“Thanks for saving us, Grandma,” he whispered. “I knew you would.”

Well, that was heartbreaking to hear. If only Giovanni were still there with her, he’d surely have harsh words for their son.

Yvette had graciously invited Emilia and the twins (and their cat, Boo) to stay with her family until the renovations were completed. Jolanda was staying with a potential love interest, and Pia was at university, so that took care of the rest of the house’s inhabitants. Yvette had given Fabio, Alex and Ginevra the name of a good apartment that been built recently to check out.

Before she left though, Emilia peeked down a familiar hallway, making sure that it hadn’t been disturbed in the renovation. There were no plans to change anything in that hall, she had made sure of that, and it looked like Ginevra hadn’t accidentally stumbled on anything important. Good. There were places in this house that held secrets that even Yvette wouldn’t forgive her for if they ever came out.

#sims 2 #arkhelios #arkhelios university #rivales family #fabio rivales #yvette durant #alex munoz

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fairlyspnfanfic · 3 years

Text

Rifts

Request from @elsamc13

Summary: Takes place S13e10. Dean and Sam are trapped in Apocalypse World, as the Wayward Daughters do everything they can to rescue them. Will their plan be enough? Will the reader be able to move beyond her past with Dean in order to save him?

Words: 4793

Warnings: Trauma, breakup, Bad Place, martyrdom

It had been a hell of a night. I had been scouring the town for any explanation of the haunting at the bus depot but had come up with more suspects than answers. Homeless people that had passed away at the bus station, accident victims of cars gone astray or out of control in the parking lot. There had been a mountain of possibilities. But the silvery, shrouded woman that had continually thrown me against, and eventually through, the wall of the bar across the street eventually narrowed my suspicions down to one.

The woman had just turned twenty-one and had gone out to celebrate. Only to end up being horrifically assaulted and left to die in the freezing cold behind the defunct busses that had been permanently parked. The ghost’s strength was evident in the bruises that battered my face. I looked into the rearview mirror, sighing and wincing as I attempted to clean myself up. The cuts were fairly superficial, and I didn’t think I needed any stitches. But the thin cut that tore across my bottom lip was still bleeding, coating my chin in the sticky liquid.

My cell phone had been laying in the passenger seat and now, it made a low hum as it vibrated against the leather. I hesitated before reaching for it, knowing that the last few dozen missed calls I had had were from him. The ex. The almost was. The not anymore. The One that Got Away. Whatever you preferred to call him. And I didn’t relish the thought of seeing his name flash up on the screen yet again.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes tightly, ignoring the pain that shot through my right eyelid from the black eye that was beginning to flourish. Turning the cell phone over in my hands, I opened my eyes as the screen lit up. “Jody,” I whispered as I read the name of the missed call aloud.

Quickly, I pressed Jody’s name, listening to the dead air as the call connected.

“Y/N?” Jody’s frantic voice picked up almost immediately.

“Hey, sorry I was finishing up a job. What’s up?”

“Oh, thank God you’re alright.” The relief that flooded Jody’s voice stunned me.

“Yeah, Jodes, why wouldn’t I be?”

There was a beat of silence as my question went unanswered. “Y/N, I need you to come home. Now.”

“Jody, what’s going on?” Jody had never been so adamant before, or so worried. It had been three months since I had moved in with Jody, using the Sheriff’s Sioux Falls home as my home base. Jobs had taken me away fairly regularly and I hadn’t spent more than two consecutive nights in the bedroom that had been designated as mine. But that didn’t change the fact that it was home.

“You just need to get here now, okay? I mean it. Get on the road now. I don’t care if you’re in the middle-”

“I just finished the job, Jodes.” I cut her off. “I’m only about an hour away. I’ll be home soon, okay?”

“Just....” Jody hesitated. “Hurry.”

The phone call disconnected and I sat starring at the cell phone in confusion before turning the ignition and pointing the car towards home.

I made the hour-long drive is just under 40 minutes, having put the gas pedal to the floor. Flinging the driver’s side door open, I practically sprinted up the steps, slamming the unlocked front door open in my wake.

“Jody,” I called out in a panic.

She quickly stepped out of the kitchen and walked directly towards me; arms outstretched and tears in her eyes.

“I’m so glad you made it home,” Jody whispered, pulling me into her tight embrace.

“Hey,” I began. “I’m okay. I’m here. I’m right here, Jody.” I wrapped my arms tightly around her, holding her as she trembled. “Jody? What’s going on?”

Slowly, she backed out of my embrace, swallowing hard as her eyes fixated on the floor between my feet. “Y/N,” she began, her words coming out as if she were choking on them.

I waited in silence, knowing she’d tell me once the words were there. But before she could, a face peered out at me from the kitchen. It was a face I didn’t recognize. A girl with dark olive skin and black wavy hair that barely touched her shoulders. She was holding a bowl and quickly throwing popcorn kernels into her mouth as she stepped closer to us.

“Hello,” I said, attempting to sound as normal as I could muster. “I’m-”

“I know who you are,” her voice was high, but cracked as she spoke. “Did you tell her?” The stranger looked at Jody expectantly as Jody shook her head.

“I was just getting to that.”

“Tell me what, Jody?” My voice was full of panic now. Secrets never gave me the warm fuzzies and now that this stranger was in on it, my anxiety was skyrocketing.

“Y/N, this is Patience.” Jody gestured towards the newcomer as she introduced her. I nodded my head as I inclined it towards her by way of welcome.

“Nice to meet you,” I grunted, crossing my arms and waiting for the shoe to drop.

Loud footsteps came stomping down the stairs to my right as I heard Claire’s voice ring out. “Y/N? Is that you? You aren’t dead?” The surprise and outrage in her words left me wide eyed.

“What?!” I yelled. “Why would you think I was dead?”

Claire hopped over to me, tucking herself into my shoulder as she gave me a quick one-armed hug, her eyes focused on Patience’s face.

“Ask the psychic,” she explained.

I turned my face to meet Patience’s, my face set in a hard line and my eyes bugged out of their sockets. “Why does she think I’m dead?”

Jody took a step closer, placing herself between Patience and I. “Claire’s right,” she started to explain. “Patience is a psychic. She’s Missouri Moseley’s granddaughter.” Her words were succinct, and I knew right away what she was implying.

“Patience,” I began, my voice low and empathetic. “I’m so sorry. Your grandmother was,” I hesitated. “She was a very special woman. Very beloved.”

I watched as Patience absorbed my words but she gave no response. Jody had let me know about Missouri’s passing when it happened. I had been on a case in Iowa, clearing out a Rugaru issue when the Winchester’s had worked with Missouri for the last time. It was the only time in the last few months that I regretted my avoidant personality.

“I still don’t get it. Why did you think I was dead?”

“Because I saw you die,” Patience explained, her words matter-of-fact, if not unfeeling.

I looked at her incredulously. “What?”

After an hour that seemed to last for days, Jody and Patience had explained everything to me. Patience’s visions, her seeing me die, and the fact that the Winchester’s were in some alternate universe that just so happened to be the same one where I died. My mind was swimming and I couldn’t seem to get my head above the water to take a breath, let alone understand.

“Y/N?” Claire rested her hand on my shoulder, giving me a slight shake as she tried desperately to get my attention.

I brought my eyes up to meet hers, but couldn’t find any words.

“We’re going to get them back, Y/N.” Claire’s attempt to reassure me fell flat.

“Sam and....” I swallowed hard. “And Dean. They’re missing?” I could hear my heart pounding in my ears and my breathing felt like it was getting shallower and shallower as I struggled to maintain my calm, something I was failing at desperately.

Jody shook her head slowly, confirming my fears. “But we know what we need to do.”

I looked at her, my eyes pleading with her to give me more information.

She rolled her eyes in return. “They were working with a girl, Kaia. She knows where they’re at and how to get there.”

“Okay, so let’s go!” I stood up dramatically, pushing my chair back as I did.

“Wait,” Jody said, reaching out and grabbing my hand. “We can't talk to her”

While I hadn’t thought my eyeballs would be able to stress themselves beyond my skull any further, her words quickly proved me wrong.

“What do you mean? Why wouldn't we talk to her? Jody, what the hell!?”

“She bolted,” Claire explained. “She was in the hospital, I went to talk to her, and she bolted. There were these bizarre monsters outside that attacked her,” my eyes widened even more. “We took care of it,” Claire stressed, holding her hands out to me as if to stop me from running. “But she’s down for the count. They got a few good licks in and she went down. She’ll be okay. Alex is patching her up, but, Y/N,” Claire hesitated, taking a deep breath. “She’s from that universe. Where Sam and Dean are. The Bad Place, she calls it.”

Claire’s face was that of a repentant child, as though any and all of this should fall on her shoulders.

I took a few deep breaths, attempting to steady myself as I pinched the bridge of my nose with one hand, resting the other on my hip as I began to pace. “So, you’re telling me that Sam and Dean are in some bizarro world, and the only person that can get us there is too busy having her boo-boos kissed to tell us how to get there?” My voice rose in volume with each word, my illusion of calm rapidly fading.

“It’s more than just that,” Jody said, standing up and slamming her hands on the dining room table. “Y/N, you’re missing a vital part of this puzzle.”

“What part, Jody? Sam and Dean are missing and we’re supposed to, what, sit on our thumbs and wait? I don’t think so!” I began walking towards the garage, knowing Alex would have the girl that was the key to all of this in there with her.

“The part where you die, Y/N!” Claire screamed at me with tears in her eyes.

“I don’t see how that matters even a little bit!” My answer bit at her, and I watched her recoil, surprise evident on her face as she did so.

“This isn’t negotiable.” Jody’s voice was deceptively calm and firm. “You go over there, you die. You aren’t leaving this house, do you hear me?” Jody squinted as her words came out full of anger.

“If Dean’s over there,” I caught myself. “If Dean and Sam are over there, then there’s absolutely no question as to where I’m going to be. My place is there. Saving them. And you know it.”

“I can’t lose you, too!” Jody’s exclamation took me by surprise.

“Jodes,” I began, but she held her hand up, effectively silencing me.

“No. Y/N, no. Okay? You’re staying here. I won’t lose another child.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears and my heart lurched at her words. “I won’t do it, Y/N.”

I let out a deep breath. “It’s Dean,” I whispered.

“Yeah, I know it is. I know you two had a nasty breakup. I know you haven’t spoken in months and I know you regret it every day. But you cannot be the one to go over there. I won’t let you. If you go, I lose you, and I am not about to lose you, or anyone else. Is that clear?”

I attempted to swallow the lump in my throat that refused to diminish. “All that matters is Dean, Jody. I have to go-”

“Damnit Y/N, if he was all that mattered to you then you would’ve said yes when he proposed to you instead of turning tail and running for the hills!”

I took a step back to steady myself as my eyes focused on Jody. “Look,” Jody began, her voice calmer now. “Donna and I will go over there as soon as Kaia tells us what she knows. We’ll take care of this and you will stay here. There’s no other plan. This is it.”

My eyes flitted from Jody to Claire and back, both of them giving me the same pleading expression and both too stubborn and strong-willed to change their minds.

I nodded my head slowly, agreeing to their plan out of necessity, as Alex came running in through the garage door. “It’s Larsen’s,” she blurted out. “Larsen Brothers Shipyard off Route 14. That’s where the door is.” A small, dark haired girl with scratches adorning her face walked in behind her.

Jody and Claire were already grabbing supplies as we all piled into our vehicles and headed for the shipyard.

We arrived in less than ten minutes and gathered at the sidewalk in front of the entryway.

“Donna and I have got this. But that door, it’s been open for a while and there’s no telling what crawled out in the meantime. So, you guys? You’re playing defense, okay?” We all nodded in the affirmative as each of us armed ourselves accordingly.

Donna was standing at the end of the sidewalk, hugging Claire and Patience as they walked by her. I kept telling my feet to move, but no matter how loudly I shouted at them in my head, they wouldn’t respond. I felt an arm snake its way over my shoulders, pulling me into a half hug.

“He’ll be alright, Y/N,” Donna’s friendly voice sang out to me as she pulled my head towards her.

“I know,” I acquiesced. “Just bring him back safe, okay?” She gave me a quick nod and a smile before I watched her and Jody disappear into the building.

It had been a while since Jody and Donna had gone in. Too long. Claire, Kaia, and Patience had all begun to get antsy a while ago and my trigger finger was more than itchy in their absence as I reacted to each and every sound that came out of the building in front of us.

We heard a gunshot and all of our breaths stopped as we collectively stared at the building. “That’s it,” I said, cocking my handgun and holding it down to my side.

“You guys can stay here but I’m going in. Something’s wrong.” I began walking towards the front door, just as Claire wrapped her delicate hand around my wrist.

“Wait,” she said. “You can’t.” She flicked her eyes over to Patience and stared at me silently.

“It’s Dean,” I offered her as my explanation. “What good is being alive in any world if he isn’t in it?” I could feel moisture building in my eyes and I did my best to hold my tears at bay.

“I’ll go with you.” An unfamiliar voice sang out from the crowd as Kaia stepped forward. “You won’t know where you’re going if I don’t. I know where to go. And where not to.” She looked down at her fingers as she fiddled with her nails, nervously.

All four of us walked into the building, our eyes searching endlessly for any sign of Donna or Jody.

“Jodes!” I yelled into the emptiness. We heard the beating of feet above us as I dove for the staircase, yelling for the others to follow me.

By the time we found them, they had been surrounded. Unfamiliar monsters with sickly glowing red eyes stared at them as if they were a feast. I raised my gun and pulled off two shots directly into the back of their skulls. I watched as their bodies slumped to the floor in front of us, and Jody and Donna each turned their heads towards me.

Just beyond them, there was a glowing orange line that seemed to spark and fade.

“There,” Kaia yelled, pointing her hand towards it. “That’s the door!”

I watched as it slowly began to shrink. “No!” I shouted as my feet broke into a sprint with Kaia close behind me.

We leapt over Jody as she lay bruised and beaten on the floor, and made a break straight for the gateway. I tumbled to the ground, taking in the monochromatic surroundings I found myself in. Glancing back towards the rift, I could see it was still open, but just barely. And there was no telling how long it would remain that way.

“Come on,” Kaia said as she stood up, her teeth chattering in fear as she turned away from the door and walked away, beckoning me to follow her. My handgun remained clenched in my hand as I reached for the pocketknife that had been tucked away in my back pocket.

“Lead the way.”

We seemed to be walking for hours and I was sure that any portal that there had been had closed by now. Kaia continued to assure me that we hadn’t even been there an hour yet. I ran my hands through my hair, tugging at the ends as I tucked it behind my ears.

“We have to find them, Kaia,” I begged. She gave me no response but continued on until we heard the sounds of breaking twigs and crushed leaves. Kaia hunched down in front of me, getting as low to the ground as she could as she held a finger up to me, insisting on my continued silence.

We peaked out of a threadbare bush to try to identify where the sound came from, when two figures began walking towards us, their movements tentative and quiet.

“Dean?” I whimpered as I lunged myself out into the clearing and towards him.

My name hadn’t fully left his lips when I crashed into him, my arms wrapping around his neck as tears forced their way down my cheeks. My breathing was ragged, but I’d never been so relieved. I felt his arms wrap around me, pulling me into him as if he needed to know I was real. He repeated my name again as I sobbed into his shoulder.

“I thought,” I cried. “I thought I’d lost you.” I leaned back and released my hold on him, finally meeting his eye.

He was blinking fast, confusion coloring his entire face and stance. But his eyes held mine as I stared into the deep emerald orbs that had always captivated me. He raised his hand, wiping the tears that had been falling down my face away with the gentle pad of his thumb. I closed my eyes, relishing in the feeling of his touch; his calloused fingertips smoothing over my skin sending shockwaves through me.

“Same here,” he said, as his jaw set into a hard, locked line, his eyes still focused on me.

“I’d hate to interrupt,” Kaia spoke up from behind us. “But we’re running on borrowed time here, if we aren’t out of time already. We’ve got to go.”

I pulled myself away from Dean, going against every urge in my body as I did so. Wiping my hands down my shirt to smooth it out, I dusted myself off and attempted to focus yet again.

“Hey Y/N,” I heard Sam’s voice calling from beside me. Turning my head to him, I took in the smile that was plastered on his face, giving him my own smile in return. “Heya Sammy,” I called as he reached out and squeezed my shoulder.

I turned around to face Kaia again, gesturing for her to lead the way. She seized the opportunity and began walking quickly back the way that we had come. I followed behind her with the boys in tow. The trek back to the gateway seemed to go faster, as if time had sped up now that Sam and Dean had been found.

A few minutes into our hike, Dean's hand wound its way into mine, interlacing his fingers with mine as he squeezed my hand tightly; a gesture he had often given me when he knew I was uncomfortable or stressed. I turned my head to make eye contact with him again as we continued walking.

“It’s just up there,” Kaia pointed ahead of us as she continued, panting. We could see the orange break in space hovering above the ground. It didn’t seem to have shrunk in size, but its vibrance had died down significantly.

“Run,” I instructed them, pushing Sam and Dean ahead of me as Kaia took off towards the rift. I followed behind, close on their heels.

We were feet away from the doorway when I felt it. A menacing, hooded figure clad in black sneaking up from behind. When I turned my head, I could see them throw their arm forward as the long, aerodynamic weapon they were holding came flying towards us, pointed directly at Dean.

“No!” I screamed, diving at him as I shoved him towards the doorway and put myself between him and the spear. I watched in slow motion as Sam and Kaia made it through to the other side. But, to my horror, Dean had stopped to turn around and face me, watching as the head of the spear sank itself into my back.

“Y/N?” Dean was screaming my name repeatedly as he reached for me, glaring over my shoulder at my assaulter and his would-be murderer. I fell forward, kneeling to the ground as I turned my head to look at the hooded figure again. I watched as the black hood fell back, revealing a familiar face and a sinister grin. “Kaia?” I whispered.

My vision began to go black as I felt Dean’s arms wrap around me, jerking me up to my feet before he lifted my legs in one arm, cradling my shoulders in the other. My head lolled back and in an instant, everything went black.

Dean was pacing the floor in Jody’s garage as Sam and Alex examined Y/N’s wound. She’d passed out before they had even made it through the doorway, but Dean had made sure that they came back home safely. The rift closed almost immediately after they came through.

“Dean?” Sam had called to his brother once they were back in their own world. But the only response he received was the garbled cries of Dean’s anguish.

“No,” Sam had uttered beneath his breath as he ran towards them, convinced that what he was seeing couldn’t be real. “No, she’s fine, Dean. She’s going to be fine. Let me take a look at her.”

He pushed his way to his brother, every step feeling like his feet were made of lead and concrete. But when he pressed his fingers to her neck, feeling the small pulsations of her carotid artery, he let out a sigh of relief.

“She’s got a pulse. A weak one, but it’s there. We need to get her some help. Now.” Sam reached out for her, wanting to remove the physical burden from Dean as he watched his brother collapse to the floor. “Dean!” Sam was yelling, desperation flooding him. “We have to go.”

Jody ran up to them, taking in the sight that she had feared. “We didn’t stop it,” she muttered. Patience walked up behind her, holding her hand over her mouth as if in astonishment.

“This is it,” she said. “My vision. This is what I saw.” Jody gasped, allowing the panic and heartbreak to set in.

“We’ve got to move her,” Sam told them. “She’s got a pulse, but she won’t for long if we don’t get her somewhere safe.”

Jody shook her head slightly, focusing yet again. “Get her to the car out front. Alex’ll patch her up at home.”

Before her sentence was finished, Sam was bolting towards the car, taking the steps down two at a time. Dean followed behind, his movements empty, as if a man possessed.

Jody wove her arm through his, hanging onto his elbow as they walked quickly towards the exit and to the car.

“I just got her back,” Dean said. “I just got her back. She can’t be gone already. I can’t...” He left his sentence unfinished as Jody rubbed a loving hand up and down his back, attempting to reassure him.

“It’ll be fine. She’ll bounce right back. She’s a fighter, yeah?” Jody opened the back passenger door of her car, urging Dean into the seat as Sam was laying Y/N across from the other side, resting her head on Dean’s lap.

Jody jumped in the driver’s seat, throwing the car into reverse as she pushed the “Talk” button on the steering wheel and called Alex.

“It’s Y/N,” she said succinctly. “We need you. It’s...” She hesitated, looking up into the rearview mirror at Dean. “It’s not good. We’re a couple minutes away. Be ready.” The one-sided conversation was quick, direct and to the point.

The tires squealed to a stop as Jody parked the car in the driveway, slamming the transmission into park and flicking the engine to the off position before everyone began hopping out of the car. Dean stayed where he was, slowly stroking Y/N’s hair as he attempted to soothe her into waking.

Alex was running out of the front door towards them, her scrubs still stained with Kaia’s blood from patching her up earlier, and her stethoscope still hanging from her neck. “Bring her inside!”

Dean did as he was told, sliding out of his seat, careful not to let Y/N’s head fall as he slowly pulling her out of the car and cradling her in his arms. In seconds, they were all standing in the garage as Dean laid Y/N down on the gurney and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Everyone, take a step back,” Alex ordered, listening to Y/N’s heart as she did so. “Jody, I need you to bring me an IV bag. We’re going to need to get some blood in her now along with as many antibiotics and as much saline as possible. She’s losing blood fast.”

The words seemed to all blur together as Dean dropped into the chair behind him, cradling his head in his hands. “This can’t be happening,” he repeated to himself, his eyes fixated on a drop of her blood as it fell to the floor.

Two hours later, Dean was sitting next to Y/N again, squeezing her hand between both of his as he stared intently at her face. Alex had assured him that she was fine. That she’d been all patched up, that the dehydration and blood loss had been combated, and that everything was going to be just fine in time. But he longed to see her eyes open and looking at him like she always had. Like she could see into his soul. He yearned to hear her voice, even if she yelled at him and never wanted to see him again. As long as she was alive.

He lowered his head, muttering “Please,” to himself over and over.

At some point, he must have drifted off to sleep, her hand still clenched in his, with his head resting on the side of the bed. She began to stir, grunting as she did so and squeezing his hand back.

My eyes were heavy and hazy. The pain that had flown through me on our way to the doorway seemed a distant memory and my body felt as though I were floating in the ocean; one wave after another pushing me closer to shore. I opened my eyes tentatively, hesitant to take in my surroundings for fear that the monochromatic world would still be surrounding me.

But in my hand, I could feel the warm familiarity that was Dean’s fingers interlaced with mine. I squeezed my hand around his, desperate to prove to myself that it was truly him.

“Y/N?” He woke with a start, his eyes focusing on my face as he brought one hand up to cup my cheek.

I gave him a smile, my eyes closing in a slow blink as I opened my mouth. “Hey there stranger.”

Dean leaned down quickly, pressing his lips firmly against mine, seeming to blow life into me with his kiss. The one that never failed to take my breath away.

“Don’t you ever do that to me again, do you understand?”

I nodded as I laughed quietly, Dean’s forehead pressing down into my own.

“You got it,” I confirmed for him.

“Marry me?” The question came out as a plea as he pushed his head closer to mine, rubbing our noses against one another. The same question I’d run from so many months ago. But now, after all this time and after all that had happened, there was only one answer that I could give.

I smiled at him, holding my breath as my cheeks began to ache from the tension.

“Yes.”

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jamie-leah · 3 years

Text

War of Wolves (15)

Season 1

Episode 15 - Chit Chat

Bucky x Reader

Summary: You have been on the streets for the past two years, ever since your accident that left you with the ability to tell if someone is lying. You work as an informant for the white wolf and his mob but you had never met him…until you overhear a phone call that leads you to saving his life. Now he wants you to work for him. Its an offer you couldn’t refuse…right?

Word Count: 2499

Warnings: Swearing, aggression, violence, fluff, you know the drill - it’s a mob story!

A/N: I am trying to post a part every week. I posted the last one on Tuesday I think but I may not get time tomorrow so here is the next part now! I think there is a little bit for everyone to enjoy here! My brain isn’t working enough to think of a more clever episode title haha!

<---Previous Episode. Next Episode--->

WoW Masterlist. Series Masterlist Oneshot Masterlist

It didn’t take long to get to one of Isaac’s estates. It was much smaller than Bucky’s but bigger than a regular house. When the car pulls up outside you want to scream at them. You want to shout that you’re not getting out the car.

What you really want is to shoot Isaac, the hatred burning under your skin, but you do none of it as you get out without fuss. You trail behind Isaac as the two men stay behind you.

The house is old looking and mostly made of wood. Isaac leads you down a hallway and then another before arriving at a set of double wooden doors. He pushes them over to reveal a small library with comfortable seats. Two singles and a double. He makes his way over to them saying, “take a seat”.

You purposefully go over to one of the single seats, and sit on the edge, ready to bolt out of there the moment you could. The doors close, leaving just you and Isaac sitting opposite each other.

He stares at you and you shift feeling uncomfortable, praying that Bucky would come to get you quickly. Isaac gestures to the library, “do you like it?”.

“Bucky has a bigger one”, your voice comes out dull.

He shakes his head, “I don’t know why you’ve decided that you don’t like me Y/N”.

You scoff, “I’ve heard a lot of stories about you stabbing people in the back”.

He smiles, “in the back? I don’t think so; the front is more fun”.

“Ah that’s right, you just like to get other people to do it instead”, you couldn’t help yourself and the malice that creeped into your voice.

Isaac tilts his head and narrows his eyes slightly, studying you. When he speaks next, you know that he knows that you know about what he did to Bucky’s drugs and your men, “do you know a man called Gabriel Reynolds?”.

He asks it casually. You decide to downplay just how much you know him, “I met him at Frank Black’s party, but he was a creep and I walked away which is when you stopped me”.

Isaac smiles at the memory, “word on the street is someone took him out. I was just wondering if you knew anything about that?”.

Being able to detect lies helped in telling them yourself as you say, “no, I haven’t”. You think your lie is good, but he gives nothing away with his carefully blank face.

He changes the topic suddenly, “you know, I did some research on you. I saw that you were in a nasty car crash a few years back”.

It caught you off guard. You find yourself just staring at him as memories of the crash come back. He stares at you like he’s waiting for a reaction. It’s a while before you can speak, “what’s your point?”.

He shrugs, “I find it interesting. I’m a medical professional and I was wondering just how nasty it was. My research told me that someone else died in the crash, so it must have been bad”.

You could feel your anxiety rising as you try to not think about it, “this isn’t something I want to talk about”.

He carries on like he never heard you, “is that how you became homeless? Medical bills too much?”.

The hatred you feel for him only becomes stronger, “why the fuck does it matter?”.

He studies you, “I’m just curious”.

That was the first lie you detected from him. You perk up at it, “you’re lying, there’s something else you want to know about it”.

He tilts his head again like he’s trying to work something out, “do you remember much about the crash?”.

You space out as you go through the memories again as the truck ploughs into the side of the car. You remember spinning and then nothing. You remember waking up feeling pain everywhere and look over to see your mum not moving. You come back to the room as he asks another question, “what kind of head injuries did you have?”.

Your chest feels tight as your palms sweat. You spring to your feet, “stop asking me about it”.

He gets up too, coming closer in case you do bolt. Its what you want to do, but you don’t know where you would go. He keeps going though, “have you ever driven since then? Because you were the one driving that day, right?”.

You hear a faint bang and shouts, but it barely registers as you shout, “shut up! I don’t want to talk about it!”.

That’s when you hear him. Bucky yells, “Y/N?!”.

You go to bolt from the room, but Isaac grabs your arm and swings you back around, “you don’t remember do you?”. He whispers it as you hear more shouting, this time closer to the door.

Isaac lets you go just before the doors burst open, sending a loud crack throughout the room as they crash into the walls. You turn around to see Bucky flanked by Steve and Sam and a few more men behind them.

Your legs work of there own accord as they run to Bucky. You fling yourself into his body as your arms wrap around his neck. His arms come around you quickly as they squish you more into him. You can hear him breathe you in as you do the same, his scent calming you.

He pulls you back to cup your face as his eyes search your face. His thumb swipes across your cheekbone, “are you okay?”. He sounds slightly panicked and desperate.

You just nod, not trusting yourself to speak. That’s when Isaac speaks, “we were just having a little chat. She came willingly after all”.

You watch Bucky’s face harden as he looks over to Isaac. Bucky gently pushes you behind him and you don’t mind. You’d do anything to get away from Isaac right now.

You don’t even notice that you’re shaking until Sam wraps his arm around your shoulder and murmurs, “we’re here now”.

You look over to Bucky as he says, “I’ll kill you”.

Isaac smirks, “I’d like to see you get out alive if you did”.

Bucky steps closer, “it won’t be today. But I promise you that I will one day. I’ll kill you”.

Isaac stares at him unflinching, “likewise Mr Barnes, likewise”.

You can see the self-control in Bucky’s movements as he starts to walk away. Isaac just couldn’t help himself, “oh, send my condolences to the families of Alex, Charlie, Brian, and Josh. I heard about it, such a shame”.

Bucky moved quicker than lightning as his fist strikes Isaac’s face. Bucky strikes him again as Isaac falls to the floor. You hear commotion behind you but as soon as Steve takes out a gun and points it into that direction it stops. Steve looks back to Bucky who punches Isaac again, “Boss”.

Bucky doesn’t even pause at Steve’s voice as he gives another blow to Isaac’s body. Steve tries again but to no avail. You hear the commotion start up again and you had this feeling that things were going to get out of hand.

“Bucky”, your voice seems like its barely above a whisper, but he hears it and stops. Bucky grabs Isaac by the collar and spits the words, “I’m coming for you”, into his face before letting him go roughly.

You watch Isaac spit blood on the floor as he watches you leave, pure hatred naked on his face. Bucky’s arm wraps around your waist as he brings you into his side.

He steers you gently out the house and to the car, opening your side of the car and helping you in. He sits in the seat next to you as Steve drives and Sam sits in the passenger seat.

It wasn’t until the car started and you drove out of the estate that you could feel your anxiety rising again. The rumble of the car sparking memories that were at the forefront thanks to Isaac.

Your chest starts feeling tighter as it gets harder to breathe. You lean forward and put your head between your knees and close your eyes. You try and focus on calming your heartbeat as you vaguely hear Bucky unclick his belt and slide across the seat.

You feel the warmth of him as his thigh rests against yours and his hand strokes patterns onto your back soothingly. He leans forward as well to murmur into your ear, “you’re okay, I’ve got you. I’m here now. I got you Doll, I’ve got you”.

You focus on his voice, low and calm and you feel your heart respond. Soon, it becomes easier to breathe and you sit up again. You lean into Bucky and lay your head on his shoulder without a word. You put your hand on his thigh and he covers it with his as he kisses the side of your head.

You stare into space for the entire journey after that. You feel drained thinking about the crash. Images and emotions you buried in order to keep going with life starting to overwhelm you again. You were aware of Steve looking at you in the mirror and then glancing to Bucky.

When you got back home your body relaxed a little. When the car stops Bucky kisses your head again before slipping out of the car. You know you need to open the door, but you can’t seem summon the will to do it.

You hear the mumble of the boys talking before Bucky opens your door. He gives you a soft smile as he pulls you out the car and into his arms. You feel the rumble of him speaking, “come on baby, let’s get you inside”.

He takes you straight to your shared room and sets you down on the edge of the bed. He disappears for a few moments into the bathroom and you hear water starting to run.

He emerges along with a thin trail of steam as he makes his way over to you. He helps you remove your clothes. It was nothing sexual, it was just caring.

You eventually sit on the edge of the bed naked as he stands and goes back into the bathroom. You hear him moving around and then the water stops. He emerges shirtless as he picks you back up and takes you to the bath.

He lowers you slowly into the hot bath. You close your eyes at the comforting hug of water around your body. You open your eyes and look at Bucky’s. There was such concern and love there that your eyes filled with tears.

One falls down your face and into the water as Bucky wipes away the other one that starts to fall. He speaks softly, “speak to me sweetheart”.

You manage to talk around the lump in your throat, “its my fault Buck. Its my fault that I crashed that day. I didn’t see the truck coming. I killed my mum”.

Tears fall hard and fast as Bucky hugs you to him until you calm again. He pulls back keeping your face between his hands, “it wasn’t your fault Y/N. I saw some low-quality footage from a CCTV camera when you first came to work for me. I was curious about you. I watched that footage and the truck came out of nowhere. It wasn’t your fault”.

You stare at his eyes. His tone and expression hold so much conviction that you nearly believe him. You turn your head and kiss one of his palms and whisper, “thank you”.

He lets your face go and gets comfy at the side of the bath. He watches you stare into space again for a few moments before he speaks again, “you remember that time you came into my office with the cupcakes you made?”.

You slowly turn your gaze to his as you nod. He continues, “I remember thinking to myself that I was going to tell you to stay out of the kitchen and you would just listen to me. I was so surprised when you told me no. I almost burst out laughing when you called me ‘wolfy’”.

He chuckles at the word now and you feel the corners of your mouth turn up involuntarily. He carries on, “I wasn’t expecting those cupcakes to taste so damn good. You have no idea how hard it was not to moan at the taste”.

You smile as you think back to him keeping a straight face while eating that cupcake. He continues, encouraged by your smiling, “I also remember that time I caught you dancing in the kitchen. You were dancing like no one was watching and even when you saw me you didn’t stop”.

You raise an eyebrow at him, “are you just trying to tell me to cook you more cupcakes Wolfy?”.

He bursts out laughing and you feel a genuine smile spread across your face at the sight. When his laughter dies down he stands and picks you out of the bath dripping wet. You instantly hold on to him as you exclaim, “what are you doing?”.

He smirks at you, “I told you that if you ever called me wolfy again I would put you in the kennels”. He starts to walk out the room.

You couldn’t help but laugh as you squirm, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Put me back in the bath, its freezing!”.

He chuckles as he sets you back in the water, but your back to him. He picks up the shampoo and starts to work the shampoo into your hair as his tone becomes soft, “I also remember when you came into the gym when I was working out my anger on a punching bag”.

You close your eyes at his hands in your hair as you listen to his quiet voice, “I remember being so rude to you. Telling you to go away as I punched this bag and you just walk in and stayed. You didn’t seem afraid of me or care that I just told you to go away. You stayed. That’s when I knew. That’s when I really knew you were different and that I wanted to keep you around”.

He finishes your hair and helps you wash it out as you both work on your body. Again, it was nothing sexual. You wash all the soap off and Bucky lifts you out of the bath and stands you up. He then grabs a towel and wraps it around your body along with his arms.

Your face rests against his bare chest and you listen to his steady heart for a few moments before whispering, “thank you”.

He kisses your forehead, “any time sweetheart, any time”.

You place a kiss over where you think his heart would be, “I love you”.

His arms tighten around you as he looks down at you, “I love you too”.

WoW Taglist: @a-really-bi-girl @crazyblonde124 @summerwelsh @scuzmunkie @loving-life-my-way @pequenaguaxinim @paranoid-borderline-insane @lilsonbucky @somanyfandomsblog @broco8 @inquisitor-selvala @mad-red @k-n-e @rinkashirikitateku @duhh-danielly @boundtomyfate @kalesrebellion @booktease21 @whatinthyworld @flyingbabyunicornnamedangel @asapkyndall @yaszx @amoredashley @aveatquevale- @putinovertime @melimelbean @voltage-my2dlove @lokilokilokilokilokiloki @sensationalistsblog

#bucky #Bucky Barnes #James Buchanan Bucky Barnes #bucky x reader #bucky x you #bucky x y/n #bucky x reader.#bucky fanfic #bucky fanfiction #bucky fucking barnes #bucky fandom #bucky fluff #bucky series #mob!au #mob!bucky

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alexhoghdaily · 3 years

Text

Alex and Marco’s HBO Nordic ‘Watching with’ livestream

This is a very long one, I’m so sorry. I just thought everything was so interesting. Therefore I’ll put the topics under the cut!

AND OF COURSE, SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT TOO SINCE IT’S THE FINAL EPISODE!

Marco and Alex possibly have new Projects coming up, (Marco said his is around March.)

They changed the opening theme for the show. Alex liked the original opening better and Marco likes the new one.

Everything on the show is shot in Ireland except for Bjorn vs the bear, that was in canada. They also filmed in Norway.

Their first scene was on top of a mountain and Marco had a line “This is what it means” which he couldn’t get right, and he was crowched the entire scene. By the end of it his legs were jelly.

During Alex’s scene with Alfred before the battle, Marco was seated on a horse for 5 hours straight.

The braiding of Alex’s hair took forever so he decided to keep them in after filming because he had to film again the next day. They gave him a hairnet and he was walking around the grocery store with a hairnet and braids, still muddy from work. Marco also went out to the grocery store, wearing his make up and contact lenses and got refused because they thought he was drunk.

On his first day of riding a horse, Marco wore loose sweatpants. That wasn’t pleasant.

Alex purposely didn’t read anything about the other characters, because he was both a bit lazy and he wanted to be suprised by their storylines when he would watch the final season.

On the question “Who is the true heir?” they both agree that all of the sons have different traits of ragnar. (They also all have women issues.)

The battle scene of the last episode took 9 days to shoot, the last 2 episodes took around 2,5 months to shoot. Usually they do two episodes every month/5 weeks.

Alex loves the spiritual vibe in the show/season and it’s some of his favorite parts of the show. Both Alex and Marco also really love the cinematography.

Alex’s favorite part of the last episode is the last scene on the beach with Floki and Ubbe and his and Marco’s scene.

Marco fell 3 times in a row filming the charging scene of the battle. He felt so stupid because the extra’s had to keep getting back.

In the fighting sequence Marco split a stunt guys lip open because he hit him with a sword. Marco stopped, but the guy said he had to keep going because Marco was in the shot.

Ivar and Hvitserk’s close moment in the end wasn’t even written in, Alex and Marco wanted the brothers to be brothers and have love just this once.

Alex had to learn Icelandic for his final speech and it took a really long time.

He also loved that Hirst made Ivar an extension of the army and the army of him in the ending sequence.

Alex loved that Ivar was killed by a random soldier, because everyone got this big hero death in the show and he loved to do the exact opposite. He discussed it with Hirst because he wanted to do it that way. They also discussed the possibility of Hvitserk just putting Ivar out of his misery.

The filming of the death scene was very sudden for Alex, and he wasn’t ready for it. They went straight into it and Marco was the only one ready, already hoisting him onto his lap. Alex felt Marco’s tears on his cheeks and he started crying.

Marco’s not sure what to think of Hvitserk ending because he never expected to get an actual ending at all. They had previously informed him many times that he would be killed off in the next episode. They kept deciding to keep him on for another 10.

If Alex could choose any character on the show to be, he would choose Floki. But he does think he can’t do better than Gustaf. He’s very happy with the role of Ivar.

His favorite characters also include Ragnar, King Harald, and King Ecbert.

Marco’s beard took one hour in the make-up chair to be done, Alex’s took 2 hours.

Alex likes how in the ending of this episode they went full circle in terms of the end of the Vikings and Norse mythology through Hvitserk’s character.

Both Alex and the fans asked what Marco thought of the ending for his character. (Him converting and renouncing his own faith). Marco was very confused about the situation because prior to the ending he had sex with a Goddess, so he doesn’t understand why he did it. He also didn’t get the chance to talk to Hirst about it. He thought it was cool but confusing.

Alex said that one of the most beautiful moments he’s ever experienced during working was when they were shooting his death scene. They were both crying and they have to re-do the take. At that point all of the extra’s (300 of them) we’re all sitting/standing around just watching them very quietly and it almost felt like they were an audience in a theater. He could feel that it was something big. (Usually they shoot multiple scenes at the same time but not during this scene.) It was also Alex’s last day on set.

The favorite scene they did together was of course the ending, but also the scene in 6A were they meet again in the woods and they sit together. Alex and Marco wrote this scene themselves and they love it.

They have a tight schedule and they have to get through a lot a day. They only get 2 or 3 takes every time.

Alex’s favorite season is 5A. He likes the York scenes. Marco’s favorite season is 6.

Both Alex and Marco kept their armrings from set. They also kept a shield that was signed, and Alex kept a beautiful horn.

The scenes Alex prepared the most for were; the Icelandic scenes, and more importantly the scene where Ivar has his big speech about going into battle against Wessex and Alfred. Alex couldn’t get through it, he had difficulties with his lines and he said it was a horrible day.

They said that doing the sex scenes are actually very non sexual and also uncomfortable at times. You’re almost naked with just their privates covered, Make-up everywhere, a big crew standing around. It’s very mechanical. They are not the nicest scenes to shoot and it gets uncomfortable. Alex also said that he stays focused on just them as two people and also likes to ask if they’re okay and comfortable. They have to think about everything they’re doing and it’s not sexy at all.

Alex: “maaa can you get me a beer?” followed by Alex’s father actually bringing him a beer. It was also his birthday.

The ages on the show aren’t very clear, But Alex thinks Ivar was about 23/24 when he died.

When they have to do a scandinavian accent for self tapes, they catch themselves doing their Viking accent.

Marco trained 3 days per “smaller” sequence for the complete final battle sequence.

Marco shared a story about Travis at a work dinner event, where he was dressed in a tracksuit, and with his long beard, someone mistook him for a homeless man and they gave him money.

In response to someone saying that Alex looked better with his braids, Alex sarcastically answered: “Thank you. Lovely. Outstanding. I appreciate that.”

Marco told a story about the coldest day of filming where he was out in the cold and mud under a rain machine the whole day and halfway through, he almost got hypothermia. A doctor came in to check his temperature. His body was too cold to actually work.

Alex rememberd the blood eagle scene for Aelle, it was in the winter and it had been snowing and raining the whole night. He said that as soon as he hit the ground, his body froze from the cold.

Someone asked about the funniest story from behind the scenes. They said every single day was filled with banter. They said every single day was fun. Also the left over food fights and water fights. Alex told the story of Jordan spitting water at him when he was sleeping and he was so used to it that he didn’t even react.

Alex said he and Marco drove 6,5 hours to stockholm to do 20 minutes of auditions for Vikings. Marco was also sick at that time. It was after they did Uro together.

Marco was supposed to audition for a voice job for Assasins Creed: Valhalla. But he was very busy and the project was differently titled at that time. He declined and he regretted it very much.

Alex said that he would really love to do voice and motion capture projects in the future.

#instagram #live #marco ilsø #alex høgh andersen

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