#this is mostly unedited

[rosy-thorn-222]

So, I've been rewatching Grian's Hermitcraft 6 and...

There's a pattern. (Ramble incoming)

In his episode 93, he created a game called Demise. A few years later, and Third Life shows up, along with the rest of the Life Series.

Not only that, but his tendency to start good-natured wars is a big thing, too. For example:

The prank war

The build battle in Hermitville

The whole hippies vs area 77 thing

And MORE

The pattern: Grian likes to cause mischief and make death games.

[justafandomfollower]

WIP Wednesday

Okay, so, I got tagged by @ayotofu but I'll be completely honest and say I have no idea how this works, or what the rules of this thing are. So, I don't have a fic in the same fandom as them (9-1-1), but I do have plenty of WIPs, so, you get 700 words of a Dead Boy Detectives thing I'm working on instead.

I'm going to go ahead and tag @e-vasong and @dont-offend-the-bees if they want to share, but if they don't want to no pressure! Also, if you want to be tagged, consider yourself tagged.

Crystal is comfortable. She’s warm, and well-rested, with no demons in her head and three best friends surrounding her. Her arm rests on the arm of Charles’ and Edwin’s uncomfortable couch. Her feet are tucked up next to her, bare toes under Niko’s legs. Niko, rather than resting on the other arm of the couch, leans against Crystal’s shoulder, a steady weight at her side. Rain drums on the window but it’s a Saturday morning – they have nowhere to be today and no obligations to attend to. The rain is a comforting, steady drumbeat rather than a dreary slog to get through. Tucked into the minifridge she’d convinced the boys to get sometime between their return from Port Townsend and their rescue of Niko are two slowly defrosting frozen pizzas: lunch, in a few hours, heated by the microwave she’d also convinced them to get that sits atop the fridge. It’s a rare, lazy day for the agency and all four of them plan to take advantage of it together. With the day stretching out before them, it feels like they have all the time in the world. “No, no, no,” Charles is saying now, grinning down at her and Niko from where he leans against the minifridge-microwave combo. “That’s too simple. Can’t be anything too simple – need to impress the clients, don’t we?” “And the current name does that?” Crystal mutters wryly with a grin.

Charles scoffs comfortably at her. He turns his head with ease, staring down his best friend. “C’mon, Edwin, back me up here.” Edwin does not look up from his desk. He’s the only one of the three of them doing anything that could remotely be considered work, though he’d been adamant that he enjoys comparing old case files with current ones and taking notes about the differences and similarities. Just as Charles has stripped down to his polo, suspenders hanging off his hips, Edwin has shed a few layers too. He still has on his vest, and he hasn’t rolled up his sleeves, but the bowtie and other layers are gone. (He says he’s concentrating, but Crystal’s seen his lips quirk a few times during their discussion.) “I have not agreed to change our name, Charles,” he says, dry and fond all at once. Crystal rolls her eyes fondly in return, even if he isn’t looking to see it. Edwin’s a pushover when it comes to Charles and everyone here knows it – however much he doesn’t like change, if Charles asks for it, Edwin’ll give it. Of course, she’s not convinced Charles is committed either, it’s just a fun discussion for the moment – same as Edwin’ll do anything for him, if Charles thinks Edwin genuinely wouldn’t like something (or at least tolerate it for him), he wouldn’t push for it. “Simple can be nice,” Niko counters easily. “I mean, Dead Boy Detectives is simple, isn’t it?” Charles’ head spins around so he can gape at her properly. “Simple?” he asks, mock horrified. “Well, kinda, yeah,” Crystal says in support. “I mean, you’re dead boys, and you’re detectives, aren’t you?” Charles shakes his head, as if distressing over them disparaging the agency’s name, but Crystal can see him trying not to smile. She exchanges her own grin with Niko. “How did you guys pick the name the first time?” she finds herself asking, and then: “Not even just the name, really. How’d you guys decided to be detectives in the first place?” That does get Edwin to look up from his desk. He exchanges a long glance with Charles, that kind where they have a whole conversation in seconds. Crystal can’t read them nearly as well as they can each other, but she can see the amusement and fondness bouncing between them. Edwin rolls his eyes and concedes to Charles with a slight nod. Charles, grinning gleefully, rubs his hands together. “Right. Get ready for the story of a lifetime, girls.” At Crystal’s side, Niko straightens attentively. Crystal can’t seem to stop herself from smiling, steeped in the warmth of the moment. Off to the side, she catches Edwin rolling his eyes again, but he’s leaning back in his chair instead of returning to the files on his desk.

[moonlayl]

Hi, Muslim buddy! I'm a big Fitz fan and he's a popular character among the fans, so I was shocked when I found out that you disliked him. I'm curious: why exactly do you dislike him? I've seen a few of your posts about him but it's not exactly clear. I'm also not up to date with the show at all, so have you always disliked him or is it just recently?

Just to be clear, this is not a hate ask! We can have different opinions about a show, it's okay! I'm just curious about your reasoning. 💕

Salam!

First, I want to assure you your ask didn't come off as hateful at all, don't worry!

I tend to tag any fitz negative post as #anti leopold fitz so that fitz fans can easily block it and avoid any negative content about a character they like. You can block it too if you want!

Second, I want to give you a little warning. This will get very long, I apologize, however, please read all of it if you wish to reply/have a discussion. This goes to anyone reading this. I don't want to repeat myself several time (I will link other posts me and others have made that go into more detail)

As to why i dislike Fitz....there's a lot. (more under the cut)

During the earlier seasons (s1-2) I liked him, though certain scenes and things about his character bothered me. The same could be said about the majority of the other characters so I didn't think much of it. He could be funny, I liked the fitzsimmons friendship (for the most part) and he was a cool side character.

In s3 and s4, his character began to change more and more, and I found myself slowly starting to dislike him. There was suddenly more scenes where his words/actions bothered me.

Those seasons are also the ones where fitzsimmons actually got together, and I'm not a fan of the way that ship was handled, mostly due to what it did to Simmons' character. That played a role as well in me beginning to dislike him.

It wasn't until s5 though, specifically after the episode 5x14 "The Devil Complex" that i truly started disliking his character, and it just got worse from there.

I want to be clear that I don't judge or have a problem with anyone who likes his character. I don't think it's somehow 'immoral' if you like Fitz. I just simply don't, here's some reasons as to why:

Cutting open Daisy, threatening an injured, disabled Yoyo, and shooting Mack.

This is the biggest reason. In 5x14, Fitz programs robots to threaten Yoyo, shoot Mack, hold Simmons at gunpoint, and then he personally knocks out Daisy, restrains her, and cuts into her neck. He risks paralyzing her, forces her powers back onto her as she screams in pain and pleads for him to stop (he does this without giving her painkillers, without being certified to give that sort of procedure in the first place, and without the appropriate tools and space required for a surgery. She could have been permanently paralyzed from the neck down.) He throws around disgusting rhetoric, and the show tries to get us to sympathize with him. We get a scene with him and simmons. We get a scene of simmons crying to deke. We don't get a scene about daisy or mack's feelings in the aftermath.

"Fitz was having a psychic split" "he wasn't himself" "it was the doctor, not him!"

ignoring the fact that he was fully himself by the time it got to actually going through with the procedure (he realized he was the doctor all along, before getting to the 'cutting daisy' part) AND ignoring the show not letting him receive help yet him never struggling in that way again somehow (which all seems like bad writing to me) Fitz AFTERWARDS, stated that he didn't regret his actions.

Not only does he say that, but when Daisy is reasonably upset and traumatized, he attempts to dismiss her feelings, proceeds to try and guilt trip her, shift the blame to her, and throw back her previous trauma in her face.

Daisy: we don't turn on our own here

Fitz: do you want me to recount all the times YOU did?

A) Daisy hardly ever turned on them (a few instances could count but implying they do is awful, considering the circumstances she was in. Leaving shield does NOT count as a 'betrayal' or 'turning your back'. This is the SECOND time Fitz blames her for something that is ridiculously unfair. especially because HE is the one at fault here. He is so unapologetic to her.)

The following is taken from a wonderful post made by @stilltryingtowrite: 

When a perpetrator of violence is confronted they will often deny or minimize the harm of their wrongdoing, attack their victim’s credibility, and reverse the victim and offender roles to make themselves out to be the victim. More info here.

So lets break down that scene in 5x15 when Daisy confronts Fitz after violating her consent in 5x14..

You can read the rest here but basically Fitz does the following things:

1. Denies and minimizes the harm of his wrongdoing 2. Attacks Daisy’s credibility as a victim 3. And tries to make her out to be the one in the wrong, while he simply did “what he had to do”

Another post, this one by me, that goes more into why Fitz implying Daisy turned on them is ridiculous. here

B) "Didn't have a choice" those are Fitz's words. he "didn't have a choice except to do what he did" That's just plain wrong and untrue.

he could've talked to her. he could have asked her. He could have explained how dire the situation was. He could have at least TRIED instead of immediately resorting to traumatizing her and and forcing her powers on her without her consent.

posts that go more into this that i highly recommend people read: 

here by @geraltcirilla and @ryder616 

and here by me 

It doesn't end there. Afterwards, Daisy (reasonably) locks him up. he's a danger to the team. He's a danger to himself. Who knew what he might do next "without meaning to", and despite having hurt her and traumatized her and almost gotten her and his other friends injured, he agrees that she's somehow a "hard*ss" for being upset. For locking him up after he committed multiple crimes that could've resulted in her paralyzed for life.

And the majority of the fandom agreed with that statement. saw so many fans say stuff like "Daisy was acting like such a b**ch this season!"

Fitz repeatedly being selfish and careless with people's lives.

there have been numerous instances in the show where Fitz makes a terrible decision (that he knows is terrible) that could result in others' deaths, and he goes through with them every time, and is mostly unapologetic.

1) possibly the biggest one. S7 finale. This man quite literally, plans on having 7 billion people die, uncaring, because "it was an alternate timeline" and therefore wouldn't be HIS timeline. Nevermind that it was HIM who brought that danger to this alternate timeline in the first place. 

posts: here by me, @stilltryingtowrite and @samanthaswishes

2) him and Simmons both getting their team members (and Simmons herself) killed in s7 several times. They programmed Enoch to kill anyone who tried to remove a chip from Simmons, without informing anyone, and then they erased Simmons' memories, meaning she also didn't know about the 'program to kill'. Enoch too, didn't know. Daisy, Deke, and Simmons all died from that. If there hadn't been a time loop, they could've permanently been dead. The reason for the programming of the chip was so stupid and made no sense.

Most would disagree with me, but a while back I made a post about why every possible reasoning for the chip's existence was stupid. here it is.

3) voting to let Piper kill herself. This is a post i made before:

Remember that part in the 100th aos episode when they thought one member of the team needed to die to save the day, and they were all tripping over  themselves to try to be the one that will be sacrificed so that the others didn’t have to, except for fitz who immediately was like “let piper kill herself. She feels guilty enough to accept her fate” and then he got married that same ep. that was messed up. 

LITERALLY. Everyone was like "let me be the one to die, so no one else has to!" (with the exception of Deke, who also kind of sucks) but Fitz is just like "Let Piper do it!" who DOES that?

He’s just perfectly willing to volunteer someone else to die, that’s just unacceptable. 

4) In order to save Simmons in s3, he has no regards to anyone else, and risks Daisy's life without her consent. She would've agreed regardless but he just jumped into the portal after KNOWING Daisy was feeling certain side effects from the portal and after she'd fainted and had a nose bleed. She could've died and there was no apology.

5) He helps Hydra open a portal to Hive. It results it countless inhumans dying, Lincoln dying, and even others dying, all because Fitz didn't want to lose Jemma. he aided a Nazi organization that was planning on bringing some sort of ancient monster from another planet. He knew this and still did what they asked.

6) He fixes the gravitonium machine for Ruby, knowing it was gravitonium that causes the entire WORLD to be destroyed. Again, just for Simmons. (so many times, he chooses one person's life, over the entire world.)

post by @samanthaswishes here

Fitz mistreating Simmons, and the Fitzsimmons relationship being misogynistic (imo)

So here’s me summarizing while also linking posts that go into more details about all the things wrong with he fs relationship (which contributes to me disliking his character)

blaming jemma for having the audacity to care for another man before they were even in a relationship: by me

general issues about simmons never getting to be her own character due to fitz and fs relationship: by anon

fitz getting angry at the idea of living with simmons: by me

the entirety of fitzsimmons being her acting like a mother/caretaker for him, instead of an actual partner: by me

fitz talking trash about simmons when she's not there

why fs relationship is bad, why it's unfair to simmons, and fitz' jealousy knowing no bounds: by me

Fitz being completely insensitive and ignorant to others' suffering.

there have been numerous instances in the show where he’s just...insensitive to others’ suffering. 

1. (this one is understandable, but when you add it up with everything else, it shows a clear pattern) In s1, After Ward is revealed to be hydra, revealed to have killed several people (a man being questioned, Victoria Hand, two police officers, Keonig) and after he’d just KIDNAPPED Skye, threatened her, and locked her up, Fitz tells Skye, TO HER FACE, that he doesn’t buy it. That there is no way Ward could’ve done that. Despite Skye herself having just been kidnapped and traumatized and literally told by Ward himself. 

It’s not until Ward hurts HIM specifically, that he actually believes it, and by then it’s too late. 

It’s just really terrible, in my opinion, to look a victim of someone directly in the eye, and say you don’t believe it or that there must have been a mistake, etc...

2. Immediately after Simmons gets back from being kidnapped on an alien planet for 6 months, Fitz takes her to a fancy restaurant for a date, without telling her. She immediately starts crying for a variety of reasons and he comforts her (which is good), but the idea of taking her to a date right after she went through a horrible ordeal and when it’s still VERY fresh, and she’s still not sleeping well, and still coping with everything, is highly insensitive, and was clearly something to just make himself better rather than her. 

Maybe he thought that would cheer her up? Except it was still insensitive on his part. 

3. While I pointed this out in the fitzsimmons section, it bears repeating. 

When Simmons is upset, because a man she admitted she loved was in literal danger on an alien planet, Fitz goes on about his suffering and “the universe splitting them apart” despite it being not the time nor place. He goes as far as to contemplate whether he should save an innocent man’s life or not. In that scene, you can see how exhausted and emotionally drained Jemma is, but he goes on and on, saying things that do nothing except make her feel guilty because...she dared have feelings for someone else? That entire scene was just him letting out all his frustrations and anger and hurt (which, understandable) on her, even though she was the one going through a rough time and his words only made her feel much worse and unfairly blame herself for things outside of her control. It’s as if he was using her as an emotional punching bag (that, is not as understandable). 

Worse, s6 makes it clear he still held a grudge against her, even though she’s the one who suffered. She’s the one who lost someone she cared about. She’s the one who grieved. She’s the one who had to deal with that. 

4. When Daisy leaves shield, after having been brainwashed, forced to hurt people she cares about, forced to go through withdrawal, forced to watch her boyfriend literally die for her (she’d spent months seeing his very last moments in her head so she even knew the exact second he died and how it happened), and after the government had decided people like her needed to be monitered and forced to sign accords that would take away some of her rights, Fitz makes it all about him. 

She’s sitting in front of him, injured, and suicidal, and clearly not doing well, and all he can do is berate her, yell at her, accuse of her of “turning her back” and “not caring”. 

He never apologizes. She’s literally yelled at, and treated like crap, while going through the worst period of her life and being in a terrible place, physically, emotionally, and mentally, and all he can do is think about himself and how he personally doesn’t like change. Talk about being a terrible friend.

Contrast that to her comforting him and standing by him at the end of s4, when he was freaking out about his actions in the framework, and... well... he was clearly being unfair to her. 

5. This one, isn’t as big of a deal because it was just something that slipped out, but like... saying “maybe getting your arms chopped off wasn’t all bad” (or something very very similar) to Yoyo, literally a few days after her surgery and after she was mutilated is just...wrong. 

It was clear he immediately recognized that he shouldn’t have said that, but holy crap, COME ON MAN!This is just moments after he was broken out of his cell (which he was placed in, for harming several other teammates.)

6. The way he treated Deke. Everyone else had clear reasons to distrust/dislike Deke at first. Fitz didn’t, yet even upon discovering Deke was HIS grandson, he tells Deke he wished someone else was his godson, and spends the rest of the season treating him like complete and utter garbage. 

I mean, I have issues with Deke’s character, but what in the hell was Fitz’s problem?? It’s not like Fitz himself was better than Deke. 

7. I’ve said before, but basically throwing the rest of the team in s7 to the wolves, and then having the audacity to go “you guys didn’t do things according to plan!” when they didn’t even know the plan. Also “no, we shouldn’t help save all of humanity in another timeline from a problem we personally brought to them and that would kill them, making their death and destruction on us, because then it would reduce our chances of success by a few percentages” 

How is this guy even real??? 

So there you have it, this was very long, but these are the reasons (with examples) of why i dislike Fitz. This isn’t to make anyone agree, and I’’’ repeat what I said earlier: I have no problems at all with fans who like Fitz. I just personally don’t. 

[toshsatos]

darkest of skies

Sleep was threatening when he spotted the light from the corner of his eye, flashing blue on the dashboard, a steady blink that made him grimace.

Another. Today, of all days.

Words: 6604 Fandom: Torchwood Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Jack Harkness/Ianto Jones Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones Additional Tags: Suspense, Unknown Enemy, Protectiveness, Hurt/Comfort, Angst

written for the creatures, witches, and cryptids prompt for @torchwoodfanfests​!

[angelsfalling16]

Thank you so much for the tags @sharing-a-room-with-an-open-fire and @foolofabookwyrm!!

I am trying really hard to keep myself from sharing any more of my COBB because I want to save it for when it’s time to post, so today, I bring to you a snippet of something that someone requested, which spun a little bit out of control (but in a good way!)

I tag @krisrix @vkelleyart @pipsqueakparker​ @annabellelux​ @carryonsimoncarryonbaz​ @bazzybelle​ @scone-lover​ @snowverylost​ @peachpit-mo​ @xivz​ @palimpsessed​ @amphipodgirl​ and anyone else who wants to do this!! <3

[clareguilty]

Last Boat Leaving

Arthur Morgan/Reader Word Count: ~2500 (I wrote this all last night it was an accident I’m sorry) Rating: T | No Warnings

“Where is she?” Arthur demanded. He shoved past Bill with a growl, storming to where Hosea and Susan were having a low, hurried conversation. 

Arthur had just returned back to camp. After grabbing a plate of stew, he asked Lenny where to find you only to learn that you were nowhere to be found, disappeared under everyone’s noses.

“Why isn’t she here?” he grabbed Hosea by the arm, spinning him roughly.

“Well Arthur,” Hosea shook his head, “we’re not quite sure where she headed off to.” He glanced to your empty tent, his hands wringing in worry. “She left before the sun came up. No one thought anything of it until Susan found her note.”

“Give it to me,” Arthur snatched the piece of paper Grimshaw was holding. It was your handwriting, loose and swirling across the page.

I’m going away for a while. Sorry I won’t be able to help out with chores, but I’ve got some things I need to take care of. I’ll come back when I can.

You hadn’t even bothered to sign the note. Arthur crumpled the paper in his fist and glared at Grimshaw.

“Did you say something to her? Did Dutch?” He whirled around, trying to figure out who, or what had driven you out of camp.

Susan raised her hands defensively, “She’s been working just fine lately. I haven’t had to say nothing to her since last week.”

Arthur looked ready to rear back, but Hosea stopped him with a firm hand on his chest. “Sean said he saw her heading northeast. She’s probably just heading up to Emerald Ranch. I’m sure we’ll hear from her in a few days.”

Arthur wasn’t convinced. He stalked off to his own wagon, kicking his chest in anger before sitting on his cot. Another folded piece of parchment was resting beside the picture of his mother. He snatched it up. The sight of your handwriting once again filled him with relief. Surely you would tell him where you were heading.

Arthur,

Sorry for leaving so suddenly. Don’t worry, I have every intention of coming back as soon as I can. I’ve got to take care of some business in Van Horn. Nasty stuff in a nasty place I guess. Don’t lose your head while I’m away, okay? Maybe I’ll bring you back a gift.

You at least had the decency to sign this one. Arthur smiled wryly at your attempt to bribe him. Of course, you would see something that reminded you of him and not be able to resist taking it.

But why were you in Van Horn? Alone? Arthur’s stomach turned as he thought about all of the horrible things that happened in that town. He couldn’t let you get hurt.

His mind was racing as he crammed supplies into his satchel. You weren’t leaving the gang -- not yet. But you had thought about it, talked about it. Arthur knew there would come a day when you would move on. Was this the beginning of that end? How much longer before he lost you forever? 

What kind of trouble had dragged you to Van Horn? A low growl and a raised fist warded off Dutch as Arthur stormed out of camp. His horse whinnied loudly as he spurred the beast into a punishing gallop. So many unanswered questions. So much fear. 

Gone since sunrise, and now it was nearly twilight. You were probably in New Hanover by now. He knew it wasn’t likely you would camp in the woods north of the swamp. You were smarter than that.

So Arthur dug in. He cut through the fields and over the hills, riding until his horse couldn’t go any further, and only resting as long as was necessary. If he was gaining ground, it didn’t feel like it.

The marsh slowed him down considerably. Picking his way through the soft ground and low trees was infuriatingly slow, and Arthur was ready to kill the next bastard that he came across as he pushed through the dark, wet terrain.

It wasn’t like Van Horn was a large town. Surely he would be able to find you once he made it to the decrepit trading post. That thought rattled around in his mind as the sun rose and began to set again. His heart twinged with fear every hour that passed without you.

At last, the sun rose over the sight of the lighthouse. The lake looked beautiful in the easy dawn; the town did not.

Just as filthy and grimy as always, Van Horn stunk and smoked among the large gray rocks. Arthur hitched his horse at the first post he came across and headed straight for the saloon.

“I ain’t seen anyone like that.” The bartender shook his head when Arthur gave him your description. “She don’t sound like she would fit in much ‘round these parts.”

Arthur snorted with assent, knocking back a shot of whiskey before making a beeline to the post office. The clerk cowered as Arthur stormed up to the window.

“Yessir,” he stammered after Arthur repeated his interrogation, “She was here just yesterday evening. Picked up a letter and sent one out to post as well.”

“Can you give me the letter?” Arthur demanded.

“What? No sir, I can not give you the letter unless your name is Jonathan O’Hare.” The clerk took on a defensive tone. 

Jonathan O’Hare? Arthur had no clue who that was.

“Did she say where she was going? Another post office to deliver to?” Arthur was leaned against the iron grate, hands gripping the bars like he was going to tear them off.

“I think it’s time for you to leave, sir.” The clerk stepped back nervously, reaching for what was very obviously a gun beneath the counter. Arthur let out a huff and stormed off.

The hotel was a dead end. No one had seen you since the post office yesterday evening and Arthur was starting to get more and more worried. Where had you stayed last night? His hands shook as he wandered back out into the street. It was closer to noon now, and more people were out and about, hungover and bitter as they wandered the muddy road.

Then he saw you. Just a flash of a skirt turning down to one of the docks. You disappeared just as quickly, hidden behind the burnt shell of a building, but Arthur knew it was you.

He took off at a sprint, barreling through the day drinkers and vagabonds as he tried to reach the pier. Skidding around the corner, he saw nothing but an old boat, rocking in the low waters of the lake's edge. Had you gone there?

The warped wood creaked under Arthur’s boots as navigated the old and rundown dock. The boat wasn’t in much better shape. It barely looked like it should stay afloat.

Arthur didn’t bother to call out as he climbed on board. Either he would find you, or he wouldn’t.

There you were, turned away from him as you scurried towards the stairs at the front of the deck. You didn’t hear his footsteps over the sound of the water and the wood. Arthur grabbed you by the shoulder, spinning you to face him.

And received a slap to the face.

“Who the hell- Arthur?” You covered your mouth with a gasp as you realized who you had just struck. “What are you doing here?”

The outlaw rubbed his jaw and groaned, stomping his foot against the rotted wood as he tried to work through the sting of your slap. “Goddamn woman,” he cursed. “You sure do got an arm on ya.”

You nodded with only a little bit of pride, flexing your arms in your sleeveless blouse. “All those chores for Grimshaw finally paid off. But that still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”

“I came to find you,” Arthur stepped forward. “I got worried when you disappeared out of nowhere. This town is a dangerous place.”

You sighed and crossed your arms. “Can’t a girl take care of her business without every outlaw in the country trying to hunt her down?”

Arthur grabbed your arms, jostling you just a little. “Is someone after you?” he asked, eyes wild and afraid.

“Not particularly no,” you brushed his hands away, “and quit grabbin’ me will ya?” You swatted at his shoulder in annoyance. “Some nasty folk tried to put me up when I was leaving Lemoyne. Guess they thought I was easy pickings all by myself like that. Had to shoot a few of them to scare them off -- not really my thing you know. They weren’t even carrying that much.” You rolled your eyes.

Arthur was dumbstruck. He stood uselessly, trying to figure out what to do now that he had finally caught up to you.

You shoved his shoulder lightly. “Go wait for me at the saloon okay? I’ll come and find you when I’m done.” You were already turning towards the stairs.

A loud bellow erupted from the boat’s upper deck. Arthur threw himself in front of you, pressing you close against his back. His hand was already on his revolver.

Heavy footsteps thudded towards the top of the staircase. Arthur waited for the person to come into view.

You were shoving against his side, trying to get him to move out of sight. Your weight was nothing against his, and he didn’t budge.

“Who the hell is down there?” a booming voice demanded.

“It’s just me,” you called back. “Some guy from town showed up, but he don’t want no trouble or nothing. I’m getting rid of him.” Your eyes pleaded desperately with Arthur.

“Just go,” you hissed. 

Arthur didn’t move.

“If he doesn’t kill you, I will.” You pushed against his chest.

The man appeared at the top of the stairs. He was broad and bald. A long, full beard covered his frown, but Arthur could see the anger in his dark, beady eyes. “Who the hell are you?” he demanded.

“Arthur.”

“Well, Arthur, get off my boat.” He leaned against the deck railing, staring down at the outlaw as you glanced worriedly between the two men.

“I will once I learn what your business is with the young lady here,” Arthur nodded to you.

The man scoffed. “Our business ain’t none of your business. Now leave before I come down there and make you.”

“Please go,” you said.

“See,” the bearded man gestured to you, “even she wants you to stay out of this.”

Arthur took a step towards the stairs. You threw yourself against his chest, boots digging into the wood as you tried to push him back. He wrapped an arm around you and lifted you, turning to set you down behind him as he marched up the stairs. The two men stood face to face, dark eyes against blue ones. The bearded man raised his fists, ready to fight. A knife gleamed in his right hand.

Arthur drew his own knife, moving forward into the other man’s space. He raised his hands to block, ready to fight even without cause.

The bearded man moved in, swiping his knife towards Arthur’s gut. Arthur deflected the blow and landed a punch across the man’s jaw. He staggered back but was only stunned momentarily before pushing back in with another swipe of his blade.

“Stop!” you screamed, pulling back the hammer of your revolver. You had flown up the stairs as soon as the fighting started, unsure how to separate the two men without getting yourself killed in the process.

Both men turned to face you. You aimed your revolver at the bearded man, who appeared surprised by the betrayal.

“Really?” he asked in disbelief. “You would pick this stranger over me?”

“He ain’t a stranger,” you shook your head. “He’s ten times the man you’ll ever be.”

“Is that so? You little harlot. Got bored of me, so naturally, you had to seduce the next thing that walked on by. I wouldn’t be surprised if you fucked a horse just feel like something actually wanted ya,” the man sneered.

Arthur recoiled in shock. Who was this man? How did you know him? His words made Arthur's blood boil, and he tackled the man, sinking his knife into flesh. The two grappled for a moment, grunting as the bearded man tried to get his own knife into Arthur’s gut. 

You cried out as Arthur shoved forward, pushing the bearded man until he toppled over the edge of the upper deck. You heard a crash and then a splash as he fell into the lake below.

Arthur panted and turned to face you. He was winded but unscathed. You ran to his side, pulling him away from the edge of the deck and throwing your arms around his chest.

He held you, pulling you in close as you gasped and sobbed into his shirt. He helped you down the stairs, shielding your eyes as you passed the lifeless body floating in the water. He helped you all the way to the saloon where he sat you down.

Taking the seat across from you, he cleared his throat. “Not that I regret killing that sack of shit, but I do think you owe me a bit of an explanation about what happened back there.”

You nodded, trying to even out your breathing. Arthur waited patiently as you calmed down.

“My family was killed by the Raiders when I was still a girl.” Arthur nodded; he knew that much. “After they died, Roger found me -- the man on the boat. He promised to take care of me until I could get myself settled, but he didn’t actually want me to do that. He tried to keep me with him -- make me work like I was his wife or something. I wound up running away while he was passed out drunk. I stole a bunch of his shit when I was on the way out.”

You worried the fabric of your blouse. “Hosea picked me up a few months later. I’ve been, uh- I’ve been hiding money from Dutch. I needed to pay Roger back. He said if I didn’t bring the money to Van Horn, then he would come and kill me. Everything would be over.”

“Everything is over now,” he promised, taking your hand in his.

“I guess I should give Dutch his money,” you sniffled.

“Nah,” Arthur smiled, “You earned that stuff. Just make sure you have a good hiding place.”

“You didn’t have to come after me,” you said, looking past Arthur, “but I think I’m glad you were there.”

“You are certainly strong enough to handle yourself,” he said. “I just don’t want you to have to do these things alone. You have a family now.”

Tears welled in your eyes again. “Thank you.”

“Do you want to get a room here? The hotel ain’t that nice, but it’s four walls and a roof.”

You nodded. “I may need a drink first, though.”

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 5

[raendown]

Can you do Shusui x Obito?"Are you going to leave me here?To die as if I'm nothing? " Angst?

He knew there was someone there. Shisui was one of the best shinobiof his own generation, had been referred to as a rising star by more than oneof his ANBU superiors; he had more than enough skills to rely on even now thatboth of his eyes were gone. That were was someone else close by was easy enoughfor someone like him to figure out.

What was less easy to figure out was his current location.Shisui’s last memory was of falling, the sound of water crashing down aroundhim and the aching emptiness where his eyes used to be, hot blood sticky on hischeeks. He supposed he must have blacked out on the way down because the memorydid not include his inevitable landing in the pool at the bottom of thewaterfall and since he did not feel as though he were floating it seemedlogical to assume that someone had pulled him out before he drowned.

Harsh irregular breathing could be heard somewhere nearby,the sound of exertion or perhaps ragged anxiety and messy emotions. The air hewas breathing smelled damp and fresh and matched perfectly with the cricketsand faint traces of wildlife he could hear beyond the unknown person’s gasping.A light breeze across his skin confirmed that he was most likely outsidesomewhere, a chill on his skin telling him that he probably hadn’t been out ofthe water all that long.

A short time ago Shisui had been prepared to die rather thanwatch the destruction of his clan. He was still prepared to die now.

“Who-?” his attempt at demanding the stranger’s identity wascut off by his own hoarse throat, somehow parched despite having recently beensubmerged in water.

“You were always too kind,” a voice growled, sounding bothtoo young and too old. Shisui frowned. He felt as though he should haverecognized that voice but his thoughts were muddled, his senses running on pureinstinct. “That was stupid of you, giving Itachi your eye.”

“He’s the only one who can do it,” Shisui whispered and itwas as though all the weight of the current events were suddenly pressing downon his chest. “I tried but I couldn’t do it. They wouldn’t listen. Itachi isgoing to kill them all because there’s no other way to stop them but I couldn’twatch. I couldn’t make him kill me too.”

Barely aware he had started to ramble, Shisui was cut off bya feral sounding snarl that would have made him jump if his muscles had theslightly structural integrity at the moment. His entire body felt as though itwere made up of badly bruised gelatin.

“I could stop them,” the voice said. Shisui nearly sobbed.

“Do it,” he whispered. “Please. They are my people andthey’re wrong but they don’t deserve to die. Not the children. Not the elderly.Not the civilians. Why should they die?”

“Would you not take up the blade yourself if it would forgethe path to the perfect world?”

Shisui’s body wracked with shivers and he tried to shake hishead. “There is no reality in which murder can lead to a perfect world. Thereis no such thing as a perfect world,only compromise. My people don’t understand that – even the Hokage has failedto think of a way to make them see. Everything is wrong and I don’t…I don’twant to see it.”

He probably could have worked himself up to a much longerspeech filled with more half-coherent nonsense but he was cut off again by thesound of rustling fabric as the stranger rose to their feet. Then came thelight sound of grass brushing against legs and light footsteps which told himthat his only company was walking away. Shisui was dying on the ground in anunknown part of an unknown forest, wet and cold, disoriented and in pain, andanother sob escaped him. His fingers twitched in a failed attempt to reach out.

“Are you just going to leave me here?” he asked quietly. “Todie as if I’m nothing?”

The footsteps paused and turned back, returning to his side.For a single moment he felt relief flood through him until the stranger spokeagain and the taste of ashes filled his mouth.

“You didn’t want to see, Cousin. But you will someday. Youwill all see someday. Today your death will be quick and when I bring about theperfect world I will make sure you have a place in it. I promise.”

“No…” If Shisui still had his eyes they would have widened,panic clutching at his chest. That voice.

“As I said, you were always too kind.”

“Obito…!”

“Goodbye, cousin. We will meet again.”

Shisui’s last memory was of cold steel against the skin ofhis throat and warm blood rushing, spilling, gasping. He did not feel thefingers which traced his face and gently held his chin. He did not hear thedesperate reassurances that this was truly all for the greater good. And he didnot see the single tear hidden behind a black and orange mask, trickling fromthe side of a ruined eye socket and going largely unnoticed as Obito shook hishead and stood.

No one but the stars and the crickets would ever know theresting place of Uchiha Shisui, cold and damp and alone in the forest. When thenight began he had been prepared to die by his own hand.

He never expected to die by another, by the hand of a boy hehad once loved.

[cyberpunklesbian]

Short Story: A Christmas Party

This is an interactive fiction short story taking place during the timespan of “Pageant”. Our protagonist Karen Zhao is taken by her parents to a Christmas Eve party.

https://red-autumn.itch.io/a-christmas-party?secret=0mFJBOLbIlNYFVHNG7maVterO4