(Long Time No See, Huh? Welcome Back To Everyone Whos Still Here!! I Was In A Pretty Awful Headspace

(Long time no see, huh? Welcome back to everyone who’s still here!! 😊🖤 I was in a pretty awful headspace last year and couldn’t bring myself to write anything. But here I am, back on track with the goal of being more active and doing what makes me happy!! ☺️

This prompt is for @chaosgoose! 🤗 It took me an awful lot of time to write it, so I hope you’re still on board to see it! 🥺 Please enjoy! 🖤)

(❗TW: Blood, Explicit Physical/Emotional Violence, Sadistic Behaviour❗)

#11 - Unmasked

[Hero] could only stare when [Villain] collapsed onto the concrete pavement, their ragged body not being able to hold them up for longer.

Is this possible…?, they asked themself.

Had they finally defeated them?

It didn’t seem real, but the crimson light of the evening poured down mercilessly onto the broken figure and, indeed, illuminated every ounce of [Villains] defeated body.

It proved that [Heros] dream had finally come true: [Villains] existence was ending right here between shattered glass, splatters of blood and wasted ammunition. This was the end of a fucking eternity. A violent and bloody game of cat and mouse.

And now, [Hero] had won.

They had won and [Villain] was stripped off every dirty achievement they had worked for in their entire useless life.

It felt so unreal. Here they stood, their own personal hell finally coming to a halt and [Hero] still couldn’t believe it. They had nearly lost their mind while hunting this piece of shit down; had rejected friends and their family. Everything to finally put this to a stop. There weren’t enough words to describe what [Hero] had gone trough to get to this point. To finally defeat [Villain].

And now, they’ve fucking won.

Victory.

Sweet, liberating victory.

Euphoria.

Triumph.

Relief.

All at once, these feelings befell them and reduced [Heros] previous numbness to nothing.

It was fucking over. [Hero] had disposed [Villain]. They were still standing while their enemy was bleeding out on the dirty pavement, as helpless as an infant. Defenseless and alone.

[Hero] felt lighter than a feather.

Satisfaction.

The recent memory of every blow [Hero] had delivered, every bone they had broken to get to this point made them feel dizzy with triumph. Hell, [Hero] had enjoyed breaking this piece of shit down into a useless pile of human flesh, ready to be eradicated from life.

[Villains] breathing was slow and shallow, probably from the ribs [Hero] had broken. Every breath must’ve pained their nemesis to an unimaginable extend and [Hero] bathed in that knowledge.

Because the worthless asshole deserved it. They fucking deserved it.

[Hero] knew they shouldn’t like this. Seeing [Villain] in pain shouldn’t feel so damn good. They should be neutral. Impartial and non-commited.

This was supposed to be a job, nothing more.

It always felt like those doubts weren’t really their own. Like it was only the influence of their friends, of [Best Friend] in particular, that made [Hero] hold back their violence. Their social environment was the barrier between them and the overwhelming urge to hurt those criminals as much as they hurt other people.

If it weren’t for their friends, [Hero] would loose the control over the anger inside of them.

The seething hatred for scum like [Villain].

Because these assholes deserved to be treated just the same way as they treated their victims.

They were evil and never cared about the damage they did to the people around them.

They hurt other with no prior motive but their own sadistic needs.

And that’s why [Hero] hated them. Everything about them.

Their narcicisstic manner, their ruthlessness, their cruel and corrupt actions. [Hero] hated the way people like [Villain] talked and hated the fact that they were able to run away for so long. Hated that [Villain] hid their true identity behind the fucking mask they wore.

That damn mask.

It was a simple black coverage above [Villains] actual face. The people that had encountered the criminal never got to see who was really threathening, hurting and murdering them. Even the mugshots only showed the blank piece of synthetic that covered their face, as if to underline the inferiority of the forces.

The sheer inability to look behind [Villains] façade was something that had kept [Hero] up at night.

Because every stranger could potentionally be the enemy. People who passed them on the street, people who waited on tables, people that led normal, civilian lifes. Everyone and no one could be [Villain] and it had been driving [Hero] insane, because they weren’t able to tell.

Well, until now.

You’re on the good side.

[Hero] shook their head.

No. They simply lacked the fucking empathy for people like [Villain] that kept investing all of their time to make this world more miserable than it already was.

It felt good to give this trash some of its’ own medicine, because they sure as hell did enough damage to everything they put their filthy hands on.

You shouldn’t see it like this. Everyone deserves a second chance.

Yeah, that definitely was the voice of [Best Friend]. [Hero] had often told them that they should’ve become a priest instead of working in the same hellhole of an organisation that [Hero] did their duty in.

It wasn’t made for people who thought it was possible to give criminal trash like [Villain] a chance of redemption.

They just didn’t deserve it.

[Best friend] was a good person, but too naïve to understand.

They don’t deserve to be seen as humans.

A weak cough brought them back to reality.

Right… [Villain].

They had managed to turn onto their back and faced the sanguineous sky, their features still hidden behind their mask.

New anger flooded [Heros] veins at the sight: [Villain] shouldn’t be able to move. They should squirm in angony.

Spitefully, they made their way towards them.

“You’re not so brave now, huh?”, [Hero] jeered and closed the distance between themself and [Villain].

When they saw the twitch in their enemies body, they knelt down, grabbed them by the collar and pulled them up harshly. [Villain] groaned in pain. God, they hoped it hurt.

“Took me long enough to get you.”

“L-let go…”, [Villain] hissed, trying to move away from [Hero], “You’ve got what you want. Call your pimps and… F-finish it.” Their hoarse voice was slightly static from the mask.

“Why the hurry?”, [Hero] asked, lit with a so far unknown kind of destructive energy, “You’ve got the rest of your life to rot in a shitty cell. Let me enjoy my victory first before they lock you up.”

[Villain] wanted to say something, but [Hero] dumped them back on the pavement. Broken bones hit hard concrete and [Villain] gasped violently for air. It felt like justice.

“The fact that everyone left isn’t so bad anymore”, [Hero] said chattily and put their feet onto [Villains] chest, pressing hard enough to compress their fractured ribs, “It’s just you and me.”

“You…-! You fuckin’ asshole!”, [Villain] wheezed. They hadn’t got the strength left to struggle. In the dying light, [Hero] saw the blood that colored [Villains] mask darker around their mouth. It sputtered out with every move they made with their foot.

“It surprises me that you haven’t bothered to take that stupid thing off…”, [Hero] said and leaned down to let their index finger wander over [Villains] mask. They took in their enemies’ angry hiss with indifference.

“Now that I think about it: I never knew what you looked like… Don’t you think it’s unfair that you know everything about my identity, while I don’t know shit about yours?”

The shocked gasp of [Villain] was beyond satisfying. [Hero] pushed their fingers underneath the black mask and [Villain] vainly tried to turn their head away.

“N-no…!!”, they managed, but it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough to possibly stop [Hero] from taking their sweet revenge.

“You’re so emotional”, [Hero] mocked, “What, are you so ugly? Or do you have a family to protect?”

When [Villain] didn’t give an answer, they just laughed and gripped the mask in their fist. “Well, whatever”, they purred, “Let’s see who fought me for so long.”

[Villains] desperation was intoxicating. When they pulled the fabric down with a slow tug, their enemy writhed violently.

“No [Hero]!!”, [Villain] screamed and it sounded like fucking music in their ears, “Stop!! Stop it, [Hero], pleas-”

They didn’t get to finish the sentence. With a last and satisfiying pull, [Hero] ripped the mask off and-

And looked into familiar eyes.

“Wha…-”

A familiar face, covered in blood.

[Villain] tried to quirm away but [Hero] grabbed their chin and turned the criminals’ face towards themself.

“W-What is this…?”, they stuttered, carelessly letting go of the mask in their hand.

The silence was deafening.

They looked into blazing eyes. Eyes that [Hero] had always associated with light and kindness.

Eyes [Hero] thought they knew.

“Tell me what the fuck this is”, they demanded, tightening their grip on [Villains] chin.

The blood was already starting to dry.

The sun was gone beneath the horizon.

The city empty, hollowed.

“Tell me what this is…”, [Hero] repeated, not at all interested in their victory anymore.

“…[Best Friend].”

Let's all just appreciate @evilbuildingsblog for giving the best inspo for Villain mansions! 😎🖤

I mean...

Just look... 🙄

...At this! 😍👌

You are so helpful to write a setting with a glowy, dark and powerful atmosphere! 😁🖤

I think Iroh is the perfect example of a person that radiates opportunism and moral flexibility:

Just as @lbibliophile-atla says, he adapts accordingly to any situation given to him and strives for the biggest personal benefit the particular context can provide him with. He's a Fire Nation Royal? Okay, big military-career, expanding social status, climbing the hirarchy. He's declared traitor by said nation only a few years later and is on the run with his nephew? Alright, fleeing to the city that's most secure at that time, it is. The war is tipping to the disadvantage of the Fire Nation? No problem, Iroh already took precautions for that by joining the White Lotus and playing on two sides a long time ago.

Iroh doesn't seem to be tied to any deeper loyalties or ethics, allowing him to adapt to every circumstance that his life is throwing him into. This makes it possible for him to take on any moral code and behaviour that's fitting the context: Joking about burning Ba Sing Se to the ground and being emotionally invested in liberating it years later isn't that inauthentic, if Iroh sees it as two seperate situations that each needed different behaviour from him.

He doesn't care about Fire Nation ideology. He doesn't care about Ba Sing Se. He cares about things that benefit him in the respective situation.

But does that mean that Iroh, former Fire Nation General, war criminal, teashop-owner and White Lotus member is free of any moral compass? Is everything he does solely for his own - and only his own - benefit?

I'd say, not exclusively.

His opportunistic behavior is immediately stalled when his family is involved: Iroh instantly stopped the invasion of Ba Sing Se when Lu Ten died. He sailed together with Zuko into exile when Zukos own father had mutilated and banished him. Both of these actions were really contraproductive from an opportunistic point of view, but Iroh chose them anyway.

Why?

Because the people he cares about outweigh his ambition to gain the highest personal profit.

Iroh didn't care about soldiers and civilians dying in Ba Sing Se, but he drew the line when his own son became one of the many people who lost their live in the battle. Only then he saw the invasion as a mistake. Not because thousands were killed under his command before, but because Lu Ten became a victim to the war he had greatly contributed to. He doesn't care about the cruel ideology of the Fire Nation, just until his beloved nephew falls victim to it.

Irohs morale is not tied to right and wrong. It's tied to himself and the people he cares about.

So yeah, @gaylord-zuko, I think he didn't really redeem himself or was a good person in general. He was smart, a good strategist and highly capable of adapting to his enviroment. What makes him morally grey is the fact that the love for his family outweighs his Machiavellism and leads him to some of the right decisions.

Hot take: Iroh didn’t actually get a redemption arc in ATLA.

Zuko’s redemption required him to admit that his previous actions were wrong and to do whatever it took to make up for them.

Iroh did a lot of good things to help the protagonists, but we never saw him take ownership of the damage he caused as an imperialist. The way he switches gears once he’s living in the Earth Kingdom and starts valuing the people he was trying to destroy without any acknowledgment of the change makes it seem like…maybe he knew what he was doing was wrong the whole time. Which kind of makes it worse? To me, anyway.

I don’t know, I’m just suspicious of his “redemption” because, unlike Zuko, he never took responsibility for the suffering he inflicted on others despite the fact that he’d been going at it for much longer than Zuko. He admits that the Fire Nation has done terrible things, but he never takes personal responsibility for his own actions. Just because Iroh is a kind and loving person doesn’t mean he’s absolved himself of his crimes.

I’d love other peoples’ input on this if you feel like it!

it be like that

#1 - Mind control

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” [Hero] screamed as they desperately tried to push [Sidekick] away from them.

What had happened in the past few hours? Why would their best friend try to attack them? After years of working together, after years of trusting each other!

But [Sidekick] didn’t answer and went for another punch into [Heroes] face. This time, [Hero] was prepared enough to catch the fist that was flying towards them.

After some moments of struggling, they managed to get hold of [Sidekicks] wrists, pinning their partner on the wall. [Sidekick] only gave a painfilled gasp and tried their hardest to get rid of the firm grip that hold them in place.

“Let go, you fucking bastard!” [Sidekick] hissed. The plain disgust in their voice shocked [Hero].

“Why are you doing this?!” [Hero] could not hide the pain in their voice. “Why are you fighting me?!”

But when they looked at [Sidekicks] face, all they could see was hatred.

Why do all the sexy villains hold their wine glasses between their fingers like this