#I still... don't know anyone's frickin names in this show...

[shikai-the-storyteller]

I don't think I've said it yet but I frickin love this girl so much

(I also loved this exchange LMAO)

[violetjedisylveon]

Rotten Fruit Character Profiles - Sun Paramita

The firstborn child between Macaque and Wukong, Paramita was thought to be a single baby until his twin made her dramatic announcement after he was born.

His adult fur color is the same as Wukong's, physically he's a curlier furred Wukong with six ears.

Sexuality:

Demi sexual gay

Personality:

To most people, he's stoic, cold, and nearly emotionless. He's always cool and collected with an air of professionalism about him.

To his family, he's expressive and emotional with his heart in his sleeve, they can read him like a frickin billboard. He's very subtle with his expressions, not intentionally that's just how he is, his ears are the real key to how he's feeling and every twitch or movement has a different meaning to how he feels.

The most emotion he shows is a little smile, to his family that's a big, giddy toothy grin. He's extremely supportive and passionate of his family, they would call him their little cheerleader when he was little, and he's very empathetic to how his family is feeling.

He knows when something's wrong, whether that be sickness, his Papa having a bad pain day, someone's period is starting, whatever, and he'll be with that person until they tell him to go. He really loves his family and wants to make the hard things they are going through better in whatever ways he can.

Fitting his name, he's a perfectionist, but more in the way of failure teaches you how to do better than 1 failure meaning you are worthless. He wants to get things to be the best they can be, there is always room for improvement.

He's brutally honest and extremely good at picking up on people's flaws and insecurities, he doesn't hesitate to point those things out, it's usually not out of malice, more of an “I observed this thing about you and want to make sure you know about it”, he's trying to help. People don't tend to take it well.

He is, however, capable of weaponizing this. He only does it to people he thinks deserve it or who fuck with his family.

He really doesn't like bullies, he doesn't usually get violent, he prefers words over fists, but anyone insulting or flirting with his baba is getting hit.He really hates the way monkey demons and lotus eared macaques are treated, he has a very strong sense of justice and fairness so their mistreatment really pisses him off, especially because his parents suffered so much from it.

And he really doesn't like how living in that world like that affected his older siblings, Chao-Xing through Luohou still almost always wear headscarves when they go out, despite being old enough to be safe, they never leave the house alone, and seem to always be at least a little on edge when they are out.

He really cares about his siblings and really doesn't like the world that treats them like trophies or prizes to be won. He feels a bit of guilt over growing up in a world, or at least a city that is slightly safer than his siblings did, it isn't fair they grew up constantly looking over their shoulders.

He has a strong internal moral code and he won't associate with anyone who violates his personal morals.He gets along well with most of his siblings, Tao and Lizi were the closest in age to him and his twin for a long time so they were always close, and he gets along very well with his little sisters and brother, he's very protective of them and doesn't want them to experience any of the bad things he or his siblings have.

He does not get along with his twin very well, there's no malice or bad blood between them, it's just they have very different personalities, he's a perfectionist, Ziqi is not, and he gets annoyed with the way she handles the situations they're in, she doesn't take them seriously.

He doesn't like this much, he wants to be closer with his sister but he doesn't know what he can do to change it, they're like night and day.

He's extremely proud of his ears and always has been, he had six ears like his Baba and his jiě jie, why wouldn't he be proud of that? He doesn't like that he has to hide his ears for his own safety, and he hates the looks he gets while he's out with his ears covered. He knows it's important, he's got very young siblings who need to be protected, but he hates it.

He's got big ambitions to change things, and he's planning on using everything at his disposal to do it, including the ears that others have been enslaving his people over.

He also really fucking hates Xiangliu. He is the biggest Xiangliu hater in the family after Yuebei. Xiangliu was really creepy around him as a kid, and the dude has done absolutely deplorable stuff to his family, and they can't do shit about him because they're in debt to him.

Biggest Xiangliu hater.

He's the worst flirt in the entire family, he can't flirt for shit, or handle be flirted with because he just turns into a puddle of gay blushing monkey, the gay panic is real.

Likes:

Encouraging his family

Seeing his family's shows and performances

Politics and law

His ears, he's very proud of them

Weaving

Being with his family

Granddadsy's cooking

Taste testing Luzhen's pastries

Scheming with Chao-Xing

His siblings' pranks

Sweet foods

Dislikes:

Xiangliu

His family being in debt to Xiangliu

Xiangliu being creepy about him, his baba, Wei-Chen and Chao-Xing

His sister's “contract”

Monkey demon discrimination

LEM hunters and traffickers

Mangosteen (he's got a mild allergy)

His family being targeted

Being kidnapped/held hostage

Immortal politicians and lawmakers

Wearing his headscarf

Evil textures

Hobbies:

Political scheming

Screwing with Xiangliu

Joining his siblings in their hobbies

Weaving with his papa

Sneaking sweets

Goals:

Dissolve his family's debts to Xiangliu

Get rid of Xiangliu

Fully illegalize the hunting and trafficking of LEMs

Get LEM “adoption” recognized for what it is(slavery) and banned(new world building dump:)

Over turn the Justice system that screwed over his Papa.

Closest/Favorite sibling:

Chao-Xing, he wanted to be just like her when he was little, and she's the only one he can scheme with on a political level.

Closest/Favorite parent:

Diplomatically says he doesn't have one.

Favorite fruit:

Persimmon

Trauma scale:

On a scale of 1-10, how traumatized is he?

6, he has the Snake Boi gunning for him, and was nearly kidnapped by the guy a couple times when he was 5, which led to the situation his family is in now.

He's got a really big sweet tooth. And yes, he is wearing a skirt.

Liu'er as a name is taboo to use so none of Macaque's kids with Wukong got that name.

@sakurablossoms-world the boy is done!

Previous (Lizi)

Next (Ziqi)

Rotten Fruit AU Masterpost

[wewebaggit]

Mike being depressed is something Finn talked about himself so I don't think it can be considered as fanon even though the show doesn't take time to highlight that cause it only treats Mike as El's bf. I mean we don't know the dynamic of Willel well in order to be able to say who El would save if Will and Mike were in danger but it's clear that the Willel reunion was more emotional than the S4 reunion of Mileven (actors' dynamic??).

It's kind surprising that your fav paring is Duzie when we never saw Dustin and Suzie together. Not to mention how each time Dustin talks about her, he has to point out her intelligence like is that the only thing that made him date her ?(except for the fact that he is desperate af to get a partner). That pairing is non-existent in the show. Personally, I think the couple that would have lasted on our world would be Boyce.

Idgaf what Finn said. He's been wrong before. Actors on that show, especially the kids have not always been on the mark about their own characters. Also, as I answered another anon, the depressed here is just the layman dumbification of depressed. It's not a mental health issue because it hasn't been handled that way like you yourself have admitted. Can't J K Rowling this shit. Put it in or stfu.

Again. We dunno the willel dynamic cuz there isn't one. You're just reiterating my point that the willel closeness is fanon. When in canon she does not find comfort in Will's words. Nor is she considerate of him at Rink o mania. Will too on his part doesn't seem to be chummy with her (or anyone) being in his sad boy era. I'm not talking about life or death situation type of choice. That's always hard and I wouldn't put blame on any character for making what is a difficult choice no matter what the options. I'm talking about finding comfort and strength. N she still relies on Mike for that over Will. Willel reunion being more emotional is subjective. To me there was nothing that jumped out that way. Will and El are criers. So yes there were tears in that scene. Also it was a Noah n MBB acting choice I feel. (not that it matters bt there was hardly any writing for them. they kinda put in the work themselves according to MBB)

I do mention my fave pairing is Duzie cuz it seems real. What's wrong with him praising her intelligence? He's a smart boy himself. Makes sense for him to date someone intellectually compatible with him. Also desperate for a gf is exactly why I like Duzie. They're 13-14. They're silly with their pet names. Helping change bad grades. Making out. Being corny af. Singing a frickin duet. They're not out there giving monologues or bearing the brunt of their partner's bad mood like they're in some adult marriage. They're silly. They're not co-dependent. Dustin managed to keep Suzie out of all this mess and she's still saved the world twice. He genuinely likes her. As can be seen by the advice he gives Steve in season 3. They both have a life and interests and convictions beyond just each other. All this chemistry in frickin split screen. I don't see how that pairing is non-existent. Boyce on the other hand. Joyce never liked him romantically. He was her ticket to a stable life. She obviously cared about him. But she didn't have to make those faces while being around him as if he forced her to be with him. You're right. IRL it would work maybe. But this is fiction and I don't care about the longevity of the coupling. Not even that they gotta be healthy. Just interesting and well written. Which Boyce weren't. In fact Boyce is non - existent the moment Bob drops dead. Joyce and Will forgot him so quickly. He's barely mentioned. We keep talking about these people's traumas or whatever. But they're walking fairly comfortably around death.

[sweetlikehoneystingslikeabee]

Nothing naughty or romantic here, but how would Killer Croc react to a group of kids thinking he's super cool because they think he's a dinosaur? They're not scared at all or being rude, they're just in awe. "Fuck Barney, this guy could wreck Barney's shit!"

Killer Croc in the Park

So. I ended up writing a short fic.

Tw: ableism, not particularly dark but unfortunately related directly to his appearance, implication of past drug addiction/abuse

When Killer Croc got to the park that day, he was already in a terrible mental space. He got released from Arkham on rehabilitation. Again. And again he found the outside world just as hostile as before to anyone that didn't fit their mold. Another job interview that ended before he could even get a word out.

Maybe he should try going back to sideshow gigs. The wrestling paid alright. It was that or stealing shit- not that he thought himself suddenly above it. But he's not fucking crazy like they say.

He knows the consequences of what will happen if he goes down that road again. The only time he seems to feel any kind of peace anymore is at the park. He can sit and no one bugs him. It's peaceful. He can watch the ducks.

What he didn't realize is that today he sat closer to a playground in the park than he normally would have. The moment this becomes apparent is when he sees a small girl running in front of him and then eating shit into the dirt and rocks. Before he can really stop himself, he's grabbing her up by the scruff of her shirt with his talons and setting her down on her feet.

As he speaks, the hint of a creole accent slips through, "You better watch it. Could get hurt." His voice is graveled and low- the result of teen smoking combined with his condition wreaking havoc on his vocal folds.

When her eyes open wide, he prepares himself for the screaming. That he's a monster. Scary. There's been many times he's made children cry just by his appearance. Got used to it when... that all started.

Instead of a frightened shriek, it's one of delight, "Are you a dinosaur?!"

He pauses. What. There's a moment he wants to tell her to fuck off. To scram.

He hesitates for a moment before clearing his rumbling throat, "Kid, you really think I'm a dinosaur?"

She nods, "Well- not one I've ever seen. And I've seen a LOT- my mom takes me to the museum a lot and- oh! OH! Hold on-! Don't go, okay?" She speaks so quickly he can't even get another word in edgewise. Then she's running off.

He figures she's just hyperactive until he sees a mob of small humans rushing towards him. Oh fuck, there's more of them. In an instant, the children surround him, staring. After the day he's had, he doesn't want to feel like he's on display. He's ready to stomp off when the little girl steps forward and speaks to the others, "I told you! This is my new friend, isn't he cool?"

"Is he a dinosaur?! Like... like Barney...?" A shy little boy asks.

Another boy crows, "Fuck Barney, he could wreck Barney's shit!"

Croc almost growls, "Watch your fff- frickin' mouth! Outta wash your mouth out with soap!" He points a talon and the cursing boy wilts.

"Sorry..." the kid looks nervous and now he feels bad.

"Don't be sorry," he says, "Just watch it. Too many... You're too little." He feels weird scolding children. It's not something he's done since he scolded younger cousins when he still lived nearby.

Another child in the group chirps, "What's your name?"

He almost answers his criminal name. Almost. It's what most know him as now. Yet as all these young faces look him he can't help but mumble, "...Waylon."

The girl is sitting next to him, "I knew that! My friend, Waylon."

He can't help but laugh, "Oh, yeah? Why don't I know your name, then?"

"Ella. I just forgot to tell you." She shrugs, "'Sides it was WAY more important to show you my other friends."

"Oh." He snorts, "What, you guys all like dinosaurs?" His grin is sharp and toothy. It doesn't quite look right with his lack of "lips." He can see one of the other kids looks nervous.

He stops smiling.

"Uhh um..." Ella seems to think, "Not Susie, Ethan or... Bobby. But they're not going to be mean to a new friend."

"Haven't your parents ever told you not to talk to strangers?" He finally asks.

"Yeah but that's like. Creepy people." One of the other kids is almost laughing at him, "You're not creepy people. You'd eat creepy people!"

He looks off to the side. They have no idea that he's actually tasted human flesh. Definitely not something they ever need to know, actually. Not exactly something he's proud of.

But he grins again, "Right I would. Especially if they try to hurt kids." That gets them excited.

"I bet I could fit my whole head in your mouth!" Another kid announces, "That's SO COOL!"

Before he knows it, he has several children hanging off his arms as he carries them around. Being above 7ft tall he can definitely get them high up off the ground. Swinging them lightly and safely. A couple of the more shy ones he lets them touch his ridges and claws. He's not surprised that several of the parents look over and seem frighted. Ushering their own children away. Yet none of these little beasts. It's only after about an hour and they're all laying in the sun talking that they start to get called to leave. One by one, they all laugh and tell him goodbye- that they'll see him soon!

Its just him and Ella now.

"Where's your mom?"

"Oh. She's right over there. Watching." The little girl points to a nearby tree where a woman sits on a bench, reading. She waves as the pair look over.

He hums, "How come she ain't scared? None of your parents..." he shrugs.

The question seems to confuse the girl, "Why would they be scared...? Oh. 'Cause they might be scared of dinosaurs, huh? That's for babies." She squints at the sun. She looks up. Croc looks up. Ella's mother is approaching.

"Hey, squirt." She smiles, "Having fun? I hope you haven't been bugging this nice man."

The little girl immediately goes into a ramble about all the things she did with her new friend and obviously she's not bugging him. Croc gets up off the ground and stares down at them both. Awkward. Why is this woman not acting the way others do?

The moment her daughter stops, the woman turns to him, "Nice to meet you, I'm Lenore." She reaches her hand out for him to shake.

He looks at her hand nervously, "I don't uh... I don't shake hands. I'm Waylon." He shows his claws and she takes back her hand.

"Sorry. Thank you so much for humoring the kids. They're a handful." She laughs and tilts her head.

"Nah, no- it's... it's no problem." He says softly. He looks around. When was the last time he had a pleasant conversation with someone where they just treated him like a normal person?

Too long.

He finally broaches the subject, "You all seem. Pretty okay with... with a freak playing with your kids."

Her brows move to sympathy and she shakes her head, "You're not- oh, please don't think that. Look. The truth is, it's a bunch of us parents that regularly bring our kids to the park. At first, yeah, we were kind of nervous when we first saw you." She shrugs and he winces.

But then she continues, "Derrick, he works in IT, Tim's dad, he did research that you were... rehabilitated. And some people were still weird about it... but then we noticed something."

He waits with baited breath, "What did you notice? Did I do something?"

Finally, Lenore shrugs, "It's not something you did. It's Gotham. And what we noticed is that suddenly- the park was way safer once you started hanging out. I mean. At least one of us would have something stolen, like, once a month. Creeps, super villains. Maybe it wasn't your intention, but hey. None of us are going to complain."

"And uh... the kids?" He motions to Ella who is already running and buzzing around them.

"Oh, she..." the woman is trying to think of a way to say it without offending him.

He gets it, "I look like a dinosaur. They like dinosaurs."

"She's crazy about them right now." She says, apologetic, "Just obsessed. And you know, we took all of them to the natural history museum so right now that's all they want to talk about- I'm... really sorry if they offended you."

It makes him smile, "It's not the worst thing I've been called. They're sweet kids."

Her smile in return is sweet, "Thank you. There's a lot of different people in the world. They need to know that."

"Yeah... yeah, there are." There's a moment he thinks briefly that if more parents were like these ones, maybe growing up wouldn't have been so bad for him. He's not going to say that, but the thought is there.

After a moment of silence, she clears her throat, "So hey. Waylon. Did you know that the uh. Playground here and the daycare are owned by the same guy?"

He shrugs, "Not to state the obvious, I'm not exactly a guy who pays attention to that."

"...Right. Well. Long story short, my uncle does. And..." she looks awkward herself, "I don't want to assume anything. But if you were ever looking for a job, I think I could put in a good word."

He scoffs, "As what? Hiding under the beds at naptime to be the bogeyman?"

That makes her laugh, "God, no! As an attendant. Kind of like security but a lot of it you're just watching them. At the actual daycare, on the playground. Ella hangs out there when I'm working and she's not at school..."

It's a strange idea for him. Working with kids? With his face? Jesus, he can't think of a job he'd be less qualified for.

She's quick to wave her hand, "I'm sure you have better offers. I'm probably coming off like some kind of ass- jerk." She's quick to correct herself. As the woman rubs her arm, he sees what he thinks are faint raised scars in the pit of her elbow.

When she notices him looking, she shrugs, "It can be hard raising yourself back up. Second chances are hard. Or third chances, or fourth..."

His eyes grow softer, "I hear that. How long did it take you?"

"She was three when I finally made my chance stick." Lenore smiles, "I know it's different but..."

He puts his hands up, "I'm not judging you, believe me. I uh... thanks... for sharing that. If you don't mind, I think I'd like an interview."

There's another pause between them. Then she laughs, "Do they even make dress shirts your size, big guy?"

He shrugs, "Sure. My tailor works well when I tell him I'll eat him if he makes it too small again." He's laughing and there's a moment she covers her mouth to laugh. Horrible!

Ella steps next to him and grabs one of his giant fingers in her small hand. When she smiles there's a gap from a missing tooth. Yeah. Maybe working with kids wouldn't be so bad.

[furinana]

When I was playing the iOS version of SMT1, nobody could drink. If you tried, there was an extra line of dialogue where the bartender says something like, "Aren't you a little young?" and gives you juice instead. I don't know if it's just an international release thing, if it was added in the GBA or PSX port, or what. Felt a bit like they were trying to weasel out of a 'representing minors consuming alcohol' offense.

I always thought the Heroine was in her twenties by the present, but since she's the rebel leader and everyone's after her, she never shows anyone her ID.

Enforcing drinking laws might have made sense in the present, but after Tokyo is destroyed, why do the bartenders care? And how would they know that these random travelers are under twenty, if IDs aren't produced anymore?

I think it makes more sense if nobody cared about underage drinking laws by the time you reach bars. If memory serves, Kichijoji only has a cafe, and you only get bars once you reach Shinjuku. By then, things have gotten so bad that bars might start selling to anyone who can pay.

But really, we all know that if anyone's irresponsible, it's the bars of SMT2, for serving alcohol to two-year-old Aleph.

Hah I was very much suspecting it was a retcon. And that's because MT2/SMT2 already had an euphemism for beer which was Magical Fizz. 

So I'm guessing they gave up on trying to be subtle and removed the lore of the protagonist having alcohol altogether for later rereleases? So teenager drinking bad but using guns and killing people still good?

Anyway since we’re at it, let’s compare the 8/16-bit era of mainline games chronologically on the drinking aspect:

In the SNES version of Megami Tensei, while they don’t specify what kind of drink you’re having, from Nakajima’s reaction it seemed very satisfying. The name of the shop is even “Poison Bar”, for goodness’s sake. 

That being said, considering the game is a completely different (and far simpler) take on the story from the original novel, we can easily label Nakajima doing underage drinking and frickin gambling in the Underworld as non-canon. 

ACTUALLY, I skimmed through its NES version and I don’t think any of those features were supposed to exist in the first place. Which means MT2 was where bars started being a thing:

NES and SNES for comparison. Yeah, the exact same English words are written in the Japanese text for the drinks. You know, something I can’t help but get awfully curious for is that while in later SNES titles the main character freely drinks liquor, in the game where this feature made its debut he’s literally the one who can’t have it.

No booze allowed for the MT2 protagonist. Only soft drinks. Even though both of his partners can have beer. It’s never commented why. If there are age differences, it’s not apparent. And they live in devastated version of Tokyo so rules would be far more lax.

It’s funny because this is the same game where the protagonist can go to a drugstore to get high from herbal medicine. Yeah you read it right.

And he can keep going for a LONG time.

...and overdose to the point of falling on the floor paralyzed and unable to do anything, much to the heroine’s chagrin.

On that note, there’s a single instance in the entire game where the MC finally is offered actual liquor. From... a guy that was Satan's disguise.

Paralyzed AGAIN, Takuma? And imagine getting roofied by goddamn Satan. 

Maybe the reason bartenders don’t serve him specifically is because people that are familiar with him know he’s a danger to himself. Considering that [redacted] happens in a point of the game... yeah. You better stop and just fucking listen to what Asuka says to you, boy.

SMT1 is where the protagonist finally can join the fun with his companions. Everyone drinks the same thing. Equality baby! And no euphemisms!

They could drink in bars both when Tokyo was normal and after it got destroyed by the missiles, so I don’t think the excuse of “oh, the apocalypse made people stop caring” work, at least with the same weight as in MT2.

...AND THEN the sequel brought Magical Fizz back. Probably because SMT2 took cues from MT2 and/or they thought the word was still hilarious (I also do, ngl).

This little dialogue of the barman not letting you drink any more doesn’t show up in other games with the bar feature. Makes you wonder if Aleph is a lightweight since [redacted] or if other bartenders are just... irresponsible as fuck. And yes I’m also counting you on this, crazy MT2 drugstore girl.

One of the big highlights of SMT2 is getting Aleph shitfaced so he can temporarily get enough MAG to win the dance contest. Look at this madlad. Aleph must be great at parties.

You know which other infamous drink makes a comeback?

SUPER MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILK

Fairly enough, it’s exclusive to the Center’s bar. You know... the place where the Law side is located. No sinning next to angels, Aleph.

SMT:If is the game where some surprise factor indeed reaches the player since it happens inside a high school (and yet somehow our first-year protagonists can have liquor bottles stored in their pocket to either offer to demons or chug them down themselves). 

Let’s be honest, this would be an unusual thing to keep around even for adult staff! It’s a school goddamnit. Unless they got it somewhere else like... perhaps the Underworld since Hazama connected both places together.

Actually, such “is this allowed?” age aspect is even commented by a NPC but for the gambling feature:

Considering the type of people you partner up with in SMT:If (and subsenquently the P1/P2 cast to some degree), the protagonists displaying delinquent behavior might very well be what they went for compared to the more ambiguous “left-to-the-player” interpretations for MT2/SMT1/SMT2.

With the exception of our good glasses girl, look at the rest of these hooligans!

Anyway I stick with my interpretation of the main cast of SMT1/2 being on their twenties (or looking as such like Aleph) while the rest are just teens playing with their luck.

[literallycreativelylit]

Can AroSpecBlr help me out with something?

Scroll down for TLDR.

I know my gender and my sexual orientation--being genderfluid and pansexual both make sense to me. No qualms there. But I'm having trouble nailing down my romantic orientation.

I've tried taking online quizzes, but most of them are just like "do you like boys or girls or both." The genders of my crushes are of no frickin' importance--I'm just trying to find the name for my particular romantic orientation, because I sure as hell don't experience what everyone else seems to, and none of the terms and definitions on the LGBTQIA+ Wiki fit my experience.

Then today, I took another random quiz I found online, and it actually asked more in-depth questions. A few of them even discussed my particular "issue": I feel a strong romantic attraction to someone, but upon entering a relationship with them, my feelings fade after a short while. I'm talking, like, anywhere between a few weeks to six months. I actually started tearing up when I read that because I felt as if someone was finally seeing me--like I wasn't some crappy, horrible human being who fell in and out of love on a whim. It's not something I can control, and the number of good people I've had to break up with because I no longer felt anything romantic toward them was disheartening. It was actually affecting my mental health, and I swore off dating because of it, but I still want to know my romantic orientation.

Some romantic facts about me and my history:

I have had several crushes in my life, but only a few have lasted years before fading.

Most of my crushes were on people I knew, whether irl or met online. Distance/not seeing or hanging out with them for long periods of time did not diminish my few long-lasting crushes, and getting into relationships with other people only seemed to "set those crushes aside" until my feelings for the person I was with faded--which they inevitably did.

Most of my crushes on celebrities/influencers have faded very quickly or (in a few cases) transformed into squishes. Of the squishes, I chalk it up to me wanting to seek out more people like them, and have simply made an effort to interact a bit in their communities to find friends/moots.

I like romantic things: gestures, some traditions, stories, and some scenes in series and movies. I ship fictional characters with reckless abandon, and like to imagine myself in those scenarios, both as the person performing gestures and the one receiving them. In those imagined scenarios, my "partner" is faceless, unknown, because I currently have no romantic feelings toward anyone. If the aforementioned scenes in shows/movies take a sexual turn, it makes me uncomfortable. This is not the case for books, fan fiction, web comics, or videogames.

When people I know/know of are in a relationship, I root for their relationship's success and love seeing their romantic gestures toward one another that are shared online. However, if I see their affection irl, it usually makes me uncomfortable. Any irl affection between other people makes me uncomfortable, and my own PDA with my partner is limited to hand-holding, hugs where applicable (greetings/goodbyes and comforting someone), and short pecks (please don't try to make out with me in public it's so frickin' awkward dude).

I am not an affectionate person outside of relationships. When relatives (particularly my sisters or cousin) try to cuddle/snuggle with me, it makes me uncomfortable because I attribute those things to romantic relationships. My kids and my previous partners are the only ones who I've felt comfortable snuggling for short periods of time, with the exception of my fwb, but that's been long-standing so my comfort developed over time.

I am aware of the differences between platonic and romantic connections, as well as squishes and crushes. When I experience a squish, I will take the initiative in order to see if I have a platonic connection with this other person; when I have a crush, I tend to hold back and will wait until either the other person makes a move OR until I feel confident that they like me romantically (obvious flirting/interest, etc.)

My platonic bonds do not fade unless the other person has seriously hurt/wronged me, or revealed an interest or opinion that I find distasteful (like they say something racist/sexist and aren't open to learning more about how problematic it was). Meanwhile, my romantic bonds will fade over time as I lose interest. This kind of implies that my romantic bonds don't have a solid foundation, so one theory I have is that I don't actually choose the right partners or enter productive relationships.

Because I have been love-bombed/pressured in the past, most of my relationships developed very quickly. This is something I have been working to curb in recent years.

Most online quizzes tell me I am biromantic or panromantic, and while they kind of acknowledge aro peeps, aromantic alone doesn't define me. The quiz I took just a little bit ago (the one I mentioned earlier in this post) said that I am frayromantic (other terms include protoromantic and ignotaromantic). My main issue with this result is that I have experienced romantic attraction that did not fade over time, and even grew with getting to know the person. However, I can only think of two crushes that fall under that exception; the bonds I had with them were strong, but one person was toxic and took advantage of my feelings, while the other did not verbally reciprocate. Eventually, the latter person moved away and has a life elsewhere, and as their friend I'm supportive so my feelings have faded some. They sought me out over the years whenever they were in town, and there was one time where we spent most of a day in what honestly felt like a date (they picked me up, we had dinner, we hung out at the mall and at a bar, and we ended the night with ice cream. They insisted on paying for most of it, and there was romantic tension). The other has been cut out of my life for obvious reasons.

Before now, I called myself quoiromantic, or wtfromantic, because I just didn't know what to call myself. If I had to push myself to come up with a term, I guess I would say I'm sort of frayflux--but would that just be aroflux? Aroflux feels way too broad of a term, too vague to describe what I experience. And yes, I guess frayromantic is the closest to it, but it's still not entirely right... So would the term frayflux/protoflux be acceptable? Or is there another term that describes me better?

If you know any other terms regarding romantic orientation that may fit what I described, please share them and any links to their descriptions/definitions. If you think you know or follow a blog that might be able to help, feel free to tag them! I just need to know if I'm being dumb or if I genuinely need a term that fits outside those already established.

TLDR: I've experienced romantic attraction with people I didn't know very well & after getting to know them/developing an emotional bond my feelings for them faded with a few exceptions, though I haven't been in a romantic relationship with the exceptions. I don't think frayromantic fits me & frayflux feels like a better fit but is that acceptable or should I use another term?

Thanks for reading. I'd appreciate any insight on this.

[miraculous-trinity-leo]

Whacky Gotham, Goofy New York, and Chaotic Paris

(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6) (Part 7)

Chapter 3: Kindred Spirits Always Find A Way To Assemble

•—–—–†–—–—•

Time: 5:30am

location: Louvre

Ladybug, Abeille, Bunnyx, Trickster, and Chat Noir are fighting an akuma, not anything major, just Mr. Pigeon and his pigeons trying to melt the Louvre with deadly acidic bird dropings, so yeah, nothing major. Just another early bird gets the akuma kinda day...

"Looks like the early bird is trying to melt the Louvre, what say you M'lady, shall we make this swift and- *Loud sneeze* Let me now *sneeze* when I'm *sneeze* needed" - Chat Noir

"For to long our kind has been oppressed, they feed us miserable seeds, when we beg for bread, we shall show them no mercy, as our justice shall be swift!" picks up two pigeons, holds them by their legs and aims the rear cannons "Surrender your Miraculous and your justice shall be swift and painless!!" with an evil villain laugh at the end bla bla bla.

" Anyone else getting Pigeon (French) Revolution vibes? No? just me? Cause I swear he said seeds instead of cake."

"Not the time Bunnyx." - Abeille

"Oh it so Is The Time." - Bunnyx

"Off with Mr. Pigeon Antoinette's Akumatized object!" - Chat Noir from a distance.

"Viva La Revolution!!!" - Trickster

"Dear Kwami, how did it come to a frickin Pigeon Revolution?!" - Ladybug

As the last line is said, Mr. Pigeon fires the -ehem- cannons at the heroes, only for them to be an illusion. In the confusion Bunnyx pops out of her burrow and wacks Mr. Pigeon on the head, effectively knocking him out.

"The Pigeon Revolution is over, we have taken back our home, and shall continue to defend it from the creepy Man of MOTH!!!!" - Bunnyx

and with that Bunnyx brakes the Akumatized object, and Ladybug purifies the akuma.

"Ok, I will admit that last speach was funny, now lets hurry back before hells bells go off." - Ladybug

•~—~—~—~—~—~—~•

" Bla bla bla, nothing important, bla bla bla bla, yada yada yada bla yada." - Mrs. Bustier

"'Viva La Revolution', that was perfect." - Whispering Alix

"It just came to me, but Chats 'Off with Mr. Pigeon Antoinette's Akumatized object' line and your 'Man of Moth' speech were really well timed !" -whispering Peter

"well of course, I'm always punctual with any time sensitive joke/pun." -whispering Alix

"Will you to zip it! we can't have these simpletons finding anything out!" -whispering Chloé

"Please, they all share a broken defective regect of a brain cell, I doubt they could ever put two and two together." -whispering Alix

"Hey, do you think we should start a protest in our classroom?" -whispering Peter

"... Viva.La.Revolution!" - whispering Chloé with a mischievous grin

"No." - Maria

•~—~—~—~ Later when Mrs. Bustier is out of class ~—~—~—~•

"I just don't know what to do." - Lie-la

" You think she finally realized how horrible that hair style is?" - Alix

"After visiting Gotham a few months ago I met Damian Wayne, you might've heard about him, he's just so amazing, kind-hearted, and brave. We had a wonderful time, but then he asked me out! And I don't want to hurt Parkers feelings, I care for both of them!" - Lie-la

"Man, she must be extremely full of it to keep pulling that sh-t out of her @ss every hour or so." - Alix

"Wow Peter, didn't know your cared for Ms. Rossi like that" - Chloé said in a sarcastic tone.

" I'd rather strap her to a supersonic rocket heading for a black hole, and I'm pretty sure this Damian Wayne would do the same... he probably has the money for it actually." - Peter

" Enough plotting, we still need to get enough money, if we want that summer trip, we've already crossed off: Baking sales, becoming a mime, jobs are out unless they're fine with you leaving right after joining, and we can't just ask for donations." - Maria

" I can use my MDC mon-" - Maria

"Oh hell no you won't! You worked your butt off to get that money, you said it yourself! That money is for when you apply to college! I refuse to let you waste your money on our ignoramus classmates!" - Chloé

Thankfully by now everyone was out of the classroom.

" Oh Kwami she's serious, she never uses her big words!" - Adrien

" Then what do you suggest Chloé?" - Maria

" I'll ask daddy to pay!" - Chloé

" I can also ask my father, he'll probably do it if Mr. Bourgeois puts in a donation." - Adrien

" But- " - Maria

" No! The decision is final all in agreement say aye!" - Chloé

"Aye!" - Everyone

"You've watched to many movies Chloé, fine, but please don't drastically overdo it." - Maria

" When have I ever drastically overdone something? Name one time." - Chloé

"Well, there was the time you over did it, by not sleeping for almost three weeks." - Maria

" and after that you got so fed up with one akuma that you kicked him with the force of a thousand suns down unda, you may have scared him for life after that honestly. " - Adrien

" Oh! or the time you went overboard with Peters B-day, and the cake landed on his face! - Alix

"Well in her defense, the cake was great, but it was kinda a mouthful." -Peter

"... I said name one time. (ー_ー)" - Chloé

•~—~—~—~—~—~—~•

Sooo, after all that happened Mr. Bourgeois, Fallowed by Gabriel Agreste, gave a very generous donation, so that solves that problem.And since I'm sure you don't want to see (More Lies) boring stuff, lets skip to two days before the trip begins.

〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜time skip " You're welcome, I'm here all eternity." - Bunnyx〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜

•—–· At Chloés Hotel ·–—•

"Ok are we sure we have everything?" - Maria

" Yes now can we please watch something already, we've triple, and even quadruple checked everything, we're good." - Alix

" I have to go out and inform Tempête and Vipère, before anything else, be back soon." - Maria then heads out calling upon the other heroes.

" So what do you need?" - Vipère

" Do you have a top secret mission for us?" - Tempête

" For the summer Abeille, Bunnyx, Trickster, and Chat Noir will be unavailable, unless they are truly needed, I however will be able to travel back and forth via portals for fights. Paris will be in your care while we aren't here." - Ladybug

"It is our honor, we shall defend Paris with our lives." - Tempête

" Agreed, enjoy your summer." - Vipère

"Thank you, stay safe."  and with that Maria headed back to the hotel prepared to watch movies, only to be bombarded with questions as soon as she got back.

" HOLD UP! You know MAGIC?!" - Alix

" When were you going to tell us?!" - Chloé

"So cool, how does it work?" - Peter

" Can you teach us?!" - Adrien

" Spots-Off, yes I know magic, I swear I've told you before. Do you want a demonstration?" - Maria

They all shook their heads excitedly.

" Ok well, I'm able to Heal myself if I get hurt, but I don't wish to hurt myself just for that, I can also increase my Luck with magic, as well as Communicate/ Manipulate plants, and see peoples Souls, thanks to Tikki. I learned Protection magic thanks to Wayzz, and Illusion magic thank  to Trixx. I'm also learning Teleportation from Kaalki, which I've almost completed, and Mutitude from Mullo, which still needs work." - Maria

" If you can really talk to plants, what did we do earlier while you where out, hmmmmm?" - Alix

Maria then walks over to the roses near the couch and whispers to them, after a moment she turns back to her friends, and calmly says "Traitors."

" What do you mean?" - Peter

" You continued watching Star Wars: Clone Wars Without me!" - Maria

" Ok we believe you, but does this mean we can also use magic?" - Adrien

"Hmmm, let me see" as she says this her eyes start to glow an almost ethereal icy blue.

" Why are you eyes glowing?" - Chloé

"Looking at you souls... ok" she then claps her hands and her eyes go back to normal "Adrien, you can use slight Destruction magic on objects, if you use it on a person it would just cause them extreme pain, you can also cast Bad Luck on someone, so I guess thats good, and you can also learn slight Jubilation magic. Peter you can learn Illusion, and Protection magic. Chloé you can Learn Subjection, and Multiplication magic. And Alix, you can learn Evolution, Intuition, and Teleportation magic." As Maria finished, she saw the star struck looks in their eyes at the thought of learning magic became obtainable for them.

"Teach us!" they all bowed only to get a laugh from Maria in response.

"You would have to ask the Kwamis that, I only know what I know thanks to them." - Maria

And for most of the night they all started practicing magic. And when they woke up, they continued to practice, they had fun and were really enjoying it.

Then came the day Maria and her friends were to head for Gotham, and it was hectic, but everyone made it in one piece after an 8 hour flight, which at this point Maria was glad she sent all of her important luggage ahead of time, because somehow her luggage with only her toiletries and pyjamas was stolen, so all she had now was her back pack on her and the Miracle box in a Pocket dimension (thanks to the training from Fluff and Kaalki)

Lila was annoyed, when Maria didn't even care that she lost her bag with all her stuff (jokes on you she sent that one to the hotel 2 days ago HA!) they ended up checking into the hotel, everyone was with someone, Peter was with Adrien, Chloé was with Alix, and Maria... just had the Kwamis, yup that's right, apparently Lila has a condition that prevents her from being in any room below a quality vip room, so now she was upgrade and without a roommate, good for Lila, and Lucky for Maira, because now she doesn't have to worry about someone noticing her climbing out the window to go free-running across rooftops as Multimouce.

Around 7:30 pm. everyone heads out for lunch... and they leave Maria behind.

"Of course this happens." and with that she asked the receptionist for the directions to where her class went, afterwards she went out and proceeded to get lost, after trying to retrace her steps, she just got lost quicker, and her phone was at 20% what luck.

After walking for a little bit, she had decided to take a break, and as she leaned up against a wall, she closed her eyes.

'Maybe if I search for the receptionists Soul I can find my way back.' as she was doing this, she saw souls of all colors walking by, she even noticed a dark emerald green soul, and a dark blue soul across the street on a rooftop... and then she felt her hair stand on end, a few feet to her right was a bloody rust looking soul, she could tell it was a male, late 20s, average build, and 5'11, he was targeting her. As she opened her eyes  she did a quick scan of her seroundings, noticing an alley, she started to walk again. Sensing the slight increase in speed from the man now behind her, as he got closer, she made a sharp left into the alley, she made it a few feet in before the man started laughing and walking closer, she saw the disgusting look in his eyes, and the outline of a gun in his front left pocket.

"Come on now girlie,  I just wanna talk."

" I am good thankz." she made sure to add an accent to make him feel like he had an upper hand, which seemed to work, if his sickening smile was anything to go off of.

He stepped closer and Maria (the little genius she was) decided to act nervous, which only lowered the guys gaurd even more, once he reached to grab her in a quick motion she proceeded to do this.

She held the guy in a lock until he fell unconscious. As she stood up, she noticed a hand reaching for her, she then grabbed the hand and flipped the figure over her shoulder hard, hearing a yelp from the man as she did so.

When she realized who she had flipped over, her face turned bright red

"Mon dieu, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you are you ok Monsieur Nightwing?!"

"Yeah I'm fine and don't apologize, reflexes like that are key to survival here in Gotham, isn't that right Robin.... Robin?"

When Nightwing didn't get any sound from Robin he looked over to see the boy a blushing mess, then Robin snaped out of it, cuffing the mugger, and turning his attention to the girl.

" Ehem. Mam it's dangerous to be out here at this time alone, please allow us to take you wherever you need to go." - Robin

"Oh thank you um, do you know where Wayne Hotel is? I was supposed to go with my class to dinner, but they... “forgot” me, I decided to try and meet up with them, but I failed horribly." - Maria

"Wait they just left you? and in Gothan of all cities?! What kind of teacher does that?!" - Nightwing

" An instegator." - Maria said under her breath in French, she didn't notice the slight shock on both their faces from what she said.

"Anyway lets get you to your hotel before it gets any later." - Nightwing

"Thank you again." - Maria

She arrived safely, thanks to Nightwing and Robin, she thanked them one more time and went inside, when she got to her room she found her friends pacing back and forth in the room, Chloé and Peter looking like they would soon become two people on a mission to find her, but thankfully she was back, she of course had to answer alot of questions, but that was no big deal. After answering all their questions, everyone went to their rooms, and fell asleep, they had a big day tomorrow afterall... ... and then Marias' Akuma alert went off, ok so it took about thirty minutes to defeated the akuma 2 more before she could cure anything and another 5 minutes before she could head back to her room, and it was now 2am, but she could still wake up early right? hehe (・–・;) right?

No, the answer was no she couldn't, well technically she was up on time for when the bus "should" have started getting ready to leave, BUT turns out Lila SOMEHOW, managed to get everyone on board without even thinking of her an hour early! Maria asked for directions once again, and the receptionist had a worried and apologetic look on her face, Maria thanked her again, and headed out, this time however, she made it without getting lost and without getting mugged, Yay! She even had enough time to get a coffe (Tim special was a wierd name but oh well it did the job pretty well) from a shop near by (double yay!) before entering the WE building.

" You have to start the tour! we've been here for an hour and thirty minutes already!" - Ms. Bustier

"Like I said before, I will not start the tour until your student gets back, and if they don't get back, then we better hope nothing happened to them, or else it's your fault for your negligence." - Tour guide

"Sorry I'm late, the bus left earlier than what we scheduled, why didn't you inform me about the change?" - Maira

"Lila said you were the one who made the changes and that you were just trying to get attention, I am VERY disappointed in you Maria, now apologize to your class for delaying the tour!" - Ms Bustier

"I think you mean “I'm sorry we left you behind in a city where murder happens to young kids on a daily basis” now you apologize to Your student that is Your responsibility." - Tour Guide with a glare that could kill a thousand armys

Ms. Bustier proceeded to apologise to half the class's disbelief.

"Alright then, now that thats all taken care of, Hello and welcome to Wayne Enterprise, where we focus on making Gotham and the world a better place. I'm Dick Grayson, and I'll be you tour guide for today."

As the tour went on Maria stood at the front with her friends, she took notes of everything that was said, and she ignored whatever nonsense Lila was spouting, somthing about saving or dating Damian Wayne, she didn't really care.

When the lunch break came, she sat with her friends until she needed a long overdo refill on her coffee, she walked over to the coffee machine and started figuring what combination will keep her brain working for the rest of the day.

"Press button 3 followed by 5, 6, 8, 1, 2, 4, 9, and 7, that is the ultimate coffee mixture, if your mortal self is up for the challenge." - Sleep deprived guy

"I accepte." she presses the buttons in the exact order and then " Wait none of the cups are big enough."

"Here, secrect cup, from beyond the mortal realm." - Sleep deprived guy

" Thanks" she grapped the very large cup, and filled it with coffee till it was almost to the rim, she put the lid on and instantly took a big sip from the scolding hot coffee (she can heal, her tongue's fiiiiiiine)

"... Not bad, taste similar to the Tim Special I had earlier, but maybe a bit stronger." - Maria

" Kindred Spirit, let us be friends, you have drank the sacred coffee and are now immortal, congrats." - Sleep deprived guy

"It was not easy, but I have come this far, and I shall go the distance with nothing but coffee in my veins." Maria said in a serious tone as they shook hands "I am Maria, keeper of all nighters, and who might you be, my kindred spirit."

"I am Tim, the keeper of sacred coffee and all that is unholy."

"It was an honor to meet you Sacred Tim, may the coffee gods guide you in your journey, sadly we must part ways, for the lunch break is over, farewell..." and with that Maria left to rejoin the group.

"Dear god where the hell did you get that much coffee?!" - Chloé

"Kindred Spirits always find a way to assemble." - Maria

"Huh, so there is someone out there who is also a sleep deprived child." - Alix

The tour continued, and Maria noticed their tour guide kept looking at her with growing concern as she slowly made her way through the lovely coffee, she finished the cup within 1 hour and 30 minutes, and most of the staff kept looking at her as she now held the empty unholy cup, that was said to put people (that weren't chosen by the coffee gods) into caffeine induced commas, but she was fine, if anything she was more awake than yesterday and today combined. So yeah Today had a rocky start, but I'd say things are only just beginning.

•—–—–†–—–—•

〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜 Bonus Art 〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜

This is what it looks like from Marias' normal vision, to her Soul Vision (~‾▿‾)~

Chapter 3 completed, hope you're all having a wonderful day, and staying positive BUG-OUT 🐞💮🐞

〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜 Tag List 〜(꒪꒳꒪)〜

1st Place★: @animegirlweeb ☕

2nd Place★: @jumpingjoy82

3rd Place★: @zalladane

4th Place★: @jayjayspixiepop

5th Place★: @arty-shadow-morningstar

6th Place★: @smol-book-nerd

7th Place★: @irontimetravelflower

8th Place★: @fandom-trapped-03

9th Place★: @meme991001

10th Place★: @buginetye

11th Place★: @blackroserelina

12th Place★: @jessigurl-design

13th Place★: @adrestar

14th Place★: @moon5608

15th Place★: @little-bluestar

16th Place★: @batgirljr72

17th Place★: @myazael

18th Place★: @our-preciousss

19th Place★: @wolf2118

20th Place★: @nyx-in-line

21st Place★: @kking13

22nd Place★: @lunerlover2024

23rd Place★: @moonlightstar64

24th Place★: @corporeal-terrestrial

25th Place★: @kashlyn

26th Place★: @tbehartoo

27th Place★: @heart-charming

28th Place★: @solangelo252

29th Place★: @t1dwarrior-of-earth

30th Place★: @lady-phoenix-of-tardis

@lupagrimm

[islandofsages]

HELLO HERE'S THE RAMBLE-Y ASK

to start, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR YOIMIYA!!! you may have lost the 50/50 but she still came home in the end!! i am unfortunately skipping her bc i got her when she had her first banner but if she has a rerun next year and i'm not planning on pulling anyone around her then i'm 100% going for cons

ALSO ABOUT THE SLIP UPS, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE!! i don't know if it's just me but man, i read through what i write like 50 times before sending an ask or posting something even if it's just one sentence — I GUESS IT'S JUST ANXIETY BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE'S NO WAY PEOPLE JUST TYPE SOMETHING OUT AND THEN POST IT?? there's gotta be at least a once-over, right?? it's important to catch mistakes especially when it comes to pronoun slip-ups :( i really wish there was more inclusion in the fanfic community, not even just when it comes to gender, but sexualities, skin colors, different body types, even disabilities, etc!!

if i came across a fanfic about a chubby, aroace, nonbinary reader who gets support for their identity, mental disorders & disabilities, and comfort for their insecurities? i would actually ascend to the clouds. i would read that fic so many times until i'm able to recite it word for word. THIS IS THE KINDA STUFF I WISH I CAME ACROSS MORE. omg and neopronouns. i use a set of neopronouns do you know how cool it'd be to me to read a fanfic with a reader who uses cub/cubs pronouns AAAJSJDKSKS

i know fanfics are usually made to be super ambiguous so most people can insert themselves but if there can be specified genders that only people who identify as that gender can read then i feel like people could expand into other things as well. maybe they wouldn't get a ton of likes but even the smallest chance that it'd make someone's entire day should be enough to post it yk??

i actually have my own writing blog that i haven't really posted on much, but what i have posted has been romantic x readers because i know that's what gets attention. i mean i don't mind romantic x readers i think they're fun to read even though i don't feel romantic attraction myself but I ABSOLUTELY PREFER PLATONIC X READERS BUT I AM KINDA AFRAID TO WRITE THEM BC I DIDN'T KNOW IF ANYONE WOULD ACTUALLY READ THEM

but after coming across your account, which i am SO GLAD EXISTS, i realize big numbers don't matter, what matters is that the right people see the fics and are happy to know that there's people in this reader insert community that are just like them!!

(about the misgendering thing; i have a funny story! so i have a new therapist, and she's really cool she's the first therapist that i have ever seen to ask for my preferred name and pronouns — which fyi is extremely rare in this really small Catholic town i live in FISEK — and actually understand my aroace identity. yesterday, we were having our session in her car at my house and my dad had come home from work for lunch and stopped to say hi, said something about me to her that misgendered me. when he walked away my therapist turned towards me and asked "you looked anxious when he was walking over here, are you okay??" and i was like "yeah i just knew he was gonna misgender me :(" and then we talked about how it made me feel and she was SO VALIDATING. i mentioned how i live in a very small conservative town; it's very homophobic and transphobic here, very VERY hard to find another queer person. but my therapist told me that there are actually quite a few trans people in my town that she sees and that i'm absolutely not alone here AND THAT MADE ME SO HAPPY BC AAAAA)

^ that was longer than i meant for it to be JDJWKEKD

i swear kid's shows are so good with the found family trope — Alvin and the Chipmunks, Sonic, MY LITTLE PONY

AND THE FOUND FAMILY IN GENSHIN AAA the first thing that comes into mind is albedo and klee, i adore them both in my heart alice has adopted albedo and that alone makes me so DANG HAPPY

ABOUT THE QPRS I FRICKIN AGREE it isn't something that's exclusive to aspec people, i feel like sometimes allos end up in something like a qpr unintentionally?? like before i realized i was aroace i was very close to one of my friends — cuddling, hand holding, etc — if i knew what a qpr was back then i'd have asked about being in one with them. EVEN IF I DIDN'T END UP REALIZING I WAS AROACE and just managed to find out what a qpr was i still would have brought it up with them yk??

i have never officially been in a qpr because i'm too awkward and i have really bad social anxiety LOL but HEY, that's what fictional characters are for HEHE

I'M ALSO THE ELDEST SIBLING!! i have one brother and he's 16 months younger than me and an asshole HAHA

i'm so attached to the idea of an older brother, specifically a protective one, because the idea of having a sibling older than me who wants to protect me makes me feel so safe and secure in an environment where i'm not and AH!! that's probably why i'm so attached to thoma as a big brother

ironic bc he's a shield character DKISKEKD

AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH MY REALLY LONG ASKS AND TENDANCY TO RAMBLE i currently have diagnosed adhd but i'm not being treated yet and i am just so bad about being overly talkative people have told me i don't even stop to BREATHE when i speak

which is true, i get so out breath after a while that i'm literally gasping HDISKEKDKO

ANYWAY I HOPE YOU HAVE AN AMAZING DAY ❤️❤️

- 🐯

THANK UUUUUU i mean i spent so much on her it almost feels like a lost yknow? but thats just me being ungrateful HAHA in the end she's very worth it shes so fun to play also shes ADORABLEEEE UGH also oooo initial banner yoimiya haver huh? based af. also the fact that you even want her cons what a chad

SAME THOOOO especially when it comes to messaging i have to double-check everything,, and FRRR WE NEED MORE DIVERSITY IN FICS actually i do plan on writing chubby reader bc im chubby myself :D i just want my comfort charas to think my chubbiness is cute instead of it being an ugly trait LOL also omg yes neopronouns i actually used to go by some neos but then nobody used them so i stopped using them myself too LMAOOOOO

and yeah true like while x reader fics are mostly written to appeal to the general masses, sometimes it's just not enough yknow? like sure i could settle for gn!reader but goddamn the euphoria i get from male reader fics....immaculate. and yeah i used to write romantic fanfics for the same reason - for clout. i mean, i did enjoy it somewhat but at the same time, it's not the only thing i wanted to do. not when non-romantic relationships are deemed insignificant.

so i started this blog. im very, very aware of the lack of attention i get but i genuinely dont care. bc at least im actually doing what i wanna do instead of doing what most people do to easily grab attention. like sure, your ayato x reader marriage fic got 10k notes - so what? marriage and romance are so overrated, especially those two combined. the only time i'll ever write a marriage fic is for a (queer)platonic marriage lmao

god bless your therapist's soul thats so nice of her!! i can relate to living in a small conservative town LMAO literally no one i know is queer (well at least, not outwardly which is understandable bc my whole country is very queerphobic). hope you find your trans buddies soon!!!

YEAHHHH tbh the whole knights of favonius is just a big happy family. also zhongli and hu tao + xiao,, and yeah that's the thing tho - ive seen people say that qprs were like normal back then but suddenly now they're not?? the only difference is that back then no one had a word for it. but now we do!! so we gotta educate and spread awareness!!! ive been in a qpr and it lasted like 5 months LMAO tbh i didnt really treat my ex any different from when we were friends,, so now we're back to being besties teehee

PFFFFT younger brothers are like that,, mine is a lazy ass motherfucker who contributes nothing to my life or even society. hate his ass. and yeah tho i dont really think about it, the thought of having an older sibling caring for you and being a role model for you is appealing...which is why i enjoyed childe's story quest LMAO but yass big brother thoma supremacy 🔥🔥🔥

IT'S OKAY you can talk to me about anything !! i actually like talkative people bc im really quiet irl so at least i dont have to come up with topics to talk about and overthink LMFAO

i hope you have an amazing day too hun <3 you dont mind me calling you that right? i have a tendency to call people endearing nicknames so please do tell me if you're uncomfortable with it !!

[libraryofloveletters]

Haunted

Luke doesn’t believe that the house is haunted but you know for a fact, that it is. 

Luke Alvez x Reader 

Warnings: mentions of ghosts, talking to ghosts, mentions of death, kissing, Luke thinking that you’re slightly crazy, cursing

Category: fluff with a little angst :) 

Word Count: 3.2k

Author’s Note: idea came to me while watching crimson peak so here we are :) and did I use Thomas Sharpe as the ghost ? yes I did, and what ? Anyways, this is purely to indulge myself so idk it’s probably shitty :) 

----- 

Luke had been with you for the last two years and he’s heard many stories of the “amazing family home” that you have so many beloved memories in. You figured it was finally time to take him on a trip. As soon as he could get a break from work, the two of you packed up and started your drive to the house. 

“So why do you call it the Red Estate ?” he asked you as you made a turn down what looked like a road that led to nothing. 

“Well, It belonged to my great great great grandparents who bought it from the family who had originally built the house” you told him as you drove. 

“Okay, but what does that have to do with the name ?” he laughed, you smiled 

“I'm getting to that. The family that had originally built the house, the Sharpes. His wife loves roses, red roses. The whole estate was covered in them, the rooms had rose wallpapers, the furniture had roses on them” you explained. 

“That's interesting” he looked out the window. “There’s more baby.” you chuckled, he turned to you, waiting for you to explain. 

“Well, Lady Sharpe had gotten sick and she passed away. When she passed, her husband remarried and he brought his new bride to the house” you looked over at you, his brows furrowed. “What? did she haunt them?” he chuckled, making you smile. 

“The roses that were in full bloom seem to die overnight, things changed around the house. It was thought that she did haunt them, whispered to them, tormented them until she eventually killed them” you smiled at Luke. 

He rolled his eyes playfully, “you don't actually believe that nonsense, do you ?” he asked you. “My family bought the house after they died, I'm just telling you what I've heard darling” you laughed as you pulled into a long driveway. The drive down was good 2 minutes, you drove through the large iron gate with the rose insignia on it. 

Luke’s mouth hung open as you drive towards the house. “This is the ‘little house’ that you spent your summers in ?” he asked. 

The house was much bigger than you had led him to believe, it was more of a manor than a house. There were large stained glass windows in the front, with of course, roses on them. The manor has vines running up the side that had dried up. 

The two of you stepped out of the car, you tumbled through your pockets for the key while Luke grabbed your bags from the car. “Is it just me or did it get cold all of a sudden ?” a cold breeze blew through the yard as Luke finished his sentence, you chuckled. 

“It’s always cold up here love” you smiled at him as you walked towards the door. “It’s only 6 o'clock and it's September.” he stated, following you to the doors. 

“Lady Sharpe baby, she’s the reason it’s cold” you told him as if that was a known fact, he rolled his eyes again. 

You unlocked the door and pushed it open, Luke and yourself walked into the empty foyer. There was a large round table in the middle, the sun from the hole in the roof shining through. You looked up and smiled, Luke looked up too, “why is there a hole in the roof ? Lady Sharpe caused that too ?” he joked, earning him a playful hit to the arm. “No, rainstorm” setting your keys on the table, you sat on the chair beside it and slipped off your shoes. 

“Tom!” you shouted, Luke looked at you. “I’m back and I've brought a guest!” you walked into the kitchen and Luke followed behind you, 

“Baby?”

“Hm?” 

“Who’s Tom ?”

“Oh, Tom. As in Thomas Sharpe, the guy who built the house.” 

Luke began laughing, hysterically. You filled the kettle with water as Luke was laughing and set it on the stove. When he finally settled down, he turned to you. “You talk to the dead guy ?” “his name is Tom and yes I do. This is his house, be respectful Luke” you rolled your eyes and turned your attention back to the stove. Luke wrapped his arms around your waist, hugging you from behind. “I’m sorry baby, I'll be nice to Tom” he chuckled, “thank you. Now get the cups from the cupboard” 

The two of you turned so you could show him which cupboard but the cupboard door was already open. “That one” you patted Luke’s hand that rested on your stomach. 

“That was closed when we walked in right ?” he asked 

“That’s correct” 

“How did it open?” 

“Tom” you smiled 

“Uh huh, just the wind then” 

Luke headed to the cupboard to get the mugs and returned the table as you took the kettle off the stove. The two of you sat at the table just talking for a few hours, before you knew it, it was dark out. 

Luke followed you up the stairs and into a room. He sat on the bed watching as you pulled some clothes out of your bag when he realized that he didn’t take the bags upstairs.

“Did you bring the bags up here?” 

You shook your head as you changed into your pyjamas. “So how did they get up here?” 

“To-” he cut you off “I don’t want to know” he got off the bed and changed too. The two of you settled in bed, his arm around you and your head rested on his shoulder. “Good night baby” he whispered, “good night love” you leaned up and gave him a kiss. 

“Good night Tom” you mumbled, you could tell Luke’s eyes on you. “Don’t even say anything” he chuckled before kissing your head. 

Sometime throughout the night, Luke was shaking you to wake up. “Huh stop lemme sleep” you mumbled. “Y/n, wake up. c’mon it’s not funny, get up please” he begged you while shaking your shoulders. You groaned and sat up, “what Luke ?” he looked at you, “okay something keeps knocking downstairs and it won’t stop” 

“Okay, what am I supposed to do about that?” 

“Can you come with me to check ?” 

“Mhm okay, let’s go” you rolled out of bed and headed into the hallway. Luke followed you, you looked around “nothing’s happening” you mumbled, still half asleep. 

“It was coming from downstairs” you sighed. The stairs creaked as you walked down. “You check the kitchen and I'll check the hallway, okay?” you told him, he nodded. You could tell he was just putting on a brave face for you, something had genuinely scared him. You walked down the hallway, nothing seemed out of place. 

“I swear if it’s you scaring him, I'll burn this house down” you whispered quietly to yourself, mostly as a warning to Tom. Turning on your heels, you headed into the kitchen quietly, Luke stood by the window looking outside. He hadn’t heard you come in. 

You creeped up behind him and grabbed his shoulders, “boo!” he jumped. “Y/n! what the hell babe!” you laughed. “Sorry sugar, but I didn’t see anything. Did you see anythi-” a loud thump came from the hallway causing the two of you to turn around. 

“Yeah, that” Luke said. You stuck your head out, a vase had fallen over and shattered all over the floor. You knew that vase, it was the one that in your room but you didn't tell Luke that. 

“Let’s just go back to bed Luke” you stretched your hand out for his, he reluctantly grabbed yours. “What about the vase?” he looked at the broken pieces of glass as you dragged him up the stairs with you. “I’ll clean it up in the morning baby” you pushed him in the bedroom, you stepped in after him and turned around to shut the door.

You had a feeling that someone was there even though you couldn’t physically see anyone other than Luke. You glared into the nothingness before shutting the door. 

---- 

Luke came in and shook you awake once again, only this time he came with coffee. “Morning love” he handed you the cup of coffee as you sat up in bed. “Sleep well ?” you asked him, he smiled and nodded “I did actually. Thank you for getting up with me last night” you squeezed his hand and took a sip of the coffee. 

“Did you get up after I fell asleep and cleaned up the vase?” he shifted on the bed to between your legs, his head on your thigh. He pulled your legs over his shoulders as you ran your hand through his hair. “No, I didn't. Why ? It’s not there?” he shook his head, his hair rubbed against your thighs making you giggle. 

“It’s gone” 

“Hm, he probably felt bad for scaring you and cleaned it up” 

“You really think that’s what happened or are you fucking with me?” 

“I’m fucking with you Luke. How would a ghost pick up glass?” 

Luke let out a laugh, you smiled at him. “Wanna go for a walk ? I can show you around the property?” he rolled onto his stomach, his cheek against your thigh. 

“Sounds good, can we have breakfast first ? I'm hungry” he asked you sweetly, and who were you to deny such an adorable man.

“Of course, let me change and I'll be down” he pressed a kiss to your thigh before hopping off the bed and heading out the room. Stretching as you got off the bed, you headed to the bathroom to brush your teeth and get dressed. When you came back to the bedroom after changing, you felt a presence in the room. 

“Now, I don’t appreciate the shit you pulled last night” you mumbled as you fixed your hair, the lights flickered in response to your sentence. You looked in the mirror, “He’s a good guy, I promise” you set the hairbrush on the dresser before going to open the door. 

The door wouldn’t open. 

“Are you serious ?” you pulled on the door, still no luck. 

“Stop acting like a child, let go of the door” you said a little louder. “Babe? You alright?” Luke called for you from downstairs,  “yeah, give me a sec, I'm coming!” 

“What do you want me from me dude?” you asked, hoping that you’d get some response or the frickin door would unlock. The window flung open and a cold breeze blew into the room, some leaves from the yard blew in as well. A single red rose petal landed by your foot. 

“Okay, I know what you want. Can I go now?” you tugged on the door and this time, it unlocked. You headed down the stairs, Luke stood at the end of the staircase. 

“Were you talking to someone up there?” 

“Just a phone call” you smiled and grabbed his hand. 

“Did you eat ?” you asked as you put on your shoes

“I did, don't you want to eat ?” he asked

You shook your head and pulled him outside with you. You walked with Luke to the back of the property, you showed him the stables, even though they had been empty for years. The two of you sat by the lake for a bit before heading to the end of the property line where the roses grew. 

“I thought the roses died?” Luke looked at you as you walked closer to them. “They only grow back here for some reason” you told him as you picked a few from the bush. “Does anyone even come this far ? you know, to take care of them” he leant down and smelt them. You smiled as you watched him. 

“No one’s been back this far for years. Everyone kinda stopped coming here since my grandfather died. My grandmother came once and us kids come every so often but that’s it. We just come to tidy up and make sure everything is still locked up” 

The two of you hung around outside until the sun began to set, you made your way back with the bunch of roses. You set them in a vase when you got back into the house. It was your last night in the house since Luke was needed back on Monday, you figured you'd make him dinner before you guys head out tomorrow. 

Luke sat in the kitchen as you cooked. “You’re sure you don’t want help?” “for the 100th time, I'm okay love” The kitchen was quiet other than the sounds of you cutting and stirring the contents of the pot ever so often. A sudden drop in temperature and the candle flame going out caused Luke to call for you. 

“Is that your friend Tom again ?” he joked, you smiled at him and brushed off the eerie feeling you had. 

“Probably” you went back to cooking.

Luke knew you believed that there was a ghost named Tom living in the house but he thought you just bought into the story because you had been told that your entire life. The window flung open and rose petals blew into the kitchen as the wind made its way through the kitchen. 

“What the hell ?” Luke stood up, brushing the petals of himself and the table before shutting the window. You turned off the stove and looked at him. 

“Believe me now?” 

“Freak accident darling, there’s no one here” He made his way over to your pressing a small sweet kiss on your lips before helping you set the table for dinner. “He’s just gonna keep bothering us until you believe” you looked at Luke who was too busy eating to even pay attention to you. 

Now you knew how Tom could get and you knew it seemed crazy, like way crazier then you talking to a ghost so you didn’t bother telling Luke. You remembered the summer then your cousin refused to believe Tom was actually real. Your cousin came down one morning gushing about how he had slept with this girl and she was so amazing, and how he even had the hickeys to prove it. When he lifted his shirt to show you, there was a “T” across his chests made by hickeys. You giggled as you took a sip of your water, Luke looked up at you from across the table. 

“What ?” his head tilted to the side

“Nothing” you smiled at him

The two of you finished dinner and headed up to the bed. Luke made sure to check all the doors and windows before going up with you. “You know, I had a good time, despite all the strangeness” Luke chuckled as he got into bed. 

“I’m glad you did” you were standing by the mirror taking off your necklace. Something cold touches your shoulder which made you turn around. “You okay?” Luke looked at you, his brows furrowed into a face of confusion. You ran your hand down your shoulder for your arm, “yeah, just a piece of hair on my arm. Made me feel weird” you chuckled and looked into the mirror. 

You could feel him in the room, it was much colder than it was then you stepped in. Seems like Luke had noticed too, he shifted in the bed. “Come cuddle with me, it’s cold” he shivered, pulling the blanket up to his chest. You smiled and made your way over to him, getting into bed and curling up beside him. 

“I love you, you know that ?” Luke looked down at you, your head resting on his chest 

“I love you too” you smiled up at him.

--- 

The next morning, you had both woken up much later than expected. The house felt warm. You had never felt the house this warm before, you went to roll out of bed but Luke’s arms pulled you back towards him. “Mhm, hi baby” he  covered your cheek in kisses, you giggled. “Good morning to you too. We gotta get going love, you need to get home for work tomorrow.” he groans at your mention of work. “Can we stay here forever?” he mumbled into your neck. “Me and you and Tom ? Sure we can” you joked, he sat up. 

“On that thought, let’s go” he got out of bed, you laughed and got up too. 

The two of you got ready to head out. You made one last check through the house while Luke took the bags to the car. He waited for you by the car as you stepped out. 

You took one last look inside, whispering to yourself. “Bye Tom, take care” you smiled at the empty house and locked the door. You walked to Luke and gave him a hug. 

“What's this for ?” His arms pulled you closer to him 

“For putting up with my ghost stuff all weekend” you smiled up at him 

“Ready to go?” he asked as he opened the door for you, “thank you” you got into the passenger seat. 

A single rose laid on the seat, you picked it up and smelt it. “Where’d you get that?” Luke asked you, looking at the rose in your hand. “It was on the seat. You didn’t put this here?” you looked back at him, he shook his head. You rested the rose on your lap, Luke backed up before pulling out of the driveway. You took one last look at the house before he left the driveway, a figure of a man stood in the window. He smiled at you and waved at you and you smiled back at him.

“What are you smiling at ?” Luke looked over at you with his own smile on his face, “oh just the house” you smiled at him. 

The drive back into the city was quiet, the two of you got back earlier than expected. You dragged your bags into the room as Luke went to pick up Roxy from the neighbours. You unzipped your bag to find a note on top of your clothes, Luke probably left something for you. 

You unfolded the paper, it wasn’t Luke’s handwriting. It’s one that seemed oddly familiar but you still weren’t sure why. 

“Thank you for bringing love back into this house. 

T.S” 

T.S, Who was T.S? 

It hit you, T.S was Thomas Sharpe. 

Turns out ghosts were real. 

---------

Taglist: @luke-alvez​ @iconicc​ @aaronhotchnerr​ @mac99martin​ @aaron-hotchner187​ @tclaerh​ @lieberhers​ @pumpkin-reads​ @ssa-holmes​ @katexrichardson​ 

[blackasmidnightcats]

Book 1 Nostalgia

WARNING: This post will have spoilers to the SGE series

The first book in any series will always hold a special place in anyone's heart I think. There is just something beautiful, whether the writing was phenomenal or lacking, about the introduction to a new world and the characters that you're going to know. After reading further into the series, sometimes you just wanna go back to the start, where everything was a lot simpler.

SGE kinda falls into this feeling for me.

I don't think I'm ever going to get over the interactions between the characters (and we haven't even explored most of them) because, personally, Soman is incredibly good with how he does character intercations but the story and plot have a lot to improve on.

And now comparing TSY with TCY it's very glaring.

Soman really has a problem with his plot so much so than with his storyline. It's very repetitive and the storyline suffers from it.

After Book 1, every plot seemed to be the same case; Sophie is an important piece to the main villain, Agatha tries to fix everything, Tedros is getting more crap than needed, annoyingly unhealthy romantic relationships are explored, and the other characters do things.

The last of these examples are really the only things that varies. Everything else is almost always the same in one way or another.

The first book doesn't really follow that pattern. It's a introductory book and I wish Soman did the same vibe as it in QfG.

Though Book 1 wasn't perfect. My biggest main problem with it was how Soman handled Agatha's development from thinking herself a freak and realizing that she was just a beautiful as anyone else (and Tagatha, of course. They had a very unconvincing start) compared to the detailed and precise handling of Sophie's decent and eventual acceptance her wickedness.

I said it once and I'll say it again: I miss vengeful, spited Sophie. Who made the School for Good suffer because Tedros didn't keep his promise and her very impressive Talent to summon Evil creatures at will to do her bidding.

This was the Sophie that I expected more from in the later books but might never get again. With the way that the OTK cover portrays her as the Lion, whether that would be a thing or not, it's clear that Soman wants the readers to look at Sophie in a better light and not as the anti-hero that she is but I could be wrong.

In Book 1, Sophie was incredibly selfish to the point that she wouldn't do anything for others even those that she should care about (i.e. Tedros in the Trial) and in the end, she had to pay for the selfishness by seeing just how Evil she could become and be seen as the witch that she was. Her development from Pink Princess to Witch of Woods Beyond was believable; her ambitiousness combined with her selfishness was what made her gain everything through manipulation and wickedness but it couldn't be hidden for long. Once everyone, including herself, saw what lied underneath her exterior, she lost everything and because of the things that she chooses to do, she naturally hurt and attacked the people that wronged her just as Evil does.

It was caused by a failed romantic pursuit, yes, but unlike the other later romantic relations that she had, the one in Book 1 focused more on the outcome for her character development than in the relationship itself. Honestly her relationships with Rafal, and Rhian, and maybe now Japeth, idk, make absolutely no sense with the importance that the story puts on it because these relationships didn't help further Sophie's character development. It stunted her really.

Now compare this to Agatha.

I think everyone and their cats agree that we all miss witchy Agatha in book 1 and I hope we write more of her in our fanfics like that since Soman won't do it. The thing is, with Agatha, unlike Sophie, whether she is written as a straight-up hero or as a sort of anti-villain with her portrayal as the Snake in the OTK cover, it won't be that far fetched. I don't know if Soman intended this or not but it's pretty frickin impressive with how he managed to make Agatha a pretty versatile character.

Book 1 did not to good with how she went from Graveyard Girl to Fairy Tale Princess. At most, we saw her heroic characteristics but Soman didn't put much effort with making it believable and we were left to our own imaginations with how she could have believably developed and grown into herself. It should have taken more than one chapter to make us believe that Agatha suddenly grew confident with herself and her own brand of beauty and how her relationship with Tedros should have started.

But because of the fact that she's now comfortable as both being a little different and unique in her own way but is still guided by the values of Good and holds it dear to her soul as well as her loyalty to those she loves, she can do great with the best of both worlds.

Agatha hasn't stopped growing since book 1 and I think that reason for that is because Soman knows that he has to square up whenever he writes her. Whether she's developing on her own or with others, she's always learning new values and finding ways to express them in the way that she's comfortable with.

Soman does express that he loves writing in Sophie's POV the most, but it can be a double edged sword if not careful. And I think Soman hasn't been careful.

Now back to the glory of Book 1.

Book one had the most simplest plot and most fluent storyline than in any other book. Even TLEA.

I think I could recall a lot more events in Book 1 than in the more recent ones because there was a lot more events and chapters that were actually necessary to the plot.

So, to go by statistics;

TLEA has the most recorded chapters in the series as of current before the release of OTK with 35 chapters and 3 parts to divide it.

It's followed by Book 1 with 30 chapters.

Then QfG is next with 28 chapters divided into 2 parts.

And aCoT follows with 27 chapters and 2 parts as well.

Last is AWWP with 24 chapters divided into 2 parts as well.

If going by this then OTK should either have a chapter or two more or less than TLEA but not less so than Book 1 because it's going to now be the official last book of the the series.

But that is besides the point. My main problem with the books' storytelling after Book 1 is how disoriented it has become.

Let me make an example with QfG and aCoT. These books are more or less very similar with each other in the number of chapters with only one being the difference while the start of the the "Part 2" portion was a bit different with QfG's starting at chapter 21 while aCoT's started with chapter 17.

But the reception and the fluency of these two books could not be more different from each other.

To say that QfG completely destroyed the fandom is an understatement. I can't tell of aCoT managed to regain the series's former glory for long enough to not let OTK flop but let's be hopeful.

Anyways, the fluency of the storytelling with TCY was wack and QfG and aCoT completely show that.

WARNING: Spoilers about QfG and aCoT will be discussed in this section.

I could not remember almost 70% of QfG because of how much I hated the plot and looking back at the chapters, I honestly could not believe that the asshat Rhian was only introduced on Chapter 21. Everything after Chaddick's POV chapter seemed to be a blur and Rhian's b*tch ass seemed to have corrupted the whole experience.

8 chapters. He was only in QfG for 8 chapters and yet it feels almost like he's been in it for more than half. Frick. He is traumatizing.

Basically, the middle part of the book, namely chapters 7 to 20, was all about the main cast trying to frickin understand wtf was happening. Agatha and Sophie were trying to figure out the Lion and the Snake thing while Tedros was back in Camelot doing (or failing or being sabotaged with) politics and also trying to understand why tf was Excalibur having a tantrum.

Then Rhian entered and I don't know why or how Nottingham and Robin Hood got involved but he did.

And then more figuring out stuff and sabotaging Tedros and then Rhian and Excalibur and then cliffhanger.

It was all very abrupt and confusing. More confusion was added all because there were more questions asked than actual answers and a sense of depression was felt in the end because nothing was really achieved.

Imma compare this with Book 1 later but first Book 5 comparison.

Now aCoT. It was just the storyline that we needed to get back to the hype that the series had. Was it a satisfying read? Yes but was it able to heal the pain that QfG inflicted? No.

The fandom did not come back the same again.

But anyways, aCoT, personally, had a lot more scenes and events that I remembered than in any other book besides book 1 but that there was the problem with this book.

Too many things happened with this book. So much so that the fluency of the story was sacrificed to tell it.

Look at it this way, several shifts in the book happened.

This all happened in Part 1 only;

Rhian became King and his regime was sort of explained.

Agatha was introduced to the First Years and got her Army.

Sophie was in some sort of GOT-esque knock off experience as Rhian's Captive Queen.

Agatha manages to save some of her friends.

The concept of OTK was explained.

Tedros's execution was on way.

Nevermind, Agatha and her army just straight-up hijacked it.

Prof. Dovey died as a sacrifice.

Okay, now to Part 2;

Reaper is a Gnome King.

The Crystal of Time was finally explained.

They finally find out about Rhian and Japeth's origins.

The Gnomes were ambushed and I feel sorry for them.

Sophie tipped Rhian off with the location because she believed that she would end it all.

We kinda get background with why Rhian wants to be OTK????

Rhian DIES?!?!?! and now Japeth's King ☠

They sort of manage to know about wtf happened with the Lady and Japeth

Tedros and Arthur have a heart to heart and he gets the Ring of Power.

Cliffhanger

It's a lot to take in and I don't really think that Soman should have cramped it all in one book.

Some of the plot points should have been in QfG so that it wouldn't be as depressing.

The whole of Part one was a book in itself and Part 2 was one as well.

At some points of the book, I sometimes got the feeling that it was gonna be the end but it just kept going and going and now I don't really know what's left with OTK. It can be both a good thing or a horrible thing.

Let's see wtf happens. I expect more action than drama Soman.

So again with Book 1.

Book 1 was a classic and the ideas easily hooked anyone interested.

It had the same unaswered questions with QfG but why did it suceed when QfG didn't.

First, is that Book 1 had its atmosphere clear from the start of the book. It was clear that the main thing that needed to happen was that Sophie and Agatha needed to realize the actual nature of their souls. There were more technical questions that needed to be answered but the main point that needed to be addressed was addressed by the end of the book.

And also the ending was also a cliffhanger but it a much lighter note.

Sophie and Agatha realized their capabilities and understood themselves but they still chose each other in the end and that sort of gave way to a much hopeful future for the two of them. (At that time, at least)

All the while, QfG was one depressing ball of events that led to one horrible moment to the other.

It was just sad.

And so I kinda go back to Book 1 from time to time to refresh myself with why I started this series to begin with and I'm always reminded with the possibilities and the explorations about good and evil and the complex duality of differences and parallels that so many things that Sophie and Agatha sort of beautifully personify.

I love reading the very first chapter of Book 1 because it so beautifully captured Sophie and Agatha and their complex relationship that I've always wanted to read in other books.

I always loved reading Sophie's amusing thought process and the reason why she does everything that she does; she does it because she believes that she deserves more and she'll everything to get it.

I also loved how Agatha was such a character that I've always wanted to read about. She's spunky and shy and lonely and reflective and despite everyone shunning her, she could still see the good and find it in herself to help them. She was simply wonderful.

I'm thankful that I found this series and I hope that a lot more books can talk about the philosophies and concepts that this book has managed to introduce. And despite all of its set-backs and nonsense, I would still recommend this as a read but to that they should also think about what they've read and maybe talk about what they've found interesting with it.

[violetjedisylveon]

Random Star Wars AU I thought of at 3 a.m.

So, I had this super random idea at three in the morning. It's kinda long.

Edit: Hey! I made a part 2! Find it here!

In a modern AU.

The Jedi order is actual a group of secret agents, body guards and informants. They are fighting against criminal group trying to take down and replace the world government called the Sith.

So Qui-gon is the father of Obi-Wan and Anakin, who are half brothers and have their mother's names, Obi's mom died when he was young and eventually Qui-gon fell in love with Shmi and then boom, Anakin.

Both Obi-Wan and Anakin are trained to do what their dad does and they do it pretty well, better when they work together. Everything goes pretty good until they are sent on a protection mission to protect a forgien emissary from Shmi's country. Padmé Amidala.

She is under threat from an assassin code named Maul because he tended to maul his victims.

In the end, Qui-gon gets killed by Maul, Obi-Wan defeates him and he's put in jail, Anakin and Padmé become good friends through shared experiences of dead parents.

Obi-Wan keeps working with the Jedi while supporting his adopted mother, who gets cancer. Anakin and Padmé fall in love and Anakin sort of adopts this orphan kid named Ahsoka Tano. He found her on a mission and was like 'hey, this kid has no parents, I'm gonna take her home!' and so Ahsoka becomes Ahsoka Tano-Skywalker since she's technically Shmi's adopted daughter cause Anakin can't adopt a child at 17 years old.

Two years later, Anakin and Padmé get married, Shmi was there and able to see it. At the wedding, Obi's old ex-gf, Satine Kryze, is there and they get together.

Unfortunately, later in that year Shmi dies of her cancer, she dies happily knowing that her kids have someone else to help them. Anankin doesn't take it well and a detailed survey shows that she wasn't killed by her cancer but by poison used by the Sith so he becomes determined to defeate them and make sure they never hurt anyone again.

Obi-Wan also taked it pretty hard and he begins to be less active in the order, he inly really goes out with Anakin or Ahsoka because someone's gotta keep them from destroying the whole frickin world.

Obi and Satine get married and then have a kid they name Korkie.

It seems like everything is going well, Anakin has stopped being so obsessed with destroying the Sith, Korkie is a happy healthy kid and Ahsoka has a girlfriend. There are also these new recruits nicknamed the clones since they had been genetically modified to be similar and to be really good fighters and work in groups of three to five, they join the Jedi in their fight against the Sith. Obi-Wan thinks nothing will go wrong

But then...

Maul breaks out of jail.

He swears revenge on Kenobi for putting him there, he finds that Obi-Wan has a wife and a son and so logically, he goes to kidnapp and kill them.

Cody, one of the best in the ranks of the cloned, is assigned to Obi-Wan with his team(Boil and Waxer). He gets wind of Maul's plan and tells Obi-Wan.

Together, they go back to his home and Cody is able to save Korkie from Maul and the people he recruited which includes Satine's sister Bo, who didn't know that they were attacking her sister and nephew and was tricked into thinking that the person they were after was a criminal.

Bo helps Cody protect Korkie and tries to save her sister but sadly, Satine gets shot by Maul and dies in Obi-Wan's arms. Maul gets away, promising he'll kill Korkie one day.

So, Obi-Wan decides to go back in to full service and has Bo take care of his son while he and Cody pursue Maul. Anakin and Ahsoka join in because Satine was their sister-in-law amd Maul messed with the wrong family.

They don't find Maul and, after a lot of therapy, Obi-Wan gives up his quest for revenge and goes to take care of his son with Cody still helping him because Cody fell in love with him.

The whole Satine Maul thing got Anakin to try harder to destroy the Sith and corruption among the Jedi, Krell taking bribes and helping the Sith, causes Ahsoka and her good friend Barriss to both leave it. Ahsoka stays loosely connected and Barriss becomes a personal guard/humanitarian.

The Sith Boss, Sheeve Palpatine, tricks Anakin into believing that he could better take down the Sith by infiltrating them and begins to corrupt him.

A year later, Anakin has become more distant from his brother but he still manages to make it to Cody and Obi-Wan's wedding(Cody got permission from Korkie to propose since Obi-Wan doesn't have any parents anymore except for his grandfather Yoda). So now Korkie has two dads! Yay for him!

Then Padmé reveals her and Anakin's plane to have kids(she isn't pregnant yet) and you know how it goes after that.

Anakin joins the Sith, the Sith take control of the government and start their plans for world domination, the Jedi are disassembled. They aren't killed, they are forced to retire and under strict watch but mostly allowed to live normal lives, the clones are also retired, if they try to cause trouble then yeah, they gonna be killed.

Obi-Wan was basically retired already and he just kinda ignores the Sith shit. Cody's 'brothers' Boil and Waxer, who are actual brothers, adopt a little French girl named Numa and they bring her over for playdates with Korkie.

About two years in to the reign of the Sith, Padmé is pregnant and almost killed by an assassin, she leaves because it's not safe and she wants Ani to come with her but he doesn't. Padmé goes to Ahsoak and Kaeden, she lives with them for a while but is shot by an assassin and went into labor.

She didn't survive, but the twins did. Anakin learns of her death and the supposed death of his children.

Owen and Beru don't exist, sorry. So instead of being raised by Owen and Beru, Luke and Leia get raised by Ahsoka and her girlfriend Kaeden! Bail and Breha Organa were really close family friends of Padmé and they act as the twin's aunt and uncle.

Obi-Wan and Cody go to Ahsoka and Kaeden's wedding about a year later, Obi-Wan walks Ahsoka down the isle since after Shmi died he was basically the dad of the family. Obi-Wan and Cody also go to Ahsoka's baby shower two years later.

Everything is quiet for a while. Most Jedi are chilling in retirement, Anakin is second only to Palpatine in the Sith and the Sith take over the world because Anakin is one Hell of an asset and it's mostly because of him. Ani is also lowkey depressed cause his wife is dead, his brother probably hates him, his sister also probably hates him and his kids died.

Maul is still out there but he can't get to Obi-Wan because Obi learned from last time and is being very safe.

Eventually, people across the world start to rebel against the Sith control, Cody and Obi-Wan stay out of it, many of the clones and former Jedi do because they have families now.

Ahsoka and Kaeden get involved so Luke, Leia and their kid, Padmé get involved too.

I'm gonna leave it there because this is getting long but tell me what you think of this maybe?

Have a nice day!

[ladyshiranui]

Toki no Kizuna: Hakuoki’s “Prequel”

I still can’t believe I didn’t know about this game’s existence until twenty four hours ago. Shoutout to my girl @mizunui for showing it to me. I love you 3000. Also shoutout to my peeps @girl-weeb-stuff , @hareyakana-rin and @kanaryia who’re like me and left out of the loop.

This is a real brief rundown of literally what i have just discovered (if there is anyone else out there that didn't know this was a thing until now), but there's definitely stuff online, even gameplay on youtube you can take a look at yourself.

"Toki no Kizuna", or "Demon's Bond", was made for PSP in 2012 (Hakuoki was first made and released in 2008) but can also be played on Android and IOS as part of the "Shall We Date?" series. You can download it and play the prologue for free, but from that point on you will have to pay for which ever route you want to pursue. The total cost adds up to what you would pay for Hakuoki on Steam anyway. The storyline is set in 1599, so 250+ years before the canonical events of Hakuoki. Sources say "it can be considered as a prequel to Hakuoki", not "is". But, honestly, how can it NOT be a prequel!?

The pursue-able routes of the game are four demon chiefs of their own clans, the Kazama clan, Amagiri clan, Shiranui clan and Yukimura clan, the Princess of the Yase clan leading them all. As the player, you play as Yukina Suzumori, chief of the Suzumori clan. She is quite the contrast to the sweet, timid, oblivious Chizuru we know. This makes it extremely interesting; if we assume that clan leadership is passed down through blood relatives within each respective clan, we can say that each demon we meet in this game is the great-grandparent of Chikage, Kyuju, Kyo, Chizuru and Kaoru, and Sen!

Again, I really know next to nothing about this game, but here's a brief introduction to everyone for those who are in the same boat as me lol.

Heroine/Chief of the Suzumori clan: Yukina

The "Chizuru" of Demon's Bond, the matriarch, the player's eyes. She's the one who gets to choose who she falls in love with, you feel? She also has a white hawk for a companion, named Ginou. She was forced to become chief of her clan when the previous chief was murdered. Thus, she was orphaned at a very young age, raised by three other demon leaders until she was old enough to lead. She has a very serious personality, determined to respect and abide the ways of old.

Chief of the Yase clan: Princess Yase

Frickin omg she's so beautiful she's like Sen and Kimigiku mashed into one goddess. Yase considers herself very close to Yukina and treats her as though she were her little sister. At the beginning of the game, she calls together a meeting with the other demon chiefs. With her power of clairvoyance, she sees into the future and foretells a terrible war taking place among the humans, being the Battle of Sekigahara. It is during this meeting where the demon law to retreat from human interaction and to not associate one's self with them is put into place. If you've played/watched Hakuoki, you would know this rule is reiterated several times by Chikage Kazama.

Chief of the Kazama clan: Chitose

This guy is hella badass. Very Chikage-esque. He constantly tells Yukina that she is a terrible swordsman and often makes fun of her. He also has a close friendship with a human named Tomohisa Shimazu, which proves to be difficult to maintain with the new demon law put into place.

Chief of the Amagiri clan: Kazutake

A quiet, kind, big-brother type demon. He also is friends with a human named Ishida Mitsunari, but is closer to a business deal with the intention of acquiring extra land for his clan. Another VERY familiar trait about him is that he fights with his fists, and has a personal rule of never hitting women and children. If this doesn't sound like an ancestor of Kyuju Amagiri, then I don't know what does. It would've been even cooler if he had the same red-hair rat tail as his descendant.

Chief of the Shiranui clan: Shin

an actual shiranui route holy shit.

What a HUNK. Look at those MAJESTIC EYES. Literally all the wiki says about him is that he's arrogant and flirty. Definitely Kyo's ancestor. He also has long, tied up hair, which is a nice similarity to the bluenette. A contrast to him through would be the way he dresses. I mean, obviously because it's 250+ years prior to the westernization that inspired Kyo's attire, but he just looks like Sesshomaru mashed with some red-hair gene and Kyo's personality.

Chief of the Yukimura clan: Kazuya

This soft boy has a very quiet and serious nature, similar to Kaoru Yukimura I dare say. He used to work for Ieyasu Tokugawa for sometime, the Shogunate, until he split ties due to his belief the man was no longer what he used to be. Dare I come up with a little theory-- this could be how the shogunate was first introduced to the oni race, which inevitably leads to the introduction of Kodo Yukimura and the secret research and development of the Water of Life under the Shogunate's orders.

I am absolutely going to buy this game, and so I'd love to make a more detailed description of each demon, connecting the dots with the Hakuoki events and such. I'm honestly just stoked. Again, if you'd like to play the game yourself, you can find it on the app store for Android and IOS as "Shall We Date?: Demon's Bond". There are also existing gameplays of routes on youtube, as well as a tonne of official art online!

To get you started and all hyped, check out the opening. It’s a head-banger. Also, the vocals are sung by the same girl who sings the opening to Hakuoki: Reimeiroku!

You can absolutely expect to see this as part of the blog. I am deeming this canon and 100% relevant to Hakuoki and the demon clans (*´∀｀*)

[clavi-crossing]

Horse plinko?

Oh for the blorbo ask? Since you didn't attach a fandom I'll randomly choose one!

Uuuuh Panfu, Go!!!

Horse Plinko is kinda difficult since a lot of characters I like I don't usually threatingly loom over to throw in a barrell and laugh about it (Sorry Paul Atishon Ace Attorney). BUT I think this is a good opportunity to curse you with unwanted knowledge from when I was a babby on the internet...

So first of all Panfu was a kids' chatting site pretty much exactly like Club Penguin but with pandas, I'm 100% sure it was inspired. It had games and quests to play and two of those quests featured a villain character named Bonez... this might be one of my earliest blorbos ever.

This guy.

I had NO idea what a fandom was or how to engage with people so I just kinda sat there in my highschool classes all day thinking about this fictional evil panda who captures animals to sell them to a toy factory canonically. (You stop him, it's fine.)

Now the reason I chose him for Horse Plinko... For some child-brain reason I was like omg omg what if... the animals that he captures try to like.. kill him?? I THINK THAT WOULD BE FUNNY YEAH I'LL THINK ABOUT THIS-

DGFJSD THIS is still so funny to me, I imagined the frickin Woobys driving a military tank chASING HIM ACROSS THE FOOTBALL FIELD (A LOCATION INGAME) I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE THIS I THOUGHT THIS WAS PEAK STORY TELLING

He has a scarf here because I also made him sick so my panda character named snusi could take care of him aww poor bby did the cute animals terrorize u again it's okay

Whenever the moderators were online as the two main characters from the blog to interact with the players -- I think I used to follow them around only to ask them if Bonez was around... if he would also visit one day. Maybe I only thought about asking this and I was too shy BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT I was hoping so much they would have him visit, not realizing that lore-wise this would make no sense because he's evil and unpopular. Why tf would they have someone roleplay him on the servers for people.... They also never responded because they had a massive crowd of people around them at all times making it impossible to have a hint of a conversation. Little me learned a lesson that day that only Popular Blorbo Havers (derogatory) get what they want and that life isn't fair but I'm getting off topic!!!

I think it's not too far fetched to say I also bothered other poor unsuspecting players with a character they forgot about 0.2 seconds after finishing the quests. I hung out in his quest spots all day and was like 🥺 omg bonez I miss u so much I'm sorry that the animals were mean to you and

*GETS HIT BY LIGHTNING* .... Hey let me update my hc real quick that I just made up 5 seconds ago.

So, at the end of the Pokopets quest where Eloise helps you trap Bonez in his own airplane to send him to like.. Antarctica I think??? via autopilot that he can't for some reason turn off (The 1st picture is from that.) his plane actually crashes into the ocean... I love antagonizing good characters but I love the paranormal in fiction even more so!!! His plane shows up on Panfu again one day and everyone is like OH SHOOT HE'S BACK but the it looks all fucked up and not like it should be able to operate, let alone be able to fly back here. It's beat up and full of holes and seagrass And shit gets SPOOKY because Bonez' ghost is haunting it and you have to like uuhh do smth!! Like!!! uhm new quest one final quest for my boy Bonez where he haunts shit!!!! I'm ALMOST embarrassed to tell all this but I sometimes randomly think about it like... huh, I never told anyone, no one knows I like Bonez Panfu and made the funny 2ft tall pets bloodthirsty because I found it so deep when I was 12.

I'm happy to burden you with this knowledge please have a great day idk who you are but thank you!!!!