#and also. that boy needs to learn proper form

[prettybbychim]

chat how do we feel about zhongli teaching childe how to actually handle a bow as apart of his recovery down the line

[starrycassi]

Fluff jayvik hcs because why the fuck not.

Jayce is the in-universe equivalent to Latino. This is not a headcanon I'm Chris Lane himself.

Outside of their hex work, Viktor is quite fond of biology. He appreciates learning about evolution and how many different life forms deal with the same problems but face it in different ways. He is that one bug lover in every campus. Particularly fond of butterflies. He's got a few pinned down on his wall. Jayce finds it sort of creepy but keeps quiet.

Jayce is a geology nerd. He started getting into it while searching for a mineral that could resemble the first "stone" given to him by the mage when he was about 12. This was his very first theory: the arcane is actually stored in rocks and can be extracted like gold or such. It was clearly wrong but left him with a vast knowledge of just rocks. He has a million little chips around his bedroom. He fears the day he has to move because they're all heavy as fuck when combined.

Jayce is actually really athletic. But, like, for health benefits. He does appreciate his own body and WILL flex it if given the opportunity, but it's not the main reason why he exercises/works out (yes I know the forge bla bla I'm talking when he finally becomes a scientist guys). He wants to live a long life to take care of his mom, and knows that a good physique would make that easier.

Jayce ends up annoying Viktor into agreeing to do some low-impact stretches with him when they spend more than 24 hours just sitting around in the lab. And I'm talking VERY low impact. Wrist stretches, shoulder openers, some neck looseners. He's actually really patient and caring when they do this, and Viktor has definitely fallen a little bit more in love with each muscle movement.

Expanding on that: after 48 hours of work he Will Get The Zoomies. This ends up in Viktor, sitting peacefully, counting down the pushup reps Jayce is doing. He needs to get rid of all that energy and Viktor is more than happy to help. Especially when Jayce eventually starts taking out his shirt to do his little routines.

Jayce likes psychology and general health. He is really in tune with his own emotions in the show, okay? This man is reading self help books in his spare time. A lot of time the theory doesn't actually make it to his heart but at least he understands it. Viktor finds the chemistry side of psychology interesting, but is not that interested in the rest of it. Basically psychology vs psychiatrist ig.

They're both dinosaur nerds. Jayce is a big fan of their diets/possible mating rituals while Viktor is obsessed with fossils and evolution. Jayce likes flying specimens more, while Viktor is partial to the marine ones.

Viktor's one and only loved physical activity is swimming. Takes the weight off his leg and spine for a second. One of the few "luxuries" he owns is a decently sized bathtub with all the proper accommodations to get in and out without help.

Viktor is a snake person. They're easy to care for (if you just follow the right steps), easy to transport, don't require that much physical effort, will not wreck his house while he's gone, et cetera. Of course he doesn't have a twelve feet venomous one. Probably more of a cornsnake/Rosy boa guy. Which also means that the first time Jayce visits his apartment, the man almost dies in five consecutive heart attacks.

Jayce would definitely love a golden retriever I'm sorry he truly is the living bisexual boy stereotype. Physical affection, a good excuse to go outside for a run, force him to keep a routine. I actually think he would never own one on his own because he knows his schedule is way too fucked up for a pet, but Ximena does have one to keep her company and he loves it. I can only see this man with either a cat that comes to his balcony every night or some obscure brand of bird.

Jayce is amazing at cooking, but incredibly messy and takes his sweet time with it. He had time to learn from his mom and sees cooking as an act of love that should be appreciated. Viktor is really fast and efficient, but can end up with tasteless stuff. Grew up with hastily stolen ingredients and half a bottle of kitchen oil in Zaun. Food is fuel kind of mentality.

The only person who Viktor accepts constant help from is Jayce, and this is because he knows that Jayce is Just Like That. There was one or two big fights about it at first, but, with times, he's learned that Jayce is doing this out of the wish to show love and not out of pity or concern. Jayce is well aware that Viktor can adjust his own brace and has no problem with fixing his own tie, but he loves loves loves being useful.

This evolves in Viktor trying to reciprocate the gestures. Keeping Jayce's foundation on his bag (there is no way Mr. Charisma doesn't cover his eye bags every time they need to be in public) and learning how to properly apply makeup for him. He keeps an extra pair of earphones after finding out that Jayce is actually just as easily overstimulated as him. Remembers his coffee order, straightens out his collar, refills his stapler and clip drawer.

They are PARTNERS okay? I need the little domestic signals. No big "I love you's" but daily "I got you that cinnamon latte monstrosity you call a beverage" or "You forgot them? Don't worry. I have emergency pain pills in my wallet. Yes, the ones you take. No, it's technically not stalking if you leave the receipts laying around."

They both really enjoy videogames. Viktor likes noir/detective ones and Jayce is a fan of anything that includes racing. They seldom play the same game at the same time, more often just keeping the other company while doing their own thing.

They can both sew. Pretty similar to the cooking one. Jayce learnt for pleasure, Viktor out of necessity.

Have seen the other sob silently over failed equations and burnt metals so many times that they both have perfected the routine by now. Viktor likes to be given space and Jayce needs someone to come calm him down. Which is hell, because Jayce hates leaving Viktor alone. He feels useless. And Viktor heats having to do the whole consolation thing. He feels inadequate. But that's what the other needs, so they try.

When really stressed, Jayce has been known for having psychosomatic thermal issues. Viktor has had to throw blanket after blanker over him because he will Not Move if his body gets too cold, which in return makes him panic, which makes him even colder.

Both fuckin hate winter. It always finds them with So Many Extra Sweaters in the lab. Viktor carries an extra scarf around. Just in case. Jayce's PTSD gets triggered, while Viktor's body just reacts horribly to the cold. Some days they just wrap themselves up against one another and try to guard off the cold.

Viktor has some auditory hallucinations. Very rarely. Mostly of Rio. He doesn't want to talk about it. So he doesn't. Jayce notices, but knows better than to go poke and prode at Viktor's feelings. It doesn't usually end well.

Are both amazing at chess. Have threatened to kill each other over it. Had to take out the board from the lab after the sixth consecutive tie.

(Mel is actually the only other person in the building who can easily, quickly and steadily beat them, including when they work together. Even Heimerdinger gets thrown a few curves here and there)

Jayce Can Not stand it when Viktor is disrespected, but never steps in. He knows Viktor will defend himself and will only get in the middle of it if it gets physical. The one time he tried Viktor's cane met his shins about five times in a row. It was a "small warning about limits."

Jayce avoids ordering junk food when they work for hours, for both of their health. He also doesn't want to sacrifice taste, so he buys from two/three exclusive places that can meet their nutritional + palatial needs. Viktor can, will and has eaten only pizza for about three days straight.

Had he never been... well, the man of progress, Jayce would've turned into either a bioengineer or surgeon. I have no idea on how to explain this but I need u to believe me please (I'm just a healthcare student with severe delusions)

Jayce's mom makes a big deal of his birthday. Viktor denies being jealous. It doesn't work. Next year, Ximena also makes a big deal of his special day.

Viktor is currently unaware of his exact date of birth. He picked one based on analysis and what his mother could recount but has never known the exact number

They get married and live happily ever after idc idc

Addition 1: Both are Well Aware of the law (Jayce's little sister is a cop + Viktor just like reading everything). Can both hold their own in a legal conversation. They just choose to ignore it. Have a vast knowledge of legal technicalities and use them only to bend said laws. The more they learn, the worse they get. Basically those guys who read the rulebook only to find loopholes on it.

[contentloadingandstuff]

NSFW Headcanons - Lumine & Mualani x Male!Reader

A/N: Guess who's back, back again. I'm not very excited for the new update, quite the opposite actually, but that's how I generally feel about new content. Having to learn new stuff and keep up is rather exhausting... Anyway, do enjoy! CW: FFM threesomes, slight polygamy (?), public sex, rimming, objectification, pubic hair, some pegging, milking, scent fetish, both girls being pervs, lots of oral and sloppy, vulgar dirtiness - the good stuff.

Lumine’s been alive for longer than Teyvat existed and, having visited many worlds, met equally countless boys. With her dashing looks it's no wonder that she has many suitors in every nation, the more handsome of which becoming her conquests. While she stuck her flagpole - or rather stuck said poles into herself - in a multitude of hearts, it was never for longer. She was always on the move and her partners weren't nearly as mobile as her, forcing her to push them away after some time. Such is the life of the Traveler. 

But now that she has someone willingly following her? You bet she's gonna show you off before the entire world. Let all women be jealous of the catch she has on her hook - a man with not just a tough, fuckable body, but also plenty of brain behind his eyes. Rest assured, both will be flaunted. 

After all, what's not to love about your body? It's everything a male should be in her eyes and more - a rugged, large powerhouse of a man. Broad shoulders and a tough back, prepared to carry any burden, muscular and scratched arms, ready to get dirty, hands that could pin down a helpless maiden like her, rendering her powerless against your lust… Just the thought of standing near a guy like you gets her into the most submissive and meek of moods. Alternatively, she wants to bite it off - lovingly, of course!

Don't be mistaken though, she's not going to be as shy as a virgin about her needs. She isn't; she's actually as far as you can get from innocent - Lumine knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask for it, often in excessive detail. If she feels like having a go at it, she’ll ask if you also want to stuff her holes for a bit. Anal? Expect an invitation to fuck her up the ass whispered into your ear at a meeting with friends. It’s so fun watching you blush! Especially when there are people in the group with sharp hearing; their reactions are always fun to see. 

There’s no pussyfooting around with Lumi, unless of course she wants to tease you, irritate you, turn up your heat and force you to be as imaginative as herself. If you try the same level of boldness, she might just feign innocence. A blowjob? What’s that? She doesn’t understand. Or do you maybe mean you want her to shove your dick inside her throat and choke on it until you feed her your sticky milk? That’s the kind of thing she wants to hear. Lumine wants to hear you daydreaming about feasting on her fat pussy before pushing her folds apart and skewering her with your meaty cock. There’s something magical, she thinks, about how your normally polite lips can utter these words at the slightest of suggestions. That’s her corrupting influence, and she’s proud of it. Turning proper and righteous boys into horny, pussy-addicted studs is her hobby.

Patient? Gentle? Restrained? Forget it. This is no bedroom for wispy romantics. Lumine needs a man, not a lovestruck boy. She needs a guy that tears her dress down because he’s too horny to wait for her to unbutton it. She wants you to shove her against the wall and bite into her neck, pinning her down as you descend on her sweet flesh like a hungry wolf. When she rubs her tasty folds against your legs, you don’t halt and meekly wait to hear what she feels like doing - you rip her panties off and dig into her cunt as if it was the last meal in your life. And when she’s barely capable of forming a word, you don’t give her a break - you plunge into her ruined and overstimulated pussy and break it some more until all she can do is drool mindlessly and blurt out cock, cock, cock on a lobotomised loop. 

Lumine is a demanding lover that needs a durable man to keep up with her. She’s a god, and you are to dick her like a god. Since her life is inconceivable in its span, she’s the definition of kinky - she has to be to keep herself entertained. Forget about having “normal” sex with her twice in a row as each day in Lumine’s bed is full of surprises. She might wake up in the morning feeling like slapping her strap on your face before assaulting your cute prostate with it, but end the day with her own panties shoved into her mouth as you relentlessly finger her over and over again as the puddle of cunt juice below grows bigger with each squirt. She might not go for long - you two have places to be and people to meet, don’t forget - but she slides her hand into your pants quite frequently, sometimes as many times as you can manage. Even if they are roughly three minutes at a time. 

Why? Busy life, Paimon. Travels, Paimon, meetings, Paimon, commissions, Paimon. Paimon, three times over. Even if she already knows that Lumine is what you might euphemistically call a perv, she often forgets that and gets dangerously close to walking in. It spoils the mood of course, but Lumine doesn’t take offence. Still, she’ll do her best to remind Paimon that certain rooms are off limits and that she shouldn’t tag along when you and her go off into some bushes or a closet. 

Actually, this constant lack of privacy and time made Lumine more willing to fuck than the opposite. It’s such a thrill to have you rummaging around her panties when there’s a party at her teapot, separated from you just by a thin wall. Of course, she loves when there’s an opportunity to make herself comfy on your lap as that means it’s clit rubbing time. There’s a reason her dress has special, hand-sized cuts around her waist area - it’s impossible to see from far away, but these slight “utility openings” can be easily accessed with the slightest of pressure. 

It’s also quite fun when she can mess with her friends, especially her female friends - some of them, at least. If they tease her, she’ll tease back and if enough sly glances and jokes with subliminal messages are exchanged, you might just have a pretty thing to team up on in the bedroom - that is, as long as they keep their hands off of you. See, while Lumine will eagerly encourage you to share your bed, she wants it to be nothing more than sex. Of course she trusts you and so on, but seeing them make the moves and climb on top of you while she isn’t around to hold your head on her lap or ride your face makes her jealous. No wonder - she doesn’t want any woman to steal your heart away now that you’ve become her private boytoy. But, as long as they behave and involve Lumine at all times, they’re welcome to taste your juicy fuckstick. 

Whatever role these guests play, Lumine’s sure to facilitate a steamy evening. Some women can keep up with her imagination and as such are welcome to torment you alongside her. Turns out Miko has a thing for edging - a perfect activity to go along with some oral teasing; you’ll choke on her fingers, shoved against your tongue and exploring your throat as Miko expertly zaps your frenulum, making you squeal so pathetically. Lisa on the other hand has a thing for boy pussies and can expertly juice your prostate and let the cum drip in bursts into Lumi’s waiting mouth. Yelan likes to bind her men as she fucks them, letting your golden haired sweetheart stroke your cheek and look you in the eyes as the agent goes wild on your cock. On the other hand, plenty of girls make for perfect playthings - breaking them into mindless sluts is always a fun way to spend the evening. With them Lumine will play the cockdoula, enhancing their experiences with taking cock until she sees conscious thoughts pour out through their ears.

Animal bits? Perfect targets to focus your attention on. Poor Ganyu - her horns are such an easy way to drastically decrease braincells, especially when - as she is devoured from beneath by your hungry tongue they are mercilessly rubbed by Lumine. Yanfei’s antlers meanwhile make for perfect handlebars to fuck you with her waiting face. Tails are fun to hold up, revealing asses and pussies as you pound them in doggy. What a shame Lumine lost her ability to shapeshift; it would be so much fun to let you take different throats and cunts for a spin. First thing she’s going to do when she gets that skill back? Showing you what a long, meaty, agile dragon tongue can do with a dick.

Her attitude towards guys is quite different now that you’re here. She is still very much attracted to them, that’s obvious, but having them accompany you feels off now. Monogamy was not in the cards for her for centuries now and she’s fairly tired of playing many flutes, so to speak. Lumine would like to get more familiar with you and only you for a change. However, if you really want to spitroast her with your bud - like Wriothesley, for example - she might think about letting you, but she makes no promises. 

Don’t worry, she’ll make it up to you. With so much experience under her belt it will only be a matter of time until you become hopelessly addicted to her pussy, ass, tongue and hands - especially them as Lumine can do wonders with her fingers, regardless where she uses them. She can instinctually find your breaking point and take you up to it and then, with a slow frenulum massage, force you to ride the edge for minutes on end. She’ll have lots of fun watching you gradually lose your mind to the pleasure, hearing you beg for her to speed up just a little bit and let you empty your balls. If you ask nicely, she may - but if Lumine is feeling especially cruel, she might order you to bend over a cup and milk you dry… Without letting you cum. The prostate really is a funny thing. She learned that it is responsible for storing the cum in preparation for the cumshot, meaning with a finger touching your cockhead and two fingers pressed down into your p-spot she can let through some Electro and force the cum out, droplet by droplet, until you’re exhausted, empty and most importantly - unsatisfied. Lumine knows that it’s a very hard time for you, but it certainly boosts your loyalty and need for her. There’s so much fun to be had when you’re impossibly horny, but just straight up shooting dust. She could get you to do anything, but she’s kind enough to not abuse her power in these moments. Sometimes. 

On the other hand, there are lots of times when she feels quite submissive. Being her is tiring and quite frustrating - she always has to be the knight of the story, not the damsel in distress. Never the gentle, delicate, helpless maiden in need of strong, male arms to rescue her… And of course in need of said arms to wrap themselves around her hips and break her pussy on your cock. Lumine likes to sprinkle in some roleplay to make things even spicier. For example, she’ll pretend to struggle with some monster just for you, brave, powerful, masculine you to swoop in for the rescue. What else she could do but kneel down, cup your balls and suck all the cum out of them as a reward? Sometimes she’ll be an insufferable brat all day, dropping hints as to what kind of punishment she wants for her insolence. Don’t be gentle - she can take everything you throw at her, and even if she breaks… Don’t you dare stop. Overstimulate her, spank her, fuck her sensless until what remains of her mind is pleasure-filled mush. 

As all tribes of Natlan, the Metzili praise fitness above all, with the unique element of focusing their culture around beaches, and consequently - beach bodies. Fat tits, rock hard muscles and juicy asses are a normal sight for anyone wandering the beaches, making a fine body something plentiful in the nation of fire. Among them is obviously Mualani, not at all bad-looking but painfully aware that she's quite far off from the feminine perfection of Mavuika. If there's anything she wants you to do, it's making her feel hot as the Unconquered Sun. 

Unlike other nations where the question of looks against personality is endlessly debated, Natlan makes no distinction between them - after all, in a healthy body, a healthy spirit! The unfortunate result of this is making raw, primal lust less notable as it becomes muddled in general attraction to a person. That's not what she wants! 

Mualani doesn't want you to tell her she's a nice, brave and kind person - she already knows this. She wants to hear your drool over her body, sink your teeth into her boobs and stare at her bouncy ass with no gentlemanly act. She wants to feel hot. She wants to feel desired. She wants to feel like a hot piece of ass for you to fuck when you're around. She doesn't dress so provocatively and tan eye-catching symbols into her body to seduce you with her personality! 

Her body belongs to you, so make her happy and take up that offer. Be open and shameless, thirst for her at all times. Passing by? Give her ass a nice, appreciative slap and watch the fat jiggle - doesn't it just beg to be spread open and fucked? When you're making small talk and you seem to be too focused on her eyes, Mualani will be quick to remind you that her titties are down here, specifically to be ogled at your leisure. She's not just bending over, she's presenting her camel toe just to see that smirk on your face, shortly followed by a distinct bulge in your trunks. That's what she likes to see - her effect on you. 

Don't hesitate to give her a few of those crass compliments too - she knows that being reduced to a walking set of holes by your one and only from time to time is both good and correct. Squish her juicy ass cheek when she's leaning into you, stroke her thigh, slide a hand down her panties, for no other reason than you just feel like it. Whisper things into her ear in the middle of a tour break - how you're gonna toss her around a bit, rough her up, skewer her with your juicy fuckstick. Sure, it might be a bit cringe when you think about it later, but Mualani assures you - childish neologisms are not what's going through her mind with a possessive hand on her tit and pure, lovely filth pouring into her ears.

After all, every woman objectifies her man more than society would lead you to believe. Mualani here is a fine and proud example - if you let her, she'll call you her stud, stallion or bull any day, all apt names for a guy armed with such a bitchbreaker. Actually, you don't need to be as big as a wardrobe and carry a lethal instrument between your legs for her to call you that. Imagination and suggestion is just as important as size. Also, how could she hope to recall how many inches you were packing when her brain was busy being fucked stupid? Regardless, her thirst is enough to make you a proud trophy of a man to show off and be claimed by. 

Mualani is a physical girl that thrives on touch, especially the possessive kind. Knowing that she belongs to a man she loves, trusts and desires gives her endless confidence - so don't hesitate to bring her closer, wrap your strong arms around her waist and give her butt a nice squeeze - show everybody around that she's yours, and both her heart and her holes will be yours forever. 

But don't forget to be rough with her - after all, what's a bark good for if no bite follows? Throw her over your shoulder and carry her off for a thorough plowing while she's giggling giddily and kicking her legs, squealing with joy like an overzealous fangirl. Throw her down, pick her up, pull her hair, push her down while you pump the daily portion of baby batter down whichever tight hole you feel like using. Do spank her - hard - if she misbehaves, or just for the crime of being the sexiest woman in Natlan and let the bruise be a reminder of who exactly gets to fuck her each night. Can she, the petite girl, do anything to stop such a stud from bullying her into the mattress? Never. Does she want to change this status quo? Absolutely fucking not! 

Oh, woe is her! If only she could somehow clone you and just go with the flow… Be passed around like a blunt and reduced to taking, stroking and sucking on the loveliest cock in Teyvat times three… Five… Ten… To be so stuffed with milky goodness of her man that her tanned belly bloats up, cum constantly gushing from her holes, likely never to return to their original sizes… Hold on, maybe if she could get some rare books for Citlali…

The only thing that's a big turn off for Mualani is the whole spiel about affirmative consent. She enjoys when things go just as smoothly as your cock glides into her wet cunny, when you can read the simplest of clues and body language without this abstract need to blatantly say “Excuse me, do you consent to this sexual act?”. It spoils the mood worse than actually doing something she doesn't like. It feels like you're not trusting her, like you're hesitating, doubting yourself or chickening out. Don't beat around the pussy, just observe her and follow what your lower head tells you - if she doesn't like something, she has the capability of speech and will tell you like the adult she is. If you're struggling, all you have to do is ask and she'll guide you through the steps. 

Her dislike for the kind of formality movie directors from Fontaine want also applies to situations outside the bedroom. All these naughty things she explicitly said she wants you to do are allowed, and she shouldn't need to remind you of it every time. What, are these philosophers from Fontaine gonna force you to get explicit consent before something as simple as a spank or a whistle? Can you imagine handing her a questionnaire each time you want to call her a hot bitch? Maybe they'll want you to get a form, sign it and get a stamp from the Fontainian Committee of Ethics each time you want to hoist her up and carry her off backstage? She's a consenting adult, damn it, and no egghead will tell her or her man how you should go about boning each other!

Obviously, good trophy sluts like her deserve treats. When it comes to Mualani, the treat is cock and balls - simple as. Dick, jewels, shaft, orbs, rod, fuckstick, the bitchbreaker with two fat nuts dangling below that hides in your boxers. The only thing she needs to be happy is free access to this proof of a benevolent creator. It's something of an addiction - Mualani could have you plop yourself on her face and rest your sweaty package for hours on end as she works her lips and tongue to give it the spitshine it deserves. She'll never get tired of fondling your balls while you just sit back and relax. Why wouldn't she? They're nice, soft, cool, perfectly designed for a girl's palm… There's no such feelings as holding her future children in her fingers, stored with the male essence while reverently kissing the man that will inevitably empty them inside her waiting cunt. 

Being born and raised amongst hot, sweaty boys, Mualani has something of a fixation on everything smelly and sloppy. Not just cum, mind you - spit, sweat, precum and cockjuice are all first class treats to this surfer gal. Is dragging her tongue all over your shaved, sweaty armpits dirty? Is sliding her hand into your pants, dragging her finger around your cockhead and bringing her finger up to her nose nasty? Or is nuzzling her face into your bush of pubic hair, stuck together by a mix of dense cum and smelly squirt filthy? Of course - that's the point! The smell, taste and texture of a man drives her senses crazy and just begs her to dive in headfirst. 

Speaking of, do forget to shave. Mualani is a big fan of bushy, smelly man hair that she can comb her fingers through and bury her nose in. It keeps the sweat for longer and clumps together with other juices, making a perfect little patch of filth to rub herself against. Pubes getting on her tongue? Whoever cares, it's certainly not this girl. 

In terms of her own carpet, she likes to go for a trimmed little bush above her clit. Unfortunately, pussies aren't as suited to sucking on as cocks are, so the hair is much more of an issue. There's also health stuff and so on. But, if you wanna, you can still get a nice sniff off - you'll like it, Umoja’s promise! 

Getting dirty is her favourite thing. Sure, vaginal is cool, but have you ever licked your own squirt off your boy's cock? Or used a mixed of cum, spit, precum and squirt to lube up your ass for some hardcore backbreaking? These girls who never slapped a sweaty cock on their cute face just don't know what they're missing. Mualani is fixated on all this to the point where an orgasm from simple sex is less fulfilling than fingerblasting herself with your cum stained boxers on her face. 

She's not a fan of swallowing. Not because it's not hot or delicious - yes on both counts here - but because there's so much to do with it. She could rub it across her face, finger herself with it or use it as the only lube for an anal punishment of a lifetime. At the very least she makes sure to do a proper show of eating it - usually straight off your cock or, if she's feeling fancy, your stomach, chest, abs or asshole. 

Thanks for reading!

[ready-to-read7]

Prompt #11

Okay I have recently discovered the wonders that is the creepy Vlad misunderstandings teen dad Danny  whatever, I don’t know if there is a proper name for it or not but anyway I also like the idea of Constantine being Danny’s dad) (also I do not believe that Mattie would  cheat  on Jack so I’m going to say something else happened ) ( also to make this more dramatic say Danny is trans,) ( also I know this would not  make any sense  but I’m going to say Constantine cannot sense beings from the infinite realms more specifically the ghosts unless he tries very hard so imagine how much more difficult it would be to sense a ½ ghost, so a.k.a. he does not know Danny is half ghost, yet)

 John Constantine had never had kids as far as he believed and knew and if he did they would be like half demon kids that were immediately taken away and  used for something horrible like a sacrifice or something so he never got to watch them grow up or build a connection with them but there was one exception, John Constantine did not really know about the boys existence for the first 10 years of the boys  life but somehow he learned of Danny and despite never interacting with him personally only keeping an eye on him occasionally he felt a connection one  sided connection mostly but a connection, he would never admit it but he loved his son

So imagine his shock and absolute rage when he finds his son beaten, bloodied and clutching his stomach/chest like it was his last life line. John had not checked up on his son in slightly over two years last time he came to check on his son it was a few days after his 14th birthday ( a.k.a. before the accident) because things became too busy.

So John  would immediately take him to the house of mysteries to heal him and one of his cursed/possessed/living objects told john  that there was more than one person that he brought into the house, John will be confused by this and would then use a bit of magic to search for the other person only to realize that the other person was a baby inside of his son.

John obviously knew his son was trance and he really did not care, Once again he would never admit it but he loved him and based on the amount of bruising cuts and probably a few other things John Constantine would come to the conclusion that his son was assaulted and this would truly make his blood boil.

(what actually happened was Elly was destabilizing and she needed to be incubated to save her life so Danny took her core into himself and because she is still technically have human a small body started forming inside of him making him technically pregnant, but due to his parents figuring out about his ghost half and not having a very good reaction to it they captured him and kind of tortured him they didn’t get to a vivisection yet because he was too scared they would destroy Ellys core, so he used his remaining power to create an explosion of some kind and escape and then pass out a couple few kilometres away from town.)

After Danny woke up John would explain who he was and that Danny was now safe, obviously his life would be a bit weird now but John would try his best to protect him.

John  would obviously ask Danny if he wants to keep the baby and Danny would say yes, and John would leave it at that not really happy that his son will have to become a teen dad but he wasn’t going to push it.

[icanseethefuture333]

PAC: What your pretty self needs to hear for Valentine's Day ♡

Your heart's message to you + a message from your secret admirer 💌

They say the truth ain't pretty, but coming from that pretty mouth

The truth is fitting, cause you ain't ever talkin' loud

And you know plenty

Yeah, you know what I'm talkin' about

Cause you just get me

Yeah, you so pretty... ♡

Pile 1:

Your heart's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

Girl by Destiny's Child

Far by SZA

I MISS YOU SO BAD by iKON

The Lovers, Seven of Cups, & Three of Cups

So what your heart wishes to tell to you is that there is still love out there. You may have previously gotten over an ex, a past crush, or you are in the process of recovering from a break up. In the song "Far" SZA asks Sadhguru how to deal with rejection, in which he responds, "That's great! If nobody wants you then you're free." You have to look on the bright side of things. You also have to know what your worth is. No one else can define your worth but you. You have to be secure with who you are as a person. No one can love the parts you need to heal from. Once you feel fulfilled with who you are as a person. That is when you can form healthy connection with others. I believe you still are hoping for you and this person to get back together but you are hurting yourself even more by obsessing over this person (was going to say focus but instead I heard obsess). Reflect on your current situation and ask yourself, "What wound is this person triggering in me?". What do you need to move on from? To take care of your heart you should do some self reflection. Journaling and shadow work would help provide some clarity. Your heart asks you to not fall back into old habits. Self love is important for your growth, pile 1!

Your secret admirer's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

Time To Love by Red Velvet

Changes by Jeff Bernat

I Think I'm Falling by KOHH

Wallflower, New Love, & Union

There is a new love coming in for you! This person could be shy and likes to admire you from afar. They could be self conscious about some things about themselves as well. The feelings seem to be mutual here. There could be a new crush that you like and wish to speak to, but are to nervous to ask them out of fear of rejection. Don't fret! Confessing your feelings helps build courage. If the person rejects you, then that just means there isnsomeone else better out there for you. It is not the end of the world just because you got rejected. Have a little more confidence in yourself, you are great, pile 1! Regardless, I see you and this secret admirer actually being intimate. Things could develop into something more serious with this union card. So make sure to be open to this energy and give them a chance at love ♡

Pile 2:

Your heart's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

Mine by Slayyyter

ANTIFRAGILE by LE SSERAFIM

Post To Be by Omarion ft. Chris Brown & Jhené Aiko

Four of Cups, Eight of Wands, & The Fool

Your heart does not want to be tied down at the moment! I believe it has plenty of love to give lol. You also have no problem with turning people down or vice versa. You are looking for a fling and just wish to have a casual relationship! You could have a lot of options in love and would like to explore things romantically, maybe even sexually. Your heart suggests that you focus on your happiness and learn what pleases you. Love does not always have to be serious. Sometimes short lived romances have the best stories to tell! You will be feeling very confident and sexy in your romantic endeavors.

Your secret admirer's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

Boys Wanna Be Her by Peaches

No Flex Zone by Rae Sremmurd

STUCK IN MY HEAD by Twice

Open Relationship, Mature Woman, & Fun Times

This secret admirer of yours is honestly hilarious 😭. I kept getting meme songs and I hs to shuffle again to get a proper message. This could be my queer pile as well 🏳️‍🌈. I'm getting Renee Rapp vibes from your secret admirer, Pile 2 😋. They could suit the 'girl crush' aesthetic or if it is someone who identifies as masculine, they have a very pretty face. They are open minded, flirtatious, and exciting to be around. This person wishes to tell you that you are stuck in their head! They find you to be "so fine" 😜! They would like take you out soon. I'm getting it will be a bar date or they will take you dancing at a night club.

Pile 3:

Your heart's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

More Than Enough by Alina Baraz

Bluffin by Brent Faiyaz

Mona Lisa by Naji ft. Monter Booker

Death, Six of Swords, & Six of Pentacles

Oh, pile 3, bless your heart 🥹. You are someone who has such a kind, gentle heart. You have the purest intentions and for that people can tell how geniune you are as a person. You could be selfless and caring towards others. You have so much love to give that it is obvious to others. I don't see any bitterness in your heart and I feel like your heart wishes to tell you how proud it is of you for being able to find forgiveness. You are leaning to let go of the people who have hurt you in the past. The essence of your spirit is so soft and it's very beautiful to witness. Your heart's message to you is that anyone would be lucky to have you in their life. So don't ever feel like you are not enough because you're more than that. You are this cup that is overflowing with love and sincerity.

Your secret admirer's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

At Your Best (You Are Loved) by Aaliyah

Freaky Deaky by Tyga ft. Doja Cat

LOVE by Kendrick Lamar ft. Zacari

Dating, True Love, & True Gem

Your secret admirer absolutely adores you, pile 3. They see your value as a person and they know that there is no one else like you in this world. You have so much love to give and they do as well. I am getting that they want to literally treat you like a princess/princess - just overall royalty. Their have geniune intentions as well and they would like to spoil you this Valentine's day ❤. (Channeled song: Kiss It Better by Rihanna 💋) for a few of you, you and your specific person could be separated. I see that things will turn out for the better soon. So have faith in yourself and in this person for things to work out. They could offer you some sort of proposal, love offer, or a token of their gratitude to show how much they love you. I see things would be passionate, flirty, and romantic for you and your secret admirer 🎆.

Pile 4:

Your heart's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

Green Light by Beyoncé

Standing Next To You by Jungkook

God of Music by SEVENTEEN

Two of Pentacles, Page of Wands, & The Magician

You are such an optimistic person, pile 4! You could be someone who often gives advice to others and help others look on the bright side of things. You radiate such positive energy and it makes you a joy to be around. You could be someone who knows what they want and goes after it. You know how to balance your heart with your brain. Intuitive but also logical. People wonder how you are able to turn your ideas into reality. Your heart's message to you is to keep going after your goals and not let anyone distract you from your dreams. As long as you are happy that is all that matters. Your heart also wishes to tell you that whatever makes you light up inside is meant for you. Whatever your heart is set on whether that's a new job, house, etc. You have the ability to manifest whatever you desire.

Your secret admirer's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

Phone Me by Che Ecru

Novacane by Frank Ocean

Own It by Drake

Passion, Friendship, & Communication

For some of you, you could be currently in a "situationship" or have a FWB with someone. While for others, your secret admirer is possibly a friend of yours. This person is conflicted on how to approach you. You may receive a text or phone call from them soon where they ask you about your relationship with another. They could ask you how you feel about them or drop hints that they are attracted to you. The ball is in your park, pile 4, if you decide to be more than just friends with this person.

Pile 5:

Your heart's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

Girl Like Me by Alexa Demie

Fulfillment? By Kilo Kish

Baddie by IVE

Eight of Cups, Two of Cups, & Seven of Swords

I am getting like "manic pixie dream girl" vibes from you, Pile 5. Something about you is hard to pin point to others. Mysterious but also so enchanting. You know you are someone who is complex but also so beautiful. You have these interesting quirks that makes you stand out and memorable to others. You are comfortable with who you are as a person and it could have took you a long time to get to a place of being this self assured. You could have a child like wonder as well and it is admirable to others. You could be questioning what direction to take in life and could find "adulting" very hard but don't give up, pile 5! Everything will be okay in the end. Your heart's message to you is to learn what gives you emotional fulfillment in life. Also to not take shit from no one. What's interesting is your face could look quite sweet but you are actually feisty and have a firey spirit. There is a duality to your personality and its attractive. I am getting like Song Jia, Alexa Demie, Wonyoung, & Taylor Russell vibes from you, pile 5. Your heart wants you to embrace your confidence and focus on the abundance in your future. Do not let people drag you down and dim your light. Your heart believes it is time for some self pampering. Set your standards high in love and know that you are deserving of everything you desire. I also believe it is time to burn bridges with people who no longer serve you. How can you live the life of your dreams if other people only acknowledge the version of yourself that no longer resonates with you? If you wish to be the girl of your dreams, you have to learn to put yourself first.

Your secret admirer's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

Lilith by Halsey

Ditto by NewJeans

High Fashion by Roddy Rich ft. Mustard

Triangle, Travel, & Spiritual Growth

What is this Single's Inferno?! You have options, pile 5. You could have more than one secret admirer. You could be observing your current options in love and feeling "Well! Let the best person win☺️!" I see people wanting to fly you out and pay for your trips, oh my🫠. One of the people you will date could be popular or have a well known social status. You give people butterflies and some of you may know what affect you have on people, while some of you are innocent to the fact. You could receive love confessions or you may even already have. I feel like you are the type of person who receives love letters, jewelry, candies, and box of chocolates, if not you are going to be spoiled for this Valentine's day! You could meet your secret admirer(s) while traveling or when going on vacation. Your secret admirer's message to you is that they "like you" and hoping you feel the same 💕. They want to understand your love language and words of affirmations / gift giving could be one of their love languages in particular.

Pile 6:

Your heart's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

Rose by Miyeon

Honey Dew by Lion Babe

Chanel by TiaCorine

King of Pentacles, Five of Wands, & Queen of Cups

I feel like you are at odds with your heart and brain right now, pile 6. You seem to feel confused about a decision you have to make. I believe you could think things are "sweeter" in other people's lives but that is not necessarily true. I know sometimes we can want what other people have but if it gets to the point of comparing yourselves to others then its not healthy. You have to remember to be grateful for what you have in life. It's okay to want the finer things, but what are you overlooking when you are doing that? Your heart's message to you is to not worry about what other people are doing in life and instead focus on what makes you great of a person. You are just as lovable, sweet, and beautiful.

Your secret admirer's message to you:

Shufflemancy -

Congratulations by Mac Miller ft. Bilal

Little Things by Sunni Colón

Aura by Mariah The Scientist

Work, Money, & Long Distance

I believe you and this person are already in a relationship. If not, your secret admirer will be the next person you end up in a romantic relationship with. This person could live further away from you and has a high paying job. They prefer to take on a traditional role of a provider. This person could have a hard time discussing their feelings though and shows their love through acts of services. While you, I feel you are more of an emotional person. You both could have a hard time expressing your feelings and thoughts properly to each other, which would cause conflict. Things might be tense for Valentine's Day. You and your secret admirer could have strong feelings for each other, but there needs to be an important conversation had in order for this relationship to progress. Both of you could be disheartened by this but there's hope! Try to appreciate the little things in your relationship and not focus on being the "perfect couple", for that does not exist. Every relationship has its flaws and all that matters is that you and you partner love each other very much. If it's meant to be, it will be, it won't be something you have to force, it'll come naturally.

[wrongbodies]

Aftermath

"So, this kinda fucking sucks." Ralphie said. At first sight you might think he was a beautiful Adonis of an athlete in his prime, a Junior in college. Tall, with golden-brown hued skin from countless days spent under the sun in practices and games. Hair like gold silk that falls into a perfect middle part and draws out the blue in the perfect eyes.

But, the forlorn looking college boy with the beautiful features was experiencing a distinct out-of-body situation. Not even metaphorically, because the other lad in the room just happened to possess his true body.

"I couldn't agree more." The nasally voice of a much different looking boy said. This college Sophomore was short, with pale skin mottled with acne and freckles. His hair, oily, was brown and raked into a neat side part. Brown, muddy colored irises peered out from behind smudged, round glasses. His lips were chapped and chewed, and the mouth curled into a grimace. This was Trevor, and he was also looking at the body he should rightfully occupy, across the room from him.

"Do we have any idea when she'll wake up?" Ralphie asked, slumping and looking pathetic, which was quite a feat in such an impressive body.

"Last I heard it could be two weeks... if she ever wakes at all." Trevor said, darkly.

The two were conversing about the source of their current predicament. Both could hardly stop the memory of the previous days events from replaying over and over in the back of their minds.

After waking from a strangely deep slumber, both young men had come to realize their worst nightmare - they had swapped bodies! After spending some time freaking out, as one might after waking in another person's body, they rushed to meet up and look for the one who had placed them in this bizarre, magical, and cliched situation.

Belinda, a strange girl on campus that often moved about as if gliding, but her body was always clad in dresses and skirts and shawls that hid her form from proper view. She was known to be eccentric and potentially a wiccan. But Ralphie and Trevor learned just how eccentric she could be when after a shouting match erupted between them. Ralphie was trying to tutor Trevor, but Trevor was distracted and wanted to keep swiping on hot chicks in his dating apps. Frustrated, they began yelling and attracted the attention of many library visitors, and before the hawkish librarian could shush them, Belinda had appeared looking mirthful and conniving.

What the two boys had not expected was the babbling she had spewed actually was a curse. A spell that over the night had swapped their bodies. It didn't take too long for the two to figure it out, and together had sought to chase her down.

And that's when the nightmare darkened ever more so. They spotted Belinda crossing a street, and yelled at her as they rushed to speak. Despite her strange powers, she was not prescient enough to see the speeding car take the corner hard and ram her. She was flipped up, rolled over the windshield and roof of the car, and deposited roughly on the asphalt. The car drove off even faster now, having potentially killed a student. The boys approached in terror, and saw blood oozing from her forehead.

Belinda now lies in a coma in the local hospital, where the doctors are desperately trying to stabilize and eventually revive her. This leads us back to our troubled protagonists.

"If she isn't able to undo this, I don't think I can do this..." Ralphie said, solemnly.

"What choice do we have?" Trevor said, briskly. "You can't just fall apart. Not even just because that's my life you'd be giving up on. But because we need to stay positive. Even if she takes a week or two to awaken, we might find some other way to reverse this."

"I appreciate the optimism, Trevor. However, I feel like our lives are so different that assimilating is going to be nigh on impossible." Ralphie said. Trevor had to admit it was a little humorous to see his body talking like that.

"So we help each other. We don't have to face this alone." Trevor said, bravery emerging from the clouding fear.

"Really?" Ralphie asked. He was still so distrusting. Years of resentment and ostracism made him wary of promises from a jock.

"Absolutely. Look, I have as much of a stake in this as you do. I'm not an ass, I know you have things you want to do and be. We have to work together, so that when we get swapped back we have lives worth returning to." Trevor said, confidently.

Ralphie started to smile. His new broad shoulders no longer slumped, and he sat up straight. "Ok then. So, tell me how to be a jock."

"Well, it's a lot more than just a pep-talk." Trevor snorted.

"How so? This can't be too hard, can it?" Ralphie asked, serious.

"Tell me, do you know the rules of football? Do you know the maneuvers I've practiced for years with the team here?" Trevor asked in turn.

"Ohhh..." Ralphie understood. "Ok, so you'll teach me to be a football player. I can manage the academic stuff. You'll probably get really good grades for a while, at the least."

"But there's more." Trevor said, a slightly grim tone coming through.

"What?" Ralphie looked uncomfortable again.

"Our families. Our friends. Our personal lives." Trevor stated. Each point jolting Ralphie a little bit.

"Fuuuuuck. I didn't even think about that." Ralphie admitted. He hung his head, eyes staring straight down at the messy floor of Trevors dorm room.

"We know it's going to be hard. But I still think we can do this. I didn't ask to be you, and you didn't ask to be me. But together we might just make this work." Trevor assured.

"You know, I have to say you actually aren't anything like I thought." Ralphie admitted.

"What do you mean?" Trevor asked.

"Well, it's kinda rude but I always thought you were a typical fuckboy jock guy." Ralphie said, shrugging uncomfortably.

"Well... partially true." Trevor grinned. He was pretty horny all the time.

"But you are taking this all in stride. I never knew someone could be so confident and optimistic." Ralphie explained.

"Don't count yourself out until it's over." Trevor said. "That's what my Dad always said before he passed."

Ralphie felt the blood drain from his face. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's all good, man. We have a lot to learn about each other. But we'll sort it out, get to know each other well, and maybe we can look at this all with a laugh when we switch back." Trevor smiled.

"Well, I should probably tell you something about myself first." Ralphie said, ominously.

"Oh, ok. What is it?" Trevor asked.

"I'm gay. I've hooked up with a few guys on campus already. Usually on the hush because they are DL or closeted." Ralphie admitted.

Trevor finally looked a bit shocked. "Uhh... so how do we navigate that?"

"I don't know. I think I'm still gay in this body, though." Ralphie said.

"Ummm... I was wondering something though." Trevor said, standing up from the bed. Unfortunately, he still wasn't used to his height difference, and tripped. He fell forward into Ralphie -his- strong arms, which stabilized him. Ralphie didn't release him, though.

"What were you wondering?" Ralphie asked, looking down into the face that he used to see in a mirror, but the mind of the jock was now peering out from.

"Err..." Trevor balked. He couldn't help himself. He leaned his face upward, and with eyes closed pressed his new chapped lips against his former bodies lips.

Ralphie's eyes widened in shock. But he didn't stop. Something strange was happening, like his body was racked with a glow that made him want to stay like this, lips locked with Trevor, forever. Finally, Trevor pulled back, looking up into Ralphie's eyes, looking like a puppy.

"I didn't know how to say it. But the entire time I was sitting there, I just wanted to feel your - my - lips." Trevor said, cheeks warming as they flushed.

"I never would have guessed, honestly. But somehow I find you irresistible like that, too." Ralphie replied. "Is this a side-effect of the spell?"

"I think so. But I don't really mind. I just want to feel you." Trevor admitted. Ralphie pulled his smaller, original body close. The two embraced.

"Do you think we'll still feel like this when we swap back?" Ralphie asked, as he held on to Trevor.

"I don't know. But I kinda hope so." Trevor said, softly.

They would have no inkling of the message the students would receive later that evening. An email from the school announcing that Belinda had passed away in the hospital. While many students would mourn the girls sudden passing, the two boys would find a strange comfort in that knowledge. Maybe the swap had upended their lives and presented many new challenges... but it also gave them a love that was undeniable. If it was born from magic, or real, wouldn't matter. They just enjoyed being together.

[princessamahle]

a tour of the hashira's estates part 6

Sanemi: Despite not showing much he has a pretty big estate based off of certain scenes shown in the anime

Let's start with the exterior: It's huge…especially if he's going to be using wind breathing techniques for training outside. He ain't trying to destroy his home on a daily basis

What i love about the main house it's a two story home. You would think for a lone wolf like him why the hell would he need all that room? But I have a theory on this. Sanemi grew up in a big family so despite them not being alive, or the fact that they all had to share a room when they were children and very poor, he wants to make the best of what he can acquire.

Despite him not liking the slayers as much he does enjoy the company in some shape or form. A bunch of young boys training under him and even his little brother showing up…I'm sorry but I feel like he was secretly enjoying it.

Inside his home we don't see much. but when we do we see that his hallway leads to many rooms with slide doors. indicating that this is where the slayers were mainly sleeping each night.

Based on what we've seen in one of the rooms that was destroyed it seems each room is spacious for each slayer. They could possibly be sharing them in groups of 2 to 4.

It is very possible that this is one of the rooms that tanjiro stayed in before being removed from the estate as he was being scolded for his actions. After he was scolded he moved right on ahead to gyomei sensei's training.

Sanemi does train them all day long until they vomit or pass out so they never get breaks.

I'm sure he feeds them during the day as tanjiro has mention the ohagi being made for them constantly. Making sure to give the boys plenty of protein in their systems.

wash bowls and cloths are laid out for them to use as even though a well is not shown he may have one around the estate but will not allow them to use it as they must learn the importance of conserving and earning the right to use it. He will not just give it out all hunky dory, you have to earn that water.

last but certainly not least is sanemi's private training area. We don't know exactly how big his estate is. So where this area is actually located is beyond your imagination. we have to remember within the last hashira's estates I've reviewed we see a number of building in their fenced homes.

with all the fencing it's really unclear how big sanemi's estate actually is and how much land he actually owns

Obanai visits sanemi here constantly to train and it seems like sanemi proposed obanai to train here with him specifically. He set this up in order to give out the proper training a hashira needs for the bigger battle. when muichiro comes he is no where near his district and trains with them every night.

For all we know it could just be an abandon shrine that's no where near his estate. But, if he does have his own shrine that would be interesting to dive into as he probably uses it in saying his prayers to those lost. including his mother siblings and even fellow comrades.

Also while not shown he does raise rhinoceros beetles so i'm sure he has it some where in his room

All through all I give him a 4 out of 5 as the certain parts of the estate was shown with good detail. Would love to try his ohagi! Fight head on everyone! sanemi demands it!

[thephantomnova8769]

DCxDP idea inspired by this post

https://www.tumblr.com/thelotusrabbit/783527166946213888/dpxdc-19

Danny meet the King of Atlantis before anything serious (besides him becoming a ghost) happened. He was still new to the ghost thing and didn’t know how to properly control his powers and Aquaman had offered to help him. He protected their city with his presence from anything that could pose a threat and he got training and food (offerings) all day long. He learned that this form he had came from his father’s side. His dad apparently was a descendant of one of the last Leviathans and because of some unknown reason Danny was able to access the abilities of one.

Danny stayed with them for a week before he made the decision to go back home, ancients know how pissed Jazz would be if he disappeared for any longer than that. Sadly he hadn’t had the time to say good bye to his new friends and the unfairly attractive teen he had been planning to court, but that’s okay, he could always visit.

That’s what he told himself, and it would have been true, if not for the fact that everything went to shit afterwards.

Spectra showed up, Vlad got worse, Ellie happened, there was Pariah Dark, Danny becoming the high prince (and later crowned as king on his 18th birthday) and all his schoolwork on top of all of that and trying to keep his grades up while being the only thing keeping both sides safe from each other that he never got around to having the time to go back.

Unfortunately, things didn’t get better from there. The day of his 18th birthday was spent strapped down to a dissection table in their basement. He doesn’t know how long he was down there but eventually Jazz realized something was wrong, he hadn’t been calling or texting her to see what she was up to in college so she booked a ticket back home. She was the one who found him and distracted his parents long enough for him to free himself and flee. All he knows was that he went in some random day he didn’t even remember as a 17 year old boy and came back out 18 and crowned king.

He fled back into the ghost zone where he recuperated for however long it took him to heal and then he was back in the land of the living, looking for the girl he had claimed as kin.

When he finally found Ellie she had been in the middle of destabilizing, she hadn’t had proper access to ectoplasm and was on the brink of being ended by the GIW when he found her. He could only do so much by the time he reached her, he was able to keep her alive but she had been reverted back to what her chronological age.

Danny longed for the sea, for space, for freedom, but he would give it all up in a second for his family. So, he did.

He fled with Ellie to a little hole in the walls area in Gotham. It might not be the best place for a kid to grow up but it sure as hell was a good place to disappear and that’s exactly what they needed then.

He created fake identities for them, got them a not too bad apartment in a decent part of town, enrolled Ellie into a good school, got a job, and even though he never really got over that handsome teen he had met when he was younger he continued to work for a life for his daughter. And he did. He hand made a life for them there, from scratch. Only for it to be ripped out from under his grasp when the GIW located them and got to Ellie.

Danny hadn’t expected them to have gotten that much stronger, the last time he had seen them they had been laughably easy to deal with but this time he had barely escaped with his life. And his daughter was in their hands. So he did what any other distressed ghost parent would do and caused a 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞.

When he realized doing so out in the open could potentially put his daughter at more of a risk he forced himself to calm down and look for a better… option.

.

.

.

“There’s been a breach.” Superman said, standing up from his seat in the debrief room, young justice had had a situation on their last mission and had a close call, thankfully all of them were alright but it was too close for comfort. Batman obviously agreed if his brooding had anything to say about it.

As soon as those words left his mouth the alarms started blaring, solidifying his statement. The lights flashed red as Batman pulled up a live camera of the watchtower to find out where their intruder may be.

The flash appeared behind Batman before tilting his head in confusion. “The cameras are out on the observation deck.”

“What do you mean the cameras are out? They are one of a kind, made by us for us! There is almost nothing out there that can penetrate our technology.” Wonder Woman pointed out.

“Typically that is the case, yes. I wonder what they are doing to corrupt our footage.” Flash muttered, half to himself before jumping up and exclaiming, “Well! No time like the present to figure out what threat we are facing!” He sped out of the room quickly followed by the rest of the team.

[anotherbrahmsfangirl]

Kissing Lesson

Brahms Heelshire x Unnamed Fem!Nanny

Warnings/Tags: Nothing really, just a cute fluff piece about Brahms learning how to kiss. Word count: 2K Authors note: had this little scenario stuck in my head so I came onto tumblr to vomit it out, enjoy.

'This is ridiculous.' Was all that went through her mind as she moved to sit down on the imported Persian rug that carpeted the floor of the study. Sitting cross-legged, she leaned back against the couch seat and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. In the back of the room, classical music played softly on the old gramophone, an ever present feature now that 'He' appeared.

"This isn't going to be like a good-night kiss, you know..." she let out a huff, still absentmindedly fussing with her long tresses as if the constant sensation would soothe her nerves any. It didn't.

The Boy, no, the Man, similarly sat stiffly on the floor, also cross-legged, fidgeting with his fingers. His blank, expressionless mask still tied tightly over his real face, keeping his true visage a well-kept secret. Not that she REALLY wanted to see what he looked like under that porcelain facade, but it sure would have helped if the mask was off, what with his ever increasing need to be 'kissed proper' at night before bed.

She'd lost count of the times a simple kiss to those cold unyielding lips resulted in a painful bruise or an almost chipped tooth due to the force of him trying to feel the warmth of her mouth, the sensation of her kiss through that uncanny mask. But enough was enough. If he so desired a real kiss from her, he was just going to have to compromise a bit.

"Did you brush like I asked?" She finally spoke again. She could tell her voice was already cracking with her flustered emotions right now, and was sure Brahms could hear it as well.

Silently, he dipped his head in a few short nods, indicating that he had. 'Thank god for that.' She thought, her eyes darted over his form, grateful he wasn't the pungent dirty wall gremlin that showed himself just a few days ago. No, surprisingly, he cleaned up rather well. His unruly neck beard was now trimmed and neat. She found he had no problems bathing himself as long as she took care to wash his clothing and maybe gave a gentle reminder now and then. He was presentable now, save for the creepy doll face he insisted on wearing at all times.

"OK, so..." she started, unsure of how to word things for him without incurring a mood shift in the sometimes unstable man. "I know you'd... prefer.... to keep your mask on, but it's just not practical if you want to learn how to kiss properly. " She spoke hesitantly, testing his temper through his eyes, the only feature she could use to judge what was going on in that brain of his.

"It's more than just... pushing... our lips together." Brahms's eyes hadn't changed. They were still as intense and focused on her as they were when he first crawled out of the wall. While he had relaxed quite a bit, she definitely could see the spark of interest as she spoke to him now. This was clearly something he very much wanted from her.

"So...the mask..." She gestured to his face, hoping he'd get the hint, but no, he sat just as rigid as always. She sighed again, much louder and more exaggerated. "You HAVE to take the mask off!"

He quickly shook his head, rearing back to emphasize his displeasure of the idea.

"Then how am I going to kiss you, Brahms?" She almost shouted, frustration rising in her voice. "I refuse to kiss that ...thing... anymore! Is that what you want? No more good night kisses?"

Brahms shifted forward, his hands on the rug as he shook his head even more fervently than before, his mop of dark curls dancing over the doll face.  'Oh please don't take away my kisses', he seemed to say through his pleading eyes.

"You're going to have to work with me on this, Brahms." She folded her arms over her chest, letting out a huff that sent a strand of her hair flying away from her face. Tapping her finger on her arm, she thought of some way to coax him out from under that horrid mask. She really didn't care if he was deformed under it. In fact, she was certain he was due to his bloodshot left eye and what little bits of skin she could catch glimpses of through the eye holes of the mask. The skin there looked red and stretched tight, a byproduct of a severe burn. Just how bad his face was, remained to be seen.

A stalemate. Their silent glares at each other felt electric. She persed her lips tight, thinking of something to say. Gradually, an idea crept into her mind. Like a child, she may have to bribe him with an even more tempting offer. Threatening to not kiss him would be fruitless as he'd just throw a tantrum that would end up dumping more work onto her shoulders in the long run.

"How about this." She paused, making sure he was listening. "I'll close my eyes, and you can take off the mask to kiss me. Or we could turn out the lights before I give you your good night kiss. Does that sound fair?"

Brahms sat up straight, his eyes cast to the ceiling as he took in the offer she proposed, mulling  it over.

Before getting his answer, she decided to sweeten the deal with an extra bonus. "You won't even have to wait for bed time. Just say 'kiss' and I'll know that's what you want. I'll close my eyes and keep them closed the whole time, and you can kiss me WHENEVER you want."

He looked back to her, his eyes narrowing as if to ask 'do you really promise?' To answer him, she held up her one hand and made an X over her heart with the other. "Cross my heart."

Brahms eyes immediately softened, a quick enthusiastic singular nod was all he gave. Now that glint in his eyes seemed to shimmer with excited anticipation.

She took a deep breath, hoping she hadn't created a monster with this arrangement. "OK I'm going to close my eyes now. Just lean in and press your lips to mine. I'll...um..show you what to do next. Ok? Just...sort of...follow my lead, yeah?"" She instructed, closing her eyes and leaning forward, her lips slightly parted as she waited for Brahms.

In the quiet room while Chopin played a slow piano melody, she heard the sound of him shuffling closer, their knees bumping as he positioned himself directly in front of her. Another rustling was heard. She figured it was the sound of him pulling his mask off. Several seconds ticked by before she felt his warm breath against her lips. He was hesitating? Maybe he was waiting for her to make the first move? Her brows furrowed in thought. After all, she was giving him kissing lessons. It then dawned on her that this was probably his first kiss. His first real kiss that wasn't from his parents. His first kiss with a girl. No wonder he was hesitant. He was probably just as nervous as a teenager on a first date. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips from the thought. Maybe he was just studying her face? Maybe taking it all in? Savoring the moment?

Swiftly, her lips were caught by his, ushering a small inhale through her nose. He leaned in, pressing more firmly to her. She felt herself stiffen, pushing back against him while their lips molded into each other. 'Not bad' she thought to herself, he already seemed to get the gist of it easily enough. Not too open, but not the puckered kiss of a little kid either. Her memories drifted back to her middle school youth and the kissing games her peers would play like spin the bottle. How many people had their first kiss from a dare or a child's game like that?

'Let's go for something more challenging.' She thought to herself, pulling back enough to change the position of her mouth. She tilted her head and pushed forward, now snatching his lips in return. A low hum rumbled in his throat. Oh yes, he was very much enjoying the lesson. Unable to stay still, Brahms hands went to her face, cupping her jawline and neck. The kissing became more pronounced as their lips suckled one another in increasing pecks and pulls. Her teeth dragging his lower lip out a ways and letting it slip through with a soft pop.

Both chuckled pausing to re-calibrate. "Like that?" She asked, biting her lower lip, eyes still closed her raised eyebrows doing the expressing for her.

"I do." He answered in that soft tone between man and boy he would sometimes use.

"Ready for me to open my eyes yet?" She asked, having been without the use of her eyes for about 5 mins now.

"Not yet.." He responded in a whisper, his lips grazing over hers as he spoke, craving more contact with her. He latched with her again, opening wider this time and really pressing into her. She felt pushed back against the couch, his large hands now gripping her shoulders as if using them like handles. He was getting much more assertive this round, testing the waters on how forceful he could get with her. She whimpered, half surprised by the sudden change in temperature but not disliking it either.  Folding her arms, palms sliding up over his tank top she felt his heart pounding like a drum through his chest. Sliding up more, she draped them over his shoulders in a loose embrace.

"Easy..." she panted once they parted for air. Her, sitting back up, and him settling back on his knees. "Kisses can be forceful like that.. but I prefer the softer ones." She gave a satisfied sigh. "A rough kiss like that hurts when done with your mask on... now you see why I'd rather do this without it?"

He gave a low grunt in acknowledgement. "I prefer these unmasked kisses, too."

"Can I open my eyes now?" She giggled, growing impatient to see the room again.

"One more?" He begged, already closing in, his hands this time finding the back of her head, thumbs resting on her jaw. She could feel from this angle, he must have moved from sitting to kneeling over her, her head tilting back as he came down and crashed his lips into hers. Another forceful kiss, dominating in its presence. She felt him tilt his head, using the technique she'd shown him earlier. Indeed, he was a fast learner.

Another slow pull back, and now it was her lip that was tugged through his teeth.

"Mmmm... that was nice." She smiled. She was sure the both of them were quite flushed. Her cheeks burned with the heat of her blush. She patiently sat, listening to the music play on and Brahms moving back to his spot on the rug.

"Now?" She asked again, almost wanting to sneak a peek as her curiosity was much more piqued after such an intimate moment with him.

"Now." He replied, his voice an octave higher than before, but still in a range that she preferred him to talk in as the baby voice was just too unnerving to hear from a grown man. Slowly she opened her eyes, the light from the mid afternoon sun seemed brighter after having her eyes shut for so long. Blinking, she focused on his face, as he slowly pulled his mask into place, giving her just the briefest glimpse of his scars before masking them again.

"Good lesson today, huh." She said, pretending not to notice and standing up before she'd loose any more feeling in her legs. Brahms rose with her, straightening his back and rumpled clothing. "How bout a snack?" She offered, turning to him.

Without a word, he stepped over to her, wrapping his arms about her waist and tugging her in close to him. "Kiss..." echoed from behind the porcelain face. She huffed a long, drawn-out sigh, shaking her head in resignation. Was he already testing the validity of her promise? "Ok, yeah...I did promise." She shut her eyes once more and tilted her face up to him. Quickly, he lifted his mask and clasped his lips to hers in a soft, sweet, but quick peck before stepping away towards the kitchen, ready for that snack. Opening her eyes, she licked her lips, that cheeky smile returning. 'Hmm, maybe tomorrow I'll teach him how to French kiss' she mused to herself before following behind.

[dark-lord-of-awesomeness]

Okay okay okay I read your shapeshifter Stan au and now am thinking about what if Mabel was a shapeshifter too? Why is she a girl when Dippers a boy?? She was goofing around :) but I was like “guess twins don’t run in the family” then went “what if shapeshifters do??” Also I’m in denial, Tate will be Shifty’s Base- (gets dragged away)

Love your blog btw! Post banger after banger!!

Since shapeshifters can recognize each other, Stan knows immediately that Mabel is one. He and Mabels spawner would get in a fist fight over who's mentoring her, because they might have spawned her but she's now Stan's niece, so he has dibs.

He'd win of course, then pester his nephew to come visit constantly, so that he could bestow upon her his shapeshifter secrets and teach her proper socialization, and Ford could help Dipper learn how to live with a shapeshifting sibling.

I'm thinking the gender difference could go two ways.

One of the Mystery Twins is trans, because in order to shift, they need to see what their turning into, and gender is made up for shapeshifters. Stan's male because he's more comfortable that way, but Maurice is non-binary, because they don't believe in it. Mabel might have started as a boy, then later found girl shifts to be more comfortable, or Dipper was born female, then came out as trans.

It doesnt matter which one, because the end result is still identical girl and boy twins.

The only other alternative i can think of is that because Mabel is older, she hatched before Dipper had been born, and turned into a girl, before their spawner very quickly put her with Dipper and told her to fix it, causing, again, identical girl boy twins.

Either way, they're still identical, and Stan battled for the position as her mentor and won.

Very important to note, is that Mabel is not born a silly chaos master. Its a learned behavior, because shapeshifters are all born as sorta blank slates, then learn from their base. Even Stan straight up did not like Ford until they were almost four years old. Ford was his Important Person, but all that meant was that Stan needed to pay attention to what he was doing. They had a business relationship on his end, that turned into love through Ford's (perceived) acceptance of Stan's abilities and spending time with him.

Mabel would be similar, copying Dipper, but getting more off script as she grew and formed her own opinions on things. The turning point for her would be Dipper starting the chaos, through one of his plans, then sticking through it with her. She'd enjoy the feeling, and enjoy that Dipper taught it to her, leading to their close bond as they grew.

In this scenario, Mabel's growth would be similar to Stan's, in that she learned to do the opposite of Dipper, because Dipper was boring and she didnt enjoy feeling anxious all the time.

[hestzhyen]

"Geniuses" in Kagurabachi

We have three different kinds of "geniuses" in the series so far. It's causing some bullshit buzz about "talent" overriding hard work too, sadly. Each character has a different take on the concept, so let's take a short look since I'm going to have this in my notes anyway...

Chihiro

Type: Mimicry

The chapter that added Chihiro to a dozen bad faith "Talent vs. Hard Work" comparison charts.

All these takes about Chihiro having "natural talent" that doesn't require him to work hard to master fighting drive me nuts. At best he's got a significant leg up thanks to all the time he spent with his dad in the forge, nothing to do with whacking dummies and seeing Samura do a clean slice once.

Once again: Chihiro is not using some secret super special ability to copy Samura and neither was Kunishige when he was forging the Enchanted Blades. Both the father and son have a natural talent for observing minute details others miss, and both used it on a near-daily basis for many years.

It's the kind of skill that can apply to many different situations outside of where it was used most (forging blades in their case). So yeah, Chihiro's good at picking things up after seeing them once. But that doesn't mean he's suddenly competent at the skills he's copying. He still needs to train to hold his own against people with experience!

But oh yeah. Chihiro did train. He even eschewed resting to get that training, and after all that he's still not confident in his skill. He knows he's still got a long way to go.

Not a guy who's suddenly mastered the blade.

Also, if Uruha hadn't given Chihiro a primer on how the style worked (dumping spirit energy into "kata" [型 basically, a proper "form"]), he probably wouldn't have been able to actually to the Iai move in the first place. So the type of genius that Chihiro has is "mimicry" if anything. He notices everything he needs to start using someone else's technique if they explain the esoteric bits and can start to practice it.

If Chihiro really was naturally adept at swordfighting instead of applying this mimicry ability to it, he'd be a lot more like a certain someone who fully relies on intuition. But he's just a smart guy using a talent he cultivated for about a decade on becoming a better fighter. Still a genius, but not in a way that erases his need to work hard for mastery.

Hakuri

Type: Rare Gift

He IS the special boy after all!

Hakuri is pretty straightforward. He's an incredibly rare talent who was born with the ability to use two different kinds of sorcery in a world where most people can only use one. The first of his kind in his family since the Sazanami Patriarch started the clan over 200 years ago, and the first one Shiba's ever seen.

The storehouse sorcery in particular seems to be special due to it's "heretical" nature (which we still don't have context on). It's so rare that it gets passed down from Patriarch to Patriarch through a ritual instead of through natural inheritance like Isou, and did not reappear once until Hakuri was born.

But he's not at all overpowered after going from zero to hero...

Poor guy.

Much like Chihiro, just because Hakuri has unlocked his potential doesn't mean he's suddenly going to solo everyone he fights. He's pushed himself much too far after his ascension and now might lose his sorcery forever. This probably won't happen for many narrative reasons, but he's still very much out of commission for the foreseeable future.

His capacity limitations will probably be around to keep him in check even as he trains. We still have a lot to learn about how Hakuri's unique situation is handled in terms of allocating his power, but he's quite limited right now- especially when using the storehouse powers. Connecting to the subspace is what taxes him the most (Kyora did remark that it's "incredibly diffcult" to do) so we probably won't see him teleporting things around and dropping anvils on folks between Isou blasts any time soon. Would be rad as hell though.

He's also got to get used to combat. He had four years of foundational training that all Sazanamis get to circulate sorcery within their bodies, but Hakuri's far more used to being a punching bag than actually holding his own in a fight. He's not a total beginner but he's still got a lot to learn most likely. At least he's already used to pain and bloody violence thanks to his family...?

I love him so much, please let him come back to the story soon.

But anyway. Hakuri, the boy with a Rare Gift. Once he gets back in the story and learns how to use them, he'll be quite the formidable sorcerer.

Hiruhiko

Type: Natural Talent

And then there's THIS guy.

Anyone who wants to complain about "talent vs. hard work" needs to take a look at Hiruhiko and start shoving him in those stupid charts instead of Chihiro. This guy was a top-class sorcerer and is now going to learn how to fight with a sword through instinct. Seriously, this is the type of "genius" that so many people complain about most of the time- he picks up a sword and a few swings later he's beating a master of a style that was passed down for 150 years. Head empty, no training, just pure intuition.

And the worst part is, John's free-wheeling approach to Hiruhiko's growth is working. His precious little boy is actually figuring things out by feel like he said he would and will now challenge Chihiro, someone who's using a proper form and style with some practice under his belt... and in all likelihood win or force a draw.

Her fears were unfounded.

I get not wanting to have extended training arcs -appreciate it even- but if this type of genius was given to make Hiruhiko more hateable then good job on the author's part. I'm not really one to complain about geniuses who figure things out on their own through trial and error (I'd have a hard time being an anime/manga fan if I was) but Hiruhiko could stand to be humbled again. Please let him lose his arms again or something.

He's the newest so we've still got more to see from him and how far his improvised techniques will take him. For now though he seems poised to be Chihiro's equal in sword combat already. Fucker.

This page turn gnaws at my brain almost as much as Chihiro and Hakuri sharing snacks and Chihiro wanting to be Hakuri's samurai does.

Anyway, those are Kagurabachi's three geniuses who are supposed to be "equals" through different methods. One swordsman, one sorcerer, one sorcerer turned swordsman. Two 18 year-olds and one 17 year-old. Two who need to work hard despite their talents, one who can just do whatever wants. Two steeped in violence practically from birth and one who chose it later. All killers before their 18th birthdays. All gifted in different ways so we can skip extended training arcs.

[discordiansamba]

drifted off to sleep last night with the thought of "rin's true final form is a catboy" which devolved into "shiemi befriends the local catboy on the run from the evil organization that experimented on him who turns out to be the missing twin brother of her dear friend yukio". features include:

mom said it's shiemi's turn to have common sense about normal human things and rin to be the clueless one. it's also rin's turn to be clueless about his growing romantic feelings for shiemi, while she's much more aware of her own.

rin went missing when he was around five years old- he went out to play and never returned home. most people assume he's dead, but yuri has always refused to give up hope on her oldest child and believes he's still alive.

which hey! he is! he was kidnapped by the Illuminati and experimented on, but he's alive!

there's no Order in this AU, and the Illuminati's experiments revolve around bringing out the latent demon blood in those of nephilim lineage. rin doesn't remember much of his life before the Illuminati- just the warm hand of his father, the soft voice of his mother- and his twin brother, yukio.

when rin is ten years old, maria yoshida betrays the Illuminati and attempts to free the test subjects- but largely fails. rin is the only one to escape during the chaos, and runs until he arrives at a dilapidated shrine where he passes out from exhaustion and hunger.

kuro wakes up that morning to find the weirdest cat sidhe he's ever seen curled up asleep in his shrine. it can't even transform! this is such a shame, kuro thinks- and he dedicates himself to teaching rin the ropes of how to be a proper cat sidhe.

rin, who just escaped from The Horrors, clings to his newfound mentor like a lifeline. for kuro, rin helps assuage the loneliness that he's felt for so long. they live together in his shrine for several months, until the Illuminati tracks rin down and forces them both to flee.

for the next several years, they wander Japan together. rin learns how to be a proper cat sidhe (despite his oddities), but also learns how to mingle amongst humans by hiding his tail and ears. he steals what he needs to survive, and sleeps in abandoned buildings at night, curled up with kuro.

then one day, he gets caught shoplifting. while running from the cops, he nearly runs down a girl his own age. she's the prettiest human he's ever met, and she smells like the earth after rain- and she also helps him hide from the cops. she's not even weirded out when his hood comes off and she sees his ears!

her name is shiemi! she lets him sleep in her shed!

shiemi learns that the strange boy's name is rin, and that he's hiding from an evil organization that experimented on him as a child. and she's just like. that's terrible! can I help?

there's no order, so shiemi is just living a normal life with her mom. her grandmother passed away last winter, but she's resolved herself to make new friends upon entering high school. she's already friends with yukio, who she's known since middle school- but despite her best attempts, she strikes out when trying to talk to the girls in her class.

seeing this, ryuuji takes the initiative to befriend shiemi. his father is still a monk, so he's still knowledgeable about demons. he moved to tokyo to attend high school, while his mother came with him because she'd been given the chance to open up a tokyo branch of toraya.

(ryuuji will eventually become the leader of their little group)

despite his mother's optimism, yukio has feared that rin was dead for years- so imagine his surprise when shiemi invites him over, and he comes face to face with rin for the first time in ten years. he's alive and well! and somehow part cat now?

(he is truly experiencing the WHOLE spectrum of emotions right now)

rin is THRILLED to meet yukio again!

shiro is still an exorcist, but the kind you'd more expect from a man in his position as a catholic priest (except obviously on the up and up, lol) and this makes yukio 100% overthink bringing rin home. his brother is a demon! he's been living with a demon for five years!

izumo is a fellow test subject, naturally. she's a fox girl. the Illuminati send her to recapture rin- and she has no choice but to do what they say, because they still have tsukumo in their custody, but they've promised to refrain from experimenting on her as long as she does what they say like a good girl.

little does she know she's about to get befriended.

rin and izumo can't stand each other at first. classic cat vs dog.

shiemi is still a nephilim herself, and will eventually awaken her powers in order to protect rin and izumo.

cannot emphasize enough what that rin is basically just a giant cat. he gives shiemi soft headbutts and them rams his head into yukio. out of affection. he longs for the Good Scritchies. he rubs himself up against shiemi so she smells more like him. he gets high off of catnip at one point and plops shiemi into his lap and nuzzles the crook of her neck and hisses at anyone who gets too close.

[oliviasroses19]

I’m in my Colin feels again (I mean I always am but this time it’s too much and I must get it out) so buckle up, grab some tea and biscuits, and maybe some tissues depending on if I can get this written correctly.

I know people wish Colin would have suffered more before Pen forgave him but this man was suffering long before we saw him on screen flirting with the debutants on the street. Colin spent the whole of his four month tour missing Penelope and then kept missing her up until their reconciliation. In his own words he spent his whole tour yearning to receive word from home, from Penelope, in fact. We all know he missed her more than he let on initially and baby boy was desperate to hear from her. He surely cannot think of a logical reason for her silence. Their last (known to him) exchange was shared affirmations during their romantic platonic dance. I wish we would have gotten some sort of screen time of him whilst on his travels to get a little more depth of his spiraling from the loss of her letters that leads to his fake persona but I digress. He comes home and tries to get back on track with her only to receive many a cold shoulder from Pen, first at the garden party, and then at Lady Danbury’s ball where he finally learns of the reason for her silence. He is desperate to get back in her good graces and wasted no time with his apology (the next morning, he obviously couldn’t sleep).

He then finds a way to make up for his callous remark (we’ve all read the words enough and frankly I do not wish to repeat them) in the form of helping Pen find a husband.

Only, this doesn’t help with his missing her. They get to spend more time flirting laughing together like they used to. But there is also the ticking clock running down the time they will have together. Yes, he is dumb when it comes to Penelope, but not too dim witted to not realize that as soon as she is married, things will not be the same as it had been in the past. We see him start to realize this more at the Full Moon Ball. As soon as she starts interacting with Lord Basilio and Remington, yes he gets jealous, but there’s more to it. He’s getting a glimpse of how things will be when he’s not the one she gossips with or spends time with. He’s missing her before she is even wed.

And then the kiss happens.

And she gives him up while he realizes what he has truly been missing and why he missed her so deeply when she didn’t respond to his letters and he will continue to miss her because she is looking for a husband that is not him.

Then we have proper yearning while he watches her with Debling and it is eating him alive. He is trying to accept letting her go and he becomes a shell of a man in the process. He needs his Pen. Thankfully, Mama Bridgerton talked him out of his stupor and prompted him to act.

He professes his feelings for Pen and admits that he prefers sleep because that is where he might find her. He has been following her request for distance (kind of, sort of, maybe) since the willow tree. He follows her around like the golden retriever boy he is because he will take any interaction possible, even if he has to hear her talk about how Debling is not displeasing to look at. He misses her so entirely that he will take any form of Pen he can get. Even the non tangible, dream version of her. Because up until he crashed Debling’s proposal, he thought that was going to be the future extent of Pen he would have. But now he has told her how he feels and she wants to be so much more than friends.

He thinks he doesn’t have to miss her anymore. She’s going to be his wife.

But things still aren’t right between them. Colin is the king of reading Pen (well most of the time, boy still doesn’t realize she loves him). She’s high strung and not as open as he is used to her being. He is still missing her.

He finds out the reason is Whistledown and suddenly he’s missing the idea of her he had in his head. He thinks he doesn’t know her and he is also worried about the possibility of losing her if she is found out. Again, missing her before she is gone. She gives him an out from marrying her which he, rather harshly, puts down. He is upset, rightly so, but he cannot imagine not being with her. He knows what life is like without her in it and he cannot, will not, does not want to let that happen again.

We then have the fight outside the modiste and he is able to somewhat reconcile the two women he thought were separate. The wedding happens and for a moment, they are together, and nothing else matters.

But the moment is ruined when the Queen crashes their dance, and now the very real fear for her safety is again taking precedence.

He separates himself from her physically and a bit emotionally yet he still misses her. Colin could have slept anywhere in their apartment but chose the very uncomfortable settee right outside their room so he could be close. It is just as hard on him to not be near or with her as is it for Pen to not be with him. He is yearning for her but WD is still looming over them.

Then there is Cressida. Another thing that can take Penelope away from him. We finally see him admit how much he longed to hear from Penelope. The “I miss you” from the Four Seasons Ball was over shadowed by his rake fake persona and I fear it hasn’t been taken seriously enough. He did miss her, he wasn’t just saying it to get into her good graces.

I think when he tells Cressida he longed to hear from Penelope, he remembers why she didn’t respond. It is because he hurt her. This is another step in moving forward through the WD issue. He understands they have both unfortunately hurt each other. I think this makes it easier for him to forgive her (along with the argument outside the modiste) for the hurt she has caused him.

He then royally screws up appealing to Cressida. It breaks my heart watching our teary eyed boy admit his failure but Pen is not angry with him. She sees him trying and loves him all the more for it. He’s starting to see her in her entirety, starting to understand her reasons for WD. They are so close in this moment but still are not quite where they need to be.

We see more yearning in the blanket for the settee scene from both Colin and Penelope. They miss each other, the easiness of their friendship and now the future of their marriage.

He reads her letters again, because he misses her. Not hearing from her was the catalyst in his rapid down badism and is now key in realizing that the Pen he grew up with and the Pen he now knows are both capable of being witty, sharp, and sometimes harsh He starts to miss her a little less. He now sees he has always known her and no longer feels that loss.

Penelope plans to reveal herself and they are one step closer to not missing eachother.

The next time (that we know of) they see each other is at the Butterfly Ball. The worry he feels for her while being put in the spotlight is palpable. Everything can go up in flames at any moment and he could lose her forever. If he thought he missed her before, it is nothing compared to the possibility of never having her again.

But this doesn’t happen. The look of fear is replaced by that of utter pride, love, and adoration of his best friend as he watches her triumphantly declare herself as WD. Now all of the pieces are in place. Whistledown is out in the open, he has reconciled Pen and WD, and has admitted to his envy. They can now be emotionally, physically, and mentally together. He no longer has to miss her.

Colin “my wife” Bridgerton never wants to miss his Pen again because he has spent entirely too long missing her. I cannot WAIT to see them in their happy, wedded, mom and dad bliss next season. They will be insufferable to the entire ton.

——————————————————————————

If you’ve made it through my ramblings, I sincerely thank you. I hope it’s coherent enough and makes sense. Colin is such a complicated character and I love analyzing the way Luke plays him. All the nuances Luke slips in there truly make me love Colin even more.

[izumiphoenix]

Getting Closer

(2/? part of “Astarion: In Search of True Self” — [masterpost here])

In my first playthrough, I was worried that if we slept too often, we would all turn into mind flayers, so I went through the Saving the Grove quest almost without resting in camp. Unfortunately, that meant I missed some of the early interactions with companions, including Astarion. That’s also why, when my Tav spent the celebration night with him, she still had no idea he was a vampire.

Honestly… I actually prefer that. It makes the story flow more naturally, in a way. But as with most things in BG3, it works either way.

Why I loved it, though, because it made so much sense for Astarion to want Tav to start getting attached before revealing what he truly is - a vampire spawn. It also meant that the morning conversation was the one where he told more about himself and his past and the conversation felt less rushed and more genuine. But maybe it is my nostalgia speaking.

First Steps

One of the first proper camp dialogues with Astarion happens when he admits Tav is more impressive than he initially thought and says he'd like to keep seeing them as an ally (the Stars cutscene). As always, he's surprisingly honest - so much so that I doubt it can be considered a manipulation.

But this is also where he begins putting his famous "simple plan" into motion: seducing Tav to ensure his own safety. As we established earlier (see Part 1), his main goal is security. So now that he's confident Tav is strong and useful, he starts using the tools he knows best - suggestive charm and witty jokes.

This eventually leads to him inviting Tav to spend time together during the celebration night at camp (or even earlier, depending on approval). That's where the romance seems to begin… or so we think.

Flirting or Strategy?

Even if Tav is already smitten, from Astarion’s side this is manipulation - at least on the surface. You can clearly see and hear how different his behavior is during these moments: too smooth, too controlled. Not like the moments when he's genuine and real - when rough, unkempt words come spilling out of him freely, with wide gestures or a calm, serious demeanor.

Still, even though he later admits that he was trying to make Tav an ally so they wouldn't turn on him, I do believe that even then, he'd already started to care a little, especially depending on the following nuance.

If this conversation happens at the celebration party, approval doesn't actually need to be very high. His motivation there is more about survival after he confirmed once again that it would be better to have Tav on his side. But if you do raise his approval high enough in Act 1, you might get that flirty conversation even earlier - and it runs differently, too. He admits he’s starting to like "the whole package," and says he wants to reward Tav for sharing their blood with him. Not just complaining about boredom and bad wine anymore, huh?

So maybe his motivations start to shift, even just slightly. He might genuinely want to keep Tav near in the only way he knows: giving them what he thinks they want. It can still be part of his strategy, but there's something more complicated beginning to form underneath.

Looking Back

There’s one thing I now feel a little uneasy about. When Astarion first flirts and invites Tav to spend time with him during the party, I chose the dialogue where my Tav teases him a little - she makes him say "please" before agreeing. And when he does, she calls him a "good boy." He actually approves of that line and seems a bit (pleasantly?) surprised that Tav can be so sassy. It felt playful and bold at the time, and I remember how I was like: “Oh! He likes that??”

But after learning about his past… it feels different. Because this was how he survived. His body, his charm - these were tools he had to use. And now it's not just that Tav flirted - it's that she made him beg for it, in a sense, while Astarion was trying to keep himself safe. This thought feels pretty awful.

Still, I try to comfort myself with a few points:

We had no idea at the time!

He did approve of it!

Maybe it showed that Tav wasn't desperate for his body - it was more about their interaction. It felt like she was genuinely enjoying the banter, not just trying to sleep with him.

So… maybe it’s not that bad (^^;)

What Got Me Hooked

To be honest, back then I was still skeptical about Astarion as a love interest. I knew he was a popular character, and I thought he was a bit overrated - mainly because all the media glimpses I'd seen of him were about his very sexualized image. But something about him piqued my curiosity.

By the time he started flirting with Tav, I was already like: "Nooo, stawp~ …nevermind, keep going." Kind of not admitting I was interested even to myself - but still feeling giddy when believing he was "interested" in my Tav. (Which… wasn’t quite true, as we know now.)

But then came the moment after their first night together - my Tav noticed his scars. I expected him to deflect or change the subject, but instead he told her. Honestly and openly. That he was a slave. That his old master left those marks.

That was the moment I felt something shift, noticed his depth. And from there, I really wanted to get to know him better.

(*cough* And that's how my obsession started *cough*)

<previous part>

<next part>

<back to masterpost>

[lilianade-comics]

I am LOVING your AU! I was just wondering... Do you plan on having Valerie show up more often in your season 3 rewrite? Because I just rewatched season 3 (while shredding SO much paper, so I wasn't exactly listening to it very much lol) and I realized that Valerie hardly shows up in season 3 at all! And it's another reason for why season 3 is so deeply frustrating! We hardly got to see Vlad and Valerie interact, even though Vlad is Valerie's patron and the entire reason she can ghost hunt in the first place! D-Stablized offers some interesting ideas, but there are too many of them tackled at once and none of them are given the proper time they need to breathe! Nor do they get as much set-up as these ideas deserved! Valerie being a sort of personal bounty hunter for Vlad? Interesting! Valerie meeting Dani and coming to want to protect her? Fantastic! Valerie having the motivation of wanting to protect humans from being harmed by ghosts, even if that means destroying said ghosts, and not just wanting personal, petty revenge? Could be an interesting direction for her character to grow in! Valerie learning Vlad's secret, but not Danny's? FANTASTIC idea, ESPECIALLY if we get to see Vlad and Valerie's relationship develop and grow! Season 3 just doesn't know how to execute it in a genuinely good way... Valerie was done dirty! Almost as dirty as Dani! Obviously not quite as dirty as Dani, but still! Would love to see both of them get the spotlight they deserved >.<

No worries if you don't end up having Valerie very much in your season 3 fix-it though! These ladies just deserve SO much better than what they got! I'm glad that someone's giving Dani the justice she deserves!!!

The answer is yes but also no on the topic of Valerie inclusion! I would LOVE to be able to say I've fleshed out a substantial role for her to play in this rewrite, but in truth it's been like trying to fit a Valerie shaped peg into the cheese melt shaped hole in my brain. However! That's not to say I haven't thought about her at all.

This rewrite has a few entirely original episodes to it, one of which is a Dani + Valerie team up episode. (Vlad brings the girls together to form a team for some sort of underhanded purpose.) Valerie reluctantly agrees to work with "Ellie Phantom" but she obviously can't stand the idea. Dani is her usual chipper self and is trying very hard to get Valerie to like her. They're like a good cop/bad cop dynamic that gets complicated when Danny inevitably gets involved.

Valerie and Dani both will appear in this AU's version of Girl's Night Out, because it's utterly ridiculous that Valerie wasn't in the canon version. Both girls' fathers have been snapped away by Kitty, Spectra, and Ember, (and I might throw Desiree and Dorathea in too so everyone has someone to fight) so they're both eager to help bring all the boys back.

That's all I can confirm about Valerie at this point. I've kicked around some other muddled thoughts about her in this AU, mostly about how to handle the only canon plot beats season 3 gave her, but I've been more preoccupied with Dani, Danny, and Vlad. She'll probably end up with more to do! I just can't say what yet.

[apeninastory]

ivan as a tragic-love character (pt.4e?) | Cure edition

Here we go! Last step - for now, because I'm definitely looking forward to Ivan's solo part 2, they own it to us!!

But first, part 4 HERE + a little recap!

Vivimeng gifted us three beautiful tracks with glimpses of Ivan's mind and feelings - and for that, I'll be forever grateful. I can't even begin to say how fascinated I am with this character, it feels like an eternal mistery the more we are shown about him.

Song-wise, we have Nowhere, Black Sorrow and Cure - listed in order of composition/performance and in a somewhat chronological order of the hints about the growing maturity of Ivan's character. Taking into account that the last two were probably not written by Ivan (but are still meant to partly speak about him and his relation to Till), the first his definitely the best portrait we have. Nevertheless, each of them gives us a piece of Ivan as seen from his own eyes/the eyes of Vivimeng, each with something more and something less.

Where Nowhere recounts his life, from his childhood to his years at Anakt up to his graduation (how he tries to fit in, how he imitates to compensate, how the dissonance between the Ivan he is and the Ivan-character he builds forms the mask everyone sees, how he learns to control his emotions, even those he doesn't comprehend and make him bitter, numb, resigned), the delivery of Black Sorrow is its direct outcome.

Nowhere has a flat rhythm, but it's full of complex, vibrating emotions, memories, considerations and images. Black Sorrow has a much more monolitic scenary (black everywhere), but has such richness in the way Ivan sings it and portrays its content - how the power in his voice builds with past flashes of Till, coming out hoarse and breathtaking. I love the play of opposites here, it feels like we are discovering two sides of the same character - the inner, numb voice of a Ivan who offers us a window to his soul and the charming, smiley boy on stage who tells us the story of a sorrowful unrequited love (where in reality, much deeper, it is not only about that, but also about how this world is taking the chance of keep loving Till from the shadows away from him).

Ivan doesn't pretend love from Till - that's not the kind of violence Ivan or his love are made of. It is more a type of intensity, of desperation born from lack of understanding and small, sudden epiphanies - from a need that is also quiet, wary and respectful.

Ivan's love is not pretty, soft and rosy. It blooms in secret, it is obsessive and requires petty attention. How could it not be? Imagine a boy who has never had anything for himself making his first friend. Imagine him being charmed by him and thinking about him and finding his eyes on him all the time - imagine him provocking him, hurting him, feeling guilty and fascinated and confused, because he doesn't really know how people show affection to each other, has never received love and care during his childhood, when it is most important and educational. Imagine him projecting all his hopes and positive feelings onto that person - would his mind accept that person slipping away from him? Till represents so much to Ivan - and contrary to many opinions, it is not Mizi who keeps Till away from Ivan (Mizi is part of what makes Till special in Ivan's eyes). On one hand, it is Ivan himself; on the other it is, of course, their lack of proper communication that makes Till iperaware and wary of Ivan.

Ivan's love is the result of normalized abuse and the lack of stability of an entire life, of the newfound happiness, quiteness, intimate dependability he formed with Till slowly slipping away from him because the alien society decided that they were meant to participate in a game where only one of them (or none) would come out alive. No matter how obedient Ivan is, the stage awaits both him and Till, and he will either die or have to live without Till.

This is the background on which Cure is performed.

12] Cure, or Ivantill at their best (and our worst)

Cure holds a special place in my heart, and I think we all know how impactful Round 6 was on all of us. While a big part of my previous posts were closely related to Ivan as a character experiencing the world, here I can finally delve into my babies' round however I like!

I don't really know how to talk about Till's verse, but I've been looking forward to it. I'd love to analyse him as a character, and I may do that in the near future, but I feel like I wouldn't do him justice - even though both me and Till are INFP and are quite similar. So forgive me if I lose his characterization along the way.

Allow me, to the tips of your fingers Allow me, to the ends of your feet Dissolve me in your gaze I don't want to let you go Please, leave me scars Please, hurt me so that Not a single drop of me remains Let me drown in you

If Till wrote these verses and I was on the receiving end of them, I'd swoon so bad I wouldn't know what to do with myself. But I can't help but think how well they match the second part of the song, when Ivan comes in, so I'm guessing the lyrics were written by the same person (alnst directors or whatever, but neither Till nor Ivan) with a precise theme in mind? Like, impossible love, a love that can never be?

That being said, we know he is thinking about Mizi. (But.)

There is none of the usual bite in Till's voice, but it is still full of emotions. The verses he sings seem like a prayer. A request to touch someone, manifesting his wish of not wanting to let go of that person. It's like he is saying through Cure's lines, "if I am really forced to let you go, if there is nothing I can do, please leave scars on me and make me forget about everything by drowning and losing myself in you/your memory - make me numb to everything so that I don't have to face this alone".

It feels to me that, since Till knows he is about to lose either himself or the one he considers a dear friend (death, either way, will be the outcome of this round), he reaches out to what has always been a source of solace and relief, his safe heaven - the memory and image of Mizi -, to get strength from her. So, while it is true that he is thinking about her, I also think he is reaching for her hand in his mind as a mean to brace himself for the inevitable. There is none of the usual heat in Till's tone, it's like he already perceives the defeat looming over him - he dies or Ivan dies, and either way, it is a loss for him.

There is another interpretation that I want to add, though (one we can make in retrospective, one we all probably matured after Till's death). Let's think about R7 Till - a Till that has already lost Ivan. I feel these words would take a deeper, more desolate nuance, one where Till is asking Ivan to either stay or scar him in a rhetorical way, because Ivan is already gone and he has already hurt Till beyond belief with his sacrifice and the feelings he never revealed. During Blink Gone, Till can't help but drown in his last memory of Ivan.

So maybe, while singing these verses, he is not directly asking Mizi to scar him, nor is he asking Ivan - maybe he is asking god, any god. Maybe there is no one behind those words as Till sings them - after all, I can think Till writing/saying this to Mizi, nor would he say it to Ivan (not pre-Round 7, at least). Those lines are for us, for the ivantill we see and could have been.

Until these falling stars Are buried in the blur of time On your icy lips Read my soul Yes, my soul, oh, oh

I love how perfectly these lines fit ivantill from an outer perspective.

Stars are an important element for both of them, and here, it feels like Till is buring that particular memory deep into his mind - to forget? To hold it dear one last time, since he starts to feel he doesn't have the strength to go on? Without Mizi, Till's chant is teary, a prayer with no god in sight, something sang as a last resort.

On your icy lips - another plea to the singing partner, almost like a prediction of who'll die and have their lips turn cold. If this song is meant to follow the theme of impossible love (not unrequited, just impossible, since one of the two has to die), how profound it is? Something like, "On your lips linger the words with which you will read my soul", as if the first singer is asking the second to dig into his soul and tell what he found there. "Read my love/affection for you in my soul, you know it's there, even if this is the end for us."

Maybe it's time I drown.

Oh, the irony! If only Ivan would do that! Read the affection Till has for him, find it engraved in Till's soul and heart - not romantic in nature, perhaps, but affection nonetheless. Till is unconsciously making a request that Ivan doesn't really hear and has no time to fulfill. Who is contributing in making this love impossible? Huh?!

Even if your cold words Carve scars beneath my eyes May they linger on your tongue You can break me apart Noticе my pain And mend me right now To quiet my fеars I'll drown in you

Ivan's verse are meant to be for Till. No discussion about that. Whoever wrote/chose the song knew - their relationship is made of harsh words and scars, but it holds especially true in Ivan's case. I'll go slow here.

Even if your cold words carve scars beneath my eyes, may they linger on your tongue - It starts with "even", so we already know that whatever comes after, no matter how bad it is, they are not considered totally negative on the singer's part. This song - this moment - makes Ivan realize that despite the harsh threatment he and Till reserved to each other, despite how he himself was far from gentle with the younger boy, he accepts it all. Till's "cold words" can "linger on [his] tongue", can be directed at Ivan, Ivan is fine with it and is giving him his permission: you can break me apart.

Why? Because maybe, like that, with Ivan bleeding from the harsh threatment, Till may notice [his] pain and decide to mend [him], make him whole again. Ivan's words are also a prayer - an hopeful, honest one, contrary to the resignation we find in Till: "do to me whatever you want, I'll accept all of you. Can you please heal me right after destroying me?"

One last request. One last hope, as if hoping to finally have Till look at him.

To quiet my fеars, I'll drown in you - This is probably the part that breaks me the most. Because I don't believe that Ivan wasn't afraid in that moment. For him, these are his last moments, the last minutes he gets to live and to see the person he loves. No matter how indifferent he is/fakes to be of everything, I can see him being afraid and reluctant in those instants - not to die for Till, but to die and say goodbye to him.

I think this is the moment Ivan knew for sure - or at least, since I am bad and am angst-addicted, I like to think it. This is the moment Ivan knew, despite all his own quirks, that he loved Till, and that he should have threated him differently. That's why his comic has so much of what he felt during Round 6 - regret, gratitude for Till being a victim to his shallow emotions and relief, I fear, for being able to do something that can be universally recognized as a symbol of true love (sacrificing himself).

Sick of these nights to come To be engulfed in silence In your gaze, where I'm seen Consume me, yes, me, oh, oh

I said before that something Ivan probably liked about Till was that he didn't have to pretend with him all the time. He could be annoying and a bit violent and unsufferable, and Till would yell at him but still let him stay near. Fake smiles didn't work with Till because Till is sensitive to emotions and their autenticity.

These linese are another fitting set of words for Ivan. I imagine him envoloped by the silence of the night, day after day, as he waits for the inevitable round, imagining him and Till singing together one last time. And of course, the one thing he has always (consciously and unconsciously) wanted - to be seen by Till. He pleas to be consumed, "consume me before death comes to me, before I take the last step and close my eyes and won't be able to see you ever again. Consume me with your eyes, for there is no other way I'd want to die".

To this everlasting melody Face to face, we dance With our story Lost in forever's embrace

Only the first two lines are delivered before the foreseeable tragedy strikes.

To this everlasting melody - I love the use of "everlasting". In a way, this moment will remain eternal, to us and to both of them, as it is the last instance of Ivan and Till together.

Face to face, we dance - These words hold Ivan's desire, but will never come true. Or in a way, perhaps, they do. Ivan's hands are on Till and he leads the younger boy to the end of the song.

These lines offer us the image of something that never will, a truth that is explicitated by the following words: With our story lost in forever's embrace. This song is meant to create a fixed moment of something that the two singers will never be able to replicate.

But we don't even get there, because Ivan notices Till giving up, can't even fulfil the entirety of the song and directly stalks toward him, reaching for Till and granting himself one last selfish wish - something Ivan had asked of Till at Anakt, but was denied.

And the rest is history.

SPECIAL] Of Ivan, Till and love.

Cure represents ivantill not because the words that compose this song are written by them and have to fit them (since they weren't, I think), but because these words describe what they are, what they are not and what they could have been. They mirror their known and unclear dynamics, the feelings they awarely hold for the other and those they can't perceive but that we can see.

This song is meant to be a melancholic love story of inevitable loss between the two singers, but the roles appear to be unclear, like the two of them don't fit perfectly - like they are being forced in those roles. Despite that, they are the perfect pick for the song. Why, then, can we still perceive this as an ivantill song? It's because we know that Ivan loves Till and that Till cares about Ivan, and no matter what we see, Till does feel anguish at the idea of losing him. It is not a conventional performance of an impossible love - it's the ivantill version of it, where what makes it impossible is not only the system they live in, but their miscommunication, antics and reciprocally hiding their true feelings for each other, be it love or something else.

That's why the round and the interpretation of the song are so complex. Mizi was Till's inspiring force and now, in Roung 6, she becomes the source of his remaining strength. It's either he lives or Ivan does, and since he doesn't have the will and energy to go on, Till gives up. He taps on his memory of her and closes his eyes to everything around him, lets himself go and accepts his own death. Maybe that's the moment the idea of Ivan's departure stops weighting on him, because it's when Till stops fighting and singing and knows that if he'll die, Ivan will live, so he stands there and waits. Little does he know...

Till's reaction to the kiss (surprise, resistance, resigned acceptance), the point where the song is interrupted - it is all emblematic of the armonization they should have reached at that point of the performance but never achieved, not on stage, nor in their relationship. The first time I saw the kiss (as an outsider to the fandom, since the kiss was the first thing Alnst related I ever saw - yeah spoilerr I know, twt's algorithm is cruel but knows me best), I had the impression that the gray-haired guy's rejection of the kiss wasn't out of disgust or anger, but of shock and apprehension - like he didn't expect it and was worried they'd get caught. I didn't know they were on a stage (and I though Ivan was police lol), so I was sad when the black-haired guy was shot, but I remember thinking "omg did he do that stunt the protect the other one? Does he love him?" and was immediately sold.

I stand there even now. Ivan does not hesitate - and the moment he reaches for Till, Till's pupils dilatate at Ivan's touch. My brain literally exploded at this detail. Till doesn't start resisting until after Ivan initiates the kiss, and he is just half-heartedly trying to get away - he probably has no energy and is confused as hell. Ivan's closeness doesn't seem to bother him, it's only the kiss that he has no explanation for. He doesn't even struggle when Ivan strangles him.

We know why Ivan did all of that - we know Till was in his mind until the very end, that he probably attacked his opponent to e disqualified and killed. Ivan's sacrifice reflects his last thoughts - I should have been kinder. His last little peck on Till's lips looks like an apology, for the previous forced kiss and everything else.

Heart-breaking highlight of this section: affection was something Till taught Ivan without even realizing. Better, it is something Ivan learned by watching Till nuzzling flowers, raging against injustices, blushing for love, getting offended and sad over something hurtful. That's why Ivan's love was unclear to him but so painfully obvious to us.

Let's remind ourselves a couple of things. Till wasn't aware of Ivan's feelings for him. I feel like he is the type of character that has great empathy and perception, that can easily resonate with the emotions other show and project on him or their surroundings. That's what makes him so vivid, so enraged. Till can't un-feel - it's what makes him so dear to my heart, and what probably made Ivan so intrigued with him. So he probably feels guilty and confused and angry. Those emotions fuel him during the last round, and even if we know (and he probable knows, too) that is isn't enough, he fights.

On the other hand, the Ivan we know loves surprisingly quietly. In secret, in the privacy of his mind and in the background of his own song. The Ivan we know shows affection loudly, hungry for attention, but from behind a wall. Then he brushes it off as if he is mocking his own crush, teasing and childish about admitting his interest. Letting Till know that his affection is real is useless, and nothing will come out of it. Each action has an effect, a consequence, and he probably thinks that a love declaration is done in the hope of receiving affection from someone special. Ivan believes love is unrelated to him, so what's the use? Till would reject him and grow awkward with him and Ivan wouldn't be able to stay by his side anymore, so he only has something to lose. He can't pursue it, can't be greedy for more, because he would be undeserving of it all the same - of Till's good heart, of whatever hunch of affection Till would confirm of having for him.

Ivan wants, but doesn't know how to deal with it. And despite it all, he still reaches for Till - because how can you suppress love in those little moments where your body moves before your mind?

I am not sure if I covered eveything I wanted to say, but writing about them is such a beautiful experience, I probably won't refrain from adding stuff on tumblr if I feel like it. In the end, we go back to the original question I had in mind when starting all this - the idea of Ivan being a tragic-love character, and what it entails.

For someone thinking to be unlovable and with his "unrequited" feelings for Till, Ivan's character has as much to do with love as all the other characters, if not more. Alien Stage itself is a question, reflection and celebration of love. I think that ultimately, it is open to interpretation, as we all have different degrees of sensitivity and can read things in different ways, just like Ivan's askewed perception of himself and how, in his constant, quiet search to fit in and imitate others, he never truly understood that he was indeed loved.

Each character has their own definition of love, and Ivan felt like he did not belong to any of them - while in fact it is not a quest of fitting definitions, but love itself that adapts to the people we have and want in our lives.

So, does Ivan want to be a tragic-love character? Does he willingly become it? I don't think he wants, but in the end, his character intertwines with this vision because even if he can't accept the idea of being loved, he is loved - and his unawareness enhances the tragic nuance of it. Does he actively reject love? Yes and no. I think he'd be happy if Mizi or Sua or Till were to manifest affection toward him, but he'd probably accept it on surface level, or believe they fell for his facade/are doing it out of pity or without truly knowing him.

Consciously, he simply believes that just like people breath and exist, he can't be loved. He didn't have the time, the means and the chances to actively overturn this belief. The tragedy of his character hides in his nature, upbringing and dissonance: it is partly an obvious, inevitable outcome and partly something he didn't stop from happening (because for him it was equally unavoidable). For us, he is a character doomed to a tragic love story. For Ivan himself, love has never been in the picture - his affection was a quiet, brimming thing, and he could only... bury it with himself.