#because it's quite hard to understand what's it about when you don't know the lore idk

[pardonmydelays]

favourite lyrics from paladin strait?

paladin strait is honestly so special to me... the melody, the lyrics, the music video... and that fucking ending that i will never recover from??? (to quote tyler robert joseph: when you hear the end of paladin, you tell me, does it sound like the end?). i don't know, i'm getting emotional. thank you for this series, my lovely anon. it was fun. i love this album so goddamn much. here's my favourite lyrics:

i would swim the paladin strait without any floatation just a glimpse of visual aid of you on the other shoreline waiting expectations that i'm gonna make it

here's my chance, time to take it can't be sure that i'll make it even though i'm past the point of no return i'm all in, i'm surrounded put my money where my mouth is even though i'm past the point of no return

on the ground are banditos fighting while i find nico even though i'm past the point of no return climb the top of the tower "show yourself" i yell louder even though i'm past the point of no ret- *nico's evil voice* ...so few, so proud, so emotional hello, clancy

ok, i'm not gonna teach you the lore right now, but just so you know where exactly is paladin strait, here's a map of trench:

(where you can probably see shit but paladin strait is between that part of trench surrounding the walls of dema and the voldsøy island.)

[cardo-de-comer]

soo helloo and i think it's time for me to explain the deal with my characters and this whole "you're not supposed to be here" thing. EDIT: finally updated the info! Also I now have a Unvale profile that I use as a gallery and keep my ocs art in there. You can check it out if you don't want to scroll trough the ynstbh hashtag on my tumblr ha here it is

i made these characters way back in june and by today they have a lot of lore around them in my head. i even have a dream to make a game with them but it's just a dream for now so i'm gonna try to explain the main things about this story. Obviously this is a long post, although I tried to keep this stuff short. and excuse me for my writing and any mistakes, I don't usually write this much text.

It starts with the world. Alternate 15th century, humanity is almost gone and what's left of it shares quite a big city with demons and angels. However, demons and angels are usually being treated like servants - eventually one gets tired of it all, so everyone knows an uprising is just around the corner. Let's just ignore that for now.

The City has a catch of it's own - it's alive. The walls have eyes and ears and the City knows every resident by heart and soul, both figuratively and literally. Usually City acts through the King, it chooses protectors for itself, ones who have strong minds to comprehend it - they will be called the royal knights, each of them have a company of a /more wiser than the rest of them/ demon and angel to help with their tasks. Only the King and ten royal knights know that the City is alive and very talkative but they don't understand fully what it's trying to tell them. Most of them choose to ignore the voices in their head because hey, that's what you do usually in this situation, otherwise they drive you nuts.

City is also extremely emotional and it's appearance depends on it's condition. Usually it's a sunny day out and the city looks welcoming, but you don't want to be there when the City is scared: it might eat you alive by accident. Now that the environment is aside, time for the main three characters.

I need to add that all characters are entwined with each other one way or another - everything is connected here in my head and it's a shame I cannot tell you fully about how it all is.

Imri is a man of a few words, usually stoic and prefers to stay on his own side, not choosing between Sun and Moon or Hells and Heaven. Chosen to be one of the Royal Knights, he's highly trained to fight for himself and protect the City. Though he actually wanted to be a painter. Always collected and confident, he rarely shows emotion and understands little of it, as well as feelings. There is something uncanny, wrong and strange about him. Despite all of this, he still has human fears and boundaries that he has driven himself into, trying to conform to the society of his time.

The Eighth One is Imri's "true" form - it's his very Soul, that takes the shape of a eight-pointed star. It sees a true nature of things and what drives them - if there were any humans left, when the Eighth One appeared, it would probably see them as a lot of blood because blood is what moves us. With that it sees the City as it is - it looks like an abomination. Souls were made by the Gods a long long time ago - although it's hard to tell how many of them are there - the Eighth One is just the one we know about. They appear at late point of the script. The Eighth One is a glass cannon.

Royal knights get to know their angel and demon companions at least a month before they get knighted to avoid any misunderstandings. Imri doesn't mind his friends at all, although one of them causes quite a fuss sometimes /cough cough devil cough/.

Angel /they name themselves Lyra/ is an overly positive, naive and blindly kind entity. A bit childish and very kind but also endlessly naive, can do "good" to that extend it actually becomes "bad".

One of the most beloved by Gods angel, they were made an archangel back in Heaven. Ynstbh lore goes along bible a lot, so it's true that Lyra was the one who threw the Devil out of heavens when he started to cause problems. You can hear a lot of echoing voices when they talk.

Another Imri companion happened to be the Devil himself. Yes, everyone knows who this is, everyone avoids him and he's not supposed to be here at all. No one knows why exactly he's here, but maybe it's because no one dares to ask. And Imri just doesn't care enough.

He's everything you expect a devil to be. Similar to Bible, was an angel once, angered the Gods (multiple times), got thrown out, became whatever he is now. Did a lot of horrific things and plans to do more. He and Lyra are "old colleagues", they know each other since Eden but now they just behave like bitter exes. Knows a lot more than he tells.

Sun and Moon are the gods of this universe. All powerful but also nonchalant about the world below, they focus more on their own business. Rarely show themselves to humans, so all they usually see is a celestial body.

Despite always looking calm, the Sun is always full of feelings, warmth and love. It's almost sensual in a way. However, they are very distant and prefer to keep everything to themselves. Ages ago, when the Gods were a little "younger", Sun was a bit more open and very curious, especially about humanity. The Sun is blind, however, it still can see a lot, because what is blindness to a god? They choose to be this way.

The Moon is more chaotic, likes to break and corrupt things, a lot more eager to show and tells what they feel. Their mood changes with each moon phase quite drastically. Moon has a lot of influence on a darker things and entities, such as fallen angels and demons.

Angels and demons were made by Sun and Moon and they come in all forms and sizes but those are the main population - lesser demons resemble the Devil in some ways and lesser angels look like clovers. Rivals usually (though they fought like children) but when the revolution happens, they learn to tolerate and work with each other. Humanity doesn't really have a chance.

Rev is a demon that was in charge of the City's guard. Known for his short-tempered demeanor, he was the only one who could control other demons well. When the revolution finally happened, he became the one in the lead - though he's not the one who started it. There is another God.

Time is the, well, time. It's a solitary god, that prefers to stay away from other gods, Sun and Moon. However, everything, including them, depends on Time heavily. Time resembles a bell and has a lot of candles, making you think about churches, but humans tend to forget about Time quite often so there's no churches in their honor left. They don't mind. They are a very minor character in script so they appear only at the start and the end very briefly.

And there is another being, that Imri meets a few times through the story - it's Death. Death is just having fun in this end of the world and there is a lot of work to be done. I haven't drawn them separately yet but Death appears here along with Imri.

The whole story begins at that day when Imri is supposed to be knighted. Everything seemed fine until Imri gets to hear the City for the first time and realizes that he hears and sees a lot more than everyone else. Completely overwhelmed he blacks out - even the toughest of minds often can't take it - and wakes up later only to find out that the King got killed somehow, angels and demons saw this as the starting point for a revolution and the City starts to panic.

Now Imri, guided by his companions and the voice of scared City that's crumbling and slowly drives him insane, shall travel to the center of it to find out what really happened, getting through demons and angels who are busy destroying the rest of humanity. Fun. I'm pretty sure you can get more story and details from my art - I just don't really know how to put it into text right now.

There is a lot more to this whole thing but I cannot tell the entire plot because spoilers, in case if i actually will make something out of this story. Think of it as a game lore. I'm not sure about making sth yet because i operate only on hopes and dreams and i barely have any strength lately but who knows... But now you have at least some context! And yeah, thank you if you actually read all of this, you're a hero.

Now i need to get back to drawing. Thank you all for your support. <3

[currently-dating-everything]

it's amazing that you started making headcanons!

Can you make hcs about romantic relationships with Chance?

A/N: Chance self shippers I know you're out there I'm shining a spotlight into an unruly sea

Character: Chance

Relationship: Romantic

TTRPGs are his love language, we all know this. You play G&G? He's all over it. He wants to hear ALL your opinions and all the crazy stories and hijinks you've gotten up to, all your character lore, what your favorite aspect of the game is, every single thought you've ever had about it- he could listen to you talk for hours and still want to know more, and that extends past talking about G&G.

Don't play at all? Know nothing about it? Great! He gets to explain it to you! You will regret this.

He'll try to make all his exposition easy to understand, but sometimes he gets caught up in the fixation and gets himself going on really hard to follow rants about the differences between sandbox and railroad campaigns, and the intricacies of his favorite classes (he loves playing a spellcaster, but has a soft spot for tank/fighter classes as well), and before you know it he's going a mile a minute talking your ear off, but it's always really sweet seeing him get so excited about the things he loves.

Speaking of love and tangents, he talks about you the exact same way. Every single object in the office knows everything there is to know about you because he's so easy to get going at the drop of your name. He loves talking about how smart and kind you are, how creative and funny, how much fun he has being with you and how cool you are. Lux has invested in earplugs because of this.

He's the type to wear accessories of yours if you have any. A scrunchie/hair tie/bracelet around his wrist with his various charms and dice, a necklace of yours tucked beneath his shirt, any sort of pin or clip that he can put on his collar- or even on his DM screen. He likes having a little piece of you with him throughout the day, even when you're around.

Sad to say there's no special privilege dating the dungeon master on this one. He's sweet as can be when you guys aren't playing, and even when you are he's still very considerate and attentive, but his cocky/mischievous side comes out a lot more. He's plotting to kill your character so sweetly. He wants to make your life so hard (lovingly).

Chance, at the end of a two hour long session: Wow! Wasn't that fun? You, who had your character dropped to 0 HP three times after your favorite NPC betrayed you:

Making G&G character sheets is a date activity, I stand by this. If you're not into it, he's happy to move on to other things, but there's something special about how much he lights up getting to do all the small calculations and slow sculpting that goes into building a character, and he can do it in his sleep, so he has no problem following you to other topics of conversation while he fills his sheets out. His fingers will probably be smudged with pencil led by the time you guys are done too, which is equally adorable.

It may not show all the time, but you've got him wrapped around your finger. He's such a "Yes, babe? What do you need?" kinda guy. He'll basically do anything for your attention and affection, and he's not embarrassed by it in the slightest (though he does blush super easily and very frequently because of it). There's so much he'd do with the promise of even a small kiss waiting for him, it's so bad.

He's quite physically affectionate, but struggles with knowing what you want/what's okay, and doesn't always have the courage to ask. He'll spend five minutes trying to find a subtle way to hold your hand or put an arm around you when you're not paying attention, then nearly jump out of his skin when you turn to address him. He gets better at it the longer you're together though, and appreciates you telling him upfront what's cool with you. He's also less nervous about being affectionate when he's really in the zone, or going on one of his tirades. It's a lot of grabbing you by the shoulders, squeezing your arms, looking at you with those big beautiful eyes while he talks about his homebrew ideas or the latest G&G news.

He blushes whenever you guys are playing and he has to hand something to you. "Oh...uh- you can borrow some of my dice if you need more!" Loser. Cast fireball on him and he'll get flustered handing you all those D6's.

Connected to the above, PLEASE show up him and kick his ass in-game, he finds it so ridiculously attractive. Defeat his big bad of the campaign and do a cocky one-liner and he'll drop whatever he's holding and lose the ability to speak. You'll never see his face as red as it gets when you do something cool in G&G.

[hitomisuzuya]

Wanderer and scara (Scara gets summoned bc of some nod Kri lore) fighting over who gets to mark up reader, wanderer and scara are both biting and practically drooling all over reader, I just need them to fight over touching reader

scaramouche x fem!reader. wanderer x fem!reader. threesome. smut. biting\making. egotistical male bickering. cunnilingus. fingering.

omg i am sorry it took me practically all day to write this. requests will be open until later tonight. i hope this turned out okay, it was quite fun writing it.

wanderer just couldn't help himself. it was the subtle sway of your hips when he arrived in nod krai with you that set him off. the moment he got you alone, he is pinning you down naked on the bed of an inn, holding your wrists about your head while his teeth possessively bite at your neck.

he is so wrapped up in how soft and warm you feel underneath him. in how pretty you sound when his teeth grind into a sensitive spot near your throat. in how sinfully wet your pussy feels against his fingers as he plays with your clit that he doesn't even realize that scaramouche is sitting on the windowsill of the room.

nod krai is obviously not your typical place.

"you sure are getting comfortable marking up what was mine first," he sneers, watching the display with narrowed eyes. he is experiencing a weird sense of jealousy. wanderer essentially was him, but it was wanderer making you moan and squirm while he plays with your cunt, not him.

wanderer tenses as you jump, startled underneath him. he turns his head and levels scaramouche in a haughty glare that would've stopped anyone's heart. "it sounds like i was doing a good job," he bites back before looking down at you. how annoying his incarnation shows up now. "what do you think, kitten?" he rolls your clit between the pads of his fingers, leaning down to swipe his tongue against your inflamed skin.

you cry out as your clit throbs in the wake of his fingers, his tongue sending a shiver that curls right to your core through you. you rock your hips up, seeking friction from him. wanderer smirks, turning to look at scaramouche as if he achieved some sort of easy victory. "i know what makes her tick. all it would take is a single finger to make her scream for me."

scaramouche bites the inside of his mouth before scoffing. "don't forget, you only know how to do those things because of me," with crossed arms, he walks over to the bed. "do you even know how long her skin can sustain bruises? have you even marked her up so good that she's cumming just from the sensation of your teeth?"

you could only watch, already limp and breathless from wanderer biting and pawing at you while he rubbed your cunt into a wet mess. "would you two please just st..stop," you final word comes out in a broken moan as wanderer pushes a single finger inside you.

this is clearly an alpha standoff, and you are helpless to stop it.

"back off," wanderer snaps possessively, "she is mine. you aren't in the picture anymore," he presses his thumb on your clit, wanting to keep your attention solely focused on him.

scaramouche laughs as he sits on the edge of the bed. "you are threatened by me, i understand," wanderer growls softly in warning, which scaramouche. he knows what to say to piss off wanderer because those same things piss him off. he can't resist using you to poke at him. "trust me, she wants me to fuck her just as bad as she wants you to. you aren't going to be the only one marking her tonight," your sweet little moans never fail to make his cock hard.

"if you think i am just going to let you touch what's mine, then you are wrong about that?" wanderer's thumb rolls around your throbbing clit, tearing a whine from you as your walls clutch around his finger.

the onslaught that pursued is almost too much for you to bear. scaramouche has your wrists pinned above your head, soothing his tongue on wanderer's bite marks while he bites needily on places he thought looked too unmarked.

you squirm in scaramouche's grasp, your thighs shaking as wanderer's teeth indiscriminately bite at the insides of your thighs while he laps hungrily at your messy pussy. "don't you think for one fucking second i am sharing her with you again after tonight," he growls, glaring at a scaramouche as his tongue circles your clit.

scaramouche scoffs above you, tightening his hand on your wrists. "i wouldn't be so sure. she is only moaning like this because i am working over her throat," his cock aches hearing you whimper as you tilt your head to give him better access. he chuckles at the action. "always so willing to submit to me."

"please, please just make me cum," you rock your hips up into wanderer's mouth, writhing as scaramouche's teeth connects with a sensitive spot that builds your orgasm up to overwhelming proportions. "i can't.. can't take it!"

"shh, relax kitten," scaramouche cooes soothingly, "we have all night to devour you," he zeros in on another point to mark on your neck as wanderer fucks his tongue deeper inside of you. "it's been too long since i have had you. you'll cum when we say you can cum."

[gyeomsweetgyeom]

Sweetheart's relationship with the rest of 127!

aka more lore

this is just me wanting to explain some of the dynamics between Sweets and the rest of the core frat guys

Johnny- He's Jaehyun's best friend and his big, so of course at the beginning he's a little skeptical of your intentions, but he's so cool, you don't even really realize it. Once he kind of understands that you're into Jaehyun for his personality and not just to sleep with him, he embraces you with open arms. He plays more of an older brother role to you, helps you with issues regarding Jaehyun, because he knows that his best friend doesn't really have the best way with words. He's yours and Jaehyun's biggest supporter.

Taeyong- When you met him you honestly couldn't believe that he was a fratguy. He was like the total opposite. He was level headed, had good study habits, he didn't really care for partying, he was like an anomaly. Yet, as time goes on, you and Taeyong are able to create a bond that goes further than him being the president of the frat. You guys share a major and since he's older than you, he gives you a lot of advice and help with your classes. You guys often meet up with Doyoung too to get a break from the frat culture that can get pretty stifling.

Yuta- He is just so charismatic that you don't even get the chance to be shy around him. It's overwhelming at first, but he grows on you quite quickly. Whenever you feel like letting loose or having a good time, he's the one you go to. Whenever he wants to be spontaneous, he'll go to you. You can't even count the amount of times you've bleached his hair or gone with him to get new piercings or tattoos. On a deeper note, he finds you to be very refreshing. When he misses home, he goes to you because he knows that you know what to say to help him feel better.

Doyoung- He's another one that you can't believe is in a frat, but he's only in the frat for networking and because his older brother made him join. He spends most of his time studying his ass off in the library so he can stay on the Dean's list and graduate Summa Cum Laude. When you need to have a little bit of a deeper conversation, you go to him. He's very knowledgeable about all things and is pretty happy to help you when you need it. As stated in Taeyong's, the three of you have a standing date of at least twice a month to meet up for a meal, just the three of you. He doesn't really understand how you and Jaehyun ended up together, because he's never seen Jaehyun settle down, but he can see that you're good for him.

Jungwoo- If Yuta is your party partner #1, then Jungwoo is your party partner #2. There's no party where you get crazy where the two of them are also not involved. He's who you go to when you need some help doing your hair, picking an outfit, or doing your makeup. He's one of the guys who can both act like a fratboy and then also act like a normal dude. He very much gives off the vibe that he grew up close with his older sister and you can admire all the hard work she put into making Jungwoo a decent guy. Always down for a late night sweet treat run with no questions asked.

Mark- He's like your younger brother and he treats you like the older sister he never had. You just think he's so cute and so kind. He was definitely a little more shy opening up to you because he's simply not used to spending time around girls. But once the two of you get close, it's like the dam breaks! You can't get him to shut up and you love it! Sometimes he just needs some feminine energy, someone can just understand him on a deeper level, and that's you. He knows that whenever he needs someone to talk to or unload on or needs advice, someone to comfort him, that's you.

Haechan- That's twinnnn! That's your ride or die from day 1 to the end of time. I know I've kind of explained this dynamic as Haechan being the younger brother, but he's really more like Jaehyun's younger brother now that I really think about it. Jaehyun hates how close you two are, but he can appreciate the fact that Haechan is a very good friend to you. Haechan joins girls nights, he gossips with you, he'll talk shit about Jaehyun with you (most times unprompted). He loves you so deeply, never expected to find a friend as close as you. He'll support you until his last dying breath. He supports women's rights and wrongs, no questions asked.

dividers from adornedwithlight <3

[werezmastarbucks]

cat. pt6

cat. masterlist

cat!yoongi + f!reader

in which you can't walk past a little black cat, crying for help from inside a carton box, drowning in the rain. months later, after the two of you have adjusted to each other well, the cat disappears. but? not completely.

word count: 8180

music

warnings / tags: fluff, graphomaniac disaster. Malsoon's audacity. deep lore

"Well, it didn't get to actual beating", Kookie throws the ball in the air and catches it again. In such a small apartment, it would be anxiety-inducing, but he is so good. With new limbs, and with his very recent threshold problem, he is impressively good at coordination.

"Plus, we discovered we don't really know how to fight. Tae bit him on the arm and hurt his teeth. KIm Minho did become compliant though".

Tae didn't pay a visit. He stays by grandma most of the time, because she feeds him all day and scratches his arms. Jin is standing in the middle of the kitchen, judging the small space silently. Joon is reading, or pretending to read: he is sore that he lost the animal authority, and doesn't notice that cats still gather around him out of habit. Yoongi is loading the washing machine in the bathroom. Kookie is the messenger and the reporter.

"Hoba hyung was like, hey, remember us? And Kim Minho goes, no. And Jimin hyung says, what, you didn't notice the street cats have disappeared? And this bastard, he", Kookie puffs, "he says, I don't give a shit about street cats, if they are all dead, all the better".

Your upper lip curls slightly.

"Then Jin hyung takes him by the shirt!" Kookie demonstrates it all quite accurately, "and gets re-eally close and says, they aren't dead. They are bigger now".

You snicker into your fist, trying to hide it. Jin gives you a stink eye.

"I didn't say it like that".

"Kim Minho was visibly scared", Kookie throws the ball up again. The boy is effortlessly charming. "He got into this panic, we don't really know why. But when we circled him, he asked what we want, and we said that he needs to retreat the complaint or whatever that's called".

"Jimin stayed behind around his house", Jin adds.

"Really?"

Yoongi is half-way out of the bathroom. The little monkey on his belt has been a hit with the others. Every time it's out, the guys just can't stop gushing about the concept. It's the dangling from the area of the hips, that reminds them of home, and also, the resemblance with an animal.

"Yoongi, do you wanna talk about how Jimin secretly adores you?"

"Jimin?" he grimaces, hard, "Please".

"They are more or less soulmates", Joon says, over the book. He is reading 'Reincarnation' in a purple cover. By the way, this is not a book from your home library. You have zero understanding where it came from.

"We are soulmates like Minho is an animal activist" Yoongi says, taking a hoodie off the hook and sniffing it. Then goes back to the bathroom.

"So, has Minho agreed then?" you ask. Timidly hoped, but didn't expect this vulgar, comical plan would actually work.

"Not his choice".

"He has to look convincing when he goes to the police and calls off the complaint".

Kookie mouths 'calls off'.

"We pissed in his hall", he says nonchalantly.

Joon's body goes through a convulsion.

"Oh-my-god".

"Yeah, it feels a little different now..."

"That is a petty crime, too".

Kookie's eyes grow three times.

"What? Pissing is a crime?"

"Pissing in someone's home to intimidate them, yes. Crap. I should've bought you all Legal Code first. I shouldn't have let you out of the house before you realize what you can or can't do".

"Relax about it", Yoongi says, "you're overthinking".

"Did you tell him you're cats? Or does he think five men pissed in his apartment to dominate him?"

"Well, he didn't believe us. But it doesn't matter. He is going to the police tomorrow".

Jin nods. He finally sits down at the table and looks at you the way you already know. He is wondering why the hell you aren't feeding him.

The cold is receding. Two days later, you only have blocked nose, so you move around pretty easily. Hoba has recovered much quicker. Something about their metabolism.

You open the fridge and show Jin the food. He dismisses everything except soup.

"I can't believe it's settled just like that", you mumble. Jin is too lazy to poke his head into what you do, so he just watches from the table. He is so dignified that you feel shy to ask him how he enjoys being furless.

"Just make sure he sounds..." you look back at Kookie and catch him exchange a smile with his dad. They quickly look away then, and Yoongi retreats into the bathroom to start the washing.

When it was one, you were up in his business. Now there's seven, and they form their own system. Joon is trying to ignore the trouble they are brewing. They keep their petty secrets. Jin raps his knuckles on the table, hurrying you up. They look like they have it under control, and you're silly for asking. Once Jin gets a spoon in his hand, you decide to let it go. You don't blame Yoongi or yourself. You firmly believe in what happened. You believe the most in their weird, solid, tried bond that underwent a transformation just like their bodies. Joon sighs and looks at the back cover of the book skeptically, then continues reading.

"I am thinking about telling Chaewon and Soyoon the truth", you say.

Yoongi's forearms are red because he has been rubbing them in cold water. He is weirdly sensitive to chemical and unnatural scents; he had won the battle about the shower gel, and now there's one with the neutral fragrance in the bathroom. Once he gets detergent or the lily-scented softener on his hands, he doesn't rest until he washes it all off.

"Really? What changed?"

He falls on the couch. Jin slurps the soup.

"Who are Chaewon and Soyoon?" Kookie asks.

"My friends. I think they deserve to know. Also, they want to stay in my life actively. And they waste their energy, trying to protect me from my abusive, psychopathic boyfriend".

Joon lowers the book darkly.

"You have a boyfriend?"

"Min Yoongi the vet".

Jin stops eating.

"There's another Min Yoongi?"

"Please, catch up", Yoongi begs.

"Ohhh... you lied to them?"

"Yes. They will misinterprete everything until it turns into a disaster. I think it's easier to just come clean".

Yoongi looks especially pretty today. The weight of doubt has been lifted off him, and his face doesn't frown anymore. Looks like fresh prince.

"What about it taking a very specific person to come to terms with such a truth?"

"We will have to convince them. Maybe you will have to copy your meow, or..."

"Forget it".

"I also want them to meet the other six, so that they have the full picture".

"Have you talked to grandma about it?"

"She said she doesn't care".

Joon chuckles.

"She doesn't care about anything".

Kookie still plays with the ball.

"Are they pretty? Or like you?"

Yoongi's hand gets out of the fold on his chest and delivers a blow to the back of his son's head.

Jin turns around with a disbelieving smile, then goes back to the soup, entertained. You feel your nostrils flare.

"They are pretty".

"She is as pretty as it gets".

"I don't think so, dad".

"You think you're a masterpiece?"

You sog on your chair. You direct your quiet question at Jin:

"Do you miss your pretty fur?"

His face is low above the bowl.

"I am stunning with or without it. Don't care".

Fair enough. Kookie's words don't hurt you, they are amusing. It's silly trying to repell the fact they are supernaturally cute.

The next evening Yoongi is waiting at the bus stop. You don't notice how you're slowly falling into this romantic routine where he depends on you less and less. Picks you up at the stop after work; does the laundry; manages Kookie. The transformation of his pack did force him to anthropomorphize more, faster. One feline thing he didn't lose is his main language of touch.

Although it changed into what he thinks is human affection.

His hand gets into your hair and scratches the head.

"Complaint has been withdrawn".

"Seriously?" you gap.

"Yeah. Jin and Jimin went with him".

"And the police didn't suspect anything?"

"They are so much better at pretending than I was. I don't know what was wrong with me".

"You were on your own", you shrug. He takes the tote off your shoulder. Is this it? The happy ending?

You walk through the empty alley hiding the multiplying rat colonies in the dark chasms in between the bricks. Sometimes Yoongi stomps at them and you have to hold him back, unwilling to see brutality of senseless murder. The light shop's door is open agape; a customer inside. Jin is at the cash register instead of grandma, and you stop curiously to see how he does. He is annoyed:

"This two thousand? You got a smaller bill?"

When the woman shakes her head, he theatrically rolls his eyes, pouting.

"A cat on a job", you muse. "Where's grandma I wonder?"

Yoongi pulls you away.

"Come. I'm hungry".

At home, he keeps looking at the time on your phone. There's no other clock left; no old-fashioned and big one on the wall, and the moon clock is dead. So he has to touch the thing he hates, once in twenty minutes or so.

"What are you fidgeting about?" you ask.

It's weird that Kookie isn't here, either. The house is eerily quiet. Dinner has been a bliss. Dishes are soaking in the sink; fridge half-full. Yoongi keeps bringing meat from the market and refuses to say whether it's stolen or bought. He is in his 'stop worrying' phase, trying to act like a provider. Another negative of the cat dynamic.

He just dismisses you.

"I'm going to the shower then".

He nods and stays behind, rolling up his sleeves.

"Oh my god!" you point your finger.

"I finally got it! I know what this whole thing reminds me of!"

He pouts with a question.

"Cats & Soup! The mobile game!"

He is sooo tortured when you show him cat-related things, like he is sooo over it. Yes, y/n, haha, you don't need to make me watch all the cat videos you find. But he so reminds you of that working cat, with his sleeves up, getting ready to do the dishes.

"They have little hats, and vests, and shit", you explain, pushing the phone into his face. Yoongi blinks quietly, his eyes fixated on you.

"And there's a cat that chops carrots, and the cat that makes soup, and when they get tired, they can lie down or rest in a hammock!"

He nods condescendingly, his eyes never leaving your face.

"Revolutionary. What time is it?"

"Almost midnight, Yoongi".

"Okay".

He kisses you on the forehead which leaves you stunned.

"We do this now?"

"Yeah, is it gross?"

His finger loops along the golden hoop in your ear. Reminds you that you forgot to take off the earrings.

"Not really".

Your hand clutches the phone which is still playing the silly Cats & Soup music. He doesn't recieve the same memo about the tension of the moment. Yoongi is satisfied with your reply and presses his plump lips together, turns on the water and pokes a plate with his finger.

The clock on the door beeps, and his ears move.

"What now?" you puff. Slightly blushing. Slightly irritated. Slightly flustered.

"Promise not to get angry", he asks and closes the tap.

"About what?!"

The door opens. Of course, having the cats know the code to your apartment is the best turn of events yet.

Kookie enters first, lifting his knees because that was his ultimate resolution of threshold problem. After him, Joon with Hoba, who looks badass now, with slightly yellow bruise on his face. After, Tae, Jin and Jimin, in short, all of them. And Tae has...

He has a silky-grey cat in his hands. Wiggling furiously. Tae is struggling, his face a grimace of pain and focus. The cat is hysterical. It's yelling, meowing loudly, the tail spinning a whole circle, paws in all directions, snow-white fangs buried deep in the boy's palm.

"Ah!"

"Meow!" cat says.

"Shit, it hurts!"

"Let him down!"

"What the fuck!" you yell. Kookie jumps away when the cat is thrown on the floor. Jin quickly closes the door, because the animal darts for exit immediately.

The boys all step away. Tae is hissing, holding his hand. Once Jimin circles you, you notice another thing. His tail? It's ginger. Long, fluffy and very, very real. Nothing else changed, just that. He, a full human, has a freaking cat tail growing from his ass. He smiles at you.

"Yeah. I got a modification".

Joon shakes his head. Yoongi rubs his hands on the towel.

The cat is miserable, a furry ball of panic thrashing around on the floor like it's in pain. It produces sounds of the night street at the market; you used to hear them. All city dwellers know them. High-pitched but deep in sound, alerted howling.

You count them with your eyes. All seven, present, so what is this one? You stare at them in silent expectation, but they are too consumed by the sight. They watch not like humans, who inevitably have compassion kicking in. They watch like scientists: cruel, dispassionate. They are forming neuron connections. Observing their past form from the outside. Realizing things.

"Well?" you demand.

The cat slows down finally, lying on the side, then gets up, wobbles on its paws.

"Oh my god, have you drugged it?"

"No, he just hasn't figured it out yet", Jimin brushes it away. His newly returned tail swirls with curiosity behind his back. A kink you're not ready for. What if... no. No.

"What do you mean..." you plead quietly.

"Kim Minho", Hoba announces. "Learning the irony of life".

Your hand flies up to your mouth.

"She said she wanted a volunteer, and you turn Kim Minho into a cat?!"

You get to your knees, closer to the cat that's growling on its stomach, grey tail sweeping the floor. Joon's hand grabs your shoulder.

"Don't get too close, he bites".

"And you brought him to me?! We said no disappearing people!!!"

"He didn't disappear", Tae moans. He's in pain. "He is here".

"You wanted a cat", Yoongi explains, in pout. "So, here's a cat".

"Minho", you call, "do you still understand me?"

The cat gets up with a start. Boys all kind of turn into springs, ready to react.

Minho steps to you, not a trace of human in him. He is a cat. A grey slender cat with yellow eyes and short, clean fur. The way he looks at you is slightly more aware than a usual cat stare.

"I guess in the reverse process he keeps his human mind for some time? Before slipping into catness?" you ask. You direct it at everybody, but only Joon responds.

"We figure".

Minho seems to understand and hear into what you're saying. He produces a long, loud meow and bumps into your knees, then tries to crawl onto you, seeking help.

"Go turn him back".

"Nah, she said that's the last transformation she's performed in this century".

"Are you fucking for real?"

They do something that infuriates you further. They start laughing. First, Hoba chuckles, then Jin after him, then everybody picks it up. Worse is the fact that it's not too mean; they find their little trick genuinely funny.

"Oh man. Does he have a family?"

"Yeah, now. All felines in Seoul".

Another burst of laughter.

"You better keep him at home", Jimin giggles, "or god forbid, someone will try to kill him there outside, for simply having four paws".

Tae can't take it anymore and rushes to the kitchen where he knows bandaids are. Yoongi steps away to help him. This put them all in a great mood.

Kookie kneels too, and starts shaking his hand in the air in front of Minho's face.

"Why doesn't he play?"

"Cause he isn't a cat yet", you respond. The cat is clawing at your lap, not in comfort but in horror. You have human instincts, deeply rooted, too. Your hands close around him, and he weirdly calms down a little.

"This isn't good at all, guys. It may be suspicious. He just withdrew his complaint from the police, and the same day he goes missing?"

"Missing is a funny word", Tae says from back there, "nobody's going to miss this old, mean man who enjoyed kicking cats for fun. Let's see how he likes it now".

The cat's head turns. He understands everything.

"Mister Kim, I apologize on their behalf", you say. Minho looks at you with yellow feline eyes. "But you really are mean. I normally don't give a crap about animal abusers, but you struck gold".

They roar with laughter. Jimin's orange tail cuts through the air like a sword, making it so much easier to see his emotions.

"May I remind you", you raise your voice. Minho jumps off your knees, adding to the noise in the room, because he keeps screaming.

"May I remind you, that I don't have any money at all?"

"Yes, you keep repeating that", Jin notes.

"Because it's the difference between being able and unable to feed one more mouth".

"We'll feed him. Just..." Yoongi imitates a pat, "comfort him, I guess. You do it well. Ease him into... his new life".

Jimin, Kookie and Hoba laugh so loudly that Minho squishes into a small ball and beats the tail on the floor.

"I am having weird feelings", Joon steps to you and squats. He does it carefully, the tips of his fingers on the floor. He balances himself, observing the cat.

"Something... doesn't let me look away from him, and the brain is restless".

"Thank God, at least you have conscience", you push him lightly in the shoulder, "what you guys have done is pretty evil".

"But grandma found it amusing, as well?" he asks sincerely.

"She is a witch", you remind him, "guess they think differently. She had no problem messing with you all".

"So, two out of three species find this okay", Joon concludes, and it knocks the air out of you. It's true.

"What is good and evil?"

"Shit, Joonie. We've spent about a hundred thousand years trying to answer it".

His arched eyebrows go up.

"How long?"

"You will never definitely know. Everybody has to answer that for himself".

"Oh shit", his voice goes deep. He looks back at the grey cat Minho.

"You should thank us, bro".

He is cruelly right. Soon, Minho will be the happiest in this apartment by default. Simply, animalistically, existentially happy.

"And you're okay with that?" you sit yourself on the floor, looking at your ex-cat. "You didn't want anybody else in here. And now, a cat? You realize he will sleep in bed? And watch me shower, too?"

"He won't", Yoongi smiles darkly. Jimin looks at him with interest. Teasingly.

"Oh he will. You know I can't say no to a cat. And I won't let you abuse him, either".

You see Yoongi realizing there are tiny holes in his perfect plan.

Minho runs to the door again and stands on his back feet, scratches it furiously.

"I can't watch it", you say.

"Then don't".

"What the hell is she even thinking about?"

"Humans are so hysterical", Tae notes. Your head snaps towards him.

He leaves, together with majority of the cats. Part of their company settled right in the shop, it seems. Tae probably lives with Malsoon now. A weird dynamic, but who cares, right? Yoongi tells you that you are overthinking everything. Trying to baby them all. Fight with Joon about his homelessness and worry about Kookie's psyche.

"And you know what happens to humans who worry too much?" he asks, little shit, knowledgeable and cheeky. "They get old, faster. And all your serums, essences, toners, moisturizers, and retinoids won't help".

You want to smack him on the lips.

🐾⋆ 🐾⋆ 🐾⋆

The boys have been coached to:

keep quiet and let Yoongi and Joon talk

if they speak, not speak over each other not to create chaos

not bite anyone

if they sniff, sniff appropriate areas

not mention anything that happened to Kim Minho

not comment on Chaewon and Soyoon's appearances

You sit them around the living room: the couch is free for the girls, Yoongi is leaning against the window sill where, behind the glass, on the street, sparrows are mobbing again, trying to annoy him. One thing you have noticed and had to admit was, sparrows really do come only when they see Yoongi at the window. They see him and they mock him in their sparrow language. He isn't crazy.

Jimin is sitting the furthest away because his orange tail is a weapon. He is by the fridge; has good impulse control so there is no danger he will just open it and start eating something. Joon and Tae are next to him with their backs to the sink; Jin is at the head of the counter. Kookie isn't sat, he is impossible to keep down. He is measuring the room with steps, pacing, a little nervous and agitated to see human girls. Kim Minho is minding his exploratory business around the apartment. He has been depressed all week, but then you could all see the moment his brain clicked into animal: he left the room and rubbed against Yoongi's foot. The human is now gone.

Hoba is at the counter, too, his face to the empty couch.

You look at the wristwatch, and then the girls knock on the door.

"So punctual", Joon notes. You nod.

You open the door, and they enter, a couple of bottles of soju and a big box of strawberries in their hands. They halt to a full pause, upon seeing the room absolutely full of young men.

Jimin says,

"Hi", like he meows. Soyoon cocks her head curiously. Kookie kicks the orange ball away, standing straight, then eyes them both up and down, and you see his lit face dim a little. No idea what standard of beauty he has on his mind, but he is left unsatisfied.

"Hey", Chaewon says hesitantly. Then she sees Yoongi, and nods at him, too. He nods back.

You take the alcohol from them, and Tae instantly stretches his neck. You shake your head no.

"Berry, berry, strawberry", Hoba exclaims, sniffing the air after you pass the box on the counter. He looks at you happily, and you can't not grin back.

"Go sit", you offer to the girls.

Kookie follows them with his eyes intently. Everybody follows them with gazes, and Chaewon and Soyoon instantly feel very awkward. They huddle together, passing to the couch like hostages, complying with you like you are threatening them with a gun.

"So, do you want something? Soju?" you point to the three bottles they brought.

"We thought it's... for us... we had no idea you guys... would be here", Soyoon explains.

"No, you better have a drink", you respond energetically. You nod at Joon, and he gets two glasses from the cupboard, then slides them to you. You open the bottles and fill them with soju, then hand them to your friends.

"Thanks..."

Chaewon's head is turned to Yoongi, who is smiling softly at her from the window sill.

Soyoon looks at the guys one by one, eyes wide open. She is, herself, like a cat now. Regardless of what he initially concluded, Kookie is attracted to them. He steps carefully, then sits himself on the armrest, showcasing incredible caution and ability to read the room.

"Well, will you... introduce your friends?" Chaewon asks and takes a big sip.

"You know Yoongi", you point at him. "This is Jimin".

Jimin is like a black hole. That is, magnetizing everything to himself. As soon as his eyes lock with Soyoon's, she can't breathe.

"Joon, Tae", Tae nods shyly and bows his head too low.

"Jin".

"My full name's Seokjin", Jin corrects you. Your head snaps to him.

"That is the first time I hear about it".

He shrugs. There are rings on his long, slender fingers, and his bangs are styled. He looks like the CEO of your ass.

"I decided yesterday. What is Jin? Some drink? People are supposed to have at least two-syllable names".

"Oh", Tae hums. He looks at Joon.

"Okay".

"This name also means 'precious stone'. Which is what I am".

"You're yapping, hyung", Yoongi helps.

"You're not a stone", Kookie grins, "you're a cat".

Then stops speaking, his mouth freezing half-open.

"That is Kookie", you take the half-full bottle and gulp from it, too.

"Kookie's a weird and sweet name", Soyoon notes carefully, looking up at him. He eyes her up and down.

"When I was born, my mom was starving. She only survived the day of my birth because she nibbled on a cookie burnt to a crisp that someone threw out of the restaurant", he says, hands crossed on his knees, "I was the strongest one of her children, four others of the litter died. She named me Kookie because she saw I was all black".

Soyoon looks at him with her mouth open in horror.

"Oh".

"Are these your relatives?" Chaewon turns to Yoongi sharply, "are you all from Ilsan?"

"Not this again".

"We are from Ko-re-a".

Yoongi's teeth tug on his bottom lip. He laughs as if saying 'I told you so', although he wasn't against this at all.

"Yeah, Ilsan is in Korea", Chaewon says to Tae.

"I am Hoba", Hoba raises his hand because you've forgotten about him. You see with fright that he is already nibbling on a strawberry.

"Hoba, it's not washed!"

He stops chewing, looking at you helplessly. Then he opens his mouth and lets the half-chewed berry meat fall on the floor, in between his knees.

Soyoon quietly hums. Joon leans over the counter.

"Ew, Hoba!"

Minho emerges from the bathroom.

"Oh! You did get a new cat!" Chaewon exclaims, her voice full of very restrained hysteria. She is trying to grab onto normalcy so hard that her face becomes paler.

"This is Kim..."

"Yeah, I adopted him from the street as well", you say loudly and cut Kookie off. His finger goes limp on his lap.

"We named him Minho".

Minho now reacts to his own name like all cats: doesn't give a shit. He sits down and starts grooming himself.

"Okay".

"So, I wanted to tell you about what happened almost two months ago", you say.

"Please, do", Chaewon urges. "I am getting bar flashbacks, but magnified".

"Yoongi the cat didn't die", Yoongi says. Two heads turn to him. "He turned into a boy, like in a fairytale".

"What?"

"Drink up", you advise.

"There's a witch living nearby", he explains, and you understand what it sounds like. Totally solid. He makes it simple and straight as it was.

"And she was bored. So she decided to turn me into a human. And a bit later, she was bored again, and she turned Joon into a human as well, and then her spell broke, and the rest of our street pack became real boys".

"And Kim Minho became a real cat!" Tae adds. Jimin snorts into his fist.

"Who's Kim Minho?" Soyoon asks in a hollow voice. Chaewon turns to you:

"Is this a prank?"

"No. I am broke now".

"y/n, it's not really... like I don't get the angle..." Chaewon tries. You sigh.

"Jimin".

Jimin jumps off the chair readily and walks around the counter to stand in the middle of the room, then releases his gorgeous orange tail from his hand, and it springs up. The tip of it curls a little, then jerks, and the fur flattens.

Soyoon's glass slips out of her fingers, and soju splashes onto the floor, the couch, and her feet. Minho picks up the action and walks over casually, sniffing the floor. Then runs away, sensing alcohol.

"I get it's definitely verging on complete absurdity", Joon steps it, "and you will probably need some time to proccess it, so don't try to grapple with it all at once. Ask questions, if you like".

The girls are staring at Jimin's tail like bewitched. Chaewon reaches out and wants to touch it, and Jimin jerks it away with a comedic frown.

"Hello, lady. Take me out to dinner first".

You get on your knees in front of Chaewon, not to beg, but to comfort her.

"I needed to tell you both the truth. Because you are my friends. It's real. It happened to me. And you deserve to know. I respect you and love you, and I am not trying to fuck with you, or prank you. There's an actual fucking witch that owns this light shop..."

"That shop?" Soyoon asks, "near your house?"

"Yes, that one. She turned Yoongi human".

Chaewon's hand twitches, like she wants to take your temperature again. But there's undeniable, solid proof in front of her. She keeps looking at Jimin's butt while he turns, searching for the point of attachment.

"Is this a butt plug?" she asks.

Yoongi moans with laughter. Jimin's eyes grow wide.

"How dare you, you skin-wearing bald bitch..." he steps to her, and Kookie jumps off the couch to restrict him.

"That was fun", Jin taps on the table and stands up. "I gotta go to work".

Yoongi gets away from the sill to help Kookie calm Jimin down. Playful, fun Jimin gets hot really quickly, especially, as you note to yourself, when it's about his tail. Hoba gets up from the chair to close the door behind Jin. The commotion begins. The coaching has been effective for about seven minutes. Joon, in his socks, walks around the counter in a hurry, leaving Tae to sit alone, in order to get closer to the girls and talk to them. And slips on the strawberry Hoba had spat out.

"Ow!"

He lands on his ass, hitting his foot on the chair.

"Ooow".

You crash on the couch at Soyoon's side, stepping right into the soju on the floor.

Chaewon and Soyoon are so stunned that they sit, pressing their hips, and just look around with huge eyes.

"I know!" Yoongi yells all of a sudden. And a huge, youthful smile blooms on his face. He pushes Jimin and Kookie, who holds the ginger cat's head in his hands, speaking to him, away.

He points his finger at Soyoon.

"When you saw me for the first time", he says, "you said I am a fucking cutie".

Soyoon's eyes are running around. At first, for sure, she thinks of the bar evening. Then Yoongi continues,

"We were sitting here. You were on the couch. I was on a chair next to the counter, licking my paw".

Soyoon gulps.

"y/n told you that", Chaewon fences. But Yoongi has a card for her, as well. He looks at her confidently.

"When you were leaving", he grins victoriously. He looks so crazily handsome. "y/n and Soyoon went to the bedroom to fetch Soyoon a cardigan".

Soyoon gasps almost inaudibly.

"And you, Chaewon, patted my balls and told me they would be gone soon. Guess what?"

He puts his hands on his hips.

"Still here. Boner every morning".

"You were going to castrate him, as well?!" Jimin yells. He completely loses it. Storms out of the apartment, banging the door. Kookie is at a loss, his hands in the hair. He is torn apart by everything he is hearing. Minho uses the chaos to slip away and out into the street.

Chaewon is sitting glass-eyed. For some reason you are the most embarrassed. You feel the heat in your cheeks, your hands covering your face.

"Magic exists?" Soyoon whispers. Victory! Baby steps.

But it's too late: you can't say anything. Oh god if Malsoon had waited another week, it would've been completely disastrous. Yoongi had appointment at the vet already booked. And he still doesn't know.

🐾⋆ 🐾⋆ 🐾⋆

"So, we have spoken with the guys", Hoba says and points at Yoongi's groin.

Several days later, you are still uneasy about it. You then understand that, of course, he is pointing at the monkey dangling from his belt. He puts it on without a fault.

"And we all want a thing like this, as well".

"Seokjin works? Does grandma pay him?" you ask.

He nods.

"Yes. Imagine this, he made a lady buy three floor lamps. And she didn't even need them".

"Barely in the flesh, and he already has found his calling", you murmur, impressed.

Yoongi is holding your hand firmly, fingers interlaced.

"If he wants to share, I will take you all to the mall, and you can choose your own keychains and buy them".

Joon kicks a pine cone on the ground. It rolls away. He gets excited. Once you all approach it, he kicks it again and giggles.

"I want something... something round".

"Hamster?" you suggest.

"Mm. Not bad. Or a turtle".

"That's cute. Do you nibble on it?" Hoba pushes the monkey playfully.

"No. I prefer bare skin now", Yoongi says.

You see the Mountain Street tire repair with the doors closed.

"Mr. Kim!" you call. You find it funny to call him Mr. Kim instead of just Minho. Yoongi calls him asshole.

Joon bends his knees to look below the small working benches displayed outside and into the wooden boxes.

"Was he the only one working here?"

"Seems like it".

"Minho-o!" Joon calls. He has a slice of cold cut in his hand. Champion of responsibility: initially you gave him five. He gave two to Hoba, one to Yoongi, and ate one himself by the time you circled the neighbourhood and returned here.

A sparrow is pecking seeds from the tall grass. It chirps joyfully when you four approach.

You look around, attached to Yoongi, stepping away only at the length of your two clasped arms. No sign of a grey cat. You worry he is too unadapted to the life of an animal and might get run over by a car.

"What'd you say? You piece of shit?" Hoba snarls at the bird. The tiny brown sparrow hops in place, cocking its minute head and looking at him.

"It's not worth it", Yoongi pulls him by the shoulder. Pure hatred in his voice.

"I swear it's like the birds actually understand you used to be cats", you gasp.

"They do. They know", Yoongi replies. He is so dead serious about it. The disdain in his gaze at the innocent (from your pov) little sparrow is scary.

From here, at the end of the street, the Jasan Mountain seems closer. On a good sunny day, it is blue, with dark greenery that seems fluffy and short from here. You rarely manage to look at the mountain without a sweet sigh: she is beautiful and enticing. You've been imagining taking Yoongi there; he is curious enough to want to see THE place he's been orienting himself by, all his life. You think you and grandma should take all the cats there.

If only life was like in a Ghibli movie: cartoonish and in pastel sunny colours. You could abandon this boring office job that eats at your health, quit the city and live by the foot of the mountain, in a big house, with fresh air and river water nearby. You know it's a moment of delusion, but your brain rests while you picture all your worries vanish away as soon as you leave the city.

Yoongi watches you with the round eyes, head tilted to the side. His new habit of staring not at what you do, but at what you feel, might be infatuation after all. He doesn't blink, doesn't move. When you unfreeze and look around the small tire service yard, handfuls of wild, homeless barnyard grass poking here and there, you see Hoba wandering around, and Joon studying every surface with his hands behind his back.

"Let's go home, it's getting dark", Yoongi says and pulls you slightly.

"I wonder where he is".

"Me too", Hoba agrees, "we've looked in all hiding places, but guess he still uses human logic".

You walk back unhurriedly, the scent coming from the market: evening has its own thick fish smell. Them three turn their heads, watching, until the path to their own paradise is hidden behind the Wang Light Shop. Hoba and Joon stop there and get inside, and you are attracted by the new type of light coming from there. Jimin, Kookie and Tae crouch in front of a laptop, hands on the shoulders, watching... a movie so to say.

You squeeze Yoongi's hand, and he follows you, holding the door. Ding, ding, ding, the bell is restless after four people enter.

Jin is at the register, elbows on the desk, looking like he was born and raised here, and owns the place. His dark, beautiful eyes roll not at you, but with you for the first time. The maknaes are watching a girl actress being pounced into the sofa by a male actor. They are watching porn with concentration on their faces. The only thing missing are notebooks and pencils.

"Jesus wept", you say. The sounds of artificial pleasure float around the shop. Hoba cocks his head to the side and points, but doesn't say anything, getting completely caught up in the scene. Kookie is nibbling on his lower lip, frowning, like he is trying to figure out all the screaming.

"Whose idea was it to watch porn?" you ask.

"There she goes", Jimin doesn't even turn to you, eyes fixated on the screen, and yet his tail wraps shortly around your leg and lets go immediately. It's like getting harassed, for real. The tail is so... flexible and unpredictable, and very, very soft. Yoongi pulls you away from him and slaps him on the butt with a heavy hand, and Jimin growls. A fight is about to erupt, but then the male actor slides down and gets his face in between the girl's legs, and her big breasts bob.

"Oh, why is she calling God?" Tae asks.

"About ten thousand nerve endings in clitoris", Yoongi huffs, pushing Jimin away. They are of the same height, but Yoongi is broader. And Jimin seemingly has lost his edge; he likes to play along. All that's left is his sly smile.

"And human tongue is smooth".

You stare at him. He stares back. You lose.

"Yah, so it's not pain!" Kookie says finally and exhales. Poor sweet baby has been thinking she is yelling because it's an attack. Maybe he thought he was watching a thriller.

Grandma Malsoon comes out from the back and winces.

"Will you make it quieter".

Tae listens to her without a fault, he immediately obliges.

"You okay with this?" you ask the witch. She shrugs.

"They are big boys".

"Kookie is three".

"That makes him almost thirty. They better learn", she nods in their direction. Jin steps away from the register and walks over to Joon. Now they two also are watching, but from a distance, and with worry on their faces.

"Not to get confused later. Not a lot about sex in your home library".

"Why am I responsible for their education?" you exclaim.

"They are your cats".

Your fists clench by themselves at how easy the world is for grandma.

🐾⋆ 🐾⋆ 🐾⋆

1 year later

🐾⋆ 🐾⋆ 🐾⋆

The sky has texture of dough. Plump rain clouds, rich-grey, with bright white milk in between them. The air is warm still, even in October, so you push the hems of your cardigan to the sides to let the mellow wind caress your stomach and chest.

Hoba is jumping along the fence. Those sheep might be the happiest sheep in the area because they have cuddles, entertainment and safety of his love. He throws his arms around, performing for them and the animals, not a slither of sentience in them, chew on the grass, their eyes transfixed on their favourite human.

"You want coffee?" you yell.

"Copy?"

"Hoba!"

"Copy what?" he yells from the enclosure. You tsk and walk on across the big yard. Jasan Mountain feels cold on your right, its black forest all engulfed in slippery mist on a cast day like this.

"You want coffee?" you repeat.

"Oh, yes, with milk?"

"Of course, Hoba".

He nods several times, then enters the enclosure and approaches a sheep that he thinks needs his assistance.

Then you two are sat on the porch, coffee mugs in your hands, feet resting on low ottoman. Your feet fight for the central part of it, his pushing yours, and you try to balance and not tip over altogether.

"Stop it".

"You stop it".

Kookie's car rustles on the grass, and he parks near the house, jumping out of it like he always does: with a spring in his step, waving his tattooed arms around. He raises his head, black eyes visible even at a stone's throw, huge like saucers.

"Hey! Come 'ere!"

You get up. Finish the coffee in one gulp and push the mug into Hoba's hands.

"How's the market, Kookie?"

As you approach, he plays with his tongue against the cheek, then smiles. He opens the passenger door.

"Great. Look who me and Chaewon found getting his ass beat for stealing chicken legs".

And he pulls out a new-looking carrier, from which a string of cat curses and wails comes out.

"No way!" you jump to him in one step. "Mr. Kim? Is that you?"

"Looks ten years worse", Kookie comments. His strong arm holds up the carrier at your eye-sight.

"You think if I let him out, he'll run away?"

"Might. But there's nowhere to go here, he'll come back", you reply, without big certainty.

You recognize the grey cat with yellow eyes. His face is dirtier. His ears are torn, poor thing. There's a new gang in Sanmae alleyways. You hear cats like to spend nights at the abandoned and unlocked Wang Light Shop. They found the doors left ajar for them, to spend cold winter nights among wood and broken, dusty, colourful lamps glass.

"Okay", Kookie places the carrier on the ground and opens it carefully, jerking the hand away. Everybody remembers Kim Minho's short nerve and the force of his bite.

The cat leaves the carrier and looks, sniffs around, then paces towards the sheep enclosure, his tail up. Kookie rubs his hands together.

A first rattle of thunder crashes through the sky, and he snaps his head up. Them boys never lost their basic wiring. They get alert like cats, sniff things like cats, bicker like cats and beat each other up like cats. Still like sleeping curled up. Even Joon, who is taking a university course, wears glasses and knows how to ride a bycicle, purrs and crooks his neck when scratched. They love like cats, too. Kookie pushes past you, brushing against your shoulder, and locks the car.

"Ooh, rain, no-no-no".

"Hey! Park the car normally".

"No!" he runs into the house with the empty carrier, dangling it in front of curious Hoba still holding two mugs.

You look at the sky. Grandma and Tae will be caught in the storm: they are too far up the mountain now and won't have time to come back by nightfall. But you don't worry about them. She is a hundred and fifty year old witch, and he is her loyal cat. They will probably get soaked, nest somewhere, start a fire and breathe in the smoke from her weird herbs she keeps finding in places where no one else sees them.

First drops of rain fall on top of your head, and Yoongi screams from the window of the second floor:

"Come inside!"

Hates the rain almost as much as he hates birds.

Your old instincts are intact, too: you count them in your mind. Joon and Jin are at work. Tae is with grandma. Kookie, Hoba and Yoongi are home. Jimin is in the city with Soyoon, they are fishing for an apartment that will be big enough for his tail.

You don't hate the rain. You rather associate it with Yoongi. He looks good when wet.

"Kitty, kitty!" you call. Hoba is walking down the porch to help the dog shelter the sheep from the thunderstorm. You thought it was hilarious to name the dog Kitty. Every time, they all shudder, disgusted to their core. Their love for animals is selective: sheep, goats, cats, raccoons, monkeys and worms are a yes. Birds, dogs, hedgehogs, mice, rats and cicadas are a no, but they tolerate and learn to live around Kitty.

Humans are uh-huh maybe. Witches - total haha. They only know one anyway.

You wander back into the house, taking pleasure in the thunder sounds. Kitty follows you close behind. Just as you expected, Mr. Kim gravitates towards the light, and smell of kitchen, and human voices, and sneaks between your feet, and into the depths of the dwelling.

Yoongi calls you from the second floor.

The room where he takes patients is triangular, filled with books and smells like fresh forest. Once you enter, he throws a photograph - or a picture - at you, and of course it doesn't fly like a solid object. It twirls in the air and falls slowly on the carpet, where you kneel and pick it up.

"Look at them".

It's a small hue-drawing of two people. One looks like a Japanese samurai, and the other, a girl in simplistic, maybe slave, clothes. The drawing is printed out from a book. In between their hands, a glowing white lotus flower.

"Which book is it from?"

"Chronicles of second Mongol invasion of Japan", he says, "from thirteenth century".

"He sits down next to you".

"Looks like us, huh?"

You see it. You didn't wanna say because you weren't sure. It's getting gloomy in the room because of the weather. You move the paper around, trying to catch some light, and study it.

"Well, it does, but it's a drawing. Guess they look like a lot of people".

"Yes, and like us. Look, I have the same nose".

You grin.

"It's pretty cool. Why are you a samurai, and I'm a slave?"

"No idea. There wasn't anything about those two people, except that they have vanished. No names, no locations".

You watch him with a surprise.

"They were real people?"

"Yes. A certain Jeongguk made this and added the drawing to the book. Jeongguk", he then repeats, "you get it?"

"Nah".

"Jeongguk. Jungkook. Jungkookie. Kookie".

You rub your nose, a little amused, a lot in love. He is patient, but a tiny bit exasperated with you.

"Ohhh. You still on that reincarnation shit?"

"I mean, a coincidence?"

"Pretty far-fetched. You really believe that, Yoongi? I mean, it's a drawing".

You tilt it in your hand and look again.

"Oh. Your name was Ren Lotus".

"It's not only the picture. I've been remembering for a long time now. It's like because I turned human, my brain started uploading memories from various places and times. The places I've never been, and the times I've never lived".

You lift your eyes to him. So much in his head, and it's not even big enough for all the shit he constantly goes through. With the amount of thinking, his head should be the size of a car wheel.

"You mean like those things that you dream about?"

"Yeah. I think it was supposed to be locked away. But Malsoon let my mind loose. Think she... hsss", you see he hesitates.

"I won't laugh".

"She disrupted the plan? Or whatever? A cat wouldn't be able to access the memories anyway. But a human was. The dreams started swarming me as soon as I became aware of myself".

"What kind of dreams exactly? What were they about?"

He rocks back and forth, putting his hands together.

"About you and me, and the guys. I once walked towards the mirror and my hair was white like snow, and short. The other one... I saw myself..."

You hold your breath without noticing.

"...killing Kookie".

"Killing Kookie?!"

"With a sword. Because of you".

"Do you... allow that they might be just dreams? I mean, imagine the amount of electricity in your brain, that became suddenly active".

"I do", he shrugs, "or they might be memories. Of you taking a picture of me under a tree, and dancing behind a club, in the street. Of us drowning in the Aegean sea. I am a cat. Why do I know the name of a sea? That one I had pretty early on".

"So, what?" you point the picture at him, "you think we have been reincarnating together?"

"All together", he shrugs, "isn't that concerning?"

You giggle, not at him.

"I guess it means we're not getting into Nirvana".

"Screw Nirvana", he mutters, completely taken by the thought, "I've been recalling your face again and again. All those... flashes, I always had just one thought".

"Which one?"

"I found you".

You lean against him, drop the picture on the floor.

"That is sooo warm, Yoongi".

"You don't seriously believe me", he concludes, with a chuckle, "you think I have gone crazy because I couldn't take humanness".

"I hope not. I will be honest. I don't care about other lives, I just want you to be happy in this one".

You look at his chin from below, from his shoulder. He pulls the corner of his mouth in a preoccupied half-smile. Pierced his ears and looks even hotter. All cats poked, tattoed and tortured their bodies to test the limits of these flesh costumes. All of them have plushie keychains, too.

"Are you happy, o my cat?"

He smiles wide; as if not expecting the question, air leaves his nose.

"Happiness is relative, purpose is the point", he hoots. You roll your eyes. He chuckles again, happy to torment you. Then twirls his body. From sitting up, he curls into a half-ball, suddenly appearing on your lap, and now you're the supporting party.

"Scratch", he orders, and your finger brushes along the ear with the triangular dent. "Is Jin hyung coming home soon? I am hungry".

You kiss the ear, bending as far as you can, and he kisses back. The rain hisses outside.

Seokjin is coming home soon, and bringing the leftovers from his restaurant job.

You don't work anymore, pregnant with more kittens.

taglist: @mar-lo-pap , @ryryvna , @kiki-zb , @angelfuzzy2 , @n33mesis

[xjulixred45x]

Can you headcanon of Mark Grayson/Invincible x Scarlet Witch fem reader from Marvel; she is serene, and kind-hearted please?

Awww yes of course! Thanks for the Request!

(SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY😭🫠 HOPE THIS IS OKAY)

Mark Grayson/Invincible x Scarlet Witch! Reader

Genre: Headcanons

Reader: female

Warnings: Spoilers from INVINCIBLE most recent season AND Wanda's Maximoff past(MCU), typical violence, Reader is good but has some heavy trauma, PTSD from both parts, comfort, fluff.

THEY= HYDRA

The life of a reader was quite complicated, even before the powers came into her life.

Living in a poor country, with a poor family, you had to do everything humanly possible to survive.

The reader's parents were good people, hard-working, honest, but thanks to this they were not at home much, they had to feed TWO children after all.

Therefore, the reader spent much of the time with her twin brother, Pietro.

Everything seemed to be going right in their lives, she remembers it well...

It was a quiet day, at night, her parents had been able to buy a television and they were all going to sit in front to have dinner and watch it.

She felt so happy...

...and then the missile fell...

Everything was dark for a long time, until Pietro was able to wake up reader, under the rubble of the house.

Their parents, dead.

Their house destroyed.

And worst of all? The missile was still there... flickering, as if it were going to explode at any moment...

It was the worst week of the reader's life, but the really bad thing was yet to come.

when THEY came into their lives.

The reader doesn't remember their names well, it doesn't matter now, not after what they did.

They saved them, but in compensation they wanted to use them as test subjects, who would help them create "heroes"

and since they had no one else, they went with them.

and the process of obtaining powers...was much more painful and straight out of a nightmare than the reader could imagine.

but they did it.

They got powers.

Pietro super speed.

reader...could almost warp reality.

equal.

but they were powerful enough to flee from THEM and try to seek justice into their own hands.

They were going to go after whoever bombed their house.

That was when they officially met Invincible.

To be fair, there were already reports of some thief with inhuman speed who was stealing in several cities (curiously, mainly food and clothing...)

But this was the first time he had done something BAD like attacking a company and not only that, but he was accompanied.

And at first that was their dynamic, Mark would try to prevent the twins from destroying the weapons company and hurting people, he would receive a beating/lore drop and they would leave due to a tactical disadvantage.

Even if Mark is fast, he can't outrun Pietro or the reader portals.

Which, by the way, is the most difficult to fight.

Mark tries to reason with her when they are still "enemies" while they fight (or rather Mark throws blows and she redirects them with magic) and while he can see that it works, he knows that it is difficult to forgive that easily. especially when you don't have all the context.

Although, ironically despite the initial beatings, Mark ends up enjoying these almost weekly encounters with the twins, especially with reader.

Why? because she is precisely the one who kicks his ass the most.

Don't get me wrong, he doesn't underestimate Pietro, but several of the reader's tricks have definitely left him in trouble several times... more than he can count.

Apart from the fact that while they fight, they talk about anything, the reader gradually opens up to Mark and evolves from being totally hostile to being hostile, but enjoying the dynamics, feeling in CONTROL of the situation.

(Probably on some occasion the reader got into Mark's mind, saw all the trauma he went through, and from there she understood him a little more, she was more understanding as she no longer only saw him as a hero)

apart from that Mark realizes several things.

one, that reader and her brother really don't want to hurt people, two, that they are exclusively going after a specific company, and three, reader is holding back on him.

She dosen't want to hurt ANYONE. None of them want to.

Mark realizes that they really aren't bad people, they just have something to figure out, but he can't just let them hurt people.

..but he could help them if they would let him.

reader is undecided, while Pietro is VERY vocal about it being a BAD idea, since the last time they allied themselves with some organization it ended in a lot of pain.

and, well, Mark understands that VERY WELL.

but at least now they stop attacking weapons installations so brutally. It's progress!

I can definitely see Mark trying to approach the reader like civilians (for that matter, Wanda doesn't even wear a mask) and because they no longer need to fight to see each other, their relationship improves.

Pietro and Mark are still a little tense, but at least he no longer attacks Mark when he sees him😅

Mark tries to introduce the reader to things she might like that she hasn't had the chance to try.

Can you imagine that the reader ends up liking Science Dog? Mark is so confused (and secretly happy) why she likes something "for kids" (mark)':) and the reader would open up about how she couldn't even have those kinds of things as a child, so having the opportunity to reading them even as an adult makes her very happy (:

(It's like the equivalent of an adult buying a toy they couldn't have because their parents didn't have money).

Probably thanks to that, the reader has more predilection for things from science fiction, amusement parks, sweets, etc.

reader healing her inner child😭

and thanks to this, the reader is calmer, more serene, more mature.

now she has a life ahead of her without THEM or revenge on his mind, he can live.

Pietro may end up finding his way in his own way too. probably lending a hand with his speed when needed.

By the time the reader starts having a relationship with Mark, she and her brother probably become some kind of vigilante duo, no, they don't work for Cecil, but you could tell they try to do things right.

Mark also helps them out and defends them if their teammates get defensive.

reader definitely uses magic to do certain everyday tasks, including tidying up when she's at Mark's house. Who knows, she can even remodel if she wants😅

Probably thanks to this, Debbie really likes reader, not only because she is a charming young woman, but because she has a good influence on Mark and vice versa.

Reader and Pietro don't really go to school, so they probably study at home, Mark can give them a hand with their homework! Of course, in the topics in which he is not very VERY behind🤣

They both really enjoy the time they spend together in general. Whether it's reading comics, flying, even when they find themselves patrolling, it's enjoyable.

well, except for Pietro who is now condemned to be the third wheel🤣.

I can definitely see Mark giving some of his old toys to the reader as gifts instead of throwing them away like last season, since as much as she got excited about the comics, the toys left her CRYING. IN A GOOD WAY!!

A part of Mark's heart breaks a little thinking about all the trauma the reader went through for THAT to make her cry.

just like other things.

for example, I think Reader would HATE alarm clocks, especially the ones with flashing lights...

just like she has HUGE claustrophobia and fear of the dark.

Any of those things can cause either a slight tremor or a full-blown panic attack.

and that combined with powers does not end well at all.

Mark is the only one who can calm her down during these outbursts and come out alive😅 along with Pietro obviously.

Also despite the great difference in power between the two, Mark continues to be protective of the reader, not only because of his history of trauma, but also because he told her about the times in which she has been manipulated/used (e.g. THEM) and partly Thanks to the big heart of a reader, Mark is worried that she is a little naive/easy to fool.

although in general it is the reader who saves her skin in risky situations. whether finding it in another dimension, preventing buildings from collapsing while fighting someone, sending an enemy to another planet, etc.

he definitely finds her cute (and hot when things get bad, but this is sfw so).

When the Viltrumites come to Earth, you can bet these protective instincts rise TO A THOUSAND (reader will probably try to use magic on Mark's house so his enemies will have a hard time tracking him down).

Mark introducing the reader to Oliver and her doing magic tricks to entertain him ✨(Mark falls in love again lol)

In general, a couple that supports each other through the good and the bad. together .

(Pietro will forever be the third wheel though🤣)

Shares, reblogs and comments are very welcome!

[valentine-cafe]

˖⁺. “ r/am I the asshole? ” : 

﹙ various monster characters x gn reader ﹚.𖹭 ݁

. . . various m. characters x gn reader !! 🍓 : ﹙ mercenary  ˖  immortal ˖ bad boy character ˖ mad doctor ˖ snake monster ˖ yandere character ˖ angel character ˖ grim reaper ˖ mortician character ﹚

your partner takes to the internet to question whether they or not they were a bit of an ass during their last encounter with you or alternatively : our characters' biggest red flags

﹙ cws ﹚: yandere behaviour ( on jingyi ) ˖ death mention | wc : 0.5k 

﹙ receipts ﹚: i had this idea and i just need to make this into a series because omg. do note that this is hǎitāo's new and improved character !

꒰  other treats : guidelines ˖ m.list ˖ characters ˖ our lore  ꒱

﹙alessio 781. ﹚. . . not understanding their tears when I die !? 🍒 : “ Yeah you read the title right. I ( 31M ) have what you call a regenerative. Trait. M a fucking enigma. ( Don't try track my IP you asshole ).

I admit I don't have the most charming job in the world but - someone's gotta do it. My powers make me come back from the dead. Frankenstein shit n all. ( I am not about to make a religious joke so fuck with Frankenstein. )

Anyway. It's common fact that I come back. My partner knows this. But every time I die - they cry. Of course like a good boyfriend I comfort them. But recently they been scolding me. Getting more emotional. And I just don't get it. I tried to explain to them that they've seen this waayyyy too many times to think I'm not gonna come back. I asked why do they have to be so dramatic you know?

Long story short, they're not talkin to me for a week now.

Yeah. Last week I took thirteen bullets to the gut. But I came back like I always did. I don't see the fucking issue. ”

꒰ mercenary ˖ immortal ˖ bad boy character ꒱

 

﹙jìngyí 209. ﹚. . . killing their coworker !? 🍓 : “ Please do hear my plight before jumping to conclusions at the title.

I, ( 46 M ), have always considered myself to be quite the possessive man. My beloved knows this well, as I have expressed it to them time and time again. I do not like sharing. Nor the thought of it. It makes my skin crawl.

Now, I understand that my darling is the height of beauty. I have garnered more patience for those that stare. My impulsions have eased for the past few months. However, I have noticed their coworker growing increasingly more. . . friendly.

He has been helping them with their work. Gives them compliments and shares stories as they both relate to interests. I have noticed him a few times when coming to pick up my partner. He always smiles and waves - as though expecting them to run back to him.

Last week was my dear’s birthday. And the bastard gifted them a box full of their favourite treats. So I simply did what any concerned boyfriend would do and. . . took care of it.

My partner is a bit distraught but is not aware that I did it, of course. I cannot help but grow more upset over the fact that they grieve him. Someone please relate to this. ”

꒰ mad doctor ˖ snake monster ˖ yandere character ꒱

 

﹙rishen 9948e. ﹚. . . not having time for them !? 🍒 : “ I would like to start this by saying that I am quite glad for this development in the nadir. It has certainly piqued a lot of interest along the divine realms.

Alas, I digress. I am a guardian angel who is on my way to the next rank. I am also a being granted trust from the divine themselves. Venturing from the abyss, to the abhorration, to across the multiverse. As such, you can decipher that I am quite the busy individual.

I adore my light, my sunshine and mi amanecer with all of my heart. It shatters the very being of my soul to see them weep for me after days of being apart. There are times I cannot attend important events to them. No matter how hard I try.

I am a very lonely angel, you see. I fear that they will leave me behind in search of a lover that will hold them in the night. I yearn to do so, but my duty is too great. My tasks are too plentiful.

Am I the one in the wrong? Should I punish myself for this? ”

꒰ angel character ꒱

 

﹙hǎitāo 9948e. ﹚. . . joking about their coffin !? 🍓 : “ Okay listen. I would like to clarify. I was joking about their coffin. Not their death. Yes those two go hand-in-hand like flowers to a gravestone but! I stand by my statement.

We were just talking about their favourite colour and jewellery. I'd asked for their upcoming graduation. Yknow, celebrate and all? Anyway, they gave me the answer and -

Oh yes. I would like to clarify. I am a mortician. And a grim reaper. Death is my whole shtick, you get me? It's literally in the name! Grim reaper. Not glee reaper.

I am going off topic. In any case. I made a joke - saying that their coffin will be quite easy to make. They gave me a face and I added on that it would be beautiful. A beautiful box for a beautiful corpse.

Apparently, this was not to their fancy. I was greeted with mild disgust and even more disturbia. They have not spoken since yesterday. I don't understand. I was just stating the obvious! ”

꒰ grim reaper ˖ mortician character ꒱

﹙ taglist. ﹚: | get tagged for specific posts

﹙ tip jar. ﹚: like our work? consider suporting us 𖹭 

[docholligay]

So let's talk full metal alchemist (2003)

I'm gonna reblog this a couple times before the liveblog.

I genuinely and really want to have a good time watching this anime.

I knew, when I took this assignment--not even just took it, I basically took it on as a co-sponsor--that the fandom for this is very passionate and intense. I do love that! But unfortunately, it sometimes leads to a situation where my enjoyment of the show is being hampered by the need to share details of the show with me.

I do not want to quit this show. I feel like we might actually be getting somewhere. I love that people really seem to be enjoying someone who knows functionally nothing about FMA even by OSMOSIS, watch this show for the first time. I could not have told you a single character's name when I started this. Having someone be so naive to the lore is a rarity, and I am delighted by how many of you seem to be engaged and excited about it!

But. There is a contingent of people for whom it is really hard to stop themselves from telling me stuff about the show. I don't even always assume malice, but in the same way that I'm mad if someone rear-ends just because they happen to be playing on their cell phone, I am really truly annoyed by the fact that I keep getting clued in to stuff. I keep getting what I consider spoiled.

So, to me it's extremely obvious while watching The Sixth Sense that Bruce Willis is dead. I actually figured it out while watching the movie. Let's say someone is liveblogging The Sixth Sense. Do you think it would be a spoiler for me to say, "I mean, ever since he got shot we notice he never talks to anyone but the kid directly, who we know can see ghosts." Do you not? Think? Even though in the most TECHNICAL SENSE, they have seen the thing that I am drawing attention to?

This is what I'm talking about when I say don't correct, don't confirm, don't deny, don't bring up stuff that I have missed. Missing things, or forgetting them, is an organic part of a watching experience. I liked Utena SO MUCH, and I thought it was SO GOOD, that even after finishing the whole series I came back and liveblogged some episodes again. And I saw it completely differently!

This is what I think gets missed sometimes, is that you cannot unring a bell. If you know where something is going it's easier to contextualize stuff. That leads to passionate feelings and defense and hatred based on THINGS I DO NOT KNOW. It's okay if I fail to criticize or compliment something because I don't yet understand the full picture. It's okay if I make a mistake based on the information I've retained.

"Doc, do you mean that you only want us to blow your skirt up?" No! Not at all!

"I think you are so fucking wrong about Ed and I hate all of your opinions you dumb cunt" <--- beautiful, organic, no spoilers whatsoever

"Well, if you remember in Liore, when Ed spoke to Rose, and he echoed--" No. Terrible. You are telling me that Bruce Wills' clothes never change.

This is what I mean when I say let me be dumb! I DO make mistakes and I DO miss things, but so did you the first time you saw it!

I would really love to stick with this show. This is the reason the discord exists, which has plenty of people talking about what an idiot I am! They would all LOVE to know why I am wrong and probably agree with you! They will be impressed with your knowledge in a way I am not.

Please let me share my reactions and experience with you on a blank canvas.

I want to extend a genuine thank you to so many of you who have been supportive, fun, enthusiastic, and tried very hard to preserve this unusual way of experiencing a very old and well known show. You all are the reason I keep coming back to try this! I would have cried uncle long ago if not for you.

[what-eats-owls]

It matters how you do it

I finished Dragon Age: The Veilguard and had some big feelings about it. Spoilers for basically everything under the cut, and frankly, it won't make sense unless you've finished the game anyway.

First of all: I had a blast with this game. I didn't find Act 1 slow, I did find Act 2 a bit of a whack-a-mole, and then Act 3 kicks you in the kidney (complementary) while insisting it's for your own good.

I've seen some recurring complaints: that it lacks depth/edge/darkness, that it abandons previous lore, that the previous choices don't matter. I don't entirely disagree. To me, it felt like a massive Dragon Age 4 game that pivoted to a different, tighter game after complaints about bloat in Inquisition. The key is that when editing down, there's such a thing as trying to trim the fat and taking a chunk of the roast with it.

I enjoy the concept of Lucanis's character, and the voice actor sold the hell out of him, but the storyline felt like being taken to a museum and allowed to see one (1) beautiful unfinished sculpture. Why did Spite, specifically, work? We know the spirit of Justice became Vengeance by abomination, we knew Solas was Wisdom before he became Pride, so what was Spite before, and why wasn't that tied to Lucanis's own personal arc? (Doubly so if you romance him!)

Similarly, Harding was a delight, and her greenhouse was such a lovely little haven. I would have loved to see more explanation of the connection between plants and the titans, and how Harding's own personal struggles with rage connected to that of the titans. She has every reason to be angry and scared, and the game tells us she pushed that away—but we don't actually see her toxic positivity manifest to that degree, until she abruptly has an angry clone.

On the flip side, I loved the other five character quests, and I felt they had solid, poignant arcs that delivered. I also adored their interactions with the codex—if anything, I wanted to see more of that type of interaction on the screen. You have to fill in a lot of the character work for Rook yourself; Rook has all these interesting potential backgrounds, but I think starting the game playing through those, a la Origins, would have gone miles towards establishing more personal stakes up front and made for a stronger start.

So that's all my nitpicking. But let's talk about the bigger theme: It matters how you do it.

In the first Fade conversation with Solas, he gets so mad when Rook refuses to let him DARVO them about the consequences of his botched ritual. This makes way more sense when you understand he's literally imprisoned by his own regrets, and he needs Rook to have that same kind of regret in order to take his place. His entire arc is about rationalizing binary choices and shitty actions that hurt others in the name of a hypothetical greater good that he wants.

Solas can't engineer every binary choice Rook's forced into, but he uses Varric to maximize Rook's regret. He is trying to quite literally mold Rook into him, and the game is great at presenting this both as a coldblooded manipulation and a broken plea for validation—if you let it. You don't have to give Solas a moment of consideration; you don't have to take time to view his memories, or kill his demons, or listen to those scraps of Mythal still holding onto the good in him. You don't have to do any of it.

But you can. And in the end, it matters.

It matters because for every companion, you can encourage them to either be more nurturing/compassionate or destructive/closed off versions of themselves, and that is frequently tied to continuing or breaking from a cycle. (The exception is either Neve or, presumably, Lucanis, who are forced into the Hardened version depending on which city you save.) These aren't presented as morally opposing choices, just who you want them to be. You can see how the Grey Wardens fucked up bad with griffons and decide they have a better place. You can help Emmrich face his fear by finding deeper meaning in life instead of indefinitely postponing death. You can help them do things differently.

So when you get to the final choice in the game, you may have two options: physically force Solas into saving the Veil, or trick him into it. The kind of binary choice Solas has molded you into making by pelting you with cruelty and manipulation.

Or, if you've taken the time, you can get him to understand he's wrong. You bring out the people who saw the best in him and speak to what he's had to endure, even as you're showing him there's another way. You reach him not as Pride, but as Wisdom. And he goes willingly.

Ultimately, I think DA2 and Inquisition grappled with big questions of oppression and violence, faith and authority. It makes sense for those games to delve into harder, uglier subject matter, and ask you to make binary calls.

But my read of Veilguard is that, at its core, it's about how those decisions are meant to trap you in regret at best, and numb you to rationalizing cruelty at worst. It's why the companion who loses their home city becomes colder, more isolated, in response—more like Solas.

That's why it offers you a third way at the very end, but only if you've worked for it. A better way is possible, yet it has to be more than words. You have to understand where the pain comes from, what maintains and is being maintained by the current cycle. Then, and only then, can you break it.

I can't wait to play it again.

P.S. Utterly obsessed with the Trevisan fish merchant.

[newkatzkafe2023]

Yooo

Do F from Alphabet Lore

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

(Lmk Wukong) You were in a way a fighter, but he was definitely taken a back by how hostile you are. He remembered meeting you and how happy and innocent and kind you were, supporting him and fighting alongside him. Now, when he got back to you, you were ruthless, violent, and short-tempered. Wukong trends carefully around you, especially when you become quick to snap at people, but he learns that the whole time you just missed him.

(MKR Wukong) OH WOW!!!!!! YOU WOULD GIVE HIM A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE!!!🤣🤣🤣 like he thought he was the confrontational one that was until he met you. Wukong feels the irony in your relationship, finding himself, preaching to you about your violence and temper. Not that he's totally wrong after seeing you cold-cocked pigsy for breathing too loud around you. He has to step in a lot because of how you were quick to escalate the situation. When he learned about your back story, he vowed to show you that he won't stab you in the back, too.

(HIB Wukong) WOW are you very hostile and violent? It's always hands-on sight when it comes to you and Fly into fights. Bruising asses left and right. You were also quite hostile, not liking Wukong, his kids, or anyone at the matter quite close off. Wukong knows better than anybody what's its like to be rejected, and Humiliated, so he worked hard to help you heal from your trauma by accepting you along with Luier and Silly girl.

(NR Wukong) Well he never thought you would be about that life, just like him. Though He quickly saw how serious.You can be when you are provoked or felt like you were wronged. You were it f*ck around and find out was a female monkey with sharp jagged teeth, Wukong quickly learned how vengeful you can Actually be and Don't care how far you would go to get even. Wukong had to calm you down and offer support and comfort.

(Netflix Wukong) He would bring Trouble, you would bring revenge. Wukong quickly found out that you were the very definition of hands on sight, like you would fight into fights faster then he would. Wukong understands what's its like to be bullied and hurt by strangers and those who's supposed to be your friend. So Wukong made sure to show love and appreciation of everything you do and help you with your trust and emotional pain.

(BMW Wukong)................WoW in theory this should be sexy, But he struggling to enjoy himself. You have him genuinely wondering what happened to you that made you soo...ruthless and wrathful. You would look so hot covered in blood of the people who screwed you over, but if he's saying your over doing it then something is totally wrong. Wukong then learns that you were abused and bullied in your childhood, and definitely were reprimanded for retaliation. So Wukong would watch you be the sh*t out if people, but makes sure that you don't lose control.

(Destined one) At first he felt you had to be the nastiest, rudest demon he's ever met. Now he things your just angry and need love and Support, you were always quick to throw hands and insult others. The Destined one being one of those people you tried to push away but he was smart enough to feel your emotional wounds. So the destined one never took your harshness and violence to heart and neither did Zu Bajie. The Destined one loves you hostility and all, and over time you finally trusted him.

FEEL FREE TO REBLOG

[lura-valentine]

Hint

Set in the world of My Hero Academia / Boku no Hero Academia

OC lore Story

All characters belong to Kōhei Horikoshi, except for Rain and the mysterious man, they are my OCs

Ship – DabiHawks × fem!OC

–> To Rain's Profil (OC)

Please note: English is not my first language, so there may be some small mistakes.

Concept of this fanfiction

Since the final war with the League of Villains, Touya has been dying. The doctors gave him only a few weeks, if at all, a few months, but the stubborn son of fire surprised everyone when he was still alive after 16 years.

He was only a shadow of his former self, trapped by vital machines, but something was keeping him alive, as if there was something else he needed to know...

Overview

Part 1 ☆ Part 2 ☆ Part 3 ☆ Part 4 ☆ Part 5 Part 6 (W.I.P) ☆

➥ Masterlist

Rains Part

The weather had changed, and thick drops of water rained mercilessly onto the roofs of the city, the rhythmic drumming breaking the silence of the night. Rain landed heavily on one of the taller buildings, her wings trembling from effort and anger. She pulled the soaked hood over her head and staggered forward a few steps, then sank to her knees. Her fingers dug into the rough concrete and a hoarse sound escaped her throat - a mixture of frustration, pain, and the echo of old memories.

Keigo's face, his words, his determination to stand in her way... "If you want Fischer, you’ll have to get past me..." The scene played over and over in her head. His look, that mixture of sadness and strength, had hit her hard. She could never forget him, and she knew that a part of her would never let him go. But why did he stand up for this man of all people? Why couldn't he understand?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a powerful flap of wings. She felt the cold presence before she saw him. The mysterious man landed a few meters behind her, his wings spread threateningly as he looked at her. Drops of water ran down his hood and his turquoise eyes glowed with anger.

"What the hell was that down there?!" His voice was loud, his words piercing the darkness like a knife. "You could have killed him! You had him right in front of you, and yet... nothing. Why did you hesitate?"

Rain took a deep breath before rising to her feet. She turned around slowly, her hands shaking slightly, but her voice was calm and firm as she spoke. "I had my reasons, Kaji."

"Reasons?!" He took a step closer, his gaze icy. "Your 'reasons' almost cost us the entire mission! We had him in our hands, and you... you let some sentimental crap stop you from finishing the job?!"

Rain held his gaze, even though her eyes shone with sadness and tiredness. "I won't let anything stop me, Kaji. I don't make my decisions lightly." Her voice grew cooler. "Perhaps you should learn that not every mission goes perfectly. But no, you don't know any different, do you?"

“What does that mean?” asked Kaji, his voice getting louder, but Rain remained calm.

"You're just like your father," she said, and there was something in her voice that Kaji couldn't quite read - something bitter and painful at the same time. "Impulsive, always angry when things don't go the way you want them to. Do you think that will help you?"

"My father?" Kaji's eyes narrowed and his wings twitched uncontrollably. "You never spoke about him. Not once. And now you're making comparisons like that?"

Rain closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to organize her thoughts. "Because there was nothing I wanted to talk about, Kaji. Your father was complicated... and I did enough to protect you from the shadows of his past."

"Protect?!" Kaji laughed bitterly, his voice now shaking with emotion. "From what? From the truth? From yourself? Or from what he really was? Tell me, finally tell me who he was!"

Rain was silent. Her hands clenched into fists, but she held his gaze. "You're not ready to know yet."

"Not ready?" Kaji stepped closer, his flames beginning to dance faintly around his hands - blue and ice-cold. "I'm not the little child you can control anymore. I have the right to know. Or are you trying to tell me he was just as much of a coward as Fischer?"

That was when Rain lost it. She took a step toward Kaji, her face inches from his. Her red eyes glowed like hot coals. "Stop saying things you don't know! Your father was many things, but he was never a coward. And you... you're just as stubborn as he is." She breathed heavily, then lowered her voice. "Maybe I should have told you the truth. Maybe I should have told you that he..." She stopped, her voice breaking, and she turned away abruptly.

Kaji was speechless for a moment. It was the first time he had seen Rain like this - broken, vulnerable, unsure. "Mom..." He sounded calmer now, almost gentle. "Then at least tell me why you hesitated with Hawks. Do you know him?"

Rain took a deep breath, as if the words were a heavy weight she had been carrying for years. She turned to him slowly and looked deep into his eyes. Her red eyes were filled with a weary clarity. "I'm sorry, Kaji," she said quietly, her voice rough with all the unspoken feelings. "I'm sorry for keeping the truth from you for so long. I know you're old enough to understand who your father was. You will get your answers, but not here."

Kaji wanted to say something, but he stopped. It was as if he absorbed the weight of her words and it seeped into him.

"For the next step in this mission..." She paused and closed her eyes for a moment, as if preparing for something, "...I would have had to tell you who your father is anyway. The person we are going to now will recognize you immediately and they will ask questions."

Rain looked at the rain falling like little blades on the roofs and then continued. "This person is our only chance to catch Fischer. She is the only one who can still help us."

Kaji nodded, and despite the anger and confusion building up inside him, he knew Rain was right. There was too much at stake for him to continue to argue.

Rain took one last deep breath, then turned to him. Her black wings spread in the cold, damp air. "Ready?" she asked, not hiding her determination, but her eyes betrayed how difficult the moment was for her too.

Kaji, still unsure what exactly to think of this whole drama, nodded. "Yes."

With one last look at the rain-soaked ground, Rain took off, her black wings beating once, and she rose into the sky. Kaji followed her, his bluish, shimmering wings breaking through the rain as he flew by her side into the darkness of the night.

Hawks Part

The rain fell in heavy curtains, turning the city streets into glittering mirrors. The light from the lanterns reflected in the puddles, offering an unreal contrast to the grim reality of the night. Hawks pulled his raincoat tighter around himself as he climbed the wide stairs to the police station. Shoto walked silently beside him, his shoulders slightly tense but his gaze as calm and focused as ever. The old stone walls of the station seemed even more oppressive in the darkness and rain than they already were, and the heavy wooden frame of the front door creaked under Hawks' hand as he opened it.

Inside, it was warmer, but no less bleak. The smell of wet fabric, stale coffee, and old paper hung in the air. Police officers scurried through the corridors with files in their hands, and the low hum of conversation was the background music that permeated everything. Hawks shook himself slightly, water dripping from his coat as he walked purposefully toward reception. Shoto followed him without a word, his footsteps echoing dully on the stone floor.

"I have to see Kenji," Hawks said curtly to the receptionist sitting at a small desk. She just nodded and pointed to the door at the end of the hall.

Hawks knocked twice before entering. The police chief, a tall man with a dog's head and sharp, piercing eyes, sat behind a massive desk covered with reports and files. His posture was as straight-backed and authoritative as ever, but when he saw Hawks and Shoto, he put down the file he had just been looking through and motioned for them to sit down.

"Hawks. Todoroki," he greeted them with a brief nod. His voice was deep and rough, with a certain authority as always. "I assume you're here because of Fischer."

"Exactly," Hawks replied, sinking into the chair in front of the desk. Shoto stood silently, arms folded, watching the exchange.

Kenji took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I have to admit that the situation is... difficult. We have him in custody, but without solid evidence, we cannot keep him for long."

Hawks nodded slowly. "I know there is no evidence at the moment. But we can't just let him go. Fischer has more dirt on his hands than meets the eye. We just have to dig deeper."

Kenji raised an eyebrow. "And what is this assumption based on?"

Hawks leaned forward slightly, his voice becoming more serious. "Someone I trust has made these allegations. She says that Fischer..." He paused for a moment, as if he was having difficulty saying it. "...that he is smuggling children across national borders under the guise of his logistics company."

Kenji stared at him, his eyes narrowing. "These are very serious allegations, Hawks. Who is this 'trustworthy person'?"

Hawks looked briefly at Shoto as if seeking support, but Shoto said nothing, his gaze remained cool and observant. Hawks turned back to Kenji. "Her name isn’t important. What matters is that she doesn't lie. If she says something, she has reasons for it."

Kenji snorted slightly. "Hawks, we both know how this works. Without proof, these are just words. Even if we dig deep into Fischer's past, there is no guarantee that we will find anything."

Shoto, who had been silent until now, took a step closer. "But if he were really innocent, he wouldn't react in such a panic," he said calmly. "Since his arrest, Fischer has done nothing but yell at his lawyer and try to pull strings to get him out.That's not the behavior of someone who has nothing to hide."

Kenji sighed and ran a hand over his face. "I understand your concerns. But this is no longer a heroic matter and we are working on evidence, not gut feeling."

Hawks leaned forward, his gaze burning into the police chief's. "This isn't a question of heroism, Kenji. This is a question of responsibility. You know as well as I do that some people are so good at hiding that they're never caught because no one has the courage to look closely. Fischer is one of those people. And if we let him go now because we don't want to dig, he'll go into hiding."

Kenji studied him for a long moment before grumbling quietly. "Fine. I'll put together a team to look into Fischer's enterprise. But if we don't find anything, Hawks, then he's free. I'm not going to go against the law, no matter how much you trust this person."

Hawks nodded, his expression showing no sign of triumph. "That's all I ask. Dig deep, Kenji. You'll find something."

Kenji looked at him once more before turning to Shoto. "And you? What do you think?"

Shoto shrugged his shoulders almost imperceptibly, but his voice was firm. "I trust Hawks and I think Fischer gives us a lot of reasons not to let him out of our sight."

Kenji stood up and tapped his hand lightly on the desk. "Then I will start the investigation. But remember: without results, this is over."

Hawks also stood up, his coat still slightly damp from the wetness he had brought in. "Thanks, Kenji."

Kenji just nodded and Shoto opened the door before they both stepped out into the hallway. The rain hadn't let up and the blurry points of light from the city could be seen through the windows. Hawks was silent, but his mind was racing.

Hawks closed the door of the police station behind him and a cold draft hit him. The rain had not let up, it still pelted heavily on the asphalt, stretching over the world like an endless curtain. The street lamps cast a dim light on the soaked vehicles parked in the parking lot, and the puddles beneath reflected the dull colors of the sky. Hawks pulled up the collar of his coat and shoved his hands deep into his pockets as he walked down the steps.

Shoto kept pace beside him, his face calm but thoughtful. He said nothing, and Hawks was almost grateful for the silence. There was too much going on inside him and too little he could put into words.

When they got downstairs, they both stood for a moment under the canopy, where the rain wasn't falling directly on them. Hawks leaned his back against one of the pillars and looked at Shoto out of the corner of his eye. "Shall I drive you home?" he finally asked, his voice sounding rougher than usual, almost hoarse.

Shoto shook his head without looking at him. His hands were in the pockets of his coat and his eyes seemed to be following the rain that was falling in endless streaks. "No, thank you. I prefer to walk. I... want to think a bit."

Hawks raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Thinking? About what?"

Shoto hesitated for a moment before answering quietly, "About that man. The one with the blue ice flames." He lifted his gaze to meet Hawks’s with quiet intensity. "He was strong... dangerous. But something about him seemed... familiar to me."

Hawks nodded slowly, his eyes moving to a dark spot in the distance. "Yes... He reminded me of someone too." His voice became even quieter, almost like a whisper. "But sometimes it's better not to pursue such thoughts too deeply. They often lead to places you don't want to go."

Shoto let the words sink in for a moment before turning away. "Maybe. But I feel like I can't ignore these thoughts. Something about him... it won't let me go." He turned back to Hawks, his gaze piercing. "Thanks for offering to drive me home. We'll keep in touch about Fischer."

"Sure," Hawks said with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Take care, Shoto."

"You too," Shoto replied shortly before turning away and walking out into the rain. His dark cloak quickly became heavy from the wetness, but he walked away with firm steps, his silhouette slowly disappearing into the darkness.

Hawks stood there a moment longer, water droplets sliding along the edges of his coat, watching Shoto's figure disappear into the hazy mist. Then he exhaled quietly and turned toward his car.

The drive home was silent. The rain drummed on the roof of the car, the streets were empty, and the city lights passed by like blurred memories. Hawks held his hands loosely on the steering wheel, but his thoughts were far away. He saw Rain's face again, the determination in her eyes, but also the sadness that she could never completely hide.

When he finally reached the underground parking garage of his apartment building, the weather felt like a curse that had followed him all the way home. The garage door slowly closed behind him, and the crackling sound was muffled as he turned off the engine and got out. His footsteps echoed on the cold concrete floor, and he pushed the elevator button with a tired finger.

The elevator ride was short, yet it dragged like a lifetime. The mirror in the cabin showed his face, marked by tiredness and something he couldn't quite put his finger on - or didn't want to.

When he unlocked the door to his apartment, the silence was almost oppressive. Hawks took off his shoes and left them carelessly next to the door. The jacket of his suit landed on a nearby chair, its soaked corners leaving small marks on the wood.

He shuffled into the kitchen and switched on the light, which cast a cold white glow over the countertops. His fingers found the switch of the coffee machine as if by themselves, and the familiar whir of the machine filled the room.

Without waiting for the coffee, he went into the living room. The large window front offered a view of the rainy city, but Hawks paid no attention to it. His steps led him to the simple pedestal above the fireplace.

With a slow movement, he unfastened the sword from his belt and lifted it onto the pedestal. His fingers lingered on the scabbard for a moment, as if it had a weight of its own that was more than just metal.

"I miss you," Hawks murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper. The sound was lost in the steady sound of rain hitting the window panes. The room remained cloaked in shadow, lit only by the faint shimmer of city lights bleeding through the rain-streaked windows.

"I miss you too, Keigo." The words were quiet, almost timid, but they hit him like a thunderclap.

Hawks froze. His heart skipped a beat, only to then thunder in a wild, uncontrollable rhythm. His thoughts exploded, racing around like birds suddenly startled from sleep. This couldn't be happening. This shouldn't be happening. His apartment was locked. How could—

Slowly, almost hesitantly, he turned around. Every muscle in his body was tense, as if he were about to fight at any moment. But what he saw took his breath away.

She stood on the threshold between the hall and the living room.

Rain.

The first impression was like a punch to the gut. Its outline was familiar – far too familiar for his heart not to react to it immediately. She looked more mature, and her shoulders now visibly bore the weight of years. But her face... her eyes... those deep red, intense eyes that glowed even in the twilight – they remained the same.

Hawks said nothing, he couldn't say anything. The words caught in his throat, frozen in the heat of the emotions coursing through him.

Rain took a tentative step forward. Her arms hung indecisively at her sides, as if unsure whether to wrap themselves protectively around herself or reach out to him.

"You..." She cleared her throat softly, her voice shaky, nervous. "You didn't lock your balcony door again, Keigo."

A faint, almost apologetic smile crossed her lips, but vanished immediately. "I... we stood outside for a while. I didn't know if I should really go in, but... I wanted to talk to you."

Hawks didn't move. He just stared at her, as if she might vanish into smoke at any moment, like a memory too beautiful.

"I..." Rain inhaled, her voice vibrating with the pressure of emotion. "I'm sorry. For just leaving. For leaving you... and Dabi alone. I should have explained it to you, I—"

A beep suddenly broke the tense silence. The coffee maker in the kitchen chimed in with a shrill sound, tearing Hawks out of his trance.

His head jerked to the side, then back to Rain. Something inside him broke – a dam he'd held for 16 years.

Without another word, without even thinking about it, he walked toward her. With two firm steps he stood directly in front of her. His arms wrapped around her. Strong, desperately searching for support.

Rain gasped in surprise, her lips parted, but no sound came out. She felt his heartbeat pounding against her chest – felt his fingers clawing at her back, as if he were afraid she might vanish into thin air again.

"You're back..." Hawks stammered hoarsely, his face pressed against her shoulder, his voice fragile, barely a shadow of what it once was. "You're really back..."

Rain stood stock still, overcome by the force of his emotions. Then, slowly, she put her arms around him. Hesitantly at first, almost shyly. But when she felt the trembling in his body, heard the pain in his voice, she held him tighter.

Tears welled in her eyes, burning hotly as she realized what this moment meant.

He had missed her as much as she had missed him.

From the shadows of the hallway, hidden between darkness and dim light, two turquoise-blue eyes flashed.

Kaji stood motionless in the darkness of the hallway leading to the entrance. He didn't speak a word and barely dared to breathe for fear of being discovered.

The scene before him felt unreal, and it punched him in the gut.

He had never seen his mother like this before. Not so... vulnerable, never so lost.

Rain Black had always been a force of nature to him—unflappable, cool, and calculating, with eyes that never trembled even in the darkest hours. She had taught him never to show weakness. Never to trust too much, and certainly not to love unless you were ready to bear the pain of loss.

But now she stood there... looking as if she would break at any moment... wrapped in the arms of a man Kaji didn't know. Hawks – Keigo Takami.

Of course he'd heard of Hawks – the former hero who once soared the skies with his wings. The man who lost his Quirk in the war against All For One and saved countless lives.

But no one had told him that this man had once lost his heart to Rain. Or that he was part of that repressed chapter that also included his father.

The weight of this realization pressed heavily on his chest. It was as if a lost mosaic was finally coming together – piece by piece, in slow, painful clarity.

A soft creaking of the wooden floorboards made him wince. Slowly, almost hesitantly, Rain moved.

She didn't completely break the embrace, but took a half step back, just enough to meet his eyes. Her hands remained on his chest, as if seeking support, her gaze boring into his.

"I..." she began, her voice rough, as if covered in dust after all these years of silence. "I wanted to come back, Keigo. I tried, honestly."

Her lips trembled, but she forced herself to continue. "But I couldn't. Back then... The League, the heroes, the war... It would have been too dangerous to come back, and I had to—"

Her voice trailed off, as if she had to pause for a moment to find the right words between tears and grief.

"I had to protect him.”

Last Part <– | –> Next Part

Beta Reader

@doumadono

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[mysilaan]

What type of person do you think the LIs would fall head over heels for? Touchstarved please!

Hello Anon!! I must admit that I haven't given the subject much thought before your question and it was quite hard to imagine because I don’t think they have any ‘ideal type’. I even asked @dreamtydraw about it to have someone else's opinion (I’m literally basing Mhin’s answer on hers because I had none before and I agree with her, HAHA HELLO) but we both agreed that we have so little information about the LIs that it’s almost impossible… 

BUT, I tried and here is what I’m thinking!

Hope I answered right despite all the blur around Touchstarved lore… I'm definitely better at writing angst about those guys I promise 😞

__

TOUCHSTARVED HEADCANONS 🍒

⭐

Kuras: To me Kuras doesn’t like nosy people and being asked too insistently to talk about things he wants to keep secret. So I think that someone who gives him space and privacy when he needs, is most likely someone Kuras will grow fond of. I think that he is attached to the notion of ‘mutual trust’, so as long as you trust him and don’t pry too much into his secrets he might show you what's closest to love for him… With his demeanor, it’s hard to imagine him falling head over heels for someone, he’d probably show his affection with quality time. Leander: Might be one of the most toxic amongst the LIs… Sorry… I think that like Kuras,   he’d love someone who doesn’t put their nose in his business and doesn’t ask too many questions. But -apart from his sexual life- he loves to be in control. From what we have seen of him, he might be interested in anyone who slightly catches his interests and is easily manipulated into being completely dependent on him. Nonetheless, as fucked up as he is, I’m sure he would fall head over heels for someone who dominates him instead of being another puppet. (He might moan if you call him garbage) Vere: This one is a mystery… He doesn’t like anyone except for Ais, so it’s kind of hard to tell yet… Maybe someone as fucked up as him (if not more)? God knows best my friend. Mhin: They are quite hard to understand because they didn’t show anything more than animosity yet but… I feel like Mhin would fall in love with someone deeply kind. They don't really like anyone except for Kuras, and it makes me think that even if Kuras isn’t what we can call ‘kind’ he at least seems to have no bad intentions in whatever he is doing, which might be a factor for Mhin’s appreciation of his person. Also, I remember that during the game, when you make them notice that they’re quite mean to you, they flutter a bit. Mhin is really a kind soul, I’m convinced about it, they may be antipathetic but they for sure appreciate good people. Ais: He can definitely fall in love with someone very self-assured, someone who knows what they want. Ais may give off the vibes of a ‘bad boy’ but he is one of the most well intentioned LIs for me. Bonus if you’re as freaky and teasing than him 🫡

[intuitive-revelations]

Semi-live/retrospective analysis of Lux!

Again, some of my scattered thoughts watching the episode! Not nearly as long this time, with quite a bit less character analysis. I managed to finish my analysis before the episode's live airing was complete this time (I watched on iPlayer), so am posting right as it finishes!

The newsreel is interesting - very Oppenheimer. Is this story going to link to nuclear bombs? Between this, 73 Yards, and Years and Years, I'm getting the feeling that RTD is really tense about our "New Cold War" era.

Love the old cinema technology being applied.

So it's connected to the moonlight? I assume this is some sort of special radiation hitting the moon or something, and not coming from the Moon itself, otherwise we're going to have to somehow weld this into Kill the Moon.

Man, Gallifrey really is the elephant in the room this era, huh.

"Who have you got? Girlfriend, boyfriend, otherfriend?" Bi / enby rights! Also, interesting using the term "other" for non-binary genders again - we got that before with Sutekh as "Father and mother and other of them all [the Pantheon]". Particularly considering the notability of that word in DW lore. Maybe the Nechronomancers' worship of a genderless "Seventh Founder" was right on the money?

Why the fuck did they just play a bit of Amy's theme when Belinda talked about her parents?! Hello?

Wait a sec, is the "v-indicator" doing exactly what I theorised the TARDIS was doing last week?! Trying to pull its way back to Earth only to end up pulling these historical nodes/landmarks to it?

Continuing to love the historical costumes. Glad Fifteen is clearly particularly into this part too, no "changing jumpers" here.

The direct parallel with The Devil's Chord in getting dressed is an interesting choice.

*looks at his hand* "1952... that might be wise..." 😬 Also explicitly discussing segregation with the diner and cinema later is good. I was wondering for a sec when they were at the bar what the laws regarding that would be at this time/place.

"Now you've got your own soundtrack." Oh, more non-diegetic music then huh...?

"Don't make me laugh... because it sounds like this!" AHHHH! So the theories that Mr Ring-a-Ding / Lux was a "God of Light" are true?

"The Harvest Bringer" -> "Harbinger" Goddammit not again! So who's the Harbinger in this case, Rock Hudson? The cinema itself?

Man, the bit with Mr Pie and his wife, with that transition out of the screen and into colour.

The Doctor's description of the Pantheon really highlights the Lovecraftian side of the Whoniverse, huh.

The way being turned 2D gives the Doctor and Belinda 2D personalities too! The dialogue feels so stilted here, but at least it's clearly deliberate, just by sheer contrast with everything else.

The change in audio quality going into the cartoon kinda took me out for a second.

Never mind, forget what I said about Gallifrey earlier. Also emphasis on "Last of the Time Lords"... 🤨

I feel like the cartoon segment could have been a little bit longer, but eh...

The Doctor being able to point out the animation frame (thanks to his fourth wall vision)! I wonder if there's anything to be said about the fact that Belinda was able to interact with it too.

"We've been framed." No kidding. Of course, the nice moment in the diner would get subverted like this, even if the mother's suspicion is kinda understandable, it's hard not to see a racial element in all this.

Belinda being assumed to be Caribbean reminds me a lot of Yaz being called Mexican back in Rosa.

Oh nevermind! "Your continuity is terrible" lol

Oh, the fourth wall! Literally!

WAIT LITERALLY?! Damn, ok, TV theory truthers... I was wondering why there was glass in front of a movie projection.

This is such a stupid turn, I love it, even if I know some people are going to see this as jumping the shark. The stereotypical Whovians, while clearly an affectionate thing, is a little rough feeling though.

"Blink" lol.

I['d love to see all the merch they put on set here. I clearly see a bunch of the DVDs (New Who and Classic) plus the collections. I've love to know if there's any EU stuff included. I think I see some NSAs?

Oh and the Mad Man with a Box too? Why so much Series 5 soundtrack?

Damn, the inversion with the in-universe fans not being real in the Whoniverse! "We're the sort of characters that don't have surnames" I wonder if RTD saw the TV Theory and stuff, and, while not planning on going anywhere with it, appreciated it enough to incorporate his own version of it. Centreing it around DW fans feels like it only adds to this interpretation, as a response back to the fandom and celebration of fan theories and meta.

Even though we obviously knew the Doctor and the Belinda would get back to their universe, I 100% feel doing it this way is what saves this scene from the "jumping-the-shark" thing I said earlier, and immediately sways my own doubts about it. Knowing the fans are another creation of Lux also weirdly brings us back to the Pantheon vs Fourth Wall thing again.

Oh it's not just Mad Man with a Box... it's straight Words Win Wars being recycled. A bit bombastic for this scene but I'll never say no to it popping up.

This is still a crazy thing for the Doctor and Belinda to go through, especially the latter. How does it change their dynamic? I guess it doesn't need to too much, since she knows it was a fiction, but still, seeing herself as part of a long-running adventure series must be pretty notable nonetheless.

"Bigeneration, it left me with a little pocket of energy I've been saving just for this." OH? I was worried we were going straight up unlimited healing with regeneration energy for a second, but that's actually a fair explanation. A nice fix also for any concerns with the butterfly last series. Again an interesting writing inclusion - I wonder if it's specifically to patch that up, or important exposition on regeneration for later this series [edit: or this episode I guess!]?

"But you're the most amazing creation, my Doctor, sir. You have light within you that builds a body." Uhhh... maybe Timeless Child lore hints? Or less a Timeless Child-specific thing (given Lux still refers to it as the "light of a Time Lord") and more acknowledging the artificiality of Time Lord regeneration?

"Let the light of a Time Lord build me a body!" Yep saw that coming after that line above.

Oh, so it IS about the nuke?!

Lux becoming 3D - transitioning from 2D to an untextured 3D model to cartoon-y 3D animation to creepy "realistic" 3D! Why does this start to feel like a commentary on modern 3D and live-action remakes of 2D cartoons?

The Doctor's heartbeat again?! Why on Earth could we have two episodes where we can hear a Time Lord's heartbeat in a row, if not for you-know-who?

(Also again, the beat phase sounds slightly off, which feels very validating for my Time Lord biology idea that it's not always a perfect four-beat between the two hearts.)

The early line of Lux being interested in moonlight, not sunlight feels like it maybe should have been cut, considering sunlight ends up being exactly what he's seeking by the end? I guess he wasn't corporeal yet, but still.

In some way, Lux ascending into nothing could feel a little cheap, but him actually "winning" and becoming a legitimate God of Light is fascinating. Kinda leaves the door open for him to return too.

I thought the 15 were all going to be killed by the explosion for a moment as part of the sacrifice, thank goodless it freed them safely.

Belinda's change of heart, while I kinda predicted it earlier, is a little bit of a shame. I'm sure she's still intent on going home, but would have been interesting to see that stronger tension last a little longer than the one episode.

Mrs Flood?! It was kinda obvious, but that's her confirmed to be a time-traveller now, huh.

"Limited run only. Show ends the 24th." Like... the "show" ends, or the series ends...? I know there's plenty of rumours and speculation about future series, or the possible lack thereof, but...

Also clearly linking back in-universe with 24th May as well...

Overall thoughts

I loved this one! There were a lot of shaky bits - the fourth wall sequence standing out the most - but I felt it stuck the landing in each case, often suprising me doing so. Again I do feel there was a bit of a missed opportunity, mind you, in regards to the limited animated sequence in this case. The ending was a little simple too, but perfectly servicable for a DW episode and a bit intriguing in its own right. (Personally, if I was writing this though, I also would have had Lux's defeat link back to the idea that becoming more 3D means your personality does too, resulting in him becoming less of a 2D unrepentant villain. Would have been a nice meta twist, and the Doctor and Belinda's personality changes as cartoons would have been good foreshadowing. I guess you could argue that happened anyway, given Lux's change of heart in the sunlight.)

I didn't talk about him much, but Lux is a great villain - Alan Cumming was great in this. Mr Ring-a-Ding's animation is so fluid and delightful, makes me wonder if the whole animation budget was used on him, and that's what led to the cut down animation sequence.

The nice resolution(?) of the TV show theory/meta was a surprise, but honestly worked in exactly the way I thought it couldn't! As I said above, I wonder if it was at all inspired in reaction to the fandom theorising itself? The only real evidence against this imho is that the fans didn't explicitly mention the theory itself.

I'm curious how Belinda and the Doctor's relationship will look going forward. She's clearly not as worried about trusting him, but I hope there's still some tension in her wanting to get home.

The implied lore stuff with the Timeless Child / Time Lords' regenerative ability was a nice surprise, as small as it was. Plus the extra bit of explanation on the Doctor's recent regenerative healing. It feels a little ominous we've ruled that out as something that can be used in the future. I wonder if Lux taking that energy will have any effect on the Doctor going forwards? Davros taking it in The Witch's Familiar didn't though, unless you count Thirteen being small compared to other incarnations, so who knows. At least there isn't an explicit cycle to worry about now, though there's no guarantee the Doctor's regenerations are unlimited (in fact, Rassilon in Hell Bent implied exactly the opposite, though who knows how that plays with the Timeless Child stuff).

A little concerned about Mrs Flood's line about the show, as I said above. Not to be a doomer, but I hope we're not about to get an announced hiatus / break for the show... At least Fifteen still having some regenerative energy from the bigeneration gives me hope Ncuti isn't leaving soon, since it would be odd for him to regenerate so soon after still feeling the effects of the previous regeneration (then again, look how long Fourteen lasted!).

More arc plot points hinted at this episode, between Mrs Flood and yet more drumbeating. I guess we need to keep an eye out for more this series? I'm kinda stunned by the whole vindicator thing, since it feels like my theory the TARDIS is / will end up accidentally pulling bits of Earth's history to that barrier might be right on the money? Is this my Apollo's dodgeball moment?

[sevastiel]

thoughts on the new KIM Lore? Lizzie's is Interesting...

*The camera turns to me and I'm vibrating like an electron*

I've read ahead in the Kimulacrum chats right, so I can't SAY all of my thoughts yet, but I can say this.

ONCE AGAIN. THE LORE TEAM HAS FUCKED UNBELIEVABLY HARD. I've got friends who are alter systems, or who have been them in the past, and its clear that DE not only CARES but DOES Their god daMN RESEARCH! It perfect? no. It really fucking cool? Yes.

Also, Kaya is a mood, tbh, and I am VERY excited for de to give us just a little more lore on how time travel works on a technological level, please and thank you, thats the only piece I'm missing damnit and the only part I don't want to theorize on yet because aside from the reliquary drives, lanthorns, the orokin being able to create sources of anti-entropic radiation, (energy that keeps itself in line, basically) and the vague promise of infinite void based power, I'm not sure we have enough for it to all totally link up.

And the couple's good ending made me really happy to see bc while it was a bit upsetting at first to bear witness to two adults that I'd already found myself caring about arguing every time they spoke again, both sides have some really good, genuine, and understandable complaints that work so well with their characters and the only thing you're really needed for is to basically be an excuse for them to talk to each other about what's actually going on. Because its a shared chat, when you get one of them to actually fuckin' confess, the other can read it, which is honestly quite brilliant and makes the process much more viable. Not only that, but there's a lot of fun to their convos and past day 3 they *arent* arguing all the time, they might be snippy, but once you've gotten the right booleans they do become so much more,, idk, human, I suppose

I know de gives us these kim chats so we can get the writing that would be unbelievably time consuming and difficult to implement in game otherwise, and I cradle it to my chest and spin around delightedly.

[sorryitsmyfirstdayonearth]

sam definelty has read books on being a dom and different sex-related literature. even though he's not a hard dom by any means he still likes understanding the history and dynamics and making sure he's doing a good job

Yooooo anon, get out of my brain!! Because I 100% agree!

Sam reads everything under the sun. Lore, sure, history, yeah, but really everything. So it makes sense that at some point he ends up with literature on sex.

He has to hide the books from Dean, cause he'd think it's just fancy porn. At some point, he gets so annoyed (and Dean so suspicious) of sneaking the reading that he puts a different dust jacket over it. Something about the Ottoman empire. Dean doesn't ask any questions after that, except once when he says that if his name was Otto, he wouldn't name a damn empire after himself.

(Sam gets a bunch of his books from second hand stores, by the way, hence the stuff he reads being kind of random. But that's a different story.)

So he reads and he learns. Not everything speaks to him, but he knows that's the point of reading - to encounter other schools of thoughts, mull them over in his own head (see what I did there).

One of they joys he rarely gets to partake in is sharing any knowledge once he's obtained it, talking to someone about it. He might get to use it on a case, very rarely in a random encounter with someone. On the days off, he might visit a museum, and some older history buff and he will chat for a while. It's never quite enough, but Sam's fine with it. He's fine.

Continue reading for some Sam x reader headcanon, not sure if that's what you want, anon, so adding the little extra cut here :)

And then he meets you. And you listen to him, encourage him to talk about all the things that, honestly, he knows don't even interest you. At the beginning, when he comes out of one of his long-winded monologues, he feels embarrassed, though you don't give him any reason to.

You find one of the books on BDSM in his stuff, hold it up to him. You were just looking for a spare tooth brush, but now Sam stands there with his own halfway raised to his mouth, eyes wide. You look at the book, flick through the pages, then turn it over and read the text on the back.

"Sounds interesting," you say, and relief and love flood Sam's veins.

Later that night, both of you in bed and cuddled up, you ask him about it again. Sam talks about it, tells you the things he remember, that stuck with him. It's surprisingly unsexual. You listen, and then the two of you go to sleep.

The next morning, when he comes from his run, he finds you in bed, sitting up, coffee in hand, reading the book you found. You look up and smile at him and he smiles back, and then doesn't stop for the rest of the day.