#led up to it in the end. there was nothing he could've done to stop any of it because he started it. he started the fire

[ruvviks]

PLEASE DO NOT TAG AS YOUR OWN OC.

Rafael is driven by his independence and his anger, fighting for what he believes in and deems right to free his people and return peace to Medici. But his tendency to push people away blurs the lines between selflessness and self-destruction, and his desperation for control greatly overshadows the true lack thereof— and it has turned his spark into an all-consuming forest fire, with no way to douse the flames. And everything burned, as promised. OC WEB WEAVE SERIES: RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ.

richard kadrey, aloha from hell // by eyedeeuhs // firestarter; torre florim // by gundula blumi // savannah brown, from 'closer baby closer' // leach; bones uk // ocean vuong, from 'to my father / to my future son' // by ysociety // maybe, i; des rocs // victoria chang, to love anyone // 'smoke and fire 1' by jennifer walton // burn; vorsa // vita sackville-west, from 'solitude' // by spelio // arsonist's lullabye; hozier // shira erlichman, from 'how to become a forest fire'

[starchaser667]

WHY did Motherspore target Jimmy out of everyone else??

First of all, let me tell you, I had been thinking of making this post for a while, and it was originally going to be me sharing my thoughts and going crazy with theories hehe

But it turns out there's ALREADY an answer to this question, that was hinted at in Maruu and Doody's streams a couple of times, which I found out extremely late because I can never catch those live.

Still, I thought so long and hard on this, that I decided I would share my thought process anyways! Show you how deep I went before ever knowing if I was delusional or not hwjsjwjs

So here goes nothing!

~~~

For starters, I wanna say I was initially under the impression that Jimmy's involvement in the Motherspore incident had been, for the most part, COLLATERAL DAMAGE. Like it was mainly a mix of negative factors, and maybe also Jimmy's infamous bad luck lol, that got him in that situation.

I imagined he'd been one of the many people to have fainted at the start of the whole mess, and having probably done so in his office (a more isolated place than a classroom or a break-room where most people were), he had been the easiest target; secluded enough that Motherspore had managed to capture him without any trouble or interference from anyone.

That sounded like a likely scenario! And considering it probably wasn't very important, I didn't dwell on it too much...

That was, until we got to Chapter 15, and most importantly, HOTGUY'S INTERROGATION.

Because Hotguy brings to attention that Jimmy's position in all this is actually quite suspicious. He remarks that Jimmy had been the only person to remain in the building, when everyone else had been evacuated, which then led him to be the most difficult one to find and rescue. He wonders if there's a possibility that he stayed behind ON PURPOSE.

And while it's important to note that all of this is stated with the ill-intention of triggering Grian and forcing him to talk, it is undeniably TRUE that Jimmy's situation had been unlike anybody else's.

In fact, once I started thinking about it, I realized there's something actually odd that happened, that didn't see anyone mention and was particular to Jimmy's case... and that is that Motherspore actually fought to GET HIM BACK.

Think about the way Motherspore acted when everyone was evacuating the building, or rather, how she DIDN'T ACT. Sure, people were fainting, which I don't know if it was an intentional move on her part or simply a side-effect of the spores in the air, but with some help they were all able to get out safely.

And she let it happen, and not because she lacked the power to stop it. She could've had people trapped in the fungus like Jimmy was, she could've covered the exits in it so people wouldn't be able to escape, she could've attacked Hotguy the second he stepped in to help, yet she didn't.

But when JIMMY was the one being taken away?? She willed the fungus to grab at him and drag him back towards her, proceeded to literally pounce on Hotguy. And judging by the shocked look on his face, we can assume and confirm that was the first time he was met with resistance and hostility on this foe's end.

So after pondering all this I suddenly went HOLD ON. What if Jimmy being captured wasn't just an unfortunate coincidence? Because it's starting to look as if he was intentionally singled out... OMG what if he was actually TARGETED???

And oh boy did that set me off.

I rapidly started coming up with quite a few ideas as to why that could've been the case. Could it have simply been because he's related to Grian?? Or because he's also a witch?? Maybe specifically because of his mind-reading ability?? And so on.

BUT, as I said before, there's already a kinda answer to this question, as to why Motherspore went after Jimmy, that was revealed in one of Maruu and Doody's streams, which might be the reason why lots of people like myself hadn't heard about it.

Doody responded that the one thing she could say about the matter is that it was important to remember that Motherspore is fundamentally STILL GRIAN, just taken to a more primal, slightly fucked up level. They mentioned that this version of Grian is guided primarily by instinct, and I quote, "is protecting the things that are dear to him and attacking what seems like a threat."

And OMG do you know what this MEANS??

It means that yes, Motherspore did target Jimmy, but not exactly for the reasons I first suspected. It wasn't because she had wanted to hurt him or use him in any way, but because she had wanted to PROTECT HIM!! That's why she hid him away from everyone else, and why she went to greater lengths to keep him there!!

And dude I just think that's so sweet 😭 that even in a corrupted state of mind, Grian was able to recognize his cousin and still strived to keep him safe no matter what <3

And I think this is very important information to have, because it makes their interaction in Chapter 14 even MORE heartbreaking than it already was.

Because we know Grian was DEVASTATED to see Jimmy hurt, and even more horrified at the notion that he had likely been the cause of it. And I just know that guilt is part of the reason why he denied his offering to stay, why he decides to push him away. He believes it would be safer for Jimmy to keep his distance, even if it breaks both their hearts.

And this is so incredibly sad because Grian DOESN'T KNOW. He doesn't know that Motherspore never wished Jimmy any harm, that in her own messed-up way, she tried to defend him from everything.

He has no idea that caring for Jimmy is such a core part of him, that any version of himself can't help doing the same...

Anyways they make me sick <3 can't wait to read and find out more!!!

~~~

TLDR: Found out Motherspore didn't capture Jimmy for malicious reasons, but because Grian was unconsciously trying to protect him, and now I'm emotional :'(

[akariamai]

All Because I Liked a Boy

Pairing: Ahn Su-ho x OC

Word Count: 1295

Ji-woo wished she could've stopped it all from happening. She wanted nothing more than to not be sitting down in one of the most uncomfortable chairs inside an all too familiar bare room. Her mind raced with different scenarios, of moments she could've tweaked, of decisions she should've made.

All she could do now was watch the love of her life take in breath after breath; a clear mask covering half his face with a feeding tube stuck down his throat. The machinery tethered to his slumbering body was blaring. Its echo bounced against the walls and reached her ears. Every sound was a reminder of the life and death battle Su-ho was in.

Su-ho couldn't wake up. He was stuck in the crevices of his mind and it was all her fault. If only she had stayed away; ignored the thumping of her heart whenever he was near. She should've followed her instincts and avoided love like the plague.

Growing up, love has always been described as magical, it was intertwined in the pages of storybooks, in the screenings of motion pictures. She and many others were convinced romance and love were the closest feeling in the world to magic, but what they failed to mention was that it was also chaotic, unpredictable, and detrimental.

Life wasn't a fairy tale and many didn't get their happily ever after. Love would leave people in shambles; leave them to pick up their fragmented heart.

She should have known better. She never had the best examples of love. Why did she think it'd end differently for her? She wasn't special. Love just wasn't in the cards for her.

Her mother never had the best time when chasing love. She loved the idea of love and fell like it was her first time all over again. The men who her mother adored were only there for the sprints of unconditional devotion. They didn't want permanent attachments, but she still loved them like there was not tomorrow. Her heart would shatter every time to where it no longer held together by its own, but with deteriorating masking tape.

Before Su-ho, Ji-woo had promised herself to never fall in love with anyone. It was a vow she swore to keep by any means necessary, but love had a funny way of creeping in the shadows until a moment presented itself to pounce.

Ji-woo absorbed the numbing repetition of the machinery as her mind wandered to the one instance that led to all of this mayhem. I liked you before him. Why didn't you give me a chance? I would've treated you better than him! Rejection. She had rejected the wrong person.

She didn't know when the pin dropped; what steps she mistakenly took. Had she been unconsciously flirting with Beom-seok? When had she given him the wrong idea? Whatever she had done came with consequences.

Ramifications that would linger for all involved, either directly or indirectly, and poor Si-eun was caught in the aftereffects. How could she dare look at him anymore without the accumulating guilt gripping her very being.

Su-ho deserved better. He didn't need her stumbling into his life and wrecking it apart. The worst part is she hadn't meant to, but somehow she still did.

She was worse than her mother. Her mother never put anyone in the hospital. She hadn't led anyone to their downfall. Ji-woo had and now she had to live through the agonizing shame that came with it.

Oh how desperately she wanted to reach over to hold his hand, but it wouldn't be his warmth. She didn't deserve to touch him. She ruined him. She doomed the friendships he made.

Su-ho barely had time for friends. He worked a lot, slept at school, helped his grandma any chance he could, but somewhere along the way Si-eun and Beom-seok crept into his life.

They'd all hung out a couple of times; Si-eun more so than Beom-seok. Su-ho would never tell her much. Just that they had a falling out.

It was only when Beom-seok sought her out when she knew she was the problem. She was always the problem. He confessed his undying love for her and she rejected him as kindly as she could. She had a boyfriend who she loved dearly, yet she never once got the courage to speak it out loud for only his ears to pick up.

Beom-seok exploded. He ranted and raved he would be the better pick. How he would treat her better than Su-ho ever could. He treats you like his arm piece. He doesn't love you. With me, you'll be prized. Gifted with only the things you truly deserve. How can you not see that? He's just using you!

But his words meant nothing to her. Su-ho cared vastly. She knew it through the way he took his time dismantling the walls she set up long before she knew him. He took the time to remember her favorite drink and would always give her one. He poured all his emotions into the little things that people often ignored and forgot.

Su-ho understood she loved her space and despised feeling contained so he integrated himself in a way that wasn't forceful or unwanted. He made her feel love wasn't all that bad.

She ignored Beom-seok's confession. She was in a blissful relationship. She wasn't about to throw away the only person who ever made her feel safe to be in love with and certainty not with someone who was one of their best friends. The thought itself was unfathomable and in her disbelief she failed to see the utter resentment in his eyes once Beom-seok failed to sway her.

Beom-seok's loathing towards Su-ho became physical quickly afterwards, but Su-ho would choose to keep her in the dark. He would brush off her concerns when she noticed him limping.

"I just needed to replace the brake pads." He'd say knowing she knew absolutely nothing about the mechanics on his bike before changing the topic.

In fact, she only found out this morning that someone had intentionally cut the breaks when she went to pick up his bike from the mechanic.

She observed Su-ho, "Why didn't you tell me the truth?"

He couldn't answer, but she could imagine the words he'd say, "I didn't want you to worry" or "I didn't want you to fight my battles for me."

Ji-woo did have the tendency for confrontation. After receiving the life shattering phone call from Yeong-i, she knew who was responsible for Su-ho's condition.

She ambushed him and his adoptive father as they were leaving. "How the fuck could you do that to him! He was your friend you fucker."

She was immediately stopped by his father's bodyguards. She remembered how his adoptive father looked at her like she was another inconvenience.

"Fix it." He ordered Beom-seok before entering the car awaiting him.

Beom-seok waited until his adoptive father shut the car door before instantly berating her. "All of this is your fault. You should've chosen me, not him. Look at what you've done. He's that way because of you."

Her heart splintered at the thought that she could've prevented Su-ho and his grandmother from unnecessary suffering. Had she just stayed away, would Su-ho still be in a coma? Her mind disagreed, but her heart stayed tethered to replaying different circumstances to change the ending.

If she had just followed her solemn vow Su-ho would not be stuck in the hospital. He would be awake and happy because Ji-woo would be nothing more than a measly crush that never went anywhere. He would have never been betrayed by one of the people closest to him.

She only brought misfortune and now Su-ho atoned for her misdeeds.

Main Masterlist

[starsfic]

Hello there :P

Is it okay if you can write something based on these drawings? It’s about history repeating itself but MK and Red Son talked things out after their fight while Wukong and Macaque reminisce about how they could’ve talked things out too centuries ago

@swirly-strawz: Spicynoodles, but they go through the Hero and the Warrior allegations (The Harbinger and The prince were like the stars and flames-), eventually ending with MK and Red Son talking things out with lots of tears (MK has a head injury and Red Son has an eye injury) Bonus: Shadowpeach watching this whole ordeal progress all the way to after the fight

The Harbinger and the Prince were like the stars and the flames, their glow providing light and warmth upon the world. Although the two had started out as rivals, they grew to learn that, together, there was nothing that could stop them, either in the Celestial Realm or on Earth.

However, as the Harbinger grew in power, the shadows began to block out his starlight. In the darkness, the Prince was forgotten by his starlight.

Eventually, as all things lead, the two were led into a mighty clash. Thankfully, the hero and the warrior were spared by fate. Although both were injured by the other, they realized that their fight was not against each other...

Soft sobbing filled the cottage.

It was located in the main bedroom. Once a space cluttered with peach chip crumbs and remains of the past, it had been cleaned up so the duo lying in bed would be safe and comfortable. Currently, comfort was not a priority.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

"My Light, it's alright..."

"No, it's not!" Qi Xiaotian's eye, the one not covered by the bandage that covered half of his face, gleamed with gold for a split second as his emotions rose up. He took in a deep breath, held it for five seconds, and let it out slowly. "No, it's not. I nearly ripped out your eye because I didn't want to listen to you about how I was hurting myself."

"That was a lot of you in that," Despite the complaint, the edges of a smile decorated Red's face. "I could've worded myself and done better to make my emotions clearer, including my concern. You shouldn't have to deal with my blow-ups."

"Yeah, but your blow-ups are part of who you are."

"Not a good part..."

Neither noticed the monkeys hovering next to the doorway, listening in tense silence. Wukong kept glancing back inside, his tail flicking back and forth. Macaque stayed still, so still that anyone else would've mistaken him for being a statue.

"I'm sorry for leaving you behind and hurting you."

"I'm sorry for hurting you."

Both flinched at the apologies.

[4ngelsharkyxx]

OMG I LOVED YOUR NIKO HEADCANONS!

Could you turn the 5th headcanon into a fanfic?? I just want to read more about it cause I think is super accurate!

Yesss I feel like that's such a good idea tysm for the request🫶

@4m0r1m

"Said I was sorry"

Warning:strong language,kissing

Genre:fluff and angst??

Summary: you ended up ignoring niko after an argument, he knew he fucked up but he couldn't handle the silent treatment and does his best to try make it up to you.

You and niko weren't the type to argue. Both of you were quite reasonable when it came to disagreements, and even though you had your fair share of arguments, it never led to you guys ignoring each other until now.

You had been sitting on your bed reading a book while waiting for niko to come home patiently. You knew he usually had a lot to do when it came to filming and was out most of the time.

Minutes turned into an hour. You call him, and there was no answer, so u leave him a voice message in hopes of him calling you back.

You sigh and sit there anxiously, wondering what on earth he could be doing or if something happened to him.

You look over at your nightstand and check your phone, no replies, or call back whatsoever.

You were snapped out of your thoughts when you could hear the front door opening.

and you get up almost immediately and leave the bedroom to see niko, who looked tired and beyond worn out.

You let out a relieved sigh. You were really starting to think something happened to him. "Where were you? You had me worried sick you know" you said in an annoyed tone but still with a hint of worry.

He didn't even bother looking at you and just mumbled "at work" and walked past you. You stand there baffled. Did he really just do that?

"Are u serious right now, niko?" You said genuinely shocked.

"What? I said I was at work." he said, completely acting uninterested with what you were saying.

He went to the bathroom and brushed his teeth, and got ready to just call it a day and go to bed, not even batting an eye in your direction. It was as if you simply didn't exist to him or he didn't care if u did.

You knew he probably had a rough day, but he'd never acted like this before, and you genuinely didn't know how to react.

Part of you was pissed and annoyed, but there was no use of trying to reason with him if he acted like you didn't exist.

You had always been there for niko. Even on his bad days, he's never been like this, but it wasn't an excuse for him to treat u like shit.

you see him , climbing into bed and dozing off. No "I love u" or "goodnight." and that part didn't really bother you that much, but it just hurt seeing him act all indifferent towards you.

You didn't even bother trying to talk this out with him and moving on with ur day like nothing happened cause u definitely weren't. If he couldn't appreciate you in general, then you'd stop caring until he did.

The next day, you were lying in the guest bedroom. You weren't gonna sleep in the same bed as him like usual,not after last night.

Meanwhile, niko slowly stirred awake. He sat up from his bed and realised you weren't next to him, he couldn't remember anything from last night since he fell asleep almost instantly.

Weird.

He got out of bed and looked for you while calling out your name, his voice still groggy. He eventually found you sitting in the guest bedroom getting ready.

His eyes widen slightly. "What the hell are u doing? and why werent u sleeping next to me" he said, confused.

You just completely ignore his presence and continue fixing your hair.

Niko just stares blankly at you, and he tries thinking back on what he could've done wrong to upset you.

He stands there for a few seconds trying to recall his memory and it was like a light turned on in his head and his confused demeanor got replaced with a more concerned one.

"Is this about last night? I completely forgot about that,listen I'm really sorry I was stressed and-"

Before he could finish, you interrupt him. "Save ur bullshit for someone else." You said walking past him and he just stands there.

He knee he fucked up real bad this time.

you guys rarely had an argument like this, and for once, he had no clue what to do and he hated when you were mad at him or even worse, ignoring him.

He spent the rest of the day trying to make you laugh by putting on silly costumes and props and reading jokes from a book that didn't work in the slightest.If anything,it made u more annoyed.

He was being an asshole and if he didn't own up to it soon enough, things weren't gonna be any different.

You lay on the couch and look up to see niko holding a bouquet of your favourite roses and a box of chocolate and a look that says it all.

"I know I was being a dickhead yesterday and I'm sorry. I really am, I shouldn't have ignored you or disregarded your feelings like that and I was dumb to do so.

I hate seeing you ignore me, and i can't stand it. It's not fair of me to take things out on you when you didn't do anything wrong and I understand if your still mad at me but please hear me out this time" he said apologetically and the sincerity in his voice made your heart soften.

You sit up and for the first time today you smile at him. "Its okay,I forgive you" you said and his face lights up almost instantly like he was a kid who just entered a candy store. He puts the box of chocolates and flowers on the side of the table and he hugs you and mutters "thank you" against your shoulder.

It was true, the way he acted yesterday did more than upset you but the way he acted after that showed he really was sorry.

[eyebulb]

Still watching 3BSkyen. I'm on "Just look my way" now and he's so damn accurate in how Blitz and Stolas works. He was all about how Stolas only knows grand gestures cus he's very much a teenager loving for the first time and his reference is romance novels (correct). He's also doing this as both a huge favour to Blitz but also as a love test (correct). But, Blitz is not in a position to understand the gesture. He's too deep into his own perception of their relationship and his own self hatred. So he can't comprehend Stolas' feelings as genuine no matter how clear Stolas is (Exactly). So he thinks that the only way to break through to Blitz is through conflict (UH HUH!!!). Cus that's what happened in western energy when he first realized that Stolas could get hurt. He needs to be backed into a corner where he can no longer find any other explanation than the truth. And it's so exciting to hear him talk about that cus that's exactly what ends up happening and it's exactly why that fight in full moon is both frustrating and just.. nice! Cus they set it up perfectly.. they established these characters so fucking well that if you actually pay attention you can see every thing that led to this point and how it was doomed to fail. That's why it's frustrating to hear what Stolas could've done better or which one of them "ruined it" cus it wouldn't have mattered. Blitz was in too deep in his own head. Stolas has tried everything he can before this to make Blitz understand that sex is not all he wants (by stopping the deal without breaking the deal.. giving Blitz a choice in coming over, interacting with him without sexual intent etc..) and he was as honest as he could be when he actually presented his gift. But BLITZ WASN'T READY. He just wasn't in a position where he could get it. And that's not Stolas' fault. Stolas doesn't have the answers here. On that note. Skyen also mentioned that he thinks that Stolas came to the wrong conclusion in what he thinks is wrong with Blitz. And again.. YES. Blitz has given him nothing but the hint that something isn't right. Stolas has taken that and tried his best to figure out what could been wrong. And his guess is partly that the deal is in the way. That he feels trapped by it and that it gives off the wrong impression. And that's not entirely the truth... cus even without the deal.. say that they were just fuckbuddies, Blitz would still twist the narrative to fit his view of not being worthy enough to love. That's what he did. During their entire relationship. The deal was an excuse he used to justify his already made up narrative. The other part, that Skyen mentioned, was that the world hasn't loved Blitz enough and if Stolas can just be supportive and loving and all that, maybe that can heal him. Which again.. not the full truth.. since a lot of Blitz' trauma is internal, he doesn't love himself.. and just being loved by someone else isn't enough to heal that. I just... love listening to people analyze these two in particular.. cus they're so developed.. and equally too!! It's pretty rare to see that in the main characters love interest.

[mc-lukanette]

Thanks. I should be there in five minutes.

The reply came a few seconds later.

Okay! I'll keep an ear out for you!

Near the end of those five minutes, Luka was still dashing down the sidewalk, mentally cursing himself for daring to almost be late. They didn't have any particular plans and he'd only really said it as a guess that didn't mean much, but he could just imagine Marinette standing by the door with her hearing trained intensely on it.

It would've been cute if he wouldn't have felt bad for it.

He knew it wasn't technically his fault. He'd nearly been recognized and she tended to be his safe place to go to, but then most of the detours he knew of had him running into more risk. Hiding his hair and the lower half of his face apparently weren't enough anymore to stop people from doing a double take at him.

Maybe he'd been in this place for too long on his break, but she was there. He simply didn't want to leave, not if it meant losing the "rock star's safe haven," as he called it in his head.

Footsteps still pounding as he ran, he was within arm's reach of the door when it flew open. Without a word, he slipped inside and Marinette shut it behind him. He let himself breathe, pushing his hood up and pulling his face mask down.

Sighing in relief, he said, “You're a lifesaver, as always,”

She laughed him off. “You don't have to go that far.”

“But I do,” he replied. “You're risking a lot letting me hide here. If anyone finds out you're doing it—”

“Stop.“ She raised a hand, turning her face away from him with a faint blush. “It's really not a big deal.”

He pouted a bit, but let the praise go for the time being. He understood, on some level, that she'd done it before for other famous people she knew (the people he'd have to thank if he ever met them, since it led to him meeting her), but it didn't make it any less special.

Not to him, anyway.

Marinette, strolling across the room and waving a hand at all the seating in the living room, asked without looking back at him, “You want any snacks?”

Any kind of food sounded good after the running he did. “Please. Anything's fine.”

As she left the room, he went and plopped himself down on the recliner, going about removing the hoodie he'd been using to keep himself hidden. He also took off the face mask entirely and set them both neatly on the table.

She returned from the kitchen a moment later, tossing a bag of chips at him and sitting down on the couch with one of her own. She popped it open, then hesitated before asking him, “Do you like soup?”

He nodded impulsively, though he honestly was neutral to it overall. “Why?”

“I was gonna make some later, and I—” She made an unreadable gesture. “—I bought too many ingredients when I was at the store, so there'd be leftovers if you didn't have any.”

Huh. Luka didn't doubt that she could've made a mistake on her mental shopping list, but more of all of her ingredients sounded too odd to be a mistake. He could've sworn as well that she'd told him how much she didn't like leftovers, back when she'd ramble about her creative process and forcing herself to take a break by cooking or baking something everyday.

Unless, of course, Marinette had intentionally prepared to make more because of him, in which case he wasn't lying anymore about liking soup.; it just so happened to have shot up on his list of appealing foods all of a sudden.

“We can't have that,” he said with a grin, opening the chip bag in his hands. “Do you mind me staying that long?”

“Not at all!” she insisted. She dug into her own bag and pulled out a single chip, telling him before she put it in her mouth, “Besides, I want to catch up. Have you come up with any new music?”

“No—” He caught himself, realizing it was the instinctive answer he'd been giving to anyone involved with his rock star life, then corrected to, “Nothing I want out there.”

“Oh.” She leaned back, thoughtful. “I get it. Sometimes I make something just for me without wanting to put it out there. I didn't know it worked the same for music.”

He tried not to be obvious about the hearts in his eyes he was throwing her way. She just got him so easily and he did the same for her. He didn't have that many creative people in his life, but even those he did have saw creativity as something so casual. He cared dearly for his sister's wife, for example, yet knew that the finer nuances of creating things went over her head.

Marinette hummed, somewhat disconcerted. “You're not in any... trouble, are you?” She pouted, twisting a corner of the chip bag to the point it formed wrinkles. “I know how much people think we can just rush the process.”

He smiled, appreciating the concern, and shrugged at her. ”They do want me to get back out there, but I'm not going to force it.”

There was a flicker of what he was fairly sure was disappointment in her eyes when he mentioned touring again. He didn't comment on it, but silently hoped he'd caught it correctly and it wasn't just him.

Reaching into his bag for a few chips, he took one between his lips and tipped his head back, opening his mouth to send the chip fully in from the momentum. He chewed, swallowed, then gave a half-hearted chuckle. “Or maybe I'll just retire.”

“Wha—?” Marinette was so shocked that her tightened grip on the bag audibly crushed a couple of poor chips. “Retire?”

Luka had never said it aloud to anyone before, but he had been thinking about it for a few months now. At first, it was more like a joke to himself, an amusing musing on if he did quit and how much chaos that would've spread across the world from the suddenness of it. Then, it became more serious the more he joked about it, thinking about how free he would be and how much he wouldn't have to wither away like whenever he was forced to make something he genuinely wasn't invested in. He thought it would be easier when he initially started out, that he could just create and wouldn't have to bear witness to parts of himself he didn't like.

In what should've been obvious to him, it hadn't ended up that way. He glanced over to check Marinette's reaction and, rather than any displeasure with the idea, she appeared sad for him.

“I didn't know it was that bad,” she admitted. “I thought you just didn't like people recognizing you in your off time.”

“I don't, but it's everything else too,” he explained. Giving her a reassuring smile, he added, “And you couldn't have known. I've never told anyone else before.”

Her cheeks turned to his favorite shade of pink. She averted her eyes to her chips, taking another couple into her mouth and chewing them as she thought over what he'd said. Letting out a small, puzzled noise in the back of her throat, she finally asked the obvious, “Why haven't you yet? Retired, I mean.”

He'd finished the other chips in his hand by then and set the bag aside to focus fully on her. “I... don't have that many places to go. I live on my own, so it'd be hard to not go out. I'd just get recognized all over again, and my sister's famous and married, so I can't stay with her while I wait for everything to die down.”

As much as he would've liked it to be simple, it wasn't. Also, while he wouldn't have told Marinette as much directly, he wouldn't have wanted to give up on their time together. It might've been a little selfish of him, but—

“What if you stayed with me?” she blurted out, turning her body and leaning onto the arm of the couch to face him.

He opened his mouth, almost instantly saying “yes,” but stopped himself to ask, “...What?”

She pushed against the couch with the hand not holding her bag of chips, straightening herself back up and awkwardly elaborating, “Because—well, you already come here? It's already safe, and if you were okay with it then why not, right? I won't bring anyone here either, so...”

“Wait,” he interrupted because, as fast as his heart was pounding at the opportunity, he wouldn't dare risk holding her back in any way. “I don't want you to stop yourself from bringing someone home just for my sake.”

“Huh?” She blinked at him, as if he'd somehow misunderstood whatever she'd been trying to say. Then, wide-eyed and blushing deeper, she shook her head. “No, it's—I meant... I'm not going to bring anyone anyway. That's why it's alright.”

A beat of silence passed between the both of them. Luka knew from all the little moments when Marinette had spoken about romance that she wasn't aromantic, nor had she ever talked about giving up on love entirely, yet she seemed certain that he wasn't going to end up as a third wheel in her house.

He considered asking, considered multiple possibilities without assuming anything specifically, but she bounced up from the couch before he could get anything out.

“O-oh wow! I should really get started on that soup and, ah—don't worry, you don't have to give me an answer right now!” She turned away swiftly, took a few steps, then paused and looked at the chip bag in her hand. Without glancing back, she tossed the bag towards him and offered, “You can finish that if you want.”

He caught it with both hands and watched her go. After she'd disappeared from his view and into the kitchen, he let his eyes drop to the bag, seeing the chips and the crumbled pieces from when she'd gripped it earlier.

Despite that, his own bag didn't look as appetizing anymore, so he plucked a single, broken chip and slipped it between his lips. His mind was already conjuring scenarios in his head without any effort on his part, imagining what it might be like if he actually lived with her instead of just visiting.

He could still make money with music so long as he could do it without showing his face, thus there wasn't much worry about not being able to pay for his staying there. He was certain that Marinette would give him the guest room, and then they'd end up spending their mornings together. He could find ways to lessen her stress or help out around the house, and he would be there whenever she came home after going out.

To say it was tempting was an understatement. Even the clamor of pots, pans, and the openings of the fridge and cupboards as she shuffled about for her ingredients was like music to his ears.

Swallowing the half chip and finding that it suddenly tasted sweet going down, he thought to himself, No excuse anymore, Couffaine.

[wrdlbrmpfd]

It’s been five years and they still won’t stop thinking or talking about Jared. It’s honestly unbelievable how obsessed they are with him. There’s Coll!ns doing the usual, some fake activism with that photo, and tomorrow there’ll be Jensen-related content (but who cares, right? Apparently not them), and yet they’re out there wishing death on Jensen’s father or going on about Jared.

Poor man, probably just quietly at home and maybe Jared’s packing for a vacation, but they still can’t get him out of their heads. He’s not even attending any cons this month, and yet they keep bringing him up. The obsession is real.

Hi anon

They are more obsessed with Jared than they are with their favs. They are so full of hate for Jared that they can't enjoy content of MC and/or Jensen without bringing up Jared.

They are deeply disturbed existences with their parasocialism. ToxCynifer not only wished death on Alan Ackles, no she also posted this, implying that she hoped MC would've strangled Jared to death.

And all of this over a fetish of two fictional guys making out on screen/the actors being together in rl. It was never about queer representation, neither from the "fans" which just fetishized the ship nor from Mishit who just uses it as a cash grab bc he has nothing else which would secure a steady income.

As long as there is the possibility of a reboot floating around (which I hope will never happen, let SPN rot in peace) and as long as there are cons, hellers will never move on.

Jared is living his best life, is barely on sm anymore (they succeeded in bullying off of Twitter) and minds his own business but they feel threatened by him. Bc the reason why SPN ended was that Jared wanted to be with his family and not filming in Vancouver. And tptb knew without Jared there wouldn't be a show. During s 13 or early into s 14 Jared got offered the holding deal with CBS and they developed Walker, so Jared had work directly after SPN. He proved to be a reliable EP, got 4 seasons of Walker and an amazing spinoff which only tanked bc of the merger of CW/Nexstar. His holding deal got renewed, there are projects in the work (to remind aa's - it took over 2 years for Jensen to get VR, the SB spinoff he so badly wanted, greenlit and CD took about 2 years, too) but even when he's not working, Jared is content being a husband and father.

Jensen didn't have work waiting for him. Yes, he and his first wife brooded that god forsaken prequel but there was no acting offer for him. He wasn't in demand which was probably a hard pill to swallow. For him and his stans. Yes, he got The Boys bc he asked Kripke which finally led to a contract with Amazon but it took 3 years for that to come to pass.

And then you have Mishit which had no job perspective at all bc he didn't network, didn't do any other job (and he could've easily done a few guest roles on other shows without interfering his thin SPN schedule), he just relied on SPN running forever. Yes, he got this role on Gotham knights, it was a parting gift of Peter Roth but that was it. Ah and he was on the Bridgewater Podcast and had this road food show which aired in the death slots in the night. Then....nothing... till Kripke caved and gave him the cameo on TB.

So yes, even if they mock Jared for not filming something right now and say he's unemployed yada yada yada. A holding deal means he gets paid a salary even if he's not filming something. I'm pretty sure the FC spinoff would've been a done deal immidiately but Jared is reluctant bc he doesn't want to film outside of Austin longer than two or three weeks. So the alternative project is the Doctor show. They are so jealous bc Jared has an amazing reputation in the Business (even if they claim he hasn't) and has the freedom of chosing his work. Instead of being happy that Jensen now has a show watched by millions of people, aa's still bring up Jared as competition. And hellers....Well they are beyond redemption.

Sorry that my answer got so long.

[bropunzeling]

title (not creative so i'm just stealing song lyrics): when it's all done i'll hate you bad in the long run

pairing: mattdrai

Plenty of things have a time limit: games, seasons, rosters, careers. Endings are inevitable. This thing Leon's doing -- this thing he's doing with Matthew -- that's gonna end someday, too.

If Leon were smarter, he'd put an end to it early. The sex has been good -- hot, intense to the point of too much -- but on paper, it's not worth the trouble of fucking the guy he hates most on the team he hates most. On paper, it's not sustainable. On paper, Leon would be better off finding someone else closer to home.

In practice, here Leon is, waiting in the elevator, deliberately not thinking about what's gonna happen when he reaches Matthew's floor.

Matthew's condo is nice enough. Big windows for a big view of a big fat load of nothing, unless you like the Calgary skyline, and Leon doesn't. But he's not looking at the view. He's looking at Matthew, who led him into the living room while chattering away about nothing, pushing his unruly hair back behind his ear every few words. The curls always spring back, impossible to tame.

Leon wants to get his hands in them, feel their texture. Pull, a tiny bit of retribution for losing tonight. It's one way to quiet the anger churning in his gut. Look at them, finally turning the season around after the skids and slides of the fall, and yet the Flames are always three steps ahead. It's infuriating, and he hates the Flames for winning, and he hates his own team for losing, and he hates himself most of all, for losing and then still showing up at Matthew's door afterwards, still wanting to be here at all.

"Wow, you're really ticked."

Matthew's voice seems to echo, cutting through the circles of Leon's thoughts, the buzzing, boiling anger that he can't let go of in Matthew's presence. He's not sure of the reason -- that Matthew's annoying, an instigator; that Matthew's good despite that, because of it; that Leon knows all of these things and can't stop looking at him. Any of them. All of them.

"Hey." Matthew doesn't snap his fingers. It feels like he has. Leon's jolted back into his body, another spiral stopped short. "What do you want?"

Leon presses his lips together. Doesn't roll his eyes, but it must be clear how close a call that is. Matthew's the one who likes talking, likes setting out the stakes, discussing possibilities. If Leon doesn't want to do something, he won't.

Case in point: two years ago, when Matthew made a comment ambiguous enough that Leon could've ignored it, he didn't. Instead, he followed Matthew into a bathroom and kissed him so hard Matthew's lip split.

He's had plenty of opportunities since then to stop. He hasn't yet.

Now, when Matthew grabs his chin, pushes his thumb against Leon's lips, Leon opens his mouth and lets Matthew shove his way inside. Thumb on the flat of his tongue, teeth barely biting into the meat.

"Like that, huh?" Matthew asks. His pupils are blown out. When Leon makes a choked off noise of agreement, they get even wider. "Shit, yeah, okay, like that, let me just -- lemme figure out what to do with you."

It shouldn't feel so good, hearing him say that. It shouldn't come as a relief. But now, like the time before that, and the time before that, Leon's mind focuses, sharpens, all his attention on a single question. Does he want to do what Matthew wants from him, or doesn't he?

It's so easy, when it's put like that. So simple.

It can't last forever. He's not gonna put a stop to it.

[in my head this is a prelude to a they get broken up by the trade and then the scfs and then in a decade are reunited on some mid to good team and have to engage in kink negotiation ten years after they should have done]

[daemon-in-my-head]

Definitely not canon, tragic angsty durgetash shit below as I struggle with the block™️. I don't know how many words, kinda description of injuries, ig? Anyway, not for kids. But it's tame compared to my usual stuff. Maybe I'll upload it on Ao3 one day.

Perfect archduke

Nothing could've prepared him for what he'd witness at the docks.

He had considered a plethora of scenarios on his way here. Distractions from the searing pain shooting up his leg whenever he took another step, daydreams about all the 'what if's' that could've been, explanations for the elf's actions down in the ruins. Just any kind of thought so that he may be able to ignore the hell unfolding around him, but not a single one of them led him to ever consider the horrors displayed before him.

The temperamental little girl who spat her words at him mere hours ago, the brave soldier who had survived all he'd done to her and still retained her fiery passion, was finally donning a look of utter defeat as she held onto the bundle in her arms. The snarky elves who had refused to leave his dear companion's side, who refused to control their ever-waggling tongues for just a second, couldn't even look at the man they'd been constantly circling before.

"What happened?" A calm, firm voice, finally asking his first question in what must've been decades. Still ever carefully masking the bile that continued to rise in his throat as his eyes focused on little red droplets hitting the soiled ground.

"The brain, we- the fall- I-" the Tiefling had become a stuttering mess, a mess that soon crumbled onto the pavement.

He didn't try to ask another question, seeing how the woman before him had stopped being capable of answering him or anyone else for that matter. So, instead, he resorted to the one method he knew would never fail him: studying the situation himself. It had been quite obvious what, or rather who, the person within her grasp had been. The eccentric suit of armour, the carelessly tied greyish hair. There had been but one person who'd ever grace people with such a look, but still. It couldn't be him. Someone who had rejected the god of death and lived couldn't possibly end up like this. It was impossible. You can't kill death. You may outfox it, escape its view, or grasp for a while, but you could never defeat death nor its child. This must've been another tomfoolery of his. A tasteless joke, childish revenge for something he remembered.

The man kneeled in front of the red lady before a calloused, gold-clad hand reached for strands dyed in uncannily warm colours, pushing them away to reveal the cruel truth hidden beneath. He didn't quite know what he expected to find, if he was honest with himself, but certainly not this. The ruby red orbs that had always carefully taken in their surroundings remained hidden. The old scar he himself had traced countless times had begun bleeding again, once more tinting the ashen cheeks he had witnessed flushing in days long past. The cruel hands he had used to crush so many of his foes began shaking as it traced the familiar ridges and curves of a face he'd known for ages, and the pain in his leg began to flare up yet again.

"Heal him." A firm command. Just another of his usual orders directed at the white-haired woman beside them. A tyrant's decree that would be all but ignored.

"You're a cleric, aren't you? Then, fulfil your duty and heal him." His voice grew louder. He would've loved to clench his fists, yet he couldn't bear to lift his hand from the man it had been so desperately grasping onto.

"I'm sorry I can't." The woman refused to look at them. Her eyes darting just about anywhere except the voice's direction.

"Will somebody finally do something?!" His voice grew into a rage-filled scream at her refusal. All these skilled people, and yet none of them did anything. "You know magic, don't you? You've brought people back before. I saw the records. I saw what the bunch of you has done, so fix him, or do you need a personal invite?!"

"I'm sorry, but this- this is beyond what I can do. What anyone could-" the woman finally turned to face them—translucent streams clearing away a path in the marks of battle placed upon her.

"Then get someone who can!" He continued to criticize her, ignoring what she had tried to tell him. The truth everyone but him had already acknowledged. "Why are you still standing there? Go, get-"

"Stop it!" The other pointy-eared man finally raised his voice, silencing the ramblings of the madman in front of him. Refusing to listen to his denial any longer. "It truly is a miracle how someone as dense as you has managed to rise to the position of Archduke, so let me spell it out clearly for you." The vampire's voice dripped with sarcasm, "he is dead. Gone. Ceased to breathe. And there's nothing you, she, or any of us can do about it. Your glorious grand design has killed him." He met the tyrant's rage-filled eyes. A look one could almost mistake as pity veiling the seething anger hidden within his own as he did.

"Congratulations, Archduke," he hissed.

"At last, you've freed the city of all its Bhaalspawn with your own stained hands."

[whumpiary]

The implications of Harley's powers on the wider philosophy of the world fuck me uppp.

If Harley hadn't known Cass was going to kill them, the two would have still clashed personality-wise, but they wouldn't have hated him the same. Therefore, he might not have returned that feeling so strongly. Would he still have killed them? Was it inevitable that their life led up to being a step in Cass' plan for escape?

Or might it have turned out differently, and it was the fact of their knowledge and resultant hatred which caused their own death?

It's impossible to know and I love it.

What's Harley's view of the future they predict?

How about Cass'?

I love this ask so much, thank you for sending it! ah!

You're absolutely right. Without the precognition, Harley wouldn't have hated Cass the same. But they still would've hated him, if only for the fact that they are constantly second place to him. They can be as perfect as anything while the golden boy is nothing but snark and attitude and Christopher will still prefer Cassius.

Cass never hated Harley. In fact, he quite liked them. But it deeply hurt that they wanted nothing to do with him, no matter what he did. And by the end, he just resented the way they treated him, and they resented the ways that Christopher pitted them against each other.

Cass doesn't 100% know what Harley has predicted until the moment that it happens. He only knows that he's going to do something bad to them, and he believes them when they say it's hating him for. At the time that he kills them, Cass actually thinks he's already done the worst thing. Killing them isn't exactly an accident, but it isn't premeditated either.

In a world where Harvey didn't die, and they had gotten out with Cass, they and Cass probably could've grown to be really good friends, or at least two people who were incredibly important to each other in a rivalrous, ride or die sort of way. They would have ridden out the storm together until they both founf solid ground and eventually gone their separate ways, staying in touch the way old school friends might.

But Harley, of course, does not survive. Harley will always die because Harley was written to die. They will always hate Cass because they see the end coming before he does, and so do we.

If their roles had been reversed and Cass had a premonition of Harley killing him, he may have been contrarian enough or stubborn enough to stop it. But Harley is not Cass. Harley is obedient and naive and compliant. They believe what they are told. They follow the path of fate. Their hatred of Cass is the closest they ever get to trying to resist it.

[clusterduck28]

Claw could've easily gained and kept actual real world power if it was led by a better strategist than Toichiro.

Like he got a bunch of espers together, but he didn't organize them in any sort of effective way, no plan no hierarchy, no strategy, no nothing. Everyone was kinda doing their own thing and their attempt at achieving world domination ended up aimless and disorganized. Espers are actually quite OP in the show's world, but Toichiro was too far up his own ass to take advantage of that in a meaningful way beyond mindless localized displays of power.

Basically even if Mob wasn't around to stop them they would've fallen apart due to infighting before they were done getting even a single city under control.

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond! Scripting: Funkinverse Crossover Ending

(Inspired by the ending of No Straight Roads (UNMARKED SPOILERS FOR THAT HERE), and by @robovoidfrog's Funkinverse AU)

A few moments had passed following The X's successful defeat, which was not made easy. It really did take everything the many hundreds of -friends had to finally wear the monster's strength down, and though Benjamin managed to invoke an even fight against him using the ECHO powers, he was still quickly overpowered.

It took it all, but Salty and everyone else managed to pull through and burn him out enough for his abilities to be hijacked, leaving him a heavily-glitching mess of an entity. And in the last moments, Cam had helped out. He pulled a huge sacrifice to dispose of The X's threat, and though Salty tried to talk him down from having to do so, he had already made up his mind.

After all was said and done, Salty, Gracie, Brooke, Benjamin, BluBuni and Kenji descended down a building-side elevator from the apartment block, seeing the city cheering for the work they managed to do.

Brooke: Heh, look at that. Philly's cheering for us, especially you, Salty.

Salty: H-Heh, yeah.

Gracie: Heh, well done, Salty. You're a hero!

Salty smiled to his two multiversal best friends, his trust in them both rekindled in the aftermath of the final battle.

Benjamin: How's that, Kenji? You managed to redeem yourself after all that happened. Isn't that great?

He noticed Kenji didn't respond, looking down at the ground glumly.

Benjamin: Kenji? Are you alright?

He turned to them, holding his damaged microphone.

Benjamin: Oh, gosh! Your microphone! Did it break during the fight?

BluBuni: Should we try to fix it?

Kenji: ...I don't deserve any hero's welcome. Not after the wrongs I did...

He just dropped his mic on the floor as the elevator stopped at the ground level.

News Reporter: You all did it! You saved Philly from being annihilated by a giant monster hedgehog! ...Hang on. Aren't a couple of you enemies of Boyfriend (Salty)? What gives?

Kenji: Well, I changed. Catch you all later.

Salty: Kenji?

News Reporter: Woah woah woah. This opens up SO many questions. Are you retiring from your own career? Are you buddies with Boyfriend now? Who was the one piloting that helicopter before?

Gracie: Well, erm, we'll get back to you on that.

Kenji was about to leave, before Salty stopped him.

Salty: Dude, you think I'd just let you solely waltz off without seeing the good things you did? You could've continued going down the path Cam forced you through, yet, thanks to Ben here, you instead chose to help me, alongside with hundreds of these guys, save my home. Honestly, for that, you and all the other -friends have my deepest gratitude.

Kenji: O-Oh. I-It was nothing. Couldn't have done it without everyone's help. Honestly, I better make a move. Got things I need to fix up back home.

Gracie: Kenji? Everyone's here to celebrate the achievements we've done. Don't you feel it's a bit rude to just leave?

Benjamin: Heh, you know, I've done stuff like this tons of times. Why not give the people some words of encouragement?

Benjamin led him to the front of the plaza where the population was cheering.

Kenji: Sorry, everyone. I made a lot of mistakes. I may not like all types of music, but that's okay.

Judith: You know, I'm glad you brought that up.

Judith stepped up.

Judith: I and many other Boyfriends and Girlfriends aren't free of our own wrongdoings, and I'm taking full responsibility for my actions and those Cam Malicious had caused. Having said that, I intend to fix this misstep right away, right here and right now.

Brooke: Some of us had a discussion before our final fight, and we have agreed that every -friend deserves better than this.

Judith: In this sense, no one person should be given absolute power over the music-makers of the Funkinverse. Because of this, I'll be helping rebuild the Funkin' Society from the ground-up; not as a strike force, but as a safe social place for any Boyfriend or Girlfriend, professional or early-starter, to bond together without strict agendas or negativity. A new system where they're all welcome to perform throughout a new planned-out locale. We shall celebrate equality for everyone! Equality and shared rights for all!

The -friends around them cheered, all happy with the idea.

Brooke: And as a first step, I'm honoured to offer my companions in both Funkin' Gangs positions in the new Funkin' group! It would mean a great deal for us if you could join our cause to allow safe bonding for any and all -friends across the Funkinverse. What say you guys?

BluBuni: An actual safe space for all aspiring singers? Count me in!

Benjamin: Heh. Even though I'm close to officially retiring from my music career, that's something I wouldn't mind.

Salty looked out to the cheering crowd, himself still not sure about it for now.

Salty: I... I can't!

Judith: You can't?

Salty: I'm not really... ready yet, not at this time, especially with all that went on. I'll think about it, but... thanks for the offer.

Kenji: Honestly, me neither... I wanted a chance to be treated with respect so much, that I forgot why I started doing music in the first place...

Benjamin: Ah, yeah. I can tell you've still got a lot you need to sort out back home, especially with your family.

Aloe: So you plan to remain indie, in that sense?

Kenji: I-I dunno, but... thanks a lot for the offer. I-I'm honoured, really. Even after w-what I did, you're all being v-very nice... b-but I need to lay low for some t-time. This is a l-lot for me to process, I'm s-sorry.

Kenji began walking off.

Gracie: So, what now?

Salty: I mean, we can always keep connected through this, right? Even if not as top members.

Brooke: Heh, true that. Honestly, I'm happy we're still a close team in our own right.

Benjamin had another idea in mind for Kenji.

Benjamin: Hey, Kenji! Catch!

He threw his electronic handheld keyboard set to Kenji, who caught it while bewildered.

Kenji: Huh?!

Benjamin: Take good care of it for me, alright?

Kenji (shocked): I... I can't accept this!

Benjamin: My love for music remains strong as ever, but my public performing days are behind me now. Someone else needs to continue that mantle, and I knew you deserved the chance.

Judith: Ben, Blu, Kenji, Salty, Gracie? You're all performers! Where I've failed, I want all of you to go beyond! You guys, carry on the journey for us! Long live music!

Salty, Gracie, Ben and BluBuni smiled to each other, knowing they deserved the high gratitude, though as for Kenji, he started tearing up, finally letting out the grief he had gone through for so long.

Kenji: T-Thank y-. Thank you!

He fell to his knees, sobbing his heart out as Aloe knelt next to him.

Aloe: Uh, Kenji?

Kenji (still sobbing): Thank yooooooooooou...

Aloe: Kenji, you okay?

With that, the -friends were all set to head back to their dimensions for a well-earned rest (and perhaps some time to mend the wrongs many of them caused). A couple of months later was when a blank dimension was reserved for a whole "Funkin' City" to be created as a hangout lobby for the many multiversal -friends to simply get together and enjoy each other's company, and Grace lent a hand in ensuring it could be built together. In the present, Judith looked out over a balcony (with a picture of Cam and his Girlfriend before the incident) in her pocket.

Judith: Honestly, it's a funny multiverse we live in. You tend to get caught up in your own beliefs, and sometimes, you need to take a step back and remember that the stage doesn't just belong to you. We're all in this together, and the sooner we can acknowledge that across every world, the quicker we can all work towards a common goal.

She looked back at X (DJX) jamming on his DJ system behind her with a smile.

Judith: Many people compose, write or sing music for different reasons. Some do it for self-importance...

We see Brooke playing the banjo while his Grace and Brooke Jr. watch him, alongside Toon BF enjoying time with his family.

Judith: ...some do it to bond with their loved ones...

And then we see Kenji sitting on a rooftop with his Aloe, ready to fix things up where his arc couldn't continue.

Judith: ...and some to understand their purpose in life. But the most important thing to know is this; there are no true wrong answers when it comes to that art.

Cut to Goldie performing live on a stage, hopefully with a proper chance of impressing Minus Girlfriend this time.

Judith: If we continue to lead societies in life that give every kind person the opportunity to be treated as equals, even on Earth-0, we can build whole worlds where true creativity knows no boundaries!

Shots of the newly-built Funkin' City are shown, with the many -friends hanging out in their own little corners, such as Benjamin, Barbara, BluBuni, Evan and Holly ordering some sweet treats together, Soft Benjamin doing some paintings with Soft Pico accompanying him, and even a couple of the Boyfriends performing on a live stage together.

Judith: Well, I'm happy to say that the Funkinverse is steadily headed towards that direction. Never have I seen smiling faces shine so brightly in the land, and it is all thanks to not just those I've worked with, but to the aspiring performers, fans, and everyone who resides in those many worlds.

Finally, we cut to a shot of Salty grabbing his microphone for a stage performance, taking a deep breath at the backstage area.

Judith: And to Salty and Gracie, I thank you too.

Gracie was right there, knowing she couldn't miss this performance in particular. And even sweeter, Itsumi decided to come along to see him perform live to many people.

Judith: You showed well that doing the right thing as a hero and as a performer is a wonderful privilege.

Salty gave the two ladies fist-bumps before he stepped on stage.

Judith: Hehehe... You two canon defiers. Whatever you guys are up to now, I hope you keep doing... what you do best.

Salty: Are you all ready?

Salty was met with an uproar of applause from the audience.

THE END... for now, anyway.

That same evening, Ben and Blu were chilling out at a rooftop with Grace next to them, before a different portal opened up behind them, revealing a face familiar to both Ben and Grace.

EV!Sonic: Hey, guys? You got a second or two?

BluBuni: Huh? Another Sonic?

Benjamin: My own Sonic, Blu!

BluBuni: Sweet!

Grace: What did you need from us?

EV!Sonic: There's something I wanted to ask you about, if it's alright. Kenji accepted a couple of months ago, so I'd like to discuss... a possibility for you guys, too, alongside Bunfriend and Aloe.

To be continued another day...

[duplikcte]

how does kate feel about her brother Paul, in ur opinion

My dear nonnie, you are asking a question that is worth behind the scenes content in a Blu-ray edition of a movie & lucky for you I am the director with a lot of commentary that needs to be unpacked.

TRIGGER WARNING: child abuse, emotional abuse, experimentation, patricide.

Short Answer (what I will say): She loves her brother but it's complicated.

What I actually mean: Kate and Paul are siblings doomed by the narrative (my narrative) and I am intentionally going to make it that much worse for the cha twins.

KATE & PAUL'S RELATIONSHIP

Complicated is an understatement.

The Cha Twins have such a violent and traumatizing history together that, while it led them both down different paths, it's almost baffling that they haven't turned on one another and still keep in contact.

Whether it's Kate coming to visit him in prison or Paul picking up a burner phone just to call and check up on her - the twins will always look out for each other.

That's what you do when the only person in the world who can understand a fraction of the hell you survived is your own twin who lived the same story.

Sure, Kate doesn't want him working for some evil organization and maybe it's not so different from how the GDA operates (or that Paul will ever forgive what they did to her even though Kate consented to it.) but at the end of the day, they both have one thing they can agree on:

They've got their father's blood on their hands and wouldn't think twice about killing him for a second time if he decides to crawl out of the deepest pit of hell for revenge.

IF YOU ASKED KATE ABOUT PAUL

She wouldn't give you a straight answer. Just enough to keep it simple and vague. Enough for you to stop asking questions about her personal life (because why are you?) and a cold glare to shut you up if she got annoyed.

But the truth is, she cares. She cares about Paul so much and if anything ever happened to him and I mean anything, it would probably be enough for her to walk away from being Dupli-Kate all together.

No more hero shit. No more GDA. No more Cecil. She'd be Kate and she'd be gone with nothing short of a letter with a few words as the only thing she left behind.

You wanna know the fucked up part? No, not the fact that if someone killed Paul and she would immediately spiral down a road of vengeance to the point of self destructive tendencies of losing herself.

The fucked up part is that in my canon, the curse that gave them their powers is the reason why they can't die. Why it won't let them. This curse intervenes in ways that they shouldn't have escaped death. Wounds that should've killed, crippled or done worse to them heal but it's slow enough that they feel all of it but fast enough that they are already back on their feet.

(Talk about being lucky, right?)

So if one day, for whatever reason, Paul died and it was completely out of her control or she realizes she could've done something different or that the curse could've done something like it always did (but hey it's a curse, a big "fuck you" to her bloodline)- that'll be Kate's true suffering. Her true pain she can't control.

Not the abuse she endured from a father that beat the weakness out of her and made her feel like her mother's death was her and Paul's fault and that they wouldn't survive without his love in the world.

Not being strapped down to a chair by the GDA and enduring the pain of feeling every moment that her clones died and that pain transferring back to her since the age of 12 to make herself stronger - to weaponize that suffering and give it meaning despite the toll it took.

Her real pain lies in the fact that a world without Paul is a frightening one to live in because after that. She'll truly be alone.

[fictionkinfessions]

very, very heavy sigh. I need to speak on silco again. this isn't a response, but it is a bit of a follow up to my last message as this kin. I Interacted With Source Again and its forced me to reconsider so much.

I still hate silco. i hate everything he did. to zaun. to her. but I. I don't. and thats the worst part. I don't hate him. not hating him means I have to accept the fault of what I did. how I hurt him. how my anger led him to do every single terrible thing he ever did. maybe I could have stopped him. maybe I couldn't have. it doesn't make what I did to him right, nothing ever will.

I'll never forgive him. but I can't hate him.

I thank him for raising powder. even if I truly still believe his influence on her hurt her so much, I can't just blame him for what happened to her, because that would be treating her the exact way I treated him. if I admit powder can be helped, I have to admit silco could have been too. and I should have. powder/Jinx should be loved for everything that she has done, all the people she has hurt, not in spite of it.

I just hope vi didnt make the same fucking mistake as me. I hope she never gave up on her, never turned on her, never let the idea that she was a monster win. turning my back on silco was the worst mistake I ever made.

I don't regret choosing my family, I don't regret doing everything I could to minimize harm in the undercity, I don't regret looking after my people in the way I saw right, and I still believe he was horribly fucking wrong. but I regret hurting him. and all I can do now is live with that mistake.

and while I'm here I really want to say to jinx, wherever she is. I still don't think you're a jinx, and you'll always be powder to me, but I understand now that to you that name holds a lot of weight. I still love Jinx, for every mistake shes ever made, every person shes hurt, and every single thing she think shes done wrong. I know she'll never be the same as that girl that I raised, but I still love her, every part of her, and I'd never change her.

and to silco, I wish I had realized that same thing for you. maybe things could've ended differently for us.

-Vander, Arcane/league of legends, who just a Miserable rewatch of season one. who im sure will have to shift his fucking opinions again after he watches s2. i need a drink.

[hephaestion-fans-united]

hfu in rome DAY 3 - the one where she goes to see the lysippos

holy shit yall im gonna cut to the chase: the vatican museums are, ironically enough, the worst experience for someone genuinely interested in what they have to offer. most stressful museum visit of my life and when i went to the louvre some smoker accidentally made the terrorist alarm go off and everyone in the trip group chat was like WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO EVACUATE THERE’S A TERRORIST ATTACK and i couldn't decide between running tf out or staying since i hadn't heard anything and all the other visitors were acting normal

yea we arrived at the vatican far too early so we took a little detour and quickly visited st peter's basilica. nothing too crazy, it was exactly what i had studied in art history this year.... yep.... saw a bunch of swiss guards around and i was so so looking forward to seeing the goofy ass renaissance helmets but they didn't have them on 💔💔💔 guessing it's just for ceremonies. i watched francis' funeral and the conclave fully only because massive events like that give me the worst case of fomo ever so i gotta sit through all of them. loved seeing the settings of all those ordeals in person

afraid of being late, at around 10:45 we began our walk towards the vatican museums, expecting to be let in earlier (scheduled time was 11:30) as we had done in the coliseum. girl hell nahhhh........ i already knew how the vati museums are like the most visited museums in all of rome but i didn't know it'd be THAT bad. we waited outside in the assigned lane until it was our time to come in. the downsides will be explained in the queue ranking :) after getting through all that i was free to explore the like 16 museums as much as i wanted!!! right!? look my only experiences with big big museums are the louvre and the prado (madrid) wherein you can go up any staircase, visit any room you want whenever you want, go back and forth... the vatican doesn't do that shit APPARENTLY and most of the stairs and hallways were blocked off so you'd follow a specific route that ends in the sistine chapel!! our first stop was the egyptian collection. the rooms there were far too tiny for all the people inside. it was impossible to move around without feeling some rando's body heat right next to you. despite all i fought my way through and saw the really ugly egyptian antinous (in his defense it's impossible to look good with the silly ass pharaoh headpiece on 😭😭), my man philadelphus (ptolemy II!!) and a little ammon-ra. at the end there were a bunch of assyrian reliefs and cuneiform tablets that i wish i could've seen closer but if you stop for one millisecond there's the possibility of getting trampled by like four different guided tour groups

the marked route led me to the most special place: the grecorroman collection. i walk down the hallway AND I SEE THE APOXYOMENOS RIGHT IN FRONT OF MEEEE!!!!!!! it's one of my favorite statues EVER and i love lysippo's work sm sm sm (not biased) so i was devastated once i found out i couldn't walk around him. he was literally made not to be seen from the front. another wave of people came and i was forced to leave him quickly. a shame </3 next to his room was a little cloister with laocoon (who's smaller than i thought!) and apollo n hermes belvedere (best boys). really wanted to see them too! i studied them all in class so it was very special! was forced to evacuate because three other groups were entering the scene. at that point i began getting pissed off about the overcrowding but even more determined to see all that i wanted to see. going into the next hallway was genuinely scary but at some point all the groups popped out of existence?? and the gallery was completely empty so you bet i took that opportunity to relax a little. highlights: lots of ganymedes, a possible philip II....... (one thing i really like about him is his very famous son), demosthenes ❌️❌️❌️👎👎👎, a fuck ton of hadrians, augustus, the personification of the nile from the hellenistic school of alexandria :]... problems began appearing when we left the museum pio clementino and the visit turned into a race for the sistine chapel. for everyone else because i still wanted to see stuff!! from this point onward the crowds got even WORSE and all of my pictures had to be taken in a rush. against all odds found meleager with the boar in a room full of animal statues i didnt get to enjoy, pericles, homer, more hadrians and dionysuses.,.,..,., and the rest is a blur. all i remember is a confused mass of people rushing down rooms, ignoring all the pieces on the sides and clogging up the hallways whenever they stopped to take pictures of THEMSELVES. this made me the angriest. the vatican museums have so so many awesome pieces aside from the popular ones and all people do is take pictures of themselves posing in front of a crowded hallways or photograph CEILINGS??? i understand the frescoes are cool or whatever but holy fuck if they're going to make my experience so stressful at least they should be genuinely interested in what they're seeing. as i was hopelessly strolling down one of those halls i overheard a lady going like "it's a satyr!! look at his funny ears!!!" and it moved me. someone there actually knew what they were looking at. loved seeing raphael's rooms. the school of athens is one of my favorite pieces of the renaissance and im so happy it was included in the visit <3 at first i was scared i'd need to pay extra to see them but here we are!!!!! i bought a little copy of the fresco as first souvenir :] saw it without problems. managed to overtake a bunch of groups while they were too busy looking at the tapestries. it was quite exciting despite everything

finally came the damned sistine chapel. overrated af. no more words for it we all know what it has going on

the vatican museums have a MASSIVE cafeteria with lots of meal options. it was filled to the brim with people too. i was hungry and tired but my body didn't accept any decent food. had a macedonia. in this heat i can't fuckin eat i can only have fruit, it's insane

overall an overwhelming and frustrating experience but im so lucky i got to see everyone i wanted to see <333 still wishing i could've gotten to take my time with the apoxyomenos

every shop in the vatican sells plushies of luce. i was so so tempted to buy one because she's so cute and it's funny af that the catholic church has an anime mascot but she was 45€...... 😭😭🥀🥀🥀🥀

philip 👎👎👎👎👎

demosthenes 👎👎👎👎👎

he's right next to the window too it's so hard to make the photos look good 😭😭

really pretty antinous 💞💞💞💞😳😳 i couldn't fuckin admire because the room was so small and the people couldn't stop moving

persian warrior defending himself :]

domitian!!!

philadelphus :>

-----

putting that behind us, our next plan was to head to the other national roman museum site..... the palazzo altemps!! as last time it was EMPTYYYYYY!!!! this was so so so refreshing after the vatican trauma..... i could breathe. a short and very sweet experience <33 they had another antinous, an aristotle, the gaul killing himself, a really cute apis bull...... and the crown jewel: ARESSSSSS BY MY MAN LYSIPPO YEAAAHHHHHHHHHH who i am very normal about 🤭🤭🤭💞💞 and extra shoutout to this random broken male bust i saw. the info card about it said "HE HAS A HEADBAND OFTEN SEEN IN PORTRAITS OF THE DIADOCHI" and i was like OH YEAH SICK!!!!! WHICH ONE IS HE???!?!?!?! and the info card replied "fuck you it's probably heracles" okay 💔💔💔💔💔💔

loving ludovisi ares a normal amount

the supposed diadochi

after leaving this one with the dumbest smile on my face we went on a little walk to see the pantheon, the trevi fountain (+ the entire population of the world visiting it) and *checks notes* san carlo alle quattro fontane. really cute little church, very boring to study however. we also spent a little while at piazza navona which i KNEW just from the layout that it had been a circus at some point. a stadium built by domitian. my boy domi was building shit all day and we love him for that

-QUEUE RANKING-

st peter's square, 9/10: super fast line, helps that almost nobody was there (it was like 9:30-10 am. take notes if u wanna go). once we were out the line had extended comically. free entrances to places are always appreciated!!

vatican museums, 3/10: GOOD GODS WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN??? the entrance is small small and right next to the exit, which meant that whenever people left they had to walk through the entrance lane which got tiring real fast. there isn't a single tree or a parasol for shade and it gets real hot in here. the vatican museums ain't for the faint of heart. like two groups scurried to the front of the line as we were getting closer to it after waiting for half an hour in the sun. the entrance looks like a damn airport. as everything else in the vati museums, a space too small for too many people

palazzo altemps, 10/10: we love you national roman museum 💖💖💖

another shout out to the vatican souvenir shop called "vatican emporium" or whatever which had a replica of the alexander from the issus mosaic hanged on a wall and gave me a good scare. will be relevant in the next few days <3333