#& he often assures me it is extremely fitting both that we're as close as we are and that neither of us gets on well with my aries ex

[galacticlamps]

not sure i've seen anyone mention it yet but also i havent looked - but the bit at the beginning of episode 5 where edwin's reading up on astrological compatibilities just before brad & hunter show up - is there a prevailing theory about a specific taurus and aires he might be referring to?

he did just leave charles and crystal together to settle their relationship status (not that he's aware that's what they're discussing at the time), so i'm kind of inclined to assume it was them, but as far as I can recall he & niko are the only people whose signs we're told outright (and frankly, just removing his from the equation does rule out about half the potential ships in the show)

but if crystal is one of the parties involved, that just raises more questions

Like does that mean she remembers when her birthday is? I wouldn't have thought so, since even with only a partial name, a specific DOB might make her significantly easier to look up, particularly if her parents are kind of famous (i've been assuming all along that her name being a noun effectively made her google-proof). Or is it more likely monty just declared her something & they all accepted that as fact because he was noticeably right about everyone else so far? But if that's the case, how much has he been talking to/getting to know the rest of them, because she would press him on that, right? like it's one thing to make quips about people who are capable of confirming their own birthdays being typical of their signs - but since crystal's actively on the lookout for chances to learn more about herself, you'd think someone being confident he can just tell certain things about her like that would be of particular interest to her. And alternatively if monty hasn't spent too much time with her & is still responsible for assigning her a horoscope anyway, does that mean he's been like. displaying a certain amount of supernatural knowledge all along without anyone getting suspicious of him? and where does astrology fall on that scale anyway, in their world? edwin's skepticism at first would imply it's not considered a normal science to them, even in the context of ghosts and spells and witches - unless that's just meant to read as him being especially hypocritical?

Do any of these things have clearly implied answers to people who do know about astrology? Or have I missed canonical birth dates given for anybody anywhere? I feel like they'd shed some light on an unusually large number of questions for me at the moment

[cavariously]

[Trying my hand at a fan fiction.

I love to write but I have never done anything like this before, so all feedback would be extremely appreciated (Grammer, Plot, Characters etc.).

I love Tokyo Ghoul so I really hope I don't fuck this up 😅. A big thank you to anyone who reads this ❤️]

Caution: Agressive Swearing, Offensive Language, Graphic Violence.

Notes: Takes place post end of TG:re, Reapers = Marshall version of Doves.

1. Crow - 24

City lights and the rushing motions of the landscape turn the 24th ward into a blinding and blaring circus. Humans. They crawl through this city with the assurance that they will be here tomorrow. They will be here a year from now. They will be here forever. They are the only lifeform with this assurance. All other creatures in this world live with the knowledge that their making it to the next moment is a fifty fifty

It is certainly a miracle that they last, noticing absolutely nothing at all. They don't see the effects that the fumes of their veichles have on the planet that they grip so tightly to. They can't begin to recognise that they are being continually watched and targeted by devices that could wipe them from the face of said Earth in less than zero. They don't even notice the apex predictor observing them from less than a mile above.

Humans simply move from one spot to another, only stopping to cause irrevocable disaster and reduce their surroundings to less than ash, and then move on to the next target. Someone said that humans are Parasites, and although it may be naive to believe this was wholly correct, it would be complete ignorance to dismiss it entirely. Ghouls do not indulge in such ignorance. Parasite is an apt description for a human, from the perspective of a ghoul, that and food.

The figure stands tall, wind rushing rapidly through their tied up hair. They can smell the putrescence of man-kind as they go about their sweaty and arrogant business. They would laugh if it wasn't so tragic. What do humans amount to? They are greedy and bloody bags of meat that fight and hate more than any other being, yet they are allowed to multiply and just be. It could be argued that ghouls are the same as humans in this aspect, but most abide by the one meal a month agreement, even though this arrangement can be hell for some. Unlike humans, who see violence as their God given right, when ghouls fight, it is rarely for anything other than survival. Perhaps this view doesn't take all ghouls into account, but all humans gorge themselves on everything, and fight for any fucking reason they want.

Twenty years ago, a disaster was meant to end this disparity. For the first time ever, ghouls and humans fought together to save the world they shared from the monster that had been designated 'DRAGON'. The defeating of this enemy was meant to end in equality, where ghouls and humans shared the world equally. Scientific leaps had been made. Synthetic meats that ghouls could eat, so they wouldn't have to harm humans. The corpse of Dragon even lead to dramatic advancements in the medical field. Humans were now benefiting from ghoul DNA, as it allowed them to combat most illnesses and increase their lifespan somewhat. After all that ghouls had done for them, weren't humans grateful? No. Ten years, then ghouls were back to being vile creatures to be hunted, and were forced back to living in the sewers. The deaths of so many perfectly good and innocent ghouls, just so that humanity could screw them all over again. What a funny tragedy.

Another figure appeared from the shadows, stepping in line with their comrade. Neither looking at the other, they both silently watched the ferris-wheel turn round and round. A world that they saw as rightfully theirs. They were hungry for it and they would have it. No matter the cost. In fact, the more human casualties... the better.

"Are you ready to go?" the newcomer asked, never taking their attention away from everything below.

"Yeah. Any longer and I might have to eat you."

"Like you could" came the cold, arrogant response.

"Just because you got five inches on me now, doesn't mean I can't still beat your ass Da..."

"Don't fucking call me that. While we're out here you call me Kuma and I call you... Blindfold, or Eyeless. Something like that." Even though his response had been quick and sharp, neither his tone nor his concentration had wavered.

"Eyeless" they conceded.

"Fine, Eyeless it is. Just don't go shouting our real names out in public. You're enough of a liability as it is without giving our fucking identities away."

Eyeless finally turned to look at their brother. They couldn't help feeling a pang of nostalgia. He had been so small once, constantly hanging onto their shoulders and making paper birds that he place all over their home. Those memories hurt, especially when they remembered what came after. He used to smile so much and now he's a moody little shit. They'd never been like that at fourteen, they thought smugly.

"Fine. Let's go KUMA before I rip your snarky head off." With that final retort, Eyeless turned and stepped off of the roof.

Kuma watched them drop six stories, landing with grace and poise. Why were they always so aggravating? Maybe he was jealous of their natural ability, or perhaps they were just a pain in the ass to be related to. With a sigh and a wandering look to the night sky, he followed suit.

* * *

The Marshalls finished up disposing of the ghoul. Bikakus are a pain in the ass Haruto thought, but it's better than a Ukaku. Haruto loved the fact that he was an intimidating figure. The ghoul had basically shat itself as soon as it had seen his large muscular frame, and cruel bearded face. The black trench coat they wore, that often announced the end for ghouls, probably didn't hurt either. He nudged the face of the corpse with his foot. He reckoned it wouldn't even be worth removing his Kakahou to get a new quinque. Taking into account the short amount of time it had taken him and Kenji to bypass his defences and cut him through the middle, he was a B rated ghoul maximum.

"Right, time we get back" Haruto sighed.

"Mhm" Kenji agreed. He never said much.

"Did you bring the body bag? You never know, you might be able to upgrade that piece of shit you call a quinque." Haruto laughed loudly. He loved taking the piss out of Kenji, especially when he knew his only retort woukd be 'mhm'.

As expected, Kenji responded with a grumbling "Mhm", and moved towards the body.

Haruto, turned to walk away, lighting a cigarette and beginning to inhale deeply. That Kenji was going to marry his sister. What's he gonna say when the priest asks him if he takes her to be his lawfully wedded wife? Mhm. Haruto chuckled to himself. All in all Kenji was a good guy, and one hell of a Marshall. He could use that crappy Ukaku quinque pretty damn well, even if it did come from a C rated ghoul. Kenji also took Haruto's kids to the beach when he and Mrs Haruto wanted a quiet weekend. He might be an ugly fucker with next to no hair, and a face that made you want to split him down the middle, but he was clean and sometimes smelt nice. Yeah, Kenji could marry his sister if he wanted. She could do a hell of a lot worse.

A loud splatter sounded out behind Haruto. He spun on his heels, instincts flaring immediately into action. Where the fuck was Kenji? Where his partner had been attempting to fit the ghoul into the black bag, there was now the cut in half corpse of his future brother in law, fallen to the sides with a blindfolded figure standing in the middle. His entire being twitched in anticipation of this thing making a move to kill him, but all it did was leasurly bend down and scoop something up from the gore beneath. As the creature straightened up, he saw that it was simply sucking on one of Kenji's bloody fingers. To others, this might signify a psychotic animal, but to a seasoned Marshall, this was a confident and calculating killer plain and simple. A powerful one at that. Their clothes were indistinctive; clad in thin black leather and fabric, however, their mask was a completely different story. Almost the entirety of its face was covered. Its mouth had a tight black fabric wrapped over it, with a skeletal smile that would open, revealing the snaking pink tongue underneath. The huge back leather collar surrounding it could be zipped up to hide all but the eyes from the world. Not that the eyes could be seen either. A bone white blindfold shut them off from view. Foreign symbols were drawn in deep black on either side, with the a closed eye taking centre stage. Although it was just a drawing, that closed eye was unearving, as if the lack of sight heightened its ability to see, instead of impeding it.

Now this was a ghoul. Just by its sheer presence Haruto could tell this one was rated A, or more likely >S. Haruto couldn't deny to himself that he was intimidated, but he was a senior Marshall, and always backed himself in a one on one. He looked down at his fallen partner and gulped. First things first, get into this guys head. Haruto scanned the ghoul, looking for weaknesses that he could exploit verbally. If he was lucky, the reaction could lead to him obtaining an edge. He noticed that this ghoul was slight in stature, maybe five foot five all told.

"You wanna end up like this other piece of shit, you fucking dwarf."

This garnered absolutely nothing.

Haruto couldn't take it much longer. This creature continued to lapp at the guts of his dead partner, that were splattered over its fingers. It obviously didn't give a shit what it looked like to others. It reminded him of a cat, publically cleaning its fur and genitals with no concern for the world. It was fucking reveling in its feast, and it made Haruto's blood boil.

"You killed an innocent man. He was gonna have a family and you ripped him apart. You monsters have no fucking souls and you all belong in hell. That's where I'm gonna send you. I'm a fucking senior Marshall you stupid shit. You have no clue how badly you've fucked up."

Again, the ghoul made no sign of changing emotion, continuing to dip its fingers in Kenji and take its time eating. Haruto knew he needed something else to get into its head so he scanned again. 'Shit' he thought, as the ghost of a smile passed over his lips. The majority of its body was covered in black that mostly obscured its shape, however, his keen eyes saw that although its grey hair was tied up, it was probably quite long when undone. At its chest area, although it was probably bound, there was the hint of a slightly tented structure. The hardest one to spot was the hips. Despite them being covered by black leather shorts, those hips were a tad too wide to be a man's.

"Alright you sick fuck. I'M A COMMIN FOR YA!"

With one last drive to uncover more courage, Haruto raised his Kokaku quinque and lept towards the ghoul.

"I'M GONNA FUCK YOU UP FOR KENJI... YOU BITCH!"

As Haruto closed the distance with extreme speed, to less than two meters, the shadow of another figure dropped from the sky, landing directly next to the first. Haruto skidded to a halt, taken aback by the new masked creature. This one was certainly taller, and its face was covered by a red, horned mask. It was only as his attention slipped completely that he realised his final mistake. For the first time, the blindfolded ghoul smiled widely, the skeletal mouth parting to reveal massive bloody teeth.

The next thing Haruto knew was that he was laying down on the ground, face to the sky. His neck was warm and dripping wet. He raised his hands to his throat as the oxygen escaped his body, feeling the deep gash that was releasing his blood. The ghouls started conversing.

"Which one you want?" the first asked the newcomer.

"I don't care. You killed 'em both so you choose" the other responded dispondantly.

"Well, you're the growing boy so you take the ghoul and the first Reaper."

"Damn, well fuck me if you ain't the best big sister" uttered the male ghoul sarcastically, as he casually walked over to Kenji and the dead ghoul. "Why you taking you're mask off you sicko? The guys not even dead yet."

"I like it when they watch me" the female ghoul giggled.

Haruto saw the shadow of something passing over his head. "Ken...Ke..ji" Haruto gasped.

Suddenly, from below him came a the same giggle. "Awww dude, I think these guys were close."

"Eyeless, eat the fucker and let's go" came the voice of the male.

"Hey buddy boy, look at me will you" said the female from his feet.

Haruto craned his neck, scared of what he might see, but thinking 'fuck it' to himself. What's did he have to be afraid of, he's already dead. When he finally focused on the face he was confused. She was chewing on a leg. His leg. When the fuck did she get her dirty hands on that? When she'd finished on his leg, licking the tips of her fingers with delight, she bent down and hovered over him. Eyeless? That's what the other one had called her, but that wasn't true at all. Now that her blindfold was off he could see the entirety of her murderous giddy face.

"You're very funny" she said. "Innocent man. Gonna have a family. Its really fucking funny."

The last thing Haruto would ever see would be a testimony to her names innacuracy. Staring at him excitedly was one grey eye, so remarkably human looking it was weird. The other eye was a pool of darkness... with a violent, blood red pupil that seemed to be trying to force its way out of its black prison. She snapped up the rest of him.

"Sicko..."

End

[incorrectunrulyprincesses]

Underland’s Unruly Princesses: March of the Witch Hunters (aka the crossover) chapter 6

Rosalind III

Of course I was worried about my godmother, but I didn't know if I was ready to see the world above. I'd lived a sheltered life as a princess and was completely content to continue on like that, but seeing as Auntie Winnie was in real trouble, something had to be done.

"Okay, sissy, what's the plan?" I asked once the coast was clear.

Ember pursed her lips for a moment. "Considering that the Alice entered Underland though a rabbit hole, I suggest we find other means of getting above."

"That's all very well, but how are we gonna get out of the castle, especially when we're grounded?"

"Oh, it's not that I am concerned with," she said proudly. "It's what we plan to do once we reach the Above. We are much different than the people from up there."

"Well obviously. They're all weirdos from what I've heard. We'll stand out easily. I say we find the condemned building we saw in our dreams."

For a few seconds I watched as Ember paced. She was biting her bottom lip, as she often did when she was pondering. "I've got it," she chirped. "Before we travel to Aunt Winifred's home, why don't we go and pop in on Aunt Nellie? Surely she could help us with our disguises," she suggested.

"You're right. She used to live Above before she came to work for us so she must know how things work up there." I agreed. "It's settled then. Let us go and see Auntie Nellie."

We walked into the kitchen and found Auntie Nellie chopping up some meat with a huge cleaver. At first she didn't notice us. But Ember went right up to her, and wrapped her arms around her neck in an odd-fashioned hug.

"'Ello, ello, Auntie Nellie," Ember said, mocking Aunt Eleanor's thick accent.

I grinned, hugging Aunt Nellie from behind.

"Oi!" Nellie squeaked. "You girls get off!"

"Sorry Auntie Nellie." I got off. "What are you cooking? Do you need some help?" I loved helping Auntie Nellie in the kitchen. Cooking was kind of therapeutic for me. Aunt

"Auntie Eleanor," Ember said in a deep, seductive tone. "Little Rozzy and I need your help."

Sighing, we watched as Auntie Eleanor plunged the cleaver into a hunk of meat. She wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand and leaned against the counter.

"What is it this time?" she asked, annoyed.

"We need to go topside to save Auntie Winnie from the witch hunters." I blurted out.

Aunt Eleanor's eyes widened hugely. If she had been sipping a drink, she would have spat it out. "Oi. And what's your Mum think of this?" I didn't answer and looked at my feet.

Ember cleared her throat. "Well, she doesn't really know-"

"-Blimey! Ember, are you kiddin' me?" Aunt Eleanor demanded. "You two are 'bout to just go galumphin' about in the Above, and leave your Mum without the slightest clue?" She began to look extremely confused.

"Well, technically we're grounded until this whole "witch hunter" thing blows over." I explained, using air quotes on the words, "witch hunter."

What with our past of sneaking out to visit Aunt Nellie at her old home in Fleet Street without Mum's knowledge, Aunt Eleanor shook her head in opposition.

"No," she said. "I can't. I can't let you do that to your Mum. If I let you go, and she ever found out, it'd be my head floatin' in that moat."

"You could always come with us. You and Uncle Sweeney know the Above better than anyone around here." I suggested.

Aunt Nellie shook her head. She sighed again. "Absolutely not. Mistuh Todd and I left that life behind us." We both stood quietly as her face twisted in all directions. After a bit, she swiped up her cleaver and gave the meat a good wail. "Oh, all right," she said in defeat. "What kin I do for ya?"

"We need disguises," Ember said flatly. She pulled at a crimson lace on her corset. "Very well can't rough about the Above dressed in royal garb." Ember grasped at the sparkly jewels around her neck, as if she actually cared for material items, which I knew damn well she did not. "Someone may try to steal my jewels," she pouted.

I nervously touched my favorite choker, worried someone might take it too.

"What's in it for me?" Aunt Eleanor asked, challenging Ember.

"Do you forget to whom you are speaking? I am Emberess of Crims, Red Princess of Underland. What I say goes." She slid real close to her. "And I declare that if you help us, I will request your allowance be tripled, and I will gift to you the cottage Mum gave me as a birthday present."

Aunt Nellie smiled. "The one by the sea?"

"Aye, the one by the sea," Ember stated. "Plus. I will assure you have a month's vacation in said cottage. That way you can spend quality time with your Mistuh Todd."

Eyes aglow, Auntie Nellie grabbed hold of me and Ember, and pulled us toward her chambers. "Where are we going? Do you and Uncle Sweeney have kinky toys like Mum does?"

Ember laughed so hard it boomed down the corridor.

Shaking her head, Aunt Nellie giggled.

"What did I say?" I asked. "It's just a question."

Aunt Nellie just shook her head as she grabbed hold of us both, and led us down the corridor to her chambers. Sooner than later Ember and I were perched in front of mirrors as Aunt Nellie presumed to squeeze us into oddly designed Victorian gowns, much like what she adorned, only the corsets were much tighter.

"Auntie Nellie, are you trying to suffocate us?" I asked, as she tightened my laces. I was wearing a red strapless dress with a pink corset. The skirt was trimmed with rosettes and there was an oversized bow in the back. But now Auntie Nellie was squeezing me into a gown that was a dark red, almost like blood, with a black corset over the top of it.

"You kin keep ya jewelry," Aunt Nellie chided. "There be rich folks in the Above that wear shiny things like dat."

"Keep my tiara safe for me," I said, handing over the gold ruby and diamond tiara that matched my necklace. Aunt Nellie took my tiara from me and placed it in a black velvet box, along with Ember's small crown, and slid the box underneath her bed.

I watched intently as Aunt Nellie slid a sheer black gown over Ember's head. She adorned her with a dark red corset. We were exact opposites! I pulled Auntie Nellie into a tight hug. "I'll miss you." I said. "Take care of Mum for us."

"Oi!" Aunt Nellie squeaked. She jumped back from my grasp. She never really was one for affection. "I am gonna pretend I don't know a thing 'bout where you went. I'm goin' back to my meat pies, and that's where I'll stay." I watched as she bade Ember fairfarren and then stalked from the room.

"So, sis. How are we going to get out of here? Mum probably has armed guards surrounding the castle to keep us in."

Ember was in the mirror, adjusting her gown to fit comfortbaly. "I was thinking we'd wait till nightfall," she said. "We can climb out the window, and slip the guards. I think we should go see my father. He can help us get Above."

"Your father has a problem with me, remember?" I sighed. "He thinks I'm too much like Mum. I don't think he'd be too willing to help."

Ember scoffed. "Of course he will, Ros, don't be silly. He will do anything he can to get back at Mum for holding his family captive for all those years."

"That's true." I thought aloud. "When are we going?"

She turned to me. "As soon as the dark falls over Underland, we're outta here. We'll grab our horses and ride hard to my Father's house."

"The only thing left to do now is go to dinner with Mum and pretend everything is normal."

"I suppose it won't hurt to make one final appearance before we up and disappear," Ember said.

"Let's go then." I said.

Ember looped arms with me and we began to skip from Aunt Nellie's chamber.