#Futures options

[ruushes]

all you really need to make a good first impression on the ceo's grandson is for him to have suffered a year of solitary confinement

[eriyu]

oops!!!!!!!! accidentally caught the script up to msq!!!!

i honestly did not think this was going to be possible with the amount of time left after i finished 6.0, but here we are!!!!!!!

the entire msq, at your fingertips!!!!!!!!!

please know that i will NOT be doing dawntrail's MSQ immediately after it drops though. i want to enjoy playing through for the first time without making it into a job. i hope to get to it before TOO too long, though 💖

[solarstranger]

a/n. haven't written something as self-indulgent and self ship-coded as this in a while. been feeling worse than usual lately, and i've since identified one of the reasons for that being the graduation season looming over me :') as someone who can't finish uni because of my chronic illness, seeing my next batch of friends go and graduate is definitely a bittersweet experience that never stops being bittersweet, and is also something that i can't easily talk about with people in my life who are not going through the same thing. so i figured, why not write about it instead? i hope you enjoy this! (1.0k)

“and then i’m gonna go to the mall in a bit,” you finish, looking up from your laptop just in time to see bakugou walk towards your desk with a cup of coffee in hand, eyebrow raised in question.

“i’m gonna buy my friend her gifts,” you explain when he doesn’t say anything, opting to stand idly across from you instead. “you know, the one who’s graduating tomorrow?”

“yeah, i know the one,” he nods curtly, then: “you don’t want me to come with you?”

you hesitate for a moment before opening your mouth to say something, although by the time that you do, it’s already too late—bakugou has already gotten the message.

“i get it,” he nods again, toying with the little dynamight plushie you have by your clock. “you want your alone time.”

“it’s not that,” you start, half-lying, “i’m gonna go to some make-up stores and you’re gonna get bored.”

“i don’t get bored looking at you try stuff,” he corrects you without missing a beat, before taking a cautious sip of his beverage. “besides, you like having me around while you shop, remember? i scare away the sales ladies so that you get to browse in peace.”

“yeah, well—”

“it’s okay, dumbass,” bakugou huffs, the way he always does when he’s getting a bit exasperated. “you don’t have to pretend or some shit.”

“i’m not pretending,” you attest stubbornly, and when he only tosses you a knowing look: “ish.”

at that, bakugou snorts, reaching over to snap your laptop closed. you look up at him, your face contorted in a way that says, ‘what gives?’

the ash-blonde only shakes his head, before rounding your table and taking you by the wrist. you begrudgingly let yourself be pulled by him and into your living room, where he plops you down in your two-seater couch right next to him.

“talk,” he commands as soon as you’re face to face.

you frown. “i don’t have anything i want to say.”

“you look like you’re gonna implode,” bakugou retorts, leaning over to place his mug on the coffee table. “your therapy appointment’s not until tomorrow.”

“don’t remind me,” you grumble.

“well, someone’s got to,” he sighs, “or else you’re just gonna keep thinking until you’re gonna go crazy.”

“too late,” you quip, wringing your hands together, “i think i already have.”

“is it the graduation season?” bakugou asks instead, tone careful. you blanch at the inquiry, although you manage to school your expression quickly enough not to give yourself away.

and when you don’t say anything: “because if it is, then you’ve got to tell me. so that i can counter whatever bullshit your brain’s telling you.”

“it’s not that,” you shake your head, gaze downcast, “well—i mean, it kinda is. but it’s not the whole thing.”

“then, tell me the whole thing.”

“i’m tired, katsuki.”

“then talk to me tired. you don’t have to enunciate or make your voice loud or some shit,” he counters, and as if to further drive home his point, scoots over until your thighs and shoulders are touching before taking your hand in his and placing it on his lap.

“there,” he declares, satisfied, “now, talk.”

you sigh, letting him play with your hand. “what do you want me to talk about?”

“whatever you want. for example, how you feel about seeing your friends graduate.”

“i’m happy for them,” you immediately answer.

“but?”

you turn your head to look at him, frowning. “does there have to be a ‘but’?”

“no,” he responds calmly, massaging your palm, “but i can tell there’s something else.”

“what, like me being envious of them?”

bakugou grunts. “your words, not mine.”

“i’m not envious,” you retort defensively, angry that he’s wielding your words against you, although that anger quickly dissipates into exhaustion. “at least, i think i’m way past that.”

“where are you, then? if not at that point?”

“i don’t know,” you say lowly, shrugging lightly. “i guess i’ve stopped dreaming about what it’s like to finish my degree.”

you pause for a second, letting that sink in.

then, you bump your shoulder with his. “you’re disappointed, aren’t you?”

at that, bakugou whips to look at you, offense etched all across his sharp features. “hah?”

you lean back, chuckling dryly at your wisecrack. “you’re disappointed your girlfriend might be a dropout forever.”

“oh, fuck off, y/n.”

that makes you bark out a laugh, while bakugou’s scowl only deepens.

“stop it,” he demands when you don’t stop laughing, quaking in your mirth. “i said stop it, y/n.”

“i know, i know,” you cackle, “i’m sorry.”

“you’ve gotta stop talking shit about yourself like that,” he gripes when you finally manage to put a lid on your laughter, muscled arms crossed petulantly in front of his broad chest.

“i’m not,” you argue, smiling. “i’m just telling the truth.”

“yeah, well, fuck that,” he spews, shooting you a dirty look. “my girlfriend’s the smartest woman i know, so it doesn’t fucking matter if she finishes college or not.”

“why, thank you,” you laugh again, “although your insulting tone kinda juxtaposes the very nature of your statement.”

“and you’re just further proving my statement by using fancy words such as juxtaposition,” he rebuts, side-eye viciously unrelenting.

“you’re serious, though?” you find yourself asking after the air falls into a lull, with neither of you uttering a word.

bakugou glances at you, still frowning. “serious about what?”

“that you think i’m the smartest woman you know.”

“not only the smartest woman, dumbass,” he huffs again, shaking his head. “smartest person.”

“okay, now you’re just gassing me up.”

“i’m just telling the truth,” he shrugs, putting his hands up in mock surrender. “and you better fucking believe it.”

“i honestly don’t think i can,” you say truthfully, before flashing him a shy smile anyway. “but i’ll try.”

“you better,” he spits aggressively, before, muttering under his breath so softly you barely miss it: “…the fucking prettiest, too.”

˗ˏˋ while likes are appreciated, they don’t do much on tumblr! if you want to support me and writers in general, reblogs, replies, and tags are the way to go. feel free to drop an ask, too—i’d love to chat. have a nice day! ´ˎ˗

[crabsnpersimmons]

Happy Halloween from the "New 'Do, Same You" Boys!

later:

[seleneprince]

The Neglected! Wife from my yandere!batfam au

Name: Rosa Perez (only by default. Insert whatever name you want there)

-Hispanic inmigrant. She came to Gotham as a kid with her family, looking for a better life...and to expand their criminal empire.

-She was born into crime. She was raised in it, and damn good at it. It was the family bussiness, and from a young age she was pushed into taking part on the usual gruesome parts of the job.

-Killing, torturing, trafficking, all the drill. And when she got older, she became a sex worker too, which allowed her to scout for information to blackmail people, conspire against them in the most painful way...or end them in their most vulnerable moments.

-Her family built their empire from nothing. From the streets of their native country to the alleys of Gotham, they became a force to be reckoned with. And she was one of the most efficient, dangerous assets. The ace, the multitasker. There was nothing she wouldn't do if there was profit in it.

-They weren't the most loving or healthy family in the world, but they were all she had. In the end, they always got each other's back no matter what. And she didn't have many options anyway.

-Then, as a teen, she met a boy. The total opposite of her. Rich, composed, with impeccable manners and a deep, almost obsessive sense of justice and morality, as white and clean as the clothes he prided himself in wearing. A golden boy, brought up in the kind of luxury and privileges that you can only have by being born in the right family. She hated him on sight. And it was mutual.

-He represented everything she despised of Gotham's socialite. The lack of self-awareness over his privileged position, the ignorance of the systemathic oppression they were partly responsible for against people like her, the hypocritical morality he carried like an honor badge that was only valid when it came to certain problems but was actually full of loopholes. His smug confidence, his naïvety, his stupid belief that he alone could make Gotham a better place. Where the guilty would be punished accordingly and the victims avenged.

-It was laughable, really, if it wasn't so pathetic too. Which is why they always clashed whenever they crossed paths. He was too idealistic, she was too realistic. They were from completely different worlds, facing against each other like twisted mirrors.

-And yet, as time passed, as they grew up watching each other change, how the world around them evolved with them as well, something between them...shifted. She couldn't tell exactly when it happened, but the fights turned into fiesty debates. The debates into softer talks in rooftops or in his car. Maybe it began when he asked her to show him the world through her eyes, to help him understand better so he could actually make a difference in the future. Maybe it was when, along the way, she started to see the world through his eyes too.

-Without wanting it, without even meaning to, she started to like that boy. And then, she fell in love with the man he became.

-Neither of them could imagine how that taking that simple step would be the beginning of the happiest years of their lives...and their downfall.

-Because her man was broken, beyond repair, divided in two fragments of his soul that fought for control constantly and threatened to destroy himself. Sometimes it was him, the man she knew, and sometimes it was another one wearing his face.

-But she loved him. With every fibre of her heart, every nerve of her body, it all pulsed for him. With that man, she not only learnt the meaning of true love, she also learnt to love herself. And no one, not even that demon who stole his face sometimes, could take that away from her. Because beneath those broken fragments, beneath that darkness that threatened to swallow her too, she knew he was still the boy who made her feel alive like nothing else, who made her laugh until her face hurt, who stood with her when she fought her own demons.

-And yet...life has a really twisted and sick sense of humour. It loves to mess with them.

-She got pregnant for the first time, entirely by accident...and it wasn't from the man she loved.

-It had been a busy, drunk night, another one enduring the worst of her job. She was tired as well, and a rich man spotted her across the club she worked at. When he approached her, she told him the same words she threw at everyone who showed her that kind of interest:

"I don't come for free, sunshine."

-Turns out he had no problem with that. He could afford it. That and the whole club. And so, he ended hiring her company for the night. She recognised him too late, but she couldn't turn down a client. Specially not this one. No matter the conflict in her heart.

-Because how could she not recognise Bruce fucking Wayne himself? And given their story, no less?

-She remembers their first real meeting as if it was yesterday. Of course, that stupid night at the club wasn't the first time their paths crossed. Back when they were still young, foolish, and reckless in their own ways. His expensive car slammed into her, not hard enough to kill, but enough to send her stumbling back. Slammed into the hood, then rolled off, her bodyt hitting the pavement with a thud.

-She remembers already having a bad day, and that only made her see red.

-Before she knew it, before she could even think, she punched the window. Her bare fist colliding with the glass with a brutal force that could be explained by her rage (and maybe years of experience breaking bones). Glass spidered instantly under the impact, and she wasted no time in letting them know what she thought:

"Are you blind, rich boy?! The hell kinda driving is that?!

-And of course, because it couldn't be any other way, her lover, back when they still couldn't stand each other, was already storming out of the car to get in her face. Yelling

"What the hell, Rosa?! You just punched his car's damn window off. Are you fucking insane?!"

-And she screamed right back.

"Excuse me?! How am I the insane one here?!" she shot back, stepping toe-to-toe with him. "Your dumbass friend over here almost ran me over! All that money for expensive cars and yet you idiots can't fucking drive? Figures."

-And that was the first time she and Bruce Wayne saw each other, although she didn't actually see much of him back there. She was too busy standing in the middle of the street, in the middle of another full-blown screaming match with the future love of her life. And Bruce didn't get out of the car (probably scared they'll chew his head off if he intervened).

-And he never left his life after that. He always hovered on the edges of her world, one way or another, like two planets circling around the sun. Same orbit, but never actually making contact. Until, of course, that fateful night where her life changed forever.

-She barely remembers how it started. She remembers his hands, strong, calloused, nothing like the man she loved. She remembers words whispered in the dim glow of expensive hotel lighting. She remembers the kind of warmth that felt like a brief escape from her chaotic life.

-She remembers waking up alone and thinking: ·Good. That’s all it was meant to be."

-Then she went back to her life. She made out with her lover and everything went back to normal. And for a while, she didn't think of that one-night stand again.

-Until she was late. Until she had to take a test. Until she stared at two pink lines and felt her stomach drop.

-She was told to abort the baby by those close to her, since not only it would be another burden for her, but she wouldn't be able to give them a good life.

-However, she refused everytime. She briefly considered using the baby to get a hold of the Wayne's fortune, but she dismissed that thought quickly, and decided to keep her precious babygirl to herself instead. The high society wouldn't ever accept them anyway, and if they gave a shit, it'll be only to take her baby away from her.

-For the first time in her life, Rosa had something more worth living for. Something that was entirely hers, her own creation. And she refused to let anyone or anything take it from her. It made her realise romantic love didn't hold a candle to what she felt the first time she heard her baby's heartbeat.

-She could've told her partner the truth. She thought she deserved to know, but then...she saw it in his eyes. The genuine joy when he first held the ultrasound in his hands. The way he whispered, "She’s perfect, my love. She will be ours." Even though he knew she wasn't. Not really.

-So she told him a slightly concealed truth. That the father was a client, an accident from one drunken night. A faceless man neither of them needed to worry about, because she had no intention of letting know of this. She didn't want him involved. Not when she already had the perfect father for her babygirl right by her side.

-He had stepped into the role of father for her daughter without hesitation, with joy. And then, when she had the twins, his biological children, she thought that would be it. That everything would be fine. Bruce Wayne would never be part of her life. That she would never have to see him again or ask him for anything. She even left the gang and her work behind, ready to start anew with her new family and devote herself to them. She found a much cozier place as a waitress in the Iceberg Lounge (Penguin owed her some favours anyway).

-But life decided to fuck her over again.

-Suddenly, the man she loved was ripped away from her. His name was splattered across headlines, his legacy destroyed beyond salvation. Batman took him and Arkham picked him up, trapping him indefinitely in those endless walls of madness.

-The man who once held her at night, who whispered dreams of a better life, was now gone. Their protector, their provider, the one she trusted with hers and their chidren's future. Because he promised he wouldn't fail them. That he would always be there for them, and they'll build a happy future together, with a better Gotham once he fixed it to his image.

-Suddenly, she was alone. No allies. No protection. No way to keep her children safe.

-And when Gotham’s underbelly came knocking, those who had blood debts to pay with her other family, sent men to end her life in front of her babies, she realized something brutal and undeniable as she washed the blood of her hands:

-They weren't going to survive.

-Not if they kept living this way. Relying on others, trusting their lives in other's hands. She had to act. And now.

-And she saw it clear as a day. There was only one way to fix this. It was unthinkable, she hated it, but looking at her children's lost, scared faces, her heart squeezed painfully. Her feelings didn't matter. Whatever sense of loyalty she felt for her lover didn't matter. Her children were her priority.

-After she burned the house, with all evidence inside, she was interrogated by the police. She kept her kids behind her all the time, never letting a single officer so much look at them. She felt that she would claw the eyes out of whoever tried to talk to them. Then, Comissary Gordon took the lead and guided her to his car. She expected to be taken to the comissary for the boring, official procedure, but instead, he took them to a damn ice-scream stand.

-He paid for their orders, offered them seats and just. Sat there. Watching as the children ate their ice-scream peacefully, sometimes running around, as if the sugar made them forget what they just went through. And seeing Gordon's face when she asked him why, why did he do that, she realised that was precisely his intention. Make them forget, if only for those brief minutes.

-She's still grateful with him for it. He's the only person in the GPCD she tolerates.

-Afterwards, they stayed in an cheap hotel in the outskirts of the city. She couldn't go to her relatives, that's where her enemies would look. She hid, hid her children, and blackmailed the hotel's receptionist to keep their mouth shut about their presence with stuff she had about them from years ago.

-The following days were a blurr. Taking care of her kids, making sure they were safe, and stalking the hell out of Bruce Wayne.

-Watching, studying, looking for his weaknesses. She was going to force his hand somehow. She was desesperate, out of options, and completely determined to get to him.

-The constant thought clawed at the back of her head: "Find the man. Find his weakness. If nothing else, steal from him. Use his name. Use his resources. Use whatever you can. He owes you that much."

-And then? She saw it.

-Saw Batman, the untouchable legend, Gotham’s untouchable king, remove his cowl. And suddenly, it all made sense.

-Of course. Of course. The richest man in Gotham, who disappeared at night. The philanthropist with no actual time to be one. The cold, untouchable billionaire, who acted like a ghost in his own city.

-Bruce Wayne was Batman. The Dark Knight. And the man who put the love of her life in Arkham Asylum, ruining their lives.

-And there, along with the crushing shock, she felt a cold sense of satisfaction. Finally, she had it. She had his weakness. She knew exactly what to do.

-She put on her best dress. Dressed her daughter accordingly too. And after entrusting her youngest kids to a relative for a short while, she drove them both to Wayne Manor. Not before telling them that things were going to change for better now.

-She walked into his house, into his fortress, ready to make him pay. For the child he put in her. For the choices he made. For the consequences of his actions. Whether he liked it or not.

-She sat in the chair in front of him, poured herself a drink, and greeted him with a smile laced with venom.

"We need to talk, cariño."

-She slid a folder across the desk. Their daughter’s birth certificate, along with the pictures she took revealing his real identity.

-His eyes scanned the paper, and for the first time in his life, she seemed surprised. Shaken. He looked up to her with fire blisting in his eyes, but she smiled back.

"You took something from me, from us" she said, voice even, but dangerous. "You took him away. And now? You’re going to make up for it."

-She held her daughter's shoulder, finally getting him to look at her. Her fingers tightened in reflect. She reminded herself why she was doing this, why she had to. For the little girl besides her, and the other two waiting for them to return. She would throw herself at the mercy of Satan himself if she had to.

-Because this was his fault. Their father was gone because of him. She was alone because of him. Her children were in danger and almost died because of him.

-And so, like that, they got married. There wasn't a ceremony. Just signing the papers and exchanging rings. She didn't need more. Didn't want more. The only wedding she wanted flushed down the toilet when Batman threw her partner behind a cell.

-The four of them moved to the manor. Their bedrooms were alocated on the opposite side of the manor to theirs, isolating her further. She knew it was a punishment, the only way he had to get back at her. As if she cared. She didn't marry him for love or attention. She wanted his surname behind her kids' names so they were safe. Besides, she would've set the curtains on fire before sharing a bed with him.

-What she couldn't stand was seeing the cold indifference directed to her children, specially to her oldest daughter. The one who was a Wayne by blood. Okay, she couldn't expect Bruce to care for the twins, they weren't his biologically (and if God listened to her, he wouldn't ever know who their father was), but her oldest girl? Her precious babygirl? She was his. The DNA tests he took himself afterwards confirmed it. She was the breathing copy of Martha Wayne, for fuck's sake. Shouldn't that make him feel something? Anything?

-It pained her more than anything, because there was nothing she could do. She couldn't fix the crushed look in her sweet girl's eyes at the rejections, the constant dissapointment, the crushing realisation that her siblings didn't love her. That her new father didn't care about her.

-She almost broke when her little girl told her she missed her other dad, the one who actually loved her. She cried herself to sleep in her room. "I miss him too, my love. I miss the man who loved me."

-But this was their life now. This...this was for the best. She could handle a loveless, cold marriage. She also vowed to never follow her heart again, never rely on anyone else beyond the bare minimum. She trusted love to keep them safe, and it almost cost her everything. Never again.

-Let them look down on her, on her children. Let Batman's little soldiers hate her, resent her for blackmailing him. Let him ignore their daughter, the child he put in her because he couldn't use a fucking condom.

-At the end of the day, her children will be safe and healthy. And that's all that matters.

-If she has to go back to her roots and stain her hands with blood again to ensure it, so be it.

[cowboysandunicorns]

Fallen London was one of the first games I ever played that specifically offered a third gender / non-binary PC and I still think about it to this day

[lomlompurim]

svsss pokemon AU wips that I cleaned up a bit of my drafts

I picked Grovyle for Shen Qingqiu bc I think he has more of an aloof resting face, and I needed a pokemon with arms and legs, or else where is the fear to become a human?pokemon? stick?

Some pokemons have their usual anatomy, others were yassified(¿) to make them more appealing to the general imaginary public(¿ of whatever Airplane was writing in this au, probably a crack fic that went a bit too far from being just a joke

Growlithe White Lotus Bingup vs Arcanine Black Lotus Binghe, his fluffysness amplified X100! (I saw someone around here say growlithe of hisui was perfect for Binghe and I never let it go)

Some Moshang poke vers 💙💛 I think airplane would indulge himself a bit and make his fave oc a legendary (and a bit of searching told me there are a few Articunos around so Linguang Jun is another one too, just bigger and meaner)

cringe cumplane stuff

(Also in my hc this is another reason to why Sqq couldn't even fanthom the idea of Arcanine!Binghe being interested in him. He is an old cranky lizzard in a world of cute furry girls? It just doesn't make sense! Why would binghe prefer this old grass lizzard???)

And Bingqiu pokemon ver ❤💚 Binghe still being a big puppy♡ (grovyles are likely 0,90m tall and Arcanines are like 2,00 m tall so yeah big BIG boy Binghe)

this is all for now jsjsjs

[bumblingbabooshka]

I love Vulcans we need to get more into the emotional lives of Vulcans without imposing Human standards onto them. "The way you feel is wrong/repressive because it's not the way it's "supposed" to be from my perspective as an alien called Human" is boring to me especially when it's treated as correct. I wanna know how the aliens feel about their alien way of life. Vulcans are so interesting to me when written AS aliens and not as analogous to repressed Humans. I think about Tuvok's description of attachment to his family and how that isn't the emotion 'love' but something else, something that he feels no shame about having and sees as normal, as naturally Vulcan and I love it and I love it because there aren't any Humans there to go "Um actually checkmate you Vulcan s.o.b - that's emotion!" and he isn't being influenced by anything. These are his authentic thoughts. He sees his children, his family, as part of him. They were at times illogical, incomprehensible, and it was extremely rewarding to be in their lives. He thinks about them every day. They were well behaved. As teens they were contemptuous of authority and convinced of their own superiority. His youngest son loved one 200 verse story so he sang it to him. He'd rather die than betray his wife even in spirit. He's incomplete without them. It's obvious through Tuvok that Vulcan life is not inherently devoid of pleasure, comfort, or love and thus Human life (I think) should not be portrayed as inherently having something greater, deeper, more meaningful. I'm not talking here of society but of...emotional life. Interiority. There's this sense that all Vulcans are the same and miserable for it. That they hold themselves back and are indistinguishable and antagonistic to the self, repressed and wrong. That to be Vulcan is to suffer endlessly and Humans are all about Freedom Man and I don't know, I like that Tuvok's existence sort of challenges this as much as I acknowledge that Vulcan society is in fact repressive and unwelcoming to those who don't fit neatly into it. I'm not saying Vulcan society is a utopia, I'm questioning the perception of Vulcan emotional control - that way of life - as being inherently bad, devoid, or lacking. That Vulcans walk around with 'empty cups' and are only deluding themselves that to be that way is good. If only, Humanity moans, they could taste how delicious life could be! Tuvok is an average Vulcan. He does not struggle with emotion, he is not mixed species, he was not raised atypically, and yet he has a family he cares about and a wife he's loyal to and friends he values and none of these things seem to be Un-Vulcan to him. If Vulcan life was truly devoid of love and care, Tuvok wouldn't think of his family. They're not here, so why bother? When his pon farr came, he'd be trying to find the most compatible mate rather than risking his life by trying to meditate through it out of loyalty to T'Pel. T'Pel would also have just given Tuvok up for dead instead of waiting and his children wouldn't have traveled all the way to the most holy temple on the planet to say prayers for his safe return. I think these things are interesting and I wish they'd been explored more. The fact that caring about your family, caring about your friends, is not Un-Vulcan. The fact that Tuvok at no point longs for Humanity, sees nothing better or of interest to him in it. (Even in his teenage rebellion he only says he's sorry he was born Vulcan which reads less as Vulcan v Human and more like 'I hate this goddamn family' ykwim?). I want to know more about how Vulcans interact with each other, how they care for one another, what it means and what it's like to be Vulcan in more of an everyday way rather than what it means to be Vulcan vs Human.

[scribz-ag24]

I've recently seen again a post talking about the Sableye and Dusknoir's relationship so i'd like to put my two cents in the discussion, for I love screaming into the void about PMD. (this isnt meant to discourage any other interpretations btw this is just my take on theirs and Dusknoir's relationship, bc I think they're very fun characters and I am very glad the game actually gives these minions a bit of relevance in se5).

Tbh I don't buy that Dusknoir treats the Sableye nicely, at least not out of kindness. I don't think he's a tyrant or inexplicably mean, of course, and I think his minions ADORE him, but i also believe that doesn't mean he's nice to them, sth that i consider meaningful for their character arcs.

Throughout the entire game he's exclusively giving them orders, in se5 he concocts a plan that involves thrashing them MULTIPLE times (he's lucky Grovyle isn't one to try and kill enemies in battle ig), and the cherry on top is that the first time we see him being fully genuine he does this:

(yes, he is in turmoil in here, but there's not a single thing implying that 1. this is an unusual response towards the sablye, 2. dusknoir feels bad for it at some point or is surprised at himself, 3. this has any impact in the sableye at all. You can argue these reactions happen off screen and we don't see them, they don't happen bc they have pressing matters to attend to or they happen after they return to life, and that's perfectly valid, but i'm sticking with what the game shows us, here.)

I must say, though, the fact that the Sableye, despite having been almost mindless pokémon up to now, STAND UP TO AND ATTACK Primal Dialga for their boss and even try to look after him despite him ordering them to check on Grovyle and Celebi first is SO important to me. they are goons to the bone and they love that scheming ghost so much.

My own view is that Dusknoir is generally polite to them (you wouldn't randomly break your own revolver or weapon without any reason, would you?), but is quicker to get mean with them than with people he doesn't know or he is seeking to manipulate. He doesn't care about their behaviour as long as they get the job done, which is why I think the anime thing of the Sableye climbing onto his shoulder isn't that remarkable, rather it's a very cute moment, one that is showing how they've been working together for long and how their size difference affects their interactions, but it is not necessarily conveying an affectionate bond (this is a bit random, but it reminds me of Disney's Jafar with Iago lmao. throw your pet sableye at your enemies so they mock them and then return to your shoulder). Additionally, Dusknoir letting the Sableye onto his shoulder is probably as close as we are gonna get to a villain turning around in his chair while petting a cat in PMD lol.

[this isn't meant to be a one-to-one comparison, it's just a detail i find cute and shows that this gesture can have multiple interpretations, with none being the only right one]

Leaving that aside, I hesitate to claim Dusknoir trusts his Sableye as allies, as Grovyle makes a point in the main story of how the Sableye (your Sableye, he says, as if objectifying them; not friends, but tools, weapons at Dusknoir's disposal) are lacking compared to the way hero/partner/grovyle support one another (power of friendship and hidden information babyyyy). The Sableye are used to Dusknoir's way of doing things, though, I'm sure. They know what happens when he's displeased, after all.

I think, most of all, the Sableye are meant to look disposable: they are 6 identical pokémon that almost act like a hivemind, and we are not supposed to think at all about how we may hurt them in battle any more than we do with the angry Manectric pack or random dungeon pokémon. This, I believe, is why the game has them stand up against Dialga and gives them unique dialogue at the end of se5. They're meant to show their inner shine, just as Dusknoir managed to do. They suddenly gain an individuality they had never shown while they were working to maintain the dark future.

Where they abandoned Dusknoir in the Old Ruins, now Grovyle has motivated them to look for their dignity and fight for a better world, and that starts with protecting their leader from Primal Dialga's rampage, and supporting his new objective and allies in their quest to save the future. In their own small way, they've also grown as characters throughout SE5.

I believe that, overall, Dusknoir saw the Sableye as tools, but thanks to their growth and clear care for him, there's a possibility he might start to see them (and by extension other pokémon) in a more genuine, less pragmatic / objectifying way in the future. Now that Dusknoir has the chance to live a fulfilling life, he may learn to care for others without surrounding himself by so many walls. If anything, I think their future is quite bright. Not that the Sableye would mind if he still thrashed them around, though lol, they're clearly not bothered much by it (special episode 0 had a great depiction of the sableye imo, you can check that romhack if you haven't yet).

In conclusion, look at these little guys who adore their can-get-mean-but-is-mostly-polite boss and probably have a body count but now are good, they're so cute:

[marshmallowgoop]

My @heishinvalentineexchange2025 gift for the immensely kind and patient @caliowl333, who graciously allowed me to participate with a video instead of fic or art! (And wrote me a 20,000+-word piece in exchange?! Oh my goodness!)

Song is the SadBois & NIO Remix of "Other Side" by ILLENIUM, featuring Vera Blue, which you can listen to in full here. Ramblings under the cut!

When I first began seriously video editing, I didn't think much about composition or how well clips flowed together—lyric sync was arguably my main goal, and anime pieces were thrown onto the timeline pretty much purely based on that.

Now, I put much more care into the very visual elements—the effects, the match cuts, the dazzle. But in the process, I fear that I'm losing what audiences found engaging about my early videos: the actual ideas.

So, for this AMV, I aimed to put the most effort into a strong concept. The titular "other side" is a world without the Black Organization, where Shinichi can freely be himself. Heiji is waiting for that world, where he no longer has to lie and pat Conan's head and pretend that they're not peers, and Shinichi is dreaming of that world because he's always dreamed of working with somebody just like him. The thought of meeting Heiji someday, when he first learns of his existence (Episode 490), fills Shinichi with excitement. He does a lot on his own, but he also loves working on a team—and doing so, being with people, sharing his enthusiasm with others—is what he wants more than anything.

(Heck, there's even a piece of official art called "Conan's Dream Vacation" where he dreams of playing beach volleyball with Heiji and Ran and Kazuha—as himself.)

Sure, you could argue that Shinichi simply enjoys working with Heiji as Conan because Heiji treats him as he truly is. But the times he spends as Shinichi with Heiji point to the fact that no, he just really likes deducting with Heiji. Eagerness, big smiles—in "The Scarlet School Trip" (Episodes 927-928), involving Heiji in the case of the day takes precedence over solving it himself, as he immediately shares what he knows and even jostles Heiji awake when he learns more, before doing anything else, because there's no way he's going to solve it alone. He doesn't want to.

But as things are, being Shinichi is pain. He takes an antidote, but it's poison. Being Conan is what's become "normal" and "comfortable," but Conan can't be what Shinichi is to Heiji. Conan isn't strong enough to catch Heiji when he's falling. Conan can't save him from bullets. Conan can't even talk to him naturally without hiding and secrets. His dreams have become nightmares.

And it can't be easy for Heiji, either. To see someone you care about suffering. To know that Shinichi is in a dangerous situation—and involving himself in it applies that same danger to himself. It'd make sense for Heiji to walk away and wash his hands of it... but Shinichi really wants him to stay. Despite everything, he wants Heiji to stay. For that someday when they can be true partners "on the other side."

I tried to say other things in here, too. Shinichi cementing himself as a precious person to Heiji by countering his insecurities with a one truth prevails and this isn't a competition and you don't have to prove yourself to me. Heiji finding Shinichi even after becoming Conan because he'll always find Shinichi, no matter what, because he's dreaming of being "on the other side," too (even if he didn't know it initially). Shinichi pushing Heiji away with coldness because maybe it's selfish to want him to stay, maybe it's cruelty to involve him, but he can't deny that he cares, that he wants Heiji with him, that he doesn't want to do this on his own.

And while I maybe still went a little ham on the effects, I do hope my ideas are the strongest of all! "No effects" versus effects comparison can be found here!

Thank you again for all your hard work organizing this event, Cali!!

[demaparbat-hp]

In your Spitfire AU, since Zuko is looking after Lu Ten II, what happened to Ursa?

Zuko is slightly older in the Spitfire AU. He was banished at fifteen, his head a little clearer and denial a little weaker than in canon. After his first look through the Air Temples, Zuko decides that if he can't find a myth, he might as well search for the next best thing.

Finding Ursa isn't easy, but in time he makes it to a secluded house in a near-forgotten part of the world. His mom is there, older and stronger and alive.

But she isn't alone.

And Zuko, as it turns out, didn't keep the best company during his search.

When Ursa is discovered and her secrets are laid bare for assassins (for Ozai) to find, she begs Zuko to take his little brother and run. She'll do anything it takes to protect her children, even if that means leaving them behind to keep a target off their back. Ursa diverts attention from them and allows Lu Ten's ancestry to be kept a secret. She orders Zuko not to follow her again, and disappears.

Zuko is left with a little three-year-old brother to raise and a mother he cannot hold onto.

[tonycries]

smex irl is scary what if I accidentally moan out suguru

A genuine fear of mine and it has only happened once 💔

[anbaisai]

Hi, Syder!!🍙💗💗💗 I was wondering what Mayu wears as her usual casual clothes!!😍 Would she have worn any rings or bracelets? Prefers skirts or pants more? You don't have to draw it🥺🥺🥺 You can find references or describe in words✨ Please take your time with the answer!!😭🙏❤️💖💗💕 And answer if you want!🥰

HAVE A NICE DAYYYY🐍💕💗💕💗

Hi Shuu!! ✨🐿 What a fun question!! I never really sat down to think about what Mayu'd wear outside of the NRC uniform, so I spent a couple days browsing and selecting clothes on several sites (hence me taking so long to answer this 😭) and came up with a few outfits ⬇

I think she generally gravitates towards comfy and practical styles! In addition to the stuff I drew above, she also likes big jackets and cardigans - kinda very "girl next door" vibes? Berets and capes also look really cute on her imo, you can see it on her chibi in this post. I really need to draw it some time, but if she could fully customize the NRC uniform she'd totally add a cape to it ww

In terms of accessories, she doesn't really wear them often! Maybe the occasional bracelet or necklace if it matches the outfit (or hair accessory if she styles her hair), but usually she doesn't have any.

[lonestardust]

9-1-1 LONE STAR : Props from Carlos and TK's wedding, framed photos from the loft

[anjellicles]

bunhe cosplaying for gege 🥰

[digi-lov]

Future Potential! P-156 from the Digivice 25th Color Evolution Anniversary