#OG Clan of Three

[thornescratch]

Anyway I for one think it is so nice that Din and Luke now have TWO small, cozy summer and winter homes on Nevarro and Ossus (with frogs!) in which to raise their small green Jedi-Mandalorian son. I think it is so nice they are doing occasional gig missions under the table for the New Republic, having a quiet domestic life together, and living happily ever after. That is so nice. I will remember nothing else from season three.

[cosmicdumpling]

cursed by the dawn's light » jeong yunho

SYNOPSIS: As a seasoned and solitary student of Jujutsu Tech, you value sternness, strength, and resilience. But when the relentlessly optimistic rookie sorcerer Jeong Yunho bursts into your life like a wrecking ball, his unyielding cheerfulness and enthusiasm begin to chip away at your carefully guarded emotional barriers, bringing a surprising light into your life, whether you want it or not.

PAIRING: yunho x fem!reader

GENRE/S: romance/fluff, angst with a fluffy ending, full fic

THEME/S: jujutsu sorcerers au, definitely a grumpy x sunshine fic, characters include the og jjk characters

⚠️ WARNING/S: profanities, violence (jujutsu sorcerers in action ofc), injuries, mentions of trauma and death

WORD COUNT: 9.7k

➺ MAIN MASTERLIST

You despise sunshine.

By sunshine, you don’t mean the literal sun— its warming rays are irrelevant to you. Rather, personalities like Gojo Satoru, who seem to constantly have a whole reserve of energy even when on the brink of death. 

Personalities like Gojo Satoru— the kind that exudes loquacity, laughter, and joy to the point of nausea.

Too bright.

That’s the first thought that strikes you upon seeing Jeong Yunho—a quirky boy trailing behind the exuberant, white-haired teacher as he leads him into the dorm’s common room. Yunho looks positively thrilled, completely unfazed by the environment he’s been thrust into.

Perhaps it’s because, as someone who guards themselves with towering walls of solitude, people like him and Gojo are overwhelming—draining rather than energizing. While you crave isolation, Yunho is the kind of person who bounds around, making friends and probing your every curiosity with reckless abandon.

Now, Jujutsu Tech seems to be home to not one, not two, but three annoyingly sunny dispositions (the other being Itadori save for Gojo and Yunho, of course).

Gojo Satoru is a master of persuasion, able to sway even the most stubborn soul to his side. If he were a bit more malevolent, he could easily be mistaken for an elusive kidnapper, even in broad daylight. As it stands, he’s toeing the line between mischievous and outright dangerous.

Because why on earth would he bring Jeong Yunho—a hopeful rookie with little understanding of curses, grudges, and violence—into the mix?

Then again, Gojo had taken you and Megumi Fushiguro under his wing when you were younger. It’s clear that you and Megumi were irreplaceable to him. Megumi’s father, a notorious sorcerer-killer who had wreaked havoc in the Jujutsu world, was a major influence, and his ties to the Zen’in clan—a powerful and influential family of sorcerers—added to his importance. As for you, your own past was marred by stories of struggle and notoriety, having been born into a world that held its own dark secrets.

So, despite the odds, you and Megumi had more than you seemed to lack. Even if those burdens often felt more like curses than blessings, you had something—something substantial.

But Yunho? He’s different.

Gojo had plucked him from the depths of the Miyagi slums, and you can’t help but wonder why Miyagi seems to breed such impossibly bright, extraordinary individuals. Itadori came from that very place, and he’s nearly as radiant and exuberant as Yunho.

“Hi everyone, I’m Yunho!” the new arrival announces with an enthusiasm that seems to fill the room. “I’m going to be attending Jujutsu Tech from now on!”

The greeting is met with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. You can’t help but frown slightly at the unrestrained cheerfulness that Yunho brings with him. His bright smile, his animated gestures—it’s all so... sunshine-like.

As you stand in the doorway, arms crossed, watching the interaction unfold, you feel a mix of irritation and reluctant fascination. Despite your best efforts to remain aloof, there’s something undeniably magnetic about Yunho’s presence. He embodies everything you’ve always thought you couldn’t tolerate—yet here he is, challenging your perceptions in ways you hadn’t anticipated.

“Yeah, welcome,” you manage to say, though your tone lacks the warmth that Yunho’s radiance seems to demand. “I’m Y/N.”

Yunho’s eyes light up as he turns to you. “Nice to meet you, Y/N! I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Probably not all of it’s true,” you reply, glaring at Gojo, who has an ever-cheeky grin on his face.

“Don’t worry,” Yunho says with a grin, “I’m sure we’ll get along just fine. After all, if I can handle Gojo, I can handle anything!”

Yuuji bursts into a hearty laugh, his voice brimming with excitement as he declares that they’re destined to become the best of friends. Nobara, never one to shy away from a bit of competitive banter, quickly jumps in, teasingly asserting that she remains the best and that Yunho will have a hard time surpassing her. Megumi, true to his reserved nature, remains silent, though his quiet presence feels more inviting than your own. You take another look at Yunho and see him already blending seamlessly into the group, his laughter mingling with Yuuji and Nobara’s as they joke and play around. The dorm’s walls resonate with their cheerful noise, and for a moment, Yunho’s exuberant spirit seems to light up the entire space.

God, you absolutely loathe sunshine.

The day Yunho officially begins his first day as a student of Jujutsu Tech is marked by a crisp morning and the usual bustle of students going about their training. You’re leaning against one of the pillars in the courtyard, trying to focus on anything but the inevitable interaction with the new student. The quiet is short-lived, though, as you catch sight of Yunho bounding toward you with an infectious energy that already feels too much for this early in the day.

“Good morning, Y/N!” Yunho greets you with a bright smile, his eyes twinkling as if the world were one big adventure waiting to be explored. “How’s your day going so far?”

You don’t bother to hide the sigh that escapes your lips. “It was fine until now.”

Yunho’s smile falters for just a second before it returns, undeterred by your less-than-welcoming tone. “I’m glad I get to see you! Gojo-sensei said you’re one of the best sorcerers here.”

Your eyes narrow slightly at the mention of Gojo. “Did he also tell you that I’m not a fan of unnecessary chatter?”

Yunho chuckles, completely missing—or ignoring—your annoyance. “He did, actually! But he also said you’re someone worth getting to know. And I’m pretty good at making friends, so I thought I’d give it a shot.”

You bite back a retort, instead fixing your gaze on some distant point beyond the courtyard, hoping Yunho will take the hint and move on. But he doesn’t. He’s still standing there, looking at you with that same infuriatingly cheerful expression.

“Look,” you finally say, “I’m not here to be your friend. I’m here to train, fight curses, and—most importantly—be left alone.”

Yunho nods as if he understands, though his expression remains unshaken. “That’s fair. I just wanted to let you know that I’m here if you ever need someone to talk to or spar with or, I don’t know, grab lunch with. No pressure!”

You glance at him, eyes narrowed. “You’re really not getting the message, are you?”

Yunho grins, a little sheepishly this time. “I get it, I get it. You’re the ‘lone wolf’ type. But everyone needs a little sunshine in their life, right?”

“Not me.” The words are sharper than you intend, but you don’t regret them.

Yunho steps back, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, I’ll back off. But the offer still stands.” He gives you one last bright smile before turning to leave, but not without adding, “And for the record, I think you’re more like the moon. Quiet, strong, and always there even if people don’t always notice.”

You blink, caught off guard by his unexpected comparison. But before you can respond, Yunho is already halfway across the courtyard, waving back at you as he heads toward the training grounds.

You watch him go, something unidentifiable stirring in your chest. He’s annoying, sure, but there’s something disarming about how genuine he seems. You shake your head, pushing the thought aside. You don’t have time for someone like Yunho—someone who radiates warmth and light like it’s the easiest thing in the world. You’ve built your walls too high, and you’re not about to let someone like him try to climb over them.

But as you walk away, you can’t help but think about what he said. About the moon. About being noticed.

And that’s what annoys you most of all.

It’s late in afternoon when you find yourself in one of the training rooms, trying to focus on perfecting a new technique. The space is quiet, just you, an enclosed space, a huge mirror, and your equipment— just the way you like it.

Or rather, just the way you liked it—until Yunho shows up.

“Y/N!” Yunho’s voice rings out across the room, breaking the silence as he bursts through the door. His face is lit up with excitement, and there’s an unmistakable bounce in his step as he heads toward you. “I finally found you! I was hoping we could train together.”

You barely glance up from your stance, tightening your grip on your weapon. “I’m busy.”

Yunho stops a few feet away, undeterred by your cold tone. “Busy training, right? That’s perfect! I could use some help with my hand-to-hand combat. Gojo-sensei said you’re one of the best at it.”

You sigh, finally turning to face him. “And why would I want to help you?”

He grins, that ever-present spark in his eyes making it impossible to ignore him completely. “Because I’m the new guy, and you’re the cool, experienced sorcerer who can teach me a thing or two. Plus, I bet sparring with someone like me will be more interesting than practicing alone.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Interesting? You mean annoying.”

Yunho laughs, the sound echoing in the large room. “You’re tough, but I’m persistent. I’ll grow on you eventually, just you wait.”

“Doubt it.” You shift your stance, preparing to return to your drills, but Yunho’s not done.

“Come on, just one round. I promise I won’t be a total pushover.”

There’s something in his voice—an earnestness that makes you pause. You study him for a moment, noting the determination in his stance. He’s serious about this, even if he’s doing his best to keep things light.

“Fine,” you relent, more to get him off your back than anything else. “One round. But don’t expect me to go easy on you.”

Yunho’s grin widens, and he quickly drops into a ready stance. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

The two of you circle each other, and for a brief moment, you almost admire his enthusiasm. Then you push the thought away, focusing on the fight. You lunge forward, testing his reflexes with a swift jab. Yunho moves quickly, dodging and countering with a speed that catches you off guard.

He’s not just fast—he’s strong, too. You feel the force of his strikes, each one growing more precise as the spar progresses. There’s no hesitation in his movements, no second-guessing. He’s focused, but there’s still that underlying warmth in everything he does, as if even in combat, he’s not just fighting—he’s having fun.

It irritates you, how easily he moves, how effortlessly he seems to balance strength with that infuriatingly sunny disposition. As the round continues, you find yourself pushing harder, testing his limits. You throw a particularly forceful strike, and to your surprise, Yunho blocks it, his smile never faltering.

“You’re really strong, Y/N,” he says, breathing heavily but still managing to sound cheerful. “This is awesome!”

You grit your teeth, not sure whether to be annoyed or impressed. “Focus, Yunho. If you’re too busy talking, you’ll get hit.”

“Right!” He nods, but there’s no missing the excitement in his voice. He’s enjoying this—enjoying sparring with you, despite the fact that you’re trying your best to wear him down.

After a few more exchanges, you decide to end it. You see an opening and go for it, sweeping his legs out from under him with a quick, fluid motion. Yunho hits the mat with a grunt, and for a moment, the room is silent.

Then, as you stand over him, expecting some sort of complaint or excuse, Yunho looks up at you—and laughs.

“That was amazing!” he exclaims, propping himself up on his elbows. “You totally got me there!”

You blink, caught off guard by his reaction. “You… aren’t upset?”

“Upset? No way!” He jumps to his feet, still grinning from ear to ear. “I learned a lot just now. You’re incredible, Y/N.”

You stare at him, unsure how to respond. He’s serious—genuinely thrilled, even after you knocked him flat. There’s no resentment, no frustration—just that same relentless positivity.

“Next time, I’ll be ready for that move,” Yunho adds, his eyes shining with determination.

For a moment, you’re at a loss. You’re used to people getting frustrated with you, annoyed by your bluntness, or intimidated by your skill. But Yunho… he’s different. His optimism isn’t a front; it’s real, and it’s starting to chip away at the walls you’ve built.

“Whatever,” you mutter, turning away to hide the confusion swirling in your chest. “Just don’t think this means I’m your friend now.”

Yunho chuckles, not at all put off by your cold response. “I wouldn’t dream of it. But I’ll still be here, whether you like it or not.”

You don’t respond, but as you walk away, you can’t help but feel that maybe Jeong Yunho is more than just an annoying ball of sunshine after all, and that’s what unsettles you the most.

The midday sun casts long shadows across the training grounds, illuminating the dust particles swirling in the air as Yunho and Gojo face each other in the center of the arena. A small crowd of students has gathered around to watch the sparring session, their murmurs of anticipation filling the otherwise quiet afternoon.

You stand apart from the others, arms crossed and eyes narrowed as you observe the match unfolding before you. 

Ah, unlucky him.

Gojo had a knack for training his students in the most unorthodox ways. For some unfortunate souls—like Yunho—this often meant being thrust into a sparring match with him before even learning the basics. While Gojo used these impromptu battles to gauge a student’s style and potential, it wasn’t the most welcoming introduction for newcomers. His teaching method involves putting his students through rigorous tests before he actually starts their training. It's his way of assessing their strengths and weaknesses.

Every jujutsu sorcerer harbors a touch of madness—an inner frenzy that fuels their power, and he wants to see what kind of crazy one is. 

Gojo flashes his trademark grin, his blindfold concealing the mischievous glint in his eyes. "Come on, Yunho! Show me what you've got!"

Yunho smiles back, his demeanor radiating warmth even in the face of such a formidable opponent. He settles into a defensive stance, his movements fluid but cautious.

The fight begins with Gojo launching forward, his speed blinding as he aims a swift kick toward Yunho's side. Yunho reacts just in time, blocking the attack with his forearm and sliding back slightly from the force. Instead of counterattacking, he takes a moment to regain his footing, eyes flickering with concern.

"Nice block!" Gojo praises, not missing a beat before darting in again with a flurry of punches.

Yunho dodges and deflects expertly, but each time an opening presents itself for him to strike back, he hesitates, opting instead to maintain his defensive posture. His face remains calm, but there's a noticeable restraint in his actions that sets your teeth on edge.

"Why isn't he fighting back?" you mutter under your breath, frustration creeping into your voice.

Yuuji glances at you, "Maybe he's just being careful? It is Gojo-sensei after all."

You ignore the comment, eyes glued to the arena as Gojo ups the intensity, his attacks growing faster and more precise. Yunho continues to evade, but the strain is beginning to show; beads of sweat form on his forehead, and his breaths come quicker.

"Yunho, you're not going to win by just dodging!" Gojo chides playfully, vanishing suddenly only to reappear behind Yunho, aiming a chop at his shoulder.

At the last second, Yunho spins around, raising his arm to block but not following through with a counterstrike. The impact sends him stumbling back, and a murmur ripples through the crowd.

"Come on, fight back," you hiss under your breath, clenching your fists tightly.

Gojo steps back, tilting his head curiously. "What's wrong? Afraid to hit your teacher?"

Yunho chuckles softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just don't want to accidentally hurt you, sensei."

A few students laugh at the notion, but you feel a surge of anger flare within you.

Gojo laughs heartily, clearly amused. "Oh? I appreciate the concern, but trust me, I can handle whatever you throw at me."

Yunho nods, taking a deep breath as he readies himself again. This time, he makes the first move, launching forward with impressive speed. He aims a punch toward Gojo's midsection, but his form is still hesitant, holding back just enough to lessen the potential impact.

Gojo effortlessly sidesteps, tapping Yunho lightly on the back as he passes by. "Better, but still too soft!"

The pattern continues, with Yunho attempting attacks that lack conviction, and Gojo easily evading or deflecting them. With each missed opportunity, your frustration mounts, a knot tightening in your stomach.

Anger.

It's what you feel as you watch him spar with the white-haired teacher who seems to be pleased with his defensive support battle style.

Gojo's pleased expression—one you’ve come to dread—is a clear sign of his satisfaction with Yunho’s performance. The boy is undeniably strong and brimming with potential, though he hasn’t yet mastered how to wield it. Gojo’s smirk reflects his delight at nurturing such raw talent, and if Yunho continues under his tutelage, he’s destined to become one of the strongest Jujutsu sorcerers.

But Yunho is a little... different.

One thing Gojo has discovered so far is that Yunho's fiercely protective instincts make him a challenging student. Yunho’s demeanor is typically bright and welcoming, but there’s a depth to his care for others that’s all too natural in his nature. It seems Gojo has to threaten someone to truly provoke Yunho into action.

Gojo’s eyes, hidden behind his signature blindfold, are locked onto Yunho. “You know,” Gojo calls out with a smirk, “I’ve always found that a little extra motivation helps bring out the best in my students.”

Yunho’s gaze sharpens, but before he can react, Gojo's movements are a blur. He’s suddenly in front of you, grabbing you by the arm with a grip that’s both firm and surprisingly gentle.

“Let’s see how much you care about your friend here,” Gojo says, his tone taking on a dangerous edge. “Yunho, if you want to see Y/N safe and sound, you’ll have to earn it.”

Yunho’s eyes widen, a flicker of panic crossing his face as he takes in the scene. Gojo pulls you closer, positioning himself as a barrier between you and Yunho. His voice is calm, almost mocking, as he continues, “I’m not going to hurt Y/N—yet. But how much will you risk to protect her?”

Gojo’s words are a calculated move to trigger Yunho’s protective instincts. The aura in the room thickens with tension, the air crackling with the energy of their confrontation.

Gojo’s voice rings out coldly, “I won’t hesitate to kill Y/N, Yunho.”

Yunho’s reaction is immediate. “You won’t do that… you’re a teacher.”

Gojo smirks, a glint of menace in his eyes. “Yeah, and the old higher-ups won’t execute Yuuji because he’s a student under their instruction.”

"Hey!" Yuuji yells from a distance, obviously not pleased about the comparison.

“It’s safe to say that I can and I will… if you don’t come and save her, that is.”

Yunho’s expression hardens, his fear morphing into fierce determination. 

Gojo’s grin widens. “You’re going to have to show me just how far you’re willing to go.”

With a swift, almost casual motion, Gojo shoves you back a few steps, but he keeps you within his reach. Yunho’s instincts kick in, and he lunges forward, his energy flaring as he tries to close the distance.

Gojo’s hand snaps out, catching Yunho mid-air with a burst of cursed energy that sends him crashing against an invisible barrier. The impact is jarring, but Yunho pushes through the pain, struggling to rise.

“You see, Yunho,” Gojo taunts, “every time you hesitate, Y/N gets closer to harm. Prove to me that you’re more than just a bright smile and endless enthusiasm.”

Yunho’s breath comes in ragged gasps, but his resolve is unshakable. He rises to his feet, his eyes locked onto Gojo with a fire that speaks of both his frustration and his fierce loyalty. 

With a determined roar, Yunho channels a powerful surge of cursed energy. The arena is engulfed in a wave of raw, golden light as Yunho unleashes a torrent of energy aimed directly at Gojo. The intensity of his attack forces Gojo to release his grip on you, his focus shifting entirely to the onslaught Yunho is unleashing.

You stumble back, catching your breath and taking in the sight of Yunho’s fierce determination. Gojo’s amused expression remains unchanged, but there’s a glint of respect in his eyes as he navigates the barrage of energy.

As the energy dissipates, Gojo lets out a satisfied chuckle. “Well done, Yunho. You’ve got spirit. But remember, this is just the beginning.”

You meet Yunho’s gaze, seeing the mix of relief and exhaustion in his eyes. The fight has tested his limits and brought out his protective nature. As the tension in the room starts to ease, you know this battle was not just a test of strength but a trial of his very character.

Gojo gives you a nod, his eyes gleaming with a knowing look. “Looks like Yunho’s protective instincts are well and truly triggered. Let’s see how he fares in the real battles to come.”

Yunho's not as efficient as Gojo, so of course, you got a little roughed up after getting caught into the training. But that wasn’t the reason why you were angry.

“Y/N! Thank God, that old man-child, I swear… Are you okay? Are you hu—“

“Stay away from me.”

Your voice is a sharp blade, cutting through the air. Yunho’s expression falters, but you don’t care to soften the edge in your tone. Your anger isn’t directed at the fact that you were used to trigger his instincts. No, it’s the sight of him standing there, looking more like a wounded, helpless puppy than a formidable sorcerer.

“I just don’t get it,” you snap, forcing yourself to take a step back, away from his outstretched hand. “You’re strong, Yunho. You have so much potential. But you’re wasting it. You fight to protect others, but what good is that if you can’t even inflict harm on our enemies when it’s needed?”

His eyes widen in confusion, a pained mixture of concern and regret clouding his usually bright gaze.

“I know,” you say, frustration lacing your voice. “I know you’re this big ball of positive energy, always radiating sunlight and believing in the good in everyone. You want to save the world, and you’re all about helping people. But here’s the thing—protecting others isn’t just about shielding them from harm. Sometimes, you need to be strong enough to confront and fight those who threaten them, not just stand in their way. What we’re up against isn’t some playground scuffle. We’re dealing with curses—yes, monstrous, grotesque curses. But the real fight isn’t just with those. It’s with the darkness that lurks within and around us, and you need to be ready to face that too.”

You inhale deeply, your gaze fixed on the ground, “We’re not just fighting curses anymore. We now fight people, too.”

Yunho starts to say something, but the words catch in his throat as you turn away, leaving him with the heavy burden of your disappointment.

“If you can’t summon the courage to fight, even when it means hurting others, or when something is at stake, then you’re not cut out for this. Here, you have to fight with everything you’ve got—no matter how much it hurts. No matter who you hurt.”

“You’re still awake, Yunho?”

The gentle cadence of Gojo’s voice pierces through the quiet of the common room, making Yunho jump slightly. He turns to see his teacher silhouetted in the doorway, a shadow of calm in the dim light.

“Hi, sensei. I was just—um, I couldn’t really sleep…” Yunho’s voice trails off, unsure of how much to share. His thoughts have been tangled ever since the earlier encounter, and sleep feels like a distant possibility.

Gojo steps into the room, his usual carefree demeanor slightly tempered by the soft glow of the evening. He surveys Yunho with a thoughtful look, the playful spark in his eyes dimmed. “Give Y/N some time,” Gojo advises gently. “She’s been through a lot. It’s not easy for her to open up.”

Yunho blinks, caught off guard by Gojo’s sudden insight.

Gojo leans against the doorframe, his expression shifting to one of rare seriousness. “Even when I took her in, it was more about providing for her than truly understanding her. She’s fiercely independent—learned to rely on herself more than anyone else.”

He continues, “I did take her in, house her and train her, bought her things here and there… but she grew up on her own. She’s always been fiercely independent, and she’s learned not to rely on anyone else, despite growing up under my care. Ever since she knew what environment she was getting herself involved in, she trained herself to separate her emotions from her duties as a sorcerer.”

Yunho nods, absorbing Gojo’s words. It makes sense now—why you keep everyone at arm’s length, why you seem so self-reliant.

Gojo’s gaze grows distant for a moment, and his voice takes on a somber edge. “She had a brother... Principle-wise, you could say that he was somehow like you; too kind-hearted for his own good. He was always trying to help others, even at his own expense. In the end, it was that same kindness that caused us to lose him. He couldn’t end things when he should have.”

Yunho’s heart tightens at the implication. He had heard whispers of a tragic past but had never grasped the full extent of it. Gojo’s words shed light on why you’re so guarded, why your heart seems so heavy despite your fierce independence.

A quiet settles between them, and after such a somber conversation, it feels like the night has reached a poignant, emotional clarity. Yunho speaks up after a moment of contemplation.

“Thank you, sensei.”

“For what?” Gojo raises an eyebrow, expecting Yunho to thank him for the advice, or perhaps for revealing something personal about you.

But Yunho surprises him. “For bringing me here,” he says, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. “I’m grateful I’m here.”

Gojo pauses, then smiles—a real, warm smile that’s rare to see. “You’re welcome, Yunho. Now, get some rest. You’ve got a lot ahead of you.”

As Gojo turns to leave, Yunho watches him go, feeling a little more at peace. He may not have all the answers yet, but he’s beginning to understand the people around him—and that’s a start.

The courtyard is bathed in the soft light of the afternoon sun, the air filled with the sounds of students going about their routines. You’re sweeping a bunch of leaves into a corner when Yunho approaches with a carton of banana milk in hand. His smile is as bright as ever, a contrast to your usual grumpy demeanor.

“Hey, Y/N!” Yunho’s voice is cheerful as he extendes the carton towards you. “I brought you something.”

You glance up from sweeping, taking the carton with a slight frown. “Thanks,” you mutter, not bothering to hide your annoyance. “I guess.”

Yunho’s grin doesn’t waver. “You’re welcome! I thought you might like it.”

As he turns to walk away, Yunho notices Yuuji standing nearby. Without much thought, he approaches him with the same enthusiastic energy.

“Hey, Yuuji!” Yunho calls out, “Do you want to train with me? I’m working on my hand-to-hand combat.”

“M-me?” Yuuji stammers, pointing to himself as if to confirm.

“Yeah!” Yunho nods eagerly, his voice fading as he approaches the flabbergasted boy. “I mean, if that’s okay with you?”

“I mean it is but… is something going on?” Yuuji asks, lowering his voice as he moves closer to Yunho.

“What do you mean?” Yunho responds, genuinely confused.

“You usually ask Y/N to train you, so I was a little surprised you’d ask me instead…”

“Oh, I’m just trying to give her some space,” Yunho explained with a casual shrug, and his usual smile on his face. “I realized I might have been a bit much lately.”

“I don’t blame him for failing to stay away from her to the point of suffocation; that brat really has incredible talent and charisma.”

Yuuji’s face goes pale at the familiar, sinister voice that rumbles from the mouth protruding on his cheek. “Ah!” he yelps, nearly jumping out of his skin.

“Sukuna, you jerk! Shut up and stop that, we’re on school grounds!”

Yunho laughs nervously, trying to shake off the tension. But before he can, Sukuna’s voice pipes up again, this time with a mocking lilt. “I look forward to battling you. Mind if I use a little strength on you, sunshine?”

“Sunshine? Really? You’re disgusting!” Yuuji snaps, trying to suppress the spirit’s influence.

“Why? You wanna be called sunshine too?” Sukuna taunts, his voice laced with amusement. “Don’t be bitter just because I call you a brat.”

“Shut up already!” Yuuji grumbles, his face flushed with frustration as he glances at Yunho, who’s trying—and failing—not to laugh at the exchange.

Soon, the two boys begin to spar in the distance, their movements a blur of energy and intent, while you, Nobara, and Megumi watch from a quiet vantage point, sweeping the area free of fallen leaves.

Megumi's husky voice cuts through the air, laced with a hint of disbelief. “You’re a hypocrite, you know,” he says, raising an eyebrow as he observes you from the corner of her eye.

“Huh?” You snap your gaze to him, caught off guard by the accusation.

“True. Yesterday, you basically told Yunho to fuck off in front of everybody. Just now, you were being sassy about him giving you a damn carton of milk. But now that he’s asking Yuuji to train him, you’re boring holes into the back of Yuuji’s head,” Nobara points out, her smirk widening as she sees your face flush with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

You frown, “I’m not jealous.”

“Oh, but I never said anything about being jealous,” Nobara grins cheekily, brows wiggling at your grumpy expression.

Despite your attempts to ignore and refute her claim, you found yourself glancing back at Yunho and Yuuji. Yunho’s laughter rang out, a genuine, carefree sound that contrasted sharply with the frustration you felt. You tried to ignore the twinge of envy and irritation, but it was hard not to let Yunho's infectious cheerfulness affect you. Seeing him so at ease and happy— in his natural element— was strangely comforting.

Despite the frustration, you find yourself staring at the banana milk carton in your hands, reading the messy writing scribbled in front. 

I’ll be better, just you wait! :)

The late afternoon light catches the scrawl, making the words seem almost as if they were glowing. Despite the intrigue, a small smirk makes its way on your lips when you snort in amusement.

He better be.

Gojo and Yunho are sparring again—if you can even call it that. To Gojo, it’s probably a way to pass time. To Yunho, it’s a chance to improve. 

The training ground hums with tension as you watch from the sidelines, arms crossed, your expression unreadable. You try to convince yourself you shouldn’t care about any of it, but your eyes remain fixed on the two figures in the center of the training field.

Yunho moves with precision, his footwork a blend of careful calculation and practiced agility. He anticipates every attack, his movements fluid and deliberate. Yet, despite his evident skill and potential, it’s clear what’s holding him back. Each strike he delivers is tempered by hesitation, an unspoken worry for the person across from him.

Anger bubbles up inside you again, though the reason remains elusive.

Is it the way Yunho wears that infuriatingly happy grin while sparring, as if the gravity of the situation doesn’t touch him? Or is it his unrelenting sunshine demeanor, that ceaseless ray of optimism that seems to benefit everyone around him but falls short when it comes to his own growth? Perhaps it’s the stark contrast between his vibrant spirit and the grim reality you grapple with daily. Or is it something deeper, a frustration you can’t quite name but feels like it’s gnawing at your insides?

Your frustration deepens as you watch Yunho, realizing that his reluctance to truly fight—to hurt if necessary—is not just a personal quirk but a barrier to his growth. It’s not just that he’s holding back for the sake of others; he’s doing so at the expense of his own potential. And that realization cuts deeper than you’d like to admit.

It’s not just about his fighting style or his incessant cheerfulness; it’s about the underlying fear that he might never reach his full potential because he’s too afraid to inflict harm, even when it’s needed. And that fear, that hesitation, is something you understand all too well.

As Yunho continues his practice, you find yourself grappling with a torrent of emotions—anger, frustration, and an unspoken worry that perhaps you’ve been too harsh, too quick to judge. You want him to fight, to push himself, to embrace his potential fully. But more than that, you realize, you want him to do it for himself, not just to fit into some ideal you’ve set.

Watching him, you can’t help but feel a pang of something you hadn’t fully acknowledged before—a mix of exasperation and genuine concern.

Gojo, as always, looks amused, his white hair gleaming in the fading light, eyes hidden behind his blindfold. He’s not even trying, just evading Yunho’s blows with an infuriating ease. There’s a smile playing on his lips, the one you know all too well—proud and teasing, like he knows something you don’t.

And then you see it again. Yunho pulls back, just slightly, before his fist connects with Gojo’s jaw, as if he’s afraid of hurting him. He’s always holding back, too worried about the impact of his own strength.

Pathetic. Weak.

But you know it isn’t weakness that annoys you so much. It’s something else. Something you refuse to admit.

He’s too soft. Too considerate. That kind of attitude will get him killed.

Your fists clench as the memory flashes in your mind. Your brother—his face pale, eyes wide as he tried to protect someone, and in the process, he had left himself open. His death had been quick, brutal, and the softness in his heart, the very thing that had made him love you so much, had also been his downfall.

The anger inside you twists and sharpens, coiling into a knot of frustration as you watch Yunho, another boy with too much potential and too little self-preservation.

Gojo dodges another half-hearted attack, his grin widening as he taunts, “Is that all you’ve got, Yunho? You’re not going to hurt me, you know.”

Yunho smiles in return, that ridiculous, bright smile of his. “I don’t want to hurt anyone,” he says, genuinely meaning it.

You snap.

"Stop it!" The words leave your mouth before you can control them. You stride toward the center of the training ground, your eyes burning with rage. Yunho blinks in surprise, lowering his stance, and Gojo looks at you with raised eyebrows, intrigued.

“Stop what?” Yunho asks, clearly confused.

“Stop holding back!” You shout, the frustration in your voice crackling like electricity. “You’re always holding back, worrying about others instead of focusing on winning! That’s not how this world works!”

Gojo’s smile fades a little, but Yunho takes a step closer, his expression softening. “I just… I don’t want to hurt anyone, Y/N. I don’t want to be like the curses we fight.”

“You idiot!” you hiss, taking another step forward. “If you keep acting like this, you’re going to get yourself killed!”

Yunho’s eyes widen, surprised by the intensity in your voice. He opens his mouth to say something, but you don’t let him. “You have all this potential, and you’re wasting it because you’re too damn soft! Do you think the curses care about your feelings? Do you think they’ll hesitate when they have a chance to rip you apart?”

Yunho’s smile falters. For the first time, there’s something else in his eyes—hurt, maybe, or confusion.

“Y/N…” he starts softly, but you’re not listening.

“You’re weak,” you spit out, and the words taste bitter on your tongue. You don’t mean them, not really. But you have to say it, you have to believe it, because if you let yourself feel anything else, you’ll remember. You’ll remember how someone like him, someone with a heart too big for this world, can end up dead.

Your brother’s face flashes in your mind again, and your voice cracks despite your best efforts. “You’re going to die, Yunho. And no amount of kindness is going to save you from that.”

The silence that follows is suffocating.

Yunho stands there, his hands lowered, no longer in a defensive stance. His eyes, usually filled with warmth, are now clouded with something else—something you refuse to look too closely at.

“I’m not him,” Yunho says quietly. “I won’t die like that.”

You turn away, swallowing the lump in your throat. “You don’t know that,” you whisper, more to yourself than to him.

Before you can say anything else, Gojo interrupts with a slow clap, his voice light but edged with something serious. “Well, that was a performance,” he says, grinning as he steps between you two. “Ah, young love!” He clasps his hands beneath his cheek, as if to emphasize the scene, clearly relishing in the drama.

You shoot him a glare, but deep down, you know he’s seen through you. Just like he always does.

“Shut up,” you mutter, turning on your heel and walking away, refusing to let them see the emotion simmering just beneath the surface.

The evening air is cool, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves outside the dorms. The halls are quiet, most students having retired to their rooms after a long day. You, however, are in the common room, curled up on the couch with a book in hand, trying to unwind. The dim light from the lamps casts a soft glow, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

That peace is short-lived.

For once, Yunho doesn’t burst into the room with his usual exuberance—no bouncy strides or radiant smile. Instead, his presence is palpable before you even catch sight of him. You remain engrossed in your book, barely acknowledging the change.

“What do you want?”

He hesitates for a moment before speaking again. “I… I wanted to talk about earlier. I could tell you were upset.”

“Upset?” You scoff, finally looking at him. “I’m not upset. I’m just frustrated that someone with your potential is wasting it by being too soft.”

Yunho steps closer, his voice gentle. “It’s not that I’m soft, Y/N. It’s just… I don’t want to hurt people.”

“That’s exactly the problem, Yunho! In our world, hesitation like that will get you killed. Do you think curses will show you mercy? Do you think they’ll hesitate to kill you? No. They’ll take every opportunity they get.”

He flinches at your words but doesn’t back down. “I know that, but—”

“Then why?” you interrupt, your voice rising. “Why do you keep holding back?”

Yunho stares at you, his eyes searching yours as if trying to find the right words. “Because I don’t want to lose myself in the process,” he finally says, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to become someone who only sees enemies, not people. I’ve seen what happens when you become consumed by the need to fight. You start seeing everyone as a threat, even those you’re supposed to protect.”

You’re taken aback, the harshness in your tone fading. “And you think being soft will make a difference?”

Yunho’s gaze softens. “Not soft. Just… compassionate. I believe there’s a way to defend without losing who you are. I want to be strong enough to fight, but also to remain someone who cares about the people I’m protecting.”

You open your mouth to argue, but the words catch in your throat. His sincerity hits you harder than you expected. In your battle-scarred world, you’d grown accustomed to seeing only the harsh truths, forgetting the power of empathy.

Yunho takes another step closer, closing the distance between you. “I know you’re only trying to help me, Y/N. But I need to find my own way. Please… just give me a chance.”

You feel the weight of his words settle in, and though you want to argue, you can’t ignore the sincerity in his voice. You let out a sigh, the anger slowly ebbing away, replaced by a reluctant understanding.

Before you can respond, you lose your balance as you shift your weight, perhaps due to the tension in the air, and you stumble forward. Yunho reacts quickly, catching you by the arm. But the sudden movement causes you both to lose your balance, and you end up pressed against him, your faces inches apart.

The hallway is silent except for your rapid breaths. The proximity is overwhelming, and you’re hyper-aware of how close you are to him. Yunho’s grip on your arm is firm but gentle, his expression filled with concern and something else you can’t quite place.

Before either of you can move, a voice cuts through the tension.

"How heartwarming to see such earnest affection!" Gojo’s voice rings out, startling you both. He stands a few feet away, hands clasped together and tucked beneath his cheek, a teasing grin on his face as if he’s watching the most heartwarming scene.

You snap your head toward him, sending him a glare that could freeze over hell itself.

“Sensei,” you growl, barely containing your irritation.

Yunho quickly steps back, releasing you, his face flushing with embarrassment. “It’s not what it looks like, Sensei…”

Gojo waves his hand dismissively, still grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Sure, sure. Just don’t stay up too late, lovebirds. You need your rest. I'm bound to Miyagi for a mission sent by the higher-ups for a couple of days, so take good care of yourselves, 'kay?"

But before he could fully leave, Gojo makes sure to turn his back one more time and say, "Oh, and no funny business in the dorms!"

"You—"

With that, he turns and saunters off, leaving you standing there, cut off and fuming, while Yunho tries to hide his awkwardness.

You let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through your hair. “That man is impossible.”

Yunho chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah… but he’s not wrong, you know.”

You glance at him, raising an eyebrow. “About what?”

“About you caring,” he says softly. “Even if you don’t want to admit it.”

For a moment, you consider snapping back, denying it, but something in his expression stops you. Instead, you just shake your head and start walking away, though your steps are less hurried, less tense.

“Just… don’t hold back too much, okay?” you mutter, your voice barely a whisper. You hesitate for a moment, then turn to face him with sudden urgency.

“Always take care of yourself first before helping others. It’s the only way you can truly be there for them. If you get hurt or worse, I swear I’ll—” Your voice cracks, and you quickly blink away your tears. “—I’ll make you regret it, you hear me?!” You turn abruptly, rushing into your room to shield yourself from the flood of emotions that follow.

Yunho smiles, watching you go. “I won’t, Y/N. I promise.”

Yunho lies in his bed, the dim light from his desk lamp casting long shadows across his room. His thoughts drift to the intense training session from earlier, recalling your frustration and your harsh words about his gentleness during combat. He replays the moment you told him to fight harder, to be more like a true sorcerer, and not let his compassion become his weakness.

He wanted to tell you how he struggles to balance his kindness with the harsh realities of their world. The brief reconciliation was a small comfort, a fleeting moment of understanding, but now, as he lies in the quiet of his dorm room, he dwells on these emotions. The night’s eerie calm contrasts sharply with the chaos of the day. He closes his eyes, trying to push away thoughts of the recent sparring match with you, and remembers the softness in your eyes and the warmth of your smile.

Tomorrow is a new day, and he will try again—try harder to be true to himself while also becoming the formidable sorcerer he aspires to be.

Just as he begins to drift into uneasy sleep, however, a loud explosion shakes the dormitory. The walls tremble, and the sound of shattering glass fills the air. Yunho bolts upright, his heart racing as the serene night turns into a nightmare.

He scrambles out of bed, quickly dressing and grabbing his weapon. The familiar hallways are now a maze of panic and destruction. Students run past him, their faces pale with fear. Curses, their twisted forms wreaking havoc, have invaded the campus.

Yunho’s hands shake as he runs through the corridors, his fear and anxiety threatening to overwhelm him. He had promised himself he would fight, but the sight of his friends and fellow students battling for their lives makes his resolve falter. The magnitude of the chaos makes him question his own strength and purpose.

As he approaches the main courtyard, he is met with utter devastation. Curses of all shapes and sizes assault the grounds, their malevolent energy crackling through the air.

The hardest part is Gojo’s absence. The meticulously planned attack leaves you and the others to fend for yourselves in the meantime.

Determined to overcome his fear, Yunho takes a deep breath and plunges into the fray. His strikes are initially hesitant but grow more confident as he fights alongside his comrades. His actions, though shaky at first, are driven by his resolve to protect those he cares about.

Despite his bravery, Yunho is unprepared for the battle’s intensity. He fights valiantly, saving several students from falling curses and pushing back against the dark forces. As he fights, his attention is drawn to you again, seeing you engage a particularly fierce curse with unwavering focus.

Unbeknownst to you, a smaller, insidious curse sneaks up behind you. Yunho’s eyes widen in alarm. Without hesitation, he rushes toward you, driven by a fierce determination to protect.

“Y/N, look out!” Yunho shouts, his voice urgent. He intercepts the hidden curse, destroying it with a swift, powerful strike. The curse disintegrates, thanks to Yunho’s timely intervention.

Startled by his sudden appearance, you quickly refocus on your battle. Yunho continues fighting, driven by a sense of duty and a desire to prove himself. He pushes through his fear and hesitation, fighting with every ounce of strength he has.

As the battle rages on, Yunho’s strength wanes. His injuries, sustained from the relentless combat, become more pronounced. Despite his exhaustion, he presses on, his resolve unwavering. The fight turns in their favor, but his own condition deteriorates.

Finally, the curses are driven back, and the campus begins to settle. Yunho collapses to the ground, his body battered and bruised.

You rush to his side, your heart pounding with a mix of relief and concern. Yunho’s severe injuries bring tears to your eyes. His breathing is labored, showing the toll of his bravery.

“Yunho!” you cry, kneeling beside him. “Are you okay?”

Yunho’s eyes flutter open, and he looks up at you with a faint, pained smile. “I definitely need to work on my hand-to-hand combat," he murmurs playfully, "You'll— ah, help me, won't you?"

Despite his injuries, Yunho’s expression is one of relief. His sacrifice and bravery hits you hard, making you feel both grateful and heartbroken. As his eyes close, his last glimpse of you shows a look of relief, his eyes giving him away in an instant— everything he thought of, everything he felt— he had said at that one moment.

“He’s dead? Aw, I liked that brat…” Sukuna’s mocking tone drifts over as Yuuji and the others approach, his disdain evident.

“Sukuna, shut up!” Yuuji snaps, frustration boiling over. “You’ve got no right to make light of this!”

“No, he’s not dead…” Shoko’s steady voice cuts through the tension. “But it might take a while for him to recover.”

Nearby, the sounds of assessing damage and tending to the wounded fill the air. The reality of the night’s events is sobering, and Yunho’s bravery is clear. As you stay by his side, you know that the battle may have ended, but the emotional scars and lessons learned will linger long after the night is over.

You approach Yunho’s bedside with a heavy heart. 

It’s not the first time you’ve found yourself at his side, though it feels like a lifetime ago when you’d come to him for the mundane—discussions about training, messages from Gojo, or dinner orders with Nobara when she would gather everyone’s orders for takeout— you’d come to him for times you couldn’t quite count.

But now, it’s different. You’ve spent countless hours watching over him, praying for any sign that he’s still with you. The days blur together, each one an eternity of worry. Your heart aches with the weight of your fears and hopes.

You gently take Yunho’s hand in yours, giving it a tender squeeze. The pulse you feel is faint, a fragile reminder of the life that still lingers. It’s not enough to ease the dread that tightens in your chest.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, you let his hand remain entwined with yours. You lean in, resting your cheek against the upper left side of his chest, just above his heart. The rhythm of his heartbeat, weak but steady, brushes against your skin, offering a small, elusive comfort.

He’s still here. But it’s still not enough.

You’ve told him so many times that he shouldn’t do things just for you—that you’d never fully appreciate it, that his actions should be for himself. Yet, as he lies before you, his body motionless and frail, you find yourself swallowing every harsh word you’d ever spoken.

“Wake up… please…”

You want to tell him to awaken and live for himself—to seize every opportunity and experience every joy he’s ever dreamed of. But the words catch in your throat. You’re not one to be a hypocrite, but now, faced with the possibility of losing him, you yearn to tell him everything you’ve kept hidden.

You want him to wake up so you can finally express how much he means to you, how deeply you value everything he’s done for you.

“Wake up…” you whisper, your voice breaking. “For me, please…”

In the distance, Shoko looks at Gojo with a mix of admiration and concern. “You’ve raised quite a lady, Satoru. I’m impressed.”

“Well, I’d like to say ‘What can I say? I’m the Gojo Satoru after all,’” Gojo replies with a wry smile, “but that’d be a lie. While I provided for Y/N as best I could, she’s grown into a remarkable woman on her own.”

“After the battle,” Shoko continues, “she came to see me at the clinic. She knelt in front of me, pleading for me to do everything in my power to save Yunho. She said she would do anything for me if it meant using every bit of my abilities to heal him.”

“I was taken aback at first,” Shoko admits, “thinking, who does she think I am? But then I realized she was desperate, terrified of losing the one person who has wormed his way into her heart.”

Gojo watches as you quietly excuse yourself, slipping out of the room to find a more private space, likely to cry. The past few weeks have been tough, and it’s only now, in the solitude, that you fully grasp how much darker everything felt without Yunho’s light.

The faint hum of the heart monitor is the only sound that punctuates the silence, its rhythmic beeping offering a small comfort amidst the uncertainty. The others are gathered around his bed, their faces a mix of concern and quiet anticipation. They’ve been waiting, just like you, for any sign that he’s coming back to them.

Then, there’s a subtle shift. A slight twitch of his fingers, a flicker of his eyelids, and Yunho stirs. The collective breath everyone has been holding seems to release all at once, and the room is suddenly alive with movement.

“Yunho!” Nobara exclaims, her voice barely above a whisper but full of emotion.

Footsteps pad softly into the room, and soon, you stand at the threshold, watching the steady rise and fall of Yunho’s chest as he's gently greeted awake by the others.

You remain rooted to your spot for a moment, your heart pounding in your chest as you watch the others crowd around him. The relief is palpable, washing over you in waves, but there’s something else too—something deeper that makes it hard to move, to speak.

Yunho’s eyes flutter open, slowly adjusting to the dim light. His gaze, though still hazy, searches the room until it lands on you. You swallow hard, your emotions threatening to overwhelm you as you step forward.

When Yunho catches sight of you, his face softens even more. The others instinctively make way, and you find yourself beside his bed.

“Hey,” He greets, a bashful smile on his lips, "I'm so—"

Before he can continue, you cut him off. You reach up, pulling him close and pressing a soft, decisive kiss to his lips. The unexpected gesture silences him instantly, his breath hitching in surprise.

As the kiss lingers, the room fills with a chorus of jesting groans from everyone. They playfully tease, their comments filled with exaggerated disgust and mockery.

“Ugh, get a room, you two!” Yuuji teases.

Megumi just shakes his head, but even he can’t hide the small smirk tugging at his lips.

“Seriously, a bit of respect for us singles, please? Anybody?” Nobara rolls her eyes playfully.

“Ah!” Gojo exclaims exaggeratedly, “And there you were, denying anything about young love every time I preached.”

Despite the playful teasing, the moment between you and Yunho is tender and deeply intimate. Your kiss speaks volumes, conveying gratitude and affection in a way words could never capture.

You pull back slightly, both of you breathless, and see Yunho’s eyes shining with a mixture of love and relief. The overwhelming emotion of the past days seems to melt away in the warmth of his gaze.

As you sit by his side, you hold his hand tightly, feeling the warmth of his touch and the pulse of his heartbeat. The ordeal has left you both exhausted and emotionally drained, but the relief of having him awake and safe overshadows everything else.

What truly matters is that he’s here.

And with his presence, the sun seems to shine brighter once more.

Amid the rebuilding and healing, Yunho is finally regaining his usual energy.

He sits in his dorm room, surrounded by cheerful get-well-soon cards, an assortment of colorful fruit baskets, and the soft, comforting hum of healing spells administered by Shoko. His infectious laughter, once subdued by pain and fatigue, now fills the room, a reminder of his resilient spirit.

“Seriously, Yunho, how many fruit baskets did you get?” Yuuji laughs, playfully nudging Yunho’s shoulder.

“Hey, I’m not complaining!” Yunho grins, his eyes sparkling with his characteristic cheer. “I think I’ve got enough fruit here to start my own smoothie bar.”

Nobara, leaning against the doorway with a smirk, chimes in, “And here I thought you’d be more into strawberry milk than fruit baskets.”

Yunho’s grin widens. “You know me too well. But this is pretty sweet too.” He gestures to the piles of fruit. “Besides, you all deserve to see me back in action, right?”

Shoko, adjusting her healing spells, glances over with a soft smile. “You’re looking better, Yunho. Just try not to overdo it. We don’t need another round of healing.”

“I promise, no more crazy stunts,” Yunho assures her with a wink. “At least, not until I’m fully recovered.”

You watch from the doorway, feeling a mix of relief and something deeper tugging at your heart. The fight tested you in ways you hadn’t anticipated, revealing vulnerabilities you’d long kept hidden. Yunho’s reckless bravery and his refusal to let others down stir emotions within you that you’ve tried so hard to ignore.

“Hey,” Yunho calls out, catching your eye. “Come in and join us! You’re missing out on the fun.”

You hesitate, then step inside, feeling the warmth of his presence like a gentle embrace. As you move closer, Yunho’s cheerful energy wraps around you, lifting the heaviness you’ve been carrying.

“You’re looking a lot better,” you say, trying to keep your tone casual.

Yunho’s eyes soften, and he flashes you a bright smile. “Thanks to all these amazing people,” he says, his gaze briefly meeting yours. “And you, too.”

You’ve always thought you knew what love was—something practical, perhaps even utilitarian. But Yunho shows you a different side, one that is vibrant and full of warmth. He embodies everything you once thought you couldn’t tolerate: the unwavering optimism, the radiant smile, and the incessant cheerfulness.

As you watch him interact with the others, a warmth spreads through you, a sense of contentment you haven’t experienced before. In Yunho’s sunny presence, you discover a new understanding of love—one that is as powerful and transformative as the very sunlight he embodies.

In the gentle light of the morning sun, as Yunho’s laughter echoes through the hallways, you accept the truth with a serene smile. You love him not just despite his sunshine-like personality, but because of it. He has become a source of warmth and joy in your life, a reminder that even amidst the shadows, there can be light.

As Yunho reaches over to grab a fruit basket, he spots you and grins. “You know, I thought of something for you.” He pulls out a small, brightly wrapped package from one of the baskets. “A little something to brighten your day, just like you’ve brightened mine.”

You unwrap the package to find a small, hand-carved wooden sun. It is intricately detailed, its rays spreading out like a warm embrace.

“Thank you,” you say softly, touched by the gesture. “It’s perfect.”

Yunho’s smile widens, his eyes reflecting the same warmth as the sun.

As the days grow brighter and recovery continues, you find solace in the fact that you are no longer alone in the darkness. Yunho has, in his own unique way, brought you closer to the warmth and love you had been missing.

Hell, he should be practically everything you hate. 

But God, did you love him even more than the things you always loved.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: wow, it's been a year since i've posted HDBJABDH making up for lost time with this new fic i recently wrote after finally getting to rewatch jujutsu kaisen in my free time! i hope you guys enjoyed this one, especially my co-otaku-tinys out there! lmk what you guys think ♡

[teriri-sayes]

Reactions to Crazier Bastard's Chapter 305

Brief summary: 5 people from CP came. HD meets his disciples, Clopeh and Hannah. HD wants to spar with CH.

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The first batch of CP people came, and they were:

Heavenly Demon - leader of the Demon Cult

Fist King Mok Hyeon - representing the imperial family

Jegal Mi Ryeo - female general commander of the Murim Alliance's military force; Caleism believer (?)

Tang Yu - Poison Queen; 50 y/o matriarch of the Tang Clan of Sichuan

Sima Jung - Trash of the Evil Alliance; son of Sima Pyeong, the Evil Alliance leader; Toonka's friend

All of them were surprised to see Cale's true appearance. Sima Jung immediately searching for Toonka was cute though. 😂 There was a funny scene between him and Raon:

Sima Jung: I greet the great elder. Sheritt: ??? eyes shaking Sima Jung: My father told me to always ask the great elder how he is, and to treat him with courtesy. Raon: tilts head ??? Sima Jung-ya! Why am your great elder? I'm only 7 years old! Sima Jung: No. He is my father's teacher, so I should call him with a great title, but please understand that I have not forgotten the lessons of the great elder, so I can only call him this. Raon: Hmm. I don't mind! Sima Jung: That's what I want to do. Great elder. Raon: Then do so! Cale: confused Fist King: Before we came here, he was beaten up by Sima Pyeong for three days and nights. Cale: Aha. immediately understands

Sima Pyeong is a great dad... 😂😂😂 Now if only Deruth had disciplined trash Cale... but I guess everyone secretly knew that og!Cale was just acting trash? Anyway, Sheritt's reaction to her son being called great elder was so funny. 🤣🤣🤣

If I recall, Jegal Mi Ryeo was somehow converted (?) to Caleism in the CP arc by the end, so I'm now excited to hear Kim Hae-il's current reputation in CP. Did Cale get more murim titles? 😂

What happened to Tang Yu was sad. The Dragon Lord of Aipotu destroyed her hometown of Sichuan, and half of her clan died during that time. Fortunately, the kittens were interested in her. Tang Yu and Hong recognized each other's poison, and On (and Ron) seemed to be interested in her assassin-like skills.

While the four were led to their rooms by Ron, Cale personally guided HD to HD's assigned room in the Black Castle. Why? Because Cale wanted HD to meet his "disciples", the people who inherited his power.

Hannah was acting awkward, but grateful to HD. But she was shocked when HD said she swung her sword ignorantly. She thought he was calling her ignorant, but HD was actually complimenting her. He said that it was just her style, and did not mean she herself was ignorant.

However, HD said that CH would be a better teacher to her. He described HD as someone who pretended to be gentle but was clever, and pretended to be ignorant but was troubled a lot. If you think about it, Hannah and CH are similar. Well, except the gentle part? Did Hannah ever pretend to be gentle in the past? Ah, that's right. She was gentle when in her holy maiden days.

Clopeh though... 😂😂😂 HD correctly figured out that he was a snake bastard, and both Cale and Raon were impressed. 😂HD described Clopeh's sword to be like an imoogi, and that Clopeh had the potential to surpass CH. Clopeh kept smiling all the time, and CH just shrugged.

The author showed her bias towards Clopeh again. Like, is there a need to mention his white hair and green eyes every time he appears in a chapter? Or be constantly reminded that he had a noble or holy appearance and smile? 🤣🤣🤣

HD was such a Male Lead-like character, and I think a lot of people agree, perhaps even the author herself. He even dropped the famous "How interesting" line (to his disciples). And then being revealed to be the most powerful person in Central Plains. I want to be excited with his upcoming spar with CH, but knowing the author, this would happen behind the scenes.

Ending Remarks I am so happy to see the CP people again, especially HD. 🥰 Next up would be Cale's talk with Exion regarding the Dragon Lord. Hopefully, this would be short as I would like to see Cale's interaction with the CP people again.

[starry-bi-sky]

Just the idea of clone Danny and clone Talia working out much bette then him and Talia would confuse poor Bruce. And best part all 4 of them don'T believe he is batman Danny: "We know he is your Sugarbaby, Mom and dad talked about it." Clone Talia:" So no fear, my OG liked a Himbo. And well Danny is a one too."

FR THO AND THEN THERE’S BABY DAMES IN THE CORNER SWEATING BECAUSE HE KNOWS. HE KNOWS. THE LoA TOLD HIM. He’s not saying SHIT though because this is hilarious. He’s silently laughing in the corner. And yessss Clone Danny and Clone Talia working out much better is exactly why I thought of it -- because one its funny and two the potential angst. the could have been.

It doesn't ever occur to Bruce to tell them he's batman but that conversation still comes up during mealtime one day while Danny's recovering (he has to be tied to his chair because he found the gym and nearly dislocated his shoulder trying to train. Dammit Danny your bones are made of glass right now from destabilizing, let your cells repair before doing anything!) because the four of them were talking about Batman and his clan of kids.

Danny, frowning: im not a himbo?

Nasra: reportedly when you first met Damian, your first response to his attacking you was to... grab the blade with your hands, multiple times. This resulted in you slicing a nerve in both hands and permanently weakening your fine motor control.

Danny: well--

Nasra: even now you're rubbing your palms, you only do that when your hands are bothering you.

Damian, snapping his head up: what!?

Danny: you noticed that?? also i learned. I didn't repeat myself when you attacked me when we met, did I?

Nasra: i. suppose not. you're still a himbo, however.

also Danny does his usual 'run on negative sleep' bullshit while in the manor except now he has not only damian but also Nasra tag-teaming his bullshit. Like no, Danny. you need sleep to recover your strength. your ghostly investigation can wait until you're not about to pass out and break your nose on your laptop. They have whole ass arguments in arabic - all three of them - as damian AND nasra drag danny to the closest soft horizontal surface. Danny returns the favor to the both of them when those two are also doing their 'negative sleep' stuff.

Dick at bby Dames: so do you....

Damian: know that you guys are Batman and his family? Yeah. Grandfather and Mother told me before I was living with Danny.

Tim: how come Danny and Nasra don't know then?

Damian: I didn't think it was important to tell Danny that his original was Batman. He does know of the League, however. He calls Grandfather my "super evil, ecofascist grampa and his cult of killers" and doesn't want to know more out of worry of needing to get involved.

Dick: I - really?

Damian: yes, he figured that since grandfather had yet to successfully wipe out my original, then that whatever Damian Wayne was doing was working. And that if he knew more, then he might have to get involved, and he has own problems to worry about than the League of Assassins.

[cryptidclaw]

Whisperingclan Moons 14-16

Three moons this time bec not as much happened in these moons :P

Moon 14:

Lots of cats got Omens this moon. MAN this game is really feeding into my lore to this clan, i dont even have to try lmaoo

TW! heavy Blood mention

I decided to write up what some of the prophecies were... thank you to the game AGAIN for giving prophecies to my favorite cats LOL

also sorry Weedpatch, I love you but I also torment you with terrible visions

Moon 15:

Butterfly freckle had her babiessss!!!

in order we have Gullkit, Partridgekit, and Heronkit! The gray babies are male, and the orange one is female!

Moon 16:

Frostfleck disappeared for a few days and came back with a collar???

he thinks it makes him fashionable <3

this also means his design art gets an update! from now on if a cat gets a small change like a scar or accessory i will be adding it to their og design!

oh also Creekslip is out of the med den (a rare occurrence for her)! But for how long…

...

Whisperingclan Year 1 | Previous Update | Next Update

[chocol4tte]

I've been reading some of dimension travel with kakaobi (also, i only know some basic information and plot of Naruto, Im yet to read the manga (NOTE: ITS JUST THE BASE OF THE IDEA, THEY MIGHT BE SOME CHANGES LATER ON), but tbh, I would love to bring over team 7 to a world where:

Minato and Kashina are both alive, with Minato as the Hokage, but Naruto died as a baby due to some Chakra complications

The Uchiha clan is very much alive thank you

Obito and Rin are alive, except for Kakashi :)

Sakumo is alive, retired, and suffering~... he is one of Obito's favorite people

The Og!team 7, after fighting Kaguya and losing (Obito died a little earlier before he and Kakashi could even speak), using Kamui, they are transported to a different dimension without knowing it, thinking that maybe, they were send to a different.

When they realize that it's not their world, it becomes somewhat, bittersweet for most of the team.

The idea of Minato and Kushina crushed that their only son died and were too afraid to ever try again, that they focus their energy and love into their two remaining students. Kushina will always sigh at the sight of babies and kids, but will deny it (Kurama would try to feed her despair and fears bc he is still full of hatred). Minato would put his mind into Hokage mode to make sure he is distracted of kids laughs and playful screams; yet both still love each other very much.

Rin and Obito kind of became only friends, protective of each other as well, due to Kakashi's death; Rin is on her way to becoming a doctor, she is still very kind and sweet, yet firmer than ever. Obito started behaving a little but like Kakashi, more serious, punctual and with more discipline... I would love that at some point, he would've tried to become Kakashi, if not for Sakumo, who stopped him. (TBH, I kinda want to write this very much).

Sakumo didn't kill himself in this timeline, he lived with the shame of the failed mission, a disgraceful ninja who nobody wanted to look at. He lived to keep Kakashi safe until he became a proper adult, however Kakashi hated him because of his actions, and like the entire community, he decided to ignore Sakumo.

Like in Canon, Obito would most likely made Kakashi realize that Sakumo is indeed a hero despite no one saying the contrary.

Kakashi still loses his eye to protect Obito, from an attack and Obito is still half crushed by a rock and saved by Madara.

HOWEVER

Kakashi is kidnapped instead of Rin, he saved her and fought teeth and nails against the other ninjas...

Now, when Rin escaped, she was found by Sakumo, Minato and other shinobi, all going to defeat the enemy, unaware that Obito was also running to save his friends, however when they arrived they only found the corpse of little Kakashi

They never got to put the Three-tailed Beast inside of him, due to his insistant fighting Kakashi was killed and the plan was cancelled. Cue to Sakumo showing why he was the feared White Fang and going all out to avenge his son.

Obito arrives just when Sakumo and Rin are holding the lifeless Kakashi and welp... the rest is history.

Man, I love the idea of Sakumo taking care of Obito and teaching him through the years. Full of angst, fluff and heal. Both making sure of take care of the other mentally, emotionally and physically.

I'm thriving to imagine not only the reunion with all the people that they lost and the consequences!!!

Edit: check the tag: Tell me About Grief

[messenger-of-stupidity]

Five Random Redacted Headcanons

Okay i havent really slept for a solid amount of time of sleep for like 48 hours now but i need yall to hear me out on this.

Redacted Masterlist

OKAYREADYSETGOMOTHERFUCKERS!

1) The Shaw Pack has a random XXL sweater that just circulates around. No one is sure who the original owner is, nor if the OG owner is still in the pack or alive. But whenever one of them is having a rough day, whoever had the sweater previously will bring it to them. It’s a communal comfort object. It also has like... pasta sauce stains and other food stains from the pack’s comfort food and yes it frustrates David to no end that he can’t get the stains out. The design has long since been washed away. 

Optional: Once the mates (especially Baabe because they are artsy I can feel it in my endocrine system.) get their hands on the sweater, they write little encouraging and comforting phrases for the next person. After a few cycles in the washing machine the ink fades away but the sentiment remains.

2) On Darlin and Sam’s second legit date that wasn’t Darlin bleeding out or having a breakdown or anything, they dragged Sam into the woods. He was slightly concerned that they were going to kill him because it was giving off major serial killer vibes. But it turns out they set up a big hammock between two trees and the two of them spent most of the night cuddled up together in the hammock watching TV on Sam’s phone (William pays for unlimited data and he can get signal in the woods) and eating gummy worms.

3) Pre-turned Lovely had a whole arsenal of electricity related jokes that William supplied to them to use on VIncent if he ever got on their nerves. I imagine it went something like this:

Vincent: -Which is why I’m right, Lovely.

Lovely: Well you know what I’m right about?

Vincent: What?

Lovely: How many DAMN students it takes to change a lightbulb.

Vincent: How many?

Lovely: One. Me. 

The jokes aren’t good or funny, but they got to act like it was a big deal and if anyone in the Solaire clan heard them, they would hype Lovely up and make Vincent feel like the silly bbg that he is.

4) One of the times that Aaron pissed Smartass off (post-confession) they purposefully dumped a bag of chips and packages of crackers on the bed and stomped all over it to make sure the crumbs were really small. It was only after this that they remembered that they sleep in the same bed as Aaron and would suffer as well. They have yet to emotionally recover from this.

5) David and Angel have a little chalkboard that counts the days between Angel being an unapologetic flirt. The counter has stayed at a consistent zero for the past seven months because Angel has been texting David daily to ask for nudes. He refuses to send them, but they persist for the hope that they might convince him that the only way their three brain cells will survive is if they see a Davey nude. He tried to get them to stop asking by threatening to make an onlyfans but they only hyped him up for it because it meant they could get nudes for sure then by paying money.

[aroaceashfur]

power of three AU (i made this back in 2022 on an old acc)

the power of three arc still happens, but hollyleaf has a power, and breezepelt and heathertail do as well

while this arc starts, the five original leaders’ spirits are fading- so they choose to reincarnate into five young cats. jayfeather is the reincarnation of riverstar, hollyleaf is the reincarnation of shadowstar, lionblaze is the reincarnation of thunderstar, heathertail is the reincarnation of windstar, and breezepelt is the reincarnation of skystar.

lionblaze has super strength and while he is injured in battle has had super strength which is shown in his part of dismantling the beaver dam

jayfeather can walk in dreams but cannot interact with any cat in the dream, including the dreamer. he also cannot see in his dreams as well

hollyleaf can sense whenever someone is lying and/or breaking the code. the latter makes hollyleaf’s fur tingle whenever she is near leafpool, a sign of breaking the code and/or lying

heathertail has super speed, alongside with her natural windclan speed

breezepelt’s wounds heal very fast and easily, leading to how he can withstand the dark forest for so long

the fire scene still happens, but heathertail and breezepelt witness it since windclan came to help thunderclan evacuate.

breezepelt is angered since he befriended hollyleaf in the tunnels (instead of lionblaze and heathertail) and leaps at ashfur and knocks him into the fire, killing him and burning breezepelt

squirrelflight lies to thunderclan and windclan, saying that while breezepelt was helping ashfur escape, ashfur lost his footing and breezepelt got burned while trying to rescue him

squirrelflight ends up telling the clans the truth at the gathering, backed up by her adopted kids, heathertail, and breezepelt, who sees her as his adoptive mother due to his parents’ toxicity.

the clans dont know what to do. the leader of thunderclan’s daughters both broke the code, but brambleclaw immediately defends his mate and their adopted kids, and firestar swears if anyone tries to hurt his daughters or his grandkits he will attack them

the clans dont really wanna go to war with thunderclan, so they shrug their shoulders and look the other way

squirrelflight doesnt reveal their biological father, due to the request of breezepelt, as he doesnt want the relationship between crowfeather and nightcloud to become even more restrained breezepelt and heathertail end up joining thunderclan, due to breezepelt feeling unsafe and unwanted in windclan due to his support of squirrelflight and the trauma of his parents. heathertail goes with him happily, pregnant with his kits, who are dovewing and ivypool after this entire event the clan leaders rewrite some parts of the code, mainly half-clan relationships and medicine cat rules. half-clan relationships are allowed, but one must join the other in their clan to prevent the cat from being disloyal. medicine cats can now take mates and have kits, but can only have kits if they have an apprentice, second medicine cat, or if someone (brightheart for example) has healing knowledge. med cats can have half-clan relationships without joining the other’s clan due to not fighting in battle. mothwing and leafpool are mates, and jayfeather and kestrelflight are mates. hollyleaf is in a polyamorous relationship with hazeltail and cinderheart. lionblaze is mates with berrynose. breezepelt and heathertail are mates and heathertail gives birth to dovekit and ivykit (neither have powers) similar with cinderheart and cinderpelt, once the five’s mission is done to rewrite the unfair code, they become separate identities to the five og leaders, whose spirits are rejuvenated due to being in live bodies, and who wanted the code to change

[voxofthevoid]

Time for Role Reversal Fem!Goyuu Wednesday 1!

I'm one(1) chapter into the story. It's only 3k, but given that it's got 0 sex despite how this story was supposed to be a pure pornfest, I think we can all see the writing on the wall. I will, however, bitch and whine all the same. The current plan is seven chapters, all fully outlined, but if the sex scenes or setup gets too long, the number may grow; that's what happened to Chapter 1.

The funny part is that I'm sure this chapter became...well, a chapter, as opposed to an intro scene or two, because this is my first time tackling goyuu role reversal from the inception instead of leaping into a point where Yuuji and Satoru are established teacher and student.

Anyway, it's been fun writing fem!Yuuji with Sukuna's OG form. I think this may end up catering to the folks who want to fuck Lady Dimitrescu—which would be great tbh.

Venture forth to find a 7-ft tall woman whose muscles ate you for breakfast 🍑

Satoru doesn’t have heroes.

Humans in general aren’t well suited to pedestals, and sorcerers in particular are worse. Satoru is a clan child, born blessed and grown only more so; she has seen all extremes of what their sequestered world has to offer. There’s more bad than good, more horrors than miracles, and that’s as true of sorcerers as curses.

It’s just as well.

She’s Gojou Satoru; she does not need heroes.

What she does have are stories. Two, specifically—a woman who was once a calamity and another woman, a thousand years later, who ate that calamity piece by piece. It’s been barely fifteen years since Itadori Yuuji’s name was burned into the history books alongside that of Ryomen Sukuna, a footnote that became the master title, and Satoru’s been alive and aware for nearly all of them.

Her childhood obsession was the King of Curses and her vessel-turned-devourer. She’s ingested every neatly bound book and dusty, disintegrating scroll in the Gojou clan’s possession that so much as references the Sukuna. Itadori has fewer records, but she’s alive and thriving, the strongest sorcerer in the world. Her name is voiced with equal parts fear and revulsion, the worse fools daring even condescending disdain, but Satoru’s heard more in what they don’t say than what they do.

Itadori Yuuji is a monster; she is a sorcerer.

She is—

“Are you some kind of pervert?” Satoru asks.

Itadori blinks all four of her mismatched eyes, the lower pair a few milliseconds slower than the primary one. She tilts her head, looking not unlike a puppy—an oversized, three-headed puppy.

A seven-foot-tall behemoth of a woman with her tits out has no business looking cute, but that doesn’t stop some small, senseless part of Satoru from swelling like she’s bring pumped full of sunshine and roses and other sicky sweet things.

Itadori asks, “Do you want me to be?”

Suguru makes a choking noise. Her hand snaps around Satoru’s wrist, squeezing tight in silent warning.

“What? No!” Satoru snaps, digging an elbow into Suguru’s side. She thinks she’s being subtle, with how the two of them are pressed so close together, but Itadori’s lower left eye drops to where the pointy edge meets Suguru’s flesh. Her expression doesn’t change from that pleasant smile that only reaches half of her eyes, and she doesn’t say a word in censure, but that eye stays there, even as the other three bore into Satoru like Itadori’s waiting for an answer.

Satoru drops her arm and takes a slight, shuffling step away from Suguru.

“Please forgive Satoru, sensei,” Suguru says, her voice the same deep, blandly pleasant thing it was when she introduced herself to Satoru a year ago. “She doesn’t think before she speaks sometimes. A lot of the time.”

“Hey!”

“That’s alright,” Itadori says, her smile widening enough to make her eyes crinkle—only the main pair, the lower two a ringed red that watch them unblinkingly. “I was worse at your age. But I’m curious now. What did you mean, Satoru-chan?”

Satoru wrinkles her nose at the address; no one’s dared to call her that in a long time. At least it doesn’t sound particularly patronizing coming from Itadori, not that the inexplicable fondness there is any less weird.

“Your tits are out,” she tells Itadori.

Itadori looks down blankly at her own chest, her expression growing quizzical as if the swell of her breasts is some sort of surprise when she’s the one going around wearing nothing but a haori up top. It doesn’t cover shit either. She hasn’t even put her arms in the sleeves, and alright, maybe it’s tricky when she’s got four of those too, but like this, the fabric draped across her shoulders and falling limply down her back only serves to emphasize everything she’s not covering, the blood red of the haori unsettlingly striking against her sun-warm skin tone.

And there’s a lot to see. Her sheer mass is blinding, and it’s all muscle, from the four bulging biceps to the abs you could break a bone on. The haori also does nothing to hide the mountainous breadth of her shoulders, and with every breath she takes, the fabric shifts, exposing new slivers of skin and flesh. The offending tits are the only points of softness on that torso, and even they’re firmer than Satoru’s used to seeing on women.

She can’t look away.

They’re big, objectively the biggest Satoru’s seen, except all of Itadori is immense and her bulk makes the breasts seem like they’re on the smaller end. They suit her, curving sweetly out like plump fruits, the nipples and the surrounding skin a mouthwatering dark.

Satoru tears her eyes away, swallowing wetly.

There’s nowhere that’s safe to look. If Satoru glances down, she’s treated to the sight of the mouth curving across the middle of Itadori’s stomach, distinct lips demurely closed but promising stranger sights beyond. If she looks up, there’s Itadori’s face, scarred and four-eyed and strikingly pretty, framed by a spiky mane of hair that’s offensively pink except toward the end, where it blends with a few strands that are a tame black.

Satoru makes furious eye contact with Itadori’s feet. They’re bare too. Of course they are. The nails are jet black, and maybe it looks like nail polish to normal eyes, but the Six Eyes know they’re pure keratin, only a color more suited to death than life.

Itadori is alive though. She’s flush with it, her cursed energy pulsing with a hunger that’s the unfiltered essence of life.

This woman, she’s—

“—stand now,” Itadori is saying, the words taking a moment to coalesce into sense in Satoru’s ears. “You’re shy.”

Satoru’s head snaps up. “Huh?!”

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

Top 5 comics that aren't bat related?

GOD okay I'm admittedly so so behind on my non-Bat comic reading because trying to read Everything Published In A 15 Year Period is fucking TIME CONSUMING, but! but but but!!! I have some fun ones!! also as always these are not in ANY particular order!

Thirsty Mermaids (Kat Leyh, 2021)

first off: yes we are including graphic novels! that's just a honkin big comic! nobody @ me! anyway, I read Thirsty Mermaids in one sitting on an airplane earlier this year and it was delightful. it follows three mermaid besties who turn themselves into humans and go ashore in search of booze, only to get stuck when the party mage can't remember how to turn them back. what follows is a mix of shenanigans and genuinely heartwarming character development as the trio cope with being landlocked and try to survive capitalism. there's a high potential for a story like this to get cloyingly oversentimental, but Thirsty Mermaids struck the right balance for me the whole way through and never went overboard.

also, the character designs are soooooo fun. look at them!

2. My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness (Nagata Kabi, trans. Jocelyne Allen 2016)

MLEWL is one of those books that actually completely lives up to the hype and then some, and it totally knocked me on my ass the first time I read it. I didn't really know what to expect going in, but I was totally blown away by how boldly Nagata's willing to share the ugliest parts of her life through this reflection. it's so much more than romance and yearning (and that isn't even really resolved by the book's end! Nagata continues to struggle with interpersonal relationships in later books, which you should also read!), and it felt really refreshing to see such an honest depiction of how much being depressed and anxious and insecure can just fucking suck. but at the same time, Nagata's ability to turn all of that into art and process what she's experienced in a really levelheaded way as she finds the will to grow and change is really affirming.

I have to give a special note of appreciation to the actual sex scene and how intimacy is negotiated between Nagata and the sex worker she hires, especially the ultimate realization that sex is just an act and losing her virginity didn't really change anything about why she was unhappy in her life. as a sex educator, I really appreciated the honesty and sheer practicality of how it was all framed.

3. Nimona (ND Stevenson, 2015)

hi okay yes basic bitch alert I'M AWARE, but I reread Nimona last year to remind myself of why I didn't want to watch the Netflix adaptation and I was so right for that, because OG Nimona fucks so much harder. it's heartfelt but also chaotic and violent and funny and deeply jaded; I think when I mentioned it in my monthly reading synopsis here I described it as weird art for pissed off queer people by a weird pissed off queer person. and I stand by that! if you haven't read it already or if you haven't in a while, it's right there waiting for you with an open invitation to burn the entire corrupt government to the ground.

I know the word feral is overused and therefore cringe but christ, comic Nimona is feral. come on, man. just let her kill your ex. he's a cop.

4. Superman Smashes the Klan (Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru, 2020)

I had to get one DC comic in here, sue me! it's not Batman-related at all! it's a really rad Superman story that takes place in the 1940s and loosely reimagines an old radio serial, "Clan of the Fiery Cross," the was pretty much a 16-part hit piece on the KKK that was hugely successful in tarnishing their reputation and getting membership to drop. how cool is that? in this version we follow Lee family, Chinese-Americans who have just moved to Metropolis and are met with harassment from the local Klansmen, contrasted with Clark, early in his hero career, still figuring out the full extent of his alien abilities. you get some really nice parallel storytelling between the Lee kids, Tommy and Roberta, exploring what it means to be part of two different cultures at the same time Clark is going through something similar figuring out how to be a representative of two totally different planets, and it all works out in a way that's really sweet. now that I have a friend who's a baby I can't wait until he's old enough to get a copy.

it's an extremely comic book-y comic but in, like, the best way possible.

5. Hawkeye (Matt Fraction and David Aja, 2012-2015)

I can't believe I almost forgot to list tumblr darling Matt Fraction's Hawkeye! what do I even say about this series that hasn't been said already? I love the way Clint Barton is a sadsack piece of shit who's repeatedly ruined his own life, and I love rooting for him anyway because he's just trying so goddamn hard. and also because there's a teenage girl who stole his name and gimmick bullying him the whole time. (Kate Bishop you are everything to me and you will always be famous.) there are costumes and crime fighting but it's first and foremost a slice of life about a life that fucking sucks but keeps on trucking anyway, and that's so up my alley it's not even funny. a lot of the humor probably feels dated now but fuck it, the series is iconic for a reason.

MCU, eat your heart out.

bonus because I wrote out the whole thing and then decided I wanted to include a different one: Paper Girls (Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, 2015-2019)

I'd be lying if I said that the thing about this series that I love first and foremost wasn't the art, because Chiang's art is breathtaking and I'll read anything ever if he does the art on it. but it's also just a super cool twisty, time-bending story about four girls getting roped into some high sci-fi bullshit when they're just trying to finish up their paper routes the morning after Halloween and having everything go to hell around them. I really respect a series that is committed to being weird and doesn't really care if you don't understand what's going on for a decent chunk of the plot, especially because it all comes together in a way that's pretty satisfying. waiting to read the whole series in one big run once it was all published so that I could track all the little hints and clues and things coming together across time travel bullshit was mwah, delicious.

also more than anything it's a story about how you Do Not fuck with 12 year old girls, especially in packs, because they're metal as hell, and I'm really about that.

[thedragonagebigbang]

Bang Creator Interview: Tumblr: @fatale-distraction  |  AO3: Fatale_distraction |  Wordpress: History Will Say This Was Just a Book Blog

The Collaboration period has begun! In these quiet months before works are due, we want to foster a sense of excitement, camaraderie, and celebration among our participants. To that end, all participants were given the option of a formal interview by our mod, Dema, or an informal “ask-game” survey. We hope you enjoy getting to know our phenomenal creators as much as we have! 

Woman single-handedly ruins decades of work using one simple technique you won’t believe!

Fataleity and Dema talk rarepairs, Swayze-coded Cullen, punk rock Solas, and Shenanigans

Dema: Starting very, very basic: how long have you been in the DA fandom? What about it inspires you to write?

Fataleity: ​​Gosh, it’s probably been around fifteen years or more? I played DAO not too long after it originally came out and while I haven’t always been active in the fandom, I’ve been a fan since then. I’m super inspired by the characters and the lore, in particular anything relating to the elves. I love that the DA universe took typical elven lore and kinda flipped them upside down.

Dema: Do you have a favorite bit of Elven lore? Or if “favorite” isn't the right word, a piece of lore that particularly struck you?

Fataleity: Along with everyone else atm, I am really fascinated by the Evanuris and the idea of Ancient elves like Abelas and Felassan. I also love that each Dalish clan has different customs, different levels of knowledge, etc, but are still connected by a common history and language, lost as they might be, and try to lean into that in my writing.

Dema: So, you played all three games more or less as they came out, but when did you start writing fic for DA? What prompted you to start?

Fataleity: It’s been a while, but I believe it was around the release of Inquisition that I started actually posting. As far as writing, it would have been from the start in private notebooks or sharing with a friend of mine. Inquisition’s release was when I started getting into the tumblr fandom and seeing others posting their work, and figured if others were going to, why shouldn’t I?

Dema: Oh wow, right from the beginning! You’re an OG! What was your first published DA fic about?

Fataleity: It was a short one-shot of Leliana and Zevran during Inquisition. They crack me up as a couple. It was mostly banter and porn tbh, very little if any plot, lmao.

Dema: Oh my god, this was a pairing I did not know I needed until this moment. Fabulous, thank you.

Fataleity: You’re welcome. It’s a good one.

Dema: So do you tend to be more inspired by the canon characters or by your OC's? Or if not "inspired" per se, do you write more of one than the other?

Fataleity: I wanna say it's about even? I’ve noticed that recently I’ve been writing more from the perspective of canon characters than I did when I first started writing, even when writing about OCs. I think it's fun to try to emulate their voices, and also their reactions to some of my OCs ridiculous behavior.

Dema: Who is your most ridiculous OC?

Fataleity: My Inquisitor for sure. She’s the youngest of a very large Dalish family so she’s a little childish for her age, very affectionate and kind, but she has a powerful sense of justice. She’s best friends with Sera and the Chargers, so she gets herself involved in all kinds of shenanigans.

Dema: Gotta love the shenanigans. Did she romance anyone?

Fataleity: She romanced Solas primarily, but I have also shipped her with Krem and Fenris. I did a few OT3 fics of her, Krem, and Solas that I think came out pretty sexy. 

Dema: Krem is under-shipped, I fear.

Fataleity: I do my best to fix that. I’ll put him with anyone who will treat him softly. Or not. Depending on his mood I guess. He deserves the world and more.

Dema: Thank you for your service. This is like asking for your favorite child, but do you have a particular canon character you really love to write?

Fataleity: Krem for sure. Great narrative voice, great jokes, and since he’s not as canonically developed as other characters, there’s a lot to play with.

Dema: Do you do anything in particular to get into the heads of the canon characters? I find that's such a challenge (a fun one!) to adopt the voice of a character I didn't create, and am always curious how other people do it.

Fataleity: Getting super familiar with the source material is obviously very important. For some characters that’s easier than others, so I will also rely on similar characters from other media that I feel resonate strongly to the character I’m trying to portray. Also simply putting myself in the character’s shoes. “If I was this particular character with this particular background, how would I react to this particular circumstance based on my prior experiences?” I feel like I’m also pretty influenced by whatever media I’m consuming at the time. For instance, writing 90s Cullen around the same time I rewatched Dirty Dancing, he ended up VERY Swayze-coded.

Dema: Omg, incredible. Is there any non-DA media inspiring your fic for the Bang?

Fataleity: I’ve been listening to AURORA’s newest album a lot. My partner and I are also watching a lot of comedic detective shows recently, so I feel like that sense of humor is going to be a big influence by the time this is done.

Dema: Man, I feel like any follow-up I ask to that question will have to be redacted, ha! What's the most out-there piece of media that has inspired a fic for you?

Fataleity: I don’t recall if there was a particular piece of media that inspired this, but I created a Y2K dragon age AU specifically so I could cram the characters into specific period-appropriate outfits, specifically young Solas as an early 80s late 70s punk kid. I think It might have stemmed from rewatching That 70s Show. This is also where Swayze-Cullen came from.

Dema: Was there a musical number. Please say yes. 

Fataleity: I tried to shoehorn my Lavellan into having a band on top of everything else, so there were definitely musical numbers. Krem was playing the solo from Freebird. ABBA was involved.

Dema: Amazing. God, I am dying to see some Solas 80's punk fanart now.

Fataleity: I would die. I would pay blood, sweat, tears, money, and my first, second and third born children.

Dema: Anarchy patch on his leather jacket…

Fataleity: Piercings. The piercings alone, man. I made him a college professor so he got rid of most of the piercings, but he kept a few. “The ones that would hurt most if I wanted to get them done again.”

[Dema and Fataleity have an increasingly suggestive emoji exchange.]

Dema: Sorry, I'm incorrigible.

Fataleity: As am I.

Dema: Do you find you write a lot of AUs?

Fataleity: I think I imagine more than I actually put down in words. My favorites are definitely different time periods. I’m a sucker for costuming.

Dema: Same. Costumes tell you so much about the culture and the characters! Do you tend to have visual references when you are writing, beyond what is provided by the games?

Fataleity: If I have a particular outfit or setting in mind, especially for AUs. For those I’ll have Pinterest boards or the like. If I’m doing something more based around existing settings, I’ll look up a reference as needed, but I don’t tend to have, like, a vision board or anything for those.

Dema: If you have any visuals for your Bang fic, will you give us a teaser? 

Fataleity: https://unsplash.com/photos/purple-flowers-near-mountain-during-daytime-S73YlRU8hy0 

Dema: Oohhh the vibes! I’m looking forward to it. On a very different note, if your bang fic had a clickbait title, what would it be?

Fataleity: “Woman single-handedly ruins decades of work using one simple technique you won’t believe!”

Dema: Perfect. Thank you for your time, Fataleity! 

Fataleity: Of course, this was fun! 

[warrior-cats-rewritten]

So I have a LOT of AUs, not all of them get talked about! A little list if some of the ones I like.

Cloud!Three - Leafpool and Crowfeather leave permanently, having their children in Skyclan. Cloudtail and Brightheart have their second litter earlier, Ambermoon, Snowbush and the renamed Dewrush as the Kin of Firestar's Kin.

Prophecy!Scourge/Tiny!Fire - Bluefur takes Tiny into Thunderclan, only to realize he is the subject of a Prophecy: The Night Alone will save our Clan.

Anthro AU - Exactly what it sounds like but every character exists all at once, mostly just for fun.

Power of Stars - Rather than being Firestar's Kin, there are multiple sets of Prophecy Cats, all related to the OG founders. Lionblaze, Hollyleaf and Jayfeather for Windstar. Heathertail, Galeshine (Galekit), and Harespring for Shadowstar (through Sun Shadow). Minnowtail, Willowshine, and Cloudsnap for Skystar (through Blackclaw, Primroseheart and Reedwhisker's dad). Flametail, Tigerheart and Dawnpelt for Thunderstar. Things get complicated when Skyclan shows up early for OOTS, bringing along Firefern, Harrybrook and Stormheart for Riverstar.

Warriorclan joins the Clans - Very self-explanatory. They come with Graystripe in the end, settling in a more remote spot in-between Sanctuary Lake and The City.

50% left version 1 - Great Battle was far more disastrous, every cat barring few has a 50/50 chance of getting killed.

50% left version 2 - Post-Avos. Darktail's massive fire along with a horrific storm puts all cats barring few on the chopping block.

Lakeclan - As The Great Journey comes to an end, the majority of Clan cats cannot bare to be rigid, separated groups once more. The Lake is governed by the 4 Leaders at respective camps, but borders are a thing of the past, cats are completely free to go where they please and get close to who they want. Of course, not everyone agrees with the new arrangement...

My Clangen AU - If I could draw, I would have made a comic series for these guys. A newly formed Clan, Moonclan, fights for its place to survive amongst the already pre-established Songclan, Leafclan, Moleclan, and Weevilclan. (Each Clan is tracked through alternate Clangen files, each with a different biome. Leafclan is Classic Forest, Moleclan is Tunnels, Weevilclan is Shipwreck, Songclan is Wasteland, and Moonclan is Crystal River)

Feel free to send asks about any of these AUs!

[bitterseaproduction]

An Indispensable Silver Lining | The Hobbit Ref Dump

So, I can’t (see: don’t want to) go on with An Indispensable Silver-Lining until I can sit down and rewatch some Desolation of Smaug to pin down some character locations, and I really wanna decide if I’m going full movie-verse or embracing a specific fanedit or book+movie mix and what timeline I want to hold myself to for Thorin—

Can you believe I started this fic thinking ‘I’m not going to get bogged down by canon or details this time. I just wanna write for the fun’? 😂 That went well.

Point is, just because I want to gather some canon facts? It hasn’t stopped me from writing up 1500 words of a chapter 2+ plan, or over 6 THOUSAND WORDS of long-term storyboarding in less than THREE DAYS covering Smaug and the men/dwarves/elves factions and the orcs and some of the bagginshield progression and the ‘act 1’ climax and like three ways ‘act 2’ could break bad, and— well, you can tell it’s a true passion project when I keep stepping away, think of another thing, and scramble back to my phone to jot down a few hundred more words in whatever moments I can steal. And, more pertinent to this post, I can’t stop devouring a ton of resources and inspiration.

So, with that in mind, I thought I’d just share something of those sources! For fun, for later reference for myself as I write, for practical use if you’d like it yourself, or maybe you just want something else to read and these are great fics/lore bits to choose!

Updated May 15th, 2024. Additions marked with a *

The Hobbit Trilogy Fan Edit Sources

A Comprehensive Guide to Fan Edits of the Hobbit Trilogy An older list, but viable for what it covers

Help on choosing Hobbit fan edit? Which is the best? A second reddit list, a bit more modern.

FanEdit.org: Lord of the Rings franchise A comprehensive list of options for The Hobbit + other LotR works

* Specific Fan Edits

I still need to watch all of the edits I've found properly from beginning to end, but after skimming through a number of options, looking for specific wants and do-not-wants in each and reading/watching a few things on how each version was created, I think I have narrowed my interest down to these three fan edits:

Chris Hartwell's Hobbit Trilogy A very comprehensive cut that keeps pretty much all of the movie beats intact, just trims down the trilogy's more clunky spots to create a more polished film experience. (i.e. a reduced Radagast, Alfrid, older Bilbo, some of the action scenes, etc.) Generally prioritizes Bilbo as the MC and his dynamic with Thorin as the through-line of the story and includes some of the extended scenes that highlight both, which I really appreciate.

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again An edit that more fully cuts some of the less loved factors of the movies like the Tauriel romance, but not nearly as cut-heavy as a lot of the more well-known fan edits.

The Compromise Cut Very similar to 'or There and Back Again' but more ambitious in rearranging footage to create new beats to cover cuts vs 'or There and Back Again' being more of a clean 'straight from the source' cut.

~

For my purposes, Hartwell's will probably be my go-to for full lore and plot inclusion & the most 'bang for my buck' while being a cleaner watch than the OG, while There and Back Again or The Compromise Cut are what I would share with friends who despise some of the film-only content, but are willing to give the trilogy another try.

I know there are a number of other great edits of there, M4 and MapleFilms being especially loved, ~but~ I set a rule for myself that any edit that cut the carrock hug was instantly out, so these were the three I landed on.

Resource Websites

The Encyclopedia of Arda Tolkien Gateway LotR Online

Specific Details

TEoA: A Viewer’s Companion (AUJ) TEoA: A Viewer’s Companion (DoS) TEoA: A Viewer’s Companion (TBoFA) TEoA: Longbeards + The Other Clans

TG: Quest Motivations Generally good overview of the point of the quest and what happened.

TG: Smaug Role / Gandalf motivation "Following the sack of Erebor, Gandalf felt that Sauron would take advantage of Middle-earth's weakened state and attack Rivendell and Lothlórien or try regain Angmar; he also feared that Sauron "might use" Smaug "with terrible effect". [...The White Council] attacked Dol Guldur in TA 2941, while Sauron and Smaug could not "help one another". [...] his adversaries were able to drive him from the fortress with relative ease. [...] Sauron abandoned Dol Guldur willingly, and returned secretly to Mordor, where he would openly declare himself in TA 2951, and began preparations for his final war to dominate Middle-earth."

TG: The Arkenstone Arkenstone info from book and adaptations

* Khuzdul Words for Fanfiction Writers A resource for Khuzdul words for - as the name says - fanfic writers!

Durin's Line Tapestry from DoS Shows the family connections with original book birth dates for all. Even though it was presumably made pre-sacking in 2770, and 3 of the company depicted were born after Erebor fell. That... is curious.

The Line of Dwarves A more thorough (and intriguing) look at the dwarf lines and relevant dates, all book-based.

Comprehensive Genealogy Chart of all the Hobbits from J.R.R. Tolkien's Legendarium My gosh is this expansive... and hard to load up on a screen, but if you don't want to miss something, check this!

HOBBIT FAMILY TREE: How are Bilbo, Frodo, Pippin, Merry, and Sam related? The less brain-breaking hobbit tree that focuses on the main 5 from the books.

Lord of the Rings Hobbit Family Tree More of a middle-ground on the 2 above options.

* Prominent Hobbit Families and Individuals A lovely breakdown of the hobbit families as a group, what they are like and who are the crucial members of those families.

Bag-End PJ Hobbit Map Crucial for Bilbo background & any Shire scenes if they come!

* Untangling Middle-Earth's many routes to evil A map of where all of the characters traveled in The Hobbit and The Lord of the RIngs! I found this handy when I was trying to track Gandalf in particular.

A chronology of The Hobbit A day-by-day breakdown of the journey in The Hobbit, great for what-ifs and assessing likely travel times!

Suggested Alternative Timeline For The Hobbit by @avelera A very nice older post on a potential timeline alternative for The Hobbit films. As said above, the films do use the original dates in places, but as this post says, they don't always make sense about it. This is a nice option to consider instead.

Major Inspiration Fics

Backs To The Wall by @conkers-thecosy My current top TH/LotR read, a great active WIP, definitely a direct inspiration to me with the failure to get into Erebor leading things off course! And I'll likely have a parallel Laketown focus for a bit, though nothing as detailed and lived-in as Conkers' fic. And, aside from great writing and general motivation to write TH/Bagginshield, I love the portrayals of the characters (BILBO, Thorin, Gandalf, Dwalin, Nori, Bard and the Bardlings--) and pairings. Definitely tempting me towards Dwalin/Nori here!

And I'm Your Lionheart by Lee_Whimsy There always seems to be a fic in every fandom of mine that draws me in very early, becomes and instant fave, and then hangs there unfinished but perpetually on my mind. The 'one that got away' fic. This is it, and I shall forever love it, and you can just bet it will bleed into my takes somewhere, especially with Gandalf and Legolas and Bard and Fíli, if I recall correctly. I should totally reread this, or at least sections of it. Reading to the 'end' is... painful.

The Most Precious of Treasures by @sapphireshelle91 Another long untouched WIP, but a VERY different one, as it is a) post-TBoFA, and b) features a female Bilbo and parentshield with dwobbit!Frodo. I include this one because a) I love a number of the characterizations, b) if 'And I'm Your Lionheart' gives me the infrastructure and maintenance inspiration for Erebor, THIS fic delivers on the politics and intrigue, and c) I am a HUGE sucker for parentshield, be it biological or adoptive, so naturally I'm contemplating it for my own fic. Still iffy on which way I'll take it, but I've fallen down some intriguing rabbit holes in regards to Shire culture and Bilbo's background while considering the biological option, and I'd be loathe to abandon those ideas now. But either way, this fic deserves a definite nod for motivating me to come up with ideas.

Home Behind and Home Ahead by Etharei Love the characterizations in this one, and anything that gives me a tap into Bilbo's character is appreciated. And I don't know if I'll draw much on it for this fic in particular, but I love all forms of parentshield and this is a lovely dynamic between the three characters, so I'd happily draw from it in the abstract.

* Planting a Hobbit by @northerntrash I adore the vibe of this! A sweet 'Bilbo in Erebor' AU focused on the dwarves (Thorin especially) being so silly and endearing in their efforts to make Bilbo happy, and featuring some nice world and dynamic building in the process.

* Bad Blood by @conkers-thecosy Yo~ give me a nice what-if any day, and having it feature a protective!Bilbo + ardent!Thorin + gremlin!elvenking in the process, with a side of dwarven culture and royal politics? For it.

* [explicit!] Safe and Distant by Lindzzz I ADORE a Bilbo like this. A Bilbo who isn't oblivious about his feelings or denying them, but whose self-image/image of Thorin makes him unable to Comprehend anything not one-sided could come of those feelings. Who celebrates Thorin's good regard with joy and accepts it as 'enough' and 'more than he could ask for'. Who would probably just combust at the idea Thorin might want more, might want something beyond what their adventure can provide, just as Bilbo does... or just as Bilbo would, if he would allow himself to even accept that as a possibility. A Bilbo who finds the idea of Thorin wanting him back terrifying, because to hope for that and be wrong? It would shatter him. ...Yeah, I am very, very for this Bilbo. (And that doesn't even touch on the Thorin or the last chapter, omg-)

* [explicit] Canoodling by @avelera This fic is sweet. This fic is funny. This fic touches on differences between the Tolkien cultures and misunderstandings and the unique ways that could affect intimacy with a couple, and you know that bagginshield is a gold mine opportunity for all of that. I love any explicit work that plays with experience levels and expectations and lets the couple mess up and then swing it back around to lovely afterwards, because that's realistic and relatable and thus, when done right, all the more attractive a read! And this one does it well, a good foundation read.

[gorbalsvampire]

What are your top 3 favorite clans? Either to make a character for or to use as a Storyteller? :3

Oooooooh, thanks for asking! I'll do these in reverse order, build up to the best.

Number three: Malkavian

My original faves, and a clan about whom I have some sTRoNg oPiNIoNs. See, the thing with Malkavians is that for years and years and years it felt like nobody thought for two minutes about how the rules for Derangements work. Too many Malks were played as hapless victims of their insanity, driven to ooky-kooky comic relief bullshit behaviour or dark tormented scary deep mental anguish all the time - and that's not how it works. The Malkavian Derangement was incurable, as in it would never be removed - it was not insurmountable!

Derangements could be overcome through the expenditure of Willpower, scene by scene. Willpower could be recycled through a careful choice of Nature and Demeanour to indulge. Malkavians were about powering through, being a dangerous and cogent master of the mind whammy, surfing your own mind's wild tides with gritted teeth and every now and then, when it didn't matter so much, when you had the luxury of rest, unclenching your jaw and letting the madness take you.

Therese Voerman is my poster girl for what a Malkavian should be: she's competent, ruthless, and clearly has problems that she's keeping under control through sheer cognitive heft/letting Jeanette out to play when it's all too much.

Anyway. Malks. Love the Disciplines, love the Network, love the visions, love the savagery of a well done, targeted prank. V5 moving them away from "a specific instance of mental illness with oversimplified game rules" and toward "chronic mental overstimulation which manifests as a consistent game rules penalty" is a subtle change but a good one. None of my games feel complete without at least one Malkavian.

Number two: Lasombra

Elegant, classical, lordly, and aggressive. None of the subtlety and resilience of their Ventrue arch rivals: the Lasombra will break you in body (Potence) mind (Dominate), or both (Oblivion), and if you're mortal and you impress them, they will make you rise again.

I love the existential, spatial, cosmic horror of Obtenebration; I love their connection with the ocean and their warring against themselves over and over (and yet with an oversight body that transcends the lines of conflict); I love the hubris that swears they destroyed their Antediluvian and how that's come back to haunt them in V5.

They make great antagonists - I've always felt that in OG Masquerade especially, the Sabbat pillar clans' Disciplines were designed to enable cool boss fights, and being thrown around by a shadow monster or enveloped and consumed by a roiling tide of darkness... mmmm... sorry, I was supposed to be talking about tactical challenge, but then I got to thinking about how sexy Lasombra are and... look, check my intro post, Ib from LABN nailed the archetype and frankly she could nail me too.

Number one: Hecata

Always and forever. The OGs. Every incarnation of them has delighted me. Necromancy and vampirism walk hand in hand for me (I was a Warhammer Undead guy before I was a Vampire: the Masquerade enby). The Cappadocians are patient, thoughtful, genteel court wizards who get done dirty (by their mediocre "here to go!" Clanbook as well as by the Giovanni) and come back SCARY/become something new in hiding. The Giovanni are delightfully loathsome literary-Gothic villains - seriously, they're rich decadent incestuous black-magic loving Italians? did Anne Radcliffe write for V:tM? - AND sassy East Coast gangsters with a sorcerous twist.

They aren't perfect - the Family Reunion creaks with artifice, the Nagaraja shouldn't exist be there, there is no WAY a skyscraper in the middle of Venice is acceptable world building, the Nayson San An are one of those early WW concepts that's always going to be stained by racism, and what's been done to Necromancy over the years, from a rules bloat/design standpoint, is a bloody shambles.

I think a lot of what I love about them comes from me rather than from the developers. I've put a nonzero amount of thought into who ended up where vis. Reunion, Chamber, Council, into the history of Venice and its involvement with the Fourth Crusade and the collapse of Constantinople's Dream, into reinvigorating the gangster stereotype and into the history of Scottish banking and slave trading... but! but! no other clan has ever inspired me to do so many deep dives, to commit to such bits as "how do you make a Giovanni who can just hang out with any old coterie and you'd barely even know he was a Giovanni?"

The bottom line is that I like concepts with flaws, because flaws inspire creative fanwork. I yearn to work a problem, and the Hecata are raddled with problems. Marbled with them, like a tasty steak - they just need proper preparation to be served.

[cryptidclaw]

My new Clangen clan, Kittyclan, a year (12 moons) in! 

I thought it would be fun to draw my clan every 12 moons or so! (though after these first 12 moons I prob wont draw every cat! this took forever...)

The backstory of this clan, is that they were all Kittypets who decided to run away and start their own clan in the woods! 

More info on the clan so far below! v

My first starclan cat, Onetree, used to be a warrior, and then a med cat, in a old clan, but in her old age she was guided by starclan to the Twolegplace nearby. There at the twolegplace she was taken in by two twolegs, and was named Granny Cat. Her Housefolk had another cat, a kitten named Milky, and Granny knew once she met him that he would one day do something great. Milky would take a group of cats into the forest and create his own clan. Granny knew Starclan had guided her here to teach Milky of the clans and the skills of a warrior and so she tried her hardest to do just that, taking Milky in as her own.

After Granny Cat passed away Milky became determined to live in the forest that Granny had once lived in. Not only this, Milky decided he should create his own clan! He convinced several fellow kittypets to join him in his mission and he named their new clan Kittyclan for their kittypet roots. He took them into the woods to find a territory and camp and Starclan guided Milky to a gully in the woods, perfect for a camp, and the new clan knew that this would be their new home. That night after settling Milky received his 9 lives from starclan, and was given his Leader’s name, Milkystar!

Notable things that have happened so far:

Milkystar has already lost two lives?? He lost one to a border skirmish where Onyxpelt also died, and he lost another falling from a tree (tho I suspect he was very distracted that moon due to his mate announcing that he was expecting kits lol)

For some reason Milkystar and Sweetpea have little to no feelings about each other. They slightly like each other and slightly hate each other?? all the other cats og cats have at least a good amount of platonic like towards each other (except for Lint ig)! I guess their Leader and deputy relationship is like an awkward coworkers relationship lol.

Milkystar and Fredheart are mates! they both had the beginnings of romantic feelings for each other and I wanted kits so I got them together! Idk if this was a good decision however because their dislike bars towards eachother are starting to go up :/. Love hate romance. They are going to have kits tho!!

Fredheart and Sweetpea are BFFs for ever, they have such high platinic love bars! its kinda funny since Sweet does not care for Fred’s mate lol. 

Poor Fluttershy lost her leg in a twoleg trap... 

I got three new additions to the clan! Jessicapuddle, Onyxpelt and Splashmoth! Onyx almost immediately died in that border skirmish, but luckily that's the only death so far!

Jessicapuddle came out as a trans man and i think that’s hilarious bec this is one of the only times when i have seemingly got a female kittypet name on a female cat.

Splashmoth’s name kinda sounds like Smashmouth.... also I designed her to look kinda similar to Onetree/Granny bec they have the same personality traits, and spotted pelt pattern... maybe they r related, who knows. (I also like the idea that she eerily reminds Milky of Granny)

Lintheather has no friends??? like at all??? nobody has strong platonic feelings towards him at all!! its so sad... I feel like hes so lonely and kind of regretting joining the clan now :( 

Beanzsong on the other hand is everyone’s favorite omg... he’s also very close with his mentor Sweetpea!

Creatureivy is also very close to her mentor Milkystar and i like to think that Milky treated her as his daughter since she was a kit at the start of the clan!

[ntaras]

i’m thinking about the og backstory for the sub-zero bros and their mother. i’m also specifically thinking about how john tobias specifically said “she resisted” their father indoctrinating them into the lin kuei.

her running away from him wasn’t just her trying to hide her and her kids from him, but it was also her fighting against against a whole clan. it was one woman raising three children on her own against assassins.

did she know she had a death wish? that she couldn’t outrun them forever? it didn’t matter- she’s going to try. even if she knew her children would never get the happy childhood they deserved, she could try. would it be enough? god she hopes it’s enough