#akio's shoulder...

[earthasacharactergallery]

01x34 seal of the rose

[transmascutena]

people talk a lot about utena and anthy's weird gay beds but i think there's something to the room itself too. because it isn't really much of a room at all. the giant window and the doorway to the main room of the tower that's barely covered by a see-through curtain leaves no room for privacy or even the simple feeling of safety and security that comes from being able to close a door to your own space. it specifically stood out to me when i was watching episode 32 yesterday with that scene at the beginning of the episode where utena gets up and stretches and anthy's voice immediately cuts in from the kitchen, where (more importantly) akio also is. because there is no seperation at all really between the rooms in that house. which i think is possibly symbolic of nobody being allowed to set any boundaries there either. that bed is where some of utena and anthy's most vulnerable and intimate moments happen, but they don't have a space that's truly theirs. it's all akio's. the panopticon....

[muchadorks]

I was thinking about what it would be like to adapt a live action Utena series (wouldn't hold a candle to the original by any chance)...

But then I realized that the only perfect live action adaptation would be Ikuhara playing all the characters in a series of increasing bad wigs because (let's face it) that man is the only person who fully understands Utena

[muzansfangs]

You tell them you got a brazilian wax by a guy.

Starring: Choso Kamo x f!reader; Kento Nanami x f!reader; Higuruma Hiromi x f!reader;

Format: short-imagines;

Warnings: nsfw, dirty innuendos, fluff, jealousy, established relationships, nipple play, spanking, playfully biting the partner arses, oral sex (reader!receiving), vaginal sex, breeding kink, creampie, face sitting, unprotected sex;

Plot: A trend on Tik Tok made you plot a devious plan to make your beloved boyfriend going mad. He knew you had an appointment for a brazilian wax. He obviously assumed you were going to be assisted by a woman. How will he react, when you tell him it was a man? Will his jealousy go too far? Will your prank get you in a bad situation?

﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

Choso Kamo.

Choso’s lips glided down your neck, nipping, sucking onto the flesh with the same care a potter would handle his fragile new creation. This man was genuinely head over heels for you. Ever since his little brother had introduced you two, Choso had found a new reason to live and, supposedly, be a better person. He had learned so much about human interactions, about feelings and even about intimacy. While he was not properly addicted to sex, this man loved being inside of you more than anything. He needed to touch your soft skin, he needed your warmth around him. That evening was not that different from an ordinary one.

His hands were cupping your breasts, fondling them, thumb and index rolling your handened nipples to elicit from your throat the soft moans he loved to hear from you so much. You did not fail his expectations. You cried out, head lolling back against his shoulder in ecstasy.

“Sing for me, babe” Choso mumbled, your insides clenching around his shaft deliciously as he slowly bucked his hips up to stimulate you.

The squelching sounds filling the room were making your head spin, eyes fluttering to enjoy the sensations to its fullest. You hated pissing him off, you really did, but above anything else you loathed causing his heart to ache. Still, that trend was too tempting not to try it on your sweet boyfriend.

You hummed, sinking down further onto his cock to meet his lazy thrusts “Louder? I don’t want the neighbours to complain again, Choso” you replied breathless, tilting your head to the side to kiss his cheek. Your hand reached towards his left hand, giving it a squeeze, before guiding it down towards your pubes.

Choso groaned, fingers grazing the smooth skin in delight, while he reached down to flick your throbbing clitoris dilegently “They can burn in Hell, baby. — he promptly said, smiling against your neck — All I care about it you and this sweet pussy of yours. Gosh, I can’t wait to taste your orgasm later” he praised you, causing you to shriek for a deeper thrust of his hips.

“Yeah? Is it that sweet, babe? I got to tell Akio then. I couldn’t describe its flavour to him today” you blurted out, only for Choso’s smile to disappear.

Choso.exe stopped working.

His movements halted, his eyes darkening as he grasped your chin to turn your head in his direction. Lying to his face was going to be hard, especially since he had put up such a puppy face that your heart ached in your chest.

“Akio? Who’s Akio?” Choso asked you, his voice low and a tad serious.

“The guy who waxed me today. Did I forget to mention him to you?”.

“Akio is a guy, isn’t he?”.

You giggled, booping his nose affectionately “Sure he is, silly. What’s with that?”.

Choso huffed, the tips of his ears turning pink as he embraced your tighter “A guy… Did you let another boy look at your pussy? Babe, why? Tell me that’s not true! You would never let anyone touch your—” he wept and you could swear tears brimmed in his eyes. Oh no, that was enough. You could not keep it up anymore.

You sighed, shaking your head vigorously “No! It’s a joke, Choso, please! I’ve been an idiot! Forgive me, baby! Look at me” you interrupted him, pressing your forehead against his one.

Choso relaxed, his breath still kind of irregular as he palmed his forehead in distress. You had really scared him. He could not still bear with jealousy. Apparently, he was not the type to go mad. Choso was too kind-hearted for that. Dealing with feelings was still hard for him. His lips captured yours, gently, holding you close as he relished the feeling of being in your arms.

“Don’t do it again” he whispered and you nodded your head in agreement. Poor Choso, struggling with jealousy.

Higuruma Hiromi.

This man was born to give you oral. Underneath you, head squeezed by the fat of your thighs, your dripping core bare for him to lavish with his tongue and your clitoris for his nose to stroke, Hiromi could happily die. The sweet sounds you made, the way you rolled your hips for facilitate the way he lapped at your folds with flat of his tongue were such a delicacy. If he was asked about a good way to die, the stressed out lawyer would have decidedly declared you his designated executioner and welcomed your pussy as his deathbed.

Now, sitting on his face, hands scrambling up to hold onto the metal bars of the bedhead, you whimpered out his name in bliss. The pleasure was so intense your obnubilated mind was neglecting the plan, your thirst for him not quenching in the slightest when you felt the tip of his tongue slip in between your smooth, slippery folds.

“H-Hiromi! Gosh, don’t stop” you drawled out, back arching as his hands, sprawled over your arses, squeezed onto the rounded globes in unbridled possessiviness.

He had no intention to stop, not even as his chin and nose were coated onto a glistening mixture of your juices and his own saliva. This was not a simple way to cherish your moments with him, this was downright his favorite addiction. Hiromi did not really care if you skipped your appointment with the beautician. He frankly appreciated how much care of your body you had, but he had never asked you to get a wax. Never. Still, when you did, he could not deny how much he loved the way his tongue smoothly skimmen over your silky folds.

“Ride my nose harder, baby” he rasped, his cock twitching in his pants as you shifted upwards, following his command eagerly.

You inhaled sharply, eyes downcast to peer down at your husband’s face barely visible from underneath your thighs. The timing was perfect. Eyes screwed shut, Hiromi was gradually guiding your hips back and forth to help you rub your swollen clitoris over his prominent nose. Waves of electricity ran through your veins, as you let out a pathetic whine. Now, or never, you had to drop the bomb before it was too late.

“I don’t think there’s a single hair left, right?” you breathed out, Hirmoni’s teeth nipping gently at your labia with a huff.

“Not even a single one… — your husband rumbled out — Not that I’d mind anyway” he whispered, mouth opening to leave wet kisses on the inside of your thigh. You two were making a mess.

You shivered, biting down onto your lower lip to concentrate better before shattering that poor man’s world with a single sentence “Yeah, I know, Hiroshi did such an amazing job”.

Hiromi’s assualt on your heat ended instantly. Hooded eyes opening, a knot creasing his forehead, he glanced up at you inquisitively “You meant Hiroko, not Hiroshi. I sincerely hope so”.

“No, I meant Hiroshi. — you countered back, breath still uneven as you wiped away the sweat beading your forehead with the back of your hand — Hiroko got down with a cold, he’s in charge of the beauty center now. I probably forgot to fill you up with the news” you replied, trying to sound convincing as Hiromi just stared blankly up at you.

Maybe it was just your impression, but the atmosphere around you, once charged with sexual tension, grew gloomy, almost chilling. His finger slipping into your core all of sudden made you choke out a screech of surprise, pleasure and discomfort engulfing your lower abdomen as you gawked down at him.

“Don’t talk. Not a single word unless I demand you to speak” Hiromi flatly said, curling his finger into you unforgivingly slowly.

You gaped in shock, legs almost giving up as he shoved another finger into your sappy hole, his eyes darkening as he assessed your reaction. He could not believe you had waited up until that very moment to tell him such a thing! You, his muse, his reason to wake up in the morning, you had let another man touch his nest.

“Did this man touch my home? Did you let him graze his fingers over your pubes, down to your labia, spreading them for him to enjoy the view?” he interrogated you, his tone sharp and cold, taking the same edge it did when he was in a courtroom. This was a problem. You knew you had to stop that circus.

You cried out, lips parted, as you shook your head “H-Hiro! It was a joke! It was a joke, I swear!” you fretted, watching with glee as his expression relaxed and he slided his fingers out of you.

You did not register how he slipped out from between your thighs, pushing your face down onto the pillow as he bit down onto your arse. All you knew was that, when he finally was deep inside of you, his mouth neared your ear and he got back at you from your silly staunt “Let me fill you up with something better than a fib, hm?”.

Nanami Kento.

Large and calloused hands gripping your hipbones, cock stretching you out deliciously, you did your best not to reach your climax right away. Kento Nanami, the best partner you could have ever asked for, was taking his sweet time with you. His hips smacked against yours in a firm, steady pace, as you almost drooled over the polished wooden surface of the desk.

Sex after he came back from his small work trips was the best. Passionate, intense, the lust blinding you two all of a sudden. This time, it had washed over you, when he had seen you saunter towards him all dolled up for a dinner out. A dinner he had promised you before leaving and a dinner you were probably going to be late for.

“I missed you. Wholeheartedly. Waking up alone sucks” Kento stated, burying himself into you to the hilt.

You moaned out, nails scraping the wood as you pushed back against him, squeezing him up perfectly to enjoy the way his girth made itself space within your walls. You were absolutely in a frenzy, your make-up ruined, as you rested your cheek against the desk.

“I missed you too, oh so much” you replied, breath uneven as he leaned down to plant a kiss onto your nape, thrusting slowly into you, making love instead of fucking. This felt just perfect, so perfect that, if it was not for him speaking up, you would have forgotten completely about the devious plan you had in mind.

“You even waxed for me, huh?” he whispered, causing you to tighten up around him again and for your husband to grunt in pleasure.

“You shall t-thank Noboru for the last minute appointment he agreed on” you blurted out, Kento’s eyes widening at your words. A shot through the heart would have felt less painful.

A man had seen his wife’s pussy? Oh, that was impossible. He was probably too tired and had misheard your words. The Hell with that, he was never tired when he was with you. Kento Nanami had heard you correctly. He cleared his throat, hips still, whilst he gazed down at you.

“Noboru?”.

You swallowed forcefully, glancing at him from above your shoulder “Yeah?”.

“Are you perhaps implying you lied down on a couch, legs wide open, to let Noboru touch your pussy?” he inquired, voice calm and collected, even if his grip on your hips was getting bruising.

You nodded your head “And what if I did?”.

“Then I will accompany you the next time you want to get waxed. — Kento replied, giving you a warning thrust that made your breath hitch in your thraot — You know, I would not want our dear Noboru to just imagine the filthy sounds your pussy makes, when I fuck it. Let’s give him a show, darling. What do you say? Would he like to watch me fuck you?” he asked you, resuming his relentless pace.

His hand landing harshly onto your rear caused you to whimper out, sweat beading your forehead, as you regretted your choice to tease your beloved husband. His silent, latent jealousy was turning out to he too hot to handle. He caught a glimpse of you trying to open up your mouth to admit it was all a lie, but he shushed you with another spank.

“Hush, sweetheart. — he cooed, your whines a melody he would have never get tired of — I know you were joking. But we both were serious about trying to have a kid, right? Let’s start tonight. Fuck the dinner, I’ll cook for you later” he rasped out, increasing the pace of his thrusts.

Oh, dear, your wobbly legs and the hot seed dribbling down the inside of your thighs were the signs the only two men allowed to see you naked were your husband and your gynecologist.

AUTHOR NOTE.

Hello there! I always feel so giddy when I write for JJK. Hopefully, you’re going to enjoy this piece. I don’t think you guys will get a part two soon, but I do not close the door to that possibility.

Anyway, likes, comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated!

until next,

X O X O

TAGS: @axesfordays @areyouflying

[lev1hei1chou]

Cuddles and Jealousy

Dad!Gojo x reader Genre: Fluff Synopsis: Gojo is jealous of your baby Masterlist Requests open!

You were cuddled up on the couch with your baby boy, Akio, cooing softly to him. His little fingers grasped your thumb tightly, and you couldn’t help but smile at his adorable face. Gojo stood nearby, arms crossed and a pout forming on his lips.

“Hey, what about me?” he whined, nudging you with his foot. “I used to get all the attention around here.”

You looked up at him, amused. “Oh, poor baby. Feeling neglected?”

“Yes, actually. Glad you noticed” he huffed, flopping dramatically onto the couch beside you. “Akio gets all your hugs and kisses now. What about my needs?”

Akio giggled at his father's antics, his little laugh making your heart melt even more. You kissed your small baby on the forehead, then leaned over to give your big baby a peck on the cheek. “There, happy now?”

Gojo shook his head, still pouting. “Nope, that’s not enough. I need more love and attention. You used to shower me with affection.”

You laughed and handed Akio to his father. “Why don’t you hold him for a bit? Maybe you’ll feel better.”

Gojo took Akio carefully, looking into his son’s eyes. Akio gurgled and reached out to touch Gojo’s face, making him smile. “Ofcourse, he’s adorable. But I still want my cuddles.”

You moved closer, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “You cutie. How about a family cuddle?”

Gojo’s pout finally turned into a grin. “Now you’re talking!” He shifted so that Akio was snuggled between the two of you.

“See?” you said, resting your head on Gojo’s shoulder. “Now we’re all getting attention.”

He sighed contentedly. “I guess I can share you with Yuki. But only because he’s so cute.”

“Just remember,” you teased, “I’ve got plenty of love for both my boys.”

Gojo leaned in for a quick kiss, then turned to Akio. “You hear that, buddy? We’ve got the best mommy ever.”

Akio babbled happily in response, and you couldn’t help but laugh. “I think he agrees.”

[tender-rosiey]

candy pretty! — nanami kento x f!reader

a/n: okay but what would nanami do if his little girl had a crush on gojo’s son 😏

nanami is a mature man, calculated, collected, and the picture perfect adult. he is the best husband who, without fail, treats you like a queen.

he is also the best dad out there and your six year old daughter will always defend that with her entire being. she is also very ready to throw hands at whoever disagrees. right now, however, the one throwing hands is your husband.

and it’s either at gojo’s son or gojo himself.

but the boy did nothing, and gojo deserves a beating anyways so he settles for the latter.

that’s at least until his darling daughter came in with the biggest smile on her cute face and holding a note—probably written by gojo’s son, considering the very terrible and unstable handwriting, but the small smiley face and cute heart—as she squealed, “daddy, daddy! akio invited me to a playdate!”

it takes every bone in nanami not to walk to gojo’s house and throw him in the nearest trashcan where he belongs; instead, he smiles gently at his daughter, “that’s great, d/n. when are you going?”

“right now!”

“sure—wait…now?”

she nods excitedly. nanami sighs then gives her a thumbs up, and the girl takes it as a cue to excitedly run to her room with giggles and squeaks, “mommy, he said yes!”

he hears you respond through the door and he can practically hear the smile in your voice, “really? that’s awesome! let’s get you dressed up, pretty girl,” you and her run happily run to her room and nanami smiles at the sound of footsteps.

he loves how lively it makes the house feel.

then hears the door close and he leans back into his seat.

moments pass by. a deep breath he takes, and a stare he gives the ceiling before mumbling very quietly, “what the fuck.”

“ooo, daddy said a bad word!”

“put the money in the jar, kento!”

ugh, this is going to be a long day.

the both of you are already dressed, and your daughter is busying herself with her favorite comic while you help your husband get ready.

he is glaring at the mirror and you chuckle while straightening his collar, “what’s on your mind, handsome? dad instincts acting up? she is growing up; she is bound to have crushes.”

he nods with a sigh, “I know, but like it’s gojo’s kid.”

“yeah?”

“no, y/n, it’s gojo’s.”

“oh right…ew. ew to gojo, not the kid. akio is an absolute sweetheart.”

he snorts, “he probably takes after his mom,” then he kisses your forehead when you’re done tying his tie, “but the thought of being related to gojo is just…” he grimaces, shaking his head, and that’s all you need to understand.

he can almost imagine it: them a couple of years later, completely and utterly in love, and he would be so happy for them. anyone who ensures the happiness and safety of his daughter is an a+ for nanami.

then gojo will enter, loudly and dramatically, and he won’t hear the ending of his annoyances, a pain he thought he will get rid of before he enters his 40s at least. he looks at the bright side: at least, he will have you by his side.

you lightly smack his—very broad and muscular—shoulder, “now, you’re being dramatic! he isn’t that bad.”

a stare of silence is what you’re met with until your daughter interrupts the judging look of your husband, “mommy! daddy! ‘gotta go! he is waiting!”

your husband sighs once again and you giggle, pulling him with you towards the car.

the ride is quiet, save for your and your daughter’s singing and her rambles about how excited she is to see akio, along with your husband’s frown as he realizes that maybe he is getting protective of her even against akio.

it doesn’t take much time, before you’re already in the gojo household and are seated while the kids are playing in akio’s room.

it’s just you, kento, and gojo because mama gojo went out to work. you would’ve loved to catch up with her about the latest gossip in town.

gojo grins as he looks at the both of you, “so how’s nanamin feeling about the kids’ love story?”

an instant scowl is plastered on your husband’s handsome face and it makes you and gojo laugh out loud. gojo understands why he is protective. when he has a daughter himself, he will probably never let a boy near her.

you cup kento’s face to press a kiss to his cheek and it relaxes him, even if it’s just a tiny bit. gojo lets out a whistle and both you and your husband glare at him.

you hear some rustling in akio’s room, before your daughter bursts out, red-faced and running towards you. she buries her face in your legs and you softly ask her, “what’s wrong, honey?”

nanami gently rubs her back and it encourages her to speak up, even if her voice is a mere murmur, “akio called me pretty,” she fidgets with her fingers. you and nanami share a look of a helpless smile and pat your daughter’s hair.

soon after, akio comes running out of his room , “d/n? are you okay? miss y/n, is she sick? is she okay? I can get that…uh—yellow thingy mommy gives me when I am sick!”

you chuckle and stroke your daughter’s hair lovingly, “don’t worry, hun; she is just a little shy about being called pretty,” you hear her huff on your legs and she looks up to frown at you.

you chuckle and kiss her forehead while nanami is staring—read: probably glaring or planning something—at akio.

akio tilts his head in confusion, “but she is pretty? the prettiest girl ever! even prettier than candy!”

your daughter whines, burying her face further into your leg, “akioo, stop!”

gojo chuckles, watching the scene unfold and thinking about how his very evident charms were passed down to his kid.

but the compassion in his eyes as he worriedly looks at d/n is definetly from his mom. akio pads his way to d/n, and gently pats her head, “I am sorry; please don’t be mad at me.”

he pouts and looks away while blushing, “you’re my favorite person to play with…and I never—um,” he hides his faces his shirt, “want to make you sad.”

your daughter peaks at him and you could swear you could hear the slow music and the chiming bells. you could also bet that the wind is a paid-actor cause when did the window open anyways?

your husband taps your shoulder and points at gojo, who is turning on a fan to give this sweet moment more drama.

and so, after a while, the playdate comes to a close and you’re at the door saying goodbye to the gojos—who you will probably see tomorrow, but whatever.

gojo is leaning against the door as he grins, “let’s do this again soon.”

your husband takes out a cloth to wipe his glasses, “I would rather not.”

you gently elbow him before kneeling beside your daughter, “come on, d/n; say bye to akio and uncle gojo.”

“bye bye, uncle gojo,” she waves and he excitedly waves back then she looks at akio in silence.

the poor boy is overthinking why she isn’t saying goodbye to him and he is probably about to tear up. however, your daughter finally musters up the courage and walks towards him.

they look at each other for a moment before your daughter pecks his cheek and dashes to the car.

akio stares in front of him before becoming a blushing mess and falling to the ground. it’s chaos from there on out.

gojo is cackling like he never laughed before in his life. your husband is speechless and probably planning murder. you’re trying to do your best to calm him down, but it seems like there will be no stopping this man.

family dinners will be so interesting.

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do not copy or plagiarize or you will be reported

[homoeroticbetrayal]

Iconic Homoerotic Betrayal: Finals

Poll Directory

Context:

Anthy/Utena

Summarized by Anonymous Contributor

THE blueprint for homoerotic betrayals of the canonically gay (as opposed to interpretive, certainly there are older iconic examples for that) variety. listed as #2 in the infamous top ten anime betrayals video, iirc.

it is about akio pushing anthy to utena. it is about utena’s protective stance, misunderstanding. most of all, it is about anthy kissing utena’s shoulder before stabbing her.

the story has been leading us to this the whole time — utena assuming once again the protective princely position; akio, always playing divide and conquer, unable to manipulate utena to betray anthy, now reliant on anthy betraying utena; the game being rigged from the start, true victory impossible (for the duelists, who will always lose the game proper to akio, the rule maker, in one way or another; for akio himself, just as obviously); utena’s love for anthy within the princely stance; anthy’s love for utena and anthy’s fear (of the world beyond; of utena loving her truly; of utena not loving her truly but just projecting onto her still as any prince does, and turning out to be the same (as akio) in the end) and akio (framing himself) as the only one who will love her no matter what because friends turn away from you and only connections by blood are forever, the two of them are the only ones who’s real in this projected world, so on and so forth, and anthy’s bitterness towards utena (“do you know, utena-sama, how i always despised you” from that one “in the next episode” bit) and her princeliness and her being not that impossibly unlike akio (all princes are the same). everything has lead us to this moment. and yet we are shocked.

personally, i’ve never moved on from how she kisses her shoulder.

See a whole dissertation on Utenanthy here

Judas/Jesus

Summary by @this-is-a-name-dont-worry

We of course have Judas betraying Jesus, with a kiss like a last goodbye, maybe a mockery of their love, maybe a grieving goodbye. In the end it doesn't matter, because Judas would rather hang himself than to keep going. The money was unspent or returned, a change of heart from regret, or maybe a sign it was never about it

But the betrayal is also from Jesus; Jesus, who knew who Judas was, who knew what he'll do. Jesus who still let Judas be an apostle... an act of love, but also, isn't it so cruel to make it look like there was a choice, a chance at another ending for Judas? This is a story where it being a story is part of it, and the writer inserted himself among the characters, and doomed one of them to eternal hatred from everyone. And he dared let the one who will be doomed think he'll ever be saved. Jesus knew what would happen, knew what Judas would do, yet he still let it happen, because the story is more important. After all, at the Last Supper, isn't it Jesus who tell Judas to go and do what he must do?

Judas betrayed Jesus, but Jesus sacrificed them both

[revacholian-girl-utena]

Just extremely difficult.

Alt text: Screenshots from Revolutionary Girl Utena with overlaid text. 1: Shadow girl B-ko onstage dressed as a prince with a sword and broomstick horse. Text: "You're like a fish that's only now discovering that her whole life has been dictated by the movements of sea currents."

2: Anthy, Utena, and Akio sitting in an empty theater with no other audience. Text: "That's what ideology is."

3: Akio sits on a couch with his back facing Utena. Utena stands some distance away with a confrontational stance. They are dwarfed by the silhouette of the massive planetarium behind them. Text: "is. It's like there are these invisible forces everywhere,"

4: Utena sitting in Mikage's elevator with the sword of Dios in her lap. Her rose bride dress is on a mannequin beside her. Text: "pushing and tugging you this way and that,"

5: A closeup of the camera that took the family photo of Utena, Anthy, and Akio. Text: "and you don't even know they're *there*."

6: Utena leaning against the tower's bedroom window with her shoulders hunched and a hand on the glass. The view is of a starry sky. Text: YOU — "Is it even possible to imagine a world without ideology?"

7: Anthy standing at the other end of the window and looking at Utena. There is no text.

8: Anthy's hand laid on top of Utena's, both pressed to the window. Text: "Of course it's possible." End alt text

[dellalyra]

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬

𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦：𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑏𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔．

𝑝𝑖𝑥𝑖𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠：ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑦 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟！𝑖 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟， 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑎 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑒．𝑖 𝑎𝑚 𝑠𝑜 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡 － 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖 𝑎𝑚 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠！𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛𝑜𝑤 － ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑦 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦．

The fireworks lit up the night sky like a symphony of stars, each promising a granted wish for the year to come.

Satoru didn’t know what to wish for, anymore.

How could he think of anything else that could make his life better?

The shining twinkling lights lit up the night sky and the eyes of the little girl held tightly inside your fluffy winter coat. Shrieking in delight at all of the colours exploding across the inky blackness as singing and cheering tumbled through the air making the booming of the fireworks all the more magnetic.

The eyes of his girls, the eyes of the woman he fell in love with all those years ago - mirrored in the 2 year old on your hip, identical looks of awe of both pretty faces, astounded by the shimmering magical explosions ringing in the year.

The wiggling on his shoulders intensified with a particularly extravagant display of red and gold - shouts of ‘wow, papa! Papa! Did you see that one?!’ along with taps to the crown of his head as his 5 year old son squirmed in excitement, keen to share the joy with his father (considering sitting atop his very tall father’s shoulders was the world’s best viewpoint).

“Yeah, I saw them mochi! Aren’t they pretty?!” He responded, securing the hold on Akio’s leg.

“Oh! The countdown, everyone get ready!” Came the voice of Yuuji Itadori from behind them.

“10!”

“9!”

“8!”

He looked at you, finding you were already looking - smiling and securing your daughter on your hip as you shuffled closer to him.

“7!”

“6!”

Satoru looks down at you, moving one large hand from the boys leg on his shoulder to bring it around your waist, pulling his soulmate and baby girl into him, and pressing a kiss to the white curly head of his little girl’s head.

“5!”

“4!”

In the corner of his eye, he saw his eldest - tall and sharp edges and spiky raven hair sneaking closer to the boy he loves - and being quickly engulfed in the arms and lips of one Yuuji Itadori. He wouldn’t disturb them, New Year’s was theirs to enjoy. He also saw Shoko pouring two flutes of champagne, handing one to his daughter’s godfather - Choso Itadori (previously Kamo).

“3!”

“2!”

He looked back at you.

Fuck, he is lucky. Another year as the luckiest man alive. Lucky to be alive, with his girl by his side. In your firework eyes, he saw adoration reflected. Glimmering with that love he saw whenever he looked at you, whole - unwavering.

“1!”

He leans down, pressing his lips to yours in a practised movement that still elicits the same boom of fireworks that it did when you two were still 18.

“Happy new years, ‘Toru.”

“Happy new year, princess.” He says, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“Happy new year, mama and papa!” Akio says, hugging the crown of his head.

“Happy year!” Claps Mirai, with her very confused two year old vocabulary.

“Happy New Year, our babies.”

[fairydust-stuff]

I find Saionji & Akio dynamics facinating. I know he mostly focuses on Utena & Touga and of course Anthy gets the worst of his abuse/ direction attention.

. Here you have this teen who still gets pulled into Akio's bs, but can half see though it. Also for all Saionji's toxic masculinity bullshit. He takes one look at Akio and just hates his guts. He has such a strong negative reaction to the whole situation. The " Your his little lap dog" comment to Touga.

I rewatched the car scenes and while everyone ignores Akio or just kinda sits there other then Nanami (Who also half gets it).

Saionji's first impulse is to try to grab Akios shoulder looking pissed as hell. He's the only one not ignoring Akio's role in the situation. He's the only one who reflects on Akio's role as Utena's savior.

He's the one who comes to the conclusion Akio is keeping them trapped in their coffins. Despite not having the vocabulary to express how he Utena and Touga are being abused,exploited, groomed. Because even that has been refused to these kids. He hits on something being wrong. (Also he see's Akios abuse of Touga and pins Akio as the problem. Even Utena doesn't do that right away.)

Akio's half of the dynamic is harder to read. But he seems to take interest in Saionji even though he loses. Since he seems to be ordering Touga to take him out again.

Also there's the " Now be nice to your friend." comment. which reminds me of Akios " I want you and Utena to be very good freinds comment." to anthy. And the creepy photo shoot after party. Which gives this sexual grooming vibe to be sure. While this could just be to mess with Touga.

Which is highly possible it still involves Saionji. In what is a possible attempt to weaken Touga's friendship bond. Which suggests Akio underestimates Saionji just as much as Utena.

In both cases he really thought they'd abandon the person they loved. Then resorts to sexual abuse of both Utena & Saionji when they refuse to validate his world view.

Then they both basically give Akio the middle finger. Utena does a full on revolution and frees Anthy. While Saionji emotionally supports Touga by using the very role Akio gave some of the duelists. That of the bride which fits into his dominate/ subordinate narrative. By making it part of an equal partnership.

Much like with Utena's being gone from his world. Akio is obvious to what Saionji did. Seeing only that he lost and not the overall impact he had on Touga.

[chromaclopse]

[I.D.: digital fan art of akio, utena, and anthy from revolutionary girl utena, set against a background of roses with a spotlight shining on them from above. utena is in the very center, holding the sword of dios. on her left and slightly in front of her is akio, and to her right and slightly behind her is anthy. akio has a hand on utena’s chest, and is leaning in to kiss her with his eyes closed. utena’s mouth is wide open and so are her eyes, looking forward to the camera and slightly to the right, toward anthy. anthy has her eyes closed with a sad, weary expression. her arm goes under utena’s arm and grips the sword right before the tip. the other arm firmly holds utena’s other wrist, and head rests against utena’s shoulder. / end I.D.]

happy pride heres an utena based on that one anne hathaway image

description by @divine-buster!

[transmascutena]

we watched the black rose musical last night and i'm still thinking about how much akio goes around just.. touching other characters, even in scenes he isn't actually really supposed to be part of. it's a really interesting directing choice. sometimes it's just a touch, like a hand on someone's arm or shoulder, but most of the time he's pushing people. very much like in the show, he is putting the actors (the characters) into the positions he needs them in. only here it's very literal. and instead of just telling them where to be, like a stage director might do, it's physical, hands-on, even kind of violent at times, yet still subtle enough that nobody notices. nobody ever reacts to it, they just move to where he needs them to be, stumbling into place and continuing to play their roles.

and i could talk about exactly who gets pushed when and to where (like how the first and last person he does it to is anthy-as-mamiya, how it's a light push, really just a touch to keep the momentum of what they're already doing going, as opposed to the way he kind of shoves other characters), but the thing that really stood out to me is that the only character he does touch but doesn't ever really push (aside from i think anthy, and i do have a lot of thoughts on the scene where they're dancing together that i may get into in another post) is utena. what he does instead instead is pull her.

in the opening number, there's a moment where it seems like utena is about to walk off-stage (like tokiko does in the scene, because their choreography is mirroring each other. very clever), but before she can, akio grabs her arm and turns her towards the center of the stage instead, where she lies down in her "coffin". the show proper starts, of course, with the once upon a time story of utena meeting the prince, and a recap of the first arc/musical. and of course akio is the one who puts her into position for it. she's still trapped in her coffin.

and, i don't know, there's just something especially unsettling to me about it compared to the pushing. maybe just that it's different from his interactions with every other character. or the contrast between the pushing being more direct and aggressive, compared to him subtly and gently guiding her around the stage, into the chair or closer to him. there's something horribly personal or intimate about it i guess, especially since he often takes her hand to do it.

[anzulvr]

୨୧ On Purpose Karma x (fem) reader || Chapter: 08 ୨୧

 PREV || 08 Klepto || NEXT

Last year, the strangest sequence of events altered [Name’s] life. It was a day like any other, beginning with countless possibilities. An inevitable build-up to the perfect moment, fate, which could have led to anything, led to him.

"Akio! It's good to see you, I'm on an assignment. Could you do me a favor and answer some questions?" [Name] greeted him with a smile.

Akio scoffed in reply he looked the [h/c]-haired girl up and down. "Spare me the trouble and tell me who reported me. My dad invests a ton of money into this school... so this conversation won't get you anywhere."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Don't act clueless, it's annoying just cut to it." Akio yanked [Name’s] bag off her shoulder. "Unless you tell me who sent you, I won't be giving this back."

[Name] felt so out of the loop. Akio hadn't been apprehensive towards her before. "Gakushuu sent me. I only need to collect a student survey." He quickly backtracked in an attempt to cover up his self-incriminating tone "Of course he did... forget this, I don't need Asano getting mad at me for bothering his girlfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend and you don't have to be so hostile towards me, if you don't want to participate it's alright."

"Not your boyfriend?" Akio laughed as if it were the most ridiculous statement he'd heard come out of anyone's mouth. He blocked out anything else she'd said and honed in on that.

"The entire school knows the real reason you're in council."

She felt her heart sink. "Are you trying to insinuate something?"

[Name] shouldn't care, it's only a rumor. Still, it was hard not to when a good amount of the student body targeted her on how she didn't deserve her position. No one else in the Big Six had to take the backlash she did. It wasn't fair. Why did people assume the worst?

This was the first time someone had the guts to say it directly to her. She worked hard for her spot but her success was attributed to some guy going and "handing" it to her.

Just as she was about to wack Akio with the clipboard in her hand, Akio held his breath. A tall red-haired guy wearing a dress-code-violating uniform and a creepy smile was standing right behind him.

[Name] stared at the stranger's face a little longer, oh- that's the guy Asano constantly complains about!

He grabbed Akio's shoulder in an overly friendly manner. "Did you think you'd get away from me?" Karma's voice dripped with confidence, he was confrontational and clearly didn't run away from a fight. A weird guy, his tone was friendly; the same way you'd talk to an old friend. It was comforting in an uncomfortable way, his words didn't match his attitude at all.

The life drained from Akio's face, he went pale and rigid.

"I'm having trouble deciding what to do. I could beat your face in before I take the wallet back, or you can give me everything you have on you, clothes and all. You can keep the underwear."

"You can have it back! I swear I didn't take money out of it!"

"You're funny, I don't just want it back. Not after you made me run around the block ."

Akio dropped everything he had on the floor, Nagisas wallet, [Names] bag, his pants... Karma laughed at the sight of Akio running off like his life depended on it.

It was a cute laugh, a little maniacal considering the circumstances, but cute.

"This is like hitting the lottery... Nagisa had 10 bucks in that old thing- That blockhead carries hundreds!" He was excitedly talking to himself like a child opening an early Christmas gift.

"Karma! There you are! I finally caught up. Huh? Where'd Akio go? God, please don't tell me you actually killed him..."

Nagisa was holding his stomach for support, completely out of breath and a few minutes late. He must've gotten lost while Karma was chasing Akio.

"Even better, check this out!"

He tossed both wallets to Nagisa, Then Karma opened up [Names] bag and started rummaging through it.

[Name] spoke up softly, even though the belongings were hers she felt pretty out of place after watching the whole ordeal go down. She wasn't keen on being next.

"Hi um, that's my stuff."

Karma gave her a suspicious glance out of the corner of his eyes. "Are you trying to rip my steal?"

She shook her head no in rapid motion.

Nagisa gave a panicked expression, "Karma don't be rude! She's in our class, she always brings that bag."

Karma furrowed his eyebrows in response, "Really? I never noticed ya."

He tossed the bag back into [Names] arms, "Heads up." She dropped her clipboard when meaning to catch her bag.

"What's that stack of papers for?" Nagisa asked while picking the board back up.

"It's just a survey I'm having people fill in for the school."

Karma tapped his open palm with his balled-up fist, a lightbulb moment, "Now I remember you! You're the square's girlfriend!" A little late, but at least he had some sort of recollection of [Names] existence.

[Name] was visibly taken aback, he did not just say that.

"Seriously where did that rumor come from? Asano would put a bullet in his head before going out with me."

Nagisa gave an awkward chuckle, clearly, he was only being polite. "Sorry about Karma, we can answer the survey if you still need people."

"You'd do that for me? Thank you! I have like fifty more to collect."

"Anytime, it's no problem!"

It was a really sweet gesture until the mood got spoiled by the delinquent behind him who didn't share the same enthusiasm.

"Do I have to? There are plenty of other people to choose from."

While Nagisa started going through and checking boxes [Name] couldn't help but focus on Karma. In contrast to his perfect hair and face his uniform was completely wrong. He could get into trouble if a teacher notices then it'll become a bigger problem than it has to be.

[Name] took a step closer and began to fix his outfit the best she could. She straightened up his blazer and buttoned up his collared shirt.

He wasn't sure what to do with himself as she lectured him about cleaning up his look. He focused on her hands. "Your shirt's unbuttoned, the blazers on wrong and I have an extra tie in my locker so you can have mine if you want."

He smiled and gave her a weird look, "No thanks I'm not a big fan, ties are suffocating."

He'd gotten told off millions of times by the councilors and teachers over dress code but this was the first time a girl his age nagged him about it. What was her deal? "Sorry if I sound pushy, I'm only looking out for you."

Looking out for him, that's a first.

"Nah it's okay, your shoes are untied by the way."

She looked down to check completely forgetting they didn't have laces. "Hm? But they aren't."

He laughed again, this time not like a sadistic weirdo. "Made you look! Are you always that gullible?"

Back then, [Name] and Karma didn't know they'd eventually become the most important people to one another.

He's always there when she needs it, that's what sets him apart from anyone else. [Name] thinks this makes her over-reliant, and needy. She hopes he won't grow sick of her. In that way they're the perfect pair, behind his poker-faced facade Karma is worrying about the same thing, hopefully, she never gets sick of him.

[empty-movement]

sorry but please... post your akio plastic covered couch tweet here... the world needs to know...

Warning: pics of gross shit happening on the couches

I'll do you one better and include the STORY! So, I, Vanna (note: Yasha mostly does the Tumblr and I mostly do the Twitter,) was smoking enough weed to knock out a large horse or put a very tiny dent in my constant back and shoulder pain, as one does when when they're a middle-aged Registered Nurse in the year 2023. (I'm 39 but it's an old 39, lmao.)

Scrolling through Twitter, I stumble on a fanart of Suletta from Witch of Mercury sitting goofily on a white couch. Now I haven't seen this show yet, but the white couch....looked familiar, and I know the show is very much a descendent of Utena in terms of creative teams. For those that don't know, the series is written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, who also wrote the two Revolutionary Girl Utena novelizations...which if you didn't know about before, you know about now, and can read translated on our site here! (Warning: Touga and Miki uh, in the novels...)

Anyways, so I hop onto my own website and start downloading the images that will constitute receipts, before realizing 1. these images are all on multiple computers feet away from me, 2. the couch isn't an identical match, 3. that'd have been weird anyway, and most importantly, 4:

AKIO'S COUCHES DON'T LOOK RIGHT. OBSERVE:

The edges of the armrests have sloppier upholstery than the blanket I have covering my computer desk. I took the time to tuck seams at least. What is this??

Now it could absolutely be leather, I thought. It would absolutely track. But leather upholstery doesn't look like this. It doesn't wrinkle quite this way. It would have cleaner seams.

No. No that's too shiny for leather. So here I am, presented with this strangeness I'd never really considered in how Akio's couch is drawn, and having spent the last few months learning about my Italian-American family history, my chemically altered ass came to the only reasonable conclusion:

Akio Ohtori has plastic coverings on his white couches, like he's a depression era American in poverty.

Fuck yeah, I though, A HIT TWEET, there, at the end of all Tweeting things. (Yeah I'm working on that, stay tuned, lmao. I of all people know when to bail on stupid men with stupid power.) Because I am me, I framed it as semi serious by pulling a context to explain it out of my ass:

I was joking.

But the replies? They were not. And then I thought about it some more. And I've kept thinking about it. Do I seriously think Ikuhara and Co literally are intentionally drawing a plastic covered couch? Doesn't that feel, Vanna, like a bit of a stretch, even for Utena meta?

Listen to that CRONCH when Akio sits down in episode 31, before Anthy is seen by Nanami. Look, the buttons on the back rest don't quite fit, but the rest? Yeah it kinda does. I was high, but not wrong!?

Akio *does* surround himself with a bizarre hodgepodge of Americana as an aesthetic. The arm garters. The piping and cut of his cowboy-ass shirt. His American car. His mullet. His miniature fucking golf. Why not the plastic covered couch? It's a trope of American poverty that would absolutely have fallen neatly into the diet of American pop culture that influenced Ikuhara. (He makes references to E.T. and The Godfather and Suspiria and all kinds of things in his other work, Utena itself is a little less obvious with individual references but inherits HUGE amounts of vibes from the same content--Ikuhara and Co watched Lost Highway in theaters during the production of the Akio Arc and I will not be convinced otherwise.)

So yeah. That's the story, and that's the theory. Do I seriously believe it was deliberate? Maybe. Probably. Possibly. But it fits so well it's headcanon for me, and in the Utena fandom, pretty much all canon is kind of headcanon so enjoy this one.

What an asshole.

[crowentity233]

The Dragon's Keep (part 2)

*Finished*

Fire Lord Zuko x (Fem!) Reader

Part 1 Part 3

Summary: You are a firebender named Ayushi, who has been accepted to guard over the royal family as a kyoshi warrior. You end up guarding Zuko through his travels to visit the sun warriors. The mission, protecting the newest dragons, begins.

The morning breeze flowed through your hair. You were taking a trip down to the market today. The busy streets came into view. The doors to different shops were opening and closing. A man opened the door for you to walk through. You grabbed a few sleep wear sets and casual wear. Then you saw a stuffed dragon and grabbed it from the shelf. You paid the merchant and stepped back out from the store.

You were paid by the kingdom for guarding the palace. There was more money in your bag than you ever saw growing up, which wasn't hard to beat.

You walked back to the palace. It was still surreal to walk up to the palace as your new home. Flashes of the dirty streets you grew up in shot through your brain. You shook your head, continuing up the steps and walking through the door with your bags.

You reached the warrior housing and sat the bags on your bed in your room. You looked around it was more bare than the other girls. They brought things from home or were sent packages from their family. You weren't so lucky. You put your new clothing items away. The time passed, and you changed into your pajama set. It was comfortable and easy on the eye. It was modest enough to walk around in the palace with it on.

You stopped at kiyi's room, knocking on the door, and peeked in, and just as you suspected, she wasn't in the room. You walked down the next few halls headed for Lord Zuko's room. You knocked on the door. Kiyi opened the door and grabbed your hand, pulling you in.

"Zuzu! She's here!" She laid down on the empty bed. "Ayushi, tuck me in, please!" She exclaimed excitedly. You walk into the room a little more comfortably, wrapping the girl up in a blanket, tucking her in. "I got you a gift today while I was out. I have a friend for your bison." She clutched her bison tightly, gasping at the dragon you extended out to her. You pat her head and sit down at the end of the bed.

"I love him! I'm gonna name him Ryu. Zuzu! Look at Ryu!." The girl called towards a door on the other side of the room.

Zuko stepped out of the door. His hair was damp and put together. He stood in the doorway leaning on his shoulder. "I see him, kiyi. He looks like he is a great friend for Akio."

Your eyes flicked back to the girl quickly. Zuko was dressed again in a silk set, but there was something so intimate and domestic about being in the Firelord's room after he bathed.

He sat down on the bed. You bowed to him from your sitting position. "Lord Zuko."

His smile was so inviting. "Ayushi." You matched his smile.

"Zuzu needs to be tucked in." Kiyi said suddenly. "Can you tuck him in Ayushi?"

"Oh, u..um.." You glanced over at the Firelord, unsure of exactly what to do. He seemed just as awkward about the situation.

His eyes traveled from his sister to you. He got up, pulling the sheets back, and laid down next to the girl. She grabbed his arm, gigging with pure sibling love.

You stood up rounding the bed and pulled the cover over him. Your eyes caught his they were still that same gorgeous golden color. You were careful not to look at his scar. You had heard from the other warriors that he didn't particularly like it when people did.

You looked over at kiyi, making sure she was pleased. She took her hand and patted her head like you did when you finished tucking her in. You looked back at the Fire Lord. The touch barrier that was so thick with wealth and power seemed to diminish as the girl asked for such a childish thing. You placed your hand on his hair and ran your hand through it softly. "All tucked in."

Kiyi handed Zuko her stuffed, flying Bison. "Zuzu, you have to hold Akio." You snickered quietly as the well-built twenty year old leader of the nation reached out and grabbed onto the stuffed Bison.

He punched you playfully soft on your leg, grinning while shifting his eyes quickly at you and then back to his sister. "I've got him, Kiyi."

"Okay, is everyone ready for the story?" You rounded the bed again, sitting at the edge!

Kiyi shouted happily. "Yes!"

You began where you left off the night before. You told the story to the pair. Right before you got to the very end, Zuko leaned up again, looking down at his sister. "She's asleep." He whispered. He stood up and picked her up. "Wait here." He whispered just as he did last night and took kiyi to her bed, laying her down.

You sat still, tracing the pattern on the expensive silk. "Are you ready?" Zuko called from the doorway. You turned your head, looking up at him. "Yes." You said timidly, knowing not to say anything but yes to the ruler. You stood and walked towards the door. "Where are we going?"

He slipped into the darkened hallway. You followed him. "Im going to teach you the dancing dragon. We're going to the thrown room, there's more room in there." You caught up with him. Your heart fluttered. Your parents would never have believed that you were walking in the fire nation palace, with the Fire Lord with you both sporting pajamas.

Your parents were from the poor side of town. The streets were dirty, buildings were in shambles, every house had a leak, and every family was hungry. Your parents died during the war. A middle class family took you in and helped you to survive and nothing more, not that they were obligated to do anything at all. It just was no real family establishment. You were just simply the pitiful girl that had nothing and was born into nothing. You had created this separate life for yourself, fighting tooth and nail to get to your position and the trust of the kyoshi warriors. You were a bender, but that only took you so far. You trained for years to get to where you were after the war.

You giggled softly at the visions of their faces if you told them. The pride they would have in your accomplishments.

Zuko turned into the throne room. "What is it?" He questioned with the corners of his lips in a gentle smile.

"Oh, nothing..." You spoke softly, embarrassed of your thoughts, taking an outward extension into reality. "I'm just thinking." You didn't dare explain anything. Your social status was pushed deep into the past.

"Oh." He said simply. He continued into the throne room.

The awkward silence was eventually broken once you stood in the center of the throne room.

"The dancing dragon is a sacred firebending form. If you want to meet the dragons, then it's necessary for you to learn it. I think it's something every firebender should learn." Zuko turned standing in front of you.

"I'm honored for you to teach me, Lord Zuko." You bowed.

"The stances that I'm in, you mirror in the opposite direction."

He took the first stance. You mirrored. The next one you mirrored again. The next time, you shifted to the same side. "Other side." You shifted the other way. You both continued until the next to last stance. You mirrored, but Zuko shook his head. He grabbed your hand and pulled it up further putting it in the right place. He nodded and took the last stance.

"Okay, that's it. Now we do it together we start here and end there." He pointed to the other side of the room. You nodded. "We both will make a circle. We can face each other so you can make sure it's right." He stood beside you, and you both took the first stance. He guided you through the steps, and you neared close to the final stance. Each step sent a vibration within you. Your fists connected with Zukos in the final stance. The vibrations disappeared.

You both stepped away. His eyes met yours. "That's the dancing dragon."

"It felt natural. I feel stronger." Your eyes gleamed, turning your hands over and around.

"It's the true core of firebending. It helped the Avatar learn firebending." He watched your curves almost take on a new form. The satisfaction of watching something he had done gives you such bliss, which fueled his confidence. He stepped closer. "Try some bending it will feel more powerful now, too."

You stood in position, then ran forward, tumbling in the air and landing on one foot with one leg extended, launching a long flame flourishing through the air. You did a few backflips landing back where you started next to Lord Zuko. The earth warrior style fighting and agility complemented the firebending.

"Yeah, it did feel more powerful. Maybe one day I can get as good as you. Thank you, Lord Zuko." You turned your eyes to him and realized that he was right beside you. Part of his body was behind you, almost touching you.

Zukos chest lifted slightly at the complement, you didnt see his face brightening with red color. You turned away from him trying desperately to hide the rosy color appearing across your cheeks. The embarrassment of being so close to him was creating evidence.

"I know you're not supposed to be guarding tomorrow, but my family is visiting Ember Island. Suki gathered a few warriors to accompany us. Kiyi would be surprised if you come too. I know she would love it." Your eyes stared at the long curtain in the room away from him.

"Yes I can pack tonight, when should I meet with you?" You accepted the invitation graciously.

"In the morning, I will tell Suki so she knows to prepare you with the rest of the group." He never moved from the position. His hands ached, you were so close, and yet it was the same as it had been the last year. He watched you from afar, never finding courage to even catch your attention. Now that he was in your field of view, he couldn't extend any further. There was no possibility that you would ever feel any emotions to a leader of a nation. All the time and energy went to leading, and there were constant targets on his back from ozai supporters. No one could take that constant threat.

"I am going to go pack. I will see you in the morning." You walked away to the throne room door.

"Goodnight, Ayushi." Zuko called out.

"Goodnight, Lord Zuko." You called back, walking out of the door. Your mind reeled, walking out into the hallway. That was such a strange experience. He must have thought you were crazy standing so close to him. You felt like you had just disrespected him, but you were invited to Ember Island for Kiyi, so maybe he didn't take it as disrespect.

You felt a hand cover your mouth and pull you into the shadows. You held fire in your hand, but the person spoke. "Shhh... it's just me. Wouldn't want to scare the boyfriend, would we?" Your hand dropped the fire, and you tried to speak, but her hand muffled it into non-existent words. "Shh..." she whispered again softly in your ear as Lord Zuko opened the door to his throne room. He walked past silently. You could hear the door to his room open and close in the distance.

"He likes you!" She let go of your mouth. Whispering loudly. Her face was twisted into a smug knowing look.

You turned to her with your arms folded. "No, he doesn't. I've been nice to his sweet, baby sister. He is just being nice. He doesn't like me. He is the leader of the nation. He doesn't have time to crush on anyone."

Her brow lifted. "I'm calling it right now. He does. You can come back to this conversation when you're out of denial. Do you like him?"

"I don't know him. He's an attractive man, but no, I do not have a crush on the FireLord. He is the Firelordddd..." You trailed sending emphasis on the status that was untouchable.

This was your best friend, Hua. Not even she knew where you come from originally. She didn't know the difference in status that would cause you to be undesirable to such a high-class man.

"He changed you to daytime watch." She kept pushing.

"His mother did for Kiyi." Your arms loosened falling to your sides.

"Okay... just know I'm keeping up, and I called it when you start to see it too." She rolled her eyes and smiled shamelessly.

"I have to go pack, I'll see you later." You shook your head and walked back to your room.

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@mochminnie

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[cafeleningrad]

Spending way too many thoughts on Shiori's and Juri's dynamic - partly because I think Juri often gets a free-pass perpetuating partial aspects of Akio's mentality.

Anyhow, my absolute no-nuance hilltop is that so much is explained by Shiori being in love with Juri, actually. Fullstop. Definitely, like Utena, Shiori doesn't have either words nor means to pinpoint her feelings for the girl she's so fixated on in her life. It doesn't help that Shiori feels always "lesser than" her best childhood friend. However everything Shiori does, the need to be important to Juri, how she feels about herself, her perceived selfworth depending on Juri's treatment of her, desperately wanting to know who's picture is in Juri's locket... "If you just asked, I'd given you a nicer picture of me."

Whef, it's impossible for me to conceive Shiori's entire complex as anything else but her being in love with Juri. And being deeply hurt by being constantly given the cold shoulder by Jury.