#although reading this it kinda makes it seem like the ghost got him

[misscrazyfangirl321]

Had a dream, and I’ve decided it was for the weirdest gum commercial ever. 

It was set in a hotel. There was a couple staying at a hotel, and a worker who went to check on them for the evening.* They told her they wanted some chewing gum before they went to sleep. 

Then, all three of them were wandering the hotel, looking for chewing gum. Separately. And somehow, they figured out there was a ghost in the hotel, so they shifted to trying to figure out where the ghost was. 

The camera cut between them. 

Woman 1.

Woman 2.

Man.

Woman 1.

Woman 2.

But when it cut back to the man, he wasn’t there. After that, it cut back and forth between the two women, increasingly rapid, until-

I woke up. 

[the-entitie]

"Just, please... please. I'll beg."

Poly_TF_141 x sex-demon_reader Prt:2

Read part 1 here 》 ....

A_N:... Continuation of the previous! This is part two, and to do with Werewolf Soap going into 'heat' but not the abo kinda heat. Soo, expect more wolf like behavior, and again, the same warnings apply.

CW.|.TW:... Sexual content. Intended male reader. Bottom but Dom reader. Polly-cule TF 141. Religious depictions of demons. Allusion to Reader having an Eating Disorder and the recovery there of. Ghost x Soap x Reader

It had taken some time and effort, but finally, finally, you were OK with the casual emotion that the team shared with one another.

Being a permanent member of the team seemed to help. You even put on weight in the recent months that you've actually fed semi regularly, although it wasn't anywhere near what you should be getting but it was miles better then the months you used to starve through.

Price made sure that any time between missions, there was some form of sexual intention in his team.

Not the hardest thing when all of them have been intemit with each other for years before you joined in with the physical side of things. And Price let you have your fill of him whenever he saw that drop in you again.

But someone else came knocking that night.

A blushing Soap who was leaning heavily on your door frame, looking almost shy for his bulkier body. He hardly says anything as you beckon him in. Eyes still down cast even as he leaves the door ajar and is sitting all but an inch away from you.

"I wan'ed te ask ya if yeh would..." he starts, blush spreading down his neck. "Can ye. I just wanted.."

That's when you felt a pulse of a sweeter emotion, a spiking arousal that was tainted with a primal urge. This absolute need for something so deeply sexual it was practically making your mouth water.

"Your lycanthopic urge?" You question,

"Aye, my heat kinda snuck up on me." He answers with a curt nod. Still not looking at you.

Your fingers find his chin, easily lifting his stubble edged jaw, so he was nose to nose with you.

Soap had dilated pupils, only elipsed by this thin sliver of his irus. Those needs already making his mind want to lean in and chase those lips of yours. Instead, he flicks his eyes back up, that emotion growing thicker, sweeter, with the movement.

"Just please..." he half begs, already so desperate. "Please. I'll beg. I'll go away if ye don't wanna, but I just.."

"Ok, I will lend you help."

You've hardly gotten the sentence out before Soap jumps you. Stealing breathless kiss after breathless kiss.

Guiding your hands to his skin, slipping them under his clothes, and soaking in the warmth with your skin on his. He gets so touch starved, so sensitive to it, when he's like this.

You near fucking his throat with a long split toungue isn't helping him think any more coherently. He tried to ignore the gentle tangle of your hands as you started getting him undressed. Body more demonic with the crackling desires streaming from Johnny's need for intimacy.

"You still got your mind in one peace there lad?"

A deep rumble follows from the door, Ghost standing there with his head tilted. Commenting, "Dumb Mutt just got one thing on his mind."

"You came to watch or pass along something or another."

"Oh, I wanna watch."

Simon crosses the distance from the door to your bed in two quick strides, fingers gliding in the panting Soap's hair. Pulling him back by the grip he has on the werewolf's Mohawk.

"Mainly to see this one don't hurt ya, hun. But to see if yah would need help."

Johnny rolls his hips against your thigh, toungue lulling out past his fangs and bruised lips. Eyes unfocused as he tries to keep his body still while miserably failing.

"Can get a bit one tracked and forget who's helpen 'em. And Price warned me yah got a habit of ignoring yourself."

"Acceptable. Just help me strip him before he cums in his pants."

"Alright hun."

You end up kneeling with Soap, hopelessly humping against your thighs with you stretching out your back so you can reach for Ghost as he leans back. Your hands trace over the fat of his thighs before using your tail to wrap around Johnny's waist, keeping a firm grip to help him actually get what he wants.

His cock already painfully hard, pulsing with each beat his heart had. He was happy to be pulled to where you wanted him, all but panting into your nape as he ruts up against you.

It's always that first breach that knocks the breath from you, but Soap sits still after he's fully sheathed. Just trying to feel as much as he can with skin against skin as that lusty haze fills his mind.

When he does start moving, it's at a brutal pace. Hardly pulling out before shoving back in all the way. Jolting your whole body.

That thickly suffocating emotion had your throat vibrating in the closest thing your kin could produce to a purr. Easily keeping him steady and against you with your tail. You could feel his back tense and ripple with each roll of his hips, with your tail snugly against his waist as he licks along any skin he can.

You heal too fast for him to see the hackies he's working along your shoulders, but the darker marks of his teeth do stick just a bit longer.

It's Simon who traces the rivets of your ram like horns, eyes watching the hitch in your breath. Fingers ever so gentle as he traces all the dents and scrapes along them; careful to rub his palms down the curve against your skull. And you can taste the lust that's just as strong from him.

When Soap had cum with a snarl, as he bared his teeth against your spine, you could feel how the tired feeling was pulsing along the need to keep going. He was hard and needy as he couldn't set a rhythm with the fatigue settling along.

He must have tried to get off before getting the courage to ask for your help.

Feeling a bit sorry for the werewolf, you roll him over; turning to face Simon as you hover over Johnny's body. Watching as Soap mouths over Simon's dick through his boxers, those sex blown eyes watching him.

When you started the roll off your hips, against the shivering Soap who moans egging you on; you saw Ghost lift his gaze. Watching you ride the other with ease.

"Shit." Ghost comments,

He hefts himself up to his knees, nearly covering Johnny's face with his crotch. The wolf didn't seem to mind. Just mouthing and licking at all he could reach. Soaking more of the fabric with his spit.

"Price gave this view no justice when he told me 'bout it."

Redoubled your efforts as more warmth flooded you, but Soap didn't soften. He only meets every roll down with a thrust up.

"Don't know why any of you enjoy it, and not the action."

Johnny is whimpering under Ghost, body trembling in over stimulation. Mind lost in the throws of the absolute pleasure you're helping pump through his very soul.

"More ta do with ya looking like yah enjoying yaself then the act alone."

"You have to be none-"

Those fingers dance over your horns, finally pulling a quiet noise from you. He leaned into you, sharing the quick hiffs of air you're both taking.

"That," Ghost repeats the action. You don't moan this time, but the effect is still evident. "Is what we enjoy of this."

"Prove it."

"Gladly hun." Before his eyes roll back into his skull, "Fuck... watch the teeth soldier."

Soap had pulled his boxers off with just his teeth, getting to his dick. At the comment, Johnny bared his teeth against the intimate skin of Simon's inner thigh. So close to him that the danger runs his blood just that bit hotter.

And for all that Ghost likes the danger, that bit of pain, he doesn't actually want to bite him. And not nearly as hard as he bites at you.

"He will tire out soon, just a warning."

Simon clasps at your horns, pulling you closer by them.

"Not for long hun, he'll be up and wanting more in no time." He presses his lips against yours, mumbling with a smirk, "and I wanna tag team him when he does."

[lt-taylor7]

Javi x reader angsty blurb

(Happy ending, GN reader, cussing, major spoilers, not proof read, kinda sucks, bad grammar,)

Imagine meeting Javi before he takes off the the military, he’s still hooked on Kate and even if he won’t admit to ir, it’s clear, very clear. So when you inevitably do end up together it doesn’t change, even if he treats you like an angel, the only purity in the sick world, You know he’s still thinking of her.

then he takes off to the military.

he changes, no doubt. But he seems more, aggressive with his love, as if he has to show you it or you’ll disappear, That is until storm par takes over his life, then it’s like you’re nothing. He shows barely any attention, barely speaking to you. He’d come home excited and proud after a good chase, buzzing with energy, and yet it’s like he spoke to you like some stranger.

then Kate comes along to help Storm Pat’s research, and it’s like you don’t even exist. Even after she stole his truck, running off with it, he was a wreck and you knew exactly why. “How much longer is she in Oklahoma?” You asked bluntly one night after cooking him dinner, he hesitated, “couple days, why?” He answered defensively, you just shrug. “No, why?” He asked impatiently. “Because I’d like to know when I’m getting my boyfriend back.” You say sarcastically, you heard the sound of his utensils hitting his plate before he got up, “Javi wait.” You immediately said, eyes following his frame as disappearing in the kitchen. You put your plate down on a table. “Javier please.” That caught his attention. You heard him stop moving before he came out to face you, “What’s your problem with Kate?” He finally asks, he was angry, shoulders rising and falling with each laboured breathe. You scoff, “are you serious?” You say in disbelief , “you never got over her, I’m not stupid I hear how you talk about her.” He looks down and scoffs, “So you’re insecure?” He asks, “about my boyfriend being obsessed with some girl his whole life, And then inviting her to our state and suddenly ghosting me in my own home, yeah Javier, I am.” You snap back, Careful not to raise your voice. “Oh for fuck sakes Y/n! I needed her here for business, you know that.” He argued, “Then why have you been ignoring me?” You argue back, tears threatening to spill from your lash line as you tried to blink them back. “I haven’t been.” The tears spilt, you let out a choked sob, “I’ll sleep on the couch tonight, my things will be packed by morning.” You say emotionless, Unsure of where else to go, but it certainly catches his attention as he looked up to you wide eyed. “What?” He asked, anger and confusion laced in his tongue. “Javier I’m not staying here if I’m not happy, I’m sorry.” You say, trying to blink back the tears that still fell, “no no, please baby I’ll make it up to you-“ you cut him off before he could beg anymore, “No Javi.” You say.

—-

the next morning you woke up to an empty house, and a small pile of paper in front of you, you wipe away your groggy eyes before looking down, a letter in Javi’s hand writing, a multi page one at that, you look down at it and begin reading, It went over all his feelings, why he’d been so cold lately, why he acted the way he did and about a million ‘I’m so sorries’ and although, it didn’t make up for the way he treated you, it did remind you how much you loved him, through thick and thin…

—

it was later that day when you heard the familiar sound of gravel under thick tires, Javi was home. It was clear with his own truck this time instead of Scott’s SUV, you sat on the love seat that faced the front door, taking a sip of water before you heard the handle twist and push open, Javi walked in, nervous expression and scared eyes scanning the room before meeting your gaze, he looked petrified. You got up from your spot, slowly walking over and taking one of his bags off his back and placing it on the ground, he didn’t speak nor touch you, he just stared. You placed your hands on his chest and snaked them up into his shoulders and around his neck. “We definitely need to talk about yesterday, but I’m not going anywhere, okay?” You said, carefully looking over his face. You felt his shoulders relax as he dropped his other bags and he immediately wrapped his arms around you, pulling you in tightly against his chest in a warm embrace, as if you’d disappear if he let go. You could feel his chest quiver as he held back tears, you brought your arms around him more comfortably, “your aloud to cry honey, go ahead.” And with that he let out a choked sob, “I’m so sorry, I was so scared to loose you.” He cried into your shoulder as you brought. Shane to his hair, gently running your nails through his scalp, “It’s okay, I’m right here.” You assure him holding him until he pulls away first, Teary eyes looking into yours before flicking down to your lips, then back to your eyes. You smile before bringing your hands to his hair and pulling him in for a soft kiss.

This is actually so bad, but I haven’t slept so enjoy what I give you pookies

[teecupangel]

I have been violently gripped with the idea of a CODxAC Crossover, where Ghost and the 141 stumbling across an Isu facility. They spread out to search the ruins and Ghost ends up in a vast open room containing pods. There are hundreds of them in neat rows, but only one seem to contain something. Infant twins bearing the numbers 16 and 17 on their right and left shoulder respectively. On the side of the pod there is some text carved into the metal itself. '16=Clay 17=Desmond. TRUST ONLY 141'. Reading it gives Ghost a deep chill. Before he can think further on it, the pod starts to empty and open. The kids open their eyes and stare at him with eyes he swears glow, but in a blink it's gone. Must have been his imagination. The place suddenly rumbles and his radio comes to life.

"Ghost, get out of there! Think we might have activated a self destruct sequence!"

Before he can think too hard about it, Ghost grabs the kids and starts running while chunks of the ceiling falls down around him. Strangely enough the kids don't make any noise at the rough treatment or the violent shaking and noise.

---------

So yeah, thanks to Saberamane, i have gotten into reading CoD fanfics. XD I remembered your fic on it and then i was just violently gripped with the image of a baby Desmond reaching his little hands up at Ghost and when he holds Desmond up to his face, the baby just places his hands on the mask and stares at it while smiling. Anytime anyone, besides 141, tries to take Desmond or Clay they start to fuss and/or scream bloody murder, so the gangs kinda stuck baby sitting. Well, more like Ghost with Soap's help. Price is busy trying to figure out why the General(idk enough about the lore, so unnamed General it is XD) is really interested in taking the kids. They lied about them being found inside the pods and said they found the dead body of a woman with the kids, so the interest in them is strange. Plus the ominous message written in the pod seems important. Ghost hates him, gets a strange sense of... Red??? from him.

So yeah, another hyperfixation it is. XD

If this is the reboot, he started as Lieutenant General and ends up as a General. In the OG though, Shepherd was Lieutenant General until his death.

We can set it up that Desmond and Clay are testtube babies Elijah created but Abstergo was hot on his tail so he ‘tipped off’ 141 of the location and lying of its connection to a secret terrorist organization.

Well…

It wasn’t necessary a lie because 141 is trying to find the Brotherhood. In the eyes of the world, the Brotherhood is a terrorist organization and 141 is tasked with finding their operations and stopping them.

In this one, Shepherd could either be a Templar, an ally of the Templar or (use the setup of The Shadow’s Endgame) a disillusioned Assassin gone rogue.

He doesn’t immediately clocked the babies Ghost took in as Desmond and Clay. Hell, Ghost knows well enough not to officially call them Desmond and Clay, instead going nicknames like ‘D’ and ‘C’. Soap and Gaz had been calling them different names to try and find out their actual names and they haven’t hit any jackpot yet.

Shepherd is interested in taking in the kids because he learned that the facility they attacked (which was nearby the supposed village that got wiped out during the operation) was Elijah’s secret lab.

Although they all believe Elijah to be dead so the place is actually for an unknown ‘third party’.

Abstergo believed that person is the current Sage, having awakened Aita’s memories after Elijah’s death.

So the question becomes why did Elijah decide to entrust Desmond and Clay to 141?

Because he was planning to infiltrate 141 later on.

As the new recruit of 141: Gary "Roach" Sanderson

[rottingpirate]

Can i request Ghost Soap König with a tall male reader who super sweet to everyone and he also like to bake something like pie and he always bring everyone some when he bake something?

Honey Lavender || Soap, Ghost, König x M!reader

Warnings: none just fluffy baking moments, I know nothing about baking

A/N: I got kinda confused and wrote it slightly (very) differently, hope it doesn't bother you too much 😭. I can rewrite it if you like.

Ghost

As Ghost sits at the dining table and observes your fluid motions and skill, moonlight filters into the kitchen. He wasn't really watching the cooking, to be honest. Simply put, he was watching you.

He keeps watching. When he notices that you are also gazing at him, he flushes slightly, and you give him a modest smile in return.

The smile woke him up instantly. He noticed that you were more aware of your surroundings while frosting something. A piece of cake.

"What are you doing?" The man finally asked. Suddenly, he realized how tired he sounded.

"First off, you sound like a corpse. Secondly," although you didn't put down the icing spatula, you temporarily stopped icing the cake, and turned around to face Ghost. "You can't be that ignorant. You watched me bake it for, I don't know. half an hour? Why are you still awake? It's past midnight."

He raises his hands in defense and leans slightly back in his chair.

"What, it's already past midnight? But the same could be said for you." He decides to disregard your observation that he sounds like a corpse.

You grumble and turn back to your cake and continue to frost it.

"What's the point of baking so late anyway?" He rests his arms and asks questions. Since no one is up, it must have been close to two in the morning.

You appear to stiffen up and take a moment to pause before inhaling something unintelligible.

"what?"

“Birthday.”

He would have missed your slightly audible words had he not made an effort to actually hear you.

"Birthday of who? Soap's? Gaz’s?” He has no idea and closes his eyes. He was aware that he had misplaced something.

"You are so stubborn." You speak suddenly with a strain in your voice. You turn around once more and point to the wall-mounted clock. It's past midnight, which means a new day has begun.

“Okay.” Ghost droops his head. "And?”

What did you mean by that?

You gasp, appearing surprised. Turning your back. "Today is...Your birthday is today. As a result, I was…" You continue.

"You were making me a cake?"

You give a tentative nod, your shoulders still tight.

"You know I'm not a fan of candy, right?"

With what can only be described as a death glare in your eyes, you turn to face him. After a split second, the expression is hard to read, and the glare softens.

Ghost has a sudden bad feeling. Very bad. "I didn't say I wasn't going to eat it, I love what you cook," he adds in.

"Sure did sound like you were hinting at it." The frosting on the cake is completed just in time.

You takes a knife, a fork, and a small plate out of the cabinet. “If you are going to eat it, then.” After slicing it into even pieces, you bring the cake and fork to him.

As he watches you take a seat next to him, Ghost takes the cake with barely a heartbeat of hesitation.

Then takes a bite. It suddenly seems like a whole cake vanished into thin air.

Ghost places the now empty plate in front of you. He joins his fingers with yours, gathering a sliver of courage. "I'm grateful". He mutters almost inaudibly while blushing a little. "Thank you."

Soap

"And finally, we must add three cups of powdered sugar." As he combines the icing, you say.

You are approximately thirty minutes into the cookie-making process, and so far everything appears to be going well. The cookies are currently cooking beautifully in the oven, which has a pleasant temperature.

"Okay, tell me, love, how is it?" He questions as you turn around and consider while peering into the bowl. You furrowed your brows slightly.

"Is it wrong?"

"Hmm, I think it needs just a little bit more sugar,"

Taking a pinch of the powdered sugar between your fingers and flicking the powder in his face, you say, "Like that," Bright red had now settled on his cheek. His eyes widened in surprise. You exclaim with pride as you laugh.

When you start innocently rolling out more dough to be cut, you notice powder particles flying and hear air blowing behind you. When you turn around, you see Soap with a shit eating grin and a white covering his hands. "Are you itchin' for a fight, MacTavish?" you tsk.

“Perhaps. However, you Y/N were the first to act." He says it way too politely.

"Then this equates to war." You say it with a subtle grin. When you do this, you put one on your lover's face as well.

"I suppose so."

You set off with those three words. It started out as nothing more than a bowl of white powder before water was eventually added to the mix. Squeals and giggles fill the air, and at one point, a metal bowl clangs against the floor. Because of the commotion you two are causing, you know that anyone who enters the kitchen might become alarmed. However, this battle was too much fun to worry about anything else.

You coughed a little when another cloud of flour was thrown in your direction. You cough even more as you lean against the counter, causing Soap to move closer to you. He stops talking when you smear a fist full of frosting across his neck and cheek. You laugh out loud, and the look on his face was priceless.

"Oh, wow. Haha."As you make fun of him, you keep laughing.

"You know that was a dirty play."

“All's fair in love and war,” you says, pointing at him as you wipe the frosting from his lips. As you clean the tip of your thumb, you say while batting your lashes.

"Watch out for what you ask for. I've never been one to easily give in." He states as you begin to walk together in a circle, you smile at him. Waiting for the other to make the first move again as they evaluate one another.

"Well, I don't believe that I need to be careful." He has frosting all over his face because of you.

He leaps toward you without speaking, making you scream childishly. He followed closely behind, his fingers covered in frosting, as he ran around the kitchen. "I only want to give you a kiss, so why are you running?" He chuckles.

You both stop on either side after making a few more laps around the table. Trying to trick the other person into going your way, facing each other. You think you've got him with one more jerk of your neck, but he was one step ahead of you.

“Gottcha.” Before you both slip and fall to the ground, he exclaims triumphantly. Both of you laugh as you land on his chest.

"Are you alright?" In the midst of your laughter, you ask.

“Yeah.” He laughs, feeling a little sluggish from the fall.

Since he has you locked in his arms, your entire weight is on him.

"Would a truce work?" As you look down at him, you say. Your hands on either side of his face and your legs straddling his waist

“I guess” He says while smiling and kissing you softly.

König

The perfect baking night was shared with you and König. Given the short amount of time between missions and the flurry of general conversation, it was a pleasant surprise. The goal was simply to have some fun and pass the time rather than creating a grand dish.

That's when you came up with the brilliant idea to bake some cookies and give them to everyone in the base to cheer them up.

You both got to work immediately, laughing, humming, singing, and dancing to the beat of your own songs.

/

The basic cookies turned into every kind of sweet treat and pastry imaginable, as the kitchen counter was watched by two sets of anxious eyes.

König chuckled, "I think we made a little too much."

You hummed back, "Guess we got a little carried away."

You eagerly reached for the first treat as you removed your oven mitt and use your forearm to remove some flour from your face. You cautiously bit into the delicate strawberry tart before your eyes widened. "Oh”

“Good?” Asked your boyfriend, removing his oven mitts and folding his apron for storage. His face lit up as you enthusiastically nodded and devoured the tart.

“Mhmm. Oh, giving away all of these would be a shame." You chuckled. König had to agree, here were a lot of treats here, but they wouldn't be nearly as good in the morning when they weren't still warm from the stove. In addition, even if you consumed a few, the amount would still be sufficient for the entire morning's consumption.

König said lightly, "It wouldn't hurt to eat a few," as he carefully removed a cookie from a tray and marveled at the way it still sparkled with melted butter. His eyes widened at the flavor as he took a bite. Buttery and almost crumbly, it had a salty-sweet flavor. It was absolutely delectable for something that was so easy to prepare.

As you two eagerly dug into nearly every tray and baking sheet there was, König replied, "It is lovely." He was amused. Although his features didn't quite reflect it, he smiled as he watched.

You eventually offered the explanation that you were simply "taste testing" them before offering to others. König gave an explanation for each new treat each time one of you picked it up.

You laughed, reminisced, and smiled as you ate, eventually bringing chairs into the room to relieve your sore legs.

[denzelhart]

His delighted star (2)

Summary: You couldn't sleep due to the last mission. To make it even worse, you had a training session in the morning, after a while you tried to go back to sleep. You have given up, which leads you to making coffee to stay away. That's when you meet Ghost and Soap there. Feels nice to have some company, right?

Warning: Swearing, some fluff?, mentions of death, Soap being the matchmaker (maybe), kinda rush, You have a friend name Tobas, Reader has no pronouns.

- C/n: Code name.

- L/n: Last name.

Wordcount: 1.6k

Note: This is a male reader fic but can be read as gender neutral! There might be some error grammar because English isn't my first language and this is my first time writing fic! Hope you enjoy!

Thank you for reading the last fic! I didn't think you guys would enjoyed that much ( ；∀；)

Pairing: Simon 'Ghost' Riley x Male!reader

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2

How much time has passed? You don’t even know anymore. 

It's now three in the morning, you couldn't have a good sleep or nap since that long ass mission, perhaps that's what you pay for sitting goddamn too long even though it weren't your fault.

To make it even worse, you have a training session with the team in the morning. Yet you're still here, eyes wide open, don't know when the sun will rise. You can try or even force yourself to go back to sleep so you won't fall asleep while doing the training, rolling back and forth or maybe counting to hundred will make you fall asleep, yeah it's a good idea. It's not.

What time is it now? Four fifteen, what have you been doing? You might be counted to a thousand or more. Even now, you can't sleep or even rest a bit. Although, your sleep schedule is so little, it didn't bother you much but it became a habit. 

A habit that isn't good for your health.

You got up from the bed after giving up on falling back to sleep, you decided to make coffee or tea to keep your eyes open while you can, maybe find some food in case you're hungry or just want something to chew in your mouth. Put on your hoodie since it'll be cold in the hallway at this time, begin to walk out your room along with go down the hallway in the base to find the kitchen in the darkness. 

Usually it'll always be packed with people walking around, chatting,.. That's only at noon, sometimes in the evening when they have finished their training, now it's only an empty hallway with a little light left turn on for anyone going to the bathroom.

Only a few more steps before you reach the kitchen, little walks like this calm your mind a bit. After a full week, stress out the amount of paperwork that you have to deal with, which has been given the last week. You wanted to finish for so long but you were uninterested in doing those, especially when you hated those boring papers the most. You just kept delaying until the deadline started coming. It always fuck up at the last moment but you already done with it. 

Kind of?

Price doesn't like it when you work half-heartedly. However, you still get your paper stuff done and that's out of the way. You're already in the kitchen while lost in those thoughts about paper works. You hate them, that's fine no one likes it anyways. 

Or maybe it's just you who hated doing paper stuff.

Walk over to the cabinets to find some coffee since it's already run out of tea bags. When you're busy making coffee, you don't notice another silhouette already in the room, looking at you. "Making coffee this early?" You startled, turn around only to see him.

Ghost.

"Ghost, you scared me." You smile and complain a bit, holding onto your cup while waiting for the kettle to boil. Seems like you aren't the only one who is awake. "Can't sleep?" His tired eyes looking at your figure. You shake your head. "No." Silent covers the whole kitchen, the only sound you can hear is the boiling kettle. "You want some coffee?" Didn't look at his direction, hand grabbing another cup knowing what the answer is but still asked him. "Sure." he said.

Hand move quickly making some coffee for the both of you, until you startle a bit by a hand on your back moving slowly up and down through the fabric of your hoodie like trying to give you some comfort after having trouble going back to sleep.

His hand was warm, it felt nice, relaxed and safe. Feeling someone's presence was there, giving you some or little affection after a hard time sleeping. Not just anyone can do that to you. Well, sometimes the team gives you some feeling of a loving family. Ghost sure is something else, the mysterious man with a skull face. You didn't expect him, the one who gives you these types of feelings is him, Simon. 

To get used to his affection and physical contact, it takes you a lot of time and effort to not get startled from Ghost's affection. Eventually you begin to like them, even it took you long enough to finally catch some feelings for your Lieutenant. No warning or a sign, it just calmly came to you.

But it wasn't any feelings, it was love.

The ways he shows you his affection make you feel like home. That’s why you love him, when he was around, you couldn't help yourself by looking at Ghost until he started catching your gaze. It's kinda funny how you try to grab his attention by staring at him.

Tobas was right, you do love him and it's bullshit to keep denying your feelings. Loving someone was hard and loving someone who has a job like you and him was even harder, especially when you both don't know when you're going to die in war. Maybe today the two of you still talk to each other normally, the next day the only thing left behind was a dog tag on the battlefield. It makes you afraid of opening for a new relationship.

Does someone like you deserve to be loved? You don’t know, maybe your father was right, maybe you didn’t deserve to be loved.

Pushing the feelings down is the only way to forget what he has done to you and the feelings you shouldn't have in order to maintain the relationship of a Lieutenant and a Sergeant.

"C/n, you good? You're awfully quiet today."

The voice just snaps you out of your thoughts, your hand still holding two cups of coffee, the warm hand still on your back to close off your distance between you and Ghost. "It's nothing, I just got tired, that's all." You gave him a smile. "Got something in your mind?" he asked, eyes still on the figure next to him. "Nah, maybe a bunch of numbers I counted just to go back to sleep." You lied but it seemed like it worked when you heard him chuckle.

Handing him the cup of coffee you just made, while taking a sip of your cup. "Here's your coffee." You looked at him. "Thanks" He takes a sip of the cup then takes his hand off your back. You kinda miss that warmth.

"No problem." You smile at him.

Other silence covers the room. "I'll be in my room if you need me anything." "Alright, see you at the training." You added, all you got back was the nod from the skull mask guy. Watching him walk out the kitchen, left you alone enjoying your coffee. Just when you think you're alone, a voice comes up.

"Enjoying morning coffee together?" Soap chuckled at the figure taking a sip of the cup. You didn't know Soap would get up this early in the morning so the first you greeted him was startled, again. "Gosh, you and Ghost are always startling me." You scolded at Soap. "Why me? you two always hang out with each other." He chuckled while checking on the refrigerator to look for some food. Feeling comfortable in each other's presence until..

"Everyone starts thinking you two were dating." He looks at you, closing the refrigerator after finding nothing inside. "Really? I thought these rumors already started a few months ago." You said while laughing a bit. "Yes it does, but you two can make the rumors come true tho." the Scottish teased. "I don't think so. If he does, it's just a temporary feeling or he might just be confused." You denied even though there is a smile on your face, stare down the cup that almost got empty.

"You do know that he already passed that kind of age, right?" He sighed. "Yes, I'm just looking for an excuse, am I..?" You blurted, feeling dumb for using that excuse to defend your feelings about him. "Yes, you are. And that's the dumbest excuse I have ever heard of." the other man laughed which made you embarrassed about it. Knowing you can't be denied anymore.

"Alright alright, I know you have feelings for Ghost. You don't have to hide it." Soap responded after laughing for a while. "What, how did you know?" You look at the Scottish man with a confused face. “Maybe the other didn’t notice but I saw the way you two look at each other. It's kinda obvious, C/n.” He said “And I might have asked your friend Tobas about how you feel with Ghost." He added. Goddamn it that fucker, always snitching on you "That fucker.." You mumbled. "But hey! Maybe you can ask him out for some drink." looking at the other figure putting down the cup on the counter.

"Don't know, mate. He might rejected me." You then turn around and wash the cup you just made coffee out of. "C'mon, I know him. I bet he won't turn down that sweet offer of yours." Soap pat on your shoulder and chuckled. While you're trying to wash the damn cup. "I'll consider it." You said jokingly "That's our mate!" he nudged your shoulder with a laugh. You just stand there, drying your hand. 

"Let's see how it goes, well I'll better get ready for the training. See ya later, Sergeant L/n." All you did was give him nod and the Scottish man left you with chuckled, walked out of the kitchen and leaving you alone. Again.

It's already five, still early for training so might as well get ready. Walking out of the kitchen to your room, knowing what you should do in the morning and Soap advice about Ghost making you more nervous then ever.

Until then, you need to do something with that fucker Tobas for snitching on you.

Let's see how it goes then.

To be continued..

[raaorqtpbpdy]

In Memory of Mom

Danny meets a strange, Spanish-speaking ghost wandering around Casper High. His Spanish isn't great, but he's pretty sure she's looking for her daughter.

For the Prompt: Danny encounters a strange spanish-only speaking ghost looking for Paulina Sanchez. Being a first year Spanish student, he only recognizes the words "mi hija" and hesitantly leads her to Paulina. It's Día de los Muertos, but because Paulina has been trying to fit in at school, and her papa remarried and doesn't want to make his new wife uncomfortable, they've fallen out of the habit of setting up the ofrenda and marigolds, leaving their mom/wife unable to find her way home. Paulina can't see or hear her, but Phantom can [From @dreamwraith]

Disclaimer: I am white, and I do not speak Spanish. It is with deepest regret that I must admit to using Google translate for the Spanish dialogue in this fic. If you notice any errors in the Spanish, or regarding Día de Muertos (which there might very well be, though I did do my research), please feel free to correct me. I can only do my best, and always appreciate the opportunity to do better.

Read also on AO3

[Warnings for past character death, and mentions of culture death]

Danny typically liked to have more than one day to recover after fighting Fright Knight every Halloween. Not to mention the numerous other ghosts who always had to come out on that stupid holiday to cause as much trouble as possible during the period of time when the barrier between the human world and the Ghost Zone was at it's thinnest.

Of course, Danny never got more than one day, but he would have liked to.

Luckily the ghost that showed during lunch period on November second didn't seem to be causing any trouble. In fact, it didn't seem like she was powerful enough to cause trouble, even if she wanted to. No one besides Danny even seemed to notice her, which at least meant she wouldn't be able to cause any serious damage, even if she tried.

She was speaking Spanish as she walked through the halls of Casper High, and turning her head this way and that as if she was looking for something, or someone.

"¿La has visto? ¿Mi hija? ¿Dónde está mi hija? ¿La has visto?" she called out.

Now, Danny was only a first year Spanish student, and furthermore... he missed a lot of classes, so he wasn't sure exactly what she was saying, but he did recognize the words 'mi hija', 'my daughter'. The last time he'd been to Spanish class, Señora Gutierrez had been teaching family terms. Madre, padre, hermana, hermano, hija, hijo, tío, abuela, that kind of thing.

Subtly, he followed her until she walked into a hallway where there weren't any people, and then, with no one to look at him like he was crazy for talking to the air, he spoke to her.

"Excuse me, are you looking for your daughter?" Danny asked.

"¡sí mi hija!" the woman replied excitedly. "¿La conoces? ¿La has visto?"

Danny knew 'sí', that was 'yes', the most basic of basic Spanish. 'sí' and... and... okay, so Danny couldn't remember what 'no' was in Spanish, but he remembered 'sí'. Ancients, he was really gonna have to start showing up to that class more if he wanted to get the foreign language credits he needed to graduate.

"Uh... tu hija," Danny said, completely confident that he was already screwing up the grammar, "¿que es la nombre?"

"No es muy fluido en español, ¿verdad?" The ghost laughed. "Su nombre es Paulina."

"Paulina?" Danny didn't understand any of the rest of what she said, so he focused on the last bit. "Paulina Sanchez?"

"¡Sí!" she confirmed, enthusiastically. "Mi hija. Paulina Sánchez. ¿Tu la conoce?"

Danny nodded, although he'd kinda fallen off the sentence after 'sí'. "Why are you looking for her?"

"Es el Dia de Muertos," she said. "Quiero verla, pero no encuentro la ofrenda."

Danny had no idea to respond to that. The only word he recognized from all of that was 'la', but he couldn't glean a whole sentence from a single 'the', so he just looked at her with an expression that was half a forced, awkward smile and half a grimace.

"Ummmm..."

Was it safe to lead an unknown ghost to an unsuspecting human? Objectively no. Most especially not when the unsuspecting human was the girl Danny had a massive crush on. But... on the other hand, this particular ghost seemed pretty harmless, and she said she was Paulina's mother. So... maybe it was okay?

"How about I'll take you to her," Danny suggested.

The ghost that claimed to be Paulina's mother nodded excitedly and said something else in Spanish that Danny had no hope of translating. 

Danny led her to the outdoor table where the A-listers always sat, but Paulina wasn't there. After a little bit of prowling the quad, he found her, at an out of the way table no one ever sat at because the the school custodian always ignored it and it was disgusting. 

Paulina had laid her jacket over the bench to sit on, and unfolded a few paper napkins over the surface of the table. She had a handful of sugar cubes, and was poking one with a toothpick for some reason. She hadn't noticed him yet.

As much as he would have liked to go over to her as Danny Fenton and be the hero who let her talk to her mom again, he figured it would probably be suspicious if people knew he could see ghosts others couldn't. A but reluctantly, he looked around to make sure no one could see and transformed into Danny Phantom. The ghost, Paulina's mom, applauded him, like he'd just done a magic trick. To her, it might have seemed that way.

"Thanks," he said, a little sarcastically, and floated over to talk to Paulina.

"Excuse me, Paulina Sanchez?" Danny asked, as if he wasn't sure whether he knew her name or not. "There's a ghost here who wants to speak to you."

Paulina looked up and looked around, then turned back to Danny and raised a perfect eyebrow. She put down the sugar cube she was poking at, and Danny noticed that on her other side, there were two other sugar cubes sculpted into the shape of a skull.

"You mean you?" she asked. "Look, normally, I'd be thrilled, but today isn't really—"

"Oh, no, not me," Danny said. "She has long hair, wearing a nice knee-length dress.... It's kinda hard to describe ghosts in a way that makes them recognizable to people who knew them in life, 'cause colors tend to be different between life-and-death but uh... you and her have the same nose, actually. She says your her daughter? I don't speak Spanish, but I managed to figure out that much."

When he stopped talking, Pauling gave him a flat look.

"Are you messing with me?"

"No," Danny insisted. "She's not a very powerful ghost, so she can't stay in the visible range, but she's here. She wants to talk to you."

"Mamá?" Paulina asked hesitantly. "¿Estás aquí?"

"Sí, hija mía, estoy aquí," Mrs. Sanchez replied. "Estoy muy feliz de verte de nuevo."

Paulina didn't respond for a long moment, apparently waiting. Then, finally, she said, "I don't hear anything."

"I was worried you might say that," Danny said. "I'm gonna have to speak Spanish if you guys want to talk to each other, aren't I?" he sighed deeply. "Alright fine. Apologies in advance because I am gonna absolutely butcher the pronunciations."

"Hija," Mrs. Sanchez said, "volví a verte, pero no había camino para mí. ¿Por qué?"

Danny repeated the words to the best of his ability.

Paulina took a moment to parse them out, with a puzzled expression before finally saying, "Papá se volvió a casar. Su nueva esposa es gringa, así que no le hicimos un ofrenda en casa para que no se sintiera incómoda."

Danny didn't know what any of that meant, obviously, and was grateful he only had to repeat after Paulina's mom, because Paulina herself spoke Spanish very quickly and there was absolutely no way he wouldn't trip over his tongue mimicking her. 

"Pero estoy aquí, debe haber una ofrenda."

Danny mimicked her again.

Paulina looked a little embarrassed. "Sí... yo... hice uno en mi casillero para ti. No quería que no pudieras cruzar."

Her mother gasped. Danny really wished he knew what was going on.

"¿Me mostrarás?"

Paulina's expression lit up when Danny repeated that, and she stood, gathering up her jacket and her sugar cubes.

"Vamos," she said. "I mean, follow me."

She led the way through the empty halls and Danny and her mom followed.

"What were you guys talking about?" Danny asked, then immediately realized what he was asking and quickly backtracked. "I mean, never mind, it's probably personal. I was just curious. You don't have to answer that."

"No, it's okay," Paulina said. "See, my mom passed when I was seven, and every year, me and my dad set up an ofrenda for Day of the Dead with her picture so she could visit us. We moved here from Mexico when I was ten, but we kept up the tradition. 

"Last winter, though, Dad married my step-mom, and she's white, and doesn't know anything about Mexican traditions or holidays. Dad doesn't want to make her uncomfortable, so ever since they got married, we stopped celebrating most of what we used to back in Mexico, so we didn't put up an ofrenda this year, and Mom was asking why she couldn't find it, so I explained."

"Oh... that's... kinda sad," Danny said. "You just had to give up all your culture because your dad remarried?"

Paulina shrugged. "We had to give up a lot of it already, when we moved to America anyway," she said, as if that made it less sad and not more. "At least Sandra's nice, she's just... a little out of her depth sometimes."

"So... where are you taking us?"

Finally, she stopped in front of her locker and turned the dial with her combination.

"I didn't want mom to not be able to visit me, so... I sort of made my own ofrenda in my locker," Paulina explained sheepishly.

The door swung open to reveal the inside. There was a small magnetic shelf stuck on the back of the locker. On it, there was a small electric candle, some kind of orange flower, a pair of black lace gloves, and a heart-shaped locket. The locket was open and propped up so the picture inside was visible. It was the ghost Danny was trying to help.

Paulina reached in an put a few of the sculpted sugar cubes on the shelf next to the locket. The tiny sugar skulls were perfectly to scale with the tiny picture, but absolutely dwarfed by the flower.

The ghost put her hands to her heart and looked absolutely touched by the tiny display.

"Those were her favorite gloves," Paulina explained. "She always wore them when Dad took her dancing."

"What's the flower?" Danny asked.

"It's a marigold," she replied. "Cempasúchil, in Spanish. They're a traditional decoration for the ofrenda. You're also supposed to leave a trail of their petals from the grave to the ofrenda, but... Mom's grave is in Mexico, and the ofrenda is in my locker so...." 

"Ay, esto es hermoso," the ghost said. "Gracias. Amo mucho esto. Te quiero mi hija."

Danny had been to distracted to properly listen, so he wasn't sure how to repeat her words.

"Uh... she says she likes it."

The ghost gave him a look and a light slap that passed right through him.

"A lot, she likes it a lot."

"¡Y te amo!" she added insistently.

"Y te amo, she says," Danny repeated.

"Thank you, Phantom," Paulina said. She leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "This means a lot to me."

Danny knew his cheeks were turning bright green, and he cleared his throat awkwardly to make sure his voice wouldn't crack.

"Uh, yeah, no problem," he said. "Don't mention it."

It was then that the bell rang signalling the end of lunch, and Paulina grabbed a couple of books from her locker and headed to class. Her mom followed, even though Paulina couldn't see her.

Danny had to get to class, too. He had Spanish class after lunch, and Ancients knew he didn't need to be missing any more of those.

In class, Señora Gutierrez talked about Dia de los Muertos, and for once, Danny actually sort of knew what she was talking about, thanks to Paulina. Maybe he should ask her to tutor him.

[solunstell]

Notes I've taken from the first three bsd novels... brainrot included

Entrance Exam:

Dazai is a terrible driver

Kunikida is scared of ghosts

Kunikida actually makes lots of references to Christianity. From the direct quote "Let there be light" when using a flashlight to "There is no difference between myself and them. Are we not all born on the same planet, only to ultimately return to the eternal heavens together in death? O divine creator, answer me." (I say Christianity because I know for a fact that the first quote is directly in the bible)

Karen Dazai

Dark Era:

Dazai is repeatedly noted as appearing younger than he is or compared to a child by Oda

This novel really helped me understand Dazai's relationship with suicide better. The way I read it, it seems like it's not about dying but almost dying to him, similiar to the dopamine rush of skydiving or mountain climbing. This lines up with the fact that he always makes dumb mistakes that fail the attempt, something that would be out of character if it were accidental mistakes.

I love Oda's narration. A bit dry and blunt. Very fitting for his story.

Untold Origins:

Naomi's suggestions for the entrance exam all being [redacted]. Also her characterization in this novel was great. Really helped me understand how the author intended her be written in a way that wasn't as transparent in the manga or anime.

Dazai says "methinks"

Kid Ranpo's voice is compared to a chicken

He also seems to have terribly hand-cut hair

Fukuzawa plays by the rules of the secretary's maze of papers, Ranpo does NOT

Oh my god Oda my boyyyyy

I noted that he is vengeful even in his assassin days

Also kinda funny how Oda's youngest appearance in the series and one of his oldest appearances in the series are both in scenes with Ranpo. I wonder if Ranpo knew...

The fact that Oda talks down about V killing for justice is very ironic.

Also, V being after a skill-less world is very similiar to the whole Fyodor Dostoyevsky thing

Natsume owed a debt to Ranpo's father

Throughout the novel, Fukuzawa notes how bad he would be at being a leader or in power. Ironic.

He also didn't know he was a skill user until after starting the agency haha. An interesting world building question is how many people have abilities that they just never know?

Ranpo autism moments:

Not eating the mochi

Getting confused over if he was using the word granted right ("You can’t take connections like this for granted… Wait. Taken for ‘granite’? ‘Granted’? Uh…”)

Immediately calling Fukuzawa's business card and saying “Please help me, Mr. Bodyguard, sir. I don’t have a job, and I’ve got no place to stay tonight. I’m going to die.”

Fukuzawa can hear him doing this over the phone and across the cafe

Actually the phone call is a bit desperate.. this entire meeting has been a bit desperate on Ranpo's part. It feels like he is trying to reach out to Fukuzawa and practically begging for help. The most interesting thing about the phone call is that it is the most honest Ranpo is about his emotions and motives in the entire meeting, and yet, he has his back to Fukuzawa the entire call. And when he gets what he wants - when he is accepted - he turns around with a big grin.

Psychoanalyzing Egawa and being confused as to why she gets mad

You have to be exact in what you ask with him or he WILL NOT know what you're really asking

My babyyy adults get mad when he speaks the truth cuz he's smart and blunt

"What's a skill user" sweetie it's the middle of a play

Ranpo NO TALKING in the middle of THE PLAY

RANPO NO

RANPO

RANPOOOOO

He's very physically expressive

He is often portrayed as more cool and collected by fanon, but this scene of the play, although it takes place when he is younger, really shows the depths of his emotions. He is confused. He is agitated. He is angry and scared. He doesn't know how to deal with his emotions and he doesn't know how to ask for help. And he has a breakdown at a really really dumb annoyance because it tips him over the edge. Probably one of my favorite scenes for his characterization.

And Fukuzawa doesn't invalidate his feelings.

His parents raised him so well. I would live an au where they didn't die and were able to bring him up the way they planned to. I think that would be fascinating to see how Ranpo would turn out.

Ranpo doesn't look down on others cuz his mother taught him not to.

Fukuzawa dad moments:

Says he'll feed this kid he doesn't know later if he keeps talking

Tempted to tell everyone in the restaurant that the kid just followed him there

“Hear that? Those are the wails of the mochi you left behind”

Tempted to say he's only thirty two when Ranpo calls him old

Ranpo basically adopted him as his dad

"Three times, Fukuzawa told Ranpo to quiet down as he whined for candy. Twice, Ranpo wore down Fukuzawa’s patience until he caved. Three times, Ranpo asked Fukuzawa why planes could fly. Four times, Fukuzawa convinced Ranpo to keep walking when he complained his legs were tired. Four times, Fukuzawa carried Ranpo on his back."

Keeps imagining ways to leave Ranpo

When Fukuzawa lashes out, Ranpo is legitimately stunned, even shaking for a while afterwards

Using a chi attack to make Ranpo think the glasses did something lmao

Fukuzawa chewing out Ranpo for the whole plan

[charnelhouse]

The empty bar they've taken momentary refuge in roughly translates to 'The Den'. Which is oddly fitting as Graves' gaze drops to the woman on the floor in front of him. Red Fox.

Beaten and bloody, one wound on her side concerning him a little as he watches the blood still sluggishly ooze from it, he didn't want her dead. Not yet.

Fox. He murmurs her codename and she finally looks at him. Hurt, betrayed, but still so stubborn. That fire in her eyes full of anger and hate and promising a bloody revenge if she got the chance.

The belt he'd looped around her throat in a pale imitation of a leash was more a tactic to humilate her rather than restrain her. A woman on a team of men twice her size, it didnt take a genuis to know where exactly where to push to hurt her, to grind her down. He felt a little dirty to do so but he wasn't go to deny the little pulse of sadistic pleasure he got for doing it either.

He crouches down in front of her, his stomach twisting with a small burst of pleasure as she flinches. "So which one you fucking hmm?"

The question seems to take her off guard, surprise flicking across her face before she scowls. "Fuck you."

"Sweet of you to offer, maybe later." He grins, her stubbornness is starting to grate, even as he's reluctantly impressed. "The Captain? You getting out of ops by spreading those legs?" He waits for her to respond but she doesn't, keeping her gaze focused on the floor. "No? Then the big guy, Ghost? Doubt a little thing like you could take him but fuck,-" he clicks his teeth. "I'd love to see it."

She doesn't respond and he's reluctantly impressed with her control.

"It's the scot right? Always thought he was a little too touchy with you. Or are you the team whore?" She tenses and Graves holds back a smile, it's not that reaction he was hoping for but it was still a reaction. "That why such a pretty little thing like you is on the team? You their stress relief?"

She grinds her teeth but doesn't take his bait and he stands with a sigh. "The only female on the team got kidnapped, kinda cliche don't you think? They left you on your own and you immediately got taken out," He makes a show of thinking, tilting his head and tapping a finger on his chin as he regards her. "Do they do that often?"

She scowls at the floor, and he waits. She doesn't disappoint him. She glares up at him, hissing the words through her teeth. "Do what?"

"Carry you. Although you being here is probably giving them a good shot of getting out of this alive." He's lying and it pains him a little to do so. He's seen what she can do, she's tough, smart, violent. A damn good soldier. He shoves the sudden feeling of admiration to the side. "Are you hoping they'll come for you? Rescue the little damsel in distress?"

That triggers something in her, she goes rigid, spine going ramrod straight as she lifts her head to stare at him. Her eyes are cold, full of determination and the threat of violence and his cock twitches, he's suddenly incredibly jealous of that fucking Scot. Her fingers flex against the floor and she leans forward until the makeshift leash pulls tight against her throat. "I don't need rescuing," she speaks calmly, and he feels a little frission of alarm go down his spine. "I'm going to kill you myself."

I meannnnn this is BRILLIANT, and I want more. I read it yesterday and had to take a damn BEAT because I needed to know HOW the guys feel or how they'd react when they find her like this and how Price probably IS getting to her even if she refuses to show it because he's sticking a knife in every single soft-tissue insecurity she has.

She'll kill him well tho.

I LVOED THIS SOFJDSKJFDSJFKJSDLKFJ

[irotinmyroom]

Could u tell me more about Mason aka your creepypasta oc?? They seem interesting-

IM GLAD HE SEEMS INTERESTING!! i pretty much just made him (and i havent fully perfected his story yet) but ill just put some things about him here!! i'll probably make a big post later explaining his story, like i did with my other oc elias which you can find here (i dont rlly like the art on that post anymore so dont judge!!!!)

ANYWAYS starting off, he's practically a ghost, or some paranormal entity (haven't really decided yet and a ghost sounds too cliche to me) and he kinda just aimlessly wanders around the forest, not really able to accept that he's actually dead.

i'm not gonna get tooo in depth with the story cause i havent really figured out the full story yet, but the basic premise is that before his death, he was a pretty socially awkward kid, and didn't really fit in much at school, but he still enjoyed it either way!! he had (and mostly still does) a strong love for photography, human nature, wildlife and SCIENCE!! in his science class specifically, he met this guy named cole, and they bonded over their shared liking of science. cole was quite popular, and practically led him on (knowing that mason started developing feelings for him) leading to his eventual death. (will elaborate on that in the post i make later on when i figure stuff out!) after his death, he got revenge on bro!! leading to him wandering around in the forest which he died in and soon finding slenderman, and slenderman taking him in as a 'proxy'!!! (i have a type(?) (kinda) of a slendermansion au) though he still lives in the forest, not really.. remembering much of that specific encounter, causing him to get lost a LOT.

FUN FACTS ABOUT HIM CAUSE!!! needs to be included

favorite animal is foxes!! his favorite flower is sunflowers, and he LOVESSS statues!!! he also really enjoys writing and literature in general! (he has a very big vocabulary!!!)

he has a unilateral incomplete cleft lip, which im not very good at drawing, but its there! also freckles spread across his nose and cheeks, and he also has heterochromia. (green and brown!!) his nose pretty much constantly bleeds, he WOULD be that kid in class that has to go to the bathroom/nurse for a bloody nose daily.

in his post-death form, he has a huge messy hole/gash in the side of his stomach, as well as a similar one on his left calf that expands onto the front of his leg a bit. he's semi-transparent with his form taking on a green-ish tint!

he has a hard time seeing things up close, so he occasionally will wear glasses, although rarely.. another little small detail is that he found a tube of mascara in the woods once and curiously just kinda.. put it on and has been wearing it ever since, even though its so messy due to how he just goes for it and CANT CLEAN OFF HIS FACE!! the fact that he probably smells like burning leaves is another thing i put in my notes app 4 some reason but you get the vision

something i was thinking about and jotted down in my notes app about him is that if he was a type of painting (in his post-death form) he'd be a messy, soft watercolor with sharp and ragged lineart (if that makes sense?) and also with types of art, i feel like he'd be performance art. just a thought i had that i thought was rlly cool!!

tldr i love my oc!!!! thank you for the ask, anon!! sorry about this being super long and also kinda hard to understand, but i promise ill make it easier to read whenever i do make a big post about him!! thank u for reading

[tired-old-men]

Fae showed up again, she was alone this time so she seemed a lot more awkward... she fiddled with her hands as she asked. "Hey uh... soooo i have a bit of a weird question uh...do you guys deal with like...ghosts?...or weird stuff like that?" She realised that alone could've a very weird question with no context so spoke, "It's just-...one of the Guardians back at at my place she was making me all paranoid about paranormal stuff and all... so I'm wondering if this is a guardian thing or if i should be very very very paranoid...", she awkwardly laughed. Who tf messed with this mess???

Sojourner: 

Oh no need to worry about that, the only ghost we have around here is a Spectre -chuckles-

Spectre: 

…. -looks at his son unamused- 

Locke: 

I don’t believe we have encountered any problems with the paranormal, although the Master Emerald has done stranger things so I wouldn’t put it out of the realm of possibility… Perhaps grandfather Athair would have some insight on the subject?-

Sojourner: 

No. We are not getting him involved in any of this :)

Thunderhawk: 

Oh father, don’t be so harsh! He provides some meaningful insight at times. -he glares over at Sojourner before turning to Fae with a reassuring smile- Regardless Fae, I think that you’ll be alright around here, and if anything give you any trouble you just let us know and we’ll be there to help. 

-As the Guardians move along with their work Iris approaches Fae-

Iris: 

Studying some of the Brotherhood lore I remember reading somewhere that the Guardians don’t ever really ’die’ but that somehow their connection with the Chaos Force makes them ascend from the physical plain. I’m not too sure how true that is and there’s only so much anybody knows about the great beyond…

But…

I’ve definitely seen some weird shit around here. 👀

One of the first couple of weeks I started living at Haven, I fell asleep at the library while I was working on a drawing project. I woke up in the dead of night all groggy and disoriented, I was still fairly new to the place, and its maze-like structure makes it confusing to get around. On my way back to my room I was starting to get real lost and kinda scared until I noticed an echidna in the distance, I tried approaching them and calling to them but I got no response, but I followed them to get closer and surprisingly I was guided back to my room! 

I turned to thank him, but I was so tired I couldn’t remember who exactly I was talking to, he didn’t say much but I remember he had bushy eyebrows and some sort of accessories on their spines. The next morning I connected with each of the Brotherhood members but none of them were the one to do it, even Locke looked back at the cameras and nothing,  it just looks like I was talking to myself. I thought it was just some sort of weird dream, that I was imagining things in my drowsiness, so I didn’t think too hard on it. 

Until the TV started acting up…

There’s a lounge spot where Sojourner unwinds in the evenings, like another smaller living room. I was working on tidying that room up as a project and got a bit too sucked into it, leading me to be at it organizing into the late of night. When I figured it was time to head to bed I tried turning off the TV in the room for the night but… it just kept coming on! And it would always revert to playing the show Star Trek when Sojourner wasn’t using it. It’s not even a show anybody watches which is odd it defaults to it. 

After a back and forth of fighting with the TV over the course of couple nights I just.. left it as is. I actually like the background noise of a TV and after catching some episodes it’s actually a pretty good show. Although.. sometimes the episodes skip around in random segments and I swear it sounds like its strings together sentences with the characters, like someone trying to have a dialogue using the TV…

-Iris shrugs- idk if it’s Haven or just my active imagination at times, but if there’s ghosts around here at least they are friendly. :3 -smiles-

[bentosandbox]

So what is Chen doing in Victoria

not a full story summary just some short TLs from chen brainrot sorry

spoilers for What the Firelight Casts ofc

chenpipe run into a ghost squad and chen is like uh wait they're kinda sus, says they remind her of 'something that happened in lungmen'. After defeating a bunch she remarks their opponents have been dead for more than 48 hours (how do you know this???? do you also do forensics in the SI Unit??????) but that they're the opposite of mephisto's zombies who were devoid of any thoughts or feelings while the corpses here are still moving from their intense emotions, Bag is like oh yeah the purple flames...familiar...

They follow a caravan and run into Reed who says she's escorting a bunch of Taran refugees but also looking for the Dublinn forces. They run into a whole bunch of (Victorian Army) corpses (Chen: "seems like they fought about a week ago" how are you so good at this kind of thing lmao...) but they can't find any bodies from the opposing side because surprise: the enemies are all ghosts and they just carried on moving lol

After Reed explains the ghosts to the Taran refugees Chen tells her it's good that they've given up on joining the Dublinn forces but "If you're with them, I'm sure they won't go astray.......Although you might find it difficult to stay with them always, Draco."

?????? i was under the impression she never got any of Tal's letters but idk...maybe they did talk about Alina and co before Tal got spirited away by Nine...

This cg is so funny to me... there's a cute part here where Bagpipe gets half of a bread from the kid and then shares it with Chen

B: Thanks a bunch! Chenchen, come over! Take a bite outta this. Just one though! Smells real good, right? I'm wonderin' what kinda flavouring did they used to make this...... C: *chew*......Can't tell. B: Aw, your tastebuds must have gotten real dull after going back to Yan, or did you become even more fussy with your food? C: What do you think? You know, we Lungmenites actually boil our summer tea with twenty-four different kinds of herbs. B: For real? ......Wait, are you playing with me again? C: Nope.

And then Fischer(Puzzle) ambushes them shortly after :( but Chen notes that his (basically MI6 I think?) party treated them and particularly, her very well compared to the Taran refugees that all got tied up, while outside Chen asks Bagpipe if she still remembers the hand signals they used when they were partners in school (to steal some originium thing...?) but just as they're about to rescue Reed from Puzzle's interrogation the Draco just sets the entire tent on fire or something lol. Everyone scatters into the woods and Chen is about to make her way to some refugees when she gets attacked by someone who knows who she is ...???

C: Such quick movements! Where did they come from? ???: Chen Hui-Chieh. Officer Chen. Chen followed up with a slash that hit naught but the thick fog. She felt a chill. ???: Have you ever considered--how your actions against the Victorian Army would affect Wei Yan Wu? C: ......I do whatever I want. What does it have to do with him? I'm just trying to help some innocents stuck in conflict here, so if you want to exercise diplomacy, better make sure you're doing the right thing in the first place. ???: Perhaps you wish to gloss over the complexities, but I have a question for you. No need to rush an answer. ???: Why did you come to Victoria? Or should I say--who did you come to Victoria for? C: ......My origins, my family, or even my personal grievances have nothing to do with our current dispute. Whatever suspicions you have... right now, I only have my sword to answer you with. So, now-- (*sword slash sfx*) Leave.

At the end of the story Chen and bagpipe tune into a crappy radio and hear that Victoria and Kazdel are about to go to war, so looking forward to chapter 12 I guess!!!!!

Story was pretty good, I uh didn't read ch9/10 in it's entirety so i just went into this with extremely rusty knowledge about The Troubles I learnt in school like 10+ years ago lol, enjoyed the sibling parallels; Reed looking for her sis, Salmon looking for her brother (rip in pepperonis!!!!), Chen looking for Tal...... how does this event look and feel more like fire emblem than engage does

oh yeah iirc harmonie didnt talk to chen sadge......maybe next time hopefully

[woodstoneb-b]

When we last left our Ghostly friends, Thor was engaged in a battle with the laundry overrunning the mansion (rest assured, in real life your laundry will never pile up when you stay with us!)

OK...once again the game seems to know we're dealing with ghosts... that looks seriously uncomfortable though...

Thor: If Thor only feels discomfort during a battle, Thor has done very well!

Thor: Yes!! Thor has triumphed! No clothing shall ever defy me again!

Ooookay...

Trevor: Awesome work, Big Guy! You kicked that laundry in the ass!

Damnit, No Pants, don't encourage him *shakes head*

Right, not sure what to make of No-Pants and Hetty hanging out with each other all the time...

Trevor: Hey, we have heaps in common!

Hetty: I don't like to advertise it too much, but Trevor does indeed have the most interesting stories about modern business practices. No orphans required, but the returns are just as good!

Ooookaaaay...

Isaac: Excuse me! Can't a gentleman undertake his daily ablutions in privacy?!

In the meantime our resident Jazz singer (if you hear ghostly tunes while staying here, you can be rest assured. It's Alberta!) is putting on a concert for her fellow ghosts.

Alberta: Thank God this is only a photo, because apparently I gotta start from the bottom in this game of yours and my piano skills are terrible!

Alberta: Although, my man Trev is being supportive, as always.

Trevor: Hey, supporting bros is what bro's do.

Sure, although I don't think Alberta's gonna return the favour with your painting there, because yikes

Ooo what's this, Trevor and Flower having an argument...over electronics?

Trevor: Hey c'mon, are you telling me you don't think TV is the greatest invention ever? You think it's the washing machine?

Flower: Hey, man, ask your girlfriend about the benefits of a washing machine...

Trevor: Oh yeah... :D

Wait...girlfriend?

Flower: Jay, you gotta keep up.

Albert: Girl, I can't believe there was a secret passage in this place...and we never used it!

Hetty: Used it? For what?

Alberta: Girl...

Alberta: What the HELL

That's your outfit for the singing career.

Alberta: Oh, Hell no! I'm a jazz singer, I got a certain look, and that is not it.

OK, OK, I'll fix it for you.

Alberta: You better!

Hetty: Oh, I don't know, I rather enjoyed it! Reminds me of this small child who danced for our entertainment when we opened one of our mills.

Ooookaaaay...

I seriously had no idea our Ghosts loved reading so much!

Thor: Thor would like to read, but cannot...

Flower: That's OK, I can read aloud to you! "One day Mr Twindlewink went to the market..."

Thor: Thor hopes he was properly armed.

I guess having to read to Thor was pretty testing because then Flower had a day out!

Which honestly, I'm kinda jealous of? Like a swim, building a sand castle, seeing a wild horse, flower picking and roller skating? That's one fun day!

And incidentally, something you too can enjoy when you visit Ulster County and stay in our B&B.

Hetty: What in the name of our Lord and Saviour is this representation of me DOING?! Laundry? I never did laundry in my entire life.

Flower: But you learnt to appreciate washing machines in death at least, right?

Oookaaay...

Thor: With no battles, Thor needs other ways to keep self occupied, this thing called exercise is keeping Thor battle-sharpened.

Flower: With energy to burn! Bet Sim!Flower hasn't even been in the laundry!

It's kind of fun seeing what these guys get up to, Hetty reading and Isaac snoozing makes sense, but Sass and Trevor hanging out? Not so much.

Sass: I wouldn't say hanging out, more like I was watching TV and Trevor just happens to be in the same place.

Trevor: Hey!

Wow, No-Pants you've finally decided to deal with the clothing sitaution!

Sam: Jay, since you designed all these Sims, it's pretty much your fault Trevor looks like this.

Trevor: Thank you!

I wanted them to be accurate!

I did want them to be accurate, but then stuff like this happens...

Flower: Totally accurate!

Wait, what?

Oh my God, No-Pants, what did you do?!

Thor: The laundry machine is rebelling! Thor will go into battle and bend it to our will!

No, you just need to call the repair dude...

Thor: Thor is secure enough in self to allow that others are more able to take on the task of defeating enemies. But Thor can still be helpful in clean up.

Oookay...

In closing...this game has some seriously weird attraction system...and there's no better example than this...Hetty is attracted to the repair dude. But I mean, there's no shame in that, he's a handy guy!

Hetty: This is pure slander!

On that note, I'll wrap this up here!

Join us next time, when hopefully the laundry wars are over!

[fanfic-inator795]

THOUGHTS ON "JINX VS THE HUMAN WORLD"

OKAY SO- while I thought the ep was fun, sweet, and a pretty good end to the Jinx/GhostChaser Chens arcs… it was also just a biiiiit disappointing, and ultimately “Molly VS The Ghost World” was a better episode/arc finale.

Overall, I’d say this episode’s biggest issue was pacing. This episode REALLY should have been an hour long, as a few elements felt super rushed - namely Ruben changing his mind about ghosts. Everything connected to that whole aspect felt rushed and underbaked, even if I understand WHY it needed to be rushed given the stakes.

Honestly, Geoff being the ghost from Ruben’s childhood SEEMS like it should have worked - hell, a lot of fans called it (though, it’s a bit weird in hindsight how Ruben didn’t recognize him at Halloween…). But the way they explained the ‘scare’ felt cheap. Like- we know Geoff is a super talented scarer and even enjoys scaring to a point AND I’m not sure if the writers just forgot but, ghosts HAD to scare people back then, otherwise they’d be sent to the Flow.

As such, instead of it being a misunderstanding, I feel like Geoff should have apologized and acknowledged Ruben’s feelings while still explaining his side. OR if they wanted to stick to the misunderstanding route, show a bit more leading up to the scare/sneeze. Show Geoff being curious or interested in playing Ruben’s video games - which would in turn act as an example of a ghost not being malicious/having thoughts and feelings that weren’t just ‘evil’ (as well as give a reason for why he was there in the first place - cause like, why WAS he there if it wasn’t for a scaring job? It looked like he was reading a book, was he just randomly exploring the house or wandering around?? Did he used to haunt that house but left after he scared Ruben?? It just felt like a hollow explanation)

As for other complaints, I feel like turning everyone into wraiths instead of just Molly and maybe Ollie was kinda pointless given how fast it went (would’ve been nice to see more of the other kids’ reactions to the Ghost World) and how they barely did anything before Molly got captured (although I did love the joke afterwards of the Jeoffs being creeped out by their shells, haha). I guess technically it foreshadowed everyone coming together in the end, but it still went by so fast that it felt more like a finale gimmick than anything else.

and- hey! Uhhh, what happened to the Frightmares that were in the thermos? I thought for sure they’d be brought back for the final battle and maybe even get uncorrupted, but they didn’t even get a mention. I guess because the canister wasn’t working properly they couldn’t escape… but then why was there such a big worry about them getting out in the Ghost Con episode? Ugh, whatever.

Still, those were probably my biggest problems with the episode, and as I said the rest of it was still enjoyable. I loved all the bits we got between the Jeoffs, just tons of subtle gestures of affection and comfort + them being each other’s joy. A cute and fun couple as always ^v^

As for Geoff still defending Scratch: I’m not saying that he’s not allowed to believe in his friend - because yeah, Scratch has proven time and again that for as lazy and sneaky as he can be, he’ll always step up when he has to. Geoff is allowed to believe in that. At the same time though, I’m glad he wasn't outright making excuses for Scratch (even calling what happened w/ Jinx consequences of Scratch's actions, acknowledging Scratch’s mistake but still being WAY less harsh about it than Jeff was) and it makes sense that Geoff would want to push aside his own feelings and just focus on getting the problem solved ASAP instead, given how much was at stake.

I did also like that outside of briefly trying to sort of sugar-coat his statement that Scratch was a terrible Chairman ever, Geoff never tried to force Jeff into completely hiding his own feelings of frustration/anger. They may not always be on the same page, but like any good couple they respect each other's feelings. I also liked that bit at the end of the ep seeing Geoff nodding along to Scratch saying he was lazy and incompetent though, haha. So yeah, I don’t think Geoff is naive to Scratch’s flaws by any means, he just accepts them waaay too easily - and given that Geoff was also willing to accept Ruben’s unfair hatred of him, I think he’s just a non-confrontational guy in general when it comes to his own feelings.

Speaking of which, I really loved Scratch taking responsibility in the end - more out of personal guilt than anything else, showing that for as much as he wasn’t the best fit for the role, the fact that he’s a good person still allowed him to make the occasional good/selfless choice for the betterment of Ghost-kind - and giving up his power and status to do what was right for the Ghost World. Thought for sure the cloak was going to Geoff but ah well. Guess if we do somehow get a season 3, that’ll be part of that season’s storyline.

Anyway- Seeing GhostShark again was great, REALLY loved the "Give 'em Joy" song (so catchy!), Darryl being the only one to listen to June and swooping in with what she needed was great, the Ghost Council admitting that they had grown fond of Scratch was super sweet, and there were still plenty of moments that either made me smile or chuckle ^v^

So yeah, not a bad finale by any means… iiiiit just sucks that it couldn’t have been perfect and that some stuff had to be rushed and thus felt a bit shallow in some parts…

Looking at the season as a whole, I do wish a bit more time could have been used to better flesh out the Chens and the arc connected to them - buuuut at the same time, I love the episodes that we got and wouldn’t really want to replace any of them. After all, the show is called The Ghost and Molly McGee - so while having more Chen-focused eps would have helped the season-long story, I’m not mad or upset that we got some great spotlight eps on Molly, Scratch and the other McGees, as they’re the characters I care about most.

Still not perfect unfortunately, but I’ve certainly seen worse finales AND worse seasons of television. If this is part of TGaMM’s final bow, I’m ultimately pretty satisfied. A strong 8 out of 10.

[sasaranomiya]

Koukyuu no Karasu 2 Chapter 1 - The Blue Swallow (Part 2)

Jusetsu finds out more about the mysterious ghost~~

Also I wanted to make a post about my thoughts on episode 1 but got kinda lazy so I’ll just put it here: it feels a bit rushed but I think they did the best they could since the first chapter crams in a lot of information, although I think it would have been better if it was a one-hour episode instead, also I wish the op animation was better since when I first watched it I was like “wtf”, which is a shame since it’s a good song

Translation Notes

1. Star raven is the literal translation of hoshigarasu, or spotted nutcracker, but I decided to translate it literally in order to make the significance clearer

2. I don’t know if I mentioned this before but  夜猫子 or night cat is another name for owls

3. Cat-headed eagle or maotouying is the actual Chinese name for owls

4. Nuidono (縫殿, short for 縫殿寮) or the Clothing Bureau is the office in charge of the emperor/empress’s wardrobe and the court ladies in ancient Japan

5. Sanpaku eyes are “eyes in which either the white space above or below the iris is revealed.” According to Chinese/Japanese face reading, it’s believed that people with sanpaku eyes attract accidents and violence.

Previous || Index || Next

It was already late at night, so she decided to have Ishiha return to Hien Palace that night and go there the next day. It would be unfortunate if his lack of sleep interfered with his work and he got beaten again. Children had to get a good night’s sleep. That was one of Reijou’s teachings.

The next morning, Jusetsu left Yamei Palace, accompanied by Jiujiu. Her usual black ruqun was too conspicuous, so she wore a purple outer robe and yellow dress. Those were given to her by Kajou, one of the consorts of the inner palace.

“Wouldn’t it have been lovely if you had worn that comb? It goes so well with this outfit.”

Jiujiu grumbled. She was talking about the ivory comb patterned after birds and waves. Koushun had given it to her to match these clothes.

“I won’t wear that one.”

“Why not? His Majesty would be disappointed.”

Jusetsu sullenly stayed quiet. She didn’t know how to put it into words. Also, it was something she couldn’t tell Jiujiu about.

Jusetsu and Koushun were “friends.”

——I want to be your good friend.

When she recalled Koushun’s face as he pledged that, painful, warm feelings almost burst out and overflowed from her. Even though it wouldn’t repay any of her feelings until now or any of the pain in the future, Koushun’s words certainly did become a light that dwelled in Jusetsu’s heart.

A faint, gentle light. But, it was her only salvation.

However, because of that, Jusetsu didn’t know how to deal with Koushun. He often visited her and chatted with her over tea, but she still wondered what kind of attitude she should take with him. Should she welcome him as a friend? But, she didn’t know how to show her welcome. In the first place, what were friends, and what did they do? Unfortunately, Koushun didn’t know much about it either.  

As she was walking with her brow furrowed, Jiujiu asked her, “You have such a gloomy look on your face. Whatever is the matter?” Jiujiu peppered her with questions just by her changing expressions a little bit. Part of her thought, Leave me be, but she also felt lonely if she wasn’t questioned. She had never felt like this before. Once she became familiar with it, she couldn’t go back to how she was before.

“Oh, Niangniang, I see a strange bird.”

When they entered the laurel and rhododendron thicket that surrounded Yamei Palace, Jiujiu stopped in her tracks and pointed at a branch. There was a bird with brown feathers spotted with white perched on it. Its dark eyes seemed to be looking at them.

“That is a star raven.” (1)

It was called that because its white spots looked like stars. It was said to be the retainer of Wulian Niangniang—a goddess. Even on the mural of Wulian Niangniang in the back of Yamei Palace, it was drawn the biggest, and the shrine in the imperial palace was called “Seiu Temple.”

“This is the first time I’m seeing one. It lives in the inner palace, I see.”

“’Tis a bird that came from somewhere else recently. It seems to have taken a liking to this forest, so it is making it its home.”

There were no night cats (2) in the inner palace because Wulian Niangniang abhorred them. Even the word “owl” itself was a taboo, so names like “night cats” and “cat-eagles” (3) were used instead. Perhaps because of that, small birds lived peacefully here. That might also be the reason why that star raven was living here. It had a relatively loud call, so it was easy to be surprised by it. Even now, it had its beak pointed upwards, but instead of letting out a loud “gah,” it flew away.

“What a pretty bird. Ravens are all black, but the star raven’s white spots are adorable.”

Jiujiu seemed to have taken a liking to the star raven. She was saying things like, I wonder what it eats.

After passing through the thicket and proceeding through the walkways, the banksia rose hedges of Hien Palace appeared in their view. The flowers have already stopped blooming, but their greenery was still beautiful. The blue-glazed roof tiles gave off a refreshing shine in the white sunlight of the morning. There were tiles with swallow ornaments on the roof, and there were several swallows resting their wings there.

Jusetsu headed for the back entrance used by palace ladies and servants who performed domestic duties. It would be too troublesome to visit from the front. Jusetsu hadn’t met the Swallow Lady, who lived in this palace, nor did she know her name.

The kitchens, the sewing quarters (4), and the residences of the palace ladies were located behind the palace. Jusetsu could hear the women busily working inside the buildings.

“Is that you, Jiujiu?”

An old palace lady, coming out from the building on the right, spotted Jusetsu and Jiujiu and called out to them. She was holding a basket full of fabrics.

“Gugu!”

Jiujiu called out to her happily. It was the palace lady from the Palace Dyeing Bureau who Jusetsu met before. Her name was Ashuu.

“Didn’t you become an attendant at Yamei Palace? The girl next to you, if I remember correctly, is——"

Ashuu looked puzzled when her eyes turned to Jusetsu. When they met before, Jusetsu was wearing a plain coral ruqun, the uniform of the Palace Cleaning Bureau palace ladies. Right now, she was dressed in a beautiful patterned ruqun befitting of a consort.

“This is the Raven Consort, Gugu.”

Huh? Ashuu’s eyes widened. When Jiujiu explained that she was pretending to be a palace lady before, she looked more and more puzzled. Even so, she put down her basket and put her hands together, then bowed to Jusetsu.

“I want to see the rabbit-ear irises in the garden.”

Jusetsu said. Ashuu’s eyes seemed to ask Why?, but she led them there without saying anything unnecessary.

The garden was in the center of the palace. After walking down a stone path and passing by pagoda trees with lushly verdant leaves, they saw a clump of splendid rabbit-ear irises at the end of the path. The willow trees planted around the area swayed gently in the wind. The scent of water was dense. There was a magnificent palace in front of the rabbit-ear irises. That was probably the palace where the Swallow Lady lived. Blue flag irises, common irises, and yellow irises were planted up to the palace, partitioned off by stone paved paths. Each of them either liked wetlands or disliked moisture, so even though the flowers looked similar, they had different characteristics. It must have been a painstaking effort to grow them.

Under the bluish-white sky, Jusetsu stared at the rabbit-ear irises, but could see no ghost there. ——However…

“…”

She sensed a presence. The presence was between the rabbit-ear irises, flickering like a heat haze.

Jusetsu stood in the shade of the trees and stared at the flowers with narrowed eyes. She then called to Ashuu, who was standing behind her.

“Have you ever heard of a eunuch’s ghost appearing here?”

Ashuu briefly looked like she was tracing back her memories, but answered frankly, “No, I have not heard anything like that.” She was an old-timer palace lady, so she was well-versed in the rumors of the inner palace. If she didn’t know about it, then it most likely didn’t exist as a rumor.

However, Ashuu continued with unexpected words.

“I haven’t heard of a ghost, but I do remember hearing a story about a Hien Palace eunuch.”

“What sort of story?”

“A story about a eunuch who was in love with a consort.”

“Ho,” Jusetsu turned around to look at Ashuu.

“This is a story from the previous emperor’s reign. A eunuch from the Hatan tribe once worked at this palace. He was only ten. In that region, there are many children who are made into eunuchs in order to reduce the number of mouths to feed. For that reason, that region is also called the ‘Land of Eunuchs.’ That child also seemed to be one of them.”

Because she was talking to the Raven Consort, Ashuu’s way of speaking was much more polite, very different from before. As an old-timer, she seemed to know how to switch very easily.

“He was still an apprentice chu’er, but they say he was in love with the Swallow Lady at that time. Since he was still a child, I suppose it was an exaggeration to say he was in love. The Swallow Lady was a girl about fifteen or sixteen years of age. She was apparently a kind person who spoke to even the eunuchs without discrimination. They say that she was terribly fond of the bird feathers that the eunuch presented to her.”

“Bird feathers?”

“The tail feathers of a blue swallow. They were beautiful, so she made them into hair ornaments.”

A swallow with deep blue wings. They lived in the forests and thickets of the inner palace. Their feathers were beautiful, but their cries were also exceptionally clear.

“Of course, nothing could have happened between the eunuch and the Swallow Lady. It was a child’s fancy. I heard that the eunuch died after that, but I’m not sure of the details. It was said that after the death of the previous emperor, the Swallow Lady was given to General You of the northern Forbidden Army in marriage.”

When the emperor died, the concubines must leave the inner palace. Some returned home, while others married again. Most of them married retainers, but there were some who married merchants. The only consort who didn’t leave the inner palace even when the emperor died was the Raven Consort.

——Or perhaps I should say, she can’t leave.

“That is all I’ve heard. I don’t know any other stories about eunuchs at Hien Palace.”

“Do you know the eunuch’s name?”

“My apologies, but I do not.”

“Then, do you know any eunuchs who worked at Hien Palace during the previous emperor’s reign?”

“No,” Ashuu shook her head in bewilderment. “I don’t believe there are any among the eunuchs currently working here, but I’m not sure.”

“I see. Then, that will be all. I won’t impede your work any further. You were very helpful.”

Jusetsu thanked Ashuu and allowed her to leave. Ashuu bowed deeply while stealing glances at her with eyes shining with curiosity, and then returned to her station. Jusetsu wondered what kind of rumors she would bring to the palace ladies after this. It would most likely be something like, Listen, I met the Raven Consort. She actually exists, you see.

Jusetsu turned back to the cluster of rabbit-ear irises. She brought her hand to her hair, which was tied in two rings. There were peony flowers tucked into her hair. They were Jusetsu’s magic in the shape of peonies. When she was about to take one of them out, she heard someone shout, “Lady Raven Consort!” She dropped her hand and turned towards it. There was a eunuch running on the stone path from the palace. It was Ishiha.

“La…lady Raven Consort…”

It seemed that he had run here in a hurry, as he was breathing wildly, his shoulders heaving. He was about to kneel down and greet her, but Jusetsu stopped him.

“No need to bow. Is it okay for you to leave your shifu’s side?”

“It’s…it’s…okay. Shifu is…paying a courtesy call to the Swallow Lady right now…and I still can’t appear before her yet…”

He spoke between gasping breaths. Chu’er couldn’t appear before their mistresses—in this case, the Swallow Lady. It was only when the shifu deemed that they were ready that they could be in her presence.

Ishiha wiped the sweat from his forehead. A courtesy call wouldn’t take up a lot of time. She must hurry to confirm things with him. It would be troublesome if the Swallow Lady found them as well.

Jusetsu pulled Ishiha into the shade of a tree so they wouldn’t be conspicuous and pointed at the rabbit-ear irises.

“Can you see the ghost?”

Ishiha turned his head to the flowers. He immediately nodded.

“Yes, he’s there.”

Jusetsu nodded back and pulled a peony from her hair. It slowly transformed when placed on her palm. The pink petals came apart one by one and turned into smoke and dissolved. Jusetsu blew on the smoke.

The pink smoke trailed and drifted over to the rabbit-ear irises. Gradually, it gathered in one place, and the faint figure of a person appeared beyond it. Seeing it slowly becoming darker, Jiujiu let out a small “Ah” and hurriedly covered her mouth.

Within the faint smoke, there was a eunuch. He could still be called a child. He shared similar traits with Ishiha. Tanned skin, freckles, dark eyes, and a flat nose. It was a boy eunuch from the Hatan tribe.

He was standing in the middle of the blooming rabbit-ear irises, facing the Swallow Lady’s palace. His clear, almost transparent eyes were fixed on the palace. They were filled with sorrow. Even now, he looked like he was about to cry, and his eyes stirred her heart. There was nothing like a child’s crying face that made you want to do something about it.

He was gripping something in his hand. Something blue——

“…The feather of a blue swallow.”

The boy eunuch was holding a blue swallow’s tail feather.

She recalled Ashuu’s story from earlier. The story about the boy eunuch who presented blue swallow feathers to the Swallow Lady. Was that eunuch this ghost?

Jusetsu moved smoothly towards him. His mouth was moving. He was murmuring something. His voice was high and thin. It seemed that he was murmuring only one word. But it didn’t make sense to her. As soon as Jusetsu turned towards Ishiha, he rushed over without saying a word. A smart child.

“What is he saying?”

She assumed that he was speaking in the language of the Hatan tribe. At Jusetsu’s question, Ishiha listened closely to the ghost’s voice.

“——He’s saying, ‘I’m sorry.’”

“I’m sorry…?”

What was he apologizing for?

Jusetsu was about to ponder over it, but this wasn’t the time to be leisurely. She blew a breath at the pink smoke again. As the smoke dissipated, the ghost faded and could no longer be seen. It didn’t disappear; it was merely that no one could see it except Ishiha.

“…You were most likely able to see him because you’re from the same tribe and around the same age.”

As well as clear eyes that couldn’t be deceived.

“We’re finished here. Go.”

Jusetsu waved her hand and prompted him to return. Ishiha bowed and left, but he was glancing back at the rabbit-ear irises as though his hair was being pulled from behind.

“Ah. I forgot to ask his shifu’s name.”

She realized it after Ishiha left. She had thought that she needed to ask him.

“Why not ask someone around here to ask him to come to you…?” Jiujiu asked quizzically.

“Call Ishiha’s shifu, you say? If I ask him about the ghost, he would know that Ishiha has come to me for advice, in spite of being ordered to keep quiet.”

He might get beaten again.

“There would be no issue if I only happened to see the ghost, but…it would be too troublesome to question all the eunuchs one after another.”

All eunuchs wore gray robes, but the shade was differed depending on rank. It would be best if she could find a eunuch in dark grey robes, but she didn’t know how high their rank should be.

Even while muttering about how troublesome this was, Jusetsu headed for the palace. “Niangniang, you really do care for Ishiha quite a lot,” Jiujiu said as she followed her.

“Not particularly, it isn’t like that.”

“Niangniang, there are things you don’t realize about yourself.”

“What are they?”

“The fact that you’re kind, Niangniang.”

Jusetsu glanced at Jiujiu.

“Most people would feel pity when they see a child being beaten. It is not kindness, it is pity.”

“Yes, that is so. That’s why you’re kind, Niangniang. After all, aren’t you doing all that you can for him? Kindness isn’t thoughts, it’s action.”

Jusetsu was at a loss as to what to respond.

“…You’re quite soft-hearted. Better that you be careful,” she said with a sigh.

“Thank you very much,” Jiujiu laughed.

They went around one of the palaces and arrived at the back. At that moment, they heard a grating sound like something was being hit. Jusetsu furrowed her brow.

——This sound is…

Getting a bad feeling, Jusetsu broke into a dash. She ran between the palaces and ended up in front of the banksia rose shrubs that surrounded the palace. There were no stone-paved paths here, and the ground was bare. It seemed that the surrounding palaces were the residences of the eunuchs. There were a few eunuchs huddled together on the way. Two eunuchs were making a boy eunuch stand on his knees, and another eunuch standing behind him was holding a stick. Standing near them was a eunuch wearing gray robes that were darker than the other eunuchs. He was looking down at the boy with a stern look on his face. Without even needing to look at his face, Jusetsu knew that the boy was Ishiha.

The eunuch holding the stick was brandishing it aloft, so Jusetsu raised her voice.

“Stop it!”

The eunuchs looked at Jusetsu in surprise at her sharp voice. Jusetsu sped up her pace and approached them.

“What are you doing? Let go of him.”

When she glared at the eunuchs who were holding down Ishiha, the two hurriedly let go of their hands as though pressured.

“I sincerely apologize for showing you something so unsightly, Niangniang.”

The eunuch in the dark gray robes knelt respectfully and bowed with his hands clasped in front of his chest. He probably didn’t know who Jusetsu was, but he bowed after perceiving that she was a concubine. He was a eunuch with smooth cheeks and a bad complexion. His lips were thin and pale. He had a prominent forehead and seemed clever and good-looking, but his sanpaku eyes (5) showed that he had a short temper. This was probably Ishiha’s shifu. The color of his robes was darker than low-ranked eunuchs, but not as dark as those of high-ranked eunuchs.

“You must have been shocked, but this is a common punishment for eunuchs, Niangniang. Please disregard us.”

In a polite tone, he told her not to meddle. He probably judged that Jusetsu was a low-ranking concubine with only one attendant and looked down on her. Jusetsu looked at Ishiha. He was biting his lip and holding back his tears.

Jusetsu turned a cold gaze to his shifu.

“What is your name?”

“Ah, it’s Kouran.”

“Kouran, huh. I am the Raven Consort.”

For the first time, Kouran’s face, which had been shrewdly examining Jusetsu’s face, looked shaken.

“The—the Raven Consort is here? That’s—”

It seemed that he was hesitating over the correct way to deal with her. How should he handle the mysterious Raven Consort, who almost never left her palace and used uncanny arts?

“Why is this boy being punished?”

Jusetsu looked at Ishiha. Kouran bowed his head and answered.

“He left his post without permission and disappeared, so this is his punishment.”

“Then it is my fault.”

What? Kouran was about to look up, but immediately lowered his head. Eunuchs were not allowed to gaze at the faces of consorts.

“I found this boy and ordered him to lead me to the garden. His name is Ishiha, yes? I asked his name at that time.”

“Ah…yes, this boy’s name is Ishiha.”

“Therefore, the blame is on me. I apologize. Forgive Ishiha.”

“…I see, so that is the case.”

Very well, then, he answered, but she could see that he wasn’t convinced. She wondered if she should threaten him a little. It would be a problem if Ishiha was beaten after she left.

“By the way, there’s something I would like to ask you.”

“What is it, Niangniang?”

“Was there a eunuch who died in Hien Palace during the reign of the previous emperor?”

Kouran’s face stiffened.

“He was a eunuch from the Hatan tribe. He was still a child, see, about Ishiha’s age. He’s in the garden. Standing in the middle of the rabbit-ear irises, holding a blue swallow feather—”

All the eunuchs paled.

“Ishiha was saying such nonsense to the Lady Raven Consort?”

Kouran’s pale face grimaced. Jusetsu looked down at him coldly.

“I have only told you what I saw with my own eyes. Are you calling that nonsense?”

“N-No—”

“Kouran,” Jusetsu fixed her gaze on him. “You know about the deceased eunuch, do you not?”

Kouran twitched in surprise, and this time he looked up. He met Jusetsu’s eyes directly and stiffened as though entranced. Jusetsu’s eyes were filled with the radiance of obsidian, and while they were a deep, unfathomably dark color, they were quietly clear. To a terrifying degree.

“You cannot hide anything from me.”

“Ye…yes, certainly, I do know that there was once a Hatan tribe eunuch who died at Hien Palace,” Sweat beaded Kouran’s forehead. His voice was shaking slightly. “I heard that he was beheaded for some kind of reprehensible act, but I don’t know the details. It’s the truth.”

——He was executed? Because he was in love with a consort?

“…Despite knowing that, you accused me of speaking nonsense?”

“M-My sincerest apologies. It was merely that I knew that the Swallow Lady would be offended if she heard about this.”

“So that was why you decided to remain silent when you heard that the ghost appeared?”

My apologies, Kouran repeated. “The area around the rabbit-ear irises is in front of the Swallow Lady’s palace, and it is the most beautiful spot in the garden. If a ghost appeared there…”

“Do you know the name of the deceased eunuch?”

Jusetsu interrupted Kouran’s tedious explanation and asked. No, he answered. She then asked, “Do you know any Hien Palace eunuchs from the previous emperor’s reign?” But he answered no again.

——If I ask Koushun, would he know about this matter?

She didn’t want to request anything from him, but there was no other choice.

“Listen well, do not carry out any more of this ridiculous punishment, for nothing good will befall you. I already know your name.”

Names were used for curses. Jusetsu asked his name at the beginning in order to make this threat. Kouran bowed, his face chalk-white. Jusetsu glanced at Ishiha and saw that he looked slightly relieved.

Jusetsu left Hien Palace, and on the way back to Yamei Palace, she called out, “Onkei.”

A eunuch lightly got down from the laurel tree next to her. He knelt at her side. This beautiful eunuch who was just under twenty years of age was Jusetsu’s bodyguard. Onkei bowed his head, which had a horizontal knife scar on his cheek, and waited for Jusetsu’s orders.

“Give a message to Koushun. Tell him to come to Yamei Palace soon.”

Onkei simply said, Yes, and swiftly left.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

When the kneeling Kouran could no longer see Jusetsu, he finally stood up. Even though he hadn’t been running, he was breathless.

“Are you all right, sir?”

A subordinate eunuch asked anxiously and part suspiciously. He seemed to be asking, Should you really be so frightened, even if you were dealing with the mysterious Raven Consort?

Kouran gulped, not even bothering to wipe the sweat on his brow. His sweat was cooling down.

“…In the Raven Consort’s eyes.”

The voice that spilled out of his mouth was hoarse.

“There is a monster in her eyes.”

Saying only that, Kouran’s body trembled.

Previous || Index || Next

[le-scenariste]

For the Ghosts asks: 2, 8, 9, 10, 27 👻

Woah so many to answer let's fuckin GO !

2) If you could see the ghosts like Alison, which one do you think would come the closest to making you want to leave the house?

Okay definitely not Cap, Pat, Humph, Mary or Robin. Thomas would be kinda annoying but also kinda amusing. Kitty I think could grow on me since she definitely did in the show. I'm not sure about Fanny since she nags quite a bit but then there's Julian with all his innuendos and sex stories which would be such a pain. Actually I think Julian's constant horniness could get me to leave more. And also the fact he's a Tory and really just oozes PoliticianTM.

8) Which ghost do you think you'd get along with the best?

Oooh shit this is a good one. I mean my faves are Cap and Pat so I'd like to think those two but honestly...I think I'd get along real well with Humphrey. I like discussing shit and he enjoys the company and actually being involved and shit. I think he'd be great to talk to about things in a civil conversation ya know. Not like a debate or argument or anything just sharing ideas and shit. As much as I love Pat, he is VERY upbeat and that's great ofc but sometimes can be a bit tiring. Cap ? Idk, I feel like it could easily become very awkward with him. Although I am interested in history, especially his era (mostly cuz of Sabaton) so I guess if i got him talking on military history it could be pretty fun. But if i made one gay joke he'd panic and shut up even tho being gay and making jokes about it is so fun. Come on Cap you got this king I believe in you <3

9) Which ghost would you say you're most like?

Hey Seb, if you see this, don't read my answer and tell me which Ghost YOU think I'm most like. I wanna compare my answer to yours. ANYWAYS (if you're Seb do not keep reading)

Hmmmmmmmmm. This shit's hard cuz I don't wanna be like "well this character's my fav and i wanna be just like them" but also Cap is my fav for a reason. I mean, I do find it hard to talk about emotional shit like him. I'd say we have That as a strong similarity. Pat and I are both short kings but otherwise, he is so outdoorsy and i am NOT plus he's super outgoing and loves helping others whereas interacting with new people and all that seems so exhausting. Oh yeah, Cap (and Pat)'s need for routine. I like having a routine too but also I don't (ADHD ahA). Cap and I are both enjoyers of pretty men :)

10) Which ghost would you say you're least like?

Julian. Easily. I mean, I am a...not conservative (cuz Liberal and liberal here are two different things and it's very confusing sometimes) and very asexual. Oh and Fanny. I know she lived in a different time and all but growing up "as a girl" while later realizing i am transmasc, all her comments about being unladylike towards Alison woulda pissed me off (they don't really in the show cuz it's a comedy and I enjoy Martha's performance and Fanny isn't like...a shithead, she's just a bit behind sometimes). I probably would get into an argument with either of them about something. Love them as characters tho.

27) Favourite episode?

I think overall it's gonna go to The Woodworm Men. Not just cuz of the PatCap moments but also the ghosts listening to Pat's ghost story, all of them moving to Mike's tent to be with Alison <33333, Julian and Robin being scaredy-cats. Alison and Mikes competition. Such a good episode. Stellar performance from everyone. Redding Weddy and A Perfect Day are close seconds tho.

As you can see...I really enjoy rambling but I also gotta make sure my thoughts are clear ya know ? Thanks for the asks, I very much enjoyed answering them thoroughly >:)