#and if you need to carry stuff they can expand for that

[waywardsalt]

i need to make damien weirder

[prokopetz]

One of my favourite little bits of rules goofiness in Eat God which the text deliberately doesn't call out except in passing is as follows:

Overloading your inventory (i.e., carrying more than three inventory items at once, unless you've spent advancements to expand your capacity) means you're considered to be performing an effortful action for as long as you're carrying the extra stuff.

Activating and sustaining the Rebellious Arts is an effortful action.

You can only perform one effortful action at a time.

The cute part is that the inventory limit being based strictly on the number of items held and the fact that a sustained effortful action allows you to exceed it are both textually justified with reference to the mental effort required for your God-eater to keep track of their stuff, so in practice we're doing the old "being too burdened with concern for material possessions causes you to lose access to your esoteric powers" shtick, except there's an explicit game-mechanical definition of "too burdened with concern for material possessions", and it doesn't even need to be special-cased because it's 100% emergent.

[northopalshore]

Synastry observations series 7th house synastry: lovers & enemies 🌊⚔️

🫧The 7th house symbolises partnership and close relationships. It also signifies contractual relationships of all kinds i.e marriage or business. In this post, I will focus on romantic relationships.

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Planets 🫧

Sun:

You will feel a very strong pull towards the house person. Perhaps they see you as an ideal love interest, someone that embodies a lot of what they're looking for in a partner. They may see you as someone who is dominant and can take the leadership role in the relationship. They may come to depend or lean onto you when they are overwhelmed. If you work together, you may be more experienced in your industry and thus act as a guide for the house person. Both of them will have a lot of pride in their relationship. If they get married, perhaps the sun person will flex their ring wherever they go lol. There is a good likelihood of marriage.

Moon:

You will feel emotionally tied to the house person. Perhaps the house person will provide a lot of comfort and emotional security to the moon person. You will feel bound together and may have trouble with boundaries or letting go if the relationship turns sour. You will be very warm and possessive of each other. It seems like if one of them were to show the same or similar amount of affection to others it's going to be like they cheated on their partner. The moon person especially will not be fond of sharing that intimacy with other people. Marriage could very much be on the table.

Mercury :

Both parties will love conversing with each other. The mercury person will want to show their affection through words, or through writing or even through songs. Their mental rapport will be a means of flirtation. Both parties could romanticise each other while talking. Perhaps both of them will find ease in communicating their wants, needs and desires as well as their issues within the relationship. Communication is very important for the both of you to ensure the longevity of your relationship.

Note: "blah blah blah, proper name, place name backstory stuff" I had that stuck in my head while writing this part lmao.

Venus:

Both parties will see each other as marriage material. The 7th house person will love how the venus person carries themselves, from the way they dress to the way the talk the 7th house person is likely to be head over heels for them. They can be very much in love with each other. The downside however is the same traits that they once found attractive about each other can lead to hate if the relationship doesn't end well. Could be a potential marriage partner.

Mars:

There is a great attraction between you. The Mars person especially will have 7th house person in a chokehold lol. There is a tendency for the mars person to rush into commitment however, which can lead to a lot of disappointments or arguments when the relationship doesn't turn out the way they expected.

Jupiter:

You both share similar ideals and philosophies about life. You are charming and playful together, and may love goofing around. The both of you will find that trusting each other comes easily even from the moment you meet. You will teach eachother about relationships, and help expand both of your love lives. Could be a sign of a long-term reason.

Saturn:

You might as well be the first long-term or serious relationship that the house person has. They will see you as a reliable and loyal companion.

Pluto:

The pluto person will bring a lot of change, and healing to the 7th house person. If there are things that the 7th house person kept hidden, refusing to deal with pluto will be the one to drag it out just with their presence alone. They could be very possessive and obsessed with each other.

Neptune:

Neptune will likely be head over heels for the house person. Seeing the house person as everything they've ever dreamt of in a partner. They could also choose to perceive it through the filtered vision of a hopeless romantic. Whether the 7th house person sees them the same way depends on the sign it's in. If it's in aquarius, virgo, gemini or aries then there's a good chance that it's one sided.

Uranus:

You both are likely not each other's usual preference in terms of looks or personality, but you will feel very at ease with each other. You won't feel constantly and judged, and you'll start to open your mind to things you would have never considered before. Could possibly be an open relationship but it's not always the case. If you do decide to be together, it's usually without the restraints of legalization i.e marriage contracts.

ex: Vanessa Paradis & Johnny Depp were together for 14 years and had kids, even though they were never married & never cared to get documentation for their union.His saturn (aquarius 7th house) harmoniously aspects her uranus (libra 11th house).

Chiron:

The Chiron person will draw out all the fears and insecurities that the 7th house has around relationships. One or both oh them may have been badly hurt in their love life or close connections before, and they will find in eachother the opportunity to address that pain and heal from it. On the flip side, this also means that this person could be the biggest heartbreak you'll ever experience if it weren't to end well.

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Nodes 🫧

North:

You may feel drawn to being their partner, or perhaps being married to them may as well align with your destiny in this life. You'll find that both of you may feel fated to be with each other or at least have a significant impact into your relationships or business. You could also work together.

South:

You may have been married to them in a past life, or you'll notice that they hold a lot of similarities to people you've been in relationships with before. Being their partner will perhaps trigger the feeling that you might have met before. There may be karmic attachments to this person.

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Signs 🫧

Aries :

You will be passionate and slightly competitive with each other. There's this hard to get energy that you may like to play with. With one being the chaser and the other enjoying being chased lol. Heated arguments are prone to happen when misunderstandings arise however.

Taurus :

Both of you are very romantic, and find a lot of comfort within eachother. You will love spending time together, just breathing in their presence. You could also go on a lot of dates, or just stay at home together. Mundane things will suddenly feel like enchanted endeavours. However, both of you could also be stubborn and petty.

Gemini :

Fun, witty and exciting. Your connection will bring both intellectual stimulation and a childlike sense of joy into each other's life. You'll also be like twins when you're with each other i.e dressing the same way, adopting their manner of speech. You will feel that nobody quite understands you the way your partner does. However, there could be lies and manipulation taking place verbally or perhaps they could spread negative rumours about each other if the relationship doesn't run smoothly.

Cancer :

Both will feel very connected to each other. You will feel like you've found your home, or your forever person. You'll both feel as if you were meant for each other. Treating each other with care and compassion. There may be a tendency to victimise themselves when hurt however.

Leo:

You will be very loyal and possessive of your relationship. You're friends with everyone, and people will know you as the extra pair, never boring and never apart. There is a tendency to overreact over things however.

Virgo:

Both of you will feel naturally connected to eachother. You'll find that your lives, no matter how different actually mesh together very well in terms of routine. You will love doing practical things for each other, and working around their schedule to be together. There is a potential for a long-term relationship.

Libra:

Communication and equality is very important to the both of you. You will make sure that both of you will feel just as loved and appreciated as you are. There is a tendency to look at the relationship through rose tinted glasses however.

Scorpio:

There is nothing that you can hide from each other. Your relationship will be centered around themes of love, passion, obsession and slight toxicity if not handled correctly. If all goes well, you will experience a love that knows no bounds. However if things go south both parties will become very vengeful and grow a deep hatred towards each other.

Sagittarius:

You both will be very adventurous and entertaining together. You will spend a lot of time learning or sharing your knowledge and culture. You could love travelling, or just going out together in general. Marriage could be quite possible.

Capricorn:

Loyal, reserved and responsible. You both approach love and commitment through a mature and practical approach. Both of you share similar values in a relationship and strive to obtain success and stability. It's likely that both of you will be together for a very long time, if not married.

Aquarius:

You could be an odd pairing. You could be very involved in your community together or take part in a lot of charities or humanitarian activities. You will allow each other a lot for freedom and space for individuality. You will have unconstrained fun together, pranks, spontaneous trips, shared tiktok accounts, the works! You could also prefer to be long-term partners without the legality of marriage contracts.

Pisces:

Your relationship goes beyond the physical realm. You will be spiritually connected to one another and may have been dreaming of them long before you met. There is a tendency to be very unrealistic however, detaching yourselves from reality and going into seclusion.

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***disclaimer: entertainment purposes only, reader discretion is advised***

Thank you for reading ♡

@northopalshore

[pretzel-box]

OU OU OU OHHHH Can you PLEASEEE do a mini fic of Sebastian meeting an expendable who has crazy body mods to make them look more alien?? Like tattooed eyes split tongues teeth with extensions n stuff?? I wonder how he’d feel about someone making themselves look like that when he was forced to look the way he is?? Idk if that makes sense but I had a eureka moment and I LOVEEEE your fics 😩plsplsplsplslpslsl 🙏🏻🙏🏻

words: 1,2k

tags: gn!reader, clear mentions of body mods

Sebastian was rarely scared of anything. At this point, the man had faced horrors beyond human understanding, staring down death itself with nothing more than a resting bitch face. He’d shrugged off wall dwellers that plummeted into his shop from the dark ceilings above, and barely blinked when Pandemonium rushed by, a force of chaos that would unnerve anyone else.

So, imagine his face when he first met you—standing face to face with a human who looked so… inhuman.

When you first entered his shop, he assumed you were another twisted experiment, something that had escaped the grasp of Hadal Blackside’s prison when the lockdown started. The split tongue, the intricate tattoos inked right into the whites of your eyes, the piercings that glittered along the edges of your lips and brows—it all spoke of something otherworldly, something that didn’t belong to the realm of normal human experience.

But then, he noticed the neat little uniform clinging to your body, its fabric still crisp, untouched by the filth and blood that coated most of the facility. The sight of it made a light flicker on in his head. You were human—if the term could still apply—sent down from above, likely a new expandable among this mess, just like countless others before you.

His face scrunched up in irritation and a bit of disgust, his lip curling as he scanned you from head to toe. It wasn’t fear—no, Sebastian was far beyond that—it was the jarring discomfort of trying to process something so out of the ordinary, something that made even him pause for a second.

“What the hell…” he muttered, his voice low, almost as if he was talking to himself. His eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the sharp lines of your tattoos, the way the ink made your gaze unsettlingly intense. He could feel the irritation creeping up the back of his neck, the way it always did when something disrupted the order of things in his world. Sebastian spend the last few years hating Urbanshade and himself, cruising his newfound appearance and coming slowly yet painfully to terms with it that he can't be human anymore. So it was even more a hit in the face to see someone who was perfectly human turn themself into what— an alien?

You, with your inked eyes and split tongue, were an affront to the normalcy he clung to in this otherwise chaotic place. Even in the madness of the Blackside, where monsters roamed freely and reality was different, your appearance was a challenge to his sense of what should and shouldn’t be.

Yet, even as he bristled with discomfort, there was a begrudging respect beneath it all. It took guts to modify yourself to that extent, to carry the weight of those changes with such confidence. It was the kind of defiance that reminded him, in some strange way, of himself. A refusal to be anything but exactly what you were, no matter how unsettling it might be to others.

After a moment of tense silence, he let out a breath, forcing his expression to soften, if only slightly. “Alright, you got my attention,” he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. “What do you need?”

You didn’t flinch under his gaze, didn’t hesitate as you stepped closer, as if daring him to say something more. Your eyes, those unsettling orbs of black and white, met his with a calmness that caught him off guard.

“I need supplies,” you said, your voice smooth, unbothered by his scrutiny. To be fair, you were already used to people behaving like that, treating you weirdly for your special behavior. Your split tongue flickered as you spoke, and for a brief second, his mind flashed with curiosity—how it must feel to talk like that, to move in a body so distinctly altered.

“Supplies, huh?” he echoed, almost as if testing the word in his mouth, seeing if it tasted any different when spoken to someone like you. He tilted his head, the initial discomfort giving way to a strange sort of intrigue. “You got anything to trade?”

You nodded, reaching into your bag, and pulling out a handful of items— usb scraps, files, a few salvaged goods that had seen better days but were still usable. He eyed the offerings, the gears in his mind beginning to turn. A potential customer, no matter how off-putting, was still a customer.

“Fine,” he said, the last traces of his initial irritation melting away as he slithered forward to inspect your trade. “But don’t think I’m giving you any special treatment just ‘cause you look like you crawled out of someone’s worst nightmare.”

You smirked, the corners of your lips pulling up to reveal the silver glint of piercings on your tongue. “Wouldn’t dream of it,” you replied, and there was a spark of mutual understanding in your tone as you sassed back—an acknowledgment of the strangeness of this place, and of each other.

As he began to rummage through his wares, the discomfort that had initially gripped him faded, replaced by a begrudging respect. You were different, sure, but in this hellhole, maybe different was exactly what was needed.

Sebastian was in the middle of inspecting the tech scraps you had offered, his sharp eyes scanning each piece with practiced efficiency. You stood across from him, arms crossed, waiting for his judgment, your split tongue occasionally flicking out as you shifted your weight.

Just as Sebastian was about to name his price, the vent to the shop creaked open, and another customer cautiously stepped inside. The newcomer was a wiry, nervous-looking man, his eyes darting around the room as if expecting something to jump out at him at any moment. He spotted Sebastian first, relief briefly washing over his features.

But then, his gaze shifted to you.

The moment his eyes locked onto your inked ones, his face paled. His jaw went slack as he took in the tattoos, the piercings, and finally, the slow flicker of your split tongue.

Sebastian noticed the man’s reaction and rolled his eyes, barely suppressing a smirk. “You need something?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at the customer who looked like he’d seen a ghost.

The man opened his mouth, but no words came out. Instead, his eyes widened even further, and without warning, he bolted toward the nearest vent in the wall.

“Hey, wait!” Sebastian called after him, but it was too late. The man had already pried open the vent cover and was scrambling inside like a terrified rat fleeing a sinking ship.

You watched, bemused, as the man’s legs disappeared into the vent, the cover clattering shut behind him. A few moments of silence passed before you turned back to Sebastian, an amused smirk playing on your lips.

“Well, that was rude,” you said, your tone dripping with sarcasm.

Sebastian finally let out the laugh he’d been holding back, shaking his head in disbelief. “Can’t say I blame him,” he chuckled, glancing at you with a twinkle of amusement in his eye. “You do have a habit of making strong first impressions.”

You shrugged, unbothered by the man’s reaction. “Guess he couldn’t handle a little personality,” you replied, your smirk widening.

Sebastian grinned back, clearly enjoying the moment. “His loss,” he said, returning to your trade with a newfound lightness. “Now, where were we?”

[kisses4lao]

Blooming into you, Ft; Arataki Itto

I actually struggled a lot with that header and title so pls don't mention if it's ugly </3

Also I'm sorry to everyone who followed me for mortal kombat I will not be writing for that anymore :( sadge

Synopsis; you're a street vendor in inazuma city, being the best florist around, Arataki "Numero Uno" Itto starts to take quite the liking to you

Cw/tw; afab reader, slow burn-ish, cursing(fuck is said like three times), vaginal fingering, PiV, PwP, praise, overstimulation, Itto is very big, breeding?, not proofread

Alright fellas I think that's it, enjoy or don't

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The bustling sounds of small children never failed to fill the inazuman air. As a street seller, you'd often find multiple children gathered in front of your small stand to see the infamous Arataki "Numero Uno" Itto lose in every game he's ever played. Watching a man with so much notoriety and fame lose a game to a 4th grader never failed to bring a smile to your face, which is the main reason you've never minded them blocking your shop.

Itto would often strike up small conversations with you, usually once the kids would be called back to their homes, he'd lean on your wooden cart and talk to you. About anything, really. He'd usually bring up the flowers you sold, how beautiful he thought the bouquets were. He'd constantly complement how nice the flowers looked, even asking you if you grew them yourself.

The first time you told him you did grow your flowers, he was astonished. It was late at night and you were packing up when he decided to swing by your little shop. "How's my favorite florist doing tonight?" He says with a grin covering he's face. Whenever he was around, you just couldn't help but smile at his antics. A small giggle escapes your breath as Itto continues, "hey, I've had a few questions about this whole flower thing. Do you grow your own flowers?"

You stare at him with a face that said everything. "Itto, of course I grow my own flowers, where else would I get them from?" His jaw dropped. Why this was such a big deal to him, you had no idea, but he was asking more questions than you could keep up with. "Could I come over and see your garden sometime?" He practically yells this, with the biggest smile on his face too.

You'd known him for quite a bit now, so would it really be a big deal if he knew where you lived? "Tell you what, the suns still out, so why don't you help me carry my stuff back home and I'll show you it." Itto nods eagerly at the idea, quickly picking up multiple heavy crates full of flowers and following close behind you.

As you walk down a small path, Itto brings up more questions about your garden. "Is it big enough to store all your flowers? If you need help, you can always call me down, y'know! I'll help expand it, free of charge!" He says with a smile so genuine you can't help but laugh.

"Thanks, Itto, but I'm doing just fine for now." You giggle out, looking at the road ahead of you. He smiles, nodding his head before replying, "alright. If you need anything, though, anything at all, just give me a holler, I'll be there." You hum happily in acknowledgement.

After a few minutes of silent walking, you arrive at your house. A small cottage surrounded by trees with flowers littering the perimeter. You place the crates you're carrying next to your front door, Itto following you and doing the same. "This.. is your house?" He asked, almost amazed at the small cottage you call a home.

"Yep, this is it. Just an old granny house, fit for one person.. maybe two." You say that last part under your breath, luckily for you, though, Itto wouldn't have heard it anyway. He was entirely too engrossed in the fact that you had a house in the middle of the woods, he thought it was the best thing ever.

"It looks amazing! I always dreamed of living in a house like this! You're so lucky, dude!" He says with a smile, patting your back rough enough to force you forward. You laugh at his gesture, adjusting your stance to be upright again.

You look over the horizon, seeing that the sun has almost set; you decide to make a small move on him. You thought that your crush on him was obvious, so what's the worst that could happen?

"Itto-" you stutter, now nervous. He turns his head, looking at you as he waits for you to continue. "Would.. you like to come inside? For a drink?" You ask, looking up at him.

He smiles, nodding his head as he held his hand out, asking for you to open the door. You walk a few steps ahead of him, placing your hand on the doorknob in front of you and gently twisting it. Once you hear a click, you push the door open, shifting slightly to turn the lights on before slowly stepping inside.

You take your shoes off at the door, slipping into more comfortable house shoes. Itto follows closely behind, staying right behind you as you lead him to the kitchen. He takes a seat at your table, resting his head on the palm of his hand while watching you move.

You pick up your tea kettle, placing it on the stove before striking a match, setting it aflame. You walk to your cabinets, opening them up to see your slightly disappointing selection of tea. "Itto.." you start, "matcha, or sencha?" You say, looking back at him.

He looks up for a moment, seemingly in thought over his limited options. After a few moments, he looks back down to you. "Matcha." He says in an almost amused tone. You nod, taking your small tin of pre ground matcha out of your cupboards and gently placing it on the counter.

You make your way to a separate cupboard, grabbing a bowl and two small cups. You go back to the space near the stove, grabbing your clean chasen from the counter as you begin to scoop the matcha. With your chasen, you slowly incorporate small amounts of water into your matcha, until the liquid becomes frothy.

Lifting the now screaming kettle off the stove, turning the knob at the bottom off to stop from releasing unnecessary gas. You pour more hot water into your bowl, mixing it in with the matcha before carefully dividing the liquid between two cups.

Taking both cups in hand, you make your way to the table Itto is sitting at. You gently place his cup of matcha in front of him, before putting your own cup down and taking a seat. Itto picks up his cup, swirling the liquid in circles before taking the cup with both hands, lifting it closer to his mouth.

His lips part, blowing on his drink to cook it down. He finally takes a sip, placing his cup on the table again as he swallows. "It's good," he says, his eyes shifting from his drink to you, "hot, but I guess I should've expected that." He laughs at the last part, looking at you as you giggle.

"It happens, just be a bit more careful next time." You say, taking a small sip of your own drink in the process. Itto continues to look at you, now with a smirk instead of a neutral gaze. "Next time, huh? Already want more of me?" He laughs teasingly.

"Next time, as in when you decide to take another sip." You say, shooting him down quickly; but light-heartedly. His eyes widen slightly as he looks away, now slightly embarrassed at his own words. "Oh, yeah, I guess that would make sense.." He says, his words being quiet enough that you could barely hear him say anything.

He hums in response afterwards, tapping his finger on your table as he thinks of what to say. Suddenly, his eyes widen again, this time in realization. "Hey, wasn't I supposed to see your garden tonight?" He asks, slightly confused.

You're taken back by this, completely forgetting that that's the whole reason why he's here. You look out the window, realizing it's pitch black outside. "Oh, yeah, I guess that is why we came here, huh.." you mumble to yourself, still loud enough for Itto to hear you.

You turn back to the table, leaving your head down in shame as you'd completely forgotten the whole purpose of him coming back with you. You mainly felt bad for getting his hopes up, opting to instead dilly dally while he just wanted to go outside.

"I- I'm sorry Itto, I had gotten so flustered at having company for once that I got sidetracked." You say, pouting. He looks at you, shifting his head to the side, trying to make eye contact with you.

"Y'know, it's nothing to get upset over, y/n. It's easy to lose track of time, it happens to all of us." He says in a slightly off putting manor. Why is he talking so professionally? Where's his silly? Where did his silly go????

Well, nows not the time to get confused over his shift in tone. Maybe Itto has a more sympathetic side that he's never let anyone else see, or maybe you're just telling yourself that so that you can feel special. Either way you appreciate it.

You nod, lifting your head back up before looking at Itto. The look on his face turns from a worried, empathetic one to a loving smile. "See? Not so big of a deal now, is it?" He laughs slightly.

"Y-yeah, I guess you're right.." you say. You look back at him, trying to get yourself composed once more so you can speak again. "I'm sorry we couldn't do it tonight, maybe tomorrow?" You say, slightly nervous to ask him out on practically another date.

He smiles, nodding his head in agreement. "I don't think I have anything out of the usual planned for tomorrow, so expect me to be hanging around your stand all day. Maybe I can show off my awesome TCG skills while I'm at it, too." He says, giving you his signature grin.

You chuckle, standing up as you slowly walk to your front door, Itto following behind you. You place your hand on the doorknob, opening it as Itto slowly walks out. Once he's off of your front porch he looks back at you, giving you another smile. "Goodnight, y/n." He says softly before walking back to the inazuma city.

You shut the door, pressing your forehead gently too the wood as you take in a deep breath. Only time will tell where your relationship is going, and unfortunately for you, that's out of your immediate control.

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The next day goes as it usually does. The only thing that you could think of that was different was that you were looking forward to your walk home that night. And when that time came, you tried your best to hide how excited you were.

As you begin to pack up all your flowers, you could spot Itto walking towards your stand. As he got closer, you realized that he was picking small bits of leaves and twigs from his hair. "Ugh, I am beat!" He says loudly, groaning as he speaks.

"Itto.. what happened to you?" You ask, concerned, but also highly amused.

"Im so glad you asked, y/n. So, today, I had this TCG tournament with a bunch of kids, and I finally WON!! So the kid I was fighting got mad that I took one of his cards, so while I was walking over here, him and his little punk friends all jumped me! They tackled me into the bushes and started whacking me with sticks! And I couldn't do anything cause they're just kids, so I just had to push all of them off me and make a run for it!"

You try to hold back your giggling as he continues to pick out all of the leaves and sticks from his hair. "Well, seems like you had quite the busy day, huh? Still think you could help me carry everything back home?"

He looks back at you, sighing as he smiles, "I suppose I could.. it'll cost you, though." Now you were intrigued, he couldn't just lead you on like that, that's highly frowned upon.

You look up at him, slightly confused before a grin crosses your face. "Oh? And what do you want as payment?" You ask, mischief lacing your voice.

"I don't know, I haven't thought of something yet. But! I'm sure I'll figure it out by the time we get back." He says, picking up a few of your more heavy boxes, now walking on the trail that leads to your house.

Oh.

You look at him with an almost disappointed look, but the smile on his face makes it hard for you to stay upset. You smile along with him as you both walk down the path to your house, talking about your day the entire time.

Once you get home, you place the crates in the same fashion they were the day prior. You go into your garden through the back gate, leaving it open for Itto to walk through. Once you're in, you slowly circle your garden, pointing to every flower and explaining everything there is to know about them.

Once you're done making your round through the garden, you invite him back inside. "Thanks again for helping me with those boxes, I wouldn't have known what to do if it wasn't for you being there." You giggle.

"Don't mention it, I try to do good when I can, and luckily for both of us, you just so happened to need help." He smiles. You just got into your house, the dim sunlight peaking through the window in your door illuminates your face so well, so well in a way that Itto feels different from when he got here.

"Y'know y/n, I've been thinking about it, and I think I'd like to take you out sometime." He says in a soft tone, almost out of character. You're slightly taken aback by his suggestion, but not in an unwelcoming way; at least, you didn't want it to seem like that.

"I'd love to go out with you, Itto, I'm just... Not sure if I'll ever have the time.." you say, looking away from him. It's true, though. With how much you had to be in inazuma city, you almost never had any time for yourself, let alone a boyfriend.

"We'll make time. If you're out vending, I'll be with you. If you're tending to your garden, I'll be with you. Isn't that what a relationship is about? Compromising?"

You look up, taking it into consideration. You always found Itto attractive, and he's giving you the chance to get closer to him, why wouldn't you take the opportunity. "Alright. We'll compromise then." You say with a smile.

Itto smiles aswell, but you can feel a sudden shift in the atmosphere. Still loving, but something about it feels.. off. Like, something you've never felt before. And Itto could feel it too, you could tell by his shift in demeanor.

The air around you started to get hot, you felt your clothes suddenly cling to your skin from sweat as Itto looked down at you, a smile no longer on his face, just a look of hunger, desire.

He looks you up and down, practically eye fucking you at this point. Where'd this sudden shift come from? Was it because you decided to make your relationship official, he thinks he needs to show you he's worthy of your affection.

"I think we should have our first official date next week, what do you think?" You ask, trying to lighten the mood a little.

Itto looks into your eyes before placing his gaze on your lips, watching as they quiver from anticipation. "Why wait?" He says calmly.

You gulp, feeling a rush of new emotions as Itto closes the distance between you both, interlocking your lips in a kiss. It was passionate, sweet, but most importantly, it showed his hunger for you. Your hands reach out to him, locking behind his head and pulling him in closer.

His arms grab at your waist, picking you up with ease and carrying you to your bedroom. Once there, he places you down gently on your bed, having to lean down to reach you as you both continue your make out session. Itto gently tugs at your clothes, signalling to take them off as he begins to undo his belt.

Once your clothes are off, his mouth begins to trail down, lips attaching themselves to your neck as he starts nibbling on your flesh. He can feel your breathing getting more heavy by the second, giggling at how your breath hitches when he grazed over your skin with his fangs.

Your arms lock themselves behind his neck, pulling him in closer as small whimpers that escaping your mouth. His hands begin to travel lower, softly squishing the skin of your hips before making their way between your thighs. One hand keeps your legs open, hooking his thumb around your panties to push them aside while the other gathers a small amount of slick already building at your entrance.

Itto let's out a groan at the smell emitting from you, only adding to his ever growing lust. He takes his mouth off your neck, raising his head to just below your ear before whispering, "just tell me if it hurts."

With that, his mouth returns to your neck as his free hand slowly inserts two finger inside you. You loudly yelp at the feeling, instinctively trying to close your legs, but ittos hand just keeps them open. "So tight, all for me? You shouldn't have," he chuckles in a teasing voice.

Tears well in your eyes as you can feel his fingers moving inside you, stretching you to your limit. You squirm in place while Itto tries his best to keep you still. "Itto.." you gasp out, back arching.

"Does it hurt too much? Do you want me to stop?" He asks sincerely, watching as your face contorts for any sign of discomfort. You shake your head no as your moans grow louder.

As Itto begins to slowly insert another finger, you can feel yourself come undone. You let out a loud moan as your juices flow onto his hand, soaking the sheets below him as well. He looks up at you and smiles. "Look at you, taking me so well. I knew you could do it."

He gives you a small breather, letting you compose yourself and breath normally before gently aligning his cock with your entrance. His free hand pushed your panties to the side(again, he just likes how the look on you :<) and rubs the tip against your hole, hissing and the contact. His eyes meet with yours, asking for permission.

You give him a small nod and he slowly inserts himself into you. You begin to cry again at the feeling, hurting so good that you don't even know what to think anymore. His cock is practically splitting in half, yet it's still so pleasurable.

Ittos hand roughly grip the sheets, tearing them in the process at how much he's trying to hold back. "I- fuck- y/n, I'm so sorry.." he says while continuing to mumble apologies under his breath. You look up, confused at what he was apologizing for.

Just then, Itto begins to ram his cock into you at an almost dangerous pace. He leans in closer to your body as he continues saying that he's sorry, while still abusing your cunt. Your hands take at his back, trying to grasp onto anything for stability as you can feel a familiar knot forming in your stomach again.

Your nails dig into his flesh so hard that blood starts to leak on your fingers. Your back arches as you can feel yourself lose control once again, cumming on him for a second time. He can tell by how exhausted you are that you came again, and he gives you a small kiss on the cheek.

"Taking me so well, fuck- I'm so sorry, I'll be a good boyfriend after this I promise-" he says grunting, gripping the sheets beneath you even harder. You only grow more sensitive by the minute, becoming even weaker in trying to ground yourself. Your arms fall to your side, too exhausted to keep them up.

Your eyes grow glossy and your cheeks stain, a view that Itto can come to appreciate. He can feel himself getting closer and closer, aiming his cock upwards as he rams into your g spot. Just as you were about to vum, AGAIN, Itto bursts inside you, letting out a long, loud whimper along with it.

As your cum mixes with his and slowly leaks out of you, Itto collapses on top of you, wrapping his arms around your waist and pushing himself in deeper. " 'm so sorry about that, I got too lost in the feeling. I've never been with a woman quite like you before, but god do I want to get used to it." You both giggle at his comment, catching your breath in the process.

As Itto starts wiping down your legs and running a bath for you both, you can't help but wonder if this is what the rest of your life is going to be like. And, if you were being truthful with yourself, you wouldn't want it any other way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: I genuinely had no idea how to end this, plus I haven't written in like 6 months so spare me please 🙏🙏🙏

[vidavalor]

*dings the bell* … I’m back.

My Ukrainian friend made potato salad! It has cucumbers, carrots, onion, & canned green peas in it, and it’s absolutely delicious!

Sooo… can I ask what moment/scene you found the most devastating so far? I guess The KissTM is the most popular but I wonder if you’ve spotted something even more heartbreaking?

Hi @procrastiel Much love to you and your Ukrainian friend & please thank her again for me for the recipe as we made it and it was delicious. 💕Hope she's doing well. The KissTM is pretty heartbreaking for sure but I had a couple of moments that I found at least equally as heartbreaking...

The blues below the cut. TW: Depression.

What really got me in S2, in terms of heartbreaking stuff, was the focus on the less "showier" kinds of depression in Aziraphale and Gabriel. I'm not dismissing the amazing Crowley story the show has been telling but it tends to be more overt. The story focusing on depression lingering beneath different types of exteriors-- those who project themselves as being upbeat and/or fine-- was really well-executed and it had moments as devastating to me as the kiss.

The "but that's for professional conjurers only" scene and, in particular, the choices made in Aziraphale's response to Crowley's "my Nefertiti-fooling fellow" response is probably my favorite bit of acting in the series entirely to date. Michael Sheen broke me into little pieces with the way he conveyed a lifetime of pain, depression, anxiety and sleepless nights in Aziraphale's eyes on the "professional conjurers" bit and the smile...

...I love how you literally watch the pain of it all melt off his face at Crowley gently reassuring him and the smile that starts and then becomes just a beam of love he can't keep off his face. It's gorgeous.

It's actually what makes The Final 15 hurt even more, really, I think-- because you know that this is what Aziraphale needed. It's the same core set of problems but he needed 1941!Crowley and he got AlphaCentuari!Crowley because of where they both were at in the moment. It just makes 2.06 even more brutal because it shows you how they do understand each other and how right they are for each other if they could just stop being idiots lol.

I also actually think this is one of the most intimate scenes in the show. It shows a lot of guts on Aziraphale's part to be honest about how he's feeling and that's courage that Aziraphale has in general but was lacking a bit in the present in S2. He lets Crowley in here-- which is the theme of all of it and what he's not doing in S2 very much, especially in 2.06-- and we get a scene where Aziraphale is vulnerable and hurting and trusts Crowley with it and Crowley is there to help him as much as Aziraphale helps Crowley. It's very sweet and romantic but in a heartbreaking way because of how it shows how much pain Aziraphale is carrying around with him all the time. The lovely bit, though, is how it also shows how Crowley knows and is trusted with it. That it all takes place in largely the same space as the mess in 2.06? Gah. Devastating...

The other storyline that broke me was Gabriel. I know not everyone has the empathy for him that I do and he can be a total jerk, no doubt, but I thought he was the best example of the show bringing in other perspectives on life in Heaven/Hell in S2. We had angles like Furfur and Muriel illustrating that life for those not on Earth is lonely, isolating and boring and that many are yearning to live a bit more. Crowley and Aziraphale have not had it easy by any means but we are given characters whose perspective is that they're jealous that Crowley and Aziraphale have at least been able to be on Earth and have one another this whole time, which is more than a lot of other angels and demons can say, and that's fair. Expanding upon the glimpses of Gabriel that we saw in S1 and showing that, really, he's more complicated than we might have expected, was something I both loved and was a bit broken by.

Essentially, S2 shows that Gabriel is actually arguably the worst off character of all of them-- Crowley and Aziraphale included. That he really had no one until Beez is shown on his face so well-- Jon Hamm and Shelley Conn selling Gabriel's depression and how healthy this relationship is in almost no time at all really shows how great they both are. Look at this poor bastard, though, really...

He has the worst job of all of them. The Metatron is really in charge of Heaven-- Gabriel's the pretty face, forced to keep everything going or be killed for disobeying. S2 emphasizes how much he and Beez did what they did at the end of S1 basically at gunpoint-- it was kill or be killed and neither of them have the power to overthrow anything on their own. They have enough power, in the future, to probably help sway some things. Gabriel's always had enough power to make differences where he could and he used it to try to protect people. He can be a judgy jerk but he also fundamentally cares about the people around him and he's been drilled for so long into believing that upholding Heaven is his only purpose and only reason for existence that he's even still mulling over the ghosts of those thoughts when he has his whole gravity crisis in S2, even when he can't remember his name.

This is the bit that got me actually teary, though:

Imagine being thousands of years old and no one's ever given you a present. You don't have a birthday. You don't celebrate holidays. No one's ever protected you or been on your side or even just listened. You don't have any friends because everyone is afraid of you and you have to put up those pretensions to stay alive. The people you spend your entire life with are out for blood-- they'd sooner see you stripped of your sense of self and tossed through the ranks or to Hell and take your seat. Your life is one, long, never-ending meeting with your abusive dad and charming personalities like Michael and Uriel and Sandalphon. For six. thousand. years. Gabriel had never eaten anything before S2. He's never slept. Imagine six thousand years of being the Senior VP of Climb Every Bullshit Mountain without ever having a lunch break or ever going home. It's kind of no wonder that Gabriel spent half of S2 taking a nap-- he's exhausted.

He's not from anywhere. He doesn't even have a desk. Is it any wonder that this poor bastard was already rebelling a bit in S1? That he didn't totally get Earth but he was sneaking down there to get tailored suits made just so he could have something that is his own and taking himself for jogs in the park so he could get away from everyone for awhile? He's vain, sure, yes, but really because his looks are all he has that actually belong to him. It's why Beez gives him a pass on the statue-- because they know that this poor guy doesn't have anybody but them. The humans immortalize him in marble like he's a God and everyone in Heaven and Hell is terrified of him-- and he's been terrified of trying to be real with others because who is he going to trust who won't stab him in the back?

All Gabriel has that is his own are his clothes and Heaven even takes that, too. Beez is the first person who has ever seen Gabriel as a person. Is it any wonder why Gabriel likes and goes to Aziraphale for help? He knows that Aziraphale is the only angel who is both kind and sorta sees him there sometimes. He's the only one who ever seems to consider that Gabriel might exist in there as more than just The Supreme Archangel.

Gabriel's memory loss is actually very much akin to the real world occurrence of retrograde amnesia, which can and does actually happen to people who have undergone traumatic events. (It doesn't happen all the time but it's also not as rare as you'd think it might be.) The mind shuts down in such a way as to intentionally forget everything related to the trauma in order to protect itself and that can sometimes result in a loss of identity. The forgetting, though, also frees Gabriel because when he can no longer recall the fascist system of Heaven that has been harming him for so long, the actual self that he's been repressing and hiding shows up.

I see a lot of people talk about Jim as if he's a separate entity from Gabriel and he's really not-- he's Gabriel without the self-protective airs that Gabriel puts on. Jim is really not much different from glasses-free Crowley-- they have the same approach to self-preservation. It turns out, when he's free from the toxic masculinity hellscape that is Heaven, Gabriel likes hot chocolate and tiny dinners and bookselling and is emotionally available and mindfully curious about everything. He's a lot of fun and he cares about his friends and is grateful to have them. He's still a snarky bitch sometimes but so is Crowley lol so... That Gabriel was so miserable before, though, I thought was really pretty heartbreaking.

Now that I've depressed you, we'll leave on the sweeter note of Gabriel torturing some humans to romance Beez...

[flowersandbigteeth]

Which monsters of yours would freely give their credit card to their darlings, no questions asked vs. the monsters that’d ask for a “favor” of some type in return?

And then which monsters would just say “no” to me, and leave me crying cause I wanted a new Sanrio plushie?

This is such a cute question, I love it! Answers below:

First, in the hypothetical situation where he appears magically in our world, Golmad is going to tell you "no" to Sanrio plushies. Not because he is worried about money, but because badass Orc Queens don't carry around adorable plushies, they carry weapons. He'd suggest a nice mace or a whip in the color pink. However, after he sees your pouty eyes, that plush is going to mysteriously appear in your bedroom with a mini axe strapped to its back.

After your "adjustment" period is over, Roth is issuing you your own card and sending you on elaborate shopping trips with the club girls. The caveat is you have to give him a personal fashion show when you get back to show off the clothes you bought.

Leander is pretty sure spending money is your primary job and has contacted the bank to let them know you are authorized to withdraw however much you like. Every shop owner in town adores when you come in because they know you are dropping serious cash.

Serge will demand favors in a big way. He'll make you call him pet names and give him smooches in return for whatever you like. He will also trade treats for self-care. Brushing your teeth or showering yourself will result in cash prizes! Money isn't an issue, but he's not giving you the credit card because it's so much more fun to extract concessions for his whims.

Idreod has no problem with issuing you your own card, but you're in charge of the budget anyway, so you already know the balances and whatnot. His only stipulation is that whatever you buy better be high end. His wife has to look a certain way so people know she's above them.

With Vylkas the situation is switched. It's you giving him your credit card. Of course, you have to give him a card with a limit because he has no common sense and will spend all his money on cigarettes and decorations for his murder pond.

Hugo will bicker with you about spending money on frivolous things, but always gives in eventually. He'll pout when you buy designer clothes or plushies, but quietly build you a new shelf to store them or expand your closet to fit the new clothes. He'll tell you it's so he can add photos of whatever he built to his portfolio to draw new customers and earn back all the money you're spending, but you notice he is very careful with your new stuff (picking up and arranging your plushies if you leave them out or hanging up your dresses if you toss them on the floor) and asks you to wear things he likes for him or asks if you want him to grab your plushie while you're watching movies.

Rafe is the worst. He's happy to buy you what you like, but he demands lots of naughty favors in return. Extortion is his favorite bedroom game.

Chase also likes to be in control of the money, but he's more playful when he shakes you down. He likes to come shopping with you so he can demand kisses for him to swipe his card. He likes showing off to people that you're his and especially likes to make the other shoppers jealous, spending lots of money on you. He's a bit of a terror in the store. If a shop worker appears to be flirting with you, he'll make their life extra hard, demanding they run around getting all sorts of things you have no intention of buying. He's also very picky about the things you buy. He wants you to look like a cute little housewife, so very few pants unless they are leggings that show off your figure. He's perfectly happy to buy you plushies or other cute stuff, but practical things are a no-no. Why do you need a drill? He will do all of that hard stuff so his pretty little wife doesn't break a nail.

Lethia loves shopping and terrorizing you with naughty games. She'll demand you try on all sorts of revealing lingerie and racy outfits just to watch you squirm and blush in them. She doesn't see any reason for you to have "normal" clothes, but other than that, she'll buy you whatever else you want for a kiss. Her little pet has to look fabulous at her side so she'll take you to get your nails done with the most elaborate sets, hair dyed in mermaid or candy colors, and whatever other pampering you didn't know you needed. If she finds out you like plushies, you'll be buried in them. She'll have alerts on her phone for the latest drops, so you get the newest ones.

Once Nasos gets used to you not being a sleeve, shopping with you is his second favorite activity to the naughty stuff. He'd be excited to take you to all sorts of alien markets, just to see your eyes light up with all of the products you never knew existed. He's always been a simple guy, so he doesn't need much for himself. For you though, he spares no expense. Since you two are often on long trips into deep space, he wants to make sure you are plenty occupied and not bored. You wouldn't get your own credit card, but all you have to do is look at something with your big sparkly eyes and he's ringing it up.

Kostas is far more practical than his cousin. You are allowed treats, but only for good behavior. He's carefully helping you learn how to control your temper with a reward sticker system. When you deal with an emotion appropriately, you get stickers that can be cashed out for a treat at the end of the week when the two of you go to town for supplies. He's very specific about the stickers he gets, too, so you enjoy collecting them because they are super cute, not just for the big prize.

<3 <3 <3

[magicwhiskers29]

“You don’t always have to be the Hero!”

“It doesn’t always need to be you!”

As I understand, this line has been thrown around a bit because, well, it’s just a really good line, for any situation it can fit for. It’s impactful, the voice work on the original is really good, and it summarises a lot of LMK season 5’s core themes really well! Heck, it probably summarises a lot of themes really well, but I think there’s something interesting to be found in the fact that it’s Macaque saying it, originally.

Let’s roll back a second to Shadow Play, s2e7, because I think that can really recontextualise it.

“The Hero and the Warrior were like the sun and moon, their light a protective glow, shining upon the world.”

“Together, there was nothing that could stop the two of them, in either the Celestial Realms, or on Earth.”

“As time went on, the Hero gained power beyond comprehension.”

“As his light grew, so too did his shadow, and soon, the Warrior was cast in that shadow.”

“In the darkness, the Warrior was forgotten by the Hero.”

…okay, so I’m pretty sure a good half of the fanbase already has this monologue memorised, but I digress. Because the loaded meaning behind the words “Hero” and “Warrior” are never forgotten by the show. If we cut ahead to Embrace Your Destiny, the s3 special, we get a direct reference to these titles in a practical setting.

“I’m not a Hero, bud.”

“Then be a Warrior!”

This is the moment which really kickstarts Macaque’s turn to start working with the Monkie Kids. He doesn’t work against them again, after this point! (As of season 5) MK tells him that to do good things, and save the world, he doesn’t have to be the Hero in limelight – he can be the Warrior, doing good from the shadows. And for as much as Macaque does take quite a prominent role in the fight after this, literally taking on Wukong 1v1, it’s still MK who ends up with the glory, in the end.

Macaque needed to hear this because he does these antagonistic things out of self-preservation, yes, but also out of a spite which he knows isn’t especially heroic. And because he doesn’t want to be the guy who leaves stuff behind. But after this, he doesn’t act as an antagonist again, and he does stuff which he really doesn’t want to do, like confronting his past with Wukong in the scroll, in the season 4 special! What MK says sticks with him.

And to get it out of the way, not every time the word “Hero” is used in the show is necessarily a reference to the Hero and Warrior. For instance, when Mei yells at a possessed Wukong and LBD in the season 3 special, she says “Because that’s the hard part of being a hero!”, but I don’t think she’s talking about the implications of limelight, or Wukong and Macaque’s story. I mean, she never even saw the play in Shadow Play, so she likely doesn’t even know the deeper meaning behind that word...

A lot of these other moments can carry interesting implications when examined through that lens (E.G. how Mei fits into the Hero-Warrior dynamic, or the nature of LBD’s “Save your hero speech, child” from the end of season 3) but I think those would better be left for a different analysis.

These two lines from season 5, at the beginning of this post, have a direct connection to the Hero-Warrior stuff though, because they're from the character who invented that metaphor, to the only other character who understands it. It’s like a coded message, I suppose.

Throughout a lot of Macaque’s screen time, especially in the earlier seasons, he preaches about self-preservation, specifically under the advice of “look out for number one”. He believes that people like him, and later MK, need to be the ones to look out for themselves, because otherwise, no one will. This is expanded upon to seem a little more heroic and noble in later seasons, to be similar to a sentiment that Wukong expresses about choosing your own destiny, and forging your own path. The core of the advice is still centred on trusting yourself, and prioritising your own beliefs, but it’s no longer about something that could be perceived as selfish, and more a tool to use for good.

Macaque is shown to want MK to look out for himself less selflessly. His advice in season 4 is this choosing your own destiny stuff, but it also mirrors the end of season 5 really well. He tells MK that the two choices of fighting Azure, or not fighting Azure don’t have to be the only choices. If MK goes to fight Azure as is, he will lose, and there is a good chance that he will die. Like, obviously Macaque doesn’t want the whole universe that he lives in to be destroyed, but he’s also not yet fighting for it, at this point. He does want MK to do what is most likely to save everyone, but the reason he pulled MK aside was to appeal to him to take care of himself.

Season 5 already mirrors and is a true continuation of season 4 in a lot of ways, with the main threat once again being the sky cracks that symbolise the end of the world due to the death of the Jade Emperor, but it’s thematically that we can really see that. Macaque even literally brings up that MK is misconstruing his advice from the previous season in the line right before the ones I’m supposed (haha, we're getting there) to be analysing.

Once again, MK has two choices, functionally: save the world at the cost of himself, or do nothing. Once again, Macaque is advocating for MK to make a third choice, one where the world can be saved without MK likely dying in the process, but MK had taken the whole “choose your own destiny thing” to be choosing the choice that only he can. Macaque’s biggest argument to this are these two lines. That MK doesn’t need to be the Hero, this time, or any time.

The Hero exists a public figure that people can rely on. He represents absolute power, as well as recklessness. In Macaque’s story, the Hero gains power, and then leaves his friend behind, so he’s strong, but doesn’t stop to think about consequences. Now, obviously Macaque is very biased in his story, because we know Wukong very clearly does still care about Macaque, but to what the story represents between MK and Macaque, that’s not necessarily important.

Macaque is just telling MK that he doesn’t need to be someone who’s the public picture of heroism. He has all of this power, but it’s his choice how to use it. Sometimes, it’s okay to take a backseat and be a Warrior, someone who can look out for themself, and who doesn’t always have to do everything themself. Once, the Hero and the Warrior were ultimate power together. The fact that the Hero became that by himself suggests that he still does the job he once did – he just doesn’t need to have anyone help him with it.

The Hero is supposed to be presented as a selfish figure, but that can also flip around to be someone who’s selfless, so selfless that they try to carry the weight of a good mission on their shoulders alone. The Hero’s sin was abandoning the Warrior, not unspeakable evil or something. And… Isn’t that sort of what MK is doing here? He’s trying to an act so selfless that it really could only be called heroic, but to the friends he’s leaving behind to make a sacrifice that’s really a not-so-subtly-disguised suicide allegory, it’s selfish. He abandons them all to fulfil his supposed destiny, but they don’t need him to sacrifice himself – they want to find another way with him.

If you want to look at it that way, MK is playing out the story again. Seems fitting, when later in the same episode, Wukong, the original Hero, tries to take his place and make the same sacrifice.

Macaque’s statement to MK is so loaded because of his history as the original Warrior, and what being a hero really means to him, and across the show with MK’s actions as a whole. He doesn’t need to always be the Hero – sometimes it’s okay to just be a Warrior. And it doesn’t always need to be him – just like the original Hero, there are people who would want to help him, if he just doesn’t leave them behind.

[dukeofdelirium]

Would you be able to expand on what you mean when you say El’s character isn’t strong enough to hold the show together? I think she’s a good character on paper and has good arcs in the first two seasons of the show, but the writers have tried to draw it out (especially her Papa and lab arc) for wayyyyy too long, so we’re just repeating the same beats over and over. I think the lab stuff is also too separate from the rest of the characters for her to be an effective centre of the show, whereas Will for example has the link with the regular normie cast and the supernatural stuff. The show also tries to critique the fact that the characters treat her like a superhero, but then they turn around and rely on Deux ex El every season. It’s getting a bit tiring and happens at the expense of the rest of the ensemble.

I didn’t say strong, I said she doesn’t have enough depth as a character to carry the show. Which is true, she doesn’t.

We know basically nothing about El beyond her superpowers and time at the lab (and even that we don’t know much on), because El doesn’t even know herself. What are her interests? What are her passions? What does she love and dislike? We don’t know anything about her.

I agree that they have tried to keep up this lab shit for way too long. They really shoehorned in the Vecna backstory to try and connect her time in the lab to the overall plot which I think is pretty dumb and boring as hell. Maybe I’d give a fuck if I cared about El as a character, but I don’t. I have practically no attachment to her because the show hasn’t even allowed us to view her as a character with depth, but rather as a character that is our superhero and weapon to save the day. Literally all she does every season is raise her hand and scream. Im serious that if I have to keep seeing this bullshit in s5 I might actually bash my head into a wall.

El has repeated the exact same arc since the beginning of the show. Run from trauma and into the real world. Find friends to connect with. Run away from friends to develop alone. Reunite with friends and save the day in a dramatic moment where she almost dies. Everything she does is not enough to actually stop anything so cycle repeats.

I’m sorry, it’s getting old. It was old by s2 but I let it slide bc s2 is the best season of the show. By s3, it’s really time to put it to bed. By s4, I was sitting there throwing my hands up in the air because I was so fed up with the same damn thing over and over again. And it wasn’t just me. I know tons of ppl feel the same. There is genuinely so much screen time wasted on El especially in s4. There are other characters who desperately need development, like Lucas and Erica, especially given the focus on them in this very season. Why are we spending so much screen time on El when she has nothing to show for it? At the end of the day, we still don’t know shit 🤣

There was an obvious decline in quality for the show after season 2. The second the show stopped focusing on Will and tried to make El the focus instead, it went downhill. S3 was genuinely bad. Like it actually sucked lmfao. S4 was ok.. but that’s all it was. The best part of it was the Hawkins plot with Max and everyone because that felt like the first 2 seasons. They’re trying to make this show a big Hollywood blockbuster and that isn’t what makes ppl love it… bring back the Smalltown horror, the Stephen King vibes, match the damn energy from that INCREDIBLE opening scene with Will Byers running home. Bring that energy BACK, this show is in desperate need of it. Like can I tell you how much I miss that vibe? That excellently written horror? That genuine mystery and intrigue on the shoulders of a character you feel a real attachment to in a matter of minutes in part because of the actor but also in part because you already saw aspects of his character? And the aspects of character we saw weren’t forced down our throats and weren’t told to us like we were children, either. They were shown.

Bring back s1 and s2 vibes PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND ALL THAT IS HOLY!!!

[syn4k]

hi

i have some ideas about halos.

so heres the idea: someone with a strong connection to their god (or demon or whatever it is that theyre worshiping) gets a halo from their affinity with said god. these are granted specifically by the god themself so not everyone has them. depending on their specific relationship with their god, the halo will appear in different places!

here's my expanded ideas for a few, as introduced in the drawing above:

classic halo

its your standard everyday floating above the head halo, nothing special about it

normally granted to priests

collar halo

hovers around neck

for followers who are Really, Really dedicated to their god. i mean really dedicated. "i will do anything even if i don't know what 'anything' actually is" level dedicated. you know how dogs are, right?

some wear it casually, some wear it like a noose, some wear it like a necklace.

basically works like a normal collar but can only be manipulated at the god in question's behest

armband halo

hovers around bicep, which arm it is depends on the follower's dominant (or preferred if they're ambidextrous) hand.

amputee followers are rare but in the case that someone doesn't have an arm the halo hovers at an angle above their shoulder instead

generally reserved for generals and other military leaders within the god's army if they have one

the hand

appears around the follower's dominant wrist

only seen on those who carry out the plans and will of their god down on earth. gods tend to not get involved in messy stuff so they find someone to do the dirty work for them down on the mortal plane. is also a play on the phrase "right hand man"

voice

appears around tongue

i feel like this one speaks for itself, really (HA).

not for proselytizers- only for those who speak directly for their god

the follower in question may be selectively or forcibly mute the rest of the time. it varies depending on the person and the god.

eyes

also quite self-evident. appears as a glowing band around the followers' irises (or iris). if they don't have eyes then the halo settles around the level of their eye sockets instead.

whatever they see, their god can also. this isn't a 24/7 thing unless said god chooses it to be. still, they tend to not get a lot of privacy

there have been a couple of blind followers designated their god's Eyes on Earth, which is pretty damn cool if you ask me (and also more than a little bit fucked up)

ears

halo manifests vertically around an ear

works the same way as the eye halo does but for hearing instead

the exalt

rarest

only seen with gods and possessed followers

appears as a filled-in circle of light behind the god or follower's head- if you're familiar with catholic iconography you'll understand what i mean. if not, just look up the wikipedia page for halos (religious iconography) and scroll the examples of christian art including halos

followers are rarely possessed by their gods because commonly gods have enough power to manifest a form on their own and need no vessel. a god in physical form may hide or obscure their halo at will. however, in the case that the god is too weak to assume a form of their own, they will sometimes take over a follower's body to intervene directly in a situation. the follower's body will assume the halo in this case and it cannot be hidden

shoutout to christianity for giving me the idea for this one. i got my problems with the jesus fandom but their character designs fuckin slap

some notes:

followers of one god can only have one halo at a time. polytheists can have several at once, one for each god, although this is extremely rare

followers with halos can naturally see each other's halos. those without have to look harder and nonbelievers (of any god) often cannot see them at all

i didn't intend the collar halo idea to be interpreted as a sex thing but if you want to do that then you can ig. im not a cop

yes the halos are customized depending on the god! some of them put time and effort into it. most don't though

[kooahae]

After Last Night: The First Date

So...I got encouraged about starting the ALN drabble series since I kind of hinted at it, and received feedback to do so...you voted and the first date wins!

Summary: It’s official! Jungkook wants to have the perfect first date. 

Pairing: best friends to lovers, Jungkook X female reader 

Warnings: None really, maybe a few curse words, light choking during a kiss, This is really fluffy and cute. Jungkook is a simp and we love that for OC! Pet names, kissing, just super cute!

Word count:3K -got carried away bc I love them :)

Read part 1 here if you haven't already <3

Read the next drabble here

It’s been about two weeks since he asked if he could be your boyfriend. He has been busy with work and everything, but he’s still made time for you. He just knows you deserve more than cuddles and sex -not that he hates either of these by any means. Jungkook has been on his A-game the whole time. He's made sure to plan the most perfect date. You haven’t pressured him about one, but he still feels he should treat you like a princess.

He had Jimin call up Yoongi- who is really hard to get ahold of. Partially because he’s revealed he plans on expanding on the restaurant he owns with Jungkook’s older brother. Luckily today, Yoongi had a bit of free time. He even tried Taehyung, but he was busy helping Namjoon set up a new space. Namjoon left the company due to Seojun’s promotion. Hobi was out of town working on some fashion pieces for his upcoming collection. Your brother was way too obvious, and If he had tried his older brother Jin- you really would have known. So yup, that leaves Yoongi. 

Jungkook’s currently in the flower shop getting a custom bouquet of both of your birth flowers. He was still stuck on what color paper to get them wrapped in.  He swears he didn’t know it would be this difficult. He just wants you to be impressed, he wants you to feel like you made a good choice trusting him with your heart. So today has to be perfect!

“Hi, do you need help?” An elderly woman approaches him at the perfect time. Paying attention to her clothes, Jungkook can tell she works here. 

“Uhh…Yeah what color paper should someone get, does stuff like that matter?” He asks her as he looks at all the different ones in front of him 

Jungkook has bought flowers before, but he never went to an actual florist for them to make his own bouquet combo. He would just buy someone the ones in a grocery store most of the time. 

The older woman chuckles “You’re asking about paper? She must be special, I’d get a neutral-colored paper so it doesn’t take away from the flowers. Plus, you’re gonna put them in a vase. Don’t think too much.”

He nods. She’s right, this is her field of knowledge anyway. 

He’s still not satisfied though. 

“Mmm, can I double the amount of flowers? This doesn’t seem like enough.”  he rubs his palms against his jeans, his bottom lip poking out at the bouquet in front of him. He’s down bad, and there simply aren’t enough flowers to give someone as pretty as you. 

“A big bouquet? she’s definitely special! Sure thing. I’m gonna take a guess and say you’re the tiger lily in the situation?” She questions him gathering more flowers. 

He runs his hands through his hair and looks down at his shoes. Damn, he really is obvious. It’s not his fault, he just loves you that much. “How did you know?” He questions. 

“You have smitten lover boy written all over you. You’re worried about paper. I’ve never seen someone so stuck on that. Most men just let me wrap them in whatever, or choose black.” She continues. “Would you like to add a message?”

He nods and takes the pen and card from her. Writing a simple and sweet message. He pays, thanks her for the help, and makes his way

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His next stop is setting up the rooftop of your favorite childhood hideout.  He even asked Jimin and his mom for baby pictures of you both to put into a snow globe. He’s been coming here thirty minutes before work every day to make sure the floor was swept, the area was free of any trash or things that could make you fall. You guys haven’t been here in a while. 

He decides to check in with his older brother Jin, to see if he thinks what he’s planned is a good idea.

“Hello?”- thankfully he answered his call. 

“Hey hyung, are you busy? Do you have a moment?” Jungkook is desperate for a second opinion. 

“Sure. What’s up?”

“I’m really nervous. I know you’re probably tired of me calling you about my girlfriend, but can I tell you what I’ve planned? Can you tell me if I’m being a little paranoid about her not liking it ?” He says while glancing over his work, phone pressed to his ear, scuffing his feet as he walks to have a seat. 

“Sure Kook, go ahead. I’m listening. Also not tired of hearing about your girlfriend, yet. At least this is one I actually love, and approve of.” Jin really does love you, you’re like his little sister in a sense. Always at the house to spend time with his baby brother as a kid. He’s fond of you for sure. 

“A rooftop dinner, at our childhood hideout”

There’s nothing but silence. 

“Uhh…Hyung…why haven’t you said anything? Is It childish?” Jungkook is really nervous. What is taking Jin so long to answer?

“I’m here. You had more than one so I had to think. The one on the roof? That’s cute man! “ Jin’s impressed. That’s a good sign. 

“Yes, that one! I made a bunch of her favorite foods, set up a projector for movie night, and got a flower bouquet It’s a mix of our birth flowers, and bean bags for the movie, I also got her a gift but like is that too much?” He’s really questioning it all. Normally Jungkook wouldn’t be so unsure. You’re just his everything. You fill him with a great sense of joy. Getting this right is crucial. 

“She’s going to love it.” His brother states on the other end of the phone calming your boyfriend down. 

“You’ve known her your whole life, don’t be so scared Kook. You know her better than anyone else and luckily she feels the same way. Be yourself, that’s who she fell for.” Jin tells him. 

“You’re right hyung! Thank you for always listening to me. I know I’m a lot.” Jungkook makes sure he expresses his gratitude. He’s thankful for Jin. Truly means it. 

“Yes, you are a lot. Now make her the happiest girl on earth.”

“Will do!” Jungkook states before hanging up. He takes one last look around. Everything is finally in place. So he gets up and then heads home to change.  

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Once he gets home he takes his phone out to text you. He forgot to check in with you while he was on the rooftop. 

-Hey baby, how’s your day going? 

Naekkeo🤍🪽: I miss you and I’m hungry!

Yoongi won’t feed me! He’s being weird, can we order dinner?

Jungkook smiles as he reads your message. Yoongi must be getting asked a million questions about food right now. He can already see your frown forming about the lack of nutrients in your body. In your defense, Yoongi does own a restaurant with Jungkook’s older brother Jin. Being food-deprived by him is weird. He decides to play it cool when he responds, but he’s also honest. 

- I can’t wait to hear about your day in person. As far as dinner, of course. See you when you get here!

Jungkook hurries and changes into something comfortable. He knows sweatpants and a hoodie seem crazy for a rooftop dinner and movie. It’s one of his more expensive ones though and he also knows you’re gonna want to cuddle while watching a movie, and that rooftops get a little chilly. He should be himself like Jin said. 

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

 He finally hears the door open and smiles at the sound of you walking in. He knows you’re doing your usual entrance routine with Bam. Teaching Bam to give you high fives was the coolest thing when he was a puppy. It’s cute that you still make sure he’s included when you walk in. It’s really nice to have you back home too.  

You finally walk into the room and see your boyfriend smiling at you as he sits on the bed, you climb onto his lap and kiss him. 

“Missed you so so much!” you’ve been waiting all day to see him. The excitement in your voice is evident. 

“I missed you too baby.” He says and then he watches you sit your head back up, noticing your brows are now furrowed in. 

“Wait, why are you dressed and not in home clothing? What’s the reason for this shirt blocking my view?” You ask him, tilting your head. You try and lift his shirt but he swats your hand away, cracking up in the process. 

“You can see me shirtless later! You’re about to change into something too. My hoodie is over there. You can keep your jeans on, but I recommend wearing sneakers.”

You tilt your head some more and Jungkook kisses the middle of your forehead.

“Always worrying. I’m taking you to dinner. Go change.” He pats you lightly on the butt.

You smile and get up. Dinner out of the house sounds like fun. You wouldn’t care if it was fast food. You genuinely love spending time with him. Always have. 

You throw on his hoodie and your sneakers since he recommended it. He holds his hand out for you to take, and you both head to his car. Once you’re both inside Jungkook starts searching for something. 

“Ah almost forgot. Blindfold time.” He says flashing a smile, his nose scrunching a little. 

“If you’re trying to kill me for taking so long to be your girlfriend, Jimin will find you.” You joke and he laughs. 

“No one is dying here. If you’re gone, then I can’t be your boyfriend. That would suck.”  He assures you but then continues. “What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t take you on a proper date, hmm?” 

That makes you smile, per usual. You really weren’t expecting a date today. You would have prepared more, but you trust him. He would tell you if you looked crazy leaving the house for sure. Plus, you’re kind of already done up from hanging out with Yoongi.

“Anything you do is great. You would be a mediocre boyfriend though.” You say while pointing at him agreeing. You’re so cute. 

“And I don’t want that. I want to be the world’s best boyfriend. Come here.” He responds

You let him slide the blindfold over you, stealing a kiss before he can adjust the tightness to make sure you can’t peak. 

“You barely hesitated to let me put that on you. You probably like that, don’t you?”He’s laughing. Something you’ll never get tired of hearing. You pick up on his little comment though. 

You reach to feel for his arm since you can’t see, and once you do find it, you slap him playfully. 

“You’re always being kinky!” You say and he laughs some more. 

“You literally tried to strip me of my clothes a few minutes ago on the bed.” Fair point.

“I just wanted a peak!” You can’t even see him but it’s making your heart flutter. Putting one hand on your thigh as he puts the car in gear.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

“Okay, I’m gonna open your door, and crouch down to get on my back, okay baby?”

“You keep calling me baby, only future husbands can do that .” You say as you follow his instructions crouching down. 

“That’s not a problem for me at all. Been waiting my whole life for a chance. We can get married.” He is serious, whether you believe him or not. He doesn’t mean now of course but eventually, he’d love it. 

If Jungkook knows how to do anything- he knows how to make your cheeks red and have you smile like an idiot. You wish you could see his face right now. He probably has a smile as big as yours on his own. 

Once you’re on his back he starts walking and you recognize the movement of him going up some steps. You smile to yourself. He really could have told you to walk but he’s carrying you up flights of stairs, on his back. How can he be so manly but so cute all the time?

“Okay, we are here. I’m gonna sit you down now.” He crouches down and lets you off. You’re safely in the middle. 

“I wanna see!” You say. The amount of enthusiasm you have makes Jungkook’s heart skip. Seriously, Why are you so cute? He’ll have to remember to thank your mom another time for making you. 

He hurries and walks to the table he set up to get the flower bouquet and then he walks to you. Undoing your blindfold and smiling. 

“It’s officially our first date, I wanted to surprise you.” He sing-songs looking at you with the biggest smile on his face. Stretching his arms out to hand you a bouquet. It’s beautiful, just like him. The message with them makes you feel warm inside. 

’Thank you for choosing me, 

I am so happy that it’s finally us!  

HAPPY FIRST DATE TO  MY GIRLFRIEND  (never gonna get tired of calling you that)

- Koo &lt;3 ’ 

As you look around, you feel your eyes get teary and then you smile and look at him. 

“Jungkook! This is so nice!!” You say and reach for his face, kissing him softly on the lips. 

“ I just want you to know I feel really lucky to be your boyfriend.” He holds you close to his chest

“Kook, you really did all this for me?” You say peeking up at him. Jungkook looks down at you. Your pretty eyes glancing back at his. You’re always going to be his type. 

He smiles and nods his head proudly. “Well yeah… because I love you.” He says matter of factly. 

You return his smile. “I love you. I feel really lucky to be your girlfriend.”

“It’s me who should be thanking you for always sticking by my side. You have no idea how horrible things feel when you aren’t there with me. You deserve all of this and more.” He says kissing your forehead. 

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

You’re now situated on the bean bags while the projector plays movies. Sitting in his lap-Just like he knew you would be.

“Do you remember when we found this place? ” He asks you as he holds you, bringing your hand to his lips to kiss it. 

“Yeah, I remember someone dragging me up a weird staircase at ten years old..” You giggle and poke his chest while looking up at him. 

“In my defense, we used to love a good adventure. It wasn’t anything too dangerous. We always stood in the middle. We always take the staircase that leads up here and not the ladder, it’s been a foolproof plan for a while.” He points out and brushes your hair out of your face. You guys have been reminiscing all night. The food was excellent, so now you’re paying minimal attention to the movie. He kisses your cheek and then he just stops. He’s staring at you…

“What?” 

“You’re just really fucking cute.” He says as he leans to kiss you passionately. Jungkook continues “And I’m glad you liked my idea, I spent all day trying to impress you. This just worked out way better than I expected.” He holds you tightly and then remembers something…

He didn’t even show you the snow globe he got to commemorate the occasion. He was too busy making sure you were eating.  He will never forget your face when he got you the first one, he also broke that one but…it was an accident.  He swears! He just finds it cute how happy you get every time he gives you one.

You part your mouth interrupting his thoughts. “I’ve been impressed by you my whole life, you have officially ruined me for any other guy. I was impressed back then, I’m impressed now.” You make sure he understands, as your fingers play with the zipper on his jacket. 

“Thank you, I’m glad that you love me just as much as I love you.” He says again smiling. He’s been doing that a lot lately. So have you. You’re with the right person and it couldn’t feel any better. 

 “You have a present on the table and I forgot to give it to you.” He’s looking at you. Dimples on display, eyebrows raised and another cute little grin is plastered across his face. 

Your head shoots up, so he stands up leading you to the table. Then hands you the box to unwrap the snow globe. A childhood picture of you and a young Jungkook in matching panda onesies from his 4th birthday. You’ve been asking for this photo for years and he always told you no because it was his favorite. 

“Koo! Oh my god! You really are gonna let me have this?”

He nods yeah one more time. He watches you shake the snow globe and skip around out of happiness. He’s happy just watching you enjoy it. Your joy shines through in this moment. He loves it. He loves you.

“If four-year-old me knew the girl who spilled banana milk on my panda pajamas would be the love of my life. He might’ve smiled more in this picture, instead of sticking his tongue out at you.” He says wrapping his arms around you from behind. 

“Interesting, you put your tongue into my mouth nowadays.” You’re so unserious, What is he gonna do with you?

“Now who’s the kinky one? Come here.” He says as he wraps his hand around your neck tilting your head upward lightly choking you as he swallows your moans into the kiss pushing his tongue into your mouth. 

“Proving me right?” You say raising one eyebrow and he nods his head yeah while grinning. Then pecks you one more time on your lips and kisses the tip of your nose. 

“One more gift.” He says. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a Jewelry box for tonight’s final touch - a necklace with his initials on it. He carefully places it around your neck. 

“There.” He says kissing the crook of your neck. 

You reach and touch the JK that now sits perfectly on your chest. Jungkook Is the man of your dreams. No question about it. 

“I love this! I’m never taking it off!” You say spinning in his arms to face him and shower him in kisses

“I got a necklace!” You start kissing his right cheek

“And it’s got my favorite person on it!” Now you’re kissing his other cheek. 

“I’m never gonna..” You say kissing him with all your being.

“Take it off.” He says finishing the phrase for you and smiling at you. You’re both giggling and just smiling at each other as he sways you back and forth in his arms. The fondness between the both of you is obvious. 

You both just stare into each other’s eyes for a while until you break the silence. 

“Wanna go home?” You ask him.  

He pecks your lips one more time spinning you in his arms. Your back is now to his chest. So, he slides his hand over your heart, sits his chin on your shoulder, and whispers into your ear.

“I’m already there.” 

Best. First. Date. Ever. 

Taglist: @diorh0seokie @taesungx @kimber-kook @jennafromhome @joyfulwobblerhoagieegg

[cosymelody]

Honestly, I've also read a lot about how humans are like space orcs, now I have weird ideas that in the Linked universed x Reader harem, it's Reader who has the pants on (I strangely have the feeling that the Chain would be thigh men and are a bunch of absolute simps who would die to carry Reader on their shoulders just to feel her/his thighs-)

Y e s

T h i s

I live for this stuff ʕ ㅇ ᴥ ㅇʔ

No but fr, the Chain (plus Calamity, Sage, Courage, Koridai, etc.) would absolutely FAINT if they so much as had the honor to have your gorgeous thighs wrapped around them in any way, ESPECIALLY THEIR HEAD DEAR LORD THEY COULD DIE HAPPILY THEN AND THERE IF THAT HAPPENED

Doesn't matter if you got thick or thin thighs, they love them either way because it's part of you! They love every bit of you but your thighs are one of the things that have them weak, like melting into a puddle type stuff and it would be even worse if you wore tights/pants that fit around you tightly

If we're going by the 'Humans are Hylian space orcs' deal, it would be a bit of a struggle for most of the Links to carry you (except for Time, Twilight, First, and Fierce or maybe a few more) but imagine Human!Reader who is stronger and faster than the Chain by a lot since Humans had to endure harsher climates and situations in their world

OH OH imagine if Human!Reader was taught to fight or at least have some self defense by friends or family in their world, so when they see Warriors and Twilight sparring, they have the urge to test themselves to see if what they learned could actually be useful

Of course most of the Chain is skeptical and resistant to this idea (most likely around the time they first meet Reader so they don't know their true potential) but after a lot of convincing and Reader giving them that Puppy eyes look that they absolutely can't say no to, they fold like a sheet of paper but some of them silently agree to go easy on them so they don't get hurt while others want to test them and prove that Reader needs them so they'll be safe

You go up against one of the boys (choose which ever Link you like) as practice just to see what you can do, but you easily have them pinned down once you have your legs tight around their neck in a head lock, almost choking them but not hard enough to do so or crush their skull

Said Link freezes up and let me tell you they are on the verge of passing out from the amount of blood rushing to their face as well as other places ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) and they just lay there, trapped by your thighs as they pray to the goddesses to never be let go or to have Reader squeeze just a little tighter just please a bit tighter-

And the other Links are SOOO JEALOUS because THEY should be the ones in that position, THEY should get to feel your sweet thighs choking them, THEY should get to feel that euphoria that the one you have trapped is feeling oh and the other Links woul be begging you to spar with them from then on out just to have a little hope that you would crush them with your legs

Honestly, this is one of my favorite things and I might just expand on this idea more if anyone wants to add on to it (◍•ᴗ•◍)

[darkonekrisrewrite]

This can't be the final "End", for both the heroes and the villains

(Spoiler warning, long post)

Deku and Ochako's stories didn't end well, and not just for the shipping or not keeping One For All.

The narrative endings they got, either don't make sense or flat out don't work at all.

The end of Ochako's arc doesn't work because it conflicts with what we've been shown to be true.

She does try to help others after hearing PARTS of Toga's backstory, a natural progression of her character.

But the problem is that it leads to this:

"Uravity to expand access to Quirk Counseling"

EXPANDING Quirk Counseling...

Not REFORMING and then expanding Quirk Counseling.

Remember that this is Quirk Counseling:

"Where they attempt to hammer out any bumps in your understanding of the world and program you to fit neatly into society's little boxes.

It's a far from perfect process, the counseling ends up emphasizing the inherent differences among us all, and that's one bug they've yet to work out of the programming."

Stated by Curious during the MVA Arc, then confirmed later in a flashback featuring a counselor talking to Toga and her parents:

"Let's straighten you out so you can be "Normal".

Deviance is common in children with strong Quirks.

We'll fix it. It'll be like it never existed."

Focusing only on repression and the appearance of being normal, not actually helping the child at all.

So yeah, knowing that this is how Quirk Counseling really is, how exactly does expanding this help??

THIS WAS WHY TOGA STAYING CLOSE TO OCHAKO WAS SO IMPORTANT

(Not being with her in the shipping sense but working, talking with her and just being together.)

Anything good about this project that Ochako is creating is only implied not shown, and it doesn't mesh well at all with what we already know.

And even if Ochako did do things right, it still wouldn't be a satisfying payoff.

Ochako wasn't fighting so hard and struggling so much to help random, unnamed, unseen people from the villain life.

She was fighting to help Toga Himiko.

Her failing to save Toga and only (implying) saving others we don't even know, will never carry the same weight.

It won't feel right in a story that's supposed to be "Hopeful", because there's no solid connection left for that sentiment to be attached.

And there was no saving going on between Deku/shigaraki and Ochako/Toga after their battles were over.

This is the sentiment put forth by Nana Shimura (and at the time agreed upon by All-might and Deku), on what a true hero saving someone means:

"When you have to save someone, they're usually in a scary situation. A true hero saves not only their lives, but also their hearts... That's what I believe."

"Saving" is supposed to be both the life and the heart.

Not just one or the other.

And even if Gran Torino was supposed to be the one in the right -

(The narrative sure as hell made it look like he was supposed to be in the wrong and Deku was going to be the one to prove that.)

- in that killing can be a form of saving.

Deku and Ochako didn't even save the villain's hearts.

Not fully.

Shigaraki tells Deku that he still needs to be a hero to the villains and that he fought to destroy until the very end.

Only giving a snide encouragement to Deku at the end of the fight because he's literally crumbling into dust and got his world view rocked by the "It was AFO all along~" reveal.

Toga tells ochako that she didn't make "the bad stuff", the pain in her heart go away.

Only telling ochako that her efforts and words made Toga feel happy, but that's it.

They couldn't save their lives, only partially saved their hearts, leading to the results:

100% - 50% - 25% = 25 % (final grade)

FAIL

The rest of Deku's conclusion doesn't fair any better.

Deku's heroic finale ends the exact same way it ended in every filler bnha movie, only with even less payoff.

He didn't succeed in his goal, with who he wanted to save and he just goes back to doing what he always did at the start, being a hero.

He doesn't develop in any noticable way until the OFA embers run out off screen.

Even the symbolic saving of the scissors boy, Deku doesn't get.

It would have been a world of difference if deku had seen tenko's full backstory, then told it to the world.

Telling the civilians that they needed to do their part to help those in trouble.

(Knowing that there's no AFO left to potentially get in the way.)

Resulting in many civilians coming together to help the scissor boy.

That would have delivered on everyone's narrative payoff.

But instead the theme doesn't work here because the single old lady who does step up to help, does so out of guilt (Not helping tenko) rather than because it is the right thing to do.

Nobody among the civilians besides the old lady stepped up to help on top of that.

So it looks less like a societal shift and more like the redemption of one single person.

The narrative makes a half-hearted attempt to tie this back to Deku but it doesn't work there either.

Because how exactly does Deku punching shigaraki into powder inspire the old lady to extend a helping hand to someone who represents that same villain??

It doesn't.

Even if the sentiment is: that everyone must do their part to help, there is a giant disconnect between:

Everyone seeing the heroes helping each other, fighting and succeeding in destroying the scary villain.

and

Realizing that someone has to help the person who looks like a scary villain.

It doesn't add up together.

Doesn't flow narratively at all.

The 8 year time skip makes more problems with Deku.

The line of: "You too can become a Hero."

Is meant to be the payoff callback to All-might giving those same words to Deku in bnha's beginning, so now Deku says the same thing to another kid that has doubts about his ability to become a hero.

It is kind of sweet but thinking about it for more than 5 seconds should give pause because:

Deku was about to receive the most powerful quirk in the world from All-might.

And the kid Deku was giving those same inspirational words to could throw plates from his head.

It's not even confirmed whether or not the kid could control their size, telepathically manipulate them or something like that.

So if what that other loudmouth kid in the final chapter said is true, about how only the most capable can become heroes in the current time.

The entire conversation, just like many other things in this ending, reads like false hope from the heroes.

Not like Deku has to deal with any of that or the kid himself anymore because he gets a tech suit, allowing him to be a hero again.

We don't know if he keeps his teaching job or not, maybe he did, maybe he didn't.

But still, once again Deku avoids any difficult questions that the story puts in front of him.

And all of this doesn't even cover the other issues that the story brought up:

The popularity poll expanding instead of ending, as if that would prevent the Endeavor/Dabi situation from happening again.

Lack of social/government help for anyone who gets dealt more than a couple of bad hands in life, those caught up in hero/villain conflicts or other disasters (quirk based or not).

Remember how twice became a villain?

THE QUIRK SINGULARITY DOOMSDAY

Now that AFO, shigaraki and the doctor (all of his research and technology) are gone, what's going to happen when children start wiping out whole city blocks?

(The doctor may be alive and imprisoned but with AFO dead, the doctor likely won't help anymore because AFO was so important to him.)

With the power and complexity of the quirks inevitably increasing, think Eri unintentionally killing her dad X10.

Then the next round of kids, make it X50 then X100.

And finally, in the last chapter it's stated that there's a: "Decline in the villain emergence rate."

Why exactly that is isn't said, but it's implied that it's due to the efforts of Ochako and Shoji.

Let's put aside the suspension of disbelief and assume that it's true, that what they did worked in stopping villains from being made enough to have a real impact.

What happens to the people that are already villains??

The ones currently on the run or in jail.

If the hero kids made that big of a difference in the demographic of villains just by expanding counseling and nonviolent resolution, then that only reinforces the truth that the villains are easily preventable victims.

The implications of that aren't doing the heroes or hero society any favors.

We don't know what happens after because Rehabilitation was never offered to anyone who wasn't a small time criminal (Gentle Criminal) or a former assassin of the state (Lady Nagant).

Are the other villains still currently stuck in their circumstances just out of luck, help came too late for them too just like the Lov?

We don't know.

You can assume, imply and head-canon the solutions to all these issues, with what the hero kids might do, as much as you want to.

But if you have to do that with the big questions and plot points, then the story hasn't delivered on what it said it was going to.

Maybe horikoshi isn't that good of a writer but it's hard to believe that.

Horikoshi put so much into this series and all the characters in it, the central villains and the hero kids being the most important ones.

That he'd just fumble everything and pull a Falcon and the Winter Soldier: "You need to do better" and then they did'-Type ending.

This can't be it.

Maybe the "Ending" endpoint of this narrative but not the end of the overall story.

For the villains just as much as the heroes.

Toga dying to a blood transfusion, despite everything other characters survived (Gran Torino donut, edgeshot worm, Dabi charcoal skeleton) and things that she herself survived already.

Having curious bombs go off inside her body leading to internal damage and severe blood loss, yet she still survived until she received help and recovered just fine.

They got Dabi to medical and kept him alive.

Other villains like overhaul, muscular, compress and spinner survived.

It's not like she either had to die or go to jail, she could have just escaped.

Leading to her meeting up with Ochako again in secret or something, to finally fulfill both of their arcs and iron everything out for what would have happened in the future.

Then the Quirk Counseling ending could have worked.

Shigaraki dying after finding out his life was entirely manipulated by AFO.

Strung along like a puppet, mentally and physically manipulated to believe he is a force of destruction, so much that by the time the series starts, it's all shigaraki can believe himself to be.

Twice and Kurogiri fight and die trying to save Toga and Shigaraki, so they can live and be reunited with their friends.

This all just meant nothing in the end??

Ochako, Deku, Toga and Shigaraki's stories can't be over yet because they are important characters and there's too much left unresolved.

Ochako's resolution is incomplete and undefined.

Deku's hero ending feels disappointing and tone-deaf.

Toga completely disappeared before Ochako was taken by the helicopter, nowhere to be seen where she should have been if she had died.

And how is shigaraki a force ghost still walking around in the world if there's no quirks left tethering him as a vestige?

ALSO this recent interview with Horikoshi himself:

(Warning: Spoilers for the most recent BNHA movie)

"Horikoshi says one thing to pay attention to from the My Hero Academia "You're Next" movie is the relationship between Giulio and Anna and how it connects with Deku and the others' goals.

He writes:

"The relationship between Giulio and Anna is a part of the goal point where Deku and the others will eventually reach.

The movie as a standalone in itself is interesting, but if you watch the movie then return to the actual story, then you might feel 'oh so this is where the story leads to.' As such, please pay attention to Giulio and Anna in the movie!"

To give context, by the end of the movie, Giulio is able to cancel out Anna's quirk using his own, allowing her to live a life without being sheltered in fear of her quirk or used as a weapon. So Horikoshi's comment is probably referring to how they help each other accept their quirks or lack thereof and still be able to live in harmony.

In regards to their relationship, Giulio tells Anna he will always be by her side no matter what, they hug and then walk off into the sunset together at the end of the movie."

And another heavily lampshaded moment in the movie novelization when Giulio inner narrates this:

'He knew that killing her wouldn't be a true form of salvation.'

What was all this about??

There has to be more left.

[survivalove]

Katara the selfcare queen

Every canon instance or mention (that i can rmr) of Katara indulging in selfcare in the middle of a war because I find it quite amusing yet fascinating.

I may or may not have made a post like this before but I wanted to expand on it.

1. Skincare routine

In 1x14, The Fortuneteller, Katara reveals she has a special seaweed lotion that she carries with her for soft skin. (Avatar Extras also made a point of saying that it smells…?) She even offers to get Aunt Wu some, as if she has extra. So my question is, who is this plug that she gets her steady supply of seaweed lotion from? 😭

Real-life: Seaweed has been used in skincare for thousands of years, first recorded in ancient Chile. Nowadays, seaweed extract is pretty common in skincare products especially from emerging brands in Nunavik and Iqaluit, Canada.

My headcanon: This is probably a recipe Katara picked up from the older women of her tribe, so she just plucks some seaweed whenever the gaang stops by a body of water. And she definitely makes it in cute glass jars and shares it with her fellow healers in the Republic City Hospital ✨selfcare queen✨

2. Spa Day

I just find this funny because when and how did she even find this spa? How long has she been going by herself? Look how comfortable she is like dhjfjcd she’s definitely a regular and they all know her.

Real-life: Saunas are pretty modern, starting up in Finland around 1112. (In canon, I think a firebender and a waterbender run a sauna in Republic City so hey.) Mudbaths on the other hand have been around for centuries and people have been doing it at any naturally occurring hot spring they can found. I don’t even have to tell you about massages so

My headcanon: Katara always knows where the spas and selfcare places are wherever they go. I definitely think she scooped up some stuff at the perfume abbey in season 1 (because she’s a kleptomaniac). I also headcanon she would have a spa setup in the back of Republic City Hospital because selfcare is healthcare too. Also, Aang gives her massages at home and he’s surprisingly good at it, but, Katara sucks at massages and Aang never lets her do it to him after that one time 💀

3. Yoga

In 3x11, Nightmares & Daydreams, Katara teaches Aang yoga to de-stress in a hot spring. My thing is, when did she learn about yoga and how often does she do it? We needed the Katara yoga mini shorts special. The kids would’ve loved it.

Real life: Yoga originating from ancient India is practised in a variety of forms in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. The poses they do are the Upward Salute and the Wide Legged Forward Bend.

My headcanon: I imagine Katara must have read about this at the Air Nomad Section of the Spirit Library, given the cultural heritage. Knowing her she found a yoga scroll and swiped it (can you say klepto?). This is another selfcare thing she does with Aang because it’s his culture! They do it every Saturday until he starts complaining about his old bones 😅

4. Hair care

Katara also wears a special cap on her head when doing yoga which I assume is to protect her hair from the steam 🤔 I just found it very interesting since we hardly see her hair covered. Then I also realized Katara is the only character shown actually combing her hair and styling it like 4 times: from the bun-braid, to the formal earth kingdom look, to her fire nation look and finally the bun with her hair out.

Real life: I typed so many things and I finally found something similar called a chinoiserie satin skull cap? (sorry pic limit). It’s similar in design and even has a tassel like Katara’s. Focusing on her hairstyles, the signature “hair loopies” are actually based on a traditional Inuit style known as qilliqti and her earth kingdom look is based on a traditional Manchurian style called liangbatou.

My headcanon: Like Katara’s mysterious seaweed lotion recipe, she probably makes several haircare products for herself, and has a major hair routine. So, it would make sense she wears protective caps from time to time. I also think both Hama and Katara are tied to the myth of Senna, the Inuit sea goddess, through the comb Katara uses which I headcanon is the identical comb Hama had in her home (again klepto).

If there’s any more selfcare moments I left out, please feel free to share or reply with your own Katara ✨selfcare queen✨ headcanons!

[luvsugu]

housemate suguru (sighs dreamily)

geto suguru x reader fluff!!!! housemate!AU </3, kinda canon divergence (as in, geto doesnt die and is happy with his best buddies), lots of domestic themes!!, will also probably expand on this idea later hehe

housemate!suguru who moves out of the bigger bedroom when you move in with him because he doesn't want you to have enough space for all your things (aka your cute trinkets n collectibles)

housemate!suguru who always asks if you want him to include your clothes in his load of laundry so that you don't have to worry about it for later. he even folds your clothes neatly into a basket so they don't get wrinky if you wanted to deal with putting them away later.

housemate!suguru who always wants to eat meals together because he enjoys your company (he'd never admit it and refuses to acknowledge the pout you point out when you once came home just before midnight and he ate by himself). eating meals together is just good for the soul!!!!!!!

housemate!suguru who does the dishes whenever you cook because he says it's only fair. he really really likes when you decide to help him out anyway or just stick around him to give him company (like sit on the counter and continuing the conversation from your shared meal)

housemate!suguru who also reassures you that you don't have to worry about any of the dishes when you want to bake (for whatever reason, whether its for the two of you or for others). THIS always makes your knees weak because!!! he's lingering around, just waiting and eagerly helping you and being a total sweetheart. he also loves taste testing!!!

housemate!suguru who cleans the apartment with you every sunday like you two are some married couple. the sun is shining!! music is playing in the background!! and you two are giggling with each other!!! he loveslovesloves having sunday resets with you because it's just so calming and it also is a way that you two bond. he's a very tidy person so he appreciates you joining him and putting in the effort to make sure you guys' home stays tidy and cozy.

housemate!suguru who (if you didn't know already) teaches you how to care for houseplants. it's a little hobby of his and he says that it makes the house look and feel more alive. that and he just enjoys the aesthetic (which goes hard for the tiktoks/vids that he's post??? this dude lives and breathes plant girl aesthetic)

housemate!suguru who pushes the cart when you two go grocery shopping so you can oogle as much as you want in the aisles. he always physically writes down stuff that he needs and, more often than not, you're the one who holds that list. it's sosososo cute seeing your thinking face when you look for stuff on the shelves. he also knows the thinking face you have for when you're trying to put things you both don't need in the cart--what doodoo excuse are you going to give him that he'll pretend to believe because he can't say no to you?

housemate!suguru who makes you carry the lightest grocery bags because you deserve no less. yes help him, but let him inflate his own ego by helping YOU (just pretend you don't see him telling his curses to help bring groceries inside). he also is the one to put things in the fridge away while you take care of all the pantry stuff. it just became routine at this point and suguru mentally giggles and kicks his feet at how domestic it is

housemate!suguru who rolls his eyes at gojo whenever gojo teases him about you, saying that "suguru's playing family with y/nnnn~" and "they always eat together, do groceries together, and even clean the apartment on sundays together!" and OF COURSE shoko is entertained because "omg? i thought you said you liked living alone?"

housemate!suguru who truly can't escape satoru and shoko, begrudgingly lets them into your guys' shared apartment after coming UNANNOUNCED!!!!! and you are of course thrilled to actually meet them and happily invite them for dinner. suguru is pouting and sulking the entire time because your "y/n and suguru" weekend plan to take a day trip to mt. fuji turned into a "y/n, suguru, satoru and shoko" weekend plan

[cynicalmusings]

had some thoughts about empath!reader (and ‘empaths’ in general—though spoilers for boothill’s backstory, mentions of dead bodies, some angst, and the post is quite long)…

there’s a kind of poetry i realised in hindsight, in that boothill is one of the only people the reader can truly be ‘themselves’ around; he’s one of the only still-somewhat-humans (as opposed to, say, an intellitron) who won’t trigger their emotional transmission.

the idea i have for how an empath’s abilities work, in a crude and not very detailed way which i’d like to expand on in the future, is that they need skin-to-skin contact for the transmission of emotions across two organisms. this can be done through some degree of physical barrier, e.g. the reader’s gloves, but they still have to be touching living tissue (whether that be directly or not). the reason for this is that it’s cells which tell the stories of a person’s life: cells which live, and die, and heal, and contain imprints of the events in every living creature’s life: healed injuries, the neurotransmitters stimulating emotion which diffuse across synapses, all that stuff. through establishing contact with the cells, these ‘stories’ held within an organism can be transmitted through to the empath, which are interpreted as emotions (and occasionally memories).

furthermore, an empath doesn’t have control over ‘blocking’ this transmission. every time there’s contact, there’s a chance for that emotional spark to fire, meaning they’ll receive the emotions of the one they’re in contact with and transmit some of their own. an empath can train themselves to be less receptive to what they receive and more guarded to prevent their own emotions being read, but that doesn’t mean they can ever stifle either side completely.

that’s why the reader surrounds themselves with machines (in both their hobbies and their companions): it’s only with inorganic material, which has no ‘story’ to transmit, that they won’t be subconsciously influenced by foreign emotions. if a metal component scratches, it doesn’t heal. you replace it or it stays scratched: that’s it. there are no cells at work fighting to heal it. ergo, in the presence of machines, the reader is most like themselves. but of course, machinery is no real replacement for actual human company,

and boothill, who has the emotional capacity and experiences of a human but a body (mostly) of metal, marries the two concepts perfectly. the reader doesn’t have to worry about receiving or revealing their own feelings because of an accidental touch, but they can also interact with somebody who still has emotions in the same way they do. if they need some emotional transmission for whatever reason, they can touch his face. if they don’t, or don’t want to, the rest of him won’t trigger any of those effects.

around boothill, the reader can be themselves, too, but still maintain a human connection with somebody which won’t potentially backfire.

anyway, now onto the other, general empath lore…

after i came up with that ‘cells carry a story’ concept, i started to wonder: can an empath interpret the last emotions of a person shortly after death? the cells in the deceased’s body don’t immediately die; they’re still around for a while. macabre as it is, there’s a reason why bodies can twitch. so, hypothetically, what if there was an empath who runs a service for the loved ones of the recently deceased: somebody brings the body of their loved one, likely people lost suddenly to injury or disease, and the empath reads and shares with them the last feelings which the deceased never had the time to say.

often, the primary emotion they would receive from the body (if this whole concept is possible, which i think it could be) is fear. makes sense for somebody having a sudden death. but under that fear, maybe there’s an inkling of other feelings: confessions they couldn’t make (imagine finding out for sure that your loved one loved you back but never had the chance to tell you—or, for a more painful approach, that they never did love you back at all), secrets they were hiding, any lingering regrets or apologies or words left unsaid which they wanted but couldn’t share. it’s a service which would bring closure to those close to people taken too soon.

(and hell, maybe the reader does this at some point, if they ever get any recently-deceaseds in their clinic, or a patient passes during surgery and they pass any lingering sentiments onto loved ones. god… imagine if, hypothetically (because this would be impossible), the reader found boothill’s adopted daughter’s body shortly after her death and managed to tell boothill that she was thinking of him and loving him right up until the end… ouch.)

so yeah. there’s my brain splurge of empath worldbuilding which came to me in the shower, as all best thoughts do. i really want to work out more intricacies of what it means to be an empath and how they function in the future; it’s a really interesting concept to carry further forwards.