#and it's very clear she's doing that in despair as she gives up on ever getting better

[moonlightazriel]

Chapter 14: Into the lion's den /// Azriel X F!Reader

Summary: Y/N enters Koschei's lair and finally confirms some suspicions

Word Count: 2K

Warnings: Again mentions of trauma and grief.

Notes: I'm so glad that I have almost all the chapters written cuz my fingers are fucking useless now and I can't write 🙄

Main Masterlist

Worlds Apart Masterlist

The dark living room was immediately illuminated by faelights, papers scattered around the table, potions and a liquid simmering in a cauldron near the fire. She scrunched her nose at the rotten smell. A screeching, like a trapped creature sounded somewhere behind the closed doors that led to the basement, she shivered thinking what could be suffering in his hands. 

Drawings adorned the walls, receipts and terrifying creatures. Her breath hitched as she recognized the circle with wyrd marks used to summon the ridderak. This was even more scary than Baba Yellowleg’s tent, the Matron would send her there regularly to check on the older witch and her home always made her bones cold. 

“So..” He cleared his throat, those golden eyes turned to her direction, pinning her in place. “Tell me what. What troubles your heart?” He once again extended his hand and she quietly placed it onto his.

Mantyx almost gasped with the swirling of emotions that hit him when he touched her skin. Anger, hatred, pain, grief, pain was what burned brighter in that array of feelings that clouded her mind. He tried to take a look but he was met with a wall made of pure steel, unbreakable, unbendable and impenetrable. 

But another thing caught his attention, singing beautifully to no one hear, a mating bond stood, he had learned everything about it in the years he was trapped there. A bond shared by two people that was stronger than everything, once the bond was accepted nothing could break it. He tugged at the string lightly, watching closely as she startled, her free hand flying to her heart. She didn’t understand what this was. 

Near that cabin, a worried shadowsinger yelped in surprise as he felt a tug in his chest, like someone was pulling a string tied to his soul. Lucien looked at him with a raised eyebrow, asking him if he was alright. Azriel just shook his head, hand rubbing circles in his chest, in a soothing manner. His eyes focused back on the cabin door, he wanted to go there and kick it down, rescuing her but he knew he couldn’t.

“I see that you lost someone very important to you.” He pointed it out, going for the easiest approach, usually wasn’t hard to know what troubled people, they were too simple to read, always thinking they were good at hiding their emotions and thinking of him as a god for being able to read them like a cooking book. 

“I lost everything.” She quietly replied, Y/N never really opened up to anyone after the war, just brushing their concerns off and focusing on her work to suffocate those drowning feelings. “I lost my sister, the only person that truly loved me, I couldn't even say goodbye. I lost my way, I lost myself after she was gone, and I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to what I was.” 

Mantyx looked at her, the despair pungent on the tip of his tongue. The shadows in her eyes darkened as she frowned, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. He took a deep breath, feeling all of her negative emotions fill the void in his chest, he had to suppress a smirk at it, he fed from negative emotions, draining them and leaving the person numb. 

“You can’t ever go back, all you can do is keep  going and adapt to the change.” He offered and she scoffed. 

“I would give anything, do anything to get her back.” Mantyx approached her. It was like the light couldn’t reach it, being sucked into a black hole, not reflecting. If it wasn’t for his proximity she wouldn't even have noticed. 

But there it was, resting with an unsettling melody, the wyrd key that opened the gate atop Ramiel, what she needed to get home. She couldn't risk getting it just now, or else he would kill her and all of their efforts would be useless. 

“What if I told you that I can bring her back?” He offered and her eyes lifted from the key to his gold orbs. She never knew about the extent of the other Kings powers, if Erawan was that powerful she imagined how powerful Mantyx and Orcus would be.

“You can do it?” She inquired, doubt  started to coat her thoughts, she missed Asterin, what if she could see her one last time, or even better, get her back fully? 

“You just need to do me a simple favor in return.” She closed her eyes, that was the only way. She shook her head in agreement. 

“What do you need?” She opened her eyes, determination burning in that gaze. “I’ll do anything.” 

“Bring me Nesta Archeron.” He said and she nodded, Mantyx smiled. His hand extended towards the door that slowly opened to reveal the green island he lived in. “I’ll be waiting for your return.”

Y/N bowed to him, her eyes tracing the key that moved up and down with each breath he gave. She turned around, slowly walking outside, she could still feel his eyes on her when she crossed the bridge, so she didn’t dare to look to where she knew they would be, she kept walking forward until her frame disappeared from his line of sight. Just then she let out the breath she was holding. 

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Azriel and the others reached her halfway back to the Manor, she hadn't even noticed she had walked so much, her tensed muscles and shivering body were the only indications of the fear she had felt alone in that cabin. Azriel touched her arm, making her spin in her heels, collapsing against his chest. Shuddering breaths left her lips as she tried to calm herself. 

“Did he hurt you?” She shook her head and Azriel breathed with relief, his shadows moved around her in a protecting way, ready to strike at anyone who dared get too close to her. 

“We should go back, we don’t know what is lurking around in those woods.” Lucien advised, also worried about the fragile form that clung to Azriel for dear life. 

They all started to head back, being surprised by the giant wyvern baring his teeth at them, poison dripping from his fangs, he looked anxious, like he felt all of her distress through the connection he shared with his rider, and by the way she pushed Azriel out of the way, stumbling until her chest and forehead were pressed against his nose, he probably felt. 

Meraxes instantly relaxed with her touch, sniffing her scent and declaring she was alright. Y/N sobbed against him, her hands rubbing his leathery skin up and down, until she calmed herself down. 

“I’m okay, I promise.” She breathed and the wyvern nodded, giving one last look to the males before stepping aside and allowing their access to the house. She let go of him, following the rest of them inside, plopping herself on the couch. 

“Why did you go inside? You could be dead now.” Lucien slowly started, worry filled his voice, Y/N had become someone important to him and he couldn’t fathom the idea of her being killed by that damned monster. 

“We needed answers.” She simply replied, shrugging. 

“And did you get them?” Jurian asked, leaning against the wall that led to the kitchen. 

“His name is Mantyx, the middle brother of Erawan and Orcus, a Valg King.” She started, all of the males looked at her. “He was the one who summoned the ridderak that attacked me, he was after Nesta and her powers.”

“Does he have a key?” Azriel asked, his eyebrows furrowed as the engines in his brain worked.

“He carries it around his neck.” Lucien cursed loudly, how would they get it? 

“How did you get out?” Jurian once again asked all the right questions.

“I promised him that I would get Nesta.” Azriel's eyes widened. “I just needed to get out to tell you all this, chill.” She said to him, her blue eyes piercing him back in place and he didn’t dare to argue. 

“What do we do now?” Lucien inquired, rubbing his temples.

“I don’t know about you, but i’ll have a bath, i’m feeling disgusting.” She said getting up, leaving the males behind her. 

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Her chest ached as she sat in the scalding water, trying to rub all those feelings away from her, but it was useless. She then reached for the book Morrigan had found in the Hewn City, not having time to read it in the trip until now. She opened the book and focused on the fancy handwriting, allowing her brain to shut down from the real world and just pay attention to the words in those pages. 

“It was during the night that he came, talking with a sweet voice, promises of a better world and absolution to those who bowed to him and allowed his angels a home. The god of conquest was how they called him. 

He brought her, with dark hair and dark eyes, she feeded from life and used the remains to build weapons made of human bones. They called her The Weaver, and her twin, The Bone Carver, one more terrifying than the other. They weren’t angels, they were the gods of death, draining life from the earth and eating our souls. 

They talked about how lucky we were, claiming to be princes and princesses from their homeworld. No one knew how they came or where they came from, but all we knew was that it was all related to that necklace, made of a dark stone and with an unknown shape. They had come from the north, many guessed they were a plague sent by the Night Court to terrorise us, but even the High Lord feared them, he couldn't control them, no one could, so they took what they pleased. 

It was Celeste Vanserra, the Fireborn that brought us hope, the most powerful fire carrier the world has ever seen. She locked The Bone Carver with the help of the cauldron in the prison first. This made the fae wars easier, but their army was too big to be brought down, so they had to change their strategy. 

Divide and conquest is what they called it. They managed to separate The Weaver, and once again, with the help of the cauldron, Celeste and her fire locked Stryga in the woods, in a cabin no one dared to get close to. Whenever a general fell, their army fell with them. 

The High Lords followed Celeste to the battlefield, following her command and doing what she said. The final battle was in the lake, where Celeste used her powers to create a fire circle around Koschei and his monsters, trapping him inside, not knowing this was his biggest weakness, her fire was the only thing that could kill him. But before Celeste could, he killed her, piercing her heart with a sword.

The High Lords seeing their strongest fall, decided that they weren’t enough to kill Koschei, so they used the cauldron imbued by their powers to trap his soul to the island. As long as this world still exists, Koschei cannot be killed, his soul is bound to the Earth itself. Only the power of the cauldron or the fire of Celeste can free him from his prison and finally kill him.

With their failure to end the biggest threat our world has ever seen, they erased Celeste’s name from history. If no one remembered her, no one would remember how weak they were compared to Koschei. But her fire was still alive in the blood of her offspring, and the family Vanserra is the closest we have to a chance of killing him, unfortunately those who don’t learn their history tend to repeat it.”

Y/N gasped, the water already cold as she discarded the book and jumped out of the tub, opening the door to her and Azriel’s room. He sat on the bed, eyeing her up and down, following the droplets of water that ran down her curves, but her sombre expression brought his eyes back to her face, ignoring the temptation of looking down.

“What happened?” He asked and she took a deep breath.

“I know how to kill him.”

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

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[lanymme]

Hey. Kiara sure likes ohagi, doesn’t she?

It’s a cute quirk, but it’s also deeply, deeply tragic in a very subtle way that's hard to piece together unless you know about japanese sweets or Kiara’s personal history.

So let’s learn a little bit about ohagi, and why Kiara loves it so much!

Ohagi, and the very similar sweet botamochi, are traditional japanese sweets made from glutinous rice with a coating of sweet red bean paste and, optionally, a dusting of something else, often ground black sesame or soybean flower.

Here’s some that I made for Kiara’s birthday last year! They’re very doable and pretty tasty.

Higan is a Japanese buddhist festival celebrated around the spring and autumn equinoxes, and ohagi or botamochi is eaten as a ritual food during that equinox. Sources I found indicated that the difference between ohagi vs botamochi is not easy to pin down, but some say that the sweet is called ohagi when eaten for the autumn equinox. (This is beside the point, but the red spider lily, with which Kiara is strongly associated, also blooms around that time.) If you want to know more, check out this article I found on the history of ohagi and its ritual connection.

Kiara was born as the heir and savior to a mountaintop Buddhist cult. Her upbringing was deeply abusive, and despite the fatal illness she suffered from, for which her community and her father gave her no treatment, she was denied any semblance of a normal childhood while she was molded to be their perfect savior.

Nothing that inspires attachment was allowed to her. The book of fairy tales she ended up with was deemed inappropriate and taken from her because she spent too much time reading it, liked it too much.

It’s hard to imagine her being allowed sweets like a normal kid, since they’re designed for stimulating flavor.

But, of course, ohagi isn’t just a sweet. It’s a ritual food. So they couldn’t deny her that, could they?.

As a child, those 7 days surrounding the equinox twice a year were probably the only time she ever got to have sweets.

And of course, she probably learned to be very careful about not letting on that she was enjoying herself. Not overindulging.

Like fairy tales, it was a tiny piece of happiness that accidentally slipped through the cracks and gave her something to latch onto. And, like fairy tales, she carries it with her into adulthood.

It’s not coincidence that she makes ohagi and tea instead of chocolates for Valentine’s. In this new place where she can heal a little bit from her past and grow, she takes the chance to make ohagi herself, instead of waiting for the proper holiday; and to share them with someone else as a thing she loves, instead of hiding them away.

[yandere-romanticaa]

I need to talk about ADA! Dazai and Beast! Dazai because Beast ruined me beyond repair.

ADA! Dazai is like a beautiful red rose which caught your eye - you wish to have it, to pluck it, but it's so easy to forget that roses have very, very sharp thorns. Dazai has many people around him but a tiny few he can confidently say he trusts.

Which is why he might just be a bit prickly at the start.

Don't get me wrong, he is still the same old Dazai you first met. Confident, flirty, intelligent, a giant tease! Life is a breeze with him, there isn't anything in the world which Dazai can't do or crack wide open. It's so easy to spill all of your deepest, darkest secrets to him, so easy to open up and become dependent on him.

But just when you think you have him figured out, you're right back to square one.

ADA! Dazai, who does not know what to do with himself or you for that matter. How fun and cute you are, your crush is so obvious. He can't help it, he just has to tease you, you always give him the best reactions. He chooses to be careful with you in the beginning, think of dipping your toes in cold water for the first time.

Time passes and Dazai opens himself up to you. You are finally allowed to caress his scarlet red petals albeit with his thorns still in the way. They prickle and hurt, they may even leave a scar or two in their way but you don't care. Loving Dazai is like a drug, once you get a taste you can never get enough. The constant need for his attention and validation is just too intoxicating and Dazai is none the wiser.

Beast! Dazai though... Where do I even start?

This man and his love, to me at least, kind of feels like the lyric "Here comes the sun, she's the brightest star of them all." from the song Sonne by Rammstein.

There is absolutely nothing this man won't do for you and I mean it.

Beast! Dazai is terrifying and he knows it. He regularly uses and manipulates his authority and throws threats around like candy, particularly if his subordinates decide to question why on Earth would he settle for someone like you. You, his sweet, precious, darling, addicting little you, the reason why his heart beats and why he decides to take a breath and live the life he wants to live... As much as he can, that is...

Beast! Dazai uses your fear as a leverage and toys with you in a similar fashion to ADA! Dazai but there is a grim feeling to it, kind of like sticky black tar, it never leaves your person. He never allows you to breathe because he simply must be with you all day, every day. The sheer intensity of his stare alone is something worthy of the history books as even some of the most seasoned and battle hardened mafiosos can't help but to be off put by their boss. Everything is crystal clear right from the get go, anyone who messes with you messes with him, the Port Mafia boss himself and they will answer for their crimes no matter how miniscule they may be.

Beast! Dazai, who is desperate for you and your love but never manages to tell you. Instead he chooses to isolate you, to make you dependent on him so that you can have no one to turn to other than him. ADA! Dazai is at least sensible enough to understand that yes, personal choice actually does matter even if he will have it play out how he wants to in the end but Beast! Dazai does not have the time for that shenaniganary! He hides his despair and need for you like a true master of all lies and trickery. He tells you he could kill you immediately, put a bullet in your head and find someone else to screw with and you believe him.

How can you not?

Never in a million years could you predict that this man was ready to destroy the world for you and create it anew, that no one else in this world, this universe could ever replace you.

You, his sun, moon, star, his heart. His everything. And you will never know. But that's okay because Dazai knows. And he will always keep you close, forever and always.

🕊️ TAGS: @yanroma, @oneoftheprettynerds, @misdollface, @sxy0ung, @rosemary108233, @itssara-chan

[eclipsedzs]

Can you write somenthing about just Sirius being extremely romantic and making his love language very clear?

𝗠𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲

𝗘𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗦𝗘𝗗 ▰▰▰▱▱▱ Volume: Sirius Black

𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧

Genre: ✓

Paring(s): Sirius Black x Fem!Reader

Summary: Your boyfriend has made up his mind, he was going to smother you in his love.

Disclaimer(s): Cursing, Alcohol

THE GREAT HALL buzzed with animated chatter as the teenagers filed in, eager to partake in the spread of breakfast delicacies adorning the long, stretched tables. Amongst the bustling crowd, Sirius Black found himself seated alongside his friends James, Remus, and Peter.

As they animatedly discussed their latest pranks, Sirius's mind wandered, consumed by thoughts of his girlfriend.

Y/N had been unwell for an entire week, depriving Sirius of her presence. The mere notion of being separated from her for such a prolonged period left him feeling starved for her company.

Y/N had gone to seek medical attention from Madam Pomfrey, who imposed strict restrictions on visitors, further intensifying Sirius's longing to see her.

James, ever observant, nudged Sirius gently. "You alright there, mate? You seem a bit lost in your thoughts."

Sirius snapped back to reality, a wistful expression on his face. "Just missing Y/N like crazy. It's been a week of pure torture without her," he lamented with a hint of melodrama.

His friends couldn't help but chuckle at Sirius's theatrics. Letting out an exaggerated sigh, he dramatically draped his body, leaning on Remus for support.

"Oh, Remus," he sighed with faux despair, "Wake me up from this endless slumber when my love finally returns."

Remus, playing along with a smirk, gently patted Sirius on the back. "I'll be sure to give you a good shake when that moment arrives, mate. But until then, you'll just have to endure the heartache," he replied in a teasing tone.

James chimed in, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "Or we can try to sneak you into the hospital wing disguised as a nurse. What do you think?"

Sirius's face lit up at the thought, his dramatic demeanor momentarily forgotten. "Now that's a brilliant idea! We could cause some serious chaos," he exclaimed, enthusiasm brimming in his voice.

Peter, always ready to join the fun, added with a grin, "Count me in! Operation 'Nurse Padfoot' it is!"

The friends shared a boisterous laugh, their playful banter providing a lighthearted respite from Sirius's lovesick state.

As Remus let out a thoughtful hum, his eyes instinctively turned towards the grand entrance of the Great Hall. The heavy doors swung open, revealing a figure that instantly caught his attention.

There stood Y/N, looking well and radiant, stepping into the bustling hall.

Sirius, still draped dramatically over Remus, followed his friend's gaze and gasped dramatically. "Remus! It's a miracle! My love has returned!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with exaggerated joy.

Y/N, spotting Sirius among his friends, couldn't help but smile at the sight of his theatrics.

She made her way towards them, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, well, well, what do we have here? A lovesick Sirius in need of rescuing?" she teased, a hint of mischief in her voice.

Sirius quickly sprung to his feet, his dramatic demeanor momentarily replaced by genuine excitement. "Y/N! You're back!" he exclaimed, his arms outstretched, ready to embrace her.

Y/N matched his enthusiasm, closing the distance between them and enveloping him in a warm hug. "I missed you too, you big drama queen," she whispered with a playful smile.

Their friends watched with amusement, sharing knowing glances as the reunited couple exchanged heartfelt greetings. The Great Hall seemed to come alive with the energy of their joyous reunion, their playful banter filling the air with laughter

“Hey, boys," Y/N greeted with a warm smile, settling herself beside Remus.

Before she could fully settle in, Sirius swiftly wrapped an arm around her waist and gently pulled her onto his lap, settling them both down.

Remus playfully raised an eyebrow. "Well, well, look who's finally back to grace us with her presence," he teased, his tone filled with mock surprise.

Y/N leaned back against Sirius, snuggling into his embrace. "Oh, you know you missed me, Remus," she retorted, playfully poking his side.

James, joining in the banter, chimed in, "It's good to have you back, Y/N. Sirius has been quite the lost puppy without you."

Sirius pouted dramatically, his arms tightening around Y/N. "Hey now, I wasn't that lost... okay, maybe I was a little bit," he admitted with a sheepish grin, earning him a chorus of laughter from his friends.

Y/N leaned up and pressed a gentle kiss to Sirius's cheek. "Don't worry, my drama king. I'm here now, and I promise to keep you entertained," she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

The group erupted into laughter once again, their playful camaraderie filling the air with a joyful energy.

"Oh, Remus," Y/N began, attempting to extricate herself from Sirius's tight grip, his face still buried in her neck, unwilling to let go.

“Do you think i could borrow your potions book?” She spoke, as she pressed her palms against his chest, gently pushing back.

She then gave up trying to escape his hold.

Remus chuckled, watching the amusing scene unfold before him.

"Ah, the perils of being loved by Sirius Black," he remarked, shaking his head with a smirk. "And of course, I've got you covered. I have that potions book you need, and I've already prepared some notes for you."

Y/N's eyes lit up with gratitude and relief. "Remus, you're a lifesaver! You know how bad I am at taking notes," she confessed, shooting a grateful glance his way.

Sirius, finally releasing his tight hold on her, feigned offense. "Hey, what's wrong with my notes? I'll have you know, my doodles are quite informative," he protested with a playful pout.

Y/N laughed, ruffling Sirius's hair affectionately. "Oh, your doodles are a work of art, no doubt. But I think I'll trust Remus's comprehensive notes this time," she teased, earning herself a mock offended gasp from Sirius.

As the laughter subsided, Remus passed the potions book to Y/N with a smile. "Here you go, Y/N. Consider it your ticket to catching up in class. Just promise me you won't let Sirius doodle in it," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Y/N grinned mischievously, looking back at Sirius. "No doodles, promise?" she asked, holding out her pinky finger for him to make the pledge.

Sirius, feigning innocence, wrapped his pinky around hers. "I solemnly swear, no doodles in your precious book," he declared, giving her a cheeky wink.

Sirius let out a theatrical sigh, his arms tightening around Y/N as he declared,

"Unfortunately, my dear Y/N and I won't be gracing the classrooms with our presence today." He punctuated his statement with another exaggerated sigh, feigning sadness.

James raised an amused eyebrow, adjusting his glasses. Peter, engrossed in his pumpkin juice, seemed unfazed by the announcement.

Meanwhile, Remus, engrossed in his book, couldn't help but listen to Sirius's proclamation, albeit with a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

"And why is that, my dear Padfoot?" James inquired with a playful grin, struggling to suppress his laughter at the perplexed expression on Y/N's face.

Sirius dramatically shifted his gaze to Y/N, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Well, you see, dear James, it's a matter of utmost importance," he began, pausing for dramatic effect.

"Y/N here requires an emergency session of cuddles and laughter to cure her severe case of class-avoiditis," he declared, earning himself an incredulous look from Y/N.

Y/N couldn't help but burst into laughter, swatting Sirius playfully on the arm. "Class-avoiditis? Is that even a thing?"

Sirius feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically. "Of course, it is! I'm Sirius Black, expert in all things mischief-related and made-up illnesses," he proclaimed proudly, flashing a playful wink at his friends.

James chuckled, shaking his head in mock disapproval. "I swear, you two are a never-ending source of entertainment."

The group dissolved into laughter, their lighthearted banter filling the air with joy and camaraderie.

As the laughter subsided, James was quick to seize the moment. He wore a mischievous smirk as he spoke up, breaking the silence. "You know what, guys? Maybe we should all just skip class today," he suggested, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Remus playfully shook his head, a feigned look of disapproval on his face. "Oh, James, you're always the instigator of our rebellious adventures," he remarked, though a small chuckle escaped his lips.

Peter, finally tuning into the conversation, perked up with curiosity. "Wait, are we really going to skip class? I mean, I don't want to be left out," he admitted, a mix of excitement and nervousness evident in his voice.

Y/N glanced around at her friends, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Well, if the Marauders are in agreement, who am I to resist the temptation of a little adventure?" she declared, playfully nudging Sirius.

Sirius grinned, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "That's the spirit! A day filled with mischief and laughter awaits us!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious.

Y/N paused, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she contemplated her response.

With a playful sigh borrowed from Sirius, she dramatically feigned a cough. "You know, guys, I was just sick for a whole week," she announced, her voice filled with faux exhaustion. "I think I could use a relaxing day in the comfort of our dorm."

Sirius blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Y/N's unexpected suggestion. "But... but mischief and adventures!" he protested, a playful pout forming on his lips.

James grinned, nudging Sirius with an elbow. "Come on, mate, even the Marauders need a break once in a while," he teased, winking at Y/N.

Remus, ever the voice of reason, nodded in agreement. "Y/N does have a point. We could use a day to recharge and just enjoy each other's company," he suggested, giving Y/N a supportive smile.

Peter chimed in, his excitement slightly subdued. "I guess a relaxing day sounds nice too. We can always plan our next epic prank later," he suggested, trying to hide his disappointment.

Y/N smirked, reveling in her small victory. "Alright, then. It's settled. A day of relaxation it is," she declared, playfully pointing her finger at Sirius. "But I expect some top-notch entertainment from you, Mr. Black."

Sirius playfully saluted. "Consider it done, my lady. Prepare to be entertained!" he proclaimed with a theatrical flourish, earning a round of laughter from his friends.

˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

The Marauders gathered in their dorm, creating a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. James and Remus were seated on the floor, engrossed in a friendly card game.

Peter observed them, scratching his head in confusion. "How do you guys even play this?" he muttered to himself, determined to crack the code.

Y/N found herself comfortably nestled in Sirius's embrace on his bed. He held her tightly, as if afraid to let her go even for a moment. "No moving allowed," Sirius playfully declared, flashing a mischievous grin at Y/N.

Y/N giggled, playfully squirming in his hold. "But I can't breathe, Sirius!" she protested, her voice laced with mock desperation.

Sirius responded with an exaggerated gasp, dramatically clutching his heart. "My poor, suffocating princess! How could I be so cruel?" he exclaimed dramatically, feigning a look of deep remorse.

Y/N rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Oh, please. You're lucky I enjoy being in your suffocating embrace," she teased, poking him in the side.

Meanwhile, James looked up from his card game, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Hey, Peter, want to join us? We can teach you the ropes of this highly complex card game," he offered with a cheeky grin, motioning for Peter to join them.

Peter's eyes widened, his face lighting up with excitement. "Really? That'd be great!" he exclaimed eagerly, quickly scooting over to join James and Remus on the floor.

Y/N dramatically threw her hands up in the air, pretending to be in distress. "Oh, James, save me!" she cried out, feigning desperation as she clung to Sirius's arm, preventing any chance of escape from his tight embrace.

James, always up for a bit of theatrics, playe along with a dramatic gasp. "Fear not, fair maiden! I shall rescue you from the clutches of this evil captor!" he proclaimed, raising an imaginary sword as he approached the bed.

Sirius grinned mischievously, holding Y/N tighter to him. "Over my dead body, Prongs!" he retorted, pretending to shield Y/N with his body.

Remus, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. "You lot are something else," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Peter, not wanting to be left out, joined in with his own theatrical flourish. "And I, Peter, shall be the wise sage who advises both sides!" he declared, striking a pose and pretending to hold a staff.

Laughter echoed through the dorm as the friends reveled in their own silly theatrics.

As the night settled and the sky darkened, everyone found their own little corners to unwind and pursue their individual activities.

Y/N leaned back against Sirius, letting out a contented sigh as she closed her eyes, enjoying the comfort of his presence.

Sirius, ever the affectionate one, began peppering gentle kisses along her jawline, neck, and face, savoring the closeness they shared.

A soft giggle escaped Y/N's lips as she felt the tickling sensation of his kisses. "You know, Sirius, you have a peculiar fascination with my face," she teased, her voice filled with affectionate amusement.

Sirius paused, his lips still hovering near her cheek. "Can you blame me? It's the most beautiful face in the world," he replied playfully, a hint of sincerity in his voice.

Y/N's heart fluttered at his words, and she couldn't help but open her eyes to gaze into his adoring eyes. "Smooth talker," she teased, lightly tapping his nose with her finger.

Sirius grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Only for you, my love," he replied, planting a gentle kiss on the tip of her finger.

As she relaxed into his embrace, Y/N felt the weariness settle into her body, inviting the comforting embrace of slumber. Her eyelids grew heavier, gently closing as she surrendered to the soothing sensation of

Sirius's lips planting soft kisses along her jawline. Each tender touch seemed to lull her further into a state of tranquility.

The gentle rhythm of his affectionate kisses created a lullaby for her senses, coaxing her closer to the realm of dreams.

With each brush of his lips against her skin, a sense of calm washed over her, easing the weight of the day's events and filling her with a sense of serenity.

Y/N let out a soft, contented sigh, her eyelids growing heavy. "Looks like I'm about to enter the dreamland," she murmured, her voice tinged with playful exhaustion.

Sirius grinned, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Oh no, you're not slipping away without me!" he exclaimed, wrapping his arms tightly around her and gently lowering himself onto the bed, bringing her even closer. He nestled her snugly against his chest, like a protective cocoon.

Y/N giggled, her voice filled with a hint of drowsy amusement. "You're quite the snuggle expert, aren't you?" she teased, playfully nudging his side.

Sirius chuckled, his chest vibrating against her cheek. "Well, it's just one of my many talents," he replied, feigning modesty.

As they settled into their cozy position, their breaths synchronizing, a wave of warmth and tranquility washed over them.

The room seemed to envelop them in a comforting embrace, cocooning them in a bubble of serenity.

James's mischievous grin spread across his face as he caught sight of the cuddled couple. He nudged Peter and Remus with his elbow, barely containing his laughter. “Oi, look at those two," he whispered, his voice full of amusement.

Peter followed James's gaze, a playful twinkle in his eyes. "Looks like they've entered the realm of dreamland," he chuckled, mimicking Y/N's earlier words.

Remus leaned in, his lips curving into a smirk. "Bet Sirius is dreaming of pranks and Y/N's dreaming of chocolate," he joked, his tone filled with gentle mockery.

James let out a snort of laughter, covering his mouth to stifle the sound. "Well, they make quite the sleeping beauties, don't they?" he said, his voice laced with humor.

"I know what to do," James whispered mischievously, a sly grin spreading across his face. He scrambled up from his spot on the floor, making his way to his bed. Rummaging through his drawer, he finally retrieved a muggle camera.

Remus raised an eyebrow, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "What's the plan, Prongs?" he asked in a hushed voice.

James let out a quiet chuckle, approaching the sleeping couple with the camera in hand.

He aimed it at them and pressed the button, unaware that the flash was still on.

A blinding flash of light erupted from the camera, illuminating the room. Startled, Sirius's eyes flew open, meeting James's wide-eyed stare.

Instinctively, he pulled Y/N even closer to his chest, shielding her from the intrusive brightness.

Remus couldn't contain his laughter any longer, a hand covering his mouth to muffle the sound. "Nice one, James," he snickered, shaking his head in amusement.

James sheepishly scratched the back of his head, a guilty grin tugging at his lips. "Oops... forgot about the flash," he whispered, trying not to disturb Y/N's peaceful slumber.

Sirius blinked a few times, his eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. He looked at James with mock annoyance, pretending to shield his eyes. "Way to wake a sleeping beauty, Prongs," he joked, his voice filled with playful sarcasm.

The room filled with a mixture of laughter and whispered apologies as the friends realized the unintended consequence of their impromptu photo session.

Though momentarily disrupted, the tranquility of the dorm room soon settled back in, with Y/N blissfully unaware of the flash-induced interruption.

And so, the night continued with shared laughter and gentle teasing, a testament to the unbreakable bond between these teenage friends.

In the end, it was just another memory to add to the ever-growing collection of their adventures and the countless tales they would retell for years to come.

-I had to write this in my notes app, i hate it.

[midwesternvibes]

Time for more Seperated Leo Human AU! (I really need a name good lord-)

As promised, we now get to look into Leon's lore! He's a funky little guy, and shockingly well adjusted!

Lore drop under the cut!

His full name is Leonardo Tomás Esposito, and he is quite proud of it! He picked it out himself when he was about 10 years old, and he's happy to say that he still loves it to this day! (Fun fact: all of the names have double meanings to them hehe)

But anyways, his Mamà is in fact, NOT Big Mama (but it was a solid guess!), her name is actually Mia Esposito! (+10 Fandom points to anyone who can guess her full first name) She is a full time nurse and used to travel around the several NYC hospitals as an on-call nurse, but once Leon was born she stuck her roots down to one and has been there ever since!

She's actually an incredibly interesting character (with her very own arc!) with a lot of depth and meaning. She grew up with her Puerto Rican mother and Italian father, but after a series of misfortunes and despair, she ended up immigrating to NYC to start a new life for herself. About 10 years later she began raising a baby all on her own as a single immigrant mother in New York City (Sound familiar?). Whenever Leon asks about his father she tells him that she doesn't remember his Papá, only that he had the same almond-shaped brown eyes as her baby boy....

But ultimately she doesn't remember him hahaha maybe Leon should stop asking questions and get back to studying!

(Leon knows that she's hiding something, but ultimately he doesn't care about his father that much, he just assumes that he did something to hurt his Mamá and wants nothing to do with the man at all)

Leon and his Mamá are very close, they're very similar to Percy and Sally Jackson from the PJO series, and they would definitely fight God for each other.

Leon was raised very much with the mentality of "It takes a village" and has many aunts and uncles and relatives in the hospital staff that he considers family. Mia couldn't really afford childcare as Leon grew up, as it often came down to food or rent for the month. The hospital staff saw this and absolutely adored little baby Esposito, so they were more than happy to raise him alongside their own children. Mia owes her life to this staff and considers them her family through and through.

As he grew up, Leon saw all his favorite people as nurses and doctors and considered each and every one of them heros. He decided very early on that he wanted to be a doctor when he grew up, and after a terrible injury when he was 14 it cemented the fact that he wanted to be a pediatric surgeon, to help kids just like him.

But the issue is, Leon and Mia definitely do not have enough to cover medical school for Leon on a single nurse's income, even with all the jobs that Mia and Leon have taken over the years. That's why Leon NEEDS the athletic and valedictorian scholarship, without it he won't be able to achieve his dream. The only thing standing in his way is.....

THE HAMATOS

(Except Michael, he's a gift)

Leon is willing to do ANYTHING to get those scholarships, but his Mamá always reminds him that the Hamatos might need it just as badly as he does, and that's about all that's keeping him from REALLY doing anything to hurt/sabotage them. His Mamá has instilled a really strict moral code into his psyche and he won't actually do anything to them, he just....really wants to give his Mamá a better life, one she deserves.

Although, he is kinda curious as to why the Hamato brothers have the same eyes as him......

First // Previous // Next

Whew! That was pretty much just a really intense ramble, sorry there was no actual structure to that, I just really wanted to talk about my Leon lore! Props to anyone who figures out the significance of all the names, and to clear up any confusion, Mia is Half Puerto Rican, half Italian, and Leon is 1/4 Puerto Rican, 1/4 Italian, and 1/2 Japanese (but shhh he doesn't know that yet) and obviously he's got that amazing vitiligo (shout out to anyone and everyone with vitiligo, y'all are amazing and beautiful)

Thanks for reading my lore dump, see ya next time for..... huh idk yet, vote ig

See ya next time!

[chorus-the-mutate]

This is an edited repost of the Erzsebet Bathory character analysis I wrote yesterday that I refuse to let go to waste. I tried doing the right thing and tagging all of the necessary trigger warnings only for this post to be completely hidden from the Castlevania Nocturne and Erzsebet Bathory tags. Since I can't afford to tag the proper trigger warnings without being punished please do not read this post if discussions of rape or sexual assault triggers or upsets you in any way. I don't take these topics lightly and they are vital to this analysis of Erzsebet Bathory.

This post also contains major spoilers for this first season of Castlevania Nocturne.

This may seem presumptive of me to say but this thought has been stuck in my head for several hours: Erzsebet Bathory is the most rapist adjacent villainess I've ever seen without her actually being a rapist.

The first and smallest point against her is how often she mentions virgins. I know that Erzsebet's initial mention of virgin sacrifices is supposed to tie into the origin of her alter ego and consumption of Sekhmet but it's super fucking weird that it played into why she wanted to sacrifice Maria.

Next point against her is the lawyer's daughter. I'm not sure if this lady was a virgin but when she's first brought to Erzsebet she's already terrified and too dazed to fight back. It's obvious that she doesn't want to be there and that even if she did that she can't really express that desire. But Erzsebet still takes this lady out of a literal gilded cage, sits down and sits this lady on her dress to admire her despair before drinking her blood. The next time we see the lady she's still dazed. The only differences are that she's dolled up and seems more suggestible. Even with hundreds of people in this ballroom scene the lady is literally ignored by everyone except for Erzsebet who dances with her and parades her around for her own amusement. Everyone else knows that Erzsebet likes to make her victims suffer and they still refuse to acknowledge the lady because Erzsebet has made it clear that she's her possession. Hell the only person who is unhappy enough with Erzsebet to go rogue at this point is Olrox and he STILL IGNORES THIS LADY. When the lady is dragged outside to be fed on again without anyone batting an eye it reminds me of a rapist roofying their target and proceeding to do everything in their power to seem interested in their victim's well-being in order to take them to a second location. And no one speaks up since Erzsebet is the Harvey Weinstein, Prince Andrew or Thomas Jefferson of the vampire world; the embodiment of people in power getting away with abuse until the damage has already been done.

The last and biggest point against Erzsebet is the entire scene where she turns Tera into a vampire. For me personally that is just an allegorical rape scene and it's executed very well. Erzsebet makes her entrance at the abbey as a lioness of a woman, a literal predator who wants to take Maria as a sacrifice and turn her into a vampire to ensure Emmanuel the Abbot's loyalty. Tera protests and offers herself to Erzsebet instead. This is such blatant coercion that Tera refers to herself as the ram Abraham sacrificed to God instead of Isaac. And the only question or concern Erzsebet has at this point is if her sacrifice should be a virgin. The only reasons she accepts the sacrifice are Emmanuel's genuine love for Tera and the fact that Tera is a powerful sorceress. Once Erzsebet settles for Tera and physically lifts her to her level no one can stop her. Maria gets knocked out for trying and Richter gets bodied immediately after. Their only option is to get the hell out of there once Annette makes an opening and Richter rightfully runs for his life. Even Maria, the only person that could look back and see Tera turn, is knocked out and that feels like an intentional writing choice to give Tera one last shred of dignity. Erzsebet holds Tera really close in this sort of hug as she feeds on her and once she's fed she literally sits Tera on her lap for her turn to feed. Then Erzsebet cuts herself and the blood starts dripping down on Tera, starting at her skirt, going to her blouse and reaching her face. At first Tera doesn't react but then her body responds to the blood and she feeds even though she doesn't want to. Even though no one wants this for her. And that is exactly what it's like when someone has an unwanted orgasm. Tera's body is protecting itself the same way a victim of assault would and that paired with the blood on her skirt being reminiscent of the blood on a woman's thigh in the aftermath of an assault hammers home the rape allegory. It's very sad and uncomfortable to think of Tera's turn to vampirism this way but the thought lingers hours after like a grimy film on my brain.

I 100,000% believe that Erzsebet would have been an actual rapist if Netflix Castlevania didn't romanticize Lenore raping Hector and ending their relationship on friendly terms. Not to mention Sumi and Taka's sudden shift from allies to sexually assaulting Alucard out of spite. Castlevania Nocturne seems to shy away from rape and sexual assault in favor of allegories or moments so brief that I missed them unlike its predecessor. So I'm blaming the gratuitous depictions of sexual assault in Castlevania on Warren Ellis, the creator of Netflix Castlevania, who doesn't work on this show for a very good reason.

Everything from her size as Sekhmet to her tendency to torture women and girls before killing them contributes to the allegory of Erzsebet being the vampire equivalent of a rapist. She exudes power and not only does she enjoy making others feel helpless she's also great at it. She is a sadist without honor, willing to parade her lady victim of choice around vampire high society or hang a young girl on hooks to drain dry rather than let any of them die a quick death. The dragged out, needless suffering Erzsebet inflicts along with her preference for women and virgins frames her feeding as something more sexual in nature than the other vampire nobles who simply indulge in their gluttony. Even Olrox feeding on his former boyfriend isn't framed sexually, it's framed as a desperate, romantic gesture to keep his lover alive. And every vampire I remember from Castlevania has their feeding framed as a tool for political power or sheer, simple gluttony. Even the vampire general Cho was shown to be more of a tyrant or a general sadist clinging to power in Japan than a deviant.

Erzsebet's sheer sadism actually contrasts quite well with Dracula's humanity and restraint. He understood humanity, only feeding to survive or strike down the merchants who slighted him. (He probably also used feeding as a tool for political power but I don't think we saw that directly.) Dracula ultimately came to understand humanity so well that he fell for Lisa Tepes, the exemplar of what it means to be human. And that love is why I believe he respected Lisa's wishes and let her keep that humanity instead of turning her into a vampire. And after Lisa's death Dracula stopped feeding entirely, hoping to extinguish his life and take out as many people as he could because he believed that humanity should've been better. He believed that the people who lived alongside Lisa would've stood up for her and they betrayed her out of a mix of fear, religious reverence and apathy. Meanwhile Erzsebet doesn't care about humanity, seeing people like the lawyer's daughter as possessions or people like Tera and Emmanuel the Abbot as pawns to further her own rule. She might be taken aback by Drolta's death once she learns of it but there's an equal chance that she wouldn't even bat an eye.

So what do these points of analysis mean for Erzsebet and Tera's future dynamic as master and pawn? The one thing that's certain is that Tera has been fundamentally changed, forced into an unprecedented nightmare scenario that will drag her down a dark path. But I'm an optimist and I believe that Tera will ultimately be redeemed. She may never be human again but her humanity, her love for her son and daughter will save her soul. Ultimately I hope that Tera lives and recovers from the trauma of Erzsebet turning her. I hope that she goes home to her children and is taken in with open arms. But if Tera dies she will die as Tera, not as a pawn, and that is because Erzsebet could never kill her humanity.

[sundownpromises]

The Beauty in The Last of Us Part II's Ending

I just want to take a minute to ramble about the ending of TLOU2 because it is one of the most beautiful endings to a game ever.

It’s so easy to watch the ending and feel nothing but sadness for Ellie. Her worst fear came true – ending up alone. But something that I love about this ending is the renewed sense of hope that you feel. Or that I felt, at least.

After the final cutscene with Joel, when we see Ellie’s face, she seems at peace. To me, I see the face of someone who has finally learned to forgive. I think this moment is the moment we finally see Ellie silently realize that the only way to truly heal is to accept what has happened and to let it go. She will never forget everything that happened; that much is clear. Trauma is not something that one can forget, and even if she could, the physical scars and her missing fingers will remain a constant reminder of all that she’s lost and has endured. But now we see Ellie finally reach the point in her journey where she is able to outgrow that trauma. Her trauma, which was once a heavy ball of lead tied around her ankle, has now become small enough that she can walk without the weight. 

And then, of course, we see her leave the guitar behind. I’ve always believed that this symbolizes not leaving Joel behind, but instead no longer resenting him, understanding him, and learning to move on. Sure, she can no longer play the guitar in the same way she used to, and that’s heart-breaking. The guitar was such a clear connection between Joel and Ellie, and it has been said that now that she can no longer play that that connection is broken. But what if that’s not such an awful thing? I believe that there is a silver lining; she will always have other things to remember him by because Joel is always to her. She’s got the pin he gave her for her birthday. She’s got drawings of him in her journal (now that she can finally imagine him not in pain but in tranquility), and most importantly, memories. Yes, she has lost a lot, so much, including the one physical object that directly tied her to Joel -- but what is grief, if not love persevering?

 And when we see her walk into the forestry, she walks with determined steps. It is unclear where she is going – but I think at this point, after all Ellie has been through, she sees the futility in unnecessary violence. In a world that is so unforgiving and cruel, what is truly lacking is love and compassion. Ellie is capable of giving and receiving both of those things. She doesn’t have a violent heart; it’s just that the world that she grew up in has shown her nothing but pain and loss. Her circumstances have caused her to react in the only way that she saw fit (further proving that the world Ellie lives in is the true villain of this game, but that is for another post). But we see it with Dina, we see it with Joel, Maria, Tommy, Jesse, and we see it in her survivor’s guilt that she feels toward Tess, Riley, and Sam. We have seen the love and compassion that she has felt for all of these people no matter how short lived the relationship.

This point brings me to a particular line of dialogue from the first game that I absolutely love. It is a line that Joel says to Ellie at the very end:

You keep finding something to fight for.

Is that not what survival is all about? Is that not what enduring is all about? To survive is to find meaning in that survival. When I see Ellie walk off at the end of Part 2, I like to believe that she is going to find meaning elsewhere – whatever that may look like. Personally, I could see her running into another group of survivors who take her in, and she helps them and she cares for them because she knows that that’s how she should be living her life – doing good by other people (or perhaps she truly does go back to Jackson, which I could also envision). She knows that that’s what Joel would want for her. 

The Last of Us Part II is a game full of so much tragedy and despair and yet… there is hope to be found. Some people don’t like the ending because it is so open-ended and ambiguous. But personally that’s why I find it so profound and beautiful. I don’t have all the answers but instead I am left with a feeling; a feeling of hope. A renewed sense of faith. That is enough for me. To be teased with that silver lining and to be left alone with my own thoughts, to come up with my own conclusions, is an extremely impactful way to end a game. Wherever Ellie is, I just hope she’s happy. That’s what she deserves.

I think as people who consume media (movies, TV shows, books, games, etc), we're so used to seeing endings that feel truly resolved. In other words, endings that answer all of our pressing questions. But the fact that TLOU2's ending just leaves you with a feeling is so beautiful to me. Ellie's new journey is just beginning, and we as players are not going on that journey with her (at least not until Part 3). It is bittersweet in a way. We can only hope.

[phantomyre]

FF7 Rebirth - Critics Review Summary and what to expect with Cid and Vincent

FYI: This screenshot is taken from a Spanish critic site, so I apologize for the weird translation. The embargo for FF7 Rebirth has lifted, and the metacritic is out: 93. I browsed through the reviews and have condensed a summary based on what the critics have provided. There aren't any spoilers, but for those who want to go in completely blind, you may want to avoid reading. This summary goes into what we can expect out of Vincent and Cid in a general sense. The purpose of this is to temper certain expectations. Note that some of this may not be a surprise, but for some it might be. As it is, some people are still just finding out Vincent and Cid are not playable. Proceed at your own risk.

Example taken from French GameBlog:

Example from ShackNews:

Based on the reviews I've see thus far, the general consensus is that even though Cid and Vincent join Cloud and Co to complete the entire party (and as we know are not playable), screentime for both characters are minimal. Case of Cid I'm very sorry Cid-fans, but it looks like Cid has been reduced to a chauffeur/pilot and barely does much with the main party. This had previously been a speculation based on interviews. However, based on what I've seen in the critic reviews, this has been confirmed to be the case.

In terms of Cid's personality, there was a lot of talk about Cid being 'too nice'. And based on the reviews, this also seems to hold true for the duration of Rebirth, albeit we don't know the reason. Cid is stated to be very upbeat in Rebirth, unlike the cranky foul-mouthed guy we know from OG. But I wouldn't despair on this just yet... Cid Speculation While it is unfortunate we don't see the usual Cid, consider the fact that we've heard nothing about Rocket Town, Shera, or if we'll even get Cid's story on how Shinra has treated him. It stands to reason that this view of Cid could be meant to shed light on why he becomes harsh and abusive to Shera (part 3). We may better side with Shera and why she is willing to take the abuse, knowing what he used to be and what he (presumably) becomes in part 3.

Case of Vincent There were a fair amount of positive comments on Vincent's reveal and his characterization, particularly his voice and moodiness which is a comparatively stark contrast to Cid's personality. So good news is, Vincent is as broody as ever. However, just like Cid, Vincent has little time to shine and keeps himself in the shadows, both visually and verbally. Vincent has some side quests that still give his personality time to show, but it would be prudent to not expect much screen time from Vincent in Rebirth. In spite of his lack of presence, however, consider that this still falls in line with how he is in OG. Vincent Speculation "Don't expect anything else from me except fighting beside you." If any of you recall, Vincent in OG made it very clear that he was going to do as little as possible when it came to getting close with the group. It isn't until after Aerith's death and defeating Hojo that Vincent finally comes out of his shell. Even then, by the time Meteor falls, he actively avoids getting close to the group (noted in On the Way to a Smile and Dirge of Cerberus). I think Rebirth is going to establish the vivid contrast between Cid and Vincent, and will then delve heavily into their characters in part 3. While it is upsetting we get so little screentime with Cid and Vincent on top of them being non-playable, consider where we are in the story. Critics have also confirmed that Cid and Vincent arrive fairly late into the game, so on top of story reasons, it makes practical reasons, as well. Given how ambitious Rebirth is, it only stands to reason that part 3 will have a ton more pressure to surpass Rebirth's expectations, and that includes delving deeper into Cid and Vincent via their personalities, gameplay, and backstory. Fans will rightly expect Square Enix to make up for the lack of Cid and Vincent's time in the spotlight. And I'm sure SE knows this.

Other Speculations Given the many hints about Dirge of Cerberus becoming more important to the story, and how strongly they are leaning into Vincent's Chaos, many fans are beginning to speculate that part 3 will draw a lot of elements from DoC, and rightfully so. We know we won't get any Deepground in Rebirth. So likely we will see them in part 3 to wrap up the whole story--- which if you know DoC's story, you know why Vincent will be very important to the ending. And then of course there's the issue with the secret ending aka Genesis, who we also know is connected to Vincent aka Weiss. On top of OG's latter end story and including compilation elements, I think we can safely assume we will get our Vincent/Cid appetites whet in part 3. Yes, it's unfortunate we have to wait another 3-4 years. But I'm thankful we do get some time with both Vincent and Cid in Rebirth, regardless.

[algea]

Oh, Honey pt. 2 <3

pairing: schlatt x original charactar

Pt. 1 | Pt. 2

warnings: none, maybe some cussing?

Schlatt was overly excited about this dinner he had planned with Ophelia. It was only a nice restaurant with a pretty girl he met and had been talking to for the past month. She was just so sweet, sweeter than anyone he's ever met. Maybe that was why he was so head over heels for her. Maybe that was why he was putting so much time and effort into the clothes he picked out, or how he styled his hair. Schlatt didn't want to believe it, but maybe Ted was right.

"So Ted, I met this girl." Schlatt exclaimed over the mic.

"As in, like, a girl you're interested in?" Ted questioned, skeptically.

"I don't want to believe it" Schlatt sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Ladies and Germs, I believe that we have come to a very important milestone. We must reminisce on the memories of Schlatt before he fell in love." Ted proclaimed, looking into the camera at the invisible audience.

Schlatt stayed silent, he wasn't sure what to say.

Tucker laughed in the background.

Schlatt sighed as he looked into the mirror. He felt like he didn't do enough, like he was still severely underdressed.

"It's better to not think about it." He muttered to himself, walking into his bedroom. He slipped on his shoes, grabbed his keys and walked out the front door.

Schlatt drove in silence, mostly because his mind was racing faster than he was driving. Seconds were hours and minutes were days. He needed a drink. A drink to make him forget the night if it went so terribly wrong.

Finally, he arrived at the venu. He was 15 minutes early, so he sat in the very fancy waiting area. Schlatt bounced a leg, God he needed a drink.

He looked around, observing other couples sitting at tables. Most looked like they were having some sort of fun, others looked bored, and a select few looked rather uninterested in each other. God, Schlatt hoped he wouldn’t be the former.

5 minutes. That’s all he needed to clear his head. 5 minutes of peace so that he can rid himself of the icky, disgusting feeling of despair that had been rotting his brain the past 30 minutes. The world was spinning like a top and he felt like there was no way to stop it.

“Schlatt?” A voice called through the storm. Schlatt looked up from where he was sitting. There she stood, her smile radiating beams brighter than the sun itself.

Ophelia was so beautiful. No one could compare to the radiant beauty she didn’t know she had. She wore a black and pink knitted skirt, paired with a white turtleneck and a matching jacket. A Chanel necklace sparkled brightly around the outside of the turtleneck, both minimal and flashy. Her lips were painted a soft dark red, red like a fine wine she would drink. Ophelia had earrings to match the beautiful necklace, which complimented her skin tone wonderfully. Her white teeth gleamed with a sparkle, a sparkle that Schlatt felt might turn his insides to a pulp.

“You look kind of awful.” She laughed, her eyes crinkling kindly. Schlatt blinked a few times before finally saying,

"Sorry, I was just uh...staring off."

"It's ok! I do that sometimes too." Ophelia said, offering him a hand to help him stand up. Schlatt more than willingly took her hand, standing up and smiling at her. He expected her to drop his hand right after he stood, but to his surprise she didn’t. “You look beautiful tonight.” Schlatt whispered, his heart racing out of his chest.

“You really mean that? Thank you so much! You look as handsome as ever.” Ophelia responded, squeezing his hand softly.

So, they finally walked up to the hostess, hand in hand, to kick off their date.

“Uh, reservation for Jonathan at 6:30?” Schlatt stated. They were led to a table outside that sat under a white picket arch decorated with hanging moss. Small yellow lights twinkled in the moss, making them look like stars. Past the arch the soil and rock cliffed off slightly, giving way for a beautiful, vast lake, reflections of mountains barely visible on the surface. This was truly the perfect place for two people to fall in love.

“This is incredible. I can’t believe I’m actually sitting here and looking at this.” Ophelia whispered, eyes wide with both fascination and joy. Schlatt drank her expression in, he wanted it etched in his mind for eternity.

“You surpass all of the beauty that surrounds us. You’re like a star shining so wonderfully bright. You’re breathtaking in every single thing you do.” Schlatt smiled, his eyes searching her face.

Ophelia didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t even speak after something like that. Tears welled in her eyes and she took both of his hands.

“I’ve never had someone speak that way about me. I-I truly thank you for being so kind.” She whispered. With one hand Ophelia reached up and touched Schlatts face, caressing his cheek softly with her thumb. She drew him closer, close enough to where he could see the brown flecks in her eyes. Schlatt gazed at her, wanting nothing more than to place a kiss on her pink lips.

Leaning down, he captured his lips with hers. A million fireworks set off in Schlatts chest and brain, celebrating this moment. They broke apart and Ophelia smiled.

“I think I want nothing more than to live the rest of my life experiencing you.” Ophelia said.

“If it means I’m able to experience you as well, I think I’d like that too.”

[midnightmah07]

Anneliese silently watched as Jamil dragging Damali away to the dance floor, her words stuck in her throat. When she caught sight of Rook getting closer, she couldn't resist the urge to ask.

"Are you and Damali a thing?" It was a very straightforward question and approach.

"Hm?" Rook saw the opportunity in his front. Damali and him actually talked about encourage the rumors... To see a little drama, of course. "Bien, oui. In fact, we are dating."

The sound of shattered glass was heard on the room. But, not actually heard, whatsoever, whoever looked into Anneliese's eyes would see a growing despair sight.

"Of course, I-I should've guessed... I mean," She takes a deep breath.

Feeling pressured, Anneliese wanted to hide her expression and avoid meeting his gaze, unaware of the hint of amusement in his eyes.

"I hope you guys are happy." But deep down, Anneliese really hoped he didn't got to be happier; Or at least not happy in the same way, she saw him to be when he was around her. "She is beautiful, Rook. She looks kind... She-" She probably gives him butterflies.

Clearing her throat nervously, Anneliese played with her hair, feeling a pang of insecurity. She looked away from him, not wanting to feel compared, especially since Damali was so pretty - something Anneliese found hard to be or see herself as.

For a quick moment, Rook felt the immediate urge to break the facade. He could see her genuine nervousness growing, stirring an impulse within him to reveal the truth. And, Sevens forbid, him to hurt the one he has been pinning on for so long.

So, instead of letting her go, Rook takes her arm.

"Ma chérie," his hand trailed over her cheek gently, as he was able to see the tears in the corner of her eyes. "As if I was ever going to give up on you. Only a fool to do so."

"I thought-"

"-You were silly to think so." He amusedly said. "Why you even cared so much? I thought you didn't felt anything for moi."

"I never-" She closes her eyes in embarrassment, those words won't get out from her mouth, at least not after this. "You are a bastard."

He chuckles. The hand holding her arm goes down to hold Anneliese's hand, with the other hand letting her cheek go as he presses down a kiss.

"Care for a dance?"

The silence wasn't a bother to Rook. He remains in the wait list for three years, he can definitely wait a few seconds.

"Yes..."

HELP THEY'RE SO CUTE🥺🥺🥺🥺

He's just sooooooo I mean sooooooooo and then heeeeee and heeeee

Anneliese please just kiss him I'm begging you I'm on my knees like come on don't be a coward now KISS HIM–

[tritoch]

the damsel and the hero: some thoughts on minfilia and elidibus

I get why many people have (understandable, justified, legitimate) gripes to this day about how Minfilia was handled, but I think you don't have to change anything about how she's presented in game to arrive at a reading that lets her feel like more than a sacrificial victim. Within the game as it exists, Minfilia is already a rich and layered heroic character. She is not a damsel or a tragic hero but a victorious figure whose very exit from the narrative affirmed her own ideals, and she controlled her own destiny to the end. All you have to do to see this more clearly is read her against one of her underexamined foils: Elidibus.

Spoilers through the end of Pandemonium (6.4) below.

After 5.3 dropped, the devs mentioned that because they basically had to develop and pay off Elidibus in the space of a patch or two, they drew conscious parallels between him and other characters. The game highlights the G'raha parallels in the scene just before Seat of Sacrifice. There's also the parallels to Alphinaud that people have noticed in both the broad strokes of their characterization (idealistic short kings who believe in the power of rhetoric and diplomacy to achieve true and lasting understanding between people, whose mission to save the world is forever held in balance with their duty to save those they love) and in specific lines of dialogue.

But a far more direct narrative parallel than either character is Minfilia. Like Elidibus and Zodiark, Minfilia offered herself to Hydaelyn, serving as the Word of the Mother, only to be called forth once more when an intractable conflict between her allies threatened the stability of the world. Both were messianic young figures who nonetheless lead their older allies by both example and command. Both, seeing an opportunity to save not just their close friends but everyone, offered themselves up to a higher power in an act not of desperation but of deliberate will. You can even poetically gloss both Antecedent and Emissary as "The One That Goes Before."

The difference between the two of them is that at every turn, where Elidibus failed, Minfilia succeeded.

Elidibus returned to broker peace between the Hydaelyn faction and the Convocation. He failed, and the result was the Sundering. Minfilia, entreated by Urianger, came back to resolve the conflict between the Warriors of Darkness (Hydaelyn's champions and Warriors of Light themselves) and the Scions, and succeeded in saving two worlds by her actions.

But more than that, Elidibus provided us a picture of what it actually looks like to lose your identity to a primal like Zodiark. He'd lived a thousand thousand lifetimes as himself and he was so broken he could scarcely remember anything more than his name and his duty. He is one of the most explicitly tragic figures in all of FFXIV, and his final sendoff in 5.3 was an image of him plagued by unanswerable grief, which for him was a consequence of his failure: "The rains have ceased, and we have been graced with another beautiful day. But you are not here to see it."

Meanwhile, in the preceding expansion, you actually had the chance to spend multiple scenes with Minfilia and they're all extremely clear: unlike Ardbert or Elidibus, after 100 years this was still Minfilia, she remained resolute in her mission to see the First saved, but she had not forgotten the woman she was or the people she loved. In both 3.4 and 5.0, she went out as herself, head held high.

Speaking to the Warrior of Light before she departs for the First: "So many times have I watched you depart, my heart filled with worry, and ever did you return to me in triumph. Someday, when I have found a way to free this star from Her sorrow, I promise you I shall repay the favor."

Her final words to Ryne: "No one, however powerful, is immune to the whisperings of doubt and despair. Do not give in to them, but do not deny them either. Look instead to the light within, that you may continue to serve as a beacon to others."

In both instances, we were given a Minfilia who had not merely accepted her fate, but who had chosen it of her own volition and rose confidently to meet it, even imparting to her successor some final hard-won words of wisdom. And unlike Elidibus, she met her friends again at duty's end; they live, and they are happy, and she is content. She's already heroic, but the contrast to Elidibus (and Ardbert, and Emet) underlines the extent to which we should see her as extraordinarily driven, self-possessed and ultimately victorious on her own terms.

And in making the connection between Elidibus and Minfilia, we can begin to let Elidibus's characterization inform hers in retrospect.

Elidibus as we see him in 5.3 and earlier more specifically paralleled Minfilia as the Word of the Mother. Prior to that point in her arc, Minfilia's parallel was Themis, the pre-Zodiark Elidibus we glimpse briefly in the 5.3 Echo flashbacks and would only meet properly an expansion later in Pandemonium. The important thing about Themis for our purposes is that he was not some naive or too-young figurehead tricked into serving as Zodiark's Emissary. This was not a Crystal Braves situation for him. In Pandemonium, you can see how the kind of man Themis was very clearly lead to him choosing to be offered up to Zodiark. He took seriously the principles and duties of the Convocation. He valued dearly the lives of all people generally and his friends and comrades in particular, but held those truths in balance rather than prizing one. He was rational, clear-sighted, and decisive.

All of these, obviously, were true of Minfilia. And unlike Elidibus, whose ascension into Zodiark was forever somewhat obscured by the narrative, we were quite close to Minfilia before she became the Word of the Mother. We were quite familiar with her grief and guilt over surviving where Louisoix did not, her fear that she could neither fill his shoes as a leader nor serve in action as others did. She confided in us about the difficulty of her task in serving as the pillar of strength and guiding light for the rest of the Scions. She despaired alongside the player character at both the death of Moenbryda and the disastrous events of the Banquet. We know what she believed, what she valued, what she feared, what frustrated her. When she chose to depart for the First, it paid off very directly everything else the game has said about her through 3.4. Her arc was one of trepidation and doubt, and it ended in her ultimate victory and an astonishingly clean win that compromises none of her values.

Both Urianger and some fans raised the question of whether it was wrong for Urianger to ever offer her the choice of sacrificing herself for the First at all. Minfilia, for her part, got a chance to speak to this directly: "Have we not walked together in the light of the Crystal, and at Her bidding borne witness to the joys and sorrows of this land? Each and every one of you knows my heart. If this be the price I must pay, I pay it gladly." It did not matter whether she was given this particular decision or not. You could have offered her this dilemma in a thousand different permutations in a thousand thousand different scenarios. This was the choice she made. This was her choice, forever and always: to save everyone she can, in honor of those she loves.

Candidly, I understand critiques of Minfilia's writing far better than any praise it could ever receive. Nothing I've written above answers the clear and obvious truths that she is underwritten, that she does not get much to do or much screentime for a putatively important character, that it is very easy and common to read her death as a fridging, that she is unfairly dismissed by many due to her role in the narrative and the way she leaves it. Her sacrifice plays into specific gendered tropes that are disappointingly common to see. Those things all remain true.

But I think as we remember those things we should also keep in mind that she does still get a complete arc that is interesting and thematically rich in itself, and which puts her in some senses on the same level in the narrative as characters like Elidibus, Emet-Selch, and Ardbert.

Her sacrifice continues to inform the game. Her literal ghost returns to affirm the truth and value of her beliefs and the choices she made. Her guiding words ("For those we have lost, for those we can yet save") remain a mantra not just for the Scions but specifically for the player character. They are not an empty slogan. The phrase succinctly conveys an ideal of all-encompassing humanism and compassion arising from grief. The ideal those words represent is one of many organizing principles and responses to grief that the game examines (because a lot of FFXIV is about grief and how we respond to tragedy and change), it is Minfilia who develops and articulates it, and it is the one the heroes continue to align themselves with. It is the same principle that leads her to the First, and G'raha, and us too. It is Minfilia's ideals--Minfilia's heroism--which continue to serve as the model to which the Warrior of Light aspires, in the game's text.

Truthfully, my gripe is this. I think it is very easy to imagine a male Minfilia--same lines, same screentime, same blocking, same ass cut-out--appearing in place of the Minfilia we have. And I feel quite sincerely, and quite frustratedly, that if we had Malefilia, both the fans and detractors of that character would ascribe to him more thoughtfulness and more thematic depth than the Minfilia we already have, even though their lines would be exactly the same. We are so ready to see the damsel we expect in Minfilia that we are unwilling to see her as the hero she is in the text, and my hope is that by holding her up to her mirror, Elidibus, we may see her as a rich character in her own right all the more clearly.

[itsbenedict]

Bullet Proof: Postmortem

Waaaay back in the day, when I was 19 and I'd just discovered Dangan Ronpa (back when we put the space in the title, because all we had was the Orenronen LP and we called Ultimates "Super High-School Levels"), I decided to do my own. That was the heyday of forum adventures on the MSPA Forums, and there were no standards. I didn't know how to draw, but I decided to learn. I wanted to make a thing!

I got a good ways into it, honestly! It went through a few format changes, skipping over a couple cases in the middle in an abridged format on Tumblr, but I'd finally found my groove for the fourth case, playable from the perspective of the murderer. It was going well!

Then the MSPA Forums got hacked and the admins didn't keep any backups and everything was lost.

So that sucked! And once it became clear they were never going to recover the forums due to a mix of security incompetence and not giving a shit, I didn't really have a choice but to try and reboot it. I'd lost all the text, apart from a few garbled pages from a corrupted archive snapshot.

But... I've got way too much else I want to do at this point, and it's not looking too likely I'm going to have the time to come back to it. So if you want to know everything about what happened and where it was going...

You've clicked the readmore. So you do want to know all that. Here goes! Activate theme music.

You remember how it opened, right? It was a forum adventure, and at the time, I asked the readers to select an SHSL talent and gender as the protagonist entered the American branch of Hope's Peak Academy.

That was diegetic. "Alice Bayko" was an SHSL Impostor, or- I actually kinda waffled on having her not technically be SHSL anything, as she infiltrated the school with a false identity. She has, however, forgotten this, and her original identity and mission, leaving her with nothing but the mask. I believe there was a scene planned, or maybe a scene that did happen, I forget- where Alice would be called upon to demonstrate some sort of stage magic trick... and completely not know how to do any of that.

But what was she up to?

Well, that's a good question, with a complicated answer. Let's start pulling back the layers, here.

Seventeen students, and of the seventeen... somewhere between six and nine of them could be considered secret masterminds. Hilariously, I seem to have ordered this old banner issue in order of who's the most technically the ultimate mastermind, which was very cheeky of me. Would've been fun if someone ever caught that.

Let's start with...

Mastermind Level 1: Disguise

This creepy kid, SHSL Prodigy Billy Bookerton, was supposed to be the original secret mastermind in charge of the school. As came up in the adventure proper, this iteration of Hope's Peak was intended to be a safehouse from the ongoing despair apocalypse pictured in the Danganronpa canon. The son of the headmaster, he would control their Monokuma puppet and be in charge of faking to the outside world that this Monokuma-themed airship was in fact a murder-happy despair cult (like everywhere else on Earth somehow.)

This was not supposed to be a secret to the student body. And this 27-year-old man was not supposed to wake up in the body of a malnourished child and pose as a student. After events occurred, he found himself like this, with a note in his own handwriting instructing him to lay low and play this role.

What events occurred?

Mastermind Level 2: Blackmail

Also explained in the adventure proper, since these two were culprit and victim of the playable case 4: Gwendolyn and Ursula Schultheiss, SHSL Sysadmin and SHSL Retro Gamer nothing at all. Gwen was admitted to Hope's Peak on the basis of an actual talent, and pretty quickly gained control of their computer systems, sneaking Ursula in under the guise of Sakura Aran, and learning about the plan to escape Ultimate Despair by disguising the school and taking to the sky.

She thought that plan was really stupid.

Specifically, she thought Ultimate Despair was a flash in the pan, and it was ridiculous to think that some student riots all the way in Japan posed some sort of apocalyptic threat. (In her defense, this is a reasonable thing to think! It is ridiculous! Danganronpa's worldbuilding is fucking nonsense! But unfortunately for her, we're rolling with it.)

So she and Ursula hatched a plan to get rich. Hope's Peak is full of the progeny of the super-rich, like the Bright conglomerate. Obviously people like this would have loads of incriminating secrets, with which they could be blackmailed, and by which they would deserve to be blackmailed because screw those nepo babies. The plan was to run a Deception Game, not a Killing Game- they'd steal Billy's remote-control scary apocalypse terrorist, and pit everyone against each other in a contest to uncover each other's darkest secrets.

Once they had the dirt, they'd pretend to lose control and land the ship somewhere safe and sound, and Hope's Peak could deal with the scandal of the Monokuma hijacking and the consequences of their bonkers overreaction to some airhead fashionista's trendy protest.

If you recall, their plan went like this:

Each of them assumed that the other had somehow betrayed them and hijacked the school's systems on their own- Ursula retained control of the damaged Monokuma puppet, and Gwen retreated to her secret closet base to try and wrest control of the systems back from whatever super-hacker Ursula found to compromise her control. It took Gwen a few chapters (and accidentally murdering her sister) to realize that there was a...

Mastermind Level 3: Reality TV

It all started with SHSL Heir Henry Bright, heir to the Bright Conglomerate and active vice director of the company. Specifically, he directed vice. The Bright Conglomerate, in his opinion, did things too by-the-book, and were passing up big opportunities for growth in the organized crime sector. He was fostering connections with the Hit Deck (which led to the altercation that led to his and Dominique Martine's deaths in case 2), and...

Unlike Gwen, he didn't think the emergence of Ultimate Despair was nonsense. No, it was a growth opportunity. His plan was to invite a film crew to the airship and broadcast an exciting (fake) killing game to pander to this emerging despair-based market! With illicit funds provided by his contact in the Hit Deck (in exchange for his help securing a place on the ark for the Hit Deck's boss and trusted confidantes, posing as students), he assembled a team. Bribed some students, located an SHSL Doctor and some effects artists for realistic murder effects, did some networking, and...

...well, word gets around. The team he put together had bigger ambitions. A creative vision. One that had no room for executive meddling. They cut him out of the production team and forced him into the cast.

(I'm honestly not sure if this layer of convolution was necessary- I was on the fence about cutting him from the cast. The show's team might've found out about the school just because Gwen and Sakura screwed up the school's stealth measures. He's gotta kind of be there to explain the Hit Deck's presence, though, since aside from Dom none of them were actual Ultimates.)

Realer Reality TV

Before I reveal the members of the final mastermind tier, let's go over how they did this.

I never ended up using this portrait, but this is Davi Rossi, SHSL Doctor, though he prefers "Ultimate Necromancer". He's a graduate of the original Hope's Peak in Japan, and his technology is the cornerstone of the whole setup here- underneath the school, in the restricted areas in the body of the ship, he has a whole secret lab with vats of glowy chemicals and fancy futuristic surgical tools.

He can bring back the dead.

Well, sort of. He can do all sorts of repairs on ordinary tissues- lose a limb, get a vital organ mashed up, bleed out, he can fix that. He can make alterations to the body, too- such as surgically reverting someone's apparent age, or implanting remote-control death chips, or strategically weakening someone's skull.

He can even fix a certain degree of brain damage- the kind of stuff that might occur if you suffer blunt force trauma or total deoxygenation, where the brain is still mostly intact.

As a result, most victims are recoverable. When someone dies, he can bring them back again and again. However: he can't fully reconstitute the brain, and he has a number of limitations when it comes to working with it:

If the brain is completely torn apart or otherwise destroyed, he cannot revive the victim.

He can't directly mind-control anyone, nor can he insert false memories.

He can delete and rearrange memories, but not read minds, and memory deletion is episodic- he can't mess with specific facts, only spans of time.

I think I... also made an exception so he could delete specific people? Which is clunky and doesn't really make sense in hindsight.

There's still a lot you can do by cutting up and rearranging the filmstrip of someone's memory- but except in one specific case, he only ever really used it to delete the last loop.

In case it wasn't obvious, this isn't the first killing game. This show has multiple seasons. It's been going a while- and while injuries that destroy the brain are rare, they're not nonexistent, and so there's quite a few students who died before the story began. There used to be a lot more students! That's why all the dorm rooms have bunkbeds!

And there's also unfortunately the one who received a fatal injury in this loop by blowing himself up with an improvised explosive device. Sorry, Mill!

(There's actually only a few people physically present running the show, since the show's been running for years now and they found that they really didn't need more than a skeleton crew to run it- Davi and some student plants, along with Monokuma drones and countless hidden cameras, are all that's necessary for production on the ground. There's no adult film crew present on the ship.)

(♪ Kids with guns. Kids with guns. Taking over. But they won't be long. ♪)

Davi is also responsible for rigging up the masterminds with the mental control rigs for the two Monokumas- and has a third Monokuma of his own, who was going to show up to treat Martha's injury during case 4, I think in literally the very next update planned before the forums exploded.

So who are the people in control of these Monokuma knockoffs?

Mastermind Level 5: Case 5

All that I just mentioned about Davi? You learn about this in the fifth case, after case 4 in which you play as either Sakura or Gwen after killing their sister and trying to avoid getting caught in the trial. You can't win case 4, but you can successfully stall and bullshit long enough for the trial to be interrupted by a sudden explosion before you can be executed.

Prior to case 4, Billy has disappeared into a secret passage, trying to track down the mastermind. Likewise, Flopsy-Turvy, Alice's rabbit, has also disappeared into a secret passage. Billy remains missing during case 4's trial.

After the explosion, the Monokumas call off the trial and lead the whole class to Davi's secret lab, which is the site of a set of murders.

Davi has been murdered via various small lacerations all over his body, including a slit throat.

Billy has been blown to bits by an explosion.

If Gwen or Sakura was executed during the trial, their corpse is found on a table in the lab.

Flopsy-Turvy, who was a robot all along, has been reduced to mechanical smithereens.

Violette, not dead anymore, but unable to speak aloud due to an incompletely healed throat injury

Some completely unfamiliar redhead kid, who doesn't know jack about anything and doesn't know how he got here.

The two survivors of this scene are naked save for some towels they found, and appear to have been spilled out from a couple of big glowy specimen tanks which were broken in the explosion that killed Billy and Flopsy. More on them later.

The subsequent investigation reveals all that stuff I just told you about Davi, blowing the setup wide open. In the course of that investigation, two of the masterminds find themselves confessing their involvement. After all- Davi's dead. There's no way they can run another season without someone to bring people back to life!

One in particular confesses before the other one- she doesn't care anymore, and she's happy to watch her co-conspirator squirm to try to avoid revealing his evil machinations to the people he desperately wants to think he's cool.

Lilakali Bhallu and Raymond Rizzini are my favorites. They suck so much. They hate each other quite a lot, and have gotten together and broken up like three different times. Their collective theme song is No Children by The Mountain Goats. They're like 25 at this point, stuck in the bodies of the teenagers they were when the show started filming and they fully agreed to be part of the production.

Why? Well, Lilakali hates everyone and enjoys seeing them turn on each other like rabid wolves repeatedly- and Raymond craves acceptance and is using his memory privileges and surveillance abilities to try over and over again to be Popular In High School (to no avail.) They're both pretty pathetic people.

Notably, they are both real students who're supposed to be here. I don't remember if I ever had Lilakali make any predictions, and she'll insist she's just making shit up, but I was gonna have her predictions all come true, because the Fortune Teller thing is a real talent. And Raymond really can make a pretty mean burger. (Cheekily, that old Tumblr post was supposed to have taken place in a previous season- you might notice Gwen in the background, who in this iteration was never convinced to leave her room for meals, instead sneaking out at night to raid the cafeteria.)

Lilakali also has an Edgy Backstory- she grew up in the circus, apprenticed under her grandmother, who refused to let her socialize with kids her age. She was supposed to learn the family divining techniques, not dance around like some harlot with a pack of urchins! Her grandma taught her to hate the world, and herself, and accidentally also her grandmother. One day, in a moment of perfect nihilist clarity, she took a Sixlizard cigarette lighter out of the trash, wandered amongst the tents, and burned down the entire circus, killing her grandma in the process. She looks back on that moment fondly as the happiest she's ever been.

Anyway. Those two are my favorites, but they're not the ultimate masterminds. In fact... they're quite sure there's supposed to be a third mastermind, and they suspect this third mastermind of having erased their memories of them and killing Davi. They can tell their memories were edited- they're fully aware of how the tech works and what the signs are, and they can tell there's big ugly gaps and gashes in their recollection of the past. Someone was missing, and Davi was being all cagey and weird about it. And last loop...

Well, what happened last loop is the direct cause of case 5. And at the end of the investigation... the two Monokumas go dead, and one giant Monokuma shows up, furious that Davi is dead and forcing the students to go to trial one more time. This will be the final execution- catching Davi's murderer.

Mastermind Level 6: Sailing No More

It doesn't take long into trial 5 for the identity of this giant Monokuma to be revealed- it's a mechsuit with a living person in it, not a robot, and he unmasks himself during the trial without too much objection once people start questioning... that confused redhead kid who they found at the crime scene. That character introduces himself as... the Super High-School Level Pilot, Nolan Cubbins.

Wait. What?

Didn't that guy die?

Well, you see--

--oh, shit, I forgot Tumblr has an image limit of 30 images per post. Uh, gonna have to break this up into two posts. Continue reading here!

[fala-alfredo-pasta]

Another uncommon shipping I think would work is Sonia and Nagito. She seems very pleased the way his eyes lit up during the trial like hers do during horror movies and she stuck up for him later on too. I’m a little afraid of him having that much power though…

Ahaha I actually had an au for them post-graduation in a non-despair time in which Nagito is traveling to Novoselic after having won a cruise trip there. And, though he would have avoided long travel, considering that his old classmate happened to be ruling said kingdom, Nagi thought he’d take the risk in order to get a chance to see her in action (plus he’s wanted to see the kingdom after learning so much about it through Sonia). Surprisingly nothing too catastrophic happens on the way and Nagito has a pleasant time taking in the sights. However, he starts noticing that not everything is rainbows and sunshine in Novoselic, and in fact many of its citizens seem rather displeased by the current government. This becomes all too clear when, during a public appearance/announcement made by none other than Sonia herself, Nagito overhears copious jeers towards the princess and even has to step in to stop someone from throwing a shoe at her—the scene causing Nagito’s presence in the kingdom to be known to Sonia. Sonia has a guard escort Nagito to her home, feeling utterly embarrassed of having him witness such a thing. It doesn’t take long for her to come clean of Novoselic’s troubles—more specifically the staggering amount of people who find her inadequate to rule and are opposed to her upcoming coronation. Sonia admits that she’s been lost in what to do ever since her parents sudden passing and feels she’s starting to agree with her citizen’s thoughts of being a failure of a ruler. She’s truly considering giving the crown to her cousin whom some of the citizens are supporting. Nagito’s heart went out to her, knowing fully well the feeling of losing one’s parents so unexpectedly, but to also be expected to lead a nation right after? My god the amount of stress must be astounding. To see the Ultimate Princess this…broken…it was blasphemous. And like hell he’s going to let her give up her crown and fall to despair—not if he can do anything about. So, Nagito offers his services. He reminds Sonia of what great things she’s done and is capable of doing, but what she really needs is support—someone on her corner. And though he may be a lowly nobody, he DOES understand a thing or two about politics (and manipulation). He’ll be her shoulder to cry on so she can turn to her citizens with a collected and confident face. He’ll be her test run when she’s unsure of an idea. He’ll be her eyes and ears to keep track of the masses and their tidying. He’ll be her anything and everything she needs in order to be the best beacon of Hope she can be. And my god does he really mean it.

Of course, this au wasn’t simply going to be a hurt/comfort with a happy ending. Oh no, no, not with Nagito. It would soon get twisted and quite complicated as many things do with him. And their ever intertwining relationship will set Sonia forth as a queen that Novoselic with surely remember.

Oh my god this ask really unlocked these old ass memories of this au that I legit just came up with after listening to Imagine Dragon’s “Enemy” once ☝️ I was like “but what if Nagito becomes Sonia’s advisor and makes her Novoselic’s most notorious ruler??” I didn’t think I still remembered this much of it but here we are lol

[kindan-no-kanojo]

Corrupted Diamonds

The present tale is a darker alternative to the known story of Aladdin (Disney’s version).  DDA Event: Once Upon Dreams And Nightmares by @bluebird-dolly-bride!

"Corrupted Diamonds" as a darker reference to "A diamond in the rough" Warning: Depiction of a character's death. ↓↓Story and Full image below↓↓

Summary

Corrupted Diamonds

Once upon a time, a poor, young boy wished to have it all. Surviving day by day while others would have everything they wished for only by asking for it, is an unfair way to live. The boy, determined to find a way out of that miserable life, wished upon stars and powerful entities for a better situation, for a life worth living, a way to show the world what he was made of... but nothing was as easy as they made it seem. When help arrived, Aladdin easily succumbed to the greed of his heart...

In the depths of the Royal Palace, was a Princess. Princess Jasmine faced the duty of marrying an important member of society to make the legacy of the family prevail, although nothing she ever wanted seemed to matter. Her wishes and desires drowned in the greed of those above her, as though she was but another follower. One thousand nights romanticizing freedom weren't enough to reach it. Was it too much to ask, a voice, a love for her to choose, a chance to do what she was capable of doing...? Jasmine swore to the moon one last time before putting her heart aside…

How far would a hopeless soul go?

I. Aladdin's side

Despair and hopelessness are enough to corrupt the most pure of hearts. 

Only surviving day by day wasn’t a good way to live. Aladdin knew that well, trapped in a routine of misery and uncertainty, risking his life just to have a little more food to hang on until the next day, then everything would repeat. He took pride in his adventurous soul that helped him grow a thick skin and the ability to do what it takes to survive, no matter the cost, but how long was he supposed to live amongst danger and mischief?

Every night he would isolate in his favorite hidden spot, up in a hill of limited reach, where his personal shelter resided. Friend of the crows, who deemed him trustworthy for his tendency to share with them whatever he could get his hands on; soon enough that soft spot for the dismal birds paid off, when the feathered companions started to bring a number of interesting things to the shelter, even the food they were witty enough to take.

Up there, hidden, he had an unfiltered view of the starry sky. All those stars knew about his secrets and desires that he could hardly tell anyone else. Wishes that lived deep within a heart that little by little, in face of the circle of hopelessness that never seemed to end, had begun to darken.

Aladdin has his eyes on a goal, in more ways than one: Aside from the stars he worshiped for their purity and glow, that view also included the Royal Palace. What wouldn’t he give for a luxurious life like that one? People loving him, working for him, giving him everything he wanted while he would finally get the peace he always sought and never met. It had to be so easy to live between luxuries while people like him had to risk their lives for another day under the stars…

It made him undeniably envious.

Wishing wasn’t enough, that was clear, but what to do? If he could marry the Princess of that palace, he would have everything he wanted in the blink of an eye. Not long ago, he heard the rumors in the streets. After some incident had taken place in the Palace, the Princess turned out to be unmarried…

“If only” was something he began to repeat more and more often. If only he had more tools, more chances, more... just more. The redhead Princess no only was very well-accommodated, but also had the most eye-catching looks he had ever seen. He stood no chance.

One day like it could have been any other, one of the crows found something particularly interesting. A weird-looking lamp was now in his possession. The bird found its shiny exterior very alluring, and decided to hide it from the public view, much like they all did with the immeasurable amount of shiny little treasures. 

The lamp, dusty and seemingly old, had a certain white glow. Aladdin’s curiosity got the best of him, but he also had to fight with his growing greed. Maybe it could be sold to begin his journey to a new life…?

But first, it needs a little cleaning…

II. Jasmine’s side

«Stay in your place, better seen and not heard…»

Jasmine’s life not only has become repetitive, but also humiliating. Living under the roof of the Palace as herself and as a puppet were not so different alternatives. Her Father took care of the Empire and Jasmine in equal measure. Despite her appreciation for the nurture, her sense of self was getting more and more lost whenever her words were cut off mid-sentence or her suggestions got lost in the wind. With her mother out of the picture, she had to marry someone in order to become Queen. Her Father would gladly give his position of power up to his daughter under that little yet enormous condition.

After becoming an adult, her entire life was being controlled by both her Father and the individual he chose for her to marry: A powerful sorcerer, under the name of Jaffar. 

A life where “no” and “yes” had the exact same meaning was not the life Jasmine wanted for herself. No matter the wealth surrounding her or the endless candidates wanting to take Jaffar’s place, her life had become hollow to the point where she only lived blankly, day by day.

Sitting at the balcony of her room like every night, she’d look up at the sky and find the moon shining back, above the people her family ruled for. How Jasmine wanted to be like the moon... beautiful despite being scarred and imperfect, its value never questioned. It could go out when it wanted, impress everyone without effort, show the parts of itself that shone the brightest, and no one would say a thing. They couldn’t, of course, the moon was unreachable… 

If only Jasmine was unreachable, like the moon, no one would be able to step on her so easily.

Days continued to pass by, the loveless marriage was on its course. She never said yes, she never said no, but it didn’t matter anymore. Even though she could respond when she was given the final question, would anyone listen? Would anyone ask…?

Under the moonlight that made her company on the warm night before the wedding, she made a promise:

“This is the last one.” 

The last order she’d ever accept, and the first and last with would agree to follow. The moon has been the one witness of the deterioration of Jasmine’s heart, but she knew that the moon itself had to get hit to get those imperfections that made her unique, worshiped and unreachable… So, she would give everyone the satisfaction of the alliance and would become Queen. Put her heart aside for a while and sacrifice her will in order to become like the moon in the only way she could find.

Thus, the Royal Wedding finally took place, and the entirety of the empire witnessed Jasmine’s determined “I do.” 

One day like it could have been any other, Jasmine and Jaffar had become the new Rulers. As it was tradition in Jaffar’s legacy, he would share his powers with his wife. He’d teach her the basics, the very basics, as his main interest was, clearly, not the woman by his side. Luckily enough, the sentiment was mutual.

During the honeymoon, Jasmine accidentally learned that her husband was not just any sorcerer, but his ultimate power was given by a genie; a powerful creature that would grant any wish to those who were lucky enough to have the chance to fulfill them. The newlywed had become as powerful as a genie, for the sake of fulfilling his own greedy desires, dragging Jasmine along, and manipulating her own Father to get his way with his hypnotic powers.

Many things fell into place thanks to some subordinate that spoke a little too much, but at least they agreed to provide information to the new Queen when she demanded to know about the man she had married. Nonetheless, something inside Jasmine shattered when it was made clear that his three wishes alongside his own magic were used so selfishly to get where he was now, no matter how many people he’d humiliate and step on in the way. Power, wealth, legacy… What was that? Envy? Jealousy? Wrath? Why was it so easy for some people to get what they wanted?

That night, the dark lamp connecting Jaffar to his powerful life essence fell in Jasmine’s hands. 

. . . . . .

In the dim lit room, her husband called for her to consummate their so-called love. The disgust of the redhead Queen was evident for a number of reasons.

“What love…?” Jasmine’s voice muttered, soft as ever, unheard as ever. A crescent moon shone through the window, the fireplace made the room warm. She did not make a move. In fact, she already did. 

“Come over,” the man invited, extending his hand, and Jasmine gave one single step forward as her slender arms crossed below her chest. Purple hues observed him in silence, a small portion of amusement was hidden underneath that expressionless face. Before her husband could utter another word, he was surprised by a sudden, violent cough.

Jaffar’s body tensed up, his expression contorted in seconds, and now his voice left not any order, but a shriek of unbearable pain. Jasmine watched how he confusedly agonized on the mattress, calling for help, demanding Jasmine to do something, to explain, to help, as she only blinked while her lips formed a smile.

“No,” her silky voice now echoed louder. The now King felt himself burning inside out while he was trying to get out of the bed and desperately reach for her, without any luck. After falling from the bed, only a few crawls in her direction were all he was able to perform. One last shout left his throat before he quieted down and collapsed, stiff, dead.

Silence. Jasmine felt a rush of something she couldn’t comprehend. She nudged Jaffar’s arm with her foot and received no response. He was really dead. She had succeeded. 

Only then, the Queen started laughing loudly for the first time in so many years.

In the meantime, the dark lamp would stay burning at the very back of the fireplace for another while, to make sure that greedy soul within the magic oil would burn in all kinds of Hell.

III. Corrupted Diamonds

Jasmine sat on the balcony like she would do every night, but it has been a while since the known hollow feeling was gone. She breathed in the dew-scented air surrounding the area and the people beneath her, living in the city under her control. No one seemed to miss her husband, and she cared little if they did. Whenever she was asked, the Queen affirmed that Jaffar had left something truly valuable for her to be able to move on after his mysterious and tragic death.

Her legs swung in the air, the dark lamp hung from her fingers. A relaxed sigh escaped her lips in the moonlit darkness when something peculiar caught her eye. Did someone just fly across the moon? 

It was too fast to catch, but now she could not ignore it. Again, there it is, but closer. This time, she followed the figure with her eyes. 

A man in white and golden Prince-like clothing approached in a flying... carpet?, but soon he stopped when their eyes met. He looked rather shocked, like he was doing something he was not supposed to. Given the circumstances, flying around Royal property on a carpet, no less, was enough reason to understand that it was something out of the ordinary. 

“Who are you?” Jasmine inquired, the frown on her face made her distrust palpable. As though it was taken as an invitation and not as a warning, the Prince flew closer instead.

“Good evening. I’m... your Prince,” he answered, cheeky. His hand proudly laid on his chest and his head was held high, almost too perfectly aligned with a Prince stereotype. Jasmine’s concern grew, another candidate? However, the act was off.

“You are late, sir,” her response, short and dry, triggered an over-exaggerated, bewildered whine. Despite having focused her eyes on the moon after her statement, that reaction quickly brought her attention back to the flying Prince, “...what’s the matter?” 

“...I’m sorry, Princess, what do you mean by ‘late’?” 

Jasmine chuckled.

“Well, what do you mean by ‘Princess’?” She looked into the so-called Prince’s eyes, whose confusion knew no limits, much to her amusement, “How come a Prince doesn’t know that the Princess he’s after has become Queen already…?”

“Queen—!?” The shock in the man’s voice finally made her laugh out loud. Not only was it funny how he only had the news her Father shared with citizens, but also it confirmed a short-lived suspicion.

“If you really were a Prince,” Jasmine started, tasting the awkwardness of the dark-haired man with exquisite care, “you might be part of a realm far away from here… far enough to not know about the news, yet not far enough to not know about me… maybe a realm living underground?” A pause, “...Seriously, now, how much did your costume cost?”

Jasmine’s eyes showed nothing but some odd joy, and perhaps that was what made the poor young man laugh along, “guilty as charged, huh… I should have known,” he scratched the back of his head, like a child who got caught red-handed, “I’m sorry, Princ— my Queen, I think I really took too long to get to you. Ahh, if you knew how hard it is to handle one of these...!” he floated around with the magic carpet, the crow that tagged along had to fly around on its own, away from him in the meantime. Shortly after, he faced the Queen once again, extending his hand towards her, “well... May I be of your service in some way to pay for this awkward inconvenience, my Queen?” 

“How charming…” instead of accepting his hand, she made a gesture with hers to attract him closer, “come here, let me take a better look at you… Meanwhile, would you tell me your name?” 

“Aladdin,” he introduced himself, seemingly relaxed, as if a big weight just got lifted off his shoulders. Jasmine lifted Aladdin’s face up, holding his chin rather tenderly as they made eye-contact. 

“Aladdin… why would you lie to me?” The girl questioned, almost disappointed, but there was some curiosity in the midst of her judgment, still. Her amethyst glance pierced into the male’s copper rose one, admiring how suddenly devoted he’s become.

How much of that devotion was real, and how much was due to a certain magic inheritance, it was hard to tell. 

“I’m… not lying to you,” Aladdin’s voice grew softer, in trance. The redhead rose a brow, quick to make clear that it was useless to keep the act up, and so he simply sighed in defeat, “okay, but this was the only way I could reach you…” 

“Reach me...?” Quite an interesting choice of words, the sharp sensation in her chest would confirm it. The lamp hanging from Jasmine’s finger made a subtle movement he was too lost to catch, or to care. A glowing gas-like content, almost invisible to the mortal eye, made its way out and merged within the air they breathed, soon materializing into a translucent ghost snake that coiled around the Queen’s shoulders before sliding down her arm to personally meet this new face. 

“Why are you here, Aladdin? What do you want?” 

“I want… everything,” there was no hesitation in his confession. A greedy soul, Jasmine acknowledged. A greedy soul that, unlike many others, was very upfront about it. Was it because of her position of power, or was there something else behind his true intentions? The snake licked the deceitful Prince’s chin, as he continued to be unaware of it.

“Everything... including the Queen?” 

Not quite to her surprise, Aladdin nodded. His crimson eyes had a strange glow added to them, matching the snake below him. Jasmine appreciated the honesty, although she could not let history repeat itself so easily.

“Cute...,” she admitted with interest, nonetheless, “if you really are willing to go to such unimaginable lengths for me, I believe I could waste a little more time on you…” Words were the only thing being wasted in the attempt to make him stay around for long enough. Her hand now stroked his hair as the ghost snake got a sign of approval to coil around him, instead.

“You will tell me who gave you these fancy things, yes? Don’t dare try to lie to me again, you won’t like what could happen, dear Aladdin.”

How grateful she was for having inherited Jaffar’s powers in moments like these… should she have disposed of the magical burnt oil inside his lamp, perhaps her charm would have been less effective. It was early to tell if there was more of the current Queen Sorceress that this young man found himself interested in, but there was no rush.

For now, a girl was eager to know how someone like him was able to reach what was meant to be unreachable with such ease. Maybe she had a thing or two to learn from this greedy Prince... Would he reach her heart just as easily, or will the wealthy temptations corrupt what’s left of him?

It wasn’t like Jasmine was afraid to use the powers she had inherited if the situation called for it, after all. Perhaps, soon enough, she would test Aladdin’s loyalty without any hypnotic snake...

[itsmaferart]

SxF · Chapter 35··· Honey trap. Part 2

(Warning: This contains content from the manga)

I want to analyze some of the SxF manga chapters which I find very interesting. Seeing subtle details that we often overlook. I clarify that I am based on the manga, and especially that all this is based on my own opinion and point of view. Being a manga that continues to be published, many things can change or contradict in the future. So you are free to have a different opinion. With all this said, I begin

Now moving on to analyzing Twilight. You have no idea of ​​the many inconsistencies that this chapter produced in me regarding the attitude and strategy that Twilight decided to apply: The infallible "Honey Trap"

In this panel, Yoru looks beautiful ❤

As I mentioned before, this entire arc was based on Nightfall and her desperate attempts to separate Yor from Twilight, in a foolish attempt to steal her place as "the wife" and mother of the fake Forger family. From Twilight's naive point of view, this entire conflict stemmed from Nightfall "desperately seeking recognition as a spy", wanting to succeed, and this leads to her being careless. Risked all that Twilight has cemented with the Forger family. (You can even see his annoyance when she, in code, speaks ill of Yor). After completing the mission successfully, he is a spectator of a tennis match, where Fiona was "literally" risking her life by not knowing Yor's strength, and hearing the comments of the neighbors at the idea that Yor denounces him with Yuri. Twilight feels a deep fear that this will end his mission.

Which brings us to this point...

Quickly, Twilight's reaction is to talk to Yor to clarify this whole situation and clear all her insecurities. So he suggests going on a spontaneous date. But Yor, as intuitive as ever, suspects that Loid "wants to tell her something — that he was going to replace her as his wife.

That causes Yor to panic, get drunk and unleash a show of jealousy — even though she was so drunk she couldn't even do that.

Twilight was obviously confused, but it's at this point that Twilight's mind begins to think and comes to the most obvious conclusion—Yor has feelings for him.

And what was this man's reaction?

Yes! Just look at that expression. My gosh, it's so hilarious! just had a panic attack

Now, many times I have seen comments on this chapter from other readers and they say that "Twilight, acted in a rational and strategic way" apparently, the idea of ​​seducing and manipulating Yor would be in total benefit for the mission. Therefore, Twilight has no feelings for Yor.

In particular, I do not agree with this position. I think Twilight was totally impulsive and irrational, he wasn't thinking clearly and he panicked (and his feelings)

Now what is the real cause behind the "Honey Trap"?

Twilight evidently took him by surprise, and his face reflects a state of shock. He just doesn't expect this fake date to end up in this situation. He truly believed that Yor was just feeling depressed about her insecurities as a mother and wife, and would end up quitting if he didn't do something soon. However, Yor fell into despair and the alcohol made her speak in a confused way about her feelings. And as usual with him, every time he is afraid he resorts to his most infallible method (according to him)… The Twilight mode.

According to the spy, the most "rational" thing is to take advantage of the feelings of his false wife. And well, maybe he's right, if it weren't for his lousy execution.

The logic behind this strategy is hasty

By now, Twilight knows how vulnerable Yor becomes when she turns to alcohol. She is shy, nervous, and has the raw strength to tear a person apart. Mix that with liquor and you have a potential weapon.

Although, the liquor helped her to express herself, giving her a false security. This is the worst time to make a move.

If he found out that Yor is "in love with him" easily, he could try to reassure her, take her home and wait until the next day for her to be sober. In this way, start his seduction strategies and meditate her reactions.

But what was it that he did?

Oh yeah! He assumed that she was completely in love with him, wanted to start a relationship (a real marriage) and completely forgot how drunk she was and that anything he does could make Yor take it the wrong way (which is what happened) (He even know that she drunk can be aggressive)

Being drunk makes us honest, but it also makes us more confused. Yor was in an unpredictable state, and Twilight just forgot about it.

Another point to note is that Yor does not process the physical approach well when it is fast and forced. She gets very nervous, and ends up throwing punches at random. Twilight knows that Yor has never had relationships with men, her experience is zero. So rushing things with her is not good. She is shy and she is terrified of making mistakes and doing something wrong

And what was his flirting strategy?

Oh yeah! Pounce like a hungry predator on his prey, corner her and ask her to confess their feelings, and to become his true wife… YES, HIS TRUE WIFE?!!

Just look at his face! I'm sure that if Yor doesn't stop him, Loid would have proposed to him, a honeymoon and having a baby that same night HAHAHAHA

Let us clarify that: Being in love does not imply that you already want to get married.

Yes, they may already be married, but putting aside the lie. For Yor, this is her first relationship, not to mention that their closeness is the product of coexistence. There are a lot of things Yor hasn't experienced, and I don't think even when sober she would have accepted it. (Not because she doesn't feel anything for him, but because she still doesn't process relationships well) Surely she would be just as confused and would only make their relationship uncomfortable since she, due to her insecurities, still does not know how to process the role of a wife/girlfriend.

The way Twilight made such a sudden and risky proposal doesn't seem like a very strategic move considering Yor's personality.

Hmm...I don't know, Twilight. Did you do this for the mission? Or are your suppressed emotions for Yor confusing you?

Now… how does it affect the Strix mission?

I know that for many readers and for Twilight himself, making the family experience "real" for Yor and Anya would make the farce more believable, so it would be almost impossible to be discovered.

But, I think this would also cause more problems for Twilight. For starters, this man can barely deal with being a spy, and being a full-time father. Adding a "real" relationship will require more of he. The relationship of both works is because it is an agreement of both.

The two hide their jobs, but both know that their relationship is false, and that one needed a respective partner to cover up their work. This means that they do not feel pressured between them and that the agreement can be "fair", even if they have no idea what the other is hiding. Yor thinks she's using Loid to be an assassin, and Twilight thinks she's using an ordinary woman for her fake family.

And although it is implied that they date each other, and they divide the housework, it is clear that they are not demanding with each other. They both genuinely value and appreciate what he brings to the table. Obviously, Yor is not the type of person who would demand more than necessary from Loid, she is very humble and notices his constant tiredness… besides being naive and believing his ridiculous excuses.

In my opinion...

I think the real reason behind Twilight's attitude is due to two things.

The first is, his fear of unpredictable situations. Something that characterizes Twilight as a spy is his ability to predict unfavorable scenarios, having a plan of action in case that situation arises. This could be the first time that a woman "indirectly" confesses, being in love with him, without even having thought about it. He never considered "conquering" Yor after their agreement as a fake couple happened.

For him, Yor is a sweet and kind person by nature, but she is carried away by insecurities. He never expected that she would feel genuinely jealous of Fiona, much less that she would feel bad about the attention he gave her.

For Twilight, not having seen this surely made him feel cornered — "How could such an important detail escape him?"

Starting a "real" (pretend) relationship, where Yor is in love and he (apparently) doesn't feel anything. It gives him a sense of control, since that's "what a spy would do"—play those feelings to good use for the mission.

However, the theory does not always work if the practice is poorly executed… Which brings me to the second point

Twilight's true feelings

I think part of Twilight's feelings ended up confusing him. I am sure that the whirlwind of emotions that he felt at that moment were the cause of his opting for a "honey trap". Clearly, that was not the best strategy to apply.

Although Twilight wants to convince that he is "the perfect spy" —Someone who discarded his identity, his emotions and aspirations. History has shown us in a thousand and one ways that this is not true. He is a very emotional person, who is affected by the well-being of others. And this has gotten deeper with Yor and Anya

However, he knows that having feelings for someone exposes him to harm and makes him vulnerable. That is why being a spy has been the perfect armor to avoid having to interact, in this particular case, with any woman. All his love ties have been false until now

Still, Yor has become someone special to him. Because she is not an enemy or a target. But her ally in the Strix mission (Although she doesn't know it) this has allowed his to trust her.

Also, Yor may be the "first woman" that Twilight really likes for who she is. Since, his missions surely made him be with women that the real him is not attracted to. (Topic I would like to talk about in another post)

However, Yoru always makes him feel nervous when they has any physical approach, he defends her and he always thinks of her comfort. The problem is that he is afraid to admit any attraction to her, and he prefers to put the mission first so as not to question himself. Because admitting it would be exposing himrself emotionally, and this is his biggest fear. He didn't even question what he really felt about that confession? He reacted as a "spy", not as a "person".

But, it is evident that his feelings end up boycotting his reasoning. Ending up doing impulsive and… clumsy actions

Here, I think his greatest pain is not even that deadly kick, but perhaps the disappointment he has in himself. On the one hand, because he feels that he made an emotional misreading, and two, because he "got carried away" to the point that Yor "accidentally" rejected him.

This is when he begins to notice that being close to Yor has unbalanced him, because he no longer has the ability to think strategically with them, he is not capable of being that cold and calculating spy.

It is clear that Twilight is not yet ready to let go of his "spy" facet, and this will continue to sabotage him until he makes clear the difference between the mission and his own feelings. And for this he must overcome his fear of loving other people, for fear of losing them

Bonus+

And maybe… deep down… a part of his buried heart… raced thinking "Does Yor like me?!". He sometimes acts like a teenager. And maybe… The idea that he and Yor are real spouses haunts his deep thoughts (After all, I don't hesitate for a second to propose it) ❤ But this is my Twiyor side speaking ❤

.

It should be clarified that: I'm sure Twilight is not a bad man. He has shown, value and appreciate Yor for who she is, and respects her a lot, never wants to make her uncomfortable. But sometimes his emotions and the priority of the mission completely blind him and he ends up doing things he regrets.

An example is when he mistrust her. He clearly felt bad from the beginning, and felt worse at the end. I am sure that if he had started a real relationship with Yor (within the mission) it would have ended up affecting him, and feeling much more guilty of manipulating a woman as noble and sweet as Yor is. And this would have affected the mission more, because surely he would have to live repressing more guilt than he already feels

But, drama aside. This is a comedy, and we have to laugh!!!

Knowing that Yor can take a ball off the planet. Twilight and Yuri are lucky that Yor hasn't destroyed them to pieces.

So, I'm sorry Twilight but you deserved that kick and spend a whole week being the chin monster.

One of the best scenes that Endo has given us

Moral: You cannot seduce your fake wife as long as your intentions are not sincere, and she is drunk.

·

·

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What do you think about it?

I hope you enjoyed this review as much as I did. And if you have any request to analyze another chapter of the manga, it is well received.

You can read the first part here

[inkinthequill]

🔞Makima's Devilishly Erotic Golf Lesson🔞

[Series: Chainsaw Man

Pairing: [GP]Power/Makima

Word count: 1,416

Contains: Explicit sexual content, including: gloved handjobs, groping and teasing, an extraordinary amount of public indecency, and Makima generally being a possessive freak. You can also view this work and more specific tags on AO3]

Makima has brought Power onto a golfing course to teach her a very important lesson in control and discipline. Makima, being the pure-hearted angel she is, is completely normal about it and has absolutely zero underlying motivations, I swear!

“Hiiiiii-ho!”

A sharp ”twang“ rang over rolling green hills as Power struck a golf ball with enough force that it started burning through the sky like a flare. Several broken clubs littered the ground beneath her, and she had settled one formed from her own blood on Makima's recommendation. Makima, for her part, was situated a small distance behind her and offered a quiet clap. 

"See, see?! Witness how quickly I master your human games and despair!" Power decried, paired with a deranged laugh— directly staring and pointing at a group of elderly men passing by in their cart, who all made the collective decision to speed onto the next hole. 

"Power.” Makima said, her voice as equal parts quiet and commanding as ever. Hearing it caused the Blood Devil to stiffen in place, clearing her throat nervously and trying to keep calm. Her superior approached from behind her, laying leather-gloved hands on her shoulders. "That was very good."

“Y-Yes?! Yes, of course it was!” Power nodded in agreement, striking a triumphant pose and giggling again. "Did you see how far I struck it?! No human could manage that!"

"Yes, Power, your drive was very good." Makima said, giving the girl's shoulders a sudden squeeze. "However, the reason I've brought you here is  not  about showing off your strength. It's about control. The goal, again, is not to hit it as far as possible." she said, leaning over Power's shoulder and pointing at the flag pole several hundred meters in front of them. "It's to strike it precisely into that hole over there. Do you understand?"

Power gave a fanged grimace, pouting and kicking the turf slightly. "I  hardly  see how that's any better than simply..." she began, but catching Makima's steely gaze quickly made her shut her mouth and swallow spit. 

"Power..." Makima started again, her cool breath washing over the fiend's neck. "Control is everything. No matter how strong you are, it won't matter if you can't control it," she said, pressing her back against Power's. She slid her hands down the girl's arms, cupping her hands over Power's. Power stiffened, feeling her skin tingle all over— the scent of Makima's perfume was vibrant this close to her, and she knew all too well the overwhelming power that Makima herself held in those hands... 

Power felt her arms be guided in a smooth swinging motion. Once. Twice. Three times. Makima remained quiet, before meeting Power's eyes on the third swing. "See...? Firm, but precise. It's called a stroke for a reason. Stroke, stroke, stroke... isn't that so much nicer than simply smashing something...?"

Power had started to squirm at this point, her face burning brightly. "I-I don't see how that'd... help... in a fight...."

"Hmm...? You don't, Power? How would you describe my capture of you, then? Was it a thrashing, or something more elegant?"

The fiend flinched slightly, looking away in embarrassment. "I wasn't... you know I wasn't at full... strength..."

"Sorry, what was that? You need to speak up, Power." Makima stated firmly, a gloved hand slipping down from Power's arms, and trailing down her body. She hovered it over Power's crotch, then pushed her palm against it right as the girl tried to speak. 

"I-I! W-What are you doing...?!"

”Demonstrating the strengths of a controlled touch, is all. Please, tell me more about how you would've won, Power.” 

"I... well..." Power murmured, biting her lip as her skirt started to tent from the stimulation. "I-If you had given me a fair chance to recover, I could... have..." she trailed off, gasping as Makima reached under her skirt and gently freed her cock from her panties. The black leather of her glove was hot from being worn by the woman over the last two hours, the fingers of which delicately wrapped around her shaft and squeezed down. 

"Mhm. Keep going. Don't get distracted now, Power..." Makima said, an almost soothing tone to her voice as she began openly stroking Power's cock. 

"I-I would've crushed you in seconds..." Power mumbled, unable to keep herself from haphazardly bucking her hips, eager and desperate to gain more pleasure from Makima's hand. 

"Because you're such a strong girl, right, Power?" Makima asked, her voice just as quiet and calm as ever. 

"Y-Yesss..." Power said with a moan, shuddering and whining as Makima ran her thumb in tight circles of the tip, the leather of which grew slick from precum. Just as pleasure had been given, it suddenly stopped, leaving Power a weak, whimpering mess. The hidden strength in Makima's arms kept the girl from thrusting into her hand, as much as Power desperately tried. 

"Power..." Makima whispered by her ear, sliding her other hand under her shirt. "Do you understand who you are to use that power for now? Who do you obey?"

"W-What...?" 

Power yipped as Makima gently nibbled on her earlobe, grasping one of the fiend's breasts in her hands and squeezing. "Who do you belong to, Power?"

"I don't..." Power started, shivering at the continued absence of any stimulation to her dick. While she hated to say it, she was being given a very new and powerful motivator, and she was strongly compelled to obey. "M-Makima..." she whispered.

"You belong to me?" Makima asked. 

"Y-Yes..."

"Say it, then, Power."

"H-Huh? A-Again?"

"I need to hear you say it, Power." Makima said, a disciplinary tone in her voice that accompanied a strikingly cold stare. 

"I..." Power started, feeling tears well up in her eyes from the sheer desperate need her body was enduring in the absence of Makima's continued touch. "I belong to Makima..."

"That's a good girl," Makima whispered, a soothing warmth returning to her voice as she began to stroke Power again. Her fingers pumped and squeezed and glided skillfully, in a perfect pleasuring rhythm that practically put the fiend into a trance. "Obedience feels better, doesn't it?"

"Y-Yes..." Power murmured, starting to loudly moan. Part of her realized that they were still in a public area where anyone could catch them, but every pump of Makima's hand pushed the thought away, and every whispered word locked her worries out. 

"My pet fiend... so strong..." Makima cooed, the faintest hint of a smile pulling at her lips as Power's voice got louder and louder. "Are you going to be a good, strong girl for me, Power?"

"Y-Yes!" Power cried, the additional praise and ego-stroking getting her even more into it than she already was. 

"You'll follow my orders? Whatever I say? Kill whoever I say?"

"Yes! A-Anything!" 

"Good girl. You can cum, now."

Though it was a statement and not an order, something in Power's body was immediately pushed over the edge by Makima's words, almost like her body itself was under the woman's direct command. Power let out a sharp, cute cry, biting down on her lip as she thrust her hips forward and started painting the emerald grass with her hot, pearly-white cum. Makima continued to stroke her off the entire time, the faint smile she had before remaining frozen on her face as she watched Power empty herself onto the golf course. 

She halted her stroking as the fiend finally stopped shuddering, getting as much cum off Power's cock and onto her glove as she could manage-- holding her hand up to Power's face. 

"Next lesson. When you make a mess, you have to be responsible and clean it up. Understand, Power?"

"I..." Power mumbled, gulping and staring at the ”mess“ presented to her. "I-I understand."

"Good girl." Makima said, using her clean hand to soothingly stroke Power's hair as she started licking the cum off of her glove. Makima rotated the other around so Power could clean the back and front, before slowly slipping her fingers into Power's mouth one at a time when they were the only thing left to clean. 

"That's it... you're a fast learner, Power..." she whispered, gently kissing the girl's cheek as the fiend obediently sucked on each of her fingers-- despite having ample opportunity to bite down on her boss's fingers with those dangerously sharp fangs. 

Makima pulled the last finger from Power's lips with a wet pop, squeezing the girl's shoulder. She leaned past it, meeting her gaze once more as she cupped her face. "Now..." she said, turning Power's face to stare out into the rolling green hills and thick tree-line. "We still have eight more holes to go, Power. Are you ready for your other lessons?"

"Y... Yes, ma'am... ❤️"