#and the world is worth nothing to them in comparison to each other

[stolitzsings]

This is a sort of response to a post I've seen floating around, drawing parallels between the chains in Blitz’s trip that bind him to Stolas and the chains that bind Husk, Angel, and Fizz to Alastor, Valentino, and Mammon respectively. I'm not commenting on that post directly bc I avoid Discourse (tm) at all costs for the sake of my health, and I don’t want to get drawn into an unproductive argument that will mess with my anxiety for a week. I'm not trying to start a fight, just get my thoughts out on why I feel that comparison is inaccurate, and hopefully provide some helpful context and nuance.

So! Let's start with a few disclaimers! First of all, I'm not going to debate the moral purity of any of these characters. I just don't think it's an interesting or valuable critique. On a related note, I am not trying to excuse any of their behavior. I'm happy to admit that my favorite characters in this show have hurt people and are sometimes total assholes. Stolas treated Blitz very poorly at the beginning of their relationship, frequently pushed or even ignored boundaries, and was just kind of a dick about things. My objection to a direct comparison between Stolas and the other characters mentioned above isn't because I think Stolas hasn't done anything wrong; I just think that saying they're similar without further clarification or commentary ignores the nuance of the situation.

Read on below the cut, it's gonna be another long one folks!

Let's start by examining the "agreements" forged by Val, Mammon, and Alastor. I think it's important to note that, in their cases, the person they got to sign their contract could have been anyone. Husk and Angel could have been any sinners, Fizz could have been any imp. They aren't interested in them as people; they were only using them to gain more power for themselves. The only thing that matters to them is, "What can you do for me?" Angel and Fizz quite clearly become cogs in the machine of Val and Mammon's businesses, and Alastor only thinks of Husk as a tool to be leveraged in specific situations to further his own mysterious goals. Each of them has demonstrated to their subjugates that they own them, body and soul. They have signed legally and spiritually binding contracts that essentially surrender their autonomy to a more powerful demon.

Stolas and Blitz’s agreement is... not that. In the most literal sense, they don’t appear to have made any sort of binding deal. They just made a verbal agreement, which I sincerely doubt has anywhere near the force of a signed soul contract. Additionally, Stolas did not ask for and does not seem to want that sort of total control over Blitz. He very clearly does not view this as any sort of power exchange (which may actually be part of the issue, since it leaves him blind to Blitz’s discomfort with their class difference), he sees it as "favors for favors." While this agreement is inherently unbalanced due to Stolas's status, it's worth noting that they’re both putting something on the line here. The other three risk practically nothing (if the person bound to them fails they can always get a new one), but Stolas IS taking on a real risk by letting Blitz access the living world illegally using his book. Again, that doesn't make his actions right, and probably helped him to justify them, but it does set their relationship apart from the others.

In my opinion, some of Stolas's greatest flaws are his thoughtlessness and his ability to justify his own actions to himself. This manifests in the fact that he clearly doesn't see the ways in which their relationship is hurting Blitz. He convinced himself that this was just an equal exchange, and a continuation of the dynamic Blitz established in their first encounter as adults: "I fuck you, and you give me the book". As he becomes more aware of his feelings for Blitz, though (stay tuned for a deeper analysis of this progression later), he also begins to realize that Blitz isn't happy with this relationship. And this, as @masonshmason pointed out, is the central fact that separates Stolas and Blitz from the other relationships. Stolas did not realize- or chose to ignore- how he was hurting Blitz. Once he came to terms with it, though, he understood that he had to make things right. He specifically says this in "Just Look My Way"; "I will try to make amends/ For making you means to an end". None of the others could say this, because in their case, that was the POINT. Angel, Fizz, and Husk were ALWAYS a means to an end, intentionally trapped for that purpose.

We also need to talk about the CONTEXT of the scenes in which the chain imagery appears. For both Angel and Husk, the chain is at least semi-literal, a physical (and perhaps supernatural) manifestation of the way their souls are bound to an overlord. In "Two Minutes Notice," Fizz purposely CHOOSES to represent his relationship to Mammon as chains around his wrists. However, Blitz's scene is part of a drug trip after being forcibly dosed with hallucinogens. It does not exist in any literal sense, nor is it a representation of Blitz’s conscious, literal thoughts. What it DOES do is showcase Blitz’s deepest fears and his greatest flaws through symbolism and metaphor. Blitz is not literally afraid of being forced to wear a clown costume; he is afraid he'll never escape his past traumas or Fizz's shadow. THIS is the context in which Blitz sees himself being chained by Stolas: a bad trip all about his fear of intimacy and vulnerability.

Stolas appears in this trip as someone elevated high above him, something he's climbing towards, reaching for, even though it means being chained to him. It's directly preceded by his ex girlfriend and his former best friend berating him for how he pushes people away even though he hates being alone. Then Stolas directly asks him, "Are you afraid to love people, Blitzy?" Furthermore, the WAY in which he is framed is alluring, slightly hazy, golden and tempting. It couldn’t be further from the ugly, slime-covered past he's fleeing. It's a new start, a chance for something better that seems too good to be true. This trip is all about Blitz’s inability to be vulnerable with another person. The chain around his neck is a representation of the fact that, by getting closer to Stolas, he's giving Stolas the power to hurt him emotionally.

And man, there's a part of him that wants to give Stolas that power. At this critical moment, he's not baring his teeth in defiance or anger. He's blushing, just slightly, and he looks... nervous. Blitz's instinct, when things get too real, is to cut and run. Hurt them before they can hurt you. Abandon them before they have the chance to leave you. It’s how he tanked his relationship with Verosika. This is a manifestation of what might happen if he stays. This is the sort of trouble he can't fight his way out of.

This is the emotional climax of the scene. There are so many ways they could have gone with this if they wanted to represent Blitz being chained and trapped by his agreement with Stolas. If that was the fear--if that was the POINT--they could have had the chains wrap around him until he couldn't move, or glow white hot and burn into his skin, or a million other more direct metaphors. But the chains aren't the thing that hurts him. It's the feathers: the thing that's left behind after Stolas abandons him, sing-songing "you're going to die alone" right alongside two other people who he loved and who now want nothing to do with him.

Finally, let's look at Blitz’s reaction to this scene. It's a moment of revelation for him, in which he realizes he's pushing everyone away and starts to make an effort to change. It's why he's a bit more open with Moxxie in the next scene. The trip sequence ALSO inspires him to get closer to Stolas, indicating that the trip didn’t make him realize "I'm trapped and I need to get out of this" in the same way Fizz did. Rather, he realizes that he doesn't want Stolas to leave him like everyone else, and he wants to start feeling out what it would be like to deepen the connection between them. As I've mentioned in other posts, their kiss at the end of "truth seekers" represents a level of intimacy that we haven't seen before; it's teasing, affectionate, shows Blitz’s interest in making Stolas happy, and takes place in front of M&M, who have repeatedly teased him about their relationship before.

In summary, while the image of chains may have been invoked in all four of these relationships, they don’t necessarily mean the same thing across the board. Blitz and Stolas's relationship differs substantially from the others in its dynamic, and the context of their scene also sets it apart. It's important to look into the details and the nuance of their relationship to interpret what's going on under layers of trauma and unreliable narration.

[sapphixxx]

there's a lot of reasons more people aren't into yuri that are troubling to consider, but equally, I genuinely think it cannot be understated how much of it comes down to most yuri being boring as hell. Like truly. I've been reading the front page of Dynasty Scans like it was the newspaper for 15 years I am not exaggerating I can show you the download file data 15 years.

You know what the complaint about yuri by yuri readers was back in 2009?

"wow that really was just 5 volumes of them blushing at each other and then they don't even kiss"

You know what the complaint about yuri by yuri readers is today in 2023?

"wow that really was just 5 volumes of them blushing at each other and then they don't even kiss"

Don't get me wrong, Yuri has grown a LOT in that time, to the point that most people today wouldn't even understand a Maria-sama reference if it were dropped in front of them (thank God). It's expanded and evolved to encompass more stories about adult women, wider varieties of scenarios, a greater acknowledgement of real life lesbianism, and is more comfortable showing girls kissing with tongue and having sex.

Yuri Manga is maybe the best is it's ever been, and it's also getting the widest readership it's ever had in the English speaking world. The titles we carry at work are always on back order with long queues, and, when I've asked them, most weebs of all gender or sexualities report keeping up with at least a few Yuri series.

At large though? Most of it is still really boring. That's not a bad thing necessarily. I like it because it goes down easy. For the most part any series you pick is gonna be pretty chill. Even shit from Sal Jiang which is PRETTY EDGY for yuri is a pretty breezy read. More serious ones like How Do We Relationship? cover some pretty real subjects about how intimacy is actually quite difficult even when both of you love each other, but it's not like... Exciting. Yuri isn't where you go to pump your fist or get perched on the edge of your seat.

So when the comparison is made to yaoi, well, I mean, have you READ any yaoi? Even in some of the more restrained titles those boys are likely to be sucking and fucking balls and all within the first volume or two. There's gonna be drama, intrigue, shit is gonna get messy, passions are gonna get heated, clothes are gonna be ripped off, people are gonna get sold to One Direction, it's stuff you can sit down with a bowl of popcorn with you know? Stuff you can message your friend and gush Hey Can You BELIEVE? A lot of it is pretty trashy, but that's the appeal. The generic state of yaoi is torrid and exciting and sexy. Ultimately, as a species many of us like to see pretty people fuck. In yaoi you'll get that. In yuri you won't. Nothing wrong with that, but it is gonna be a major contributing factor to their relative popularity.

It's also worth making the comparison to hetero romance manga, which has undergone a renaissance of it's own in recent years. There's now a whole meta around crafting a handful of mean shitty grouchy dysfunctional bully women and flinging them at the protagonist of the day who, unlike in years past, may actually have a face and personality. Most of these are also very trashy and truly scrape the bottom of the bucket in terms of writing.

AND YET?

I would bet money on the fact that you'll have heard of these women and probably even have a good idea what they're like without ever having touched a page of their manga.

I'm sorry but the straights are whipping donuts around the yuri girls in terms of delivering a wide variety of weird compelling fucked up women. How many yuri leading ladies by comparison can you point to as standout recognizable characters even divorced from their story? There's definitely a few, but not many. I'm not talking quality or depth of writing, I'm talking straight up pure recognizability. There are many beautifully written women in yuri, now more than ever. I can't think of many who'd like, get a figure made or have their face splashed on merch, though.

I don't really have a conclusion here. I love Yuri a lot, but at the end of the day this is just kinda the state of things right now.

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

Kaz and Wylan’s potential to become each other

Wow, you guys were a lot more excited about this than I was expecting! I made a post briefly mentioning this idea and it got way more attention that I was expecting, so as promised here is my explanation and I’ve tagged people who asked for it at the end :)

*WARNING: CONSTANT SPOILERS AHEAD*

Ok so the driving forcing of this comparison is rooted in the similarities of their characters and their backstories. Both of them lost a close family member, were abused by men with power over them, and experienced a form of ‘rebirth’ by nearly drowning in the Ketterdam canals. They also both experience disability; Kaz using a cane for a broken leg that didn’t heal correctly, and Wylan having severe dyslexia that prevented him from learning to read. A key difference that separates them, and arguably is a representation of the difference in the way their experiences have shaped their personalities as well, is that Kaz’s disability is a direct result of his chasing after vengeance, whereas Wylan’s disability was used as an excuse for his father to abuse him for what we as the reader see to be a minimum of eight years. (I’m assuming this because he is 16 in the book and was 8 when his mother ‘died’, which is the point that he describes he father to have “given up on him”)

I’m gonna quickly hop to parallels between Kaz and Pekka Rollins, bare with me I promise it’s relevant, which are quickly established as a key part of the novels. When Inej compares them, Kaz’s reply is “I don’t sell girls, I don’t con helpless kids out of their money” to which she gently responds “look at the floor of the Crow Club, Kaz”. Aside from this being the heartbreaking line that it is, it also does a very good job of highlighting their similarities and a similarity that they share with Jan Van Eck. When they meet the merch at the end of the first book they meet on an island called Vellgeluk, which is described as being popular with smugglers and slavers like those who kidnapped Inej. The other Crows are surprised Van Eck knows about Vellgeluk, but Kaz simply says “maybe he isn’t the upstanding merch he appears to be”. Great subtle foreshadowing for his double cross, and great establishment of the link between these three characters. In fact, Van Eck and Kaz echo each other more than you might think. Just as Kaz states “Greed bows to me, it is my servant and my lever”, Van Eck says “Yes, Chaos will come. And I will be it’s master”. In their first meeting, Van Eck accuses Kaz of murder and gambling with people’s lives, and in return Kaz points out that 1 in 5 of Van Eck’s ships will never return because they will sink or “fall prey to pirates”, so they are both doing the same thing, and that they both have the same motivations for this bloodshed: “profit”.

Now consider how often Wylan echoes Kaz, and therefore whether he echoes his father as well. They both have exceptional memories, Kaz’s being photographic/eidetic and Wylan being able to put words to music in his head to remember pages worth of infomation - this is even emphasised by Kaz being able to count cards when he gambles, saying “he could keep track of the game for up to three decks” and Jesper asking Wylan if he’d be able to apply “that trick to counting cards” to which he replies “probably. But I won’t”. They also both have impressive intellects, which could have placed them far higher up in the world than they’ve found themselves if it weren’t for cruel circumstances - Van Eck even comments on this, saying it angers him that Kaz has so much potential but does nothing with it. Then there’s their tendency to avoid being vulnerable. I think we too often overlook the fact that no-one knows Jan Van Eck hired two men to kill his son, not even Jesper, and that not even Inej knows what happened to Kaz on the Reaper’s Barge. Jesper believes that Wylan left his house as a result of his father’s abuse but that it was still his choice, and Inej has no information beyond “Pekka Rollins killed my brother” and the explanation of the con when Kaz faces off with Rollins in Crooked Kingdom. I genuinely believe that the biggest thing separating them is where they place blame for their situations. Kaz blames Pekka Rollins. Wylan actually blames himself.

Arguably, although he catalysed the events, if Rollins hadn’t conned Kaz and Jordie they still would have suffered in an almost identical way: they would both contract the Queen’s Lady Plague, they wouldn’t have enough money for both medicine and boarding, and Jordie would die. In that scenario Kaz would have still been left penniless and alone with nowhere to go, but he wouldn’t have had anyone to blame. In fact, he may have died as well because it’s really his drive for vengeance that makes him strive for survival. When he’s on the Reaper’s Barge he wonders if it’s worth trying to survive because there’s nothing waiting for him in the city, but then he realises that the chance of revenge is waiting for him, and that thought drives him to stay alive every day that follows. Without Rollins, Kaz probably would have blamed himself for Jordie’s death, and I’m backing that up with the singular moment when he’s first attacked by parem-high tide makers and has a brief “boy’s fear” that they are ghosts. He thinks, for a split second, that a ghost has come to kill him and what does he say? He says “Jordie had come for vengeance at last”. This is chapter three. We have no idea who Jordie is. With the limited information we had at the time and what we’d just seen happen to Big Bolliger, I assumed it was someone in Kaz’s gang that he had backstabbed and who has died because of what he did. But no. This single line leads me to wholeheartedly believe that Kaz blames Rollins, who realistically was only a small part of his suffering, quite so vividly to emotionally avoid blaming himself.

Wylan blames himself until around chapters 14 to 16 of Crooked Kingdom. His experiences with mental, emotional, and physical abuse have actively convinced him that his so-called ‘inadequacies’ caused a change in his father’s behaviour. But Wylan not being able to read didn’t magically turn Van Eck from a lucky family man into someone willing to try “specialists, tonics, beatings, [and] hypnotism” against his child. The fact is that Van Eck, like many abusers, is masterfully manipulative in everything he does. Wylan describes seeing his parents’ marriage as a happy one, but he also says “the argued all the time, sometimes about me. But I remember them laughing a lot too”. He’s quick to defend their relationship as if it isn’t supposed to be marred by argument and he lays blame on himself by suggesting that he was the root of their unhappiness. He also says that around Alys, Jan Van Eck becomes who he once was around Marya; a kinder, gentler man. I don’t think we’re meant to assume that he’s acting any differently with Alys in private right now, but I do think we’re meant to assume that he would have done down the line if he hadn’t been arrested (and presumably she filed for divorce). In chapter 14 of Crooked Kingdom, Wylan learns that his mother is still alive but that his father had her committed and declared insane so he could use it as grounds for divorce and marry Alys instead. And you know what happens? Wylan blames himself. He says, verbatim, to Jesper: “You don’t understand. It’s my fault”. He explains that Van Eck did this so he could have a “real heir”; because Marya produced a “faulty” child he needed a new woman to give him the child he wanted. That’s a messed up thing to think on so many levels, but Wylan doesn’t blame Van Eck because he is still being conditioned by his abuse. He and Kaz experienced different kinds of abuse, and Kaz wasn’t conditioned to blame anyone but his abuser, so that’s what he does. When Wylan does begin to blame Van Eck, he is immediately taken in by this same idea of revenge. Kaz says “you were angry. I needed you righteous” when explaining why he sent Wylan to St Hilde blind in chapter 16. Wylan was angry with his father before, but he wasn’t actively seeking vengeance. Now that he has a cause, someone other than himself to fight for? He tells Kaz “well, now you have me”.

Both of them have this potential to be fuelled by revenge or self-hatred, and although they go about it in different ways and lean towards different sides of the scale they are both balancing between those two extremes for the entire duology. Their past experiences have, and their future experiences could, tip them further either way but right now they are almost playing with the line.

Thank you so much if you’ve bothered to read this far, sorry for the long post but you did ask for an essay, so there you go. Tagging the people who asked - @kazooyay @mikasimaginairyworld @sunseeking-cyptid @moonlit-aura @alexplutoplanet @gandalfsmallnaturals @livsarthaven @goodomenstrack23 @origami-butterfly @flower-biatch @bookworm010307 @thesunniest @wherela @space-ace-thoughts @sixofbabycrows @antisocial-burrito

Sorry if I missed anyone!!!

[writing-in-glitter-pen]

How Genshin Men Respond to you Crying

We all do it. And when we do, we need some TLC. Well, which boys are happy to provide it? And how do they do it? All this and more below!

Diluc, Itto, Childe, Kaeya (the DICK boys lol) x gn!reader. Fluff, comfort, only a smidge of angst?

Content warnings: Childe is his OWN WARNING. He crosses your boundaries and gets a little forceful—physical restraint. It’s well-meaning but still it can be distressing.

Yeah, Diluc is significantly emotionally repressed. But he’s never going to leave you to your own devices when you’re upset. Although he struggles with emotional intimacy, he will ask you to be vulnerable with him, ask you to tell him what is wrong, and although his immediate reaction is to go and fix it for you, he knows that’s not what you need. You need comfort, above all else. Early in your relationship, when he saw you crying, he had no idea what to do. So he brought you an apple, cut into slices and peeled to look like bunny rabbits. Adeline and the staff weren’t in today, but he used the culinary skills he had to make this for you. Hoping it would bring you a morsel of comfort. And it did. As your relationship aged, and he was exposed more and more to your most vulnerable emotions, he got more comfortable handling them. He even got comfortable enough to be vulnerable with you about his own. You learned how to support each other. When you’re upset, he knows to gather you up in his arms, make sure you feel clean, make sure you’re wearing comfortable clothes and are warm, and lets you cry it out—telling him everything about the situation and letting your tears stain his fine shirt. When he’s upset, you know he likes to feel your weight on him—resting your body on his, effectively crushing him was a grounding sensation for him. He liked it when you held his hand and sat quiet with him until he could muster up the nerve to speak on what was bothering him. He liked when you smoothed your hands over his face and peppered it with kisses. You both learned to accommodate each other’s needs, although they were much different from your own. And your relationship was all the stronger for it.

Kaeya, the smooth talker, can get you to calm down in just a few sweet sentences. If he catches your teary face as you look in the mirror, hating the way your chest falls or the swell of your stomach or your acne or your nose, he is quick to hug you from behind, smoothing his hands over your torso and kissing the back of your neck. “Darling, when I first saw you I mistook you for a statue of a god(dess)—curves and edges perfectly carved to depict the most ethereal beauty to grace the world. But it was you. And I was most lucky to even have the chance to glimpse at you.”. If someone snubbed you at work, made you feel stupid or unlikeable, he’ll open his arms for you the moment you walk through the front door with tears falling down your face. Once you are within reach, he will kiss them off. “My love” kiss “you are incredibly bright and clever” kiss “but your intelligence pales in comparison to your compassion and beautiful heart” kiss “nothing in this world could ever match the worth of something so precious” kiss “and it is a miracle that something so special can come so naturally to you.” kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss. Though Kaeya was born with a silver tongue, every word he comforts you with comes from the most honest parts of his heart, his aptitude for language just assists in conveying the message.

Childe is, and I say this with all the love in the world, an idiot. He’s probably the one that made you cry—but really he didn’t mean it! A forgotten date night or birthday is enough to do the trick. Or maybe he said something insensitive to you in a grumpy mood after a long day at work. Or maybe he was out on a mission for way longer than he promised he would be—making you sob every night that he didn’t return, convinced that he never would. Being the partner of a harbinger is not for the faint of heart. But trust him, he loves you with every part of his being. When he does come home to you crying, you’re in his arms in a heartbeat. Even if you’re angry and try to push at his chest and yell at him to get off, he holds you in an iron-locked embrace, hastily cooing reassurances at you, frantically apologizing, begging you to forgive him. If you do, he will pamper you like you’re his own personal Archon. A massage, darling? How about he takes you out on an impromptu date night at your favorite restaurant? Too tired? No problem! He’ll get it for take out! You can eat on the couch and pick the movie you two watch! Oh, you want to watch that one cheesy rom com that you’ve forced him to watch at least twenty times? Anything for you baby ❤️. If you refuse to forgive him? You keep pushing him off of you, refusing to let his lips touch your own, even try to leave the house? Sorry, dear. You aren’t getting far. Childe was never one to back down from a fight. And when the thing he loves most in the world is on the line? You’ve already lost. His iron grip only gets tighter as he bargains with you to hear him, hugging you to him like a teddy bear as he pleads with you to let him comfort you, insists that he can’t leave you alone. He’ll carry you, kicking and yelling, to your room and tackle you onto the bed—holding you until you’re too tired to struggle away from him anymore, until you agree to at least talk to him. You lay on your side—forced little spoon—each sniffle of yours like a dagger in his heart. He feels so guilty. He knows he should let you go but he just can’t get his arms to listen to his brain. This form of comfort is brutal, but in his mind it’s the only way to keep you from leaving him. He’s desperate. Your tears and the vulnerable moment you to find yourselves in triggers a reaction in him that he has never experienced before. A tear rolls down his cheek and onto your neck. He’s scared. So when you finally turn over and gently put your arms around him, it’s like a breath of air in a room of carbon monoxide. You two hold each other—your hearts beating together as you’re pressed chest-to-chest, his head buried in the crook of your neck, grounding each other and wordlessly saying I will keep you safe.

I don’t even want to talk about Itto. Seriously what the fuck. He’s an ever bigger idiot than Childe. At first, when he sees you crying, he literally thinks you’re joking. He laughs like a doofus and squishes your puffy pink cheeks. Once he realizes you’re for real, he literally pales—his heart drops to his ass. He loses his voice, stuttering and blubbering; unable to formulate words enough to even ask you what’s wrong. He hover-hands your shoulder like he’s scared he’ll break you—a cautious bull in a china shop. He fat-fingers your eye while trying to wipe your tears—making your tears significantly worse. At this point, he feels completely useless and lost on what to do. So after screwing up comforting his partner this badly, he takes his leave. You sit there, wondering if you chased him off with your tears. If your sadness was so much of a burden for him he gave up on dealing with it, gave up on dealing with you. Bitter tears roll down your face as you sit there in a puddle of sadness and brood. But Itto hasn’t given up on you. He’s outside searching for only the finest onikabuto in the land to bestow upon you. While he searches, he picks all the pretty wildflowers he sees—a makeshift bouquet for you. He even spends the only mora to his name on a couple of Sakura buns for you, he knows they’re your favorite. If he finds himself by the beach, he searches for seaglass for you; pink and blue and yellow and green little miracle pebbles, hoping and praying to any higher power he can reach that they will bring even a small smile to your face, even an ounce of joy to your heart. He spends the whole day battling his short attention span—his only mission is to find any way to cure your sadness. When he returns home many hours later, he finds you in the kitchen, hunched over a series of vegetables you’re trying and failing to chop; your dehydrated eyes and crestfallen mood getting in the way of making yourself dinner. He carefully approaches you, placing all of his little gifts on the counter in front of you—his arms so full the objects are basically spilling out of them. You look up, finding the sweet things he spent all day collecting for you—and your tears return. He immediately panics, thinking he screwed up once again. He begins blubbering about how much he loves you, “you—uh. You—my heart—it, ahhh man. You’re everything. Everything. I—I got these. I’m sorry. They’re for you. I—“. He can’t finish but you’ve already thrown your arms around his tall frame, sobbing into his chest. Your heart thunders out of your chest as happy tears leak from your eyes, “Thank you, Itto. I love you so much.”. He hesitantly places his arms around you, confused but overjoyed that you seem happy despite your crying. He melts into the embrace, kissing your neck and squeezing you tighter, finally finding his words; “I love you, Y/N. If anyone makes you cry, they’re getting a serious thrashing. Even if it’s me.” he laughs, “Nobody makes my baby cry! If I can help it, you’ll never cry again.”. You think he’ll let you go so you can make dinner, but his hands aren’t leaving you for the rest of the night. He finally got the comfort of your touch, so until you shove him off, he’s not letting go!

[malleusfucker]

malleus draconia yandere headcanons

warnings: smut/nsfw, yandere (if it wasn’t obvious), ANGST, size kink, possessiveness/toxic relationship, marking/bruising/choking, malleus is evil in this im sorry, this is more angst than smut so i don’t recommend if you want hardcore stuff lol, gender-neutral reader

word count: 1.2k

malleus is the worst kind of yandere.

with that calm and collected front lies an extremely possessive and toxic underbelly, patiently waiting for its chance to explode. what makes malleus so horrifying is that you wouldn't imagine such a kind and considerate person could conceal such a diametrically opposed side to them. before it unfolds, you could never know. much like a predator luring its prey, he makes you believe the relationship you've stepped into is a mirage. and it was, at least temporarily. he’s so sweet to you; truly the definition of chivalrous. kissing you so sweetly, holding your hand as you fall asleep together —it really was a dream. and malleus seeing you think so would only make those cogs in his head turn faster, the clock ticking quicker and quicker each time you say how much you love him.

you can’t really fault malleus for loving you so much. living a life so lonely and secluded, it would only make sense that he has a warped perception of what love and affection are, right? that cloud over his head only gets darker as he looks into your eyes, each day assuring him that you’re the one for him. you’re his and no one else’s. 

~

he didn’t mean for such a thing to happen. thinking you were just another human, it would only deepen his love for you when he finds out how much you unapologetically love him. seeing you sleeping so peacefully in his bed, he can’t help but wish you would stay there and never leave. with each drag and thrust of his cock, the pitiful tears you shed under him would only serve to widen the horrific grin plastered across his face. he adores how tiny you are in comparison to him, with his long fingers wrapping around your neck almost too effortlessly; he believes you were practically made for him. he’d gently squeeze—hearing your delicate and frail wheezes as you helplessly flail your arms in an attempt to flee his grip always floods him with ecstasy. 

you were so innocent before you met malleus, with your gaze now constantly blackened by the lust he continuously pumps into you. now that he’s finally gotten you into the state he’s always sought, there would be no point for you to leave now, would there? in fact, what’s the point of you knowing other people? they’ll only be there to hurt you, and malleus would never even think to do that to you. he’s there to protect you from all the harm and evil in the world, so why don’t you stay in his room a little longer? those voices outside calling to you will die down eventually, leaving you abandoned and lonely. but that’s precisely why malleus is here for you. he will always satisfy any void you may feel within, replacing it with nothing but addiction and love until you can’t even realise how far your mind has eventually gone.

everything malleus does for you is all out of love. every spit, every scratch, every bite—he’s only doing it for your own good. any bruise you bear is a reminder of the one person who loves you more than anybody else in the world, and the brutality with which they’re inflicted is entirely worth it. you have no grounds for complaint. allowing a monster like him into your life, it’s your fault that your mind begins to wonder if malleus actually was that angel you always thought he was. you’re the one to blame for every tear that rolls down your swollen cheeks, gripping the sheets as he continuously spills his poison inside of you. a hand wringing your neck, numbing your senses one by one, the thrusts of his hips feeling as if his cock was delving deeper and deeper inside you.

~

the days start to blend together. you wait obediently for malleus to finish his work, not even knowing what day of the week it is. once-familiar names and faces are now just a fog that will soon clear, and your eyes are growing worn and weary. he gently strokes your hair, that soft touch being something only malleus can give you so willingly. you treat him so well. always patiently sitting in the corner of his room—or if he’s feeling particularly generous, he’ll have you seated in his lap whilst he continues his work. a firm hand, light as air, caresses your waist and inner thighs, teasing you with each passing moment. minutes of stillness, like this one, where you can feel his breath on your neck and his hair tickling your skin from his continued caressing, only serve to further cloud your vision. after enduring so much crying and screaming, you come to value these occasional instances of quiet. letting your thoughts relax for a little before he continues on with his plan to ruin you thoroughly.

however, this sweetness would be fleeting at best. don’t even think about stepping out of line and defying the one who loves you most. when he sees you trying to escape beyond the castle walls, it breaks his heart. he knows he'll have to keep punishing you until you're completely shaped and chiselled into what he considers to be perfection. an obedient, devoted companion. really, that's all malleus wants. but you continue to defy him anyhow. despite his lavish gifts to you—a castle, his undying love and affection—you still feel entitled to freedom, which begs the question: why? why do you still need such a thing when you have malleus? your mind appears to be growing fickle by the day. wanting to have your freedom, yet every time he’s inside you with your slutty moans echoing back at you from the large stone walls that encase you, it's as if those ludicrous ideas suddenly erase themselves. 

you almost appear to want malleus to punish you deliberately. a cruel game of cat-and-mouse in which you crawl back to the very thing that's slowly killing you. his eyes wander over your body as he conjures yet another cruel way to discipline you. what would it take for you to finally get it? no love, not even your own, will remain in your heart after being emptied out by what will ultimately destroy you. malleus didn't mean to treat you like this. if only you had listened, maybe none of this would have happened. and yet, despite everything, why does he seem to take such pleasure in seeing your lifeless eyes reflected in his own? his tongue deep down in your throat as he once again squeezes out what little sanity you have left. your body now becoming something he merely owns, with your thoughts and voice all belonging to him. now only being able to mutter nothing but his name, it seems you’ve finally learned your lesson.

but worry not. there's no point in crying now that malleus has you the way he always desired. those marks and bruises, your quaking body, are all signs of his love that nobody but the two of you can see. really, you should be rather grateful. despite everything you've put malleus through, he still finds it in his heart to love you unconditionally. because, ultimately, you have only yourself to blame for welcoming such a monster into your life.

[shall-we-die]

╔‌‌‌‌•°🌷༄•°══════════•⊰•°༄༚

{Value}

How important is the relationship to them? || What is its worth in comparison to other things in their life?

╞•⊰❖⊱•═══•༻💐༺•═══•⊰❖⊱•╡

↬[Fandom]•⊰ {Obey me!}࿐

↬[Warnings]•⊰ {None}࿐

☰[Main list]•⊰ ────┈┈{0029}┈─╮

╭──────┈┈┈┈┈───────╯

╰┈➤Likes/Reblogs are appreciated࿐

╚•°🌷༄•°══════════•⊰•°༄༚‌‌‌

↬|Lucifer|

The relationship between Lucifer and MC is incredibly important to them both. The bond they share is like no other, it is full of trust, mutual understanding, respect, and compassion. For Lucifer, the relationship represents a new chance at love and happiness, and it brings him peace and joy. In comparison to other things in their life, Lucifer considers their relationship to be the most important thing to him. This is because it is a source of fulfillment, support, and comfort. Lucifer's love for his partner is his greatest treasure and he would do anything to protect and nurture it.

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↬|Mammon|

Mammon's relationship with MC is extremely important to him. It's one of the most precious things in his life and it means more to him than anything else. He sees it as the ultimate symbol of their love and commitment to one another, and he cherishes it greatly. Without MC, his life would be empty and incomplete, and he would be lost and alone. His relationship with MC is the most important thing in his life and he doesn't know what he would do without it.

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↬|Leviathan|

the relationship between Leviathan and his MC is one of the most important things in his life. while he has other priorities such as games and his brothers, his MC will always be at the top of his list. he loves spending time together and making new memories. he wants to be there for them whenever they need him. he feels like they are each other's soulmates. the relationship is worth more than anything else in the world, and he values it above all else.

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↬|Satan|

The relationship with the MC is very important to Satan. He values it as one of, if not the, most important things in his life. He would never take their relationship for granted and would work hard to keep it going strong. He would also consider their feelings and concerns, and prioritize the relationship when needed. In comparison to other things in life, including his duties as a demon, the bond he shares with the MC would take precedence.

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↬|Asmodeus|

Asmodeus holds his relationship with MC in high regard, considering how much they mean to him. He will put his MC above most things and considers the happiness of MC his top priority. The relationship means a lot to Asmodeus, giving him a sense of comfort and care that he wasn't used to before. This relationship is special to Asmodeus, as with MC, he's been able to experience and learn about different things. It truly is one of the most important things to him.

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↬|Beelzebub|

Beelzebub's relationship with the MC is the most precious thing in his life. He values it more than anything else in his existence, even his other relationships with his demon family. He feels a deep, emotional bond with the MC, one that goes beyond simple affection. Beelzebub sees his relationship with the MC as the foundation of his life, one that he would do anything to protect and build up. It gives him purpose and meaning, and when he's together with the MC, he is truly at home.

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↬|Belphegor|

To Belphegor, their relationship with MC is the most important thing in their life. It's the one thing they would never trade or sacrifice, even if it meant losing other important things in their life. They feel safe, understood, and loved when they're with MC, and nothing could replace that feeling. Belphegor does not feel like they could ever experience love as pure or as true from anyone else, so their relationship with MC is by far the most important to them.

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↬|Diavolo|

The relationship with the MC is of the utmost importance to Diavolo.  They are like the air he breathes and his whole world.  They provide companionship, love and happiness that he has never felt before.  He values the relationship with the MC more than anything, more than his duties as the future Devil Lord, more than his crown, more than the Devildom itself.  Diavolo will do anything to protect and nurture the relationship, and to keep the MC happy, safe, and by his side.

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↬|Barbatos|

Barbatos would prioritize his relationship with MC more than anything else, with the only exception being his responsibilities as a butler and a trusted confidant of the Devildom. Barbatos would hold his relationship with MC in the highest of standards and it would mean everything to him. His relationship would help him ease the stress of his duties and provide some sense of comfort when needed. In a word, his relationship with MC would be above all else in terms of importance. His feelings for them would be the deepest he'll ever feel.

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↬|Simeon|

Simeon's relationship with MC is extremely important to him. It is a source of comfort, joy, and meaning in his life. Simeon strives to make it the best it can be and puts a lot of effort into it. Compared to all the other things in his life that he values, Simeon would consider his relationship with MC to be the most important. It is the foundation of his happiness and fulfillment, and he cannot imagine his life without it.

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↬|Solomon|

Solomon's relationship with MC is one of the most important and special things in his life. His connection with MC allows him to feel love and acceptance, comfort and security, and a sense of belonging. This relationship brings joy, satisfaction, and meaning to his life and is something that he cherishes and values deeply. Solomon considers MC to be his partner and the one who completes him, someone with whom he can share his thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The bond between Solomon and MC is something that is irreplaceable and holds greater worth than any other thing in his life, as it is the foundation of his heart and soul.

||[🅅alue]||

━●━━━━━━────────

     ⇆ㅤㅤ◁🅄ㅤㅤ❚❚ㅤㅤ🅆▷ㅤㅤ↻

[ghosts-bandwagon]

Hii👋 I wanted to request where ghost meets his girlfriend little brother's. Context she has raised them since she was a teen and is very protective over them so him getting to meet the three younger brothers is a big step in her trust and love for him.

omg I love this ❤️😭

He’s heard so much about your brothers, he loves the glimmer in your eyes when you talk about them, gushing over their accomplishments and showing them off to him. He absolutely adores listening to you talk about them, show pictures and tell the story behind them, your laughter when you talk about them is like nothing he’s ever heard. It’s the most beautiful noise in the world, the airy, breathless laugh when you tell the story about how you took them sledding once and how it ended with you face planting because of a ramp one of them built at the end of the hill. God, he replays that sound over and over again when he’s falling asleep in room.

And then you shyly proposed that he meet them the next time you were home together, his heart tripped over itself once he realized what that meant for you, both in terms of your relationship and how you see him. He was beyond flattered and almost terrified of how much you trusted him. He gave you a rare gentle smile and agreed to meet them, and when you immediately jumped up with the biggest grin on your face, he knew it was worth it.

He stood outside your front door with his heart hammering in his throat, his face feeling raw and exposed but he knew it was worth it (and he didn’t want to scare them). It was always worth it for you. A tall young man, he assumed the he was the eldest, opened the door and warily eyed him up and down before greeting him with a smile and a step to the side. He’d recognize that smile anywhere, he’s seen it on you so many times.

“Todd! Morgan! Can you help out in the kitchen?” You called out and on cue, two younger boys ran down the hall and raced each other into the kitchen,

“Hey! I’m glad you made it!” You jogged over to him and kissed him deeply, who can blame you? It’s already so rare to see him without a mask, why not enjoy it?

“Yike, sis, need a moment?” Teased the eldest as he took the case of sodas from Simon,

“Shut up, Andy, go help your brothers.” You quipped back, pink dusting your cheeks, you brushed a strand of hair behind your ear as you walked Simon through your home. He looked around and saw that the amount of pictures you showed him, pales in comparison to how many pictures are in your home. Sport events, school pictures, competitions, recitals, medals and trophies, certificates of accomplishments, all with their names on it all hung on the walls or displayed proudly. Simon was in awe, he was astonished at the overwhelming love that filled your home.

He was speechless and you were worried that he was overwhelmed by it all. He caught onto how you felt and quickly tried to ease your concerns,

“I’m alright sweetheart, just, wow, you’re so proud of them, aren’t you?” He was breathless, you stood beside him and situated yourself under his arm, his fingers gently running over your shoulder as he held you tighter. You two looked into the kitchen and watched as Andy guided his two younger brothers on how to make good hamburger patties.

“They’re everything.” You sighed, resting your head against his chest. You stifled a laugh as the youngest overdid it with the breadcrumbs,

“Might have to step in soon.”

“Sure you don’t want your burgers with extra crumbs?” He teased as you both made your way over,

“Knowing you, I’ll never hear the end of it.” You quipped as you washed your hands and stepped aside for him to do the same.

It was beautiful, watching your little brothers warm up to him and welcome him so seamlessly. Everyone seemed to be so in sync with each other, even Morgan, the more rambunctious of the bunch, was on his best behavior. More excited than ever to bring Simon all his drawings and all the good grades he got on his tests, it made you tear up as you watched Simon fall into place among your family. Right where he belongs.

[fancyfeathers]

Yandere Wriothesley encountering his escaped darling (normalized yandere AU)

Connecting with the Yandere Neuvillette and Wriothesley series- Yandere Neuvillette & Wriothesly’s darling thoughts, Nothing You Can Take From Me Was Worth Keeping , I’m Bad But Then Your No Prize Either , post story headcannons, Pankration ring rules, Heartbreaking comparisons, Wriothesley’s darling escaping

took inspiration from this scene from Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Wriothesley’s darling escaped with the help of her mother to Natlan, having nothing but the clothes on her back, a bag of food, her vision, and her father’s guitar. There she encountered a group of traveling musicians, like her, some of them on the run, others just didn’t have a family outside of this chosen on, no where else to go. She joins them and becomes apart of this family, spending nights under the open sky, looking at the stars above as they sing around the camp fire and sleep by each other for warmth, and the days, traveling from town to town, and doing the only thing they know how to, preforming. With them she went from angry, stubborn, and depressed from when she was with the Duke to strong, joyful, and sassy in the best way possible with this family.

Meanwhile for the Duke of Meropide it has been years since he has seen his darling and it was draining on him. He missed her snide comments, he missed her voice, he missed how she would bite at his lips when he tried to kiss her, it was still her touch. While the Duke is draining away his darling is thriving, finding family, and perhaps even love as she opens her heart again to one of her band members, a cello player, and a brilliant young man. So while Sigewinne is worrying about Wriothesley’s health, his darling is miles away kissing another man who actually treats her like a person, who doesn’t kidnap her, but gives her freedom.

It has been years and call them stupid but their groups decides it’s time they explored the world outside of Natlan. So they set out from region to region, Mondstadt (stopping to say hello to the darling’s family who fled there after helping her escape) Liyue, Sumeru, and so on, until they reach Fontaine. The group agreed to only stay there a few days and only give one performance, specifically in one of the poorer parts of the city, as to not draw the attention of the wealthier crowd, they’ll earn the keep plus some and then leave. Then on the night of the performance the darling sits down with her new lover and tells him of the put in her stomach, this feeling she has of something horrible happening. He tells her it’s just nerves and not to worry but she makes him promise that is something does happen that he’ll take the rest of the crew and run, don’t look back.

At the same time as all this Wriothesley gets forced out by the head nurse to get out of the Fortress and to go get some fresh air. So he sets out into the Court of Fontaine and hears whispers as he goes to a tea parlor that a traveling band is passing through. The wealthy women he is listening to scoff at the idea, such lowlife they say, but Wriothesley has nothing to loose so he decides to go watch since it may take his mind off his missing darling.

The performance buzzing with people, families, couples, children, the old, men, women, it’s just a lively environment. Then he hears whispers about how they can wait to hear her sing again, and how it’s been so long since she left Fontaine, let alone preform. The is a feeling of hope in the duke’s mind at this, a foreign feeling to him now and one what he cannot place. He shakes those thoughts away as he stands in the back and watches…

That’s when his heart stopped…

It was her…

Her dusty skirt twirling as she stepped onto the old stage, guitar in hand. She spoke to the crowd in that charismatic manner that she did to everyone, everyone but him. She was talking to her home again, a place she hasn’t been in what feels like forever. He watched as she held her guitar and began to sing, oh the first time he had heard her sing since she taken to the fortress and it was beautiful. His eyes were fixed on her as she sang, the lyrics should be like knifes to him with their meaning but he didn’t care…

Then she saw him, his heart soared…

and her heart sank…

she wanted to vomit when she saw the Duke, wanted to run, to scream, but she couldn’t…

Wriothesley watched as she trembled on her words but pushed on with the song and she looked away from him, her gaze shifting to another man, the cello player beside her, stepping over and pausing her singing to lean over and kiss the musician on the cheek which made the crowd cheer. The Duke felt his blood boil, but he could only silently grit his teeth and watch, starting a scene here would cause a panic…

for now he would let her enjoy her last preformance…

and don’t worry she won’t be dragged to the fortress alone now…

no her whole group broke the law, crossing the boarder without documentation…

is that not a law? Don’t worry he’ll talk to the Iudex of Fontaine about that, the man who’s darling was the singer’s best friend, who she ran with in the beginning and who she would share the same fate with in the end.

[nanaminokanojo]

THAWING ICE QUEEN (part 102)

–one night of fooling around with the annoying campus king gojo satoru (he thinks so), turns into...well, something else more long term

CHARACTERS: gojo satoru x you | geto suguru | jjk characters

GENRE: college au | smut | smau | smau + prose | everything in between | ons | fubus to lovers | aged-up characters | idk where this is going

⚠️ TW/CW: strong/mature language | 🔞 | mentions of alcohol, smoking, etc. | this has narrations | god-awful pet names | will add more if something arises

MASTERLIST | CHAPTER INDEX

<<prev part 102 next>>

A/N: This comes with prose.

"Didn't know we made things official."

Magnificent blue eyes darted towards the direction of your voice, their owner visibly perking up at the sight of you from where he was seated on the bed. It was like watching the sped up process of a wilting flower, only backwards as it came back to life. And you momentarily questioned your worth to have such an effect on one Gojo Satoru. You were one person in comparison to the multitude of others who wanted him and would kill to be in your place. Somehow you had to be the one for him; perhaps the one who makes him happy to a certain degree, but most definitely the one who's hurting him, too.

"At least hand me the memo before you go around announcing that I'm in an exclusive relationship with you."

An airy chuckle left his throat as he remained seated, his arms opening and beckoning you over. You obliged albeit taking each step cautiously, but he was impatient as always, pulling you by the hand the moment you were within reach and hooking an arm around your waist to draw you even closer to him. You remained standing between his legs while he possessively held you, his face buried on your stomach while your fingers delved into his silky, silvery hair. For a moment, the two of you breathed in sync, basking in the silence that followed.

It wasn't the first time you'll be in his bedroom at Suguru's place, but you've never really taken the time to look at the finer details. The condo he kept lacked personality, practically uninhabited and telling you nothing about the person in front of you. But in the space you found yourself in, you saw more of his essence.

Satoru was surprisingly organized. You already knew he had a taste for expensive things and he could probably afford to get new things whenever he pleases, but what he has, he obviously takes care of. You sort of expected him the opposite considering his chaotic personality. But over that, his sunny disposition reflected in his little corner of the world, too. Despite his preference for dark-toned accents, everything was bright and warm and cozy.

You looked around, taking in the small details. How his shelves were lined with books, a lot of them, the ones he pays attention to the most looking more battered than the rest, surprisingly turning out to be about aliens and mysteries. Or how there were a variety of tiny Lego people purposefully scattered in very random spots in little worlds of their own in animated suspension. One, you've noticed, was a pair standing under a cherry tree bonsai on an a corner table by the veranda.

You've guessed at it, but he really keeps a stash of sweets within reach from a small bowl of assorted candy by his nightstand to an actual gumball machine filled with Skittles near his desk. He always tasted a bit sugary when you kissed him and you doubted it was just whatever he uses to "take care of his smoochers," as he had termed it. Speaking of which, there were several lip balms lying around by his candies.

Satoru keeps a piece of home through a framed photograph of him with his parents on his other nightstand and surrounds himself with the people he cares about through random printed snapshots tacked to a corkboard by his desk.

"What's funny?" he asked.

You didn't even realize you were laughing until he mentioned it, your eyes trained to the photo you remembered taking with Suguru, Shoko and him when they first introduced the two of you. From the get-go he came on too strong, slinging an arm around your shoulders much to your annoyance. You wondered how it would be if you never got to know him, the warmth in your chest suddenly ebbing away as you looked down to meet his gaze.

Ignoring his question, you said, "I've decided..." You breathed in deeply, letting go of all the tension in your body as you focusrd in Satoru's warmth around you. You gently placed either of your hands on the sides of his face, looking at him as if he will disappear anytime. "I've decided to give myself what I want before I go to London."

His grip tightened around you at the mention of you leaving. "And what is it that you want?"

You smiled. "This guy with the bluest eyes I've ever seen."

He let out a chuckle, unable to help it despite himself. Giving in to his cheeky self, he lifted you up by the back of your thighs, making you yelp in surprise. He settled you on the bed with a slight bounce, laughter lighting up his countenance as he hovered over you. "Then you shall have him."

Reaching up, you pulled him down to you, slinging both of your arms around his neck as you kissed him, soft and easy, deliberately taking your precious time to savor his taste and every heartbeat which seemingly skipped at his bidding. And he returned the gesture in kind if not more until all you could feel was him and nothing else, trapping you into this bubble with nothing but the two of you.

"Stay with me," he spoke against your lips, speaking to your very soul, imploring. But you couldn't answer him; can't promise him something you couldn't give, and so you held on to him tightly as he lay his head against your chest.

If only time was kinder and stopped for your sake, you would give everything that you have just to make it so. It may not be the case, but you still wanted to make the best out of the time you two have left.

"Satoru..."

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

TAGS LIST: @arxliana @neeneee @charlie-xo @aelynaneedsalottathing @arizzu @cloudxp @justpuddinglol @mikkies @nyfwyeonjun @whats-humanity-lol @letthewindlead @whore-of-many-hot-men @localgaytrainwreck @pikibee @bloombb @mr-underhills-things @lysaray @chocoyanchan @poemzcheng @bookswillfindyouaway @dreamxiing @koutaroo @taelattecookie @kazuhasmaid @weebbuscuit @moonmalice @taengkatsu @reagan707 @to0ru @shirabane @yell0wdreams @r0ckst4rjk @megtheebimbo @tmvll9

© ORIGINAL WORK BY nanaminokanojo. CHARACTERS ARE INSPIRED BY GEGE AKUTAMI’S JUJUTSU KAISEN. [20240321]

PHOTO/IMAGE/GIF/FANART/ANY MEDIA CREDITS TO THE RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

[pinkpinkanon]

﹒ ✿ “you with the dark curls,”

GIYUU TOMIOKA - WATER PILLAR; general headcanons of them with an s/o 【gender neutral】

﹒ ✿ “you with the watercolor eyes.”

﹒ perhaps you’re both broken, shattered shards of the same glass panel. still, you both try and fix each other.

﹒if you were a flower, he’d be the pavement. if you are a human, he is desire itself. if you are the music, he is the craving. comparison after comparison he compares his worth to you, and in the end he sees himself as unworthy of you. unworthy of your gaze, which glows up at the sight of him 【why, why? he is dull, dull as a rusty sword. why do you look at him like he’s the light of your life?】. unworthy of your smile, when directed at him 【he has done nothing, nothing to catch your attention. were you teasing him?】. unworthy of your touch, the way your fingers brush against his own rough hand 【why don’t you pull away? why do you cradle his hands with such care? why, why, why?】. he is unworthy. unworthy of everything that you graciously gift him.

﹒what do you see in him? he feels guilty, due to the fact you constantly reassure him about his self worth. you shouldn’t have to do that. you shouldn’t have to love him when he can’t even love himself. that being said; how can he love you when he can’t love himself? you deserve better, so so much better.

﹒and what baffles him even more is your stubbornness, boldly declaring that you’ll stay by his side. you’d say you’ll work through it together - hands clasping his own. you’d say he won’t have to deal with this alone. even now he’s still confused by your words, but they still hold importance to him. you’re willing to stay with him even through troubling times? you’ll help him push through his burdens? are you really willing to go through this journey with him?

﹒he couldn’t be more grateful. the fact you’re willing to put up with him is a miracle. many people, including his own colleagues, dislike him simply because of his expression and attitude. giyuu expected you to react the same way, but with some patience and persistence you managed to unveil the heavy fog that clouded his view of the world.

﹒even though he still feels unworthy of your love, giyuu knows you’ll help him through it; his self esteem. and he wants to help you too, with any problems you may be facing. it’s only fair. if you’re willing to stay by his side, even if he’s wallowing in his own misery, then he’ll also be there for you. if you’re also broken like him, tired like him and sick like him, then he wants to divert you from those labels like you did to him.

﹒patience is key in this relationship. even if you are willing to help him through his issues, he won’t always be open with sharing his feelings. some days he’ll be quieter than normal, but that’s about it. confrontation is something giyuu still struggles with, but he’s working on it. you’ll have to guide him, something you’ll have to do a lot, but you’ll always get something in return.

﹒another thing the water pillar struggles on is affection. displaying it or acting upon it is foreign to him, and admittedly it’s awkward. but again, he’s working on it. he tries and tries to push himself out of his comfort level, especially in terms of PDA. giyuu is shy, but if you want to hold hands or link your arms he’ll gladly comply. when you two get some privacy, he’s more willing to showcase his affections. a kiss for each knuckle on your hand, a caress of your cheek - small things that seem so big to the both of you. again, he’s shy, but he’s trying. trying his hardest. the pink hue painted across his cheeks are more noticeable if you tease him about his shyness.

﹒the water pillar has lost many of his loved ones, so he can’t help but be anxious when you have to stray far from the safety of your home. he’s especially worried if you’re capable of defending yourself, demon slayer or not. at first he may come across as overprotective, but once you consider his past it becomes easier to understand his behavior. giyuu will often ask if you require his presence, if you want him to tag along. this is often to ensure your safety even if you insist you can handle yourself. if you want him to accompany you, then he’ll eagerly do so. he’ll stick squarely to your side until you say so. if not, he’ll simply nod and only asks for you to be careful. on stressful days he’ll ask you again maybe twice or thrice, but after that he’ll leave you alone. giyuu doesn’t want to come across as unnecessarily clingy or possessive, and he respects your decision if you want alone time.

﹒but at times he’s still paranoid, especially when you’re out for the night or even longer. letter exchanges are common if that’s the case. time and time again giyuu reassures himself that you’ll be fine and he’s just over-exaggerating, but then he remembers the lack of your presence and how empty his estate suddenly feels. giyuu doesn’t want to go back to that, being alone in his room without you there with him. he could never forgive himself, if he lost another loved one.

[versadies]

HII CONGRATS ON 7K!!🎉

this is my first time requesting so i hope im doing this correctly😭

kamisato ayato + wangshu inn + prompt-1 + prompt-9 + dawn + sunny, please! <3

rumor has it (kamisato ayato x gn!reader)

AIRLINE… RUMOR HAS IT

STEWARD… king!kamisato ayato (w/ gn!reader)

LOCATION… wangshu inn (royal!au), 1-9 ST. “i don’t deserve you.” + “but i love you, ___. it’s you i want, not them.” on a sunny weather at dawn (drabble, comfort)

PLANE… slight-angst/comfort, royal!au, mentions of gossip, insecure!reader, ayato is sweet, no tw as far as ik of!

PASSENGERS… @scaraslover @saving-for-xiao @dawgimsohot @kazu-topia @chiruru @aqualesha @renamichii @mrkamisato @shenhesl0ver @serami00 @serenareiss @hiqhkey @emperatris-rinaka @bystander36 @irisxiel @ladycoleigh @034ven @dear-dairiess @owozi8 @hadesaedes @chiro-chiro-kun @hersscherofyatta @mariusvonhangme @yuzuricebun @nejibot @hoshikistarlette @solaaresque @crowbird @lordbugs @flowersforayato @headintheclouddd @estelwrld @giyusimpsassemble @irethepotatosblog @moonlightaangel @alice0blog @shotosbrainrot @sniffoat @chihawari @mxsomn @kuni-kuzushii @jiminscarmex @mitsukii14 @nejibot @ylimeprive @sachispet @loreleis-world @sn-owo @starforecasts @someonetookmynamelmao @ceylestia @lumiinere @ymikkos @reallysporadicarcade @melodyyamino

LANDING… in which rumors are too much for you and you find yourself crying all night until your husband comforts you and reassures you you’re more than enough for him.

LUGGAGE… 1.5k words

PILOT… i’ll try my best to start posting more on my 7k requests whilst working on my evermore series, hope you enjoy this anon <3333

PENPAL SERVICE…. MASTERLIST || 7K MILESTONE EVENT || 7K MASTERLIST (coming soon) || TAGLIST

Rumors come as they go.

You know this fact long enough as someone who’s involved with many people who love to gossip. You know this fact long enough as someone who’s wedded to the ruler of this kingdom. You know this fact long enough that you should’ve been used to it.

But your poor heart couldn’t get used to it. Not when most rumors you hear revolve around you and your lover, who often reassures you that whatever the nobles say about you two would never change a thing about his love for you.

Ayato’s right, you admit. Despite all the crazy rumors these silly nobles would come up, your love for each other remains strong and romantic.

Unfortunately your insecurity only grew from it. Especially when most rumors you hear are all about how Ayato’s with a beautiful or handsome person as well as how nobles would comment about how they’d be a better spouse of their respected ruler than whoever you are, causing you to fall into endless thoughts of insecurity. Why did he choose you? You’re nothing in comparison to those Ayato spends time with. You’re not as beautiful as those princes and princesses as well as nobles alike. You’re not worth marrying when you have nothing to offer for your kingdom. You’re not special. You don’t even have a vision, a blessing from the gods above.

You’re just you.

You see no reason to bother your husband with your insecurities and pitiful state, not when he has better things to do than to try and comfort you. You pretend everything’s alright whenever your husband is around often, as if you don’t cry yourself to sleep or spend a long time in the bathroom staring at your reflection wondering why you’re like this, as if you didn’t hear nobles and servants alike talking behind your back every time you walk past them in the palace. It went on for a week—

Until the dam breaks.

You happen to overhear some servants talking about how Ayato is currently spending time with a woman, a very beautiful woman, by the garden. You wouldn’t have not minded such a conversation, if it weren’t for the fact that your husband rarely takes anyone besides you to the palace gardens.

What made it worse is the fact that you could see them from one of the windows, your heart shattering at the sight of Ayato looking at the woman with a fond smile on his face as he talks about only Celestia knows what.

You couldn’t take it anymore.

Later that night, Ayato came to your shared chambers after finishing the last of his paperwork, wanting nothing but to be in your loving arms. He thought you were asleep the whole time until he lay down next to you, now noticing how your shoulders are shaking. Are you… crying?

“Oh dearest,” He said softly as he instantly wraps his arms around you for comfort. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s… It’s nothing, Ayato.” You respond with a sniff, trying to wipe off all of your tears — only for your efforts to fail when more keeps on coming out from your eyes. “I was just yawning a bit too much, let’s slee—”

“I refuse to accept the fact that this is nothing but yawning.” He retorts. “Especially when it made my darling spouse cry so much.”

Your husband surely knows the words that make you want to spill your feelings out.

“You could always tell me, my love.” He reassures you, kissing your shoulder. “I feel terrible for not always having the luxury of time to be with you, but that won’t stop me from being here for you. I won’t hesitate to lend an ear for you, just as how you won’t hesitate to do the same for me.”

You feel your lips shaking, letting out a breath you didn’t know you were holding.

“…You deserve better than me, Ayato.”

You feel his hug become loose for a moment from your confession, and you continued talking. “I… I feel like I’m the happiest person in Teyvat when I found out you love me as much as I do to you, but… There’s just times when I feel like I don’t deserve to be yours — to rule alongside you when I have nothing to offer for your people.”

You didn’t expect to pour everything you’ve been feeling, but perhaps you’ve been hiding it for too long to the point where you couldn’t help but let it all out, expecting Ayato to let you go at last.

But he didn’t. He listened to every word that spills your lips, his heart sinking at the thought that you’ve been feeling this way for a while. What were you saying? You’re amazing at ruling alongside him!

“And the rumors— gods, the rumors — I tried my best to ignore them all, I really did, but it just hurts to hear those nobles about how you’re better off with someone far better than me, someone like the woman you were with earlier in the garden and…They’re right, you’re better off with someone better and not with some commoner like me.”

After finally finishing your long confession, you dread on what will happen next.

After a long painful silence, Ayato speaks up. “Could you… turn around and look at me?” He asks, letting go of you from his hug in order for you to turn around.

Reluctantly and in confusion, you did what he asked and turned around, now facing him.

He then asks, “How long have you been feeling this way?”

You look away from his gaze. “..I’d say a few weeks but… I’m sad to say I’ve been feeling this way ever since our relationship was announced.”

Ayato’s eyes widened, now feeling even more guilty. “Oh ( Name )… I’m so sorry—”

“It’s alright, Ayato. It’s not as if the rumors are your doing. I believed in myself that I could ignore the rumors and… I unfortunately couldn’t for long after our marriage, I’m sorry for this.”

Suddenly, you feel one of his cold gloveless hands cupping on the side of your cheek, wiping away another tear that escaped as yor eyes are now on him.

“Don’t be sorry, my love.” He reassures you. “I didn’t expect you to ignore most — if not all — rumors. Even I couldn’t ignore certain rumors when I was a child.”

Your eyes widened slightly. “Really?”

He nods with a small smile. “Yes. It took too long for me to bear with them all, so you don’t have to feel bad for it.” His smile then slowly drops, now concerned. “But you must hear yourself when you say I deserve someone better.”

Before you could insist on your opinion, he immediately shuts you down with more words. “Why do I need someone better when I have the best of them all?” He adds, his eyes hold a loving gaze towards yours.

You put one of your hands against his hand that’s still cupping your cheek. “But Ayato.. What about the woman? You never took anyone to the garden often besides me and your sister. The nobles have been saying about how you must be in love with her—”

“But I love you, ( Name ). It’s you I want, not that woman.” He responds. “And as much as it saddens me to reveal this surprise, the reason why I was with her is because that woman is a famous gardener. I wanted to surprise you with new flowers and arrangements with her help.”

He then chuckles, now remembering something. “If I remember correctly, she was quite annoyed that I wouldn't stop talking about you to her.”

Your eyes widen from that, your cheeks now growing warm in embarrassment.

“If anything, you’ve instantly won most of our people’s hearts by simply being yourself. Nobles may despise you for winning my heart, but commoners and neighboring kingdoms like you. The newspapers around the village always talk good about you and they all respect you as their ruler.” He adds.

He then pulls away from your cheek and grabs your hand gently, pulling it close to his face before he kisses your palm. “Trust me, my love. There’s no other person who could make me feel this way except you, who could consume my thoughts and heart like you do, who could make me laugh more than you and your silly antics, and who could do as much as you did. So please… Don’t think so badly of yourself, not when you’re worth everything to me more than anyone else even before we became a couple.”

You can’t help but hug your lover, overwhelmed by his comfort and reassurance. “Do you really think that way?”

He didn’t hesitate to hug you back. “Everyday without a doubt.”

You close your eyes. “I feel a bit better now… Thank you, Ayato.”

Ayato kisses your head. “Anything for you. Now rest, I’ll take a break off and spend time with you tomorrow.”

And so the both of you lay on your shared bed, holding each other’s hands as you sleep the night away with a now clear mind as your lover secretly plans to put a stop to those ridiculous nobles and servants who dared to hurt your feelings with their useless rumors and mouths.

For now, the two of you can just relax and sleep in each other’s arms.

[sgkophie]

Man's World - Chapter 1 - Grin It and Bear It

Pairing: Female!Leclerc reader x Carlos Sainz Jr

Warnings: slow burn, eventual Smut, enemies to lovers

Rating: Mature

AN: Thought I'd finally start my own F1 fanfic! I've seen so many amazing writers recently and I love all your stories so I wanted to try my hand at something too! :) Comments and love appreciated - but please enjoy! Yay!

Mini Synopsis: Georgia Leclerc is one of Bugatti's two female drivers. As the newest team in Formula 1, Bugatti has a lot to prove - especially since Team Principal Isabelle Binotto has decided to make the team a pre-dominantly female run team - from race engineers all the way to drivers. But even though Georgia has had an impressive start to her career, the press have labeled her a sassy hot head, nothing like her twin brother Charles.

With sponsorship money on the line, Ferrari and Bugatti come up with one solution – fake a relationship between Georgia and Carlos with the hopes that the Sponsors will see the drivers in a new light. An easy task – if the drivers didn’t hate each other.

Check out the full intro synopsis here!

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While being the sister of Charles Leclerc had it benefits, namely, I had a “built in” lifelong supporter and best friend who loved me dearly, it also had its downside – the constant comparison. While we might have been twins, we couldn’t have been more different from birth. Charles was incredibly outgoing; everyone who met him immediately fell in love with his gorgeous smile and generous laugh. I, however, was more reserved and direct. I didn’t woo the crowd at public gatherings or more importantly, woo the sponsors at private Bugatti events that I had been forced to attend. 

My close friends and family saw the real me – the constant prankster and jokester of the family, as Lorenzo would like to say – but the rest of the world saw me as a boring, quiet, and somber young woman whose reserved nature was lost on them in comparison to my brother. 

As a young girl karting with my brother, I dreamed of racing in F1. When that dream didn’t come true at 18, I decided to move to Indy Car in America – trying my hand at something new and exciting. The thrill of Indy Car was real – and the fans, much to my surprise, welcomed me as a female driver more than I was expecting. There were plenty of bitter, misogynist comments thrown my way – saying that I slept around to get my wins and didn’t deserve my trophies, but for the most part, the community had welcomed me and set me up for success – leading to my first Indy Car championship.

When Isabelle Binotto approached me and told me she was building a predominantly female F1 team with two female drivers, I was shocked. Shocked that Volkswagon’s CEO was letting the team build something so new and risky, but also shocked that she wanted me on the team. It was a no brainer – driving in Formula 1 like my brother had been both our dreams since we were 5 years old racing in go-karts. And while I knew the challenge would be difficult, the cars were so much faster than Indy Cars, I knew the challenge would be worth it. I wanted to show young girls that they too could make it to Formula 1. I wanted to prove myself to the world, and this was my chance.

My fellow driving partner, Lily, was the driving partner every driver hoped for. At just 19 years old, she had won the W-series championship and at 20, she was now the youngest Formula 1 driver on the grid and the youngest ever woman to compete. Lily was everything a Formula 1 team wanted. She was the definition of beautiful inside and out, and the press ate her up. It didn’t matter how many ridiculous questions they threw her way, she answered them with finesse that even movie stars would envy. Still, even if our personalities were different on-track and in the paddock, our friendship had started to blossom. She managed to navigate my introverted personality and made me feel incredibly comfortable. In return, as the older, more experienced driver, I gave her tips on driving the cars and helped her get mentally prepared before races. We spent a lot of time training together and hanging out in the sim. 

The season had started off great; the car Bugatti had built had turned out to be incredible. Testing in Bahrain was one of a kind – a real dream come true. The fan base was building quickly and sponsors started to show real interest in the team. Much to Bugatti’s excitement, having female drivers opened opportunities for new sponsors such as make-up companies and handbag designers, companies that didn’t typically approach the male drivers. 

But by race three one thing was becoming clear – the press were quickly starting to hate me. Comments about my “ambition” and “pushy” nature on the track had already made headlines after race 2, and by qualifying of race 3, the press were branding me this season’s viper. While male drivers like Max Verstappen could get away with short, snippy remarks in the media pen and glaring at the camera, it was clear that the press were not going to let a female driver get away with similar behavior. 

I knew this wasn’t going to be easy, and I had suspected there would be bitter comments about any success I had, but what I wasn’t expecting was for the media to directly ask me questions like, “Georgia, how do you deal with periods during races?” and “Georgia, how does your boyfriend feel with all your traveling?” Apparently my snarky reply of “The same way you deal with your period, Will” didn’t get the laugh I had intended. No one likes a woman talking about periods on national TV, it so happens. 

They also didn’t seem to like my lack of a boyfriend. Rumors had already circulated about me and my brother’s close friend Pierre Gasly a couple years ago when I had come to visit Charles at some races in previous seasons, but now the rumor mill was rampant. The obsession on my dating life was fascinating to me. On one hand, they were clearly scrutinizing the fact that any boyfriend I could possibly have would be so torn with my traveling all the time, and on the other hand, I was dating every man under the sun. 

At the start of the season the media had dubbed me “Sissy Leclerc”, a somewhat rude but at least boring nickname. By race three, I was “Sassy Leclerc” – something my team principal deemed to be much worse, especially with big sponsorship names hovering around, discussing deals. Hearing the word Bugatti might make you think unlimited funds, but it was far from the truth. We had to sustain enough funds to prove ourselves, just like anyone else. With a majority female engineering team and paddock crew, there was a lot at stake here. 

Still I wasn’t going to let it bother me. Within my first 3 races I had secured two podiums and come 5th in the 3rd race. I was second in the drivers championship, with the rest of the season to play for. 

The first win of the season had been magical. After just four races, I had managed to not only get on the podium, but stand on the tallest step. As I looked to my left, I saw my brother, splashing me with champagne and hugging me all at the same time. The look of pride in his eyes gave me a warm feeling – a reminder of the support my entire family had given me for the last 24 years of my life. Regardless of the fact that I had passed Charles on track in what I’m sure the media would deem a “tense battle between siblings”, I could see the look of love and happiness for me in his eyes. 

“Congrats Peaches, I’m so proud of you,” I heard him whisper in my ear as we were leaving the podium celebration. 

As kids we visited America often. My aunt and uncle had moved there when I was younger, so every couple of years we went to visit their beautiful house in Georgia. It’s there that Charles had started to call me Peaches after a round of peach picking at a local farm – and after that, the name had stuck.

Drenched in champagne and smelling of sweat, I smiled, giving him one last hug before running down the paddock and back to my team who were waiting for me with open arms. 

Bugatti’s race strategist, Susie Wolff, wife of Toto Wolff, was first to greet me. How Bugatti managed to steal her from Mercedes, I’ll never know – but over the last several years she had become a confidant and mentor to me. Being a Formula 1 test driver herself, she knew the pressure I was facing and the tough work it took to be a driver. 

“Congrats Georgie – P1! Well deserved.” She gave me a huge hug and big smile, followed by a pat on the back. 

“You know what I think this win deserves?” I said smiling, a little hint of mischief playing on my face, which I could tell Susie noticed by the slight uptick of the corner of her mouth.

“You still have to do media duties, don’t even ask.” 

The smile on my face dropped. I knew that would be the case, but I had let myself hope, for one millisecond, that maybe the joy would allow me some reprieve. It was silly to even hope it. A race winner is expected to do media – and if we were to keep gaining sponsors, I needed to get my face in front of a camera and smile and chat about how happy I was. 

I looked over to Isabelle, the Bugatti team principal, who smiled and waved at me. I think in all my time of knowing her, Isabelle had smiled maybe 3 times, so I was honored that my race win was one of them. Isabelle was an incredible woman. Her success in the W-series and Formula E was well regarded. She was a brilliant strategist, and while you could only describe her as having a tough personality, she had the finesse to manage the media like a genius. Unlike me, her tough nature and direct comments were revered by the press and F1 community alike. She could command a room full of men and get exactly what she wanted. Her hard exterior was always on display at races – but I knew there was someone soft and gentle underneath. She fiercely cared about the people who worked for her and put her name and reputation on the line to start a female-focused Formula 1 team because she believed in us. 

I nodded and waved back to her, and then head to my drivers room to freshen up before the post-race media conference would begin. As I exited the drivers room I was met by Lizzie, my poor Media Manager who had been saddled with what could only be her toughest assignment yet. Still, even if I was likely a nightmare to manage at press events, she wore her brave assignment with the world’s biggest smile and most uplifting nature I had ever seen. The paddock could be on fire, and I think Lizzie would announce, “At least we have free lighting!” 

“GEORGIE!” She gave me a massive hug, practically strangling the upper part of my body. Lizzie was an impressive 6’0, so compared to my 5’3 stature, she always towered over me. 

“Hi Liz, thanks! What a race – just marvelous at the end, fighting with Charles and Max like that – just incredible. But now I assume its time to go feed the vultures?” I asked, my voice dropping with the end question.

“Yes, yes, time to go show the media what a star we all know you to be,” she let out, giving me a big wink and shoulder squeeze.

We soon arrived at the media center, and for the first time in my career, I took my spot in the center chair. It felt thrilling to sit down in it. Charles reached out and gave my shoulder a tap, whispering, “Just grin it and bear it, Peaches, we’ll soon be out drinking to celebrate.” 

I smirked back, and settled into my chair, nodding to Max who smiled at me, whispering another congrats before the conference started. I never understood the feeling, but no matter what the circumstance was, I immediately began to feel anxiety and pressure at these press events. Here I was with a phenomenal, well-deserved win, but I could feel my hands start to sweat profusely and the worlds that tumbled out of my mouth never seemed to be quite what I wanted to say – or what they wanted to hear. 

“So Georgia, congrats on your first win with Bugatti. It must feel thrilling to be the second woman to ever win a Formula 1 race and the first in the last 3 decades, how do you feel?” 

“Phenomenal, it’s truly a dream come true,” I replied, smiling slightly at the journalist. A few uncomfortable seconds passed, the journalist clearly expecting me to say more. I turned to Lizzie, her hands motioning to continue speaking, but before I could continue, the journalist had moved on. 

“So Charles, I saw you and Georgia had quite the battle around lap 40. How did it feel to be beat out by your sister?” 

“It was a great battle! My sister is an incredible driver and that Bugatti is fast as lightning. Disappointed I couldn’t keep up, but it’s hard to fight with that kind of talent. Plus, I knew if she beat me, she would have to be the one buying drinks tonight, not me, so it’s not all a loss.” 

With that he turned to me and winked, getting several chuckles out of the journalists. 

I rolled my eyes, leaning over to shove Charles’ shoulder a tad. These press events were always easier when Charles was there. He was undoubtedly my biggest fan (well, second, behind Lorenzo) and his light-heartedness always made me feel more at ease. 

The press conference continued at its normal bring pace. To my relief, majority of the questions seemed to be targeted at Max and Charles, leaving me to answer a few questions. While I should have been more offended that the media spent most of their time asking the 2nd and 3rd place drivers more questions, in truth, I felt relived. Less questions asked meant less chance to screw this up for myself. 

As the hour started to come to an end, I was beginning to feel a bit better. I had answered a few more questions with a little more “of my sunny disposition”, as Lizzie would say, and felt like I was beginning to improve on my media relations. 

“So Georgia, now that you’re a race winner, I bet you’re beginning to see the WDC in your view. Do you think it’s time to see more women in racing?” 

Ah, here it was, the stupid question they loved to ask all the drivers, but especially me. They always asked this question as if they were trying to find me in a lie and get me to admit, “actually I think women should get back to the kitchen where they belong.” 

Before I could stop myself, I let out the most exasperated sigh and rolled my eyes. 

“I think we all know the answer to that question because you have all managed to ask it to me at ever single press event I’ve ever showed up at. What are you looking for me to say? No?” 

I could see Lizzie waving in the background, her hand going across her throat, signaling for me to quit before I was ahead.

But it was too late. “Sassy Leclerc” had been released. 

The silence was deafening. I looked over to Charles for help, but his face told me what I should have done – grinned it and beared it. 

“Obviously I want more women in the sport. If we had more women, maybe you would all stop focusing on ‘my love life’ or ‘my periods’ or ‘what racing bra do I wear’ because me and Lily wouldn’t be the shiny new toys to harass.”  

Now that was definitely the wrong thing to say. 

But it was said. 

After a few more awkward moments, the head of F1 Media and Communications came on the stage and thanked all the journalists for attending. Before Charles could say anything, I quickly got out of my seat and sprinted towards the exit, hoping to make a quick escape before I was bombarded by fans and journalists. 

Lizzie took off after me, her long legs allowing her to quickly catch up with me. As we walked back into the Bugatti hospitality suite, I could see the look of displeasure on Isabelle’s face. The smile that had been on her face just an hour earlier was replaced with a disappointed frown. She pointed her finger at me, signaling for me to ‘come hither’ to her office. 

“Look before you say anything, I know. I should have dropped it and answered the usual answer, “Yes of course I want more women.” But I just couldn’t do it this time. It’s starting to become morose and rude.”

“Georgia, I appreciate that the press are morons,” Isabelle said, taking a seat at her desk, her piercing green eyes slicing me open, as if she was reading a book that she had already read before, but needed to re-read in case she had missed something important. “But unfortunately, the F1 journalist community isn’t going to change overnight, so it’s our job to help guide them to that change. It’ll be slow – you know this – and yelling at a reporter is only going to make you look like a hot head, something the press want to see.” 

I knew she was right. Change in a male dominated sport would be slow, and we had to be careful. Generations of racing women depended on us, and the fight wasn’t going to be won in 4 races. Having the media hate me wasn’t going to encourage the other teams to hire female drivers. 

“I know, I’m sorry, I’ll work on it and do better next race.”

Isabelle nodded, knowing there was no reason to further the conversation. She might be annoyed, but she didn’t want to dampen my day. The fact was I was now a Formula 1 winner and the fight for the WDC was on. I was going to enjoy today, even if the media had it out for me. 

After leaving her office, I saw Susie and Lizzie slide into Isabelle’s office and shut the door. My gut told me I would be hearing about what they would be discussing at the next race, but I didn’t care – tonight was my night. 

Isabelle welcomed Susie and Lizzie into the office, signaling for them to shut the door. “Well,” she said, “I talked to Mattia and he’s agreed to the idea. Carlos is also struggling and two sponsors are talking about backing out after his recent trip to Ibiza.” 

“Who gets the job of telling her?” Lizzie asked slowly, knowing full well it would be her, but hoping that the Bugatti team principal might take pity on her. 

“We’ll tell her together – Charles and Carlos have been summoned to Miami early and we’ll do the same. Mattia thought it might be good to bring in Charles and Lorenzo, might help soften the blow to the two of them,” Isabelle mused, taking pity on Lizzie. She knew Georgia was going to react badly to this (and truth be told, she hated the idea herself), but there was a lot at stake here. “Susie I think you should be there to help her understand why we’re doing this. She respects you greatly.”

Susie sighed, but nodded, “Okay, Miami it is.” 

Tag List: @internetgremlin-writes

[e-flo]

ZORO'S BIRTHDAY HAVE A FICLET WEEEEE

ft. the crew and some light zosan :3

Zoro never thought much of his birthday. It was just like any other day, really, simply marking a passage of time. What did that matter when there were so many other moments that had truly changed him?

He remembered the day he met Luffy. His crazy captain turned his entire world upside down and only asked that he stay by his side in return. It started his closest friendship since Kuina. He remembered her passing, too. Two thousand and one losses followed by the biggest loss of all. He picked up both of their dreams that day and held them close in his chest ever since.

Zoro also had each day his nakama joined the crew committed to memory. The day the cook joined had the double honor of also being the day he first challenged Mihawk. He gained his largest scar, an indispensable partner, and a renewed vigor towards his life goal in one swoop. Honestly, if there were any anniversary worth celebrating, that might be it. Though the day he finally admitted his feelings to the cook would be a fair contender.

They had been arguing, then teasing, then sparring, and then finally recovering from their tussle, collapsed on the empty deck while the rest of the crew slept. It was almost funny how they had fought as quietly as possible in those sleepy pre-dawn hours, drawn together by the challenge and their unique magnetism. The sun took its time crawling over the horizon, slowly warming the grass and casting long, merging shadows behind them.

Zoro had taken the opportunity to watch the dawn kiss Sanji's skin, warming it golden-bright as the breeze trailed across his hair. The sparkle of easy waves paled in comparison to the light reflecting in his blue eye. Zoro felt an uncommon peace take over his body, inhaling the salty air, he exhaled everything that had clicked into place. “I hope I get to sit in the sun like this every day.”

Sanji smiled next to him, pulling his leg up to rest his chin on his knee. He held it in a relaxed hug, turning to offer the swordsman a wide smile so rarely directed his way. “Careful tough guy, that's a pretty romantic thing to–”

“With you.”

Sanji blinked. He opened his mouth, closed it. He blinked again. Zoro felt his face heat at the wide-eyed look but he refused to take it back. Huffing to cover his embarrassment, he turned to look back at the colors dancing over the horizon. He felt Sanji's heavy gaze slide off of him and their cozy companionship returned with surprising ease. The sun felt especially warm.

The cook eventually left their quiet morning to start breakfast and the smell of coffee lured the crew out of their bunks before long. Nami commented on him being up early, but Zoro brushed it off with a grunt as he followed her into the galley. He sat down and waited for his plate, wondering if the cook would say something.

Zoro fell into a small doze, lulled by the sounds of cooking and Nami going over her plans for the next island on the way. A plate landed in front of him with a short, “Eat up, musclehead.” Zoro opened his eyes and fought the broad grin that threatened to take over his face.

Sanji had made omurice, one of his favorite breakfast foods, smelling strongly of pearly white rice, sesame, and perfectly folded eggs. Sitting on top of the omelet was a silly little ketchup drawing of a sunrise. It was little more than a half circle with squiggly little rays coming out of it, but Zoro thought it was charmingly perfect. He glanced back up in time to see Sanji turn around, only the redness of his ears giving him away.

He quickly shoveled the eggs into his mouth before Nami could tune in and ask questions. As he ate, he resolved to corner the cook after breakfast. He had a feeling their conversation could be the start of something monumental.

So what was a simple birthday in the face of that? Just another day, nothing special.

And yet as Zoro woke from his midday nap, nestled among the mikan trees, he felt his chest fill with some warm emotion. Chopper had taken up residence on his stomach, snoring lightly as he rose and fell with Zoro's breaths. Luffy was sprawled across his legs, mouth open wide and drooling while his own feet were propped up on an unconscious Usopp.

Turning to his left, he spotted Nami reclined against the tree next to him, head tilted back into the mottled sunshine. Robin as well was reclined against Franky, a book propped open in her lap as she rubbed a hand across his fuzzy scalp. He was also passed out and drooling into the grass. Zoro could vaguely hear a deep rumble that announced Jinbei slumbering nearby along with Brook’s violin accompaniment.

A snuffle on his right announced the last figure tucked under his arm, a leg slung over his hips and just barely missing Luffy’s ribs. Sanji’s face was close, nuzzled into his shoulder. His eyes were closed, his breathing soft and even as he took a rare reprieve from his work in the galley.

Zoro couldn't help but smile. His crew was all piled around him, snoozing away under the mikan trees. Above him, he thought he heard Brook’s melody turn suspiciously to a birthday song. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a familiar kiss hit the underside of his jaw, catching him in his quiet joy.

“Happy birthday, marimo,” Sanji whispered before he settled back down with a contended sigh. “Dinner will be ready in a half hour. Go back to sleep.”

Zoro complied with a quiet hum, closing his eyes once more. As he lay on the Sunny’s deck, surrounded by his nakama and warmed by the sun, Zoro couldn't help but think today was something worth celebrating after all.

=x END x=

[optiwashere]

Asheera and Shadowheart touching 35?

Thank you for sending this one in, anon! Always happy to see it.

---

Touching 35 (Kissing their bruises and scars)~ who doesn't love Act 3 emotional hurt/comfort?

First to the marks on her knuckles, the ones from a shield crushed against her hand in the heart of battle. Shadowheart's hands marked by the House of Grief, strong but not able to hold onto anything. Not tonight, not in the bluish light of twilight outside the city.

Sitting on hard earth, Shadowheart refused herself even the comfort of the pillows she always carried with her tent and supplies. Asheera said nothing. She simply sat next to her by the fire.

"Come here," Asheera whispered, pressing her lips to bruised knuckles. "It's over."

"Isn't it just?"

She couldn't bear to even be within the city walls. While the others relaxed in rooms in the Elfsong, they camped out on the outskirts of Rivington. Just like a few months beforehand on a mountain pass with the same tree boughs overhead. Just like old times, before Shadowheart had known her parents still lived.

"Please," Asheera begged. She didn't pull on Shadowheart, instead waited. Held her hand in both of hers. "Come here."

"To let them go like that, isn't it a victory for Shar? The greatest one of all?"

Asheera found the marks where the Fidelians' necrotic touches seared black marks on Shadowheart's arm that held the Spear of Night. Reaching for her own magic, laying on hands with another touch, Asheera pressed kisses to each of the marks winding up Shadowheart's arm.

She needed no reminders of them, not on her body. That was not for them to touch ever again.

"If we had another way, we would have done it," Asheera said, "and Shar gave only two options."

Shadowheart pushed herself closer, enveloping herself in Asheera's body. Physically so small in comparison. "And if I chose the wrong one?"

"Then—"

"Never mind it." Shadowheart closed her eyes and leaned her head back against Asheera's chest. She sighed. "I can't sit here and pretend I don't hold my heart in hand. Fragile and pathetic."

Asheera wrapped her arms around her instinctively. "And you think I'd call you that?"

"Not with words, no. A look. Perhaps not today, or even in a year's time. A decade or two." Shadowheart looked up at her, eyes wet with something that she blinked away rapidly. "You'll notice. Eventually."

She spoke so matter-of-factly. It was clear to Asheera that Shadowheart thought she hid the pain in her words well. As if this was how things should be and how the world was meant to be laid before her, and nothing and nobody could convince her otherwise.

As if all worth had been stripped away.

Asheera lifted Shadowheart and turned her so that they stared one another in the eyes. Legs wrapped around her waist, Shadowheart bringing herself closer automatically. Her arms slipped under Asheera's but she refused to look up.

"We don't have to talk about that, not tonight," Asheera said, leaning forward to press a kiss to Shadowheart's forehead. She rested her cheek there, wanting to be closer but unable. "You will be at peace. One day. And I will be there to watch with a smile."

"Of course you say that now."

"Ask me again tomorrow and next year then." Asheera drew back, glad to at least see Shadowheart meeting her gaze. "That decade or two will be more than that, much more than that. I've already seen enough to know you are strong. Stronger than you allow yourself to believe."

"Simple to say, isn't it? When you're not the one who had to make that choice," Shadowheart bit back, her face scrunching up in invisible pain as she did so. She shook her head.

"It's true."

"And I still shouldn't have said that."

"You say what you feel, I can't expect perfection from you."

"Oh no? I would imagine paladins know the noble, proper way to suffer. I'll seek perfection in my prayers, so that I can be the good little penitent one." Shadowheart chuckled humorlessly, closing her eyes. She groaned in disgust. "Why am I even speaking? Every word is another grave I dig myself."

Asheera meant to lean down to press a kiss to her lips, but Shadowheart shifted and Asheera instead met the scar on her cheek. The one running up to her nose.

Their hold on one another tightened. White hair drifted free of its usual braid, no more strain or struggle.

"I need you to know that I want to know your fears and worries," Asheera said, "and that I won't abandon you because you feel. You are worthy of sharing your pain with others, and I hope you'll let me carry some of that burden with you."

Shadowheart didn't answer, but she didn't move either. Together they sat like that as the fire before them died into embers. Hours passed as Asheera stroked her hair and waited for a response, no matter how long it would take.

When Shadowheart's breathing evened out into the comfort of sleep, face nestled in her chest, she knew it would be some time before she would hear an answer.

To wait was a simple task.

[foxes-that-run]

20 times it was always Haylor

Harry and Taylor often write that the other is irreplaceable, though they are built to fall apart and get back together.

I have limited myself to only 10 songs each which was hard!

Taylor:

Out of the Woods: "We were built to fall apart / Then fall back together / (Back together)"

End Game "I hit you like, "Bang" / We tried to forget it, but we just couldn't" and "And I can't let you go, your handprint's on my soul"

Ready for it: "And he can be my jailer, Burton to this Taylor / Every lover known in comparison is a failure"

Daylight "I don't wanna look at anything else now that I saw you I don't wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you"

Cruel Summer "And I scream, "For whatever it's worth I love you, ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?" He looks up, grinnin' like a devil"

DBATC: " I look through the windows of this love / Even though we boarded them up / Chandelier's still flickering here / 'Cause I can't pretend it's ok when it's not" and "You said it was a great love, one for the ages / But if the story’s over, why am I still writing pages?"

The 1: "And it would've been sweet / If it could've been me / In my defense, I have none/ For digging up the grave another time / But it would've been fun/ If you would've been the one"

Gold Rush: "And the coastal town / We wandered 'round had never / Seen a love as pure as it" and "My mind turns your life into folklore / I can't dare to dream about you anymore"

Question..?:"Cause I don't remember who I was / Before you painted all my nights / A color I've searched for since" and "Does it feel like everything's just like / Second best after that meteor strike?"

Snow on the Beach "Life is emotionally abusive / And time can't stop me quite like you did" and "Weird but fuckin' beautiful / Flying in a dream, stars by the pocketful / You wanting me tonight feels impossible"

Harry:

Stockholm Syndrome: "Who's this whisper telling me that I'm never gonna get away?" and " All my life, I've been on my own (Oh-oh-oh) I used the light to guide me home (Oh-oh-oh) / But now together we're alone /And there's no other place I'd ever wanna go”

I love you: Harry wrote for Alex and Sierra: "Cause I love you, more than you think I do / And I love you, now you don't want me to" and "Every time I try to fight it, everything just turns out wrong /Maybe if I got my timing right, I wouldn't end up alone"

Maybe Someday Harry wrote for Micheal Buble: " For her I bend, for you I break / And if I can't be yours now / I'll wait here on this ground / 'Til you come, 'til you take me away / Maybe someday"

Meet me in the Hallway: "We don't talk about it / It's something we don't do / Cause once you go without it / Nothing else will do"

Sweet Creature: "Wherever I go, you bring me home / Sweet creature, sweet creature / When I run out of road, you bring me home"

Fine Line: "You've got my devotion But man, I can hate you sometimes" and "You sunshine, you temptress / My hand's at risk, I fold / Crisp trepidation I'll try to shake this soon"

Golden "I know you were way too bright for me I'm hopeless, broken, so you wait for me in the sky" and "I can feel you take control (I can feel you take control) / Of who I am, and all I've ever known Lovin' you's the antidote / Golden"

Adore you: "I'd walk through fire for you / Just let me adore you/ Like it's the only thing I'll ever do"

As it was: "Seems you cannot be replaced / And I'm the one who will stay, oh" / In this world, it's just us / You know it's not the same as it was"

Music for a Sushi Restaurant: "I don't want you to get lost I don't want you to go broke / I want you / It's 'cause I love you, babe / In every kind of way / Just a little taste / Know I love you, babe"

Ok one more

[shitpostingkats]

Obsessed with these tags OP omg

First of all, how dare you stab me in the heart with that comparison to Jesse. I can absolutely see it. Now I want to know how Jesse would come into play in all this- Cod I love Spiritshipping they were meant for each other <3

Second, I know I already requested Yuya and Jaden interactions (and oh boy did you deliver), but now you have me intrigued. Like it doesn't even have to be the groupchat AU, I'm just genuinely curious now how you think Jaden would interact with all four of the Yu Boys. I am giving you an excuse to write Jaden and Yuri interacting also because to be completely honest I love Yuya to bits and pieces but Yuri has always been my favorite of the four. <3 "Yuri is the violence" Dear cod I want to see the two of them tear into someone. I have no idea who exactly but they would be terrifying. Give them an audience perchance. Maybe the rest of the protags. (I live for reactions) I'm living for this.

Jaden meets them and it's like witnessing all the parts of himself he keeps tucked to his chest exposed for everyone to see. He sees Yuto and wants to wrap him in a hug and tell him nothing was his fault. (He's a hypocrite, he knows he (Jaden) deserved everything he got. He didn't, he really didn't) He sees Yuya and sees the mask he's put up for so long, sees his attitude of "maybe if I ignore this then it'll all go away" and wonders if his own mask ever looked this close to cracking. He sees Yugo and wants to scream and tear his hair out because when did he lose that part of himself? When did the mask truly become a mask, when did he lose that spark that made life seem actually worth living? (He knows damn well when he lost it.) He sees Yuri and sees a world where he gave in completely to the madness, where he found comfort in the pain because it was the one time he truly felt like he was in control. He wonders what it cost him, if it cost anything at all. He wonders what friends he sacrificed to get where he is now, and if it was worth it. He looks into his eyes and thinks maybe it was. He wonders if maybe their worlds aren't as dissimilar as he first thought. (That thought alone might scare him more than anything.)

It's late and I'm not very good with words (at the moment at least) But you have got me HOOKED and you are currently my only source for this dynamic, I will be plaguing your ask box for a good week at least, I hope you know this- (Feel free to tell me to chill out at any time btw, I just saw your blog description and took that as a personal challenge sdfghj /lh)

Much love <3

*hands you back your worksheet and it looks like this*

*hands you stickers hands you a candy from the candy bowl, never worry about blowing up my inbox, I love hearing from people, hands you a tangerine*

Bestie you are doing such a good job thank you for the kind words, also your mind. I hadn't realized the potential for Yugo + Jaden interactions until you started messaging, now I am rocked by the implications. Now I have to write the yu-bois into the gc au. Can't promise I'll publish anything anytime soon, but I'm always excited to talk about these funny card game guys.

Yuri and Jaden the reformed supervillain and the still-thinks-he-has-to-be-the-evil-brother. Jaden is trying to nudge the guy in the right direction but totally worried because he is only barely older than him and still kinda a mess, meanwhile Yuri would gladly sell Jaden for one corn chip but also belligerently hangs out with him because he kinda is one of the best fusion duelists in the world, maybe he can learn some things. Yuri is like "Let's rob this 7/11! >:3" and Jaden is like "Oooh! There's a deal on slushies!"

Reformed murder hobo in the body of a college student tries to reform child murder hobo: seven injured, Yugo's on the roof, more on this story at 11.