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canmom · 4 months

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How do you live?

I (finally!) saw Miyazaki's new film 君たちはどう生きるか (How Do You Live?/The Boy and the Heron)! It's been out in the States for a while, and in Japan considerably longer, but it took a while to make its way over here.

I remember at the time it came out, people were having fun riffing on the incredibly cryptic marketing campaign, which consisted only of this rather abstract poster...

In the spirit of this, I resolutely avoided watching any trailers or knowing anything at all about the plot of the film. I picked up a thing or two here and there - I knew to expect some amazing Shinya Ohira animation for example, and you couldn't really avoid seeing the bird with teeth! - but overall, I had no idea.

There's plenty of great writing about this film in English already, such as kvin's fantastic sakugablog piece which discusses the physicality of Ghibli's animation, its weight and springiness, as a throughline. The stuff that kvin talks about really stood out to me as I watched this film. You can likewise read detailed interviews with Toshiyuki Inoue (fantastic interview for sakubutas) and Akihiko Yamashita on fufuro.

First up, the credits of this film are pretty much a who's who of the greatest jp animators of the last 30 years, and they've had some 7 years to cook it, so naturally this film looks fucking amazing. This is absolutely the kind of film that only Miyazaki could direct - its design language feels so familiar and yet it's iterating in all kinds of visually imaginative directions that show that yeah, the old bastard's still got it.

And like, god, man. This film's animation is really something special. Its real-world scenes in particular are full of shots that require an unbelievably strong sense of space, of both subtle and broad acting, the classic Ghibli attention to detail on mechanical objects and everyday tasks. It's full of bouncing and squishing and squeezing and oozing things. It loves to draw crowds and swarms of people and animals. It's the kind of film where any given shot would be the absolute star-of-the-show sakuga moment in just about any other anime film. If you wanted a complete statement of the Ghibli school of animation, it would be hard to do better.

And yet, for all that Miyazaki's known for his tight control over animation and heavy corrections to animators, in this film he had to step back from that kind of role and hand over the sousakkan reins to Takeshi Honda, who steps up admirably - as kvin writes above, bringing in more realist elements to the bouncy Miyazaki style to create a really effective unity that grounds all the big fantastical elements of the film and fills the first act with tension.

Alongside all that excellent key animation, the film's colour and photography departments evidently understand that well-chosen colours and good highlight shapes beat all the digital gradients and overlays you can imagine - the drawings get plenty of form from the strength of the animation, and the flat shading really pops. The backgrounds are as delicious as ever, skyscapes and vegetation and opulent interiors with the just-slightly desaturated and harmonious colours that just kind of remind you that oh yeah, it is still possible to do it this way.

Basically it's a Ghibli film lol. You know how it is.

But what of the story...? What's all this technical magic in service of?

The film's story has something of the feel of a serial story, perhaps reflecting Miyazaki's (in)famous process of working out the film gradually as he draws the storyboards. Certain ideas, like the parakeet empire, arrive in the film rather suddenly and then become fairly central to the plot. There's a clear emotional throughline, but this is not a film that is in a hurry to explain itself more than it absolutely has to. It wants to keep its magical elements numinous and mysterious. I would say, though, it's generally more satisfying in this approach than some of Miyazaki's other later films like Howl's Moving Castle, and resolves a lot more clearly.

So what is it like, About? Well, Miyazaki has been pretty open about channeling a lot of his personal relationships into the film, and a lot of it seems to reflect more or less obliquely on him. It's what they call a 'personal film'. The protagonist's position as the son of an aeroplane factory owner during WWII is straight-up from life. What about the old sorcerer, haphazardly stacking blocks to keep a world alive, and looking for someone to succeed him? The reading's kinda obvious, even if Miya himself says this guy is based on his memory of Takahata. Well, he can be both...

To say more I'm gonna have to delve into the spoiler zone. See you below the cut.

OK so! Let's try and get some thoughts in order.

first, a plot summary type of thing

Our first act introduces us to Mahito at roughly the moment his mother Hisako dies in a hospital fire. This is midway through the war, which is present mostly in the background - now and then we see soldiers marching around, and of course Mahito's dad runs a factory producing warplane parts, not entirely unlike Miyazaki's own father although seemingly a bit higher up the ladder.

We jump forward a little and Mahito's father remarries - to his deceased wife's sister, no less, and she's already pregnant. This is Natsuko, who does her best to play the role of mother, but Mahito still has big traumas and he is understandably not entirely on board with the idea of welcoming a mum 2 who looks almost exactly like mum 1. He moves with Natsuko into a huge old house complex, a mix of older Japanese architecture with a more recent Western wing where the family currently sleeps - and staffed by a small army of colourful old ladies who are eager for any canned meat or cigarettes they can get their hands on.

Also there's this freaky heron that keeps bothering Mahito. It seems to have something to do with a mysterious tower which turns out to have been built by his great-uncle. Mahito visits the tower, but can't make his way inside. Natsuko tells him not to go into the tower.

Mahito goes to school, but naturally they don't much take to the new rich kid on the block, and so after being attacked by his classmates on his way home he injures himself with a rock. (His dumbass dad is like, who did this to you son, I'll fuck 'em up.) For the rest of the movie, he has half his head shaved to accomodate a bandage, which is the sort of attention to detail this movie loves.

The heron has started growing teeth and talking to Mahito, telling him to come to the tower. Mahito is convinced it's a trap, and after a maybe-dream sequence in which Natsuko shoots an arrow to drive off the heron, he steals cigarettes from Natsuko in order to get one of the servants to sharpen his knife, and then constructs a bow and arrow out of bamboo - using a couple of the heron's feathers. Constructing the bow and arrow is shown in immense, loving detail.

In the process, he witnesses Natsuko walk into the forest, and also stumbles on a book: How Do You Live? by Genzaburō Yoshino, which contains a handwritten message from his mother. He looks at this book briefly... and this is about the extent of the connection of the film to the book, beyond thematic parallels.

The maids notice that Natsuko is missing. Mahito tells one of the maids, Kiriko, that he saw her go into the forest, and they follow, finding an old road that gives another approach to the tower. They're greated by the heron man, who is increasingly emerging from the heron's beak to reveal a big warty nose. He's some kind of like... heron selkie or something, a gnome in a heron skin. There's some wonderfully grotesque animation around this guy.

Heron dude taunts Mahito with an illusion of his mother Hisako. Mahito threatens him with the bow - the heron guy is like, do your worst, not realising it's a maaagic arrow. The arrow chases him around the room and pierces his beak, fucking up his magic. At this point, the tower master shows up and orders the heron to guide Mahito. Heron guy sends everyone through the floor into a fantastical world...

Mahito arrives in front of a huge, sinister tomb. He approaches the gate, and a swarm of pelicans walk up behind, crawling all over him and pressing him through the gate. This causes a storm to start brewing, since opening the gate seems to piss off the stones or something...

A fisher woman resembling a much younger Kiriko runs up and chases the pelicans away. She takes Mahito under her wing, explaining that this world is inhabited mostly by dead people, but there are also these little round guys called the wareware, who gain the ability to fly when they eat a fish's guts.

Kiriko, uniquely in this world, has the ability to kill, so she catches fish to sell to the other inhabitants and feed to the wareware; she and Mahito butcher a huge fish. Mahito fairly quickly figures out that she is somehow the same Kiriko that entered with him. She has tiny charms representing the other maids, which serve an apotropaic function.

That night, staying on Kiriko's huge derelict ship of a home, they watch the wareware rise into the sky to be born as humans in Mahito's world. They're attacked by the pelicans, but a fire-wielding magic user called Hisa (hmmmmmmmmmm) drives the pelicans away. Mahito shouts at her not to harm the wareware, but Kiriko assures him that more of the wareware will survive thanks to Hisa's intervention.

Later, a singed and dying pelican explains the pelicans' predicament to Mahito in a scene that calls to mind the animals in Mononoke-hime. The pelicans are foreigners in this world, they don't have anything to eat, so they take it as their role to eat the wareware. The heron man arrives on the scene too, offering to help Mahito find Natsuko as Mahito - coming in to his own as a protagonist more - buries the pelican. Mahito distrusts him but eventually Kiriko persuades them to give working together a try.

Mahito and the heron set out. As they pass through a forest, the heron reveals that thanks to Mahito's arrow, he can't fly and do heron shit anymore - and by magic law, only Mahito can fix the hole. Mahito applies his new woodworking skills to fashion a bung for the hole. The heron tries to stage a top 10 anime betrayal, but then the bung needs more work, so Mahito fixes it, and from that point on, the heron joins the party and he and Mahito are fast friends.

(You might wonder why I just call him 'the heron' and not by a name. He never gets named! He's just the heron man.)

Mahito and the heron arrive at the house of a blacksmith who's supposed to help them find Natsuko, only to find it guarded by big buff parakeet men. The parakeets are splendidly goofy round guys - they remind me of the heedra in Nausicaa. The heron draws the parakeets away, and Mahito enters the house, only to find, uh oh! More parakeets. The parakeets prepare to eat Mahito, who is not carrying a child and therefore fair game unlike Natsuko, but Hisa shows up and burns them with fire magic. She looks just like a young version of Mahito's mum! Funny that. Hisa helps Mahito escape into her house through the fire, and then takes him to infiltrate the parakeets' empire.

In the human world, the maids explain the backstory of the tower to Mahito's dad. It's a weird meteorite that came from space, it turns out, and Mahito's great-uncle built the tower on top of it before eventually disappearing inside. Mahito's dad overprepares in an elaborate getup complete with katana, and goes to try to rescue everyone.

Hisa leads Mahito to a corridor full of doors which open into all the different worlds, including his own world. Mahito briefly glimpses his dad coming to try and rescue him - the two see each other briefly, but the parakeets catch wind of the whole thing and attack, and so Mahito and Hisa have to flee back into the magical world. We see that the parakeet guys turn into regular parakeets when they come into the human world. Mahito's dad becomes convinced he turned into a parakeet.

Mahito and Hisa make their way to the delivery room where Natsuko is resting, waiting to give birth. On their way, lightning starts emerging from the stone - Hisa explains that the stone is sentient and pissed with them. Mahito insists on approaching Natsuko despite this being a huge taboo. They have a heart to heart - Natsuko's mask breaks and she tells Mahito she hates him, while he finally starts calling her mother, as he's assaulted by paper charms that tear at him violently. They part, with Hisa burning the charms to free Mahito, but it's too much and they both pass out.

Mahito dreams of meeting the sorcerer, who stacks irregularly shaped wooden blocks, and explains that stacking the blocks is necessary to maintain the world, buying a few days at a time. The sorcerer reveals the huge flying rock that is the source of his power; he also shows Mahito some blocks, but Mahito somehow divines that these blocks are 'stone for building tombs' and stained with malice. The sorcerer approvingly says this is a good sign for Mahito's ability to succeed him.

While they were asleep, the parakeets have captured Hisa and Mahito. One of them is preparing to eat Mahito, but the heron arrives just in time to save him. They Metal Gear Solid their way through the kingdom while the Parakeet King - a big swaggering guy very like the colonel in Castle in the Sky - goes to press a claim on the wizard, using Hisa and Mahitos' taboo act of entering the delivery room as a bargaining chip. There's some very funny scenes where the parakeets cheer for their king.

Mahito pursues the parakeet king, but the king destroys the staircase behind him, and talks to the sorcerer. The sorcerer is inclined to wave away the transgression, because he wants to let Mahito succeed him, but the parakeet king seems to be bringing him around. I kind of forget how this part went, but the parakeet king goes away from the sorcerer for a bit while Hisa is freed from her prison thing.

Mahito climbs back up with the heron man's help, arriving in the sorcerer's little subplane. The parakeet king quietly follows him, after telling his aides to inform his subjects he was a good king. Mahito approaches the sorcerer, who reveals he has found a new set of blocks, unstained by malice, and again invites Mahito to succeed him. Mahito says that his self-injury is proof of his malice, making him unfit for the job.

At this point, the parakeet king intervenes. Angry at all this sorcerous malarky, he desperately attempts to stack the stones himself, but when they don't stack, he flies into a rage and slices them with his sword. This naturally causes the world to start collapsing, and everyone runs to the doors to escape into the human world.

Mahito has by this point figured out that Hisa is his mum, and he asks if she really wants to go back to their world, knowing that she will very definitely die in a fire not much later. But she is naturally on board with this. Young!Kiriko goes with her, suggesting that she and Hisako entered the magical world at the same time. Meanwhile, Mahito returns to his own time, with Natsuko and the heron. All the various parakeets and pelicans come out through this door too. Old!Kiriko is restored from her apatropaic charm.

As everyone celebrates their safe return (and the appearance of a fuckton of birds), the heron tells Mahito that he ought to forget what happened in the magic world. We skip forward again, with Mahito - now with a baby sibling - setting off to Tokyo. Roll credits!

now let's comment on it

This is not a film that necessarily prioritises an internal logic playing out - new elements enter unexpectedly even quite late in the film. The sorcerer's motivation is murky until late on; the parakeets become major antagonists despite entering only halfway through the film.

There is a certain temptation, knowing how autobiographical this film is, to take it is a roman à clef. Mahito is of course a young Miyazaki; the old sorcerer's concern about finding a successor might be about Miyazaki wondering who should take over Ghibli or if it should just be allowed to die. Under this schema, the parakeets might be Ghibli's legion of fans, or the merchandising empire that prints their designs on every possible product. kvin's article develops this kind of reading, finding some angles I wouldn't have even considered, such as how the idea of weight communicated by the animation factors in to such an allegaroy. It's also something suggested in Miyazaki's own comments about the film, where the sorcerer is Takahata, the heron man is producer Toshio Suzuki...

It definitely helps to know a bit about Miyazaki's background when approaching this film. However, I think it would be reductive to go too far with this kind of reading, and take everything as an allegory for something in Miyazaki's life. The film still has to stand on its own feet!

'Coming of age' is the spin put on it by some outlets, like the BBC. And this is accurate to an extent. The arc of this film is similar to Spirited Away: Mahito starts out sullen and traumatised, but like Chihiro he transitions over the course of his journey in the magical world into the kind of determined Miyazaki protagonist we're used to. On this coming of age angle... well, also like with Chihiro, I don't find the Mahito of the first part of the film especially unsympathetic, his alienation is extremely natural given his situation. Mahito's dad kinda sucks! Living in wartime Japan also really kinda sucks, even if you're the son of a rich dude. But definitely over the course of the film Mahito has a change of heart towards Natsuko, and forms friendships that motivate him to try to protect them. His character arc definitely sees him become 'more prosocial'.

However, there's another angle that's pretty important - the idea of the weight of 'malice', the cursed existences of the pelicans and the like, and the fantasy of building a utopian world that is free of these things. This returns to a theme of Nausicaa, the manga in particular, where Nausicaa discovers that the world she knows - the toxic forest in particular - is actually an elaborate artificial system for cleansing the world of pollutants, that the clean world on the other side will be uninhabitable to her and her people, and that the architects of this system wait in stasis to replace them in this utopian future world. Nausicaa destroys them, commiting instead to an uncertain future.

In Mononoke-hime likewise, we encounter the lepers and former sex workers of Irontown clinging on to the 'cursed' world. Their extractivist project proves incredibly destructive, but the film still regards them sympathetically, and the resolution sees them perhaps finding a new way to live - and San, the feral girl, reconciling herself to the idea of humans.

Here, although the parakeet king forces the decision, Mahito has already declared that he doesn't believe he's fit to oversee a utopia, but instead that his place is in the awful, violent human world.

The film, and the book it's vaguely based on, are titled How do you live? In Japanese, that's a plural 'you' (君たち). There's a lot of ways you could read it, depending on who you take as 'you' - a child asking an adult how to live, or equally a future question of how will you live. This is a lot more explicit in the novel - which I have not read, but here is a summary courtesy of wiki:

Junichi Honda is a fifteen-year-old junior high school student, known by his nickname Koperu, after the astronomer Nicholas Copernicus. He is athletic and academically gifted, and popular at school. Koperu's father, a bank executive, passed away when he was young and he lives with his mother. His uncle (on his mother's side) lives nearby and visits frequently. Koperu and his uncle are very close. Koperu shares about his life and his uncle gives him support and advice. His uncle also documents and comments on these interactions in a diary, with the intent to eventually give the diary to Koperu. The diary writing, which is interspersed with the narrative, provides insight into the ethical and emotional trials that Koperu shared with his uncle. The diary entries, which cover themes such as "view of things", "structure of society", "relation", etc. are in the style of a note written to Koperu.[8]

Thinking like Copernicus that our Earth is a celestial body moving within the vastness of space, or thinking that our Earth is fixed at the center of the universe, are two ways of thinking that, in reality, are not only related to astronomy. Even when we think about things like the world around us or our own lives, the truth is that we are still revolving around them after all.

In the end, Koperu writes a decision on his future way of living as a reply to his uncle, and the novel ends with the narrator asking the question "how do you live?" to the reader.

The author of the novel was a socialist, who had been imprisoned by the nationalist government, and wrote the book intending to impart lessons on ethics. The version of his book published after the war was heavily edited to strip the book of political content. But it's also, perhaps paradoxically, a book that centres on very wealthy characters, aimed narrowly at educated boys, though it became a widely read classic.

Studio Ghibli's films, from both Miyazaki and Takahata, have a habit of being framed as imparting something to the younger generation - something the pair seem to have seen as a mission all the way back in the days of Panda Kopanda. For example, while Grave of the Fireflies is seen as the classic tragic war movie, for Takahata it was also aimed at criticising what he saw as the careless, consumerist generation of the 80s; the stubborn arrogance of the protagonist supposed to reflect on this. It's an attitude that also emerges in their comments about Chihiro. And, indeed, one of the first things we heard about How Do You Live? was that it was aimed towards Miyazaki's grandson - and more broadly towards that generation.

So what does this film have to say to the younger generations? Let's have a look at it from Mahito's POV.

For Mahito, the adults in his life are all pretty complicated. His father is enthusiastic and well-meaning but incredibly oblivious to what his son is going through (we might recall some of what Miyazaki wrote about his father in Starting Point, describing him as basically a grifter). Natsuko is masking pretty hard, trying to play the role of Good New Mum and connect to her newly acquired son, but there's an intrinsic distance. It is understandable that Mahito would want to reject them.

Mahito is... not entirely a passive character, he goes to some efforts to for example fashion the bow and arrow and repair the heron man's beak, but mostly he is pulled around by the plot into a strange world he doesn't understand. At first, his instinct is to retreat, even to the point of self-injury. Once he arrives in the magical world, he has acquired something of a purpose (finding Natsuko), but he gets pushed into near-disaster situations (the pelicans piling up to push him through the gate at the tomb) or stumbles into circumstances where something is expected of him (hey kid, gut this fish!). Gradually though his exposure to this world pulls him out of his shell. He runs into conflicts and injustices that seem intractable - the wareware and the pelicans - and has little power to intervene except to bury the bodies.

Eventually, he gets to carry out his main objective - finding Natsuko - but despite finally deciding to accept Natsuko as his new mother, he finds himself rejected, not just by her but also by the earth. Perhaps feeling responsible for getting her into trouble, his new objective becomes rescuing freshly-damsel'd Hisa. But now new adults want things of him - his great-uncle has decided he'd make a fine successor. Mahito has to make a decision here about what relationships he wants to commit to, what sort of life he wants to build - and he chooses the world he found so alienating at the outset of the film, the one which hurt him by taking his mother, not to the secondary-world fantasy.

It could be a 'this world is all we have' sort of statement, perhaps. But also the last act of the film feels like it gets a bit caught up in Castle in the Sky-style adventure-story beats.

I do feel like some aspects of the film ended up a little underbaked - which is an odd thing to say because it's not a short film and there is so much in it already. But Hisa for example - she's got badass powers and all, but I feel we barely get a chance to get a sense of what motivates her. Why did she enter the fantasy world? She acts at first like she doesn't know Mahito is her future son, but rapidly becomes incredibly devoted to him (in a way that reads a little romancey lmao). So much of her screen time is dedicated to having her convey the secrets of the world that it's hard to get a bead on her as a person.

Likewise, Natsuko - why did she enter this world to have her baby in this special ritual delivery chamber? She clearly knows more than most of the characters, but she gets kind of sidelined after Mahito confronts her, with wizard shit becoming more central. The animation does such a fantastic job of selling her feelings in the first part of the film that it feels like a shame that she drifts away at the end.

The progression of the film feels rather like a dream, where everything is arranged by symbolic significance to Mahito. It makes sense... on a magical level, where the secondary world is shaped primarily by parallels in the real one. So the tiny apatropaic statues of the old ladies protect him because they represent the role the real old ladies have in his life. Hisa has fire magic because Hisako died in a fire. Once Mahito has come to his personal resolutions about returning to the world, the magical one is no longer needed, and it collapses.

This is not such an uncommon role for magic in a story. In Miyazaki's own works, we have Totoro and Spirited Away, where a magical world provides direction or relief to a child's real struggles. Or take for example Okiura's film A Letter To Momo, in which the three yōkai recognise taking care of the grieving Momo as their explicit purpose as spirits. This magical world comes to Mahito to help him come to terms with losing his mother, and reorient himself towards living in a painful world.

Meanwhile, the sorcerer, whether he be Miyazaki or Takahata, is quite a distant figure. He may maintain the magical world by stacking his blocks, may be the authority which factions within it must plead to, but he also rules from afar in a vast empty palace full of long halls and open air spaces. His main company seems to be a big fucking rock, with which he made a 'contract'. He's generally handling it a bit better than, say, Ushiromiya Kinzo - he receives the parakeet king with good humour - but he's a pretty flawed god of his little world. So much of this world seems to pre-exist him, it's not something he constructed. Still, when he shows up, you pretty much have to do what he says.

If this is about Miyazaki's relation to Takahata, it seems like quite a sad portrayal. But 'unapproachable patriarch' does sorta describe their role in the studio from what I understand (c.f. Oshii's infamous article comparing them to the Kremlin).

When it comes to the question of who should succeed Miyazaki, we should probably consider the matter of Yoshifumi Kondō, who was being set up as the next big Ghibli director until his untimely death - which allegedly Takahata was willing to accept the blame for. The mythology built up around Miyazaki and Takahata is double-edged.

Here are some rather startling comments from Toshiyuki Inoue's interview. Inoue is one of the most impressive animators who ever lived in my book, the other star of the realist line besides Okiura. Just have a look at his booru page: iconic scenes from GitS, Akira, Millenium Actress; even in more recent films, he pretty much carried Maquia, and steals the show with his scenes in Miss Hokusai.

And yet even he was intimidated to be working alongside Miyazaki when he first came on board for Kiki's Delivery Service, fresh off Akira:

I believe you’ve always been a fan of Miyazaki’s, why were you scared to work with him? Toshiyuki Inoue: I had heard quite a few scary stories. A lot of acquaintances had worked on Nausicaä, Laputa and Totoro before that, so I knew how scary he could be when he got angry – I had heard stories of people being fired mid-production, things like that. How was it actually? Toshiyuki Inoue: Not as scary as I had imagined. He’d only rarely scream in the studio. But he did get angry. I’d sometimes be called to some separate room and lectured alongside Kōji Morimoto and Masaaki Endō. It felt like being in school all over again.

'Only rarely'. Honestly. Inoue describes how difficult it was for him to adapt his logical, analytical style to Ghibli's stretchy, bouncy characters - and how Miyazaki would disparage him if he, for example, drew a ship inaccurately.

For Inoue, coming back to How Do You Live was something like a 'return match'. He talks about how an older Miyazaki was no longer able to strictly correct the animation, and in general age was limiting him, but he still feels that Miyazaki is fundamentally superior:

Toshiyuki Inoue: I’ve always wished for a return match or a way to redeem myself. But even if I say that, I know I can’t even pretend to rival Miyazaki. I just can’t win. He’s extremely smart and learned, and on top of that, as an animator he always transcends common sense: he’s so talented that I know very well there’s nothing I can do against it. The more I learn about him, the more I realize I’ll never be on that level.

Miyazaki's genius is undeniable, but man... it's not a good mindset to cultivate if you want to find a successor lmao. If even Inoue doesn't feel he can measure up, who the hell could?

Mind you, it does rather seem that Miyazaki had mellowed out by the point of How Do You Live?. Here's Yamashita:

Akihiko Yamashita: As I said, the core of an animator’s job is to follow what the director asks, so whenever I had trouble with that, I’d go see Miyazaki to show him my roughs. He’d advise me on the things that were missing and reassure me about those that were good. He really helped me to gain more confidence in myself.

Reading these interviews underlines pretty hard that we shouldn't get too caught up in the mythology of Miyazaki the mighty auteur. While the story may be all on Miyazaki, and most of the character designs (with the notable exception of Natsuko)... so much of the details of the animation, the stuff that really makes this film land, is primarily shaped by everyone else - Honda in particular, but also the individual key animators who interpreted his scenes. I really need to get my hands on a copy of that Industrial History of Studio Ghibli book to get a less Miyazaki-centric perspective on the studio's history.

I do not feel, having come out of this film, any closer to knowing the answer to that eternally pressing question of how do you live - I guess I'm still working out my answer to that one, and I will be until I die. And maybe that's rather the point. I think this film still carries some of the flaws of Miyazaki's later films - despite having so many iconic scenes, it doesn't quite seem to know where it's going. But I am so glad to have seen this in the theatre (I saw it at the Prince Charles theatre in Soho with friends, the theatre was completely packed!), and glad Miyazaki managed to get this one out before he goes. Whatever happens to Ghibli without its sorcerer, it's been a hell of a thing to witness.

#anime #the boy and the heron #how do you live #studio ghibli #hayao miyazaki #film

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inkwolvesandcoffee · 4 months

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Coffee & Salted Caramel (Dad Best Friend!John Price Dark Romantic Headcanons)

CoD ML

It takes a moment for John to realise it’s you standing in front of him. However, after carefully scrutinising your face under the guise of a polite smile, there’s a spark of recognition in his pretty blue eyes.

In his defence, the last time he saw you was about ten years ago when you were an awkward teen just entering puberty. So little could have prepared him for seeing you now, blossomed into a beautiful young woman.

He doesn’t go in for a hug or a handshake, though it looks like the latter. Nevertheless, as soon as you’ve placed your hand in his, John brings your knuckles to his lips and kisses them. “My lady.”

The dark satisfaction blossoming in his chest due to your flabbergasted expression is carefully concealed behind a cheeky smile. A smile which is easily mistaken as amused, kind.

Without any other implications than friendship.

Picks you up from work if you’re working late and during winter. If you’re working the morning shift and therefore have to be there early, he’ll escort you to make sure you’re alright. At first John tells himself he’s simply being a gentleman, a proper captain. Moreover, he’s doing his best friend a service by keeping his daughter safe.

From men like him.

To keep you for himself.

Your father may or may not have let slip you go to the gym. A comment in which John saw a golden opportunity to get closer to you and reconnect. Or, rather, truly connect.

So you now find yourself three times a week working out alongside your father’s best friend, who kindly picks you up and drops you off after each session.

Who you’ve noticed glaring and sometimes even downright scowling at the other men there. Especially when he’s acting as your personal trainer.

Ngl, he makes for a good workout partner. Of course he respects your boundaries, but gradually tries to push you beyond them. Henceforth, when one week you swear you won’t be able to do a deadlift with 10kg on either side, you find yourself more than capable the next.

Though he’d never admit it, John loves showing off his strength and size. He might be middle aged, but he sure is still as capable, if not more, than in his younger years.

Another thing he’d keep a secret is how you wearing a choker tempts him to submit fully to instinct, play dangerously with the thought of claiming or, rather, owning you.

Frequently takes you out for hikes, picnics (weather permitting), trips around the country, and coffee. Whereas your father regards the outings with his best friend as enrichment because you two don’t get to do that stuff and acts of kindness, John actually sees them as unofficial dates.

Small moments during which he can properly fancy himself your partner.

You sing as a side hustle and have landed a performance at John’s favourite pub. Now, being a good friend to your father and simply being kind, he offers for you to stay overnight at his place. After all, the venue is too far from home to make it there afterwards safely.

Despite being seated in the back amongst the shadows, you feel John’s eyes on you throughout the show. Little do you know he occasionally closes his eyes, shutting out the world to enjoy your voice. It’s a lullaby that temporarily puts the rage seething beneath his skin to rest.

Gets grumpy when a guy approaches you to strike up a conversation after you’re done.

John knows you’re your own person and yet here he is, sulking and brooding over a pint because of a nagging sense he knows is unjustified. For fuck’s sake, you’re his best friend’s daughter! What the hell would you do with a guy his age, damaged beyond repair and haunted by ghosts?

Yet, he stands before you in no time and roughly grabs your wrist, dragging you behind him towards the exit. “On your feet. We’re leaving.”

On the way to his house, his grip remains iron-like regardless of how you struggle, whimper, beg, and try to pry his hand loose. Nonetheless, he remains as quiet, as tight-lipped, as when you ask him about his years in the army. Only when you call out his name with an ugly sob does he let go.

You flinch and step back when he turns around and comes closer, mortified by his fuming expression. John takes a deep breath, wishing he could kick himself in the face now that he finally sees how he hurt you. Moreover, in spite of his own disregard of rules and protocol, this type of behaviour would put any good captain to shame. That is, when directed at a loved one rather than a teammate. “I… I’m sorry.”

“What’s this about?” His gaze remains steady on the ground, even when you come closer to bridge the distance between you. “What’s gotten into you?”

“I don’t know, poppet. Maybe it’s just the pints that get me a bit violent. Drank one too many.”

“John-“

“Let’s go home.” Hands tucked into his pockets, he turns on his heel and starts walking again. He’d hold your hand, but after that little incident he’s too terrified to touch you. More than that, he grows bleak at the thought this or similar incidents which perhaps have yet to occur will eventually lead to you resenting him.

With you, he doesn’t want to be Captain Price.

He wants to be a man rather than a soldier.

A man properly caring for his girl by making sure she doesn’t want for anything.

Trying to sweep the incident on the street under the rug once you’re at his place, John stands in the doorway to the guest room as he watches you rummage in your bag. “Something wrong, love? Forgot your post-concert snack stash?”

You share his smile, the idea of glaring at him evaporated the moment you lock eyes. “Very funny, John.”

“I can make us something, though, if you’re still hungry. I ain’t a good cook, but I think I can manage scrambled eggs on an English muffin. Sober enough for that, at least.”

“I’m alright. Still, thanks. Turns out, I forgot my pyjamas.”

“You can lend a shirt. Let me find one.”

A wee while later, after being occupied a little too long with picking something for you to wear and distracted by the strain in his pants, he returns with a hoodie. He’d rather you be too hot than cold.

“Arms up, doll face.” Without questioning the nickname, you do as he says. His breath hitches as you wriggle into his hoodie, staring up at him with doe eyes.

It takes every ounce of self-control not to pick you up, twirl you around, and tuck you into bed. Say what you will, but beneath the lust there’s the genuine want to take care of you.

Distrustful of his hands, he crosses his arms and nods to the bed. “Hit the hay. I’ll make sure there’s breakfast, so don’t worry about that.”

“Thank you. Goodnight, John.”

He almost breaks, almost reaches out to pat your head to satisfy himself as much as he allows himself. But he doesn’t. “Goodnight, love.”

Nothing could have prepared him for seeing you do Pilates in the morning.

He stops in the doorway, frozen in place by fascination and the feeling he hasn’t been able to shake off since seeing you again for the first time in forever. Honestly, seeing you stretch and bend this way and that doesn’t help him think any clearer either. In fact, it only throws him deeper down the rabbit hole created by the fantasy of you pinned beneath him, breathless and whimpering his name as he has his way with you.

And he just dealt with his morning wood before coming downstairs.

As silent as a ghost, John slips back upstairs to calm himself down yet again, only leaving the bedroom when he hears you in the shower.

We all know perfectly well why I had to include this particular gif. And no, I’m not sorry.😝😹

Using the towels he prepared for you last night before dragging his ossified arse to bed.

Breakfast is elaborate with croissants, freshly brewed coffee (and your favourite syrup to put in it, salted caramel), orange juice, bread, jams, yogurt, and fruit. The food extravaganza makes you stop in your tracks to take in the sight.

“Thought I’d surprise you and apologize for last night. I stepped out of line.” John settles down and gestures to the one across from him. “Please.”

You nod, still too flabbergasted by the feast.

After a few moments of eating and drinking in silence, you pose the question which has been weighing heavily on your mind. “Why did you really act like that?”

“Guys like that want nothing but sex with a pretty young thing.” Despite the casual tone, his gruff voice is strained as he pours you another cup of coffee. After adding enough syrup to make it to your liking, he slides the cup towards you. “Besides, I promised your dad I’d watch over you, keep you safe.”

You glance to the side. “Bullshit. Like I’m that pretty.”

“You are. I’m surprised you don’t see how easily you can wrap any man around your finger.”

“Right. Let’s say you’re correct. I still don’t know how to… you know… have… sex.”

“Suppose you haven’t found the right person yet. Someone with the patience to take you through the motions. Who wants to take the time to love you right, map every detail of your body and learn what makes you shiver.” His eyes darken. “Someone with experience.”

Prompted by the way he sees you squirm in your seat and the front you try to put up despite the blush on your cheeks, he stands up to walk over to your side. “Someone who’s loyal. Faithful. Committed,” his breath is hot on your ear as his fingers touch your cheek, finding you pliable, your senses full of his cologne and presence, “to you. Maybe also someone who’s a little older.”

Before you can respond, John’s lips are on yours. His beard feels ticklish, but surprisingly much smoother than you thought it would be. A pleased hum reverberates in his chest when you run your fingers through it.

A lovely sound that turns into a gasp when you push him away, horrified as the truth sinks in. For nothing is more terrifying than common sense.

“I…” you begin, grasping at straws to explain yourself. It doesn’t help your heart cracks at the sight of the sadness in his eyes, badly concealed beneath the mask of the composed and determined captain.

“Y/N-“

“I should go.”

Judging by your tone, John knows he won’t be able to explain himself. “I’ll pack up some food. Have it along the way. A soldier isn’t anything if they don’t have a full stomach.”

“Text me when you’re home.” He can see the fight between confusion and affection rage in your eyes. “So I’ll know you’re safe. It might be broad daylight, but that doesn’t mean nothing won’t happen. Please, Y/N,” the way he says your name with an uncharacteristic plea hidden beneath barely composed sternness makes you waiver. “Just a text. That’s all I ask.”

“Alright.” You pull out your phone, create a new contact, and keep your gaze down towards the screen. “Spill the secret info, captain.”

After a moment’s hesitation, John curls his finger beneath your chin to tip it upwards. There’s a tremble in his hand as he cups your cheek, afraid you’ll pull away.

Change your mind.

And leave him behind.

“Promise?”

You nod, slightly leaning into his touch. “I promise.”

Packed up, the shirt he gave you the first thing to find its way into your bag, and his number in your phone, you silently leave. You know that once you turn around you’ll run right back to him, to what he can offer you. Nonetheless, to avoid problems with your father, you keep walking.

John’s gaze hot on your back, drinking salted caramel coffee.

I might turn this into a proper fic. Ah dinnae ken when or how, but what’s for sure already is that I’ve got plenty thoughts and ideas.😉

#Captain Price #John Price #Captain John Price #John Price x You #John Price x Reader #CoD x Reader #CoD Modern Warfare

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suraemoon · 29 days

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MOTA: Post-war

~ Easter Sunday Headcanons ~

🐣: Easter Sunday lends itself so easily to daydreaming about post-war suburban life. Here are some ideas I thought up yesterday of how some of the boys and their families celebrate Easter. I hope you like some fluff. (Bunnies, eggs, and happiness galore)

💛: @precious-little-scoundrel gave me the idea to post these after I was yelling them to her yesterday. I hope you all aren’t Eastered out just yet.

Being some of the earliest birds to the nationwide baby boom due to a four-week New York getaway, the Crosby’s quickly become professionals at the Easter Sunday routine

After an hour of hiding yawns and dozing off while standing in their pews at Easter Sunday Service, all the neighborhood kids show up at the Crosby house for their famous annual Easter Egg Hunt.

As soon as their car rolls into the driveway, Jean and Harry watch in wonder as their crew of excited kiddos doubles, triples, and soon quadruples in a matter of minutes

Hiding spots are determined days in advance and as the years go on, the amount of eggs that Jean has to buy grows exponentially to account for the adopted little bunnies that come strolling by with baskets the size of their whole torsos

Mrs. Jean Crosby puts out chairs and a group of adoring parents get to gradually watch their children grow up before their loving eyes every April

The same toddlers who first waddled around on the newly mowed grass trying to find their footing all those years ago soon become elementary school kids with minds enthralled by the competition

Soon these toothy grinned kids become teenagers who keep the magic alive for the newest toddlers while also taking the time to show the next-gen elementary kids who are the professional easter egg hunters

The Crosby’s haven’t always had the holiday nailed though

One year after much convincing from his wife throughout the whole month of March, Harry agreed to dress up as the easter bunny

When he suddenly stuck his costumed head out from the top of their white picket fence, a church choir of crying and screaming ensued

Instead of being faced with the excited wonder-filled faces that he expected, Harry was met with wide eyes full of terror and dropped jaws full of shock

Children flailed to the protection of their mamas instead of going to hug the famous mascot of the season

He spent an hour going around to every child with his furry head off and shamefully cradled in his hands

apologizing and ensuring that yes, it was just Mr. Crosby, not a giant rabbit who hopped out of nowhere and scared the communion wafers out of them

In his adult life, John Bucky Egan never really cared for Easter festivities up until his eldest daughter was born

When sunny April came around the year that Little Miss Egan turned two, Bucky was excited to take her to the Easter egg hunt ran by the local Church

While the older kids go haywire in their now dirtied church suits and fancy dresses trying to pick up as many eggs as people they counted in church pews just a half hour before, Baby Egan waddles around gently.

Every egg she picks up is taken slowly and carefully from the soft grass beneath her Mary Jane’s, looked at with soft eyes as if being examined and if found fit, is put into her pink basket

Bucky, being impatient and full of excitement for this newly unlocked family activity, sneaks a few extra eggs into her basket to make it look like she has more

His little princess shouldn’t have to hunt for all her own eggs and risk getting her white lace dress dirty anyways

Egan is the only adult collecting eggs with a bunch of random kids. His excuse is that he and his little one share a basket of course. She needs her daddy to teach her how egg hunts are done in order to be better prepped for next year.

The Egan’s aren’t the only ones with a knack for egg hunts.

The Rosenthal children do not celebrate Easter but it does not stop them from showing up to the park’s “Eggstravaganza Hunt” every year

Being the determined little Rosies that they are, they dominate the competition. These kids will have their baskets full to the brim with eggs in a matter of minutes.

You notice a child with a head full of bouncy brown curls, pink cheeks, and grass stained knees run by you? You better hope that your little Bobby can keep up.

Rosie watches on like a focused parent at their child’s soccer game

His children with their chocolate and sugar covered faces furrow their eyebrows and tilt their heads when a random woman with a crying child tells them “Do y’all really need all that candy? Jesus would want you to share, don’t you think?”

The Mini Rosenthals come back home with sugar rushes that can power the whole neighborhood for a week straight

An upside for Rosie and his wife who have to deal with these energized little roadrunners is that the kids crash an hour earlier than usual

leaving room for extra alone time on a cool Sunday night

One easter, Benny Demarco randomly walks through the foyer of his home with a white floppy eared bunny wearing a perfect little bow tie

Is that the one you wore to our date last weekend? His wife can’t help but shake her head at her husband’s audacity as the children gather around their newest sibling with eyes full of happiness

The kids are excited but Mrs. Demarco has to try to put on a smile because “Who the hell is going to take care of that thing?”

Soon enough, a hutch is built in the backyard and more bunnies are added to the family

Mrs. Demarco falls in love and calls them her “bunny babes”

She’s met with a “I knew it was a good idea” from her husband every time she is seen cradling and baby-talking to one of their beloved pets

I mean…they are both major pet lovers. It’s one of the reasons they work so well together. But is one more responsible of the two? Definitely.

The excited squeals of children and adorable nose twitches of cute little bunnies makes it all worth it

The Demarcos aren’t the only 100th household with their own personal Easter Bunny

When John Egan jokingly told his four year old that leaving a baby carrot under her pillow would lead to a special gift from Mr. Easter Bunny himself, he did not expect her to take it seriously.

At midnight, Bucky wakes up with eyes hardly open and gets out of bed with a mission

This annual mission is to tiptoe into his daughter’s bedroom and carefully exchange the aluminum foil wrapped baby carrot tucked carefully under her soft pillow for a few cents from his wallet

As more children are born, the tradition continues

Even future generations of Egans continue to buy bags of baby carrots as Easter Sunday approaches

Not only to snack on them all of Spring Break but also to place one in a sandwich bag or wrap one in saran wrap to hide underneath each child’s pillow

Not necessarily knowing why they’re the only house that participates in this unusual tradition

Not knowing that it started from the unbreaking belief of a wide-eyed four year old and her father who stopped laughing when he realized that he was stuck playing off-brand Tooth Fairy for the rest of his life

Gale Cleven’s household has a more relaxed Easter Sunday compared to the rest

After Church, some Easter themed activities, and a well-needed nap upon arriving home, the Cleven’s go to their garden to plant new flowers

Fresh tulips, chrysanthemums, and pansies are all beautiful, refreshing signs that spring is here

Why do the Cleven’s have such green thumbs you ask? Maybe their blonde hair resembles the comforting sun, the plants can’t help but feel warmth. Maybe their caring blue eyes are as nurturing as water, the plants can’t help but thrive.

They started growing flowers and vegetables in their garden when the first after they bought their house

It was the Clevens’ first step towards making it a home

The flowers represented new beginnings, fresh starts, and growth. Essentials after everything they have been through.

————————————————————————

Hope you enjoyed! Wishing everyone a happy, happy Spring🌸 My first time writing something and posting it in 4 months…ahhhh. There’s more where this came from, my mind just does not stop.

#masters of the air #mota #masters of the air fanfiction #gale cleven #john egan #masters of the air fanfic #headcanons #buck cleven #bucky egan #harry crosby #rosie rosenthal #robert rosenthal #benny demarco #easter

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al-meow · 2 years

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alhaitham relationship hcs

gn!reader <3

i feel like i have way more to tell you about alhaitham but i'll save it for later :) enjoy!

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

first of all, he’s definitely the steady serious rational half in the relationship, always thinking about everything in advance

i would say it’s not like he’s not into pda, but rather he’s against it because of all the dangerous affairs with ayn al-ahmar he’s involved in, so being seen together in public may bring unfortunate events in the future

though he knows you can stand up for yourself, and he will always make sure not to put you at any risk <3

so when you take a walk in port ormos or around it together and you wrap your arm around his he just can’t help it, turning away for a second to let a small smile find a way to his face

he DEFINITELY lends you his cape when it starts raining when you’re taking a walk, and he always refuses to share it saying it won’t be enough for two people (he just wants you to feel the most comfortable and protected by the rain)

he tends to spend a lot of time in the akademiya library, so one of the ways for you to spend time together is for you to accompany him while he’s studying and learning something

i feel like his love language would definitely be quality time or acts of service

he always adores when you pick up the same books as him when you spend time together in the library, so you can exchange your thoughts afterwards

bonus points: making notes in each other’s textbooks

he is also very happy to help you with anything that you need help with, and appreciates you offering help to him

forehead and nose kisses are his favourite

sometimes an idea of watching sunrise together pops up in your head, so you go to the highest place in sumeru at two or three in the morning just to get there in time and meet the sunrise with him

he usually brings some books with him too, but you got used to it quite quickly

when the sun rises, you lay on his lap watching the sky change its colours gradually as he’s playing with your hair slowly and occasionally looks at the sky too, breaking away from the book

you fall asleep on his lap, with the sun painting your skin with light and warmth and with alhaitham’s fingers ever so slightly still playing with the locks of your hair

#genshin impact #genshin impact fanfic #genshin fluff #genshin x you #genshin imagines #genshin x reader #genshin x y/n #genshin x gender neutral reader #genshin x gn reader #alhaitham #al haitham #alhaitham x you #alhaitham x reader #genshin hcs #genshin headcanons #alhaitham headcanons #alhaitham hcs

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juyolore · 2 years

Text

look at me | lee juyeon

pairing: boyfriend!juyeon x fem!reader

genre: smut, established relationship

wc: 3.2k

warnings: smut…(sawry), dom!juyeon, service top!reader, slight spanking, slight begging, degradation, no real choking but his hands still make it to your neck lmao, creampie, juyeon definitely has a size kink so read and weep, sorry if i’m missing anything!

a/n: tried my best to proofread this so pls forgive any mistakes, it also was drafted out of nowhere so it’s probably shit hhh

was everything actually moving in slow motion or were you just in that deep?

so entranced by the sight of him doing absolutely nothing, he was about to elicit a moan from in the back of your throat.

considering you hadn't touched him at all in a solid month you were close to creaming your pants untouched. god forbid he notice how tightly your legs had been crossed this entire time.

hair sweaty and falling over his forehead. like it always annoyingly does. shirt taut to his frame, but only enough to keep the naked eye pandering, grey sweats and sneakers adorn his bottom half.

his staple is his duffel bag that’s he’s just dropped on the floor. ironically flashy, it still doesn’t compare to him or his demeanor in size. he also wears the most shit-eating grin on his face and nothing could’ve prepared you for the way your body was reacting.

heartbeat rattling the entirety of your chest, mouth agape in anticipation. frozen and it definitely would’ve been laughable if you were capable of processing a single thought.

his visual dripping with sex. too good for even the wettest of dreams.

“how long are you gonna stare?”, he audibly ponders in a gentle but menacing manner. feels like taunting, he’s already got you on edge.

“excuse me?” you jokingly gasp with a scoff, managing to compose yourself quicker than you could clock how long you’d been gawking. “get over yourself juyeon, i was not staring. and even if i was, which i was NOT. can you blame me?”

“could ask you the same.” he retorts, a smirk fighting its way to his perfect pout.

“oh? please do tell.” you’re doing a better job carrying out conversation than you would have imagined.

sauntering his way in your direction he’s quickly towering over your petite frame, wearing the same shit-eating grin on his face from moments ago and you’re unintentionally holding your breath.

leaning down until he’s inches from your face using his arms to support his weight, his voice is low and goosebumps surface all over your body. “why are your legs crossed? am i missing something?”

“what do you mean? i’m wearing a skirt, why wouldn't my legs be crossed?”

gritting his teeth he raises an eyebrow, “you don’t cross them any other time. what’s there to hide? it’s nothing i haven't seen before.”

his fingertips begin to trace various parts of your body starting with your cheekbones and the underside of your jaw, causing you to raise your head entirely, the two of you instantly locking eyes.

he continues dragging his middle and pointer fingers down between the valley of your chest as your breaths easily shorten and pick up in speed. he knows exactly what he’s doing, eyes following behind his fingers flickering between the rapid rise and fall of your breasts to your eyes as you struggle to keep them completely open and on him.

“juyeon, please.” your skin already flush and the previous pool of arousal between your legs quickly dampening again but worse this time. chasing some kind of friction or release you clench your thighs. with your legs still being crossed the movement quickly catches his attention.

halting his movements he drops the hand that had begun fondling your now extremely hard nipples. it’s back onto the bed near your hip, an immense amount of heat radiating off of him hitting the area of skin that’s been gradually exposed as your skirt rides up from the previous actions.

he brings his head down again. you mistakenly pucker your lips for a kiss and quickly hang your head in shame as he dodges you, lips finding their way to your ear. “open your legs.”

immediately obeying you can't help but feel powerless underneath him. he’d barely touched you and you were soaked and soon too would be the surface underneath you when met with your bare skin.

lifting his hand again he begins dragging the same two fingers from before up and down the side of your thighs, listening for your pitiful sighs and panting. he stops at your hip and chuckles briefly before raising his head completely and settling his eyes on your face. you weren’t wearing panties.

“look at me y/n.”

forcing your glossy eyes open you’re met with a dark stare. nothing threatening there yet, but he’s definitely got something to say about your lack of coverage below. you can feel it.

“tell me what you want,” he demands ever so calmly. in any other situation this would sound rather innocent. maybe even like you had a choice to do so. right now that wasn't the case and you actually had about seven more seconds to start talking before his entire demeanor would flip.

“y-you. i want you, juyeon. please.” moistening your lips with a quick swipe of your tongue you sit waiting for his next move. practically sprawled out, your bottom half as close to completely naked as possible with the way your legs were spread. shirt unbuttoned about halfway and a sheen of sweat covering your entire body. he had already wrecked you and you were just getting started.

palming both your thighs and slowly kneading he began to properly taunt you, it was definitely fun for him.

dickhead.

“want me how? you know i need you to be specific baby. wanna treat you just right, that’s what i’m here for. hmm?”

he’s watching you for some type of approval. something to signify that you want to continue, that you’re okay with everything going on. all whilst he’s still in full control. sick, isn’t it?

“kiss me?” it sounds like a plea, that’s exactly what it is.

before you can process his reaction he’s leaning in, hands still placed firmly on your thighs. capturing your lips with his own he’s got full control, but you have zero objections. you’re just happy to finally have more of him somehow.

you feel his large hands begin to move. closer and closer to where you really need him the most. you gasp into his mouth as he rather roughly spreads your legs leaving you exposed completely. the cool air of the room engulfing the pool of what could've been multiple unintentional orgasms by now, you had no clue.

you whimper pathetically as you feel the same two fingers from earlier pressing down on your clit. he doesn’t move them, it’s just to get a reaction out of you. he briskly uses his fingertips to circle your entrance before pushing his fingers in a removing them quicker than you could choke out a sob.

he brings his fingers up to your mouth, slick with your juices. quirking a brow as he waits in amusement for you to take a hint.

slowly wrapping your lips around them you bore a hole into him with hooded eyes. circling your tongue around his digits, producing the lewdest of noises, you hope the sight is satisfying enough because all you can think about is when he’ll finally replace his fingers with his cock.

spit dripping down your chin and the rest of his hand and wrist, hitting the exposed part of your chest, you’re sure you look a mess. but you’re not bothered by it, you know he gets off on it.

pressing down on your tongue with the pads of his fingers he halts your actions. removing them with a quick popping noise he kisses you again, nothing but tongue and some panting (from you of course).

“do you think they’re clean enough, pretty?” he asks, not actually expecting a response. you slowly nod and watch as his hand, wet with your saliva, disappears again between your legs.

his hands are hot but mixed with the coolness from all the sucking you did you can’t help but drop your head back and let out an embarrassingly loud moan. easily inserting two of his long slender digits he simultaneously begins an immediate assault on your clit and uses this opportunity to attach his lips to your neck, nipping and sucking away.

“juyeon...fuck,” you whimper.

“yeah, i’m here,” he whispers between the open-mouthed kisses he’s leaving all over your neck and jaw. “i’m here baby, i’m not going anywhere.”

his lips leave you neck and trail down the rest of your body. from your collarbones, to your chest, he uses his spare hand to unbutton the rest of your top, lips instantly attaching to your right nipple over your completely lace bralette. pulling one of the cups down he drags his teeth across the now swollen bud.

“i love your tits. could play with them all day,” he groans looking up to see the complete mess he's making of you. head hanging low, eyes screwed shut, and hands gripping the sheets on both sides of your body. he knows you’re gonna cum.

“JUYEON PLEASE,” you yell. there’s no way anybody can actually hear you but even if they could you were too far spent to care.

“please what, y/n? isn’t this what you want? i’m giving it to you what else could you possibly want? greedy girl,” he practically mocks, fingers speeding up without any regard for your orgasm that’s approaching. “your cunt is stuffed and all you can say is, ‘please, please, please’ just shut up and take it like the silly little slut you are” he growls.

opening your eyes to no avail, tears begin to blur your vision, you’re beyond close. with the way he’s speaking to you it’s just seconds now until you’re spilling your mess all over him and the nice clean sheets.

“i’m close...FUCK!” you manage to get out, nails nearly cutting tiny holes in the sheets with how hard you’re gripping.

“don’t you think i know that?” he retorts, replacing the thumb on your clit with his mouth.

everything goes white, you have no idea what you’re babbling about but you know you’re cumming...until you’re not. everything stops. juyeon’s hands and mouth are off of you in an instant and you have nothing on your mind. except maybe the singular question of what the fuck does he think he’s doing?

“what the fuck? what was that?” you can still barely speak but you manage to say those few things that you know for a fact he’s not gonna like.

“watch. your. mouth. or you won't cum at all.” he speaks in a low and demanding tone, narrowing his eyes at you a bit. a warning.

getting completely on the bed himself he rolls you over so that you’re now on top of him, heat directly on top of his rock-hard bulge without warning causing an obscene noise to leave your mouth.

“wanna be a good girl and take my pants off?” he poses a question, although that’s what he expects from you regardless.

watching you as you unbuckle his belt slowly, just as he likes, his eyes are dripping with lust, but more importantly with such love that nobody other than you could ever be responsible for.

that and your tits are still fully on display. but definitely the love thing too.

before you can actually remove anything he stops you. now your bare center is sat on top of his perfectly hard erection and your head is spinning. struggling to keep your eyes open you look at him waiting for something. anything.

with both his hands on your hips he begins to rock you back and forth. your clit running from base to tip over the rough denim of his jeans, a wet patch surely forming.

“you’re gorgeous, you know?” juyeon randomly states, catching you completely off guard.

if you could see yourself right now you’d easily disagree with his statement. hair a mess, makeup smudged, and a few stray tears dried up on your cheeks. and you’re literally drooling as you dry hump him. to your own definition you’re far from attractive right now but he doesn’t want to hear that and you’ve barely been able to comprehend anything happening after the mind-blowing orgasm that you almost had.

“you’re gorgeous too, juyeon.” you managed to whisper, hands on his broad shoulders, your head lolling to the side a bit, a faint smile painted on your lips. just then he intentionally presses your core down harder onto him. you both hiss in unison.

grabbing you by the neck he pulls you in for a kiss. wet and sloppy. when he pulls away a string of spit connects the two of you and falls down your chin and onto your lap.

“i want you to ride me, can you do that for me baby?” he coos, hand still wrapped around your neck the other on your hip as his pointer finger is drawing an invisible figure eight.

“y-yes, anything for you.” you croak out, eyes still extremely low, dripping with desire.

using the hand on your neck to pull you as close as possible he whispers, “do as i say and you can cum, i know how badly you want that.” blinking slowly and backing away whilst releasing you completely, as if to signify that you should start now.

hands unsteadily moving to pull his pants off you do it slowly enough to not seem too eager but not slow enough upset him.

finally reaching the band of his boxers you began to tug them down, his cock immediately springing free. it stands tall, several inches in length, and a perfect girth. the tip, a pretty pink to match his bottom lip, angrily flushed and sticky with droplets of precum.

if you didn't know any better you’d lean down to suck. cleaning up the mess you made. but there will be plenty of time for that later. right now you need every inch of him inside of you.

reaching to remove your top a strong hand swiftly engulfs your entire your wrist with a firm grip.

“keep it on. the skirt too.” juyeon whispers releasing your wrist. you hastily nod and go to pump him a few times before placing him at your entrance, sure not to miss the deep groaning and deep breaths from the man in front of you.

hands on his shoulders you begin to sink down slowly, immediately crying out. juyeon’s hands are quick to find your waist again. leaning up so that his lips are perfectly near your ear.

“you know that if you go slow it’ll only hurt more.” you can hear the smirk in his voice as he uses the hands on your hips to fully push you down onto his cock, a low groan escaping his lips, followed by a hiss.

“FUCK, JUYEON!” you yelp, the burn being too familiar, too good for you to attempt to stop him.

“you better start moving or else only one of us is gonna cum tonight.” he quickly smacks his lips leaning back a tad, hands still on your hips, his back against the headboard.

slowly starting to rock your hips you're a babbling mess. no recollection of what it is you're saying, you just know it feels good. momentarily he lets you have that but is quick to bring you back to reality. you feel a sharp stinging on your left ass cheek, causing you to mewl even louder whilst throwing your head back. “what did i just say, y/n?”

choking out a sob you quickly speed up your motions. alternating with bouncing and grinding you play it by ear, as you’re not typically on top.

the pornographic noises coming from the both of you would be enough to make you cum alone, mixed with the feeling of him so deep inside you. but you know that's not gonna cut it. cumming without permission almost always leads to punishment and you can’t take that right now.

“you’re doing so well baby, look at you. my dirty little cock slut. isn’t that right?” he teases. speaking down to you to highlight the fact that you’re an incoherent mess, all because of his big fat cock.

“yes juyeon, oh my- FUCK!” you’re interrupted by him thrusting up into you. your eyes roll back into your head and you drop your forehead to his shoulder.

“oh no you don’t,” and there goes that hand around your neck again to sit you upright. “do that again and i’ll fuck my hand to finish. i want you to look me in the eyes when you cum.”

is he insane? definitely. but you can’t risk being robbed of another orgasm tonight. using one of your hands to join his around your neck you speed up again bouncing on him like a jackrabbit at this point, eyes drooping but locked with his.

“there you go baby. was that so hard?” he teases again. not even having the energy to retort your jaw goes slack as you feel his tip nudging at that soft spot that only he knows.

“i’m so close juyeon, please?” you beg.

“there goes that ‘please’ again,” he smirks rolling his eyes. “just do as you’re told and you can cum, that was the deal pretty girl.”

chasing the sweet release you’re craving you reach down to rub your clit quickly.

smacking your hand away juyeon looks at you like you’ve just done something unthinkable. removing his hand from your neck and popping his thumb into your mouth he utters, “suck.” and you do just that.

his moans are getting lower, longer, you know he’s gonna cum. taking his thumb from your mouth he places it on your clit immediately repeating the figure eight motions you had administered on yourself prior.

you’re a moaning mess and you’ve never fought so hard to keep your eyes open in your entire life. clenching around him you feel it, the warm pit in your stomach, your legs are starting to shake, and you can barely keep up the pace bouncing on top of him. he notices this and offers a slightly encouraging nod.

“go ahead princess, make a mess.” he mutters, never breaking eye contact.

all it takes is a few more circles around your clit and you’re letting go. the one thing you’ve been craving all night and now you’ve got it.

“FUCK, JUYEON,” you cry pathetically, not a care in the world besides completely milking your boyfriend’s cock and letting him fill you up completely. “i love you, i love you, i love you. only you, it’s always been you, it’s always gonna be you.” you’re rambling at this point and you don't care because it’s working. immediately after you can feel yourself leaking onto his lap his thumb movements get slightly sloppier and he starts breathing heavily, ragged even.

“i love you too baby, fuck. more than anything. you’re so good to me, so good for me.” he’s riding out his orgasm with you. it’s perfect, you feel on top of the world.

you circled your hips a few more times and let out a breath you didn't even know you were holding.

you feel his hands on your hips again, sliding up to cradle you completely. letting your head fall onto his shoulder you attempt to steady your breathing. kissing his neck, right underneath his ear, you whisper one more, “i love you.”

you don't care at all that his cock is softening inside you and that you both have cum dripping onto the sheets.

juyeon just fucked you dumb.

#the boyz #tbz #the boyz smut #tbz smut #lee juyeon #juyeon #the boyz juyeon #tbz juyeon #lee juyeon smut #juyeon smut #tbz scenarios #tbz x reader

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spiraledfaun · 3 months

Text

Sweet or Sexy?

1. What's your favorite candy?

2. What sex toys do you own? Do you have a favorite?

3. How many blankets do you sleep with?

4. Do you regularly have sex while wearing clothes, and if so, what kind?

5. Baked goods or ice cream, and what's your specific favorite?

6. What's the best way to be restrained during a scene/sex in general?

7. What is your carbonated drink of choice?

8. Have you ever done something sexual in a moving vehicle? If so, tell us about it (to your comfort)!

9. What kind of cuisine do you enjoy the most?

10. If you or your partner wore a collar (either during sex, out and about, or both), what would your perfect design be?

11. What cookies are the best you've ever had?

12. Have you ever tried electrostim play? If not, would you?

13. What cartoons did you watch growing up?

14. What is your strangest kink?

15. What food could you eat a lot and never get sick of?

16. Do you prefer servicing or being serviced?

17. Create your ideal edible cookie dough mix.

18. Do you prefer to give or receive dirty talk?

19. How do you feel about flavored sparkling water?

20. What's the sexiest lingerie your partner could wear during intimacy/a scene?

21. What combination of colors is your favorite?

22. Would you ever get a piercing on an erogenous zone? Where?

23. Do you own any stuffed animals, and if so, who's your favorite?

24. Tell us about the best orgasm (or denial!) you've ever had.

25. Cupcakes or cake? What flavor should the batter be?

26. Favorite method of giving or receiving oral sex?

27. What song/artist do you listen to when you need a pick-me-up?

28. What's the best form of foreplay for you?

29. What's your favorite kind of flavoring (natural or artificial)?

30. What kind of aftercare do you typically like to receive?

Hypnokinky or Sexy?

(all questions assume prior consent)

31. Have you ever age-regressed, intentionally or unintentionally, while in trance?

32. Do you feel sexual stimulation adds to or takes away from a hypnosis scene?

33. Which is better: scenes where you are compelled to move, or stay still?

34. Denied Orgasm or "Forced" Orgasm?

35. Have you ever done a transformation scene, and if not, would you?

36. What (hypno)kinky trope or scenario turns you on the most?

37. Do you prefer being the Hypnotist, the hypnotee/subject, or do you like switching off?

38. Have you ever used a fucking machine or sybian? If not, would you?

39. Gradual induction or rapid induction?

40. Have you ever orgasmed hands-free? If not, would you like to?

41. Eye fixation (spirals, pendulums, crystals) or auditory stimulation (verbal induction, hypnofiles, binaural tones)?

42. Is hypnosis a means to have sex, or is sex a means to deepen hypnosis, for you?

43. Owner/owned dynamic or tech control?

44. Would you or have you ever taken aphrodisiacs or performance enhancers?

45. In-trance suggestions or post-hypnotic suggestions?

46. Have you ever had consensual sex while drunk or high? Was it enjoyable, or a disaster?

47. What other kinks do you most enjoy pairing with hypnosis/trance?

48. What's the longest period of time you've had sex for? (times with breaks in-between still count as long as you kept going back to it regularly)

49. What's your favorite kind of induction?

50. Do you prefer to touch yourself or have someone else touch you?

51. Titnosis or dicknosis?

52. Have you ever done watersports or omorashi? If not, would you?

53. Warm and floaty or blank and mindless?

54. Do you enjoy dressing up for scenes/sexual encounters?

55. Erotic hypnosis or meditative trance?

56. Do you have any erogenous zones that you enjoy stimulating more or as much as your genitals or chest?

57. What non-human mind controller appeals most to you? (ex. vampire, suc/incubus, alien, tentacle monster, etc.)

58. Have you ever penetrated or been penetrated by more than one thing (in multiple holes or the same hole)?

59. Do you prefer mushy and fuzzy in trance, or clear-minded and focused?

60. What is your favorite position to have sex in?

#hypnokink #nsft #t4t nsft #cnc kink #send to ur friends n crushes!!#^-^

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elllisaaa · 2 months

Note

do u have any 2min hard thoughts pleek

omgg yes yes yes i have some ! actually i was just waiting for someone to ask me to write about them because 2min makes me go crazy tbh

MINHO & SEUNGMIN are both into domming you, into controlling you, but each in a different way.

SEUNGMIN is the meanest out of the two of them, always has something to say about your behavior, always has something to pick on to find a way to punish you. so obviously he's high on degrading you, calling you names, calling you a slut, a whore, a fucking toy they can use in every way they want. and he knows you love it, love to have to make efforts for him to maybe praise you.

"you're such a fucking slut, only thinking about our cocks all day."

MINHO, on the other hand, is a little more of a service dom when they're fucking you together. whenever seungmin bites you, he licks the mark just after to soothe the pain. when seungmin's touch is rough, minho's one is more gentle. but don't let this fool you, because he's all honey and sweet until he's denying you your orgasm under the excuse that seungmin has already given you too much of them.

"no baby you're not getting to cum before i do, you're already so spoiled and you still want more ? brat."

seungmin always fucks you first, because he loves to tame you, loves to fuck the attitude out of you. he wants to see you gradually lose your mind over how good he's making you feel, giving you multiple orgasms but not letting you recover from them, your pussy getting tighter and tighter the longer he goes on. seungmin always has a smirk on his lips whenever he can watch you gradually lose your mind and whine more and more while he's ruining you, and how frustrated you are to not be able to touch him because minho is holding your hands.

"no stopping until you're screaming our names, you should know that by now."

minho always goes second, because he loves to bend your spent body in any position he wants, loves to push back seungmin's cum into your sweet cunt. his words are just as harsh, pinning your hips down to the mattress so you wouldn't squirm away, asking seungmin to pull on your hair so he can mark up your neck. and yes, your body will be covered in hickeys and bruises after, because they have to remind everyone that you belong to them. minho prefers to finish on your boobs or face, allowing him to mark up your whole body turns him on.

"gonna cum all over your pretty face kitten, take it."

if you ever want them to eat you out, you will have to beg and suck their cocks first, but once they go down on you, all these efforts seem more than worth it. they love to eat you out together, the feeling of having two tongues lapping at your pussy making you cum even harder. but in order to get that, you have to go down on your knees and take them in your mouth first. minho loves to finish in your mouth first, forcing you to keep it all inside and wide open for seungmin to cum too, making it all overflow and drip on the floor. and if during this, they're rough, once it comes to aftercare, they're the sweetest : running you a bath, massaging your sore body, cooking for you and cuddling with you. minho likes to do little acts of service for you, like cleaning your skin and kissing it all over, while seungmin whispers sweet nothings and words of affirmation in your ears.

"such a good girl doll, you did so good for us.

#threesomes are my weakness #eli answering your questions #eli's anonie #stray kids hard thoughts #skz hard thoughts #minho hard hours #minho hard thoughts #seungmin hard hours #seungmin hard thoughts

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the1975attheirverybest · 11 months

Text

A/N: my writing is still shit I guess. But here’s my first attempt and getting back into it.

Warnings: stranger danger? Maybe? Nothing too graphic or serious.

— — —

“So, what do you think? Which one?” She stared at him expectantly.

When Matty enthusiastically agreed to go shopping with her this morning, he had no idea that, an hour and 45 minutes in, he would be asked to weigh in on which shade of yellow towel set better matches the aesthetic of their bathroom at home.

“I- think, ummm, the mustard yellow?” He quirked his brows. To him, the two shades looked identical, but hey, if the love of his life says there’s a difference, then he must just be blind. Judging by the way that her face lit up at his answer, he knew he’d picked the one that she was hoping he’d pick. “Hey, babe, why don’t I hold your purse and coffee while you go check out the candles?”

She smiled at him. “You’re….not having fun, are you?” She cocked her head sheepishly.

“I’m having fun! I promise! Just thought you’d wanna smell the different scents and browse properly. Can’t do that if your hands are full.”

“Yeah, which is sweet, and I love you for it, but you hate shopping.”

“I’m not here for the shopping. I’m here for the girl who’s doing the shopping. Go on- I’m fine! I promise!”

She handed him her half full coffee cup, then slowly and carefully set the strap of her bag around his shoulder before giving him a quick kiss. “You’re a saint.”

Matty laughed, following her lead down the aisles.

***

“Okay, smell this one.”

Matty leaned in, taking a deep inhale to sample a whiff of the scented candle. He erupted into a coughing fit. “F-fuckin- hell. W-what the fuck is that called?”

She giggled, twirling the candle jar around to read the label. “Ummm…Ocean Breeze.”

“That’s not the scent of the ocean! That’s the scent of a pool. Full of chlorine. And children’s urine.”

She laughed heartily and made a smart retort that Matty only heard in the background as all his focus shifted to the tall, muscular, blond man at the end of the aisle, by the “essential oils and diffusers” section. Something about him didn’t feel right. Though Matty couldn’t quite figure out why.

“I think the Santa and Vanilla candle wins.” She finally announced, placing her winning candle in the cart.

Matty wheeled the cart ahead walking alongside her as she browsed the shelves, gradually getting closer and closer to the blond man. Then it hit him. Matty finally figured out why this man’s presence was unsettling. He’d seen him before. At the bedding aisle. And the kitchenware aisle. Just out of the corner of his eye. Wherever this man was, a few feet ahead, stood two young teenagers. 13- maybe- 14 years old. Alarm bells sounded in his head, he inched closer with his cart, pretending to need something from the shelf that the child stalker stood at, and blocking his view.

Just as Matty had thought, the man got out from behind him, rounded his cart, and crept closer to the girls.

“Are you looking for something?” The man squeezed in the ring space between the two girls.

Was he a store clerk, perhaps? Had Matty been too paranoid? Is it simply a coincidence that this guy was innocently doing his job, reorganizing the shelves wherever those two girls happened to be? He picked up a random room spray bottle, pretending to read the label for ingredients while trying to assess the situation.

“I’m really tall, so I can reach the shelves if you need me to.”

Okay, that was definitely an unreasonable thing to say. Those shelves weren’t too high for these girls to reach. And even if he were an employee. He’s standing way too close to both of them for this to be merely professional customer service.

“Babe, did you say you were running low on that CBD oil thing that you take on tour? Cuz I think-“

Matty shushed her, and when she persisted anyway, he whispered “shut the fuck up, darlin.”

She was both shocked and irritated, and as she prepared to give him shit for being so rude, she noticed his eyes fixated on something behind her. She turned around following his gaze, and, instantly, she recognized the situation.

“Oh, fuck no.” She whispered. “I’m gonna go get security.” Marching away as fast as she could without arousing the man’s suspicion.

Matty nodded, staying firmly in place and keeping a watchful eye over the situation.

***

“Right this way, sir. They were just around the candle aisle.” She pointed the security man to where she’d been standing, minutes ago, with her boyfriend, when they’d witnessed the incident. “Oh, for fucks sakes, Matty.” She mumbled as soon as she and the security guy had spotted them.

Matty’s hand was wrapped around the man’s upper arm. And he’d made a scene. “Might be difficult to get it through that thick head of yours. What with all that hair gel on top-“. Matty’s free hand swatted at the guy’s styled hair.

“Matty! That’s assault!” She rushed to her boyfriend’s side, attempting to assuage him. To her relief, though, the girls seemed to be amused.

“Alright, gentlemen. What seems to be the problem?” The security man cleared his throat assertively announcing his presence as he stepped forward, scanning Matty from head to toe.

Relieved that someone was an official badge had taken over the situation, she turned her attention to the young girls. “You young ladies alright?”

“Yeah.” One muttered while the other nodded repeated.

“Is that your boyfriend?” The taller girl who had a dimpled smile and braces on her teeth, asked.

“Y-yeah.”

The both looked on as Matty gesticulated passionately, explaining to the security officer what had happened. The girls took in his every word with awe and admiration.

She, on the other hand, found the whole thing a boring display of masculinity. I mean, Matty knew security would be there any second.

“He’s touched them! What else did you want me to do? Stand by and watch the kids get hurt??! He grabbed her arm so I fuckin grabbed his.” Matty pushed the curls that had fallen into his eye line as she yelled.

“I- sir, thank you for stepping in, but right now, all I need you to do is….well, let go of his arm.”

“Oh. Right.” Reluctantly, Matty’s hold on the guy loosened. He eventually withdrew completely.

“Sir, can I see some ID?”

“This is absurd. This guy’s mental!”

“ID please? We have security Cameras throughout the store. I’m sure we can corroborate the story.”

The security officer’s negotiating voice faded into irrelevance as Matty returned to his girlfriend and the two young girls. He took a deep breath, softening his face and putting on a bright smile. “So, how’re we all doing?”

The girls shyly and sincerely thanked him for stepping in, confirming that Matty’s suspicions were right. The guy had been following them around the store. They had noticed and tried to evade him by going into different aisles, but in doing so, they’re unintentionally dragged themselves further away from the exit, and into a quieter part of the store.

“Need us to walk you out? Just to be safe?” His girlfriend offered.

“Wait, hold on.” Matty interjected. “No reason to rush. These ladies came here to do some shopping. You get everything you need? No? Well, go on then. We’ll be right with you. Make sure nobody else bothers you, yeah? What do you say?”

***

Matty and his girlfriend hovered protectively on either side of the girls as they walked around the store. It was slightly weird at first. Both for the girls and for Matty. But, he noticed that his girlfriend immediately took it upon herself to ease the awkwardness by asking questions. Getting to know them. Before too long, the girls were walking on either side of her, giggling, and asking her opinion on outfits and room decor items while Matty had, somehow, found himself their bag boy. Holding on to their belonging, carrying their stuff, and dragging along behind them.

“Oh, no, please. Let me.” Matty produced a credit card out of his wallet, handing it to the register lady. “All together, please.”

“You don’t have to! We have money. Mom gave me her card!” The girl with the braces, whose name was Annie, as Matty had come to learn, protested.

“Consider it an apology. On behalf of my gender. To make up for…well, I know nothing really makes up for how uncomfortable and scary that kind of thing is. But, let me at least try.”

***

As the two young girls got into their Uber, Matty turned towards his girlfriend, taking the shopping bag from her hand and carrying it for her. He was replaying the unexpected events of the day in his head, trying to find the right words, but she beat him to it.

“That’s why I’m in love with you.” She whispered, wrapping both of her arms around his waist and hugging into his side.

Matty chuckled. “What, so it’s not my killer looks then?”

“I mean….that doesn’t hurt your chances. But mostly the other stuff….seriously, I had no idea he’d actually grabbed the girl.”

“Fuckin lost it when I saw that.”

She simply smiled. “I love you, Matty. I learn more about how wonderful you are everyday.”

“You know what I learned about me today, though?”

“What’s that?”

“My music is not popular with the middle schoolers.”

She burst into light and airy laughter. “Oh, gosh! That’s right! In all the intensity of the moment, I forgot about that! They had no clue who you are!”

“Yeah. It was quite nice actually.” He grinned, kissing the top of her head.

#matty healy #matty healy fanfiction #matty healy fic #matty healy x reader #matty healy x you #matty healy fanfic #matty healy fluff

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palettesofrenaissance · 2 months

Note

Hey. I got a short drabble idea for your Wonka story, if you'll have it. Since you're trying to get into more dark stuff.

The idea is this: Wonka thinks he has Sapphire and Ruby trapped in his "wonderland", but by some freak accident, they find a way to escape and he. is. pissed.

✎ᝰ ── 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨! I'm thoroughly relieved to be finished with this and excited to be posting this. this is my first dark!fic. don't expect this to be like my previous stories. this is the first thing I've written that I had fun with. it's the first serious thing I've done since struggling with writer's block. this prompt fill is the one after after the intro fic (this is what I've been up to lately. join me!)

Permanent Marker · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · INTRO/AU CONCEPT

Location Services: OFF · · · · · · · · · · · · · THIS PROMPT

𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Dark!AU, Future Fic, Canon Compliant. Prompt-driven story

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: The saying goes: “Never, ever accept a gift from a fae. And never, ever verbally say thank you for a gift. It implies that the receiver owes them something, like food, your firstborn, or a favor (no matter how deranged).”

If only she had known this warning when meeting the unpredictable, tricky, and arrogant magician Willy Wonka. She fears her precious daughter is going to have to pay the ultimate price for her moment of temporary short-sightedness. Especially when her daughter doesn't heed her warnings.

People change over the years. People are also multifaceted and can have contradicting factors about themselves. Her daughter will find that she was kept away and hidden for a reason.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬: love/hate, meet rude/meet ugly, secret children, mentions of violence/blood during a hallucination, abuse of trust, Willy is a bit rude, obsessive and dark Willy Wonka, dark fairytale elements, and taking inspiration from the actor's few insane moments and running with it

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: Written in 3rd person. Named child character. Named mother!reader if you want to imagine that, or named OC; she's named Sapphire, inspired by the singing lady in the tram scene

“I was young when I first made the deal with him,” she had described herself to Noodle Slugworth Smith, the next in line to inherit the Slugworth empire and fortune. When she first met the soon-to-be-known magician she was indeed several years younger than him despite looking older than she actually was… She wonders if that was another reason he continuously manipulated her and kept her in his clutches…

To be exact, she first “met” him in passing on a tram car on the way to clock-in at her job. He’d been posing as a tram ticket collector and had offered her and a friend a piece of chocolate each to sample—something she would have declined had her friend not pointed him out and his reputation throughout the past several months not preceded him.

But even before he announced himself and began handing out samples throughout the tram car, Sapphire had thought none the wiser, his face blending in among the sea of others. That, along with already being distracted because she was on her way to work, then the candy’s influence to dance and sing on the crowded tram that quickly became overwhelming before the police even showed up, she wouldn’t have been able to pick out his face from a line-up even if she wanted to.

Which is why when she came across him once more sometime later, it made sense why she hadn’t recognized him: clothes really can make the difference about a person.

Now sometime later and at a laundromat on a rainy day, Sapphire has no reason to know that the tall man alone in a far corner was the previously unknown, enigmatic chocolatier that swept in and gradually took her city by storm. At the laundromat, he looks so ordinary and unnoticeable, staring off at a point unseen. She doesn’t give him any acknowledgement beyond a few glances to mind her distance.

It has been an angry and dark overcast for the past week, the air heavy with humidity and the promise of rain that never came.

‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Keep reading

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popatochisssp · 7 months

Note

OMG all the new boys are fascinating but ummm Swapfell Fruition especially?? Sounds so good?? I would love a full lore dump on this concept, I love the idea of Vi playing the long con to get rid of Gaster and it all sounds so good. Incidentally I need to read Dirty Laundry again lol, everything you make with regards to any version of Swapfell is just *chef's kiss*

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Swapfell Fruition

A young Sans’ attempt to kill his creator, the Royal Scientist is a failure.

Gaster survives the scuffle that would’ve toppled him off of the CORE’s scaffolding and gains the upper hand, subduing his traitorous creation and forcing him—and the younger one he’d been trying to escape with—back to his labs.

Sans was reckless, tipped his hand too soon and without the luck to have succeeded on the first attempt, Gaster learns that he is a sneaky little backstabber, capable of appearing obedient but hiding ruthless intentions.

He's almost proud… but of course he can't have that.

It becomes clear to the Royal Scientist that obviously, he needs his creations to have some kind of failsafe. The little one hasn't shown any signs of disobedience yet, but his primary caretaker is a crafty little snake, no telling what he could influence him to do, if given the time or the chance—so it’s back to the drawing board, to the operating table with them both.

Papyrus, at his age, doesn't really know what happens to him, only that whatever was done to him hurt, a lot. He wakes up after in the room he’d shared with his brother, scared and hurting and alone, and when Sans finally reappears, he goes to him for a hug.

Except…

Sans doesn’t hug him back.

He doesn’t hug back, and he doesn’t say anything, no matter how much Papyrus begs him to…

And the next time Gaster summons them to the lab, it’s Sans who picks him up and keeps him from squirming away, holding his arm out for Gaster’s needles.

Papyrus doesn’t understand the betrayal, at the time or in the years that follow.

His hurt turns to bitterness and resentment as his once gentle and protective big brother starts to actively help their creator change him, gradually shaping him into a stronger, more efficient killer.

But even with all the modification and training he’s subjected to, Papyrus isn’t quite the solider or war machine Gaster had planned he would be—he spooks when caught by surprise, he’s easily distracted by irrelevant things, his loyalties twist and sway far too easily for Gaster’s liking…

Well, the Royal Scientist is nothing if not resourceful, certainly able to work with…limited materials and still produce something of use.

With the right mental conditioning, and the right handler to make use of it, Papyrus will still be a valuable asset for the Empress.

After all, there’s always political enemies to the crown that her highness would surely prefer to have…removed, discreetly, and other such dirty work best done in the shadows.

Fast and stealthy, like an assassin, seems more suited to Papyrus’ abilities anyway.

And as for a handler, who better than Sans to fill the role?

Gaster’s prototype was largely a failure, but certainly intelligent and organized, presumably capable of researching and observing targets, briefing the asset on situations and targets and memorizing the trigger words and phrases necessary to keep him operating at peak efficiency.

Sans doesn’t protest.

He doesn’t protest much of anything anymore, not since…

………

Well, it’s not like he’s ever spoken about what happened when everything changed, not even to Papyrus, so when he goes along with this too, neither Gaster nor Papyrus expects otherwise.

So, that’s how it is.

Papyrus becomes the perfect assassin and Sans doles out his marching orders, occasionally following behind on missions to jerk his leash and keep him on track.

Between them, it’s…complicated.

Sans is still Papyrus’ brother, the closest thing to an ally that Papyrus has, both of them stuck in service to a power-hungry, unethical prick.

There are moments where they’re okay, times where a joke will slip out and one of them will laugh, injuries tended to, backs watched under fire, and dozens more little things that just wouldn’t happen if they were nothing to each other.

But the moments never last long.

Reality always comes back in sooner or later—usually in the form of Gaster, demanding an update or issuing new orders or calling them back from the field, to which Sans always, always complies.

Papyrus takes it as a reminder of where Sans’ real loyalties must lie.

He’s some kind of brother, not always awful, and maybe he does care about Papyrus, a little bit, but he answers to Gaster above anything or anyone else, apparently by choice.

He can’t be trusted, not really.

And Sans…

Sans stays quiet and does his job.

Quickly, efficiently, and to the letter—exemplary service, always.

Irreproachable.

He’s almost completely beneath suspicion by the time the last human falls into the Underground.

Gaster couldn’t be more thrilled.

This is a golden opportunity, the perfect chance to prove his worth to the Empress and earn clout and accolades innumerable—to be the one responsible for capturing the seventh soul and freeing all of monsterkind from their centuries of imprisonment and allowing the war against humanity to finally begin!

Well, technically, it would be his creations doing it, but it’s his name that history will remember, him who would rise into legend as the most brilliant and ruthless monster to ever live, the catalyst in humanity’s downfall.

He doesn’t waste so much as a minute before summoning Sans and ordering him to handle it, immediately.

Meet with the Empress, alert her that there’s a human loose in the Underground, and offer her the services of the asset in ending their free roam.

Sans agrees, as he always has, and goes to fetch his brother for the job.

Papyrus is admittedly a little blindsided when not two seconds out of the labs, Sans pulls him aside, out of range of known cameras and recording devices and hisses at him to listen.

He doesn’t know what to make of what Sans says after, either—that he hasn’t earned it and he knows that, but he needs Papyrus to trust him right now, because he is going to lie and everything depends on Papyrus going along with it.

In spite of their messy history and every uncharitable thing Papyrus has ever thought about Sans…right here and now, something in his gut tells him this is no trick.

He agrees to ‘go along with it’…whatever ‘it’ is.

Sans waits until a certain amount of time has elapsed, and then he makes a call to Gaster with Papyrus present to listen.

Gaster is informed that there’s a problem with the latest target. The asset’s programming isn’t taking and he’s refusing to track down the human.

This is, of course, news to Papyrus, who hasn’t been assigned his target yet.

But…Sans said ‘trust me’ and ‘play along,’ so that’s what he does, complaining that he doesn’t want to kill a child, just put him back in his cage and do your own dirty work, old man…

Helpfully—always helpful, always intelligent, always reliable—Sans postulates a conflict of orders might be causing the programming to bug like this. Gaster’s overarching orders are for the asset to kill targets assigned to him, but the Empress has unfortunately countermanded that the human must be brought to her alive.

And again, Papyrus knows differently because the Empress hasn’t given him any orders, they never made it to her for orders to be given and Toriel likely doesn’t even know yet that a human has fallen.

But he said he’d go along with the lie so he keeps his mouth shut, even as he hears Gaster curse on the other end of the line.

Gaster finds Sans’ assessment of the situation as reasonable as it is frustrating, but minds are complicated machines and often behave strangely when conflicts arise. Just look at the Empress, who knows that humans must be killed to free her people, but feels she must perform the act herself instead of the far more convenient option being presented to her!

The asset’s orders being in conflict is a far more annoying stopping block, though, yet another barrier in the way of all the glory that Gaster has so painstakingly earned.

Time is short, stakes are high, he refuses to recall his creation just to debug it and resolve the glitch, not now.

Instead he makes his fatal mistake.

He overrides the asset’s failsafes.

All of them.

Impatiently rattling off a code that nearly makes Papyrus stagger from a feeling like weight being lifted, Gaster disconnects the call with a sharp command to Sans to ‘handle it,’ now that there were no restrictions on his targets or what he could be ordered to do.

Sans is only quiet for a moment before handing a picture to Papyrus, locking him on and beginning the usual debrief.

Papyrus can’t fully grasp what he’s looking at, not at first.

“………confirm target?”

“WINDINGS GASTER, THE CURRENT ROYAL SCIENTIST TO THE CROWN.”

As with any briefing, Papyrus must be informed of his target’s connections, abilities and assets.

Gaster has strong ties with the crown, and between that and his own paranoia, security around him will be tight. He’s intelligent, strong, and merciless, and he won’t hesitate to make use of anything at his disposal in a life-or-death situation.

As an example, he had implanted a condition into his private assassin’s mental programming that would prevent him from acting against or outright attacking him—so it’s fortunate they’ve already cleared that concern.

Now, the top priorities are to ensure that Sans is physically far away from Gaster when the mission is executed, and that Papyrus is at no point seen by Gaster before he’s dead. The entire operation could be sunk if both of these conditions aren’t met.

“why?”

“THERE’S AN ADDITIONAL FAILSAFE, IMPLANTED IN YOUR SOUL. IF GASTER REALIZES YOU’VE BEEN TURNED ON HIM BEFORE YOU’VE SUCCEEDED, HE CAN INSTANTLY DROP YOUR HP TO 1.”

“………and why am i doing this without my handler?”

“BECAUSE I’M COMPROMISED TOO. IF HE SEES ME OUT OF PLACE OR SUSPECTS I’VE BETRAYED HIM AGAIN, HE’LL USE THE FAILSAFE IN MY SOUL TO REMOTELY CONTROL MY BODY AND MOBILIZE ME AGAINST YOU—AND OF COURSE, AT THAT POINT, HE WOULD KNOW THAT YOU’RE TARGETING HIM AS WELL AND BE PREPARED TO KILL YOU.”

And that…

Well.

That sure is a hell of a lot of new information that Papyrus will have to process later, when there’s not a strong compulsion in the back of his skull that there is someone he needs to kill.

He’s a professional, when he’s working.

He will focus on the mission.

To keep up appearances, Sans departs to find the fallen human and trail them on their journey through the Underground. He very much wants to ensure they reach the Empress safely, but there’s an added bonus of being exactly where he’s supposed to be and doing exactly what he’s supposed to do should Gaster check in on him—no need to arouse any suspicion, not before it’s far too late.

In the end, when Chara has befriended monsterkind against all odds, winning over the Empress herself and freeing them all to a life of peace with humankind on the surface, the death of the Royal Scientist is an incidental discovery.

Sans takes responsibility for it, pleading for the Empress’s mercy.

Gaster had wanted the human—kind young Chara, to whom Toriel has taken such a liking—killed immediately as soon as they emerged from the Ruins, and he hadn’t thought that the Empress would condone such an order in light of what she’s always held to regarding fallen humans.

Gaster had been adamant, though, and Sans… Well, he only wanted to serve the will of her highness and to do so, he turned the asset against their master. He hopes only for some leniency for what he’s done, Gaster may have been their father but—

Strangely enough, it seems Toriel had no idea that the asset and his handler were the Royal Scientist’s children. He’d always told her they were employees, volunteers for the things that were done to them and the missions they were told to undertake.

Learning that they had actually been created, intentionally molded and pressed into these roles without a choice in the matter…

Toriel, an Empress first but a mother a very close second, can certainly afford leniency.

The brothers are let loose in spite of their crime, with a bit of funding from the Empress to get on their feet after everything. The money is partially back-pay for their joint service as the crown’s black ops division (for which they were never actually compensated before), and partially amends for how long their…circumstance…went unnoticed.

Sans offers to split the money and part ways with Papyrus, if he’d prefer.

But Papyrus has learned a lot in the past few days to…completely and utterly recontextualize everything he ever thought was true about his handl—…his brother, and…maybe he should stick around a bit. See what’s what.

Vi (Swapfell Fruition Sans)

Extremely restrained and closed off from so many years of being unable to talk to or trust anyone, not even his brother. An accomplished liar but socially unpracticed, tending to read as cold and unfriendly to those who approach him. He’s more awkward than genuinely hostile, though

Issues with being watched, spent most of his life simultaneously going unnoticed and being intensely over-monitored so his feelings about being observed—regardless of context—are complicated, runs hot and cold on it

Complicated feelings for his brother, too: he loves him, of course, and he failed him in many ways, but he was also stuck between him and Gaster for a long time and caught his fair share of hell from both sides and there’s some resentment there for that. He wants to fix things, but he’s not really sure how and just…awkwardly trying his best

Well-organized and skilled at research and thinking analytically, tends to approach most things with a problem-solving attitude and an eye-socket for detail. Extremely talented at finding loopholes and ways around or through the rules—though his respect for said rules is very low to begin with

Likes high and secluded places, mostly rooftops but anywhere it could be difficult for other people to get to. Whether or not those places are restricted by fencing or padlocks or lack of ladders is immaterial, if he finds a high spot he would like to be, he will get to it one way or another and perch as long as he pleases

Hunter (Swapfell Fruition Papyrus)

Impulsive and driven by self-interest, the years of mental conditioning have broken down his fears and inhibitions to nearly nothing. He does what he wants, when he wants, with little concern for anything else—a dog off its leash who’ll only heel when it’s good and ready to. Unfortunately charming enough to mostly get away with it

Problems with authority, for obvious reasons. Likely to try to bend or break any rule presented to him, just to see if he can, and a severe lack of respect for anyone trying to enforce those rules upon him (especially the arbitrary ones)

Conflicting and highly jumbled feelings for his brother, making them a matched set: he disliked him, maybe even hated him a little for a long time, for helping Gaster turn him into what he is and for being the one to yank his leash and pull his strings…but that was before he knew that he had a kill-switch in his soul and that his brother was up on strings on his own, being pulled by the jackass they both apparently hated… It doesn’t erase everything that happened, knowing that, but it does…change things. (He wants to fix things too, but he’s not sure how either, so they’re both just awkwardly trying)

Needs ‘tune-ups’ every so often to reinforce his mental conditioning and make sure all his programming is intact, even now that Gaster’s gone and he’s retired as an assassin. Going too long without re-upping it causes deterioration, compulsions ‘leaking’ without being triggered and causing headaches and erratic, sometimes violent behavior so…best for everyone to keep his head maintained regularly

Absolutely loves nature and wilderness, hiking, camping, and climbing trees is his idea of an excellent time. Could absolutely go off on a run and disappear into the trees and not be seen or heard from for a week, likely to get some forest-cryptid lore started about him—possibly on purpose

#anonymous #headcanons #undertale #swapfell fruition #sff!sans #sff!papyrus

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