#ch: sun lang

[shookethdev]

a o e i i er ai ei ao ou an en ang eng ong i ia iao ie iu ian in iang ing iong u ua uo uai ui uan un uang ueng ü üe üan ün a o e er ai ao ou an en ang eng yi ya yao ye you yan yin yang ying yong wu wa wo wai wei wan wen wang weng yu yue yuan yun b ba bo bai bei bao ban ben bang beng bi biao bie bian bin bing bu p pa po pai pei pao pou pan pen pang peng pi piao pie pian pin ping pu m ma mo me mai mei mao mou man men mang meng mi miao mie miu mian min ming mu f fa fo fei fou fan fen fang feng fu d da de dai dei dao dou dan den dang deng dong di diao die diu dian ding du duo dui duan dun t ta te tai tei tao tou tan tang teng tong ti tiao tie tian ting tu tuo tui tuan tun n na ne nai nei nao nou nan nen nang neng nong ni niao nie niu nian nin niang ning nu nuo nuan nü nüe l la le lai lei lao lou lan lang leng long li lia liao lie liu lian lin liang ling lu luo luan lun lü lüe g ga ge gai gei gao gou gan gen gang geng gong gu gua guo guai gui guan gun guang k ka ke kai kei kao kou kan ken kang keng kong ku kua kuo kuai kui kuan kun kuang h ha he hai hei hao hou han hen hang heng hong hu hua huo huai hui huan hun huang z za ze zi zai zei zao zou zan zen zang zeng zong zu zuo zui zuan zun c ca ce ci cai cao cou can cen cang ceng cong cu cuo cui cuan cun s sa se si sai sao sou san sen sang seng song su suo sui suan sun zh zha zhe zhi zhai zhei zhao zhou zhan zhen zhang zheng zhong zhu zhua zhuo zhuai zhui zhuan zhun zhuang ch cha che chi chai chao chou chan chen chang cheng chong chu chua chuo chuai chui chuan chun chuang sh sha she shi shai shei shao shou shan shen shang sheng shu shua shuo shuai shui shuan shun shuang r re ri rao rou ran ren rang reng rong ru rua ruo rui ruan run j ji jia jiao jie jiu jian jin jiang jing jiong ju jue juan jun q qi qia qiao qie qiu qian qin qiang qing qiong qu que quan qun x xi xia xiao xie xiu xian xin xiang xing xiong xu xue xuan xun

NAKU 🫵

[web-novel-polls]

Do y'all want to see the 65 quotes I compiled for, like, six hours after I posted the WN Quotes Submissions?

[ ] Yes

[ ] Of course

[ ] Absolutely

[ ] PLEASE

A lot of these will have to be culled and/or reorganized, but here's the pickings so far:

Romance

"When he thought of Cheng Qian, he suddenly felt like there was nothing else that he desired in this life."  

Ch.56 about Yan Zhengming from Liu Yao

Listen, I absolutely love this quote because Yan Zhengming is the BIGGEST materialist. 

“You are just like my reverse scale. You live, I live. You are my life. Therefore, no matter how difficult things are in the future, or how arduous life becomes, I want you to live.” 

Jing Lin to Cang Ji, Nan Chan, Ch.93 

“I have never known fear… But I don’t want you to die.” 

Jing Lin to Cang Ji, Nan Chan, Ch.93 

“To me, the one basking in infinite glory is you; the one fallen from grace is also you. What matters is you, and not the state of you.”

Hua Cheng to Xie Lian, TGCF

"It's alright, even if you aren't a son of nobility anymore, you are still you, and in your heart there's a spark, sooner or later it will shine brilliantly. I can see it, and in the future, someone else will also see it."  

Gu Mang to Mo Xi, Yuwu/Remnants of Filth, Ch.5

"What was he going to do in the future? He also did not know that he felt like he was a moth and NanGong Si the flame. He always wanted to follow the light, even if it would only cause him to break apart." 

Ch.154, pg.71, Ye Wangxi

“I know you can’t fully believe in what I said. It doesn’t matter. I will be by your side for a long time, anyways, I’m yours.”  

Xiao Yu’an, How to Survive as a Villain, Ch.28

"Yin Hanjiang, if this Venerable can save you once, he can save you twice. If this Venerable doesn't allow you to die, then you can't die." 

Wenren È, Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know, Ch.15

"They referred to each other as father and son, but their fate was like that of a broken lamp, burned away immediately in the blink of an eye, only he was still remaining immersed in this delusional dream."  

Sha Po Lang, Ch.25

"Thank you, Reinhardt…I wanted to hear that you'd cause trouble for me." 

Charlotte, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, ch.266

"I need you, not just for duties like a servant, but for you to be present where my eyes can see. I wish you were always there." 

Reinhardt POV about Charlotte, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, ch.528 

"How many times have I saved your life by now? If I have to kill you later, I'll bite my tongue and die first." 

Reinhardt to Charlotte, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, ch.630 

"I thought I could be with you forever, but I never expected it to come to this. I do not regret it. It is all my own will. If I want someone to blame, I can only blame fate. If there is a chance to do it all again, I would trample this destiny fiercely under my feet!" 

Everyday I Get Up to See the Villain Stealing the Show, Ch.75

"I hope that you will hate me all your life."  

Yan Xiaohan, Golden Terrace, ch.23 

"I wish that, after my death, I’ll also have a picture left in Qilin Hall. When that time comes, you’ll carry it up to the Golden Stage yourself......The most high and most bright are the sun and moon, and the most close yet most distant are a husband and wife. If you promise me this, you will be my only next of kin from now on." 

Fu Shen to Yan Xiaohan, Golden Terrace, Ch.26

Non-Romance

"He could have dug into his living, burning chest, let him look at his heart which was nearly dying from the agony it felt, and they would have only jeered at his passion, suspected his kindness, scorned his overconfidence, and made fun of his trembling sincerity." 

Yuwu/Remnants of Filth, Ch.17 in regards to Gu Mang

"People always liked to find someone who seemed pretty good, place them in the depths of their hearts, then project their own beautiful fantasies onto that person, turning them into the source of light in their life." 

Yuwu/Remnants of Filth, Ch.5

"Man is no more than lust given flesh and blood. Some people are held back from progressing by the vices, and others pursue a grand and pristine reputation. However, if carnal desire is lust, isn’t the desire for a pristine reputation also considered lust?" 

Yuwu/Remnants of Filth, Ch.28

"If you don't know how to save others, how will you save yourself?" 

Chu Wanning, The Husky and His White Cat Shizun, Ch.103

"Because like people, an ox has gotta eat. For the sake of eating, a lot of work has to be done. If one day you can't work anymore, then no one cares if you're alive or dead." 

Ox Eats Grass, The Husky and His White Cat Shizun, Ch.65

"Doubt is the privilege of those who have a way out." 

Rong Jiu, The Husky and His White Cat Shizun, Ch.112

“If I can’t change the sun, then I’ll at least decide what kind of shadow I’ll be.” 

Elizabeth, Villain Hides His True Colors, Ch.16

"If one's heart is small, all their sufferings even as large as a house, can only be crammed into that small corner. But if one's heart were as vast as heaven and earth, then even if their troubles were as large as a mountain, they would become nothing more than a droplet of water in the endless sea." 

Liao Ran, Sha Po Lang, Ch.26

"He believed that when he was alone, he could do anything all by himself. For a lone person, when he reaches the peak of his achievement, he's still alone; when he falls to the depths of the abyss, too, he's still alone. Even if his head were to fall from his shoulders, wouldn't that just be a scar on his body? What was there to fear?"  

Liu Yao: the Revitalization of Fuyao Sect, Ch. 36

 "To be famous in this world is to fool everyone under the heavens." 

Island Lord Gu Yanxue, Liu Yao: The Revitalization of Fuyao Sect, Ch.44

“An Zhe skipped over the laws section. He knew that he was a law-abiding mushroom, and a law-abiding mushroom would not violate the laws of any species.”

Little Mushroom, Ch.5

What the fuck does this mean An Zhe Sksjsj

“Perhaps… once I’m dead and you’ve completely eaten my body… you’ll obtain a lot more things…Then it seems that I will have done something meaningful as well, although I don’t know if it will be good or bad for you.” 

An Ze, Little Mushroom, ch.1

"They are more interested in being nice to Moondae than in Moondae himself…" - 

Debut or Die, Ch.138

“-I only believe in people with walls. In order to understand someone, I think I should face that wall first.”

Han Donghoon, ORV, Ch.60

“Remember: when humans ascend, they are still human; when they fall, they are still human.”

TGCF

“Eleris had traded the entire world and her own life for me. Because she loved me that much. I couldn't even begin to fathom how much Eleris cherished me.”

The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, Ch.634

"Isn't it blasphemy to believe that the gods always pursue goodness? No, to believe that the gods always make choices for the sake of humanity?" "Did the gods ever say that the good they pursue is the same as the good for humans?”

Rowan, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, Ch.577

“Adding the possibility of hope… can't be a bad thing…”

Detto, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, Ch.516

"The first time I calculated, I destroyed a child's life. The second time, I destroyed my only close friend. The third time, I destroyed the world."  

the bald monk, It's Not Easy Being a Master, Ch.57

"If the heavens really loved him, they would’ve slapped Zich across the face and told him to change his ways." 

The Regressed Demon Lord is Kind, Ch.1

"She didn’t have the courage to leave someone to die just to save herself." 

The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, Ch.167 about Ellen

“Olivia Lanze didn't know how to live if it wasn't for others.” 

The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, Ch.244

“I worked hard. Whatever it was, I put in effort. If I worked hard, I could someday stand shoulder to shoulder with my classmates who each have outstanding talents, even if I was behind for now. I believed that….I was living in defeatism without even realizing it.” 

Ludwig to Gladen Amorelle, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, Ch.295

"An action borne from simple fear, beyond good and evil…As a mother….I want to protect my remaining child."  

Luna Artorius, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, Ch.423

"Of course, I know that no matter what, the mountain of sins I have accumulated cannot be cleared away... But if it's possible, if I can contribute even a little to prevent that future tragedy. Maybe I can alleviate, even just a tiny bit, the weight of the slaughter and sins I've accumulated... I dared to think that way…" 

Eleris, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, Ch.427

"If I can't find meaning in death, I will find it in life." 

The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, Ch.450

"It is right not to engage in reckless acts…However, standing atop the mountain built upon my recklessness, I cannot help but think that refraining from something due to its recklessness is merely an excuse for complacency." 

The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, Ch.466

"'A truth that divides everyone only leads to everyone's downfall...If that's the truth, it's better not to know.' If this problem could be overcome with just my own injustice, I'd accept the injustice."  

Reinhardt to Kono Lint, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, ch.541

"I feel like the you from the temple days is the real you....This Reinhardt who became the Demon King... somehow feels fake...There are no secrets now, but you, who have lost all secrets, feel even more like a fake." 

Olivia to Reinhardt, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, ch.558

"It's a sad time…But even in such times…Let's try our best to live."  

Louise von Schwarz to Ludwig, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, ch.582

“Just as I can't buy my happiness with someone else's misfortune…I can't buy someone else’s happiness with my misfortune, can I?” 

The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy, ch.667

"If it was impossible to be loved by everyone, then it must also be impossible to be hated by everyone."  

Scarlett's realization about Reinhardt in ch.644, The Demon Prince Goes to the Academy

“Although it was only for a short time I had lived in the sky. I was one with the wind. I played together with the sunlight filtered through the trees…Even though only a fragment of the wide world, I was able to travel.” 

Even a Cicada Becomes a Dragon If Reborn, Ch.1

"Master Chen always says that the body is like a canvas. It can't be helped that it shows wear and tear over the years. Rather than trying to keep on being an unpainted canvas, one should embrace the scars. Behind every scar is a memory, so accept every mark on your body as an untold story. Just like an image being painted with thousand strokes, become an artwork where every inch has its own meaning. Even if it feels like a stupid reason, or if it was an accident, or if it's painful, don't pain a part of your life white. One day, you will be able to look at the scars and smile, because they are proof of your very own story." 

The Grandmaster's Weird Disciple, Ch.15

[You are my disciple. I’ll believe you even if you look at the stones and say to me it’s sand.] 

Russell to Lucion, Count's Youngest Son is a Warlock, Ch.4

"Kindness will always be straightforward. It is only malice that needs to be covered up with evasive pretense, just like the words that mountain bandit said today." 

Li Xian, FGEP, Ch. 44

"I once told you that, between our identities, one is in the sky above and one on the ground below - the difference between clouds and mud....Within that pile of sludge is also grades and ranks. Though I am deeply entrenched, I also want to eke out an existence in it."

Yan Xiaohan to Fu Shen, Golden Terrace

“Kim Namwoon…You are right. I am the same type of human as you.” 

Kim Dokja to Kim Namwoon, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint,  ch.6 pg.39 

"If hyung was such a person, you wouldn't have saved me on the subway. I believe in you.” 

 Lee Gilyoung to Kim Dokja, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, ch.21 pg.141

"It is comfortable to live alone, eat alone and survive alone. But…I know one novel that developed in such a way and was ruined." 

Kim Dokja to Lee Gilyoung, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, ch.31 pg.216

"Tell me, you fool. If I continue to regress, will I ever get to meet you again?”

Yoo Joonghyuk, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, Ch.525

"I, someone of no redeeming quality, could be loved by the others."

ORV, Ch.513

She wanted to tell him. Tell him that there was a world that didn't need his sacrifice to be saved. She thought that, if it was her, she should be able to do it.  Because she was most proficient at lying than anyone alive, after all.

ORV, Ch.539

「There are three ways to survive in a ruined world. I have forgotten some of them now. However, one thing is certain: you who are currently reading these words will survive.  –Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World [Complete]」

ORV, Ch.1

Even if we can't reach each other, even if we can't meet each other, we should continue to pound away on each other's walls. Even if that wall would never open up, keep writing something on that wall, anyway.

ORV, Ch.538

“Cher is a very beautiful person, but she doesn’t hate me. She’s different from those people…She said that I have beautiful eyes, and she played the piano for me. She looked so good when she smiled…I think I can also like the world a little more for her.”

Xiao Ai, ch.25, NFM

"Survive and take responsibility! Atone for the rest of your life or live a garbage life. Just somehow survive!”

Kim Dokja to Lee Jihye, ORV, Ch.40

"I wish to see the novel's epilogue.”

Kim Dokja, ORV, Ch.42

"I would find him next to me sometimes, then gone, and then back at my side again. Maybe it was because of this, but it felt like Koo-Jun Hyuk was always next to me and far away from me at the same time."

The Cult Leader in the Clergy Academy, ch.9

"Sun-Woo. No matter what happens in the future, don’t even think about revenge."

Do Sun-woo's father a week before his death, The Cult Leader in the Clergy Academy, ch.17

Stats

DPA - 18 (3 romance, 15 non-romance)

ORV - 11 (all non-romance)

4 each (1 romance, 3 NR) - Yuwu & 2ha

3 quotes (2 R, 1 NR) - Golden Terrace

3 quotes (1 R, 2 NR) - Liu Yao

2 R - Nan Chan

2 each (1 R, 1 NR) - SPL, TGCF

2 NR - Little Mushroom, Cult Leader

1 Romance - How to Survive as a Villain, DVAWTK, Every Day I Get Up to See the Villain Stealing the Show

1 NR each - It's Not Easy Being a Master, The Regressed Demon Lord is Kind, Even a Cicade, Grandmaster's Weird Disciple, The Count's Youngest Son is a Warlock, FGEP, NFM, Villain Hides His True Colors, Debut or Die

[ladykatakuri]

Stardust Reblog Challenge November

29th:

The Light Between Oceans Chapter 7 - Rex x F!Reader, Fives x F!OC, Fives x M!OC by: @rowansparrow Mature

Unexpected Visitor - Zach Wellison x F!Reader by: @absurdthirst Mature

Court You - TBB x Reader HC`s by: @zoeykallus SFW

Hunter x F!Reader by: @kaminocasey SFW

Kix x F!Reader by: @kaminocasey NSFW

Wrecker x F!Reader by: @kaminocasey NSFW

Hunter x F!Reader by: @kaminocasey SFW ( slightly suggestive lang.)

Tech x F!Reader x Crosshair by: @kaminocasey NSFW

Forbidden Love - Hunter/Echo/Fives/Rex X Jedi Reader HC`s by: @zoeykallus SFW

Brains are Beautiful - TBB x Redaer HC`s by: @zoeykallus SFW

Culture Shock - TBB x Reader by: @eyecandyeoz SFW

Love and Art - Artistic TBB x F!reader HC`s by: @zoeykallus SFW

Fives x AFAB!Reader by: @twistedstitcher27 NSFW

Cody x F!Reader by: @twistedstitcher27 NSFW

Heartbeats - Wrecker x Reader by: @arctrooper69 SFW

Do You Hear the People Sing - Fox x F!Reader by: @kaminocasey SFW

The Things We Fight For Ch.3 - Omega & F!Reader by: @arctrooper69 SFW

Behave! - Fives x F!Reader by: @rain-on-kamino NSFW

Boba x F!Reader by: @twistedstitcher27 NSFW

I Need to Tell You Something - Fives x F!Reader by: @nahoney22 NSFW

The Gift Dilemma - TBB x M!Reader by: @zoeykallus SFW

Then and Now - Frankie Morales x F!Millers Cousin Reader by: @musings-of-a-rose NSFW

Language of the Soul - The Son x F!Reader by: @eyecandyeoz SFW

30th:

Fives x F!Reader by: @twistedstitcher27 NSFW

Gar Cyare Ch.6 - Alpha17 x F!Reader by: @wanderinginksplot NSFW

Gar Cyare Ch.7 - Alpha17 x F!Reader by: @wanderinginksplot SFW

Grogu`s Teacher Ch.5 - Din Djarin x F!Reader by: @firstofficerwiggles SFW

Sun and Rain: Age of the Empire Ch.7 & 8 - Hunter x F!OC by: @photogirl894 SFW

Always On My Mind - Cody x F!Reader by: @zoeykallus NSFW

Hostage - TBB x Reader HC`s by : @zoeykallus SFW

Learn to Protect Yourself - TBB x F!Reader HC`s by: @zoeykallus SFW

A Little Touch Up - Echo x GN!Reader by: @nahoney22 SFW

Sassenach and the Spaniard Ch.9 - Pero Tovar x F!Reader by: @wardenparker & @absurdthirst NSFW

Taglist: @imabeautifulbutterfly@chaoticvampirejedi@hellothere-generalangsty@cyroku@reluctant-mandalore@uponrightful@zinzinina@saradika@galacticgraffiti@ashotofspotchka@dindjarindiaries@dinbeskarbaby@djarrex@djarinsbeskar@rowansparrow@photogirl894@rigelmoonshine@rigel-the-moonstrider@nahoney22@loth-wolffe@neon-junkie@bobafetts-princess@cyarbika@charnelhouse@zoeykallus@kin-rokku@jgvfhl@honestly-shite@here-comes-the-moose@dindjarindiaries@firstofficerwiggles@fictional-men-ruin-lives @ladysongmaster @lozalot @moonstrider9904@lorjukka@m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s @rain-on-kamino @monako-jinn-stories @middimidoris @wild-karrde @cross-my-heartt @arctrooper69

[eyenaku]

Ji ji fu ji ji

a o e i i er ai ei ao ou an en ang eng ong i ia iao ie iu ian in iang ing iong u ua uo uai ui uan un uang ueng ü üe üan ün a o e er ai ao ou an en ang eng yi ya yao ye you yan yin yang ying yong wu wa wo wai wei wan wen wang weng yu yue yuan yun b ba bo bai bei bao ban ben bang beng bi biao bie bian bin bing bu p pa po pai pei pao pou pan pen pang peng pi piao pie pian pin ping pu m ma mo me mai mei mao mou man men mang meng mi miao mie miu mian min ming mu f fa fo fei fou fan fen fang feng fu d da de dai dei dao dou dan den dang deng dong di diao die diu dian ding du duo dui duan dun t ta te tai tei tao tou tan tang teng tong ti tiao tie tian ting tu tuo tui tuan tun n na ne nai nei nao nou nan nen nang neng nong ni niao nie niu nian nin niang ning nu nuo nuan nü nüe l la le lai lei lao lou lan lang leng long li lia liao lie liu lian lin liang ling lu luo luan lun lü lüe g ga ge gai gei gao gou gan gen gang geng gong gu gua guo guai gui guan gun guang k ka ke kai kei kao kou kan ken kang keng kong ku kua kuo kuai kui kuan kun kuang h ha he hai hei hao hou han hen hang heng hong hu hua huo huai hui huan hun huang z za ze zi zai zei zao zou zan zen zang zeng zong zu zuo zui zuan zun c ca ce ci cai cao cou can cen cang ceng cong cu cuo cui cuan cun s sa se si sai sao sou san sen sang seng song su suo sui suan sun zh zha zhe zhi zhai zhei zhao zhou zhan zhen zhang zheng zhong zhu zhua zhuo zhuai zhui zhuan zhun zhuang ch cha che chi chai chao chou chan chen chang cheng chong chu chua chuo chuai chui chuan chun chuang sh sha she shi shai shei shao shou shan shen shang sheng shu shua shuo shuai shui shuan shun shuang r re ri rao rou ran ren rang reng rong ru rua ruo rui ruan run j ji jia jiao jie jiu jian jin jiang jing jiong ju jue juan jun q qi qia qiao qie qiu qian qin qiang qing qiong qu que quan qun x xi xia xiao xie xiu xian xin xiang xing xiong xu xue xuan xun

[mappsiemakesthings]

Team Garrus Scarf

I’ve had this idea in my head for a while now, but it took the Mass Effect Holiday Cheer to let it finally become a real thing xD 

If anybody is interested - you can find the Archangel Logo Chart I made over on Stitchfiddle --> https://www.stitchfiddle.com/en/c/si3syv-2rh5nh

Yarn: Lang Yarns Touring in colourways 004 (black), 006 (blue), 014 (sun yellow), 078 (turquoise)

Hook: 6 mm

Used stitches: ch, sc, hdc, blo hdc

[cultureisdarkbeer]

Road to All Things

Read New Chapter 5 Here

Excerpt from Ch. 3:

31 December 1999

In his peripheral vision Scully’s head was tilted back, elongating the silky column of her neck. One day he had hoped to sufficiently explore the skin there. Dick Clark, along with the rest of times square and most likely the entire time zone, let out a loud, Happy New Year! And just like that, it was the year 2000. Auld Lang Syne played on the TV speaker while streamers drifted and confetti fell like colorful snowflakes. The camera zoomed in on a couple kissing and Mulder darted his eyes to the left, Scully watched seemingly enraptured, with a small smile creeping at the corner of her mouth.

The moment had moved him and he wanted to share it with her. Would she stop him? He turned and slowly dipped his head, their eyes met and casually his lips joined hers. Lightly, gently, he explored the purse of her lips, a soft kiss to introduce the new year. A first kiss. It was nothing that he thought it would be. No fireworks, but no awkward noses brushing, their lips matching up perfectly. Sweetly. Maybe there were a few bottle rockets in his heart. Pulling away, he felt suddenly shy like he had exposed too much. She tilted her head and he couldn’t quite read her reaction, but as their kiss transformed into a smile it warmed his insides.

“The world didn’t end.”

“No, it didn’t.”

“Happy New Year, Scully.”

“Happy New Year, Mulder.”

He put his good arm around her as she leaned into him and they headed out the door into the night.

Mulder had never felt this selfish or this close to coming undone in all his life. That innocent kiss had ignited a flame that could have melted the sun. His meds had started to wear, the pain in his arm quite sharp. Scully had left his hospital room long enough for him to verify that the pain meds would not interfere with his brain meds. Fear trickled down his back when he thought that he had left his other prescriptions frivolously on the counter. Luckily, she headed for the bathroom when they arrived and he darted into the kitchen, ripping the label off and destroying it while hiding the bottle in the back of his highest shelf. She returned with his painkillers and her shirt buttoned down for him to see enough cleavage to need to nonchalantly adjust the bulge forming underneath his pants.  

“I can help you with your shirt,” Scully offered and he raised his brow for the sake of humor.

“Or you could sleep with it on,” she tossed back.

He squeezed his eyes shut as she lifted his shirt from his back. His arm ached as if it was cracking. “Does your head hurt?” she asked in response, her fingertips brushing his forehead near the hairline and he shook it slowly, wetting his lips, and swallowing hard. Everything tonight was taking on new meaning. He could feel every contact her body made with his. She shifted again to complete her inspection, her voice low and soft, “they did a good job. It should heal nicely.”

Scully opened the tube of salve to apply it to her own scrapes. “I’m not a doctor, but I think I could handle that if you let me,” Mulder offered.

The space between them seemed infinitely smaller than usual. Scully sat down on the couch next to him and he couldn’t even breathe properly. Carefully he applied the cloudy soft gel to her tender satin skin. For too many minutes he considered touching the soft strands of her rose colored hair. Watching as her shoulders rose and fell; he closed his eyes and took in her vanilla scent. It allowed his mind to drift to that moment she hugged him so tight, elated that he agreed to be her baby’s bio dad. With his eyes remaining closed he also felt slightly dizzy and a heaviness in the forehead region. Shit. His meds were taking over.

When his eyes opened he could see his happiness mirrored on her face. It made his whole body lighter, or maybe that was the meds, but it gathered enough in him to say, “Next year at this time, there could be a little you and me running around.”

Her blue diamonds glistened in light of his statement. “Could be.” Her voice cracked on the words, and Mulder felt something tighten at the base of his throat. That was when he noticed her fingers trembling, like she was terror-stricken. He reached out and wrapped her hand around his. Scully froze, her expression carefully blank.

His stomach did a slow roll as he looked down at her. “What’s the matter?”

She frowned. “Nothing.”

“Yes it is. You’re shaking.”

She held his gaze and squeezed his hand. Her lashes wet with fear, her lips close enough to almost brush against. “It’s such a long shot, Mulder.”

“But I believe in you, Scully. There’s always room for a miracle and that’s why we can’t give up.” There was a duality in his words, but she would only understand the singular meaning. Her eyes turned molten, and her gaze dropped to lick him up and down. He could see it in her eyes what was coming, he didn’t know if it was the pain meds, his brain meds, or the injuries, but he didn’t have the strength to stop her. The hot lightning he felt the first time their lips touched returned as she pressed hers to his again.

Pure white heat sharply burned in all the right places. His jaw matched hers as it flexed and pushed harder against her mouth, his tongue needily slipping inside as his hand cupped her face, bringing his legs underneath him to face her. Their kisses deepened, slick and hungry, Scully’s gravity pulling him up on his knees to get closer, to have more of her. They rose, never breaking their kiss, any pain in his arm quickly slipped away with the mix of dopamine, adrenaline, and lust. There was no question that his heart was beating quicker than logic considering they hadn’t left the couch. Then his body twitched and his eyes snapped open.

Scully pulled back. “Mulder, are you all right? Why are you breathing so… hard?” Her words fell away as her eyes dropped to his waist. He lowered his own sightline to see the head of his cock peeking out the top of his waistband.

When Mulder’s gaze landed on Scully, his features twisted into a grimace. “Scully.. I.. I’m sorry… I didn’t mean… that’s not what I want..”  

Instinctively she ran her fingers through the hair at his temple, tracing her way to the back of his head. She twisted her wrist a bit and started to kneed his neck. Mulder released a low groan, his body tensing against her own. His panting breaths tickled the exposed part of her chest. It wasn’t soothing like her intention, instead it made her needy, warmth spreading deep in her belly. Their feelings had deepened and nuanced since her bout with cancer, and everything that occurred these past few months, and now, sitting here with him, felt like the eye of a tornado.

Images flashed behind her eyes of his barely contained velvet monster, but instead of it tucked in his pants, it was deep inside her, blazing a trail of sparks and light. Her, being so full from him, everywhere, friction reaching her core, growing wetter around him as he stretched her to madness.  Scully rubbed at the tense spots on his neck, increasing her force with each thought, their breaths coming fast and dire. Years of suppressed fantasies rushing in, aching her center. Mulder’s body stiffened once more against her. She could hear his breath catch. “Scully..”

Her fingers played through his hair, then stroked gently down to the nape of his neck. He moaned like he couldn’t hold it in any longer. Mulder’s hand reached up to fold around hers drawing both their hands to his chest. She could feel his heart pounding.

He leaned in and repeated, “Scully…” For a moment, he suspended his breath against her ear, the scruff of his face against her cheek. Then it was her turn to shudder, her legs shifting against his, as he rasped out, “Please, stop.”

“Mulder, what is it?” She could feel her throat tight and her lids heavy.

His forehead touched her own and he moaned, “It’s too good.”

Scully’s sightline lowered and Mulder drew his rigid slender frame away from her, exposing the outline of the long thick rod straining against his pants. The shaft, so big it was bent towards the left in its confinement. Mulder reached down melding his hand around it, trying to shield it from her sight. Her gaze swept up towards his face, but out of the corner of her eye she saw the dark bared tip trapped between his waistband and his chiseled belly. Dear God, it was big. Desire coursed through her, clenching the center region of her hips. She blinked up at him.

Mulder’s unslung hand was now spread over his abs, only partly able to hide his sex from her eyes. It was so long and thick, even his huge hand couldn’t shield all of it.

He shook his head, his face a ripe tomato red. His jaw tightened as he shook  again and closed his eyes. “Scully, you should go,” he said, his voice breathless.

Scully’s heart was hammering as if it might give out. It was surreal, being in this moment, with Mulder, on his couch. Her hand came up to touch his rough cheek. “I don’t want you to be embarrassed. And going home is not what I want to do right now.” Scully could hardly breathe as she spoke those words, her cheeks burning white hot, almost in tears, the words exposing so much of her desires it sent shockwaves through her.

Time froze around them as his breath grew faster, heavier. Mulder’s jaw tightened and his features tensed. He leaned in close enough for his chest to brush hers. “Then, I want you to touch me, Scully.”

His hand fell away, but Scully was too fear stricken to not leave his eyes. With their lips barely a breath apart, her hands blindly fumbled with the top button of his pants and carefully drew down his zipper. Mulder moaned and closed his eyes, his mouth parting and eyelids falling heavy, fluttering against her cheek; his sling leaning into her abdomen as Scully reached inside and ran her fingertips around his cock. It felt painfully engorged as her hand danced along the thick curves, up and down from tip to base, long solid strokes, not leaving his eyes, her pulse now between her legs, pounding harder than it ever had before. Scully whimpered, feeling his pleasure in her own core, the noise slipping accidentally from her lips. Her fingers twisted over the tip, tugging upwards and Mulder pulled his pants and boxers farther down, until they gathered against the couch cushion at his knees.

Scully couldn’t look away. Her own knees trembled. She slowed her pace, squeezing the crown. Mulder gasped and moaned, his eyes focused on hers. She paused and he exhaled, she could feel him swelling at her grip. “Scully, we should stop. Knowing you would want to is enough.”

Her eyes fell, Scully needed to give herself a minute to take heed to his words, but was met with his cock, pointing proudly up at her. It was so.. thick and... long. So perfect. Heat zinged through her at a fever pitch. So high she broke out in a sweat. “But it’s not enough for me .”

The look on his face almost made her die from desire. “No?”

“No,” she answered him in a thick low whisper, kissing him gently.

Scully’s hand glided down towards the base and then back up as they kissed, spreading her fingers, rubbing over him with the shaft between her thumb and forefinger until she reached the tip again, tracing the rim. His hips jerked forward and he moaned.

They deepened their kiss in desperation, his good hand stroking gently up and down her arm as she continued pumping his stiff marble length. This time when she reached the base she held it with one hand and used the other to lightly caress and tug the swollen sac below. It drew up with her light touch, turning the area between her own legs into a yawning ache. The reaction made two of her fingers reach beneath to tickle the area behind it.

“Oh shiiit,” Mulder cried out in a raspy breath, squeezing her arm hard enough to leave a bruise. He pulled her into him in a hug, his body an oven against her.

“Is this really happening?” he breathed into her neck.

“Yes,” Scully confirmed in a whimper.

“I’m not hallucinating from the medication?”

“You’re not,” she confirmed, giving him small kisses along his cheek and then she whispered in his ear, “Tell me how you like it.”

The request pulsed through him and he throbbed harder against her palm. This was Scully and the reality of that was turning him on more than anything. He swallowed down the scream of joy caught in his throat and choked out, “harder..”; she firmed up her grip. The pleasure tightened his groin, ran up his spine, and lit up the tip of his skull like a solar flare. It had never felt this good and it was only her hand. “Jesus, Scully.” Need inside him grew and he grunted, “ Faster,” The sensations swelled and built.  “Scully, that feels so good.” He was gulping breaths when he begged her “faster,” still, gripping at her hair with his good hand, the heat of her body on his, the sound of her whimpers reaching his ears, the smell of her hair, skin, arousal. He continued his chants of “Scully,” “Oh God , Scuuhlly ,” and held on for dear life,  caught on this roller coaster, hugging her tighter.

She stroked so quick and so hard she was afraid she was hurting him, his cock feeling like steel coated in satin. The passionate pull of his hand in her hair, the quick pain, made her want to spear herself on him. The throbbing inside her was steady now, an almost unbearable pleasure.  Her hands began to shake, the sensations inside her building, her movements matching the tenacity.

Mulder groaned. “If- Scully, if..” Her hand stilled, but his hips rocked into her, urging her to move again. His hand pressed her lower back, drawing her ever closer, “If you don’t stop Scully, if you don’t stop soon.. I’m-going -to-come.”

The warning left her undeterred, instead she felt eager, frenzied, with an overwhelming urge to watch him come undone. She pulled away enough to look into his eyes as she ran her hand up and down his enlarged cock, teasing, languid, gripping the tip, rubbing her thumb over the tiny slit, with her other hand cupping his balls.

“Scully, please, I’m gonna come,” he warned again.

She loved this. She loved having this much control over his pleasure, giving him this much feeling. His life had been so much heartache she needed to add to the happiness. Mulder’s fingers were trembling over her neck, his thumb at her jaw line, dragging air into his lungs, and groaning outward. Scully rubbed her palm around, over the wetness now covering his tip, picking up speed. He clutched her neck. “Scully, I’m really close.”

Again she quickened her stroke, somehow impossibly she felt him swell further. Mulder started to writhe and claw at her back. She closed one hand around his sac and pumped the other up his length. When her closed fist brushed the notch at the rim of his glistening crown, he jerked. “Scully, I’m coming, oh God I’m coming, fuck, Scully, it’s so much.”

Scully’s head spun as she felt his sac harden against her palm and watched his thick cream spurting between her fingers, dripping down his taut swollen cock.

Mulder panted, his face slackened, he tilted his head back and unable to resist, she pressed her tongue to the throbbing tendon and sucked at the pulse thrumming inside his throat.

In his eyes she saw his desires melt away, but between her own legs, a heaviness built. Mulder reached for the hand towel on the coffee table, running it over his soaked length. The sight of him touching himself, feeling the aftershocks of the orgasm she gave him, made Scully throb. Tightly her thighs pressed together.

“You okay?”  he asked as he finished. His eyes were dilated and he looked like the meds were getting the best of him, like he might drift off at any moment.

She laughed out of pure self consciousness, “Yeah. You okay?”

“Yeah, I mean, I’m really really okay,” he said shyly.

She paused for a moment. “Would you mind if I used the bathroom?”

Mulder gave her a peculiar look. “Yeah, let me just run in real quick.”

What was less than a minute felt like eternity. He came out refreshed, wearing simple pajama bottoms. Scully raced in, the throbbing failing to cease, her body begging relief. Quickly she closed and locked the bathroom door, gripping the white porcelain of the sink while her quaking fingers slipped down beneath her underwear, over her scarce coarse auburn curls.

The urge bubbled beyond control. She glided her fingers over her sex, slick and swollen like she had never been before. When her finger nudged between the slit between her lips she had to bite her cheek to keep from moaning and Mulder from hearing.  

The entire time she pictured Mulder, sliding in and out of her with his huge cock and his tormented eyes. Scully worked her fingers in circles, harder and faster, her pants so loud they echoed against the tile. She was surprised at how wet she was as she pushed her fingertip inside. She cried out and fear shot threw her that Mulder might hear, but she couldn’t stop.

The throbbing increased and her whole body ached with the need to feel him. In her fantasy he was lying flat on his back, his large and long erection jutting up. She would grab it as she straddled him and push the thick tip into her swollen flesh, filling her completely to the point of sinful madness. His taut jaw, parted lips, soulful eyes. The smile that filled her heart, his rough cheek brushing hers, whispering his desires into her ear.

Scully’s fingers blanched as she squeezed tighter against the cold sink, trying her best to silence her moans as she came, then quickly dipping her hand into the stream of water beneath the faucet to wash away the evidence.

When she returned to the living room, Mulder had been overcome by sleep, breathing heavily, but peacefully. She helped him lay down on his pillow, and he followed her goading without waking. She covered him with the throw and left him a glass of water, kissing his forehead before deciding to return to her apartment.

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[tulaladd]

世界最遅tulaladd2020best DL list

年間ベストを始めて以来、初の事態。

なんと9か月遅れのポスト。あと3か月で次の年ベスの発表時期じゃないですか…唯一にして最大の理由が、もちろんあるにはある。

暗夜行路のような唄声が車内から眺める某庁舎前の雪景色と甘酸っぱい感情を喚起させるRY Xや、このリストには登場しない自分用に作ったプレイリスト（日本語ラップ編、シティーポップ編）をひとりで何度も諳んじては胸を焦がした。それらの音楽が本来持つ資質にプラスして思い出補正でランクインした作品がいくつかある（最たるものがサントラ部門かな）。そんな変化があった2020年でした。

それを除けば、音楽ライフは基本的に前年を踏襲。つまり引き続きapple music依存型で、DIG活動もほほ休止（荷物の山に埋もれたタンテをセッティングし直せるまともな精神状態じゃなかった…）。落第生の体たらくをここ何年も続けてるわけです。とはいえ昨年と比べれば、リスト入り作品の数が格段に増えた＝それなりに楽しい音楽生活が営めていたのも事実。その充実を支えたものがアルゴリズムって点がものすごく納得はいかないけれど。（毎年書いてるけど、手当たり次第サブスクを横断する中で「もう一度聴きたい」と思えたものが以下のDLリスト。感覚的には昨年より緩い5枚に1枚。それでも昨年比3倍の約250枚！）

いつまで延命できるか分からないローカルラジオを継続できたのもラッキーだった。相変わらずみんなとあーだこーだ言いながらいろんな曲を聴く時間が音楽ライフを豊かにしてくれました。感謝。過去最高に音楽への熱が薄いテキストになっちゃうけど、9か月遅れだと致し方なしか。

三ツ星評価のうち、エル・ミシェルズ・アフェアのシングルはラジオの一戸くんレコメン、今年も熱量が持続しているサウスロンドン・ジャズ・シーンのマンスール・ブラウンEPはおなじみWOZNIAK星くんのオススメ、ほかにも人から教わってお気に入りになった作品が少なくないのは、サブスクじゃ届かないリアルの強みが感じられて、そこだけは希望があるのかな。

特筆するとすれば、Bartosz KruczynskiのEARTH TRAX以来追い続けてきたリズムセクション・インターナショナルが、旬のサウスロンドン・シーンと地下ハウス/テクノ・シーンのメルティング・ポットだったことが分かって興味が再燃させられた個人的な事件。そのセンセーションのグラウンド・ゼロにあたるTHE COLOURS THAT RISEの発見が今年No.1の成果かな。

唯一職場で音楽談義ができるために相互レコメンに特化したLINEを展開中のT氏に教えられたエディ・チャコンのアルバム、そのエディの復活劇を手掛け、若林恵さん経由でずっぽりハマったソランジュ『A Seat At The Table』の禅的ミニマリズのデザイナーでもあることが事後に発覚したジョン・キャロル・カービーの2人は、今年ならではの幸福な時間の中で何度も繰り返し聴いた一生の思い出確定盤。ジョンなんか3カテゴリーに分かれてのランクインだもんな。　

さて2021年。あと3か月しかない。今年はやる？やらない？いろいろ越えるべきものが多くすぎてそれ以前の問題かもしれないなけど。

【TECHNO / HOUSE / (NU)DISCO / ELECTRONICS】 ★★★THE COLOURS THAT RISE / Grey Doubt ★★THE COLOURS THAT RISE / 2020 EP（2017） ★★THEO PARRISH / Wuddaji ★★Machinedrum / A View of U ★Kuniyuki Takahashi / Flying Music EP ★Oneohtrix Point Never / Magic Oneohtrix Point Never ★VLADISLAV DELAY / Rakka ★LUKE SLATER / berghain fünfzehn ★Jayda G / Both of Us / Are U Down EP ★TSHA / Flowers EP ★DISCLOSURE / Energy ★DARKSTAR / Civic Jams ★Chari Chari / We Hear the Last Decades Dreaming ★HUNEE / Boiler Room : an hour with HUNEE（DJ Mix） ★Autechre / SIGN Arca / @@@@@ BURIAL / Chemz FOUR TET / Sixteen Oceans JAMES BLAKE / Before EP GLOBAL COMMUNICATION / Transmissions Sampler JOHN FRUSCIANTE / Maya TRICKFINGER / She Smiles Because She Presses the Button EP TRICKFINGER / Look Down, See Us EP 60 Miles / Swamp 2 Sea EP EARTH TRAX / LP1 EARTH TRAX / LP2 BIG YAWN / No! HIATT dB / Palimpsest EP GL / You Read My Mind DJ SOFA / Elsewhere Junior I - a Collection of Cosmic Children’s Song Mr President / One Night feat.Celia Kameni & Cindy Pooch J.A.K.A.M. / ASTRAL DUB WORX Inner Science / Made パソコン音楽クラブ / Ambience EP LOCUSSOLUS / Locussolus（Expanded） Various Artists / South DAN KYE / Small Moments OFF THE MEDS / Off The Meds BASSO / Proper Sunburn - Forgotten Sunscreen Applied By Basso（2019） Copenema / Dexia a Musica Tocar（2019） Seahawks / Eyes of the Moon（2019） Jayda G / Significant Changes（2019） MMM / Que Barbaro（2013）

【HIPHOP / R&B / BEATS / FUNK】 ★★★EDDIE CHACON / Outside（Laraaji Remix） ★★EDDIE CHACON / Pleasure, Joy and Happiness ★★Lil Narnia / Pain Extract ★★VHOOR / Baile & Sauce ★AG CLUB / Halfway Off the Porch ★MAC MILLER / Circles ★THUNDRCAT / It Is What It Is ★WILMA ARCHER / A Western Circular ★OXP, ONRA & POMRAD / Swing Convention ★DJ KRUSH / TRICKSTER ★BENEDEK / Bene’s World（2017） JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / High feat.Eddie Chacon & Nailah Hunter THE WEEKND / After Hours DRAKE / Dark Lane Demo Tapes POP SMOKE / Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon IVAN AVE / DOUBLE GOODBYES MOSES SUMNEY / græ PETER COTTON TALE / CATCH NNAMDI / BRAT Yves Tumor / Heaven Ta a Toutured Mind Teebs / Ardour（10th Anniversary Edition） Wajatta / Don’t Let Get You Down Lapalux / Esrevoinma EP Kutmah / New Appliance THE HELIOCENTRICS / Telemetric Sounds VULFPECK / The Joy of Music, The Job of   Real Estate JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Lazzara（2019） Various Artists / Kutmah presents : Sketchbook Radio Archives, Vol.1（2018） Invisibl Skratch Piklz / The 13th Foor（2016） D-STYLES / Phantazagorea（2002）

【JAZZ（the New Chapter） / WORLD】 ★★★MANSUR BROWN / Tesuto ★★★JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / My Garden ★★KAMASI WASHINGTON / Harmony of Difference EP（2017） ★JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Love Theme ★MANSUR BROWN / Shiroi ★JEFF PARKER / Suite for Max Brown ★CHICAGO UNDERGROUND QUARTET / Good Days ★TOM MISCH & YUSSEF DAYES / What Kinda Music ★KAMAAL WILLIAMS / Wu Hen ★ROB MAZUREK & EXPLODING STAR ORCHESTRA / Dimentional Stardust: ★ORLANDO LE FLEMING / Romantic Funk : The Unfamiliar ★SAM WILKES / WILKES（2019） ★YUSSEF KAMAAL / Black Focus（2016） ★ZSOFIA BOROS / Local Objects（2016） JYOTI & GEORGIA ANNE MULDROW / Mama, You Can Bet! BUTCHER BROWN / #KingButch BRAXTON COOK / Fire Sign PAT METHENY / From This Place Fabiano do Nascimento / Preludio SAM GENDEL / Satin Doll SAM GENDEL / Pass If Music（2018） SAM WILKES / Live on the Green（2019） BRANDON COLEMAN / Resistance（2018） KIEFER / Superbloom（2019） 鈴木良雄 / モーニング・ピクチャー（1984） 鈴木良雄 / ウイングス（1987） JOHN EBERSON, BJ0RNAR ANDRESEN, PAAL NILSSEN-LOVE / Mind the Gap（2001）

【（INDIE）ROCK / （INDIE） POP / SSW】 ★★★EL MICHELS AFFAIR / Reasons feat.Bobby Oroza ★★EL MICHELS AFFAIR / Adult Themes ★★THE FLAMING LIPS / American Head ★★SUFJAN STEVENS / The Ascension ★★FLEET FOXES / Shore ★★COLDPLAY / Everyday Life（2019） ★★RY X / Unfurl（2019） ★★THE WAR ON DRUGS / Lost in the Dream（2014） ★PHOEBE BRIDGERS / Copycat Killer feat. ROB MOOSE - EP ★Mk.gee / A Museum of Contradiction ★PEEL DREAM MAGAZINE / Agitprop Alterna ★BLAKE MILLS / Mutable Set ★THE STROKES / The New Abnormal ★CHS / Jungle Sauna（2019） ★KINDNESS / Something Like A War（2019） ★〝Blue〟Gene Tyranny & Peter Gordon / Trust In Rock（2019） ★STATE RIVER WIDENING / Early Music（2003） BIBIO / Sleep On The Wing Jonsi / Shiver JEFF TWEEDY / Love Is The King REAL ESTATE / The Main Thing ANIMAL COLLECTIVE / Bridge to Quite LITTLE DRAGON / New Me . Same us JAGA JAZZIST / Pyramid TAME IMPAlA  / The Slow Rush TRAVIS / 10 Songs SORRY / 925 JOSEPH OF MERCURY / WAVE Ⅱ Khruangbin / Mordechai Various Artists / Hiding From the Landlord HOWLING / Colure DEVENDRA BANHART / Ma（2019） LANA DEL REY / Norman Fucking Rockwell（2019） DAVE GROHL / Play（2018） CRITERIA / En Garde（2003）

【PUNK / HEAVEY / EXTREAM】 ★★envy / The Fallen Crimson ★★lang / There is no reply, but sweet wind blew（2018） ★envy / LAST WISH（Live at Liquidroom Tokyo） ★SLIFT / UMMON ★HORSE LORDS / The Common Task ★coriky / coriky ★Sans Visage, Look at moment / Split Single ★Sans Visage / moments（2017） ★LIGHTNING BOIL / Sonic Citadel（2019） ★Harvey Milk / Courtesy and Good Will Toward Men（2006） DEFTONES / Ohms Converge / Endless Arrow JESU / Terminus JESU / Never JESU / Ascension（Delux） KRUELTY / A Dying Truth XIBALBA / Anos En Infierno Various Artists / Speedy Wunderground Year 4（2019） RUSSIAN CIRCLE / Russian Circle Audiotree Far Out（2019） EARTH / Live at Third Man Records（2017） THE ARMED / Only Love（2018） THE ARMED / Untitled（2015）

【AMBIENT / NEW AGE / DRONE / MINIMAL MUSIC / EXPERIMENTAL】 ★★JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Conflict ★★Dukes of Chutney / Hazel  ★HEATHERED PEARLS / Cast ★SAM PREKOP / Comma BING & RUTH / Species FRANKIE REYES / Originalitos IAN WILLIAM CRAIG / Red Sun Through Smoke WINDY & CARL / Allegiance and Conviction JONNY NASH & SUZANNE KRAFT / A Heart So White JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Tuscany（2019） JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Meditation In Music（2018） JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Travel（2017） ALEXANDER RISHAUG / Shadow of Events（2011） 【CLASSIC / OST】 ★LUDWIG GORANSSON / Tenet OST ★JOHN WILLIAMS / Double Trouble ※from OST of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban（2004） DUSTIN O'HALLORAN / Ammonite OST KAMASI WASHINGTON / Becoming（Music from the Netflix Original Documentary） DUSTIN O'HALLORAN / Lumiere（2011） BETH GIBBONS, The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra & Krzysztof Penderecki / Henryk Gorecki: Symphony No.3（2019） ANTONI WIT, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra(Katowice) & Polish Choir of Krakow / Henryk Gorecki: Symphony No.2（2001） ZSOFIA BOROS / Local Objects（2016） 【DOMESTIC（without HIPHOP）】 ★★★METAFIVE / 環境と心理 ★★GEZAN / 狂（KLUE） ★★downy / 第七作品集「無題」 ★★岡村靖幸 / 操 ★★崎山蒼志 / ソフト　※FEVER LIVE ver. on YouTube ★★SILENT POETS / dawn（2018） ★WOZNIAK / Vegetable Home Run ★Ai Aso / The Faintest Hint ★jan and naomi / YES ★mei ehara / Ampersands ★ディーン・フジオカ / Neo Dimension ★LUNA SEA / Make a vow ★坂本慎太郎 / 好きっていう気持ち / おぼろげナイトクラブ ★Cuushe / Waken ★sassya- / 脊髄（2019） ★小袋成彬 / Piercing（2019） ★She Her Her Hers / stereochrome（2014） WOZNIAK / Lost WOZNIAK / Double Face mouse on the keys / Arche 5kai / Untitled #2 KAN SANO / Susanna Ovall / Ovall（2019） mabanua / Blurred（2018） D.A.N. / Aechma ふさえ / そのまま 相馬智行 & 鳴海徹朗 / 春の闇 jan and naomi / Neutrino 王舟 / Pulchra Ondo 春ねむり / LOVETHEISM 井出健介と母船 / Contact From Exne Kedy And The Poltergeists（エクスネ・ケディと騒がしい幽霊からのコンタクト） 吉田一郎不可触世界 / えぴせし 岡田拓郎 / Morning Sun blgtz / Feature EP Coff / Tiny Music（2019） 【DOMESTIC（HIPHOP）】 ★★DJ CHARI & DJ TATSUKI / GOLDEN ROUTE ★★Weny Dacillo / Hapitable Hotel ★Hideyoshi / Dead End Adventure ★GG UJIHARA / WEAKNESS EP（2018） ★DJ CHARI & DJ TATSUKI / Time feat.Yo-Sea & KEIJU（2019） ★GG UJIHARA / WEAKNESS EP（2018） KOHH / worst KEIJU / T.A.T.O. Sauce81 / S8100 MARTER / Weltraumasthetik 2020 Normcore Boyz / MEDIAGE なみちえ / 毎日来日 徳利 / REVOLUTION starscream & Page Hiiragi / Ghost(s) DJ CHARI / GAME（2019） YOUNG HASTLE & GG UJIHARA / YOUNG UJIHARA EP（2019） Weny Dacillo / AMPM EP（2017）

[nyerus]

Wait!! So ALL the VAs were changed for the donghua? Why is that? I heard that they were changing Sun Lulu because of Fan's dissatisfaction, but I didn't think they'd changed everyone? 😭

Hiya Anon!

So actually... it's a lot more complicated than fans disparaging Sun Lulu's voice acting. To put it succinctly: in truth it had less to do with fans thinking his voice sounded "not good enough" for HC, and everything to do with internal politics that we are not truly privy to.

I also don't know the full story, and can only repeat what I have heard from W*ibo and other C-fans who have come forward to provide clarity. Please excuse me since it has indeed been a while, and I'm pulling from memory. Definitely seek out other sources as well, but I do want to provide some perspective, too.

So the first thing that people -- especially those of us in the West -- have to understand is that the donghua scene (and media in general) is MUCH MUCH more commercialized in China. There is a LOT riding on the TGCF Donghua, because it will shape a lot of things in the future, and it's classified as a very important (S-rank, lol) property.

Second, donghua production companies will contract a voice acting company, who will lend their actors to specified roles. The original VA company contracted for the donghua was 729. For the voice of Hua Cheng, they assigned Sun Lulu to the role -- who is a popular and up-and-coming VA. (Interestingly, in China, it's normal for VAs and VA studios to have fans akin to idols, because many of them are famous actors, idols, etc to begin with. They're more visibly "famous" than VAs are in other countries.)

Some fans voiced their concerns over this, as they felt Sun Lulu was not really a "veteran" and it seemed firstly odd that 729 would push a relative newbie into SUCH an important role, of such a high-profile donghua. Among other things, there was basically a growing sense of discontent over this, and which was egged on by some other high-profile "superfans" who disliked 729 as a company to begin with. That began to control the narrative on the fan side. Keep in mind that when the first PV came out, there was generally very POSITIVE sentiment for HC's voice. People raved about how perfect and emotional it sounded. And in fact, if you looked under the comments for the birthday PV (which "started" the whole mess), most comments from regular fans were either positive, OR they said something akin to "its nice but consider a bit of a different direction for young San Lang?" Not calling for Sun Lulu's dismissal or anything so drastic. How do fans make a total 180 from a 5-second voice clip? They generally don't, but that's a useful narrative to use, isn't it. The tide suddenly began to turn that they didn't like how they sounded, and all the comments were similar in that sense.

Additionally, there were also rumored to be internal disagreements between the donghua production team and the VA company themselves. We don't know much about this, but it caused a lot of confusion, and splashed onto fans -- who now seemed ungrateful and entitled. But the most likely truth is, it was politics. Certainly, the donghua production team listened too much to those other people's voices -- including powerful superfans -- but there was rumors of contract woes before this all began.

Now an important disclaimer: I by no means have a totally perfect grasp on the situation. But it definitely is more than "C-fans thought Sun Lulu didn't sound manly enough" because that's an insidious and untrue thing to spread. (Definitely there were some fans who may have felt that way, since there will always be people who want to nitpick.) Also many many many C-fans were very upset with the initial announcement of change, so it was clearly not anywhere near a universal sentiment.

So eventually, 729 was dropped as the VA company, and a new company (光合积木)  was contracted altogether. This means that everyone's voices are changed, because the VAs for other characters were from 729 too. So now the new cast is from the new company. General sentiment now is quite positive, though. The new company is known for good work, and their VAs are highly experienced and have done other danmei works before. Not only on donghua, but on danmei audio dramas and even fan songs.*

*(In fact, if you want to hear XL’s new VA saying those heartbreaking lines from ch 241, you can indeed hear that right now, instead of waiting for like years until the donghua gets there. Jiang Guangtao already voiced those lines in a fansong! ;D  Link to that, spoiler warning --> bilibili.com/video/BV12z411q7XV)

Anyhoo, I hope everything goes smoothly for everyone, here on out! And I hope this helped explain some stuff Anon, though I know it was a bit messy! Ty~

[what-is-your-plan-today]

Stark Spangled Banner Ch 54: The Time Heist

Intro: It’s time...for the Time Heist. The team split and head to their various places and points in time to retreive the stones, Katie, Steve heading with Tony, Banner and Lang to New York 2012. But of course, it doesn’t all go to plan and one member of the Avengers pays the ultimate sacrifice...

Warnings: “Language!” 

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist

**Ok so we all know what’s coming in this one...little bit longer than normal but there’s a lot to cram in. Hope you all enjoy**

"I've missed this suit," Tony smiled, patting Steve on the shoulder. “It’s the very reason I call you Spangles.” “Which is exactly why I have never worn it post New York” The Soldier rolled his eyes, turning to look at Thor who walked into the large room outside the armoury with Rocket.

"You're wearing that to Asgard?" Tony looked him up and down, taking in the grey hoody and red sweater.

“Yes, what’s wrong with it?” Thor asked.

“You look like Santa Clause with a crystal meth addiction.” Tony replied and Thor frowned, as Rocket began to laugh. 

As the three of them began to bicker about Thor’s appearance, Steve looked up  to see Katie emerging from the locker room, dressed in the first cat-suit he could remember seeing her in. His pants instantly felt a little tighter round the crotch. That suit clung in all the right places, especially now her figure was slightly different to what it had been eleven years ago. Mind you, she still looked extremely passable as a 2012 version of herself and Steve found himself wondering how on Earth he had managed to actually fight any aliens back then when she looked as hot as she did. 

She caught his gaze, flashed him a smile which he returned and she took one of the GPS bands off Tony as he handed them out to the assembled team. One by one, as the bands were activated, the red and white Quantum Tunnel suits formed around each of the avengers. Steve picked up his shield, and nodded around to his team.

“Let’s go.” Together they strode through the hangar, Steve leading them towards the large, glass platform with the early morning sun cascading through the large glass hangar doors from where it was just starting to peak over the trees. As they walked Katie looked over her shoulder at Natasha, winking and the red head grinned back at her, biting her lip excitedly. Katie knew she’d been waiting for this for five years, an opportunity to undo everything. They all had.

As everyone took their place around the glass platform, Banner behind the control panel, Steve looked around and cleared his throat.

“Five years ago, we lost. All of us. We lost friends... we lost family... we lost a part of ourselves.” he looked around at his team “Today, we have a chance to take it all back. You know your teams, you know your missions. Get the stones, get them back. One round trip each. No mistakes. No do-overs.” He took a breath and Katie smiled to herself as he continued “Most of us are going somewhere we know. But it doesn't mean we should know what to expect. Be careful. Look out for each other.” Another breath “This is the fight of our lives. And we're gonna win.”

At that point Tony gave Steve a look, his eyebrow raising slightly, a soft smile playing on his face. Steve met his face, with a determined expression of his own. “Whatever it takes.”

He nodded at Tony before he looked around at the team. “Good luck.”

“He’s pretty good at that.” Rocket said, his arms folded.

“Right?” Scott jerked his thumb towards Steve and Katie smiled.

“All right. You heard the man. Stroke those keys, jolly green.” Tony called to Banner.  

“Tractors engaged” Banner nodded before joining them on the platform.

Katie took up her position between Natasha and Steve, making sure her GPS was set to the right time and date.  

“You ok?” Steve asked softly

“As Ok as I can be given I’m about to time travel back to an alien invasion.” She muttered back and Steve chuckled.

“When we get back you and me are cracking open that bottle of Kauffman vintage that I know you hid from Thor in your room.” Katie turned to her left to look at Natasha.

Natasha gave a grin, “Deal. Hey Rogers!” Steve turned to look at her.

“See you in a minute!” Nat wriggled her shoulders and eyebrows excitement and he huffed out a laugh at her enthusiasm. This was the most animated he had seen her about anything in the past 5 years.

The machine began to whir slightly, glowing, and the mechanism above their heads shifted. Their helmets all formed round their heads. A second later they were hurtling back through time.

Katie felt a little bit dizzy as her feet landed on the ground in the middle of a side street in New York, a block or so away from the tower. The sounds of cries, screams, gunfire filled her ears as the red and white suit vanished from around her.

“All right, we all have our assignments.” Steve looked at everyone “Two Stones uptown, one Stone, down. Stay low. Keep an eye on the clock.”

At that point he whirled round as 2012 Hulk passed, smashing everything in his way. Bruce put his hand on his face, embarrassed, as Steve turned to look at him.

“Maybe smash a few things along the way” the Captain suggested.

"I think it's gratuitous, but whatever." Bruce muttered, tearing his shirt off. He walked over to a car and lightly punched it, making a small dent, all the while making growling noise which Katie doubted would even scare a kitten. Then he picked up a motorbike and threw it at a wall, wincing as it smashed before he continued his journey down town.

The rest of them parted to their own assignments, Tony and Lang taking off, Katie and Steve making their way to the entrance of Stark Tower.

“First rule of not being seen?” Katie stopped at the door and looked at him, he raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t hide by any chance?”

Katie snorted “You got it.” “Yeah well I kinda figured it might be the same as the whole going on the run mantra.”

“Got to hustle, guys. Things look like they're just about wrapped up here.” Tony’s voice said in their ears.  

“Got it. We’re approaching the elevator now.” Steve repled, following Katie as she strode confidently across the Tower Lobby.

She was right, no one paid them the least bit of attention as they stepped into the lift, everyone was too busy running around in a blind panic. Katie smirked to herself as the door shut. Pressing her palm to the pad at the side, she selected the button for the sixty-fifth floor which housed Tony’s office- where they were going to hide until it was their time to make a move.

“Uh, Mr. Rogers. I almost forgot that that suit did nothing for your ass.”

Katie sorted and Steve rolled his eyes.  

“No one asked you to look, Tony.” He said exasperatedly.

���It’s ridiculous” Tony continued.

“I think you look great, Cap. As far as I'm concerned, that's America's ass.” Scott replied, and that was when Katie gave in and began to laugh as the elevator stopped and they stepped out.

“I like your ass.” she grinned up at him and it was his turn to laugh.

“It’s all yours baby.” 

***** Up on the Party Floor, Tony was smirking to himself at having managed to successfully wind Steve up again on a job. Well, would it really be an Avengers Mission if he didn’t?

He and Lang ducked out of the way as the elevators opened and the SHIELD-slash-Hydra team lead by Rumlow and Sitwell entered the floor.

“Who are these guys?” Lang asked.  

“They are SHIELD, well, actually Hydra. But, we didn't know that yet.” Tony explained

“Seriously, you didn't? I mean...they look like bad guys.” Lang continued.

“You're small, but you're talking loud.” Tony said, an edge to his voice. He was getting kind of tired of people pointing out the various flaws in judgement or errors to their methods when they went back over past missions.

“On my way down to coordinate search and rescue.” 2012 Rogers spoke. Tony had to smirk. Steve always denied he had changed that much, but he really was as far a cry from that pompous, stick-up-your-ass jerk as he could get.  

Tony watched Loki transform into Steve for a second in imitation and the Billionaire had to snort. As far as imitations go it was pretty flawless. Then, as Loki was gagged and lead way by Thor he spotted that his 2012 self was tapping at the security pad on a briefcase which contained the Tesseract.

“All right, you're up, little buddy.” he spoke to Lang “That’s our stone.“

“Alright.” Lang nodded, speaking from Tony’s shoulder. “Flick me.”

There were so many things wrong with that instruction, but Tony didn’t have time to unpack them right there. Instead he did as he was told, flicking the ant sized Lang straight towards the box where he scrambled up Tony’s arm, to his beard and then down his top.

Tony remembered with amusement the next bit. This was when Hulk had tried to take the elevator. Grinning he watched as his 2012 self-informed Banner that the maximum occupancy had been reached, and 2012 Thor told him to take the stairs. In a fit of temper Hulk punched at the elevator door once it was shut, before grumbling to himself as he headed to the other side of the floor to get to the stairs. With a smirk Tony backed up, threw himself out of the window, his suit reforming round him. 

*****

Katie and Steve found their floor completely deserted. As such, they’d been stood, hovering by the elevator waiting for the signal which came over their radios not long after they had heard Lang tell Tony to ‘flick him’- yeah, Katie and Steve both thought there was a lot wrong with that instruction.

“All right, Cap, Kiddo. I got our scepter in the elevator just passing the 90th floor.”

“On it.” Steve said, hitting the call button for the elevator.

“You remember what happened last time we were in an elevator full of Hydra dickheads?” Katie looked up at Steve as she grinned.

He snorted, and was just about to answer back to assure her he didn’t intend on flinging them out of the side of this one from almost twenty storeys up, but he didn’t get chance. The elevator doors stopped and then opened. Katie and Steve both glanced at the STRIKE-slash-Hydra agents, Sitwell and Rumlow both doing a double take as they saw them. Steve gestured for Katie to go in first, and she did, turning to the button pad.  She randomly selected a floor below them before she moved to the middle of the lift.

“Captain. I thought you were coordinating search and rescue?” Sitwell looked at Steve.

“Change of plans.” He said simply as he turned to face the elevator door as it closed.

“Hey, Cap, Nova.” Rumlow spoke, glancing over his shoulder.

“Hey Brock.” Katie smiled. It fell silent for a while, the situation feeling familiar to the two Avengers, as they noticed that the agents were sharing nervous glances. Steve looked around, before he spoke again.

“I just got a call from the Secretary. Agent Stark and I are gonna be running point on the scepter.”

“Sir? I don't understand.” Sitwell frowned, turning to face him.

“We got word there may be an attempt to steal it.” Katie supplied, holding his gaze.

“Sorry, guys, but. I can't give you the scepter.” Rumlow shook his head and Katie saw he was reaching for his gun.

“Yeah, I'm gonna have to call the Director.” Sitwell began.

“That's okay. Trust me” Steve insisted as Katie reached out and wrapped her hand around Rumlow’s wrist, fully anticipating there was going to be a struggle, but thanks to Steve’s quick thinking, it never came.

He leaned forward, his mouth close to Sitwell’s ear. “Heil Hydra.”  he whispered, loud enough for them all to hear. Sitwell looked up at him, Steve simply gave him a knowing nod and Rumlow glanced at Katie. She released his wrist smiling at him.

“You kept that quiet Stark.” Rumlow looked at her.

“Isn’t that supposed to be the point?” she raised an eyebrow at him.

“Touche.”

The elevator door stopped and Katie nodded to Steve.

“If you’ll excuse us.” he gestured to the case which held the Sceptre. Rumlow handed it to him and Sitwell moved to allow them to step out. They began walking away from the door, exchanging a smug glance as they went. Once they heard the doors Katie turned to Steve grinning.

“Heil Hydra?” she laughed “You clever bastard!”

“I have my moments.” he shrugged. “What floor are we on.”

“Twentieth.” she said. “Oooh, if we head down the stairs to the fourteenth it has a glass walkway that connects the left to the right side of the building, so we should be able to use that to get a decent view of what’s going on in the lobby.”

She led Steve over to a heavy door which housed the Stairs and they both winced as they could hear Hulk yelling.

“SO MANY STAIRS!” his words echoed and Katie glanced down to see he was a few floors below them. Nodding to Steve they began their descent.

***** In the Lobby, Tony was watching with amusement, the slight difference of opinion his 2012 self and 2012 Thor were having with Alexander Pierce. Back then there had been a minutes or so argument until Pierce had snatched the Tesseract from Tony. Thor had then been incandescent with rage. Eventually, Fury had diffused the situation by getting Pierce to back down and allow Thor to take the Tesseract back to Asgard. But that wasn’t for a good few hours, which was why they needed to steal the cube before Pierce took it from the building.

 “Loki will be answering to Odin himself.” Thor shook his head when he was instructed to turn his brother over.

“He's gonna answer to us. Odin can have what's left.” Pierce said “And I'm gonna need that case, that's been SHIELD property for over seventy years.”

“Hand over the case, Stark” a SHIELD or Hydra agent instructed.2012 Tony shook his head and began to protest.  

“All right, move it, Stuart Little.” Tony said from his place in the lobby, he was dressed in a SHIELD Tactical Kit, one he had stolen of some guy he’d had to knock out. “Things are getting dicey up here. Let's go.”

“You promise me you won't die?” Lang shot back.“

“You're only giving me a mild cardiac dysrhythmia.” 

“That doesn't sound mild”.

“Do it, Lang!”

“Get your hands off!” 2012 Tony was yelling.

“Window's closing. Pull my pin!” Tony insisted.

“Here goes!” Seconds later 2012 Tony dropped the case, clutching at his chest.

“Stark? Stark!”  Thor bellowed as 2012 Tony fell to the floor. 

 “Look, he's convulsing.” Pierce said “Give him air! Medic!”

“MEDIC!” Tony said, some amusement as he watched his past self, writhing on the floor “This guy needs some help, some help please!”

In the rush and melee that followed, the case suddenly slid across the floor to Tony who grabbed it hastily with a smile.

“Good job.” he said into his comms “Meet me in the alley. I'm gonna grab a quick slice”

Only he never made it, as right at that point Hulk smashed through the door from the staircase into the lobby, sending Tony flying to the ground. The case burst open and the Tesseract slid towards Loki.

“NO MORE STAIRS!!!!” Everyone began to run from Hulk's rampage and Loki bent down to grab the Tesseract, using it to teleport away, his brother and guards completely oblivious as they were too busy dealing with 2012 Tony’s collapse. Thor held his hammer and tapped it with his palm, sending a bolt of electricity though to 2012 Tony’s chest, bringing him back round instantly. And then all hell broke loose as they realised the case and Loki were gone. 

“That wasn't supposed to happen, was it?” Scott asked, as he stood on Tony’s chest. Tony sighed and looked around as the 2012 Thor and Tony began frantically talking into their coms.

“Oh we blew it.” Tony groaned. 

****

“Tony, what's going on?” Steve demanded as he followed Katie round the corner towards the walkway. “Tell me you found that cube.” 

At that point he bumped straight into his wife who was stood stock still in front of him staring right at his 2012 counterpart.

 “Oh, you gotta be shitting me.” he groaned.

“Cap,” a familiar voice from behind 2012 Steve spoke and Katie’s mouth dropped open as her 2012 self sprinted onto the walkway, skidding to a halt behind the Steve from her time. “What the fuck?”

2012 Steve’s eyes flitted from 2012 Katie to 2023 Katie and back again.

“This is clearly some kind of spell.”  2012 Steve spoke, and 2012 Katie nodded in agreement as he continued this time talking into his comms. “We have eyes on Loki. 14th floor.”

“I’m not Loki.” Steve put the case containing the Sceptre down taking a step forward so he was level with his Katie. “And I don't wanna hurt you.”

In a flash, 2012 Steve engaged. Steve raised his shield, the clang loud as the Vibranium discs clashed against one another. Katie ducked past the duelling captains to stand in front of her younger self.

“Why are you doing this Loki?” 2012 Katie looked at her, taking up a fighting stance “You could have just fucked off-”

“I’m not Loki.” Katie shook her head “And neither is Steve.” “So who are you then?”

“That is a really, really long story.” she muttered “And also a crazy one so…”

“You’ve seen what’s going on out there?” the 2012 her scoffed “I doubt there’s anything that could surprise me anymore.”

“Alright,.so I’m you, from 2023.” Katie shrugged as she looked around. “Tony invented a time machine so we could come back and get something we need.” 2012 Katie raised her eyebrow before she laughed. “Whatever” and with that she launched forward.

Steve saw his wife starting to engage with her 2012 self, and his moment of distraction cost him. His younger self kneed him in the chest, knocking him down harshly.

2012 Steve looked down at him, smirking. “I can do this all day.”

“Yeah, I know.” Steve sighed, shaking his head as he waved him away whilst he stood up again “I know”

Had he really been that lame?

With another flick of his arm, Steve threw his shield toward 2012 as he did the same, the clang loud as the Virbanium discs ricocheted off one another. Without their shields the men began to fight, furiously. At one point Steve was flipped off his feet by his younger self and jumped up, repeating the favour. As the blows were traded and kicks landed, one of them, he had no idea who, managed to send the case containing the sceptre through the glass side of the walkway, causing it to shatter.

Katie heard the smashing behind her but she didn’t look round, she was too busy going toe to toe with her past self. She was just about getting the upper hand too as eleven years on she knew a lot more moves thanks to Natasha and Steve’s training. As her younger self leaned in with a pretty savage right hook Katie stopped it with both hands and then used her 2012 self’s arm as leverage to push up from the floor. Swinging both legs round in a scissor action she managed to lock her knees round 2012’s neck using the momentum and strength in her legs to bring 2012 her crashing over backwards to the ground, hard. Before 2012 could get up Katie flicked one of Natasha’s widow bites at her and winced as she watched her younger self convulsing on the floor.

She didn’t have much time to contemplate it however, as the sound of a loud yell made her look up just in time to see 2012 Steve flipping both Steve’s off the walk way, smashing through several glass landings and down a few of the smaller flights of stairs which connected a some of the other floors together until they eventually landed on the lobby.

Wincing Steve managed to push himself up, taking a deep breath he swayed slightly and looked up as 2012 Steve was brandishing his compass at him, his mouth open and brow furrowed. Of course, he won’t have even gotten the compass back yet, and he wouldn’t do until the following year when he went through his stuff for the Smithsonian exhibit.

“Where did you get this?” 2012 asked,  his voice low. “And why does it have a picture of you…or me, and Miss Stark in it?”

Steve didn’t answer instead he ducked trying to retrieve the sceptre, and he might have been successful if he was up against a normal opponent, but 2012 Steve was quick and he placed his foot on the sceptre, throwing Steve off balance slightly. In a flash he was behind him, putting the older Soldier into a choke hold. Steve threw all his power backwards, throwing the pair of them to the ground where they began to writhe along the floor, both trying to get the upper hand, Steve trying to manoeuvre them to the sceptre. Unfortunately for Steve, 2012 was just as clever and as he reached out with his right hand the younger man jerked him backwards, his legs round his waist, arms tight round his throat.

Steve knew he had to distract him, so in desperation he spluttered out something he knew would have made his 2012 self stop dead in his tracks “Bucky…is…alive…” He felt the grip around his neck release, and he fell forward coughing.

“What?” asked 2012 Steve, but he never got his answer as Steve sucker punched him right in the face with his right hand, before he grabbed the sceptre, pointing the tip of it at his chest. 2012 Steve froze in mid-air before collapsing forwards.

Steve let his head fall back in relief. Jesus that had been brutal. His face, ribs, neck, back all hurt like hell. At that point the door to the stairs burst open and he looked up to see his Katie running over the floor to him.

“You ok?” she asked, offering him her hand. She pulled him to his feet and gently cupped his face with her hands, her thumb stroking the bruise that was forming on his left cheek.

“Yeah, you?”

“Had to knock myself out with a widow bite” She grinned, before looking down at the Unconscious Steve and frowning. “What did you use?”

He held up the sceptre, before he reached down and grabbed his compass. Sticking it back in his pocket he took another deep breath before he noticed Katie was looking down at him, or rather his 2012 self.

“Lang’s right,” she mused. “that is America's ass.”

Steve rolled his eyes, collecting his shield as a smile tugged at his lips, “Let’s get out of here.”

****

“Are there any other options with the Tesseract?” Steve said gently, his voice pleading, pleading to hear that there was another way.  The news they had lost it had been devastating, and as Katie watched her soldier who was glancing down at his feet, she could see he was trying to think but as he raised his head to look at her she could see the utter disappointment on his face. She swallowed, feeling it too. They’d come so far, and looked to be set to fall at the final hurdle.  

“No, no, no. There's no other options. There's no do-overs.” Scott said loudly “We're not going anywhere else. We have one particle left. Each That's it, alright? We use that– Bye, bye. You're not going home.”

“Yeah, well if we don't try, then no one else is going home, either.” Steve’s voice rose a little.  

“Wait,” Katie looked up and idea suddenly popping into her head. “We need more Pym Particles, right?” “Yeah, that’s what I said.” Scott began but Steve silenced him, recognising the look on his wife’s face. She was running through an idea.

“Let’s just go back and get some.” she breathed, astounded the idea hadn’t come to any of them beforehand.

“What?” Scott frowned.

“There has to be some point in time and space that we can get more.” she shrugged, “Let’s just go steal some and try again for the Tesseract.” “I can go one better than that.” Tony scrambled out of the trashed car he’d been sat in. “There's a way to retake the Tesseract and acquire new particles at the same time.” he looked at Steve “Little stroll down memory lane. Military installation, Garden State.”

Katie and Steve looked at one another, instantly understanding before they looked at Tony.

“When were they both there?” Steve asked.

“They were there at a–“ Tony paused “I've a vaguely exact idea.”

“How vague?”  Katie pressed.

“What are you talking about? Where are we going?” Scott frowned.  

“I know for a fact they were there–“  Tony began again but was cut off.

“Who's they? What are we doing?” Scott’s voice was gathering pitch as he got more and more frustrated.

“And I know how I know.” Tony looked at Katie and she suddenly understood

“Dad.” she said, swallowing.  

Tony nodded.

“Guys, what's up? What is it?” Scott demanded to know.  

“Well, it looks like we're improvising” Steve spoke, as the Stark siblings were still looking at one another.

“Right. What are we improvising?” Scott asked as Steve turned to him, handing him the Scepter.

“Scott, get this back to the compound”.

“What's in New Jersey?” Scott tried again.

Katie and Steve began to program their watches to the date and location Tony was telling them- 4th April 1970.

“Are you sure?” Scott pressed again, before he stepped forward “Cap. Captain. Steve, sorry, America. Rogers. Look, if you do this, and this doesn't work, you're not coming back.”

Steve swallowed as Tony glared at him. “Thanks for the pep talk, piss ant”

Lang was right, if they were wrong, he’d never see his kids again. They’d never see their kids again. No, he couldn’t let Katie come, not knowing that. Their kids needed at least one of them…

“Katie.”

“Oh no!” she folded her arms “You are not benching me.” Steve shook his head. “It’s too big a risk.” “So is going just the two of you! Your face is so well known, even more so back then and there, at the first SHIELD base?” she sighed “Don’t forget, half the people in that place are already Hydra. If you’re recognized…” she trailed off “Baby, this needs three heads. Just in case…”

“Do you trust me?” Tony spoke, looking at his brother-in-law.

Steve looked at him, with a deep sigh he nodded. “I do.”

“Then it’s your call.” Tony glanced back at him, then to Katie. Steve was torn, he really was.

“Whatever it takes Steve.” Katie reminded him. She wasn’t scared in the slightest, she had utter faith in Tony.

Steve took a deep breath and against every bit of better judgment he had in his body he gave her a short nod “Here we go.”

*****

Katie and Steve knew exactly where the secret SHIELD base was, having already been in it way back before they took down the Triskelion.

Using some stolen clothes and ID Badges from the locker rooms, they managed to get into the base reasonably easy. Steve was dressed in an old military uniform, Tony in just a plain suit and Katie in a skirt and blouse, with her hair pulled up into a high seventies style pony tail. They didn’t get challenged, although there was one woman that was definitely giving them a very attentive look over in the lift. Katie was glad when it was their floor, and Steve allowed her to step out first. As they passed a chair outside a room, she noticed some files someone had left behind. Quickly, she scooped them up in an attempt to make her look like any other normal office worker that was mooching around the area.

Eventually, thanks to Steve’s photographic memory being able to recall a floor map that was on the wall outside the elevator after one simple glance at it, they found Dr Pym’s laboratory and continued down the corridor until they reached an office that wasn’t occupied. Katie distracted everyone in the corridor by dropping the files she was carrying all over the place whilst Steve slipped inside, unnoticed. He looked down at the phone on the desk and gave a little groan. This hand set was something completely alien to him, but he scanned the various buttons and saw one labelled operator.

“Not that different.” he mused softly to himself. He picked the phone up and hit the button, asking to be put through to Dr Pym and a few minutes later he was connected.

“Hello. Dr. Pym?”

“That would be the number that you called. Yes” 

“This is Captain…Stevens from shipping” he winced slightly at his unoriginal name. “We have a package for you.”

“Bring it up”.

“Well, that's the thing, sir. We can't.”

“I'm confused. I thought that was your job.”

“Well, it's just– Sir, the box is glowing and, to be honest, some of our mail guys aren't feeling that great.” He paused, waiting.

“They didn't open it, did they?”

“Yeah, they did.” Steve smiled as the man took the bait.  “You better get down here.”

He placed the phone down and glanced out of the door through the small pane of glass. As someone handed Katie the last file they’d helped her tidy up, she thanked them and looked at Steve. He gave her the thumbs up and she smirked, before turning her head to see a frantic looking man in a white coat shoot out of the lab a few doors down and run off towards the elevators.

“Excuse me!! Out of the way!”

Once he was gone Katie headed to the lab. She hastily looked around, searching as she passed various filing cabinets, ant farms, a few desks piled high with research. She stood, hands on her hips as she glanced to her right and her face cracked into a grin.

“Bingo.” she walked towards the large, class cabinet that bore the radioactive warning symbol on the front. Opening the door she hesitated, and selected five of the tubes. One each for her, Steve and Tony, and then two spare just in case. She tucked them into the pockets of the skirt she was wearing and headed into the corridor, Steve joining her as she went.

“Got em.” She said, as the two of them strode towards the lift, quickly and quietly. 

And they were so close, so close…

“Shit.” Katie mumbled, stopping. Steve, who had been checking over his shoulder looked round and saw the elevator lady talking to a number of military security guards.

“And you've never seen these two men, or this woman before? “

“No, I've got an eye for this. They looked fishy.” the woman said, turning to walk towards them.

They both began to turn around when Steve spotted an office to his left.

“In here.” He opened the door and gently guiding Katie in before he stepped in after her. He flattened himself against a book shelf, watching through the frosted glass for the figures to pass.

Meanwhile, something on the desk had caught Katie’s attention. A photo. A photo she knew.

A photo of someone she knew inside out.

“Steve,” she whispered. He glanced up to see her staring at something on the desk. It took him a few seconds but when he realized what it was he too frowned. It was a photo of him, the one from his SHIELD file. It depicted him before the serum in a white T-Shirt, dog hags hanging out of his collar. Katie had a copy of that very same photo in her office because she loved it too.

The pair of them looked at one another, before they turned and read the name that was etched into the glass on the office door. And even backwards it was easy to see what it said.

Margaret Carter. Director

He’d steered them into Peggy’s office.

“Katie, honey, I swear, I didn’t-“ he began but they were both cut off by the sound of voices behind them causing them to spin back round and watch through the spaces in the blinds which covered the large window into the other side of the office.

Steve stepped forward whilst behind him Katie hung back, not quite sure how to deal with this. She’d been with Steve now for ten years, married for almost eight and she knew he loved her, she truly did but still she couldn’t help that feeling of trepidation which flood her system as she watched her husband smile as his first love stalked around the other side of the office. This was, what, Nineteen Seventy? Some twenty-five years after he had been lost in the ice. 

Katie found herself wondering if the woman ever truly did let go of Steve, or if she merely spent however long in a marriage pining for a man she could never, or would never have.

Peggy was shouting at another agent for something, shaking her head in frustration and generally thundering around in a manner Steve could recall very well and he couldn’t help a fond smile which spread across his face. It was a far cry from the old, frail lady he had imprinted on his mind.

“She looks so, well, good.” he muttered gently. “You know, not ill.”

It might have sounded stupid but that was the only way he could explain it. It was nice to see her so happy, healthy and doing what she did bed. When Katie didn’t reply he turned to see her watching him, her arms folded across her chest as if she was hugging herself.

“Yeah,” she whispered, giving him a small smile, “she does.”

Steve threw one last glance over his shoulder to see Peggy leaving the room. He walked towards his wife, dropped an arm round her and kissed her forehead, curling her into him. Her body language was still stiff as her hands slid round his waist.

“You know I love you.” he whispered softly, nuzzling into her hair. “There’s never been anyone who’s come close.”

“Yeah.” Katie relaxed slightly into his hold. 

“Good.” he smiled, tilting her face up so she was looking at him. He dropped a soft kiss to her lips, and she smiled at him. “Now let’s go find your brother.”

***** Getting the Tesseract had been easy. What hadn’t been easy was bumping into his dad. Tony had fumbled over his words, walked into chairs, basically lost any of the Stark suaveness he prided himself on having and had introduced himself as Howard. Howard fucking Potts. Howard Stark, however, didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, and Tony had managed to walk right out of the lab with the Tesseract in his suitcase because being with Howard Stark was keeping him from even being looked at. 

All in all, it was the perfect cover.

“So, flowers and sauerkraut. You got a big date tonight?” Tony asked.

“My wife's expecting.” Howard replied and Tony’s mouth fell open. Of course she was, with him. “And, uh, too much time in the office.”

“Congratulations” Tony smiled at him

“Thanks. Hold this, will you?” Howard asked, passing over the flowers and sauerkraut.  

“Yeah, sure.” Tony took them off him “How far along is she?”

“I don't know– Uh– “ his dad held his hands out indicating the size of his mother’s bump “She's at the point where she can't stand the sound of my chewing. I guess I'll be eating dinner in the pantry again.

“I have a little girl” Tony stuttered “Well…I kinda have two actually.” “Kind of?” “Yeah, the eldest, well she’s actually my sister. Our parents died when she was very young and I ended up with Custody of her so.”

“Oh I’m sorry.” “I’m not.” Tony shook his head and as Howard raised an eyebrow he started to explain “I mean I am sorry our parents died but not that I ended up looking after kiddo, you know, wouldn’t have had it any other way. She’s an incredible person, smart, funny, beautiful. Married to a soldier now, couple of kids of her own.”

The other man smiled “You know, a girl would be nice. Less of a chance she'd turn out exactly like me.”

“What'd be so awful about that?” Tony asked.

“Let's just say that the greater good has rarely outweighed my own self-interests.”

Tony nodded for a moment, before the elevator stopped and the walked out of the bunker. “So, where are you at with names?”

“Well, if it's a boy, my wife likes Almanzo” Howard looked at him. What the fuck mom? 

Tony shook his head as they crossed to the middle of the road in between the various military vehicles and troops that were running down it. “Huh, Might wanna let that stew a while. You got time.”   

“Let me ask you a question.” Howard turned to him as they reached the middle “When your kid was born, were you nervous?

“Wildly. Yeah.” Tony smiled, and he had been. He’d been a wreck in the delivery suite, Pepper at one point ordering him out until he calmed down.

“Did you feel qualified? Like you had any idea how to successfully operate that thing?”

Tony shook his head. “Well, I’d already looked after my sister but this was different, you know, she was mine to look after from birth and, well, I literally pieced it together as I went along, I thought about what my Dad did, and– “

At that point, over his Dad’s shoulder he spotted Steve and Katie stood in the distance and Steve gave him the thumbs up.

“My old man, he never met a problem he couldn't solve with a belt.” Howard shook his head.

Tony looked back to him from where he had been watching Steve and Katie glancing around cautiously before he spoke to the man again.

“You know, I thought my dad was tough on me. And now, looking back, I just remember the good stuff, you know. He did drop the odd pearl.” Tony smiled.  

“Yeah? Like what?”

"No amount of money ever bought a second of time."

“Smart guy.” Howard nodded.  

“He did his best.”

“Let me tell you.” Howard smiled gently “That kid's not even here yet, and there's nothing I wouldn't do for ‘em”

Tony felt his eyes beginning to well, he simply nodded as Howard walked past him towards his car.

In the distance Katie squinted and jerked her head questioningly at Tony, trying to figure out why he was holding a bunch of flowers. He raised his briefcase pointing to it, the expression on his face telling her to calm down. She heard Steve let out a breath and a smile crossed her face. The plan had worked. They had the tesseract. She was about to jerk her thumb over her shoulder to instruct her brother to leave whatever it was he was doing, until she saw the face of the man he had been speaking to. 

“Oh my god.” she whispered “That’s, that’s my dad.”

Steve had realized the same thing the minute the guy had turned around to shake Tony’s hand. Besides him, Katie took a step forward and he made to gently grab her arm.

“Katie, you can’t.”

“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do Steve.” she snapped, a little harshly “You just took your trip down memory lane, now I’m gonna take mine.”

She jerked her hand from his grasp and headed over to where her brother was handing over the flowers and a tin of sauerkraut, of all things, to the man, before they embraced.

“Everything's gonna be all right.” She could hear Tony as she approached. “Thank you–“

“Thank you?” Howard frowned.

“He means for everything, you've done for this country.” Katie finished, swallowing slightly as she reached her brothers side. Tony glanced down at her, shocked for a moment before he hastily re-arranged his face.

“Howard, this is my sister the one I was telling you about. Virginia, meet Howard Stark.” Virginia? 

Katie smiled and shook her dad’s hand “It’s so good to see you, I mean meet you, you know, after hearing all about your work.” she hastily recovered.

“Your brother tells me you’re married to a soldier. He based here?” “Used to be.” 

Her dad paused and his head tilted to one side. “You know, you look a lot like my wife, only with different coloured hair, she’s blonde.” “Yeah I know.” Katie replied, before she spluttered “From photos.”

“You’re a lucky girl.” Howards smiled, “Maria’s stunning. Now I really have to go…nice to meet you both.” he shook their hands again and then turned and headed away.

As they watched him go, Tony slung his arm around his sister’s shoulder, “the guy by the car?”

“Yeah?”

“Edwin Jarvis.” Tony replied simply, and she grinned.

With a final look at their father they turned and made their way back towards Steve.

“We good?” he asked.

“Yeah, let’s get out of here.” Tony mumbled hastily.

They made their way round the corner to a deserted part of the base before they each tapped their wrist bands to activate the suits and, with a fresh container of particles each they were ready. Keying in the correct time and date, they were sucked once more into the Quantum Realm and as they sped through the void Katie looked to her right to notice they had been joined by other members of their team. With a grin on her face she emerged onto the platform, her suit disappearing.

“Did we get them all?” Bruce asked. Scott held up the sceptre, Tony waved his briefcase and Rocket was holding a vial containing the Aether.

Rhodey who was holding up an orb in his hand positively beamed. "You mean to tell me this actually worked?" 

Katie looked around eagerly, but paused when she got to the space that Natasha had occupied beforehand.

She wasn’t there. 

Biting back the panic that was rising in her throat she looked to Clint. He was soaking from head to foot and, as she watched, he took a step forward and dropped to his knees.

“Clint, where's Nat?” Banner asked as the rest of the group caught up with the  fact they were a person short. 

Clint’s head remained bowed. He swallowed thickly and when he finally did look up his eyes met Katie’s first, then Steve’s. He didn’t speak, he didn’t need to, his broken expression told them everything.  

Steve looked down, taking a deep breath as his heart plummeted through his chest. Besides him, Katie shook her head frantically.

"No, no, no. She's not gone. She’s just delayed right?” she swallowed, “Clint, tell me Natasha is going to be here!” 

There was a loud thud as Bruce knelt down, his large fist pounding the platform angrily as Katie looked helplessly from Clint to Steve. Steve’s eyes were full of tears as he reached out to her.

“Sweetheart.” his voice cracked and she shook her head again, turning back to Clint.

"Clint?" this time her question was a plea. A plea for him to tell her that her best friend was fine, and that there was just a temporary glitch, one which they could fix.

Clint looked up at her, his own tears now falling as he shook his head.

“She’s gone Nova.” his head dropped and his shoulders began to shake.

Katie’s jaw began to quiver and, as she turned to Steve, her face crumpled. Steve pulled her to him, one hand firmly on her back, the other tangling in her hair as he held her, gently rocking her side to side as she began to cry. He looked up at Tony who locked eyes with him, wiping his face with his hands and it was then that Steve’s vision became blurred by his own tears. He buried his face in his wife’s hair, allowing her sorrow to hide his own as they both cried for their fallen best friend.

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[mrneighbourlove]

Evil’s Bane: Ch 5. Belief Scattered

It must have felt like a good hour of walking through the fog together. No sound echoing in the cave or even their foot steps. As they kept traveling, Leere wanted to get to know Black more. “I never knew you were an undead all this time. How’d you get so good at hiding that fact?”

"Well, I'm not alive and I'm not dead, so I suppose you'd call me undead. Technically, I'm trapped in the moment of dying." Black explained to Leere, trying to recall what Bonegrinder told him. "Almost like being stuck in limbo, but I'm on earth still. It is said that I will not cease to be until I resolve my unfinished business. Yet, unlike other Wraiths, so I've been told, I'm not mindless."

“So what, you’re a Hellspawn?”

"No, I'm not a demon, just... a trapped soul, I suppose." Black shrugged once. "I'm not exactly sure how to explain it. Necromancy doesn't effect me, so I might not be completely undead, just... odd."

"Black is no Hellspawn, tiny princess, just a unique individual." Bonegrinder told Leere. "Years and years ago, this old snake found Black wandering in a swamp near Yenaldooshi in Omisha. He was able to help him regain part of his memories."

"I recalled that I was traveling back home from Al-Daida with my family and someone had double crossed me."

Leere gave Black a look. There was a weird tilt of her head, as if she was trying something out, and after a moment, she smiled with a simple hum to herself.

"If you have a better explanation, I'm all ears." Black's glowing lavender eyes curved in good humor from behind his head wrap, his body hidden beneath several layers of flowy clothes.

"There have been very few Wraiths that Bonegrinder has seen in this lifetime." The Anagari then admitted. "Even this snake has not all the answers on some issues, but an idea."

“Your soul and body certainly have unique characteristics. Much different then most undead I’ve encountered. And you certainly have control of your own body.”

"That much is true, though I am still trying to figure out what my unfinished business is." Black admitted to the Shadow Sage. "I thought it was to get revenge for my family. Yet, I didn't cease to be after I found their killer."

“You fulfilled your duty in avenging your family, but your destiny lies elsewhere.” Leere pondered a little more about his situation. Spirits, physical or otherwise, usually had a purpose for lingering on the mortal plane after death. “Perhaps you must bring unity to someone else?”

Suddenly as if they were stepping out of a portal, the fog disappeared. They knew they had been walking at a slow incline down, so the sight before the party of travellers was unexpected. An open area with sky was set upon their eyes. Only this time it was not as much a pretty sight. The sky was dreary with clouds hiding any blue. Replacing grasslands was an eerie forest landscape, with many dead trees amongst puke green pine trees. Finally, there was more earth then grass.

"This is what he recalls from the last time he was in this land." Bonegrinder's features contorted into disgusted frown. "Decay."

“I don’t sense anything too off, but be on guard.” Leere sensed life wasn’t dead, but had simply stopped in time was the best choice of wording. As they kept walking, they eventually found a path to walk along. “Civilization ahead?”

"Yes, there should be... unless that has changed as well." Bonegrinder did not sound too enthused about the prospect of seeing more residents of the land of Malus. "This snake still says its not too late to turn back."

Leere looked up to see a couple fairies fly overhead. They looked more insect like, but paid no attention to the group. “Bonegrinder, you promised me a day. You going to use it complaining?”

"He will use it to wipe his scaled ass, complain as much as he likes, and remind you repeatedly that this is a bad idea." The Anagari's tail twitched. "We should not even be here."

"That means he's irritated." Black murmured to Leere.

Leere observed her surroundings with a sigh. Suddenly, they heard talking from nearby. With a hand single, she issued Black and Bonegrinder to be quiet so they’d investigate. Near a lake, there were two men, gutting fish they caught.

"Fuck." Bonegrinder grumbled under his breath when Leere caught sight of the 'local natives'.

“Kenshi. How much longer must we wait?”

“We’ll be gone soon Lang. The whereabouts of my daughter are unknown, but I’m certain this lake is where the anomalies originate from.”

Leere watched the two men; both had darker hair like her. After much consideration, she decided to slowly approach them.

Before Leere could get too far, Bonegrinder's tail whipped out, grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back. "What. Are. You. Doing?!"

“Engaging the locals. We have to form communication or we’ll get nowhere.” Leere gritted her teeth at him in hushed whispers. She didn’t like to be man handled like a child.

"We do not know if they're friendlies or hostiles." Black reminded Leere. "It's best to observe firstly."

"Listen to the assassin, tiny princess, he knows better than you do."

From over ahead, a fairy looked down at them. The little insect seemed to scowl at them. Slowly, it flew over to the two men. They stopped their conversation, and listened to the fairy. Suddenly they tensed, looking over to the hiding spot of the group. They both jolted upwards, grabbing sheathed swords. “Kenshi! Go back to the village! Another monster has somehow broken through the barrier, this time in day light!”

"... I'm assuming that means you, Bonegrinder." Black mused dryly with a tiny smirk. "Cause I do not sense any other monsters around here."

"Fuck Prama and Dhakk sideways..." Bonegrinder cursed under his breath. "... go catch them."

"As you wish."

"But don't kill them yet, we need information."

Leere decided to try and run out toward them. “Stop! I’m a Mortuus! I’m friendly!”

The man Leere identified by observation as Lang took a stance, drawing his sword. This revelation only made him more on guard. “You are not from either village.”

Black earned his nickname for being able to blend into the shadows initially, however, he was quite adept at hiding in any environment. In order to keep Kenshi from escaping, the Wraith simply pinned the Mortuus against a rotting tree, both hands trapped behind the back. "I have the second one, Bonegrinder." "Good. We require information." The Anagari slithered out from his spot, eying Lang. "Drop that sword before this snake removes your hand for threatening the tiny princess."

Lang was memorized by the gigantic beast slivering down from the tree line. “The gods really are abandoning us...” Tightening his grip on his blade when he saw Kenshi be pinned, the man planted his feet. “You must be from the capital. I won’t let you take me without a fight.”

Leere glanced over to Black, standing between both Lang and Bonegrinder. “Will you two stand down?! My name is Leere Dragmire. I am a Sage of Hyrule investigating a dark source of evil coming from Malus. I know that there are innocents trapped here. I’m a friend that wishes to help you. If my companion releases your friend, will you lower your guard?”

Lang, looked to Kenshi. He only slightly lowered his stance. “Release my friend.”

"Put down your sword first." Bonegrinder was incredibly stubborn. "Raising a blade at a lady is no small thing."

"Bonegrinder, I believe Leere can handle herself. After all, that sword is very... rusty." Black used basic logic. "And unkept."

"... very well. Though harm her, and this Anagari will remove your head from your shoulders." Black released Kenshi, almost chucking when the Mortuus scrambled away from him.

Kenshi stood by Lang’s side, the latter paying closer attention to Bonegrinder as he sheathed his sword. “You said you came from the outside? It should be impossible for a monster of your size to enter. The barrier of Destroyah disintegrates monsters and demons bigger than a house cat from entering. Not the mention the guardian Mata keeps an eye out for the demonic.”

"Bonegrinder is neither demonic or a monster..." Black stated, earning a blank glance from the two Mortuus. "Let me rephrase that, Bonegrinder is neither demonic nor a monster of these regions. He hails from Omisha, not of Hellspawn origins."

"Pitiful, magical barriers and ancient Colossi are nothing more than pests." Bonegrinder stated bitterly. "Destroyer's works are sloppy."

“Omisha... the land of the cowards who bask in the sun. That’d explain your appearance. Still, we should have been protected from your kind entering too.”

Leere felt tensions start to rise. “What matters is that none of us wish to bring you harm. I merely wish to learn. Can you bring us to your village?”

Both men looked to each other, then spoke in a language, or perhaps code Leere didn’t understand.

Suddenly, Bonegrinder had Lang up off the ground by his neck, his tail wrapped dangerously tight around the Mortuus' throat. He brought the man closer to his face, fangs exposed and snarling. The Anagari was pissed. To keep Kenshi in place, he wrapped the man in his coils. "You dare call us Echidnans cowards when your kind tried to drown the world in Hellspawn? Tortured the innocent? Slaughtered villages full of children?" Bonegrinder's jaw was unhinged, highly tempted to rip out the man's throat. Black warned Leere that there was a reason why the Anagari detested Malus. This country was the responsible for the demise of his home. "It makes this snake wonder if you were worth saving after you killed so many of us alongside Dhakk for choosing to follow Prama."

“BONEGRINDER!!!” On instinct, a large shadowy hand gripped Bonegrinder by the hair, pulling him away from Lang as another shadow hand caught the man from falling. “Do not escalate tensions! I did not bring you here to frighten innocents! Stop acting like a monster!” Both the men were afraid, both by Bonegrinder and by Leere’s magic. “She’s a sorcerer.”

“Just like the elder and Bi-Hanzo.”

Leere glared Bonegrinder down as her shadows calmed down. Slowly, she turned back to the pair. “I overheard you had a missing daughter. I’m a mother myself. Perhaps I can assist you.”

Kenshi nodded. “Yes... Lang. Go to the village and warn them to not attack the Echidnan on sight. I’ll stay with the group and walk with them as a sign of trust...”

Lang, not wanting to be anywhere near Bonegrinder, agreed. “Gladly.”

"He is a monster, Leere," Bonegrinder was angry with the princess for using her magic on him. He leaned down and growled, "It matters not to him the lives of those who could be responsible for the death of his family. Prama agreed to this folly because he wishes for some good to come to this God-forsaken land." The snake warned her, "You are innocent of the crimes of Malus, Leere. The others are not. Friend or foe is not debatable here."

Black was not one for expressing emotion with his stoic face, but even he grimaced at Bonegrinder's icy words. It was rather clear the hate that the Anagari had for this country. Yet, as the shaman slithered off a distance from the princess to cool his head, the Wraith approached Leere. "I apologize." Black said to the Shadow Sage, "I should have warned you of his ire. It is nothing against you, Leere. There are certain horrors that he does not wish to recall and old wounds that have never healed. Perhaps I should go forward with you and have Bonegrinder wait here. I understand your mission, but he... is having a difficult time."

“If he feels he needs to distance himself, then fine.” Leere gestured for Black to follow her as Kenshi lead the way. “All enemies or all allies view is a narrow one though.”

"How would you feel if you had to traverse into the country responsible for the death of your family?" The Wraith asked Leere, curious of her answer. "From what I remember of my human days, I think I would be afraid... and angry."

The shadow sage was sad that her friend couldn’t keep his emotions in check, worried she comprised her relationship with the village before even meeting them. When they arrived at the village, it was a small town, but held a decent enough community. A town hall, a saloon, multiple houses and a church were present buildings seen. Many Mortuus gathered around, astonished by news of outsiders. With so many red eyes on her, Leere could see how tired many of them were. “Hello. I am Leere. Mortuus of Hyrule.”

She was greeted with silence in return. Some of them went back to their daily routines immediately, but kept an eye on her. One man approached, narrowing his gaze at her. “Lang tells me you travel with an Echidnan. Where is it?”

As Black followed Leere to the village, he kept a keen lookout. His master was not too far, he could still sense the Anagari. Though, something felt... a touch off here. The residents looked like sleep had eluded them for ages. "Bonegrinder felt it was best to hold back, lest he..." Black thought of the appropriate word. "Scare the masses." He then inquired. "Why do you ask?"

“As this villages remaining experienced protector, I demand all parties are accounted for.” The man had an air about him that the others didn’t, that he could back up his demands. “The masses live in constant fear of unknown dangers. If he was here, he wouldn’t be unknown.”

Leere held a hand back to him. “He’ll be here shortly. What is your name, if I might ask?”

“I am Bi-Hanzo. Member of the Order of Balance.”

"Balance?" That caught Black's interest. "As in Kaksa? Mother Goddess?"

It was Bi-Hanzo’s first moment to be intrigued. “Yes. The very same. Though I am a dying breed. Both Destroyah and Proxamus, the names we give for Life and Destruction gods, had a hand in Malus’ creation. Our magic of necromancy was fuelled to please Proxamus. Yet both gods haven’t graced us in thousands of years. In time, the factions of Mortuus fell to darkness, blind in dedication to either. Few know of balance and try to keep these communities alive. There is no escape from Malus. Only survival.”

That was a monumental amount of information Leere absorbed. “Well, that’s good. Because I think the Destroyer is on the rise in Malus, and many of you are in grave peril.”

It seemed his master was correct about one issue; the people of Malus had lost hope. He had heard the tales of creation and destruction from his time when he was alive. Then, he learned more as a Wraith underneath Bonegrinder's tutelage. Yet, he was unsure of who was friend or foe. Perhaps a small test was needed... "We are here to seek answers." Black informed Bi-Hanzo. "For the prophecy."

“Prophecy? Those are many, and have many interpretations. Come, I will take you to the elder.”

Before Leere could follow Bi-Hanzo, Black placed his hand on the Shadow Sage's shoulder, silently asking her not to move just yet. "And how do we know this isn't a ploy?"

“I don’t. But I do this thing called taking a leap of faith? Can you jump yourself Black?”

"Jump, run, hide, take your pick. Though you must understand our caution." Black told the man, "The stories we have heard are most unsettling."

“They are most likely true. However, is every fallen leaf red?”

"Only if it's soaked up blood from the ground."

Black’s view on judging people by one cover was unsettling to the woman, discouraging even. It was when Bi-Hanzo added his thoughts to Leere and Black’s exchange of metaphors. “Ah. You can only see violence. That, is why your vision is flawed.”

Leere liked the man’s thinking, nodding along. Some villagers followed the group to a church near a graveyard looking down on the village. Knocking on the door, Bi-Hanzo waited. Finally, he opened the door to the church and gestured the pair to go inside. Leere did so without fear. Inside were very old bleachers, scratched wooden pillars, and a cross hanging on the wall. At the alter, a woman was sitting down reading a book wrapped in leather.

Bi-Hanzo respectfully bowed to the elder. “Lady Jackalen. There is a Mortuus, an undead, and an Echidnan here. Somehow, they penetrated the protective barriers to our small realm.”

"A Wraith, thank you, not an undead. There's a difference. I think." Black insisted as he looked around the church. It was better kept than the whole village. It also made him feel slightly uneasy. Was it because he was trapped between death and life?

Leere walked forward, bowing her head. When she approached the woman, she noticed how white her eyes were. “I am Leere Dragmire. Shadow Sage of Hyrule. I don’t want to alarm you, but I believe your people are in grave danger.”

“A sage? My... how young you look.” The elder cackled lightly to herself. “And you are correct. My people are indeed in danger. Or countless generations, we’ve been kept safe. Despite how much they might have changed, Destroyah and Proxamus gave us a way to protect our pocket realms from the outside world. Only now, within the last decade, those who isolated themselves from the outside world have been going silent. Communities we once shared a psychic communication with snuffed out. We didn’t know what caused this. Until two weeks ago. Devilish abominations coming out in the night to kill and steal away those who live here. Despite all my magics, I can’t find the source of where they reside.”

"Hellspawns." Black stated at the elder's words. "They're good at hiding and lurking around in the darkness, waiting for the right moment to strike. Difficult to track too if they're being aided by another source of magic. I'm surprised they haven't overrun the village yet." He glanced at the few people in the church. "Perhaps they're looking for someone."

“I’ve fought against several unidentified creatures, killed a few, but there’s always more, and there’s always someone taken.” Bi-Hanzo gripped the sides of his coat uncomfortably.

Leere pried for more information. She needed to know what specific danger lied in the shadows of this country. “Do you know if any evil spirits or gods have risen in Malus?”

The elder shook their head. “We do not. No gods have answered our prayers. And we know little of outside this realm of protection. It is our bubble. Our way of life.”

"... what prophecy do you know of?" Black decided to skip past the doom and gloom and search for answers. "My master requires answers."

“Which one? There are many Wraith. Mostly about their chosen god raising hell upon the earth. Some hope a saviour will liberate Malus from torment. Some think they will be servants while all their enemies will become slaves. Even here, some make sacrifices and offerings to their chosen lord in hopes of having their wishes granted.”

"The prophecy my master has long believed is of a young woman of fire, born of a mother of death, would be the host of Kaksa, the Mother Goddess." Black decided there was no harm in elaborating. There were various versions of the prophecy, but all resulted in the same ending. "Dhakk and Prama would have a choice to make. Either they would fight each other, or fight against Chaos."

“Chaos? Ahhhh.”

Leere looked to Black, unsure by the elder’s reaction. “What about Chaos?”

“Hehehe. Oh... oh! This is rich. I remember you now.” The elder’s white eyes were glossed over on Leere. “You were the one who’s parents fled. There are many in Malus who worship Destroyah or Proxamus. Few worship and know of Balance. But very little dared to be of the Cult of the Devil. The Devil came from Chaos you know. Evil was born of Chaos. That evil has a special connection in Malus. Those who served Proxamus were wise to kill those who worshiped the Devil.”

Leere’s comfort levels went from a 10 to a 1 real fast. “I know very little about my birth parents.”

“But you hold the markings, don’t you? I can sense it. Feel it. Hmmm. You’re marked for sacrifice.” Lady Jackalen walked away towards a book shelf, trying to find a specific text.

Black sensed Leere's abrupt uneasiness. The mentioned of Chaos certainly caught the old woman's attention. There were several names for this horrible god of discord, though he knew just a few; Teufel and Tzitzimime. Leere, she almost looked... slightly panicked. Like she was not expecting the elder to recall her or her despicable parents.

“Yes. Here we are.” The elder returned, placing a book down with a face as the cover. Flipping the page, she showed an illustration of the exact tattoo Leere had on her back. “This is it, isn’t it? Ah, no need for words. Your expression tells me enough. You are slated for sacrifice.” Leere looked much paler than usual. “I was. Past tense.”

“Heh heh heh. Present tense, I’m afraid. I can... I can feel the gate on you has been altered. But you are still a viable gateway if there were those who wished to use you.”

“For what?”

“A summoning of great and vile torment to be resurrected.” Flipping the pages, she went through many horrifying sketches of alien looking monstrosities. “Chaos has many spawns of its own. But it’s also a being, by nature, that is fractured. The body, a heart, mind, soul. Chaos is many. The Devil would like it all back. And you, just like one in every generation of Mortuus, carry a seed of resurrection in you. Congratulations on such a terrible fate.”

Bonegrinder had once told Black some time ago that he wished to save the 'tiny princess' from her fate. He really did not know what the Anagari spoke of then, but now, he understood. The assassin recalled the times that Leere was angry with the giant snake for keeping the details of her past from her. She wanted to know and now she did. Yet, Black could not help but feel sorry for her... and for Bonegrinder. The Anagari tried so hard to keep this knowledge from Leere.

Leere looked away when she saw the creature that oozed from her spine when Bonegrinder removes a sigil so long ago. “How did you deal with these children before?”

“We killed them before they could pose a threat to the world. Proxamus would have understood. Destroyah would agree. And it’s what Balance would have desired. And no, before you ask, I don’t think it wise to order your execution. That said, I don’t know why you’ve come here. There is no escape from Malus.”

“What if I can help you? Everyone who is here find a way out?”

“Dear child. That is gullible thinking. Naive. Even if you save us, there are still other villages. I doubt you can find them all.”

"How dare you think you have the power to speak for Kaksa." Bonegrinder was as sneaky as always, having found his way to the church, following Leere's scent. He managed to slip inside through the back, and was now on his usual lounging spot; the ceiling. He had coiled his massive body around the chandeliers, dust falling from above. It was clear the snake was in a foul mood even more so now. "The Mother Goddess abhors the murder of innocent children, even those who had no say in what happened to them. No, this is your failure. Failing to protect them."

"... and this is my master." Black stated with a stoic face. "Bonegrinder."

Lady Jackalen didn’t look surprised. Bi-Hanzo fists glowed a blue aura, but he kept his ground. The elder looked up, frowning lightly. “A swift end is preferable to torture they’d have gone through. It has been a long, long time since I’ve seen one of your kind. Still arrogant. Still boastful of living in better lands. After all, the Mother is part of the reason we remain trapped here. Besides, the children after death could be resurrected. They just needed their minds, not their souls.”

Leere was a little disgusted by that statement. “How old are you? How many souls have you taken?”

“Old enough. Blood magic is a gateway to soul manipulation. As I know you know.” The elder walked over to a seat, taking a moment to sit down. “Although, there’s something about you too, Echidnan. Something faint.”

"And your kind are nothing but slaughterers of the innocent." Bonegrinder hissed through gritted fangs. "Mother of the Monsters erected the barrier because your people decided to play with Chaos' little pets. We Echidnans will not apologize for protecting ourselves and our homeland." The Anagari scoffed as the Elder tried to analyze him. "You know nothing of this old snake, old woman."

"Bonegrinder is ancient like you, lady." Black had no filter.

“Ha. You think yourself a light to our darkness? Yourself righteous? You know that we desired help, yet you turned us away. All lands did. Or they enslaved us. Such was the design of those who fell to true darkness in Malus.”

"Why would Echidnans want to help the kind responsible for the rampaging of their homes? Friend or foe, the Mortuus are two faced." Bonegrinder snorted. "You are going senile, old woman, if you think we would do such a thing." He slid down the wall of the church, settling beside of Leere and Black. "Do you understand now why this snake did not want to bring you here, tiny princess? There is nothing for you here."

“Bi-Hanzo, what do you think? Do you wish freedom from Malus?”

The man was surprised Leere had the fortitude to address him so quickly. “I’d wish it more than anything.”

Leere turned her attention away from the elder and Bonegrinder. “Then I don’t know how long it will take, but I can take you and your people away from this all.”

“I don’t know if I can trust your friend. Unless...”

“Unless what?”

“Unless you stay the night. Protect my village.”

This could be a way of discovering the evil that plagued her dream. Nodding, Leere held an arm out to shake. “I accept.”

Before Bonegrinder, Black, or Lady Jackalen could disagree, Bi-Hanzo shook her hand. “A woman of her word? I look forward to it.”

"You don't have to like my master, but I would highly advise trusting him." Black told Bi-Hanzo and Lady Jackalen. "He knows more than you think he does."

"Let the people believe what they wish, Black, it is of no consequence to this snake." Bonegrinder dismissed the thought from the assassin's viewpoint. "You know what they think of him and you know what he thinks of them."

"What about the prophecy, Bonegrinder?"

"If they do not wish to speak of their prophecy, it matters not. We know what we need to know."

“Come, I will take you to the saloon. You can rest there until nightfall.”

~

In the darkness of Malus’ infamous great city, deep within a castle wall, creatures scuttled about in the shadows. A mechanical bug crawled along the walls, reaching a man and hissing into his ear. The man paused, patiently listening. Entering a private chamber, his voice echoed in a loud whisper. The man himself was nearly a silhouette of a man, a terrible tall blackness covered in robes and with crimson eyes. “Your brother has slithered his way into Malus it seems.”

"I was wondering when Prama would make the mistake of following that vessel into this realm." Dhakk was as studious as always, surrounded by books. He was looking for a way to rid himself of this earthly host and return to the heavens beside of his beloved Kaksa. Even after all this time, he still longed to be by her side, even if she did prefer his brother. She would never give Prama a second thought after he wiped his brother's existence from history.

Even in candle light, the shadow man was still pure blackness as he walked closer. He more of a shape, he had two horns that helped with a frightful appearance. “The Shadow Sage has also finally come to Malus.”

"Ah... now that is an interesting revelation." Dhakk actually looked up from his book, those glowing turquoise eyes seemingly amused. "The vessel was chosen as the Shadow Sage. Maybe the spirits took pity on her plight."

“There are many of us who wish to use her. Our master wants to make you a deal, Destroyah.” The whisper was like a lullaby to the gods ears.

"I usually do not deal with messengers." Dhakk returned his gaze to his books. "If your master wants a deal, then he can ask me in person."

A pause, for a moment, and the air turned to a chill. “I am asking you.” The candle lights went out, with only the glow of each others eyes in the room giving away the terror both could give. “You deal with an avatar of my will. It’s taxing to make one. You have my respect Dhakk that I let you communicate with one. I know you can be respectful yourself.”

"... a fragment, that you are. But part of Chaos nonetheless." Dhakk still did not look too interested. "What business do you want with me? If you are looking for a way to get to Kaksa, then you're out of luck. I'm sure you heard about her little fit when she tossed my brother and I from the heavens."

“She helped Hylia sever me from my power as well. A power I’m well on my way from achieving once more.” The shadow wisped around the room, holding Dhakk’s shoulders lightly. “What if I helped you gain revenge on your brother in exchange for helping me in return?” His whisper was alluring to listen to. “You keep the snake, and I get what I want from the woman.”

"Tempting. Dare I ask how you plan to achieve this?" Dhakk wanted more details. "Bound to his host or not, my brother Prama is still a very powerful being. How do you plan to enact this 'revenge'? I care not of the woman."

“The woman holds a powerful piece of my essence locked within her. If you complete a ritual to bring this being out of her, you will summon forth a demon to surpass Demise. Alone, it would rip apart the physical fabric of your brother. With you, there’d be no struggle from your brother to be had. From there, he is a soul, and a soul can be scattered, trapped, or lost to time and space. And I know something else that would entice you.”

"As I said before, tempting, but what could be better than gloating as Prama is ripped into a thousand pieces?"

“Hurting those he cares about.” The red eyes glew as the whisper grew insidious. “How he hurt you in taking away your love from you. You can take away the friendships he has. You can make him a failure before you rip him to pieces. Make his friends suffer; make him powerless to stop it.”

"That sounds like a glorious bit of destruction that is making me twitch in anticipation." Dhakk chucked with a sinister grin. "I don't suppose you had a few of these friends in mind?"

“The woman Leere needs to suffer for the ritual to be completed. I know Bonegrinder cares for her the most. Do anything you desire to her, so long as she feels every pain. There is also a subordinate of his known as Black in Malus with them. A Wraith, but he can be made to experience pain. I will lead them to the capital, from there your followers and mine will separate them. With enough time, the woman will unleash the Demon, and I will give it strength to kill your brother, but not before he wallows in the agonizing torment of having lost his friends.”

"Hrm... suffering can be physical or mental. Perhaps a mixture of both would work." Dhakk then was surprised to learn of a Wraith. He always thought of Black as an undead puppet. This was certainly interesting news. "Prama's demise will lead Kaksa right back into my arms. Though, I must say, I am rather curious as to why you'd want to help me. After all, Prama and I helped Kaksa lock you away all those years ago. Do you just want to claim this world as your own? Something that is yours, perhaps?"

“I want the bodies of the mortals that Hylia loved to pile up. That’ll be a start. And I live in the moment. I’m adaptable Dhakk.” The shadow danced around to face the god directly. “We have a deal?”

"Very well. We have a deal." Dhakk agreed with the avatar of Chaos. "So... when do I start?"

Teufel’s shadow man shook his hand, his eyes flickering in and out. The Devil had made his contract. “Now.”

________________________________________________________________

Previous Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/625816676434313216/evils-bane-ch-4-dangerous-uncharted-territory

Next Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/626094342071828480/evils-bane-ch-6-yield-to-damnation

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hi! Can you recommend some Final Problem Johnlock fics?

Hi Nonny!

Ahhh, okay so I haven’t really read very many fics dealing specifically with TFP, but the ones I do know of are fics on my MFL list or consider TFP as “canon”. So here’s what I have for you; please lovelies, if you know of any of your own, let us know!

THE FINAL PROBLEM is CANON

See also:

Post S4 / S4 Fix Its

Post S4 / S4 Fix Its Pt. 2

S3 / TAB / S4 [FIX IT] Fics (March 2019)

Post S4 Fics Masterpost

There’s Always Three of Us by Itsallfine (T, 1,765 w., 1 Ch. || S4 Fix It Fic/Post TFP, Parentlock / Rosie, Angelo’s, First Kiss, January 29, Love Declarations) – Sherlock takes John and Rosie out to Angelo’s and gets a chance to correct the biggest mistake of his life.

The In-Between by blueink3 (M, 10,679 w., 1 Ch. || Fluff and Angst, H/C, Parentlock, Fix-It Fic, Canon Compliantish) – Beginning in a Chinese restaurant and ending at the bottom of a well, what about the moments we didn’t see?

Dropping the Act by jadztone (T, 27,258 w., 10 Ch. || Parentlock, Fake Relationship, Mary’s Family, Post-S4, Cuddling & Snuggling, Bed Sharing, Pining, Christmas) – Sherlock and John are quite happy living together with Rosie in Baker St. They might be even happier if they didn’t act towards each other like their love is only platonic. Mycroft brings troubling news in the form of Mary’s parents wanting to know just what their grandchild’s home life is like. The boys decide to spend Christmas pretending like they are in love in order to seem more like a “normal” family. It’s easy enough to pretend when all you’re doing is dropping the act.

Another Auld Lang Syne by DiscordantWords (M, 30,234 w., 31 Ch. || Post S4, Mutual Pining, Alternating POV, Introspection, Parentlock, Christmas, New Year’s, First Kiss, Past Drug Use, Angst with Happy Ending, Drinking, Sherlock Whump) – There had been years of missed chances.

(Never) Turn Your Back to the Sea by DiscordantWords (M, 39,968 w., 7 Ch. || Post S4 Fix It || Grief / Mourning, Victor Trevor, Friendship, Sherlock is Not Okay, Nightmares/Flashbacks/Panic Attacks, Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, John Comes Home) – Baker Street is very much the same. Only different. And Sherlock is just trying not to drown.

The Pieces That Fall to Earth by Itsallfine (M, 49,513 w., 84 Ch. || S4 Fix-It, Epistolary, Love Confessions, Slow Burn, Parentlock, Past Abuse, Coming Out, Internalized Homophobia, Questioning Sexuality, Mental Health Issues / Therapy, Angst, Happy Ending) – John and Sherlock have hit rock bottom, but with all their armor stripped away, they can finally speak honestly, seek healing, and find the truths that matter most. An epistolary post-s4 fix-it fic. Now complete.(This fic is rated T except for one very clearly marked and easily skippable chapter, which is rated M.) Part 1 of The Pieces that Fall to Earth

The Book of Silence by SilentAuror (E, 60,056 w., 2 Ch. || S4 Fix It / Post S4, Virgin Sherlock, Rosie / Parentlock, Domesticity, Fluff, Praise Kink, Sex Toys, First Person POV) – As spring blooms in London, John and Sherlock begin to take new cases and cautiously negotiate this new phase of life with John living at Baker Street again. Despite how well it’s all going, John struggles to forgive himself for the way he treated Sherlock following Mary’s death as well as trying to figure out how to finally put his long-time feelings for Sherlock into words. Part 1 of The Book of Silence/Rosa Felicia

The Bells of King’s College by SilentAuror (E, 64,019 w., 5 Ch. || Post-S4, Missed Opportunities, Angst with Happy Ending, Fake Relationship, Case Fic, John POV, Jealous John, John in Denial, Travelling / Holidays, Virgin Sherlock, Wedding Proposals) – It’s only been two weeks since Eurus Holmes disrupted their lives when Mycroft sends John and Sherlock to Cambridge to pose as an engaged couple at a wedding show in the hopes of solving six unsolved deaths…

MARKED FOR LATER

Evermore by SosoHolmesWatson (G, 2,068 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S4, Parentlock, Beauty and the Beast, Love Confessions, Disney Songs, Oblivious John, First Kiss, Friends to Lovers, Pining Sherlock) – For the past years, John and Sherlock have lived at Baker Street again, raising Rosie together–as friends and nothing more. Ever since the little girl has watched her first Disney movie, she is obsessed with princesses. When John comes home one day, he finds his friend and his daughter in the middle of a reenactment of her current favourite. Part 1 of the Made of Music series

A One-Track Life by JennLynn77 (E, 13,526 w., 7 Ch. || Post S4/TFP, Parentlock, Est. Rel., Medical Procedures, Anal, Cuddling/Snuggling, Bed Sharing, Surgery, Physical Therapy, Retirement, Sherlock Whump, Caring John, Bottomlock, Endearments, Drug Addiction, Triggers) – A medical situation threatens to derail the plans Sherlock had for his life with John and Rosie.

Easier With You by addicted2hugh, FinAmour (E, 13,865 w., 2 Ch. || Post S4, Est. Rel., Parentlock, Insecure Sherlock, Fluff and Smut, Bottomlock, Vulnerable Sherlock, Sherlock’s Past, Porn with Feelings, Pillow Fights, Idiots in Love, Caring John, Light Angst, Frottage, POV Third Person John, Blow Jobs, Purple Shirt of Sex) – Sherlock smiles slightly, his forehead coming to rest on John’s, and he lets out a tiny sigh. “It’s not myself I worry about, John.” “I know,” John says, his nose brushing against Sherlock’s. “And I will support any decision you make. But Rosie is going to be happy with you no matter what. You truly are her hero, you know that?” Sherlock exhales a small laugh. “Am I?” “That’s not even a question that needs answered, Sherlock. She’s amazed by you.”

Kintsugi by distantstarlight (E, 14,772 w., 1 Ch. || Post S4, Emotional Hurt / Comfort, Regret / Remorse, Loneliness, Separation, Drug Use, Healing, Protective John, Sad Sherlock, Dev. Rel., Complicated Relationships, Love, Angst) – Sherlock Holmes becomes estranged from the man he had once considered his best friend after John lets him down horribly in public. It seems that the world’s only consulting detective will be on his own once again…or will he?

fulfilling for other people Series by missselene (E, 19,140 w. across 4 works || Post S4, Pining Sherlock, Virgin Sherlock, Oblivious John, Unrequited Love, UST/RST, Bath Sex, Internalized Homophobia, First Kiss/Time, Making Love, Tender Sex, Vocal Sherlock, Caring John, Angst and Fluff) – When Sherlock decides to act on John’s advice regarding romantic entanglements, the results are far from what John expected.

WHISPER TO ME by chrysanthemumsies (T, 20,598 w., 3 Ch. || Post S4, Fluff, Parentlock, Mutual Pining, Music, Sherlock Plays Guitar, Love Confessions, Light Angst, Romance, First Kiss) - Following the events of S4, Sherlock and John try and fit back into their old life as carefully as they can, all while their feelings threaten to bubble to the surface. Or: Sherlock picks up playing the guitar. John falls more and more in love with every passing day.

Home Is by glenien (E, 21,786 w., 2 Ch. || S4 Fix-It / Post S4, Eventual Happy Ending, Parentlock, Emotional Baggage, First Kiss, Domesticity, Fluff) – While 221B is still under construction, Sherlock stays with Rosie and John.

Here Comes The Sun by JennLynn77 (E, 32,126 w., 15 Ch. || Post S4/TFP, John Whump, Caring Sherlock, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Friends to Lovers, Emotional Sex, First Time, Virgin Sherlock, Switchlock, Cuddling/Snuggling, Surgery/Injury Recovery, Endearments, Anal, Hand Jobs, Porn with Feels) – John suffers an injury and needs surgery. Sherlock, and those around him, help John recover. Along the way, John and Sherlock realise what they mean to each other, and what they’ve had together all this time.

A Change of Heart by SosoHolmesWatson (E, 65,436 w., 20 Ch. || Post-S4 / Canon Compliant, Jealous Sherlock, Past Abuse, Parentlock, Dev. Rel., Idiots in Love, Suicidal Sherlock, Implied / Referenced Drug Use, Mollstrade, Coming Out, Love Confessions, Big Brother Mycroft, John’s Childhood, POV Alternating, First Kiss/Time, Virgin Sherlock, Hand Jobs) – After all they have been through, after all the heartbreak and desolation, John and Sherlock want to make their way back to each other, still convinced that friendship is all that can exist between them. Will there be a change of heart? Part 1 of the The Pains of Growing series

Kintsukuroi by sussexbound (E, 91,823 w., 20 Ch. || S4 Compliant / Post-TLD, Grief / Mourning, PTSD, Internalized Homophobia, Therapy, Past Abuse, Alcohol Abuse, Nightmares, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Depression, Anxiety, Bed Sharing, Love Confessions, Cuddling, Suicidal Ideation, Masturbation, Minor Character Death, Sexting, Frottage, Inexperienced Sherlock, Rimming / Anal / BJ’s) – “I love you.” Sherlock sees the words hit John with almost physical force. He reels back a little, jaw twitching and eyes filling. “I love you,” he repeats, a little softer, a little more gentle, as earnest as he possibly can. Because they’ve been teetering on the brink of this thing for years, and it had become painfully obvious over the last few months that they were at a tipping point. This had to happen. Now it has. Now they can see where they end up. The tears in John’s eyes spill over, and he wipes at them angrily. “Do you even know what that means?”  

The Lost Special: Family Matters (As Do Relationships) by ShirleyCarlton   (M, 115,279+ w., 33/38 Ch. || WiP || S4 Fix It Fic, Unreliable Narrator, John’s Mind Bungalow, Friends to Lovers, Happy Ending) – WORK IN PROGRESS – Sherrinford is not really the name of some high security prison. That was just a figment of John’s frantic coma dream. And Eurus is not actually Sherlock’s sister. That’s just something random she said to John before shooting him. Sherlock and John were never actually estranged. That was just their act to cover up what really happened to Mary – or Rosamund Moran, as her real name has turned out to be. Sherlock does have a secret sibling, though, and his name is Sherrinford. After finally eliminating Moran – though in a rather dramatically different way than they had envisioned – and exposing the truth about Eurus, John encourages Sherlock to delve into his past and to find out whether the reasons to keep Sherrinford away from Sherlock were the right ones, and to discover what really happened in 1981. Along the way, Sherlock and John gradually, finally, stop keeping each other at a distance, and eventually become a proper family of their own.

Radioactive Trees In A Red Forest by Maribor_Petrichor (E, 280,251 w., 73 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Post-S4, Suicidal Ideations, Alcohol / Rx Drug Abuse, Coming Out / Bisexual John, Seizures, Past/Referenced/Implied Child Abuse, Hallucinations, Rehab, Celibacy, Sobriety / Relapse, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Grief/Mourning, Psychological Trauma, Nice /Not Anti-Mary, John’s POV, Parentlock, First Time, Angst, Switchlock, Angst with Happy Ending) – John Watson is what happens when a man can no longer see a reason to go on. John Watson is what happens when a man starts to let go. “It is what it is.” John Watson is what happens when what “it is” becomes too much to bear. This is a story of the life, death, and resurrection of John Hamish Watson.

[elisaphoenix13]

Trigger The Light (Ch.1)

It was just the three of them. Tony, Nebula, and Quill. The men were in bad shape after almost a month of drifting in space (Quill could keep them on track for Earth, but actually flying the ship would burn their resources faster), and miraculously, Carol found them and got them back to Earth. They were both taken into the compound and given an IV before meeting up with the remaining Avengers and discussing their next move. Tony shut down when he saw Stephen and Peter on the screens in front of them, as well as another teenage boy, and when he tried to leave the room, he collapsed. Quill kept uncharacteristically quiet throughout the whole thing as he studied each face that popped up on the screens, and only when the others talked about going after Thanos did he say something.

"The ship needs repairs." He mumbles.

"How long will that take?" Steve asks and Rocket was the one to answer.

"We can leave in the morning. Quill...you gotta stay. You're in no shape to go back out there."

Quill shrugs. "For once in my life, I want to stay on Earth. Just make sure you bring my ship back in one piece."

That had been the end of that conversation. The able bodied team members left to confront Thanos in space the next morning, and Tony and Quill took the next few days to recover. The engineer's baby daughter had survived the snap out of his entire immediate family, and when they were well enough to leave the medical ward, he approached Quill in the common area. The outlaw had been lazily scrolling through the internet on one of Tony's Starkpads, but nothing processed in his mind. He wasn't in the mood to try to catch up on what happened in the past thirty years while he was gone, and he didn't really see the point because of the Snap.

"Quill."

The man looks up at Tony and finds not only baby Diana on his hip, but also another little girl standing beside him with an overnight bag. He had recently met her just a couple of days ago, found out her name was Cassie, and that her Dad was one of the victims of the Snap. Her mother and stepfather were in the middle of traveling and they had no way of contacting them.

"I...I can't stay here. I bought a cabin by a lake and I'm taking the girls with me. You're welcome to come if you want."

Quill looks at the trio standing a few feet away and he nods. "Yeah...sure."

__________________________

Five years passed. Tony and the girls made the best of it, and Quill stayed because he bonded with Diana and Cassie. It wasn't like there was much for him out in space anyway. Rocket and Nebula were borrowing his ship, out doing who knows what, (helping out the world and the universe probably) and Quill was helping Tony raise the girls. Well, not so much raising...just helping. Being the uncle Diana called him and making sure Tony didn't get lost in his head or lock himself in his lab too long. There were very few pictures of his late family around the house and those few still hurt the engineer to look at sometimes.

"UNCLE QUILL!" Diana yells from outside, and the pirate flies off the couch and out of the cabin to find the little girl standing under the apple tree and looking up. Cassie was a couple feet away reading a book.

"Shit, don't scare me like that. What do you need kiddo?"

"I want an apple!"

Quill looks up at the tree and, considering how high up the lowest apple was, figured that not even Cassie would have been able to reach. He was the tallest member of the household anyway so it made sense that Diana automatically thought to ask him for help. With a smile, he grabs three apples, tells the little girl to wait, and walks back inside with the fruit to wash them. After that, he goes back outside and hands one to Diana before following her over to her little fort and handing another apple to Cassie.

"Is Tony in his lab again?" She asks as Quill sits on one of the lawn chairs and Dia crawls into her fort.

"Nah. I think he's making dinner actually."

"At least it's not you. We still haven't refilled the fire extinguisher." Cassie sasses and Quill flicks her forehead.

"Maybe we should talk about that window you broke-"

"Okay truce!"

Cassie bats away his hand and he chuckles as Gerald walks over to see what all the excitement is about. The alpaca nudges Quill with his muzzle when he notices the man's apple, and the pirate groans before taking a knife out of his pocket. He cuts off a slice and offers it to the animal and then gently pushes him away.

"Alright, now get out of here. Go raid the garden."

He stands up and herds the alpaca away from the girls' area and he watches curiously as a car pulls into the driveway. As far as he knew, neither he nor Tony were expecting company, so he waits until the car is parked and sighs when Steve and Natasha climb out of the car. Another person gets out of the back seat but was quickly hidden behind Steve as the trio made their way over to Quill.

"It's been a hot minute since we've seen you." He says to them and pulls the Captain into a hug. The hug gave him the opportunity to see who else came with them and it had his eyes widening. He recognized the man as someone that had been on the monitors when he and Tony made it back to Earth. A Snap victim.

Steve moves away and motions toward the shorter man as Diana leaves her fort to hug Natasha. "This is Scott. Scott Lang. He's-"

"Not to be rude, but they said Cassie was here." Scott interrupts.

Before Quill can turn to ask Cassie if she knew this man, she was rushing past him and falling into Scott's arms. The way he held Cassie was clear enough to the pirate that Scott was Cassie's father, and it brought a warm feeling to his chest. It was nice to see that the teen got one of her parents back and how happy it made her. Quill loved the girls. They were family, and he would do anything to keep them happy.

"I'm a little confused." He finally says after a few minutes of letting Scott and Cassie reunite and they all look at him. "Weren't you snapped?"

"No. That's partially why we're here." Steve answers.

"Explanation after food. I'm starving." Scott says just as the screen door opens.

"Hey! Chow time!" Tony yells as he heads toward them after stepping off the patio. He raises an eyebrow when he notices the three extra people. "Good thing we always make extra. Porcupine eats like Capsicle."

Tony then notices Scott and his mouth drops open as the younger man leaves Cassie's side and hugs the engineer. Tony pats his back in bewilderment and Scott pulls away after a few seconds to endlessly thank him for taking care of Cassie. They all go inside, Natasha carrying Diana on her hip, for dinner and once Scott gets a good amount of food into his stomach, he explains where he had been the last five years. The conversation did get sidetracked to Cassie's care again and Tony had recovered enough from his earlier shock to hold his hand up to quiet Scott.

"Hang on. I'm not the only one that took care of her. Quill had a part in it too."

Quill stops chewing on his bite of pasta and shakes his head after swallowing his food. "I didn't do anything." He clears his throat when Scott's golden eyes settle on him. "Tony did all the...parenting. I just...babysat sometimes I guess."

Tony and the girls immediately denied his words. They let Scott know that Quill did a lot for them just like Tony, and Scott stared at the pirate for a few more moments before turning the conversation back to the subject of the Quantum Realm and his theory. When time travel came up, Tony rubbed his hand over his face as he thought it over.

"We've all lost someone. Maybe I didn't lose a lover, but I still lost friends." Scott says quietly and Steve nods.

"We all did. We lost friends...family. You lost your kids."

Natasha reaches across the table to gently grab Tony's trembling hand. "You lost Mama Bear too. We all lost him. He means everything to us too. If it weren't for him, this family wouldn't be one."

Tony inhales and let his breath out slowly. "I...I can only promise to try. I don't want this to backfire and end up without more of you. I can't risk the girls."

"That's enough for us. Take all the time you need so you're confident it will work." Steve says.

The billionaire nods and they all finish their dinner on a more positive note. They all caught Scott up on what they could, and afterwards Steve and Natasha left for the compound after Tony promised to call them when he found anything. Scott obviously was going to stay with them because Cassie was with them, and Tony showed him upstairs to the room he would be using. The one next to Quill's.

Quill himself was cleaning up after their meal. Since he couldn't do much cooking, he was usually stuck with the chore to do the dishes and clean the kitchen. Which took him a little longer since there was more to clean. Even though there was a fifth person living at the cabin now, it was still quiet and Quill just assumed that Scott and Cassie were catching up. Maybe all four of them were. Diana was only a baby when the Snap happened but Scott still knew her brothers and Stephen. The pirate was pretty much a stranger. He only knew Stephen and Peter for a few hours.

"Shit!" Quill hisses under his breath when he cuts himself on a knife hidden in the sink full of soapy water.

"There's a reason there's plastic on one end." Scott says from beside him and the pirate nearly jumped out of his skin.

"The hell?! How long have you been standing there?"

Scott smirks and Quill's heart flips at the sight.

Wait.

Where the hell did that come from?

Sure, Gamora was just a really good friend when he lost her, but was he actually attracted to Scott? Maybe the younger man was nice to look at, and maybe his eyes were really pretty in the light of the setting sun...

...Quill was in some serious trouble. It hadn't even been five hours and he was pining after Scott. This wasn't him. He flirted. Looked at potential lovers all together, not specific parts. Not golden eyes, not the shy smile Scott was giving him, not how the man smelled of mint and oranges. Stop. Stop paying so much attention.

"Do you need a bandage or anything for that?" Scott asks as he motions toward Quill's finger.

"No. It's not that deep. I've definitely had worse." The pirate sucks on his finger and then returns to his task of finishing with the dishes.

"I...uh...wanted to thank you. For taking care of Cassie when I couldn't."

"I told you, Tony did everything."

"That's not what he and the girls told me."

"You're welcome then I guess. She's a good kid." Quill says as he puts the last of the dishes on the drying rack and dries his hands. "I thought you would be spending time with her."

"I had a few hours with her, but she and Dia are getting ready for bed."

Quill looks at Scott and blinks. "Hours? How long have I been cleaning?" He looks at the clock. "I must have zoned out. Beer?"

Scott nods and Quill grabs a couple of beers from the fridge, and the two make their way into the living room. Once they collapse onto the couch, Quill hands one of the beers to Scott and then turns on the tv, putting a movie on. The rest of the evening passed in somewhat comfortable silence as they watched the movie, and just when Quill was about to strike up a conversation, he looked over at Scott and found the man fast asleep. He turns off the tv when the movie ends and grabs the blanket off the back of the couch, throws it over Scott, and grabs their empty beer bottles. He rinses them before throwing them in the recycling, and quietly asks FRIDAY to turn off the lights before retiring to bed himself.

[waveideahk]

各位朋友今次我有個小型個展，是關於自己失眠狀況，藉此做這個慨念展覽。加上今次疫情，亦不會作開幕聚會。大家如去參觀請避免多人一起去，帶上口罩，勤洗手啊。( 這是自由進內參觀，本人不會在現場 ) 展覽內容： 失‭ ‬眠‭ ‬–‭ ‬Raymond Pang 個‭ ‬展 夜深，一個一個影像浮現，腦袋飄浮衝擊情感，就像給數百萬缐條纏繞，被拉扯進黑洞裡，難而入眠。 每次要順服這高漲情緒，先控制呼吸把內心情感慢下來，用筆墨一點一點編織成線再成面塊，打開所有感官，享受這刻寧靜，靜靜與 insomnia 線相處。 Wave Idea Wave Idea‭ ‬由‭ ‬Raymond Pang‭ ‬於‭ ‬2003‭ ‬年成立，創作靈感以線條、大海為基礎，融合創作有雕塑、繪畫、陶藝及媒體裝置創作等。 日期‭: ‬2020年‭ ‬3月‭ ‬28‭ ‬日‭ (‬星期六‭) ‬–‭ ‬4月‭ ‬19‬日‭ (‬星期日‭)‬ 時間‭: ‬11:00am‭ ‬–‭ ‬7:00pm 地址：香港中環鴨巴甸街‭ ‬35‭ ‬號‭ ‬（PMQ） 場地‭: ‬S503‭, ‬Staunton https://www.pmq.org.hk/event/insomnia-raymond-pang-solo-exhibition/?lang=ch 主辦‭: ‬WAVE IDEA website‭ ‬‭: ‬www‭.‬waveidea.hk facebook‭ ‬‭: ‬Wave Idea instagram‭ ‬‭: ‬Wave Idea Insomnia‭ ‬–‭ ‬Raymond Pang solo exhibition In the darkest of the night, images appear in my mind, and my brain is invaded by feelings and emotions. It is as if my brain is twined by myriads of lines. I cannot sleep. Each time I have to obey these emotions, to control my breath in order to calm down my mind, and then use the pen and ink to plot the weaving lines to form one piece, to open all my senses, to enjoy this quietness and live together in peace with the lines. Wave‭ ‬Idea Wave idea was founded in 2003 by Raymond Pang with inspirations from the sea and lines. The creation combines sculpture, painting, ceramics and media. Date: Mar 28 (Sat) – Apr 19 (Sun), 2020 Time: 11:00 – 19:00 Address: 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong (PMQ) Venue: S503, Staunton Organizer: WAVE IDEA website‭ ‬‭: ‬www‭.‬waveidea.hk facebook‭ ‬‭: ‬Wave Idea instagram‭ ‬‭: ‬Wave Idea （在 PMQ 元創方） https://www.instagram.com/p/B-EjHTLBkGv/?igshid=13owe59gjbufh

[grandmasterofwangxiancultivation]

SV ch.57

one can’t even study in peace that chapters just pop out of wherever 

*fails to appear angry*

THIS CHAPTER IS FINALLY HERE and we are still in the mausoleum uuuuuh

EDIT: it’s snakey-snakey-zhuzhuzhuz, i think i was right

EDIT 2:

Shen Qingqiu said, “The person who stole the corpse from the Palace Hall vault really was you.”

(AAAAAND I WAS RIGHT, we all were right. What I want now is for father-in-law to appear.)

Zhuzhi-Lang said, “The situation happened too quickly. I had no choice but to continue on to the next stage of the plan. I hope Master Shen will be magnanimous enough to forgive me.”

wait, so there’s a plan? WHAT PLAN? i believe there’s also another next stage beside that, so i wanna knoooooooooow

EDIT 3:

Zhuzhi-Lang said, “Reason number one, I’ve already explained to Master Shen. Since you’ve helped me, I will repay the favor many times over. As for the second reason, Master Shen wasn’t exactly summoned by the humble me… it’s better to ask Junshang directly.”

Shen Qingqiu said, “Alright. Where is Tianlang-Jun, then?”

(wait, what, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN OMG TOO FAST, HE IS GOING TO MEET HIM RIGHT NOW???? *heart pounding loudly*

well, it makes sense, but a bit of warning next time-)

EDIT 4:

Zhuzhi-Lang stared blankly, before saying, “I thought that Master Shen and Junshang had already met.”

Already met?

(E X C U S E    M E    WHAT

WHEN

WHERE WAS I????

ARE YOU SERIOUS OMGGGGG OWIERJGIOVWJROIKROPSK)

EDIT 5:

Could it be that the corpse inside… was Tianlang-Jun?

(IS THIS FOR REAL?)

EDIT 6:

This person set an elbow against the edge of the coffin, a faint smile appearing on his face. He said, “Qing Jing Peak Lord, I’ve looked forward to meeting you for a long time.”

(this... 

i honestly wanna laugh, i think, but i am also incredibly bewildered so it’d come out more like... a nervous, exasperated laugh? 

btw i am loving every second of this)

Shen Qingqiu was stunned.

…….This whole family’s interests were wide and extensive, but it seemed eventually all of their hobbies were the same kind of eccentric. The son enjoyed hugging corpses, the father enjoyed lying inside a coffin.

(EXACTLY. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT!!!! but it’s actually a very cute thing, like, they don’t really know each other but share this father-son bond over death, it’s kinda charming!)

EDIT 7: i didn’t know i needed sqq compare father.in-law to lbh until it happened. shizun talking about lbh’s smile and eyes and posture has this funny side that makes one think about how he can’t help but drag lbh in every situation -which is kinda normal in this current situation, but also... well, cute xD

EDIT 8: FATHER-IN-LAW LOST AN ARM??? IS THAT YOU, RASPUTIN????

EDIT 9: 

This was like the flap of a butterfly’s wings causing a tsunami. He had guessed earlier that Zhuzhi-Lang had taken the Sun and Moon Flower Seed to create a new body for Tianlang-Jun, a conjecture that now appeared to be correct. It was just that Tianlang-Jun did not seem to be very compatible with this new body.

okay, things are starting to make sense, i guess. all my head can think about, tho, is “when is lbh gonna show up? can someone tell him his shizun is alive, ‘cause i don’t think i can do this... whatever it is sqq and father-in-law are doing without lbh dragged into it. which is probably what makes it all feel so dangerously hilarious? i feel conflicted.

EDIT 10: 

Shen Qingqiu paused, then asked, “Is the next step extinguishing all of humanity?”

Tianlang-Jun seemed confused. “Why would you think like that? Of course not. I like humans, just not the four great sects.”

He smiled, then continued: “In contrary, I have a gift to give to the human race.”

Although he didn’t know what this so-called gift was, it definitely wasn’t some ribbon-wrapped object that would bring humanity great joy! Shen Qingqiu had just begun to spit out a rather out-of-practice “f**k” when suddenly, the mausoleum began to shake.

this novel really knows how to mix humor and angst, and i need more. like, are they threatening each other or are they becoming friends? should i feel trilled or scared? WHAT’S GOING ON? DO THEY HAVE THE KEY TO MAKE LBH DO WHATEVER THEY WANT?

EDIT 11:

Tianlang-Jun listened carefully for a moment. “They’ve arrived a lot faster than I thought.” He turned towards Zhuzhi-Lang. “How many?”

Zhuzhi-Lang said, “At least two hundred.”

IS LUO BINGHE HERE? IS HE?   I S   H E ?????

EDIT 12: 

Shen Qingqiu’s heart lurched. He blurted out: “The Jinlan City sowers. Was that part of your plan to make me leave Cang Qiong Mountain sect?”

so wait, father-in-law has always been there plotting against... with... well, behind the scene of sqq’s moves? wow, that’s intriguing!! i need more sqq/father.in-law talks! though i’m still trying to understand whether they are trying to kill shizun or not?

EDIT 13:

Tianlang-Jun calmly replied, “Summoning Peak Lord Shen here was also because of my own selfishness.”

He sighed. “That son of mine, to raise him for so many years really has been an inconvenience for Peak Lord Shen.”

Although he had long suspected that this matter had to do with Luo Binghe, hearing his name still made Shen Qingqiu’s heart tremble. He begrudgingly tried to pump himself up, before asking: “Luo Binghe? What does this have to do with him?”

Tianlang-Jun snorted, lowering his head. “How do I say this? I’ve noticed that towards Peak Lord Shen, he’s extremely…”

THEEEEERE WE GO, THE MAIN DISH!!! AAAAAAH I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS. are they going to talk about lbh being in love with shizun or what? though i don’t think that’ll be the case, but he finally said his son’s name! aaaaah tell me more!

EDIT 14: E X C U S E  M E  2.0 WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK????? HE WANTS LBH’S BODY????? I WAS JOKING, I DON’T WANNA READ ANYTHING ANYMORE, DON’T EVEN MENTION YOUR SON’S NAME AGAIN OR I SWEAR TO GOD- 

EDIT 15: okay, i actually feel like we need to thank father-in-law? shizun’s brain had a big revelation and he is probably not only in the right path to realise this is not the novel he knew or believed to be anymore, but that lbh is not the atrociously bad character he remembers -he is a person, and one he unjustly hurt, too. AND MY HEART IS TROBBING IN RELIEF. PLS

EDIT 16: DO I OR DO I NOT HAVE A LBH RADAR IN ME? HE HAS ARRIVED.

Luo Binghe stood on the head of a pitch-black giant beast, his black robes billowing wildly in the dust. The Xin Mo sword lay unsheathed on his back. A pair of eyes glinted red in the light, overlooking the scene with ferocious killing intent.

AND HE IS SO FREAKING COOL