#disgraceful disgusting despicable

[number1spongebobfan]

[biggsodorcitystories]

BIG ENGINE DISAPPROVAL!

Got the urge to draw these three in their iconic triumvirate today!

Sod the Steam Team, and Hail the Big Engine Supremacy! Through time, marriage, kids, and one messy divorce, these three will always find a way to close ranks when someone done them dirty!

[fuckyourtriangles]

Not the company I work for having us sign a safety letter warning us about the danger of heat and how it can make us sick, weak, etc.

Maybe fix the AC and let us have water at the cash registers, hm?

[fftwister]

[noomycatz]

[melanieph321]

Can you please write more of Robin Le Normand fluff,smut anything that man is not appreciated enough🥲

Of course, love ❤️

Robin Le Normand x Reader - Break Up Sex

+18

It's so nasty 🤭

When Reader and Robin go through an ugly break up, that can only end in one way.

Enjoy!

"How long have you felt this way?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for how long have you thought about breaking up?"

He had changed. Both you and Robin had changed during your years together. And when he finally got pick up to play with Real Sociedad's first team, that's when the two of you really grew apart.

"I cheated on you, Robin. Isn't that a good enough reason for us to break up?"

It wasn't your proudest moment, and in your defense, you were drunk and sad on your birthday. Your birthday, which Robin forgot. Hooking up with his teammate was the biggest mistake of your life. However, owning up to it was the right thing to do.

"You made a mistake, Y/N. There's no reason why we should...."

"But you don't want me, Robin!"

The room fell silent. Robin sat before you in a chair while you were on the bed, arms wrapped around your legs. He seemed to think carefully about what to say next, not wanting to lose control. But for once, why couldn't he just lose control?

"You don't want me, Robin. At least not like you wanted me before."

"I'm not sure. I know what you mean?"

"Sex Robin. We don't fuck anymore."

His eyes widened, a slight blush to his cheeks.

"And somedays go by without you kissing me. Do you know how that makes me feel not to be touched? It makes me feel disgusting and unwanted. You make me feel disgusting and unwanted, Robin. "

"So you cheated on me?" He stood. Robin stood but did not seem to know where exactly to go.

"Yes, I cheated on you. It was a mistake, but..."

"With who?" He stood back regarding you like the despicable human being that you were.

"What does it matter, Robin? What's done is done. "

"You told me that it was with one of my teammates. But with whom exactly?"

You shook your head. "It doesn't matter."

"It does to me. TELL ME WHO!"

You flinched, the motion rattling the mattress below you. "Robin." You rose to your feet approaching him slowly.

"Stay back." He shook his head. "Stay the fuck away from me!"

It was inevitable. Through the highs of falling in love to the lows of falling out of it, your relationship had at one point turned toxic. As toxic as it could be when there was no pleasure involved.

"I'll get my things." You said and made your way out of the room. However, Robin lunged towards you, grabbing your wrist, forcing you to face him.

"Robin." You gasped. The desperation, it was very uncharacteristic of him. Same thing for the tears in his eyes.

"Was he better than me?" His hand trembled holding onto your wrist.

"What?"

"Don't act stupid. Ander, was he better than me in bed? Is that what this is about?"

"Y...you knew?"

"That you fucked that idiot, of course. How could you expect a guy like to keep his mouth shut. He is a disgrace of a player and even more so of a man. But perhaps that's what turns you on these days."

It was a valid reaction to slap him. There was no doubt that Robin saw it coming as he squinted his eyes with the impact, the impact that left a mark on his right cheek. You went for a second round. However, Robin was quick and caught you in the motion, pinning your hands above your head, backing you up against the wall.

"I hate you." You hissed.

"No, you don't. You love me, which makes it even harder for you to let me go."

"Robin, let me go."

He shook his head. "I can't. I love you."

You fought him, and he fought to keep you pinned against the wall, arms above your head, his leg between your thighs.

"Robin." You whispered. "Let. Me. Go."

His lowered his head to the crook of your neck, his lips against the lobe of your ear. "No. I want to fuck you."

You sighed. Robin's knee edged closer between your legs, up your naked thighs.

"I want to fuck you. Hard and fast."

"Robin...please." You were begging him to let you go. To let you leave and move on. But at the same time, his voice, his touch...it's all you ever wanted.

His breath was hot against your skin and your face. When he pressed his lips against yours, it felt like the stars in the sky had plunged right through you, allowing you to feel the greatest force of nature, gravity, to edge you closer to him. To Robin and the way his hand had slid down your stomach and up your skirt.

"God, Robin."

"You like that don't you?"

"Yes."

You were in a dase. Robin's fingers traced along the lace of your panties, his knuckles knocking against your folds.

"You're wet." He pulled back, lips plump from kissing. "You're already wet for me."

You wanted to tell him to wipe that fucking grin off his face, however, all you could do was nod you head. With the heavy pulse between your legs all you wanted was for him to touch you, anywhere, anyhow.

"Can I use two fingers?"

"Stop asking for permission and fuck me already."

He chuckled, voice rough and seductive. Nevertheless, he did as you pleased, inserting two fingers where it ached the most.

"Fuck." You eyes squinted with the seamless sensation. You had to grab onto his shoulders not to lose your footing as his fingers edged deeper inside of you.

"Don't be shy, baby, tell me how much you need this."

"I need this." You cried.

"Louder, I can't hear you."

"I need this, Robin! Please...I need you."

It stopped. With abrut motion, all movement inside you stopped.

"You need me?" His gaze was narrow, staring you down as if he demanded your answer.

You nodded your head. "One last time. I need you, I need—"

He kissed you. He kissed you breathlessly, knocking your head back against the wall. His tongue moved eagerly inside of you as his fingers slipped out of you, leaving a missing feeling. However, not for too long as Robin moved you over to the edge of the bed, bending you over in a way that offered you to him.

He made you spread your legs and praised your compliance by taking himself out of his pants, rubbing his tip down your folds.

"Robin, please." The teasing, it was also uncharacteristic. It was vengeful, a punishment.

"One last time baby. You'll have me one last time."

It was break up sex for the books. A memory that might get you wet just thinking back to it. Robin was merciless, pushing himself inside of you like an animal in heat. He held you pinned by the hips so that every backshot felt just like that, a shot, sending shivers down your spine. He grunted with every thrust, cursing your name and the man he believed to have stolen your heart. However, it was impossible. No matter how high and how low your relationship got, the love you had for each other was real, perhaps the realeset it had ever been.

As the grunting stopped, Robin pulled himself out of you just before erupting. The two of you then fell back on the bed, reaching to hold each other if only for one more night. It was a moment true but sad. It was true love. True love at its breaking point.

[thebunnylord]

Ttte swearing headcanons

Thomas: swears at least once a day when nobody is around, thinks saying no-no words is funny

Edward: never said a bad word in his life, will remind everyone to watch their language

Henry: would if he could but knows that swear words hurt people.

Gordon: thinks swearing is undignified, despicable, disgraceful, and disgusting.

James: doesn’t swear except for that time he derailed when his brake blocks were on fire.

Percy: learned a new word, uses it, until he’s told that it’s a bad word

Toby: scolds Percy and Thomas for foul language, swear police

Duck: thinks that swearing is not the Great Western Way ™. Swear police no. 2

Donald: swears in his sleep when he’s stressed out.

Douglas: will swear occasionally for fun

Oliver: will swear occasionally when Duck and toad aren’t around

Emily: is a proper lady and thinks swearing isn’t ladylike

Salty: picked up his vocabulary from the sailors. Has quite the sailor mouth

Cranky: sailor mouth no. 2

Diesel: has a potty mouth so big that it’s a septic tank

Bill and Ben: turn into a pair of giggling middle schoolers when anyone swears.

Mavis: will tell bill and Ben to “stop saying that Word! It’s a swear word and it’s not a nice !!$#&!! Thing to say!”

BoCo: scolds anyone for swearing

Duncan: if Diesel has a septic tank mouth, then Duncan has an entire sewage treatment plant mouth. He uses words like !!$&#!!, !!$#&!!, and !!$#&!! So liberally that they are now conservative.

(Get it, like the political spectrum where theoretically you can go so far in one direction that you wind up on the other side…

…..

I’ll take my leave)

[inhuman-obey-me]

👻 | Lucifer | No MC, please

"I'm the creature that haunts your mind." - Lucifer

“P-please, Lord Lucifer, c’mon – you know I didn’t mean anything by it! This is just a big misunderstanding! We’re buds, aren’t we?” With a toothy yet nervous grin, Casbriel looks up and tries to catch the gaze of his soon-to-be tormenter. The moment he does, however, he feels his heart leap into his throat as cruel crimson bores into his very soul. 

“Buds?” The word is spit out in disgust, though soon a sinister smirk graces Lucifer’s lips. “Oh, silly me. I guess I must have forgotten. Why don’t you remind me?”

“Oh, uh, well – yes. R-remember at His Highness’ party the other week?” Casbriel begins to sweat, grasping at whatever memory he could to hopelessly convince the other. “How we were just having a grand ole’ chat over some Demonus? You remember that, don’t you?” 

“Ah, yes!” The Avatar of Pride feigns surprise, eyes widening slightly as a gloved hand comes to hold his chin as if in thought. “I think that must have been after you and Buriel had your little chat, hm?”

Casbriel’s nervous smile falters. 

“I believe you two were talking about what a disgrace it was, that Lord Diavolo had a fallen angel right by his side as his closest aide. How you couldn’t wait to enact your plan to be rid of those despicable beings and, what was it?” Lucifer pauses, taking in the sinking features of his prey. “Get a proper ruler in place.” 

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about! We said no such thing, surely you wouldn’t believe we would discuss something so t-treasonous!” With a hysterical laugh, Casbriel waggles his head. 

“Oh? Then what about three weeks ago, when you were meeting at Buriel’s to discuss the intricacies of your plan? You sure had quite a bit of Demonus there as well, didn’t you?” Lucifer’s brow raises. “A favorite vintage of mine, actually. I’m sure it must have been delicious. In fact, it seems you certainly did find it to be absolutely delectable.” 

Dread sinks into the lesser demon’s belly as realization dawns. 

Lucifer was reading his memories. 

“Caught on, have you?” It was chilling, the way Lucifer’s voice could hold joy and ire at once. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say you have a rather unhealthy obsession with me, with how you think of me so often.” 

Casbriel shifts in his restraints, deciding that all attempts at pleasantries were now futile. So he glowers, hissing at the demon towering over him, “You deserve every bit of contempt. Creatures like you don’t deserve to be here, and that damn prince is a fool for welcoming you with such open arms!”

“There it is.” Lucifer snickers, though his demeanor quickly turns cold. His wings whip out, extending to a frightening degree – as if they are about to eclipse the room and swallow it in shadow. “You really are pitiful. Is that all it took to get you to confess so willingly?”

The defiant fire that momentarily took over Casbriel was quickly extinguished, fear beginning to creep into his eyes as Lucifer circled him once again, like a vulture ready to feast. 

“Oh, Casbriel.” The Avatar sneered, coming to a stop right behind the other and lowering himself so that his breath could be felt on the lesser’s ear. “Us creatures don’t deserve to be here, hm?”

He places one hand on each of Casbriel’s shoulders, his gloves transforming to reveal long, sharp claws that begin to pierce flesh. “I suppose I’m the creature that haunts your mind most of all. Though, don’t worry,” Another menacing chuckle as his claws sink deeper, earning a pained cry.

“I’ll make sure to make all of that haunting a reality for you tonight.” 

[unpopularvivian]

Incorrect Ttte Quotes 358:

Gordon: It's just.... DISGRACEFUL!!!!!

James: DISGUSTING!!!!!

Henry: DESPICABLE!!!!!

Edward: DOGSHIT!!!!!!!

Rebecca: Downer......

*Gordon, James and Henry all stare at Edward and Rebecca as they realize something*

Rebecca: Hey Ed? Did we-?

Edward: Wait.....

[hoonsrealgf]

I wish for him to end up behind bars, where only a despicable person like him truly belongs. This case is one of the most chilling I've come across, and the suffering of that young girl over the years is unimaginable. Who can say when she lost hope for a brighter future, and only God knows the torment she endures today. To those abominable individuals who stand by him, I have words from the depths of my own experiences: to hell with you and him, and to hell with your blind loyalty to strangers that leads you to defend him despite all the damning evidence. A mother is irreplaceable, the singular figure in the world, no matter her flaws. I've been without mine since the day I entered this world, I don't mark my birthday because it signifies the loss of the dearest person to me, my mother. Yet, I understand and cherish her essence more deeply than those who still have her by their side. May at least a fraction of the suffering she endured visit you tomorrow. Some would give everything for their mother, while you wander justifying a deranged individual. Pitiful. I observe that fools like you will never grasp the valor of this girl; she is a true heroine. It's a tragedy of our times, filled with shame, horror, and sorrow. A sentence of death should be readied for this. And you women who believe in his innocence, you disgraceful beings.

I loved him so much, this is just disgusting.

[weirdowithaquill]

What are Sir Topham Hatt’s (and the engines) opinion on how privatization was handled? When I read about it, I always think how absurd it was to keep the track nationalized, but let other companies run the goods trains, then different run the passenger trains. It is a spaghetti mess. Sodor had the right idea to yoink the old Furness mainline.

Thank you for your ask! (and I'm really sorry for the long wait). This is actually going to be really fun to potentially answer, so let's see...

Officially, the NWR regards privatisation as: "an important milestone in Britain's railway history and the beginning of cooperation between the NWR and our partner railways throughout Great Britain." It's a very prim and proper way of saying "the only thing that changed was the name of the idiot company that keeps delaying our trains." In private however, reactions were very, very different.

For a few engines, it meant very little: Thomas in particular barely cared at all. "What'll change? Not my branchline, that's for sure!" he once snapped at Duck when the Western engine tried to goad him into ranting with him about privatisation. Duncan said something very similar to a visiting diesel, only his version was far too inappropriate to be put in writing. Ever.

In stark contrast, a lot of the engines had very loud opinions about the entire thing. Duck spent most of one night trying to tell anyone who would listen that it was "disgraceful, disgusting and despicable" that the GWR hadn't been reformed after privatisation. (Henry, James and Gordon had to be physically restrained by BoCo and Bear before they tore Duck a new funnel for stealing their catchphrases). Donald and Douglas both tried to convince the Fat Controller to send them to London to 'politely make a case for a fully independent Scottish network'... multiple times. They also managed to say such inappropriate things that Oliver had to double-head all of Douglas' trains for a month to act as a censor for his language!

Gordon decided to offer the press his own solution to the privatisation issue, which went something like this: "What we need, is four companies to look after trains in different parts of the country - like we used to." "Like the Big 4?" "Indeed!" "We can't do that, such a system is considered to be a monopoly, and the government won't allow it." "Alright then, how about this: we have one railway that runs in the North and the East... and down to London perhaps. Then we can also have one railway that runs in the Midlands, and in Scotland... and also down to London perhaps, so you have your competition. Then we could have a railway that is in the West, and one in the South-" "Like the Big 4?" "No! These companies would be completely different!" "Look, Gordon, the government has made it very clear that the Big 4 will not return." "Well then FUCK JOHN MAJOR AND ALL THE TORY PARTY! [...] There would be competition anyway, with the roads, don't those blithering idiots understand?! [...] If any of them took a train for once, they'd realise just how bloody stupid the whole thing is, the bunch of------" (About twenty minutes worth of ranting has been omitted, due to various constraints...)

It was no surprise to anyone that Gordon personally campaigned for the Labour Party in 1997.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Sir Stephen Hatt and his sister Bridget were frantically pouring over the old charters of the NWR, hoping to be able to keep the new companies off Sodor - and indeed they found they could, as a 1925 Government deal originally intended to keep the NWR independent of the LMS also (entirely by accident) meant that no private, standard-gauge railway company other than the NWR could operate on the Isle of Sodor. Sir Stephen happily shoved that document in parliament's face when they tried to privatise the NWR's various assets, and then got his deal for the Furness Line from a different parliament committee before anyone could cross-reference him. By the time anyone managed to question why exactly they were selling an entirely railway line to a man who had very loudly told them to 'shove off and leave my railway alone', Sir Stephen had already taken control.

Their opinion: "Why treat a railway like its an airline? Honestly, it'll just wind up causing more problems in the end. A railway is a public good - yes, it makes us a lot of money, but we still run it for the people of Sodor, not for - no, we don't know why they divided British Rail like that, it makes no sense to us either - please stop asking more questions before we can finish our thoughts."

Also, a small rather large side note - Britain's railway privatisation is a complex and very unique affair that really showcases how exactly not to privatise a railway network. For example: for around seven years, the railway infrastructure was owned by a private company called RailTrack... which was terrible at doing its job and caused a number of major railway accidents (See Hatfield, 2000; Southall, 1997; Ladbroke Grove, 1999) and then panicked after the Hatfield crash and basically shut the network down, leading to questions over its competence and the finally its re-nationalisation because - surprise surprise - a private company trying to produce profits really shouldn't be in charge of the safety of millions of people with almost no proper accountability. Worse yet, the monopolies that the Tories wanted to avoid by breaking up the system happened anyway - see EWS, which bought up almost all the freight franchises and created a monopoly, only to be bought by Deutsche Bahn, which created an even bigger monopoly as it also owned (at the time) Arriva (they sold Arriva in 2024). To worsen the spaghetti, the system was divided into three basic sections: the infrastructure (RailTrack), Train Operating Companies (who owned the trains) and Franchises (who ran the trains and hired staff). In other words: a ticket in the UK is so expensive because you are paying for: the train crew, renting the train, renting the track, renting the platforms and producing profits for shareholders.

Oh, and suddenly freight and passenger trains owned by different companies are all competing to have priority at every. single. signalbox. in the country.

Now, I am not an expert in fixing extremely broken railway systems, but even still, I feel like I could probably do better than this mess!

Thank you for reading!

[steam-beasts]

*Continue on with the last ask*

BF:B-beep

GF: (Activate demon model)

Rap battle Girlfriend versus Gordon

Thomas and Edward: Oh hello again

BF🥹:B-beep

Boyfriend felt the colour drain from his face, as well as any cockiness he had beforehand vanish as the monsterous big blue engine emerged from his berth, his sharp claws clacking against the metal rails as he trudged out of the shed. Girlfriend was also froze in shock, even though her face didn't show much of it.

Gordon quietly growled, looking around before his eyes landed on the blue midget below. His eyes widened, instantly recognising the little man and so, his mouth curled into a angry snarl.

"You?!" Wheeshed Gordon, his coat of grey fur fluffing up. Boyfriend gulped, feeling himself shrink from the monster's glare. He nervously waved "B-Beep...". Gordon snorted and narrowed his eyes "Why you little –!"

"What's going on, Gordon?" Asked a new voice. At that moment, James and Henry came out of their berths on either side of him. When they saw Boyfriend and Girlfriend, they fumed.

"It's those charlatans!" Henry exclaimed, his eyes dilating.

"It appears the two PISSHEADS decided to show their faces again! How DISGRACEFUL!" Gordon growled.

"DISGUSTING!" James chimed in, unsheathing his claws.

"DESPICABLE!!" Henry spat. Smoke billowed from the big three's mouths and out of their noses. They all began to slowly prowl towards Boyfriend, growling and hissing angrily. Boyfriend, cowering in fear looked to Girlfriend.

Girlfriend knew she had to step in, as there was no way Boyfriend would survive the three big beasts. So she channeled her demonic energy and transformed into her demon form. She dashed towards her partner and tossed him into the distance.

The three engines were taken back by this sudden action, but were unaffected and decided to go for Girlfriend instead. None of them were put off by the fact that Girlfriend was a demon, which was surprising.

Gordon, James and Henry began to circle the young woman like a hungry pack of jaguars. Tension was high.

3

2

1

BRAWL!!

Boyfriend, who was flung a mile away from the fight landed in a pair of giant furry paws. He looked up and saw Edward smiling down at him, along with Thomas. The old engine set the blue haired man down and the three of them watched the fight from afar.

It was quite difficult to tell who was winning, as both Girlfriend and the beasts were equally matched in strength. Plus, there was a lot of steam and dust.

[reality-schmality]

Someone attacked me for romanticizing a rapist and now I can’t sleep because I’m fucking pissed.

You want to know why I love Spike so goddamn much? His redemption arc. Yes, he’s unhinged. He’s a fucking evil vampire. Congratulations on recognizing the obvious. He kidnaps Buffy and does an entire “who should I kill” bit, he thinks that by killing his ex he’s proving his love. YES. HES NOT A GOOD GUY. NO ONE IS SAYING HE IS.

But he also has these moments. Like protecting Dawn despite being tortured. He and Buffy aren’t any kind of item yet, but it’s a notch in the redemption arc. Protecting her after Buffy dies just because he genuinely likes Dawn. Does this excuse the fact that he’s stalking Buffy throughout seasons 5 and 6? NO GODDAMNIT.

But after the attempted rape, he realizes just how badly he’s fucked up. He didn’t need Xander’s shitty self or any of the others to tear him a new one. Yes, he talks to Clem before leaving town, but he was already fighting with himself and punishing himself for his behavior—both because he’s disgusted by his actions and because he knows he’s supposed to be an evil vampire who shouldn’t care about such actions. It is then his decision to clear out and seek a soul. It’s his choice. It’s his reaction to his actions.

AGAIN I AM NOT EXCUSING THE ACTIONS. But I find the response intensely compelling. And as a fucking rape victim myself, it gives me hope that my two rapists tried to fix themselves after destroying me.

People CAN change. People CAN improve, even the most despicable. And that is why I love Spike. Angel didn’t change. Angel didn’t improve. He had a soul forced upon him and wallowed in misery for a hundred odd years until someone else smacked him on the head and told him he was a disgrace. As soon as he loses his soul, he reverts straight back to terrifying, unhinged, torturous evil vampire killing machine.

Spike has a chip forced upon him, which puts him in a similar situation as Angel but deeply different in that Spike isn’t being tortured by a conscience. He can easily still terrorize Buffy in any possible way that doesn’t involve direct violence, as he did working for Adam. But he slowly changes his behavior instead. It doesn’t take him a hundred years of whining and brooding and crying poor me. It just takes an albeit forcibly changed perspective.

So yeah. I like Spike. I think he’s miles better than Angel. I do ship him and Buffy. But if you fucking call me out for excusing rape or if you prefer to be completely blind to a chosen redemption arc, than you have no business anywhere near me.

[robininthelabyrinth]

Prompt: LQR is betrothed to WRH.

ao3

“Absolutely not,” Lan Qiren said, and the mandate from the imperial court was only saved from the destruction because it had been plucked out of his hands before he had fully finished ingesting what he had just read. “Absolutely not.”

“I don’t see that we have much of a choice,” one of his cousins, Lan Bocheng, said, and for all that he and Lan Qiren rarely agreed on much, given how much he resented Lan Qiren’s role as the acting sect leader of their Lan sect, he at least looked just as grim as Lan Qiren felt. “It’s an imperial decree. Are you going to tell the Emperor that he can’t have what he wants?”

“Exactly that,” Lan Qiren said through gritted teeth, “if what Wen Ruohan wants is my nephew!”

“It’s not like that.”

“How can it not be like that?! That – the Emperor sent an decree ‘inviting’, or better put, demanding that second young master Lan be delivered to the Nightless City within half a month in order that he be given an ‘opportunity’ to join the imperial harem! What else could it mean if not that he has his eyes upon Wangji?!”

“Don’t misunderstand me,” Lan Bocheng snapped. “I’m just saying that there’s more to it than what appears on the surface – Wangji isn’t the only one who received such a letter. It’s said that such letters were sent out to a number of promising well-born young masters and young mistresses throughout the cultivation world, and it is only an ‘opportunity’, meaning that there’s every chance that none of them will be forced to actually become concubines. This is a matter of hostages, not matrimony.”

“It’s still shameful,” Lan Qiren rebutted, although he grudgingly acknowledged that the additional information helped calm him down. “To be known for the rest of your life as having been sent to be another man’s concubine is to be disgraced forever, even if everyone knows the real story…how does such an ‘opportunity’ work, anyway? Isn’t anyone selected to be a concubine immediately disqualified from holding any other position at court?”

That was the reason usually bandied around for why the head of the Nie family, general of the imperial forces, hadn’t ever been married in, even though he was well known to frequently share a bed with the Emperor.

“Imperial concubines are traditionally not allowed out of the harem,” Lan Zhengzhi said. “They aren’t even permitted to receive visitors without special dispensation, not even family.”

Lan Qiren’s hands clenched once more.

“The full letter accompanying the mandate stated that the young masters and mistresses invited to the Nightless City wouldn’t immediately become full concubines, but rather ‘nominees’. They would reside in the outer parts of the imperial harem, treated like honored guests and permitted to continue their studies and cultivation. Ultimately, if they are not selected for the inner harem, they would be permitted to return home.”

Someone scoffed; Lan Qiren wasn’t sure who, but he agreed whole-heartedly. Once Wen Ruohan had all those hostages in the palm of his hand, there was little reason not to keep them there permanently – all the young men and women of the cultivation world being carefully reeducated in the Nightless City, taught the ways of the Wen rather than their families, and if they or their families took a single step out of place, their entire futures would be cut off through the ‘honor’ of being selected…

Disgusting. Clever, but despicable – truly the standard badge of honor for the cultivation world’s self-dubbed emperor. Wen Ruohan had been a sect leader like any other a few generations back, only he and his younger brother Wen Ruoyu had teamed up to scheme against, buy out, or flat out conquer virtually everyone who stood in their path. They had been unstoppable and irrepressible, the strengths of each one compensating for the weaknesses of the other; after they had survived the schemes against them in their youth, there was no dividing them, and without that wedge, there was no hope for anyone else to get in. In the end, the other sects had only been able to grit their teeth and wait for the generations to pass, hoping to get their own back once the two brothers had fallen.

Only – they hadn’t.

It was said that Wen Ruohan’s high cultivation made him look as though he were still in his twenties despite all the years that had passed, while Wen Ruoyu, who despite being younger was a touch weaker, looked older than him, he too remained in the prime of his life, a powerful fighter who had rather unorthodoxly selected the spear as his weapon. He was no less dangerous than his brother, the master of arrays who had cultivated to such heights and found a way to drag his brother up to the heavens along with him, and together…well. Their elders, peers, and juniors that had been scheming against them were all eventually defeated by this indefatigable longevity, and now Wen Ruohan was the imperial master of the cultivation world in truth.

There was no one who could stand against him.

He was also already married to several consorts (albeit none that had yet been named Empress), and was possessed of two full grown sons a few years older than Lan Qiren’s nephews, but Lan Bocheng was right; that patently wasn’t the point of this. After a fairly lengthy period in which the imperial harem remained empty after the deaths of the Emperor’s original wife and children, which were rumored to have been caused by the Emperor himself, a wife had been brought in as a political gesture, locking down alliances, and an heir of appropriate lineage had been born shortly thereafter. Perhaps it had been that which had reawakened their emperor, as one of the palace maids had born him a child only a few years later – though personally Lan Qiren had always thought that that latter incident had more to do with the timing of Lao Nie having brought out his own son and heir for everyone to see.

No, Lan Bocheng was indeed right: this wasn’t about marriage, or lust. It was about power.

It was probably Wen Ruoyu who’d thought of this scheme, in fact. He was a bit more straightforward than Wen Ruohan, a little less likely to accommodate diplomacy and a little more likely to opt for brute force to get his way – he got along splendidly with Lao Nie, to the point that Lan Qiren had serious questions about who was sleeping with who in the imperial court, and also a certainty that he did not want answers – and he also had a well-known fondness for collecting things. Most of the gifts sent in tribute to the Emperor were really sent for him, since everyone knew that although Wen Ruohan’s own interests were positively inscrutable, he was invariably pleased by anything that made his brother happy.

Despite that, this scheme…

“It is still intolerable,” Lan Qiren said.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s intolerable. We don’t have a choice,” Lan Bocheng said, and Lan Zhengzhi nodded in agreement. “No one can resist the imperial forces – even we Great Sects only continue independently as their vassals through their permission. Even if both Wen Ruohan and Wen Ruoyu were incapacitated and you somehow convinced Lao Nie to fight on our side, we still wouldn’t be able to defeat their armies, not even with the help of the rest of the cultivation world! We simply have no choice. We cannot resist. We must obey.”

Lan Qiren looked down at the piece of paper lying on the table. We herein invite the Lan sect to send the honorable Lan-er-gongzi to the Nightless City, for we have granted him the opportunity to take part in the selection of imperial concubines, held upon the date of…

He raised his eyes abruptly, and turned to look out the window. From where they were, he could just see the Wall of Discipline, upon which their family rules were written.

“You are not wrong that we cannot resist, but as my students have often taught me, there are different grades of obedience,” he said, already mentally putting together what the appropriate punishment would be for a deliberate and flagrant breach of No dishonest practices. It was a severe one, as such discipline was judged, but when weighed against his nephew’s life, it was less than nothing. “Do not forget my brother.”

The others blinked at him, no doubt wondering at the apparent non sequitur – after all, Qingheng-jun, while rightful leader of the Lan clan and Lan Qiren’s older brother, had been locked away in seclusion for years and years by now. He had in fact been all but forgotten by most people, mentioned only when the elders wanted Lan Qiren to do something he didn’t, tiny jabs at the fact that he was only acting sect leader, not the real thing.

“I am not referring to him in his role as sect leader,” Lan Qiren explained. “He is not only that. He is also my elder brother…and compared to the Emperor, one could justly say that we are all young.”

“You can’t be serious,” Lan Bocheng blurted out, his face changing as he realized what Lan Qiren meant.

“I am.”

“But that’s – that’s ridiculous! You can’t possibly mean to go yourself! You – you’re one of the imperial courtiers, a minister in the imperial court! You’re the sect leader! Think about what a joke it would make of our sect, having our sect leader join a harem –”

“Given an opportunity to join a harem,” Lan Qiren said, voice heavy with sarcasm. “And I am only acting sect leader, as you so often like to remind me. It is equally a joke to send Wangji as it is to send me, so why not send me? The note requires us to produce the second young master Lan, a title which has described me for longer than it has described him…you say we cannot resist? Very well, we will not. We will produce one, if not the one that they thought.”

The others tried to argue him out of it, but Lan Qiren remained steadfast.

Even if their absurd actions did nothing but make Wen Ruohan laugh, then so be it – Lan Wangji would not be going to the Nightless City. Lan Qiren’s introverted nephew, who did not know the terrors of the world outside the walls of the Cloud Recesses, would remain where he was, and Lan Qiren would face the humiliation and dishonor in his stead.

He would be going to the Nightless City once more – but this time, not as a Great Sect leader, not as a minister of Wen Ruohan’s court, not even as a distinguished teacher…but as a proposed bride.

Well, so be it.

[werbitssft]

STRIKE TRIO!!!

(but in my dog au again)

Disgraceful!

Disgusting!

Despicable!

[zaceouiswriting]

Fairy Prince - Hearts of Leviathans - Ch.15

Character: Sky x male reader, Riven x male reader, Brandon x male reader

Universe: Somewhere in Winx Club/Saga

Warnings: None

I walk through the crowd with my chest swollen with endless pride. Even if they don't like me alone, my presence forced them to make room for me, most likely so that none of them would have to touch such a despicable person as me.

Saladin watches all this with a horrified expression. However, before things got too bad, he hit his staff on the ground. The magical wave that courses through everyone draws everyone's attention to him. It quickly relieves me of the feeling that I've done something despicable when I was only trying to enter my new school.

Just as the elderly headmaster of the Red Fountain Academy began his speech, something else caught my attention. From the side of my field of vision, the building suddenly attracts my interest like a magnet.

The building is made of red brick and yellowish sandstone, with small and large windows that reveal the dark brown interior. The entire house is trembling with anticipation. It's been a long time since anyone has been here: the old academy building, which looks like a small castle. Like everything else my family built, this building was made with our magic, through which it has a mind of its own. Inside is a magical core that beats as if it has a heart that keeps it alive. There is not a single crack visible on the entire exterior of the building, even though no one has taken care of it for so long.

My gaze slowly wanders up to the second and third floors. There in a window stands a man in an old suit. A monocle hangs from his left eye, and his right ear is covered with a bandage.

But soon, the man moves away. As soon as he is gone, my gaze goes further up the building to the bright blue roof. Furthermore, I could see two towers, one behind the building on the left and the other in front on the right. While the tower on the back is much taller than the one on the front, the smaller one strikes a feeling of terror in my veins.

Cory's tight grip on my shoulder draws my attention back to him. This time, I even turn slightly to look into his disapproving eyes.

“They’re trying to get in,” he whispers to me.

Shocked and annoyed, my mouth opens without me doing anything. Not to say anything. It just happened. Sometimes, I wish people would stop trying to invade our territory. There is no magic in the universe - except perhaps the Empresses or Emperors - that makes our magic listen to anyone else.

Taking a step forward, the hand on my shoulder slowly falls off. Even though I could still feel him walking behind me, he gives me enough space to do whatever I want.

“Have you ever tried knocking?” I know the sarcastic tone in my voice is audible because almost everyone groans in disapproval. The same woman who called the specialists on me gives me a sideways glance so full of venom that I only want to slap it off her face. Instead, I push past these moral hypocrites and straight to the door.

As I suggested, I knock on the door quite forcefully. But even after a few minutes, nothing happens. I could hear people whispering, calling me “disgusting” and “disgraceful.” They laugh at me everywhere and surely think that I am not only a creep but also stupid. I completely ignore the two principals who couldn't open the door themselves. I could force the doors open if I wanted to, but it would damage the already troubled house. The spells haven't been renewed for a while.

Out of nowhere, the large double doors open. Honestly, it wasn't all that sudden because the door squeaked loudly as someone opened it from the inside. But it’s obvious that the door is difficult to open. When the doors were finally opened, the same elegantly dressed man I had previously seen in the window stood before me. 

"Welcome, ho-" I could barely shake my head before he would say anymore. The man seems to understand immediately. He clears his throat, puts a hand over his mouth, and looks down for a second. When he looks up again, he shows a small smile. “Welcome, guests! Please state your intentions.”

One of the specialists suddenly pushes me aside. I immediately lost my balance and couldn't avoid falling into a group of girls. They scream and call me a pervert once again. The group even went so far as to walk away from me and let me fall to the ground. As the dirt covers my clothes, many people stand around me and laugh loudly at me.

Anger slowly grows inside me. I have never been treated so disrespectfully! I had to use all my energy to keep my temper under control so as not to explode. Just then, someone extends their hand to me. As I follow the long arm with my eyes, I immediately look into the smiling eyes of the only one of these disgusting people who treats me like a normal being.

Without hesitation, I take his hand and stand back on my feet in one swift move.

“You are not welcome here!” The same voice of the older man who opened the door from the inside echoes across the castle's forecourt. As I look around, all eyes were on me. Most of them look very happy. Because, of course, everyone believes that the man means me. Who else could he be referring to?

But I only grin back at the people. I know these words are not meant for me.

I ignore the other people and wander over to the guy who pushed me to the ground. The butler-looking man stands before him and does not allow him to enter the building.

"You have no right to keep me out! I am Artheon Papalgio, and I'm-"

“Unimportant,” the man replies before the young man can finish his sentence. Shocked, the dirty blonde stares at the man as if he had seen a ghost. “The House of Papalgio, a minor noble house of Eraklyon, known for their loyalty and skill in administration. Notable Members-"

“Stop,” the young man whimpers. He seems ashamed of his family, which he shouldn't do since most specialists don't come from aristocratic families.

Saladin desperately tries to get Artheon into the old academy building. But the other man didn't let a word get to him. Looking straight forward, without looking at anyone, the man speaks again.

“It's not me who has to let him in. He did not insult me, but another student,” he told Saladin in a hard and cold voice.

“I forgive him this time,” I say slowly, as I can feel everyone’s eyes on me again. I look sharply at the guy. Who still seems to think he is better than me.

The smartly dressed man nods at him and opens his arm to let the first person in. But when Artheon tries to be that first person, he gets pushed back.

“You will be the last one,” said the man, still standing in the doorway, harshly. Only to open his arm again so I can walk through. After me, the man lets in all the others. Even the teachers had to enter before Artheon was allowed to enter. I silently thank the man again and again.

Neither headmaster even waited for Artheon to be let in before walking further into the building. Saladin, in particular, mutters something under his breath about the size of the building, as he remembers it being much larger.

He tries again every spell he knows to make the building the way he remembers it, but nothing works.

Cory's hand grabs my shoulder again.

“What is it today with you touching me?” I ask him quietly, hissing. He doesn't back down. He only gives me a knowing look. With both arms in front of me, I finally give in after he stared at me for about a minute.

But before I do anything, I snatch his hand from my shoulder and walk away from him, leaning casually against one of the walls, mostly away from anyone's attention. The inside of my hand pressed against the cold stone of the house.

I close my eyes and let my magic flow into the house, searching for its core because the building didn't respond to my call immediately.

“Master,” an indescribable voice calls to me.

A smile even grows on my face. The voice sounds just like the one that echoes through the palace at home, which I listened to on silent nights. It has helped me a lot, from helping me out while playing hide-and-seek to giving me tips while studying.

“Can you expand?” I ask the house happily.

But the magic didn't answer me. It just left me feeling empty. Unwilling to let the house slowly die, I pump magic into it. Luckily, since I've been full of magic for so long, the reproduction happens quickly as it needs to return to a normal flow.

Soon, I could hear the interior space expanding, feel rooms being added, and even hear water splashing in a distant corner of the building.

When I open my eyes again, smiling even wider after the magic thanks me, I glance over to Cory. When our eyes meet, my body shakes before I can understand what is happening. I stumble to the side. Cory catches me barely in time, his face full of panic, so worried I could almost believe it.

But I remember he's just my grandfather's lap dog, so I push him away as soon as I'm calm enough. For a second, I even imagined I could see a hurt glint in his eyes. 

I quickly turn away from him. But I still can't concentrate on what Saladin is rambling about. His voice to me is like a Toggo - a small round animal, unable to move in warmth - that my old teacher hit on the head to bring my attention back to him or to torment me.

With my mind blank, I stare at the old man, trying to find anything special about him besides his staff in the shape of a snake, even with a snake's eyes as the centerpiece.

“Are you ready to go to your room?” A sudden voice robs me of my inner silence. It even startles me a little. When I turn to the person, I see the same woman who called the specialists on me, speaking to me again like some vile creature. Her voice is so fake-sweet that I want to hit her.

With a sweet smile as fake as her voice, I look her disgustingly up and down and say, "No."

"What? How dare you talk to me like that?"

“I'm waiting at the training field to the right of the building. You have to go past some trees as the place is overgrown because no one cared about it for so long,” I tell the old headmaster, ignoring the woman's outburst. 

My voice comes out in the same sweet tone, only with an underlining accusatory tone.

Before any of the teachers could answer, I walk past everyone. On the way out, I meet Cory again. As soon as I'm next to him, I suddenly stop. I look into his eyes intently. He holds my gaze and doesn't even flinch.

“Who broke the spell?” I ask him, whispering in his ear. He remains silent, his gaze never wandering anywhere else. “It was Saladin, wasn’t it?” Suddenly, he swallows hard and answers my question with it. But instead of getting angry, I smile. “The old man is more powerful than I thought.”

Now that I know what happened to my silencing spell, I walk past Cory. To the front door. The elegantly dressed man is still standing at the door, watching me with a longing in his eyes. When no one was looking, I winked at him with a half-smile. He looks at me slightly questioningly, almost sadly. I'm sure that if I had stopped right before him, it would have been a happy reaction because he and the other servants seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

But I don't want to blow my cover just yet. I'm waiting for the perfect moment to do it, and when it happens, I will apologize to the servants for my behavior.

[Masterlist]