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#had different characters and people she would become
heirloomgem · 3 days
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No one else But you {Nanami Kento x Reader September One-Shot}
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Summary: You have always loved Nanami since childhood however you learned that he has someone he loves. Would you confess or not?
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything except for my characters and plot.
Warning/Genre: OOC, Romance, Fluff, Angst, Comedy, Depression AU (Sorry for the miss grammar)
Sorry for the long wait! HERE IT IS! I hope you enjoyed it!
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CEO Nanami Kento x Reader (slight mention of Geto x Gojo)
You have experienced unrequited crushes since you were a teenager; however, a painful unrequited love is a first for you.
Back when you were in high school, you had a crush on your senior, Gojo Satoru.
You had long forgotten what made you fall for such an idiotic man.
It might have been his charisma, his handsome face, his beautiful eyes, or his skills in being good at anything he took interest in.
However, that only lasted in your second year of high school. Satoru, on the other hand, was in his last year, preparing for graduation and entering college life.
You didn’t know how your group had formed with the famous 3rd-year trio.
But Kento and Yu have been your childhood friends since your family moved into their neighbourhood. So being admitted into the same school was no surprise.
Yet at some point in time, your group somehow merged with the 3rd year trio who were popular in their year.
One is Gojo Satoru for his loud and charismatic personality combined with his handsome face, eccentric hair and blue eyes.
Second is Geto Suguru for his mysterious and calm persona. He's also handsome with his long black hair, which seems to tantalize girls and adds to his charm.
And lastly, one of the school beauties is Ieri Shoko, a brown-haired beauty. She was one of the top students in your school, admitted to a prestigious medical university.
Of course, the two were the same, they were guaranteed a spot in the top college of their own choice.
It was quite comical really. A group of juniors being grouped together with some 3rd years.
Even up to this day, it astonished you how your group had formed, but you could still recall it. It was because of your crush on Gojo that these unlikely people had met and formed.
As the years passed, the two completely different groups of friends remained in touch and grew even closer, especially as you all entered college and made new friends. Your group seems to grow bigger.
In one of your favourite restaurant bars, some of your friends were already there and had started drinking by the time you arrived.
Gojo seems to have taken on the role of a host as Geto and some of your friends have yet to come.
The same could be said about your two childhood friends.
Yu was on his way to pick up his girlfriend from work. They would arrive together later, while Kento was still busy at work with Geto, working on a collaboration project.
Both of them had become the CEO of their own company. Each works really hard to create their own.
You couldn't be more proud of Kento for achieving his dream.
Sitting down in one of the booths, you ordered a drink. Watching as your white-haired friend drank and tried to liven up the party. At the same time, teasing and making fun of your friends and catching up.
You couldn’t help the smile on your lips.
Even though you were in a bar, it was a quiet one. One where you could have a drink and relax with soft music playing in the background.
The bar is illuminated with a cozy ambient from the lights. It was one of your favourites because of the atmosphere and the delicious cocktails and foods they make.
The bartender owner greeted you with a smile and served your drink. Taking a sip, you savour the sweet flavour and alcohol on your tongue, feeling the fatigue slowly ease from your body.
Your shoulders, tense from all the work, relaxed unknowingly.
Turning around, you started chatting with your friends, laughing and catching up, and ordering foods to fill your stomach.
As the alcohol flowed and the atmosphere warmed up, some people's tongues loosened and gossip started flowing.
Flicking the ash from her cigarette, Shoko asked, "So, how's it going with Nanami? I've noticed something more between the two of you lately."
You looked up at your friend, your eyebrow furrowing in confusion.
"What do you mean?" You asked. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Your friend rolled her eyes, her voice lazy as she teased you.
"You and Nanami. What? Don't tell me you haven't confessed even though he has already returned from abroad. You should take the chance. Don't wait for him to confess first, or you might miss your chance."
Hearing this, you panicked and tried to cover her mouth. However, it was in vain as your other friends turned their heads in your direction, curiosity in their eyes, ready to hear more about this juicy gossip.
Shoko just laughed and gave you a smirk.
"It's not like others don't know… more like they already know your painstaking love for your childhood friend for a long time"
She exhaled a puff of cigarette smoke and watched it drift lazily into the air.
"My dear, you wear your heart on your sleeve too easily. The only one who doesn't know is your beloved Nanami."
“Shoko, please! Will you be quiet!” You pleaded as you leaned over and tapped her on the arm, feeling your face flush.
Groaning, you buried your face in your hand.
"Hmm? What's this? I heard something about Y/n and Nanami. Is there something going on?" Gojo asked in a sing-along tone as he came over.
It seems the commotion between you and Shoko caught his attention and now he's ready to milk you dry for gossip, even though you have none.
“Nothing is going on,” You stated as you gave Gojo a slight glare, warning him to drop the topic. But the man seemed to not get the hint or if he did, he ignored it, feigning ignorance.
"Oh, come on now. Don't be stingy."
You groaned again as you shook your head, feeling an incoming headache already.
Taking a sip of your new cocktail, you tried to ignore the man and hoped he would drop the topic. However, Shoko and Gojo didn't seem keen on stopping as they continued to tease you.
“I was just asking about her and Nanami,” Shoko said as she gave a knowing look at Gojo.
Gojo smirked as he glanced at you, taking the hint. A mischievous glint in his eyes.
“And here I thought you were still crushing on me. How could you cheat on me, Y/n?” He pouted, his smooth lips jutting out and the corners of his eyes pointing down as he looked aggrieved at you.
“I didn’t know that you and Nanami were in that kind of relationship.”
“We’re not.” You snapped, starting to get annoyed at the man-child in front of you.
Both of your friends gave you a look, not believing you in the slightest.
"Just admit it, Y/n. We've seen how sad you were when Nanami went abroad to study. You were so wrecked that you lost so much weight and almost failed your first year of University. You were so miserable without him."
Shoko raised a brow at you as if proving a point, continuing.
"We've also known that you have always loved Nanami all this time, even though you had a little bit of 'scandal' with this idiot here."
She pointed at Gojo, who placed a hand over his heart and appeared offended.
"What scandal? Miss, for your information, I have always been a clean man." He stated, his chin pointing up, being dramatic.
You rolled your eyes at him for his exaggeration and turned your head to avoid your friends' inquisitive looks.
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You admit that you had a crush on Gojo when you were in high school. You were attracted to his confident personality and handsome face, but that only lasted until graduation.
However, when Kento went abroad to further his education, that's when you realized that your feelings for him were more than just being a childhood friend.
You were in love with him.
You just never realized it. Since growing up, you have been so used to having him by your side that you have unconsciously taken his presence for granted
But when he left, you felt a massive hole open in your heart. An empty feeling inside you as if another part of you has gone missing.
Because of it, you slowly spiralled down from the sudden realization, leaving you a mess.
You have been in contact with Kento through text, but as time passed, it became harder to maintain. With the time difference between where Kento is and how busy you have been with your University life, your contacts slowly dwindled.
And now it has been almost a year before he contacted you again.
Picking up your phone without checking the caller ID, your eyes instantly reddened when you heard his voice, calm and composed as ever.
"How have you been, Y/n?"
It was Kento.
You choked back a sob as tears slowly gathered in your eyes. A deep ache echoed inside you. How much you have missed his voice.
Taking a deep breath, you tried to steady your voice, not wanting to give anything away, as you know that even a little he would be able to pick up on it.
"I'm doing well. Just busy with school. I didn't anticipate our professor assigning such a huge project right at the start and it seems to keep piling up no matter what."
You scold yourself. Of all the things you have to say, you just have to complain to him even though he finally contacted you after such a long time.
"How have you been, Kento? I hope you're doing well. I've heard that winter there was harsher than here," You awkwardly chuckled, trying to play it off.
"It's not too bad, but I do miss the weather there." Kento's short answer tugged at your heartstrings. Slowly, a tear escaped and rolled down your cheek. You blinked hard, trying to stop the others from falling.
There was a moment of silence between the two of you before Kento spoke again.
"....I heard from Yu. It seems you haven't been doing well."
You froze.
You didn't expect Yu to tell Kento about your condition, though with the anxious looks he's been giving you lately, you guess it was a given.
Looking at yourself in the window, your reflection stared back at you. You noticed the dark, hollowed cheeks, dark circles under your eyes, and dry lips.
Your body had obviously lost so much weight that you could feel your bones protruding. Your arms and legs were nothing but nearly skin and bones. Your face is gaunt and haggard.
It appears that no matter how much you hide your circumstances from your friends, it was pointless, especially from Yu.
You realize what a mess you really were in. How much of an asshole you have been for making your friends worry to the point that they have to contact Kento about you.
You gave a strained laugh, "They're worrying too much. It's just...university has been a little tough. I'm still in my first year so it's a given-"
"Don't lie, Y/n." Kento interrupted, his stern voice making it impossible for you to utter another lie.
He's always been like this. He always knew when you were lying.
The tears you had been holding back came crashing down, and all the pent-up emotions you had been suppressing came pouring out like a tidal wave. You couldn't stop the tears from flowing, and your shoulders shook with sobs.
You pulled the phone away from your ear, trying to muffle your sobs and you couldn't help but whisper, "...I miss you so much, Kento."
And just like that, with a few words, Kento was able to break the dam in your heart.
Your cries came out softly, but you were sure Kento heard you. He didn't end the call, but stayed silent, giving you a moment to let it all out and calm down.
Even though Kento was thousands of miles away, you felt his presence beside you, listening and never leaving you. You knew that he would always be there for you, no matter what.
After a few minutes had passed, you wiped your tears and tried to compose yourself but the soft hiccups still escaped your mouth.
"Y/n" Kento whispered, his voice incredibly soft and tender, soothing your turbulent heart.
"...hmm"
"I'll come back. Wait for me, okay?"
The tears, you thought you had finally stopped from earlier, flowed down your face again.
You swear Kento has a knack for making you cry so easily lately you couldn't help but ponder just where he learned such a thing.
Sniffling, you nodded however you remembered that he couldn't see you.
"Mmm..." You gave a soft reply as you sobbed and cried again.
What he said wasn't a promise but a statement.
You know that Kento doesn't make promises because he finds them nonsense and fragile. But you also know that he is a man of his word, and when he says something, he means it.
So when he says he'll come back, you know he will.
It was one of the reasons why you have loved this man.
You made a resolve to start getting back on your feet and working towards a goal.
You were determined to face Kento when he returned with the best version of yourself. Not wanting to show such a miserable wreck that you once were.
If he ever rejects you, at least you can say that you did everything you could and gave it your best. That way, you won't have any regrets.
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"Ah~ but I've heard that Nanami has someone he has been in love though."
Gojo's voice snapped you out of your reverie, and a pang of realization washed over you.
It made you remember why you had been so distant from Kento lately.
When Kento finally returned from his studies abroad, you were the first one to greet him at the airport.
You were shocked by how much he had changed. The boy you knew from years ago was now a man.
Mature and calm. Taller with broad shoulders and a lean waist, handsome with a slender brow and sharp eyes, the naivete that was once there is gone.
Instead of a high school uniform, Kento now wears a suit, and his hair is slicked back with an undercut.
No more of the side bangs that you once always played with.
He was so different yet still the same.
He still has that same stern and reserved personality but cares for those close to him, especially to you.
Once you two reunited, you were so happy. You made sure to always try to meet him despite your busy schedule, trying to make up for all those years that you were apart.
At the same time, you also wanted to show your interest but you also know to show some restraint. You didn't want to scare him.
For now, you were content that he was back.
However, one afternoon, just as you were about to meet with Kento to ask him out to dinner, you overheard a conversation between Geto and Gojo.
The conversation was about Kento, and you couldn't help but eavesdrop.
Geto and Kento had recently started a joint project for their two companies.
So it was no coincidence that you found him in Kento's company's rest areas while Gojo was one of the biggest shareholders in Geto's company. It was a given he was also a part of the project.
You took a step back so as not to be spotted and heard your white-haired friend ask if Kento had a girlfriend as one of his female coworkers seems to be interested in your childhood friend.
Hearing this you couldn't help but frown, your hand clenching and a sour feeling rose in your chest.
Geto chuckled and shook his head.
"Really?" Gojo asked in surprise.
"I thought for sure he had a girlfriend since he seems to be the type to settle down first. Or maybe even a fiance."
"No, he doesn't have one but he does have a girl he really loves," Geto said as he exhaled a puff of smoke, tapping his cigarette.
"He was planning to ask her to be his girlfriend, but something happened and it didn't work out. However, I heard from him that he's planning to ask her again."
Gojo perked up.
"Really! Who is it? Who is Nanami in love with? Do I know her?" He asked excitedly, leaning forward as curiosity got the better of him.
Geto only chuckled at the man's antics before patting him on the head, telling him it wasn't appropriate to tell too much as it was not his place to share such a secret.
Gojo could only whine at his friend and dropped the subject, understanding that no matter how much he pestered Geto, his friend would not budge and reveal the identity of the woman Nanami was in love with.
He instead brought up a new topic to discuss, leaving you wondering who was the girl Kento was in love with.
You were stunned. A myriad of emotions surged through your mind in an instant but eventually, they all melted into a strong feeling of bitterness.
No wonder Kento never had a girlfriend for so many years. It turned out he had someone in his heart all along and now he seems intent on getting back with that girl.
You couldn't help but wonder.
What kind of girl does he like? What does the girl Kento love, look like? If that girl came back to him, would he surrender immediately and reconcile with her?
You even absurdly imagine them together.
Feeling a sob escape your mouth, you hurriedly went home that day, cancelling on Kento through a short message. You didn't call him as you didn't trust your voice not to tremble once you heard his voice.
That day, you drank until you couldn't stand.
You were glad you were home and never went out, otherwise you would have called Kento and made a mess of things, which you would have regretted later.
However, ever since then, you have distanced yourself from him.
Avoiding every gathering with your friends to try to minimize the chances of running into him.
You respect Kento too much to burden him with your feelings and ruin everything. You might resent the fact that the girl he loves might not be you but you still wanted to be friends with him no matter what.
Besides, you also have your own principles that you abide by, not wanting to put yourself in a complicated situation if the girl returns.
But by avoiding him so suddenly, he quickly noticed.
He tried to call you, wanting to confront you about such a sudden change.
You could only make an excuse that you were busy with work, but he knew that wasn't the whole truth.
And since knowing Kento for so long, you already know he wasn't the type to let this matter pester for so long and would eventually resort to seeing you in person.
However, you didn't want to see him, not until you could sort out your feelings for him or else you risk breaking down in front of him.
Without any other choice, you quickly set up to go on a business trip.
Successfully stopping him from seeing you as he wouldn't be able to chase after you because his company was in a crucial situation with the current project he was working on.
Thanks to it, you have been able to avoid him completely however, this time you couldn't turn down the invitation as one of your friends is getting engaged.
You knew you couldn't hide forever, and you didn't want to miss your friend's special day so, in the end, you concede.
Meeting him became inevitable.
Anxious and nervous, you have been drinking a lot since the moment you sat down, trying to calm your nerves and distract yourself.
But once they started talking about Kento and you, the bitter feelings you had been able to push back slowly rose in your chest and your mood turned sour.
You unconsciously started drinking heavily and because of it, your temper became fickle.
Eyeing the man in front of you, childishly making fun of your previous crush on him and on Kento, you couldn't help but realize that the man-child in front of you was the reason why this all started.
Suddenly, the urge to wipe that grin off his face with a slap was so dangerously tempting that your hand twitched.
However, you have been a person to never resort to such action and unnecessary violence. So you tried to think of something, attempting to divert your attention or else you might just do it.
You sigh to calm down but a dark expression still shows on your face.
Seeing this, Gojo eye's gleam with mischievous, unaware that he had stepped a foot on his grave, pushing you over the edge.
"What? Someone's jealous? Maybe I should try being your cupid and set you up with Nanami? Hmm? Maybe by then, I could give your pretty little ass a boost and not be a coward anymore."
Your lip twitched.
Maybe wiping that smug look on his face isn't so bad after all, you thought.
Lifting a hand and caressing his cheeks, you caught him off guard.
You gave a dark smile and a shiver involuntary went down his spine, his back sweating bullets.
SMACK!
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Walking out of their own car and heading to the restaurant bar, Nanami and Geto let out a sigh of relief, taking off their jacket and loosened their tie.
They have just finished a meeting that has gone on for hours than necessary.
And now having finally finished, all they wanted was to drink, eat and relax throughout the night before being plunged to work the next day.
However, when they entered the bar, what awaited them was not what they had expected as they witnessed you and Gojo in the middle of the bar, engaged in a brawl.
Clearly, both of you were drunk as your faces were red not only from anger but from the alcohol as well. Your words slurring as the two of you yelled at each other.
What started as a harmless teasing quickly escalated into a messy, comedic fight for your friends to witness.
Holding onto Gojo's shirt and the other on his hair, the tall man has no other choice but to bend down as he did the same to you.
Some scratches and light bruises scattered throughout your body and face. Your clothes and hair a mess.
Gojo shouted, "I'm a liar?! What I said is the truth! You're a goddamn coward!"
"You say I'm a coward, what makes you then?!" You shouted as well, breathing heavily and glared at him.
You tug at his hair earning a yelp.
"Don't think I'm clueless you goddamn man-child. I saw it when you two graduated and Geto-senpai confessed! All these years and your relationship hasn't progressed at all! You two have been together and never left each other side and yet you haven't admitted that you love him. You've done nothing but play him all along."
A vein bulged at his forehead, irritated, Gojo pulled at your hair making you groan.
"Shut up you goddamn woman!"
"Fuck you! You white hair old bastard! Just fucking go and splayed your goddamn legs in front of Geto-senpai and finally get laid! You horny bastard!"
You yelled while your friends who have been calmly watching the whole time, even the owner, laughed at your nonsense screaming match.
That right.
When you secretly witness Geto's confession to Gojo on their graduation day that's when you realize.
Your crush for Gojo was nothing more than an admiration because of his confidence. Confidence in being himself while he unknowingly becomes a love-struck fool for Geto.
You envy and wanted that.
You wanted to be a love-struck fool for Kento but your insecurity and low self-esteem prevented you from confessing your love for the handsome man.
However, seeing that this goddamn idiot had done nothing when he had all the chance in the world while you, on the other hand, were a mess, missing Kento, who was abroad and had no face to confess since the memories of you crushing on such an idiotic guy were still fresh in everyone's mind, made you angry to no end.
You slump as your knees got weak not just from the alcohol but from all the feelings you have been holding back, your previous energy leaving you as the bitter feelings spread inside you.
Tears started flowing and falling on your cheeks without your permission. Seeing this Gojo froze, his grip loosening and the once lively bar slowly quieted as you softly cried.
"No...I'm the goddamn idiot here... I've also had the chance... the chance to confess and love Kento but because I'm a coward I didn't take it..."
You admitted.
That's right. You were angry not only because of this bastard but mostly at yourself for being the biggest idiot ever.
And now, learning that Kento has someone he loves and is thinking of being engaged with her.
Regret filled you to the point of suffocation.
"I only had myself to blame..."
You whimper, now completely drunk as you lose coherence and kneel on the floor.
You felt as though everything was crumbling. Slowly losing your mind as you sink further in your sorrow.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed your waist, lifting you from the floor and pulling you away from Gojo's grasp.
You were brought into a warm embrace, your head resting on a broad chest.
It was then that you heard Kento's voice.
Deep, calm and mature, a voice that always makes your heart flutter and the voice that you have come to love.
"I'll be taking her home as she's too drunk," Kento said, carrying you in his arms as he talked to your friends while Geto dealt with Gojo.
You couldn't help but nuzzle further in his arms, burying your head in his neck and hugging him tightly. Unknowingly, Kento's breath hitched and his heart quivered from your actions.
Geto nodded, saying he'd be taking Gojo as well who was completely drunk, his head was swaying from all directions. His legs no longer had any strength to hold him, already unconscious.
Adjusting you in his arms, Nanami looked at you and found that you were completely unconscious.
He sighs but an undeniable faint blush on the corner of his cheeks and ears can be seen if you look closely.
Ieri who had been enjoying the show and her drinks, saw it and she smiled knowingly as she watched Nanami take your things.
"Nanami" Ierie called and Nanami looked at her.
"Be nice to her, okay?"
Nanami's expression didn't change, but he replied softly, "I will."
Nodding at your friends and the bar owner, Nanami carried you out and into his car that was parked outside.
He opened the car door and put you down, taking a moment to look at you and saw your tear-streaked face.
When he reached out to wipe away your tears, your lashes brushed against his fingers. He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm down then got into the driver's seat, intent to take you home.
This time, he was determined to talk to you, even if you didn't want to. He wasn't going to let you go anytime soon.
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Waking up, you groggily sat up as you looked around.
Clearly, it wasn't your room as the bedsheets were different. They were grey coloured and quite soft made of a different material from the ones you use.
The pieces of furniture were simple but obviously high-end and looked strangely familiar.
You didn't know how you got here nor did you remember what happened after you slapped Gojo but the feeling of being carried lingered in the back of your mind.
"Your awake." A deep husky voice said as the door opened.
It was Kento, holding a glass of water.
It finally dawned on you that you were in his place. You have been into his apartment a few times in the past however this was your first time staying over.
A nervous feeling settled in your stomach and felt your cheeks flushing. Whether from the lingering alcohol on your body or because of your feelings and the situation you are in, you don't know.
Still drunk and dazed, you obediently accepted the glass of water and took a few sips before setting it down on the nightstand.
An awkward silence envelops the two of you as Kento sat at the edge of the bed. His arms rested on his thigh and looking at you from the corner of his eyes, deep in thought.
You fidgeted. Your head lowered as you played with the bedsheet in your hand, feeling the soft fabric. You didn't know whether you should talk or not.
From the corner of your eyes, you stare at the man that you have been avoiding these past couple of weeks.
Two of his dress shirt buttons were undone, revealing his slender neck and chest, showing a hint of his muscular physique.
His sleeves were rolled up and you couldn't help but gaze at his forearms. The veins stood out along his arms, and his hands were large with defined knuckles and slender fingers.
His hair was slick back however few strands were sticking out, clearly messed up after a long day.
You might have been drunk nevertheless you still remember bit and pieces how he has carefully brought you from his car to his room.
Gently carrying you, laying you down and assisting you change from your work clothes to one of his.
Helplessly you thought, how could a man be so handsome and so caring at the same time.
Your eyes reddened.
The sour feeling from before sprang up again and tears gathered in your eyes.
Lifting a trembling hand, you covered your mouth as a sob escaped, trying to hide it, not wanting to make the situation worse.
You felt the bed shift then two rough and large hands cup your cheeks, raising your face.
Completely opposite from his usual reserve and stern expression, Kento looks at you with concern in his eyes.
"What's wrong, Y/n?" He asked, voice gentle and soft trying to calm you however hearing such tenderness, your cries seemed to grow even louder.
You stayed quiet. Pondering whether to confess everything or not, however, your heart got the best of you and you blurted.
"I love you. I love you, Kento. I have been ever since. I have always loved you... Please don't leave me." You cried as you confessed, your words became disjointed and frantic as you went on.
You didn't know what was Kento's reaction as large tears rolled down from your eyes, obscuring your vision.
You were sure you looked pathetic at that moment as you cried but that didn't matter anymore as you let it all out.
Long years of repressed emotions have completely overwhelmed you.
Your regret when Kento left, your joy when the two of you reunited. The searing pain of learning the truth that Kento has someone in his heart.
The jealousy and sorrow you drowned in as you distance yourself and finally the overwhelming love you hold for the man in front of you.
As you continued crying and repeating your confession like a broken record, warm lips suddenly sealed your lips, stopping your words.
Kento kissed you.
A strong, fierce and almost devouring one with a mix of revenge, and seeking reparation.
It only seemed to deepen as you felt his hand grab the back of your neck while the other drew you closer and tightened his embrace, as if afraid you would disappear.
You couldn't resist and kiss him back with just as much passion as you could.
Lifting your arms, you hugged his neck and pulled him closer while Kento lifted you in his lap, straddling him.
You kissed as if the both of you couldn't bear to separate. Your tongues danced and lips melted with each other.
You couldn't help but let out a moan, calling his name in desperation. A sweet tingling sensation runs through your body, making your toes curl.
It wasn't until the need to breathe that you pulled back.
Resting your forehead against his, you closed your eyes and felt your breaths intertwining.
Kento cups your face, caressing it and look into your eyes as you open them.
Longing, tenderness and adoration.
Emotions you never saw before now lingered in his eyes
"I love you too, Y/n." He said, his voice so tender and full of affection, it left you breathless.
"But what about the girl you like?"
Kento frowns, confusion in his eyes.
"I heard from Geto that you have someone you have loved for a long time." You quietly said.
Your voice trembling, just asking that question tormented you like no other but you had to.
You have to know who it is even if you are afraid of what Kento's answer might be.
Thinking this, your tears seemed like they would never dry as droplets fell on your cheeks.
Finally understanding what you mean and where you're coming from, Kento chuckled, wiping your cheeks and kissing you on the lips again before moving on to your neck where he felt your pulse.
"The person I love is you. I have loved you ever since and have always been. No one else but you."
You sat stunned for a moment as his confession slowly sank.
You sniffled and a fresh wave of tears fell however compared from before it was out of happiness.
Pulling Kento, you hugged him and fell onto the bed and this time, without reserve, you kissed him first.
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Extra:
As morning came and illuminated the room in a soft light, Geto was just finishing his talk with Nanami on the phone when he heard the white-haired man in his bed groan in pain, holding his head.
Putting his phone away, Geto went to the kitchen to boil some water.
A few minutes later, he came back with a cup of honey lemon tea, handing it to Gojo.
Gojo who was in pain from a massive hang-over, didn't notice his friend staring at him in silence and quietly sip the hot tea.
"...So, is it true that you love me too?"
"PSHHH!"
Gojo spat out the tea, blushing, "..."
Let's just say another engagement party was arranged later on.
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A/n: I had a hard time finishing writing this one shot.
It became longer and longer as I wrote when I was only planning to make a shorter one but then the plot just kept coming up and didn't know how to finish it. In the end, I had to torture myself to stick with it and finish it after more than 3 weeks of non-stop writing.
God, I'm such a masochist.😭
However, as I was writing the confession part, I couldn't help but start crying and I had to stop midway laughing at myself like a maniac. Oh my god.😭
I swear I won't be doing another long one-shot anytime soon. My brain was mush after this.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this fic! Please leave a comment on what you think!🥹
{All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author}
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I want to submit Felix from Cassette Beasts! It's a monster-collecting indie game where people, ideas, concepts, characters, and stories from different time periods and realities can end up/physically manifest.
Felix is my favorite companion. He's a zote artist and comes from a world where comic books don't exist. He quit his job and went freelance, because he got fed up working under shitty bosses who never recognized him. Which... really hits home when you're also a fellow creative.
His questline is my favorite. You and Felix encounter his ninja-half angel-half demon-purple-cat girl OC, Kuneko, that he made when he was 12... except Kuneko has become her own character and is desperate to prove herself so that Felix won't find her embarrassing anymore.
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Beyond the hilarity and relatability, it's really interesting how his questline involves creator-meets-creation; dealing with the overall lore of how concepts can come to be. Seeing Felix come to accept and love his past works, recognizing they're all a part of who he is today. It was just... touching.
He's a sweetheart dork (who makes you his MUSE) and I still haven't "finished" the game, because I don't want to part with him just yet.
Also, look at his blushing face:
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God he looks like he gives great hugs. Omg his lil cheeks. I'll forgive him the Killmonger look this time. What's a zote? Shit, I think everybody who works a job can recognize shitty bosses who don't give them credit 😭
Okay first I'm cackling at the drawing bc I thought you dropped the wrong pic for a second 🤣 why is Kuneko so accurate?? 🤣🤣 This wasn't my first reaction but it's at the top bc it sent me. Okay. Aww wait, you said she's trying to gain his pride 😭 oh now I feel bad for laughing. I'm sure she's a sweetheart.
Felix actually reminds me of Hot Chocolate! Like, if I had to draw his face in this style, it would look like this, but with longer locs and a mustache.
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buckydeservesthebest · 20 hours
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OK SO HEAR ME F*CKING OUT!!!
Bucky Barnes, the Bucky Barnes we know would NEVER, EVER agree to try to murder anyone, not even bad guys, WILLINGLY.
Bucky didn't even want to kill the bad guys he faced like the Flag Smashers, not even Zemo, even when he had plenty of reasons to do so.
Bucky has made it clear time and time again that the last thing he wants to do is hurt others.
To make him act like the Winter Soldier voluntarily is horrifyingly out of character! Proving that he is not the Winter Soldier is literally the crux of his story in TFATWS!!!!
His suit in Thunderbolts has virtually the same components that HYDRA used to outfit him as the Winter Soldier.
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Besides it is obvious that this scene is identical to that of CA:TWS.
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The only explanation for this is that Bucky is being mind controlled again... There is no other way...
My theory is that whoever is mind controlling Bucky is using a different method than HYDRA's trigger words.
We know that something similar will happen to Isaiah Bradley in Cap4. That means the government has access to mind control methods. And Bucky "works" for Congress/Government. The new Ross government! The pin that Bucky wears is the same one that can be seen on the Ross Funko. Of course there is a connection there.
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Also, we know from the book The Wakanda Files, that Bucky's brain has irreparable damage that even Shuri couldn't heal... So maybe Marvel is building on that...
Another possible explanation is Loki's scepter, suspiciously shown in the same scene as Bucky. Maybe some of the power of the mind stone is still there and that's what they're using to control him!
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I strictly refuse to believe that Marvel made our Bucky become a ruthless bad guy voluntarily! THAT'S NOT THE BUCKY WE'VE SEEN FOR 13 YEARS!!!!!
Besides, if Bucky were really the kind of person to accept those kinds of missions, he would have already been recruited by Val to do her dirty work like the rest of the TBs.
Precisely, according to an insider, Congress assigns Bucky the task of investigating Val and exposing her dirt.
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And if that wasn't enough, even when Bucky pretended to be the Winter Soldier in TFATWS, HE NEVER CARRIED WEAPONS!
So my complete theory is:
Bucky is being blackmailed by Ross' government to work for them, in exchange for not pursuing charges against what he "did" as the Winter Soldier, and that explains the court scene.
He is assigned the task of investigating Val.
He discovers what she is doing along with the TBs, and reports it.
At some point they (or perhaps Val herself from the shadows) assign him the task of tracking down and/or eliminating the TBs, but he refuses which causes them to resort to some sort of mind control to force him.
Bucky eventually breaks free of the mind control and ends up having to work alongside the TBs to overthrow Val.
And as a bonus, Bucky is the voice of reason and the leader who inspires the TBs to improve and be better people, as Seb said: "A guy coming into this group that was chaotic and degenerate, and somehow finding a way to unite them."
Bucky is and always has been a good man who has never enjoyed having to fight. I SWEAR IF MARVEL CHANGES THAT, WHICH IS ALL WE'VE SEEN FOR 13 YEARS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
Whatever the truth is, I HATE with all my heart that our poor boy is going through this horrifying situation as if he hasn't already suffered enough!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 😭😭😭 😭
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“I don’t actually count 2x08 as character assassination for alicent”
What makes you say that? No hate, just curious because I know a lot of Rhaenicents who openly started hating the ship after Episode 8 specifically because of what the writers did to Alicent’s character.
np! look, I understand it felt like such a big character change (especially if you've read the book, which hotd is obviously meant to be based on) and again I do think they could've handled it significantly better than they did- I've seen great points from both sides (sides of saying it didn't make sense vs it did make sense) and my personal conclusion is I think I understand what they were attempting to portray, but that they didn't do a good job of it.
Don't get me wrong now, I'm still upset with it! but I still think there's hope for her character and that it hasn't been completely destroyed.
Imo, I think it could've made more sense for alicent to beg for the lives of aegon and helaena (and their daughter) saying she'll take them all away and that rhaenyra can just say aegon died of his wounds, or burn a body beyond recognition and show that to the small folk - but pretty much that there'll be no threat against her position because people will think he's dead (and he'll be far away.) And I think the 'sacrifice' could've been aemond. I mean alicent knows aemond is on his own path of destruction, and would refuse to leave with them if she asked, she also knows he's dangerous and untrustworthy. The 'sacrifice' could be that she's letting aemond go, knowing she can't save him from himself but she's saving her two other children.
I do heavily agree that her giving aegon up (whilst it wasn't necessarily 'serving him up happily' to rhaenyra as I've seen people describe - because it was clear this was still a difficult decision and she wasn't gleeful about it in any way) didn't make sense. Especially because how she stayed by aegon day and night during his injuries, and now that he's become more lucid they haven't even had a single conversation, their last conversation being an argument of sorts. So it was upsetting to see, and again I think her 'giving up' anyone would've made sense with aemond more and her doing it to save her children/grandchild.
And yes! this is what I mean when i say you can't treat alicent like this as a character and then push rhaenicent, because that's not how rhaenicent works and you're ruining rhaenicent just as much, so I completely understand why many rhaenicent fans were upset (myself included! again I am upset, maybe I'm just silly and hopeful and want to look at the good side or try to see from their perspective of what they were trying to do with her but we'll just have to see in s3)
we will see what happens, hopefully they take a different approach in s3 tho
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chronal-anomaly · 11 months
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Today's brainrot is what, exactly, she had to do to survive while being lost in time. How many times she had to reinvent herself, how many times she had to shed her identity and replace it with a new one. How she had stained knuckles, worn shoulders, fighting and surviving in every new setting she was forced into,,, yeah.
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mizzical · 3 months
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arei in my outfit! 🌸
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the-knife-consumer · 1 year
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"Yona was just added bc Nintendo wants people to stop shipping sidlink!" Literally what the hell are you talking about
#yes nintendo is homophobic. no they do not give a singular shit about what their fanbase does??? what are you talking abouuuutttt#they literally dont care what people do as long as they get money??? like what#listen im upset abt yona having so many unanswered questions. mainly she came from another zora's domain#meaning she came from outside of hyrule. so that leads to a lot of questions.#but howww do you come to the conclusion that she was just added as a 'no homo' indicator#dont even get me started on the people genuinely unironically calling this queerbaiting. what are you onnnnnnn#'and oh but sidon said he used to see her as a sister! so its gross and wrong!' sidon literally thought out loud to links face abt how#had things been different and link had gotten married to mipha he would be his BROTHER IN LAW. SAID THAT OUT LOUD TO HIS FACE. so shh#imo. yona was added for one 'ohh wow exciting new character look at this' and two. as a way for sidon's trauma to be acknowledged#bc it was veeery briefely shown in botw. for like. a singular second if you snuck up on him at mipha's statue#but yona's defining scene in totk was her forcing sidon to confront that he wasn't being himself because of that trauma. and that#he needed to let go of the fear around it. if only temporary. because his people needed him.#so tbh?? sheis very important to the plot. she new mipha. admired her. knows why sidon still struggles with this and#how difficult and frightening everything becomes when he views the world through the lens of 'what if i lose someone again'#like. they added yona for his struggles to be spelled out to the audience even further#so to just boil her down to 'ewww woman gets in the way of my gaybies 😡😡😡'. hello. did you play the game.#do you even know who these characters are. quick gimme ten facts about sidons character that you didnt make up for shipping purposes.pronto
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anna-scribbles · 2 years
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emilie agreste and rose quartz.. the same
I THINK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME
#the. what's that one post about characters who aren't in the story but are in every part of the story#the way emilie and rose are both so revered in their narratives#and leave such a gaping hole#i find stories about the absence of someone so interesting#ive spent so long trying to decide how i would characterize emilie if I were ever to write her#and eventually I made a list of things that adrien is that he got from his dad and things that adrien is that he definitely did NOT#get from his dad#and then i decided to attribute THOSE things to my perception of emilie#and I love the idea of borrowing from rose quartz's complex of becoming whatever the people around her wanted her to be#so that they all elevated her but had different ideas about who she actually was#& how she was actually so deeply insecure and doubtful about who she really was#that she decided to leave#very emilie to me.#think a lot about how adrien impulsively reflects what people want from him#(he's a mirrorball girl if you get what I mean)#and how he's just so universally adored#how he doesn't have a strong sense of self because he is always performing just as much as he is experiencing.#his expression of self is always at least somewhat impacted by who's around him and what they want or expect from him#and he didn't get that from gabe. gabe doesn't model that at all.#so I think it would be interesting if he got it from emilie#because she WAS universally adored. the same way adrien is.#look at what she did to adrien. to nathalie. to gabe. everyone who knew her loved her so completely#but she's also someone who would leave them all behind#I think that emilie taught adrien the idea of self-sacrifice as an expression of love. I think she taught him how to hate yourself#and be loved by everyone else#I think emilie messed him up too.#anyway YES tumblr user mari-monsta. yes I do think about that#ml#anna rambles#thirteen
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gothyanki · 11 months
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thinking about her (Gith the Liberator)
Thinking about how much I wish she were the deliciously messy, morally complex, and believably motivated protagonist of a Space Lesbians vs. Empire trilogy instead of a flat villain/historical footnote in the Fiend Folio. Unfortunately, DnD.
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butchriptide · 8 months
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Urges to script out a small comic piece as a partial rewrite/reimagining sort for arc 2's epilogue, versus the fact that I will likely never actually finish it...
#I think the peacemaker resolution is actually incredibly interesting#like I know people say it ruined the morals of arc 2 and such but I think it's more fun to meet the narrative where it is like.#really asking the question what does this mean if there is never a chance for the dragon to be turned back?#is this just a type of murder? would people have reacted differently if they had killed darkstalker in a more straightforward manner?#the books like to treat a lot of the magic as a study of a character's relation to identity; e.i tourmaline choosing to become ruby again#because she IS ruby now. we don't get a POV for her so we don't know if she mourns losing her life as tourmaline#but she makes the choice because her life as ruby is much richer. ruby is a mother and tourmaline isn't ruby is queen and tourmaline isn't#I believe tui stated outright that to reverse the peacemaker enchantment would simply result in darkstalker dying altogether#so if there's no way for him to come back...#it's interesting !! it's even more interesting the idea of the after effects on the characters themselves#also I get to live in the reality in which they intend to tell Winter. because god I hate the epilogue for how it shafts him.#they'd tell him !!! they trust him !!! i know this I know them better than Tui did writing that epilogue !!!! believe me please god !!!!#anyway I specifically want to script out a conversation between Kinkajou and Qibli#I think they'd have interesting things to talk about on the matter
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sonknuxadow · 2 years
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just hit me that we are going to get the first ever official 2d art of elise sonic06 within the next week or so ...
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I wonder what's weirder: Buffy's strange pregnancy in season 8 and how she got pregnant (well, less how she got pregnant, but more the flying sex and her and Angel suddenly being gods) or Willow's pregnancy (that we don't see, just get told about, as this happened years ago in the book's past) and how she got pregnant in "In Every Generation."
Probably still the Buffy one, but just barely. And that's saying something.
And somehow they beat out things like Darla's vampire pregnancy and Cordelia's demon pregnancies on the shows, making them almost seem normal in comparison. How?
Edit: Actually, the Willow pregnancy in "In Every Generation" might be oddest. Somehow, she became pregnant with her daughter Frankie when she did the spell to turn all the Potentials into Slayers. The author, Kendare Blake, almost make it sound like the spirit of the first Slayer (Sineya) somehow impregnated her. I feel like it would make more sense, if it had been the demon that the first Slayer had been infused with that did this, but I didn't write this.
Compare that with Buffy and Angel, as gods, having sex and giving birth to a whole new universe that way. You tell me which is stranger.
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lgbtlunaverse · 4 months
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I've seen a good number of people ask a question along the lines of "why do characters like Falin and hate Laios when they're so similar?" and i've also seen good analysis on the differences in how the touden siblings carry themselves that would, despite their shared traits, make a person gravitate to one more than the other.
But i feel like we've overseen one very central thing here.
People don't like Falin
Like... the average person in dungeon meshi doesn't like Falin. She was deeply ostrasized by her home village, in magic school she had zero friends before Marcille and the others generally saw her as strange and a bit offputting.
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Characters like Namari and Chilchuck like her well enough but not necessarily more than any other member of their party, including Laios. Neither Kabru nor his party think much of her. The canaries don't give a fuck about her. Toshiro's retainers don't see her as anything else than the weird foreign girl their boss has a crush on.
The reason we think everyone loves Falin is because, despite all the indifferent side characters, the 2 most important and central characters of the story are Laios and Marcille. Who are NOT representative of the average attitudes to Falin! But necromancy georg number 1 and 2 are our main eyes into the story and they love Falin so much that it colours our perspective of the whole world.
The only side character who qualifies as liking Falin and not Laios is Toshiro (at least at first, as he ends the story on much better terms with Laios) and that says a lot about his character, with him drifting to the quiet Falin precisely because of her oddness but being both uncomfortable with and deeply jealous of Laios' much more open expression of that oddness. Because he's a repressed guy from a culture where etiquette is incredibly important.
But like I said, that's a specific aspect of him, not to the world at large.
Because there's also people that click more with laios than with Falin.
Kabru, for one, who is initially distrustful of laios but clearly also deeply fascinated by him and drawn to him.
Minor spoilers, and you don't have to read too deeply into this, because I don't think Kabru particularly dislikes Falin or anything. But it's interesting that when he talks about his distrust of the toudens in ch.32 he's talking about them both. But his big friendship declaration in chapter 76 is aimed squarely at Laios, he doesn't say "you and your sister" he says "you"
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And Senshi!! He instantly clicks with Laios, well before he does so with anyone else in the party– who he also becomes friends with, it just takes a bit longer– specifically because they bond over their shared special interest in monsters!! Senshi is kind towards Falin and cares for her wellbeing, but he also... doesn't know her. The reason he is even here, helping to save her, is because he and Laios bonded over monsters and he wants to help his new friends out!
Of course, the theme of neurodivergent isolation is very present in Laios' story. I'm not denying that. He does turn people off, without meaning to and unable to fully understand why! But so does Falin. And just like there are people who like her despite of or even because of those traits, there are people who do the same with him.
In conclusion: "Average person loves Falin and hates Laios" factoid actually statistical error. Average person is neutral on both Falin and Laios. Georcille, Laiorg and Geoshiro, who live in the dungeon and think over 10,000 Falin-loving thoughts a day, are statistical outliers adn should not have been counted.
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inkskinned · 1 year
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no, actually, where is the whimsy?
my ex had a best friend named larry who asked me once: what do you think comes after irony?
we were at the bar where larry worked. it was a quiet night, and he'd hopped over to sit with us on the patron side. i swirled the lemon around my limoncello martini.
earnest positivity, i said, while my ex said, art self-destructs.
i stared at my ex. he stared at me.
his argument was the cinemasins argument: look how bad media is becoming! look at the loopholes and the dumb shit!
it was roughly 2011. galaxy print was still in. at the time, i had a favorite shirt that was a wolf howling at the moon. it got ripped in half in the wash and i honestly still mourn it. i dressed like effie stonem, because everyone did. and irony was the name of the thing. men liked MLP "ironically." the internet liked the kind of crass, "anti-mainstream" vibes of things like fuck romance, touch my butt and buy me pizza. we put cats in sunglasses everywhere, which was because we only liked things in irony.
and media had the same vibe in it: anti-hero white men would be "hard to love" and then storm off the scene. nobody was just earnestly trying to save the world: they were jaded, angry, unoriginal. mad you even asked them to try to help.
my ex ends up not being wrong. cinemasins becomes super popular. a lot of people start viewing media with this lens that is the cruelest, most jaded depiction. it's wrong for your character to have unexplained powers, even if the entire movie is about how strange it is she has unexplained powers - that is still considered a "loophole." characters make thoughtless, panicked choices? loophole. characters are actually kind people, despite hardship? loophole. features a woman doing literally anything without assistance? loophole. movies become hyper-aware of scrutiny, and now irony rules the media.
which means you go to a movie, and the character has to turn to the screen and say "beats me!!" or one of the side characters has to have some kind of quip like "are you seriously telling me that you think this is normal?" because nothing can happen in earnest. like a sitcom laugh track, we now anticipate the fourth-wall break: the moment that the media acknowledges it is telling a story. the media has to apologize for itself, or else someone like my ex rolls their eyes.
but here's the thing: i wasn't wrong either.
the difference might be that i am (and always have been) so soft-hearted that any crack in the light of this world will spear me into the ground. and i was the poet in the relationship. (he thought that was the same thing as being naïve and stupid). i was making things daily. i knew how all of us artists are driven by some strange desire to evolve. he notably liked to critique art, not to create it.
so yes, i've made things that are bitter and angry and even ironic. i've made long, sharp poems with all capital letters, and i've made poems about how the silence stretches out like a song. someone wrote once that we will spend our whole lives just circling the place we grew up. i think it's more that we spend our whole lives trying to remake a home. i think it's that as we age, it becomes less exciting to build the castle on the beach - we become aware of erosion, of windforce. we realize what we really want is to come home to our dog, castle or not.
and while art in the foreground is mired in white male violence and irony, and aggression, and not taking anything seriously - i don't think that's true of all art. i think more and more artists are leaning in to the things we love. the world has changed so much. they have taken so many things from us. the only thing we have left is love. at the bottom of the moving box - all we get is the faint sense that we have to appreciate what little we've got. i can't enjoy this stuff ironically anymore: what room do i have for irony? if it makes me happy, that is an amazing thing. there are so few happy places left for me. i want to be happy because of how leaves shiver beside each other like nestling birds. i want to be happy because of the color pink, and how magenta doesn't exist. i have spent so much of this life suffering, i have earned my right to a gentle ending. if nothing matters, i get to assign meaning to the nothing. i get to create meaning. i am an artist first and foremost, which means creation is my thing.
where is the whimsy? wherever i fucking put it. because if this is my last fucking chance to do any good in this world - i want to do it earnestly. i want to write things that make you happy. that make people feel heard and seen. what comes after irony has to be positivity.
it was close to my 21st birthday. in 7 years, i would end up writing a book about this relationship, which is hopefully coming out somewhere around May 2024. i come back to this bar scene in my memories a lot. i keep thinking of how pale my ex was. the look that crossed his face. how i looked back at him. how for a moment, both of us couldn't recognize the other person. like the gulf between us was a suddenly wide and cavernous thing. like we were alien to each other. he never took my opinion seriously, and he always seemed surprised whenever his manic-pixie-dream-girl ever broke free of the plot. like in the whole time we were together, i wasn't human enough.
this knowledge: where he said nothing comes after, my only instinct was what comes after is love.
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jytan2018 · 1 year
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I read the comic in one sitting less than an hour after finishing the movie, and wow I have many Thoughts™.
- It's very obvious the two versions were meant to cater to different audiences AND tell different messages. I don't get why people are going "But the comic was better! It had more nuance!" just because Nimona was easier to root for in the movie.
- The comic was written back when ND Stevenson was still trying to process a lot of stuff, so all the characters are morally grey/straight up evil and the climactic battle is between a Ballister who regrets turning against Nimona, even if it was to save others vs. a Nimona who's too hurt to care if her lashing out was going to hurt innocent people.
- By the time Nimona got a movie adaptation, ND was a lot more secure in his sexuality, so the climactic battle was Nimona vs. the Director, the symbol of religious oppression and bigotry. It's not just about your friends turning on you because you're "too much" for them anymore, it's also about a society that would rather bring itself to the brink of ruin than coexist with you.
- (I totally get why people were upset about Ballister's surname change, though. Like come on, the media dubbing him Blackheart just to be mean was RIGHT THERE).
- Nimona's metaphor for not shifting is such a neurodivergent thing. Even in the comic, Nimona's parents insisting she's a monster who replaced their daughter is reminiscent of the changeling myth, which is what many parents thought their neurodivergent kids were—changelings who replaced their "real" children.
- Ambrosius being trained to cut off HIS BOYFRIEND'S WHOLE FUCKING ARM instead of merely disarming him is a very cop thing to do. As much as cops claim they're trained to de-escalate situations, their training still teaches them to treat everyone as a potential threat, and that level of constant vigilance can turn anyone into a trigger-happy/arm-choppy bastard. Even the Director, who can use a sword but probably hasn't actually fought someone in ages, STILL can't see Ballister reaching for the squire's phone without assuming he has a weapon.
- And on that note, the Queen getting killed simply because she was trying to reform the Institution and allow commoners to become knights? That's the best "no such thing as a good cop" metaphor I've seen. Because even if there ARE good cops and they ARE in leadership positions, the system will crush them before they make any meaningful change. It's not a good institution that turned rotten, it's an institution that only exists to spread its rot and refuses to be good.
- That's why Ballister's characterisation is so different in the movie vs. the comic. Comic Ballister had 15 years to come to terms with his trauma and the Institution's evildoing, while Movie Ballister is still freshly traumatised and hasn't found a way to define himself beyond the role he was assigned by the Institution.
- Not to mention Comic Ambrosius was not very noble to begin with and genuinely believed Ballister was better suited to villainy than heroism, while Movie Ambrosius never wanted the glory that came with his lineage in the first place and only antagonised Ballister because of indoctrination he needed to unlearn (which he did, all by himself, after witnessing the lengths the Director will go to just to kill Nimona).
- It really shows how important it is to surround yourself with loved ones who are open to change. Comic Ambrosius can love Ballister all he wants, but he'll still blast his arm off because he thinks Ballister deserved it anyway. Movie Ambrosius will stop to question what "the right thing" even means, even if he didn't love Ballister enough to defend him unconditionally.
I have so many more thoughts bubbling beneath the surface, but I'll probably address them some other day. In conclusion:
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[ID: A pink-haired Nimona grinning evilly while holding up a knife.]
Watch Nimona. This is not a request.
Edit: Added more thoughts!
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fuckyeahisawthat · 7 months
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Controversial opinion among Dune book fans maybe, but I loved the changes they made to Chani's character. Making her a fedaykin who is already an experienced fighter before Paul arrives was a brilliant choice. Dune Part Two is a war movie, and this puts her at the center of the action, side by side with Paul, and gives her a much more active role than she has in the book.
We got a hint of where things were going in the beginning of Dune Part One. The first thing we ever know about movie Chani is that she's a fighter. She serves as a voice for the Fremen, telling us the story of their struggle from her point of view. I wrote here about the difference this change makes compared to other adaptations of Dune, what a perspective shift it is to have the world of Arrakis introduced not by an outsider, describing it as a dangerous but valuable colonial prize, but by one of its native inhabitants, who tells us before all else that it's beautiful, her home that she's fighting to liberate. I am so, so glad that the second movie followed up on this characterization.
I never found Chani and Paul's love story in the book particularly convincing, because why would this woman, who already has a prominent and respected place in Fremen society, even give the time of day to her deposed would-be colonizer, let alone fall in love and have children with him? Without a compelling reason for Chani to love Paul, she ends up feeling like a prize to be won, and "indigenous culture personified as a woman to be wooed (or conquered) by the colonizing man" is a trope we've seen and don't need to repeat.
But as soon as you tell me it's a barricade romance I get it. Cool cool cool, I know exactly what this relationship is now and it makes sense. Movie Chani doesn't respect or even particularly like Paul when she first meets him, and she doesn't think he's the fulfillment of any prophecy. She comes to respect him, and eventually love him, through his actions. He's brave--sometimes recklessly so. He fights well. He's willing to stick his neck out on the front lines with the other Fremen fighters. He can (after a little help) hack surviving in the harsh desert environment. He's not too proud to learn from others. He seems to genuinely want to be her equal in a common political struggle. All these qualities make sense as things she values.
Fighting side by side as equals is just about the only way I can see movie Chani falling for Paul. And it fits perfectly with the film's pattern of reversals that Paul's capacity for violence would initially be one of the things Chani likes about him, only for her to be repelled later when she sees what he becomes.
And as for Paul, well, he's had people deferring to him his entire life. Someone who doesn't take any shit from him is probably refreshing. He seems to like people (Duncan, Gurney) who challenge him and engage in a little friendly teasing--and aren't afraid to go a few rounds in the sparring ring.
It's easy to speedrun a romance when you're spending all your time together in mortal danger fighting for a shared political cause. Especially if you then start winning in a war your people have been fighting for decades. Are you kidding me? That is the perfect environment for intense battle camaraderie to turn into romantic love, and lust.
It makes sense that this version of Chani never believes Paul is any kind of messiah. Of course a character like movie Chani wouldn't believe in or trust some outside savior to liberate them. She's been working to liberate her own people for years. The more Paul invokes the messianic myth, the more he starts sounding once again like someone who plans to rule over them, and the more uncomfortable Chani becomes. In this way she becomes a foil to Jessica, the two of them representing the choices Paul is pulled between. It's a great way of externalizing the political and philosophical debates that often happen within characters' heads in the book.
And of course this version of Chani would leave Paul at the end of the film. It's not just the personal, emotional betrayal--although that stings. What common cause does she have with someone who just declared himself emperor and is sending her own people off in a war of conquest against others? Given the important role she plays in Dune Messiah, I am super curious to see how they get her back into the story, but girl was so valid for being willing to just gtfo. Given that she has the last shot of the whole movie, I'm sure she'll be back somehow, and I can't wait to see what they do with her character in any future installments.
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