#hint: a very risky gamble

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

An interesting thing about Kaz is the way he views a hierarchy within everyone he meets, an attitude probably defined in him by the Kerch culture of trade and the environment of Ketterdam. Kerch is a country that in many ways is designed to reflect the American Dream as it is portrayed in classic literature such as The Great Gatsby: as an ultimately unattainable and useless lie, designed to control and quell the masses in the danger of extreme capitalism. The social hierarchy in Ketterdam is well-established and discussed throughout the novels, though mostly in Crooked Kingdom since the plot stays almost entirely within city limits, and the attitude of viewing a miniature hierarchy amongst those around you as part of the overall societal structure is evidenced in Kaz, and possibly reflected in Wylan; a link both to their different upbringings within the Ketterdam social structure, and their position as literary foils. (I wrote a whole long thing about how Kaz and Wylan had/have the potential to become each other, so feel free to check that out for more detail if you want it). The city’s hierarchy and the unattainability of joining the rich upper echelon of society is cleverly hinted at from the very beginning of Six of Crows, when Kaz is jumped and then wakes up in what he expects to be the deb of a rival gang. He instead finds himself in Councilman Hoede’s Manor House, which I believe is on the Geldstradt, and the way he makes the distinction is by realising that the decor in the room he’s in “takes real money”. We know that people like Pekka Rollins or Tante Heleen have become truly rich from what they do in the Barrel, and so it’s strange to suggest that you’d need “real money” for this since we would generally use that phrase to refer to a large amount of money. What Kaz actually means here is “old money” or “family money”; you need the kind of money that the Merchant Council have been hoarding for generations, making supposedly risky trades when they have millions of savings to cushion the blow if things go wrong, not the kind of money that comes from the popular gambling dens and brothels of the Barrel. He means the kind of money that Daisy and Tom have in Great Gatsby, people who’ve never worked a day in their lives and yet like to think of themselves as very successful at life when all they’re truly succeeding in is spending their parents money, not the kind of money that Gatsby scraped and saved and began to chase through undisclosed illicit means. Even when men like Gatsby and Rollins make their money, and their name, they are never equal in the social hierarchy to people with old money. (To be clear, not that this is a defence of either character, I have criticisms of both, especially Rollins).

But the hierarchy Kaz places upon himself and upon the others is slightly more subtle, and arguably subversive. He looks down on Matthias because he “stinks of decency” and because he supposedly hasn’t struggled, arguably gaining slightly more respect for him when he learns of him losing his parents and baby sister but still maintaining the idea of ‘everyone has a sob story and you were clearly more lucky in your options to deal with it than I was, it’s not my fault if you made the wrong choice’. We as readers obviously know that Matthias had no options but to go with Jarl Brum and spent the next 6 years of his life (I think that’s the right amount of time, please correct me if I’m wrong) being emotionally manipulated and abused by him, but Kaz simply refuses to accept has suffered because it would be psychologically damaging to him to admit that Matthias was able to go through that and still come out a good person, when Kaz sees himself as having become truly demonic. Matthias looks down on Kaz for the exact same reason, unable to understand - especially since he knows far less detail about Kaz’s trauma - how someone who ever had a core of decency couldn’t maintain it through their pain, he assumes Kaz was never a good person, or never had the potential to be one. Kaz also looks down on Wylan, arguably far less for his attempt to maintain a core decency but because he views Wylan as having had the option to do so. Kaz seems to have more respect for Wylan in Crooked Kingdom than in Six of Crows, when he knows more about (but never, it should be noted, the full extent of) Jan Van Eck’s abuse to his son, once again showcasing that he struggles to accept the idea of someone feeling bad when they have supposedly suffered less than him. His trauma has clearly warped him in many ways, and one of them is losing the ability to see relative pain and how different things can affect different people in different ways; he effectively views everything in the manner of ‘I had it worse, and I’m fine so you need to get over yourself’. He labels Nina “a snob” for staying away from the Crow Club and the Slat despite being a Dregs member, and her response is “she didn’t much care what Kaz Brekker thought”. I think that Nina is possible the person Kaz holds the most respect for in his platonic relationships, and that is mostly because she simply couldn’t care less whether he respects her or not.

His relationship with Jesper is more complex; he judges Jesper for his addiction and yet continually eggs him on, giving him a line of credit to play cards at the start of Six of Crows and having the first step of his planning in Crooked Kingdom to make Jesper play all night, although it’s unclear whether Jesper has ever shared anything about his mother if anyone knows then the most likely parties are Kaz or Inej and yet Kaz forces Jesper to give up his revolvers in Crooked Kingdom, his most treasured possession and his constant connection to his late mother, he consistently infantilises Jesper, but mostly in his head and this is possibly an interesting link to the final nail in the coffin of their relationship; Kaz sees Jesper as a substitute to Jordie. I think it’s possible that he likes to see him as younger because that’s how he remembers Jordie - it’s also important to remember that Kaz is now several years older than his elder brother ever was so seeing him in someone his own age is possibly even more painful because that’s a point Jordie never reached (he was only 13 when he died). Jesper is someone that Kaz feels the need to keep at arms length, not because he doesn’t respect him but because he fears having a close relationship with someone who could so easily slip away from him like Jordie did. I think we can also arguably see aspects of Jordie within Jesper, the naïveté of thinking you can make it Ketterdam followed by the city swallowing you whole, killing Jordie and driving Jesper to his slow self-destruction - “I’m dying anyway, Da. I’m just doing it slow”. (If y’all have read many of my analytical posts you may have begun to notice that’s one of my favourite quotes)

Then we have Inej. Kaz places Inej on a pedestal whatever she does. I’ve spoken before about how she claims to be bad at picking locks whilst he claims to have done “a shoddy job at teaching her to pick locks” because he’s incapable of accepting that she is incapable of something; if there are flaws, they must be his because she cannot have any. In a lot of situations this can be harmful, going back to the romance of Daisy and Gatsby where Daisy is placed on a pedestal and idealised so much that she become more of an image than a person, so when she does not live up to his every high expectation Gatsby is destroyed by it. But with kanej this seems only to elevate their position, possibly because Kaz isn’t claiming that Inej is flawless, but rather that she is capable of working on her flaws in a way that he isn’t; it is almost a form of envy. For example, Inej also has a fear of touch and human contact, but she purposely forced herself to cope with small amounts of it, such as allowing Nina and Jesper to hug her even though it makes her flinch, because she fears it becoming a debilitating condition, as it has done for Kaz (not that she knows that initially when it’s first implied that she too fears contact). In the bathroom scene when she admits to him that she also struggles with touch, it has such a massive effect on Kaz not because he refuses to accept that she has flaws but because he sees her as so much stronger than himself and wishes that he could be more like her. Although both of them are ultimately unable to go any further than a few light brushes of contact, it’s suggested that what trigger Inej more than the touch itself is the sexual implications of those touches based on everything she went through at the Menagerie. Kaz doesn’t see Inej aligned with with himself or the other gang members, but as above them - and not in the way he labels Nina as a snob, but in a genuine manner he refuses to acknowledge her as low in society because he sees her as deserving of so much more. He notably never refers to her as “a canal rat” and he never even comes close to defining her by her time at the Menagerie, a start contrast between him, the supposed low of the hierarchy, and Van Eck, the supposed upper, he yells at her “you little skiv! You little whore!”. However, there is one way in which Kaz arguably looks down on Inej and it’s in a similar way that he looks down in Matthias: how dare she still try so hard to remain truly good, and decent, and to find her Saints and to politely ask them for forgiveness, when it would be so much easier to let the world beat that out of her? Arguably, it’s not that he judges either of them for their faith, but it’s that he fears them judging him for losing his, be that in religion or in the world at all. (I don’t think we know if Kaz was raised in a religious household or not, but based on societal structure in Ketterdam and the way most of the population in most of the countries are religious I think it’s safe to assume he at least grew up with an understanding of Ghezen). Kaz fears that they’ll judge him for failing to maintain his core of decency, which is exactly what Matthias does, and so he aims to offend or challenge them before they can him.

Ok I’m not gonna lie to you guys it’s like quarter past one in the morning as I’m writing this, and oh my god it just got so long out of nowhere… I might have lost my point somewhere in there, I don’t even know, this came from one quote I was thinking about and I’m not sure I even wrote that quote in there so, yeah, I guess. If you bothered to read this far the tysm I hope it made sense

[margowritesthings]

Te Beroya: I

SERIES MASTERLIST

pairing: Mandalorian!Arthur Morgan x reader crossover: Star Wars x Red Dead Redemption prompt: 24. “Your charms won’t work on me, pretty. I’m not that kind of bounty hunter.” & 45. “You’re prettier than the stars above, you know that?” (from @saradika's Star Wars prompts!) word count: 3359 words warnings: brief mentions of harassment in a flashback, implied non-con intentions but flashback ends before anything happens, somewhat suggestive fighting authors note: this is shameless self care where I have no idea if anyone will even read this, but I totally just sat and wrote the whole ass thing last night in one sitting?? anyway, this is 100% inspired by @saradika's incredible fallout/star wars AU, and it will be a mini series! I hope y'all enjoy, cause Mandalorian!Arthur has my whole ass heart. If you're here from Red Dead and have no idea whats going on, I've left a little glossary at the bottom of the fic with any terms I've used!!

i haven't tagged anyone cause i didn't know if my usual Arthur people would like a crossover or not, so please let me know if you'd like to be tagged in the next part!!

beta read by @cowboydisaster, divider by @saradika

Max Rebo is on tonight, so the Cantina is busy. More so than usual, which gladly works in your favour. It’s much easier to blend in with the rabble when there’s so many of them, diminishing the danger of getting a simple drink after a long day. You miss the time when danger wasn’t something you had to consider before something as simple as a trip to the watering hole, but that’s life now. 

You’re sitting at a table for two, the second chair pulled away by a group of Klantoonians playing Dejarik and making bets amongst each other, which works fine for you. An empty chair might invite guests, which is the last thing in the Galaxy you want right now. 

When you throw your drink to the back of your throat, it burns just how you like it, though the sight of a now empty glass pulls your brows together in an almost pout. You have very few credits left, and with your face coded into half the bounty pucks this side of the Outer Rim, work is pretty sparing these days.

A knight in shining beskar turns heads as he strolls into the Cantina, a Mandalorian whos helmet catches the dim spotlights scattered around the dusty bar when he appears to survey the clientele surrounding you, capturing your attention in the process. It’s a rare sight, seeing a Mandalorian walk so openly around the place, and the man instantly ignites a fascination in you. Sure, the Daimyo around here has the armour, but Boba Fett doesn’t claim to be a part of any creed, so you’re not entirely sure where he stands.

You’re so lost in your thoughts that it isn’t until the stranger is right in front of you, two glasses in hand, do you realise he was even approaching. 

“Mind if I sit? I can pay rent.” He asks, his low, gruff accent hinting at origins in Mos Pelgo Freetown- as he gestures to the two glasses grasped in gloved hands. Curious eyes scan over his figure, tall and built as he is, landing on the full glass of whiskey with your name on it. A solution to your dry problem, albeit a risky one. It all depends on how much you’re willing to gamble for a drink…

“If you can find a seat, sure…” You shrug, fauxing a nonchalant air about you to keep suspicions low. You have no reason to trust this man, but showing that so openly would surely attract questions you’re not prepared to answer. 

The glasses are placed down, the mystery Mandalorian taking a few steps, winding around the merry crowds to reach the nearest table. You watch on, amused, pretty sure anyone in this whole place would choose a fight over giving up their seat; the Cantina hardly has the clientele of the highest calibre. It’s an apprehension you feel, almost an excitement, at the thought of a fight breaking out and distracting everyone enough for you to pick a few pockets. And you’ve already got your drink… 

You’re busy planning who you’re gonna steal from when you notice the presence this man commands. He’s tall, built up with muscles packed under his beskar. You can’t see his face, and you wonder if he’s one of those Mandalorians who never remove their helmets, your curiosity officially piqued. He approaches the group who took the seat in the first place, one of them scoffing at what you assume to be a request for the seat. You sit up, ready for the ensuing fight, but it never comes. Instead, the Mandalorian leans down, right up to the other’s face, and it’s far too loud in here to hear what he’s said, but stars would you love to know what has a Klantoonian scrambling up like that and offering out the stool. 

Disappointment and a strange sense of admiration mixes in you as you lean back into your seat, your new tablemate following suit and sliding one glass across to you. 

“Cheers,” You announce, lifting your glass to clink it against thin air before taking a sip, savouring the burn over your tongue a little more this time. The Mandalorian nods his head in response, and just as you think you’ve worked him out, he reaches for his helmet and pulls it off his head, placing it down on the table and taking a gulp from his own drink. 

It takes you a moment to take him all in. His sandy hair, tousled from the helmet, a couple strands falling in front of his tanned skin. He has the jawline of a deity, spattered with stubble that is only broken with a small scar on his chin. 

Dank Farrik.

You know his face. You know this man, you’ve seen that scar, those eyes, (though even in the dark cantina you can see an incredible ocean hue that no hologram nor poster could never hope to capture) before, hanging on the walls of  the underground bars you used to frequent before every crime family on the planet were after your head.

Arthur Morgan, bounty hunter.

It’s too late to flee, and the disruption you’d cause by bolting would only draw more attention to you, so your only option appears to be complacency, for now. Act the fool, pretend you don’t know exactly who he is and why he’s here, and let whatever little plan he has in store for you play out until you can excuse yourself and get the hell out of here. 

You school your expression to as much indifference as you can, though the rather long sip of your drink may have given you away. Arthur watches you intently, and if you didn’t know better you’d think he was buying you a drink to flirt with you. But you do know better, unfortunately. 

“You know,” he starts, drawing out the statement and retaining your attention with a long sip of his own, “You’re prettier than the stars above.” 

Whiskey shoots down your throat and back up again with your little splutter, not expecting this to be his plan. You just about manage to suppress the scoff rising up like bile,  concealing it in a cough. Your fight or flight is in hyperdrive, and the reverend Arthur Morgan laying on the fake charm in order to cash in on the price on your head really isn’t helping. He’s good, though, you had to give him that. It’s a mighty fine pickup line coming from a mighty fine looking man, it’s just a shame he’s trying to capture you.

“Afraid your charms won’t work on me, pretty boy. I’m not that kinda girl.”

“Pretty boy, really?” He doesn’t seem mad, more amused, a raised brow meeting with a little chuckle and a head shake as he throws the last of his drink back down. 

It’s now or never. 

You throw the last of your own drink back, part for the plan, part for the Dutch courage needed to actually pull the plan off. 

“Same again?” You ask, your stool squeaking awkwardly against the stone floor when your straightening legs push it into the wall, “I think this rounds on me.”

It’s a near perfect act of indifference, with only a single, traitorous voice break right at the end. You hope he doesn’t notice, but it’s wishful thinking. Arthur stands too, echoing your stools creak, his hand reaching on instinct to the holster hanging by his hip.

Dank farrik dank farrik dank farrik!!

“Don’t you worry about that, pretty girl.” The way he throws your pet name back at you… he knows you know, and you have seconds to act.

Eyes wide, like a bantha in headlights, you take your chances in throwing the last of your drink back, before throwing the glass over to the table of gamers and gamblers. It hits one of them on the back of the head, and everybody turns to him, the music cutting off abruptly for a few seconds of silence before the chaos erupts. 

You’re the first to move, breaking the almost comical freeze frame to put one boot on the table and push it into Arthur. He lunges for you, missing by inches, so close you feel the air rush past your skin where he nearly grazes you. The table hits him in the stomach, and he’s forced to bend over it, giving you the perfect opportunity to risk everything and grab the blaster jutting out. You shoot twice, high into the ceiling, which really kicks things off. The cantina soon descends into riot status, with punches thrown, drinks flying and the like. The distraction you’ve been after ever since he walked in here with his uneasy air and the hairs on the back of your neck first began to stand on edge.

The path out is far from easy, and you’re pretty sure you stood on more than a few limbs, but when the dry heat of a Tatooine night hits you, you’ve never been so grateful.  You don’t look back once, not knowing if he’s following you or even if he saw where you’re going, you just run until your lungs burn and your muscles scream at you and then you run some more. There’s a spot you know, an abandoned farm house just outside the city that’s covered in sand and looks like it hasn’t been touched in years. You hid out there once before, the last time a bounty hunter tried their luck with you, successfully prolonging this never ending hunt where you’re the prey every damn time.

It’s a long night, one where you don’t sleep a wink nor dare to light a fire. It doesn’t seem like Arthur followed you, but it was a few hours after reaching the farmhouse did you release the grip of your stolen blaster enough for it to no longer press each metal marking into the skin of your palm. You keep your back pressed firmly against the wall of one of the sand-filled alcoves, keeping hidden from sight until the suns are both well above the horizon. The mid-morning heat is a grateful relief from the biting cold; even the desert cools in the dead of night. 

You spot the bantha first, letting it lure you into a false sense of security before it gets close enough for you to make out the details of its silhouette, one detail in particular being the goddamn bounty hunter sitting atop it. 

The fact that he’s here at all means he knows he’ll find you here, but logic doesn’t get in the way of you scuttling back into the house, climbing to what used to be the second floor and pulling the blaster back out to press against your chest. 

Not exactly the faster creatures in the Outer Rim, it takes the bantha and its rider a few torturous minutes to reach you, but when they do arrive, Arthur dismounts casually, with no indication that he intends to send you back to your maker. Your breath hitches as he walks down the little incline of sand into the ruins of the house. 

He turns on his heel, and you notice the spurs on his boots make a little circle in the sand around his feet. 

“I know you’re here, mesh’la,” he taunts, bringing out a Mando’a translation of the newly formed inside joke you seem to share now, “Ain’t no point hiding.” 

He’s right, you know he is. There is no way out, no possibility you’re going to escape him, and even if you did, there’s no cover out here. He’ll be able to sit back and watch wherever you run, just waiting to follow. You could shoot him, but the weight of the blood you’ve already spilled is already becoming too much. Could you really carry more?

Tears threaten to prick at your eyes, but you refuse to let them fall, refuse to let the shaking of your hands carry on for any longer than your cover does. He won’t see the cracks in your facade, that you’ll make sure of.

“You’re prettier than the stars above, you know that?” 

It will be a cold day on Mustafar when the great Arthur Morgan bows to flattery, but that doesn’t stop you from poking whatever fun you can reach. 

Your voice echoing around the remains of the farmhouse alerts Arthur of your general location, so he turns to it, giving you a full view of the amused grin on his face.

“Your charms won’t work on me, pretty girl. I ain’t that kind of bounty hunter.” 

You laugh. A genuine, true laugh, despite yourself. Despite everything. 

“Come on out now, no-one needs to get hurt…” He pleads, wandering eyes indicating he’s still not 100% sure where you are.

“Except me, when you hand my ass in for a few credits.” You point out, noticing that your back and forth seems to have quelled the tremors in your hands. Let’s not ponder that right now…

Arthur looks taken aback, like he genuinely doesn’t know what to say to that. Good. Let him stutter to death for all you care. 

“Well, maybe you shoulda’ thought of that before you started sloggin’ off some mighty powerful people, sweetheart…” 

His comment seems to spark, igniting a firework of anger deep within you. It explodes loudly, albeit quickly, when you aim Arthur’s own blaster to beside his feet, firing a warning shot that smokes in the sand. You wouldn’t be surprised to see one of his boots singed with how close you were, but when he jumps back, pulling out another identical blaster from a second holster and aiming it right at your alcove, you curse inwardly. How did you not notice that?

“You have no idea what you’re talking about, bounty hunter.” You seethe, that anger burning hot as he claims to understand your situation. 

“Well why don’t you come out here and we can talk about it?” 

That earns a scoff, which Arthur responds to with a long sigh.

“Look… way I see it, you’ve got two choices. You can come out, do this the easy way, and I can bring you in nice and warm, get my full fee, and you live to see another day. Or-”

“Yeah, I get it, beroya,” You spit the Mando’a name out like a curse, “Or you can kill me right now and have a real lonely drive back to wherever the hell it is they want my corpse.” 

You hate that he’s right, hate that you’re cornered, hate that it’s over, ignoring the small part of you that sighs relief at the prospect of no longer having to live life with one eye on your back. 

There’s one last, long, deep breath, the exhale feeling like letting go of something, though you’re not sure if it’s freedom or the captivity this hunt has kept you in, and then you’re jumping from the second floor, landing in the sand with a thud. You’re still clutching the gun, but so is Arthur, and you’re not sure you’d fare well in a duel against an actual sharpshooter, so you toss it over to him, sand flying off at him in a final, petty move. 

Arthur picks it up, holstering a pistol at each hip as he slowly approaches, hands raised like a keeper trying to tame a wild rancor. You can’t decide if you like that allegory on not, rancors can get pretty vicious… 

The handcuffs you also didn’t notice last night hang from the bounty hunter’s belt. You’re still while he corners you, appearing willing when he plucks the binders from his belt. It isn’t until you feel gloved hands against your skin do the prickles on the back of your neck start burning and the urge to flee rises up again like bile. 

Phantom hands, Trandoshan ones, appear all over your body as you’re flung out of reality from a single touch. 

“Aren’t you a gem?” his whisper just about reaches your ear, warm breath bubbling at the skin of your neck like acid. He runs a claw across your jaw, resting it below your chin so you can’t look away. 

“Please don’t touch me.” You demand, though your voice is weak. Scared. You know what happens to girls who don’t do what they’re told around here.

That displeasure spreading across his face twists and contorts it when he registers your disobedience. Notably, his claws remain on you, and when you try to step backwards, he crowds you, following until your back hits the cold stone wall. Claustrophobia sets in, your breath hitching when you feel his chest press against yours. 

“Hm… I think I will, girl. Nobody says no to me, you’ll do well to remember that.” 

The stench of whatever cologne rich Trandoshan boys wear lingers in your nostrils like it so often does, but your mind catches up with where you really are faster than your body does. It’s instinct, when you bring your knee up to hit Arthur hard in the gut and completely wind him. He lets out a groan, doubling over and dropping the binders in the process, which you kick across the sand. 

You use his distraction to push him over onto his back, but he grabs the lapels of your jacket and drags you down with him so you’re straddling him, crotch to crotch as you attempt to pin him down into the sand. Your thighs squeeze together in an attempt to constrict his wriggling, but he’s pretty strong. You’re not thinking straight when you pull your fist back, with every intention of striking Arthur in the face, but the shock of his catching your fist in his much bigger hands seems to bring you back to reality and you realise what you’re doing. 

Frozen, for only a second, but it’s enough window to give Arthur chance to overpower you, twisting your bodies together until you’re below him instead and he can pin down each arm by the wrist. Your thighs remain wrapped around him, and with Arthur towering over you, it has suddenly become an awfully intimate position shared between the two of you. His face is inches from yours, his hot, panting breaths mixing with yours. Both of your chests rise and fall, just barely touching as you glare into eachothers eyes. 

“The hell was that?!” He demands, and you’re trying your absolute hardest to ignore the prodding you feel against your thigh. Maker help you…

He doesn’t deserve a response from you, only the ceasing of your strained muscles trying to escape his iron grip as a silent admit to defeat. With the way you fell, your satchel is digging awkwardly into your lower back, so you raise your hips slightly to ease the ache. An unexpected effect of that is your pelvis grinding oh-so gently against Arthur’s, which seems to bring a surge of energy to that bulge pressing against you. Your eyes widen, as do Arthur’s, and there’s one single moment shared between the two of you before he quickly scrambles off you, not releasing his bruising grip on your wrists. 

When he stands, he doesn’t give you the chance to before he’s walking to the direction you kicked his cuffs. It drags you along the coarse sand, your wrist screaming from the strain of carrying your weight.

“Ow- you’re gonna break my wrist, you fucking nerf herder!” You hiss at him, kicking your legs in protest as sand flies about the place and you’re dragged to the cuffs. 

“Shoulda’ thought about that before ya tried to break my goddamn nose, mesh’la.” The term of endearment is anything but sincere, coupled with rough movements as he cuffs you that hint that he may be pretty pissed about the sudden unexpected fight. The binders are a little too tight to ever be comfortable, but you’re pretty sure that’s intentional. A slice of revenge for trying to run again.

“These are too tight.” You complain, lifting your wrists up to his standing form. 

“Well, you better get used to it. We’ve got a long ride to Mos Espa, Princess.”

beroya - bounty hunter dank farrik - curse word mesh'la - beautiful trandoshan - an alien species, one of the crime families of tatooine

[another-lost-mc]

nsfw alphabet | zekhan

content warnings: mdni. mentions of sexual activity including rough sex; dom/sub dynamics; kinks and kink negotiations; scenting/marking; demon form sex mentioned; mentioned previous partners/relationships.

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

It takes a lot to wear him out, so he's going to take care of all your needs before his own. He's not the greatest with healing spells but he keeps potions and salves on hand that he rubs gently over any bruises, scratches, or bites that he made. Once you've healed and you assure him you're not in pain, he carries you gently to the bathroom so you can sit in a bath and rest. He'll change the bedding while you soak in the tub, and then he'll slip in behind you once that's done. He likes to wash your body and your hair if you'll allow him to.

He keeps spare clothes, toiletries, and medicine in his office at the club so that if you do anything there, he can take care of you properly afterwards.

No matter where you are, he's very attentive and gentle and a bit clingy. He'll want to stay close to you.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

His hands and arms—he's not known for being a very capable fighter, but he's strong enough to carry you easily.

He loves to kiss and touch all parts of you, but he's especially fond of kissing your neck and the insides of your thighs; his marks bloom beautifully across your skin and your scent is so lovely in those particular spots.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

It has a very light, salty taste and it's a little bit thicker than you might expect. He can smell the scent of it when he comes on or inside you, even after he washes (or licks) you clean.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

If you fooled around with anyone at the club before you started dating him, it's almost guaranteed that he eavesdropped on those little encounters. It's amazing how good his hearing is.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

He's fairly experienced, although he's very particular about the types of encounters he has with casual hook-ups. It's not that he's a selfish lover by nature, but sex before was a pleasant way to relieve some tension and get rid of those pesky urges to claim something. He loses interest in seeking out casual flings once he starts to develop feelings for you. He'll take his time once he's in a relationship with you though. He's very interested in exploring how and where you like to be kissed and touched and fucked.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Most of the time, he wants to be face-to-face with you. Variations of missionary (you or him on top) are his go-to positions. In certain moods, he might prefer to take you from behind instead. He likes the intimacy of positions like prone bone so he can mark and scent your neck while he grinds deep inside you.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Usually he's more serious, but his dirty talk might have a teasing edge to it. Having sex at the club is always a risky gamble because of all the potential interruptions. He gets a little flustered when that happens and it can be so adorable.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

It matches the dark-blue hair on his head. He doesn't have much hair on his chest but he has a hint of a happy trail. He keeps his hair trimmed for comfort's sake more than anything else, but he'll ask if you have any preferences.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Sometimes he doesn't talk a lot during sex, especially if he's in a very rough or needy mood, but he tries to be sweet with you in other ways. He likes to look at you and hold your hands, and between his grunts and moans, he lavishes your skin with kisses and nips of his teeth. He nuzzles his head against yours as a sign of affection (in bed or out of it). He likes taking his time during foreplay too, and it's almost worshipful how he touches you. He doesn't want to come until you're completely satisfied.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Before you he didn't do it that often, maybe once or twice a week. He usually sought out a fling at the club if he had an urge, and that was more satisfying than his hand was. Once he starts developing a not-so-platonic interest in you, he's having those urges a lot more. He stops seeking out other people and takes care of himself instead. He has some of the filthiest fantasies of you when he jerks off, usually in the shower before work or in his bed before going to sleep.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

A lot of his kinks involve some sort of sensory deprivation and/or sensation play:

Amaurophilia: His vision is worse than average as far as demons go, and being blindfolded and completely sightless enhances his other senses even more. Even if he wears a blindfold of some kind, he might rip it off just before he comes so he can see you.

Hyphephilia: He's not used to being touched by other people in an intimate way and his skin is a bit sensitive. He sleeps in a nest of soft, fluffy blankets and furs. It's his favourite place to fuck you.

Endytophilia: When he had casual sex before, it was usually at work and he'd be wearing one of his suits. All he did was undo the zipper of his slacks and pull himself out. He likes the way it feels when the fabric rubs against him. Plus, clothes are a useful shield for him and being totally naked makes him feel extremely vulnerable. If you're with him at the club and he's wearing a suit, he prefers to leave his shirt on and partially or fully unbuttoned so it hangs open slightly. For his trousers, he'll let them sit low on his hips. He's more likely to want to be naked/mostly naked in bed with you where the darkness helps hide the scars he's insecure about.

Primal/Fear Play: He's very good at hunting prey and blending into the shadows. He's happy to play these little games with you, especially if you're interested in seeing a rougher side of him once he catches you.

Misc: He loves biting and it's almost instinctual for him to do it when he's fucking you. He's extremely careful when he does it because he doesn’t want to cause any serious injury. He keeps a thick blanket nearby so he can cover you and bite into the plush material instead. (Outside the bedroom, he might slip his coat or jacket onto your shoulders for his teeth to sink into.)

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

His bed is his preferred spot, anywhere else in his house comes second. His office has some very nice furniture to bend you over or lay you on top of if you get too frisky at the club. Car sex is possible too since he offers to drive you around the Devildom so you don't have to walk. He may resort to fucking you in the shadows of some dingy building out of sight from potentially prying eyes, if he simply can't wait long enough to take you anywhere else first.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Proximity to you is enough of a turn on, honestly. Wearing a gift of his or giving him something as a surprise makes him feel so affectionate and needy for you. His ears are an erogenous zone, so teasing him with a breathy whisper or brushing your lips against them is enough to make him hard for you.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

He won't play a submissive role in the bedroom.

It will take a long time for him to consider fucking you in his demon form, but he'll offer when he's comfortable enough to try it.

He doesn't like edging (for himself). You'll learn quickly what his tolerance for playful teasing is before it's too much for him.

He might like being rough with you, but he doesn't want to do anything that would cause serious or permanent damage.

While he's not opposed to outdoor sex or sex in semi-public spaces, he doesn't want anyone to catch you in such an intimate position either.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

With casual flings, he preferred to have them suck him off while he used his hands or fingers to return the favour. Once you start being intimate together, he prefers to be the one giving you pleasure that way. He likes how you taste and all the little noises you make. He might overstim you by accident so you might have to let him know when it's too much before he finally stops. If you want to go down on him, he prefers to do it while he's sitting up or standing. His office at the club ends up being his favourite place for that (he likes when you push him against the wall with your body before you sink to your knees).

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Depends on his mood and where you are. He prefers to be slower with you, but that's not always possible. Even when his thrusts become a bit rougher and deeper, he still tries to maintain a slow pace. He wants to draw it out until you beg him for more.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

He loves them on nights when he has to work and you visit him at the club. He makes time in his busy evening to pull you into his office or another private room if he can't wait until he takes you home. He's usually the one that initiates by gauging your interest first.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

He's open to experimenting with things (within reason) that aren't on his list of hard-nos. These are conversations he's happy to have with you. As his trust and intimacy with you grows, he may be open to trying new things he hasn't considered before.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

He prefers a longer, drawn-out session than multiple short sessions in a short time frame. Once he comes, he needs a bit of time for the sensitivity to go down before he'll want to go for round two. He spends a lot of time teasing you with foreplay, making sure you come at least once by his mouth or hands before he fucks you.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

He doesn't have toys and doesn't have much experience using them. He's open to buying and using toys that you like, and he might consider some for himself. He'd rather use toys on you or watch you use them on yourself.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

He can have surprisingly playful moods where he murmurs filth into your ear or he sends you dirty texts when you least expect it. Sometimes he draws out those little games to see how desperate you are for him. When he's actually touching or fucking you, he doesn't like teasing you too much.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

He's not very loud. He makes lots of noises though, and the sounds are muffled when he buries his face against your skin. He usually grunts or groans deep in his chest to start. The sounds get a bit more desperate and breathier when he's close to coming, and he usually moans your name when he comes.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Although they never had a romantic relationship, Zee and Azra have had sex during their very long history together. Azra's probably the only demon he would be willing to share you with under very specific circumstances.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

His cock is average length and girth for a demon. He has a lot of scar tissue on his left shoulder/chest. It doesn't hurt if you touch him there, but the sensation (if any) is a bit odd.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

He doesn't need or want to have sex every day. He's content being close to you and showering you with other affectionate gestures that aren't sexual in nature.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Sometimes it can take him a while to fall asleep but he'll be very relaxed and a little clingy. He'll hold you or snuggle close to you while you talk afterwards, and he'll drift off to sleep sometime after you do.

read more: zee's sfw alphabet | oc masterlist | obey me masterlist

[wobster109]

Ratio’s position in the IPC is, in my opinion, one of the great and understated plot twists of Penacony. I would not be surprised if Ratio is secretly an IPC executive equivalent to a stoneheart. I thought he was secretly a stoneheart until the myriad celestia came out.

He has an unprecedented amount of responsibility and authority in a very delicate and risky mission. The IPC is burying the lede when they introduce Ratio as their “technical consultant”. He himself says that he is the “manager” of this mission.

He has dreamscape access that even Topaz doesn’t get. They could've chosen another stoneheart for the mission, but instead, they chose him.

He has the ability to open Cornerstone boxes.

He has enough info to sink the whole mission into the meme zone if he cared to betray the IPC. No, they must be confident that he wouldn’t sell them out at any price. And where do they get that kind of confidence in a random, loosely-affiliated technical consultant?

It’s not just by being a researcher of an affiliated institution. It seems to me that a normal working relationship between a corporation and a researcher is: the corp funds the researcher, and then the corp benefits from the research. In extreme situations, the corp may lock down the researcher, like Chadwick. It seems strange to involve a researcher in the most secret schemes, akin to one of your own top-level directors.

As far as I know, every stoneheart is there for very profound personal reasons that are so deeply rooted that the idea of betrayal is unthinkable. Topaz has her conviction that the IPC saved her planet, and her unwavering dedication to saving other planets. I do not know why Aventurine joined, but whatever his reason, it was worth gambling his life in an elaborate scheme to get in. I believe Jade is bound by the same contract as her clients. "There's no turning back for me or you" - there are hints that she's not just the proprietor of the Bonajade Exchange, she may be its first customer as well.

So, what does Ratio have that assures the IPC of his loyalty?

The most obvious guess is that he's in love with Aventurine. Regardless of whether it's true, that can't be the reason. Feelings in general are fickle, even if the doctor's are not - the IPC would not rely on something so ephemeral to serve as the foundation for his loyalty.

Another possibility is that he's being enticed, or even coerced, by funding. It's plausible that the Intelligentsia Guild may be unable to carry on without the IPC's financial support, and there is no other organization in the universe with comparable wealth. Sunday and all of Penacony couldn't "outbid" the IPC by offering to fund the Guild in its place - they simply don't have the money. If loyalty goes to the highest bidder, the IPC has it locked down. I'm not entirely convinced though. They would still be relying solely on Ratio's sense of duty to the Guild, trusting that he wouldn't be tempted by any amount of personal gain. Though Sunday can't fund the entire Guild, he could still offer Ratio enough, either in wealth or knowledge, to sway a more worldly or opportunistic man. Perhaps they are simply very assured of Ratio's character, since he has a long history of noble and charitable deeds, and has previously thrown out students for attempting to bribe him. But then, how do they know he won't turn against them for a moral reason? How can they be sure he won't find just cause to become their enemy?

The IPC has blackmail on him. HAHAHAA blackmail on Ratio? He has spent his entire life being upright and brilliant and beautiful in the bath. Moving on.

The IPC saved his planet, similar to Topaz's planet. It's just coincidence that it's never mentioned in any of his lore or backstory, and it was also something he couldn't do himself, despite solving a planet's energy crisis.

My final guess is that he may be bound by a contract that no mortal can break, similar to signing a contract with Jade. Perhaps he made a wish to be at peace with never making it into the Genius Society - after all, he would never wish to get in, he would consider membership attained that way to be worthless. And the price was doing work for the IPC, mundane work among mortals that would preclude the lofty academia of the Genius Society. I'm just spitballing here - something to that effect that makes betrayal literally impossible. It is hard to imagine Ratio of all people entering into such a contract, though. He's all about finding your own way, in knowledge and in life. I doubt he'd take a shortcut, not even for something personal such as inner peace. "You learn to know yourself before the enemy." He'd want to find his own way.

In short. . . I have no idea what it could actually be. I hope that we'll be seeing more of him though!

[tatatatatara]

Headcanon about Yan in both canonverse and non-ghoul AU because I've been thinking about him

ft YanHouji and a hint of HouTata in the future

Canon:

- He's very stoic. Like he doesn't buy any decoration, he doesn't eat more than the bare minimum (to maintain his kakuja) or has any hobby. His life is dedicated to Chi She Lian and preparing Tatara's future

- He does smoke to cope with the huge amount of stress. He doesn't let Tatara smoke though

- Having a relationship is too risky and he refrains from it. He tried having sex once, didn't like it, killed the girl and ate her

- Whenever he has time, he teaches Tatara how to fight by himself. This is because 1. He doesn't enjoy the idea of other people hurting him 2. Tatara is too stubborn to be taught by other members

- He has the same kagune as his father while Tatara inherited their father's kagune

- One of his biggest regrets when dying is that he should have spent more time with Tatara

Non-Ghoul AU + YanHouji:

- He runs multiple hotels, restaurants, clubs and spas in China, and casinos in Macau. It's hard to be not doing shady stuffs in these kind of industries but Yan manages to not getting caught by the police. Barely.

- Despite his profession, he isn't addicted to drugs, gambling or any kind of pleasure at all. In fact, it is his job that helps me realise how those things can destroy a man's life so he doesn't want to be another victim of them

- But he does smoke, and do some one night stands occasionally whenever he needs to be relieve or someone interesting caught his eyes

- Houji is an undercover cop who is looking for evidences to bring Yan to justice, so he pretends to be his business partner, and eventually a partner in bed

- Yan knows Houji's real identity, but he enjoys Houji's company and wants to see where this will go so he keeps messing with him (giving him hints to dead-end, putting unimportant files in places for important files...)

- Houji has a feeling that Yan found out, but he's in it too deep now. Also Yan fascinates him with his seemingly cold demeanor yet passionate, and his wisdom. He can hear Yan talk for days

- He slowly learns that he can't get any valuable piece of information from Yan, so he decides to get it from Tatara. The protected and spoiled younger brother would be less wise, right?

[winxrewritingsandfictions]

Game of minds part 1

Pairing: BloomxSky, ErendorxSamara

Rating: T

Genre: Romance, manipulation

Length: medium

It was late at night. Erendor was standing at the window of his office, observing the night. Everything was quiet around him. The silence was heavy, reflecting the king's troubled mind. His blue eyes were lost in the dark daybreak of the cold winter. Half of his angular face was enlightened by the dim light of the fire from the fireplace, the glow shining golden on his long blond waves.

His beliefs and his education forced him to keep a straight posture, even though he was alone in the room. If he had been any other man, he would have crouched on the window-sill. But Erendor was not a regular man. And neither was his son. This was precisely what troubled the blond man; his son's longing to be "normal". It had been his idea to switch the name of his son with the one of his squire. It had been all planned. The prince's security was at stake. What Erendor had not planned was his son's growth. He was proud of the man his son was becoming, but it seemed that a lot of values his education was built on were slowly perishing. That, Erendor could not fathom.

The king glanced over his shoulder. There was a stack of magazines on his desk. The tabloids were addicted to a new face. A fairy and her best friends. They were so young, and yet, they were so loved. No doubt that these girls would grow up to be very influential figures in the magic dimension.

A sigh escaped him. Another one.

Leaving the window, he went to his desk. Slowly, he reached for one, but before his hand could touch the magazine, he jerked it away. Sighing once again, he crunched over the wooden desk, putting his hands on it. Damn him. The whole situation was frustrating. The fairy was a complete paradox. How was he supposed to shape his son if the latter was so weary of his own father's ruling? Sky had voiced many times over the past years how he did not agree with Erendor's ways. How absurd!

Erendor's attention was drawn back to the door. He could hear his wife's voice on the other side. A second later, the door opened on her. She was dressed in her night robes, a long dressing gown over it.

Closing the door behind her, she watched her husband. Of course, she knew what was bothering him. A quick glance at his desk and her suspicions were confirmed. She looked away, recalling the multiple conversations she had with their son.

Erendor watched her. He knew what she thought of the situation. He knew what she wanted. And no matter how much he cared about his wife, and how much he valued her opinion, he found it hard to share her view.

"Erendor..." She said, getting closer.

"I have told you, Samara! I do not want to play with the future of my kingdom. It is but too risky."

"I'm not telling you to marry her to our son the moment you agree to give her a chance."

"See, this is the issue here. I'm cornered by you, by Sky, by these!" He said, pointing to the magazines. "I'm tired of being pushed over." Samara rolled her eyes. "Do not roll your eyes at me, Samara! It is not a game."

"Nobody said it was," she answered calmly.

"Ha! Nevertheless, you all act as if it was a game. Giving her a chance, you said," he scoffed, "a chance implies risks as much as it implies success. I will not gamble on the fate of the kingdom!"

She looked up at him, a hint of spark in her eyes. Noticing it, he squinted his eyes at her.

"What is on your mind, wife?"

"Here is the thing. Who said you had to gamble?" Erendor was now curious. A sly smile transformed her face. "We know of her heroic tendencies. We also know she loves our son. And truly, the part of risks you assimilate with her is a consequence of her education, or rather, her lack of education. Am I right?"

"Yes, you are. However-" he started but was cut off.

"She does not have any party favoring her. No pedigree whatsoever. I am well aware of this, dear husband. But look at what she could be giving us." The queen's voice was stable. Strong. Her arguments were sharp. She knew where she was going. "She might not have blue blood, but she has a reputation, and certainly not a bad one." She took one of the magazines. "Even those mediocre publishings have a high opinion of her. She is, after all, a hero." She saw his eyes squinting, even more, an indication that his brain was making connections. "Imagine what it could be if we were to officialize their relationship. The Golden Prince and the powerful and unstoppable Guardian Fairy ?" She let the information sink in. "Forget about her lack of education. Make sure she spends her summers here and this will be dealt with. She shall learn!" Finally, she backed down. "Then, and only then, will they be the most powerful couple the magic dimension had ever seen. Heraklion will be elevated to another status, Erendor! Not royal, but celestial!" At this, Erendor's eyes shone. "She does have potential. Maybe more than any good party we know of."

The silence following her tirade was deafening.

Solemnly, the king set his eyes on his wife, hypothesis merging in his brain. Yes, maybe the fairy was something they could use.

-------------------------------------------------

I'm really happy with how this turned out! Really, the couple being ruthless toward Bloom is something I love, because it only builds the cliff they will fall from when Bloom will be acknowledged as princess Bloom of Domino, and not just a commoner. They are calculating and manipulative. There will be a second part where they decide to spy on her.

I want to thank @gins-potter for letting me use her modifications of Erendor.

You might want to read this series as it follows up on the plan Samara exposed.

Here are you few suggestions if you want to keep reading :

Colonel Riven

Finals

Dragon's land part 1/3

[honeyleesblog]

benefits of cherries during pregnancy

Is it Protected to Eat Cherries During Pregnancy? Cherries during pregnancy are protected to eat. They are completely stacked with L-ascorbic acid and furthermore different supplements that support your insusceptibility during the pregnancy stage. In any case, guarantee you pit them prior to eating them as gulping the seeds might be risky.

benefits of cherries during pregnancy

Supplements in Cherries As referenced above, cherries contain a decent wellspring of L-ascorbic acid. This organic product additionally has a few additional supplements that are considered sound and fundamental for pregnant ladies. Here is the synopsis of the fundamental supplement values present in a cup of cherries: Cherries are stacked with high hints of different supplements including Vitamin A, calcium, dietary fiber, riboflavin, iron, potassium, Vitamin K, phosphorus, and Vitamin E. This makes the expansion of this exquisite natural product to any individual's eating routine, particularly a pregnant lady's, a truly brilliant enhancement. The following are some medical advantages of eating cherries during pregnancy:

1. Cherries Are Great For Hack and Colds Cherries can support relieving colds, hacks, asthma, and bronchitis. They go about as an amazing expectorant for hack related issues.

2. Cherries Are Stacked with Proteins, Nutrients, and Minerals Loaded with calcium, iron, minerals, and proteins, cherries are a magnificent choice for a nibble during this period.

3. Assists with controlling Pulse Stacked with test hints of potassium, this natural product is ideal to direct circulatory strain and furthermore turn away the gamble of toxemia.

4. Help From Muscle Throbs Cherries likewise have mitigating qualities that give incredible help to ladies experiencing any solid issues and agony. This hence turns into a genuine help during the pregnancy time frame.

5. Falling short on Calories In the event that you end up being weight-cognizant during this stage and watch anything you eat cautiously, cherries can be an old buddy to you. They are exceptionally falling short on calories, and you can undoubtedly chomp on them.

6. Assists You with Dozing Better Regularly, the different distresses you experience during pregnancy start hampering your rest design. Cherries that contain hints of the chemical called melatonin are great for inciting dozing. So it is smart to drink a glass of lip terminating cherry juice to defeat the a sleeping disorder that you experience during this period.

7. Eases Blockage Perhaps of the most inescapable issue that most pregnant ladies face during this stage is obstruction. Cherries stacked with fiber are an ideal option for the diuretics that are normally endorsed during this period to deflect stoppage. Cherries help to standardize your defecations and dispose of clogging.

8. Gives Your Invulnerability Framework a Decent Lift During pregnancy, the invulnerability levels of the mother are typically very low and make them effectively inclined to different contaminations and infections. Cherries are loaded with L-ascorbic acid that gives a phenomenal lift to your resistance levels keeping various types of sicknesses under control.

9. Advances Cerebrum Wellbeing Cherries contain hints of anthocyanin that are great for the insurance of regular cells and animating the advancement of the cerebrum wellbeing of the hatchling inside you. Besides in the event that you are experiencing pregnancy mind, Balaton cherries can help you an extraordinary arrangement. 10. Assists with alleviating Exhaustion Since they are stacked with water content, cherries, whenever made a piece of your customary eating routine, are great for giving the much-expected lift to your energy levels and assists with keeping weakness under control.

11. Directs Enlarging and Irritation Anthocyanin, which gives the red tone to this exquisite organic product, has been viewed as very compelling in bringing down aggravation, joint agonies, and enlarging that ordinarily happens during this pregnancy period.

Safeguards to Take While Consuming Cherriespregnant lady having cherries In the event that you are experiencing any clinical issues, it's smarter to counsel your PCP prior to having cherries during pregnancy:

The natural product pits, leaves, and bark of this natural product contain hints of a harmful compound known as hydrocyanic corrosive. So you should consume just hollowed cherries during pregnancy. In the event that you have gestational diabetes, it's anything but smart to consume cherries. Guarantee that cherries are washed well prior to eating as they might contain a wide range of microbes that can set off undesirable diseases during this delicate period.

Results of Eating Cherries During Pregnancy In spite of the fact that cherries have been viewed as truly useful during pregnancy, there are a few unfriendly impacts that happen assuming that you consume them during pregnancy:

Many instances of belly throb and gas issues (counting swelling) have been accounted for by ladies who consume cherries during pregnancy. Eating cherries during pregnancy can set off unfavorably susceptible responses in certain ladies that can cause undesirable complexities during pregnancy. Biting, smashing, or scratching cherries can release prussic corrosive. This is really one of the parts of hydrogen cyanide which is very toxic and could actually cause fetal passing. So despite the fact that cherries are a great expansion to any lady's pregnancy diet, balance should be seen while consuming this natural product. Likewise, ensure you counsel your primary care physician about the security of consuming cherries prior to making them a piece of your pregnancy diet.

[vanquishedvaliant]

There’s an interesting dichotomy in the way that Three Hopes expands on Claude’s character that I’m still chewing on, where giving him more room to breath and assert himself has simultaneously made me lose a great deal of respect for him as a leader, grow to slightly dislike him as a person, but also sympathize with his perspective and appreciate him much more as a character.

Three Houses always tried to tell us that Claude was a scheming trickster willing to hurt people to get what he wants- and there’s evidence of that in some scenes like Jeralts journal, but for the most part we’re largely exposed to his more sincere and kind side, and very little negative consequences of his plotting without reading between the lines of his motives

Three Hopes has in that regard done a fantastic job of correcting that and showing off his intended character flaws as advertised, with situations like the Gloucester Gambit, Naders subterfuge, and especially the two routes of Aillell sacrifice / betrayal.

We finally see a Claude that is making big, swingy, risky plays to achieve his goals with incredible strategic gains- and commensurate costs, often morally. Having to kill his brother, leaving his allies to die, staking a provinces’ reputation on a gamble, or dooming his nations status for a cheap powergrab and dying in the process all showcase the kind of ballsy and Machiavellian shit that Claude is willing to pull when he’s in charge of moving chess pieces on the board

And it also shows his detachment from the consequences and translating theory to reality, his unwillingness to trust others, and most importantly- the subtly selfish and prideful nature of his outwardly progressive ambitions.

The first and the last are where my disagreements with his politics lie, and the middle being the dramatic flaw that both gives him sympathy and prevents him from overcoming the others.

To get into what I mean by detachment from reality we only have to look at one example from each game to prove consistency; in Crimson Flower Hilda fights to the death, and Claude remarks heartbroken that she was supposed to retreat; a brief and simply painful reminder that he’s failed to take the human element into account during his planning.

Likewise in Golden Wildfire Aillell; Claude’s perfect plan to ensure that no Leicester troops die and the church is routed utterly disregards the humanity of the imperial allies he sacrifices, and even the empathy of those under his command who watched a good man die senselessly as he was betrayed and locked in a cage match with a legendary warrior during his retreat.

It takes a serious dressing-down from Shez afterwards to set him right, but even before anyone criticized him Claude’s already doubting himself and feeling guilty; it’s not that he doesn’t care about peoples lives, he’s just unable to see the numbers in his schemes as real until the blood is already on his hands.

His difficulty trusting others both explains and corrects this flaw to a degree; the moment he opens himself up to others he starts making more humane decisions because he’s being held accountable and reminded of the stakes of his decisions. And there’s a great deal of sympathy to be had for this well meaning and intelligent man with great ambitious struggling to trust and confide in others.

But when it comes to grand politics, that detachment returns, and combines with the wicked little hint of pride. Claude doesn’t just want to change the world to be more inclusive- to a certain degree, he also wants to be the one that makes it happen. He wants to maintain his independence, his leadership, his Leicester no matter the cost.

These facets both come across clearly in his conversation to edelgard in Zahras- Edelgard asks Claude to explain the nature of his lofty ambitions for social reform, and he refuses to explain to her, instead snidely taunting that her own ambitions only span the continent, and not the globe.

It’s not that I don’t believe that Claude plans to revolutionize the world; but I’m skeptical of how he’s going to do it and what he’s going to achieve, and at what cost.

With Edelgard, the cost is stated upfront; a brutal, bloody war where many will suffer and die, in exchange for the restructuring of the church and dismantling of crest-based inherited nobility.

One certainly might not agree with the methods or even the goal itself, but it’s not in question at any point exactly what she’s doing, how, and why.

With Claude, we’re not really sure how he plans to enact his sweeping change, only his colourful descriptions of his dream of a world without borders or race or creed. A noble goal- but a distant one with a poorly described route, and one that he’s not willing to entrust or describe to others.

And even the finale of his own route Golden Wildfire, we see his plans not amount to what he expects; a detachment of theory from reality as the defeat of the Archbishop fails to end the war between Faerghus and Adrestia. Closer to his goal, but an indeterminate amount. With actions dictated by what’s best for current Leicester as much as for Fodlan, or the world. And I think this is really interesting! Claude is a big-dreamer with big ideas, but they’re not super grounded in reality because the man himself is not super grounded. He’s left behind his homeland and his right to be a King in order to ‘earn’ his way into the leadership of another nation; here going so far as to be proclaimed King of Leicester on his own.

He doesn’t trust anyone to help him define or stabilize his ambitions and even as he begins to correct this flaw through the course of the plot he never truly overcomes it in the short timeline we’re shown. It makes him feel so much more human and so much more humble than he appeared before; solidifying him very much as the sort of Lord contrasting the other two who’s determined to rise to greatness through his own power and methods rather than adapting the system granted to them.

While Dimitri and Edelgard have given responsibilities and expectations as a king, Claude is much more free to define his own style and that’s both a great strength and a great weakness. He has no expectations, but no guidelines either.

And ultimately for my personal opinion thats’ what makes me feel like he’s a very relatable and understandable person, but as a citizen of Fodlan I could never feel comfortable entrusting governance to him. 

There’s simply no way to predict what schemes and gambits he’s going to do next, what his next goals for nebulous reform are, where his loyalties lie, or what the cost is going to be. There’s simply no comfort you can take in expectations or reliability of results.

Dimitri offers that stability in of itself with his conservative status quo and attempt to bring up the absolute bottom line rather than progress society, and Edelgard’s revolution is extremely regimented and ordered- with every detail of the shakeup plotted and promised and decided via ministerial and imperial doctrine.  Citizens of the Kingdom and the Empire know what they’re in for... but if you’re a member of the brand new Leicester Federation... how are you supposed to predict what your King is going to do next?

[peppermint-toads]

straight bet

an: i have a very limited knowledge of roulette. also let me know if i should i do a part two.

cw: mafia!kylo x female reader, gambling, alcohol, sexual undertones, hints of a threesome

Clink. Clink. Clink.

Casino chips clattered all around you. The air was crisp and clean. Each inhale felt like a rush of adrenaline coursing through your veins. You were surrounded by sore losers with greasy faces heading towards the exits wearing vengeful scowels. But yours and Kylo’s spirits were high that evening.

“What do you think, pet?” He asked, tucking your hair behind your ear.

Your eyes quickly surveyed the board, flitting over red and black, red and black. “Thirty. Straight bet.”

Kylo raised his brows, “Risky, don’t you think?” You pulled your lip between your teeth and nodded. He smirked at you, adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “That’s my girl.”

You hopped up from his lap, and he tugged your cocktail dress down your thighs before patting your ass. You leaned over the table, making sure to give Kylo quite the show and placed his chip right on top of the number thirty.

When you turned back to him, he looked confident, so confident. He wore one of his nicer suits, sharp edges and all black. His raven hair fell in soft waves around his pale skin. He looked royal. The way he sat in his chair with his legs spread and his hand resting under his chin screamed important. And you belonged to that beacon of importance and prestige. You were his little pet.

You returned to your rightful seat perched atop his lap, leaning into his chest and plucking your champagne flute from his hand.

“Better not cost me, you’ll regret it” He half joked, nipping at your neck. “I have a feeling I won’t,” you quipped.

Whirrr. The wheel of colors blurred together as the dealer fed the ivory ball onto the rim. “No more bets!” He called.

Kylo moved his hand up your exposed thigh while you kept your eye trained on the ball. The orb gradually lost speed, getting closer and closer to the rotor.

Your bet was chancy, but you knew Kylo wouldn’t expect any different from you, considering he taught you everything you knew.

Outside bets are for cowards, are you a coward, Y/n? His words replayed in your epinephrine addled head.

Kylo’s hands snaked up your body, featherlight touches making you squirm. “How do you plan to repay me if you lose?” He whispered. You could feel his lips ghost against the shell of your ear.

The ball was slowing onto the rotor, and his palm was splayed on your lower stomach, lips on your neck.

In the very short amount of time it took for that little ball to decide your fate, Kylo had managed to absolutely soak your panties. He could probably feel the warmth of your slick through his slacks, but he knew better than to address it.

You almost missed the moment the white ball dropped into the red pocket. “Kylo! Kylo, baby, look!” You sprung from his thigh, tugging him up with you to hover over the stilled wheel.

Kylo didn’t care about the money, really, he had money to lose. He was just proud of his baby, and he was basking in the jealous stares from others. Were they envious of his winnings or his darling, he would say both.

He may have influenced the outcome just a little. Luckily, you didn’t notice the subtle twitch of his fingers as he manipulated the ball with the force. Usually he wouldn’t cheat, but the dealer was being a little too flirtatious with you for his liking.

After collecting your thirty-five to one payout, you and Kylo retired to your presidential suite. As soon as the two of you entered the elevator, his hands were all over your body, tracing every single curve. His large palms kneaded the meat of your ass and you yelped.

Admittedly, you were drunk on your win and the expensive champagne casino employees kept feeding you. “If I didn’t know any better, you hiccuped, I’d say you owe me.”

“What did you have in mind, my love?” He inquired with his hands held firmly on your waist.

“Maybe we invite Vicrul up for some fun?”

He smirked down at you, holding your chin gently. “If that’s what my pet wants.”

TAGLIST: @mollysolo @cornmousequeen @sprucewoodlover @i-love-scott-mccall

[zintranslations]

Kaleidoscope of Death, Extra 4

Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu Link to Chinese / Novel Updates

Extra: Twin Lives, Twin Deaths (1)

The first time Cheng Yixie understood that he likely wouldn't live for long was on the day of his fifth birthday. While other five-year-olds were still bumbling about without much concept of life and death, he had understood something in his mother's tears and his father's frowns. His fifth birthday was spent in the hospital, alongside his foolish brother Cheng Qianli. With IV drips in their arms and eating horribly bitter medicine, they stuck five candles into a lovely cake to make a wish.

Cheng Yixie looked at the candles on their cake and quietly thought, he wished he could grow up quicker, because there were still placed he wanted to see in this world.

Cheng Qianli clearly didn’t think as much as Cheng Yixie. He wore a brilliant smile in sharp contrast with the impassive Cheng Yixie sitting next to him, and all of his attention was on the sweet and spongey cake before him. Fools had an easier time than geniuses. A single sweet candy could bring a genuine smile out of him.

Cheng Yixie and Cheng Qianli were twins, but everything about them beside their faces seemed completely different.

Cheng Yixie had realized long ago that they were different from other kids. He'd even heard a doctor discuss their condition with their parents. From that discussion, a single sentence had been imprinted in his brain. Their primary doctor had said that, at the current level of medical progress, he and Cheng Qianli would not live past sixteen.

Sixteen—sixteen. Life would only just be starting. Cheng Yixie went back to their hospital room and watched his brother sit in the hospital bed, giggling at the cartoon on TV. There wasn't a single shadow in Cheng Qianli's eyes; they were as bright as the blue skies outside their window.

Cheng Qianli was a lot skinnier than he was, and his body was weaker too. Though he was almost ten, he still looked like an undernourished bean sprout. For treatment, neither of them had any hair. All over their heads and wrists were green and purple puncture marks.

Cheng Yixie came into the hospital room and Cheng Qianli looked up at him, calling out Gege in a sweet voice. That pair of adorable cat eyes were overflowing with palpable joy; he'd never bothered hiding his affection for Cheng Yixie.

"Gege." The tiny Cheng Qianli looked right and left, before carefully waving Cheng Yixie over.

Cheng Yixie went to his bedside, and Cheng Qianli indicated he should bend down. Cheng Yixie thought that Cheng Qianli had something to say to him and obeyed. But the moment he bent, a tiny piece of candy was pushed between his lips.

"Sh," Cheng Qianli said. "Don't tell nurse-jiejie. Grandma gave it to me in secret. I gave it a lick, it's super yummy."

Because they were sick, their diets were under strict control; the amount of snacks they got to eat in a year could be counted on both hands. Cheng Yixie thought, how nice would it be if they were normal children? Then Cheng Yixie could eat all the food that he wanted, and they wouldn't have to be doing such a pitiful thing.

"You're feeding me something you already ate?" was how Cheng Yixie responded to Cheng Qianli's good will. "Gross."

"You're lying," Cheng Qianli harrumphed. "You like candy too, I know it. Mean gege."

Cheng Yixie said nothing. The candy's sweetness was dispersing through his mouth, but all he could see was their future. He couldn't imagine losing this foolish brother of his; he wanted so badly to see Cheng Qianli grow up and have a life of his own.

Cheng Yixie thought surviving was just wishful thinking, until he was chosen by the doors.

The terrifying world of the doors was perhaps an awful sort of torture for many, but for Cheng Yixie, it was a blessing of mercy from the heavens.

When he entered the first door he wasn't even sixteen, and looked completely out of place in the pack of adults.

His first door was very difficult. Cheng Yixie believed that he would die inside, but his fortune was good—he met a veteran who'd passed through many doors. That veteran opened the door, and Cheng Yixie successfully left that extra-dimensional world.

After coming out from the door, Cheng Yixie's physical condition began to swiftly get better.

The doctors called it a miracle. They were getting the same medicine and the same treatments, but Cheng Yixie's body was getting better and quickly approaching normalcy, while Cheng Qianli's was getting weaker.

Cheng Yixie knew why this was happening. He tried telling this absurd yet genuine truth to his parents, but both parents thought he was joking.

In everybody else's eyes, Cheng Yixie had only sat on his bed and spaced out for a bit. He hadn't gone anywhere. Everything he said was probably just a child's imagination. How could they take the imaginary as truth?

Cheng Yixie was smart enough to know that the adults would never understand. This matter had already gone beyond explicable bounds, and he had no evidence to prove the existence of the door.

Then what about Cheng Qianli? Cheng Yixie thought. What about his little fool of a brother?

Before Cheng Yixie had an answer, he entered his second door. And in his second door, he met Obsidian leader Ruan Nanzhu.

Ruan Nanzhu had been in a dress at the time, and called him kiddo with a smile.

Cheng Yixie only shot him a cold look, not bothering to respond. What good was any of this talk? In his first door he'd seen plenty of adults who acted all arrogant and coy one second end up dead the next.

Cheng Yixie figured the same would be true of Ruan Nanzhu. But then he discovered that Ruan Nanzhu didn't seem to be as he'd thought. Ruan Nanzhu was good. Cheng Yixie was keen enough to pick this up after observing Ruan Nanzhu's following actions.

As Ruan Nanzhu got ready to leave, he gave Cheng Yixie a way to contact him, telling Cheng Yixie that if he wanted to know more, he could get in touch.

Cheng Yixie looked at that contact point and memorized it silently.

After leaving the second door, Cheng Yixie got in touch with Ruan Nanzhu and learned about the existence of Obsidian.

"Do you want to come to Obsidian? Maybe you can live for a bit longer here," Ruan Nanzhu said.

Cheng Yixie agreed. He didn't even get his parents' permission before leaving the hospital. He flew to the city where Ruan Nanzhu lived that night.

This was actually quite the risky gamble, because Cheng Yixie couldn't be sure if Ruan Nanzhu actually had any good will toward him. He was just a helpless kid, and if Ruan Nanzhu really wanted to do something to him, he had no chance of even resisting.

But Cheng Yixie could only make the gamble, because Cheng Qianli didn't have much time left.

There was an obvious contrast now that Cheng Yixie was getting healthier. Cheng Qianli was like a plant approaching winter; life was flowing out of him at a rate visible to the naked eye.

After arriving at Obsidian, the first thing he asked upon meeting Ruan Nanzhu was, "can other people get the doors too?"

To his question, Ruan Nanzhu was silent for a while, before saying, "yes, but I'm not telling you how."

"Why not?" Cheng Yixie asked.

"Because you pay with somebody else's life," Ruan Nanzhu said. "Can you do such a thing?"

Cheng Yixie was silent.

Ruan Nanzhu didn't continue the topic, only gave him a simple introduction to the doors. He told him about the hints, about Obsidian, and about some other things. Of course, from start to finish, he never once told Cheng Yixie how to steal somebody else's door. He only warned Cheng Yixie to hide his identity inside the door, or else there would be danger.

Cheng Yixie paid close attention. As he listened, however, he kept thinking about Cheng Qianli. He was thinking that even if he did steal a door for Cheng Qianli, would Cheng Qianli be able to make it out?

The worlds inside the doors were so scary, and didn't suit the naive Cheng Qianli at all. Even if he stole the doors for Cheng Qianli like Ruan Nanzhu said, would it be just another form of torture for Cheng Qianli?

He was so small, and so scared of the dark. He was so completely different from Cheng Yixie. He was just a normal kid.

That night, Cheng Yixie sat in the garden by himself for a long, long time. It wasn't until dawn emerged over the horizon that he rubbed his dry eyes and went impassively back into the house.

What Cheng Yixie was thinking, nobody knew. Since that day on, he never once returned home, and he never once contacted Cheng Qianli.

Is it because your brother's too stupid? So you don't like him anymore? someone asked Cheng Yixie once. Cheng Yixie didn't say anything in return, just shot that person an icy look.

The reason he didn't go back and didn't contact Cheng Qianli was because he was scared. He was scared that he wouldn't be able to control himself, and he would do something out of bounds.

He didn't even dare try to think about Cheng Qianli dying. The moment he thought about it, many terrifying thoughts would surface in his mind.

Cheng Qianli was the calamity in Cheng Yixie's life that he could never escape; he knew that for this brother of his, he could cross even the lowest lines.

And when he became conscious of this, the only thing Cheng Yixie could do was reduce the influence Cheng Qianli had on him—even if the reduction process was tantamount to cutting out a part of himself by brute force.

They were twins. Twins linked by blood. A single glance, a single look, and they could understand what the other was thinking; even a thousand miles away, Cheng Yixie could feel Cheng Qianli growing gradually weaker.

Cheng Yixie thought everything would end like this. But one afternoon, he got a call from Cheng Qianli.

To this very day, Cheng Yixie could recall the weather then.

It was a drizzling spring day, and the shrubs in the yard were lush with greenery. Everything was filled with the breath of revival. And Cheng Qianli's voice came from the other end of the line, sniffling and a little bit weak. He cried, "Ge, Ge, I'm so scared—"

Cheng Yixie, "what's wrong?" He'd sensed something, and his voice couldn't help but tighten in alarm.

"I went into a door." Cheng Qianli spoke in frail stutters. "There were so many ghosts inside. I finally came out. Am I dreaming…When are you coming back…I miss you so much…" It seemed he was growing unconscious, slowly beginning to mumble nonsense.

As Cheng Yixie listened, however, he began to laugh quietly. He laughed until tears came out, and said, "don't be scared. Gege's here. Wait for Gege to come back."

Gege will protect you.

And so, Cheng Yixie understood that he'd never escape Cheng Qianli the calamity. He would use every single method at his disposal to protect Cheng Qianli's life. He would see him grow up, marry, have children. His children would have children and he would definitely live on and prosper.

Author's Note:

Here's the long-awaited twins extra!

[Extra: Shameless Couple(2)] | [Extra: Twin Lives, Twin Deaths(2)]

[ggukkieland]

📕CURRENT READS (2020 November)

🌹 Almost done with the list except for a few and I am excited to curate fics that are fitting for merry December 🎅❄🎄🤶 woot woot! 

I enjoyed this month’s reads - a mix of cyberpunk au, android au, werewolf aus, slice of life, exes and those on the verge of breaking up, and lots of beautifully-written drabbles which ended up in my list of favorites. 

Please send these authors some love by reblogging their content =)

✅ -  done reading   | S (smut) F (fluff) A (angst) 

🥕[Ongoing Series - to check weekly] 

Still reading the ongoing series from October’s reading list, whenever there is an update 😊.

Onyx @springbean - JJK | ABO universe, omega!reader, rouge!Alpha!Jungkook, roommates, cyberpunk au | A, F (this is so fascinating)

[2/?] years after the war, Soketh has become a bustling electric city of life and death. a world now filled with mystery, danger, and rules, y/n finds herself rooming with her old friend while trying to find herself in the city of dangerous dreams. however, her world is turned upside down when a rouge alpha enters their life seeking refuge and help…

Vulgar and Divine @yeoldontknow - JHS | elf!hoseok au, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage,  fantasy au, horror, suspense | A, S

[1/?] The Elf King buys your hand in marriage as an act of political strategy - you, the Banshee Priestess and your ability to forewarn death in exchange for your people’s return to your original home in the River Lands. You hate him for the way his kind make a mockery of death. Even before you meet him, you decide you will not grieve his death - not even a little. But then, on the day of your wedding you begin to weep - and it is not out of love or rapture.

Kitchen Confidential @glitter-kookiedough - KSJ | chef au, slow burn, enemies to lovers | A, F, S

[3/?] After years of annoying the life out of you, your rival, Kim Seokjin, pushes you a step too far and he knows it. As angry and resentful as you are, you don’t realize that something has been brewing under the surface for years. This weekend, that will change. 🌟 new chapter🌟

enemiestolovers drabble series @sincerelyourfangirl - JJK | enemies to lovers, fwb, co-workers | S, A, F

[3/?] Maybe the line between love and hate is thin. Especially when you’re in bed with Jungkook.

Challenge Accepted | What Happens When You’re not Careful | Risky Business

The Lost Luna @hobisbeautifulass - KTH | werewolf au, soulmate au, rival clans | F, A

[2/?] One Luna is born per a hundred-year cycle or so and only appears after the previous one has passed away.  This Luna was forced into hiding for seventeen years, but now she’s back, bloodthirsty, and ready to reclaim her throne.

Mutual Help @personasintro - JJK | bestfriend au, fwb au, fake dating | A, S, F

[24/?] in order for you to pretend to be his girlfriend, he helps you with your sexual desires ⏤ he calls it a mutual help

Bite Me @cheeky-kookie - PJM | vampire au | A, F, S

[1/?] Growing up, you always learned to look over your shoulder at night, hoping to never run into the catlike gleam of a vampires eyes. Yet, one night on your way home you find yourself staring into the very things you feared most. Dangerously beautiful and undeniably confident, Park Jimin was everything you knew you needed to stay away from, but he had other plans.

Nut Jobs @ironicarmy - OT7 | slice of life, crack, humor, friends au | S

[5/?] Eight friends. One terrible idea. A whole lot of trouble. Welcome to No Nut November.

Cherry Pickers @kimnjss - JJK | social media au, smau, gamer, fuckboi, vixen!reader, virgin!reader | F, S, A

[4/?] [updates daily] known for your body and surrounded by rumors about your sex life… rumors that he doesn’t think to doubt. until he’s meeting you… forced to realize there’s much more to you then the thonged shorts and lacy costumes.

(or, you’re a video vixen with an assumed identity and jungkook manages to see past it.)

Across the Board @out-of-jams - KTH | 20s, gambling, mafia au, enemies to lovers | S, A

[1/?] And now you’re indebted to the city’s most dangerous mob boss, forced to pay your dues in blood one way or another. With a gun pushed into your hands and your life at stake; once you’re in, you’re in. You’ll never get out.

🥕[Completed AUs/Series/Drabbles -  to read]

Through Time and Space @taephilia - 10.6k | KSJ | F, A, sci-fi, time travel au, adventure, doctor who au 

re: Untitled @to-star-lake - 18.8k | JJK | A, S, F, ceo au, arranged marriage, childhood acquaintance turned enemies (one of my favorites this month 🥰)  

01 02 03 04  ✅

Moral of the Story @suhdays - 7.7k | JHS | A, F, S, strangers to loves, soulmate au, OC can tell if people are telling the truth (really interesting)  ✅

In the Margins  @bonvoyagenoona - 31k | MYG | F, S, A, writer au, humor, enemies to friends to lovers, slow burn, editor!reader, writer!yoongi [also on AO3] 

01: Winter (5k words)   ✅ 02: Spring (6k words)  03: Summer (7k words)  04: Fall (13k words) 

Into my Bones @inkofyoongi - 15k | MYG | S, F, A, fwb to lovers, slice of life-ish, non-chronological (this is awesome 🌟) ✅

A Human Touch @snackhobi - 39.1k | KTH | F, S, robot au, android!taehyung 

01 ✅ 1.5  02 (will finish the rest of the chapters; this is so good)

Supply and Demand @scribblemetae - 5.7k | MYG | S, A, supernatural au, telepathic!myg, strangers to lovers, enemies to lovers  ✅

More than Us @jeongi - 11.3k | KTH | F, S, college au, roommate au, best friend to lovers

Moirai @jimlingss - 46.9k | KTH | F, A, isekai au, fantasy au, reborn as a villain in a video game

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

Taking Flight @rmnamjoons - 15.2k | KNJ | S, sci-fi, post-apocalypse, rivals to friends to lovers au

Lining’s Silver @sketchguk - 14.1k | MYG | S, F, College au, idiots to lovers, enemies to lovers 

Even a Forest Fire Dies Out @9uk - 6.6k | JJK | A, F, exes au (a re-read) ✅

Southpaw @starshapedkookie - 30k | JJK | A, S, F, childhood friends, college au, boxer au, kinda e2l-ish (a re-read, that fight scene was just exhilarating) 🔥🥊 ✅

All That We Had @starlightauroras-writes - 13k | JJK | Heavy A, S, F, exes au, reunion, ex-husband!JK ✅ (author said there’ll be Pt2)

After the Honeymoon Fades @onherwings - 13k | MYG | A, S, F, established relationship (on the rocks), producer!yoongi, professor!OC ✅

Cozy Thief @bratkook - 5.1k | JJK | F, S, roommates au, mutual pining ✅

Quiet Baby by bratkook - 3.2k | JJK | S, established au, pwp, exhibitionism✅

Come Over by bratkook - 7.2k | JJK | S, pwp, neighbors au, voyeurism ✅

Tear You Apart by bratkook - 17.4k | KTH | S, pwp, slight horror, paranormal

01  ✅ 02 (to read)

Breathe @ephemeralkookie - 6.9k | JJK | A, S, F, exes au, multiple break-ups   ✅

Shield @namgukgalore  - 18.6k | JJK | F, S, slow burn, security guard!JJK, co-workers au ✅

Imitation of Art by namgukgalore - 9.6k | KTH | F, S, romance, friends to lovers

High School Reunion @btsarmy9593 - 6k | MYG | F, reunion, second chances ✅

One Night Ride by btsarmy9593 - 3.8k | JJK | F, hints of S, college!JK, noona, one night stand au ✅

Off the Table @fakeleaves - 11k | KNJ | A, F, exes to lovers  ✅

By its Cover @crystaljins - 38.9k | JHS | F, A, enemies to lovers, demon au, magic/supernatural, witch!reader 

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 ✅

Your Eyes Tell @njkbangtan - 40k | JJK | A, F, mild S, soulmate au, roommates au, enemies to lovers, slow burn, a bit sugar baby au, lawyer!reader, artist!jungkook 

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15   ✅

Popular-ish (drabble series) @hansolmates - 16.1k | JJK | F, S, A, popular!JJK, normie!reader, college au, fwb-ish

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09  10 11 12 13  ✅ 🥰

One More Time (Finale) - 7.3k | reunion ✅ 

No One @dfdph - 21k | JJK | A, extreme sports, slice of life, epistolary (in form of letters), heavy angst (not kidding! with trigger warnings; written so beautifully but angst may not be for all) ✅

Repercussions: Suspenders, Satin and Stockings @pars-ley​ - 3.1k | MYG | S, pwp, established relationship ✅

Have Faith in Me @aroseforyoongi - 6.4k | KTH | S, F, werewolf au, soulmates au, bestfriends to lovers ✅

The Art of Boxing @seokiie -  3.1k | JJK | S, pwp, boxing au ✅

Beautiful Confession @btsracket - 6.3k | JJK | S, F, fake dating, friends to lovers  ✅

Tongue Tied @btssavedmylifeblr - 12k | PJM | S, F, minor A,  crack, demon au, idol verse, established relationship, pwp  ✅

Infamous @sugaxjpg - 12.5k | KTH | S, A, secret relationship au, fuckboy au  ✅

Familiar Stranger @army-author - 7.3k | KTH | F, friends to lovers, high school au, mixed-up identity  ✅

Strangers Again @minniefilms  - 11.4k |  JJK | A, F, enemies to lovers, best friend’s boyfriend

01 02 03 04 drabble ✅

Ruin Him @kingsuckjin​ - 3.5k | JJK | S, pwp, virgin!JK, coworker au ✅

Sex Education @extravaguk - 12k | JJK | S, F, A, brother’s best friend, virgin!OC (actually came out fluffier than expected 🥰)   ✅

In your Eyes @sweetaesuga - 10.6k | JJK | S, F, A, college au, fratboy au, ex-fuckboy jk, friends to lovers ✅

Drabble Series: In Your Heart [4/11] ✅

Lunar Violence @taetaesbaebaepsae - 7.4k | JJK | S, rock band au, werewolf au, ABO dynamics, strangers to lovers ✅

A Fallen Bookmark on a Thursday Afternoon @cutaepatootie​ - 19k | JJK | A, F, S, strangers to lovers, takes the same train every Thursday 😭 ✅

There You Are @joonkookiemonster - 13.4k | JJK | F, S, ABO dynamics, werewolf au  ✅

Here I Come @jiminssthetic - 3k | JJK | S, pwp, college au, friends to lovers ✅

Morning Rush @atdawnsuga - 3.2k | JJK | S, college au, exhibitionism, strangers ✅

(in)Satiable @thatlongspringnight - 11.3k | JJK | S, F, incubus au, lucid dreams ✅

The Red Pool @ksmuttherapy - 3.1k | JJK | S, horror, vampire au, dusk til dawn vibes

inTOXICated @sugarjaee - JJK | A, S, toxic relationship, college au, fboi au  

01 02 03 04 05 06  ✅

Inebriated [Jungkook’s POV] - 7.4k, read after chapter 4 ✅

You’re so Creepy (drabble series) @whatifyoulivelikethat  - 2k per member | OT7 | F, crack, university au, creepy girl au, (actually cute) 

There’s always at least one campus creepy girl. Or seven. Part 1 (1st kiss) Part 2 (2nd meeting)

kim namjoon - part i | part ii (fave)  ✅

kim seokjin - part i | part ii (fave)  ✅

min yoongi - part i | part ii  ✅

jung hoseok - part i | part ii (fave)  ✅

park jimin  - part i | part ii (fave)  ✅

kim taehyung  - part i | part ii ✅

jeon jungkook - part i | part ii  ✅

🥕[Drabbles]

Feeling @sometimeinjoon - 2.3k | JJK | demon JJK, established relationship, a bit slice-of-life | love this so much ✅🥰

Warmth @artaefact - 306 words | JJK | fluff, fantasy au, incandesce couple ✅

Too Close @taestybae​ - 1.4k words | JJK | expecting parents au, boxer au, angst  ✅

“i’m yours, in every way you’ll have me” by taestybae - 0.8k | KTH | S, A, fwb au ✅

“Are you Sure?” by taestybae - 2k | KTH | S, F, brother’s best friend | love this!  ✅ 🥰

“The strings are attached already” @taetaespeaches - 1.8k | KNJ | angst, fwb ✅

Deep End @latetaektalk - 2.2k | MYG | angst, fuckboy au, a bit of fluff  ✅

Game Boy @suqakoo - 2.7k | JJK | S, gamer au, enemies to lovers, a bit of fluff ✅🔥

Reese’s It’s All for You @joonkookiemonster - 3.1k | JJK | F, demon au, roommate au, Driving me Wild Halloween Drabble ✅

Transparent @kingsuckin - 793 words | JJK | S, pwp, established relationship, see-through JJK shirt 😉 ✅🔥

Savage Love @whatifyoulivelikethat - | JJK | S, pwp, OC is yoongi’s ex 😬 ✅

🌹  Drabbles by @zephyoongist​  - I love the way these are written. Just beautiful. Truly fluffy (like butterflies in my stomach) and also gives off a deep/for keeps type of dynamics between the characters:

you and yoongi had an unusual friendship... - 665 words | MYG | fluff, mutual pining, friends to lovers ✅🥰

kim taehyung had only met you a few times… - 1.2k | KTH | fluff, accidental pregnancy au ✅🥰 (a fave)

there wasn’t any particular reason as to why min yoongi chose you to be his mate - his luna… - 840 words | MYG | fluff, werewolf au, slice of life ✅🥰

jung hoseok found you when you were about to make the biggest mistake of your life… - 1.5k | JHS | fluff, runaway bride, slice of life | really cute ✅🥰

[soldmysoultootomeboys]

Demon MC with Human Obey Me Brothers Reverse AU

Okay but what if the brothers were all ‘normal’ humans who ended up summoning a demon, who is MC.

I’m in love with this idea. Lowkey might write a fic about this  jk...unless? Levi’s was surprisingly the most fun to write. Also I guess tw for normal demon things??? Nothing too graphic tho

Part 2

Lucifer

As a human he was a high ranking businessman. While still a formal person on the outside he had a perverse interest in the occult that he hid from the rest of his coworkers.

Due to his important position and large pay he manages to get his hands on some rare books on demon summoning. After a lot of research he tries them out.

When he summons you he doesn't look surprised or afraid and is quite clinical about it at first. The first thing he does is bind your powers so they can never be used against him. After he informs the rules you must follow if you're to be living with him.

Even as a human he is quite prideful and controlling and he wants to remind you who's really in charge.

At first he only sees you as a demon. He lets you do your own thing when he isn't ordering you around and when the two of you do go out in public he only introduces you as an acquaintance of his. People are rather surprised at this as he's not the type to walk around with others and rumors quickly fly off about you two.

It's not until you two are walking home from a shopping trip that you really start to bond. It was a late night and no one was around so the two of you take your time, enjoying the cool air and stars.

All too late that you hear the click of a gun. From the shadows steps a man, weapon pointed straight at you. Seeing your nonthreatening human form as well as Lucifer who practically reeks of wealth he thought the two of you easy targets. Wrong.

With inhuman speed you lunge forward shifting into your demon form. The gun clatters to the floor as you rip him to shreds with no remorse. It's only when Lucifer finally calls you away that you realize he's dead.

Once you manage to get home he is immediately lecturing you about how risky the actions you just did were. Someone could have seen you or more importantly seen him. What would you have done if the cops got involved? Eat them?

Once he's done though he thanks you and a few days later a gift ends up in your room. He never claims it, even though you can smell his cologne all over it.

After that night Lucifer treats you different. Not better, but not worse either. If anything he's a bit kinder but in a cold sort of way and he keeps his distance when anything gets too serious. At first you think its because he's scared of you. It isn't till he finally approaches you, a stern look on his face and orders you to transform that you realize he was working up the courage to see what you really looked like.

The pact urges you to turn, so you do and you let him examine you, circling several times. He's most interested in your wings, asking if he could touch them and when you consent he gently runs his hands over them. Despite you being a demon he treats you delicately shifting aside feathers with a careful hand and running a light fingertip over leathery skin.

It's a strange feeling at first, but not bad and you're practically purring by the end

After that he asks to see your true form more and more

Mammon

He didn't mean to summon you.

He just wanted to make a quick buck. It was getting close to Halloween people were starting to be interested in demons and spooks once again. That's why he thought it would be a great idea to start a seance business.

Twenty dollars for him to pretend to summon a demon, maybe shake a table once or twice, have some scary sounds playing in the background, nothing too big. Who would have known that the book he stole as his main prop would really work.

When he first sees you he screams.

He immediately tries to shove you back into the book to no avail. As he has no clue how to get rid of you he ends up stuck with you, a terrifying demon.

At first its very easy (and amusing) to scare him. Bear your teeth, mumble in a made up language, threaten to rip him to shreds.

You can actually see his soul leave his body when he faints.

However in typical Mammon fashion he gets used to you surprisingly quick, especially when you don't come through on your promise to eat him.

After that he figures that together the two of you could start scamming people for even more money. After all, he does own a real live demon now.

You two make bank stealing and tricking people. With his knack for creating schemes and your powers the two of you are rolling in money in no time, although it always seems to be lost pretty quickly thanks to his terrible gambling habits.

It's in the middle of a heist that something goes wrong. Someone, you don't know who you can only hear the click of a revolver, pulls out a gun. With lightning fast reflexes you’re tackling Mammon shielding him with the tip of your wing and just in time as something is shot into it tearing through muscle and sinew.

The urge to rip them to shreds overtakes you, growing with every second that your human is in danger. But there was so many of them and you couldn't protect Mammon and yourself at the same time. The need to get somewhere safe is much more important so you leave.

It's only your quick reflexes that get the two of you out alive.

When you finally get home Mammon laments over all of the money he lost on the deal. acts like it doesn't affect him. His complaints last exactly till he sees the blood staining your form.

He almost faints right there.

Once he recovers he's immediately running to get ice packs and gauze, fussing over your injured wing. It's obvious he’s worried even though he tries to hide it under his tsundere act. When you’re finally bandaged up he thanks you glancing at your wound the entire time.

It's hard not to appreciate the gesture.

You just don't know how to tell him that your going to be perfectly fine in like two days (thank Diavolo for demon healing)

After this you two are a lot closer. Even before you were friends, but now the relationship has morphed into something different.

The two of you do less dangerous scams and while Mammon doesn't act too different he gets super weird when you're too close. Blushing a terrible crimson and freaking out when you touch.

Even for a demon its not hard to see that he has a crush.

Levi

Also summoned you on accident.

He was actually trying to summon Ruri-chan. You have to admit when it comes to her he does his research. Drew a full pentagram and everything and as a final touch placed a little plushy in the middle.

He absolutely panics when you arrive here instead.

Used to humans being afraid you, you ignore him at first. You fall to one knee eager to pledge your loyalty in exchange for his soul when you land on something squishy.

Pulling it out from under you see a plushy??? Of some anime character??? TF???

This pulls him from his stupor and he snatches it from you and begins to lecture you on the importance of Ruri-chan and anime on human culture.

You have no clue whats going on at this point.

When he finally stops talking he actually gets kind of excited. He summoned a hot demon??? Woah! This is just like his anime 'I accidentally summoned a demon from Hell who became my roommate and now I might be falling for them.' 

At your confused look he immediately turns it on and has you watch it. You two end up having an entire movie night together.

After that the two of you mostly act like roommates.

He often compares you to his favorite series TSL where 7 humans summon a demon named Henry and go on crazy adventures with him. The first time he accidentally calls you Henry he blushes like crazy.

At first he acted like you were annoying him most of the time but it was pretty easy to catch on to his tsundere act. He actually loves having you around and will whine when you have to leave. He says its because he can't play two player games without you but you know the truth.

On the rare occasions the two of you go out he gets jealous of anyone with even the slightest interest in you. Your HIS demon why are you giving someone else your attention?

Its pretty easy to distract him though. Just the slightest touch and hes flushing and stuttering. You can do whatever he won't get the hint that you like him the most.

'There's no way you meant to do this. This must be some weird demon norm I don't know about. Yup that's it.'

Satan

Summoned a demon on purpose. And not just that summoned you on purpose.

With his extensive library he had more than enough information to figure out how to summon a demon. After that it was just a matter of choosing which one. He finally settled on you.

You don't need to worry about explaining how a pact works to him. He already knows everything on it. Maybe even more than you. Nerd.

Don't express this opinion out loud. He will be furious.

Even so he'll still make you tell him about summoning a million times just to see if you know anything different.  

Mostly you’re an over glorified assistant/labrat to him. MC grab that book. MC draw this summoning circle. MC stick your hand in this flame.

Of any of the brothers he is the one who sees your demon form the most and the one who asks the most questions about it. You have very sharp claws what are those used for? Four sets of wings? I wonder why you have so many. Slitted eyes? Do you have any idea why they are like this?

He is very interested in the differences between humans and demons so you end up performing a lot of tests.

He would also be curious about the celestial war and your part in it. Its up to you to choose to answer him or not.

If you ignore any of his questions he will get annoyed and be snippy. But just tell him an interesting tidbit about hell and he'll be back to normal in no time.

As for his actual job he works as a researcher at a big lab. You go there often to help him with his work. He used to have a lot of assistants but none could handle his terrible rage.

Its one of the reasons you work so well with him. An angry human? That's no big deal. Now if he was a demon that would be something to talk about

His tantrums are actually kind of cute. Like a fussy kitten.

Telling him this has a 50/50 chance of either making him blush or rampage.

If its possible he uses you to annoy his colleagues

Janice talked shit about his theories on planetary alignment? Poison her

Jk not really but maybe just, like, make her day a hundred times worse?

Thanks MC you're great

A power team at its best. His need to get back at people he hates works well with your general need to cause mischief 

Asmodeus

An orgy summons you obvious reasons. Although technically not the one who summoned you, you end up making a pact with Asmodeus before the nights over.

It was inevitable really, of all the humans there how could you not choose him? His overblown confidence and cocky insistence that he was perfect was practically adorable. I mean here you are, a demon of all things, and yet this little human is here insisting that he was perfection himself. You just wanted to eat his soul right up he was so cute.

To him its obvious why. After all, he was so beautiful that even demons fell in love with him, he couldn't blame you.

Even if you tell him the real reason he won't believe it.

Immediately starts bragging about how he could seduce demons

If you leave a pact mark on him though he will complain

As for actual duties you don't have a lot

At parties you work as his wingman but at home the two of you have more of a domestic role. He treats you more like a best friend than a demon.

He has a lot of spa days, something he immediately insisted that you take part in too.

One day you bring him a bottle of demon moisturizer. Big mistake

When he finds out about all the different demon beauty products he immediately orders you to get him some.

Your poor wallet.

He's always ordering new things. He really wants to go down to Devildom so he could look himself instead of having to order off Akuzon. One day you'll figure out a way to show him the eternal night.

He's also very flirty towards you, something your not surprised about. Hes always on your lap or petting your head or asking for affection, and he constantly alludes to the things the two of you could do. As time goes on he begins to get even more needy, sometimes ignoring others at parties just to flirt with you. He wants all of your attention all of the time.

Beelzebub

Did not mean to summon you but now that your here hes pretty okay with it

Of all the brothers he the one to treat you the most like another human.  

However you have one duty that you take very seriously

You must protect his brother, no matter what.

Other than that you two are like roommates. He doesn't really ask you of much except to keep the fridge stocked (which is a bigger job than expected this guy eats a lot) and he'll take care of the rent and everything else.

Sometimes he'll ask if you want to head to the gym with him. You thank your demon metabolism since every time you end up going he always stops for burgers and shakes at his favorite place on the way home.

He lifts a lot for a human, no surprise since you've seen how sculpted his body is. Seriously he's like a Greek statue. You spot him while doing reps and help correct his form while necessary. It's a bit of a switch from dealing with demon biology to human biology though so you have to make sure that you don't accidentally hurt your new friend.

Sometimes the two of you have movie nights, although its more of an excuse for him to buy a bunch of human food and you to buy a bunch of demon food and pig out. He still manages to out eat you somehow.

Occasionally the two of you will go out with his brother Belphie although it usually ends up with either you or Beel carrying him when he falls asleep. But it gives you time to chat with Beel on your own which you don't mind

The two of you end up with a good bromance, sometimes minus the b.

He treats you like an old friend and even ends up telling you about Lilith, his dear sister who died when a car hit her. He had only managed to pull his brother out of the way at the time and he still remembers it well. You can practically smell the guilt that hangs off him when he tells you that. It's hard not to feel touched after that story even for a demon.

He confesses a lot of things to you, things he has a hard time saying to other people. He never calls upon his pact to swear you to secrecy. He trusts you.

Belphie

Also summons you on purpose

When you first meet Belphie he's angry, uncontrollably angry. It's at the point where it almost surprises you. After all a human filled with so much wrath is no small feat.

His first order is a tough one but one you have no choice but to accept. 

Kill the man that murdered his sister

The two of you work hard to hunt him down, spending many days brainstorming late into the night. Although it always ends up with just you working, as Belphie has the strangest tendency to fall asleep while talking. (Narcoleptic maybe? Or just lazy?) Whatever the case you don't terribly mind.

Even just his presence helps, in some strange way.

When you finally track him down Belphie insists on going too. He wants to see the man die with his own two eyes.

It's not a hard fight but it is an emotional one. Through the bond you two share you can feel Belphies anger, his pain, his desire for revenge, and then finally an emptiness.

When its over the two of you go home, still covered in whatever bits of him were left. Belphegor shows no emotions and you wonder if hes in shock from seeing someone die so suddenly, but all you feel is a tired yet content thrum through your bond.

When you finally get home Belphegor immediately tries to go to sleep and its only through a little nagging and a lot of manhandling that your able to convince him to shower first. By now the bloods beginning to dry into a nasty goop and once he's done you jump in too, soothed by the steam and clouds of soap drifting around you.

To no ones surprise Belphie is asleep when you get out. It's then when you realize that you have nothing left to do. 

With that one action your purpose here is done, and yet your pact remains. Your thoughts begin to rise Belphie who clings stubbornly to sleep. It's no use though. The two of you are too connected for it to stop. 

You hear the sheets rustle and he raises one hand patting at the covers. A universal sign to come here.

"You're so loud" He mutters even though you haven't said a word. "Just sleep already."

A useless answer but a comforting one. You curl up at his side, feeling the tiniest bit like an obedient dog, but his arm settles over your shoulder and he drapes himself over your chest erasing the thoughts from your mind.

You eyes flutter close, at least for the moment. You can decide what you should do when you wake up.

[dontcallmecarrie]

Replying to the commenter of this snippet, who said:

oh i love it when a normaly controlled character just has a moment to let loose and everyone around them, that only know them in some variation of "placid" know shit will go down now ^^ also is there a hint of friendship with victor or are they just professional aquainted? thanks for the snippet

.

Friend, you hit the nail on the head of why I wrote it. 

This AU’s Justin is normally very self-controlled, sometimes almost to a fault— because for so long he’s been used to “being the bigger man” and “setting an example” [sure, most of the times he chose it because the actual adults were busy being overgrown toddlers], but that also means that when he loses it...

Well. As you saw, it’s not pretty. 

Also because while he normally leans hard on the ‘affable’ part of ‘affable villain’ in most of the installments of this AU, so a rare instance of him losing his temper is hopefully a good reminder of exactly what alignment he is. 

aka writing villain protagonists isn’t easy for me, if I don’t check myself they turn into anti-villains instead...which was not the goal of this thought exercise

As for his dynamic with Victor von Doom: in an earlier part, I mentioned they were childhood friends, kinda. They went to the same boarding school and were study buddies and had the weirdest friendship just about anyone could’ve thought of— barring Justin’s frenemies-slash-rivals-slash-idek-anymore dynamic with Tony— and didn’t even know each other’s names until after Victor got pulled out of boarding school because of reasons related to his country’s destabilization [his family had a lot of pull in Latveria and kept him abroad as much as possible for safety reasons, but when things really started to hit the fan they couldn’t afford to split their assets anymore].

Next time Justin saw his closest-thing-to-an-actual childhood friend’s name, it was on a request from a group who wanted to buy Hammer weapons for reasons relating to the bloody civil war going on.

Had Justin not recognized the name, the proposal would’ve been rejected; Victor’s group was technically classified as insurgents because they didn’t have official government backing [...because good luck getting anything of the sort in the middle of a civil war with multiple factions going on] and the political situation was, as analysts called it, a Tire Fire™ at best. 

So. 

Getting involved was risky at best and long story short, yeah, Justin may or may not have broken quite a few national and international laws to get Victor the weapons he needed.

After all, Victor was a relative unknown; a budding warlord whose motivations and goals were uncertain, and in retrospect, a handful of childhood memories was an incredibly risky gamble.

But it paid off.

And that’s the kicker, isn’t it?

If not for those first few shipments, Victor’s group would have just been one of the many that got wiped out. Because towards the end, they were reusing as much ammo as they could, some of their guns were Frankensteined abominations that were as liable to blow up in their faces as they were to shoot but it’s not like they had any better options, not as the fighting escalated and more and more factions tried to take advantage of any and every perceived weaknesses.

Instead, however, Victor von Doom became a national hero as Latveria went from ‘somewhere between Somalia and Yemen’ in terms of stability, straight to a Wakanda-esque powerhouse. 

probably not a great comparison, but a) both are super isolationist, b) industrialized powerhouses, and c) have a single leader

And now, Victor von Doom is the leader of a country that did a 180 on par with... quite a few historical precedents that make a lot of people very uncomfortable with the parallels. 

Latveria’s taken seriously at the international level, it has to be. Victor is hailed as a genius and dictator and everything in between, scion of one of its oldest families and with diplomatic immunity with just about any country he can name.

The man who has it all— and remembers how he got there.

If not for those first few shipments...

Victor von Doom owes Justin Hammer more than he can name. 

So, so much more, because part of Victor had never really expected to see the end of the fighting, let alone live to oversee his home country’s rebuilding.

His strange childhood friend became a kingmaker sometime when the world wasn’t looking, and it’s a secret the two of them will take to their graves.

So if Justin has an idea? Well, he’ll listen. 

It’s the least he can do.

.

...aka hopefully that gives you a better idea of their dynamic? 

That was the first time Justin really got his hands dirty: a risky gamble based off the world’s [second-]weirdest childhood friendship, but it paid off so well the CIA actually came calling asking for why he was on first-name terms with Latveria’s dictator and he had to explain they used to know each other in boarding school and were just now catching up.

For the record, Tony is incredibly jealous when he first gets wind of their friendship because excuse you, he was the one who knew Justin since they were kids! So what if they’re rivals, he was there first!!! 

To the point where someone probably ends up side-eyeing him and asking if he and Justin were exes, because Tony keeps going ‘what does he have that I don’t?’ because Justin’s been spending all his time with Victor now that he’s in town for the UN summit and dammit, they’d had plans.

[dwagom]

i have some knowledge in economics, enough to tell you that while tether losing its parity to the dollar will demolish the entire crypto casinoscape, tether's deparitisation itself isn't something that will come out of nowhere for no reason. tether barrelling on this long and even enduring a shock such as that one from a couple of days ago, as well as peg-losses from much longer ago simply testifies to how well the system around tether is buttressed against minor shocks so that it can always stay running in order to scam more out of people. there are financial interests in crypto which are fighting to keep tether alive against all odds. what tether isn't immune to, though, is against the reversal of monetary trends that have been ruling since, like, 1987 (let's not bring up greenspan, we don't have the time for that) or 2008 (nor his student bernanke), whichever you pick. either way, zero/near-zero/negative-interest rate policies, quantitative easing, various other schemes to inject liquidity into financial markets such as the paycheck protection programme (specific to the US, negative interest rates are in europe) have actually resulted in so much liqudity at this point that the financial machine isn't so much as "overlubricated" at this point as much as it has been entirely submerged in money that has nowhere to go except into very risky and speculative categories (bitcoin isn't even an asset, it's legally a "security" but it's so ephemeral that it's closer to one of those exotic financial instruments). cryptocurrency is the product of a lot of money printed for corporations that has literally nowhere to go, and while that doesn't entirely describe the historically abject social atmosphere that draws people towards crypto, it is quite enough to explain that 1) crypto formed on an excess of money that the rich printed for themselves since QE started in order to preserve economic expansion after the GFC hit and 2) crypto depends on the continued presence of obscenely excessive liqudity to keep chugging on. but right now we're seeing the first hints of a significant monetary tightening in decades (generally speaking, monetary tightening benefits labour), and this will certainly comprise replacing quantitative easing with quantitative tightening (central banks dumping assets and securities off of their B/S's to decrease the amount of liquidity in circulation), as well as increasing interest rates (=lower number of central bank loans and lower loans by themselves). just these two things will start a process of reversal from greenspanian easy-money policies (i've not mentioned reverse repos because idek how they work but they're more of the same) which have been ruining everyone's lives for the last 1/3rd of a century.

by demanding liqudity be taken out of circulation, central banks will effect the draining of liquidity from high-risk areas first, one of which is crypto. this is the point when crypto gets vapourised -- the point at which cryptocurrency whales cash out in order to refinance their gambling debts at higher interest rates

also after that we can finally go back to using "crypto" as a short for "cryptography" and not "cryptocurrency"

[logicalstansadvice]

I don't know if it's Bucky, but I'm leaning toward Seb having something huge in his back pocket for him to go with A Different Man right now. He and Renate are bringing the only star power it has, and it seems incredibly risky, esp to exec produce. He could just have the balls to gamble that hard, but it does kind of hint that he'll have a very visible project to provide a boost.

💄

[honorhunt]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋 left greasy streaks on the verdant planes of his armor. it turned congealed a gruesome sludge of blood and brain matter that stubbornly hugged the contours of imperfect beskar. in one gloved hand was a blade slick with water and tar-thick blood while the other clutched a makeshift sack fashioned from embroidered fabric, a growing stain that matched the gore on the blade.

      the armored figure reeked of rigor as he marched beneath neon halos that staggered in the downpour. anything could be found beyond the seedy doorways that marked his progress: food, salvaged parts, questionably aquired weapons, a lukewarm bed made tolerable by a good time. the figure didn't bother with any of the beckoning signs nor did he spare any acknowledgment for the bystanders who dared to lift their heads from the ground in risky curiosity. beneath the cold face of the helm, a map of the district covered the viewplate. a dot representing the figure blipped at his pace, navigating him towards a hole-in-the-wall named for its trandoshan proprietor.

      cid. not a being the figure knew personally, but the lizard had done work for jabba and was held in a rare state of regard by the hutt's majordomo. the trandoshan was the permanent broker for a band of no-name bounty hunters who did a solid job concerning one of jabba's pets. which of the crime lord's many grotesque carbuncles didn't matter. any form of praise from the fetid lips of bib fortuna, no matter how dismissive, was enough to draw in the walking weapon.

      the helmet's navigation alerted the figure to his impending arrival. he switched the feed to an infrared scan that picked out several shapes within the bowels of the cantina. he stood just off to the side of the entrance, mining away at the speculative interior. his gear couldn't penetrate very deeply, just the foyer and several branching rooms. there were hints of more, deeper levels that his rangefinder couldn't penetrate.

      the trandoshan was smart. she decked her inner sanctum with defenses that countered the slickest tools of the criminal trade. even one as rare as the highly specialized augments known only to mandalorian sets.

      with a slightly expanded well of information, the hunter entered the cantina. his footfalls echoed as he descended the narrow passage into the foyer. it was dark inside the parlor except for the fluorescent backdrop of the bar and the gambling stations lined up against the wall.

      business was apparently slow. there were no other patrons aside from a weequay seated on a curved couch, his tapered shoulders watching over the cantina's sole entrance. the weequay turned, instinctively intrigued by the stranger's abrupt appearance. the remains of a multicolored snack scattered over the scrawny scoundrel's lipless mouth continued to chew. wisely, the weequay looked away. he hunkered down even lower, feeling the phlegmatic t-shaped stare boring into his back.

      the steel face continued to stare well past the point of discomfort. only when the weequay squirmed himself into the cushioning did the dangerous arrival relinquish his hold. the outsider stalked towards a far-end table, his motionless head taking stock of every possible exit or entry for trouble. before he sat with his back secured against the wall, the narrow face scanned the inside of the structure for any traps that might lurk in the hidden wiring.

      satisfied, the figure retracted the dripping blade into his wrist-gauntlet like nexu's claw and settled on the edge of the chair. with no sign of the scaly proprietor, the figure lapsed into an unnatural stillness, gloved fingers tightening around his dark-soaked prize.

@vagasbonds — kanaloa by scntfc