#how DARE they hit me with this parallel

[raayllum]

They're so sick for this

& was gonna originally leave it in the tags but then I liked it so why not:

I do think this parallel helps contextualize why Claudia's offer is there in the narrative beyond just characterization "she knows this is a loss the boys have experienced, and there is possible room to convince them," or beyond "I doubt they're going to bring Harrow back fully (if at all) so why tease it" and well: I think this parallel is exactly why.

For starters, there's the sheer difference in presentation that help to contrast and compare Callum and Claudia as characters. More importantly for next season, I think, is that it ties together Claudia wanting to save her father is what led to her working with Aaravos in the first place versus Callum wanting to free Rayla's parents likely being something that is just going to put him further on Aaravos' dark path of destiny for him, if not outright lead to disaster. The road to ruin is paved with good intentions, after all - even if he's being selfless about it because it's not even for himself or one of his direct loved ones, but purely by proxy

[sysig]

It’s enjoyable just to be around you 👑 👓 (Patreon)

[bitchimasnake-sss]

"doing laundry and taxes with you" ft. the monster trio!

ft. (domestic!) luffy, zoro, sanji x fem!reader

in which, you make their house a home

(a/n: im sick and needed some comfort so this got very long im so sorry!!)

warnings: nsfw towards the end! nsfw stuff includes car-sex, in public, dirty talk, rough sex, penetration, squirting, sanji takes a picture of you choking on his dic- (ahem, not sorry); MDNI (thankyou very much okay byee)

luffy:

they are so precious to me 😭😭

- whatever you do, don't imagine domestic!luffy - don't imagine cold mornings when you're under the cover with him. he's holding you tightly, snuggling against you and whispering a soft, "good morning, baby" - do not imagine him coming back from home and holding you by your waist when you're doing something, nuzzling into the crook of your neck as you asks you how your day was - don't think of him as one of those guys who start a tickle fight when poke him once and laugh at him - absolutely do not imagine his as one of those s/o who are down to make everything into a game "whoever loses mario-kart makes the dinner, okay?" he grins, pulling you down onto the couch with him "oh really?" you laugh when he holds you tighter, "i really want some pasta tonight then" - he ended up making pasta that night - but as i said, don't imagine luffy as that because he is certainly that man and more - he will fret over you when you fall sick, trying to make you laugh your way out of a fever (canon). he won't leave your side, no matter how much you insist that you're fine "what do you need? water? soup? pizza- oh wait no that's unhealthy" a pause, "wait, do you want a pizza? it'll probably be fine if you eat one tbh, right??" - also the kind of guy who will ask his friends to turn their car around (because in no parallel universe do i believe luffy knows how to drive ffs) because you only said "love ya" and missed the i (how dare you, he's heartbroken now) "yn!!" he's yelling from the driveway, "YOU FORGOT TO SAY I LOVE YOU!!" so now you're sticking out your head out of your apartment window, looking down at a pouty luffy, annoyed zoro and unbothered sanji - also, man has TERRIBLE separation anxiety - (people now know that wherever you are invited, luffy is invited too "what are you doing here?" nami hisses as she vaguely looks at luffy, "this is supposed to be a girls night out!" luffy shrugs, "pretend im not even here" yeah, luffy that's kinda hard when you're practically draped over your girlfriend the entire night) - but as it's been established, don't fall for his perfect acts because he is the kind to park in a distant corner of a grocery store parking lot and beg for you to let him fuck you "it'll be quick," he's whining, tugging you towards himself and kissing you senseless, "baby, i promise. just one hit." - he's feral, holding you flush against himself as he fucked you with your top still on and your hands holding tightly against his neck - your arousal drips into his thigh and he's groaning about how good you feel, you feel him thrust into you harder and now you're spasming and cumming around his girth - he didn't infact let you go after one hit. - you both walked into the grocery store 37 mins later with your faces flushed, hair tousled and a familiarly uncomfortable wetness nesting between your thighs - (cause i know he's fucking nasty and he will absolutely make you walk into that store with his essence still inside you. sorry, i do not make the rules :/) - eitherways, best guy ever - he's the perfect s/o that never lets you have a dull moment in your life as long as his annoying ass is around

zoro:

- i will stand by what i've always said. soft zoro is the best zoro. 'nuff said, i will die on this hill. - but god, nobody can ever imagine how soft domestic!zoro is with you by the way he shrugs and grunts off any and all people around him (except for his crew) - frankly speaking, you didn't expect this either when you started dating him - you would have never imagined this green-haired, stoic-faced, dry-ass motherfucker to hold onto you tightly and lightly close his eyes whenever you forced him to see another horror movie - he claimed watching horror movies was the equivalent of mind torture but followed along cause you seem to like them (you don't probably like them that much, you just like his heavy figure against yours as he snuggles in deeper and deeper against you) "this is so stupid" he hisses at the girl in the screen, groaning when she blatantly ignores him, "she will die if she follows the fucking voice!!" you don't fail to notice how shrill his deep voice can get whenever there's a jumpscare (but he will blame the wind for that noise, never admits what he knows is true) - he is so soft in the way he offers to shampoo your hair when you drag him into the shower. his calloused fingers are light, gentle, against your scalp and you can't help but smile when he flashes you a small smile and asks if it's fine - domestic!zoro is so soft in the way he would carry you bridal-style/on his back everywhere (wdym you only had to go to the kitchen?? he can carry you there, he's strong, do you not believe him?) - also, we all have sorta established that he's not a pda guy but my lord, behind those four walls, he needs to be around you one way or the other - doesn't matter if he is just standing at the bathroom door, making small talk as you do your skincare for the night or he's holding onto your hand as you both lay sprawled on your bed, looking at your phones - but don't let his softness make you forget that this man is a piece of shit. - he will purposely stand in front of cabinets and cupboards when you cook and flash you a innocent smile when you get annoyed; he will finish your favourite conditioner even though he said "i don't that conditioner too much"; he will purposely order you random stuff online and everytime you'd open it thinking it's something cute but it'll end up being something green and (cutely) stupid - (you now possess 5 mushroom figurines, 12 frogs doing random shit, a green cheap light saber, a lowkey-fucked up painting of baby yoda and green paper-clips. he doesn't even like green all that much, he just loves to annoy you) - but as i said, don't fall for his sweet facade because he will stop you at the door and fuck you against it before you're heading out in that skimpy dress (yes, he fucks you in that dress) (ofcourse he doesn't mind your dress riding up as long as people can see the marks he left on your body) "ah" he groans, thrusting upwards as one of his hands hold you firm against the door and another plays with your swollen clit, "sorry for ruinin' your makeup, baby. but look at you, you look so pretty, getting fucked right now" - he's sure the neighbours can hear the wood creaking against your weights and your high-pitched, feverish moans as you beg him to fuck you harder (it's the fourth time this month) - he forces his fingers (which were slick with your arousal) down your mouth and watches as his fingers rub away the lipstick into modern art "much better" he would sigh against your skin when he was done, "have fun at the party, babe" - he holds back a laugh cause he knows you can barely walk, much less party (not to mention, you gotta re-do your makeup now.) - so he goes with you, lending you his arm as support so that you wouldn't walk so wobbly "that dress still looks too good on you" he will whisper against your ear, "meet me in the bathroom in five, let me fuck you again" - as much as he is a menace, you wouldn't have it any other way - god, iamsodownbad for him <3

sanji:

it's him officer, he is the one who altered my brain chemistry!

- vinsmoke sanji is the perfect pinterest boyfriend. argue with the wall, i don't entertain wrong views. - what i mean is, he is the boyfriend/husband who will be up to bake a cake at 3 in the morning and eat it with you as the sun rises, he is the one who will hold you hand and groggily lead you to an ice-cream vendor at 1 in the night because you really wanted ice-cream, he is the one to take a thousand photos in any outfit you wear "yn" he's changing his angles every second, shutter of the camera snapping photo after photo, "you look so beautiful, so marvelous, charming, ah- mesmerizing, my love!" - he is the guy to hold your hand in a horror house no matter how scared he himself is. but you call tell by the way his fingers tightly close around yours whenever a jump-scare comes on (no, he is not being strong because he wants to look tough in front of zoro, tf you talking about??) - he is the man who will be looking for halloween decor on the first of september and christmas decor on the first of novemeber, takes the task of decorating his house very seriously (yes, he will out-do linda this time! so what if she bought a life-sized snowman?? he will pay luffy to become one, fuck linda.) - sanji is the guy that posts his girlfriend religiously (at one point, ussop asked you if you were holding him on gun-point and making him post you so much) - by religiously i mean for every one photo of himself, there's six of you like baby calm down nobody's gonna take her away - he also surprises you a lot (with nice surprises, unlike zoro.); he bought you a candle on your one-month anniversary and repurchases it every time you run through it - grocery store runs followed by cooking together is basically your idea of a weekly date - very on-brand with his theme but he has so many candids of you (a whole secret album with the title "my love <3"). there's pictures of you laughing at chopper's new onesie, hitting luffy in the face after he stole your sushi, tasting his cookies, tasting his dic- ahem. - it shouldn't come as any surprise that he has a huge thing for clicking pictures/ taking videos of you as he abuses your body in a way that has you crying for god "san-" "like that, moan out my fuckin' name, darling. tell me who's fucking you like this?" "you" you moan harder, eyes clamping shut, "you you, fucc-k you, sanji" - there's a video on his phone of his dick sliding in and out of your wet cunt as you moan and suck on your bottom lip; there's pictures of you sucking on his dick, giving the camera your prettiest doe-eyed look; there's a video of you squirting around his fingers, face red and body soaked as he keeps going and you're cumming a second, third, fourth time (that's his favourite video, it's insane how many times he comes back to that video) - he loves ruining you with slow sex as he makes you focus on the boring movie or show you're both watching - he gets off off how you try to maintain your composure but then come undone "yn, my love" he rasps in your ear, "come on, keep holding on for me. i'm gonna fuck you so well if you just keep taking me like this." - he ruins you and then gets you the best aftercare - ugh stan sanji for a good life.

a/n: the way i write sanji has me confused as to if i truly am a zoro girlie lmaoo. hope you liked it!! req are always open (also im sorry to the people who requested and i havent gotten around to it, i am just running low on fuel lately)

[yveaart]

jw fingering you for the first time

hard hours r officially open. mdni!!

you were laying on the bed watching netflix on your phone, you were laying to your side intently watching what was gonna happen next, the plot caught your attention, but jungwon had other plans. he knew you had a hard week and he wanted to make you feel good.

he crawled up the foot of the bed stopping by your bent knees letting your body face the ceiling, you paused the show giggling because it seemed like your boyfriend wanted to give you a cuddle session, if you only knew..

he opened your knees as he laid his chest against yours, he hugged your sides rubbing them and massaging your head as he started kissing you, it was soft and passionate, his lips running against your lips capturing them in his, licking your bottom lip as he put it between his.

his hands roamed down to your chest as he massaged them while still making out with you, the feeing of bliss made you moan.

"oh, won, what are you doing" you asked, your mind in a daze.

"let me take care of you baby, i know you had a rough week" he muttered against your lips.

he sat down as you started to pull your body back looking at your boyfriend with an endearing smile.

his fingers hooked on the sides of your shorts as he looked back at you "can i take these off?" he asked as you nodded at him with a smile. he will forever be the guy who would treat you well.

he took your shorts off along with your underwear as he put it aside. his face staring at your vagina as if it was the prettiest thing he saw, he let out a small gasp saying how pretty it was.

he licked his lips as he put his fingers in front of you making you put it in your mouth, salivating all over it. he stared at you with your daring eyes, his pants clearly having a tent now, but for him you were the priority.

he soon pulled his fingers out of your mouth and he started massaging your thighs making you relax. "are you sure about this love?" he asked you, making sure you were comfortable.

"more than ever won"

"tell me if it hurts, tell me if i should stop okay?"

"it's okay won i trust you" and for him that was even hot of you.

his hands massaged your skin as it made its way beside your core. he massaged your skin as he ran his wet fingers along your slit

"baby it seems like you didn't even have to take my fingers in your mouth on how wet you are" he giggled lightly.

"won please" you pleaded as you felt the need of his fingers filling your void. his fingers soon putting in a little pressure as it caressed your core deeper, his fingers soon stopping in front of your hole as you gasped at the contact. his fingers pushing deep within you, your hole inviting him.

his hand knuckle deep in you as he curled up his fingers making you moan loudly, almost pornographic, jungwon displayed a surprised look on his face as blood rushed to his cheeks on how hot that made you look like.

he soon pumped his hands slowly, you were writhing under his touch whimpers exiting your mouth, his hands went faster and faster as he hit that part of you that radiated pleasure. you moaned every time his fingers were hitting it, your core making lewd sounds as it came contact with his skin.

pleasure ran through your veins as he massaged your clit as well, your back arching as you released another moan. he circled through your clit faster and faster, his fingers making this movement parallel, you were close.

"won- i- so good" you mewled.

"i know baby, just relax okay?" he said kissing your knee as his other hand massaged your breast, his lips meeting your neck giving you wet kisses down your body, his tongue sucking on your buds as it travelled down your navel. his lips savoring your skin.

soon his mouth reaches the end of your slit, where his thumb was massaging your clit, his mouth sucking on the skin as your release came over painting his hands and his face.

he looked at you with fascination, this was a scene he would forever keep in his head, the scene that would always make him hard by just a thought. you were catching your breath as you processed the best orgasm you ever truly had.

"baby, let's do that again but with my mouth" he grinned at you licking over his lips.

[muffinlance]

Zuko, banished, no crew, no uncle, no quest for the avatar. Says "fuck this" aka, if I can get back to caldera maybe I can convince my dad to take me back. Horribly wounded thirteen year old finds dragons, starts a civil war by accident

Zuko didn’t think he was still delirious. The Sun Warrior’s healer hadn’t wanted him to leave yet, but—

But he’s standing here, back in the throne room, and the room is set up again for another war meeting so maybe he should have waited before coming in. But the guards hadn’t even asked him—or anyone inside—before they’d thrown the double doors open, so. He’d thought father wasn’t busy.

The general he thought he was going to fight at the Agni Kai is here, and so are all the others, even uncle. And father, at the head of the table, standing.

Father is the only one standing. Everyone else is... They’re kneeling. 

When he’d come back to the palace, the servants in the courtyard he’d landed in had hurried to open the doors for him, all the way here. And the guards had let him in. And now the whole room is kneeling except for father who—

He doesn’t look like he did on the Agni Kai field. Father had been… he’d been so calm, then. He’d been doing what he had to do, to instruct Zuko, to correct him. 

Now he just looks angry. 

So. So Zuko is screwing this up, too. He practiced his speech the whole way home, it was a good speech, he’d based it on the one the Stone Prince made to his father the Mountain Emperor when he’d come home to beg forgiveness, bringing the treasures of the Ice Spirit with him as tribute. But Zuko doesn’t remember how he was going to start. And the flames behind father are getting higher, and hotter, and Zuko is okay now with flames that flicker with purples and golds and greens, but red flame is—

It’s so hot against his face—

“Father,” he croaks. “Father, I’ve returned. With dragons.” 

He is so, so stupid. Ran and Shaw have flanked him from the courtyard, have wound through hallways paralleling his path, are snaking between the pillars of the room until coils of red and blue dwarf everything here. Ran breathes her own flames out, and the fires before the throne shift from Ozai’s reds to the shimmering rainbow-sparks of dragonfire.

“A sign from Agni,” Uncle Iroh says. He’s bowed like the rest, but Zuko can see his eyes, and there’s the same glimmer there that father and Azula get before they do something Zuko should have seen coming.

“You dare,” father says, and Zuko isn’t sure if it’s him or uncle he’s talking to. But when he takes a step forward it’s towards Zuko and when he raises a fist it’s towards Zuko and when he makes the fire it’s towards Zuko and—

(And Zuko cowered the first time the dragons tried to show him their flames. It was all around him, swirling, and he hit his knees and shoved his face against his arms because he’d learned better than to look up. 

The fire stopped, and a whiskered nose nudged him, and then there was a huge scaly coil loosely wound around him until he was done crying, so at least the Sun Warriors below hadn’t seen how pathetic he was.

After that, it was… they made it a game. Little puffs of flames, the kind of sparks he used to make to keep Azula from getting fussy in her crib, until she was old enough to climb out and go exploring with him instead. 

He flinched at first, a lot, but they didn’t hurt. Didn’t even hit him. And then it really was a game, where he would spin their colors in with his own flames, and send them back, and they’d keep playing as the flames got bigger and bigger but somehow they never got scary again. 

When he’d stopped flinching at all, when he wasn’t a coward around his own element, he knew he was ready to return home. Grandfather had once welcomed uncle home with honors for killing dragons. So father would accept his apologies if he brought home two live dragons, right? Making friends with dragons had to be harder than killing them.)

Father’s flames were… they were just red. Zuko didn’t realize what he was doing until the war ministers were gasping. By then he was already spinning father’s flames with his own, mixing in all the colors father’s had lacked, and.

And sending them back.

(Batting fire around with dragons had not given Zuko a realistic grasp on the heat tolerance of the average abusive father.)

Uncle was not the first to bow, when Zuko had first entered. This time, he is.

“Fire Lord Zuko,” he says.

The war ministers are not prepared to countermand the Dragon of the West. Or literal dragons. They never left their knees, and they don’t start now. Foreheads touch the ground.

Zuko… Fire Lord Zuko’s first order is to take his father to the healers. He’ll let him stay there, longer than Ozai let Zuko.

(You can read this and other prompts at AO3. And longer stories, too. <3)

[oneatlatime]

Appa's Lost Days

Dare I hope?

You know, if ten year old me had turned on my TV to watch my weekly dose of Avatar and been greeted with a nearly two minute long uninterrupted sequence of a frightened and distressed animal being mistreated, that TV would have turned right back off again.

I don't buy that a ten tonne bison who has the leverage of his own weight as well as his airbending abilities would succumb to so few people.

Name one other character that Avatar has presented as so thoroughly without any redeeming characteristics. Even Zhao was at least kind of funny. Everything about the chucklehead on the left is rotten to the core. "What's your dad going to do when he finds out we broke his stuff while doing crime?" "Nothing. It's not his stuff; it's previous crime."

I thought beetle-headed was a commentary on their intelligence, but it's actually a description.

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that I should have waited to get my hopes up until I came to an episode called Appa's Found Days. Is this whole thing going to be a series of near misses with the Gaang?

You know, if I had a nickel for every time an animal companion on this show has been threatened with a trip to the butcher's, I'd have two nickels. In the space of two episodes.

This is not fun to watch guys.

Not if I break you first asshole.

The way this Nurse Ratched type circus guy says "earn it" is chilling.

Of course the Fire Nation would find a way to turn bending into animal abuse. Of course.

a) that cage is way too small b) who knew cabbage suction could be so cute?

Completely unsubtle parallel with the boy here, right down to the complete disregard they show to the threats thrown their way.

Stubborn and wilful are not adjectives I would use to describe Appa this episode, or ever.

Wind buffalo. Wind Buffalo. Really? Was Fart Cow taken?

That's a very relatable facial expression.

That makeup and costume is awful.

Now that's satisfying.

Is the Fire Nation kid voiced by Aang's voice actor?

Nevermind. THAT'S satisfying.

I was right - this episode is Appa always being a step behind the Gaang.

Baby Appas! This almost makes this episode worth it!

It's funny how a single feature can contribute so much to a character's design. Arrowless Aang is just some kid. Let me rephrase that, since such a big part of Aang's character is the fact that he's just some goofy kid. Arrowless Aang is indistinguishable from other kids for the first time this series, because every other time we've seen him on screen he's either the only child airbender with his arrows, or the only airbender left.

Lady monks. Nuns? I don't think I've seen those before.

Appa and Aang share a dreamscape? That could be useful.

There's dumb, there's really dumb, and then there's 'wake a completely asleep and therefore harmless unknown creature with threats of violence' dumb.

Close call for Iroh. Do you think he's suspected that Appa (and presumably the Avatar) haven been in Ba Sing Se this whole time?

Bipedal Appa is strange. A very effective fighter, but strange to look at.

I'm amazed that giant boar thing walked away from that.

And now they're hitting me with an 'Appa's given Up' montage. Someone who works on this show hates me.

*Heroically refrains from ranting about the impracticality of using white fabric for an active warrior's glove.*

"This could be our most important mission yet." Foreshadowing?

Did Suki and Appa actually meet at any point in the Warriors of Kyoshi episode?

Turns out 'Aang' is a magic word.

Appa kisses!

Appa is apparently legally banned from having anything good for more than five minutes. Although it's good writing that they're using a previously established weakness - Appa's shedding - to bring the danger ladies back in.

I guess they have Azula drop the line about her brother to remind the audience of who she is, but surely Suki's like "Who are you? Who's your brother? Why should I care?"

Azula going after the Kyoshi warriors is completely unnecessary right? The Avatar isn't there. Neither are Zuko and Iroh. It doesn't even net her Appa. She's just looking for someone to beat up.

WOW this is bad writing. Like really bad. My Immortal levels of bad.

Would it be too much to ask for the Kyoshi warriors to do even slightly ok against the Azula ladies? Couldn't they at least get a couple of hits in?

Kudos to Suki for essentially sacrificing herself and her warriors to save Appa. 'Most important mission yet' was a bit on the nose.

Out of options, Appa goes home. Ouch.

Someone explain this to me. Air Bison teething ring?

My what a human sounding cough you have buddy.

This is why you don't use Air Bison as guard dogs.

I like what this Guru is saying. Fear displacing trust but not love feels more accurate than how I usually see the consequences of trauma discussed.

The music playing throughout this sequence fits so well. I think it's some sort of metal thing you hit - I want to say a variation on tubular bells, and maybe something Glockenspiel adjacent? It's unlike anything I've heard in this show before and it fits so well that I'm nerding out a bit.

Disney princess Guru. Aang has Disney princess moments too. Maybe it's an Air Nomad thing?

No wonder the monks built a temple here. Even destroyed, it's gorgeous.

And Appa decides to trust again. I love it when an animal visibly comes to a decision about your trustworthiness.

This energy reading stuff makes sense given that Aang and Appa already share a dreamscape.

He IS a great beast. The best!

OH COME ON

Someone whip up a wanted poster for Long Feng: Cattle Rustler. It had also never occurred to me that he was an earthbender.

That flip move with the earthbending platform must have caused Appa to land on his back. I bet that hurt.

One of the times I am very grateful that the closing credits music is so upbeat.

Final Thoughts

@aboutiroh I see why you recommended I save my chocolate for this episode.

The Tale of Momo was really just a preparatory taste of things to come, huh? Almost a microcosm of this episode.

This is the first episode where I had to take breaks while watching. Especially the circus sequence, I think I got up twice to do things like get a cup of tea and stare randomly out windows at squirrels. I didn't even have to do that with Zuko Alone, despite freaking out a lot about it, because at least that episode took breaks from the child abuse to check in with Aang being miserable. This episode was unrelenting.

If I had seen this episode when I was the age of the target audience, this may well have turned me off the show for good. If my Mom had seen this episode, I would have been banned from watching the show entirely. Not a decision I'd agree with, but my Mom is the type of person who banned her kids from watching Bambi.

To watch through all of that unrelenting animal (at best) unhappiness, and still not get Appa back at the end of the episode? That's a bit much. It's not often that this show ends its episodes without at least a little bit of something positive.

Once again, the music did a lot of heavy lifting this episode. The animal noises weren't quite as emotive as the ones in Momo's Tale, but Appa's face is more expressive, and more was shown through his expression than through Momo's, so I feel like this episode had just as much non-verbal animal communication as Momo's Tale.

I think I'm renaming season 2 "the Suki redemption arc." I really didn't like the Warriors of Kyoshi episode, and I didn't like what her character did in that episode. But every time Suki appears in season 2? She absolutely nails it.

The show since losing Appa has taken to wallowing. Even with bright spots like the poetry bouncer, the overall tone since Appa's appanapping has been ever more dark. If this keeps up for many more episodes, it will no longer be fun to watch.

Somehow I don't think this one is going on my rewatch list.

[fromabasementonthehilll]

Hey Honey how are you?? Can you write a enemies to lovers with Nat Scatorccio x Fem! Reader? Nat and reader dont really get along and only gets worse when she is with travis bcz reader and travis hate each other and the girls always have to step in so they dont fight (kill each other lol). But yknow they cant stand each other because they are in love, maybe girls help Nat figuring it out that she likes reader in a truth or dare game? Thank you!!

The Night of the Party

͙⁺･༓☾ - Summary: You and Natalie practically hate ‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎each other, especially after she started ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ dating Travis, until the night of the party.

Pairing: Natalie Scatorccio x reader

Warnings: ...

note: thank you for the request! I haven't written an actual fanfic before so I hope this lives up to your expectations 😭

∘₊✧────────────────────✧₊∘

"Over here!" Jackie called, you shuffled the ball trying your best to avoid the opposing team. You had noticed Natalie, throughout the entirety of practice, eyeing you; stalking your every move in attempts to steal the ball from you. This left you with no room for thought, she was constantly breathing down your neck, so you'd decided to ignore Jackie, running even faster to the goal. Normally you were a team player, making it fair and square for everyone around you, but when it came to Natalie your ego took over, you gave her side glances in attempts to get rid of her - but to no avail. As you neared the goal your palms started sweating like crazy, I mean it was just practice, but you couldn't let Nat win at any cost. She positioned herself parallel to the goal and parallel to you. Van was ready to block your kick and Natalie brushed her bangs out of the way so that she could focus on the ball. You knew how determined Natalie was, so as you gave her a hunting stare, the frustration inside of you grew like a fire.

Your strike was filled with force, it was tactical, but too rage infused. Somehow you had mistaken Natalie for the goal, subconsciously you just really wanted her to get out of your way, your brows furrowed, eyes fixed on the landing - you had hit Nat right onto her goddamn face.

You stood there as Coach Scott rushed to asses the situation, your teammates stared in awe.

-

"Nat I'm sorry it was just an accident I swear-" You pleaded, "Fuck off" was all she said, giving you the death stare of a lifetime and slamming her locker while holding a paper towel to her bleeding nose, you wondered why you even tried to apologise at this point, it all felt useless and repetitive. You sighed, walking up to Jackie and Shauna who had just finished changing. "You should've passed, (y/n), maybe then she wouldn't be so pissed at you" Shauna knew what was going on between you and Natalie, everyone did, it was too obvious lately, and that's why she didn't blame you - she merely glanced at you, disappointed with the constant feud you and Nat perpetuated. "You saw how she targeted me right? I mean it's not even my fault!" you spat out whatever reasoning you could, a slight guilt trailing your voice, "you two are always fighting, everyone's tired of having to break it up, just kiss already" Tai laughed, walking past the three of you. You scoffed, turning back to your friends. "It doesn't matter, (y/n), she'll get over it. Are you coming to the party today?" Jackie intervened, your team was celebrating nationals and had all decided to go to Jeff's party, you weren't too sure if you'd even wanted to go though. Jackie noticed your tight nit lips in response to her, "please?" she whined, "it'll be fun I promise.". "fine, I'll go." You gave in with a slight smirk, Jackie screeched in approval, Shauna laughed and you left early.

-

You didn't live too far from the school, so you'd decided to walk despite Shauna offering to drive you back. You turned your head curiously as you saw bleach blonde hair in your peripheral, and as you turned you saw Natalie talking to someone. Travis - you hated his guts, your teeth gnawed as you gazed intently while he was all over Nat, he tried to hit on you once a while back, but you never liked him, not at all. His back was faced to you as Natalie had her arms around him, looking directly at you. Still walking, you looked away, a grimacing expression painting your face. If you never liked him before, you definitely didn't like him now, you weren't sure why though, it's not like he did anything really, he was a huge dick but not enough to induce your deep deep hatred. All you wanted was for him to go away, only because he was a pain in the ass of course, I mean that was it, right? It was such a burden that you had fully convinced yourself that if he hadn't shown up your life would be a hundred times better.

You and Natalie weren't always spiteful towards each other, you used to hang out quite a lot, usually smoking and listening to music, there were moments where you two got so close it felt like something could've happened. At the end of last year, as you began dating guys and hanging out with Jackie and Shauna more, you and Natalie grew apart, to the point where she felt like a stranger to you. At first you stopped talking, then you began making remarks at each other - slowly, the anger between you built up. You didn't like it, but at this point it was second nature.

-

A loud honk surrounded your house, you peered outside of the window seeing Jackie and Shauna. Grabbing your bag you swiftly ran down the stairs and towards the car. "Hey (y/n)!" One of them exclaimed, "Wow you really went all out, I've never seen you wear such a flattering top", it's true, you usually wore super casual clothes - too casual, though well put together. "You dressing for someone?" Jackie winked with a sly smile, leaning her neck against the seat to look back at you. "No, of course not." You chuckled, unnoticed panic in your answer, and it was partly true, you didn't really think of dressing for someone, in retrospect you may have spiced it up for a reason, though you'd never admit it to yourself.

-

You stood leaned over a kitchen counter, a red solo cup touching your lips as you gazed at Lottie rambling about something, her hands gesturing and mouth moving so quickly you had just spaced out, absolutely no thoughts in your head, until you heard a familiar voice. It was Natalie Scatorccio, you didn't look, you had just assumed she was flirting with Travis or something, after all the music was loud enough to block out any coherent words from her and the people around you apart from Lottie, who was still talking to you.

"Hey Lot, I'm gonna go refill my cup - you want anything?", she paused for a moment and shook her head. Your head began spinning slightly as you filled your cup with an unknown drink, it was definitely doing a number on you, but after today it didn't really matter much. "(y/n)! Come with us we're gonna play something" You turned to Van as Tai crept behind her, "play what?" You perked up, "just some games, me and Tai got the idea", you followed them to the living room, waving your hand for Lottie to follow suit. There were less people, as everyone was mostly likely outside or making out in one of the guest rooms. It was merely your soccer team (admittedly, only some of them) and a couple of guys, including Travis. You sat the furthest away from him, next to Lottie and Shauna, leaning your head against Lot as Van and Tai tried their best to get more people. "Travis is such a dick." You stared at how he ignored Natalie, "I know right, who even gives him the right..." Lottie agreed, though her head was in the clouds. She knew how you disliked him. "what are we doing?" Inquired Shauna, "hmm," Tai didn't seem so sure, they clearly just decided to go with the flow, and you were too drunk to care "truth or dare?". "really?" you laughed slightly, "we're not in preschool, Tai".

After a while you were persuaded, alongside everyone else who were sober enough to think that idea was boring. You lifted your head off of Lottie and watched as everyone played, also noticing how everyone got more drunk by the second. Your eyes landed on Natalie as she laughed about something with one of your teammates. Eventually, it was your turn. "(y/n), truth or dare" you heard it from Van. The whole time you had observed how Van and Tai were laughing, talking about something while giving you glances, you noticed them speak to Natalie about something too, after which she playfully punched Van's shoulder. Now you were patient, as Van gave you the most malicious look you had seen, she was up to something - so you decided to play it safe. "truth". "boooring!!" Natalie remarked, "Oh shut up Nat" you bickered. She mocked you, causing a small argument, "Ladies, get a room, it's not the time." Tai broke you two up, Natalie crossed her arms and sat back down, a slight blush patterning her complexion, earning a hateful stare from you. "okay, (y/n), who do you have a crush on." "oh come on Van, ask me something interesting" Your eyes rolled around the room, music booming in your ears "nope, you have to answer, rules of the game", her snarky tone made you laugh, "fine, okay, I don't really have a crush on anyone" Van wasn't impressed at all, she gave Tai a look of disappointment, and you grew even more curious than you were before, "what? It's the truth!" You argued, slight defence in your voice, "I'm not buying it", you sighed and watched as Travis left, Natalie didn't even look at him, you became worried - did they have a fight? Did they break up without me even knowing it? It was true, you and Nat weren't the closest of friends, you weren't friends at all, but you always knew what happened in her life. "so? come on (y/n) don't be boring" you heard Nat say, snapping you out of your thoughts and scowling at her as she wouldn't put to it to rest. You gave a look of defeat towards Lottie, "have it your way. they're in this room, right now", you weren't sure what you were even talking about, and honestly you didn't care, you slurred half of your words and moved around carelessly, eventually sitting still and gazing longingly at Nat, as she looked back curiously. "is that it? that's all you're gonna give us?" Van pried, "it's childish, move on" you responded weakly. Van rolled her eyes, Tai giving her one of those looks that said 'really?'.

Most of the people had left already, you didn't blame them, the game wasn't much fun after everyone ran out of dares to give and truths to ask. You sat there overthinking what you had said, they're in this room? really? Scoffing to yourself. You never admitted it to yourself but you liked Natalie, you never actually hated her, you just hated when she wouldn't reciprocate your feelings towards her, you hated the fact that you grew apart. "you okay?" Once again Natalie had collapsed your train of thought, "hm?", you looked up at her from across the room, puppy eyes staring back at you, "oh, I'm fine". You weren't fine at all. You were too drunk, too confused and too lost, Lottie left, late for curfew, you took that as her leaving you here alone. Jackie and Shauna trailed off, Jackie most likely with Jeff. Finally, you watched as Van and Tai left together, giving you a smirk. You questioned it, and knitted your eyebrows together in confusion.

This left you alone in the living room with Nat as she sat leaning again the bottom of the couch with a plastic cup in her hand, staring at her shoes after you brushed her off. "hey Nat, what happened with you and Travis? He seemed pissed, but you two seemed fine earlier." She looked at you, parting her lips, then looking back down - she found the floor more interesting than whatever you were saying, so you just went back to what it is you were doing.

"he broke up with me." Her mouth falling into a shaky frown and her eyes glistening, "I knew he would do this, he's just..." failing to finish her thoughts, you took over. "it's not your fault, Nat, he's a dick." Your voice soft, matching her emotion. She didn't seem to acknowledge your words as her glistening eyes now trailed down to her cheek, she sobbed profusely, trying to be as quiet as possible while covering her face and dropping her empty cup down to her feet. You moved closer to her, purely inches between you two. Your warm hands trailed to her back, "it's okay, Nat, you're better than him." Mouth left slightly open, you realised how odd it was, talking to her without calling each other names or arguing, it suddenly felt like you two never even had a feud to begin with, waves crashed in your mind as you tried to make sense of it, you hadn't even noticed her yearning stare. You slowly faltered the hand that found her back, looking at her, needy and vulnerable. "(y/n), I don't hate you, you know that right?" Bloodshot eyes slightly squinted at your expression, as your sclera widened somewhat, your lips disembodied in failure to respond. Her shaky, careful voice echoed in your head. "I never have."

"Really?" Both of you laughed in a diminuendo, eventually falling back to your rather serious countenance. "No of course not, how could I," Her cheeks were red, and so were her eyes as she left them with drying tears. "I don't hate you either, Nat." Her body moved so quietly towards you, your eyes trailing towards her lips as they inched closer. Natalie kissed you gently, salt bruising the moment, but you didn't mind. Both of you pulled back, looking at each other for what seemed like forever, not uttering a word before you wrapped your hands around her neck and pulled her back in.

"(y/n)"

"Yeah?"

"I missed you."

-

After the party you had figured out why Van and Tai kept giving you looks. They set you up. Or at least tried to. You were just glad that Travis was out of sight and out of mind. Jackie and Shauna asked what happened between you and Nat, why you two got along so much better now. You didn't say much, though they caught on as you sheepishly smiled and blushed each time they would bring it up.

[stompandhollar]

Who am I supposed to be?

pairing: will byers x mike wheeler

WC: 1.8k

warnings: vecna, mike being a little shit, gay panic

summary: Season 5. Will gets Vecna’ed in the final fight, but their walkman is busted. Mike has one final cry of hope to save him.

art credit: @daniartonline on instagram

“It’s not playing!” Mike yells, voice shrill and forceful. “Something isn’t working!”

“We’re running out of time here, guys-“ Lucas clings to the sword he’s wielding like it’s a lifeline. He cuts down another demedog, but not after Dustin hits it clean in the head with a bat. “They keep coming!”

“Where’s El? Where’s Eleven!” Mike’s face is red hot, emotion bubbling inside his cheeks. In front of him- eyes glassed over- is Will Byers, floating an inch off the ground. Mike bangs on the walkman, coughing as the debris from the upside down floats into his mouth and swirls around his throat.

“Come on you son of a bitch, play!”

A scream- purely guttural- echoes over the hills in the Upside Down. The gate crackles and shrills in response. Eleven hovers with her arms extended, blood gushing from her nose, in the distance. She’s holding it off- holding it off until they can wake Will up- and then they’ll be able to escape, and she can seal the gate for good. Except… Will won’t wake up. One of his blue vans lifts higher, but Mike drags the other back down by stepping on his foot hard, driving him back down to earth.

“Will- Stay with me!” Mike chokes on some fluid in his mouth- blood or spit, he isn’t sure. His black fluffy hair has been matted to his skull from the drying gash in his temple. The pain of it barely even registering. “Somebody help me! Somebody do something, Jesus Fuck!”

In the blue glow of the parallel world, Mike clings to Will’s forearms in desperation. Will, however, with red light beating down on him, is in a different place completely.

Vecna’s voice echoes in his mind. “They’ve left you,” He coos. Will’s tears have long since solidified in the congealed dirt that’s built up on his face, having been knocked on his hands and knees in some abandoned baseball arena. The warped stands shroud around him, empty of patrons but still deeply foreboding nonetheless. Will struggles to his feet, only to lose his footing and smack his chin on second base. He feels the hot sensation of blood escaping his body, and doesn’t dare to touch his chin to feel how deep it is.

“They’ve all left you, Will.”

“No, they’re looking for me.”

“You’re lost, Will. No one can find you- and no one is looking.” A form comes into view from the dugout. A cloudy, slimey, growing form that resembles a creature from a scary movie, but is too unfocused to make out the shape of. Will’s head spins as he pulls his hands across the field, trying to drag his body away from the creature. But he only gets closer. Will lets out a deep yell- mustering as much strength as he can and drags his body forward. All he has to do is survive. He managed to make it a week in the Upside Down at ten years old- He can survive a few moments in this place.

“Did you think if you stalled long enough, your mother would come and find you? Rescue you?” Vecna lulls, his voice sounding as if it must be directly behind Will’s head. “Or was it Mike- was it your paladin? The holy night. He’s moved on- He doesn’t care about you anymore, Will. You already know it’s true.”

It isn’t.

“Worthless- A wizard with no party.”

“Get out of my head!” Will yells, his voice breaking at the sheer force of his scream.

Mike jams the rewind button one last time on the Walkman and furiously presses play.

“It’s not gonna work, man!” Lucas shouts, the demedog on him and Dustin getting close. They’re fending it off, but only barely.

“I wish we had Eddie right about now-“ Dustin wacks the demedog in the leg, causing it to limp backwards. “Mike, come on, snap him out of it so we can get out of here!”

“I’m trying, I’m-“ His voice snags. “Will! Will, can you hear me?”

“Mike!” Will screams, wiping the spit and blood from his mouth. “MOM- Eleven, MIKE-!”

“They can’t hear you. No one is listening. It’s only you,” Vecna appears in his grotesque form in front of Will, his long Freddy Krueger hand lifting Will's face up by the chin. The sharp talon-like-nail pressing against the newly made gash and causing Will to yell out in pain. “…And me. At long last.”

“You were the first soul I claimed.” The monster waxed, lifting Will’s body into the air as he squirms and fights against it. “You were my first victim, my first connection from this world I was sent to into the one I used to call my home. You are the bridge between worlds. Eleven opened the gate, but you are the first traveler.” Will finds himself parallel to the dead, black, soulless eyes of his captor. With every ounce of strength in his body, he fights against the urge in his bones to go stiff. Every fiber inside his frame seems to will itself against him- his own body rejecting his control. He feels his fingers begin to crack- not yet break- but pull backwards against their natural track.

Mike watches as Will’s pinkie finger snaps backwards, and he yells. Lucas gets in the last blow, his leg bleeding after snagging a nasty bite from a demobat. “Mike,” He pleads. “Please, man, we can’t lose you too.”

“We haven’t lost him,” Mike breathes. “We, we….”

A scream of courage echoes over the cliffs. Eleven’s eyes streak red down her cheeks, and her hands tremble with force. A low growl that sounds like a wounded animal- but that Mike quickly realizes is the world itself- emanates around her.

The boys all halt in their tracks. Dustin drops his bat in disbelief. She isn't just closing the gate- she’s destroying the entire Upside Down.

The chaos of the battlefield all at once starts dissipating. The bats, gently, begin falling from the sky. Eleven screeches once again, and the very fabric of the universe feels as though it has begun to crumble. Chunks of rock and earth fall from the sky- the world she created, being destroyed by the hands that made it. And yet, while rage had birthed and begotten it, it was love and belonging that ripped it from the seams.

The remaining demogorgons collapse into the dirt and the mire. The Upside Down is silent.

As if on cue, the older kids come jogging into view from their positions in the fight. Steve runs to Dustin immediately, Eddie right behind him, and scoops the kid up in pure excitement.

“Henderson!”

“Steve-“ Eddie grabs Steve by the arm. His eyes are fixed on the two boys standing in the middle of the battlefield, dead demobats surrounding them in hideous piles. Steve’s face pales in realization. Nancy, who’s just come around the corner with Jonathan and Joyce, grabs their wrists in shock. Everyone is frozen. Except for Mike.

“Will, Will come on-“ He sobs, completely oblivious to the dead silence surrounding him. He paws at Will’s face, trying to wipe away the dirt, as if somehow it might help. “Will, come on you can hear me I know you can.”

Small. His voice is small. The onlookers, were they not adults who knew better, may have sworn left and right that in front of them was suddenly no longer a tall, lanky, grown-up Mike Wheeler that stood pleading with Will’s lifeless body- but instead was a tiny little ten year old, fresh out of his moms basement from a ten hour campaign. He sniffs, wiping the tears from his eyes with a snotty sleeve, his hands around Will’s shoulders. The walkman headphones sit uselessly against Will’s ears, and Mike pulls them off, flinging them down. He yells, anger bubbling out of him, and stomps on the walkman.

“Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, Fucking—!” His voice cracks again, and he holds Will tight, sobbing into his chest. Everyone else watches, their hearts breaking in front of them.

“Darling you’ve got to let me know,” Mike whispers, singing only ever so slightly. Off key. Pitchy. Quiet. Broken up by gentle sobs he can’t swallow. “Should I stay or should I go,”

Jonathan squeezes Nancy tighter.

“If I say that you are mine,” Mike cups Will’s face in his hands, his nose pressed against Will’s cheek. “I’ll be here…” -A hiccup- “…till the end of time.”

Mike’s eyes are swollen. Will’s are dead white.

“If you don’t want me set me free,” He squeezes Will’s hand tight. “Exactly who am I supposed to- supp- suh- exactly who am I supposed to be without you man? Come on please wake up wake up please I need you, I need you. don’t go, don’t—-“ he squeaks, swallowing hard and catching his breath. “If… if you go, there will be trouble. But if you stay it will be double.”

“So come on and let me know. Should I Stay or Should I Go?”

Joyce clasps a hand over her mouth.

Hopper pulls her into his chest.

Dustin shuts his eyes tight, and Steve holds his shoulders steady.

Lucas looks away. He knows this feeling.

Jonathan buries his face in Nancy’s hair.

Eleven watches in disbelief.

And then Will heaves a breath, and opens his big brown eyes.

Mike’s eyes widen with shocking hope. He holds his breath, then lets out a horribly ugly laugh. “Y- You-!”

“Hi,” Will coughs, his eyes dazed and confused but locked on Mike’s. They mimic his and well with big crocodile tears. “You have a really bad voice.”

Mike barks a laugh, grabbing Will by the face. “You little- You- You—“

“Yeah?” Will smiles, weak but gentle.

Oh, he’s not wasting another second.

Mike pulls their faces together, colliding in the silliest, most important kiss of either of their lives. Will laughs into it, shocked so much that the wind is knocked out of him. He inhales high into his chest, breathing in Mike’s kiss like it’s an anchor to life. And in more ways than one, it is. Will quickly takes charge, holding Mike's face in his hands, kissing him again, deep and full of emotion. The electricity in his fingertips is intoxicating. Pulling away too soon, Will pushes their foreheads together.

“I’ve waited my whole life to do that.” He whispers, breathing hard. His pupils are huge, dizzy with wonder.

“I can't believe I almost lost you before you did.” Mike laughs, tears still spilling over. He looks over to their audience, but specifically to El, who just smiles. Without missing a beat, she runs at them both, and throws her arms around them. Dustin and Lucas don’t waste another second- rushing at the three friends and almost tackling them to the floor in a mess of laughter and tears and chattering voices.

“Alright alright, let mom through.” Joyce smiles, her eyes puffy red and her face bright and smiling- if exhausted. Will’s eyes melt as she hugs him.

“Mom, I—“

“Oh hush. I already knew.” Giving him a gentle wink, and kissing the top of his head. “My boy. Please don’t ever go away like that again.”

Will’s eyes drift over to Mike as Joyce wraps him in a hug. “Don’t worry.” He smiles. “I think I’m planning on staying.”

[moved--accs]

[02:41 am] [smut] [2/2]

you stare into jisung's eyes above you. your brain whiplashes–his hands on your hips, his crotch pressed against yours, the pure look of neediness in his eyes–it's overwhelming. your breathing quickens at the softness of his gaze, your feelings threatening to burst your heart and overflow your lips, spilling your vulnerability all over this room if you dare to open your mouth. so, you don't. you simply pull him closer.

jisung's approach isn't nearly as gentle as yours was. granted, you've been all over each other for a while now and, although you won't say it aloud, your skin is itching from being apart from his. his tongue finds your skin and licks you a long, wet stripe headfirst, before grazing his teeth on a spot under your ear and sucking gently. you shudder when he peppers pecks across the skin before settling again, tip of his tongue circling a spot before biting. a hiss leaves your lips unexpectedly when you feel his teeth on you, and his bite lingers just a bit longer than yours did before he sucks the skin, tongue soothing the bite. your hands are resting parallel to your shoulders, grabbing at the edges of your pillow as you simply relent, allowing jisung to make a mess out of your neck.

the boy's eyes are closed as he allows his reckless movements to take over his body–his teeth sinking on your neck followed by lapping his tongue over the spot, lewd noises leave his mouth as if he's the one getting kisses all over his neck. jisung's noises makes your let out some of your own, grabbing a fistful of his hair to press him against you. he tilts your head to the side so his mouth can ruin the other side of your throat, and you let him do as he wishes, head lolling as a sigh escapes your lips. you can't process how his hands move up your body and settle on your waist, not when the realization of how wet he must have left the other side of your neck hits you–the air hitting the just suffocated skin making it shiver once again. the feeling of his saliva on your skin on it's own making you let out a quiet moan. you finally let go of your consciousness completely when you feel his erection grinding against you–there's no use to hold onto it anymore, the damages are done.

jisung's mind is cloudy–that's the only information his brain is able to process at the moment. every single one of his neurons solely focusing on every part of his body that's touching yours. he doesn't even realize his kisses are getting lower, his body responding exclusively to it's desire. he shamelessly moans when you start massaging his scalp and doesn't even bother to open his eyes or stop his lips when you chuckle.

"my kisses didn't get that low." he can hear the smirk in your voice as you tease him, but your body doesn't seem to find the strength to tease along–he can tell by the way your chest lifts off the bed towards his lips.

the body-tight shirt you're wearing has decent cleavage–which jisung earlier shyly explored with his eyes, now explores with his lips. in said area, his bites become mere nibbles, which you're thankful for. he uses a lot more tongue, a lot more lips, sucking the exposed skin and twirling his tongue around it. jisung's heart soars at the realization of how much he wants his hickeys all over your chest, skin painted a darker tone because of his lips in you. he pulled your shirt down, seeking to reveal even more skin, and dove in again.

"i know, 'm sorry. just- fuck. you can stop me if you want to." he whispers hurriedly, for the seconds spending apart from your touch were painful.

you do stop him. placing both hands on his cheeks, you bring jisung's face to your eye level and breathe in his sighs. his nose is touching yours, you don't even remember breathing out the faint "jisung" that leaves your lips, as you're both in a silent battle of who will give in first. both your mouths are slightly agape when they graze against each other, and the boy above you can't seem to stop staring into your eyes. his eyes never stopped sparkling, even in the darkest situations. at least you thought so. you don't dare to speak–you can't. you're too scared of what will come out of your mouth if you do. to shut yourself up, you finally lift your neck slightly and peck his lips. jisung doesn't react, he simply stares at you until you lean in for another peck–for which he now meets you in the middle. something seems to click inside his head–you can see it in his eyes for a millisecond before he dives in to make home between your lips, pressing your head against the pillow.

jisung's kisses are as hungry as you thought they would be. wasting no time to push his tongue into your mouth, he kisses you like you're about to push him away at any second and he's trying to steal every breath of yours until his time is up. your best friend breathes a shaky sigh into your mouth as his head tilts, relief. you feel it too. you intertwine your fingers with his, like you've done so many times before, but never like this.

the feeling of embarrassment is overthrown by desire–you bring his hand to your chest, and his second hand immediately follows along. jisung's kisses get more desperate each passing second, and you can't help but follow his lead. you let his hands roam under your shirt and feel up your breasts however he wants, while your hands work on tugging at the edge of his shirt. promptly, he separates from you and discards the fabric in a matter of seconds, along with your own shirt. you're sure your heart misses a couple of beats when his crotch grinds slowly against your wet underwear, and you have a feeling he won't even bother taking off your skirt.

your morality is long gone when you reach for the bulge in your best friend's sweatpants, "is this okay?" you whispered, even though you already knew the answer.

you watch the light in jisung's eyes as he slowly sinks into you–his gentle gaze, parted lips breathing you in, nose touching yours. you would stare at him forever if you could. when he allows himself to move, slowly but rhythmically, you roll your hips under him, meeting his thrusts.

your best friend is restless above you–his eyes and hands can't seem to still. his shaky eyes go from your own to your lips, your breasts, to his hips smacking against yours–his hands following a similar route. he squeezes the underside of your thighs, wrapping your legs around his hips.

"god, i like you so bad." he confesses. squeezing your hand as his hips pick up pace.

you don't reply, you don't feel like you need to. not when you know the sheer adoration with which you're staring into his eyes–gaze unfaltering as you slowly open your mouth and leave it at that, moans getting more recurrent and louder with each thrust of his.

his thumb finds your clit as he crashes his lips against yours–needless to say you're barely kissing back, but jisung seems to enjoy how much he affected you. your hips can't match his rhythm as your thighs begin to shake.

"just wanna make you feel good... come on, give it to me."

you wouldn't be able to hold your orgasm back even if you tried, so when you feel your body spasming out of your control, you sink your nails into jisung's shoulders, hoping they'd keep you grounded at least a tiny bit.

your high is so blinding you can't really tell when he finishes–next thing you know is your best friend is pressing his body against yours, face buried in your neck as he shudders above you.

"so."

"so..." he repeats, breathlessly.

"how's the hickey?"

[thissmycomingofage]

Medusa's speech was so moving it made me cry. No jokes. When you know her story, when you know what they changed from the book, when you know the truth about the myth of her transformation... The screenwriters know the double meaning of everything she said, of how Annabeth's word hit her. Annabeth telling "you're a liar"??? To a SA survivor sharing her story??? That was heartbreaking to hear and I could feel the mix of hurt and being used to it in Medusa's posture and breathing!

Of course they soften the whole thing into some forbidden love story, but those who know KNOW what it truly is. And the writers know. That's why we don't see Medusa's head, I dare to say it's by respect (at least it gives a justification to what is probably mainly budget related choice). And it's all over the text : the way she talks about silence, and it being broken, how she was punished but not the man, how women in the person of Athena self-righteously judged her and condemned her...it's so good, it's so good.

And what she says matters and will matter to those kids. There's no celebration after her death, no glory, no pride. They all lash out on each others. Because what she said hurt a chord cause it's true. And we all know they'll learn to see it. (I need a shot of Annabeth shamefully looking at her mother's shield once Medusa's head will be back on it).

And I almost forgot but she does all of that for Sally!!!! She relates to Sally! It's not about still having a crush on Poseidon and seeing him in his son like in the book, it's about his mother. That way she confirms what Percy claimed last episode : he is Sally Jackson's son. That's why he trusted Medusa, and that's why she wanted to protect him like she knew his father wouldn't. And the parallels with the real Perseus who killed Medusa doing his father's bidding TO SAVE HIS MOTHER! I'm obsessed with it all.

And "Targeted by the same monster"...that's insanely good. And that really makes me wonder what they'll do with Gabe. Because in the way this is framed, Poseidon is far far worst. But if they go through with the original ending of his story, at least it'll be more than headcanon that Medusa, in her last act, protects Sally Jackson.

I have so many thoughts about this episode, it was so good, so moving, so smart

[naffeclipse]

*Arrives at Internet Explorer Speed*

Hey guys! Those new chapter of Lack of Light, am I right??!

FDKHKFGH Sorry I needed to make a silly entrance back in your inbox Naff XD

But aaaaaa I finally came back to read these and I'm here with a brand new comment!! For the two chapters I was missing no less! :D

So let's get to it!

Ok so first off I don't know if I'm just looking too much into it but I read this line: "You rely on your eyes to adjust to the darkness" from th first paragraph and it just felt significant to the rest of the chapter, you know? Very literal but metaphorical at the same time!

And oooh something I definitely have to praise in this is the amazing description of the anguish through all the physical sensations that the reader is going through. I think I've mentioned before that when I read reader inserts I don't truly put my real self in the story but rather try to imagine it through the main characters eyes, but wow did I feel this one. The way you detail all those physical effects that anxiety has on the body, beautifully described through images and comparisons, just made it seem so very real. I basically could almost feel them myself, just remembering times when I had definitely experienced something similar, even if the causes were different! I will always applaud your descriptions, Naff! Makes me want to take notes!

And AAAAAAA I gotta say that I absolutely love how just, hrrrr, I'm struggling to find the words to describe it, but I would say how there's a clear parallel between what both Reader and Eclipse are going through?

Because ok, first of all, is the matter of hiding right? Reader seems to be trying to hide (kind of like Eclipse does his true self), but through a mask instead of blindness. Even through previous encounters they have tried to present themselves a very specific way. The unshakable one. Unaffected by everything, at least in a way that goes beyond mild funny venting. And it feels like something they force themselves to do in their daily life, beyond the forest. It's just they're so used to doing it, that it became a part of how they perceive themselves and failing to do so feels to them like they're showing a part of themselves that is intolerable. And aaaaa then Eclipse also because clearly he must have enough experience having met other humans to know that even those that dared stay after learning of his presence ran away after seeing him. So both hide and hide while they wish for more and hate themselves for it, and might even think they don't deserve it.

(Sidenote: I love this description: "The mysterious being who exists in pure darkness, cast by the sun and the moon." Obviously because it references his name (be it a solar or lunar eclipse), but also because it reminds of his strange nature. Because an Eclipse is an event! A phenomenon that is not exactly a natural object, but something that can only be seen under the right conditions!)

And oooh speaking about Eclipse and hiding, I just love the contrast between Eclipse's darkness coming from being unseen vs the darkness born from emptiness. Because Reader so far hasn't been daring at all in pushing to see him, because they fear the latter. Eclipse's nature is intimidating, and it's often said that we fear not the darkness itself, but what we might find in it. But here it's the contrary! Both Reader and Eclipse fear that potential emptiness. They have found company in each other thanks to the darkness, but should something go wrong (pushing too much or scaring the other one away), they would find themselves staring into the void and nothing else.)

And that exactly leads into the doubts about what the other thinks once they've revealed themselves! And it's so interesting how they fear so intensely that the "flaw" they see in themselves, which are kinda opposite, is what will make the other regret meeting them. Like for Reader is that vulnerability, that inability to be perfect about everything that hits them in their daily life and dealing easily with it. They fear their "weakness" will disgust a great being as Eclipse. And for Eclipse is fearing that his form, great, strange, intimidating, monstrous, is what will leave him without his dear one. His very nature enough to drive them away. When in reality, it's likely those very things that made them initially appealing to the other! The Reader a precious little creature, that despite not having horns or sharp teeth lives their daily life bravely (enough to befriend a shadowy being). And Eclipse, a fascinating and fearsome creature, that despite it all demonstrates he's gentle and kind and capable of becoming that friend that provides the most comfort in Reader's life!

Ooooh I just adore how two very different beings, with way more differences than similarities, still have this experience in common. That fear and uncertainty about letting themselves be known, because past experience has thought them it's unwise, and yet they find relief from that terrible all-consuming anxiety when they let themselves trust that this time it will be different and that it is worth it, even if it is raw, to open up and let the right person in.

Now for Mothman Moon!

Just starting and the Reader is already turning the headlights on and off repeatedly jfhdsgkh Prime conditions for Mothman sightings! XD

Oooh I love how you build up the paranoia! Different situations, but it makes me think when it's late at night and for whatever reason you need to go out in a hallway of your home and you gotta reassure yourself that no, there's nothing lurking in the shadows of your home, be an adult and walk calmly jghdkfsj The feeling of being exposed and on edge is so very well achieved! But also all the little hints, like the raven falling quiet. And that instinctual feeling of being watched! Related to all this, I adore this line: "Your optimism slips in the slightest before you yank it back up by the throat and continue marching along." I felt that in my soul fkijhdfgkñjh

Aaaa I love how everything falls quiet at the flapping of wings! Everything knows to be quiet and freeze. And I love Reader is part of that everything. Like they are connected to the forest around them by virtue of not wanting to draw attention to themselves, something they share with all the creatures around.

And oooooo such a spooky sight when we finally get a glimpse of him!! Kinda gave me the urge to hold my breath as well as I read! Just the sight of the glowing red eyes coming from a shadow within the fog would paralyze anyone for sure! And then gjhfdkg poor Reader just shifts horror flavor from Creature-in-the-forest-that-could-kill-me to Stranger-Danger. Pick your poison and all that XD But man that instinct does seriously kick in when a stranger gives us bad vibes huh?

(As a sidenote, I love how you've given the different readers between chapters different responses to fear! Like the first chapter with Sun had Fight if I remember correctly, then the second chapter had Fawn, which I think it's trying to please to prevent from being harmed, even if the fear wasn't so much of Eclipse but of abandonment, and in this one we have Freeze! Which we see twice when Moon first appears and then when the car races towards them!)

Oh. My gosh??? The fact that Moon is just able to take on a car that's going full speed though?? Damn! And oooh he was not happy. He does not appreciate assholes/downright murderers in this area. (Btw I can't help but think that he did in fact break that second light slower on purpose to seem more menacing fjkhdaskjh)

Aaaa it's fascinating how he seems so perplexed by the Reader's response to everything that just happened! Like he doesn't quite understand the freeze response. It's something animals do as well, but I'm guessing if it doesn't work then most would ultimately run from the danger. It's probably the first instance of this he has encountered! And poor reader seems to just be very badly affected by it, physically as well as mentally judging by the lightheadedness.

(sidenote: "He looms, his wings flaring out beside him in magnificent flares of warnings and death." Me, helpless DCA simp, vivid image of the majestic view in my head: Um yes, hi, hello? 👉👈 GFÑLKDJHGÑLJ)

And aaaaa I loved the flight scene! I myself am pretty scared of heights so I likely would have screamed gkjhfdksj but! I love that we continue the theme of braving a bit of the fear to discover something wonderful! Despite my fear of heights I've always imagined how wonderful it would be to have wings and this scene just striked me as something terrifying yet beautiful because it really is an experience that Reader wouldn't get anywhere else! And despite the polarizing feelings of fear and safety just warring inside of them, the wonder was just so tangible as Moon carried them through the air!

And ooo I find it so interesting how he refers to multiple things as the "lights", which from his perspective must be the most notable characteristic of the stuff that emanates it! It's clear he's familiar with cars, and likely has witnessed what happens when one hits a living thing. And the light of the gas station tells him that it's a place humans go to. So he knows it's not just lights, but he still seems to perceive it as their most important characteristic. Aaaa I'm so curious about what the world looks like to him because of this!

And ough it's so sweet he keeps watch over them as they go trying to get the help they need. It seems to me he finds them really intriguing and the fact that he gave them his name could mean he hopes it will not be their last meeting!

And that's that!

Aaaaaa everytime I come back to your writing I keep being taken by surprise by how well you manage to make the reader immerse themselves in the story! Your descriptions are so vivid and your use of the language so *chef kiss*! Everytime I'm just dying to know what's the word that follows the previous one, what will happen, and when that tasty tension you build so well will reach it's snapping point! This little series was a delight to read and a very nice journey into what fear and darkness means to different people. And of course, meeting some very strange and fascinating creatures that make the unknown not as bad as it seemed <3

Thanks for this delicious chapters Naff! It's always a delight reading what you make! 

(Sorry if something is phrased weirdly btw, it’s kinda late as I’m writing this fgkjhdsk)

AHHH CHAOTIK! HI, HELLO! WELCOME BACK!!! I'm so glad to see you in my inbox again!!

Oh, I am rattling you so hard right now! I live for your analysis and I especially love that you caught how much Eclipse and Y/N complement and contrast each other—the same fears but different reasons. They are dear ones, your honor!!!

And Moon! My Mothman!Moon! He's so much fun to write! I'm really glad you enjoy his spooky entrance and his descriptions!

Also, with the readers, that's so funny that it changes from Fight, Fawn, and Freeze! I meant for Mothman's Y/N to freeze but I also think it's neat to explore different responses to fear, so I'm happy that stood out!

(He did break the second car light slowly—he's so dramatic lol)

He does have a different view of the world due to lights—humans have lights. Humans drive with them, live with them, and are afraid without them. Lights are just as foreign as those humans! But he does have a particular interest in Y/N—they were almost hit by the lights themselves. It's now every time he sees that, but he was curious from how they froze to how they were terrified yet in awe of flying. He even finds them cute but doesn't expect to see them again! But Y/N has plans of venturing back to the words with the mothman hehe

Gah, thank you so much, Chaotik! I love how in-depth you go and reading your thoughts makes my day, babe! <3

[onlyjaeyun]

This chapter took me alllll the way apart. I feel like there are two conversations going on between them right now. One is with their words and the things they say. The other and (dare I say) more authentic one is with actions.

Their relationship started as a pairs skating partnership. That is an incredibly intimate (not even in a sexual way—I mean they were kids) relationship and the primary way you communicate is in a relationship like that is with your body. You trust each other with your body. You support each other with your body. It’s all in what you do and how you physically relate to each other.

Their words are so harsh and fierce (at least they were until this chapter) but what they DO is what is REALLY revealing their story.

When Hoon left her the first time with no aftercare, it broke her. Because they did something so intimate and then he did not ACT in a way that was considerate of her. That wrecked her. She can’t even be in that same position again. But that messed HIM up too honestly. Because he IMMEDIATELY did something to make up for it. He beat up Jaemin. He had to. Was COMPELLED to because he could never truly just take from her and walk away.

The next series of action play out like this beautiful unspoken dance... He restored balance by wrecking Jaemin and immediately went after her. Separated her from Fuma systematically. Established their connection to his face. Kissed her lips after he saw her kiss Fuma. Put her in his clothes…That connection that they have is like a gaping hole when they aren’t together. They grew up together. It was a part of them. Once they reactivated it there was never going to be any going back.

Nearly every day they were together. Then those boys came for her and made her cry and he went 3 against 1. Wrecked. She’s his girl. It’s just that neither of them recognize it yet. She doesn’t want anyone else. She said it herself. (Lowkey I am DYING for some possessive moments from Hoon—like during intimacy—as well as their other interactions—there have already been many but I sense—especially after this—that there will be more. (Especially with her staying with Shotaro 👀 —I mean the TaroFlake relationship is mad platonic buuuut Hoon may not get that.)

Anyways this night is just a huge culmination of all those things. He comes to her space. They stare at each other. Snowflake physically reacts to his laughter (I WAS WAITING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS OMG). They verbally protest Hee’s dare but never physically do because they need to be close to each other. And then… THE NOD—

The moment he answered her with the head nod… That was huge for me. For both of them, their body responds when their words can’t. (I love the parallel you drew with them both having to nod to answer the hard questions—the vulnerable questions THIS is what puts you a cut above the rest) It’s just so clear that the foundation of what they built together all those years ago is still there. Their connection is just too deep. And those moments when they almost unintentionally (physically) access it again—it just hits so hard. I’m—🥺

He came to her space then he calls her to his.

The way he HAS to know if she is ok. I can’t wait till she finds out he beat them too 💀—and she’s honest with him… honestly I feel like this interaction is one of the first if not the first time their verbal exchange truly begins to mirror what is going on with their bodies (and hearts).

She finds out that he fought for her and she is immediately ready to come back and meet him with her own actions. Telling him the truth about why she cried. Riding him without protection… Yes it’s hot but it’s EVERYTHING.

She never let the others do it.

Because they weren’t HIM.

They haven’t fought for her like he has. They haven’t bled for her like he has. They haven’t built a part of their souls together like the two of them have. Letting him into her is not like it is with other people because HE is already there. In way too deep. And of course he’s never let anyone as close as he let her. Of course. This act of vulnerability is just so huge for both of them. Because I know they swore they would never be vulnerable to each other again but they were and they are.

And don’t eeeeeven get me started on the mirror. He built her up where she could see herself. It’s breathtaking. He puts her in a position of power with both his words and his actions and MAKES her SEE it. Freaking Poetry.

And when he says “please I don’t want this to end”—I feel like he’s not just talking about their encounter—he’s talking about really—truly—being CLOSE to her again.

And the kiss. Such a beautiful intimate act.

Showering together is really a very intimate act. Trust me. That is not something you just randomly share with people. Like there is a strange sort of domestic closeness there that is just lovely to put them in. And he offers it to her because he doesn’t want her to leave…

And he talks with her. There’s conversation (DYING to know what they talked about!! Riki? The team? When they first suspected Heeki was happening?)… The verbal barriers are finally coming down.

But he send her home in his clothes again. A sweatshirt this time. Covers even more of her body than the t-shirt in his clothes—casually possessive. And she puts it on…

I love how you ended it with him FINALLY questioning his own feeling in a truly meaningful way.

She didn’t just make him feel good in bed. She made him FEEL good. Just feel good.

And that’s everything.

Passion is such a strong overarching theme with them. They shared a passion for skating. They passionately hate each other and they passionately are drawn to each other again and again. I am just sighing and kicking my feet. I really do be daydreaming about them.

I physically cannot wait for what is next. I (think I) saw you were taking a break for a few days after putting out this chapter and that is so well deserved. I hope you have a wonderful rest and do amazing on your exams! Thank you so so much for this chapter. It was (somehow) even BETTER than I could have hoped for.

here's the second part of said ask mentioned previously and i think you guys understand what i mean when i say i keep rereading them because of how amazing they are. it will forever leave me mesmerized but also incredibly impressed and actually quite proud to see such deep analysis and thoughts regarding something i wrote and ive actually been thinking about what to respond for so long but every time injust find myself stuck because i'm so 🥺 speechless??? i love your interpretation of things and the way you view and love my characters, you're giving me one of the biggest gifts a writer could receive and i hope you know that. no amount of words of gratitude will ever be enough to express what these asks mean to me. thank you so much baby 🥺 i will forever keep these close to my heart 🥺💗

[olderthannetfic]

To be fair, people getting mad about authors notes containing the thoughts and feelings of the author is really stupid. Oh no, a completely ignorable and inoffensive authors note at the end/beginning of a fic you can read for free? How dare they! At least authors notes these days have a nice and orderly place where they can be put, and they don't just get added all over the place in the middle of the fics. I still remember when people would just stop in the middle of the fic to add the dreaded (A/N: insert interruption.) Especially for e-books and fanfics authors notes and small comments don't seem too rare, and it's literally so easy to just skip and ignore. Being mad that an author adds an authors note has a parallel vibe to people complaining about Artists adding their signature on their free to view art online. Brings me back to the some drama in a small translation group where a newbie just refused to translate the authors notes from the works being translated. They were additions that maybe weren't super relevant to the work, but if a translation was to be made and given to the people for free, then the least that could be done is translate everything and link to where to get the book in the original language, digital and physical. Btw we know not everyone translates everything, but that newbie also didn't have to join the translation group that specifically and openly aims to translate everything available.

--

Man, this is making me think that you guys have never actually seen the kind of note that ask was clearly about.

They're very rare in my experience, but there absolutely are people who will hit you with a graphic blow-by-blow of their abuse or really gory medical details right in the author's note, something that the fic tags aren't going to warn you for.

[lilpunkrock]

where you go (i will go) — interlude

AN: The response to part xvi was positively overwhelming. I swear, you make every second spent crafting this story beyond worth it. Enjoy, my dear friends. x

. . .

“It hits me in waves, the lack of color;

I know you weren’t ready to go,

Where you are now, God only knows—

I guess heaven really needed you to leave us in that vacant room;

A different you that’s doing well, a universe laid parallel—

A hundred things that I could lose, not one of them could lead to you;

A different version of yourself—

A universe laid parallel.”

Parallel, Dayseeker

. . .

interlude

When Dream of the Endless steps into the Dreaming, the entire realm stills.

The clouds do not dare to drift; the breeze does not dare to blow. Thousands of creatures, dreams and nightmares normally teeming with life, freeze in place, all at once. Like sculptures, or spring-wound figurines. Frozen in time. 

The Dream Lord notices none of it. There is nothing beyond the thud of his boots against the palace floors, his measured breathing, and the weight of you in his arms. No, there can be nothing beyond any of it. If he permits himself to think outside of these, if he permits his mind to wander– 

He will surely come undone. 

It is only when he walks into the Library of Dreams that he finally notices movement. Lucienne has always been special, has always operated slightly outside of the normal laws of the Dreaming. When the Dreaming crumbled, she remained. When all others abandoned him, she alone persisted. Now, she emerges from the aisles of the library with haste, her eyes wide and startled. 

“My lord, something is amiss in the Dreaming. What was it that called you—“ Her brown eyes find your limp form, the slack weight of you in his arms. She pales instantaneously. “Lord Morpheus—“

“Lucienne,” he rasps, his voice haggard and broken. So much conveyed in a single word. A cry, a plea, and a warning, all in one.

When he strides through the throne room doors, she does not follow. 

The Dream Lord has no private quarters in his palace. Without need for sleep, he has never required one. The throne room will have to do. 

When he reaches the curving staircase, he lifts his chin. At his silent command, a stream of stars rains from the cosmos glimmering beyond the palace’s open trusses. They shimmer and dance as they pool in front of the stairs, forming a small cot. He can imagine your smile, your laugh, your joy if you were to see his creation.

I’ve always loved the stars. Even when I was a mortal…I think. 

Looking at them is…so calming to me. 

Take me to the stars, Dream Lord?

He lays you atop the cot with a thick swallow. He sits atop the bottom stair in front of you.

And, for the first time since he left the Realm of Attachment, he really looks at you. 

Your chest, once filled with breath, lies still. Your skin, normally flushed pink with glee or humor, is pale. You’ve always been so vigorous, so full of life. Even in your quiet, peaceful moments, there was a certain tension in your form, an energy lying just beneath your skin that conveyed fervor, vitality, passion. 

You do not move now. 

This is all wrong. He can still hear the sound of your voice in his ear, clear as day. He can still feel your sweet breath seeping into his skin. Every inch of his being that has known the soft warmth of you hums with the memory. You should move, any moment now. Open your eyes, flash him a dazzling grin, and whisper, ‘I got you.’

But you don’t. 

And, for the first time since he brought you here, the Dream Lord allows himself to feel. 

His sister, Despair, has always been proficient at her function. He has witnessed countless humans and deities fall prey to her influence, slipping into dejection, misery, and madness like salt takes to the sea. He had lived a long life with many painful experiences. They had taught him valuable lessons in how to guard himself to ensure the survival of his own sanity, and his realm along with it. 

He had thrown those lessons out the window for you. Even as his sister takes hold over him, he doesn’t regret it. 

When the grief hits, it is suffocating, striking. It knocks the wind from his lungs and locks them in place, empty and wanting. It siphons the marrow from his bones, filling them with lead. Rational thought is drowned out by the insistent roar of every nuclei, every atom, every cell, crying out for you, starving for you, all at once. 

I was always meant to be yours. 

You were my dream, Dream. 

The walls of his palace shudder. Dust rains from the trusses above, settling in his disheveled hair like ash. When the film prepares to settle over you, he lifts a finger. It dissolves into oblivion instantaneously. 

You do not rouse. 

He can feel himself trying to splinter. Like an atom split in two. An unstable act of fission he can barely control or contain. But he has to. It is his function. If he were to succumb, to fracture into innumerable pieces–

Maybe you’ll be there. Maybe I’ll get to dream of you, in whatever lies after this. 

With a shuddering breath, he rests his head in his hands. 

There could be nothing beyond this pain. No day beyond this night. Perhaps he should end it all now. The Dreaming would remain, yes, and his successor–a new Dream–would rise to take charge of it. Perhaps it would be worth it, for him to escape this agony. 

Or perhaps he should allow his emotions to consume him. Deconstruct the reality of dreams and nightmares as the world knows it, tear apart the fabric of the collective unconscious at its seams. Make the world feel the pain that you had felt, that he felt. What was the point of it all without you, anyway? 

“Why?” he asks the empty air. 

Why hadn’t you told him? Why hadn’t you asked him for help, confided in him? Surely he could have helped. Surely he could have prevented this. 

I saved you.

He knows not what you meant. But he knows he will learn. 

He’s being torn in a hundred different directions at once. Toward Desire, to enact revenge. Toward the Fates, in hopes that they could change yours. Toward Death, in hopes that she could find you. Toward Destiny, to seek answers. 

Most of all, though, he’s being pulled toward you. To peel himself from your side feels wrong. Like a sin. You had died in his arms. You’d want to stay in them forever. He is sure of it. 

He leans forward slowly, gingerly. As if too quick a movement from him might cause you to disappear. When he presses his lips to your forehead, he tries to ignore how cool your skin is. “Just for a short while,” he says softly. “I will be back, I assure you.” 

He doesn’t bother waiting for his physical form to carry him to the gallery. It would only slow him down. When he materializes in front of his brother’s sigil, he takes the Book of Souls replica from its place with conviction. 

Normally, he would ask for permission to visit the Garden of Forking Ways. He is over such pleasantries. “Destiny. I’m coming through.” 

In the blink of an eye, the darkness of the Dream Lord’s gallery is snuffed out, replaced with the blue sky and gentle sun of Destiny’s realm. The bright surroundings and soft sound of birdsong in the distance feel wrong against the turmoil roiling in Dream’s chest. He has found himself standing in his sibling’s gallery, a long corridor within Destiny’s temple lined with life-sized portraits of the Endless siblings. Well, all except for Destiny himself. Destiny’s picture frame contains no portrait, but a mirror, instead. 

It is this mirror that Dream of the Endless finds Destiny standing in front of when he turns. Within the clear glass, the Dream Lord can see his sibling’s milk-white stare, his slender figure, the chain that binds him to his book. When Destiny nods, so too does his reflection. Like a clone, a doppelgänger, a twin.

“Brother,” Destiny says simply. 

There is something about the nonchalance in Destiny’s greeting that sends a rush of anger burning through the Dream Lord’s chest. When his lips upturn, it is not in happiness, but bitter disbelief. “It is brave of you to call me brother after what you’ve taken part in,” the Dream Lord rasps, his voice like gravel. 

Destiny tilts his head to the side thoughtfully. Though he may be physically blind, he sees. The Dream Lord can feel Destiny take in his disheveled hair, his weary disposition. He stands up a little straighter.

“It pains me to see you wounded in this way, brother.” 

A tick of the jaw. “You have not wounded me, Destiny. You have not spilled my blood.” The Dream Lord swallows thickly, struggling to retain his composure. When he speaks, there is a slight break in his voice. He wonders if his sibling will consider him weak for it. “You have done far worse.”

Destiny tilts his head again, regarding the Dream Lord in silence. Though he speaks no words, there’s something in the way that the eldest Endless carries himself, something in his body language, that is gentle. Sympathetic. It takes the Dream Lord off-guard. He’s not sure he’s ever witnessed Destiny convey such an emotion. The eldest Endless rarely displays any emotion at all. 

After a long moment, Destiny straightens. His thumb swipes across the spine of the Book of Souls slowly, thoughtfully. “You would do well not to spill the blood of any other family members, Dream,” he says, voice stern with caution. “I know your nature. My book tells me every intention of your heart.” 

Of course he knew of the fury boiling in the Dream Lord’s veins. How could he not? “Desire is family of mine no longer,” Dream of the Endless retorts. “I will do what I please with them.”

“And what would she say to that? Your Love?” 

Dream of the Endless flinches, then stiffens. Destiny remains still, watching him expectantly.The Dream Lord lowers his chin to his chest, leveling his sibling with a blue gaze like steel. “Do not say her name. Not when you directly led to her undoing. I demand you tell me what led to this.”

“No,” Destiny responds simply. Before his younger brother can protest, the eldest Endless continues, “That is for her to tell you herself.”

Dream of the Endless stills. His mind plays the words forwards and backwards in his mind, over and over again. They settle over him in a haze, easy to see, but difficult to grasp. 

Destiny of the Endless watches in silence as his younger sibling grapples with the meaning of his statement. Finally, he shakes his head. “You allow our younger sister to blind you with grief, Dream. What is it that the scripture says? ‘Love never fails.’” 

Moments ago, the Dream Lord had been tense, coiled like a spring, prepared to strike with tongue and deed. But his brother’s words had smothered the fire in his heart, revealing something small and vulnerable within the embers. Sensing this change, Destiny steps forward. “Clear the despair from your eyes, brother,” he says. “See the path ahead.” 

The Dream Lord draws in a short, shuddering breath. As he does, that tender warmth within his chest blooms and swells. It’s something he hasn’t felt since he laid eyes on the six threads of attachment that irrevocably bound the two of you as one. Hope. 

The hope is painful. He clings to it with all he has. “How?” 

Destiny inclines his chin, leveling his brother with a pale, expectant stare. “You are Dream of the Endless. Or have you forgotten the magnitude of your function?” 

You were my dream, Dream.

And, in that moment, Dream of the Endless knows.

[theshinazugawaslut]

Who are your favourite upper-ranks in order?

Why?

/ :)

𝑹𝑨𝑵𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑲𝑵𝒀 𝑫𝑬𝑴𝑶𝑵𝑺

1 - 𝘎𝘺𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘰

One of the best brothers.

Genuinely such a heartbreaking character.

Him and Daki's yin and yang symbolism is so gorgeous.

He's the only demon in the entire show that FELT LIKE A DEMON, and he's the only demon that when watching the show I felt like 'woah, holy shit now that's what you call a demon'.

From design, story, voice, and blood demon art, Gyutaro is an exceptional demon despite his very human side.

I also love his parallels with Uzui.

2 - 𝘒𝘰𝘬𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘰

What a fucking character

I dare say one of the best written in KNY

He had such complex emotions towards Yoriichi — love and hatred.

What I liked about how the author showed it was that Kokushibo remembers simply giving a flute to Yoriichi (like an afterthought) but Yoriichi remembers Michikatsu saying with a bruised face (after being hit by their father for talking to Yoriichi) that 'blow this when you need help, nii-chan will come'.

So we see that Kokushibo always saw himself as inherently evil and doesn't remember the good parts of himself whereas Yoriichi describes his brother as "a kind boy" despite the fact Kokushibi became a demon.

"Yoriichi, why was I even born?"

Like, hello??? I'm going to cry???

3 - 𝘈𝘬𝘢𝘻𝘢

What a heartbreaking guy

I don't like Akaza as much as I like Hakuji if that makes sense.

His human backstory was SO upsetting and I bawled my eyes out.

"At the end of the day, it's nothing more than a pathetic, comical story" whilst its the panel of him holding Koyuki and sobbing?

His entire symbolism is gorgeous.

I do think he's kinda ugly though

BUT BRO RESPECTS WOMAN >>>>

4 - 𝘋𝘢𝘬𝘪

She's so pretty

I love her oiran guise, the entire way she carried herself and she was such a cold villain.

Though I did enjoy how she was a bratty child in reality when paired with her brother.

5 - 𝘋𝘰𝘶𝘮𝘢

Icl I hate this mf for killing Kotaha but he was kinda funny for killing Kanae.

I just hate his voice tbh, I hate playful villains, it's such an overused concept.

BUT HIS BACKSTORY MAKES SO MUCH SENSE AND HE'S KINDA FUNNY???

His eyes scare me

I don't like blondes unless they're Bakugo

6 - 𝘎𝘺𝘰𝘬𝘬𝘰

Bro's kinda fine?

Like, he's very wasted potential.

But he also needs to dick me up.

7 - 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶

The only good thing about this guy was his clones

Specifically Aizetsu and Karaku (blue and green one)

Also I could write so many fics about the clones going at it with reader

Hantengu ugly af though with that big ass pimple on his damned head?

[moviebloggg]

What I noticed TSN rewatch🤪

Eduardo coming to Marks dorm looking concerned at TWO AM. “You and Erica split up” Why r u checking his blog at 2:08 am… - 12:33 and his CONCERN the whole time “it’s on ur blog :(, Are you alright :(, I’m here for you” like damn

Dustin’s adorable wave to Wardo :((( - 12:34 and DUSTIN LAUGHING AT THE “i’m here for you. no i need the algorithm” LMAOO - 12:43

Wardo waiting for him after the face mash meeting :( sitting down, headphones in, clearly been there for a while - 20:32

EDUARDOS DADDY ISSUESSSSS. “You have no idea what that’s gonna mean to my father” - 37:04 AND THEN MARK SAYING “Sure I do” LIKE HE KNOWS AND CARES TOO. Also, “My father won’t even look at me. (1:40:03) and there’s one more time i know he mentions it i just don’t know where😭

“have you slept yet?” (36:06) even after mark made him wait and in that tone like aw

BRO THE FREAKING BEER THING. stop aaron sorkin david fincher you fucking menaces how dare you put that there. (46:58)

Eduardo’s “oh my god…” at 51:29 when he realizes that they are in the stall next to them

THE LOOK AT 52:09. OMG KILL ME RN.

Eduardo’s sad and painful look at Mark after Sy brings up animal cruelty, like ‘really, you went that low?’ - 1:12:39

Marks tap on Sys shoulder saying ‘stop no don’t go there’ - 1:12:42

The parallel of how happy and jokey Mark is when in the dorm during the chicken scene with Wardo being put side by die with how hostile they are and how sad he looks in the deposition scenes. he never once smiles.

Marks sad look at Eduardo after being exposed - 1:14:39

Eduardo’s disbelief at Mark going so low as the chicken thing 1:14:41

Mark opening his mouth to protest against 1:14:43

the pain in Eduardo’s eyes after Mark makes a half joke that probably would used to make him laugh. also the look of betrayal and the eyes that say I don’t even know you anymore. 1:18:17

The disconnect between Mark and Sean. “Ever think about that girl?” “No???” 1:23:52

How so genuinely happy Mark looks when greeting Eduardo in Cali. The little grin. The surprising him. The wack on the arm. the ‘Wardo’. - 1:30:50

“I want- i-i want- I need you.” aaron. sorkin. what. the. fuck.

“I didn’t know whether to dress for the party or the business meeting, so i kinda dressed for both.” (1:41:51) Um aaron you did not have to go so deep with that one my god do you ever think of our feelings.

The piano coming in at 1:43:46 after the reveal is just so heartbreaking.

The PAINNNNN in his voice at “You set me up 😕” (1:43:51)

Throughout the whole confrontation scene, Mark looks like he’s going to cry. so so badly. especially at 1:44:50 like PAIN. And 1:45:27, “Yeah” - 1:45:50, and the REPEATING “You didn’t have to be that rough on him.” (1:46:00).

When he hit 1,000,000 people on HIS OWN WEBSITE he looks downright depressed. not happy in the slightest. he just hit this amazing milestone. should be like the happiest moment of his life. yet he looks like he wants to cry. I wonder why. 1:47:10-1:47:20

Marks outfit during the deposition w the Winklevi being a collared shit and sweater, outfit during the first deposition with Eduardo being a half zip up, and then wearing a FULL SUIT for the second one?? okay then

You don’t really realize it but I think it’s fitting that the last we see of Eduardo the whole movie is the confrontation. Like chronologically, he’s in it for way after, but with the actual editing and all the time skips, his last line is “Makes me look so tough” and thats the last we see him. pretty cool.

through the whole movie just THEIR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS DURING THE DEPOSITION. the SADNESS and REGRET constantly portrayed in mark. the PAIN AND BETRAYAL constant in Eduardo.

THE MOTHER FUCKING NORTH FACE ZIP-UP. WHAT THE HELL DAVID FINCHER. yeah this was genuinely insane tho. like that was unhinged. aaron sorkin, david fincher, AND WHOEVER THE BLESSED COSTUME DEISGNER WAS, reached new levels. we could’ve chalked everything up to gay people always looking for gay people in film, for exaggerating things that were only slightly there because of the need for more representation. but the north face zip up?? come on. I need to get me one of those now. the timeline makes so perfect sense too. We see Eduardo first wearing it when chilling in his dorm - 31:25. Then we next see him in it when at the intern “interviews” - 1:16:20. Then we don’t see if again for a little while, until MARK wears it during the business meeting - 1:33:52. This happens AFTER Eduardo visits Pao Alto. So he goes to Cali, presumably leaves the zip-up, (maybe even gives it??) and then ever since then Mark wears it in almost EVERY SINGLE scene. Because he misses Wardo. ITS INSANE. Like, the business meeting, then the phone call to Wardo. - 1:36:25. Then he wears it during the whole conformation, and is still wearing it later that night when Sean calls him. Like wow. That right there? Insanity. Purely CANONICAL gay insanity

and finally just some more character noticings. I really just love Divya omg. and the winklevii. like they r just so comedic at times. the first time i watched i viewed ty and cam as like one entity, but this time i really payed attention and like they r so different. cam usually takes the lead and he is very level minded and calm, while tyler is very hotheaded.

The first time andrew garfield just captivated me. i mean duh, he’s andrew garfield. but this time i just, wow. JESSE. he was perfect. PERFECT. best actor should’ve been his hands down. every single word he said was so calculated and made so much sense for his character like. and the real best part of his acting was his reactions, to everything that everyone else said. like he knocked it out of the park completely.