#i’m not denying that it’s something that could potentially happen (though i don’t believe it will)

[morganaspendragonss]

the amount of people i’ve seen getting angry about gabriel’s ‘death’ when it’s not even confirmed is ridiculous. you guys need to calm down fr

[ladylilah]

continued meme from here for @hoppingseason​

She shouldn’t be here, hell she shouldn’t have even answered the phone, but there was only so much strength within her. Only so much that she could deny herself before she went insane - before she let her entire life pass her by without any control or say over what happened, letting everyone else and all of their expectations make every decision for her. And wasn’t that what she was supposed to have been doing for the past five years? Wasn’t that part of her big plan of starting to fully live her life after divorcing Tristan? When had she strayed so far from that path? Or had she ever even fully gotten on it? Whatever the answers may be, all Lilah knew was she was tired. Tired of fighting against every piece of potential happiness that came her way. Which led her to this exact moment, leaning backwards into the embrace of the man she had spent the past twenty something years regretting that she left behind. “I don’t know,” she answers honestly, a deep rooted sadness pooling within her at the words. “I think the girl you used to know died a long time ago…” At least that’s how it felt after so many years dealing with what she did at home - from Tristan to her mother, then with Scamp leaving… No, for as much as Lilah liked to pretend she was still just as strong as she had once been all those years ago, the truth was she was broken. And there was no hiding that anymore. Not with him at least, nothing had ever been easily kept from Colin anyway. Her eyes close at his confession and though the logical part of her is screaming not to say anything, the tightness in her chest and the sting of potential tears in her eyes win out in the end. It’s not smart, not in the slightest, and it will lead to far too many questions potentially forming over the entire situation - but her heart is begging to finally be released. “I never stopped thinking of you either. I know it may not have seemed like it, but I did love you… I do love you… And I’m sorry. For everything.” She waits for him to pull away, to refuse her exposed heart and revolt at the fact that she could dare make a claim like this after everything she’d done to him, what she put him through. And for a moment as she waits for his reaction to come, Lilah finds herself to truly believe she will deserve whatever anger is going to be thrown her way, in whatever form it may take.

[vitos-ordination-song]

Being a Le Guin expert means constantly being annoyed at people’s takes on her, people who just don’t get it or people who haven’t read enough of her writing to know what she was about. Particularly when it comes to feminist controversies with her work, I’m constantly banging my head against the wall.

First you get men getting up at arms at any sign of potential feminism. Just makes ‘em defensive. One academic lecturer said he didn’t like Tehanu because it was “preachy” (no follow up). I listened to three different podcast bros say the misogyny in The Dispossessed was exaggerated. This is all from the last 10 years of course, whereas Le Guin was born in 1929. I promise you that a concept like “women are natural inferiors to men” is not something she made up but in fact possibly something she heard stated verbatim growing up. (I was born in 1997, and I don’t think I’m from a representative population since I was raised in a conservative evangelical community, but I also heard such things stated in childhood.) I wish I lived in these mens’ worlds where portraying such attitudes in fiction is “going a bit far, even as social commentary.” Equally I’ve seen men get hot around the collar when there’s “bad guy” males. Le Guin tended to steer clear of simple villains, but in Tehanu and a couple other of her works, there are truly sadistic men, at times sexual threats. Any men fragile enough to get upset by that are sad to me, especially because Le Guin also wrote a female pedophile in one of her novels and never shied away from “bad guy” women. There’s a kind of disbelief I see from people (often men but not just them) when it comes to Tehanu, like it’s unbelievable that there could be such obsessive abusive misogynists. Again. Welcome to the real world. This shit happens.

The author Kim Stanley Robinson said he disliked the later Earthsea books for being too didactic on feminism. I somewhat get what he means and I don’t think he’s a misogynist himself. I also agree that Le Guin was bullied into being defensive of her feminism; she was attacked by other women for being a married with kids, which is just pathetic behavior. It made her a bit edgy for a while, and then she doubled her efforts to be woman-centered. This had the occasional consequence of didacticism, there’s a couple moments in her later writing where I go, “okay, I get the point,” but her points are never bad. Where I disagree with Robinson is in whether she actually rectified wrongs in her writing. Frankly some of her early works read as male chauvinist, she later stated she was a woman pretending to be a man simply because she thought that’s how a writer should be. In many cases her feminist turn was much needed, though it’s true that even her early work is more complex on gender issues than people give it credit for.

Then there’s people who read a single of her works and write her off as a gender essentialist. It’s really frustrating because it’s like people aren’t able to engage with a text except for how much it validates or invalidates them personally. People who’re “against the gender binary” will see a work which depicts a realistic, materially based gendered social system and take issue with it just on the principal that people in the story have assumptions about men and women. What exactly is wrong with writing a story that way? It’s not as if Le Guin herself believed in fixed gender characteristics. It makes me think of a post I saw a while back that was like, you can’t be free to experiment with gender until you acknowledge how we are enslaved by our biology. Of course our biology isn’t simple either, but the point is, we can be pro-trans, all for gender non-conformity, questioning of even the existence of gender, without denying that gender as a concept was borne out of biological sex, and that historically sex/gender have taken on many meanings and significances. Authors are not required to write disclaimers explaining themselves, and honestly it’s an insult to the nuances of Le Guin’s writing to pretend that she was some kind of close-minded old-school feminist.

Finally there’s the dumbasses who will complain about the lack of “girl power” in her novels. I see this sort of thing a lot actually, not just when it comes to Le Guin. When I was a little girl, I always wanted stories about awesome women who could save themselves/others, since I had previously been psychologically disempowered through passive narratives about women. But I’m an adult now so I like stories that are a bit more mature. The Earthsea books, when they begin to focus on women’s narratives, don’t just become “women act like men and it’s awesome.” It’s not about women being wizards or anything like that, though there’s examples of literal empowerment. It’s about women’s values destabilizing the world of men and a balancing of the previously unbalanced gendered social system, which was very much in need of doing and aligns with the themes of the series. I want to slap people who say Tenar “doesn’t get to do anything” and “is helpless” in Tehanu, as if she isn’t one of the strongest and most dignified characters Le Guin ever wrote. It’s an entire novel of her caring for a child everyone else fears, fending off a world which is hostile to her, and maintaining her wits when malicious forces are trying to steal them from her. But I guess since she didn’t like, cast a fireball, it’s not feminist enough. It’s also not a “feminist hot take” to shit on the entire concept of being a mother and wife, keeping the household. You know how that’s a lot of what women have done throughout history? I mean, in no way does Le Guin discount how marriage/motherhood can be a cage for women, but is it really anti-feminist to say that there’s something to respect in traditional women’s work? The novel also acknowledges the value of both “respectable” women (wives and mothers) and “non-respectable” women (witches who never marry and often contribute a great deal to their community despite being marginalized). At this point I’m just ranting about Tehanu, but it’s not only my favorite Le Guin but probably my favorite novel of all time and it drives me wild how much people misinterpret it.

[27emailsicantsend]

I’m a little bit nervous of not getting Ricky explaining his season 2 behavior. Do you think we’ll see him talk about it? If so, what do you think he’d say? Do you think this is something he’d tell Jet or Gina during a love confession?

Gosh, this is such a good ask because I am having a tough time answering it. I think we will absolutely get some sort of confession or explanation about Ricky’s behavior in general over seasons 1 and 2. I don’t even think it would be to Gina right away. I think Gina is going to find out his feelings through the doc (on purpose or on accident). Then maybe there will be some scene in s4 that is kind of like Nini and Ricky’s where he finally explains everything he feels and gina reciprocates (which is why it is also DIFFERENT from theirs because only Ricky spoke about his feelings in that scene… months later after Nini spoke about hers. Gina and Ricky would be same time, same place, same page).

I think the whole line of “you don’t know the whole story” wasn’t just throw away dialogue. To me that seemed really intentional there was more, especially because Ricky not only left Jet without more context, but the audience. That just didn’t feel like he was saying it haphazardly because Jet wasn’t with us seasons 1 and 2. And like I said before, everything in this show is intentional because of the time constraints. So for Jet to bring it up TWICE that Ricky likes Gina tells me Jet is going to get the full story. This is why I think a flashback will happen. Not only to parallel Gina’s hidden reason for hurt feelings, but to also save time and dialogue. Why explain what you can show?

Now the content of the confession/flashback to Jet? I hate to say it… I hope I don’t sound ridiculous… but I am a chocolate truther 😔🍫 the accusations are true. This is what I think the the flashback most likely is. There is just too much evidence in Ricky’s expressions, the amount of times it’s been brought to up, the reaction of the other friends to it (including Nini- Ricky’s EX who was VERY upset about it) to just be some weird idea that was thrown in and dropped just because? Like just for the drama? Nah, that’s not how Tim operates friend! However, someone pointed something out on here that really got me thinking:

They noticed in the scene when Ricky talks to Miss Jenn about if he’s happy, he looks out the doorway. He also says something about “no one should tell you who you can and can’t take a chance on” and I believe mentions giving his dad a second chance. Then we get the song later about second chances? I think Ricky might have been told by someone not to try and get close to Gina again even though she moved back. It was too late. He was with Nini now. And why keep hurting Gina? Just let her move on. Which might have been another reason we saw him pull away even as a friend in S2 more and more. Because he recognized he just keep hurting her while he was with Nini after Gina’s confession.

What I think could happen is both the chocolates and the hypothesized scenario being mixed together. Potentially this could be Big Red since he’s been aware of Ricky’s feelings for both Gina and Nini since the dance. “Why would you give those chocolates Ricky? Doesn’t that seem a little… romantic?” And then Ricky doesn’t deny it. He just says he wants a second chance with Gina because of all of the confusion and hurt getting together with Nini and thinking she was leaving. Ricky misses having Gina in his life (which might be perceived as friendly but the audience knows it’s more). He brought the chocolates as a way to get a second chance with her. Maybe he even contacted her mom to ask if he could bring those chocolates for her so Gina knew her mom was trying. Ricky wanted to make amends with Gina. However, in this flashback Red is low key calling Ricky out about the chocolates being romantic. Ricky, ashamed because he knows deep down there were undertones to this gesture that he couldn’t deny, acts out of avoidance. Nothing will go bad or wrong or change if he just acts like he never gave her the chocolates in the first place. So to not get caught about his feelings, Ricky ends up pretending like he never got Gina the chocolates when she texts him. Which would then explain why he walked away when Gina was going off about liars at the movie. He lied to her about the chocolates.

I think the confession/flashback to Jet and Gina finding out Ricky’s feelings will happen this season. I think gina finding out will be a cliffhanger for next season (I explained this in more depth in another ask a few down from this one on my blog… long story short I think she will see it, this will be the thing Ricky does that scares him, and then we won’t hear about Gina’s reaction until S4). Then I think in S4 when we find out Gina’s reaction to the confession in the doc is when we also see Ricky confess fully all the reasons he loves her. ❤️

[razorblade180]

Twin Snowflakes 42:Then the World Stood Still

Part 41<- here!

“You sure you’re up for this?” Nora said with concern. Her daughter sat on the floor packing her sports bag. “I took back what I said ya know?”

“I know mom, but it’s not like I’m quitting. Tournament is over, and frankly I’m…burnt. I’ll take a break this winter season; maybe only help coach or something.” She pulled out the gold medal. It didn’t shine the way she wanted. How could it? Valerie dropped it in the bag. “I’ll drop by after school to put this stuff away.”

“Want me to drive you?”

“That’s probably for the best.” She sighed. Nora walked towards her, rubbing the top of Valerie’s bed head. She had slept in today.

“Listen, I know things are…unpleasant, but don’t beat yourself down too viciously. It’s hard to take a hit when you’re beating down on yourself too.”

“Thanks mom. Hopefully I can get in and out without drama.” Val gave a halfhearted smile. “Not like I’m looking for a fight.”

xxxx

With awkward moments behind them and more to come no doubt, Nick and Veronica had made it back home in relative silence. The house appeared to be awake, the living room tv on and bustling in the kitchen. The two teenagers were thinking of going to their rooms unnoticed and unbothered, until Penny happened to be coming down the stairs.

“Oh! You’re…back?” She could spot the slight puffiness near their eyes. Didn’t take a doctorate to know things got emotional. In fact, she helped herself to look at their vitals. “So…how was the walk?”

“Draining.” Veronica sighed.

“But appreciated.” Nick added, not wanting it to seem like the situation was worse. “I’m actually feeling a little bit better thanks to Vee.”

The compliment made the girl flustered. All she did was get mushy. She wouldn’t really label that as her best work. It was more embarrassing than anything. There was still a lot from it on her mind but nothing she could put into words or wanted to at the moment. This trip was for his benefit after all. Not hers.

Penny could sense the tension and smiled. “Well I’m glad to hear that Nick. Though I do wish it didn’t come at the price of either of your health. I do believe Veronica has a slight fever.”

Veronica raised a brow. Did she? She almost spoke up, but paused when Penny let out a hiccup. Did Penny just…lie? For what? Nick didn’t seem to catch on, potentially unaware of the robot’s telltale sign.

“Does she?” He looked at Veronica.

“Uhh maybe? I’m a little warm.”

Penny nodded, “Yes! Not to worry thankfully! It is most likely just the shift in weather.” Penny held back a hiccup the best she could. “Anyways, better safe than sorry! Nick, I do believe I gave you a bottle of medicine whenever you were sick. Why don’t you both grab it before parting?”

“Okay. Thanks.” Nick went up the stairs, Veronica watching him get ahead enough before looking at Penny with skepticism.

“What are you doing?”

Penny smiled at the child. “I recognize that look you had walking in. Oscar and I can spend the entire day together, but the moment we have to go our own ways, I can’t help but wish for just a little more time.” Penny gestured to the stairs. “Well? Don’t waste it. It’ll be harder to be yourself if someone sees you, right?”

Veronica’s face turned light pink. Honestly, where did Penny get off thinking she could play wingman? Especially at a time like this!? Nevertheless, Veronica didn’t have the willpower to deny the gesture, quickly going up the stairs after Nick.

Penny giggled at how fast Veronica left. She was beginning to understand the girl a little at a time. Maybe, if the girl allowed it, the two of them could become closer? Penny would like that. The world has taught her a lot, but Penny knew there was still so much to learn; to feel. Veronica had feelings Penny has never thought about, let alone wrestled with. She’d like to help if possible. Figuring things out always was more fun with someone by your side. A sentiment Veronica was surly foreign with, but strangely willing to learn. Even if she didn’t admit it to herself.

Veronica silently walked behind Nick, stopping at his door as he searched. She should probably help, but that meant entering. That’s nothing new, yet…

“Gah, get a grip!” She chastised herself, shaking her head before walking in. “You sure it isn’t in your restroom?”

“If it was then I never would’ve taken it. Ah, found it.” He moved things off his nightstand and grabbed the small brown bottle. “I actually feel fine but if you’re unwell then by all means.” He offered it.

Veronica took it from his hands. “Penny is being a worry wart. I would’ve said something otherwise. I know I’m an island girl but cut me a little slack.” Vee chuckled. “Ummm Nick?”

“Hmm? What’s up?”

“Is there…anything else you want to discuss before I leave?” What was she hoping for? At this point, Veronica wasn’t sure.

Nick was caught off guard, scratching his head. “Hehe, honestly? Yeah, but it’s a jumbled mess. There’s still tons of things on my mind, how I feel l, but I don’t know how to say or do any of them right.”

“I know the feeling. Oh! Wait a sec. Take your own advice. Ya know, that thing about starting a timer and letting things out without restraint.” Veronica pulled out her scroll and started looking for the timer.

“…Is that okay?”

“Hey man, it was your rule and idea.” She said without looking at him, busy with the timer. “Found it. Let’s set it for ten minutes and..done.” Veronica looked up. “Floor is all you-”

Maybe Penny was onto something? Veronica was not the type to let her guard down so easily, yet somehow, it happened. Nick had gotten close without her noticing, and silenced her words with a sudden kiss. Veronica let out a small gasp, dropping her scroll and freezing up like a statue.

It was selfish, dangerous, and downright terrifying, but Nick went for it anyway. Though the regret of stealing a kiss was almost immediate as he pulled back from it. “I’m sorry. I just-”

Now it was his turn to be silenced. Veronica grabbed his shirt and pulled him close again, kissing Nick once more with a reaction this time. Both slowly eased into it, realizing that neither were angry about it. The kiss couldn’t have lasted long but both separated to catch their stolen breath and look at the redness on each other’s cheeks.

Veronica could not believe that happened! “I..umm..I was hoping that you’d…might do that. So don’t apologize.” She confessed. Her fingers combed through her hair as she brought some of it in front of her face to hide her face. Not like it worked.

Nick was screaming in his mind. At least it didn’t look like he fucked up his friendship. “I should’ve asked, or something. I just..I had to.”

“No, I get it. This way you don’t have a one and only kiss that makes you sad.”

“Huh!? No, that’s not what I was thinking, specifically. I have feelings for you too ya know!? I wanted to kiss you.” He said pretty flustered.

Never have Vee’s ears perked so fast and eyes gotten so big. “Hmm?” Was all the noise she could make while Nick got redder.

Nick pouted, “I can’t say it twice. Look, things are weird right now. I’m very weird right now. You’re..special to me too, but I don’t want to take advantage of you or lead you on. I don’t have to tell you that feelings don’t vanish overnight.”

Ah, he didn’t. Veronica had not disillusioned herself into believing Nick would simply stop feeling anything towards Valerie. Not for one second. Hearing his words made all the difference nonetheless.

Veronica couldn’t help but smile. “Dummy, I’m not like one of your hopeless fangirls, it just makes me happy to know that there’s…a connection. I intend to fight for it respectfully but you don’t owe me affection or anything of the sort. It’ll hurt if ultimately I am rejected but that’s your choice. I’m tough, and not crazy enough to believe all love is lost for all time.” Veronica giggled, knowing she’d be that dramatic in the moment for sure. “Right now, I just want to be by your side; to have these feelings and give them to you how I can instead of bottling them up all the time.”

Nick leaned back until he fell on his bed. “I feel like a jerk! Auntie would shake her head in shame!”

“And Qrow would probably give you a thumbs up. Relax, lady killer.” She teased, watching him groan. Veronica sat next to him which made him sit up. “I’m joking. Trust me, I don’t feel like being led on. Take your time sorting things out. I’ve waited pretty long already. Honestly today weirdly enough feels like progress towards anything happening, good or bad for me.”

Nick let out another sigh of slightly dramatic exhaustion before giving a tiny smile. You like a stressed idiot.”

“That’s fine. Apparently so do you. Got any other huge bombs you wanna drop?”

“I hope not. Feelings are hard. I don’t need anything else. Now I definitely feel better than before. Anything on your mind?” His question made her blush, to his surprise. “Vee?”

“Well…there’s still time left before we pretend nothing happened.” It was definitely a risk but she couldn’t help but ask. Veronica’s heart fluttered seeing him bring his hand up to her face, guiding her forehead slowly as he leaned in to kiss her again. It felt warmer this time.

Nicholas heard Veronica let out a humm. His face was getting redder by the second! He couldn’t be too terrible at this if she wasn’t saying anything. Nick could himself get lost in the kiss but needed air. He tried pulling away to breathe however Veronica leaned forward instinctually to recapture his lips. He got air when he could, happily kissing her back but she was clearly the more eager of the two; quite the surprise considering his willingness to. That’s when he heard something unexpected. A low and repetitive vibration.

“Purring?” Nick didn’t know Veronica could. The rhythmic sound was also hypnotic, drawing him in. Neither tried to separate or kept track of their surroundings. A simple kiss had turned into a long and blissful experience, until…

BEEP! The alarm startled them back to their senses, making them separate. Veronica did not mean to get that aggressive! If her face wasn’t a dark red, it would’ve turned ghostly white the moment she realized Nick heard her purring. The poor girl’s heart was pounding like a drum. Perhaps she had gotten a bit ahead of herself and she wasn’t as in control as she had thought.

“I should…probably get out of your hair now.” She said, getting up awkwardly and heading towards the door chuckling with embarrassment. “Umm bye.”

“Bye.” He said to a closing door. Nick could hear Veronica running down the hall. That was…intense. Good thing that timer was set. Nick knew he was responsible and Veronica was too, but he had a looming thought that made him blush. No way they’re that responsible. He brought his hands over his face and groaned. No way he was going back to sleep now. His thoughts were piling up one after another. Nick looked at the time on scroll.

“Guess telling Summer will have to wait.” Kissing and telling was typically bad, but Nick needed to vent and the list of people to tell has drastically gone down to one. He laid his head back down on the bed. “Just a few hours.” He told himself. Nick closed his eyes, then opened them not even a full minute later before hopping onto his feet. “Or I could just meet her at school! Yeah, I can help with the after school jobs. That’ll keep my mind busy!”

With his mind made up, Nick once again left his room. No doubt someone was gonna nag him for going to school instead of resting. Oh well. He’ll tell them later.

xxxxx

“Heading your way.” A simple message on Summer’s scroll from Nick. She couldn’t fathom why, pocketing the device. Maybe he had forgotten something at school, but he could’ve asked her to grab it. Whatever the reason, Summer didn’t have much time to think about it. Getting up early, double the notes, council work, it was a lot. A newfound respect was earned for her brother.

The bell rang for the last class, or in her case, a free period. It would be nice to go home but the student council had work to do after school. “Maybe I can fit in a nap?” Summer grumbled, gathering her belongings and heading towards the meeting room. If only she had a safe locker. Lugging around everything was getting old.

Step by step she walked, a faint murmur on her ears ever since P.E. She was already back in her old clothes but yet it persists like a phantom haunting the halls. Even with hot soup for lunch and splashing hot water on her face, Summer couldn’t shake this feeling. Shiva wasn’t talking and was nowhere in sight, yet maybe it was the cruel woman’s words that kept Summer on edge? It wouldn’t be the first time. She tried her best to calm herself, walking into the meeting room and laying her head on her things. Maybe punching Shiva in a dream would make her feel better.

Before sleep could take her, a kick at the door swung it open. “Hey!” A demanding and familiar annoying voice called.

A stern groan brimming with agitation rumbled in Summer’s throat as she looked up to see Darren. If she learned to be aggressive with anyone, it was this jerk. “The fuck you want!?” Thank goodness nobody else is around. Glares were given in equal shares. In fact, just being near him pissed her off. He didn’t look too happy either.

“Heard your brother isn’t here.”

“Gods, do you ever quit? Get over yourself.”

“Says the prissy little princess. Whatever, I don’t need to see that loser right now. All that talk and he botched the gold medal.”

“Says the loser he beat up. Might wanna reevaluate yourself.” Summer stood up. “Now did you come here to pick a fight or is there actually a purpose for you being here?”

Darren looked to the back of the room and pointed at a sink. “Have you tried the hot water recently?”

“Yeah, like an hour ago.” Summer walked over and turned it on. She stuck out her pointer finger to touch it. Intense cold made her reel back as if it was boiling. “Tsk, boilers broken again!?”

“No shit. I thought Schnee dust was supposed to be the finest around and yet we got people about to take cold showers!”

“That’s not a dust issue, dumbass. At least it shouldn’t be. It’s probably mechanical in nature.”

“Last time I checked, your family dabbled in all things.”

“Last time I checked, all of Atlas has a hand in technical development to some degree.” That being said, Summer was positive her family funded most of this school from class supplies to robot dummies. Summer rubbed her finger. “Water doesn’t get that cold in less than an hour. Not even here.”

“Well people at water fountains aren’t complaining. Can you fix it or not? Your brother knew how.” That comment earned him another glare. “Aww, did I say something true?”

“I know how, jerk. I’ll grab fire dust just in case it is as simple as it ran out then you can continue to shower without soap.” Summer walked past him without giving a second thought until Darren followed her. Summer turned around. “Umm don’t need your help, like at all. Wait around or whatever. Don’t you still have to go to class?” Summer strutted off.

Darren scoffed and walked the other way, hiding his smirk as devious as the icy glow in his eyes that vanished as quickly as it flashed.

Summer checked multiple faucets and fountains carefully on the way. Hot water really was out. Nothing new, but there’s cold, and then there’s freezing. The water might as well be straight from the ocean this time of year. Heating maintenance could definitely be a factor. Maybe that’s why she felt on edge? The school itself was colder than usual, figuratively and literally. Speaking of cold, Summer texted Eliza just in case she was late to the meeting.

“Fixing the water heater in the boiler room.”

“Again!? Why are guys so rich if you invest in bad products!?”

Honestly, Summer couldn’t argue with that. Maybe she could get Penny to make a better one. That’ll solve a lot actually. Summer went to her combat locker and got the flame dust out of her blade. This way she knew at least the quality of dust being used was good. With nothing else but time to lose, Summer made her way to the boiler room.

Much like most things in Atlas, all strides had engineering behind it. Almanac was different. The boiler room was not just a room. Stretching from underneath the gym all the way under the sports field and out the other end was the boiler room; the foundation that supports young minds through many winters. Was it a little overkill for a basement to be under a school that’s half the size, nah! Everything is big in Atlas. All of it is still vastly smaller than Atlas Academy or Mantle’s heating system. It was like a learning gap between what the rest of the two kingdoms are like. It’s why student council members, and young students like Eliza who are top tier cadets gain access for hands on experience. It was the only lesson more stressful to have Harriet teach than basic excercises. It didn’t help Weiss, Whitley, and Winter have given the sternest glare to master heating and not make them pay for anything. Apparently the kingdoms almost froze once or something.

Summer put in the passcode and was greeted with a wave of heat and steam escaping. “Well that’s a good sign at the very least.”

She walked down to stair to a world of clanging metal and rumbling. It always felt like she left school entirely and got on a boat or some kind of factory. Lights were working and the paths were clean. Heaven knows Eliza wouldn’t miss a speck of dirt. So far so good. Nothing around her was glowing red for error, empty, or over heating; however one of the tanks had to be broken for water to be broken. A bad coil perhaps?

Summer thought to herself, “It has to be somewhere upper right if showers and meeting rooms are cold.” She kept going deeper in…

Eventually red blinking lights from closed dust panels on three tanks caught her attention. “Ah ha! Multiple failures. Guess that explains the temperature drop, but I might need more dust. Although…”

Her intuition told her to start fiddling with one panel to get it open, making sure they were in the right slots or not unaligned? What she expected however, was to open the first panel and vials were missing entirely.

“Huh?” She opened the second and third panel; completely empty too. “Why would someone remove the vials?”

“Simple! To make room for the Diamond Dust.”

Before she could even move, something cold hit her back, dropping Summer to her knees and then the floor. Her muscles tensed up from violently shivering and scars glowed a pale white; eyes shaking erratically. Footsteps grew closer. Summer barely made out the person to be Darren. Teeth chartered as she tried speaking, before losing her breath as Shiva appeared from behind him with a smile on her face.

“More. No, all of it.”

Darren lifted his book bag. A horrifying glow and familiar dread sunk its teeth into Summer as Diamond Dust poured on her. Summer’s vision went completely white before coming back to yet again see the vast ice ceiling in her mind reflecting like a mirror that showed her body against the frozen lake in the forest that she could never forget. Skin felt fragile like glass and breathing hurt while tears ran down her cheeks from the pain. Summer could barely shift her eyes to see Shiva standing over her body.

“Wow, you look cold hehe. Those clothes aren’t doing much huh? Though they probably helped along with the steam. I mean you didn’t sense a speck of that dust down here.”

Summer stammered, trying to gather any sense of thought. “H..H..HH..H”

“How?” Shiva finally finished. “I’m glad you asked! Credit given where credit is due. You Nick are diligent if not anything else. Unfortunately, you’re also pretty clueless; wandering in the dark. Never knowing your opponent to the fullest. To be fair, who would expect an unexpected pawn picked up in this long game of ours?”

“Dar…ren.”

“Bingo! He really hates you two, but don’t give him too much of a hard time. He hasn’t exactly been feeling well since I broke a piece of my blade off in his shoulder.”

Summer coughed, “What!?” Her throat raspy and ice cold.

“I know right?” Shive put her fists on her hips. “Caught me by surprise, him being affected like this. Didn’t even mean to leave a little piece of me behind, but when I did, it was like a haze. I couldn’t tell you what the hell is going on in that fool's head; guess that’s our special thing. Still, I could feel him, persuade him with simple suggestions.” Shiva spoke low, “Like a whisper in the wind.”

The girl laughed at her own genius. “This plan though? All mine! Thank you for making it so easy for me, running around exhausted. Unable to detect if anything was really wrong or near. Not even your own mood. Diamond Dust I had him slave away to get all night only made him easier to handle, then putting a smidge in the water here to further throw you off, perfect!!”

A look of shock spread on Summer’s pained face as her body gradually froze made Shiva shake her head. “Ah, silly me. Yeah, it’s all through the pipes. Just enough to get you to investigate by coming down here. You’re wondering how Darren even got down here? After all, that door is locked. Well Summer, wanna know a little secret?” Shive crouched low, leaning into the girl’s ear.

“Do you think training only benefited you?”

Summer’s body went numb. Shiva got back up and stared down at her with eyes filled with a sense of happy and deep seeded anger.

“Summer, in what world did you live in where you thought you could learn more about me without considering I’d learn about you? Willing embracing the cold in an attempt to resist, to learn; yet be so clueless to not realizing I was prying open whatever I could. Egging you on towards certain things was never easier. Not only did you give Darren the code, you handed him over to me. I knew about him and Max well before the fight!”

“I…I didn’t say yes that day.”

Shiva smirked, “Oh you said yes. I wasn’t in control. I just gave you every reason to say yes! A reason to lash out at Nick, the aggression behind it. Not that I can take credit for it all. After all, I’m not putting words in your mouth. Heck, it was your idea to come to school, train, all of the above. I’m only making the best of every opportunity and you give me so many of them! Guess I broke my promise not to try anything during the fight. Oh who am I kidding? It’s obvious I would! Thanks Summer! Couldn’t have done it without you.” Shiva gives the girl a round of applause.

Summer tries standing in vain. Shiva kicks her right in the ribs, making Summer slide on the frozen lake and roll her over onto her stomach. Both arms try pushing up but buckle when Shiva sweeps the left then presses her shoe against Summer’s spine.

“Don’t even. We’re only talking now because I’m humoring you. Outside you’re not putting up a fight, which must be annoying Darren. I’m glad you make brilliant decisions all for the sake of feeling like you matter.Look at it this way, coming to school meant I could try out Darren immediately. A day longer and I’m sure he’d be in a hospital. That shard isn’t agreeing with him. I give him seven more hours at best.”

Summer dug her nails into the ice, gritting her teeth as she struggled to move. “Let-Let him go!” In spite of their relationship, Summer wasn’t gonna let Darren suffer.

“Oh? That’s a shock. Still trying to act all noble. Kay.” Shiva put more weight in her stance. Summer’s body slammed against the ice which rapidly creeped up her limbs to keep her in place. “I wasn’t gonna let him die anyways. I’m not mean to everyone or reckless like some people. I have good ideas.”

xxxxx

Summer’s body rose out of the dust with Shiva in control. She shook herself off and loosened up. This very well might be the best shape Summer’s ever been in and with all this Diamond Dust, Shiva never felt better. The steam didn’t even bother her. Shiva looked over her shoulder to see Darren glaring with a prideful grin. He sure had a one track mind. Then again, she was the one keeping him on the track.

“I guess this is the part where you talk about wanting a rematch?”

He reached in his bag and took out a metal rod that extended into his spear. “Damn straight! Let’s take this outside. I’m not gonna lose ag-”

She vanished like the flicker of a candle, coming back into view a breath away from Darren. Shiva punched through his spear and let her fist sink into Darren’s gut, making him lurch forward in pain. So much pain that he dry heaved before blacking out.

“I win.” Shiva said without a care in the world. She flipped his body over and pushed up his sleazy all the way until she saw a dim blue mark in his shoulder. Even the veins around pulsed blue. “I’d say this would hurt, but ya know. Already unconscious.”

Shiva reached into the stab wound from the fight and pulled out a bloodied shard she crushed between her fingers. “Count your blessings. Now then…” Shiva shuffled her way a few rows deeper and looked right.

“Wow, you’re holding up well. Aren’t you sturdy?” She said to a frozen Max, the ice strong enough to keep him in place chattering but nothing more. His skin was turning red though. “You know if you’re gonna have a change of heart then maybe you should do it before walking into a boiler room. I bet you would’ve had Darren if not for my aid. Guess that means I’ve beaten you twice too. How embarrassing for you hehe.”

Her taunts got no response. Only serious glares and a shivering body. “I bet that ice is burning about now? Would love to let you out but first I have a really important question only you can confirm for me. Correct me if I’m wrong okay?”

The girl ran off but only for a moment. The sound of something dragging on metal rumbled the floor and Max’s eyes grew wide in shock as Shiva came back into view while dragging Darren by the hair.

“See, I like to think I’m pretty good at reading people. You like him, right? Dare I even say…love?” Even in his current state, Shiva could tell it was no longer the ice freezing Max in place. “Heh, wonderful! I love, love! It makes people do the darndest things! For example…”

Her hand opened for Darren to hit the floor. The cold manifested in her right hand into a long, sharp spike. Shiva didn’t think twice about raising it up then swinging down.

“What do you want!?” Max yelled, finally speaking. The spike stopped right at Darren’s throat. The girl let go, but the ice remained floating in place as she approached with a grin. The same hand held his cheek, breaking down the ice on him gradually but her touch alone brought a new sense of pain.

“See? Love makes people do all sorts of things. You are about to follow my directions to the letter. If not, then you’ll learn the painful part of love, loss. You both will be free to go when you’re done.” Her voice whispered the last word. Shiva could see a tear in his eyes forming. Guess he truly was a gentle giant. She raised her thumb, freezing it, then watched it shatter.

The remaining ice broke down and Shiva let the boy have a moment to compose himself. In the meantime, Shiva frosted over a water tank to make a nice reflection where she stared at Summer still violently shivering in pain, yet her eyes also harbored clear aggression.

“Aww, why the face?”

“You’re not…getting out of here.” Summer chattered. Shiva only smiled and tilted her head to the side.

“Oh but why would I want to go anywhere when everything I could hope for is coming to me? Don’t forget, I’ve been around aaaallll day.”

Shiva reached into her pocket and pulled out Summer’s scroll, showing it to Summer and watching her face contort as the scroll was on her message from Nick.

“Heading your way.” Shiva repeated, “I really must thank you for all that training, the defiance, and just how much you’ve blurred the lines. Tell me, do you think he’ll notice me right away, or think it’s you? A moment’s hesitation, it’s enough to make the world stand still.”

A hollowness spread through Summer. No more shaking, but a fearful stillness. All that pride in her development, a lie. Nothing more than a series of mistakes and now it was leading towards a finale. Summer couldn’t even find it in herself to beg.

Shiva’s smile turned to disgusted, agitated sneer. Her eyes held nothing but contempt. “Pathetic.”

xxxxx

A dreadful chill up the spine, a feeling Nick was all too familiar with. Given the circumstances it didn’t make sense, yet he ran into the school regardless. His head swiveled back and forth as peers went on about their business. Not an outcry to be heard.

“What the heck is going on?” He tried texted Summer again but no reply. Could she be singing and simply caught up in the adrenaline? Then he would hear the music for sure, right?

Nick made his way through the halls and to the meeting room. Nobody. However, her bag was left behind. “Where are you?” He didn’t see her scroll so she had to have had it. That’s when Nick took a look at the board to see a message in chalk.

“Fixing the water heating. Don’t mark me late!” With Summer’s name underneath. Nick’s mind was going fast. No way a tank could burst and nobody knows. Nevertheless, he took off down the hall without even noticing he walked past Eliza.

“Nick?” She said too late, the boy already halfway down the hall. “Hey what are..ugh, whatever.” Eliza went on about her business.

Nick unlocked the door and got a face full of steam as he descended. “Summer?” Not a minute in and he was sweating. “Please tell me you didn’t do something dumb like drop a ice crystal?” His voice traveled but no response; just a clang from deeper in. “What was-”

“AAAAAAHHHH!” Summer’s voice cried.

Nick took off sprinting. It only took seconds before he saw his sister crouched down in the middle of the aisle gripping her head, stomach, and crying. “Summer!”

Hearing his voice was torture, making Summer break her silence, but sadly…

“Nooo! It’s not me! Nick!!! It’s not me!!!” She wailed, trapped inside and seeing him run to her. “STAY AWAAAAAAAY!!!!”

Max suddenly came into Nick’s view from Summer’s left. In his hand was a broken spear that dripped red blood and he was swinging down right at Summer. Nick stopped questioning anything…

“No!” He yelled, making a glyph below his feet. Nick kicked off at high speed, closing the gap. The selfless brother got right in between the two, forming nother glyph to block the strike in order to protect his sister. The spear hit the glyph.

“Max!? What the fuck are you do-aaah”

Everything went still… A gasp left him as the feeling of intense pain struck like lightning before filling with a cold numbness. Max looked fearful; almost as shocked as Nick himself. That…couldn’t be right. They both looked down and stared at a single small hand pressed against Nick’s stomach, right below his ribs. The numbness vanished back into sharp pain as a dagger of pure ice formed in him before their eyes. The glyph flickered out, and his body hit the floor.

xxxxx

Not a thought went through Summer’s mind watching from inside like a person trapped in the passenger seat. The wind picked up and the lake’s ice began cracking. Shiva looked down at her from the shore, raising her right leg.

“Checkmate.” She stomped on the ice and shattered like all those years ago; once again swallowing up Summer, dragging her to the bottom. Hair, eyes, and scars begin to grow brighter than they ever have on Shiva.

xxxxxx

Silence. For the first time ever, Shiva felt her mind be silent, free from Summer’s obsessive thoughts. It was both liberating yet lonesome. Caught up in it, she had forgotten about Max, who was utterly mortified and stiff.

“At last… guess now I should-”

“Ga…guh!” A struggling gasp came from the body on the floor.

Shiva’s eyes widened. Nick laid on the ground on his side with tears running down his face as one of his hands gripped the ice hilt in spite of the immense cold that burned the skin, while the other hand held a glyph that tried using up the Diamond Dust by absorbing it.

“Heh….” Summer cracked a smile and began to giggle. “Hehe, ahahaha…” then, a sudden burst of cold wind expelled from her, throwing Max against a wall as she laughed hysterically.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA! YES! THAT’S IT! THAT IS SO LIKE YOU!” Her smile grew wider. “THIS IS WHY YOU'RE THE BEST! ALWAYS THINKING, TRYING TILL THE END!!! NO MATTER WHAT!”

Nick couldn’t hear her, his senses overwhelmed with pain and mind focused on survival. It was like his insides were actually freezing. The very blood itself turned to ice it bled.

“Look at you go, a cut above! Summer could never! The fool isn’t even half of who you are on your worst day! Unfortunately…”

Nick felt another burst of cold behind him. Someone, he managed to roll over onto his back. Over him he could make out Shiva with his blurred vision; her right hand raised to the sky holding the blade similar to the one she made in the tournament. His ears muffled all noise. His body never felt so cold, yet the only thing Nick maintained through his slipping consciousness was Shiva’s face. A cheerful grin, accompanied by a river of tears from the saddest eyes he’s ever seen. Nick could read her lips.

“Goodbye, my dear-”

“Nick?” A voice called out, unsure and afraid.

Both him and Shiva turned their heads to down the aisle where Valerie stood motionless, her bag dropping to the floor.

[kyluxtrashpit]

Thank you for the equally thoughtful and informative response as well!!

As I said in my first ask, I had just learned of genuine number concerns via your post; my only other notice of people being confused and a bit upset was through the reblogs of the promotional content. And I will admit I didn’t deep dive those comments or reblog tags either because I personally don’t like to delve into discourse if I can avoid it. I also had no reason at the time to think it went deeper than a little surface-level drama. Fandom is my comfort space for what I love, even if that might be the occasional venting of frustrations amongst likeminded friends, but definitely not about arguments and blaming. I just want to enjoy what I enjoy, and gladly let others do the same as they see fit for themselves and their own enjoyment. My reason for popping in was because botting would indeed be a real allegation of a committed attempt at purposely altering the results, which would ruin the fun of others as well as taint the image of that character’s fans (and subsequent pairings, i.e. kylux). As one who’s also been in the fandom about 9 years or so myself, I felt I could at least say what my thoughts were on why a botting rumor might have started. Especially if only to defend someone in our fandom, plus our fandom itself, simply trying to have fun, should that have been the origin of such a rumor.

And I will say I still believe that, whichever is true, this promotional content is likely what would have inspired someone(s) to start botting. Or feel they could get away with it in the first place. There are certainly always pockets of fans in every fandom that get a little too intense with how they engage and handle their interests. Perhaps that’s what happened here. I can only speculate.

Also, I do understand that you’ve been speaking about actual botting via fake accounts and not necessarily a large influx of fans and non-fans alike. I wasn’t intending to come across as disputing that, if i did; I was merely offering a suggestion for why rumors might have started about such a thing. However, as I also said, I didn’t know there were legitimate concerns about numbers that deviated too quickly and too highly from any potential norm even with the increased draw from the promotional edits, and were thus monitored more closely than a general viewing of percentage and vote total changes as the poll goes on. I’ve barely ever touched tech/programming, particularly since my school days, so I can only speak from observation gleaned theories, ones which I don’t operate on as though they’re fact. It’s all only me trying to see ways such a rumor could have come about. I always try to see potential hows and whys for any situation before deciding an answer or reasoning due to personal or social bias. (that’s part of what’s fun about kylux and similar types of characters too, knowing the hows and whys behind what made them the villains they are is, I find, more interesting to explore.)

From what you’ve said, you and your friends (who you are absolutely not obligated to reveal nor do I need to know names; no worries to you or them :) ) certainly have more knowledge than I regarding this poll chaos being more likely botting over simple misunderstanding. Not that misunderstanding can’t still be a possibility; there’s hardly ever such thing as impossible, only (highly) improbable. And I don’t believe that you nor those you trust are in any way lying. If you all have taken a more concerted effort to watch the numbers, then that’s more evidence than I have to provide toward a botting truth. My own take comes more, it seems, from how things might have led to a botting issue rather than there not actually being one. I never denied the possibility, and I don’t deny it still.

While I’m typically a confrontation avoidant person, I do agree that ignoring, burying, or letting go of something isn’t always the best course of action in these situations. But, as such a person, I can sympathize with not wanting to speak out and get involved, especially if it is indeed a misunderstanding. That would just draw unwanted fire, possibly from within one’s own community too, which is never pleasant to endure. Sometimes even the most genuine, calm attempts at mediation can be met with harsh and damaging responses.

So I would conclude, from what you’ve elaborated on, that botting is the more likely possibility than not. Without definitive proof or someone actually coming forward to confess doing such, it may have to remain speculation; although that doesn’t take away from other’s sincere observations to the contrary. Plus, a speculation doesn’t mean we have to ignore what could be happening. We can still say we hope that’s not the case and don’t condone the actions of whomever might have done so if it is. And we could also point out, whether it is or isn’t, to not go heaping blame on that character’s fans or ships as though an entire fandom orchestrated it rather than individual person(s).

It would be nice if, with these rumors flying, any further alleged botting comes to a stop, allowing genuine numbers alone to sustain him. If it doesn’t, well, I fear that character winning it all might be as close to evidence as we can get. An event that would be further detrimental to us all, I’d guess. For as much as I love him, I really don’t think he’s a strong enough SW character to be a real contender to do so. Or to have survived thus far, to be honest. It’s been incredible to have more fans pouring in to help, and some I do think he deserved to survive over for sure, but it is kinda surprising to have beaten out some of the other ones he did. But of course these are all my own thoughts on that particular matter, no one else has to agree with them!

Anyway, in the end, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Oh, and lastly, I do, again, appreciate the response (and for reading all this, as I know I can be, uh, a bit wordy...). I really hope you and your friends aren’t taking everything in too deeply and will be able to continue enjoying the fandom the way that makes you all happiest without this (potential) situation clouding that.

Listen, I’m always happy to have a discussion about anything I ever say as long as it’s civil and friendly lmao. I’m not afraid of being proven wrong, it’s healthy to be able to accept when you’re wrong, but I also don’t say things unless I’m pretty confident in it

Yeah that’s fair – a lot of people have mentioned the promotional stuff and just to reiterate to everyone, that is NOT what I’m against. I’m fine with it, I just black list stuff I don’t want to see. Leave people having harmless fun alone. But yeah, I totally get it – I really only made the initial post because I was upset, I honestly didn’t realize it would travel as far and wide as it seems to have lmao. Cause yeah, I just want things to be fair – that’s what keeps them fun

Eh, it’s possible, but ultimately if someone is botting, they’re the only ones responsible for it, the people creating promo are just doing their own thing. It’s not uncommon an occurrence sadly, so it’s very possible one person just went too far and thought it’s something the whole fandom would be chill with. Or that we wouldn’t notice. The one thing I’m really glad for is even those who’ve disagreed with me that there’s reason to be suspicious are soundly denouncing botting if it is happening. Honestly, it’s restored my faith in fandom quite a bit lmao. Disagreements on likelihood or not, we can at least say that the practice of mass cheating on polls is a shitty thing to do

No worries! I just wanted to be clear so there’s no confusion. But yeah, it’s totally fair to want to consider alternatives. I’m the type of person who doesn’t like to make firm declarations without rock solid proof, but what I have seen (both what I’ve said publicly and things I can’t share for the safety of others) was enough for me to believe that there is reason for suspicion. It’s always possible there is another explanation and I have no problem with people who disagree with me, as I realize that without any real proof, there probably won’t be a true resolution

But yeah, I do appreciate your thoughts and that you were willing to listen as well. I love Hux, but I agree he probably shouldn’t have made it this far. If he does get a full win, well, I’m gonna say for sure there’s no way we pulled that off without bots lmao like I’m sorry, but it’s just not going to happen. He’s a side character. We may love him, but we have to accept reality

But thanks for the well wishes! And I send the same to you. I’m hoping things will calm down now, once I’m done answering these messages. My post did make some people upset and it seems there may have been some accusations thrown in my name, which I do NOT endorse. So I’ve been dealing with that. But hey, in my old fandom I used to get inflammatory hatemail all the time lmao, so the reasonable discussion is much more appreciated haha

[warpspeedgirl]

Perpetual insistence that it’s an issue for the entire apartment after I already said I can’t help you anyway and it’s clear that I don’t believe it’s an issue for the entire apartment. I’m not trying to change your mind and tactless goad you into thinking my way. It’s very similar to if one of us was experiencing something with in one of our rooms or one of our toilets for weeks, it could potentially be a plumbing problem for our entire unit, but it’s not up to the party not experiencing anything with their toilet to reach out about the person with the broken toilet as soon as possible and explain what’s been going on. I find it ridiculous but I didn’t try to persuade or bring other people into it. I thought um okay and said I can’t help you with this today even if I wanted to or was available too. A long time ago I might’ve just done it to keep the peace.

You making all of these demeaning and honestly just demanding comments, made it about the past and prompted me to defend myself. I don’t know how you couldn’t see that. You think I just said “when have I said no to you” for no reason? Look at what you said before that, if you really still don’t understand it.

All I was saying that day was who knows what exactly happened right before Whitdney left. That’s it I didn’t think it warranted such responses for you as if you were challenging me, trying to fight me. Thats all I was saying about Whitdney-who knows what exactly happened that day, only the people who were there. I said it very light and absent mindedly because I was walking in with stuff for US and from my mom. That was the worst part about it.You aggressively jumped to Why are you saying we don’t know what happened we do know. Why are you talking about the kids I’m talking about the adults with such disdain and condescension. You weren’t trying to understand you were trying to be right and it was clear in your tone. Like you said neither of us cared about the topic that much to get into like that. I cared about how you were talking to me after I just told you I was flustered from being in a car accident. I was calm I wasn’t challenging your opinions, though they seemed self righteous to me and I COULDVE said that then but it would’ve hurt your feelings and been rude and inconsiderate to say that. It wouldn’t have been tasteful. I respected your opinion and Ive known you long enough to know you can be domineering when you’re talking to people so that aspect I didn’t take “personally”. You turned me reaching out to you into stuff about you and trying to brush it off because you didn’t want to talk. The whole thing didn’t even need to start in the first place. Which I actually thought you’d realize how rude and domineering you were being during that conversation and reach out to me first but now I think you were never going to which said a lot to me. Talking things out with you doesn’t help and I feel worse after Everytime. I feel like you are who you are. I don’t want to keep having these talks with you about things you started that lead nowhere and just end up bringing more hurt I have to heal from. You explaining why you went so far helps but it’s not okay and I’m not over it yet. Like geez I know youre aggressive when youre talking to people but that is too far and I hope you dont talk to other people in a similar way.

Even after when I brought it up why my feelings were hurt, which was established, you said I’m not saying “you can tell me if something in saying is irrelevant. Nothing I say is personal. I won’t get nervous to talk about it. I wasn’t getting frustrated bc…. I’m not gonna just Say nothing Adisa, like you’re telling me to do” like what? No I’m saying you the way you were talking to me was rude and really hurt me. Your response took the ‘blame’ back to me and I didn’t do anything. You often responded by getting defensive and denying that you did anything wrong. It runs very similar to, “It’s not my fault that you feel…. You can say the same thing to me.” I expressed to you that I was getting frustrated because the way you were talking to me was just seriously awful and Ive never experienced anything like this from anyone it sucks that it keeps happening from you who’s supposed to be my bestfriend. You being in a bad place isn’t an excuse for that because I don’t go that far with you when I’m in a bad place. It’s an explanation but not a great or reasonable one.

[smokeybrandreviews]

Winds Over Neo-Tokyo

I just read that Taika Waititi's live action remake of Akira is still in the works and, f*ck, if I'm upset about it. his cat is the absolute wrong choice fr this film. And i say film because he wants to remake the anime classic, not re-adapt he manga it’s based on. This sh*t is devastating because Waititi doesn’t have the chops to deliver on the entire vision that is Akira. Mans doesn’t make epics. He makes cute little character dramas, wrapped in clever humor. That’s fine for, say, a There film or Jojo Rabbit but Akira? Bro, there is nothing “fun” about Akira. It’s an existential hellscape masquerading as a nihilistic, dystopian, nightmare. Nothing Taika has ever made, makes me believe he can deliver on such heady material. That said, there are several directors that i think could and i wanted to highlight them here.

Denis Villeneuve

I think, aesthetically, Deni is the best choice for this sh*t. He’d bring the spirit of  Katsuhiro Otomo’s masterpiece, but gift us a more epic and cinematic visual presentation. He’d do what he did with Blade Runner, i think, and give us something very special. That said, mans is busy finishing up the best Dune adaption to date so i get why he’s not tied to this picture. Such a goddamn shame, that.

Alex Garland

Ex Machina and Annihilation. That’s it. That’s the pitch. If I'm objective and not completely up Denis’ ass because of how goddamn gorgeous his films are, it’s Alex Garland. This man has proven he can do Cyberpunk with Ex Machina and delivered some uniquely grotesque body horror with Annihilation. he less said about Men the better but, even in that weirdly pretentious train wreck, you can see the potential to deliver on the existential trauma everyone suffers from in Neo Tokyo.

Robert Rodriguez

Book of Boba Fett aside, Rodriguez delivered Alita: Battle Angel and nailed that sh*t perfectly. Alita is, arguably, the best anime adaption we have o date and that was all thanks to Rodriguez respecting the source materiel. I think he could deliver a very solid, very faithful, Akira adaption, though, he wouldn’t be my top pick.

Neill Blomkamp

I don’t understand how this dude wasn’t the first one called for this project. I mean, have you seen his catalog? Elysium, alone, nails the emotional tone necessary to bring Tetsuo’s journey to the big screen and dude’s sci-fi sensibilities are unassailable. District 9. Chappie. Everything out of Oats Studios. He’d do Neo Tokyo mad justice. Blomkamp is the obvious choice and he didn’t get a meeting? Really?

Leigh Whannell

Leigh is probably the best fit for his film in terms of experience , availability, and budget. This man has worked wonders with nothing and all of his films feel tactile, like they use way more practical effects than they actually do. Plus, his background in horror will go along a way to delivering that Tetsuo meltdown in the Olympic Arena at the climax. If you’re not convinced, go watch Upgrade and tell me this man can’t deliver a fantastic Akira adaptions for pennies on the dollar of what it will take Taika.

Chad Stahelski

The other half of the brain trust that gave us John Wick, Stahelski has proven himself to be one of the best action directors in the business. I think that level of creativity lends itself to he stylized nature of an anime adaption but, specifically, Akira. Some of the brilliant set pieces he dreamed up in the John Wick series go a long way to lending confidence in his ability to capture the gritty, urban, feel of the Cyberpunk genre.

Michael B. Jordan

And the dark horse entry bringing up the rear! Jordan is a card-carrying weeb and he can actual direct his ass off. Creed III is dope as f*ck and that scrap at the end was brilliant. Mans literally said, out loud, he took from anime like Megalobox, Naruto, Hajime No Ippo, and Dragon Ball Z to make that happen. What that says to me is he knows his sh*t, that he would treat this adaption seriously and give us something a fan would want to see.

If i had my pick, i think Garland or Blomkamp should be directing this production. They definitely have the chops in terms of experience and vision to give us something really special. It’s insane to me that f*cking Taika Waititi is the guy in charge of bringing one of the most influential films, not just an anime classic, to live action. The same f*cking guy who sh*t the bed with Thor IV. The same f*cking guy who played a fat, brown, imaginary Hitler. Like, this man makes quirky comedies and you want him to helm the entire production to one of the bleakest films ever made? Really? I’m not trying to say Waititi is bad at his job because he isn’t. I love Jojo Rabbit. I love Thor: Ragnarok. I love What We Do in the Shadows and Reservation Dogs. None of this sh*t screams Akira to me. Dude’s out of his depth with that material and I'm terrified he’s going to make it some goofy, juvenile, chuckle-fest when it’s not supposed to be at all. Now, if we're talking a Bartkira adaption, Waititi might just be perfect for that...

[smokeybrand]

Winds Over Neo-Tokyo

I just read that Taika Waititi's live action remake of Akira is still in the works and, f*ck, if I'm upset about it. his cat is the absolute wrong choice fr this film. And i say film because he wants to remake the anime classic, not re-adapt he manga it’s based on. This sh*t is devastating because Waititi doesn’t have the chops to deliver on the entire vision that is Akira. Mans doesn’t make epics. He makes cute little character dramas, wrapped in clever humor. That’s fine for, say, a There film or Jojo Rabbit but Akira? Bro, there is nothing “fun” about Akira. It’s an existential hellscape masquerading as a nihilistic, dystopian, nightmare. Nothing Taika has ever made, makes me believe he can deliver on such heady material. That said, there are several directors that i think could and i wanted to highlight them here.

Denis Villeneuve

I think, aesthetically, Deni is the best choice for this sh*t. He’d bring the spirit of  Katsuhiro Otomo’s masterpiece, but gift us a more epic and cinematic visual presentation. He’d do what he did with Blade Runner, i think, and give us something very special. That said, mans is busy finishing up the best Dune adaption to date so i get why he’s not tied to this picture. Such a goddamn shame, that.

Alex Garland

Ex Machina and Annihilation. That’s it. That’s the pitch. If I'm objective and not completely up Denis’ ass because of how goddamn gorgeous his films are, it’s Alex Garland. This man has proven he can do Cyberpunk with Ex Machina and delivered some uniquely grotesque body horror with Annihilation. he less said about Men the better but, even in that weirdly pretentious train wreck, you can see the potential to deliver on the existential trauma everyone suffers from in Neo Tokyo.

Robert Rodriguez

Book of Boba Fett aside, Rodriguez delivered Alita: Battle Angel and nailed that sh*t perfectly. Alita is, arguably, the best anime adaption we have o date and that was all thanks to Rodriguez respecting the source materiel. I think he could deliver a very solid, very faithful, Akira adaption, though, he wouldn’t be my top pick.

Neill Blomkamp

I don’t understand how this dude wasn’t the first one called for this project. I mean, have you seen his catalog? Elysium, alone, nails the emotional tone necessary to bring Tetsuo’s journey to the big screen and dude’s sci-fi sensibilities are unassailable. District 9. Chappie. Everything out of Oats Studios. He’d do Neo Tokyo mad justice. Blomkamp is the obvious choice and he didn’t get a meeting? Really?

Leigh Whannell

Leigh is probably the best fit for his film in terms of experience , availability, and budget. This man has worked wonders with nothing and all of his films feel tactile, like they use way more practical effects than they actually do. Plus, his background in horror will go along a way to delivering that Tetsuo meltdown in the Olympic Arena at the climax. If you’re not convinced, go watch Upgrade and tell me this man can’t deliver a fantastic Akira adaptions for pennies on the dollar of what it will take Taika.

Chad Stahelski

The other half of the brain trust that gave us John Wick, Stahelski has proven himself to be one of the best action directors in the business. I think that level of creativity lends itself to he stylized nature of an anime adaption but, specifically, Akira. Some of the brilliant set pieces he dreamed up in the John Wick series go a long way to lending confidence in his ability to capture the gritty, urban, feel of the Cyberpunk genre.

Michael B. Jordan

And the dark horse entry bringing up the rear! Jordan is a card-carrying weeb and he can actual direct his ass off. Creed III is dope as f*ck and that scrap at the end was brilliant. Mans literally said, out loud, he took from anime like Megalobox, Naruto, Hajime No Ippo, and Dragon Ball Z to make that happen. What that says to me is he knows his sh*t, that he would treat this adaption seriously and give us something a fan would want to see.

If i had my pick, i think Garland or Blomkamp should be directing this production. They definitely have the chops in terms of experience and vision to give us something really special. It’s insane to me that f*cking Taika Waititi is the guy in charge of bringing one of the most influential films, not just an anime classic, to live action. The same f*cking guy who sh*t the bed with Thor IV. The same f*cking guy who played a fat, brown, imaginary Hitler. Like, this man makes quirky comedies and you want him to helm the entire production to one of the bleakest films ever made? Really? I’m not trying to say Waititi is bad at his job because he isn’t. I love Jojo Rabbit. I love Thor: Ragnarok. I love What We Do in the Shadows and Reservation Dogs. None of this sh*t screams Akira to me. Dude’s out of his depth with that material and I'm terrified he’s going to make it some goofy, juvenile, chuckle-fest when it’s not supposed to be at all. Now, if we're talking a Bartkira adaption, Waititi might just be perfect for that...

[starshipsofstarlord]

All mine

liam dunbar x reader / masterlist

summary; alec, scott’s new beta has a thing for liam’s girl, and sufficed to say, liam is anything but happy about the predicament / warnings; jealousy, smut, some choking, fucking in a playground, daddy kink, mentions of masturbation, mentions of phone sex, mentions of exhibitionism, oral sex (fem receiving).

the boy with anger issues was feeling a rage boil in his veins; they were in scott’s home, he had came back from college for a break, and thus, alec had joined in meeting with their alpha, though, not all his attention was reprised upon said pack leader.

there was a movie flashing upon the screen, you sat cross legged on the couch, whilst liam had been sent to the kitchen to grab a bowl of popcorn. he could feel his hand putting amble pressure on the plastic bowl, as he watched you explain every dumb thing occurring in the motion picture film.

alec was acting clueless on purpose, he could tell, more so since when he had first joined the pack, he had made such moves on you. and spoiler, eventually they had been successful. you were the same age as scott, meaning that you too had returned to beacon hills for your half term clause in the higher education, and liam wanted you to spend every moment with him, not this stray.

it took all his supernatural strength to restrain the growl threatening to rumble from his chest, his claws bent into the flesh of his palms, drawing a pooling of blood to the tether down from the self inflicted wound. scott smelt the blood, and wrinkled his nose at the scent that invaded his nostrils; he thought liam had his issues under control, but supposedly not entirely.

he couldn’t help himself, alec was trying his best, slyly glancing down your top, and he got he was only a hormonal teenage boy, same as him, but you were his girl. a rumble, resembling the natural force of thunder echoed around the living space, drawing all eyes, human and otherwise, in his direction.

the growl that had erupted from his chest had been possessive, a warning to the young, adopted beta, who quickly adjourned his arm away from the back of the couch, and shuffled from right beside you.

“li, are you good?” in an instant you removed yourself from where you were sat, walking towards him, and smoothing his shoulders over with your palms, watching as he heavily breathed. amber eyes flickered up to you, making you gulp; you now understood what had him so relentless and blunt with his aggression.

“i want to leave.” it wasn’t a question, it was a defiant statement. in turn, you nodded, grasping anything you needed, such as you jacket, and pulling it over your arms, liam quickly heading out, without bidding either of the boys a goodbye.

“see ya.” you waved at the pair, you would apologise for liam’s behaviour later to scott, he of course understood the situation nevertheless, he had been his alpha for a long time now. a hand grasped you as soon as you exited, pillowing roughly into your skin as he dragged you down the street, his pace quick and daring.

“you think i didn’t notice that beta’s eyes drifting down to your cleavage or him practically pawing for your attention.” he had stopped the two of you outside of a playground, you gulped, listening to him with an adjacent inclination.

“liam, there’s no need to be jealous.” your words had the priority of calming his angered exterior, though it happened that you had done rather the opposite. there was a firm line deposited between his dark brows, a frown that was aimed towards you directly.

“me, jealous? oh no, i know that you’re mine, but it comes to the question, do you?” he bit his lip, tensing the bridge of his nose as he moved his face closer to your own. “for all i know, at college, you don’t even let anyone know that you’re in a relationship, it could be your little secret, so you can fuck whomever you want.”

“that’s something i’d never do, you know that!” his accusations were flimsy, that much was liable, though although knowing that all his words came out of a place of secluded insecurity, you still felt the necessity to defend yourself. if you played his game, it would make him subconsciously doubt himself, and possibly believe the things that he was saying were true.

“do i?” the beta pried. liam made directories closer towards you, taking steps to discern your defence, letting his hand ravel up, and close around the front of your neck. your breath instantly hitched, as he wordlessly stated the power he had over you; not to mention, he was stronger, and he was irked, meaning that he would go to any lengths to prove his point, or lack of one.

“liam.” your hands came up to scratch at the exterior of his, worried that he would do some prominent damage, but rather than releasing his grip, he tightened his fist, triggering a hitch in your breath, and a uncoordinated, surprising moan to fly from your lips, as though your body was inherently howling at him for more.

“does my girlfriend like that? i think she likes daddy having his hand around her throat, don’t you baby? are you daddy’s dirty girl?” his slick words made your brain disintegrate into a contortion of confusion; more specifically, riddled with uncertainty, searching for a reason as to why his mature words were affecting you so.

there was no question about the matter, he was well adorned with the specifics of how it was affecting you. the reverberating of your heart thumped in his ears, like drums of a sacred matter, telling him how your hormones crazed, thundering with potential submission, that alternately had your knees quaking, fighting to remain standing.

then, there was the intoxicating aroma that scaled up to his nose from between your legs. that alone was a dead give away, he was lucky that it hadn’t killed him in the dead of night yet. being apart from you for so long had drove him borderline insane, one touch from you had him swooning, wanting nothing more for your hands to drift and intimately pet him.

phone calls, as erotic as some of them were, was just enough. the two of you were sectioned off for education in different counties, the distance pained him, in more ways than one. sometimes he’d wake up with a throbbing appendage between his thighs, begging for attention, more specifically, yours.

his hand got by, completing the job, but it wasn’t the same as the feeling of your sweet velvet walls encasing him likes an umbrella pouch, hugging his shaft tight as he rammed his length inside of you, preening moans of ecstasy out of your sinful mouth. the thought of such scenarios would have hun instantly hard in the school showers, leaving him frustrated for the rest of the day.

and though you had returned for a couple of weeks, he remained prominently stressed, never having enough contact with your skin that he had missed so much. he wished for nothing more than to spend it in a godforsaken rut, trapping you in the confines of his bed as he thrust in and out of you, but it so happened that isn’t how your return had panned out.

the luxury of the bed was not present, in its place was the soft breeze prickling at your skin, making every lingering, and restraining touch that he gave to it that more sensual. it was like nature was biting at your skin, plucking up the courage to adorn your flesh in small bumps, coercing your nipples into being erect, although, that was admittedly not all down to the wispy air.

your boyfriend had turned you on, his methods of doing so far different from anything that he had ever embraced before. whom would have ever thought that the once youngest member of the mccall pack would not forlorn in his youth, but instead want to demean his title as something as sexual as ‘daddy’? you sure as didn’t, but you couldn’t deny, it was kind of hot.

okay, more than hot, a lot more. “answer me y/n.” that’s right, you had gotten swept away with this whole new side to your partner, to say that you were drooling was an understatement, if he pointed it out, you’d blame it on him choking you. choking you! damn, he really had been reading up on some kinky shit whilst you were away.

“i do.” it was an honest answer, traded from you to him. though, it wasn’t entirely what he wanted to hear, you recognised that as he promptly squeezed your air way, causing your tongue to dip out of your mouth as you momentarily gasped for an ounce of breath. to spare you a second to respond, he pardoned his grip, stroking down the side of your face with the back of his stern hand.

“answer properly this time babe, else, i’ll fuck you over the swing set.” gulping, you locked eyes with liam, rubbing your thighs together at his prospect, inhaling heavily, as you felt him soothe his thumb rub upon the crevice of your chin, moisturising your own saliva into your skin.

“i love you choking me, daddy.” the word had a strange affect on your body as it rolled almost effortlessly off your tongue. instantly, verbalising the phrase had you feeling meek under the cold gaze of your boyfriend, a smirk ruling his face, as he clasped his knuckles into the dips of your waist, tugging you close.

“good girl.” he ushered the words into your ear as though he were a pro at doing so, lowering his palms to grab both your ass cheeks, a shocked squeal clawing out of the colander of your throat. “but i’m still going to fuck you over it, and i expect you to grasp onto the chains like you’re holding on for your life, and wail like a banshee that you are all mine.”

a slither of a sound, radiating utter betrothal escaped your withering lips, it was something between noise of a whimper, and a small moan. liam took that, and rightfully so, as approval to proceed with his intentions, and thus, he lead you through the gravel of the empty playground, directing his footsteps to the swings, and pushing you to be in front of him.

he bent your waist a little, so that you were hunched over, offering the perfect angle to generate pleasure for the both of you, as he began to tug your jeans down, letting the tight material meet with the croons of your ankles, and remain tethered around them.

“shit, you’ve already soaked through your panties baby.” liam soothed his fingers over the wet patch that opted through the thin material, brushing directly over your sensitive bundle of nerves, causing your mouth to wantonly drop open, in a silent beckon for more. “i can smell you too, you know, and damn, do you smell fucking divine.”

“daddy please.” the beg fell comfortably from you, there was no sudden recital to saying it once more. peculiarly, it felt natural, the dynamic between you and your partner being a stable structure to begin exploring further aspects that spectated in intimacy.

“sit on the seat, daddy will help you out darling.” trailing around the side of the metal structure, you carefully strode to do as liam has said, perching your ass on the swing, it lightly swaying from the impact of your weight upon the small dipped hammock. “there we go.”

liam knelt, scathing his covered knees upon the ground, as he ran his eager palms along the insides of your thighs, plucking at the band of your panties, before shuffling them down far enough so that he had all the access that he hungered for. the brisk whim that waded through the nighttime air had your pussy clenching, feeling the cold integrate against your folds, as liam puckered his lips.

he blew hot air upon your labia, enforcing your grip around the malleable metal chains to tighten, as you lightly shuffled the way that you were sat, spreading your legs a little wider, as your toes scratched relentlessly inside your socks, digging the front of your sneakers into the tarmac below.

your boyfriend leant forwards, swiping his tongue up your folds, causing you to press your head back, as you airily sighed from the contact, loving the way that his tongue delved around the area of your clit, swirling the bud in his mouth, as his teeth gently pinched the sensitive fumble of flesh.

“li- ah, daddy.” he had nipped at your outer lips, serving his actions as a form to correct how you had labelled him. “fuck, you’re so good with your tongue- shit.” his tongue slipped down into your entrance, thrusting the part of himself in and out of you, as you almost fell out of the swing seat.

“mmh.” your so called daddy hummed, sucking once more on your clit, before pulling his head away, as he stood, dragging you with him to force you to stand, delving his saturated tongue into the depths of your mouth, giving you no other option than to taste yourself on his buds. “what do you say baby?” his hand crawled into your hair as he bit his lip, staring with heavy lids at your flushed expression.

“thank you daddy.” a strong nod, he swiftly rotated you around, giving a light smack to your ass cheek, pinching the flesh, as he hurriedly undressed his bottom half, after fishing a loose packaged condom out of his back pocket. his tongue toyed with his top lip, as he ripped open the plastic square, rolling the condom onto his erect cock, giving himself a couple of jerks, as he steadied himself behind where you had hunched over once more.

he grasped his heavy cock, sliding his length through your smothered folds, teasing you as he tapped your clit, resting his hips flush against your own, as he pressed inside of you, causing an elongated string of obscene sounds to cast out of your mouth, playing a tune out of your melodically fawned lips.

a grunt tore itself out of his chest, as he clenched his fine jaw, digging his thumbs into your ass cheeks, as he began to move; delving deep within you, before pulling out of your tight walls, and rutting himself back inside of you. “fuck, feels so good da- ah!”

your natural sounds of pleasure drowned the surrounding area in an epitome of adulterated musings. adjoined with the sounds of liam’s skin slapping against your own, it was a surprise that no one had intervened, nor walked by. though, liam would have heard if they were in a nearby radius, with his supernatural hearing, that he had gotten through a set of canines digging urgently into his wrist, as he hung solemnly off the side of the hospital.

“you’re all mine, you hear that? those frat boys can keep their pervy gazes off of my girl, otherwise i guess i’ll just have to pay you a visit, and fuck you loud enough for anyone to hear.” he began panting, flowing his breath down upon your lower back. “yeah, you like that idea baby girl, how about i take over in the lecture hall and bend you over that desk, drilling into your tight cunt in front of every one so that they know that you belong to me?”

his half conceived promises, his taunting of you had you rolling closer to the edge, backing your hips backwards as you urgently met with his thrusts, forcing him to hip deeper into your cervix, a light growl prowling out of his chest, as he leant against you, angling his waist lower as he thrust upwards, his chest flat against your back.

“yes- fuck! please daddy, i wou- love that. love for you to fuck me for everyone to see, fill me with your cum, make me cu-um.” his heated breath strained against your skin, as your eyes fluttered, feeling succumbed to a white flush inside your veins, your body halting with it’s stability, resting helplessly over the swing seat, a she kept you steady.

“all mine.” your boyfriend stated, as he made you fall over the edge, ravenously thrusting into you to chase his own high. “gonna fucking cum.” a minor roar yelped out of his mouth, as his eyes strung shut, his shoulders relaxing as he emptied his seed into the condom, pulling out of your sopping cunt, as he removed the layer of protection, throwing it successfully in a bin a few feet away.

hazily, you went to stand, liam helping you pull your bottoms up, as he did so to himself too. he held you up, as he hoisted a passionate kiss onto your lips, a satisfied smile on his face once he pulled away. “i miss you so much when you’re away, i love you y/n/n.”

an appeased expression faulted your expression, as you reached up to entwine your hands together at the back of his neck. “i’m all yours li, or should i call you daddy?” you teased, causing a blush to fathom the apples of his cheeks. he looked down, an embarrassed poise covering his face.

“shut up.” he jokingly prompted, wrapping his arm around your shoulders as he began to walk you home, as you continued to tease him about his newly revealed kink, or multiple.

[ootahime]

analyzing every gojohime moment in the manga 😈

this series will probably have more than one part because tumblr only lets me upload ten images per post </3

warning: there are disgustingly long paragraphs in here and delusions

chapter 32

utahime’s first introduction!  akutami lets us know right off the bat that she thinks gojo is an idiot (so true).

chapter 32

i love the contrast between miwa and utahime’s reaction to gojo’s appearance.  

chapter 33

NAH BC TELL ME WHY HE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO NOT GET HER ONE LMAOOOO!!  when he traveled overseas to meet with yuta, he picked up the tribal protection charms and thought to himself, “let’s get enough for the kyoto students as a gift since i am such a great and caring teacher, after all.  mmm, i should skip utahime to make her mad~”  this guy puts way too much effort into getting on her nerves.  his mind = utahime brainrot

chapter 33

she’s laughing at him here because he’s getting disciplined for being a lil shit.  i wonder...what would he say if he saw her laughing at him like that?  

chapter 33

this interaction between them is a little strange don’t you think?   i feel like over the years he’s learned how to pick up her mood based on the way she’s acting towards him.  you’re probably thinking, “well any person can figure out how a person’s feeling based on the way they’re talking or acting.”  yes, that’s absolutely true, but it’s kind of different with this.  she’s acting normal.  utahime has a rather indifferent expression on her face and what she says is spoken in a calm tone, but gojo still asks her if she’s mad at him.  it’s likely that he knows her well enough to be able to notice these subtle things.  even if she wasn’t actually mad at him, he was being considerate for a split second, then he went and said, “of course.  i didn’t do anything wrong and all.”  what a guy LOLOL.  to me, this implies that maybe he made her genuinely angry in the past to the point where he realized that he went too far, and thus decided to be more careful of her feelings.  she has definitely gotten annoyed at him so many times after that so whenever she seems angry, he probably asks himself if he took it too far.  i’m curious to see if he can pick up if she’s upset with something that’s not involving him.  would he console her?  how does gojo satoru console someone?  

despite him always annoying her, she’s still courteous and brings him a cup of tea during their talk.  she didn’t have to go out of her way to get tea for him but she did.  that’s the kind of person utahime is.  a kind and caring woman who would never put her students in danger.  in the anime they were sitting far away and not facing each other like they’re doing in the manga.  she also has her own tea cup.  i think that little panel of her placing the cup down on the table and him picking it up to take a sip is a nice little detail.  it just proves that her hating him most of the time isn’t actually pure hatred but annoyance because of his shenanigans and teasing.

chapter 33

i touched upon this a little bit in my previous post, but i wish to go more in depth about this panel.  first of all, he ends the sentence with her name twice.  two times too many, mr. gojo.  i like how they can be serious with each other too LOL.  i wish we got to see them talk about the traitors because they did figure it out together after all.  does it always end in bickering?  can they interact with each other like adults all the way through?  somehow, i feel like that’s not possible when it comes to these two.  furthermore, notice how gojo confides in utahime about his suspicions.  from what we know, she is the first person he brought it up to.  i mean, i guess he has to start investigating the schools and would need extra assistance to save time, but he could have done it himself if he really wanted to.  by deciding to ask for her help we know that he thinks she’s trustworthy, smart, and strong enough to face whatever considerable risks this task may entail.  

i didn’t point this out in my other posts but see how he makes a hand sign in the last panel when she throws the cup at him?  gojo is manually activating his infinity.  why though?  about a year after the whole star plasma vessel incident happened, gojo develops the ability to keep his infinity up at all times by using the reversed curse technique to consistently heal himself to prevent exhaustion.  this means that it really makes no difference whether he leaves it on or off.  there are a few times where we can witness someone actually touching gojo.  for example, yuuji giving him a hug.  did he turn his infinity off, or was it able to deduce that yuuji was not a threat?  the erasers and pencils shoko and geto threw at him during his demonstration of his new ability aren’t dangerous normally, but is it the speed that makes them dangerous?  even if it did hit him, it wouldn’t hurt.  how does the infinity know when to allow an incoming object to touch gojo?  i believe it is up to gojo himself to let things touch him; his infinity restricts anything and anyone.  some people say it could just be the fact that water is not dangerous to him, so therefore, he has to manually put his infinity up.  i thought this was a reasonable explanation as to why he put up the hand sign when the tea was thrown at him, but then i realized that it couldn’t be.  remember the second opening?  it’s raining and everyone is carrying an umbrella, then it pans to gojo with a bouquet in his hand and rain drops slipping off his infinity.  if he DID manually put his infinity up to prevent getting soaked then that implies that he chose to turn his infinity off.  you can argue and say that jujutsu high is a safe place with students so there’s no need to have his infinity there, but do you remember when he stepped on the ants in front of gakuganji and yaga?  the ants were perfectly fine after which insinuates that his infinity prevented his shoes from crushing the ants.  he most likely had his infinity on during the baseball game even though he was in a safe environment.  how does this long tangent relate back to utahime?  well, it simply indicates that gojo trusts utahime so much to the point where he can be vulnerable around her.  turning off his infinity symbolizes completely letting down his guard  in a way.  

how about what happens next?  utahime throws the tea at him, he turns on his infinity to deflect it, and he responds with, “scary!  hysteric women aren’t popular, you know!”  why would he even say that LMAO??  utahime doesn’t even try to deny what he said either.  she just hits him with the good old, “i am your senpai!”  could it be that he’s trying to poke fun of her relationship status?  maybe, maybe not.  doesn’t he like people a lil crazy?  he did say that all jujutsu sorcerers have to be a little crazy because they’re willing to put themselves in danger constantly.  

chapter 0 p.1

i wonder who he’s thinking of when he said that.  could it be utahime?  it seems like he’s reminiscing or thinking about someone.  he wears an amused expression on his face as he laughs - almost like he’s seen his fair share of how scary women can get :>>

chapter 34

the pattern behind gojo and utahime is called yagasuri “fletching,” a traditional japanese design.  this design is inspired by arrow fletching.  it's a lucky charm for weddings and other celebrations since it's based on the Japanese belief that an arrow shot once never comes back.  brides were given kimonos with this pattern for good luck during the edo era (1603–1868) to ensure they would not have to return to their original family home.  this pattern can have numerous meanings such as steadfastness or determination to achieve a goal, or a wish for the happiness of the bride.  there is a belief that a bow and arrow represent the fight against evil.  honestly, this meaning fits the narrative of the story.  utahime and gojo are unearthing the traitors that are feeding intel to the curse users and cursed spirits.  they are in the middle while the kyoto students surround them, which could mean that it’s their job as adults to protect these children from the grasps of evil slowly making itself more prominent.  do you also notice that the arrows are pointed toward utahime from gojo?  from all the images i’ve seen, the arrows are usually pointed downward.  what could this mean?  is gojo trying to protect her (in the future (?)) or does he have a big fat crush smh...

i think it’s a good time to mention utahime’s clothing.  she’s wearing miko attire.  miko are shrine maidens who were once thought to be shamans (you connecting the dots?).  in their service to shrines, miko used to perform spirit possession and takusen (in which the possessed person acts as a "medium" (yorimashi) to communicate the divine will or message of that kami (god) or spirit; also included in the category of takusen is "dream revelation" (mukoku), in which a kami appears in a dream to communicate its will).  this was back in the old days, of course.  to become a miko back then (shaman), one needed to have potential.  neurosis, hallucinations, odd behavior, and hysteria (HYSTERIA HELLO???) are some of the signs that a person is being called to shamanism.  when a miko is communicating with a kami (god) or spirit by acting as a medium, she is in a trance-like state, and so she must learn techniques to control herself when this happens.  chanting and dancing were used to accomplish this, so the girl was taught melodies and intonations that were used in songs, prayers, and magical formulas.  all of this could give us insight about utahime’s technique and explains why she’s good at singing :)  maybe she can’t control herself when she uses her technique which is why she isn’t shown using it because it should be used for dire situations.  i imagine being possessed by a spirit or god must consume a lot of cursed energy.  it makes sense that utahime and gakuganji wear traditional clothing.  they’re the staff of jujutsu high’s kyoto branch.  in chapter 0, kyoto is known as the sacred land of jujutsu.  it’s more traditional compared to tokyo.  if you want to learn more about miko, you should check out the wikipedia page!  

chapter 34

i swear he tries to annoy her every chance he gets.  i bet he sets a goal for himself to see how many times utahime lectures him about respecting his seniors every time he’s within the same vicinity as her.  at least he called her utahime-sensei!!!

chapter 40

this isn’t even a gojohime moment tbh...i just wanted to share a pic of them sitting next to each other HEHE.  why are they sitting next to each other anyway?  it’s not like they have assigned seating.

----

that was so long and i apologize for the gargantuan paragraphs you guys had to read through.  i’m writing this at 4 in the morning and i’m feeling borderline delirious so i apologize if there are any errors.  i’ll edit this when i have time <3

the next part should come shortly.

[beyondspaceandstars]

Happy Engagement

Relationship: Loki x Reader Warnings: contains some dark elements: manipulation Summary: Loki has always thought of you as his and there isn’t anything he won’t do to keep it that way. A/N: I’ve been sitting on this one shot for a while! I had the idea for it months ago and finally wrote it and then it just sat on my computer while I wrote other stuff but I figured since I don’t have anything really new this week it’d be perfect to put out! I hope you enjoy it because I greatly do :)

Masterlist

Loki had always been an interesting force in your life.

You two met when you were just children in school. You two were the official unofficial outsides of your school year — he was a prince, you were a peasant. Despite his royal standing, he’d play with you at recess. For these outlier ways, you two never interacted much with the other kids, life practically forcing you two to one another.

At such a young age, you hadn’t realized how significant this bond would become. As a child, you were just glad someone was talking to you. He shouldn’t have even been looking at you, should’ve maybe been disgusted with your presence alone. You should’ve been some onlooker, amazed by him and his magic but you weren’t — well, except for the magic part. His magic was little when you were kids but it drew quite the amazement from you.

Over time, you two naturally grew with one another. From childhood into your teens and still, now, you two made an unlikely pair of best friends as young adults. All of this though did not come without some bumps along the way.

In your teens, Loki had almost completely shut you out. For some reason, he seemed to be acting embarrassed by you. Your mother had warned you this may happen but you thought he was different, swore he was, unless his sincerity was like the many other tricks he played. Eventually, supposedly after some talking down from his brother, Loki appeared back at your door asking if you wanted to go for a walk.

This disappearing and coming back had become a habit for him over his teenage years and into adulthood. Loki never explicitly told you why but you could tell there was something eating away at him. It had been there a long time and it felt like disassociating himself with you was his solution.

You thought everything was coming to an abrupt end when you fell pregnant. You had been seeing a nobleman who was a regular customer in your parents’ shop. He was absolutely charming and delightful, practically swept you right off your feet within minutes of meeting. Your parents were ecstatic when he asked to court you.

You yourself were stunned but you ran to tell Loki about it. He was speechless. You tried telling him about the man but something in Loki snapped. He got unreasonably upset, spewing hateful comments about the man, practically forcing you out of his chambers in the process. He went radio silent again.

You tried to ignore losing your best friend — again — and focused on your new relationship. He wooed you endlessly with dates to lavish dinners and dawning you in lovely gowns. It was all so much more than you had ever expected in life. He’d tell you you deserved it and whisper sweet nothings in your ear as you two would get so lost in one another.

A bit shamefully, hypnotized by the romantics of it all, you gave yourself to him. Tangled in the sheets with him as your guide, you let the man you felt you would marry have every last bit of you.

And for a while after, it was blissful. Nothing had seemed to change between you two until he announced he had to go away for a bit. Confused, you asked why suddenly now facing the fact you were losing another person in your life. He explained he was needed by his father on a different realm, part of the family "business," as he described it.

Days after his departure, you learned you were pregnant. Around this time, Loki popped back up in your life. You felt relieved having someone to confide in but when you told him of your pregnancy, he was far from the supportive force you thought you’d get. He didn’t yell or get upset per se but he was beyond stunned.  

He left for a bit then but can back in less time than last. This time he brought along baby supplies and congratulated you. It was a complete one-eighty from his prior behavior but you accepted it, gratefully. Loki ended up being your main person throughout the pregnancy as clues of when your boyfriend would return were nonexistent.

"Did he know you were carrying his child when he left?" Loki had asked you one night. You two were sitting in the living room of the makeshift house you had acquired. You didn’t feel very good that this was the home you were bringing a child into when you knew her father could’ve provided her with a better one. But, at the end of the day, it was a roof over both your heads.

You crocheted another knot in the baby blanket. "No, he didn’t. I didn’t even know."

Loki gave a passing hum at that answer. He didn’t ask about your boyfriend very much after that.

Once your baby girl arrived, she became your entire world, your entire focus. Between caring for her and working to provide, you had little time to worry about your boyfriend still being gone. But it wasn’t as lonely as it may have looked because Loki was always by your side. Working around his royal duties, he’d take time to come visit you and your daughter even sometimes staying for dinner or to play with her. You didn’t miss how he was unintentionally becoming the father she was missing. You never said anything, though, always biting your tongue as you waited for her father to return.

Hope began to face on that front after your daughter turned three. Maybe he was just a footnote in your life, a foolish hopeful dream, but at least he had given you the lovely gift of your child. You weren’t giving up, still placing him in the boyfriend spot of your mind, but you couldn’t deny doubt crept in. Maybe a relationship of any capacity just wasn’t in the cards for you.

Or so you thought.

As Loki continued with his royal responsibilities, he was growing older and more powerful. That’s when the rumors of marriage began floating about. Your mother had brought it up to you once asking if you met any of his potential suitors. Your stomach did a somersault. You didn’t even know there were suitors, let alone met any of them. You tried to keep your cool and just told her no.

Who these suitors were and if they really existed, you never found out. You never even had the guts to ask about them especially after Loki pulled you aside one night after a dinner at the palace.

He rarely ever invited you to dinners with his family so to get this spontaneous invitation, you didn’t hesitate to attend. He even allowed you to bring along your daughter. She was playing with some servants’ children when Loki asked you to the garden.

"Feeling like a nighttime stroll?" You asked with a little laugh. Loki just smiled.

"There’s actually something I want to speak to you about."

"Oh," you frowned. "Is everything okay?"

Loki nodded. "Yes, yes, everything is fine." He looked up at the sky, almost lost in thought as you walked. You thought for a split second how lovely he looked. "I’m sure you have heard by now the…talk about my anticipated engagement."

Your heart practically stopped beating at that moment. Your hands instinctively gripped at the skirt of your dress as if you were ready to run away at the drop of a hat. Trying to keep your voice stead, you said, "Yes, I believe my mother mentioned that to me the other day."

He shot you an unreadable side glance. Your hands gripped the fabric tighter. Why were you feeling like this? Was that…jealousy you felt? You didn’t understand where that had come from. This was your best friend. Your prince best friend. He was bound to get married and have a lavish life with his bride. You couldn’t stop that, you couldn’t change it.

"Do you know anything of the women I have been offered?"

Was this another one of his cruel jokes? You wanted to vomit all over the bushes of flowers passing you as you walked. You managed to shake your head in response. "I’m sure they’re all wonderful."

He scoffed. "More like they’re all incredibly boring."

You gasped, "Loki, I’m not sure you should be speaking that way of them."

"It’s doesn’t matter," he shrugged, "because none of them are what I want."

You didn’t know if you actually wanted to know what he was seeking. You looked at him wearily.

You two walked in silence for a moment. Loki was now watching the ground intensely. You couldn’t believe how much his gaze was wandering. It must’ve been for courage because the next words out of his mouth were ones you had never thought you’d ever hear. From anyone.

"I believe you could be what I want," he said. He spoke your name so softly. "I’d like to ask for your hand in marriage."

You stopped walking, your legs suddenly unable to move. Your eyes grew wide as complete shock raced over you. You didn’t know what to do, too scared to speak because you didn’t know what was going to come out. Your first thought was that this was one of his magic tricks. Maybe he wasn’t even here, just a clone of him as he wished to make a fool of you. It wouldn’t be the first time but he had never been so cruel.

"You’re not saying anything," Loki noted. He had stopped a few feet ahead of you, completely taken off guard by your halt.

"I-I don’t understand." The words felt so heavy forcing their way out of your mouth.

"I don’t believe I stuttered, dear."

Your jaw dropped, surprised it hadn’t hit the floor already. He was seriously asking this. Loki, a literal prince, and your best friend, was asking for your hand in marriage. But — But you just didn’t know why. Why would he ask such a thing? Not only were you an unwed mother, he knew very well about your boyfriend. It was almost insulting he’d think you’d give up just because business or whatever it was was taking a while. You didn’t even want to begin to think about what this could all mean for your daughter.

"Loki… I… I don’t know. This seems crazy—,"

"Crazy?" His expression turned dark. You suddenly regretted the word despite it holding true. "What is so crazy about me wanting to take your hand? I thought this could be good. You and your daughter would have everything you’d ever want. You’d be a princess for crying out loud!"

You flinched at his anger. You had never seen him so enraged before. It made your whole body stiffen.

"I see. This… This is very generous of you but my boyfriend…"

Loki chuckled but there wasn’t any humor found within it. "Of course. The nobleman." He rolled his eyes. "Tell me again, dear, how long has it been? Do you really think he’s going to just show back up one day?"

"Of course," you nodded. "He told me—,"

"He’s not coming back."

You began shaking your head, growing more and more upset as the seconds passed. "You don’t know that."

Loki sighed, defeatedly. "I do know that, dear." A heavy pause. "I know that because I’m the one that sent him away."

You were certain in that moment your heart had stopped. Everything had stopped. You could barely tell anymore how you got from point A to point B.

"Wh-What do you mean?"

"What I mean is I’ve had my eye on you for a long time," he explained. He was standing so tall making you feel minuscule. "I always thought you could be just right for me but then that nobleman waltzed into your life. Granted, he wasn’t me. He couldn’t give you what I could but he tried his best." Loki shrugged. "I had no choice, really. He threatened everything. He derailed my plan but it’s alright. I think after tonight it’ll be back on track, correct?"

You held your hands up in defense, practically begging Loki to slow down. Your head was spinning. "You sent away the father of my child?"

Loki sighed, sounding actually regretful. "Truly, that wasn’t ever my intention. I didn’t know he was going to do that."

"And you think since you forced him out of the picture, you can swoop in and ask for my hand in marriage? We never had a courtship! Are you even hearing yourself?"

"I’m a prince, darling." He sounded so casual. "We do not court like the rest of you."

Gosh, you felt like you were going to vomit. Your hands fell to your stomach as you tried to calm yourself. You had never heard Loki separate you two so clearly before. Like he had drawn a line, definitively.

Your words tasted like venom as you forced yourself to speak. "Can I at least think about it?"

"I’m afraid not. They’d like an answer tonight."

Tonight. That was what this dinner had been for. You weren’t invited just out of the kindness of his heart. You had been attending your own engagement party.

"Loki, this… I— This is insane. You’re— You’re insane—,"

"Am I, really?" He pressed, taking a few steps closer. You trembled under a darkened gaze you had never seen before on him. "I’m not sure that’s how you should be speaking to the man trying to offer you a bit of… stability."

"Stability?" You repeated. "You think that’s all that I want?"

"Would this not grant your daughter a better life? The little shop of yours is only getting you two so far, dear."

The shock had worn off as you were now being filled with rage. "Don’t you dare bring my daughter into this anymore," you gritted. "Of course, I want nothing but the best for her but I also deserve someone who will truly love me. You’re — You’re just asking to fulfill some royal commitment and trying to pass it off like this is some big, grand gesture to help me."

Loki looked a bit taken back by your words. Even you were a bit surprised by yourself. You didn’t know where this fight was coming from within you. Probably from the depths of motherhood, if you had to guess. But it felt good in a way.

After a heavy moment, Loki asked, "Was I so wrong to assume this proposal could actually help us both?"

That was the real kicker of it all, you thought. This actually could help you both.

"I want to marry someone who loves me."

Loki seemed to debate around the idea mentally. "I’m certain that within time something could bloom. I’m not a psychopath, darling." He smirked. "But I truly can’t believe you’d give this up all for the minuscule chance at love, the hopeless thing that got you where you are today."

You gasped. "I would’ve had true love if you hadn’t banished him away!"

Loki let out a humorless laugh. "You are so adorable, you know that?" You flinched as he got close enough now to place a hand on your damp cheek. You were practically forced to look in his eyes as he spoke. "That man was nothing but a spoiled brat and I refuse to believe you actually fell for his game."

You felt yourself crumbling down again. Way beneath him. "He… He was really…"

"Don’t you dare try to defend him, do you hear me?" Loki spat. That darkness was washing over but this time it felt like a storm you couldn’t escape. "I will not have my bride speak such niceties about another man."

"Your bride—,"

"While I’ve enjoyed this little midnight confessional, we have some good news to share with everyone, don’t we?"

You didn’t know what to do. What to think anymore. He wasn’t letting up. You were trapped. It was like the prison gate had shut behind you. You were stone-cold now, completely under his control. You were giving up in complete defeat. You could scream until you were blue in the face but you were running in circles. At least your daughter would know a home.

"Yes."

Loki’s face lit up. He removed his hands from you. "Fantastic," he said, heading back towards the palace. You helplessly followed beside him. He wrapped an arm around your waist and said, "Happy engagement, dear."

[nctsjiho]

Trouble In NCity? NCT’s Taeyong and JiHo Caught Up In Controversy

January 15, 2022 By J. Mitchel (K!Today)

2022 has only just begone and yet there’s another controversy. This time however, the controversy is between two of NCT 127′s members. Taeyong and JiHo were already making headlines on New Year’s day, but it seems like they are back in the spotlight yet again. So let’s quickly get into what has been happening in the last few weeks.

New Year Dating Rumour

If you haven’t heard yet (sorry our coverage hasn’t been the greatest) on the last day of 2021 and the following days Taeyong and JiHo found themselves in the middle of a dating rumour.

The rumour sparked when a photo was posted onto social media of the two NCT members. In the photo Taeyong can be seen giving JiHo a kiss on the top of her head while they hugged each other during the MBC new year concert. Not much later a short 6 second video surfaced showing Taeyong supposedly whispering something into JiHo’s ear while they were still embracing each other. Many netizens deemed the interaction to be very intimate and were quick to speculate that the two were dating.

Luckily SM came out quickly to deny the rumours and Taeyong even commented about it on his Bubble.

“JiHo is like my little sister. [She/We] had a rough year so [I] wanted to comfort her and tell her next year will be better. Please don’t misunderstand. Though I don’t think I should apologise for taking care and comforting my members. We are close.”

Netizens dropped the whole affair soon after the statements, yet some people seemed s bit troubled by the situation still. They wondered who took the pictures and speculated that it could be staff or even idols present during the event. Some people even mentioned the possibility of sasaeng fans taking the pictures. JiHo posted a short message about this on her Weibo account.

“Are we not going to talk about respecting one’s privacy?”

After the message and fans’ concern, SM stated that they would be investigating the situation and condemn any further sharing of the picture and videos.

With that the situation quickly calmed down, and everything was going fine until a few days ago.

JiHo’s Jealousy Or Taeyong’s Favouritism

This time it seems that things took a complete 180. From potential lovers to sworn rivals. Taeyong and JiHo cannot seem to catch a break.

In the past week Taeyong has been trending a lot for his choreography of his collaboration song ‘Zoo’ with other SM artists. Tons of fans and others have been covering the dance on various social media platforms and have been praising Taeyong for it.

A few days later though, a video of JiHo dancing to NCT 127′s ‘Earthquake’ got leaked. The choreography seems different from the final result, yet some parts made completely made the cut - some dance moves even get featured in other NCT songs like: NCT 127′s ‘Favorite’ and NCT U’s ‘Universe(Let’s Play Ball)’.

The video seemed to originate from early 2021, with a blurry date in the corner as well as the background being the old SM building.

It’s not the first time JiHo has choreographed for NCT (Save - NCT 127) so the majority does believe that JiHo made the choreography and inspiration was heavily taken from her piece to make the final choreography for ‘Earthquake’ as well as for other songs.

The reason why this sparked controversy between the two members was the message attached to the video by OP:

“Taeyong makes one choreography for NCT and everyone praises him for it, meanwhile JiHo has choreographed for a group she was no longer a part of at that point (TWO TIMES might I add) and everyone just shoves it under the rug. I think JiHo is a way better choreographer (and dancer) than Taeyong, but she never gets credit. Taeyong does one thing and SM goes kissing his feet because clearly he’s their favourite. I’m sure JiHo has choreographed and written a lot more than we are aware of for SM and NCT but she never gets credit. I hope Taeyong enjoys his minute of fame while JiHo has to silently sit back and have people watch her choreography without them knowing she made it.”

This comment caused quite the stir when many fans of Taeyong came to defend him saying that it wasn’t his fault that his choreography went viral. Some even went as far as badmouthing JiHo. Some speculate that the idol herself leaked her choreography to steal the attention Taeyong has been getting.

In response to the allegations JiHo posted a heated comment on Bubble.

“If I were to post my choreography now people would call me a copy cat. I don’t need anyone’s validation to know my choreography is good. Either way my choreography was only a first draft, I honestly didn’t even know they would use it. Like with ‘Save’, I had no clue it would actually be used...  [Taeyong] choreographed ‘Zoo’ with Bada Lee, of course it will be used. She’s one of our choreographers after all.”

JiHo’s message didn’t get received positively by the public. Many people pointed out how it seemed like in her message JiHo was saying “Taeyong need validation for his choreography” or that the only reason Taeyong’s choreography was used was because he choreographed with Bada Lee.

When Taeyong posted “Ahh~~ Let’s just enjoy dancing, hmm?” on his Instagram story, fans continued to believe there was actually something going on between the two members with many blaming JiHo for it.

A few hours later JiHo posted one more message, an apology, in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese on both Bubble and Weibo.

“I want to apologise for what I said earlier today. My tone and wording didn’t match what I actually wanted to convey. I was a bit upset that people accused me of leaking a video to steal attention away from Taeyong. I did not post that video. I was never jealous of his succes, in fact I was really proud of him and thankful that I could be apart of the team that performed ‘Zoo’.

When Taeyong’s fans were being put against my fans on the internet, me and Taeyong were actually on good terms and unaware of how serious the situation had gotten. My words were never pointed to Taeyong as I never felt any negative feelings towards him. When Taeyong read my message he wasn’t upset, but he did tell me that other people could misunderstand what I was trying to say.

In the end I made a mistake and wronged many NCTzens. Therefor I apologise. I also apologised to Taeyong in case I might’ve hurt his feelings, even though he told me he wasn’t hurt by my words. I also apologised to Bada Lee, she’s a choreographer I very much respect and my words might’ve portraited my feelings otherwise. I will be more careful to word my feelings better in the future so that such a misunderstanding won’t take place anymore.

- Lim Jiho”

In the end everything is all good between Taeyong and JiHo. It’s unfortunate that so much negative attention has been casted on these two and hopefully it doesn’t set the tone for how the rest of the year is going to go. But it does look like JiHo and the group’s sasaengs have been working hard already.

Here are some of the fans’ reactions:

What are your feelings on the whole situation? Let us now in the comments bellow or on our Twitter @KNewsToday

---

Side note: this was just a little “bonus post”, a writing will be up on Wednesday like usual ^^ 

[pumpkinpaix]

Pleeeeeeease get into the class one at some point because I very much want to understand the class dynamics happening in the story but I have yet to find a meta that dives into it

god anon you want me dead don’t you alsjdfljks

referring to this post

okay, so -- my specific salt about class interpretations in mdzs are very targeted. I can’t pretend to have a deep understanding of how class works in mdzs generally because uhhhhh yeah i don’t think i have that. i’m just not familiar enough with the genre and/or the particulars of chinese class systems. but! i can talk in general terms as to why I feel a certain way about the class dynamics that I do think I understand and how I think they relate to the themes of the novel! i’m gonna talk about wei wuxian, the daozhangs, xue yang, and 3zun with, I’m sure, a bunch of digressions along the way.

the usual disclaimers: i do not think you are a bad person if you hold opinions contrary to my own. i may disagree with you very strongly, but like. this isn’t a moral judgment, fandom is transformative and interpretive etc. etc. and i may change my mind. who knows what the future will bring!

OKAY so let’s begin!

here’s the thing about wei wuxian: he’s not poor. I think because characters use “son of a servant” kind of often when they’re trying to insult him, a lot of people latch onto that and think that it’s a much stronger indication of his societal status than it actually is. iirc, most of the insults that fall along the “son of a servant” line come after wei wuxian starts breaking severely from tradition. it’s a convenient thing to attack him for, but doesn’t actually indicate anything about his wealth. (exception: yu ziyuan, but that’s a personal familial issue) this is in direct contrast to jin guangyao who is constantly mocked for his family line, publicly and privately, no matter what he does.

so this, coupled with all the jokes about wwx never having any money (wei wuqian, sizhui’s “i’ve long since known you had no money” etc.), plus his like, rough years on the street as a child ends up producing this interpretation of wei wuxian, especially in modern aus, as someone who is very class conscious and “eat the rich”. but the fact of the matter is, wei wuxian IS rich. aside from the years in his childhood and the last two years of his life in yiling, like -- wei wuxian had money and status. he is gentry. he is respected as gentry. he is treated as a son by the sect leader of yunmeng jiang -- he does not have the jiang name, but it is so very clear that jiang fengmian favors him. wei wuxian is ranked fourth of all the eligible young masters in the cultivation world -- that is not a ranking he could have attained without being accepted into the upper class.

wei wuxian’s poverty does not affect him in the way that it affects jin guangyao or xue yang. he is of low-ish birth (still the son of jiang fengmian’s right hand man though! ok sure, “son of a servant” but like. >_> whatever anyways), but for most of his life he had money. he, jiang cheng, and their sect brothers go into town and steal lotus pods with the understanding that “jiang-shushu will pay for it”. this is a regular thing! that’s fucking rich kid behavior!!! wei wuxian is careless with money because he doesn’t have to worry about it. he still has almost all the benefits of being upper class: education, food security, respect, recognition etc. I think there may also be a misconception that wei wuxian was always on the verge of being kicked out by yu ziyuan, or that he was constantly walking on eggshells around her for fear of being disowned, but that is just textually untrue. i could provide receipts, but I admittedly don’t really feel like digging them up just now ;;

even in his last years in yiling, he was not the one who was dealing with the acute knowledge of poverty: wen qing is the one managing the money, and as far as we know, wei wuxian did little to no management of daily life during the burial mounds days -- mostly, he’s described as hiding in his cave for days on end, working on his inventions, running around like a force of chaos, frivolously making a mess of things -- it’s very very cute that he buries a’yuan in the dirt, but in classic wei wuxian fashion, he did Not think about the practical consequences of it -- that A’Yuan has no other clean clothes, and now he’s gotten this set dirty and has no intention of washing them. is this a personality thing? yeah, but I think it’s also indicative of his lack of concern over the logistics of everyday survival, re: wealth.

furthermore, i think it is important to remember that wei wuxian, when he is protecting the wen remnants, is not protecting common folk: he is still protecting gentry. fallen gentry, yes! but gentry nonetheless. wen qing was favored by wen ruohan, and wen ning himself says that he has a retinue of people under his command (the remnants, essentially). their branch of the family do not have the experience of living and growing in poverty -- they are impoverished and persecuted in their last years, but that’s a very different thing from being impoverished your whole life. (sidenote: I do not believe wei wuxian’s primary motivation for defending the wen remnants was justice -- i believe he did it because he felt he owed wen ning and wen qing a life debt, and once he was there, he wasn’t going to stand around and let the work camps go on. yes, he is concerned about justice and doing the right thing, but that’s not why he went in the first place. anyways, that’s another meta)

after wei wuxian returns, he then marries back into gentry, and very wealthy gentry at that. lwj provides him all the money he could ever want, he is never worried about going homeless, starving, being denied opportunities based on his class and accompanying disadvantages. who would dare? and neither wei wuxian nor lan wangji seem to have much interest in shaking up the order of things, except in little things like the way they teach the juniors. they live in gusu, under the auspices of the lan, and they live a happy, domestic life.

were his years on the street traumatizing? yes, of course they were, there’s so much delicious character exploration to be done re: wei wuxian’s relationship to food, his relationship to his own needs, and his relationship to the people he loves. it’s all important and good! but I feel very strongly that that experience, while it was formative for him, did not impart any true understanding of poverty and the common person’s everyday struggles, nor do I think he ever really gains that understanding. he is observant and canny and aware of class and blood, certainly, but not in a way that makes it his primary hill to die on (badum-tss).

this is in very stark contrast to characters like jin guangyao and xue yang, and to some extent, xiao xingchen and song lan. I’ll start with the daozhangs, because I think they’re the simplest (??).

I think both xiao xingchen and song lan have class consciousness, but in a very simplified, broad-strokes kind of way (at least, given the information we know about them). we know that the two of them share similar values and want to one day form their own sect that gives no weight to the nobility of your lineage and has no concern with your wealth. we also know that they both disdain intersect politics and are more concerned with ideals and principles rather than status. but, I think because of that, this actually somewhat limits their perception and understanding of how status is used to oppress. as far as we know, neither of them participated on any side in sunshot and they demonstrate much more interest in relating to the commoners. honestly, i hc that they were flitting around trying to help decimated towns, protecting defenseless villages etc. I ALSO think this has a lot of interesting potential in terms of xiao xingchen and wei wuxian’s relationship, if xiao xingchen is ever revived. regardless of whether you’re in CQL or novel verse, xiao xingchen really doesn’t know wei wuxian at all, other than knowing that he’s his shijie’s son. he knows that cangse-sanren met with a tragic end, like yanling-daoren before her, and that he wants to be different. but here is cangse-sanren’s son, laying waste to entire cities, desecrating the dead. I would very much like to get into xiao xingchen’s head during that period of time (and i think, if i do it right, i can write some of it into the songxiao fixit), but that’s neither here nor there, because i’ve wandered off from my point again.

i would posit that song lan is used to an ascetic lifestyle, and xiao xingchen probably is too -- but that’s different from poverty because there’s an element of choice to it. I also think that neither of them is particularly worldly, xiao xingchen especially. he lived on an isolated mountain until he was like, seventeen, and he came down full of ideals and naivete about how the world worked. I think that both of them see inequality, that they are angered by it, and that they want to do something about it -- but their solution is neither to topple the sects, nor is it to reform the system. rather, it seems to be more about withdrawing and creating their own removed world. I think that the daozhangs embody a kind of utopianism that isn’t present in the minds of any of the other characters, not even wangxian. honestly, baoshan-sanren’s mountain is a utopian ideal, but one that is not described. it exists outside of and beyond the world. i have a lot of jumbled, vague thoughts about utopianism generally, mostly informed by china miéville and ursula k. le guin, and I don’t think i have the ability to articulate them here, but i wanted to. hm. say something? there is something about the inherent dystopianism contained within every utopia, that utopias are necessary, but also reflections of the existence of terrible things in their conception. idk. there’s something in there, I know it!! but i suppose what I want to say is -- i do not think the daozhangs understand class and social hierarchy very deeply because they don’t see a need to examine it deeply. for their goals, the details aren’t the point. they’re not looking to reform within the system, they’re looking to build something outside of it. I think they spend a lot of time concerned with alleviating the symptoms of social oppression, and their values reflect the injustices they witness there.

regardless, even if their story ends in tragedy and there is a certain amount of critique re: the utopian approach, i think the text still emphasizes that xiao xingchen left a utopia and that he thought that people mattered enough for him to try, and that was an incredibly honorable, kind, and human thing to do.

YEAH SURE THE DAOZHANGS ARE THE SIMPLEST ok ok RETURNING to class and moving forward: xue yang.

i also don’t think xue yang has class consciousness lol, or not in any way that really matters, but I do think poverty impacted him in a much stronger way than it impacted wei wuxian. wei wuxian spent some years on the street as a child. xue yang grew up on the streets. chang ci’an’s horrific treatment of him was directly due to his class and social standing: chang ci’an is a nobleman and xue yang is not even worth the dirt beneath the wheels of his cart. what I think is the seminal point though, is that this does not make xue yang think particularly deeply about systemic injustice, because xue yang is so self-centered, self-driven, and individualistic. he is not even slightly concerned about how poverty and class might affect other people -- they’re other people. what he takes away from his experience is not an anger at being wrongfully cheated by a system, but an anger at being wrongfully cheated by a specific man.

xue yang is not particularly concerned with the politics of the aristocracy -- he has no obvious ambitions other than, “i want to eat sweets whenever i please”, “i want to hurt anyone who wrongs me”, and “i want to be so strong that no one can hurt me”. like, he just doesn’t care -- it’s not the kind of power he wants. he sneers at people for like, personal reasons, not class reasons -- “you think you’re better than me” re: xiao xingchen and song lan. to him, all people -- poor, wealthy, noble, common -- are essentially equal, and they are all beneath him. after all, what does he care what family someone comes from, how much money they have? everyone bleeds when you cut them. some of them might be harder to get to than others, but xue yang does not fear that sort of thing. it’s just another obstacle he needs to vault on his way to getting revenge and/or a pastry.

ANYWAYS onto jin guangyao (wow this is hm. getting rather long ahaha oh dear): I would argue that the two characters with the most acute understanding of class/societal politics and the injustice of them are jin guangyao and lan xichen. i’ll start with jin guangyao for obvious reasons.

where xue yang took the damaging effects of poverty as personal slights, I think jin guangyao is painfully aware that there is nothing personal about them, which is, in some ways, much worse. why are two sons, born on the same day to the same father, treated so differently? just because.

he watched his mother struggle and starve and work herself to the bone in a profession where she was constantly disrespected and abused for almost nothing in return, while his father could have lifted her out of poverty with the wave of a finger. why didn’t he? because he didn’t like her? no -- because he didn’t care, and the structures of the society they live in protect that kind of blase treatment of the lower class.

“so my mother couldn’t choose her own fate, is that her fault?” jin guangyao demands. he knows that he is unbelievably talented, that he has ambition, that he has potential, and that all of it is beyond his grasp just because his father didn’t want to bother with it. his mother’s life was destroyed, and his own opportunities were crippled with that negligence. it isn’t personal. that’s just the way things are. your individual identity is meaningless, your humanity does not exist. when he’s kicked down the steps of jinlin tai, it’s just more confirmation that no matter how talented or hardworking he is, no one will give him the time of day unless he finds a way to take it himself and become someone who “matters”.

jin guangyao’s cultivation is weak because he had a poor foundation, and he had a poor foundation because he was denied access to a good one. he copies others because that’s all he can do at this point, and he copies so well that he can hold his own against some of the strongest cultivators of his generation. he’s disparaged for copying and “stealing” techniques, but -- he never would have had to if only he had been born/accepted into the upper class. the fact is that i really do think jin guangyao was the most promising cultivator of his generation that we meet, including the twin jades and wei wuxian: he had natural talent, ambition, creativity, determination and cunning in spades. in some ways, I think that’s one of the overlooked tragedies of jin guangyao: the loss of not just the good man he could have been, but the powerful one too. imagine what he could have done.

jin guangyao spends his entire time in the world of the aristocracy feeling unsteady and terrified because he knows exactly how precarious his position is. he knows how easy it is to lose power, especially for someone like him. he’s working against so many disadvantages, and every scrap of honor he gets is a vicious battle. jin guangyao fears, and I think that’s something that’s lacking in xue yang, wei wuxian and the daozhangs’ experiences/understandings of poverty. i think it’s precisely that fear that emphasizes jin guangyao’s understanding of class and blood. jin guangyao exhibits an anxiety that neither wei wuxian nor xue yang do, and it’s because he truly knows how little he is worth in the eyes of society and how little there is he can do to change that. to me, it very much feels related to the anxiety of not knowing if tomorrow you’ll have something to eat, if tomorrow you’ll still have a home, if tomorrow someone will destroy you and never have to answer for it. it’s the anxiety of knowing helplessness intimately.

moreover, jin guangyao is the only person shown to use the wealth and power at his disposal to take concrete steps to actually help the common people typically ignored by the powerful -- the watchtowers. they’re described in chapter 42. it’s a system that is designed to cover remote areas that most cultivators are reluctant to go due to their inconvenience and the lack of means of the people who live there. the watchtowers assign cultivators to different posts, give aid to those previously forgotten, and if the people are too poor to pay what the cultivators demand, the lanling jin sect pays for it. jin guangyao worked on this for five years and burned a lot of bridges over it. people were strongly opposed to it, thinking that it was some kind of ploy for lanling jin’s personal benefit. but the thing is -- it worked. they were effective. people were helped.

i believe CQL frames the watchtowers as an allegory for a surveillance state/centralized control (i think?? it’s been a minute -- that’s the hazy impression i remember, something like a parallel to the wen supervisory offices?), but I personally don’t think that was the intent in the novel. the watchtowers are a public good. lanling jin doesn’t staff them with their own sect members -- they get nearby sects to staff them. it’s a warning network that they fund that’s supposed to benefit everyone, even those that everyone had considered expendable.

(did jin guangyao do terrible things to achieve this goal? yeah lol. it’s not confirmed, but his son sure did die... suspiciously...... at the hands of an outspoken critic of the watchtowers........ whom he then executed....... so like, maybe just a convenient coincidence for jin guangyao, two birds one stone, but. it seems. Unlikely.)

lan xichen is the only member of the gentry that ever shows serious compassion for and nuanced understanding of jin guangyao’s circumstances. lan xichen treats him as his equal regardless of jin guangyao’s current status -- even when he was meng yao, lan xichen treated him as a human being worthy of respect, as someone with great merits, as someone he would choose as a friend, but he did so knowing full well the delicate position meng yao occupied. this is in direct contrast to nie mingjue, who also believed that meng yao was worthy of respect as a human being, but was completely unable to comprehend the complexities of his circumstances and unwilling to grant him any grace. you know, the difference between “i acknowledge that your birth and status have had effects upon you, but I don’t think less of you for it” and “i don’t consider your birth and status at all when i interact with you because i think it is irrelevant” (“i don’t see color” anyone?)

to illustrate, from chapter 48:

大抵是觉得娼妓之子身上说不定也带着什么不干净的东西，这几名修士接过他双手奉上来的茶盏后，并不饮下，而是放到一边，还取出雪白的手巾，很难受似的，有意无意反复擦拭刚才碰过茶盏的手指。聂明玦并非细致之人，未曾注意到这种细节，魏无羡却用眼角余光扫到了这些。孟瑶视若未见，笑容不坠半分，继续奉茶。蓝曦臣接过茶盏之时，抬眸看他一眼，微笑道：“多谢。”

旋即低头饮了一口，这才继续与聂明玦交谈。旁的修士见了，有些不自在起来。

rough tl:

Probably because they believed that the son of a prostitute might also carry some unclean things upon his person, after these few cultivators took the teacups offered from [Meng Yao’s] two hands, they did not drink, but instead put them to one side, and furthermore brought out snow white handkerchiefs. Quite uncomfortably, and whether they were aware of it or not, they repeatedly wiped the fingers they had just used to touch the teacups. Nie Mingjue was not a detail-oriented person and never took note of such particulars, but Wei Wuxian caught these in the corner of his eye. Meng Yao appeared as if he had not seen, his smile unwavering in the slightest, and continued to serve tea. When Lan Xichen took the teacup, he glanced up at him and, smiling, said, “Thank you.”

He immediately dipped his head to take a sip, and only then continued to converse with Nie Mingjue. Seeing this, the nearby cultivators began to feel somewhat uneasy.

all right, since we’re in full cyan-rampaging-through-the-weeds mode at this point, i’m going to talk about how this is one of my favorite 3zun moments in the entire novel for characterization purposes because it really highlights how they all relate to one another, and to what degree each of them is aware of their own position in relation to the others and society as a whole.

1. nie mingjue, who is a forthright and blunt person, sets meng yao to serving tea and is done with it. he notices nothing wrong or inappropriate about the reactions of the people in the room because it’s not the sort of thing he considers important.

2. meng yao, knowing that his only avenue is to take it lying down with a smile, masks perfectly.

3. lan xichen, noticing all this, uses his own reputation to achieve two things at once: pointedly shame the other cultivators in attendance, and show meng yao that regardless of others’ opinions, he considers him an equal and does not endorse such behavior--and he does it while taking care that no fallout will come down on meng yao’s head.

is this yet another installment of cyan’s endless lxc defense thesis? why yes it is! no one is surprised! but this is my whole point: both meng yao and lan xichen understand the respective hierarchy and power dynamics within the room, while nie mingjue very much does not. this is not because nie mingjue is a bad person or because nie mingjue is stupid--it’s a combination of personality and upbringing. nie mingjue is straightforward and has no patience for such games. but then again, he can afford not to play because he was born into such a high position: that’s a privilege.

to break it down: meng yao knows that he is the lowest-ranked person in the room, sees the way people are subtly disrespecting him in full view of his general who is doing nothing about it. in some ways, this is good -- nie mingjue’s style of dealing with conflict is very direct and not at all suited to delicate political maneuvering. after all, the way he promoted meng yao was actually quite dangerous to meng yao: he essentially guaranteed that his men would bear meng yao a grudge and that their disrespect for him would only be compounded by their bitterness at being punished on his behalf. (it’s like, why often getting parents or teachers to intervene ineffectively in bullying can just be an incitement to more bullying -- same concept) meng yao’s reaction during that scene shows that he’s pretty painfully aware of this and is trying to defuse the situation to no avail. nie mingjue gives him a bootstrap speech (rip nie mingjue i love u so much but. sir) and then promotes him, which is pretty much the only saving grace of that entire exchange, for meng yao at least.

lan xichen, on the other hand, understands both that meng yao is the lowest-ranked person in the room and that any direct attempt to chastise the other cultivators in the room will only serve to hurt meng yao in the long run. he knows that if this were brought to nie mingjue’s attention, he would be outraged and not shy about it -- also bad for meng yao. so he uses what he has: his immaculate reputation. by acting contrary to the other cultivators’ behavior, he demonstrates that he finds their actions unacceptable but with the plausible deniability that it wasn’t directed at them, that this is just zewu-jun being his usual generous self. this means that the other cultivators have no one to blame but themselves, nothing to do but question their own actions. there is nowhere to cast off their discomfort. meng yao didn’t do anything. lan xichen didn’t do anything -- he just thanked meng yao and drank his tea, isn’t that what it’s there for? he doesn’t disrupt the peace, he doesn’t attack anyone and put them on the defensive, but he does make his position very clear.

i know this is a really small thing and i’m probably beating it to death, but I really think this shows just how cognizant lan xichen is of politics and emotional cause and effect in such situations. certainly, out of context I think the scene reads kind of cliche, but within the greater narrative of the story and within the arc of these characters specifically, I think it was a really smart scene to include. it also showcases lan xichen’s style of action: that he moves around and with a problematic situation as opposed to moving straight through.

not to be salty on main again, but this is why it’s very frustrating to me when I see people call lan xichen passive when he is anything but. his actions just don’t look like traditional “actions”, especially to an american audience. it’s easy to understand lan wangji and wei wuxian’s style of problem-solving: taking a stand, moving through, staying strong. lan xichen is juggling an inconceivable number of factors in any given situation, weighing his responsibilities in one role against those in another, and then trying to find the path through the thicket that will cause the least harm, both to himself and the thicket. lan wangji and wei wuxian are not particularly good at considering the far-reaching consequences of their actions -- again, not because they are bad people, but because of a combination of personality and upbringing. they’d just hack through the thicket, not thinking about the creatures that live in it. that is not a terrible thing! it isn’t. it’s a different way of approaching a problem, and it has different priorities. that’s okay. there are advantages and disadvantages on both sides, and where you come down is going to depend on your personal values.

okay we’ve spiraled far and away from my original point, but let’s circle back: i was talking about class.

I think it’s undeniable that class, birthright, fate etc. are some of the driving forces of thematic conflict in mdzs, and the way each character interacts with those forces reveals a lot about themselves and also about the larger themes of fate, chance, and what it means to be righteous and good and how that is and isn’t rewarded. a lot of the tragedy of mdzs (the tragedy that isn’t caused by direct aggression on the part of one group or another) stems from the injustices and slights that people suffered due to their lot in life. it isn’t fair. none of it is fair! we sympathize with jin guangyao because we recognize that what he suffered was unconscionable, even if we don’t excuse him. i sympathize A Lot with xue yang as well for similar reasons, though I understand that’s a harder sell. this is a story focused on the mistakes of an entrenched, aging gentry and the effects that those mistakes had on their children, and a lot of it has to do with prejudice based in class and birth status. whether the prejudice was the true reason or whether it was just a convenient excuse, the fact remains that the systems in place rewarded and protected the people in power who used it to cling to that power. mdzs is also a story of how the circumstances of one’s life can offer you impossible choices that you cannot abstain from, and it asks us to be compassionate to the people who made terrible choices in terrible times. it’s about the inherent complexity in all things! that sometimes, there are no good choices, and i don’t know, i’d like to think that people would show me compassion if I had to make the choices some of these characters did. not just wei wuxian, mind you, every single one of them. except jin guangshan because I Do Hate Him sorry. and i guess wen ruohan. i think that’s it.

good. GOD this is clocking in at //checks notes -- just over 5k. 8′D *stuffs some weeds into my mouth like the clown i am*

(ko-fi? :’D *lies down*)

[chudleycanonficfest]

Day 28, Post #1 by @floreatcastellumposts

Title: The Argument Author/Artist: FloreatCastellum Pairing: Gen Prompt: “Siblings: The only enemy you can’t live without” -Anonymous Rating: T Trigger Warning(s) (if any): Mild language

When he was a child, Ron had sometimes sat secretly on the stairs, feet in slippers too big for him, teddy tucked under his arm, listening to the goings on in the kitchen. Often his sister or a brother or two would be with him. This was especially the case when there was an argument, because they were a nosy bunch of kids, and they would grin gleefully at one another as they heard their mother roar over some issue, like when Bill came home with his first tattoo, or Charlie had done something dangerous like climb on the roof, or the many, many, many things that Fred and George had done. They would gather on the stairs and snigger and delight in their siblings being in trouble - that it wasn't them, and usually it was over something hilarious too. 

Today was quite different. The stairs were narrow, so Ginny was pressed right up against him, but she was gripping hold of his arm too. Behind them, Fred and George sat in grim, stony silence, their knees occasionally knocking the back of Ron's head, but, remarkably, none of them were squabbling.

'Is it so hard to just be happy for me?' Percy was bellowing, and that in itself was unusual, because it was never Percy in trouble. 

'It's not about that,' Dad was bellowing back, 'are you so naive? Are you really so foolish-?' This was unusual too, because it wasn't usually Dad bellowing. 

'Percy... Percy, we're just worried, we're just concerned...' Mum was sobbing. This was unusual, because she usually had a bit more fight in her, not this desperate pleading. 

'You're so cynical, the pair of you-'

'We're realistic! You've been promoted well above your grade before the dust has settled on the inquiry-'

'STOP BRINGING UP THE INQUIRY!' Percy sounded quite deranged; the ferocity of his voice made Ginny jump slightly, and grip Ron's arm harder. 'That - wasn't - my - fault! That was the point of it! That PROVED I wasn't to blame, I was acquitted-'

'Yes, and we were delighted,' said Dad, and to Ron's astonishment, his words sounded bitingly sarcastic, 'but even so, you have to see that mass scandal is not usually a precursor to promotion!'

'He SAW something in me!' 

'Yes, he did! He saw a potential spy! On our family - on Dumbledore-'

Percy let out a maniacal laugh, forced and sneering and sanctimonious, it made Ron wince as he heard it. 'And you say I'm arrogant?' 

'We've never said you were arrogant-' Mum tried to chip in desperately, but Percy continued talking over her. 

'You think you're important enough to warrant the Minister for Magic spying on you? You think he considers you in the same circle as Dumbledore? More to the point, you think Dumbledore truly respects the likes of you?'  

'Fudge has been going round making it more than clear that anyone who supports Dumbledore can clear out their desks-'

'Utter rot-'

'-He knows I'm friendly with him, he knows I have advised the school on muggleborn inte-'

'No one cares!' Percy screamed. 'No one cares about that stuff! You're ludicrous!'

'Ludicrous?' Dad echoed, with an uncharacteristic scoff to his voice. 

'Ludicrous! Not everything is a conspiracy, not everything has an anti-muggle agenda - I know what this is really about, you're embarrassed that your own son is rising above you, is succeeding where you haven't-'

'Percy!' Mum's gasp was so clear that Ron could easily imagine her hand leaping to her chest. 

'I've had to struggle against your lousy reputation ever since I started! Do you know how embarrassing it is? Do you know what it's like having people ask if I'm related to the muggle-mad Weasley on Level Two-' 

'That's enough,' said Dad coldly. 

'I lie to them, d'you know that? I tell them we're only distantly related.' 

'What the fuck?' Ron heard one of the twins whisper behind them. 'Is he serious?' 

'I never imagined I had raised you to be so small-minded-' Dad was spitting back.

'It's baffling that you raised me at all! You, who has no ambition, no sense, no idea of how ridiculous you come across with your obsession with muggles - is it any wonder you've always been passed over for promotion-'

'-Because of bigotry!'

'-Any wonder you've left your children to grow up in poverty? To be humiliated by the failures of their father?' 

'Stop it! Percy, stop it!' Mum was wailing, and whether it was Fred or George directly behind him Ron didn't know, but their knee was trembling against the back of his head. 

'It's not failure, it's a matter of principle and integrity!' Dad roared back. 'There are more important things than gold, that's what we've always-'

'You are deluded! You are so blinded by your persecution complex, by your victimhood, that you cannot be happy for your son!' Percy’s voice was hoarse and raw, whether from tears or overexertion, Ron wasn’t sure. 'You can't bear to see him succeed where you failed! To see him make something of himself!'

'Why would I be happy watching my son be manipulated and used? Make no mistake, Percy - this is no achievement, this is Fudge playing you as a puppet - if you're ashamed of your background, that's your prerogative, but there's no denying this family is known to be close to Dumbledore and Harry, and Fudge is waging a vendetta against-'

‘You’re an idiot to run around with Dumbledore!’ snapped Percy. ‘He’s heading for trouble - gone completely power mad the last few years - you know full well his glory days are over. You’ll end up going down with him-’

‘Fudge is fighting a campaign against Dumbledore when he should be-’

‘I know where my loyalties lie, and it is not with my old teacher! It is with my employer, the leader of my government, with people who look at the facts!’

‘The facts are that Harry-’

'Yes - Harry - here we go,' snapped Percy. 'You rank the word of a child above the expert testimonies and mountains of evidence brought up by the inquiry, above your own boss - no wonder he thinks you're cracked. You’re determined to see conspiracy everywhere-’ 

‘How can you say that? You saw the aftermath of what happened, you saw him-’

‘I saw the actual dead boy, I saw Diggory!’ snapped Percy. ‘Think what his family is going through, their child’s death being used as a political quaffle-’

‘That is Fudge’s doing! That is his choice! He has chosen to make a mockery of Diggory, to disregard Harry-'

‘To question the story of a teenager,’ corrected Percy. His tone was cold and quiet, the kind of sanctimonious "I'm being the grown up here, actually" patience that Ron found unbearably aggravating. ‘The only evidence is his word, it’s not unreasonable to question a witness. In fact, it’s a perfectly standard part of due process.’

Ron’s growing anger was now twisted with a kind of lurching dread. The snide little comments in the Daily Prophet, which they had all blustered and raged and gasped in revolted disdain at over breakfasts for the past week, suddenly felt sinister. As he thought about it, Percy had never joined in… had always been silent… 

‘Percy…’ said Mum, so faintly that, as one, Ron, Ginny, Fred and George all leaned forward to listen. ‘Percy, surely you… surely you believe him? Surely you can’t believe he deserves what they’re saying about him? He’s just a child - it’s like the whole world’s forgotten that he’s just a child.’ 

'Yes, he's just a child - so why should he be the centre of everything?' Percy demanded. 'Why should he shape our family? Impact our careers?' 

'Percy… if you had seen him in the hospital wing, if you had looked into his eyes…' 

'Mr Fudge was not convinced,' said Percy, as though that settled the matter.

‘Has he asked you about Harry?’ Dad asked abruptly. Beside Ron, Ginny was shaking. ‘Casually?’ 

‘I - no more than is to be expected when you have someone famous living under your roof-’

‘What did he ask? What did you say?’ 

They heard a brief, thick silence, and a sharp exhale of air. ‘He… he’s not relevant to this discussion. This is beyond - this isn’t the issue - the only evidence is his word, as I said-’ 

‘You don’t believe him.’ Dad’s voice was blank, stunned, quiet. ‘You… you know that boy, Percy.’  

‘You don’t believe in me,’ said Percy, and Ron could hear his tears now, the slight thickness to his voice, the sniffs between words. ‘You’d rather believe in some ludicrous conspiracy theory from a teenager who thinks he sees You-Know-Who around every corner than believe that your own son might have worked hard, might be talented, might deserve his career. You’d really think so little of me.’ 

‘That’s not it. That’s not it at all,’ Dad said quietly, and Mum was crying loudly. ‘We just-’

‘I don’t care!’ said Percy harshly. ‘I don’t care what you think! Not any more! Years I’ve put up with it, years! I’m going - I’m gone - I don’t want to see either of you again - you’ve made it clear that you don’t have my interests at heart, this was your choice-’

‘What do you mean?’ Mum shrieked, and they could hear the scraping of chairs being moved aside, thundering footsteps, Mum begging-

The door was thrust open, and Percy stood for a moment in the hallway, looking up at the four of them sitting on the stairs. His expression was unreadable. Tear tracks shone from beneath his horn-rimmed glasses, and his mouth was a thin, grim line. 

‘Move,’ he told them. 

‘You’re being a right bellend,’ said Fred at once. 

‘MOVE!’ 

They did not, and Mum had come running after Percy, hanging desperately onto his arm though he tried to shake her off. ‘Come on, Perce,’ she pleaded. ‘Come and sit down, let’s all cool off and talk about this-’

‘Get out of my way,’ Percy told his siblings once more, and now Ron stood. 

‘Harry’s part of our family,’ he blurted out furiously. 

 ‘He’s not, Ron,’ Percy growled. ‘He’s your friend, that doesn’t mean everything he says is right - move out my way.’ 

‘How can you say that!’ Ginny demanded. ‘What’s wrong with you? How can you say all these horrible things?’ 

Percy started climbing the stairs, pushing Ron aside and stepping over Ginny, furiously struggling past Fred and George who immediately made their bodies as big and awkward and gangling as they could imagine, shouting colourful insults at him as he pushed past and thundered up to his room. 

‘He just needs to calm down,’ Mum was squeaking. ‘Go - go to your rooms, let me and Dad talk to him-’ 

‘No chance!’ 

‘I haven’t said my piece yet!’ 

He returned just a few moments later, carrying a bulging bag with a jumper sleeve trailing out, a little line of abandoned socks and a pair of underwear left on the stairs. ‘I’m going to stay with friends,’ he said. 

‘You haven't got any,’ goaded George. 

‘Be quiet, George!’ Mum wailed. ‘Percy-’

‘Then I’m getting my own place, I’m not staying here anymore - I’m not letting you all drag me down with you. If you’re all going to be traitors to the Ministry I’m going to make sure everyone’s well aware that I don’t belong to this family any more-’

‘You do, Percy, you do - you’ll always be my son-’ Mum’s words were barely audible beneath her crying. Percy pushed past her, and stormed towards the door. 

‘Percy!’ Ron shouted, and to his surprise, Percy turned and looked at him. 

Ron could not find the words for his contempt, could not find an insult strong enough, could not decide what to do with the rage that was coursing through him. All he could hope was that Percy could feel it in his cold, hard stare. ‘How could you?’ 

Percy said nothing, simply looked back for a moment, and then turned his back and strode swiftly to the door. Mum was running after him, and though they heard the ear-splitting crack of disapparation, she stood in the doorway shouting his name. 

Dad had not followed, and with a creak, Ginny rose beside Ron and descended the last few stairs. She peered through the doorway to the kitchen. ‘Dad?’ 

Ron heard a splutter, and then dry, heaving sobs. Ginny vanished into the kitchen. Behind him, Fred and George were muttering mutinously, swearing and cursing. 

‘What’s he playing at?’ 

‘He’s an idiot. A big-headed, pompous, ridiculous idiot, we’ve always said it, we were right.’ 

‘Who does he think he is? Does he really think that promotion is normal? Does he honestly think he’s that extraordinary?’  

‘Moron…’ 

Ron’s jaw was aching from gritting his teeth so hard, his heart was trying to break through his ribcage and go after Percy to beat him. 

‘Do you really think he meant that stuff he said to Dad?’ George said. ‘It’s just…’  

‘I bet he does, the git,’ said Fred. ‘I bet he really does pretend he’s not part of the family. He’s ashamed of us. Slimy, brown-nosing prick…’ 

‘All that stuff about poverty? So uncalled for.’

‘That’s it, really, isn’t it? He’s a greedy arsehole.’ 

‘Well, he’s certainly written himself out of the will now, hasn’t he?’ 

‘He won’t care, nothing for him to inherit anyway, apparently.’ 

That prickling, heated anger was back - his very ears were hot with it, he wouldn’t be surprised if steam had been bursting out of them. The memory of Harry, pale and shaken in the hospital wing, his hands gripping Mum’s robes as she hugged him, was lingering in his mind. ‘Did you hear all that crap about Harry? Did you hear what he was saying about him? Harry!’

‘Yeah,’ muttered George. ‘Pillock.’ 

‘Why would he say that? What the bloody hell is going on with him? He’s gone bonkers. When did he turn into such a - a -’ He still could not quite find a word strong enough.  

‘Berk?’ suggested George. 

‘Something along those lines…’  

‘Easier than admitting he’s horrible, selfish, idiot snob, I suppose,’ said Fred. 

‘Money’s always been an issue, but blaming Dad like that is just…’ 

‘Nasty,’ said Ron, simply. 

‘You can make money without completely selling out and betraying your family,’ said Fred seriously. ‘You can do it and keep your integrity.’ 

‘He’s acting like we weren’t fed enough,’ said George spitefully. ‘Percy didn’t even get that many hand-me-downs, really - Mum and Dad were doing all right before they were hit with twins, and we all know Ginny was probably unexpected.’ 

‘Was she?’ said Ron distractedly.

‘Are you joking, you were only about eight months old, who picks then to decide to have another baby?’  

‘Mum.’ 

‘Fair.’ 

‘Anyway,’ said Fred, ‘Percy’s not exactly been hard done by, not really. He’s just always been ashamed we’re not as well-heeled as his smarmy new colleagues at the Ministry.’ 

‘It’s childish,’ said Ron, who was feeling another lurch of guilt as he thought back on the previous year. ‘It’s really petty…’ 

‘We’ve all wished the family was better off now and then,’ said George fairly. ‘Who wouldn’t? But that was a seriously low blow. God, poor Dad,' he added, his voice lowering further. 'I'm glad Ginny's gone in to comfort him, I don't even know where to begin.'

‘Do you think he’s really gone for good?’ asked Ron.

‘Hope so,’ said Fred viciously. ‘Hey - one less mouth to feed now, maybe the family’ll be better off.’ 

'You know what else,' Ron said sharply, his brain whirring, 'did you hear him dodging Dad's question about what he's said about Harry? Good thing he's buggered off before we go to the Order Headquarters, isn't it? Who knows what he would have blabbered about?' 

Fred was looking at him as though in a new light. 'You know what, Ronniekins, that is a really excellent and disturbing point. You're a bit of a bright spark at times, aren't you?' 

'Brighter than Percy,' Ron muttered.

[azucanela]

pls some headcanons for Bakugou, Shinsou and Shoto when the reader kisses them infront of everyone. Thank you :)

KISSING THEM IN FRONT OF EVERYONE

FT. BAKUGOU KATSUKI, SHINSOU HITSOHI TODOROKI SHOUTO

SUMMARY: in which you and the boys kiss in public, and now everyone is screaming. oh no.

WORD COUNT: 2.1k

WARNING: season three spoliers, insecurities, arguments,

A/N: i wanted to do scenarios bc this was too good ugh thank YOU for requesting this 

BAKUGO KATSUKI

lol so HAVE FUN WITH THIS ONE

you two are already dating but you keep it on the down low because its Katsuki and he’s like ew people knowing i have feelings other than anger? ew ew ew

you’re fine with it, but if he thinks its bothering you he’ll talk to you about it and smother you with affection, but he’ll act like its nothing

wants to rub it in his faces that you are his girlfriend, yes, but also he doesn’t want the teasing that comes with it. he knows for a fact that all his friends would bully him because he is SOFT FOR YOUUU and he’s also just a generally private person

you respect this and like it’s fine woo yeah okay it’s nice being the only one that sees the side of him that’s all soft and cute and affectionate

i can’t really see the two of you slipping up unless it’s influenced by a lot of emotions

where do these emotions come from? you might ask

his kidnapping.

you were a mess, but it was lowkey, real lowkey. and unlike the others you do not support trying to save katsuki on their own, trusting the heroes to do their job is the way to go.

so you don’t go with them. the next time you see your lovely boyfriend is when he’s giving kirishima money

so naturally, consumed by all the fear and panic you felt while he was gone, you kiss him!

and he kisses you back and its really soft and oh-

what a shame the whOLE CLASS IS THERE 

everyone is really confused, but they’re happy because they think that the two of you finally addressed the clear tension between the two of you, all it took was a lil kidnapping

except then you pull apart, completely disregarding them, your hands on his face, “baby are you okay?”

you don’t call someone you haven’t kissed before baby

then it clicks for the rest of the class

SCREAMS.

so much yelling

oh god have fun with that one

the bakusquad is yelling at him for not telling him, the dekusquad is scolding you for not telling them, there’s just a lot of questionable things

katsuki will get SO FLUSTERED because this is not what we wanted

at least the attention was off of his kidnapping now

maybe that was your goal idk 👀

Katsuki really wished everyone would shut up about his kidnapping, it wasn’t something he wanted to think about right now, or ever if he was honest. So much had happened in the past few days and he was still struggling to process all of it, and the disgustingly warm welcome he’d received to the dorms wasn’t helping. It was gross. 

He’d shoved cash into Kirishima’s hand, rolling his eyes when he began to panic at the possibility that he’d taken it from Denki, shutting down the idea almost immediately.

And then he saw her.

Y/N was shoving past everyone and heading to him, and he couldn’t help the relief he felt when he saw her. Katsuki was grateful she hadn’t been involved in the little escape plan Deku had hatched out, but seeing her made him feel calmer than even as she practically tackled him, hands coming to his cheeks as she brought him into a kiss.

Their lips molded together perfectly, his hands coming to her sides and holding her like he’d never let go as her hands gripped his face rather harshly. It would have been the perfect moment, had the rest of his class not been there. 

Y/N seemed to disregard this as she pulled apart, eyes darting across his figure as his brows furrowed at her clear distress. “Calm down, idiot.” His cheeks are turning red as he realizes that everyone is staring, but he can’t help but focus his attention on her as he feels a wave of relaxation wash over him as she begins to run her hands all over him in search of injuries.

“Oh, I’m sorry, for caring about your wellbeing.” She grumbled, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso when her hands left his face. “Baby, you scared me.” His arms wrapped around her shoulders securely, as he rolled his eyes, though Katsuki wouldn’t deny he was appreciating all the attention she was giving him, he was beginning to feel embarrassed as he allowed her to hold onto him.

As if the kiss hadn’t been enough to astonish the rest of their class, the pet name simply amplified their shocked as they all cried out, “baby?” Kirishima had exchanged looks with Mina, who looked equally confused before returning their gaze to Katsuki, a look of betrayal evident on both their faces.

Stupid barbarians. “SHUT UP EXTRAS!” Katsuki exclaimed, holding Y/N tighter to his chest as his cheeks flushed red, he could hear her laugh against his chest. “Can’t a guy hug his girlfriend in peace.” 

“GIRLFRIEND?”

He was grateful for the subject change, though he didn’t appreciate the fact that his relationship had been exposed, until he looked back to Y/N, who beamed at him. 

If she was happy then it was fine he supposed. 

SHINSOU HITOSHI

welp

this one will probably have the funniest reaction

like

you did not just kiss him, in front of all these people, was that a joke?

i think he’s the only one you wouldn’t already be in a relationship with, purely because this is just 10x funnier

so ever since the two of you first started hanging, there have been people criticizing you for befriending him at all, because of his quirk, they just cannot believe that the Y/N L/N is hanging out with Shinsou Hitoshi

but also, ever since the two of you started hanging out, the bullying has lessened immensely, most because you threatened everyone it was really subtle, but they got the message

nobody screws with Y/N L/N

anyways, you two are probably hanging out again, and it’s been a while since you got one of those comments, which is the main reason this one sets you off.

“quit hanging out with that freak L/N, he’s gonna ruin your chances at becoming a pro.” 

shinsou was used to this, and your violent reactions, so he immediately brought a hand to your arm to ensure you didn’t commit a murder, shaking his head at you

you turn back to him, and you’re lowkey glaring at him before turning your piercing eyes back to the other guys

and without breaking eye contact with them, you grab Shinsou’s face, earning stares from everywhere in the cafeteria, and then kiss him

shinsou is shocked

shinsou.exe

you killed him.

he did not anticipate this um, you kinda caught him by surprise with this one, he genuinely did not think it was possible for you to feel this way for him

when you pull away, the kiss is almost like magic

you don’t mess with Y/N’s friends, much less their boyfriend

When Y/N beams up at Shinsou, he can’t help the way his heart skips a beat. It’s ridiculous, he knows this, and he hates that he can’t prevent it. Shinsou is no fool, he knows Y/N L/N, a UA student that could potentially be a member of the Top Ten heroes in the future, would never like him. He wouldn’t be shocked if she befriended him entirely out of pity, given how students used to treat him prior to their unlikely friendship. She’d weaseled her way into his life, despite his attempts to avoid her, ignore her, and even tell her off, she’d stuck around. 

And yes, Shinsou had made the mistake of liking her. On days like this, he’d entertain the possibility that Y/N liked him back, because sometimes she hugged him for longer than average friends did, or maybe she’d press a kiss to his cheek, or even hold his hands.

That was probably just something best friends did.

“Hitoshi! Don’t you know what this means?” She exclaimed, hands finding their way onto his shoulders in the middle of the cafeteria.

Yes, she used his first name.

Shinsou rolled his eyes, trying to keep himself from getting flustered purely because her hands were on him, “Y/N it’s not a big deal, and besides-”

“We’re going to be in the same class!” Her hands move from his shoulders to around them as she pulls him into a hug, “I’m so proud of you.”

He’s shocked that she’s saying these things, and its clear she has more confidence in him than he does. Aizawa had offered him daily training to get him onto the same level as the other Class 1-A students, and he’d be joining them the next semester, assuming everything went well. “It’s no guarantee.” He mumbles, wrapping his arms around her torso.

Shinsou felt Y/N swat his back as she pulled away slightly, much to his dismay, “you’re so talented! Of course, he’s gonna let you in.” 

She sounded so sure, and Shinsou felt his heart swell with pride. 

He moves to speak, only to be interrupted by a passerby, “L/N. Come on, quit hanging out with that freak.” Y/N recognized him, James, he’d bothered Shinsou before, and he’d tried to get Y/N to stop hanging out with Shinsou and been unsuccessful. “He’s just gonna ruin your chances at becoming a pro.”

Y/N pulls away slightly from Shinsou, her brows are furrowed as she moves to confront him, only for Shinsou to grab her arm, shaking his head. “Don’t.”

Turning to glare at the guy, Y/N scoffed, “is this because I rejected you?” 

“He asked you out?” Shinsou asked, but Y/N gave him a look that said they’d discuss it later. She could remember the day vividly, he’d asked shortly after she returned from hanging out with Shinsou, telling her she could do so much better, and so much better meant him. 

She disagreed. And now Y/N couldn’t help but feel bothered as their argument begins to draw attention from others within the cafeteria, she can see in the corner of her eye that Izuku has come to a stand. Though Iida is grasping his shoulder to try and prevent him from doing anything irrational, they all knew Y/N could stand on her own. 

James scoffed at her words, “you probably rejected me because he made you.” The implications were dark, the idea that Shinsou had forced Y/N to befriend him and reject James, though he’d never used his quirk on her and swore he never would. 

Shinsou found himself releasing Y/N’s arm, taking a step backwards as he sighed, only for her to grab his hand and yank him closer before taking his face in her hands and kissing him.

She was kissing him.

Oh.

Shinsou’s mind empties as Y/N pulls away, turning back to James as she says, “my boyfriend doesn’t need to make me do anything.” And the boy practically stomps off in frustration, grumbling about Shinsou’s stupid quirk or something of that sort. Not that either of them are paying attention as Y/n brings a hand to the back of her neck awkwardly, searching her mind for an explanation.

“Boyfriend?” His voice is soft, small, and he knows there are other people in the cafeteria but he can’t bring himself to care about their stares. 

Y/N turns to him, and she feels her cheeks warm as she tries to avoid his eyes, “well. Only if you want to-”

“I want to.” Shinsou replies too quickly, his cheeks flushing.

Y/N nods, “cool.” 

“Cool.” 

Izuku can’t help but beam as he watches the interaction, hitting Iida’s arm repetitvely as as he exclaims, “does this mean I’ll be able to study his quirk more?”

Tsu just sighs, “this means we don’t have to listen to her pining anymore.” 

TODOROKI SHOUTO

THIS ONE

probably the most relaxed about it, not flustered at all, you tried thoughh

your relationship isn’t really a secret, it’s just that neither of you are that into PDA. 

there will be occasional cuddling on the common room couch of the dorms during movie night, but that’s seen as normal to the rest of Class 1-A. during dates, there will be hand holding, a kiss on the cheek, an arm around the shoulder, otherwise most of the intimacy is reserved for your rooms

this lack of PDA is why class 1-A was completely unaware that the two of you were dating, 

though you hadn’t tried to hide it, you also hadn’t made it entirely public, you also lowkey thought everyone knew.

mostly because it was so blatantly obvious that shoto was in love with you, but the entire class thought he was unaware of his own feelings and you were just oblivious 

oh how wrong they were

you come into class one day and you see shoto and you’re just like lol hi babe and you kiss him, he kisses back, LIKE IT IS THE MOST NORMAL THING

he’s temporarily caught off guard because like i said you two don’t really do PDA, but he digs it, 10/10 would kiss you again in front of everyone, mostly because after all of the CHAOS that this kiss causes, the other boys in the class stop blatantly flirting with you

speaking of chaos

the class erupts into PURE CHAOS

so much yelling and screaming, they are so confused, have fun explaining that one

shoto is equally confused as to why they are confused and you’re just laughing because you knew this would mess with their heads. he ends up getting a little flustered by all the sudden attention the two of you are getting, but maintains his apathetic attitude.

Shoto places his bag beside his desk before pulling his things out one by one to place them onto the desk along with the small cup of coffee. Shoto wasn’t really the coffee type himself, he preferred tea, Y/N on the other hand had an obsession if he was honest. Of course, he enabled this obsession, he liked being the one to bring a smile onto her face. 

Yeah, he was whipped.

He could tell when Y/N entered the room because the atmosphere seemed to change entirely, she seemed to brighten everyone’s mood despite how early it was. Greeting their other classmates, she began to move towards him, seeing that he was holding a cup of coffee, Y/N raised a brow. “You drink coffee now?” She asked as she placed her things down. 

Shaking his head, Shoto extended the hand with the cup of coffee towards him, “it’s for you.” He explained, small smile on his face.

The rest of their classmates watched the interaction, Kirishima punching Kaminari’s arm as he exclaimed, “so manly!”

Bakugou scoffed from beside the both of them, “if he was really manly then maybe he’d actually ask her out.” Crossing his arms, he averts his eyes from the two, finding the class’s obsession with their relationship a tad ridiculous. Though everyone seemed to be at least slightly invested in the potential outcome at this point. 

“Whatever, Bakugo.” Mina says, “L/N has the prettiest boy in class wrapped around her finger- ugh! I want someone to love me like that.” She places her head in her hand, brows furrowing as she stares at the two. Y/N is smiling widely at Shoto, who returns her smile with one of his own. 

And then Y/N kisses him. As though this is an everyday thing. 

Mina practically jumps out her seat, and though Bakugo would never admit it, his mouth gaped open in shock as she cried out, “did you two just kiss?!”

Shoto’s cheeks are red as they pull away, though his face remains apathetic as he looks to the ground and Y/N replies, “can I not kiss my boyfriend?” She tilts her head in confusion, laughing slightly at the outburst and the clear shock in everyone’s faces. 

“Boyfriend?” Hagaruke cried out. “Why didn’t you tell us?!”

Y/N’s brows furrows as she looks to the rest of the astonished class, “did you guys seriously not know? I thought we were obvious, I literally call him by his first name-”

“We thought that was because you two were madly in love with each other but neither could confess!” Momo exclaimed suddenly, her cheeks flaming red at her outburst as she slaps a hand over her mouth.

Mina simply nods in agreement, “exactly! But now he’s buying you coffee and-”

Shoto shakes his head in confusion, “I often buy her coffee, normally she finishes it before we get to class.” He looks to Y/N, a small frown on her face, “today she woke up too late for me to walk her to school so I couldn’t give it to her then-”

“You’re so manly, Todoroki!” Kirishima exclaims, though Shoto simply looks at him in confusion as he removes his hand from Y/N’s waist. 

Shrugging, he takes a seat at his desk and Y/N speaks once more, “I just don’t understand how you guys didn’t know.” Standing beside him as he organizes his things while seated, Y/N runs a hand through his hair, and Shoto’s cheeks seemed to redden once more.

“You guys aren’t normally so touchy!” Uraraka has joined the conversation, shock clear in her features. 

Shoto nods in agreement,  “your behavior today is abnormal, Y/N.”

Now Y/N can feel her cheeks warm as she removes her hand and takes a seat t her desk, “you guys are weird.”

Izuku simply sighs, deflating almost as he watches the interaction and leans over towards Iida, “now I owe Kacchan money.”