#in the summoning when they start talking about the bargain | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

daydreaming-nerd · 8 days

Text

Young Love and Old Money (Cassian x Female! Reader) Part 13

Young Love and Old Money Masterlist

AN: This is more of a filler chapter before shit gets fucking wild in the next one. I'm telling you I'm so pumped for the next chapter ahhhhh! It's not super exciting but I hope you all enjoy it! If you're new here from The Prophecy... Hi!🥰🖤

Summary: She was the most beautiful woman in Prythian, sister to the High Lord of Night, and now she is the soon-to-be wife of Eris Vanserra. Despite her many titles and her aura of unattainability, Cassian can't help but fall deeply in love with the princess of the Night Court. But will it be enough to stop her impending wedding to a man who is sure to destroy her from the inside out?

Warnings: Mentions of under the mountain and what Eris did

Word Count: 5,338

Rhys POV:

I had finally allowed myself to hope.

The circumstances of which I had granted myself that hope was…well… unpleasant. I would never wish Feyre to be under duress for any reason, but it did bring her into my court for good. When Mor came back with her I had never felt so relieved. I wanted to say that I couldn’t believe that Tamlin would lock her up like that, but I would be lying to myself.

It wasn’t the first time she had been to Velaris. Once I saw the state she was in at the wedding, too thin, too pale, I started calling in the bargain. I saw her improving dramatically since I started doing so, pink lining her cheeks, muscles building on her arms. She had yet to meet anyone but Mor. Y/n had been dying to meet my mate, but I didn’t want to overwhelm Feyre. She was still learning what it meant to be fae, still getting used to her new life, and still learning to trust me.

“So you are both High Fae and Illyrian?” Feyre asks, messing with the leftover food on her plate.

“Yes, my mother was Illyrian and my father was High Fae. That is why I can summon Illyrian wings when I want to.” I answered her question truthfully. I knew that no matter what I wanted to be honest with her, let her see every dark part of me and choose to love me anyways, I owed her that.

“Were they mates?” she inquires further.

“Yes they were,” I replied, secretly hanging on every word she said. I tried my best to act aloof, but when she was here? In my home? It was hard to keep my cool.

“How do you know someone is your mate?” she queries and my heart drops.

I know that she is talking about Tamlin in her own subtle way, wondering if the High Lord of Spring is her mate.

“You don’t always know right away, take Kallias and Viviane, they didn’t know they were mates until they were married,” I explained to her, I watched her face lighten, no doubt thinking that there was still a chance for her and Tamlin.

“I’ve never met a set of mates before,” she said with a hint of longing, like if she could just set eyes on a pair it might ease her mind.

“Would you like to?” My words slipped out before I could think of the implications of them.

Her eyes flitted up in amusement and I swore I melted at her lighthearted gaze, “I would.” she said.

“My younger sister, y/n. She’s mates with my general, Cassian. We can go and see them if you would like.” I say thinking about how excited y/n will be to finally meet the cursebreaker.

“I would like that very much,” Feyre smiled.

I stood and walked with Feyre to the edge of the property outside the townhouse. It wasn’t the first time I had flown with her, but I could still tell she was apprehensive of the height. I took the fastest route to The House of Wind and made sure to fly like I was holding my mothers china. Feyre was far from breakable, she was strong enough to withstand just about anything. But that didn’t mean I was going to be someone who challenged that strength, not like Tamlin did. When we arrived at the huge mansion I could feel the female's eyes glancing over the exterior in awe.

“This is another one of my homes, but I tend to stay in the townhouse. My little sister and Cassian live here with Azriel.” I say opening the door for her.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, her eyes taking in every single detail.

I try to pry into y/n and Cassian’s mental shields but I’m met with nothing. They were here though, their scents lingered in the library we passed on the way to Cassian’s room. I knock on the door and I’m met with silence.

“Cassian? Y/n?” I call out hoping for some sort of answer but hear nothing once more.

As Feyre looks at me expectantly I weigh my options, which would make my sister angrier? Waking her up to meet Feyre or not waking her up to meet Feyre? I let out a shallow breath and chose the latter, opening the door to reveal a giant heap of limbs.

“Oh I didn’t know they were asleep,” Feyre said, moving away.

“Don’t worry about it, y/n will have my head if I don’t introduce you two,” I laugh walking into the dark room, Feyre trailing behind me.

When I approach the bed I can’t even see my little sister, her body covered entirely by Cassian’s wing. The only indication that she’s even there is her small hand peeking out from under it and a tendril of hair on the pillow.

“I thought you said that Illyrians were protective of their wings?” Feyre whispered, clearly questioning why Cass’ wing was draped over y/n.

“They are,” I whisper back. “But she’s his mate. He would rather have his wings shredded than have anything happen to her.” I say fondly. I had to admit, while I was still getting used to Cassian and my little sister being together, it was nice to not have to worry about her safety as much. Anyone who dared to harm her would have to face Cassian. Gods spare that poor fool.

“Even in his sleep?” she asked in a hushed tone.

“Especially in his sleep,” I laugh, moving to shake my sister's hand, trying to wake her.

The second I grasp that small hand to shake it awake Cassian’s eyes fly open and the next thing I know there’s a dagger aimed at my throat and a murderous gaze thrown my way.

“Easy Cass it’s just me,” I chuckle as I hear Feyre gasping and taking a step back.

“Cauldron Rhys you scared the shit out of me,” Cassian sighed lowering the dagger, beside him my sister stirred.

“Cass what’s going on?” she asked, her voice laced with sleep.

“Nothing princess, it's just Rhys,” he answered, smoothing her hair out of her face. It was strange to see my war general so docile and domestic.

“And Feyre Archeron,” I corrected as Feyre took a step further. “Why don’t you two wake up and meet us outside.” I laugh leading Feyre towards the door.

Behind me I can hear Cass gently explaining to a very tired y/n what’s going on.

y/n’s POV:

“Do you think she saw me?” I ask frantically putting on my dress.

My older brother had just ambushed me with his mate and the first time she saw me might’ve been with a bed head. I was angry with him for waking me, but I would’ve been more pissed if he hadn’t done so, not when I wanted to meet the cursebreaker so badly.

“I’m sure she did,” Cassian chuckled, strapping his daggers to his side, no doubt going to train when this is over.

“Ugh,” I sigh, running a brush through my hair. “I probably looked awful.” I sigh, setting down the brush.

I see Cassian walking up to me through the mirror. He wraps his arms around my waist and places a kiss on my shoulder, sending reassurance and affection down the bond.

“I don’t think you’ve ever looked awful a day in your life, princess.” he smiled into my shoulder.

“You have to say that you’re my mate,” I laughed, turning in his arms.

“And your husband don’t forget that title too,” he says, tilting my chin up to meet his warm gaze.

“How could I ever forget that, husband.” I smile, pecking his lips.

Without another word Cassian and I walk hand in hand down the hallway to where Rhys and Feyre are sitting in the living room. I take a moment to survey their body language. While my brother leans on his knees, seemingly drinking in every breath and movement Feyre has to offer, the cursebreaker sits stiffly on the couch. I make eye contact with my brother and he stands immediately.

“Feyre darling I would like to introduce you to Cassian, the general of my armies and y/n, my little sister,” Rhys says proudly gesturing to the two of us.

Feyre turns to see us and I swear my heart stops. The last time I saw the female she was prone on the floor underneath the mountain. Every High Lord had sacrificed a bit of power to save her. Becoming high fae seemed to suit her.

“Hello Feyre, it's an honor to meet you,” I smile.

“The honor is all mine,” she says timidly, giving a slight bow. “I’ve heard stories of your beauty before. Tamiln and Lucien used to talk about you a lot, I never believed them but now I see they were right.”

“Oh really?” Cassian inquired brisling at her words and I considered elbowing him in the ribs.

“You flatter me too much, Feyre.” I say and look to change the subject. “How are you liking Velaris so far?”

“I like it very much, it’s beautiful here.” she says looking around the townhouse. “Rhysand says that you and Cassain are mates?”

“We are, we just had our mating ceremony and our wedding last month,” I say happily. Cauldron, had it already been a month?

“Congratulations to the both of you,” she smiled stiffly.

“I was just about to take a walk through the city, there’s a pastry shop down there that makes croissants stuffed with this delicious chocolate and hazelnut filling. Would you like to join?” I ask, my brother gave me a weary eye, but I shrugged him off. What Feyre needed was a friend, a female friend that is, and I was more than happy to jump at the opportunity.

“I would like that,” she smiles, the blue in her eyes lighting up ever so slightly. “May I walk with your sister oh so powerful high lord?” Feyre turned to Rhys, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

Rhys barked out a laugh, one I hadn’t heard in quite some time, “Feyre darling I told you that you are not my prisoner, you may take the air with my sister if it pleases you.” he says gesturing to me.

“Well then shall we?” the cursebreaker asked me.

I couldn’t help but let out a small giggle as I looped my arm in hers, I had a feeling she and I were going to be fast friends.

“You’re right this is incredible,” Feyre’s words were nearly inaudible as flakes of pastry fell from her mouth.

“I know right? I’ve been going there once a week for years. Well sort of…when I was growing up I wasn’t allowed to leave the house. My parents were weird and feared my beauty would be too tempting for males. So they locked me up tight and threw away the key. Rhys used to bring me these pastries all the time, he was my only real window to the outside world.” I divulge, almost regretting telling her so much until I remember how she came to be here in Velaris.

“So you haven’t really seen the other courts then have you?” she asks, wiping some chocolate from the corner of her mouth.

“I actually have,” I smile finishing the last bite of my treat. “When Rhys learned to fly the first thing he did was come and get me and take me to a candy shop. From that day forward he snuck me out whenever he got the chance, that’s how I know Tamlin and Lucien. It never sat right with my brother, what my parents did to me,” I continue, hoping to show a side of Rhys that I knew he would never offer up himself.

Feyre continued walking beside me, for a moment there was silence, as if she was considering my story, comparing it with hers. If she had something to say about Rhys she didn’t divulge, instead turning the conversation to other matters.

“Can I ask about you and your mate?” she queries. “I’m not sure if it’s a personal subject or not, I’m not well versed in the customs of fae.”

“Ask anything you like, I assure you I have no problem talking about my mate,” I laugh thinking of Cassian’s smiling face now.

Feyre gives a subtle laugh, “How did you know he was your mate?” she says, turning her head to read my expression as we further walked down the Sidra, seemingly clinging on my every word just like Rhys had clinged to hers.

“Well Cassian knew first, I didn’t know until much later,” I start recalling the moment the bond snapped, the joy followed by pure terror. “I was set to marry Eris Vanserra, an arrangement made by our fathers a long time ago. When Rhys and I returned from under the mountain we both grew apart as we were both processing what had happened in our own way. He found the arrangement in my fathers things and thought that we could use the Autumn Court’s armies if Hybern should come to call, and after he saved me under the mountain I didn’t want to say no.”

“He saved you, yet you were still down there?” Feyre asked, and I paused for a moment. Rhys had not told her the conditions of his servitude.

“You don’t know?” I ask to make sure. If Rhys didn’t explain to his mate why he took the actions he did, it would be a great disservice to both him and his character, one I would rectify.

“Know what?” she asked clearly not seeing the big deal as she finished off her own croissant.

“The only reason Rhys was Amarantha’s whore was because of me,” I start, feeling the shame seep in. “When we first arrived under the mountain he was able to keep me hidden, but then Hybern paid a visit and he wanted to take me for his wife. Rhys begged Amarantha not to let him take me, she agreed on the condition that he would come to her bed willingly.”

“I-I had no idea,” the cursebreaker stuttered as her eyes zoned out on something far away.

“It’s not something he and I talk about much, but it’s for that reason I chose to marry Eris, to try and repay his sacrifice. However, Eris was cruel, he hurt me and assaulted me, I was nothing more than a pet to him. Cassian was the one to take me back and forth to the Autumn Court during our courtship and I fell in love with him. One night we couldn’t stay away any longer and I found myself in his bed. I knew I couldn’t end the courtship with Eris without bargaining for armies so I kept our relationship a secret.”

“That must’ve been torture,” Feyre gasped her eyes finally finding me.

“It was,” I nodded. “I didn’t know we were mates, and I ended up finding out the day of the wedding, but it was too late. I married Eris to save Velaris and Cassian was banished from Autumn. That night Eris found out I was impure, he dumped me over the Autumn court border and left me to die. If it wasn’t for the bond Cassian never would have found me.” I finished telling the story.

“I- I’m sorry that you had to go through those things. That you came to be with Cassian under such hard circumstances.” she says, as if she doesn’t trust her own words. “But things are better now right? You’re safe?”

I let out a light hearted laugh, trying to keep the conversation from veering anywhere dark, “I’ve never been safer. Eris is out of the picture now that my brother and Cassian have chased him out of town. Now it’s just Cassian and I in our newly mated bliss.” I smile.

“I can see how anyone would run from Rhys,” Feyre rolls her eyes dramatically.

A warm chuckle rumbles through my chest, one so infectious it finds Feyre’s lips too, “I know my brother can be a bit of an ass sometimes. But give him a chance, he might be the king of sarcasm, but underneath all that he truly cares.” I tell her, bumping into her shoulder playfully.

“I suppose I can try, at least I know I have you now,” she smiles looking across the way at a nearby vendor.

My heart smiles at her words.

At least I have you.

My mission was complete. I was able to get her to trust me, to feel like she had a friend in me. Maybe, just maybe, her knowing that there was someone else on her side would bring her closer to Rhys, maybe I could finally find a way to repay the sacrifice my brother gave for me.

I swing the wooden sword down at Cassian’s, the hard impact of them meeting causing a grunt to leave my lips. The hot sun beat down on us as we spared as best we could. He could easily beat me if he wanted to, I was still a beginner after all, but he never made me feel like I was inferior. We had been out here for over an hour, the evidence of it being seen on my sweaty fighting leathers. My second set, to be exact. Once my first set got dirty and sweaty Cassian bought me another so I didn’t have to wash them so often.

I had no clue where he got them, but somehow these were even more beautiful than the last set. My mate even got me a Illyrian steel corset that would keep me from being lacerated, as well as metal bracers to protect my wrists. At first they took some getting used to, the weight of them a new feeling, but now they were like a second skin.

“Sword high princess,” Cassian instructed me as I felt the weight of the wooden sword start to bring my arm down.

“It's heavy!” I protest swinging at him again, this time with both hands on the hilt to hit him harder, even though he told me not to do that.

His sword clashes with mine and in one swoop he uses his wooden blade to raise my own. My hands were high above my head as he stood inches from me.

“I know it’s heavy just wait until you wield a real sword,” he says, placing a kiss on my nose, taunting me. “And don’t use both hands, in real combat you’ll have a shield as well, you’ll need to be able to use that sword with one hand.”

I let out a low growl before stepping on his foot, earning a groan from him as he didn’t see it coming. My sword sits heavy in my hands as I swing it, knocking his legs out from under him and using my shoulder as extra force to put him on the ground. He lies on his back below me, wooden sword tumbling from his hand. I see him reach for it and lightly press the toe of my boot into his wrist and lower myself on top of him, placing the pretend blade to his throat.

Cassian’s hazel eyes look up at me in pure awe and amusement and something I had only ever seen from him, pride.

“Is it bad that this is turning me on right now?” he barked out a laugh causing me to break my menacing stare.

I snort at his words, letting up the pressure I had on his arms in the process, “Cass you ruin everything!” I laughed, tossing my sword to the side and shifting my foot off his wrist so that I sat fully on his stomach.

“You call it ruining the moment, I say I’m making it better,” he smirks as his hands find my hips.

The Lord of Bloodshed leans up to place a passionate kiss on my lips. My hands find either of his cheeks needing him closer to me than he already is. As his tongue swipes my bottom lip and enters my mouth I let out a small moan that has him shifting beneath me.

“Really guys on the training mat? Is nowhere sacred anymore?” Azriel’s causes us both to nearly jump out of our skin.

“Cauldron Az,” Cassian curses, putting a hand over his heart like it might’ve stopped. “Enough with the spymaster shit you scared the piss out of me.”

A smirk tugged at Azriel’s lips, “You deserved it,” he remarked, going to wrap his hands.

I shift my weight off Cassian and stand offering him my hand. He takes it, even though he’s twice my size and if he truly used my help I would end up on the ground again.

“You’re getting better princess,” Azriel praised me. “I’d say it’s time you wield a steel sword instead of a wooden one.”

“Maybe,” Cass warns, dusting himself off. “The last thing I need is you slicing yourself open.” he said to me.

“What afraid I’ll mar my pretty skin?” I tease rocking back and forth on my toes, remembering how Cassian all but worshiped me last night, claiming that the stories of my rose petal soft skin were true.

“No I’m afraid that you’ll accidentally bleed out on me,” he replies, flicking my nose.

Azriel chuckles beside us, “You’re far too protective of your mate brother, she can handle a real sword if she can handle your ass.” he taunts.

“You forget that if anything were to happen to her Rhys would have my head,” Cassian rolls his eyes, placing our swords back on the rack behind him.

“I suppose you’re right, but she has to start sometime.” Az shrugs, finishing the wrappings on his hands. “Alright princess who you got today?” he asked me.

I let out a laugh as our new tradition reared its head again. For weeks now after Cass trained me Azriel would come down and they would spar. I would always gamble on who would win the first match, sometimes I would win, sometimes I would lose, it was all in great fun. But lately the boys had been taking it much more seriously and I couldn’t help but laugh at them and call them “Illyrian babies”.

“Hmmm,” I said, pretending to think. “Considering I just handed Cassian his ass I think you’ve got this one Azriel.”

“Pfft in his dreams,” Cassian scoffs, ripping off his shirt. Azriel copies the motion and I can’t help but feel my cheeks heat at the sweaty males in front of me.

“Then let’s raise the stakes then,” Azriel boasts. “I win, y/n trains with steel tomorrow”

“You’re on,” Cassian taunts as he squares up. “Baby, I hope you aren’t prone to splinters because you’re going to be getting them for a while.”

Azriel took two steps back towards me, “Wanna give me some good luck?” he asked with a cheeky grin.

I laughed and gave the shadow singer a playful kiss on the cheek.

“Now we’re talking,” Azriel laughed, flipping his swords in his hands.

“Oh you’re a dead male where you stand,” Cassian smirked.

In an instant they were a storm of steel. If it had been a real fight I’m sure wisps of cobalt and crimson power would be among that twister of metal. But their rule was no siphons when training. In a weird way it was beautiful the way they fought. During the training sessions with Cass I had come to learn that fighting was much like dancing, it was about anticipating your enemies next movement. Knowing where to step when, how to move your feet.

They were both evenly matched in every way. Even though I spent every day pretending to think about who might win I never truly knew. It was always a guess, or a gut feeling. So far I had bet mostly on Cassian, for obvious reasons, but whenever I put my money on Azriel he seemed to show up.

As I watched them deflecting eachothers blows and grunting with the sheer force of striking and blocking, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would ever be as good as them. If I would ever be able to truly fight and win against the warriors.

My thoughts were interrupted when I saw Azriel’s back hit the ground, his wing being pinned underneath him. Cassian stood above him, chest heaving and pointing his sword at the shadowsingers neck.

“Do you yield?” Cassian asked out of breath.

Azriel simply held up his hand to ask his brother for a lift up, silently admitting defeat. Cass took it and hauled the spymaster up in one heave.

I clapped my hands slowly as Cass walked over to me knowing that this is when I typically took my leave to wash up for dinner.

“It was a good match,” I smiled at my mate trying to hide my disappointment about not being able to train with real swords yet.

Cass slid his fingers under my chin and tilted it up so he could place a goodbye kiss on my lips, “You’ll train with steel tomorrow,” he smiled before returning to his own training.

I gave an enthusiastic whoop before retreating to The House of Wind to clean up and prepare for dinner with Feyre and Rhys.

Months Later…

It had finally happened. Feyre had found out that Rhys was her mate and she wasn’t taking it well at all.

Rhys was distraught when he found me in the library reading. He told me what had happened, from the ambush, to the Suriel telling Feyre about the bond. I honestly spent most of the time being surprised that the cursebreaker had been able to find the Suriel in the first place. My brother told me that his mate sat in the old cabin in the Illyrian mountains and I knew instantly that I needed to see her.

I had watched the two of them come alive for each other these past few months. Saw Feyre become stronger and more sure of herself. Watched my brother turn back into the male he was when we were just kids. I had befriended the Archeron girl all the while, offering her comfort when I could, as we shared many of the same experiences, being locked up, being in an abusive relationship, being under the mountain…

I ran to Cassian asking him to fly me to the cabin and he did so without a second thought. He saw the panic in my eyes, the need to be there with her, to offer her some sort of comfort. Because as if fate had intertwined us we now shared another experience… being the last to know about our mating bonds.

As Cassian landed in the snow outside the cabin I wished I had brought more furs. The wind ripped around me, chilling me to the bone. I shook off the memories of being thrown into the Winter Court and marched my way up to the cabin door giving it a knock.

Feyre opened the cabin door dressed in breeches and a thick sweater, her hands and face covered in paint.

“I can leave if you would like some privacy, I just wanted to check on you,” I say earnestly trying to keep my teeth from chattering.

Feyre’s blue eyes look to me and then back to Cassian who stands a few yards away. “Come on in, I could use a friend.” she said quietly and my heart warmed at the word ‘friend’.

I nod to Cassian who takes off into the sky before stepping into the cabin. The warmth of the raging fire immediately heats my cheeks and I discard my furs onto a nearby chair. It had been years since I had been back here. We used to spend solstice here, just the four of us. Of course that was before mother and father died, and I hadn’t been back since.

I look around and gasped. All over the walls Feyre had painted our eyes, my family's eyes. Each so distinct I could name each one. Amren and Mors, Azriel’s, Rhys’ distinct violet, and at the end, Cassian and I’s painted together.

“These are beautiful,” I say in awe, looking over each set again.

“I just needed something to get my mind off things,” she sighed, collecting the paints in a box.

There was a moment of silence as I tried to let her decide where she wanted the conversation to go. She closed the box with a sigh and then turned to me.

“Did you know?” she inquired, her eyes flickered with hope and I realized she prayed that I was just as in the dark as she was, that she wasn’t alone in this.

My heart dropped and her eyes faltered as she heard the answer in my hesitation. “I wanted so badly to tell you, but I knew it wasn’t my place to say anything, it was between you and Rhys.” I say sitting on the floor by the fire.

“I understand why you didn’t say anything but I wish someone had told me,” she says solemnly before joining me on the rug.

“Believe me I wanted someone to tell me too,” I chuckle as I lean forward more soaking up the heat of the flames.

Her eyes shoot to me as she seems to remember how I was in the same situation not too long ago, “When you found out Cassian was your mate, that he had kept the bond a secret from you, were you upset with him?” she asked.

I cocked my head trying to remember what I felt that day in the Autumn Court, “Honestly it happened so fast that I can’t remember what I was feeling exactly, but I know I wasn’t angry,” I chuckled. “I had loved Cass long before I ever said it. He kept the bond from me because he thought he was taking a weight off my shoulders. He didn’t want me to feel like I had to choose between my mate and my court. I wish I would’ve known, it would’ve saved me a world of trouble because I would’ve chosen him no questions asked. But I understand he had his reasons for keeping it from me.”

Feyre gave a shallow nod, signaling that she had heard me. “But why didn’t Rhys tell me?” she asked, her words desperate and I wasn’t sure if it was a question I could answer.

“I don’t know for sure.” I said honestly. “But I do know this, Rhys has spent his whole life believing he is a monster because of the front he has to put on for others. I think sometimes he forgets why he puts on that front, to protect his people and his family.”

I take a deep breath wondering if I should continue but I can’t stop the overflow of words coming from me, “I think he didn’t want you to feel shackled to a monster. All you’ve ever known is the darker parts of him, he wanted to give you a chance to let you know the good parts, then let you decide for yourself,” I place my hand on her arm and her eyes snap to mine. “All I can say is that Rhys wouldn’t keep it from you if he didn’t have a good reason. You don’t have to hear him out today, tomorrow or even next week. But I think you should at some point, if only to give yourself the peace of mind of knowing the full story.”

Feyre nods again, grabbing my hand and squeezing it tight, “I’m really glad you’re here,” she confessed, her eyes going glassy.

“Anything for you Archeron,” I smile, feeling my eyes glass over too.

I'm so fucking excited for the next chapter I'm buzzin' guys...

Permanent Taglist: @fides25, @dissociated-always @crystalferret202, @batboyrhyrhy , @kennedy-brooke , @sunshineangel-reads , @lilah-asteria

Taglist: @crystalferret202 , @nickishadow139 , @graceshifts , @writeroutoftime , @heyyitsnat21, @stinkinstuffie , @lilah-asteria , @12358 , @fxckmiup , @daughterofthemoons-stuff , @mybestfriendmademe , @anxious-study , @bxm-1012 , @mal-adaptive-dreams , @sh4nn , @talesofadragon , @5onedirection5 , @saltedcoffeescotch , @flourelle ,

97 notes · View notes

theaceace · 6 months

Text

Though Roderick and his followers didn't realise it at the time, the magic in the circle and the glass orb meant that the only people who could see Dream were the ones that were there when he was summoned, so as far as the guards are concerned they're guarding an empty glass sphere that a delusional old man thinks holds something. And then of course, Hob gets hired as a guard and it's dealer's choice if Dream has realised by then that no one but Burgess and his Order can see him.

But then because Hob is sort of aware that magic and esoteric things do exist, he sees Burgess (sr or jr) talking to the globe and is like, huh. Maybe there is something in there. But maybe it's a demon like the rumours say and I shouldn't let it out. But Hob starts talking to Dream anyway while the other guard takes longer and longer smoke breaks.

Whichever Burgess is around at the time realises that there must be something about this guard, because the next time he comes down to yell/bargain/threaten, Dream has moved. He's hidden his face, there are handprints against the glass, and the dreamlord's shoulders are shaking.

It doesn't take him long to figure out the pattern - that this only happens around Robert, for whatever reason, and the man himself has no notion of what's in the circle - and eventually he sends the guards out so that he can tell Dream exactly what he'll do to this Robert if Dream doesn't comply. That he may not understand what it is about this one man that compels one of the Endless so, when he has been so unaffected by everything else but the death of his familiar, but that doesn't matter. He will find out, and he will leverage it, however he needs to.

He turns and leaves, and basically I want Hob to wander back in none the wiser and settle into his chair and his usual routine of talking all moony eyed about his stranger, while Dream is roaring his fear and fury and beating his fists bloody against the glass

#dreamling #dream of the endless #hob gadling #Sandman #On today's episode of 'fics I have in my head so vividly and Simply Cannot Put To Paper #serving up a fresh plate of angst sorry #I think it would be neat if either Hob (with Johanna's help) or Paul completely by accident smeared the one sigil that kept Dream invisible #Imagine Hob's reaction to suddenly seeing his old stranger in the once-empty glass prison #To seeing the way his head hangs between his shoulders even as something in the spell snaps #The being he had only ever seen poised and dignified even in his hurt and fury #Who had warned Hob to take care so that he didn't get hurt. Or captured #I just think it would be neat

167 notes · View notes

jojikawa · 1 year

Text

Muzan indulging in human pleasures with the divine being, Lilith. 🖤

Muzan x Lilith!reader Headcanons

Synopsis: The Demon King, Muzan, believes that he can find success in defeating all who oppose him, along with the location of blue spider lilies if he summons what is considered to be a goddess among demons. It seems that he doesn’t get what he believes he has bargained for. Warnings: mild season 1/2. season 3-1 spoilers.

⚜️

• Muzan summons you with the souls of the lower moon’s that has died and that he has killed. He knew fully well that he would probably be struck down and that you would ravage the earth in an angry stead as revenge for being (literally) demonized for your femininity…but that outcome was surely better than losing. He was tired of being failed by his own creations for hundreds of years.

• When you appear in your true form, even he is unable to comprehend what’s in front of him. Most mortals, demons, will never be able to wrap their heads around godhood.

• You manifested your physical body, bare and naked, resembling a vulnerable human woman.

“Lilith.” Muzan called sternly, trying to mask his fear of rejection and outright being destroyed. It seemed as though you were trying to get your bearings again. The earth hasn’t been corrupted by your presence since the beginning of time. “(y/n).” You said flatly. “I go by (y/n) now. It’s much cuter.”

You picked yourself up off of the ground, as you had fallen and could not walk when you assumed a more domestic form. “Find me something to wear, child.” You commanded, a small smile gracing your lips.

Were you…ordering Muzan around!?

You took a look around, not at all used to what you were seeing. You were in the “Infinite Castle” but, of course, you didn’t know that. Nearby, you saw an assortment of human-made things. A wooden table decorated with glass bottles, all with unusual shapes. They held clear liquids, red liquids, and a scent that you recognized to be blood. You then noticed that the feeble demon that summoned you had not moved yet.

You strode over to the desk, before reaching for once of the glass containers.

“Don’t touch that-“

Your head snapped over to Muzan. “I won’t repeat myself.” With a close eyed smile, you waved the demon to rid himself of his presence.

• Muzan quickly fetched you a kimono. The best he could find was the one who would wear when he would masquerade as a woman. You didn’t mind. It fit perfectly and smelled pleasant.

• The first thing Muzan asked was if blue spiders lilies could be found and if so, where were they? You didn’t seem obligated to help.

When you heard his question, you froze for a moment. Muzan’s jaw clenched with anticipation as he examined your face. You seemed to be thinking…perhaps some kind of divine knowledge would make his goals much more obtainable.

You giggled sweetly, as you had noticed the man stiffed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Your face. Your tone of voice. Your body language. It looked as if you were…lying to him. It felt as if he were being mocked, laughed at by a woman shaped demon.

• You would make Muzan work for his knowledge. You haven’t indulged in anything mortals had the pleasure of doing all the time. You would make him show you everything he had missed. The new job you had given him could be mistaken as being a lover. He seemed to be the strongest among his kind so you must keep him on a leash.

• You had him style your hair, satisfy your curiosity by answering anything you asked as honestly as he could and participate in any activity you found yourself wanting to do. This went on for a while. Longer than Muzan would admit. It seemed like he really wanted access to your wisdom.

• But you are the first woman. First wife of the first man that started humanity itself before you turned your back on God himself. You knew everything and now you knew Muzan. He was beginning to fall for you. Not many things you “forced” him to do was actually forced. You didn’t always need to order him around for him to do things you wanted.

• It wasn’t long until he introduced you to his subordinates. The “Upper Moons” he called them. They were humans that he turned into demons with his blood. His way of creating demons was like a dollar store version of how you created the first demons. You congratulated him, nonetheless, using your sexuality to make him behave the way you wanted him to.

• When you praised him, you nuzzled into him and rubbed your body on him like a feline in heat. It boosted his ego so much, having such a beautiful manifestation say such good things about him. It didn’t compare to the mortals that would say pleasant things about him.

• And you’ve yet to see him show his anger.

• The day came where he had a meeting with his subjects. They were unable to complete the tasks Muzan had given him. He got so angry that you could see his veins showing through his skin. The castle rumbled as he trembled with fury causing the glass bottles to crack and eventually break. Muzan said that they’re called “beakers.”

• The display gave you a new appreciation for him. He really was the strongest amount his kind.

After the Nakime sent everyone back to their respective places, you felt like it was time you began regulating Muzan’s mood.

He didn’t hear you come up behind him and place a dainty hand on his shoulder. His tense body eased and you felt the anger release from his body. “Muzan…” You called breathlessly. You wrapped your arms around his torso from behind. He let your hands roam his clothed chest before he opened his mouth to speak. He wanted to apologize for acting so indecently in your presence but—

“Muzan-sama~”

He was tall but if you stood on your toes then you could kiss the back of his neck. He thought that maybe this was joke. You were just playing another trick on him because you were bored.

“I’ve never seen a mortal get that angry before.” You laughed to yourself and nuzzled into his back. “I want to indulge in human pleasures now.”

Muzan felt your presence leave from behind him. You then suddenly appeared in front of him. You looked at all of the research he was going on the different types of blood. You felt like it was ultimately worthless. Once you felt like you had seen enough, you turned to him. “Have you ever eaten chocolate strawberries?” You asked innocently. You saw his eyes widen before narrowing sharply. You always framed your harmless questions as if you were finally going to tell him what he wanted.

“I prefer flesh.” Muzan simply replied, adjusting his clothes as you had nearly removed them from your stupid antics. You smiled. “of course you do.” You made a handful of strawberries in a box appear in your hand.

• Muzan had no choice but to let you do what you wanted. He let you feed him strawberries. He didn’t even like strawberries but as long as it brought you joy then he had to comply…even if it meant that your seat was on his lap.

• Your appearance and even your personality matched what he read In ancient texts. Sometimes, his situation didn’t feel real, like he would wake up and probably vow to never sleep again.

• Eventually, he becomes more comfortable with you, almost welcoming when you would come to him for affection. If he were correct, that means that you’ve probably never been with another man since the beginning of humanity. You were needy.

• Sometimes, he would try to get ahead by giving you affection on his own in hopes his ability to act first pleased you. He doted on in a way only a husband could to his wife.

• You make him stop his work to brush your hair and massage your feet.

You were watching him work again. If you weren’t going to be of any use, he might as well continue trying to reach his goals. He was frantic in his work, muttering to himself, getting frustrated and destroying more things when he seemed to reach a dead end. That’s when you would come in and invade his ears with your sweet voice. Your touch would send goosebumps down his body. He felt butterflies whenever you encouraged him to “keep going” or reassuring him that “he’s almost there.”

🔞

• Is unironically obsessed with your body. You can shape shift and look anyway you want but he prefers the body type that you arrived as.

• Believed that this is the one aspect he can have control over in the relationship but even in bed, you still order him around. A part of him doesn’t mind. He almost likes being told what to do because it gives him a sense of purpose. A purpose that differed from being Muzan Kibutsuji.

• He believes he enjoys being a top but that changes when you wrestle him onto the bed and show him something that no woman ever has. He becomes a switch at will after that.

• Has a breeding kink with you. He finds it extremely attractive to be able to have his seed carried by a powerful demoness such as yourself. Gets curious of what a child would look like with you.

#demon slayer x reader #kimetsu no yaiba x reader #muzan kibutsuji #Muzan x reader #kny headcanons #kny x reader #kny #demon slayer headcanons #demon slayer imagines #muzan fluff #Muzan x demon reader

606 notes · View notes

maleyanderecafe · 4 months

Text

Rot with Me (Visual Novel)

Created by: Gothic Ilustrations

Genre: Horror/Romance

Rot with Me is a short game created for #72HourMurderboyMayhem jam, and it does a good job with the horror elements it has for the endings. I like how some of the endings go more into the gothic horror that the game is running with, which is always very fun. You can find more from this creator at @gothic-illustrations.

The story starts with the MC going on a hike and getting lost in the forest. As it starts to rain, they spot a giant mansion and run inside of it for shelter. While feeling guilty for essentially running into someone's house, they meets a strange man who welcomes them. He introduces himself as Fyodor Voronin and they introduce themselves back. The two talk about why Fyodor is living there and that they are the first person to come to his manor for a while. Fyodor shows them around, inviting them to dance. Accepting it will make Fodor very happy and he ends up dragging them into the basement.

The basements is filled with a lot of bodies, blood and various diagrams of the human body, all with the same Y-shaped scar that Fyodor has. Fyodor basically traps the MC into the basement and they look around for information. Upon looking around the MC finds taht Fyodor has an obsession with killing (well, specifically plunging a knife into someone's chest) and as a result attempts to extend his lifespan so he can continue to kill. He finds something called the Crawling Rot, which extends his life, however, still causes his body to rot, thus why he seems to be replacing parts of himself.

The MC can choose to wait for Fyodor, which results in him declaring that he will keep the MC in his manor forever. Whether or not the MC feels alright with this determines a slight variation of the ending, though in the end, they are trapped with Fyodor forever.

If the MC decides to call upon the Crawling Rot, they will perform a ritual on one of the decaying bodies, which summons them. The MC talks about how Fyodor made a deal with them and that he hasn't paid back his end of the bargain. When Fyodor comes back down, the Crawling Rot drags him away into another dimension, with Fyodor begging for the MC's help before disappearing. After this, the Crawling Rot offers to make the MC a proposition to become a debt collector, essentially finding and making people who owe the Crawling Rot pay.

If the MC agrees, they are infected with the Crawling Rot, and become the debt collector for them.

If the MC refuses, the Crawling Rot leaves, and the MC returns back to their normal life.

If throughout the visit, the MC decides to be distant towards Fyodor (giving him a fake name, not dancing with him), he will fall in love, but instead try to take the MC's heart instead. Being captured will result in Fyodor succeeding in cutting out the MC's heart to make their own. If the MC successfully escape, they will attempt to call the police, but will only find the MC's missing items and will be anxious constantly about what they saw.

The story itself feels very gothic horrory, mostly from the characters themselves as well as Fyoder's ties to the Crawling Rot itself. It's kind of neat. The is only one sense of sound within the entire game, which is the sound of the music that plays when the two are dancing (or rather about to dance) which I thought was an interesting choice, but does add to the eeriness of the game itself. Personally, I really like the design of the Crawling Rot, the way their chest opens up and the eyes crying blood really does contrast with the other white tones of a more ethereal being. Fyoder's life of killing and then remaking himself really does encapsulate the kind of gothic horror feel that I think the creator was going for, even in some endings using the MC's own heart to replace his own. It's pretty cool that we can end up being the Crawling Rot's debt collector in the end, with the description of how when it does enter the MC's body, that they described it at something right, that has always been there. In terms of a yandere, Fyoder encapsulates this in two endings- one where he keeps the MC forever against their will (or cooperating) where likely they live with the MC until their deaths, or when the MC tries to escape and fail, taking their heart to keep forever, along with whatever remains of their body. I'm not sure why he doesn't seem to run after the MC after they escape the mansion, possibly some magic that won't allow him to leave, but there are implications that it does haunt the MC afterwards, something that never leaves their mind.

Overall, a pretty cool and short game made for the jam. Though it is a work in progress, I think that it's pretty solid for a short game, as it goes in through some world building about how Fyoder and the Crawling Rot came to be. Might be cool to have a bit more of a romance with Fyoder in the future possibly in another update.

#Rot with Me #male yandere #yandere #yandere boy #recommendations #visual novel #completed

72 notes · View notes

fluttervee · 6 days

Note

There once was a ship in limbo, of elven and draconic combine, but an anon so, heart full of woe, begs for headcanons that you can find. (inkblade crumbs? please?)

well, darling nonny, i have no idea why you have come to me for your crumbs but i will do what i can for you on this last day before we are well and truly jossed.

under a cut because i am completely deranged, this got so long lmao

sorry but I have to talk about this. dragonboy's death was hilarious actually. he was sooo confused about tbk killing his grandma. Were those dragons conjured/summoned/whatever and unrelated to him?? Or did he just not think about the implications of the bad kids showing up to the final confrontation?? What An Idiot. ok now crumb time i swear

I keep coming back to the fact that oisín didn't start missing at beer pong until after he spoke to adaine. obviously this takes on a WILDLY different cast post ep 17, but it's still so interesting to me. like, was he mad about her not remembering him?? that she didn't take his (definitely cursed) diamonds?? WHAT MADE YOU PLANT THE BOOBYTRAP BOY??

obsessed with the concept of oisín and ivy as cringefail loser meangirls. bitchy as hell, down in the first round of combat. icon behavior. they and aelwyn will get on like a house on fire

i like to think that oisín getting buff was part of some ragestar devil's bargain and not just a growth spurt. it would be soo funny if he sold his soul to Get Hot but actually adaine wouldn't care anyway. She just didn't notice you because you didn't talk to her, LOSER.

he would have to a) devour humble pie and b) Get Good, but I Still Believe In Canon Inkblade 🛸

i just love the idea of a bitchy wizard couple. Me and my girlfriend saw you from across the bar and we hate your vibe. we think your incantations suck.

I hope he saw her One Punch that dragon. I hope he was Scared and Horny

wait... sub oisín? Brat Oisín??? Ohhhh, now we're cooking

i like to think he was so caught up in his (her) Sick Burn that he didn't even CONSIDER how throwing that oracle line back at her would make her feel. i want him to lose his mind when he realizes. i want to him to beg her for forgiveness. grovel, even.

speaking of, have we decided how he knew that line to begin with?? someone floated the idea of adaine repeating it ad nauseum and i think that's so funny. Catty dragonborn hears elf girl make a sick burn one time, falls in love, decides to make it everyone else's problem

REMEMBER: if we don't have canon we'll always have fanfic. i will dip my toe into d20 fic for this with you, anon. hold my hand as we jump into the abyss

#many apologies for maintagging this but. here we are.#fhjy spoilers #fantasy high junior year spoilers #oisín hakinvar #adaine abernant #inkblade #fhjy #fantasy high #d20

34 notes · View notes

alice-after-dark · 14 days

Text

Late Night with the Radio Demon - The Summoning

Tagging @hiemaldesirae as requested :)

Did not expect to be posting about this again so soon, but here we are. This au owns my soul now and I'm not mad about it.

The whole demon summoning thing was actually a complete accident. Kind of. Technically he knew what was supposed to happen, he just didn't actually believe it would work.

Vincent hadn't gotten a proper look at the face of the man at the bar. His voice and hands told him the guy had to be old, but he'd kept his face hidden behind a scarf and the hood of his jacket. He'd been mumbling to himself when he'd handed over the small book, something about fulfilling his end of the bargain and "finally being free of that damned deer." Vincent had shrugged it all off as drunken nonsense. But the old man had insisted he take the book, so Vincent had accepted it and promptly forgotten about the entire encounter until days later when his show was threatened. He'd managed to keep his breakdown in check until he reached his tiny barren apartment. His ensuing tantrum had knocked over his coat rack, sending the book sailing across the floor, only to be noticed once Vincent had reduced himself to exhausted sobs.

Upon closer examination, it wasn't so much a book as it was a journal. Beat up and well-worn, it looked just as old as the individual who had pressed it into his hands that night. Opening it had sent a shiver over his skin, one that he chalked up to adrenaline. The interior was filled with mad ramblings and scribbles, sketches of antlers and eyes and deer skulls and something resembling a microphone...cane...thing? It takes some deciphering of the warped script for Vincent to finally realize what it's talking about...demon summoning.

The journal documents the summoning of a creature known only as the Radio Demon, describe as an eldritch being with extraordinary powers. The summoning that apparently started the journal took place back in 1902, but the stories date of the demon's existence go back as far as the medieval era. The old man got himself locked into a deal with the Radio Demon, though the details of said deal are lost in the madness of his writings. Eventually he stumbles across what appear to be...radio frequencies? Against his better judgement, he gets out his old radio.

He hasn't touched the thing in a while, but it's still in perfect working order. It's a prank, he tells himself, probably some joke channel some idiot got up and running. He'll play along, have a good laugh about it, and then...he should probably do something about the mess he made. He twists the dials to the frequencies outline in the journal, but all that greets him is static. Vincent is actually vaguely disappointed that there wasn't something more interesting on the other end of the broadcast. Just as he goes to turn it off though...

Something that sounds like distorted jazz starts playing, but not from the radio. It's coming from...everywhere. The lights begin to flicker wildly. The radio starts to glow with an eerie green light as the room around him grows darker, as though it's being consumed by the shadows itself. There's nothing but never ending darkness outside his window even though it was only mid-afternoon when he arrived home. Vincent staggers back away from the radio, tripping over his own feet and sending himself sprawling. This can't be real. There's no way this is real!

Then a hand emerges through the light coming from the radio, gripping the side of the device as another joins it, pulling and dragging until something wholly inhuman begins to slide free. It's jaw is too wide, eyes black with radio dials ticking away at the center, limbs jagged and warped, inky black antlers twisting up to the ceiling. The jazz is now screeching with static feedback and Vincent covers his ears in pain. He can't breathe. This can't be real!

And then, abruptly, it all stops and standing before him is a bizarre looking young man in a red suit.

"Greetings, my good man!"

---

(Later, when Vincent would discover who Alastor was in life, he'd ask how there could possibly be such old records of him if he only entered Hell in 1933. Apparently, time means nothing to Hell when it comes to demon summoning.)

#late night with the radio demon au #hazbin hotel #hazbin vox #hazbin alastor #radiostatic #human vox #hazbin hotel vox #vox hazbin hotel

21 notes · View notes

cuppajj · 2 years

Note

Whats the sentient lost light up to during the mutiny arc? :)

It starts with Getaway learning long before the rest of the crew that the Lost Light is alive. He doesn’t spill the truth immediately, though; no, he has a better plan. The ship is being exclusive only to Rodimus, Magnus, and Megatron, the former two he believes are being too sympathetic to the latter. He could use this, his new knowledge of the ship, to get it to do what he wants. When Team Rodimus go down to Necroworld, Getaway enters the bridge and speaks to the Lost Light directly. He reveals that he knows they’re alive, and he declares himself captain to them; and that he’s in charge of what they do now.

Now, the thing about LL is that they follow a rule of no bias; so while they don’t understand why Getaway is doing this, when Rodimus is the captain, but they don’t refuse letting him into the captain’s chair and handling the controls. And in this moment, they’re not mortified that he knows, they’re merely bewildered. How did he come to know? (He might’ve smooth-talked Lightlost into saying things that aren’t like any of the crew, and also taking their physical appearance not as a costume/coincidence but as deliberate… and/or he would’ve seen their holoform dissipate.)

LL is saddened as they listen to Getaway use their comm to announce the mutiny to Rodimus, and is hurt even more when they hear how confused and angry Rodimus is. But they don’t do anything, because it’s not their place to. The mutineers, even Getaway himself, still mean so much to them, and they’ve watched over them all the same. They just never would’ve fathomed that the crew they care about so much would turn on one another. When Getaway leaves Necroworld, leaving Rodimus's group behind, LL silently wishes for their safe return sooner than later.

This would be the beginning of LL's little mini-arc where they begin to question their neutrality, a question that's amplified further once Getaway releases Sunder, who promptly begins cannibalizing the crew as part of a bargain to have the crew's memories altered. LL is horrified, and for the first time, appears as Lightlost and confronts Getaway directly. Getaway gives the ship one more chance to back down and stay subservient, but when LL makes it clear that they're now actively opposed, he has no other choice. So he summons Sunder. Sunder, who knows the Lost Light is alive.

Unfortunately for the titan, the mnemosurgeon doesn't need their giant optics to tap into their mind. Through Lightlost, he's already looking at them; and so he strikes. With the flash of his optics, the floor beneath him trembles, and with a choked gasp, Lightlost abruptly disintegrates in a field of distorted light. The overhead lights flicker, and then there's silence. In mere seconds, the titan's conscience had been shut down, their frame now indistinguishable from an inanimate vessel. And Getaway continues with his business as normal.

The Lost Light would remain in their unconscious state until Rodimus and his team finally reclaim the ship. The first thing the titan sees, and feels, upon awakening, is the familiar frame and face of their true captain.

#sentient lost light au #lost light #getaway #sunder #rodimus #cjj askbox #maja-cherub #mtmte

484 notes · View notes

deconstructthesoup · 6 months

Text

Analyzing "The Web I Spin For You"

Okay, so... THIS FUCKING SONG is one of the most interesting and compelling songs in the Nightmare Time saga, and nobody ever talks about it---unless they're praising Mariah's voice, which is something you should be doing regardless. Outside of "The Summoning," this is the only song sung by one of the gods of the Black & White, and unlike "The Summoning," which is just vibes, villain chaos, and dealing out some Faustian bargains with the NPMD gang, this song actually provides lore. It shows us a deeper look into Webby's psyche and motivations, something that the Lords in Black have yet to be gifted. It gives us a hint as to how brothers and sister split apart... and I think it might be our very first---and so far, only---look into the parent of these eldritch beings.

Okay, let's start.

"Why do you haunt me like a ghost? / You're supposed to love me the most"

Right off the bat, we have emotional depth. Webby is singing about someone who has hurt her, someone who was supposed to love her but instead used her and continues to haunt her life. Who is this person, and what did they do?

"Got me in the spell you cast / The iris of your eye is black / Weren't you the one to watch my back / Unlike the witches you summon?"

This is where it ties into the episode, with "witches you summon." You get the clear sense that Webby is talking about a family member---maybe her brothers, but it has to be one in particular, and it doesn't really feel like she's talking about Wiggly... if nothing more than the fact that his irises are very clearly not black, at least if the doll is anything to go by.

"Have you noticed that my trust has turned / You may have taught me, but now I've learned / Gotta catch you before I'm burned / In the web I spin for you"

Now, here is where it starts to make sense. I think this song is about the father of the Lords in Black and Webby---someone who taught them how to be gods of chaos. Maybe once upon a time, Webby believed in what her father was teaching her, maybe he even kept the truth secret from her, but she grew up, saw through it, decided that she didn't want to participate in the evil, and left.

At this point in the song, the phrase "the web I spin for you" seems to refer to something Webby made for her family's benefit, and based on the lyrics, it eventually became a curse for her. I saw someone mention the theory that Webby created the split timeline... and you know what? Maybe that is the web she made. A blessing, because nothing is ever permanent and nobody ever truly dies, but a curse, because she watches her brothers succeed again and again, and even when she wins, there's no guarantee that the people she helped will be happy. In fact, the episode this comes from has the only ending in the Hatchetfield universe---nobody dies, Hannah makes it out with Miss Holloway's help, Lex and Ethan get out of jail. And honestly... it hits harder that way, because I think there's enough evidence to suggest that The Witch In The Web is in the same timeline as Nightmare Time 2. And we all know how that ended.

"You used to keep me at your side / (Have you given that up? Have you given that up? Have you given that up?) / I suppose you'd have me empathize"

The way I'm interpreting it now, this could add fuel to the fire as to why the LiB resent Webby. Maybe back when she still believed in her family, she was her father's favorite. But something happened---maybe nothing more than the fact that she was kind---that changed all that. In the very next line, she says that the person she's singing about stabbed her in the back. Maybe she was lied to, maybe she was betrayed---whatever the reason, this could be why she left.

"Have you noticed that my trust has turned / You may have taught me, but now I've learned / I'll enjoy it as I watch you squirm / In the web I spin for you"

Here is where "the web I spin for you" shifts from being something Webby made to help to something she made to trap. The web she made---maybe it's the timeline, maybe it's something else---benefits nobody, but especially not the people who hurt her. She doesn't trust them anymore, so she's turned her web into something that can hurt them back.

"What's the point of giving love and trust for / I thought it something that was worth the fight for / And now I wonder what I worked so hard for / I even thought that I could give my life for you"

God. Damn. There's so much I can say, but the first thing that comes to mind is... poor Webby. Based on these lyrics alone, she has been hurt, she's been betrayed, she's likely been lied to or mislead about the purpose of what she was doing, and it's a miracle that she's still her loving and caring self. And speaking of which...

"I was the only one that loved and cared for / Have you noticed that I have it in for / As I grew older that I have no need for / The web I spin for you"

This one is actually pretty straightforward, and it lends credence to the theory that Webby truly is the only Queen in White---the only good entity in her family. The next line could either indicate that she's grown to the point where she's too powerful for the web she made, or she's outright rejecting her family and the purpose they gave her---either way, it's still cool.

"If I'm-a trust, I'm gonna trust in me / You may have taught me, but I'm now learning / All this time, I've been untangling / The web I spin for you"

And THIS RIGHT HERE is where the "gotta take it back, take it back" refrain all throughout the song makes sense. Webby is now attempting to undo her actions, now that she knows that she can't trust her family and that she's learning on her own. She's untangling the web she made, and in doing so, turning the tide.

"No doubt that if I drop dead / You'll find me tangled up / In the web I spin for you"

Full disclosure---I always have to look up those last two lyrics to know what they are, and they're very bone-chilling. My only thought to what this might mean is that... Webby's saying that the web she made might kill her. And she's either trying to guilt the person she's singing to, or she's furious at the fact that they made her create such a thing, and... yeah. I don't know what's more hard-hitting.

ANYWAYS, this song is supremely underrated

#starkid #hatchetfield #webby hatchetfield #nightmare time #hatchetverse #the lords in black #queen in white #the web i spin for you #the witch in the web #song analysis

51 notes · View notes

afreakingdork · 1 year

Text

Crush Too Much - Part 17

RotTMNT Donatello x GN!Reader

Warnings: Longing, Angst, Fluff, Embarrassment, Overbearing Siblings, Aged-up Turtles

Synopsis: So you met a customer three times at work and that made a pretty big impression on you? That’s nothing to necessarily get worked up over, but when you’re all prepared to ask for his number the next time you see him and his brother gets involved instead, you might be in for something more than you bargained for.

FIRST 💜 PREVIOUS

“Ahem, my apologies for the delay. I’m sure you’re all curious why I’ve gathered you here today.”

Maneuvering around the couch with his nose buried into his notes, Donatello took a commanding spot in front of the projector. Tossing his head back and adjusting his neck, he prepared to launch into his annoucement when he noticed his family had not taken notice of his appearance.

“And that’s when Mrs. Sidorov’s cat was saved from where he got stuck in the drain pipe!” April had her phone held up high.

“Graham Cracker was really ok?” Raph sniffled as he poured himself over the back of the couch to get a better look.

“Yup! You know, some of my coworkers hate doing puff pieces, but when you’re a field reporter it’s kinda a nice reprieve from all the typical crazy.” From her crook sofa seat, April turned her head and softened at the tears in Raph’s eyes. “Aw, Raph! He's ok! Look, I got another one of him with Mrs. S.”

“Graham Cracker is a terrible name for the cat.” Leo shook his head from where he was taking up a third of the couch.

“No way! Food names are the best pet names!” Mikey waved a hand from where he was twisted with his legs hanging over the armrest in the final sofa position.

“You’re too far away to make that judgment and I didn’t say that.” Leo leaned over his little brother’s head. “It’s a gray cat.”

“Then-” Mikey started and stopped, squinting. “Not brown or tan or even tortoiseshell?”

“Ahem.”

“When you’re right, you’re right. The cat’s gray.” April spoke matter-of-factly.

“You guys don’t get it! Graham Cracker is perfect just the way he is.” Raph huffed, kneeling down so his chin rested on the back of the couch.

“Cough, cough!”

“More like purr-fect!” Leo chuckled, reaching around to pat his older brother on the head.

Donatello slammed a hand against the projector screen which wobbled against the wall.

Leo turned his attention languidly. "Finally, do you know how long we’ve been waiting?”

“Do you-!?” Donnie hissed before catching himself. He took a deep breath and released it while flicking his hands to rid himself of the irritation. “As I said before, I’m sure you’re all curious why I summoned you!”

“Actually I was wondering why we’re having a family meeting without dad…” Raph tipped his head from amongst the couch cushions.

“Oh yeah! Where is he anyway?” Mikey wiggled around until his head was butted up against Leo’s thigh.

Donatello thread his fingers and pointed two of them out. "I have distracted our esteemed father with an HD cut of his favorite shows and this isn’t necessarily a family meeting, if you-”

“Wouldn’t he be in here if he was watching his shows?” April leaned forward and motioned to the recliner.

“Raph, dare you to go sit in it!” From where his arm was still slung over the back of the couch, Leo poked his older brother.

“Dad’s chair!?” Raph slunk back further behind the couch.

Mikey snickered. “Maybe by thirty you’ll be brave enough!”

“If it’s so….” Raph’s head popped back up along with an accusatory finger. “Such not a big deal then why don’t you go sit in it!?”

All three members of the couch clammed up.

“I-I’m just so comfortable, I mean look at me!” Mikey cross his legs and gave an awkward smile.

Donatello slapped a hand to his forehead and dragged it down his face. “This was a terrible idea. You’re all dismissed.”

“Sweet!” Leo snapped to his feet until April caught his bandana tails.

“Where do you think you’re going?” She tugged down and he bent backwards at the movement. “I’m sure Donnie has something really important he needs to talk about if he called us all here. Isn't that right, Donnie?”

Frowning, Donatello sighed. “As much as it pains me to say so, yes.”

April kept hold until Leo reclaimed his seat.

With the group’s silence and attention finally garnered, the weight of what he was about to do began to sink in. Donatello cleared his throat and adjusted his posture nervously. The move caused several of his note cards to break free from their brethren and he waffled to pick them up. Crouched over a stray page, he pretended to look it over. “What I’m about to discuss with you is a delicate topic in regards to my person. I would…” He sneered slightly. “…appreciate it if you could exhibit, I don’t know, just an ounce of decorum, if that’s even possible.” He straightened and looked out at his family with a disarmed expression. “Surely I don’t need to remind you that you know me and that it wouldn’t come to this unless absolutely necessary.”

Seeing the display, everyone shifted. April and Leo's backs erected. With minimal trouble, Mikey spun around and tucked himself upright into the corner of the couch. Raph momentarily eyed the newly opened space, but decided not to crowd the furniture. Instead, the older sibling rounded the couch and plopped down cross legged in front of it.

Failing to reorganize his notes, Donatello dropped the arm clutching them to his side. “Though I’m not one to harp…”

Leo rolled his eyes and Raph sent an elbow back into his sibling’s leg.

“This is very very…. very difficult for me to do. That's three verys mind you.” Donatello got the comment out through gritted teeth.

“We’re here for you, Donnie.” April reassured.

“No jokes! Whatever you have to say, we’ll help however we can.” It was Mikey’s turn to snatch Leo’s tails. Leo gave a small yelp as he was tugged down until he was below his younger sibling’s gaze. “Right, Leo?”

Shrinking under Mikey’s intense glower, a brittle laugh escaped Leo’s throat. “Y-Yup! Whenever you’re ready, Don-tron!”

Mikey released his hold and Leo scooted closer to April who casually shoved him back into the center of the couch.

With his eyes glued to the floor, Donatello screwed his eyes shut. “It has recently come to my attention that I’m in love with Y/N.”

Raph was the first to move. The elder turtle sibling nearly bounced with excitement before clapping his hands over his mouth. From above him, April bit her lip and turned to Leo. Leo’s head lolled back and he threw his fists up in silent frustration. Mikey glowered at his sibling with such intensity that Leo brought them back down and mimed out an annoyed accusation at Donnie. Mikey’s cheeks puffed up with further displeasure.

Bringing his gaze up, Donatello saw his family all scramble to resume neutral positions. He huffed as his shoulders droop. “Go ahead less you all pop blood vessels.”

“FINALLY!” Leo groaned, collapsing over Raph’s form.

“What he means to say is, we’re glad you… finally figured it out?” April gave an awkward grin.

“Don’t listen to them, Donnie!” Raph cheered. “They don’t know what they’re talking about! I am so proud! My little bro's all grown up!” He then wiped a tear from his eye.

“No, I think I would know more than any of you!” Leo grumbled, pushing off of Raph’s back roughly though his sibling didn’t budge in the slightest. “If we’re gonna throw anyone under the bus at this point it should be Dr. Heartbreak over here.” Leo jut an thumb back at Mikey.

“I didn’t tell him it was love!” Mikey squeaked at the allegation. “Plus it was you two-" He pointed a finger of one hand at Leo and the other at Raph. “-who were trying to use my fashion show as some sneaky matchmaking op!”

Leo gave a loud fake gasp. “El yo acuso! I would never!”

“Don’t play cute! You knew about it too!” Raph was sweating bullets.

“But I wasn’t going to do it and I told you guys not to!” Mikey rose incrementally out if his seat.

“You invited Y/N to the after party! How is that not participation?” Leo tipped over with narrowed eyes.

“He has you there.” April gave a knowing nod.

Mikey babbled out a series of incoherent syllables before turning a watery eye to the center of the room. “Donnie, tell them! I didn’t invite Y/N cause of that. Tell them!”

Having brought attention back to the focus of the discussion, everyone clammed up.

“Better?” Donatello asked dryly.

Everyone gave a single tight nod.

“The love part isn’t the issue at hand.” Shifting his weight from one leg to the other, Donatello cast his gaze down. “We have decided that we are going to be friends moving forward-”

“You confessed too?!” Leo scrambled forward so quickly that he hooked a spike on Raph’s shell and flipped over onto the floor. Now on his back, he gasped weakly.

“No, I did not.” Donatello responded, unperturbed.

Raph slide his hands under Leo’s shoulder and lifted him up. “Then how did ya come to that conclusion?”

“We finally discussed what we should be.”

“Isn’t it kinda hard to come to that conclusion when they don’t know the whole story?” April asked.

“They know enough.” Donatello swept his flat gaze to April.

“But you love them?” Mikey jumped in.

"What difference does it make if I do?” Donatello winced and broke eye contact again. Feeling vulnerable, he wrapped his arms around himself.

The others exchanged looks.

“So, you brought us here to…?” Leo wheezed, shaking off a few lingering glares.

“Cutting Y/N out of my life again is out of the question. I agreed to the friendship terms. I need to rid myself of this accursed affection if I am to move forward. I already know the ins and outs of the neurobiology of love and unfortunately used it incorrectly-” Donatello grimaced. “-to talk myself out of my feelings before. I don’t… I don’t think I can handle discussing my misdeeds right now, so let’s just focus on the matter at hand.”

There was another heated exchanging of looks.

Getting to her feet and crossing the room, April placed a careful hand to one of Donatello’s arms. “Oh, Donnie… How long have you known?”

“Which part?” He kept his gaze away.

“That you were in love.”

“Since the after party.”

Mikey counted out on his fingers. “That’s… Nine? Days… I think?”

Donatello nodded.

Finally recovering from knocking the wind out of his own lungs, Leo was the next to approach his sibling. “And when did you and Y/N come to the whole friendship decision?”

“Three days ago.” Donatello stiffened at the approach causing him to inadvertently leave April’s touch.

“Wait, you saw Y/N Friday?” As the timeline manifested in Raph’s mind, he also got to his feet.

“Yes! I needed help with my plants!” Feeling encroached by his siblings, Donatello took a few wary steps back.

“Hey, it’s ok.” April brought her hands up and moved closer to Leo. “We’re not interrogating you. Remember we didn’t know about this-” She thrust an elbow into Leo’s side when a chuckle started to escape him. “We’re just trying to get the whole picture.”

“Give me the whole picture on why everyone keeps hitting me.” Leo grumbled and retreated to the safety of the couch.

“I’m glad you’ve brought that up.” Donatello tipped his head down and reached behind his back.

April, being the closest, stiffened.

“Because I’ve prepared and in depth presentation to express that very thing!” With a swing of his limbs, Donatello turned on the projector which blinked open to show an active PowerPoint presentation.

“Oy vey!” Leo crumpled into the couch and tossed an arm over his eyes.

“As you can see here-” Donnie’s goggles came down and he positioned himself to the right of the screen. “We need to make sure everyone is on the same page. So let us start back at the beginning…” The slide turned over and a photograph of a store front appeared. “… at Lou, Mike, Tony, Tony's Pizza!”

April dragged herself to the couch in a similar that manner Leo had. Donatello began to drone on about the first time he met you. Raph, who was still standing, glanced between the presentation and his family.

“Data calms him down.” Mikey whispered, seeing Raph’s nerves. “He needs this.”

The older sibling nodded and took his earlier seat. With a furrowed brow, he squirmed until he was half facing the presenter while still able to see his family. Raph then mimicked Mikey’s tone. “This ain’t right. What are we gonna do, guys?”

“Which brings me to our first fated meeting: Jet Fuel Coffee Cart!” Donatello continued on obliviously, having now deployed a pointed extension on his tech-bō to direct attention on the screen.

“Oh, no, no, no.” Leo griped, his voice dipping to the same level. “I’ve done enough. I’m fine with the no meddling rule.”

“I’m pretty sure it was you who started the ‘keep Y/N around after the fashion show’ thingy.” Raph turned a dead stare to Leo.

“You say it was me, I say it was a group effort.” Leo shrugged with a smirk.

“Not this again.” Mikey slumped his shoulders. “No more blame. Are we seriously gonna help Donnie move on?”

Leo’s smile waned.

“New Jersey, enemy to not only to the casual New Yorker, but to Dream Vans the world over!”

“You would know best.” Raph eyed the middle sibling. “Does Y/N still love him?”

Leo twisted in his seat and gave a strained expression. “Nope! Nuh-uh! Not going there! I’ve kept my distance since throwing them a break-up party.”

Mikey cocked a curious brow.

“Don’t worry about it.” Leo waved the matter off without passing a glance at his younger sibling. He folded his arms until the persistent stares of his brothers wore him down. “Ok, fine! They were head over heels for Mr. Smarty Pants forever, but I honestly don’t know how they currently feel. I mean would you blame them if they moved on? It’s not like it was specifically anyone’s fault, bad timing let’s say, but let’s also say I have totally lost count of the number of wrongs Don’s committed. It’s basically criminal, but sorry, what was my point again?” Leo brought fluttering eyelashes to Mikey who pouted in return.

“It means we don’t know how Y/N feels. No matter how wrong we think it is, we can’t plan anything if they’ve moved on!” Raph frowned and gave a little dejected huff.

“We all saw how they were when they danced together.” Mikey murmured after a few moments of saddened silence passed.

Leo clicked his tongue.

“And while I’m not proud of what I did, I will say almost destroying Leo did have a certain level of satisfaction to it!”

“When you put it like that…” Raph hummed with mild frustration. “No, it doesn’t matter. We have to know for sure.”

“April.” Mikey leaned forward to look beyond Leo. The others followed suit. “You’ve been quiet.”

“I’m listening to both of you.” She pointed to Donnie, who was still passionately giving his presentation, and then twisted her wrist back to the brothers. “But I’ve also been thinking about something Donnie said.”

“Which part?” Mikey twisted his head and squinted at the projection in hopes of catching up.

“The part about New Jersey?” Leo croaked to himself.

“He said something about not being able to talk about his misdeeds.” April confirmed, bringing her furrowed brow up. “What do you think he meant by that specifically?”

“He’s got a ton of guilt.” Leo shrugged.

All heads swiveled to the middle brother.

“What?” Leo glanced around the group.

“What do you mean? I thought we went through the grieving process with him?” Mikey asked, dejection in his voice.

“We did.” Leo continued to look for a shred of understanding among his family.

“Then from what he thinks ge did wrong?” Raph looked to April.

“Leo, you’re gonna need to expand on that.” April pushed her hands together and then apart in demonstration.

Rolling his eyes, Leo leaned back into the couch. “Look at it this way, he’s had nine days to totally over think this whole thing. We may have helped him process his heartbreak, but if he’s saying this now then he must not have realized his was suffering was cause he was in love until then. Meaning, depending on how long he’s been in love, he’s probably been tearing himself up realizing all the missed opportunities while also being pretty dang aware of how that must have felt for Y/N.”

“You all became pretty prominent at this point, but only Mikey was present the day of the third fated meeting…”

April pinched the bridge of her nose. “Oh, Donnie…”

“Then three days ago…?” A spark of understanding shined in Mikey’s eyes.

“I’m gonna bet he invited them over because he wanted to see them and this and that happened before some dramatic tension popping moment where Y/N finally needed to undo the whole, terribly named, 'un-duo' situation. Donald thinking he’d already quacked up the whole thing, probably rolled right over for friendship.” Leo pressed his lips together in a tight line.

“He’s gotta confess.” April decided, determination setting into her features.

“W-wait, what about Y/N’s feelings?” Raph brought his hands up anxiously.

“That’s what you took away from what I said?” Leo turned a arched brow at April.

“I know.” She turned, her lips tight. “It seems insensitive, but think, if they really are over him then this is their chance to formally reject him and hopefully both of them can actually move on. Maybe it’s just me, but if I was chasing some dummy around, even if I had gotten over them, I’d at least want to know if they actually had liked me the whole time! It would make me not always wonder if I was crazy. Plus, and again, might just be me, but these two have fate stink all over them. They basically can’t get away from each other. That’s gotta mean something.”

Raph’s eyes were watering and he brought a knuckle up to scrub at them. “True love always gets to me…”

Mikey gave a soft look to Raph before glancing at the screen. “He’s almost caught up!” Crossing his legs, he took his meditation stance. “What’s the plan?”

The group glanced at Leo who tried unsuccessfully to ignore the attention. “Please stop making me do this.”

“Just don’t be a jerk about it this time!” April slapped his shoulder.

“I’ll give you hints and nothing else!” Leo griped, rubbing the appendage. “What does this whole thing feel like?” With an outstretched hand, he twisted his wrist around the room.

“A family meeting, duh.” Raph responded blankly.

“What else?” Leo rolled his eyes.

“It’s kinda like a mixed up intervention since Donnie’s the one who’s having a ‘problem’ and wants it to stop, 'cept he called the meeting on himself…” Mikey mumbled with a creased brow.

April popped up with an idea. “Exactly! Let’s intervent this intervention!”

“Mhm!” Leo gave an approving hum.

“Huh wha-?” Mikey mouthed in confusion.

“Time for an April O’Neil recap!” She bounced and settled into her newscaster stance. “One. Donnie wants to make up for his mistakes.”

Raph brought up a single digit to count her down.

“Two. He wants to stop being in love so he can be a good friend!”

Mikey shook his head not at April, but the absurdity of the sentence’s content.

“Three. It’s not really tricking someone if they’re literally asking us for help.” She gave a wicked grin. “Good friends try to make up for mess ups, right Mr. Breakup Party?” She turned a knowing brow at Leo.

“There’s such a fine line between romance and friendship when you add a little feelings to the mix.” Leo winked.

“I don’t follow…” Raph stared at his three fingers in dismay.

April leaned over the couch to put a hand on the elder turtle sibling’s shoulder. “We’re gonna ‘help’ Donnie by 'recommending' he ‘make up’ for his mistakes to Y/N, but our 'suggestions' are gonna perfectly set the scene for him to confess.”

“That was a lot of air quotes…” Raph pursed his lips.

“Follow our lead!” Mikey sprung forward and grabbed the top of Raph’s head, pivoting it back to Donnie.

“And with that we are up to date!” Donatello turned to find his family facing him with smiles a little too wide. “Come on guys, I practiced to get the whole spiel under 5 minutes. Are your attention spans really that short?”

“Actually Donnie, I think we got it. We’re just a little, ya know, unsure of how to help.” April offered, shifting on her cushion.

“We are?” Raph looked up as if the ceiling could offer him an answer.

“First off!” The couch creaked under Mikey’s sudden jolt. “Why isn’t Cass here!? I mean, she’s the one of us that has a kid and all!”

“Future and present.” Leo chuckled.

“While she is also family…” Donatello swirled his hands, searching for the right choice of words. “Like dad, I wouldn’t say her idea romance is particularly synonymous with my own.”

April’s lips wrinkled. “That’s fair.”

“And…” Raph could feel the eyes on the back of his head as he began. “Just to make sure we’re on the same page…” The eyes all but bore into him.

“Go ahead.” Donatello urged.

“You gave this whole recap speech, but you need our help to get over Y/N?” The eyes seemed to let up and Raph resisted the urge to blot his brow.

“Unfortunately.” Donatello began and then feigned clearing his throat. “I’ve thoroughly researched the subject and though I appear to have cleared most of the steps. There has been abject failure on my part to actually move on which puts me at a loss.”

“But you didn’t cover those steps just now… did you?” Mikey asked, tapping a finger to his knee.

Lifting his goggles, Donatello narrowed his gaze at his youngest sibling.

Mikey puffed out his cheeks as wide as they would go.

“Hm, I suppose you were listening if you know that much.” Donatello turned and clicked the projector remote to the next slide which was blank. He then brought up his cuff and from it notes began to appear on the screen

With his back turned, the rest of the family squabbled in silence right up until the second Donatello turned around.

“Alright, here is a quick rundown which I will also explain.” Though he had addressed his family, Donatello’s voice hitched so he glanced back at the screen. “I’ve already been through the grieving process, a period of distance, and, as discussed, gone over the neurological components.”

“Woah, there, smart guy!” April called out, leaning forward. “There’s no actual time limit on those things. If you’re still struggling then you obviously didn’t go through the process enough.”

“No time limit, hm?” Donatello turned to stare at this notes.

Leo pulled on April’s sleeve violently. She, in turn, gently put her hand to his cheek before shoving it so far over that he bumped heads with Mikey.

“What I think-!” Leo began and all parties shot back to their respective spots as Donnie turned back around. “-April is forgetting is that you don’t really have the time to get over it, wouldn’t you say!?”

“Y-Yeah!” Mikey piqued. “You said you couldn’t cut Y/N out of your life!”

“Very true.” April bared a vicious grin which she slowly turned on Leo. “We can’t forget that, can we? But, we also can’t forget that letting someone move forward with a bad emotional basis is also gonna screw everything up!”

“I’m sensing something is up.” Raising a brow, Donatello waited for one of his family members to fess up.

Instead the four scrambled together as if they were posed for a yearly portrait.

“What makes you think that?”

“Us? Ha! Never!”

“We’re just here to help…! I think?”

“Why didn’t you use a theme on your presentation?”

All eyes pivoted instantly on Mikey.

“I didn’t want to overshadow the content.” Donatello took a single step forward. “A change in subject is a classic Mikey diversion tactic.”

“To be fair, it’s also just something he does when he’s distracted.” Leo shrugged his shoulders while both removing his arms from where they had snaked around April and Mikey.

“Out with it. Now.” Donatello took a few more steps until he was in the center of the room.

Everyone sent their gazes in different directions. Each with their own boiling point, Raph was the first to start sweating. He was then followed closely by Mikey, who began to bounce his leg. Leo twitched next, his hands shaking minutely. Finally, April, the strongest fortitude of the bunch, turned to look over her compatriots. She shook her head and stood to address Donnie in there stead.

“You got us.”

The other boys stiffened like boards.

“We just…” She gave them all another look, this time telegraphing reassurance. They relaxed slightly, but glanced at each other curiously. “We think you’re going about this the wrong way, D.”

Donatello’s shoulders rose at the claim.

“Being in love is something you should enjoy, not something you should toss aside like a used tissue. Seriously, you said it was nine days, right? And where has that got you? You’ve been miserable for most of it, huh?”

Startling at her question, Donatello looked away. “Not, all of it…”

“When you were together?” She responded with a dry knowing tone.

“But that’s-”

“Inappropriate? Wrong? Not cool? Yeah, it can be, but if you think past all your overthinking, did they ever seen uncomfortable?” April put her hands on her hips.

Lowering his head, Donnie reviewed the footage. “Only when we discussed our status.” Bringing his gaze back up, he remembered something else. “Especially when I mentioned properly apologizing.”

“Speaking of, and let’s table the love bit for just a moment. That seems like a sore subject all around.” April closed the gap between her and Donnie in a few steps.

“I need to do it right.” He responded, eyeing her warily.

“Now, this is just a guess, but it seems like that’s more of a pressing issue for you, hm?”

“I consider the two connected, but not intertwined.”

“Ok, stay with me here, but we all know the scientific lengths you’ve gone to excuse your feelings…”

Donatello’s guard went up instantly.

April shushed him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Here’s something that might not have popped up because it’s more of a ‘you gotta know’ kinda thing, but that crazy passionate love tends to burn brighter when there are obstacles.”

“I understand you’re going for some sort of long point here, but I’ll need you to elaborate on that part.”

“Ok…” She looked to the side and curled her bottom lip up into the corner of her mouth. “So, in a regular relationship there’s all these butterflies and giggles when it’s new and thrilling, yeah?”

“I suppose.” Donnie shrugged.

“This is exactly why you need some normalized love experience.” April gave him a dead eyed stare before shaking it off to regain her composure. “Anyway, when love is thwarted the like lifespan of infatuation is extended! Basically, because it’s not working out is why you can’t move on.”

“Uh huh…?” Donnie leaned away from the touch unconvinced.

“Nope!” Twisting her hand, April snatched his bicep and dug her fingers into his muscle.

“Ow! What are you-!?”

“Bringing the point home!” She shouted before leaning back and using her grip on Donnie to toss him towards the sofa. He stumbled the first few feet and then collided with the cushions. “Get him situated, guys!”

Raph stood on command and picked up his brother to seat him correctly. Leo pretended to dust off Donnie’s shoulders and Mikey stood only to take a seat on the opposite side of the couch next to his Donnie.

“Alright, fools! Listen up! Donnie!” April turned her still outstretched arm into a direct point.

“Yeah?” Donatello paled, at a complete loss.

“I propose that you haven’t been able to get over your love because you’re the obstacle getting in its way! Because you’ve been stumbling around with your feelings, they’ve never been given a chance to breathe or chill! That is compounded by this whole self-imposed apology thing you got going on. So, until you make it up to Y/N then you aren’t even gonna start to move on. Which brings me back to what me and the guys were trying to keep under wraps.”

Donnie blinked and slowly moved to look at each of his brothers individually. Mikey gave him a beaming smile. Leo shrugged with a lazy smirk. Raph passed a sheepish grin between his twiddling fingers. Still stunned, Donnie swept the same owlish gaze back to April.

“The proposition is simple: go have fun with Y/N with some activities we cooked up to make it up to them. In doing so, you’ll get to associate your love with some good vibes and then you’ll be naturally ready to let go. If you’re keeping track, that’s an April O’Neil three-for-one special, you’re welcome!” She then ended her presentation with a sharp snap and a pointed wink.

There was silence for a moment before Mikey started a slow clap. Leo and Raph joined in and kept going until Donnie joined them.

As it tapered off, Donnie leaned forward and stared at the tingling hands in his lap. “Do you really think that will work? I need you all to be honest. I need…” He closed his eyes and winced at the minor headache coming on. “I can’t mess this up.”

“You won’t.” Mikey draped himself over Donnie. “You’ll just have to let that big brain of yours take a itsy bitsy break.”

“Do you even know me?” Donnie shook his head, his voice tight.

“Remember when you were on that dance floor?” Leo bumped shoulders with him. “Let yourself have something like that and it’s a shoo-in!”

“You know…” Raph started with a mumble before he regained his voice. “After you and Leo fought, when I walked Y/N home, we talked just a little bit. I knew how much they cared about you and I wanted to say something like ‘because you guys care about each other it’ll all work out,’ but they kinda took the words out of my mouth. I think… No, I know they just want to keep sharing those happy times with you. That’s probably why they keep coming back for more.” Raph feigned slugging Donnie’s shin. “Even though we’re family and there's a bias, I feel the same kinda way. When we have bad moments, it doesn’t negate the good ones. It doesn’t mean it has to keep being bad. You keep making good memories to chase all the bad ones away.” Raph paused and looked to Donnie with renewed determination. “Rather than being sad about not knowing something, what matters more is how you react when you discover it.”

Silence followed for a moment and Raph stared into Donnie’s rapidly watering eyes until Mikey sniffled. He then turned to find his youngest sibling outright sobbing.

“Ya big galoot!” Leo cried, launching himself at Raph. “Not a dry eye in the house! Where have you been hiding all that wisdom?!”

“Seriously, I thought I had it in the bag and you totally one-uped me!” April used her sleeve to dry her eyes.

“You all, just don’t listen enough. Raph’s got tons of good wisdom to drop!” The elder turtle sibling twisted between eating up the praise and bowing his head with humility.

“Fine.” Donnie swallowed hard, blinking away any errant moisture that threatened to fall. “I’m convinced. What did you all have in mind?”

“Let’s round table our ideas.” April walked over and leaned against the armrest nearest Mikey. “Mine’s gotta be last, who’s going first?”

“More wisdom!” Mikey hiccupped in a cheer.

“That means you, big guy!” Leo confirmed, giving Raph a final pat before reclaiming his spot on the couch.

“M-me?” Raph spun around to face his family. “We were… pitching what again exactly?”

“Su-wing and a’miss!” Leo chuckled, sinking deeper into the cushions.

“Activity ideas for Donnie to make it up to Y/N, remember Raph?” April widened her eyes at him in an attempt to jog his memory.

Raph tilted his head at her before turning his still confused gaze to Donnie. “A gift is always good, right?”

April slapped a hand to her forehead while Mikey patted her shoulder.

Passing only a glance to the pair on his right, Donnie turned his attention to Raph on his left. “I depends on the content.”

“A gift that says ‘I’m sorry.’” Raph hummed with closed eyes. “No.”

Donnie raised a curious brow.

“A gift that says ‘I’m sorry’ from Donnie! That’s totally different!” Raph perked up and leaned forward. “You’re a big ‘make a gift’ kinda guy and your techy gizmos are… mostly fine, but getting something against character would really show how sorry you were!”

“How does pouring hours and hours into a technological wonder not show dedication?” Donnie scoffed.

“’Cause it’s too big! It’s gotta be something small, off the cuff kinda.” Raph brought an arched finger up to his lips. “You gotta win it.”

“Win it?” Donnie’s head jutted back at the unexpected note.

“Yeah! Bring ‘em to the boardwalk and win 'em a prize! It’s perfect! It’s out of character so it’ll be an awesome surprise and it’s something they can look back on and go ‘that’s the cute thing Donnie got me, oh wow!’” Raph put on a voice and brought his clenched hands up to his cheek with faux fluttering lashes.

“Y/N sounds nothing like that.” Donnie retorted with a sneer.

“Oh, and it’s gotta be something soft and huggable!” A huge grin spread across Raph’s face.

“Shall I win one for you too?” Donnie mocked Raph’s earlier fist to cheek move.

“I mean… if you wouldn’t mind and maybe saw one that would go with my style…” Raph squirmed in place to temper his excitement.

“We’ll see.” Donnie gave his elder brother a little kick before looking at the siblings on either side of him. “Who’s next?”

“Since Aps got last, I’ll go second to last! Keep ‘em guessing! That means Mike’s up to bat!” Leo waved Donnie’s gaze to the other side of the couch.

“Heh, heh, heh.” Mikey faked a nefarious chuckle with an L-shaped crook of his finger and thumb framing his chin. “You’re in luck because I have just the idea.”

“Skeptical, but go ahead.” Donnie waited with an even stare.

“Kinda like what Raph was saying about out of character, you really wanna show how sorry you are? Then you gotta show that tender belly!” Mikey leaned forward and poked Donnie’s plastron around where his stomach would be.

“I dislike where this is going…”

“Geology.” Mikey turned a wicked smile up to his brother.

Donnie balked.

“You gotta take ‘em to the Hall of Gems and Minerals! If they know anything about you, they’ll know that’s a big deal!” Mikey grabbed Donnie’s arm and shook him.

Swaying back and forth, Donnie groaned. “But it’s the worst type of science! The only boring kind!”

“Exactly!” Mikey snickered.

“I hate all of this.” Donnie slumped.

“Apologies aren’t supposed to be easy!” April mused.

“Ugh, you know it’s bad when I’m almost looking forward to Leo’s terrible ideas.” Donnie swung his head to look at said brother.

“Pfft, you don’t know what you’re talking about!” Leo used the springs in the couch to bounce up and land on his knees with blossoming enthusiasm. “Alright, picture this!” He thread an arm around Donnie’s neck and pulled his brother until their cheeks slammed together. “You totally crush them!”

“When was the last time we had you tested!?” Donnie hissed, trying to wedge his hands between their faces to free himself.

“About five years ago!” Leo’s grip tightened. “Pay attention! We’re talking ice skating! Is the rink open yet? Oh, whatever use Case’s rink! Ping pong! Rock climbing! Axe throwing! Whatever and you try to give them a total beat down.”

“Uh, Leo I don’t think that’s quite what we’re going for…” Mikey worried, his hands out.

“You’re deranged!” Donnie flailed and managed to only partially get his head free which instead locked Leo’s arm around the middle of his face, silencing him.

“You all aren’t thinking of it in Donnie terms though! He’s terrible at sports! He’s gotta go all out, get fully cocky, and then crash and burn spectacularly!” Stars shone in Leo’s eyes and his free arm reached out to some imagined movie screen. "It’ll crack Y/N right up, they’ll end up winning no matter what, and also have the lovely satisfaction of knowing that you went all out and they still beat a ninja!” With his spiel done, Leo released his brother.

Donnie wheezed and gasped for breath while clawing over his body to rid himself of his brother.

“That might actually work.” Raph nodded with an amused upturn to the corner of his lips.

“Can we play ping pong after this?” Mikey ruminated.

Regaining enough oxygen to speak, Donnie shot Leo a seething glare before turning to April weakly. “Please tell me your big finale is better than any of this detritus.”

“Yup.” She closed her eyes and gave a single tight nod. “I’ve got it in the bag!”

Donnie gave a wave of his wrist for her to go ahead.

“A walk in Central Park.”

The four brothers all tilted their heads in sync.

“That’s it?” Leo whined, throwing his arms out. “You stole what could have been my sweet finish for that!”

“It’s a guarantee” April shrugged as if there were no contest.

“In comparison it does seem rather tame…” Donnie rubbed the back of his head, still sore from the headlock.

“I don’t know, it sounds nice.” Mikey shifted, looking between parties.

“Just trust me.” April stood and followed Mikey’s gaze. “Nah, you know what? Trust all of us. You gotta do each one of our suggestions to the fullest and only then will you totally make it up to Y/N!”

“All of…” Donnie mouthed and glanced around is dismay. “Can’t I put my own spin on each?”

“Nope!” April took a single step forward to put her foot down. “Ex-act-ly what we said! You wanna ‘do it right,’ right?”

“I do.” Donnie replied bitterly.

“And you came to us because you need help, right?”

“That is… correct.” Donnie struggled through the confirmation with disdain.

“Because, your way isn’t working?” April bent over at the hips to get to eye level.

At first Donnie resisted the gaze, but eventually crumbled to return it. “It was not.”

“Then give our way a chance. You might be surprised with the results.”

“I…” He broke eye contact to look around. “Think I’d like to lie down and think this all through.” Donnie drooped as he allowed the weariness to show on his features.

“Of course.” April bobbed and took a step to the side, allowing him a clean exit.

Everyone watched as Donnie draggd himself from the couch and kept the slouched posture and he headed for the exit. He paused just before hitting its threshold and spoke without turning. “Thank you all. It… means a lot.” He then continued his trek without waiting for a response.

Quiet settled in for a moment until April shifted her weight from one foot to the other and gave a resounding thumbs up.

Leo leaned forward and fist bumped it with a thumbs up of his own. “Nice save. Respect.”

“Did we do it?” Raph wondered, a nervous edge to his voice. “Didn’t you say there’s a chance he’ll get over it?”

“There is always that chance.” April turned and gave a soft smile to the elder brother. “We set it up the best we could and now it’s up to Donnie.”

“We were never gonna force him.” Mikey clarified.

“Oh, good then.” Raph nodded. “I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to handle it if they don’t end up together though!”

“Same, but because it’ll mean I went through all that pain for nothing!” Leo whooped in feigned pain and collapsed across the couch with his head falling into Mikey’s lap.

“In comparison to what you caused…” April leaned over him with a cocked brow.

Leo chuckled nervously.

“Yeah… I got a good feeling about this time.” Mikey turned a smile to where Donnie had departed.

#crushtoomuchfic #rottmnt donnie x reader #rottmnt #rise of the tmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt x reader #donatello hamato #donnie x reader #rise donnie #rise donnie x reader #rottmnt donatello #rottmnt donnie #me #cartoons #fanfiction #my fanfiction

285 notes · View notes

xatsperesso · 1 year

Note

not really a headcanon but i'm Suspicious about Sullivan's claim that he was summoned by Iruma's parents. since border security know humans exist and that humans can summon demons, surely there it isn't illegal to be summoned. after all, it's not your fault someone decided to summon you. so why didn't Sullivan just tell Henri he was summoned when he was being questioned about illegally entering the human realm? i think doing that would have actually taken suspicion away from Iruma - he could be explained away as a sickly child Sullivan kept secret to protect him until he was cured by eating a human acquired as part of the bargain made when Sullivan was summoned.

maybe Sullivan *did* enter the human realm illegally - to plant the book Iruma's parents used to summon him! but then the question is did he pick Iruma's parents deliberately? or was it random? maybe it was somewhat random, as in he picked the first set of terrible parents he could find. but if it wasn't random... why Iruma in particular?

I mean he's not even trying to cover up anything. He's a spouseless, childless demon who somehow has a grandson. Said grandson knows absolutely nothing about the demon world, does not have any demonic features, and is just so different. Like sure the first thing that comes to anyone wont be that he's a human, the only reason ameri even guessed it right is because she has manga that have human physique, but what the fuck is iruma? No wings, no horns, no tail, very small canines, weird ears, comes up with the weirdest words and he's just so trusting?? Of people??? And how's he so naive and trusting when he acted so afraid and timid at the start of the year?? He's a ball of weirdness and contradictions and no one questions that?? No one points at him like that's not a demon?? They just accept that he's different in every sense of the world and move on

And sullivan is wierd. He severely under-prepared iruma, did not come up with any story as to how iruma came into existence, why exactly he's sullivan's grandson and not a just son, did not even try cooperating with henri or even bribing or threatening him, he is literally one of the great three. If baal can build a castle near the beloved river of delkira, then sulli could've ended the interrogation before he set foot in the interrogation room, and by how much he kept talking and advertising iruma around at the start of the comic, how much he neglected to prepare him for anything, it's almost like he wanted iruma to be found out!

But notice how he's been kinda tamed recently? How his love stopped feeling exaggerated? He's still sulli but recently his love and care started to feel real? How he started really hanging out with iruma and let iruma talk to him and teach him magic? How he's really trying to be their for iruma as a parental figure?

Something happened. He was plotting a role for iruma, maybe still plotting, but something in sullivan changed. He was not afraid for iruma's safety at the Batora party as much as he was at the heartbreaker event

Or maybe it's all in my head. Maybe he's always been this caring and i misread some things. Maybe Nishi decided to focus on thier relationship more. I'm just saying, why is sullivan so sus?

#mairimashita! iruma kun #welcome to demon school iruma kun #mairimashita iruma kun #iruma kun #mairimashita manga #m!ik #m!ik spoilers #sullivan #m!ik sullivan

87 notes · View notes

eluminium · 1 year

Text

more insane thoughts about life seires skizzleman coming up

okay so as I continue to sit in this basement and every wall is nothing but thumbtacks and red string, I am slowly losing even more of my marbles. As in, I have a lot of scattered thoughts about Limited Life and I'm about to share these slightly insane ideas with all of you. Please enjoy, as I'm starting to run out of red string and I might die if I do.

Skizz being The Dove/A manifestation of peace or something insane like that idk man I'm punching the wall:

Okay, hear me out on this. In my previous post about Limited Life (The Skizz and Number 3 one yes this is a link), I talked about how technically, Skizzleman could be considered a Dove. Y'know, a symbol of peace. The last warning before everything truly goes to shit. Skizz very much prefers negotiation and deals over violence and all that, man chooses to be kind. Not out of naivete, but out of a pure will and want.

He has ONLY killed with justification he's never just...killed. And every time he's tried to kill without reason he has failed spectacularly and probably also died. Like, take Jimmy and Cleo from 3rd Life. Skizz killed Jimmy because he was an active threat to The Red Army and because the Red Desert had been antagonizing Dogwarts for a while. It wasn't something against Jimmy, it was more against the Red Desert itself. He later spares Scar by changing the bargain to "Give us the banner and we'll leave you alone" instead of just straight-up murder. Because he had already taught the Desert enough, there was no need to spill more blood. Cleo is even easier to understand. Cleo attacked Ren, Skizz's king and the guy Skizz was THE most loyal to during 3rd Life. Of course, Skizz acted in defense of his king and took Cleo out. And he also spared someone this time too. Bdubs. He let Bdubs take Cleo's stuff back. There wasn't a need to spill more blood.

Then we have the latest of his kills, his Bdubs kill in Limited Life. An honor duel. Skizz had been wronged, knew that it was going to get in the way of future alliances, and was looking for revenge, but he still made sure it was going to be clean with no resentful feelings afterward. Then after killing Bdubs he made sure to make it up to the man with not only a very sweet compliment but a golden apple as well. By doing this, by cleanly ending his feud with Bdubs, TIES were able to complete a very promising-looking alliance between them and The Clockers.

Skizz only sheds blood when he has no other option. When it's better.

And then there are the times he's tried to kill without reason but he's just, failed. Horribly. He died in 3rd Life by mindlessly charging into the Crastle, failing to kill anybody. He got no kills in Last Life because when he turned Red, he was just running around trying to kill people once again, mindlessly. Or in service to another, in one instance. And he died in Last Life almost the exact same way as in 3rd Life. Charging an enemy like a wild beast and being put down. Skizz just can't get a kill when it's out of pure bloodlust and a wish for revenge.

And that's what makes Skizz a Dove. He only kills in instances when it is needed. He's not a symbol of peace because he's a perfect little pacifist who never wants to hurt anyone, no. He's a symbol of peace because he unintentionally and intentionally acts as one of the biggest forces of it. Not only choosing mercy for enemies who pragmatically should have been taken out but also killing those that push for war and conflict whether intentionally or unintentionally. And when the Dove tries to strike like an eagle, the Dove dies. And with it, peace dies. After Skizz died in 3rd Life there were no other forces for even a negative peace between Dogwarts and the Desert Alliance. The rest of it was all just a bloody war. After Skizz died in Last Life, the Wither was summoned, forcing the remaining players into groups. Red names and Non-red names. They fought bloodily too until both groups rotted away slowly.

And do you wanna know something even crazier? The ones who were present while the Dove was put down, would go on to be 2nd and 1st in survival rankings. Grian killed Skizz in 3rd Life while Scar was there for backup. Grian won and Scar was second. Ren killed Skizz in Last Life with Scott as a backup. Ren came second and Scott came first. And it makes sense, doesn't it? Of course, the two who witnessed the death of peace would, in the end, turn on each other. It makes sense. IT MAKES SENSE.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE.

One comes first...the other comes second. Those are the only numbers above three. three. T H R E E. NO. NO THERE'S MORE BLOODY EVIDENCE FOR THE STUPID CONNECTION BETWEEN SKIZZ AND THE NUMBER 3. I. I WANT TO CRY. WHY. WHY AM I STUCK IN THIS DUMBASS BASEMENT JUST MAKING MORE AND MORE AND MORE CONNECTIONS FOREVER???

AND I'M NOT EVEN DONE.

Because if you buy into the "Skizz as a symbol of peace or whatever" concept...it makes Limited Life make even more sense. Y'know how some people have been saying "Oh Skizz is inheriting the Canary Curse from Jimmy!!!". While this is valid, I think my utter insanity has, at least in a little way, proven that Skizz himself is cursed in some way. Or blessed even, I don't know at this point. But instead of taking Jimmy's curse, it could be that his curse as a peace guy who's doomed to be the server's final warning is just showing up earlier. Because it could be that this time, peace dies quicker than the coalmine can kill the canary...because if you know you have limited time... what's the point in keeping the peace? Nothing is gonna matter anyways, your time is so obvious that it's unavoidable. That ticking in your brain isn't just a vague feeling you sometimes acknowledge. It's loud. It's unavoidable. You can't close your eyes, the digits are inscribed inside your eyelids. You can't cover your ears, the ticking keeps on like the beating of your heart. With such limited time, why waste it on trying to maintain order and peace? Why put so much energy into compromise when everyone is gonna die soon? In the other series, you don't know how much time you have, so you try your best to buy as much of it as possible by maintaining some semblance of peace. In Limited Life, what's the point? The consequences don't matter, because you KNOW your time is limited. It's all around you.

And so Skizz, the man possibly most aware of their limited time, the man who's trying to use that time to be nice, to not make enemies, to be as peaceful as a man in this series can be, is the one who's on track to die first. The Dove, the peace, the will and want to choose kindness and care when cruelty and selfishness are so much easier to justify, is up for slaughter.

Once again, Skizz is not a peace symbol because he's a perfect little guy. He's not a peace symbol because he's always nice, or innocent, or a pacifist. He's a peace symbol because he has only spilled blood when he had no other option and made as many amends as he could to minimize the pain afterward, he's a Dove that only pecks you if you burn the olive branch in its beak. He's a peace symbol because he actively chooses to push for it, to truly believe in the good of others even when that has gotten him killed or exploited many times, not because he's stupid or naive, but because that's what he does. He's a peace symbol because, without him, the series enters its final and most bloody crescendo.

Y'know, I know Skizz started to be drawn as an angel because he's best friends with Impulse, and Demon/Angel best friends are a killer thing. But maybe we accidentally hit some pure gold there by mistake. It fits too well, doesn't it?

Or maybe I am just actually losing all my marbles and I'm never getting out of the red thread basement.

You be the judge and jury on that, dear reader.

74 notes · View notes

himebushou · 1 year

Text

Let's talk about the timeline of Episode 8.

At the end of the episode, Ogino hands Kyuu an envelope. The photo within shocks Kyuu:

However, at the time this photo was taken, Rei hadn't even set eyes on his father yet. While Rei was just entering the Suwa residence and reflecting on the three years...

Kazuki was in the supermarket, telling Miri about Rei's 'diabolical dad':

This indicates that Shigeki was keeping tabs on the family even prior to Rei answering his summons: Shigeki was having someone keep watch, take photos and report back. It's possible that he knew a fair deal about Miri and he certainly knew about Kazuki.

However, during the meeting with Rei, Shigeki appears (pretends?) to be only vaguely tuned into his son's living arrangements. "Kurusu Kazuki, was it?" he says, before adding a backhanded compliment:

Their meeting continues. Shigeki brags about the Suwa name before saying:

From Shigeki's perspective, I think he meant this sincerely — and, if you think about it, a mob boss allowing his son to abscond for three years, live with two total strangers and fail in his work is... pretty lenient. In Shigeki's eyes, giving Rei 'space' was an act of mercy and kindness — but, ultimately, an investment that would pay off.

Then, Shigeki regrets his 'boon'; he can see from Rei's face that Rei does not want to return to the residence and the old man receives the first clue that his control is slipping. At that point, he expresses anger at the connections Rei has formed — and here, I think there's a distinct possibility that Miri is part of the equation.

In that instance, Rei is undone by the same flaw he usually ascribes to Kazuki. Rei fails to act; he is unable to keep his cool. In a panic, he blurts out:

Rei is afraid because he understands the implications. If Rei has formed useless ties, if he is at risk of showing weakness, then that which prompts Rei's weakness — Kazuki — must be eliminated. Rei believes, here, that Kazuki may go the same way as the dog from Episode 3.

What's interesting, though, is that Rei believes that he and Kazuki have been secretive enough about Miri for her to not even register on Shigeki's radar. In Shigeki's eyes, the fact that Rei didn't mention Miri was probably a huge relief — it suggests that Rei doesn't actually care for the child and she's a side problem that comes with Kurusu.

So I guess my main questions are: just how long were the family under surveillance? And what exactly did Shigeki know about Miri?

Tangent: There was some concern following Episode 11 and the fact that, when Rei pleaded with Shigeki, he only mentioned Miri; however, from Rei's experience, the last time he mentioned Kazuki, Shigeki's murderous intent got more murderous and the surveillance started. It's understandable that Rei tried to use his bargaining powers — the same skills that had somehow got him out of the residence in the first place — to try and save Miri's life. "I'll do anything; I'll kill anyone," said Rei. By that point, unfortunately, he'd already lost too much negotiating power for Shigeki to consider Rei's compromise a viable option and, in any case, Shigeki had already seen that giving Rei leeway led to unnecessary complications.

#buddy daddies #suwa rei #suwa shigeki #wow this post rambles

104 notes · View notes

snobgoblin · 3 months

Note

okay ill bite (/affectionate) whats the arcana about !!

!!! YES <- hook up a generator to him he is stimming- ok so I have answered this in another ask BUT I'll go into detail in this one theres the spoiler free one, this one will be 100% spoiler

OK so.... oh my god where do I even start. there's so much I do not expect you to read this LMAO but thank you for the opportunity to talk about this

ok so it's a visual novel. and you can play six different versions of the same story (volume 1 being Asra, Nadia, and Julian, with volume 2 being Muriel, Portia, and Lucio) and honestly, volume 1 is the strongest imo THATS NOT TO SAY VOLUME 2 ISNT GOOD I just love volume 1 because it's GENUINELY just the same exact story from different perspectives whereas volume 2 takes creative liberties (especially Portias route which is sad because I love Portia as a character but her route is so disconnected from the others that I don't like it that much) ANYWAY ANYWAY enough opinions let's get into the lore (actually while I'm on the topic, based on the plot of each route? honestly the best way to play would be Nadia->Julian->Asra->Muriel->Lucio <- Portia's story is disconnected from the rest so it doesn't fit into this? (which makes sense considering she hasn't been in town as long as the others so she isn't involved in their stuff) but you kind of do need to play Julian's route beforehand if for no other reason than to get a feel for Mazelinka's character and Portia's backstory)

as far as lore. I guess I will start at the beginning, Montag Morgasson (better known as Count Lucio now) is part of a tribe known as the Scourge of the South, and his mom was the leader so he was kind of entitled, he felt like he would have power handed to him when he turned 18 but that didn't happen! his mom just cut him off. so Lucio gets mad and tries to bargain with the wyrm Vlagnagog, only to mistakenly summon demon Vlastomil as Vlagnagog has been shriveled up for a while now from not getting any sacrifices. anyway Vlastomil promises to help Lucio weaken his parents via Pestilence in exchange for their hearts. Lucios dad is bedridden and Lucio kills him, but he cannot kill Morga as she's not so easily defeated. she decides to spoil him one last time by letting him free in combat, as she cannot bear to kill her own son

AND SIDE NOTE I absolutely love seeing the naming convention of The Scourge of the South like Morga gave birth to Lucio so he is Lucio Morgasson (Morga's Son) and Morga also occasionally introduces herself as Morga Eirsdottir, assuming one of her parents was Eirs, probably her mother

ANYWAY because the deal is not fulfilled, red beetles start following Lucio around (he has a complicated relationship with beetles but I won't get into that rn) and with them, the red plague. Lucio starts doing mercenary work so all over the world this plague is happening, but Lucio doesn't seem to realize it's his fault, the beetles are following him. he just keeps making deals and not fulfilling them because he doesn't understand, when you don't uphold your end of a magical bargain, it has a way of punishing you. this will come back to bite him later and he develops a huge fear of death when he realizes he'll never be able to pay off his debt, later leading him to bargain with The Devil, but we're not there yet

where were we! Mercenary work! ok so at some point Julian left Nevivon for Prakra to study under Nazali, and he ends up on the battlefield with Lucio, as a doctor. he amputates Lucios arm. during this battle, the count of Vesuvia who he's fighting for sees this sacrifice and resolves to make him the new count iirc. so that's how he rose to power (I'll go into other character backstories here in a minute)

Lucio throws a bunch of parties and bullies local homeless kids as count, two of those being Muriel and Asra. I'll explain their deal once I'm done explaining Lucio bc he truly is the central character here, he's where all the conflict comes from. just keep that in mind

he also marries Nadia, trapping her in a hopeless marriage while he has endless affairs with the other nobles. but she doesn't care bc she doesn't even wanna be married in the first place. she's just being treated as eye candy like she has her whole life and she's resigned to her fate (SAD)

so because he's staying in the same place. he catches the Red Plague. and he tries to do this whole ritual (it's really long to explain) to get a new body, but BOOM Asra sabatoged it! he put pomegranate juice in instead of Lucios blood so the ritual would fail (the ritual was to fuse Lucio with the Devil) but now he's just stuck as this ghost goat in between dimensions

the game starts three years after this takes place, and it is your job to solve the "murder" and I think that brings me to Julian because he's a pretty important piece there

so Julian, big brother of Portia, was born to a rich family, the Devoraks, but one day the ship crashed, killing his parents, and leaving salt seals to save he and Portia's life. later, pirate Mazelinka found them and took them to Nevivon to be raised by the grandmas, a loving community of elderly salt miners and here they spent their childhood. Julian was taught how to read and write by Mazelinka's girlfriend Lilinka, and Portia felt left out. she felt left out in a lot of ways, like this and then, she wasn't even old enough to remember their parents. she's just always felt left out. anyway adding salt to the wound Julian goes off to study medicine in Prakra, leaving Portia behind once again

Julian was also working during the Red Plague, under the palace head doctor Valdemar (ooooooh don't even get me started on the courtiers or ill never shut up) he was trying to find a cure, when his Apprentice succumbed to the illness. then he also caught it, and because of his near death experience, he was visited by the Hanged Man, who revealed to him the cure to the plague was to kill Lucio. so Julian escaped the dungeon where he had been locked in to focus on his cure, and he tried to kill Lucio, but by the time he got there the room was on fire. him being there, though, gave courtiers a reason to pin the blame on him later and the ritual made everyone lose their memories so he couldn't even dispute it

OK and then Asra's parents made Lucio a metal arm when he lost his, and he locked them up for it, leaving Asra homeless. here he met Muriel, who was also homeless due to his parents giving him away to save him from a raid by the Scourge of the South. their whole childhood they lived on the docks with Lucio harassing them. now, what they didn't know was that Asras parents? they made a deal with the Devil. Lucio physically could not hurt Asra. however, Lucio would threaten Muriel to do things by claiming he would hurt Asra if he did not comply. Lucio told Asra the same thing but for Muriel, using their love for each other to control them. Muriel def got the worst of this imo, he was forced to kill people and rabid animals in gladiator battle with the stage name being the name of the tribe who killed his whole family. Asra merely had to help Lucio with magical things. Muriel kept all this a secret from Asra bc he didn't want him to feel bad

God there is so much more and thats not even scratching the surface but my fingers hurt so bad from typing so I'll have to stop 😭 thank you this was fun

#asks #arcana spam #selkiestars

10 notes · View notes

sleeptokeninterpretations · 6 months

Text

Sleep Token’s “Take Me Back To Eden” and the five stages of grief

So I have had an idea for a possible interpretation for the album Take Me Back To Eden and as far as I have seen an interpretation with this idea has only been provided for Sundowning so far so I figured I’d give it a try.

Essentially what I’m seeing as a possible interpretation is Take Me Back To Eden expressing the five stages of grief after a suicide of a loved one, in particular a romantic partner. How I came to this idea? Let’s have a look.

TW: we will deal with the topics death, suicide and grief here.

Denial

Why would a song about death and grieving begin with two songs that sound more like an offering (see what I did there) to a lover rather than a sad song?

I think there are two reasons why the album starts with these songs. One of them is the stage of denial. When grieving, many people either feel numb or ever carry on like nothing ever happened in an attempt to ignore the issue. Both Chokehold and The Summoning can be seen as attempts to write about a passed loved one like nothing ever happened.

However I believe there is another reason. Throughout the album we watch the speaker go through a variety of emotions caused by the loss of a loved one. By starting the album with Chokehold and The Summoning, we are to understand how intense the relationship between the speaker and their lover was so we can empathise better with the emotions displayed in the course of the album.

Anger

Moving on to the second stage, anger, which is dealt with in Granite.

Now if you’ve wondered why I think the album might be about grieving after a suicide specifically, the explanation for this is mainly found in songs expressing anger. We will get back to this when talking about anger within the stage of depression but we can find some references in Granite already. It appears that the speaker is mad at their lover for not expressing their feelings before their death. Specifically “we’d rather be six feet under than be lonely” suggests that the loved one has not expressed their negative feelings out of fear the speaker might leave them. A similar theme is dealt with in the line “You say you want me but you know I’m not what you need”.

Bargaining

See, with Aqua Regia and Vore it gets a little bit tough and I definitely find it hard to find lines actually referring to this state but we’ll work with it.

I think Aqua Regia could be understood as the speaker offering to go through the same pain as their loved one in an attempt to get them back, kind of like “come back, I’ll be in pain with you”.

Vore goes in a similar direction, the speaker is trying to make themselves relatable (“Are you in pain like I am”), hoping that this might bring their loved one back.

Again this is very brief (and analysing Aqua Regia has always given me a headache) so I will keep it at this.

Depression

We enter the fourth stage, depression. This is by far the longest stage with five whole songs, which quite naturally shows how grief isn’t linear.

Ascensionism is a whole emotional ride on it’s own and can almost be seen as a trip through different stages within the grieving process.

I would still consider this to be part of the depressive stage. “Anything’s better than the way I feel right now” definitely suggest this.

Lines like “you make me wish I could disappear” might feel a little out of place here as they seem to be directed at a person who has hurt the speaker, however I believe the line is to be understood as “by disappearing out of my life, you make me wish I could disappear”.

Though as mentioned before, Ascensionism is a whole ride on its own and I will definitely write an interpretation on this song alone at some point.

Next we have Are You Really Okay?, definitely one of the main reasons that led me to this interpretation in the first place.

Here we have the speaker clearly expressing desperation and helplessness (“I want to help you but I don’t know how”) and we are confronted with the speaker being well aware of their lover’s mental struggles way before their death. The lyrics of this song are also the main reason I believe the album is dealing with grief after a suicide specifically since here we have a bunch of references to mental health struggles.

Now for The Apparition and DYWTYLM we can see an interesting shift in the feelings. If we stick to the 5 stages of grief we would still be in the stage of depression, however we can see the speaker circling back to anger.

It’s important to know that the stages of grief are to be understood as a “guideline” to what grief can look like when we observe people dealing with illness or loss, yet they do not necessarily have to appear in this exact order, grief is rarely linear.

Additionally we need to understand that a less commonly known symptom of depression is anger, so the anger expressed by the speaker can be understood as a symptom of the depressive state rather than a separate stage.

The Apparition seems to deal with the speaker (day-)dreaming about their loved one, however they keep circling back to reality and realise that those dreams are only based on memories and events that no longer can happen in the present.

Examples for this would be lines like “Why are you never real”, “But I know you will disappear just as I awake” or “Loaded dreams still leave me empty”.

What we can see here quite well is a combination of depression and anger. The speaker is angry with their passed loved one, they basically yell at them to finally leave their thoughts and stop haunting their dreams. At the same time they express the depression and feeling of emptiness that those dreams leave them with.

Now DYWTYLM continues the theme of depression in combination with anger while switching the topic. The speaker now asks for answers on questions that potentially deal with the suicide of their loved one. Simultaneously the speaker understands the death as an offense against themselves, they assume that their loved one has expressed a lack of love for the speaker by ending their own life.

Two things are important here. One, this does not mean that the speaker is self centred, it does not even mean they genuinely hold this belief. Looking for the “bad guy” is a very natural process in grieving, essentially the brain is trying to provide answers to questions that cannot actually be answered. Two, while the song is titled DYWTYLM and therefore the focus is easily on the emotion of anger, I don’t believe this is the actual focus here. Rather than that we can look at all the questions in the verses like “Do you pull at the chains? Or do you push into constant aching?” or “Is there something you give? That you will never receive in return?” While the anger in lines like “maybe not that you conceal your feelings, they just don’t exist” cannot and should not be ignored, I believe the main theme here is the speaker making an attempt at understanding the emotions that eventually caused the death. Furthermore the speaker briefly expresses their own sadness specifically in the line “my reflection just won’t smile back at me like I know it should”.

Lastly for the fourth stage we have Rain.

I put this under the stage of depression but I do think there is a good reason this is the last song in this stage.

The speaker is looking back on their love “the vicious cycle was over the moment you smiled at me” but we are still slowly fading into the stage of acceptance.

The last line in the bridge “When I open my eyes to the future I can hear you say my name” could be seen as an expression for the very common phrase “they would want you to move on”.

When the speaker thinks about the future, he imagines his lover guiding them a way into said future.

Acceptance

We now enter the stage of acceptance with the last two songs and I believe acceptance refers to two different things in this case, accepting one’s own feelings and finally the actual death.

In Take Me Back To Eden, the speaker mostly attempts at validating their own feelings. In the first verse, they let themselves indulge in memories of the past, in the second verse they express how they have been experiencing the journey of grieving.

One line I want to talk about in particular can be found in the third verse.

“That we’ve no idea what we’ve got until we lose it and no amount of love will keep it around if we don’t choose it.”

I think this is such a powerful way to express both the fear of not having appreciated the significant other while they were alive and the realisation that the speaker themselves can’t be blamed, the death of their loved one was not to be prevented by the speaker just loving their partner more.

Last but not least, let’s move over to Euclid.

We have to understand the death of a loved one does not mean one has moved on entirely. One can simultaneously accept while still being desperate, sad or helpless.

“Give me five whole minutes” may refer to the feeling of wanting to relive the time experienced with the person just a little bit longer. Generally the first verse refers to this exact feeling, getting lost in one’s memories and wanting back the old times just a little longer. If we think about lines like “Give me one last ride on a sunset sky lane”, we can see the speaker almost begging their lost love to come back for just a little bit. This could also be connected to a very common feeling in the process of grief, where one wants to go back to times with the loved one to experience the moments together more consciously.

“Call me when you get the chance, I can feel the walls around me closing in” appears to be the speaker wanting to talk to the loved person they lost while already being aware they won’t actually receive in an answer.

The second verse continues the theme of wanting back the loved one, however the speaker expresses the awareness that they are gone.

“I play along with the life signs anyway” seems to describe the process of slowly getting back into one’s daily life while slowly moving on from actively grieving.

Now as I already mentioned, moving back into your daily life and moving on, does not mean you entirely forget about the person.

“Yet in reverse, you are all my symmetry, a parallel I would lay my life on” can be understood as an attempt to express that the speaker does not want to forget about the person they lost, maybe they have learned a lot of valuable life lessons from that person and want to remember those things in their future life.

“Call me when you have the time, I just need to leave this part of me behind” basically concludes this feeling that has been building up over the second verse, the speaker clearly expresses that they feel the need to move on with their life.

Now for the sake of interpretation we are not going to look into the last verse being a reference to TNDNBTG and just look at lyrics on their own.

The first part of the lyrics once more shows the speaker reminiscing as in the line “We tangle endlessly, like lovers entwined”.

Now let’s have a look the last few lines.

“I know for the last time, you will not be mine, so give me the night.”

The speaker seems to reflect on their own process of grieving while also coming to terms with the fact that their loved one has passed away. They know they cannot be together like they used to be and are ready to go on with their life. “Give me the night” can be understood as an expression that the speaker is ready for new challenges, memories and experiences.

I obviously don’t know if this is the meaning intended by Vessel (if you ask my literature professor the meaning intended by the author doesn’t have to concern me either way).

However I think that it deepens the understand of songs like Are You Really Okay or Euclid and provides a rather new perspective on songs like DYWTYLM.

#sleep token #sleep token lyrics #interpretation #song lyrics #vessel #i wrote this in my english class while actively not paying attention #song analysis

14 notes · View notes