#mantis calm down

[jmdbjk]

Why I don't expect promotion for Muse to be similar to RPWP or Golden...

...or any other release before that.

Smeraldo Garden Marching Band is doing well for not having it's artist available. In fact it is outstanding. There were many other prominent artists who released music on the same day and are currently hitting up the interview circuit and other promotional activities. Our boy debuts at #4 on Global Spotify and he's somewhere on a military base.

See the post here.

That is pretty outstanding for not having the artist available to promote. Name another artist in which this has happened.

Perhaps a dead one... let's just not go there.

"But the Youtube views are low..."

I think since the popularity of Tiktok, the use of YouTube and therefore its influence has diminished somewhat. That doesn't mean there shouldn't be more views. We all know the challenges we have with YouTube. We just have to do the best we can with using YouTube.

Help boost views. Watch the MV here.

"But Right Place Wrong Person was heavily promoted..."

Namjoon was all over his own IG often, almost every day for a while, along with the staff he appointed to post on the @rpwprpwprpwp Instagram account. Perhaps this created a perception that RPWP had some heavy promotion when he was doing all that himself and it was keeping it in front of us so consistently.

The BigHit instagram chat channel is being used for Muse and has been very engaging. It is convenient for Jimin in case he is able and does repost or create a story with any of that content.

I've seen a lot of buzz in the media on both sides of the Pacific regarding SGMB and Muse. That means BigHit sent out press kits. I saw at least one radio group posting they had the song and it was ready to include in their rotations. We'll see if they actually follow through. But that means BigHit sent it to radio.

"Jimin and the members need to post about it..."

It is more of a challenge for Jimin and Jungkook to be online because of the location of their base. If it is in the mountains as was mentioned earlier this year, their internet connection may not be as reliable or strong enough to allow much use. Soldiers may also be restricted as to if they can even use it if the base itself needs it for military operations or if its encrypted for security or whatever myriad of reasons why they can't access it.

If they had reliable internet service where they are, we'd be seeing JK on TikTok more often. But... perhaps TikTok is one of those apps that they are discouraged from using as it is China-based and why JK created the Instagram account for Bam.

Perhaps they are free to do what they want only when OFF base and out of the area during their days off. We don't know what their restrictions are.

People just have to come down to earth and think. Jimin is in the military. I'm most certain that Jimin is being Jimin and focused on his duties. He is wearing fatigues and a helmet and going out everyday doing drills and training including firing ammunition out of a big ass piece of warfare equipment. He is listening to reports from his commanders about what is going on regarding North Korea and what his base will be expected to do if anything should escalate. He should be focused on his duties not focused on what is happening out here.

It is Saturday. Not sure what their alert status might be on a weekend. But we have to be cognizant that JM and JK are the closest to the DMZ of any of the members and will be activated first should anything occur.

I am constantly thinking about how every time we hear of nonsense from NK that JM and JK have to hear it every day too and any contingency they will be ready for in case anythng happens.

NK fired missiles the other day. Yesterday maybe? Some sort of rocket that can launch multiple missiles in one shot. It's chilling. Now imagine you are mere miles from the border and must react with your own weapons of mass destruction should anything become more aggressive.

Jimin worked and created, then he left it for us while he is doing his duty. I'm never going to expect him to do anything else until he is discharged. Unless he is able and wants to. Otherwise I want him doing what he feels he needs to do in order to get through this for himself and Jungkook.

I am very, very happy Namjoon was able to and wanted to participate in his own album's release as much as he was able. But some people have the same expectation that Jimin should too.

I'm never going to expect it from Jimin.

"The company is not doing enough..."

Surely everyone knows this is not a big long vacation for them. It may be a break from their careers and their real personal lives but its not a vacation by any means.

They keep saying its not easy. Perhaps they mean its not easy sitting in a military base carrying out a routine day in day out.

Or perhaps they say its not easy because they are on constant alert. They cannot give any details because their locations and their activities are classified information. Surely, surely, people can realize that right?

See? My brain is always thinking I just don't say a lot of what it comes up with. Because it serves no purpose to talk about it except to create worry. Just like people screaming at the company, it creates stress and negativity.

There is only so much public facing promoting the company can achieve especially when its been planned with the artist's involvement. Since I don't know (and neither does anyone else) what the entire promotion plan is, how can anyone speak on the promotion plan? Just because another member's release was handled a certain way does that mean it should be done the same for all? Not necessarily.

Stationhead listening party schedule:

This is an ad I just saw from BigHit.

Yes, this is an ad and not a repost, I've seen it twice already and it is not on the @BTS_bighit accounts feed:

These are posts promoting SGMB on streaming platforms:

Of course, if you use any playlists on streaming platforms, check the songs on the list and turn off/delete the ones you don't want to stream. Or create your own playlists.

The people printing their own posters, putting them up in public and asking for them to be displayed is WONDERFUL! THAT is the energy Army are known for!

Also the UK issue with the random inclusion making it disqualified. A fix may or may not be in the works. Constant screaming to the company won't make it happen faster or at all if it can't be done logistically. All screaming does is make everyone feel bad, including Jimin if he sees it.

@OfficialCharts is UK based and posted about Jimin and SGMB:

But since people began screaming since day one, every time another step in the promotion process occurs, screamers will take credit for it and vehemently scream it only happened because they were screaming when the reality is, no one knows whats on the promotion schedule.

Those of you telling people not to buy the album now but to wait and buy it when it releases? THAT IS USEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE INFORMATION!

We, as Army, know how, what and when to buy in order to impact the charts. I know you didn't forget any of that. So stop screaming and do something productive like tell people how to work around this apparent obstacle until it is fixed or in case it never gets fixed.

The screaming at BigHit to do their job is not productive or useful at all in helping Jimin at this point. It only displays negativity and lowers morale for those who don't know what to do.

We are a month away from the album's release for god's sakes, the pre-promotions are paced to keep interest.

They can't all be thrown out all at one time.

Whatever comes out as pre-promotions will be things that were planned in advance and not knee jerk reactions to the screamers.

"If we don't say anything, things will never change for Jimin."

That is your perception. Jimin is very much in control of his own life and career. He can change anything he wants to. Feel free to scream about it, I know its different strokes for different folks. But constantly screaming and trending it surrounds Jimin's activities with stress and negativity. I know you know how to communicate your concerns to the company discreetly. And we know they see our communications because they ask us for help to identify those who are carrying out slanderous and illegal activities against our guys.

If you want to help, communicate to the rest of the fandom the steps they can take to actually help increase streams, views and sales.

Even if the company plasters posters everywhere, WE, THE FANS, are still the ones who do the streaming, buying, viewing and supporting. Its in our hands now. We know what to do!

After all is said and done, I trust Jimin. He's in control of his life.

And he has Jungkook with him. That's the smartest fucking thing ever.

Please go stream it now on your preferred streaming platform.

Please go share some of the various positive news media stories out there on your socials.

[ihavethegrimoire]

Ascending to a new plane of mental illness where I am capable of feeling all feelings at once.

[hazel2468]

I'm feeling salty so I'm just gonna say-

If you can't handle the idea of feeding live prey to something.

Do not get a pet. That requires you. To feed it live fucking prey. There are SO MANY OTHER OPTIONS!

Also don't be that fucking weirdo who goes on other people's socials and bitches about how it's "inhumane" or "gross". They'd be doing it out in the wild. It's a little something called nature. And no, you cannot find an "alternative" for your mantis.

It's a MANTIS. It is like. One of the most famous predatory insects. It is infamous for eating its prey alive.

If you're going to be a little baby about feeding live prey. Then get a pet that doesn't need that. And shut the fuck up.

[bugborgs]

Hello, so…. Since we have Werewolf Nebula, what type of cryptid you think Mantis would be?

have not actual out much thought into it bc werewolf au consumes me but if you wanna go the classic monster pair route we could go vampire. Vampires often have some kind of psychic power in fiction, like mind control, so Mantis's powers could work into that pretty nicely

I have also played with an au for werewolf au with Mantis from time to time so. Werewolf Mantis :) bc Im still a sucker for werewolves

[despairforme]

I've read somewhere that male mantises manage to escape being eaten if they gift food to their partners before mating and um... it seems to be a hella valid strategy to approach canonverse!Nnoitra. (Or don't approach him is good strategy too))))

❝ Ya BETTER fuckin' not be comparin' me 'ta a FEMALE mantis. ❞ HOLY FUCK did that just FUCKING HAPPEN TO HIM!? People seemed to be missing the fucking point here! Yeah, maybe males could bring food to avoid getting eaten, but that shit would not work with him! He'd TAKE BOTH THANKS! Bring him food? Nice. He'd still fucking eat his partner if he was hungry. Or if he felt like it. He didn't give a shit! He didn't owe anyone anything!

In all honesty though, him being angry put aside - yeah, bringing him food was how he'd made a few ' friends '. Random ass people who had brought him food and been nice to him. Why would he eat them? They could bring him more food later on.

[oblako]

shinae get behind me >:/

[bunji-enthusiast]

Okay, Bunji, I saw you do the guardians and some Marvel rivals content for Invincible, so I just had to ask. Can you do a Mantis(in Marvel rivals) reader x Mark? Like their bonding over being alien in a way? Reader going from sweet sunshine and rainbows to angry and full of rage so suddenly and then so suddenly switching back after their anger was released? Also, they still have their sleep spores like in-game and are so precise and accurate with them. It's okay if not loll.

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 (𝐓𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥)

Mark Grayson x Mantis!reader

Note // definitely! Love me a good bonding moment over mutual things :33

Sorta wrote this in a platonic way, but you’re free to view it as romantic too!

"I don't belong here... do you?"

Mark admits it one night after a brutal mission. You’re both lying on the rooftop of some quiet Earth city, watching the stars. You tell him you never really felt like you belonged anywhere until you found your team. He laughs — dry and tired — and says it’s the same for him, but even now, sometimes it’s like the world’s trying to spit him out. You touch his shoulder, and your empathy ability kicks in automatically. You feel his pain like it’s your own — the guilt, the isolation, the pressure. And you tell him gently, “You’re not alone, Mark. I feel it too.”

Sometimes you don’t even need words. You can feel when Mark’s about to break, when the weight of trying to be Earth’s hero is caving in on him. You don't intrude, but when he comes to you — you’re there with a calm aura, soft energy, and maybe even a little healing flower if he needs it. Mark doesn’t get how it works, but just being around you makes it feel like the world isn’t crushing him for a while. That’s enough.

"You hide how strong you are."

He notices this about you — how you hold back, how you try not to scare people. Mark recognizes that. You both laugh one day about how you’ve absolutely ended enemies with a single blast or a well-timed Spore Slumber combo, but still feel like you have to shrink yourself afterward.

“You and I could wipe out a battlefield in under a minute,” he says, staring ahead. “But we’re still scared of what people would think.” You nod. Because power isn’t the problem — being seen as a monster is.

"what's it like?"

Mark’s always asking about your planet, about how your people see emotions, how they fight, how they love. You tell him about the way your people use spores to communicate joy, or how your instincts sometimes push you to protect before you think. He listens like it’s sacred.

And you? You’re fascinated by Earth culture — the chaos, the complexity, the food. You once asked Mark why humans cry when they’re happy. He didn’t have an answer, but he cried when you used your ult to save his entire team from a sure death. So maybe that’s why.

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

You’re the anchor to his fire. He dives in head-first, and you’re always behind him — healing, buffing, stunning the enemy he missed in his rage. Your synergy is unreal. He trusts your timing more than his own sometimes.

And when he gets knocked down? Soul Resurgence goes off and suddenly nobody’s dying today. Mark calls you his guardian angel without a trace of irony.

Mark picks you up, a lot.

Not because you need him to — you're more than capable. But he likes it. The little smile he gets when he bridal-carries you out of an exploding building or mid-fight? That’s for him. And you let him, because his heartbeat steadies when he holds you close. (You’ve also done the same for him — flying him out while channeling your aura so his wounds can start healing before you even land.)

There are days Mark shuts down. The kind where even breathing feels heavy. You don’t push him to talk — you just sit next to him, radiating calm energy. Maybe you hand him a flower — just a little Healing Flower to settle the ache.

He always says thank you, even if it’s barely a whisper. And you feel it in your chest — he’s starting to believe he deserves peace.

Mark insists on training with you more often — “Your timing’s insane,” he says. “I need to learn how you fight.” You show him how to bait enemies into your Spore Slumber traps, how to use his own speed with your support in mind.

It usually ends with him slipping on one of your spores and you pinning him with a vine-thorn blast, laughing as he yelps in surprise.

He always insists he let you win. You never correct him.

One time you accidentally hit him with a Spore Slumber at the tail end of a battle when he darted into your line of fire. He fell asleep mid-air and you had to catch him in your arms.

Now it’s a running joke. “You gonna knock me out again, or are we good?” (Secretly, he loved how peaceful he felt in that half-second of dreamspace you accidentally gave him.)

You’re empathetic to your core, and Mark struggles with when mercy becomes dangerous. You talk about it — debate it late into the night. He tells you sometimes he wants to kill certain enemies. You admit you’ve never once felt that urge, but you’ve come close when someone hurt someone you love.

You don’t always agree. But the fact that you listen to each other — without judgment — keeps the bond strong.

There are times Mark tries to shut down completely. After brutal battles, after failures. But you can’t not feel the grief radiating from him like a scream with no voice. And the worst part? He resents you for it sometimes. “I just wanted five minutes without someone reading my goddamn mind,” he snaps. It stings more than any blade. You nod. Quiet. Hurt. But you understand. And you give him that space — even if it tears your heart open to do it.

He was burning himself out. Fighting, fighting, fighting — not for victory, but to drown the guilt. You tried to soothe it with gentle words, subtle aura pulses.

But you can’t heal what he won’t let surface.

One night, he finally collapses — not from wounds, but sheer emotional exhaustion. You carry him back yourself, crying quietly because you knew this would happen. And you couldn’t stop it.

There was a mission. He was overwhelmed. You were right there — so close to popping your ult. But you hesitated. One second. And he almost died. You saved him, barely, but the damage was done. You couldn’t stop replaying it — the way his eyes looked at you, shocked, betrayed. He forgives you. Says it wasn’t your fault. But your powers are built on being in sync. And for a while, that connection? It’s cracked.

You’ve never felt so connected to anyone — not even the Guardians. Not like this. Not like him.

And it terrifies you. Because Mark has already lost so much. And you are so easy to break. You’ve seen it — the way he loses himself when people he loves are threatened.

You’ve seen what happens when he chooses rage.

So you keep your distance sometimes. Not because you don’t want him — but because you don’t want to become another reason he shatters.

Mark blames himself for everything. The people he couldn’t save. The ones he had to kill. His father’s legacy. You tell him none of it was his fault. But your voice can’t compete with the echo of his father’s fists. One night, you catch him staring at his reflection like he doesn’t recognize himself. “I’m starting to look like him.” And you don’t know what to say. So you just sit beside him, silently radiating love and sorrow.

During a chaotic fight, a villain detonates a suppression field that nullifies healing for ten seconds — enough time for a shard to tear through your chest. You hit the ground.

Mark snaps.

He goes feral. Bloodied. Gone.

By the time your passive regen kicks in and your eyes flutter open, the battlefield is silent — and Mark is crouched beside you, shaking.

His hands are stained. His eyes wild.

“I thought I lost you,” he whispers. “I would’ve burned the whole planet for you.”

You don’t tell him how close he came.

After everything — after Omni-Man, after Conquest, after the Viltrumite war — Mark’s hope is threadbare. You still smile. You still protect. You still say things like “Evil is a rejection of life.” He envies you. And it breaks him. “Don’t you ever get tired of trying to see the good in people?” he asks one night. You look at him, wounded. And say, “Yes. But I love them anyway. I love you anyway.” He can’t look at you after that.

You’ve been holding it all in — his pain, the weight of being the emotional anchor, the guilt of not saving everyone, the fear of losing him.

And one day, something small breaks the dam. Maybe he brushes you off too casually. Maybe he says he doesn’t need you.

And you explode.

“Then why do I feel it, Mark?! Why do I feel you drowning every time I’m near you?!”

The silence after is suffocating. You don’t cry. Not then.

But he does.

It’s a quiet horror in the back of your mind. Mark will live for thousands of years. You won’t. Not unless something changes. You’ve never said it out loud. But every time he looks at you like you’re his forever, something inside you aches. Because one day, his heart will still beat while yours is gone. And you hope, desperately, that you’ll leave behind something good in him. Something gentle.

There’s a moment — the worst one yet. A mission gone wrong. An enemy threatens you directly.

And Mark snaps so completely, you don’t recognize him. His eyes are blood-red. His punches don’t stop.

You’re the only one who can reach him.

You step into his path, even as he trembles.

“I’m here,” you say. “I’m still here.”

And when he finally breaks, sobbing into your arms — all you can do is hold him.

And hope your love is strong enough to bring him back

After one of Mark’s darker days, when you find him curled up and quiet, you don’t try to talk him out of it. You just lay beside him. Slowly wrap your arms around him. Let your aura spill into the space — not overwhelming, just warmth. You say nothing. Just: “I’m not going anywhere.” He holds you tighter than he ever has.

[valentine-cafe]

Hi! So this is the second of my orders per the question I asked earlier today! :3 Its a smut: Can I get like a scenario for tiramisu (alessio) and the herrera husbands (209) again a scenario where they find their partners (fem or gn afab reader) g spot while fingering them for the first time their partner (us) freaking out at the foreign and much stronger sensation and then after a while when they are about to cum, it also feels unlike anything we experienced and we try to stop them but they calm us down and talk us through it? :3 Thank yew :3

˖⁺. “ right here, baby ? ” : 

﹙ various boyfriends x inexperienced fem reader ﹚.𖹭 ݁

. . . verse 781 alessio, herrera husbands x fem reader !! 🍓 : ﹙ alessio: mercenary ˖ immortal ˖ punkgoth character ˖ jingyi: mad doctor ˖ snake monster ˖ yandere character ˖ rishen: mad scientist ˖ spider-moth-mantis monster ˖ yandere character ﹚

you're still getting used to this type of thing. what happens when your lover finds his inexeperienced darling's sweetspot?

﹙ cws ﹚: explicit content ˖ inexperienced reader ˖ fingering ˖ overstim ˖ multiple orgasms ˖ some mocking | wc : 1.2k 

﹙ receipts ﹚: giiiiddd every request that you put in just SLAPS i had so much fun with this and I'm so excited to get to the others!

꒰  other treats : guidelines ˖ m.list ˖ characters ˖ our lore  ꒱

﹙ Alessio 781. ﹚. . . !! 🍒 : Oh the grin that splits his lips is far from innocent. Unlike you, his poor querida hiccupping your spluttered confusions. “F-Felt so good - Ale - Alessio what was - ah!”

The pads of his fingers push into the spongey flesh. Massaging rapidly in tight, taut circles that cross your eyes at the centre and have you bucking up into his large hand. What the perfect opportunity for him to shove the heel of his palm against your swollen clit and grind down at you.

A pretty girl squirming on his sofa. What more could he possibly ask for?

“Oh? This spot, querida? Right here?” He withdraws and fucks back in to the knuckle. Knocking against the bundle before repeating the motion like a sadistic mantra. “Here? Right here baby? That feel good?”

Fat tears roll down your face and you fist the black throw cushion. Your throat bobs with your soft whines and cries. The overwhelm has you instinctively attempting to squirm up — but Alessio’s large hand claps down on your thigh. Squeezes at the plush flesh. Yanks you down with a small narrow of his emerald eyes.

“Now now. That’s not how we accept a gift. C’mon baby. You can take it - hold tight.” Your pussy squelches and slathers his two long fingers that fuck into you ruthlessly. Hitting bullseye every time as he twists and angles his wrist. Making sure you feel him like a piston.

White clouds your vision and your gasp out through heated lungs. He’s brought you to orgasm before, but this was something else. All consuming as you grip at his shoulders and sob through the hit of release. You’ve stained his hand in sticky slick and he grins.

“Messy girl.” A sloppy slap to your trembling cunt as he yanks his fingers out. Then another firm one to your clit. So that you scrunch your face and whine up at him. If only to choke and cry once he’s finger-fucking you again. Not once leaving that spot. As if addiction itself controlled his hand.

“Since you like it sooo much lemme show you how it really feels.” His thumb digs into your clit once more and rubs quickly. All while he grins down at you. “Poor thing. Just feels soooo good here. Right?”

꒰  mercenary ˖ immortal ˖ punkgoth character  ꒱

﹙ Rishen 209. ﹚. . . !! 🍓 : The second his delicate fingers brushed up against that sweltering bundle of nerves, you were done for. Splashing your excitement all over his hand and squealing in surprise. The heat that prickles through your pussy has you grinding back into his fingers as your head limps into his office desk.

“R-Rishe - Rishheeen - oh god - there -”

You’re not even sure what you’re begging for. All you know is that he’s so close but yet so far away. His fingers continue their strokes, yet fade into a languid stride more than anything. Missing the target each and every time.

For a moment you think he might now understand. Until you open your eyes and bat your heavy lashes full of glossy tears. The sight of his charming smile makes you whine as your hips buck forward with more effort.

“Oh?” He croons, low. As the tips of his fingers circle that throbbing bundle. He knows its exact location, and he demonstrates such by featherly brushing against it. It’s both all you need and so little as you buck your hips up again.

“Does my sweet cielo want something? She’s gonna have to use her words.” He goes back to his terrible aim. Hitting every spot except the one. Your cunt practically does the crying for you. Squelching and trembling. Clenching round his fingers in pathetic little begs. “Look’s like this pretty pussy’s talking louder than you, my dear. . . we can’t have that, now can we?”

He accentuates the lewd claps of your pussy with a rapid pace. Blindly fucking your gummy walls — yet evading that sweet spot each and every time.

You dig your nails into the desk and sob out for him. To make matters worse he teases a thumb on your puffy clit and all you can do is stare up with big, pathetic eyes. “P-Please - please please pleasepleasplease -” you sniffle through your whining cries. Your hips bucking up fruitlessly. “Please there - p-please - please I’ll be - hngh!”

Delirium swims through your head and you let out a mix of whimpers and whines as at last, his fingers begin circling, hitting and massaging the wonderful bundle. All you can do is sag your jaw and dumbly rock your hips through the most intense orgasm of your life.

All while he tilts his head and hums low. “So polite. . . spread a little more, hmm? Let me really overwhelm it.”

꒰  mad scientist ˖ spider-moth-mantis monster ˖ yandere character  ꒱

 

﹙ Jìngyí 209. ﹚. . . !! 🍒 : His fingers caressed the spot like a delicate petal. Circled it slow and thoughtfully to really familiarise your clenching cunt with the feel of such intensity pouring through wave after wave.

“Do you know what this is, darling?” He leans over to murmur deeply into your ear. His fingers pull all the way out and then stroke back in. He makes sure to hit that spot again, gently, then massage every so softly. The moans that leave you block out any possible words and you shake your head stiffly with small stiffles.

“F-Feels really - really good - gege,” you hiccup softly and he shushes you with a tender voice. Soft lips peppered over your face as he repeats the rhythmic action.

“So inexperienced. Don’t even know your own body, do you. Oh sweetheart.” Jìngyí is back to circling gently around the area before he hums low once more. “This is your g-spot, my love. Sometimes referred to as the sweet spot.”

His free hand cup the side of your neck and strokes his thumb lightly on your jaw. “The g-spot is characterised as an erogenous area of the vagina, that, when stimulated -” his fingers gradually pick up, yet only enough that has you sighing in bliss and bucking your hips up shakily. “- may lead to great sexual arousal. Potentially even female ejaculation. Like so.”

Abruptly, his fingers begin to reach a slow crescendo. Faster, and faster, until they’re fucking into you so wildly and hitting that one spot dead-on. So that your eyes roll back and you tighten up around him. Spurting and squirting your messy juices until you’re singing for him so beautifully.

“J-Jìng — yí! J-Jìngyí!”

“See, sweetheart? Making a mess all over. Look at you.” His smile is nothing short of sadistic as he works you through a mind-numbing orgasm. Not without fucking his fingers even faster. So that you can barely see, barely think. All you can do is gush over his hand and sob for him through it all. To say that he was almost more excited to find your sweetspot than you surely wouldn’t be too much of an overstatement.

꒰ mad doctor ˖  snake monster ˖ yandere character ꒱

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[mj-ackerman]

so, from the commentary for this illustration from the dandadan exhibit:

-Tatsu said he drew an expression that something Okarun would do, he's kinda embarrassed saying something like "is it really okay for me to be in the 1st place?"

-the illustration was placed based on their ranking in the popularity poll, from left to right, but turbo granny forced her way in front saying "I'm actually the no. 1"

- It's an image of Aira arguing "Why the hell are you in 2nd place?" and Momo replied "of course i am!" she dressed more excitedly, as if she were on a date with okarun

-Jiji is trying to calm Aira down as she's arguing with Momo.

- Aira hates that she's in the 5th place, more like she hates that she's not near Okarun's rank.

-Seiko doesn't really care coz she's an adult. Tatsu said her hairstyle is tied up like a medicine doll she tied it that way with the purpose of lifting her hair to tighten her face so that Momo would not feel intimidated whenever she visited her class back in elementary school.

-Zuma thought "Something's growing there..." when he first saw Vamola's antenna. He looks like a pro-wrestler with his hairstyle.

-Vamola thinks everyone is having fun. Her clothes are basically hand-me-downs from Momo. She's not picky when it comes to clothes.

-Rokuro is smiling fearlessly like usual, it's a camouflage he uses on earth, so nothing much changed

-Kinta was trying to play it cool that he was part of the top 10. He thinks his pose is cool and the color of his clothes are inspired by the color scheme of Gundam.

-Mantis shrimp alien (LMAO)

-Tatsu added Reiko Kashima in the illustration as a fan service lol.

[iloveladybuglucy]

Invincible/Indomitable Alien Headcanons Pt. i : Thraxans

Thraxans are a unique and interesting alien species. Highly intelligent and tricky, Thraxans have the natural ability to disguise, evade, and learn at lightning speed.

FULL-BLOODED THRAXANS:

Thraxans have segmented, highly flexible joints in their limbs, giving them a spider-like grace and the ability to make sudden, darting movements with ease. They’re quicker and lighter on their feet than Viltrumites

Thraxans have compound eyes that allow for a wide field of vision and high motion detection.

They use pheromones and subtle scent cues to convey emotional states (calm, warning, excitement, affection). Thraxan parents will often emit calming pheromones when soothing young nymphs, especially when injured or frightened.

Thraxan affection is shown through gentle grooming and tactile contact: intertwining antennae, smoothing arm segments, stroking the sides of the face, or nuzzling.

When threatened or defending nymphs, Thraxans flare their limbs and lean forward, making themselves look larger,  like an earth mantis in a warning pose.

Thraxans are taught to remain still and silent when listening deeply.  it’s a mark of respect to give someone full attention, especially elders, mates, or rulers. 

Thraxan voices can click, buzz, and trill, particularly during emotional spikes thanks to their mandibles.  

They’re hyper-aware of vibrations, able to feel footsteps through walls, terrain shifts, and even detect distant motion by the way the surface beneath subtly trembles. This makes them highly skilled trackers.

Because of their ability to stick to any surface, some Thraxans find it comforting to sleep upside down or sideways, as it gives them a predators vantage point and provides safety. 

There are three subspecies of Thraxans: Florathrax, Terrathrax, and Viridithrax. They live in different parts of Thraxa which is why some have earthier tones and others have more vibrant colors.

THRAXAN/VILTRUMITE HYBRIDS:

Oliver, though more humanoid, retains some joint articulation, especially in his shoulders and knees, allowing for unique movement patterns that scared the crap out of Mark, Debbie, and Rex when they first witnessed it.

By far one of the weakest hybrids a Viltrumite can make in terms of defense. While lightning fast, graceful, and highly intelligent, Thraxans are very weak and can’t take a punch from a Viltrumite. The positives to creating this hybrid are the fast maturity, early learning, access to powers at a young age, and high intelligence. 

Oliver inherits a mild version of compound vision: while his eyes look mostly human/Viltrumite, his peripheral awareness and reaction time are unnaturally sharp, as he often “catches” something coming before others do. 

All hybrids can sense scent cues, but cannot fully produce them.  instead, they develop a faint pulse or vibration in their chests when overwhelmed, a silent call for comfort.

Each hybrid has a variety of Thraxan genes physically present; some could appear almost entirely Viltrumite, others more Thraxan, or a mix. Regardless of their appearance, all hybrids subconsciously mimic the Thraxan defensive posture when angry: planting their feet wide, shoulders squared, head tilted downward; an intimidating blend of both alien heritages.

Hybrids go through molting seasons, it’s typically very uncomfortable and leaves them irritable, grouchy, and edgy for a few days. However, after the process is complete, they feel shiny, confident, and new, showing off their new shells. Oliver likes to screw with Rex and leaves his molted skins in his bed or hangs them up in the corner of his room to scare him. 

If a hybrid has antennae, they’re highly expressive. They twitch and move instinctively based on emotional state: they perk up when curious, fold back when upset or anxious, and gently sway when relaxed or affectionate.

Oliver in particular is half Florathrax, hence his purple hue in his true form.

i had so much fun w these!! i def feel like the Thraxans were wasted potential in terms of design bc praying mantises are so colorful irl, i would've loved to see different patterns or even subspecies, they def deserve some more love!!

next and prob last i plan on doing Viltrumites, but that'll take a lot longer bc i have a fuck ton of notes on them. mayyyybe i'll do battle beast's species as well, but idk

[winnieiscalmeth]

Could we please get romantic relationship headcanons for Luna Snow, Mantis, and Squirrel Girl from Marvel Rivals? Thank you!

Notes: I really like how I did this one. Hope you enjoy <3

Proofread: nope

SEOL “LUNA SNOW” HEE

Seol LOVES to latch onto you. You could be resting on the couch, laying in bed, just simply standing, she'll latch onto you. Her fingers curl into your shirt and her head rested on your shoulder. She likes to lay on top of you just to hear your heartbeat. She also loves when you lay on top of her. She loves to feel the pressure of your body since it calms her down.

Whenever she's busy with domestic duties you hear her sing some of her songs. She likes giving you a mini concert and acts like she doesn't feel your eyes on her body. (You're not sneaky!)

Seol gets a little hyper and says things to you which makes you flustered. “My little snowflake, you're such a cutie! I love you so much, oh my god! ���” All said in a high pitched voice, squishing your face.

Despite being a longtime idol, Seol still gets stage fright. So you're there for support, holding her hand before she goes on stage. She fidgets with her hands so much, you have to hold them for her before she starts biting them. After her show is over she jumps in your arms and gives you the BIGGEST kiss. Her adrenaline is still high after so you are left to deal with her energy.

MANTIS

During moments, when you two are just soaking up each other's quiet comfort, you always catch Mantis staring at you. When you stare back at her, she starts blushing and giggling. Sometimes she'll scoot closer to you and pepper your face with kisses then run out of the room still giggling.

Mantis is OBSESSED with your hands. She loves the way they cup perfectly under her cheeks. She'll even kiss the palm of your hands. Sometimes she compares your hand size and texture to hers.

Mantis dances at the most random times. No music would be playing and you'll see her swaying or moving her feet. It's contagious. She always manages to get you to dance with her.

Very big on communicating, especially emotions. There's no way you could go a full day hiding your anger or sadness without her around. She knows even when you don't want her too. Easily convinces you to express them or talk to her. She plays with your hair as your head is in her lap while you vent to her.

Outside dates. The majority of your dates are spent outside somewhere. Spending time together near a pond, also feeding little ducks. Mantis loves your cooking and prefers it over fast food, so you make little snacks and have picnics with her. Going on boat rides. (It's cheesy, but you two have been on one more than once.) Or just walking in a park to get some sun with your little green bug.

DOREEN “SQUIRREL GIRL” GREEN

Doreen loves kisses. Cheeks, lips, forehead. When you kiss her back her nose scrunches up and twitches a little. When you're half asleep she rolls over and places a kiss on your forehead, thinking you're asleep. She sees the old scars you got from battles and small criminals on your body and kisses each one of them. She also bites you. Instead of surprise hugs you get surprise bites.

Doreen is SO comfortable. You always gravitate towards her whenever you sit next to each other. Laying your head on her shoulder, or laying across her lap. You have an extra plushie to lay next to in bed. Her tail provides so much comfort and warmth you can never get enough of.

Baths together! Maybe it's a squirrel thing Doreen inhabited but she loves to help you wash. Running shampoo through your hair and softly washing your body. She doesn't know why exactly but it comforts her.

You have a collection of small trinkets Doreen (and even tippy toe.) whenever she comes back from her random adventures she'll always have something to give you. Little necklaces and small jewelry. You have small sticks and acorns courtesy of tippy toe. You also have a mini baby porcelain doll she got after coming back from the woods. It creeps you out, but it's a gift from your darling squirrel so you'll keep it.

[pyropupbun]

Hlvrai but it’s marine creatures I think they’d be with an unnecessary amount of explanation

Basically an autistic dude rambles about what fish these guys would be with very specific reasonings. I’m a lot more certain on some more than others, some are just “yeah he’d be this lol” and others are a paragraph of explanation based on very specific behavior(s) of the creature.

Gordon

Clownfish

Now I don’t really know how to explain this one besides color lol, I suppose the common aggression they exhibit can be compared to him in a way, besides that just look at him that man is a clownfish

Benrey

Broadclub Cuttlefish

Okay for Benrey I had quite a few creatures in mind but I ultimately settled on the broadclub cuttlefish. Their mischievous nature for one can automatically be seen in Benreys character, but that is not the main reason I chose them. The main reason I settled on cuttlefish(and more specifically the broadclub cuttlefish) for Benrey is because of a specific behavior seen in the gif above. Broadclub cuttlefish will ‘hypnotize’ their prey into calming down and staying still. I mean if I didn’t compare this to Sweet Voice no one was going to. Also Benrey could be pretty much any fucked up deep sea creature, or if you wanna be really basic, a shark lmao.

Dr. Coomer

Mantis Shrimp

This one speaks for itself, I’m not even the first one to say this that’s how obvious it is. On top of being the sea creature he would be, I think mantis shrimp would also be Coomers favorite animal(at least when it comes to marine life). Once again I am definitely not the first one to say this.

Bubby

Blue Ribbon Eel

Honestly this is the one I have the least explanation for, they’re opportunistic hunters I guess. I really wish I had more to say for Bubby because he’s one of the most overlooked characters in the fandom in my opinion. But alas, he is eel coded to me, and he is blue, thus, blue ribbon eel.

Tommy

Yellow Stingray

Couldn’t find a gif for this one :(

Not only are these silly guys yellow, they are known for their kind, curious, and playful temperament, but they will not hesitate to sting when they feel threatened. Very Tommy. I also picked a ray specifically for reasons you’ll see in a moment, just keep reading. ;3

Forzen

Porbeagle Shark

Couldn’t find a gif or even a good picture for this one so fuck it, porbeagle side eye

I have the stupidest explanation for this one. Forzen is shark and dog coded, porbeagles are known for their playfulness and dog-like hunting style. Porbeagle Forzen.

Darnold

Parrot Fish

I’ll have a gif for the last one I promise

I know all of these have brought up behaviors of the animal for reasons why I associate them with that specific character, but this one is specifically for aesthetic reasons. I associate Darnold with colorful stuff because potions and parrotfish are underrated just like him leave me alone.

Gman

Manta Ray

I told you Tommy was a ray for a reason. Anyways, I mainly associate hlvrai Gman with manta rays because of his menacing aura despite him being much less of a threat and practically harmless by the end of the series(so far). Yes I know he threatened Gordon but literally everyone has so shut up, he mainly just told Gordon “take care of my son lol” and brought everyone to Chucky Cheese at the end. But basically yeah manta rays are menacing but harmless, they also just generally have Gmans shadowy vibe.

Idk how to end this bye

[sinful-lanterns]

i need to know how the ladies handles/react to puppygirl reader being on her zoomies...

Stands there and stares at you in confusion: NOX, Dreya, Vanilla, Pylgia, Angell, Deren, Pearl, Eirene, Cassia, Uni, Jelena, Hamel, Vautour, Joan, Rahu, Yao, Rise, Pine, Oak Casket, Langley, Enfer, Lisa, Iron, Lamia, Matilda, Uni, Peggy

Tries to calm you down with treats and gentle words: Anne, Cinnabar, Adela, Chameleon, Garofano, Mira, Eleven, K.K, Demolia, Flora, Sumire, Shalom, Du Ruo, Moore, Raven, Labyrinth, Kelvin, Ignis, Luvia Ray, Chief, Nightingale, Dove, Ariel, Eureka, L.L., Tetra, Jane, Suspect R

Fucks you to get those zoomies out of you: Zoya, Korryn, Bai Yi, Cabernet, Chelsea, Stargazer, Coquelic, Shawn, Zephyr, Serpent, McQueen, Macchiato, Pricilla

Joins you in your zoomies: Mantis, Ninety-Nine, Wendy, Etti, Bianca, Zero, Corso, Dudu

[lace-coffin]

hello! Could you do something about Asa after he spends like, a good your looking for his newest member of the collection, and when he finds them, their just, surrounded by diff bugs?

Theres like, crickets in their hair, moths and butterfly all over their arms a few spiders crawling around their legs and their holding a praying mantis in their hands and staring at in awe. Their also babying talking it and cooing at it, when they look up and realize Asa is staring at them, they raise their cupped hands a show him the giant mantis resting their, saying with a cherry yet soft voice and smile "I named her Apple!"

I would appreciate it very much if you wrote something about this :)

But you don't have to, for any reason really.

Have a lovely night/day! Be sure to drink water and eat 💕

How would Asa Emory react to finding his new pet coddling his bugs?

Asa Emory/gn!Reader

Tw for bugs and power dynamics

Requests are open!

Asa moved through the halls of the hotel with efficiency, he knew them like the back of his hand, however that apparently wasn’t helping since he’d managed to...misplace his new pet.

You were supposed to be in your room, you were lucky you had even been granted the luxury of not just being crumpled into one of the boxes, but here Asa is, speeding down the halls and jumping/swerving around his traps like some kind of sick ballet in order to find you. You absolutely won’t be getting out of this without some serious punishment.

Asa curses at himself under his breath for making his place of operations so huge, it seemed like a good idea when he set up here and it was but damn if it wasn’t his Achilles heel in this situation.

Fifteen minutes of searching later his heart is picking up in an unfamiliar way, usually he’s not one to care about others or a stray victim but something in him can’t help but worry about loosing his newest subject already. Whether it’s because he cares for you or because he hates not being in control is anyone’s guess. (He’s soft for you and won’t admit it)

Finally as he’s cracking open a door at the end of the hallway he hears a sweet laugh echoing from further along. Bingo. You’re so dead when he finds you. As he’s about to slam the door open he realises this is infact where he keeps his enclosures for his specimens, he sighs and opts to open the door slowly and quietly as not to startle the bugs.

You don’t even notice Asa enter the room, currently too enthralled in cooing sweet words to the giant mantis in your hands.

Before Asa can demand to know where you’ve been and why, his breath hitches in his throat. There you are, sat on your knees next to the enclosure cases, covered from head to toe in his beloved bugs. The calm careful way you handle them and talk to them like they can understand tugs at his heart, his face softens at the sight, anger long forgotten and replaced by a feeling of fondness, the same one he felt when he was originally scouting you to join his collection.

The crickets cling to your stands of hair, a little messy since you had left your room before Asa got to around to brushing it but he’ll fix that later, sitting contently like they’d never been disturbed in the first place.

Moths and butterflies tap their tiny feet along your arms, fluttering their delicate wings, taking off and landing back with you when they please.

Asa takes in the scene breathlessly, if he hadn’t already been weak for you then he definitely is now. As he approaches by a few steps some thick hairy legs come into view, creeping slowly over your thighs and onto your lap. Tarantulas, two of them, using you as a lap cushion without a care in the world. You really are something special. In the back of his mind Asa makes another note to keep approaching slowly, despite you needing a punishment he’s not exactly wanting his eight legged pets to kick hairs at you in fright.

After a few minutes of blissfully observing one of the tarantulas unhurriedly totters off your leg and begins to move across the room. “Oh, where are you off to little guy? I need you over here with me, I’m already probably in big trouble with sir” you sigh. “I don’t want to loose you and make it worse, besides, I don’t think I could forgive myself if something happened to you under my watch”

In a strange way you suppose you understood Asa’s need to keep you under wraps right now, not wanting this beautiful specimen to disappear from your sight, much like Asa with you.

You swivel on your knees to coax the spider back into your palms, nudging its abdomen for encouragement and letting it waddle back into your hands. From your new position you catch a glimpse of heavy black boots in your peripheral. Oh.

You turn your attention fully to the man above you, heart racing at the idea of what’s about to come, however as you reach his eyes they aren’t filled with the rage or disappointment you were expecting. The black orbs are filled with softness, fondness, almost something sweet you can’t decipher.

Without thinking you present the giant mantis to Asa, still on your knees. “I named her apple!” A beat passes and an array of emotions flutter through Asa’s steely heart, his blank face still giving nothing away. After what feels like an eternity he crouches down in front of you, cupping his hands under your own, assisting in holding the mantis. “A fine name for her, pet. Do you know what species Apple is by chance?” He says in his firm but calm, leading voice, slipping into the tone he uses when teaching his lectures without even realising it.

“Uh-no, no I don’t sir…tell me?” You say, wincing a little at the stumble at the beginning, hoping asking him to tell you didn’t come off as rude or undermining his authority. Asa smiles, not letting anything on.

“She is a Giant Asian Mantis, or Hierodula membranacea, If you want to get technical. These are the most commonly kept mantis as house pets and come in an array of colours, but as you can see, apple is mostly light green. I think your name fits her nicely.” Asa explains matter of factly, hands still cupped under yours for Apple to totter onto.

“Woah” you say without thinking, watching Apple move to Asa’s palms and taking in the information. Asa exhales from his nose in a small chuckle. “Woah indeed, however I think it’s time we get you and Apple back to your respective rooms” Asa says with a quirked eyebrow, giving away that your not going to get away with this unpunished just because he finds you endearing.

Asa helps you round up the specimens and places them back in their individual tanks. After making sure you both wash your hands thoroughly he takes your now clean hand and walks you back to your room, letting you ask him more bug questions as you walk.

Despite how lovely this has been you’ll still be given a stern talking to once you return, Asa can’t bring himself to punish you for your little adventure and entomology lesson but isn’t one to let you off the hook without some kind of consequence, after all he expects your complete submission and obedience and won’t settle for any less. But for now that convocation can wait, and Asa can get you comfy on your knees infront of him, manoeuvring your head via the ring on your collar and finally working the comb through the snags in your hair with care.

I hope you enjoy this! Your rq was super fun to do and the idea was really cool! Thank you so much and feel free to send me more < 3

[hestzhyen]

How Much More?

I just... man. Hakuri...

Despite the Rakuzaichi arc having finished a while ago now, we are still revisiting aspects of Hakuri's life with his family. But we the audience are the only ones privy to the information presented- none of the other characters are aware. And Hakuri doesn't seem inclined to share how bad he's had it. It's like a very slowly unfolding horror story that you thought was over but it just keeps going when you least expect it...

Let's look at the direct vs. indirect information about his abusive past provided since he was introduced:

Ch. 19

Hakuri lost his pet preying mantis (a metaphor for luck/courage) about five years ago

Hakuri also lost his entire family around the same time (indication of tragic backstory most likely)

Nonchalant about his bloody nose

Ch. 20

He was too weak and got in the way, so he was disowned (indicates a family that equates usefulness to worthiness)

Once again unflinching despite being in immense pain

Ch. 23

His hand trembles when he mentions that his older brothers are strong and scary

He says his family will kill him on sight (turns out to be a red herring)

He's very concerned with being useful in any way he can, even if it's just running errands

He looks frightened when he encounters his older brother

Ch. 24

Flashes back to being physically abused multiple times before attempting suicide (immediate response trigger, would rather die than go back)

Truly believes that the family wants him dead for "ruining merchandise"

Directly states that Soya expresses affection through punching and kicking him (doesn't deny the abuse as a valid expression of sincere love)

Soya is unfamiliar with Hakuri defying him

Hakuri tries to protect Hinao and gets punched down to the ground for his efforts (Soya will continue to abuse Hakuri if he's allowed to)

Soya is obsessed with getting Hakuri back and doesn't seem to consider Hakuri's refusals to do so something he's capable of making a rational, informed decision of himself

Ch. 25

Kyora summons Hakuri back and immediately puts a sword at his throat to use him as a hostage (clearly not important to his father)

Calls Hakuri a pathetic wretch, completely worthless, and a hindrance while stepping on him (emotional and physical abuse)

Appears prepared to kill him

He's extremely upset and apologetic afterwards, fully blaming himself

Kyora states that Hakuri has finally been useful for the first time ever

Ch. 26

Hakuri's usual exuberance is gone and he's much more subdued

His father's words about his uselessness and worthlessness are echoing in his head while he continues to blame himself and apologise for being a burden

Chihiro is able to cheer him up by telling him he was useful after all by telling him what he needed to hear, and can keep being useful by providing information

Ch. 30

Tenri calls Hakuri a useless coward

Rejects Soya's joy at seeing him again; Soya once again believes Hakuri's refusals are due to other people manipulating him; implies Hakuri never had much agency, if any at all

Extremely negative self-talk when trying to figure out how to handle an unexpected situation

Ch. 32

Gets kicked around and demeaned by Soya and acknowledges that he is weak (this is nothing new for him, especially with it being framed as Soya trying to put him back in his place)

Hakuri is able to remain calm and think clearly while he's being hit and kicked

Still doesn't reject Soya's abuse as a form of love; only rejects the mischaracterisation of Chihiro

Being abused helped him become sturdy enough to survive Hiyuki's punch to the face

Ch. 33

Tenri considers Hakuri to be stupid

Also remarks that their family would be disgraced as a whole if word of Hakuri's lack of ability got out

Ch. 34

Kyora confronts Hakuri's sadness over his grandfather's death with blunt truth, showing a distinct lack of compassion

Hakuri was intended to possibly receive the storehouse power when Kyora died

Was manipulated into saying he loved his father (emotional abuse in the name of continuing tradition; Kyora even uses "ai" to drive home how farcical the bonds of love he claims they have are)

Admitted he wanted his father's praise and was only able to snap out of it because someone "set him on the right path"

Ch. 35

Admits that Soya uses tools like pliers on him to "bully" him instead

Also drops that Soya usually goes back to beating him up the "normal way" once the tools are lost

Blames the abuse he receives for himself being weak and useless, is desperate to be useful

Won't talk about the abuse when it's worse than usual, just clams up instead

Realises his own mindset and how he treated her directly led to her killing herself in front of him

Ch. 36

Tools come back, peeler even appears to possibly have dried blood on it

Hakuri's storehouse also has a log, metal pipes, pliers, sticks, a wrench, rope, and a chair in it Jesus fucking Christ

Kyora once again refers to Hakuri as a failure, Soya agrees

Hakuri acknowledges Soya's treatment of him as "love", albeit bitterly

And that's it for a long time. Hakuri still wants his father's love even at the very end, and he's still desperate to be useful (while also being surprised when people consider him as such); his abysmal self-esteem and twin core motivations to sacrifice himself to see things through are still major problems for him. He has a complicated situation to work through but there's some hope- especially now that he's back on his feet in the most recent chapters. Likely re-traumatised and with some diminished power, but managing to keep his agency intact. Uruha even came back!

Except...

Ch. 80

Hakuri was abused for ten years, not just the five after Kyora gave up on him

There are multiple ways to interpret Hakuri's knuckle covering that bolded "love"- maybe he's aware it isn't actual love now, maybe he's trying to avoid thinking about it. It's up to interpretation until we get a direct statement. But the point is that we are still learning that his life of tragedies and abuses is still somehow worse than we knew.

So now I'm wondering what the hell else there is to know. Will he have more issues to explore with his dead mom? Will we see more details about how often and in what ways Soya tortured him? Will we see him being neglected and forced to scrounge for food scraps and clothes like so many fans headcanon? I kind of don't want to find out!

This is all for a point though, I believe. We are getting details like this to remind us that Hakuri doesn't fucking talk about his own trauma.

He's not yet at the point where he even acknowledges that he had what most people could consider a very hard time of things. He can't acknowledge his own circumstances yet. So until that point, we will probably keep learning things at random until there's a tipping point of some kind. I hope it's a positive way like he's safe enough to talk about it all with someone to start healing. But it could also manifest as a "last bad memory that breaks him and it all comes spilling out" kind of way too.

No matter what happens, though, I think we have to brace ourselves for more random "what the fucking fuck Hakuri you poor guy" moments until he's ready to confront it all. Until he admits that he not only actually had a shit life, but that he didn't deserve any of it.

Suffering = character development not holding up in this scene. It's just pure suffering at this point. Why?

This is basically just a more condensed version of that essay I wrote back in October I guess. But I can't stop thinking about how there's still more to learn about how Hakuri suffered if this came up so long after his intro arc ended. Why are we still getting this kind of information when we don't need to feel bad for him any more? His main abusers are dead and he chose to follow Chihiro in order to help accomplish his own goals. Shouldn't we be progressing to part of his arc where he starts to heal?

But we aren't. We're seeing him be more self-destructive than ever while staying fixated on making sure he's as useful as possible. We're still learning details of how he was abused. It's not to endear him to us at this point- I don't think it's even possible for me to be any more attached to him. So there has to be some other meaning behind it.

That's why I'm beating on the “Hakuri has to face his abuse for what it really was” drum. I can't see any other reason from a narrative sense. Hakuri's arc started with the slow drip of information being shown to us and barely any being told to other characters in-universe. Chihiro and Shiba probably don't know about the torture, or how long it went on for, or Ice Lady. He doesn't talk about it. He only thinks about it when intrusive memories come up or he needs to explain something. That literal metaphor of the the torture tools he keeps in his storehouse, a space only he can access and knows about what's inside.

Most importantly, Hakuri himself hasn't directly acknowledged that he was being abused in the first place.

He's only ever called it love and expressed understandably complicated feelings for his dad in particular. The only hint we have that he might be reconsidering his treatment as "love" is that ambiguous panel of him partially covering the word in chapter 80. This, to me, says that Hakuri's character arc won't really be on an upswing until he acknowledges his past for what it was. And until that point we are going to keep getting reminded that he's not willing to do so via these random details cropping up.

I'm extremely invested in where he goes and how it's handled and... please, don't pull another Hiruhiko. I sincerely hope Hakuri's situation is dealt with the care and respect it deserves as the story goes on. And if I'm wrong and giving the author too much credit and he's actually fine now that Uruha's alive after all? I'll close up shop and never write another post for Kagurabachi again out of shame I guess.

Anyway I don't know how to end things so, uh. Give yourself a sincere compliment and be proud of how far you've come. You're worth all the effort it takes to live.

[7oy7iger]

Dream

"I Dreamed of Po Last Night."

"Hey, Po? I dream about him stealing my cookies all the time!" "Just the other day, I dreamed Shifu was scolding us again..." But when they realized these words had come from Tigress’ mouth, time seemed to freeze. Crane’s teacup tilted, spilling tea across the table; Mantis’ chopsticks hovered midair, his dumpling plopping back into the bowl; Monkey kept his eating posture, but his jaw stopped moving.

Only Viper reacted first, her eyes curving into crescents: "Oh?"

Every gaze instantly snapped toward Po—after all, it was usually this panda who would cheerfully announce, "I dreamed about Tigress last night!" while Tigress would silently turn and walk away.

Po’s chopsticks clattered onto the table. He scrambled to pick them up. "Huh? Oh! Uh… these dumplings are really good today, hahaha!" He laughed nervously, shoving two into his mouth at once.

Tigress frowned slightly. "Aren’t you curious what I dreamed?"

"Cough—cough—!" Po choked, pounding his chest. Monkey swiftly handed him tea, and he gulped it down before gasping, "O-of course I’m curious! But dreams are just… y’know… like how I always dream I can fly, but then I wake up and realize I just rolled off the bed—"

"Having wings is convenient," Crane remarked smoothly, dabbing at his tea-dampened feathers with clear implication.

The next few days, the Five’s morning training became unusually lively.

"Notice something?" Mantis whispered. "Po served Tigress noodles this morning—piled so high they nearly spilled."

"Yesterday, I saw him sneakily replace her water flask with a new one."

"The night before, someone left calming tea outside her room."

Monkey smirked. "And used lightfoot to tiptoe in, terrified of waking her."

"Hey…" Viper tried to interject, but the gossip-hungry group was too absorbed.

"You all…"

Tigress’ voice cut in from behind. The four "detectives" stiffened.

"We—we were discussing new techniques!" Mantis blurted, snapping upright.

"Yeah! That, uh…"

Tigress crossed her arms. "Really? Then demonstrate. Now."

They exchanged panicked looks before Crane blurted, "Actually, we were just… wondering why Po’s been acting so strange lately."

"Right, right!" Mantis jumped in. "He’s been weird these past few days!"

Tigress sighed. "So you’ve been stalking him?"

"It’s not stalking," Monkey said slyly. "It’s concern for a fellow warrior."

Viper finally giggled. "Maybe… Tigress, you could just ask him?"

At dusk, Tigress found Po lost in thought under the sacred peach tree, petals dusting his shoulders unnoticed.

"Po."

He startled, turning with sunset still warm in his eyes. "Tigress? You—"

"I should be asking you that." She sat beside him. "These past few days. Why?"

Po looked down, fingers idly tracing fallen petals. "I just…"

"Was it because of that dream?"

Petals spiraled softly between them. Po’s ears slowly turned pink. He lifted his head, sunlight glowing in his eyes.

"I just…" His voice was quiet. "You dreamed about me."

Tigress blinked. "And?"

"And—!" Po’s grin broke free, hands waving excitedly. "You dreamed about me! Usually it’s me dreaming about you, but this time—this time it was you! That means—!"

He froze mid-gesture, as if biting his tongue.

"Means what?"

Po’s flustered stammering made something click in Tigress. She reached over, brushing petals from his shoulder—her touch uncharacteristically gentle.

"Let’s go back." She stood, walking downhill, murmuring almost inaudibly:

"I dream of you often."

Po gaped. By the time he jolted up, she was nearly swallowed by twilight. "Wait! Tigress, you never told me what you dreamed!"

She paused, sunset gilding her silhouette. Watching him stumble after her, her lips curved faintly.

"Next time… dream something cool, and I’ll tell you."

-End-