#more than anything duet killed me

[jacks-wack-attack]

I don't even have words right now. What are words to convey all the emotions running through me currently?

All I wanted was to see Lucifer and Charlie both change their forms, and THEY. DELIVERED. MY GOD.

JUST LOOK AT THEM. THEY LOOK FUCKING FABULOUS. BOTH MY CINNAMON ROLLS SHOWED THEIR CLAWS AND I'M HERE FOR IT.

But Alastor, sweetie. Can I give you a hug?

I want to help my baby boy. My heart broke for him and he deserves the world, plain and simple.

AND VAGGIE AND CHARLIE SUNG MORE THAN ANYTHING TOGETHER AND SAID I LOVE YOU AND IT MADE MY HEART BURST.

THAT IS ALL. THAT WAS DELIGHTFUL

[gumycandyyy]

୨♡ Ｗｉｎｔｅｒ Ｋｉｎｇ ＨＣＳ ♡୧

I am ashamed of tumblr for not making more fanfic of this funky fruit.

We got some general HCS and then some romantic ones under the cut! (I went a little overboard with the romantic ones, hehe!)

Gender-neutral

୨♡ Ｇｅｎｅｒａｌ ♡୧

-Man's self care routine is off the charts

-I'm serious, he has like- 80 different bubble bath concoctions.

-Smells like mint

-or some kind of cold scent.

-I feel like he loves dressing up fancy, so he has a closet full of sparkly suits

-maybe even some dresses if he's feeling special.

-Doesn't actually need to wear glasses, he just likes how they look.

-While he loves his winter wonder world, I feel like he'd enjoy rainy weather more than snow.

-He got rid of all his madness and sadness, yes, but I think he'd cry at something especially cute. Happy tears, y'know?

"Why are you crying, sir? Are you okay?" "Oh, it's nothing. *sniff* Just those two rabbits that are cuddling."

-He is really bad at any percussion instrument

-like.. REALLY bad.

-His hands are too delicate for such a garish instrument as the drums!

-He loves playing duets on the piano, but rarely has anyone to play with.

-I mean, he could always concoct up an ice creature to play piano with him, but that's honestly quite dull.

-His favorite movie would probably be an old Christmas movie, like It's a Wonderful Life.

-He gets kidnapped by the Candy Queen so often, that occasionally he brings a book or something snuggly to help him wait for his ice scouts to rescue him.

-He once got so bored while kidnapped that he tried to read to some of the mutilated candy people

-That was the last time he saw his favorite book.

-Safe to say he doesn't bring his favorites anymore.

୨♡ Ｒｏｍａｎｔｉｃ ♡୧

-Will literally spoil his love interest rotten.

-You want that thing you saw earlier?

-Consider it yours

-You'd like for it to snow outside?

-A sprinkle or a blizzard?

-Literally anything, this man will go to the ends of the universe to get you what you'd like.

-Love languages are definitely gift giving and physical touch

-probably acts of service too.

-Loves dancing.

-Loves dancing.

-Whether it be a slow dance or ice-skating, he will take every opportunity to dance with you!

-He adores short people.

-Good, because he's tall as a giant.

-if you're shorter than him, he will no doubt use you as an armrest.

-He always makes remarks on how cute you are.

-Even if you're only two inches shorter than him.

-If you're taller...

-hoo boy.

-Expect him to be all over you.

-figuratively and literally.

-Will want you to carry him everywhere, sit in your lap, rest against you, whatever.

-Just let him touch you.

-He'll talk about how strong you are, how you'd be the perfect chair, etc. etc.

-He does the stupid "How's the weather up there?" jokes.

-Loves your body, no matter what it looks like.

-You're skinny?

-You're easy to carry around and dance with.

-You're chubby or fat?

-Literally will always be holding onto or resting on part of you. He loves squishy people.

-Somewhere in the middle?

-He could not care less. He loves you regardless of what you look like.

-And he makes sure to emphasize his point by complimenting you endlessly.

-He will never leave your side.

-Even if you need space, he doesn't.

-So why wouldn't you?

-Back to our regularly scheduled fluff-

-Candy Queen hates your guts.

-She thinks you're an obstacle, keeping her from the Winter King.

-No doubt tries to kill you.

-Multiple times. a day

-Her plans are always foiled, but if she gets too close to genuinely hurting you, Winter will be so upset.

"Oh, Dearest, please tell me you're okay!" "You are?" "Phew. I don't know what I'd do if you were hurt in any way."

-His petnames for you are probably

-Darling,

-Dearest,

-My love,

-There are a lot more, but those are the main ones.

-LOVES kissing you.

-Anytime, any way.

-He finds it adorable when his nose bumps your face.

-Favorite place to kiss would probably be the back of your hand.

-He is a gentleman after all.

-Overall, he just adores you.

-And he sincerely hopes you love him just as much as he does you.

Headcanon requests are open for Winter King! Don't be afraid to send an ask, and be shameless! I know I am! (No smut tho. Some spice is okay, however.)

Have some free WK art for coming this far!

reblog for a beginner writer?

[momentomori24]

Surprisingly, hearing Vox and Val technically (I love how technically needed to be added) aren't dating didn't upset me as much as I thought it would. It did... for like a minute until I thought about how painfully much it fits them.

Val throws tantrums and is ready go out and kill people to let off steam, but decides to stay put in his room and sulk instead while he waits for his flat-faced prince to come and comfort him before he does anything drastic. He's killed and abused people for the slightest hint of non-compliance, which he sees as giving him an attitude or questioning his authority, but he doesn't so much as flinch when Vox raises his voice and starts shaking him in frustration more than once. He doesn't lash out or get angry when Vox tries to talk him out of marching towards the hotel, but instead listens to his points and takes his words to heart even when they weren't what he wanted to hear. He's not interested in Alastor, but is willing to sit through watching the extermination broadcast because Vox is a passionate football dad about his one-sided rival getting dunked on. He doesn't even act jealous towards Vox's obsession, just weirdly amused and supportive even tho he hates not being the center of attention any other times. And then there's Vox, who acts like he's annoyed to have to put up with Valentino but still does it anyway. He acts disinterested about Val's ranting over Angel until he hears that Angel might've quit because he's an jealous, insecure loser that wants that mf's attention to himself. He lights his cigarette and decides to call up their lowest earners for him to terrorize without being asked just to lighten his mood a little (unrelated but i feel for their employees). He keeps his eyes on him both in his room and when he's at the pub through the cameras he's got everywhere. He takes his hand like one would with a princess and smiles fondly at him before disappearing when noticing they're being watched. He's the only person that Val trusts enough to calm him down when his temper gets the better of him. And Val-- despite his volatile temper and obnoxious quirks-- is someone he respects and cares about, both as his business associate and romantic partner.

And they aren't dating. Val and Vox clearly have a connection and understanding and attraction yet are unable to confront those feelings in fear of being vulnerable. So they aren't dating. Val obsesses over Angel and Vox obsesses over Alastor to distract themselves of the other only to fall back into each other's arms at the end of the day. Even tho they aren't dating. They celebrate, dance, sing, support and shamelessly make out with each other. They're the only ones that would put up with each other's bullshit no matter what-- but for some reason, they're still not dating. They are two of the worst Overlords in Hell, capable of committing so many despicable acts and jumping to immoral tactics for their own gain without any regrets, but opening that door into genuine emotional vulnerability? Acknowledging their softness for each other? That's where they draw the line. They're clearly made for each other, but neither of them dare to step over that line to commit to something more.

Which means that we could get to actually see these changes take place. We could get to see more sides to these two we still haven't seen before. We could get to see them actually start dating and the complicated journey it took to get there. We could get to scream and kick and seeth as these two morons continue to dance around admitting their very much requited romantic feelings for every stupid reason under the sun episode after episode. We could get to see these two fix each other and make each other worse simultaneously. Mostly make each other worse. We could get to see them have a romantic duet. We could get to see them be happy together-- officially together-- while they make life worse for everyone around them.

All this mumbo-jumbo, sleep-deprived ranting will likely not happen, but the potential character growth, the dynamic development, the resolved romantic tension, the SONGS we could get??? I'm clinging onto this hope for dear life until it's ripped from my cold, dead hands.

[spaceradars]

due south 3x01 has to literally be the funniest episode in the history of tv. imagine you’re on a trip to your hometown and your best friend calls you to let you know he won’t be able to pick you (and your wolf) up from the airport like he was supposed to, and to reassure you that you’re friends nonetheless. and you’re like sure i know. so then you come back and walk home from the airport, only that home is not home anymore (it’s been burned down. weird, but whatever). you still gonna see your friend. so you go to his workplace and everyone’s acting kinda weird but no one says anything specific. sure, whatever. so you go to your friend’s desk, call his name, and this random guy walks up to you, hugs you like you’re lifelong pals, and starts acting like nothing’s happened. you’re clueless, and he’s convinced that he’s, in fact, your friend (best friend, actually) and what’s worse, everyone else around there is convinced too. so you try to reason with this guy but he starts talking about duets, and then the phone rings and they alert you that your (supposed) best friend’s house is about to be burned down. so you alert him, even if it’s not technically his house and he’s not technically your friend, but whatever. you go there by car (same car your og best friend drove), trying to figure out who this guy is, while your wolf licks his ear. and then you save this guy’s “family” and you still understand nothing. and you spend the entire day trying to understand who’s doing all this burning, but also measuring this guy’s teeth and nose and he’s trying to convince you that he’s your friend (but he’s not? yet everyone else calls him that?). and then you do some more detective work, and then the car burns down, too, and this guy’s trying to tell you the truth but you’re so busy trying not to get killed that you don’t notice. then you both (+ wolf) jump into the water, and this guy just takes a bullet for you after telling you he doesn’t risk his neck for anyone (liar). and then the lieutenant finally explains everything to you, and you find out your og best friend is away taking part in an undercover operation and this guy is pretending to be him so he’s not in danger. so you’ve got to stick to this guy until further notice. and then you’re like well, and then your ghost dad says he approves this new guy, so you ask him out for dinner, all of that in the span of less than 24 hours. truly insane if you ask me.

[alastorsfuckassbobb]

Bros ears are adorable 💀

I NEED more Nifty + Alastor interactions in the second season!! As a matter of fact, I need more Alastor interactions with the other cast! I think Alastor's and Niffty's lil relationship is cute! It honest to god looks so genuine, and I like to think she didn't sell her soul to him or nothing, they just hanging out. (That probably isn't the case though) 😭 I would love to see them have a cutesy little song duet, it would probably be jazzy, but kind of chaotic and fast paced. I'd totally listen to that shit on repeat, but more than anything. I just want a Niffty song in general, solo or not. It can be the most bizarre duet, like Niffty?? Vaggie?? Tf you two singing together for??? 😭 I'd also like to see more Angie and Alastor interactions, too! Like they only spoke once in the show?? I want interactions besides Angel flirting with Al, and making him clearly uncomfortable. Like let's have them have a little chat. I can't take Alastor seriously with those fluffy ears of his, awww!! So cute, they look even more fluffier in the second pic, so adorable, they look so soft! I want to see this bitch have a mental breakdown. Even worse than the breakdown he was having in the finale song. Like don't get me wrong, I love the guy. I don't want anything to happen to him, but at the end of the day, I'd love to see him lose his demeanor. (I love angst and drama). Also I'd love to see the day where he stops smiling, like it's not going to happen anytime soon, but I know DAMN well he will stop smiling, and it ain't gonna be pretty. I'll tell you that as much, I want him to meet his mom again, and for her to get killed off for reals! 😍 And before you say, "How would he even meet her? She's in heave-" How do you know that? How do you genuinely know that?? Did Viv say? Cause I want the facts, for all she know she could be in hell??? Like I tried searching it up, and it's from the journey to the light wiki, like sorry to break it to you, lil bro. But that shit ain't real.

[canyourfavesurvivecastledracula]

Would Sweeney Todd survive Castle Dracula?

Pros:

- Is good at the appeasement game, masking his hatred when the situation calls for it

- Good at lulling enemies into a false sense of security

- Not horny, will not be tempted by brides

- Pretty much immune to despair, as he is a constant state of it

- Naturally suspicious, will see right through the Count's pleasantries at once

- Will not hesitate to murder as soon as he gets the chance

- Extremely skilled with a straight razor

- Dedicated to a fault. Once he has his mind set on something (murder or escape in this case), there is no dissuaded him

- Not grossed out by blood

- Extremely stressed old man, wouldn't taste very good

Cons:

- Probably too old to be climbing walls willy nilly

- Wouldn't be easily accepting of the supernatural

- Would most likely not accept the crucifix. Honestly, probably wouldn't be offered it

- Kinda dumb, sees what he wants to see, instead of the truth

- Arrogant Bastard

- Unstable, mentally and emotionally

- Would actually enjoy Castle Dracula more than anywhere in Britain

- Too smart for his own good, Count would be immediately suspicious of him

- Preoccupied by his own thoughts, sometimes not aware of his surroundings

Now we've seen how Dracula would fare in Sweeny Todd's domain - it is time to address how Sweeny would fare in Dracula's.

Sweeny Todd and Jonathan Harker have a lot in common. They're both a one woman kinda guy. They both are single-mindedly obsessed with murdering the guy who assaulted their wife. Neither of them lets go of an idea when he's got it, even to the point of missing fairly obvious and important things in their immediate surroundings. They both know how to sweet talk rich jerks they hate. They both have madness marked in their hair coloring.

And on the other hand Sweeny Todd and Dracula have a lot in common. They both kill and eat people (in opposite orders admittedly). They both get real weird about a girl named Lucy. They both agree that there's no place like London. They both are committed to the idea that they all deserve to die.

I'm not going anywhere with this I just think it's Neat.

So on the one hand, Sweeny is real depressed. As you say, he brings his own despair with him, and what is Dracula compared to that? On the other hand, he pretty adamantly refuses to die until he's had his revenge. So while death would be a relief he's pretty committed to getting out of the Castle alive. And I think he can wheedle Dracula into keeping him around, given that he managed to talk Judge Turpin into coming back.

I think the crucifix is a non-issue here. Sweeny Todd is never going to cut himself shaving. He's a proper artist with a knife. And given that Dracula is clean-shaven in the Castle and has a beard at the zoo, he must grow hair and therefore he must need to shave. It's going to take some work to convince Dracula to let him shave him, but Sweeny is remarkably good at that sort of thing, and it's not like Dracula can use a mirror.

I don't see any possible universe where Dracula isn't a bass so he's perfect for those duets. And Dracula does certainly appreciate pretty women (though proof of heaven while you're living doesn't really apply).

Sweeny's biggest problem will be if he decides to murder Dracula with his razors, because Dracula isn't the kind of thing that dies when its throat is slit, and Dracula will not be amused. On the other hand what reason does Sweeny have to kill him? There's no pie shop downstairs. Dracula isn't blackmailing him like Pirelli. He hasn't done anything to any Lucys yet. And I think Sweeny is savvy enough to be wary of retribution from the Girlies, even if he is (inappropriately) confident in his ability to kill Dracula.

The thing that gives me pause is whether he can get out once Dracula leaves. I really don't see Sweeny Todd as much of a climber. But he is very determined and he did escape Australia so maybe?

I think Sweeny Todd can survive Castle Dracula, because to do otherwise would keep him from his revenge. He will have vengeance - he will have salvation

[cupiddior]

NANA — huh yunjin

WARNING — fluff, swearing

★☆

huh yunjin was conflicted.

she’s never liked someone so much, like she feels like it’s actually concerning how much she likes you.

you’re the leader of new jeans just two years younger, she never thought that she would actually like someone younger than her and despite you being younger than her you actually intimidate the hell out of her.

she just thinks that the way you got so popular so quickly is a little scary I mean global vivienne westwood ambassador only five months after debut ?!

that’s crazy.

should she also mention that you’re her best friend jimin’s little sister ?

“oh my god.” yunjin looks up as he best friend dramatically flops at the end of her bed. “yn is driving me crazy.”

yunjin stomach turns just at your name. “how ?” she asks.

jimin sits up and looks at her. “I’ve seen my little sister’s face my whole life, and I love yn but when I become an idol it was a little nice to have a break from her, but now I see her face EVERYWHERE I mean billboards, poster, on my social media.”

as jimin continues to rant about you, yunjin gets lost in her thoughts I mean jimin wasn’t wrong your face was everywhere not that yunjin was complaining she loves seeing your face, well sorta, how is she supposed to try to get over her best friends little sister if she sees her everywhere ?

“BUSES I MEAN BUSES YUN.” yunjin snaps out of her thoughts as jimin finally stops her ranting.

“but that’s besides the point, I was talking to her this morning and why didn’t you tell me you guys were doing a duet on kbs ?” we are ? “she told me her manager told her this morning.”

“uhhh…” yunjin trails off trying to find an answer did her manager tell her and she just wasn’t paying attention ? probably

“that doesn’t matter.” jimin cut her off. “ I came here to tell you no funny business.”

“what do you mean ?”

jimin let’s out a deep sigh “I MEAN no funny business, no flirting, no touching no nothing, just singing, I know how you are yunjin.”

“I cannot have my best friend dating my little sister, first you’re the only thing I have that she doesn’t and also if something happens I’d be put in the middle.”

she then wraps her arms around yunjin. “ so no funny business right ?”

“yeah.”

“so what songs do you have in mind ?”

yunjin heart flutters as you smile at her.

she’s so pretty

I wonder how it would be if we were dating

“um hello ?” you wave your hand in her face.

“um sorry.” yunjin stutters as she scrambles to get her notebook, her cheek heating up in embarrassment.

“it’s okay.” you laugh, you look down at her notebook. “so, have any ideas?”

“um so I wrote down some songs like, kingston by faye, lover by taylor we could also do gorgeous by Taylor.”

“so love songs ?” you ask cutting off her rambling.

“um no..” yunjin trails off looking at her notebook. “there’s… uhh… yeah love songs.”

“sorry.”

“no it’s okay I was just teasing you.”

“you could tease me anytime you want.”

“what ?”

“huh, what ? nothing, i didn’t say anything.”

“um okay.” you laugh. “how about we do the last one on your list.”

yunjin looks at the last song and her face heats up “sofia ? are you sure.”

“I’m sure.” you say “I’ve listen to it sometimes it’s a good song to cover.”

“yea okay, sure let’s do it.”

you and her spent the rest of the next couple weeks splitting up lines and practicing and yunjin felt herself falling for you even more.

today was the day you guys actually film the duet.

“I’m nervous.” she whispers to you.

“don’t be.” you wrap your arms around her’s “we will do amazing especially you.”

wow are you trying to kill her.

“really.”

“I wouldn’t be saying it if I didn’t believe what I was saying.”

“actually.” you turn away from her and and pick up a little box. “I have something for you.” you give the box to her.

yunjin brushes her fingers over the lettering on the box Vivienne Westwood.

she opens the box to see two necklaces, obviously it was the icon westwood planets but hanging on one was a little strawberry and the other had a black star.

I’m in love could she get any better ?

“they’re for both me and you.” you say as you pick up the one with the strawberry hanging on it. “help me put it on.”

yunjin gently puts the necklace on you turning herself around implying she wants you to put hers on as well.

after you finish putting hers on, you turn her around and wrap your arms around her.

yunjin freezes.

“no touching” it’s not like I’m the one touching her so it shouldn’t matter right ?

“are you ready?” you ask her, letting her go.

“yep.”

“good.” you grab one of her hands and pull to to the set. “let’s do this.”

yeah let’s do this

the cover was a hit, fans were going crazy over not only the song choice but the necklaces ? thats what confused yunjin weren’t they just cute necklaces with charms ?

NEW JEANS YN AND LESSERAFIMS YUNJIN GO VIRAL OVER COUPLE NECKLACES.

the duo was seen in their hit cover wearing vivienne Westwood’s new exclusive couple NANA necklaces.

fans were already spiralling about the song choice but the necklaces are just the icing on the cake.

which leaves us wondering are is the yn of newjeans dating lesserafims yunjin ?

I guess they weren’t.

yn you sneaky little shit.

“YOU’RE DATING YN UNNIE.” eunchae barges into yunjin room.

“NO.”

“then why are you guys wearing exclusive couple necklaces ?” eunchae asks her facial expression says I just caught you in a lie.

ding (yunjin’s phone.)

“I’ll explain later.” yunjin pushes eunchae out her room and locks the door ignoring eunchae protests.

yunjin picks up at the phone and her heart drops.

jimin bae 😜

sofia by clairo ? couple necklaces?

oh shit

[restinslices]

Would u be down doing earth realm boys or Lin Kuei boys doing karaoke? U can write whoever you want first

It is currently 9:32am and I have not been to sleep since 6pm yesterday. I feel delusional. If something doesn’t make sense, blame that.

No

Moving on-

I’m joking but Bi-Han gives me the vibes that he only moves his arm during Just Dance and complains because “it only tracks your arm! You don't have to do anything else!”

That's not the point. Have some fun and bust a move 

If you beg enough, he just might crack depending on the day

Thing is though, he's not really speaking. He's just saying the lyrics

Y'all are also not doing this in public. This is something y'all would do at home with a youtube video in the back 

You're singing your heart out (even if you can't sing) and he's literally just speaking 

You: SLIPPING THROUGH MY FINGERS ALL THE TIME, I TRY TO CAPTURE EVERY MINUUUUTTTEEE ♫ 💃🏾

Him: The feeling in it😐

Honestly idk why you'd even wanna karaoke with him

Telling him he's killing the vibe won't work either. He's either doing it his way or not at all 

He's also picky when it comes to songs

Prefers slower songs 

Which is wild because like?? You're hardly participating 

A short karaoke session. Only does a few songs or one long one 

Only long song I can think of rn is American Pie 

And he'd pick that one specifically so he can be one and done 

Also probably picks random ass sad songs. Bi-Han I do not wanna hear that right now 

He says he doesn't like it but gets offended if you ask Kuai Liang or Tomas instead of him. He wants to be asked and say no. Don't just ask them 

Give him a little performance. He'll roll his eyes but if you don't then he'll think something is wrong 

Prefers karaoke with just you two. I know I said private beforehand but he means it. Just you two alone in a room. He refuses to do his lackluster ass singing in front of people 

However, if his mood is better than it usually is, you could talk your way into letting his brothers join. Especially if you promise he won't have to sing as much 

Yes on occasions 

It's not frequent but that's just because he's busy. Not because he doesn't like it 

Idk if he can sing and I'm not getting a certain vibe but he'll do it anyway 

Cannot do any fast songs or faster parts because he'll have an aneurism

Pulls out the most random old song his father showed him when he was younger 

Likes duets because he can sing lower than you, so he's still participating but can't be heard 

Not a short session but not necessarily long. He just gets tired at some point 

Will gladly listen to you though. Even if your voice is straight ass 

It's bonding so it's fine and you're happy 

Also does it privately but for different reasons. Bi-Han is “I refuse to let anyone hear this”, and Kuai Liang is “no one should have to suffer and hear this”

Also idk how often they leave their home for casual shit so going to an actual karaoke place is foreign to him 

Probably likes love songs as well 

Giving him or Tomas a mini concern will result in lots of laughter even if he tries to hide it at first 

He's not singing his heart out but he's not just saying the lyrics. He's doing a decent job 

Enjoys listening to you more than he enjoys actually singing because of how expressive you are 

He'll never turn down free entertainment 

Idk why but I feel like he'd wanna sit by you while doing karaoke or have you sit on his lap

I just imagine it's really cute and the karaoke video is playing on your phone while cuddled next to him 

Idk, maybe I'm just a simp for him 

I just think he's a little romantic at heart fr. Singing stupid ass corny shit while being close 

Sometimes it'd be spur of the moment. If you start, he'd listen 

It's an activity he’d be down for every once in awhile 

Willing to do karaoke the most often 

Probably feels bad for being busy so when he's not he's like “yeah totally”

The one brother to not do only slow songs 

I think he also will have an aneurism if he tries to do faster parts of a song 

But he can sing songs at a so called normal pace 

Invites his brothers to join

Probably invites the Earthrealm champions and Syzoth too. It's turning into a party 

He hardly does anything fun so he's taking advantage of this 

Is probably also cuddled next to you

It's disgusting to everyone else 

Tomas either has a very heavenly voice or a voice that would frighten the most vicious monster 

Either way, he's hitting a high note 

I don't think he's been to a karaoke place either so it's probably not there 

It honestly could be at Johnny's place. Johnny didn't kick his ass so he doesn't feel rage in his heart when he sees him 

I think he's a pop girlie

Enjoys karaoke because it brings everyone together and it's an activity that won't cause some sort of trauma or death 

Hopefully 

Maybe 

He's isolated and bored all the time 

I don't think it's frequent because his schedule but if you want to and he's free then he's down 

Also cool with private karaoke between the two of you 

Doesn't necessarily have a preference 

Probably doesn't have a favorite song either. It changes depending on the day 

I have not been able to sleep properly since last week or so. I’m losing my grip on reality 😀

[stvrchaser]

façade

( pairing ) : ben hargreeves x reader

( about ) : inspired by s3ep8 — ben wants to know what was so special about the old ben. the reader lets him know that they’re not so different.

( warnings ) : some angst, profanity

( words ) : 1800

( note ) : i wanted to write a multichapter fic but i literally can’t commit to anything so here’s one if my fav ben scenes this season! hope you enjoy! (and i’m really sorry if it’s a little specific for an x reader. i haven’t written anything in about a year and i used to strictly write x oc fics. but appearance-wise, there aren’t any descriptions, so feel free to imagine whomever you’d like)

It’s weird to see Klaus all chummy with Reginald. They’d always had so little in common, so you wonder how messed up the timeline has to be for the two of them to suddenly form this weird bond. It seems like a lot of things are different here, but that’s not your main concern right now.

Klaus is on a mission. You’ve watched him strike up a conversation with nearly everyone in the room and, not only is it killing the mood, it’s also alarming. If there was anything you learned about him growing up, it was that he couldn’t be stopped once he’d made up his mind about something. And, so far, he seems dead set on convincing everyone to accept Old Reggie into the family.

It’s a lot easier said than done.

Your eyes follow him as he walks over to Ben, alone at a table now that Allison has abandoned him. He’s sulking, more so than usual, with a plate full of shrimp and a half-empty bottle of wine. Even from across the room, you can see his brows furrow and his bottom lip jutted out. It was a classic Ben expression, very predictable considering he was at a party. He never did like big events. It’s small similarities like that you find endearing.

You watch him and Klaus bicker back and forth for a few minutes, a sense of nostalgia setting in. They used to do this all the time. You could almost pretend that this was normal, that Ben had lived until this moment, to attend Luther’s properly-timed wedding as if you aren’t waiting for the world to end. Again. It isn’t until Ben throws a shrimp at Klaus that you decide to intervene.

“Play nice, children,” you tease.

“Y/N!” Klaus claps, like some kid exited to meet a favorite celebrity or hero. “I’m so glad you could join us!” He nudges Ben’s foot under the table, a gesture he most certainly does not appreciate.

“What are you up to?” You narrow your eyes suspiciously.

“Oh, we’re just taking a stroll down memory lane. My memories, of course. Our new buddy-roo seems pretty interested in our lovely, lovely brother. You know, his more pleasant look-alike?” Ben looks like he’s about to explode.

“Klaus, play nice,” you remind him. “We’re at a wedding.”

“Oh, you’re no fun! You’re not even drunk, Y/N!”

“Well, someone has to keep you kids in line. Can’t have you setting the Hotel on fire just as we’re sucked into some weird black hole, can I?” Klaus whines.

“Okay, okay! But if I can’t have any fun, you can deal with Bitchy-Benny over there. I don’t think I’m drunk enough to deal with him for the rest of the night.”

“Well, you can’t just leave.” You try your best not to sound panicked because you do not need to be left alone with an overly-intoxicated Ben right now.

“Eh, I’ll see what Vik is up to, maybe congratulate the newly-weds some more. Oh! Maybe Five will let me sing another duet with him!”

“No, no. Klaus, please—“

“Have fun! Don’t do anything I would do!”

“You son of a—“ Your voice trails out as Klaus continues his… well, whatever he’s doing. You force your eyes away from him, ending up face-to-face with very irritable company.

Ben glares at you through half-lidded eyes, his face held in his hands.

“What?” you snap. “Is it past your bedtime?” You look around the room, hoping for an opportunity to escape. Maybe you could clean up that table over there, or help with the music selection. Five already downed half of the champagne, maybe you should get more—

“Why do you hate me?” You turn your head back so fast you think you might have pulled something in your neck.

“Why do I… what?”

“All you idiots talk about is the other Ben and how he’s sooo much nicer. You all act like he’s the best. What about me? Why don’t you like me?”

Oh, God. This isn’t happening. He couldn’t honestly be asking you to compare them, not now. Not when you’ve managed to bottle up every nasty thing you have to say about him. This was supposed to be a fun night.

“Are you serious?”

His jaw shifts and his lips press into a frown.

Oh, it’s happening.

“Well, you’re an insufferable bastard.”

“Okay, but you like the other Ben.”

“Yeah, we love him.” He whines, unsatisfied with the answer. It’s like arguing with a child who asks too many questions.

“Why? What was so special about him?”

“He wasn’t an insufferable bastard.”

“But Klaus said he was a know-it-all.” You hum in agreement.

“A smartass.”

“A scold!”

“Worse than anyone I know.”

“Like— like a dark cloud on a perfectly sunny day.” You figure he’s quoting Klaus. The description sounds weird when he says it, like imagery shouldn’t be his preferred method of expressing things. That’s unexpected, considering the old Ben loved to draw. He could see the world differently, through the eyes of an artist, something you never really understood.

“Yeah, he was always a bit emo. I don’t think he would have ever outgrown it, honestly. I mean, look at you.”

“So what’s so good about him? All of those sound like bad things.”

“Yeah, but they looked great on him.”

“He sounds like a jackass.”

“Well, you have that in common, don’t you?”

“So how come I don’t deserve what he gets? Why is it so easy to like him but not me? If he was so insufferable, what makes him any different from me?”

He’s upset. Well, he always is. But this is different. Ben sounds vulnerable and panicked. His voice sounds hurt and it feels wrong. Asshole or not, in this universe or the next, seeing Ben fall apart is just wrong.

“That was just how he was.”

“So he’s just naturally an asshole but everyone loves him anyway! How is that fair? Dad thought I was good enough to be Number One. I’m so much better than him! Why do you still like him better than me?”

Underneath the part of him that isn’t so desperate to claw his way to the top, you find something familiar. You hear the old Ben who, as a kid, was so eager to find his place — the one who hated missions with so much passion but obeyed every order Reginald had to give. It’s heartbreaking to watch him fall apart all over again when you couldn’t even do anything to help him the first time.

That’s when you feel every bad thing you’ve ever thought about him dissipate. Reginald Hargreeves is tearing Ben apart again, and you’ll be damned if you make the same mistake twice.

“It’s because you’re not Ben.”

“I know that! Everyone’s always telling me that.”

“No, I mean you’re not… you.”

“But I am! You just don’t think I’m good enough!”

“Ben Hargreeves, get that bullshit out of your head,” you say, fuming. “Nobody decides whether you’re good enough or not. Nobody but you. I meant, you’re not yourself because you’re too busy trying to be Number One. You’ve spent your entire life doing every single thing Reginald tells you to do, and you think you have to keep it up all the time. News flash: you don’t.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You have a family.” His voice gets quieter. “The academy is all a have.” Your head leans to the side, subconsciously challenging the statement. You don’t mean to, but it’s almost an instinct to prove him wrong.

“Is it?”

“Yeah, or it was. Because now they’re dead. All that’s left is Sloane and Dad, but you stole them. You… it’s just me, now.”

“They haven’t been stolen from you. They’d just rather find people who care about them than be alone. You know, you’re welcome to do the same.”

“No, I’m not. They hate me.” He mumbles. “They didn’t even invite me to that stupid bachelor party.”

“They don’t hate you. They love you. It’s just… this isn’t you. You’ve been so busy proving yourself worthy of being Number One, you stopped being Ben. And we want the real Ben, not the one who’s constantly forcing himself to be someone he isn’t.”

“But I’m not your Ben. It wouldn’t matter if Dad was here or not because I’m never gonna be your Ben.”

“You are,” you assure him, and you believe it. “You’re always going to be my Ben.”

“We’re not the same.”

“You don’t have to be!” you say, louder than you meant. “I don’t need you to be a shitty dancer or to sing in the shower like you want to shatter the bathroom mirror.”

“Good! Because I don’t!” he shrieks, outraged. Undoubtedly offended. You laugh because you know he’s lying.

“I don’t need you wipe my tears away after a bad day or let me clean the blood off your face after a bad mission. I don’t need you to buy me souvenirs every time you sneak out with Klaus or try to play every song I like on the piano by ear.”

“He did all that?”

“Yeah. He did. But I would have loved him anyway, if he didn’t.”

“Why?” His voice is desperate, pleading.

“Because there isn’t a single thing that wouldn’t make me fall in love with Ben Hargreeves.”

The silence hangs in the air, thick with tension. Ben frowns. You think the moment will end there. Maybe he’ll be offended, or worse, maybe he wouldn’t care at all.

“I would have done the same.”

He looks into your eyes, dark irises swimming with something you’ve never seen before. Not it this Ben, at least. It melts your heart just enough to flood your body with warmth. It’s like the sun peering through dawn.

“If I was your Ben, I would have wanted to do those things, too. For you.”

You let your heart bask in the moment, afraid to let go. This was, and is, Ben Hargreeves. He was the soft patter of rain above an empty house, the whistle of the wind across an open field — the reminder that life holds more than you and the isolated path you tread.

Ben Hargreeves is everything lovely about the world, and it’s a shame he’ll only grace it for the next few hours.

It is, perhaps, the greatest loss the universe will ever know.

You choose to make up for lost time right then and there, coaxing the corners of your lips into a smile. You unravel the knots in your heart and watch his face relax, a new day on the horizon.

Ben Hargreeves will spend the day getting to know love, the world be damned if you didn’t make sure if it.

“I think I would have liked that.”

[thelesbiandeli]

Just some of my thoughts on Ruth's death (including Just For Once) real quick:

So. In 'Just For Once', I am assume the main part song is from the point of view of the character she's playing, a middle-aged woman with a simple, complicated, but happy life. But the fun part comes in during the chorus, when the line 'Just for once' is actually used. From what I can infer (which may be completely wrong), these are referring to her dream of acting. How if she could just be on stage and perform without her anxiety and insecurities, just for once she could finally feel alive, and have a reason to live. (Also, it is implied that she's the only person doing lights for the Barbecue Monologues, and let me tell you, that shit is difficult. The level of dedication she would need to have to put that much effort into a production that she doesn't even get to be on stage for is incredible, seeing as she clearly isn't respected by the teacher in charge. She cares a lot about theatre.)

She kills it in Just For Once, pours her whole heart out in a beautiful combination of her characters feelings and her own, and the only person who sees it is Max. The guy who kills her minutes later. And something else, too. Richie got a death song. He got a final duet with Max before hes murdered. Ruth, who clearly cares more than anything about performing and singing, didn't. She isn't even given the chance.

She gets a horrific death (genuinely makes me a tad uncomfortable to watch with the sound effects) on the same stage where she poured her heart out for an audience of One. She had one clear dream, and by sharing it, unknowingly signs her own death warrant. If she hadn't been left alone on the stage, she would have never shared her inner feelings, but then again, if she hadn't been left alone, Max wouldn't have had the chance to kill her.

This may be absolute nonsense, but I've been listening to the soundtrack on loop and can't help thinking about Ruth. The horny theatre kid, who's true inner feelings were only known by two people. Her, and her killer.

[klbwriting]

Our Strange Duet

Chapter 9 - Seen What Was To Pass

Fandom: Red Hood

Pairing: Jason Todd x f!reader

Warnings: none

Summary: YN gets into Maroni's office and finds out more than she bargained for

Taglist: @deans-spinster-witch @amberpanda99

I should have seen what came to pass I should have known to watch my ass - The Producers

Dick, Jason, Barbara, and YN spent the weekend coming up with a plan for the aftermath of taking Maroni’s data. They would obviously take it to the cops but there was the overarching problem of how Batman would react. Jason had promised not to kill Maroni unless he threatened YN, then he was dead. YN wondered if that should scare her, but instead she felt protected, safe. Jason wasn’t going to let anyone hurt her, ever, and she loved him for that. They finally just conceded that they would let the cops handle it and if Batman came knocking, they would worry about that when it happened.

On Monday evening YN got herself ready, Jason waiting to drive her over to the Maroni building in New Gotham. He paced the front entrance, not really wanting her to do this. It was dangerous, and he couldn’t just fly in as Red Hood to protect her. He needed to drop her off and let Dick handle anything that went wrong, but he hated that. Dick didn’t care about YN like he did, what if he chose the data over her life? He felt her hand on his arm, breaking him out of his thoughts.

“Are you ok?” she asked. He looked at her and nodded. “You’re lying, but you know that this will work, everything will be fine.” She smiled at him, and he took a breath to calm himself.

“Come on, let’s get this over with,” he said, taking her hand. He drove her to the Maroni headquarters, an unassuming three-story apartment building, and she walked in like she owned the place. Which, considering who her father was, she almost did. Jason pulled the car around to a back alley, waiting for her to come out.

YN headed towards her father’s office. She knocked, knowing that if she just entered it would be suspicious, so she knocked and waited. Sal opened the door and got his sleezy smile that he always did when he saw her, like he knew something she didn’t. He moved so she could enter the room, motioning to the chair in front of his desk. She sat down and he sat on his desk in front of her, crowding her a little bit, just enough that it was obviously uncomfortable for her.

“What brings you to my office little one?” he asked as if she were still a child and not in college. She smiled at him, trying to force herself to be at ease.

“I actually wanted to ask you about my mother,” she said. This was clearly not what he expected. Just for a few moments his smile fell, and he looked genuinely heartbroken, but then he masked it, the smile pinched now. “Just, I know you were married when you met her, why would you pursue her if you weren’t able to be there for her?”

“Did she ever tell you anything about me? About how we met?” he asked. She shook her head. In truth this was something she was curious about, something she had been avoiding asking about, afraid of what the answer might be. “Your mother was a singer at one of my clubs and she had the voice of, not an angel, something better. Probably where you get that entertainment talent you have from. I found myself going to see her perform every night, pretending to be someone else. She didn’t know my real name for a long time, I finally had to tell her because my wife found out about my dalliance. By then I guess you were already made, still cooking so to speak, but it didn’t matter. Your mother was the star of the show, she wasn’t going to be letting me make her into a secondary character in my life, so she told me to take a hike and never talk to her again. So, I did. Then I found out about you and well, she may hate me, but you were what she loved, so she let me help pay for your schooling at least. Wanted you to have a good life, something I ruined for her.”

“I know, I was the reason she couldn’t make it big, can’t cart a toddler around to auditions,” YN said. She would never stop feeling guilty about that. Sal shook his head.

“Nah, little one, you were her greatest joy. She only talked to me once after I started paying for you and she told me that no stage could compare to being your mom,” he said. For a moment YN actually felt something like kinship for Sal, wondering what else he could tell her about her mom from before she was born. It was clear that she had been special to him, not some fling, not a mistake. The only mistake was her. She looked up when a call came in for him, probably Dick with the distraction. He answered, said a few hushed words and then stood.

“Do you need me to leave?” she asked. He looked at her for a moment before shaking his head.

“No little one, I’ll be back in a few minutes, we can continue this talk,” he said. He patted her head before heading out of the room. YN stood to begin her action. She went to the computer, inserting the drive from Barbara. It broke through the local firewalls and passwords and started downloading everything on his hard drive. While that worked YN looked for the harmless evidence that she could appear to be trying to steal, something to make him think she was clumsy. She opened a desk drawer and found a ledger, grabbing it, and then removing the drive from the computer. She shoved it into her inner jacket pocket, turning off the computer and riffling through the desk more.

The door opened and Sal came in, seeing her in the desk. He glared and stomped over to her, grabbing her arm and yanking the ledger from her grip. He tossed her towards the door, causing her to tumble. She made sure the drive was still in her pocket before she stood again to face him.

“Did you think you would get one over on me? Maybe give this ledger to your little boyfriend Red Hood? Or should I call him Jason, what do you call him?” he asked. YN’s breath left her lungs and she stared. That was definitely not part of the plan.

“Wha…what?” she stammered. He smirked, face full of malice now.

“You’re not the only one with masked friends and that Jason really pissed someone off,” he said. “Now, I’m going to let you go, considering I have what you were stealing, and you are still my daughter, maybe you’ll come around someday, but tell your boyfriend that if he ever wants a meeting, he can have one, I would love to see how his head looks on my mantle.”

YN walked from the room quickly, getting to the back alley that Jason was waiting in. She looked at him, face white.

“What happened?” he asked. “We had comms until you went into the office, then you were gone.” She shook her head.

“He knows…he knows who you are…Red Hood and me and you…” she said, brain scrambling to figure out how he found out. “He said he had masked friends too. That might have been a lie…he might know because of me…” She looked at him again and saw him staring straight ahead, face blank. “Jason?” He started driving. “I’m sorry, if I did this, I’m so sorry.”

“You didn’t do this,” he said, voice barely audible. “You get what we came for?” He was all business, he needed to be, or else he was going to drive right to Wayne manor and pop Bruce full of bullets. He pushed that traitorous scumbag to the back of his mind. Right now, he needed to get YN home, find out what information was on this drive, get it to the police, and then he was going to reload his guns.

[rinbowaman]

Mermaids Tale - Chapter 6 (18+MDNI)

Sorry for the errors, not proofread. Had to retype everythign in the box, same old story, but it's here! :)

Shuttering at the image across as you tried your best to engage in fruitful conversation with the two girls in between you and the man staring you down, you tried not to let his gaze bother you, yet it was nearly impossible as the crave of his desires reeked out of his sockets. Was this because he was possibly an Adam? Is he even one?

Truth be told, you were reminded of your mother’s warning from years ago the moment you felt his touch, while being nowhere near water, yet it was odd. Base off the tone of your mother’s warning, you had felt that once you did come across an Adam, being able to feel the physical touch was one indicator, but you had thought that other indicators, major ones, would also be present.

Based off the family history and your mother’s tale, the Adams, once figuring that they were immune to the abilities of the sirens, to include the Sirens Edge, they began masking their visions and killing off every single one in order to save humanity. The masks were put together with a mesh netting that would lay over the eyes, to obscure the vision of the wearer, was intentionally issued by the ruling king in order to save the Adam’s from the effects of falling into a trance, a normal occurrence after witnessing a Siren’s beauty, Yet, upon the Adam’s battling with the maidens on land and sea, the Adams discarded their masks after finding it to be too complicated to fight with the protection inhibiting their sight. The moment they freed their sights from the masks, the appeal of the Siren’s did have an effect on the clan, yet it wasn’t the same as any other man. The Adam’s found themselves infatuated, obsessed, yearning to see more of the Sirens, to protect them, to love them, and to crave them. Deciding to refrain from killing the surviving brunch, the clan kidnapped and transported the remaining Sirens back to their estate where they kept them, forcing them to issue them sons and thus, continuing their unique bloodline.

With Heeseung, if he truly was a descendant of an Adam, surely, he would have exhibited traits of the same nature as his ancestors. Indeed, he was overly observant of you, staring at you, the darkness in his eyes appeared to be without life or vibrancy as it became dull, not a spark of his soul could be seen within the black iris that decorated his face. Despite his cold and eerie demeanor, he never put forth the action to try and do anything to you. Even though it had been weeks since you last saw him at your first meeting with him at the New Year’s Eve party, you were fearful that he would have tried to follow you, find you, and even appear at your door at some point. You even went as far as to install additional locks on your front door, yet nothing had happened. So perhaps…

‘Maybe he isn’t an Adam? Maybe he’s just more intense with his reaction to our appearance, more so than the average man. If he isn’t an Adam, there definitely is something strange about him.’

You carried on a mental note as you appeared to remain attentive to Jennifer, he was conversing with you about what song she should pick out to sing at the karaoke bar.

“Y/n? Y/n?”

“Uh..yes?”

“Silly, did you zone out on me? I was asking you to help me pick out a song. I want to sing something for Jay.”

Noticing that Martha was on the floor, dancing and singing a duet with Jake, you were too engrossed in your mindful thoughts that you hadn’t realized that Jennifer was asking you a question.

“Oh I’m sorry, that damn heart burn again. Ummm….what about this one?”

As you leaned in slightly taking a closer peek at the list of songs that sat delicately on her lap, you brushed the tip of your finger along the list, pointing out to a popular love song.

“Oooh, good choice, but I’m not sure if I’m good enough to sing that one.”

“Try.”

“Should I?”

“Yes.” Chuckling as you did your best to be supportive and giving your friend the vote of confidence, you patted her on the back as you reassured her that she would be fine.

“Oh okay, but only if you sing with me.”

“Oh Jennifer, I can’t. Remember I got a sore throat, and my heart-“

“Just the backup vocals then. You don’t have to sing as the main vocalist, just be my backup singer with Martha, please?” she pouts at you while holding your hand, which you had found adorably sweet and didn’t have the heart to reinstate your claims of a sore throat and refusing to sing, thus you agreed.

‘I’ll just sing quietly and won’t be too forceful with my voice.’ You thought to yourself as you straightened your seated posture.

“Alright, Heeseung you’re next, then it’s Jennifer’s turn.”  Jay states, issuing the mic towards Heeseung, who had remained seated in his spot from where he had observed you in an overwhelming manner. His arms crossed, the man looked at Jay with a stoic expression, merely taking a second before he lifted his chin and stood up, removing his black suit jacket, he rolls the sleeves of his long, white sleeves a quarter way up, revealing the lean features of his extremities along with the veins that trailed along them. It would appear he either worked out or was in a career that required strength and agility, as the man was lean, tall, and broad at the shoulders and chest. Though the slinky white shirt he had was of a semi-thick knitted fabric, his back muscles were very noticeable as you and the girls watch him walk over to the front of the floor, with his back facing you.

“Heeseung is very handsome, isn’t he?” Martha whispered to Jennifer, ensuring that Jake wouldn’t hear.

“Not that I’m gawking or anything, I think Jake is so handsome too. It’s just Heeseung has a different type of attraction, no?” Martha once again spoke, issuing for you and Jen to put in your two cents from her inquiry.

“I get what you mean. He and Jay are similar sometimes, they both have a sharp, bold appeal. Jake is like a loveable and prince charming type. Jay can have this dangerous, and sexy appeal, but for the most part, he’s a goofy soul and I love him for it. Heeseung though, he’s always got that dark and intense attraction.” Jennifer gave a detailed account of each man’s unique attractive feature, earning a chuckle out of you as your gaze remained on the floor. Not once issuing a look back up at the man.

“What about you, y/n? What do you think?” The girls inquired.

“Hmm? Oh…I actually don’t really pay attention to that kind of stuff.”

“Oh come on! I know you don’t date but-“

“Wait, y/n doesn’t date?” Martha innocently interjects Jen as the latter’s statement caught her by surprise.

“Oh yeah, y/N is a complete loner.” Jen remarks as she chuckles while playfully holding your arm.

“Really? Oh….but you’re so….you’re like really pretty.” Martha gazes at you.

“I know! That’s what I said.” Jen remarks.

“The first time I met you at the event, I was so jealous when I saw you because I never saw anyone who looked like you before. You have such unique features. Are your parents foreign? Like, are they a unique or rare ethnicity?” Martha begins to inquire.

You merely tell a white lie and claim that your family line wasn’t of anything special, that you were just genetically blessed.

“Oh but…even your jewelry though. I noticed some of the pieces you wear….they’re like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

“Oh yeah, I was going to ask you y/n, where do you did you get that gold choker that you wore that one time we went to the coffee shop on 5th street? I really like it.”

“Yeah, I would like to know where you got your bracelet.”

The girls took turns inquiring of the subtle gold décor you graced yourself with on your outings, they were heirlooms that were passed down from the women in your mother’s family. You mentally cursed yourself for not considering that the uniqueness of their appeal was due to the Sirens digging up the lost treasures of the Spartan Island, where pieces such as these were a one of a kind, once belonging to the ancient queens and princesses of Greece.

“Oh…umm….huh. Actually, these belonged to my great grandmother, I’ve had them for a while now.”

The girls formed a pair of ‘ohs’ as they widened their eyes at the history of the pieces.

“Wow. But…I’m still shocked that you don’t date. You’ve never dated? Not once?”

“N-no…I just…you know, I get so busy, and I’ve learned to love the independence.” You tried to joke, earning puzzling smirks and looks from the pair. Unaware as you were focusing your gaze at the two girls, Heeseung, who had overheard the entire conversation as he waited for his song to be input by Jay and Jake, turns his face to the side, revealing his side profile to your direction, noticing that you were too occupied by the girls to watch him. He stares from the side, narrowing his eyes as he intakes the information you shared with the others.

“Okay man, here Jay and I picked a good song for you, we haven’t heard it in a minute.”

As the song began, Heeseung slightly smirked as he recognized the tune.

“Ah, yeah it has been a while since we heard this one, huh?” Heeseung lowly remarks.

Hearing the calm tune of a guitar playing, the girls recognize the song and exclaim how much they liked it.

“Oh I love this song!”

“Me too!”

You watched, not recognizing the song, of course, you had a different taste in music than most people. Listening in as the lights grew dim, you hear the sweet sound of Heeseung’s singing voice, which was completely different from his usual, low, and deep tone that he spoke with.

“One touch and you got me stoned, higher than I’ve ever known. You call the shots and I’ll follow-oh-oh-oh.”

‘His voice…’

There was an effect to his tone, it was soft, airy, and caressed your soul. It appealed to you, though you remained composed to not let it show as you remained seated still, your arms still crossed and the glare in your eyes continue to put up the barrier to which you hid behind.

Suddenly from your peripheral vision, you caught sight of movement. You turn your head and saw something that was familiar, yet…

“I-I…I want…”

“My…my love…”

You watched as both Jennifer and Martha began to stumble out of booth seating, practically crawling on the floor as their mouth remained parted, issuing out stuttered words of “want” and “love”. Their tone was of ultimate desire for…Heeseung?

Your eyes widened, your mouth follows suit as you witness the trance of the two, which was very similar to that of the reaction the men had to your singing voice that day at the park.

‘What…in the world?’

You broke the composure of your posture as you reach forward and grab Jen’s arm, pulling her back to look at her face.

“Jen…Jennifer, look at me.”

Your eyes widened even more the moment you saw that the pupils in her eyes were near full expansion, practically covering the entire brown color of her iris as she stared into the wide abyss. Almost as if she had a disease, her face kept turning to the direction of Heeseung, not wanting to look at anything but him.

“Heeseung stop! Stop!”

“Hold off bro!”

You hear the voices of Jake and Jay, who turn the lights on from the dimmed state, and walk over to attend the girls. Jay kneels beside Jen, gently caressing her as you carefully handed her to him, while Jake had peeled Martha off the floor, who had continued to crawl over towards Heeseung as he remained standing with his backside towards you and the girls. Her arm fully extended as if she was reaching for his feet.

Heeseung turns, wide eyed as he sighs.

“Well…I did it again…” he simply remarks. Sounding disappointed and casually tossing the mic over on the chair nearby, he crosses his arms and takes two steps towards the couples.

“Are they okay?” he genuinely inquires, while looking at the ground, seemingly guilty.

“Yeah, they’re fine.”

You observe as both Martha and Jen’s eyes began to reveal color once more as their pupils narrow back down from their dilated state.

“W-what the…?”

“Jake?...Oh Jake…”

The girls came too, yet there was something odd. They were panting, breathing hard as they recovered, but their demeanor was far from how they were before the scenario went down. Watching as they loop their arms around each man’s neck, they overflowed them with passionate kisses and whines of lust. With a yearning gaze, the girls expressed how much they wanted their respective man at that very moment, in which both, Jay and Jake, scoffed nervously in an embarrassing state a they began to remind their girls.

“Babe…not here. When we get home we-“

“No! Jay…please! I need you now. Please…please take me…”

What is this? You’ve never seen her act like this before. The woman was ovulating with the overflow of euphoric passion as she tried to initiate physical intimacy, in which Jay gracefully restrains her, reassuring that they would go home soon. Jake was doing the same with Martha, who appeared to have the same reaction as Jen.

Looking up at you from his kneeling position on the floor, as you remained on the booth seat, Jay asks if you were alright.

“You okay y/n? You seem….fine.” he remarks somewhat puzzled.

“Y-yeah…um what?” you weren’t able to finish your question as you sat pointing at Jennifer as she tightly embraces Jay, his arms wrapped around her as he rubs the back of her head.

“Oh…it’s…well.”

“Heeseung drives the girls crazy whenever he sings.” Jake issues out, somewhat laughing nervously as he gazes up at the taller man, who remained looking at the floor with an emotionless expression on his face.

“Is that so?” you remark silently, too silent. You weren’t even sure if they others heard you.

“We haven’t done karaoke in a minute, I guess we didn’t’ realize it. But yeah, he drives the girls wild, but then they always get….ready for us. Heeseung, not gonna lie man, I’m not sure if I should be angry with you or thanking you.” Jake laughs as he jokes. Jay smirks as he chuckles while resting his face against Jen’s hair.

It didn’t take but just a few moments, but Jennifer and Martha came back to their normal state. Reassuring that they were alright. Both were deeply embarrassed; it took more time for them to open back up and begin talking than it did for them to regain composure. The men had insisted that you all call it a night, but Jennifer stated that she wanted to at least sing her song before they leave. Everyone agrees and Jake inputs her song.

“Y/n…please come up with me and Martha.”

Reminding you that you were her backup singer, you swallow a gulp before standing up and walking with the two, grabbing a mic and standing off to the side. Heeseung was back at his seated spot, his arms crossed as he leaned back in a relaxed state, legs spread wide open, looking far too relaxed yet his eyes widened, and his brows raised up the moment he saw you stand and prepare to sing along with the girls.

“Alright! Yeah! Let’s go!” Jay and Jake chimed, whistling, and encouraging the three of you with their utmost support.

Heeseung tilted his head and his wide eyes grew somewhat narrow as his lids looked to be heavy all of a sudden, his shocked expression was replaced with an intriguing one as he slightly smirks, his eyes directly focused on you. Hoping that no one, especially him, would notice, your body began to tremble knowing full well that he was eyeing your body up an down.

‘Please…stop looking at me like that.’

‘I don’t know what it is or why…but something tells me you are mine.’

You turned your gaze as the song began, letting Jennifer and Martha lead the way, you stood off smiling at the pair, as Jennifer provided the leading vocals while Martha chimed in for the backing. You were supposed to be singing along with Martha but wanted to test the waters to see how much you could get away with in not participating.

Jennifer noticed you standing off, merely observing her and Martha as the two smirked and grab on to you, encouraging you to sing.

Opening your mouth, you let out a faint, a very faint tone. It was intentional, you wanted to remain inconspicuous as much as possible as you released a vocal tone that had an echoing effect within the room. Despite your best intentions, your voice was far too noticeable as Jen and Martha both suddenly stopped, nearly dropping their mics as they gazed at you with sudden awe. Had you known they were going to be so abrupt with their reaction, you would have prepared yourself to stop yet you barely realized in time as you noticed that your voice was the only one that could be heard in the room. Looking off to the side to witness the girls staring at you, the music kept playing in the background as you lowered the mic.

“Mmm…uh..” you began stuttering.

“Y-y/n….” Jen let out a breathless tone as she speaks your name.

“Your voice…”

Just then, Martha’s squeal snaps you out of an excuse you were trying to formulate in your head once more.

As you gazed at the sight before you, you witness both Jay and Jake, appearing to have the same reaction as Jen and Martha, the two were on their hands and knees as they lightly crawled over to your direction.

“A-anything…for…for you.”

“Love…love…I love.”

Their eyes were dull, their pupils fully dilated. They’re mouths fully opened as they continued to make their way over.

Issuing out a disturbed and puzzling look your way, before assessing their men, Martha and both Jen had never seen this type of reaction before.

“Jay? Baby?” Jen remarks, shaking Jay as he began to come back. Jake as well, for you had stopped singing just in time. The sudden shock of fear rises within you as you figured that, had you used your voice in full, they wouldn’t have been shaken out of the delirious state that they were crawling in.

Heeseung was standing, watching the whole thing go down when suddenly he raised his head, his mouth slowly parts open, and he gazes at you. His eyes were wide, the expression was a cross between shock and a hint of realizing something.

With the same reaction that occurred within the girls, Jay and Jake began to caress and express their desire to Jen and Martha. Overwhelmed by the sudden power of lust and euphoria, both of them had remained weak in the knees as they began ravishing the girls with their kisses.

Nervously chuckling, but also understanding as they were having the same feeling just moments prior, the girls walked their men, issuing out apologies to you and Heeseung as they prepared for their abrupt departure.

“y/N, I’m so sorry, will you be okay to get a ride back?” you waved your hand and ushered her that you were fine, as she nervously smiles while Jay pulls her in at the waist and begins to suck on her neck, in which she gently pushes him back issuing words for him to wait until they got back home. Martha and Jake were also going at it. Both the girls were extremely shock, yet pleasantly overwhelmed by the sudden and intense desire their partners had for them.

Jen had barely left the room while pushing Jay out as he latched on to her with his hands roaming her body. Just as her and Jays frame disappear from the room, you went to quickly grab on to your clutch wallet, and your coat to head out, not wanting to be in the room alone with Heeseung. Without saying a word, you reach for the doorknob, only to feel a strong pair of hands grab you from behind, causing you to drop both your coat and your wallet.

Gasping at the sudden feeling of touch, you never felt anything like this before. A pull of force, as the pair of hands gripping your arms, you stumble back as you felt the hands go from your arms to your waistline.

‘This…I’ve never felt this before. Is this what Jennifer feels everytime Jay grabs her?’

The lights in the room were still dimmed, all happening so fast, you felt a twisting motion as the hands forcibly, yet gently pushes you up against the wall, your back making full contact with the flat surface as you were forced to gaze at Heeseung who had a firm grip around your waist.

“What are you doing?” you glared at him.

Smirking as he gazed down at you with his almighty height, he speaks in a low and calm tone.

“You have a unique reaction every time I touch you.” he states.

Your eyes widened for a split second as you began to struggle to release yourself out of his grasp and to remove yourself from the wall.

“Let me go.”

“You never had a boyfriend before? Is this why you’re always so….expressive when you’re touched? Yet…when you shook Jake’s hand…or whenever Jay taps you on the arm, you barely react. They always have to say your name to get your attention. But when I touch you…”

He pauses mid-sentence as his hand grips the narrow part of your waist. He grabs on hard, and squeezes, causing you to gasp and pant with a look of fear and desire in your face. Your reaction was uncontrollable, this was all too new for you. Never had you felt anyone touch you, let alone touch you in this manner.

“S-stop…please!”

“Uh huh…when I touch you….you act like it’s the first time you’ve ever been touched.”

He leans in, his nose tip touching your cheek as your face remains off to the side, trying to look away from him.

“St-stop, Heeseung stop…”

His hands go from squeezing to wrapping around your lower back, pulling you in. Your pelvis connects with his groin as he pushes back, causing you to become trapped in between the wall and his frame. With a sweet and soft tune in his voice, he continues.

“Yeah?...Does it feel good?” His lips begin to make contact with your cheek as he gives a gentle, and tender kiss. So gentle, it was silent. Following suit, his lips remained on your skin as he gives off a slight, subtle circular motion as he exhales, making you feel the warmth of his breath as your cheek receives his fullest attention.

You refrained from answering him. It did feel good, but that’s what made you scared. Apart from never feeling this sensation before, the fact that he was doing it and recognizing the traits you displayed whenever, he, would touch you, had you panic internally.

“Let me know if it feels good…” he states, as he slips a hand underneath your shirt, causing you to gasp out your protests, which he ignored.

His cold hand swims upward, the roughness of his palm grazes your skin as he moves up, taking note that you didn’t wear a bra due to the thickness of the fabric, plus the open backside of the blouse, there was no need for you to wear one. Plus, you normally opted to not wear anything so restricting most of the time, it felt better for you, although this time, you wish you had among other things.

He breathes out a sharp exhale at noticing the lack of your undergarment, his open mouth still attached to your cheek as your face remains off to the side. You began to beg him to stop as your legs begin to tremble. With his hand under your shirt, he takes in a handful of the soft, silky soft skin that encompasses the full, round, and supple shape of your breast. Your skin was nothing like he’s ever felt before.

‘So soft…’

His mental note got the better of him as he issues a small squeeze, his thumb extending as it traces around the areola, occasionally gently flicking the nipple.

“No please! Stop. Stop! What are you doing?” You gasped out, the trembling of your body begins to move upward towards your chest, as he felt the vibration of this newfound desire you were trying so hard to resist.

“Tell me…does it feel good?” he whispers against your cheek.

Realizing that he was relentless in knowing the effect he had on you, while also catering to his desire as it was evident the man had yearned for you let alone become infatuated with your appearance, you nervously nodded while keeping your face off to the side, refusing to look at him. As you nodded, you felt the skin of his lips tapping against your cheek as he remained so close and intent on latching on to you like a leech.

“Yeah?...Keep telling me…”

He massages your breast, you started up to struggle against being trapped once more, this time, his free hand takes your hand, bending your arm in a natural state at the elbow, he pins your forearm to your back side as he grips your wrist, seemingly holding you in a wrist lock from behind. You felt the tears collecting in your eyes as you felt hopeless. The sensation was too much, it was…it felt good. But you were too scared, and far too proud to admit it since it was him.

Pinning you in a position where escape was unfathomable, his hand releases your breast as he drags it downward. The callouses on his palm scratches against your soft skin, you slightly wince as that was also a sensation you’ve never felt. Whether it was pain or pleasure, everything was all new and earned a first-time reaction from you.

“P-please…”

“I know baby, I know.”  He whispers, you had the vibe that he knew that you were pleading for him to stop, yet he responded in a manner as if he understood you differently. You’re not sure if he was being malicious or if he genuinely misunderstood, although something told you it was the first instinct.

“No…please…stop.”

He releases a long and slow gasp against your cheek with a wide-open mouth, a hint of a low growl accompanies it as you felt a chill ride up your spine. His hand continues to drag down as he makes his way to slide under your skirt, his fingertips dragging and catching against your mesh, thigh high stockings, which were connected to the black matching garter belt you wore underneath your clothing. Delight in the sexy lingerie you had on, despite you wearing it for functional purposes to avoid your stockings from sliding down, he took great delight in looping a finger onto one of the straps of your garter, pulling it away slightly, and releasing it to snap against your thigh.

“Stop!” you yelped, the suddenly smack of the metal ring and the strapping material caused a bursting reaction as it was also a new feeling you’ve never felt before.

Smirking against your skin, feeling intrigued and somewhat joyful at your reactions to everything that he was doing, he continues. Despite your pleas for him to stop.

His hand continues to roam upward, you shuddered as he becomes close to an area that you’ve never been touched before, let alone felt. Scooting your panties off to the side, he strokes the bare and soft slit in the center. You nearly screamed, the feeling it was….

Realizing that you’ve never even knew the sensation of wearing panties, having materials such as leggings, pants, or underwear rubbing against your skin, the absolute first time you experience physical touch down there, was with this man’s fingers.

You were speechless, it was so sensational. The fear within you begins to disappear as this new feeling was….you wanted more.

But you remained steadfast in your pleas for him to stop, yet he continues, deeply sensing by the way you breathed out, the way your moans softened, and the way you barely kept your face off to the side, for a split moment, you nearly faltered as you faced forward, eyeing his lips, only to turn it back off to the side abruptly, catching yourself.

“Ple-please….mmm…stop.”

“You don’t really want me to stop, do you?”

“St-…..stop….”

“No baby.”

“Please…”

Leaning his head down to kiss you tenderly at the nook of your neck. The kiss, was the sweetest you had ever heard or seen, since you opted to watch romance movies, yet you never expected to ever have one placed on you, much less feel it. It felt like the wings of a butterfly tapping on your skin, it felt so good. It was so good. You wanted to feel good some more. You wanted it. You wanted more.

‘I want more. Give me more. Uhhh…I’ve never felt this. Please…don’t stop….whatever I say please don’t listen. Please keep going, don’t stop doing these things to me. I’ve…I’ve missed out on so much.’

As you remained proud with your protests, you released your deepest desires in your mind.

His fingers stroke you, an up and down motion as he takes his thumb to perform circular movements on your clit, causing you to bite your lip. You hoped he didn’t see that, yet….he did.

“Yeah?” he places another warm, a tender and sweet kiss on your once more before moving back up to your cheek. Feeling the vibration of his voice as his lips remained on your skin, he speaks, his voice slightly muffled as he issues his words with his mouth attached to you.

“Be mine…won’t you? There’s something about you…about us….we belong together.”

Moaning, you were falling into his words. Belong? Be his? With the way he was touching you, you were finding yourself to want nothing more.

“Come with me. Be mine forever, I’m already yours. You have all of me….you’ve been having all of me. It’s been torture ever since the day I met you.”

You begin to quake, his fingers pick up the pace as you felt a tingling sensation form inside your gut, another new feeling.

“Uh….I….I” you stuttered, trying to respond, his mouth still attached to your cheek.

“God…I know baby. It gets better, I can make you feel good…so good. I’ll live to bring you joy. Come with me, my goddess…my Aphrodite….come.”

Continuously stroking your slit with his rough fingers, he relentlessly bids you to be his. You nearly cave in fully when all of a sudden you snapped back at the thought of your mother’s warning…

‘Run…y/n.’

Unsure of why the thought suddenly popped into your head, perhaps it was because you knew you were about to accept his demand…

‘Yes…I was….I can’t…I can’t do that!’

Finding any bit of strength within you, you struggled once more. Since he too was also relishing in the moment, albeit sensing you caving in, he had let his guard down and you were able to break free, pushing his hand away from under your skirt and sliding away from being trapped against the wall.

Stunned and with an emotionless expression, he merely stood there facing the wall that you were just pinned to a moment ago. You barely took any time to stay back and observe as you quickly grabbed your belongings and rushed out. Not saying a word to him.

He stood there for a moment, feeling a bit defeated yet…a small chuckle emerges from his smirk, and he tilts his head back and sighs.

“Almost…almost." scoffing as he used his thumb to graze over his lips, the sweet scent of you hitting his nose, a tint of the moisture that developed in between your folds glosses over his mouth.

'I dont know what it is...but something tells me you're mine...and you know something that I dont...dont you y/n?'

[neoflect]

sharing some of my disorganized jojo musical thoughts now that ive had a week to sit on it and ive rewatched it several times over. i intended to wait to publish something like this until a subtitled version was available, but im not seeing any indication that thats happening any time soon so for now youll have to deal with my loose interpretations from my extremely rudimentary and rusty japanese… so take what i have to say about the finer points of characterization with a grain of salt. gratuitous spoilers below obviously, both for the original source material and the changes made in the stage production

my feelings are OVERWHELMINGLY positive. of course there are things i can criticize or that i would have personally done differently but oh man… i have literally not thought about anything besides this fucking show for a week. im 100% confident in saying this is a better adaptation of the source material than the tv anime. sorry to the davidpro staff, i respect their hard work and their love for jojo and their dedication to what is by any metric a pretty difficult property to adapt off of the page, but i dont know if i can ever forgive them for leaving half of the first episode’s storyboard on the cutting room floor in order to fit a standard half-hour tv slot, especially considering that what they cut is some of the really crucial character-building stuff. happily those scenes are not only reproduced in the stage version, some of them are expanded upon!

with the quick disclaimer that i’ve only managed to get my hands on the final 4/14 performance with shotaro arisawa and yoshihisa higashiyama, from what i’ve seen the casting is perfect. i’m sure there’s a rip of the 4/13 performance somewhere (i’ve seen clips) but i haven’t been able to find one… every single performer knocks it out of the fucking park, the cast chemistry is incredible and even the minor characters are loaded with charisma. and mamoru miyano… my god… mamoru miyano i owe you an apology. i was not familiar with your game. of course hes been killing it for decades at this point but i had soured on him a little bit recently because i felt like he was overcast in everything and i just didnt connect with his dnt reinhard at all, so when the casting was initially announced back in august i was underwhelmed, and of course my standards for the dio role in particular were astronomically high… i’ll go more into detail later in the post because i have so so many things to say about dio’s characterization here but mamoru miyano’s performance is like, life-changing. i had impossible expectations and he exceeded them.

sorry if im gushing. i am a hater by nature. its unusual for me to be so thoroughly pleased with something. im not even a musical theater guy. these are strange new feelings for me.

just to balance things out i’ll talk about a couple of the things that didn’t really work for me: first of all, the music is just ok. my initial draft of this post called the music “bad” but three additional viewings later i have warmed up to some of the songs. i don’t know if this is a shortcoming by dove attia as the composer or if it’s just me, as i said i’m not a musical guy and a lot of the genre conventions of musical theatre are not really the things i look for in music that i enjoy, but like… even at their worst they are serviceable. nothing here is sonically unpleasant to me. high points are “resolve of the ripple” (zeppeli’s hamon training song, a jazzy swing number - it’s simply catchy and fun to listen to) and the closer “phantom blood” (a sweeping ballad that reprises the earlier “light and darkness”/”golden spirit” leitmotifs into an epic duet between jonathan and dio as they join hands and walk off into the darkness together… made me cry! i wont lie! on every single one of my numerous viewings this one got me misty eyed!)

wait i forgot this is supposed to be the part where i’m being critical. ok my most loathed song in the musical is “dio’s world”. sorry dio nation. it doesn’t really work for me. i think this might be a case of my standards/expectations being too impossibly high because it’s not even really the worst song in the whole thing. and of course miyano eats it up so it’s not really his fault. i just find it kind of underwhelming… i find the melody a little grating, it’s kind of just a generic rock number, it’s just missing a particular je ne sais quoi…. the essence of dio isn’t there… lyrically though i am obsessed with the premise of dio recruiting his minions by selling himself as a kind of social revolutionary who is upending and inverting the brutal hierarchy of post-industrial victorian society with zombie blood magic. you win some you lose some.

the second sticking point for me is the costumes. they’re perfectly serviceable… adequate… but i mean when it comes to jojo “serviceable” and “adequate” costume design obviously falls well below what’s expected, right? a lot of the outfits have kind of a boxy, almost flat-looking kind of unflattering fit on the actors, which if i wanted to be generous i could attribute to the challenge of bridging the gap between these frail slender musical theater twinks and the two-meter-tall 250lb roided-out beefcakes theyre meant to be embodying. (bearing this discrepancy in mind a lot of the insane martial arts stuff in the second act doesn’t really land with the oomph that it should, but i also understand logistically why this kind of casting is not practical, and all things considered i think shotaro arisawa does a really incredible job of embodying jonathan joestar even though he kind of looks like i could snap him in half over my knee like a twig. he’s very cute. so i’m not mad about it.) of course, again, logistically, i understand that in a stage musical production, where actors only have minutes to complete costume changes, some sacrifices have to be made to the creative vision in the name of practicality. nevertheless this is jojos bizarre adventure!! i want to see some fucking baubles!!!!!!

which is all to say that… after carefully considering it for some weeks… i still have extremely mixed feelings about dio’s grink ass feather bathrobe look. it’s not that i dont think its something he could wear (the concept of dio lounging around in his gothic vampire palace doing re-animator style body horror experiments on the local wildlife in this “officer i have no idea what happened to my husband”-ass nightgown is nothing short of hysterical to me) but then he wears it into combat and i felt a little disappointed… it has the same unflattering fit issue as the other outfits in the show, and it is just such an un-araki-like design… where are the gaudy color combinations? the bizarre geometric patterns? the tease of an exposed boob/thigh/midriff? erina gets a stage-original dress design that i have fewer issues with because the excessive pleats and ruffles have more of an araki-esque sensibility, but every time i look at dio’s robe it feels like there’s something missing.  i’m going to choose to be nice about it because it’s not at all a deal breaker and, again, mamoru miyano devours the look. it’s fine. it’s always fun to have a new dio outfit. if anything, the fact that the blu-rays are being marketed as “2024 cast version” gives me hope for the possibility of a future production with a new vision for the costume design. (although the fact that this was such a difficult production - with stunts and pyrotechnics and moving setpieces - that its entire first week was cancelled indicates to me that the prospects for a future production from a different company are impossibly slim. i guess there’s always hope?)

in terms of the writing and the changes that were made from the original narrative, honestly i don’t really have an issue with anything that was cut. sorry if there are any diehard stans of Poco’s Unnamed Sister out there who are steamed that their favorite minor late phantom blood character got the axe, i kind of understand how you feel because i’ve been malding over david pro cutting the Danny Lore for eleven years, but i think it was the right choice and the story flows so much better. the real juicy meat at the core of phantom blood as a narrative and the thing that brings it head and shoulders above so much of the rest of jjba is the character-driven drama - that deliciously pulpy victorian gothic family tragedy - and the relationship between jonathan and dio. the musical beefs up the character drama and slims down the action-driven second half by trimming out the extraneous battles. the only real downside i see to this is that the absence of tompetty and his prophecy makes zeppeli’s arc and death feel INSANELY abrupt, but tbf that’s not a deal breaker for me. sorry zeppeli. you were born to die.

okay. okay. i think 1500 words into the post is enough fucking around so let’s talk about the real reason why you and i both know we’re here

musical dio is SO fucking sad. he’s positively wretched, you guys. he was born in a wet cardboard box all alone and forced to eat cement when he was six. he cries even more than he does in the source material and even when he’s not crying he frequently delivers his lines as though he is moments away from bursting into tears. back when the musical first opened i was snooping on the reactions on jpn twitter and one commenter said they could see miyano’s tears and snot from the nosebleeds even without opera glasses, a remark i initially assumed was hyperbole but that i now think probably was not. araki’s dio is certainly tortured and a deeply pathetic crybaby beneath all the cruelty and posturing, but changes in the musical and miyano’s embodiment of the character bring this pathos to the fore. he is literally haunted: dario’s ghost lingers, a manifestation of all of dio’s traumas and insecurities that emerges from the recesses of his memory to taunt him with the reminder that he will always be his father’s son, all the way up until the very minute that jonathan breaks down the door to his vampire lair. i am OBSESSED with this - not only for the obvious reason that i delight in dio’s suffering personally but also because kong kuwata is a delight and he fucking kills it every time. also lends itself to a category 10 leitmotif moment at the top of the second act when dio emerges from the charred ruins of the joestar estate singing dario’s theme and calling out to jonathan - if i had to pinpoint this is probably the moment when this musical stuck for me as the Real Deal. they Get It.

the first solo number in the show is dio’s disney princess I Want song (amazingly, simply titled “dio”) where he weeps for his late mother and his wretched lot in life, and then - in a creative decision that made me clap my hands and hoot and holler at my screen in real life - there is a reprise of this number (delivered, naturally, through tears) when dio is almost arrested for murder and decides to become a vampire instead. so there’s this amazing hopeful uplifting inspirational orchestral music accompanying the onstage action of dio ruthlessly slaying jonathan’s dad and then getting pumped full of lead by a bunch of cops. it is brilliant. 10/10 no notes. it’s moments like this that i think really sell the “softening” of dio in the stage version for me, even though i am historically Not A Fan of fanworks that take a similar angle - like, yes, he is sad, but specifically he is narcissistically obsessed with the spectacle of his own suffering, he is boiling over with bitterness and rage for everyone around him who (by his own estimation) could never hope to have suffered as much as he has. this sensitivity and self-pity he wallows in are not expressions of a guilty conscience or a desire to change - they’re entirely the opposite - every cruel and monstrous deed dio commits is always justified to himself because he is simply the saddest little boy who has ever existed. he has been done wrong by the world and so there is no limit to the depravity he may reasonably respond with. i’ve seen several commenters describe this as a drastically different interpretation of the character from araki’s dio (and someone told me on twitter that mamoru miyano himself has also said this, but i cba to go digging for an actual source so take it with a grain of salt?), but i… dont think thats the case! dio’s obsession with his own weakness and his self-perception as the eternal underdog (as compared to jonathan) are certainly more exaggerated in miyano’s performance, but i don’t think this is an angle to the character that’s been manufactured out of whole cloth. the genre conventions of the stage musical force the melodrama up to eleven and dio’s incredibly repressed angst is the most rich vein to mine for that. hair-trigger sadist dio is still here, it’s the same guy, he’s still killing people mercilessly, you’re just getting to see him sing a big ballad about his feelings instead of confining those to an internal monologue.

if anything, the exaggeration of dio’s pathetic/cowardly/crybaby traits combined with his megalomaniacal aspirations and bottomless well of cruelty is just right. it’s perfect. fucking around, finding out, and then trying to weasel his way out of the consequences with crocodile tears just so you don’t see him drawing his knife to cut you clean open… yeah. thats the stuff. thats my one true blorbo. sad to say i will love him for ten thousand years.

i think that might be all i have to say… or at least all i feel like saying here… most likely ill come back and edit this post later. i certainly have some additional thoughts and some more esoteric/controversial takes but they’re not suited for a public blog. real ones will understand. im keeping my eyes peeled for somebody to translate this thing but to be frank i am kind of enjoying this little corner of fandom as it is right now: just the asians and the true hardcore phantom blood phreaks. i have not had this much fun in jojo fandom in almost a fucking decade. as soon as somebody publishes an english version my timelines going to get flooded with all the most deeply annoying “kono dio da” “speedwagon waifu” reddit guys and 15 year olds and my suffering will proceed. unfortunately this is my lot in life and i am doomed to be here forever because dio put a worm in my brain

[gojoed]

This scene with Legato, I have never really been able to understand if it meant anything beyond the scenario that was unfolding in the episode (Nicholas fighting Livio). But I think I have now.

Legato’s words somehow feels targeted to Knives specifically. “It has long been time to give up on your little brother. You must finally learn to accept reality.”

Those words just struck me. Knives is portrayed as the twin who’s more “mature” and not as soft-hearted as his little brother Vash. But if you really think about it he was the one who was the most childish between the two.

He never wanted to see beyond what humans had done to Tesla in fear of being betrayed again. He idealized humans far more than Vash did, Vash already accepted that humans aren’t perfect and there is good and bad but Knives had gotten his fear of humans from Rem. She was always worried about what would happen to them.

Knives also very childishly held onto the idea that all humans are bad, that they’re all the same and selfish and that they never look beyond their own nose. Up until he was killed, Knives wanted Vash’s gate. He died for it. The fight that ensued after Vash broke free from the tank was literally a fight between siblings, brothers. 

Knives was the one who was letting his emotional turmoil unleash and it portrays in how he desperately wanted that cube. His expressions during that fight looks down right like a child throwing a tantrum.

Vash bit him, like siblings do when they fight.

Knives also stubbornly never let Vash go, not truly. Sure they went separate ways for 150 years, but not really. Only distance wise. They’re on the same planet, Knives knew he had nowhere to go, he’ll always be within his reach. He learned Vash’s part to the duet, he plays it with such rigor it’s as if the song is the embodiment of how Knives just completely longs for Vash to be by his side again. He longs for Vash but refuses to accept that they will never see eye to eye.

It has long been time to give up on your little brother. You must finally learn to accept reality.

[joyburble]

Chrysalis Gown

I think this first appears in Episode 14. It's in-between some scenes with the Honey-coloured gown, during the early process of transformation. This one seems to be for more formal, business occasions.

We get a well-lit view of the absolute bunfight of colours and patterns going on here. The shirt is particoloured, in red and green, both woven with gold in identical patterns, and cut and pieced together in this high, tight, stiff collar.

It bothered me that the patterns don't fit together at the neck at all well. I felt like something this magnificent should be pattern-matched more harmoniously than it is, with that seam between red and green in such a prominent place at least trying to look more symmetrical. The outer gown looks green here, with a sort of damask needlecord texture. In most shots it looks black.

The outfit returns in Episode 26, by which time we know that the consequences of the transformation have hit. We get a nice view of the structure here. The visible parts are the undershirt or tunic (actually two different ones), a very full pleated skirt, a splendidly gold-patterned wrap-around robe that's very tightly fitted to the waist and emphasised with a belt, and then this spectacular gown that might be green or black, with the giant explosions of gold embroidery. And an asymmetrical gold crown.

It's his most magnficent outfit, far more visually intimidating than the black-and-gold fighting gown he wore in Episode 9, and he wears this repeatedly when he knows his actual power is severely weakened.

The gold edges of the gown seem to be made of thousands of tiny sequins, and they're not just gold, there are hints of green to give it depth - and the gold extends beyond the pattern, like dust.

There are actually two different shirts. The red-and-green one in Episodes 14 and 27, and this black-and-gold one in Episode 26 which is a different colour of the same pattern, with no red-and-green pieces, less tightly fitted to the neck, and pieced differently. You can see almost all of the V shape and the little plant shape in the lower part of the pattern, which you can't in the red-and-green.

I think this is an error, because the next scene is supposed to be a direct continuation of the scene above, but we go back to red-and-green. You have to look hard to notice it though.

The texture of the gold on the gown is amazing. The effect in a shot like this is to make the hands look incredibly delicate and insubstantial.

He wears this outfit, with the red-and-green, for the qin duet with absolute madlad Changheng in Episode 27. And to fidget huffily and keep quiet while XLH dumps Changheng immediately after.

This is the scene where I reflected that if he was going to kill anyone, he'd be wearing the Hunting Dress. So this is what he wears when he wants to intimidate, and would probably prefer deadly violence if it were up to him, but can't or won't actually do anything but glare.

What a wonderful look for going on a date and being horribly, horribly embarrassed about it. Look at the gold on the inside of the sleeves! The sleeves of the outer gown seem to be lined with gold.

And the confession to Xunfeng.

At the end of Episode 28, he wears this to experiment with stubborn self-destruction:

And it stays with us through the whump scene, during which the crown symbolically falls off, and we get a good look at the texture. Like all his crowns and armour, it looks like something that grew on a tree, possibly as a result of insect attack. It's much prettier than the ones the fairy tribe wear. I'd like to know how this was made.

then the triumph:

And the disaster. Where we glimpse how heavily patterned the train is. The pattern makes it look as though it belongs to the robe underneath, but it's hanging straight from the shoulders, and we saw the robe has a belt, so I don't quite understand the structure here.

I call this this Chrysalis gown because it reminds me of the splendid protective costumes that certain butterflies and moths put on while they are tearing themselves apart and remaking themselves into a totally different shape.

Which seems to be the point, so perhaps the rather eye-watering pattern bunfight and the way none of the patterns fit together at the neck, are exactly as they should be.

The DFQC costumes master post is here.

[atamascolily]

Thunderbolt Fantasy ships, summarized

Lin Xue Ya/Shang Bu Huan - The inherent eroticism of fucking your narrative foil--simultaneously your opposite and complement. More importantly, it's about sexualizing that old man and annoying the hell of out him at the same time.

Lin Xue Ya/Sha Wu Sheng - These two have everything: history, chemistry, betrayal, graveyard drinking dates, and a promised rendezvous in the afterlife. Also, bird themes.

Lang Wu Yao/Shang Bu Huan - If "I would go to the ends of the earth for you AND kill anyone who looks at you funny" makes you feral, this is the ship for you. Bonus: Ling Ya as the sassy wingman.

Lang Wu Yao/Lin Xue Ya - The man who never talks and the man who can't stop talking. Rivals to hatesex to a threesome with Shang, what's not to like?

Lang Wu Yao/Mu Tiang Ming - Is there anything sexier than a duet to the death? I thought not.

Mu Tian Ming/Shang Bu Huan - Lang clearly thinks this is a thing, but IDK?? Make it a threesome and everybody wins.

Shang Bu Huan/Wan Jun Po - The Xi You Hot Dads Squad and old man yaoi at its finest. The inherent tragedy and drama of two morally upstanding people ultimately driven apart by whether the ends justify the means.

Dan Fei/Juan Can Yun - Canon. I'm not the first person to make this joke, but it's true: "She's everything. He's just Ken." Utterly adorable.

Dan Fei/Xing Hai - A cleric dedicated to fighting evil and a demon necromancer whose greatest wish is to crush humanity like a bug. A crackship with surprising potential. Please, tell me more!

Lin Xue Ya/Xing Hai - Technically canon in the light novels, where he tricked her into falling in love with him before humiliating her. No wonder she hates his guts--he's the ex-boyfriend from hell who shows up on her doorstep to ask for a favor.

Xing Hai/Juan Can Yun - This may have actually happened in S3 and neither party is happy about it.

Lou Zhen Jie/Seven Blasphemous Deaths - Another canon ship, this time between a nihilist ex-monk and his evil sword wife. I love that this show asks "Would you really love her if she was a worm a sexy demon lady?" and LZJ's response is "HELL NO". They deserve each other.

Lin Xue Ya/Xiao Kuang Jun - These two fucked at least once in S2, I don't make the rules. How else am I supposed to read Xiao pinning Lin to a bed followed by an immediate cut away, and him leading Lin around the countryside on a leash? There was motive and opportunity, and it's a punishment for both of them for wildly different reasons.

Lang Wu Yao/Xiao Kuang Jun - Remember, Xiao was the one to "discover" Lang and was his first patron at the Xi You court. Make what you will of this.

Lang Wu Yao/Chao Feng - Adding sex to their canon relationship would change almost nothing, but since when has the yandere murder princess ever cared about ethics and boundaries?

Lang Wu Yao/Xing Hai - A crackship for now, but you never know… they were last seen in each other's company.

Xie Ying Luo/Therapy - This woman is not ready for a relationship right now, she needs to find herself and make better life choices. Talking to Di Kong does NOT count!!