#the great sage is a name he claimed

[onceuponanaromantic]

the great sage (avoiding the horses’ plague)

(written for @flashfictionfridayofficial​‘s prompt: FFF167: Leap of Faith. Not related to anything else I’m working on, but a resurrection of a very old story idea I never finished! Title, quite literally, Sun Wukong’s. Enjoy!)

While there is rather less green and quite a bit more grey, he could see why the humans called cities concrete jungles.

             He cackled, throwing himself into a backflip off the streetlamp steel to land on a windowsill. The lamps cast his shadow upon the pavement as he flew, the remaining leaves rustling off branches as he flew. Autumn had always been his favourite time of year, more so now that the Jade Court had bigger things to worry about than his eminent self.

             Wukong had thought they had forgotten him, to his indignation. What a horror, to be forgotten! Him, the great monkey god! He had angrily climbed a taller specimen of those buildings the humans had constructed in his absence, only to reach the garden to loud shrieks. It rather turned out that they hadn’t forgotten him, but rather were struggling with bigger issues. Such as getting humans to believe in them again.

             He hadn’t quite got their meaning, but apparently, in his absence, there had been a deep erasure of their existence in favour of some other god. He gathered it had been violent and rather miserable, judging by the exhaustion in the farmer’s eyes and the shudder in the tails of the animal spirits he had come across. The forests fluttered sadly to him, the great peach trees of his home mountain reaching joyfully, if fearfully towards him. He had searched, almost frantically, for his old compatriots, the great monkeys of the Mountain, the great rulers of the hill in his absence.

             He felt the fear grip his heart, and he understood why they no longer worried about him.

             He had found the daughter of a daughter of one of his old advisors. She looked upon his face, fingers reaching gingerly to his staff and the family marks upon his fur. He remembered the way her great-grandmother laughed arrogantly as she threw gods out from the mountain for daring to disturb her rest, and his voice shuddered as he asked her where the rest of them were.

             “They hide.”

             He had felt a surge of revulsion. What was there to hide from that the mountain could not protect his own? But she had only nodded solemnly, her fingers clenching the same way her ancestor’s had.

             “I stayed here to wait.”

             And so she told him the story of how the monkeys had gone out, mischief used to defend their forests using mist and the warm waters of streams flowing out from the rivers. But the rivers had dried and the forests burned, and one by one, they had stopped responding to her messages. The forest itself poisoned and the rivers stinging where they once soothed, she told him the story of how her family had been chosen to remain as the strongest and wisest.

             The waters of time had long since taught him not to rush off impulsively as the anger, fear, and grief warred in his heart. If he had been younger, he would have drawn his staff immediately, surged off in a burst of wind to the forests to seek out his monkeys. But age had told him to wait and research. To learn more about this new world, to listen to the spells the human now cast, the whispers of the forests until he learnt how best to help those he considered his.

             It hadn’t been all gloom. She told him proudly of her younger sister picking the freshest apples from the conqueror’s banquet, throwing them into the air and disappearing in a laugh. She told him of her partner’s twisting the river to throw the humans off balance as they tried to sail down it, calling the current to his will. She told him about her own visit, leaving her young daughter in charge, to the Dragon of the East River.

             “Does his palace still miss its pillar?” He asked, laughingly.

           “He remembers you. And so does his palace.” Hetao said, responding with a smile of her own.

             And he had talked the night away, staying and resting for weeks until he had been ready to reenter the city.

             It helped, of course, that he had always been drawn to mischief. He looked at the arching neon sprays of paint across school walls and added rude points of his own. He stole important documents from offices, folding them into flowers and scattering them in mounds across the ground. He threw himself into the air, again and again, seeking the same joy he had once felt in it. He shifted form, bird, fly, mosquito, lion, human, and then monkey again, tricking swans as he dove into lakes as a fish before taking flight.

             Wukong sought out the warriors of this time, his staff in hand as he kicked and slashed through fights. He bowed after, of course he did, and he always held back his strength, but it was always just a little bit not enough for him.

             He tricked other spirits and demons, but it was no fun.

             And all this, he did while he waited, while he learned how to craft an identity for himself to live in this world as he did his research. He learned the new mediums for trickery, shifting himself as easily as he did while alive. It was a fascinating experience, as he remembered fondly how he first learned to shift between forms, as he applied those same lessons to learning new things.

             No one believed in his name, but it was no bother. They invoked him casually, teenagers bored out of their minds while stuck in their homes. He deigned to respond sometimes, sparks of magic that shorted out the capillaries of electricity to their places, sudden colour changes to plain facades. But he had learned to listen, and so he did.

             What use is constantly leaping, after all, if you don’t know what you’re jumping into?

[draconic-desire]

DD’s Yandere Poll Series: Surviving the Yan!Penacony Boys (based on this post)

Rules/warnings: Read the below scenario and pick your answer or comment your own reaction. Dark content ahead!

Incident #3 — The Interrogation

Bright light floods your vision, eliciting a hiss as you repeatedly blink to regain your senses. Shielding your eyes is useless; your hands are pinned tightly behind your back, your wrists already starting to throb.

Once your eyes adjust, you find yourself tied to a chair, arms and legs bound to the wooden frame with thick rope. A few tugs and attempted kicks lead you to quickly relent that your bindings aren’t budging.

Shaking the fuzz from inside your head, you examine your surroundings.

While most of the room is cloaked in shadows, your chair is illuminated with a bright spotlight, highlighting the laminated flooring beneath your feet. Directly in front of you stands a long bar, perched upon a podium to elevate any individual behind it. The room is completely bare otherwise, giving a cold, clinical appearance.

How in the Aeons’ names did I end up here?

“Ah, you’ve finally regained your senses.”

You jolt, the voice to your left sending gooseflesh across your skin. It’s deep, full of condescension and authority, and almost certainly male. Sweat trickles down your neck.

Confirming your suspicions, a tall, muscular figure steps from the shadows beside you.

Your already rapid heartbeat skyrockets. Despite his scowl, the man is undeniably handsome—golden eyes to complement his dark purple locks, full lips and strong, toned arms on display thanks to his single-sleeved attire. You’d typically be blushing as he grips the back of your chair with one arm and leans down close to your face, if it weren’t for the unwelcome and compromising position you’re in.

You struggle to swallow. “I—um, sir, there must be some mistake—”

“You are (Y/n) (L/n), are you not?” he interrupts. His breath, minty with a touch of sage, tickles your nose as he closes the gap between the two of you even further.

“Um, yes…?” You cringe at how pathetic you sound, but really, how else are you supposed to react when a stranger has you apparently kidnapped and tied up?

The man rolls his eyes. “Come now, at least admit to your own name. If you can’t do that, how can you own up to the consequences of your actions?”

Head spinning, you ignore the fact that you think he just implied you’re stupid to instead focus on his latter comment. Despite your situation, you can’t help the spark of indignation that rages in your chest. Maybe that’s what makes you stupid: your sharp tongue. “Excuse me? Consequences? Are you lecturing me? And how do you know my name? Who even are you? Why am I here?”

Tilting his head slightly, the man lets a subtle smile pull at his lips. “Finally asking the right questions.” He stands and paces behind the podium in front of you, appearing like a judge presiding over court.

“My name is Dr. Veritas Ratio, and you, (Y/n), are my wife.”

You jerk back like you’ve been hit. That is certainly not what you were expecting.

A startled laugh escapes you. “I don’t have a husband.”

Ratio hums in response, jotting down something in a book he pulled from his robes. “And what is the last thing you remember before you woke up here?”

“Woah, woah, are we just going to glance over the fact that you’re claiming we’re married?!” you shout, panic creeping into your bones. So not only have you been kidnapped, but the individual holding you is also insane. Great. “I’ve never seen you before in my life!”

A deep sigh fills the room, followed by the sound of lead scratching against paper. A low mumble that you can barely discern contemplates, “Perhaps the dosage was too high this time? Such an amnestic response is unusual… Could a physical stimulus be required to invigorate her hippocampus?”

The damn man is treating you like a science project!

Before you can retort, he pulls out two small vials of liquid, both no larger than your thumb. He sets them down on the table before you and gestures to each individually.

“You now have a choice. Drinking this,” he motions to the right, at the vial possessing a golden liquid flecked with sparkling, iridescent particles, “will restore your memories. You’ll remember me, and everything that led up to this point.”

Remember him? Did he drug you into forgetting, and this was the next step in his experiment? If what he claims is true, why would a husband ever do that to his wife? Your head throbs.

“Or, choose this vial,” he points to the lefthand bottle, a concoction so dark it mirrors the midnight sky, “and you will forget everything and get to walk out that door shortly after.”

Your eyes narrow at him. Surely there was some sort of catch. His language was too vague to be of any comfort at all.

“Why are you making me choose at all? This all seems like one really fucked up joke.” You tug at your bindings again, letting out a growl of frustration.

Ratio pinches the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “You’re lucky I’ve grown so fond of you that I can overlook your insipid questioning. You will choose.”

“And what happens when I do? Surely it’s not as simple as remembering you or being freed. You don’t seem like a man who would go to all the trouble. What’s in this for you other than forcing me to be your little lab rat?”

After a pregnant pause, Ratio clucks his tongue. “Fine. I suppose it doesn’t matter if I give away the answers. You’re clearly not thinking straight.” He places his notebook down and picks up a vial in each hand, holding the small things between his thumb and index fingers.

“The gold bottle here will completely restore your memories. You want to know the whole truth about us? How you ended up in this room? Why it’s not the first time we’ve had this conversation?” Your breath hitches; what did he mean not the first time. “Then drink this one. It will probably give you a leg up, since you’ll recall all those past times you tried oh so fruitlessly to escape me.”

He then raises his opposite hand as your horror builds. “Alternatively, this vial will completely wipe your memories, but only of me. You’ll recall everything about yourself, your life, hobbies, et cetera…but in doing so, you will be helpless the next time we meet. You will have no defenses, and one way or another, you will be my wife again. That much has already been proven true.”

The floor falls from underneath you. Aeons, how many times have you taken that midnight liquid? How many times have you been in this very scenario, drugged into forgetting him, only for him to court you time and time again. Clearly you must reject him each time, but he’s so lost in his obsession that he has to reset you each time you try to flee. The thought makes you immediately nauseous.

Despite your dry throat, you manage to croak out, “And if I refuse to take either?”

Ratio’s expression darkens, his chin tipped up haughtily. “Don’t test my patience, (Y/n).”

You gulp, eyes flicking back and forth between this two hands. You must choose.

[dxstopiaa]

Close Confinement

Synopsis: Party games were a great way to pass the time, but seven whole minutes with the scribe himself? [Request]

Characters: Al Haitham x Fem! Reader.

Warnings: NSFW content, interact at your own risk. [Includes: Soft sex, Virginity loss, semi-public sex, praise, pet names] [it took me a while to write this, but i hope you like it! <3]

Boring, tiresome and irrelevant.

The trinity of words which circulated the young post-graduate’s mind, all to describe the topic of socialising and parties. If it was up to his own decision, Al Haitham would’ve rejected the offer in less than a second. However, it was not.

Duties and desideratum of the Akademiya’s students, he was told. According to many of the matra, there was a high demand of past students requesting a sort of reunion— a celebration, as illustrated on the infamous community message board.

In short, the Acting Grand Sage had no choice but to cater to their desires, hence the situation he found himself in. Snapping back from his thoughts, he glanced back at the venue he had organised, half proudly, half nonchalantly. Not too bad for the first try.

Of course, with the help of his rather irritating roommate, who wasn’t as insufferable when he had something to occupy himself with. Kaveh stood expectantly beside the Scribe, tapping his pen on his pale lips, surveying the checklist he had prepared. The quiet hum which left him already told he was satisfied enough.

One topic that Al Haitham didn’t see on aforementioned list was guest entertainment, something that he ignored in hopes of not having to deal with it. Spoiler from his future self— that approach did not go to plan.

Instead, the Acting Grand Sage found himself musing over you, who currently sat opposite from him. That sweet, soft-hearted girl who always greeted him so kindly, always keen to listen to his theses and reports with such attention. Even now, you just looked too cute for the most stoic of men to ignore. The Scribe would gladly play any silly game to amuse you.

“Al Haitham, just spin the bottle already!” Cyno groaned, wanting nothing more than to get this stress-inducing situation over with. A series of agreements from the other two graduates followed. You merely stared at him with anticipation.

He’s changed a lot, you thought. Appearance wise, his silver tresses were more the shade of oxidised metal, not to mention his muscular physique, just how much has he undergone in recent years? Still as nerdy as ever though, another book resting on his lap.

The ashen-haired scholar scoffed—smoothing his fingers over the virescent glass, pushing it into a spinning motion. Friction worked its magic, slowing down till the neck of the bottle faced directly towards you.

The group immediately began snickering, observing your cheeks redden, putting the ripest of berries to shame. You looked up again, witnessing the smug expression of success on their faces. The tension between you both was overpowering, about time they did something about it.

“That settles it then! Go on..” Kaveh coerced, pushing the both of you into a poorly-furnished conference room to the left of the lounge and locking the door from the outside.

Cliché. Was this a punishment or rather a reward from the gods?

Al Haitham didn’t know what to do with himself. This wasn’t like him at all to be thinking in such ways but— Archons, your dress barely covered your thighs from him.

You were biting the insides of your cheek, averting your eyes to anywhere but him, despite only being a few inches away. You’d understand his actions soon enough, hopefully.

He cupped your face with his palm, brushing away stray strands of hair that obstructed the view of your precious eyes. Your breath hitched, leaning into his gentle touch. He pulled you in closer, intending to wordlessly claim you as his own.

“May I?” Al Haitham pleaded, his piercing, turquoise irises tainted with affection. His voice was quiet— almost strained, like he was afraid of rejection, something you’d never do to him.

You hastily nodded your head, wrapping your arms around his neck. He kissed you delicately, a faint taste of sweet wine still left on his lips. The Scribe trapped your body against the wall, pulling away just to kiss you again at the sight of your smudged lipstick. His mouth trailed down to your neck as his hands did to your waist.

His touch was hypnotic— your mind was hazy and overcast with him, countless dreams of this years ago now enacted in-front of you. His hands travelled further, grasping onto the underside of your thighs and wrapping your legs around him to stand comfortably imbetween them.

Al Haitham was curious as to how you’d react. Would you be quiet and anxious, rarely moaning and instead gasping? Or would you be vocal, crying his name out at any given moment? He traced a slender finger over the front of your panties, observing you squirm into his touch.

“Haitham…” You muttered, a flutter of butterflies swarming deep within, each flickering motion of a wing seeming to spur a different emotion. Desperation, apprehension and lust.

“Yes, darling?” He continued to skim over your clit underneath the fabric, clouding your thought process over. You reached to cover your mouth, whimpering into your own hand.

“I haven’t done this before—” You whined upon feeling his clothed erection press up against you, needily rolling your hips against him. Your face flushed from the confession and the sinful noise you let out.

“I’ll be gentle, angel.” The Scribe comforted, which felt strange for him to utter such words. Anyone who knew the scholar would be aware of his abrasive, arrogant nature— but his heart followed no limits when it came to you.

And gentle he was, softly pleasuring you with skilled fingers, coaxing angelic sounds from your pretty, hesitant lips. Al Haitham wanted nothing more than to see them swollen and wet from kisses. A few seconds later you were essentially begging for his cock, palming his crotch with your inexperienced hand.

Your pleads were just adorable, who was he to deny you of what you wanted? With his fingers wet with your slick, he slid them over his flushed tip. It was quite the confidence boost for you to exclusively see the Acting Grand Sage deteriorated to this mindless state.

He prodded at your pussy, barely even managing to hilt himself with you clenching so tightly, hearing your timid sobs from the stretch, tears forming in your eyes.

“I know, darling, try to relax for me…” Al Haitham amorously whispered, planting short-lived pecks on your forehead whilst he massaged your thighs softly, giving you a few moments to adjust before beginning to move.

The feeling of his girth dragging against your insides was a simultaneous sensation of pain and pleasure. You struggled to restrain yourself, opting to bury your face against the scholar’s chest. With each prolonged thrust, your brain struggled to comprehend anything else.

“You’re doing so well, angel.” Al Haitham could feel you squeezing around his cock at his words, murmuring how it was all too much for you, phrases adjourned by blissful moans. You were close, those erotic grunts from his ajar mouth did nothing but worsen the tingling in your lower abdomen.

A final firm thrust and you finished around his cock, gripping onto him so much that he came inside of you. Your sublime expression so innocent, eyes half-lidded in euphoria. The Scribe pulled out, letting you stumble against him for support.

“So good for me, let me clean you up, sweetheart.”

The long-forgotten graduates were still at the very same table, entertaining themselves with numerous glasses of alcohol and a card game of the General’s choice. It’d be a complete lie if they were to say they hadn’t had a clue about your prior predicament.

The lipstick stains over Al Haitham’s face and neck, his dishevelled hair accompanied with your dress creased and legs still trembling from implied events— all telltale signs of something more explicit.

“It’s called seven minutes in heaven, not thirty minutes making your neighbour’s ears hell!” An embarrassed complaint from an even more ashamed blonde, flicking a card at his chuckling roommate.

[buckybarnesb-tch]

can you pls do some human viking klaus content🙏

Human!Viking Klaus M. HC’s

Thank you to everyone who gave me recommendations for a name for Klaus’ sword, a lot of them were things from HotD including the Dragons names for some reason but IMO Drogon would be an awesome sword name😆 In the end I took a few words from names given and went with it

•Niklaus is a huge show off for Y/n from the first moment they met as children and it only gets worse as they grow older

•It used to be things like how he was faster than the other boys or stronger, or how much farther he could swim but as they grew he got more and more bold when showing off. He grew into a great swordsman and showed off while dueling Elijah who showed off for Tatia himself, until Mikael came along anyway

•Niklaus always loved to show Y/n his paintings from the time he was a boy and she marveled at them, especially as they got better and better the older they got

•Y/n would often find him different colored flowers when she traveled to other villages with her father, he loved how she thought of him and got a kick out of her bringing him flowers

•Y/n’s parents, Harald and Elli, loved Niklaus and her father was more than happy with the idea of the boy marrying her if he could get the guts to ask for her hand which he eventually did

•His father hated the idea of the two of them together as she was a beautiful girl, untainted, well behaved and the daughter of a strong, rich and important Viking (that Mikael seemed to have a bit of a man crush on). Mikael considered it a waste, Niklaus having her which is why he attempted to get Finn to court Y/n instead, it was a huge relief to both Klaus and Y/n that Finn had absolutely no interest in that

•Niklaus and Finn covered for each other, pretending to be with each others girls so that Niklaus could spend time with Y/n and Finn could be with Sage who both Mikael and Esther hated

•Niklaus loved that his future wife wasn’t the prim and proper Viking girl that everyone seemed to dream of for some strange reason and he found himself entertained when she did unladylike things such as his love tripping Tatia in the village once for flirting with him. According to Y/n she was clear to the beautiful girl about how her face wouldn’t be beautiful much longer if she kept up her flirting with not just Niklaus, but anyone other than Elijah if she was serious about the kind man that Y/n already considered her big brother (Elijah never told her how much it had meant to him but he adored her for it upon realizing that Tatia had stopped flirting with other men that very day)

It was a welcome change from Niklaus constantly ‘staking his claim’ on his girl whenever a new man took a liking to her, though Niklaus knew she loved how jealous her strong Viking man was when it came to any other man so much as looking at her too long

•Niklaus had been trying to find the right time to ask Harald to marry her for a long time, however he was nervous. While he knew that her father liked him, he still had his doubts and worries that he would say “no”, especially if he had spoken to Mikael who Niklaus knew didn’t want him and Y/n together. It wasn’t until Kol told him of one of his friends older brothers who had taken a liking to his girl in the last few weeks now that she was 16 and officially old enough to marry (in her fathers eyes since technically she had been able to marry since she was 12 but both Harald and Elli refused). As soon as Kol had told him of the conversation he had heard between his friend and his older brother Joran, Niklaus was running down the path to Y/n’s home.

‘Niklaus! Where are you off to so quickly, son?’ He hadn’t even had to announce himself, finding Harald outside, sharpening his sword.

‘I was hoping for a word with you sir, if you’ve got a moment?’ He looked up from the blade with a knowing smirk on his face and Niklaus knew, he knew her father knew exactly why he’s here.

‘Of course, my boy. Been waiting quite some time for this conversation, I was sure it was coming. You actually took longer than I expected. Go ahead.’ He couldn’t say he was shocked, Niklaus knew Harald was aware of his feelings but he also knew that Niklaus would never do anything to harm or dishonor his daughter so he didn’t seem to worry about him being around her. Unlike most fathers who would be concerned about idiot boys wanting nothing more than to get under their daughters skirts, Harald knew that Niklaus would never touch his baby girl while they are unwed (at least no more than the hand holding they had already done that had his baby girl blushing up a storm for the rest of the evening after they had parted the first time). Niklaus would never put a stain on her name like the one that Tatia carries around since spreading her legs for a man who abandoned her the moment she learned about the baby. Her father also knew that even if something happened between them, Niklaus would never leave Y/n alone, he could see how much the boy loved his daughter and no matter what happened, that’s all he wanted for his baby girl.

‘Sir…I love your daughter…I love her and I-I want to a-ask you for her h-hand.’ He took a deep breath, trying to calm his stuttering before continuing. ‘I admit, I don’t have much but I can provide for her every day. I will take care of her, and our children, as many as she will give me, I will keep them safe and not a day will go by that your daughter and grandchildren won’t know how much they are loved…I’m asking you to please, allow me to marry your daughter?’

Harald stared back at Niklaus for several long moments before his face broke out into a grin and he turned his head towards his home. ‘Y/n! There’s a man here that’s asked for your hand and I’ve said “yes”! Come meet your husband!’

‘What?! Father! I have told you I-‘ Y/n was cut off as she turned the corner to see her best friend staring back at her with a hopeful look in his eyes as he waited for her reaction. While it is her fathers prerogative to marry her to whoever he chooses, if Y/n didn’t want him then he would, of course, retract his proposal. However it didn’t seem like he needed to as she charged him and leapt up into his arms with a grin and contagious laughter. ‘I didn’t think you would ever do it, I’ve been waiting months!’ She glared, fake anger on her sweet face.

‘My apologies, Princess, I will never make you wait again. You’re all mine now.’

•It was actually later that very same day that Joran came to speak to Y/n’s father only to find Niklaus with his arms wrapped around her as they discussed the feast for their wedding, knowing it needed to be large as the party would probably go on well into the night (whether they were there or not)

•The idiot actually waited until Y/n was alone and tried to sway her from her wedding with Niklaus. He tried making a case that he was his Fathers oldest son while Niklaus was just a middle child, he tried getting her to believe he was the stronger of the two of them and that he could protect her better. Y/n couldn’t be swayed in any way and it wasn’t a moment after he realized that that he found himself sprawled out on the ground with his nose gushing blood and a smirking Niklaus standing over him ‘The next time you come anywhere near my wife, a bloody nose will be the least of your concerns…get out of my sight.’

•Niklaus’ siblings were all very excited about him getting married, especially Rebekah who was thrilled to be about to have a sister. Elijah, Finn and Kol all helped Klaus in building their home for his wife as a wedding gift and his parents were immediately unhappy that their new home was both, bigger than theirs (a home that they had forced 6 children to live in their entire lives) and closer to Y/n’s parents than to them

•From the moment Elli found out Niklaus had asked Harald for her daughters hand she was on his ass about children, ‘Neither of you are getting any younger.’ ‘Her prime child bearing years are right now, so you had best get started, Niklaus.’ ‘I will watch my grand babies all the time, that way you’ll have plenty of time to make me more.’ He loved how excited she was for them to have children but she was behaving like she wanted them yesterday, he can’t even start trying until they’re married but his soon to be mother in law didn’t seem to care, both of Y/n’s parents however adored Niklaus and he was happy for it and enjoyed them treating him better than his own parents ever had

•On the day of their wedding all of their families were in attendance as well as most of the village (who were mostly just there for the feast and drinking). Niklaus watched his bride approach him for the last time as an unmarried women, a wreath of flowers on her head that Rebekah had made for her (with the help of Henrik who picked most of them knowing the small purple flowers were Niklaus’ favorite to paint with) and for the first time without the Kransen that usually adorned her head. He knew she will have saved it, as her mother had done for her, for their future daughter once she was old enough and the thought made his heart swell, making him that much more desperate to fill his wife with his babies

•During the wedding ceremony Niklaus was shocked when Harald presented him with a Long Sword. It was a double edged heavy iron sword inlaid with silver on the handle, the handle was wrapped with soft leather and the pommel was heavy silver with 2 runes carved into it, one for Protection and one for Blessings. Niklaus was stunned by this gift, he had been taught to wield a sword obviously, however the one he had always used was his fathers. Niklaus never thought he would be able to afford a sword like this (a sword that he and Y/n had later decided to call BloodScythe), he had plans to get his own for his family’s protection of course, but this sword is very clearly worth more than he had ever seen in one place.

In that moment, he couldn’t help it, he began to doubt that this marriage was a good idea. Even if he knew the money meant nothing to him, he would have to find a way to keep his father from being a problem and he had never succeeded at that in his own life.

Niklaus had known that Y/n’s father was well off, it was half the reason Mikael hadn’t wanted Niklaus to wed Y/n but rather Finn, who would be much more willing to take care of his parents or even just give them money from the dowry that Harald would pay for her. Niklaus did not yet know how much silver it was that they were getting and while that money was technically Y/n’s even after the wedding, he knew that she would give it to him as the one who handled the money. Mikael was the kind of man who believed that every ounce of silver, gold and piece of jewelry belonged to the man of the house to do with as he pleased, which is why he knew he could manipulate Finn into “letting him handle” Harald’s money from both the dowry and the inheritance once the couple passed since Y/n was their only heir.

Niklaus had a suspicion that that’s the reason Elli was so desperate for him to fill her daughter with babies. Y/n’s mother had nearly died in childbirth and after that Harald forbid her from even trying for more children, not willing to lose his wife when they already had a perfect baby girl, even if that meant never having a son of his own. Niklaus found his respect for Harald growing instantly upon hearing that fact, all men were desperate for a son to pass their name onto, to teach to fight and hunt and even Niklaus himself desperately wanted a son, but Harald loved his wife so much that he was willing to give up on that dream to ensure she did not suffer…it was something that Niklaus knew Mikael would never do, regardless of how many sons he already has.

He had found himself wondering on more than one occasion if he would do the same, if he would give up on having a son, or any more children than one daughter if it’s what he needed to do to save Y/n’s life and he knew he would without a doubt

‘I am giving you my child, she will be under your roof and under your protection. As I give you my daughter I gift you this sword, that you will always care for her, keep her safe and whole, and protect the children she bares you. I am trusting you, Niklaus.’ He was floored by his now father in laws words and he found himself holding the tears back at the idea of Y/n’s father believing in him. The firm look on the man’s face showed Niklaus how serious he was in his words and he knew in that moment he would honor his promise, Niklaus would die if it meant his wife and children were safe, of that he was positive

‘Thank you for your trust. I give you my word, I will love and protect your daughter for the rest of my days. I will use this sword to defend our home, defend her honor and defend our family. I will use it to teach my sons to do the same and I will ensure my children never know a moment of suffering…not at my hands or anyone else’s.’ Niklaus was determined to not be even the slightest bit like his father, he would love his children, as many of them as the Gods see fit to grant and as many as his beautiful wife is gracious enough to bare him.

•As they shared their first kiss he felt his entire body buzzing like lightning. Y/n was finally his, his wife and his future. Niklaus kept her in his arms after their shared kiss, only releasing her to slide the ring onto her finger and allow her to do the same, the bands being a thick and heavy silver with runes adorned around the outside in a repeating pattern of Partnership, Prosperity, Loyalty and Desire. The only difference in their rings was 2 runes on Niklaus’ that meant Protection and Warrior to signify his role in their marriage and lives as were hers on her ring that meant Fertility and New Beginnings.

•Their married life was pure bliss in Niklaus’ eyes, taking the girl he had been in love with since he was a boy back to their home for the first time and carrying her to their new bed had him downright giddy and he spent the rest of the night worshipping her body. He made her cum every which way he could imagine bringing her pleasure, only stopping once the sun came up to sleep for a few hours before feeding his new wife and jumping straight back into bed with her. He shocked her with how willing and determined he was to have her ride his face for almost an entire hour that afternoon before even fucking her again and wrapping them both back into the thick furs to sleep once more. They remained like that for almost 2 weeks, Harald, Elli, Elijah and Kol all bringing them food while Niklaus was determined to ensure his seed took hold inside of his wife as soon as possible, and it did, seemingly almost immediately

•Everyone was excited by the prospect of having a new baby in the family, Y/n’s parents being the most excited and ensuring the couple had everything they would need to care for the baby. Henrik began spending the days with Y/n almost immediately once Niklaus began to work, he knew how much his big brother did not want her to be alone and so he stayed until his brother came home every day. Niklaus had taken to hunting rather than farming to make money, selling his catches in a few different towns to families who couldn’t hunt for whatever reason, and he made fairly decent money doing it which led to him coming home one day to his father man handling his 6 month pregnant wife

He couldn’t tell what came over him in that moment but one second Mikael was clutching his wife’s upper arms tightly and shaking her and the next he was on the ground having his face beaten in. Henrik had seemingly run home upon seeing his father arguing with Y/n and a moment later Elijah was pulling Niklaus off of their father. He turned and inspected his wife immediately, seeing her cheek was bright red and her eyes were red and puffy from crying.

‘I’m alright Niklaus, I promise you-‘

‘And the baby?! Did he touch the baby, I swear to all of the Gods he will die where he stands if he touched my child!’ He swore it to her and Y/n knew he was telling the truth, in fact she knew that had Elijah not come when he did, Mikael would probably already be dead.

‘He is alright my love, your father did not touch anything but my arms and a smack to my face when I insulted him. There’s no need for him to die, not this time.’ Just then Y/n’s parents came running up the path with Niklaus’ youngest brother not far behind, Elli instantly pulling her daughter into her arms and checking her over while Niklaus turned to her father who inspected the scene, seeing Mikael on the ground with Elijah between him and his son in law, Niklaus who had blood covering both of his hands.

‘Good job, son. How is she?’ He asked, never taking his eyes off of Mikael.

‘She’s alright, a few bruises. I am confident that even if I hadn’t come home when I did she would have been alright, my brother got Elijah like he was supposed to. Thank you.’ Henrik hugged Niklaus tightly, enjoying the proud look on his older brothers face as he had always been more of a father than a brother to him, more than his real one at least. ‘Go home now, let mother know everything is alright and that father and Elijah will be home soon.’

‘Alright. Are you okay, Y/n?’ He asked and Y/n smiled at the 13 year old boy.

‘I’m alright, hun. Go on home, Niklaus and I will take you to the market tomorrow and get you something special, okay?’ She offered and his face lit up before turning and taking off towards home as he was told.

‘It’s time for you to leave as well, Father.’ Niklaus glared before his father in law spoke up.

‘The next time you put your hands on my daughter, you will find the entire village at your door, ready to string you up. Remember that before you come back again.’ Harald promised, and Mikael had the intelligence to look concerned about the obvious threat. ‘Get your wife home, son.’

‘I will. Thank you for coming-‘

‘Thank you for keeping your word…I never had any doubt my child would be safe with you. You’re a good man Niklaus, and a good husband.’

•Over the next few years, Y/n had 4 children, giving Niklaus 3 sons and a little girl. He taught all of his boys to hunt and to fight, allowing them to enjoy having fun once in a while unlike what he and his siblings were allowed in their childhoods. Niklaus loved all of his children equally and he kept the promise made on his wedding day, he never raised a hand to them and he never let anyone else either, they never experienced a moment of abuse in their lifetime. His boys were incredible fighters and hunters, and they were extremely protective of their little sister, making their parents prouder than they thought possible. Niklaus didn’t think he could have asked for more

I tried to keep as many Viking traditions as true as I could but I may have gone overboard🤣

Klaus Mikaelson Masterlist

[journeytothewestresearch]

PSA - Don't Treat JTTW As Modern Fiction

This is a public service announcement reminding JTTW fans to not treat the work as modern fiction. The novel was not the product of a singular author; instead, it's the culmination of a centuries-old story cycle informed by history, folklore, and religious mythology. It's important to remember this when discussing events from the standard 1592 narrative.

Case in point is the battle between Sun Wukong and Erlang. A friend of a friend claims with all their heart that the Monkey King would win in a one-on-one battle. They cite the fact that Erlang requires help from other Buddho-Daoist deities to finish the job. But this ignores the religious history underlying the conflict. I explained the following to my acquaintance:

I hate to break it to you [name of person], but Erlang would win a million times out of a million. This is tied to religious mythology. Erlang was originally a hunting deity in Sichuan during the Han (202 BCE-220 CE), but after receiving royal patronage during the Later Shu (934-965) and Song (960-1279), his cult grew to absorb the mythos of other divine heroes. This included the story of Yang Youji, an ape-sniping archer, leading to Erlang's association with quelling primate demons. See here for a broader discussion. This is exemplified by a 13th-century album leaf painting. The deity (right) oversees spirit-soldiers binding and threatening an ape demon (left).

Erlang was connected to the JTTW story cycle at some point, leading to a late-Yuan or early-Ming zaju play called The God Erlang Captures the Great Sage Equaling Heaven (二郎神鎖齊天大聖). In addition, The Precious Scroll of Erlang (二郎寳卷, 1562), a holy text that predates the 1592 JTTW by decades, states that the deity defeats Monkey and tosses him under Tai Mountain. So it doesn't matter how equal their battle starts off in JTTW, or that other deities join the fray, Erlang ultimately wins because that is what history and religion expects him to do. And as I previously mentioned, Erlang has royal patronage. This means he was considered an established god in dynastic China. Sun Wukong, on the other hand, never received this badge of legitimacy. This was no doubt because he's famous for rebelling against the Jade Emperor, the highest authority. No human monarch in their right mind would publicly support that. Therefore, you can look at the Erlang-Sun Wukong confrontation as an established deity submitting a demon.

I'm sad to say that my acquaintance immediately ignored everything I said and continued debating the subject based on the standard narrative. That's when I left the conversation. It's clear that they don't respect the novel; it's nothing more than fodder for battleboarding.

I understand their mindset, though. I love Sun Wukong more than just about anyone. I too once believed that he was the toughest, the strongest, and the fastest. But learning more about the novel and its multifaceted influences has opened my eyes. I now have a deeper appreciation for Monkey and his character arc. Sure, he's a badass, but he's not an omnipotent deity in the story. There is a reason that the Buddha so easily defeats him.

In closing, please remember that JTTW did not develop in a vacuum. It may be widely viewed around the world as "fiction," but it's more of a cultural encyclopedia of history, folklore, and religious mythology. Realizing this and learning more about it ultimately helps explain why certain things happen in the tale.

[shootingstarwritings]

Galactic LARPing

"And your character is...?"

Asmodeus puffed his borrowed chest out and declared, "I am Asmodeus the healer! Injured, just come to me and I'll cure you in no time." Then, Asmodeus pursed his lips and winked to the joy of the other players. A few even blushed.

It was a cute pose that his host would never do, but under the control of a LARPing alien determined to stay in character, he had no choice.

Next up was Minot. "Rogue." To better get into character, he adjusted the hat and adopted a far more reserved personality. After a brief pause, he adjusted his hat to better hide his eyes. The group cheered and clapped for his performance. It was simple but effective for the strong and silent rogue. Minot's host mentally moaned, ashamed at how much he was forced to expose due to his bodysnatcher.

"And I am Daxtrus, the ultimate sage of legend. Do not worry, o treasured friends of mine. My mythical and dark spells will protect us in the many battles to come!" Daxtrus took a deep breath and then did his pose. When asked if it hurt, Daxtrus chuckled and said, "No worries, this body is quite flexible."

Daxtrus' could only recoil as he felt how much his body was forced to stretch. He would certainly be sore in the morning!

"I AM RATHOLS, THE WARRIOR! Oh! Sorry...!" For a moment, the older and muscular man slumped and shrunk away when the other players complained about his loud voice. "Lemme try again..." Clearing his throat, Rathols flexed and shouted, "I am Rathols, the warrior! Let us conquer and claim this land in the name of our kingdom, good fellas. Ho ho!" with a boisterous, exaggerated laugh. While excessive and not at all what his host would do, it got the party rilled up and in a good mood again.

Rathol's host could only scream as he remained a prisoner in his own head.

"And I am Qual, the dancer," he said, placing his palms together and bowing. "Let my dance bring you pleasure and joy..." Qual let out a slow and seductive sigh. He posed and moved the stolen body to emphasize the curves, much to his host's chagrin. It was a traditional garb, and this alien was using it to roleplay as a whore!

"Well, seems like we're all set. You all picked such great bodies! Luckily, the game I've got planned will go for lots and lots and sessions." Inwardly, all the hosts cried and moaned in despair.

"Well then, let's begin the session! We start our story with..."

[bokettochild]

hi! I don't know if you know the fallen timeliness theory? For linked Universe if you do could you explain it to me a bit? Because I read a fic with it were legend was from a fallen time and was times other descendent? So if you know could you pls explain to me of so ty!

P.s. I really want to know about because I'm suckered for time and legend angst or them just bonding.

Alright! So, LoZ lore does have an "official" timeline as published in the Hyrule Historia, detailing the canon placement of all games prior to BotW in 2017. According to this official guide, there are three cannonical timelines in the LoZ universe (potentially four after the release of AoC). These timelines all result from events within the adventure of the Hero of Time.

The general names are the timelines are the Adult Timeline, the Child Timeline, and the Fallen Timeline/Downfall Timeline.

The Child Timeline

The Child Timeline is the result of Princess Zelda (OoT/Lullaby/Sheik) sending back the hero's soul to his childhood before Ganon ever came into power. This timeline features the fact that the Hero of Time's adventure is not known in his era, but rather left behind when he traveled back to before it happened. He then proceeded to go off and undertake the events of Majora's Mask and later becomes the Hero's Shade after his death. In terms of LU, this is the timeline Twilight comes from.

The Adult Timeline

The Adult Timeline is also the result of Princess Zelda sending the Hero of Time back to his original timeline. However, despite the hero being sent back to alter time, it still happened, and continues to exist even after he left it. This era has had the Hero's Spirit removed from it, unable to reincarnate without the hero first dying, so there are no more Heroes of Courage. There are heroes however, including Wind Waker's Link, known in LU as Wind. Here, because there is no Hero's Spirit, when trouble came, the goddesses flooded the world to get rid of it, creating the Great Ocean. Wind is the successor to the Hero of Time here, claiming the triforce of courage rather than being chosen by it and establishing a new era of heroes.

The Fallen/Downfall Timeline

This timeline is the one you asked about. While more debated and with many more variations, the general idea here is that the Hero of Time was killed by Ganon, and only be being sealed by Princess Zelda (OoT/Lullaby/Sheik), the Sages and the Knights of Hyrule. The seal on Ganon lasts a few hundred years before it is broken by Aganim, and a young boy named Link (LU Legend) is the one called to defeat him as a result.

The Downfall Timeline tends to have many variations on the course of events leading up to the death of the hero. Hyrule's Downfall by RwanLink is a fan animation that shows an alternate trail of events than the "official" timeline. Many fanfiction authors also have their own theories, varying from the hero still being a child to the hero having grown up and spent seven years training rather than being asleep, and his seven year nap actually being a preventative measure by Fi to prevent the timeline from occurring.

Usually, when reading fanfic, it's fair game what the events surrounding the Death of the Hero of Time are, so be aware of that!

The Legend and Time angst usually stems from Time's guilt at learning that not only did he leave behind alternate timelines, he also left one in utter ruin because he Failed.

Again, deviations regarding his fate do make it difficult to pin down how old he might have been at his death, but some author's (myself included) have written Time as being old enough to have messed around and left some progeny. Legend is NOT canonically Time's descendant. He IS, however, descended from a line of knights commonly associated with Time (the Knights of Hyrule*), as well as a knight who looked crazily similar to a young Time (Raven from the Oracle of Ages manga). This has led to theories of relations between Time and Legend. I've seen some theories where Raven and Time are biological brothers, Raven is Time's descendant, and even one featuring Raven as Time's father! All of these leave a lot of room for Legend and Time bonding/angst dynamics, so I love them all!

*this is actually the same Knights family which Ashei from TP is descended from, making them distant cousins!

[pompomqt]

Journey to the West Chapter 14

Oh man I've really been looking forward to this chapter, one of my favorite dynamic duo's is together at last! So let's get into this chapter of Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest shall we?

So it turns out that the person who was calling out to them last time was none other than Sun Wukong, who is still trapped under five phases mountain. So Tripitaka and the hunter go down the mountain to take a look and have a little chat. We finally get to see Sun Wukong again, as he tells Tripitaka that if he gets him out he will protect him on his journey west. And poor Sun Wukong has been there for so long he has all sorts of plant life growing all over him which the Hunter helps him get some of it off, which was nice of him.

Anyways so Sun Wukong explains to Tripitaka that Guanyin converted him to Buddhism in order to aid the scripture pilgrim, and all Tripitaka has to do to free him is lift the tag that Bhudda placed and that he'll handle the rest. So Tripitaka goes up the mountain again until they reach the seal, and he prays to Bhudda that if Sun Wukong is only deceiving him, to not allow him to lift the seal. However Tripitaka lifts the seal no problem, and the tag is immediately blown out of his hands as a voice claiming to be the prison guard of the great sage says they are returning the seal to the Bhudda. So after that Sun Wukong is all like "Please stand back now. Little further... don't know what this thing will do~" And then proceeds to break the mountain and zip over to Tripitaka's location.

So Monkey loads up Tripitaka's luggage and we learn that since he was the BanHorsePlague in Heaven, he has authority over horses, and that they are now terrified of him. So that's fun. So like Guanyin Tripitaka tries to give Sun Wukong a religious name, but he already has one, so Tripitaka gives him a nickname instead. So now Sun Wukong has the nickname 'Pilgrim Sun'.

So seeing that Tripitaka is now in good hands, the hunter takes his leave of them, and with the hunter gone, we get to learn that horses aren't the only animals terrified of Sun Wukong. For a tiger soon approaches, which of course terrifies Tripitaka but delights Sun Wukong, who gleefully says that the tiger is just here to provide him some clothes. So while the tiger is to paralyized with fear from Sun Wukong to move, Sun Wukong wacks it with his staff, and proceeds to skin it. Man, tigers have it just as rough as dragons in this book... This both terrifies and impresses Tripitaka, and he proceeds to fall off his horse for the first- but certainly not the last time.

Once Sun Wukong is finished fashioning a temporary outfit out of the tiger skin the two carry on with their journey, having some casual conversation along the way. Where Sun Wukong explains how awesome both he and his staff are. Aww it's nice to see these two getting along so well. So they find a find a house to rest at, and Sun Wukong proceeds to bang on the door, and completely freaks out the owner of the house with his frightening appearance, but calms down once Tripitaka and his beautiful face explains that monkey is his disciple. They should probably have Tripitaka be the one to knock on doors from now on...

Anyways so the old man eventually agrees to let them stay with him, and we learn that Sun Wukong actually knows this family, apparently they gathered firewood around where he was imprisoned sometimes. And it turns out the Tripitaka also has a connection to this family, since they share the same surname "Chen". After that lovely conversation Sun Wukong requests a bath for both him and Tripitaka and also some needle and thread so he can finish making his tiger pants. He also steals Tripitaka's shirt while he's at it, which Tripitaka let's him keep.

The next morning the duo head out again after one last meal. So the two continue to travel together for a while, and seem to be getting along just fine. But all of that comes to an end when they are attacked by six bandits. Tripitaka is once again paralyzed by fear and falls off his horse again, but Monkey isn't fazed, he picks Tripitaka off the ground and tells him not to worry, that these fine gentlemen are just here to give them some clothes and travel allowance. And Tripitaka is just like "Uh, I think you misheard them, they are robbing us!" But Monkey's all like "Just watch our stuff, I'll handle this." Despite Monkey's reassurances though, Tripitaka is still worried about him, he's just a little guy after all. But he will soon find out that he was concerned for the wrong person.

So Monkey confronts the bandits who claim to be the 'King's of the Highway', but Monkey who is an actual King, is unimpressed. Regardless he still tries to make a deal with them, if they share their loot with him they'll let him live. This enrages the bandits, so they all attack at once... to absolutely zero effect. After letting the bandits have their fun wailing on him for a while, it's Monkey turn. So he takes out his staff and proceeds to beat all the bandits to death, before stripping them of their clothes and valuables and returning to Tripitaka.

However despite Monkey's expectations Tripitaka isn't pleased that Monkey murdered them all. And the two proceed to have a huge argument, with Tripitaka saying all life is valuable, and that even the city wouldn't have sentenced them to death if they had been tried. And that if Monkey had killed them where there were witnesses then Tripitaka would get in trouble to. While Monkey says that if he hadn't killed them they would have killed Tripitaka, and that he had killed a whole bunch of people back when he was the king of Flower Fruit Mountain anyways. Which Tripitaka points out that his lack of self control is why he was punished under a mountain for five hundred years in the first place.

After Tripitaka says that if he still insists on practicing violence that he can't be a Buddhist or travel west, Monkey quits the journey right there and then and zooms off. Since he has no way of contacting Monkey or bringing him back, Tripitaka resigns to continue the journey alone, but just as he starts walking again he comes across an old lady holding a silk garment and a floral cap.

So Tripitaka explains his situation and how Sun Wukong ran off, so the old lady gives him the shirt and cap, and teaches him the 'Tight-Fillet Spell' and tells him to give Sun Wukong the cap and shirt when he returns and recite the spell if he refuses to obey him. And with that the old lady reveals herself to have been Guanyin, and heads off East to try and catch up to Monkey.

Speaking of Monkey, having left Tripitaka he decided to drop by an old friends place before returning home and is currently having tea with the Dragon King. And Monkey is complaining to him about how Tripitaka scolded him, but after telling a short story the Dragon King persuades him to give the mission another chance. So Monkey takes off again, heading back to Tripitaka where he crosses paths with Guanyin, and tells her he is going back to Tripitaka.

So Monkey finds Tripitaka sitting dejectedly on the side of the road. So Monkey explains that he went to have tea with the Dragon King, which Tripitaka finds a little hard to believe that he managed to travel so far and back in less than an hour. Monkey however explains about his cloud somersault, and offers to get Tripitaka some food. Which Tripitaka declines saying he still has some food left. So Monkey goes to get some food from the bag when he finds the silk shirt and floral cap that Guanyin had given him. Tripitaka lies and says he wore them in his childhood and that they will allow him to recite scriptures wihtout having to learn them and perform rituals without having to practice them. Sun Wukong asks to put them on, and Tripitaka says if they fit he can keep them. Once Monkey puts on the garments, Tripitaka decides to give this 'Fillet Tightening spell' a shot, and begins to recite it.

Monkey begins rolling on the ground in agony as Tripitaka recites the spell several times, eventually Tripitaka stops once Monkey starts gripping the cap since he is afraid he'll break it. And Monkey finds that a thing metal band has welded itself to his head, and that he can't get it off no matter what he tries. When Monkey takes out his staff to try and pry it off, Tripitaka starts reciting the spell again. Eventually Tripitaka feels sorry for him and stops the spell. Monkey then accuses Tripitaka of putting a spell on him, which Tripitaka denies saying he was just reciting the 'Tight-Fillet Sutra". So Monkey demands he recite it again to see what happens, and immediately regrets it when his head starts hurting again.

So Tripitaka asks if Monkey will listen to him now, and stop acting unruly, and Monkey says he will. However as soon as Tripitaka has his back turned Monkey takes out his staff and tries to murder Tripitaka with it. Causing Tripitaka to once again begin reciting the spell until Monkey cries uncle and says he's learned his lesson. So Monkey asks who taught him that spell, and when Tripitaka explains about the old woman, Monkey immediately draws the conclusion that it was Guanyin. Monkey wants to find Guanyin and confront her, but Tripitaka points out that she also knows the Tight Fillet Spell since she was the one who taught it to him so that confrontation is unlikely to go well for him.

So with all that settled, Monkey says he'll follow Tripitaka west, as long as Tripitaka doesn't treat that spell as a plaything to torment him with. So with that settled the two once again head out on their Journey West.

Current Sun Wukong Stats: Names/Titles: Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong (Monkey awakened to the void), Bimawen (Banhorseplague), The Great Sage Equal To Heaven and Pilgrim Sun. Immortality: 5 Weapon: The Compliant Golden Hooped Rod Abilities: 72 Transformations, Cloud-Somersault, Ability to transform his individual hairs, super strength, Ability to Summon Wind, Water restriction charm, and the ability to change into a huge war form, ability to duplicate his staff, ability to immobilize others, the ability to put others to sleep, and the Fiery eyes, Diamond Pupils and intimidating horses. Demon Kill Count: 1+ Unknown Number of Minions Human Kill Count: 6 God's Defeated: 19 + Unknown number Defeats: 2 Crime List: Robbery, Murder, Mass Murder, Arson, Theft, Coercion, Threatening a Government Official, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Forgery, Employee Theft, False Imprisonment, Impersonating a Government Official, Treason and attempted murder. Cry Count: 3 Mountains Trapped Under: 1

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang, Tripitaka Abilities: Curing Blindness, making branches point a certain direction (allegedly), reciting sutras. Cry Count: 10 Tight Fillet Spell Uses: 4 Paralyzed by fear: 4 Bandit Problems: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 1 Falling Off Horses: 2

[welcome-to-ratterrock]

Sorry to bother but can we get more of the cast's personalities or some short description about it or will it be a bit of a spoiler for the story? Thank you! And keep up the great work!

You’re not a bother at all! It’s wonderful to have people interested in this story. To answer your questions…

In a world beneath our own, after the horrors of World War 1, a string of murders in the seaside city of Saltscratch force Sage Locke, a brilliant if unorthodox consulting detective, to infiltrate the Bloody Hearts, a notorious criminal gang that fights to rule the island rats have claimed for themselves. Of course, given his personal history with the leader, Padraic Regal, that’s going to be bloody difficult…

A murder mystery with dark romances, betrayal and bloodshed, gangsters and outcasts, steamy scenes and social commentary, featuring a cast of queer rodents. The sea washes away much, but not your sins…

Welcome to Ratterrock.

And as for our characters, here’s the core cast as our story begins:

Sage Locke: A brilliant and unorthodox consulting detective, Locke finds it far easier to deal with data and dangerous criminal investigations than society and sentiment. His life is his work, and he has gained both admiration and adversaries. 

Padraic Regal: The eldest sibling of the Regal family and the leader of the fearsome gang the Bloody Hearts, Padraic is determined to get the power and respect his name deserves by any means necessary. With his staggering intelligence, endless charisma and utter ruthlessness, he makes a fearsome enemy but a far more dangerous friend. 

Sorcha Regal: Like the diamonds she favors, Sorcha is dazzling, cool and always polished, her stunning beauty only matched by her cunning and charm. As the second in command of the Bloody Hearts, she has earned her reputation as the most dangerous woman on Ratterrock. 

Lorcan Regal: A born brawler, Lorcan is the rowdy and reckless muscle to the Bloody Hearts, happily obeying the commands of his eldest siblings. Ferocious in all his appetites - boxing or booze, men or women - Lorcan is all heart and endlessly loyal to his family. 

Randall Clifford: The Chief Inspector of the Saltscratch Police Force, Clifford is determined that the criminal underworld won’t escape the power of the law. He handles both his position and the unusual methods of one Sage Locke with well earned confidence and efficiency, and is a well respected figure. 

Bogdan Nightshade: The stern and stoic leader of the Night Court colony, Bogdan isn’t one for trifling distractions, keeping his time occupied with ensuring his family's safety and stability. Between helping his beloved mother and keeping his wild brother out of trouble, Bogdan doesn’t lower his grim guard for anything or anyone. 

Casimir Nightshade: An unfortunate incident with some downed wires left Casimir wildly unpredictable and deeply dangerous both to himself and others, much to the concern of his eldest brother. Utterly uninhibited, Casimir tends to bring chaos wherever he goes, whether he intends to or not. 

Marilla Mackenzie: The only child of one of Saltscratch’s most wealthy and esteemed families, Rilla is a free spirit who wants nothing more than to live life on her own terms: dancing, flirting, and fun. As one of the most beautiful and blue blooded of Saltcratch’s debutants, she’s looking at a future that doesn’t have any of that. 

Luella Woodmouse: Quiet, competent and determinedly demure, Luella works as a governess to the upper class of Saltscratch and prides herself on her calmness and courtesy. Despite her best efforts to keep out of trouble, she will often end up on “adventures” with one Miss Marilla Mackenzie. 

Brigid O’Broin: Tough, gruff and fearsome, Brig is a dockworker and boxer who has had to fight her whole life to survive. Once the best mate of one Lorcan Regal, she keeps to herself and out of trouble as best she can. 

More characters will be joining the story, and we’ll be adding character profiles on our official website when it is out of development, which will be updated as the story continues.

Thank you so much for the questions!

[theseshipsshallsail]

Summary:

The unapologetic scrutiny sees Oliver shivering right down to his toes; the risqué thrill leaving him desperate for more as he pictures the sight they must make from the rooftop garden opposite. His ruminations don’t last long, however, and the sudden emptiness at his core incites a flustered whine, even as the low rasp of Elio’s zipper proves a slow-motion herald of what’s to come.

THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING (IS IN THE EATING)

With its three spindly legs and sleek, curving edges, the reconditioned baby grand is a great deal sturdier than Oliver first assumed, watching the fastidious moving team guide it up three flights of steps to their East Village brownstone apartment. It’d earned him a smirk: that absent-minded observation. Unsuccessfully hidden behind the blue, Columbia Lions mug Elio’s long-since claimed for his own. Yet seeing is believing - as his much-missed bubbe liked to say - and if the past four years have taught him anything, it’s that in order to trust in the improbable, one must first be prepared to embrace the absurd.

Hence the reason he finds himself bare-assed naked on the stately instrument’s cool, mahogany lid.

Grey tracksuit bottoms hobbling his sockless ankles.

Hitching gasps misting the lacquered surface as Elio’s nimble digits scissor his spit-slick rim.

The splayed-wide pads of Oliver’s fingertips are smeared with sweat: the tense muscles of his torso even more so. Gaining leverage is nigh-on impossible, and when Elio strums a ruthless staccato against his screaming prostate, the incoherent plea that spills from his throat has the other man chuckling exaltedly; eyes mischief-bright where he hooks his chin over his straining shoulder.

“You’re doing so well…” he murmurs into the riotous clatter of his pulse. “Uno spettacolo così bello. Tell me: how does it feel?” 

Oliver groans at the unexpected bite to his earlobe. “Sacrilegious,” he pants, all thoughts of structural integrity forgotten as a soothing hand cards his bedraggled hair. “Whatever would Bach have to say?”

Elio flashes a thousand-watt grin. “Oh… the Old Wig was pretty creative,” he answers sagely, angling his face for a clumsy kiss. One that tastes of Yakisoba chicken from the Japanese shokudo on the corner, yet dissolves like powdered sugar upon his tongue. “He’d probably suggest we try it andante.” A beat. “Or maybe a lively allegro,” he adds, skimming the jutting vertebrae of Oliver’s spine. “With a brisk vivace to finish.”

Oliver sniggers. “You’re a menace, Perlman…”

“Always,” he allows, mapping the field of goosebumps that adorn his flank. “But presented like this?” The floorboards creak as a jean-clad thigh urges his trembling knees apart. “All stretched and pink? Taking my fingers so nicely…” 

“Sweetheart, please…”

Elio tugs him impossibly closer. “You’ll take my cock too,” he says then, a simple statement of fact, then proceeds to squeeze his buttock once, twice, three times firmly; opening him further with his thumb. “You’re beautiful, mon amour.” 

The unapologetic scrutiny sees Oliver shivering right down to his toes; the risqué thrill leaving him desperate for more as he pictures the sight they must make from the rooftop garden opposite. His ruminations don’t last long, however, and the sudden emptiness at his core incites a flustered whine, even as the low rasp of Elio’s zipper proves a slow-motion herald of what’s to come.

“Siete pronti?” he asks, painting the sticky pearls of arousal around his greedy hole.

“I’ve been ready,” Oliver protests, the gentle nudge of his glans making him clench in vain.

Chapped lips return to the hinge of his jaw.

Sharp teeth worry the mottled bruise at his collar.

“Elio…” he hears, a blatant provocation before he’s breached properly, and Oliver grunts, choking expletives into the crook of his elbow as his tormentor huffs a bubbling laugh. “Elio… Elio… Elio…” 

His hamstrings are taut where he’s held spread-eagle. His scrotum growing ever tighter at the sense of utter fullness. Over and over, his lover thrusts within him. Over and over, Oliver chants the words in concert: hiccuping the other man’s name until the syllables blend together. Until he’s shuddering - splintering - his brain damn-near convulsing as Elio reaches to stroke his leaking shaft. 

“I’ve got you, mon chéri,” he whispers, circling the spongy tip through each rolling wave, and when Elio buries himself balls-deep - collapsing like a rag doll as he climaxes thereafter - the erratic thrum of Oliver’s racing heart beats a perfect accompaniment to the breathless I love yous peppered between them. 

[skellebonez]

A Matter of Affection (A Gen LMK Oneshot)

I have a lot of feelings about AroAce MK and Sun Wukong. So, naturally, I HAD to write my own little oneshot of MK realizing he is now a celebrity and that comes with the side effect of... suitors. That he does not want. I am not aromantic, but I am asexual and have talked to enough aromantic people to know there is a lot of overlap between our experiences. So I did my best to convey this through MK and everyone else.

Hope you enjoy this!

(Note: DragonFruit, FreeNoodles, and IronBull are mentioned in passing. Written BEFORE Season 4 came out.)

AO3 Link.

Ok, MK, you can do this… You just have to ask him… ask your mentor for some advice, this is totally fine and not awkward at all. Asking for advice is completely normal. This isn’t awkward. Just. Ask… for advice…’

He was lying to himself, he knew it.

How could this not be awkward?

MK had never asked anyone, let alone Sun Wukong, for help with something like this before. He wanted to ask Mei, she was the only one who knew… well, everything about him at this point, but she was live streaming and he didn’t want to interrupt her while she was having fun just to ask for some advice. Even IF she would gladly pause the stream for his comfort once she realized he was being serious.

So, instead, he found himself flying over in bird form to Mount Huaguo so he could pay his mentor a visit. He’d been doing this just about every day he had free time (and wasn’t due for training) just to say hello, make sure the king wasn’t lonely and to bond more after everything that had happened over the last year. Things seemed to have finally smoothed out into some kind of new normal for everyone.

MK claimed the visit was to deliver Sun Wukong a free “canceled” order of noodles that was close to what he normally ordered, which was not entirely a lie. But he normally would have just eaten it himself or given it to Tang. So in reality it was just an excuse.

But in his attempt to psych himself up to ask for advice he managed to almost psych himself out.

This should be easy! The Monkey King and him were as close as they had ever been as mentor and student (to the point some people, Mei and Sandy namely, said they came off as family). And given who the Monkey King was he MUST have had to deal with similar awkward situations in the past.

So…

“Hey, uh, Monkey King?”

“Yeah bud?”

“Have you ever had someone confess they liked you before?”

Sun Wukong turned to look at his student, an almost disappointed look on his face.

“MK. Bud. I’m Sun Wukong. I’ll give you two guesses and the other one doesn’t count.”

“That many huh?”

“It was CONSTANT,” Sun Wukong said with a laugh. “I mean, I get it. How can I not attract so many admirers when I am…” The monkey king stood, smirking as he struck a pose worthy of any popular C-Drama poster. “Sun Wukong, the Handsome Monkey King, Great Sage Equal to Hea-”

“Did you ever accept?” MK interrupted, immediately cringing at the fact he did so.

“Absolutely not,” Sun Wukong said with a shrug, seemingly not bothered by the interruption. “Even if I ever wanted a partner like that? I was way too busy. Journeys to journey on, monks to keep from being eaten alive, you know the story.”

“You never wanted a partner?” MK’s brow raised as he tried to remember all the stories about the immortal he had heard in the past. “Never?”

“Well… hmn” Sun Wukong trailed off, seeming to drop deep into thought as he rubbed his chin and looked into the distance. MK assumed he was trying to find the best words to use for his explanation. “How do I put it… Not never as in never wanting to have a companion. I loved being around people! And I loved some people, just not in the way other people seemed to have loved me. I wouldn’t mind having a life partner who’s cool with hugs and cuddles and spending all our time together without any of the other stuff! I don’t hate thinking about, like… kissing someone? Unless it’s on the cheek or something I’d rather just avoid that if I can, but if it makes my partner happy I think I would be ok with only that. That make sense?”

There was the softest kind of half joking grimace on the Monkey King’s face when he mentioned kissing, the same kind that MK had seen on his own face in the mirror. And then it clicked.

“Oh… my gosh…” MK said, eyes widening in realization. “Is this really going to be how I find out we’re both aroace? SERIOUSLY!?”

“Arrow what now?” 

“You don’t have any interest in being with anyone romantically?” MK asked, jumping to stand in front of his mentor. He almost bounced up and down in place, barely able to hold in his excitement. “At all? And never have?”

“No..?” Sun Wukong said slowly, reaching out to put a hand on MK’s head to hold him steady for a second. “Bud, answer my question pl-”

“Aromatic asexual,” MK blurted out, awkward and almost too fast.

It clearly took the king a second to process what he said, but once he did…

“THERE’S A NAME FOR IT!?”

“THAT’S WHAT I SAID!” MK replied to the king’s outburst with a laugh. He bounced harder, despite the hand on his head, in sheer excitement. “I’ve never actually met someone else in person who’s aro or ace or bot, only online! And-and it’s YOU of all people and- WAIT!”

MK held out his hands, taking the immortal’s hand off his head.

“That was a sudden change of tone,” Sun Wukong joked when he caught the serious look on his student’s face. “I’m gonna take a guess and ask if this aroace stuff is related to your initial question?”

“Yeah,” MK said, now feeling a bit more confident and comfortable in being able to ask for some advice. “There’s this girl who’s been coming to the shop over the last few weeks, almost every two days. I think she’s one of the civilians I rescued last month when that clan of beetle demons came to attack the city. And uh…”

“She asked you out, didn’t she?”

“YES!” MK said with a groan as he pulled at his hair. “And she’s super nice and really pretty and any guy or girl would probably be SUPER LUCKY to date her but! I don’t! LIKE PEOPLE IN THAT! WAY!”

“Breathe, MK,” Sun Wukong said, gently guiding his student to let his hair go. “What did you tell her?”

“I had to… think about it?”

“Oh boy…”

“I didn’t wanna tell her no immediately!” MK said, biting his lip now. “I felt… I dunno, pressured? Pigsy and Tang were watching me and…it was awkward.”

“Well, you have to tell her no somehow,” Sun Wukong said with a nod as he rubbed his chin. “You can’t leave her hanging, there’s bound to be some hero worship driving her to ask you out the way she did so quickly and that can be a tough thing to accidentally play into.”

“I know…” MK said. “But I don’t know how. And what about after that? Are MORE people going to ask me out?”

“Definitely, you’re a celebrity now,” Sun Wukong said, almost sounding apologetic.

“Aw man… what should I do?” MK asked as his mentor paced around him in a circle. “Just say ‘I don’t swing any way ever, I’d rather just have super close friends’ for the rest of my life? I’ve only had to say it like… twice and I’m already feeling burnt out!”

“You turned down two other people?”

“No,” MK said with a shake of his head. “I’ve told Mei I’m aroace and I had to tell the metal brothers so they would stop trying to set me up with Mei and Red.”

“Understood. Well, you don’t have to say it every time,” Sun Wukong said with a wave of his hand. “You could wear a hat with that on it.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Listen,” the monkey king said with a smile as he finally stopped in front of his student. “If you can handle the Lady Bone Demon you can handle telling a normal human you’re not interested in them. And if they give you any trouble, you have a whole family behind you to back you up… Even people who can pick up a building with their bare hands could use emotional support, or so Sandy keeps telling me.”

“... that means a lot, Monkey King,” MK said with a genuine smile. “But I… how do I tell her no if she asks me at work again? I don’t wanna be unprofessional and make Pigsy look bad.”

“Good point,” Sun Wukong said with a hum. “And my usual ‘no thanks’ and flying off wouldn’t really work when you’re trapped by societal convention… BUT! There’s someone else who may be able to help you since he also works in the service industry!”

“... wait, you don’t mean-”

~

“What do you want, Noodle Boy?”

“Aw, no hello to your second best pal?”

“HELLO, Noodle Boy,” Red Son said as he rolled his eyes. “What do you want? Answer quickly before I shut this-”

“How do I turn down a girl who asks me out on a date?”

The fiery demon stared blankly at him, blinking only when MK rushed into his house to get out of the fiery inferno around the Bull Family home and into some shade.

“I… someone asked you out on a date?” Red Son asked, raising one eyebrow in confusion. “You? Noodle Boy? The man who literally never noticed when people are flirting with him?”

“I don’t do that!” MK said, immediately pausing. “... have people been flirting with me? Really?”

“Constantly,” Red Son said as he shut the door and turned to face his unwanted guest. “I honestly don’t know how you never- WHY ARE YOU IN MY FACE?”

“Listen to me carefully,” MK said as he held Red Son’s face in his hands. “I trust you with this information because you’re my friend and Mei loves you. I am aroace. If love was pizza you could order? And platonic love was the toppings? I would be ordering none pizza with left beef every day of my life. So I wouldn’t know flirting if it bit me on the ass.”

“... oooooooooooooooh,” Red Son said with realization dawning on his face as he pushed the other’s hands away. “I see, you’re like the Monkey King. That changes nothing, really, barring the urgency you must be feeling.”

“You knew the Monkey King was aroace?”

“It wasn’t hard to piece together,” Red Son said with a shrug. “I should have guessed the same about you, given your obliviousness to the aforementioned flirting. And also how strongly you reacted when someone assumed you were dating Mei the other week during your last third wheeling session on our date.”

“And I am very sorry about that,” MK said honestly. “But I could still use some help.”

“And what do you want me to do about it?” Red Son asked with a frown. “If the Monkey King couldn’t help you in this area? I was the worst person for you to come to as a second choice. I wasn’t exactly waving suitors off with a baseball bat while working on my bots or helping my mother plan father’s return. Neither was flirtation the first on anyone’s mind when the New Year celebrations were in full swing with my father standing behind me and people coming back to complain my food was ‘too spicy’. And considering we live in the middle of nowhere I didn’t exactly have a lot of experience with random peasants flirting with me, you know.”

“There’s no way that’s possible when you look the way you do,” MK countered.

Red Son sputtered, looking at the other man in shock. “What’s that supposed to mean!?”

“I’m aroace, Red, not incapable of recognizing when someone is objectively hot… pun not intended.”

“I am just going to let that be a compliment and move on,” Red Son said, his face matching his name more and more the longer he spoke. “Anyway, Mei is the first person to ask me out in centuries. I genuinely have no idea how I would tell someone no because I haven’t had to since I was like… the demon age equivalent of 15. And I didn’t have a chance to because that guy was trying to steal from us and got pushed off the roof by one of my Bull Clones.”

“Going to overlook the admission of murder-”

“HE LIVED!”

“-and instead ask if you know anyone else who can help?” MK continued. “I’d ask Mei but, you know, streaming.”

“Hmmn… You could always ask my parents?” Red Son offered with a shrug. “From what they’ve mentioned in the past they were both quite popular with their own respective circles, father especially. They had to turn down more suitors than they could count so they would likely be your best bet for discussing a plan of action.”

“... I mean… I guess that makes sense?” MK mused for a moment. “You’re sure they’re not going to just… tell me to ‘crush them like the unworthy peon they know themselves to be’, right?”

“I make no promises.”

“Ah. Great… I don’t… I mean, I… Could we keep the aroace thing between us for now?”

Red Son looked at MK for a moment before sighing, resting a hand on the other’s shoulder.

“They’re my parents, Noodle Boy, you don’t have to tell them anything you don’t want them to know.”

“... thanks. I mean it.”

And he did.

~

DBK stared at MK.

MK stared at DBK.

"I… usually ran away," DBK admitted with an oddly embarrassed and soft tone.

"I don't know what answer I expected. But it wasn't that."

"I was a VERY shy calf, THIEF!"

MK had managed to avoid having to come out to literally everyone he talked to that day, but in exchange for having Red Son keep his secret for the short time being until he felt it necessary to tell the entire Bull Family (and there was no need in his mind, they could live without ever knowing this about him) he was now having one of the most awkward conversations of his entire 21 years of living.

And he thought asking the Monkey King was going to be awkward.

“It was quite adorable to see him literally running away from his suitors,” Princess Iron Fan said with a chuckle. “Maybe that’s why I gave him a chance when he finally worked up the courage to ask me. Even when he saw me literally blowing his competition away with my fan he still braved the chance to give me flowers and ask for one afternoon together.”

“Aw, that’s really sweet,” MK couldn’t help but say when he saw the wistful look Red’s mom wore when looking at her husband. Romance may have never been for him personally, but a good romantic story or seeing other people happy always managed to make him happy by proxy. “Unfortunately, I don’t think those are options for me.”

“Understandably so,” DBK said with a gruff nod. “You have both an image to upkeep as the simian’s successor AND as a duty to your boss.”

“Maybe Mei is done streaming…” MK muttered. “She’s had to tell so many people no, especially stream snipers, that she’ll probably know what to do.”

Princess Iron Fan chuckled at the mention of her son’s girlfriend.

"Frankly I'm quite amazed that Mei had to be the one to pursue my son, considering he is usually the one more prone to pining."

"MOTHER!"

"It runs in the family, dear."

"Not you too, father…"

“And I am going to head out before Red Son feels I know too much!” MK announced, turning to leave. “Thank you for the advice anyway, I appreciate it!”

"You know you could ask your dads for advice, right?" PIF said suddenly.

"...I forgot I could do that."

"How are we not dead?" DBK questioned under his breath. "He forgets so much."

“I THOUGHT YOU ALREADY ASKED THEM IF YOU CAME TO ME, NOODLE BOY!”

~

MK felt so… stupid.

He couldn’t believe that he never thought to just ask Pigsy and Tang. They were right there and all he would have to do was wait for the day to end. So… why?

Why not just ask his dads?

“MK!” Mei’s voice suddenly sounded as he slowly walked his way back through the city, pulling him from his thoughts. “I was just heading to get some dinner at Pigsy’s! I assume you’re heading in the same way?”

“Sort of?” MK answered with an awkward chuckle. “I’m kinda… taking my time in a walk of shame since I realized I just made my day a lot harder than it needed to be.”

“What do you mean?” Mei asked as she fell into step beside her friend.

“A girl I rescued asked me out on a date and I didn’t exactly tell her no or yes,” MK started, watching as Mei grimaced in sympathy. “So I asked Monkey King for some advice since, you know, he’s bound to have experience with fans and stuff asking him out. But he couldn’t help me with telling her no if she asks while I’m at work. Then he sent me to Red Son who also couldn’t give me advice so he sent me to his parents, who ALSO couldn’t give me advice because they either ran or literally tossed their confessors away from them and THEN PIF said I could have asked my dads and I realized she was right and I wasted basically my whole day running around for dating advice… and now the Monkey King and Red Son know about me being aroace too, that also happened.”

“Whoa, slow your roll,” Mei said, pulling MK to the side of the walkway so people could go around them. “You told Sun Wukong and Red you’re ace? One after the other?”

“Yeah,” MK said with a nod.

“OK, well,” Mei said with her own nod. “Considering you’re telling me and nothing else was mentioned I assume they both took it well! Which is good, glad for you, but… I also know your dads don’t know yet. Are you comfortable coming out three times in one day to four people?”

“It’s way less embarrassing than what I’m going to ask them,” MK said slowly. “And embarrassment is really what I’m worried about-”

“I’m not asking if it’s embarrassing,” Mei said slowly. She put a hand on MK’s shoulder. “I’m asking if you’re comfortable. You had a panic attack when you told ME. And I know they’re them and things are definitely going to be ok, but it’s a lot in one day dude. That’s… that’s a lot of coming out one after the other.”

MK paused, looking at Mei for a moment before smiling and taking her hand off his shoulder to just hold it for a second.

“I think I’ll be ok,” he said. “I’d appreciate some support, though? I think after LBD my anxiety meter is a little broken so I may be running on adrenaline right now.”

“You don’t even have to ask,” Mei said as she squeezed his hand. “We’re BBFs, Best Buds Forever. A little support is the least I can offer.”

“Thanks. Like I said though, I’m more worried about the embarrassment. Do you know how embarrassing it is to ask your parents for relationship advice?" MK asked with a deadpan tone. "Let alone dating advice from ones who don't know you have no interest in dating and you have to ask them about how to turn people DOWN?"

"Nope," Mei said. "I looked it all up online."

"I fear for what you may have read."

"I am eternally traumatized!" Mei said with a wide smile, her tone making MK chuckle despite the implications.

“... you’re a really good friend, you know that?”

“... I try to be.”

“Thanks. I mean it.”

And he meant it then too.

~

“I… I need to ask you guys something,” MK said almost immediately after they got to the noodle shop.

Maybe it was his tone, more tired and shaky than he meant for it to sound. He guessed some of the adrenaline had seeped away from him on his short walk back with Mei. Or maybe it was the fact it was such a slow day that Pigsy never even had to call him back and the shop was empty and quiet until the door opened for himself and Mei.

But something about the situation made his dads look at each other in concern.

“Sure, sit down,” Tang said, gesturing for MK to sit next to him. Mei sat down to his other side with no need for guidance.

"What’s up?” Pigsy said as he stopped what he was doping to stand in front of MK. When there was no reply he sighed, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. “You know you can talk to us about anything, right?" 

That softest smile that was reserved only for comforting family made MK feel like he really could be honest with his dads. He told everyone else by now so… why not them? He could totally do it.

"Well… I have… a bit of girl trouble?" MK started, holding up a hand before either of them could say anything else. “But it’s… I want to… turn her down?”

“That’s it?” Pigsy said with a raise of his brow. “Is this the same girl that asked you out yesterday?”

“Yeah…” MK said slowly. He felt Mei squeeze his hand in silent assurance. “It’s just… she’s pretty! But I have no idea who she is and… I don’t… I don’t… wanna date. I don’t wanna date anyone… ever?”

“MK,” Tang said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “MK, were you worried about telling us that?”

“Yeah?” He said quickly with a shrug. “I know, you always say you’ll love me no matter what, but… I mean… you two looked so excited at the idea of me dating someone that I felt I couldn’t say no to her. Plus, I didn’t wanna look like a jerk as the Monkie Kid or make Pigsy’s look bad because of me. I-”

“Whoa, hang on,” Pigsy said as he leaned over the counter. “Kid, MK, you’re not gonna make the shop look bad because you turned down someone who asked you out on the job. If anything, I’d make us look bad by chasing them out if they gave you any trouble for it.”

“Wait, you mean it?” MK said in awe as he stared at his dad. 

“Yup,” Pigsy said with a nod.

“We’re sorry if we made you feel pressured to say yeah by being excited,” Tang said, looking at Pigsy and waiting for his nod before continuing. “We just want you to be happy.”

“And what if never being with someone is what makes me happy?” MK asked. “What if I wanna just be with you guys and have friends I can hug and that’s it?”

“Then we’re happy if you’re happy,” Pigsy and Tang said at the same time, looking at each other in surprise before chuckling at the way they synced up.

“Oh thank HECK,” MK said, immediately slumping down onto the counter. “I was worried over nothing and now I’m exhausted.”

“Hey, you were worried about how they’d react and that’s understandable,” Mei said as she spoke up from his other side. “Like how I was with my parents.”

“And there’s no exhaustion that a nice bowl of Pigsy’s noodles can’t fix,” Pigsy said with a chuckle. “Come on. Tell us everything. It sounds like we have some revelations to go over because you’re… non-romantic?”

“Aromantic,” Tang corrected. “Hmn… maybe that explains why you have so much love to give to everyone else platonically.” 

His tone of voice told MK that was clearly a joke made in an attempt to lighten the mood. 

And it worked.

As awkward as it was, MK started to laugh.

“Well… it started when I saved her about a month ago.”

[quitealotofsodapop]

Liang and Smokey were rivals to lovers.

Smokey was going to his favorite moody cliff to brood dramatically only to find that there was someone already there. They fight about it, and Smokey totally isn't impressed by how strong and handsome skilled this new guy is. He manages to chase the stranger off, but it keeps happening. The rest of the monkeys just kinda watch their soap opera happen.

It continues this way until the Rampage through Heaven where Liang gets super angry at Smokey for doing something that puts the entire troop in danger because of his own issues and ends up leaving before sh*t goes sideways. Smokey definitely doesn't regret their final argument as he's imprisoned under the mountain for 500 years.

They don't meet again til the Journey, right after poor Fruit Baby died and Smokey is all kinds of torn up inside. They of course have another argument, with Liang throwing all of Smokey's flaws and mistakes in his face and it escalates to physical violence. They're tearing up the countryside, terrifying the local deities. And then...

Smokey: IF YOU HATE ME SO MUCH, THEN WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE??!!

Liang: I DON'T HATE YOU!

*both pause, equally taken aback*

Liang, quietly: ...I don't hate you. I never hated you. It would've been so much easier if I did.....

*Smokey comes closer and puts a hand on Liang's face, gently wiping away a tear*

Smokey: I don't hate you either.

AND THEN THEY KISS!

They're so edgy and emo and I love it. 🖤

Heeheehee. The problem with two tsundere's falling in love. XD

Liang (Reborn's LEM) has been "an annoying shadow" to Smokey (Reborn SWK) his entire life it seems.

As cubs on Flower Fruit Mountain? Liang was there as a fellow outcast who combed through the future king's fur. The fellow monkey dubbing him "Smokey" after mistaking his facial marking for volcanic soot.

As a student under Subodhi? Smokey swore he'd see a fellow monkey demon watching him curiously as he tended to the monastery's garden.

When the newly dubbed Sun Wukong returned to the island and found it ravaged by the Demon of Havoc? The infuriating snow macaque was at the King's side to help save his people.

When the Brotherhood of Sages formed? The Great Sage Informing Wind was crowned alongside the Great Sage Equalling Heaven. Many dinner fights were had. Brother Lion joked that their arguements were more entertaining than any opera he'd seen.

When a certain Havoc rocked Heaven and put a target on Flower Fruit Mountain? The Macaque had grabbed the King by the shoulders and shouted at him, teeth bared. A nasty physical fight ensued, one that got so bad that the Stalwarts had to step in and separate the two. The smaller monkey shrieking that they hated their King and that they'll never forgive him for what he had done.

Still, Smokey swears he still saw a familar shadow visit him in those 500 years under the mountain.

Even now? As "Monkey" traipsed across the continent for a task that could take him a few minutes if not for this stupid spiritual Journey? He sees a cloaked figure following behind him. Never speaking, but he knows there's quick wit and a sharp tongue behind those lips...

He had dubbed the other monkey "Liang" in his mind so long ago due to the thick silvery fur that caught moonlight like a reflection in the water. He thought it was a far nicer name than "Liu'er Mihou/Six Eared Macaque".

Smokey honestly doesn't know *what* him and Liang are. Friends? Enemies? Rivals? They've traded as many punches as they have secrets. And out of all his connections from before the Mountain, Liang seems to be the only one of the Sages to want to confront him head-on.

Of course the whole situation with Yuandi and Fruitie happens...

That very night, Smokey finds a familar dark robed figure sitting at the spot on the mountain he had claimed for his own. This time Liang doesn't whisk away into the shadows.

Liang, mocking bravado: "The Monkey King! Great Sage Equal to Heaven! Punished once again for pilferingproduce!" Smokey, growling: "I'm not in the mood Liu'er." Liang: "Oh, but I am!" *jumps off rock and walks closer* "You see, there's a lot of talk that you destroyed a heavenly tree. One that contained super dangerous primordial demon. One that everyone seems to think is their ancestor! Do you know,how many demons I had to run and hide from to prevent that overgrown worm from finding me?!" Smokey, shit-eating smirk: "You've always been so good at running and hiding." Liang, pouncing: *angry snarl!* *monkey fight ensues*

Which all leads to... yeah. Confessions and a first kiss occurs in the carnage of their fighting.

Liang bolts back into the shadows the second silence falls. Smokey is left dismayed and hopeful. He feels better than he's felt in a long while, he just hopes Liang doesn't stop being his shadow...

And then the next time they meet, Liang is holding a pink-ish monkey cub who seems to reach out towards the Monkey King like he's an old friend...

[strawwritesfic]

Frodo Baggins x Female!Hobbit!Reader: Girl

Summary: Frodo doesn’t really mean it about turning Merry and Pippins into toads, but there are times he wonders if that wouldn’t make things a little easier on everyone else.

Rating/Tags: All (Movie canon; during canon; Fellowship of the Ring; A Long-Expected Party; Pippin & Merry; Pippin & Merry & Frodo; Frodo & Gandalf; Sam/Rosie; quarreling; love confession; birthday party; the Shire)

Challenge: “160 Collective Drabbles” challenge by BobaPop on Lunaescence Archives.

Tag List: @imaginesfire​

Girl

Bilbo’s eleventy-first birthday party had been the talk of the whole Shire for almost the entire year that led up to it. Every hobbit in the town of Hobbiton—and many more from the outlying regions—was invited to the massive celebration. To the young Frodo Baggins wandering through the crowd, it seemed that each and every one of them had come. Plus some, he judged, as a line of his uncle’s well-wishers nearly crushed him in their eagerness to get to the buffet. He had seen nearly everyone he cared to, including Merry and Pippin and Rosie and Sam...save for the one person he had hoped to see most.

The weight in Frodo’s stomach grew heavier and heavier the longer his search for you went on. Could it be that you hadn’t come? Of all the hobbits to skip his coming of age party—and to add to that, he knew that it was his fault if you had! If only he had not said what he’d said just that very week. Then maybe, maybe—

“Frodo!”

He looked up to see Merry and Pippin waving at him from beside the band playing for the wide field of dancers between Frodo and his friends. Both grinned widely upon catching his eye. Unable to entirely hide his disappointment, Frodo morosely picked his careful way through the throng of party-goers to the pair. Neither of them stopped smiling.

“Why the long face, Frodo?” Merry asked.

“Are you still looking for [Name]?” added Pippin.

Frodo looked over his shoulder at the constantly-shifting dancers, half-expecting to see you there with some other neighborhood tween. He did not. Pippin’s grin widened as Frodo turned back to him and Merry.

“Never fear,” Pippin gave Frodo a hearty clap on the back, “for we have found your maiden fair.”

Frodo tried to protest this, but Merry overrode him: “A little bird told us precisely where you can find her.”

“Who was the little bird?” asked Frodo. 

Merry shrugged carelessly and reached for a passing tray of ales. “Gandalf,” he answered, passing Pippin a drink of his own while the latter nodded sagely.

“You know, I rather think Gandalf suspects us of something, Merry.”

“I believe you are correct, Pippin. And that he believes sending us on this errand to help Frodo will keep us from any mischief.”

“A pity for Gandalf. Everyone has to be wrong from time to time, I suppose, even great wizards such as he.”

Both sniggered into their mugs. Frodo waited for them to get to the point. They didn’t. At last, unable to wait any longer, he said:

“Well? Where is she?”

Merry gave a slight start, as though he had forgotten that Frodo was even there. He pointed off towards the edge of the main tent.

“Her mother has her helping with the catering, or so [Name] claims.”

“So you’ve spoken to her?”

Pippin shook his head. “Threw a plate right at my nose when we tried. You’ll probably have better luck.”

“I doubt it,” Frodo murmured. 

After gulping down the last of his ale, Merry made a shooing motion with his free hand. “Well, run along and find out, why don’t you? And if you see Gandalf along the way, tell him we passed along his message and were perfectly well-behaved for the duration of our conversation.”

Frodo knew that he ought to have been more concerned with his companions’ plans. If Gandalf desired to keep them occupied, it was probably for the best. A lot of planning had gone into this party. Merry and Pippin were more likely to ruin it with their particular brand of trouble than any of the other guests—and that included the horrible Sackville-Bagginses. On the other hand, Gandalf must have wanted Frodo to talk to you, if he’d gone out of his way to give him your whereabouts.

It hardly mattered. Before Frodo could breech the topic of whatever trouble the two were up to that evening, they had disappeared into the crowd. Oh, well. He hadn’t really wanted to tell them off anyway. His heart just wasn’t in it.

Relieved of this duty—though not without feeling some slight trepidation over what Merry and Pippin might have planned—he made his way in the direction indicated. This led him straight to a smaller tent set off from the rest of the festivities. Frodo joined the fast-moving line to the entrance and eventually came close enough to peek inside. A veritable hive of busy hobbits in uniform bustled endlessly before him.

None of them seemed to notice him slipping into the warm darkness after them. Everyone was far too busy with their assigned task. Here the party’s considerable amount of food was prepared, and none of the workers had time to rest. A constant stream of them carrying plates both empty and full moved in and out from the tent’s entrance flap. Heat from exertion and so many cooking fires pressed against Frodo’s skin until he was quite as pink in the face as those doing the baking. Of course, he found you at the very back, scowling over a steaming tub of water filled with dirty serving platters.

He was not surprised you were hiding among the cooks. Your mother was considered one of the top chefs in Hobbiton, and Bilbo had hired only the best for his eleventy-first birthday party. What did surprise Frodo was your expression. Rarely had he seen you appear so dour, and you hadn’t even spotted him yet.

“Pardon me, Mister Frodo,” said a man at Frodo’s back, “but if you wouldn’t mind scooting out of the way, I’d be much obliged. We’re rather in a hurry.”

Frodo hastily crossed the aisle in which he’d been lingering. The man’s additional, “and a very happy birthday to you, sir,” was lost on him, for at that very moment your eyes flashed upward to catch him in the act of spying. You dropped the platter in your hands, but being pinned in by the hobbits washing plates on either side of you, you could make no escape. One of the washers left, only for Frodo to step into the empty space.

You crossed your arms across your chest, and shot him a look eerily reminiscent of your mother. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s my party,” Frodo answered, “as well as Bilbo’s.”

Apparently this was the wrong answer, because you threw him a dirty look and bent to snatch your dropped plate from the sudsy water. “Then go enjoy your party,” you snarled, attacking a stuck on bit of potato with more vigor than Frodo thought necessary. 

He inched closer, the better to stay out of the way of those continually coming to deposit dinnerware in need of washing. “I can’t,” he said. “I don’t have anyone to talk to.”

Your mother had explicitly freed you from catering duty for the party. She had done it as a favor to Frodo, an early birthday present, she had said. Why, then, did you seem so insistent on doing what wasn’t your job for the evening? Without bothering to look at him, you dropped your tray back into the tub, then reached over the resulting splash for a new plate.

“I’m sure Merry and Pippin would be more than happy to talk with you,” you said coldly.

“I don’t think I want involved with whatever they’re up to.”

“Bilbo, then.”

“He’s busy playing host.”

“Gandalf.”

“How would he keep an eye on Merry and Pippin?”

You threw your hands up in the air in frustration, and lost your grip on the plate. “Why not Sam?”

Frodo shuffled his feet. You were nearing the subject of your fight, whether you realized or not. “He and Rosie are dancing.”

Nose wrinkled, you rummaged through the water in search of your platter. “Well, I don’t know what to tell you, Frodo. Those are all the boys I know, and your only friends. After all, you told me yourself we can’t be friends, because I’m a girl.”

His wide blue eyes closed in shame. Frodo had said that. He hadn’t meant it. The whole thing had been badly bungled, and now he didn’t know how to un-bungle it, or if you’d even give him the chance to try. 

“I didn’t mean it like that, [Name].”

You did not answer this time. Having retrieved your wet things, you made a silent, angry beeline for a rack of clean towels to dry them with. He followed as quickly as he could, given how many hobbits were inside such an enclosed area. He wished he wasn’t having this fight so publicly—not that anyone really had the time to eavesdrop.

“[Name], I didn’t,” he insisted as he caught up to you. “You’re a girl.”

“Oh, very astute observation,” you said semi-hysterically. Now the pitch of your voice was drawing attention. “What would I do without you? I already figured out I was a girl because, in case you haven’t noticed, we're no longer friends!”

Frodo took a deep breath. Like mother like daughter—though he supposed you were still a tween, with your own coming of age several months away still. Either way, he was terrified of your rage, but this might be the last chance he got to explain himself. Bracing himself, he lightly looped one hand around your wrist. You fell into an enraged silence at once.

“You’re a girl and my friend,” he said, before you had the opportunity to recollect yourself. “When I said I didn’t have any friends that were girls…well, I meant that you’re something more.”

“What?” you said after a moment of struggle. 

Encouraged by your not making to run off again, Frodo slipped his hand from your wrist to your palm. “I didn’t mean that we weren’t friends. I was trying to ask you to dance with me. I just didn’t phrase it right.”

A strange noise like a cross between a giggle and a squeak escaped you. You still had not forced him to release you. “You wanted to dance? With me?”

The odd tone of your voice gave Frodo some doubts. You were not normally the kind of person to repeat others either. He offered you a hesitant nod.

“I didn’t mean to make you think you mean less to me than Sam and the rest. You don’t. You mean more. But,” he added when you remained as stiff as a statue in front of him, “if you want to just stay friends, I understand. So long as we’re still friends.”

Seconds went by as you continued to gape at him. His heart sank, and he let go of your hand at last. Yes, he understood you wanting to remain friends, but that didn’t mean he wasn't disappointed by this turn of events. Bilbo’s occasional asides about broken hearts made sense now. Frodo mashed his lips together for a long moment before he gathered his wits about him to take his leave.

“You’re busy," he said awkwardly as he backed away. "Bilbo will be looking for me. We’ll talk some other—”

“Of course I’ll dance with you!”

Frodo had barely got two steps toward the crowded tent exit when you practically tackled him in a hug. Twisting in your grip, he looked around to see your scowl had transformed into an enormous smile.

“You will?” he said. Bewildered as he was, his heart felt ten pounds lighter even as you shuffled off him to allow him room to stand.

“Yes! I—I like you as more than a friend, too. I’d love to dance with you. If,” you looked suddenly shy, “if you still want to after I was so mean.”

“You weren’t mean. I said the wrong thing. I got nervous.”

You smiled again, a little less brightly this time. “So…still more than friends?”

“More than friends,” he said. “But can you leave? Will your mother let you?”

“Are you kidding? She’ll serve me next if she catches me hiding from you in here.”

Just like that, you both were hand in hand again. Frodo squeezed yours firmly in his own. “Let’s go. I think I can get the band to play—”

KABOOM!

Everyone in the tent yelped and froze. Plates trembled. Frightened hobbits dropped their plates. You threw Frodo a knowing look.

“Pippin and Merry?” you asked.

“Pippin and Merry,” Frodo said wearily. “Let’s go see what sort of trouble they got in this time.”

“Then we dance?”

“Then we dance.”

The two of you ducked out of the food tent and headed for where Gandalf and a cluster of half-drunk hobbits—all grumbling over the fright they had received—were gathered. 

It was hard for Frodo to be too upset with Merry and Pippin after they’d help him get together with you. Gandalf had, too, however, so it could be that they were about to get what they deserved. It all depended on how much time this business took, and if Frodo at last got to have his long-awaited birthday dance.

On second thought, he hoped Gandalf turned them both into toads. It would be faster, Frodo thought, and after all, Gandalf could always turn them back...after you and Frodo had your dance.

[dasher85]

Dust.

featuring our Elucidation duo

Alhaitham x reader | y/n | you

short story

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

[ after all, it was him who loved you first ]

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

Fear and distraught are all but emotions surging from the inability to discern the outcome of an event. Alhaitham's lungs and eyes are hurting as he's exposed to the dust particles swirling in the small ruin's area. The walls have suddenly collapsed down from above. He shook his head to regain focus and stood up. No time to stop and care about his own situation, he could only throw himself into the debris of ruins. 

His arms tirelessly throws away the chunks of rubles to the side. The tip of his fingers painted crimson as it bled through the cuts and wounds after scraping through the rough surface of rubles. At least some of his fingers were covered by the thick leather.

"Y/n!" He called out before getting into coughing fits.

Determined and resilient. His mind was devoid of reasons or pain. All he wanted was to get a hold of you.

"...hang on! I got you!" He quickly clears away the rest of the rubles on the outline of your body once he gets to feel the soft fabrics of your outfit before slowly pulling you out with all his strength.

"Please… please…please-" his lungs weren't able to properly word out those endless pleading, as he worriedly tried to slowly shake your limp body. Your head and arms motionless like a lifeless doll.

The usually expressionless acting Grand Sage was supposed to calmly check your pulse but he was too scared to even think about that outcome. He knew if that happens, he wouldn't be able to get through it.

"Hai…" you suddenly weakly called out his name with a hoarse voice before coughing uncontrollably. Dusts have also collected in your airway.

He wordlessly sighed in relief.

"...I can't- I can't feel my body" you struggled to voice it out in between coughs.

"You're alright. I'm here." he assured you with a calm voice. The last thing he wanted was to make you feel panicked.

Alhaitham gently carried you with both of his strong arms. In such helpless conditions, you're not able to move or support yourself and can only completely depend on him. Fortunately, he's not just a feeble scholar as he often claims.

He swiftly sprinted away towards the exit of the ruins and easily avoided any collapsing walls in front. Your head that was rested on his left shoulder would occasionally slide down as he ran but he would quickly readjust it again. It took him great effort to make you feel comfortable during those difficult runs but he somehow managed. 

"I can't see…" panic was evident in your voice as you struggled to move your hand to rub your eyes.

"We're almost there, calm down. It'll be alright" he quickly reassured you but couldn't stop your hands from struggling because both of his arms were still carrying your body.

Your breathing was unsteady as you continued to cough. The only body part that you could move was your hands as you clenched it into a fist. From head to toe, it was impossible to move a single muscle. It felt heavy and painful. Your body surely wasn’t made for such extreme circumstances. 

Alhaitham gently placed you down on the golden sands before quickly setting up a tent after getting a little further away from the ruin's entrance.

He then took off his coat and covered your face away from the scorching sun glares as you laid there motionless, too tired to make a single movement.

"...water" you whispered. The heat mixed with the throbbing pain on your head felt so unbearable. It was getting difficult to breathe under the thick material of fabric that was covering your face.

It wasn't even long after he returned to pick you up once more and move you inside the tent. He carefully placed you down on your side and spilled running clear water on your eyes without a word.

You were surprised for a second due to the cold sensation but only slowly blink your eyes to completely clear the leftover dust particles inside your eyelids.

"Any sands left in your eyes?" He finally questions after using the whole water bottle. 

You slowly shook your head as a reply to his questions.

"...water, dust in my mouth…" you whispered the same request once more with a hoarse throat. 

He nodded and took out another bottle of water for you to drink.

"Does your head hurt?" He then questions after aiding to your previous request.

"Mmm… headache"

"Any other pain in your body?"

"...ankle"

"Left?"

You barely nodded but he quickly inspected it with at most care.

"...s- stop. That really hurts" you squeezed your eyes shut with a frown. How you wished you would just pass out and ignore the pain but you’re still amazingly conscious right now.

He sighed but quietly and carefully wrapped it with clean strips of linen. He guessed that it's either sprained or broken but he couldn't possibly make you feel anxious when he didn't even have the medicine to ease your throbbing head.

"Let me rest for a while." 

"We can't stay here, you can't walk. I need to get you back to the hospital right now" he then announced.

He gently cleared away the strands of hair on your face and inspected your head for any injuries. Surprisingly there weren't any wounds on your head. 

"...your hands are injured too" you slowly spoke after seeing his hands.

"Mmm…" he simply replied and continued to inspect both of your arms for cuts or bruises.

He applied ointments here and there upon seeing some small cuts on your skin. After he was satisfied with making sure all wounds were aided he then finally applied antiseptics solutions on his own hands.

"Hai…"

"Mmm?" His attention swiftly moved towards you.

"Thanks for helping me"

He scoffed but eventually displayed a warm smile. 

"I'm just grateful" He then gently took hold of your right hand as he usually does sometimes.

Out of sudden reflex, you somehow slowly took your hands away from him.

"Uh… sorry, I'm not-" you awkwardly tried to find an excuse to escape from the situation before looking away.

"Hmm… What's wrong? Does it hurt, did I-??"

He wished his guess was wrong and that he was just overthinking things.

"No… I'm alright" you whispered but refused to look him in the eyes anymore.

He frowned unhappily before hurriedly disassembling the tent and packing up some belongings inside a bag. As swift as he read through a book, he hid the bags of tent and some equipment behind a ruble near the ruin's entrance before getting back to you. It was too much work to bring it back right now, plus he needs to carry you.

He kept his coat wrapped up your head as a protective hood against the sun's glares before carrying you on his back. The distance from here back to Sumeru city would take a few hours of walking but he planned not to even take a break from the long journey.

"...I can walk, you don't need to-"

"Save your energy" he sternly hushed you and refused to make any further conversations.

Truthfully he's genuinely frightened to death by the uncertain outcome that would have occurred to you. Being an observant person, he can not only see but also feel the change of air in your unspoken emotions. It was distant and unreachable. He couldn't do much right now but he believed the actual doctors would have a better explanation against this. Now is not the time to sulk or get upset, as he unquestioningly prioritizes your wellbeing more than his own emotions. 

Your head occasionally bobs slightly to the side of his left shoulder as he walks down steep terrain. He had to take careful steps to prevent himself from causing too much movement.

He at least knew you still completely trusted him as you had fallen asleep even while he carried you. Eventually you finally woke up after an hour of sleeping.

"Oh no… I fall asleep. I'm sorry" you mumbled apologetically.

"Quiet, you'll spook the Dusk birds"

"Dusk birds?"

You grew fond of those birds after taking care of it for a few months. This happened after three months of wearing those matching rings.

"...not interested?"

"Just a little"

He sighed, feeling a little troubled. How should he approach this delicate problem? It weighs more than your body weight 

"Hai… Uh, Alhaitham. I'm sorry I keep calling you like that. How strange…" you slowly spoke. 

"You're just tired, have some more rest"

"Right… I was just going to inform you because my head still hurts."

You quietly rests your head once more on his shoulder before once again drift off to sleep.

An hour later, Alhaitham stood before the doctor and preached his observations about your current condition. You were still asleep on the hospital bed even after he gently placed you down in a comfortable position.

He literally knows some of the medical terms for the general injuries but wasn't sure about the reason behind your missing memories. The doctor was just amazed how he wasn't a doctor himself.

You opened your eyes after a while but you didn't know for how long you've been asleep. At least the headache has subsided. The window only displayed darkness and distant street lights from afar which told you that it's already night time. No voices were heard outside of the hospital room, it's only you and… 

'Why is he still here?' you thought with a slight frown.

His head rests on the left side of the hospital bed even while he was seated on a chair. You couldn't see his face as he was facing the other side. His greyish hair was brushing against your fingertips. 

You slowly lifted your hand away but unexpectedly caught a glimpse of a shining reflection of light from your own hand. It has reflected the lights from the candles across the nightstand.

Naturally, you carefully inspected the ring on your fourth finger, turning your hand a few times. You have no recollection of wearing such a ring for accessory purposes. Eventually you pull it out of your finger and hold it in between your index and thumb.

'When did I buy this?' you casually thought. The surface of the silver ring was smooth and shiny, looking like a typical ring you would wear but still you didn't remember buying it yourself. 

You turned it to an angle and bring it closer to observe at the seemingly text carvings on the inside of the ring.

'...just my name and-?!'

----------------------- 

A/N: Not sure if that was interesting? I was just motivated to write about dusts and debris... I’ll write part two if anyone wants an ending instead of a cliffhanger.

[spirit-meets-the-b0ne]

An Analysis of Ozai’s characterization, rise and descent

Recently I’ve seen a lot of discourse on Fire Lord Ozai. One of the cruxes of the issue being that people look at Ozai from the original series and claim he’s too “2 dimensional” or “cartoonishly evil” and I’m here to say “let’s look through a lens instead”

While there may be some case for Ozai being just another big bad there’s far more evidence that suggests his issues are far more nuanced. The show continually stops at these points of character development to focus on generational trauma and unlearning the negative influences of family/nation.

In that breath of we look at Ozai from the point of view of a nationalist with a narcissistic personality disorder almost ALL of his subsequent behavior makes sense…

• Ozai being controlling of his family members. Even from the start of his marriage he shows signs immediately of trying to manipulate and estrange Ursa from her family.

•His domination and manipulation of his children. Remember although he favors Azula it’s still very obvious that the only reason he does is because of her perceived value. I personally think this could come from her ability to fire bend blue flames, something his father likewise did. Whether it be a genetic trait or a sign of “pure” bending ability it is essentially a trophy for Ozai. A classic narcissistic parent only has value for their child and still demands to be above them - we see this when Ozai names Azula Fire Lord only after making a new greater title for himself (get to that later). Since Zuko showed none of the same promise as Azula - Ozai had already resigned to him being of no value to him and even admits the Fire Sages and his mother are the only reason he’s even here. Ozai only has value on power and much like his intentions to usurp Iroh were always there his intention to “cast [Zuko] of out of the palace” are likewise there for the same reason.

*side note YES there is one time where Ozai does save Zuko’s life but even his account of these events tells all you need to know.

Ozai saves his son (because it would be embarrassing for the FIRE prince to have drowned and Ozai knows this) but Zuko “spends the day” in his mother’s arms.

•Ozai’s narcissism eventually surpasses his nationalism as even Fire Lord is not a grand enough title. A key characteristic of NPD is an “excessive need for admiration.” We see this frequently with Ozai as well as his self importance and entitlement. When he becomes the Phoenix King he assumes a new level of perceived power and admiration. As well as a superiority over his ancestors who started the war. After all they were just Fire Lords, he is much more. He’s a megalomaniac and even taking the most powerful position in the Fire Nation wasn’t enough for him.

To suggest he’s just the ember island version of himself is too reductive. Almost all of Ozai’s behavior under this lens of sociopathy and narcissistic personally disorder track quite easily. It’s not that Ozai simply manipulates and attacks his family he NEEDS to be the most powerful. The perception of weakness and his hubris is the set up for his downfall because the ones he never thought worthy (Zuko and Iroh) are eventually his undoing.

This lens also provides a great backboard for analyzing Azula, it bleeds into why she’s a perfectionist and her own mental instability. Growing up under the boot of narcissistic father explains Azula and Zuko’s (initial) entitlement and desire for recognition. They’re both classists and nationalists at the beginning of the story. Zuko later gets humbled and has his eyes opened but Azula still very much (as we see with her relationships) holds her royalty and rights very highly.

Azula especially caters to her father’s need for admiration and she assumes his fantasies of grandeur. Her subsequent actions of manipulating people seems a learned trait and no doubt from Ozai, she did watch from the shadows as he manipulated his way to the throne. It sets a tone for her as well to dominate Zuko and usurp his birthright, even though Ozai shows he cares only for power not for tradition. She still strives for his approval and acknowledgement of superiority.

And of course the climactic ending of his reign being his power is taken away from him - this is a death knell for everything mentioned above. Thats WHY it’s so impactful what Aang does not only because it aligns with Aang’s desire for pacifism but it’s the antithesis of Ozai’s campaign for total domination. Ozai only ever cared about power and control - to be stripped of his literal fire power reduces him to all he has left - mental control. When he’s imprisoned he is STILL trying to fuck with Zuko’s head by bringing up his mother and these cryptic stories from the past.

Although there’s is the obvious black and white to see Ozai as a cartoonishly evil war lord who has intentions of genocide there’s more to Ozai than that. Hopefully this analysis also resonates with anyone like myself who has/had a parent who shows these signs of narcissism and empathized with both Zuko and Azula because we know what kind of monsters those parents can be …

I’m not saying this is the ONLY lens to view Ozai and if the textual evidence wasn’t there maybe I would say I’m projecting but I think the case is pretty solid for the kind of villain Ozai is. He’s much more cerebral than this audience is giving credit for and it’s his villainy that ultimately defines many of the other characters and their paths.

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

Chapter 14 Recap: Mind monkey returns to the Right; the Six Robbers vanish from sight.

Though both Tripitaka and Boqin are driven to fear by the voice, the assembled houseboys state confidently that it “must be the old ape in that stone box beneath the mountain who is shouting.” Boqin agrees, and then explains to a perplexed Tang Sanzang that though the mountain is currently known as the “Mountain of Two Frontiers,” it was once known as the “Mountain of Five Phases.” Boqin states that he had further heard from his elders that the mountain had long ago “fell from Heaven with a divine monkey clamped beneath it,” and that this monkey had “lasted from that time until now, surviving both cold and hunger.” Boqin then suggests that they go see what the monkey is shouting about, and Tripitaka reluctantly agrees.

The two and the horse don’t have to travel long before they encounter a stone box that does indeed contain a sentient monkey currently covered in dirt and greenery. Said monkey greets Tang Sanzang as “master,” and states that he’ll protect the monk on the way to the Westward Heaven. He then asks Tripitaka if he is indeed the scripture pilgrim and, having that confirmed, reveals himself to be “the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven…who greatly disturbed the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago.” He also claims that he is now sworn to protect the scripture pilgrim, and that he is willing to become Tang Sanzang’s disciple.

Tripitaka is delighted at this turn of events, but isn’t sure how he can free the monkey from the stone box. The Great Sage tells Tang Sanzang that it’s an easy task, and that all he has to do is remove a tag with golden letters on the top of the mountain. Boqin and Tripitaka make their way up together, and upon seeing the seal Xuanzang prays to the Buddha to only let the monk remove the seal if the monkey’s speaking the truth. He then removes the tag easily, and it blows away, with the prison guard of the Great Sage also letting Tripitaka know that the seal is being returned to the Buddha.

After going back to Sun Wukong and letting the monkey know that his imprisonment is over, the delighted simian tells Tripitaka that he should “walk away from here so that I can come out.” The group of humans then retreat some five or six miles, but Sun Wukong yells at them to go further. Finally, after they had left the mountain entirely, “at once came a crash so loud that it was as if the mountain was cracking and the earth splitting wide open.” The next second a completely naked Great Sage is bowing in front of Tang Sanzang, thanking Boqin for “shaving the grass from my face,” and goes off to get the luggage in order. We’re also informed that Sun Wukong’s time as the BanHorsePlague gave him such authority over all equines that “the horses of this world inevitably would fear him when they saw him.” The monkey also informs the monk that he already has a religious name in “Sun Wukong,” and Tripitaka gives him the nickname “Pilgrim Sun.”

Boqin, now seeing Tang Sanzang is protected by “an excellent disciple,” makes his leave. The “stark naked” monkey and the monk continue on the journey west, Sun Wukong carrying the luggage, Tripitaka on his horse. They are soon menaced by a tiger which Pilgrim Sun takes on with delight, pulling out his as-you-will cudgel from his ear and giving big cat such a ferocious blow that he “caused its brain to burst out like ten thousand red petals of peach blossoms, and the teeth to fly out like so many pieces of white jade.” Tang Sanzang immediately falls off his horse in fear at this display of strength, noting that it had taken Boqin all day to defeat a tiger whereas Sun Wukong had reduced the tiger “to pulp with one blow of his rod.” An unperturbed Pilgrim Sun asks Tripitaka to sit down for awhile, and proceeds to make himself a loincloth from the tiger’s skin.

As they continue their travels, Tang Sanzang asks Sun Wukong a litany of questions about his cudgel and about his abilities, which the monkey is only too eager to boast of. Tripitaka is “more relieved than ever” upon hearing that his new disciple and his new guardian possesses “boundless ways of transformation” and ways to protect him, and the two continue travelling and chatting until sunset.

They find shelter for the night after some difficulty, with an elderly man who opened a door they knocked on being left “panic-stricken by the hideous appearance of Pilgrim,” but who is soon mollified upon seeing “the handsome features of Tripitaka.” Monk and disciple are soon invited in, and Sun Wukong relates how he had seen the old man when he was a child collecting vegetables and firewood. The old man, for his own part, recounts how his great-grandfather had told him about how when “this mountain dropped from the sky, it had a divine ape clamped underneath it.” Tripitaka and the old man also discover that they are from the same clan as they both have the secular family name “Chen.” Sun Wukong then asks “Old Chen” for some boiled water so that he and his new shifu can clean themselves; old monkey in particular hadn’t taken a bath “for five hundred years.” Pilgrim Sun further requests a needle and some thread from Old Chen after the bath, which he uses to properly stitch his tiger skin. Wearing that and one of Tripitaka’s shirts which the monk had left out specifically for the monkey, Sun Wukong “paraded in front of his master,” and Tang Sanzang compliments him, saying that his disciple now truly looks like a pilgrim.

Pilgrim Sun and Tripitaka are back on the road the next morning, continuing the journey west. Soon enough the seasons change, and early winter is upon them. It is then that master and disciple are suddenly accosted by six bandits, who demand that they leave their horse and bag behind. Tang Sanzang is terrified enough to fall from his horse. Sun Wukong, however, calls this robbery a trifling matter, and that the bandits are “just some people coming to give us clothes and a travel allowance.” The monkey then nonchalantly lets the bandits hack away at him about eighty times before deciding that “it’s about time for old Monkey to take out his needle for a little entertainment.” He then proceeds to “beat every one of them to death, stripped them of their clothes, and seized their valuables.” He brings these spoils back to Tang Sanzang, smiling broadly.

Tripitaka, for his own part, is horrified by his disciple’s actions and soundly reprimands him. Confused, Sun Wukong notes that if he hadn’t killed the bandits, “they would have killed you!” Tang Sanzang, however, is adamant that “As a priest, I would rather die than practice violence.” Pilgrim Sun then states that “when I, old Monkey, was king on the Flower-Fruit Mountain five hundred years ago, I killed I don’t know how many people. I would not have been a Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, if I had lived by what you are saying.” Tang Sanzang retorts that “It’s precisely because you had neither scruples nor self-control…that you had to undergo this ordeal of five hundred years,” and that because even after entering the fold of Buddhism the monkey insisted “on practicing violence and indulge in the taking of life as before, you are not worthy to be a monk, nor can you got to the Western Heaven. You’re wicked! You’re just too wicked!”

This monkey, so the story next informs us, “had never in all his life been able to tolerate scolding.” And so he flies off, leaving Tripitaka to “set off sadly to the West.” The lonesome monk doesn’t travel long before he meets an old woman holding “a silk garment and a cap with a floral design.” He tells her about his mission and about Sun Wukong’s spat at her questioning, and she gives him the garment and cap, claiming that they used to belong to her son who “had been a monk for only three days when unfortunately he died.” She also gives Tang Sanzang a spell called “True Words for Controlling the Mind, or the Tight-Fillet Spell.” She tells the monk that when Pilgrim Sun returns he must give the monkey the garment and the cap, and then recite the spell silently “if he again refuses to obey…He will not dare do violence or leave your again.” Tripitaka thanks the old woman, who transforms into a shaft of golden light and vanishes towards the east. It is then Tang Sanzang realizes that he was speaking with the Bohisattva Guanyin.”

Sun Wukong, for his own part, heads straight to the Water Crystal Palace of the Dragon King of the Eastern ocean. The two kings start chatting, with Pilgrim Sun telling the dragon about his refusal to listen to the monk and his desire to go back to his mountain, having only stopped by the palace “to come visit you and ask for a cup of tea.” While the Dragon King indulges the monkey, he soon tells him that if he is “unwilling to exercise diligence or to accept instruction, you will remain a bogus immortal after all.” Sun Wukong does soon agree to go back, even running into Bodhisattva Guanyin on his way. Once he reunites with Tang Sanzang, Pilgrim Sun moves to get his shifu food from a bag, and sees the silk shirt and flower cap. Tripitaka tells the monkey that he may wear the fine garments if they fit. An eager Sun Wukong tries them on, and no sooner had he put on the cap than Tang Sanzang started reciting the Tight-Fillet Spell.

The monk “went through the recitation several times without ceasing, and the pain was so intense that Pilgrim was rolling on the ground, his hands gripping the flower cap.” When he touches his head again, Sun Wukong finds that “it was tightly bound by a thin metal band; it could be neither pulled off nor ripped apart, for it had, as it were, taken root on his head.” It can’t even be removed with the as-you-will cudgel. And Tripitaka doesn’t give Pilgrim much time to try, and this time goes through the recitation of the spell until it was “so painful that [Sun Wukong] did cartwheels and somersaults. His face and even his ears turned red, his eyes bulged, and his body grew weak.” The monkey promises to obey the monk if only he stops the recitation. Yet right afterwards he tries to kill Tang Sanzang, and after he’s brough to heel a second time expresses a wish to beat the Bodhisattva Guanyin up. Yet soon after, “Pilgrim gave up all thoughts of disobedience or rebellion.” Whether he will keep with this new mentality is a question that will have to be left for the next chapter.