#these other all mights are hella precious

[obae-me]

The Reunion We Deserved

I said I would do it and so I did, all in one night, one sitting, fueled by nothing but determination, random inspiration, and spite. I re-wrote and created my version of what I would've liked to see at the end of Nightbringer Season 2. Is this a bit dramatic? Yes? Is this the kind of thing I wanted anyway? Yes. I want sobbing, I want people being pathetic, I want emotion, I want it all. So, if that's what you were hoping to see for lesson 40, I hope this can ease some of that anger we had.

Spoilers ahead for Nightbringer since this is quite literally my "remaking" of the ending, which includes in-game references to later lessons!

TW: Blood mention, injury, angst.

Word Count: 4,391

Tears pricked your eyes as you looked upon the several smiling faces of the demons you had come to care for. At the beginning, all you could think of was returning to your home, your time-line, your brothers. You had coped thus far by constantly reminding yourself that these were not the same people you had come to know. But now… after delving into their souls, reforging the pacts, fleeing down the different circles of hell to save one only to nearly lose them all… they’d found their way into your heart once more. How could you? How could you leave them so easily? And tell them to their faces that you’d meet again soon when you knew it was a lie. It might be soon for you, but it would be nearly an eternity for them. Not to mention that the way Solomon and Barbatos described it, this was almost like another universe… Would another version of you show up for them? Or would you leave these particular brothers for good?…

Feet frozen in sorrow and anxiousness, you could only look at them and cry. What were you feeling in this very second, now that you were on the cusp of what you had worked so hard for? The way back home was right above you, the air and magic inches away from sucking you up into it’s mystical vacuum. Your precious family, your home was one step away. So why did it also feel like your heart was being torn from you? “I—“ Your words choked up in your throat. You were tempted to tell them everything right there and then, spill the burden you had been carrying on your shoulder this entire time.

“It’ll be alright,” Lucifer spoke up, seeing your worry, but exuding nothing but confidence himself. “I gave you my blessing after all.”

“Plus, with the Great Mammon’s pact, you’re hella lucky! You’ll get home with no problems, I’d bet on it! S-So you better not make me lose, got it? Get home safe…and happy.”

Levi shook his head a little. “You’d bet on anything wouldn’t you…” But then he turned his head back towards you, nearly just as bold as Lucifer in this one moment. “If someone like me can have courage, you can too. Don’t worry! You’re just like a Main Character! You have indestructible plot armor!”

“Did everyone already forget the white dragon I helped summon?” Satan scoffed. “Their safety and success is guaranteed. So don’t give us that face,” he addressed you.

“Besides!” Asmo perked up. “If anything happened we’d all come rushing to save you! Just like we did for Lucifer. If we can do that, we can do anything! Oo, I just said something real dashing just now! You better take that to heart, hun!”

Beel nodded several times. “You have Luke’s wish egg too. I also made wishes over my eggs at breakfast this morning. I wished for you to always feel healthy and full and loved. And that we’d get to see each other again soon.”

“Those eggs might’ve tasted magical Beel, but they weren’t really…” Belphie looked up his twin as he shook his head, but then he shrugged, coming to the conclusion that it wasn’t worth explaining. “Hey,” he stared at you. “Don’t waste your energy crying now. You’ll need all your strength for your journey. I won’t forgive you if you leave too sad.”

All their words ended up making you laugh, the smile across your face twitching as you worked to force out trembling words. “You all better be kind to one another.” Someone behind you was tugging on your arm. “And make sure you don’t tease Luke too hard.”

“Come on,” Solomon whispered softly to you, tugging you a little harder, making you take a few steps back. The rift in space-time started to roar, attempting to drown out your voice as you struggled for these last few seconds.

“And make sure you all remember to eat and sleep properly. A-and, tell the others at the ceremony that I love them. I… love you all so much.”

“We have to go…” Solomon’s voice sounded tense, like he was nearly ready to cry himself, only keeping himself strong for you. Wrapping an arm around your waist, he nearly hoisted you back himself. Before you left, you reached into the pocket of your pants, fishing out the letter that you had written alone in your old room, what seemed like forever ago now, the one still stained with old tears. You tossed it to the ground in front of you, hoping they would read it, hoping it would help…them live without you.

The last thing you heard was a chorus of cracking voices, getting cut off before they could tell you they loved you too…

And then you were gone. A harsh and forceful wind seemed to suck all the air from your breath. It was almost as if you were being plunged underwater, several forces of pressure from the thousands of years you were swirling past was threatening to crush you. The only sensation you were aware of was Solomon’s. His arms were holding onto you tightly, continuing to mutter spells over and over and over again to keep you safe, expending all of his waining power to push you both through the folds of reality and out on the other side.

Gravity. Disorientation. Falling. A heavy weight slammed against your chest so hard, you wondered if your ribs cracked. The back of your head hit something firm. Everything went black for a while.

After who knows how long, your eyes opened again, staring straight up into the Devildom sky, the shifted stars more familiar to you. Your head was splitting with pain, your breath a wheeze as you glanced down to see Solomon’s limp body keeping you pinned against the ground.

“S-Solomon?” It took a short while for the panic to settle in. “Solomon!” After a moment of struggling, you managed to get him off of you, setting him on his back in the grassy plane you had been spat back out onto. His face looked drained. A chant left the base of your throat, using the last scrap of magic you had to give him a spell to reinvigorate his body. His eyes shot open, coughing as he rolled over onto his side, pushing himself up onto his arms before he fell down again. “Take it easy!” Together, using each other as support, you both got back up to your feet.

“I’m sorry…I had meant to deliver us right in front of the House of Lamentation, but…”

“You did alright,” you assured him, rubbing his back to keep his dizzy mind conscious. “A bit of a rough landing, but we’re alive…” But then, the better question was… “Are we—“

“There you are.” A calm voice manifested itself as a demon in front of you. Barbatos stepped out of a portal, his expression nearly as neutral as ever, except there was something in his eyes that was shining, a strange tremor to his hand that was completely unnatural for someone as him. Then he frowned as he took in the state of both of you, his nostrils flaring as he took the both of you with him, each with one gloved hand. You were pulled into a much less chaotic rift this time. Although the jolt was still enough to nearly cause both you and the sorcerer to fall back to your knees. Before that could happen though, you were shoved into a bed.

The guest rooms of the castle appeared the same as always, but something in particular felt nostalgic, like you’d just returned to a childhood home. Solomon appeared to be ushered into a bed right by your side, both your minds too rattled to resist, as the butler threw open the guest room door from the inside and summoned nearly every Little D in the entire building. “I need human medication, bandages, two sets of pajamas, the herbal tea I set aside in the kitchen. I need the oven preheated, the counter prepared, two trays set, and need them all done within the next two minutes.” There was a very subtle raise to his voice, the seriousness of his tone sending a chill down your spine and sending every Little D scattering for their lives. Barbatos spent one second observing them flee before he dissipated once more, getting wisked away through another portal of his own making.

This all felt…so surreal. Perhaps it was the pain that you were in that was making it feel like a dream. Like you’d wake up in Cocytus Hall and be right back at square one. And yet, something in you was missing that place… that house that you had just started to get used to. The furniture and things both you and Solomon had bought to make it your shared home. But your real home was here. Well, hopefully here.

You wouldn’t get your hopes up over anything yet. Not until you got to see them.

Barbatos returned before you could even begin to ask Solomon about any of this. A whirl of varying shades of green caused your vision to do somersaults as you were quickly fretted over. Salves and bandages were wrapped around your torso and a damp cloth gently touched the back of your head. That splitting pain resurfaced, joining forces with an added stinging. Maybe it was your body going into shock, but you could’ve sworn you heard a shaky shush coming from your current caretaker as you were cleaned and patched up quickly. Luckily, it wasn’t too much longer after that till the aches went mostly away, your head clearing up again as a set of your own pajamas were settled at the foot of the bed, a silver tray stretched over your lap and propped up on two stands. A small plate with a single pastry sat in front of you, along with a bitter smelling dark-green tea that you could tell you’d rather avoid imbibing.

Swiveling your head to the side, you saw Solomon leaning back against the headrest and a few pillows, a bit more vibrancy in his eyes, although those intense dark circles were hard to miss. He was okay. Thank…everything.

“Eat. Drink. Both of you.” The butler stood between the beds, realizing he’d spoken quite against his normal demeanor, he cleared his throat, his palm pressed between his collarbones. “Phoenix’s Breath Tea. You’ll both need it to recover. I apologize for making you both consume something so distasteful, but I’ve found it goes down a bit smoother paired with something sweet.”

A single whiff of the hot beverage in your hand was enough to make you cough, some sense burning in your nose. You settled the cup back down, taking a deep breath, trying to get your head on straight. “Barbatos… Are we…?”

The butler’s eyelids fluttered slowly. “You are,” he stated, his voice quiet, almost in awe. “You’re home. Back in the world you belong.���

A lump immediately formed in your throat, pushing the tray forward and turning to get out of bed. “I need to go. I need to see them, I—“ Before you could get one foot touching the ground, you were wrangled back into bed.

“I’ll fetch them. I swear you won’t have to wait too much longer. But you must drink the tea and you must take a moment to recover. If the others were to know the state you both were in right now, the castle would be torn—“

A banging sound ripped through the room like a gunshot. The guest room door was busted completely off it’s hinges, the wood of the frame splintering, the door soaring across to the left and fully embedding itself into the wall like a dart stuck in a board. If it weren’t for Barbatos’ inhuman skills, you’ve spilled the tea and dessert all over yourself. The royal attendant audibly sighed, sweeping himself to his feet and holding his arms out, his demon form manifesting, wrestling back a writhing and screaming black mass.

Your eyes went wide.

The mass stopped fighting, going rigid, stepping back to form seven different individuals. Three more non-hostile forms stood back in the wrecked doorway, two white, one red.

The bottom of your lip trembled as an overwhelming surge of joy and despair and relief and guilt all flooded out of you in tears. Your fears were pushed away. Your soul seemed to click back into place, like you’d been the last puzzle piece just waiting to finish the picture. “I’m home…”

Chaos erupted in the castle guest room. A few cracking wails nearly burst your eardrums. Asmo’s arms were the first to wrap around you, mascara running down his cheeks in large inky trails, but he didn’t seemed concerned in the least. Kisses lined your face with each sharp intake of breath, too shaken to even speak, he could only address you in his cries as he clutched onto you, trembling. His hand stroked your head, his breathing stopping for a moment when he saw the damage the landing had caused. This only caused him to whimper and cry harder, his thumb running over the outline of your features, running the back of his fingernails over your cheeks.

Levi was stuttering incomprehensibly. As he fell to his knees, he clutched at his head, going through an entire panic attack. He clawed at his chest, tearing gashes into the front of his clothes, looking up at you behind large welling tears as his tail wrapped around his entire torso. Mist filled the entire room as he continued to shake and cry so fervently he couldn’t even stand.

Luke was quite a ways away, holding onto Simeon’s clothing as he screeched out painful genuine child-like cries. The Angel curled over him, shushing him, getting to his own knees to hold the fledgling to his chest, assuring both the little angel and himself that you were okay. You were alright. Miracles had brought you together again. They didn’t have to worry any longer. The sleepless nights, the endless nightmares, the never-ending cold grip of sorrow could go away. He spoke this mantra- this prayer- over and over again, taking deep breaths between the words, blinking rapidly as he had to sway him and his charge back and forth to keep themselves both at ease. The older angel took the occasional glance over Luke’s shoulder, muttering a thankful blessing on repeat every-time he locked with your eyes.

Satan was thrashing around the room, screaming wildly, out of control, ready to beat Barbatos and Solomon for making you arrive in this condition, for not bringing you sooner, for not telling them sooner, for— Eventually, after getting thrown around the room a little, he ran out of things to be angry for. All it took was one look at your face to calm him down. He approached carefully, angry at himself, angry at whoever it was that took you away, but trying to keep himself together. Satan gingerly pulled Asmo off of you, turning Lust over to Solomon. Clearly, he’d been worried about his other pact-mate, hugging the sorcerer and crying a little more softly into his shoulder. Meanwhile, Satan reached a hand out hesitantly, like you were a feral cat he was trying to pet, worried you’d run away. His hand brushed through your hair and settled at the side of your face. Once he realized you weren’t going anywhere, his arms pulled you to him, pressing your face against his shoulder. “You’re here. You’re here again. You’re—“ His voice went hoarse, like he was losing it, like he’d been doing nothing but screaming for the entirely of your absence. Soon his words were nothing but faded squeaks, trying to portray his words but unable to. He simply held you instead. Then he tore himself away from you, heading over to the back wall and punching holes into the structure till his knuckles turned bloody.

Someone crawled onto the bed. Belphegor peered at you with an almost blank expression. His hand reached out, touching your knee, flinching as soon as he made contact, like the very act of him doing so would hurt you further. You could tell that maybe he felt like some of this was his fault, like he’d deserved the pain of having you be sent away from him, like if he did anything wrong again, you’d vanish for real this time, How many times could you come back from the dead? How close was he to losing you entirely? For good? As soon as his warmth mixed with yours, he collapsed on the mattress, curling up at your feet. He gathered the blanket towards his face, the end of his tail twitching erratically. His sobs were silent but violent, the entire bed shifting and bouncing as his body convulsed, his chest pounding as he broke down. Every once and a while, he would become extremely frightened, needing to gasp and look up to ensure you were real. You weren’t a dream. He pinched himself, shook his head, even almost bit at his hands to snap him out of this vision. But you were really here. He would curl back up and continue to cry.

White hair bobbed in front of your vision, two hands going to your shoulders and shaking you, pinning you against the headboard, fingernails careful not to dig themselves into your skin as they gripped your body. “What the hell is wrong with you?! Huh? Huh?! Do you have any idea what you put us through?! What you put me through?!” Mammon growls and screams shocked you.

“Mammon.” Lucifer’s voice settled as a stern warning, but something about it seemed weaker than usual.

Greed ignored him, continuing his rant. “You were just gone. Gone! You know that?!” He shook you again, careful not to rattle you too much. “And what am I supposed to do about that, huh?! What did I say?! I said—“ His voice cracked, trails of moisture streaming from his eyes and over his lips. “I said,” he repeated, “if you’re ever in trouble, you have to let me save you. What part of that didn’t you understand?! How dare you get taken somewhere where I can’t reach you?! How dare you?! How dare you?!” His voice continued to raise in pitch, sounding more and more unstable with each accusing question. Then he slumped, his forehead pressing against your chest as his hands held onto your shoulders tighter, almost bruising them, fearful of letting you go. He began shaking you a few times more, each shake meeker than the last. “How dare you. How dare you… How… W- What was I supposed to do if you didn’t come back?… The world is nothin’… I’m nothin’…”

Beel came over and helped his older brother to his feet, allowing him to sit on the side of your bed as Mammon furiously used the back of his wrist to rub at his cheeks. Gluttony stood over you, looking down with a wide close-lipped smile. “Welcome back.” He leaned down, pressing his cheek against yours as his large arms wrapped around the back of your neck. He took in the scent of you, burying his face into the crook of your neck for a moment. His body didn’t shutter, didn’t make noise, but you felt a few warm tears of his drip onto your skin. He silently and secretly teared up for just a few moments before he stood back up straight, gesturing to the tray with your items on it. “Eat, please. It’ll make you feel better.” The sixth-born took a few steps back to let you breathe, and as he moved back, someone else moved forward.

Lucifer stood at your bedside for quite some time in silence, looking down on you with a rather unreadable expression. He had a frown, eyes squinting like he was upset at you. He scanned you over, his brows furrowing, his jaw clenching. He refused to move, refused to say anything, refused to look you directly in the eyes. You moved forward a little, grabbing his hand, holding it in yours. All the sudden, the tension released. His eyes widened before his eyelids lowered, glancing at you past the vulnerable shimmer past his irises. Wrinkles of stress deepened in his forehead as his whole face contorted in agony. He held your hand tightly, bringing the back of it up to his lips. After that, he pulled you against him, his forehead pressed up against yours, his wings in his demon form acting as some sort of visual blocker, as if he couldn’t stand to have the rest of the room see how he was acting right now. He rubbed his face against yours back and forth, one small touch away from cooing, his hands caressing the sides of your neck, feeling your pulse, hearing your breath, taking in every detail and confirming to himself that you were indeed in his arms again, alive and mostly well. “You’ve come back to us,” he whispered, the end of his nose touching yours as one of his hands cradled the back of your neck. “Back to me.” His breath was hot as he panted for a moment, taking a deep breath and speaking in a hushed tone. “I had nearly begun to entertain the thought that…”

You pulled him closer to you, letting his head rest on your chest as you reached around to his back, grasping the cloth of his clothes in your hands. “You know I would fight through all the layers of hell to get to you.”

That seemed to resonate with him, but you weren’t quite sure he remembered that you were speaking quite literally. All those adventures…the things you’d all learned. How lost were they?…

However, Lucifer simply smiled, laughing a little, squeezing you before laughing again. “Yes, if anyone would do such a thing, it would be you. I shouldn’t have doubted you.” He straighted, fixed his clothing, lowered his wings, and moved further back into the room, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger as he paced towards a back corner.

Levi had finally soothed himself enough to move, walking on his knees towards the bed. His hands were fidgeting with every part of his outfit. Eyes puffy from crying, throat raw from his collapse earlier, he kept himself from speaking. You managed to smile down at him and wipe away the last few of his tears. His lips shook again before he lowered his head into your lap. Face-down in the fabric of the blanket, he kept shaking his head. He didn’t stop until your fingers ran through his hair. With a forced gulp, he eventually vocalized words. “I missed you… I was- was- was so scared I would…”

“Lose you.” Belphie sat up in bed, ignoring the fact that his face was now a mess. He scooted closer towards your side on the bed. “We thought we lost you.”

The youngest was able to say what none of the others could. Full silence washed over the room as the reality of the situation fully seemed to hit them, their shock slowly starting to fade.

Diavolo strode in, everyone moving out of the way to allow him to have his own time with you. The corners of his eyes crunched in happiness. His tight and broad shoulders sagged. Both of his large hands scooped up one of yours, bringing your touch to the side of his face. He closed his eyes, almost appearing as if he might purr any second. As he opened his sight back at you, a fire of positivity and excitement lit within him. “A party! We must throw a party! A welcome home celebration! This is…this is… a joyous day.”

At first, the others seemed confused. Then, one-by-one, small determined smiles spread across their faces. The sorrow melted and gave way to pure uncontrollable elation. People hugged each other, danced around the room, cheered, bounced, came back to kiss you, came back to hug you, nearly passing you around the room till Barbatos barged back in and took your hand, bringing you back to bed.

For a while, you assumed he would shut the idea down entirely. But then, the butler grinned. “I figured you would all say as much. Some preparations are already being made. In the meantime, we should let these two rest. They’ve had all too much excitement today.” Barbatos pulled the blanket back over your legs, readjusting the tray and giving you a biting glare that told you you wouldn’t be able to get out of drinking that god-forsaken tea. “But after that, we will celebrate. We will take every day and night to cherish you, and make up for the time we lost.”

Most of the brothers tried clinging to you, demanding they get to stay, but Diavolo, Barbatos, Lucifer, and Simeon managed to corral the desperate demons and one small angel out of the room.

But before they all left, you shouted. “Wait!” They all turned, worried that something was wrong. However, you smiled, happy tears running down your face this time. “I love you all. So very much.”

“I cherish you with every fibre of my being.”

“There ain’t nothing more priceless than you.”

“E-Everything is so much more fun with you here with m-m- us…”

“I…don’t want to even try to imagine a world without you in it.”

“Nothing, and I mean nothing, hun, is as charming as you.”

“Our family isn’t complete without you in it.”

“You belong with us. End of story.”

“You are one of the most precious beings the three realms has ever known.”

“I find myself discovering new things to enjoy every moment I spend with you.”

“Listen, you are a shining beacon in the night. Know how special you are.”

“You teach me so much! If it weren’t for you, I might still be scare— I mean, dislike demons!”

“My dear apprentice… We couldn’t have gotten home without you. You deserve the world. I will stick by you no matter where you go. And you deserve to know—“

“How much we love you too.”

[llamagoddessofficial]

Bird Zoo Au! Mc having to stay at the zoo overnight because the boys contracted some sort of illness. Something that needs to be monitored closely, to the point that she's run ragged. A perfect opportunity to have a feverish harpy scooch their exhausted mate into a nest for some sleep.

Sans: She has to stay the night?

Hehehehe. Heheheheheehhehehe.

She has to keep an eye on him, and give him medicine all through the night. Which means, much to his delight, when he moves away from her she chases him. He might be ill, but it really doesn't take that much effort to play with her- he's like a dog holding something important in its mouth. The more frantically she chases him, the more eagerly he coos and darts away.

He likes to disappear into the darkness, then sneak up on her and surprise her; her shrieks are just the right amount of cute and prey-like to be instinctively pleasing. Owl harpies are whisper-silent and hella frightening, and despite knowing him well, her hair still prickles when she has no idea where he's gone and the aviary is totally silent, her calls of his name going unanswered.

His favourite scare methods are when he suddenly hangs upside down in front of her, and when he flies overhead to snatch her up. But it works for both of them in the end; every time he surprises her, he allows her to give him some meds.

When she does eventually fall asleep, he stands guard, like a good husband. He loves his human... he loves her very much.

Red: His flirtation kicks into high gear when his desired mate is staying the night in his enclosure. Being sick does somewhat mitigate his ability to flirt. But equally, being woozy from the combination of sickness and meds brings out his soft side.

Red has always been a serial nester. Across every AU, he can't help but show his love with nest building. But for a harpy, a nest is probably a bigger deal than for any other creature- it's not something you build for just anyone. You put sweat and tears into your perfect nest, you use your own softest plumage and most precious treasures. It's something you make for your one and only. Admitting you want to nest with someone is a pretty big deal, and Red wasn't quite prepared to get that emotional with her.

... So Mc is very surprised when a sick, bleary Red forgoes his usual flirts, and goes straight to drawing her into his den and fussing his (very comfy) nest around her. Once he's satisfied she'll be suitably warm and safe, he goes straight to preening her, trilling like a dork. After such a long day, though... it's kinda exactly what she needs.

Skull: Mc doesn't expect much, from Skull. She anticipates he'll be keen to snuggle, but her thought process is that his sickness will make him tired, and slightly easier to deal with.

What neither Mc nor management accounted for, is that nights up in the mountains get deathly cold, so the instinct to keep yourself and your loved ones warm is incredibly powerful in any creature who called that place home. His illness, though it does make him slower, only amplifies those feelings since he can't think straight- from his perspective, the lack of feathers on his favourite keeper makes her particularly susceptible to the cold. He gets the urge to shield her from the elements.

And as night falls, that urge only sharpens.

He eventually snaps, dragging her into his den. He's like a broody hen all night- he lays pretty much over her, pressing her as close into his thick plumage as she can be without suffocating.

She won't be getting anything done tonight.

[aheathen-conceivably]

Now that we know a little more, clearly Gio is pretty ticked off with the situation - considering the feelings that he has about his and Jo’s relationship already, combined with the guilt and likely irritation of her finding out about his lying, now also combined with her demanding part ownership of the ranch - he doesn’t have a lot of leg to stand on. He has to just, deal with it, because it IS all their lives’ on the line, and nothing he’s tried to do has worked. I voted for Zelda to be most pissed, but I think she and Antoine are really just sad for now, so Gio might run away with the title after all 😭

Oh HELLO my friend! I love that we’re still playing the game of “Who Will Snap First!” (Game show pending). You’re hella right about one thing, as things shift and move, everybody’s numbers start to kind of adjust don’t they? Cause ahem, yeah, Gio is ~not pleased~ at the moment, and like you said, he doesn’t even feel like he has the “right” to be angry (which is its own sort of compounding factor, isn’t it?).

Is it time for a Gio deep dive? Welp. Gather one gather round my darlings because you know I can never resist….

Ted Talk with a Heathen! (Obviously under the cut because I’m a madlad)

First and foremost let me say that for whatever else Jo may do or how she demanded it, she is damn right not to pay off a loan without some legal backing in return. Now does she know this? For sure. But does she also know that she did it to get under Gio’s skin in a way that nothing else could? Absolutely. I’ve talked about it a little here, but Gio’s entire mindset is wrapped up in this farmhouse. It is his American dream. We also need to remember that he did what he said he never would in order to get the money to buy it, which is involve himself in his family bootlegging back in the 1920s. He even admitted to Antoine that after their one deal he tried to get out, but “once they get their teeth into you, once they know where you are, they don’t let you stop.” So Gio saved up this money by going against his own moral code and then ran from it to a place he thought he could establish himself as a “legitimate” American.

And I know yall like to rag on him about “making bad choices,” and while that’s partially true, Gio is just horribly, horribly unlucky. Buying land in the American West was incredibly fortuitous at one point in history, and it’s these stories that prompted Gio to do this at all. He’s an example of how not only can we buy into propaganda with our money and our dreams, but how they intersect with historical circumstances in ways far beyond our control or predictions.

Now to add to this, Gio knows what Jo has just done. She’s essentially taken part of what’s incredibly personal and precious to him as “payment” for what he did to her: which was trying to control her into fitting neatly into his dream when she had told him no multiple times before. In doing so he took away what was most precious to her: control and autonomy over her own life. It’s why he’s not really fighting her, and that deep seated Catholic guilt is simply telling him that this is retribution. But you can only write off someone else’s actions as righteous for so long, can’t you? And to make matters worse, let’s not forget….

Gio is not stupid. He knows something is going on between Jo and Val. How much of him thinks it’s just flirtation? How much of it is genuine or is just Jo once again trying to “get back at him”? But he’s staying quiet about it for a reason, most likely the same reason he’s willing to roll over and let Jo take 1/4th ownership of his dream. He’s motivated by guilt and ideas of righteous payback, yes, but he’s also taking a gamble that Jo is working through his betrayal in a way that he has to let her get through, and he’s attempting to let go of control to show her that he won’t do it again.

Essentially, he’s overcompensating for his actions and using his own compliance as a sort of “play” in their game to keep the other person where they want them. Is this potentially more motivated by love and less problematic than him directly lying to her to get her to stay? Y’all can make the call on that, but now at the very least, he’s the one suffering for it rather than her.

Now with all that going on, how far is this man willing to bend? How intuitive is Jo to when she’s pushed him too far and how much of her even gives a damn? Welp. There’s your questions on today’s episode of 1930s: Arc Two! Who Will Snap First? with more info coming at you tomorrow! 🫡

[pixlpxie]

lol i saw that anon ask and I wanted to make a ranking of this. Let me know what you think 🤭

Jongho: that dude is a walking dom, even more than Yunho. Dom on the streets and dom in the sheets. Probably the classical one, all vanilla and missionary

Yunho: even though he’s FREAKYYY FREAKYY, like all scorpio mars are hella freaky, that placement alone is enough 💀 I think he wouldn’t want to submit to his partner even if you pay him. He would probably like having them on top of him but that’s it and make you think you could have the power but no, sike hihi. Hard dom or service dom. I swear he hides so many things somewhere I don’t buy his golden retriever persona, those are the freakiest bitches in heat. But maybe due to his beliefs, he also could be a just a missionary type of guy 🫠

Hwa: switch leaning dom. Dude is an aries but with cancer moon so he could want to dominate but also being dominated by someone with Mommy/Daddy vibes. I also think Aries men like those vibes as well lol, they’re strange creatures for moi

Joong: switch leaning dom, can see him being a power bottom too like those meanie ones that tell you what to do and step on you ufff, such a dream. Yeah he really likes his leader role, especially knowing he’s in charge of people way bigger than him😫 and that smirk he has? The power he holds. Truly an icon for us shorter doms even tho he’s tall af

San: such a good service dom 😭 the best one you’ll ever have. Would love to do everything you ask him, he really loves to pleasure his partner. I feel he’s very shy so he would feel flustered to being on the receiving side, but would enter in sub space once you treat him like the prince he is. Still, I think when he doms he can get a lil… mean like ‘’oh, you want this? You have to beg really good for me. If not then you won’t cum sowwie 🥺’’

Yeosang: 🥺 I have such mixed feeling with this baby, he’s such an enigma, but probably switch leaning sub, but not like completely submit to the point he would let you really dom him but would like to have you on top of him and telling him how to fuck you. Oh Sangie 😫 he could like the classics like Jongho

Woo: oh yeah this motherfucker is a 50/50. I know my people. Loves to dom while letting you dom him. 69 with him would be heaven, But would probably lean towards being a mean dom/power bottom. Juicy

Mingi: so tall, so thick, so intimidating, such a deep voice and yet so submissive. The perfect pillow prince. The only one I can see being into things like pegging. Like humans are 70% water, Mingi is 90% sub and 10% dom, a service dom mostly. He loves and craves to be praised so when he doms is mostly to feed his ego, but It’ll lead to him entering to sub space very fast. This man needs a power bottom in his life. Also slut, whore or other degrading names are a huge no for him unless you’re calling him a good slut or the best and most precious whore you’ll ever had, but baby or prince and another cute names are better for him. Likes edging and teasing like no other, I feel like the concerts are kind of telling 😬 sub or switch leaning sub

hihi 🤭

I agree with 99% of what you said i think the only things that i don't quite agree with is that jongho being more dominant than yunho and mingi being almost entirely a sub i think instead of 90% id give him a 70% sub ngl he would love to know that hes in charge as well so yeah service dom fits him too😋 also i think yeosang isnt exactly a sub?? Hes a switch yes but imo hes a dom leaning one he looks all cute and soft but you know what they say abt the cute looking ones🙂‍↕️ AND BESTIE ABT YUNHO LIKE I AINT BUYING HIS GOLDEN RETRIEVER IMAGE AT ALL EITHER LIKEEE HES SO FUCKING SECRETIVE he might be enjoying it for sure but i actually don't think he likes the constant puppy treatment and im so fucking sure he will drop this image at one point. Idk how idk when but it will happen.

[cemeterygrace]

if you spoil tit for me i will end you

i won’t be on dnp tumblr frequently again until november 2nd

you have been warned

name: noa

age: 18

pronouns: whatever makes the joke funnier idc really

gender: formless blob idc

sexuality: attracted to women, formless blobs, and the guy that happens to be my boyfriend. just a fruity fucker honestly.

member of the grape medicine haters cult

if you’re here for a specific fandom, i’m sorry for your loss

asks are always open just don’t be gross

feel free to tag me and message me anytime!

fandoms: there’s a lot so have a list (or multiple)

music (these are all apple music links i’m sorry)

mcr

fall out boy

twenty one pilots

muna

boygenius

against me!

something corporate

ball park music

bears in trees

bleach lab

catfish and the bottlemen

chappell roan

dead sara

ethel cain

ezra furman

flor

idkhow

linkin park

judah and the lion

the killers

ls dunes

laura jane grace

nxdia

paramore

pavement

rostam

semler

sophian

sophie

starset

tegan and sara

trash boat

vampire weekend

waterparks

weezer

the wombats

the young veins

other

dan and phil

daniel thrasher

nate bargatze

kim stanley robinson

brandon sanderson

charlie jane anders

markiplier

unus annus

other stuff

i’m an mcr5 truther

i am a specialty root beer connoisseur (abita root beer hell yeah)

i’m on the hunt for the best fettuccine alfredo ever send me recs

i’m a freshman history major

i am a band kid do with that what you will

i have a dog she’s a mini englishdoodle named piper and she’s precious

i am a lactose intolerant cheese enjoyer

i have hella disabilities/chronic illnesses/diseases

i am a midwestern hoe

i play cymbals in marching band

instruments i play because this post needs another list

piano

flute

bass guitar

drums

mallet percussion

cymbals

violin

saxophone (a bit)

disabilities and such

juvenile idiopathic polyarticular arthritis (they can’t agree on a fucking name)

adhd (primarily inattentive type)

enthesitis

scheuermann’s disease

extreme hypermobility

lactose intolerant af

auditory processing disorder

my tags!

damn you’re all the way down here? neat! good job for reading all of that lmao <3 as a treat here are some fun facts

i have entirely too many books in my room send help they’ve taken over

going to tit tour and clancy minneapolis!

i might perhaps also run state-of-minnesota-official (i can’t legally bitch about wisconsin too much tho i go to college there)

i am a minnesota bitch what about it

i had chai and ube ice cream once and it was absolutely life changing

i’ve been to 30 states if we’re counting washington dc

i’ve been to 6 countries including the 3 main north american ones (america cause i live there, canada, and mexico)

i’ve been at the summit of the second tallest mountain east of the mississippi (mount washington)

tysm for reading you’re my favorite <3

dni: fascists, shitheads and bigots, israel supporters, terfs, ableists, etc. if you’re a dick about other people existing, this ain’t the place for you.

[jenyifer]

The trainee ep 7 initial reaction

Okay so didn’t do an ep 6 cause idk I watched it but I was so worried about the GL plot I didn’t want to talk about it. However this week I have enough to NEVER watch that part of the ep again as girl who loves girls computer programmer. So I’m only gonna talk about it once.

LETS DO THE FUN PART OF THE PHOTO REVIEW NOW

Awww the butterfly walk lol nothing can go wrong today!!! Ryan fully in his fantasy after last ep and who can blame him. Go on Cinderella take your twirl on the cat walk.

Actually I think Jane has some insight about his reincarnated lover from previous lives hehe Ryan has some split personality thing going on again when hungry. I mean I buy it. We all know no one else can play multiple boys in the same body as Gun. Also I’ll note here for later Jane realizes something is wrong with Ryan right away. 🥹 he wants Ryan to be his good assistant and friend. Just good developments there.

Okay so I get what Jane is saying here. The bottle exploding is hella dangerous. Also Jane knows Ryan has been spaced out lately and is frustrated cause he doesn’t know why. I’d assume that’s why he’s so emotional about this mistake. It’s possible Jane sees himself in Ryan trying not to rely on anyone else? But Jane knows Ryan could have called Pie at the very least. Mistakes happen but this one was a big one.

I also think this is a good point too if Ryan isn’t needed don’t come and mope or make more mistakes. Something has obvs been wrong with him. Now Jane doesn’t phrase this right but he does apologize so good good

Precious Gunnie Tear. I really like this some cause it’s like Ryan is trying to resist at all costs but it boils over and he can’t keep his most inner thoughts in. He heard Jane’s words as a rejection from the team from his usefulness Ryan desperately wants to find his place

One sentence too far but 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 good relationship movement. I don’t know how Jane can interpret this in any other way after their week.

🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

Okay it’s hating time so move on people who want me to kiss ass instead of sharing my actual opinion. I’m only going to do this once hopefully.

🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

I’ve made the mistake of dating a 20 year old when I was 26. You’d think that wouldn’t be too crazy of an age gap. However I was just at a totally different place in my life than her. My thing is 30 years old you think it’s okay to hit on and kiss back a 21 year old you know is in a relationship? You know their brain is still developing? Also do you really think that’s going to be fulfilling. No. She’s a piece of shit. Especially since she is her mentor has been taking the girl out of the office on the company’s dime. Of course she thinks Judy is super woman. Just irresponsible. Judy definitely understands what’s going on with Bah-me and her boyfriend and still decides to do this?! Really…. Okay.

Onto Bah-mee complaining her boyfriend doesn’t talk to her. Nowwwww I’m a computer programmer I have worked with guys who take their work home with them to finish it up at 3am or slept in the office SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY LIKE THEIR JOB. Couldn’t be me but it happens. Idk why Tae is doing all the work in the production room as an intern. I’d be worried he would fuck up put under pressure and that HR might murder me for over working the intern. Set that aside. Guys like Tae work fucking hard. But you know what? Most of them adore their loved ones. Work hard and rent a hot air balloon guys. Work hard take their girl on a 2 week long trip. So does tae not talk? Or is because she has long ago given up. He’s been working she’s seen him working FOR HER TO PLAY HARD. Idk it’s just ugh disgusting. I just think of my coworkers who could never think of cheating yeah they might purposely miss out on their kids stuff but their wives? Oh man I know all their names and where they like to go to dinner etc. EVEN THOUGH sometimes they work like idiots.

I think it’s the best they break up Bah-Meee and Judy can go be evil lesbians and Tae can be a computer guy making lots of money to spoil his future girl with it.

[hestzhyen]

Chapter 44 Museposting

Hello internet void. What a great conclusion to a fantastic arc! I'm locked in and ready to spend the rest of my life with this manga now. ...Maybe. No matter how the manga proceeds from here, I'll hold the Rakuzaichi arc close to my heart for it's nuanced examination of family and duty. And for introducing my favorite character in ages.

Hakuri the precious unhinged bean is STAYING! Another rescued abuse victim for the goldfish bowl, hooray! I hope he isn't shelved after this arc but my goodness he definitely deserves a break. The whole cast does, yeah, but this boy still has a lot to process.

I love how Hakuri's character arc is resolved here - he's finally free to choose his own path after everything he's been through. Ice Lady broke him out of the Sazanami mindset, Chihiro proved there was hope for him, and Shiba gave him an opening to leave his cage behind. Now he can truly find out what's waiting for him beyond the misery and despair he lived with for so long. Oh Hakuri, you deserve all the happiness you find.

And once again, Chihiro's empathy is on full (if somewhat subdued) display. The scene of him wanting to encourage Hakuri as he says he's lost now that his dad is dead squeezed my heart into pieces. Yeah, Kyoura was shitty. But losing an abusive parent isn't a ticket to sudden happiness and purpose most of the time. They were still your guiding star, as Hakuri himself says- for better and worse. Especially if they only became overtly abusive later in your life. The grief that comes with their passing is hella complicated and often leaves you feeling worse off even if your life will be objectively better from now on.

Hakuri was in survival mode for so long thanks to Kyoura that he doesn't know what to do now. He and his remaining family are better off without each other too. Chihiro probably doesn't grasp the complexities of this kind of grief but he does know what it's like to lose everything and be set adrift in the world far too young. So he gently reminds Hakuri of the potential waiting for him outside of the cage...

... and Hakuri responds so sweetly:

Aaaah my heart. You shouldn't talk about yourself like you're property, Hakuri!

This gives me some hope that we're not quite done with him yet. Hakuri's free now but he (understandably) has a low opinion of himself. He still feels the weight of failing the Ice Lady and Chihiro trading Enten for his life and wants to do more. Be more. Feel worthy of what they've done for him. And who better to help him make the most of his new lease on life than the guy he sees as hope incarnate? The grief might overwhelm him at times, and the effects of the abuse he endured won't fade for quite some time. But he'll be alright as long as he's with his samurai.

This is Chihiro's story above all else so I don't think we'll get another deep dive into Hakuri unless it's to further our protagonist's character. But I'm waiting to see what he's set up to do going in to (what appears to be) the Kamunabi arc with baited breath. I hope he really does get to be Chihiro's equal instead of learning the art of Offscreen Sorcery from Shiba. And even though it'll probably be Hiyuki's turn to shine next, I hope she doesn't overtake him in terms of importance to Chihiro's story and the narrative as a whole.

I'll save the doomposting for another time (if it's even warranted). I've got a ton to say about Hakuri now that the arc is over, but that'll probably be a separate post made while we all succumb to brain rot during the break. But yeah. Hakuri. I love him so much. I just hope I'm not pining for scraps of him after all the work the author put in to making him so endearing.

No dwelling on what-ifs! Onward! What about that random shot of a drum?

I think it's interesting that we get a small panel of taiko/wadaiko. They have nothing to do with any major themes in the arc itself, other than the sticks used to hit them being called bachi (Hokazono probably patted himself on the back for that one). I think it's used to lend a sense of finality to the end of the proceedings for the Sazanami clan. These drums have a variety of uses through their long history in Japanese culture, but the one most relevant here I think is in theater and performance arts. Small taiko drums are used to help accentuate performances by setting the mood. Here in Kagurabachi, I think it's specifically linked to Kyoura's line at the end of Ch. 39:

Yeah, the origin of the meme. The EN translation is apparently pretty conservative while the original JP line had more of a showman flair to it. "The show must go on" or along those lines. I'm not a pro at Japanese by any stretch, but it would tie in nicely to the continued use of performance-related terms in this week's chapter. The cruel spectacle is over for good. The curtains are drawn and it's time for all the living participants to go home.

2/2 on destroyed buildings marking the end of an arc. Let's keep it up!

But what is next, indeed? How many people expected Chihiro to try joining the Kamunabi, anyway?! Definitely wasn't on my short list of things that could happen, but I'm really warming up to the idea because of what it says for him as a character.

Normally, a shounen protagonist is someone who is reacting to the plot as it happens. Even if they're out to change the status quo, something has to occur to give them an opportunity to act (yes, even after they've answered the Call to Adventure). Bad guy acts first, something happens to a loved one, natural disaster strikes, etc. The universe gives them an opening and the protagonist strikes. But here, Chihiro creates his own opportunity.

Hiyuki and Tafuku could have just taken the blade away from him in his weakened state and left him at square one trying to find leads. Most authors would take this development path I think! But this is Kagura-fucking-bachi so we get to see another fascinating side to Chihiro instead.

Chihiro recognizes that he doesn't know as much as he thought about his dad's legacy. And that he can't continue his crusade without some serious power on par with the Hishaku clan. So instead of doing the typical shounen protagonist thing and resolving to push through adversity with friendship and sheer force of will, he adjusts his tactics. His resolve is intact but his strategy is changing.

This was indirectly foreshadowed courtesy of Shiba in ch. 12 and reinforced by John Hishaku in Ch. 32:

Don't you love it when characters consistently actually act how we're told they do? Chihiro's always thinking and learning; he's not waiting for fate to give him a chance. No matter how strongly he feels about recovering the swords, he's able to accurately assess his own situation and make the most rational decision (hot-headed moves fueled by deep empathy for others being an exception). I love a protagonist that recognizes when they're out of their depth and adjusts accordingly, man. No practicing slamming his head against a brick wall until it breaks for this guy- he'll find some scaffolding to climb over it instead. Or ask a badass woman to punch a hole through it for him.

I also think it's quite significant that Chihiro's directly asking others for help now. In the beginning he seemed uneasy about letting others share the burden of his father's legacy, but now he's trusting Hiyuki and the Kamunabi to help him manage it. Obviously he's asking to join because he won't let them take full control and responsibility, but he's still facing reality head-on. How will that play out for him? Opening up to Hakuri and trusting in him paid off massively, so maybe it'll work out again?

The last time he worked with the Kamunabi, most of the squad was wiped out by Sojo though. I would not be surprised to see a grudge match of some kind between Chihiro and Kazane despite both of them being on the same side in the same org this time... but we've gotten a few glimpses of all kinds of potential inter-group conflict since very early on. It's not surprising that the Hishaku may want to exacerbate those fractures by letting the Kamunabi get a hold of Magatsumi:

Ch. 7

Ch. 11

Ch. 18

Ch. 22

Ch. 24

So as of Ch. 44, it's clear that internal politics will play a major role...

Chihiro I love you for being able to put the pieces together yourself instead of relying on someone else like other protagonists often have to do.

I expect that working within the Kamunabi will help Chihiro form a firm opinion on whether or not they can be trusted to help him in the long-term. It'll probably also be Hiyuki's development arc as she reconciles her ideals, what she sees in Chihiro, and what she's witnessed at the Rakuzaichi with how the group operates.

I don't want to speculate too much on exactly how it'll all play out but I'm so freakin' hyped man. This is also a great chance to learn more about Kunishge, Azami, Shiba, and the Seitei War...! Oh man! LORE! WORLDBUILDING! I live and breathe for this kinda stuff when it's done well. The war criminals' different takes on the Kamunabi have had me interested in the org for a while now so I wonder what Chihiro will think of them by the end of the arc. Will he be able to work with them for the rest of the series? Will they splinter due to their internal conflicts and the Hishaku's machinations? Will Hiyuki stay with them or go her own way? I want to know! Hmm... on the topic of working with the Kamunabi... I know I said earlier that Chihiro's been opening up since he met Hakuri and is willing to work with the Kamunabi full-time now, but I don't believe he's at the point where he's willing to fully entrust the dangerous, painful parts of his dad's legacy to other people yet. Chihiro's still feeling personally responsible for the deaths the sword WMDs are causing while putting all the pressure to succeed on his own head. He's letting other people help him out but it's his duty alone to minimize the damage. I won't be surprised if this is touched on either in the Kamunabi arc or a later one. Keeping Shiba's "you'll break" line in mind once more, I think Chihiro learning to share his pain and burden could be a major turning point for him.

I don't want to say it must or will happen -I'm not the writer. I just think it's a very potent thread that's had some buildup since the start. Who can Chihiro trust to help him with more than logistics and fighting? Does he even need someone like that or is he going to become strong enough though learning from his enemies? I'm really interested in seeing if the little family he's building will be able to do more than cheer him on from offscreen at the very least... I've got some worries about the story structure going forward but I want to wait and see what happens in the next arc before letting my hopes be crushed.

Seriously, I'm not going to doompost yet. Really. I'm just going to fucking die waiting an extra week to see what happens next.

[minevn]

🔞MINORS DNI🔞

Some "Understand my Ship in 5 Minutes" charts! Feel free to tag me if you use them with your ocs! I would love to see! I'll have another post pretty much the same but without the horny section!

I'm gonna do some chart explaining just cause I want to, but feel free to ignore anything below this!

= means they're the same age as you

-1 means that they're one year younger.

Please note that all characters are AT LEAST 18 though.

All: I think all of their horny levels would fluctuate? Like maybe one day they just aren't feeling it and the next they could be going crazy or whatever.

Minato: I don't think he'd have much of an opinion about who's the big spoon or not, he likes being held as much as he likes holding onto you. I don't think he'd be against borrowing your clothes, but I think he wouldn't do it mainly because of size. He's 6'5 and pretty buff so unless you have clothes that could fit him I don't think he'd borrow clothes, he'd love seeing you in his clothes though! I just can't see him using pet names. I think he'd try but I think he more so just finds using your name more romantic then a nickname or a pet name. He's pretty awkward in general. A lot of people have shied away from him due to his intimidating size and they see the scar on his face and assume the worst, he doesn't really know how to talk to people and h's never really outgoing. I think even if he was close to you he'd still be gentle and more on the soft spoken side. Spoiler territory for confessions so I won't get too much into that but he'd be too shy to confess first. Instead of squashing the bug with a shoe I think he would just move the bug outside. He doesn't really care about bugs, but he doesn't wanna hurt them, they're still living creatures. He's a pretty good driver so he doesn't mind driving, but he wouldn't mind you driving if you wanted to, as long as you were good at driving. If you're bad he will take it upon himself to teach you, other then practicing the car is off limits to you. He's also a pretty good cook. He has experience helping his parents cook when he was younger and cooking meals for his grandparents that he's taking care of. It's not that he really dislikes PDA, more like he gets too shy and awkward to really enjoy it. He doesn't like having so much attention on him and when it is, its all he can focus on. He doesn't mind you being affectionate, just feels uncomfy if its out in public. He's protective of the ones he loves just in general. I don't think he's had any relationships, but I think he'd had like one or two crushes.

Haruto: I think he'd prefer to hold you, he just likes the feeling of you in his arms. If you also wanna hold him though he wouldn't mind but he might suggest you both face and hold each other. HE LOVES SEEING YOU IN HIS CLOTHES! HE ADORES IT! Even after all these years, he'll never get sick of the sight. He just thinks you're so precious<33333 He loves using pet names, he loves trying out a bunch just to get a reaction out of you. I just don't think he likes talking to others, like he's not shy, but he just cant stand other people LMAO. He likes to do both, but I think he's a bit better at using his words. He's all poetic with it or whatever. Bros been dropping hella hints about his crush since forever honestly. He's probably outright said it but you just took it as the friend type of love. He hates germs! and bugs...they're covered in nasty germs. He screams about the bugs not because he's scared of the actual bug, but because he's scared of the germs on those things. He Hates driving, but he hates not being reliable more. Its one of those things that could honestly change. If you like driving, then please, take the wheel. but if you don't, then he's got you. He likes cooking and is good at it too, he loves cleaning up while he's cooking. If you wanna cook then he'll help you by cleaning the messes that cooking makes. He loves PDA, he loves you showing off that he's yours just as much as you're his. Nothing screams "leave my partner alone" like some hardcore PDA. He's so overprotective that he doesn't even trust his younger brother around you. Him and his younger brother get along fine, great, wonder, fantastic even, but does he want his younger brother to get along too? absolutely not. Imagine you've liked someone your entire life and then your younger brother who you kept away from that person comes in and takes them? That could neeeeever happen 0_0. He has no relationship experience because h's saved himself ALLLLLL for you<33

Jun: I don't think Jun would mind holding you but I think Jun would feel like getting held is a reward after staying loyal to you all these years. She's done the holding for soooooo long, she wants to be held too. She loves borrowing and lending clothes equally. He's been using pet names since before you two were even close, just to feel like maybe your relationship is going somewhere. He would stop if he noticed it made you like SUPER uncomfy though. Anyways pet names are cute and Jun LOVES cute things, like you! Jun used to be more introverted but he realized that he'll only get to live once so he's kinda pushed himself to be more extroverted, but he's happy he did it! He can talk to you with more ease now! Jun is an all around lover! She loves telling and showing you just how much she loves you! She never fails to support you and compliment you and she loves touching you. Physical contact if definitely her main love language. Another one that has been confessing to you since the very beginning. He's not subtle about his feelings in any way, even more so since he's come back from college. If he doesn't confess now, someone else might sweep you off your feet. She HATES BUGS! okay maybe not ALL bugs. The cute bugs can stay, but the scary ones GOTTA GO! Okay its not that she really cant drive, just more so that she absolutely despises it. You are the only thing in the world that could make her drive. Unless she's driving for you, she hates it and outright refuses to do so. She tries...she tries REALLY HARD to cook, but her cooking is more on the bad side. Like you CAN eat it, but would you WANT to? ADORES PDA! Even if you two aren't dating she'll do all the PDA you're comfy with to try and give others the wrong impression. She loves showing you off and he loves being shown off. Less overprotective then others, but that mainly because she doesn't really know your friends other then Aki, his sister. Considering how Haruto is with his brother, Jun is definitely better when it comes to being less overprotective. Has tried to date in order to get his mind off of you, but the heart wants what it wants y'know? Jun's heart wants you, so those short relationships really meant nothing. Jun couldn't even do anything romantic with others without flinching. in one relationship, Jun tried holding hands with this boy and ended up throwing up because he wasn't you. Jun felt like he was CHEATING on you which she would NEVER EVER EVER DO!!

Hoshi: You're insane if you think you can sit him down and convince him to be the little spoon. He's laughing at you. Okay, MAYBE you could convince him once or twice but you are to never speak about it again and if he says he doesn't like it then don't ask it from him again. He's never thought about lending clothes and borrowing yours. Why would he even think about you like that? he doesn't! But if you INSIST on exchanging clothes then he doesn't think you look bad and if you wanted to you could totally wear more of his stuff, but you didn't hear that from him or from me, okay? He doesn't care what other people think of him. He's a prankster and is loud and arrogant. Much like Jun, he knows that he only gets to live once. He's gonna have fun in this life, he wishes you would let up and have fun too... You're funny if you think he shows affection AT ALL! He totally doesn't show both equally 0>0 His physical affection is dragging you out to have fun, his verbal affection is telling you to loosen up and have fun. He wants you to have fun. YOLO y'know? He'd confess to you first if he actually liked you y'know? He's not nervous at all! Please accept, he literally only cares about how you think of him. He'd squash those bugs without hesitation. He'd probably make a game outta it tbh. He can drive but he shouldn't. Unless you both wanna end up dead and severely damaging others and potentially killing them, you shouldn't EVER let them drive. He actually enjoys doesn't mind cooking. He has practice from working with his dad and all. He also likes experimenting with cooking as well. Sometimes it doesn't always work out but that's fine, over the years he's gotten pretty good at telling what spices and seasonings would go best with what meal. Yooooo who marked up this chart bro? Hoshi liking PDA????? He loves it so much more then anyone could ever imagine honestly. He HATES PDA!! Despises him, like don't even touch him. Please touch him. he loves it. he's sooooo touchstarved. He doesn't care who you hang out with because he totally doesn't like you. In all honesty though if you're dating him, then he trusts you. You took your time getting to know him despite how he treated you and still continues to treat you(He's less harsh in a relationship but he's stiiiilllll...Hoshi) that has to mean SOMETHING? Besides if you ever DID want to leave him Then it'd totally be okay he wouldn't let you :) He's had one relationship before, but it lasted a while and ...

Habiki: Prefers to be the big spoon but wouldn't mind you being the big spoon every once in a while if you wanted to. He doesn't care about borrowing clothes from you but if you wanted to borrow his clothes then he wouldn't be opposed He kinda likes seeing you in his stuff. He straight up does not use pet names. He thinks they're STUPID. Your name is perfect the way it is<3 Much like Haruto, he's not shy he is around you, he just doesn't like people. He's not good with his words, and although his movements are stiff and uncertain, he's trying really hard and can do stuff like that easier then telling you how he really feels. He doesn't confess first unless his patience is running extremely thin. Well he'd squash the bugs without hesitation, unless you wanted him to save the bugs and just move them out He thinks any other way is stupid and useless. He drives through and through, there's no convincing him to let you drive. He's a good driver and only trusts himself behind the wheel. He just doesn't want you getting hurt. DON'T EAT HIS COOKING! DON'T LET HIM IN THE KITCHEN UNLESS YOU WANT IT TO BURN DOWN! I think he might go crazy if you show him off. Seriously, how'd he end up dating you? He doesn't like PDA at all, he thinks it's stupid and there's no point to it. He's shy. He really doesn't deem others as a threat, for the most part, he knows his worth. Why wouldn't you wanna date him? Not that he wants to date you... He doesn't even look at other people. All of those npcs people that have no meaning to him.

Kage: THEY CAN'T HOLD YOU!!! THEY'LL PASS OUT! Being a little spoon is hard enough for them, just being held! Lending clothes to you is one of the only thing Kage can manage to do with you. Seriously you look amazing in his clothes. USING PET NAMES IS WAY TOO MUCH!! They'll try though, if it makes you happy. Just let them sit down while they do it otherwise it'll hurt when they pass out! I don't think I need to elaborate on the introvert/extrovert section LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO! He's too shy to do ANY affection LOL their affection is just letting you do whatever you want with him. Bro can barely breathe around you, you think he can CONFESS to you??? might as well just get him to stop breathing completely, forever. He screams not because he's scared of the bugs, he actually likes bugs, he screams if one of them land on his because then he's scared that he's getting ambushed. probably by the other LI HE DOESN'T GO OUT! HE CANT DRIIIIVE! The only thing he can make is Ramen. Fun FUN at home dinner dates. Literally his house only has Ramen, soda, and water. HE LOVES PDA AND AFFECTION BUT HES SOOOOOO TERRIFIED OF IT! He might pass out if you show affection in public. He's over protective but like he's not gonna do anything in the moment. He's coming up with a plan to get rid(murder orrrrrr???) of that person. Do I need to explain the last row? As mentioned earlier he really doesn't go out. Typically the only time he'll go out is to buy food most of the time he asks Haruto or you(if they're comfy enough) to get it or the visit the graveyard and dead of night when like no one is around.

Kei: Whatever you want darling. Personally he prefers being the big spoon but he also loves being held by you. He doesn't really lend or borrow clothes. Don't get him wrong though, he knows that you would look good in his clothes because you look good in everything, he's just a little nervous to ask if you wanna wear his stuff, so feel free to ask yourself! He thinks your name is perfect as is so he loves using it, but also he's had a list of cute pet names to call you since high school sooooo he's gonna put that list to good use. Although he's gotten more confident, he's still not THAT confident. He doesn't talk to people unless he needs to or unless they are you. He's good with his words, but his throat tightens whenever he's near you, so affection through shaky, inexperienced hands will have to do. He'd rather wait for you to confess, but if he is going to confess first then he's making sure that you like him 100% and that there's no doubts. He'd also just let the bugs go. Most bugs. Bugs that he absolutely despises are getting squashed immediately without mercy. One time there was this scary flying bug and I kept hitting it with the flyswatter so hard it disappeared into the backrooms, I imagine that would be him with bugs he doesn't like. He's a good driver and doesn't mind it, but if you want to drive then feel free to! He's not THE BEST cook. He's very by the recipe when it comes to cooking so depending on the recipe it may be bland, but his food is good and edible. He loves PDA but with only initiate it if you do! He's scared of scaring you off and ruining years worth of progress to have ANY kind of relationship with you. Much like Minato, he's overprotective in a "I care about this person a lot and therefore wanna make sure they are safe!" kinda way but also in a "I don't want anybody but me touching this person and even if they're looking at them or breathing in the same air it still bothers me." type of way. In a previous post I mentioned how Kei met you because you were teamed up for a project and how you were "one of the only" people that also did the work, implying there were more people? Yeah he had crushes on them, but they were very short lived crushes and he had them when he was in like elementary to middle school.

Yani: HES WHATEVER YOU WANT HIM TO BE! big spoon? Little spoon? He's fine with whateverrrrr! She LOOOOOOVES stealing borrowing you clothes! Of course she'd be flattered if you wanted to wear her stuff as well. Please do, get your scent all up in her clothes. Literally calls you anything other then your name LMAOOO Petnames? Hell yeah! Nicknames? Yessirrrrrr they've got infinite nicknames for ya! Yani has NO SHAME!!! NONE! WOULD ABSOLUTELY HAVE A DREAM THAT IT WENT TO SCHOOL IN ONLY UNDERWEAR AND THEN WOULD ACTUALLY DO THAT BECAUSE IT THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY! The police hate him Affection through words? Affection through actions? AFFECTION THROUGH EVERYTHING!!!! Yani does it alllllllllll! Super affectionate! Once again, HAS NO SHAME!! PROBABLY CONFESSED WHEN THEY FIRST SAW YOU! Like imagine this person comes up to you and is like "I've known you for .2 seconds and I'm in love with you because you dropped your phone." Yeah, sounds like Yani. Nothing Yani does makes sense. She plays with the bugs<3333 she loves bugs, the only reason she'd be screaming about the bugs is over how cute they are, with their cute lil venomous tails and stuff. Would you even TRUST Yani with a car???? WOULD YOU EVEN TRUST YANI IN THE KITCHEN??????? Its SUPER affectionate, It LOOOOOOOOOVES PDA!! Not as much as it loves you though!🫰🫰The MAIN yandere, the poster child, the reason why Mine was made in the first place, of COURSE Yani is the MOST overprotective LI! Yani has NO relationship experience nobody wanted them ToT sorry Yani, illy tho bbygrl

WOOOOW once again I made a post thats long. I love talking about my ocs and getting info out about them!

[silverflqmes]

haithellie

- who fell first and how?

- what book sealed the deal on your relationship?

- did you guys join a book club together, if so — what was the book that caught both of your guys’ eye?

- what do the boys think about your guys’ relationship? (kaveh, cyno, & tighnari)

tartellie

- how did you guys meet and how long did it take for a single date?

- which of you said i love you first and how?

- e2l, which one admits they’re in love first and why?

yuellie

- he misses the high cloud quintet, how do you comfort him?

- you both fight phantylia together, who falls down first?

- bonus: who went for the body? i think i can answer this one

sephellie

- how to make a day of fun so sephiroth can be human again

- how would you style his hair for fun

- how to get him to stop being cloudobsessed and you-obsessed instead!!!

at long last i answered your ask bc monkey brain has just been SEPHIROTH SEPHIROTH SEPHIROTH as of late.. ahem. now without further delay, time to get the cogs winding

𓍼 haithellie.

— if i’m going with my e2l idea, he fell first because i was in hella denial.. but i fell harder. i haven’t really come up with much but i’m thinking we would both be in places in our lives where we’re dealing with loneliness?? for me i would have left home to study so i’d kinda be adjusting, while alhaitham has kinda been on his own, having lost his parents from young, and later his grandmother that took care of him after that. so i think we would have found mutual comfort in each other and he would have caught some feelings just from little details. stupid habits i have, shared interests, the bantering since we would have both been in the same darshan..

— i totally missed this question until i went back to read for the next ship but UHHH the wicked king cuz it’s my fav and i’ll never be normal about it

— we joined a book club not knowing that the other would be in there too LMAO it was just supposed to be a pastime kinda thing and it was just coincidence that we both ended up in it together.. but let me think, me being me i like my romantasy books so i dunno it alhaitham would also be into those.. but i could see him reading the folk of air — totally not bc it’s my favorite series, totally not bc we act like jude and cardan, totally not because — yeah, you got me..

— alhaitham wants them nowhere near me ( minus tighnari ) because they would enable me and they would tease him sm.. but i think we would be super chill together, i could see us playing uno or monopoly and just- disaster happening BAH but anyway i think they would be happy about alhaitham finding someone after his losses, and even it kaveh might be petty.. he’s happy for him<3

𓍼 tartellie.

— omg akira-san, i mean uh, tartaglia, yeah.. ahem. let me think.. we would have met at a flower shop, he was buying flowers to bring home to his family since he was likely away from home for a good while. he was just scanning all the different types, not sure which to pick, to which he would approach me, thinking me to be the store clerk ( i was not ). confused, i would break to him that i do not work there.. to which he would get embarrassed LMAO but since we were talking, he would ask on my opinion anyway, to which i’d try my best to offer a few options to my basic knowledge of flower language. i think he would show interest in the way i talk and explain, the hand gestures and expressions i make, but he’d ignore it.. until we stumbled once more upon each other, where he would chat with me.. and then proposes the idea of getting lunch. totally not a date, just lunch..

— he did and probably said so without even saying those three words tbh?? i don’t know how he would say it, but uh maybe smtn like.. “it’s strange.. home, until now was always being with my family back in snezhnaya.. but somehow, you seemed to have brought that feeling to me here and have blossomed it into something a little more than family, something special and precious to me.”

— now for this.. me LMAO if it was e2l it would end up as an unspoken confession i feel?? maybe if he was seriously injured or um, overdid things again because he used foul legacy or his delusion in a fight.. to which i would yell at him in a way that sounded like i really cared for him, and tartaglia would end up saying something along the lines of me sounding like i loved him or something.. to which i would go silent and he would piece it all together. unspoken confession!!

𓍼 yuellie.

— understandable as to why he would miss them, especially cuz he’s the last one remaining and with his memories in tact. it’s kinda heartbreaking honestly, but i understand the kinda fall of a friend group in a way, granted i still talk with mine but very minimally these days. regardless, i would do my best to comfort him, maybe take him out or encourage him to come be around others as well outside of his duties, just to feel yk welcomed as a dude and not just as a general. i think he’d like something like that cuz company helps when you miss those that you were once close with.

— AKWJSJDJSKSJ i fall down first and i make sure to KNEEL ( i did it on purpose ) yuan is probably like ellie???? and i’m like ain’t no way you said you’re going for the body — I’M GOING FOR THE BODY, YOU SIT YOUR ASS BACK THERE. atp he’s like, am i about to have my girl stolen by horrifyingly attractive woman that wants to kill us and is not just twice but several times her size?? he’s just watching in complete shock but like part of him understands.. i mean.. come on.

— I WENT FOR THE BODY AGAIN AND AGAIN ahem, your assumptions are likely correct.

𓍼 sephiellie.

— screams in sephiroth. okay um. let me actually get into this. sooo a day to make sephi have fun and feel more human.. well! after buying flowers from a certain peddler, i would whip out my super slay cool flip phone and urge him to come over after work because i had a surprise for him. said surprise is flowers to braid into his hair and a flower for him to keep at home cuz sephiroth having a green thumb sounds so adorable. for the rest, it would be just a cute self care day to remind him of his humanity in spite of whatever modifications and experiments were done on him ( FUCK YOU HOJO YOU UGLY ASS PIECE OF SHIT, THERE’S A REASON I’M NOT IN FFVII AND THAT’S BC YOUR ASS WOULD BE THROUGH, WHICH MEANS THE STORY DOESN’T END UP HAPPENING SO NO GAME )

— the braid with the flowers in it! high ponytail for sure HE IS SO PRETTY<3 maybe a bun as well after i told him that mine absolutely sucked and that my mom refused to let me out of the house without her doing my hair.. so he would ask to see how bad said bun is — so it ends up messy because i didn’t wanna make it too tight.. his hair is also super long.. but he liked it, probably wondered why i couldn’t leave the house when it looked so nice on him ( sobbing he’s so so sweet ), furthermore i would try the princess leia space buns and perhaps twin tails<3 he also would do my hair and try out different styles too, he’s so gentle<3

— I DON’T KNOW I GUESS I NEED SOME MAKO BATHS AND HIS CELLS SO HE CAN INVADE MY THOUGHTS INSTEAD😐 but like.. sefikura.. IM TORN

okay i believe that was all of them.. this took way longer than i’d expected😭

[silverbladexyz]

HIII

I saw one of your latest posts and you wrote Tecchou so well😭😭 so i was thinking about requesting Fyodor (or Nikolai, whoever you prefer) and more Tecchou basic fluff hcs because your writing is honestly amazing🧍

HIIII anon! Thank youuuu, honestly sometimes I feel like my writing is a bit rushed :') but I’m glad that you like it! And I shall do all three of them, because why not? ^-^

BSD Manga spoilers below!

The gifs used are not mine. They belong to their original owners.

Fluff headcanons with Fyodor, Nikolai and Tecchou

Fyodor:

-As we all know, Fyodor is the leader of an underground organisation. And that means he is busy most of the time

-But he'll try his best to take time off to spend with you. Due to his big brain, I bet he can take away some time in his busy schedule to spend with you and still run the organisation with efficiency

-He strikes me as the type to like spending time with his s/o at home, or at nice and quiet places where nobody can come and interrupt his precious time with you

-Sooo you two will mostly spend time with each other at home. He would probably sit in silence with you, basking in your presence, while maybe introducing some of his hobbies to you.

-Chess games! If you don't know anything about it, Fyodor'll be more than happy to teach you. But be warned, he is very good at chess and seeing you lose to him every time just fuels his ego. Good luck trying to beat him just steal one of his pieces when he isn't looking lmao

-If you're into classical music, congrats, you've just found your soulmate. Just imagine Fyodor playing the cello for you underneath the moonlight... and I swear that he's hella good. Fyodor give me some of your musical talent pls If you play an instrument as well, play a duet with him! He thinks it’s romantic and it’s a great chance to flex your music skills on him as well (slay)

-Books! Just buy some classic or mystery books or borrow them from the library, and Fyodor would be more than happy to read them with you. If you make it into a competition to see who would read all of the books first, well... he’s already read nearly all of them. He’s just going to reveal the truth when you’ve finished reading them, only to see your reaction <333 but it’s Fyodor we’re talking about. Just enjoy your reading time with him <3

-I feel like Fyodor might take you out on library dates. And not just any library; I’m talking about the libraries that have old books, smells like old paper, and nearly nobody is in them. You two would just browse the shelfs for books, occasionally stopping and asking the other whether to give this book a go or not. And if you two both agree on one book, the rest of the date is spent reading it, your back against his chest while his cold hand is caressing your warm one. The vibes are just 💖💖💖

-If he’s not feeling as tired, and if you’re up for it, he might take you to concerts. Specifically classical music concerts; the ones where you wear formal clothing and all the musicians are professionals. His favourites are Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov (personally some of my favourites too)

-His free days are spent drinking tea with you; sometimes conversating, sometimes enjoying the silence. He would even cuddle with you if you wanted! He’s cold most of the time, and he’s kind of bony, but even then his cuddles are great

-Talk to him about anything, and he would turn the conversation into a discussion. And it’s not one of those boring philosophical discussions where you might fall asleep. Fyodor makes the discussion very interesting, to the point where you could spend an eternity just talking about that one subject

-But please remember to remind him to take medicine for his anaemia. Or just sneak it into his food

Nikolai:

-This man is a burst of energy

-Literally you couldn’t go about for one minute before he pops up again, saying ‘Y/N!! Wanna see a new magic trick?!’ or ‘Y/N!!!! Did you know?’ And spouting a random fact that you probably had heard of before

-I feel like he is very affectionate. You’ll find yourself being adorned with hugs and kisses, each quite playful, but full of his love

-Takes you out to a lot of amusement parks, festivals, circuses, etc. If you’re an extrovert, he’ll love dragging you to different events, and if you’re an introvert, he’ll still drag you to different events, but only if you were comfortable with it

-Loves cuddling with you. 99% of the time he makes it into playful tickling sessions, but the other 1% of the time he’ll just hold you in his arms, and probably lean on your shoulder or bury his head into the crook of your neck. Sometimes extroverts need to recharge as well lol

-He’d be open to exploring different interests! For example, cooking, music, art, whatever you can think of! Most of the time, he’d do something reckless to incite laughter or purely because he’s bored, but he’ll stop if you ask him to. You’ll have to repay him in cuddles

-Lovesssss showing you magic tricks. Literally, he has so many of them he can even start his own business. One time, a bird popped out of his coat and flew right into your face. It was not fun, but Nikolai was laughing his head off

-But in his chill moments, Nikolai would cuddle you while listening to your soothing heartbeat. It calms him, and if he had an exhausting day he might just fall asleep to the sound of your heart beating

-Overall, he always wants to be around you and trying new things out with you <333

Tecchou:

-Tecchou doesn’t get a lot of spare time due to his work as a Hunting Dog, but whenever he does, he is always spending it with you <333

-He would offer you some of his food combinations; some of them are weird as hell and when he started mixing soy sauce with his coffee, you decided to teach him how to cook actual food

-He gets the hang of it pretty quickly; sometimes, he would cook you your favourite food and trust me it is better than what most restaurants serve. Tecchou still prefers his odd food combinations from time to time, but he also loves cooking you food and eating the food that you cooked for him

-Evenings are normally spent with you two chilling in each others’ arms. Normally, you guys would watch television, but there are some evenings where you would gaze at the beautiful sunset with him.

-One time you said that the sunset was beautiful. Tecchou replied with a ‘yes, but I still prefer you over it’ and that made you flustered. He was so confused and thought that you were having a fever lol. Please educate him on this

-I feel like Tecchou would probably take you out on strolls for dates. Just holding each others’ hand, looking at nature, and just being in each others’ presence says more than words ever could

-Tecchou also wants to try new things with you! Feel free to introduce your hobbies to him, and he will try it out with you. You like painting? Show him which brushes go well with different paintings and he would immediately paint an artwork of you. You like playing an instrument? Show him how to play it and he’ll be playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in no time like a pro. Basically, Tecchou is interested in what you’re interested in, and he often loves doing your hobbies with you <3

-Simply speaking, this man is boyfriend/husband material

Heyyy so I hope I did ok! Sorry that Nikolai’s part was a bit short, his personality is kind of hard to grasp for me, but don’t let that stop you from requesting for him

Overall, this request was quite fun to make! Don’t be afraid to pop into my inbox again~

[theonlyren]

Spooky Rating

It's not anywhere NEAR Halloween but I have a compulsion and by Arceus I will not be denied.

Scale of 1 to 2SPOOKY (10) rate how scary or intimidating your Pokémon are or can be. We're talking fear factor here. How fucked you are if you turn down a dark alley and see this particular mon. Some Gengar, for instance, are harmless goobers. Other Gengar are Kati.

Vivi the Sylveon - 7/10 Hear me out. Vivi is a precious bean, but his eyes are refractive and ribbons are deceptively strong. If he grabs me by them and pulls me away, it's 100% guaranteed for cuddles, yes, but outside of that context it looks like you're being pulled away by a kitschy eldritch horror. Vivi can be fucking scary sometimes.

Aka the Zoroark - 8/10 The scariest thing about Aka is you probably won't even see him, but you will see his work. One time I came home and dude made the whole flat look like a dark, foreboding forest instead of my actual home for a prank. Aka himself? Harmless fella. Aka in a dark alleyway? Run.

Kati the Gengar - 9/10 In Ryme they sometimes call me the Man With the Grinning Shadow. Kati is the reason why. The only reason it's not a full 10 is because the witch hat does kinda make her look a little less threatening, but she remains nothing less than precisely the type of Gengar the pokedex warns you about. Thankfully, like her rating, 9/10 times giving you a good scare is about all she'll do to you. Anything more than that and you've probably pissed her off somehow.

Jeanne the Corviknight - 2SPOOKY/10 Run. Yes, that is Ameno by ERA you hear in the background. No, I cannot save you.

Strider the Dusk Lycanroc - 4/10 His eyes can glow red and that can be hella spooky to see in a dark alleyway but otherwise Strider's basically harmless. Davy the Gallade - 3/10 Davy's basically harmless unless for some reason you're scared of femboys. He does have sharp teeth and fights kinda dirty for a Gallade but otherwise you'll be aight.

Hunter the Snivy - 2/10 I mean I guess if you're scared of snakes? Even then Snivy are like, universally one of the friendlier snake-pokemon out there. Smug lil' face might make you jump I guess. Miranda the Quaxly - 1/10 How you gonna be scared of a little duck? ... Yeah, fine, 10/10

[fariesoiree]

im sorry but ahh Kyojuro !!!!! he literally has my heart ! he's the sweetest most precious babyy !! can you give us some hc's for modern era Kyojuro x reader who has bpd ? >< it is kinda umm difficult and tricky to write about something like this so its understandable if you ignore this >< but ah thank you for reading this ! and have a good day! <3

hi baby! ik ik i said i was gonna be mia for a few and i still ammm. i have hella hw and exams coming up but this peaked my interest a little bit. i’m gonna approach this w caution bc i do not have bpd but i know someone who does so im gonna do my best based off what ik from her. just know that you’re always safe here. everyone is, no matter what — the bpd i’m referring to is borderline personality disorder so i’m hoping you didn’t mean the other bpd 😭

kyojuro is always and has always been a super, super patient guy. it’s just a part of him that he cannot get rid of at all. you know i think of his as the perfect partner, my little golden boy.

i think that with a partner who has bpd, this is only heightened. he has to be extra patient because you both see the world (and your relationship) differently and he knows you can’t help it. there’s probably extra emphasis on open communication, no matter what. he doesn’t care what the problem is or what the conversation would lead to, communication just has to happen and it has to be thorough. you tell him how you feel and why, he takes it into consideration and responds accordingly. you’re worried he no longer cares? okay, what is making you feel this way? you think mayb this is overwhelming and you’re pulling away? he’s going to talk to you about it.

there’s also very clearly defined boundaries. it’s part of the communication aspect but it’s a whole separate thing entirely. they’re developed in the beginning in your relationship and have grown the longer you’re together and the more experiences you have. he endures your splits, knowing that you probably don’t mean it as harshly as you do but he lets you know he doesn’t appreciate the yelling. he always waits until you’re receptive to his words and holds in tongue until you’re generally calmer. this does nawt include him telling you to calm down. he’d never utter those two words a day in his life. i think he’s more likely to take his separate space away and remove himself from the situation because he has his own feelings too. he can get frustrated as well.

also therapy!!! big emphasis on therapy, but for both of you. you both go and see separate therapists. it’s necessary for both of you, regardless of what personal diagnosis either of you might have. there’s no stigma between you two. you have bpd, that’s just who you are. so what? it doesn’t define you in any way shape or form and means nothing until you, personally, decides it does. so you both go and work through your issues separately and uphold the whole privacy thing. there’s no at home conversations unless that person wants to share their own information.

i mean, the relationship is pretty normal. you still joke, you still kiss and cuddle and have intimacy the way everyone else does. he’ll still wake up in the early mornings and make breakfast, awakening you to the smell of bacon cooking in the frying pan. he’ll still shower you in gifts and constantly reassure his love and adoration. he’ll still treat you as though you’ve crafted his world by hand. i see him as being this soothing place of comfort. he doesn’t judge you and instead, validates your emotions. you’re allowed to feel however you feel. he just hopes you hear him out too.

oh oh oh! and he takes things very very slow. he knows you can get kinda . . . wrapped up??? in the feeling of love. not necessarily obsessive but he’s aware that you want to dwell in that emotion for as long as you can. he doesn’t want you to do things you otherwise wouldn’t have or even rush before reallyyyyy processing what’s happening to he takes it very slow. it’s agreed upon by both parties and he upholds that. if he says he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it. so yeah, that generally mean limiting coupley things you do before the time that you’re officially a couple. no sex or very little sex until you’re together together. until you’ve gotten each other locked DOWN.

idk, i hope this is what you wanted??? you’re right it is a very delicate topic and i’m doing my very best to tread lightly so pleaseeeee let me know if anything i said was incorrect or stigmatizing or contributing to negativity in any way. i’m always open to learn!

[fivekrystalpetals]

Glen, Children of Misfortune, Juries and the Baskervilles

[When I say Glen, I am referring all Glens- past and present: Levi, Oswald, Gil and Leo. hella lot of lore is here that I wanna write about ;-; so I might divide this into different posts let’s see. Also fair warning: I might criticize Oswald’s actions-past and present- a bit, since I love looking at characters from an unbiased pov. Also, maybe some characters’ past actions in order to point to their character development so that too.]

[ Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 ]

2] Choosing a side

I remember treating Oswald as a victim of circumstances while reading the Past Arc/Jack’s Intention Arc and blaming only Jack and Levi for everything that went down,,, but now that I consider on the whole, I have to confess Oswald was also responsible for a major part in the Tragedy. His sin is… (as the catchphrase of this series goes lol) His sin is his passivity. But before Oswald, I want to talk about his successors, Gil and Leo first.

As the story goes, each one of the Glens have faced a point where they must choose a side.

For Gil, it was between Oz and Oswald, whether he wanted to continue as Oswald’s valet (to return to his past) or as Oz’s valet (to live in the present). In fact, this clash between his two sides of loyalty, one drilled into him (Retrace 38) and the other nurtured in him in a healthy manner, already came to a head in the Sablier Arc (Retrace 40).

In the beginning of the same arc, he tried to kill Alice because she was trying to “kill” his “master” and with great difficulty did he stop himself before he ended up doing something drastic. Break, though, thankfully and perhaps due to the power of his Eye of Misfortune, sees through Gil, spots the overlapping thoughts clouding his judgment and goads him into a fight.

“I am the one who seeks to use Oz Vessalius. I am doing harm to your master. Now then, will you try your hand at killing me as well?”

And… Gil actually almost goes ahead with it! He is so overwhelmed by the thoughts the Jury had fed into his mind that he can’t distinguish between friends and foes; all he could think is he had to “kill his master’s enemies.”, no free will of action in him at all. Break snaps him out of him and…. says something so significant I didn’t even realize at the time:

Is the one you need really Oz Vessalius? (…) Isn’t it time you got over being such a spoiled child?

[The “hand” here is his left hand which signifies Gil’s oath to his old Master, Raven and consequently, his past.]

Isn’t it time you got over being such a spoiled child… (Retrace 87)

Or else, you really will end up hurting what’s precious to you by your own hand. (Retrace 69)

(His left hand. Oswald uses his left hand to cast Lacie into the Abyss. I just…. *screams*)

Like I explained in Part 1, if Gil was continued to be raised in the Baskerville household, when he comes of age and becomes the next Glen, in spite of feeling massively guilty, he’d end up casting Vincent into the Abyss because that’s the rule, because he won’t think for himself if that’s indeed what he wanted, because he'd still be obedient to the previous Glen and Jury even after becoming the most powerful head of the household. That’s just how the Glens are.

However, this changed in Retrace 78, when Gil goes up against Oswald and the Baskervilles for Oz.

Gil quite literally cuts off his left arm to NOT “hurt what’s precious to him by his own hand"—he cuts off his connection to his past and his old master and refuses to side with him anymore. He stops being an obedient valet and stands up for Oz, as a friend, of his own accord because that’s what he really wants. He even freely calls him Oz, something he’d been struggling all along as he’d been raised to address his master as such.

His entire character development stemmed from Oz’s positive influence on him. From the beginning, Oz didn’t want a valet or a servant, but a friend by his side. He wanted Gil to be his equal. He always asked Gil to call him by his name and not address him as Master.

[And, ofc, a special mention to Break who had been continually warning him against his obsessive loyalty and pushing him to think for himself.

(He advises him here in Retrace 40; yes, but also he's been doing that since long ago, even before Oz resurfaced from the Abyss (Retrace 13.)):

Believe whatever you want. Regardless of what people say, I— Let me give you a piece of advice. A loyalty that holds fast will become a blade and will someday pierce those you hold dear.

And, Gil, the edgy rebellious teenager that he was at the time, doesn't understand Break at all lol]

Well, all of this contributes to Gil switching sides to save Oz from getting executed and not blindly following Glen on, or rather, in spite of regaining all his misplaced memories. He decides to cut off his left hand, erase the binding oath and make another, this time, legal contract with Raven—and this is so important—all of his own volition.

That ends his passivity and lack of free will. (And Break, like a proud dad, “has stopped fretting about him.” LOL)

.

For Leo, it was this point (Retrace 63):

Yes, chances are that Elliot won’t have believed what Leo said since neither he nor any of the kids at Fianna's house remembers any of the incidents involving Humpty-Dumpty or its contract thanks to its nature of memory deletion/alteration. Still, the fact that Leo didn’t tell him the truth about what had been done to him (Leo feeding him the chain’s blood and unwittingly making him an illegal contractor) or about Isla Yura (Selfishness is a recurring theme in the story; I wanna go into that later but here too—) could be taken as Leo’s “selfishness” to keep his friend alive in spite of him getting fatally injured. Even that aside, it was really his “inaction at the time of crisis” that eventually led Elliot to suffer from an even more painful death.

Yet, he blames the Intention of the Abyss for his actions.

(At this point of the story, Leo is still “an immature brat”; on a side note: remember Break who realized it was his own fault, and not the Intention’s, for forcing her to change the past and bringing a more horrifying fate on the Sinclair family? Yeah, Break is one of the most mature characters in the story and having regretted and learnt from his mistakes, he tries to pass on his experience to the kids so that they won’t repeat his mistakes.)

Before long, Leo does get over being “a spoiled child” and realizes that he had to accept his mistakes and take responsibility before things went from bad to worse. In Retrace 99, he faces the dilemma of choosing a side: stay a bystander and let Oswald go on to his end or stand up and act for what he wants.

And then, for what might be the most selfless reasons of all, Leo decides to not change the past.

Just like Oz-Gil—Leo, who always tried to dig into the world of books because his own real world was unbearable for him, was pulled out of it by Elliot by wanting to be his friend and not his master. Elliot didn’t want an obedient, servile yes-man but a friend who could stand by him yet scold him for his mistakes. “It’s the duty of a valet to correct his master’s actions.”

And so, for Elliot and for the sake of those memories where they met albeit for a short while, those memories being so precious to him that he doesn’t want them to be erased with the alteration of the past, he finally decides to stop being a bystander and confronts Oswald.

[Special shoutout to Break!— because once again it were his last words that helped influence his decision:

…That you’ll never find your future in the past… try as you might to reach back into it!!

Break just keeps tossing around good advice for everyone, even people whom he was not even addressing. Those words were meant for Vince, not Leo; yet Leo too benefits from them agfhsjhahaha]

I know Levi calls his reason “selfish” as well (considering he chooses this for fulfilling a personal desire) but to me, it’s not so. Had he stayed quiet and “passive”, and let Oswald change the past for his split second of thought process—"If I were not Glen, Elliot won’t have to die"—that'd be pretty selfish of him.

And, with that, Leo chooses a side he wants to fight for, no matter how painful his choice is and ends his “passivity”.

.

On the other hand, in Break's and Rufus Barma's words, Oswald never stopped being "a spoiled child" and over and over, keeps "hurting what's precious to him by his own hand". Even after his return to the world in Leo's body, his immediate decision is to kill Lacie to "set things right." Again.

Plus, Oswald did not have such a friend who cared about him unconditionally and wanted to be on equal footing.

Or, well, he did but he cast her into the Abyss and that’s where everything started to go wrong for him.... 

[ Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 ]

[know-the-way]

Hellooo! 21 for Phrack from the prompt list, please 🥰

This got a little bit hurt/comfort-y and a hella bit dramatic. Sorry friend, that’s kinda my brand 🌝, but it’s got ~*vulnerability*~ which I know is your brand, so I hope you like it!

(Someone sent a similar prompt when I’d already started writing this, so this is part 1 of 2.)

tw: references to war

A kiss… on a place of insecurity.

Laying on his back, his arms are tucked under his head, a wide grin on his face as he watches her above him. Phryne’s straddled over his hips, dressed only in one of her silk robes. It’s untied at the front to give him an enticing view of what’s beneath, a half-eaten piece of toast dangling in her hand as she enthusiastically gestures through the recounting of a recent social commitment. The light pouring in from the window is catching on her skin, illuminating her features, and he can’t help but think to himself that she is the most beautiful, precious thing in the world… and how on Earth did he get so lucky?

Apparently, he’s gazing just a little too sweetly because on her next bite of toast, she narrows her eyes suspiciously. “You’re in far too agreeable a mood, inspector… what’s going on in that head of yours?” she emphasizes the question with a light poke to his bare belly.

He jolts slightly at the touch, but continues to stare up at her fondly, “Just enjoying the view, I guess.”

A smirk slowly spreads on her face, her brow still furrowed skeptically, but she must think the comment earns him a bite of toast because she lifts her arm to hold it just above his mouth. He accepts it gratefully and she reaches for the cup of tea she’s set on the bedside table. “I think I rather like you working nights, if it means I get to have you like this over breakfast.”

A low chuckle gets muffled within his mouthful of toast, but he grabs the tea from her hand and takes a sip to help it down. “You know,” he says, handing the cup back to her, “We might enjoy more breakfasts together if you accepted that what you call mornings is what the majority of the world calls afternoons.”

She taps his side admonishingly with a tsk, “Well now, don’t go and ruin it. My body’s acclimated to a certain routine and you don’t seem to mind as much when it means I’m awake to meet you at a 2AM crime scene.”

He holds up his hands in mock surrender, lowering them to push himself up and sit back against the pillows, and then casually rests them atop her thighs. “You’re right, as usual, Miss Fisher,” he smiles, letting his thumbs idly stroke her skin under the silk of her robe.

She sets her tea aside and leans in to kiss him quickly, “I’m glad you’ve learned to admit it, Inspector Robinson,” and they mirror a playful grin to each other. Resting her head against his shoulder, his hands move to stroke the curve of her back and they take a few moments just to breathe each other in.

So entranced in how utterly at peace he feels, he doesn’t realize at first that her index finger is sliding repeatedly at a spot just under his jaw. She’s making barely audible noises of fascination and he turns to look down at her from the corner of his eye. “Darling… ?”

“I’ve never noticed this on you before,” she says distractedly, her finger still idly stroking the spot.

“Noticed what?”

“This little scar here… “ she lightly taps the feature she means twice for emphasis and he immediately knows what she’s found. It’s been there for roughly 20 years - a small indention of a mark where the edge of his jaw meets his neck, and it’s not that he takes issue with its appearance (it can barely been seen after all), but rather its source. As such, he really doesn’t want to answer the question that is surely going to follow. “How did you get it?”

Right, yes. That question.

“Uh… “ he huffs out in discomfort and she pulls back to look at his face with soft concern. “It’s not a story worth telling.”

“Oh,” she says quietly, leaning back a little more so that she can trace the large slash of a scar under his right ribcage and then looks at him, questioning, trying to confirm her well-meaning suspicion. That scar came from his time in the war and he had obliged telling her the story some time ago. He had been trying to pull one of his men to safety, enemy air artillery fast-approaching, and at the last few feet back to the trench - the first shots fired. Panicked, Jack pushed the lad in and made a leap for it himself just after. He made it - they both did - but not before snagging his side on the barbed-wire barrier on the way down. He got 47 sutures in total, a commendation from his commanding officer, and a memory - among several others - that turned to a nightmare lasting years after he arrived home.

“Not from that,” he assures her, though her fingers continue to slide over it in understanding all the same. “It just… where it’s from… let’s just say… it’s wasn’t one of my finest moments,” he stammers out and he realizes that explanation will have the exact opposite effect of dissuading her from coaxing an answer out of him.

Sure enough, a certain sparkle forms in her eye as her finger draws a lazy line up to his chest. He sighs audibly. “You’re not going to leave this alone, are you?”

“I should think not,” she responds honestly, “Of course, you don’t have to share anything with me that you don’t feel comfortable sharing… “ her voice reaching the same pitch as when she tells a half-truth, then adding “But I will wonder still, yes… Possibly forever.”

He lets out a noise that’s part exasperation, part laugh, running a hand over his face, and then looking down at her. “Alright fine,” he relents, “But you don’t get it for free!”

Her smile turns sultry and he really hates being confronted with just how much he’s wrapped around her finger, “What will it cost me, then?”

Jack shrugs, “I’ve always been a man who deals in fair trade.”

She perks up at that, a cheeky sort of glint in her eyes, and her hand moves to grasp the sash of her robe, spinning it suggestively, “So an ‘I’ll show you mine if you show me yours’ scenario?”

He barks out an incredulous laugh, ready to dismiss the suggestion, but then he pauses as he realizes she’s technically correct. Nodding his head affirmatively, he states plainly, “Actually… Yes.”

“Alright!” she says brightly (a little too brightly, if he’s honest). “I agree to the terms!”

He exhales slowly, cursing himself for folding so easily. “Excellent,” a half-grumble as he shifts them both so that he’s sat up straight, “One other thing, though: you cannot laugh.”

Her mouth opens in protest, but she thinks better of it and nods, “Alright.” He gives her a sharp, distrusting look and she rolls her eyes, “I promise!”

Satisfied enough, he takes a moment to gather his thoughts and reluctantly begins: “It was during my time in the academy. Keep in mind, I was 18 and a brand new recruit, so I hadn’t yet developed the sharpest of minds.”

“Yes dear, I’ve met Hugh, I get the gist,” she prods teasingly and when his response is an admonishing glance, she glides her hand up to card gently through his hair in atonement.

“Eventually, the time came for our firearm training,” he continues, trying to hide how very nice her fingers brushing through his hair feels, “They’d place these cloth targets over barrels of hay for us to aim. Well, I took to it rather quickly, which some of my classmates from regional Victoria didn’t appreciate as much as our instructor.”

She hums in sudden understanding, “I take it they were put out that the city boy, with no experience, showed them up after they’d grown up on their grandfather’s rifles out in the country?”

He nods, “Put out enough to sabotage my exam.”

“Oh, cowards,” she huffs, now stroking his cheek with the back of her hand.

“Unbeknownst to me, they’d gone out to the shooting field at sunrise and placed a solid aluminum plate behind the cloth I usually favored. A gamble in retrospect, but at the time it felt strikingly clever.”

“I’m sure,” she sympathizes, “So I take it this scar was the result of a shattered bullet? Blowback off the metal plate? … Rather awful of them, really - they could’ve killed someone.”

He pauses, eyes widening a little, nodding slowly as if trying to find the words. “Well… “ he sighs, “Not… exactly.”

She looks back at him in expectant confusion and he very much doesn’t want to continue. But they’re too close to the destination to turn back now.

“The bullet did shatter,” he confirms, avoiding her direct gaze in any way possible, “and… and ricocheted in… every direction… including upwards.”

“I’m not following, Jack, but please continue,” he can hear in her voice that she’s enjoying every second of this and is awaiting the expected punchline they both know he’s hurtling towards.

Pressing his lips together briefly, eyes fully staring at the ceiling, he grimaces, “It just so happened… that a grey goshawk was flying over at the same time I took my shot.”

“Oh… Oh dear.” Her hand has quickly moved to cover her mouth in what he can only assume is an attempt to keep her promise of not laughing. He knew that was a futile request at the start, but he appreciates that she’s trying nonetheless.

“A piece of the bullet pierced its wing and it… it came tumbling down directly atop my head,” he says with as much dignity as possible, even though he can feel her body shaking with suppressed giggles. “As one could imagine, it was a collision that startled us both and - in addition to creatively slicing my face with its talons,” a few wayward laughs get muffled against her hand, “ - it took a souvenir chunk of my throat in its beak along with it.”

Finally, he dares to look down at her properly, casting an unimpressed scowl at how red her face has become with the effort of restraining herself. “Something amusing, Miss Fisher?”

She shakes her head ‘no’ furiously, but it takes her several more moments to reign herself in. Eventually she does, releasing her hand from her mouth with a deep, cleansing breath. “No, Inspector, nothing amusing,” though the strain in her voice says otherwise. “How… “ another pointedly deep breath “How awful.”

“Yes. It was.” He’s still utterly straight-faced, but he knows the next revelation will be her tipping point. “Two days in the infirmary and 5 months of a stupid nickname that clung like lint on wool.”

The look on her face is already betraying her, but she dares to ask anyway, “A nickname! …Which was?”

“… Bullseye Robinson.”

With that, she’s gone, full-force belly laughs rising from her throat and filling the entire room. Her head falls to his chest as she clings to his shoulders, indulging herself in the amusement for a good couple of minutes. When she finally looks up, his face is cold as stone and she almost - almost - looks apologetic.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, Miss Fisher,” he deadpans, trying to sound as genuinely offended as possible, and attempts to nudge her off and stand up.

“Aw no, Jack don’t go! I’m sorry,” she hugs her arms around his neck, peppering kisses across his jaw, her voice filled with mirth as she coos to him, “I’m sorry, darling… I didn’t mean to. Here, let me kiss it better… “

He waits to feel her lips on the spot, pressing there warm and gentle… and then takes his revenge by swiftly flipping her on her back and ruthlessly tickling her sides. The screech she lets out is loud enough to alert the entire neighborhood, though it does nothing to appeal to his mercy, “Ja-ACK! JACK ROBINSON! Stop it right now! Not fair! JACK!”

A sudden light rapping at the door makes them both freeze, and the voice of the always-unrattled Mr. Butler calls politely through door, “Miss, is everything alright? Dorothy came to me with some concern about the sound of… screaming?”

The glance they share is as if they’re school children who’ve just been told to hush and Jack is thoroughly mortified. Phryne, unsurprisingly, is entirely unbothered, answering after a few church giggles to herself, “Quite alright, Mr. Butler, thank you. Apologies to you and Dot for the noise.”

“No trouble at all, Miss. Shall I prepare and bring up a lunch tray for you and the inspector?”

“No, we’re fine for now, thank you, Mr. B!” she says brightly and Jack comes to enough of his senses to hastily echo the sentiment; the least he can do for the trouble he’s put the man through, “YesthankyouMr.Butler.”

“Very good, Sir. Miss.” And the sound of his retreating footsteps is a relief to both Jack’s conscience and ears.

“Remind me to apologize to Mrs. Collins at a later date,” he sighs.

She snickers in response, reaching a hand back up into his hair to stroke it fondly, “Darling, I’m rather certain Dot would prefer to pretend it never happened as much as you would.”

He lets out a slow exhale, once again accepting that she’s right, and leans into her touch, “You broke your promise, you know.”

“I did,” she says softly, a slight pout on her lips and a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “I’m sorry. Can I still kiss it better?”

Jack pretends to consider it, resting on his forearms above her, “I suppose.”

She smiles warmly then, tilting his head to the side and leaning up to kiss the little scar that caused this mess.

“Should’ve told you I nicked it shaving,” he whispers and she simpers into his skin. “You’re the first person I’ve ever told that story.”

“Really?” she asks curiously, placing one more kiss for good measure and then pulling back. “Why?”

“Well,” he moves to lay next to her on his side, supporting his head on his elbow, his free hand reaching out to softly stroke between her bare breasts. “I’m somewhat ashamed of it.”

“Jack,” she says tenderly, cupping his cheek, “It was a silly, awful prank. And that nickname, quite honestly, was terribly uncreative.”

He breathes out a laugh, turning to kiss the inner part of her wrist, and a sudden sadness fills his eyes, “No, it’s not that.” She turns on her own side now to her face him as he continues. “All those men at the academy with me… we were shipped off to war having barely started as constables. It was strange… We’d always meant to serve side-by-side, but not as soldiers on the front lines of a conflict we never asked for.”

She’s quiet in the way she always is when she knows he needs someone to listen. In the way all those who were there know to be for each other. The support is there in the silence; in the space given for one to safely face their shadows.

“Many of them I never saw again. And those I did… those who survived… a fair few made it through the strikes. I was one of only three, actually.”

She rests her hand lightly on his wrist; a reminder that she’s still here, and so is he.

“The day of that prank, I was… so angry,” he shook his head as if trying to deny his own truth, “For the rest of our training, I spent every day fueled by vengeance, vowing that I’d get even in my own way. I’d surpass them, beat them at every exercise, ace every exam, and pummel them all like competition instead of comrades,” he hangs his head a moment, smiles sadly, “Graduated top of my class.”

“Of course you did,” she murmurs affectionately, sliding her hand up to lace her fingers with his. He’s not done, she knows he’s not - it’s likely she even knows where he’s heading with all this, and he knows the last thing she’ll do is let him think he’s going there alone.

“Thomas Lodge, one of the ring leaders… he came home from the war missing a leg… “ hot tears are building behind his eyes, the bitter taste of guilt seizing his throat, though he’s fighting like hell to swallow it down, “I spent months enraged over a mere speck of flesh that healed over within days and this man lost an entire leg.”

“But that wasn’t your fault, darling,” she reminds him gently, tucking herself in closer to him so that they’re nearly nose-to-nose.

“No… “ he nods, flashing her a thankful glance before casting his eyes back down, “Doesn’t make it fair, though. So many men either came home maimed or not at all… I came back whole and still managed to ruin the life waiting for me. I didn’t just fail my marriage, my family, myself… I failed the memory of all those men who never even got the same chance I did.”

One angry tear springs from the corner of his eye and he takes several deep breaths to stave off the others threatening to fall. Her hand is warm and soft on his cheek, her thumb catching the tear and wiping it away. He can’t look at her yet; he hadn’t meant to go down this dark of a path and the shame that has already been piling up is scolding him for bringing her to this point with him. “I’m sorry, I… “ he shakes his head, “I’m sorry.“

“Jack… “ her voice is the most gentle he’s ever heard it, “You never have to apologize to me for sharing things like this. I’d much rather you did that than keep it locked inside and make yourself believe you failed. You didn’t, darling, you didn’t at all.”

He sniffles, keeps his eyes down; brings his hand up to rest over hers against his cheek. “You came home with the weight of war on your shoulders. The horrors you had to survive… the fact you’re here is honor enough to those men and what you all went through. And you’ve spent every day since doing your best to make this piece of the world a safer place; caring so deeply for everyone around you that you forget to care for yourself.”

His heart is bursting and breaking all at once and suddenly he lets out a quiet, sorrowed laugh. “That last bit sounds like someone I know,” he murmurs, his eyes finally looking up. Hers are full of fondness, sympathy, and grief with a smile to match.

“This someone you know… “ she says softly, kindly, “Would you call them a failure?”

He smiles back, pulling her hand to his lips and kissing her palm, “Never.”

“And neither are you,” her voice steady and earnest, willing him to believe her with a nod of her head he can’t help but to mirror, “You are by far the most remarkable person I’ve ever known, Jack Robinson, don’t you ever forget it.” She kisses him, quick and warm, and he feels lighter than he can ever remember.

“Last bit sounds like someone I know,” he repeats playfully and the mischievous glint he so loves returns to her eyes.

“Well,” she leans in to kiss him again, “I hope you’re grateful for their presence.”

“Every day, Miss Fisher. Every day.”

[fleet-admiral-hiba]

OF SEAMEN AND SEAKINGS

True, your siblings were hella protective of you, especially after what had happened a few months ago. But not even they expected this.

Guess being a Charlotte has its perks, don't it?

You were relaxing on a small boat with Brennan, relaxing for the first time in months. While he recharged, you were trying to fish. You had already caught some excellent fish, so you wanted one more to bring back home.

The sea was calm; the day was beautiful. You were enjoying your time with your Uncle B, when you felt the boat rock. Had it been a normal wave, you wouldn't have paid any attention to it, but feeling the small boat shake from side to side got you thinking.

Brennan, too, had sat up. He ran to the banister to check the waters beneath you. You didn't know why, but you told him to stay back. You could feel something big was about to come up..

Indeed, your eyes saw ahead of time, and you practically witnessed the next ten seconds, much like your big brother Katakuri.

True to your predictions, something massive shot out of the water: now, you weren't a stranger to the multitude of creatures surrounding Totto Land. But seeing a Sea King was another thing entirely.

Brennan was worried. Neither of you had the means to fight it, much less on a small boat like yours. Brennan wasn't sure if you were scared or being protective of him. You stared right back at it.

In a matter of seconds, they emitted a powerful aura,knocking down the Sea king, but also making Brennan crumble to the floor, still conscious, but barely upright.

Shocked, both of you looked at each other, incredulous about what had just happened. A call broke you two out of your reverie: Raisin was calling because you weren't back yet.

"H-hey husband, we were turning the ship around when we had a bit of an inconvenience," he started,but worried voices promptly cut him off, asking if they were alright.

"We are okay, though baby V might have *accidentally* knocked out a sea king using the conqueror's Haki," you mumbled.

Silence.

It took a moment before any of them answered. "Come again, please?" Velvet did what?" asked Oven this time. True, you were a Charlotte, and you had tremendous powers, but you were barely 7. You couldn't have developed it just yet. "Velvet has just knocked out a Sea King" repeated Brennan, just as shocked as they were.

A blank den-den mushi was all that was left when nothing else was said.

While he passed the handset to Velvet, he turned around the boat, with the now comatose sea king. It was going to be dinner, as of now.

"Hello?" spoke softly, a bit disturbed by the silence, "baby, what Brennan has just said is it really true?" asked again Oven, trying to make sense of it. " Yes, it is," you answered sincerely.

You were almost at home, so it wasn't strange to see some of your brothers waiting for you, but the faces they made were priceless. A small boat (for the Charlotte standards) dragging in a fish at least 10x times its dimension.

Jaws dropped. You ran to hug them while they watched incredulously Brennan trying to drag the catch in. The decuplets ran to help him, while Smoothie and Oven stared first at their baby, then back at the fish.

"You are truly one of us," said a proud Oven, while hugging you tight and swinging you back and forth. You were giggling, all the while enjoying being close to them.

"Let's celebrate tonight," declared Smoothie, grinning maniacally.

Everybody was proud of your achievement, more so knowing you were their precious little baby.

Just a normal day in Totto Land.

[daytaker]

Potential Weaponization of Anti-Ship Culture to Justify Personal Discomfort - An Essay

TW: mentions of shipping minors, censored use of words often used in the context of shipping minors by those who dislike it, some devil's advocation, a critical look at the motivations behind a multilayered and multifaceted movement that includes many people who are there for diverse reasons and whose disliked ships range from "literally there's nothing wrong with this" to "the most toxic and abusive thing imaginable" so please don't take this as me saying everyone's views within anti-culture are morally or ethically equivalent because they aren't, also simping over an anime man, but I'm not sorry for that because he's beautiful. And also potential kavetham slander but it isn't really slander because I never claim that there's actually anything wrong with the ship, but if seeing me say "i don't like that" might upset you maybe give this one a miss.

The reason I was thinking about this subject at all is because of this video essay, which I encourage you to watch if you're at all interested in this sort of thing:

Fandom Policing, Purity Culture and the Death of Media Literacy by E

(also i call this an essay in a tongue-in-cheek way but it's lowkey the length of an actual essay so strap in i guess.)

So I've been playing hella Genshin Impact again lately.

I want to marry Kaveh. I want him carnally. In fact, I'm going to go ahead and say that, actually, I am already married to Kaveh in every sense of the word besides legally. Additionally, I should probably mention that I'm probably the least polyamorous person alive. I simply could never share in a relationship. I would inevitably have a favorite and it would be an ugly mess. I mention this because it provides a bit of context as to why I feel so sad that my husband Kaveh is so ubiquitously shipped with whats-his-name, because I am deeply and intensely in love with him, so seeing him with another man hurts me on a very deep level, and I cannot nor do I want to engage in the mental gymnastics of an imaginary polycule.

So all that said, I was sitting alone, stewing over my dislike of this ship, and something occurred to me. Something disturbing. Because as much as I don't ship this particular thing, there's nothing wrong with the ship. The characters are adults, they're not related, there's no abuse, they just canonically act as if they don't like each other while having a more complicated relationship. You know the type. They're very popular. I've never liked ships between characters that don't get along in canon, so even if I wasn't madly in love with Kaveh, I don't think I'd be a fan of this particular ship. What I'm getting at is this:

What if I gave into my darker impulses and acted like the worst of the antis? I could come up with some rationale for why this extremely popular ship is actually extremely toxic and validate my own discomfort over seeing my lawfully wedded husband getting dicked down by some dude. I could say, "Financial abuse! Kaveh could never be in a consensual relationship with a man who could literally make him homeless on a whim!" I could say "My precious baby is being manipulated by a man who is in a position of power over him due to my baby's decision to value his art over all else and hurling himself into bankruptcy like a moron!"

Then I could declare that the ship is toxic; therefore those who ship it are toxic; therefore those who warn about its toxicity are protecting others from toxic influences. I am morally good. I am protecting the internet from nastiness.

Of course that would be very silly and extremely manipulative of me, because there's nothing inherently wrong with shipping two adults from a piece of fictional media, even when their dynamic is a lot more dubious than the one between these two.

But this brings me back to what I was thinking about before... That is to say, my deep, gut discomfort with the ship for entirely personal reasons. A lot of people, myself included, seem to feel like we need to have logical reasons behind our likes and dislikes. It's not enough just to feel a certain way. We need to be able to defend our views against nay-sayers. This is particularly true when you dislike something, because when you go out into a crowd (the internet) and start broadcasting that you don't like something, it's seen as a little inflammatory.

And with good reason! If I didn't think of all this stuff I wanna talk about, I would have kept my thoughts on this ship completely to myself, because my negativity really couldn't do anything but antagonize people who do like the ship.

I wonder to what extent our culture of extremism has bled into our media consumption even on such an unimportant level as shipping. If I find out someone I know votes Republican, that will change my entire perspective on them. But sometimes we take something like that and translate it to stuff that's a lot less important. Like, "If I find out someone ships two teenagers, that will change my entire perspective on them." (I'm not here to get into the ethics of shipping minors, but I'm willing to stick my neck out enough to say that the above example wouldn't be something I'd be horrified to discover about a friend or acquaintance. A lot of media stars teenage characters, it's just the reality of what we consume, and when people consume media, people ship the characters, it just happens.)

But what if you didn't actually care that they were teenagers, in your heart of hearts? What if you just...didn't like the ship, because you shipped one of them with somebody else, or you headcanon that one of them is gay, or straight, or ace, or whatever? But you're sick of seeing this stupid ship everywhere, and has anyone even considered the fact that these characters are minors? In a sense, by shipping them, you're s*xualizing minors. So in a sense, anyone who likes this ship is okay with s*xualizing minors. So in a sense, anyone who likes this ship is okay with p*dophelia. So in a sense, anyone who likes this ship is a p*dophile. And now, you can hate that ship openly and rather than being an asshole who's ruining people's day, you're a crusader for morality.

You are morally good. You are protecting the internet from nastiness.

Okay, now for my disclaimers, because I'm a fearful netizen!

Now I want to be very clear and say that I'm NOT suggesting that this is secretly the reason why anyone hates any ship. Plenty of ships are nasty for all sorts of reasons. Though I would encourage readers to consider whether that nastiness is grounds for a call-out rather than simply blacklisting it.

Also, some people have strong negative reactions to ships that might seem unproblematic or at least not that awful for reasons that aren't just "it goes against my headcanon" or "I'm lawfully married to Kaveh how dare you". Some people might see real life trauma reflected in ship dynamics that aren't inherently "gross" to other people.

Basically, I want to acknowledge that this is a specific look at a specific subsection of shipping purity culture, and I'm not claiming to examine every potentiality of the issue with complete nuance. But I do want to assert that this is a nuanced issue, and encourage people to discuss it with each other in good faith, not assuming that the other party is intentionally ignoring a perspective or trying to harm or silence another group.