#they find themselves in a new world and are ready to commit crimes

[thevoidstaredback]

How To Balance Your Daytime and Nighttime Activities So That You Don't Burn Yourself Out More Than You Already Have

Danny didn't know how he was doing it, but all the acting classes he never took were really paying off!

'Fake 'til you make it and hope you don't get caught' is a great motto to live by and he is prepared to defend this hill with what's left of his living life.

By some miracle, Alfred hadn't kicked him from the haunt, instead giving him all the same permissions Dick, Barbra, and Tim have! He was warned about going to the Bat Cave for any reason, though. Not like Danny had any plans to enter Bruce Wayne's haunt. No thank you.

Speaking of Mister Wayne, Danny was so ready to be away from him. Just knowing they're in the same building was setting him off!

Bruce Wayne, on TV and in the eye of the public, was a man grieving his lost son. He's a playboy and a philanthropist who couldn't tell you left from right, but he's also Gotham's White Knight; her prince. A family man who's lost yet another of his family and doing his best to move past it.

In private, at least as far as Danny could tell, Bruce Wayne is a pessimist and a narcissist. He's a man desperate for a family, but unwilling to let anyone close, pushing everyone away and keeping them no closer than arm's length. He's stuck in the past, unable to move past mourning his parents and now his son. He is much more Batman than Bruce Wayne and it's only a matter of time before the two worlds collide disastrously.

Danny wouldn't know, but he can make a pretty educated guess on the matter.

Throughout the entire dinner, Danny had been observing everyone. He analyzed how they interacted, how they held themselves, how they ate, and how they reacted to his and Mister Wayne's conversation.

His main focus is Dick. Dick will always be his top priority, but Tim had quickly been added to the list. Barbra wasn't nearly as high on his list of people to take care of, but he was going to offer his help should she ever need it.

Especially because she snuck a nervous glance at Miaster Wayne when he mentioned Oracle.

He hadn't intended to stay the night in Gotham, but he wasn't going to turn away the opportunity, especially because Alfred was very insistent that Danny and Dick stay. And Tim and Barbra asking them on patrol? They both had pretty good puppy eyes, but Danny wasn't the one who made the mistake of looking at them.

Regardless, Nightwing being in Gotham for the night presented the Bludhaven Goons the perfect opportunity to commit crimes unpunished for the night. It wouldn't take long for the news to get out. Danny had fully planned on Phantom being there, flying over to work in Bludhaven before returning at his normal time, but Tim and Barbra convincing him to be on comms presented a bit of a hiccup in his plans.

Dick finding out about Phantom was inevitable. In fact, he didn't plan on hiding Phantom, but the times where Dick or Nightwing were awake never matched up when Phantom was out.

Okay, so maybe he was hiding a little bit.

Tim and Barbra finding out, on the other hand, was a bit of a problem.

Phantom was a hero in Amity Park, Illinois for only a little while before disappearing. He wasn't hugely known outside of the town or ghost hunters, not doing anything to warrant attention from the Big Leagues. (Nothing they knew of, anyway) It was unlikely that anyone outside of the niche group even knew his name, let alone what he looked like or how he worked.

Still. Tim figured out Nightwing's and Batman's identities, probably Batgirl's, too. And Batman is notoriously known for his paranoia and for somehow knowing everything and having a way to counteract it.

Mister Wayne is already looking into Danny, likely having already stumbled across the Missing Person report that wouldn't have gone through, ending up at a dead end. He'd easily put Danny and Phantom together as related somehow, if not being the same person.

Tim, similar to Mister Wayne, needs to know everything. The difference is that Tim's need to know is obviously a trauma response. Something that Danny would like to help him with, but that's beside the current point. It'll take maybe five minutes for Tim to find out everything he can about Phantom and Danny, especially now that he knows that Danny used to be a vigilante.

Sure, Danny could try and hide Phantom from them, but being on comms with them for the night would alert them to even the smallest fight. He's not a loud person, much preferring espionage and stealth over physical altercations, no matter how much his track record disagreed.

So, he's now presented with a choice. Introduce them to Phantom despite telling them that he was done being a hero, or leave Bludhaven to the mercy of her underworld for the night.

He was never quite able to leave stuff alone.

Sam had called him a tutelar.

Whatever that means.

Why couldn't these decisions be easier? Can't he ever have a Cinderella option? Why can't he ever just not decide?

Part 14 Part 16

[eijakushingomel]

Early Encounter || CRK

••••

Guys I got another idea—

OK. OK. So remember, there are many fics and ideas that the Beasts could see what their Ancient Hero counterparts are doing through their Soul Jams? And then of Shadow Milk gotten into Pure Vanilla's head and slowly corrupted him?

OK. OK. But what if instead of SM corrupting PV, it is PV who does that?

No. Not the Swap AU (they're cool in their own way, btw) but like PV tries to influence SM to be good?

It's just another excuse for me (actually) to do another parent!Beast, because the basic concept is like this;

•For some reason, the Ancients got their Soul Jams at a very young age. PV got the Light of Truth when he was seven, after he managed to influence a group of rebellious children to be honest to their parents.

•After several days of PV trying to get used to this weird-blue-gemstone-that-appeared-out-of-nowhere, he met this weird-blue-jester who acted and is a menace.

•SM on the other hand, after a long thousand years trapped inside a tree with only the void and his cardboard puppets as his companies, felt a connection from the outside world. He learnt quickly it was from his other half, his Soul Jam that was ripped away from him.

• It had been deactivated for so long. To feel such familiar energy activate and pulsing in life means one thing — the Witches had chosen someone to wield half of his Light of Knowledge.

• Obviously pissed off, SM was so ready to meet this guy who got his power. It took him a while to properly connect to his Soul Jam and this... successor of his through mental link.

• He was so ready to mentally beat up the guy who got his Jam. But instead of seeing any old lad or gal (since he thought the Witches would choose someone with a keen understanding of knowledge and magic — an experience mage or scholar), he saw

Aaaand things went on afterwards.

•Of course, manipulating a child wasn't beneath him, so he tried to control PV. Maybe the kid could cause chaos on his behalf. So he tried to lie to the kid that he was a great scholar from a far away kingdom—

...buuuuut got brutally denied by the Light of Truth itself.

"Nah, don't trust this guy, kiddo. He's the reason why I got called as the Beast of Deceit."

"..."

Shadow Milk pointed at the floating gemstone. "You can speak???"

♧♧♧♧

So yeah. It's just the first part. But I really want to make this parent-child relationship between the Beasts and the Ancients.

SM tries to manipulate PV to commit crimes, but somehow, every time he tries, PV turns it into a therapy session. It's kinda funny when you see an old creature that already existed since the beginning of Earthbread receive emotional advice by a seven years old.

SM tries to scare PV away when he gets too annoying by shifting to something scary. But PV is like — aww, it's okay, Mr. Shadow Milk. My teachers told me that the ones who try to hurt people are the ones who are hurting themselves.

Then SM and the Light of Truth are concerned for PV's survival instinct.

So am I, now that I wrote this.

SM tries to tell lies to PV like the Deceit he is. The Light of Truth tries to refute him several times but stops when PV is able to discrediting the false by studying. PV doesn't take offence when SM tells lies about something. Instead, he takes it as an opportunity to study and earn more knowledge on the way. By using the deceit, he tries to gain knowledge to see the truth.

SM is peeved for the first time. But as time goes on and SM has nothing to do but literally stalking the kid, he finds some sort of entertainment in them.

It becomes a game. SM tells lies to test the kid, PV tries to encounter using facts and truth, and the Light of Truth as their referee.

SM is slowly getting attached to the kid without knowing. And seeing the young PV animatedly go on another rant about this new thing he learns, it bitterly reminds him of what he used to be. Back when the Fount of Knowledge was a title of divinity level and everything good. But young PV is also not like him. He's eager and honest. And unlike SM, who told lies because that was what the cookies wanted to hear, PV tells the truth no matter how harsh it is.

Of course, with PV's characteristics, he tries to be gentle with it. But the best medicine is always the bitter one, and for someone so young, PV seems to understand this concept.

Maybe that is why he is chosen by the Witches to be the new pillar of wisdom. To be the one who seeks knowledge (just like SM) and decipher lies (unlike SM).

PV is the same yet different. Maybe that is why the Witches see him as fit to be his successor.

And yadi yadi yada redemption cause I'm a sucker for this parent-child relationship.

There have to be loads of going on, and I can't say for sure if any Beasts fully redeem themselves at least until all Ancients reach adulthood. Maybe they just got softer for them?

Mystic Flour, after getting to know Dark Cacao, still sees apathy as the only salvation for the world. But for him, she tries to hold back from Thanos snap everyone just so he could prove her with his so-called resolution.

Eternal Sugar sees no worth in happiness. But Hollyberry shows her that perhaps there is something that is worth being passionate about.

Burning Spice is still thirsting for destruction and havoc, yet sees amusement in Golden Cheese's greed.

As for Silent Salt, well, silence was his main choice. But perhaps, a little freedom isn't as troublesome as he thinks.

I know I'm making this for fun, but to change some dudes and dudettes who literally ruined cookiekind doesn't seem like something that could be done in a couple of years. So, at the very least (and probably the most), the Beasts still think their choices (apathy, deceit, etc) are the better choices. But they will acknowledge that perhaps there are other choices as well.

A story of where the Beasts learn to see other paths (and be reminded of who they used to be) while also raising future heroes.

I can just imagine Burning Spice tries to give Golden Cheese fighting advice while she is battling some Monster Cakes.

"No, Cheese! You gotta pull your arm back— lower! LOWER!"

"OH MY WITCHES, SHUT UP!"

"Watch out for the sneak attack on the back— URGH! Why did you born with two arms only?!"

"AHH—"

And Mystic Flour occasionally tells Dark Cacao to give up.

"Just give up."

"..."

"That cat won't let you pet it just give up."

So yeah. Then PV and White Lily meet at the Blueberry Yoghurt Academy, and they both find out their Soul Jams kinda related to one another.

"So you got also got a random cookie inhibited your mind?" With only PV who could see SM, he could feel the blue Beast lightly hit him on the head.

Through WL's wine eyes, she sees SS standing behind PV with dark aura looms all over the black Beast. A normal side to see. It means SS is genuinely curious about PV.

"Yeah, pretty much."

[sweethoneyrose83]

Simulacrum-themed writing prompts:

1. The Perfect Copy

A new technology allows people to create perfect, conscious replicas of themselves to do tasks in their place. But when the simulacrum begins questioning the purpose of its existence, it demands more autonomy. What happens when a copy refuses to return to the original and decides it deserves to live a "real" life?

2. Memories Are Simulations

A person wakes up to find that their memories of the last ten years have been fabricated, a detailed simulation uploaded into their brain. The twist? They've been living in a constructed version of reality, and the person they thought they were no longer exists. How do they cope with the realization, and who is controlling the simulation?

3. Museum of Lost Identities

In a dystopian future, there's a museum where you can "borrow" the identities of people who no longer exist—whether through war, accidents, or forgotten history. You can live as them for a day, experiencing their memories. But one day, a visitor refuses to return the borrowed identity, believing they’ve uncovered a deeper conspiracy.

4. The Disposable Worker

Corporations use disposable human-like simulacra for dangerous jobs, designed with enough sentience to follow orders but not rebel. When one simulacrum develops an unexpected emotional bond with a human coworker, it starts to question its predetermined fate. What happens when it fights for its own survival?

5. Simulacrum Uprising

In a world where humanity's every action is mirrored by a simulacrum in a parallel dimension, the simulacra have started to rebel. A simulacrum has found a way to communicate with their human counterpart, and they’re ready to cross over, intent on taking their place. What do they want, and is their version of reality more real than the one they reflect?

6. The Ghost in the Replica

A wealthy individual pays to have their consciousness copied into a younger, more attractive simulacrum body. But as they begin to notice subtle glitches, they realize something is wrong: their soul or essence didn’t make the transfer. Now, they’re trapped in a body that looks like them but is slowly becoming someone else. What does the original person do as the simulacrum gains its own mind?

7. A City of Copies

In a futuristic megacity, only copies of people are allowed to roam the streets. Real humans live in isolation, while simulacra maintain the world outside. A detective, who has always believed they're human, is hired to investigate a crime committed by one of the simulacra. But during the investigation, they start to question their own identity—are they a copy, too?

8. The Simulacrum’s Dream

Simulacra are designed with no need for sleep, yet one day, a simulacrum claims to have experienced a dream. This unprecedented event causes a rift in society—scientists, religious groups, and governments race to uncover whether simulacra are evolving into something new, and whether they might be capable of a human soul.

9. Breaking the Simulation

After years of living in a society that feels strangely off, a group of people discovers that the world they live in is a massive simulation designed to maintain order. They manage to communicate with their real-world selves, but the process of trying to wake up from the simulation becomes increasingly dangerous. How far are they willing to go to break free?

10. Simulacrum Lovers

A couple who couldn’t be together in life—due to societal or physical constraints—decide to upload their consciousness into simulacrum bodies to live out their romance in a simulated reality. As their simulacra interact, they realize their artificial forms behave in ways that don’t match their expectations. Do the copies evolve feelings of their own, or are they simply mimicking the originals?

[oh-my-damn]

Feminist Icon-ism

I once posted on here that Taylor Swift is a feminist icon and then got told by some random anonymous person in the comments that she was far from it.

At the time, I paid it no mind – because isn't this the eternal struggle women have always had to go through? Isn't this in fact what Taylors song "The Man" is about?

"And everyone believes ya.. What's that like?"

But now I am rewatching The Eras Tour for the perhaps literally 100th time at this point and I am ready to make my rebuttal.

Unsurprisingly, it has to do with not only the patriarchy, and society, but the main man himself, the main character in many women's nightmare, Donald Trump.

The man who paved the way for a collapse of an already dysfunctional country that did and to some extend still do believe themselves to be superior in the western world, despite every empirical fact and piece of evidence telling them otherwise.

Donald Trump was an 80's icon. And then he went on to become a reality show and movie icon and then later graduated into simply being "an icon."

And this is the only reason he was elected president. Being someone born from money who had never had to struggle or work hard for his wealth, someone who decided to spend his family wealth on building a giant ugly building in New York and then tricked them into letting him skip taxes for forty years became an icon for "accomplishing" that.

The Trump Tower was legendary, Donald Trump was known around the world as the "savy" businessman he was claimed to be, despite never being any of the sort.

And then he was elected President, despite having never, ever, accomplished anything that wasn't outright handed to him, despite not having a career in politics, despite having committed several sexual assaults, and despite the fact he once said in an interview, to the world and the country he would become President of in the future, that were he ever to lose his fortune he would run for President and he would do so as a Republican because they will believe anything you tell them.

This man was elected President of one of the biggest superpowers of the world. And now, after being accused and convicted of countless crimes from before and during his presidency, he is still in the running to become President of the United States for a second time.

How does this all tie in to Taylor Swift, you might ask?

Well, the answer is simple.

Taylor Swift worked hard and fought for every single thing she has. She writes her own songs, and sings them herself, and has done so since day one. She started her career as a teenager, a fucking child, and powered through a grown man stealing away her moment because he was drunk and high and delusional – and she handled that moment with more class than most people could ever even fathom. As a teenager.

Her lyrics as they stand right now are literal spoken poetry, to a degree that people are unable to tell her lyrics apart from Shakespeare.

She has millions of fans around the world, she has worked tirelessly and relentlessly for what she has, and despite being one of the most famous people on the entire planet, you cannot find a single story of her out there where she seemed or acted ungrateful. She is humble and grateful for the millions of people who support her.

She was shamed and cancelled and took it all in stride, despite never actually doing what she was accused of, and she came back stronger than ever after it.

She is a feminist icon because she is just an ICON. But unfortunately, as it stands in 2024, we still need to put "feminist" in front of it because female empowerment and success is still an actual accomplishment and not just an ordinary expectation.

So yes. She is a feminist icon. In fact, she is an icon in general, and she is a hell of a lot better than a lot of the icons we have seen these past 100 years, even. She is an incredible inspiration who worked so hard for what she has accomplished, and both men and women are inspired and in awe by her every day, despite her career starting over 18 years ago.

Is she perfect? No, of course not, but why would you expect her to be? Would you honestly, truly, expect the same of anyone else?

The answer is no. Because you don't. You don't hold others accountable or expect the same as you do from her, even the ones working in the same field as she does. Where is your outrage against Justin Bieber, or Drake or even fucking Kanye West, who, might I add, is still being defended despite his anti-semitic remarks?

What's the major difference here? Please, do enlighten me. Because she does the exact same thing as those people do in regards to performance and portrayal of the brand she has created for herself, the major difference here is that she DOES IT BETTER and she is a WOMAN.

You never expected Donald Trump to act the way you expect Taylor to, yet you still adored him and labelled him an icon of New York. And then you elected him President.

Taylor Swift is more than just a feminist icon, because she goes way beyond that, but the world is not ready for that conversation yet, since it continues to excuse the behavior of men at their whim, yet shame women even if they do way more than said men ever could.

[swissmote]

How To Hire The Right Candidates Who Will Never Disappoint

Let’s be honest. Hiring is a bit like dating—there’s a profile, a vibe check, and that inevitable question: "Will this work long-term or end in awkward ghosting?" But while dating apps are full of red flags and beach selfies, hiring the right person doesn’t have to be a gamble. Done right, you can find candidates who not only crush it on paper but deliver where it counts—on the job.

So how do you make it happen? How do you hire someone who’s not going to pull a disappearing act mid-project or leave you wondering what went wrong? Let’s break it down.

1. Define the "Right" Candidate

Spoiler alert: "right" doesn’t mean "perfect." Perfection is a myth. The real gem is someone who:

Matches your company values

Has skills that solve actual business problems

Grows with your team, not just within their job description

Pro Tip: Instead of listing 25 skills, focus on 5 that are non-negotiable—and align them with real business goals.

2. Screen Smart, Not Hard

Anyone can write a decent resume. The real magic happens in how you screen candidates.

Here’s what works:

Video assessments to evaluate communication and confidence

Real-world challenges instead of generic quizzes

Behavioral interviews that reveal how they handle curveballs

With Swissmote’s hiring solution, all of this is already baked in. They don’t just match resumes—they test, score, and shortlist based on actual potential.

3. Look Beyond the Obvious

Hiring from the same talent pool as everyone else is like fishing in a kiddie pool—crowded, shallow, and honestly, kinda boring.

Instead:

Tap into emerging talent markets (hello, India!)

Think remote-first and borderless

Consider hiring freelancers to test out fit before committing full-time

Platforms like Swissmote specialize in this. Their global talent network is filled with professionals who bring fresh perspectives, niche skills, and serious work ethic.

4. Culture Fit > Resume Fit

Skills can be taught. Mindset? Not so much.

Ask:

What excites them about your company?

How do they approach conflict, feedback, and change?

Can they work async and still thrive?

Swissmote’s custom assessments help uncover these gems—so you’re not left relying on gut feelings alone.

5. Don't Ghost After Hiring

Just like a relationship, onboarding sets the tone. If the first month is all chaos and crickets, your new hire will question their life choices.

Provide a smooth onboarding process

Assign a mentor or buddy

Set clear expectations and milestones

Swissmote supports businesses even after hiring with onboarding help, performance tracking, and even a candidate replacement guarantee. Yep, that’s a thing.

Key Takeaways:

Define the candidate profile based on business goals, not buzzwords.

Use interactive, skills-based screening instead of resume roulette.

Think globally, act smartly—remote and cross-border hiring opens new doors.

Prioritize culture fit and communication.

Post-hire support matters. A lot.

A Few Quick FAQs

1. How do I make sure someone’s not overselling themselves? Use practical assessments and challenges instead of just interviews.

2. How fast can I hire someone through Swissmote? Typically within 2–4 weeks, sometimes faster if the fit’s perfect.

3. What if the new hire doesn’t work out? Swissmote offers a 2-month replacement guarantee—no awkward drama.

4. Can I hire for short-term gigs too? Yes! You can hire freelancers for specific projects.

5. Where can I learn more about Swissmote’s hiring process? Explore their FAQs or read their blog for hiring insights.

Final Thoughts

Hiring doesn’t have to feel like rolling the dice. With the right approach and tools, you can build a team that shows up, steps up, and grows with you. Whether you’re looking to hire developers, UI/UX designers, or even AI/ML experts, Swissmote is your partner in crime.

Ready to meet someone who won’t disappoint? Start here: Start Hiring With Swissmote

Follow Swissmote on LinkedIn and Instagram.

[groundzeroevent]

Planning a wedding is a monumental task that involves countless decisions, meticulous organization, and seamless coordination. While some couples relish the opportunity to dive into the details themselves, many find the process overwhelming and stressful. That's where wedding planners step in to save the day, ensuring that your special day unfolds just as you've always dreamed. If you're tying the knot in Jaipur or anywhere else, enlisting the expertise of a wedding planner in Jaipur can be a game-changer.

Expertise and Experience: Wedding planners are seasoned professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. They are well-versed in the intricacies of wedding planning, from selecting the perfect venue to managing vendors and creating timelines. In Jaipur, where the wedding industry is bustling with options, having a local expert like a wedding planner in Jaipur on your side can make all the difference. They know the best venues, vendors, and trends in the area, ensuring that your wedding is nothing short of spectacular.

Stress Reduction: Planning a wedding can be incredibly stressful, especially when juggling it with work, family, and other commitments. Wedding planners act as your stress-relievers, handling all the nitty-gritty details so you can focus on enjoying this special time with your partner. From negotiating contracts to troubleshooting last-minute issues, they take care of everything, allowing you to relax and savor the excitement of your impending nuptials.

Budget Management: One of the biggest benefits of hiring a wedding planner is their ability to help you stick to your budget. They have insider knowledge of pricing, allowing them to recommend cost-effective options without compromising on quality. Whether you're planning an extravagant affair or a more intimate gathering, wedding planners in Jaipur can help you allocate your budget wisely, ensuring that every rupee is spent where it matters most.

Creativity and Vision: Every couple has a unique vision for their wedding day, but bringing that vision to life can be challenging without the right expertise. Wedding planners are creative masterminds who excel at turning dreams into reality. Whether you're envisioning a traditional Rajasthani ceremony or a contemporary fusion celebration, they work tirelessly to design an event that reflects your style and personality.

On-the-Day Coordination: On your wedding day, the last thing you want to worry about is logistics. Wedding planners ensure that everything runs smoothly from start to finish, overseeing setup, coordinating vendors, and handling any unforeseen hiccups with grace and efficiency. With them by your side, you can relax and soak in every precious moment without a care in the world.

In conclusion, hiring a wedding planner in Jaipur is not just a luxury – it's a wise investment that can make all the difference in ensuring that your big day is everything you've ever imagined and more. Whether you're getting married in Jaipur or elsewhere, their expertise, creativity, and attention to detail will elevate your wedding experience to new heights, leaving you with memories to cherish for a lifetime. So sit back, relax, and let the wedding planners work their magic – you deserve it!

Ready to find your dream wedding planner in Jaipur? A simple web search will bring up a variety of talented professionals ready to make your wedding vision a reality. Let a wedding planner be your partner in crime, transforming your dream wedding from a stressful to-do list into a beautiful memory that lasts a lifetime.

Contact us today to start planning your unforgettable Jaipur wedding with Dream Weddings, where your dreams become reality.

wedding planners in Jaipur

[maniuscript2]

Unveiling the Magic of South Indian Cinema on Epic On - Your Best OTT Platform for Movies

In the vast world of Indian cinema, the Southern part of the country has always stood out as a beacon of storytelling brilliance, weaving tales that resonate with audiences far and wide. At Epic On, we take pride in curating an exquisite collection of South Indian cinematic gems, ensuring that our platform stands as the Best OTT Platform for Movies. As you step into the realm of Epic On, get ready to be captivated by the richness of narratives, the intensity of emotions, and the sheer thrill of storytelling that defines the essence of South Indian cinema. Below are some of our personal recommendations that you shouldn't miss out on!

"Mein hoon Lucky The Racer": 

Within the tapestry of Epic On's offerings lies a gripping saga of two brothers, bound by blood but driven apart by destiny. As they find themselves entangled in the web of a ruthless gangster turned politician, the brothers forge an unbreakable bond to challenge the nefarious antagonist. Join us on Epic On to Watch Short Clip Online, movies, TV shows, and more as we unfold the layers of this cinematic masterpiece, showcasing the resilience of family ties and the triumph of the human spirit.

"Lucifer": 

When a political Godfather breathes his last, a vacuum is created, and a procession of thieves disguised as politicians seeks to fill the void. The quest for a worthy successor reveals a compelling narrative, featuring names that echo through the corridors of power, including that of God's most beloved angel, Lucifer. Epic On - the Best OTT Platform for Movies invites you to delve into the political intrigue and witness Lucifer's journey to maintain order in the heavens.

"Ek ka Dum": 

Immerse yourself in the riveting tale of a rock star battling a haunted past and a crippling mental disorder. Convinced that his parents fell victim to a heinous crime, he joins forces with a relentless journalist to unmask the three evildoers responsible. This cinematic masterpiece is a symphony of suspense, offering a unique blend of music, mystery, and mental fortitude that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

"No Parking": 

Love, deception, and an innocuous act of parking in a forbidden zone set the stage for Arun's roller coaster ride. As an architect enamored with his co-worker, Arun's life takes unexpected turns after a seemingly minor parking mistake. On Epic On, witness this tale of lies and deceit unfold, urging you to ponder the unpredictable consequences of seemingly inconsequential actions.

Epic On is not merely an OTT platform; it is a gateway to a world where every click opens the door to a new adventure. Our commitment goes beyond just providing a platform for South Indian movies; it extends to offering a holistic entertainment experience. From captivating TV series to live TV, podcasts, to watch short clip online, and online games for kids, Epic On is a treasure trove of entertainment waiting to be explored.

So, why settle for the ordinary when you can experience the extraordinary on the best OTT platform for movies – Epic On. As you explore our vast library, don't forget to watch short clips online and immerse yourself in a world where storytelling knows no bounds. Welcome to Epic On, where cinematic magic awaits at every click.

[teenageread]

Review: Vicious

Synopsis:

Vicious is the explosive conclusion to Sara Shepard's #1 New York Times bestselling Pretty Little Liars series, perfect for fans of the hit ABC Family original TV show based on the series.

High school seniors Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer have been through a lot since their best friend, Alison DiLaurentis, disappeared five summers ago. A stalker named "A" has harassed them for their past mistakes and revealed their darkest secrets to the world. They've been on TV, hounded by the press, kicked out of school, arrested, and even put in jail. With time running out, and their lives on the line, one of the Liars does something so terrifying and shocking, fans will be left breathless.

Sara Shepard's fan base continues to grow as ABC Family's hit Pretty Little Liars TV show draws in new readers to the #1 New York Times bestselling series. Full of unexpected twists and shocking revelations, this long-awaited finale to this much-loved series will not disappoint. 

Plot:

They were on trial for killing Ali. Of all the things Ali has done for them, framing them for her murder, and facing life in prison, is probably at the top of the list. With the public siding with the Ali Cats, the Liars have heavy hearts, especially Emily. After losing Jordan, and Ali almost drowning her, Emily's freak out is seen as critical evidence. This leads Emily to a depression as she begins to see no value in her life, especially if it ends her in prison. Aria is also losing hope, and like the fleeting artist that she is, takes more drastic measures to avoid prison time. Luckily for Aria, Noel is back in her life and unwilling to let the girl he loves go to prison for a murder he's pretty sure she did not do. Speaking of love, Hanna and Mike are still madly in love. They are so madly in love, they are willing to stay forever with each other before Hanna is carted away for life. The only Liar who is not losing their head is Spencer. Taking the practical "101 ways to survive prison" route when an old flame makes her realize that life on the outside is better than surviving prison. When a traumatic event puts our liars at odds with each other, they find themselves separated and at the mercy of Ali. Only in this case, Ali is their Judge. With an end in sight, the Liars must fight for their lives to beat Ali for the last time or suffer a lifetime in prison for a crime they swear they did not commit.    

Thoughts:

I love this series, and I am so happy that Sara Shepard let it finish with a bang. Unlike previous stories, this book had several events throughout the novel, allowing more twists and turns than the previous novels. We got to witness the Liars before the trial, during it, after the verdict was heard, and then have the shocking conclusion I did see coming. Still, it was worth it all the same. With easy writing, I hated how Shepard separated the girls for most of this story. What happened made sense; it just sucked that for the last novel our Liars spent it apart rather than being together. Our Liars went back to not being friends as they spent previously in the series, and not as besties for life, as Shepard had them be within the last few installments in the series. I was ready for an entire book about lifelong friends sticking together in their worst movement of their life, instead of Liars barely speaking as their own trial for murder. Despite the Liars hating each other, the pacing of this novel was genius. It made you appreciate every small interaction the girls had. After fifteen other books, this is the last time we will read about Hanna talking to Mike or Spencer making up with Melissa. Call me nostalgic, but I appreciated how many characters Shepard brought back to make their final experience after such a long series. This is why for best and worst, I honestly loved each of the liar's plot lines in this novel, as at this point, it is just so "them" that for their character, it all makes sense. With an epilogue of six months later, the series is over. It had some rough parts in the middle. I generally enjoyed this story for what it represents in the series and how Shepard has given the liars the perfect ending they deserve. 

Also just way better than the show, screw season 7! 

Body Count

As Shepard keeps killing people off, I think it would be a good idea to keep track of who died, but without spoiling the ending of the current book, as her habit is killing them off with two chapters to go. So here is the list of the dead for the previous book #15:

Jenna, Ian, Mona, Toby, Courtney, Tabitha, Gayle, Graham, Kyla, Jordan, Macie, Robin and Ali (?) 

Read more reviews: Goodreads

Buy the book: Amazon

[you-are-my-joy]

The Return of an Empress | 07

Title: The Return of an Empress

Pairing: OT7 x Reader

Genre: Isekai, Angst, Romance, Fluff, Smut (Later on), Slow burn

Characters: Empress!Reader, Advisor!Jin, Advisor!Yoongi, General!Hoseok, Advisor!Namjoon, Assassin!Jimin, Knight!Taehyung, Knight!Jungkook

Word count: ~9k

Summary: After one fateful night, you find yourself transmigrated into your favorite novel as the Empress that shares the same name as you. As a bookworm, most would think you’d be happy, but how could you be happy when the Empress you’ve become is expected to be killed in three months. The only thing on your mind now is to learn how to survive.

Warning: May contain depictions of violence and mentions of abuse throughout the story.

Masterlist 

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In the 380th imperial year, on June 9th, two days after the nobles were caught red-handed and thus apprehended, was the day of the largest massacre of high nobility in the history of the empire. 

At 8 am in the morning, a total of 18 of some of the most well-known and influential nobles of the empire were executed by the city plaza.

With tired steps, you trudge inside your bedroom, immediately falling onto the comfort of your bed. You let out an exasperated sigh, tossing your head back until it rests on a nearby pillow. Despite getting rid of the duke and the rest of the nobles, you can’t help but still feel a sense of unease and tension. Would the original empress make the same decision? You don’t know the answer, but what you do know, is that you’ll most likely be haunted by the cries and screams of those who lost their lives today for the rest of your life.

It’s one thing to actually read of the graphic murders and deaths that occurred in the novel, it’s a whole different story when you actually experience and see first hand how gruesome the public executions truly were. Back in your world, you’ve never witnessed anyone’s death before, as it was the 21st century, public executions were prohibited decades ago. But suddenly you had to endure an entire morning witnessing the horrifying deaths of 18 people as their heads detached from their body, a large pool of blood staining the once clean pavement. 

You weren’t keen on torturing people, so you were merciful in the sense that you chose to execute them through a beheading, with a fresh and sharpened axe to be exact. In this world, beheadings, although gruesome and bloody, were seen as the most ‘humane’ form of execution as the deed would be done in one swift motion, a painless execution to some extent. 

You remember hearing many of the nobles and commoners who attended the public executions express their disappointment at your choice, thinking you were being much too kind considering the heinous crime they committed. Despite their disappointment, they were slightly relieved over your choice, many were still skeptical over the empress’s supposed changed behavior, but seeing you wince and grimace at each beheading finally convinced them otherwise. 

News spread like wildfire around the empire about what had occurred at the party, news articles being published nearly a day later. The most popular topic of course being the Grand Duke himself drugging the empress, and so countless of nobles all around the empire scurried to watch the spectacle. Thus, the grand finale of the execution came when former Grand Duke, Lee Joong-Gu finally stepped forward. 

Many people had looked at him in disgust, throwing rotten fruits and vegetables his way and cursed out his name. The entire time, he wore a solemn expression as he kneels down without complaint unlike the rest of the criminals who wailed pathetically until their last breath. 

You remember that in the midst of it all, he had looked up at you, your eyes instantly locking with one another, and you swear from where you stood, you saw a hint of remorse and guilt in his face. Your mind reeling as he tearfully mouths ‘I’m sorry’ to you, but before you could even react any further, the axe gets raised in the air and in the next second is swung down with much force. His head rolling down the pavement as the cheers of the crowd rang out excitedly at the gruesome sight. 

However, the cheers seem to fade from your ears as all you can focus on is the dukes rolling head. And somehow it stops, facing in your direction, empty eyes that were once so full of life, ingraining themselves in your memory forever. You blink away the tears forming in your eyes, confused as to why your body was reacting like this. You flinch as you stare at his body slumped over, but your view gets blocked when Jungkook steps in front of you.

The entire morning, Jungkook and Taehyung have been right beside you, acting as your escorts as you had requested. Always attempting to block your view when they noticed your grim and disgusted expressions at each beheading. Jin and Namjoon were also present, but they stood a few meters away from you, ensuring that the executions ran as quickly and smoothly as possible. Hoseok was present as well, but as the general, he was in charge of security and surveying the city plaza, prioritizing your safety over everything else.

The only ones who hadn’t shown up were Yoongi and Jimin. Yoongi, you had expected, though you had a glimmer of hope that he would make an appearance, but Jimin? You thought he would come to greet you after the party, but you haven’t seen him since he left you by the ballroom doors. You were extremely worried, thinking something bad had happened to him, but Namjoon reassured you that he was fine as he had ran into him the other day. He further informs you that Jimin wasn’t feeling good, which explains his sudden absence. Though you remained unconvinced, you choose to give Jimin his needed space, thinking it would be better for him to come to you when he was ready.

When the executions were over you stood up from your seat, ready to leave the area in a hurry as the overwhelming stench of blood nearly made you puke on the spot. But suddenly you heard loud cheers as everyone directed their attention to you, “All Hail Empress Y/n!” many of them yelled out, grinning at you as they praised your actions. 

You hadn’t expected to be well received so quickly, since less than a week ago, some of these same people trembled in fear over your presence. You send them a charming smile to express your gratitude, but this only seemed to ignite something in them as they seemingly cheered your name even more.

Despite the cheering, all you wanted to do was go back to the palace and rest. So here you are, groaning as you lay flat on the spacious bed. You feel the bed dip slightly to your left, prompting you to open your eyes to see Jungkook looking down at you with a small smile. “How are you feeling?” he reaches his hand out to gently brush a strand of hair in front of your face. 

“Absolutely exhausted,” you let out a groan, closing your eyes once more. And you weren’t only talking about the past few days. It seemed that you were never truly able to catch a break the moment you arrived in this world. You can’t even imagine the amount of work the past empress had to endure. 

Taehyung, having found comfort in your couch situated in the middle of your grand bedroom, hums at that, “Mentally or physically exhausted?”

You scoff before letting out a yawn, “Both.” 

Jungkook nods as he moves his hand away from your face to lazily trace shapes on the palm of your hand, “I'm sorry to hear that your majesty,” he replies, sending you a pitiful look, as he notices traces of stress and exhaustion written on your face.

Still with your eyes closed, you rest for a moment, “It’s fine. This is my duty as the empress.”

Jungkook nods, “I understand, but before you’re an empress, you’re a human. You need to rest, your majesty,” he says, concern laced in his voice as he continues tracing odd shapes on your palm. 

Though after a while, you’ve come to the realization that rather than shapes, he was actually tracing your name on your skin.

You open your eyes to stare at Jungkook who was too distracted writing your name to pay attention to your gaze. You just stare when a sudden thought crosses your mind, “Hey Jungkook, can you try calling me by my name?”

Jungkook seems to freeze in his spot, his hand stopping right above yours as he stares at you with wide eyes, “Pardon?” this seems to gain Taehyung's attention as well when you see him from the corner of your eye snap his head instantly in your direction.

You shrug, sitting straight up now facing him. Both your faces nearly inches apart that Jungkook instantly blushes and shifts a bit further away from you to calm his racing heart, though you take that gesture as discomfort instead, “What’s wrong? You don’t want to?”

Jungkook stutters as he waves his arms in front of his face in an ‘X’ shape motion, “N-No, It’s not that I don't want to… but why are you suddenly asking that of me?” Both Jungkook and Taehyung stare at you in a mixture of confusion and interest since they haven’t addressed the empress by her name in nearly 3 years. Not after she had scolded the both of them until they complied to her wishes. 

“I figured we might as well go back to our old ways you know?” you suggest, but after taking in their shocked reactions you quickly add, “Of course if you’re uncomfortable with my request then I don’t want to force you to do anything. But I do give you permission to call me by my name when it’s just us.”

Jungkook turns his head to Taehyung as they look at each other wearily, as if doubting your words and thinking this was all just one big test. He hesitantly turns back to you, “Is that truly alright?” he asks while fidgeting nervously with his hand. 

“Of course it is,” you smile reassuringly, your eyes staring at him in anticipation, “will you?” You ask, you try to hide your excitement in order to not pressure him, but who were you kidding, it’s practically written on your face.

Jungkook’s lips curve upward slightly as he couldn’t deny your request, especially when your golden eyes shined brightly at him, “Yes…. Y/n…” though he had said it in a shy whisper, you still heard him loud and clear. You didn’t think hearing your name come out of his mouth would affect you so much but you couldn’t stop yourself from smiling widely. It’s times like these that you’re extremely grateful for sharing the same name as the old empress. 

“Woah that’s not fair,” you turn your head to find Taehyung with his arms crossed, playfully glaring at you both, “why does he get special treatment and I don't?” 

You chuckle as Taehyung's pout reminds you of a child who got their toy taken away and wants it back. Your amusement grows even more as you sit back and watch Jungkook be equally as childish when he sticks his tongue out at the older knight. And Taehyung, the ever mature knight, mimics his actions in return. 

You grin at the older knight, wanting nothing more than to ruffle his hair, “this applies to you as well Taehyung.” 

Taehyung finally turns to you after seemingly having a contest with Jungkook on who can contort their face in a mocking way better, “thank you… Y/n,” he replies softly with a gentle smile now on his face. 

They’ll admit, addressing you by your name sounded strange coming out their mouth, but they couldn’t deny the nostalgic and warm feeling in their chest when they finally did. And your smile definitely brightened their day even more.

“Y/n.” you hear Jungkook call out softly, though he flinches when he gains your attention. 

You furrow your eyes in confusion at his odd reaction, “Yes?”

You notice his cheeks glow with a tint of red, “Sorry, it’s nothing. I just wanted to say your name in front of you,” the ending of his sentence becoming a soft whisper as he was embarrassed to have been caught by you. But he should’ve known better than to believe your ears wouldn’t catch him. 

You have to mentally slap yourself to stay calm and composed as to not squeal in delight to embarrass him further. So to spare him, you fight back a giggle as you beam back at him, “you’re more than welcome to call me by my name anytime you want Jungkook.” Gaining a wide smile from him in return.

“Y/n?” Taehyung suddenly calls out, causing you to face him now. Though he chuckles at your raised brow, “I’m not just calling out your name, I genuinely have a question.” You chuckle right back, nodding your head, gesturing to him to ask his question. “Are you still feeling sick?” You understand he wasn’t referring to earlier, rather he was talking about your symptoms from withdrawal. 

Thankfully after properly taking medication daily or as suggested by the royal physician, you’ve been experiencing a lot less symptoms as the days go by. Joy reminding and ensuring that you actually took them definitely helped with the process. 

You nod sending him a soft smile, “no, I’ve been feeling a lot better nowadays. Though, I’ll admit I kind of want to throw up. But I’m pretty sure the main perpetrator to that is the blood.” Despite having left the plaza awhile ago, you seemingly couldn’t get rid of the stench of blood in your nose. Even just the thought of it makes you involuntarily gag. 

Jungkook softly chuckles, “from being in countless battles, you’d think you’d get used to the sight of blood,” he jokes with a teasing glint in his eyes as he grew bold enough to hold your hand after tracing on it for so long.

You stare down at your joined hands, his large ones nearly covering yours completely. You feel him squeeze your hand lightly prompting you to look up at his mischievous grin as he caught you staring. You playfully roll your eyes, “it’s been awhile, alright, I forgot,” you grumble.

Though Taehyung hums at that as leans his head back on the soft cushions of the couch, “you seem to be using that excuse quite often,” he mutters, not looking you in the eye, but instead choosing to stare out your window.

At his statement, you gulp nervously. You immediately take note from the corner of your eyes the prying look of Jungkook as his hold on your hand seems to tighten. 

But before you could come up with yet another excuse, you hear a knock at your door. Someone was definitely looking out for you as you had no idea how to respond without you being even more suspicious than before. 

You sit up straight, briefly glancing at your knights who refuse to look you in the eye before calling out, “come in.” You quickly let go of Jungkook’s hand causing the boy to snap his head in your direction before his shoulders seemingly drop. Though he doesn’t say anything more as the doors to your bedroom open wide.

Soon enough, the double doors reveal Hoseok, Namjoon and Jin. They bow out of respect before briefly making eye contact with Jungkook and Taehyung, to which they send a curt nod, acknowledging each other’s presence.  

For some reason, you felt a shift in the air as the three men stepped into the room. As if they were... hostile? But that doesn’t make sense, you question. Shouldn't they be on good terms with each other? You thought, but you were so wrong when you could feel the tension around you. Something unspoken between the five males. 

You understand that you haven’t known these men for long, but even you could tell that there was a sudden shift in their relationship. You saw it in the ballroom and now your suspicions are confirmed when you observe their body language in front of you.

After many moments of silence, Namjoon finally turns his attention to you, “more of those journalists keep requesting for your time your majesty,” he reports, only now do you notice his tired eyes. He must’ve been dealing with those journalists since he got back, and from what you know, they’re almost as ruthless as those in high society. 

But before you could respond, you hear Taehyung let out an annoyed groan from where he sat, “They bombarded her all throughout the morning, can’t they give her a break?” he scowls when turning his head out the window as he caught a glimpse of those pesky reporters from the border of the palace walls. Their cameras steadily aimed at the palace, hoping to capture a lucky shot of the empress. 

“It’s alright, I can handle them,” you reply, having already mentally and physically prepared yourself for this since you knew this would be a hot topic in the empire. A topic that the reporters wouldn’t let go of until they were satisfied. But just as you were about to stand from the comfort of your bed, you feel a hand gently rest on your shoulder, prompting you to turn and find Jungkook staring at you in concern. 

“Y/n, you need to rest,” Jungkook says softly, “you truly did look sick early, maybe it's from withdrawals or maybe it's from the blood, who knows, but I think it’s best you rest for the day.” You knew it would be hard to go against Jungkook, especially when he had that determined look in his eyes. Though that wasn’t what everyone else was thinking as his statement piqued their interest. 

“Y/n?” Jin questions loudly. He had thought he was hearing things, but by the looks on Namjoons and Hoseok's faces, he indeed did hear correctly. Jungkook had addressed you by your name. 

The boy blushes, not having realized he had blurted out your name in front of them. But before he could explain himself, Taehyung beat him to it.

“Y/n gave us permission to call her by her name,” he boasts with his head held high as if he was bragging about some great achievement he got. Which in a way, it kind of was. 

Hoseok raises his brow as he turns to look at you now, “may I know why?”

You clear your throat, “well, when I got rid of the alcohol and drugs in my system, I wanted to make things right and go back to how they were before. So I gave them permission to address me by my name like old times,” you reply confidently, having already prepared an answer for this question long ago. 

Though after some time, Hoseok’s blank face shifts, “I see,” he replies with a smile, but you knew better than to trust that, you knew hidden in that expression was a man that still had doubts despite witnessing the downfall of the nobles before his own eyes. You had thought Namjoon would be the one you needed to be careful of, but it seems you were wrong in that sense as you become anxious at Hoseok’s judging stare. 

Jin clears his throat, an attempt to get rid of the growing tension in the room, “we also came to discuss plans regarding the property of the nobles as well as what's to come with their families and who would be the ones to take their positions,” he pauses before nodding his head in Hoseok’s direction, “we brought along Hoseok in case military services were needed.”

You nod, though you couldn’t help but wonder, “Where’s Yoongi?” 

Jin stills for a moment before tilting his head, visibly confused from your question, “why are you suddenly asking for him?”

Now it’s your turn to be confused as you furrow your eyebrows, “Because he’s also one of my advisors,” you answer as if it was obvious. 

As if sensing your confusion, Namjoon responds, “pardon our rudeness, your majesty. You just don’t normally call on him for these types of things.”

Now you’re even more confused than before, “I don’t?”

Namjoon nods his head in confirmation, “I believe it’s because he’s not from nobility, that it may hinder and influence his judgment on these types of cases,” he explains in the nicest way possible. 

Dumbfounded, you remain seated on your bed, “I see,” is all you could utter. You knew that out of the 8 of you, the only ones who came from nobility were Namjoon, Jin, and Hoseok. Their families were one of the few nobles who secretly opposed the former emperor, which made it easy for the main character to gain their support in the rebellion. There’s no doubt that Hoseok’s military family, Namjoon’s intelligence, and Jin’s abundant wealth, had an immense influence on the success of the rebellion. 

Of course that’s not to say that the others are any less important. Jungkook and Taehyung were among the best of the best in terms of strength and fighting, not to mention Jimin being an ace when it came to agility and swiftness. They had the skills to go against opponents 10 times their size, and yet somehow win. The three were known to be the best fighters in the empire, after the empress herself of course. Afterall, they learned everything they knew from her. 

Yoongi on the other hand, proved himself to be worthy to stand by the empress’s side as an advisor due to the fact that when it came to forming tactics, he always had the perfect plan to go along with every scenario. Much of the rebellion's success was derived from the various attack plans that Yoongi came up with.

He also knows how to handle her the best out of them all. He knows how to approach her when she gets mad or upset. And he is one of the few people who isn’t afraid to go against her if he needs to, only with her and the empire’s best intentions in his mind. 

But when it came to politics, Yoongi had a harder time due to the fact that he was just a village boy who didn’t receive the same amount of education as Namjoon or Jin. Granted neither did Y/n, having been born from the same village, but she was so determined to become the empress that she worked strenuously day in and day out in order to fit the role. Having Namjoon as her teacher definitely helped the process run smoothly. 

Sure Yoongi isn’t as book smart as Namjoon, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t smart at all. You know that despite things being said about him, his words and inputs at national council meetings have proven to be of great help to the empress and the empire in the past. 

And so without another word, you stand up from your bed with a newfound determination. 

Jungkook and Taehyung eye you in concern. “Y/n?” Jungkook asks, reaching out to hold your hand, causing you to stop in your tracks. 

“I’m going to go and personally find Yoongi. Regardless of our differences, he’s still my advisor, and his presence is just as important as every single one of you.” You feel Jungkook loosen his grip on you, allowing you to slip away from his grasp. 

“Shall we escort you there?” Jungkook asks tentatively, while Taehyung had already stood up, prepared to follow you on your command. 

But instead, you shake your head, “Considering what transpired last time, I don’t think it’d be wise to bring either one of you two along,” Jungkook rubs the back of his neck while Taehyung turns away as they’re both suddenly reminded of the way they had behaved towards Yoongi. Although they were opposed to the idea of you going alone, they couldn’t argue with your statement, since even they don’t know how they would react if they were in each other's presence again. 

“I’ll accompany her majesty,” Hoseok suddenly speaks up with a raised hand, resulting in everyone turning their heads in his direction, “I think it should only be fair after all,” he pouts, lowering his hand to cross both his arms across his chest. 

Namjoon raises a brow at his claim, “Fair?”

Hoseok nods as he accusingly points at every man in the room other than himself, “Every single one of you have spent more time with her than me, that's why I think it’s only fair if I escort her,” he declares with a puff of his chest. 

Taehyung scoffs at him, “Can you blame us? We’re her escorts, of course we’re going to spend more time with her,” he fights back a roll of his eyes due to Hoseok being of a higher rank than him. 

“Exactly, so I hope you don’t mind me stealing your ‘Y/n’ for the time being,” and before you could even utter a word, Hoseok strides towards you, reaching for your arm and practically begins dragging you out the room, “see you boys later!” 

Jin shakes his head disapprovingly as he watches Hoseok roughly pull you, “would you be more careful with her majesty!” 

Hoseok scoffs, “She’s not weak,” he responds as he turns around abruptly, your chest nearly colliding with his if it weren’t for his arms steadying you. 

“I agree, but she’s also not a ragdoll that you could just push around as you please,” Jin snaps back at him, eyes narrowing at the grip on your arm.

Namjoon nods his head at this, “Indeed. Be more gentle Hoseok,” he warns sternly as he shifts his body towards the both of you intimidatingly. 

And you don’t even need to turn around to know Jungkook and Taehyung were both shooting daggers at the general. 

Hoseok sighs and finally lets go of you with his arms raised above his head in defeat, “alright alright I get it. I’ll keep my hands to myself.” Though the men in the room only stare at him with unconvinced expressions as he smiles innocently right back.

You stifle a laugh at their reactions and begin to turn to leave, “we’ll be leaving then,” at this you turn to stare at each one of them, “while I’m gone. Behave.”

Taehyung scoffs, crossing his arms as he plops back down on your couch, “We’re not children Y/n.” But his pout tells you otherwise.

The corners of your lips quirk upward in amusement, “could’ve fooled me.”

He turns to you with an offended expression, mouth wide open and before he could give you a piece of his mind, you scurry out the door with Hoseok tailing right behind you. 

“Y/n!” You hear Taehyung’s voice yells out as he appears by the doorway in a matter of seconds. 

You turn around and almost laugh at his dumbfounded expression. Though, you nearly trip over your own two feet if it weren’t for Hoseok skillfully reaching out and steadying you. You quickly thank him before looking back towards your door to now find the rest of the men staring back at you. 

“We’ll set up a proper meeting tomorrow! See you boys then!” You call out before you’re reaching for Hoseok’s hand. He widens his eyes for a moment staring down at your joined hands before he feels you pull on him in the direction you were running to. 

You could still hear their protests coming from your bedroom as both you and Hoseok run away. But Hoseok can’t help but be more focused on your angelic laughter over everything else. 

“So what did the general want to talk to me about so badly that he wanted us to be alone?” you say finally after creating a fair enough distance from your bedroom.

From the corner of your eye, you see him smirk, “What makes her majesty think I had ulterior motives?” he asks innocently, his pace matching with yours as you both walk down the quiet halls.

You shake your head with a smile, “because you’re Hoseok,” you reply with a teasing glint in your eye. 

Hoseok lets out an offended noise as he dramatically brings his hand to his chest, “That hurts your majesty,” he pouts, “couldn’t I have just wanted to spend some time with you?”

You laugh at this, “Sure, but you and I both know that that’s not the case,” your mouth forming a smile, an attempt to show him you meant no harm. 

Hoseok finally lets the innocent facade fall as a smirk begins to form on his face, “Our empress sure has a sharp mind,” you hum in reply, prompting him to continue speaking,  “you’re right, I did want to talk to you.”

Though after some time walking in silence, he speaks up again, “But I had nothing in particular to talk to you about, I just wanted to see for myself whether you had truly changed or not,” he responds bluntly. 

“Your verdict?” you question with your arms behind your back, a carefree aura surrounding you. 

“Hard to tell for now,” he teases with a wink in your direction, “however, something tells me it won’t be long before I give you my answer your majesty.”

“Well let’s hope it’s an answer we both will like,” a wide optimistic grin now on your face.

Hoseok stares down at you, giving you a small smile in return, “Yes, let’s hope.” 

You two don’t speak for a while, though you can’t say it was awkward. There was a comfortable air between the two of you that you actually didn’t mind walking together in silence. You took this moment to look around the scenery, admiring the window view as you don’t really have much time to do that since Taehyung, Jungkook and even Jimin would often preoccupy your attention, not that you were complaining about their company, you rather enjoyed talking to them. But you can’t help but be grateful for this moment to yourself. So for the time being, you just look out the window, little did you know, Hoseok was staring right at you. 

Hoseok couldn’t help but admire the way the sunlight glows on your skin as if you were an ethereal being. Even the slight quirk of your lips mesmerizes him as he watches you bask in the sunlight. A picture perfect moment that he desperately tries to ingrain in his mind. 

“You know, you’re more than welcome to address me by my name as well Hoseok,” you suddenly speak out, turning your head causing the male to widen his eyes momentarily at your abrupt attention. 

But Hoseok’s eyes soften, giving you a small smile before turning his head straight in front of him yet again, “I’ll keep that in mind... thank you.” 

Neither of you speak again after that, just enjoying each other's company in silence. And after everything that you’ve been through, you didn’t realize that this was exactly what you needed. 

“Hey Yoongs”

The man hums, his eyes closed as he lays comfortably against the grass right beside Y/n.

“You’ll be with me forever right?” the young girl speaks up after some time.

At this, Yoongi opens his eyes as he stares at the far away look in her eyes, “Of course Y/n, where else would I go?” he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, “why do you ask?”

She shrugs looking straight up at the passing clouds, “just making sure,” the wind softly breezing against her hair.

Yoongi nervously laughs as he turns away from her, “Sorry, but it’s gonna take a lot more for you to get rid of me,” Y/n chuckles at this causing the corners of his lips to curve upward at the sound. “Unless I got it all wrong. You’re not trying to run away from me once you become empress are you?” he questions with a teasing tone. Though he had a smile on his face, he couldn’t deny the feeling of anxiety at the possibility of her leaving him.

She scoffs before turning away, “Of course not, what would I do without you nagging me all the time, you’re practically my brother at this point.”

Yoongi feels a pang go across his heart as he faces away from her, “... right… you just see me as a brother huh,” he mumbles, more so to himself but she could still slightly hear him.

She tilts her head in his direction, “hm?”

Though he just shakes his head, “Nevermind,” now sporting a more cheerful expression as he nudges her shoulder playfully, “so suddenly I’m your brother huh?”

She nods her head, turning away from him, focusing her attention back to the sky, “Of course you are, what else would you be?” she genuinely asks.

Yoongi stills for a moment before responding with a long sigh, “Nothing,” he pauses, watching the clouds pass by both him and her as they lay on the grass in peace, “absolutely nothing.”

“Her majesty told me about it and left the job to me,” Jin responds in a tired voice as he lets out a sigh. If he had known accepting the empress’s orders would lead to this, he would’ve never done so in the first place. Because not only does he need to deal with a pile of work, but also a very pissed off Yoongi. 

“Why would she give you all the work and not me?” Yoongi asks, tone slightly offended and irritated. 

“I don’t know Yoongi, why don’t you just ask her yourself,” Jin replies tiredly as he massages his temple at his growing headache. It’s not that he wanted to get rid of Yoongi, but because he himself couldn’t provide him an answer to his question. He too couldn't understand why Y/n would give him all the work instead of him, frankly he wishes she would divide up the work evenly but alas, that doesn’t seem to be the case as every inch of his desk is nearly covered in piles of documents. 

Yoongi lets out a huff of air before standing abruptly. Jin stares at him and widens his eyes when he notices that he’s about to leave. Nervously he stands from his seat as well, “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to ask her myself,” Yoongi replies as if it was the most obvious answer, his hand reaching for the door handle.

Jin gasps, “I wasn’t being serious!” he moves around his desk to grab hold of the advisor.

But Yoongi shakes his head, stepping back from his reach, “I know you weren’t, but you’re right. If I want change to happen, I need to go to her myself,” he watches concern wash over the older male before placing a hand on his shoulder, “don’t worry, I won’t lose my cool,” he says in an attempt to reassure him.

Though both Yoongi and Jin knew he was lying. He was just telling him what he wanted to hear. Jin wanted to stop him, but in the end, he lets it go since he knows that once Yoongi’s got his mind set on something, it was nearly impossible to get him out of it, ”fine, but I don’t want to hear about you getting sent to the dungeons again Yoongi.”

Though Yoongi only chuckles, “I won’t get angry, don’t stress about.”

And boy was he wrong, because it hasn’t even been 10 minutes that he walked into her office until hell broke loose. 

“Just let them handle it Yoongi, why are you so upset, I’ve given you plenty of work before,” she barks angrily.

“I’m upset, because you never give me the same amount of work as them!” He snaps back at her, tone equally as harsh. 

She nearly growls at his attitude, “Would you relax Yoongi, it’s just pieces of paper! If I had known you’d get so fucking irritated over it I would’ve sent the entire pile to you if that’s what you really wanted!”

That’s not what he wanted. He wanted her attention, her trust, he wanted to be the first person she sought out when she needed help.

He wanted her. 

“Y/n-” he gets interrupted when Y/n grabs a pile of documents and throws it in the air in front of him. He watches as the pieces of paper float down everywhere in the room, making it look as if a tornado wrecked havoc in the area. 

“Here! Just do it all for all I care, they’re just damn pieces of papers anyway,” Y/n growls tiredly. Yoongi could not have come at the worst time. Not only did she have to deal with a raging headache, but now her own advisor was yelling in her face far too early in the morning for it to be tolerable. 

She could feel her head ringing at the volume of his voice, but when she told him to leave as she wasn’t in the best mood to argue, he kept refusing stubbornly, insisting she listen to his complaints because apparently what he needed to say was so important to go against her orders. And so when she realized his important reasoning was because he was upset over his workload, her anger only rose from there. 

With her already sour mood, him snapping back at her surely didn’t help his case either.

“I have way too much shit to deal with right now, don’t add onto it Yoongi,” she spats loudly, the piles of paper covering nearly the entirety of the floor around them. 

His shoulder drops, finally coming to terms with everything as he stared into the once cheerful eyes narrow dangerously into tiny slits.

The girl before him, was never and will never be his. 

For the past few days, Yoongi had been actively avoiding not only you, but everyone else. No matter how hard they tried, neither Namjoon or Jin could reach out to him. It was almost as if Yoongi somehow knew just when and where everyone would be to successfully avoid them. 

In the beginning of the empresses reign, no one took him seriously because he wasn’t from noble descent like Namjoon and Jin. when they would attend national council meetings, no one spoke directly to him as if his previous status of a commoner was still intact. And so he had to put on this whole ruthless persona for people to show an ounce of respect for him. He had to exert more effort to prove to everyone that he was equally as worthy as the other two advisors. That he was capable of doing the same amount of work, even if he didn't receive the same strenuous education as them.

And because of the comparison between him and the other two advisors, insecurities were born and shattered his mind. 

So seeing you put your trust in Jin and Namjoon hurt him a lot more than he would like to admit. The fact that they both knew and yet you hadn’t brought it up with him once was like a shot to his heart. 

And yet throughout his time spent alone, Taehyung's voice echoes in his mind.

“When was the last time you ever treated her as one of her advisors? When have you ever truly cared for her majesty?”

He groans out of frustration at the entire situation. Because as much as he hated to admit it, he was right. When was the last time he treated her with respect. Even though the rest of the boys joined the rebellion with him, never once did they blatantly disrespect the empress the way he did. 

And with the current situation, he doesn’t even think he deserves his position of advisor anymore. Never in his life did he imagine that someone was drugging the empress. All this time, he’s been bitterly blaming the empress about the current condition of the empire when in reality, it wasn’t even her fault. He pushed her away when she needed him the most. When she was suffering he unknowingly made things worse. And because of that, he doesn’t even know if he has the courage to face the empress ever again. 

Yoongi freezes when he hears a tentative knock at his door. Slowly, he raises his head from his hands before responding in a loud tired voice, “who is it?” ready to curse out the person on the other side of the door.

“It’s me hyung.” 

Yoongi widens his eyes at the familiar voice that he can’t help but rise from his seat. He carefully walks over and finally opens the door to reveal Jimin’s figure standing before him. For a moment, the two men stand opposite of each other in silence. 

“I need to talk to you,” Jimin finally says. Yoongi nods and steps aside for him to enter, still in complete disbelief that he wanted to speak to him after everything that’s been said between the two in the past month.

As if reading his mind, Jimin turns to him with an uncertain smile, “You’re probably wondering why I'm here,” Yoongi only nods, unable to produce words at this point. Jimin stops at the center of his office before continuing, “I know we’re going through a rough patch right now, but at the end of the day, you’re still someone that I deeply care about. You’re my brother and I’m just worried about how you’re taking the situation,” he explains with a nervous expression. 

Yoongi’s eyes soften, of course they weren’t on good terms at the moment, but Jimin was right, at the end of the day, they’re brothers. He could never truly hate or get mad at him, or any of them for that matter unless they truly betrayed him. 

Jimin wasn’t certain this would be a good idea, unsure how the older male would react to his presence. And so when he hears Yoongi let out a chuckle, although not so enthusiastically, that alone causes Jimin to visibly relax.

Just then, Yoongi lets out a long sigh, “I’ll be honest, I feel like shit. But I know she’s probably going through it way harder than I am,” he finally replies as he rolls his neck.

Jimin nods, “I’m sure she is,” he mutters looking away.

Though Yoongi raises a brow, Jimim’s tone almost hinting at the fact that he doesn’t know about your feelings which was surprising to Yoongi since he knows how close he is to you. At that realization he furrowed his brows, “you haven’t spoken to her, have you?”

Jimin seems to stiffen at his claim, he contemplated lying but knew the older male would see right through him anyway, and so he just shakes his head, “no I haven’t.”

“Why not?”

Jimin lets out a low chuckle, “I wasn’t able to keep a promise with her,” he answers softly, running his fingers through his hair.

Now Yoongi was even more confused than before, he wanted to ask more questions but felt like now wouldn’t be the right time based on the downcasted look on the younger man's face. And so he only nods in return. Though Jimin’s lips quirk up, grateful that he doesn’t push the topic further.

Jimin leans against the back of his couch, crossing his arms, “I saw you that day,” he added, wanting to change the subject. “The day at the ball,” he clarifies when he saw the puzzled look on Yoongi’s face. 

“You attended the ball?”

Jimin shakes his head, “no I was watching from above, her majesty wanted me to be her ‘eyes in the sky’, or something like that,” he pauses before chuckling, “she’s been saying some strange things recently.”

Rather than laughing along with him, Yoongi can’t help but feel annoyed, “Of course you fucking knew about it, too,” he mutters furiously under his breath.

Jimin widens his eyes at his sudden harsh tone, “Pardon?” 

Yoongi scoffs, now stomping his way to his desk, “The empress told you of her plans,” Yoongi uttered with resentment, “everyone but me.” 

And as if the world wanted to continue mocking him, here you appear through the open door, with Hoseok right beside you. You freeze in your spot, when you realize Jimin, who was now staring at you like a deer in headlights, was also present in the room. Despite his surprise, he bows out of respect. Though you can’t say the same about Yoongi.

“What are you doing here,” Yoongi curses at himself, he didn’t mean to take his anger out on you. You just happened to arrive at a bad time. 

Though his cold icy tone doesn’t deter you in the slightest, “I came to inform you that we’ll be holding a meeting tomorrow,” you explain hesitantly, careful not to say the wrong thing to aggravate him even more.

He raises a brow in doubt, “you came here to personally tell me?”

You nod, “the rest of the men wanted to have a meeting regarding the situation, but I didn’t want to attend if you weren’t present.”

Yoongi scoffs, “I'm not some charity case.” Although, Yoongi can’t deny the warm feeling in his chest from what you said.

You stop, taken aback from his words, “Is that what you think you are?” you pause before continuing, “Why do you think you became one of the empress’s advisors?”

Yoongi rolls his eyes at this, “Because you think of me as a brother,” he spats bitterly. 

“No, it’s because you’re one of the few people I trust most in this world, I know we had a bumpy road getting here, but you have to believe me when I say that I trust you,” you insist as you take a step closer into the room.

Though your statement seemed to have ignited a fire in him as he snaps his head to you with narrowed eyes, “If you trust me so much then why didn’t you let me know about this entire situation?!” You jump back at his tone, surprised by how angry he got.

Hoseok steps forward in an instant, “Hyung I had no idea about the drugs either,” he blurts out, trying to dissipate the tension in the room as he moves to stand in between you and Yoongi. 

Jimin nods in confirmation, shifting his body to stand protectively in front of you as well, “he’s right hyung, Hoseok also had no idea what was going on.”

“That may be true, but she still sought your help, no? She needed military strength, she needed someone to hide in the shadows and she went to you two,” he snaps at them. Hoseok shuts his mouth, unable to form words to counter his claim. 

Though it’s not like Yoongi was going to let anyone else speak, not until he was finished, “Where do I come into play? Jin hyung and Namjoon helped with the plan, Jimin looked out for you from above, Hoseok provided the military strength, Jungkook and Taehyung came as your escorts. But what about me?” At this point, Yoongi paces around the room frantically, you try to reach out to him but he jumps back as if your touch would burn him. 

“Why am I always in last place!” He yells at the top of his lungs, “Is it because I wasn’t born into high nobility like Jin hyung? Is it cause I’m not some fucking genius like Namjoon? Or as handsome as Jungkook and Taehyung. Or as confident as Jimin. Or as reliable as Hoseok?” He continues his rant when everyone is too stunned to react.

“Yoon-”

“Why am I never good enough for you!” He shouts, slamming his fist hard on his desk. The room becomes silenced in an instant. The only sounds coming from the broken advisor standing before you. 

“Am I not enough?” He sniffles, his voice cracking as he stumbles, grabbing hold of the corner of the table to stabilize himself. He bows his head low, an attempt to hide the tears forming in his eyes.

You turn to look at Jimin and Hoseok, giving them a solemn look as you nod your head in the direction of the door, wanting to speak to him privately. 

They seem to understand your gesture as they begin to silently make their way out of the room. Although Jimin hesitates for a moment standing by the doorway. He takes one last look at Yoongi and back to you, his expression unreadable before finally closing the door behind him. 

At the click of the door, you turn your head back to Yoongi, your eyes focused solely on him. Carefully, you take slow steps towards him, you don't know if he notices but if he did he didn’t take any further steps away from you. “Yoongi, you are more than enough for me, you have to believe me,” you urge as you stop a few feet away from him. Careful to not overwhelm and crowd around his space. 

His silence urges you to continue, “I just felt like you didn’t want anything to do with me so I gave you your space,” you explain softly, “But you’re still one of my advisors, I should’ve communicated with you better on the situation. I'm sorry.” 

You take a few experimental steps towards him, assessing his reaction carefully because if you saw any indication that he was uncomfortable by the distance, you would step away immediately. But he gave you none. Even when you were now standing in front of him, he didn’t make an effort to move away. Instead, he finally lifts his head, holding your stare as his tears now running down his face. 

You don’t know what got over you, but at the sight of his tears, you find yourself reaching your hand out until they cup his face gingerly. His breath hitches when your hand caresses his cheek, your fingers wiping away the seemingly never-ending tears.

“Yoongi, you’re more than enough for me,” you repeat softly as you stare into his eyes. Almost mesmerized as his glossy eyes shined back at you making it look as though you were staring at the night sky.

You lean your body forward until your arms wrap around his shoulders, bringing him into a tight hug, “I’ll always need you,” you say in a soft whisper. But no matter how quiet you were, he heard you loud and clear.

He sucks in a breath as a sob escapes his mouth. He doesn’t try to fight you, instead, he wraps his arms around your waist instantly, tightening his grip around your body.

But instead of calming down, his sobs grow louder at the feel of your body against his.

Concerned, you try to pull away but Yoongi only tightens his grip around you as he shakes his head. 

“Don’t,” he whimpers softly, clutching onto you tighter as if you would slip away forever, “please don’t leave me. Not yet,” he cries out. Your heart nearly shattering at the sound of his voice cracking. 

Your eyes soften as you once again relax in his arm, your hands rubbing his back reassuringly as he continues to cry, his tears falling onto the nape of your neck. “I won’t,” you soothe gently, “I won’t leave you Yoongi.”

He sniffles once more, “You’re really back?”

You don’t have it in you to respond with a straight answer. You just couldn’t bring yourself to lie to him like that, especially in his current state. Lying to his face knowing that the empress he knew was no longer the owner of this body. That you were a completely different person, but who in their right mind would believe you. 

So instead, you nod softly, reaching a hand to run through his hair. His tears stream down his face as he chokes back a cry at the feel of your nod. 

You smile bitterly, as you have to keep reminding yourself, the girl he loves isn’t you, it’s the empress. He’s not crying for you, he’s crying for her. 

You had seen this coming, but it still hurt a lot more than you had expected. The world for some reason just wouldn’t stop being cruel to you. 

A young man approaches the darkly lit room slowly, the only source of light being the fireplace that’s barely holding onto life as it seems as though it’s about to die out at any moment.

“Master, I’ve come with urgent news,” the boy announced, news so important he fidgets in his spot nervously as he anticipates his reaction. It’s silent in the room, the only sound coming from the crackling of the fire as the wood burns. 

There, sat in front of a large window was the boy’s master, he had not turned around to face him, instead, opting to stare up at the moon as it shines brightly down on him, “Speak,” he commands in a dominating voice.

The boy nods his head, “We received a report confirming the death of Grand Duke Lee Joong-gu as well as Sir Taehyung, Sir Jungkook, and Sir Jimin stepping down from the rebellion.”

The man hums, immensely intrigued by the sudden news, “and the others?”

The boy shakes his head, “there have been no reports being made of the others stepping down as of this moment master, though many speculate it’s just a matter of time at this point.”

The man bellows loudly at that, as he leans back comfortably in his chair, his eyes shining with mirth, “I told that damn duke not to get too greedy and look what happened. He got caught,” he scoffs as he turns fully around, hands crossed on his desk as he traces the letter he had received from the late grand duke a mere few weeks ago in a bored manner, “Seems what that fool said was of concern after all, her majesty has truly changed.”

The boy nods, “What do you suggest we do now?”

He turns back around, admiring the night sky, “tell my men to continue keeping an eye on her majesty. And report everything to me.”

The boy bows, “yes master,” he responds before turning away, ready to inform those of the new orders. 

“Well I’ll be damned,” the man whistles as he leans back on his chair, “so you truly did succeed in changing the story,” he chuckles and with a dangerous glint he stares up at the moon, “I can’t wait to meet you, new empress.”

A/N: Hey guys!! I’m so sorry for taking so long to upload this chapter, I had to focus on my final exams and all the assignments my professors piled on me at the end of the semester. So I tried to finish this chapter as fast as I could!

I hope you’re all happy with how things went in this chapter. Also sorry for all the drama, I just felt like it would be better for the reader and Yoongi to make up instead of making more chapters of them avoiding each other when they could just communicate about their feelings. 

Thank you everyone for supporting and reading my story! I also love receiving all your kind messages so thank you so much for that!

And as always, I hope you have a wonderful day!!

Tagslist: (those in bold, I’m not sure if it worked for you, I’m really sorry, I’m not sure how to fix it) (I also apologize if I forgot to add someone, just comment again and I promise to add you in the next one!!)

@reallysparklychaos, @unknownsageking, @casspirit0705, @fangirl125reader, @silscintilla, @serefara29, @chimtaesty-main, @xxqueenwxtchxx, @diamonddia-mond, @vishakhas-world, @purelyecstacy, @resticou, @woopetals, @magicsweetener, @splaterparty0-0, @daydreambrliever, @strangeobjectmaker, @luna-xial, @m0chilattae, @celaenaelentiyavox, @lindsayjoy444, @layzfeelit, @kimsaerom, @songtiddies, @untamedgrape, @sonnymii, @moonssuga​, @kassandravictoria, @galaxyflab, @blank-et-noir, @nynhope , @midnight1199, @yessii-i, @protontippens, @gguktings, @borahebangtan, @katkrusade, @handsupanddropthepotato, @missseoulite, @cellula-staminale, @red-bow-tie3, @whateveritis616, @ggukkieland, @sbroces, @nnessworls, @yoonieebear

[occasionallythreeowls]

@annarendellsa your first prompt! Second one coming soon! 

Really, it’s a miracle more of them didn’t get sick. The six of them don’t have much room to hide from one another in their matchbox of an apartment. But maybe the others are more resilient than Ruby and Rose. Or Scarlet baptized them in hand sanitizer and Ruby and Rose just missed the memo.

In any case, the others are out, and Ruby and Rose are home with head colds, their heads full of snot and their throats coated in acrid phlegm. Nevertheless, Rose is somehow forcing herself out of bed to tend to Ruby like a sniffling, half-dead nurse.

Ruby stares at her sister in bewilderment as she hands her a tray of microwaved chicken soup and a fresh box of tissues, all while looking like she might crumble to dust at any second.

“Rose, c’mon, lie down,” Ruby croaks. “You’re gonna collapse.”

“I’m okay, really,” Rose lies. “I’ll sit down and have some soup later.”

“Have you eaten anything today?”

“Well…no,” Rose says with a frown. “I haven’t had much of an appetite today.”

With tremendous effort, Ruby forces herself out of bed like a revenant clawing its way out of a grave.

“I swear, you’re like some, like, fragile Victorian waif. Come with me, you gotta eat. Scarlet will kill me if you die on my watch.”

She drags her sister through the apartment until she’s forced Rose into a chair and practically shoved soup into her face.

“Er, Ruby?”

“Eat. Lunch. Now.”

Thankfully, Rose has enough of an appetite to get down some soup and water, and the two of them find themselves under a fortress of blankets on the couch, well-fed and ready to hibernate. Outside, a light snow is falling, muffling the frenetic ambience of the city.

“I love winter,” Rose sighs. “Everything just feels so much more peaceful.”

“I like it too,” Ruby says. “It’s quiet. Everything’s dead. I just wish humans would wither and die too instead of having their stupid New Year’s parties and drinking until they drop.”

“But the world isn’t dead,” Rose says, conveniently ignoring the second part of Ruby’s statement. “It’s just sleeping. Getting ready for a rebirth in spring. I feel like that’s how it is with a lot of things. Cycles of beginnings and endings. Even when things get really hard, or really bleak, you’ll get a chance to bloom again.”

Ruby fights the urge to audibly scoff. Typical Rose. Talking like some wistful old woman. Scarlet calls Rose an old soul. Maybe there’s some truth to that. Maybe Rose really is some Victorian waif, reborn into their chaotic cesspool of a family as punishment for some terrible crime. Ruby’s not really sure what crime Rose would have committed, though. Rose won’t even kill spiders; just shepherds them into a napkin and takes them outside. Maybe she was sent to their family by mistake.

“You believe in all that stuff?” Ruby asks. “Cycle of life and death and karma and all that stuff?”

“In a way,” Rose says. “I think we’re all part of something bigger than us. And I think that the universe has a way of looking out for people. I mean, look at us! We don’t have a lot of money, and you and I, we have to go to the doctor a lot, but we still always have dinner on the table, and a roof over our heads, and a grandmother who loves us. There’s a thousand little blessings for us out there. You just need to know where to look.”

Ruby’s not sure how much saccharine philosophy she can take, so she steers the conversation in a more comfortable direction.

“What do you think happens when we die?” she asks, smirking when Rose blinks at the sudden change of subject. “You know, since we’re talking about life and the universe and all that shi—stuff.”

Rose considers. Her face scrunches up adorably as she thinks.

“I think we come back, in a way,” she says at last. “Not how we were. Different. Our bodies become part of the earth and feed the plants. Our souls find somewhere new to land, someone new to be, and we live new lives, as new beings. But we’re not really ‘us’ anymore, you know? We have new lives, and new dreams and fears. I suppose.” She blushes, and laughs. “I’ve been talking a lot, I’m sorry. How about you?”

Ruby shrugs.

“I don’t know. I kind of feel like you just…die. But who knows.” She looks out the window at the falling snow, and imagines a million tiny souls, human and animal, cast from their bodies and sent adrift, falling to the earth. “Maybe we become ghosts. That’d be fun. I’d haunt Carmen, rearrange her makeup, cut her hair while she’s sleeping.” She turns back to Rose and smirks. “You know, the usual. Except I couldn’t be caught.”

“That’s mean!” Rose says, but laughter creeps into her voice. “What if you could help people, as a ghost? You know, go places others couldn’t and know what they couldn’t know?”

“Tell you what,” Ruby says, as she ruffles her younger sister’s hair. “You and me, when we’re ghosts, let’s do that. Be invisible helpers. Find people’s missing keys and pets and junk. As long as we can write spooky messages in their mirrors.”

Rose giggles.

“Deal.”

The afternoon passes slowly and comfortably. Rose and Ruby sit on the couch in companionable silence. Eventually, Rose leans her head on Ruby’s shoulder and drifts off. Ruby isn’t far behind her, closing her eyes and nodding off into the wild unknown of sleep.

[kikyan]

AU Idea is where the reader is an empress (Like Wu Zetian). Maybe JGY and NHS are like consorts or something like that. They fight or compete with potential rivals and suitors asking for the Empress's hand in marriage. Even as going far as framing them and getting them killed. That way they can have the Empress to themselves. (separate headcanons please!)

Side note but I watched a WHOLE ASS DOCUMENTARY FOR THIS ASK LMAO. This was the video to find out a bit more about Wu Zetian (LINK)!! Bear with me that while I DID watch it, I am nowhere near an expert on who they are so I’ll just gather and compare the basic and known things about them! 

So a little background before any of the headcanons (FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG), is that Wu Zetian was the ONLY female emperor/empress of China. Ruling during the Tang dynasty many say that she was a harsh ruler and a tyrant, often ending lives and being cruel to others when it came to punishment. They managed to rise China from the lowest and brought it back to a wealthy country by doing so much more. They were female and while they would never get the support of aristocrats at the time for being female, they appealed more to the common folk and encouraged woman to rise to power. So, I’ll just be taking the common points here for the headcanons! 

Jin Guangyao

You’re the ruler and while you have brought the empire to great wealth, there are many suitors in your harem. Jin Guangyao and Nie Huaisang are part of it. As I’ve mentioned before, Jin Guangyao is not a good person. They want their S/O to depend on them and would ruin their image to make them beg for his help and submit to them, however the roles are reversed, while he CAN ruin your image, he would never do that because you pitied him and saw him more than a whore’s son. 

It would still be the same here. Other’s look down on him because he is servants child and provides nothing when it comes to familial blood or ties. You saw past that and saw what he could provide and gave him a spot in your harem. I do think that he would rise in the ranks pretty quickly. You’d notice how intelligent he is and want him by your side to advise you when needed. He’s a great man and just wants to serve you in any way possible. 

He’d be the one to ruin the image of others who oppose you or threaten you status/line of power. An aristocrat voices their concerns regarding you and your ruling? You were informed by someone that they committed a crime against your name. How dare they! You’ve sentenced them to death and while you hold no emotion regarding this individuals death, Jin Guangyao is smiling in content. This distasteful individual has now been eliminated and it’s all because of something he said. Regardless of it being true or not, they’re gone and no one will threaten your time together. 

Nie Huaisang 

I think Jin Guangyao would be more helpful with eliminating rivals in terms of power whereas Nie Huaisang would be eliminating other concubines and suitors. Nie Huaisang manages to catch your eye and he is in LOVE with the attention you’re giving him. The way you love him and care for him, oh he’s obsessed. He’s no idiot, he knows that he is only a concubine out of many and that his time, as much as your favor it, is shared by the others. That will have to change. 

As the ruler, you have a set individual you’re married to regardless of your harem. Well, Nie Huaisang wants to prove to you that you don’t need your partner. They are useless and worthless and would never love you like he could. Of course words mean nothing if actions speak louder. He needs to show you that they mean trouble. Setting them up, ruining their image, anything to show you that you need to get rid of them. Your rage knows no bounds so when you find out they have been going behind your back, plotting to overthrow you, harm you, anything against you, you fight back. Public execution and torture, anything while Nie Huaisang comforts you and reassure you that he will be there for you no matter what. 

New faces enter the royal court and harem. While he climbs up the ranks quickly, he isn’t your number one priority right now. Looks like that will have to change. He has his cute boy charm for a reason, a clumsy boy who you can pamper to perfection and he would not mind. He’d spread rumors, lies, tell the other’s that as a senior concubine they should take something and present it to you. That you like certain things done and said to you, that they should refer to you as this, that they should act this way. So when you have a disrespectful concubine calling you something derogatory, when you catch them stealing from your private chambers, when they see you as the submissive person in the relationship, their status instantly gets demoted and their hands are cut for stealing. You’re angry, impatient, but it’s okay! Nie Huaisang be there ready to pamper you, for you to treat them like the best thing in the world because they’d never leave. They’re beyond loyal to you and your love. 

[savvythepirate]

Crossing the line

Pairing: Hector Barbossa x reader

Warnings: None

Requested by: @personlovinganime

The Request:

Hey hi, it's me again) Can I say “Did you really think that if you've hurt (Y/n), I'd let you live? Let alone find you?” or “Take your filthy hands off of her before I break them off!” With Barbossa please?

***

“What the hell’s going on here?!” Barbossa’s boomed.

What happened was Barbossa put you in charge in making sure that your new prisoner that was very much entitled as most wanted for committed crimes, had meals delivered to him every day. You were doing exactly that, but then as you open the cell door, you were suddenly blindside by the unexpected taking place. The man that you had as a prisoner for two days, had wrapped a hand lightly on your throat, making demands that if you do as you’re told, you wouldn’t be harmed.

The terrorizing ordeal was just beginning at this point, and when the man gave you instructions to follow, you refused. This angered him even more, and he started becoming aggressive towards you.

“Don’t do anything stupid or I’ll blow your brains out.” You say as the man presented a gun to you, letting you know it’s something he carries all the time.

“Hey, mate I’m cool!” You say, a plan forming in your mind.

“Good. Now, find the nearest lifeboat. Do this, I won’t harm you, don’t do this, you will die right here and right now.”

As you make it to the lifeboat, you decide to take your chance in preventing him from escaping.

A struggle had begun, and that’s when Barbossa comes to check out the commotion, you honestly had never felt so relieved. Barbossa rounds the corner as he asks that very question when he was denied a response, and he didn’t sound too happy about that.

“I said what the hell’s going on here?!”

Just as he was going to step in, he immediately noticed how the man had you in a lock, ready to use you if he had to.

“Take your filthy hands off of her before I break them off!” Barbossa snarls, stepping forward to retrieve you.

Surprisingly, the man obeyed the orders, allowing your release in giving you back to Barbossa.

Everyone knows that it takes an idiot to make the daring move to question Barbossa of his authority. No one would come out alive, but that was really their own doing if they put themselves in that kind of situation, a very dangerous situation. What really struck a nerve was the fact that the man was able to push past you, jumping aside the ship into the ocean before swimming his escape. This has everyone’s attention and an audience formed around once the man was now overboard. If he was going to continue to run away like this rather then being a man and live up to the consequences to his mistakes. The man had gotten away, for now at least.

The man left, but was unable to escape Barbossa’s following promise.

“You can run and hide for now, you git. I’m making you the damming promise now, we will find you!”

“Yeah, good luck with that.”

It may have taken a whole year to finally find his current location, but the important thing was he things won’t be so easy to accomplish.

Barbossa soon informs you that the filthy man had been caught and is living in the cell below, only this time with handcuffs on. The time had come for the man to be convicted of the crimes he committed around the world, he was a very dangerous man, he needs to be in cage and he needs to never get out. Shortly after he had been caught, all you can say about it is that you have never seen Barbossa become so hysterical since the day of the escape. You were up on deck when the sound of commotion captured your attention, having you on your way to investigate what was going on or what was about to happen and unfold before your eyes. The crew huddle together in a circle as if to witness an execution that was about to take place.

The thing was, that’s exactly was about to happen and you didn’t know it. You join in and watch Barbossa snarls damming words as he was pinning the man down on the floor beneath your feet, causing you to become a little frightened. The now terrified man started begging Barbossa to show any kind of mercy from feel within. You knew that if you didn’t put a stop this now, things were going to end badly for everyone. Just as it looked as Barbossa was going on for the kill, that’s when you stepped in, asking him to put a stop to it. Your plea didn’t make Barbossa very happy, responding to in a cold manner as he stared the man down to make sure there was no escape for him yet again.

“Are you serious, (Y/n)?! This man is too dangerous to be kept alive, and the last time I checked, I was given this right to end his days of it meant saving the lives of others, but most importantly, to keep you alive.”

“Please, don’t do this! There has to be some other way we can settle this without having to take a life.”

“(Y/n), need I remind you of what this man had put you through? It was-“

“Please, for me?” You try again.

Now you had Barbossa lost in thought, looking as though he was sincerely thinking through it. Back in your hometown, you were known to be tender hearted and very caring, very merciful and forgiving person.

Your personality is what Barbossa notice about you in the very beginning, and that’s what drew him to you. After for what seemed like an eternity, Barbossa sighs before giving the approval to not kill the man. There was just one condition, that this man still needed to accept a punishment. When he mentioned that to you, you were a little hesitant at first, but eventually agreed. The penalty for the man’s crimes was death, no second chances whatsoever. After agreeing, Barbossa then starts talking loudly for everyone to hear, as they start tying the man down on a piece of plank wood. It was an intimidating sight to see, but it’s something that needed to happen if it meant saving the lives of others as well as your own life. Barbossa sounded as if he was reading the convictions and sentencing.

His speech started by calling this man by his last name, catching everyone’s attention.

“Landlubber, I hearby am charging you for the crimes committed by your own hands and headby sentence you to death by having you live in a small shed in the middle of nowhere and let it be the starvation becoming the cause of death.”

As he said this, the man started quivering in real fear, having you to look away to prevent yourself from interfering, begging Barbosss to reconsider in letting the man go.

But Barbossa wouldn’t have listened to you, so you sat back and let it happen with an amount of guilt weighing your shoulders down. The event of death carried the purpose for it as saving others lives before this danger. Later on, you were exploring through the ship while preparations were being made for putting the man in death’s doorway. You stayed clear away from the construction, while deciding you’d pay the man a visit before execution was due.

On your way there, you were stopped by Barbossa.

“Where do you think your going?”

“Just for a walk.”

“To the cell that holds the prisoner? I don’t think so (Y/n). I want you to stay by me, to make sure you don’t wander off again, starting now.”

You nod your head in response before following him.

Barbossa wouldn’t allow himself to lose sight of you, wanting to make sure you didn’t try again to go back to the cell as a visitor. Which was understandable, since then, Barbossa had become protective of you. He didn’t want to take the risk in losing you, that’s happened more often much to his liking.

He can’t find himself loving anyone else just as much as he loves you. Which was a very sweet thought.

He’d miss you too much to move on.

***

Requests: OPEN

@savvythepirate

[angstyantoinette]

Yandere! Armin Arlert Headcanons

AGED UP I REPEAT ALL CHARACTERS ARE AGED UP-

This little blonde ball of curiosity is verrryy toxic in my Yandere version. 

Armin knows how innocent he looks to other people and by playing on this, coupled with his practical and analytical genius status, boy is it so very easy for him to gain the trust of his comrades, friends and especially his Beloved. 

I feel as if Armin wouldn’t be picky with a particular type, but never being attracted to an unkind or particular person he would be disgusted by in any way. 

He may fall for someone who is slightly colder, or who doesn’t really know how to respond to kindness. In that scenario, Armin would be overjoyed, but very patient and giving with them; if he wasn’t Yandere. 

I see him as very touch-starved and wanting, but afraid to be clingy for fear he would drive his Beloved away. In this case he would dote on you as best he could in his environment, making you fall for him even more. 

You would him as endearing, and like most, innocent. Armin is smart; one might say way too smart for his own good, and being a Yandere, I feel this makes him just as dangerous as those willing to use physical violence/methods on their Beloved. 

He knows that you just love his little quirks and his way of thinking. If you tell him this, he may think you only see him as valuable because of his skill for strategizing. But when you reassure him that you just love him for him, he just falls in love with you even more. 

He’s worrisome about you. Every time he makes practise with your ODM gear until you’re bruised, and exhausted, ready to run into his awaiting arms. Rewarding you with cuddles and affection, Armin’s love isn’t exactly conditional; but it still isn’t normal.

But that’s if you accept his feelings, with Armin being a Yandere or not, and with your knowledge or ignorance. 

If you don’t accept his feelings, whether it being for your personal reasons, or because you…um, like someone else, to put it nicely; 

YOU’RE FUCKED. 

He’ll smile, nod his head, maybe try a little too hard to act like he’s okay with your decision. But you understand, after all, it’s not like you haven’t been rejected before. 

“We can always be friends, Armin! I’m here for you okay?” 

“Yeah, Y/N, whatever you say…” 

About a few weeks after his rejection, with all of the support from Eren, Mikasa and the others, Armin is slowly descending into a deep depression. 

He was so sure of his feelings for you. They were his most prized possession. You made him laugh, you made him blush and god you made his pitiful life seem so much more worth living. You were the ocean, and he just wanted to drown myself in you. Like the sun he saw so rarely, you were the ray of pure light that made his body burn. 

He lay awake at night, taunted and enthralled with the thoughts of you in so many different scenarios….maybe in particular, different positions. 

[Yes, those kinda positions. Armin’s not always that innocent, y’all.]

He knows that the more he thinks of you in these appetizing ways, in these hurtfully satisfying scenarios, he’s never going to be able to get over you. 

Rather, he’s not even going to try.

Being trapped in his fantasies, Armin is horrifically aware that these feelings are incredibly toxic, for the both of you. He just won’t let you go. Whatever it takes, Armin will commit whatever crimes he must to keep you in his life. 

He sees you as being misunderstood, especially if you’re typically a colder person, hard to read, detached. Some people compare you to Levi, but Armin just knows that you, like the Corporal, have far more depth than you let on. 

His intrigue doesn’t let up for a long while, as you’re constantly surprising him in new and amazing ways. You’re used to his deep interest in you after a while, but you still don’t understand him. 

Armin thrives on your confusion at first, but if it drives you away from him, he’ll go into tactical mode. Staying up all night,figuring out who is calling your attention to them rather than him and what his next move should be. 

With his intelligence, Armin keeps his sizzling bafflement and envy under wraps. He tells himself that maybe he had unerved you a little. He can get like that sometimes, surely you understood him well enough to know that?He obviously did find you interesting and he was willing to momentarily abandon Eren and Mikasa just to fuel his endless curiosity. 

Keep in mind, this is after you reject him, and his desperation to just know you and love you is greatly overwhelming him to the highest degree. You just won’t allow him to really see you, to understand you. 

Eventually, he snaps. Just not in the typical yandere way. We all know that Armin feels as though he is a nuisance, a self-proclaimed burden so he keeps most of his feelings inside, and lets them loose to either prove a point, or while under stress. 

It takes a minute for him to decide what to do with you, because he knows that once he has made a choice, it has to be the right choice. He has to know and map out a detailed plan, whether it’s doable, whether he’s able to pull it off by himself, etc.

His analytical skills come into play, and he plans everything from the location, time, the equipment needed at exactly what time. By this time, he will have comepletely left you alone; abrupt and brash, and just as he planned, you were surprised. Yes, he wanted to get to know you, and you couldn’t help but feel even slightly violated and maybe even disturbed. 

Your like anyone in the world, have natural curiosity and interest in just about anything. But the unfamiliar feeling of unsettlement around Armin just felt…off.

You secretly knew of his deep infatuation; people always seemed to determined to figure the silent types out, to crack them open, decipher their many secrets. In terms of this analogy, you sort of understand, maybe even sympathise with his endless novelty toward your character, but even so…just why?

Maybe it was the fact that you felt bad for him, in a sad, puppy love kinda way. Maybe you saw him as a traumatized individual, just putting his assumed coping mechanism to work, with you just in the innocent line of fire. 

If he kidnaps you at all, Armin will smother you. Telling you how much you mean to him, explaining that only he can access your wonder and intrigue. Because, after all, he worked this hard to get you; why would he ever share you with anyone else? 

Although he will be stern, he’ll always be nice about it, rewarding you or not. 

You’re an enigma to Armin Arlert, keeping him guessing, testing his patience with all of your being. You don’t know it, but soon you’ll be in his possession.

I headcanon him as seeing your refusal, your blatant rejection as some kind of ‘disease.’ You haven’t even seen the best of him yet, why make up your mind about something that you know almost nothing of? Oh well, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other very soon. He’ll bare his injured soul to you, and you’ll have mo choice but to do the same for him. It’s what married couples do after all, right?

Just let him love you, Y/N. Let Armin adore you. It’s the best thing to do if you want everyone to live.

Glassy, still sapphire eyes simply stared at you in the weak light of a stolen candle. You couldn’t quite pinpoint what they were saying, those beautiful, dangerous, albeit loving eyes. But yet, they also held malice in their abyss’. Endless, bottomless, simply divine they were. That was all you knew.

“Why…do you lie to me?” he murmered. A small, rough palm came to rest against your hollowed cheek, fingertips gently tapping against the skin. Realising how close he truly was, you tried your hardest to get away, shifting in your place in the surprisingly plush, old bed, but all it took was a flash of blonde hair to whip past your face, before he succeeded in holding your arms down.

While he never did this explicitly to punish or harm you, Armin always knew just how to exert his power. Never mind the boundaries that he installed in you the day of your arrival; he didn’t care for them as much as you had to pretend to.

This Armin was unhinged. Normalcy could never be considered in this relationship. He could never understand the pain he put you through. To Armin, it was all in the name of his devotion. All of his interest had been rooted in one fact; you refused to love him.

Once he figured out that you wouldn’t couldn’t love him of your own accord, he became enamoured with something he just knew he could never have.

He had never even thought about taking you, drugging you, dragging you to a secluded spot in the woods, or an out of bounds room, derelict over many years.

“I never intended to take you like this, bunny.”

Swallowing hard, you tried to look him in the eyes, gently lifting your head higher and higher until his blue pools of mere unhinged insanity met your own pained orbs. Seeming to like this, he smiled.

His perfect teeth looked more like fangs in the dim, weak moonlight. It had felt like he had managed to suck every molecule of beauty from even the most simple of things.

His voice sounded like the devil; harsh, unforgiving lilting tones of false hope daring to stroke you face and make you think you had a good chance at happiness.

You didn’t know when he stopped being Armin and began being a monster. You didn’t know if the lines could be blurred any further.

“I never wanted this, Armin-” 

“Don’t play with me, bunny,” he snapped. His slender fingers wound themselves in your clean hair, twisting and searching for a soft spot to pull. When he found it, he lightly tugged; barely, but you still winced from the thought of the last time he did this. 

You still wanted to believe that he was quiet, sweet Armin who still had an unstoppable fascination with you, but he was harmless then. Or was he? Was he faking his intentions? Did he have it planned from the very beginning? 

You wanted to choke yourself for believing his simple demeanour, his dedication to the cause of the Survey Corps just like everyone else. He was a liar. He was a predator in all ways, ensnaring you, his perfect prey. 

Only now had Armin realized just how confused you were. 

You didn’t understand his love for you. You thought he hated you! 

Now that wouldn’t do.

Armin could have have kicked himself. All of his stern discipline and rules stemming from his love and protection meant that you mistook for him being cruel. He was doing this out of his devotion! 

How could he assume you would understand if he never told you, if he never proved his love?

“Armin, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything, I swear-” You took a deep breath, cutting yourself off. Now was not the place or time to be losing your composure; you still were trying to get used to the fact that you were being held against your will. 

“Hush”, he suddenly murmured, gently taking your chin in his fingertips, before moving them to tenderly cup your face, his eyes darting anywhere that he could lay his gaze upon.

The gestures were so tender you found your cheeks erupting with a wild blush, the burning shame hitting you moments later when your hatred and slight fear hit you like a slap to the face. 

Your embarassment only got worse when you felt his soft lips kiss your throat, his warm breath flush against your skin. His hands found themselves back in your hair again, stroking it, petting it, twisting it round and round his finger. His right hand caressed your nape, spreading his fingers so that they only just covered the width of your neck, and he pulled you closer, so that your head was nuzzled into his neck, buried beneath his love and fascination.

It all clicked. 

Armin wasn’t just interested in you. 

He was obessed with you.

Obsessively in love with you. 

You felt pathetic. You felt weak. But in a strange way, you also felt loved. 

You had no choice but to resign yourself to his touch, letting your head fall limp as he cradled you to his chest.

“Good bunny.”

[lgbtqmanga]

New Releases Jan. 17, 2023

Adachi and Shimamura (Light Novel) Vol. 10 By Hitoma Iruma

HONESTY. COMMUNICATION. COMMITMENT.

It’s the start of a new year, and Shimamura has finally come to terms with what it means to be Adachi’s girlfriend. As Valentine’s Day approaches, it’s time to stop running away… Can Shimamura find the courage to do the right thing?

Barbarities vol. 1 by Tsuta Suzuki

In this beautiful Boys’ Love/BL romance inspired by Renaissance Europe, a dashing viscount tries to woo a serious nobleman!

When Lord Montague’s life is threatened, Viscount Adam Canning is assigned to be his bodyguard. Adam is a blond, dashing nobleman who is able to woo anyone who catches his eye. When he sees Lord Montague’s nephew, Joel, Adam is immediately smitten. But Joel is too busy rooting out crime and corruption to fall for Adam’s charms. Of course, that just makes Adam want him even more! Can Joel stay focused, or will he fall for the devilishly handsome viscount?

GUNBURED × SISTERS vol. 3 by Wataru Mitogawa

WHEN NUNS CRY

The pureblood that Dorothy and Maria encountered spoke of another half-vampire, offering an invaluable clue to Maria’s sister’s whereabouts! But this turns out to be a short-lived victory for the pair, whose relationship runs into its first major roadblock over Dorothy’s treatment of Shannon. Will they be able to reconcile their differences?

I Want to Be a Wall vol. 2 by Honami Shirono

Any good love story starts at the beginning: Where and how did the lovebirds meet? Was it love at first sight? And most importantly, was there a spark? For Yuriko and Gakurouta, their initial meeting was nothing to write home about—after all, matchmaking services aren’t unheard of. But a chance second encounter on the street revealed that as an asexual woman and gay man, they might have much more in common than they initially assumed. And in that moment, they felt not a spark but something better: the seed of a friendship, ready to take root and bloom.

Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki

When it comes to love, high schooler Chika wonders if she might be an alien. She’s never fallen for or even had a crush on anyone, and she has no desire for physical intimacy. Her friends tell her that she just "hasn't met the one yet," but Chika has doubts... It's only when Chika enters college and meets peers like herself that she realizes there’s a word for what she feels inside--asexual--and she’s not the only one. After years of wondering if love was the answer, Chika realizes that the answer she long sought may not exist at all--and that that's perfectly normal.

Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide vol. 3 by Mone Sorai 

Super serious Asahi Suzumura and laidback, easygoing Mitsuki Sayama might seem like an odd couple, but they made a deal; they'll vacation around the world and when they get back to Japan, they'll get married. As they travel from country to country, the different people, cultures and cuisine they encounter begin to bring them closer together. After all they're not just learning about the world, but about themselves too.

A Polar Bear in Love vol. 5 by Koromo

Orca warns Polar Bear about his cross-species romance, but Polar Bear isn’t going to give up on his love for Seal so easily… Meanwhile, Cathy finds an encounter of their own! The long-awaited Volume 5 is finally here!

Welcome Back, Alice vol. 4 by Shuzo Oshimi

What is Kei to you?

Yo doesn't exactly get what love or dating is. After all, things ended up in a disaster with Mitani, his ex-girlfriend. And for some reason, he feels much more comfortable when he's with Kei. Sure, Kei may look like a girl, but there's something more to him than just his appearance that allures Yo.

And when Kei makes a move on Yo, Yo doesn't stop him. In fact, he might even enjoy it…

How Do We Relationship? vol. 8 by Tamifull

Miwa finally feels like she’s getting the hang of the new shape her relationship with Saeko has taken. It’s hard to switch from being girlfriends to friends, but her growing connection with Tamaki has been a great distraction. Except now things with the cute underclassman have started to feel weird, and Miwa isn’t sure she’s brave enough to ask why. Will her second relationship fizzle out before it even starts?

[miraculouswolf99]

Breaking Into The Watchtower Part 1

Miraculous Ladybug-DC Universe crossovers are some of my favorite fanfictions. They are just a good match. I especially love ones where the Justice League either ignores the Paris situation or one of the League members gets the messages for help and doesn’t believe them. Mostly, it’s the Flash, Guy Gardner, Green Lantern, or Booster Gold.

In this story, some of the miraculous have changed hands for my story. There will be new holders and different holders for old miraculous. All of my OC characters will also be included. Nathaniel has the fox, Marc has the turtle, Rose has the horse, Juleka has the tiger, and Alix will have the bunny.

*****

“This is most definitely not something that I would ever have thought that I would ever do,” White Wolf says.

“We are magical teenagers that use the power of mini gods and mystical jewelry,” Beautifly says. “Your statement pretty much sums up every day of our lives.”

“Trust me, I never thought that I would be doing anything like this before I met Plagg,” Cat Noir said.

“At least I can cross this off my bucket list,” Ladybug giggled.

“Why is the name of the Olympian gods would this be on your bucket list,” White Wolf looked at the teen hero weirdly.

“I put it on after they started to ignore our cries for help,” Ladybug crossed her arms. “Or, when it was made obvious that they were ignoring us, at least.”

“How much sleep have you gotten lately,” Beautifly asks. “You only get this sassy when you haven’t slept in about two days.”

“I remember going to sleep on Wednesday,” Ladybug put her hand on her chin as she started thinking.

“Uh… It’s Saturday,” White Wolf deadpanned.

“Oh,” was all Ladybug could say.

“If you don’t go right to sleep after we get back, I am sending Plagg over to destroy every device you have to make sure you are not distracted and can finally sleep,” Cat Noir threatened.

“But what if there is an akuma,” Ladybug protested.

“Then we will have to make sure that Cat Noir saves his power so that he can Cataclysm the moth when it comes out of the akumatized object,” White Wolf says.

“And the damage,” Ladybug continued to protest.

“We will get to that when we get there,” White Wolf said.

“You are sometimes too selfless for your own good,” Beautifly shook her head.

“Yeah, she tends to be like that,” Cat Noir chuckled. “Why do you think I force myself between her and the villains we face when she tries to protect me because she will take the hit for me. But she needs to be the one that the attack does not hit because she is the one that purifies the akuma.”

“We are a very colorful crew,” Beautifly giggled.

“Says the butterfly girl whose hero outfit is almost entirely black,” White Wolf said.

“Not my fault that Flutter is a monarch butterfly kwami,” Beautifly shrugged.

“I certainly wish that I had some color on my suit,” Cat Noir says. “While the black makes my eyes pop, the color doesn’t match my personality at all. Why couldn’t Plagg be a tabby cat or a white cat?”

“Because he is the literal god of bad luck and nobody thinks of either of those two other kinds of cats when bad luck comes to mind,” Ladybug stated. “Deal with it, Chaton.”

“Yeah, you really need some sleep before you become permanently sassy,” Beautifly says.

“I blame Hawkmoth and his never-ending late-night akumas,” White Wolf stated. “My ears are still ringing from that banshee akuma he created last week.”

“And talk about unoriginal,” Cat Noir rolled his eyes. “Scream Queen was probably the most obvious choice of name in the history of villain names.”

“Even more so than that Poison Ivy woman in Gotham,” Beautifly asked.

“Well, she could have called herself Mother Nature,” Cat Noir shrugged.

“Point made,” Beautifly said.

The four then looked at the rest of their teams preparing themselves for what was going to be done. The Greek hero team had stayed the same throughout the three years of fighting, but the French team had changed. Their current members were Vulpix, Emerald Turtle, Queen Bee, Viperion, Lady Unicorn, King Monkey, Ryuko, Shadow Cat, and Bunnix. The last two being the newest members of the hero team. The Greek team was Gladiator with the grizzly bear miraculous, Tigress with the leopard miraculous, and Ocean Mage with the mermaid miraculous. The last one being the only person to be currently using a magical creature miraculous on the planet.

All of the heroes were getting ready in their own ways. Ryuko, Ocean Mage, and Viperion were meditating. King Monkey, Bunnix, Tigress, and Gladiator were all getting themselves hyped up for the mission. Queen Bee was trying to find a way to take off her gloves to file her nails. Vulpix and Emerald Shell were cuddling, comforting each other, and probably trying really hard not to start making out. The same could be said about Shadow Cat and Lady Unicorn. Those four were always the more timid ones of the group, even though all of them were amazing heroes.

“Alright, does everyone remember their parts of the plan,” Ladybug asked them, snapping them out of their trances.

“I will make sure that everything goes smoothly and no one truly gets hurt,” Viperion says.

“White Wolf, Lady Unicorn, and I take out our biggest worries to being discovered before we are ready,” Bunnix added.

“The rest of us force them into a position where they have to listen to us,” Gladiator said.

The rest of the team nodded in agreement. Some of them were still looking nervous about what they were about to do.

“Are you sure doing this is the right thing to do,” Lady Unicorn asked. “We could get into serious trouble for this.”

“We wouldn’t be doing this at all if they stopped ignoring us,” Tigress crossed her arms. “Even with all these miraculous being active, Hawmoth’s akumas are getting more and more dangerous.”

“He is also akumatizing more dangerous people like con artists, martial artists, and policemen,” Ocean Mage says. “What’s to stop him from going all Scarlet Moth and sending his moths to a prison if he gets desperate enough?”

“That is why we need their help,” Ladybug said. “If contacting them through official means does not help, then we must do what we have to.”

“I just hope that we don’t get labeled as criminals for this,” Beautifly said.

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

If there was one thing that Robin currently was, it was bored. He had to stop himself from yawning as he sat in another long and boring meeting of the Justice League.

One would think that a young hero like him would not be a part of one of these meetings. But this was less of a war room and more of a meeting between all heroes to discuss general things involving heroes in general and not entirely league business. It was always the same things being discussed in these meetings. Egotistical politicians trying to control the league, villains breaking out of prison again, as well as discussing potential new members of the League and the Young Justice team.

Other than Robin, the rest of the Bat-family was there as well. Batman, Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin, Oracle, Spoiler, Orphan, Batwing, and even Batwoman. The Super family was also there. Superman, Supergirl, Superboy, and the former Superboy that now called himself Krypton. Robin smirked at how Conner had finally broken the trend of having “Super” in his hero name. He may be a clone, he knew that both Kara and Jon both adored him. The other young heroes that were there were Red Arrow, Artemis, Aqualad, Tempest, Miss. Martian, Beast Boy, Starfire, Zatanna, Kid Flash, and Impulse.

And other than Batman and Superman, there were also the mentors of the other young heroes as well. Green Arrow, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Dr.Fate, and the Flash. The other adult heroes in the room were Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Wonder Woman, Sparton, Black Canary, Red Tornado, all three Green Lanterns, Black Lightning, Captain Marvel, Captain Atom, the Atom, and Katanna.

As Robin looked around, he noticed that he was not the only bored-looking young hero. The entire Bat-family looked to be wanting to be anywhere else, especially since they lived in a city where a crime was committed every five seconds. But the other heroes that looked bored were Superboy, Krypton, Red Arrow, Aqualad, and Beast Boy. They were all probably like him. They were excited to be part of league meetings until it was discovered that there was a lot more politics involved than actual hero work.

“Does anyone have anything else that they would like to add,” Superman asked the room.

“How about we talk about actually saving people instead of dealing with politicians,” Nightwing muttered, making the Bat-family hide their snickers.

“Especially that psycho Lex Luthor,” Krypton muttered from his place next to Nightwing.

“Well, if that is all…” Superman was about to wrap up the meeting.

“Wait,” Zatanna shot up from her seat, her hands on her head. “I sense something.”

All the younger heroes were all now thinking how something interesting was finally going to happen during one of these meetings. But the heroes were also all reaching for their weapons if they had them.

“What is it,” Wonder Woman asked the magician, her hand on her sword.

“There is an incoming magical…” Zatanna was cut off.

A bright blue portal opened up right under her feet. She fell in before she could finish her warning. The portal closed right after she fell into it.

“What in the world,” Flash gasped.

“ZATANNA,” the members of Young Justice yelled their former team member’s name.

“Oracle,” Batman did not even have to say the entire order.

“I’m on it,” the wheelchair-bound hero immediately started typing on her holographic computer. “She’s… I can’t find her.”

“What do you mean you can’t find her,” Captain Atom demanded to know.

“It’s like she vanished into thin air,” Oracle continued typing. “She’s nowhere in the Watchtower, or on Earth, not even on my planet in our galaxy. There is no sign of Zatanna anywhere.”

“She managed to say that it was something magical that was approaching,” Wonder Woman says.

“Dr. Fate, can you do something,” Superman requested of the lord of order.

The master sorcerer stood up from his seat. While he, personally, did not care for Zatanna other than a fellow user of the mystic arts, his current host body was that of her father. So finding her will hopefully silence all the yelling that Zatara is currently doing inside of the helmet.

But before the lord of order could do anything, another portal opened up behind him. But unlike the bright blue of the first one, this portal was a ring of blue surrounding a white portal. Something had quickly reached through and Dr.Fate was instantly turned into an ice statue. An invisible figure sneaked through the portal before it closed.

This caused all the other league members and Young Justice members to all jump and, drawing their weapons or preparing their powers. They all looked around and were on guard just in case another portal opened up.

“Oracle,” Batman ordered her again.

She was typing as quickly as humanly possible.

“I can’t find anyone else in the Watchtower,” she said, still typing. “I’ve run heat scans, x-ray scans, even the program to search for invisible opponents. I still can not find anyone else in the Watchtower.”

A soft tune suddenly played throughout the room. It was like a theme song for a peaceful day in the Fall played on a flute. A ball of light soon soared to the end of the room and brightly flashed. When the flash died down, the heroes were all shocked to see a message had been written in light in the air.

“We Just Want To Talk.”

It floated there for about a minute before Superman and Maritan Manhunter flew over to the message to examine it. But the moment that one of them touched it, it vanished in a burst of orange smoke-like light.

“It was an illusion,” Nightwing was the first to realize it.

“Maybe that is how they are hiding,” Red Robin opened up his own holographic screen over his glove and started typing. “Under an illusion.”

“And if they are magical like Zatanna said, it would not be possible to detect them since the technology that can detect magic has not been invented yet,” Oracle added.

“There is no such thing as magic,” yelled out Kid Flash.

Young Justice rolled their eyes, used to the constant rants that the speedster goes on about his disbelief in magic. It certainly annoyed those like Aqualad and Tempest, who both were born in Atlantis and attended the conservatory of sorcery there. Few other magical heroes tolerated the loud-mouth. Which was why heroes like Phantom and his brother Gold Siren wanted nothing to do with the team. (Reference to my fanfictions on Wattpad, Phantom Music and Home.)

“Try to find out where the illusion came from,” Superman ordered.

“You could try looking right in front of you,” a female voice was suddenly heard.

The heroes all turned and saw three masked teenagers standing there. Two boys and a girl. 

The first boy was a redhead with his bangs covering his right eye. He had on a fox-themed skin-tight orange and white outfit with red boots, gloves, and a red jacket. He also had real fox ears and a real fox tail as well. A flute was strapped to his back.

The boy next to him had black hair with green tips, which matched his turtle-themed outfit. The outfit also had a dark green leather jacket and boots with a green shield on his back, going with the goggle-like mask over his eyes.

The girl was blond with a single black streak in her ponytail. Her outfit was definitely themed by bumblebees. But unlike the shoes of the two next to her, her shoes had a slight heal to them. Like a two-inch-high wedge heel. Around her waist was a spinning top on a string.

“What have you done to our allies,” Captain Atom demanded of them.

“They are perfectly fine,” the turtle boy informed them.

“Why should we believe you,” Robin held his katana in his hand.

“Because we need your help and harming your fellow heroes would not help our situation,” the fox boy crossed his arms.

“What could you possibly need from us,” Black Lightning’s hands sparked with his powers.

“How about for you to stop ignoring us while we have been fighting a terrorist for three years,” the bee girl yelled at them.

“We also are not lying,” the fox boy said. “We have no reason to lie when surrounded by most of the world’s heroes.”

Before they could say anything else, all three were surrounded by separate green spheres that floated them up into the air. The Green Lanterns all had their rings pointed at one of the masked teens.

“This is ridiculous, utterly ridiculous,” the bee girl complained as she crossed her arms.

“I got captured by the original Green Lantern,” the fox boy looked to be almost fanboying inside of his sphere.

“Lucky, I got that class clown Guy Gardner,” the turtle boy almost seemed to pout.

“Hey,” Guy Gardner protested, offended.

“Why are you here, where is Zatanna, and what did you do to Dr. Fate,” Superman demanded of the three as he flew close to them.

“You know, you are a lot less threatening than you think you are,” the bee girl stated with a smirk. “By the way, whoever told you that underwear on the outside of your pants was a good choice needs to be thrown into fashion jail.”

Most of the Young Justice team had to stop themselves from laughing. Even Superboy, Supergirl, and Krypton were trying not to laugh. They had no idea who this girl was, but she was certainly sassy.

“How did you get into the Watchtower undetected,” Superman continued to demand answers from them.

“That is for us to know,” the fox boy started.

“And you to find out,” the turtle boy finished.

The smirks the three had told the league something, alright. Batman was the first to realize what it meant.

“There are more of them,” he said.

As if him saying that was their cue to come in, three more masked teens almost seemed to materialize into the room. A guy in a monkey-themed outfit hit his Ruyi Jingu Bang against the ground and then threw it into the air.

“Uproar,” he yelled.

He threw his now glowing staff into the air, the staff letting out a flash as it spun in the air. With a swift flick of her lasso, Wonder Woman grabbed the weapon before it could fall back into the monkey boy’s hand. But something else fell into his hands that they did not see.

But then came the second masked teen, who looked like he had been born of the ocean. He took out what seemed to be a hilt made out of sapphire. Water came out of the hilt as the masked boy flicked his wrist, the water forming into a whip. Before they could move, the teen whipped all of the Green Lantern’s hands at once. Pulling his whip, the masked teen caused their hands to collide together.

That was when the monkey boy threw the object that he had caught out of the air. Katana was close enough to try and slice through it with her sword, but she was intercepted by a second masked girl, this one appearing out of nowhere and seemed to have a tiger theme to her. Even if she was purple and black and not orange and black. Katana’s sword was met with a metal tiger-claw gauntlet. While they fought, a bunny-themed girl showed up and intercepted Green and Red Arrow, fighting both archers at once. Then, to the shock of the Green Lantern trio, a stuffed octopus child’s toy landed on their connected hands.

For a moment, nothing happened and they wondered why a stuffed animal had been thrown at them. But then their rings all started to malfunction at once. The rings stopped glowing and all three trapped teens were released from their bubbles. And since the rings were no longer working, the Lanterns all fell to the ground without their ability to fly.

“We’re teenagers, not stupid,” the bee girl smirked.

No longer wanting to underestimate the masked teens, the big hitters of the league all started to move toward them. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Red Tornado, and Captain Atom.

“Venom,” the bee girl shouted.

The top in her hand seemed to grow a bit in size and start glowing. As Superman flew at her, she dodged him and managed to touch him with her top. He fell to the ground and did not move from his punching pose. He was paralyzed.

“Confusion,” a female voice shouted.

Wonder Woman turned around to almost immediately be scratched on her arm by a girl in a leopard-themed outfit. The scratch on her arm glowed purple and the hero suddenly became very dizzy and could not seem to focus. She had never been drunk before, but she was sure this was probably how it felt.

Captain Atom’s hands lit up as he aimed one of his energy blasts at the masked teens. As he was just about to blast, another masked teen appeared. This one was themed by a brown-furred bear. Probably a grizzly bear.

“Roar,” a male voice yelled just as Captain Atom blasted.

The bear boy’s fist lit up gold and he punched right into the energy beam. To the surprise of the league, he was able to keep the beam at bay with a single punch.

Red Tornado was about to throw one of his twisters when he was hit on his robot head by a thrown horseshoe. It bounced and flew around like a boomerang-gone-wild until it landed back in the hand of a horse-themed girl.

All of the heroes and masked teens in the room were either fighting or dodging the attacks of another from one of the other groups.

“Enough,” a male and female voice shouted at once.

Even the Justice League froze as the voices boomed throughout the room. Standing on the other side of the room were six more masked teens. Three boys and three girls. The two that had shouted were a ladybug-themed girl and a boy with an icy wolf outfit. The boy standing next to the ladybug girl looked to be related to Catwoman while the girl next to the wolf boy was like a butterfly turned human. The last two were a snake boy and a girl that looked to be dragon-themed.

“All of you, front and center, now,” the ladybug girl ordered.

All of the animal-themed teens stopped what they were doing immediately. They put their weapons away and walked over to join the others at her sides.

Wonder Woman looked at the group for a few moments. The drunk feeling had been lifted from her and she could focus. There was something about them that was making an old memory of her’s rise to the surface. An old story that her mother used to tell her about when she had been friends with, who she had called, an adorable and wise little creature known as a kwami. A creature that she also remembered was bound to a magical object called a miraculous.

“The ladybug and black cat are active once more,” she gasped.

The league looked at the Amazon princess in shock. She actually had an idea who these teens were.

“We thought that you would be the one to recognize our magic, Wonder Woman,” the ladybug girl softly smiles.

Wonder Woman approached the group, putting her sword away as she did. And surprising the league again, she bowed to the ladybug girl and cat boy. The two of them and the wolf boy and butterfly girl bow back.

“It is an honor to meet the wielder of the ladybug miraculous,” Wonder Woman said.

“The honor is all ours, daughter of Hippolyta,” the ladybug girl says. “Tikki says to tell your mother ‘hi’ for her.”

Wonder Woman smiled at that.

“Would you care to explain exactly what is going on,” Batman ordered them, crossing his arms. “Starting with where Zatanna is and what you did to Dr. Fate and Superman.”

The bunny girl got out a pocket watch from her pocket. She checks the time.

“We can answer the first question now,” she smirked. “We’re right on time.”

She put her watch away and then threw her hands forward yelling “Burrow.” Out popped the same type of portal that Zatanna had disappeared through. And seconds after the portal was opened, out fell the magician.

“What just happened,” Zatanna immediately asked.

“The rest of your comrades will be fine somewhere between five to ten minutes,” the butterfly girl says.

“Before we go into the full explanation, do you guys have a bathroom in this place by any chance,” the leopard girl asked.

[captaincartervalues]

This is everything wrong with that trial bc it IRKS me to no end:

There is absolutely ZERO instances in which Lex would have gotten his trial that quickly. From the time he was arrested last episode (aka yesterday in their timeline) to arraignment would most likely take two to three days. For those who don’t know, an arraignment is where the government formally presents the charges to the defendant in court and the defendant consequently enters their plea, either guilty or not guilty. After the arraignment is the trial, which by law and procedure would never occur immediately after or within the same day. Logistically, scheduling a trial to find days where all parties (judge, defendant, and prosecutor) are available requires time and coordination. Courts’ calendars are booked weeks and months ahead of time. Per the 6th Amendment in the US Constitution, a defendant is entitled to a speedy trial. However a speedy trial never means a trial within a DAY. Though there’s often no set number of days that would automatically constitute a violation of a speedy trial, generally defendants should see their trial start date within approximately 60 days. That is because of the real world logistic constraints but it is also to ensure that BOTH the prosecution and defense have adequate time to prepare for a trial. This preparation includes gathering and disclosing evidence, witness prep, motion filing, and just generally getting your case together. However that 60 days is only if the defense doesn’t waive their right to a speedy trial which many do in order to properly prepare and mount a defense to acquit. Trials in these cases can and do get pushed several months or even upwards of years til the start date. Assuming Lex refused to waive his 6th amendment right and wanted a trial immediately he still would never get it within the same day because A. The prosecution would never agree to that nor would the judge allow it B. The court’s schedule wouldn’t have an opening like that and C. The process of pre-trial takes time. To even just select a jury aka voir dire can take several days by itself. Other pre trial steps that would occur before a trial can start include a preliminary hearing in which the judge determines if there’s enough evidence against the defendant to have a trial, discovery in which both sides have to share their evidence and witness lists with each other prior to trial, and motions filed to the court to exclude or suppress certain evidence from trial. These steps take time and several appearances before the court that would be spread out over weeks at minimum.

Undermining a witness’s credibility like how Lex did with Eve by insinuating she was a scorned and resentful woman does not mean her entire testimony would get thrown out and excluded from trial. It is literally the job of the jury to weigh and value a witness’s testimony with their credibility. The jury could absolutely conclude Eve is not credible and lying BUT they would get to come to that conclusion on their own in deliberations bc a judge would never throw out a witness’s entire testimony unless there was definitive evidence the witness is lying (which there was not). Also, a witness could be deemed less credible and still have their testimony be believed because of supplementary evidence or corroborating witnesses like Lena.

Fruit of the poisonous tree. Related to the above point, Lena says Eve’s testimony was tainted because it was “fruit of the poisonous tree” which is NOT how that works in the slightest. Fruit of the poisonous tree is a real legal doctrine in which evidence is officially excluded from trial because it was obtained illegally by law enforcement. If the source of the evidence (lets say an illegal search without a warrant) is tainted, then anything gained (“the fruit”) from the source (“the tree”) is also tainted and inadmissible in court. Basically, fruit (ie evidence) from a poisonous tree (ie illegal search) is also poisonous and thus not allowed. But Eve’s testimony does not fall into this category at all. Just because her credibility was undermined and therefore the rest of her testimony is also undermined that does not mean it is illegal or excluded from being considered in court by the jury. At most she’s a failed witness bc her testimony is useless in the eyes of the jury but it is not in any shape or form inadmissible.

Just because Lex said a bunch of legal jargon to the judge doesn’t mean it A. had any weight or meaning and B. would actually be accepted by the judge. Lex asked the judge to have Eve’s testimony stricken from the record, her plea deal be revoked, and add a charge of perjury for her lies. All three motions would have been immediately denied because Lex didn’t provide an ounce of evidence that Eve was perjuring herself. See point 2 again because all he did was possibly and not even that effectively undermine her credibility by having her admit she was in love with him and rejected. That alternative theory could potentially be enough to negate her testimony in the jury’s eyes but it is most certainly not even remotely enough to get her testimony thrown out. Just because the defense offers a competing theory (which is literally the job of the defense) does not mean that theory is automatically accepted as fact or true. Again it is the job of the jury to determine that. Not to mention that this case was described as “ironclad” by Lillian and purported to be supported by hard evidence provided by Eve in addition to her testimony according to the prosecutor. Lex’s resentful lover theory wouldn’t necessarily negate that testimony or evidence! Lots of witnesses in real life are imperfect with questionable backgrounds or motives but their testimony can still be compelling to find a defendant guilty. Like this was such a thinly veiled, lazy attempt at a defense. Lex didn’t offer ANY evidence to support his claims other than his own testimony which was not legally admitted and should have been sustained and stricken which moves me to my next point.

Lex’s questioning of the witnesses was utterly objectionable and sustainable. Lawyers are bound by specific procedure and rules when questioning a witness. During cross examination, which is when a lawyer is questioning the other side’s witness, you are afforded more latitude by which to ask your questions in attempts to undermine an opposing witness’s credibility and testimony. You can ask leading questions aka yes or no questions (ex: you framed me because I rejected you, isn’t that right?) and you can even be combative with witnesses. However, what you absolutely CANNOT do is testify yourself and not ask the witness a question. This is literally what Lex did during his cross of both Eve and Lena. The objection that should and would have been raised is “Objection: Counselor (or in this case Defendant bc Lex is representing himself and not a lawyer) is testifying” to which the judge would have immediately agreed, sustained Lex, and have his entire monologue to the jury stricken and instructed them to ignore everything he said. A lawyer and especially someone representing themselves CANNOT use a witness’s time on the stand to testify themselves. That is what opening and closing arguments are for: uninterrupted presentation of your case. If Lex wanted to testify, he would have to take the stand and be subject to cross examination. He does not get to use his cross of Eve as a chance to say whatever he wants. ALSO as a side note, if a witness was so thoroughly undermined during cross, the lawyer who called the witness would get what is called a redirect, or extra time to question a witness to reestablish why their testimony is relevant and credible. Only a terrible prosecutor would choose not to redirect after that.

Also, between the scenes in court and those with Lena and Lillian, the show somehow implies both that Eve’s testimony was thrown out and that it was just merely undermined to the jury but not excluded? They can’t have it both ways lol.

When the judge actually sustains Lex for his improper questioning of Lena, she only says it once and lets him continue on his inadmissible tirade. In reality a judge would keep saying sustained or tell the defendant if they don’t stop now they’ll be held in contempt (aka put in jail until they’re ready to comply with the rules of the court). AND she would most definitely have instructed the jury that all of what he just said was sustained and couldn’t be considered.

Lex says “the defense rests” during the prosecution’s presentation and witness?! Like that’s not how it works. Lex technically hadn’t even started his presentation because he didn’t call any witnesses or present any evidence. He doesn’t just get to decide the trial is over during the prosecution’s case. The prosecution has to rest before the defense can even start let alone also rest their case.

This one isn’t so much a legal note but a weird observation. They have Willy shout “Yes!” after Lex “rests” implying Lex did more damage to himself with his speech and the jury would agree, only to then have Lena look half smug for beating him and half like she failed on the stand. They gave weird conflicting sentiments about the direction of the verdict that I guess was supposed to make the not guilty verdict a surprise but it all just fell flat and was super disjointed. And I’m sorry but Lex going on an unhinged rant would not help his perception or case to the jury even if he said he didn’t commit the crimes. Maybe the men would sympathize or project but those women would be taking that as a big sign of guilt. At the very least the jury should have been locked and unable to render a verdict thus declaring a mistrial which would have meant even more time as a new trial is set.

In conclusion, none of this makes sense nor is it how the courts actually work. I get everything doesn’t have to be über realistic but I would appreciate even a minutia of effort to make it make sense.

AND all of it was just entirely unnecessary for the episode. What they should have done is merely say Lex was awaiting trial and move on!