#this is how i imagined their epilogue hehe

[cparas-art]

Reunited

[loguetowns]

deal or no deal

portgas d. ace x reader

making deals with a pirate is a dangerous thing

"we have a contract!" + ace

2.5k words

a/n. i did not intend for this to be so long, but i always forget how easy it is to write for my favourite loveable boy ♡ anyways, this takes place during ace's great blackbeard search cover story hehe

cw. angsty ending and goodbyes (but there's a small epilogue!)

day 1.

this isn't what you signed up for.

chasing down mountain bandits and patrolling streets? sure. chasing down pirates at sea? absolutely.

what you didn't sign up for when you joined the marines was discovering pirates within your own naval base — a peculiar situation that you find yourself in at the moment.

"start talking now." you stare daggers at the tied up pirate in front of you. "what are you doing here?"

he squirms, doing his best to avoid your gaze. "i'm just looking for someone."

"to do what? rob them? assassinate them?"

"no," ace sighs. "i'm just trying to deliver a letter."

your surprise is quickly replaced with skepticism, ingrained into you by your hours of marine training. you lean in to study him, peering into his eyes to gauge whether he's telling the truth or not.

he has really cute freckles.

you blush at the intrusive thoughts, a wonderfully adorable sight that ace will surely tell you about later.

your eyes land on his arm tattoo, far too familiar for your liking. you recall a conversation you once had with vice admiral garp.

"you're one of whitebeard's men!" you gasp. you narrow your eyes at him. "are you trying to smuggle communications to blackbeard?"

his face hardens. "talking is the last thing i'd be doing if i found him."

disappointment floods you. gathering intel is your specialty, but it's been much harder to find information about blackbeard's coup than you'd like to admit. it would've been too easy if this pirate was in kahoots with him...

"look," he says, straightening up. "maybe we can help each other out."

you raise an eyebrow.

"if you help me with my letter, i'll tell you anything you want to know about marshall d. teach."

"including where he is and what's he's planning?"

"okay, maybe not that" — your face falls — "but only because i don't know! if you're looking into him, we can look together?"

you cross your arms.

"that hardly seems like a fair deal to me - you get your letter delivered and you get information about blackbeard? i'm going to need more than just some outdated background info."

"i'll have you know that i'm a commander under the most powerful pirate in the world," he huffs. "but i'll tell you what - after all this is said and done, you can arrest me."

at this, you stop to think about it. it would do very well for your career to bring in one of whitebeard's big shots. on top of that, imagine if you also had intel about blackbeard's whereabouts! surely, you'd get that promotion you've been vying for.

and while you're fantasizing about the rewards for ace's capture, he smiles to himself. having someone on the inside will help him stay undercover and, if he's lucky, he'll get some answers about teach before he goes on his merry way.

for ace has no intention of being caught by any marine — no matter how cute they are.

"alright," you finally say. "you've got yourself a deal."

he grins, and you falter for what will not be the last time at how handsome he is when he smiles.

"nice t' meet ya, partner."

day 5.

"holy cow, look at the amount of food on that guy's plate!"

"i told you the rumours about the new guy were true."

"where does all that food even go?"

"what a freak..."

the gossip of your peers gets drowned out by the screech of a chair being pulled and the loud thud! of a plastic tray barely supporting the mountain of food on top of it.

"man, don't you love dinner time? you guys have it made!"

"what are you doing?" you hiss.

ace can only offer you a look of confusion, too busy stuffing his face with a drumstick in each hand.

"'you guys?' you're supposed to be one of us, remember?" you point at him with your fork. "and for a guy who's trying to stay undercover, you sure are calling a lot of attention to yourself."

"i can't help it," he says — or tries to say. his voice comes out muffled from the food he's shovelling into his face. "i have needs."

for what it's worth, there is something adorable in the way that this uncouth man looks so happy with his cheeks stuffed like a squirrel. you can't help but giggle, and it makes ace smile.

he thinks to himself,

what a cute laugh.

day 8.

ace yawns, stretching his arms before his hands land on the back of his neck.

"is this where taxpayer money goes? to pay two marines to go for a stroll when they could be doing that for free?"

"it's called patrol, and everyone has to do it," you nudge him with your elbow. "especially non-tax paying criminals disguised as law enforcement."

"y'know, being a marine isn't so hard. boring, but easy enough."

"easy, he says! it's only easy because i'm the one busting my ass to try and keep your cover under control."

ace gives you a sideways glance, flashing a lazy grin. "tomato, to-mah-to."

you roll your eyes, but ace knows you well enough by now to distinguish your seriously-pissed eye roll from your endearingly-annoyed eye roll.

he can say with 99% certainty that this one is the latter.

and to make up up for that missing 1%, ace waggles his eyebrows in the way that made you laugh yesterday. to his delight, you giggle again and he swells.

walking down a line of shoppes, your arm brushes past his as you point to his left, "see that parlour over there? they have the best ice cream in the world."

"that's a ballsy proclamation, officer."

"yeah? what makes you say that, officer?"

"you're talking to the ice cream connoiseur on this side of the ocean. i don't know if i can just take your word for it."

"so you're saying i'm lying?"

"no," he grins at you, devious, dazzling and dashing. he nods towards the store. "i'm saying that we should go get some ice cream."

15 minutes later, ace has to agree that this was, in fact, the best ice cream he's ever had. he laughs at your boasting and your "i told you!" and your sermon about the fruit-to-cream ratio, and he wonders if you know that the reason why he's enjoying this ice cream has nothing to do with the flavour and everything to do with you.

day 16.

"ace? what are you-"

"quick! run!" he grabs your hand and practically drags you down the hallway at lightning speed. you nearly trip over your feet as you run behind him.

"hey! stop right there!" booms a voice behind you.

"we gotta hide!"

like any well-trained soldier, it's answers first and questions later. "there's a closet on your right around the corner!"

ace darts around the corner with you in hot pursuit. he thrusts open the closet and quickly pulls you inside.

"who-"

"shh!"

you hear running getting louder, and you decide to question ace later. in this tiny broom closet, you do your best to discern what's happening on the other side. both of you press an ear to the door and listen carefully.

footsteps approaching. footsteps slowing down. footsteps stopping just outside the closet.

you hold your breath.

it feels like an eternity that ace's pursuer stands on the other side and you don't dare to make a single peep. you lock eyes with ace, who stares back at you with an exhilarated smile.

a voice mutters, "i could've sworn-"

"commodore, sir!"

you gape at ace with wild incredulity.

commodore? you mouth with wide eyes.

he winks at you, holding a finger to his lips.

"they're looking for you in the grand boardroom, sir."

a pause.

"alright, at ease. let's go."

the two men walk away, but neither of you dare say anything until a solid minute after the footsteps fade away. and then-

you smack ace across the chest, "what-"

"ow!"

"-did you do?"

"that hurts!"

you shoot daggers at him.

he smiles sheepishly at you, "okay, i deserve that. but look what i found in his office!"

he holds up a sheet of paper with excitement. in the darkness of the closet, you can't make out the words and only look at him with confusion.

"there's a scout ship coming from the green shores. as far as i know, that's where teach was last seen!" he rushes through his words. "and comil's going to be on that ship! we can kill two birds with one stone!"

he looks at you expectantly as you process what he says.

"if vice admiral comil's on that ship then they'll definitely have detailed notes of their observations... there's no way they wouldn't have gathered intel!"

"that's what i'm saying!"

"ace, that's great!" you throw your arms around him. "this is it!"

it's not until ace instinctively wraps his arms around you that you realize two very important things.

one. if vice admiral comil truly is on that ship, that means that your adventure with ace is coming to an end soon.

your heart sinks.

two. you and ace are alone, hugging, in a very, very dark and cramped broom closet — and you don't want to stop.

your heart races.

you look up at ace and he's never looked more earnest. mischievous, startled, impressed, hungry, and even flirty — you've had the privilege to learn what each of these expressions look like on ace's handsome face.

but this — his eyes boring into yours with an intensity that burns as hot as your cheeks — is a first.

you swear that you can feel his heart beat against your chest. he feels warm, even in an open vest, and you realize that he felt just as warm when he was holding your hand.

he brushes hair out of your face and, for a second time in this room, you hold your breath.

do it.

"you're right," he says quietly. "this is it."

and then, as if he heard your prayer, he kisses you.

day 23.

"are you okay? are you hurt?" you look for any sign of harm under all the soot on ace

"relax, it's just fire." he grins, "they do call me 'firefist ace', y'know."

finished with your examination, you reach up to brush away a bit of ash on his cheek. given any other circumstance, that smug smile on his face would make your heart flush.

right now, though, all you can think about are his words, sinking into your skin like lead.

"i know who you are, ace. the problem is," you do your best to erase any emotion from your voice. "so does everyone else now."

ever impulsive, the implication of ace's actions doesn't hit him until now. silence settles between you for a moment, and in the background, the commotion becomes audible. between the ship fire and ace's identity reveal, you've never heard so much chaos happen at once.

"they're looking for you," you say quietly. "they'll find you soon."

you wish you had more time. in the past 3 weeks, you've realized — on more than once occasion — that this is not what you signed up for. this had started out as a purely transactional relationship between a criminal and law enforcement, i.e. the bad guy and the good guy.

but it's been so much more than that.

in all his smiles and stupidity, his companionship, and his kind, kind heart, ace has proven to you over and over again that he's more than just the bad guy that your training manual has made him out to be.

you thumb the seastone cuffs hanging from your waist, completely lost in your thoughts. your stupid agreement looms over you; you know this is your only chance to arrest him.

it's not until he says your name that you remember where you are.

"did you say something?"

ace takes a deep breath, looking far more serious than you've seen.

"the deal's off."

huh?

"but we have a contract," you cling onto the very thing that you were just cursing. "you can't just do that! you got everything you wanted, you- it's not fair-"

he takes your hand, and the small act of affection is enough to quiet your protests.

"will you listen to me for a second?"

his voice is gentle, careful, loving. you manage to nod.

"i think," he intertwines his fingers in yours. "we both knew that my arrest was never going to happen."

you say nothing, waiting.

"i have no intention of getting captured here," he takes your other hand. "and i don't think you want to do it either."

a pang in your chest. he's right, and you know it. deep down, you knew that you were never going to be able to hold up your end of the bargain. the idea of putting an end to his adventures is something that you could never do.

he presses his forehead against yours, and it's so, so warm. it makes your heart ache. you close your eyes, focusing solely on the warmth that blooms from where you and ace are connected — from your foreheads, from your fingertips — as if it might make this any easier.

"hey," ace's voice is barely a whisper. "look at me."

like a good marine, you do as you're told.

you look into his dark eyes, and they look into yours.

"here's what i want you to do," his breath fans your cheeks.

"you're going to tell the captain that i'm going after blackbeard. tell them that you have information on his defection from the whitebeard pirates for the murder of a crewmate, okay?"

you nod again, willing the tears that are building in your chest to stay where they are.

"and thank you," he says. ace's voice breaks, and that's when the dam cracks. tears fall onto your cheeks as he does his best to continue.

"thank you for your help," ace says, knowing that he's running out of time and conviction to leave. "and for giving me everything i wanted."

he tilts your chin up to wipe away your tears, "you are everything."

and he kisses you for what feels like a millisecond and a lifetime all at once. he tastes like unfinished stories and goodbyes come too soon — like the sweetness of ice cream on a summer afternoon, like the warmth of breakfast on an autumn morning, and the richness of hot cocoa on a winter night.

he tastes like what you imagine love to be.

"wait for me," is the last thing he says to you before he leaves.

and like a good marine, you'll do as you're told.

epilogue.

"mail for ya, sarge!"

you take the letter from the young postal worker, thanking her for delivering your letter. you inspect the letter, curiosity growing as you do. there's no return address or sender, just your name and what looks to be a burn mark.

you smile.

ripping open the envelope, you find a photograph of a freckled pirate in his orange hat in front of an ice cream shoppe, eyes smiling in that way that makes him look like a little kid.

there's a sign in the background that reads "best ice cream in the world!" and you laugh. flipping over the photo of ace, you find a short message.

gonna need you to come verify their claims - let's go together next time.

it's a deal.

[couldtransitionsaveher]

JOHN/JUNE EGBERT from HOMESTUCK

JUSTIFICATION:

"as an epilogue-ignorer, i will not be bringing in anything from "post" canon/"beyond" canon (andrew hussie learn about the econonomic and legal relations that define canon and let me sell a tshirt with jake english on it challenge) because i don't care and haven't read it.

egbert does pretty well for themself throughout canon, exerting the most physical impact on the story of any character except arguably vriska, who she arguably would have transitioned to become more like (popular headcanon name june comes from a convo with vriska where she says joooooooohn and they're like hehe i'm imagining that it is pronounced june) (also because of their friendship and egbert's clear admiration of her) (also vriska is also commonly hc'd as transfem).

however while they are a fantastic tool for the narrative, their own plots and personal fulfillment are less attended to. emotional arcs are dropped or disregarded, with much of egbert's internal world being pretty repressed (an early arc which seems to just kind of peter out and disappear involves them literally repressing their self-loathing so hard they can't see the very real and physical abusive graffiti they've scrawled on their walls in crayon in their sleep). an arc of realizing her trans gender (which is how she would spell it, every time) and transitioning would have fit in well with her other themes of repression and obliviousness and helped bring it all to a satisfying conclusion. it also would have fit in with later developments regarding reality-bending and breaking the rigid binaries the game enforces (the only character in canon to change gender/have a non-binary gender in the homestuck canon is a glitch character; as egbert is also functioning as a form of glitch breaking the rules of the game, it would be thematically consistent)." - Anonymous

Reminder: Submissions are always open!

[stellari-s]

twst 30 day challenge: day 28

favorite vignette?

i got a three-way tie here, i think. well, i like all the vignettes, to be honest. but if i were forced to narrow it down, then maybe...

what a load of garbage halloween ♦️

i think a big one is cater's halloween ssr vignette, mainly because of how it really kind of showcases a side he doesn't show to others. of course, other vignettes had shown hints of this side, but not as straightforwardly.

his interaction with lilia was generally pretty interesting. i believe what lilia was saying came from his heart and experiences, especially reading what is out so far in book 7, but cater sort of can't bring himself to trust?? lilia completely because of how, in his eyes, lilia's words seem ironic as he seems to have a close-knit found family. and he seems to push kalim away to some extent too. the pop music club is very silly; i want cater to accept his found family status! /lh

it's honestly a little tragic to read as it is more eye-opening, in a sense. i think he wants others to understand him, but he also can't bring himself to open up about himself either.

(also, when it comes to halloween vignettes, jade's was also fun to read, as it's fun getting to know the various halloween traditions across different regions and upbringing.)

my beloved suitor suit ♥️

putting aside the fact that this is basically a silly epilogue featuring all the freshmen being silly together and talking about love lives, how could i not put in ace's suitor suit ssr vignette?

reading about ace's previous romantic experience though... i gotta say, i kinda feel bad for his ex lmao but at the same time, i kind of always pegged him as sort of someone who wouldn't go out of his way to pursue someone romantically. he said so himself, and i can easily imagine it, that he would rather hang with his friends.

overall i don't think this game needs to have any romance anyway. i generally love seeing the characters' dynamics with each other in platonic, familial, or for whatever they are, and if they were to become romantic, i think i wouldn't be as interested 😅 maybe i'll lose interest as quickly as ace lost his interest in his ex...

can't make a fool of myself suitor suit 🌹

riddle was so, so cool in his suitor suit sr vignette! like, for one it's kind of nice seeing him doing something like pruning the roses, considering he's the heartslabyul housewarden and doesn't normally do that kind of thing while preparing for unbirthday parties. plus his interaction with malleus and how he gives riddle a rose brooch? i love it when twst puts characters that probably don't interact much (or are hard to imagine interacting) together.

but the way at the end when riddle and malleus sort of have two separate scenes that come together at the very end with the illustration where they both say "the king of heartslabyul" (or something to that nature)... that scene was so intense and i loved it, hehe. ☁️

[celiciaa]

GILBERT VON OBSIDIAN EVENT STORY....

EPILOGUE.

A beast’s dream fulfilled by beauty.

translations are not 100% accurate. expect mistakes.

spoilers from gilbert's route.

trigger warning: mildly suggestive

minors and ageless blogs dni.

While I want to respect Emma’s desire to make friends in Obsidian,

I find myself wishing she wouldn't be able to make friends for the rest of her life.

(Maybe it's because I'm like this that I couldn't make friends in the true sense of the word.)

Emma: ——So, can I go back to town tomorrow?

Gilbert: Yeah, no.

Emma:….I'm allowed to make friends, right?

Gilbert: Nope.

Gilbert: I've given you permission, but I'm not going to let you cut back on your time with me, okay?

Gilbert: I endured it today. You're not going to make me endure day after day, are you?

Emma:……

(This face...you’re making me think about what to do with you.)

I know that if I allow her to make friends, I will have to bend.

Despite such assertions of reason and conscience, I pushed Emma down on the table and——

Gilbert: If you really want to go…..

Gilbert:….You know what I mean? // You understand what I mean, don't you?

(I need you to put me in a good mood.) // (I need you to take care of me.)

I untied the ribbon of her black dress that was wrapped around her and forcefully opened the collar.

I buried my face in her neck and sucked hard on her skin, and a cute voice escaped from her tiny lips.

Emma: To do in a place like this….

Gilbert: Eh, not enough?

Pressing my lips on the other side of her neck, leaving a dark mark on her skin.

The marks, which were scattered in positions that could not be concealed even by high-collared clothing, were not likely to disappear for some time.

Gilbert: You know what? People always carry an impression of you from the first time they meet you.

Gilbert: What would your first impression be if you went out looking for friends now?

(No matter who you meet, you'll get an embarrassing imagination.)

As I licked the marks, Emma’s body stiffened.

Emma:….I can't go out like this.

Gilbert: Is that so? Poor little thing.

Emma: Gil…..

Gilbert: I'm just overflowing with love.

Emma looks away, embarrassed.

(I think that's the part she’s supposed to be upset about.)

Emma:….If that's the way you want to play it, I have an idea.

Gilbert: Hmm?

Emma sits up and wraps her arms around my neck.

Just when I thought I was being hugged, Emma pressed her lips to mine.

A few shyly pecked kisses were frustrating,

Invitingly opening my mouth so that Emma will respond in kind.

It was so comfortable that our tongues were intertwined, and it fueled feelings that I did not want to let go of.

(I feel like this has the opposite effect….)

While Emma is engrossed in the kiss, I pull the dress down to her waist.

Emma, who would normally be shy, showed little resistance today.

But when I put my hand on her breast, the kiss didn't last long.

Emma:….Aaah…..

Gilbert: What is your "idea"?

When I asked while pinching her nipples, Emma lowered her eyes.

Emma: My fiancé is a lonely person….

Emma: I thought I should pack a lot of love so that you won't be lonely even when we are apart for a while.

Gilbert: Hehe, you really know how to please me, don't you?

When I bite into her swollen breast, Emma frustratingly grabs my cloak.

Gilbert: But I'm a glutton, so I'm not sure how much love you can stuff into me.

Gilbert: After all, you may not have time to make friends.

Emma:…..

Gilbert: You don't like it?

Emma: No way. I know Gil is that kind of person.

Emma: But I'm still here because I love you.

(…..As always.)

Emma stroked my hair soothingly, not resisting as I fondled her breasts.

Emma:….I know Gil doesn't like it.

Emma: Still, please let me spread my connections.

Emma: I want to love the country of Obsidian even more.

Gilbert:….Is that what you truly want?

Emma nods and raises an eyebrow.

(…..You….)

(I knew it. You’re just the same old me.)

I had been betrayed so many times that I had forgotten all about it,

At the time my mother and brother were killed, I hated and loathed Obsidian.

However, as a member of the royal family, I cannot fulfill my duties while hating my country.

I wanted to have a lot of friends because I wanted to try to make them like me somehow.

I thought that the pure feelings I had back then had already been lost,

Now, it's shining again in front of me.

(——I’ve decided to believe in you.)

(I'm not a child, so I can't afford to mess around forever.)

Perhaps realizing that the atmosphere had changed, Emma smiled and covered her mouth on mine again.

Fueled by a clumsy kiss, I grabbed her both legs and forced them open.

Emma: Aahh…in a place like this——

Gilbert: I want to have sex right here, okay? I don’t want anyone to see that lewd face of yours while we head back to my room.

Gilbert: I don't kill people just because I like them either, you know?

(I'm a disaster for you. But you like that, don't you?)

I pulled up the hem of her dress to her stomach and stirred the wet nectar between her legs with my fingers.

(No matter how many friends Emma makes from now on….)

(I'm the only one allowed to do this, so I have to be tolerant to some extent.)

(….Well, I guess it's impossible.)

When Emma’s body is softened, I penetrate her, and her expression becomes glamorous and twisted.

She hugged me so tightly that I could hardly catch my breath, and I hugged her back in response.

Gilbert: Hey—— you're the only one who would never betray me.

Gilbert: Even if you make friends, will you still love me?

Emma nodded repeatedly, trying to swallow the heat more deeply.

Emma: Please…don't mix/lump me with your old friends.

Gilbert: That's true, too. Because you're my fiancée.

(If you can expand your connections and get people to say you love Obsidian, that's a good thing….)

(Maybe I can learn to love this rotten country, too.)

(What I wanted when I was a child was something so warm.)

 ▸       [  previous ]

[djservo]

crashes in in a fashionably late kind of way.. january is finally over!! 31 days felt like 300 but now that we’re on the other side of it, what books did you read to start 2024? what was the vibe any standouts has it changed what’s on the horizon?

I've started keeping a physical calendar again so you'd think having the month splayed out in front of me so directly and constantly would be grounding but week after week I was just like Omg how is there More.... we made it thru tho god bless xx January was fun!!

in terms of my pre-planned monthly reading themes, January was a grace period where I let my whims guide me so I'm surprised at how many themes incidentally overlapped?? Naomi Klein referencing The Fire Next Time, the theme of internet doubles and online dark corners in Doppelganger essentially being the core of The Sluts, the dark spiraling mystery of The Sluts akin to the dark spiraling mystery of Mysterious Skin, yada yada yada. I luv when the dots inadvertently connect!! right place right time vibe!!

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

it's been really nice starting my reading off with Baldwin these past few years, something grounding about immersing myself in sharp indictments of the US amidst the usual new year wide-eyed blitheness. this one was only 2 essays but both gripped me just as much as his longer collections. I imagine it's hard to sort of reframe arguments, pleas, and points you've been talking about for years when things still haven't changed, but each new (to me) Baldwin essay reads so fresh in the way that he contextualizes these core points within different interactions + relationships. I think Ive said this before but it's also so rewarding to read an author's works chronologically because you can kind of follow how their frame of mind sharpens/adapts throughout the years and in a way you grow with them, and his first essay (a letter to his nephew) kinda feels like the culmination of that growth laid out with such care. super special

Doppelganger by Naomi Klein

totallyyyyyy consumed + dizzied by this wow I can't believe it took me this long to read Naomi Klein. I think I'd been intimidated by the size of her books + my incorrect assumption that something so research-heavy (bc boy does she research!) will read too dense, but everything here was laid out and tied together so smoothly + accessibly (I feel like I use that word a lot for nonfiction which is probably my subconscious quest to entice ppl to read more nonfiction hehe) This read like partial investigative deep dive into the online world of conspiracy theories/Qanon cesspools + partial mystery novel about her own experience with Naomi Wolf (her 'doppelganger')?? idk it feels weird to relate someone's lived experience to a spectacle like that but it really was like edge of seat level curiosity/uncertainty/etc. just so engrossing and thorough and THRILLING, the epilogue made me gasp!!!

Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones

my one + only spotify audiobook experience, cut short amid the last chapter bc I ran out of hours and no longer am a spotify premium user so I just read the rest </3 but that turned out to be fun bc I saw what a stark difference it was to listen vs. read this. the audio rules bc Leslie totally goes off script to add anecdotes (one of the reviews was like 'she was NOT reading what was written!!' LMAO so true.. and I love her for that!!) + an emotional depth I don't think could've been sufficiently captured in written form - her laughter and her palpable anger and her literally crying over... such a robust journey! I was an SNL fan basically my whole life til I went to college so I always love stories about it and I really admire how she didn't hold back in her criticisms. I feel like former members (especially those somewhat fresh off the slab in a way) feel like they have to be eternally grateful to their experience when so much of it is so clearly draining and thankless. doubled expectations because she's a woman, tripled because she's a Black woman, and therefore expected to just bend over and take it (her words) but she never does!! she never tries to compromise her own experiences like "this happened... but at least this happened too and they actually were nice in this way-" NO!! she compartmentalizes the good and the bad so distinctly so there's no misunderstanding, and I just really really admire that, the lack of kissing ass in an industry where that's practically what fuels your career/reputation!! she rocks + is such a funny storyteller+ I'm so glad I listened to this

The Sluts by Dennis Cooper

ofc had to squeeze my old man in... I think this was actually the book to first put Cooper on my radar so it was super fulfilling to finally get to it (even tho I devoured it in just 2 days.. a shame bc it was a slay to read this in public) Supremely up my alley with its 2000s internet mystique, the perfect backdrop for a twisted mystery + ruminations of Internet As Performance Art™, the internet as roleplay, what's real + what's just fantasy/fetish, etc etc. so so so good and while still sick and horrifying as his writing is known for, perhaps the most readable for an uninitiated reader of Cooper's works?? even then I'd say this is still for a very particular reader tho idk i can never get a pulse on what a majority of readers are into these days!! I really loved this though and I'm sure it'll be in my top 5 for the year thank u once again for the twisted ride denny !!!

My People Shall Live by Leila Khaled, George Hajjar

feels more like political ethnography than personal memoir. there is some of Leila's backstory and family and personal relationships sprinkled in (her husband is given maybe 5 lines total LOL), but so much of her being is clearly centered around Palestinian resistance + revolution, so recounting her political work within a collective was her truest form of autobiography as that was indeed her life/livelihood. wild to read how intense she was even from childhood, how Down she was to sacrifice things and put herself on the line... literally getting plastic surgery after hijacking a plane in order to be able to get involved in more demonstrations without being recognized like god!!! intense life-altering decisions and it's like she doesn't even bat an eye or show any regrets/wistful 'what if i hard a 'normal' life?'!! that eric andre margaret thatcher meme but instead "do you think leila khaled effectively utilized girl power by hijacking a plane?'' LOL I mean... ! 🤭

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

SILLY + ABSURD!!! a bit of a hike to get there but once I hit it, it was hard to put this down (as is my experience with a lot of classics, I find) I think I really enjoy magical realism rooted in political/cultural landscapes, or maybe I just really like wacky shit (it made me think a bit of Catch-22 which I also had fun with!!) + this didn't disappoint!! truly giggled aloud at some parts, the ridiculousness of it all!!! makes me wanna deep dive into the history of the Soviet Union but I feel like I'll need to clear at least an entire month for that .... will have to plan accordingly 👩‍🔬

Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim

heartbreaking and dark but handled with a lot of care. I guessed the "twist" (which feels indelicate to call it that but I cant think of another word rn) early on but I think that just heightened the slow unraveling of it + made it that much more emotionally grueling to get thru. perhaps that was even the point! I'd been meaning to watch the movie for like over a decade at this point but wanted to read it first so now having read and watched it I'm glad it was now vs. me at 10 or whenever bc dumb tween me likely wouldn't have processed it well enough and the darkness would've overshadowed the journey itself. sometimes it's important to wait I guess is what I'm trying to say!!!

I definitely want to squeeze in another Naomi Klein this year if possible, maybe some Russian/Ukrainian lit. I've focused on Baldwin's nonfiction these past years so I might pick up a fiction of his this month + ofc Cooper wherever I can squeeze him <3

[yanderes-galore]

Hello!! I'd like to request for homestuck please! Do you have any headcanons for the type of yandere Dirk Strider would be? And how he may treat or act around his darling?

(If you need a time frame at all in the comic timeline, I can suggest post-game (before the epilogues so no worry to know those or hs^2) - it might work out easier to write for!! Otherwise if you don't, disregard this paragraph hehe)

Sure! Sorry it took so long (It's been MONTHS 😥😭), I needed to shove the entirety of Homestuck in my brain and have coherent thoughts about it. I'm actually not entirely done with Act 6 yet (I wanna say halfway through-ish?) so if he's very OOC my bad.... I can make an updated version at a later date maybe? Take this as an AU of Act 6 just in case, I just wanted to explore his yandere type.

Here's what I got! Now that I think about it I want to write more for Homestuck... it's really good and I'm happy I finally experienced it. Thanks Tumblr 💜 I tried to keep this general as the first concept for a character I write typically is :)

Writers who gave me motivation and inspiration to start this work; @yandere--stuck and @bunnyjam-imagines . Your work is incredible and keep doing what you're doing ^^ 💜Your Dirk fics really helped me with this so I dedicate this to you, too. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE TAGGED LET ME KNOW, THANKS.

Possible Spoilers For Homestuck Act 6

Yandere! Dirk Strider Concept

Pairing: Romantic/Platonic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Stalking, Manipulation, Overprotective behavior, Hidden cameras, Secret recording, Dirk struggles expressing feelings, Invasion of privacy, Brief violence mention, Swearing, Kidnapping, Dubious relationship, Isolation, Controlling behavior, Implied jealousy, Angst, I like this version of yandere Dirk where he just feels conflicted.

Dirk is a very interesting character and I've noticed there has been a pattern in the way people write him as a yandere.

Dirk seems like a yandere whose lucid in his behavior.

He has tendencies to know what he's doing is wrong, or at least this is a pattern I've seen in the way others write him.

I can agree with this as Dirk seems like he takes on the role as guardian for the other people in his group at times (Jake, Jane, Roxy).

Dirk would be very caring towards his darling despite the emotional baggage he has behind the scenes.

He most likely met you through a chat client like the rest.

Since he was young he's always had an interest in puppets, robots, and horses...

He could've met you through one of these interests or by one of his other friends introducing you.

Either way, Dirk finds himself talking to you more and more when he adds your handle.

Dirk's yandere behavior isn't overly romantic even when his feelings are that way.

He doesn't really like expressing it all that much.

Dirk's behavior comes off as just him looking out for you.

He's like a guardian who's willing to do anything for those he cares about.

Based on the fact Dirk has made robots for Jake and Jane in the past, usually for special occasions or requests, he probably would make one for you eventually.

Dirk is very skilled with robotics and wouldn't mind creating some sort of bot for you no matter the size or purpose.

Dirk does try to keep one goal constant when making you a robot gift...

It has to protect you.

He's responsible and wants nothing more than those he cares about out of harm's way.

If they reciprocate his feelings or not doesn't matter....

When he does make that robot gift he puts a lot of his time into it.

AR has to spend a lot of time responding to his friends as all of his time is spent multi-tasking on a ton of tasks.

Building your gift... talking to you... watching his dreamself...

He's kind of worn thin.

Once it's finished he sends it to you with a brief message.

It's his way of showing his care even if he seems very closed off with feelings.

This robot is the first camera he manages to sneak in your home.

Dirk even has secret folders on his PC of just footage.

Part of him feels guilty for recording you... but he tries to reassure himself this is what a robotic guardian needs.

The robot is the biggest part leading into his obsession.

It can act on its own to protect you or like a drone he can control and see through.

He feels guilty that he's using it to interact with you like he's actually there....

Dirk's feelings could swap over the more he sneaks electronics into your house and the more he cyberstalks you.

There's a certain threshold he passes when he eventually has to admit he's got feelings for you if he has them.

Clearly he doesn't just want to protect you like a friend, right?

Why else would he watch you sleep with that robot you thought of as a cute gift from him?

He can't help but search through files upon files containing pictures and video feed of you being... you.

He feels he could never admit it fully but he does like you.

One way or another....

Dirk's obsession is very... what's the word... quiet?

He seems like the yandere who would just hover in your shadow... just to keep you out of harm.

He isn't a very violent yandere and is more just like a guardian to you due to his fear of revealing his feelings, which makes him work well as a platonic or romantic yandere.

Dirk probably could use violence to protect you but doesn't always tend to.

His robot guardian he made for you is indeed armed, though.

The robot he gave you isn't as merciful and may even get bloody if it has to for you.

He doesn't mind if you feel the same for him or not... he would like you to but you don't have to....

He seems like the yandere who'd sigh and regret saying anything if you rejected his feelings... but respect the decision somewhat.

That doesn't stop his overbearing behavior.

The comic does say when he puts his heart to something he won't give up until he accomplishes it.

Friend or lover, Dirk tends to act controlling.

Be it him talking to you through your robot, in the chat client, or in person if he ever meets you... Dirk seems to act like he knows more than you.

He has a bit of an ego and can come off as obnoxious in conversation at times.

He always acts like he knows what's best for you.

He looks back on the times he has acted like this with regret later... as I said, lucid yandere.

In fact a lot of his obsession makes Dirk regret it at times.

This could be because he harbors self-hatred for himself already and his obsession over you doesn't help.

He doesn't really want to give you up, though.

Dirk would manipulate you like a puppet at times.

For some reason when others are close to you, he hates it.

They could just be close friends, or potential partners...

He just can't handle it... he feels he has to prevent it or he may just lose the chance to have you.

Sometimes the darkness of his obsession kicks in and he... gives in to acts he shouldn't.

Such as using your robot to invade your privacy...

Maybe even manipulating your friends Jane, Roxy, and even Jake away from you...

That and the countless times he's considered kidnapping you to keep you alone with him just to soothe his aching thoughts.

Dirk seems like he'd struggle a lot with his obsession.

He hates the idea of hurting you.

He knows there's a good chance his obsession will hurt you, which hurts him...

All of this just causes him hurt.

Yet the more he speaks to you about interests and learns more and more about you...

He knows he can't let you go.

There's no doubt Dirk vents the frustrations his feelings cause him to Lil Cal his puppet pal.

Who else is he supposed to tell?

It's not like these feelings, regardless of the intention, are normal?

'Yeah, I stalk my friend through a robot and manipulate their life like some sort of puppet stage. What do I do to make them reciprocate?'

It's batshit and he knows it....

Roxy will just use it as gossip later... she may even tell you with some subtle hint or something.

Jane's a very sweet woman but he just feels... uncomfortable admitting he has such dark feelings about you?

You'd think Jake would be a good fit to talk to, being bros and all, but Dirk decides he'd rather just vent his feelings to himself and keep it like that.

Until he eventually acts....

Soon Dirk is going to just wing it.

It seems like a very Strider thing to do.

Your robotic companion he gifted is going to act against you in the end.

While he once used it to make you feel like je was always there with you... soon he's going to use it to abduct you.

Somehow.

Dirk's obsession feels like a constant battle with himself.

Even more so than his fights with AR.

He begins to wonder what is truly right.

Is isolating you beside him the right thing to do?

What will his friends say?

That shouldn't matter, should it?

You can all talk together when you're safely with him... if he hasn't scared them off by then-

Yet, how would YOU feel towards what he's doing?

You'll hate him... and he can't blame you.

He'd hate him too. He probably already does.

But... what he doesn't hate is you.

Surely he can make you understand once he has you.

Dirk has always tried to be caring for you.

Even when your robot companion drags you into his home, you clinging to it with fear, Dirk greets you warmly.

Oh he feels so sick when he locks you in his home.

He feels he doesn't deserve you when you cower... no longer willing to converse with him like you used to.

You don't deserve him, he deserves only to suffer under the weight of his obsession.

He's always beating himself up about it the whole time, yet won't change any of it.

Even if you do somehow forgive him.

Even if you try to say you do care for him?

He isn't sure if he can believe you after he's kidnapped you.

Don't bother lying, he sees through it.

You can hate him... you're allowed to as any other sensible human would.

There's truly nothing he can do to salvage what he once had for you after he goes off the deep end.

He's made you all alone... now there's only him.

He knows he should let you go...

But wouldn't it be cruel to abandon you after he made your life hell?

He continues his behavior with this new form of reassurance.

He'll continue to look after you, he'll prove to you he can give you so much better.

He tries to show affection.

He gives you hugs, he tries to express his obsession in a loving way.

Perhaps even kisses, some on your cheeks or lips depending on his feelings?

Lucid yanderes tend to be self-destructive.

They know this isn't how they should feel.

Dirk knows he should do what's best for you.

His mind has been clouded in darkness, however...

Far as he knows now, HE'S what's best for you.

He promises to care for you like he's always done since you mean so much to him... ironically to help heal the pain he's caused... and is probably still causing.

Dirk still helps you when you cry and comforts you when you act out.

He emphasizes with your pain and feels sick that he knows why you feel this way.

Every touch he feels from you his heaven, while you may think he's hell.

Every apology from his lips doesn't feel truthful... they're empty.

He could always let you go...

He could always try to make things right...

Those options require giving you up.

Deep down... he knows he can't.

He feels he can finally say it,

He loves you too much to let you go.

He may be his own worst enemy but he wants to be selfish when it comes to you.

He's always at a constant war with himself, resulting in him seeming distant with affection.

You quickly become his everything... thoughts of you destroy his psyche...

Soon... he gives up... he surrenders... he begins to accept it.

He loves you...

and this is how he's going to show it.

[skzdarlings]

THE BODYGUARD FINALE??? STOP IM IN TEARS IM SO HAPPY THEY'RE HAPPY THAT WAS PERFECT AND JISUNGS HERE AND HER FATHER FINALLY DIED AYYY

now. We need an epilogue special. Although I do keep thinking about how reader and felix tell their kids about how they met and felix is like 'it all started the day I killed your great grandfather...'

hehe thank you so much!! ♥️ and oh my goodness can you imagine.. i feel like felix might try and soften the tale and reader would just be like “and THEN your daddy SHOT those guys IN THE HEAD” and he’d be like “SWEETHEART PLEASE”

[naffeclipse]

Wait! I just remembered something I forgot to include in my comment for the CS finale fsagfdhgfjh! It’s just a small thing and it actually comes from me misreading a single line (probably because I was kind of sleepy when I was reading the first time, which makes me happy I read a second time fxfdgdhah) But! In the epilogue chapter, when Eclipse and y/n are dancing and the sun is setting down, because I totally misread the line, I thought there was a firefly flying around them, and then my mind decided that meant more fireflies had to come out, and so I imagined the whole dance surrounded by the flickering light of fireflies all around. Not really accurate (and disclaimer that I don’t really have a good notion of how seasons work in the US because here we only have rainy and dry seasons fdhdhss so fireflies might not even be a thing nearing winter XD) but wanted to share anyways because I think it’s a nice visual either way hehe X3

Oh my gosh, fireflies would have been beautiful! I'm not familiar with fireflies either (those little critters don't live where I do) but that would be a beautiful summer night, maybe somewhere in the south during a cryptid hunt and Y/N and Eclipse get a moment to themselves on a beautiful night with lots of dancing fireflies joining them!

[ohmotherwhereartthou-if]

OMG! Just found your IF and I'm in loveeeeeee! I have seen a few little post about the RO's finding out the MC is pregnant to even their own kid spoiling their fun. Hehe. 😅 I know you haven't posted a public demo but I love the kid ask because I think my MC would love to have children and they would be the most protective of them since they didn't really have anyone to protect them when they were young. Plus it is just so cute to imagine the epilogue of your IF and the ROs with their happy ever after.

That's why I have to ask, sorry if this is bugging you but how are the ROs as parents and what are they like? Protective? Fun?

Hello!

Thank you for the kind words and there actually is a sort of demo of the IF, Act 1 & 2 of the prologue is on the pinned post of this blog. 😊

Now unto the ask,

Cassandra: She would be a very loving mother who is always there to fight for her children and defend them, but she would also be a strict parent like her dad. Curfew and interrogations on where they are going and who with are the norm. She would like to have a good relationship and communication with her kids so that they would actually want to tell her this stuff. Family trips every summer and planned family nights where you all go eat a nice dinner then come home to play music and dance.

Valeria: Exact same as her mom where she kinda acts more like a big sister than a mother, she would want to give her kids a lot of space and be there if they ever need anything. Just be aware that she might give them TOO much free reign so MC might need to step in when things get out of hand. But overall she is very loving and loves to listen to their stories, her kids would love spending time with her at the table just talking for hours. She would get artsy with them too, encouraging them to pursue whatever makes them happy.

Tomás: In the dictionary next to the definition of a good father, there is a picture of him with his kids. This man would TREASURE his kids and always let them know that they are loved. Would brush his daughter's hair and have tea parties if they wanted; take his son's to go fishing and play catch. The whole picturesque vision of what a good father is, waking up at the crack of dawn because his kids want to go to the park. He would be a very over protective dad though, of both his sons and daughters; would have them always at hands reach and when they get older would nearly have them on house arrest. MC would need to step in.

-

Ludovica: Her children would be her world, she would die for them. She would be a tender loving mother, staying by her kids side until they fall asleep. She would sing to them and cuddle all day, spend all day fussing over them over the literally littlest thing. Would sew them clothes & toys; play make believe with them and turn the whole villa into their little castle. Would bawl her eyes out as they get older, she fears what the world will do to them and she just wants her babies to stay safe and loved with her. MC's help would be needed here.

Aurelio: Dear God, please help these idiots. His kids turn out 100% like him, smart as hell but utterly STUPID in their decision making. Little geniuses in math and writing while at the same time also think it's a good idea to jump off the roof of the manor because they can totally make the jump to that tree because "they built like that". When in fact, they are not build like that; enjoy hearing the whining about their broken arm for months because of their bad decisions. And expect little to no help from Aurelio in the discipline department because he is the fun parent, he would laugh at first at the stupid things they pull, then give them suggestions on how to maybe do it better next time. On literally everything else he is a pretty good dad, he pays for everything obviously and you don't need to worry about him spoiling them because he teaches them you they need to work for what they want and to appreciate what they have. Aurelio grew up poor and while he obviously would like to spoil his kids, he will die before he lets them take what they have for granted. He spends lots of time with them and even takes them to work with him, whether that's a good thing is up to you to decide.

Elio: Elio can't biologically have kids but if you were to adopt he would be such a chill dad. I think the kid would like to try and emulate him by walking around with a book and trying to be all grown up like him by being serious and smart. He would actually find that so cute and entertain them by acknowledging everything they say as intelligent even when it's utter nonsense when they are little. "Ah yes, I concur that blue is the tastiest color". He only start correcting them when they are older but in such a much nicer way from how he corrects MC. MC would fr call him out and he would deny that he behaves any different around his kids; as he lets them color all over his face and hands. He would still be monotone because that's just how he is but you can tell his affection more by his actions then his words. Would homeschool them because he can do such a better job than any other idiot, which reminds me that if MC does not teach the kids manners they will turn out to be rude little pricks like their dad.

[hannahssimblr]

Just for fun, I thought I'd list every time that Jude makes reference to Cloda in Lucky Girl hehe

First - 3.14

The waitress who takes our order is my age with a pretty face and blonde hair twisted up into a spiky bun. 

“Alright, so two pancakes.” She says, doing a slight double take when she lifts her eyes from her notepad and fixes them on Jude. “Didn’t think I’d see you here.”

He smiles. “Hi. Yeah, just down to check on the house since the storm.”

“Thought you lived in Germany now or something.”

“Yeah I do, I’m just back for a little while.”

“Oh right.” She wipes her hand on the front of her trousers. “You keeping well and all?” Her name tag is glossy gold. Clóda. 

“Sure, I’m fine. And you? Are you in college?”

“I never went in the end. I work weekends here, and then during the week I’m at the front desk in the resort hotel.”

“That’s cool. It’s nice that you’re staying so busy.” They smile at one another, and then she seems to remember she has things to do. “Right, so.” She says with a self-conscious smile. “I better go back to the till.” We thank her, and as she hurries off I look at Jude, who folds a napkin in half. Then again, pressing the side of his thumbnail along the edge to crease it. 

“Someone you used to know?”

“Yeah. We hung out one summer a few years ago.”

“Right.” There was tension between them. I bet they had sex. I insist to myself that I’m not jealous, but my heart jolts and something thick and heavy settles in my stomach. 

His eyes flicker to mine for a moment, holding incredulity in them and killing any desire I had to ask something else. I don’t dare to feel anything else about this waitress and the summer he spent ‘hanging out’ with her. We both know that I haven’t got the right to. Our unspoken words hang big and heavy between us now, but we don’t say them, opting instead we make benign remarks about the weather, the movement of the sea, the atmosphere in the boat club, and when Clóda returns with our food we talk about that, how it’s tasty but not as tasty as other pancakes we’ve had in more exciting places. 

Second - 3.23

“But here,” I say, “Isn’t it romantic? On this beach in the birthplace of Aphrodite?” I blink up at him and emphasise, “The goddess of love?”

He smirks, “But we don’t have anything to lie on.”

“So?”

“Well I don’t think you’ll like it without having a blanket down. I’m enjoying how eager you are but I think you’ll be happier on a bed in a nice house where there isn’t going to be sand going into places you can’t even imagine.”

The mental image is enough to make me shudder, but still I huff with annoyance, “I feel like you’re ruining the sexy vibe by saying we should go somewhere else.”

“We can do it here if you insist, I just don’t think you’ll like it as much as you think you will.”

“Speaking from experience?”

“Maybe.”

Third - Epilogue

“Well since you don’t care and it has no power over you anymore, maybe you finally ought to know…” He glances quickly around the empty lobby before his eyes slide back to mine and he whispers, “that you were the seventh.”

“The seventh?”

“Is that a good-surprise or bad-surprise?”

“Well I thought it’d be so many more.”

He shrugs, “No, I mean there was the first girl in the playground, then a girl who worked in the tennis club at the beach, a girl from my maths class at school, Michelle, someone from my university, Astrid, and then you-” He pauses, “Wait, there was another one. You were eighth. Seventh and a half.”

[dmagedgoods]

imagine if they do implement a Raphael romance and make an epilogue where he shows up and goes "oh yeah btw im taking you into the hells 💕💕💕 pack your things 😌😌😌". or like actually maybe the opposite, maybe he by himself doesn't mention the romance and overall acts as though this will end there (in my head its because hes like, oh well, Tav probably won't want this to go on,but obv in his true fashion he's probably being a theatre kid about it) until Tav goes "hey. no. wait. stay at the party. lets have fun!!! and then we leave. *together*." 😭🙏

also I'm curious but how do you think would they go about polyamory with him??? i can imagine him as both being possessive and lenient in that regard, so i really dunno.

...also i doubt the companions you romanced would approve of a DEVIL in your bed. but then again astarion and halsin(n some other i think?) go "hey thats cool enjoy yourself" when catching you with Mizora....

(sorry for talking sm my Raphael brainworms have thrown a party ever since i saw that the petition is like what 150 already?)

I have to admit that I, too, think Raphael would be a little ... tense about the emotional parts. - Definitely trivialize them and attempt to hide them while making it all about deals and power play. It needs a courageous (and/or teasing) Tav/Durge to get some more telling reactions out of him. I would love to see a hint (or more than a hint) of jealousy from him. Of course, none of those mortals is a match for him, he doesn't care if you have another little romance going on. He says. 😁 It would be very neat to have a possessive love scene with Raphael right after things start to become more serious with one of the other companions. He won't demand you to break up with them of course, but claim you as his. And then let you keep "your toy". (For now.) At least that's something I could imagine very well in this regard. Hehe, I think most of them will tell you it's a risky game, some even strongly and vehemently disapprove (Wyll, Karlach). Astarion, I assume, will at least pretend not to mind at all and tell you to have fun. But he rarely admits to his true thoughts in those matters after all. Halsin probably would be the only companion actually and genuinely relaxed (or mostly) about the whole Raphael situation. (Aaa, don't worry at all! I love to talk about him and my headcanons, I can never shut up about him. 😂💗 We're at 170 signatures! 😌)

[ginnsbaker]

after in silent screams made me feel MISERABLE i need a pick me up sooo…. i’m thinking about the happy ending

the epilogue is 10 months after r and wanda meet at the train station; how do you think the relationship progressed in those months, given how short it really was before they both proposed?

i imagine the first time they had sex was a pretty big milestone despite the fact that they were together for years… in my head it was all soft and slow and shy at least at first.

thoughts ? 🤲

You're right. They didn't pick up where they left off. They got to know each other again first, but the sex probably happened on the third or fourth date hehe :P If you remember, Wanda kissed you the moment she saw you again. Imagine missing each other for two years, and trying to hold back from the pent-up yearning.

It would be sweet though, and Wanda and R would take their time exploring each other, re-learning and re-discovering. They will constantly check in on each other, with Wanda being the one always asking if R is okay if she's doing it right, because she doesn't want to ruin this second (or third? lol) chance of being with her. And R will be just like, "Just let go, love." Some thing like that.

Aw, I get so shy describing it when I'm answering an ask. >_<

[atlasofthestaars]

another amazing chapter!! i would honestly love a movie marathon with them <3 and i love the focus on johnny this time, he's really just a guy with a good heart! bringing reader a blanket and a pillow :((( liu kang at the end there ....... hes so in love with the reader wtf ?!#$??!"? and bi han showing he cares in the most hostile way possible 😭😭😭 bxnsnsnd the only reason i dont want mileena as a love interest is bc i really wanted to see how you would explore her and tanyas dynamic :") kitana as a love interest tho..... thats wife 🤭 and ik this is getting long, but i have a couple questions; do you have an outline for the whole story prepared or is it being changed as you go? since you said adding shang tsung as a love interest would alter the story a bit? and (if it spoils anything, dont worry about answering!) how would you plan on ending it since reader's got a reverse harem going on? do you plan on giving reader an endgame with someone? again, sorry this got a bit long!

(p.s. can i be ☄️ anon? i plan on sticking around for the whole story hehe expect me after every chapter bcus ive subscribed to it on ao3 🫡)

Thank you so much! A movie marathon would be wonderful with the champion squad, but I can imagine how chaotic the emotional whiplash it could get if they all got to chose movies. Like imagine going from a lighthearted rom com to like??? A dark and gritty action movie LMAO I enjoyed writing for Johnny this time around, but I do worry I made him a bit (?) Out of character for his characrer progression, but I'm glad you enjoyed him nevertheless aha ^^ I did really like writing him as a dude who just means well, since he really just is that! Liu Kang is definitely feeling SOMETHING for the reader HAHA Mr. Fire God catching feels? Or is he just really nice 👀? Bi-Han struggles with showing he cares, but he really does. If only there was a therapist character to help him though HAHA Oh I definitely get why you'd want that! Mileena and Tanya's dynamic was interesting for me in this game, so I will have fun portraying that if she doesn't get voted in. If she does, uh, I'll definitely have to figure out what to do LMAOO I love Kitana 🙏 She's my fave female chara and my main in Mk1 !!

I don't mind it being ling at all, I love reading stuff like this and being able to interact with you all!! I don't know many people in my personal life who are willing to hear me obsess over Mortal Kombat like this HAHA

I do have a rough outline of the general story! As well as more defined plot points I like to hit within the arcs of the story. For example, I consider the part of the story we're in to be like the training/pre Outworld arc?? And I have certain moments with characters I want to hit before we move on with the plot! Of course, I am a very impulsive person so I leave it open and easy to change if needed. Events that happen later also tend to change to better fit the flow of the story, but I generally know the direction I want to head with everything.

I plan on giving every love interest an ending (think like endings in mortal kombat for each character!) So ideally I'd like to give each character their own unique ending/epilogue with the reader! People on AO3 also have requested a harem ending which I am open to making, but can't gaurentee due to characters like Shang Tsung. I mighttt make one without certain characters depending on how it all ends, one with everyone, or not one at all! I don't want to stress too much over that right now so that one is still up in the air whether I'll do it or not (especially since we've like, barely started ahaha)

And you can be ☄anon!! I'm happy to hear I have your support on this journey <3 and ty for supporting me there too! I love to see all the feedback from everyone, so I will happily await any comments you make! Thank you again for your kind words and support!

[21st-century-ninja]

Hello! I had a question about too fast/too slow, cuz that fic gave me permanent brainworms. In season three, does lloyd still end up sharing his powers with the others the same way he does in canon? I’m assuming so, considering they all have their powers in the next chapters but also given the Everything that had just happened with the team that’s a pretty wild decision on Lloyd’s part hehe

Anon that’s a really great question and the real answer is I forgor when in the timeline that happened 😬

But let’s see if I can’t make it make sense! So Lloyd’s mindset at this point in the story is he wants what he can’t have, right? And he punishes himself for wanting it. I think he still shares his powers like in canon, but it’s not the fun affair that it is there. Instead, he doesn’t really speak and he leaves pretty soon after. I can imagine him sort of spiraling after losing his powers to the OV (and isn’t that fun to imagine, a Lloyd who doesn’t have his “I am not alone” moment, who truly does feel alone?) and being like “I can’t be trusted with these. I’m screwing everything up. I don’t want this responsibility.”

Lloyds journey in this fic isn’t a straight line, or even straight character growth. His actions don’t always line up with how he feels, and that’s the fun of writing stuff like this :D thanks so much for the ask anon, made my evening!! And I promise i haven’t forgotten fast slow the epilogue is real and is coming 😭

[tanjir0se]

forgive me for the spam but you worked too hard to not be appreciated! (and it was too good to not appreciate) I was going to write my own little ficlet for rengiyuu wednesday but now my brain is stuck on your writing sifhsgikhg! don't feel bad, it prolly won't be posted until later tonight tho because Kyojuroooooo hehe

I do have a question tho! Is there anything that you wanted to include in As the World Caves In but didn't? (that you aren't saving for next week or for the future, of course)

I love the spam I live for the spam I’m obsessed with the spam never apologize for the spam

Why yes there ARE some things I wanted to include thank you for asking!!!!!!

I almost ALWAYS write in almost like an A plot B plot type way, either switching between perspectives or time periods to draw comparisons to how a character is feeling about one thing vs another (you can see that here with switching between Kyo and Giyuu, the comparisons between Sabito and Kyo, and the flashback). I love writing flashbacks, dreams, and memories. SO before the fic really got away from me I wanted to extend Kyo’s flashback/dream but I also wanted to stay. Somewhat slightly focused so I decided against it.

I also thought about including a longer portion of the recovery BEFORE Kyo woke up, have some scenes with Giyuu and Shinobu set in the first few hours/days after Kyo got there. Maybe some scenes between Giyuu and Senjuro too (my SECOND fav duo to write, just behind Giyuu and Nezuko (mute bitches stay winning)). I decided against that for the same reason.

Lastly I would have really liked to have an extended waking up scene with more Hashira coming to visit and being excited that Kyo lived, but the scene was already dragging on for way too long so I cut that out too. I even considered having an “epilogue” type deal just for tumblr where I do that ESPECIALLY with Tengen because I love writing him and I love writing him into Rengiyuu fics because. I can’t imagine he’s a huge fan of Giyuu but he does love Kyo a lot and I think once he found out what Giyuu did for him at the battlefield and later, especially while Tengen couldn’t be there, he’d end up with a lot of respect for him that he never would say out loud, lol. Kind of like a “do I like him? No. Do I like to spend my time around him? Absolutely fucking not. Do I respect him? 100% Would I kill for him no question would I lay down my life for his in an INSTANT. But do I LIKE him???”

Maybe I’ll do that next week!! But now because of a prev ask I’m going a little insane about my demon rengiyuu project so. Perhaps we’ll focus on that.

Thank you so much for your comments and like literal play by play of your thoughts while reading, I genuinely ADORE things like that because I love knowing what someone is thinking about what I wrote!!!!!!! It really just warms my heart so much I can’t thank you enough djfnjdbdkskslskaal