#what can you expect with 5 brothers XD

[inumbrapugnabimus-maybe]

The LU boys as things my brothers have done: part 1! part 2

[beenbaanbuun]

Hey bunny! I'm back at it with my brainrot XD this time the trope is brother's best friend but the subject is still Kang Yeosang cuz I'm obsessed with him and the anti delulu meds didn't work 😮‍💨🫠🫠

I think this is the result of reading too many teacher/personal tutor yuyu fics + seeing posts about how our slow boy is actually hella smart, but can you imagine bratty MC and brother's best friend Yeosang (the brother in question being San or Yunho) who's known all over campus and your neighbourhood as being this sweet lil angel boy.... but who has been an absolute MENACE to you since you were kids?

Not in a harsh way cuz I don't think our boy is capable of that, but he's so indifferent and blunt? Barely pays you any mind at all and when he does it's this clipped, measured politeness?? Which is so unfair because he's beautiful and you've had a crush on him since forever???

Honestly it's more your fault than his that you're always so angry at him, but it makes you snappish and bratty just to try and push his buttons, but he never seems phased, always responds in a cool levelheaded way that's kinda hot and makes you even MORE pissed

So when you're failing math and your oh so wonderful brother decides to volunteer his only number literate friend as a tutor? And for some reason that friend says yes??

I can't finish these thoughts cuz I have a dinner to get to but yeah! Hope you have a good day bunny! Thank you so much for blessing us with all the incredible content that you do, make sure to get some rest and stay hydrated while you're at it <33

~Lyra

no bc i love this so much!!! just reader being bratty and then yeosang being all nonchalant about it AHDKSGDJSV ITS SO GOOD!!!!

but i feel like yeosang would be patient to a degree. like sure, he’s chill and cool about it usually but if you push his buttons too far he just snaps and you don’t expect it at all.

“can you focus?” he grumbles as he tried to find the relevant page in the text book. you’ve been watching the way his hands move over the pages for the best part of 5 minutes now, not taking in a single word he has to say. sure you’ve been listening, kind of, but that’s just so you can hear his deep voice in your ear - no other reason, “i’m not here for fun, y’know…”

you can’t help but scoff because of course not. why would he be here for fun? honestly, you have a hard time working out why he’s here at all, especially when he’s not getting paid for it.

“well, it’s not like you ever focus on what i have to say,” you spit back at him as you put your pen down defiantly. he doesn’t say anything or even acknowledge it, which only serves to drive your frustration up even higher. it’s not like you need a tutor anyway. sure, you’re failing, but you don’t see why that means yeosang had to be called in to help.

“maybe say something worth listening to,” he says, voice as calm as always, “now pick up your pen and work through these logarithmic functions for me.”

years ago you probably would’ve jumped at the thought of doing anything ‘for him’. what with his stupidly pretty face attached to that stupidly muscular body, and his irresistibly deep voice that only seems to come out with irritatingly quick quips. he was the only man to exist in your eyes, and perhaps he still would be if he weren’t so annoying. always so polite with you like you couldn’t see him being so free with other people. never responding to your jokes or rising to your teasing. it’s like he wants nothing to do with you, and you hate it.

in fact, you hate a lot of things, like the fact that you love a man who clearly wants nothing to do with you, or the fact that everything he does regarding you pisses you off. you hate that you can’t seem to shed your feelings of affection and lust towards him despite his apparent distaste of you.

but more than anything, you hate the fact that he’s tutoring you, and for some reason he’s doing it for free.

you sigh and try your hardest to brush away your annoyance. if he’s going to be here, you may as well make him pay, right? maybe if you push his buttons enough he’ll decide he doesn’t want to come back.

“i don’t want to,” you push your pen further onto the page with a shit-eating grin, “so you’re going to have to make me.”

you watch him as he mumbles something under his breath, eyes rolling into his skull in annoyance, and you can’t deny that it feels good to finally get a rise out of him.

“i’ll tell yunho you’re not being cooperative,” he threatens. you shrug your shoulders.

“and what’s he going to do?” you reply, “find me a different tutor? i doubt it,” you smirk and lean in close, “you’re the only one willing to do this for free.”

at this, he closes his eyes and puts his own pen down. you almost cry out in victory when he rubs at his face in frustration, a small groan leaving his lips when he pulls them away again.

“believe me, sangie,” you say in the most sickly sweet tone you can muster, “nothing you can do is going to make me cooperate.”

he turns his head in one shaky motion, and he looks at you properly for the first time since entering your house. he’s pretty as always, but you can hardly take the time to study him when he’s looking at your like he’s a predator about to pounce. his eyes are icy cold as he runs them up and down your body. his jaw is clenched as his gaze finally settles on your face, and you have to admit that the quiet boy has suddenly got very intimidating. you shrink back into your seat.

“fine then,” he says through gritted teeth, “either you do this, or i’ll have to find some other way to teach you a lesson.” now it’s his turn to lean in close. his elbows find purchase on his knees as he lowers his face to yours. you can feel the way his breath brushes against your exposed collarbones, and you hope to anything out there that he doesn’t see the way it sends a shiver down your spine, “don’t think i don’t notice the way you look at me, little girl. i’ve seen you staring at my hands. i know you’ve been daydreaming about me, hm?”

in the blink of an eye, he traps you. with one hand on one of your chair’s arm rests, he spins it until you’re facing him fully. his own rolls forwards until his thigh’s sit either side of yours. you blink at him, all wide eyed and confused. he just smirks at you.

“i’ve seen what you’ve been doing all these years,” a hand drops to your thigh, rubbing gently up and down against the skin that your short skirt - that you’d worn for no reason… no reason at all - had left exposed, “teasing me, trying to get me to drop my act and finally do what we’ve both been craving for so long. i’ve always kept to my lane for the sake of yunho, but i don’t think i can anymore.”

you whimper when he moves his face in close to yours, lips barely brushing up against yours. he smiles, nipping at your bottom lip gently.

“not when you so clearly need to be taught a lesson…”

[2-sleepy-for-this]

Our little brother pt. 5

Here it is, folks! The poll winner is completed, and wow, I didn’t realize how popular this au was XD

Expect part 3 of something to remember later in the week! I promise I didn’t abandon it (´∀｀*)

tw ~ confusion, dehumanization, minor injuries, falling, grabbing, minor panic word count ~ 1.5k

Wilbur leaned over the desk slightly closer to the little borrower in anticipation, waiting for any sound to be made. He wasn’t even sure what he wanted to happen…

If ‘Tommy’ spoke, then what would that mean? He and Techno kidnapped some tiny person? When they found him, they thought he was just a strange, undiscovered creature that needed a home, but… was he just… a kid? A really tiny one?

Tommy slowly parted his lips while staring up at him with wide eyes, intimidated by Wilbur’s looming body, but Wilbur didn’t seem to notice that.

Then he spoke. A small raspy voice stuttered a short response..

“A-am I what?”

Wilbur was speechless. Tommy could speak. He heard it himself and answered in shock.

“I- sentient..? It’s- like- are you a person…?”

He explained more, even though the answer was obvious now.

“Uh.. yeah?”

Tommy said quietly. He shifted on his feet under Wilbur’s intense, surprised stare.

Wilbur soon realized after a few moments of silence that this seemed awfully like an interrogation…

That wasn’t his intention, and he started to feel the guilt weighing on his shoulders that was there since this all started. It was growing heavier. Now that it was confirmed in his mind, he was reeling.

As Tommy took a tiny step back, Wilbur realized he had been staring for a while. He quickly leaned back in his chair to give the tiny boy some space.

“So… you… what are.. you?”

Wilbur attempted to sound nonchalant, but his hesitation caused him to sound much less calm and collected. 

Tommy bristled at the question and stuttered out something Wilbur couldn’t hear.

“Uh.. pardon?”

Wilbur tilted his head slightly and leaned in a bit more to hear him better.

“I’m.. uh… a borrower…”

“A… huh?”

Wilbur had never heard of a creature with a name like that before, a borrower? Like someone who takes things? It seemed made up honestly, but… if he heard about finding a tiny kid a few weeks ago, he’d probably think that was fake too. 

Wilbur sighed. He had so many questions, but he didn’t want to overwhelm the poor little guy… well… more than he already probably was.

The two just went back to awkwardly staring at each other, silent and tense… neither knew what to do now.

They didn’t have much time to come up with anything to do now before there was a knock at the door.

Both the human and borrower jumped slightly at the sound. Wilbur stood up quickly, not seeing the way Tommy scrambled back at that. The human walked to the door and opened it. Techno stood on the other side.

“Hey, wil… can I see… uh.. Tommy?”

Techno spoke curiously and something about that rubbed Wilbur the wrong way… he thought about how he probably sounded the same before he knew… before he realized Tommy’s sentience.

“Why..?”

Wilbur subconsciously moved to block Tommy from view, oddly protective of him.

“Come on, you’ve had him all day. I wanna see the little guy.”

It would be suspicious if Wilbur were to refuse that… it seemed like any average request for… sharing a pet…

Oh Prime, he needed to tell Techno…

“Wilbur?”

He’d been quiet for too long. 

“Uh, yeah… sure..”

Wilbur stepped aside to let techno into his room. Techno walked through the doorway and looked around.

The first thing both humans noticed was Tommy attempting to climb down the desk leg…

There was only a split second to react before Tommy flinched at the two giant gazes and lost his footing, falling fast to the floor.

Techno, being more quick to act, lunged out and caught him inches before he hit the ground. The landing was still painful though as the kid let out a pained yell when his body collided with the large hand.

————————————

Tommy felt a jolt of pain through his right shoulder as he fell right into the pink-haired human's hand. Techno… the scary one.

It was bad enough he got caught… for a third time… but now he was also feeling like his arm was gonna hurt for a while. 

He didn’t wanna look at it… he didn’t wanna open his eyes at all, knowing the humans were probably still staring at him…

Then he felt another giant hand touching him, examining him… it was softer than the one he was on… so it had to be Wilbur. 

Very slowly, he opened his eyes and, like he was expecting, all attention was on him.

“Is he okay!? He made a noise. Is he hurt!?”

Wilbur panicked above him but he didn’t have the energy to move anymore, tired physically and mentally from everything that happened to him…

Techno lifted him up higher as he stood once again and kept Tommy in a cupped palm, inspecting him…

Like a cool bug, Tommy thought bitterly. 

“He seems fine.. a bit hurt in the shoulder, but nothin’s broken…”

Techno’s voice was surprisingly soothing now for some reason. Tommy realized how tired he was…

He fell asleep as he briefly heard Wilbur say something loudly, but he didn’t care anymore.

————————————

There was a dull ache in his shoulder as he woke up… still tired, but the sleep felt nice while it lasted.

The room he was in was dark and he was surrounded by something soft and fluffy… he was disoriented and for a moment it was just like the walls… he missed the walls…

Tommy wanted to wake up back in the walls like nothing happened. All of this was just a weird, scary dream, but… nothing in the walls was this soft on his skin. 

He opened his eyes and sure enough; he was greeted with a giant room; he rested in a cloth nest much like the one he used to have in the walls but.. nicer… he’d never be able to borrow something this nice, it would be missed for sure. 

He was on the desk still… the room was empty now, though… they left him alone… 

He could use this.

Tommy stood, only a bit unbalanced on his feet, his tail wrapped around his leg tightly. He briefly attempted to pull it off of his leg to stop the tingly feeling of losing circulation from his thigh down. 

Eventually, he gave up and started walking to the edge of the desk.

He looked over the edge. It would be a long way down… and he couldn’t even climb anymore.

That theory was proved, as he felt a painful twinge in his right shoulder.

He was stuck…

There… wasn’t any escape this time.

He had finally run out of luck and now he really was forced to wait for the humans to return when he could have been halfway down the desk leg by now.

Tommy didn’t have to wait long until the two humans walked into the dark room, turning on the light. He couldn’t see as his eyes tried to adjust quickly to keep watch on the human’s movements.

He heard Wilbur talking… he decided to listen.

“-chno, I’m serious! Look at the kid! He’s literally just a little person. He even looks human.”

“Wilbur, he has a tail…”

“So?”

Wilbur lightly shoved Techno with a scoff. Tommy couldn’t help but be confused. What was he saying? They had to be talking about him, but… why was Wilbur calling him a little person?

Tommy’s knee buckled unexpectedly, causing him to nearly collapse, and he let out an involuntary yell of panic. Immediately, his hand slapped over his mouth… but it was too late.

“Hey, he’s up.”

Curse Techno’s good hearing.

Wilbur walked up to the desk, his hands hovering around Tommy’s shaking form.

“Sunshi- Tommy, are you alright? What hurts?”

Tommy stared at the hands around him and the giant they belonged to, then he held his arm… he didn’t wanna tell humans about his vulnerability, but they were the ones… taking care of him.

“I… my shoulder kinda…”

He took notice of the subtle way Techno’s eyes widened at his voice.

“I’ll… get some pain meds…”

Techno shuffled awkwardly out of the door to find something to give the tiny boy. How he would do that? No one had a clue.

Tommy was just confused now… the humans, they had him now, stuck and forced to be in their care yet…

They didn’t seem all that happy…

He saw how Wilbur looked down at him with… worry? Concern?…guilt?

They both looked happy to have him before, but now that they saw he could speak, they suddenly want to keep their distance.

It was like a switch had been flipped. Tommy thought he should be the on edge one, yet the humans he feared all his life looked to be taking that role.

How strange…

————————————

hope y’all enjoyed! This au is very much my baby and we love borrower Tommy :)

tag list:

@da3dm @i-am-beckyu @lunar-but-little

[mystery-talks-chaos]

Hola!

This is my first contribution to Wholesome Sonic and Tails Wednesday. I totally did not stay up until 2 am looking for an idea, nor did I wake up and 5:18 to write this, so don't worry! XD

You can read this on either AO3 or Wattpad

I hope everyone enjoys!!!

Movie Night

Sonic hummed pulling put a bunch of disks.

 

What movie would a 5 year old like?

 

He didn't want to put one of those baby movies, yet, at the same time, he knew he shouldn't put something too violent and/or un- child friendly...

 

Despite the fact that the same five year old fights roots on a daily basis, and technically is a genius, he knew that he still had the mind of a kid.

 

Maybe he should ask the kid what movie he likes? 

 

Yeah... that seems like a good idea...

 

Though he did want to keep it a surprise... 

 

Oh well... 

 

They'll be watching it either way! No point of not asking.

 

Making up his mind, Sonic made his way to his little brother in a Sonic second.

 

"Hey Tails!" Sonic exclaimed, startling the poor little fox.

 

Tails turned himself to his caller, cocking his head to the side a bit in confusion. He put down the wrench and watch that was in his hand, and turned his full attention to the Hedgehog in front of him.

 

"Yes?" He asked, confused to why the elder needed him in the moment. 

 

"How are ya bud? Working hard I see?" Sonic said rushinbto his brothers side, putting a hand over the other's shoulder.

 

"Uh, not really..." the younger admitted pulling at the ends of his gloves uncomfortably, "I'm just fixing Knuckles communicator, nothing big."

 

"Nothing big ya say? Really? Cause I know for a fact that I wouldn't be able to do half of the things your doing right now!" Sonic joked trying to ease the other's mood.

 

Sadly, however, that didn't work, as the younger of the two let out a small huff of laughter. 

 

"Yeah... um- I'm not really in the, I guess, 'mood' for working on something to big, you know?" Taiks said looking down in slighht shame, before plastering a smile and looking at the other, " What about you? Do you need something?"

 

Despite not being pleased at the other's answer, the Hedgehog shaked his head and decided to answer the question.

 

"Yes, actually!" Sonic said, keeping note of how the younger's shoulder deflated slightly at his answer, "I was wondering what movie you liked."

 

Tails clearly wasn't not expecting that answer as his eyes widened at the answer and he let out a small "Huh?" in question.

 

"I asked what movies you liked?" Sonic said waiting patiently for the other's answer. 

 

"Oh! Uh. I- uh- I don't know? Why?" Tails answered looking at the Hedgehog in front in slight confusion.

 

"Because I want to set up a movie night, of course!" Sonic replied with a smile, before frowning a bit, " What do you mean that you don't know? Who does then?"

 

"Uh... I don't know... no one?" At this point Tails looked as if he wanted to be anywhere, but there- which he did feel indeed.

 

"How do you not know what movie you like?" Sonic said, confusion seeping through his voice.

 

"I never- um... I never got to watch a movie before... but- uh- I don't mind watching whatever movie you like!" Tails said, finishing with a small smile.

 

Sonic frowned. Of course. That village didn't want to give the kit a place to sleep, nor something to eat. Of course they wouldn't give him the 'luxury' of watching a simple movie.

 

At that same though, Sonic wanted more than anything to speed back to the village and make all the people who made the cute, tiny fox's life living hell pay.

 

But he new better than to do that. He was a hero, and making then pay is illegal by law, sadly. (That didn't remove his urge of revenge though)

 

Sonic shook his head and plastered a smile on his face. 

 

"Well that won't do!" He exclaimed, reaching out and throwing the young kit over his shoulder. The said kit gave out a scared squeak in reply (to which Sonic thought was adorable!).

 

"What are you doing?!" Tails asked kicking slightly at Sonic's chest, at the displeasure of being carried.

 

The Hedgehog in question only spared a wink.  "You'll see!"

 

When the two reached the living room (which didn't take long at all of course), Sonic dropped Tails on the couch, and rushed to bring supplies.

 

Not even a minute later, Tails found himself buried under a bunch of blankets and pillows, and the console table beside the couch was filled with chips and other junk. 

 

Looking up at the Hedgehog smiling on top of him, Tails sent him a confused look, which was only replied by a wink from the other.

 

Sonic then flopped down beside Tails, placing a pillow behind him, before freeing Tails from the pile of blankets on top of him, and pulling Tails into his lap. He then covered the two of them in the blankets. 

 

Tails looked up at his elder brother in confusion once more, opening his mouth to ask what was going on only to find that Sonic has put a finger on his mouth in a silencing manner. 

 

"Get ready for your first movie night, little buddy!" Sonic said turning on the television and searching for a movie. "What?" Tails asked only to find one of Sonics fingers poking at him, and put back in a shushing manner on his lips. "Really, Tails? Hasn't anyone ever told you to not talk on a movie night?" 

 

Tails eyes sprung up to live as he finally processed what the Hedgehog meant. He was going to watch his first movie...

 

"How about this movie?" Sonic said pointing at the screen with the remote. 

 

Tails looked and saw the words Zootopia on the screen.

 

"Um, sure... if you want to?" Tails said hesitantly, not wanting to make the older one watch something he doesn't like.

 

"Good! I haven't watched this either, you know? Heard its a kids classic, though!" Sonic said pressing play.

 

"Hey! I'm not a kid!" Tails complained, only to find a finger back at his mouth and to heara quick "shush!" from Sonic.

 

Tails huffed slightly, however turned his attention to the screen filled with colours. 

 

 

By the end of the movie the two layed asleep draping on each other, as the ending credits went on.

 

To Tails, the movie was amazing and magical. He has never seen anything like it (quit literally) and adored the way the animation was displayed. The movie was currently the fox's favorite (and only) movie he ever watched.

 

To Sonic, on the other hand, the movie was boring as hell, only watching it throughly due to Tails liking of the movie. That doesn't mean that he didn't complain nor question the things that happened in the movie.

 

("They are wearing clothes! Look! They are wearing clothes! Look at him! He's wearing pants! How is he alive?!")

 

Overall, the movie night was a success as the two snored softly, snuggling to each other. There was no doubt that this wouldn't be the first time...

[ravensilversea]

Writing Patterns Meme

[Plain text: "Writing Patterns Meme" in big text. /End PT]

Rules: List the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there's a pattern!

Thanks for the tag @hopeswriting! I have a nice spread of fics here, across multiple fandoms and from more serious fics to more cracky fics:

1. It was a well-known fact that every dog needs a doghouse, especially if they are a talking dog who can draw pictures in the dirt with a stick. - Snoopy and the Emo-Haired Kid (Peanuts/KHR)

2. Air blasts out of the white box unit above the door as Chrome pushes it open with a hand. - The Art of Butterfly Photography (KHR)

3. Reborn wants to commit Skull’s body to memory. - Renew our vows of love (and forget the sad, dull pain) (KHR)

4. “You don’t remember me…?” Fives’ smile shakes, and he takes a step back. - But I with mournful tread (Star Wars)

5. The largest exhibition hall in the Jedi Temple is almost too small for the sheer number of clone troopers in it now. - Victory Comes Late (Star Wars)

6. Tsuyoshi runs a cloth over the blade of his sword, and Nana pours a bottle of handmade sake over the bodies before dropping a match on them. - Love in the Time of Zombies (KHR)

7. Swirls of steam rise from the mug of tea resting on a tattered crochet coaster. - Let the Rain Kiss You (KHR)

8. “You could go back, you know,” Aloy says in the middle of looting a supply chest. - I'll Tell You How the Sun Rose (HZD/KHR)

9. “Have you tried a Ouija board?” Skull asks, voice almost tinny over the phone. - Use Your Words (Here's a Ouija Board) (KHR)

10. Nie Mingjue has little warning before a sharp whip-crack and flickering purple light fills the alley he’s using as a shortcut to his brother’s rehearsal. - All's Fair in Love and War (The Untamed)

What have we learned?

[Plain text: "What have we learned?" in medium text. /End PT]

Ngl, I kind of expected more dialogue opening lines 😂 I feel like I default to those as a way to just jump right in to a fic, but clearly if I do, it doesn't survive past edits and rewrites. I think the overall pattern is that each opening line kinda sets the scene and overall tone of the fic. Like guess which of these lean more crack and which lean more serious, which are the fluffs and which are the angst, find the hidden smutty fic in there - There's two or three in this list that might throw a curveball or are kind of ambiguous, but for the most part...

(It's Ouija Board, Ouija Board does throw a curveball at the end XD)

It's honestly wild how consistent that is though. Because I write a variety of fics and fandoms, and I know I don't write the same for my more cracky fics as I do my more serious. Huh. I guess you can almost always know what you're getting into from my first lines 😂

I'm no-pressure tagging: @seijuurouxryuu, @immacaria, @masterdisastre and @onceabluemoonwrites, and anyone else who wants to play!

[cafeinthemoon]

More Myself Than I Am - Chapter V

Chapter 5/?

Wordcount 2,9k

Title Rashomon

Fandom Bungo Stray Dogs

Pairing Ryuunosuke Akutagawa X reader

Previous chapters

1 . 2 . 3 . 4

Symbols ⭕ . ➕ . 💛

Warnings: implied violent death

Tagging @lasidollily @darling-imobsessed @samyayaya  (if you want to be tagged in any of my stories, just send an ask or a message 😉)

N. A.: So finally, after several months and with a bunch of other projects to occupy my time, I managed to finish this chapter! I'm so happy! I was a bit hard to work on it bc there were details I've completely forgot about, given the time I've spent away from this story, but it's finally here. In this one, we will have the direct continuation of the previous chapter, and great revelations to reader...

Hope you enjoy it and I'm sorry for all ths time without updates XD

You had no time to turn and look at him.

Something fast, sharp made its way toward you with the power of a lightning and wrapped itself around you before you could think of pushing or stopping it. You looked down and saw what reminded you of a black stripe on your waist; it pulled you behind, and in a split second you found yourself breathless, trembling in your friend’s arms, your ability deactivating by the startle and the exhaustion.

The next thing you remembered was Akutagawa summoning more of those shadows against the men, the stripes widening to block your peripheral sight. The vivid sound of flesh being pierced and sliced was heard, followed by suffocated screams of fear and despair. The stripes came back to their place with a swoosh and disappeared, and then there was silence.

You were still unable to move, only standing thanks to his grip. You didn’t dare look at your adversaries now – or what was left of them – and were satisfied in just imagining what might happened. At least you no longer had to worry.

Now, you needed to focus on the things you just found out.

First, your brother-in-law was a terrible person, involved in activities with high probability of being illegal. Second, your family was now in danger, and you couldn’t do anything for them when you yourself were in a much worse situation. Finally, the man with whom you were about to have a date was an esper just like you. You didn’t know if you should be relieved or desperate: Arthur also had special abilities, but that didn’t bring you any safeness. However, Akutagawa has always been gentle with you; and, when you found yourself in the most dangerous situation of your life since the incident with Virginia, he just came to protect you. Should you expect things to be different?

There wasn’t much time to think about this, though: once the work was done and your survival was assured, the next thing to do was to provide an escape route, something that wasn’t really hard since your partner summoned the shadows again and took you with him to the nearest rooftop, perhaps the same he used to access the alley. You held your breath and shut your eyes tight with the sudden change of place, only opening them again when you sensed a ground under your feet.

Akutagawa still had an arm around you, but with his free hand he grabbed his phone to make a call.

This was what he said when the person answered:

– It’s done. Take your men to the place and clean it.

He turned it off and typed a second number. This time, the conversation lasted a bit longer, and the imperative note in his voice wasn’t present, an indicative of the superiority of the person to whom he talked that time.

– Sir, the mission was accomplished. The men are taking care of the rest.

The person on the other side of the line seemed to ask something, but you weren’t able to hear it.

– No problem – Akutagawa replied – We’re on our way.

There was no need to explain to whom the we was referring to. When the call ended, you had the nerve to ask where he was going to take you.

– To the only place where you can stay safe for now – he looked around and below, as to make sure you didn’t have unwanted eyes watching anything.

No other explanation was given after this. He left that rooftop and took you to the ground of another alley, where there was a black car at its entry, maybe the same you saw him entering in the day he walked you home.

You didn’t question his intentions or hesitate to approach the vehicle: your legs, still able to walk, led you to it, and when the door was opened, your body just found its way inside it. Akutagawa took the place by your side and closed the door.

Once you sat down, your head was so heavy that you had to hold your forehead to not fall on the front seat’s back. An order was whispered to the driver by your friend, and the car started moving fast and silent. The last thing you remembered was trying to lean your back on the seat when a dizziness took over your senses and your sight went completely dark.

***

Your eyes were heavy when you tried to open them for the first time, but you did it after a few attempts. You blinked to get used to the light and, when your sight cleared, you took the next moment to understand your position and surroundings.

Your back was leaning on the softness of an armchair, your head inclined to the side, your hands resting on your lap. You moved on the chair and sensed a numbness on your limbs, typical of a fainting; you searched through your memories and recollected the moment you entered the car and were followed by Akutagawa.

You straightened up on your spot and shivered: your skin was cold despite the regular temperature of the room. You passed your arms around yourself and observed the place…

And were impressed by the sophistication and beauty you found.

It was a large apartment with modest yet fine decoration, with dark, grayish walls and a black, polished floor, covered with carpets. At your right, you sensed there was natural light, as if entering through glass; you turned toward it and discovered a pair of transparent doors, wide open. There was no wind coming in, but that explained the cold air around. You also sensed a slight, mixed smell of camphor and tea.

Quiet steps were heard near your spot, and you found out weren’t left alone in that room. You raised your eyes and saw Akutagawa approaching and stopping in front of your chair. Suddenly, the memory of the fight in the alley, when he activated his powers, came back and you flinched. Ignoring your reaction, he just did what he intended: with his right hand, he touched your ear with his fingertips, the same ear hit by the metal bead controlled by the man of the scars; when you felt the touch, you noticed your skin was covered with a bandage. With the contact, it burned a little: it was when you realized the metal hit hard.

Akutagawa was the first to speak.

– It stopped bleeding, then – and, moving his hand away, – Good.

You touched your ear in the same spot he did.

– Did you make this bandage?

He nodded in confirmation.

– Thank you.

Instead of replying, he went back to the kitchen, then returned with two cups of tea in hands, one of which he offered to you. You murmured a “thank you” and he took a seat on a chair identical to yours, placed near it, crossing his legs in a what might be the most informal manners he was able to assume.

You took the tea in tense silence, except for the moment you complimented him for the good work in preparing the drink.

– I do it the same way almost every day – he justified – It’s a simple recipe, which makes things easier for me, especially in the busy days.

You found it strange that he gave you all this explanation about his relationship with the process of making tea instead of just accepting your compliment, but you didn’t question it, limiting yourself to an “I see” before the silence was again established between you.

When you finished your tea, you kept your eyes in the cup’s bottom, observing the wet leaves inside it while warming your hands with the remaining heat of the porcelain.

Akutagawa, whose practical manners wouldn’t be left aside by the tensions of earlier, was the one who started the conversation.

– I suppose you want to know where you are.

You raised your eyes to him as soon as you heard those words.

– This apartment is mine – he explained – At the moment, we are in a building that belongs to the organization I work for.

You swallowed. After everything you’ve experienced that day, the word organization was starting to acquire a suspicious meaning.

– What kind of... organization is this one?

The young man in front of you didn’t spare your ears nor your nerves with his answer.

– One that serves as a pillar for the city you came to live in: The Port Mafia.

You felt your entire body tensing up, and your hands tightened around the empty cup. You opened your mouth, but closed it again, not knowing what to say to this.

So… I was about to have a date with a member of a criminal organization?

None of this represented a problem to Akutagawa, who seemed to have anticipated it.

– Revealing this to you in the current circumstances wasn’t in my plans, y/n-san – he continued, the same composed tone as before – But we have nor the choice nor the time to make things different. So, let me explain the situation first, then you will have the chance to decide what to do. As you already noticed, I myself am an esper too. My ability is called Rashomon. To summarize, it is a fabric that devours anything that enters its reach, which includes the space itself. I’ve been working for the Mafia since I was a kid, and for all these years it served me well. There are others like us in our organization, as much as there are common people. We are present in all possible segments of society, and this is how it came to our knowledge that a woman with non documented powers has arrived in Yokohama.

You swallowed.

So, I’ve been observed for all this time.

Suddenly, it came to your memory that night when you sensed a strange presence near your building and went to check it out. Since you couldn’t find anything, you forgot about the episode, supposing that it was just an impression. Now, you weren’t so sure of this.

But Akutagawa hasn’t finished yet.

– However, the Port Mafia is not the only group that knows about you: a foreigner organization, involved with international traffic of espers and counting on native agents to maintain its activities, has been surrounding our city for months and discovered your existence by the same time as us. That man Arthur was one of their agents. He was using your sister to approach you. I was designated to follow his steps, and I suppose he was well informed about me, for he recognized me that day when we met.

The image of Arthur cheering up in the company of your sisters in that occasion, then the one of his body falling and crashing down in your living room returned to you, and your hands trembled.

– It’s a shame that I only found about him when it was too late – you whispered.

– And this is what I wanted to ask you about – your friend continued, unaffected – What happened in your apartment?

You took a deep breath and recalled the disturbing events. It was curious that, instead of the expected shame or fear, speaking about the things you heard and saw – and especially what you did about them – brought a deep sensation of relief; it might have been because you had someone like you to hear the story, or because you finally accepted all of that as real, and not a nightmare, once you talked, or even something between these two. Besides, the fact that Akutagawa didn’t interrupt you and showed no signs of shock or disgust with your actions contributed with this sense of comfort: somehow, his view on what happened to you – and about you – had deep importance.

– And now I don’t know what to do – you concluded, your voice beginning to crack – I can’t go back to my house and see how my sisters are doing, neither I can go to the police without exposing myself... I’m trapped...

No verbal response came from your listener, as he gave you a moment to regain sobriety. When he finally opened his mouth, was to make you an offer.

– Now you understand why I said this is the safest place for you now? – and, when you gave him a nod, – But you can’t stay here forever. And, about this, our head wants to have a conversation with you.

You gasped. The head of the Port Mafia – whoever they were – was interested in you and your powers? Well, you wouldn’t have been taken there for any other reason.

– I don’t know how much you’ve heard about this, but we, bearers of special abilities living in this country, are under an inconvenient bureaucracy – Akutagawa continued – This means that our condition needs to be documented and cataloged by the government, or else our lives might become difficult, whether we are involved with an organization that utilizes our powers or not. Since you don’t have such documentation, no support from the regular authorities must be expected in your case. So, as you can see, things are harder for you than for your family at this moment.

Well, good. As if it wasn’t enough for you to go through all the terrible things involving Arthur and his partners, now you had to worry about documentation.

You sighed.

– If my situation is as complicated as you’re saying, what difference my choice would make to you? As far as I can see, I’ve only been a problem for anyone who surrounds me. What does the Port Mafia expect to gain with this case?

Akutagawa uncrossed his legs and stood up, taking the cup from your hands.

– This is exactly what our head wants to discuss with you – he explained – My role was assure your integrity and bring you to our quarters. Any other information you need to know, you will have from him.

Before you had the chance to continue the conversation, two knocks were heard at the front door. Akutagawa extended a stripe of his Rashomon to unlock it, making you flinch: despite having witnessed it in action before, it was just unsettling to watch him use his power in a casual place such as a living room.

The door was open and there you saw a short, young man with vibrant, ginger hair under a hat and a black coat hanging upon his shoulders. He had his hands on his waist, in an informal position that made him stand out of the environment.

For a moment, he didn’t open his mouth, staring at Akutagawa, then at you, then back to the first, as if not knowing if he should say what he came to say or if he arrived at the wrong time.

With a sigh, he finally decided to speak.

– Ah, you’re here at last – and, with a gesture of his thumb that indicated some place behind him – Boss is impatient to see you. He’s waiting in his office.

Akutagawa nodded in concordance.

– We’re on our way.

He looked at you without a word, but you were quick to understand: you were going to see his superior – “the boss”, as his partner said – in the next moments. You stood up too, looking at the ginger, then back to your friend.

– I’m ready.

***

At first, you thought that you would have your eyes covered or you would be knocked out to wake up only when you were in front of the said Mafia’s leader – since you weren’t part of the organization, possessed special abilities and were desperate, every measure must be taken, so that you would never reveal the smallest information to the outside world. However, none of this happened: Akutagawa didn’t even hold your arm during the walk; he just led you to an elevator at his apartment’s floor and, after a few seconds of lifting, its doors opened to reveal a large corridor surrounded by black walls that, according to him, would lead to your destination. He was the first to step into it, and you just followed him.

It was when the reason why you were allowed to see the path became clear.

This is the quarters of the city’s underworld. The closer I get to its head, the harder would be for me to leave and reveal anything.

By the end of the corridor, a tall pair of doors were visible.

– It’s here – his voice echoed through the liminal space, despite his low tone.

He pushed them with little effort, and you saw them move in synchrony, revealing a wide room that would be as dark as its outsides if it wasn’t for the wall entirely made of glass at the observer’s left, just like the one at Akutagawa’s apartment; thanks to them, you were able to analyze your surroundings in precious details.

The room would seem empty with a lighter color palette, but the one chosen for it did an excellent work in using the extra space, from the decorated ceiling lining to the dark green wallpaper, and the intricate patterns of the large, wine-shaded carpet. At the opposite side of the room, at least meters ahead of your spot, there was a woody work-table, a black chair and three shelves full of books, placed on both of the table’s sides and behind it; a second chair, modest if compared with the first one, was before the table, as if it wasn’t part of the room and it was only brought there moments before you arrived.

You and Akutagawa weren’t the only ones at that place: standing at the side of the glass wall, with his hands behind his back, a man with black coat and a red scarf upon his shoulders was observing the outsides. He turned to you as soon as the doors were closed, and greeted you both with a composed smile.

You approached as he went to take a place close to the table, and once you put your eyes on his face, you froze. Yes, he was different from how you used to see him – his hair was properly combed, his beard has been shaved and his entire apparel was dark – but there was no way for you to be deceived.

There you had the head of Port Mafia, though you knew him by another name.

– Dr. Ougai?

[hexhomos]

top 5 jay/vik pet peeves? 👀

I let this ask simmer a bit in the back of my inbox because... oh man you guys really want to see me rant like that? Unbelievable. But I'll indulge anyway since I could on about this forever:

#1 the way people straight up delete everything about Jayce as a character, be it talis or giopara, just to turn around and act like he's "leeching off viktor's genius" or "a big stupid dumb idiot who cant grasp simple concepts XD" "brainless idiotic himbo" like… this is so tiring to me. Are you trying to call him braindead? Because that's what it sounds like. I don't find it funny or charming anymore thanks to the sheer density and frequent malice adjacent to this kind of content.

#2 Related to above, but also found on its own, SPECIALLY in arcane fandom bubbles: a fixation on Jayce's body as a sexual object or sexual accessory to other people as his "Only redeeming character trait". It's become so prevalent I don't like browsing content for him anymore. Fans will legitimately make up bullshit reasons as to why Jayce is lesser than other characters (the council, mel, heimerdinger, viktor, vi, whoever, you name it) and then hold up more brainless no personality idiotbad himboXD porn as the only thing his character could ever amount to. Way to go! You're treating this show's singular brown lead as actually subhuman. There truly are no words. And it's not like it's hard to give Jayce an ounce of interesting things to do: most of what people attribute to viktor as sciency and driven and passionate is something that he shares with jayce; sometimes, its straight up things jayce came up with and worked on all his life getting penned as "viktors thing". I just find fandom, for one reason or another, holds a severe disinterest in treating them as equals. And it makes their dynamic worse. (This last point is not exclusive to arcane, sadly.)

#3 Viktor woobification, and an insistence that he could neeeeever do anythiiiiing wroooooong, regardless of verse. It makes him into such an uninteresting non-character. Viktor was created to *BE* the mad scientist archetype; this was his initial concept and it persists to this day, you can't take away his responsibility for his mistakes, or pretend it was Jayce's fault, and still expect him to be a good character. I don't even know what you're stanning at that point. I've had ppl genuinely argue with me that viktor never hurt anyone in game canon and that JAYCE had stolen blitzcrank and its like ????? Do you even know who Stanwick is. Please just read their bios. Both of their bios. Viktor lies to clean up his own story and even before the lore rewrite he was the one who'd initiate violence by Invading Jayce's Lab And Blasting Him With Laserbeams. This guy's ingame kit requires you to kill 100 minions before evolving a weapon prototype. He has an ability called "death ray". You don't think that's funny? Your loss. (Related: a lot of able-bodied people treat viktor's arcane disability as something to patronize him over, and it can be really, really uncomfortable to see.)

#4 this is gonna seem minor compared to above but watching people try and vilify Jayce at every turn to make Viktor or other characters look better can be so unintentionally funny. They never pay attention to anything about his character, just spin a wheel of bad generic adjectives and go: "JAYCE is an out of touch gazillionaire SOCIAL CLIMBER queaking for STATUS who eats diamond dust, shits gold and hates lesbians; he also PISSED on my WIFE," whole time the guy is just minding his business, indentured for life thanks to vampiric 'patrons' making him swear fealty for project funding, canonically stated to have built a name making gadgets for the working class, doesn't even like socializing in Any Universe (and this is the exact thing him and viktor bond over), etc etc etc... this shit is embarrassing brother

#5 unironic googoo talk jaymel or melvik or anything that exists in the middle genuinely makes me roll my eyes. Sometimes I feel as though people watched the bomb scene and then immediately erased out how disrespectful and manipulative it was. I don't care for any of these pairings nor the implication that you have to 'make good with billionaires to reach ultimate peace uwu' that comes attached to most of their content. The TVshow being as centrist and corporate as it is explains why this exists, sure, but I feel so ?????? When I see people acting like viktor and mel would be best buddies, as if she isn't canonically the richest person in Piltover before we even have a timeskip and *Directly Responsible for enabling and profiting off much of the fuckshit going on in Zaun* lol. Where do you think that money came from? Seriously?? Come on. I cannot fathom how people can see Jayce's interactions with her as leading to any sort of positive outcome. They get 0 romantic buildup worth caring for and are boring as all hell. And the next one is less common but: whenever people try to fit her plotline into leagueverse I just, LOL. The ruling Medarda in league is a 70-something manlet white geezer. Jayce giopara is a fag and his entire bio was designed around viktor. The council plays no part in their story and they're far more interesting for it, thank fucking god.

[obey-me-mammon-lover69]

Totally see a mc that ranks the brother's based on their assess. What's each brother's reaction to being considered the best?

XD this was a super funny ask, I had it in my drafts for a bit trying to make it perfect so sorry for the slow work!

GN! MC

Warnings:  Fat asses, the word ass is used...a Lot

LUCIFER:

He knows his ass is fat, he just knows his ass is great. When you tell him his ranking at the top he just gives a smirk and says,  "Of course, I'm the first. What else do you expect?"  But inside he's so happy you find his ass to be nice.

MAMMON:

Blushes the brightest red ever, and starts stumbling over his words, probably falls over due to shock.  "H-How the hell can ya' say somethin' like that?!"  Starts wearing tighter jeans so you can see his ass more. Lords his #1 ass ranking over his brothers.

LEVIATHAN:

Levi.exe has crashed, please reboot. Blushes and fumbles around, runs away, faints, and screams into a pillow for 5 hours. This man can not deal, and immediately assumes your trying to make fun of him, thinks he has a very flat ass...he kinda does from sitting all the time.  "Stop making fun of me..."

ASMODEUS:

Strikes a pose and blows a kiss. He knows his ass is great and starts performing a fashion show to show you how nice his ass looks in literally everything, "Aww thank you MC! Come look at how my butt looks in this thong though!"  Is super happy MC likes his butt and thinks about it all night long.

SATAN:

Gives you an immediate, 'what the fuck face' and ignores you talking about the rankings before you reveal he's the top-ranked ass in the house. Smirks and uses annoys Lucifer with this fact and whispers,  "Mc thinks my butt is the best."  Into Luci's ear when he walks past. Is very grateful for MC giving him this ammo, but also very happy they think his ass looks nice.

BEELZEBUB:

Smiles a sweet smile and gives MC a bite of his food as a thank-you. His ass is hella fat, and he's oblivious to it, so when he's complimented on it and even ranked #1 above all his brothers he gets really happy.  "Thank you, Mc!"

BELPHEGOR:

Laughs at your ass-ranking idea, before realizing he's #1 and immediately turns into a smug cow. Uses this to prove to his brothers that he's MC's favourite.  "You're very lewd you know that right, MC?"  Inside he's very happy you've seemed to notice him in that manner, he won't shut up about it (much like Mammon).

[hekates-corner]

Apothecary Diaries | WN Translation | Arc 9 - Chapter 6

Hi, however you found this: Welcome!

For a number of reasons I ended up here - relaying all that happens in the chapters, playing wine-aunt, as I translate to the best of my abilities.

So, warning, all the spoilers are found below the cut. Want spoilers, but less? My dm's/asks are open.

If you're new, here's Chapter 1 - also, Chapter 5 which is the direct pre to this one | Masterlist here.

Enjoy!

Chapter 6 | Grasslands Pt. 2

After that, Maomao’s journey was peaceful (I’m not shitting you, that’s how the chapter starts xD)

We then get a bit of inner monologue about how she expected more insects.. however, Narrator-Mao explains that since it’s all grassland, there are quite a few - however, not in large numbers, at most she saw some jumping around from time to time.

She wonders if the fear was unfounded but more rationally speaking she’s relieved that there’s no locust damage in Saito(?).

By the time they arrive at the next resting place, they caught up with Lahan’s brother who’d been sent ahead. As he listens to what they just went through he goes pale, saying something along the lines of “Eh, is that true?” which Maomao, in her thoughts, sees overall as a normal reaction.

Narrator-Mao thinks back on how Chue reacted to the attack, realizing that her reaction was like she’s used to it or it’s at least in the “expected” range.

The party that had started the travel earlier consisted of one wagon, Lahan’s brother, two miliary officers - who looked like bodyguards -, three farmers - who seemed to be helpers - and two local guides.

Maomao doesn’t know how many people would be appropriate for her but she feels like two (Basen and Chue) are a lot. She then wonders if the original plan had been for one person not to be there - then remembers that she forgot to mention that they had no guide.

After the second break, it wasn’t long before they reached the village. There are houses centered around a flowing river and fields as well as trees can be seen around them. Unlike the mountains Maomao knows, the ones she spots here looks more like a raised grassland hills. (our girl and her sizes)

She wonders if the white dots she sees are sheep and that “the black thing could be a cow”. Based on the number of houses her guess is that the population is probably, at most, 300 people strong.

Like guessed by her, as they approach they’re greeted by sheep. Some are fluffy, while others aren’t after being sheared - they’re probably right in the middle of shearing season.

Even the kids appear to be hard workers, picking up sheep droppings and putting them in baskets - Basen(?) asks what that’s about and Maomao explains that it’s said to be used as fuel and is allegedly also good for spreading on the floor to keep it warm. Understandably Basen gives her a strange look, so instead of being silent she feels like adding a tad more.

Maomao then says shit(?) and Chue doesn’t miss a beat and just deadass goes “Huh, don’t you know? He’s my brother in law.” - Narrator-Mao takes note that Chue never seems to forget to provoke Basen and that her default standard when provoking him seems to be calling him “brother in law” as she does so.

The village is surrounded by a moat and a brick wall, judging by where the bandits appeared from they must come here from time to time.

Basen is then talking to someone at the entrance of the village, their messenger already seems to have arrived so they’re let in easily.

Apparently Chue called for one of their two guides - she’s smiling for some reason and Narrator-mao says that the guide is going increasingly pale.

A disturbing atmosphere can be felt around them. Behind Chue is one of the guards from the group that started travelling earlier. Chue keeps smiling and while the guide is calm, however you looked at it it seemed like she’d be lead away - Maomao then thinks “I see~”

She folds her arms as she keeps her eyes on where the guide will take Chue and Lahan’s brother is like “Hey, what was that?”. Maomao says that they probably want to haggle because they asked for a safe route yet the bandits were there.

Lahan-nii is like “Ah, but isn’t that just an excuse?”, Maomao says that it may be seen as a bit of an insult - but it seems like they’d paid extra for the route that they were specially taught about because it’s “so safe”. Lahan-nii says something along the lines of “You’re lying, right? I mean, the “roads” are nothing but grass, if you get deceived, you’re the fool.”

Narrator-Mao thinks that sure it’s bullshit, she’s just talking away anyway and as she does she hears footsteps approaching.

It’s Basen, who’s come to tell her that he heard the village chief will show her where to stay. Maomao’s like “Got it”, Lahan-nii says thank you and Narrator-Mao notes that while he’s treated roughly, he’s polite. He is the oldest son of a good family, so he probably has good manners.

Basen then looks at Lahan-nii and is like “Eh, right- By the way-..” pauses, then says “What should I call you?” Narrator-Mao’s like “even Basen doesn’t know his name” and Lahan-nii is like “Oh!”.

Lahan-nii is already all excited, but before he can get a word out Maomao goes “Lahan-nii’s fine”. She doesn’t miss a beat.

The poor guy goes “Hey!” while tapping Maomao’s shoulder with the back of his hand.

Basen basically says “Okay, Lahan-nii’s fine.” and Lahan’s brother yells “Hey, there?!” at Basen, completely forgetting his manners.

Maomao goes “Yes, he literally is Lahan’s older brother. I’m sure you know about Lakan, but his quirk isn’t so strong, he’s just a normal person so there’s no harm in him. As a potato farmer he’s an expert, so I’m leaving that to him.”

The brother then goes “Who’s normal! Who’s a farmer!” and Narrator-Mao thinks that if he’s not a farmer, then what is he? She wishes he could be a bit more proud of himself, given how much he was helping out with the giant potato field.

Basen then kinda backpaddles and goes “I understand. Since you’re a relative of Lakan-sama, you must be treated with respect.”

Maomao thinks that that’s a good point or that she likes that part - meanwhile her more honest narrator self is like “Well, all I can say is that the way he treats me is rather sloppy.”

The poor village chief then comes in with a shy “Uhm..”. He inquires if he can show Maomao around and she apologizes and says “please”. He looks relieved when they make their way to the village center.

He then tells her to use a specific house, which is a mobile tent as you’d expect to see from pastrolists. The chief goes about explaining that the tent was from people that used to live in the village a few years ago, but it’s still in use and heated. For women, the smaller tent beside it should be used.

When Maomao looks inside, it really is warm. The frame is built like a net and covered in wool felt. Inside there’s a carpet with a fireplace in the middle. There are no windows and the air seems a bit bad, but she notices a cylindrical pillar above the fireplace that seems to be used to let out the air. She also wonders if what’s piled beside the fireplace is the sheep dung that the kids were collecting earlier.

The carpet is carefully woven and showy - you can tell that even in rural areas they care about their guests.

The village chief then quietly says that he/they were saved just before the tent collapsed at one point - Maomao thinks that he must be talking about Rikuson. We then have Narrator-Mao wonder just what on earth Rikuson was up to, because he must have arrived only days prior.

She also tells us that the village chief with his dark/tan skin looks like an old man, but he’s sturdy on his feet. She’s not sure if it’s due to the heavy amount of sunlight that they age more or if, despite having settled down, since they’re wandering folk they may just have strong legs.

The man then says that it’s already late today, so he’ll go eat and rest if it's alright and that he’ll have a guard posted in front of the tent - Maomao says it is and then grabs her luggage before heading for the smaller tent.

When she takes of her shoes, she’s surprised at how soft the floor is - it seems that there are many layers of woolen blankets under the carpet. After taking off her fancy cloak, she ends up just laying down on the ground, sprawled out.

She then thinks “Ah, no..” - due to how warm it is in the tent and on the floor she almost dozed off.. but she jumps up and slaps her cheek (and here she goes judging her mans).

The next time she wakes up, Chue has just returned. She’s like “Well, Maomao-san, you seem to be feeling well.”, then narrows her eyes and also collapses onto the ground to roll around.

Maomao then ends up asking if she can check in with Chue for a second - she then goes over everything she was curious about in her mind to sum it up and somehow as she sorts her mindmaze she sits up straight, Chue follows, they end up sitting straight-backed facing one another.

Chue asks “Yes, yes, what is it Maomao-san?” as she usually does. Maomao accuses her of having been the one to incite the bandits, Chue’s expression doesn’t change at all as she asks what Maomao means by that.

Maomao admits that her phrasing was bad, so she restarts with saying that in other words bandits were assumed to be a problem. To lessen the actual damage, they were led to them, who were late arrivals - still, Chue’s expression doesn’t change at all.

Chue then asks something along the lines of what basis she has for that thought. This doesn’t seem like an attempt to annoy or embarrass Maomao, but Chue clearly enjoys listening to the answer.

Maomao goes about explaining that first of all, why were they split into an early starter group and a late starting one? Maybe they were thinking about her and wanted her travel to be as short as possible - which she can see based on the preparations they made.

However, even if they started at different times.. she thinks it’s unnatural that they had no guide with them, even though they had two hired.

Chue’s like “Huh?” and Narrator-Mao notes that while she’s good at looking at maps, if you’re visiting a new area it’s always better to have someone to guide you. The next part, I think, is her stating as narrator that someone, likely Basen, also seemed reluctant to take her with them (Not sure if her is referring to Chue or Maomao).

Second, she says, the cloak. Chue’s like “Didn’t you like it?” and Maomao’s like “It’s very warm and useful, but the one thing that caught my attention is how gorgeous it was.” Chue tries to play dense by going “What about gorgeous?” and Maomao looks at the cloak Chue was wearing.

She points out that Chue loves flashy things, so she thought if Chue had two, she’d pick the flashier one.. but she chose the plainer option. Chue takes on a playful tone as she says that sure, but she at least understands basic manners(?).

Maomao, however, argues that sure, but if she were to give Maomao something better - she thinks it would be the one given to her by the moon prince (the one gaoshun put on her ages ago where jinshi got jealous of him). She’s talked so much about the comfortable saddle that Maomao just expected it’s the same cloak, but it’s not, isn’t it?

Narrator-Mao specifies that the cloak she got felt really nice and the embroidery showed it was a fine piece of cloak.

She goes on to say that wearing something so pretty makes you like an advertisement for the fact that you’re a sitting duck ready for being hunted. That’s why Chue’s cloak is simple, because that way she’d come across as the maid of the lady.

Chue then starts chuckling, saying that from the beginning her position was that of Maomaos maid - to get them to attack Maomao she gave her a pretty cloak on purpose and put her in the later starting group for the same reason as well “Is that what you’re trying to say?”

But Maomao backpaddles enough to leave Chue blinking. “Instead of letting them aim for me, in my opinion, you allowed them to concentrate on one target to minimize the actual damage.”

She also says that, if they were to target the group in full, while their numbers would be larger, there were many more people involved that aren’t used to handling thieves - like herself, who would’ve likely gotten kidnapped for trying to pull a trick related to her work, or getting distracted by it.

The average looking Lahan-nii seems to be in good health - but he doesn’t seem like he’s used to fighting. He’d probably go timid/freeze like most people.

Maomao goes on with “If you split into two groups and let them believe the one with the least people has more money, they’ll aim for that. Two women and one man. Sure, Basen is a real monster, when it comes to his skills/strength, but he has a baby face and isn’t so tall for a military officer.”

Even thieves wouldn't expect that underneath the lid they opened they’d find a bear wearing human skin.

Chue then tries to argue that if Maomao’s hypothesis was correct, how would she lure out the thieves? However nice of a cloak Maomao was wearing, it seemed like they were ambushed - is that what’s coming next?

And Maomao’s like “That’s why you were talking with one of the guides earlier. Third: You only talked about the village with one guide.”

Maomao remembers the pale-faced guide.

Next she says that before the first team left, Chue must’ve talked with the two guides about different things. She showed one where the second team would use the waterhole. So the guide(?) could tell the bandits where to wait/take a break.. while simply pretending to check his map for their own resting place.

Narrator-Mao fills us in that she’s not sure how the guide communicated with the thieves, but that there must be a number of ways to do it.

Maomao adds that - yeah, from the beginning they hired a suspicious person who seemed to be connected to the thieves to act as a guide. Chue told everyone where to rest, confirmed where they would attack. That way, it was clear who was black or white, even though at times both guides were black. (sus is black, safe is white)

Chue doesn’t deny Maomao’s claims, instead she just says that it’s only one of the guides - the others identity is cleared.

Maomao then wonders if that’s Jinshis doing(?) aloud. Sure, she’d told him that if he uses her, he should do it properly - so it’s not like she hadn’t kinda expected stuff like this.

However, Chue argues that that’s not the case, it was her who prepared it all (esp the cloak) and Maomao’s like “Really?” and then as narrator adds that it must be unrelated then or that it’s a different story then.

Chue says that since Maomao’s smart, she’s in trouble now and Maomao replies with “I don’t know what you’re thinking, so I’m in trouble too” - they then both sigh.

Chue goes on to say that she has two requests, Maomao's like “What is it?”.

Number one is that “Chue is still cheerful, fun-loving” Chue and to please keep treating her as before - she pulls out the flags again.

Maomao honestly replies that she doesn't quite get it, but sure - then takes the flag, dangling it from her fingertips while wondering what to do with it.

But Chue reminds, she has one more request and asks if she can ask Maomao a question. Maomao's like “What is it?”...

Well, why didn't she think/believe that the cloak was a gift from Jinshi - it sounds like Chue's earnestly doubtful.

Maomao argues that, if Jinshi were to give her a gift, she thinks that it would be something appropriate. Sure, comfortable but also practical with less details.

Chue’s like “Is that what it was/is?” - Maomao says something along the lines of that it starts to look like it.

Narrator-Mao notes that Chue looks at her with an indescribable expression, but then she suddenly looks up.

From outside the tent they hear a woman apologize (the japanese phrase when they are trying to get into a place that's already being occupied) and Maomao's like “Please come in.” with the same return phrase. The blanket that serves as entrance then moves.

A middle-aged woman comes/looks inside, she apologizes again, holding reins in her hand. She then says that, as told, she prepared three goats and asks what she's to do with them now.

Chue thanks her, then says “Here's your payment”, luring her to grab the cash - Narrator-Mao thinks she must've asked for that before coming to the tent.

In her head Maomao wonders if Chue plans to take the goats with them but as narrator goes on that if you want to eat them, it's cheaper to turn them into meat - also there wouldn't be any need for three.

Chue holds onto the reins of the goats while fishing something out of her luggage, Maomao questions what's going on and Chue's like “It’s salt. Since there's no ocean/sea around here, salt is precious. Even goats love salt.” and Maomao's like “So, what are you gonna do?” because she honestly can't figure out Chue's intentions.

Chue laugh's.

“We'll negotiate. I'm a pacifist, so I'm trying to solve this peacefully. Maomao, please rest your tired body.”

Chue turns her back on Maomao, takes the goats and leaves.

| Notes | Chapter 7 is up | Masterlist

- The farm arc goes on past this - but grasslands ends here.

This was definitely a wild ride, to translate as well - no pun intended. The gist is that Chue used Maomao to lure out bandits by hiring a sus guide and a cleared guide.

I found nothing to indicate if Basen was part of the plot, or not - but I think that the line about him not wanting to have someone around might've been about Chue. Jinshi, allegedly, had no part in this at all.

If you'd like to get notified when new chapters drop, I'm open to sending dm's or tagging - just let me know!

[river-muse]

Next round of wall-of-text commentary arrives! This turn is In leaps and bounds.

Gotta say, the POV change in favour of Dante here is a gamechanger. The repressed desire to shake some sense into Vergil is extremely present in each scene, wonderful job there.

ch1. Oh you just FEEL it in the first chapter how hard Dante is concentrating on the jukebox instead of whatever Vergil wants to ask. Well done, well done my fair lady.

The entire 'Nero distraught and Vergil calming him' scene is great. It's a low blow that Dante automatically expected things to go south, even after he saw for himself how much Vergil cares for his son, but that's just how the twins do of the beginning of this. At least Vergil was spared that blow by his own wrong assumption, which Dante quickly adapted to, otherwise it would have been even more heartbreaking.

ch.2...this is just pure miscommunication pain. Thing is, Dante was actually genuinely curious there... Ooof. Also a good pain response check on Dante there, he's been badly burned and that pain is still blinding him. Vergil cornered himself into the worst questions there, and then got on the aggressive defence. Double ow. Delicious pain, all of this.

ch.3 pfff good child story trope, and the final line says it all really xD

ch4. solstice chapter. It's funny how the twins know what's illegal but don't mind about doing it anyway xD. Again, delicious pain at seeing the two let their sleeping dogs lie, in fact, they are actually forcing those dogs to the ground.

No idea where Vergil learned strategy, but I think the best move when hunted down and when your positions are known (as he and Dante confirmed for each other) is to go on the defence, instead of endlessly running himself into the ground, corners and ambushes. Especially, if he thinks he is targeted more. Bait and switch might've worked if there was only one pursuer, but that would require knowing of the attack beforehand, and cooperation between the twins, which they are not yet capable of, I don't think.

Obviously, this silence is brought on by emotional issues too, I just wanted to point out that strategy-wise Vergil is an idiot. It's also very clear to see how much Dante is struggling to keep this thoughts to himself there, he tries so hard just to enjoy the holiday with family together (instead of shaking some sense into Vergil, which has frankly never worked and never will, he is an idiot through and through, impenetrable to common sense from the outside)

ch. 5 Everything about the park chapter is my favourite thing. Absolutely everything about it is perfect. Little Nero on the playground, how he really wants to do everything himself to impress Vergil, but ends up asking for help, which he may not like, but needs to learn how to do. Dante's little brother instinct to annoy his bro at the mention of pizza. The way Nero nails that Vergil wanted to spend time with Dante too (kids can be so smart like that). The way Dante still cannot believe his fortune at having his bro and nephew in his life (even on rare surprise occasions), extremely bittersweet. Everything is great here, and while the bridges are most certainly building, the present and slowly rising tension between the twins is very evident.

(Birthday three-parter commentary next, this is long enough as it is)

Hello again!!! Waking up to these really gets my brain buzzing and ready to do my actual job faster than normal you have No Idea. xD I'll try not to write too many paragraphs in return but OOUUGHH you had some really good commentary here and I won't be able to address it all.

There was a response I gave a comment a long time ago along the lines of "DMC is just Miscommunications: The Musical to me" and it still holds strong because Wow the shit twins are having to re-learn how to interact with each other in this fic.

Reading the line "they are actually forcing those dogs to the ground" for the Winter Solstice chapter knocked me tf out and rewired something in my brain that is SUCH a good way to put it. Chewing on my phone because it's going to live rent free in my head for quite possibly the rest of the series. There are just some things that have to be left alone to keep the peace, and they very much want to try to do that even if it ends up being topics that they're going to have to talk about eventually. Vergil's also still stuck in the travel to survive tactic, which as he spent his youth like that and about five years after the Temen-Ni-Gru doing the same it's become a case of "old habits die hard". He's not aware that his tactic is flawed as all hell. But also both times he's spent extended time in a place where he's felt safe has Always Gone Bad(his childhood home and [redacted (: ] even though the second time he wasn't present for the "going bad" part), so I forgive him for thinking that defending a place is deadlier than keeping on the move.

The POV swaps are fun for me! They're also entirely fuled by my own ulterior motives. Either to hide another character's motivation/thoughts, to show someone else's perspective, or because the POV character's inner conflicts need to be understood because those color how they interact(I'm looking at you, Lady.).

I'd actually felt like the park chapter was the weakest of them with how many times I had to edit it, so I'm flattered that you enjoyed it as much as you did! Some scenes are entirely to get a point across even if they're handled in character and those stand out like a sore thumb to me because I see through my own goals.

Thank you for the comments!! I'm going to rotate these in my head as fast as possible while working on dice <3

Take care, have a good day, and I look forward to your next ask!

[fanfic-chan]

Hello! I hope your doing well, for the tickletober post, may I book number 5 (with lee itto and ler zhongli + childe), and number 7 (with lee childe and ler baizhu?) XD have a nice day~

Day 5: Punishment

Lers!Childe and Zhongli/Lee!Itto

"W-Wait, hold on. Childe, buddy, my man, w-we can talk about this right? I-I really didn't mean anything bad by it, I swear, I was... I was just joking! Really!"

Itto stammered as he slowly backed himself away from the livid harbinger, who had just caught him in the act of giving a very... Enthusiastic, if mildly offensive, impression of said warrior to Zhongli, who was currently watching them out of the corner of his eye and sipping his tea as if he didn't have a care in the world.

"You have five seconds to run." Was the harbinger's only response, and Itto didn't need to be told twice. The oni was off like a shot, trying to put as much distance between himself and Childe as he possibly could in the short time frame he was given. Unfortunately for him though, Childe had never been the type to play fair, and soon enough the agitated man was chasing after him, not even bothering to wait for the promised countdown.

Itto screamed when he realized this, yelling out something over his shoulder about being totally unfair, but Childe didn't seem to care, and after only a brief chase he tackled the oni to the ground from behind and was straddling him before he could recover. Itto tensed. He wasn't exactly sure what sort of revenge the harbinger had planned for him, but being as he was part of the fatui, it couldn't be anything good. He was just about to start pleading for his life again, but he was suddenly cut off by a very loud outburst of laughter. His own laughter, in fact. Wha-?!!

"H-Hehehey what the- Chihihilde!!" Itto squawked, desperately trying to squirm away from the harbinger's tickling fingers. Well, this certainly wasn't the outcome he'd been expecting. Of all things to choose as a way of getting him back, tickling?!

"You forget that I am, in fact, an older brother Itto, and I know exactly how to deal with brats like you when they decide they wanna start acting out." The harbinger stated smugly as he continued to make a mess of the poor gang leader, who's violent squirming only seemed to increase the longer this went on. Childe hummed thoughtfully as he peeked over at their indifferent archon friend nearby. "Hey, Zhongli, I suggest you get your ancient butt over here and help me before I decide to get you next for listening to this big dodo's, completely inaccurate by the way, impression of me in the first place." He threatened.

Zhongli, for his part, barely seemed to flinch at the threat, but soon enough he too had walked over to join in the shenanigans, wrestling to take hold of the oni's flailing arms, completely ignoring Itto's betrayed whine of "Trahahahaitorrr!" as he did so.

"... You know Childe, I do have to admit though... His impression of that time when you tried to eat that jueyun chili was pretty accurate though."

"Zhongli?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

[paladin-of-nerd-fandom65]

You’re welcome for the asks, got some more for you :)

1: do they give each other piggy back rides?

2: how often do they hang out besides at school? Everyday, once a week, etc

3: when Jake performs a wedgie on a goon does he pull the waistband up or pulls the part of the underwear underneath the butt up? Also I can see him pulling the underwear down causing Chris to cover his eyes XD

4: do they plus mar’i have any mental issues besides PTSD? Like OCD, autism, etc…

5: what was Chris’s relationship like with Jon & Kon when he first joined the family?

6: what’s their favorite thing to do in December?

1. Oh most certainly they will, especially after long missions and patrol nights should either of them be exhausted. Despite Jake’s insistence and the few exceptions he’s been able to, majority of the time, Chris is the one carrying Jake like that. Jake doesn’t mind it too much though, he’s quite used to it and if anything it’s as comfortable as when his Big Sis and Uncle Tim(my) piggyback carry him

2. About Every Once a week, mainly at their respective central city parks if crime rates are relatively slow or maybe even if they have their allowances saved up, at their local theme park packed with massive roller coasters, arcade games and snack stalls. Usually they go there for testing new dares in said roller coasters or if new rides are built and open. Plus also, numerous ride photos they post later online because it’s always fun to look out how much either they freak out or even not when in a coaster train going at 75 mph down 189 ft.

3. He always aims for the waistband as he has the strength to successfully lift the crook with even a single arm without any fabric being ripped apart. Plus while that sounds funny, even Jake knows a bit better than going that far with pantsing crooks. That’s more or less actually something Lian as Speedy would do with her arrows, courtesy of being trained be her dad.

4. As explained, Chris can reasonably be diagnosed with C-PTSD and Anxiety Disorder due to his past with his birth Father and all the horrors he had bare witnessed to even prior to meeting Clark.

Now as for Mar’i, she herself has so far not displayed major symptoms of mental disorders but is nonetheless researching on the subject so she can properly understand to the best of her abilities how it works and what are the best treatments when those conditions are active, so that she can be a comforting presence for a prison suffering a mental breakdown.

Then there’s Jake. Prior to his duel with Zsasz, he already exhibited some symptoms of social anxiety, especially prominent almost every single start of a school year which has new teachers, new potential classmates to meet, new expectations and an overall feeling of a differing crowds to try blending into from before, making it difficult for him to feel like he fits in.

Post Zsasz, though no doubt he exhibits symptoms of PTSD, haunted in his mind more so by the gruesome marks and wounds those poor orphans in that orphanage he investigate were left in, no doubt in his mind in betting that they actively suffered being their lives end. The fact many of those slain orphans were around his age range with 8 years at youngest and 12 at oldest, he feels a sense of survivor’s guilt and shame in that he feels he could’ve saved them had he only known. Couple that with how sadistic, cruel and diabolical Zsasz himself was in their duel with each thrust, swipe and twisting of that blade onto his then powerless self at that very duel, he perfectly then understood what those orphans had felt and likely would’ve died the same exact way had it not been for the timely intervention of his allies that moment (whether it be Chris in the revised version or his family in the original version as seen in my fic ‘Broken Wings’).

5. With Jon, the then 4 year old was curious and quickly ecstatic of having a big brother to be around, like having a brand new friend. Chris was very first was a tad nervous around Jon, afraid to hurt or scare him away with his background and where he came from. But over the course of the first few weeks of staying over, Chris started clicking with Jon all too easily as they bonded with numerous brotherly things they did together, helped along by Clark being there for the both.

Then there’s Conner, who first emerged at least in the timeline around when Chris and Jon were 7 and 5 respectively in the aftermath of the emergence and defeat of Doomsday (Clark himself actually survived this encounter but he was left in critical condition and taken to a hospital. However the press had claimed of Superman being killed in the process and Clark had lost his powers for a good while. It was in the period between this Doomsday encounter and Clark’s powers being restored did Conner, Steel, Eradicator and Cyborg Superman arise to fill in for his role).

Conner had thought of Chris like someone that embodies the awkward nature of his relationship with Clark, in that Clark was so quick to take in this unrelated child yet with him there seems being some sort of rift from the get go. Conner can understand where that rift comes from but it still annoyed him a bit. He didn’t wanna break Chris and Jon’s hearts though so he accepts looking over them whenever Clark, Lois and Kara were extra busy.

During these times they stay with him, mainly at Martha and Pa’s place at Smallville, he finds a sort of kinship with the boys. The fact they look up to him as a big superhero and are awe of his own tales of hero work while being all the cool certainly helps. Sure he twitches every time they refer to him as ‘Superboy’ instead of ‘Superman’ but it’s the thought and appreciation that truly counts. It’s about weeks of doing this and having the bond firmly in place when Conner begins to think of maybe….making these two as cool as him one day, as he’ll show them the right way of being a superhero.

6. Since both Hamilton County and Bludhaven can get a good amount of snow fall and frozen lakes that are available for skating, making snow angels, building snow replicas of Haley and Krypto and even some hockey on said frozen lakes with their siblings are what I envision Chris and Jake doing in December, let alone the winter

[arunatheplant]

February 5, 2023

(Bumblebee x Cheetor)

My headcannons! Ps, it's cyberverse and I'm sorry for the wait, I was busy and tired :((

Cheetor is an innocent babe and Bumblebee is a solider tainted by war, yes Cheetor did fight but he mostly hid the allspark with him, so he needs to hide most of the war.

When Cheetor first laid his optics on bee, he was awed, then it turn to respect then admiration and he fell in love.

As for bee, he was scared, then he was shocked and then respect turned to love.

Hot rod kept teasing bee when he found out and almost slipped when Cheetor walked in.

If someone hurts Cheetor indirectly or directly Bumblebee while personal deal with the person, first he'll talk to them if they won't stop it will be their lives at cost, Cheetor while do the same will convince them to stop or he will do something he regret.

(Bee is kinda different here in my AUs)

Bee will have flashbacks and Cheetor is the one of the persons that can calm him down.

Cheetor and bee was fighting bc bee wasn't taking care of his health and Cheetor slipped up and ran out the ark. (They're alone)

He was captured by a small group of decepticons and they put him inside of a cave and was about to message megatron (my AU is different here) but bee manage to knock them out before they could and took Cheetor on a cliffside and he apologized and confessed to Cheetor.

(Cheetor didn't die :)) the deceptions did get the allspark but wasn't successful to unleash its power and the Autobots managed to get back)

They became a couple! They didn't tell the others, everyone arebetting expect for Roddy, ratchet, optimus for different reasons.

Roddy knows, ratchet doesn't like to bet on it and thought that bee didn't have a bf and optimus was just going with his husband's opinion.

The betting was windblade, arcee and a random femme but completely forgot Cheetor XD.

Then bee announced that he was indeed courting someone and it wasn't anyone that they were betting on, ratchet, optimus, and the others we're shocked.

Roddy was shocked for a different reason, he was not expecting that bee has the guts to do it.

Cheetor and bee was almost caught kissing and cuddling by optimus and he got suspicious.

Ratchet tries to pry the answer for bee but he wouldn't budge.

Ratchet then got suspicious of Cheetor and indirectly ask him if he was seeing someone but Cheetor played dumb, so bee wouldn't be caught, he didn't like it but if bee and him was caught, he didn't know what will happen even if there's couples like them.

Their first date and kiss was on the same cliff.

Two years of courting hot rod slipped up and forgot to send a signal to bee that the others we're coming to the dinner that bee and Cheetor while on a date and was caught.

Ratchet was baffled and Cheetor and bee explained what they thought would have happened if he and bee gets caught, both thought they wouldn't approve.

Optimus and ratchet approved and so was the others.

Bee's nicknames for cheetor

My cheetah, love, dear, darling and mine.

Cheetor's nicknames for bee

My bee, honey, darling, honeybee, my love, my dearest.

Bonus:

Hot rod: Are you dating my brother?

Cheetor:...uh no *chuckles nervously*

Hot rod: uh huh? What type of bee makes honey then?

Cheetor: Uhh, a honeybee?

Bumblebee: *pops his head from a corner, smiling happily* yes darling?

Cheetor: *sweating bullets*

Hot rod: Never fragging lie to me again.

[hergan416]

ao3 wrapped writer edition asks: 5, 10, 11, 19

AO3 Wrapped (writer edition) from here. Feel free to send in more asks about 2023. I should actually clear this out tonight xD

5. What work of yours got more feedback than you expected?

I also think the answer to this is also Poison Paradise (contains explicit content, mostly sherlouis with a side of alwill and some fred/bonde/moran)😅 The fic really was just so unexpectedly well-liked. I never would have expected that I could write a fic that has an average of 15 comments per chapter before I got into the yuumori fandom. Of course this includes my replies to others and when we go back and forth but that has been so satisfying. And you drew me art to go with it??? and I have been told (also here) that I inspired at least one other writer with it?? akjldjsf;jl I would NEVER have predicted that that conversation when we both joined the AW server would result in all THIS. I'm forever grateful for you opening my eyes to sherlouis, and also for inspiring me so greatly.

10. What work was quickest to write?

This year? Let's see... Probably either The Path To Enlightenment [A Beast Consumes You] or Left Alone, I Will Break [Come Back To Me Brother]. Both of these were written directly onto tumblr as a result of their asks first and then uploaded onto AO3 retroactively. (The Path to Enlightenment is rated T and includes Albert & Mycroft interacting, but I wouldn't call it shippy. Left Alone I Will Break is explicit and contains multiple dead dove type things, including hints of LW incest, necrophilia, dubious consent/blood slavery, other heavy Vampire the Masquerade themes. Both are yuumori fics set in the Vampire the Masquerade universe). Anyway, I don't think these took much more than an hour a piece.

11. What work took you longest to write?

Um well.. considering Poison Paradise is ongoing...

But if you take the Poison Paradise chapters individually... probably something that hasn't yet been published like the "Knot In My Name" fic that is probably not at all going to go to that event and is just going to be published on private like everything else. (That event was about filling AO3 with ABO fic to give AI bad data but like. It's still data. I can't stop writing like me, so it's going to get my voice -- even if I try a different style. I don't really feel comfortable with that -- but I DO have many many words in a document that may never actually see the light of day of Milverton/reader, Milverton/Ruskin, and Ruskin/reader omegaverse with many content warnings soooooo).

19. What's one pairing you want to explore next year?

Ummm hmmm. many? Can I just say "a lot"?

Milverton/Albert? I think it would be good to strike out of my comfort zone and start that AU back up.

[bookshelfdreams]

For the tarot ask game! My favorite! The "beating youself with sticks card" or as it's oficially known, 5 of wands.

(If you dont want to feel free to ignore)

Five of wands - conflict, fierce competition, fear of failure

(you didn't put a character so you're getting no one's favourite XD)

I wonder what it must be like to be Chauncey Badminton. Imagine, just for a moment. You have made it; you are an admiral in the royal navy, among highest military ranks one can achieve. You worked your way up, too, you achieved your station by your own merit. Your twin brother, who probably has been in the military just as long, is only a captain.

And your brother. You have the same face, but that's where the resemblance ends. Where you are ambitious, driven, pragmatic, he is careless and lacks discipline. I said earlier you joined the military together, but maybe that's not true. Maybe he came in later, after a string of failed ventures. Maybe you gave him a boat and told him to go hunt pirates and thought, There's no way for this to go wrong. An easy enough job, rewarding, something to keep him occupied.

How did you feel when you learned of his death?

Were you shocked? Did you recoil at the sight of his face, so much like your own, and barely recognizable?

And what did you think when one of his officers told you a man namend Bonnet was responsible?

Did you even remember him? I think you did. You remembered an easily frightened boy, weak, always crying. Awkward and ridiculous, someone whose mere sight filled you with disgust for reasons you wouldn't be able to articulate (not that anyone would ever expect you to).

He was who killed your brother? Stede Bonnet? Who could barely hold a rapier as a child, and most likely hasn't improved a wit as an adult? That Stede Bonnet?

Your brother's death is one thing but this, this is unacceptable. This is insulting. Of course death is always to be expected in service of king and country and all that. Dying honorably on the battlefield. But killed by an imbecile, and returned wrapped in a bizarre cat flag? How dare he.

And then there's something else, isn't there. The fleet is at your command the King says (that sniveling, drugged-up idiot, though you are very careful to keep such thoughts hidden) and you recognize a golden opportunity for what it is. A chance to once more prove yourself.

It should be easy, and it is, at first. You find a traitor, a pathetic excuse for a man, though you are careful not to let him know that. He disgusts you, as they all do.

You find the ship. You board the ship. Bonnet is exactly as you remember him, over-dressed, over-groomed, no spine to speak of. It takes barely five minutes for him to break down sobbing and sign a confession.

Pathetic.

Death by firing squad is practically a mercy. You could almost feel charitable as you pronounce the sentence. About time someone put Bonnet out of his misery.

Black beard, on the other hand - that's a formidable opponent. Even behind bars, even shackled and surrounded by guns, he has something to him, a captivating aura that makes you feel off-balance, like he's the one holding all the cards. His mere presence makes the ship feel off, makes the shadows seem darker, makes you wonder what hides behind corners. Of course you don't let that show, you have perfect control over yourself, but secretly you are more than happy to relinquish him into the hands of that traitor. He will not be your problem soon.

But.

Well, it all goes to shit after that, doesn't it? That pathetic little weakling inspiring such fierce loyalty in his crew of deplorables when they should be glad to be rid of him - that's one thing, but even your own damn officers take his side!

Taking measures! Against you!

Putting their filthy hands on you, when you're an admiral, for fuck's sake!

They don't quite lock you up, but you're brought to your cabin and it's strongly suggested you do not leave it. They even have the gall, the audacity to post someone at your door. You can see his back through the little window. You ought to have them all degraded, disciplined, flogged as soon as you make land and are in the company of sane people again.

This is akin to mutiny.

And it just - it will not end. You keep waiting for a moment when everyone wakes up, when people will realize what they did, to you. You! You keep waiting for your sailors to look at each other in horror, then beg your forgiveness.

But no. Bonnet is enrolled in the privateering academy, just like that, like it means nothing that he murdered an English officer. Your brother! Twice, thrice, four times the man Bonnet will ever be (all Nigel's many personality flaws nonwithstanding. You were well aware of his drinking, his mean streak, his attitude that could veer off into carelessness, at times).

No, Bonnet, completely unscathed, prancing around like he owns the fucking place, like he has any right to be there. Here. On this island, this earth.

(Maybe that's the point where you look at your bottle and wonder, briefly, where the contents went. You ignore the look the innkeeper gives you as you gesture for another.)

No, there's no sign of things turning back normal. Is there. It's Bonnet; something about him that just - well turns everything upside down, doesn't it? Nothing's as it. Fucking. Supposed to be.

You're not supposed to suffer this insubordination. Your brother isn't supposed to be dead.

There's the barracks. Strangely, you don't recall getting up, or walking here, but now that you are, it is obvious what you must do. Bonnet is supposed to be dead.

You're only rectifying that

[aurora-ze-aquarius]

Lol it’s like noon where I am, but have a good night, I guess? XD

Anyway, I’ll ask for general HC’s on Finn, Leland, Rod, and Holley, please! :)

Eyoo It's the spies :D

Finn

While he does take his work pretty seriously, he can also be pretty patient and friendly with his fellow spies (like in those cars 2 promotional videos, where he mentors Mater)

His closest friend was Leland and lemme tell you, he's definitely very traumatized after what happened

Tends to overwork himself, especially late at night

Needs both tea AND coffee to function in the mornings (Yes, he does feel like a traitor.)

He's getting therapy of course, but he isn't sure he can ever move on

Actually mentors the rookies at CHROME HQ, and they say he's pretty good at teaching them. Pretty patient, and encouraging, quite not what they expected at a spy academy, but it's welcomed nontheless.

Despite being really embarrassed he dragged a civilian into the whole Allinol mess, he's glad it worked out in the end. And hey-! Mater does make a pretty good spy.

Has a tendency to hyperfocus on things. When he does so, he tends to accidentally pay less attention to his surroundings. (Like what happened in Italy, with the helicopter)

Oh yeah, he likes savory foods

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Holley

She's always wanted to become a spy since forever, though there are times where she does miss the quiet life of a civilian

Very into tinkering with technology, chances are; she almost always has the latest gadgets available in the market, and really likes to work with them

Came from a very wealthy family, who unfortunately do not approve of Mater, yet they can't do much about it because technically, he saved the world and was awarded an honorary knighthood

She knows too much isn't good for her, but she absolutely loves sweets and deserts

Has a long distance relationship with Mater, but they make it work quite well

A few years after the events of Cars 3, Holley retired and moved into Radiator Springs under her new civilian name

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Rod

Sarcastic, witty, the king of roasting the everliving out of you. Do not attempt to make a comeback at him, it won't work.

May come off as cold and very serious, but really, he's actually pretty nice. Quite mischievous even.

Absolutely loves spicy food. They're the best. Anyone who disagrees otherwise is wrong.

Was said to be one of the CIA's masters of disguise. Suppose that all changed after what happened in the bathroom

Ladies (and lads) would swoon over him. He's got the looks and the charm to him. Heck, even when he was just a little boy in the hospital, the nurses immediately called him a handsome little baby

Has a younger sister named Lillie (who's around 10 or so) and those two were very close. Lillie wanted to become an agent like him, but after getting the news her brother was never coming back, she's faced with the reality of how dangerous his work truly was, and isn't sure what to think.

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Leland

One of the more extroverted spies at CHROME, Leland is always there to lend a hand (er- tire) to his fellow comrades in need.

Met Finn at the spy academy, in which, they quickly became fast friends.

Though he may come off as laidback and aloof, he takes his missions quite seriously, and is actually a pretty fast thinker.

Came from a large family. Has 2 sisters and a brother.

His guilty pleasure is gumdrops, he can't help himself, ok?

Needs at least 5 cups of tea each morning to get work done. Finn often judges him for it, but Leland often retaliates by pointing out how he drinks tea and coffee, so really he's no better

A lot of folks at CHROME really enjoyed Leland's presence, and seeing him gone was just devastating. Leland's family was just as heartbroken, if not even more

That's all for now! Thanks for the ask