#writing from iris

[scattered-irises]

When you log onto Duel Links, decide to travel to this new place called "Arc-V World" and everyone and their mother claims to know you but you have never seen them in your life

Sure, you’ve murdered a ton of people in cold blood (to save your brother) but surely, if there’s a god, he wouldn’t be this cruel and make a world entirely out of all the people you’ve murdered

Right?

There’s these two guys and a girl who are talking to you like you’re their best friend in the whole wide world and it’s so damn bizarre because they’re so nice but you don’t know them at all. They say you’re schoolmates.

School?? You have never been to a school with other kids in it. Your social skills have been shot to death because you’ve been living in a cabin in the middle of nowhere for more than half of your life

From how nice they are, you probably didn’t kill them

Right?

Anyways, you’re not gonna tell them about the blood on your hands to avoid raining on their parade (even if you did, they’d say "We know" mixing up yours and the other Kaito’s victims, but you don’t know that and it’d mess you up even more. Oh and the tall broody guy would say "me too" which is supposed to be comforting but it really isn’t)

You come home (sweet home), relaying the bizarre story to your mentor (and the only friend around your age), who tells you to lay off on coffee and late nights

You tell him to piss off and shame him for his LEGO spaceship collection which really wasn’t cool of you and make him sad

You go to sleep, more fucked up than usual

[irisgoesgardening]

Some Happy⭐︎Hero⭐︎Machinegun scribbles

Story should come out sometime around 2027-2028…

Yes, Joruzin did release a third installment to his Sniper series. And yes, it’s called Happy⭐︎Animal⭐︎Rocket Launcher

I’m sure you can guess who Vector’s partner actually is, but there are spoilers below

Blue Eyes White Snipe Rifle lol

[sirgawainofgalifrey]

Not to knock on Wrightworth or other Phoenix ships but people like to make most of Phoenix's actions have a romantic undertone and really miss out on the fact that he'll just about die for anyone he considers a friend.

Like he took on a clearcut murder case with zero experience (what's a cross-examination lol) because he was friends with Larry in school.

He STRAIGHT UP ATE GLASS AND METAL for the girl he was dating and was willing to ignore that she'd murdered someone.

He changed his whole ass career to get in contact with Edgeworth again just to make sure he was okay emotionally (and for other reasons that people like to ignore just for making it all about Edgeworth), even though they literally were like in 4th grade together for like half a year.

The first case he defended Maya was almost entirely because of Mia, because he didn't know Maya yet.

Literally EVERY CASE that he defends Maya in he's going above and beyond all reason and logic to prove that she's not guilty.

Him literally going against all reason and evidence and Edgeworth's own admission in the Edgeworth case to prove he's not guilty.

HIM LITERALLY ONLY TAKING ON THE SKYE CASE BECAUSE EMA AND LANA REMINDED HIM OF MAYA AND MIA.

Him literally in the Engarde case willing to compromise all his principles to get a murderer off the hook to save her (they give you the option of going with pleading that Engarde is innocent, even though it doesn't effect the outcome).

Him literally running across a burning bridge at night over a huge cliff to make sure she's alright.

All I'm saying is I think the writers more intended to characterize Phoenix as someone who is willing to do almost anything for people he cares about (even if he acts like a grumpy asshole most of the time), more than emphasizing any one romantic relationship.

(I also think that's why he took Edgeworth faking his death so hard, and was so pissed at him for it. Like he felt betrayed and helpless at Edgeworth commiting suicide, mad (at Edgeworth and himself) that Edgeworth thought he couldn't come to him for help, when he would do anything for him. And then he finds out he was deceived, and couldn't understand how anyone could do that to someone they care about, like it's not in his friendship vocabulary ((also the fact that Edgeworth had confided in Gumshoe and not him that he was still alive, meaning he trusts Gumshoe more than him as a friend.)) It all comes down to Phoenix being betrayed that he's not trusted and his devotion to his friends not returned.)

Anyway sorry this is so long I hope it makes sense.

(also I've only played the original trilogy)

[magicwhiskers29]

I was messing with trying to doodle a new Sonic transformation for funsies, and then I saw the Loop bookmark I made a while back sitting around and I thought “huh,,,,,, that could be cool….” So… There’s a design, haha.

[thetimelordbatgirl]

Maybe its just me, but the way Lily wrote a Doctor being fine and enabling Iris and Kiera in...basically everything wrong with their sisters relationship down the line is just...quite telling of what she thinks doctors should do and shouldn't so. She has Iris basically rely on Kiera to commuicate via...blinking and looks and points and Kiera's telepathy kicked in each time to speak for her sister, which any Doctor would take the obvious BS in Kiera getting full sentences out of blinking and looks and have Kiera removed from the room so they can focus on commuicating with Iris and helping her with ways to do so, but no, Kiera insists on how Iris hates being seperated from Kiera and they have to be kept together and....the doctor just takes Kiera's word for it, and allows Kiera to continue speaking for Iris without checking if its what Iris is saying. Almost like Lily hates that a doctor once said Lily and Courtney shouldn't be left in the same room together alone, which that situation is obviously different to doctors seeing what's caused Iris to go mute and then help her commuicate, but like, given how Lily throughout the fic is making it out like a sibling depending forever on another sibling and being way too close even for siblings is a good thing....

[sofiaruelle]

Unleash the Fury in Iris and Bone – A Gripping Tale of Loyalty, Power, and Magic by Alison Wright

Celia Harkwell is bloodthirsty. She’s vicious and angry and lives to protect her sister. By whatever means or magic necessary.

Get your FREE copy of Iris & Bone at bookfunnel.com

The amazing and talented artist, illustrator and writer, Alison Wright commissioned me to illustrate her beautiful tragic twins, Celia and Agie Harkwell from her short story, Iris and Bone.

Celia and Agie are part of an even bigger story, Blightshade which is available as an ebook on Kindle, Apple, Kobo and Everand. Yall should check her and her books out on book2read!!!

Summary and No-text versions of the illustrations under readmore:

Celia has always taken care of Agie. As her sickly twin’s condition worsens, Celia uses her Clairvoyance to predict her sister’s needs and keeps her temper muzzled so that no one ever has an excuse to take Agie away.

But a vision of Agie’s imminent death shatters Celia’s world and any restraint holding her back.

With only hours left to save her sister, Celia unchains her every brutal impulse in search of a magic powerful enough to stall death.

But Agie has her own ideas that will not only undermine Celia’s plan, but dismantle her very identity. Agie’s plan will rip them apart, but Celia’s extremes could cost her Agie in ways she could never foresee.

CW: Non-violent animal death, discussions of suicide, brief scenes of magic body horror.

[mark-the-snark]

Behold:

Harry du Bois if he was in ace attorney! Maybe I'll make Kim sometime.

[lorata]

iris & bb adessa

ok @penfoldx asked about iris (bc i've only ever mentioned her) so i scoured my files and found an ANCIENT prompt fic that i started writing for @sweet-suzume TEN YEARS AGO and never finished

shad adwater from Whoever Needs Charity

The boy on screen turns his blood-smeared face to the camera, wide eyes shimmering with damp in the green-tinted night vision. Below him the final tribute gurgles and twitches as the blood leaks out too slowly for a quick, clean death, but Shad Atwater of District 4 appears not to notice, wiping blindly at the tears and muck that coat his cheeks.

Adessa stirs, and Iris glances down at her Victor, barely a year out herself and glued to the recap after having been denied the daily coverage. Onscreen the blood is black under the odd lighting, shining like an oil slick, and it’s been months since Iris caught Adessa in the woods examining the insides of squirrels trying to discover the future in their livers as she’d read in a book sometime, but this is more death and suffering than the young Victor has been permitted near since her own win.

“This isn’t right,” Adessa says. She sits primly as always, but now her knees twitch upward as though she’s fighting the urge to draw them up and hug her legs. The final tribute thrashes, exhales a final, shuddering breath as the boy from Four inhales one of his own, and at last the cannon fires. “This shouldn’t have been allowed to happen.”

Adessa is the first of them raised to volunteer from her earliest memories — her parents helped to found the Program and worked to recruit weapons-masters from all through the district and the veteran forces from the Capitol — and she never wavered in the Arena, not once. Iris hoped to avoid this, but it’s one thing to cause death and feel a modicum of control; it’s something else to watch it happen and see the brutality for what it is. This twitching, tortured child would be enough to turn anyone’s stomach.

She clicks her teeth hard, and Iris readies the speech she’s practiced since this year’s Reaping — about honour, and sacrifice, about their necessity whether it’s pretty and noble or not — except that Adessa cuts her off, voice unsteady. “He won’t stop crying. It’s — shameful, it’s not right. He’s the Victor, why is he weeping? Why did they allow this?”

Iris closes her mouth and studies Adessa truly. Her posture is tight and she’s actually fidgeting, which for Adessa is tantamount to near breakdown, and she draws her lower lip between her teeth and chews on it despite that being a forbidden mannerism in front of cameras or audiences. And yet it is not the death that has unsettled her, not the blood soaking the concrete and pooling sluggishly around the body; no, it is the tears of this year’s Victor that have peeled back her armour.

“Everyone wins differently,” Iris says as the recap ends and the cameras turn to Shad Atwater in the flesh, sitting onstage with his head; in his hands, shoulders trembling violently.

Adessa presses her hands flat over her knees to hide her shaking fingers. “They should let him go home,” she says decisively. “This isn’t appropriate viewing. No one should have to see this.”

Iris sighs and shuts off the television. “Come on,” she says, and Adessa springs to her feet with too much energy, muscles coiled tight. It will be a rough match today, but honest blood and solid violence is what her Victor needs. “Choose a weapon and let’s head outside.”

Adessa picks a curved dagger nearly the length of her forearm, lovingly turning the blade over in her hand, and Iris chooses a short sword. Soon Shad Atwater and his tears are forgotten in the clash of metal, and they do not speak of it again.

[relicsongmel]

Dahlia simultaneously needs and resents Iris' love.

She relies on it. She envies it. Possibly even fears it.

Iris is one of the single most selfless and loving characters in Ace Attorney—and her love for her sister is the main driving force behind why she chooses to become her accomplice, even if it means hurting others along the way. And without that help—without that love, Dahlia likely would not have gotten nearly as far as she did in escaping blame for her crimes. In that sense, Iris' love became a very useful resource to her.

However, despite what Dahlia wants us to think—despite all her claims about her sister being a "backstabber," Iris is more to her than a mere tool for damage control. To her, Iris is the only person in the world who sees her for who she truly is and still loves her regardless (and the same can be said in reverse as well).

Consider her claim that she convinced their father to send Iris away to Hazakura Temple. While it's highly unlikely that their father decided to leave Iris with Sister Bikini purely because of Dahlia’s pestering, it's possible that part of the reason she was so insistent was because she wanted to spare her sister from being hurt by him anymore, and her claiming credit for that decision is solely based on her need for control when she had been denied it all her life. Add on the fact that Dahlia continued to keep Iris in the loop of all her crimes despite her initial "betrayal" during the fake kidnapping incident—with the one exception being her plans to kill Phoenix, because she recognized Iris' romantic feelings for him. These behaviors all support the idea that Iris is special to her, however—in my opinion, the truest tells of Dahlia's love for her sister can be found in her lines to Phoenix while disguised as her:

Dahlia knows her sister better than anyone. She knows her to be kind, humble, and compassionate; as such, it makes sense that she would choose to embody these traits while pretending to be her. It can even be argued that Dahlia's sweet, delicate facade that she uses to sway the judge (among others) is directly inspired by how Iris is naturally. However, during this conversation, she exaggerates her sister's humility almost to an excessive degree—in fact, she heavily plays up Iris' reverence for her specifically. Which begs the question—why go that far, especially if the sudden shift in demeanor from this "Iris" means there's a risk her true identity could be discovered?

Is it possible, perhaps...that her reason for overemphasizing her sister's love for her is because said love is the only reliable constant in her life—the one thing giving her stability? She certainly comes off as egotistical here if you read this dialogue with the knowledge that it's Dahlia speaking and not Iris, but reading between the lines...it's almost as if her words are moreso directed towards herself rather than Phoenix—as if she's reassuring herself that she is loved by her sister because that feeling is a source of solace for her.

Dahlia isn't loveless. At the end of the day she is a human being seeking affection just like the rest of us (though she would never admit it and maybe even lacks the self-awareness to do so in the first place), but after the trauma she's endured and how much hatred she’s faced from her family and the world, she simply cannot fathom how her sister can go through the exact same thing and still retain her selfless nature. And given that she’s already far too hurt to blame herself for such a failure, she deflects that blame onto Iris instead (and she goes on to despise Phoenix for similar reasons—because he is surrounded by friends that love him and he, like Iris, is hopelessly selfless at heart). She's the one who has something wrong with her for not shutting herself off the same way, therefore, Dahlia feels less remorse for hurting her when she coerces her into her criminal activities. When she dives into Eagle River to flee her family. When she attempts to kill and later frame Phoenix knowing full well Iris is in love with him. When she agrees to help Morgan with her plan knowing it hinges on her sister taking the fall. Maybe, Dahlia thinks, if she keeps hurting her, Iris will eventually give up on loving her and then she’ll never have to carry that burden anymore—never again will she be forced to acknowledge the reality that she can be loved despite everything. That she could have been good despite everything. But even death itself brings no escape—the channeled Dahlia meets her sister in the Inner Temple and the two once again conspire the way they always have, swapping places just like they did before. And it’s during this swap that her self-aggrandizement (as Iris) reaches an extreme—because at the end of the day, her sister’s love and selfless willingness to help her have been her lifeline all along.

Dahlia loves Iris. But unlike her, she isn't always capable of expressing that love in a straightforward way. Thus, she hates her.

And that contradiction haunts her even beyond the grave.

[thequeenofthewinter]

Because Emmrook should fuck nasty and emotionally in the depths of the Necropolis. @starfleetteddybear made me do it. (Maybe if some of you throw things at me, I'll write more. My brain could only muster these 500 for right now.)

The taste of wine is still on his tongue, and if he allowed it, Iris would drown herself in it. Vaguely, she wonders if she isn’t gone already.

How did this even start?

Soft pants echo through the chambers of the Deep Necropolis, the etchings of a sculpture scraping lightly against her back as Emmrich fucks her furiously against it. Any other time, he would exercise caution—patience—with her, make love to her softly and sweetly while whispering the most delicious words in her ear until she comes apart.

What has gotten into him? 

“Dearest?” He breaks their messy kiss, yet his hands run everywhere—up her thighs, down her breasts, and then finally finding a home against her swollen clit. 

What if he is drowning too? Shouldn’t she be the one to save him?

One of her hands reaches up to cup his cheek as she throws her head back to rest against the wall, a string of half-thought out syllables spilling from her lips. Her words only egg him on, and he pushes into her deeper.

“Iris?” Emmrich places his hand at the back of her head to tilt it down and look at him again. Her pupils are blown wide, black pools swallowing their normal forest green.

“Hm.” It’s the only sound she can make as her body is on fire, warm clay molded and shaped in any way he chooses. She would do anything he wants, be anything he asks if he would only say the words. 

“What have you done to me?” His hips continue to meet hers in a punishing pace, and he doesn’t know how long he can hold on. Every moment he rises higher and higher, chasing his pleasure and waiting for the inevitable crash that will follow where he will lose himself in her.

“I love you.” Iris’ hands reach out to pull him closer to her, legs wrapping around him tighter as she arches against him.

For once, he has no verbal response for her, his thoughts too scrambled, too broken, as he tries to take more and more from her. All his life he had searched for love, acceptance, and affection, someone to return even a small piece of what he would give to them, and she has done that and so much more. Iris has put him back together again—made him whole. 

Tears begin to run down his cheeks, emotion overwhelming him, and he only buries himself deeper. There is no sweeter music than the sound of his name on her lips, and he would do anything to keep it.

“Marry me, Iris.” His tone is desperate, half-choked, and when she doesn’t say anything, he feels his blood run cold. Did he mess it up again? Expose his feelings too soon?

Gently, the pad of her thumb swipes against his cheekbones, quelling his outpour of emotions. “Nothing would give me more pleasure, my heart, than for you to call me your wife.

[scattered-irises]

MOONAGE DAYDREAM

Hello everyone! I have decided to post mine and trickbuster's @ygobigbang on tumblr as well as AO3. The AO3 crowd will get updates 15-20 minutes earlier with slight formatting differences and more linked media. I have been developing this fic for almost 10 years. I am honored to have had @trickbuster and the talented Lys and Sabella on this project. This is the first time I have ever collaborated with anyone to write and I had a great time!

The summary for Moonage Daydream is as follows:

The Numeron Code failed. Kaito is dead. Or so it seems.

At least in Mizael's memories, Kaito lives. In his waking hours, Mizael is haunted by Kaito's ghost. In sleep, he hears Kaito repeating the same message over and over again.

Return to the moon. I’m still here. There isn’t much time left. Hurry.

Was it his guilt, or was it truly Kaito? There is only one way to find out.

Rating: Teen

Word Count: 1075

Characters: Mizael, Kaito

Relationships: Slight Mizakai

Warnings: Canon divergence: Kaito is still dead

Act I: The Earth

“Hey darling

Can you hear this voice?

Hey darling

If you can hear this voice

Throw my remains in that temple’s ark

And resurrect me

The things you can’t do as one

certainly can be overcome if there’s two

The whereabouts of the miracle are now in your hands”

—Whereabouts of the Miracle, Akuno-P

Chapter 1: Revelation

“Come back,” urges Kaito. “I’m still here.”

His voice is distant despite standing in front of Mizael. A frown fills Kaito’s lips, coupled with furrowed brows. His eyes are filled with a dim glow as if touched by moonlight. He looks as he had in his final moments, dressed in his white spacesuit and cracked helmet. Around them is a white void, shining like the moon. Through the glare of the light, Mizael shields his eyes. 

“That’s impossible,” utters Mizael. 

He knows this for a fact. Humans were so terribly delicate while the vacuum of space had been merciless. He swallows a lump in his throat and gazes at Kaito’s pale blue eyes. Hadn’t he been there to hear Kaito take his final breaths?

“You’re dead,” he whispers. “I saw you die.”

The words stick in his throat, wrapping an invisible hand around it. How he hates that word. Dead. Death. Die. The end of what once was alive. Kaito’s death had been the end of his tale, his story now in the hands of others. There would be no more duels with Kaito, who had felt like a mirror image of Mizael. No more new words would be uttered from his lips. Only echoes, breathed out from the memories of those who had known him.

They had been two kindred hearts beating as one, separated by a sea of time and loneliness. If only Mizael had the courage to tell the truth before they were forced to battle on the moon…

Yet looking at Kaito now, his flickering image surrounded by light and listening to his fevered pleading, Mizael couldn’t help but think, 

Is he, though?

The same expressions. The same voice. He was so close Mizael could touch him…

Kaito continues to stare at Mizael with an unchanging expression. 

“Return to the palace. I’ll be there waiting,” Kaito promises. 

His visage flickers and warps, as if he was one of those holograms from a poorly connected call. 

“There isn’t much time left,” whispers Kaito.

Kaito’s helmet begins to fog and Mizael’s chest tightens. 

“Wait—”

“Hurry,” urges Kaito, light emanating from his suit. 

His final word is almost carried away in the radiant light. Mizael shields his eyes and winces.

Please. 

Mizael startles awake, jumping from his sweat-stained pillows. He turns to the clock. 2:00 AM. Moonlight creeps through the bottom of his thick curtains. His hands shake, recalling Kaito’s words. They echo in his mind, as they have for the last few weeks.

Return to the moon. I’m still here. There isn’t much time left. Hurry. 

Four months of this madness. 

Madness? Or was it grief? 

In the dim light, he stares out at his meticulously organized room in the Barian mansion. It still smells of fresh paint. His shelves are lined with Chinese classics translated to Japanese. He runs his eyes through the titles to steady himself. A Dream of Red Mansions. Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Journey to the West. Flowers in the Mirror. Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, with a bookmark tucked in its first few pages. Some had been presents from his new homeroom teacher, who was told that he was an exchange student from China. The others had come from Durbe and Yuma’s friends. 

Despite the shaking in his legs, Mizael pulls open the curtain. His chest twists in pain. The moon is brilliant, shining above Heartland’s skyline. 

He looks away. 

No. Not yet. Unlike the protagonists in his Chinese novels, he could no longer compose poetry underneath the moon. He could no longer use it to light his way home. He could no longer meet beautiful, ethereal beings beneath its gentle light. The moon no longer possessed magic to him.

Because Kaito was still dead. 

Because the Numeron Code had failed. 

Because he knows that everyone blames him for Kaito’s death. 

He is a condemned man, hanging between life and death. His fellow emperors and acquaintances will reassure him with their gentle smiles and soft words but he knows the truth. Behind his back, they will say that he is a man with blood on his hands. Just like what happened at the party, where one man had been brave (or besotted) enough to tell him the truth. 

On lonely nights, he can still hear the man’s words ringing in his ears.

He cannot bow to them, though. He is a warrior, born and raised. Instead, he will continue to live. Excel in his lessons. Smile. Duel, even without his beloved Tachyon. Pretend to be like other humans, even though he knows he could be so much more. The guilt he carries will be his burden as he makes his way through life. Like weeds, they will spread from his heart to the rest of his organs and he will fight them in silence. Eventually, he will succumb to the weeds choking his body. He will wither away without protest like Lin Daiyu, her debt to her lover repaid in tears. That was his fate. 

 If only his human body wasn’t so frail…

If his body was strong and he did not succumb to guilt…then what?

…

He is surviving, not living. Just like Kaito, he is a ghost wandering through Heartland City. 

Mizael forces himself to stare out at the moon again. It shines like a gem, defiant against the city’s light pollution. 

“Come back,” whispers Kaito’s voice. 

Shnnk. Mizael closes the curtains violently and looks around. Sometimes, he can see Kaito in the shadows, dressed in his robot’s corpse. His expression is always filled with a vacant smile, neither blaming nor absolving Mizael of his sin. Right now, the shadows of his desk yield no ghost. The space between his bookshelf and the corner of the wall remains a black void. Rumpled sheets are his bed’s only companion. His closet remains tightly shut, no gloved hand sheathed in white armor attempting to break out. 

This madness had to end. 

Mizael peeks through the curtains where the radiant moon remains.

Return. 

But how? 

Only the soft buzzing of electricity answers him.

[scattered-irises]

EPISODE SUMMARIES:

Episode 1: After challenging the school bully to a duel, Yuma awakens Astral from his slumber. The amnesiac ghost does not remember anything but his ability to duel. After Yuma's victory, both he and Ryoga are called to Heartland and are offered positions as Heroes. They meet Christopher (Hunter V), who is surprised to find that the two were able to easily control their Numbers. However, Ryoga's Affinity with Number 17 isn't high enough. He is led to the Numbers Hall to choose a slumbering Number. He chooses Number 73, Abyss Splash. The two then undergo their first transformations and make their first wishes as Hunters.

Episode 2: Hunter Hope (Yuma) and Hunter Judgement (Ryoga) have their first battle against a Numbers wielder. They meet Hunter Photon (Kaito) on the battlefield. Hunter V and Hunter Photon impress the two novices with their teamwork, finishing the battle with a "soul purification" of the possessed Numbers wielder. They assure the two that the individual will recover soon and without any memories of the possession. Yuma is excited to become a hero! Shark, meanwhile, seems less excited. Astral gets back the first few pieces of his memories.

Episode 3: Yuma drags Shark around the city to patrol for Numbers on their first stint as Hunters. They find not one, but two (it's Rikuo and Kaio)! They have a fierce battle, developing their teamwork skills. Shark admits that those two were his former bosses, but he guesses he doesn't need them now. At the end of the battle, Hunter V and Hunter Photon arrive, thinking that they would need backup. Instead, they find that Yuma has easily purified the possessed wielder's soul with the help of Astral. Hunter V muses that these two may be the best Hunters yet.

Episode 4: Kaito visits Haruto, who is trash bombing Astral World. Ryoga visits his sister Rio in the hospital. He says that his revenge can finally begin. He is then called out to another hunt, joining V, Photon and Hope. At the end of the battle, V collapses, but reassures everyone that it's just a bit of fatigue. Using the power of the gods isn't easy, after all. Astral is suspicious of this. Perhaps being a Hunter isn't all glitz and glamor.

Episode 5: The Hunters meet at a cafe to celebrate Yuma and Ryoga's first month as hunters. It's a slow episode, where we also learn a bit about the gods' war. Christopher lets loose that he hasn't seen his siblings in 5 years. Something always comes up when he tries to find them. At the end of the episode, Christopher overhears a conversation from Dr. Faker.

Episode 6: Christopher learns the truth behind his father's disappearance. He gets ready to leave and meets up with Yuma to reveal everything to him. Kaito stops him. Even after Christopher reveals Dr. Faker's murder of Byron, Kaito says that he is determined to stay with Dr. Faker to save his brother. They get in a fight, where Kaito collapses. He knows he's reached his limit, much like Christopher is about to. Christopher runs off to reveal the truth to both Yuma and Ryoga. Meanwhile, Ryoga and Yuma visit Rio in the hospital, where Ryoga tells Yuma that his sister had been a Hunter before him. After facing off against 4 Numbers alone, Rio was grievously injured. Her soul is between their world and the Numbers'. Due to her high spiritual values, she must be constantly sedated. Ryoga reveals that his wish was to become the last Hunter and end the Hunters program once and for all. Yuma is shocked.

Episode 7: Christopher arrives. He reveals the entire ugly truth behind the Numbers program. Yuma finds out that "purifying souls" is just straight up killing people. Astral knew the whole time. Also, all Hunters are destined to die horrifying deaths as the toll of the Numbers slowly rot their bodies from inside out. Ryoga and Yuma were basically Christopher and Kaito's replacements, respectively. Christopher and Kaito are always wear long clothes because their bodies are covered in open, burned sores. Ryoga says he wants to destroy Heartland. Christopher agrees. Yuma tries to stop them, still believing that Hunters should protect mankind. Astral disagrees with Yuma, saying that Barian World should be destroyed. He's now remembered his original mission. While Yuma is distracted by Astral, Ryoga and Christopher leave.

Episode 8: Christopher goes to rescue his brothers first. Ryoga lies in wait and finds Kaito. Although weakened, he tells Ryoga he must stop. Dr. Faker is planning a tournament to gather all of the world's Numbers. Impatient with the Hunters' progress, the Barians send a wave of possessed duelists to the WDC. It's the beginning of Walpurgis Night the end.

Episode 9: Ryoga, Kaito and Yuma find themselves in an uneasy alliance at the WDC. There isn't time for infighting because V is back, now with a mysterious figure known as Tron. Tron presents his Knights, who rival the Hunters in power and prowess. Knight is pitted against Hunter. Yuma fights Knight Ruby (Michael). Ryoga fights Knight Topaz (Thomas), who he recognizes as the guy who got him disqualified from a duel tournament. Kaito is back to fighting his mentor and old friend, Knight Sapphire (Christopher).

Episode 10: Knights and Hunters continue to fight. They then realize that the Barians are all using them. Kaito refuses to lose and activates Rank Up much to everyone's horror. Fusing with Galaxy Eyes Photon Dragon, he defeats his mentor and the rest of the knights. Tron also ranks up with his own monsters as a fusion of 69 and 8. Left with no choice, Kaito fuses with his second Number, 62. Yuma tries to stop the all-out kaiju magical boy battle but Tron eventually defeats Kaito, due to the state of his health.

Episode 11: Ryoga and Yuma team up and defeat Tron. Tron reveals that he was the one who had noticed Rio's abnormally high spiritual drift levels and suggested she become a Hunter. Yuma warns Ryoga against Ranking Up, noting the state of Kaito's body. Ryoga reluctantly listens. He and Yuma defeat Tron, who laughs and reveals that Ranked Up Knights and Hunters have basically become gods. They have the power to grant one small wish if they choose to do so. Seeing that revenge will lead to an endless loop much like the gods' war, Tron chooses to grant the two a wish. After consulting with each other, Yuma and Ryoga wish to heal Kaito and Christopher, who deserve to continue fighting for their family.

Episode 12: The team goes to battle Dr. Faker, who is possessed by the Barians. They learn about Hunter Starlight. Yuma finds out he can Rank Up with Astral. After they defeat Faker, they find that all the Numbers have been collected. They get transported to Astral World, where they meet Eliphas. Yuma reunites with his parents there. Astral gets his memories back. Eliphas offers to grant their wishes. Rio and Haruto are healed. Christopher gets his father back. Yuma wishes for all of the Hunters' victims to come back. Happy ending for everyone!!!

Season II would theoretically go like Sailor Moon: Cosmos. Vector is Sailor Galaxias, seeking his revenge against the Hunters and Knights. We're introduced to Special Forces Hunters aka Gauche, Droite, Yagumo and Luna (Hunters Lion, Butterfly, Spider and Egret). Barians are now on earth. Everyone can transform again and healed from Don Thousand's curse. Rio is added to the Hunters team while Christopher chooses to fight alongside his brothers.

Zexal Month, Day 21 + 22: Originality + Powers

@zexalmonth Magical Numbers Hunters AU!! In which Photon Transformation becomes the key to hunting numbers. I have been releasing snippets of the story throughout my art blog. You can find them here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

The story is as follows:

BACKSTORY: Thousands of years ago, the gods battled to determine if chaos or order would prevail. The legendary warrior Astral sacrificed his memories to seal away the god of chaos, Don Thousand. However, Astral World would not be victorious for long. Astral's memories were scattered across the human plane in the form of Number cards, meant to be the gods' blessings upon mankind. With the last of his powers, Don Thousand cursed the Numbers to possess its wielders and manifest their deepest desires. In turn, Eliphas vowed that if there ever was to be a being who could collect all of the Numbers without sullying their soul, they would be able to obtain a wish from the gods and determine the battle between chaos and order, once and for all. Of course the task is impossible. Numbers are too powerful. Those who have tried throughout history were condemned to madness and destruction upon trying to wield the power of the gods.

Until two scientists are determined to end the war, once and for all.

Mitsuko Tenjo and Dr. Faker attempt to build Numbers immunity in humans. Along the way, Mitsuko gives birth to Kaito.

Then, they have a breakthrough—the Numbers are linked to other dimensions.

Thus, Byron enters. He has been researching dimensions and how certain humans have higher "spiritual drift" values than others. Humans with high drift aptitudes are able to wield Numbers for longer than the average human due to their close connection with the home of the gods (the other dimensions). Unfortunately, once Don Thousand's curse sets in, they become an extremely dangerous individual. The three work together for a few years. Due to the stress of the work, Mitsuko finds that she can no longer have children. She falls into despair, deciding to collect all the Numbers to have another child. With all of the progress they have made, Mitsuko decides to set out and become the first Hunter—Hunter Starlight. One day on a hunt, she and Faker encounter the Barians. They offer to grant her wish as long as her future child will fight on behalf of Barian World to destroy Astral World. They accept. Eventually, Haruto arrives, but at that point, Mitsuko's body has deteriorated from collecting Numbers. She dies, leaving Dr. Faker heartbroken. Although she didn't succumb to Don Thousand's curse, her body slowly withered away.

This was the cost of using the power of the gods. Haruto is born weak. Dr. Faker seeks out the Barians to break the contract. They laugh in his face and say after he collects all the Numbers, they'll heal Haruto. For now, if he doesn't want Haruto to end up like his mother, he'll need to find a few replacements. They hint that the most powerful Hunters are born from despair. Kaito is the perfect candidate. Before he begins his experiments on his son, Dr. Faker must be sure though. He turns his eye on Byron and Kazuma Tsukumo's sons. Yuma Tsukumo is randomly picked to see if an average citizen of Heartland could become a Hunter. Cue episode 55's flashback. This time, Faker sacrifices Byron and Kazuma for his experiment but also to buy more time for Haruto. "Take two innocent souls as a token of my goodwill" kinda messed up shit. In turn, the Barians give Haruto powers to destroy Astral World but still refuse to break his contract. Faker proceeds to isolate Christopher and further plunge him into despair. When he is at the end of his rope, Dr. Faker asks if he wishes to become a Hunter. Hunter V is soon born. He is instructed to train Kaito to become a Hunter as well. Faker continues to keep a close eye on Yuma and Kamishiro Rio and Ryoga—twins with abnormally high spiritual drift values. TO BE A HUNTER: Hunters are legends in Heartland City. Their identities are kept secret, but they are hailed as heroes to mankind. To become a Hunter, there are five key determinants: 1. Despair Values (Or, D-levels) 2. Physical Strength 3. Mental Fortitude 4. Spiritual Drift (Or, the individual's ability to communicate with the Numbers/drift between dimensions) 5. Numbers Affinity (Their compatibility with their Number) Episode summary in the reblog!!

[pretendthisisaname]

Sure hope this isn't some kind of foreshadowing

[aparticularbandit]

Spelling Error

Summary: Byakuya corrects Ryoko.

for @funishment-time's April Foolin' event!

Rating: G.

AO3

“You spelled that wrong.”

“What?  No, I didn’t!”

Ryoko looks at her notebook.  Really looks at it.  Her brows furrow.  All of the lines squiggle together.  It looks right.  She’s certain it’s right.  It is right…right?  She looks back up at the blonde boy next to her – his name is on the tip of her tongue, and her head itches to try and think of it, but nothing comes out – she must have heard it a few minutes ago, and he’s acting like they’re friends – and she stares at him.  “It doesn’t look weird to me.”

She’s lying, of course.  But it’s the same sort of thing as saying a word over and over and over and having it start sounding weird.  At least, she thinks it is.  Surely looking at a word over and over could make it look weird, too.  So she still spelled it right!  Definitely!

…right?

“You have the i and the e mixed up.”  He points to the word with the sharpened tip of his pencil.  “You really are the Ultimate Dunce.”

“No!  I’m the Ultimate Cute!”  Ryoko sticks her tongue out at him.  Then she writes the word again, this time with the i and e replaced.  She stares at it for a few seconds.  “That doesn’t look right.”

“It is right.”

“You’re sure?”  Ryoko glances back up at him.  She meets his blue eyes.  They’re not as deep or dark or pretty as Yasuke’s are, and they’re cold and harsh.  Somehow, that seems friendly.  Not attractive the way that Yasuke’s are.  Not remotely.  Just…nice.  Maybe.  Maybe?

“Yes.”  He sighs and rolls his eyes.  “And you’re not the Ultimate Cute.  That term is far too subjective to be an Ultimate Talent.  It isn’t measurable in the slightest.”

Ryoko blinks twice.  “Oh.”  She tugs her lower lip between her teeth.  “I’m not the Ultimate Dunce, though.  I know that!”

The boy just taps her notebook again. “Make sure you spell it right next time.”

“Spell what right?”

He groans.

[the-red-thread-that-strangles]

For the character ask game thing: Rei. Obviously. 1, 2, 12, 15, 16. I tried to limit myself and not just say "all of them" but if you want to answer more of them, go for it. <3

For this ask meme

Oh dear, you've given me a lot to think about (thank you, I like thinking)

✨🔪Rei🗡️✨

1. Canon I outright reject

Alright, so. I'm actually good with most of canon. Not because I'm such a big fan of it, but because of my tendency to overthink things and go "okay, but how can this still work."

We'll get to what I think doesn't work in a moment, but first I have a bone to pick with Aoyama's word of god, aka his answers in the interviews. My gripe is mostly that I think he doesn't think his answers through (in the cases where he doesn't just give a non-answer).

Some I can work with. I've come around to "Scotch was a sniper in the BO" because it opens up the possibility of sniper due Scotch & Rye, even though I think Hiro deserved his own speciality (and also Aoyama is never going to show us Scotch sniping, so that's just a waste of potential).

Some I am undecided on. Aoyama refuses to give us answers on Rei's family, even though it would be quite relevant for his character (someone with a family that supports him would not be so cripplingly lonely). I hope Aoyama won't botch that, but I will hold my judgement until then.

Some confuse me. What do you mean, Rei wanted to keep Sherry (who he recognised as Elena's daughters) alive, but give her to the BO?? Wouldn't it be a great source of intel for the PSB??

An then there's the things I just can't get behind. Aoyama means to tell me that the whiskey trio didn't exist, that Rei's outrage and betrayal at seeing Rye over Scotch's dead body was...born in the moment? That Rei decided on making revenge his whole personality based on...nothing prior? That he and Vermouth accurately recreated Akai from a grainy bodycam video? I can, of course, read Rei as that kind of instantly obsessive guy who doesn't actually know Rye. But it's just no fun, that way, so I refuse. It's better if there was a simile of trust that could be broken.

Now, ignoring word of god and returning to actual canon, we're not quite there yet, but when it comes to the way things are going atm, I fear we might eventually head for a ship I have no good feelings about: amua*u. I'm certainly biased, but Rei deserves better than to have a girl who doesn't actually know his true self, not his name, not his face; better than the microaggresions and racism that when he calls her out on, she defends herself with "I'm not as smart as you, bleh"; someone who doesn't say she hates spending time with him because it will get her bullied online. Rei deserves someone who will stand by his side, keep up with him, and loves him for who he is. This girl is not that, and if it comes to it, I will reject this ship. But for now, this is only a hypothetical, and I really hope Aoyama will reconsider.

(Actually, while I was thinking about this, I figured out something that is canon, but that I outright reject: Rei's "crush" on Elena. I believe that he loved her, but that he saw her as a mother figure, and he's most certainly not still pining over her, shut up Matsuda.)

2. A canon or headcanon hill I will die on

Uh. Okay. What's a hill I could comfortably die on when it comes to Rei. Something that is mildly controversial, perhaps. Um.

I think Rei would look great with knives, but that's not really worth dying for, is it?

Hm.

I had a whole paragraph written about how I would like to see a more nuanced take on Rei, and not exaggerate things as much for comedic purposes, but I'm also guilty of that, so that would be quite hypocritical for me to say. And I try not to be that person.

Instead, I'll just stick with my guns. Rei definitely tops more often than Akai- /shot

12. Crack headcanon

Oh god. Hm. I mean. I think my beloved Demon Lord Rei (hail) counts as a crack interpretation of the character?

I don't really have crack headcanons lying around, if anything I usually go for the crack treated seriously approach and make an AU out of it. See also: way too many words on the sweater AU, which started with the crack take of Rei stealing Akai's sweaters.

Just for you though, I saw this

image just now, so today's crack theory is that Bourbon wears contact lenses. Maybe they're superspy contact lenses that block him from being identified in iris scans. And also this would explain (partially) how he was so comfortable dressing up as scar!Akai-

(See? See this is the problem, I'm trying to rationalize it again. Can't have pure, unadulterated crack in this house.)

15. Worst thing they've ever done?

Do you want an excerpt from a wip on that?

Throughout the years, Bourbon works whichever jobs the syndicate demands of him.

Fence, enforcer, honey pot.

Spy.

Torturer.

Executioner.

The list goes on.

Each of them ruins someone's life, some more directly than others.

Among the more insidious jobs, for its false promises of fortune to the desperate and destitute, is working at the casino in Las Vegas.

I like to think that Rei has committed a variety of crimes for the sake of the job. Naturally, he wouldn't feel great about them, but what choice does he have? They're simply necessary to maintain his cover.

When it comes to bad things, there's probably a few that would make the list. Perhaps trying to kill Elena's daughter is somewhere on it. Perhaps he doesn't have compassion for her; Rei, after all, appears to be focused on specific people that hold his attention, not their surroundings.

If one asked him, though, under duress and the influence of a truth serum, he'd probably say the worst thing he's done is to drag Hiro along with him right down into hell. Got him interested in the police academy, and then the PSB, and then this mission.

The price was too high, but Rei only came to realise it after it had already been paid.

16. Deepest darkest secret they won’t even admit to themselves?

Rei is cripplingly lonely, struggles to make new connections, and eventually, his job will not be enough to stave off the dark hours of night. He can work himself to the brink of exhaustion, or even death, but it won't matter. There is only one of him, and so, so many crooks that want to exploit and kill and destroy.

And eventually, if he lives long enough, he'll need to stop and face all his life's mission has cost him. The countless hours of sleep lost because he'd rather work than face the nightmares. The lives of his friends, which he didn't get to see aside from the few times they went to visit graves. The thankless nature of it all, as he works in the shadows to keep the public safe. He can't ever be a Hiro hero, he won't be; the public would condemn him for his deeds.

(It's already started; his hatred for Akai has superseded the mission. If that's gone, too, what will he have left?)

And at this point, at this crucial junction, I hope he finds a new reason to breathe. Because otherwise, I fear he might break down and disappear.

[dracrownian]

So earlier I said I'd make a separate post for a bit of a WIP. This is that post.

The original post here I said I'd do this is [ here ], and the fandom ask meme post for which I'm doing this is [ here ]. (Feel free to send asks if you like. If someone else ask for WIPs I might even find more to post. If I can find something I like enough to share.)

Context: uhh. I wrote this back in November, so I'm not 100% sure where it was fully going. Seems to take place during the FBI serial murder case. There's some OkiAmu going on (even if you'll never get Rei to admit that). Hiro's alive and basically being a more trusted version of Kazami. He never went undercover, Scotch never existed. That's about all I remember. It's probably not quite accurate to call it a WIP, since I have no plans to continue it (and a lot of the premise is being used for a different au that I'll write eventually), but it was fun to go back and read at least this bit of it. Enjoy!

-----

I’m watching the hotel. Can you meet them for me?

Zero’s text comes in just as Hiro’s prepping to leave anyway, so the timing’s a little perfect. Sure, he sends back. Where?

He doesn’t have to wait long for the answer: You know the Kudou house in Beika?

That causes Hiro to raise an eyebrow at his phone. Your boyfriend’s house?

Not his house. Not my boyfriend. But yes.

On my way.

Zero has not, of course, deigned to tell him why Okiya Subaru, humble grad student, is involved with the FBI (or the Kudous, for that matter, since he’d heard rumors that they’re back in town), but sometimes Hiro finds it easier to just not ask those questions. Either he’ll get an answer or he won’t; his job remains the same regardless.

By the time he pulls up near – but not in front of – the Kudou house, his phone has buzzed with a new text notification leaving the baffling instructions of Please tell the idiot in charge not to do anything reckless.

James Black? He sends back, confused. Zero has a tenuous relationship with the FBI, at best, but calling James Black an idiot seems rather more insulting than even Rei’s standards, when, as far as Hiro knows, he hasn’t done anything particularly heinous.

No.

“That’s really helpful. Thanks, Zero,” he mumbles to himself. He’ll likely just disregard the instructions, anyway, because it isn’t really his place to drop in on an FBI operation and make demands (even if the demands are just strongly-worded cautions). With a sigh, he locks his car and mentally prepares to, once again, face Okiya Subaru as he trudges to the house.