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#( . i have no idea where the hell he's actually injured lmao so feel free to go wild with it
stillsolo · 6 months
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@vicioushope 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚍 :: " i assume that the rumors surrounding you are all false and unrelated to why you're bleeding out on my sofa? "
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               𝚂𝙿𝚁𝙰𝚆𝙻𝙴𝙳 𝙾𝙽 𝙹𝚈𝙽’𝚂 𝙲𝙾𝚄𝙲𝙷 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙱𝙻𝙴𝙴𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙵𝚄𝚂𝙴𝙻𝚈 ,  han solo turned away to scowl up at the ceiling.
❝just thought your sofa might need some redecorating, so here i am.❞  solo waved his good arm, the action halting and cut short with a hiss.  shavit—was he still bleeding?  jaw set taut, he rolled his shoulders, finally working off the soaked fabric that seemed adhered to his skin, sliding it down his biceps until it gathered at his elbows.  ❝y’know i like to accessorize with red.  adds contrast—and character.❞
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jokes aside, he’d made it out alive, hadn’t he?  han flexed his fingers and winced at the discomfort lancing up his side.  injuries had long ago become the norm for him, and he was no stranger to pain, but… come to think of it, han couldn’t recall the last time he came across a sleemo whose skill with a blaster perhaps rivaled his own.  the slimy bastard had intercepted him while crossing the docks, emerging from between a stack of crates before demonstrating one hell of a quick draw.  it would’ve fetched him a genuine compliment if he didn’t immediately level the blaster at han’s center mass, like this was a stickup and han wasn’t the type of man who’d shoot first and ask questions later.
❝so, rumors, huh?  dunno ’bout that, but y’know how it is.  people love to talk; they make me sound more exciting than i actually am.❞  with his head still spinning and his shoulder burning something fierce, han slanted a sideways grin at a face he hadn’t seen in over a year.  ❝you keepin’ tabs on me?❞
he should’ve taken the guy more seriously though, especially after his furious spluttering about a botched job and lost credits, that it was han’s fault his sweetheart had left him high and dry.  it all painted a picture han was pretty sure he had nothing to do with.  regardless, it’d been mistake to try reasoning with a nova-happy kreetle clearly off his repulsors.  as for his final mistake?  well, in hindsight, han reckoned that telling the guy to go frink himself was probably not the best way to deescalate the situation, but how could he have known the bastard had brought muscle with him?  like a mynock out of hell, the gran dropped in fast, closing the distance between them and nailing han square in the face, leaving him stunned and disoriented.
    memory blurred beyond that point.    han only vaguely recalled spotting a prybar and the stark flash of a vibroblade powering on in the dark; his own startled shouts of pain amid the thunderous drumming of his heart, and an additional mix of voices, lost somewhere in the commotion…  han shut his eyes and shook his head, letting a breath go slowly before he tugged at the rest of his dirtied clothes with sudden haste.
 they could chat about what happened later, preferably after he plugged what bloody holes now littered his body.
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makeste · 3 years
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BnHA Chapter 314: ...Or You Live Long Enough to See Yourself Become the Villain
Previously on BnHA: Some random assholes were all “let’s throw exploding spears at All Might and see if it activates his Conqueror’s Haki” and SURPRISE, MOTHERFUCKERS, IT DID!! Elsewhere, Lady Nagant confusingly tried to capture Deku alive by shooting him in the stomach, but to be fair I guess that’s what happens when you send an assassin to do a bounty hunter’s job, so yeah. Deku was all “ouch”, and then because this is a shounen he basically just straight up forgot about it, and did a big fancy Smokescreen thing, and then activated his mildly incomprehensible new ki-blasting quirk which he got from the Third. En and the Third were all “hey Deku maybe let’s not just impulsively activate all this shit in the heat of battle when you don’t know how to use it yet and you’re already injured,” and Deku was all “thanks for the quirks guys but I’ll take it from here” and snuck up on Nagant and grabbed her arm and so now what’s going to happen I wonder.
Today on BnHA: Nagant is all “[shoots Deku again]” because of course she is lol. Deku is all “tell me about AFO!” and Nagant is all “why would I tell you anything?” and then proceeds to tell him her entire life story which is FILLED WITH SO MUCH MURDER, YOU GUYS. Holy shit. So basically she was an assassin for the HPSC, which we already knew, but somehow it’s one thing to know that, and another to actually see her running around capping dudes in the forehead and being covered in more blood than the elevator from The Shining. Anyway, so you’ll never believe it, but all that murder had a negative impact on her psychologically, and eventually led her to question everything she believed about hero society, and so she killed her creepy boss and was promptly sent to Tartarus. This extremely fun chapter ends with Overhaul showing up all “HI, HELLO, I’M STILL HERE”, because for some reason he is still here. Why are you still here, Overhaul.
“the beautiful Lady Nagant” oh you know your audience don’t you Horikoshi
well all right then! so I’m guessing this means that she is not, in fact, going to roll over and die just because Deku’s out here all “GOT YA!” like they’re playing a game or tag or something. ffff may the manga gods have mercy on our young suicidal protagonist
lmao so Deku is all “GOD I’M SO SMART, WHAT A GOOD STRATEGY I HAD, CAPITOL JOB THERE OL’ CHAP, CAPITOL” and lol, okay. I mean, it was a good plan though. but I’m still waiting for the other shoe to drop here
“I’ll make you give me information on All for One” well there you go, lol. Deku Angst arc still fully engaged. still no light in his eyes either of course. just a lil chaotic ball of sleep deprivation and rage
lol, fucking THANK YOU though
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oh my god what the hell did she do to him lol
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did she shoot him with her elbow??? fucking look at this?? THIS IS WHY WE LISTEN TO HAWKS oh my god Deku are you dead
WHAT’S HAPPENING, IS THIS GOOD OR BAD, WHO’S WINNING
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things that I wish I could tell from this panel which I unfortunately cannot tell
did she stab him or shoot him?? can you imagine if it was the former lol. why does Horikoshi keep stabbing all my kids. look Kacchan now the two of you can match
did she actually hit him or did he get away??
or did she hit him and then he jumped away?? just, what
well anyway, so now Deku is asking her why she sided with AFO, but he seems a lot more pissed off than when he was interrogating Muscular, though. probably because she shot him three times. fair enough
oh my god
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does Lady have a blog here on tumblr dot com?? -- does Horikoshi have a blog here on tumblr motherfucking dot com?? why do I suddenly feel like this man is out here sneakily reading up on all our discourse
oh my god Deku it’s almost like getting up close and personal with someone who can shoot custom bullets from any distance and any position with deadly accuracy was a terrible fucking idea
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IF ONLY SOMEONE HAD WARNED YOU NOT TO ENGAGE WITH HER AT ALL COSTS. IF ONLY SOMEONE HAD HAD THE FORESIGHT TO DO THAT sob. can you imagine how much shorter this series would be if characters actually listened to Hawks. Hawks, and Momo. why do we even let anyone else run the show ever
OH MY GOD
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DEKU, RUN
OH MY GOD WHAT IS HAPPENING
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this looks a lot like what happens to me whenever I play One’s Justice. those fucking combo attacks that you can’t fucking escape from and so your character just has to stand there getting their ass whalloped repeatedly while you wonder why you paid $40 for this
but anyways though. so Lady who did you kill?? I bet they deserved it, don’t worry I forgive you
(ETA: ANYWAY SO FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT LADY NAGANT DID NOTHING WRONG EVER IN HER ENTIRE LIFE. aside from murdering all those innocent people and shit. but there were CIRCUMSTANCES, and THEY WERE EXTENUATING, OKAY.)
-- holy shit
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looks like the HPSC arc is back on the menu boys
so are we about to learn that the HPSC was going full Hydra on people’s asses? secretly dispatching anyone they deemed a threat to society?? “taken care of” as in you fucking shot them??
so then was the “hero” she killed actually one of the guys who was giving or carrying out these orders?? holy shit Lady, up until now I’ve mainly just been stanning you for your flawless eyebrow game and metal af quirk, but this shit could actually get real very quickly, and I am prepared to genuinely and sincerely love the shit out of you depending on what we learn next about your backstory
oh my god?!?
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so wait, hold up. am I reading this right?? basically the HPSC started murdering vigilantes because they were worried they were gaining too much of the public’s favor?? holy fucking shit???
oh my GOD oh my god
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“it’s been a while since I scarred you all with the dead dog and the graphic slaughter of an entire innocent family, huh,” Horikoshi says thoughtfully. “anyway so what do you all think of my new creation, the Spaghetti Bullet.” well, Horikoshi, so you know that squished-up face that Kermit the Frog makes sometimes? yeah. that’s what I think, if you must know lol
holy hell the juxtaposition
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I’m actually kind of surprised to learn she had a lot of fans? what with her M.O., I was expecting her to have been an underground hero like Aizawa, but apparently not? then again I still have absolutely no idea how any of that works. I really need to read Vigilantes already
oh snap
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nothing like a sweet dose of assassin trauma to finally round out our BnHA Trauma Bingo!! well done guys, we finally collected all of the traumas! hooray!
noooo Ladyyyyyyy
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holy shit what a fucking chapter. like, this man promised us an assassin, and went and fucking delivered. I was not expecting it to be this dark, lol, but holy shit I am here for it
you know, at some point you have to start questioning the logistics of this, though
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I mean, how do I put this... her quirk isn’t exactly subtle. that murder scene from a few pages back looked like the first season of Dexter for fuck’s sake, that’s not exactly “disappearing” people now is it?? and I mean, her bullets are literally made from her own fucking hair; it seems like it would be impossible not to leave any evidence behind. did no one start to wonder who the fuck was going around murdering all these people? or did the people who asked too many questions wind up getting conveniently “disappeared” themselves??
and hey, speaking of asking too many questions
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holy shit is he blackmailing her??!? or no, wait -- what the hell is he reaching for in his pocket boy you better not
(ETA: what exactly was this man expecting fdslkjd. “uh oh my unstoppable hair trigger assassin who is literally always armed is asking questions, better announce that I am going to shoot her and then reach into my pocket veeeeeery slowly while she stands there all of two feet away.” how did this guy ever function as the head of a shadow government with these decision-making skills, I’m genuinely baffled.)
OH MY GOD LADY YES
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this. right here. is why “run the fuck away” was damn good solid fucking advice. oh shit. but my god did this dude have it coming
so wait lol has she just been narrating all of this out loud to Deku this entire time
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okay but can we just stop for a moment and appreciate the fact that they’re having this deep conversation about the dark secrets of hero society right in the middle of their intense mid-air sniper free-for-all lol
holy shit you guys, Nagant’s the one that should have made the tell-all video. I mean, no offense to you, Dabi, I’m sure you worked very hard on your video and did a ton of crunches every day so that you would look good with your shirt off while you told the world all about how your dad was a jerk. but seriously...
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this is already like 100x more convincing than what he put out. also, gasp, is it another flashback
yes it is oh my gosh
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so the HPSC Chairladyperson whom ReDestro killed used to be this guy’s direct subordinate, huh? I wonder if she kept the whole assassin program going after she took over. can’t say I was feeling any particular kind of grieving way about her death before, but certainly not now lol
but unfortunately Nagant has finally lost me at the same place where all of the villains inevitably do, which is to say when they somehow make the dubious mental leap from “society sucks and is bad” to “let’s just be openly fucking evil lol, worth a shot.” because when heroes murder innocent people and cover it up, that’s obviously bad (and I mean, it absolutely fucking is lol, don’t get me wrong); but when villains murder innocent people straight up out in the open without giving a fuck, they’re righteous revolutionaries? just -- is there really no non-murdery middle ground here?? I guess that’s what Deku and co. are for, hopefully
anyways oh shit Deku seems to have spotted something?? and he’s doing something weird with Blackwhip what
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oh, he spotted her, I guess
lmaooooo
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new favorite Deku panel right here. a masterpiece
oh my god you guys our little boy is starting to grow up before our eyes
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you love to see it. and you can tell with those elipses that he’s gearing up to say something really cool and determined and badass like the shounen protag he is, yes please, Deku ilu so much please do your thing
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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IS THAT A TEENY TINY LIL EYE SPARKLE THERE OMG. still not anywhere close to his usual standard, but that’s some clear resolve there in his eyes there at long last! it always shines the most clearly when he’s being true to himself and his ideals, so I love that it finally shows up again here, when he’s reaffirming his resolve to help others no matter what
uh oh so what’s Lady going to do now
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is it time for a trump card?? kinda sounding like it’s time for a trump card
???
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I lied btw, this is my new favorite Deku panel. but anyways what is she up to now lol
ohhhhhh, lol
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why does she seem shocked, lol. here I thought this was part of her plan, but apparently she forgot all about ol’ “Look Ma, No Hands” back up there
and so I guess that’s it for this week! so we’ve learned basically everything now about Lady and her quirk and her history with the HPSC and why she agreed to work for AFO. pretty much the only question that still remains is why the hell she decided to drag this asshole along for the ride! because I still cannot figure that out dsklkjlkf
(ETA: actually now I’m kind of wondering if they maybe have some past connection we don’t know about yet. when exactly was Nagant sent to Tartarus? is it possible she was ordered to track down and kill Overhaul at some point before that, but never got around to it? or something else along those lines? idk but now I’m curious.)
anyways Deku, I know that your empathy has no bounds and that you’re on a “saving villains” kick right now, and good on you... but also, if you decide to just like, skip all of that shit just this once, absolutely no one will hold it against you, I’m just saying. just, all I’m asking here is maybe let’s think twice before we start trying to reform guys who imprison and torture little girls for profit. I think maybe that’s a good place to draw the line. next week is going to be a very interesting chapter lol
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saipng · 3 years
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Sai, you asked for hc shit so imma give u au hc shit chief. brace yourself for my shitty attempt lmao.
Ok. Heisenberg starts protecting Ethan (cant let the twink croak before he’s served his purpose lmao) after he agrees to his deal and they start questing through the village together. Like, he starts out real subtle and lowkey, like, not letting the enemy get too close to Ethan, letting the man actually rest, you know, lowkey stuff. But as time flies, Karl catches himself actually caring for Ethans safety (and maybe even starts catching some feelings??) so his efforts to protect him just escalate from there.
Like, he starts to deliberately put himself between Ethan and danger. Not that it stops Ethan from getting injured, but you know. Its the thought that counts. And Ethan being the oblivious dumbass just chalks it up to Karls blood knight tendencies and doesnt pay it much mind. (And if one happens to lose ones limb again, and ones metal hobo ally really insists on tending to your wounds, and turns the whole process into a weird emotionally intimate experience between you two, well, that just a european thing, right? like, thats just how things are done round these here parts, right??)
It all comes to a head sometime later during an aftermath of an especially brutal fight, during which Heisenberg took an especially vicious blow meant for E-boy. And in the rare moment when its actually Ethan tending to Heisenbergs wounds, hearing Karls delirious slip-ups about wanting to protect him, looking back at their entire journey up to this point, E-boy finally realises that Karl actually cares and it all turns way too emotional resulting in tender loving sexy tiems™️ (after Heisenberg gets better, ofc. Remember, kids: safe, sane, consensual)
Anyway, this entire thing kinda ran away from me, I’m sorry lol it was supposed to be a bunch of hc’s, idk what this is. Anyway… uhhhh…. have a good one and goodnight and, like, stay hydrated you magnificent funky little gremlin you <3
ok. ok? ok. OK!
this? obsessed. speechless. legendary stuff.
like this is SO galaxy brain that i need a moment because. YES?????
you know, i've been thinking about ways to write an au where all the lords live and team up against miranda and ive been literally wrecking my brain trying to justify this happening but here you come in and give me the simplest solution of all - start from the end.
Heisenberg is the first lord Ethan faces off against, and he proposes the deal, and Ethan takes it. now not only are they teamed up against the village ghouls, they're also going around and recruiting other lords in the process. moving on to Moreau, then Donna, and finally Dimitrescu and her daughters (and thats where she slashes Ethan's arm off and that is when Heisenberg is like 'o no baby what is you doin' and heals it for him)
now after some gentle persuading and metal bending, they're all teamed up against miranda (derogatory) (this is where Karl suffers that painful blow and Ethan is like 'wait. you like me??? for my personality???' and Karl is like 'yeah i was surprised as well.')
now Miranda is back in hell or walmart or wherever she belongs and Rose is restored and the lords are free to party it up and come to terms with their new family members. Ethan celebrates his new family, gives Rose to Chris for a minute while he goes talks Feelings (TM) and he and Heisenberg get together and start life anew.
They all move to Montego Bay and live near the coast
The End :')
...uh hey anon. if I, hypothetically speaking, were to turn this idea into a fic. would you mind?
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khaleesiofalicante · 3 years
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me, nodding of to sleep: IM HERE IM HERE
did my head just loll to the side? you will never know. first of all this chapter was the most beautiful thing i have ever read. Mavid have my HEART. It's also 4 16 am so im sorry if the reactions are a little bland but this was PERFECT.
me, throughout the whole thing: mavid mavid mavid
They had kissed for the first time almost a week ago. And they had kissed again. A couple of times.
Okay fine, they had kissed a lot since then.
Not a lot a lot. But a lot.
Wait a minute. How much kissing was a lot of kissing?
this is adorable
“I heard he cried when he found out Lexi and Liv were dating,” David chuckled.
yup that's jace
“We have to pay to talk on the phone?” Max asked incredulously. “I thought it was free.”
“Of course it isn’t free, Max!” David chuckled. “We have to pay for WiFi too.”
“This is ridiculous!” Max said. “Next you will say we have to pay for electricity.”
“Um, we do have to pay for electricity,” David chuckled again.
we pay for water too
but max you didnt know-
“Don’t let them guilt trip you!” Max had chastised. “They like doing chores. Let them do it. They fight demons all day and then come home and do chores. I feel like it’s their form of therapy. They need this.”
cant relate nope
“I don’t know,” Max groaned. “My family is so dramatic.”
the lightwood-banes in one sentence
THERE ARE SO MANY FEELS MY HEART CANNOT CONTAIN
“Well, too late!” Max announced. “This date is going to be the best first date in the history of first of dates.”
In retrospect, he really shouldn’t have said that.
nah its gonna be great
“Perhaps you should just take him to the New York Library. They have, uh, books.”
yes that is what they keep in libraries
OH MY GOD THE FRIEND IS ELYASS
HERE'S MY FAVORITE DEMON Y'ALL
His parents would not be pleased if they knew Max was summoning demons for relationship advice.
But they had also encouraged Max to make friends with everyone regardless of their identity. So, technically this was their fault. They gave him very mixed messages.
well-
you know i really shouldnt have laughed at the demon attack news but for some reason i did
i blame my sleep deprivation
shit i feel sick
you know maybe i shouldve just waited till the morning...
ok but the demon attack is NOT coincidental
there is something going on
“I thought dragon demons were extinct!” Max yelled over the commotion.
well-
ANJALI
“Man, fuck the orders!” Max said in frustration.
if you get hurt ill kill you
oh it's not her
well fuck
“That was an Armani, you piece of shit!” Rafael yelled at the demon. Max almost laughed.
THE AUDACITY
It really did. Dragon demons smelled like they lived inside a boys locker room.
well that's nice to know
FUCK THEY ARE TALKING NOW???
ok what is going on
“Say the thing!!!”
“I’m not saying the damn thing, you maniac!”
“Say the thing!”
Rafael groaned and raised his hands, the alliance rune lighting up.
“I’m not just a shadowhunter,” Rafael said through gritted teeth. “I’m Magnus Bane’s son.”
LMAO THEM
“Well, demons are stupid,” Max pointed out.
“Yeah, that makes sense,” Rafael said with a mouthful of food. “You are half demon after all.”
Im so sleepy i cant even react to this
but THEM I CANT-
WHERE.IS.ALEC
Max wanted to laugh. Only David would worry about another person while being injured in the infirmary.
MUST BE PROTECTED
Max nodded; his throat still dry. He couldn’t stop staring at David. At the wound. At the blood.
Also, maybe the naked chest.
AHEM
OH MY GOD JAIME IS ALIVE
we're getting lightwood-bane fluff LET ME CRY
alec...
on one hand alec smoking is fucking hot BUT WITH THE MUNDANE DISEASES OH HELL NAH
“But it tastes so good when it’s from your plate!” Max said with a mouth full of food.
“Oh, you want my food? Here!” Rafael grinned and threw a piece of chicken at his face.
Max caught it with his mouth cause wasting food was a crime. “Thanks, bro!”
“You little s-”
HE CAUGHT IT IN HIS MOUTH
“And no fighting over chicken!” Bapak pointed out. “We can always summon some more.”
“Order,” dad corrected. “We don’t summon. We order. And then we pay.”
“How do we destroy capitalism if we have to pay for everything?” Max asked.
Max has a point y'know
“That’s rich coming from someone who is wearing an Armani jacket,” Max stuck out his tongue.
“It was a gift!” Rafael said, furiously chewing on his chicken.
“Does that mean Bapak is a capitalist?” Max asked.
LMAO
Max: What even-
Max: Can shadowhunters get high on iratzes lol
CAN THEY???
David: Mr Herondale yelled “Yes! Two out of three!”
MOOD
PLEASE RAFAEL AND MAGNUS ARE LIKE "About time"
SAME THOUGH
“David is what you get if Dad and Uncle Jace and Uncle Jem had a baby.”
STOP NO
“Oh,” Max said. “Uh, David and I…We are dating.”
Dad choked on his coffee. “Excuse me?”
Bapak chuckled next to him. “Of course you didn’t know.”
“You two are dating?” dad demanded. “Since when? Who else knows about this? Why didn’t you tell us before? Were you dating when you were in London? Magnus, did you know about this?”
“There you go!” Max yelled triumphantly. “That’s the dramatic reaction I was looking for. Thanks, dad!”
There's alec. Yup
OH MY GOD NOT THE SEX TALK
good thing i had wattpad I MEAN-
“Kissing?” dad gaped. “On the mouth???”
“Um, where else would we kiss?” Max asked incredulously.
“Well, actually,” Bapa cleared his throat. “There are many ways you can enjoy-”
IM CACKLING
And that’s how the next hour turned out to be the most painful and most embarrassing hour of his life.
Max decided he would rather get attacked by a hoard of dragon demons than sit through it any longer
“You guys know we have something called the internet, right?” Max demanded.
“Well, the internet can have mixed messages,” Bapak sniffed. “We on the other hand have real life experien-”
“Magnus!” dad looked red in the face.
“Fine,” Bapak sighed. “Now moving on to the importance of lubrication and-”
“I’m begging you to stop,” Max groaned.
THE NOISES WHICH LEFT MY MOUTH ARE NOT OK TO BE MAKING AT 3 30 AM
“I’ll have you know this conversation utterly traumatized me. I demand financial compensation.”
HE'S SO DRAMATIC
“Well,” dad said carefully. “David is…”
“French?” Max asked.
i blame my sleep deprived ass for laughing at this
next thing i know someone's being tortured and im laughing because i dont have sleep in my system
Max honey...
listen to him
i for one, dont want a repeat of pg 511 cols
oh he's finding out about the incident
that's what i call it
Max thought of all the stories he had heard then. The one of the warlock who killed people who he could bring back his dead girlfriend. The one about a nephilim mother who paired up with prince of hell to bring back her dead son.
oh yeah...
shudder
They called it The Jem effect.
AYYYYY
It was true. In fact, he used to have a crush on both Tessa and Jem. It’s how he had found he was bisexual.
very very valid. have a good day sir
AWW MAX DIDNT KNOW HE COULD BLUSH
you know it's a sign ive been watching b99 too much that i was imagining mina talking like gina...
pls send help
ALSO MINA BESTEST SDCHJDFVYDYUGFYUGFVDYVFD
“Can we not talk about my boyfriend’s sperm, please?”
im surprised my parents havent woken up by the sound i let out
BUT HEY THE DOOR'S CLOSED SO
SUGGENS MINA
“I’m hearing an inflated sense of self-importance,” he heard Ragnor call from the bathroom. “Is Magnus here?”
“Just the spawn,” Max called back.
THE SPAWN BYE-
“He is married to the Consul!” Tessa chuckled. “And one of his sons is a shadowhunter.”
“It’s still very bad for our reputation,” Ragnor grumbled. “He is too close with shadowhunters.”
“You are the headmaster of Scholomance!” Catarina said incredulously. “You teach nephilim! Even though you don’t need a job!”
“I was coerced!” Ragnor huffed. “Manipulated by the children of the angel.”
really ragnor?
The grin disappeared and Ragnor buried his face on Catarina’s shoulder. “I can’t go through this again, Cat! Not again!”
“So much for not taking up after his father, huh?” Catarina chuckled and looked at him. “That’s nice, Max. We are happy for you.”
“We are not!” Ragnor said in a muffled voice.
RAGNOR DJHDCUHUKIHDVVFDDB
OOOO MAX DIDNT KNOW ABOUT CAMILLE
a kind of endless love...
dont make me cry
“I know you are worried, love,” Tessa’s voice was a whisper. “You are worried about surviving after David. You are worried about your own heart. But you should never let that fear stop you from finding love. Because love is what sustains us immortals. It keeps us alive. When you love a mortal, you love them forever. You might not remember all the memories. The colour of their eyes or the sound of their voice. But you will remember the love. You will carry that love inside you forever. It does not make you weak or fragile. It makes you stronger. And you will forever be grateful for it.”
my eyeballs are too tired to cry
stop it
THEY SAID I LOVE YOU
I FEEL LIKE A PROUD MOM
bitch you hate children wtf-
Max laughed. “I’m going to kill dad for making us do this. God, this is so weird!”
better get it done now
HE'S DAVID'S FOREVER
dont do this to me at 4 am
“You should two should some spend time together. Get to know each other and all of that,” Max suggested with a smile. “Maybe you can bond over archery or something.”
“I’m pretty sure he would use me for target practice,” David mumbled.
“Don’t be ridiculous, David!” Max said incredulously. “My father doesn’t need target practice!”
At this point, a David and alec scene isn't a want its a NEED
“I got it all planned,” Max said – for someone who had no idea what he was going to do.
me throughout life
max Rafael isn't the one smoking-
OH MY GOD MY DAD JUST CAME TO CHECK ON ME THE WAY I SLAMMED MY LAPTOP
“Also tell him to stop smoking!” Max pointed out seriously. “It’s not good for his health! Especially with all the mundane illnesses going on.”
“I know, Max,” dad sighed heavily and blinked. “I mean, I’ll talk to him. For sure.”
Alec if anything happens to you...just know ill raise hell
“I don’t want easy,” David smiled. “I want you.”
IT'S 4 AM DUDE
AYYY THE SHANGHAI SHADOW MARKET
CELESTIAL PALACE
“Dad? The Consul? That dad?” David looked surprised and relieved all at once. “Oh my god, he doesn’t hate me!”
“Of course he doesn’t hate you!” Max chuckled. “But he did say he will put your nerd ass in the silent city if you don’t bring me home by 11.”
of course, he did
oh my god SLEEP. there is so much to do tomorrow dying...my grammar was really bad and I don't have what it takes to use Grammarly's corrections except for the ones it's already doing as type.
this chapter had my heart BURSTING!! AHHHHHHH
the talk was so important I'm so glad they took care of that. ok imma head to bed now BYEE
Eeeeeee this was a lot sfkjdfkd I hope you are okay. Get some sleep next time or I will call the police.
Thank you as always for reading, reacting and supporting 💚
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icecreamkink · 3 years
Text
watched all of the untamed / cql in two weeks after my friend 1 told me abt mdzs a hundred years ago and my friends 2 and 3 tried to get me into cql for like two whole years and there are.
feelings.
very first scene is a very dramatic death in the middle of nightmare battle on sith planet land . i will forget abt it in the next tenish episodes and then will be very surprised when it becomes Extremely Painful
anyway magic flying gays and possession and human sacrifice! we are off to a great start
in retrospect, chaos goblin wei wuxian must have had a blast pretending to be so cRaZy and be as disruptive as he could as mo xuanyu lbr
listen. why is fire always evil coded. cant a magic clan wear red, black and orange and have flame motif while being wholesome?
For Legal Reasons These Are Not Zombies
i wish the politics of the sect were a bit clearer, especially at the beggining when the wen clan had sm power, was wen ruohan the chief cultivator? is that why they were so slow in responding to the attacks? im v confused by the pre yiling patriarch politics
fighting in the roof by the moonlight as way of flirtiiiiiiing. as i understand this is a wuxia/xianxia trope and honestly...... thank u for ur service
slight bullying and being a nuisance in general, as a way of flirting we love to see it
wwx: if i drink on the rooftop, thats not inside the cloud recesses! hmmm check and mate :D lwj: i will fuck u up so help me god   wwx: :0
i lov them
through hell or high water (quite literally) wei wuxian rem ains a trashfire gremlin till the end and i love him with my whole heart
in the pt subs wei wuxian calls jiang cheng a stubborn duck and i dearly wish that had come back
my opinions on almost every character goes from love to hate u - Hmm Me Like U - BABY. ILY. and i am Very Pleased w that. its been a while since i loved such a complete cast so much i think
no really. i WONT go into a detailed rant abt what i love about each of these characters and each of their relationships to each other. but i COULD. 
some lan disciples in the loudest whisper ever: YEAH THATS THE JIN BASTARD MENG YAO HEARD THE GOT SUPER HUMILIATED BY HIS DAD LOL SURE HOPE HE DOESNT TAKE SLIGHTS TO HIS CHARACTER TO HEART
lan xichen, immediately: i must Love him 
being into problematic ppl is in the Lan genetics, we come to realize
wen qing deserves so many awards for so many things but not snapping and just stabbing wen chao is at the top 
that scene at lan qirens class where wwx talks about using resentful energy to fight a violent spirit. exquisite.
 It establishes Good Student lan wangji, wei wuxian as curious and questioning and not afraid of taboo,  lwj sees that wwx is not, in fact, a dumb ass hes just a Dumbass,  shows us the audience (esp. a western audience) how shocking the idea of disrupting the dead/dying and controlling resentful energy actually is,  the theoretical foreshadow arguing, everyone else like ‘shUT UP’,  “and how could you ensure that the resentful energy would obey you and not hurt other?” “well i havent thought that far” and of course, lan qiren just straight up lobbing a hard object at wwx head,. chefs kiss
fellas is it gay to bother the hot rule obessessed nerd from ur school and make drawings of him with flowers in his hair and then hide gay porn in his book to antagonize him and ask him to hold ur hand and be ur friend and talk to him all the time and get him drunk and give him bunnies bc you know he likes them and give him a lantern and always want his attention and dedicate yourself to getting him to smile-
and after all of that wwx rly said oh i Admire him, aksd like yeah we all were there in high school buddy
i have Learned. caves = gay.
 accidental marriage +beint physically tied together with the sacred married ribbon+ gay panic+foreshadowing+bunnies! in the cave (1)
the story abt lan yi and baoshan sanren tho. i would like to see it
early days wen bros pull my heart strings like a guqin 
EVERYTHING about the lantern scene; disaster hets jiang yanli and jin zixuan; how wwx made lwj a bunny lantern. how soft and touched lwj was. wwx gleefully pointing out he was smiling and lwj IMMEDIATELY PULLING HIW SWORD ON HIM LMAO. tragically foreshadowy promises to do right by pepople, living without regrets. lwjs 'oh no do i love him??' face. just. all of it. 
i have it on good acc that in the novel lwj is explicitly Repressed Gay Panicked Big Horny which is delightful and rly Adds to the performance
 baby lwj is really just conceal dont feel dont let them know u have EMOTIONS (derogatory)
jiang cheng rly went "why dont.u go play with HIM if u like him so much"
jc and wwx have big BIG annoying sibling energy dont think too hard abt it or youll cry
lotus pier is soo pretty :((((((((((((((((
up until episode 13 you could think this could be a magical ancient chinese gays pride n prejudice w swords and shenanigans ................youre just not prepared for the game of thrones of it all
seriously ha ha ha i cried so much w this show my eyes genuinely swelled up . like. physically. fun timez fun timez
that being said, its hilarious that wen xu goes to cloud recesses like 'come out or ill kill all these hostages' and then DOESNT WAIT FOR AN ASWER AND KILLS THEM ALL IMMEDIATELY. do u know how blackmail works sir
 would like to make it recorded that from day one i was like 'CALL A GODDAMN CULTIVATION G20 THIS ASSHOLE SECT IS LITERALLY MASSACRING YALL!!' and it took them like 3 or 4 massacres to do anything and they STILL sent their heirs into their territory  LIKE
when wwx cites the gusu lan rules to wen chao tho. that rebel/attention whore/cutie pie 'look lan zhan i DID memorize the rules after all' ‘also a big fuck you to the wen sect :D :D’ sweet spot that scene achieves . delicious
all the cultivator young masters being petty af even though they are practically prisoners at the cave is hilarious and i love them
hurt and comfort + gay mistunderstandings + watsonian gay declaration music + accidental evil acquisition! at the cave (2)
its like where do i start? the fact theyre both trapped and kind of heavily injured inside an isolated cave with a murder turtle? wwx gay panicking lwj into coughing up bad blood? lwj being jealous as wwx babbles abt mianmian? telling him he shouldnt play with people and wwx saying he never played him? wwx going Oh. I See what is happening. YOU like mianmian, and lwj absolute done face ??? (iconic) wwx touching the sacred married ribbon Again? the telepathic communication? the sword? WEI WUXIAN ASKING LAN WANGJI TO SING TO HIM AS HE IS PASSING OUT AND LWJ SINGING HIM. THE SONG. HE WROTE. FOR WWX. AND THAT HE CALLED. THEIR SHIP NAME????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
they are SO insufferable pleeeeease
in the words of my friend 1 : “CQL is so gay we were all amazed how it got past the censors Ofc unfortunately it can't be novel level gay But they did their best And we love them for it”
in the theme of songs THIS OST. WUJI HAS BEEN LIVING IN MY MIND RENT FREE SINCE I FIRST HEARD IT the whole ost is so so sO beautiful.
 the costuming in this is also soooo exquisite. the embroidery? the fabrics? the details? how every sect and clan has a distinct style and architecture? (also ik they based each off of dif periods in chinese history which is REALLY fucking cool) just chefs kiss
the direction too!. i enjoy the unusual camera movements and i think they give it that Vibe, also their composition is PARTICULARLY good when it comes to telling the subtext through position of camera/position of character (like nhs off to the side in scenes he at first glance doesnt need to be/ how lwj is often centered when hes Jealous Yearning at wwx being affectionate w other ppl, wwx return from burial mounds etc)
ik madam yu is like Badass Milf Check and shes not getting any mom of the year awards but im delighted at how messy she is. IMAGINE that woman on tiktok
you better have enjoyed gay cave (2) bc its Just Pain from here on out! 
jiang fengmian and madame yu win the Most Dramatic Way to show they do care about each other, actually ..... ever :)
i thought jiang yanli jiang cheng and wei wuxian forcing themselves to escape yunmeng barely holding on after their parents are killed was going to be the height of pain in this show. ha. 
the family dynamics in general on this showwwww, both blood/ adopted/ found families, brotherly bonds and lifelong friendships just. rly. truly. fucked me up. theyre all so important and complicated and well rounded and beautiful and tragic
and beyond being a Win For the Gays im so glad the relationships w wwx and jiang yanli/ wen qing were NOT changed from platonic bc they are so much better like that imo. like maybe if we didnt Live In A Society it wouldnt be so, but the fact wwx and others can love and value them so much and theres nothing romantic or sexual abt it is like. so refreshing. especially @ jyl, with the way he and jc are overprotective of her and shes such a nurturing/care taker figure for them, it would just not vibe as well if they made it romantic
i love that this is a story abt Wei Wuxian, the Yiling Patriarch aka Actual Satan/Boogey Man/Village With/Public Enemy Number One , my dude is literally a necromancer who only dresses in black and has evil smokey black tendrils wafting out of him, but the really edgy one is still jiang cheng, pastel purple fashion icon
and speaking of best/worst siblings wei wuxian and jiang cheng *immediately starts crying* 
The Golden Core Transfer i just. no thots only tears 
wen qing and wen ning putting themselves in so much danger just.... to help them. wn saving jc from wen chao. wq finding a way to get wwx to transfer his core. like thinking about the monumental work these two did to help wwx and jyl and jc... jyl trying so fucking hard to be strong and keep on moving and giver her little brothers comfort after losing everything... jiang cheng. losing his parents and his home and his ability to do anything abt it and his complete desperation and lack of self worth and turning on them with agression  when he didnt realize all that they did for him ... hhhhhhhhhhhhh
me, pointing at the whole cast “i just LOVE them mom!!!”
its sad tho, that BARELY ANY of the women have like.... actual important conversations let alone relationships with each other at all in the story. and like wq and jyl have stayed at the same place for extended periods of time, where wq actively took care of her TWICE,  and still! not one measly convo, nothing! ................ .𝓌ₕᵧ
everyone in this show need a good sip of Self Worth and Stop Sacrificing Yourself juice 
ngl the sword flying looks very dumb 
“a-cheng, please bring a-xian back.” “i will, i promise.” ;-;
the whole calling each other by the More Intimate Version of the name, first as teasing and later as true intimacy. mmmhmmm yes
untamed where everythings the same but wwx evil flute song is eoeo
related that scene when wwx comes back from the burial mounds for the first time w demonic cultivation and he acts all formal and calls lwj hanguang-jun and keeps being evasive and distant and mean and soooooo................. facetious 
and how hes kind of desperately trying to keep intense lwj at bay (A FIRST) and avoiding actually talking to either of them and its all tension ughhh and then he MOCKS his and lwjs relationship, he jokes w him in this like... mean echo of their usual ~banter~ oof 
 and like!!! uncertain but so relieved jc who just HUGS him w no reservations for once and its not like he isnt just as worried as lwj abt wwx and what hes doing, but he chooses in that moment to enjoy getting him back first and mmhmMMMmMm yes (maybe my favorite scene in the whole show? MAYBE SO. ) 
highkey hurt me but also. i might be into mean wwx. i will take no criticism.
lan zhans sad eyes tho :((((((((( 
on one hand i wish we could have seen what happened at the burial mounds but on the other the timeskip adds so much flair to his return so im hnnn
also i love that hes been missing for 3 months reappears kinda melancholic and bloodthirsty and knowing malign tricks and jc is like 'so. are u sad bc of lan wangji'
when ur bae survived the war but he thinks ur evil/ might be evil so you cant kiss :///
hmmm talking at the rooftop under the moonlight not mentioning everything that stands between usssss
they are the two jades of lan and we’ll be the two heroes of yunmeng is the type of line u dont even need to know whats gonna happen to know thats gonna be sad
when they fight wen ruoshan at the nightless city i thought that was the battle we see at the first ep and its not and its so easy and theyre all like ‘yayy we won go wwx!’ i was just. SCREAMS WHAT is gonna HAPPEN
so like. post burial mounds/sunshot campaign pre yiling patriarch wwx is like. ultra arrogant, ultra mocking, peak lil shit and it gave me e v e r y t h i n g i wanted
even tho having the wen prisoners at the targets at phoenix mountain and still having wwx and jzx shooting the arrows was???? so.... tone deaf 
wwx: fucking w demonic energy   jyl: he has never done anything wrong in his life, ever <3 <3 (mood)
the parallels between meng yao/wei wuxian (and even xue yang a bit?) are Seen and they are Valid
wwx post burial mounds: can yall SHUT UP abt the goddamn sword (suibian left the chat)
LIKE truly, we talk abt the angst and yearning with wangxian. but what abt wwx and suibian. xianbian / xianqing angst and comfort 100k
take a shot everytime someone coughs up blood
zidian is simply the coolest spiritual weapon rip to suibian and chenqing and bichen and sendou and baixa........ but tis the truth 
cons: everyones families died in a nightmare war! everyones homes burned to the ground! everyone is traumatized! pros: everyone gets cooler clothes and weapons!!
wen ning and a-yuan and yanli bestest babes squad dont touch me rn
everyone: brooding and fighting                                                                wq and jyl: why dont you try some acupunture/drinking some soup and calm down huh? how abt that bitch?? 
showing the battle/massacre at the nightless city first was genius actually bc then everytime we have a cute scene w yunmeng bros and theyre like 'we'll be together forever! uwu' youre like oh. oh no. oh no no no. 
justice vs lawfulness vs means and ends 👁
jc: stay in the right path and practice the art of the sword                        wx: yeah thats not gonna happen chief
my reaction to wwx renouncing to the sect politics to help the wens was just that elmo burning gif in succession
the dramatic rain. wen qing desperately calling out to wen ning. the ghosts/puppets killing the guards. how terrifying wn actually was while wwx was controlling him :( lwj goeing after him to try and stop him and then he just; he Sees him and understands him even if he cant actually do anything about it other than let them go. 
“there must be somewhere in this earth we can go to :(((((((((”
"IF I HAVE TO FIGHT THEM, I'D RATHER IT BE YOU. DYING BY YOUR HANDS WOULD AT LEAST BE WORTH IT." oh my god oh my god oh my goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooddddddd
also lwjs umbrella is white w black smoke.. .  . nice
yiling patriarch / demonic farming burial mounds settlement is like one of my favorite concepts. they an "EVIL" FARMING COMMUNITY LED BY THE VILLAGE WITCH COME ON
they planted TURNIPS and LOTUS FLOWERS and ONE (1) baby and made lanterns and a common hall :(((((((
wen qing and wei wuxian, baddest bitches and genius science best friends i absolutely LOVED to see it. they rly went ‘is anyone gonna sibling/project partner that’ and didnt wait for an answer
both wwx and jyl getting lotus ponds at the burial mounds and in lanling bc they miss lotus pier ;;;;;;;w
;;;;; wish jyl had actually gone into the burial mounds. we were robbed of jyl and wq meeting again and jyl meeting a-yuan and seeing the settlement and the homes and all ;w; at least jc did go, stab wounds and broken arms and all
wwx like... having thrown his whole life away to help the wens (yeah the sect leaders and jin guangshan in particular wanting his stygian tiger amulet was an Element but still) and not.... necessarily regretting it, but grappling with all of the consequences of it... becoming moody and drepressed at times, missing his family and lotus pier and his friends and probably simply missing being around people and causing trouble, extrovert that he is, lashing out at the wens and at a-yuan, just in general the whole messiness of that experience
the way the resentful energy does affect his temperament is rly nice bc its not too in your face,(i mean outside of the Shaky Hands of Rage) but like he clearly has a much lesser control on his anger and impulsivity (tall order) than both before bm and after hes ressurected
on that note A-YUAN BABIEST BABY BOY BEST BOY
lan zhan being like oh hey there wei ying fancy meeting u and our son here. just passing by u know how it is hmmmmMm and then PLOT TWIST having defied orders to go see him and being punished for it. oof;;
 they habent seen each other in like? a year? and now theyre tgt 10 seconds and are already parenting a child together
also lwj rly kneels down in the snow way too much to be healthy
wwx: calm down guyssss i wont lose control of demonic cultivation omgggg  .   spoiler alert: he loses control of demonic cultivation
did u enjoy cute children? good bc now the Real Pain Begins
jiang yanli and jin zixuan rly out there APROPRIATING both disaster gays AND bury ur gays huh ;w;
i KNEW jin lings birthday was gonna fuck something up but the GASP that left my body when wwx lost control of wn and killed jin zixuan .. . . 
im sorry and thank you aaaaAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaAAAAaAAAAA 
when wen ning and wen qing were telling wwx their plan i was saying NO NO NO NO NO NO out loud in despair 
also can we talk abt how wq is definetely talking about only the both of them surrending themselves but then? everyone else just surrenders w them? IT MAKES NO SENSE LIKE WHY WOULD THEY what would be the Point
 sometimes there are some pretty gaping jumps in logic and continuity that are just like                     ?          ?
wwx: oh so when you try to murder me its justified but when i survive through dark magic and murder all of you its a "war crime"
unsurprisingly, his most feral, most spiraling moment talking to the sect leaders on the roof and attacking them and even fighting lan zhan is among my favorite scenes... its like, so painful to watch but also   so       thrilling   (and maybe my wen bbs dying arose some resentful energy in me what can i say) 
and its JUST, all they ever wanted was to do good but then... war. and trauma. and hubris. 
jiang cheng on the ground clearly thorn between what to do and feel is a Mood, lets just say
i was already crying when jyl showed up, but if i wasnt-
 i suffered SO MUCH through this series trying to figure out WHY jc would kill wwx. and when i understood. its somehow not as bad as i thought and also MUCH MUCH WORSE
a look into my group chat during the last flashback episodes:
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
SO ANYWAY. after the BLOOD BATH and RIPPING YOUR HEART OUT and FEEDING IT TO YOU  the untamed goes ‘ayy back to the present!! tu du dud ud du’ 
literally it ends a quarter into an episode and then KEEPS GOING i had to pause and stare blankly at the ceiling for an hour
babie cultivators and detective soulmates . i do need some cute after All of That 
(not that the pain is over LOL)
lwj is significantly less emotionally repressed in the present and its delightful. hes just ALL IN with wwx. and not just in the ‘i would and have killed various men and risked my reputation for you’ but also ‘ur tired here have a drink i brought it up cause i know u like it and it want you to be happy, always’
“when everyone praised me and wanted my power, you were the only one that challenged me. now that everyone hates me and wants me dead, youre the only one that stands by my side.” hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 
and just filling in the blanks how lan zhan searched for him. for all of those 16 years he searched for him and was punished for it and raised a-yuan, the only survivor of the burial mounds settlement, as his own in gusu......
and jiang cheng.  being the tough love uncle . having raised the yunmeng jiang clan from the rubble all alone, his whole family dead, some of it on the blame of his own brother, his siblings, his closest friends gone.......and only jin ling there needing his guidance. 
THE PARALLEL BETWEEN JIN LING BEING A LIFELINE FOR JIANG CHENG AND A-YUAN FOR LAN WANGJI AFTER THE BATTLE AT THE NIGHTLESS CITY  
great now i made myself sad
and like . the fact! that lwj and jc dislike each other!!. jc projects blame onto him for wwx both “leaving” him and indirectly causing their families deaths and when hes so consumed by it he makes wwx an enemy, lwj is there now? trying to protect him?? and lwj, who can never understand the pain that wwx , indirectly or not put jc through, but who was right there when jc tried to kill him and will never allow him to hurt wwx again. and how they like. in a way project blame of their tragedies onto each other while dealing with some type of survivor guilt and in their own way still loving wwx through it all???  amd in way its kind of fundamentally selfish but also tragically understandable? and like when u put it against the fact that after he disappears during the sunshot campaign they were looking for him together and fought together??
JUST. THE CHARACTERS. AND THE RELATIONSHIPS IN THIS. MAN. UGH. GOD. 
and like i think thats what makes it so good? its such a sad and painful and violent story, edgy even, but its compelling bc at the center of it there are all of these relationships and different types of love and hope and. :( i love it
enough crying lets talk abt wwx sleeping at the jingshi with lwj and wearing his under garment for a minute 🙏
 jin ling just has that Was Raised by JC energy tho lmao i love him
babie cultivator squad is the perfect ammount of cute and comedic relief while still bearing the weight? of the narrative in a way, both from sizhui and jin lings existences, and also. like. how do i put this. they feel hopeful? they were born after a war, they came of age at a time of relative peace, they dont hold on so closely to the resentments of their parents/father figures, they are specifically shown as more accepting and open minded. and its like.... Hope for the future  
one of the ?? things  i love the most is the fact that the main cast are often in situations where theyre hunted/running but they like. never wear disguises... just going around in their gorgeous expensive clan clothes and hair ornaments and distinctive spiritual weapons.... maybe w a straw hat on, just for kicks
wwx teacher 🥺🥺🥺
so this is why its called Yi City Misery huh
a-qing is such. an icon. im so sad. my girl even knew to leave xys dumb self rotting by the road but no one listens to her thats why theyre all dead or sad 
her and xue yang measuring each other up was so entertaining lmao
 its the funniest thing when hes like. HERES MY SAD STORY. FOR WHY IM A SADISTIC MURDERER. I BROKE MY HAND ONCE. 
like ok someone broke his hand in a horrible way, and like Poverty, i get it but also like.......... that lost the brunt of a proper sob story like, 50 sadistic murders ago bby
and i love that xingchen does not entertain that for a second hes like ‘not ?????? good enough???’ and the best thing is he wasnt even like 'u hadto be the bigger person' or sth but ' well then break that dudes hand back, rip his arm off for i care, what do the rest of us have to do w anything???” 
anjo sensato :(
xue yang is like..... the sexy sadistic evil version of a himbo..... a meanbo...
the fucked upness of xy’s feelings for xxc/ xxc and sl feelings for each other... like my dude literally gave his bf HIS EYES. and xy getting so attached to xxc .... the fucked up fake domesticity.... having him hurt sl..... then desperately trying to bring him back ...................... oof
song lan........... literally had his eyes AND tongue removed, his bfs eyes put in place, was almost killed, turned into a puppet by his bf unknowingly, manipulated by xy, sees his bf killing himself in despair.... and STILL finds the strenght to get up from there, and keep on traveling and helping people and attempting to fix xxcs soul.......... like, my man. damn. 
wangxian looking at songxiao and seeing an Actually more painful parallel for themselves. ft. that Color Coding. 
THE A-YUAN/SIZHUI REVEAL PUNCHED ME IN THE HEART but in a good way for a change
should have know that he would be the Best Boy the cute one w all the braincells
the butterfly AND the bunny lantern. i see how it is
u know is very convenient that no one can see the stark black veins on wen nings neck, ever 
BAT WEN NING 
wns face when lwj comes into wwx room like ‘:0 omg did u two finally get your shit together? good for you master wei good for u’ 
(they didnt) (yet)
DISASTER DRUNK LWJ. JUST. THRUST SOME CHICKENS TO SHOW UR RESSURECTED BAE THAT U LOVE THEM.
i have absolutely no idea WHY they gave lwj the same punishment for fighting his own sect/allies to protect the burial mounds as when they got drunk on cloud recess class days.... like? its such a ... emotional continuity error again
also is lwj gonna get an actual friend besides wwx , ever
mianmian marrying and having a family and a cute life after saying FUCK U AND UR SYSTEM TOO in a much less unhinged and dramatic way than wwx......... fills me w joy
also lol the idea that like. her husband not knowing that shes friends w satan/the boogey man/the village witch is hilarious
i love nie mingjue bc hes the resident Though Guy but also the most dramatic bitch in this show and thats Saying Something
jin ling cant have one uneventful relative can he
the fact that everyone present already knew “mo xuanyu” was wwx at the stairs is so funny, their faces are like ‘oh............ wow. that. sure is a development. shock” 
in the tradition of extremely loud whispers wwx tells lwj with twelve guards standing like one meter away from them: HEY PSH LAN ZHAN PRETEND IM FORCING YOU TO STAY W ME DO IT
oh my god oh my god
the absolute Yearning on his face when he leaves wwx and a-yuan at the burial mounds and refuses to stay for dinner was already Enough but the fact?? they brought it back?? to this declaration of love?? their expressions??????? strike me dead right now just go ahead
lFor Legal Reasons We Cant Kiss but we will have a very sappy declaration of love and trust and look at each other in way that is the actualization of 💞💘💗💖💓💘💞💗💖💘💗💖💕💞
also icb all the sect leaders and guards are standing there watching them say they like like each other with a dozen swords pointing at their neck
i enjoyed the depiction of the fickle public perception and how easily it can be used to scapegoat people. when the sect leaders turn on jgy and wwx knows thats its more for convenience than anything else...
poor lxc is literally like 'oh so when YOUR problematic boyfriend gets called evil its a misunderstanding but when its MY problematic bf-'
ok like i cant get over nmj let jgy play a song that messed with his temperament at all, like maN u KNEW he might be shady wth
wwx: “hey dont say anything bad abt lan zhan hes not an arrogant dick, thats just his face. 
ME ON THE OTHER HAND"
the cultivators as wwx is poking holes in their narrative is literally *nazaré meme*
"wei wuxian-!" "what did i break your leg, too?" not to be problematic but i laughed so hard
not as hard as "you dont have the rank to talk to me " tho
i Enjoy that, over the course of story, wwx sees that... theres nothing truly to Do, but move on. he saw how his arrogance and his mistakes hurt others, and hes trying to fix what he can, but he already did die for his mistakes and there are things he cant fix and that's. just how it is. even towards jgy, the narrative doesn't go gleefully and completely with "lets make THEM pay bc theyre the big bad" bc its not that simple, and it wouldn't lead anywhere but more pain...
re him and jiang cheng and the wens and kinda. isnt that what nhs did? scheming to displace jgy out of revenge more than any justice and doing so in the most painful way?
idk if that actually makes sense im truly just babbling
i thought the scene at the lotus pond would be CUTE but the context was PAIN again
jiang cheng finding out about his golden core and his conflict with wwx at the guanyin temple .... destroyed me but in a nice way kinda.... same way it destroys him look at his face oh god
and. the fact??? he sacrificed himself for wwx?? first?? and he'll probably never tell anyone much less wwx???? keeps me up at night
i havent decided if the neckbreak transition between jgy does sth super Evil or does he he does OR Does He yes he does O R does heeeee is sth i dislike or not
jin guangyao and wei wuxians most interesting parallel is that... theyve both seen 'hmm hey this system is fucked up' and wwx went 'so fuck it all i will renounce it and challenge it' and jgy went 'so fuck it i will use all of it to my advantage and manipulate it to my goals and whims'
the fact jgys mom was actually great and he loved her and his whole issue w it was more than simply being ashamed of being a bastard kinda got me ngl
never trust a dude with a fan.
nhs and jgy: the first rule to a convoluted and decades spanning violent revenge plot is to have fun and be yourself! 
when a-yuan finally FINALLY remembers ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;-;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; wen ning has someone in his family back and a-yuan has someone to talk abt his wen family and wwx has him back bc he survived and lwj raised him anD HES THEIR SON. THEYRE MARRIED AND HAVE A SON. UGH.
and theyre allowed to heal. everyone is allowed to try and recover and be happy
netflix put all of the 3 endings on top of each other and it looks kinda weird actually BUT I DONT EVEN MIND :’’’’’’’’’)
the gasp that left me when lwj says ‘wei ying’ and wwx turns.........
there was also a screen with ‘thank you mxtx for creating these characters, we hope their wishes come true’ and i might. have cried then too. maybe. 
that was . a ride. as is proven by this behemot of a ramble clearly i just really needed and Outlet. i am currently trying to convince dumb monkey brain to not consume the other medias of mdzs immediately bc i REALLY need to like. live. a life. and take care of real responsibilities.  *longest oh boi ever*
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bondsmagii · 3 years
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I’m rereading Vicious and after knowing everything about Vengeful everything that Eli did on vicious makes so much sense.
The first time I read Vicuous I always wondered what exactly went through Eli’s head, what was he thinking? When he looked for Victor when Victor was about to replicate his experiment? Was Eli concerned about Victor or was Eli was acting for selfish reasons? What was he thinking and feeling after he got his powers? What was he thinking when Victor attacked him and why was he so quick to think Victor was a devil in disguise? What was his last thought when he was about to become an Eo and how does it relate to healing? What was his thought process when he was trying to give up his life to god and when he decided that killing EOS was the “right” thing to do?
And after reading Vengeful everything becomes so much clearer, his last thought was probably about how he wanted to be “healed and saved” he internalized so some much religious trauma that it affected the way he acted and his thogught porcess, he witnessed his mother suicide on a bathtub and that’s probably why he chose that method both times before and after becoming an EO, his father used to beat him as a kid because he supposedly “had the devil in him” and he does feels like one through his life, doing his best to act as “normal” as possible.
His mother death also explains why he was so worried about Victor and even in the first book Eli talks very fondly of him even referring to him as his best friend and he explains to Serena he thinks Victor died and something sinister replaced him after becoming an EO and this conclusion although rash, it make sense he would try to rationalize and in a way justify the awful things that Victor did after turning into an EO.
And even in vengeful he started imagining Victor to kept him company when he was going through hell, he admits to himself that Victor was the only person who ever truly “saw” him and understood him, pretty much confirming that the “rivalry” Victor and Eli had was mostly one-sided and Eli really did loved him and consider him his best friend.
This also explains his weird behavior towards Victor when Vic himself was trying to turn himself into an EO, Eli witnessed his mother death and probably didn’t wanted the same to happen to Victor after Eli himself almost died trying to recreate it.
The first book also explains that he tried to take his life a second time after Victor got arrested begging for God to take away his power if it had been a mistake, he seemed to externalize all of this negative experience and feelings through his purpose of exterminating the EOS because he sincerely believed that was the right thing to do, his faith although horribly used and mishandled seemed to be genuine based on how we was him literally begging to god to take his life back if everything had been a mistake.
Everyone one of his actions seem to be driven by his childhood and religious trauma and it’s incredible sad to me, he wan’t a sociopath or a psychopath he was just very broken and delusional individual.
And his experience with Serena who forced herself into him also didn’t helped the whole “EOS are devils in disguise” perspective , even since I read the first book (when I didn’t knew anything about Eli yet) I was very repulsed by what Serena was doing to him, to the point that even though I greatly disliked Eli at first I kind of hated Serena more for what she was doing to him. I am also a little disappointed in how the fandom barely acknowledges that what Serena did to Eli was incredibly wrong and messed up.
I have already said this, but the fandom seems to treat Eli very unkindly, they brush over all of his story and just label him as a “sociopath” or “psychopath” barely understanding and completely missing the point of why he behaved the way that he did.
I don’t mind if people hate his character, I did so at first, but the way everyone brush over all of his trauma and the way people completely misinterpreted his character and actions don’t set up right with me.
It’s a little surprising how people can praise Serena, Victor and Marcella despite their awful actions while they hate on Eli for the same reason, overall Eli seems to have been the one to receive the shorter end of the stick by the fandom.
honestly I've read this so many times because you're so right and it's such a relief to know that somebody else out there is capable of critical thinking skills lmao. I think the problem with people's response to Eli is that they think his backstory is an excuse, when in actual fact it's an explanation. go figure, kids who grow up in abusive households will turn into adults with a boatload of issues, and some of those issues are more likely than not going to cause harm of their own. it's totally possible to be both a victim and someone who causes harm; yes, Eli thinks he's in the right, but his actions are still wrong. it's possible to understand both of these things and it's possible to still like his character and sympathise with him, while still understanding that damn, he maybe needs to chill on the serial killing.
it wouldn't bother me as much if people didn't think that Victor was absolutely innocent. people seem to revere him, and it's because in the narrative he's set up as Eli's opposite. the whole point of the story is that there's no good men in the game, but because Victor wants to stop Eli, people see him as the good guy and overlook how cruel he was to Eli throughout their entire friendship, and also how cruel he is to the others. (Mitch is probably the only one there of his own free will. Sydney was an injured 12-year-old child when Victor picked her up, and he did so only because she had information that he wanted -- his first thought was to torture it out of her, but when she gave it willingly and kind of hero-worshipped him in the way a neglected child would hero-worship their saviour, he decided she could stay. Dominic is there by force, because he's a disabled man in constant chronic agony that Victor fixes with his EO abilities, and if he does something to displease Victor or leaves him, Victor has threatened to bring the pain back even worse.) people rewrite both Eli and Victor's personalities to fit this, with Eli being cast as this unfeeling psychopath and Victor the person standing up to his evil, and in actual fact Eli is absolutely not a psychopath -- he's a traumatised adult recovering from a highly abusive childhood -- and Victor is not standing up to evil; he's settling a score. a score he kind of started in the first place, by being a jealous asshole towards Eli's thesis, trying to dominate it because his own sucked, seeking glory off the back of Eli's hard work, and then when he succeeded in his goals and became an EO, immediately murdering Eli's girlfriend and torturing Eli because he was jealous Eli's idea was correct. like, Victor Vale is a little bitch, on god. the reason it ended like this was because he was a god-awful friend to Eli, who was literally Victor's only true friend because he was the only person who would put up with him. go figure that the only person who could deal with Victor's behaviour was a grown abused child. nobody who hadn't been indoctrinated into believing that behaviour was acceptable would ever voluntarily deal with Victor.
literally every decision and action Eli takes can be traced back to his trauma, but go figure that nobody on this website can treat trauma with the nuance it deserves. people on this site seem to think that if you're traumatised you're always innocent and vulnerable; if anyone acts outside of this idea, they're written off. I take Eli's treatment very personally because I've seen people quite literally do this to real life people, myself included. because I wasn't a quiet, easy-to-deal-with traumatised person, I got all kinds of shit. it's the exact same with Eli. because he acts badly, because he does bad things, people seek to dehumanise him and set him aside because he apparently makes abuse survivors look bad or whatever -- when in actual fact acting badly is a very common response among abuse survivors, because we were brought up in an environment where that was normal and we don't know otherwise. not to mention the fact that the kind of mental illness Eli shows -- PTSD, mainly -- has many symptoms that make for unpleasant actions. it's not a crime to show the impact these things have, but people take it so personally. I've even seen people say it's ableist to portray characters like Eli because it gives people with trauma or mental illness a bad name, but no. that's literally not how it works. people with trauma and people with mental illness act badly, they fuck up, they can abuse people, sometimes they do harm or even kill people. ignoring this isn't going to get us anywhere, and if anything's ableist, it's looking at a clearly traumatised, mentally ill person and saying that he's a psychopath and evil and irredeemable. like, come on.
Eli didn't catch a single break for his whole life. everyone he's ever met has abused him horribly. you don't have to like him, but the people who can look at this and see nothing sympathetic about him? genuinely I don't trust them.
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summonerscenarios · 3 years
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Hello, whenever you're able to, can you make the reactions of the Summoners + Gullinbursti and Agyo reacting to MC2 coming back all scratched and bruised? I love when the boys get worried about the MC
First request post of 2021 let’s go~! dfghgfd honestly don’t we all love seeing ppl worry about the poor MC? I mean the amount of trouble they get dragged into is ridiculous lmao I’m sure there’s some kind of award for that at this point. Hope ya like it hun!
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Shiro
Shiro’s worried - of course he is. Seeing any of the Summoners getting scratched up or injured in fights is enough to warrant concern about them; however, his reaction really depends on how you ended up getting scuffed up. If it was due to jumping in to help someone or getting into an accident he’s going to be very concerned about your health and well being. If it was because you were super reckless and went overboard doing some stupid shit? He’ll absolutely know and you’ll know he knows as soon as you walk through the door and spot him waiting for you. He’s got the disapproving parent face down to a T which you’ve joked about on more than one occasion, but it's clear he’s still genuinely worried once he catches sight of how banged up and bruised you are.
He keeps a few things like plasters and that on him for the little injuries (and for when the D-evil’s get hurt I’ll die with this idea thx), there’s also a first aid kit or two stocked away at the safehouse thanks to the last couple of instances of people (namely you and Kengo) coming back in beaten up and in need of some bandaging up, so thankfully he’s fully prepared to help you. He makes sure you’re sitting down both to get you off of your feet as well as to see where all the scratches are so he knows exactly what he’s working with. Surprisingly, Shiro’s pretty adept at patching you up without hurting you too much - turning your hands and arms around in his hands to make sure he gets every cut and scrape without pressing down too hard as he wipes them over and patches them up. The whole time he works he’ll ask you about what happened this time, listening to you telling him all about what went down as he works, nodding along and humming to let you know that he’s still listening to you whenever you pause. 
Shiro knows that he can’t always stop you from getting hurt, especially when there’s so many things out to get you (and so many things you actively jump into without any regard for your wellbeing whatsoever, like seriously please at least try to keep yourself he worries a lot), but he can at least always be there to patch you back up and get you back on your feet when you’re injured, so he takes this kind of stuff seriously. Even once you’re patched up Shiro makes sure you sit down for a little while to rest a bit - if you have any open cuts the only thing that running around jumping back into trouble will achieve is making it take longer to heal. In the meantime he’ll make some drinks to convince you to stay put, giving the two of you the chance to chat about something that isn’t injury-related as you drink and talk in the safety of the guildhouse.
Kengo
Okay I’m gonna be honest, Kengo’s not entirely surprised to see you all busted up when you run into each other. It’s not like he hasn’t had his fair share of scuffles for various reasons (sometimes he doesn’t even mean to get dragged into them!...sometimes) and he knows that you’re very much the same so it’s not like he doesn’t realize you aren’t gonna come in roughed up sometimes. The two of you have got a pretty mutual understanding - if you need some help patching up you’ve got each other’s backs, namely to avoid getting reamed out by the others for getting into said fights in the first place. Which is exactly why when you guys bump into each other and he sees that you’re sporting a shiner and a busted lip to boot he knows something went down, but he doesn’t worry too much when you flash him a grin and tell him that he missed a hell of a fight, easing his worries that it at least didn’t get too out of hand.
There’s nothing a washcloth and some water won’t fix - at least that’s what he says as he slaps a bowl full of water down in front of you once you’re sat down on the floor and kneels down to get on your level. He leaves your eye be once he makes sure it’s only bruised and not something more serious and focuses on the cuts since they’re the bigger issue. His hands are rugged and his grip’s a little rough when he accidentally brushes over some of the bruised parts of your skin, but Kengo tries his best to be careful, guiding you to tilt your head in his direction with one hand as the other brings the washcloth up to your busted lip. It stings when he touches it and your expression scrunches up at the unpleasant feeling, but you ease up a little as he cleans up the wound and wipes away the blood smearing your mouth. 
Kengo tries to keep the mood as light as possible; he tries to crack a couple jokes to cheer you up but a few of them earn him a playful punch to the shoulder though it makes taking care of you go a lot more smoothly.The cuts at least look better once they’re cleaned up of the blood and marks, and while Kengo does wish he at least had something to wrap em up with he’s glad that you’re at least looking a sight better than you did when you’d initially showed up. 
Ryota
WORRIED. VERY WORRIED. When Ryota catches sight of you he almost immediately drops whatever he's doing and rushes over to you to make sure that you’re okay, expression alight with alarm when he can see how scuffed up you are up close. At the sight of his reaction worrying over you, you feel a bit guilty that you didn’t try to clean yourself up before you arrived, since the bruises and bleeding cuts don't exactly paint the most reassuring picture to the poor boy. Still you try to reassure him that it’s really not that bad - you’ve had worse bruises and most of the scratches are surface wounds anyway; Ryota still frets over you until you at the very least sit down, looking at some of the bruises on the side of your face with brows furrowed in unspoken concern.
Ryota’s asking you what he can do to help the whole time - is there something he can get you? Something to cover the cuts? Maybe some ice for the bruises? He’s pretty sure he could rush to the cafeteria and get some to wrap up in a cloth so you can soothe the ache ,or at least lessen the pain. You end up taking him up on the offer, and he comes back with a pouch of ice, pressing it to the bruised side of your face so gently it’s like he’s scared of hurting you even more. It certainly helps to ease the pain a little, and seeing you visibly relax at the touch it seems to calm his nerves down as he comes to sit down beside you, talking to you as you take the ice pack from him and keep it pressed to your face.
He seems to remember something as you’re talking and spins around to rummage through one of his drawers, turning back around with a box of plasters in hand a few moments later with a triumphant smile on his face. Soon enough you’ve got plenty of plasters with cute little patterns decorated on them on each and every one of your cuts regardless of how big or small they are. By the time the last one’s carefully placed over a cut around your finger the earlier tension’s definitely eased and you can tell he feels less worried now that you’re taken care of, offering you a warm smile when he looks up from your hand at you.
Toji
Toji’s dealt with more than a few injuries himself before, having to teach himself how to take care of different kinds of wounds over the course of his lifetime. Alongside this however he’s also grown quite adept at assessing how serious someone else's injuries are when he sees them. Perhaps that's how he’s able to notice something’s wrong when you try to sneak back to your room trying to nurse your wounds after getting pretty scuffed up through no real fault of your own. It’s not as though you can really hide them from him though, with a couple bruises, cuts and a generally mussed up appearance it isn’t hard for him to take a guess that you aren’t in your usually injury-free state. When you try to assure him that you’ll be find once you’ve patched yourself up Toji sighs, rubbing his temples, then proceeds to gesture for you to go ahead into your room, and thinking he’s actually letting you off the hook you don't hesitate to slip into your room and leave it there. Only a few minutes later he comes knocking on your door with a bag of what you soon find out is some medical supplies - bandages, plasters, rubbing alcohol and some other supplies you guess is for cleaning wounds. 
Calls you a dumbass the whole time but in a low-key lovingly sort of way. 
Okay but seriously though, if you got hurt due to recklessness expect him to talk your ear off the whole time - he doesn’t care if you think you’re being heroic, because you’re not gonna be a hero for very long if you get more injured than you can handle. You getting hurt is no joke to him, even if the wounds are relatively minor by comparison; even as he says this though he’s surprisingly gentle as he tends to your wounds, not being overly harsh despite the scolding tone of his words. You can tell that deep down he is genuinely concerned about your wellbeing as he patches you up, as when you hiss at the cleansing wipes he runs over your cuts you notice he pauses for a second before continuing.
He’s pretty practiced at this by comparison to the other Summoners, so it really doesn’t take very long until you’re all cleaned up and doing better than you would have been if you’d just stuck it out in your room. But don’t expect to get away without one last drawn out lecture on taking better care of yourself - you’ve only got one body and all it takes is a stray knife or the wrong place for you to get seriously hurt. It’s honestly pretty rich coming from someone who so often delves into the shadows for the sake of succeeding in battle more times than you can count; however, for what it’s worth you can tell he’s giving you this talk because he doesn’t like seeing you getting hurt, and wants to ensure that you aren’t willingly putting yourself into harm’s way - he wants you to stay safe, even if he doesn’t outwardly say tell you that.
Gullinbursti
I mean usually Gull’s the one who ends up getting hurt barging in to take the fall in your stead, so when you end up coming back home covered in scratches and bruises it likely happened when he wasn’t around to intervene. Needless to say, he hates the sight of you injured in any way - he feels as though he’s failed to fulfill his purpose to keep you protected from harm, and you’re honestly surprised to see just how distressed he is by you getting hurt. You get hurt all of the time, with so many close calls to your name you’re sure you’d earn an achievement or two for it - but you guess most of those instances have been while Gull wasn’t around, which explains why he gets so troubled at the sight of you standing before him, cradling a few more bruises than you’re able to cover up when you come face to face with the boar transient.
You have to really convince him that you’ll be fine without going to see anybody like a doctor or school nurse or else Gullinbursti won’t even hesitate to hoist you up into his arms and charge right over to the person who can get you healed up, be it one of the other Summoners or a medical professional. He doesn’t seem entirely convinced when you tell him that you’re fine - you just need to grab a couple things you’d stashed away specifically for these instances and once you’re finished you’ll be right as rain...minus the scratches, of course. Similar to Ryota, he hovers around you whilst you’re cleaning yourself up, looking for an opportunity to aid you in some way, whether that’s going out to retrieve something or holding things for you while you move to grab the next things you need. It’s actually pretty cute seeing him trying to dote on you, watching you clean yourself up and bristling when you grit your teeth as you apply the disinfectant.
In your opinion, you do a pretty bang up job of bandaging yourself up, though as you’re putting the last of the plasters on your palm you feel the back of his hand brush against the side of you, stopping just short of one of the particularly nasty bruises you’ve got blossoming across the skin. When you tilt your head to face him and ask him what’s wrong he wonders aloud if you’re in pain - it makes you pause, because you’d be lying if you said they didn’t feel at least uncomfortable, so instead of answering you lean over and pat his cheek, assuring him that you’re okay and that he doesn’t need to worry in the hopes to reassure him.
Agyo
Agyo absolutely panics when you come through the guildhouse door all busted up and bruised. When did you get hurt?! It couldn’t have been close to the guild, the little lion dog takes guarding the safehouse seriously, so surely he’d have spotted you while he was out making sure everything outside was okay! You’re covered in scratches and bruises when you stumble into the room and greet the fluffy transient, and the poor boy just about faints at the sight of you grinning as you rub at the side of your face where you’re supporting a particularly large bruise, half-heartedly whining about how it stings and how you were so sure you could have dodged the hit. Agyo really wishes someone else was here, someone who has a good enough idea on how to take care of you when you’re hurt; since he’s the only one around at the time he decides to take the situation into his own paws, ushering you further inside the room so that he can get a proper look at just how bad the damage is, getting frustrated when you try to tell him that it’s really not that big of a deal.
He tries to put on a brave face but you can tell that he’s really worried - your injuries are only scrapes and bruises at worst, but you’ve got a hell of a lot of them. Agyo has the least amount of experience with dealing with injuries; he’s gotten hurt before back in Wa No Kuni, and he’s also seen people coming to the shrine sick or injured but it was always his grandpa who took care of those duties while Agyo got things to help. So Agyo plays to his strengths, and remembering some of the things he’d seen used before, brings out the first aid kit for you to use, hoping that whatever’s inside will help in some way. Most of them don’t even need anything to cover, with only a few cuts actually managing to break the skin, but for the sake of easing his nerves you humor him a little and cover as many as you’re able. 
Most of your fingers are covered in plasters by the time you’re done, with them having received the brunt of the damage at the time, and you hold them up for him to see, waggling your fingers as if to show him that you’re all better. It does seem to do the trick, as at the sign of your plaster-covered hands he huffs and plops down to sit beside you, shaking his head as he asks you how you even ended up like this - surely you didn’t run headfirst into trouble, right?...right? When you don’t answer him, instead feigning ignorance and whistling as you look away, the poor lion dog gives you an exasperated look and starts persistently prying for answers, grumbling about losing guardian points when the sight of him getting so riled up makes you laugh a little.
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Text
Witcher of the Night (Chapter 20.1)
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THIS IS MODERN ERA READER WHO WOKE UP IN THE DIMENSION OF THE WITCHER.
DOUBLE UPDATE FOR A WEEK Y’ALL! MWAH MWAH! PLEASE DO LEAVE A FEEDBACK BEFORE YOU GO---OR MAYBE A REBLOG WILL BE NICE FOR MY EFFORT. Hehehe. Thank y’all!
CHAPTER 20
WOTN MASTERLIST
Characters: Geralt of Rivia x small!Naive!Reader
Summary: Sometimes other people's stories were actually not just a tale of fantasies when the protagonist in the story can't even give you an answer to soothe your insecurity, curiosity and fear over being alone in a dimension you didn't belong in.
Warnings: Soft, touchy and caring Geralt. Insecure and anxious reader. Brooding witcher. Baths with the witcher? Mention of Yennefer. Nudity. Angst. Geralt being too blunt and saying...things. Heh. Don't hate him later please? 😥😘 Mention of Parallel Universe. Doppelganger. Ingrith is just a character I made up, alright? she ain't a part of Yennefer's story in the games, books or show. 
Words: 7.6k
A/N: So, Yeap. I wanted to leave ya with all these angst. Hehehe. COMMENTS ARE HIGHLY APPRECIATED! MWAH! *waits for comments about people cursing Geralt lmao 😂😂* @casualfansoul​​ You’ve been such a sweetheart! BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEETIE! I hope you’ll love this chapter dedicated to you! Mwah! 
TAGLIST IS STILL OPEN FOR THIS ONE! Heehee! Don’t forget to REBLOG, COMMENT OR GIVE FEEDBACK IF YOU DID LOVE THIS CHAPTER! IT’LL MAKE ME SMILE! Sorry for the grammatical errors and such because English isn’t my mother tongue! PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK AFTER READING, BB! This is kinda a rough draft. I apologize for many errors.
Disclaimer: PNG’s and pictures used in edits are not mine even the GIF’s too. However, the edits and this fanfic is definitely from moi. Character development and personalities are based from my understanding and how I want them to be.(Credits to those who made the GIF’s. Some don’t have their watermarks included. I don’t remember where I’ve saved the others from)
MY WORKS ARE NOT NOT NOT NOT NOOOOOOT TO BE POSTED ON ANY OTHER WEBSITES. My official username in Wattpad is “TATATHEPOTATO” and that’s the only other site I have for writing aside from Tumblr. Thank you, Tater tots!
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"Will you tell me why you are utterly cranky all of a sudden?"
Face to face with the rim of the wooden bath, you've had your knotted brows in a twist. Pout oh-so-long that Geralt knew as he sat behind you, seeking answers for your upset state. He'd gotten you out of your clothes; forcefully must you say. Earning a glare from him as he was peeling your clothes away like he was caring for his sick, pouty child.
No complaints were accepted as he'd given you the idea to care for your wounds in the tub. Downright secretive about wanting to feel the comfort of your nudity grazing against his without any monkey business going on.
The witcher has received constant grumbles and whines of protests as he poured the potent medicine that evaporated through the fresh wounds; painful enough for you to shriek while his arm surrounding your waist tightened with every whimper of your sobbing self; shushing your cries with a soft coo of his endearment on your ear and the feathery nuzzle of his nose against that tiny spot behind your ear while he soothes your pains.
They've fully had injured your back with more than just wallops. He'd knew by the looks of the lesions, the people in the castle has even burnt your skin with metal; scorching metal that has given you scars that would forever haunt oneself. The mere thought tormenting him by their brutal punishments; keeping him all in wonder when he has never received any violent retorts and schemes from you as they did everything in their willpower to strike a hand. Your submission making the witcher glower behind as Geralt caught sight of such deep wounds whilst taking off the gauze; seeing blood seeping out of the healing skin as it was a sign that he really and badly needed to treat your body.
Sobs were emitted while he watched your wounds dry from the potion he'd mix, receiving kisses on the cold, sweating nape of yours every now and then. A gesture that Geralt started doing when you were shrieking in the midst of being poured by such elixir while you felt his breath on your skin. Sweetly kissing through your pain and lowly humming that you were going to be okay and you've been good.
It felt like all the energy downed on you after he'd stop and was done pouring the elixir everywhere around your body. The warm water lining on your chest turned colder when you've slowly leaned your back on Geralt, hissing from the soreness but actually ending up loving the warmth that he could only give while he kept his burly arm around you, your lips still in a pout while staring at the bed from the far corner of the room; basking in the witcher's silence before he asked.
His question gotten you unready for an honest answer as he bluntly shot the query out, planning to resolve the problem with you in the best way that he thought. Being forthright.
"Hmm." you hummed back in displeasure, sounding exactly the same like how he does.
The corner of his lips lifted in a small smirk, his voice vibrating at the back of your head and against his chest. The buzz keeping you calm and at ease rather than being alone in the castle when he haven't arrived yet. Your anxiety giving you such trauma that made you want to sob again.
But, Geralt's distraction to stifle your cries has technically been useful when he felt you sigh again, watching your face from above and behind to see a frown etching to grow. He heedlessly fetched a cup of water with the palm of his hand, delicately pouring your cheek with water as he gruffly quipped.
"That's my line. Not yours, Midget."
Geralt repeated his gestures with you, lightly damping your hair with water as he gently brushed your tousled wet hair with the spaces of his fingers, keeping them light and comforting which made you lean back a lot more, accepting his gentleness after being physically whacked in harsh moments prior before he came around---your purpose of being upset has now been forgotten by his unfamiliar gestures that was tickling your spine with ants racing on your skin because of how his actions was giving you cavity. A sweet tooth.
Just being held so softly felt good in real life---you didn't know how comforting it feels even back in earth, but right now was just the right time to feel how you would yearn for it when Geralt wouldn't be around.
"I told you, before I even realized that you were important to me was after you've made a wish to the Djinn."
Your swollen cheek fell on the skin of his biceps; sighing while you stared out of nowhere and finally held onto his arm surrounding your waist, keeping you still and steady in his arms. His nudity becoming not much of a problem for you now because it was an experience that you could never forget; eventually having the privilege in familiarizing his body just like how a lover does while he did the same to you.
Though, his imperfect beauty could still get you blushing nevertheless as he liked seeing yours no matter how insecure you get---but he seemed to admire your nakedness a lot which he received with a 'men versus boobs' explanation that his kind of gender would always love the idea of breasts no matter how big or small as the same goes for a vagina.
You'd received a pleased hum after that and also some horny witcher begging and trying his best to get your clothes off in his sneaky techniques.
"I know. I'm sorry I was cranky, Geralt."
The white wet-haired witcher pursed his lips, looking down at your face as you've felt his gaze heavy while he calmly spoke.
"It's...alright. But, must it be for Eanraig to see and hear?"
You've given him another sincere, sweet and soft apology. Caressing your thumb over the top of his scarred hand which was under the waters and he'd let you graze over the tiniest marks on his fingers and palms, swaying under the bath water. Breathing calm and collected while he stayed in bath with you; cherishing such moment again that could get his chest feeling the lightest out of all the times he lived in the continent; more freeing to than the one he had with a particular sorceress whom he had also been connected with; via Djinn.
His free hand lifted away from leaning onto the edge of the tub, reaching down to sweep your hair to the side. Clearing the space on your neck and such wounds from the shoulder blades, others being a scar from his potent medicine that he has poured.
"I remembered your skin clearly in the back of my head. Thoroughly silk like a bairn's bum,"
He paused, prolonging the silence as he gently danced his fingers on the skin of your shoulders; too tender that it began to lick your spine, igniting the tiniest shiver when you've felt the soft, warm feathery feeling of his lips giving your painted shoulder a peck of his specific comfort that he only gives to people who have turned his world a much better place than how much of a hell it has been.
"Now, you are scarred." Geralt grumbled against your skin, giving one last kiss and making everything all worth while as he was still around. Continuously denouncing what they've done to his family---even beating Jaskier to pulp.
"---They've...turned you like me,"
You've slightly turned your head to see his amber eyes withdrawn from reality. Thoughts probably plaguing his mind while he scowled. A simple purse of your lips, suggesting to receive a small, quick buss has Geralt dipping his head down to sweetly smack your lips to his, letting him feel that you were there; finally there with him physically and he didn't need to worry.
Thus, it was just like that. Geralt and his presence, including such soft gestures that you rarely receive nor see that he does for anyone and a soundly kiss has let the upset feelings go away, simply just like that.
Even though, he has never confessed any love yet---this was forging you both to understand what connection you have for each other. Though, clearly unspecific and undistinguished. Or was this his type of love? a love never needed to be told for it can be felt?
The question here, does he even love you? was this love?
Partially turning around in his arms to see him gazing back at you, Geralt seemed to be nonplussed and introverted with his thoughts. Keeping words to himself while he was giving you a solemn frown of his face, examining your swollen eye that you tried pulling him out of his regret and blames with a quirky tone of your voice; sounding like nothing has happened to you nor have you been battered to bruising limbs.
"When are you going to leave?"
"After I take care of you, midget." he deeply murmured, watching you like a hawk with golden eyes as the candle light was making his eyes glow prettier than usual. You grabbed a handful amount of water with your palms, arms sore as you reached up to pour water on his face that surely gotten a deep, complain of his humming when it made him close his eyes from the uninvited rainfalls of liquid.
The fading colored grime has been softly scrubbed off by the pad of your damp thumbs over the apples of his cheeks. His gaze was utmost heavy, shooting you a warm, loving sensation on your chest; surrounding the fading Cicatrix that somehow turned insipid after the nights before with the witcher.
You couldn't help but notice his grouching and grumpy self as he scanned your face with an affectionate flicker in his amber that made you tut. The gentleness you were giving was a thorough unfamiliar feeling he always received from you despite of your negative characteristics---though, he doesn't mind it at all---sometimes, he does but that was beyond the point when he felt comfort from you and aspire to give it back despite of not knowing what and how comfort is to a witcher.
"Stop being such a wild cat---Let me guess, you haven't gotten to have your nap again?"
Geralt huffed out a breath of complaint. A short, low growl that made you giggle quickly when you wiped his face with your fingers; playfully glaring at how you were bathing him.
"When did I ever?"
"It seems like you haven't had it last night again---Stop scowling like you want to strangle me," you lightly poked the dimples of his nose that got him deeply growling his protests. His expressions completely emotionless as he turned his face to avoid your play-time; considering on biting your fingers off to stop annoying the heck out of him.
Howbeit, Geralt went on in silently letting you touch his face. Mesmerized by how his scars really never affected his beauty and probably added perfection over his gorgeousness. The witcher mutely let you trace the bridge of his nose and the scars on his face whilst intently staring at your face in return.
"---Until you came along," he surprisingly continued the topic, never breaking his gaze as he'd seen you lean closer to his face. The tangy scent he was familiar in recognizing from you, mixing with the medicine on your skin. Yet, it didn't stop him to wait for what you had in mind. Your bruised, healing lips brushing against his that made both of your chests tingly for over such sweet intimacy that you've both eventually become accustomed with.
Geralt pursed his lips for your thirsts to calm down; such desperate feeling that both parties yearned for. A twee, syrupy connection of your lips on his---a kiss that made warmth spread through you like an angel's halo trying to make you holy and worth for his affections.
Men in your world will certainly not impress you anymore. Geralt of Rivia has raised the bars of what men should be---he'd ruined the normality of what you expected from such gender because you believed that they may not reach the level of what you've felt for him.
Love as you may see now.
But, it can be quite blurry of a picture for a future that you do not hold or knew how it'll be for the both of you because you've teleported as a miracle that nobody expected to receive.
"If I---If I die---" your pessimist self started to run your mouth over Geralt. Yet, he was quick to cut you off with a sullen chide and an avoidance of your gaze with a grumpy sigh.
"Stop. Don't." he groused with the mouth ends pulled down, "---You're not going to die,"
"What if I do?"
His eyes turned penetrating as if he wanted to tell how much you are wrong about that argument. Those cat-eyes of his; sharp and making a stand for the idea he didn't want to accept.
"I will never let that happen. They can have me hunt down whatever they want, even slice a throat of a nobleman or a monster but I will never let anything happen to you,"
The witcher gently scooped water with a palm of his hand, pouring them over your face. Coming forth with a scrub of it as he shoved his large palm that made you shriek against his hold while he lightly scoured your face as a gesture to clean you more inside the bath; avoiding your healing bruises.
"---I don't want to hear that again while I give you a bath,"
Darkness suddenly turned into seeing Geralt's stony stare after being suffocated by his hand that was suddenly shoved on your face, "I'm sorry," you immediately tried to woo over his vexation, your face wet from the bath water he tried to rinse you in, an involuntary response of your arms slipping around his bare waist shocked your consciousness because of how touchy-feely you've become around him.
The latter welcomed your apology and touches, humming in appeasement for your quick sorry; knowing your way with him and reading that he could not tolerate such physical-contact from you without liking the feel of your skin, you've leaned your body more to him---your naked chests flushed together that got him curling his lips in a small smile whilst feeling your forehead fall on the side of his neck, nuzzling with an apology.
"I-I didn't mean to upset you,"
Quietude embraced you both. Sitting in a tub. Entirely bare for each other to see but it was so wholesome for the betterment of your relationship with him; nurturing what understanding you both have for each other, not entirely specific nor knowing what it is. As a matter of fact, you do know what you felt for him, but not the other way around.
"She..She isn't a queen in my world,"
Bamboozle screamed inside his eyes for your statement, his fingers gliding along the small of your back under the waters as he hummed in curiosity.
"Hmm?"
You've remember the time that the queen has visited your cell. Retched between the hatch of the door came in view was your kind boss who wore the finest set of golden, silk, long gown with rich trimmings. She stopped by to check on your victimized state with a glaze of ignorance in her eyes. She didn't care for your condition because if so, she wouldn't have left the slammer with a quiet scoff.
Out of all the people who could turn out evil was a queen in Geralt's world and a boss you've highly given respect to.
Nonetheless, in this world; it seemed to be like the opposite personalities of how people had been in your world.
"Your queen. Queen Makeda. She's named Angela Cincinnati. The boss of mine who also works in the pizza parlor that I'm in,"
Geralt has leaned back on the edge of the tub in a relaxed posture, lifting his other hand every now and then to pour water on your hair that tickled your insides because of how cold the water has been already. His warmth being your therapy while thinking such hypothetical answers for what mysteries that the continent has been giving you. Jotting down possibilities that a typical earthling could try to guess like they were watching a very interesting movie.
"Does this mean I have someone who looks like me in this world too?" pause. "---Does she have a better life than me?"
Your witcher cocked his head to the side as he was in deep thought over the woman who looked like you. His mouth opening and closing for whatever shit he wanted to say because Savia has been the person who ruined your future by creating such crimes being pointed at you because you looked like her twin.
"Worse. I can say that you had a better life than her and also complicated yours at the same time," he gravely informed.
"My doppelganger then? have you already seen her?"
"Will you try to find her if I say yes?"
"No. I...don't wanna scare her with this drama movie I'm in."
You've leaned away from Geralt and his consoling cuddles, trying hard to rip your body away from him when all you wanted was to bask in his own embrace. Splashing your face with more bath water, he'd given you a curious glint of his eyes. Fixating his gaze on your bare form, subtly sliding his focus on the depths of your neck and wanting nothing more than to give more sweet busses of care. Geralt ignored the modern reference you've muttered about being in a movie and found it more interesting to appreciate the nudity you've freely have been giving him.
It's not like you were naked all the time. The witcher snickered to himself; appreciating the best view of you that he can ever get.
"The water's cold now. Are we done?" you softly whispered, the thought of your doppelganger out there; like a twin from another mother and dimension that you didn't expect to have. It was interesting to know, but frightening to actually see the real her because people like your doppelganger who lived in the medieval era might not be a great sight for the woman.
Geralt grabbed onto the end of the tub, whisking a thin, Ivory robe that was made of silk as he deeply grumbled, "Stand."
You've stood on your feet, hopping off the tub entirely dripping wet from the bath water; feeling eyes heavy on your body and raking over your nudity from behind. The heat started to rise up your face again, making you clear your throat when you've turned your body to grab onto the robe that Geralt has reached out for you. His keen peepers grabbing the chance to shamelessly rake your body in silence.
He'd received no refusal or a loud scolding after thinking it through that he had the liberty of doing so; also, the idea being a gift after trying to protect you from any harm and sacrificing over an endless hunt just for the Kaedwenians to cease their punishments.
"Hmm. A movie. I missed watching one. Though, It's not like if I ask you to go on a date with me again, Geralt---A movie date this time---watching a movie with you will never happen," you turned your head at your front, slipping your arms inside the short sleeves while tightening the knot around your waist; frowning when the witcher couldn't see your face. The truth beginning to bother you when problems began to rise and for such abrupt topic that lingered along your consciousness.
"---Because you and I both live in different worlds, it's like they collide."
Geralt kept his mouth hushed. The loud splash of water echoing around the room when he left the wooden tub; strolling behind to promenade past you. His stark-naked self never bothering him after the night you both had each other. Basking in more of his nudity especially when he slept; knowing that he was mentally complaining over how reserved he needed to be while you slept beside him, his clothes very uncomfortable because of the heat he was feeling.
Basically, he did not know the meaning of clothes after the night of ravish; constantly taking his slumbers in the nude as he covertly tried to wrench them off you as well with his witcher needs.
His bare back and derriere was displayed before you, the distinct foramen of his brawny back giving you a loud greeting as he grabbed onto his trousers on the end of the bed, lending his ear and slipping on his leather pants that was bursting through the seams because of his thick thunder thighs and curvacious derriere.
"My world and yours, they sound like a parallel universe that I completely don't understand even back in earth, it's too complicated to know---too scientific for my thriving brain,"
Quick panic-stricken questions were sent to the witcher; the motion of the words hasty and apprehensive because of such negative ideas forming inside your head; skyrocketing like a plague in your mind while Geralt wore his breeches, not trying to take cover in front of you.
You couldn't help but shift your eyes constantly at Geralt and the queen sized bed, his gigantic biceps straining along his movements while buttoning his pants; lowly grunting from each pull of the hem to fit his curvaceous, muscled arse that you couldn't help but clear your throat, forgetting what you needed to say for a second and being distracted over your trembling anxiety.
You eyes took heed of the opened windows where the brisk wind was slipping in a breeze, seeing how you could see the pale moon from afar. A guess telling you that the room was in a high place. In a few short strides, you've looked out of the window, peering up the Tartarean night sky to meet the moon in its full glory, finding no flaw that you were in a different planet and not yours.
Confusing and complicated to understand in your human perspective because nothing human was basically being shown as you lived in their world.
"This...This is your earth. Your continent. While my earth out there also exists without any one of you knowing. What if I have a count down while I stay in your world---what will happen to me---would I get to stay alive forever in this world when I have been too dependent over you?"
Heavy strides alarmed you for Geralt's presence who loomed behind your back. His mouth curled down when he has heard your questions; feeling no trust in between you both, hesitance scrambling your way and filling your heart when it hasn't been there before you even came to the castle. It was baffling him for your curiosity and determined self to seek answers when he has no answer to it at all.
The sorceress has probably told stuff to you, he silently thought as he brushed a hand over your arm and clothed shoulder. The roughness of his palm colliding against your bruised ones as he tries his best to provide what you needed; not knowing what because of how he does not understand this kind of relationship with women because it has always been typically greed, lust or a needed release to calm his overly mutations.
Except for you, Yennefer or Renfri because he actually really cares.
"Do you not want me to protect you?" he gravely mumbled behind, seeming to be slightly taking umbrage after hearing the queries.
"You're only doing this because you have no other choice just like how you've told the king that I was your betrothed when it isn't true at all,"
How sure were you to say that it wasn't true?
Reflecting and debating his thoughts over your judgement, Geralt marred an agonized frown that creased his forehead. He rarely does claim such label but he didn't regret the action after hearing how it made the king lessen the punishments for you; excluding all planned damnation. The witcher had no explanations about the moment he had called you his betrothed nor did he want whatever you were thinking about his actions.
Hence, it instantly made him cantankerous when he hasn't been feeling it before you opened that mouth of yours again.
"You think I have done it with a purpose I don't understand," he incoherently rumbled in his baritone timbre. Slightly pulling away from his own touch on yours to turn around and walk through the end of the bed to wear and grab onto his armor and under shirt, half naked with a straining back; all rigid and stressing under the skin.
"Geralt---"
"With the mishaps of my world and yours, if I ask you to stay; will you leave your kingdom?"
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He'd turn his foot around to see him slip the under tunic over his head, the scowl prominent making him appear stony; dour and solemn. His eyes eager while it reflects the candle light on the side of the bed. Reading through the golden hues lay a pining greed that the witcher never knew he craves for; such hungering he does not know that he wanted to find and receive when it was his own faults over not having it because when he feels a deeper connection with someone, the white wolf suddenly becomes disfunctional; pushing her away because of not spitting the truth about his feelings.
He was capable of it; having feelings over another. Love as people may describe but he was in denial and can be reflective, the processing quite slower than usual because he had never received love through out his lifetime; not even a mother who actually cared.
No one.
You didn't understand him; what he really wanted to say or do because his words were spoken on a race track, passing through the chuckholes that could get you knowing what his true feelings were.
Was he letting you stay out of love or out of pity that you were lost, vulnerable and needed adoption?
"Do you believe in love, Geralt?" you've countered back, feeling the warmth spread around your chest for skipping around bushes over the real meaning behind your words; sounding like a confession if he was smart enough. The warmth spreading through like wildfire, scathing your skin as it felt like it was burning from the reality you were seeing.
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"---Or are you only doing this because of the Djinn incident? you're only feeling this way for me because I came around while Yennefer isn't?"
The latter gave a grim frown upon the mention of her name. Just like how he always does when Jaskier says her name when it shouldn't been uttered. Now, it was your turn to give a grouch. Your feigned smile joyless when Geralt was unblinking from your unexpected argument.
Was this true love you have with him? Did he even feel the same way when he can't even say the word at all? or will you both hate each other until it grows into spite?
Will you eventually be killed by the hands of a man you love as said by Eanraig's understanding over the curse set between?
"I've heard from the sorceress that you have been finding Yennefer from her a month before I came along and that this connection I had with you also had been the same with that Vengerberg. What if she comes back around? what will happen to me?"
Ingrith has said more information than you can bear. You weren't just physically pained but also mentally as well for whatever bullcrap she wanted to address. Palms over your ears were the only solution to shut the truth off as it echoed around the dungeon. She'd smirked when you've whimpered from the stones, the back of your sweater drenched in blood for using hardened sticks which had pointy twigs; never believing what they were doing to you as they also tried to throughly kick your stomach.
The men who were ordered to do so had no idea why they've been commanded to batter your torso, but you knew it had something to be involved with the cunning sorceress because of how she'd given another dagger of her gaze lingering on your middle like you would magically grow a baby inside of it when it was impossible from the start because of Geralt's infertility.
The witcher was like a bomb about to detonate. Though, the explosion never came other than a tight clench of his jaw. Geralt was wearing a lour like a bad omen over being interrogated; debating over answering the confusing truth that left him debating over himself as well. He has never remembered the sorceress until you've mentioned her; remembering that he'd taken full measures to even try finding Yennefer's long lost cousin for a plan to get back with her and earning nothing in return.
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"You're blathering complete nonsense, Midget. You've also been listening to Ingrith when I told you not to. She's cunning and will do anything to ruin you---kill you,"
Your mouth turned upside down; tighter and pensive for being swerved again, "You didn't answer my question." an exasperated huff was let out, "---she was once important to you. I've heard from your bard; you had adventures with her, shared powerful moments that are exactly the opposite of what we are having---she's the first woman you've loved. A powerful, independent lady that you will never regret having in your life because she can defend everyone---and I'm...just me,"
You didn't know what has gotten to you. The insecurities lighting up the sky, constantly reminding you that his existence can be a mere catch of your dreams because he was too good to be true---or jealousy infecting your blood into thinking that he would leave you alone when he never had yet?
Perhaps, it may be how proud Jaskier has told you that she was powerful that it has intimidated you. Her name seems to be beautiful and there was no doubt she was when he has been avoiding of hearing her name.
He had probably been devoted of Yennefer when a tight frown couldn't be erased upon the lips you have been kissing---thoughtlessly thinking that it was genuine or had any meaning to it.
"Really, what am I to you? "
"My home. Also equally important."
"More important than her? Do you dream of her?"
"You know I don't---not anymore."
Not anymore, he said. So, he does dream of her before.
Crossing your arms over your chest, your fingers went straight to the sleeves, anxiously rubbing over the silk against each other for the dreading beats of your heart, your eyes turning to look away as you quietly spoke; highly aware of an expected rejection.
"If I tell you what I really feel about you, will you give me an answer?" you softly spoke to the chilly air embracing your fidgety form.
"---Because then, you will know my answer about staying in this world you're in."
You've turned your head to see him wearing a permanent pucker of his brows, veiled with furrows of indifference and a look of betrayal. Your bluntness being a detriment because of giving an indefinite answer as well, avoiding his question and misunderstanding the sour expression on your face a while ago.
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"Is it hate? Disgust?" he gruffly gnarled. His attitude turning colder like an executioner's ax, unaware of the slight wince on your face because of how glazed he appeared to be.
"---because I am highly aware of what people see of me. I am at loss for what Ingrith must've told; lies or what may result that I am seeing you look at me like I've cast the Djinn's curse on you when you have never looked at me like that at all,"
He spat those words with a sardonic drip of his tongue. The frown darkening his expression more than it ever was.
"Don't blame me on this one, Geralt. Don't shift my words like I think so lowly of you when you and I both don't know the real deal between us with the Djinn incident,"
Geralt loudly exhaled his breath through his nose, marching towards you with the face of an angry ape. Disbelieving what he was comprehending from you, saying that what you shared was beyond reality; like he has been told by it the second time. Your words inconspicuous of loudly saying that maybe what you were both feeling was magic after all; having the presence of the Djinn around  for another relationship that he was having.
"You don't want to stay," he ceased his footsteps, looming before you. His irritation suddenly intimidating like a bulldozer when you realized he was bigger than he could get if he was mad at whatever you've done; or probably it was just your point of view because you were feeling small over his blaring anger.
"---Isn't that what you wanted to say?" Geralt emphasized much clearer this time, drawling his words with a hopeful hint that he just misunderstood you and he was right.
"What---? I didn't even said that! Give me a reason to stay then! I am in shambles for your way of thinking right now!"
He had a wide-legged stance; leaning onto more of your personal space while his Aureate eyes deeply stared into yours. Volatile and blazing as it looked like a fixed glare, baring his teeth as it curled---his fangs slipping through as he bluntly spoke.
"You aren't being entirely forthright,"
You couldn't help but cross your arms tighter against your chest, shuffling on your feet as you mentally gasp from his retort. Defensive as his attitude was beginning to irritate you too.
"Well, you aren't being forthright too!"
Geralt huffed before you. Momentarily scoping out the ceilings before peering down and staring right back with blazing peepers. Though, the witcher has never raised his voice on you when you've did. But, you knew he was fuming; seething deep inside, "I don't know what's wrong with you." he gravely mumbled to himself, steaming up from your sudden, churlish attitude.
"---you're a cherub for a while then acting hostile the next. Is this your pathetic insecurity talking or you just hate me all of a sudden?"
Your eyes instantly went wide open and jaw falling slack at how he'd open his mouth. Raising a finger to his chest as you slightly backed away.
"You're calling my insecurity pathetic?" you uttered in disbelief, swallowing hard for having to hear him be this way---though, you knew he was capable of being such because of how blunt he was. But, he was never mean to you as much as calling your insecurity pathetic. Tight lips were given to the witcher who had his chest puffed out for his own frustrations and repulse.
"---Also, aren't you the one who said that maybe this whole thing is actually just the Djinn effects before you've even---! Even---!?" put his pickle in a jar. Wreck the punani. Ravished you in bed. Shared Netflix and Chill despite having no Netflix in their world.
You shook your head for stammering, quietly growling for the annoyance he'd given after basically taking care of you---expecting that it was done out of love, just like how you've first initially thought of staying forever by his side when he has asked you to stay in their world regardless of the consequences and disadvantages.
"What's next then? My anxiety is childish for you too? nonsense?" pause. "---You don't even know what I mean---and even have no idea about what feelings I was talking about. You can't even tell me what happened between you and Yennefer without disregarding my question or avoiding the topic---or even cut Jaskier off!"
Standing akimbo, you've narrowed your eyes, tilting your chin to the fullest because of his skyscraper height. The displeasure shown from how your nose was twisted and from how you couldn't control your mouth from taking a marathon.
"If I shut up and never question you about things anymore then it just means that I don't care for you at all when I do so badly. Do you know what this means to me? Nobody has plagued my mind so hard---no other man has filled my mind with crazed thoughts. In my world, this means that I---"
Geralt immediately cut you off. His teeth bared and jaw set as he interrupted you out of the blue, catching you off guard.
"It must be for the better then," he rasped, clearly disgruntled for what he should respond to the quick blatter of your brain. His mind gripping so hard like wires being tightened.
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"---It must be for the better that you tighten that mouth of yours because you don't know when to shut up sometimes,"
Geralt had a cloudy countenance from his sudden bark. Suddenly forgetting how to respond after hearing every word inside his head. He shouldn't have cut you off especially when you were about to say your secret---the one you've been delibitating over countless of times inside your head; making everything sure before saying those heartfelt words because it was three words that meant the world to you as it will be the first.
Yet, the witcher had to fuck everything up with his petulant mood.
Your clenched fists turned slack. Expression stolid with your throat tightly swallowing the bane sipping through your esophagus like it was being punished for even hoarding all your confidence over confessing what you've felt for the white wolf. You've rapidly blinked your hazy, cloudy eyes; your chest tightening because it was reading 'rejection' because of how Geralt wanted you to shut up.
Maybe, he didn't need to hear the confession at all.
Eyes cast downward; feeling the medicines he'd given you seep through your skin and making everything numb. You didn't expect the concoction to also numb your fragile heart, experiencing your first heart break. Your palms turned clammy over tightening them over. Passing beside Geralt and avoiding those eyes that was thoroughly regretting what has been said, the bed may seem to be a better place to faint on and cry yourself through the night rather than his comforting arms that you wouldn't get to reject if he'd say his apologies, trying to stop you from crying.
Hurriedly hiding your face away from him, you've sat on the bed with your back away from him. Your face like rain experiencing in the middle of thunder, utterly gloomy and despair for reading the signs in the opposite of what you didn't expect. Forgetting that love shouldn't be filled with expectations so disappointments may be less.
Your toes were scuffing against the carpet with a voice turning smaller, shaky as the tears were threatening to fall and it would be when Geralt decides to talk.
"I hope you didn't say that but...but considering my profound hearing tonight and how angry you made me feel, I suggest that you take care of that monster hunting of yours. I sincerely hope you find that witch. You can throw me away soon so you couldn't hear anything from me again, Geralt. You want me to zip it? I'll zip it, then. Don't bother talking to me if you genuinely don't want to,"
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Everything would be perfect. This would've been a utopian scenery when your leading man decides to wrap his arms around you, comforting you from the verge of crying your heart out for his mistakes or for both of yours. But, Geralt was no leading man or a prince that he was highly opposing of. He was beyond repair or a man whom you needed to understand more than any normal one should because of how he was raised and created.
Geralt of Rivia was a witcher you couldn't understand. Hence, he was more human than he could ever get as he decided to be unresponsive. Silent and basking in his own regret. Just like a new potion he'd recently encountered, trying to decipher how it worked---knowing the ingredients to get you simmering down in no time.
It was a wrong word to say. Geralt was sure of it. He was beginning to argue with himself, grinding his own teeth together when he has seen your posture slouch. Your fingers fiddling with the sheets of the mattress, tightly holding them in your hands as you looked outside of the window from the side of the bed, avoiding his eyes.
Then, he heard familiar padded footsteps coming forth outside the doors of your chambers.
Eanraig. He was being requested to be seen for his upcoming hunt in a few hours.
Geralt was dreading to leave you in a state like this because he knew you were mad.
He heard loud taps against the locked door which has subtly make you turn your head towards the doorway without wholly turning your body. A frustrated growl reverberated around the four corners of the room---it was Geralt.
The latter tightly closed his fists on his sides, shooting daggers on your back who avoided giving him attention after his fuming episode, hearing the word 'fuck' slipping through his lips in such an exasperated bark to himself while he padded through the room and grabbed onto his belongings; his weapons and his resentment for such an argument that you blocked him in after receiving a petty, personal attack.
You've heard the lock sliding out of its hook. Swiftly turning on your bed, Geralt was already paving his way out of the door, heavily marching and begrudging. He'd open the door to reveal Eanraig raising an arm to knock a little more louder.
"The king requests for you, Geralt---"
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The witcher gave a displeased, unmannerly grumble of his chest. A hum that surely given the druid an understanding that he was not in the best mood to talk, passing through Eanraig as he went straight out of the door with the nastiest scowl he has seen since the moment he arrived.
Lovers Quarrel. He mindlessly thought to himself, watching the witcher strut away and along the stoned hallways like he was bringing all the storm with him. Nobody would notice he was aggravated if they knew him better.
Eanraig quietly shut the door behind him, his eyes meeting your bleary ones that complimented the pouty frown growing more and more when you've realized Geralt left you all mad, never even intending to comfort you, ask what 'feelings' you meant or even bother to tell you that he didn't mean you were pathetic.
In a flash, you've gotten a queasy feeling inside of your stomach which made you grab onto your mouth, your face flinching as you suddenly stood up on your feet, "Little woman," the druid sauntered to where you've strolled---before the open windows as you shot your head out of it, retching after a little while before he was beside you, calmly patting your back to make you feel better.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just...nauseous. Thank you, Eanraig." wiping your mouth with the back of your palm, you've heaved exhausted breaths while the druid ushered you to sit on the bed. Talking in the midst of it, assuring him that it was nothing but just a stomach bug and feeling weary over it, "---Probably because they've beaten me to pulp,"
The Druid earnestly stared upon your pale face. Hands shaky as you grab onto the soft sheets, softly grazing them beneath the pad of your fingers, caressing with such feeble strength. Eanraig scrutinized your condition as you turned your head away with a face falling over your current fight with the witcher.
The latter languidly sat beside you, a genuine smile turning his eyes into crescent shapes that tells he was intrigued and amused over what signs was receiving from you especially the warm, tender aura radiating off you; more than what you can offer like you came in two's.
"Will you wholeheartedly accept the responsibility of being the mother of your witcher's child, little one?"
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I hope you loved the double update, bb’s! FEEDBACKS ARE SO APPRECIATED!
Taglist for WOTN: (Strikethrough means you couldn’t be tagged, Bb. Please check your settings) @alyxkbrl​​​​ @himarisolace​​​​ @barkingbullfrog​​​​ @ayamenimthiriel​​​​ @hellodevilslittlesister​ @turkish276​​​​ @spookypeachx @grungelovebug @fangirl-inthe-us​​​​ @nympeth​​​​ @amirahiddleston​​​​ @gabethelobster​​​​ @dreaming-about-fanfictions​​​ @uncoolcloudyhead​​​​ @melaninstylezz​​​​ @psychosupernaturalhero​​​​ @missjenniferb @dance-dreamer​​​ @marvelousell​​​​ @kingniazx​​​​ @angelias134​​​​ @tapismyforte​​​​ @chook007​​​​ @covid-donotenter​​​​ @deadlydemon​​​​ @cheesecakeisapie​​​​ @angelofthor​​​​ @carrieannewaywardson, @plantingmum @stuckupstucky​​​​, @shesthelastjedi​​​​, @a–1–1–3, @gutfucks​​​​, @britty443​​​​,  @suhke3​​​​, @shadowclawstudio88​​​​  @ruthoakenshield​​​
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snkpolls · 3 years
Text
SnK Chapter 135 Poll Results
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This month’s poll closed with 2,264 entries. The poll results were compiled by momtaku, /u/_Puppet_, /u/berthototototo, u/staraves
RATE THE CHAPTER 1,980 responses
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Volume 34 started off on a high note with “Battle of Heaven and Earth” being our 7th highest rated chapter with an average of 4.61.
Easily the best action based chapter post timeskip
Very action dominated chapter this time. Just pure adrenaline, not many answers. Not complaining though, great chapter!
Best chapter since 122, hype levels were great, pacing was great, just overall great really.
What I loved about this chapter is that this was the first time I REALLY felt the suspense, the kind of suspense where it looks our heroes can not win the fight and all hope is lost. It was a very similar feeling I experienced in the first chapters of Attack on Titan where the fight against Pure Titans always felt like the enemy had the upper hand and our heroes were fighting a losing battle that they could only fight to mitigate the losses as low as possible
A chapter will less talk more fight. It's been a while.
I loved this chapter immensely. For months, this was the first I could finally rate the highest.
We are near the end, oh god, this was a a hell of a journey from 2013 as a manga reader it is for me one of the best manga I have ever read
Everything about this was awesome from bucket girl Ymir to all the previous titan shifters to bird Falco. There was so much I had to wrap my head around, so I’m going to have to read this a couple more times.
So many mysteries I just don’t want it to be rushes uwu and for us to only be getting a chapter per MONTH can you throw us some bones PLEASE
I’m rethinking everything I thought I knew about the manga
We're hanging on a razor's edge between masterpiece and ruin. Whatever happens, please let it be well executed. . .
  WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WAS YOUR FAVORITE OVERALL MOMENT?
2,001 responses
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This chapter was filled with lore, action and great individual character moments but seeing the fantastical forms of titans past brought into the fight was our favorite moment with 31.4% of the total. “Mikasa carrying the whole damn team” was second with 24.7%. The arrival of the flying titan (10.6%), the vision of Bertholt Hoover (10%) and Pieck rushing forward with the bombs (6.9%) round out the top five.
One of my all-time favourites probably, I absolutely loved all the character interactions as well as the amazing new titan designs.
Bert back! Bert back! Bert back!!! <333333
I really did like it, all those previous titans forms are interesting and see that the manga is very soon to end, I can't wait to know the end.
The chapter hasn't changed anything fundamentally but was exited to see OG Ymir
A demonstration of the despair and hopelessness of fighting Ymir
Bird!!! Falco!!! And!!! Ghost!!! Bertholdt!!! YES! YES! YES!
Really liked Jean and Reiners moments this chapter,
Bringing back old titans was really badass and intimidating.
Tentacle porn. That is all.
  WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE COMRADE-RELATED MOMENT? 1,969 responses
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With a battle involving Alliance teamwork and some visits from old friends, this chapter had many moments between current and former comrades. The wholesome scene between Jean and Reiner packed with an Armored Titan joke garnered the majority of votes (50.2%), with others favoring Armin’s vision of Bertolt (15.9%), and Annie’s reunion at the end of the chapter (14.1%).
jean saving reiner really moved me i really love these characters and after seeing them fighting it was nice seeing one saving the other. i mean jean had a really good reason to hate reiner and he previously said that he would never forgive him but he did and it was nice
Loved that scene between Jean and Reiner. Jean came a long way since his selfish oppotunistic days: Not letting Reiner fall, even though he really hated him. Actually willing to die. Great character development.
I'm curious to see, what effect this might have on Reiner: I mean he was being called a member of the survey corps again and therefore he was kind of being ""forgiven"".
Jean-Reiner-Bromance!
Connie x Levi canon
Ngl, I felt a great satisfaction as ghost Bertolt looked down on Armin who was suffocating from that giant tongue lmao
at this point I think that the ackertalk is sadly never happening. A missed opportunity.
  WHO WAS THIS CHAPTER’S MVP? 1,973 responses
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It’s Mikasa nation domination with 52.4% of the vote. There were a lot of great character moments but it’s hard to beat the one who stopped the manga ending prematurely! There was also appreciation for Ymir (12.8%) who brought in some interesting Titan designs and a great fight. 11.8% gave the nod to Falco for swooping in for the last minute save. 6.3% were hyped for Pieck’s no-nonsense charge, and 4.1% liked seeing Levi push himself in battle despite needing another couple of months in bed.
Levi has been severely injured for not even a week, yet he held his own and saved Connie AND Jean. I don't ever want to hear any whiny criticisms about this man ever again.
If Pieck dies we riot
Jean is best
Love Mikasa sm
MIKASA SUPREMACYYY GO BEST GIRL
Loved Reiner and Jean moment as well as Mikasa’s bad assery!
Mikasa was amazing this chapter
Pieck, the only one to make a move against Eren directly while the rest are too much up in their feelings. Best girl moment right there <3
Mikasa was so badass!! Love to see it
Mikasa was the BOMB in this chapter, loved that winged panel of hers.
My God I loved it, Mikasa was so badass, especially in that speech scene with her wings, Falco is best boy, I loved the interactions and everyone saving each other
  THE CHAPTER IS TITLED “BATTLE OF HEAVEN AND EARTH”, WHAT DOES THIS REFER TO? 1,942 responses
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The most popular interpretation of the title “Battle of Heaven and Earth” seems to be designating Ymir as the Heaven, and the Alliance as the Earth (42.6%), with the reverse of that being the second most popular (27.8%). In third came the idea that it relates to Ymir using the titans of deceased Eldians (20.9%).
A battle that people might die in (Heaven) or survive (Earth)
A battle which has consequences for both Heaven (Paths) and Earth (The World)
The alliance fighting in the heavens while the colossal titans destroy the earth.
It is a reference to Ragnarok.
multiple viable interpretations. the ascended vs descended, the heavenly winged mikasa vs the now devil of all earth ymir, the winged titan against the earthly titans.
Probably a weird take, but it reminds me 131. Eren being in the Heaven as his coping mechanism and Ymir being on the ground (earth)
I’m not sure but it’s in reference to the 4th chapter titled First Battle. Just like last chapter referenced the 5th chapter.
Heaven: Paradis. Earth: beyond the sea.
all of the above- YOU GET SYMBOLIC METAPHORS, AND YOU GET SYMBOLIC METAPHORS
because the battles are in the sky while on earth the colosus step down on earth
***ohhh heaven is a place on earth***
  WE’D PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT YMIR WAS UNJUSTIFIABLY FRAMED BY HER PEERS. DOES LEARNING THAT SHE FREED THE PIGS AFFECT HOW YOU VIEW HER? 1,952 responses
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Ymir apparently freeing the pigs was an unexpected opening for the chapter. For 34.4%  this action meant that Ymir has always been #TeamFreedom. A sizable 18.8% think this relatively minor reveal makes her way more suspicious. Closely following that, 18% think it means nothing at all. It’s just a cool detail that resolved a mystery.
It's trying to say that since Ymir freed the pigs, she created this whole mess which I heavily dislike since it goes against what her character was in 122
When back in 122 everyone was foaming about tHe FuCkInG pIgS, I was rolling my eyes so hard, because to me the pigs were insignificant: it does not matter who set them free, they might have just run away on their own, what matters is that Ymir is the one they blame, which started the whole story. NOW, huh, the pigs might be important, or at least it really might have been Ymir who let them go, set them free. She couldn't get free herself, so she granted freedom to the poor animals.
I always just assumed Ymir set the pigs free, I didn't realize it was something people saw as ambiguous until now…
I wasn't expecting any of that sh*t, and now I'm certain that Ymir is the real baddie here
Peppa Pig is free
  WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YMIR FREEING THE PIGS AND LOOKING DOWN AT THE ALLIANCE? 1,835 responses
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The chapter opens with Ymir after freeing the pigs from the pen, but what does this mean? It’s close, but the most popular option is that Ymir is recalling that the last time she prioritised the idea of freedom the suffering was not worth it (29.9%), followed by the assertion there’s no deeper meaning (22.3%). A close third place of votes believe the connection is that Ymir has given up acts of selflessness as she doubles down on the rumbling (21.8%) and an even closer fourth place see it as her looking down on the Alliance as if they were the caged animals (21.4%).
Did she free the pigs out of compassion, or to spite her master? Is the rumbling everything to put the pigs back in the pen, or to get revenge on those who scorned Eldians?
How it started versus where it's ended up. All this torment and death because of something so minuscule because of human cruelty towards each other.
It seems like a parallel between Ymir freeing the pigs and Ymir freeing the past titans.
It shows she's an actor with agency and motivations, whether in her slave-like state or her god-like position
It was her first act of free will, and her routing the scouts it technically her third, so in a way they are parallel actions.
She looks at humans like pigs
She wants freedom, and the only way to obtain it is to kill the alliance
She's still in a cage, represented by the bones of Eren
She has been stewing in everything she has gone through for 2000 years and that might've turned her hateful.
it is possible that after looking at humanity for hundreds of years that she believes that it is not human's nature to be compassionate like her, but to fight each other until no one remains, and she has decided to speed up to what she feels is the inevitable conclusion so that her ghost can be gone for good.
  WHY IS YMIR THE ONE ACTIVELY FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE ALLIANCE? 1,919 responses
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Armin notes that Ymir seems to be the one in control of the titans, why is this?  The large majority at 54.5% believe her to be working side by side with Eren.  About ¼, at 24.8% think she’s stepping in for Eren while she’s unconscious, while the minority at 20.7% think she’s overpowered Eren and is the real big bad of the story.
If she really wants the whole humanity to perish, then it means she lost all hope in humanity and is like an empty shell who has never experienced any drop of love. I feel that Ymir doesn't really care about protecting or helping Eren. She just wants to see an empty world - without humans.
The chapter was really well drawn. Also I see lots of new possibilities to happen, as Eren being a slave, Ymir perhaps becoming the final villain. it also makes to recall back to chapter 1 when I see Eren crying in front of Mikasa after some sort of "dream". This makes me think that Eren will eventually come to regret his actions but it's gonna be too late. thus he receives this dream but he is never able to see it through. Quite a sad fate. Although that's just a speculation on my part.
Armin questioning Ymir's role has me hoping for an Armin talk no jutsu with Ymir.
Eren and Ymir are unbeatable
Ymir/Eren are the only ones who can build titans right now. They baited Falco and Annie to return to get all of the 9 shifters near the founder again and they are planning something.
It warmed my heart seeing Ymir protecting her otosan as a thank you for bringing her with him on Take Your Daughters to Work Day 🥺
  WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO ARMIN BEING FRENCHED BY A TITAN? 1,957 responses
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In one of the weirdest moments in recent memory, Armin gets french kissed by a titan of the past.  42% of fans think it makes sense, as it was the only way to stop him from biting himself to transform.  36.1% feel bad for Armin as he’s gotten molested and now this, he just can’t catch a break.  14.2% are scared to ask if this constitutes fanservice, and 7.8% are too grossed out to think about it any longer.
When I wanted a non-Annie pairing for Armin, I wasn't expecting this. Stop harrassing my poor boy.
the chapter has already spawned Armin tentacle hentai and that makes it the best chapter in the whole manga
Armin capture thing was a little weird but makes sense IMO.
I know Armin being captured in that way has a narrative purpose, but that was disturbing in the end and i hate people will/ and are joking about it.
It didn't cross my mind that the frenching was to prevent Armin from transforming until I saw the vote option. Thank you.
  WILL THE CANNONS AT FORT SALTA DO BETTER OR WORSE THAN THE BLIMPS? 1,920 responses
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Fort Salta’s own forces don’t seem very effective as of yet, with the blimps almost completely failing, and now they turn to three cannons.  Not a single respondent thinks they’ll do anything (Not that we gave them the option), though more think they’ll do nothing in red.
Them cannons, it will be effective.
They’ll get hit by the fort’s cannons but they probably won’t be very effective
  KARINA SAW THE ARMORED TITAN GET CHOMPED IN FRONT OF HER VERY EYES. HOW WILL THIS AFFECT HER? 1,924 responses
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Even though the Plot-Armored Titan escaped death yet again, all Karina saw was her son’s flesh mecha being chomped from afar. 37.3% are finding it hard to care about Karina’s struggle, but of the ones who did have an answer, 31.2% think the purpose of the death fake-out is so she can better appreciate when Reiner is alive and well later. Just under a fifth at 19.3% think she’ll do something rash while thinking her son is dead, unsurprisingly more than the 12.2% who think Karina would do something nice for once.
fuck karina
reiner always manages to escape death
  JEAN POINTS OUT THAT THE SPAWNING TITANS ARE NOT MINDLESS. WHAT IS THEIR TRUE NATURE? 1,933 responses
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It was a close one, but a plurality of respondents (38.1%) thought that the shifters brought forth by Ymir were the real deal, their souls controlled in death. Or their spirits? Their essences? Their… PATHS GHOSTS? Slightly fewer respondents (36.8%) think they’re just empty clones, Ymir simply not bothering with creating new forms since that would probably take a fuckton more years. 23.7% are somewhere between the two other options – maybe these shifters aren’t really present, but some of their will remains.
The fact that Armin saw Bertolt tells me that a part of the titan's "souls" still exist within them and they're being forced to do Ymir's bidding
The founding titan powers give her complete control over sentient shifters, and the attack titan powers (utilized by the founding titan) lets Ymir reach back in time and utilize the shifter's "essence" (maybe they all had a weird dream they don't remember), and obviously the warhammer titan is what allows them to take form. Beast titan go brrrrr
I have a small theory about souls of past shifters being imprisoned in some paths area or insubconscious mind of current titan shifters.
I’m conflicted between the two first answers but I hope there empty clones
At first, I thought it would be like Zeke's titans in Ragako (the anime showed their weird coordinated dance). But looking at Bertholdt, it seems they're not acting on free will but are still a bit conscious.
If you chomp one, do you get its power?
They are empty vessel's resurrected the only reason Armin saw Bertolt was becuase armin was the holder of the collosal titan! In my opinion of course
They are ghost/ spirits of the past shifter, which have a limited consciousness like zombies
They are moving according to the old users skills, like a saved “data”
They are the ones who volunteered to be in the walls when the Eldians escaped to Paradis. They sympathise with Eren and are fighting for him.
They are the real shifters working with Ymir
We see Bert crying right before we see his titan try to eat Reiner —— maybe he’s being forces by Ymir.
The souls of the previous titan holders can see what is happening though paths but they don't have control over it
Ymir created them via the shifters' own memories respectively. The Beetholdt panel might show hesitation of wanting to grab Reiner for example and emphasizes on the theme of Slavery. How to achieve freedom you must steal freedom (Erwn said he stole the world's freedom to achieve his own) or enslave/oppress someone or a group.
Ymir created them while eren is using them
souls being completely controlled but can be revoked original consciousness back,cringe naruto shit.
Through PATHS all is possible
  ISAYAMA WENT ALL OUT WITH TITAN DESIGNS. WHICH ANCIENT TITANS DID YOU MOST ENJOY SEEING? 1,926 responses
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The most popular design in Isayama’s titan showcase by a decent margin was the “Faceless Titan” (45.8%), with “The Thing Titan” coming in second (34.4%). In third was the “Minotaur Titan” (32.4%) and narrowly in fourth, the “Mummified Titan” (31.3%). Interestingly, 2/4 of the top designs appear to be previous Warhammer Titans, which is fitting with it being one of the most popular titan designs. Well, except for the one we saw in Ymir’s backstory that had hair. We all agreed that thing was atrocious.
I loved the previous titan shifters.
croco titan best boi
There's a lot of titans missing, so I'll say here that I love the dinosaur titan, the bearded titan and the ghost-like titan as well.
that 'wolverine' titan is actually a deer. It kind of blends in with Reiner's armor but you can see the antlers if you look closely.
always wanted to see ancient titan designs since learning about the inheritance and such, so this is a dream come true for a fanartist
Previously, it was left to our imagination what all these past Titan Shifters looked like, but thanks to this chapter (through the power of PATHS!), we got to see many of them for ourselves. A nice treat from Isayama, but also a mind-blowing one, especially with how they intervened in the fight.
Seeing all these past Titan Shifters appear like that was so interesting to me that it  made me analyze each one and try to identify which was an old Jaw Titan, an old Beast Titan, an old Cart Titan, an old Warhammer Titan, and so on, so this chapter also felt like a fun guessing game in that regard!
Adding animals to the mix just feels like a try hard to make them scary. If he wanted them to have some real crazy powers it could've been done better imo, having these many animals just thrown around didn't make sense to me, we already got the beast titan and that bird titan. It's enough animals for me, especially since initially what made titans so scary in the first place was how identical they are to humans, only differing in their mounstrous size.
I never liked the idea of animal titans, it just feels so weird and out of place with no explanation for why or how they are animal-like. That being said, some of the other titan designs were pretty rad.
Show us Kruger's titan though
  WHICH RETURNING TITAN DID YOU MOST ENJOY SEEING? 1,925 responses
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In a chapter filled with new titans of the past we also saw some classic designs. By far the most hype-inducing one among fans was the Colossal Titan at 66.6%, followed by the War Hammer at 19.6%, Porco’s Jaw at 12.2%, and Marcel’s Jaw at 1.5%.
I loved how the one, true and only OG Colossal Titan of Bertholdt descended upon them like a fucking God
since there was no ""Other"" option in the ""favourite moment"" question, I'll say it here: Marcel's titan was my favourite moment.
Last chapter I was wondering if there'll be "another Beast Titan clone". We end up getting the entire museum lmao
The Colossal Titan, the God of the SnK world, appeared as the judge (while aldo not being himself, ironically) seriously, it was amazing
The Colossal Titan's entrance was like sweet karma, after how the SC murdered Bertold brutally and never cared one bit, they still couldn't get rid of him. SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKERS kekekek
  THERE’S BEEN SOME DEBATE BUT IT SEEMS FRECKLED YMIR WASN’T THERE. IS THIS SIGNIFICANT? 1,900 responses
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Ah, the innocent days of our freckled goddess… she may have turned out to be a regular girl, but where was she when our other old friends were running around? There were a couple of Titans who looked a bit like her, but none with both her little gremlin body and her distinctive nose and teeth. Does it matter? 63.8% of you don’t think there’s anything to it. Maybe she’ll be in the next chapter, or maybe Yams forgot her… maybe she’s chilling with Grisha and Kruger. 36.2% think there could be something more to her absence so far.
i hope freckled ymir came back  ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ
I think it's highkey sus that we didn't see freckled Ymir's titan and that really gives me hope that Historia really will have an important part in the finale since it feels like Yams is saving freckled Ymir for a Historia moment
about freckles... i think her titan was the one that was gonna try and eat reiner/jean. dark hair, thin arms, small facial features.
I feel like her foreground omission isn't a big deal, since we're already two Jaws in, both of whom have more impactful connections to those present.
I want freckled Ymir back
ymir freckles did make an appearance, wasn’t she the titan attacking reiner as he was holding onto jean that mikasa slashed?
I believe Freckeld Ymir's Jaw Titan is shown when Bertholdt's Colossal Titan attempts to eat Reiner. It's very small though so it's hardly noticeable and I can't even confirm that it was indeed her Titan but it seemed like it.
YOU GAVE ME HOPE ABOUT FRECKLED YMIR DAMN YOU and thank you
  SINCE ALL THE TITAN OTHER SHIFTERS SUMMONED THIS CHAPTER WERE DECEASED, DOES THIS MEAN ZEKE IS DEAD? 1,953 responses
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Ymir summoned titans of the past according to Pieck, does that mean Zeke is of the past now too?  The fandom is overall undecided on this one, as about half don’t know, at 48.5%.  32.7% are confident Zeke is still around, and 18.8% take this as confirmation of his death.
Zeke may not be dead, because the beast titan summoned last chapter could be Xavier's beast titan too. Because in one earlier Marley arc chapter, someone mentioned that "The beast titan is the same as ever". Meaning, Xavier's beast titan was also monke.
IF Zeke is alive, it means that Pieck is once again somehow "faking" her defeat and goes for the detonator but then she somehow runs into Zeke. They have a lot of history and too much stuff unresolved between them and because of eren/armin and zeke/pieck dynamics is that those 2 stayed on the founding titan..
I think Zeke and Bertolt are both stuck in paths, unable to properly die. I hope Zeke is just shackled making titans like we saw him in 120. That would be poetic, for the one who hates his Eldian blood so much to be forced to enact the one thing that made him hate himself (the existence of titans).
I just realized that in the last chapter I thought Zeke was there but it was the shot of the Marleyan general saying ""I am sorry""... I was writing about how Zeke cannot be dead, what are you all talking about, he is right there, then went and checked 134. Now I'm just sitting here with no answers at all. Zeke could be anywhere, alive or dead, no clue...
  CHEKHOV’S EXPLOSIVES CONTINUE, AND THIS CHAPTER PIECK ENSURED THEY WERE RIGHT NEXT TO EREN. WHO WILL DETONATE THEM? WILL THEY BE EFFECTIVE? 1,121 responses
We asked what you think would come of the explosives that have been built up for eight chapters now, and collated your responses. First, who will detonate them?
Pieck: 182
Mikasa: 140
Armin: 134
Reiner: 99
Gabi: 81
Levi: 71
Connie: 38
Jean: 29
Annie: 23
Falco: 14
Eren: 6
Ymir: 2
Zeke/Onyankopon/Bertholdt: 1
There were also 7 mentions of the cannons that the Marleyans got ready to use this chapter actually coming in handy, and setting off the explosives. It’s also noteworthy that Pieck is thought of more than any other character to be likely to sacrifice her life to get it done. Additionally, many people who put forth Armin detonating them suggested this occurs through his titan transformation igniting them, not just him using the detonator.
In terms of success, 255 said that the explosives would either do nothing or overall be ineffective, with the most commonly given reason being that Eren is not in the nape. 250 said that the explosives will be helpful one way or another, including 7 who said they would end Eren’s life (Most of these involved Mikasa as the detonator). 9 people specified that they hope the bombs don’t do anything, 25 said nobody will detonate them at all, and 2 said it will be effective but will make things worse.
They will play an important role in the Climax, one way or another
warhammer can just throw the explosive after it deals with pieck
His neck is covered with more bones and the blimps didn't hurt them, but the explosives are as close as possible, so I think maybe they could work.
100% those explosives will be used in one way or an other, but i have a feeling that eren is not even there ;)
Annie will likely be able to get close to Pieck, as her titan is very agile and will activate the explosives that will be able to get Eren out of her giant's head
Could be anyone. The way they're set up, they must have some effect.
Could be Jean or Connie and maybe the rumbling will be paused or the Eren's skeleton will collapse as the story continues..
Connie and he will die doing so, doing few damage but someone will be like "hey he gave us a weakness we can exploit"
if they are effective, mikasa but if they arent it will be connie or jean
Doesn’t matter who detonates them it won’t be effective
Eren better pull a Reiner and transfer his consciousness. Isayama introduced that shit on purpose. Peick probably playing dead and will try to detonate to no avail.
Gabi is going to detonate them and save Pieck too. The explosion might help in the fight, but I doubt Eren is in the neck, my bet its Zeke who is in there.
Eren, once all the shifters are dead he will detonate it killing himself and ensuring all titans are reborn in Historias baby, truly freeing ymir and ending the curse of the titans.
Fort Salta Cannons will detonate them. They wont be effective because Eren is hiding in Paradis with the Warhammer Titan power (or he can transfer his consciousness to the rest of his spine in case he really is there).
Levi will detonate them to kill Zeke who is actually the one in the nape
Levi will give up on his dream of killing Zeke and die sacrificing himself to detonate it
Pieck will sacrifice herself to detonate the fuse and when she does she will fall to her doom. She will be content in knowing that it will work. She lits it up and falls at the same time. When shes falling she feels a great sense of acceptance, but all of a sudden Falco swoops in to save her with everyone on his back. As they watch it blow up the body keeps moving for eren was not there to begin with.
I think Ymir will use them against the alliance
Oyankopon drops a flying knee into the plunger in an act of self-sacrifice.
titanfolk: Kaboom?
Isayama: Yes titanfolk, kaboom.
  WHY IS ARMIN HAVING THE VISION OF BERTOLT? 1,928 responses
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In one of the more confusing panels of this crazy chapter, we see Bertolt standing over Armin.  39.6% believe it to be a fragment of Berthold brought back through the Colossal Ymir summoned, 25.5% think Bertoto has awareness in an afterlife, 25.1% think Armin is having a memory from his predecessor Burrito, and 7.3% think Ymir is just messing with Armin.
Grabbing Armin allowed Ymir to access Bertolt's titan, similar to how they have Zeke captive for his Beast titan
It's some kind of twist that's coming related to the whole predecessor memory stuff.
Some kind of PTSD vision brought on by being put in a Titans mouth
Since this was an ongoing issue how Armin didn't seem to have access to Berth's memories, he'll probably will see some of them soon. And especially the one, where Eren says to Levi that Armin will save humanity, not him. That will give him the last push to do whatever.
The scene with Bertholdt was a direct recall of when Armin woke up after eating him, and seeing him crying in the form of the Colossal Titan's skull and saying "it hurts" in chapter 85. My poor boy :( He was probably suffering from eternal torment in an afterlife/paths related place. Shifters' Hell would be a good word, as Ymir Fritz kinda had the same experience being enslaved for eternity
Him seeing Bertolt for the second time makes me think these two are going to switch places at some point. That being said it's not the end-end for Armin, and Eren is definitely reserving him a seat in whatever path underground there is.
I thought Armin was feeling the despair/hopelessness that Bertolt did while the warriors were undercover in Paradis. The paralyzing dread of the task before him, even though he is the "strongest titan"
Bertolt's individual "soul" still exists as a singular entity, that lives within Paths. Armin as his inheritor has a soul-link to him, can see him, recall his memories and even feel some of his feelings. However his presence here will serve for Armin to make some kind of realisation that will help conclude the battle.
  YOUR THOUGHTS ON MIKASA IN THIS CHAPTER? 1,942 responses
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We knew Mikasa would likely be chapter MVP but we wanted to give her an extra shoutout for a great chapter. Only 9.1% percent refused to play along. A majority of nearly 60% agreed with all our gushing about her performance, selecting all of the above. Of the individual entries, “Bless those ackergenes” (10.2%), “They were goners without her” (8.8%) and “She was unbelievable” (7.9%) were top selections.
Isayama in November said mikasa character is coming and this chapter felt like the start of it and hoo was this Mikasa's chapter. We have known that Mikasa is one of three main MCs, and isayama had been foreshadowing Mikasa's role in the finale so much. I'm excited to read the final 3 chapters.
goat mikasaaaa
HEAD EMPTY JUST MIKASA SUPREMACy
I LOVE MIKASA
Loving all the Mikasa scenes. It’s about damn time,
Mikasa going "Fuck it. Fight me. All of you, I don't care if you're shifter clones, I'll kick your ass." was a great bit of dark humour and a really well done character beat. If she has to go down she'll go down fighting with pride.
  THIS CHAPTER MIKASA FOUGHT TO THE END AFTER LEVI DELEGATED THE ATTACKING ROLE TO HER, A REVERSAL FROM FEMALE TITAN ARC. IS MIKASA HUMANITY'S NEW STRONGEST SOLDIER? 1,940 responses
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Levi has always been humanity’s strongest soldier, but this chapter had Mikasa being the only one fighting till the end. This being temporary due to Levi’s worn down body is the consensus, with 49.3% affirming its brief nature while 34.3% venture that Mikasa will one day take on this mantle permanently.13.8% believe she has surpassed even what a healed Levi would be capable of, and 2.7% do not think she’s surpassed him in any way.
I’m glad to see a lot more female empowerment with Mikasa being a major hit in this chapter. I got very worried with the amount of saving Levi had to go through and avoiding near deaths at some points.
Let the Humanity’s Strongest go down like a badass he’s always been, stop making him this pitiful please
LEVI NEEDS IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION HE MIGHT BE HAVING INTERNAL BLEEDING FROM THAT EXPLOSION AND HIS LEG BEING BITTEN MAKES IT EVEN WORSE FUCK
I BELIEVE IN LEVI'S SUPREMACY
Mikasa Ackerman supremacy
that wings really said mikasa is the most freest person now
I’d love it if isayama would stop crippling Levi. I know its to get him out of the fight but cmon
  NOW THAT WE SEE IT IN ACTION, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF FALCO’S BIRD TITAN? 1,944 responses
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Most fans are behind this controversial development at this point, with 46.8% loving it, and 29.3% not loving it but feeling that it fits in the chapter. 17.4% have changed their mind from negative to positive after seeing it in this chapter, and 6.5% will always hate this.
Falco's titan is amazing. He saved everyone and it's his second transformation, he is goat.
I liked Falco saving the day :) It doesn't matter to me how he learnt to fly and control his titan so fast. Maybe Zeke helped him via sending visions? Or maybe Falco is talented? I don't know and I think we have more important thing to read about
Falco Being able to fly a few hours after Hange's death makes this chapter less good.
The Flying Titan is questionable but everything else are great
the design of Bird Titan is kinda cringe
Porco must be very proud of his son 
  KIYOMI AND YELENA ARE NOT ON THE FLYING TITAN, ALONG WITH THE AZUMABITO ENGINEERS. ANY PREDICTIONS? 1,911 responses
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After Kiyomi forebodingly accepted the risk of the ship sinking that also contained Yelena and the Azumabito engineers two chapters ago, she has not been seen since despite Falco now arriving. The majority of you (70.2%) believe they’re fine, with the ship surviving Falco’s transformation, while just under a quarter (23.2%) believing both drowned on the sinking ship, and a slim minority (6.6%) believe they are with our main crew on the Flying Titan.
Yelena better be okay
I wonder where is yelena
I just want to learn how the rest of the Azumabito family are doing after Falco transformed into the Titan.
  ISAYAMA’S DONE IT AGAIN! WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE THROWBACK THIS CHAPTER? 1,936 responses
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Isayama loves himself some throwbacks and this chapter was no exception.  Mikasa giving a speech reminiscent of her Trost speech was the most popular option at 32.9%, with Armin dreaming of Bertolt crying similar to his dream of the Colossal Titan was a close second at 28.2%.  Rounding out the top three was Falco taking a bird form in parallel with the Fort Slava scene we just saw in the anime.
It was like going back to Trost arc amazing wise... It was really a good one full of quotes from previous memorable moments of the series, while reading it i thought "wow, it really is ending
I think it significantly has to do with his memory of the colossal crying after RtS so perhaps it's a near death state experience of his predecessor for Armin
I'm also interested to see what Armin is going to do next. He seems to think back to Erwin whenever he gets himself into a pickle. I'm excited to see how he will use his titan in this battle.
Based on the parallels with Trost the only bomb that's blowing Eren out of his titan is Armin's Colossal Titan.
  DO YOU AGREE WITH ANY OF THESE CRITICISMS ABOUT THE CHAPTER? 1,428 responses
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No chapter is free from criticism, so we scoured discord, twitter and reddit looking for the most common complaints. The lack of character deaths seemed to be on many minds. “There was too much plot armor” and “Eren and OG Ymir are too OP” were the two options that got over 30%. Grumblings about the flying titan (26.1%) and Mikasa with a winged background (23.9%)  were also common selections. I think what’s most telling is that ⅓ of respondents skipped this question entirely indicating that they had no major complaints at all
Everything was going 10/10 until the flying titan came and saved everyone. Another chapter with 0 deaths this late in the story.
I really love that mikasa with wings so much. It means for me she's the hope of humanity.she's ackerman so ymir can't control her... she will have a big roll at the end!
Being able to recreate old Titans is too OP
not too sold on the whole spawning in Titans and a flying bird that just recently got their power swooping in to save everyone
I'm completely sold on the idea of past shifters being summoned. Some people may say it's quite an asspull, but honestly, I've had a little problem with this series, which is that the Coordinate has been teased as the power of God itself but we've never seen that in action, so I'm satisfied. I'm not a big fan of the flying titan (teasing things is not the same as justifiying things) and the lack of character deaths made me think Hanji could have died this chapter, which would've been more meaningful honestly. Still, I'm very happy to say Isayama has surprised me once again.
WAYYYYYYYYYY TOO MUCH PLOT ARMOR
I know people are getting stomped on right now, but was expecting at least someone to die.
I don't mind the flying titan, but I would've liked just another hint that the beast titan can be any animal. The very first one in Ymir's flashback was an ape, could've been a dinosaur or something!
You never wanted to accept that this series was a shounen manga aimed at little boys, did you?
  DOES THIS CHAPTER ADD EVIDENCE TO THE THEORY THAT HANGE’S VISION WAS REAL? 1,929 responses
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On the poll team, our first step in preparing results is looking for spam. We identify that primarily by looking at timestamps and bursts of entries that choose to answer only a single question in rapid succession. Typically we see this behavior on shippy questions and those involving Gabi, so it’s been puzzling that in the last year the only questions to get significant spam are those involving Hange’s vision. Clearly someone, or maybe a few someones, are very afraid of ghosts.
With the spam entries removed, the Yes’s outweighed the No’s by 54-46 percent on the question of whether or not this chapter added evidence to the theory that Hange’s vision was real.
The ghosts of Eldians past are definitely going to feature in the endgame I think. The shifters are the most important but Hange's vision makes it clear that they're all "alive" in Paths somehow. Let freckled Ymir talk to Historia once more!!
I hate conscious development
I bet Hanji is screaming in the afterlife, wanting to be on top of Falco's titan
  HAS THE FOCUS ON BIRDS IN THE ANIME OP/ED ADDED EVIDENCE THAT THE BIRDS IN PREVIOUS CHAPTERS ARE SIGNIFICANT? 1,913 responses
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Bird theory (/birds being significant in some large way) has been gaining traction recently in the manga already, and then the anime made a whole ED theme about them and had them in focus in the OP as well.  In one of the most one sided poll results in recent memory, almost 90% of the fandom feels this is evidence of birds being significant, while 10.7% say no.
birb
birb
Birb
Birb
Birb
Birb
Birb
bird
Bird
Bird
bird
birds
  DESCRIBE THE CHAPTER IN ONE WORD 1,330 responses
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This month’s top 5 chosen words bear a resemblance to last month’s, specifically with 1-3 being in last month’s and 1 & 3 being in the last two months. “Chaos” is one more on the original side for this chapter.
Amazing [96]
Epic [50]
Awesome [48]
Chaos/Good/Great [27]
Cool [26]
And in a shocking turn of events, this question is being used to concoct recipes again? Well, it’s a bit of a stretch, but it doesn’t sound half bad.
Nuts
Lasagna
Goat
Cheesy
Chicken
Bertholdt
Chomp
Juicy
Exquisite
  ISAYAMA RECENTLY ESTIMATED THERE IS 1-2% LEFT OF THE STORY. WHAT CHAPTER DO YOU THINK THE MANGA WILL END AT? 1,941 responses
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I don’t know why Isayama does it, but he keeps assuring us the end is near. But we’ve guessed the end is near since… oh, RTS? Then Marley? Then when the Rumbling started? Remember when chapter 130 was the max? Don’t worry, the ride will end someday. 35.5% think chapter 139 will be the last, giving the final volume five chapters. 33% are sticking with 138, the classic four chapter volume. 28.7% think we’re strapped in for a little longer at 140+ chapters. 2.5% think we’re wrapping up in just two chapters. And 6 respondents think the next chapter is the last! Gonna guess you’re either hoping for Falco to crash into a tree or you’re just tired of this ride. (Sorry, the ride never ends.)
I'm worried about the pacing. While I was glad to have a glimpse of Bert (and Erwin) again, his appearance is long overdue. Along with a whole bag of other characters who need resolutions. I don't know how Isayama will delegate worthwhile endings to this huge cast and themes in 3-4 chapters.
Each chapter makes me feel there's 3 chapters left (and there has passed more than 3 chapters since I thought that for the first time xd)
Another amazing chapter. I see the story ending at Chapter 139. Three more chapters of action, deaths and twists, and one more epilogue chapter.
There's apparently not much of the series left but this chapter still doesn't feel like we're that near the end :/
I was expecting a lot of people to die this time around, but I guess that'll happen later considering we seem to have one more volume left after this one. That actually raises my hopes a bit on the ending not being as rushed as we were afraid it would be. And the return of the anime on top of that? Man, I'm not ready to say goodbye. :(
I'm worried if Isayama will be able to end every character arc. I mean, we're left with 1 or 2% of manga and there is this quite a lot of things to end. I just hope ending won't be rushed.
...it just added a lot of questions like Yams has to give us 5 chapters for the last volume at this point lol.
dunno how this ends with everyone being satisfied. Estimating that 3 chapters are left we need a conclusion to Reiner, Mikasa and the promised Eren and Armin confrontation. While there's mysteries like Zeke's whereabouts, what's going on w Historia, why can ymir manifest herself in the real world, what did eren mean by saying "you haven't gotten to the part where I eat our old man", Bertholdt shard of him getting spared by Dina and Mikasa's see you later scene. Not to mention an epilogue where if alliance wins we get to see how the world treats the eldians now. Im already losing faith that minor characters might be just cannon fodder and I find myself saying "Its Isayama. one chapter where it feels nothing happened doesn't meant we're getting a rushed ending" too often these days.
  WHAT ARE YOU MOST HOPING TO SEE NEXT CHAPTER? 1,960 responses
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It feels like there’s a lot to accomplish with so few chapters remaining. While Eren’s POV is still top on our wishlist (29%), “I don’t care just resolve a mystery, any of them” was the number two (19%). The third most common response was for Armin to come up with a plan (14%). Historia, Zeke and the more specific options all scored in single digits.
We need answers. NOW.
I liked this chapter but I’m getting tired of the mystery. We’ve been lead on for too long and there’s too many loose ends that need to be tied up already.
can we get eren’s pov now
Yes ! More Bertholdt please !!! I missed my big sweaty boy !
Where’s Freckled Ymir!!????!?!???!! Is Pieck okay!?!?!!!?!!
When will Levi die lol
Where armin
What happened to Armin!?? And does peick survive?
WHERE IS MONKE?!
Where the hell is eren?
I hope I can see Eren again
i hope isayama let levi kill zeke before he died , i want him to reunite with erwin and proudly tell him that he accomplish the mission
I just hope that Pieck and Armin are okay :((
i just want armin to be okay
I just want Eren/Mikasa, not all this shit(((
I just want to see Bertolt in the next chapter too
Wonder what is going on inside Ymir's head. Would also love to see Paradis' reaction to the ongoing massacre (if I didn't miss it somehow)
  WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 1,811 responses
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While Reddit has historically stayed consistent, it’s been incredible to see the rise of Twitter and the fall of Tumblr as a dominant fandom platform. A year ago only 8% selected Twitter as their primary place for Attack on Titan discussion now that number is nearing 50%.  Last month it became the most selected platform, surpassing Reddit, and this month proves it was no fluke.
wish i had irl friends who read the manga oof
    ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE CHAPTER? 526 responses
🧐
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Hentai
10/10 again !!! Isayama knows what he’s doing and I trust him with the ending❤️
2/10
GOOD chapter, definitely some eclipse vibes lol, Armin seemed to have realized Ymir is the one with the power and that they'll have to deal with her sooner or later to stop the rumbling. Next step is realizing Eren is 100% ready to kill him if he needs to. Maybe they'll stop trying to kill poor Zook for no reason now at least.
I loved seeing the alliance get there asses clapped
I hope Eren Yeager doesn’t love anyone from “Attack on Titan”.
But it's weird, I thought best Ymir was in the chapter too? She owes us so much, even more if SnK's afterlife is canon (Hange couldn't have known of Keith's death otherwise). And technically, Zeke could be dead like the others. First I was so bored by his constant plot armor but now...
The titan designs were got tier. Isayama came in clutch with these designs
There are still a lot of mysteries unsolved about the Titans and Eren's whereabouts is unknown. Would love to know more about the Ackerman blood too.
This poll is biased for not including statements against Mikasa and the Alliance.
If ymir creates the bodies of titan shifters, why did she give falco a bird form if she wants to stop them? Not saying it's a plot hole yet, but I hope there's a reason for it.
The title reminds me of the chinese saying of “天人交戰” which literally translates as battle between the heaven and human but means ones inner struggle. Maybe it is referring to eren’s inner struggle of wanting freedom and having to kill everything standing between him and freedom. Idk.
A lot of people have been trying to make sense why we're learning about Ymir freeing the pigs here of all places, but rather than it being evidence that she's some evil mastermind I think it's a representation of how devastating this cycle of hatred has been. In that first scene we see Ymir as a kind and empathetic girl who decides that though she can't free herself, she can still help these simple animals who she saw earlier also wanted to escape. But in the present, after suffering greatly for her kindness and being forced into servitude that lasted for countless years and even into death, we see Ymir not just as willing to commit a brutal omnicide on the rest of the world but as someone who is seemingly enslaving others in the pursuit of that goal - in many ways, she might be repeating the same crimes that were done to her by King Fritz.
After seeing the first episode of the new anime season and how well Mappa delivered on that, I cannot *wait* to see the crazy battle action of this chapter animated.
Armin, as expected, ended up a failure yet again. This is what Bertholdt, Erwin and Hange died for -_-
GIVE 👏 ARMIN 👏 A 👏GODDAMN 👏 BREAK
Armin is beginning to understand this always was about Ymir. After seeing her twice.
I really wish Armin could do something besides being tortured with doubt and getting captured.  
BERT IS BACK BERT IS BACK BERT IS BACK BERT IS BACK BERT IS BACK BERT IS BACK BERT IS BACK BERT IS BACK BERT IS BACK BERT IS BACK BERT IS BACK BERT IS BACK
can levi die already let this old man reunite with his homies in shingeki no heaven. at this point death is like the only peace and/or freedom anyone can get in this series which is kind of a shitty message
I'm a fan of how fucking OP Eren and Ancestor Ymir, which is honestly how it should be. I never expected The Alliance to stand a chance, and they all got fucking wrecked. I'm completely surprised nobody died, I feel like that'll be changed next chapter, though; unfortunately. My main question is: What the fuck do The Alliance plan to do next without Armin and Pieck? Also, seeing the past shifters was fucking amazing and I didn't expect that shit.
Decent chapter. I gave it a 3/5, because it was a purely action, set-up chapter with not so great action scenes, at least compared to other great fight scenes in the series. Still, we got quite a few nice panels and interesting powers, so i will be looking foreard to the payoff.
eren better be in the next chapter idc 🙄‼️
Eren is trying to kill his friends, Ymir is not controling him, he is FREE. Accept it already.
FALCO WILL EAT EREN LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I need this tension between mikasa and Eren resolved in the following chapters....these two are the only characters regarding whom I'm totally not sure what tf will end up happening to them.
Hange would've loved to see all the different types of titans from bygone times. I wish they were still alive, I miss them.
I can't believe that best boy Bertholdt Hoover, the one true God of Destruction, is back, and as usual, the first thing Isayama does is make him cry. Absolutely incredible. This is all I'll think of this month.
I think the Ymir revelation was huge but other than that it was an anxiety-inducing rollercoaster of will they, won't they (die). Nothing much happened. I feel antsy
I think there is a possibility that eren and ymir brought back the shifters because they agree (mostly) with the rumbling and bert is crying because he knows what he has to do to ensure it
I wonder if Ymir regrets setting those pigs free. It was the act that set her life into further misery. I think it's beautiful but tragic how Eren really gave her back the will to fight.
I'm blown away
I'm honestly shocked at how incredible this story has become. Much like Bertholt I feel like I'm fine with whatever happens, because this whole journey and the world are incredibly cruel. And that does not make it bad by any means, it makes it more meaningful.
I'm not a huge fan of the fight scenes so I'd just like to see a satisfying climax and conclusion to the fight soon. Looking forward to Levi killing Zeke and all the reunions.
I'm really optimistic about Bertholdt possibly coming back, oh gods I hope he comes back.
I'm scared because this chapter didn't progress a lot of the story and we only have 3 or maybe 4 chapters left.
Isayama really got to flex his ability to design terrifying monstrous titans again.
It was an interesting chapter. It really works well if you think about it. Regular humans who are humanity's last hope, the strongest soldiers left are against two literal gods. Of course it will not be easy at all, Ymir summoning all those titans and everyone nearly dying multiple times is proof that you cannot defeat such gods that easily. Very excited for the next chapter to see how everything else plays out.
Maybe Anni can use her female titan powers and attract all of the former titan shifters - so that Mikasa detonates the Bombs.
Mikasa deserves a fuckn BREAK. like God she saw her family get butchered TWICE, first by humans, then by titans and now fckn Eren took away the one family she was desperately trying to protect. If anyone should've gone crazy like Eren it's mikasa. She does seem to be at her wit's end and ready to go above and beyond after saving everyone in this chapter and seeing the harm Ymir/Eren is causing. But since she's always done what she believed in, no matter what she does, I just want Mikasa's character to get some sort of happiness by the end of it. Is that too much to ask :/
Nobody said “The Eagles are coming” bad chapter 0/10. I’m kidding. But in all seriousness I really just want to see the ending already. I’m going to imagine it ends with the remnants of humanity rebuilding and promising to never be turbo-racist ever again while a tired Historia looks on with her baby saying “You are free” or something.
PIECK DONT DIE I LOVE YOU!!!!!
PIECK GREATNESS NEXT EPISODE
Reibert pandering for this chapter. It was a tad too fast but I love the focus on Reiner reacting to the CT attacking him. reiner could ALMOST die of the gayest way possible had Jean not butted in.
Screamed when Annie came on
Sets up for a super exciting finale
spare eren POV crumbs? dunno what this man been thinking since chapter 86
stanning bertholdt hoover isn't just a hobby, it's a lifestyle, a reason to breathe, he's also an art, the first gift you open on xmas, a hug from a loved one, he is everything I have ever wanted, and everything I needed.
hOLY FUCKING SH—
I cant see when or how it'll end
I did NOT expect Armin to get tongue porn'd. It's hilarious to imagine Annie seeing that HAHAHAHAHA
I really miss eren so much...AoT without him...it's long time we didn't see him pls isayama):
I rlly don’t see Ymir the same way and I hope it won’t affect the way I see Eren
I still miss Hange :(
I think Bertholdt was crying because his Titan was forced to attack and eat Reiner, against his own will
I think Connie will be the one to help Levi take down Zeke. Levi will live!!!
I thought it was very good. Not peak AOT but great! There was to many saves before death , reminded me of bleach. Seeing the old Titans was really cool and the action was great also.
I want armin and annie flashback in next chapter
i want EMA meet again):
I want Mikasa to choke Eren with the scarf
I want monke boi back :(
I want more Eren
I want more!!!!!!!
I wanted see Historia
I was really excited to hear we were getting more bertholdt
I was vey hyped because of this chapter and it delivered. During all the chapter i was like "someone's gonna die someone's gonna die" and when Berthold's titan appears and eats reiner's titan I screamed, but that son of a bitch is inmortal hahah.
idc idc come back to save pieck and armin please
It gives the idea of how powerful that titan god is, i think it lives up to Rod's description of titam god and how powerful it felt during Ymir's backstory (her form)
It got really hype when all the past shifters came over but Pieck’s bomb failing could be seen a mile away. Over amazing with some nice moments.
it is really, life and death situation. still, looking forward to this especially the ending. how will aot end? surely, it will be a legacy. a great masterpiece made by isayama-sensei.
it maintains a nice pace
It sucks. Manga went downhill since chap 105. The shit needs to end.
It was a classic high tension action chapter which I loved
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
It was amazing and full of a lot of lore!
It was amazing! I'd say this could be one of the best chapters written! So much action went on to the point where I hope MAPPA has a decent sized budget to animate it all. I'm really eager to see what the next chapter has in store. The main thing I'm looking forward to that wasn't listed here is basically what will happen to Levi. Is he going to survive through all this, or is he going to succumb to his wounds? Is he going to pair up with Zeke to take down Eren? Or is he going to stay on the "sidelines" untill the war is over?
It was fun, but somewhat inconsequential aside from Falco
It was good, i just need some answeres. Ymirs ability was so sudden.
It was great to finally see previous titan shifter forms, especially the beast titans.
It was just overall so epic
It was really great in terms of action but disappointing as well since there was too much plot armour - I was expecting at least one death.
it was really nice before the episode, it's all getting so intense and i didn't expect ymir to go in with a bang like this
It was really nice, all the symbolism, along with Mikasa with the wings was amazing.
it was super crazy
It'll probably be more enjoyable in the anime (if MAPPA even tackles this). Straight battles have never been this manga's strong suit.
Jean, dare to die and I won't love you anymore >:'(
Its up to ho wmany chapters we have left, if we have like 10 it was a very good one, if we have smt like 3 ( that i dont think so ) it was waste of time
Levi is almost certainly dead/dying
Levi might be a ‘slave’ to being a hero but he’s a victim of his own popularity which is preventing Isayama from killing him off. We know he’s not gonna fulfill his promise to Erwin because Levi never gets what he really wants, surprise surprise. But if he keeps getting injured and left out of action he’ll live the rest of his life with nothing but regrets.
levi please don't die
LEVI PLEASE SURVIVE :(
levi u ok buddy
Levi's leg is not daijobu,,, is he even alive
Lol who TF cares about Bert? He killed hundreds of thousands of innocent Eldians alongside Reiner and Annie. I still say he deserved what he got and is not worthy of any kind of sympathy, no matter how many angsty teardrops Isayama draws on his stupid face.
looking forward to seeing it animated.
Lots of weirdness, but still great
man the titan battles were great, seeing all the previous titans fight was pretty awesome seeing the hopelessness form the alliance really showed the reality of it all, now they lost 2 additional titans leaving Eren with 6 and the alliance down to 3
MAPPA gon be hurting
not enough lesbians
Not for the chapter but, All the openings and endings(lyrics and images) of the series have some details of the things we are experiencing with the latest chapters
That being said that Annie scene was pretty cringe. I expected that, but it was so cliché it's ridiculous.
ONLY BERT & PIECK HAVE RIGHTS
overall good! it was alot to process but im on board and excited for the next one
Pls end it Mikasa, you can do it.
Plz yams don't give me hope like this
Professor X vs. Magneto soon
really crazy. You have to admit that Isayama doesn't stop when it comes to creativity.
Really curious about Bertolt apparition
Pretty good. As much as I want the Alliance to win in the end, their utter defeat this chapter felt more realistic, than if they managed to actually do anything.
Really liked Jean and Reiners moments this chapter, overall a good chapter that flew by. Hope quickly turned into desperation but Falcons teams arrival means they got one more chance. Armin capture thing was a little weird but more or less makes sense.
Since the rumbling started, this series has became more dull and predictable. Loads of plot armor, stupid teosts only for shock value and weird pacing are major problems in this arc. Too bad, because the post timeskip portion of this manga up until  the rumbling was one of the best pieces of media I had seen. But now I am only expecting the boring  cliche shonen ending.
Still hate Annie being back, she can still go.
Still think Mikasa is gonna be the one to either kill Eren or bring him back to his senses somehow
The afterlife thing still hasn't answered and I wanna know how's the corps doing T_T
The Alliance got dumpsterd yet no one died. They'll probably die in all in one chapter.
the art, as usual, was really good
There are still some mysteries to solve and things to do (like EMA final convo, which I don't think will last just 2 or 3 pages) in so little time, I'm kinda worried to be honest.
This chapter is full of plot twists, I didn't even expect the storyline to turn out like this.
This chapter is painfull and more action at the same time and i hope there are still chances that there old happy days will be back
This chapter was actually exciting! And thank goodness Bertolt is finally back!!!!! So many people assumed he was finished and forgotten, but a small group of us knew Isayama wouldn't leave us hanging without his closure. I'm looking forward to learning why we're seeing him now and whatever's going to happen to Armin
This chapter was breathtaking and hard to continue due to the speculations that someone was going to die. I feel like the next few chapters is where things start to get serious if not already. I found it very enjoyable yet nervous at some moments.
This was so crazy and hopeless like it's peak apocalypse even more than rumbling. It's a nightmare I love Isayama
Too many last-seconds saves kinda ruins the tension.
umm it would've been better
Ummm this chapter had too much suspense
uuuuuuuhhh nothing else i guess
Very PogChamp
We are going to get the best manga ending ever.
Nobody is free yet...
MAN WTF IS HAPPENING I READ TBE MANGA BHT HAVENT REREAD IT AND I FORGOT WVERYTHING MAN WTF
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Text
When it rains - an Edgejeanist backstory
Ao3 link
As I have mentioned before I wanted to do a drawing for this eventually but it would take a lot of effort and I don’t have that in me right now so I’m gonna share it with you in the form of a rather long jumble of words instead :D it might be too long to read on tumblr because it kept on crashing the app when I worked on it so please feel free to read it over on ao3!
I wasn’t really happy with the drawing I did for the injury prompt so I’m posting this to make up for it lmao
If you have not read my Edgeshot backstory (well the summary that I did), I do recommend it because it may give some context as to what they’re talking about!
This was originally meant to be happy but it turned out kinda angsty (unsurprisingly)...but then I managed to make it not as angsty?? Anyway ->
Warning: a few times they talk about death, mentions of injury, self-doubt and generally quite sad stuff.
Also, it turned out incredibly long so imma stuff it all under the cut for those of you who don’t wanna read it :)
Hakamata Tsunagu wasn’t one to usually complain when sent on a mission, however on this particular stormy evening he really didn’t fancy the idea of being caught up in a case that wasn’t in his own area, simply because he was “passing by” trying to go home. But, he understood that this guy was quite the hassle and it would probably be best to sort it out as soon as possible. When he arrived to the area he could see that there were already many other heroes on the scene, including one of the higher ranking heroes - Edgeshot. They had met before and had worked together on various cases due to the two of them being known for rather rapidly climbing up the ranks, not to mention that their ranks were neighbouring and often would over take one another. So they knew each other, to some extent. He walked over to where the ninja hero was standing to ask him about the details of the villain they were going against.
“Fire-type quirk, troublesome. Had many sidekicks aiding him in an armed robbery. We’ve managed to apprehend most of the smaller accomplices, however this guy’s a pain, so I was told to wait for you to arrive in order to end this quickly.” The fiber hero hadn’t even said a word and had already gotten his answer.
“I see. I guess we should probably get to it then, as he seems to have his eye on escape.” Jeanist swiftly responded as he went on to restrict the villain’s clothes to prevent him from moving any further. Luckily, the area had been cleared out and the other villains had been carted away by the other heroes that were in the scene, so the only ones left in the area were the two of them, and this maniac.
The air around the two pros started to heat up and before they could act, flames burst from the open air around them causing them both to flinch and Jeanist to lose his focus. The villain started to sprint away from the scene but Edgeshot was one step ahead of him. The hero had rushed over and the two had started to engage in a fight, and the villain had no problem with using his quirk to aid in this. Jeanist tried to drag the villain back to the open space using the denim threads of his own clothing and had managed to grab hold of him, however, the two were unaware of what the man was carrying. He was taken back when a cold, sharp object came flying towards him, cutting through the high collar of his hero costume and through the skin of his ear and cheek - causing him to curse quite audibly.
“Watch it!” The silver haired hero hissed as he took another swing at the walking flamethrower, now also knife-thrower apparently, in front of him.
“My apologies,” mumbled the lanky blond as he regained his posture once more and continued to restrain the armed robber.
The other hero hesitated for a moment. “Ah- wait no, sorry, I meant uh- I meant the other guy, not you sorry.. you just got a knife thrown at you why would I yell at you?” They hadn’t properly spoken before so Shinya really didn’t want to give him the wrong impression of himself, especially since it was someone he kind of admired and...uh well...yeah. The two shared a rather awkward apologetic glance as they tried to come up with something to say but were rather rudely interrupted when-
“Oh for THE LOVE OF-” the villain angrily snapped around, “YOU TWO ARE REALLY DOIN’ MY HEAD IN! WOULD’YA GIVE IT A REST? OR AT LEAST JUST. SHUT. UP.” The heroes barely had time to react when the villain set his whole body and the air around it on fire. The flames engulfed the two who were previously fighting each other and briskly travelled along the threads that were restricting the man from escaping, and towards a startled Jeanist. The fire had reached the fiber heroes arm at this point and was obviously going to spread further if it weren’t for him removing that part of his sleeve, only shortly after the ninja hero had speedily shot forwards and cut through the fiber that connected Jeanist and the villain, his own arm very much ablaze. However, he didn’t look too concerned for his own injury as he eyed the taller man’s scorched arm.
The two heroes were now starting to get rather tired. Not because they were weak, or this guy strong, but just because they wanted to go home. They’d really had enough at this point and really wanted to just end this before the weather got any worse, but this stupid lunatic just wouldn’t give in! Maybe it was the fact that they had never really fought alongside each other before, so were holding back the more powerful, more dangerous side of their quirks - in case a mistake would be made that could injure the other. That was probably why it took so long.
After many more painfully long minutes, they had managed to wear down the robber enough to get close enough to knock him out. Tying him up, the two heroes handed the unconscious villain over to the police that had just arrived to help clear up the scene of any passer-by’s. At this point, it was the late evening and already rather dark and gloomy, the sky let out a large growl as if to warn that it would only get worse...and well, it’s point was proven as it started to rain.
The blond hero sighed and glanced up at the sky in dismay, realising that all that paperwork wasn’t going to get done by itself, and grumbling at the fact that he still had to get back home - which was going to be a real pain in this weather. He wasn’t a huge fan of the rain, especially with that denim hero costume of his, but he decided to ignore all of that and started making his way towards the train station, hoping to get home before the weather becomes too bad. Edgeshot noticed the other hero’s intent to go home and looked back up at the sky. No chance. That weather was way worse than Jeanist thought it was and he knew that by the time the other man reached the train station, there would be an unbelievable length of time before he would be able to get to where he wanted to go - not to mention how busy it would be. Taking a moment to think things through, he decided to chase after the lanky hero and called out to him, suggesting a better idea.
“I wouldn’t take the train right now if I were you,” Shinya advised the tall figure in front of him.
Tsunagu was confused, he wanted to get home and that was currently his only means of transport. “Why? What’s wrong? Please tell me there’s not another villain to deal with...” he murmured. Oh he really hoped that wasn’t the case, because there’s no way he could fight in this storm - especially with all these new burns, they may have been small but wow they hurt like hell! He looked down at the shorter man in front of him, weary of the answer he may receive but felt an odd sense of relief when he saw him let out a light chuckle. Or was it cough? Maybe a sigh? How would he know - that man was as mysterious as they get!
“Ah no, that’s not it.” Shinya couldn’t help but feel amused by Tsunagu’s response. The rain was soaking into his costume and was making it a little harder to breathe through his mask, so he tried his best not to laugh. “It’s just that this storm isn’t going to be easing anytime soon, and I feel that it’s only going to get worse - there’s no chance that transport will be easy, especially not for a hero in such a state as yourself.”
“Oh...I hadn’t thought of that,” Tsunagu replied, “do you...have any suggestions as to what I should do instead?” He understood what the other was saying, he had quite a few burns and a large gash across the side of his face - there’s no way that people wouldn’t notice that - but he really did want to get out of this miserable rain. So where could he possibly go, if not straight home?
“Yes, actually, that’s what I was wanting to talk to you about.” Shinya shifted his weight from one foot to the other, unsure as to how he should phrase his next question. “Um...well...my...my house- I mean, do you want to stay at my place? Until the storm blows over-” he stopped himself mid-sentence. That did not come out the way he heard it in his head, and why did he panic?
“Pardon?”
“Sorry, I-” Oh. Right. He probably didn’t understand that rushed mumble of his. Thank god, Shinya could have another go at mending his failed attempt at a suggestion. “Ah...my house isn’t far from here, it doesn’t take that long to walk there. And, well, I just wanted to suggest that you come with me. Those injuries could do with tending to, and with this storm getting worse, I just thought that it might be of help to you to stay at mine until the storm passes. Only if you’d be willing of course- It’s simply a suggestion I thought might be easier than you staying in this rain.”
“Oh. I see. That’s...thoughtful...I- are you sure?” Tsunagu was taken aback, but was definitely not opposed to the idea of getting out of the rain.
“Yes, of course. If you are okay with accompanying me?”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
“...thank you”
Shinya glanced up at the taller figure in front of him and smiled. Not that you could really tell.
They both decided it would be best to stay somewhere warm, get patched up, and wait for the weather to relax. So, off they went, away from the scene that had just been up in flames - now basically back to normal - and toward wherever this mysterious little ninja’s home was.
————————————————————
After a while of walking through heavy rain, dodging leaves as they zoomed past on the wind of the winding path, and silently accompanying each other with minimal words between them, they finally reached Shinya’s house. Not in the middle of nowhere, but also not near any busy city noise. It was peaceful, well, as peaceful as it could be in a raging storm.
Shinya fumbled at the door handle with numb fingers, as he attempted to unlock it as quickly as possible. The door opened with a small click and was gently pushed open. He gestured for the taller man to enter and closed the door after them, relieving them from the cold wind. As soon as they were both inside, they shared a long sigh of relief - ahhh....warmth...
“Sorry, it isn’t much,” Shinya said as he set down his bags and rain soaked hero gear, “I’m the only one that lives here, so I never really thought about how small it was. But now that someone else is here with me...”
“Haha it’s fine! Lovely, even, I think it’s quite sweet.” Tsunagu chuckled, placing his heavy and rather soggy denim coat gently to the side. He’d always liked the more traditional style houses, they had this comforting feeling to them that he couldn’t quite describe. “How long have you had this place?”
Shinya smiled and led Tsunagu towards the living room, they could do with a sit down after all that walking. “It was my Gran’s, well, she wasn’t really my Gran but that’s what we called her. She took us in and looked after us - my sister and I - and after she died we kept this place. Eventually, my sister moved out to be nearer the main city, but I thought it best to stay. I’m comfortable here, you know what I mean?”
“Of course,” Tsunagu nodded, “I think it’s wonderful.”
“Thanks...”
Shinya looked up, watching as droplets of water dripped from the other’s droopy fringe, his own hair now clinging to the side of his face. They both still had their faces masked and breathing through damp fabric probably wouldn’t be very good for their health. As Shinya noticed this, he let out a startled noise that took Tsunagu by surprise.
“AH!”
“What? What happened? Is something wrong?”
“No, I just realised, we’re still stuck in our costumes. They’re soaked! It’s probably best if we get cleaned up before anything else...” Shinya exclaimed.
“Oh, right.” Tsunagu replied quietly. He’d actually forgotten about the rain, which was weird because normally he’d be grumbling about it louder than the storm itself!
“There’s a spare bathroom downstairs, just to the left of the kitchen. It’s quite small but works just as well.” Shinya handed Tsunagu a towel and some spare clothes, looking a little hesitant as he did so. “I had some spare clothes lying around, though I’m sorry they probably won’t fit you very well...you’re very tall compared to me...” Shinya muttered sheepishly.
Tsunagu chuckled at the shorter man’s rather obvious remark and folded the fabric that was now in his own hands. “That’s very kind of you, thank you. It’s okay, I’m sure I’ll be able to adjust it to fit well enough.”
“Oh, of course, that’s- you can do that can’t you...I kinda forgot about that.” Shinya felt even more embarrassed from that, but managed to brush it off as he looked back up at the rather amused figure in front of him. “Well anyway, I’ll be cleaning myself up upstairs and preparing the things we need to tidy up those troublesome injuries of yours-”
“And yours I hope.” Tsunagu briefly interrupted.
“O-of course,” Shinya stuttered a reply. He’d actually somehow forgotten about his own injuries, too caught up in the company of another for once. “Well, if you should need anything, please just call me, I’ll be down as soon as I’m finished- oh and don’t feel the need to rush, take as long as you need.”
“Thank you.”
Tsunagu watched as the other left the room before making his way towards the bathroom. It was quite a small room. He made sure the door was securely locked before peeling away his sodden hero costume, piece by piece.
Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he noticed how deep of a cut it was that ran across his left cheek and over his ear. The rain had washed away most of the blood but it was still quite the nasty injury. He grimaced. ‘That’s gonna leave a bit of a scar...’ he thought to himself. Oh well, just another one to add to his growing collection of them. Although, he suddenly realised something. He’d have to show his face. And what about Shinya? Didn’t he always cover his face as well? Would they really be able to trust each other enough to show their faces to one another - even though they barely knew each other?
He felt himself freeze as he thought about it. They were both known for masking their faces, but the idea of showing his face had always made him feel uneasy. Little did he know that about five minutes prior, Shinya had the same nerve-wracking revelation and was feeling just as conflicted as he was. ‘Stop it, dammit,’ Tsunagu frowned, ‘he’s been so kind and nice to you, I doubt there’s anything to worry about...’
He shook his head and brushed these worries aside before stepping into the running shower. Oh wow, that felt nice. The water flowed over his shuddering body and embraced him in a warm blanket of comfort. Though, it did sting a bit when it seeped into the crevices of the gash on his face, and over the burns on his arms. However, he didn’t mind. He was used to these kinds of small pains and, though he’d be ashamed to admit it, he found it oddly comforting.
At the same time, Shinya was preparing a first aid kit, disinfectant and some warm damp cloths (he, luckily, knew what he was doing. Even if I don’t lol). He’d already managed to clean himself up and had changed into some older, plain clothes - so fast, but as expected from someone as stealthy as himself! Humming quietly to himself, he listened as the sky let out another loud grumble. “Why are you so angry today!?” He chuckled at the noise the raging storm made as he tidied up, “you’re doing this on purpose aren’t you! You always seem to pick ever so specific times to conjur up a storm...is it because I seemed lonely? You want me to make a friend or something?”
The sky growled again and Shinya took that as his response. He’d always found himself talking to the nature around him when he was alone, it had just become a habit of his - he found comfort and company from doing so...and it always seemed to have a way of replying. He was a bit anxious at the thought of showing his face to another, but had managed to push away his concerns as best he can. ‘What else is there to be worried about, Shinya?’ He thought to himself. ‘He’s already in your house. So in terms of his knowledge about you now, you’d basically already be screwed! He knows where you live, so I don’t think that showing your face would be that bad. Plus he’s a hero, isn’t he? Not to mention he’s trusting you with his own identity too...it’ll be fine...’
He sighed and clutched his stinging, scorched arm. Glancing at the rain that danced its way down the cold glass of his bedroom window, he headed back downstairs to give company to his guest who was just as battered and tired as he was.
Shinya set the items he had prepared, down on the small coffee table and walked to the kitchen to grab some hot water. As he stood there, he heard the bathroom door click and turned to see it open ever so slightly. “You’re done? I’ve prepared some stuff to bandage up our injuries and disinfect that nasty cut of yours,” he called out.
“Ah, yes. Thank you,” Tsunagu replied from behind the door.
“...uhm...would you like me to go and wait-”
“Oh! No, there’s no need, sorry...” Tsunagu blurted out as fast as he could. “It’s just...well...I...” he trailed off. ‘It’s never been easy, will he understand that?’
“Don’t worry, I understand. But I guess that with it being just the two of us here... can we say that we may fully trust one another?”
Tsunagu let out a small sigh of relief, before nudging the door open further and emerging from behind it. Making eye contact with the smaller figure in front of him, he smiled gently as he allowed the other to view his face. Shinya doing the same in return. “I guess so.”
Shinya locked eyes with the man that stood in front of him. Wow. He...did not look anything like how he expected...not that he really knew what he expected. Damp, blond hair was messily ruffled across the top of the taller man’s head. He’d managed to make the spare clothes fit well enough to make it look as if they could possibly be his own, though they were still awfully short. They suited him well, actually, and Shinya felt himself stare a little at this gangly noodle in front of him. Why did he look good in those clothes? Hell, they’re old and rather tatty and are way too small for him, and yet he still manages to look like a freaking model in them! And to top it off, they were just some clothes that Shinya owned, that happened to be the longest things he could find! He was unsure of why, but the sight in front of him definitely made him feel rather “odd” (in his own words) - though he didn’t really know what that was.
There were so many things about him in that moment that seemed so out of character for “best jeanist” but what really caught his eye were his scars. Ignoring the large cut on his cheek, Shinya traced his eyes over the bottom half of Tsunagu’s face in a shared silence. Large scars ran from just above his chin, and down to his neck. Some ran over his lips, which had formerly been pressed together to form a small smile, but were now separated slightly in a shocked manner. Noticing where he was staring, Shinya felt his face heat up as he quickly averted his eyes and looked down at the kettle that he was clutching (he went to go boil some water, but had gotten distracted before he could actually put the kettle on). ‘What on earth are you doing, Shinya!? I mean he’s really pretty, sure, but you can’t just stare omg-’ he lectured himself as his face progressively got more unnaturally warm, ‘those scars though....whatever caused those couldn’t of been a small accident...’
Concurrently, Tsunagu was completely stunned. ‘Pretty...’ was the only thought that circulated around his mind for many long seconds. Not only was this man incredibly considerate and mysterious, he was also very pretty and wow did that make Tsunagu’s face redden like an overheated saucepan. He took in his sharp features with observant eyes. Shinya’s hair was no longer fashioned into spiky points, but was now pulled up into a high ponytail. He still had that long fringe covering his right eye, but instead of seeming blocky, it was now loose and soft - and oh wow was Tsunagu really resisting the urge to pat it - though it still looked to be quite sharp, as if you could cut your fingers on the edge of each strand. Tearing his focus away from the shorter man’s hair, he found himself softly staring at Shinya’s face. Though his first thought may have been about how pretty he was, he couldn’t help but notice the other’s scars. Yes, he had quite a few. They were mostly quite small and would go unnoticed by some, but there was one that stood out. A long scar, in the shape of a large gash just like the majority of his own, ran down from just under the corner of the uncovered side of Shinya’s mouth, and down to the middle of his neck. ‘What an idiot.’ Tsunagu thought to himself. ‘You were so busy worrying about showing your own face to even think that he’d be worried about the same thing...it’s...oddly comforting to see another that hides them...even though its not something I should probably be comforted about, since it means that there’s most possibly a painful story behind them...just like my own.’
After a couple of minutes of a shared, awkward silence, Shinya started the conversation back up again with a few stuttering words exchanged between them and nervous laughter. “Ah...um...I guess we should probably...you know...”
“Aha yeah, sorry...” Tsunagu rubbed the back of his neck, “the...uh...you...you forgot the hot water...”
“Oh! Yeah...sorry about that! Um, please, go and sit down. I’ll be there in a moment.”
Tsunagu made his way to the living room and sat down, his mind still curious about all these new discoveries. The pain in his cheek had started to sting even more than before and he was really wishing that he didn’t have to deal with that right now. Letting out a shaky sigh, he reached up to grab it in a hope to ease the pain slightly, but his burnt arm got caught on the edge of the sofa, causing him to let out a distressed grunt.
“Are you okay?” Shinya asked from just beside where the taller man was seated. Tsunagu was quite startled by the other, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
“Ah, it’s just this stupid cut. It’ll probably be better once it’s been treated,” Tsunagu brushed it off, still rather confused by the speed of which the other man seemed to appear without being noticed.
“I see. Well, everything has been prepared so we should probably take care of that first.” Shinya smiled and took a seat next to the other man, gently picking up a cotton swab and dipping it in disinfectant. “The cut just has to be disinfected before anything else though, who knows what else that bastard had been doing-”
“Haha! You’re approaching this just like a proper doctor! So serious and everything,” Tsunagu laughed.
This made Shinya chuckle in response. “Well, I do like to think that I know a bit about what I’m doing!”
They laughed together for a couple of minutes and the tension between the two of them started to dissipate. Tsunagu eyed the cotton swab in Shinya’s hand and realised, how on earth was he gonna do that himself? Well, I think we all know that the answer is he wasn’t. Even he came to that conclusion, as he exchanged funny words with the man in front of him. Shinya knew this, and decided that it was time to tend to the lanky blond’s wounds.
“Do you trust me?” Shinya slyly asked.
“Huh?”
“Do you trust me?”
Tsunagu was hesitant to answer, not because he didn’t trust him, but because he had a feeling as to what was going to happen. “...yes...”
Without missing a beat, Shinya leaned forward and pressed the cold, disinfectant-soaked cotton pad against Jeanists cheek. This caused Tsunagu to scrunch up his face and let out a tiny screech from the shock - it stung like hell - and he was not prepared. “Wrong answer!” Shinya chuckled. He was a little unsure whether he was actually going to do that or not, but knew that it would only hurt more if the other man had to slowly and hesitantly do it himself...plus he actually knew what he was doing.
“Argh! You- you’re evil you know that?” Tsunagu yelped and sat upright, trying to get used to the sting of the disinfectant that was seeping into his cut.
“I try my best,” Shinya hummed as he held the taller mans face, tilting it slightly upwards to better see the injury in the light. Whilst doing so, he noticed how many scars were littered across his face, and felt a little sad at the sight of them. ‘There’s so many...I didn’t really notice before, but now, seeing them up close...these all feel like painful memories. And no matter how much I understand his reasons for hiding them, I cannot help but wonder what on earth happened to him...’
Tsunagu held his breath, wincing every once in a while as the smaller man dabbed the gash on his cheek. He was so close! Not only that, but he was holding his face and wow, did he look like an angel as the light illuminated him from above. He felt the tops of his ears redden as he let out a small breath. As Shinya held his face close to his own, Tsunagu noticed things that he hadn’t spotted before, and made him even more curious than before. Like the front tooth that was slightly chipped, that he could see when the other’s mouth twitched open everytime he dabbed at his cheek. Or, the two rather odd but beautiful tattoos that were wrapped around his two wrists. ‘So much to take in, I didn’t really notice it before, but all these things are so unique and different. His face looks so soft....and pretty....But I truly do wonder what could’ve happened to cause that.’
“Your scar-” Tsunagu mumbled before quickly cutting himself off. ‘Tsunagu, you idiot! You weren’t supposed to just blurt that out...I guess there’s no other option than to just ask now you stupid- stupid, ugh!’
“Hm?” Shinya locked eyes with the other in a distracted confusion, before getting embarrassed and quickly looking back down.
Tsunagu stuttered as he tried to find the right words to say. “O-oh, well...I, uh...Sorry, I was just curious about your scar. It’s just- I, well...wondered-”
“How I got it?” Shinya interrupted quietly, almost in a rather hushed tone.
“Ah. Yes. Sorry, I don’t mean to be nosy, it was simply a curious thought.”
“No, it’s alright, it’s okay. It seems both our curiosities lay in the same area of thought.” Shinya smiled softly, lowering the cotton swab and throwing it in the bin. As he went to pick up the thread (you know, the one they use to stitch up these wounds) Tsunagu placed his hand on his arm and stopped him from doing anything else. Shinya handed the thread to Jeanist and watched as the blond man slowly and carefully stitched up his now clean wound in one gentle swoop of his hand - though it did look quite painful by the look on his face. “Woah!” Shinya exclaimed in awe. He often forgot about the beautifully handy and elegant things that the other man could do with his quirk. This caused Tsunagu’s ears to redden even further.
Shinya let out a deep sigh and sat back slightly to take a rest for a moment. “Ah, where do I start? You said you were curious about my scar, but I’m sorry to tell you that this isn’t any light-hearted story...” he started, scratching the back of his neck and wincing as the burnt skin on his arm brushed against the fabric of the sofa.
“Sorry, you don’t have to...”
“No, it’s alright! To be honest, I think it would actually do some good to tell someone for a change...because, for once I feel that I can trust someone, and that’s a weird thing...” he muttered the last part under his breath so that the kind man next to him wouldn’t hear it. Tsunagu simply smiled in response, looking down as he acknowledged the smaller man’s courage to reveal a very clearly painful memory.
“Uhm, well, are you...are you aware of the small band of mountainside villages down south?” Shinya asked, “if I’m correct in thinking that you are a couple of years older than me...”
“Pffft- did you just call me old?” Tsunagu snorted.
“No! Of course not!” Shinya quickly defended himself. “It’s just that, you are around my age, so I was just wondering whether you’d know of it or not.” He smiled sheepishly as he watched the other’s amused face turn into one that was more focused.
The older man hummed quietly. “Yes, I think I know which villages you are talking about. My mother used to take us there every year when my father was off of work, to go and watch the yearly festivals. Oh, and to visit the market! They had some amazing tomatoes!” Shinya laughed at this little comment. They truly were some good tomatoes, though he preferred the strawberries that they’d grow there. “But...we...we stopped visiting when...” Tsunagu trailed off with a frown and looked back up at Shinya, noticing the distant smile that was faintly spread across his face.
“Then, you know what happened...you know what happened all those years ago?” Shinya questioned quietly as he reached for the bandages that were tangled in the basket. But, doing so only made his arm quiver in pain even more.
“Ah, please, let me do that,” Tsunagu insisted, reaching out for the bandages and using his quirk to gently and swiftly untangle them. He gave Shinya a reassuring look and gently took his arm, starting to wrap it very carefully. “Yes. I was around...13? Yeah, I think I was about 13 when it happened. It was all over the news, I don’t think I could ever forget it. It...was so awful, just hearing what happened...” he had a rough idea as to what Shinya was going to tell him, and it made his heart sink at the thought of it.
The sky let out another huge growl, and a streak of lightning flashed past the window, causing Tsunagu to flinch. Shinya didn’t move a muscle, but simply carried on with what he was doing.
“Hm.” Shinya felt his face warm up slightly as the taller man held his arm softly. ‘So gentle’ he made himself blush even more, but shook these thoughts away before continuing with what he was saying. “I guess it’s kind of obvious then, what I’m about to say I mean.”
“I...I don’t want to immediately assume what happened, but if what I think is true...”
“Yeah.” Shinya sighed. “It was my home. I’d lived there all my life until that day...they...they took everything from me...”
Tsunagu stopped wrapping the other’s arm and looked up, their faces merely inches away, taking in the broken sadness in his eyes and allowing it to drown his heart even further into the pit that it had sunk into.
“Everyone I knew, my friends, my family, everyone, they all died in front of me. There was nothing I could do to stop it... I was the only one that survived...just me...a small, defenceless, 10 year old child. I grew up as part of a family that was renowned for protecting their people, yet I couldn’t even protect my own innocence...my...my own mother...” Shinya’s voice started to get weaker and smaller as all of the memories started flooding back.
Tsunagu could do nothing but listen in shock. This was a lot to take in, and Shinya was trusting him enough to tell him something this personal. It pained him, watching the small ninja’s face contort into a broken frown. “...I’m sorry...”
His voice made Shinya snap back to reality and look him in the eye, confused. “What for? There isn’t anything for you to be sorry for...”
“No, I mean, making you have to think back on a memory that painful...it must’ve been horrible.” Tsunagu finished wrapping the other’s arm and let go of it slowly, hands still slightly lingering over the injured area.
Shinya sighed. He couldn’t disagree with that, it truly was the most painful memory he could imagine. Tucking his silver hair behind his ear, he reached up and touched the scar on his chin. “This was from that day. The people who ambushed us tried to attack me. They had stolen my own grandfather’s sword and managed to just catch my face as my mother whisked me away. It hurt, but I didn’t really notice it until later on...which...well...it’s not like they survived either...”
“Oh dear.” Tsunagu muttered, his face and arm still stinging. The wind picked up and rattled against the window, startling him again.
“I guess you’re wondering what these are as well,” Shinya gestured towards the intricate patterns that were inked into his wrists. “My family was part of that village for many generations. Over these generations, the Kamihara name became rather well known as a family of protectors and guardians. When my family died, I felt like I had lost all my connections to being a ‘Kamihara’ and so I decided to get these tattoos.”
He lifted his left arm, “this represents my father’s side of the family, the Kamihara name.” Then proceeding to point at the other arm, he explained the rest. “This represents my mother’s side of the family, always one with nature. I find that it’s a comforting way to keep them with me at all times, even if they’re not really there. It means that I can keep them safe, and in return they keep me safe too.”
“Wow...I think they’re beautiful!” Tsunagu breathed. They really were. The patterns were so small and intricate yet they held so much meaning and story...just like Shinya himself. “That’s- quite the tragic past...”
“Hm. Well, that’s what happened really...not all of it, but I think it’s best if that is shared some other day.” Shinya plucked the bandages out of the lanky blond’s hands and gestured towards his arms, waiting patiently as the other hesitatantly held out his own scorched arm. He looked back up at Tsunagu’s face and, out of some sort of instinct, reached up and gently touched the long scars on his face, deep in thought. After a very brief moment of...whatever that awkwardness was, Shinya snapped his head down to look back at his hands and Tsunagu averted his eyes in a nervous manner, both turning much redder than they had been before. “A-ah, I’m sorry!” Shinya immediately blurted out.
“No, it’s- it’s okay...” Tsunagu managed to stutter out. Blimey, that was awkward, why did his face feel so hot?
Once they had both managed to laugh it off, Shinya decided to return the same curious question that had been on both of their minds. “So...your scars...how did you get yours?”
Tsunagu froze. He knew it would come up in the conversation at some point, but he still had that reaction whenever someone asked. Shinya noticed this, and panicked a little, “Sorry! You don’t have to-”
“No no, it’s only fitting for you to ask the same question...and I think it’s best you know, since you shared your own story with me.” The anxious Jeanist interrupted. “But, I must ask you not to think ill of me after hearing this, nor should you feel the need to keep me here...I’m...it’s just...I-”
“It’s alright,” Shinya reassured him, “I’m not gonna kick you out of my house, just because of your past...you...didn’t judge mine.”
“Heh,” Tsunagu smiled and watched as the small ninja bandaged up his arm delicately. “Well, it’s not a happy story either, I’m afraid!”
“Guess that makes the both of us!” Shinya let out a light chuckle.
“Yeah...” He paused. These memories still scared him. “When...when my quirk activated, I didn’t know how to control it, like most children. The only thing is, both my sister and I had our quirks activate at the same time, being twins and all this was expected. This, however, just made things worse. I was...I was wearing a scarf at the time, and, well basically...to put it simply, I strangled myself.” He looked up, realising how stupid that sounded.
“Oh! That’s awful, though I’m sure it was probably much more traumatic at the time,” Shinya smiled sympathetically. “I can’t really say the same for my own rather embarrassing quirk discovery....”
“Well that sounds like a story I’d love to hear!”
“Oh, I’m sure!” Shinya laughed and cut the bandage carefully, tying the ends around the other’s slender arm and making sure that everything was secured nicely. “So, was it that which caused those scars on your face? That sounds horrible.”
“Ah,” Tsunagu shifted his eyes in thought, “not exactly...you see, there was an accident later on in my childhood...and...well, it did a lot of damage...” he trailed off, “not only to myself...”
A loud clap of thunder startled them both, and Shinya darted his eyes up to see Tsunagu looking down at him with a solemn face. ‘Whatever happened, that doesn’t sound good...in any context...’ he thought, choosing not to interrupt the taller man.
“It was a villain attack that burst out in the middle of the street. My family just happened to be passing by, but there was this loud scream and I turned around just in time to see that this villain had taken a young girl, about my age at the time, and was planning on taking the rest of her friends too.” Tsunagu paused again, he wasn’t sure how to word this, he never knew how to say it. But this time, it seemed a lot easier. “Before I knew it, and well this is quite typical isn’t it, I found myself in the middle of it all, unable to breathe or move. There was...blood everywhere...pieces of fabric were piercing my body, strangling me, completely littering the area. I- I remember, just, hearing my sister screaming...the pain I felt...she had to go through it all...but I couldn’t do anything, the heroes couldn’t get near me.”
Shinya sat there, stunned from this information, unable to form words. It sounded like such an awful situation to be in, even from his own point of view. He watched as the blond man shifted in his seat and turned to lean back more comfortably with a sigh, unsure of what he should say. However, he thought that it would be best to allow Tsunagu to continue.
Tsunagu felt his chest tighten at the memory of what happened, but still carrying on. It felt nice to talk to someone about it for once. “I had managed to very seriously injure my neck and face, unable to breathe, especially from the panic that I felt. I thought that was the worst part...it really wasn’t.” Tsunagu looked up cautiously at Shinya, wanting to say something but too scared to go further. Shinya saw this and placed a small hand on his shoulder, trying to think of words to say.
“I’m sorry, I can’t say much in terms of comfort. But, whatever it is, please know that I’ll listen no matter what.” He gave a small smile. Despite the fact that they hadn’t really talked before this, he already felt that he could trust him, and wanted the other to feel the same way. He’d made many mistakes in the past, and had done things that had weighed down on him all the way through his life, so knowing that Tsunagu probably had the same thoughts towards whatever it was that happened to him.
Tsunagu felt relieved. No one had ever said those words to him before, and for once he felt that he wasn’t alone. And he’d be lying if he said that he didn’t feel like crying. He nodded slowly and took a deep breath before carrying on, “...well...I- I looked up to see the villain in front of me...he wasn’t breathing, he’d been caught up in the strands that I’d sent flying and...I...he...he didn’t survive...I killed him. Just a small, scared 12 year old child, yet I’d managed to kill a man in a moment of pure terror. I- I think it was how angry I felt that someone was being that bad, I don’t know...but whatever it was, I couldn’t stop it, and the fear from that day has haunted me ever since.”
Shinya was shocked, he had a feeling that something like that must’ve happened, but it was still not something he’d been expecting or hoping to hear. Though, he’d experienced the same kind of shock himself, so he knew that it wasn’t something to be taken lightly. “I...poor child...that’s not something that someone should go through...I know from experience as well...”
“Wh- really?”
“Yeah. Those villains that ambushed my village. In a moment of blind rage I had managed to rid of them entirely, completely unaware of what I did. So, I guess, we aren’t too different, huh?”
“Wow...yeah...look at us, just a couple of very traumatised, depressed and barely capable adults, trying to make a living out of helping others...heh.” Tsunagu remarked, making Shinya chuckle in agreement, his mind easing more and more. “Y’know, I got bullied a lot, trying to become a hero. My quirk was ‘not suitable’ for it and I was ‘weak’. The more they said it the more I believed them, and well, knowing what I had done and knowing that I’d not been able to save that man who was simply going down the wrong path...I really did feel weak. Ever since, I’ve just buried myself in my work, trying to give myself a reason to feel ‘strong’, taking on as many cases as I can even if I know that I can’t do them alone...and well these moments have caused me to make some...stupid...decisions in the past, and, well they’ve all left their mark on me quite prominently.”
Shinya’s eyes softened as he heard the other man spill all of these worries that he’d been hiding for so long. “Oh...poor Hakamata-senpai...” he said with a slightly saddened look.
“Ah, it’s alright. To be honest, I don’t think I’d be where I am now without their bitter words and mean, pain-inflicting prompts. Also, please, ‘Tsunagu’ is just fine!” He normally didn’t mind the formalities, but for some reason when the small ninja sitting beside him used them, it made him feel odd.
“Oh, okay.” Shinya’s face heated up slightly at the thought of using the other’s first name to address him, he wasn’t used to that. “So, I guess we both have kinda...depressing backstories...to our scars and ourselves in general.” (You may not be able to see it but eclair is currently smiling very gleefully)
“Yeah,” Tsunagu glanced at the rain dancing down the window, “I guess so.”
————————————————————
After a long time of exchanging funny stories (well, they aren’t funny at all really, they’re either sad memories or quite self-deprecating...but I guess that’s their way of bonding...to simply share their most traumatic experiences and become friends....huh) the tension between the two of them had almost completely lifted. They sat there chatting away, all bandaged up and tired as hell, simply making the most of each other’s company.
“Oh come on, how is that not funny-” Tsunagu exclaimed, gesturing towards Shinya as he laughed. The pain in his cheek had faded, almost completely, as he slowly became more comfortable.
“Because! You try tripping over, knocking yourself out for 2 hours on the edge of a stone fountain and chipping your tooth. It isn’t a fun experience!” Shinya said enthusiastically, very defensive about the little chip in his front tooth - in response to the taller man’s question.
“Of course, sorry! Poor little Kamihara-san~” Tsunagu replied with a smile.
“Please, just call me Shinya!”
“Shinya, huh?” Tsunagu felt a little bit shy at the thought of using his first name, but it would probably be easier. “You know, now that I think about it, being in the middle of this storm isn’t so bad.”
Shinya smiled. He’d always loved this type of weather, and seeing the lanky man in front of him start to agree, he felt like he’d somehow accomplished something.
They were startled from their little conversation by a loud beeping noise coming from Shinya’s phone. When he checked it, he let out a shocked gasp and this caused Tsunagu to be slightly worried. Was it something important?
“What? What is it?”
“I can’t believe it...it’s already 1:45...we’ve talked for so long!”
Tsunagu widened his eyes in disbelief as he checked his own phone. Yep. That was the time. They’d gotten so carried away by their conversation that they’d become completely unaware of the time. They shared a very shocked look before snickering at their own carelessness. “Hah! To think that there was a time I’d never imagined this would happen.”
Shinya quickly got up from his seat, and started to make his way to the kitchen. “Sorry, I realise that it’s probably way too late for this, but I realise I never offered you food!” He called out.
“It’s okay! I forgot about it myself! But to be honest, what food could we possibly have at 1:46am?” Tsunagu inquired, slowly becoming more aware of the hunger that crept through his stomach.
“Hm...” Shinya thought before looking back up at the confused man with excited eyes, “pizza?”
“Pizza?!”
“Uh-huh!”
“Who on earth sells pizza at this time?!”
Shinya chortled at the other’s comedic remark. “Oh, you seem to be forgetting all that I told you about my very first internship...” he said slyly.
“Of course...that’s actually a brilliant idea!” Tsunagu laughed. Well...who doesn’t love getting 50% off of pizzas, even at 1:47 in the morning!
So, they ordered pizza. Just...two pro heroes, chilling out at 2:00am, eating pizza instead of sleeping off their injuries. How fun!
After even more time, the two of them decided it was best to actually get some sleep, and Tsunagu watched as the silver haired man quietly said goodnight and crept up the stairs, before setting his head down on the arm of the sofa - his legs dangling over the edge.
He listened as the wind and rain battered against the window. Normally, he’d be fed up by these noises, however that night, he found himself listening to it peacefully, and he had a thought:
‘maybe the rain isn’t so bad after all...’
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Just Another Rant
Okay, so why do NCTzens have a hate boner for Taeyong??? It's so f*cking weird, it doesn't make sense.
Taeyong has been under NCTzens' microscope since his debut. Everything he does is dissected and twisted into something its not. No other member of NCT or any group (except maybe Jennie from Blackpink) is treated this way by the group's fans. NCTzens want Taeyong to be the villain so bad, that they're willing to stoop as low as dehumanizing, body shaming and wishing d3ath on him. NCTzens dislike him, some even hate him and they're not very subtle about it.
Now, I'm not saying all NCTzens are TY antis. I have moots on Twitter who dont stan him, but are incredibly respectful towards him and acknowledge his talents and hardwork. If you're one of them, then this rant is not about you. But i will say this, if it isnt all NCTzens who anti Taeyong, it's most of them.
It started with Lines and Screentime distribution for NCT songs and mvs. Now, i agree that Taeyong used to get a little more lines and screentime than the others at first. But instead of calling out SM, most of you targeted Taeyong saying he deliberately stole the said lines and screentime from his members so that he'd get to shine more..... Really???
Next, when he was announced as a member of SuperM, NCTzens were clearly upset it wasn't Johhny or Jaehyun. Do you wanna know why??? No, they didnt talk about talent. Instead, they wanted Jaehyun/Johhny instead of Taeyong because SuperM is a group targeted at the western audience and Jn & Jh knew to speak English better than TY..... Okay.
And it keeps getting worse.
-NCTzens saying that TY goes into the recording studio to record his solo songs, by LOCKING OUT the rest of NCT, so that they wont get to record their solo stuff.
-That TY is SM's Golden Boy cuz he 'gETs a LoT of SoLO pRoMos anD cENter TiMe', completely refusing to understand what 'SOLO PROMO' means or see how overworked and mistreated he is by his own company.
-When TyongFs praise TY about anything, NCTzens always, ALWAYS insert their faves in the post. Like, go make your own post maybe???
/Trigger Content
-NCTzens saying that TY dances like he has a sq*irrel in his pants, raps like d*g, looks like a skeleton etc etc. And these are just mild stuff i mentioned here. NCTzens are so much worse when it comes to body shaming and dehumanizing him. And when we call them out for it, thay have the audacity to say that its a JOKE and we're STUPID for not having 'A Sense of Humor'....
/End of Trigger Content
-NCTzens saying that TY's main dancer/main rapper/main visual/leader/center positions should go to their faves cuz their fave 'iS So mUcH beTTeR aT TheSe pOsiTIOns'. Yeah.... sure..... NCTzens rarely talk about the positions other members have , but are really obsessed with Taeyong's.
-NCTzens still denying that Taeyong is NCT's leader and that he's really good at it. Just yesterday, a Wayzennie (also a TY anti) started spewing sh*t about Taeyong's leadership. And their arguement??? That they have 'lEAdeRsHiP eXpEriEncE iN UnI, WoRk aND ouTsIDe wOrK' and that makes them an expert about leading a 23 member global kpop group, who had a rough start what with their controversial 'unlimited' concept and experimental songs. Sure, Jan.
(Also, the thing where some Wayzennies are still not accepting that TY is the leader of whole of NCT, cuz Kun is WayV's leader..... Seriously, though its not that hard to understand. Kun IS and WILL remain the leader of WayV, a 7 member group. That's a fact. But when the subunits (127, Dream and WayV) come together for projects (ex: NCT 2018 and NCT 2020), Taeyong becomes the overall leader. But since these Wayzennies are still on their WayV not being part of NCT agenda, they're simply ignore this. Go figure.)
- Oh, but when some other member in NCT messes up, it suddenly becomes Taeyong's responsibility cuz 'HE'S THE LEADER'. Funny, how NCTzens change narratives quickly. Also, weird how, according to NCTzens, NCT members suddenly can't think for themselves even though they're grown adults and need Taeyong to take the blame for them. Haha.....
-Also, NCTzens guilt tripping TyongFs from canceling NCT Beyond Live tickets when they got to know that he was injured and wont be participating in the concert a little too late, cuz "Taeyong, as a leader, would be sooo upseeet that his group wont be getting TyongFs' money and he'd feel sooo guiltyyy that y'all are getting refunds of your OWN money that YOU CHOSE to spent and its not my business at all. But damn, y'all are sooo selfish!!!!"
-NCTzens posting about how overjoyed they are that TY is injured cuz that means their faves get to shine..... "Look how MY FAVE killed TY's part" "MY FAVE ate Taeyong up" "Should've put MY FAVE in the OG line up instead of Taeyong" "MY FAVE made TY's part as his own" "Thank god, MY FAVE got to show off his talents, now that Taeyong isnt here". God, if i were one of the Neos whose fans say sh*t like this, it would've felt like a slap to my face. Honestly, tell me, do y'all really think so low of your faves? Do you really think they cant shine even with TY being on stage? They absolutely can, but you're focus is not on them, is it? Way to embarrass yourself.
-NCTzens blaming Taeyong for NCT's slow rise to fame because of the false rumors/allegations pinned on him by nasty people. They say Taeyong was the sole reason for NCT not being liked by many, not because of their confusing/complicated concept or the music. Yeah, you heard me. NCTzens are not above victim blaming and pointing fingers, cuz they are not ready to accept the fact that Taeyong was the one who carried the group on his back all the way.
-And how they can't stand the fact that TY gets praised by proffesionals or non-fans or locals. A dance analyzer analyzed 127's Kick It and at the end stated that Taeyong was the best dancer in 127. And what did NCTzens do. They bullied the analyzer to the point that they deleted the video, just cuz their fave was not named the best. A reactor reacts to Taeyong's Long Flight and the comments on the videos are along the lines of 'Hey, MY FAVE'S also has a solo song too. You should definitely react to that' or when they're tryna be subtle (but not really), they go 'Taeyong is soo good but you should also check out MY FAVE'S blah blah blah'
Hell, even when TyongFs say 'Taeyong is very so creative, by coming up with BDLI Jungle Gym concept and the MAW chandelier thing. He's literally an Idea Bank', and NCTzens go 'All the Neos are idea banks' in the same post.
When TyongFs say 'Taeyong is the really so handsome. NCT's main visual', they go 'All the Neos are main visuals'
Lmao, just 3 days ago, someone commented 'Taeyong is cute' under a tiktok video and an NCTzen just couldn't help but fume about it and went 'All Neos are cute'🙄
Like seriously, this is sooo annoying. Make your own goddamn post about the rest of NCT, ffs! Why do you to insert anyone else in a Taeyong tweet? Literally, can't let Taeyong have a moment for himself.
-Recently, Taeyong released 2 solo demo tracks on SoundCloud- Dark Clouds and Dark Clouds Remix (check it out here: https://soundcloud.com/eh_ovo_taeyong). And NCTzens being NCTzens started those who never even promoted Kun's SoundCloud before started promoting it under every TY tweet on the same day. Now, i don't have a problem with them promoting Kun's SC. But they could've done it any other day or made their own tweet about it. But doing it under every TY promo tweet and on the very same day? Really??? And some of them had the audacity to say that TY was getting free clout from Kun cuz Kun followed him on SC.....😑😑😑
-NCTzens have this weird belief that TY is getting solo promos and is being pushed by SM. What on earth are they talking about? Taeyong being center, main rapper and main dancer of the group is not solo promo. Him being in SuperM is not solo promo. Him opening Instagram and SoundCloud is not solo promo, but self promo- which means HE'S promoting himself, not SM. Solo promo is usually provided to the artist by the company in the form of photoshoots, accepting brand deals, releasing the artist's solo music etc and SM isnt doing sh*t for Taeyong. All they're doing is overworking him and milking him for money. That's it. And i want NCTzens to understand that.
And the list goes on and on and on. This weird hate boner NCTzens have for Taeyong is so bizarre to me. All Taeyong does is sing, rap, dance, talk cutely, take care of his fishes and play games with Baekhyun. And this somehow gets NCTzens mad. They constantly discredit him, try to make him seem less than what he actually is, insert everyone else when someone is talking just about him, make him seem like a villain by twisting his words or actions and making it into a big deal.... *sigh* Its so unbelievable how low NCTzens can stoop. And it gets tiring real quick.
N E Ways, this is everything i wanted to rant about and damn, this turned out to be too lengthy. Now, if you havent followed Taeyong on his Instagram, please do @eh_evo_nct. Stream Long Flight, his one and only solo station. And please look forward to BaekhyunxTaeyong collab on Taeyong's SoundCloud.
Ciao!
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shortythescreen · 4 years
Text
codename crypto
Warning(s): NSFT/18+. Violence – mostly in the form of fist fights. Vaginal sex, oral sex, kind of enemies to lovers? Gender Neutral reader but words for their parts are pussy/cunt/clit so keep that in mind going in! 
Relationship(s): Crypto/Reader. 
Author’s Notes: Reader is a bounty hunter in this one! I had a ton of fun with it and I hope y’all enjoy it – fight scenes aren’t really my forte lmao. 
“Tae-Joon Park,” someone says from his left, and Crypto freezes mid step, blood chilling. He hasn’t heard his name in a long enough time that he should be relieved he still recognizes it. Were he in any other circumstance, he might even be happy to hear it.
Yet, he’s in a shitty motel room, on the run for crimes he didn’t commit. He hasn’t spoken to anyone that would know his real name in person in well over a few months.
“You’ve got quite a rap sheet,” the person says and Crypto finally turns to look at the corner their voice came from.
You have one leg crossed over the other, phone propped in your hand, which rests idly on the arm of the chair you’ve claimed. Your seat is in just the right spot that, if you’d stayed quiet, he might not have noticed you. The light of the setting sun just hits one of your boots and he would have to squint to see your face if it weren’t lit up by your phone.
“Evading police capture, assaulting an officer, and ooh, would you look at that, second degree murder-”
“Who are you? And how did you get in here?” He bristles and you smirk, looking at him without turning your head away from your phone.
“Y’know, you’re pretty smart. Paranoid, but smart. Leaving bugs around all the entrances to alert you if someone breaks in,” you say, “but my god, the guy up front was too easy to bribe. Like, disgustingly easy. Like, if you’re going to choose a sleazy motel, you might want to choose a sleazy motel that isn’t run by a sleaze-”
You stop when Crypto whips out his drone, holding it up to your face like a gun. You raise an eyebrow at him, finally clicking the phone screen off and setting it face down on the arm of the chair. You stare past the drone to look at his face.
“Get out,” he spits, “and forget you saw me.”
You sigh through your nose, rolling your eyes. Bracing yourself on the arms of the chair, you stand up, leaving a measly inch or two between you and the head of the drone.
“So, my name is-”
“I don’t care. Get out.”
“You cared earlier. Don’t be rude.”
You introduce yourself with a grand flourish, holding your arms out like an actor on stage. “I’m a bounty hunter,” you add.
Crypto surges forward, ramming the point of the drone against your chest. You let out a little noise as you’re shoved back into the chair, your phone clattering to the floor as the legs squeak across the tile floors.
“Who sent you?” He seethes.
You hold one hand up, the other rubbing little circles where he struck you. You pout. “Hey, that wasn’t nice.”
“Who sent you?”  
“No one. There’s just a pretty price on your head, buddy.”
“The Syndicate put out a reward?”
“You know, it’s a good idea to keep track of your net worth,” you say, “you’re a pretty shitty criminal.”
“Because I’m not one,” he snaps, half against his will, “I was framed.”
“Ooh, I’ve heard this one before,” you grin, “can I tell it? I’ma tell it. You were innocently living your apple pie lifestyle, making an honest living, just scraping by, when all the sudden, you spilled coffee on a Syndicate leader’s shirt. They got so pissed off they framed you for the murder of that poor girl-”
“Don’t talk about her,” Crypto says, watching your expression change. “Don’t bring her into this.”
You stop and Crypto doesn’t realize you’d been pressing into the drone until you settle back into the chair. Your fingers drum against the arms of the chair.
“Huh,” you say, then you lift your legs and kick his out from under him.
Crypto’s free hand slaps the floor and you leap from your seat to knee him in the chin, the chair you were in flying back. His teeth rattle but he rolls to the side before you can land a steel toed kick. He hurls his drone at you, and you duck just before it hits you, darting forward.
Your leg sweeps out to catch his temple, but he grabs your ankle, pulling you off your feet. Your back hits the floor with a loud thump and you grunt, disoriented. Crypto tries to grab your foot that’s still free, lifting himself up, and you take the opportunity to knock your heel against his teeth.
His mouth tastes like iron and he ignores the throb in favor of pinning the bloody boot that caught him down. He uses his grip to drag you across the floor and you push yourself to sit up, forehead touching his as he crouches over you.
“You know,” you pant, “you’re actually kinda cute.”
Crypto traps one of your legs beneath his, freeing one of his hands. You quickly jab at his sternum and with a wheeze he catches your fist. You barely have time to swing for his cheek before he’s pinning you down, his legs on either side of one of yours and his hands sealing yours above your head.
His blood drips onto your face as he pants above you and you still, watching him. You’re unphased by the steady drip, drip, drip of blood onto your cheek and that’s when Crypto realizes you’ve split his lip.
Your chest rapidly rises and falls, hair smushed beneath your head. Your vision is still clearing from the hit your head had taken when he’d dragged you down beneath him.  
“Really cute,” you breathlessly murmur and Crypto doesn’t like the way his gut jumps at how thrilled you sound.
Then, you slam your head into his, and he releases you with an ungraceful flail. He falls onto his ass, eyes swimming into the view of the barrel of your gun.
You cock it quickly, panting as you rise to one knee. There’s not much of a height advantage like this but he’s injured, and you’ve got a gun.
“You’d put an innocent man in jail for money?” He wheezes, his eyes swimming into view of your gun.
“We all gotta eat, baby,” you say. “And the Syndicate can make sure I eat for a good, long while if I bring you in.”
“You didn’t say I was guilty,” he grunts.
You say nothing, wobbling to your feet. “C’mon, Park, stand up. Let’s not make this any harder than it’s been.”
Crypto grunts, glaring up at you. You stare down at him, all your earlier smarminess replaced by a gravity he didn’t think he could see from someone so smug. Still, he pushes his tired legs to stand.
“Thanks, guy. No hard feelin-in-in-”
You hiss through your teeth as electricity bolts through you. Your gun clatters to the floor, out of your stiffening hands and Tae-Joon watches you crumple.
The little drone crowds the corner of your vision. It almost looks like a puppy in your fizzling mind. Your body curls at an unnatural angle as your eyes start rolling back.
“Yeah,” he says, “no hard feelings.”
It’s the last thing you hear before you pass out.
[page break]
Crypto forgets about you, mostly. The experience makes him more vigilant (paranoid). He has no idea how it is you found him – or if you’ve relayed your exchange to the syndicate. So, he invests in an anti-facial recognition neck piece, among other things to remain covert.
A few months pass and after finding himself looking in dark corners a little more than he should, he begins to relax. Somewhat.
Crypto’s sitting in a sports bar. It’s at least one in the morning yet the bustle of activity has yet to die down, something that he’s grateful for. Should anyone spy him, he can make a quick getaway among rowdy civilians.
Nursing a glass of scotch as he squints at his laptop, Crypto barely acknowledges the footsteps around him.
“You need glasses, huh?”
Crypto’s head snaps up at your voice. Your face floods his vision as quickly as the memory of you does and he bristles.
Your hands are stuffed into the pockets of the same stupid leather jacket you were wearing last time. He wonders if his blood is still on your boot.
He doesn’t look down to check and doesn’t respond to your question either.
“I mean, Jesus, you’ve been staring at that laptop like it hurt you,” you snort, “real subtle way to blend in at a bar. You look like a confused college student.”
“What are you doing here?” Crypto finally grits out. You roll your eyes, sliding into the booth he’s occupied at. You move to flag down a waitress, but he grabs your forearm midair, squeezing tightly.
You turn to face him, your faces only a few inches apart. If you were to scoot a little to the left, your thighs would be touching.
“Let go of my arm or I’ll scream,” you say calmly, “and that really won’t help you blend in here, Tae-Joon.”
“Don’t call me that,” Crypto hisses, slamming your hand down onto the table then releasing. You raise your brows, unimpressed. Then, you flag down a waitress, asking for some fruity drink.
“Why not? It’s your name,” you say through a sweet, faux smile. It slowly melts off your face as the waitress walks away with your order and he glares at your placid expression.
“Not anymore,” he says, and his tone catches your attention. You turn to look at him, twisting a little, and your knees do touch.
“Well, we could argue the logistics all night long,” you say, a little too flippantly for the way you look at him. “But I’m not calling you Crypto, that’s just fucking lame.”
Crypto heaves a great, giant sigh, burying his face in his hands. His fingers stutter up to his temples, where he presses down to try and soothe a forming headache.
“How did you find me?” He asks you for the second time.
“You don’t blend well,” you tell him, “has anyone ever told you that? You stick out.”
Crypto curses in his native tongue, speaking through gritted teeth. “How the hell did you find me?”
You sniff, that pretty, fake smile gracing your features as the waitress returns with your drink. It glows some odd shade of pink, and you pluck a cherry from the glass. You eat it in one bite, wagging a finger at him, the rest of them clutching the stem.
“You-” you pause to swallow, “you might hide yourself from cameras and surveillance, Park, but you’re shit at hiding from people.”
“There’s people here who know my name?” Crypto whispers, staring at his laptop, which has gone idle.
“No. But you’re kinda hard to miss, Mr. Laptop-In-A-Bar. And I’ve got a bunch of narratives that are believable,” you say, “my personal favorite is-”
“I don’t care.”
“Don’t be rude,” you say, “my favorite is where you’re my cheating husband, run off with your lover. People get so weird about that shit—or righteous. Either they’re all like, “oh, uh, shit, sorry”, or they’re like, “he’s that way, kick his ass.””
Crypto half smirks, glancing at you. It’s the first time he’s come close to smiling since Mila’s death. “You couldn’t if you tried.”
“You cheated last time,” you pout, “I could totally kick your ass.”
“Anything goes if you’re trying to arrest me,” he replies.
“I’m not trying to arrest you, though. I’m trying to collect a bounty on you.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“Not quite! Cops are assholes with shitty pay. I’m an asshole with decent pay.”
The mention of your payment weighs on Crypto. He investigated it after your last meeting – the reward for his capture is humongous. Still, could your greed really beat out what’s right? You seemed to believe him last time.
“Could you really put an innocent man away just for some money?” He asks, turning to really look at you. If he were Tae-Joon, he might’ve thought you were cute. He might have even asked to buy you a few drinks, asked to see you again.
But he’s not Tae-Joon anymore. You’ve grown oddly quiet then sniff, turning away. Crypto doesn’t give you the opportunity to say whatever it is you’re thinking, beginning to rapidly type.
“What are you doing anyway?” You ask, leaning in, and your shoulder brushes his as you peer at his laptop screen. “You stick out like a sore fucking thumb with this thing.”
He doesn’t answer, instead continuing his rapid typing. You vaguely recognize some of the code having learned a little for your purposes. You never honed your skills though and before your brain can register what it is that Crypto’s doing, he’s moving onto the next phase.
A green loading bar appears on the screen.
“Hello, Tae-Joon?” You say, “Earth to TJ-”
Trapped in a booth, you don’t have time to move out the way as Crypto punches you in the face. Sitting down, he doesn’t clock you well enough to do anything more than catch you off guard.
You slam your glass into the side of his head, and it shatters. Crypto squeezes his eyes shut, scooting back and out of the booth before you can ball your bleeding hand into a fist to punch him. You follow him out, swinging and missing.
By now, you’ve drawn the attention of the bar goers. Crypto’s eyes reopen, blood dribbling from the little wounds on the side of his face, and you find yourself oddly focused on the way it pools beneath his chin.
Your hand shakes from the glass stuck in it but you charge him anyway, slamming your knee up into his sternum, then your elbow into his side as you begin to drop.
Crypto grabs your arm, twisting it so you’re suddenly looking at the floor. You bare your teeth, pushing against his fist between your shoulder blades.
He’s pressing you down with all his might and the way your arm is contorted behind your back makes you grit your teeth. He’s stronger than you, bigger, and sweat begins to form on your brow.
You barely register the sounds of people cheering the two of you on as you manage to lift yourself up. Just enough that you can sweep a leg back and knock one of Crypto’s legs from beneath him. As he falls to one knee, his grip slackens and you swing around, throwing a leg over his shoulder and interlocking your fingers to strike his skull.
Crypto reaches up to grab your sides in a vice. His hot breath on your stomach sends a plume of adrenaline through you and you growl, violently pounding on his head. You ignore the searing pain in your hand.
Remarkably, he stands, one of your legs dangling down by his torso and the other wrapped around his head. You beat your fists against his skull, once, twice, one more time. He storms forward, slamming you onto the table you two had been chatting at.
The breath leaves your lungs and before you have time to gather it back, Crypto wraps his fingers around your throat.
One hand wraps around his wrist as you gasp, one leg still over his shoulder, the other flailing against his waist. Your blood stains the opening of his jacket.
The edges your vision begin to round, making the world look like a fishbowl. You clench your teeth, balling your free hand into a fist. You slam it once on the table before throwing a vicious hook at his temple.
He flinches but doesn’t move. You buck beneath him, trying to throw him off, but Crypto doesn’t budge and your mouth opens and shuts like a fish.
He’s so solid. And warm.
You punch him in the throat. He brutally coughs, releasing you to clutch it and stumble away. You gulp air back into your lungs greedily, head throbbing with the swell of oxygen. You paw for your thigh and with a hand that feels like lead, you pull out your gun, sitting upright again.
You don’t have the focus to aim yet but the onlookers from the bar all scream when they see your gun. The circle they’d formed breaks up, people running in different direction, creating waves you can’t comprehend. Your eyes dart around and you jump up as you spot Crypto pushing through the crowd.
“Tae-Joon!” You scream, raising the pistol. “Tae-Joon! God fucking damn it!”
People have scattered and you lose sight of the white coat in the madness. With a groan, you fall back against the table. You drag a hand down your face, ignoring the blood on it when you pull it back. His laptop catches your eye and you turn it to face you.
The green bar is gone, but so is everything else. You tap on one of the keys impatiently, trying to get it to wake up. Even though you’ve put your gun down, people are still running.  The white noise is accompanied by a white cursor on a screen that refuses to change from the color black.  
[page break]
Crypto doesn’t stay in one place for very long.
His most extended period at any one motel is about a week. He’s pushing it now, his sixth day in one spot, but he’s just been so exhausted. He at least has sense enough to pick up groceries at different stores around the place he’s staying.
He’s at a grocery store, eyeing the ice cream section. He could really go for some rocky road. If he’s going to get it, he should get a pint instead of a gallon and make sure to polish it off before tomorrow morning. Crypto opens the freezer door, reaching in to get his ice cream.  
“Didn’t think you’d have a sweet tooth,” you say as the freezer door shuts. Crypto’s eyes shut, hand idling with his grip on the ice cream. He sighs through his nose. “Tae-Joon.”
“Don’t call me that,” he mutters defeatedly. His eyes open and he finds you smirking, your head tilted to the side as you watch him from beneath raised eyebrows.
“I still think Crypto’s lame,” you tell him.
“I don’t care what you think,” he says, and before he can think too hard about your pout, he’s turning, walking away from you in the aisle.
“Hey, I was talking to you,” you say, and the heavy clunk of your boots alerts him that you’re hurrying to match his pace. He drops his rocky road in his basket, looking straight ahead, like maybe he can will you away if he doesn’t meet your eyes. “Tae-Joon? Hello? Tae-Joon. Tae-Joon. Tae-Joon. Tae-”
“Would you shut up?” He finally hisses, abruptly stopping, head snapping to glare at you. Your smirk widens, hands sliding into your pockets. “What do you want?”
“You know what I want,” you say.
“You’re not going to get it.”
“Not now anyway. We’re in the ice cream aisle.”
“I’m starting to hate the ice cream aisle.”
“Says the one buying rocky road.”
You two are at a standstill and after a long pause, Crypto grunts, making his way across the store. This time, though, he’s unhurried and you’re able to match his strides without half jogging. He turns down another aisle, pausing at the cereal bars.
“I’ve been trying to blend in,” he tells you, grabbing the store brand peanut butter bars.
“I know,” you say, “you’re getting harder to find.”
That… is a good thing. Surprising, but a good thing. He’s bitter to admit that your advice from your last run in is a large part of the reason he’s getting better at hiding, but he would have been hard pressed to care about the eyes of civilians on him had you not pointed out they could be questioned.
“You gonna give up?” He asks, heading for the self-checkout.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” You say, moving over to bag up his items as he scans them. He watches you from the corner of his eye, oddly at ease despite knowing you’re trying to apprehend him. It’s becoming a constant and those are very few in the life of Crypto. You step back at you finish bagging up and he pulls out a card with a name that isn’t his to pay.
“You steal that?” You ask.
“No. It’s all mine. Just under an alias,” he tells you. He doesn’t notice the way your eyes flicker to the ground, finding a spot near his feet to stare at.
“You know I have to try,” you tell him as a digital receipt is offered. Crypto declines it and lifts his groceries, headed for the exit. “To take you in, I mean. I gotta eat.”
“You could have a cereal bar,” he offers, and you snort, following him out, hands still in your pockets. You two pause at the exit and Crypto isn’t sure what’s going to happen.
“Do you miss her?” You ask him and he glances over at you. You elaborate at his silence. “Mila. All the reports say you two grew up together.”
He tenses, glancing around, and you follow his gaze to some cameras in the corner. You jerk your head to the left and the two of you stroll down the sidewalk, yellowish streetlights illuminating the dark roads.
“Why are you asking?” He asks.
“I want to know.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanna, Tae-Joon, Jesus Christ. It’s like pulling teeth with you.”
“How do I know you’re not bugged?”
That’s a reasonable question. You know it is. It’s why your jaw clenches and you stare ahead, avoiding his eyes. Then you unceremoniously stop. He unconsciously stops with you and watches as you turn, slinking into the shadows of an alcove between buildings. He watches you in the dark, holding your arms out.
“Scan me.” You say. He raises his eyebrows at you, surprised. Glancing around, Crypto follows you into the dark spot, setting his groceries down. He pulls Gi off his back, touching a button on his side, then allowing him to scan you.
The rays from his eye remain green as they flash down your front, casting a glow across your skin. His eyes follow the scan, like he’s looking for something, but Gi is doing all the looking for him. His eyes flicker back up to yours and he’s sure your gaze has never left his face.
“Pat me down. You don’t know if I could have anti-scan tech,” you offer.
“Gi would’ve bypassed it,” he dismisses.
“Do it,” you say and Crypto’s head tilts as Gi takes his place on his back once again. For a minute, he thinks about taking his groceries and running. About maybe even leaving his groceries. Your eyes pin him, though, and with a giant, heaving sigh, Crypto creeps into your space.
His hands diligently slide up and down the arms of your jacket, feeling what he’s now certain is faux leather. His synthetic fingertips brush the tops of your hands and he quickly disregards whatever spark bolts through him in favor of palpating your sides. You’re firm, warm, and devoid of anything that might be a device. Crypto kneels, continuing down to your legs, and maybe he squeezes a little too hard when he hits your thighs.
Your breath hitches above him and Crypto glances up at you. You stare straight ahead, past him, and his hands slide up the backs of your calves, searching, seeking. As he stands up, he’s not sure of what anymore.
“Do you miss Mila?” You ask again, hands finally dropping to your sides. He glances away from you, at the dirty, moldy building.
“Yes. Often.” He says softly, almost hard to hear over the steady drip-drip-drip of a leaky pipe at the back of the alcove. “She was… stupid. And reckless. But I loved her.”
You nod, looking down at his shoes and pulling your upper lip between your teeth. Your gaze slowly flicks up the length of him, to his gaze that has refocused on you.
“I have to try to take you in,” you tell him.
“But my Rocky Road,” he says, and you bite back a smile.
“Don’t make me laugh, asshole,” you say, reaching up to crack your knuckles. He sighs heavily.
His Rocky Road melts.
[page break]
You can’t get Tae-Joon out of your mind.
Every time he escapes you, he gets harder to find. In your mad pursuit to catch him, you’ve found yourself forgetting about other bounties.
You’ve seen him a few other times since your talked about Mila – never without some kind of conversation passing between you before you try to take him in again. He always manages to slip between your fingers, disappearing into the crowd for you to track again.
You know you should be more worried about the rolls of cash you carry on you slowly beginning to disappear. There’s easier fish to fry than Tae-Joon, guys that will make your life easier, keep your income flowing.
And yet…
You’ve liked the game of cat and mouse you two have settled into. You think he does too. Crypto never would have gone to well lit, camera rich locations before you two met – tracking him to that seedy motel and that even seedier bar had been through strokes of luck that you refused to acknowledge as anything more than that. Now, though, you’ve gone in as a detective, seeing his face in department stores, in shopping malls.
In Orphanage documents next to Mila.
He’s… Different, than the criminals you usually pursue. He’s one that keeps you up at night, makes you truly doubt you’re doing the right thing.
He’ll never let you take him in without a fight – but sometimes, you think maybe he’s seeking you out for companionship. Maybe, on some level, you’re seeking him out for the same thing. For the banter you two have when you’re together, for the way his sharp, tired eyes size you every time you slide into the booth across from him or take a walk with him around a department store.
“The universe can get pretty lonely,” you mutter to yourself, holed up in a shitty motel, staring at the grainy photos before you, a little drone trailing someone in a long, white coat.
[page break]
Crypto has come to expect you.
Whether he’s in a gas station around the corner from his motel, or in a completely different district from the last time you saw him, you always seem to crop up. You approach him pleasantly, all smiles and small talk. Like an old friend.
Then, you try to subdue him. He’s still recovering from your last bout, a nasty, purplish bruise across his ribs from where you tackled him into some perfume display.
He always manages to get away. You pull out your gun in some crowded place and people scatter, giving him the cover to maneuver from your clutches. He’s not quite sure if you do it out of desperation or if you want to give him the opportunity.
He wouldn’t doubt he’s pushed you to the edge if it weren’t for the look in your eyes. You’re the better fighter. Dirtier, more experienced. If you two went at it long enough, you could probably get him in cuffs, or at least keep him in one place long enough for the Syndicate to arrive and apprehend him. Yet, every time, you pull your weapon, staring at him as you do. You never take your eyes from your target – until he’s in a crowd where you can no longer see him.
Today, you’re not really on his mind. He has business at Noir and Blake’s – a shitty club in a corner of the red light distract that deals with people like him. People that are wanted. He’s in the final phases of his plan, of breaching the Syndicate like he desperately needs to.
He shoulders into the club, the blacklights making his coat glow neon. Partygoers dance around him, bumping each other back and forth, and he can hardly hear the DJ over the loud thump of the bass. He ignores its steady thump, looking around for his informant.
He’s early but he supposes he’d been hoping his informant would be too. Even as he peers at the VIP sections, he doesn’t see the gentleman that will give him the new identification and records he needs to start in the games. With a displeased grunt, Crypto stands at the edge of the dance floor, packed with people, pushing him against the velvet rope. His hands sit in his pockets, and Gi idly scans all their faces, his camera facing them.
“Tae-Joon,” you greet, like you always do, invading his mind when he doesn’t want and Crypto doesn’t turn his head to look at you. Instead, he turns away, facing the dance floor. “Didn’t take you for a clubber.”
“I’m not,” he says, “I’m waiting on someone.”
“Aw, you’re too sweet,” you coo, nudging him with your elbow. He snorts, nostrils flaring in amusement as you lazily twist to face the same direction as him. You two stand in companionable silence for a while and Crypto is almost concerned.
“Here to take me in again?” He asks, breaking the silence. You hum, fingers wrapped around the velvet red rope separating the VIP area of the club from the rest.
“Not yet,” you tell him. He snorts. You smirk. It’s an easy rhythm, one you fall into just as easily as the thump-thump-thump of the music. “C’mon, get a drink with me.”
“Don’t poison me,” he warns, although he’s already following you towards the bar. Your leather jacket doesn’t change color under the black light, though your skin glows an eerie color. His eyes flicker across your back, across the muscular line of your calves, and he finds himself slowing to allow you to make it to the bar before him.
You order both of you something, leaning your forearms on the bar. He stands idly near you, waiting for a chair to open should someone drunk enough decide to join the hoard at your backs. You watch the bartender go. Then, not looking at him, you speak.
“For what it’s worth, I believe you.” You say and Crypto stays silent as the bar tender drops two drinks in front of you. He’s pretty sure they’re both bourbons. He still picks up the one placed in front of you instead of him and you snort, grabbing the other one. You amble around to face him, lifting your glass and take a deep gulp of what is—he tries it himself—definitely bourbon.
“About Mila, I mean,” you elaborate and Crypto stiffens, looking down at you. You smile at him, teeth white under the black light, though it doesn’t reach your eyes, glowing just as much. “I don’t think you killed her.”
“What changed your mind?” He asks, curious.
“I never thought you did. Not for sure,” you say, finishing off the glass. You clear your throat at the burn and he watches the way your nose wrinkles a little more closely than he means to. “But I’ve been… Looking into things. About you. About her. I don’t think you could’ve done it… Plus, the Syndicate’s timeline doesn’t make’a lick’a sense.”
Crypto hums, watching you over the rim of his glass. You turn your head, looking down the line of the bar, and Crypto does the same. He wonders if you know who he’s here to see. If you know what he’s planning. The part of him that still has sense reminds him that no, you couldn’t. Still, though, you two have been at this dance for so long – who’s to say what you know and what you don’t?
“Are you still gonna take me in?” He asks. You chuckle, lips curling upwards as you keep your eyes on other people.
“I should, shouldn’t I? You’ve drained my bank account with all this damn moving around.” You don’t move your head, but your eyes meet his, and you watch him from the corner of your eye. You have that look again, like you’re waiting on something. Like you’re giving him the opportunity to get away.
“I could feed you,” he says, matching the question in your eyes. What do you want?
“You sure could, TJ,” you say, pushing off the edge of the bar, almost closing the space between your bodies. He turns his head down to look at you, at the way you look at him, at the way that cruel little smirk of yours twists into something else. Something gradual.
“Yeah,” he says, reaching down. You snatch his wrist before it gets to yours, tilting your head as you look up at him. He could punch you. He could cause a panic, run away in this crowded space, leave you to chase him down again. Now with the knowledge that he’s as innocent as he’s always claimed.  
He pulls his wrist from your grasp, sliding the synthetic skin of his burned off fingertips into yours. You observe the tangle of your fingers and with no resistance, he pulls you away from the bar.
[page break]
He pushes you up against the sink of this stupid, shitty club. Your shirt thumps with the bass outside and your legs hook around his waist. You don’t care about the way your jeans scrape against the rust on the sink, or how someone is going to figure out what you two are doing. You don’t care about anything except his fingers, on fire and freezing at the same time, digging into your thighs, parting them so he can wedge himself closer.
“Tae-Joon,” you whisper, and he smothers your words with a kiss, tongue pressing between your lips. He tastes like bourbon, and bad choices, and your legs lock tighter around his waist.
You hurriedly push that stupid coat off his shoulders, and he’s already unbuttoning your jeans. Your nails dig into his shoulder blades and he outright moans against your lips as you rake downwards.
He pulls away from your mouth to drag hurried kisses down your throat. His breath puffs against your skin, made sensitive by what he’s doing to you, and pleasant chills go down your spine as he tries to tug your jeans down.
“We shouldn’t do this here,” you breathe. You slip your hands beneath the hem of his shirt, dragging up, and he winces back. You pause as he raises his head to look at you, giving you a moment to explore what you’ve done to him. To feel the puffy skin where you last left your mark.
“Fuck me,” you sigh, dragging him back into a kiss. Tae-Joon’s lips are messy on yours, desperate, like he’s been waiting for this between every punch, every bite and kick. He tugs at the waist band of your jeans again, managing to drag them halfway down your ass. With a reluctant huff, you pry your hands away from his—delicious, slim, bruised—sides.
Pressing your palms flat to the bathroom counter, you lift yourself up, hips bucking into his as you use your grip around his waist for leverage. A whine leaves his throat as you rub up against him, hot and hard, and he shucks down your jeans so quick you almost fall off the edge of the sink.
“Why do you wear such tight jeans? How do you even get a kick in with these on?” He mumbles, taking pouting steps away from you to unlace one of your boots. You half laugh, breathless.
“No better than you do in that ridiculous fucking coat,” you tell him, and he smirks, your boot clunking to the floor as he pulls it off. You think he’s going to go for the other – but instead, he only pulls one side of your jeans off, leaving the other stuck to the boot you still have on before he’s on you again.
“Seriously?” You ask as he bunches your shirt up, over your chest.
“Seriously,” he mutters, and you go to laugh, only for the noise to die on your lips as he encases a nipple in his mouth.
“Tae-Joon,” you gasp as his tongue flickers over it, bringing it to a swollen, puffy stand. Your fingers slide up, to the short, cropped edges of his hair, and tug harshly. He half whimpers against your chest, teeth singeing the edges of your nipple in vengeance.
His fingers dance across your thigh, towards the edges of your underwear. Then, without warning, he presses his fingertips against your swollen, aching clit.
“Fuck!” You gasp, the noise punched from your lungs. Your underwear sticks uncomfortably to your wet cunt, outlining its pretty lips, and Tae-Joon seems to be enjoying himself in figuring out what it looks like before he sees it. He spreads your wetness across the aching shape of you, middle finger riding harsh circles against your clit.
Using your grip on his hair, you haul him back up, to your lips, dragging him close again. His fingers pause on your clit and the noise you make would be embarrassing if Tae-Joon didn’t swallow it. He pushes his hand into the waistband of your underwear, using his knuckles to pry the soaked cloth away from your pussy. He groans against you as he feels your arousal, pulling away so only your noses brush.
“You’re so wet,” he whispers, and you want to grit out something sarcastic but then he touches you, a finger hooking inside with almost no resistance and the moan that leaves you speaks for itself.
“Wanna-” you’re cut off as she fucks his finger against that spongy spot inside of you that would make your knees weak if you weren’t on a sink’s counter. “Fuck, Tae-Joon, wanna touch you too.”
He shudders, sighing at your words and with one more well-placed thrust of his finger, he pulls it out. The sticky trail of your juices is mostly wiped away on your underwear and he steps back to let you down.
You stumble, the foot caught in your boot and jeans making you lean sideways. You huff, leaning back against the bathroom counter and lifting your foot to begin unlacing your boot. You’re so focused that you don’t realize Tae-Joon’s laughing until you hear the quiet chortle. Your eyes raise and you feel your heart slow, vision clouding just a little at the way the corners of his eyes have crinkled up, how he’s covering his mouth with one hand, the other idling on his hip.
“Shut up,” you say through a smile and he drops his hand, showing you the little gap between his teeth. Something in your chest snaps and you’re yanking your boot off, shaking your foot so your jeans will land on the floor. Gracelessly, you fall to your knees, cold on the floor as you drag him closer to you by the loops of his pants.
He says something in his native tongue, hand carding through your hair to push it away from your face. You long zip of his pants gives way to a large gap as you open it up and you sigh at the sight of his cock, already smearing a stain into the strain of his underwear.
“You look so good,” you mumble, and he hums, continuing to pet your hair away. Then, you tug the fabric keeping you from your prize down. Your mouth waters at the sight of his cock, hard and aching, wet, pink tip sneaking out from the uncut top. “Jesus Christ.”
“Not my name,” he breathes down and you snort and without any more preamble, you lean in, lips hugging the crown of his cock. He whimpers, hand tightening to a fist in your hair. It makes it difficult to move, but saliva wells in your mouth and you find yourself hollowing your cheeks to tighten the space you suck him into.
Tae-Joon is surprisingly responsive. You wonder how long it’s been for him, if you’re the first to touch him in months, maybe even years. That shouldn’t send a thrill you, but it does, and your tongue greedily flickers over the tip of his leaking cock, eating all that he gives you.
You move your head from left to right, exhaling through your nose to ignore the urge to gag as you push him towards your throat. He groans and the noise is so loud it has your eyes flickering to the door.
Then, you realize why Tae-Joon doesn’t seem to care.
Posed at the door is his little drone, wings spread, and green scanner honed on the door. He’s locked it from the inside without having to lick a finger, and maybe you start to suck a little more in earnest when you realize how badly he didn’t want to be interrupted.
You squeeze his thigh, wet lips dragging along his cock, back and forth, suck and release, and Crypto’s fingers tremble as he tries to keep your hair from falling in your face. Finally, you pull off of him with a loud, wet pop, and just in time, as the tip of his cock has turned red with incoming explosion.
“No,” he half pleads, “don’t stop.”
“I want you,” you say, “and I don’t think I’m gonna get to have you if you cum down my throat.”
The mere thought has him groaning, palming at his rigid dick. Tae-Joon grabs your hips, spinning you to face the sink he’d perched you on when you two first stumbled in together.
He crowds your back, erection resting against the line of your ass through your underwear. His hands slide down your stomach, towards your underwear, and he begins to push down, lips finding your throat once again. “I don’t have a condom.”
“My wallet. Back pocket of my jeans,” you say and he hums, nipping at your ear for a moment before shucking your underwear the rest of the way down. He steps away from you, the flesh of your backside cool without him there, and it only takes a minute for him to return to you, condom in place.
“Open up,” he mutters and that doesn’t make a lot of sense, but he coaxes one of your legs up, onto the edge of the sink. He grabs the fat of your hip the position creates, taking hold of his cock, and pressing it between your dripping lips.
“Oh,” you bite, catching the tip of your tongue between your teeth. He’s long, pulling you apart in a way that sends ripples up your spines, that has your wet walls hugging him. Tae-Joon groans, pausing as his hips rest flush against your ass.
“Give me a second,” he huffs, and you’re thrilled that he sounds as wrecked as you already feel. He loops his free arm around your waist, synthetic fingertips beginning to stroke little circles on your clitoral hood. You squirm in his grasp, his forehead resting against your shoulder blade as he works you up again, leaving you to sweat on his cock while bolts of lightning fly through you.
“God, please,” you whisper, fisting your hands.
You don’t have a lot of stability with your leg up on the edge of the sink but Tae-Joon holds you steady as he stands upright. He pulls himself halfway out, the slow drag making your inside flutter, then rams back in. You cry out, hands pressing to the wall beneath the mirror for leverage as he starts fucking you in earnest.
The blunt head of his cock knocks against that same part inside you he’d touched with his fingers and your jaw drops, little uh-uh-uh noises leaving you. He’s muttering something and you’re pretty sure it’s not an English, thrusts deeper, and deeper, and deeper still.
“Say it,” he gasps out as he buries himself to the base. He grinds against you, abusing your cunt, and you moan lowly.
“Say—fuhhuuck me, Christ—say what?” You whine out as Crypto slips himself part way out once again. This time, though, he uses his grip on your hips to drag you back onto his cock, your nipples dragging pleasantly against the sink countertop, now hot with the way you’re sprawled across it.
“My name,” he pants, eyes fascinatedly watching the way your cunt stretches for him, greedily swallows every inch of him. “Say my name.”
“Tae-Joon!” You gasp immediately, nearing that edge as he starts fucking up, crashing into you over and over. You have to catch yourself on the wall again, keep from slipping too close and hitting your head as he fucks into you hard, and fast, and makes your eyes water with the intensity. “Tae-Joon, Tae-Joon, Tae-Joon!”
His name is the last thing on your lips as you finally cum on his cock, cunt squeezing every inch of him. You shudder out, the tips of your fingernails digging into your palms as a tear finally does leave your eye at the sheer intensity of your orgasm. Tae-Joon doesn’t stop. He pulls your limp frame back onto his dick, thrusting into your hypersensitive walls.
He arches over you as he fills the condom, cock twitching inside of you, groaning even louder than you did. His forehead rests against your shoulder blade, using you once again as leverage to steady himself. His breath puffs against your sweaty back and you squirm a little as his breathing begins to slow.
“You’re trying to break my leg,” you complain.
Tae-Joon hums, slowly pulling out of you. He helps you settle your leg back down on the floor and you stretch it back, trying to regain feeling as Tae-Joon disposes of the condom. You sigh a little, turning to him slowly, arms stretching high above your head. You want to take a nap. You also want to take a shower.
“So,” you say, and he grabs a paper towel from the dispenser, walking over to the sink so he can clean himself off. You’re still in public, you remember, glancing at the drone. It hasn’t moved from its perch and you wonder how exactly no one’s come to see what’s going on with the restrooms. “What now, Tae-Joon?”
He’s gathering up your clothes, offering you your jeans and your panties. You roll down your shirt first, taking the clothes offered, eyes homed in on his face. He doesn’t seem worried, or annoyed, or even a little off kilter. He almost looks… happy.
“I have a meeting I’m probably late to now,” he tells you, meeting your eyes. “You should come.”
[page break]
Apex Approval: Hyeon Kim, codename Crypto.
Status: Cleared background check, passed all evals. Fresh angle. Ready for deployment at season initiation.
Notes: Honestly, something feels off about him and his partner. They’re both spotless – no warrants, no enemies, not even a truancy notice. Who stays that clean their whole life then joins the Games? And demands to bring their spouse along for the ride? Put him in, but you should probably keep an eye on him.  
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voices-ringing-out · 4 years
Text
MUSE INTRODUCTION: Beck
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I wasn’t going to put this up because it will inevitably have many spoilers from my novel, but on the one hand, I rarely finish any novel I start, and on the other hand, I highly doubt anyone is actually gonna want to read it, so I’m not really spoiling anyone here. And besides, Beck is basically the only muse I have energy for right now because apparently he’s a comfort character for me, so I figure it’d probably be a good idea to get an intro for him out there, even if I haven’t figured that aspect of my muse page out yet. Here we go.
TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of severe bigotry, su*cide, scars, and betrayal.
EDIT: this got way too long lmao but it was nice to kind of map out Beck’s life before the novel starts, so feel free to ignore this post if you don’t wanna read a short biography lmao, this was almost entirely more character development for me than anything.
                                                              ~ * ~
full name: Leslie Bryant Faulkner nicknames: Beck (his chosen name after he lost all memories and identity), Les. age: He was 30 when he died, so unless he puts energy into changing his appearance, that’s the age he presents as. gender: Cis male. sexual orientation: Pansexual with a leaning toward men. hair: Long, it falls against his shoulders. In life he was a very light blond, and still is, though there are now silvery strands interwoven, as well as the faintest green tinge; effects that happen the longer you’re in the afterlife - it’s sort of their form of aging. eyes: Grey. Though they go a cloudy white when he’s expending high amounts of energy. build: Average weight, slightly shorter than average height. birth place: London, England, though his family moved to a small eastern town in North America when he was young. ethnicity: English, scottish, welsh, irish, danish, and romanian; as far as he is aware. He’s quite the mutt. scars/body markings: The most noticeable are the scars that form a ring around his neck from how he died. He has various other scars on his arms, legs, and face, some from his own volition but most from the hard life he led before he died. He has a few small tattoos, one of a cat’s silhouette and one of a crescent moon to match the sun tattoo his brother had. zodiac sign: Sagittarius. alignment: Chaotic neutral. positive traits/strengths and skills: Passionate, fun-loving, clever; he once had a love for journaling, can throw a mean punch, and beat almost anyone at a drinking contest. He once played the violin, and enjoyed it immensely. negative traits/flaws: Growing cynicism, an addictive personality, mischievous; has a habit of pushing people away then clinging to them then repeating the process. 
                                                                           ~ * ~
Beck was born in the year of 1882, in London, England, to a poor family; unable to continue making a living there, his family moved to a small town on the eastern coast of North America with the hope that many had of finding a better life across the sea. Beck was nine years old when they moved. Life was fairly uneventful for a while; his father worked as a coal miner while his mother worked at home trying to teach Beck, as well as his older sister - and his baby brother, born a little less than a year after they moved to America.
He was a difficult child, constantly curious and mischievous to a fault; any waking moment he had was spent exploring the town and the surrounding fields, trying to befriend any living thing he came across. He found it hard to make friends, if only because he was unable to go to the school with the other children, his family unable to afford it. More often than not, Beck found himself on the receiving end of mockery; the many reasons included his family’s financial status, his love for books, and the care he had for small animals - after getting into numerous scuffles with other boys in town to keep them from hurting the local wildlife, or the stray cats, he grew a ‘reputation’ for being a pansy, a girl, and other more vicous names. Physical fights were common, despite how much his mother fretted over him.
So while he still loved to explore and get into mischief, as Beck grew older, he spent most of his time at home helping to take care of his younger brother, and taking care of a small runt of a black cat that he had saved from a dog. He had become attached to the cat immediately and his parents had reluctantly agreed to let him keep it, as long as he took full responsibility.
After reaching adulthood, Beck had to leave home and find lodging in the city; his father had been injured in the mines, and couldn’t work anymore, leaving himself and his elder sister the primary breadwinners. His brother was still young by then; only just turned ten, and couldn’t work properly, though he tried to help by catching fish in the river near the town.
Beck managed to snag a job working for a newspaper office, helping with the printing press and selling papers. Every penny he managed to make he tried to send back home, oftentimes sleeping underneath awnings or roof outcrops on the street instead of paying for lodging elsewhere, just to make sure his family managed to get by.
He would visit home on the holidays, and had a close relationship with his brother; while Beck would send letters back home when he lived in the city, he would oftentimes write a separate letter, specially for his brother. 
After an altercation with one of the higher ups in the business he worked for - a drunken dispute caused over a disagreement on wages - Beck moved back home for a time, at the age of 26, taking a temporary job at the mines his father had once worked for. He hated the work, hated the feeling of being smothered deep inside the earth, but he couldn’t afford to be picky.
A cave in happened at the mines, and while Beck made it out alive, he was injured, and several of the miners had died. After extensive pleading from his parents and siblings, Beck left the mining business and once again moved back to the city.
From there, he mostly worked odd jobs, including but not limited to bartending, being a stable hand, and a chimney sweep. His brother was old enough now to work, so Beck was able to save more money than before, eventually getting a place of his own - a tiny flat in downtown, but a place of his own. 
And then it all began to go downhill. But for Beck, it seemed to be uphill - while working across the street from a theatre, he began to see one person in particular quite often: a man around his age, called Thomas, a middle class citizen with a love for theatre. The two of them hit it off, often going for drinks at a nearby pub as Beck got off work right around the time the final show of the night ended.
(MOST OF THE TRIGGERING CONTENT TAKES PLACE BELOW, SO READ ON WITH CAUTION.)
They became close friends, but Beck soon realised a complication: he thought of Thomas as more than friends, he thought of him romantically. He had had these feelings before in his life, but kept them secret for the sake of his family’s pride, and for his own benefit - he had come to terms with the feelings long ago but still kept them to himself.
After spending months writing journal entries about Thomas as a way to vent his feelings, he finally made a fateful decision: on his own birthday, December 13th, he would make a move. It seemed to him that Thomas felt as close to him as he did, and after all, this was the city, was it not? Surely he wasn’t misreading the signs, that maybe Thomas was like him, maybe they could have some sort of future together, outside of drinking buddies.
So, the night of December 13th, after leaving the pub where he and Thomas had made a toast to his birthday, they went for a walk as they often did, lingering for a while on the bridge near the center of the city, over the river. Beck was a tangle of nerves and butterflies in his stomach, but noticed that Thomas was watching him... that was a sign, right?
Beck tried to say something, but couldn’t get much more than the other’s name and a bit of stammering out so he took a chance and leaned in to attempt pecking the other on the cheek.
And that was when all hell broke loose. Thomas reacted violently, with disgust, and attempted to throw a punch. Beck panicked and ran, not stopping until he had run a good distance, unable to make it all the way back to his flat. He collapsed near a stable in an attempt to catch his breath and stave off the only worsening panic attack.
Before long, he heard a commotion, and hoisted himself up and onto the roof of the stable for a better look, only to see that Thomas and a mob of other men were coming down the street in his direction. 
What followed was a frenzied chase, ending with Beck throwing himself into his flat and barricading the door, feeling as though his heart would explode, from both pain and exertion. The men were soon outside, beating at his door, and he could hear Thomas’ voice amongst the din, shouting the same threats and fury that the others were, all the noise blending into a blur of God’s so-called rage and wishes for death.
It seemed that there would be no escaping this. There was only one other exit out of his home, besides the front door, and it was a window already nearly shattering as the mob tried to gain entry. 
So in a haze of terror and sorrow and grief and wishing so hard that he was with his family, Beck made one last decision: he would not allow the men outside to have the satisfaction of killing him and patting themselves on the back for it, as if they had done anything close to God’s will. 
At first, in his daze, Beck crouched in the corner, drinking all the liquor he could find in his cabinets at a breakneck pace, before finally realising that that would take too long. He had hoped that it would kick in faster, hoped that if he were to go, then he could go in a way that seemed less violent, but no.
He managed to drag a rope out from his storage closet, throwing it over one of the rafters above his table, and well, one can imagine what happened next. Thomas and the men finally broke down the door only to find that they would not get the blood they had been thirsting for, because it was too late.
Beck has spent his life in the afterlife ever since; time doesn’t exist there so he wasn’t sure how long it took before he realised that he could haunt earth, before he realised that he had special powers, before he found out that he was a category of ghost known as a poltergeist. The only trick was... he had no memories. He had no memory of who he was, of who his family was, of how he died or of any of the past life he had lived. Outside of the scars on his body giving hints as toward how he died, and the clothes he had died in, Beck had nothing except the nickname he eventually gave himself.
Then the rumours are spread of a boy who can see ghosts, can talk to them, where almost no other living person can. And, well, the curiosity got the better of him, and that’s where our story starts.
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downspiral-dreamer · 4 years
Text
CHARACTER INTRODUCTION: Beck - Six Feet Under The Stars
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I wasn’t going to put this up because it will inevitably have many spoilers from my novel, but on the one hand, I rarely finish any novel I start, and on the other hand, I highly doubt anyone is actually gonna want to read it, so I’m not really spoiling anyone here. And besides, Beck and specifically JUST Beck is basically the only character I have energy for right now I have energy for right now because apparently he’s a comfort character for me, so I figure it’d probably be a good idea to get an intro for him out there. I might try to work on the novel some more later, we’ll see.
TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of severe bigotry, su*cide, scars, and betrayal.
EDIT: this got way too long lmao but it was nice to kind of map out Beck’s life before the novel starts, so feel free to ignore this post if you don’t wanna read a short biography lmao, this was almost entirely more character development for me than anything.
                                                             ~ * ~
full name: Leslie Bryant Faulkner nicknames: Beck (his chosen name after he lost all memories and identity), Les. age: He was 30 when he died, so unless he puts energy into changing his appearance, that’s the age he presents as. gender: Cis male. sexual orientation: Pansexual with a leaning toward men. hair: Long, it falls against his shoulders. In life he was a very light blond, and still is, though there are now silvery strands interwoven, as well as the faintest green tinge; effects that happen the longer you’re in the afterlife - it’s sort of their form of aging. eyes: Grey. Though they go a cloudy white when he’s expending high amounts of energy. build: Average weight, slightly shorter than average height. birth place: London, England, though his family moved to a small eastern town in North America when he was young. ethnicity: English, scottish, welsh, irish, danish, and romanian; as far as he is aware. He’s quite the mutt. scars/body markings: The most noticeable are the scars that form a ring around his neck from how he died. He has various other scars on his arms, legs, and face, some from his own volition but most from the hard life he led before he died. He has a few small tattoos, one of a cat’s silhouette and one of a crescent moon to match the sun tattoo his brother had. zodiac sign: Sagittarius. alignment: Chaotic neutral. positive traits/strengths and skills: Passionate, fun-loving, clever; he once had a love for journaling, can throw a mean punch, and beat almost anyone at a drinking contest. He once played the violin, and enjoyed it immensely. negative traits/flaws: Growing cynicism, an addictive personality, mischievous; has a habit of pushing people away then clinging to them then repeating the process.
                                                                          ~ * ~
Beck was born in the year of 1882, in London, England, to a poor family; unable to continue making a living there, his family moved to a small town on the eastern coast of North America with the hope that many had of finding a better life across the sea. Beck was nine years old when they moved. Life was fairly uneventful for a while; his father worked as a coal miner while his mother worked at home trying to teach Beck, as well as his older sister - and his baby brother, born a little less than a year after they moved to America.
He was a difficult child, constantly curious and mischievous to a fault; any waking moment he had was spent exploring the town and the surrounding fields, trying to befriend any living thing he came across. He found it hard to make friends, if only because he was unable to go to the school with the other children, his family unable to afford it. More often than not, Beck found himself on the receiving end of mockery; the many reasons included his family’s financial status, his love for books, and the care he had for small animals - after getting into numerous scuffles with other boys in town to keep them from hurting the local wildlife, or the stray cats, he grew a ‘reputation’ for being a pansy, a girl, and other more vicous names. Physical fights were common, despite how much his mother fretted over him.
So while he still loved to explore and get into mischief, as Beck grew older, he spent most of his time at home helping to take care of his younger brother, and taking care of a small runt of a black cat that he had saved from a dog. He had become attached to the cat immediately and his parents had reluctantly agreed to let him keep it, as long as he took full responsibility.
After reaching adulthood, Beck had to leave home and find lodging in the city; his father had been injured in the mines, and couldn’t work anymore, leaving himself and his elder sister the primary breadwinners. His brother was still young by then; only just turned ten, and couldn’t work properly, though he tried to help by catching fish in the river near the town.
Beck managed to snag a job working for a newspaper office, helping with the printing press and selling papers. Every penny he managed to make he tried to send back home, oftentimes sleeping underneath awnings or roof outcrops on the street instead of paying for lodging elsewhere, just to make sure his family managed to get by.
He would visit home on the holidays, and had a close relationship with his brother; while Beck would send letters back home when he lived in the city, he would oftentimes write a separate letter, specially for his brother.
After an altercation with one of the higher ups in the business he worked for - a drunken dispute caused over a disagreement on wages - Beck moved back home for a time, at the age of 26, taking a temporary job at the mines his father had once worked for. He hated the work, hated the feeling of being smothered deep inside the earth, but he couldn’t afford to be picky.
A cave in happened at the mines, and while Beck made it out alive, he was injured, and several of the miners had died. After extensive pleading from his parents and siblings, Beck left the mining business and once again moved back to the city.
From there, he mostly worked odd jobs, including but not limited to bartending, being a stable hand, and a chimney sweep. His brother was old enough now to work, so Beck was able to save more money than before, eventually getting a place of his own - a tiny flat in downtown, but a place of his own.
And then it all began to go downhill. But for Beck, it seemed to be uphill - while working across the street from a theatre, he began to see one person in particular quite often: a man around his age, called Thomas, a middle class citizen with a love for theatre. The two of them hit it off, often going for drinks at a nearby pub as Beck got off work right around the time the final show of the night ended.
(MOST OF THE TRIGGERING CONTENT TAKES PLACE BELOW, SO READ ON WITH CAUTION.)
They became close friends, but Beck soon realised a complication: he thought of Thomas as more than friends, he thought of him romantically. He had had these feelings before in his life, but kept them secret for the sake of his family’s pride, and for his own benefit - he had come to terms with the feelings long ago but still kept them to himself.
After spending months writing journal entries about Thomas as a way to vent his feelings, he finally made a fateful decision: on his own birthday, December 13th, he would make a move. It seemed to him that Thomas felt as close to him as he did, and after all, this was the city, was it not? Surely he wasn’t misreading the signs, that maybe Thomas was like him, maybe they could have some sort of future together, outside of drinking buddies.
So, the night of December 13th, after leaving the pub where he and Thomas had made a toast to his birthday, they went for a walk as they often did, lingering for a while on the bridge near the center of the city, over the river. Beck was a tangle of nerves and butterflies in his stomach, but noticed that Thomas was watching him… that was a sign, right?
Beck tried to say something, but couldn’t get much more than the other’s name and a bit of stammering out so he took a chance and leaned in to attempt pecking the other on the cheek.
And that was when all hell broke loose. Thomas reacted violently, with disgust, and attempted to throw a punch. Beck panicked and ran, not stopping until he had run a good distance, unable to make it all the way back to his flat. He collapsed near a stable in an attempt to catch his breath and stave off the only worsening panic attack.
Before long, he heard a commotion, and hoisted himself up and onto the roof of the stable for a better look, only to see that Thomas and a mob of other men were coming down the street in his direction.
What followed was a frenzied chase, ending with Beck throwing himself into his flat and barricading the door, feeling as though his heart would explode, from both pain and exertion. The men were soon outside, beating at his door, and he could hear Thomas’ voice amongst the din, shouting the same threats and fury that the others were, all the noise blending into a blur of God’s so-called rage and wishes for death.
It seemed that there would be no escaping this. There was only one other exit out of his home, besides the front door, and it was a window already nearly shattering as the mob tried to gain entry.
So in a haze of terror and sorrow and grief and wishing so hard that he was with his family, Beck made one last decision: he would not allow the men outside to have the satisfaction of killing him and patting themselves on the back for it, as if they had done anything close to God’s will.
At first, in his daze, Beck crouched in the corner, drinking all the liquor he could find in his cabinets at a breakneck pace, before finally realising that that would take too long. He had hoped that it would kick in faster, hoped that if he were to go, then he could go in a way that seemed less violent, but no.
He managed to drag a rope out from his storage closet, throwing it over one of the rafters above his table, and well, one can imagine what happened next. Thomas and the men finally broke down the door only to find that they would not get the blood they had been thirsting for, because it was too late.
Beck has spent his life in the afterlife ever since; time doesn’t exist there so he wasn’t sure how long it took before he realised that he could haunt earth, before he realised that he had special powers, before he found out that he was a category of ghost known as a poltergeist. The only trick was… he had no memories. He had no memory of who he was, of who his family was, of how he died or of any of the past life he had lived. Outside of the scars on his body giving hints as toward how he died, and the clothes he had died in, Beck had nothing except the nickname he eventually gave himself.
Then the rumours are spread of a boy who can see ghosts, can talk to them, where almost no other living person can. And, well, the curiosity got the better of him, and that’s where our story starts.
1 note · View note
venusxxlangdon · 5 years
Text
Dance With the Devil. Part Two — The Great Ball
Summary: Michael gives a ball at his castle, but it’s actually the after party he is looking forward to. Reader just wishes for one thing: to make it out alive. Buckle up, it’s gonna be one hell of a night.
Warnings: dark outpost! Michael, fem!reader, smut, blasphemy, graphic descriptions of hell and demons, language, oral (male receiving), humiliation, degradation, overall violence, blood, darkfic, non-con
Words: 6.4k
A/N: I have no idea how my soft dom Michael ass has come up with it. This is something completely out of my style, but I like the thrill (maybe I am just a local Lars von Trier lmao). Part 3 (the final one) is coming soon!
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A freezing breath of the wind brushed off the bare skin of her thighs that were no longer covered with the nightgown. It was shredded into pieces; the delicate silk was left to nothing but dirty rags. She slowly tried to open her eyes, but the painful impulses of a headache shot through her temples made her wince quietly and close them again. The dull pain in her whole body was so intense as if she was run over by a train; someone collected her piece by piece and carelessly glued them together. She felt like a broken doll. Her arms were bent outward in an unnatural way, and she cautiously tried to move her fingers in order to check her reflexes. The tips of her digits brushed against the ground. God, why was it so cold? Where was she?
Ignoring the blinding pain in her head, she forced her eyes open and gasped at the view: an enormous lake was spread out before her. Immense, balky silvery trees grew around it with the canopy of frost above them. She slowly sat up and a broken cry rolled off her tongue — her wounded ankle covered in clotted blood hurt like hell. Having remembered who caused her the injury, she fearfully looked around looking for the weird nasty creatures, but there was no one in sight. She was all alone in this bizarre place, freezing to death. The feeling of frightening horror washed over her in convulsive waves making her tremble violently.
Suddenly she heard a whisper. The girl turned her head and narrowed her eyes, trying to listen carefully, but she couldn’t identify the source of the sound. The wind brought another wave of shiver, she hurried to wrapped her arms around herself and started rubbing her hands up and down her shoulders in an attempt to warm up a bit. Incoherent whispering continued, and she curiously looked at the frozen surface of the lake realizing that the sound was coming from there. Enchanted, she crawled closer, hissing at the intense pain in her muscles. She gasped at the sight of the silhouettes of figures trapped under the surface. They were beating their heads against the thick layer of ice trying to break free. Their faces were grimaced in agony, but all she could hear was an audible whisper. She reached up her hand, and right when she was about to touch the surface of the lake, an unknown deep voice interrupted her:
“If I were you I wouldn’t do that”
She quickly pulled her hand back and lifted her gaze up at the man standing several feet away from her. He was tall, dressed in a green velvet jacket, a white dress shirt with a thick silk ribbon wrapped around his neck and tied in a lush bow, and jacquard slacks. She caught the sight of a big emerald brooch pinned under the collar. He looked posh. The smooth locks of his hair were coming down his shoulders in loose waves.
“Who are you?” she mumbled hoarsely and scrunched up at the sharp pain in her throat.
The man was shamelessly staring at her, and she felt uncomfortable under his heavy gaze that traveled down her half-naked body. His eyes were like fire in water: the lake behind him hued them in the implacable shade of grey. The devilish twinkles sparked in his pupils when she tried to cover her breasts.
“I am the keeper of this land”, he said in a singsong tone and spread out his hands showing off the endless parts of the Ninth circles spawned for many miles away from them.
She didn’t understand anything. A new panic attack started creeping up inside her, and she hugged herself tighter as if it would help her to stay grounded. Her chin started trembling, and she tried to blink off the salty tears welled up in her eyes.
“What is this place?” she sobbed and pulled her knees against her chest, covering her freezing feet with her palms. Her toes started turning blue, and she secretly hoped the man in front of her could help her, but his overall aura was so threatening that she wished he didn’t hurt her, to say the least.
Michael was watching her with a disgusted look on his face. The second question in a row and he was already annoyed. He couldn’t believe that it was someone Purson desired so much he had crawled into his house like a beaten dog and offered the deal. No way someone so mediocre could possess the soul that literally burned his hand when he had first touched it. The girl looked miserable and totally out of the place. He scoffed at her question thinking that the stupid bitch was going to get on his nerves with her useless rumbling and pathetic pleas. And the worst thing was the fact that he couldn’t kill her since he needed her for a greater purpose.
“Hell,” he said and with a sadistic satisfaction enjoyed the girl’s reaction to his response. She gasped and hurriedly looked around as if after Michael’s words all the demons of the underworld would craw out of the icy borrows. They would have if Michael hadn’t ordered everyone to stay in the castle and wait for his arrival. Besides, if he hadn’t come to pick the girl from the lake by himself she would have already been ravished by the demons. Sexually and spiritually. “Thank your grandmother”
At the name of her precious granny, the girl shivered and gave Michael a sidelong glance.
“What...wait, how do you know my grandma?” she tried to crawl away when Michael took a step forward with a furious look on his face. He rolled his eyes and squatted in front of her bringing his face so close to hers, that she felt his hot breath across her cheek. His long fingers grabbed her by the chin and she shivered at the cool of his chunky rings.
“Let me introduce you to the first rule: asking stupid questions leads to the consequences, so you better keep your mouth shut if you don’t want me to seal it” his thumb slid across her bottom lip and the girl froze in fear. The tears burst forth like the water from a damn, spilling down her face. She squeezed her eyes tightly fitting them back, but she felt the muscles of her chin, Michael was still keeping a steel grip of, started trembling again like a small child and let out an ugly sob.
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble… she started reciting the words in her head without looking at Michael. He could read her thoughts, and as the girl started praying, his face distorted in a presumptuous grin. His hysterical laughter ringed in the air mixing with the whispers of the suffering souls in the lake.
“Rule number two: no need for prayers, sweetheart” he stood up and adjusted his jacket, brushing imaginary dust off the lapels. “Your God is too far from here”
He ran the tip of his tongue along his bottom lip and tilted his head as he watched the girl curl up on the ice. She was freezing, and he could sense the blood in her veins started to pump slower.
“I have to admit that I am very disappointed how you treated my gift and my servants” she looked up at him and the thought that maybe she must have needed to pray for a peaceful death crossed her mind.
“What gift?” she mouthed, her voice barely above the whisper.
“You are oblivious indeed” Michael noted mockingly and touched her wounded ankle with his leather shoe, indifferently examining it. “The blueberry pie you didn’t seem to enjoy was my way to convey to you the sentiments of respect”
Every word was poisoned with travesty.
“And my subjects? They came to invite you to my ball, and how did you treat them? Hitting guests with a lamp is not a proper way to welcome them, darling” he giggled in a child-like manner.
She didn’t even have to reply. Michael was definitely enjoying himself and feeding off the view of the girl helplessly laying before him. Suddenly a loud raucous roar busted out in the grey sky.
Michael lifted his head and grinned at the sight of Astraroth, a great duke in the shape of a foul angel, sitting upon an infernal dragon. The demon was on his way to Michael’s castle, and, if Langdon remembered correctly, the duke was the last one from the guest list, which meant that he and the girl needed to hurry up.
He scooped her up from the ground ignoring her whimpers and pressed her weak body against his broad chest. Her arms hanged loosely around his torso, as she refused to hold on to him.
“Don’t you dare ruin my jacket,” he told her.
She felt dizzy and as if she was about to throw up when unexpectedly she was lifted off the ground and pure darkness warped around her like a thick blanket. The only things she could feel was the lean body of the man pressed against her. The muscles were still hurting her and she bit her bottom lip roughly in order to suppress the deep cry. Nothing made sense to her: who exactly the man was, why he took her, what he wanted from her, and how her grandmother was connected to all of these. If she really was in hell, could the man be....could it be Satan? Was there any chance for her to make it out alive?
xxx
She didn’t expect him to release her in a couple of minutes, and when she felt solid ground under her feet, she stumbled and fell down, twisting the injured ankle. She cried out and shot a resentful glare at Michael. But he didn’t really care, as he turned around without looking at her and made his way into a spacious room. It looked like a living room and a bedroom combined: with a king-sized bed in the center of it and a huge fireplace installed in the opposite wall. The head of a creature she had never seen before in her life was hanging right above it. She shivered at the thought of how this thing got found in possession of the man.
“What can I call you?” she dared to ask, addressing Michael’s back. He went across the room towards a wooden wardrobe, opened it and looked at the numerous pieces of fine clothes. Fashion was probably the only thing he missed the most of all things of Earth. Nobody in hell cared to wear at least something to cover themselves up thus couldn’t appreciate Michael’s outfits.
“My name is Michael Langdon” he answered, “but you must address me Master or Sir”
The stern tone of his voice he spoke with made her believe that it was useless to argue. She closed her eyes tiredly and slid down the wall not being able to stand on her feet anymore.
“Are you going to tell me why I am here?” she absentmindedly stared at the fireplace. The blue flames sparkled, sending the showers of white and blue onto a thick carpet but never radiating any sort of warmth. She was still cold.
Michael hummed and continued skimming through his closet looking for one particular piece his servants should have left for her. There it was. With a triumphant smirk on his face, he took a long red dress out of the wardrobe and carefully hanged it on the opened door.
“I’m going to explain it to you once, and you will shut up until I address you with a question, am I being clear?” he asked, and waited for her to give him a hesitant nod.
But instead of giving her the explanation Michael spit out:
“Now take off these rags” he pointed at her distorted nightgown. She looked at him in disbelief. What? Instinctively she crossed her arms protecting the remains of her dignity.
Michael rolled his eyes
“You better not make me repeat twice.” He could use his powers to undress her, but it would have been too easy. He enjoyed the scarlet blush on her pale cheeks and the way she bit her dry lips, as she looked down shamefully and with shaking fingers started sliding the straps of her nightgown off her shoulders. Her back was pressing against the wall so hard as if she was going to dissolve into it.
“As for your concern”, he paused and flicked his wrist discarding the fabric off her body because he quickly got annoyed with her slow pace. The girl didn’t expect that and a surprised “ah” slipped off her parted lips.
She curled up in the corner feeling so small and miserable. “You are here because your grandmother made a deal with my Father, but didn’t keep the promise. She framed you without even realizing it. She was more interested in saving her own ass than the prosperity of her family”, the corners of his mouth twitched in a humiliating smirk.
The girl couldn’t believe her ears. She wanted him to shut up and stop slandering her family. He was dishonoring the woman who had always been the closest relative to her. No way she was going to believe him.
“Yes, darling” Michael continued pushing her buttons, “who knew she’d turned out to be just one thirsty bitch....”
She covered her ears with her palms not being able to hear it anymore and howled in despair. An inhuman cry was drowned out form her throat and bounced off the walls of the room. The mental pain was insufferable, she dug her nails into her shoulders hoping to tear off the skin and let the feeling of shame and helplessness drown in physical suffering.
Michael closed his eyes and hummed happily enjoying the sound of her whimpers. He snapped his fingers calling over one of the creatures hiding under his bed. It appeared with a big box in its hands. The girl noticed the demon and sniveled quietly, covering her mouth to silence the scream.
“Now let’s get back to business” no matter how bad Michael wanted to continue his torture, there were things he needed to care of. The guests, for example, that were already waiting for him in the Great Hall. “Get dressed”, he took the dress off the wardrobe door and threw it at the girl. Red silk fabric covered her body like a river of blood. “And don’t forget the shoes”.
He opened the box and took out a pair of silver pumps with blackthorn straps that were supposed to go around the girl’s ankles.
She didn’t remember how she put the dress on and moreover didn’t understand what for. Everything seemed surreal. Maybe he compelled her to do it, or maybe she was so shocked that did it herself automatically. All she knew was that she found herself standing in front of the big wooden door decorated with live cobras. Nonstop crying got her feeling dazed, but in a way, she stopped being aware of her surroundings. All her feelings were reduced to the sensations: the inability to breathe properly because the dress was too tight, the unbearable headache, the crushing pain just on one side of her head that came and went in a pattern; the feeling of the thorns hurting her ankles and making them bleed out, the smell of Sulphur behind the door.
Michael took her hand in his, and with a flick of his wrist, the door opened.
“What’s that, sweetheart?” he purred in her ears when she whined after taking the first step and a shot of burning pain went down her spine. She gritted her teeth but didn’t say anything.
The Great Hall looked different this time. It was transformed into a ballroom with columns propping up the ceiling. The walls were decorated with hundreds of dead roses that were weaving the surface like spider webs. Between the walls, fountains of blood spurted up, hissing and bubbling, with large snakes wrapped around them. Making her way to the center of the room with Michael by her side, she couldn’t take her eyes off the guests. Her heart was about to beat out of her chest from a terrifying horror that rushed through her. There were headless creatures, the ones with horns, half-humans, and half-animals, and all of them reeked with a stench. When they saw her and Michael the Great Hall exploded with applause and whistling.
Michael bowed to the lords, waved at the dukes, and gave condescending nods do the demons of the lowest rank. Tonight he was feeling generous because it was his moment to shine.
“Good evening, my dear friends!” he proclaimed taking his place on the platform before the throne. Purson was there too. He was standing not far from Michael keeping his eyes on the girl. She shivered and immediately looked away biting her trembling lips. Her face was red and puffy. “It’s my honor to welcome you all here, in the Great Hall. Tonight you will witness the greatest event in the history of the Ninth Circle as this young innocent soul”, he pointed at the girl and all eyes got focused on her, “will pay her ancestor’s debt.”
Tiny creatures were serving drinks caring them on their backs. The liquid was red, but she didn’t know whether it was blood or wine.
“But before I trap her under the ice of Cocytus, let’s enjoy ourselves and dance this night away. And make sure” his eyes sparkled mischievously, “that our guest remembers it forever.”
It was a long night for her. Michael took particular joy in making her dance with the nastiest creatures of Hell. Her face turned white with fear when they put their hands on her waist and started twirling her around at inhuman pace making her head spin. They were whispering insults in her ear, calling her names and threatening her with all the things they were planning to do to her once they found her in the lake. She looked at Michael with pleading eyes hoping that he would stop this torture, but all he did was a smirk and ask another demon to join them on the dance floor.
“Please...” she mouthed at him with her eyes full of tears. Michael raised his glass as if he was drinking in her honor. He smiled baring his perfect teeth now covered with blood.
“Enjoying the evening, My Lord?” Purson wondered, approaching Michael who was sitting on his throne and watching everyone like a hawk. No matter how hard the demon had been trying to tame his mane it still looked messy. Despite the fact he was addressing Michael, his yellow eyes were glued to the girl who was on the verge of fainting by that time. Her legs were covered in blood, and she almost slipped when Furfur who was dancing with her pushed her too hard.
“Absolutely”, Michael cooed taking another sip of his drink, “but I’m looking forward to the after party” he grinned devilishly.
Purson suspiciously narrowed his eyes.
“Pardon me, My Lord. I’m afraid I don’t quite understand you.”
Of course it didn’t go unnoticed from Michael how desperately Purson wanted his prey, so he started thinking how he could play on the demon’s nerves for the sake of the revenge for all this time Purson had been humiliating him.
“Well, I think it would be an omission if I missed the opportunity to have some fun with our lady” he tapped his chin with the tips of his fingers as if he was deeply concerned with this idea.
Purson’s eyes flashed with anger. He knew Langdon would do something like that.
“We didn’t agree to that” he clenched the glass in his claws so hard, it nearly got crashed.
“And it wasn’t prohibited either”, noted Michael. He remembered the details of the deal perfectly clear. “I’ve brought the girl and by the end of the night, she’ll be trapped in the lake, see? I’m doing my part”, he winked at the demon. Purson growled, crashing the wineglass with his bare hands, but none of the muscles on Michael’s face twisted. “Now, have you told my Father?”
Two could play this game.
“I have, but he didn’t seem impressed” Purson sneered. Michael pressed his lips in a tight line. “Our Highness doubts your ability to do anything besides whipping your pathetic servants for minor disobedience”.
Michael smirked. There was no guarantee that the demon wasn’t lying, but he couldn’t hide the fact that he had informed Satan about Michael’s plans. That fact alone was enough for Langdon to feel satisfied.
“Good”, he placed his empty glass on the back of the creature that stopped by and turned his gaze back at Purson, “if you excuse me, I’ll join our guest on the dance floor”. He stood up, adjusted his jacket and flipped his hair ignoring Purson’s threatening glare.
“Don’t you dare do anything to her soul” he wrapped his claws around Michael’s wrist pulling him close.
“Get your hands off me, or I’ll demolish you right now without any second thought about our deal” Michael spat in his face.
Purson had to let him go, otherwise, everyone would have started staring. He kicked one of the servants angrily, watching Michael’s back disappear in the crowd of demons.
The girl felt numb as if someone turned off her feelings leaving only absolute emptiness inside of her. She stopped recognizing faces if one could use this term to describe horrible grimaces of the creatures that surrounded her, and she couldn’t feel her legs anymore from dancing. Her ribcage must have turned blue from how tight the corset of her dress was — she was on the verge of being suffocated all this time, and no matter how hard she tried to adjust it, she couldn’t loosen it. She gasped when Michael wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest.
“Seems like you are not enjoying the night” he pouted mockingly. He paused for a second to snap his fingers. The sound of a classic melody filled in the Great Hall. She did not believe her ears because it was the music for Waltz, one of the softest and the most delicate dances, which seemed totally out of this place. Michael was a sick psychopath, she thought to herself.
He placed one hand on her waist, took her other hand in his, and made the first step forward. The “rise and fall” technique gave her the feeling of elevation, as the two of them moved onto the toes and then relaxed through the knees and ankles, ending on flat feet. It would have looked mesmerizing if it hadn’t been for the grimace of pure agony on the girl’s face, as they were gliding around the floor. She felt nauseous and clang to the sleeves of Michael’s emerald jacket for some leverage. And it wasn’t because of his smell, in fact, he smelled wonderful: a mix of bergamot and labdanum; she just couldn’t bear the overall feeling of tiredness and exhaustion.
His grey eyes were watching her closely as if he was trying to see her soul as if he was looking for something in her subconscious. He twirled her around and bend her over in his hands, putting her pale breast squeezed in the tight corset on full display. He watched Purson turn red with jealousy and for the sake of pissing him off, brushed his lips against the girl’s neck. She gasped, and when he pulled her back, a self-satisfied smirk was painted across his face.
“Please, I can’t take it anymore” she whispered, her head rolled into the crook of his neck.
He chuckled and brought her face up with his fingers.
“Oh darling, you will take more than this tonight”
Every move he made was gracious, it seemed like Michael’s feet weren’t even touching the floor. He was holding the girl so tight, his fingers must have left blueprints through the fabric of her dress. She whimpered when his knuckles brushed against her ribs.
“Sir, it hurts” she whispered brokenly barely moving her feet. Michael was almost dragging her around the dance floor. He twirled her around, and she stumbled, twisting her ankle. Her hands slipped off his shoulders, as she bend over to wrap her fingers around the aching ankles. Her shoulders were shaking with uncontrollable cry.
“Stop that and stand up” he ordered annoyingly, the music was still playing. The girl sobbed in response. She sighed and took his hand.
But as they resumed dancing everything around her started spinning. The ground vanished beneath her feet, and she shut her eyes tightly clinging to Michael’s torso with all her might.
“You are pathetic” his low voice brought her back from her dazed state a moment later. She opened her eyes and to her surprise found herself back in Michael’s suite. She let go of her grip and stepped backward.
“Why are doing this to me?” she wiped off the tears smearing them with sweat and blood across her face. She bowed her head and slowly sank to her knees before Michael. “Please, just kill me, please, sir, I can’t take it anymore”. She repeated the same words once again.
He was watching her with a smirk ghosting across his full lips. He took a step forward to the girl and slowly put his hand on her head, petting her like a dog. Almost lovingly.
“Why would you want such a silly thing?” He cooed twisting messy strands of her hair with his fingers. She was looking down at her hands rested on her thighs. As he spoke, the green snake crawled out under the bed. The girl’s eyes widened, but when she wanted to pull away, Michael held her in place. She gulped heavily and looked up at him. His eyes were on her, examining her swollen face conceitedly.
“I remember you were complaining about your dress,” he said tasting every word on the tip of his tongue. She nodded hesitantly “Well, take it off then”
The girl froze. She couldn’t take her eyes off of the snake that made its way to the fireplace. The scaly skin of it blinked in the blue light. Suddenly Michael’s palm met the skin of her cheek giving her one harsh slap.
“Are you deaf?” He hissed and wrapped his fingers around her neck bringing her up from the kneeling position, so her face was on the same level with his. She gasped for air covering his hands with her palms in attempt to loosen his grip.
Holding her like that, Michael snaked his hand behind her back and untied her corset in one swift motion. The red fabric pooled at her feet, leaving her naked before him. She tried to say something, but her protest remained inaudible. Her bear breasts were purple indeed. She looked like she had been beaten for hours in the most brutal way: lilac bruises bloomed across her ribcage and stomach like irises. The cool of Michael’s rings against the sensitive skin made her whimper from his touch. He moved his hand from her throat down to her waist.
“Please, don’t...” she knew that her pleas wouldn’t stop him, but kept begging him for mercy anyway.
Another harsh slap. Her hands flew to her face trying to sooth the tingling sensation.
“Rule number two” he reminded her. Michael grabbed her by the hair and she winced painfully at the hard tug.
“You know what’s the most pathetic thing about human nature?” he asked, his lips were inches away from her ear, and as he spoke he slowly started numbing on her earlobe. Large palms covered her breast and squeezed tightly drawing another sob from her throat. His fingers flickered the pink nipple and pulled hard. “It’s the overall weakness” he continued whispering. The tip of his tongue licked a wet stripe from her ear to the pulsing point on her neck. “Your body is going to react to me”
She couldn’t move. Too terrified, too scared to make him even angrier. She felt him moving his knee up to her crotch and slowly pushing it against her core.
“You are one filthy bitch” every word was dripping with poison. Her lips found hers in a furious kiss, it was all teeth and tongues, him exploring her mouth. As she refused to kiss him back, Michael growled and bit on her bottom lips, painfully pulling it between his teeth until he could sense a copper taste of blood. He yanked her head, exposing her neck and moved his lips there, leaving purple bruises on the tender skin. He was biting and licking at the same time, ravishing her into a whimpering mess. His fingers found their way to her folds and spread them in order to check whether she was wet or not. Michael’s eyes darkened, as the tips of his fingers brushed against the dry heat. The girl wasn’t moving, her arms were hanging loosely on the sides of her body, her head was bowed lowly as if she had given up. But he wasn’t going to fuck a corpse. She needed to react.
“On your knees” he commanded. “Now”
The girl obliged and obediently sank down on her knees, the thick carpet painfully rubbed against her skin. She heard the sound of Michael unbuckling his belt. Adrenaline flooded her system. The heart in her chest started pumping blood so fast like it was about to explode. Every cell of her body wanted to either run fast for the safety or fight until the last breath, but in reality, she remained where she was. On her knees before Michael Langdon. She felt the touch of his fingers under her chin.
“Open your mouth,” he said, his voice low and intimidating. She looked up and a slow mewl rolled off her lips at the sight of his cock in from of her face: long and thick, with bright pink head glistening with arousal. His grey eyes turned coal black, as he wrapped his fingers around his shaft and brought it closer to her parted lips. She held her breath when he slid the tip of it along her bottom lip, smearing the drops of precum. In one quick movement of his hips, he thrust deep in her mouth without any warning, making her choke on his length. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to pull away, but he was holding her tight, forcing her to relax her throat and take all of him.
He hummed contentedly when the tip of his cock hit the back of her throat and her nose brushed against his pubic bone. Salvia was dripping down her chin to her breasts, as Michael’s cock went in and out of her mouth with wet, sloppy sound. His hands grabbed a fistful of her hair and wrapped it around his palm, tagging forcefully.
“Look at you” he purred, pulling out his throbbing shaft. “Pathetic”, he slapped her cheek with the head of his cock dragging it higher to her cheekbone, “useless”, another slap, “whore”. Her swollen lips were scarlet red from Michael’s ruthless attitude, cheeks stained with tears were now glistening with the traces of his precum. He enjoined the control he had over her, using her mouth to his pleasure while Purson could only dream about it. Michael closed his eyes doing a particularly deep thrust and then holding the girl’s head in place to prolong the pressure on her throat. She was nearly suffocating. When he finally released her from his grip, she was panting heavily.
Michael’s tongue ran across his bottom lip:
“Get on the bed. Ass up”
She wasn’t able to stand up. The carpet literally burned the skin of her knees that were now bright red and soar. Her legs were still bleeding from the heels Michael didn’t let her take off, so she started crawling on her knees towards the bed whining under the breath with every move.
Somehow, she managed to get onto the mattress, immediately soaking the sheets with her blood. She buried her face into the pillow and let out a loud scream that was muffled by the thick jacquard pillowcase. Michael’s smell from the bedding filled in her nostrils.
Meanwhile, he discarded his slacks, jacket and dress shirt and turned to the snake that was peacefully laying on the floor beneath him. He whispered something to her only two of them could understand and it made its familiar way up to his thigh, but this time instead of settling on his shoulders, it wrapped itself around his wrist like a bracelet.
The girl heard the mattress creak under his weight and shifted uncomfortably. She felt exposed being on all fourth with her ass up in the air for him. He hummed approvingly at the sight and gave her a hard slap.
“Much better” he grabbed her hands and crossed them behind her back. She lifted her head form the pillow and fearfully looked back when she felt the snake being wrapped around her bruised wrists. “Don’t worry” he answered her silent question. “It’s harmless if you don’t move. However, if you are unable to keep still, it will bite you and you will die in a very ugly way” he laughed and mockingly petted the girl’s cheek.
He moved down to her abused legs and carefully touched the straps of her pumps. It had been so long since she had put them on, that the spikes went deep under her skin and it was impossible to remove them without causing an agonizing pain to the girl. Her blood-curdling scream could be heard in the farthest corners of the castle, as Michael ripped the blackthorns out.
“Oh, c’mon, it’s not that bad” he scoffed rolling his eyes. She howled, and the snake around her wrists tightened as if it was about to attack.
Michael’s hands traveled from the small of the back up to her spine until the settled at the nape of her neck and squeezed brutally. She felt the tip of his cock brushing between her ass cheeks and tried to pull away, but it was impossible. He ran the head along her folds and simultaneously pressed the tips of his fingers against her clit.
“See?” he laughed when he felt silk wetness spread out between the pink, puffy lips. “I told you that your body would surrender.” She cried out in disbelief. She didn’t want that, she felt used and humiliated, broken mentally and physically, yet her body betrayed her and responded to the slightest attention to the most intimate part of it. She shook her head, and if it hadn’t been Michael’s hands on her neck she would have hidden it shamefully under the pillow. Good Lord.
He fucked the living shit out of her. She gripped onto the sheets so tightly, her knuckles turned white. Michael’s cock was reaching the deepest spots inside her, and at some moment she thought that he could have ripped her apart. He growled when she accidentally squeezed him and sped up the pace.
With every thrust he expressed his anger and devastation: he was mad at her for being a human being; for belonging to the race of those who had used and betrayed him when he was on Earth; he hated her for appearing at the wrong place and at the wrong hour; he wished he hadn’t had to do all of this in order to win his father’s condescension and prove everyone in hell that he was worth reigning them. His black eyes sparkled with fury when he remembered the sensation of the girl’s soul when it first touched him: it reminded him of the light and love he felt towards Ms. Mead, his only ally on Earth, the woman whom he considered his mother. The same woman who didn’t care about him, but his Antichrist mission. After he got “trapped” in his castle he had a lot of time to reflect on his experience in the human world, analyze his mistakes, and learn the true nature of everyone he met along. It could have been anyone in his place. It didn’t make any difference to her.
Because all people, if given the right pressures or stimulus, are evil mortherfuckers.
He hated the girl under him with all his guts, and he wanted her to suffer not only for her grandmother’s debt but for the sufferings he had to go through because he found all his affronters in her.
He continued thrusting into her mercilessly. The obscene sound of his balls slapping against her bare ass echoed in the room. He was close to his release, but his anger only intensified. Michael groaned and pulled out in order to push right back in making the girl scream so loud, he had to press her face into the mattress. Her pleasure was the last thing that mattered to him.
She felt his cock pulsing deep inside and moaned brokenly when the hot load spilled inside her, creaming the walls of her throbbing core in white stripes. She felt defeated and totally broken down. It seemed like there were no tears left to cry — the only thing she could do was to whimper quietly, as he pulled out and his cum leaked out of her entrance, staining her trembling thighs.
Suddenly a loud knock on the door interrupted the silence. Michael frowned, and leaving the girl in her embarrassing position, jumped off the bed to pick up his robe from the armchair and open the door.
The intruder turned out to be Furfur. Michael was about to shout at him, but the look on the demon’s face was dreadful.
“My Lord”, he murmured worryingly, “Our Highness”, he cleared his throat, “Your Father is here”
Taglist: @langdons-rep @lovelykhaleesiii @babypinkstyles94 @sammythankyou @sojournmichael @kaigitana @ms-mead @sebastianshoe @langdonsdemon @iloveziggystardust @chaoticevillangdon @sloppy-little-witch-bitch26 @kahhlo @coloursunlimited @nightsblackroses @omgsuperstarg @deanfinite @storminmytwistedmind @ccodyfern @divinelangdon
People who might like it: @wroteclassicaly @7-wonders
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the-jennnster · 5 years
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Novel Prep: Stars
I was tagged by @arynneva​!
First Look
1. Describe your novel in 1-2 sentences (elevator pitch)
A criminal and the mechanic she’s kidnapped start out on what seems to be a short adventure, but as they get to know each other, secrets are revealed and enemies are met, forcing them into a fight with their country in the balance.
2. How long do you plan for your novel to be? (Is it a novella, single book, book series, etc.)
This is (I hope) the first in a trilogy, with a couple stories expanding off of it because there are some side characters in here whom I think definitely deserve to have their stories told.
3. What is your novel’s aesthetic? 
Secrets admitted at midnight underneath the stars while avoiding all the shit of the world around you.
4. What other stories inspire your novel? 
@marielubooks​‘s Legend Trilogy was definitely a major inspiration. Cee, one of my main characters, is basically the Day/June lovechild lmao
ALSO HOW COOL IS IT THAT THERE’S GONNA BE A BOOK 4? AHHHH
5. Share 3+ images that give a feel for your novel 
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(All of these images were stolen from Pinterest btw) 
6. Who is your protagonist? 
I have two!
Cee - A criminal who’s supposedly ruthless and cruel and has a dark past she hides from everything. 
Kyle - A mechanic who is working his ass off to support his family and isn’t used to doing things for himself
7. Who is their closest ally? 
Besides each other, Cee and Kyle rely a lot on the Specialists later on in the book. Among these Specialists, the most important people are: 
-Sixilia, a mischievous assassin whose past is dangerously intertwined with Cee’s
-Cat, a disgraced noble hardened by the struggles she’s gone through as both a trans woman and a mutate (my version of mutants lol)
-Blake, a hyperactive, happy-go-lucky disgraced soldier
-Hanna, a ex-gang member who’s lost everyone in her life, including her parents and girlfriend (who she was planning to marry)
8. Who is their enemy?
Daniela, a seventeen-year-old world-renowned genius, corrupted by an international organization hell-bent on destroying the American government.
9. What do they want more than anything?
Cee just wants to escape her past and be her own person, independent of the reputations she’s been forced to uphold in both the lives she’s led
Kyle just wants his family to be safe, to honor his mother’s memory, to let his sister live a life with choices, and to just be able to live.
10. Why can’t they have it?
Because Cee is burdened by the reputation of the infamous, cruel criminal she’s shaped herself out to be in her quest for respite and Kyle is struggling to work around the shitty governmental systems that make it difficult for a teenage boy to support his depressed, disabled father and toddler sister.
11. What do they wrongly believe about themselves?
Cee believes that she’s undeserving of love because of the things she’s gone through and the things she’s been forced to do in her life as a criminal and Kyle thinks his chance for a life outside of supporting his family is shot, seeing as he dropped out of school and has lost his chance at his own dreams.
12. Draw your protagonist! (Or share a description) 
Cee and Kyle were actually drawn by @hestray​, who I am very lucky to have! She’s my sounding board and listens to my ramble about this all the time!
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Plot Points
13. What is the internal conflict?
The internal conflict revolves a lot about family, about what we owe to them and what we owe to ourselves. There’s also some classic morality about the value of life and death, and a sexuality crisis in there too for good measure.
14. What is the external conflict?
Daniela and her army, trying to dismantle the government, which would do the exact opposite of what she wants to do: put mutates on equal playing grounds with regular humans
15. What is the worst thing that could happen to your protagonist?
For Cee, if you told her that her brothers hated her, if you told her that her brothers had always hated her, if they told her they hated her... she’d be utterly wrecked she is utterly wrecked
Kyle would be a mess if somebody took his sister from him. Four years, he’s been fighting to keep her, to provide for her and give her a good life, giving up his own in the process. If she was taken from him, everything he’d done would be for nothing, and he’d be an absolute mess.
16. What secret will be revealed that changes the course of the story?
Cee’s real identity is a big one, because it’s a lot about her connections to Daniela and how big of a role she really plays in this whole “destroy the government” scheme.
17. Do you know how it ends?
Couple schemes, a few screaming matches, and a death that I hopes rocks people to their cores. I’d like to say I’ve got a decent idea, though things have changed.
Bits and Bobs
18. What is the theme?
I said this before for number 13, but it’s really about what we owe to our families and what we owe to ourselves. Cee and Kyle have very different approaches to their families, but both of them have made drastic decisions revolving around them. They each need to learn the balance between making decisions for their families and making decisions for themselves.
19. What is a reoccurring symbol?
The first one off the top of my head would be Cee’s hair, which in the beginning is long as a symbol to her freedom (because when she was young, it was kept short for practicality). At one point, she chops it off as a show that she’s given up that freedom and is back to working under someone’s thumb.
20. Where is the story set? (Share a description!)
The story is set in 2364, in a post-WWIII American Empire. The soldiers who fought in the war twenty years prior are traumatized and injured and their own children were genetically mutated thanks to the nuclear weaponry used during the fighting, causing them to grow up feared and discriminated against thanks to the deadly abilities that followed. 
21. Do you have any images or scenes in your mind already?
I have a ton of scenes in my mind and nearly a hundred pages written for just this iteration (which is the fourth so far). This isn’t even counting all the expansions I’ve scribbled down between drafts.
22. What excited you about this story?
I’m really excited to tell these characters’ stories, first and foremost! Each of them, the main characters and the Specialists, have a lot that they’ve gone through and a lot to tell the world about it.
It’s also a test of my abilities to write heavier topics. Cee in particular has gone through a lot of shit, so it’s new ground for me to be tackling some of this stuff, and I hope I do it justice and write it in a way that allows people to understand this kind of stuff.
23. Tell us about your usual writing method!
Usually writing for me starts with whatever idea’s in my head for the moment. If it’s a scene I’ve been bouncing around for a while, it might have a song on my playlist, which I’ll then play over and over and over until the scene’s written to my liking.
Props to anyone who actually read the whole post lmfao. It’s a lot of my own bullshit, but if you’re actually interested in my story and characters, I’m begging you to let me know! Always craving that validation
NOW FOR TAGS!
@thegirlfairytalesforgot​ is the only one I can think of at the moment, but if any of my lovely followers have a passion project they’re working on, feel free to do the challenge and tag me when you post it! I’m always looking to read other peoples’ ideas!
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