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frostironfudge · 2 years

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Tenebrous - Loki (AU) - Chapter Ten

Pairings: Vampire! Professor Loki x Fem!Reader

Characters: Loki, Thor, Fem OC, Reader, Bucky Barnes, Stephen Strange

Warnings: angst, death of secondary characters (described but not graphic or grusome), allusions to past non con experience(not described in detail), witch coven dynamics, vampire coven dynamics, soul bonds, hurt/comfort, canon level violence, blood drinking (dubious consent), mind exploration, fluff, nightmares, MINORS DNI

Word Count: 8.9k

A.N.: i controlled my word count this time, the next few chapters will get more intense so i want to be able to plan them much better in the sense what each should cover so this might appear short or like a filler but it opens up more in depth aspects of things that occurred. Also I cried writing a part of this chapter.

Dividers: @firefly-graphics

Chapter Nine || Chapter Eleven

Main Masterlist || Fic Masterlist || My AO3

Chapter Ten - Is It Not More Beautiful To Be Tainted?

Three Hundred Years Ago.

His disdain is palpable in the air. Seeping fear into the immortal bones of his army. His children. The gurgling sounds aren’t for the weak stomached. Nor are the wretched screams for the faint hearted. Even the pleads of mercy fall upon unhearing ears and ears that are forced to not hear a whisper of them.

Alexander Pierce taking apart a witch coven one by one. He was angry. His victims not even spared that one merciful glance that could save them. Damnation into this hellish eternity.

Luna watches silently standing behind Rumlow as they set ablaze yet another witch coven. The reason for Alexander’s anger is well known; survival of the celestial coven, yet again.

“I find it peculiar indeed.” Rumlow muses as he stands near the two brothers.

Thor watches the terrible vampire from his periphery.

“Won’t you entertain my curiosity?” Rumlow taunts, itching to get a rise out of one of the two brothers.

“I do not have time for your childish games, Brock.” Loki sighs, unamused.

He looks towards Luna, she always looked at him with sadness as though he bore a loss of something upon his shoulders.

Loki does not let his gaze linger just short moment before he turns to his newer father figure to watch him. Brock Rumlow was the kind of mate who left his own mate in bruises if another looked her way for a moment too long.

Blaming Luna for everything. Even his own abusive actions.

Loki had seen the mind of the vampire, the very first mind he delved into upon his first moment as a creature of the night.

Unfortunately all Brock was thinking about was the torturous lunar cycle Loki spent, being battered bruised. Forcefully fed blood and Rumlow’s non consensual advances.

Those images burned behind the younger son of Frigga’s eyelids the very ones his mother would place her kisses upon to stop the nightmares from dragging him into their trenches.

“I believe you two allow witches to escape. Never giving us the full coven.” Brock smugly whispers the thought.

“You dare insinuate that we disobey father?” Thor fumes, hands turning into fists by his side.

“Brother.” Loki says in warning.

“Why so defensive, Thor? Have I uttered even a semblance of truth? Do you and your brother allow witches to run free? Are you in love with those vile creatures that are born to have us ended?” Rumlow stands eye level with Thor, chest puffed out trying to appear stronger.

Thor gazes wildly at Rumlow,

“You don’t scare me anymore, Brock.” His blue and brown eyes shift to red,

“Oh, I can smell the fear wafting from you, Rumlow. Is the little bully scared?” Thor takes a step forward, Rumlow follows with his own step backward.

“Thor.” Alexander beckons him closer.

The vampire steps away from Rumlow who shifts near Luna, harshly grabbing her chin and directing her lips with his own.

“The next time a celestial coven is found, I want Loki to enter the mind and Zemo to enter the soul. If I find that Rumlow’s suggestion holds any water. Your brother and you shall be tried for treason.” Alexander warns with a smile on his face, he pat’s the muscled shoulder of Thor. Squeezing till he winces.

“Loki, I hope you heard.” Alexander matters passing by, a hand upon his head.

Loki bows the slightest, “Yes, father. I hope you know, I would never put you in a position to have your enemies walking the earth.”

“I know my son, I know that even if one lures you into their trickery you would end them.” Alexander moves to the next room leaving Loki and Thor contemplating their next move.

“Gentlemen.” Baron Zemo smiles when they turn.

“I believe we are to work in tandem.” He says offering his hand to Loki.

Loki takes Zemo’s hand, both have a glint in their eyes.

“I hope you prefer your mind delved into,” Loki narrows his eyes when he feels a prodding sensation.

“I hope you feel the same way about your soul.” Zemo’s eyes turn red rimmed with a golden ring surrounding the red iris.

Two Hundred Years Ago.

Burning Lavender greets their senses, Loki watches their bodies scattered in vertically bound pyres.

The orange glow of the flames cast a sunken shadow upon his face.

His eyes meet Luna’s from across the field. Venom makes her eyes glow, at the loss of yet another chance knowing her bloodline.

Alexander’s mocking laughter gleefully fills the void.

Luna turns her gaze downward, then towards the moon shining with sadness at the loss of a coven that was protected by the light it imparted.

“Survive from this you witches and warlocks. Celestial coven. Each and everyone of you, burning not one spared.” Alexander tells their bodies,

“I shall finally be rid of you. Your destiny ended at my hand.”

He looks up at the moon,

“Your purpose is to serve my kind. Aiding the change, not protecting these playthings and diseased beings. I know you favour us, the superior beings as you my moon have deemed. Your mercy is vast that you seek to shower it upon these witches and warlocks. I must carry out this cleansing for us, for you.”

Luna’s stomach lurches at the words, she keeps her emotions closed off from the bond. The last time the slip up occurred, Brock accused her of treason as he pinned her down with a stake pressed against her bare chest.

A vision clouds her mind,

Alexander on the ground his chest pierced by eight stakes. His body lays abandoned on the ground, an orange glow encircles slowly drawing close to him.

The vision dies out.

Brock is in front of Luna in a heartbeat as she gasps.

“What did you see, sweetheart?” He pushes back her hair, gripping it lightly in warning.

“He will succeed, fire and bodies.” Luna lies while honestly believing her words.

Brock smiles in delight, “Oh mate, you’ve pleased me.”

He grasps her by the shoulders, taking her towards Alexander.

Loki watches as Alexander tears apart yet another innocent warlock. Their father of their immortal life stops, conversing with Luna and Brock about her latest vision of his success.

He decides that needs to leave, he cannot watch nor take this guilt any longer. He could find Thor, adapting to Thor’s blood bank lifestyle would take some adjustments but could happen with ease.

Brock smirks at Loki making his way over the the vampire, stepping upon a corpse. Loki closes his eyes, not allowing himself to breathe in the burning lavender anymore.

“Couldn’t save any this time could you?” The vampire taunts.

“I never did save any before.” Loki repeats once again.

“Then how did they survive till their death today? Hmm, Cheekbones?” Brock moves behind Loki, his hand traveling across his shoulders, Brock smiles deviously as the green eyed vampire stiffens.

Brock cackles, “Still remember me this well Cheekbones, it has been centuries.”

“Do not test my patience.” Loki murmurs.

“Why not cheekbones? Come on live a little.”

“You have a mate. Albeit you mistreat—,” Loki’s words are cut off as Brock pushes him to the ground face pressed into the soft wood floor.

“Not a word about my mate from your mouth, cheekbones.” Brock barks out, eyes turning red.

Luna watches from afar, trying to send some form of need or want across their bond to her mate.

“Let them fight it out my dear, come walk with me.” Alexander holds out his hand for her to take, she slips her hand in with his, as they move deeper into the forest.

“You’re a horrible mate.” Loki shifts in a blur they turn and Rumlow is pinned down instead, Loki’s boot pressing into his back as his arm is twisted till a snapping resounds and Brock yelps in pain.

“As if you would be any better! How many witches and warlocks have you bedded? How many humans have you killed?” Brock shifts, turning and his foot pushes into Loki’s stomach.

They stand ten feet away, breathing hard.

“At least I won’t abuse my mate.” Loki spits out and Brock charges at him once the latter’s hand reattaches. Loki blocks the move with one hand.

“You really shouldn’t anger me, Rumlow.” Loki smiles as his eyes turn red, the marred flesh vampire feels his gaze blank as it is replaced by a scene all too familiar.

“The fuck are you showing me?!” Rumlow cries out as he feels his own hands upon him, a sick smile on his own face.

“I thought you would relish in the pleasures of centuries passed.” Loki’s voice sounds far away.

Brock scrambles to get away from himself, running to the far end of the small cellar. Brock remembers every move he made upon Loki, the man in front of him, is himself.

Loki exits the mind of Brock Rumlow, playing the horrible memory for him. Brock writhes on the ground voice caught in his throat as he resembled what Loki had to go through those hundreds of years ago.

Five Months Ago.

“Father, he’s abandoned her.” John stays on his knees in front of his father, head bowed in respect.

“Are you positive, this girl is Loki’s mate?” Alexander questions once again. An age old rhyme manifesting itself once again in his lifetime.

The rustling of leaves cast a shadow over their conversation. Staying further away from those that roam their home.

“She carries his scent father, here.” John presents a charcoal coloured scarf.

Alexander takes a deep breath, the scent of his son Loki is prominent with another scent that is innocent, unclaimed.

“It would do Loki good, to have claimed her.” The patriarch muses, “You know our rules though, son.”

“What if she is from that disgusting witch coven?” John dares to raise his head.

“We need proof. Gather it. If it is true then you make keep her for yourself. Loki has done well by abandoning his mate. Loyal to us first. If you bring here to me and if she shows potential as my Luna has then, what is her name?”

“Y/N.” John informs, Alexander repeats her name testing it upon his tongue.

“Well if Y/N displays an iota of potential. We may turn her and Loki may keep her.”

“But father,” John complains, wanting his own little blood bag.

“After you have had your fill of her, son. Of course I will reward your hard work.” Alexander pats John’s head, “You may leave. Keep the warlock by your side.”

The man then raises his cloak and begins to walk back toward the castle.

John grins, licking his lips at the taste he knows he will have soon upon his lips.

He could find out about the coven origin later, first he had to have a taste.

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

John begins to watch her from afar. The way Y/N would go about her day mindlessly. Her tears whimpered into her pillow at night only making him keener to start his plan earlier.

He watches her when she moves through the grocery store aisles. Picking items from a list she carries.

He bumps into her one too many times during her rounds at the hospital but never when the vampire doctor is close by, that man wasn’t distracted. Clear goal to protect and care in his demeanour.

John watches her stare almost mournfully through the window of the bookstore. He looks at Bucky for a response. Receiving none. After all this was where the warlock left her crying.

John especially loves the parties they go to, easy blood supplies, watching Nia try to bring her best friend out of her shell. He admires Y/N, always distracted by her thoughts. Never paying attention to dangers around her. Thor focused upon Nia and John never focused up the mated human. He knew Thor could sniff out an attack on his mate faster than anything else.

It is a week later that Bucky stands beside him as they watch her at yet another party her friend drags her into, an attempt to distract from the thoughts of her lost mate.

“What do you think, Warlock?” John questions taking a sip of the cheap alcohol. Bucky looks at John, merely a puppet.

Inside his mind he struggles to gain control and watching Y/N was chipping away at him. As he fears her destiny.

“Isn’t she pretty? Won’t she look good in my arms? As my little blood bag? Say yes, Warlock.”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad you agree.” John watches as Thor keeps watch on both women, his gaze lingering more upon his own mate. Y/N shifts to a corner as Thor and Nia move towards the dance floor.

“Make a weave for him, large enough to cover the dance floor.”

Bucky begins to chant the spell, fingers discreetly moving in rhythm with the music. Watching as John moves across the hall towards Y/N.

“Hello, beautiful.” Y/N looks up, not recognising the man and her eyebrows furrow.

“Um, hello.” She says hesitantly.

“I’ve been watching you for quite some time, would you like to join me for a dance?” John offers his hand.

“I don’t really um, dance, I’m sorry.” She says, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

“Alright beautiful, if you change your mind I’ll be around.” John gives her a warm smile and then returns to where he left Bucky.

Thor and Nia continue to move with one another as things grow heated between them. Thor spares a glance to Y/N, gaze only growing slightly saddened at her turmoil.

Nia moves her hips in a way that has him grip her tighter. He turns her, deeply kissing her with a hunger that is all too familiar for them.

John takes a sip of his drink, “Seems to me that Loki’s guard dogs also are abandoning her.”

He watches her mingle with a few people. Thor and Nia make their way over to her, ready to head home.

They exit the building, Y/N looks around the hall once more, her gaze searching for Loki but she finds the blue eyes of John before she leaves.

“Warlock, we have her in half a month understood? I want to taste her before that though and leave a warning. For the thrill of it.” John smiles coming up with a plan, Loki had warned her about the forest. He’d lure her there with the voice of her lost love.

He’d ruin her for Loki.

Even if she is not of the celestial coven. Even if she is forged for another vampire. Even if she has any potential for his father.

He’d have her first, his little flower, smelling oh so pleasant and tasting oh so wondrous. That is after he alters her with the pills he had carried with himself months ago.

Yes, John would have Y/N now.

After all no vampire would want a tainted and abandoned mate.

Present.

Loki opens his eyes, as she shifts upon his chest. It had been months since the thoughts of his past evaded his mind. He gazes upon his mate. She fell asleep easily when they returned home, with James Barnes. The tiredness evident in every aspect of her.

The bond beckoning him to keep her calm and take away her aches. Loki presses his lips to her forehead. Y/N nuzzles closer into him, her hands searching more of him to hold closer.

Downstairs Bucky shifts, turning on the makeshift bed. His mind recalling all that he did, his breathing grows laboured. Calloused hands clutch to the periphery of his scarce good deeds, and onto the sheets.

Y/N shifts next to Loki again, suddenly watching herself in a dream. Panic surges through the bond, before Loki can attempt to wake her he’s pulled into the dream that plagues his mate.

Loki stands in the very house he shared the first dance with Y/N. The one he took away from her.

He watches her pushing her way through the crowd towards a smaller corner that stays unoccupied.

Y/N looks upward, her chest moving rapidly. She closes her eyes, Loki hears the words in his own voice wrap themselves around the dream.

Helplessly Y/N takes another deep breath, her eyes now opened, unshed tears pooling. She escapes into the kitchen, Loki watches helplessly as she find a glass and pours the amber liquid for herself.

“No, no, no,” His plea falls silent. Unheard.

Y/N takes a sip, making a face at the bitter taste, discarding the liquid. He wants to chuckle at her reaction.

But the smile that was making its way to his lips presses into a thin line and then twists with worry.

A man encircles her in the kitchen, his hood protecting his identity. Loki watches recognising the form.

Loki looks for the calendar that hung upon the refrigerator.

Four months ago.

A month after he slept. This is when it started.

Four Months Ago.

Y/N moves through the packed house. The very one where she had fallen all those months prior.

The group she wanted to get away from that had forced the smoke down her throat sits unchanged, unaffected as the haze surrounds them again.

She watches, heart still aching at the haunting words said by Loki to her two months back.

“Got something on your mind, sweetness?” A tall brunette questions her, taking a deep inhale of his cigarette. The glow of it slowly recedes into the darkness of ash.

“N-no.” She answers.

I cannot be with you.

Y/N closes her eyes, trying to keep her breathing even.

How can I love you? You’re human. Disposable.

The small muscles of her eyes twitch as she tightens them more trying to block out the words.

Made for me? Please that is some folklore. How can you believe a fairytale?

A whimper gets lost from her throat into the reverb of the song that plays around the house.

A body comes up behind her,

“Do you want to forget something, little flower?”

Large hands rest on her arms, his voice moves down her being, cascading as a decadent dessert, beckoning her to answer.

Y/N nods, “I want to forget.”

“I can help you. Don’t turn around just take what my friend gives you. You do want to forget don’t you?” The voice is familiar, achingly so; she nods once more. He runs his hand over her head. Providing comfort.

Y/N feels another person stand before her, she looks up at them, tall and their face a blur but there is a dark greed blooming in his bright eyes. The hoodie they wear seems familiar. As if she just saw it.

“Open your mouth,” The man behind her instructs.

“Comply little flower, you want to forget tonight and him don’t you?” The man holding her oh so delicately whispers, she finds her resolve breaking. Her lips part at the shake of a bottle.

The bitter sweetness coats her tongue as the small pills melt. Soured honey tantalises her throat.

There is an appreciative hum.

When Y/N opens her eyes, small stars cascade at the periphery a reminder of her loss but she doesn’t feel the loss deeply. As though it is being pried away from her hands.

“More,” She requests, the frenzied blue eyes gleam with mirth.

“Of course, but I would want something in exchange. It is only fair.” He tells her, as her resolve keeps lowering.

The hands holding her tracing patterns into her arms. There is a blue glow near her.

“Wh-what do you want?” The surroundings begin to blur, a numbness begins to take over. Y/N finds her visual angle change, her head rests on the chest of the man holding her. Her head tilted to one side, neck exposed.

“Will you let me taste you?” The pill bottle shakes again, as the man’s cold nose brushes along her neck. He hums appreciative.

“Warlock, I want her to say yes.”

Where had she heard that word?

What did he want to taste?

A muted panic courses through her veins. She needs to leave.

“I will make sure. Y/N, go on, say yes, you will be able to forget all that you want to forget. You want that don’t you? You want to comply, yes.” The warlock whispers, coaxing her.

“All those awful thoughts in your head, I could take away.” The man’s voice is hungry; wanton with need.

She nods, “If, if I agree; you will help me forget?”

Distantly she feels an ache, something begging her to say no, something begging her to run. Escape.

“Oh sweet little flower, whenever you want to forget I’ll be there.” John promises, “I’ll even have my warlock help you forget, I’ve made him forget you, have I not?”

Bucky’s hands keep tracing the spell into her skin. His only purpose to have her comply, she must comply. For his safety.

For her safety, a smaller part of his mind adds. Quickly that part is tucked away. His focus turns to the task at hand.

The first taste occurred that night John drank deeply, to the bodies around them it would appear as if they were merely lost in each other. Bucky’s grip tightens as he finds Y/N will and body grow weaker and weary in his arms. A soft gasp leaves past her throat.

John smirks against her neck, relishing her taste. Hedonistic. Mixed with the drugs and her mate not there to protect her.

The vampire finds the sweet hum surround him. Finally.

“Can’t, can’t hear him or feel him.” She mumbles.

“That is what we want don’t we? You taste so exquisite. Such a shame he left, but if he returns, I’ll be sure to leave gifts for him.” John murmurs, sealing the wound and rewarding her with another pill.

They leave her there, full of blissful loss of Loki’s memories and words. Y/N relishes the stars surrounding her. They always brought comfort.

Something breaks within her, warm hot tears cascade down her cheeks onto her clothes.

Even though I am leaving, please care for yourself. You are valuable to your own being. Please Y/N.

Present.

The second John’s teeth sink into her neck Y/N jolts awake with a cry; in synchrony with Bucky’s own pained plea for John to stop resounds across the ground level. He needs to pull Y/N away from the vampire. The dream grows translucent.

Reality slipping in, a sob escapes from Y/N.

Loki feels a snarl building within his chest, he leaves from beside her, down the stairs.

“You let him feed from her!?” Loki glowers, lifting Bucky by his neck against the wall. His hands grasp at Loki’s right hand, trying to break free.

“Was-wasn’t under my own cont-control,” Bucky wants to tell him but the words are constricted as is his breathing.

“Loki! Loki! Loki please let him go!” Y/N rushes down to them, tugging at his arm. Loki turns to her with anger coursing through his being. Venom pools at his mouth, he turns back to Bucky, a pleased sound satisfying the monster waiting to take over to put an end to any danger his mate could be exposed toward.

“It was John’s compliance! Not Bucky’s fault! Loki please!” Y/N begs for him to understand. She tries stepping in from Loki’s left, he pushes her back.

Y/N stumbles backward, righting herself to approach them once more.

“Mate, do not move.” The words make her pause, a warning through the bond. How was this happening?

“Loki, please, Mate, let him go,” Y/N pleads from her place hoping her words get through.

Bucky thrashes in the vampire’s harsh grip. The warlock closes his eyes and Y/N watches as an azure glow surrounds his left arm, making an intricate pattern before surrounding Loki’s right hand that grips his neck.

The vampire wheezes, a pain taking over enough to warrant releasing the hold he has on Bucky.

The warlock drops to the floor, breathing in harshly as the azure glow retreats from around Loki and upon Bucky to heal him from the damage that might have occurred.

Y/N watches as Loki rights himself. Eyes back to green as he looks at her with worry.

“You can move, mate.” He tells her and the hold that the bond had retreats slowly, she walks towards Loki, kneeling near him.

“I’m okay.” She tries comforting him, cupping his face in her hands. Even though that now remembered night replays itself.

“You aren’t, stop lying to him.” Bucky interrupts, “Won’t do any good to lie to him.” He scoffs.

“As much as you may think to shield me, please don’t.” Loki requests of her, then turns to James. His palm doesn’t leave her cheek.

“How did your nightmare seep into her dream? She was fine before your breathing rate quickened.” Loki recounts his observations.

“Might have latched upon her, we did share a consciousness for a while… I, John’s actions haunted me in my sleep, the one part where I could have control became the place where I had to relive all that I did under his command.” Bucky admits sadly.

Y/N sighs, it felt like a blessing she didn’t remember but now if she had to face all the days she made sure to forget it would take a toll upon her.

She gazes upon Bucky, how much was he forced to do? How many times did he want to escape. Her hand reaches out to him, wrapping around his wrist to offer a tactile point of comfort.

He offers her a smile, then brings his hand back near him. Not wanting to provoke the vampire within Loki any further.

The three stay seated on the floor, a thin sheen of sweat covers Bucky’s shirtless chest. Highlighted by the azure glow that surrounds him.

Loki intently looks at Y/N wondering what is she able to see. As her eyes follow a pattern.

Y/N looks at her friend a thought coming forth,

“Is, it because—are we remembering because the compliance is gone?” She shifts sitting cross legged. The early hour of the night might potentially become their new waking hour.

Bucky runs a hand down his tired face then through his hair.

“It is possible.” He opens and closes his fist then rotates his left shoulder. The azure lines become muted as if a lingering presence upon his arm akin to a tattoo, slowly the glow dulls further and it turns into blue geometric line design.

“Its our coven mark. We earn it after our first successful spell. We can keep it hidden but I find leaving it open is more respectful. Also it feels like I’m honouring them.” Bucky smiles fondly remembering it.

“What was it?” Y/N asks, Loki intertwines their hands, offering comfort through the bond trying to take away the discomfort of the dream.

“Gramma loves sunflowers, and back in Romania for the months we were there; I thought I could conjure a field for her to wake up to, earned this that day.” He smiles brighter but his eyes give away at bittersweet taste of the memory.

“I’m sure she is very proud of you, James.” Loki offers, Bucky smiles at him.

“She gave me a hard time when I took your class.” He laughs, “Wanted to know who the professor was cause she had a feeling you weren’t, you know, human.”

Y/N smiles, “He told me after months.”

Bucky’s eyes widen, “I thought he’d admit earlier on, did you not feel the bond?”

“She used to feel stars whenever I was near and the same for me. I didn’t want to tell her unless I was sure.” Loki admits.

“Yet you left…” Bucky narrows his eyes.

“As did you. She was in tears at your departure.” Loki sneers.

“Oh I can replay her tears about when you left.” Bucky warns.

“Okay so I’ve cried for both of you leaving now both of you are back. We have to meet Clark and you have to go not kill John while finding information. Then we have to meet John and try not to kill him.” Y/N says loud enough to stop their bickering.

“I won’t kill him.” Loki innocently raises his hands in defence.

“I don’t believe a word out of your mouth, Professor.” Bucky narrows his eyes at the vampire.

“Yeah, nor do I.” Y/N agrees as Loki raises an eyebrow.

“Fine, I would kill him.” The vampire finally admits.

“I’d help you.” Bucky says without missing a beat.

“I’d help too.” Y/N adds.

“Seems his days are numbered.” Loki chuckles darkly.

A silence takes over them, only broken by the breathing of the beings in the room. It isn’t a comfortable silence but one that offers a moment of tranquility.

Hidden under the layers of the night.

Brought forth by nightmares that would be a part of life till the ones who could sleep would win.

“Are we going to go to be able to sleep again?” Y/N wonders out loud after time has passed by, Loki looks at his watch; it has been an hour and half since the humans first woke.

“We could try?” Bucky shrugs, scratching the back of his neck, rotating it with a wince.

Y/N looks sternly at Loki.

“I apologise.” Loki mutters.

“I’m sorry too, about the comment.” Bucky mumbles coherently.

The men nod at each other. Y/N stifles a yawn, head resting upon Loki’s shoulder. Slumber creeping up at her spine and shutting her eyelids.

The quietness only aiding her journey towards falling asleep again. Exhausted still from the night’s occurrences.

“When did you confess your feelings to her?” Bucky sounds far away.

“The first time? While she fell asleep during me reading to her.” Loki admits, “When her ankle was injured.” He adds, his voice far away too.

“Then you disappeared for a week.” Bucky recalls.

“I had to meet with another vampire regarding Alexander.” Loki shifts, using his agility to have Y/N not even feel a jostle as she’s placed between his legs her back against his chest and head resting upon Loki’s shoulder. His arms wrap around her, protectively.

Bucky stands, taking the duvet off of his bed and places it upon her.

“Cold doesn’t bother her?” He questions, blue eyes taking in their intimacy.

Loki shakes his head, “Surprised me, it’s as if she doesn’t realise how cold I am to touch.”

“I’m Elsa.” Y/N mutters, then shifts trying to find a comfortable position.

Bucky laughs, then is joined by Loki as they catch onto the reference she sleepily made.

“Oh, my witchling.” Loki says endearingly, pressing a kiss upon her temple.

“She is something else isn’t she?” Bucky murmurs, sitting back down using the couch for back support.

“Indeed is, do you still hold feelings for her?” Loki wonders curiously.

“She told you?” Bucky counters, slightly taken aback.

“I sort of caught on, plus the conversation you both were having, I have exceptional hearing you know.” The professor explained.

Bucky hums, “I don’t have my crush on her, I knew she doesn’t hold feelings for me. I never wanted to lose her as a friend.”

Loki nods, taking in the words.

“John has a weakness for her blood. I don’t know when he decided to want her. Of the humans I’ve, well, cast a spell upon. On behalf of that piece of shit. There is something about her that he kept coming back to have her frequently.” Bucky informs hoping it could be of some help tomorrow for the interrogation.

“I should just stake him. I do not even want answers.” Loki admits.

“But you do want answers.” Bucky affirms.

“I want to stake him more but I need to know if he is someone Alexander sent or is he acing out of his own accord.” The vampire notes the way the warlock’s fists clench. The geometric tattoo gaining prominence.

“Alexander took away my family.” Bucky announces, “Add me to the roster of people who will stake him to his death.”

Loki nods, “I’ll save you a spot.”

Nine Months Ago.

“James, help Maya out would you?” Christine Palmer the High Priestess of their coven requests as she corrects the stance of the baby witches and warlocks.

Bucky looks up from his current read about the history of different witch and warlock covens. Something about the celestial coven’s abilities was getting interesting.

“Of course. Where are they?” Bucky places a bookmark and has the book levitate back to the library.

“In the back field, practicing aiming shots.” The High Priestess calls back and then gives pointers about hand movements.

The warlock makes his way back to the field. Watching Maya huff in frustration they sit down upon the scarcely snow covered ground, they were feeling every bit of a moody, seventeen year old.

“Hey there, Maya,” Bucky offers his hand for a fist bump but they ignore him. Bucky sits down, “Honestly that rejected fist bump hurts more than not getting my spells right.”

Maya rolls their eyes, tucking their dark hair behind their ear, “You’re just here to baby sit me.”

“Nah, I would be getting paid for that, I’m here to watch.” Bucky shrugs.

“I don’t think I will get my mark. It’s been two months.” Maya feels tears of frustration cloud their vision.

“You know, I got my mark after seven months.” He admits, drawing a pattern in the snow.

“You’re lying.” They look at him with disbelief, “You’re, you’re one of the best here…”

“Got there by practice and not giving up. And definitely did not reject fist bumps.” He gives them a wry smile.

“You’re insufferable.” Maya rolls their eyes but finally raises their fist, Bucky grins widely and reciprocates.

“I’m pretty darn sufferable.” He laughs,

“Oh look somebody is smiling. Now come on tell me what you’re trying to do.” He stands offering a hand to them.

After about an hour Maya cries with glee, the make shift targets all eating dust on the ground, all of their fireballs worked.

Their right arm getting covered in a grey glow as the pattern of their coven sets in. Bucky applauded them, earning a hug from them.

“Thank you.”

“All your hard-work kiddo.” He pats their back.

Both of them freeze.

“Something—,” Maya’s words caught in their throat as a fire begins on the south end of their large home.

“Stay by my side.” Bucky orders as he begins to conjure a bubble, having the snow scooped up into it.

“I can replicate.” Maya adds, their hands raised upward mimicking Bucky’s actions, they send the bubble towards where the fire is, Maya watches Bucky scramble for more bubbles.

They close their eyes, a multiplication visualisation at the forefront the two bubbles multiply tenfold, the embers die down into smoke.

The two run off trying to find the remaining coven.

Maya covers her mouth as they enter through the back entrance. Bodies scattered on the floor, the scent of gasoline prominent in the air.

Bucky grabs their hand, he tries to block out letting his emotions take over, but his chest rips out a sob at the young children lying on the ground by their parents, wrapped in their arms trying to be protected.

He bends down, closing the eyes of the parents. Tears falling onto the floor. Maya sobs quietly seeing their elder brother lay lifelessly.

Christine clutches her side, walking up the steps from the basement. Bucky gazes at her through the plethora of tears that keep coming endlessly.

“Alexander Pierce.” She sputters out, coughing blood, “Take the deal, find the celestial coven.” Her chest heaves as more blood sputters from between her lips onto the wooden floor.

Christine falls to the floor, Bucky and Maya rush to her to try to save her.

“Don’t, I don’t need the healing magick, keep your stores. Bucky, you must find the celestial coven. Maya, I, am so very proud of you. I wish your first day wasn’t this way. You will live on in a different way find Luna. Help her.” Christine says.

“How do you know all this? Where, where is gramma?” Bucky questions, wiping the tears from the face of his priestess.

“She belonged to the celestial witch coven. I made a deal.” Christine turns to the stairwell, Luna’s boots echo as she comes into view.

Maya raises their hands, “You were a witch, you are a vampire. You will be ended.”

“Child, please.” Luna requests, then gazes at Bucky.

“You know her. Loki’s mate, our descendant. I’ve seen her stand by your side.” Luna says, Bucky’s eyebrows furrow.

“Accept John’s deal, please. It is imperative to the future.” Luna grabs Maya heading outward.

Bucky stumbles chasing after, hands raised to attack but his spell flickers out.

“Oh come on grandma, let it go, your coven is going to die!” A blonde haired vampire laughs.

“Oh no, I will end you.” Gramma Barnes stands, her hands moving creating her infamous vampire weave.

“Gramma.” Bucky calls out.

“Stay out of this. Run, James.” She moves her wrist he is thrown flying towards the exit point.

John tries chasing but is stuck in the weave.

“Oh you fucking witch.” John’s eyes turn red, he begins to relentlessly hit the weave’s borders. The gleam of the blue weave rippling but not relenting with each hit.

Bucky gets up, grabbing his stake, he begins charging towards the vampire.

Luna blocks him.

“Grandma, look at that.” John taunts, Gramma looks towards her Bucky then Luna.

‘Will you protect him?’ The sweet warm voice pools in Luna’s mind.

‘I will, he is needed for the final plan.’ Luna affirms, sincerely.

‘Child, you’ve been through atrocities yet they do not relent nor yield. I hope you find peace.’ Gramma’s warm hand runs over her head. Luna wishes she could cry at the loving gesture.

‘I am deeply sorry.’ Luna apologises.

‘He is the jewel of my family, my only legacy. I know your coven has the ability to survive but mine, today I realise shall perish in a certain way.’ The older woman begins to undo the weave.

‘Bucky Barnes, you make your grandmother proud, you hear me?’

Bucky realises what she is about to do, “No, please.”

John smiles, Luna presses the stake upon Bucky’s chest inducing feigned terror.

‘James Buchanan Barnes this has to occur, I wish I could teach you more. You’ve made me so proud, and you will keep making me proud. I know guilt will haunt you but it is not yours to hold. Remember to let it go.’ Her words echo, around his mind.

“Gramma.” Bucky’s scream fills the void of the deathly cold land. Gramma Barnes falls to the floor, John smiles crazed, his lips covered in her blood.

Bucky sobs, as John moves closer,

“I’ve been in need for a skilled warlock.”

He clutches Bucky’s jaw, the coppery scent fills his senses and his tears mix with the blood he shared with the woman who lays on the floor.

“Just end me.” Bucky begs, knowing it goes against everything that was said to him upon the deathbeds he witnessed.

“Oh no, you must soldier on, you’re the only seasoned Warlock. We’ve watched you. I know just what you need to comply a little more.” John’s eyes turn red as they bore into the eyes of the man who lost everything.

Luna lets go of Bucky, he stays held by John’s grip upon his jaw, eyes going from full of life and emotions to a blank slate.

“Warlock, knock your friend out with a little spell.” The vampire instructs.

“I—, no.” Bucky protests, the fear in Maya’s eyes outweighing their ability to fight back.

“Warlock. Hmm, let us find someone you would not like harmed. Tell me the last person you had feelings— oh what is this? Ah, what is the name?” John smiles as his compliance plucks out a woman, a little younger than Bucky but all his memories place her in light, happiness.

“Tell me her name warlock.” John demands pressing harder upon his jaw.

“Y/N.” Bucky wheezes, “Fuck, please, please, please no.”

John smirks, “I know where she lives now, I think we should pay her a visit. I think she would look so pretty drained dry.”

Bucky thrashes, John fills his head with images, that he cannot erase, fresh tears bloom.

“Comply and I’ll make these go away.” John promises.

Bucky wheezes, Y/N’s blood stains his hands. He can’t no matter what, he couldn’t allow her to be hurt.

“I will comply.” He mutters, the images disappear, he finds his mind muddled. A gnarled presence etching and latching onto his mind.

Bucky stares blankly ahead.

“Warlock, knock this coven member out.” John instructs.

Bucky raises his hand, eyes blank, Maya cries begging for him to break from this compliance.

Her pleas stop, her body droops in Luna’s arms. She breathes but stays unconscious.

“Start a fire for me, Warlock.” John instructs patting Bucky’s head.

His left hand glows as he produces a small fire.

John lights eight large pieces of wood, drags the older woman’s body back into the large house that once housed a huge family.

“Come now warlock, there will only be ashes buried upon this ground.” John pulls Bucky up by his hair, there is not a semblance of pain or a wince on the warlock’s face.

Luna gives a last rueful glance at the dying coven. Maya peaceful in her arms. A life of forced immortality looming upon their future.

Alexander Pierce greets them as they enter the castle, the journey far shorter than expected. They had been watching.

“You bring the two souvenirs?” Pierce cups Luna’s cheek.

“The warlock is skilled, not enough for a vampire but could be of use to John. I saw a vision of you with Maya, they were a splendid vampire.” Luna murmurs.

“Indeed, duplication powers, not limited to inanimate objects. They shall make a fine addition. Well done, my Luna. Go wait for me.” He instructs.

The vampire nods, leaving after placing Maya where they would wake to be prepared for their conversion.

“John, I’m sure you will chose wisely who to have fun with?” Pierce questions, the blue eyed vampire much like his other son Brock.

“I will, Father. I want to go back to the town, there is a feast waiting.” John pleads.

“In a few months, first train your abilities and your new pet. Then you may do as you please.”

Alexander places a hand upon his shoulder, giving a squeeze of pride. Then retreats to find Luna.

Present.

Morning comes, Loki stays watchful, the two humans yet again were woken up by their shared nightmare. The vampire once again dragged into the dream. This time Bucky had relived the setting ablaze of his coven’s home.

Y/N and Bucky walk upon eggshells, the latter apologising vehemently. Bucky then held Y/N as she cried with him over the horrific loss of his family. Their embrace filled with sobs and holding onto each other for support.

Loki remembered his own people being killed. He felt no remorse for Odin’s death but the rest, the women, children, kinder men. His frozen heart ached for the warlock.

He stays quiet, their sobs had turned into soft sniffles. Placing a box of tissues, they silently ate the eggs and hash browns.

Loki sighs deeply, feeling a weary exhaustion as well.

Y/N looks up, “You need to drink.”

“Its only ten a.m” Bucky tries joking.

Loki chuckles, “It is happy hour somewhere.” He retrieves two blood bottles, drinking from them.

“How much do you need to feed more since you use blood banks, one entire human can provide satiety for a ten days, a bag about seven. A mate’s blood sufficed three days, but if consumed deeply then pushes towards fifteen days. Provided the mate is make to drink the vampire’s blood for recovering.” Loki explains.

Bucky nods, “So normal human, blood bag, mate. There is also the case of the whole carnal thing right? I remember seeing that with human mates at Alexander’s castles.” The warlock shrugs, taking a bite of his eggs.

Y/N coughs, “Wh-what?”

“Oh come on, primal, carnal, sexual urges, it used to be a frenzy. I used to rush to the library for peace, even in that controlled state I knew I don’t want to hear those things.” Bucky feigns a shiver.

Loki and Y/N interlock their stares.

“Oh god, on this table?” Bucky groans as he watches her face heat up.

“No-not this!” She covers her face.

“His oak table?” Bucky teases.

“Bucky.” Y/N warns cheeks turning a deep scarlet at the recollection.

“What are you gonna do?” He taunts.

“I’ll put a spell on you.” She warns.

“I’d like to see you try baby witch.” Bucky chuckles.

Y/N resorts to the childish behaviour of having her tongue out towards Bucky.

Loki chuckles admiring her, drinking the blood as the exhaustion recedes.

“Save someone from compliance and they mock your abilities. No place for nice people here.” Y/N grumbles carrying on their banter.

“Thank you.” Bucky’s seriousness catches her by surprise.

“James, I was I was joking—,”

“I know, but thank you.” Bucky gives her a smile then his eyes watch her necklace.

“Celestial coven…” Bucky recognises the patterns recalling his book.

“Ye-yes… it just appears…”

“Yeah, only to the chosen ones in the bloodlines. Thats how your coven survives even if all active members are killed off the ones with the celestial bloodline carry the magick till the deserving ones awaken.” Bucky describes the lore.

“Oh…” Y/N looks at Loki, always thinking it was either him or a vampire who helped them.

“We left some active and non active members.” The vampire recalls, “Usually we asked the High Priestess or Priest to chose the survivors.”

“God, that would be a horrible responsibility.” Y/N picks at her leftover eggs.

“You need to eat.” Bucky and Loki tell her at the same time.

“Not hungry.” She defends her stomach churning at the slowly increasing in speed thoughts.

“Y/N.” Loki says, “Please, I’ll make you a Nutella sandwich will that be better?” He counters knowing she will cave in, he smiles when she nods.

He moves to gather the ingredients. Bucky shakes his head, “You’ve got him all wrapped around your finger.”

“He keeps me pampered.” Y/N blushes.

“I’m glad you have him, I will not hesitate to end him. If he hurts you again.” Bucky whispers.

“I can hear you, Mr. Barnes. I hope you remember you are yet to be done with my course.” Loki calls out the reminder.

Bucky rolls his eyes, “Still so uptight.”

“Still can hear you.”

Loki retrieves his burner phone as it vibrates.

From: Private Number

John hasn’t returned any correspondence, father is getting angsty might ask for a search to be conducted. Warlock untraceable as well. Keep eyes and ears open.

Plan may be expedited.

“Fuck.” Loki turns his actual cellphone beginning to ring and Thor is the one calling.

“Brother.” Loki greets, handing the sandwich to Y/N.

“We need to get this done with, get the warlock to charm the stakes.” Thor sighs.

“Essence could be traced back, counterproductive.” Loki reminds.

“Fine then we use the old ones.” The elder brother decides.

“We need answers.” Loki reminds him just as Bucky did earlier in the morning.

Bucky and Y/N gaze at the vampire, Loki tries to keep the bond in check but the nervousness seeps in, Y/N shifts back. Standing behind Loki and wrapping her arms around his torso, resting her head against his back.

Bucky watches small stars appear along the edges of where the soulmates stand. He had seen those before, whenever Y/N would conjure them weakly in her mind. The bitter coffee fuels his wakefulness allowing his mind to focus on something other than the guilt.

Loki sighs as the call ends, he stands for a few more moments. Relishing the warmth that Y/N provides to him. He can feel her comfort seeping into his bones. Grounding him.

How did he ever deserve her?

How could she allow herself to even consider forgiving him?

Loki takes her hands gently into his, placing a kiss upon them. Y/N moves so he can turn, still holding her hands.

“Any news?” Bucky wonders, knowing Y/N is likely trying to keep Loki grounded.

“Alexander is getting irritable since John hasn’t checked in with him.” The vampire admits.

Bucky narrows his eyes, trying to recall anything familiar to a check in.

“I don’t remember anything like that but then again he would leave for somedays in whichever city or town we were, if I was needed I would be taken along.” He runs a hand through his hair.

“Can we postpone meeting with your coven?” Bucky wonders, Y/N faces him.

“I could speak to Sierra, and—,”

Her phone begins to ring from upstairs, untangling herself she makes her way to her room.

Emery’s picture graces the screen, Y/N’s eyebrows furrow, its ten a.m on a Sunday why are they calling?

“Hey Emery—,”

“Where are you?”

“At home? Its Sunday—,”

“Y/N it is Monday, today’s the second half of the smaller unit exam.” Emery reminds and the blood drains from Y/N’s body.

“It is Monday?” She squeaks out.

“Yes, Y/N, did, is everything okay?” Emery watches Doctor Strange arrange the papers around the room. He offers them a soft smile.

“This it just completely slipped my mind.” She admits, “What time is the exam?”

Emery gazes into Strange’s eyes, were they always this beautiful? Yep, they have to be this beautiful.

Strange raises an eyebrow when he hears Y/N’s panicked voice asking for Emery to respond.

He raises his hand to wave them out of their thoughts. Emery’s cheeks break out into a deep blush as they register her words.

“Um, um its in an hour? How soon can you get here?”

“Forty minutes? Faster if Loki drives?” Y/N scrambles around her room, gathering her white coat, scrubs and kit.

“Okay, get him to drive.” Emery suggests, Stephen calls them forward.

“Um, Doctor Strange is calling me, so um I’m going to go help him.” They quickly inform.

“Oooh are the butterflies there?” Y/N teases despite her running late.

“Ever present.” Emery informs, “Now get your ass here quickly I’m not going to go into the second year without you.”

“Yes boss.” Y/N giggles as Emery laughs as well.

Loki and Bucky watch from the door.

“Need help?” Loki questions, allowing her to ask for what she needs from him.

“I have an exam today, honestly I will kill John myself if I fail.” Y/N grumbles,

“I need you to drive; break all speed limits if you have to,” She goes into the bathroom quickly changing into the scrubs. Loki grins at the prospect.

“Want me to put a luck spell on you? Will work for exams.” Bucky offers hands tucked into his pockets.

“Will it be cheating?” Y/N questions as they all rush to the car.

“No, just some extra luck.” He explains.

“Okay, give Emery some too.” Y/N requests.

The three settle into the car, the low hum puts a smile on Loki’s face.

“So how fast can you—,” Bucky is shifted back into his seat at the speed of the car, he grips the door handle.

His blue eyes interlock with Loki’s in the rearview mirror.

The vampire only laughs full of mirth as he navigates them speedily and safely through the roads.

Y/N seems to feel no panic used to the speed, she retrieves her notes and begins going over them.

“You okay back there?” Y/N turns to watch Bucky still dazed at the speed the trees are blurred around them.

“I think I might throw up.” He takes a deep breath.

“You won’t. I felt the same way the first time but you will be okay.” Y/N offers a smile.

Bucky just nods, trying to keep his eyes on an unmoving object.

“Why do vampires love speed?” He mutters, as the car begins to slow down.

They stop in front of the university hospital.

Y/N grabs her things quickly.

Loki grabs her hand, she turns back.

“Good luck, I’m sure you will fair well.” He kisses her cheek. Y/N beams grinning.

“Thank you, Loki.”

“Good luck, Poetess sending you and your friend some extra sprinkled luck in five minutes.” Bucky assures with a smile.

“Thank you, Bucky.”

She waves goodbye to the two men and jogs up the stairs; her department towards the right on the ground floor.

Loki follows her movements with his senses, when his phone chimes with Doctor Strange’s message upon her arrival he moves the car from the front to park it in the basement.

“Do you need anything for the spell?” Loki turns to find Bucky in deep concentration.

“No, all done.” He offers a grin.

“So…” Loki drums his fingers over the steering.

“So…” Bucky repeats, lost on a subject to converse upon.

They look at each other contemplating.

“I have the creative writing class in twenty minutes. You could sit in?” Loki offers.

“We’re walking to the building.” Bucky warns getting out of the car.

-x-x-x-x-

taglist open! just comment below to be added!

tagging: @camerons-specialinterest @stevesmewmew @pandaxnienke

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aro-comics · 3 years

Text

History (Part 2)

History, Part 2/3 - I swear, things will be more positive in part 3!!!!! 😭😭😭 also I had to shorten this description more than a few times so sorry for the later post 😅 I expanded on the points I made last week about the ways amatonormativity makes it harder to understand your feelings or perceive elements of your identity. Even now, after I’ve realized that it’s okay to be without romantic love, I still feel insecure about finding a committed partner in my future. This isn’t to say an Aro you can’t find a partner, romantic or otherwise! But there are fewer people interested pursuing a non-romantic relationship. And it’s because of this, coupled with the fact that many life “”milestones””” traditionally involve marriage, that makes me unable to picture my future. I want to start a family. I want to have kids. I want to feel that I can count on someone to work with me to our shared goals. But I can’t figure out how I’m going to get any of this, without the help of a partner. So I’ve been thinking about this subject a lot. From when I started writing this comic (which was a few months ago), I think some of my feelings are starting to change, or get more complex at least. I still, of course, resonate with everything I’ve uploaded here. But I wanted to end this description with the full picture of what I’m feeling, which is this: I accept that my life might be different than most of my peers. It might be more challenging in some ways, but less so in others. But either way, it doesn’t mean I can’t pursue my goals or try to build a life I know I want and will hopefully bring me peace and happiness. The best thing I, or anyone really, can ever do is just go for it, and hope for the best. And I’m looking forward to getting a chance to try no matter what happens 💚💚💚 Happy ASAW everyone 💚

[Image Description:

Slide 1: Celia sits on a chair, looking skeptically at a book. “Part of that doubt is from the deep levels of amatonormativity in society - it affects how we see the world.”

Slide 2: So many people can’t even imagine that it’s possible to not feel romantic attraction to other people.

Celia shown arguing with an angry blank person.

“How can you not really feel romantic attraction?”

“Like, I just don’t see people that way ... ?”

“There must be someone-”

Slide 3: “(I know that I was one of them, when I was young)”

A younger celia with long hair is sitting on her bed, drawing in her sketchbook. She mutters to herself: “Or, I could pair him with Chiara but they’re not in the same country. Hm … Maybe I should make a new character … Last time I made Miles and Raymond together and their dynamic has really helped develop their personalities …”

Slide 4: Pure text slide. “There are no norms, no cultural guidelines, or even knowledge on what it means to form deep bonds or navigate life without the expectation of romance.”

Slide 5: Celia lying in a field with her former childhood friend. He’s talking about something, and she is smiling as she glances over.

“I don’t know how to describe what I felt, only that I didn’t have a crush.”

Slide 6: Celia as a teenager, seeing her former frenemy with his girlfriend. He looks angry as he glares at her.

“I didn’t feel like I would ever have a chance to be his “best friend” - so I decided to let him hate me, instead.”

Slide 7: “I didn’t see how I could live a life without romance -” Celia as a university student, watching some of her classmates talk.

“You know that girl I was telling you about?” “The one from your japanese class? Oh my god, did you two finally - tell me everything!!”

“Well, I finally asked her out, and she was so cute. I brought her flowers after class …”

Slide 8: “- so I kept blaming myself each time I saw my peers falling for someone else.”

A close up of Celia at her desk. Tears are welling up at the corners of her eyes, and she says to herself “... fuck. What am I doing wrong? Why can I never like anyone enough?”

Slide 9: “And in many ways, I still can’t see -”

Celia is drawn on the right half on the screen, and a stereotypical straight couple on the left. A “path” forms in front of both of them, the couple having a house, marriage, the woman holding a business briefcase with doodles of money and “CASH DOLLARS” scrawled around her, and a baby. On Celia’s side she has a lease, a smaller house, questionmarks drawn arounda child, and other legal forms which are labeled insurance.

“- how will I live my life without a spouse?”]

#RegularComic #HistoryComic

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jennana501 · 4 years

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A Case for Rexsoka

I’ve been around the block when it comes to ships. I’ve seen people obsess over them, and I too have been driven mad by obsession. I was a hardcore original avatar fan and I was OBSESSED with shipping Toph and Sokka together. Any time they so much as made an interaction I over analyzed it and picked it apart looking for clues that somehow would prove that my hunches were correct. It was because I related with both characters, and I loved their chemistry. I wanted them to have a romantic relationship because it would feel like some sort of personal validation.

I’m an adult now and nothing has changed. But it has been a while since I’ve desperately shipped two characters together that are not obviously romantically involved with one another, or who could be romantic behind the scenes or beyond the story shown.

Until Rex and Ahsoka.

And I’ve seen people be adamantly against it.

“No no no it’s just a brother/sister relationship.”

“No it’s gross she is a child”.

And of course being disagreed with on the internet can drive a person crazy, and instead of individually arguing with dozens of people online, I’m making this post once and for all to explain why I think Rex and Ahsoka have romantic feelings for each other. Especially Rex.

The argument I’ve seen, that their deep passion, commitment, love, admiration, and respect for one another (which are all so obvious you’d have to be...silly to not see it) are felt in a platonic fashion. Which, for the first 6 seasons and 8 episodes, I would totally agree.

But then Ahsoka comes back. And let’s face it. She is a woman. Age wise, she’s around 17, but everything from the maturity of her Lekku (which weirdly don’t get all that longer, especially compared to other Tagrutan women) to her poise and confidence, to her prowess as a warrior, a user of the force, and her ability to command soldiers as well as control her emotions points to her being an adult woman. She’s no Snips anymore; she’s no child. She’s grown up. And how her peers react to her illustrates how they now view her as an adult.

First there is Obi-wan. Obi-wan has always been a mentor to her, a sort of second Master. Obi-wan never hesitated to guide and Ahsoka or offer his council. He is proud of her when she succeeds, and will admonish her when she makes mistakes. When she returns and he sees her as a woman, he changes the way he treats her. He acknowledges her maturity by addressing her as an equal. He doesn’t admonish her. Instead he discusses with her, challenging her ideas and letting her offer an argument for them instead of putting them down and telling her how she should think or act. He also comes to her in his time of need, trusting her to help him with Anakin.

Then there is Anakin. We all know of Anisoka shippers, and they are perfectly able to ship and enjoy said ship, but we can all acknowledge that it is a crack pairing with no basis in the canon. Anakin portrays the perfect kind of brotherly love. He is excited to see Ahsoka, and is stunned by her unexpected reappearance. Things are harder for Anakin because he is used to their fun banter and sibling-like companionship. He’s constantly shut down with her business like manner and he struggles with coming to terms with the fact that she isn’t a little kid sister anymore. She is an adult with a mission and a plan. When he looks at her, he is endearing. He loves her. Admires her. And he can’t wait to pick up where they left off. There’s joy and adoration in his face. He is proud of her and what she has become, but he also feels alienated and even hurt because of how her adulthood has changed their dynamic.

Then there is Rex. When he first sees her, he wants nothing more than to reassure her that she still belongs. The clones had accepted her into their family. As far as they were concerned, she was one of them. When he looks at her for the first time, he’s beaming with the same adoration as he had had for her before, but also with a solemn awe at what she has become and what she has grown into. He welcomes her back into his life without hesitation.

But then there is a moment things shift so drastically that I paused the show and re-watched it half a dozen times. We all know it and love it. This face he gives Ahsoka. The Look.

What we see here is something we have never, EVER seen in Rex for 7 whole seasons. And it is my opinion that this is the first time Rex has been able to feel and express that he is attracted to Ahsoka. In other words, Rex has a sexual awakening.

Up until this point, Rex has been a sexless character. Nothing he does is flirtatious, sexy, or at all suggestive that he has those feelings inside him at all. Every sexual being has a moment where they are first animalistically drawn to another being. Characters who have already had this moment are easy to pick out. Obi wan. Anakin. Ventress. These characters have already experienced their sexual awakening. Ahsoka has too. Lux was her first object of attraction.

But Rex has never had this moment. Until this reaction.

I know some of you might be thinking “but Ahsoka gives a very similar look to Anakin, does that mean she is sexually attracted to HIM?” It’s a very good point. Ahsoka and Anakin share some cheeky playful looks during “Old Friends Not Forgotten”. We see many characters give similar looks to other characters, but does this mean it means the same thing as when Rex does it? The short answer is no.

When animators design a character, they establish the “range of emotion” for that character. You can easily see this when you look back at how many times you see Rex break from his stoic, captain’s face. He rarely laughs, smiles, or emotes in any way. This is why when we see him emote it is exciting to us as an audience. A character like Ahsoka or Anakin commonly show a wide variety of expressions. Ahsoka is much more likely to give a cheeky look than Rex is. So “the look” for Rex, means a lot more when he is doing than it does when another character does it, say Fives or even Obi-Wan.

Which means the writers are trying to tell us something about this moment.

This moment has changed Rex’s and Ahsoka’s relationship.

Now does this mean that they are going to go bang each other immediately? Does this mean the second they are alone after “Victory and Death” they start an intense, sexual relationship? Of course not. That’s not what this ship is about at this time. But the reason many of us ship it is because suddenly they don’t feel like brother and sister anymore. It isn’t entirely platonic. And the show does a good job to further emphasize this as they come closer and closer both emotionally, and physically during the finale.

Blocking is a huge factor in visual storytelling. During the finale, Rex and Ahsoka are blocked in a way that makes them as close as physically possible on the screen. This communicates to the audience that they are closer now than they have ever been. As Jedi and Clone Trooper. As friends, and as companions, their bond forged in the fires of war, struggling to find meaning in life as soldiers.

In contrast, look how Ahsoka and Anakin are blocked in their scenes. There is nearly always a gap between them, illustrating that they are distanced from each other emotionally. Rex is even visually inserted into the gap between them in several instances. Anakin and Ahsoka are growing apart, but she and Rex are growing closer.

We get to experience Rex and Ahsoka engaging in actions and conversations that we had rarely seen before. From casual banter, to moments of intense intimacy, to emotional peaks, Rex and Ahsoka interact more in these four episodes than in the previous six seasons. Part of this is because their maturity gap has closed. Ahsoka is finally Rex’s equal in experience and maturity. It is also in part because it is a unique dynamic. No Obi-wan. No Anakin. Rex and Ahsoka are equal leaders of the 332nd. There’s also the fact that they are put into life threatening situations and have no one else but each other.

But there is that “look” that is given at the beginning of all this that suggests something else, that as their bond undoubtedly becomes strong as beskar, there is an element of it that takes their relationship from the platonic to the romantic.

I feel every detail, moment, and piece of dialogue in the finale tells the story of this bond.

Many instances of their strong emotional bond have been spread throughout the internet, with most ready to acknowledge that they have a connection unlike any other, one that may even be described as a “force” connection. These last four episodes are so exciting because we see two friends reunited, but then we get to watch as their relationship transforms.

Even disregarding their implied attraction to each other physically, they dive into each other and hold on tight. Ahsoka shares deep personal worries with Rex, and Rex and her are shown opening up to each other in ways they have never opened up before.

We were all floored and dumbfounded at scenes such as these that show these characters at their most vulnerable. But they decide to be vulnerable together. Is it because they are all that is left of their 501st family? It part, this is definitely true. But by being this vulnerable they transform their relationship into something very different from what they had before. It will never be the same again, and it will be near impossible to back out of the emotional intimacy that these two have participated in. Once you have formed that kind of an attachment with someone, there is no going back, and as is seen in rebels, these two maintain that strong connection even after years of being apart.

This goes beyond their sexual desires or needs. They’ve forged a bond that cannot be broken. They have shared minds, shared pain and agony that only the other can understand. They’ve been isolated from the world, and all they have left is each other.

And at the end of the series, when we have Rex and Ahsoka broken, their world flip upside down and everything they ever valued or cared about lies in ruins before them, the idea that they still have each other is that beautiful seed of hope Star Wars is so good at preserving. Those of us who believe that their relationship could be romantic want good things for Rex and Ahsoka. We want them to have that love and share it with each other. Maybe only for a few moments, but having known it would be better than both of them living and dying without having that experience.

When we see the two in Rebels, for me it confirms that these two love each other deeply. But their lives can never be lived in a normal fashion. They cannot even be together as partners in life. The Empire has stolen this from them. The tragedy of this ship is that it can never be the way we want it to be. Rex will age and die long before Ahsoka is even halfway through her own life. They cannot live with one another. They cannot wake each morning with each other, at least not at the point we see them in rebels.

But they continue to love each other. Even over distance, even knowing that mortality will claim them with only a fraction of the memories that they deserve with one another.

So please, the next time you see some art or a fic, or a post like this, think of what I had to say. Rexsoka is about two adults, their lives destroyed at the hands of Sidious, but in defiance they still forge a bond that he could never break or take from them. And that to me is beautiful and something to celebrate.

Side note: I spent a ton of time making gifs but they never would work and so I had to use screenshots instead :(

EDIT: At the request of the OG poster of a few gifs, I have replaced them have also made some grammatical changes.

#ahsoka #captain rex #rexsoka #rexsoka week #the clone wars #star wars

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bookofmirth · 3 years

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The english side of me REALLY jumped out with this one lol

Possessiveness, jealousy, and overprotectiveness are staples of the romance genre, especially when it comes to paranormal romances, so much so that it’s expected for people to overlook the problematic aspects of possessiveness, jealousy, and overprotectiveness because these concepts in the romance genre are meant to be viewed not only as hot and sexy, but indicators of love and showing that the person cares. Despite their tendency to fall in the yellow flag zone, these concepts are meant to further the romance itself. And when you begin to question these concepts as they appear in different romances, there’s almost always pushback with people saying the books are “just fiction”. But what happens when there’s evidence that shows why these three concepts aren’t always healthy or hot/sexy in a romantic pairing? What happens when the narrative is using these concepts to show how they can be detrimental to a character and those romantically associated with that character?

Possessiveness/Overprotectiveness

In romances, it’s always in the man’s nature to be possessive and overprotective. These two concepts are usually used to show that a character is protective of their partner and we see that happen with almost all of SJM’s endgame ships, but they’re almost always portrayed as good/healthy because of the equal partnership that is present in those relationships. Thinking about acotar, a relationship where possessiveness and overprotectiveness were depicted in a negative light was between Feyre and Tamlin. Their relationship was imbalance and Tamlin’s possessiveness/overprotectiveness of Feyre stood out in the barriers he placed on Feyre when they were together: not letting her leave the house/keeping her in the house; saying everything is for her “protection”; only letting her talk to Alis and Lucien/limiting her interactions with others; telling Lucien to back off from Feyre because Tamlin saw him as a threat and that she could fall for him instead; having Feyre be dependent on him by not teaching her how to fight/learn how to use her powers; controlling every aspect of Feyre’s life at the beginning of acomaf; among other things.

Males in acotar feel an intrinsic sense of entitlement to their mate and are described as being protective and possessive over their mates. When people say that A is exhibiting “mate behavior” towards E, obviously there is a positive connotation associated with that phrase because of how the males act around their mate. But the thing is A isn’t E’s mate. A’s possessiveness of E is treading on the waters of Tamlin-ville because: A speaks for E, which is oddly similar to what some of E’s stans do in fandom discussions (as if E herself reached out of the book to personally tell them things that no one else knows); he makes it known that E shouldn’t help with the Dread Trove, which is an example of A attempting to limit what E does; and he subtly expresses a sense of entitlement over E in the bonus chapter during his conversation with Rhys when he questions if the Cauldron was wrong in pairing E with Lucien. A’s “mate behavior” is completely different from Rhys and Cassian because Rhys and Cassian are canonically mated to Feyre and Nesta, which plays a role in how they act towards them. Also, neither of them attempt to limit what Feyre and Nesta do even if they worry about their safety. To say that A is exhibiting “mate behavior” towards E would have the same effect as saying Tamlin was exhibiting “mate behavior” towards Feyre. I think that the reason A’s actions towards E are described as mate-like is because thinking otherwise calls his actions into question. I assume some people aren’t ready for that conversation because he’s been portrayed as the sad bat boy in the fandom for so long that it’s probably hard for people to come to terms with this not being the case.

When people say A being overprotective of E is similar to Rhys and Cassian being overprotective of Feyre and Nesta, the comparison becomes incomparable because A is overprotective of E to the point where he goes against what E wants to do (E stating she wanted to help find the dread trove, a scene in which A was present and later A said E shouldn’t be exposed to its innate darkness), while Rhys and Cassian know Feyre and Nesta are capable of fending for themselves in dangerous situations. It’s just ironic that A’s overprotectiveness in this moment contradicts E’s “choice” of wanting to help, yet I don’t see that being mentioned in those “choice” arguments.

Jealousy

Jealousy in the romance genre is always meant to further the romance between the love interests and we see that happen with rowaelin and chaorene (and probably other SJM ships too). But when the jealousy and the romance are disconnected from each other, that’s meant to show something about the character who is jealous and what they’re jealous of. On the second page of the bonus chapter, it’s established that A is envious of Cassian and Rhys and that the reason he remained downstairs by the fire was so that he didn’t get swallowed up by his jealousy in his room. Then on the third page, it’s revealed that the reason he stayed by the door at Solstice was because “he couldn’t stand the sight of it, the scent of their mating bond, and needed to have the option of leaving if it became too much”. There is a blatant reimagining happening with A’s bonus chapter to make it seem as though his jealousy is romantically coded when the jealousy has nothing to do with his relationship with E and more to do with him. This reimagining has to be a case of people seeing what they want to see because I highly doubt people are out here failing literature class.

The Romance Genre & SJM

A and E’s interaction in the bonus chapter is frequently compared to Wings and Embers. The only similarity between these two chapters is the sexual undertones, which is part of the reason why I think people compare them in the first place because everything else (the structure of the chapters, their contents, and the amount of characters involved in them) is different. I think people are hiding behind the sexual undertones of the bonus chapter in hopes that it somehow overshadows not only the oddness of A’s interaction with E, but the ending of the bonus chapter as well. And even more than that, A giving away the necklace is compared to Cassian tossing Nesta’s present in the Sidra. Since A is able to give the necklace away that should tell you about the significance of the necklace’s connection to E herself (if A can easily give it away to the next person on the street) whereas Cassian regifting Nesta’s present would probably be meaningless to someone else because it was Nesta specific.

We know that acotar is more romance heavy compared to tog and cc so I can see why people lean more on the conventions of the romance genre as a basis for their arguments. And this is fueled by SJM saying this new trilogy will have one couple per book. However, the downfall of these arguments is that oftentimes the plot, narrative structure of this new trilogy in particular, and individual character progressions are secondary or afterthoughts to the romance they support. These arguments lack any real substance because acotar has proved time and time again that both the romance AND the plot work in tandem, going against the broad strokes of the romance genre formula where the romance is primarily in the spotlight.

Basically, why do you think A’s possessiveness, jealousy, and overprotectiveness of E is romanticized? Why do you think A and E’s dynamic is constantly compared to feysand and nessian? And why do you think people take issue with A being compared to Tamlin?

I think that the reason A’s actions towards E are described as mate-like is because thinking otherwise calls his actions into question.

THIS

I hate the whole discussion of "mate behavior" because the series doesn't even explain that very well. Rhys can't explain why people are mated, if it's for reproduction or being "equals" (in what sense, who knows), the courts all handle acceptance/rejection differently, the consequences of rejection are unclear and make it seem like the woman is beholden to accept on pain of... causing someone else pain.

I agree 100% that people (maybe unconsciously) try to ascribe "mate behavior" to Azriel in order to excuse what would ordinarily be inexcusable. He doesn't have some magical thing making him act this way. Neither did Tamlin, and we know how people view his behavior. And that's another thing with "mate behavior" and the bond. Why would Tamlin and Feyre not be mates, if all it took were these extreme possessive and protective behaviors? Why aren't Az and Mor mates?

And it's not even about Elain! Az acts like this with Mor, and we know there isn't a mating bond there. Azriel has zero reason to behave the way that he does, not in the same way that the mating bond gives Rhys and Cassian an "excuse", flimsy as it is, for the way that they act around Nesta and Feyre. Even that excuse is crap, because we have Rhys out here leaving Feyre's abusive ex alone, and then we have Lucien doing the same with Graysen. The definition of "mate behavior" that some of the fandom is working with... is sus.

The fact is that no matter how "overprotective" and possessive Rhys and Cassian were, they never prevented Nesta or Feyre from doing what they wanted. They might have gotten their hackles up, but then they backed off. Rhys sent Feyre into the Weaver's cottage. Nesta went to war. There is a balance between caring deeply and passionately for these women, and recognizing them as individuals whose autonomy should be respected.

The jealousy is 100% not about Elain. It's not about Elain being with Lucien. It's not about Mor, because we know that it's not really about Mor sleeping with Helion. Azriel has 99 problems, and 98.5 of them are about his childhood and his loneliness. The other 0.5 problem comes in the shape of a snowball.

The only similarity between these two chapters is the sexual undertones

You know I haven't done a full blown comparison between these chapters, but I'd agree. The entire Wings and Embers short was about Nesta and Cassian. There were no other characters and they learned a great deal about one another. What did Elain and Az learn about one another as people in the first third of his POV? Nothing. There was no tension between them other than sexual. Cassian thought Nesta's name over and over, thought about her as a person and her personality and how she made him feel. Azriel literally only thinks about fucking Elain. There is nothing wrong with fucking, obviously, but that's not love. (Maybe I should fully compare them idk.)

It's when we look at everything he doesn't say in conjunction with how he treats Elain and Mor in other scenarios... that's troubling. People can misread our 😬 at his behavior all they want, but the fact is that Az didn't have a single kind, original thought about who Elain is. His POV gave us zero extra insight into who Elain is as a person, which is... startling, if we are supposed to think that they know one another so incredibly well and have such intense feelings for each other. Why would we not get additional insight into her character? We get a lot of insight into Az's character for sure. But following his POV, if he loves and knows this woman so well, we should feel that. We should know why he loves her, what he knows about her, we should... just get some more damn insight into her character, if we are in the POV of someone who supposedly knows her so well!!!!

You know it's funny though, because the Az and Elain interaction in his POV mirrors when Nesta imagined a threesome with Az and Cassian. Close, and potentially pretty hot, but it never really happened because then it would mess up sjm's plans for the future.

Okay now to your ACTUAL questions haha and not just my reactions to what you said.

I agree that romanticizing Azriel's behaviors is the better option for people who ship it because otherwise the alternative is to accept them for what they are, which is not about Elain at all. Az has an even longer history of being all "mate behavior" on Mor, but no one thinks that's odd? I think that some people pick and choose their evidence, which is a big reason why I keep shoving Mor into these conversations. If the "mate behavior" argument was genuine and had a solid foundation, then the people making these claims would still ship moriel.

The whole thing with Az and Tamlin comparisons.... oh boy. I think there is a lot there.

I think that people don't want to see Az as anything less than perfect sad boi that Elain can fix with her love.

I think that people have a difficult time seeing emotional abuse IRL, to the point where even people who experience it directly struggle to come to terms with it, so why would we willingly embrace its presence in fiction? It also flirts with a lot of the ideas you mentioned being present in a lot of romance, though I'd argue a lot of those elements are becoming passé.

I think that Tamlin is Fandom Enemy Number One while Azriel is Self-insert Book Boyfriend Number One, and maybe people don't know how to reconcile those things. (This is quite literally true, I checked AO3 for reader fanfics and compared numbers between the bat boys, Az/reader fics win by a landslide.)

There also seems to be a refusal to see or accept nuance. I'm not even talking about moral complexity because I don't think that either Tamlin or Az intend to behave the way they do. They aren't villains. It just reminds me of people who somehow don't think Nesta was absolutely horrible through much of the series, even though a huge focus of her arc in acosf was coming to terms with how she had treated people. Anyway...

People see "gwynriel shipper" or "elucien 💕" in a bio and just dismiss arguments before trying to understand them

People try to justify their actions of their faves, which I understand!

People don't understand how subtle emotional abuse can be, and how there doesn't have to be clear intention.

I still plan on pulling out evidence from the book about times when their behaviors mirror one another. But it's like I've said for months - Tamlin is a cautionary tale. I don't think Azriel will go that far, but the foundation is there. The fact that acotar/acomaf was so, so explicit about how Tamlin's behavior was not okay, and yet people can see that same behavior in another character one book later and want to try to excuse it... sigh. Way to miss the point, fandom.

#the brielle tag #ask #not even gonna tag these characters #my stalkers will love this post though #💋#antielriel

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hp-fanfic-archive · 3 years

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an introductory rec list (that nobody asked for) for some of my favorite (platonic and/or romantic) pairings: severitus [2/10]

First fic I read for the pairing: Of Potions and Phobias by tt22123 [1k,G] Severitus story with nightmares [i stumbled on this fic on accident and it was short and sweet (and a little bittersweet at the end).]

Fic that really sold me on the pairing: Leo Inter Serpentes (Series) by Aeternum [746k,E,6 works] (WIP) Just one conversation between two eleven year old boys goes slightly differently, and the world changes. Just how much will be different with Harry being sorted into Slytherin, and how much will stay the same? [i will never not recommend this series: it’s amazing, it’s well-written, it’s true to all the characters and relationships and it feels more canon than canon (of course, it’s also significantly more gay than canon but i said what i said).]

Absolute favorite fic(s) for the pairing: Nobody Cared by etherian [360k,G] Harry is 11 years old and looking forward to attending Hogwarts. Why, then, does he miss the Welcoming Feast? (warnings for: child abuse, bullying, depictions of violence) [this fic is really well done (but has a lot of angst and definitely mind the warnings above (although the author doesn’t include warnings on the fic)).] Family Means More Than Blood by WingsOfADream [422k,M] A prophecy made in 1975 drastically changes the life of the boy who should have been known as Harry Potter. [this is yet another fic with a really well-written and fascinating plot with excellent characterizations and plot lines. i definitely would recommend it to someone with a lot of time on their hands.]

Most recent fic I’ve read for the pairing: Blackberry Tart by starknjarvis [33k,G] One year after Severus Snape offered to become Harry's legal guardian, Sirius Black shows up at Hogwarts. [the fic is a part of a well-written and pragmatic series and this fic also includes the development of a remus & severus and a sirius & severus friendship so that harry can have a larger and supportive family and i’m living for it (i believe the exact tag that the author used was “coparenting with your childhood nemesis” and i am living for it).]

Favorite AU(s) I’ve read for the pairing: Alternate Sorting AU (Slytherin!Harry): Malfoy Flavor by Vorabiza [199k,E] Harry’s ready to banish the Golden Boy image and take charge of his life. Unfortunately for him, or fortunately, there are surprises in store for him. [Slytherin!Harry but it’s not an entire canon rewrite like most of the alternate sorting fics i love so much, so that’s fun. also drarry and just the right amount of painful but realistic angst. oh and it has a delightfully fluffy little sequel.]

Favorite Series for the pairing: Forgiveness & Redemption by waitingondaisies [130k,T,2 works] Severus Snape was discovered as a spy mere days before the start of the school year. Thankfully, Albus had been working on a vague contingency plan for this possibility. It had been inspired by the question, “What would it take for Severus Snape to see that he was wrong about Harry Potter?” The answer? Force Severus to go undercover as Alfonse “Eli” Hopkirk, a sixth year Gryffindor. (that’s technically the summary for the first fic but i think it serves well enough in lieu of a series summary, which the author did not provide. also warnings for child abuse.) [this series is such an interesting concept and it feels very realistic in how it played out and i’m honestly here for it.] You're a Parent, Severus by acmparker [210k,G,6 works] (WIP) When Lily got home from her first year at Hogwarts, she found a new distance between herself and Petunia. As a result Severus and Lily became even closer to each other over that summer. The next year Lily found a book in the Hogwarts Library that describe an ancient ritual for creating a blood bond that would make two unrelated people kin. She convinces Severus to undergo the ritual with her and they become brother and sister. This means that when Lily dies there is another whose blood relationship with her is recognized by the blood ward Dumbledore places on Harry. To Severus Snape's chagrin he finds himself the last line of defense between Harry and the forces of the Dark Lord. (again, no series summary but i think this works well enough.) [i love a good remus and severus friendship plus severitus so this series really works for me. and it’s a canon rewrite (love those).] Bruised Words by starknjarvis [49k,G,2 works] (WIP) After Harry blows up Aunt Marge, Dumbledore decides it's not safe for Harry to spend the rest of the summer at the Leaky Cauldron, and instead sends him to stay at Spinner’s End with Professor Snape. It's tense, awkward, and teeming with misunderstandings...but it might be the best thing that's happened to either of them. They're both been without a family for a very long time. (apparently all my favorite series aside from Leo Inter Serpentes, which i’ve already listed above, don’t have series descriptions, but the first work’s description seems to work well enough. also warnings for child abuse.) [this is the series that blackberry tart belongs to and may i just say: it’s excellent and well-written and pragmatic and i would recommend it.]

Longest fic I’ve read for the pairing: A Year Like None Other by aspeninthesunlight [789k,T] A letter from home? A letter from family? Well, Harry Potter knows he has neither, but all the same, it starts with a letter from Surrey. Whatever the Durleys have to say, it can't be anything good, so Harry's determined to ignore it. But then, his evil schoolmate rival spots the letter and his slimy excuse for a teacher intercepts it and forces him to read it. And that sends Harry down a path he'd never have walked on his own. It will be a year of big changes, a year of great pain, and a year of confronting worst fears. It will be a year of surprising discoveries, of finding true strength, of finding out that first impressions of a person's true colours do not always ring true. It will be a year of paradigm shifts. And from the most unexpected sources, Harry will have a chance to have that which he has never known: a home ... and a family. A sixth year fic, this story follows Order of the Phoenix and disregards any canon events that occur after Book 5. (warnings for: graphic depictions of violence, self-harm, severe medical trauma) [the fic has some really dark parts but the plot is so intricate and fascinating and the relationships and dynamics are excellently written and the characterizations are spot on and i would definitely recommend it to anyone with a lot of time on their hands.]

Fic(s) with some of my favorite tropes: Sickfic + Hurt/Comfort: When He Called Me Dad by MarauderChaos [31k,Not Rated] It was only however as the end of his second year did Severus collect enough evidence and enough of his own courage to step in. The boy looked as though the world was ending when Severus brought him to his private quarters to see Madam Bones, and for a moment Severus felt the world was ending when someone recommended him as guardian. But that was how it ended, with Harry Potter becoming the ward of the Potions Master. It was kept a secret from the press and the students of Hogwarts – even his own Godson didn’t know, mainly because Lucius was bound to hear of it if he did and Severus didn’t want to risk their lives. They had their ups and downs, screaming and shouting, hexes and slamming doors, crying and hugging, laughing and actually having fun. But there was one moment that Severus would always remember, with its own fair share of good and bad, was the time he called him Dad. [i’m a sucker for hurt/comfort and accidental revelation of feelings, which in this case is the strength of harry’s platonic feelings, and this fic has all that so… yeehaw.] Accidental Bonding (but make it platonic): Love is... (series) by atiaahmed [133k,G,4 works] (WIP) This series revolves around how Snape starts to care about Harry because of a charm put on him by Ron and Hermione. The first story "Love is a charm" explores how their relationship changes because of the charm and what happens when it expires at the end of the year The second story explores how their relationship develops after the events of "Love is a charm". In "Love is a haven" other paternal figures, namely Lupin and Black will threaten Severus position with Harry. [i kind of like the platonic severitus take on one of my favorite hp tropes tbh and i like the way that their relationship develops and the realistic trust issues and such.]

#severitus #severus & harry #harry & severus #severitus fic rec #severitus fic list #severitus fic rec list #intro to my fav ships rec list #hp fic rec #hp fic rec list #hp fics #severitus fics #queue is for quibbler

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miimii-mean · 3 years

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_Kari's relationship with Aespa

>Rina

•Since Karina was the one that trained the longest after Kari they were really close with one another, along with Ningning

•It was like they were so close you most likely wouldn't see them without each other and prepared for their evaluations together.

•Kari often gets homesick so Karina always tries her best to make sure she's feeling okay.

•Tries teaching Karina her grandmas✨ infamous✨dumplings and brownies and let's just say... Their not the most presentable of things to show.

•they used to study about flowers a lot so after their first music bank show Kari surprised her with a bouquet of baby's breath💐

• they've described their relationship as being close sisters or even twins.(the fans say it's more of a mother/daughter)

•if you looked it up you could probably find predebut pics of them just hanging out.

•you know how they say opposites attract so that can be said with these two since Kari literally radiates sunshiney extrovert energy☀☀ and Karina is a shy introvert.

•Forehead kisses!!🎉

•Kari often sleeps with Karinas hoodies since she describes it as comfy and likes the smell of her🌵🤷

~A song to describe their relationship would be Purple by HyunA and E'Dawn.

>Rielle

•their kinda like those two goofy friends that joke around a lot in the back of class but you can't hate them, I don't make the I just follow them😌

•cue in kari begging giselle to teach her to rap

•kari:I promise I'll take it seriously✋"

•giselle: *barely even starting her line*

•kari: .....*busting out laughing for no reason at all*

•giselle: 😕😐 why do I even try?

•giselle is literally so soft her tho like kari could be like buy me a pair of crocs as a joke and she would buy it with no hesitation.🏃🏃

•Kari is legit spoiled with both LoVe💕💕 and wealth💸💸 by her sugar mommy- 😳 I mean bestie...

•lowkeu kinda possessive over kari but not as much as winter is.

•they practically share everything except drinks cause she thinks giselle backwashes😬

•another member that's like her non existent mother 💩

•endless hugs and kisses from these two

•giselle admires the friendliness kari showed when they first met each other.

>winri

•the definition of tom and jerry even though we all know they're both sort for each other.

•girlfriends of the group👭👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩

•If you know Minho and Hyunjin this is kinda what their dynamic is.

•dont worry its all just that good tough love😩💪❤

•nobody knows what sparked this but now its here so just deal with it ig.

•sarcastic remarks 24/7

•literally so loud for no reason🤸esp at night

•even if they 'hate' each other they always have their on the other whether it be holding hands or their arm on their waist🍄 ( if that makes sense)

•convience store trips at night cause that's how they bond.

•the Instagram photos they take give me these vibes☁🍻💫

•probably the most popular ship in the group but they don't mind 👻🙊

•legit obsessed and possessive over one another, for instance the one time Mark tried ask Kari if she wanted to eat lunch with him at the company and Winter was all like " ahem 😡ahem! We should get going NoW Kari!" and dragged her out of the studio

•lmao poor mark😞 Winter told kari how she should watch out for men and can only go out with her permission

•shares the same room

•Winter hates seeing Kari cry so she's really overprotective over her.

>rining

•two absolute cuties and use that to their advantage since they're both the youngest.

•As they were both in Smrookies they are very close and are both Chinese so they usually speak Mandarin to each other.

•since they're both singers they love to have karaoke nights together and with the other members sometimes

•both fans of Nct and Blackpink because they stan talent.

•Kari often plays pranks on the others and Ningning joins in 90% of the time

•annoys the others by randomly shouting at different k-drama characters.

•they adopted a cactus together and named it Mars🌵

•Ningning has met kari's grandma before so now they're really close 👵 that's just how it works.

•okay but their fashion style is soo good like it's unfair😤, you could throw a carpet on them and they'd find a way to style it well.

#aespa #aespa 5th member #5th member of aespa #fifth member of aespa #aespa fifth member #kpop soloist #kpop social media au #kpop au #kpop oc #kpop addition #idol oc #idol au #female kpop oc #female kpop additions #female kpop member #female kpop idol

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veliseraptor · 4 years

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Down in the Yi City Pit: A Recs Post

So as anyone following me may have noticed, I’ve been spiraling ever deeper into a pit called Yi City Feelings. I’m down at the bottom and I’m still digging. This also means I’ve been doing a lot of fic reading, and I figure it’s about time that I wrote a recs list, since I said I’d do it and some people expressed interest.

Heads up that I am a dirty Xue Yang stan first and foremost, so this list is going to skew in, uh, that direction. Just so we’re all aware.

Divided these into canonverse recs and modern au recs, since apparently this is the only thing I’ll read modern aus for! It’s a brave new world out here.

Also like. blanket warnings across the board here for The Inherent Dubiousness of Xue Yang/Xiao Xingchen as a Pairing, Generally. I’ll offer more specific/major ones as they’re relevant/I remember, but please check the tags/authors notes as well.

CANONVERSE

lover to your nightmare by Zaatar (@ameliarating) . Xue Yang uses Xiao Xingchen getting sick as an opportunity to fuck around a little. Second person POV sickfic, except XueXiao flavored sickfic which means it’s messy and full of good things like “delirium” and “people taking advantage of other peoples’ confusion and disorientation to mess with them psychologically.” This fic also does the thing I love really well where Xue Yang’s internal monologue/self-justification is full of indications that he’s having Feelings that he neither recognizes nor acknowledges. Crunchy, delicious.

Samsara / 輪迴 by ForgivenMemes. Upsetting fic full of every content warning ever alert! (Off the top of my head: violence, rape, suicide, self-harm.) I keep going back to this fic and rereading it because it hurts so bad and I love it, because it hurts in the best worst self-sabotage recapitulating-mistakes-over-and-over way. Like, I am a sucker for a time loop fic always, and usually I read them as a route to fixing things - but honestly I’ve always loved the part of time loop fics that’s “everything getting worse first.” And this is a whole fic of “everything getting worse.” Aka, the one where Xue Yang has thousands of chances to get it right, but there’s no getting it right.

compromise by Sectionladvivi. Xiao Xingchen convinces Song Lan and Xue Yang to kiss. (aka, obviously Yi City AU where Song Lan gets folded into things, Xiao Xingchen still doesn’t know about Xue Yang being Xue Yang, and an uneasy detente where the two of them don’t touch each other gets interrupted by Xiao Xingchen Wanting Things, which is, of course, a priority always).

til dawn by Sectionladvivi. Xue Yang takes care of Xiao Xingchen’s body after his death, and mind the tags. This is that perfect Yi City level of “horrifying and also very sad, I feel bad for my boy but also he is sort of defiling a corpse (though it is just kissing).” This might not sound like a recommendation but it is absolutely a recommendation.

Our Antebellum Innocence by spockandawe (@spockandawe). First time XueXiao. Xue Yang lays the groundwork for his first time with Xiao Xingchen with meticulous care. This author always delivers, both in terms of excellent porn and in terms of characterization, and this is no exception.

life’s illusions I recall by Sour_Idealist (@souridealist). The basics of this fic is just “outdoor sex at a river” and it is delicious for that, but what I love about it in particular is this author’s Xue Yang voice. It’s always good (they are the genius behind the incredible Jiang Yanli/Xue Yang fic - no, really), and this is a fic I come back to a lot for that reason. I also love the tag “two characters experiencing two very different fics” which feels like a very apt description for the XueXiao dynamic, generally speaking.

Selenographia by lightningwaltz. A lovely, short-ish fic about the Yi City years. I don’t feel like I have a good description for this one - it’s just one of those beautiful character/moment portrait pieces, very well done.

Stories from A Lonely City by blackwatervial. A series of snapshots/vignettes from the three years in Yi City. Sweetness, bittersweetness, and of course, ultimately, a sad end. This was one of the first Yi City fics I read.

yi city depression hours by glueskin (series). Just. You know. Some feelings. There’s two fics in this one, both short character study type fics making me feel feelings.

a bird caught in this winter blizzard by cherriru. I do love a good grief/mourning fic, especially featuring someone realizing slowly the sheer miserable depths of their fuck-up. Aka, Xue Yang after Xiao Xingchen’s death. It’s just sad.

all I ever knew of love by Sour_Idealist (@souridealist). See what I said above about the Xue Yang voice and this author; this one also featuring blistering hot porn (first time), a little light praise kink, and huddling for warmth as an excuse for sex. It’s a perfect blend of filth and tenderness and I love it.

revelations wallet wood burn art by Sectionladvivi. This one describes itself in the summary as “grim pwp” and yeah, that fits (and also! is such a XueXiao vibe, whoop whoop); it’s based off the simple premise of ‘Xue Yang tells Xiao Xingchen who he is, in the middle of sex.’ Honestly, one of my favorite things about this fic is the ending, which is horrifying in the best possible way.

Your Heart Inside My Hands by williamshooketh (@ectoplasm-james). This fic is fabulously made for me in the specific subgenre of “Xue Yang thinks he knows what he is getting into when having sex with Xiao Xingchen and, it turns out, does not.” This one featuring some of my favorite things including praise kink and Xue Yang getting extremely fucked up by someone being very nice to him.

Sleep Until the Sun Goes Down by spockandawe (@spockandawe). Love me some Xiao Xingchen seducing Xue Yang with candy. First time fic, second person POV, absolutely delightful.

pass the time by short_tandem_repeats (@yiling). A-Qing and Xue Yang bonding hours. I am actually such a sucker for their weird relationship (I don’t poke at it enough in my own stuff, should work on that) and the way they recognize each other in ways that Xiao Xingchen doesn’t, and also a-Qing having to reckon with the ways in which she’s more like Xue Yang than like Xiao Xingchen. Just a very good fic with a delightful a-Qing.

Three Springs by Verbana. Just a really excellent Xiao Xingchen POV of the three years in Yi City and a developing relationship between Xiao Xingchen and Xue Yang. Beautifully written, a lovely escalation, and I’m absolutely delighted by the gentle loneliness of the Xiao Xingchen POV here.

Red Azalea by CeNedraRiva (@cenedrariva) (WIP). A longfic in progress following the continuing adventures of the Yi City Crew after Xiao Xingchen survives his suicide attempt and Xue Yang reconsiders some life choices. Recently got tag-updated to SongXueXiao which has me absolutely thrilled. Updates every Wednesday.

ephemeral by im_krying (WIP). Xue Yang, traveling around wearing Xiao Xingchen’s face, decides it is time to go looking for the last remaining part of Xiao Xingchen that he doesn’t already possess. That is to say, the eyes in Song Lan’s head. I’m really curious where this is going - it smells up my alley at this point though it’s been a bit since the last update.

Heaven Has a Road But No One Walks It by Silvestris (@silvysartfulness) (WIP). Things I love: beating on Xue Yang, SongXueXiao, terrible road trips, fix-its where there’s a lot of suffering involved. Things this fic has: all of the above. I’m in love.

MODERN AU

(There are other recs to this one but for various reasons (pwp reasons) triggered my self-consciousness slightly too much to put on this post. Go check my bookmarks, you’ll find stuff there.

Most of these are PWP to greater or lesser extents (Rewritten and Misalignment are, I’d say, the exceptions); all very hot and fantastically written.)

circling like vultures by brawlite (@brawlite) (series). Truly quality porn, featuring mostly Xue Yang/Song Lan both pining for Xiao Xingchen, which is a thing that it turns out I really like. The sex is rough and mean and I’m really into it. (Okay, mostly the sex in the first one is mean, the second one is actually XueYao, and the third one is actually verging on nice. Wow! Growth. Anyway, it’s all very good and very My Scene.

Rewritten by incendir (series). This series is like. Everything I want from a modern AU and that was true even before the most recent fic gifted me a beat up Xue Yang suffering, so you know. I don’t have a good summary for this series other than that it’s basically a married Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen adopting Xue Yang as a third partner and it’s just. So well done, such good writing, such good characterization, I would read 20,000 more words of this and probably still be hungry.

catalyst by Ajaxthegreat. If there is a porny fic I’ve reread more than this one, I’m not sure what it would be. I’ve reread this one a lot. It’s very good. It’s very hot. I’m trying not to be self-conscious. SongXueXiao first time rough sex and boy is it tasty.

biting the bullet by Sectionladvivi. Xiao Xingchen doesn’t want to have to choose between his two boyfriends and so he doesn’t. Sectionladvivi in general writes some very sexy modern au PWP (including a few different Xue Yang/Lan Wangji fics which...didn’t see that one coming! But it works when they do it), so general rec for author but this one (as, you know, SongXueXiao porn), is one of my favorites, probably.

sxx configurations by rynleaf (series). This is a SongXueXiao series on AO3 based off of @kevinkevinson‘s modern reincarnation AU and I am in love with both the art for that AU (go look!) and these fics, they’re so good, I’ve reread several times.

Misalignment by Kasasagi (WIP). The one with a reincarnated Xue Yang and a Xiao Xingchen who arrives in the modern world from the past, fresh off his suicide.

And Once Again, if I’m Allowed to Rec My Own Fic

a kindness you can’t afford. Early days in Yi City after Xue Yang wakes up.

lick your exit wounds. I wanted canonverse-era bottom Xue Yang praise kink, so I wrote it for myself in the hopes others would also find this an interesting prospect.

this place could be beautiful. Xue Yang vs. domestic living.

tear out all your tenderness. Xue Yang gets turned on by murder and makes it a project to get Xiao Xingchen to lose control.

the beauty of your repair. PWP, modern AU SongXueXiao; there’s not an inkling of plot here, it’s really just an excuse to get Xue Yang wrecked, but nicely.

#finally posting this!!!#yi city crew #fic rec #song lan #xue yang #xiao xingchen #i'm sure i'm missing things but there's only so much i can do #xuexiao #songxue #songxuexiao

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mira--mira · 3 years

Note

Madara and Hashirama for the ask meme 👀

Hashirama

What I love about them:

I really love Hashirama's stubborn optimism. I say "stubborn" here bc I think after a certain point of pain in misery in someone's everyday life, in some way it is a choice to remain optimistic despite that suffering. I don't characterize Hashirama as constantly happy and he can recognize the more realistic/pessimistic possibilities, he just refuses to accept them. I have it in my notes for OoT but haven't worked it in verbatim but Madara would call him "ruthlessly optimistic " and while that's tinged with Madara's own bias, I think it fits quite well.

What I hate about them:

Hashirama is stubbornly optimistic LOL. It's a double-edged sword and I think by the time he reached adulthood in a canon setting, Hashirama was so desperate for there to be peace he maintained his "everything will work out" attitude when he otherwise shouldn't have. There were the concerns with Madara and the Uchiha, his own brothers views that he certainly should have recognized could become a problem, and, after depending on when Tobirama took on students/how old they were, the possibility of biases being passed down and a Danzo like figure coming to power. However this was not Hashirama's responsibility alone to fix. I don't think, despite his love, Hashirama alone could have kept Madara in a village that hated him and a clan that distrusted him. Tobirama was an adult and let his own bias pass under a veil of "logic" and passed that, either intentionally or unintentionally down to his students. None of this is Hashirama's fault, but I think part of the canon story being a tragedy was he was blinded by a bright, hopeful future that he failed to see the early signs right in front of him.

Favorite Moment/Quote:

"To me, Madara was like a gift from the divine."

Even thinking about it makes me melt. It's so sweet and really emphasizes how much Madara means to him. 🥺

What I would like to see more focus on:

In fics? Hashirama's mental health and how his childhood affected him. Most of the long fics I've read focus on Madara. Which I understand, Madara has an arc into becoming a villain while Hashirama is just kinda "there" and it's easy for him to fulfill a support role to helping Madara in canon Au fics. A sort of unshakeable, always optimistic stone for Madara to depend on and stop his downward spiral into villainy. But, what makes hashimada so great for me is that Madara and Hashirama are equals. There will be times one falters and needs to depend on the other, and they're capable of giving each other that support. It'd also be great to see Hashirama struggle yet continue to choose optimism and compassion time after time because that feels more weighty and important than an eternally optimistic characterization that never wavers.

Headcanon wise...this isn't something I've found but desperately want to see (and will come up in all of my own aus) is the connection between the god tree and the god of shinobi who's famed ninjutsu is wood release and who's cells can be used for everything under the sun and are specifically needed to control the gedo statue / ten-tails. 👀 Look when I got back into Naruto and only vaguely knew about the war arc plot I thought Kishimoto was Doing Something with that. He was not. I am.

What I would like to see less focus on:

This is pretty much mentioned above but Hashirama as mainly a support for Madara rather than getting his own (non romantic) arcs in long canon Au fics. Headcanon wise, this is such a small nitpick, but Hashirama constantly being the one described as warm whereas Madara is cold. The big tree can *retain* heat, but he pales in comparison to Madara's ability to *generate* heat.

Favorite pairing with:

Hashimada (Hashirama x Madara)

No one should be surprised. I can wax prose about this for days but it's about ultimately finding someone else in a terrible world that *understands* you that you can grow with and support. I'm a sucker for friends to lovers and battle couples so guess what's right up my alley?

Favorite friendship:

Canon/BoaF- Hashirama & Mito

I know Madara & Mito is more popular, and I do love their dynamic but christ Hashirama needs friends outside Madara and Tobirama and I think they'd be good friends. Canon!Mito would provide a good level-headed perspective and wouldn't have the messy, complicated history like the three founders have together and it'd be good for Hashirama to get a break from that. BoaF!Mito and Hashirama are cousins their relationship eventually progresses to a sibling-like bond. They’re quite protective of each other and gossip endlessly together. Mito’s not as good as gardening, but they do it together and incorporate Uzumaki sealing techniques for certain houseplant decorations. Mito also might know about Madara 👀

OoT-Hashirama & Sakura or Hashirama & Sai

His and Sakura's relationship is p similar to how I would characterize his and Mito's but with the added hilarity of Sakura being his "student" yet having 0 deference for him once they actually get to the "teaching" part (surprise: Hashirama's most uttered lines are "you do the thing, you know the thing, you know you just...do it. The thing. Madara "translates" a lot of their sessions.) Hashirama and Sai antagonize each other constantly and he *will* tease Sai into oblivion as any older brother would. Tobirama never reacted to Hashirama's mischief in ~fun~ ways and he felt bad about messing with Itama, who was even more emotional than he was and Kawarama, who hero-worshipped him. Sai is the perfect "if anyone messes with you I will personally make them regret being born yet *I* will tease you mercilessly to my hearts content" kind of little brother.

NOTP:

Hashitobi (Hashirama x Tobirama)

I don't do incest. At all. Even "non-incest" aus where they aren't technically related squick me out.

Favorite headcanon:

Hashirama can Speak to the trees.

Either humorously or seriously, I love this kinda, sorta, maybe not quite human power.

Madara

What I love about them:

Madara is kind and does his best to do what he thinks is right. The “kind” point is a lot of Hashirama talking/flashbacks and the “good” intention behind the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Making everyone a “winner” in the dreamworld, while absolutely insane and full of holes, is odd for a villain’s motivation. His role in the war arc is mostly focused on watching him wreck absolutely everyone he comes into contact with but I love Hashirama’s flashbacks and the glimpses of kid!Madara we get. Madara believed in his philosophy from a lifetime of pain that ended in him losing everything and being manipulated but he was still seeking a way to “help” the most people he could. He’s such a rich character that makes it easy to want to imagine other what-if scenarios where things turned out just a bit differently.

What I hate about them:

Madara takes all responsibility onto himself. This is more speculation because we don’t get Madara’s POV of his childhood or any significant scenes with the clan. However, I think this is one of the primary roots of most of Madara’s problems. If he blamed himself for mistakes that weren’t technically his, he could get into a cycle where he only blames himself and doesn’t seek help/support when he should have and purposefully reduces his support circle because he becomes paranoid that he won’t be able to protect them. A smaller issue that is both about Madara and not is he didn’t fall victim to the Talk no Jutsu, but was Madara aware of what was happening when he was possessed(?) by Kaguya? I forgot but if he wasn’t...I don’t think he’d agree Hashirama’s way was the right way at the end, merely his way was wrong. Because, in Madara’s point of view, the village may have been “better” (used very loosely) than becoming food/power for an alien goddess but it wasn’t good. It wasn’t the solution. Hashirama saying they were both wrong in some way saved the scene but Madara still jumped back to Hashirama’s dream being the right one too quickly imo.

Favorite Moment/Quote:

“What are you going to do about the second [meteor] Onoki?”

I’m sorry, that was just hilarious. We see this man slaughter an entire division and drop a meteor from the sky...two kages desperately try to stop it and it looks like they managed to succeed and he just...cool. What about the second? Really cemented Madara is Here and he is Dramatic. A close second fav is him flying across the battlefield to confront Hashirama only for the “I’ll deal with you later” line.

What I would like to see more focus on:

I really love it when fics fill in the blanks of Madara’s childhood/his time with the Uchiha so that’s always a plus for me. The other thing is Hashirama calls Madara a “fundamentally kind man” and according to Tobirama the Uchiha feel love “too deeply” so I like fics that do focus on these aspects of Madara’s personality while staying true to his prickly demeanor. For headcanons I love, love, love exploring kekkei genkai/ninjutsu/genjutsu and how they individually affect people/clans. Digging deeper so that “fire affinity” means constantly running hot/pushing into possibly having fire resistance/unable to distinguish “too hot” / or even affinity acting like a secondary blood type so even if two people had AB blood if one had a water affinity and the other fire their blood would be incompatible. Also the mundane ways powers can be used (I have some Ideas for non-combat genjustu applications that the Uchiha use and those will come up in OoT 👀)

What I would like to see less focus on:

This again kinda ties into the Hashirama segments, but Madara completely depending on Hashirama and Hashirama alone for happiness. Especially in long AUs where he’s still in Konoha but has a poor relationship with the Uchiha. That’s fine starting out! But if the fic ends or doesn’t seriously work on improving that relationship it just sits a bit weird with me bc I don’t think Madara could be truly happy in that situation. (NSFW start) The other thing I see commonly is Madara is extremely passive/submissive in bed with Hashirama which is...weird to me? There’s also a reoccurring thing where he doesn’t have a lot of experience but Hashirama does and this leads to embarrassment and the aforementioned passive/submissiveness. I understand lack of experience can be embarrassing and I do believe Madara could be embarrassed, but instead of withdrawing into himself I think he’d push through it with something close to bravado and his usual single-minded intensity, for better or worse. I do think Madara usually bottoms in his and Hashirama’s relationship but both of them are as enthusiastic about sex as they are fighting and neither is especially submissive or dominant. (NSFW end)

Favorite pairing with:

Hashimada (Hashirama x Madara)

See absolutely everything else 😂

Favorite friendship:

Canon/BoaF- Madara & Naori or Madara & Hikkaku

I really like focusing on the Uchiha clan and exploring the dynamics within it. We get nothing about Madara’s early life outside of Hashirama so this is almost completely speculation. For the angst of canon, I like Madara being close to his clan only to lose them after his friendship with Hashirama is revealed bc he awakened his sharingan over Hashirama and that can’t be easily hidden. For BoaF, a large part of it is exploring the clans’ cultures before they made the village so this necessitates actually fleshing out said clans. Naori and Izuna are v similar in personality and both live to prank Madara and annoy him, but they hardly ever team up bc they start squabbling amongst themselves. Hikakku is stoic and calm in contrast to Naori’s mania and Madara’s intensity but he keeps track of every little favor and Madara dreads the day he’ll act on them because he knows it’ll result in something embarrassing for him. But like all BoaF!Uchiha, they’re fiercely protective of one another and you really don’t want to insult the wrong person.

OoT - Madara & Naruto or Madara & Sai

I really Madara and Naruto’s dynamic, it’s very entertaining and fun for me to write and they’re both positive influences on each other. Madara gets more people to smother with his brand of affection and Naruto gets early recognition and training. Their weird non-training shenanigans (coupon collecting, gaming, etc.) also is p amusing. Madara and Sai have a similar relationship but I really like writing theirs from Sai’s POV bc he insists that he doesn’t feel close/like when Madara treats him like a little brother when he really does.

NOTP:

Madatobi (Madara x Tobirama)

Logically, I know why this pairing is popular. Fanfic is saturated with the enemies to lovers trope yet emotionally I Do Not Understand it. Personally, I don’t enjoy toxic relationships, to read or write. And, to me, that’s what a close canon Madara and Tobirama pairing would be. Tobirama tried to convince Hashirama to kill him, he killed Izuna, even if it was in war, and I don’t think Madara could or would get over that. If Tobirama has similar attitudes about the Uchiha it makes it worse. AUs exist to rewrite this, of course, but I still don’t enjoy their romantic chemistry. At best, I like Tobirama and Madara as reluctant frenemies who insult each other and try to one-up each other.

Favorite headcanon:

Madara is fire proof.

I have a whole rant about this in OoT’s author notes 😂 Sasuke’s Amaterasu should have been a serious threat when it hit him. Instead the man just lets his clothes fall off then kicks their asses. He’s fire proof.

In response to the ask game:

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cyberfairyblog · 3 years

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Why Jillian Sucks

Hi, welcome to Odyssey Mystery Hour! I'm your host @gritsandbrits and today I'll be talking about a hot topic in the AIO fandom! Wanna know the tea? Keep on reading!

In the weeks I started getting back into the radio series, the newer episodes have started to irk me, mostly because of one of the more annoying additions: Jillian. Marshall. 😬😬😬

Even though I ship Jason with my self insert OC this not going to be about her. There's a lot of reasons why I do NOT like the idea of Jillian x Jason becoming a canon thing on the show. I hope to describe these feelings as best I can.

Who is Jillian you might ask?

Well to put it simply, Jillian is what happens when a Soccer Mom and a TikTok boyfriend mate and spawn an unholy baby and name them Rachel Berry. Out of the aspects of Nu!Odyssey I dislike, Jillian is the one thing I truly despise. Thankfully I've met fans who share the exact sentiment! 😁😒

Double-N Annoying, Double-O Nincompoop

Making her debut in 2018, Jillian is described as lively and upbeat, if a little high strung and immature; the perfect recipe for Kid Appeal! Before she moved to Odyssey she lived in different cities and worked nineteen jobs before becoming roommates with Connie and her sister Jules.

Now this is actually a fairly interesting set up: a new character struggling to find purpose only to discover it in a quaint small town. But as it turns out her going through that many jobs seems to be more than just struggling to find purpose.

When I first saw her design my thought immediately went to the smarmy classmates I went to school with.

We're introduced with this iconic line: "Hi!! I'm Jillian Marshall, double-L Jillian, double-L Marshall! It's so nice to meet you!"

With that one sentence I knew I was about to die.

The following episode has Jillian bumbling through every job interview much to Connie's duress after which she conveniently ending up working at Triple J Antiques...the same place Jason works!

A little backstory on Jason: he is the adult son of John Whittaker, one of the show's main character, and a bit of an Ensemble Darkhorse. He was introduced as a secret agent meant to bring action and intrigue into the show. He was set up as a charismatic and reckless sort of guy clashing with the calmer Jack Allen. After the Green Ring Conspiracy Saga, Jason officially retired from James Bonding and settled down to work at the Allen's antique shop.

Given his immense popularity there's understandable concern for how he is written and who he gets paired up with. So what does that have to do with Jillian.

Well, the idea of Jillian working at the same exact place as Odyssey's resident bachelor and calling him cute raises a few eyebrows.

"B-but Grits all she did was call him cute! You're reaching too far into this!"

Am I? Look I know this wouldn't be much of a big deal too but that is a subtle tactic the writers threw in to get the cogs turning for Jillison. Jason is clearly uninterested and even implied to dislike her. Jillian bemoans this but Connie reassures her that that's not the case. But hey at least she called him cute so OF COURSE she's going to end up being his love interest!

To me removing a character's core trait to justify a romance means you do NOT know how to actually write a compelling romance. It's trite, it's forced and painful to listen to.

It's also obvious she's a replacement for Bernard, given they have similar personalities and her brief stint on TV (which she also failed at lol). But whereas Bernard was actually endearing, Jillian seems more of a cliche womanchild with zero self awareness and tact. No actual depth, just a personality that is incredibly dumbed down and even insulting. Seriously they made her the dumb blond stereotype in an era where we should've moved on from that! 🤦

Did I mention she goes to church?

Yep she's gonna be one of those Christians.

Literally Loveless, Literally!

Oddly enough the narrative frames this as a rivals to lovers thing, where Jason is both the charismatic friendly guy and the super uninterested Straight Man. The constant twisting the turning makes him go OOC. See we know he's fit better as the former because that goes in line with his canon personality. But when they make him the latter he just comes off as unnecessarily mean. This is turns frames Jillian as someone we should pity: "Oh the attractive male doesn't like me because I went into his office without permission!!"

Wouldn't it make more sense for Jillian to be the one uninterested in a romance since her focus in to find a job/better purpose and romance might distract her? That would make a fun subplot...IF SHE WASN'T OBNOXIOUS!

A pattern I noticed and several fans pointed out: Jason's previous love interests were consistent in that they were strong minded women who challenged him in different ways. Their personalities bounced off creating a fun dynamic that was entertaining to see. Even though they didn't end up with him, you can still see and hear and feel their chemistry which is my goal for Jason x OC. Tasha doesn't make Jason OOC & they had a bittersweet arc, so their interactions were organic. Monica only made him OOC because she was a villain actively manipulating him. So again that worked in terms of story and led to Monica's redemption if my memory serves.

However, Jillian's dynamic is not that fun to listen to. You can feel her annoying Jason through the airwaves. She's strong but only in the sense of feeling something hard underneath your back laying on the bed and realizing that's just your earbud. She's vibrant yes but what else? She doesn't have any unique traits to contrast Jason, and any attempt at a contrast would mean making him act out of character. Adding her bumbling clumsiness and annoying voice, Jason would get tired of her very quickly. He's the type to go for people to have intelligent conversations with, not make him lose braincells. She could very well bring out the worse in him, it'll be an unhealthy relationship.

Here's a tidbit worth mentioning: the VA for Jillian actually auditioned with Jason's VA Townsend Coleman. Now that is big ass red flag right there! No hate towards the actress, just throwing that out there. There's also a facebook page dedicated to Jillison. Typical FB stupidity ramped up to eleven, or AIO fans who see something in Jillian; or at least THINk they see something worthwhile in her.

It doesn't help the writers keep insisting that these two go well together. The audience knows they do not work well as a pair but the narrative keeps insisting they are anyways. I recall an episode that had them pretend to be married while undercover and it was bad. Like REALLY humiliating to see Jason put in that position. He also told her to shut up much to my joy because she could NOT stop being irritating for five minutes. Alas the show still tries to justify Jillian being the Perfect Woman for Jason when she's anything but. And not even endearingly imperfect.

Follow Up

These tags I wrote on one of the AIO posts describes how I feel about Villain Marshall and the Jillison coupling as a whole. It just wouldn't work because Jason needs someone that can actually CHALLENGE him, have their own personality that can bounce off his (without being forced), and most importantly DOESN'T AGGRAVATE THE FANDOM!!

I have not met a single person anywhere that say they like Jillian. It's a different story apparently on the Club App - they like her for reasons I'm too cowardly to find out. But no, she sucks as a character. She makes a annoying friend, and is not a good addition to the show, much less a good love interest.

The only good thing she brought us are the nicknames we gave her 😌

That's all for now thank you for tuning into the Odyssey Mystery Hour. Next week I'll be talking a bit more about my OC Vanessa and her role in the world of Odyssey! Goodbye and make sure to lock your doors to prevent Jillian from coming in!!

#adventures in odyssey #jason whittaker #anti jillison #aio #rant #radio drama #adventures in odyssey radio show #jillian marshall #anti jillian marshall

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hpffwritersguild · 3 years

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NSFW Workshop: An Introduction to Plot-Driven Smut Section Six

by JassDisaster (Lunatik_Pandora)

Section 6: Sweet Nothings and Dirty Talk

As we've touched on in earlier sections, conversations are perfectly natural in the course of sex. Your characters may be giving or receiving direction, or encouragement, or maybe being a little shit and mouthing off. Maybe they didn't finish their argument from earlier and are just that committed to it. Maybe they're having a quickie between a bunch of other tasks and are going over chores or a grocery list or something. Point is, the words exchanged between your characters are just as important as other things they may be exchanging in that scene.

What does dialogue accomplish? Shows dynamic between two or more characters. Advance/address the plot in some way. Literally gives your character(s) voice and personality. Sets the tone for a scene. Absence of dialogue can also create tension and/or show a deeper bond, depending on other non-verbal cues described.

What kinds of dialogue are common during sex scenes? Banter. Dirty talk (ranging from a simple "You like that?" to full on roleplay.) Instructions/directions (logistical stuff from "harder" to "I want you to X" to "if you need me to stop, the word is red.")

You might also have language slips. When your character is deep down in it, they may not be stringing sentences together. You have the option of flat-out saying that they're speaking nonsense, or you can show the half-formed words and sounds they're making. Characters that don't normally swear might let something slip. Bilingual characters might revert to their native tongue. Your mileage may vary! Example: I write Remus as a native Welsh speaker. He often slips into Welsh during times of heightened emotion or lowered inhibition, such as in those few moments before he comes.

Whether or not you choose to include dialogue, think about what it will bring to your scene: is it necessary? You could leave it at things being murmured, gasped, etc without specifying.

EXERCISE 6: Choose at least two of the above types of dialogue and write them into a scene (the purpose of this exercise is to practice HOW to write it. Learning WHEN to write it comes with practice, and depends entirely on what kind of scene you’re writing.)

Example, with banter/instructions: (pairing: Remadora, Tonks POV, light D/s, explicit)

“Good.” She reached between them, grasping his cock firmly, sliding her hand slowly up and down its length. His eyes started to flutter closed. “Remus, eyes on me, please. Pay attention.” He locked his gaze back on her.

“Yes ma'am.”

“Good boy. Now, I know you’ve some trouble retaining this, and I'm going to do my best to make sure it,” she tightened her grip briefly; he hissed through his teeth. “Sinks in, but you’re a wonderful, kind, loving man who would walk through fire for his family. You did.”

“Only after I‒” She immediately stopped moving her hand. He groaned, realizing what she was doing. “Oh no.”

“Oh yes, sir. Now, what were you saying?” He squirmed beneath her slightly.

“That I did a very difficult thing… and should be proud of it?” She resumed stroking him, and he almost sighed with relief.

“That's right. And as far as the past is concerned, you didn't have any control over that, I'm afraid.”

“But‒” she withdrew her hand again. “Fucking‒ annheg!”

“What are the rules?”

“No arguing?”

“And?”

“M'not arguing, I'm explaining‒”

“Are you really trying to argue with me about the meaning of the word ‘argue’? I mean here I am sitting astride you completely naked‒”

“Mostly naked‒”

“You've missed your calling as a fucking barrister‒”

“They couldn't handle me‒”

“If you're quite done quibbling over semantics, I'd rather like to fuck you, so if you could kindly stop being a little shite, I'd bloody well appreciate it.”

He pursed his lips slightly, clearly not wanting to be done being a little shite, but willing to give her the win for now. Let it never be said this man doesn't have his priorities.

#writing smut #writing advice #fanfiction

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zocrzay · 3 years

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I am coming clean and admitting I've had an unhealthy obsession these past few weeks analyzing the break up of Katie & Greg, my favorite ship from the entire Bachelor/ette franchise. I went down hard with this ship as it crashed and burned. From the beginning, I loved their chemistry and even if some say they were just trauma bonding over the passing of their fathers, I felt they had so much more going for them. I just figured out why I can't shake this pair out of my head.

Here it is: Katie & Greg remind me of Lizzie & Darcy from Pride & Prejudice, one of the greatest love stories ever told. The idea that a couple similar to a favorite fictional pairing could exist in real life had awakened the hopeless romantic in me.

Greg is totally Mr. Darcy. He is a family man, adorably awkward, reserved, internally tormented, but also deeply passionate. He's willing to dance to encourage affection.

Katie is like Lizzie. She is strong-willed, proud (maybe too proud), and has a sharp tongue. She gives no one permission to insult her. She loves her family even though they're embarrassing. Katie does not quite fit in with other women, but that is why she is so interesting.

The opposite personalities of Lizzie & Darcy made their playful banter and relationship dynamic so enjoyable. They challenged each others' ideas. They expanded each others' consciousness as they learned more about each other. This was synergy at its finest.

Katie is from hipster Seattle while Greg is from fuss-free Jersey - two very different worlds at opposite ends of America. They brought these worlds together in beautiful balance. When they split, the Bachelor Nation fandom was divided like a broken family. At least Greg owned up the error of his ways, but Katie seems dead set on hating him. Eventually, the false narratives she tells herself to keep her walls up will unravel . I hope she faces the facts and owns up to her part in the communication breakdown. When Greg was most vulnerable, Katie could not show a hint of honest affection. She accused him of giving up on the relationship moments after he confessed his love for her. Katie only spoke of herself as a prize to be won, but to Greg, she meant so much more than just that. I hope she realizes the profound truth in what Greg was trying to tell her the day he left her. True love is more than just keeping up appearances for a show and more than just physical attraction. It is more than just saying the words "I love you" or handing out roses. Katie and Greg were more than just two hot people who were mutually attracted to each other. They had divine harmony when they were together... until they were burned by the heat of their own fire.

It is nice to know Greg just wants Katie to be happy, but I do not believe Katie & Blake have the secret sauce. Good for them for having a lot of sex, but from what I know, that kind of connection is not long term sustainable. If banging each other is the main reason they're together, they'll eventually get bored. Blake fell in love so easily with two previous Bachelorettes and that cheapens his affection for Katie. I'm sure he can bounce back quickly if Katie left him. Sorry man. Blake seems like a great person, but his intellect does not seem to match hers ("You don't have to be great. You just have to be you." dafuq?). I thought she was smarter, but maybe her flippant use of the term 'gaslighting' proves otherwise. It is shamefully elitist to point that out, but honestly, their conversation was drab when they weren't talking about sex. There are a lot of hot horny ladies out there that Blake might have more chemistry with than her. He was not even sure he wanted to propose and it was mean to tease her in the proposal speech with "I don't think I can give you what you came here for". The Say Anything references were also cringeworthy. We did not see their love get tested. She was like a damsel in distress and Blake just swooped in to save her season of the show just because he happened to be there. It was quite dull. The 'conclusion' of their journey was really unsatisfying. Katie describing their love story as "perfect" just shows the lack of depth in their relationship.

Lizzie & Darcy were such beloved characters because they were both flawed. They both made mistakes, but because of their love, they were willing to overcome their pride and their prejudice. They corrected course and became the best versions of themselves at the end of the story before choosing to be together. "I was wrong" are three words that make the words "I love you" so much more meaningful. True love is transformational. Feelings of attachment are not true love unless there is consciousness. The best love stories are not about lovers conquering outside forces, but conquering their own inner demons. People truly in love consciously choose to grow together in spirit, not in spite of their imperfections, but because of them.

Greg was impatient and had unrealistic expectations. He should have given Katie more chances to figure out what he was saying. Maybe she found his desperation unattractive. Maybe if he helped her off the floor and said goodbye properly, she might have flown out to Jersey to go after him. Katie was shallow when she could only say "I just love looking at you" and spoke to Greg as if he were just a contestant on a game show. It seemed as if his pain was just an inconvenience to her. She seemed untrustworthy. If she had stronger feelings for Blake or was still undecided, openly expressing that to Greg would have been more respectable than stringing him along to dump him later. If Greg was the one she wanted the most, she looked incredibly fickle switching her affection to whoever was still available. Most people have not been in her situation, so it is tough to judge.

Lizzie Bennet said a lot of mean things, but she was a strong female character because she was able to learn from her mistakes and grow as a person without compromising her core values. She was in love with Darcy for his character and integrity. He was courageous, generous, and compassionate - his appearance, his wealth and his status were least important to her. He proved his love for Lizzie by his selfless acts of kindness to her family even after she accused him of being a pompous ass.

Greg staying out of the way to honor Katie's decision and let her be happy with Blake is an act of love. Him working on himself in therapy is another way to prove the love he had for her was real. Only Katie knows the inner conflict she's been facing. If she truly loved Blake, resolving her conflict with Greg will help her and Blake in the long run - otherwise their relationship will be haunted by the past. If life with Greg was always her true heart's desire, love will find a way even in the most impossible circumstances.

It really is not fair to compare real human beings to fictional characters - especially the exceptionally (maybe unrealistically) strong characters written by Jane Austen. I am just sharing my thoughts before I watch the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie for the hundredth time. I just want the satisfying ending I could not get from watching reality TV before I move on to my next obsession.

#The Bachelorette Season 17 #The Bachelorette #The Bachelor #Greg Grippo #Katie Thurston #katie x greg #lizzie x darcy #Bachelor Nation #ships in the night #hyperfixation

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la-carcassa-famiglia · 4 years

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yo do tell us about harmonization. i never really cared for the concept tbh i think because i dont really read many fanfics with the sky users (oops) so it doesnt come up often but i am curious to your opinion

Hoo boy I have a lot of thoughts and I’m gonna put it in a read more. Not just for length, but because I do feel like this concept is deeply flawed and I have strong opinions on it

For people who don’t know, harmonization is a fanon interpretation of how the sky flame’s attribute of “harmony” interacts with the other flames. Other flames can “harmonize” with the sky and create a flame bond, to the point where they can all feel each other’s physical/emotional pain or even hear each other’s thoughts. It can vary from author to author but these are the main themes and it’s a surprisingly very widespread thing.

▲ My main issue with it is the extreme codependency that happens between the sky and other flames. It just seems manipulative that because of this bond, you can’t ever leave the sky user, or doing so puts you both in excruciating pain. Even if I think most of Tsuna’s friends are loyal as hell by their own will, people can change and leave you, that’s a part of life. Harmonization takes away that agency and automatically makes the dynamic really unhealthy.

▲ The above point is even worse when they physically can’t be away from each other. Some fics have it so Lambo can’t have other friends?? These characters are all kids and I think this would fuck them up pretty hard developmentally, not to mention a majority of the authors writing these are adults and the theme of possessiveness is so creepy. Like some characters will tell each other “you have to stay with us/me for your safety” and that’s just, not great??

▲ A huge part of KHR is showing how Tsuna develops positive relationships with the people around him, including anyone who isn’t a guardian. I think this concept really undermines his friendships outside of that circle (with Basil, Kyoko, Haru, Enma, etc). It’s like no matter how hard he tries to connect with other people outside of the fucking bond, it doesn’t count as a meaningful relationship.

▲ Another thing that rubs me the wrong way is that the guardians are drawn to Tsuna because of his powerful flames. Again, this also goes against the basis of KHR. Tsuna isn't some powerful badass that people are crawling over themselves to talk with. He's just an average kid who gets bullied. The reason all his guardians are so loyal to him is because he earned their trust by making real connections to them. They've gone through so much together that they're genuinely really close friends because of that, not because of some kind of supernatural property.

▲ I feel like there’s also a huge issue with consent where they can’t choose who they bond with. It’s a fated thing apparently. I’ve heard of a lot of abhorrent fics where Nana was forced to be with Iemitsu because of this and the content is pretty genuinely disgusting.

▲ It's not great how a lot of fics make it so the guardians are the only people that matter to one another. They don't have a life outside of Tsuna at all. At best it makes for bland characterization and at worst no one should rely on one person so heavily.

▲ This is a weaker point because we make fics to deviate from canon but I feel that it’s worth noting: it’s confirmed in canon that flames have no definite correlation to personality. If anything, it’s mainly their role in fights/a group. There are no set rules. It’s like zodiac signs, everyone has one and there are traits associated with them, but they don’t define your entire person. I get why people want to play with the correlation concept because flames are sick as hell but doing that by creating harmonization where it’s so absolutely ingrained in their existence is just... weird.

▲ Harmonization is usually paired with really weird flame lore. Like, they assign personality traits to the flames that are really extreme and just not how the character actually functions. One example is that cloud is supposedly very possessive and territorial, and they make Hibari act like a fucking animal and describe it as pack bond and that's weird as fuck. In the worse fics, it's really just an excuse to have ABO without making it an ABO fic. With minors. It’s so instinctual and animalistic???

▲ There's this whole thing about having one of each flame type to complete the set and feel whole I guess, which is already weird but also contradictory to canon. Tsuna has two mists and Xanxus doesn't have a cloud at all. Did Xanxus flame bond with the robot being powered by his adoptive father? What's going on there.

▲ There are cases where characters will use Rain flames to calm down a sad or angry person. In theory sounds fine, but usually in these fics the other person didn’t consent to it. It’s emotionally manipulative and you’re basically just sedating them. There is no communication going on and it’s treated like it’s a good thing and that the rain user is being helpful. In fact, there’s rarely any good communication in these fics at all. People just use their flames to do everything because they’re such a overwhelmingly big focus.

▲ Harmonization fics often seem like an excuse to put Tsuna in pain by losing everyone he cares about, and it ends up being more deeply uncomfortable than angsty or fun to read.

▲ WHAT THE FUCK IS A FLAME WOMB?? FLAME CHILDREN??? FLUSSY????????? WHAT THE FUCK ILL TAKE YOUR LIFE

#khr #katekyo hitman reborn #THIS GOT SO LONG WHOOPS #apologies if I got redundant #a lot of these points relate to each other #i just... really don't like it #don't even fucking come at me with the 'youre overracting with fiction'#hibari just really takes the brunt of it i think #hes not an animal hes not gonna start talking about caves and hunting and shit #yes ive read a fic where they made him do that #i hid an answer in the illusion #Anonymous

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tellywoodtrash · 3 years

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immj2 20.11.20

new title card! everyone looking hottttttttttttttttt af!

no for real though, this chick needs to fucking insure her feet or something. itne disaster-prone pair maine zindagi mein nahi dekhe.

this idiot. honestly, he needs to know to pick his battles. he used to be soooooooo smart and shaatir. now he’s just dumb as fuckkkkkkk, the way he’s playing the game. i really don’t understand. i just don’t.

“riddhima tumhe pata hai tumhari problem kya hai? tum khud aage badhke apne bure waqt ki ghadi set karti ho.” lmaooooooo that’s a brilliant line and exactly what she does!

standard DON’T YOU DARE LOOK AT MY FAMILY WRONG blah blah from riddhima.

trollolololololololololol i honestly just put up with this character just to see vishal play himmmmmmm

blah blah tell dadi that i should get the business, then the property, then the family, and then this room of his....... ew, gross implication of that room thing aside, bro slow your rolllllllllllll. also why are you tellling her all this??? why the fuckkkkk would you give her a heads-up?!?!!?!?

sweetheart bhi bola. ugh. i hate when any man calls any woman that. it sounds patronizing and condescending as fuckkkk. also i just don’t get why he wants to be like vansh so muchhhhhhhhh when HIS PERSONALITY IS OBJECTIVELY BETTER THAN VANSH’S WAS?!!?!?!!?

ok i’m bored with this scene now and fwding.

pls sis, don’t say wohiiiiiiiii shakal and all. new shakal is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> old shakal. like, i have no words to describe the improvement.

here aryan be making some stupid shady deals and he’s like mwahahahahaha now that vansh is gone, there’s no one to stop me!!!!!! dude, he literally used to do that to prevent you from going to fucking jail, lmao. you are so fuckingggggggg dumb istg.

“sivaaye mere!” snort. this i’m gonna enjoyyyyyyyyyyy.

aryan like TU KAUN MAIN KHAMAAKHAAAAN?!!!?!? and quite rightly so.

this is their new thing in the show. they show this angle of kabir jab uski kuch zyaaaada hi khisakkkkk jaati hai.

AKLSJALKFJSLKDJFLSDKJFLKDSJLFKJDSLKFJDSLKJFLSKJD OMFG HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

“seedhe mooh baat kii thi. tameez se jawaab dena chahiye tha.”

lmaooooooooooooooo i can’tttttttttt with this fuckerrrrrrr. why is he so fuckingggggg hilarious?????

meanwhile bhaabiji is back at mandir place asking around about vihaan. she’s describing him as “bodybuilder type” which, lol......... ok.

chaiwaala is i know who he is and can give you deets.

she’s like yehiiii haina???? and he’s like yeah kinda, but hotter. way hotter. ok he didn’t say it. i’m saying it. BUT IT’S THE TRUTH, COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!

holy shit she just had to give him 2x my wholeass monthly rentttttttt to get the deets. what the fuckkkkkkkkkkkkk????? ALSO MY GOD WHO JUST CARRIES AROUND THIS MUCH CASH IN THEIR LIL DINKY GOING-TO-THE-MANDIR PURSE???????????

bhaiyyaji very very happy with his loot of the day butttttttttttt.........

lmao this one like I WORKED REALLY HARD AS AN ACCOUNTANT TO EARN THAT WAD OF CASH THAT SHE JUST HANDED TO YOU OK??????? YOU THINK SHE MAKES THIS MUCH AS NO-NAME PHYSIOTHERAPIST WITH A GRAND TOTAL OF ONE CLIENT????? AND NOW I’VE HAD TO SWITCH CAREERS. IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. I HAD TO LEARN A WHOLEEEEEEEE NEW SKILLSET. YOU KNOW HOW MANY HOURS I SPENT ON COURSERA AND UDEMY AND GITHUB RIGHT AFTER FALLING OFF A CLIFF?????????? DO YA???????????

sorry shaktimaan.

“virus hoon main. ek baar laga gaya na toh zindagi ka file corrupt kar doonga.” lmaoooooooooo lord the dumbass tech related metaphorsssss.

ok that’s a bit much but mmmmmm baby i love to watch you work. esp. this outfit, unf. it’s really getting me so damn hot for you.

khud ki hi biwi ka phone number score karke itnaaaaaa khush kisi ko hote hue pehli baar dekha hai.

lmaooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

aryan, who is literally tied to a chair is growling at kabir about how this won’t end well for him and kabir’s like..............

snorttttttttt i love this psychopathhhhhh.

kabir is like just use your ickle brain cell lil one. i’m a cop. i have alllll the details of every single shady thing you’ve done. first i’ll show it to the family, then to the authorities. and then there miiiiiiiiiiight be an encounter later.......... lmao yessssssssss, i love it.

“woh kya haina, samajhdaar ko ishaara kaafi hota hai. lekin tum itne samajhdaar nahi ho na, iss liye itne detail mein samjhaana pada!” i really cannot stop laughing at this scene. truly the evil bros dynamic i have been craving for from this show.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaand that is enough for aryan to maarofy palti.

but ooooooooooops. he called him kabir. which we know is this one’s sore spot these days.

“kabir.................... sir?” lmfaooooooooooooo

hahahahahahahahahahahahahhaha

bitch wht you callllllll vansh?????

“kabir...... bhai.”

OMFG THE STRAIGHT UP ORGASM FACE HE MADE AT THAT?!?!!??!?! JESUS KABIR I THINK YOU NEED THERAPY FOR THIS. EVEN FREUD DIDN’T COME UP WITH A THEORY FOR WHATEVER FREAKY “BHAIYYA ISSUES” YOU HAVE GROWN ALL OF A SUDDEN OUTTA NOWHERE.

aryan is literally like...............................

“ab BHAIYYA ki do baat dhyaaaaan sunna, ok????”

ok deal done. do shady fuckers have allied. kaisi ram milaaye usa-uk type jodi hai paapiyon ki.

aryan like but everything belongs to dadi now, and dadi is forsho gonna hand it all over to her laadli riddhima, who hates your guts.

“tum jitna smart mujhe samajhte ho, usse kahinnnnnn zyaada smart hoon main.”

aryan like ok but fr how exactly are you gonna achieve this??????/

“bhagwaan ne pehle hi tumhe dimaag kam diya hai. issi umar mein sab use karloge toh aage kya karoge??? jitna bola gaya hai, utna karo.” LMAO PLS MAN CAN WHOEVER IS WRITING KABIR’S LINES WRITE THEM FOR VIHAAN TOOOOOOOO. COZ THESE ARE GENUINELY SO FUNNY AND HIS ARE SOOOOOOO FUCKING LAME.

riddhima walks in to aryan having already gotten dadi’s ear and having kabir involved in the business. he’s already signing papers and shit! idhar mereko debit card use karte waqt 4 baar sign karna hota hai to prove i’m the actual owner and didn’t just steal it from somewhere, and this guy just got signing authority to a wholeass empire in half an hour.

aryan talking soooooooooooo nicely about kabir and riddhima is like OK FOR SURE THIS FUCKER HAS BEEN THREATENED AND/OR BRIBED.

lmaooooooooo aryan again referred to him as “kabir” and K just cleared his throat all ominously. and promptlyyyyyyy aryan’s like “KABIR BHAI!!!! KABIR BHAI!!!!!!!!!”

uska jhattttt jawaaab bhi mil gaya universe se, hahahahahaha.

kaunsa bhai, kahaan ka bhai, haaaaan??????

oh boy. this angle again.

“isse vansh bhai ki jagah dena, business mein involve karna; kya deal hui hai tumhari, kitne mein becha hai tumne apne aap ko; bolo?!?!?!? ki tumhe yeh achanak se apna bhai lagne laga hai????” DAMN. I LOVE ISHANI. SHE’S SHARP AS A TACK. WHY THE FUCK WON’T DADI JUST GIVE HER THE EMPIRE?????????

dadi talking blah blah anupriya ka beta hai, yeh bhi tumhare bhai haina. god shut upppppppppp dadi.

“jeete-jee toh nahi, dadi. mere liye bhai ka sirf ek matlab tha, vansh bhai.” aw mannnnnnnnnnnn. i really hope we get more ishani/vansh-vihaan when he enters the house. i really wanna see more of their bond. he always was so soft for siya, but it’s so obvious that ishani loves him beyond belief. what a shame to not show us more of that.

“respect earn kii jaati hai, zabardasti lee nahi jaati.” DAMN RIGHT SIS. YOU TELL EMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

ab iss angle mein atke issko yeh kaun samjhaaye???

you know that realllllllllly dumbass cringeworthy song called psycho saiyyaan? they should remake it for this show and call it “aaya mora BHAIYYA psycho!!!”

so apt!

dadi apologizing some more for ishani and giving kabir khulaaaaaaaa rein to handle business. riddhima not happy about this and decides kuchhhhh toh karna hogaaaaaa.

she finally remembers of angre’s existence and that he is the only one who’ll really help her.

ISS GHAR KE SAARE MARD EK SE BADHKAR EK PAAGAL HAIN.

riddhima saying the saaaaaaame thing.

angre se bro ka judaai sahaa nahi jaa raha. brotp ho toh aisa.not that vansh articularly deserves this much love and loyalty, seeing the way he treated angre, but angre’s saying he was my boss, bhai, dost, everythingggggg to meeeee. awwww.

BUT ALSO THIS FUCKER FULLLLLY DOING THIS DRAMA HAVING HELPED VANSH SURVIVE AND CHANGE IDENTITIES, LIKH KE LELO MERE SE.

ishani coming in and is like at least he’s grieving bhai’s death. you toh let some other fucker into the house on bhai’s terhvi itself.

“sab apni life mein aage badh gaye hain. aise behave karr rahe hain jaise kuch hua hi nahi hai! kisi ko koi parvaah hi nahi hai ki vansh bhai humaare beech nahi hain.” aw mannn, i honestly love her the mosttttttttttttttt.

she’s like angre’s trying to take his pain out, usse toh chain paane do.

riddhima got a message from chaiwaala (no, not the one at 7, race course road) and bounces.

meanwhile angre is telling ishani to give the belt back and stop pretending she gives a fuck about him. she’s like i don’t, but i know you loved bhai as much as i do. so i won’t let you do this to yourself.

she’s like if you really want to honour him and give him peace, then we need to make a plan so that the fucker who’s ghusofied into his house can’t take his place. OMG YOU GUYS THEY’RE TEAMING UPPPPPPP?!?!?!??!!? A GENTLE BREAKTHROUGH!!!!!!!! HONESTLY, VANSH’S DEATH HAS BROUGHT NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS TO THIS SHOW.

cutiepie is waiting for wifey to show up. has some stupidass tech dialogue to maarofy about it but the less said about that, the better.

“message padha bhi nahi??? kaise pata karoon????” lmao itna bada hacker hai, and he’s at the mercy of whatsapp ka blue tick feature like the rest of us.

not to worry boo. she’s on her waaaaaay.

WHY THE FUCK DOES HE STILLLLLLLL HAVE ALL THE PICS OF THE FAM LYING OUT IF HE KNOWS SHE’S GONNA SHOW UP?!?!!?!?!?!

“intezaar bhi tab tak cute lagta hai jab tak frustrate na kar de; miss..... pretty raisinghania!” dude, whether he’s vansh or not, he’s simping so hard for her. i fucking love it.

oh shit she walks in as he’s heartttttteyeing over her piccccccc.

oh nope. he’s the flash flying jatt. already disappeared behind his desk.

yeah girl. i know. I KNOW!!!!!!!

#ishq mein marjawan 2 #immj2 #immj2 lbs #episode liveblogs

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thejustmaiden · 4 years

Text

The Sesshomaru F*cks Debacle

Hey, fellow Inuyasha fans! How we feeling?? I imagine a lot of us are doing quite fabulously after the recent news we got about the sequel coming out this Fall, "Hanyou No Yashahime." So if it wasn't obvious already, I want to take the time to discuss the topic of- you guessed it- Sesshomaru. Go figure!

***THIS IS A REPOST OF MY ORIGINAL BLOG THAT DISAPPEARED FROM THE TAGS. PICS/GIFS HAVE BEEN REMOVED TO HOPEFULLY REPAIR THAT.***

Let's be real, as much as probably (and literally lol) all of us have viewed him as "daddy material" at some point or another during our teens, Sesshomaru being physically intimate with another being, much less a human, is difficult to conjure up in our minds. And there's nothing wrong with that, per se, as sex and romance doesn't come so easily to some as it does to others. Then again, that's not to say a romantic relationship is completely impossible or unattainable for him either.

I, for one, am not a huge fan of the idea of Sesshomaru siring children of his own. Granted, adopting/protecting children and other small companions is kinda his thing (I saw one user even describe him as a 'walking daycare' 🤣), and maybe it'll just take some getting used to, but all in all it's not entirely unfathomable to picture him having biological children. Though I'd be lying if I said I still didn't prefer he just took these two twin half-demon girls in and under his wing instead, like he did Rin. However, seeing as that's unlikely the case since the two girls resemble him in some fashion, the chances of that coming true are slim, which must mean that Sesshomaru did in fact bone some lucky lady. That's not to say I don't acknowledge that there's still a chance these kids aren't truly his but we'll see!

Which leads me to the real reason behind this blog! I'd like to address in-depth why I and so many other Inuyasha fans consider shipping S*ssrin as wrong and why it makes a lot of us extremely uncomfortable.

BUT FIRST BEFORE I FORGET, I want to give a little unofficial disclaimer by stating that this blog isn't intended to upset certain fans regarding my stance on the controversial ship. Thus I will not tag it under that ship name, and I suggest others who agree with me to do the same in any of their future posts.

Because let's not forget that the most important thing is that we're all fans here. We fell in love with this story and hold its beloved characters close to our hearts for a reason. And that still counts even if you're returning to this fandom a decade later. So please, let's try and remember that and be civil towards one another. Putting people down by attacking and insulting others in real life really doesn't make us any better than them. I REPEAT, please do not engage in this post unless you plan to be kind and respectful of others who may have a differing opinion than you. There's never a need to be ugly towards another human being. That goes for all shippers and fans of Sesshomaru in general. Thank you in advance for your understanding and compliance. 😊

Again, none of these comments are aimed at being inflammatory towards those fans who have a different approach to this pairing. If any of you are reading this now, please keep that in mind before deciding to participate in any discourse with me and other antis.

Okay, let me go ahead and list a few of the main arguments fans of this particular ship use to support them together. Then I'll give my reasons why those aren't enough to justify their relationship turning romantic:

1. Rin will be an adult before they get romantically involved

2. Sesshomaru didn't raise her and therefore isn't her father; he was never like a father to her in the first place

3. Sesshomaru hasn't been grooming her, not then and not now. Besides, it was Rin's choice first.

4. Age difference shouldn't matter when you look at other relationships in the series (InuKag, Koga x Ayame, etc.)

5. It was always going to be canon because the drama CDs exist

These are the main points I'm seeing around. Now let's dissect them, shall we? These are my direct responses- I'll try to keep them short and concise. Fyi: Jk! I'm lying, that never happens. 😆

1. Rin may be an adult, but from our standpoint that doesn't make much of a difference. It doesn't matter because it's all about how her relationship with Sesshomaru started off and how it continued onwards. From that moment, it was basically established from the get-go that their relationship resembles that of one a young girl shares with an older man who winds up becoming her guardian. She initiated it by trying to bring him food while he was injured, and he reciprocated by deciding to bring her back to life that fateful day.

Of course we're all happy that he did, because he's a better demon for it and a similar thing could be said about her! Therefore you must understand that fans against this pairing find it very hard to grasp the notion of a budding romance here when we look at their history. For us, it's synonymous to imagining a father eventually falling in love with his daughter or someone else who reminds him of a daughter, and vice versa. But let's just say he's not a father to her like many of you claim and more like, say a modern-day babysitter. Isn't it still bizarre to you that a young girl could fall in love with the man who looked after her and cared for her at that age, maybe even played games with? One day or on multiple occasions he even sees her naked because she had an accident and got hurt so she needed help changing or something. I admit it's more realistic that it was Jaken if anyone who'd be in charge of this, but why does it really matter who was tasked with what? Sesshomaru may have not been around all the time but that doesn't mean he's any less involved or invested in Rin's general care and well-being. So it's that thought alone that keeps many of us from even contemplating a romance forming between them. Whether he hardly interacted with her over the years or not is irrelevant, because it's clear to me that they have both formed a strong enough bond that constitutes calling them family. I highly doubt he ever even planned to keep Rin in his company as long as he did. But it happened, and whether you want to admit it or not, meeting her changed his life. Meaning Rin was never just some girl he traveled with or hardly knew. Despite his feigned indifference and stoic ways at times, I'm pretty sure we can all agree that Rin grew on him and was the first person to really influence him in a way that helped soften and open up that heart of his in a way nobody ever had before. One's significance to any given person isn't solely measured by the quantity of time spent alongside that person but by the quality of how that time was spent with said person. It's safe to say that in the case of Sesshomaru and Rin, they definitely fall under that category.

2. Fair if you don't view Sesshomaru as Rin's father, but you must acknowledge that he did fill some father figure-like role to her at the very least. Or let's just call him her vassal if you think that's a more accurate description. Also, can I just quickly stress again that it doesn't matter how long she spent by his side or whether she spent more time in the village or not, because he still ended up playing a major part in her childhood as an adult male role model. Regardless of the title you give him, it still stands that although he may not be her official adoptive father, he is LIKE A FATHER. There really is no point in denying that, because their dynamic exudes one of a father-daughter. I guarantee you that any outsider looking in would agree that if not her father then at the very least he embodies a male relative of some kind. Honestly, the details of their relationship dynamic specific to this show (regional/period differences, human vs. demon culture, etc.), don't really matter here. Why? Because one can assume that the general consensus here is that a large percentage of fans perceive their connection as a familial one. Yes, most would unanimously agree that Rin and Sesshomaru, along with Jaken and Ah-Un, are a FAMILY.

If she had first met him as an adult, then we'd possibly have a very different story here. The point of the matter is that he didn't, so that should be where this discussion ends. Unfortunately, for many, it's not. The bottom line is that a child he knew and cared for should never be someone he begins to view in a romantic light. I don't care how many years have passed (or that to demons years are like days or some less inconsequential length of time), and how much she's matured or how specific marriage customs were back then (if they're no longer appropriate now then why are we still condoning these backward practices?). Rin should NEVER have the desire to be sexually attracted to this father figure she's always looked to and trusted to protect her. Maybe it's vastly different from a demon's perspective (even though still unjustifiable in my opinion), but as a human, Rin's feelings towards Sesshomaru wouldn't and shouldn't suddenly change towards him and in such a drastic manner mind you. Yeah, maybe she used to have an innocent crush on him, but I'd like to think our smart and compassionate little Rin would learn that was simply because she was a child who didn't know any better. Besides, growing up with Kaede and around other humans I'd like to think she fell in love with another human sometime over the course of all those years. It only makes sense, right? Don't you think that's part of why Sesshomaru left her there in the first place? He wished for her to experience what it was like to live a normal human life, falling in love and marriage both being a key part of that. If I were Sesshomaru, I'd be deeply troubled if I started to develop feelings for a little girl I once protected and kept in my company for quite an extended period of time, which was at least a year from what I understand. (Pls correct me if I'm wrong because I gather it may have been longer.)

3. Apparently in the manga and the Final Act, we see Sesshomaru still visits the village to check on Rin from time to time. He even brings her gifts, such as beautiful and luxurious kimonos. I recently learned from another Tumblr post that kimonos are what older men gift in order to sort of earn their favor with these young ladies, AKA they're wooing them. If that is indeed true, then that would mean he's basically grooming her and has been for however long she's lived there in the village but potentially even longer. To put it nicely, he's courting her. If this was another young lady (maybe not an adult perhaps but still of marrying age) who he DIDN'T assist in raising, then I could possibly get on board with this.

The thing is, it's far from that with them two if you consider everything they've gone through and endured together! Because he not only met her as a young girl but he got to know her first as a young girl, and she became one of his traveling companions all while she was only a young girl!!! Their bond will always be defined by that time when she was just a young girl, and nothing can or should change that he will always see her in that same light. Kinda like how our parents or other family members from older generations tell us that they'll always see us as their babies. So the fact that her time spent with Sesshomaru is constantly compared to her time spent in the village shouldn't apply here. Don't we all know this already? That we can can come across someone in our lifetime and maybe the time with them is short-lived, but that doesn't make it any less significant or those people any less special. Sesshomaru made an impact on her as much as she did on him, that much we know is true. Sure, it was years ago, but that's not something you ever forget. Sometimes when you look at loved ones you haven't seen in a while, there are just certain memories you have of them from over the years that will come rushing back to you without fail and that you will always cherish no matter what. I'd like to believe that when Rin looks at Sesshomaru and he looks at her, that they can both look back fondly on their times traveling together. This explains why I'm really struggling here to picture how anyone could sleep with someone they used to treat as their guardian/father/ward/daughter/what have you. So someday and somehow, this person just stops viewing them that way, is that it? I mean, how does this work exactly? It's not like you can just flip off a switch and forget everything from your past with this person, ya know? Unless you have your memory wiped, what I'm understanding is that S*ssrin shippers approve of the idea of these two characters KNOWING that they are or used to be like practically FAMILY to each other, yet agree that these two characters in question still have the capacity not to mention desire to pursue HAVING SEX with each other anyway. Do I got that all right? Did I miss anything?

Originally I provided two examples of fan art I found to help put what I'm trying to say here into better perspective, but since they've been removed, just type in "Sesshomaru and Rin" on Google and you'll find plenty of examples of what I'm talking about here- and no, it's not S*ssrin images. I realize Sesshomaru has never been the touchy-feely sorta guy like it's depicted in some of the fan art, but that doesn't necessarily diminish the affection he feels and attachment he has towards Rin. He just has a different way of expressing his love is all, even if he doesn't outwardly show it. The real question here is, can you really look at sweet pictures of an adult comforting a child who's been under his care for a significant amount of time and then suddenly be like, "oh man, I can't wait till they bang!" I'm sorry, to each their own, but you gotta admit why we must find that creepy.

4. Regarding Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship, we need to remember that he didn't age after all those years stuck to that tree. And besides, demons age differently so this is a pretty unfair comparison. This isn't the best example, but think about how a cat's lifespan works. 10 years in (indoor) cat years is like 56 in human years. So technically in demon years, Inuyasha is physically and emotionally compatible with a human around Kagome's age. Hell, even though he's over a hundred years older, Kagome is still a whole lot more mature than he probably ever will be! 😂 (Psst! We still love you, Inuyasha! 💋)

Now as for Koga and Ayame, this also isn't comparable to Sesshomaru and Rin. Koga met Ayame one night, only not to see her ever again until she was older and of age. After rescuing her on that night when she was only a girl, he gives her a piggyback ride and you can tell he just wants to cheer her up when he mentions her being his wife someday. (And boy, did that work wonders on Ayame!) Then they gaze at this stunning lunar rainbow together, which I think is quite rare judging by looks of it. This is not an attempt to defend this proposal- if we can even really call it that- but all I'm saying is that I don't think even Koga knows what overcame him in that moment. Fast forward to present-day when they cross paths again, and Ayame still remembers his so-called promise, but guess who doesn't right away? Yep, our man Koga! It takes a quite a while for it to come back to him, too. This further proves my point that something beyond Koga and his power possessed him to say all those things to a little Ayame for some reason. Maybe you can call it destiny, or maybe it was some special kind of magic caused by the lunar rainbow, Idk! All I know is that they do end up together in the Final Act and that it wasn't until they met as two consenting wolf-demons that they really grew to know each other and coincidentally- or maybe not so coincidentally- fall in love.

5. From what I understand, it appears these drama CDs are some kind of satire which doesn't equate to canon. Perhaps Rumiko did not debunk them but she also didn't confirm they're true either. I'm hearing conflicting reports, however, and her involvement in them is questionable. Like her name is supposedly on the cover or something? But then I've also heard that she has spoken out against this ship. From the sounds of it, there is enough evidence- or lack thereof rather- to conclude that fans cannot use this as proof enough for their ship already being or soon-to-be canon.

Finally, I'd like to end on this note where I'll be addressing ethics in entertainment. When it comes to our choice of entertainment, there's always a level of escapism implied, sometimes so much that we project ourselves onto certain characters. Delving into a fantasy world like that of Inuyasha can really help some people better cope with real life problems, but it's all about striking the right balance, as each individual has different wants and needs. The thing is there's only so much escapism one can allow in a fictional world before basic morals from our own world begin to take precedence. I can always enjoy some good fantasy, but it's not long until I start to reflect on how I personally relate what entertainment I'm currently absorbed in to real life. It's inevitable really. For example, if certain relationships portrayed on screen conflict with strong opinions I've adopted on a sensitive topic, especially those that take children into account, then I feel it's my responsibility to speak out against any media that even remotely promotes it. Yes, even if it's just fiction. Because art imitates life, right? (And yes, sometimes the other way around.) So in other words, our stories should mirror our way of life to some degree. History has seen its fair share of ugly events and traditions we are surely ashamed of but that we've hopefully learned our lessons from. Most societies nowadays seriously frown upon or condemn stuff like pedophilia, child grooming, or anything of the sort. Of course it doesn't help that we see still see these kinds of issues glossed over so much that we've become desensitized to them in many respects.

The thing is we cannot allow this way too common older-man-dotes-on-young-girl trope (or anything resembling it) to continue to be glorified or romanticized. It matters not that feudal Japan was a drastically different time to be alive and that this was the norm back then, or even that this remains a popular ship in Japan. All it comes down to is if whether we would currently tolerate such acts and behaviors were we to witness them in real life. If your answer is 'no', then it should be 'no' in every respect. If you deem it acceptable just because it's fiction, then I'm sorry to say, but you're going to have to answer to a lot of people. No surprise there, that goes for all fandoms. I guarantee you it's not just the people who personally identify as victims who have serious qualms with this ship either, because you don't necessarily need to have bad experiences of your own in order sympathize and see where a lot of these people are coming from. And no, just because I'm unhappy with the possibility of S*ssrin going canon does not mean I'm whining or that I'm attempting to spread negativity about this series before it's even out. Remember, fans have the right to be critical of whatever content it is they're watching/reading, and if they demand something in the storytelling be represented better, then of course they can challenge that. After all, none of us should feel like "canceling" the content we love is our only hope to fixing a story. That's not how it ever should be. Fans are fed up, and can you really blame them? Nah, we can strive to do better in this area, plus it's not like there isn't always room for improvement. So let's please be more vigilant about how the content we consume translates to reality, in addition to being mindful of how it can directly correlate to real life problems for ourselves as well as others around us.

That's a wrap, y'all!! I hope you enjoyed what I had to offer on this topic, and here's hoping I actually contributed something new to this conversation! I'm aware that that's unlikely the case for us fans who've been living in this tag the past couple days (like me lol), but I'd like to believe I put my own spin on it and it was still worth your while. 😉

P.S. Overall, I remain optimistic about the new show! So are there any friendly Inuyasha group chats on Tumblr I can join? If so, please do invite me! I need to obsess about this sequel even more than I already am, EEEK!!!

#inuyasha #hanyo no yashahime #sesshomaru #anti sessrin

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