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#THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY OFFICIAL MOMENTS Y'ALL NEED TO BE GIVING US WITH - IF NOT THE OT3 - AT LEAST THE TEAM!!!
n3ptoonz · 6 months
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'Surprise Me'
Pairing: Bodyguard!Raiden/Princess!Reader
Fandom: Mortal Kombat 1 (2023)
Warnings/tags: Smut! Fluff aspects, It's not crazy explicit because there's more of a romantic aspect here, but y'all get down. TRUST. Slight dirty talk. I hope the ending is alright I'm so bad at ending fics. Half proofread
Word count: 2.1k
Explicit content under the cut
Raiden is one of many official straw hat bodyguards for the royal family. Their identities halfway concealed by the way the hat was shaped made them unique to this family alone. He had specifically been assigned to you, who--when you first met as teenagers--on the outside seems like the perfect daughter. In turn, it's not like you were a delinquent, you were just more casual in the way you spoke and more relaxed when it came to royal affairs, in contrast to your sister, who was heir to the throne.
He was always a kindhearted soul. So brave and ready to give his life for the royal family at any given moment. Especially you. Ah, right, you always say he's allowed to call you by your first name whenever you're alone. He has kindly declined a few times, feeling that it would be disrespectful not only to you, but his role as your protector.
It was just after a tournament that you fought in, losing to the champion of Earthrealm, Kung Lao, fair and square. Earthrealm was now up by one over Outworld, but that could be subject to change in 100 years when the next tournament takes place. For now, you accepted your loss gracefully and asked to be excused.
You didn't actually have to use the bathroom, but instead calm down and clear your head on a short lap around the palace. Through your mind was running many thoughts, one of which included the bodyguard you've fallen in love with over the last century. As you excuse yourself and begin to walk down the hall, you could immediately sense it was Raiden quietly following behind you.
"Did my mother put you up to the task?" you asked, not even needing to turn your head to know it was him. Your tone was calm, with a hint of something more.
"Actually, I offered to follow behind you for your safety, Princess." he said, not missing a beat and without hesitation. He kept a safe distance from you as he walked with you, subtlety keeping an eye out for anything.
"You really didn't have to, and what did I say about using formalities with me?" you stopped in your tracks, quickly turning to see him slightly caught off guard by your abrupt stop.
"'Just call me by my name', I know, you've only told me everyday over the last century." he said playfully, a small smile on his lips.
"And yet, you still decline. Why?"
Raiden contemplates for a few moments, carefully choosing his next words to say, "It is my duty to serve and protect you from harm's way."
"Alright. Now your real answer." you crossed your arms, walking closer to him as you see the expression on his face change from your statement.
"I'm sorry?"
"As a royal protector, you are supposed to say things like that. But even when we are alone, you still refuse to do something so small that would make me happy." you paused in between sentences to gather more of your thoughts, looking him in the eyes. "Give me a real answer, Raiden."
"I don't want to risk becoming too comfortable using your first name. First it's your first name when we are alone, and then it could potentially slip in front of Empress Sindel-"
"Raiden."
"-There have already been many losses because of outward affairs in the last few years-"
"Raiden.."
"-I truly value our growing relationship and don't want to jeopardize-"
You grabbed his face and planted a savory kiss on his lips. Though, you may have gotten a little greedy and anxious at the same time, not knowing how to properly put your thoughts into words and just kept going. He didn't hesitate to kiss you back, yet his hands stuck at your sides as he didn't know where to place them. More like he didn't know if it was okay to grab your hips on instinct.
It really felt like time slowed down. Like the universe took a pause and let you have your moment. Little did you know, this was huge for Raiden. He had been in love with you since the day he was assigned to protect you. He couldn't believe that one dream he had was actually playing out almost exactly the same.
You slowly broke the kiss, getting a good look of his dazed face. You always thought he'd be a good kisser, but even for a man caught off guard he did a pretty solid job.
He blinked a couple times before focusing his gaze on your eyes. You dragged your palms down his arms, leading his hands to rest on your hips with a small chuckle. You truly adored him.
"You've trained at a young age to have the discipline you do now. What's the difference when it comes to me?" you asked, gently running your thumb over his cheekbone as you spoke softly.
"That's is the difference, Princess. All logic could go out of the window, and I won't know if I can control myself...That is my real answer." he replied truthfully and genuinely, laying his hand over yours that was occupying the left side of his face.
"Raiden, I give you full permission to speak and act freely around me whenever we are alone. I understand my duty and role as a princess of Outworld, but I'd like you to see us as equals."
You could tell he was really thinking about it, his mouth opening and closing in deep thought.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to practice," he said, adding your name at the end of his sentence. You swear you could hear his heart beating louder at the simple gesture, but it made you smile ear to ear nonetheless.
"One more time?" you faked like you didn't hear him the first time, putting your hand behind your ear. You look over to him with the most playfully unamused expression ever.
He said your name again, this time with a flatter tone because of your antics.
"Hm...has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
"You are something else, P-" he paused catching your eyebrow raising at him almost addressing you by your title again. He corrected himself, repeating your name clearly.
There were faint voices ascending down the hall, which the both of you assumed there were guards patrolling this part of the palace. You quickly shuffled into a nearby closet together that had little space. The good part is it was barely in use since it was too small to really hold the things the family held in high regard. There was just enough space to breathe in and out, but that's about it.
"Are you okay?" he whispered, searching for your face in the darkness of the room.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" you whispered back, leaning up towards his ear, causing him to shudder. He could already feel you smirking from the tone of your voice.
He chuckles softly. "Careful," he said your name in warning, "You'd be surprised with how much can get done with very little space." His tone was quiet, but loud and clear.
The light from the outside shined through the crack of the door right onto his facial features. It peered right onto the side of his face and reflecting off his eyes that were solely focused on you. Though you couldn't fully see it, you could fully tell he was just about ready to show you what he meant by that.
"Surprise me." you said, closing the distance between you two. This time it was quicker to grow more passionate and intentional, your arms wrapped around his neck and his hands roaming your body freely.
Raiden softly groaned upon finally being able to act and do as he pleases. He holds you and the royal family with the utmost respect and dignity, obviously, but there was just something about being able to touch you like this that sent him into overdrive.
His hands glided down your hips to the hem of your pants, searching the for the fabric of where your underwear would be. He broke the kiss and looked down, almost in disbelief at what this could possibly mean.
"Are you...?" he whispered in question.
"Not wearing underwear? ...Nope." you had a cheeky smile on your face, watching as he tried to use every fiber in his body to control himself.
"You wanted this to happen, didn't you?" he backed you against the wall, sliding your pants off as he never broke eye contact. The pit of your stomach felt like it was fluttering from how fast he took charge. Any other time he was at your beck and call, ready to complete any and all commands with a smile on his face. But now? That same man was silently challenging you, and you were here for it.
"You hoped that I'd follow after you so you can have me all to yourself. That one day you'd be able to break me and get me to tell you just how long I've dreamed about keeping you silent while I..."
Your shaky sighs interrupted him. Before you even realized it you were already half bare before him, knees slightly bent while he stood over you. It was trippy to see such a kind face utter such dirty words that grind your gears like a well oiled machine.
He carefully lifted you in his arms so you could straddle him. You gasped at how easy it seemed to him, and even through the darkness, his eyes followed suit. His already dark eyes appeared even darker, if that was possible.
"We're going to see who's saying whose name by the time we leave this closet," he stated, adding your name at the end with a sensual whisper. The second, and I mean the very second he slid inside, it already began to become a challenge to not make any noise. It felt like he was perfectly molded just for you, which made it even more difficult.
"Damn it-" you buried your face in his shoulder in attempt to muffle your awaited moans, clinging to his body in desperation.
You almost want to purposely wait it out to see if he'd say your name first. However, the way he was filling you up was making you want to forget your competitive nature entirely.
Honestly that's why he said that. He knows you never back down from a fight or challenge, so what would be different about this? He thought.
The way he thrusted back and forth should be a crime. Just what was he so skilled for?! He had you bouncing on him like it was going out of style.
"I'm- I think I'm close-" you said, your words muffled from you refusing to lift your head because you knew for a fact you wouldn't be able to contain yourself.
"Not...Not yet." his breaths were irregular and heavy. He pulled out and let you down, helping you stand since your legs felt like jelly. He figured it'd be easier to hold you if you faced the wall.
It's almost as if you read his mind, nearly stumbling over trying to quickly turn around and keep going.
"You've read my mind, Princess." he whispered, sliding back in with both arms wrapped around your waist while your cheek was directly on the wall.
You wanted to protest and call him out for cheating, but the sex was just too good to focus on the little things. Around this time it's like both of you were being brought to your climax faster from this position. He reveled in watching you push back against him just to get all of him. Both your thrusts stuttered and became messier by the second, and the signal inside both of you was ready to sound the alarm.
"Cum with me." he pleaded, quickly covering your mouth with one of his hands right as you came. Your cries were successfully shushed by his palm, letting you shake and finish as much as you needed to. He came right after you, shuddering and burying his face in your neck to quiet his own self. You both said each other's name at the same time. Shocker!
Moments after you both calmed down, he turned you back around and kissed you with such love and appreciation behind it.
"I love you so much." he whispered, resting his forehead against yours.
"I love you too. I guess we both lost that." you said, softly chuckling, "You surely have a way with words."
"I surprised you, didn't I?"
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a/n: it's finally here!! if you got this far, just know that smoke (smutty as hell), kenshi (smut, angst, and fluff), and sub zero (should be smut) are next (no particular order) I GOT IDEAS ALREADY🙏🏾 this isn't the last raiden fic i'll write, i just needed a warm up i promise!
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void-ink-studios · 6 months
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Touch of Light
This is in the same timeline as "Wrath of the Wishmaster" which you can read here! Specifically, this is a bit before the events of that fic. They're not officially together yet, but they're getting close.
Do I have two other WIPs I should be working on? Yes. Will I write this instead? Also, yes.
Enjoy, y'all.
Word Count: 2,300
Scarab had gone missing again.
While Prismo was not the type to take much stock in what the beetle got up to in his spare time, the disappearing act he's been pulling lately is getting... concerning.
It wasn't as if it was a problem per say... Scarab lived here now too, and he had as much right to explore the space as Prismo did. Plus, it wasn't as if Scarab was necessarily required up in the main chamber all the time.
But Prismo was starting to miss the company.
Him and Scarab had seemed to finally strike up some kind of peace. He'd help the Wishmaster with his fanfics that needed a certain bloody zest, he'd talk of his adventures across the multiverse, and he'd been slowly teaching him his strange language of chirps, clicks, trills, and buzzing.
The Time Room just felt more alive ever since that blue shadow was added to the routine. And it felt like they both had finally gotten used to each other enough to just... be. Relax. Smile.
It'd been a long time since Prismo smiled in earnest.
But now Scarab was gone. Well, not gone, but it's not like Prismo knew where he was.
The disappearing was relatively new.
Once, every few weeks or so (maybe, time was always strange here), Scarab would open a hatch to the Time Room's basement, slink away, and vanish for the rest of the day (probably). He'd be back after a while and not acknowledge he was even gone.
It never exactly sat well with the Wishmaster. What's with the sneaking around? Was he hiding something?
Maybe he thought Prismo wouldn't notice?
That would make sense, considering how Scarab would always cast quick glances at him before slinking away. Like he was checking if Prismo was watching.
Prismo shut his laptop. He pondered for a second.
Should he try and go find Scarab? He wanted to give him the privacy he deserved but this whole thing was starting to freak him out.
A small part of him wondered if perhaps he was looking for a certain sleeping old man.
Prismo shook his head, scolding himself for even the thought.
They were friends now.
Hopefully.
Maybe...?
Hmm.
The more he thought, the more he freaked himself out. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to just take a quick peek.
He sent duplicates down into the basement, just to poke around, of course.
One stood guard over his old, sleeping body. Just in case.
He pondered where Scarab would wander off to. The Time Core, perhaps? He always did have quite the awe for that place, despite how bright and loud it was in there.
But nope. Nothing.
He searched every nook and cranny of the Time Core, but nothing. No hint of blue on the wall, other than the light fromt the time waves.
Okay, plan A was a bust.
And while Prismo was pretty good with plan Bs, he didn't really come prepared with one for this adventure. Great.
Okay, it's fine, it's just one guy, potentially anywhere, in an infinitely extending downward pocket dimension that's walls could shift and move.
This was fine.
Prismo had to take a moment to breathe. Scarab managed to find his way back up before, so it's not like he was lost forever. Probably not.
He pondered if he should give up the search.
Until one of his duplicates passed through the pickle room on a whim. It was quiet. Almost too quiet to hear. But it was there. A soft chirping.
Almost all at once, Prismo's form condensed into that room as he looked around.
It was definitely Scarab's chirping. But was that also... crying?
Now Prismo was sweating. He'd known Scarab for eons, even before they became roommates. But he's never... never... heard Scarab cry before. No one had, as far as he knew.
He peered into one of the empty cubby shelves from his pickle stash, and... sure enough, there he was.
Scarab was curled up into as tight a ball as he feasibly could. His arms covered his head, and his knees tucked up into his chest. He laid on his side, shivering.
And... his mask was off. Granted, his face was covered by his arms and hands, but Prismo could see the spots of a lighter blue where his shell was parted.
The Wishmaster didn't know what to do. What could he do?
He gently reached a hand into the hole, fingers lightly brushing against the edge of Scarab's form.
"Scarab...?"
Several things happened at once.
Scarab's mask flew right back into place, save for his mouth, which he bared in a primal hiss. All his limbs shifted into some kind of spring-loaded position, ready to bolt at a moment's notice.
"Woah, woah, Scrabs, it's me. You know, your buddy, Prismo?"
But Scarab didn't relax. His growl ended, and he closed up the lower half of his mask, but none of the tension left his shoulders, his legs, his back, even though all of it was shaking.
"Go away!" the beetle hissed, swiping at Prismo's hand. It's not like it hurt, but it was enough to startle the Wishmaster into pulling back. Scarab seemed to regret the action almost immediately, tucking himself further back into the cubby. "Don't touch me!"
"Okay, okay, I won't touch you. But... what are you doing down here, buddy? Didn't think you were the type to enjoy pickling." He laughed to himself, but it puttered out when his friend didn't return the sentiment.
Scarab just kept his body low to the ground. Even behind the mask, Prismo could hear his mandibles clicking together. While he wasn't fluent in all the noises his roommate made, he could put together this one's meaning. He's afraid. Deathly so.
"...You I'm not gonna hurt you, right? Remember, we're friends. Friends don't hurt each other. Right?"
"...I-I'm sorry."
"It's okay, I startled you, I get it. But... can you tell me what's going on, dude? I've never seen you like this."
"It's... It's nothing! Nothing!"
It was a lie. An obvious one. A desperate one. Prismo didn't even have to say it. He just continued looking into Scarab's eyes.
"I... I won't do this again, if that's what you're concerned about..."
"That's not it, Scrabs. I just want to know what's going on. And... why the pickle room?"
Scarab seemed to consider his options in answers.
"...This is the only room with holes in the wall I can get to..."
"Why did you need a hole in the wall?" He gave Scarab a soft look, a little encouraging smile.
"It... It makes me... feel... safe."
Scarab ducked his head in shame. Prismo frowned at that, for many reasons.
"Did you feel... unsafe up in the main chamber? Did I do something wrong?"
"N-No... No, it isn't you... I just... I needed to feel isolated... just for a little while..."
"Is this where you've been going recently?"
"...Yes."
Prismo sighed.
"Scarab. You don't have to if you don't want to but... Can you tell me why you've been disappearing? I'm worried about you, dude." He slowly, gently extended a hand into the cubby again, leaving it a few inches away from Scarab's silhouette.
There were a few beats of silence before Scarab's little hand extended to rest overlapped with Prismo's. The Wishmaster smiled but didn't otherwise draw attention to it.
"I... I wanted to feel safe because... my body... even in this form, it fights against me."
"What do you mean?"
"...I'm in pain, Prismo. I'm in pain and disoriented. And... my instincts make me need to hide while I'm like this. This... is the closest I have to a burrow in the Time Room."
His voice sounded so small. Much smaller than Prismo ever would've suspected the might scary God Auditor Scarab to make.
"Oh... I'm sorry Scrabs, I didn't know..."
"No one does... When I... had my job, I could ignore it if it got this bad. I was always moving. On the hunt. I could avoid listening to my own body long enough for it to fade away. But now... the Time Room is so still... so... I've gone back to... hiding."
He said that last word with a lot more contempt than Prismo expected.
"Hey. Thank you for telling me, Scrabs. How about this. When you're feeling a bit better, you can come with me, and we can make you some better hiding spots than the pickle room cubbies. I bet it's not really relaxing when everything smells like vinegar, right?"
"I... I actually can't smell it much."
"...Really? I thought beetles and stuff had, like, really good smell. With their antenna and stuff?"
Scarab flinched at that. Prismo's eyes widened.
"...Scarab... Oh no..."
The beetle sighed, slowly scootching out of the cubby, closer to the Wishmaster. His mask rearranged slightly, showing the cropped little stumps where antenna clearly used to be.
"It's... part of why I'm here. It's... disorienting, some days... And... it's not the only reason..."
Scarab seemed to hesitate again.
"...You don't have to show me if you don't want to, Scrabs."
"...But I think I do... because... well..." he trailed off. He turned around, slowly opening his elytra. "...you make me feel safe, Prismo...
The Wishmaster swallowed down the gaps he felt trying to climb up his throat. He never thought about why he'd never seen Scarab fly, either in the Time Room, or on his hunts. But... he'd never suspected this to be the reason...
His wings looks awful. Or, more accurately, what was left of his wings. It resembled pages ripped out of a book, the edges jagged and tattered. One was bent at an awkward angle, twitching ever so slightly.
"Oh Scarab..."
What could he possibly say? Sorry? It'll be okay? There wasn't anything to add. So he didn't.
He reached slowly with his other hand. Scarab flinched a little when it began overlapping his back, but his shoulders eventually relaxed as Prismo began rubbing soft circles in the center.
"...Is there anything you'd like me to do, Scrabs?"
"...I'm usually able to ride days like these out if I just stay put... I can manage."
"Yeah, I guess but... is there something that could make you more comfortable? I like blankets, personally."
"I..."
Scarab looked to the ground, like he was pondering.
"I... Don't know... I've never... thought about it before."
"...Give me a few minutes. I'll be right back."
Prismo left a silent duplicate behind to continue petting Scarab's back as he went to make his little preparations. A lot was on his mind, top of which was "What happened?"
Because something clearly did. The injuries seemed too... deliberate to be just part of the dangers of being a God Auditor. It was too specific. It was meant to hurt, but not kill.
Prismo felt his form shiver and darken the more he thought about it. He shook his hand, watching the purplish black lighten back up into pink. He couldn't get mad yet, he was on a mission.
Just as promised, Prismo returned a few minutes later, now finding Scarab's eyes closed, lightly purring at the feeling of the hand on his back.
"Hey Scrabby. I've got a surprise for you. Can you walk, or do you need help?"
Scarab slowly opened his eyes again, looking at the Wishmaster carefully.
"...I can walk, I suppose. Just... slower than you might like."
"That's okay. It's not going anywhere."
The two walked through the halls of the Time Room's basement in relative silence. Prismo occasionally hummed, and Scarab sometimes joined in with a soft trill, but neither felt the need to speak at the moment.
"Alright man... here we are."
Prismo gestures to a new hole in the wall. Scarab raised an eyebrow, curiously crawling up the wall into the hole. The Wishmaster smiled at the surprised little gasp he heard.
Tucked into the back of the hole, which was much deeper and cozier than the pickle cubby, was essentially a nest. A soft heated blanket covered the bottom, a white noise machine, and a thermos of hot tea waited for Scarab.
"Prismo... you... you didn't have to do this..."
"I guess not. But... well, maybe I wanted to. I didn't know you were in pain, but now that I do, I'd be a pretty bad friend to let you wallow in it. So... think of this as your space to get away if you need it. We can make more when you're feeling better, but I think this is a good start, yeah?"
"This is... all mine?"
"Yep. There's a little remote in there too, with a little screen. If you want to watch something, or whatever. If need anything else, just push the big red button on the bottom, and I'll send a dupe down here to help."
"I..."
Scarab sounded like he was on the verge of tears again, but the beetle choked them back down.
"...Thank you, Prismo."
Prismo couldn't help but smile.
"Feel better soon, Scrabs. We still need to figure out the next chapter for this mystery drama we've been cooking up, yeah?"
Scarab let out a soft chuckle as he curled himself into the back of his hiding spot. "Yes, indeed."
The Wishmaster nodded before leaving the beetle to his rest. It wasn't common for him to help without a wish but... Well, he had a feeling he might be more than willing to bend the rules when it came to things like this.
And, with the tired smile in Scarab's eyes still fresh in his head, Prismo couldn't find it in him to mind.
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owari-no-homo · 2 years
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CHAPTER 118 SPOILERS!!! . . . . . . My thoughts on this chapter: ✰Shikama appearing to little Yuu and telling him he'd meet a "child who'll give his life meaning" reminded me of Shikama saying basically the same thing to little Shinoa in Cat16. Which brings me to my next point... ✰If Yuu's feelings were "manipulated," like Asuramaru is saying, weren't Shinoa's also? And Guren's for Mahiru/vice versa? I'm pretty sure they were all planned to meet too 💀 Nonetheless, whether he was "meant" to love Mika or not, you can't call all they went through a fabrication… those feelings grew and developed on their own. In fact, they make more sense than Shinoa falling for Yuu so quickly and Guren and Mahiru liking each other at five. Their history is real. ✰I feel bad for the squad and their families, but at my core I'm a selfish person who cares more about Mika than the random humans who've been dead since Chapter 1. It would be interesting to see them all resurrected, though. ✰Shinoa, I really hope that this is just the heat of the moment and you actually can live without Yuu because... because yeah. ✰HOLY FRICK YUU SAYING "I've been in my right mind this whole time" AND DEVOURING ASURAMARU, NOT TO MENTION THAT HE DID IT BY SUCKING HIS BLOOD- ON ONE HAND, IT WAS PRETTY COOL, BUT ON THE OTHER… NOOOO ASURAMARU NO!!!! When he thought of Krul and apologized... I felt that... he was my fourth favorite character, y'all... I can't believe this. ✰On a brighter note, it was SO SATISFYING to hear Yuu say he's walking his own path, not Shikama's and NOT GUREN'S!! But let's be honest, this is all probably still part of someone somewhere's "plan"… ✰The way Mika was like, "You're going to do this even though it's not want I want?" yet gave Yuu his power anyway… I'm not sure how to feel. (Half of me is conflicted and the other half is fanbying over the MikaYuu I'm sorry…) ✰HOLY FRICK THAT REJECTION- was that a rejection?!? Or did she react that way because he unexpectedly wasn't going to cooperate with them? It felt like a rejection though… not sure what to make of her verbally responding, "N-No, don't say another word…" Darn Kagami and his ambiguous scenes. Still, Yuu firmly saying "I'm leaving" after Shinoa said she couldn't live without him… even if that specific scene wasn't a rejection, she's rejected. I'm sorry Shinoa. You'll live 🙏 ✰Can you believe Yuu won? Where will he go now? Is the drug still affecting him? How will Krul react to Asuramaru's death? GAH, I NEED THE NEXT CHAPTER, THIS WAS REALLY GOOD!!! (P.S. I read the raws, so the quotes I use are not official)
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akwardlyuncool · 3 months
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Class Favorites: Albums That Needed More Time Or Came Out Too Late To Be Official Favorites
General Note: Y'all know albums that I don't have physical copies of are more likely to end up here and that is what it is.
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Placement/Intention by Watsky
So what had happened was.... In preparation for what probably would be my last Watsky show, I went and binged his last 3 albums: Complaint, Placement and Intention, with emphasis on the last two, so I wouldn't look silly at the concert and ended up not dedicated enough personal time to any one of them in particular. It was a failure on my part, however I did not look silly at the show and Watsky ended up being one of my top 5 artists of the year. That's all fine and dandy, but I truly do need to give these albums more attention than just treating them like I'm binging for a test. There's great stuff in here, that I've been bumping even before 2023. I know I will fall even more in love with this whole body of work, that I'm so proud of, if I literally chilled with them. I now have Complaint and Placement on CD, so that should help as well.
Top 2 Placement Recommendations:
Undermine ft. Raquel Rodriguez (Track 4)
The Price of Growing Up (Track 6)
Top 2 Intention Recommendations:
Nothing Like That Last Time (Track 10)
What's The Move ft. T-Pain (Track 2)
Sunday At Foxwoods by Boys Like Girls
I wanted to give it to the Boys anyway cause I saw them in concert this year (wonderful show) and had many songs from the album on repeat, for most of the year, however the full release came out in later October and my quest to get a physical copy hasn't been so great. Target sold out of the copy that I wanted and the CD that I bought off eBay came broken, so things just weren't working out. All of that being said, I have no doubt that when I finally get my CD and listen to everything in order, front to back, it will reaffirm what I already feel and that's that THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN. They're just so good and I'm here for everything, except for their fashion choice of the American flag lol. Y'all-ternative is real and Boys Like Girls are leading that charge. (Yes I am cringe, leave me alone.) Anyway the album is fantastic and even though I haven't done a full run through, I don't need to, to tell you that.
Top 2 Recommendations (Yes this is hard, cause I know half the album):
New Love (Track 5)
Blood and Sugar (Track 4)
*Bonus: The Outside (Outsiders Version) ft. 3OH!3, State Champs, The Summer Set and The Ready Set
I added this song and specifically this version because I think it's the best way to get the full effect of this moment and what it feels like with Boys Like Girls coming back to us. At the end of the day I think I love other songs slightly more, but this song gets me going every time.
SHIMMER.SEASON by Not My Weekend
I didn't think I was going to talk about this album because it came out in November, but then I had an end of the year binge of Not My Weekend as a whole, that's still kinda kicking and figured why not include it here so that maybe it will make it to all the main stuff in 2024. So I'm shouting it out here and now, but to be fair, this will be it's only appearance for ACF23. I also just don't want to have to go rework all of the categories that have already been long since completed, cause they would bump several folks.
Anyway SHIMMER.SEASON is the general wave for me right now. It's what I got on "out of album order" repeat and what I imagine will stay in rotation for some time to come. I'm not sure if I've listened to it front to back but I feel like I've played the Not My Weekend artist station on Spotify so many times now that I've heard all 10 songs at least once and some of them at least 20. Again it's what we doing right now. Also I don't think Patrick Gilchrist emphasizes the line "b*tch I might be!" enough when he does Lighting for in his Instagram videos, just sayin.
Top 2 Recommendations:
LIGHTING ft. Brian Butcher (Track 7)
SHUT.UP (Track 9)
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party-gilmore · 3 years
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"I JUST WANT ELIOT TO ADMIT TO BEING INJURED!!! THAT HE'S NOT INVULNERABLE!!!! MAYBE EVEN BEGRUDINGLY ADMIT TO BEING IN PAIN TO SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT HIM!!!! I JUST WANT TO SEE IT!!!!"
[Monkey's Paw curls in the distance]
Leverage Redemption Event Sneak Peek:
Eliot: "...my arm's dislocated."
Maria: "Isn't.... that supposed to hurt?"
Eliot: "...yeah."
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teshine · 2 years
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Obey me Dateables reacting to:
finding themselves under a mistletoe with you!
»[brothers ver.]
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summary: you've told the brothers about a silly little tradition humans do during christmas; kisses under the mistletoe.
» a/n: sorry if this was a bit too late for Christmas. this literally took me days to think for ideas loll 😭 hope y'all still liked this tho!
Diavolo ♡
it all started when Lucifer told him about your little mistletoe story
he found it rather interesting
to a point where he made sure to set one up in the council room 💀
he just wanted to be a good friend and play match maker okay
but oops, things didn't go according to plan. (again)
bcs the next day you decided to arrive 10 minutes early for a student council meeting, and surprise surprise, so did diavolo.
he would start a little small talk. eventually leading him to admit that there was actually a mistletoe above you both.
when I tell you it took you a second to process it
he literally just randomly blurted it out
"ah that reminds me! there's actually a mistletoe on top of us right now!"
says with with a matching big smile on his face like It wasn't a big deal.
"this is definitely unexpected isn't it?... maybe it's fate?"
he'd probably be flustered and smiley, heart pounding faster by the minute.
"can I... kiss you?" he'd ask.
the last thing he wanted was for you to be uncomfortable. of course he'd respect if you'd say no.
if you agree, he'd let out a light chuckle. fingers holding your chin, lifting it up slightly and gives you a heartwarming kiss against your lips.
gives you his big goofy smile afterwards
like damn, how can one human make his heart race so much?
also, ma'am, sir, if you're not I love with him yet,, HOW?
whoever passed by y'all and witnessed everything, definitely thought it's like they witnessed some cheesy romantic movie scene.
if news spread and Lucifer finds out, ahA save yourself cuz he'd probably scold you until diavolo admits he started everything.
Barbatos ♡
today you got a call from barbatos who needed help. your help specifically.
he wanted to try out new food recipes from the human world
who are you to say no to the oh so mysterious butler?
and that's why you're now in the kitchen of the demon lord's castle reciting the ingredients of your favorite human food
a few hours past and the food was ready for taste testing
Id like to think he'd feed you a spoonful of everything he had made. waiting for you approval.
would smile wider when you tell them it tastes amazing.
moments later while in the middle of savoring his dishes, you took notice of the mistletoe hanging on the ceiling. and you name it, it's right above you.
I can lowkey imagine mc choking and a panicked barbatos giving you some water 😭
anyways, when you questioned him about it, he just tells you Satan (+ Asmo) came by to put them all up and that Diavolo left it as it is.
if you had super speed, you'd zoom back home and smack the living hell out of Satan and Asmo
"Lord Diavolo also mentioned about the tradition in the human world— kisses under a mistletoe, correct?"
all you did was nod. looking down, way too embarrassed to look at him right now.
he'd chuckle and let out a "hmm.. it does seem pretty interesting"
"yeah...... it is..."
and mind you, this man is always calm and collected. he'd probably deal with this situation easily
suddenly you'll hear light footsteps. he'd slowly walk towards you. slipping two fingers under your chin and lifting it up. you were wet with his face only inches apart.
the more you stare at him, the more visible his blushing cheeks become. cute you thought
would say shit like "have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" to make you 10x more flustered
you hate him for it, but that all fades away because he leans in and presses a chaste kiss on your lips.
he wouldn't admit it out loud, but he's always wanted to know what it was like to kiss the human he's very much interested in.
side note: after this encounter, if y'all become official, he'd make your favorite human food in a heart beat. you wouldn't even have to ask.
Solomon ♡
since it's the holidays, you'd wanna go home for atleast a day right?
and by home, I mean to the human world
which thankfully, Diavolo gave you permission to
butttt there's just one condition. he'll allow ONLY if someone comes with.
and Solomon just so happened to be free for that day.
so ofc you agreed, anything to see family. besides, what could possibly go wrong, right?
...
yeahhhhh no. 💀
cuz when you brought solomon home with you, your family IMMEDIATELY thought he was your boyfriend.
bro not even after a second, he was SWARMED by them asking questions.
mf may have look calm and smiley but man when I tell you his red ears say otherwise
was lowkey a bit disappointed when you assured them that he was jUst a FriEnD.
he thought your embarrassed face was adorable when your fam exposed your embarrassing childhood memories.
but time flew by and you were told to check out the beautiful evening sky.
aka the place where a mistletoe is.
you knew damn well your family had something up their sleeve.
you warned solomon about the gut feeling, but he only laughed it off
and while at the middle rambling about you family's antics,
someone opens the balcony door and goes "oh and by the way, if you haven't noticed yet, you're under a mistletoe heheh" then left.
heheh? HEHEH❓❓❓
for a few seconds he thinks he may have malfunctioned a bit, but tries to calm the fuck down
"your family is really something huh?" he'd say with a light chuckle.
at this point, you wanted the ground to swallow you up WHOLE.
"haha... w-well y'know, you dont.. really.... have.. to...." you'd trail off as he walked towards you
he'd slowly pull you by the waist, closer to him. face only centimeters away.
"and if I do, hm?"
"i- uh- um..."
he swears, he may sound alright, but his beating chest makes him think it's so loud you'll probably here each beat.
he'd smile and finally close the small gap between you. kissing you like you were the most delicate thing that existed.
que the loud ass squealing household.
god being with yoh has definitely been a treat since the beginning. cuz man if he could repeat time, he'd play this part of his life on replay.
maybe things went wrong in the right way?
Simeon ♡
I honestly think it would happen in the school library.
you needed help with some lessons, and remembered Simeon saying he could tutor you whenever you were having a hard time.
and so you both meet up in the school library.
a few lessons go by, and Simeon declared that it was time for a little break.
as a break, you both walked around the library together, scanning a few books. looking around as if you haven't been there for the nth time.
while strolling, you notice Simeon coming to a stop.
"y/n look. they set up a mistletoe— a lot of them actually... reminds me of the rumors I heard about"
oh
well this is awkward..
you'd both would stare at it for a bit as if staring would make it magically disappear or something.
you decided to play it off. thinking Simeon would probably care less, or wouldn't be interested in any of these nonsense things.
but nooooo you thought wrong. man, you have no idea how he just wanted to grab your face and kiss you right there and then.
except he was just.. nervous. he didn't know what to do or how to act.
"a-ah. nah, don't mind it, mistletoes are just for a silly little tradition anyway-" you'd say to break the award tension
you were supposed to walk away.
supposed to.
but you felt a light tug on your sleeve. as if signalling you to wait.
turning around, you'd see Simeon with his hand on his nape.
his pretty cheeks would be dusted with bright pink. shyly looking away.
Its probably because he didn't really know how to ask for a kiss
"I... I uhm.."
you didn't any more words. his actions were obvious.
say no more gorgeous angel!
the closer you get, the deeper the shade his cheeks turn
with both your hands reaching up to cup each cheek, cradling his face. you could practically feel him melt under your touch.
he's screaming on the inside.
is also thanking god for hearing his prayers
dear lord the things you do to him. it drives him absolutely crazy.
with heart eyes, he stares into yours. seeing you coming closer and closer.
then finally, you gave him a soft and gentle kiss.
that was it. his heart was beating, almost like it was gonna explode
his legs felt like they were too weak to hold him up.
just like that you got him wrapped around your fingers
never in a millennium did he ever think he'd fall for a human. and yet he did
now he wished time stopped. wanting to stay in your hold til who knows when
that's when he knew, he'd do anything, and I mean absolutely anything for you.
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thormanick · 2 years
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I once again come here to talk about the Primordial One and the Four Shades
Because I think I cracked the code y'all. Let's talk.
So, one of my theoretical points is that the Artifacts we receive from the domains are "gifted" to us by Phanes and the Four Shades/are directly linked to them. I think so because:
1. The artifact domains always have five crowns, Phanes + Shades = 5, and in the Byakuyakoku collection of books Phanes was compared to a King (and royal officials often have crowns).
2. The domains are seemingly connected to Ley Lines and thus Irminsul, having Trees as the central figure "gifting" us the artifacts. I also think it is interesting how Domain give us the artifacts connected to important historical figures, almost as if the Ley Lines "absorbed" the knowledge about them and try to preserve it in forms of artifact. From the book connection mentioned earlier we know that Phanes and Istaroth, at least, have some connection to the World Tree/Irminsul.
3. The people of the past (like, the first civilization I think) used to worship trees (Irminsul branches?) connected to the god(s) (Phanes & Co. ?) in order to gain knowledge and wisdom, so I guess if a tree graces you with a gift, it is not a gift sent by a Celestia but a gift "preserved" by the Irminsul and possibly by Phanes&Co.
If my theory is true and the five crowns do symbolize Phanes and the Four Shades, then I think it is possible for us to distinguish what roles the Four Shades had in Teyvat. The artifacts always adhere to five specific categories:
Life
Death
Eon (flow of time, epoch)
Eonothem (this is a hard one to define, but it may be defined as deposition, accumulated specifically within the earth during an eon)
Logos - according to the Internet, "the Word of God, or principle of divine reason and creative order" (this will help us later wink wink)
Now that I actually read more on Logos, here is the alignment I think might be suitable in current situation:
Life - Phanes (the one who gave the world to humanity)
Death - Shade #1
Eon - Istaroth, existing at each moment of time, Shade #2
Eonothem - Shade #3
Logos - Shade #4, whom I suspect to be The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles (as of now possibly corrupted by Celestia). Given that the Sustainer's role is to uphold the laws of the Universe, I think their role fits well with the definition of the Logos brought up earlier. Also, given that each of the Domains has a key with a cube on it, and cube is the figure associated with the Sustainer, I think it is all more appropriate to suspect that, in case of Sustainer's corruption, they were the only person able to seal the Domains away from the world (and now we as the Traveller un-seal them on our journey).
Thank you for paying attention to my rambling. I shall now go back to digging up all I can from Chasm in terms of information (I also probably need to touch some grass huh).
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sohin-ace · 3 years
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Jotaro - Kakyoin's Notebook
I'm sorry, I clickbaited y'all. The pairing in this story is not official.
...unless?
As you were all about to check out of the hotel, You decided to go back to everyone's respective rooms to make sure none of you forgot anything.
The crusaders were downstairs and you came up, checking every room. Everything seemed okay, you only needed to check Kakyoin and Jotaro's room last and then go back down.
You entered their room and looked everywhere. You stumbled onto a little notebook that was halfway underneath one of the pillows right as you were about to leave.
"Huh? Oops, I nearly didn't see that!" You bent down and took the notebook in your hands. It was just about pocket-sized. "Oh I do remember Jotaro having something like that, better get it back to him!"
Out of fateful clumsiness, the notebook slipped out of your hands and fell on the ground, opening on a random page. You crouched to pick it up, but then, your gaze fell upon what was on the page.
Your breath hitched in speechless confusion at what you saw, written at the top, in big font.
'Y/NxJotaro'
Why was your name and Jotaro's on that page? Was that some kind of memo? You knew Jotaro had the habit of taking notes to remember things, but why was your name in there?
Your curiosity got the best of you and you continued to look down the page, swiping through the others. You knew it was terribly wrong and you were invading his privacy but you were just so lost. It concerned you, there was your name on it.
" 'One-shot Draft... WIP', What does that even mean? J-... Jotaro did this?" You mumbled out loud, face scrunching up in confusion and slight fear as you looked through words you couldn't understand.
" 'Soulmate AU', 'Drabble', 'NSFW'? Are those some kind of codes?"
Pages long of stories decorated the sheets, so many you couldn't read everything. There were even some sketches and drawings that you didn't have the heart to look at. You managed to read some pieces of stories that left you even more confused. You read to yourself.
' "W-wait!" Y/N said as tears prickled in her eyes, her face flushed with innocent shyness. "I-It's my first time..."
"Don't worry," Jotaro spoke, hovering above her, his voice deep and soothing. "I'll be gentle." '
...What? You don't remember ever saying anything of the sort? You couldn't comprehend what you were reading. Whatever was written in there never happened and was fictional or somesuch to you.
When it was just too much for you to handle, you closed the notebook, your face still strained with mixed feelings.
Only then did you notice that there was a cherry sticker on the back of the notebook. After looking at the first page, you saw the name of the owner.
Noriaki Kakyoin.
"K-kakyo-... Oh my gosh..."
You were shocked, but somehow relieved. It made more sense than the author being Jotaro, but it still blew you away, the fact that Kakyoin would write such things on your and Jotaro's behalf.
Suddenly, Polnareff walked by and noticed you through the open door. You flinched when he called out to you and entered the room.
"Ah there you are Y/N! We started to worry!" He approached you and he noticed what you were holding. "Oh that's Kakyoin's notebook! He can't live without it, good thing you found it! Okay, let's go now, the others are waiting. Allez, on y va!"
He guided you out of the room and you followed, clutching the notebook. Polnareff didn't have to know the weird things written on it about you and Jotaro. You had to discover what it all meant.
"That's bullshit. You don't make any sense, Y/N." Jotaro scoffed at you, a few hours after the little hotel room occurence.
"I swear on my future husband's life! I'll prove it to you, look." You turned around and looked for your red haired friend. "Kakyoin! Can I doodle something on your notebook please~?"
"Huh?" He looked at you questioningly. "Why all of a sudden?"
"Well, Mr. Joestar will take a while to come back, so might as well kill some time. I'll write a cute message for you to read on the last train home!"
The red head smiled at your goofiness and thought 'why not?'. He took out his notebook along with a pen, but instead of giving it to you, he opened it on a specific empty page.
"Here," He handed you the items. "Only draw on this page. Don't draw on the other pages."
You nodded. "Got it! Thank you Kakyoin~!"
You smiled innocently and as soon as the male turned his back to you, your expression turned dark and you instantly looked for Jotaro who was sitting nearby.
"Jojo! Here, I have it, let's do this!" You stood in front of him with the notebook in your hands and he sighed.
"Yare yare daze, I'm not betraying his trust because of your shadiness."
"It's not like that! There's-..." You cut yourself off to look behind you and check if Kakyoin was looking.
You leaned down, inching towards Jotaro's face and whispered quietly. "There are things about us in here. Last time I saw it on accident, but if Kakyoin writes stuff about us, it's our legitimate right to know!"
"Says who? Are you a lawyer or something?"
"Jojo please!!" You pleaded while gripping on the collar of his gakuran, moving the chains on it and making them clang loudly.
The sudden noise alerted the cherry-haired fellow who turned his head to look at you both from afar. His eyes instantly widened and sparkled with vicious yet happy stars.
He loved to see his two best friends interract and, he knew damn well he took half of your interractions out of context, but that's what made them so good. His imagination started running wild at the scene before him.
The way you desperately held onto Jotaro, your faces, so close to each other, your begging eyes looking at him, yearning for his lips, waiting for one thing only.
'Jojo, please!' Kakyoin muttered what he imagined you would say. 'Say yes... I've been dying to kiss you!'
Back to you two, Jotaro clicked his tongue and looked away, closing his eyes in frustration. He hated the fact that he just couldn't refuse you anything.
"Tch! You're so fucking annoying. Fine, I get it, give it to me." Jotaro grumbled and moved your hands away from him, snatching the notebook from your hand.
'Tch! You know I can't resist you. Fine, don't beg for me to stop when I start messing you up.' Kakyoin continued, imitating his friend's deep voice under his breath and being surprisingly in character, for the inappropriate things he was imagining.
Kakyoin tensed up with anticipation when Jotaro suddenly grabbed your wrists, his big strong hands overpowering your fragile ones easily. You may have made the first move, but he would take the lead.
If it wasn't for the public surrounding you, Kakyoin was sure his friend would have gotten up and slammed you against the wall, pinning your hands at your side while you whimpered his name cutely. But he had to hold back, at least for now, or so Kakyoin daydreamed.
"Hey Kakyoin, what're you looking at? Come here for a bit!"
Before Kakyoin could even see the rest of the scene, which happened to be the most interesting part, he was interrupted by Polnareff who was in dire need for help with a nearby vending machine that seemed to have eaten his money.
Kakyoin sighed a bit annoyed, but joined his French comrade, not even glancing back at you. He'd have to remember to write everything down as soon as you gave him back his notebook.
Kakyoin Noriaki was an average boy that loved action and adventures, but he secretely wasn't immune to a good sweet romance story.
When you joined the crusaders, your interactions with Jotaro seemed as platonic as with the rest of the men. But for some reason, the boy started to feel some kind of connection between you two.
He didn't know when or how it started, but he felt like something was different at a certain point.
Why was it so cute when, one day, you removed Jotaro's hat to fix the pins that were moved out of place after a fight, and he let you put it back on him, even though he never lets anybody touch it?
Or maybe it was that other time in a restaurant where, after Jotaro eyed your dessert for a while, you exchanged your cakes to let him have a taste, stealing a bite from his own in the process.
Or that day when you struggled put your earrings back on and he had to help you out, only to struggle even more, his fingers too big and clumsy to be accurate. He had to call out Star Platinum to do it while he held your hair out of the way.
Even the simplest of gestures seemed romantic and adorable to him. He was sure something was going on between you two, and yet, you were too dense to realize it. All of this fueled his inner fanboy and it prevented him from sleeping at night.
He shipped you two so goddamn much.
He was guilty, but he loved every single bit of it. Of course, no one could know. If someone knew, especially you two, that'd be the end of him.
You were all waiting for the next train to arrive, which was a big 40 minutes. Joseph and Abdul went to buy something to snack on while you waited and Polnareff went to the restroom.
Kakyoin was sitting next to you, his back resting against the wall and his eyes were closed. As you thought he had fallen asleep, you took this moment to turn the other way to talk to your nonchalant friend.
"You see?" You spoke softly, careful to not wake Kakyoin up. "I told you there were stuff about us in that notebook!"
"Shut up, there were only messages on that page, I'm sure the others were the same." He grumbled with the same low intensity as you. "And you know damn well he can be a weirdo sometimes."
"But still, I want to understand... And also, what does 'smut' even mean?"
He pretended to be asleep, but his mind was racing.
Kakyoin who wasn't quite sleeping and very much listening to whatever he could hear through the background noise of the station, flinched and started blushing.
Just, when and where did you heard that term?
" 'Smut'?" Jotaro looked at you with confused furrowed eyebrows. "Hell if I know. You speak better english than I do, shouldn't you know?"
"Well I..."
Before the conversation could go down even further, Kakyoin feigned waking up and got up from his slouched position.
You noticed and turned around, staring at him, scared that he would ask what you were talking about, as you didn't want to confront him about the weird things you saw in his notes. If he ever knew, he would finish you. But something worse happened.
Jotaro nudged you and tilted his head towards Kakyoin, but you quite didn't get the message.
"Oi Kakyoin, do you know what 'smut' means? You know a lot of languages, right?" Jotaro asked like it was nothing and you gasped, secretly wanting to slap Jotaro for his indiscretion.
Kakyoin looked over at him, unfazed as ever. "Smut? Hmmm I guess I can look it up later. Where did you hear that?"
Jotaro innocently signed your death warrant. "Y/N just told me."
"JOTARO!!!" You shot up from your seat and stared at him in pure disbelief and betrayal. "OH MY- ARE YOU SERIOUS?! YOU TRAITOR!!!"
"Oh really?" Kakyoin teased, sending you a knowing look. "What's going on with you two? Are you keeping secrets from me?"
You blushed and flinched as Kakyoin's amethyst eyes stared through your soul. Before Jotaro could say anything else, you slapped a hand over his big mouth and Kakyoin's eye glinted.
"I-I mean... No! Wait. There's something I need to tell Jojo, excuse us for a sec."
You then leaned in and cupped Jotaro's ear as you whispered. Kakyoin looked at you in pure satisfaction, trying his best to not start smiling and giggling like a goofy schoolgirl.
Oh no, he didn't need to hear the sweet nothings you were deliciously breathing on Jotaro's now tingling skin. Imagining it was more than enough.
You leaned back and softly spoke to him. "Don't ruin this for us. I'm trusting you."
"Yare Yare daze. You put me into this in the first place. Don't complain."
Kakyoin's eyes widened and he turned his head around, trying to hide his expression and pretended he totally didn't hear that. Oh how sweet the lack of context was for his little fanboy mind. He wouldn't ask too many questions since you were offering him such a good show.
On the train, you waited until Kakyoin was completely out and asleep to subdue his notebook. That would make a good reading on the 4 hours long travel.
"Yes that's it! Right on the left pocket, yeah that one!"
You guided Jotaro who was hiding not too far from Kakyoin's seat as your delinquent friend used Star Platinum to steal your cherry loving friend's notebook.
When he finally had it, Star Platinum brought it back and both you and Jotaro proceeded to read through the many drafts and stories about you two.
Getting ready for one hell of a joy ride.
Bonus:
Kakyoin stretched and took a deep breath of fresh air as he got off the train.
"Aah~! I slept like a log. Huh? What's wrong, why are you two so red? Did you get motion sick, maybe?"
Kakyoin commented upon seeing your and Jotaro's flushed face as you got off. Your shoulders were slumped in shame and Jotaro was hiding behind his hat like a wanted criminal.
"Uh yeah... Here Kakyoin, you dropped this..." you groaned and handed him his notebook.
He thanked you and took his due. When he was gone, you glanced at Jotaro and you both shared intense empathy and regret.
Don't steal Kakyoin's notebook.
Oh man, wouldn't it be fun and also a bit sad if after Dio was defeated, Y/N and Jotaro became a couple?
You walked by the river, holding hands with Jotaro after a long week of finals. You suddenly stopped in your tracks and looked at the water reflecting the orange sunset.
Jotaro looked at you confused, but followed your gaze, until both of you laid eyes on a young girl painting the scenery on a canvas.
"You know... He would have loved this..." You started softly, a melancholic look cast on the girl as her Stand posed on the grass like a model, thinking herself only could see it. "To see us together, I mean..."
Jotaro inspected the girl, her red curls and green uniform moving messily in the wind. "Did he ever write something about us watching him paint?"
You chuckled sadly. "Why didn't he think of that? His stories were great, but he was in none of them..."
Jotaro noticed you biting your lip as your voice wavered slightly and he squeezed your hand in reassurance. You laid your head on his arm and he responded by bringing you closer to him.
"But now he is."
OKAY AUTHOR OUT
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egg-emperor · 2 years
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HELP MEEE I miss biker bear Eggman so fucking muuuch, I miss him every day and I dream of his return every night... it's been 11 years today since we were last graced with the sexy sighting of him in this stylish outfit in Free Riders. this is actually the number one reason why we need an official Riders series revival.
they really said that Eggman is an Evil Strong Old Man Power Type Big Bear Biker and combined multiple of my weaknesses to make me fall in love with the bastard even more than I already was 💘💜💖💕💗💜
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they can't just never show us that ever again, I need MORE
yeah, it's disappointing that Free Riders is such a frustrating game (that literally physically hurts to play at times with the goddamn Kinect lol) and it wasn't animated outside of the opening CG but I do appreciate the way this was the Riders game to finally give us renders of biker Eggman, his voice lines were fantastic as always thanks to Mike Pollock, and his in-game model had a big upgrade from the previous two games Imo
I still adore these renders and how expressive they are! the Team Sonic Racing dialogue renders pale in comparison to these.
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I needed to add a bg so Tumblr wouldn't crop them wrong, so I slapped them onto my Eggman render color picked bear flag because there's no more fitting bg
take a moment to appreciate this great variety of beautiful, silly, and cute expressions! and the glorious emphasis on his big bear paws that he uses to punch obstacles out of his way, my god... it's like they were made specifically for my gay gaze and I can't get enough 🐻����👀💜💕💘💖
he's so handsome I love him so fucking much y'all hfudbgjsghfjgkgh his biker outfit needs to come back, I'm begging on my hands and knees now
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katsukikitten · 3 years
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Part 10 of Irritated. Y'all thank Jo for this being updated lol.
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ This is an 18+ Pro Hero AU, mentions of violence and death. Enjoy
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The pungent smell of wet Earth and nose burning chemicals did not pair well with the harsh scent of rotting fruit. Sickeningly sweet as it rouses you, mind hazed as your eyelids refuse to open or even flutter. Weighted by lead and an endless sleep that tries to pull you under again. For once you submit.
More time passes, although you aren’t even sure you understand the concept any longer as that same smell stirs you again, a bang from an adjacent room pushes your eyes to flutter. Flashes of light against the start darkness before your eyes adjust to the low light of the room that seeps in from a few small rectangular windows. The panes are caked with dust while bricks are pressed into the seedy Earth, giving the room a natural coolness, there is only one set of stairs that lead up towards a door outlined in light. The sound of running water makes your throat constrict and your mouth dry, as if you swallowed cotton whole. Making you wonder just how long you had been pulled undertow. It takes your throbbing head a moment to catch up with your senses as a chill settles over your bare skin in goose flesh.
And then it all comes flooding back, the awful taste of his salty skin in your mouth, the fear gripping at your muscles as you finally realize that you are not in the safety of your apartment but somewhere forgein. Thrashing to get to your feet only to hit hard onto the icy concrete, wrists and ankles bound by white cuffs, a small whine escapes your raw throat. Your heart hammers in your chest before you feel a sharp prick in both of your wrists. A warm substance floods your system as your eyelids become heavy, mind trudging through abduction procedures before settling on blissful numb. A blurry figure comes from the only other door in the room that isn’t atop the staircase. You don’t need to fully focus on his face to know exactly what color his eyes are as they burn into your retinas before sleep hushes your frayed nerves. You dream of all consuming green that slowly fades to black.
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Bakugou finds himself standing in the kitchen of his apartment, your spare key stares up at him from your paperwork. A sweating glass with melting ice and the reminisce of an amber liquid is his only company. He leers down at the address, wondering why the hell you were on such a seedy side of town, then he thinks of you shaking on the couch back at the hotel during the convention. His stomach churns, your final words and blow cause him to suck his teeth.
“Not my fucking problem.” He huffs to himself, refilling the glass before killing the light in the kitchen to settle on the couch. His grip is too tight on the crystal glass in his explosive palm, the glass threatens to shatter while an infomercial plays in the background. His mind is anywhere but the TV while indestructible pans are advertised across the large screen. Aggressively swirling the amber liquid as his thoughts become more and more loud. He swallows the whisky whole and with it the thought of you. Letting it all burn as it runs down his throat and heats his chest, a warm feeling flooding his veins as he sinks lower into the couch. Flipping channels as he forgets you.
Your key taped to your personal records, that Bakugou stole, do not sit on his fine counter much longer, soon it is swiped and shoved into a pocket. He slams the crystal glass on the counter as he reaches for his own apartment keys and his cellphone. Bakgou slams his apartment door, locking the deadbolt before he rushes down the stairs to catch the last train to you hellish part of the city.
The hour train ride sobers Bakugou and only sets him into further agitation. Glaring at anyone who thinks to look at him more than once, even going as far as baring his teeth. Before glaring at his own reflection, who sneers right back. His black tee is tight and a bit damp despite the cool air, the brim of his backwards cap pulls the hair away from his forehead as his faded sides breathe in the chill of the train. The hat, an excuse to hold in his hair, his hero gloves heating his hands as his fingers twitch, he hopes your apartment is hardwood throughout since he didn't have plastic bags to put his feet in while he looked for something. Anything. He was doing the best with what he had.
But the more he looks at himself the more he realizes he never really was doing his best. At least not when it came to you.
The address to your apartment complex is a few blocks away from the train station, his jaw clenched as he reaches the low lit building. Screaming comes from somewhere far off, his ears perk out of habit, but he was supposed to be off duty right now. Plus that wasn’t his current focus, not to mention should he help it would be suspicious as fuck as to why he was so far way from home tonight. He bounds up the stairs in the dank stairwell two at a time, huffing through his nose as he reaches the top floor. The carpet is worn threadbare and reeks of vomit and water damage. Silence envelopes the top floor compared to the yelling and crashing items on his way up. Slowly it dawns on him that you’re most likely renting out the entire fucking floor. He sucks his teeth, leaning in close to the door of the first apartment on the floor. Nothing comes from the other side of the thin cheap door, musty air flows from between the cracks as if the room had been closed for quite some time. It confirms what he’s been thinking. He finds your apartment door with ease, several bolts and locks lined up perfectly straight. He looks down at the one key and thinks about what happened in the short few years you started at the agency that you would need five, no six additional deadbolts on your door. He half wishes you hadn't made it so obvious as to which door was yours, thoughts creep into the forefront of his mind as he imagines someone else standing in his spot now. He thinks he will need a locksmith, but that would call attention to himself, he could attempt to pick them but he never really had time to practice the shady skill. Just as he is about to turn to brute force as the answer he notices that your door doesn't seem fully shut. He thinks of all the times that you bitched while on patrol about your damn door and how you had to literally slam it shut for it to actually lock. Gritting his teeth he gently pushes the door open with his gloved hand letting it swing open with an eerie creak.
Already things are out of place. Your suitcase stands alone, untouched and obviously unpacked from the clothes peeking out from beneath the zipper, by the front door. Your lanyard for your keys is on the floor instead of the table that is in the foyer and the converse you were wearing the day that you quit are missing. Faintly something gleems in the grainy light from the hallway from beneath the table in the foyer. Bakugou reaches for it tentatively, teeth gritting as he realizes what the glass rectangle is.
Your phone.
Specifically, your dead phone.
His hand hover over the unresponsive screen before deciding to leave it, this would be evidence they would need later but for now he knew he had to do something. Kamisama takes pity on the poor bastard and throws him a bone in the shape of a scrunchie. Your black scrunchie that seems to have been ripped from your arm. As he reaches for it he notices the faint residue smeared on the hardwood. His mind dredges up weeks ago of the guy trying to hide his quirk. Of the carpet by the hotel door in the hall just a touch darker.
He should have fucking killed him, he should not have listened to you. He snatches the scrunchie, heading towards your kitchen to look for a bag, tupperware, anything to trap the smell of you and possibly your assailant. He finds a plastic sandwich bag, shoving the broken hair tie into the baggie before sealing it shut. He heads for your door thinking better of slamming it shut in case he needs to return without the calvary. Pulling his phone from his pocket he dials an old number from memory, the other line picks up.
"Oi, it's time I cashed in on that favor you owe me."
After the short conversation and the long hour and a half in the cold a four door sudan pulls up to the train station by your house. Bakugou eagerly yanks open passenger side door, slamming it shut as he cranks of the heat in the car, giving the driver no room for questions let alone a greeting.
"Oi, I need you to find the owner of this." He flashes the scrunchie as the driver gives him a look, "Inu, you're hound's son aren't you? It's not impossible."
"It might as well be dude. What is this?" Inu snatches the bag from hot fingers, "Do you even know when the last time the owner wore this. And what exactly are we doing? Is this even fucking official?"
Bakugou narrows his eyes, mouth set in a harsh snarl as he leans in close to the driver's seat while Inu leans back.
"I dunno was your shit I helped you with official? Was it ethical for us to take out a mob boss for your now ex wife?"
Inu looks away into the rear view mirror, eyes boring holes into the glass and the blankets in the back seat. Bakugou doesn't notice, he takes it as admission before leaning away into the passenger seat.
"Now get to sniffing." Inu grits his teeth at the hot head's comments before sighing out. Opening the bag just a little to take a whiff. The smell was faint, indicating a large gap from the time it was last worn to now. Not to mention there was an odd smell, so unbelievably faint in the fabric that had Inu not already known what you smelt like he would have missed it. Just barely he could make out past the notes of your shampoo a salty harsh smell, almost like a preservative. Had it been any stronger it would have burned his nostrils. Sweat and...was that formaldehyde?
His stomach churns, slowly closing the baggie before cracking his window, catching the wind just right. He follows his nose, head halfway out the window as the car carries the men late into the night, all the way to the fringes of a suburb that was partly in the country. Inu parks the car on the wide street of the little neighborhood built to mimic an American suburb in the nineties. Homes of various sizes spread out and yet not too far from one another.
"This is it." Inu announces, throwing the car in park as it sits nestled between a beat to hell pick up truck and a dented sudan.
"You're sure?" Bakugou asks as he takes in the old home, it's upkeep is minimal at best, landscaping border line over grown as he can barely make out the small rectangular windows at the base of the house beneath the old dim street lamp.
"This is where both smells get stronger."
"Both?" A tic wounds tighter in Bakugou's jaw while a tremor runs through his arms. Inu nods as Bakugou reaches for the knob.
"Woah, woah!" Inu's large hand clamps down onto a broad shoulder, "Hold up man, if she really is involved then this is nothing like the sting we did bro. We need to call someone."
"Like fucking who?"
"I dunno Director Yami?"
"Yea so he can dismiss this again? Fuck that and fuck you. I'm going." He shoves Inu away reaching for the door again before the blankets in the back seat come to life. A mop of emerald curls with concern plastered across the giant's face appears to Bakugou's horror.
"Kaachan...you can't. We need to do this right, for her." And with that Bakugou snaps, lunging for his old friend, enemy. Climbing past the center console with his hands outstretched before they wrap around a thick column squeezing with all of his might. Deku doesn't do much to stop him, somehow knowing deep down that it isn't really him that the red eyed man wants to kill. He wraps broad hands around thick forearms giving them a gentle squeeze, he could snap them with One for All if he wanted. Instead Inu barks out a breathy "What the fuck?" as he wraps his arms around Bakugou's torso pulling him back into the passenger's seat. In the tussle either Bakugou or Inu hit the horn, causing Inu to panic as a light comes to life in the once darkened house. He forcefully shoves Bakugou into the front seat as he peels into the street, thankfully without burning rubber.
"Are you trying to blow our fucking cover?!" Inu shouts, "Like fuck! And what's killing Izuku-kun going to do?"
Bakugou turns to glare at the behemoth of a man in the back seat, he rubs his throat as red eyes watch bruises form.
"I'm not sorry Deku, fuck you." But Izuku can read between the lines, Bakugou saying he is sorry but still fuck you for trying to stop me while our friend is most likely on borrowed time.
"'S kay. We can help her."
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A honk, rouses you before footsteps can be heard overhead rushing through the house before blinding light floods down into the basement.
"Finally you're awake." He flicks on all the lights, scrambling to put your feet under you so you can at least sit. Eyes flickering over the room as you try to give your throbbing, unresponsive mind to collect something, anything you can store away for later to aid your escape. Meanwhile the green eyed fucker monologues.
"It took some time for me to adjust your dose, I need you to be just under enough that you won't fight back, your heart rate spikes easily you know…." His words are lost to you as you glance over your shoulder only to wish you never did as your stomach churns in horror. Lined up against the wall behind you are women, women you had posed with.
But what haunts you is how it starts with your missing friend. Her eyes hollowed out, pitch black holes stare back at you as her skin looks paper thin, like a botched mummification or that whoever was trying to preserve her got lucky. She is still in her last scene clothes that are bloodied and torn. Your eyes struggling to follow the line as they progressively become more and more preserved, until your eyes finally land on your last instagram picture, you and that young girl. With the peace signs beneath your eyes.
She looks to still be alive, until you realize she is unblinking with glass eyes and a permanent smile with the help of a stich or two.
He notices your rigidness and frowns.
"Are you not happy? It's hard to save the eyes." He forces your face to meet him with his fingers on your skin, "I made them for you. They're your friends right? I wouldn't want my doll to be lonely."
Your breath comes in ragged huffs as rage consumes you, you were going to kill him. With whatever little power you had left, you were going to end him and savor it.
All these lives, twenty, that you could see, lost, because of you and you negligence. Your eyes glow before a prick comes at your wrist, the power dying in your fingers.
"No." You rasp out as your vision begins to fade.
"Ah come on, I just want you to be a wake for just a bit doll. Just a while longer before I make you mine."
Your world plunges into the depths of darkness.
Your dream of the girls behind you, of their scream as their preserved bodies animate, their glass eyes fixated on you as they crawl across the concrete. Their mouths smelling of formatihide and rot as they lean close to you, voices beneath water or worn by gravel.
"You did this. You killed us."
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Text
Paint My Spirit Gold
Dukeceit Week Day 2: Green/Yellow
Fans of the YouTubers "Deceit" and Remus "The Duke" Sanders start to suspect that maybe, just maybe, the two of them are more than simple internet pals.
AO3 Link: [here]
Word Count: 2187
Warnings: n/a
@dukeceitweek <3
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[ID: A screenshot of a Twitter post by user @CallMeDukie. It features a watercolor-style painting of a snake. The snake appears to be made of melting chocolate, and there is a large bite taken out of its tail. Cherries and jam are leaking out of the snake at the bite wound. The snake's expression of horror is overly-exaggerated to the point of comedy. The caption reads: "liked your snake boi, @SerpenThyme. thanks for the inspo." /end ID]
A notification ding cut Janus off mid-sentence. 
“Wow, someone left their cell phone on, so professional,” he said, giving the camera a dramatic eye roll. That someone was him, of course, because he was the only one in the apartment- just him and the running livestream- but that was no excuse not to be a drama queen about it. He finished wiping flour off his hands and grabbed his phone to silence it; but the notification made him pause. He flicked his eyes up toward the camera and gave a slight smirk.
“My goodness, I’m famous,” he drawled. “The Duke himself has graced little old me with some fan art.”
Most of the comments in the chat wanted him to show it, so Janus opened up Twitter to see the full post he’d been tagged in. It was a watercolor painting of the coiled-snake chocolate sculpture- lovingly named Jake by his viewers- he’d made for his YouTube video last week; it was wearing an expression of such comedic horror that Janus had to stifle a laugh. He flicked his phone screen toward the close-up camera on his counter so his viewers could see.
“How kind of you, Remus,” he said. “All of you should go scold him for what he’s done to poor Jake here.”
Most of his viewers would know he was joking- after all, they were the ones to nickname him Deceit when he provided neither a real or fake name for his online persona. They knew full well what he was like by now.
The oven timer dinged. Janus silenced his phone and set it aside.
“And our first batch of cookies is done. You know, why don’t we show the Duke some appreciation?”
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[ID: An Instagram post by user @SerpenThyme. The photo is an artistically-framed shot of a stack of sugar cookies with green, yellow, and pink icing. Propped up against the stack is another cookie, with an intricate icing-drawing of an octopus. The photo appears to have been color corrected to have high contrast, low saturation, and a dark vignette at the edges. The Instagram user @OctoDukie is tagged. No caption. /end ID]
“You know, I have often been accused of actually being a little old lady, what with my fondness for knitted jumpers, rocking chairs, and incredibly fucked up murder mystery books. Today I am doing nothing to dispel this accusation, by making soup.”
The studio was dark and empty aside from Remus' workspace. Everyone else had left long ago, even his own brother, which meant that it was officially ass-o'clock in the morning (or, as most people called it, somewhere between 1 and 2 a.m.) But Remus was stuck in hyperfocus, honed in on putting the last touches on a commission that he'd been putting off for weeks. It's not that it was a tough painting- once he'd gotten started, it was actually a very creatively satisfying piece- but man, executive dysfunction could go suck a dick
“French onion soup, specifically. Because while I do like to pretend I am a classy bitch, I am also, regrettably, a lazy bitch with a distaste for anything that takes longer than one bottle of wine to make.”
Remus hated working in silence. It was stifling, almost suffocating. His brain needed noise like his lungs needed air. So when the studio had grown still and silent, Remus had flipped open his laptop and queued up some YouTube videos. 
“So we have here three pounds of onions that we need to slice up, pole to pole. You’re going to cry no matter what, so if you have any memories you’ve been repressing since middle school, now is an excellent time to dredge those up.” 
And if it happened to be 90% SerpenThyme videos, well. Sue him. 
“Now the first rule of caramelizing onions: fast and sloppy is always better than slow and thorough… at least, that’s what every man I’ve ever slept with tells me.”
Remus choked and glanced over to his laptop screen just in time to catch Deceit's trademark smirk directed at the audience just for a moment. It was the deadpan delivery that always got him. Remus could barely hold onto a joke long enough to get through it without cackling mid-punchline, but this fucker could say the funniest shit like an off-hand comment. 
He wiped his hands off on his jeans (what use were clothes if you couldn't use them as paint rags?) and pulled his laptop across the table.  He typed out a quick comment, citing the timestamp of the joke, and after it was posted, he shut his laptop. 
'Cause ass-o'clock was short for "get-your-ass-home-or-I’ll-kick-it" o'clock. 
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[ID: A screenshot of a YouTube comments section. The first comment is by user TheDuke, and reads: "10:42 wow, rude." The second comment is a reply by user SerpenThyme, and simply reads ";)" /end ID]
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Janus plopped down on the couch with a slight groan. He didn’t need to stream today, but he really hated missing days. Besides… he was fine. Really. 
He adjusted the camera until he was happy with the framing, and then checked the settings on his streaming software. Satisfied, he started the stream, and watched as his usual viewers rolled in. 
“What do you mean I’m not in my kitchen?” Janus drawled, addressing the chat. He glanced around with an expression of faux-shock on his face. “My goodness, when did that happen?”
He chuckled, and then gestured to his surroundings. “Yes, we are in my living room today. If you must know, my closest and most trusted friend tried to murder me today- yes, Virgil, it was attempted murder and nothing less- and I survived with nary a scratch… and a broken foot, but that is beside the point. Anyway, I’m not allowed to stand for long periods of time, and I may or may not be somewhat inebriated by pain pills and couldn’t stand even if I wanted to. So we are cooking from my couch today.”
Janus paused for a few moments to read the chat messages as they popped up. A few get well soon’s, a few theories about the “attempted murder,” Virgil- who moderated his chat for him- vehemently denying the “attempted murder” but otherwise refusing to clarify the event, and a large volume of wtf why are you streaming today, take care of yourself comments, which made him smile. But one particular comment caught his eye, almost lost amid the torrent of an active chat: wait this kinda looks like the Duke’s living room?
“Oh, VampSuga,” he said, addressing that commenter in particular with a slight smirk. “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about. Anyway, since I can’t reach my oven from here, I thought some no-bake cookies were in order. For these you will need-”
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[ID: A screenshot of a Discord conversation. The text reads:
“VampSuga: Ok ok hear me out. Dukeceit. 
Starstruck96: who?
IneffableSnek: lmao
FeralBeauYasha: lol
VampSuga: Deceit and Remus Sanders! They’re totally dating. I will die on this hill. 
FeralBeauYasha: Isn’t the duke w/ PatPat?
IneffableSnek: no thats his brothers bf
FeralBeauYasha: ohh
VampSuga: Did anyone see Deceit’s stream today? I swear that’s the Duke’s livingroom. 
StarStruck96: idk that seems like a stretch
IneffableSnek: no wait i kno what u mean
IneffableSnek: im watching the duke’s old videos and that one where he shows off all his old weapons he’s in a living room kinda like deceit’s 
FeralBeauYasha: They were acting all cute on twitter too
VampSuga: DUKECEIT”  /end ID]
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"Hey guys, been a while since you've seen my face and not just whatever my hands are busy with, when it's within YouTube's terms and conditions I mean. They used to be way more lenient…" Remus trailed off for a moment, then shook his head sharply and plastered on a grin. 
"Anyway! In June me and a few other creators did a fundraiser for the Trevor Project, and y'all smashed the goal, so I let you decide what video I'd make this month." He paused, and gestured to the mountain of clothes piled behind him on the bed. "And you had so many juicy ideas to choose from, but you decided to dress me up like a Barbie instead."
Remus paused to scroll through his phone for a few moments. "Ah, ok, here we go. Twitter user YoonIsMyCat- oh, BTS, nice- sent in this first outfit. Uh… future Remus, put up the post here somewhere." He gestured vaguely to his right. "Y'all went with either a fuckton more clothes or a fuckton less clothes, which I respect. Apparently this outfit is called…” He squinted at his phone. “Amish chic? I take it back, no respect at all.”
Remus cycled through the outfits his viewers sent in, which ranged from the aforementioned “Amish chic” to “2008 rave attire” to “ok now you guys are just fucking with me” (which consisted of one of those big puffy snow coats, lime green in color; booty shorts with the shrug text emoji across the ass; fuzzy pink boots; and a yellow cowboy hat to top off the whole thing. It was awful. Remus loved it.) The mountain of clothes on the bed gradually became a mess of clothes spread across the floor instead, until there was just one outfit left. 
“Ok so Twitter user VampSuga sent me this outfit that I’m gonna call ‘sexy librarian.’ I couldn’t find this exact sweater online, but-” he paused for dramatic effect, before brandishing a sweater toward the camera like a bullfighter. “My boyfriend had something that was close enough.”
Remus hopped up from the bed and switched off the camera so he could change.
“They’re going to lose their minds,” a voice drawled from the doorway. Remus threw his shirt at him.
“Shoo, I’m getting naked.”
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[ID: A Twitter post by user @CallMeDukie. It features a selfie of YouTuber Remus “The Duke” Sanders, a Hispanic man with his hair dyed green and styled into a spiked mohawk. He is wearing a yellow knitted cardigan over a black button-up shirt. He is grinning widely at the camera. The caption reads: “my viewers pick my outfits! now live on youtube. go see what i look like as a sexy librarian!” /end ID]
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DukeceitStan
first and only dukeceit shipper ig
DukeceitStan
wow there’s so many of you now! Hi!!
DukeceitStan
i want this to be canon so bad omg
DukeceitStan
i mean just look
[image]
how 
[image]
cute
[image]
[ID: A series of three gifs featuring Youtubers SerpenThyme, aka Deceit, and TheDuke, aka Remus Sanders. Deceit is a black man with long, dreadlocked hair, and vitiligo patches along the left side of his face. Remus is a Hispanic man with green-dyed hair styled into a mohawk, many ear and facial piercings, and tattoos covering both arms. Each gif is edited so that the highlights are tinged yellow when Deceit is seen, and tinged green when Remus is seen.
The first gif depicts a close-up shot of Deceit’s hands as he carefully decorates a cookie with green and yellow icing. The cookie art he is working on appears to be a half-finished octopus. The gif then fades into a mid-shot of Remus, with his back to the camera, facing a canvas. The canvas is blank, and Remus appears to be laying out paints on a table to his left. 
The second gif depicts Deceit seated at his couch, facing the camera. He has many ingredients spread across his coffee table (including oats, cocoa powder, and butter) and appears to be in the process of laying out several more. The gif fades to show Remus seated at a similar couch with a similar coffee table in front of him. The camera is angled slightly downward to better show the myriad of knives spread out across the table. Remus is gesturing wildly with a morning star held in his hand. 
The third gif depicts Deceit in his kitchen. He is pulling on a bright, yellow knitted cardigan, and smirking toward the camera. The gif fades to show Remus in his bedroom, seated on his bed. He is holding up a similar-looking cardigan toward the camera and grinning. /end ID]
“Remus, it’s almost two in the morning. Come to bed.”
“I’m coming, sorry. Twitter distracted me.”
“Mm. I can’t believe the bird app is more distracting than I am.”
“You should try harder.”
“Come to bed and maybe I will.”
“Ok, ok, I’m coming. Hang on though, is it cool if I post this?”
“Sure. They figured it out anyway.”
“Sweet. Ok, Jannie, I’m coming.”
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[ID: A screenshot of a Twitter post by user @CallMeDukie. It reads: “Dukeceit is canon.” /end ID] 
18 notes · View notes
thejustmaiden · 4 years
Text
Heyo, fellow Inuyasha fans! Happy Friday! This particular blog will serve as a collection of random thoughts I’ve been mulling over lately. Hope you’ll consider giving it a read. By the way, it’ll specifically pertain to the Sessrin ship. If that’s not something that is of interest to you, then no need to read any further. Whatever happens, I wanted to get this out before the sequel. Alrighty, let’s go! 
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I’m not sure many of us realize just how much fiction sparks public dialogue and shapes culture. There have been countless studies and research done to prove it, therefore this really isn’t up for debate. What the real question here should be is have we taken the time to fully contemplate and assess just how much fictional experiences are able to change or influence our perspective on real, everyday life? The visual arts are just one of many evolutionary adaptations that serve to give us more insight into one another’s mind. If our outlook on fiction contrasts with said insight, then perhaps some re-evaluating is in order.  
Powerful works of literature such as 1984 and the beloved Harry Potter series are just two examples. George Orwell’s book contributed strongly to how readers viewed government and politics during that time, and to this day it’s a book that resonates with many. As much as Harry Potter is cherished all across the world, there are religious and academic institutions that condemn it or have even gone so far as to ban it. I may not agree with the extreme measures taken, but it’s fascinating nonetheless to witness the extent to which fiction can move and mobilize people for a cause.
The takeaway is that indicating fiction doesn’t have the power to create change in our everyday lives is misleading to say the least. So how exactly then can fictional stories that are, after all, completely made up affect society in such profound ways? It all lies in the power of the psychology of fiction. According to cognitive psychologist and novelist, Keith Oatley, who’s been researching the psychological effects of fiction for over a decade, he states that engaging with stories about other people can improve empathy and theory of mind. When we identify with these characters’ struggles, we begin to share their frustration for societal problems that plague them. These types of stories tap into our emotions more so than- believe it or not- nonfiction, and thus their effects inspire us and even have the ability to alter our worldviews. 
I’ll be returning to that specific topic a bit later, but moving on for now!
It’s safe to say that I speak on behalf of the majority of antis. That being said, I first want to add that we are aware that sessrin shippers claim to agree that there was nothing inherently romantic that took place between Rin and Sesshomaru during their travels together. The thing is we have trouble believing you guys when you time and time again provide contradictory statements to defend your stance.
Voicing things like, “all signs point to Rin” and “it’s been foreshadowed” sends the exact opposite message of what you supposedly stand for and, if anything, confirms that you’ve had romance on your mind long before it would’ve been acceptable to come out with openly. You can’t just go along with what we say when it’s convenient to your argument and then back it up later with “who else but Rin.” How can the relationship you’re imagining be so obvious if they didn’t hint at it for the whole duration of the original series like we agreed upon? Elaborate on how we could’ve possibly come to such wildly different conclusions when we started AND left off with the same views for and throughout the series. 
On top of that, making the excuse that we don’t speak for adult!Rin and that she has the right to make her own decisions once she’s old enough is a weak defense. Firstly, because we haven’t even met her. Secondly, because it’s unfair of you to assert that you know what’s best for Rin and then say we’re not allowed to just because it doesn’t align with your beliefs. I get that you feel protective over her character, but do recall that this adult version of her none of us have actually met yet. We have no idea what kind of woman she’s become, what her dreams or aspirations may be, and whether she’s married or even wants to be. I’m not against the idea of her falling in love, I just don’t think it’ll be with Sesshomaru. I guess I’m also a fan of the idea of her following in Kaede’s footsteps, because if anyone can grow up to be an independent, trusted, and wise leader of the community like her it’s Rin.
To make matters worse, way too many of you continue to celebrate the drama cd and profess that it was sweet that Sesshomaru basically promised he’d wait for Rin all while somehow ignoring the glaring grooming implications. Why do you only see what you want to see and fail to acknowledge that actual child grooming scenarios do in fact play out like this in real life? A high percentage of people who have been victims of grooming can attest to this. If Sessrin does go canon, all the sequel succeeded in doing to avoid the direct correlation with grooming was skip over the more questionable and dodgy portions of it. Take out the time jump, however, and you no longer have a loophole to cover up the scary unmistakable truth, which is that Sessrin and grooming are essentially one in the same.
No one case is identical to another so please don’t come to me with your “but how is it grooming if Sesshomaru didn’t manipulate Rin” refutes. Nobody knows what the hell went on during those years between The Final Act and this upcoming sequel. Based on everything exhibited so far- that is if we decide to recognize the drama cd like so many of you choose to do- Sessrin’s dynamic is eerily reminiscent of real life child grooming. Why else do you think a lot of us fans have a huge problem with it? It’s triggering for a reason. 
Let’s be honest, Sesshomaru’s supposed love confession could’ve just been the first of many gestures like it. Who really knows, right? According to you shippers, a major shift in their relationship took place sometime during this critical period none of us got to watch unfold. I’m sure you all have explored the various ways this would’ve gone down in fan fiction and through other creative means of expression. Not to spoil the fun, but all I can’t help but wonder about is just how many of those supposed “cute moments” would’ve been as creepy and cringey as that proposal. Hundreds of thousands (possibly millions?!) of fans would undoubtedly agree with me, too. It seems to me this ain’t due to a mere difference of opinion. Taste is one thing, ethics a whole other. 
By the way, in case you didn’t know, groomers don’t necessarily need to plan out every single move in order for their behavior to constitute as grooming. What we should be paying attention to instead is the fact that Sesshomaru made a conscious decision to act on his own selfish desire for a young girl who couldn’t have possibly known in that moment the magnitude of what he was asking of her. Why is it that a vulnerable Rin is put in a position that forces her to be the one responsible for making such a big, life-changing decision for the both of them? Yes, Sesshomaru gave her the choice and, yes, she doesn’t have to make it till later, but why on Earth is he coming to her with this well before a child her age is ready and mature enough to handle it? Even if his intentions are good (broadly speaking of course), his what you shippers probably call “innocent acts” are incidentally coercing Rin into reciprocating his feelings. Whether he planned for that or not, he’s at fault. Period. 
That’s one way the power imbalance works. A child wants nothing more than to please the adult they look up to and adore, because they’re impressionable like that. Maybe Rin processes this like she’ll want whatever he wants, so that’s what she trains herself to believe- either right then and there or over time. Plus, if you really think about it, why wouldn’t she trust him if in her eyes he’s been nothing but good to her and that’s all she’s ever really known? (Psst! Charm is integral to the manipulative nature of grooming so it’s deceiving AKA manipulation can come off as praise or flattery.) Bottom line is that Rin is too young to have to think about this kind of deep stuff at all, and Sesshomaru shouldn’t have taken advantage of the power he had/has over her to influence a decision she was by no means prepared to hear about much less decide on. Your headcanons seem to imply that she’ll eventually have to choose though, and Idk about you but I rather not push my own fantasy agenda onto a underage girl regardless of how much I want it. Idc if she’s fictional, it wouldn’t feel right so why would I want to see that? My principals couldn’t ever allow for it.   
Even if it wasn’t an official proposal, per se, it’s still disturbing to me that so many of you find joy in the thought of a grown adult male essentially waiting for a young girl HE KNEW to become old enough before pursuing her. I know this drama cd ain’t technically canon, y'all, but since this is literally the only source we have that may foreshadow a potential Sessrin to come, and it’s referenced a lot, I figured it still should be called out for exactly what it is- Grooming: 101!!!!
Just as I demonstrated above, fiction has the ability to make even the most inappropriate and uncomfortable situations be viewed in a favorable light when you put the right spin on it. *cough* Lolicon culture, need I say more? *cough* Despite what you may believe, the strategies fiction utilizes to explain themes/concepts can genuinely lead to how we perceive them, and ultimately to how we come to make sense of a similar event presented to us in real life. Especially if we have no prior experience with any of it and have nothing to compare something to, these perceptions can be dangerous yet still persuasive to certain fans- young ones in particular. The more narrative consistency across stories and different mediums, the more likely they’ll influence social beliefs. Minors don’t possess the same capacity as adults to think critically about the content they consume, and if we aren’t more careful about what we put out there then all of us will continue to face serious repercussions.
This is precisely why it’s crucial we persist in our fight against the rabid phenomenon of glorifying young girls in every sexual context imaginable. Just look at what something as seemingly harmless as fiction has the power to do. The scope of fiction is broad and far-reaching, and it’s about time we stop denying that fact and actually do something about it if we have the means to.
The truth of the matter is that we’re in desperate need of proper education and training programs on this issue in our communities. Families need to ensure their children have access to the necessary resources, but it isn’t just on them. ALL of us gotta do our part and ALL of us should be up for the task. It takes a village, right? If we do not properly discuss and address child sexual abuse (CSA) with our children and in public forums, including the internet, then we’re ultimately accepting incidents of CSA should they arise. Consequently, that also translates to indirectly accepting that the predators among us stay untreated and/or unpunished. That’s how the generational and societal aspect of the abuse can continue, and we must do everything in our power to secure our children’s future. Yes, even when it comes to fiction.
If you still somehow don’t think the Sessrin pairing has anything to do with grooming, allow me to break this down for you one more time:
1. If some of your fellow sessrin shippers say that a relationship like this in real life is harmful, then that should be pretty telling in and of itself.
2. Piggybacking off #1: if your only defense to that is “well it’s just fiction,” then you should ask yourself why you can’t ever come up with better reasons. Same goes for history and culture, so please stop using those to justify this relationship. None of the above can or should be applied since it’s already been established that fiction pervades our lives and vice versa.
3. If fellow shippers who are victims of grooming say they are drawn to Sessrin because it allows them in a way to “take back control” from their abuser so that they can better cope with past traumas, then they’re inadvertently admitting that Sessrin does possess qualities associated with the past child sexual abuse they underwent. AKA Sessrin is relatable for its abusive dynamic.
I have to ask by the way, but why do you get so offended when we don’t support your ship anyway? Is it because we interpret it to be controversial and you don’t like your ship getting a bad rap? Is it because it would be insulting to admit that antis actually have a point in it being problematic and you rather double down instead? Or is it because you’re projecting yourself onto Rin and prefer to not go into detail about why that is? Maybe it’s too personal, or maybe it’s because deep down you’re ashamed. Of course that doesn’t mean you’re bad people, but suppressing these kind of negative emotions can’t be healthy for anyone. A little awareness and self-reflection on your part can benefit not just you but all of us in the long run. Cognitive dissonance can suck, but it’s also part of being human. 
I recently came across a comment I’d like to share with you. Unfortunately, this is not the first time nor will it be the last I see the likes of it. Anyway, in it a fan stated how embarrassing it must be being an Anti in this fandom when an episode like “Forever with Lord Sesshomaru” exists. Guys, this shipper and all those who liked their post are showing their true colors. Perpetuating and/or anticipating these sexualized images of young girls is a grave issue in both our society and media alike. I think we can all agree on that, or at least I hope so. It’s remarks like these that prove we still got a long way to go in terms of progress, and if we ever hope to effectively reverse some of our backwards way of thinking. So serious question for ya in regard to this: Why is it too much to ask that grooming be portrayed for what it is? Grooming. To clarify, grooming is bad and needs to be painted in a bad light. It’s as simple as that. If only we could all acknowledge it for what it is, we wouldn’t be in this predicament. 
Historical accuracy and cultural differences aside, it appears the crux of the matter between Sessrin shippers and Antis is our acceptance and/or denial of fiction’s influence on real life. If we can’t agree on this, then we’ll never agree on anything else. As mentioned earlier, there is more than enough evidence to support the idea that fiction impacts our lives in extraordinary ways. I, for one, believe in the transformative power of stories. I think they do more for us than many of us give them credit for and/or are inclined to admit. 
This is partially why I believe that the majority of sessrin folk are missing the point most of the time. All they do is focus on insignificant and irrelevant information that accomplishes nothing but more gaslighting and strawmanning. Whether it be an intentional or unconscious decision, whatever we argue goes right over their head. All they do is throw around deflections and antagonizing remarks that serve no real purpose other than to make Antis out to be the unreasonable and irrational ones. Making connections between our own lives and our stories is a completely natural and normal occurrence. If those particular shippers insist on denying just how interconnected real life and fiction both are, what that tells me is they’re either out of touch with reality or deliberately choose to be.
Just to be clear, I am of the opinion that most if not all antis aren’t real life predators. If they say they aren’t, I honestly take their word for it. Speaking to Sessrin shipper directly: We know it’s not Sesshomaru you want to be but Rin. No, we’re not calling you pedophiles or groomers. None of us think you are using a fictional ship to attract underage fans to be the Rin in your life or anything of the sort. We are well aware that many of you are self-inserting yourself as Rin, so please don’t feel the need to tell us yourself because that would be stating the obvious.
I learned from a few of you since this sequel was announced that the Sessrin relationship isn’t just a ship but an opportunity for you to confront the person who used and abused you. So there’s two issues with this I’d like to raise. (Sorry if I’m repeating myself, but it’s urgent I stress this again!) This is what I have to say:
If fiction does not affect real life or have the ability to normalize anything as you claim to believe, then why does “fixing” what happened to you via your preferred choice of coping associated with these two characters in the first place? Why bring your past abuse into this at all if at the end of the day it’s “just fiction” and nothing more to you but a source of entertainment?
By confessing that you use Sessrin to cope with your past trauma, you therein reveal that Sessrin does in fact resemble an adult-child relationship with a grooming dynamic. So why then would you want other fans to be exposed to a pairing that brings to mind the very abuse you endured? We’re supposed to stop this toxic cycle- NOT find more ways to manifest and relive it, much less subject other fans to it. 
You may think that Sessrin doesn’t fit the textbook definition of what child grooming is, but that’s not to say it doesn’t embody it or that it doesn’t at the very least have traces of it that stand out. 
“Antis are miserable people who don’t know how to enjoy a good story. It’s just fiction, stop ruining it for other fans!”
Well, no, it’s not just fiction or just a story. Some of you evidently went and proved that yourself, and without my help, by revealing how you relate Sessrin to your own life and apply it to cope with past abuse. Past abuse or not, as far as I can tell we’re all equally invested in these characters. That speaks volumes and just goes to show that fiction touches our lives in long-lasting ways.
I have something I want to say concerning some of who believe that it’s inconsiderate of antis who have been victims of grooming or another form of child abuse to tell other victims who ship Sessrin how they should cope with their trauma. Now as much as I respect the various means victims discover to deal with their painful pasts, there’s always an appropriate time and a place for these things to occur. We must seek out better ways to safely cope with the abuse we lived through (if any) without running the risk of hurting and endangering others. 
There are plenty of fans in other fandoms who don’t try to defend their ships going canon, because they’re able to recognize an unhealthy or toxic pairing when they see one and won’t try to justify it. A Sessrin romance simply does not belong on a show geared towards teens, and I really don’t need to go into detail about why we shouldn’t support it, at least canon-wise. Shipping Sessrin is your right, but if you don’t keep it to yourself and your corner of the fandom then you really shouldn’t be surprised by the opposition. All we ask is you respect that their specific dynamic falls under the category of child grooming (or very close) and should be treated as such in public. The world of fiction may be wider than the world we live in, but that doesn’t always mean “anything goes.” In the creative spaces our minds occupy we must still adhere to the same fundamental and moral guidelines we live by in life. There’s nothing wrong with exploring new terrains and experimenting with ideas, but we must also remember that our stories are all about communicating and connecting with people. So let’s please be more mindful of the sort of messages they’re sending. 
Besides, this isn’t only about you and what makes you feel safe, it’s about all of us. I don’t know how much more I can stress that really. How can thoughts endanger our children, you ask? Well, it’s not like we’re suggesting that our thoughts can jump out of our tvs, materialize themselves, and place kids under mind control. The forces behind fiction are a lot more complex and nuanced than a “monkey see, monkey do” approach, so don’t waste any more time trying to  describe that to us. You’re taking this argument in the wrong direction. 
Take the “violent video games breed killers” theory. I’m afraid you’re misconstruing what we’re saying and then taking it quite too literally. Please stop twisting our words, because nobody on our side is saying that just because you play violent video games that you’ll become a violent person. The Sessrin equivalent of that would be if you ship them then you must be a pedophile or turning into one. *sigh* I know you guys are feeling attacked, but I’m afraid your defensive nature is keeping you from thinking straight. Clearly, there are always exceptions (I’d recommend reading up on the Slender Man case), but Antis aren’t saying you’re one of them.
You see, it’s not so much about the content as it is the notion of the content. Kids and teens who are playing these video games have been informed that killing is wrong, because they grew up learning that early on like the rest of us. No sane person would advocate for violence and nonsensical killing in real life. Since they fully understand the severity of the consequences of killing a person in real life, they are able make a clear distinction between the two. When it comes to killing there is hardly any ambiguity. Sadly, that is far from the truth when it comes to sexualizing girls. It should immediately be perceived as wrong leaving no room for interpretation, and yet here we are still putting up with these inaccurate and demeaning female representations.
Most children who have been groomed don’t realize it till years down the road. If they aren’t ever taught the telltale signs to properly labeling grooming situations, how do you expect them to make sense of and relate to a fictional version? Let’s think of about it from a child’s perspective. Yes, this includes teens who rely pretty heavily on adult guidance and the content we put out there for them. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment and picture that you’ve never had child grooming explained to you (because that’s just the reality for so many unfortunately). Wouldn’t you say it’s possible for them to deduce that what they see on their screens is how they come to discern something in real life, especially if they have little to no experience with it? Perceived realism is plausible, y'all.
What it comes down to in the end is that the ideas and emotions we cultivate behind these stories leave an impression on others. Impressions are capable of influencing the way we see the world, which in turn affects us and beyond just our imagination. The way I look at it, stories contribute to how and why we normalize certain beliefs and trends. If fiction reflects real life like most of us tend to agree, then wouldn’t you say Sessrin is a (in)direct result of this world’s tendency to place young girls in overly sexual or romantic environments? Where do you think fiction draws its inspiration from? Sure, some of it originates from our imagination, but most of what drives us to create these stories is the real world and the people who live in it.
Fiction is meant to mirror reality, but it’s ridiculous to suggest that it’s only a one-way street. That fiction in no way, shape, or form influences our reality? Or that it only works the other way around? With all due respect, that’s simply not true. No productive discourse can be had if we choose to ignore the truth and don’t come together (at least halfway) to tackle the real issues at hand. 
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Okay, I think I’ll leave it off there! Thanks so much for reading. I expect this to be my last blog on any topic regarding Inuyasha in the near future. As much as I’ve looked forward to answering all of your asks and writing all the blogs I have over these past almost 5 months, I think it’s best if I spend some time away for now. With the sequel fast approaching, I’m doing what I always do: hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. I’ve met some amazing people along the way, that’s for sure. And who knows, maybe you’ll see me active in the tags sooner than we think. Until then, it’s been an absolute pleasure! Enjoy the sequel, all of you. 💜
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deadlyglacier · 3 years
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20 Questions tag~
I was tagged by @mythicamagic thank you senpai~<3
How many works do you have on AO3?
40 right now, plus 1 that is still hidden because of the SOFA Exchange event.  (I’m still a lil fish.)
What’s your total AO3 word count?
486,920!  That’s so amazing to me!
How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?
InuYasha - A Feudal Fairytale (18)
FullMetal Alchemist (18)
Mass Effect Trilogy (3)
Let’s Play (Webtoon) (1)
Kingdom Hearts (1) But I hope to write for many more fandoms in the future!  I have ideas for fics for Castlevania, Skyrim, Fallout 4, Last of Us Part II, and more!
What are your top 5 fics by kudos?
#1.  Stardust FemShep/Garrus, Mass Effect Trilogy, Rated Explicit. A retelling of the Shepard/Vakarian love story, with lots (and LOTS) of sexiness, from Garrus' point of view. Starts from before the Omega-4 and will end sometime after the end of ME3. Trying to stay as true to the game as possible, while adding some things happening off camera and a new ending.
#2.  Flamingo Sess/Kag, Inuyasha, Rated Explicit Kagome's method of beating the summer heat attracts a certain demon lord...
#3.  Hawk Sess/Kag, Inuyasha, Rated Explicit Kagome and Sesshomaru discover they have a mutual attraction for each other after a battle and a slight comedic incident brings them together. At first their relationship seems entirely sexual, but eventually evolves into something real. What will this romance mean for Naraku? Or even the future?  *TRIGGER WARNING FOR CHAPTER 6! MAJOR VIOLENCE AND TRAGEDY* Very, very loosely based on "A Mere Digression" by elle6778
#4.  Daisy Sam/Charles, Let’s Play, Rated Mature Sam wakes up somewhere unfamiliar with a splitting headache with no memory of the night before. Takes place right after the S2 finale.  First chapter was my prediction for what would happen next, and then three other “wishful thinking” chapters happened, lol.
#5.  Chemistry Ed/Winry, FullMetal Alchemist, Rated Mature A look at how the relationship between Ed and Winry developed after Brotherhood ended.  Cute, sweet, funny, and hot (eventually—y'all that know me know I gotta have some NSFW in there).
Do you respond to comments, why or why not?
I try to respond to everyone, especially when a fic of mine has just been posted, but sometimes I just forget.  If I haven’t responded to your comment, please know it’s just because I’m a big dumb and forgot!  I love getting comments, and I reread them all the time!  I just feel like there’s a time limit to when I can respond to them--if I let too much go by, it’s awkward if I reply.  Gah, but that’s just me getting in my own head, I guess.  I’ll do better!
What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?
Oof, definitely Psychology, a fic I wrote for RoyEdOTPoly this year.  The prompt I got was dark, and I didn’t see any way around an angsty ending.  Read at your own risk!
What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?
Well, aside from the last fic, I try to write happy endings for all my fics!  But, if I have to name names, I’m torn between Zoology (another FullMetal Alchemist fic, RoyEd, for RoyEdOTPoly this year) and Stardust (my Mass Effect fic, which is long, but so worth it, in my opinion).  Both are very fluffy in the end!
Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve written?
Argh...  I don’t really like crossovers, to be honest.  I actively avoid them when looking for fics to read.  But that doesn’t mean I haven’t thought of writing them myself.  (I’m a total hypocrite, I know.)  I had an idea for an Inuyasha x The Sims fic, years ago, that I never did anything with.  The premise was basically Inuyasha and Kagome would get trapped in the game somehow (via the jewel or magic or something), and they’d be controlled by Souta, Kagome’s friends, Hojo--all sorts of different people who think the fact that Kagome and Inuyasha are in the game is just some kind of silly mod.  I probably won’t write it, so if anyone is interested in that crazy idea, have at it!  You have my blessing. <3 I also have a crazy crossover idea for what I call an “Ultimate OT3″ of mine that I’ve mentioned to my friends, but I haven’t actually written down yet:  Sesshomaru/Alucard/Sebastian Michaelis.  So be on the lookout for that!
Have you ever received hate on a fic?
I wouldn’t call it “hate” so much as “mansplaining,” but I have gotten a couple of comments that made my eyebrow twitch on Stardust--both on AO3 and FFN.  Just dudes (and I’m fairly certain they were dudes, just from their tone) trying to explain why a certain plot twist wouldn’t work, or tell me how to save Sidonis in the actual game (which I already knew, that person just didn’t read what I wrote). I’ve also gotten a comment on one of my more controversial fics, Hippology, on FFN, where the person asked me if I thought my summary was K-Rated (which, admittedly, it does need to be for the site, and mine wasn’t--because of a single word).  I changed it and messaged them saying it was fixed.  Going to that commenter’s profile, however, proved to be fairly enlightening...  They’re nuts.  They have another profile, too.  Read at your own risk.  Yikes. There’s also a team of people on FFN who make it their life’s mission to report stories with rule violations.  I’ve gotten a comment from one of them as well.  These people are not mods, they just like to pretend they are--one of them even made their name look official!  “CU Administration,” gtfo dude. I also recently got one of my fics removed from FFN.  It wasn’t even one of my sexiest ones!  They put me in timeout for 48 hours, and when I was finally able to publish something new on the site again, I posted Hippology (my centaur smut), and it’s still up as I type this.  (Wonder how long it’ll take them to notice?)  And since the fic that got taken down was a SessKag fic, I’m thinking it might have been a petty SessRinner who reported it to the “authorities” of FFN, because another friend of mine got hers taken down not long after mine, and it was also SessKag.  Just my tinfoil theory, anyway!
Do you write smut? If so what kind?
Yes, yes, yes.  It’s practically all I write.  I do all sorts of smut, from romantic, sensual stuff, to specific kinks, to monsterfucking--all that good stuff.  Can’t change me~<3
Have you ever had a fic stolen?
God, I hope not!
Have you ever had a fic translated?
I don’t think so.  No one has asked me if they can translate one, anyway.
Have you ever co-written a fic before?
Not yet!  I’m open to the idea, and I’ve had little discussions with my fic-writing buddies about it, but nothing’s come out of it just yet.  Keep your eyes peeled!
What’s your all-time favorite ship?
Oh, now come on!  I can’t pick just one!  But I’ll give you a top 3 (in no particular order, because they change places a lot, depending on how obsessed I am with them at the moment). Inuyasha:  Sess/Kag FullMetal Alchemist:  Roy/Ed Mass Effect:  Garrus/FemShep
What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?
I have a couple of stories that I deleted from my original FFN account that I’d like to re-write and re-post on AO3, but I don’t think I’ll ever get around to it.  There were a couple of Inu/Kag fics I had in-progress, and then a Koug/Kag fic.  I recently rewrote and reposted my SessKag fic from years ago, Hawk, on FFN, AO3, and Dokuga!  So maybe all hope isn’t lost.  I’m even writing a sequel for Hawk! All the stories I have in-progress right now I plan on finishing.  At some point, lol.
What are your writing strengths?
Dialogue, without a doubt.  It’s my favorite thing to write, aside from smut, of course--which is another strength of mine.
What are your writing weaknesses?
Descriptions, ugh.  I try to do them well, but I always feel like they get stale.  So I keep them somewhat vague, because in my mind, I think readers will fill in the gaps themselves whether you describe something immaculately or not--they’ll see what they want to see, and that is totally fine in my book!  Or maybe I’m just making excuses, lol.  I’ll only describe something in a lot of detail if I want the reader to focus on that--usually an outfit, accessory, or weapon--otherwise, I leave it up to their imagination (I don’t want manipulate it too much, I suppose).
What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?
Wildly unnecessary unless that author speaks the language as well, or if certain words already exist in the fandom’s translations (ex. “youkai,” “alkahestry,” etc).
What was the first fandom you wrote for?
Inuyasha, and the fic(s) I wrote in the beginning were terrible.  I want to burn all traces of them off the face of the earth.  I was in middle school.  I was young and stupid.
What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?
I gotta go with Stardust.  It’s the longest fic I’ve ever completed at more than 160k words.  I was so immensely proud when I typed “The End,” and I was able to say to myself “I did it.”
I tag: @glassesmcfancyhair @willowsrain 
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starlocked01 · 4 years
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Suspended in a Defenseless Test
AO3 @tsshipmonth2020
Masterpost- Previous- Next
Summary-  Patton never had a soul bond. He thought he was okay with God's tumultuous plan for his life- until he met Remus.
Day 7 Intruality- A red thread only you can see connects you to your soulmate
There's a red string that joins you and your true love. You all know this. It's not some fairy tale. No matter the distance,  you are connected by an unbreakable soulbond.  The non-believers and sinners like to lie and say they have red strings too but I know God only gives them to the faithful, not the homose-
Patton switched off the radio, shutting down the emphatic pastor's voice. He couldn't comprehend how a God that creates invisible soulbonds to lead his children to their complement would punish those who hadn't found him yet. He had plenty of queer friends gush about finding their soulmate because of the red strings. Why would they lie about the fear they felt as children that they would hate the person on the other end, or that the other person would hate them for being queer?
Then again, Patton had no reason to complain. He never had a red string. And according to the lastest radio prophet, that meant he wasn't of the true faith.
There's no way that man knew what he was talking about. Patton had been a priest. He knew the Lord. But did the Lord claim him?
Patton sighed, eyes on the road. Most days he didn't feel broken or incomplete without a string, but Sundays usually did their best to bring him down. God had a plan for his life, apparently it just didn't involve a soulmate. He could be okay with that.
Until he met Remus.
The man was wild and loved to do fun things unplanned, especially if they were gross. He'd show up and drag Patton out to a public park to go on a hike in the pouring rain or bring over buckets of glitter and glue to make slime. He told crass jokes that made Patton blush and always found ways to cheer him up. Even on Sundays.
Patton loved his company and secretly feared the day Remus found his soulmate and left Patton behind.
He pulled the car into the apartment complex where Remus roomed with his brother Roman and Roman’s soulmate. Patton couldn't imagine how awkward that must get, but Remus loved the arrangement. He parked and was gathering his stuff from the back seat when he felt a presence behind him.
Patton blushed, already guessing what Remus was up to and was not surprised when he looked over his shoulder to find Remus mimicking anal behind him. Remus grinned at having been caught and wrapped Patton into a tight hug around the waist.
"Remus…" Patton gave his friend a withering half-smile.
"It's been too long, Daddy. I missed you!" Remus let Patton twist around to hug him back. Patton let his head rest on Remus' shoulder a moment before pulling back with a nearly genuine smile on his face.
"The correct term is 'Father' and you know I'm not ordained anymore, Rem," Patton reached behind his back and grabbed a bag that he held up to Remus, "how have you been? I brought you this."
It wasn't possible for Remus' eyes to gleam any brighter. He took a hand off of Patton's waist to take the gift but instead of opening it right away, he took a step back and gently grabbed Patton's hand.
"Hey, can we take a walk? RoLo kicked me out for the afternoon because they're being all squishy couple-y today. And I need to tell you something."
Patton couldn't stop the flash of fear in his eyes. So today was the day. His closest friend had found his soulmate and whatever kind of dynamic they had would have to change.
Remus saw the fear and winced, "no no it's not bad, Pattycake, come on let’s walk. I won't be able to explain it standing still." Remus bounced on his toes and swung Patton's hand back and forth almost as if to prove his point. Patton gulped and nodded, closing the car door and locking it behind him before letting Remus lead him off down the road.
They walked in uncharacteristic silence for a few minutes, still hand in hand. It felt like the Mariana Trench had opened between them, horrible dark secrets waiting to come to light.
That was pattonly ridiculous to think but nonetheless Patton could not stop worrying. Remus squeezed his hand tighter and led him down a path off the main road.
"Oh, I know where we're going."
"You remember? After two years I didn't think you would," Remus smiled warmly, leading him to a clearing by a large pond surrounded by trees.
"How could I forget that day?" Patton chuckled and shook his head, "I still don't know how you caught a goldfish with a condom."
"I am a man of many talents, few of them useful, " Remus led Patton to the edge of the pond where a blanket and picnic basket were set up.
Patton gasped, "Remus, what is this?"
Remus gestured for Patton to sit down, "Patton, I have a confession to make. Do you still take those?"
Patton chuckled, sat down on the blanket, and pulled Remus down with him.
"Okay, but only for you, kiddo."
"Did you seriously call all the parishioners that? Is that why they kicked you out?" Remus' grin faltered quickly as the joke was met with sad eyes filled with regret. "Damn it. Damn me, right? I'm sorry Patton. But I do have a bit of a confession to make," Remus took a deep breath and looked in Patton's expectant eyes, "I really… really want to make us official."
Patton blinked in surprise, "but, surely I'm not your soulmate. Aren't you waiting for them?"
Remus deflated but tried to keep the energy up, "I know I'm not your soulmate, Pat, but hear me out. I understand if you don't want to because I'm not your soulmate but what I had in mind was a bit different. I want you to be my queerplatonic partner, not a romantic partner."
"Queerplatonic? I've never heard of that before," Patton mused over the word. He'd always assumed romance and love with a soulmate was the most important kind of relationship the Lord had given humans, but the most important man in his life wanted something different. And specifically not a romantic relationship.
"Okay, confession number two. I don't have a soulmate. In fact, I'm aromantic. I've never had a red string and frankly at this point I never want one. But I still want to be your partner, just not in a romantic way. You mean the world to me, Patton. I know coming to terms with queer stuff hasn't been easy for you but, well, what do you say?" Remus looked hopefully at Patton who stared straight ahead at the water rippling in the light breeze.
"What… what does aromantic actually mean then? I suppose I was wrong to assume it meant 'without love'..." Patton's voice hitched. He looked over to Remus and smiled to reassure him.
"Not experiencing romantic attraction to others, like not wanting to date them or do romantic-y bull shit with them," Remus looked away, heart crumbling as his best friend continued to avoid the big question.
"Oh. Wow…" Patton took a deep breath, "Remus, I have my own confession to make," Remus looked back to Patton, intrigued, "I don't have a soulmate either. And though I've heard of the aromantic community before, I never realized that being aromantic did not mean being resigned to never loving someone else in a deep and fulfilling way. Queer platonic partners, is that similar to dating but without the romance?" Remus nodded silently, hope reblossoming in his chest, "I think I could like that. You are so important to me, Remus. I was terrified you were going to tell me you found your soulmate and had to leave me behind."
"I could never leave you behind, pops!" Remus cried, "just imagine the catholic guilt I'd have for abandoning you!"
Patton giggled and grabbed Remus' hand, "so, I guess… yes! I want to be your partner, Remus."
Remus grinned broadly and tackle hugged Patton. They both rolled off the blanket and ended up laying in the grass and laughing with joy.
Remus sat up suddenly, "did you hear that?"
"What?"
"I'm gonna catch that frog!"
"What??" Patton watched as Remus jumped up and dove straight into the pond, holding a hand up to shield his face as mud splashed everywhere around him.
Remus resurfaced, pulling himself out of the mud with his elbows because his hands were full with a giant bullfrog who looked perturbed at having been pulled from his spot.
Patton squealed with joy, "oh, let's name him Lilypad!"
Remus chuckled, "that sounds like Little Pat, I like it!" He set the frog down in the grass, futility wiping mud from his face and slicking his hair back out of his face while Patton tried to restrain himself from immediately poking the poor animal.
Remus laid spread out on the grass, drying in the sun while Patton grabbed a stick and blades of grass to play with Lillypadton (he liked the flow of that name better). They talked for hours and shared the snacks Remus had set up before Patton arrived. Remus opened the gift Patton had brought and was ecstatic, playing with the neon green tangle toy and admiring the hand-decorated picture frame.
Something welled up deep in Patton's heart, looking at his brand new partner. They weren't soulmates but he was confident the Lord wanted them to find each other and be together this way.
After a while, Patton stood and picked Lilypadton up, returning the frog to the edge of the pond while Remus gathered up the picnic in the blanket like a giant sack that he threw over his shoulder. Patton took his other hand with a smile and they walked back to the apartment.
Remus dropped the blanket by the front door and they could hear the tv playing in the living room.
"Roro, we're back! Y'all better be decent," Remus yelled from the kitchen as he washed the worst of the dried mud from his arms.
"Yeesh! Yes, you can come in," Roman shouted back from the living room. Patton peeked his head around the corner to see Roman and Logan cuddled on the couch watching Netflix. It looked dark and potentially gory so Patton slipped right back into the kitchen with Remus.
"Hey, Pat, I'm gonna go shower off. I've got mud up my ass and it's getting kinda nasty. Make yourself at home," Remus smiled and kissed his forehead. Patton blushed and nodded.
As Remus headed off to get cleaned up, Patton sat himself down in the kitchen, preferring to leave the others alone with their movie.
"Hello, Father," Patton looked up from his phone to Logan who was standing awkwardly next to him.
"You can just call me 'Patton', Lo. I actually prefer it…"
"My apologies. How are you?" Logan asked stiffly, shifting from foot to foot.
"I'm doing pretty well. Thank you for asking. How are you today?" Patton smiled, trying to put the other man at ease.
Logan adjusted his glasses, "I am doing adequately-"
"Lo, just get the drinks. Pat's fine," Roman called from the couch.
Logan bristled, "I apologize for his lack of manners. Do you want anything to drink?"
"No thanks. And thank you, I'm sorry for intruding on your movie date," Patton sighed.
Logan moved to the kitchen to get the drinks but kept glancing at Patton. Patton did his best to ignore the looks, praying Remus would finish up quickly.
Logan cleared his throat, "Patton, are you and Remus dating? He was acting weirder than usual before you got here today."
Patton blushed at the directness of the question, "not like you and Roman are," Patton wasn't sure how to explain it to the two soulmates- if Remus even wanted to tell them.
Roman had stopped watching the television and had his arms crossed over the back of the couch, "I told you, Lo, Remus doesn't have a soulmate. He was just excited to see Pat, nothing more to it."
"Roman, he had a whole picnic planned. That's hardly something you do for just a friend."
"Guys, I-"
"Patton is my Zucchini and you two are just jealous," Remus announced loudly from the hallway. All three turned to look at him and he grinned, "come on Pat, let's leave the lovebirds alone."
Patton jumped up, eager to get away from Logan and Roman’s questions and confusion. He was also more than a little curious about being called a 'zucchini'. He could hear Logan and Roman whispering as Remus led him off down the hall to the bedroom.
"What the hell is a zucchini?"
"I don't know, Roman. Just let it go. We can ask Remus to explain later."
Patton was grateful as the door shut behind him, cutting off the rest of the conversation. He turned to give Remus a quizzical look to find him wearing the tangle toy in his hair like a crown.
"That's adorable. What's a zucchini?" Patton grinned, genuinely this time.
"Ah, sorry. I probably should have asked you first. It's like an alternative to 'boyfriend' for queerplatonic partners. We can go by something else if you don't like it," Remus grinned, patting the bed next to him to offer Patton the seat.
Patton's eyes were shining as he sat down, "oh my goodness, that's adorable! I love it! So do you want to be called my zucchini too?"
"Ehh, Nah it doesn't sound right for me," Remus frowned, laying back on the bed to stare at the ceiling.
"Well," Patton swung his legs back and forth, "what about my squish?" He poked Remus in the stomach, causing a fit of giggles.
Remus sat back up and grinned at Patton, "that sounds perfect! You'll be my zucchini, I'll be your squish, and everyone else will be confused as hell!"
Patton leaned his head against Remus' shoulder, imagining the looks of confusion when they told others.
"Oh hey, I thought of something!" Remus bounced up from the bed and went straight to the closet, rummaging around for something which he quickly found, "since we don't have soulmates, let's make this official ourselves," he held up a variegated ball of blue and green yarn.
"Okay!" We'll have to untie it before I leave but that's such a sweet idea!" Patton couldn't help but think back to when friends on the playground would do something similar, using red yarn during games of pretend to mark their friends and crushes as "soulmates".
Remus cut a decent length of yarn and gently took Patton's hand in his. He tied one end of the yarn around Patton's wrist and held out his for Patton to do the same. Patton tied the other end of the yarn with a small bow and held Remus' hand in his, smiling at his squish.
Patton felt a mild itchy burning on his wrist and looked back down at the yarn. Remus looked too, pulling his hand away from Patton's. As they watched, the blue-green yarn sparked for a minute before returning to normal.
"Well that was odd," Patton was the first to speak.
Remus looked weirded out and tried to untie the bow but found that no matter how hard he pulled, the knot stayed tied. He grabbed a pair of scissors from his desk and tried to cut the loop around his wrist but the yarn passed right through the blades without being severed.
Patton gasped and pulled the thread between them taut before taking another step back. The thread lengthened, magically longer than it had been cut. When he stepped closer it shrunk shorter, much like how other's had described their red threads acting.
"Does this mean-?" Patton asked quietly.
Remus grabbed Patton's hand and dragged him out to the living room, walking right between the couch and the television much to Roman’s displeasure.
Remus held up their bound together wrists, "can you guys see this?"
"You're holding hands and blocking the tv. Yes, we can see that," Roman grumbled at them.
"Is there something we should be seeing?" Logan asked with an edge of curiosity in his voice.
Patton held up the string, "you guys can't see the string?"
Roman and Logan shared a look and Roman answered, "I thought you didn't have a soul thread, Remus. We can't see any string. What's going on?"
Remus turned to Patton with a large happy smile, "we created our own soul bond!"
Logan sat forward immediately, "tell me exactly what happened. Don't leave out any details."
Roman sighed and paused the movie, a smile on his face seeing his brother happy. He had no clue what was going on but he could be happy for the pair and could forgive them for the intrusion.
Patton picked up Remus in a hug and twirled him around, tears of joy spilling down his cheek. They both sat down next to Logan and started explaining the thread and the sparks and the scissors. This led to Logan asking several questions about the nature of their relationship, with Roman interjecting with questions of his own.
When Patton left that evening to drive home, the string magically stretched with him over the miles. He thanked God for Remus and for blessing their unconventional relationship with confirmation they were meant to be together in the way that made sense to them.
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Text
Eve/Villanelle Fanfic Rec List
A very very long list of my favourite Eve & Villanelle multichapter fanfics that are still in progress.
Quid Pro Quo by Fixy (E) 
Divorces are sad and expensive and time consuming, so it helps when your solicitor isn’t all that bad.
Or!
A divorce au featuring ‘I fell asleep on my arms’ Eve and business attire Barbie
https://archiveofourown.org/works/21637660
Imagine Me And You (And Our Parents) by imunbreakabledude (E) 
“Eve, we are all adults here.”
“It’s hard to take that seriously when you have your hand in my pants.”
-
The chemistry between Eve and Villanelle is obvious and immediate, so it's awkward when they find out their parents are getting married.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/22864576
Babysitting Grief by uncreativerabbit (M)
Set after the events of episode five. Eve is stunned when Konstantin approaches her outside a pub on a dreary London day, frantically offering her the world in return for a favour only she can do. Eve is reluctant until she realises that she is the only person in the world for the job. Struggling through both her emotions and Villanelle's, she learns about the why - why Villanelle is like she is, why she is drawn to her inexplicably, and why that bus moment actually happened
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24139228
The Long Way Home by Spayne (M) 
Villanelle is forced to take the long way home.
Eve thinks that perhaps that isn’t such a bad thing.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24943183
Twisting Vines by Kai_ROz (E) 
“You can’t be serious, Bill.”
“I’m perfectly serious. She’s one of the biggest names in the business, a positive word from her would go a long way to getting this place back on the right track.”
“I don’t want or need anything from her.”
“If you say so. But I think you’re making a mistake.”
“So be it. There will be plenty of time for me to rub her stupid, smug review into her stupid, smug face.”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24578872
Define Normal by Jean Genie (LetYourselfGo) (E)
How do Eve and Villanelle end up living a not-so-normal life together in a chateau in the south of France nine months after realizing that they can't walk away from one another? A lot of traveling, shopping, kissing, fucking, dancing, laughing, crying, coping, topping, bottoming, murdering, and some truly fabulous food and drink.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24889048
Specialities by villanellesgun (Teen And Up Audiences) 
Eve is an established Trauma Surgeon working at St. Thomas’ Hospital in Central London, England.
Villanelle is a second-year registrar and has transferred to St.Thomas due to an incident at another hospital.
Villanelle still hasn’t completely decided on her chosen specialty, despite the pressure from her peers and consultants, but there’s one thing she is sure of -- Eve.
And Villanelle always gets what she wants.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24766636
The Miseducation of Eve Polastri by Justanothergirl (M)
My own take on "What happens after the bridge scene."
Rating changes in Chapter 5.
Also, Villaneve is canon, y'all. Let's drink to that.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24717658
now we walk by behindthec (M)
“Stay until you hate me.” Post 3x08.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24498097
lost on you by charizona (E) 
“Eve,” Villanelle says. “I can’t stop thinking about you.” There’s a pause, then a breathless laugh. “So I waited a socially acceptable amount of time to call you.”
Eve fights a smile. “It’s been, like, five hours.”
“I am social,” Villanelle argues, “and I’m accepting it.”
OR
A very loose, very chaotic Mr. and Mrs. Smith AU.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24528724
are you bored yet? by crowdyke, Toucanna (M)
They stare at each other for a long time. Thirty seconds after the Season 3 finale, Eve and Villanelle answer the question "Where do we go from here?"
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24597121
Albuquerque by oksana1 (Not rated) 
“Eve,” the woman enunciated the name like it was fine art, tongue slipping around each sound with care. She had a cheshire cat smile, and she was suddenly closer, too-close, elbows propped up on the counter, inches away from Eve’s face, “so you are Eve, and you sell artifacts.”
OR
Eve sells antiques in New Mexico. Villanelle is a collector with very specific tastes
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24671413
From The Same Star by almostafantasia (M)
In a world where your soulmate’s initials appear on your skin after you meet for the first time, Eve’s life gets turned upside down when the single letter ‘V’ appears on her abdomen on the same day that a senior MI6 official gets assassinated just down the road from where she works.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24544438
At The Cliff's Edge by filthy_nebula (M)
Eve is living in self imposed isolation along the coast. Oksana washes up one morning after a storm. Cue uneasy domesticity, secrets lives, and confessions in the rain à la Notebook (2004).
https://archiveofourown.org/works/19732525
The Heat of the Moment by imunbreakabledude (M)
Olympic boxer Oksana Astankova is looking to break into MMA.
Sought-after manager Eve Polastri is looking for a brand new fighter to coach from the ground up.
They'll beat the crap out of everyone in their way.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/23262682
Death Wears McQueen by HenryMercury (E)
Reporting on Fashion Week isn't the investigative journalism Eve Polastri signed up for.
That is, until a runway assassination and a one night stand throw her into the path of Oksana Astankova—the unbearably hot new Editor of Villanelle Magazine.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24404530
Love at First Swipe by estvillanelle (M)
The tinder AU no one asked.
Eve's being catfished.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24451078
these mortifying ordeals by coldmackerel (M)
it only takes one summer to: retire, go on holiday, try fishing, get half-stabbed to death in the aftermath of a fallen global crime conglomerate, fake your death, get nostalgic for an ex, show up unannounced, get answers.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/23364403
Two wrongs make a right by Vracs (E)
Just two morons on a mission to take down the bad guys and get in each other's pants.
No but seriously, it's a little story of give and take, hard and soft, until they finally meet somewhere in between.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24026908
Notting Hill by Wrongplaceperson (Teen And Up Audiences)
Eve Polastri is the owner of a quaint little bookstore in London.
Villanelle Astankova is a Hollywood superstar.
Villanelle lives in Beverly Hills. Eve lives in Notting Hill.
Their lives couldn't be more different
They meet when Villanelle visits Eve's bookstore one morning.
Will this meeting change their lives?
Notting Hill AU
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24647626
what we deserve by lisewrites (M)
“But I deserve to be kissed nicely. I want you to kiss me nicely Eve.”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24717211
You, Me and The Twelve by HardSeltzer (Teen And Up Audiences)
Eve and Villanelle are competing CEOs fighting for the biggest deal. Who will come out on top? Or will they just end up on top of each other?
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24361501
darkest minds by deletetheadjectives (M)
Almost two years after Rome, Eve is living a bitter life as a dish washer in London—the only job she could get without proper identification when Carolyn made sure Eve Polastri was dead to those who knew her.
Following a tip from an unexpected source, Eve learns of Villanelle’s location: working as a waitress in a diner in the Middle-of-Nowhere, USA.
And so Eve’s plans for revenge start to form…
https://archiveofourown.org/works/20825711
My Darling, I Am Yours (And You Are Mine) by Trufreak89 (M)
“Shh. It’s okay.” She tenderly tucks a strand of the woman’s hair behind her ear. “I’ve got you, Eve. I’m going to look after you… You’ll see.”
https://archiveofourown.org/works/18965383
She's (Not) Afraid by villanellessuit (M)
Villanelle sticks by her 'no dating rule' until a certain curly-haired woman makes her a coffee on her way to work one cold morning.
or
That one where Villanelle is a rich interior designer and Eve is the owner of an unsuccessful coffee shop.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24668410
and i like the way you kiss me (don’t know if i should) by taare (Teen And Up Audiences)
Having Eve this close again is intoxicating.
Eve, for her part, is looking directly at her, breathing hard, eyes wide open, closing the distance between them.
And then Eve’s lips are on hers, and her eyes are still open — Villanelle knows, because her eyes are open too — and she does not know what to make of this new sensation because how do you react when what you’ve been chasing for the better part of a year (and maybe your whole life?) finally catches up to you?
If Episode 3 had ended the way we all wanted it to.
I can't, I won't. by p28 (M)
POST 3x08. Sooooo not only do we get survive 3x08 but now we also have to survive until s4 so rip us clowns.
"I can't, I won't."
"Aren't you quite the romantic?"
https://archiveofourown.org/works/24505006
Powerful Beyond Measure by Kai_ROz (E)
After their encounter on the bus, Villanelle knows she has the upper hand and wants to make her next move ...
OR
Villanelle is a chaotic idiot when it comes to Eve.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/23925631
First Comes Marriage... by melvncholymvmi (M)
'"So," Hugo asked, grinning as wide as the Cheshire cat, "how's the sex?"
"I have had better." Villanelle responded with a shrug as she stared Eve down.
"Baby, you've never had it as good as me." Eve replied, grip on the crystal tumbler tightening.
"We will see."
Fuck, she hadn't meant that the way it came out. Or had she?'
OR
The Proposal AU where Villanelle's visa expired and Eve needs her to stay.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/23685679
Say Something Before I Go Crazy Now by KillingVillanelle (Not rated)
"I was wondering if we could switch to weekly sessions?" Villanelle asks, biting her lip to contain a smirk.
"Why?"
"Well, with this movie and stuff. I'm worried it might stir up some stuff and you are so good at helping me. Only if you can fit it in your schedule."
"I can. Anything to help you," Eve says, not hiding the way her eyes traveled down to Villanelle's lips.
"Anything?"
Or the one where Eve is a very ethical and rule following therapist and Villanelle is her most challenging client to date.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/22281589
Enemies With Disregard by yotoob (Not rated)
It's probably easier for them to not be in the same room, at least for a while.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/19163476
Home by emdash90 (M)
The interior design slow-burn romcom AU literally no one asked for.
OR!
Newly single and (begrudgingly) ready to mingle, Eve trudges her way through the unspectacular world of online dating as she takes on an 8-week interior design reno with Konstantin's niece at the helm.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/21538177
Oceans Brawl by emdash90 (M)
When time slinked forward, glacially, endlessly, and Eve had run out of ways to keep herself distracted, her attention diverted, her thoughts desperately anchored to anyone, anything else — there she was.
Waiting to bulldoze through the delicate balance of sanity she had managed to piece together, grain by grain, since Villanelle had set her world alight with a douse of gasoline and a match tossed carelessly over her shoulder.
or
Thrown in opposite directions in the aftermath of Rome, Eve and Villanelle find their own ways to cope with the fallout. But with the Twelve knocking on both of their doors, it's only a matter of time until these two are reunited — whether they like it or not.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/20129578
Ghost of Murder's Past by Aerstes (M)
TAKES PLACE AFTER THE SEASON 2 FINALE SO SPOILERS BEWARE. Eve is recovering in the hospital. A familiar face begins to appear while she sleeps. I have no idea where this story is going...
https://archiveofourown.org/works/19021294
If she belonged to me by songforeverystory (M)
Post Season 2. Eve is recruited as Villanelle's handler. Neither are very happy about it.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/19860391
Now I Don't Feel Those Kinds of Things by saltandsunscreen (M)
“Do you two know each other?” Elena asks, passing Eve a fresh cup of coffee. “You and the new lawyer, I mean.”
For a second, Eve imagines telling her everything. Saying, remember that night Niko left last year, and I thought we were really one? Well, I went out, got drunk, met her, and we fuc--
Eve can’t even make her pretend-self confess it all to Elena, not under the stark fluorescent lighting of their office. She can’t come up with a good lie, either -- a whole two seconds after seeing Villanelle again, her brain is still busy numbly cataloguing her every too-fast breath and rushed heartbeat. “Uh, I’m pretty sure we ran into each other at a conference, once?”
“Oh.” Elena pauses. “I wish I had her jacket. Her outfit is amazing.”
Eve’s smile would probably be a little less fake if she could entirely convince herself that she’s also thinking about Villanelle’s clothes, and not what’s underneath them.
But she and Niko are trying, right? So she smiles harder.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/19113304
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heraldofzaun · 3 years
Text
//Still lurking.
Some thoughts below the cut. A little melancholic. A little ranty. Many thoughts on how Viktor is perceived by the fandom at large. It got away from me.
I think I’ve mentioned it elsewhere, but I have followers here and this is also a Viktor blog... I think it would be nice if people stopped making fun of Viktor’s accent - I saw T/BSkyen’s (I think that keeps me out of the tag) shorts video on Viktor, and it was disheartening that he chose to make fun of Viktor’s accent several times throughout a one-minute video. No other character with a hammy, over-the-top accent, as far I know, receives this treatment. No one makes fun of Caitlyn’s British accent in character analyses of her. No one makes fun of Fiora’s French accent in character analyses of her. (I just checked his videos on them, actually, and guess what - no mocking their accents by doing them! Although Fiora’s accent does get mentioned, at the least.)
Just... stop doing it? We know the accent is cartoonishly bad and not accurate to actual Russian accents at all. But why, specifically, are people - T/BSkyen, in this instance - compelled to make fun of Viktor by putting on an accent and saying “Get reed of all emotions“ and “GLORIOUS EVOLUTION” and “BEEP BOOP ROBOT BRAIN”? (The misspelling in the first is not mine. It is in the actual subtitles for the video.)
I mean, we all know that the answer is the fact that American (and other countries, but we can focus on America for now) media spent the Cold War convincing Americans that Russians and Eastern Europeans were mindless followers of ideology and/or Crazy Insane Scientists, instead of like... people with diverse thoughts and feelings who may or may not agree with their government, but like... I have to ask the rhetorical questions here because no one else is going to apparently. Anyways it’s 2021 stop conflating people and the governments they live under, I guess.
Anyways, also very disheartening that I just checked the pinned comment on that video and he is now saying that Viktor’s endpoint is the Battlecast universe, which is not a canon fact even in current lore. It’s an assumption. I can’t even say that Full Machine Viktor is Viktor’s endpoint, because that was retconned into being a janitor skin that randomly breaks into Spanish in the skin bio for a... “joke”? (Because that’s a cool thing to do. I’d ask how that got past anyone, but that’s a pointless question.) But Battlecast is not stated anywhere to be the end result of canonical Viktor, as far as I know. I suppose it’s not stated to not be the result, but... Like, what other character gets an AU skinline that people then say has to be their canonical endgoal when it is not said to be their canonical endgoal by any official source?
Quothe the loremaster... “The endpoint of Viktor's quest is the Battlecast universe. In case y'all forgot. Read between the lines of his stories even a little bit before stanning him, I'm begging you.”
The entirety of the pinned comment is frustrating. It is frustrating not only because it clashes entirely with the funny comical tone of the minute-long short, which also decides to yet again conflate transhumanism with being trans (we have heard my thoughts on this before. Please stop doing this), but because it is unfortunately true in aspects about current Viktor. He is really not a good man, even though you may be able to argue that Riot’s biased narrator choices mean that a canonical version of the Viktor-Jayce fight does not exist. (Because both lores tell their sides of the story. Biasedly.) But as the story stands, his character getting filled out didn’t make him more morally ambiguous than his original counterpart. The ambiguity that existed originally was due to us not knowing a lot about him and thus being able to interpret things the way we wished. (I’m sure that there is still room for interpretation in the new lore, but it seems lesser to me. Also, his color story is framed atrociously. It’s going for warm and fuzzy when the content of it is giving a kid drugs but this is a long enough post already...)
Riot does not know what to do with Viktor. They’re content to portray him as a Russian mad scientist and buffoon in LoR and in some other media, because... [gestures at the struck-out paragraph above]. But then they have his lore which... could be interesting, maybe, if it weren’t convinced that the way to tell a morally grey story is to have narrators more unreliable than a pull-start lawn mower. Like, they just don’t know what to do with him.
Any analysis of him needs to come with that caveat, not someone deciding that the best way to spent a minute of analysis is to make multiple jokes about Viktor’s accent being stereotypical via... feeding into it being stereotypical... and saying that transhumanism is related to trans rights in any inherent way.
Also, T/BSkyen says that Viktor only has an augmented hand and the third arm, which conveniently ignores the fact that Prototype is probably supposed to be taken as semi-canonical considering its name and the fact it was made when backstory-related skins were a more common thing. (And also because it hasn’t been retconned into being a janitor.) It also conveniently ignores the fact that Viktor’s lower legs clearly don’t look like armor on his model, but this is a side tangent that doesn’t really matter, so...
Whatever, right? I’ve clearly put more thought into this than League’s local loremaster put into that video and subsequent “no guys he really is a baddie stop stanning him and grow critical thinking skills” comment. Sorry if I sound jaded here or am taking this far too seriously or whatever, it’s just... man, it’s a lot. It makes trying to do my take in any public capacity feel kind of like shit, because it’s clear that the general perception of Viktor is currently 1) Haha Funny Accent Man, 2) Trans Rights!1!, and/or 3) He’s Evil :(, and it sucks. I already am writing for a niche audience who will accept a Viktor who never went to Piltover and who exists in old Zaun. I know that that’s niche. I’m okay with it being niche, I think.
But it sucks to build up all this character and do all this writing and try to... I don’t know, present a nuanced view of someone, and then just get another fucking joke about his accent or his design tropes or about what transhumanism is. Especially when those jokes are what people remember, right?
Sorry. This got whiny. But I think it explains why I’ve lost so much steam on writing our favorite Machine Herald, because stuff like this just keeps kind of... happening.
Thank you to the folks that send in anons about my analyses or who like my posts about my artistic endeavors or just... well, interact in general. It does mean a lot to me that you guys are invested enough to hang around and read 2k words of me doing the Pepe Silvia scene from Always Sunny as I connect dots that might not have been meant to be connected. It’s just hard to keep doing it, sometimes, and I guess this is one of those moments.
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