#and shady sorcerer bastard man being ... himself

[inhuman-obey-me]

Demon Brothers Tempting People to Their Sins

Sometimes, as the demon brothers go about their lives, they find themselves presented with perfect opportunities for corrupting humans. So how do they go about tempting people into their sins...?

Lucifer

Every now and then, when Lucifer is dealing with something or other in the human world, he'll take a moment to relax at fancy, high-end lounges

It's perfect for eavesdropping and hearing the concerns of those in some kind of position of power

He'll schmooze and mingle, using his charismatic ways to ease others into discussing things with him, encouraging them to act on their pride

"Well, why shouldn't you go for it? Don't you want to be the best?"

"Imagine the power you could have. Don't tell me you don't want to be at the top?"

He smirks at watching them get fired up, knowing half of them don't actually have the potential to reach the top anyway

Mammon

Mammon can always be found at a gambling hall

He loves to check out the casinos in the human world when he's there, seeing what jackpot he can hit

But it's also the perfect place to tempt others into their greed, getting them to empty out their pockets in hopes of getting even more

"C'mon, what's the harm in putting some more money down? Imagine all that sweet, sweet cash you could have if ya win!"

"I'm personally gonna buy that awesome new car ... c'mon, don't tell me you can actually pass that up?"

Plus, the more money they put into the pot, the more for Mammon himself to potentially win, so he wants to pressure them out of his own greed too

He never wins either though

Leviathan

One of Levi's greatest day-to-day envies is people who can pay for deluxe skins, fancy limited items, etc. in his games

His envy is always bleeding into his interactions with other players

"It's so unfair that they got the new UR gacha item when I did 70 pulls and only got the SSR!"

"Why do we have to work so hard grinding for the new item when some people can already get it the first day the event comes out!"

Even if he does eventually shell out the money to get the items himself, then he shows off to the other players to make them want it too

This is not a call-out, we're sorry

Satan

When Satan sees someone unhappy with something, he likes to goad them into doing something about it

And by do something about it, of course we mean beating the living shit out of them

He riles them up by focusing in on everything that pisses them off

"After what they said to you - are you just going to let them get away with that?!"

"Don't you want to wipe that smirk off their face?"

He's definitely projecting his own feelings about Lucifer 80% of the time

Asmodeus

The master of desire, Asmo of course knows when someone at one of the parties he's attending wants something

He'll get people to spill their desires, the things and people they are lusting after

And then he gets them to go for it

The alcohol is flowing, spirits are high, everyone is having a good time - perfect for convincing people not to hold back

"Come on, it's a party! You know you want to get another drink - and while you're at it, get one for that person at the bar you've been eyeing for the past hour"

"Ooh, are you mad? Ahaha, just go on and punch them then! Bar fight, bar fight!"

"I know you've had your eye on me all night. Spill it, what do you want to do with me? We can do anything you want to do."

Sure, they might regret it in the morning, but for now, Asmo's their fun party buddy who just wants them to have a good time...right?

They can have a little murder, as a treat... Is it really a party if no one lands themselves in jail?

Beelzebub

When he's in the human world, Beel often likes to dine at highly-rated restaurants

He's generally more concerned with getting all of the delicious food for himself, but ends up wrapping others up into his gluttony as well

Perhaps he'll get into a conversation with that guy who seems to have quite a bit of money over there ...

"Yeah, the food here is pricey but it's good. Imagine having a huge banquet of just all of this food and drink, wouldn't that be amazing? You could have as much of this as you wanted ... "

"This is really good, but [insert competing restaurant's name here] had better ingredients, and they give you bigger portions. Oh, and you should try [insert other competing restaurant] as well, they're really good at this dish too. Hmm, but you should probably order all three together...otherwise it'll be hard to compare them."

Belphegor

Sometimes Belphie randomly falls asleep places, and finds himself waking up to something bad going on

But he's not really interested in whatever's happening

And he doesn't think anyone else really needs to be interested either

You have him to thank for the bystander effect

"Who cares? It's none of my business, and it's not really any of yours either"

"Just leave it alone, there's no reason to risk your own neck stepping in"

Better hope you're not the one getting mugged

BONUS:

Solomon: Agent of Chaos

Though he's not a demon, Solomon is happy to goad people into doing things they shouldn't.

He just thinks it's interesting and funny to see what happens

And he does have pacts with 72 demons after all...

Unlike the demons, if someone is in actual grave danger, he'll probably step in to help, but otherwise he has a great time being a bad influence

"Oh? Hmm...maybe you should just go ahead and try it!"

"It sounds like a bad idea? Well sure, but it'll be fun to see what happens, don't you think?"

See also: lending MC his magic just to see what they'd do with it

#obey me #obey me! #obey me swd #obey me headcanons #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me leviathan #obey me satan #obey me asmodeus #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphegor #obey me solomon #obey me demon brothers #obey me levi #obey me asmo #obey me belphie #obey me beel #demons being demons #and shady sorcerer bastard man being ... himself

[solomonish]

👀 oh fluff? floofles for favorite om writer? pb sweve off brand and giv,,, w a r m f u z z i e s? ohoho

So... Levi's kinda a shut in. It's no secret. He tends to be as reclusive as the undercurrents of his element, and as a result spends a lot of time alone. Sure, he's not ALONE-alone. Reading, gaming, blogging, they're all great tools for entertainment, and nothing says Escapist's Best Friend like a fixation on an incredibly rich, vivid book series in particular. But he can't help but frown sometimes, looking at the way his brothers all seem to have that One Sibling they sync up with so well. Almost like two sides of the same coin, in which case being paper money can be ehhh... less than fun.

Unfortunately for him though, he seems to have been Spotted. you see, there's a certain shady sorcerer who knows exACTLY what it's like to be surrounded by people and yet somehow entirely Othered from them, and well he simply refuses to let Levi spend another moment stealing baleful (re: wistful) glances at the friendships he wants but doesn't really think himself good enough to initiate or nurture.

You see, even mythologically speaking, one of the most documented characteristics of Solomon is that he is stubborn.

The other brothers telling him not to bother? Too bad

Luci in particular threatening him to stay away? Whoops this old man's suddenly gone deaf

Simeon voicing particular concerns about how Levi is strange and not to be trusted?

Oh gosh, well, it's a good thing SIMEON isn't going to be having a movie marathon with him then, isn't it?

And so it came to pass that Solomon (the sneaky bastard) managed to worm his way into Levi's life, and that's why even in the early chapters he's the only one with the secret password to Levi's room. Even though Levi's not quite sure how it happened, they've grown to be the best of friends, and really what's more cinematic than an unlikely duo of protagonists, right?

{Also, just for the record, it's not arrogance to wear a crown forged to sit on your head, love. You are so-ho-HO the Storm Writer from that one quiz, and your kingdom of ice and ozone is cooler than the seventh circle (and probably twice as fashionable tbh-to-tbh. Luci we love you but whomst'd've wears brogues in the year of our lord 2021). Like on the reals it fits so well?? That was so exciting to read?? like YES thank you random AI and quiz maker for buffing Kenna it's about damn TIME. never forget that writing quality angst is an incredible act of empathy, and that art is the BIGGEST snitch. Ya played yaself. We all know you're a quality soul with a heart of gold to boot now, and have no choice but to cherish you 😔❤️} — PB

i was NOT ignoring you i just try to answer longer asks on my laptop if I can alsjfkdf also, since last ask u told me u were in med school, idk what you're going for but the intro to this ask made me decide that if i am ever in the hospital and my bedside manner is NOT given to me in owo speak i am suing

fuckin......yes!!! i always find myself doing this awkward tango with solomon and leviathan because i want to know more but i also don't know how to decide it just happened? but this is very cute! and it works because solomon starts out like ":/ levi....i feel ya dude........that isolation" but then levi pushes him out and he can't have THAT

everybody's attempts to tell him not to just spur him on more tbh

and they have a good, solid, genuine friendship! But levi can't help but feel like this is solomon's way of 'collecting' him (since he clearly doesn't want a pact with him - who would?) and there's a festering bitterness stemming from his sin that is jealous of how different and how easy his relationship with asmo seems....

so even if they are good, solid, genuine friends, this is why solomon can never be his Henry. MC likes him for him, has a pact with him, wasn't really collecting him - so they're all good friends! but it explains why MC is Levi's BEST friend even if he's known solomon for longer

(also LASKDFJD i don't know what to say to that last part but thank you!! VERY flattering uwu

#asked and answered #pubonic blague anon #long post #obey me leviathan #obey me solomon #solomon #leviathan #obey me

[shenglingyuan]

title: the second chance we didn't ask for (ao3) pairing: gojo satoru/geto suguru both satoru and suguru are free from the prisons that bound them, but returning to life is another matter entirely.

The Zen’in estate boasts of its wide space and multiple residences, a feature Satoru is able to take advantage of. After being released from the Prison Realm with a death sentence hanging over his head, there really isn’t anywhere he can go. Suguru’s case is worse, of course, this death sentence is his second one. He might have been able to take back control of his body, but it doesn’t erase the crimes he and that ancient sorcerer did while residing inside him.

If it was up to Satoru, he wouldn’t drag Megumi into this any further. The boy — now the undisputed leader of the prominent Zen’in Clan — insisted, owing it to the fact that Satoru kept him and his sister under his care when they had no place to go to.

“Sorry for troubling you, Clan Leader Zen’in.”

“Please, Gojo-sensei, you should be the last person calling me that. Besides, I’m an accomplice anyway.” With the passing of the years came Megumi’s mastery of the Ten Shadows Technique, granting Satoru this freedom. “The last place they’d look for is their own backyard, won’t they?”

“That’s smart. Your teacher must be really great.”

Megumi ignores his lousy attempt at a façade and jabs directly at the issue at hand, “How is he?”

For a moment, Satoru’s shoulders seem to drop, but he immediately straightens up, as if that moment of small weakness was but an illusion.

“I don’t know, but I’m working on it. No worries, he’s no threat with me around.”

“I’m not worried about him.”

Time didn’t pass for Satoru inside the Prison Realm, but the world has moved on without waiting for him. He looks at Megumi without having to lower his gaze, smiles genuinely, and reaches out to ruffle the boy’s hair, “So responsible already. Don’t worry about me, either. I can handle this.”

-

Though the Zen’in estate is big, Satoru and Suguru had to reside in one of its smaller, unused quarters, leaving them with a small space with the living room, the kitchen, the dining room, and the bedroom altogether. At least, the bathroom was a separate structure on its own, albeit it’s not big enough for comfort. Satoru thinks this is still better than none, besides, with this arrangement, he can keep an eye on Suguru all the time.

Suguru isn’t too keen on the fact that he’s being guarded, but it’s not like he can put up a fight either way. That ancient sorcerer’s plan released all the curses he had so far collected and left him with very basic ones. He did try to resist before, almost at the cost of their small quarters, but without his previous arsenal, he isn’t much of a match for Satoru.

“Keeping me here is pointless.”

It was the first conversational sentence Suguru drops several days after they have settled in the Zen’in estate, spoken over a lukewarm cup of black coffee. The television blares unintelligibly on the corner, its volume never loud enough to be heard beyond the walls of their small room.

Satoru looks up from his own cup, just having dropped the fourth cube of sugar in it.

“The world is after my head,” Suguru adds.

“They are after me, too, don’t think you’re so special.”

“You’re a vital member of the Gojo clan… No matter how the higher-ups seem to hate you, if you just bring my head to them, they’ll have to forgive your previous offenses. There’s no use in keeping me here, I’m a criminal.”

“I need no forgiveness. Not from them.”

Suguru ignores the implication. “Just kill me already.”

“Death is not the only path. You’re just being a coward, Suguru.”

“What? Do you want me to spend this second life repenting for all the lives I took? I still don’t care about them, Satoru.”

“Repentance? Both of us…we’re beyond that. You’ve killed people. I’ve brought people to their deaths. There’s already too much blood in our hands.”

“Then should we die together?” Suguru smiles — it is anything but sincere. Satoru has almost forgotten what his real smile looks like.

Satoru drops another cube of sugar. “We will, but not anytime soon.”

-

Satoru sleeps next to Suguru, not because he hopes to form some intimacy through contact, nor to make sure he will not run away in the middle of the night, but because there are times where terrors unseen haunt Suguru’s slumber, Satoru would need to hold him down lest he ends up hurting himself. He used to keep the distance as well, sleeping on the couch, but after one close call, Satoru didn’t want to take another chance.

It was also during these moments where Suguru’s walls are at their lowest, and they could have a semblance of a proper and civil conversation.

“What is it this time?” Satoru asks, almost an involuntary response at this point, his hand already smoothing Suguru’s hair, rubbing circles down his back.

“He’s trying to creep in again.” His voice is hoarse, low, almost inaudible, as if in fear that when he speaks loud enough, the nightmare will turn into reality. “He says…this brain is his…and he can return anytime he wants…”

When Suguru is like this, Satoru can hold him close without being pushed away, and so Satoru does, wrapping Suguru tightly between his arms.

“You’re stronger than him, you took over him. That bastard won’t own you again.”

“If I die, it’ll finally be over.”

“You won’t die. Not on my watch.”

-

With the small space and bare minimum mode of entertainment, Satoru resorts to watching movies with Suguru to pass the time.

Well, to call it ‘watching with’ is too much of a stretch.

“What do you want to watch today?” Satoru asks, as usual.

Suguru doesn’t respond, as usual too, remaining seated on the corner of the bed, always seemingly creating as much physical distance he could between the two of them. Whatever closeness they would have during Suguru’s nightmares dissipates as if it never existed in the first place.

Satoru eventually gives up with a sigh, picking a 2008 horror movie from the selection this time.

“I’m guessing you haven’t seen this yet.”

He loads the disc onto the player, then settles himself on the end of the small couch. It’s some sort of an unspoken invitation, one that Suguru never entertains.

The film plays, the film ends.

It’s a daily cycle.

-

Every now and then, Megumi drops by personally, providing them with their daily necessities. In this situation, his Ten Shadow Techniques are particularly useful for hiding the things he brings them, only pulling it out once he is within the four walls of the small quarters. They can’t be too careless, after all. Whenever Megumi arrives, Satoru takes it upon himself to do the cooking and even sets aside a portion for Megumi himself.

“How is it outside?”

“Curses are still running rampant,” Megumi says, his tone as if still a student reporting to his teacher. Nevertheless, his bearing has become more and more that of a clan leader, “There’s quite a lot, so it will really take some time.”

The responsible person is quietly laying down the bed — whether he is truly asleep or just pretending, Satoru just lets him be. The sizzle of the oil as he pours the ingredients onto the pan fills in the momentary silence.

“And how is being a clan leader?”

“I think I can understand why the late elder Naobito was drinking all the time.”

“Haha, now don’t go picking up his habit. You’ve got a former clan head before you here, just ask for my help if you need it.”

“I feel like Kamo-san would know more about being a clan head than you.”

“Was never one to deal with family politics anyway.”

“Don’t worry about the affairs of the Gojo family. Okkotsu-san is making sure your family won’t lose its place.”

“I knew I could always rely on the new generation.”

“But Gojo-sensei, many of us still do rely on you.”

“A habit that must be changed.” Satoru turns off the stove and transfers the food onto the prepared bowl. “It’s for this very reason the incident at Shibuya became possible.”

His eyes wander to Suguru’s figure then, and he notices how tense the other man’s shoulders are. In fact, they really haven’t talked much about that time. The ancient sorcerer knew of Satoru’s weakness; Satoru wonders if Suguru himself came to realize it.

“No, I mean...,” Megumi seems to want to say something else, but in the end, he just sighs in defeat, “Never mind.”

“Don’t be thinking too much. Here, have this,” Satoru gives him a bowl of the freshly cooked stir fry, “Added some extra ginger especially for you.”

He takes another look at Suguru —— he doesn’t seem to be planning in joining them. In the end, Satoru decides to eat dinner with Megumi. It’s only when Megumi bid his farewell and left the room did Suguru finally move, only catching a glimpse of his retreating figure.

“Your dinner’s ready,” Satoru tells him, “It’s still a bit warm.”

Suguru stays seated on the bed, his eyes still at the door. “Megumi, that kid, he looks oddly familiar.”

“Remember Zen’in Toji?” A frown forms on Suguru’s forehead, his lips pursing rather unhappily. Satoru immediately quips, “Well, Megumi’s his son. Megumi didn’t know anything about his father’s shady business, and they were left without parents, too, so I took him under my care.”

“He seems to be quite dependent on you.”

“Is he? That kid hates asking me for help.”

“When he said many of them still rely on you, he was probably referring to himself. I know that tone.”

“From where? The two kids you had with you?”

Suguru suddenly stops responding. It’s apparent that the topic of the two girls is something he didn’t want to talk about. Though Suguru never told him about what happened, Satoru has been able to connect the dots from the first report of Suguru’s crime to the time he showed up in Jujutsu Tech to declare war.

But still, he wished that Suguru can tell it to him in his own words. There’s so much that happened in the last decade, cleaving an immeasurable distance in the space between them — an emptiness about the people and things and circumstances that shaped them to be the people that they are now.

“It’s funny though,” Satoru tests the waters, trying to fill the gap starting from his own side, “Back then, we said we’d run away together with Amanai if she wanted to. We failed on that part, but—”

“We still ended up babysitting,” Suguru continues for him, the tension on his shoulders replaced by a sudden weight, “I guess Riko-chan got the best deal out of that incident.”

“The girls—”

“I’m not hungry.” Suguru cuts him off immediately, lays back on the bed, and turns around, covering himself with a blanket. He obviously didn’t want to talk about his own share of babysitting, so Satoru lets the conversation go.

For now, Satoru bottles his many questions —

Why did you run away?

Why didn’t you force me to come with you?

Why didn’t you tell me all the things that have bothered you?

Why did you suffer with your thoughts in silence?

If I tried a little harder, would you have come with me?

There are so many things to talk about, many things that can’t be talked about. Patience is one of Satoru’s virtues, and when it comes to Suguru, it becomes the greatest.

-

Many times, he catches Suguru staring at his own reflection in the mirror…no, not at his reflection, but the wound lining his forehead. Satoru isn’t as skilled as Shoko in terms of healing others — the skull is intact, the wound is gone, but the scar remains, a reminder to them both every single day.

“Does it bother you?” he asks.

It takes a while before Suguru replies. “A bit.”

“A full bangs will hide the scars.”

A small smile starts to form on the edges of Suguru’s lips, but it disappears in a flash, replaced by a melancholy look on his face, “Mimiko and Nanako would have loved to see that.”

“Are those…their names?”

“…Yes.”

The girls he saved and raised throughout these years, to whom he exchanged his status as a sorcerer to be a curse user, just so he can provide them a better life. After all that’s happened, their place is still big in his heart. Not a single ash could be recovered in the ruins left by Sukuna, and so Suguru mourns with only the memories the girls have left him, memories his body was able to keep despite death.

Later in bed, Suguru weeps quietly. Satoru holds him. In between them, there is silence.

-

Satoru loads a 2009 suspense thriller this time, one that he himself hasn’t had the chance to watch yet for some reason. With a bowl of popcorn in tow, he settles himself at the end of the couch.

The film starts.

Just as the title appears, he feels the couch shift.

Satoru holds his breath, turns to look —— Suguru sits next to him, his legs already crossed comfortably.

“Mind if I watch with you?” he asks.

Satoru smiles, offering him the bowl, “Not at all.”

The film plays. The film ends.

And by the time it does, Suguru’s head is already resting Satoru’s shoulder, and Satoru’s head on Suguru’s. The positions are so familiar even though it has been over ten years since they were last together like this. The credits roll and neither of them moves.

“It sucked.” Suguru is the first one to speak.

“Sure did,” Satoru lets out a laugh, “Want to watch another one?”

“Let me pick this time.”

“Your call.”

-

“Satoru.”

Suguru calls out his name in the dark, certain that he is still awake. Satoru turns. In the dim light, he finds Suguru staring up at the ceiling, seemingly lost in thought. His nightmares have been recurring less and less, and at times they can go a whole night with a peaceful rest.

“Can’t sleep again?”

“No, I wanted to ask you something —— Why didn’t you chase after me?”

Memories of Shinjuku are still vivid in Satoru’s mind, especially the view of Suguru’s back getting further and further away from him, his own outstretched fingers curling into a fist. Looking back at all his years, it’s the only time he has ever felt so helpless. Shibuya can’t even compare.

“You didn’t seem to be the type to be swayed if I held you back.”

“And after that? You’re a jujutsu sorcerer. You have the responsibility to clean up curse users like me. Why didn’t you chase after me?”

“I didn’t want to be the one who kills you.”

Suguru turns to face him then, his expression solemn, “Yet you did.”

Satoru can’t help but reach out, running a hand over Suguru’s left arm. If there’s one thing he’d give that ancient sorcerer credit for, he fixed up Suguru quite well. “It was beyond me already. You declared war. I was under orders.”

Suguru doesn’t shy away from the touch, but neither does he reciprocate. “And what about now?”

“You and I are both fugitives. No need to follow some stupid higher-ups.”

“Freedom?”

“As free as we can be in this small quarters, yes.”

Ironic as it is, what Satoru just said was true. Step out and their tails will be chased by jujutsu sorcerers, stay in and they can maintain this pretense of liberty. In any case, it can’t be worse than staying inside the Prison Realm or being controlled by some ancient being.

“Back in Shibuya, many people died.”

“Trying to make me feel guilty?”

“Not at all. I just wanted to ask what you think of it now.”

Satoru ponders for a while, then with a sigh he says, “Can’t be helped. It’s regrettable, but it’s not like I’m a god. That brain knew me too well —— Do you still hate them? Non-sorcerers?”

“I don’t know. It used to be my fuel, but I’ve spent it all. Now I’m just…drifting.”

“Drifting isn’t bad. We can drift together over this sea of blood beneath us.”

A small laugh escapes Suguru’s lips. “Satoru, you really are so foolish. Because of me, you got sealed. Because of me, there’s a death penalty over your head. Why do you even still stay with me?”

What value does one Geto Suguru hold that the great Gojo Satoru can turn his back on the world just to be by this person’s side? Shouldn’t have it been obvious by now? Satoru can’t put all his heart’s contents into words, and so he reaches for Suguru’s hand instead and places a soft kiss on his palm.

“I’ve let you go twice,” he whispers, his breath warming Suguru’s cold hands, “and they both turned out to be very bad decisions.” Satoru looks up, meeting Suguru’s astonished gaze in the dim light, “I’m not letting you go again.”

-

Despite the chaos unleashed in the world, humanity still observed festivities, especially something like Setsubun as it concerns the cleansing of evil spirits. It also happens to be Suguru’s birthday. Upon Satoru’s request, Megumi drops by their small quarters and brings them food apt for the occasion. Satoru takes it from him with much gratitude and prepares the table, inviting him to eat with them.

It is a bit awkward, after all, Suguru has never really interacted with this young Zen’in clan head. His uncanny resemblance with Fushiguro Toji also rails up his fight-or-flight tendency, as if his body remembers the person who quite turned his world upside down.

“What?” Megumi suddenly asks him, the boy’s own shoulders tense, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing,” Suguru offers a weak smile, “I was just reminiscing — I fought your father once.”

Megumi visibly relaxes, very much unlike when he asked the same question to Satoru over a decade ago. “Apparently, I did, too.”

“Apparently?”

“I didn’t know he was my father at that time. I just came to know recently.”

“He’s crazy strong.”

“That he was.”

“Satoru looked after you?”

“He occasionally dropped by, but he’s no more a parent than my negligent father.”

“Hey—,” Satoru tries to butt in the conversation and save his reputation—

“No wonder. I thought you’re too good of a person to have been brought up by this nuisance.”

It’s useless.

“I heard that.”

“I was only speaking the truth —— Fushiguro Megumi, isn’t it? I apologize for imposing on you,” Suguru’s tone shifts, his fingers wrung together on top of his knees, “I don’t have anything to offer in return, I even had your sister caught up in all this mess. I can only thank you for letting me stay here unnoticed.”

“I’m no saint, I also have my personal biases. And I didn’t do this for you. Since Gojo-sensei asked for it, it’s nothing I can’t do. Besides, my sister’s issue has already been resolved, no need to hold onto things that are past. Just…whatever your issue is, please deal with it yourselves.”

Just in time, Satoru finishes laying down the food on the table, a small cake with a single candle lit on top taking the center spot. His eyes meet Suguru’s, his lips curving up in a soft smile. “Don’t worry, we’re already working on it.”

-

“We can be like…I don’t know…rogue jujutsu sorcerers or something. There are too many curses running about, I’m sure they won’t notice us if we do clean up some. We'll be doing them a great favor, too, you know?”

In the end, the two of them decided they can’t stay in the Zen’in estate forever. Sprawled on the bed, they’ve been discussing how to move forward with limited resources and a death penalty over their heads.

“You’re too noticeable for us to keep lowkey.”

Satoru suddenly stops, not failing to hear Suguru’s use of the word “us”. A sudden warmth blossomed in his chest, like the first ray of sunshine after a long, arduous, winter. It’s the onset of spring within his reach.

“Maybe if we eliminate all the released curses, they’d provide us both amnesties.”

“I released them, remember? The moment anyone from the jujutsu society sees me, I’m as good as dead.”

“I won’t allow that, of course.”

“No need to be so gallant. We can just run away after.”

“Where to?”

Suguru doesn’t even miss a beat when he replies, “Anywhere.”

-

“Gojo-sensei, are you sure about this?”

Under the cover of the night, three silhouettes huddle in an obscure corner of the Zen’in estate.

“We don’t want to overstay our welcome either,” Satoru smiles.

“You won’t,” Megumi assures him, “You’ve taken care of me for nine years, after all.”

“Then I’ll come back to settle the rest of your debt when things calm down, okay?” Satoru reaches out to pat Megumi’s hair one last time, “For now, we’ll have to deal with our lives on our own.”

“Please don’t die,” Megumi says with a stern look. “And please don’t get yourself sealed again.”

“Who do you think you’re talking to?”

With a final farewell, Megumi retreats back into the Zen’in estate.

It’s only until his figure disappears that Satoru finally turns around and faces Suguru. He stretches out an arm, reaching for him. The weak moonlight brings an almost glittery sheen over his hair, reflecting the galaxy on his eyes. The sight is so beautiful it’s almost breathtaking — they haven’t been out for a while, and now, in just a few steps, it will be the road to freedom.

Together.

“Let’s go?”

Suguru takes his hand.

#satosugu #goge #jujukai #i write sometimes #au where megumi is clan head wwwww #also a few years time skip

[cienie-isengardu]

A bit about Hufflepuff and Slytherin Houses

There are two important to me writing competitions I wish to take part (one related to star wars, the other, more serious, for a fairy tale for children) - the time is running away and of course my mind is the treacherous bastard that comes up with plenty of ideas for new metas and urging me to finish the already half-written ones. So, instead of doing what I should, I’m in the middle of hunting down and gathering crucial information for my (hopefully soon) upcoming analysis of Salazar Slytherin and Pure-blood Ideology and I’m so, so amused by the House Welcome Messages wrote once for (old?) Pottermore because it seriously makes me even more liking Slytherin and Hufflepuff for A) loyalty to house mates & taking care for each other and B) the shared dislike (critique) for Revenclaw.

Hufflepuff:

[...] So, as you can see, we’ve produced more than our fair share of powerful, brilliant and daring witches and wizards, but, just because we don’t shout about it, we don’t get the credit we deserve. Ravenclaws, in particular, assume that any outstanding achiever must have come from their house. I got into big trouble during my third year for duelling a Ravenclaw prefect who insisted that Bridget Wenlock had come from his house, not mine. I should have got a week of detentions, but Professor Sprout let me off with a warning and a box of coconut ice.

Hufflepuffs are trustworthy and loyal. We don’t shoot our mouths off, but cross us at your peril; like our emblem, the badger, we will protect ourselves, our friends and our families against all-comers. Nobody intimidates us.

Slytherin:

But we’re not bad people. We’re like our emblem, the snake: sleek, powerful, and frequently misunderstood.

For instance, we Slytherins look after our own – which is more than you can say for Ravenclaw. Apart from being the biggest bunch of swots you ever met, Ravenclaws are famous for clambering over each other to get good marks, whereas we Slytherins are brothers. The corridors of Hogwarts can throw up surprises for the unwary, and you’ll be glad you’ve got the Serpents on your side as you move around the school. As far as we’re concerned, once you’ve become a snake, you’re one of ours – one of the elite.

Because you know what Salazar Slytherin looked for in his chosen students? The seeds of greatness. You’ve been chosen by this house because you’ve got the potential to be great, in the true sense of the word. All right, you might see a couple of people hanging around the common room whom you might not think are destined for anything special. Well, keep that to yourself. If the Sorting Hat put them in here, there’s something great about them, and don’t you forget it.

Big part why I’m from start so keen to those two Houses is because both value loyalty, what was mentioned by Sorting Hat in the first song (”You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal” & “Or perhaps in Slytherin You'll make your real friends”). Okay, fine, most likely they see loyalty / friendship in different ways, but let me tell you something about the House Welcome Messages: Slytherin and Hufflepuff know how to take care of  themselves and in critical moment they will not back down. Gryffindor (the lion) and Ravenclaw (the eagle) have connection to “noble animals”, with majestic & powerful symbolic behind them, while snake is seen as evilness / sin (especially in Christian beliefs) while most people have little idea what badger is and both animals (Houses) are looked down on and oh boy, people couldn’t be even more wrong.

Slytherins are seen as dangerous ones and they for sure use other people’s fear to keep themselves save and in control of situation but if you were sorted to their House, then you are one of them, you are part of brotherhood*. Snakes are different from each other, some may look like they aren’t worth to be there. But if Sorting Hat put them here then who you are to judge that? Slytherins play to win and they love winning but loyalty to their House is no less important.

Hufflepuffs are very loyal too. The Hufflepuff’s prefect who told the story of his duel with Ravenclaw fought “in defense of honor” of famous Bridget Wenlock - and he fought with a boy at least two years older (and a prefect, which means the boy was considered a good (skilled?) student) and did not back down a bit. Hufflepuffs may be look down on, but they are ready to fight at any moment, if they, their families or friends are in danger... or in this case, just “insulted”.

The more I think about Slytherin and Hufflepuff, the more similarities I could find. But I want talk about one similarity especially:

Both Houses have bad reputation albeit from different reason. Slytherins due to dark magic, ambitions (who seems be a trait quite often attributed to villains in general), cleverness and ruthlessness while Hufflepuffs for accepting all students. Which is why many people see this great House as a place for losers, who were rejected by more strictly (demanding) recruitment of Gryffindor (bravery and nobility), Ravenclaw (intelligence and creativity) or Slytherin (ambition and smartness). You get sorted into Slytherin? You must be evil or at least morally shady. You get sorted into Hufflepuff? Only losers, people without character go there. And some kids think it’s better to leave Hogwarts than being sorted to Slytherin or Hufflepuff... what a great reputation!

Well, and maybe this is also reason why I’m so keen to Hufflepuff and Slytherin. They are Hogwarts’ underdogs, the “worst sort” of students even if we know it’s not true. All Houses have their share of great sorcerers and dark wizards and witches but the original** Harry Potter series is, in my opinion, very biased towards every House that is not the precious, noble Gryffindor. And since I tend to stick to the “lesser”, the looked down on,  so yeah, Slytherin and Hufflepuff are the Houses I find the most intriguing.

In some matters those Houses are extremaly different but at the same time their traits speaks a lot to me. I really dislike Gryffindors and the whole bullshit about their bravery or noble nature. Hermione was pretty ruthless and ambitious and I don’t think she cared for people (the way Hufflepuff would care) and kinda her noble cause was more important than someone’s well being? Harry get himself (and others) in so many problems due to his impulsiveness and not thinking about the consequences and I really hate Marauders and the shit they did and never were held accountable. While the Ravenclaws who are so inteligent and creative and oh boy, so knowledgeable seems to me like those who are the most likely to bully their own house mates - I mean, did Draco bully his own House mates the same Luna was picked up by hers for being “weird”? Okay, I know there is limited knowledge about other Houses but somehow down the road of series I really have my doubts about Gryffindor and Ravenclaw and it irks me how magic people look down on Hufflepuff for being nice and calm and Slytherin for their ambitious nature.

* Sadly, since the whole series is from Harry’s POV we didn’t see much of internal house interaction in Slytherin and Draco was set as his school rival from the start, so Harry’s POV was pretty much biased. Not to mention what kind of brat Draco was as kid. Then again, in Prince’s Tale we could see Lucius welcoming very friendly young Severus after he was sorted into Slytherin. We known Severus was half-blood wizard with surname from Muggle-born father, and Lucius most likely could deduce the boy is not Pure-blood himself. Severus never was described as boy (and later, a man) with good look or good social skills that could catch Lucius’ attention, right? And here there he was:

And Severus Snape moved off to the other side of the Hall, away from Lily, to where the Slytherins were cheering him, to where Lucius Malfoy, a prefect badge gleaming upon his chest, patted Snape on the back as he sat down beside him. . . . [DH]

** Fantastic Beasts is changing that, I think, with Newt being Hufflepluff and Leta Lestrange, a bullied yet brave Slytherin girl.

#harry potter #hogwarts houses #slytherin #hufflepuff #my rants #i should be doing so many things but no my mind say talk about those two underestimated houses #so here are two reasons why i like slytherin and hufflepuff despite the extreme difference between them #loyalty and being seen as the worst kind of students #also i kinda see slytherin as a more experienced hufflepuff who lost faith in world and people somehow along the way

[amethyst-lightsphere]

Stranger to most, well known to few - chapter three

Note: I had originally intended to post this on April’s Fool. But then, people may think it’s a cruel joke and purposely miss it. On the other hand, the length of this chapter bursted to a new level of long compared to the previous two.

Chapter 3: Nicholas Marian – He who of the gray

The color was neither white nor black.

Nicholas had said he wanted lodging and food, but the first place he led both of them to was a clothing store.

“Why the fuck are we here?” Kanda said from his spot by the cash register, watching the red head flitting around the racks.

Nicholas’s grin was annoyingly smug as he replied while picking up a dress shirt, “Are those eyes of yours for decoration only? I have blood all over myself.” He raised one hand to gesture at his clothes, which had a large red stain at the abdomen and smaller splotches at the knees.

“So? Your fussy ass won’t get dissolved by mere blood.”

“It’s not dissolving I’m thinking about, mister Kanda, but the troubles that may come. Such a sight often draws unfavorable attention, which I would like to avoid.” Nicholas disappeared into one changing booth with a bunch of clothes in his arms. “Not to mention, your demeanor alone has already made us stand out like a bald head. See our dear cashier for demonstration, if you want one.”

The cashier Nicholas mentioned was checking the goods with unnatural fervor, the like of which Kanda knew was to hide stolen glances. He glared at the man, satisfied when he scurried as far out of Kanda’s earshot as permitted by the limited space of the store.

Nosy man problem averted, but then Kanda’s mind had to rewind what had happened at the Campbell’s mansion. He knew it was a colossally bad idea, but Allen had insisted on going. To know the truth, he had said. And the result had been Nea’s violent awakening forcing the beansprout to invoke his Innocence. Whether that worked or not, Kanda didn’t know.

What he did know, however, was that Allen had vomited blood and fainted right in front of him. Kanda had panicked at that, slitting his own wrist and forcing his blood into Allen’s mouth. It was counterproductive since the idiot was throwing up the same kind of liquid, but at that moment, he couldn’t think of anything else. Internal organ damage was a bitch seconded only to karma. And then there was the cursed ritual, too. If it was something too severe for Kanda’s blood to fix-

Suddenly a cream-colored coat was shoved in Kanda’s face. He had to lean back from the offending article.

“What the hell, four-eyes?” Kanda fixed the red head with an incredulous glare.

Nicholas just smiled. “We didn’t get to pick up whatever luggage you and your Walker have. That means no coins for me.” He then retracted the clothes to put it on himself; meanwhile, his gaze went down to one gold button on Kanda’s uniform for a moment before moving back up. “So be generous this time, will you? It’s not like money is a problem for a General of the Black Order.”

The red head being clueless about Allen’s clothes was a surprise. “You didn’t know?”

Kanda’s cue was the inclination of the other’s head.

Kanda allowed a smirk to appear on his face. “Check those bloody clothes you changed out of.” He pointed at the pile of clothing the red head had dropped on one of the seats lining the wall. “And learn to stop being a smartass while you’re at it.”

Nicholas immediately started searching. Within two minutes, he dug out a treasure trove of cash from various hidden pockets in every items. Once done, he gave the amount of money an appraisal look.

“Your Walker is something, I must say. I didn’t even feel any differences in weight with the new clothes.” Nicholas commented with a refreshing lack of either haughtiness or mockery.

Kanda too was not scathing for once. “The beansprout is creative. Now hurry your ass up.”

In a minute, they were done with the shopping. From there they went to find lodging as previously intended. Nicholas, now pleased, took the lead with longer strides and a slightly looser mouth. Kanda got to know that the man was a scientist and sorcerer, but his reputation – the one in the past – was that of a physician. The town wasn’t his birthplace, but he had visited it many times. Kanda helped Nicholas confirm that the last time he saw the world was thirty five years ago. He was physically well, meaning whatever injuries his body sustained when Allen was in control had gone.

The man shared nothing further than those, which was fine with Kanda. They were on the street after all and God knew if some Akuma were lurking around eavesdropping things for the Noah.

One thing, though. Nicholas had been adamant about the body being his to begin with. The conviction behind made it hard for Kanda to think of it as a joke. Unfortunately, the man had refused to further elaborate on the matter, saying that they should leave it for another time.

That brought a new problem about Allen Walker: if that body wasn’t his, then what had happened to his original one?

They stopped in front of a hotel named Poppy. It was a giant three-story building with vintage feel in its architecture. From the wrought iron fence, big front yard to the decorated arches of doors and windows. Expensiveness oozing from every corner and its bright color paint made it stick out in the middle of other common housing.

“Hell no.” Kanda was exasperated.

“Heaven yes.” Nicholas quickly entered, not giving Kanda time to do anything.

He followed. “I’m not selling my things.” He had to say that. This hotel looked like one room could eat up all the money they had and the last time Kanda sold the ornament of his uniform, he got a headache from the science department’s yelling.  

But four-eyes ignored him for the favor of talking with the receptionist. For some reason, they chatted in a language unknown to Kanda.

“Are you listening, four-eyes?” Kanda wanted to draw Mugen so badly.

“Always, mister Kanda.” He dryly replied. Before Kanda could touch his blade, the man added. “I’m making one of the best arrangements you ever have in your life here. So kindly shut up, please~?” He purposely drawled.

“Make it one room with two single beds. I’m not letting you out of my sight.” If it wasn’t for Allen’s body, he would try to stab the bastard. Also, Kanda had to admit, he was curious – blamed the beansprout for rubbing off on him -  as to what four-eyes’ plan was.

Nicholas flashed Kanda a toothy grin before turning back to the conversation with the other man.

The two must have been talking about other things as well. Shady things, to be precise. Because, faced it, there was no way a simple check-in had to be done in something other than English. And the look on the receptionist’s face was speaking volumes.

Then Nicholas traced a pattern into the other man’s right palm. The act got the receptionist to stare at said palm for a minute before opening the check-in logbook and writing down.

“All done, mister Kanda. We have a room and the lunch is being prepared.” Four-eyes announced triumphantly as he turned to Kanda.

“If you mess up, I’m not saving your ass.” Kanda crossed his arms, his eyes catching the previously exchanged symbol drawn next to their name in the logbook.

Nicholas just shrugged. “The most you might have to do is working here for three years for me trying to have a free stay in this hotel.”

“What?” Kanda’s roar startled several guests in the lobby, but like he cared. It wasn’t the first time he saw something possibly lawless, but Allen’s card tricks never brought any sorts of harm to his companions. This, on the other hand, was blatantly selling him out.

And Kanda thought getting people to clean up after was a Cross’s thing only.

As if it wasn’t enough, Nicholas had to throw in a reply. “You can calm down, mister Kanda. It’s just a form of insurance in case my words are proven false, which can never be done.” His tone was like he was scolding a child.

No retort came as Kanda was trying to regulate his breathing. To calm down, he reasoned with himself that Nicholas was a human and Allen wasn’t quite dead. The former wasn’t very convincing, though.

“You must be very hungry to be that irate, mister Kanda. What do you say if we get some food inside that stomach of yours?” Nicholas turned on his heel and strode to the dining hall.

Kanda was right behind him. “Don’t you dare think you can dump your messes on me!” The way his statement sounded so much like a last-ditch effort made him to cringe internally.

Nicholas said no more, but his lips curled into a complacent smile that further irritated Kanda. Smart-ass.

They sat down at a table in the back corner of the dining hall where no one would notice. The food was brought shortly after, the amount forming a mountain on the surface. Nicholas dug in right away, not one bit shy from displaying his humongous appetite while Kanda’s sullenly stabbed the content of his dish.

Now that Kanda thought about it, there was another mystery: Nicholas could invoke Innocence at full rate. Together with the fact that he didn’t look like someone who just discovered his sudden and mysterious change in diet, he must have been with the weapon for a long time. Could two people be compatible to one Innocence at the same time? Innocence were known to be picky; the files of Second Exorcist Program had explicitly stated that despite having the same brains, only one Exorcist – Kanda – was successfully created while the rest were rejected. And now, there was Nicholas Marian, wielding Innocence as easily as breathing.

Somewhere in Kanda’s mind, he doubted this was the last mystery.

“You got what you want. Now spill. What happened to Allen Walker?” He started first. Allen’s status was, naturally, the first in his priority list.

“Regarding your Walker, I have a theory.” spoke Nicholas after swallowing a mouthful.

That wasn’t what Kanda wanted to hear. “You said you could tell how he was, four-eyes. Do you really know?”

Nicholas wrinkled his nose in distaste. “Of course I do, mister Kanda. For your information, I am the one who devised the ritual in the first place.” His displeased expression was quickly replaced by a sardonic smirk when he saw Kanda’s astonishment. “Or, at least, the prototype of the one you saw. That alone is enough for theorizing. And surprise! A theory is the closest you can have for now, mister Kanda, unless you can provide me with the developed diagram.”

The frown once again appeared on Kanda’s face. Nicholas was right. And having the original creator was better than none at all. That didn’t mean he liked it.

“So,” Nicholas continued. “How much do you know about alchemy?”

The question brought up images of one Komui Lee and his many nasty concoctions. “Enough. What about it?”

“You see, the ritual employs both magic and alchemy. It-” The man abruptly paused. With his lower lip jutted out, he looked thoughtful for a moment before resuming his speech. “It has two primary functions. First, it creates an exact copy of my body. Then, Nea and your Walker are transferred to the duplicate. That way, I can regain this body while my friend consume Walker, which will be a piece of cake since Walker’s energy is drained to supply the whole ritual. But, as we all know-”

Nicholas had yet to finish, but Kanda had stood up and drawn Mugen. The metal sang as the blade left its sheath, gleaming dangerously with the tip pointed at the red head.

“Friend?” Kanda hissed. “You are a Noah follower?”

The smile on Nicholas’ lips became full of arrogance. “Your assumption wounded me, mister Kanda. I’m not that lowly. I simply have a friend who happens to be a Noah.”

It didn’t make Kanda lower his sword. “It’s still the same! Did you forget what the Noah are? What you are? Or what they do?”

“Oh mister Kanda, how wrong you are~” Nicholas said with a sing-song voice, clearly not the slightest perturbed. “Let me repeat it for you. I’m no servant to the Noah clan. My loyalty to Nea is from our friendship only. As for the fact that the Noah want to destroy humanity, so what? As long as I’m not hurted, I don’t care if the man next to me drops dead.”

Kanda couldn’t quite believe in his ears. “You think the Noah won’t kill you just because one of them acts friendly?” He gave a withering glare. In both the past and present, Tyki Mikk had been a prime example, killing people at the drop of a hat while being twistedly amiable.

“Ahaha!” The man fucking laughed. “I don’t think so. I believe so. But for a different reason.” He raised his hand up in a mock salute “That is, humanity needs me.”

This fucker had very strange idea. “Like hell it is! You are just one man.” Kanda spat, his sword arm not wavering.

The look on Nicholas’ face said that he was enjoying this. “One man, true. But tell me, mister Kanda, how did humanity grow? The Noah seek its destruction. You Exorcists fight to preserve it. But what else? Nothing. It’s just a stagnating tug of war.”    

“No, to be this advanced, humanity has to depend on someone else. Someone who brings advancement. Someone like tinkerers, discoverers, inventors. Great minds that seek to understand the world. Great minds like me. We scientists are the progress, the evolution, the transformation. The gray in the midst of the white of you Exorcists and the black of the Noah.”

“Progress my ass! Your disgusting thing was going to sacrifice Walker! Which part of it is ‘progress’?” The speech only made Kanda more furious than ever.

Nicholas’s grin never ceased. “The sacrifice, of course. Humanity is one big ouroboros that eats itself as the price to crawl forward. Your Walker is but a tiny part in its grand scheme, meant to die for another’s sake. Though, should you be so shocked? I’m sure there are scientists on your side who committed similar or greater atrocities.”

There were. There were the Epstain, the Chang, and probably more. They had made monsters like those Third Exorcists. Like Kanda. All the while claiming that their creations were for the sake of the world. They would never stop.

Death had been the reward for their acts.

Kanda lunged for Nicholas, leaping over the large table. Mugen could kill, he could kill. Maybe taking a human’s life was taboo to an Exorcist, but his hate was making him see red and Nicholas was an exception. A dangerous, twisted exception.

Food was sent flying. With a foot, Nicholas pushed himself together with the chair skidding backward and away from the slash. The distance was short, however, only took Kanda a step to get the man in reach again. There was no escaping the next strike.

Except, Kanda found himself literally frozen. He searched with his eyes and saw a bright glow coming from Nicholas’ right hand.

Magic. Kanda wanted to curse himself for forgetting that the man was also a sorcerer.

“Murderous, aren’t you?” Nicholas’ bright smile only stirred Kanda’s hatred. “Sadly, I’m no easy meat. Besides, don’t you want your Walker alive?”

“I come back to kill him.” snarled Kanda. “If the Fourteenth wins, I kill him. Finish you now will do that just fine.”

And Allen would not feel any pain. The world would be cleansed of one rotten man and the Noah wouldn’t reincarnate. Therefore, in a way, Kanda’s debt to him would be paid in full.

“Ha! Such a lying brute! Then, why didn’t you strike me down when I first appeared? Why now?” Nicholas kept talking while Kanda struggled to move. “What is your real intention, mister Exorcist?”

Kanda said nothing. He was done with talking and his intention wasn’t something to show just anybody, let alone this fucker before him.

Nicholas kept talking. “Now now, you honestly believe I will buy your mercy killing reason? That is no different from saying the Innocence are not monsters. They are like the Noah-”

Nicholas left hand abruptly flew to his chest, grasping the lapel while a gasp escaped his lips. Feathers sprouted from his left arm, lightly swaying in the air:  Crown Clown had activated by itself. Kanda felt the paralysis leave his body and he thrusted his sword without a second wasted.

However, when Mugen was an inch from the man’s face, Kanda was paralyzed again. Though in pain by virtue of the Innocence, Nicholas still managed to recast his spell.

No easy meat, indeed.

“You will kill if it’s Nea, but what if Walker lives?” Nicholas’ shaky smile was  fading away. “Will you still chop him up?”

Kanda blinked once. He wouldn’t. His target was the Noah, not him. Not even if he was filled with rage like now. But Nicholas-

The man continued with a serious look on. “Walker still has his chance, I can confirm. Will you deprive him of that?”

No, he would not.

“You have come so far, and you will go even further for him, no?”

Yes.

“What is your real intention, mister Kanda?”

Helping Allen Walker. Assisting him until he reached an ending.

Realization hit Kanda, pulling him back to sanity. This was not an ending. Rather, this was a little breather from the long thorny road. Allen would walk again soon. He would. He was a resilient soul, the most Kanda had ever known in his life.

That meant Kanda couldn’t just kill off Nicholas where he sat.

Nicholas spoke up after those few minutes of Kanda coming down from his homicidal fury. “I will release you, then we talk. This time, we do it properly. What do you say?”

With a snap of fingers, the paralysis was dispelled as promised. Kanda lightly rolled his shoulder, testing muscles. Next, he raised his sword. And slashed.

A scratch was made on the left lense of Nicholas’ glasses. The man simply swiped a finger along it and with a muted glow, it disappeared. Kanda sheathed his sword.

“Mister Kanda had made his choice. Now your turn, little holy parasite.” At Nicholas’ words, Crown Clown slowly went back to being an arm.

Kanda glared hard at the man. “I only tell things that worth the same with yours.” By no means had he completely calmed down, but he had to do this.

“Fair enough.” A truce had been reached.

Nicholas then gestured to Kanda’s chair. Kanda went around the table, carefully avoided the food scattering on the floor.

“Where were we?” said the red head. “Was I explaining how without me, Walker wouldn’t exist at all? Or was I going to say that Walker actually swapped place with me and is sleeping deep within-”

#yullen #kanda yuu #allen walker #past!allen #this chapter is a rollercoaster #in fact #many future chapter will be rollercoasters #you will see why soon #d.gray-man #dgm #fanfic