#especially if i do it i can pinpoint exactly what i don't like about it rather than bellyache having to deal with more ga*s shit

[general-cyno]

ehh it's just me musing but. I do find it a little curious that (depending on who likes whom I guess) cora is usually either seen as some saintly flawless goofy figure or a brainwashed cop who got killed because he refused to try and save his brother. I do think his character is not exactly easy to pinpoint, considering he appears for a very short time and in a flashback nonetheless, plus the fact that he's dead means no further fleshing out of his character - broadly speaking - outside of the people who knew him and are willing to provide insight on what he was like, though that'd still be kinda biased.

however I believe there's actually a bunch of things that were straight up shown and some that can be pieced together from what little panel/screen time he had: ie how he's seemingly more bad tempered, impulsive and violent than he's portrayed as in fanon at times, albeit motivated by his own priorities at the moment (trying to kick the shit out of law to stop him from exposing cora to doflamingo) + his sense of what's right and wrong and to whom it applies (punching medical staff and setting hospitals on fire for mistreating law, whom he'd been trying to help).

specifically about the navy and doflamingo part... it irks me a little, tbh. partly because it removes what little agency cora had during the flashbacks and sort of waters down his motivation to stop his brother. it's not just whatever crimes doflamingo was committing or planning to back then and the navy wanting to put a stop to that - the thing is that cora was influenced, at least to an extent, to oppose doflamingo based on their childhood experiences with (ofc) the more negative ones, which include doffy murdering their father right in front of him, overshadowing anything else. as he tells law, cora can't fathom how their kind parents could've borne someone as evil as his brother. and yet. that's the other thing. cora was very much a child, and younger than doflamingo at that, when the elder DQs chose to leave marijoa and all that it entailed after. between all the traumatic events he lived through and later being raised by a marine (sengoku of all people), I'll be the first to say his perception of those events, of their parents and doffy himself is not really the most unbiased or reliable. we don't see him questioning the existence of celestial dragons (beyond warning law he's in danger when cora finds out about the D) nor the nature of the WG/the marines and the antagonistic role they play in OP's universe. we didn't have him long enough for those things to be put to question deeply anyway, especially not wrt to doflamingo, so imo it makes sense that his focus wasn't on "saving" but stopping him.

that said... he does witness the worst of it, kind of. through law. law is the very reason why I don't agree with the idea of cora being simply a brainwashed cop. this guy watched how people (those who should care) mistreated, dehumanized and demonized a sick child over prejudices caused by the lies the nobles and WG itself relied on to sweep their own corruption under the rug. he saw first hand how all those doctors ran to call the WG to kill the child and how they answered to do that. and what did he do? he lied and betrayed the organization he'd been part of (presumably for more than the years he spent undercover) and the man who'd raised him like a son just to save the kid that everyone, even the so called justice, had turned his back on and would've gotten rid of if given the chance. heck, when he first brought up the topic of law with sengoku, the man basically told him not to favor him too much for it could jeopardize his mission.

but perhaps the biggest proof is that he lied to law about being a marine when the latter directly asked if cora was one. as he later admits, cora lied to him about this because he didn't want law to hate him - and knowing all law lived through (flevance), seeing some of it himself (their hospital shenanigans) and what law told him as well, cora knew he had plenty of understandable and justified reasons to hate anyone ever slightly associated with the marines or the WG, including cora. to me, someone who's completely blinded by the navy/WG propaganda and follows their every order to the letter without thought wouldn't have denied his own affiliation nor been so determined to ditch being a marine and make an enemy out of those institutions (even if that also meant betraying his father figure) just to save, protect and do right by a child who'd been clearly failed by them. at no point did cora ever try to argue that Not All Marines, much less express any other sentiments of that sort to law.

on a similar vein, despite insisting doflamingo was evil and an agent of destruction - law is also the proof cora was somewhat aware that his brother (and people like doflamingo) normally don't pop out of nowhere and do Terrible Things just because. that maybe in other (better) circumstances, doffy might've become someone different and/or made different choices. after all, cora is the one who points out the similarities between doflamingo and law, and eventually does his best to turn law's life around so that he won't follow the same path. should he have tried to save doflamingo as well? when? how? would it have worked? who knows. and if you ask me, regardless of their similarities at that moment in time, doffy was already a grown ass man compared to law and cora himself was just an even younger kid when shit hit the fan in their childhood. I'm not sure doflamingo (as an adult) would've been particularly receptive of "help" either, considering his disdain for the kindness in cora and their father that he saw as a weakness. not to mention waaay too many other factors that come into play also (trebol and co's grooming and influence for example). still, one of them did pull the literal trigger in the end and it wasn't cora, so there's that.

all in all, for a character with such a short lived amount of time in the story - cora is quite the complex one and so very compelling. characterizing him as just strictly one thing or the other can be a little reductive but the fact that his character can be explored beyond that in the first place (once more, despite his lil bit of alive and onscreen moments) is what's fun and says a lot about the writing itself.

#tp #one piece #donquixote rosinante #donquixote corazon #I need to chew on him like he's a dog toy #mentally ill abt a dead guy who was in like 5 out of 1000+ chapters. life is good #also before someone misunderstands fics and such are free real state these characters are dolls to play with #I'm talking abt canon specific scenarios

[cosettepontmercys]

I truly can’t pinpoint when/what exactly changed about Taylor’s fans/fandom but the last few years (especially the midnights release) has really soured things for me and it’s honestly quite disappointing as someone who genuinely enjoys her music and thinks she’s a great artists. how did we get to the point of not even being able to voice an opinion about taylor without being crucified online. or if heaven forbid you dislike a song/album or enjoy the work of one of her exes (john mayer, the 1975, calvin harris, etc)

i’ve always been very fascinated/intrigued by the relationship between celebrities and their fans. and i think it’s really interesting to look back and think about how taylor built her fanbase by making herself as palatable/relatable/approachable as possible. like secret sessions, t party/loft 89/rep room, swiftmas, lover diaries, etc — all of which allow for fan interaction — but also relies on people getting noticed which then in turn encourages people to be as vocal? extra? whatever it is. which then feeds into the "who is a bigger / better fan" competition. i'm speaking from personal experience here, as someone who has liked her since debut — but i think a lot of this is also rooted in how much of the world hated taylor swift prior to ... i want to say folklore, really — like it was deeply uncool to like taylor swift, to be a swiftie, etc. and because a lot of that early criticism was rooted so much in misogyny, i think fans felt the need to (over the years) defend her — and i was one of those! i still am, when i feel like people are criticizing her unfairly. but i think that lends into the "taylor swift has never done anything wrong, and she's perfect and if you disagree then you're against us and you're a fake fan" mentality.

and then i think there's an element of ... not necessarily a superiority complex, but a something among fans who have met taylor. it's a genius marketing move, intentions aside. taylor's music is very personal — and taylor's marketing, and persona is very personal, in a way that other artists prior to taylor weren't, i think. relatability sells. you can see it in the way that people talk about her, and her music. which is very different from the way people talk about other artists — and obviously there isn't anyone else out there with the amount of fame/popularity as her, but you don't see the same amount of fanfiction-writing personal-life-speculating-projection onto other artists' lyrics as you do with taylor. and i think that when someone is that vulnerable with their thoughts, it makes it easy for people to think that they know them personally.

and i think that — as much as i love taylor — it's important to talk about her white woman feminism mentality. and i think that also seeps into how her fanbase interacts with her. the ginny & georgia "joke" is what comes to mind the quickest, but there are countless instances of taylor's white woman feminism — and her benefiting from it. and obviously it was in her right to call out a misogynistic comment, especially one directed at her, but not saying anything when the actress got so much hate for a line she didn't write ... made me feel a bit 🥴. it's interesting to see who taylor will choose to align herself with, i guess is all i'm saying.

i've really taken a step back from taylor — not just because the fandom is exhausting ( the amount of things i've seen about her, joe, travis, etc. is ... something! it's all projection! we do not know anything about these people other than what they choose to show us! ) but also because of her saying that she wanted to be on the right side of history and then over and over again choosing to be increasingly passive and silent. she will call herself an ally but won’t even talk about queer rights; she won’t talk about the literal genocide that���s going on. gun control, abortion rights, anything at all. it's just "go vote" but even that is incredibly passive. but she will take time to remind us to buy new variants, and to stream her music, and that her ex sucks.

i think there was a huge shift that started with folklore/evermore, just given that there weren't a lot of albums being put out during that time, the overwhelming public reception to it — a lot of people who previously didn't care for (or disliked) taylor started to like her, to give her a second chance, etc. then we get into the rerecordings era/midnights/etc., which started off with fearless and nostalgia and then became "how quickly can i put out the next thing". and bailey @placeinthisworld posted this earlier, which i fully agree with. it's about the next award, the next milestone. it's just all quantity. it's overexposure.

and then we have the joe alwyn breakup and the public response to that was also ... interesting. like i saw people crying over it, or saying that love is a lie, removing things from their playlists, acting like they were the ones who had been broken up with. which is just ... odd, given that we aren't the ones in the relationship. and now there are all these comments about being a "joe defender". and then with taylor dating travis, it feels almost like some weird american pipe dream unfulfilled fantasy for so many people — the singer and the american football player. and obviously, i want her to be happy! i don't care who she dates! but i do think the public reception about her and travis has been ... incredibly odd, and i think that the way people talk about her and travis is just ... very ... off-putting and is very rooted in some weird ... stuff. "she finally gets to be small :(((((" is such a weird thing to say. it feels like there's even more projection and self-insert-y stuff with her dating travis, which is a level i did not think was possible from her fans (and more so, the general public).

i have not felt this ... detached and impassive about a taylor release, ever, and it just makes me incredibly sad because i love her music, and am excited about the work, just not excited about the public reception, the public autopsy of her and joe's relationship, or the noise, and i know that internet spaces (and spaces in general) are what we curate, but it's also difficult when she is everywhere.

#so sorry this took so long to reply to! i was out of town! #post: answered #ts critical

[thewitcheress2389]

Could you write a story where the reader's whole body aches, but reader keeps it secret from Geralt? I personally have a health issue so I've terrible pains especially in the mornings...

I'm sorry to hear that! I hope you enjoy this story then!💖

And sorry for the long wait...I've been feeling down for a while and going through some stuff, so sorry if things ever take a while. I have other stories on other blogs I'm still sorting through as well, but I'm posting this now cause I feel bad. Stay lovely everyone, and I hope you feeling happy and having good times!💖

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

Body Aches

In hopes to not worry the witcher, you try to keep your body pain to yourself. But you forget that a witcher has such keen senses.

You woke up the same way every day, with painful aches all over your body. There was no reason that you could entirely pinpoint that would explain it. You've done nothing taxing to make your body do this. It was just something that has become a part of your daily routine.

But you kept it to yourself.

Geralt stayed with you. Your house was a sanctuary that he could come to rest and heal, and because of that, you didn't want to worry him with any health issues that you had. The witcher had enough to deal with when it came to beasts and demons, and you saw how he was when he came back. Tired.

He didn't need to worry about you, especially when your demon couldn't be hunted down and killed.

But no matter how hard you try, keeping it secret wasn't exactly an option.

You woke up that morning, trying your best to not wake Geralt, who was asleep beside you. Your whole body ached to the point that moving even a bit caused you to whimper in pain. In truth, you were quiet enough that you figured that no one would be able to hear you, and you could keep this a secret for a while longer.

However, Geralt was a witcher.

"Alright. I've had it. What's wrong?" Geralt's voice caused you to scream and nearly fall off the bed, making more pain shoot through your body.

Turning around, you noticed that it looked like he just woke up. White hair disheveled, sweat from whatever nightmare or hot dream he had, and he was still shirtless. However, his eyes were clear, like he had been awake for hours.

"W-What do you mean?" You tried to play it cool, keeping your muscles as still as they could possibly be. But it was hard, and Geralt saw right through you.

"For hours now you've been shuffling around, uncomfortable. I could hear you whimpering. And it wasn't just this morning either." Geralt said and you wanted to go and hide yourself in a hole. He's known, and it's been for days.

You forgot about a witcher's super human hearing. You blushed in shame.

"So, I ask you again...what's wrong?" Geralt pressed further, sitting up more to look at you. You played with your hands a bit before sighing.

"It's just...my body aches randomly. I don't know why or how or what to do about it." You confessed, tucking some hair behind your ear. Geralt nodded to himself, remaining calm.

"Why not tell me?" He asked. It was a fair enough question, and you figured you had a fair enough answer. However, with the way his cat-eyes were boring into you, you thought otherwise.

"I didn't want to worry or burden you...you have enough going on." You told him and he fought the urge to tell you otherwise because your feelings were valid. But still, you shouldn't need to keep secrets like this.

"I was going to worry either way, but now that it's out in the open, I can help." Geralt said, moving the subject along so you don't dwell on any guilt or other feelings you might have in this situation.

You gave him a perplexed look.

"No offense Geralt, but you aren't exactly Mister Healing Hands. There's nothing that can be done." You said in defeat, knowing this is exactly what would happen. He would find out and want to help, but there is none. No healer could make it go away, so why could he.

"I can't, but perhaps Triss or Yen can." He offered the assistance of the sorceresses, and you smiled faintly. You didn't want to bring them into this, but perhaps magic would be your answer.

And Geralt looked like he wasn't going to back down.

"Thank you..." Was all you could say at the moment, and that's when Geralt laid back down again.

"Good. Now, let's try to get a bit more sleep. If you can't, please tell me this time." The witcher said, and you agreed before slowly moving to lay beside him.

You thought it was good to keep this to yourself, but you felt such a weight off your shoulders knowing that he not only knew, but that he cared as well.

With his assistance, maybe the pain can finally go away.

#the witcher #the witcher imagine #the witcher 3 #the witcher geralt #geralt x reader #geralt imagine #witcher geralt #geralt of rivia

[fourstarsoutofnine]

Based on the little note you left, now I know you're plenty busy so feel free to delay or ignore this for as long as you need, there's no rush at all, and don't forget take care of yourself :)

Sooooo my request was a scenario of the chain and reader waking up to start the day, when one of the Links glances at a reader beginning to wake up and only then noticing the snake chilling on reader's body. The Links begin to panic, reader's still half asleep and confused until somebody finally tells reader about the snake, and reader immediately goes 'omg new bestie' and proceeds to leave the snake to rest on their shoulders for the remainder of the morning until the group had to get going again.

Bonus points if you include any funny reactions or any silly moments in general.

Reader and a snake!

A/N:fun fact I was googling for a descriptor for a snake besides “legless” and the term for a being without limbs is quite literally “Amelia”. I was like 👁️👁️ain’t no way. That’s literally a name, I know so many people named Amelia. Anyway! Thought that was funny and interesting enough to share! Also small psa I feel important enough to share as well:don’t go messing with snakes😭as someone who lives in a part of the US with TONS of dangerous snake species, they’re nothing to mess around w/. Alright, now enjoy.

Ah, morning. Another day, another however many miles you all can walk without totally collapsing from exhaustion of all kinds. The chain slowly started waking up and getting things ready to go when something seemed…off… no one could pinpoint exactly what that thing was, either…. At least not until they looked at you. It didn’t seem like much at first, but their eyes drifted to the all too noticeable legless animal curled up on your lap as you slept. Legend was about to scream before Hyrule slapped a hand over his mouth. “Shh—we don’t want it to bite them…” he whispered and legend nodded. They took a vote(aka they played nose goes until someone realized their finger wasn’t on their nose) and the hero of the Wild slowly crept up and poked your shoulder before jerking back. When you didn’t wake, he did it again and you stirred, but didn’t wake. It would’ve been comical had this not been as dangerous of a situation as it was… or they presumed it to be, anrway. Finally after enough poking and prodding, you woke.

“???? What gives???”

“Y—y/n, theres….” Wars pointed to the snake still fueled in your lap. It seemed the boys(all besides Time and Twilight) were afraid of snakes. Especially Four, what with how mouselike the Picori looked—and snakes ate mice!

You looked down and lit up. “Oh cool! Hello little danger noodle..!” You picked it up carefully and it saw no threat to your actions, so it let you do as you please. The boys were in awe.

“It’s… not biting…” Four poked his head out from around Wars

“Of course it’s not—I’m not doing anything to provoke it or frighten it. It saw me safe enough to sleep on, so why would it bite me now?”

“…fair enough…” he said and watched nervously. The snake hung around on you until it was time to leave. You set it at the corner of the woods and patted its head. “Thanks for hanging out with me, little fella. Go find you some breakfast now.” You smiled and watched the creature slither away, before you and your group went on your way. Crazy morning, but honestly not the craziest you(or the chain) have seen. And nobody’s complaining, either. No harm, no foul.

#linked universe #linkeduniverse #linked universe x reader #lu four #lu legend #lu hyrule #lu twilight #lu wind #lu sky #lu time #lu wars #lu warriors #lu wild

[dinadumas]

Hiiii~

Dear novels lovers, I sincerely want to recommend you one of the best works I've read. So if at the moment you are in search of something interesting don't pass by!

This novel actually has a manhwa with the same title, so if you're not interested in the novel you can find and read the manhwa! It does not have any plot discrepancies from the original.

"Turning" by Kuyu (쿠유).

It's a novel in the bl, fantasy, and omegaverse genre.

Wait wait. Those who now thought that the omegaverse is not interesting or poorly written, you are sorely mistaken! The novel itself doesn't pay that much attention to this genre, so you won't feel any discomfort while reading it! I even forgot about this genre at times. (Although most of the hot scenes are related to it, but you'll be satisfied, I promise.)

There are approximately 970 chapters in the original, and 305 are available in English (free).

If you are already a bit interested, please read the description first~

Yuder was a commoner Omega who rose to the top with his ability.

When he woke up again after being falsely accused and executed, he was back 11 years ago before everything began.

He must not repeat the same mistake he did before.

A chance to get back……

To survive, and to save the world, now he had to save the man he had killed!

Are you more interested? Jesus, I love you already. Keep going!

If you want to hear the opinion of someone who has already read all the chapters available in English, @armed-teddy-bear answered some questions especially for you!

Q : Dear reader, please tell us what you liked most about the novel "Turning" by Kuyu?

Teddy : It’s hard to pinpoint a single part of it, since all of it is perfect in my eyes. The characters are well-written and never act like walking tropes with no common sense, the worldbuilding is one of the best I’ve ever seen, the intrigues are taking and all well-linked together to form an enduring mystery and drama that, as of 300 chapters, is still just as interesting…

If I really had to pick, I would say the relationship between the two protagonists is honestly a high point. Heavily influenced by the past only Yuder can remember, it still manages to progress naturally while never having a boring moment. Every scene where the two of them interacted became one of my favorites.

In short, I would say: If you think you’ve read a novel like this before, no you haven’t. In my opinion, this novel is the best you could achieve in the genre of rebirth/time travel.

Q : Do you think the omegaverse genre is ruining the novel?

Teddy : It’s not a problem to me at all. But there are a lot of people who are uncomfortable with it. I don’t understand why exactly, but it’s like that.

On the contrary, I think the way Turning handles it makes it even more interesting. It hasn’t played too much into the story that far, so it could even be ignored by people who don’t like it, but I think it adds to the story quite a bit by adding more worldbuilding to the “awakeners” characters and the powers of this world.

The reason given for why it happened in universe is also good in my opinion. 👍

So it’s a complete OK for me!

Q : Can you highlight any flaws in the novel?

Teddy : I became the number one fan overnight. In my eyes, Turning can do nothing wrong.

But if I try to see it from someone else’s eyes… Maybe the length would be too long for someone else. You have to wait 200 chapters for the main couple to kiss for the first time, and at times you see characters and situations being set up.. and then you don’t see them begin to unfold for another 50 chapters!

There’s also a very, very large cast of characters, some of them named only to never properly appear… although that can also be seen as a quality! The novel feels very realistic and profound thanks to this, as allies and antagonists fade in and out of the storyline in accordance to the plot, never overstaying their welcome or standing uselessly in the background of a scene.

The supporting cast is also characterized and explored, even if they don’t stay for long, meaning that every character is inherently interesting. It’s thanks to this length in chapters and depth in characters that the novel gains in worldbuilding and intrigue with each new chapter.

Q : Please tell potential readers why they should not pass by this novel?

Teddy : Not reading Turning means passing by a novel that can and will satisfy anyone!

If you don’t like romance, then you’ll find your happiness in the worldbuilding, magic systems, and political plots.

And if you don’t like worldbuilding, magic systems, and political plots… well, think again! I thought I didn’t like those either before, but reading Turning, I found myself on the edge of my seat with every word. Everything is explained clearly and logically when it comes to intrigue, making it easy to understand and all the more interesting — but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in emotions either! This novel masterfully meshes both plot and character building, making each moment count.

But most importantly, you’ll miss reading the developing relationship between Yuder and Kishiar, which I think is the biggest appeal of all. I’ve never rooted for a couple more in my life. Despite a past together filled with pain, they still manage to be one of the healthiest and most sincere relationships I’ve read in a long time.

So, to whoever is listening, please read Turning. You definitely won’t regret it.

Wow if you read to the end we really appreciate it! Thank you for your attention.

Please read Turning~

#manhwa #novel #turning novel #turning #yaoi bl #Boys love #bl manhwa #bl novel #터닝 #Teoning #Please read turning #Please

[sweet-as-an-angel]

So Dominic does reveal more when it's safe to do so? OKAY, okay, but what if it takes a lot of time for his beloved to come to trust him? What I mean by that is that some people do not care for their loved one's action simply because they favour them. A normally empathetic person could definitely do that. So if it took around... whatever, 3 years let's say, would he be patient enough if he knew it would lead to his object of affection to basically be okay with everything he does(crazy person behaviour, but it's fictional so it's fiNE)? I'm curious. He's willing to do "anything", but that doesn't mean anything his darling would want specifically. It's anything he would do to get to that specific goal. He isn't exactly known to be nice, especially when he views his kids as burdens. So another question that came to mind, if it hasn't been answered already, would be could he change his mind on his kids? If Y/N likes them, and just really likes kids (even more since they're his), would there be some type of affection growing for them if it came from the simple pattern of "The one I like likes this, therefore I like it."?

Sorry for rambling, I can't seem to pinpoint the man, and he always turns out to be even more vicious than the last ask reveals. I really like how you made him out to be, and as depressing (in the sense that he's a cheater, is clearly insensitive, and would fuck his honey's parent just to excite them?? He's disgustingly intimidating) as I find him to be, it feels more realistic. Would love to punch him, 10/10. Plus he's French. And I'm weak. SO TO SUMMARISE, GOOD WORK, THANK YOU THANK YOU UHM (ỌVỌ)

Thank you so much for writing in, my Lovely ! I am eternally grateful for your kindness and your dedication to reading my posts; I can tell you've even read the more niche ones because you know precisely what Dominic's like ^^. To answer your questions:

Yes, Dominic will only reveal his tendencies to a Darling he can trust wholeheartedly. Granted, he will stow away his true self in order to be with you, but being able to let loose and drop his veneer of humanity is...liberating. That being said, he would only do so if he knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that his Darling would not only be okay with it, but actively encourage it. He'll settle for the former, though. He knows not to be pushy when Fate hands him a win.

On the topic of whether Dominic would grow to care about his children if you cared for them...Honestly, Dominic is way past the point of forming connections - true, genuine bonds - with anyone that isn't you. And even then, if it's only his superficial charm you're attracted to, Dominic will wear it constantly, if only to make sure you keep loving him. Even at the cost of his real identity. So, to clarify, Dominic won't truly care for his sons. Not in the way that a normal parent would; rather, he views them as highly valuable assets he can use to keep you close to him. And while he may seem to go above and beyond when protecting them, it's only to ensure you don't fall into some kind of stupour if one or both of them ever came to harm.

If they ever did, Dominic would absolutely use the opportunity to convince you to have a child with him. Either through adoption or traditional means, he'll find a way to tether you to him. And no, he won't care about this child, either. Unless it is biologically yours, then he'd feel some sense of responsibility in taking care of it, but only because it is half of you.

Dominic is, for better or worse, an incredibly complex man whose motives stem from something that transcends the very pinnacles of human vicehood, and I'm so glad to hear that you like the way he is characterised, my Darling ^^ !

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#sweet as an angel #yandere #male yandere #yandere male #original yandere #yandere dilf #yandere dilf x reader #yandere blog #yandere writing

[holyhead-hufflepuff]

not much but enough

LOVE INTEREST X READER

“If you ever looked at me once with what I know is in you, I would be your slave.” - Emily Brontë

warnings: none

"'Mione?" Your voice echoed off the stone classroom walls, harmonizing with the soft crying that rang in stark contrast against the celebratory noise from the Gryffindor tower. "Can I come in?"

"Why ask? I know that you'll come in, wrap into your arms, and reassure me that this heartbreak —this pain— will pass." You slid into the room, your eyes adjusting to the darkness and your heart aching for the brunette sitting on the dusty desk and sobbing. "I'm a fool, you know."

"Aren't we all?" You questioned, sliding onto the desk beside Hermione and placing your arm around her shoulder.

"Not like me," Hermione sniffled, sliding closer to your side and immediately warming you. "How did you know that you were in love?"

"'Mione, don't you think that we should talk about-"

"Please, y/n, I don't want to talk about something I don't understand entirely. I just-I just want to know how to know when you're in love, especially how to know when you're in love with a friend."

"I might not be the person for that," You chuckled, smiling at how fate brought them to you. "It's strange— I can replay all these moments before we fell for each other, but I don't pinpoint when I started to fall for them. We weren't friends for terribly long before, but it seemed like we always gravitated and found each other."

"There was this one time that I remember as clear as day, though. We were sitting in my room studying for the O.W.Ls, and they started telling me facts about Nifflers. It was completely out of the blue, and I don't think I processed anything they said. It made my day regardless; it still makes me smile seeing them passionate over things everyone else overlooks."

"We also didn't have some momentous event that marked the transition from friends to dating. I held their hand the entire time on an outing to Hogsmeade. I could feel their heart racing when I hugged them goodbye, and I just knew they were feeling the nervousness and excitement I was feeling. We talked, and then we were dating. Honestly, I think I'm the worst to explain how to tell when you're falling for someone."

"What does being in love feel like, though?" Hermione had leaned away from you and was wide-eyed as you talked. She held onto your words like a toddler listening to an epic bedtime story about adventure and tragedy.

"Nice?" You laughed at your own words. "I don't know, 'Mione. I guess it feels like someone cares about you in a way that no one else has. They're my first love, so maybe I'm biased, but it feels exactly like the books and movies. I find myself glancing them to make sure they are having fun. My heart still skips beats when they hold my hand in public. My body warms when they touch me. Mostly though, I feel happy. Even with all the horrible things happening in the world, I just feel lucky to have time with them. I don't know if we'll end up together forever or if we'll live out all the fantasies I've made up for us."

"I do know that I love them so truly and deeply that if they were to say they wanted to break up tomorrow, I would be grateful I had two brilliant years with them. It's not much, perhaps, but it's enough."

#harry james potter x reader #george weasley x reader #fred weasley x reader #draco malfoy x reader #neville longbottom x reader #blaise zabini x reader #luna lovegood x reader #ginny weasley x reader #theodore nott x reader #harry potter #fred weasley #george weasley #draco malfoy #neville longbottom #blaise zambini #luna lovegood #ginny weasley #fluff #harry potter fluff #harry potter fanfiction #holyhead hufflepuff

[cowgurrrl]

Hello! Would it be possible to get some rockstar!joel and actrees!reader proposal/wedding stuff? Absolutely in loveee with the story!!

Yesssss!! I’m so excited to write this!! Thank you for the request 🫶

I Want To Marry You

Pairing: rockstar!joel x actress!reader

Author’s note: Dedicated to everyone who ever loved me enough to try again. Let’s get coffee sometime.

Summary: Joel asks you The Question [3.3k]

Warnings: mentions of anxiety, family fluff, things coming full circle, oh god I love them

Joel's been acting weird the past few days. You're not in a fight. You're between projects right now, and he's always plunking music in the home studio. Everybody's healthy and happy. You can't pinpoint exactly why he's being jumpy or disappearing into the garage to take phone calls, but you trust him to tell you if something's happening. Still, it throws you off.

When you tell Carolina about it, she reassures you it's probably nothing. "Maybe he's going to surprise you with a romantic getaway or something like that." She suggests, and you laugh as you fiddle with Daisy's collar. She also seemed to sense the shift in the house because she's gotten especially clingy recently. 

"You have kids. You know how hard it is to get away." You say, shaking your head. 

"Yeah, but my kids are seven and three. Not seventeen and twenty-one." 

"Still! Ellie's in school, and even though Sarah has her own apartment now, I don't like going super far in case she needs one of us. That's why we stagger our schedules like we do." 

"Did your mom worry about you this much when you were twenty-one?" She asks. You laugh because she knows the answer. She knew what you were like in your early twenties, and somebody definitely should've been worrying about you.

"My mom didn't even know what borough I lived in at twenty-one." You say. "It's not a bad thing to want to be close. Do you remember when I dropped a plate and cut my foot open on the broken glass and had to take a cab to the hospital?"

"God, don't remind me." She shudders. Carolina had come home to find your tiny apartment in Hell's Kitchen empty and covered in blood. For exactly twenty seconds, she believed you'd be axe-murdered and dragged away by the killer until you called her and told her what happened, resulting in a ten-minute-long conversation about how many people in Manhattan realistically own axes. 

"All I'm saying is I don't want Sarah to be bleeding out in the back of a stranger's car if Joel or I can be there instead."

"You worry too much." She says. "But, then again, all the best moms do."

"Not their mom." You say quickly as if she’d thrown you a ticking bomb and you’re trying to pass it right back to her.

"Yeah, but you're the closest thing they have to one."

"That's true, but I don't want to put that kind of pressure on the girls. They shouldn't have to call me anything they don't want to, and I'm not going to replace their moms."

"Of course not, honey, and nobody would accuse you of doing that, but you'd be lying to yourself if you said you didn't love those girls like they're your own."

"I know." You sigh. "I just worry."

"I know you do." She says. Carolina has been there for all your worrying over the years. Worrying about how you were gonna pay rent, when your next job would come in, and whatever stupid boy you were seeing at the moment. She knows how to calm you down and take your mind off things. "Why don't you get out of the little worry hole you've dug yourself into and come with me and the girls to get our nails done? It'll be fun, and you'll get to hang out with your goddaughters." 

"When?"

"Tomorrow?" She says, and you mentally flip through your calendar. 

"I think I can do tomorrow. Send me a time and place, and I'll be there." You say as the front door opens and closes. You furrow your brows and walk to the top of the stairs to see what's happening. A smiley face greets you with a wave, and you hurriedly hang up on Carolina.

"Sarah! What are you doing here, bug?" You ask as you rush down the stairs to hug her. Joel beams as he watches you embrace her for several long seconds, not pulling away until she does.

"Just missed y'all." She mumbles into your shoulder, and you kiss her temple. She's twenty minutes up the road, but it feels like a lifetime away. 

"Sarah!" Ellie yells and joins in on your hug without hesitation. The three of you dissolve into a fit of giggles, and Joel just stands there, watching the madness unfold. Joel has never been good at hiding his emotions, and you've always been good at reading him like a book. The look he gives you and the girls is full of love and pride and something deeper, something more meaningful. You raise an arm to pull him into the group hug, and he pretends to be annoyed, but he snuggles in with the three of you, kissing each of your foreheads. 

You spend the night making dinner and chocolate chip cookies with the girls and Joel (and Daisy ever so graciously cleaning up the remnants of a food fight Joel started) before curling up on the couch with them and watching a movie. It's just like every other time you've sat and watched whatever movie the girls have been dying to see, but as you rest against Joel's chest, something pricks in your brain. This feels different. He feels different. His hands run a nervous course from your shoulder to your wrist, and his head occasionally dips to kiss at the juncture of your neck. It's like he can't sit still. 

"You okay?" You whisper, glancing at him. He gives you a confused look but nods anyway.

"Why wouldn't I be?" 

"I don't know. I'm probably just anxious for no reason." You shrug. He pulls you close and kisses your temple, keeping you close as the movie continues. At the end of the night, Joel carries both the girls to bed even though he's forty-three and could've let them sleep on the couch. You didn't tell him this, of course, because who are you to pull him back from Dad Mode? So, you cautiously walk in front of him, kicking stray clothes or backpacks out of the way so he doesn't trip. Once Sarah and Ellie are safely tucked into bed, Joel scoops you up by your waist and throws you over his shoulder to carry you into your shared bedroom. 

You laugh the whole way in, and when he plops you down on the bed, you wrap your legs around his waist and keep him close. Your fingers reach up to tug the necklace out from under his shirt collar and play with the pendant as he stares at you.

"What're you thinking about?" You ask.

"Thinking bout us." He says, and you raise your eyebrows at him.

"Oh, do tell."

"We've been together a long time." 

"Sick of me already?" You ask, making him laugh, but he shakes his head and kisses you, traces of chocolate and cinnamon lingering on his lips. 

"Never." He says. "I was just thinkin' bout it." Technically, it's true. You guys have been together for a while. This year, it'll almost be four years since you walked into that office in Beverly Hills and met him. You remember thinking you would finish out the contract and never see him again. Little did you know Joel Miller would become the man making you dinner most nights and carrying you off to bed. Or that he'd throw you the best thirtieth birthday party in the history of birthday parties. Or that you'd move in with him and his daughters. Or that you'd love him more than you've ever loved anyone. 

"It's weird to think I went so long without knowing you." You mumble, your hold on him tightening like you're scared he'll fade away if you don't cling to him. He rests his forehead against yours, sensing your anxiety spiking, and you're overwhelmed by him. Your legs are still locked around his waist, and your chests are touching, the points of contact sending little butterflies fluttering through your veins. You can't see, taste, feel, or smell anything that isn't Joel.

"'M not goin' anywhere." He says, and you nod. "Ever."

"I'm gonna hold you to that, Miller." You joke, trying to ease your brain out of your spiraling and lighten the air between you two. He laughs, and the room brightens as he does. 

"Do your worst, darlin'." 

When you wake up the next morning, Joel isn't there. You reach for him and find a piece of paper on his cold pillow. How long has he been gone? How the fuck did you sleep through him rolling out of your arms? You squint in the early morning sun as you read the note.

You sigh and grumble into your pillow. What kind of psychopath runs errands at nine in the morning? The kind of psychopath you love, that's who. You lay in the too-big bed for a few more minutes before finally getting up and checking your phone. Carolina has texted you with the address of a nail salon and told you to meet her at eleven, but other than that, your phone is radio silent. Not that you're complaining, but normally you're bombarded with notifications from when you wake up to when you go to bed. It's nice, if not a little unnerving, to not have five million people to respond to the first thing in the morning.

When you walk downstairs, you expect to see Sarah and Ellie sitting at the table and eating, but no one's there. You call for the girls, but the only person who responds is Daisy, who dances in front of you. You crouch down to pet her and give her good morning kisses. "Just us today, huh?" You ask, a little sad, but nobody is more excited about one-on-one time quite like Daisy Mae. You give Daisy breakfast before letting her run around the backyard and making yourself something to eat.

You scroll aimlessly through your phone until it's time to leave and meet Carolina and the girls at the nail salon. Elizabeth and Victoria launch themselves at you the second they catch sight of you, and you spend the better half of your appointment with a child on your lap and listening to the latest drama from Elizabeth's first-grade classroom. You have the girls help pick out what color to paint your nails, and they each land on a pretty ballet slipper pink. "Good taste, guys," you praise as you show the nail technician what color you want. "Just like your mama, huh?"

"I mean, I wasn't gonna say it," Carolina says, and you laugh. Caro, like usual, is right about needing to take some time for yourself to stop worrying. You can actually relax in the big, plush chairs and talk to the girls like nothing could be more important than what they had for breakfast. Carolina hugs you tighter than normal at the end of your appointment and says she'll see you later before ushering the girls into their car seats. You barely have time to react before she's driving away like nothing happened. 

Did you make plans with her and forget about them? It's happened before, so you wouldn't be overly surprised if it happened again. But if that's the case, why didn't she say anything? You shake your head as if it'll shake out all your racing thoughts and get in your car to drive home. When you pull into the driveway, everyone's cars are back where they belong, and you selfishly get really excited about seeing them. Except, the exact second you step through the door, Joel is putting Daisy's harness on her and has his running shoes on.

"Where are you going?" You ask, your mood dropping at seeing him ready to leave again. He looks up and smiles despite the pout on your lips.

"There you are! We were waiting on you so we could take Daisy for a walk." He says, breathless as he wrestles with your pitbull. You look past Joel and see Sarah and Ellie standing there with shoes and sunglasses on. 

"We really need four people for a dog walk?" 

"I wanted to show the girls the new route along the beach we found." He says. "Is that okay?" You nod.

"We just might look crazy, but, of course! Let me change my shoes!" You call as you take the stairs two at a time to get up to your bedroom. You decide to wear the pink tennis shoes to match your cute pink nails before ambling back downstairs and walking out the door. When you first rescued Daisy, she didn't let anyone but you hold her leash. However, after years spent with Joel and the girls, she can be walked by just about anyone as long as you're there. She's as much of your comfort dog as you are her comfort person.

Taking your hand in his, Joel walks Daisy with the other and swings your hands through the air as Sarah and Ellie walk behind you. It's a little silly, but you'll take all the affection after waking up without anyone else in the house. Slowly, the five of you make your way toward the sound of the crashing waves and the smell of salt in the air. The cliffs hang ominously above the empty beach and boardwalks, but you love it. You once told Joel when you walk out this far, it feels like you're the only person around. Something about being near the water makes you feel even better. A pop of color near the sidewalk catches your attention, and you break off from your little ragtag group to see what it is.

"Joel, come look at this." You say, leaning over the rope to look down at the wildflowers dancing on the cliffside. It's gorgeous, and the wind perfectly balances the blistering hot day, but he doesn't immediately appear at your side like he normally would. You furrow your brows and turn to see him down on one knee with a ring in his hand. Your breath catches in your throat, and you immediately cover your mouth with your hand. Joel smiles with watery eyes as he reaches for the other and pulls you close to him. 

"Did you know about this?" You look past Joel to see Ellie and Sarah standing there, Daisy's leash wrapped around Ellie's wrist as Sarah records on her phone, and they laugh. Their smiles and teary eyes are all the confirmation you need, and you look back down at Joel. "Is this why you've been acting so weird?" You ask, and he laughs.

"Yeah, this is why I've been actin' so weird," he says. His Adam's apple bobs as he says your name and your legs shake under you. "I love you, and I fall more in love with you every single day. There's not a single moment I've spent with you where I've not wondered what the fuck you see in me." He's crying now, but you can't stop the laughter from bubbling out from your chest. He squeezes your hand and takes a deep breath before continuing. "And you don't just love me, but you love my girls. You make them feel safe and cared for. You've given them somethin' I've been tryin' and failin' to give them for years, and I will spend the rest of my days tryna repay you for that."  

"Will you marry me?" He finally asks, and you sniffle. Tears stain everyone's face, and even Daisy is crying next to Ellie, and you'd laugh if you could see past the tears in your eyes. You nod and drop to your knees with Joel.

"Yes." You say as you grab his face and kiss him. "Yes. Yes. Yes. Of course, I'll marry you." You repeat over and over again as his arms lock around your waist. Sarah and Ellie cheer, suddenly no longer annoyed at your PDA, and you smile against Joel's lips. He adjusts his hold on you to give you a good look at the ring for the first time, and all your breath leaves you in a huff. It's gorgeous. A simple oval-shaped diamond on a gold band with an engraving on the inside. 

"What does this say?" You ask, and he smiles as he holds it so you can read it. You immediately start crying when you read and realize what it means. He wrote inside your engagement ring, "And one day, we'll get coffee & try again." You said it to him before you left for Ireland when your heart was broken, and you didn't know the future could ever be this soft. He slips it onto your left ring finger and gathers you in his arms, both of you still on the ground and crying like crazy people. You don't care. You hold him so tight you almost miss him whispering into your skin.

"Thank you for trying again with me." He says. Ellie, Sarah, and Daisy join in on your crying in the middle of the sidewalk huddle, and you're completely surrounded by love. After a few minutes, you calm down enough to stand and kiss Joel again, making people cheer from the beach below. When you look over the rope, down to where the wildflowers are, you can see a group of your favorite people on the beach. They must've been hidden until Joel could propose, and now they're all making their joy well known with hoots and hollers. 

Joel holds your hand as the girls lead the way down to the beach, where there's a makeshift bar and picnic set up with a giant banner reading "CONGRATULATIONS" with a little ring in the middle. "This is what the errands were this morning," Joel tells you quietly, and you smile. 

"You're pretty good at keeping secrets, Miller."

"Not really. Everyone here knew I was proposing before you did," he says, and you laugh. "Besides, I'd watch it with the Miller thing considering you're becomin' one." 

"I guess that's true." You sigh happily as Ryan ambushes you, picking you up in his arms and spinning you around. You squeal until he puts you back down and immediately demands to see your ring. Carolina comes up behind him as you show him, her eyes popping out of her head at the sight.

"Damn, Joel!" She exclaims, and Joel laughs. 

"Only the best for my bride." He says. My bride. It rings in your head like a bell, echoing through your mind like gospel. You look around at the faces of everyone you've ever loved. Your manager, Sierra, and her partner, Bianca, are talking with Lili and Peter. Sarah and Ellie are running up and down the beach with Daisy, Elizabeth, and Victoria, struggling to keep up. Hank and Lucia patiently wait their turn at the bar next to Tommy and Maria. Your beauty team, Alexa and Jenna, laugh together as they talk to a handful of other costars they've also worked with. The beach is crawling with family, both of origin and found, and you wouldn't want it any other way. 

As you make your rounds with Joel on your arm, showing off your ring and trying not to cry as people tell you how happy they are for you, you wish you could show your past self this moment. The girl who packed up all her shit and moved across the world after breaking up with the love of her life. The girl who spent countless nights crying herself to sleep and going to therapy and trying to create a better life for herself. The girl who almost backed out of a coffee date three years ago because she was so scared the man on the other side of the table wouldn't like what he found. You wish she could see this and know she did the right thing. You wish she knew things ended up okay. You wish she knew she got to try again, and it changed her entire life. Wherever she is, you hope she knows she did good.

"What're you thinkin' bout?" Joel whispers in your ear as he hands you a glass of champagne. You smile and shake your head.

"Just… someone I used to know."

#one for the money two for the show #rockstar!joel x actress!reader #rockstar!joel miller x actress!reader #rockstar!joel #tlou au #the last of us au #the last of us fluff #tlou fluff #joel miller au #joel miller fic #joel miller fluff #joel miller series #joel miller x reader #joel miller the last of us

[arttrampbelle]

Shang tsung isn't evil but a product of corruption and the environment that surrounds him. He's not evil in the sense of black n white thinking of morality. Especially from a western,psuedo Christian American perspective that so many people wanna shoehorn him into. (No shade here but im calling it like i see it nrs)

How is he evil when everyone in mortal kombat kills?

Also shao kahn quan chi and shinnok has arguably done worse

And even more so he's worked more with them,and under them(shao Kahn namely) and had no choice but to follow orders. Namely some things sure were aligned in benefit. But truly can you really argue that it was all his doing? No to say so is ignorant and undermining the other villains and antagonists of the series and their own contributions to the story narrative in opposition of protags and other characters.

The most evil is those who hide behind self righteousness and say they are for peace when they are being manipulated by promises of a better realm or timeline(cough fire god liu kang. COUGH)

Like nah guys mk12/mk1 don't make sense even for the narrative they are trying to pull. Shang is wonderful but yall missed the point even tho the storymode sucks and everything about it makes me nauseous, shang tsung shines thru because of what he represents. The story,It falls through the crack simply because of the fact

In mortal kombats chaotic and cruel world. You kill or be killed. You do what it takes to survive. Or be food for the gods. As you are nothing but entertainment for them.

Everyone kills in mortal kombat. So shang tsung killing means fucking nothing and is a moot point. He does it,everyone does it,how is he truly any different than anyone at that point. Thru mortal kombat,a supposedly Divine system,he's doing exactly what he's supposed to be doing. And what his character is designed to do. Period. So killing,moot point and argument.

Im not talking about. MK12/MK1 specifically. Tho that grinds my gears for many other reasons. Im talking shang tsung,overall as a whole as a character thru the 30+yrs the games and mk has been around. These are common arguments for that shang is "tHe EVil OnE" when there's no such thing in mks world. Truly. It's posturing and posing flowery words at that point. Period.

Stealing souls? He has to,to survive. He is cursed by the very gods and mentors that once swore to protect him. But did nothing.

Climbing for power? He does so because he wishes not to rule over. But so he doesn't have to worry about going to bed hungry,to suffer. He wants stability,comfort,and most of all security. A thing that long ago was robbed of him.

See you can't say shit about my man without having many reasons why he's not.

Could he be evil,nasty,and dowright fucking cruel? Oh you bet your ass he could. But does he enjoy it? Not really. He takes no pleasure unless it's out of necessity or you're considered an enemy.

He is no different than a hungry hunter. Trying to find his next meal or the next place of dwelling. Until he finds his true place of being and achieves a stable life.

Like ffs people it's right fucking there fine print and that still,STILL GOES OVER YOUR HEADS!

Like y'all who don't understand nuanced villains WANT him to be stereotypical,y'all want him to be easy to pinpoint. Because that means you dont get to critique your beloved "Heroic" characters. And use your brains,and critically think that maybe,just fucking maybe. Your nice dudes were wrong for once.

In mortal kombats world (if you can call it that because the world building sucks)

It's kill or be killed. Morality be damned. Shang tsung found that out long ago. Hiding behind morals in a world that could care less than about you. Gods that only see you as food,throw away entertainment,etc.

He may have respect for someone who despite all that crap,has some moral backbone. But isn't blind to the truth,it's survival. Dont be a pushover boot licking lapdog. As long as you don't hide behind your self righteousness and "goody goody" attitude. He'll respect that you have a noble heart. In fact,that may make him actually enjoy your company. But dont be a condescending jackass about your morals. And he'll be fine.

Shang tsung is just playing the game that the world is built upon. The rules,the gods,the empires,have made. And plays them well into his advantage.

And y'all pissed he plays it better than you. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

That my dears is a truly well done villain,antagonist,and just a beautifully complex character.

That's how you do or are supposed to do shang tsung. Period.

*slams hand down on table and leaves*

🔥💯🔥

#mortal kombat #shang tsung #mini vent #shang tsung mortal kombat #shang tsung mk11 #mk11 shang tsung

[sleepanonymous]

Hi, I was wondering if you knew when Vessel started 'dancing' on stage? I'm pretty sure he started doing in in the late Sundowning-ish era/ TPWBYT era but I thought you'd probably be the best person to ask about finding videos from when he started dancing.

Oooh this is an interesting rabbit hole, thanks for asking Anon 🖤

So... I guess it depends on what you mean by dancing, because Vessel has always sort of moved on stage, you know? But what he did back then and what he's doing now is completely different. Like... maybe a better word for what he used to do is "writhing." The earliest video of a ritual I've seen of Sleep Token's was their third ritual in (what I'm assuming is) late 2017, and "writhing" is probably the best word for what Vessel was doing on stage (and I say that affectionately/respectfully).

TLDR; Conclusively I would say Vessel started dancing, as we see him dance on stage today, in the summer of 2022. He's always moved on stage, and even acted unhinged during Sleep Token's earlier rituals. Below the cut, I go through rituals on YouTube from 2018-2023 to try and pinpoint exactly when Vessel started dancing like we see currently in 2023. (I went through quite a few videos, most not even mentioned in this monster of a post, so I made a YouTube playlist here).

A great example of Vessel's early "writhing" dancing is this YouTube video of Nazareth from the 2018 Leeds Festival (he's also an absolute menace here!! He steps on III, he didn't paint his waist or his back, and he strangles and spits on the original OG IV. Like... the man had demons and I am here for them). The dancing that's most similar to current times starts around 2:37 and 3:40.

2019 is impossible to find good videos for lol, since they did most of their rituals for the Beautiful Oblivion tour as an opener and, apparently, nobody films openers. But there are some with decent audio quality from ArcTanGent (my favorite being The Offering). Interestingly, he's less animated, still writhing, but not a menace to the rest of the band while doing so. If anyone is even slightly photosensitive please don't watch these ArcTanGent videos, the lighting effects really didn't agree with the camera's shutter speed.

This is a video of Higher from December 2019. The sound is not as crisp, and the videographer is quite a bit further from the stage, but Vessel is still moving, especially towards the end. The breakdown starts around 2:15, and while III and OG IV are definitely more animated than Vessel, he's still dancing with them. He even jumps down to scream the end of the song at the barrier (and has a mini-wardrobe malfunction) at 2:39. That crowd was really feeling it and so was Vessel.

Because of the plague in 2020, all of Sleep Token's shows were in January. Vessel's behaviour was very similar to the video posted above (just with less crowd interaction). The first show they played in 2021 was the Download Pilot. This is the best audio quality of that show, and Vessel also moves/dances the most in this video, though it's toward the end around 2:31, where the videographer forgot they were filming and just started vibing, so it's really hard to see, lol. I don't blame them, but it's also shakycam to the max. (Also, a quick fun fact, this is the first show the band played with our current IV as far as I can tell.)

This is another video from 2021, but from Sleep Token's TPWBYT rituals tour. It's Hypnosis, and in the very beginning, we see some Floor Vessel, which is neat and reminiscent of the most recent NA rituals, before he does some of his usual writing, though quite a bit more animated. Around 4:06 you can see the writing again, but after 4:19 it morphs into what we've seen from more recent rituals. (Also, if anyone wants a full 70-minute video of this show, filmed from the center of the balcony looking down on the stage, you can watch it here. Some parts have major flashing, so just be careful).

Here's another video of Hypnosis, this time from September 2022. Here, finally, we see Vessel's current version of dancing, hops and arm flails included. It starts right when the song kicks in at 0:13, and he does it again at the end, around 4:29. Technically they did a UK tour with the Architects in May (see this video of The Offering at 3:50) and an Australian tour in June 2022 with Northlane (again, see this video of The Offering at 0:20, 1:37), with similar behaviour from Vessel, but that BRRF Hypnosis video is the first video I ever watched of Sleep Token live so it's very dear to me and it's also better sound quality than anything I could find from earlier in the year.

I went way overboard with answering this question, Anon, but it was super fun, so thank you again for asking 🖤🙏 Again, I made a playlist of all the videos + several others. If anyone has any recommendations for me to add to the playlist, send the links my way (especially if they aren't The Offering or Hypnosis lol) and I'll add them in chronological order.

#asks #answered #sleep token #vessel sleep token #vessel #sleepanon rant #i blew this ask way out of proportion #so sorry anon #if i had the ability to gif this would be a much better post lol #also would anyone be interested in that video of ritual iii? #it's literally a minute long screen recording of someone else's video of nazareth #but still interesting to watch

[shanesbluechicken]

The bachelors with a selkie partner? (gn)

The farmer is a selkie (Elliott, Harvey, Shane)

The selkie, also called the seal people, the sea people or the mermaid – a selkie is a marine legend that tells of people who are half fish, and half-human. In the water, they are seals, but on land, they shed their skin and take on human form. And for some reason, they are irresistible to ordinary humans, who are apt to fall in love with the seal people.

I had way too much fun with Shane :'D

TW: heavy language, mentions of alcohol

Gender: neutral

Elliott

That man is basically the Wikipedia of mythology AND he lives at the beach. It doesn't take him long to figure you out.

The first time you met it felt like lightning struck him when he laid his eyes upon you. Nothing and no one could match your beauty and you better believe him when he says that. Elliott has seen countless of beautiful things in his search for inspiration for his stories and yet nothing compares to you.

He definitely let's you know that and immediately recites a poem he once wrote.

But not only are you absolutely stunning, you're kind and humble as well, giving him magnificent inspiration for the hero in his new novel.

Shortly after your arrival in Pelican Town, he starts spotting a seal at the beach. It confuses him a bit since he's never seen one of those around these shores and to make it even stranger, that seal seems so incredibly familiar too. He can't exactly pinpoint what it is, but he knows it's there.

As I said, it doesn't take long for him to put 1 and 1 together. Especially not after looking around the beach and finding the seal's skin.

Now, it's common in the stories for the human to take the skin as soon as they find it, but Elliott decides against it. It doesn't feel right to take what's yours.

But he does back off for a couple days to think about a good way to approach you regarding this. You obviously want to keep it a secret otherwise the entire town would know by now and ambushing you is the last thing he wants to do. The fact that he feels pretty guilty for knowing something so private about you is just the cherry on top. He feels like je wronged you.

You of course notice his absence and how he's practically avoiding you. Worried that you might have done something to upset him, you decide to pay him a visit and right the wrongs.

Now Elliott has no other choice than to confess his knowledge to you. What he doesn't expect though is your relieved sigh and the way your entire body relaxes.

"I'm so glad that someone finally knows. It's tough to keep your identity only to yourself sometimes, you know?"

"I understand and you don't have to worry. I will stay silent."

The sweet smile you give him, makes him fall for you all over again.

He offers to keep your skin in his house, because if he found it then it's just a matter of time until another resident stumbles upon it as well.

He even shows you a secret spot for you to put on your skin and take a dive into the ocean as he watches you from afar. The adoration on his face is as clear as the sky and he doesn't even think about hiding it.

Harvey

A mess when he meets you. Don't get me wrong, he is a grown man who knows how to keep his composure around attractive people. He doesn't run around, screaming, giggling and blushing of course. But you're on a whole other level. Running, screaming and giggling might not be part of the progeam, but the blushing surely is.

It's just that he has never met anyone THIS beautiful and he tries so hard to stay professional during your doctor visits.

Keeps telling himself that you're just a patient, but can you blame him for losing his focus whenever you bless him with a sweet smile? Or when you slightly lean over, because you can't understand a word of his stuttering and a strand of your hair falls over your gorgeous face? Or when you say his name with your alluring voice?

Maru made it a habit to teases him slightly everytime you leave the clinic.

One day though you pass out infront of the mines. The exhaustion from carrying countless of stones and defending yourself against all sorts of creatures finally caught up to you and as soon as the fresh air hits your face, your legs give in and darkness consumes you.

Next thing you know you're being greeted by bright LED lights and the familiar walls of the clinic. Harvey enters the room, his eyes narrowed in both concentration and confusion as he's fixating a document in his hands.

"So we've made some tests..."

By now your heart is pounding so fast that you're afraid it might pop out of your chest and fear settles in. You've been avoiding this day since you first arrived here, because you KNOW. You know that no test result will match up with the ones of a normal human and that Harvey will notice it.

"It must be a flaw in the system, because this doesn't make any since. We need to repeat the tests, if you don't mind."

"Harvey."

You can't hide the desperation and fear in your lovely voice which gets his immediate attention. The poor man is basically fighting the urge to pull you into a comforting hug, his eyes big with worry.

It takes all your courage to confess your secret to him and much to your surprise he handles it very well. There are still doubts rising in the depth of his mind since he has never seen something or someone from mythology, nor has he heard of someone else witnessing such a thing.

These doubts vanish though as soon as you start feeling comfortable enough taking him to the beach with you. He loves watching you dive through the waves.

Shane

If there is something he hates more than meeting new people then it's crushing on new people.

He only sees a figure approaching him in the corner of his eye and he pretends to not notice it, groaning internally when said figure blocks his path. A curse is already forming on his tongue, but he quickly swallows it, practically choking on it, when he looks up at you.

You're an angel. This could not have gone any worse for him.

"What do you want?"

An outsider might assume he is simply acting rude, but if you look inside you can see that he actually meant the question. Shane genuinely can't comprehend why someone as divine as YOU would willingly walk up someone as messy as HIM. Especially today when he didn't have the time to jump into the shower to get rid of the smell of yesterday's booze. He can't stand the fact that he cares what you think about him, can't stand the fact that he wants to leave a decent first impression.

But if you'd mind it then you're not showing it, your bright smile staying on your face as if you couldn't be happier about meeting him. Weirdo.

And that scenario repeats itself on a regular basis. Days turn into weeks and Shane has given up. His attempts of pushing you away don't work at all, on the contrary they seem to make you even more interested in him. It has gotten to a point where he greets you with a smile. Okay, a half smile and only on his good days.

One afternoon after his shift he is being surprised by Jas and Vincent who were waiting for him and Sam infront of JojaMart, rambling about some seal they saw at the beach. Shane doesn't feel like going, the urge to have a drink at the saloon pulling at him, but the wish to make his goddaughter happy prevails. This time.

Now he is finding himself covering behind the leaves and branches of a bush, knee high in dirt and looking down a cliff at the ocean.

"We can't scare the seal so stay hidden."

Sure. If there even is one. He has never heard of seals around this area and especially not around this time of the year.

"There it is!"

"Holy shi-"

He is able to bite his tongue in time. Shane has enough decency to not swear infront of the kids.

But holy shit, there actually is a seal. After a few seconds it disappears between the waves and the entire group exchanges excited and shocked looks with each other. He has to admit that that thing was absolutely adorable.

Eyes still locked onto the sea, he doesn't notice the other three walking off, their voices slowly becoming more quiet as they're leaving. Then he spots it. Or should I say, YOU.

"What the fuck?"

Why is the seal going on land?

"What the FUCK?"

Is it taking off it's SKIN?!

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

You're the seal?!

He doesn't believe his eyes, doesn't want to believe his eyes. He must still be drunk from yesterday right? No, that can't be it, he hasn't felt anything besides his usual hangover and even that is fading away.

Of course you overheard his yelling, knowing fully well that your secret has been lifted. So now you're rushing up to the bushes and catch Shane the second he was about to head to the saloon and handle this situation the way he handles everything. With a couple drinks.

"You're-"

"Shut the fuck up."

The man freezes upon hearing your harsh words, but not because he is hurt. He has simply never heard you talk like that before and he can't deny that he kinda likes it.

You basically force him to accompany you to his farm and explain everything to him. Shane of course tries to be somewhat patient and understand, but you can't get much out of him except an occasional "what the fuck".

He swears to keep it to himself though and if you'd just look a bit more closely you'd see how happy is about the fact that you're trusting him with this. Shane can be an asshole often times, but he is the most loyal person on earth.

Masterlist

#sdv #stardew valley #sdv shane #stardew shane #sdv shane x reader #sdv elliott #sdv elliot x reader #sdv harvey x reader #harvey sdv #sdv harvey #sdv x reader #stardew x reader #stardew shane x reader #stardew harvey x reader #stardew elliott #stardew elliott x reader

[meimi-haneoka]

Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card Chapter 75: Comments + JP-ENG translation differences

Hellooooo everyone! Welcome back to my post with the commentary and translation differences for Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card! We finally reached chapter 75!!! I'm glad to inform you all that even this month we didn't have any major (or even little) discrepancy between the ENG and JP versions, there's just some nuance here and there but nothing really impacting the correct understanding of this chapter.

Moreover, we still don't have any announcement for the last chapter of Clear Card, neither on the color spread nor in the editorial text at the end of the chapter (where usually the place for them to advertise stuff related to the next release is). We didn't even get an announcement on the twitter account...

Therefore, I'm confident enough to say that Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card Arc won't be over in chapter 76, and they might really keep going till chapter 77 (double 7, lucky CLAMP number!). I know that this month we don't have translation mistakes, but if you still want to read my ramblings about some very important themes in Clear Card, then look at the gif of the month and follow me under the cut!! 😂

(my friends of a certain Discord server will be happy to see this gif, hahah)

The Color Page

The color spread this time is very special, not only because it gives us the opportunity to see the color scheme of ✨The Outfits✨ of the finale for both Sakura and Syaoran, but because there's an additional surprise too! Let's start with the color scheme, which as I strongly anticipated is the same of the costumes for the Alice in Clockland play (white - black - golden). Not only that, but also the poses and elements of the color spread are basically rehashing the color spread of chapter 64!

I absolutely loved this parallel. Especially because you can clearly see some kind of "the situation is very different now" message behind it. If Sakura looked somehow "lost" in the color page of chapter 64, she now looks confident, resolute, she gives off the aura of "leave it to me, I'll make things right!" and I really love it. I love this Sakura who's in charge because she finally found herself and what she wants to do with her powers: helping a beloved one finding her true smile again by bringing back the most important person to her! Syaoran is still looking cool, determined and serious (as opposed to 'snobby' before, but are we really sure that the one in ch. 64 was Syaoran? and not Kaito? 😂the absence of the body -which now is fully visible in the color spread of ch. 75- kinda suggests that that one wasn't the real Syaoran). The clock and clock gears of ch. 64 are now replaced, still in the very same position, by cool metallic elements, Kaito's pocket watch and a big Moon. Precisely the protagonists of this chapter! Now that I listed all the things I liked about this color page, I have also to point out that their expressions kinda look "weird" or "off-model" to me. I can't pinpoint exactly what's wrong, but it's something about the eyes: the irises are probably bigger or darker than usual. Not a big deal, anyway.

Off we go!

We start the chapter immediately explaining the big question that arised at the end of chapter 74: if this is a rewritten world and the Clear Cards have disappeared (and Sakura didn't have any recollection of them), what is the Dream Wand doing there? Kero asks about it and Sakura explains that when she went to open the jewelry box (remember it? It appeared in the very first chapter of Clear Card, and Sakura placed both the hairpin she received from Yukito as a present and the Star Key in there) before going to Yukito's house, she found another key together with the Star one. Sakura thinks that this key is the one that existed in their world before it was rewritten, and Kero can distinctly feel Sakura's power coming from it. Sakura agrees and says that for this reason, this time she'll be going with this wand.

So the Dream Key also survived the rewriting. Makes sense, it either survived on its own (and somehow ended up in the box) or Sakura must have left it at home in the box before the play, probably sensing something and listening to her magic intuition (that got even more refined in the latest period).

Tomoyo intervenes saying that the earcuffs of their outfits are actually transmitters: Sakura and Syaoran can communicate among eachother of course, but also send back audio and video to her device. Nakuru can't help but marvel at the hi-tec device and Tomoyo proudly announces that this is one of the hottest items of Daidouji Toys!! It made me smile to read that company's name again here in the finale, it really feels like tugging at our nostalgic heartstrings (because honestly Daidouji Toy's devices were the coolest thing in the old series!). Sakura can't really help but agree that this is a very special outfit, just like Tomoyo told her! Sakura does something that left me a bit speechless for a second: she summons the Fly Card using the Dream Wand! How cool is that? After all, the Dream Wand is still made of Sakura's power, so it really doesn't change much and she can use the Sakura Cards (also reborn under her power) with that magic tool too! Back with the Clow Cards there was a problem because the wand was made out of Sakura's power, but the Cards were still under Clow's, so that's why she had to make them be reborn under her name. Here we don't have this kind of problem anymore! Sakura supplies Syaoran with a cool pair of wings, and here I really have to say it: fandom, you complained so much about Kaito rewinding time and "erasing" cool winged Syaoran, and CLAMP heard you! Now you can have him back! 😂😂😂Honestly this one made me smile so much because I wondered if they felt guilty about that scene, or they simply had planned to revive it anyway since the beginning 😂I clearly remember Ohkawa said in one of their Spaces that they received quite a number of complaints about that particular scene 😆 Kero asks Sakura why she gave the Fly Card to Syaoran, and what she's going to do for herself: Sakura answers that Momo (how cute, she calls her Momo-san, just like that one time they met back in chapter 49 ❤️) told her that there are still Cards around that didn't disappear, and they used to help her before the world was rewritten (little difference in the ENG version: they made her say "they were by my side").

That said, she confidently calls for the FLIGHT CARD and the cute bow that we learned to love along the series appears on her back, all excited and affectionate like usual! Sakura thanks her for waiting for her and I found that so sweet....this is another one of those scenes that I feel like are catering to the fandom's wishes and preferences, since I've seen countless of disappointed/worried comments during the past months about Flight disappearing along with the other Clear Cards, and this is something that even CLAMP talked about (again in one of their Spaces) so they definitely were aware of it. Eriol and Kaho comment from England, impressed but nonetheless confirming that the Card definitely is made out of Sakura's power, just like the magic circle that appeared under Sakura when she used it (of course it's different from the one that appeared when she used Fly). Sakura walks to Akiho and as I imagined from what she said last chapter, she asks her to let her borrow the precious pocket watch for a while.

Akiho of course agrees. I loved the emphasis they gave to the "handover" of the watch, because it enhances the perception of how important that item is. Akiho is entrusting to Sakura literally the one and last thing she's got left of her most important person, whom she's missing terribly, and the fact that she's willing to separate from it and entrust it to Sakura just goes to show how much she believes in her. And the "handover" is watched carefully by everyone with a smile on their faces.

It's time. Sakura and Syaoran are all ready to go, not before saying "We'll be going, then (See you later)". A word I always loved from Japanese language is 行ってきます, ittekimasu, a word used to announce that you're leaving, but in the same word is also hidden the promise that you'll be back. And I think there's no other word that her loved ones, particularly Akiho, need to hear from her right now. I also love to bits the expression she's having while she says it. Confidence in the shape of a young girl ❤️

Convey your feelings

So off they go, high in the sky, with the big moon in the background and Kaito's pocket watch held tightly in Sakura's hand. Sakura takes the chance to thank Syaoran for coming with her. Her unwavering, loyal beloved boyfriend. He'd never leave her alone, facing something unknown and possibly dangerous like this one. And he takes the chance of their current privacy to thank her too: slightly embarrassed, with a sweet smile, he's grateful to her for saying that he's her most important person, shortly ago. ❤️ This is another thing that I've heard many people being slightly disappointed about last month, the fact they hadn't shown Syaoran's reaction after Sakura said that, and in one of the answers to my asks I said that I would've found it rather inappropriate if Syaoran and Sakura had that kind of conversation and started to be a lovey-dovey mess in front of a person who had just found out that the pain she's been feeling all along was because she was missing her own most important person, but not only that, also that her memories, family and all of her world had been rewritten, it was all a lie. Someone's world is literally crumbling under their feet and I didn't think it was the right moment to show a romantic scene between those two right in front of her. Thankfully CLAMP had already in mind to move that kind of conversation to later on. And since they work on 1/2 chapters ahead of what's been published, they were probably already drawing that scene before chapter 74 was even out.

Sakura, unrestrainable by now in her self-confidence, says something really precious that I'd say is my favorite line of the entire chapter:

JP: "When I've found out that this world had been rewritten, I've thought about it. If there's something I want to say, I have to spell it out. Even if the important words we say were to be rewritten, it's not like they'd be erased, because they'd be staying in our hearts"

Sakura understands that if she wants to make sure that her "important words", her feelings will STAY even after a major rewriting like that, she needs to spell them out. Remember Tomoyo, in the old series? "No feeling will come across if you don't say it aloud". And so in this way Sakura is making sure that the person who hears it will remember it even against the strongest of magic, because those words will never disappear totally. The brain might forget, but the heart doesn't. Syaoran of course agrees with that sentiment. And I really want to say that I think this same concept will be of utmost importance in reuniting Kaito and Akiho too. Their bond, their shared memories, the time spent together, the words that were said (Akiho worked so hard towards the end of the 'old world' to convey her feelings to Kaito in a way that wouldn't scare him), all of that surely stayed inside their hearts and it's only waiting for the trigger to make them remember and reunite.

We switch back to Yukito's home, where everyone goes back inside to spy to check on the flying couple from Tomoyo's tablet (while still in a videocall with Eriol and Kaho), but while Touya is going back in himself, he sees that Akiho keeps standing by the door, eyes fixed on the moon. Out of all of them, she's obviously the most stressed up one. She can't relax and wait like everyone else. Her heart must be in the grips of anxiety, hurt and probably fear too. So Touya, our big brother with a heart just as big as him, tries to comfort her and calm her down, telling her that Sakura might be a tad too impertinent and with a tendency to kick, basically a "monster" (I know in ENG they translated 足癖が悪い with "she got two left feet" and technically it might not be wrong but I've seen the same term used to indicate any kind of bad behavior that makes use of the legs/feet incorrectly, so included kicking - like, using this expression with a horse it would mean that horse kicks a lot. So when I saw that, I was reminded of how Sakura used to kick Touya precisely when he called her "monster" 😂), but she keeps true to what she says. "If she said she'll look (for that person), she'll do so. So let's wait for when she'll call you...together". And while he says so, he pats her head affectionately. Gosh, the way he behaves with Akiho is so different than what he does with Sakura, right? 😂 But that's just an indication of how special the bond with his true sister is...Touya gets tsundere and a bully only with her. 😂 I remember he patted Mirror's head too (while she was disguised as Sakura), back in chapter 38. He's really a kind onii-chan but he only gets stubborn with his little sister 😂 I found so moving the little detail of Akiho wincing for a moment when Touya patted her head....a sign that she isn't used to that kind of display of affection? Definitely. And the more I thought about this, the more the words from the chapter of her backstory came back to my mind, "there was no one who would pat her head".... And then, of course, I just couldn't avoid thinking about all the times Kaito tried istinctively to reach for that head too, to console her, or even to just hold her, and always stopped that hand hurriedly. Seeing Touya managing to do what Kaito always wanted to do on instinct, and sabotaged himself, hurt quite a lot. But it's also a proof of how different their situations are. How different their circumstances are. How different their feelings for Akiho are. No matter how kind Touya can be with basically a stranger that was somehow entrusted to them by another stranger, and how much he can empathize with her situation, he can never be the guy who literally gave all of himself for Akiho.

Still, I think this scene reinforced my idea that when they'll bring Kaito back, Touya will be waiting for him with his fist ready to land on his head 😂because he really just can't stand that he hurt his adopted sister this much. No matter if he did it for her. He'll really be merciless with the most important people of his sisters, if they make them cry! 😅

Akiho is finally reassured by Touya's sweet gesture (there's a lot of love in this rewritten world, my gosh! Everyone is so affectionate or displays affection in a more evident way!). But while here we have a poignant scene of brotherly affection, nearby the group of nosy people just witnessed the scene between the two lovebirds Sakura and Syaoran about the "most important person", so Nakuru sighs at the missed opportunity to see Touya's HP and MP go straight to zero, because he wasn't there with them to watch it! 😂😂Yukito of course doesn't skip a chance to join in making fun of his boyfriend, saying that he would've surely made a scary face. 😆The way the little group makes fun of Touya behind his back moves to compassion even Kero and Suppy, who say that they feel bad for him! 😂😂😂 I think all these little comedy skits of this chapter are probably here to defuse the tension a little bit, probably also because of what's about to come. Remember that sensei is balancing the narrative weight on the total volume, so adding more fun scenes now might make up for later, when it won't (of course) be possible or appropriate to insert any (yea, it'll only be time for tears later, right, sensei?).

Back to our flying couple, Syaoran asks Sakura more clarifications about what she said earlier regarding the pocket watch, that it'll "show them the way". Sakura says that she can feel magic power coming from that watch, and it doesn't belong to anyone she knows. The kids, in unison, say that if they trace the magic back to its owner, and they follow it, they'll be able to meet "the person who's missing". Syaoran got the perfect magic tool for that.

He summons his famous compass, and asks Sakura to place the watch over it. In a very cool scene worthy of the next head of the Li clan, chanting the long and famous activation spell for his compass (which includes Chinese characters but spelled with the Japanese "on" reading), Syaoran traces the owner of the pocket watch....back to the moon. The poor guy is confused and thinks the pursuit failed, because he can feel the watch carrying moon power inside of it (yep, reminder that its owner's magic is Moon type, just like Syaoran! And the ENG said there are "traces of it", but the JP doesn't say it's only "traces", the whole watch might be imbued of Kaito's moon power), so probably that's why the compass is pointing at the moon.... But Sakura suddenly figured it out: the compass is correctly pointing at the moon, because that moon....IS NOT THE REAL ONE!

With a swift movement worthy of the coolest ikemen on earth, which startles even her boyfriend (😂 it's already full of comments about how Sakura is particularly handsome - yes, handsome - in this chapter 😂), Sakura summons Sword! Loooong time no see! So long, in fact, that I've been notified that the Sword Sakura is holding a few pages later is the wrong one! Yes, because when Sword was reborn under Sakura's name as a Sakura Card, its appearance changed slightly! 😅The one Sakura holds in this scene is the "Clow Card" version!

This is how Sword was supposed to look...will CLAMP notice the mistake and fix it in the tankobon? Anyway, Sakura jumps towards the giant moon (that at some point we can see it's literally flat, like a cover for something else), and splits it open!!! I mean!!! What did this girl eat for breakfast, today? 😂😂😂She's absolutely cool and keeps showing how much she's grown both magically and in her capacity to listen to her intuition. Eriol and Kaho immediately comment on that fake moon, and Eriol in particular said something that alarmed me at once: "It's something that was created by a considerable amount of magicians. And they used even an ancient magic ritual, at that." There's no trace of doubt in his speech, so my mind immediately runs to them, the real disgrace of this arc: the Association + Squids (Akiho's Clan). When you talk about lots of magicians, and ancient rituals, you can't just avoid thinking about them right away. But why, and how did they create that fake moon? Too soon to have clear answers right now, but our watchers from England point out that for Sakura to see through that deception as soon as her attention was brought onto it means that her powers really became considerably strong! But here comes the comment that sets this situation apart from what we have seen till now in Clear Card: this growth in power is totally intentional! Because Sakura now has something she wants to do.

You see, this task Sakura gave herself isn't only to Akiho's benefit. This situation also probably gave Sakura the key to not cause her powers to go haywire anymore. Because, as I always suspected (and this conversation gave me more elements to make me think I was right), her power previously went out of control because she didn't know what she wanted to do with it. She didn't find a purpose for it. She didn't figure out yet (nor probably even thought about) what she wanted to do with her natural gift... (and here we go back again to the thematic I talked about in my post of last month, the "what can I do with my innate capabilities?" and Sakura right now decided "I want to use it to make the people I love happy"). She used to look at it as some thing "remote" from her, something that she'd rather not use (remember when she had put her Star Key away in the box saying "it's better if I don't use it anymore"?) but magic is literally part of her, so rejecting it would only hurt her more and cause the mess that we have all seen in these 7 years of serialization. And so probably, no matter what training she might have gone through, the problem wouldn't have been solved anyway, unless she'd set her mind straight on what purpose give to her magic, stabilizing it once for all. I think this is a very important part of this story because it all goes back to the search of her identity, which is such a crucial thematic in this arc.

And you can really see it in how beautiful Sakura looks in this panel. This is the beauty radiating from a person who's confident and knows what she's doing, knows what she wants.

Sakura and Syaoran finally go inside the "door", let's call it like that, which originated from the split of the fake moon. They do not know what awaits them on the other side nor what will happen, but they both bravely proceed ahead.

And what they find in front of their eyes is some kind of very weird environment. Eerie, even. The space is completely white, and they're fluctuating among warped clockworks and what looks like disassembled clocks: I found that very fascinating and I can't wait to see how this space will look like once it'll be animated.... The compass' beam keeps indicating where the owner of the pocket watch is, and Sakura and Syaoran follow it diligently, till they finally reach their goal.

*Sigh*

And then they see it. Trapped inside what looks like a circular cage, sleeping peacefully, a black dragon. Yes. That dragon. The one we've seen in Sakura's dreams ever since chapter 2, the one that appeared on the cover of the book they used the day they engraved the artifact in Akiho, the one that appeared as a decoration on the last outfit Kaito wore till he disappeared, and the one that looked like the symbol that appeared when the Seal of D. manifested to engulf Kaito in chapter 70. And this is also how this chapter ends (of course!!! with the worst cliffhanger!). The editorial text in Japanese present on the left of the very last page says "Guided by the pocket watch, what is it that they found...? Next issue, Sakura will appear with a super luxurious furoku!!"

Now, I'd wait before giving for granted that that thing is really Kaito. CLAMP are absolutely no strangers to lead their readers to think something (especially at the end of a chapter) but then revealing in the following one that it was something else.... Moreover, this dragon appeared in such different situations, that it's really hard to pinpoint (and predict) exactly what it represents. So I'm not gonna go out on a limb and say that Dragon-chan is Kaito. We'll know soon what CLAMP have in store for us.

Sure, I keep missing Kaito like crazy, but I think one way or another in next chapter we'll finally see him. Especially cause it's almost certainly the second-to-last one 😅 On that regard, I enjoyed the content of this chapter and even though it might be normal to think "what are they even doing, wasting time and pages like this? get to the point!", I want to trust Ohkawa and let her lead me where she wants to bring me to. I want to appreciate the journey for how she created it, with the pace she thought for it. Once it'll be over, it'll be hopefully easier to see if this relaxed pace ended up producing a series that is easy and interesting to read, or if it caused things to be rushed at the very end. Moreover, I know everyone is somehow expecting a battle ahead, but I'd be actually surprised if it happens at all. If it does, I don't think it'll be against the Association (because they're simply too many and too powerful for Sakura to fight against them). It might be against the dragon or....it might just be that this will be about finding a way to free Kaito, and then putting him in the condition to choose to go back to Akiho's side. And at that moment, Akiho's turn will finally arrive. I think this finale will be mainly based on emotivity and important talks. If anything, the main "battle" they'll have to win will be convincing Kaito that he deserves to live a happy life too.

Chapter 76 will be published on CLAMP’s Youtube channel on August 1st, while the relative Nakayoshi magazine will be released on August 3rd!

Soooo it's time for me to wrap this post up (where I mainly talked about my thoughts and impressions on the chapter, how lovely 😆) and I'll surely be waiting for you all here once again at the beginning of August!! In the meantime, my inbox is open for your asks! 👍 See you!

#cardcaptor sakura #card captor sakura #clear card arc #ccsakura #ccs spoilers #translation differences #chapter 75 #sakura kinomoto #syaoran li

[vampireloverz]

you're not a ghost, you're in my head

pairing: johnny silverhand x fem! reader

words: 3.8k

cw/tw: reader is technically v but is not referred to as “v”, reader has a specific canon tattoo and pubic hair, canon typical slang, canon typical cigarette use by johnny, fingering with a metal hand (f → receiving), unprotected sex, light scent/armpit kink, light angst, cyberpunk 2077 spoilers

— “Johnny, the fuck do you think y—“

“Relax, kid,” his voice comes out in a gritty rumble by your ear as his fingers come down to replace yours on your clit, “You and I are just gonna have a little fun.” —

"Pleasure doin’ biz with you,” you shake hands with your client as they deposit eddies into your account, a nice little bonus on top of your usual fee for a job well done.

“Get us the fuck outta here,” Johnny says as you check your phone for Wakako’s message, you can feel his impatience tug at your brain, “I’ve had enough running around for today.”

If you’re tired imagine how I feel, asshole, you think, and he just gives a single dry chuckle in response. 

As you walk the blocks back to your apartment, you think about the past months since your life has turned upside down and, as hard as you fight it, you think about Johnny.

Being alone is a luxury you used to take for granted, something you used to actively run from, but now you haven’t been alone in a long while. Never really, truly by yourself. At first, it left you irritable, quick to anger, but now you’re left trying to pinpoint exactly when frustration turned to camaraderie. And, from there, into genuine friendship. For now, Johnny’s really all you have. 

You don't want to rely on other people too heavily— your clock is ticking and you’d rather not hurt anyone if you have to go down. Misty and Vik being involved already weighs on your conscience. It’s easier to push everyone else away, keeping them at arm’s length to shield them, that’s what you keep telling yourself. But Johnny… you can’t do that with him. You’re on death’s row together, hand in silver hand.

That doesn’t mean you don’t get lonely or wish you had someone to hold you and warm your bed every once in a while, and you’re beginning to feel the effects. Your shots are getting sloppy, joytoys are starting to catch your eye every now and again— especially when they have dark hair and sunglasses— and it’s infuriating. Sure, you could buy some company for the night, scratch the itch, but it’s the same issue as getting yourself off— having Johnny be your peeping Tom.

Johnny has to be onto you, you know he sees everything through your eyes, he feels everything you feel. It would be easier to hide how you feel from your own damn self. It’s Johnny, Johnny, Johnny on an endless loop. His opinions on anything, everything, and, despite your best efforts, you’ve grown fond of him. The attraction has always been there, but now there’s… an ache, too. More than just the urge to fuck him. You’re doing your best to ignore it.

“Hey, baby,” a pretty joytoy calls out to you as you walk past. You notice Johnny’s choice brand of cigarette dangling precariously from between their fingers, then you hate yourself for noticing, “You look like you could use a massage, relax a little.”

You shake your head and ignore the urge to say yes, please. What comes out instead is: “No, thanks.”

The joytoy shrugs, a tempting smile on their lips as they knock ash from their cigarette, “Your loss.”

The sun is setting, the streets become bathed in pools of warm, natural sunlight and blinding neon signs blinking on for the night. You shove your hands in your jacket pockets, painfully aware that it’s Johnny’s jacket. It’s not his, not really, but the replica is good quality, it even had him fooled for a minute. Each time you put it on, your brain reminds you of that old school movie where a college girl wears her boyfriend’s varsity jacket, this morning had been no different. You just hope Johnny hasn’t seen that.

You know he doesn’t peek around every single corner of your brain, since becoming friends he allows you some privacy, as much as he can. But if your thoughts get loud enough you can’t hold them back. And lately, they have been loud. Half of this sexual frustration is because you haven’t gotten off in a while, sure, but the other half is your brain and body yearning for the one thing you can’t have. 

You can feel yourself scowling, still in disbelief that you’re craving a digital construct while simultaneously uncaring that he’s quite literally all in your head, so you actively make the effort to relax your face and body as you reach your megabuilding’s elevator. Once you’re in your apartment, it's easy to distract yourself with a simple routine for the night; lukewarm shower, hastily thrown together dinner, and you’re tucked into your bed in no time.

You leave your blinds open since you like to observe the way Night City wakes up as you’re about to sleep. The traffic, the nonstop chatter from neighbors and people on the street, lights from garish, oversized billboards— you’d be lying if you said you wouldn’t miss it. You shut your eyes and listen, focusing on taking deep, even breaths. A minute passes. Then two, then ten, then you lose count, slipping into sleep. 

You wake with a start at the sound of people laughing outside your door and realize your sheets are tangled and damp with sweat between your legs. You were dreaming— a warm mouth on your cunt, your orgasm so close you could almost taste it— but the dream and its pleasure fade from you quickly only to leave you sleepless and frustrated all over again. You squeeze your thighs together and roll onto your side, staring at the empty couch across the room.

A fraying end of your sheet catches your eye, you make a mental note to patch it up as you fiddle with it. The border of the sheet only gets worse but you keep curling threads around your finger before unraveling it again and again. It doesn’t help you find sleep or alleviate the ache between your legs so you decide to give the poor fabric a rest and give in to what you need.

 Your voice is thick and raspy with sleep, “Johnny, you there?”

A familiar glitching sound fills your ears as he appears across the room, lounging on your couch with one leg on your coffee table, “As if I got anywhere else to be.”

You can’t tell if he’s actually looking at you behind his sunglasses, “Do me a favor. Can you leave for a bit?”

Johnny doesn’t answer, his fingers just tap rhythmically beside his leg.

“Come on,” you groan, just about one step away from begging, “I don’t wanna have to take those pills. Just give me thirty minutes. An hour, maybe.”

He raises one brow and pulls a cigarette from his pocket, “You got plans tonight?” he asks as he lights it. The fire glints off his silver hand for a brief moment before he takes a drag, holding it for a moment before breathing out.

Your clit throbs as you see a flash of his tongue, “Listen, a girl just wants her me time. Just delta the fuck outta here for a while. Hang out in my memories or something.”

Another deep drag off his cigarette, you can almost hear him roll his eyes but he disappears without any protest.

“Preem,” you sigh, voice shaking slightly as you roll onto your back. 

You wait a minute or two before you get to work, trying your hardest to remember your pleasant dream as you trail your hands over your body. You slip your hands under your sleep shirt and palm your tits, squeezing them once and idly wondering what Johnny’s metal would feel like on your skin. The thought alone makes your pussy clench, you can feel how soaked you are against your pajama shorts before you reach down and touch yourself.

Once your hand is past the waistband of your shorts, you waste no time in gathering your wetness on your fingers and circling your clit, hasty and impatient. The minutes roll by and you can’t seem to pass over the plateau, each second without orgasm only makes your frustration grow. You roll onto your side, curling one arm under your pillow to support your head as you try to keep your fantasies away from appearing as Johnny, but nothing seems good enough.

“Damn it,” you groan into your pillow, your voice bleeds into a long, wordless whine.

Your body trembles with frustration as you try and decide whether or not to keep going, if it’s even worth it if you’re going to be left unsatisfied. Right as you’re contemplating firing up a BD, you feel weight pressed against your back— Johnny. You almost jump out of your skin and a wash of heat crawls up your neck and into your cheeks, embarrassment prickling at your skin.

“Johnny, the fuck do you think y—“

His hand curls over yours between your legs— the sensation of him touching you is still trippy but you’ve given up trying to figure out how you can feel him touch you long ago— and you bite your tongue to hold back a pleased sound.

“Relax, kid,” his voice comes out in a gritty rumble by your ear as his fingers come down to replace yours on your clit, “You and I are just gonna have a little fun.”

Your brain short circuits as Johnny starts to draw slow, lazy circles around your clit. His whole body is pressed to yours, leaving no space untouched. All you can think to do is grab his forearm and let out a sigh, trying to hold back a full body shiver, “T–Thought I told you to fuck off.”

Johnny chuckles and trails his touch down to where you’re slick and aching, “Something tells me you’re not too upset.”

Your hips roll forward unbidden, chasing the pleasure you’ve been craving for so long. It feels much better to have Johnny’s fingers on you instead of yours, you can feel the immediate effect he has on your body.

“Fuck, you’re wet,” his words are almost a laugh of surprise as he suddenly rocks his hips forward. 

“Oh,” you groan, pushing your ass back into him, trying to feel how hard he is for you.

You know this isn’t really happening, it’s some trick your brain has cooked up trying to let two simultaneous desires play out. Synapses misfiring, neurons receiving signals that aren't really there. You know Johnny isn’t actually pressed beside you but you don’t care. You can feel him, in your mind and on your body. The cool metal of his fingers is warming against your tits, the quiet hum of his thoughts and desires is buzzing around your head and he’s realer than anything you’ve felt before.

“Get these off,” Johnny impatiently tugs at your pajama shorts until you kick them off. He wastes no time in getting his hands all over you, palming your ass before pulling you against him.

You twist back as much as you can without straining yourself, “Kiss me.”

He scoffs with a touch of humor, “Needy,” but indulges you. 

The first press of your lips together is a little rough. The angle is not quite right, his beard scrapes your cheeks and chin, but it’s still him, so you enjoy it all the same. You press your tongue to his bottom lip, still half expecting to touch air and not Johnny, and he reciprocates in kind. His mouth is warm and wet against you, more real and perfect than anything you’ve felt before, he groans into your pliant mouth and the sound goes right to your clit— it’s a damn good kiss.

The hand that isn’t between your legs comes up to curl around your throat, using the lightest of force to keep you in place, close to him. Another pass of his tongue on yours and he’s pulling back, a drawn out groan falls from his lips when he ruts against your ass.

“Fuck,” he sighs against your lips before he moves, turning you over onto your back as he takes up the space between your legs.

Johnny’s back on you again in a instant, his hand returning to rest heavy and grounding on your neck, his thumb rubbing up and down against your jaw as he presses his lips to yours again. You reach your hands up to tangle in his hair and tug, smiling against Johnny’s lips when he makes a gruff, pleased noise in response.

You pull him back by his hair and tug at the collar of his bulletproof vest, cursing when it doesn’t budge, “Take this stupid thing off.”

Johnny lets out a little laugh and pulls back, resting on his knees between your legs, “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”

You roll your eyes and take off your shirt, tossing it to the side without a care. By the time you have your eyes back on Johnny, he’s naked too. He gives you a little smile and you take the opportunity to flip positions, pulling him down to the bed before you straddle him. He raises his eyebrows when you take his wrists in your hand. You don’t explain yourself as you push his arms above his head and into the pillows.

“Keep ‘em there,” you order, giving him a little smile before you let his wrists go.

You sit back, ignoring his cock pressing hot and insistent between your legs as you take him in, your hands greedily groping his chest. He makes a noise of approval when you start to trail your lips along his tattoos, kissing every so often until you reach his armpit. You trail your thumb through the dark hair there before you keep kissing downward, undeterred. You feel his breath hitch as you breathe in, cigarettes and the deep scent of sweat. It’s intoxicating enough to make you want to press your luck a little more. You close your eyes, kissing the underside of his arm again before you let your tongue peek out and touch skin, daring to take a lick of him. Johnny twitches and lets out an exhale through his nose, his arm almost shaking with the effort to keep still.

You hum, amused, “Ticklish?”

“Alright,” Johnny grumbles, moving to grab you by the waist, “You’ve had your fun.”

He flips you back to how you were originally, tossing you back onto your back hard enough to make you laugh and bounce once on the bed. He curls over you, his hands flex on your sides as he kisses you.

“You’re beautiful,” he says, his flesh hand soft as it moves to span over your stomach.

The comment sets you squirming, turning your face to the side with a harsh little sound bubbling up from your chest. You shut your eyes and feel embarrassment prickle up your spine.

“No,” he takes your face in his hand, grips your jaw with purpose and turns to face him, “Look at me so I know you heard me.”

You blink them open, a hint of a scowl on your face as you prepare to tell him to knock it off but his cocky smile stops you. You swallow thickly, a heat crawls its way up your neck onto your face.

“See? Fuckin’ beautiful.”

You try to turn away, your cheeks now hot with embarrassment, but his hand keeps you in place. His eyes flick down to your lips as you laugh, “Shut the fuck up, Johnny.”

He makes a noise, low and deep in his chest, and finally relents, letting your face go with a quiet little tut. Johnny pulls back slightly, just enough space to trail his metal fingers down, pausing a moment to feel the hair between your legs. He turns his wrist to let his thumb part your folds and find your clit.

“Careful with that thing,” you say, your voice touched with nervous, excited laughter.

“Always am.”

Johnny pushes two fingers into your pussy, pumping them a few times until you relax, your slick makes the metal shine. He leans forward, pressing a kiss between your tits before he takes one of your nipples into his mouth. He sucks for a moment then breaks away, kissing a trail over your chest to your other nipple, biting it gently this time.

Soon enough, he stops, pulls back. You watch him take his cock in hand, your arousal glinting along metal as he spreads it over himself. He thumbs the head of his cock, the sight of him mixing his precum with you makes you dizzy, before he grips himself at the base, his silver hand accented by dark curls. Johnny angles himself downward, teasing you with just the tip again and again until you whine.

“Gonna let me fuck you?” he hums, using his human hand to hold himself above you.

“Y-Yea— fuck, yes,” your hands curl around his biceps, impatience makes you dig your nails in.

“Fuck,” Johnny’s voice trembles ever so slightly as he says your name, “C’mere then.”

He presses his cock into you and, after a moment, pushes inside steadily with a groan. You only make a noise of complaint when he stops, hips pressed flush against yours and his cock knocking something tender inside you.

“Johnny, ‘m good,” you gasp, thinking he’s stopped for your sake. He doesn’t move so you tilt your head to the side to bite at his wrist. It’s not enough to hurt him for real, but you soothe it with a kiss anyway, “C’mon, fuck me.”

He nods and only holds still for a moment longer, moving his arms to rest on his elbows on either side of your head. Johnny fucks exactly like you thought he would. Steady and hard, like he means it— he fucks you like he’s proving a point. Every thrust has his balls slap heavy against your ass, a firm, staccato rhythm that has you close to keening. He can feel exactly what you need, no guesswork or faking it when he’s in your head, and you can tell he’s loving it. 

You wrap your arms around him, needing to feel him close since you’re not sure how long this’ll last. Johnny presses more of his weight into you when he senses what you’re feeling and your legs almost ache with how far they’re pushed apart, one of his hands comes to cup your cheek, turning your face to his. Even with your eyes shut it’s easy to find his lips, soft amidst the bristle of his beard as he keeps up his pace. He lays into you like he means it, like he’s trying to convince you he’s real and here to stay. Like he’s trying to convince himself.

“You feel good, baby,” Johnny moans, his lips still close enough to brush against yours, “So fuckin’ good. I wanna feel you cum, need to feel it.”

You whimper, taking one arm down to tap his side and pant, “Here— let me just—” Johnny nods and moves, giving you room to snake your hand down to rub your clit in frantic, rough little circles, desperate to cum.

“Good fuckin’ girl,” Johnny murmurs encouragingly, “That’s it.”

“Johnny,” you sigh, your voice warbling as you feel yourself getting close, climbing and climbing until you’re pushed over the edge. You cum holding your breath, your fingers still working your clit until the sensation is too much and you have to pull away and give in to the pleasure. You let out a shuddering groan as you feel your cunt clench around Johnny’s cock, pulsing enough to make your whole body twitch.

His rhythm falters, hips stilling as he presses himself can as close to you as possible, as deep as possible. You feel him fill you, and really, truly, you would swear on your life that it genuinely happened. You moan at the heat of him inside you before you catch yourself muttering praise into his ear, his lips pressing uncoordinated kisses to any part of you he can reach.

Johnny’s head falls to your shoulder as you both catch your breath, neither of you making any moves to pull apart from each other. It’s almost frightening how real this feels, as if he’s actually in your arms now, weighing you down into your mattress. You ignore how much you wish that were true and curl a lock of his hair around your finger before you tuck it behind his ear, trailing your touch down the back of his head. He makes an appreciative sound when you scratch gently at his scalp, so you keep doing so, soothing both him and yourself with the motions.

“There’s somethin’ I wanted to tell you,” he says after a while of laying together, nudging the hinge of your jaw with his nose.

“Yea?”

“I like seeing you in my clothes,” Johnny’s breath is hot against your skin as he chuckles, “Almost as much as you like wearin’ ‘em.”

“Shut up, Johnny,” you try to hide the laugh that shakes your voice by tugging on his hair, smiling when he gently bites you in retaliation. 

He takes your arm, holding you steady as he kisses the tattooed heart that holds his and your names. Johnny pulls away first and you make an involuntary, upset little noise as he pulls out of you, but he quickly kisses you quiet. The urge to smoke sneaks up on you, now a familiar feeling that comes from Johnny’s influence on you. You blink and he has one in hand, pulled out from whatever digitized place he gets them from.

“Get some sleep, kid,” Johnny murmurs around a cigarette, laying back and lighting it as your eyelids droop.

You let out a little hum, already half asleep, “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

You hope you get more of these opportunities, to feel him, be felt by him. Tears suddenly prick hot at your eyes, your throat tightens and you wonder how much of the grief you feel is you, how much is him, if the lines are too blurred now to even be able to tell. The hope, you think, might be both of you. It sits heavy with you, heavier than God as you theorize a way that you and Johnny may survive the separation.

“Hey, Johnny,” your voice no more than a whisper, “I wish we could’ve met some other way.”

Johnny takes a deep drag of his cigarette and you feel the ghost of the synth-tobacco burn in your throat. His gaze strays from the posters hung across the room, dark brown eyes trailing over the curve of your cheek and brows until he finds the courage to look you in the eye. His free hand reaches down to find your warm thigh and squeeze it, “Yea.” 

You hold back another sentimental thought, too intimate to be said aloud where it can become real, and eventually fall asleep watching the way the neon lights dance through glitching cigarette smoke. You don’t have to say it, Johnny can hear it anyway. He knows, and you know it too.

thank you so so much to @shibaraki for beta reading for me! youre the best 🤍🤍🤍

title is from forever by charli xcx

#you bet your ass i put the johnny + v together forever tattoo in this fic yeehaw #johnny silverhand x reader #johnny silverhand smut #johnny ❤️ #cyberpunk 2077 smut #📝 — cp2077 #💒.txt

[arcaneacolyte]

In honor of me having a migraine, I would like to push my "Aether has chronic headaches and migraines" agenda.

Aether who finds out the hard way that his vessel has chronic headaches and migraines and it was overlooked before he was bound to it.

Too much Quintessence magic is the biggest trigger, but then he goes on tour with Terzo the first time and finds out that there are many things topside that can trigger the worse ones, and it gets harder and harder to pinpoint what exactly triggered it from the long list of the things that *could* have.

He can't have caffeine as much as the rest of the Ghouls, because the withdrawal headaches put him down in the dark for almost a whole day.

If he forgets to eat or drink enough? Headache. He doesn't sleep well? Headache. He smells too strong of a perfume? He's in too bright of light for too long? The list goes on.

For the first year or so he's topside, it's rough but he gets a lot of sympathy and support from Terzo and his pack. He goes to Omega finally and it turns out that Quintessence Healing is just a temporary fix, and human medications can't even put a dent in it. So he just has to cope and avoid his triggers as much as possible.

After that first year, he can manage them, but obviously they don't just go away. But they're not getting *worse* persay as time goes on, but he still finds himself at least once a week curled up in bed, almost about to throw up from the pain. But they're not any worse than they have been, so Omega and the other Ghouls at the infirmary don't have any answers for him.

Then eventually the support starts to get less outwardly obvious. Sure, the others understand that if he says, "I have a headache," that means it's *bad* because he's outwardly acknowledging it, but the sympathy starts to get less and less.

He doesn't blame them, they're all stressed, and he can imagine how exhausting it gets to hear how Aether can't do something because of a headache, or they have to be quiet or he needs to go to bed early because it'll trigger a headache if he doesn't.

It becomes routine, something to manage, an annoyance rather than debilitating, even though he still gets migraines.

But he can't help a twinge of jealousy when another of the pack gets a rare headache, and the world stops turning to help them, and sympathy and cuddles and love come out in full force, and the rest do everything they can to help, when just last week he had to come out to the Ghoul common room *three* separate times to ask if the pack could keep it down just a little bit because he has a splitting headache so bad he can hardly stand.

And whenever another gets a headache he gets more sympathy for a little while. A lot of, "is this what it's like for you all the time?" And he has to shrug and say, "yeah" and offer some advice or potential solutions from his list of coping mechanisms. But eventually, when the memory of the headache fades, so does the heightened sympathy. Aether is used to it, is expected to still carry on like nothing is wrong.

Eventually, it starts to take away the things that mean most to him. More often than not after rituals he's holed up in his bunk in the tour bus, trying not to cry and throw up with how much pain he's in. The decision to retire from touring nearly kills him, as do the looks of betrayal from his pack members, especially Dew. But they don't understand, they've never truly understood, and he can't help but feel bitter. Sure, he's not the only one with aches and pains and problems with his vessel, but those things haven't taken away touring from them, one of the things that gave him the most joy in his earthly life.

Zephyr gets it, thankfully, and he spends more time with them after his retirement, and sometimes they just spend painful moments in silence together. They might be in pain, but at least they're in pain with someone who *truly* gets it.

The separation from his pack, his mates, his *purpose* almost hurts as much as the migraines do. But he does what he's always done, and just carries on.

#ghost bc #the band ghost #ghost band #nameless ghouls #nameless ghoul aether #aether ghoul #nameless ghoul headcanons #ghost band headcanons #ghost bc headcanons #me projecting my chronic pains on my favorite characters to cope #my writing

[writingforatwistedworld]

Rook - L, J, I

Self-aware au

I do not take any responsibility for you reading this no matter which age group you are from!

WARNINGS: Yandere themes, blood, murder, stalking, violence, death, injury, possessive behavior, obsession

I, J, L

Ideals: What kind of future do they have in mind for/with their darling?

One in which he can be alone with you

Rook doesn't like to share, he dislikes sharing his things and he even more dislikes, no, hates sharing you

So of course the young hunter would imagine a place somewhere far away from others as your perfect future

Imagine! In the middle of nowhere in the woods, the birds singing you to sleep and waking you up as well...

And if you don't want to? Seems like he has to use his good old shackles for a while

One in which he can let your leg heal

Like I said, he dislikes sharing

So when suddenly you feel something snap into your leg you know it's from him

Dear, don't just run into his traps for hunting!

The only thing concerning is that the trap is so close to the path...

But oh well, it was surely just an accident... one of many

Rook wants you to be dependent on him

So even if he has to break your legs to achieve this then he will gladly do it

One in which you wipe the blood off of his face with a smile

Doesn't matter if it's from an animal or some two-legged species like a human or a beastman

Sadly there are just so many imbeciles trying to get closer to you and he would never allow them to take you away from him

But even though he tells you that the red stains on his face are from an animal you still step away in disgust

Good thing he didn't tell you the truth

Even Rook doesn't know what he would do for you to react with happiness to the proof of his actions

One in which he doesn't have to pinpoint you with his special magic all the time

On the few occasions both of your legs are somewhat fine you always have that annoying habit to play tag

Ok, tag for him and running away in panic for you

But doesn't it get boring? You are always repeating that and then another “incident” happens

Reste juste immobile! Otherwise your legs might be damaged beyond the capability of healing

Jealousy: Do they get jealous? Do they lash out or find a way to cope?

Still waters run deep

And his waters are especially deep. Literally

Have you ever wondered how he gets rid of the bodies all the time? Well there is that lake...

Rook is an incredible easy to make jealous

Someone might not even look at you but must needs to be standing next to you

It depends a lot how he feels on that day

Burning until he has to physically hold himself back

Rook has restrained himself before

Once he locked himself into a room without any windows, telling Vil to let him out in a day

Another time he bit into his hand with so much strength that it needed stitches

But nothing can compare to the rage he feels whenever someone dares to be in your mere presence

Hoping he will never hold a still beating heart in his hands

Rook is aware that he isn't exactly what we would deem “safe”

With all the things he does to suppress his jealousy he is pretty considerate of our safety

Well, he does feel the urge to just dig until he holds something warm, giving life to your body in his hands

So... that living in isolation thingy suddenly became way more attractive, don't you agree?

Love letters: How would they go about courting or approaching their darling?

One word: intensive

You know Rook, I know Rook, we know Rook

So is it that much of a surprise when he is promising to pluck the stars from the sky if we ever were to ask for it?

But there is just something so very about him

Somehow he always knows where you are, almost like he is there all the time

Attentive

You are thirsty? Not anymore. Rook is here to give you a bottle of water

How he knew? He just had a hunch...

Ok haha funny but no. He was sitting in that tree the entire time

There isn't a moment when he isn't watching you

Now could he miss out on perfection?

And he uses this in courting as well

After all, what can he do wrong when he knows everything about you?

Gift giving

Rooks knows how to survive in the wild

So why not give you something from there?

From pelts to meat, he is your personal hunter

Even if you don't eat or wear animal produce he will still gift you edible plats

Well, there might be something in the meat from some of his rivals... a heart maybe or in the strawberry shake he just gave you a bit of uh... Let's stop. I'm getting sick

#yandere twisted wonderland #yandere twst #yandere twisted wonderland x reader #yandere twst x reader #twst #self aware au #twisted wonderland #twst rook #twisted wonderland rook #rook hunt x reader #yandere rook x reader #yandere rook hunt #yandere rook #rook hunt #twst rook x reader #tw: yandere #tw: blood #tw: murder #tw: stalking #tw: violence #tw: death #tw: injury #tw: possessive behavior #tw: obsession

[bthump]

Is Guts smart? What can you say about his intelligence? From the male part of the fandom where I was, they called him a brilliant strategist and in general he is the smartest character in Berserk lol It's been a while since I read Berserk, but I feel like Guts was definitely doing something irrational.

He's not the smartest character in Berserk lol, but he's not dumb either.

He's good at like, analytical thinking in the middle of a fight, eg when he fights Silat and pinpoints his weapons' weaknesses despite never having seen them before, realizing he can't defeat Zodd in a contest of strength but he can break Zodd's sword, recognizing Serpico's advantages whenever they duel, etc.

He's also decent at putting two and two together when it comes to understanding people. Like when he realizes Farnese traded an engagement for a ship, or when he outmaneuvers the priest in the troll village in rhetoric and forces him to extend them hospitality lol. I think that he often doesn't give a shit about this kind of thing so he can come across as dumb (not knowing Griffith intends to marry Charlotte, not bowing to the king until Griffith makes him, etc) but I feel like it's a matter of priority. When it has an immediate impact on him, he can figure shit out, otherwise he doesn't bother.

But yeah I don't think he's one of the smartest characters in Berserk. He's average at best, with a talent wrt fighting tactics. Griffith, Serpico, Judeau, Casca, even Rickert are all smarter than him imo. He has a lot of blind spots that fuck him over and make him miss obvious things and act irrationally (must fight monsters, must earn Griffith's love, must get revenge). Godo even has a line in chapter 131 about Guts running towards something singlemindedly and nicking himself on something else because he misses everything he's not focused on.

And he's just not very mindful in general. He can use his brain but like, the big temptation of the Beast of Darkness/the armour is turning off his brain and acting on instinct lol. He doesn't demonstrate any interest in learning new things beyond fighting techniques, he's adequate at reading people but fails at it a lot too, he's cocky and headstrong, prone to ignoring his own vulnerabilites...

So yeah, that's my take. He's not stupid, he has some smart moments, and especially when it's applicable to fighting he's very capable of analytical thought, but intelligence isn't exactly his biggest asset, and plenty of other characters are smarter than him. Thanks for asking!

#ask #anonymous #b #a #character: guts #character thoughts #also it goes without saying but just in case note that idt education factors in #being presumably illiterate doesn't make guts dumb eg #but not having any interest in learning anything outside his wheelhouse isn't a sign of a great thinker either