#he was well within his rights to fight back and defend himself in any way possible

[stxrvel]

the house (2)

hi guys! i felt so inspired that i was able to write part 2 soon and that's a very rare thing for me. thank you so much for all your comments and notes! they made me very happy. see you in the next one!

summary: Azriel wasn't gonna give in so easily with Rhysand, but he had to do everything he could to ensure his mate's well-being pairing: azriel x f!reader words: +3.5k warnings: bad words and fights and angst and a lot of anger. also English is not my first language so sorry for any mistakes!

part 1: the cliff

part 3: the court

“... what the fuck is wrong with me? No, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Az, I had no idea-”

“What does that fucking power works for if you're not gonna use it right?”

Cassian stood back from the commotion, with Nesta and Mor on either side of him watching from head to head as words crossed. Azriel was raising his voice and snarling at his own High Lord, and Cassian was almost surprised to see the way Rhys only dropped his shoulders, looking at his brother with sunken eyes as he claimed him. He had no intention of defending himself, Cassian could almost feel how embarrassed and remorseful Rhys was from a distance.

Azriel had a right to be angry, everyone knew that. And no one would stand in the way (unless the situation turned violent) because they understood the lengths you could go to just to safeguard your mate's well-being. Rhys would do it for Feyre. Cassian would do it for Nesta. Cassian always believed that this was how he would see Azriel defend his mate, right when he found her, and he was grateful that Rhys understood that his cries came from beyond rage and anger. There was anguish there, pain, guilt… Cassian had never seen Azriel so upset.

Returning to the Town House was torturous. Azriel wouldn't leave his mate's side and wouldn't allow any of his brothers to get close either, but she wasn't willing to go to a place she didn't know at all either, even if her mate accompanied her. Cassian had to watch his friend be more cautious and careful than ever with someone he never thought he had to be: with himself and Rhys. The sight was bleak as Azriel's shadows swirled around him and his mate, almost as if erecting a wall between the four of them. The looks Azriel sent them were like daggers and just by sharing a glance they knew that this was something the Shadowsinger wasn't going to overcome out of thin air, even if hundreds of years of friendship gave him the confidence to do so.

Azriel had to make a promise with her to convince her to leave, because he wasn't willing to let her disappear from his sight and she wasn't willing to just go with them for the sake of it, when one of the men in front of her was the one who pushed her off the cliff.

Cassian noticed several times Azriel watching the tattoo with crystallized eyes. Beyond everything, the hostile and distrustful context of the whole situation caused him pain.

Arriving at the Town House, they were all assembled. Without wondering too much without Rhys having spoken to Feyre (which he surely had), Cassian ran into the kitchen where Nesta was with her sisters and enveloped his mate in a tight embrace. Within seconds he heard movement around him and knew Rhys had done the same. Neither of them would ever be able to forgive each other for what had happened, if Azriel ever forgave them first.

“Az, I'm truly sorry,” Rhys stood behind his desk, the only thing that allowed him distance from a heated Azriel, besides Feyre's presence which the Shadowsinger respected even within his rage. “I was careless with the inmates. And you're right, it was easier for me to have simply looked inside her head. It had been a long time coming and I think I became confident of the reality of the situation, that whenever I saw inside them I knew what they were. I didn't give her the benefit of the doubt. I'm sorry, brother.”

“Your apologies are worthless,” Azriel spat, his face almost red from the way he was trying to contain his emotions and his hands resting on the table. Rhys lowered his head in front of him, running his hands over his face. “How are you going to fix with your words what for years broke under your nose? How can I come to look at you with respect when my mate is terrified to see you?”

Cassian felt Nesta's hands wrap around his right arm and he lowered to look at her questioningly. She had reserved her comments from the moment Cassian had told the two sisters what had happened. Feyre had escorted Rhys to his office after their effusive hug and Cassian had stayed with Nesta and Elain in the kitchen, talking. With Elain it had been a little easier, her face looked mortified and she had run after Rhys and Feyre barely understood what had happened.

Nesta… she tried not to show what she was thinking, but Cassian knew there was something that made her feel upset and insecure.

Cassian tugged at the bond, trying to get her attention and Nesta had to drag her gaze from Azriel to look at her mate. Cassian felt the air rush out of his chest when he noticed the tears under her eyes. He didn't waste a second in leading her out of the room, moving into the giant living room in complete darkness, despite it being barely noon. The maroon curtains lent a more somber look to the situation.

“What's wrong?”

Nesta closed her eyes as Cassian's hands cradled her face, letting out a pair of tears that furrowed the border with her cheeks. A ragged breath left her and Cassian felt the agony of her nervousness shake his body.

“I had already seen her,” she whispered, her eyelids tightening. Cassian frowned, but didn't interrupt her when she came up for air again. “I once accompanied Rhysand and Feyre to the camp. Feyre had told me that Rhysand had some business to take care of on the mountain. I heard… I heard her voice…”

Cassian pulled his mate closer by the shoulders, pressing her against his chest as her voice broke off.

“I heard her voice begging Rhysand to believe her,” Nesta continued, trying to still the sobs that were born in the ache in her chest. Cassian shared the sentiment, the end of the bond in his chest twisting with his mate's wailing. “She was so scared…”

Nesta wrapped her arms around Cassian's torso, sinking her face into her mate's neck. Cassian moved from side to side, trying to send warm sensations through the bond, trying to calm her down a bit.

Nesta's revelation left Cassian almost frozen. The last time Rhys had gone to the mountain had been ten years ago.

-

Azriel hadn't expected that to be the way he would meet his mate, much less would he have expected her to be terrified to be around his brothers and almost himself and, of course, much, much less had he expected to hold so much resentment against Rhysand.

His mate hadn't left the room Azriel had left her in, as far away from the others' rooms as possible. With the tattoo burning his skin, Azriel had not only promised her that she would be safe in the Town House, but she had also made him promise that her interactions with his brothers would be next to none. With the watchful eyes of his friends from centuries ago upon his back, Azriel agreed. He had to make sure to provide for his mate's physical and mental health, especially when he knew that the time she had spent with the Ilyrian soldiers had to have been traumatizing.

And of course, there was also the issue of the bond.

His mate couldn't or didn't know how to control the flow of emotions that traveled through the bond and Azriel felt it all. At the moment she was relaxed, calm inside the room away from everyone, but Azriel was losing his temper in the living room. His friends were gone, they had left him a moment alone when he had finished yelling at Rhysand, as he tried to control his emotions and those of her mate, who had surely been listening to everything and so was sending distressing sensations through the bond.

But even with all that space to himself he still felt like he couldn't breathe.

He didn't know how things were going to be from now on. The mere thought terrified him to the bone. He didn't know how he would deal with the fact that he wanted and was dying to be near his mate, to hold her, to comfort her, to support her, to protect her just a step away from him, but he couldn't, at least for now. The need consumed him and tormented him. Staying behind had never been an option, especially if it was his mate, but what could he do if that was what she wanted? He would have to get used to the pain, the emptiness he already felt in his life even though it had barely been half a day since he had found her.

Ah, Azriel didn't know how much guilt and pain he could carry until his knees failed.

He closed his eyes for a couple of minutes, laying his head back on the couch, his face settled in the direction of the ceiling. He tried to relax his muscles, stiff from the tension and stress, from the speed with which everything had happened in the last few hours. Maybe then he could get some sleep. He didn't know how it would be now that he had found his mate.

Azriel was beginning to feel his body going numb, the inattention to his senses and the lightness of his limbs, when a pair of light footsteps entered the room. They would've gone unnoticed by anyone, but not him. He lifted his head attending to the sound, finding you on your feet, frozen, all around the entrance to the living room, hands clasped together twitching in nervousness.

Azriel didn't know what to do. His heart skipped a beat at the sight. But he also felt the fear and nervousness coursing through the bond from the other end. He tried to send calm through his end, hoping that and the shadows crowding at her feet, which hadn't left her since they found her, would allow her to relax a bit.

“I'm sorry… for interrupting,” you looked down and Azriel had to stifle the urge that went through his body to get up and go running to your side. His head filled with the memories of his dream, cruelly comparing the happiness that was in them and the sadness that now engulfed you. Your voice was barely a whisper.

“It's okay,” Azriel stood up carefully and quietly, catching your attention. From the way you brought your hands to your chest, still clasped together, Azriel made no attempt to move closer.

“I need to ask you something,” you fought with the words until you finally told him and a current of panic ran through the bond, so strong that Azriel had to hold back the grimace on his face.

“Whatever you need.”

You looked at him again and Azriel felt something in his chest blossom. He sent that feeling through the bond, hoping it would counteract the anxiety on your end, but only received a frown in response.

“I need to contact my parents,” you asked, shifting your feet a little closer and Azriel quickly caught the pleading expression you were trying poorly to hide.

“Sure. Where are they? I can take them a letter, if you want,” Azriel offered, but your reply wasn't welcome as a spasm of pain ran through his chest.

“No… I-I-I don't want that,” you shook your head, lowering your head. The way you moved your intertwined fingers made him question how much courage you'd had to muster to come out of your room and ask him that. You must've wanted it badly. Surely it was all you could think about for all the years you were on the mountain. Azriel moved his hand from side to side across his chest, through the fabrics of his clothing.

“We'll do what you want, then. Tell me where they are.”

“Adriata,” you whispered, eyes glittering.

Azriel choked. Of course, former prisoner of the Summer Court. How would he get across the border if he had a blood ruby in his desk drawer? Rhysand and he were still mortal enemies of the Summer Court.

“And how do you want to contact them?”

“I want to go back.”

“What?” he coughed, his body tensing and the calm evaporating from his body in a second. Surprise narrowly prevented him from noticing your crystallized eyes.

“Azriel,” you implored, taking long strides towards him, frozen in place, electricity coursing through his veins from the way you said his name. “I don't even know how long it's been since I last saw them. Please, please. That was all I've ever wanted since I was captured. I just want to see them and let them know I'm okay. Please.”

Azriel stood there on his feet in front of you, barely acknowledging the fact that you had moved so close to him that from just raising a hand he could run down your cheeks. Your request had torn at his chest and he was sure he hadn't been able to keep some of that emotion from traveling through the bond, because now you looked more disgruntled and nervous than before. Now you wanted to… leave? And you were asking him to let you do it, as if he had any right to keep you here, as if you owed him anything?

The Shadowsinger clasped his hands at his sides, trying to contain his emotions behind the line, trying to keep them from affecting you too much. He had never felt such pain, not even something he could imagine, nothing that had ever hurt him before could compare to the pain of that moment. He hadn't had a moment with her and he had to let her go already.

“You want to go back… to Summer Court,” Azriel murmured, trying to confirm the obvious, as if you repeating it made it more real, as if he needed it to be sure.

“Yes,” you shook your head in assent and Azriel's heart crinkled as he noticed your desperation. Of course that would be the first thing you would want to do, how could he have been so selfish as to not even consider it before? How could he not have suggested it from before?

“You… I don't… I mean-”

“Azriel,” you took another step, hesitant, he could tell by your body language, but trying to keep the assurance on your face. “I need to see them. Please.”

“All right. Just… wait,” Azriel moved to the side, trying to clear his mind and think rationally even though your closeness was suffocating him. “There's something you should know.”

“I know the Night Court and the Summer Court aren't on good terms,” you shook your head, as if to tell Azriel that it was a silly problem that should have no bearing on your return.

“Yes, but that's not all,” moving his hands away from his already sufficiently tousled hair, Azriel looked at you in anguish. “If you go back to Summer Court now, I don't think you'll be able to come back again.”

You frowned at him, tilting your head in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

“Rhysand has held the Summer spies captive for…. many, many years. Tarquin has tried to negotiate their release, but Rhysand is not open to negotiating with him, or even seeing him again,” Azriel tried to explain, not overlooking the way you flinched when he mentioned the high lord's name. “If you leave now… If your parents declared you missing… Tarquin's not going to let you go out again. And they won't let me in either because the moment they see me they'll try to kill me.”

The silence that followed his words was agonizing. Azriel was terribly frightened. It didn't calm him to know that the doubt in your eyes was minimal; the desire to see your parents again was greater than the possibility of never seeing your mate again. The mere thought made him shudder, but if that was the case, there was nothing he could do about it. Nothing.

“Why… why wouldn't my High Lord let me come back?”

“Fifteen years ago the high lord forbade his people to return to the Night Court. Fifteen years ago no person from the Summer Court has gone beyond the mountains of Day.”

“Fifteen years?” you stammered, an expression of incredulous surprise taking over your face. “I'd been there for more than fifteen years?”

Azriel halted his movements, barely noticing how you succumbed to gravity and plopped down on the couch where he had been a couple of minutes earlier in complete stupefaction.

“Y/N, I'm really sorry-”

“I can't stay here,” you looked at him again, shaking your head in refusal and sending a current of panic through the bond. “I don't want to. I need… I need to see my parents. I want to be with them.”

Azriel shuddered at the desperation he saw in your eyes. He wasn't going to deny you that, ever. But he couldn't deny that he wanted to show resistance because, if you left right then, when would he ever see you again? They wouldn't even have time to talk about the elephant in the room, but, at the same time, it didn't seem like the most important conversation at the moment.

Azriel wanted to cry.

“It's okay. Don't worry. Of course you'll go see them,” he finally spoke, facing the reality he would have to live in from now on.

“Thank you,” you cried and Azriel felt each tear pierce his heart, even though the feeling of relief reached all the way to his chest, your relief, mixed with his hopelessness. “But, you… you won't be able to go.”

“No.”

“We won't be able to see each other.”

“No,” Azriel exhaled sharply and shook his head slightly. “But I'll work it out. Somehow.”

“You can't go near there. Tarquin would hurt you!”

Azriel felt the worry reach from the other end of the bond to his chest and was a little glad to know that you at least cared about him the same way he cared about you.

“I'll make an agreement. Whatever I have to do, I'll do it. I promise.”

You nodded in his direction, convinced of his words, convinced of his shaky assurance and confidence.

“And you… will you accompany me?”

You frowned when he shook his head, but quickly added, thinking he'd be mad and damned if he'd let you spend the return trip all alone after all you'd been through, “I know a faster way to travel.”

“Okay,” you nodded, calm finally ruling in your body. “So when do we leave?”

-

Everyone in the house had gathered to receive Azriel's announcement and things were breaking down just as he expected.

No one had said anything for several minutes after the Shadowsinger announced that he would be going to the Summer Court with you, to return you to where you belonged, to your true home.

“I'll do it,” Mor was the first to speak, to Azriel's right, watching him confidently. She turned to look at Rhysand, who hadn't looked up since his brother finished speaking, deep in thought with a hand on his chin. “I'll request a meeting with him.”

Cassian stirred at Azriel's left side, sweeping his gaze over everyone present. He could almost imagine what was going through his friend's head, helpless at not being able to join him, just as it must've been going through Rhysand's mind. Azriel knew the only reason his High Lord was still thinking was that. If it was risky for the Shadowsinger to go, it would be worse if it was both of them.

“I can go too,” Feyre spoke to Rhysand's right and the aforementioned raised his head in a second, beginning to shake his head in denial.

“For no reason should you ever step near that Court again,” Rhysand stood up, resting his hands on the desk and leaning towards his mate. His face contracted, contrasting with Feyre's warm gaze.

“Rhys, don't you think it's time to get this over with?” Feyre reached up to cradle his mate's face, Rhysand leaning in almost on instinct, betrayed by his senses.

“You want me to overlook so easily what he did to you?” the High Lord frowned, closing his eyes under Feyre's gentle touch.

“Not easily, Rhys. It's been fifty years.”

“You know fifty years is nothing to us,” Rhysand snorted, straightening his back.

The Shadowsinger clicked his tongue.

“It was too much for Y/N.”

No one in the room had to look twice to know that Azriel was tense, hands clasped behind his back. Rhysand turned to see him, his wary look of apology over his friend's stony expression.

“You know I didn't come here to ask your permission, Rhysand,” Azriel almost spat, dragging the words out between his teeth.

Mor shuddered beside him, following Cassian's gaze. In so many centuries, there had obviously been trouble between the Inner Circle for some time, but in this moment it felt different, deeper and more painful. The anger and rancor in Azriel's gaze was unmatched and to earn that facet of the Shadowsinger you really had to be a son of a bitch. Mor hoped she was wrong.

“It could be dangerous for you,” Rhysand warned and Azriel had to stifle a wry chuckle. The way his High Lord's features contorted gave him to understand that he had understood the twitch in his muscles all too well.

“I don't care what you think,” Azriel bellowed, clasping his hands at his sides. “I'll go with her, and since Mor offered I'd greatly appreciate it if she'd accompany us.”

Rhysand didn't respond, settling for sharing a glance with his brother, trying to reach a part of him that was minimally willing to forgive him. Azriel sensed his intrusion and angrily erected a wall of obsidian in his mind, miles away, forcibly pulling Rhysand out of his head. The aforementioned barely staggered to his feet.

“Fine, but I'd like to be kept informed of everything that happens,” Rhysand nodded looking at Mor, who barely returned the gesture and left the office to manage the meeting as soon as possible.

When the doors rattled and the room fell silent again, Rhysand looked at Azriel pleadingly.

“Az-”

“If that's all.”

Without giving him a chance to respond, Azriel turned on his heels and stormed off. Cassian followed close behind, barely sending a glance at his high lord, his brother, saying with his gaze how sorry he was that it had all happened and ended like this.

#azriel x you #azriel acotar #azriel x reader #azriel #azriel shadowsinger #acotar #acotar fanfiction #rhysand acotar #acotar imagine #acotar x reader #acotar series

[yanderes-galore]

Ugh, Panther I don't know what exact time you'll be getting this ask but as if now it is not the 2nd in my time zone. But I don't have any time tomorrow so I hope its okay to send something earlier. If not, please feel free to ignore!

I just need *sucks in breath and clenched fist* Yandere Gojo from JJK with the prompts 14. , 34. and possibly 35.

with someone who has sorcerer powers but has grown outside of the jujutsu society? They fight because they genuinely wanna help people and Gojo introduced them to the school to be a teacher too - in hopes to get another strong ally but uh oh he got obsessed. Like, he does not want to lose you like he lost Geto and maybe you'll grow to understand him too. so imo the prompts work well. Can either be platonic or romantic I think he can be both!

Thank you!

Sure, friend! I hope this is to your taste :) I really hope he isn't too OOC or anything. There was no plot structure here 😮‍💨... I just followed the direction my mind guided me.

He's a subtle yandere here Ig.

Yandere! Satoru Gojo Prompts 14, 34, 35

"It's too dangerous in the world. You need me, you should know that!"

"No one else understands me except you!"

"Don't push me away, dear... I only want to be closer to you!"

Pairing: Romantic/Platonic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Fear of attachment/loss, Trauma implied, Clingy behavior, Overprotective behavior, Controlling behavior, Soft yandere, Threats near the end, Dubious companionship/relationship.

It had been a long while since Gojo had found someone he could relate to in some way. The companionship wasn't quite what Gojo had with Geto long before... but it was close. You were strong... yet so isolated from the rest.

A familiar feeling to him.

Gojo could tell you were a strong Sorcerer when you entered the school for a job. As expected... Gojo wanted to test you to see if you were right for the job. By the end of your examination... you were approved.

Leaving Gojo curious and excited.

In Gojo's eyes, strong allies were important in the field. It's what he strives to find and teach. Strength has always been important to protect the weak.

Gojo at first hated how interested he was in you. Yet you were so mysterious... according to you, you never went to Jujutsu High to learn your craft. Which leaves Gojo baffled on your strength.

You aren't stronger than him, far from it, but you are certainly strong and full of potential. During your job, Gojo often checked in with you. Many students never really saw Gojo away from you for long.

He was always playful and laid-back with you. Safe to say you both get along well as teachers. Perhaps even too well...

Gojo realizes he's too attached when the worry starts to settle deep within him.

The bond you share reminds him a lot of Geto. Too much, actually. Such a thought makes him pained.

Gojo's concern grows, even as he offers to train you. You're a teacher skilled in your craft. Gojo really shouldn't be worried.

But... are you handling the new environment well? You seemed like you lived an isolated lifestyle. Does the city bother you?

Gojo despises the worries he has. All leftover emotions from when he was a teen. He... just can't help himself, however.

You always care so much for others. As a teacher and Jujutsu Sorcerer, you end up sacrificing whatever you can to see students and friends safe. It's honorable...

But Gojo doesn't wish to lose another he's close to... not when he finally feels he has someone who gets him.

Such behavior makes Gojo stick around more often. To the point you even begin to wish he left you alone. Despite being a strong Sorcerer similar to him, Gojo also seemed to treat you like you couldn't defend yourself.

You didn't respect him babying you... it was an insult to your skills.

"Don't push me away, dear... I only want to be closer to you!" Gojo whines, a frown on his face as you sit in your empty classroom. You snort, amused that he acts like a child while treating you like one. You have no idea what's gotten into your friend and ally as of late.

"Gojo, I don't wish to speak with you." You state in a stern tone.

"Why?" Gojo replies, walking over to lean on your desk. He's as casual as ever it seems.

"You've been awfully... suffocating." You admit bluntly. "I am an adult who can handle themselves."

"... not in this world." Gojo sighs, gaze never once leaving yours behind his glasses. He notices your unamused look and straightens his posture.

"It's too dangerous in the world. You need me, you should know that." Gojo frowns. "The city has way more curses running around than where you came from."

"I can handle them." You retort.

"And if you can't?" Gojo responds, staring you down. Something about his staring unnerves you. You're silent, Gojo oddly going back to smiling after you stop arguing.

"I'm the strongest, you should really just let me take care of things for you. It would be much... safer." Gojo's tone is oddly relieved and gleeful.

"... Gojo... you can't be there for me all the time." You try to reason.

"Says who?" Gojo frowns. "No one else understands me except you! Am I just supposed to sit back and lose you?"

His words and lack of composure surprise you. Gojo's quick to fix his sudden outburst, however, sitting beside you and holding your hand. It's an action of comfort...

But you can tell there's a pained expression in his usually playful eyes.

"... just listen to me, okay?" Gojo whispers, looking back at you as his grip tightens. "You'll be safe if you just... keep me close."

"Gojo-" You try to speak, but Gojo covers your mouth.

"I don't care how strong you are... I'm stronger. If you don't let me protect you..."

Gojo's grin turns... unsettling. A twisted show of teeth that makes it look like he'll snap. You swore he even chuckled. Your heart beats faster when he leans closer.

"I may just have to keep you all to myself no matter the cost... that way you'd be safe and I can't lose you. How's that sound?"

#yandere jjk #yandere jujutsu kaisen #yandere satoru gojo #yandere gojo

[cerys-scribbles]

we save each other

Halsin x F!Reader Wordcount: 2.4k When Orin takes Halsin, you are determined to get him back - no matter the cost. Warnings: blood, injuries

The temple of Bhaal smells of damp stone and blood.

It’s oppressive—the weigh of stone all around, the scent of old and new blood, the whispers, and the sense of being watched. After the nautiloid, the shadow curse, and the assault on Moonrise, you thought no place could truly rattle you.

You were wrong. Because this temple is wrong. And you want nothing more than to leave it. 

But can’t. Because Orin took the one thing she knows you can’t lose. 

“Come on,” you whisper to the others. Shadowheart has a hand on her weapon; Gale looks thoroughly unsettled; even Lae’zel appears uneasy. 

When you enter the temple, you see the altar. Orin is standing over it, her hand caressing the side of his broad face. Your heart lurches in your chest at the sight of him bound and unconscious. 

“Halsin,” you breathe. 

Orin lifts her gaze to yours and offers the kind of smile normally seen on skulls. 

You have little memory of what follows after that. You snarl a challenge, bring up your weapon, and then all the hells seem to break loose. Gale is snarling spells, Shadowheart whirling as she parries blow after blow, and Lae’zel charges through the ranks of Bhaal’s faithful like a battering ram. 

But your eyes are the on the altar. 

You fight alongside your companions until you can reach him. Then you’re at his side, a knife in hand. 

“Halsin,” you say urgently. You touch his cheek, trying to rouse him. 

He must have been drugged. You can think of no other way that Orin could have taken and held him. At the urgent sound of your voice, his eyes flicker open. He seems to be making a great effort to drag himself to consciousness. His eyes are glazed, his lips soundlessly forming your name. You set your blade against the ropes and saw through the bindings around his wrists. “I’m here,” you say. “You’re all right.” 

It takes a moment for him to find his voice. “You came.”

“Of course I did.” The ropes are infuriatingly thick and you drag your knife back and forth, fraying them. “You had any doubt?” 

There is a moment’s hesitation, and it has little to do with his drugged state. He did doubt, you realize. He must have thought he would die down here, sacrificed like so many others. A fierce protectiveness wells up within you. When you’re both free of this place, you are going to tell him precisely how loved he truly is. 

The ropes give way and you free his wrists, trying to rub blood and sensation back into his hands. He begins to sit up, but you press him down. “Rest a moment. Then we’ll—”

You feel the impact first. It’s like being hit with a rock—but then comes the chill and the utter wrongness of it. 

Halsin’s eyes widen. All of the drugged lassitude falls away from him and he rolls over, his ankles catching on the bindings. His hands reach for you. No, not for you—you realize—but for the dagger protruding from your chest. 

One of the cultists was invisible and he came up behind you. You turn, raising your weapon to try and defend you both, but the world tilts sideways. 

You can’t collapse. You have to keep him safe. You have to free him.

You fall. There is the distant sound of an animal roar, the clashing of steel, and the smell of coppery blood. 

Then, nothing.

*

Halsin has seen many beautiful things in his long life—the golden hue of dawn creeping across the old forest, the rarest of flowers blooming in moonlight, the sharp cut of lightning across a stormy sky. 

But none of those sights compare to this. To her. 

She kneels down beside him, as though the chaos all around them is nothing. A knife flickers between her fingers and she begins to free him.

She came for him. 

Part of him had hoped—no, he had yearned—to see her again. But Halsin has long been a protector, not the protected. He learned to fend for himself at a young age. Her rescue of him from the goblins was a welcome surprise. After Aradin fled, Halsin thought no aid would be coming. But she did come for him—not just once, but twice. 

He should have known better than to underestimate her, he thinks, as her hair falls around them both. She frees his arms, and then she is massaging circulation into his sore hands. 

Gentle, always so gentle. So caring. He has never met anyone with such a gentle heart. It’s why he fell in love with her. And he does love her, even if he has not found the moment to tell her yet. There were always other priorities—the shadow curse, the tadpoles, the missions. There would always be time later, he told himself. But then he was kidnapped, and he realized belatedly how precious their little time together has been. He should have told her everything: how he treasures their conversations, how beautiful she is, how her kind heart is a rarity.

And now she is beside him, hope blossoming between them. Once they are free of this place, he will tell her everything.  

But then a cultist appears and drives a knife through her back. She makes a small sound, as though the breath has been taken from her. She looks more confused than pained, and when she glances down, it is with a line between her delicate brows. 

“No!” The word is yanked from his lips. It is a raw and agonized denial. A plea. 

When she falls, it seems to take an eternity—as though time itself cannot bear to see her injured.

A fury such as he has never known howls through him. 

The animal takes him and he welcomes the change. The ropes binding his legs snap, and Halsin lunges for the cultist. Bone and muscle give way between his jaws, and he tastes fresh blood. Another cultist lunges and Halsin kills him, too. Everything is a blur of adrenaline and fear and violence. He has rarely allowed the change to take him so thoroughly, but right now animal fury is the best weapon he possesses. 

Once the cultists have been driven back, Halsin looks back at her. 

She lays on her side, hair fallen across her face. She needs the man, not the beast. With a great effort, he changes back. It feels wrong; his instincts are screaming that he needs to be the bear to protect her.

“Stay with me, love,” he whispers, kneeling beside her. He turns her over, taking her gently in his arms. 

His magic is sluggish; his body is still fighting to rid itself of the damn potions that kept him docile. 

“Oak Father,” he murmurs, pressing his hand to her wound. “If you only ever answer one of my prayers, let it be this one. Please, give me the strength to save her.” His throat tightens painfully. “And if I cannot, keep her safe until we can meet again.” 

He spell takes hold. Her flesh slowly knits back together, but he doesn’t release the spell. He needs to ensure that the internal injuries will heal, that she will not bleed from within. 

He pours all of his magic into her, every last bit of strength he has. And when that runs out, he simply holds her.

All around him, the room has gone silent. Orin lays dead, a sword wound in her chest. Lae’zel flicks her blade free of blood with a contemptuous snarl. She snarls a curse in her tongue, and even if he cannot understand it, Halsin agrees completely. 

“How is she?” Gale rushes over, kneeling by Halsin. 

“I don’t know,” Halsin replies. “But we should get her someplace safe.” 

*

They retreat to a place called the Elfsong Tavern. Gale explains that they took rooms here, and while it is no forest, it’s more comfortable and safe that sleeping on the city streets. Halsin eases her onto a bed, sitting back so that Shadowheart can work. Her spells reinforce his, and her brows draw tight as she murmurs a silent prayer. Halsin tries not to hover, but he will not leave. He cannot leave.

When Shadowheart finishes, she sits back. She is breathing a little unsteadily, having spent much of her own power.

“Well?” asks Astarion. He lingers in the doorway, looking a bit like a stray cat that cannot decide if he wants in or out. “Will she survive? Or do we need to resurrect Orin so Lae’zel can kill her again?”

“She needs time,” says Shadowheart. “For the spells to take, for her own body to take up some of the healing.” Her gaze meets Halsin’s. “She’s past the worst of it, I think. You managed to keep her from bleeding out back in the temple."

Halsin bits down on his lip. He should have been able to do more. If he had not been drugged, that wound would have been healed in a matter of moments.

She came to rescue him, and she nearly paid for his life with her own. The thought makes him feel sick to his stomach. “I’ll stay with her,” says Halsin, settling at her bedside.

The night passes slowly. 

The others come and go. Astarion stops by with more blankets while Wyll ducks out to buy more healing potions. Shadowheart urges Halsin to bathe, promising to watch over her in the meantime. He goes, if only to scrub away the blood and the smell of captivity. He changes into clean clothes and returns to his beloved’s bedside. 

She sleeps fitfully. Sweat beads at her brow and her eyes roam beneath her lids. “My heart,” he murmurs, taking her hand in his. “Rest easy. You’re safe.” 

Finally, near dawn, she wakes. 

She tries to speak, but it comes out dry and raspy. “Just a moment,” says Halsin, reaching for a pitcher of water. He pours a small cup, holding it to her lips. She looks as though she wants to protest that she can sit up and drink on her own, but her arm shakes. Her fingers still curl around his, as though to maintain an illusion of control. But when she’s finished drinking, she looks exhausted.

Halsin lowers her back into the pillows, rearranging the blankets around her. 

“What happened?” she asks. “Did everyone make it out all right? Are you hurt?” 

Of course she is more concerned with the others than herself. “Everyone made it out,” he says. 

She reaches for one of his wrists. There are still red marks where the ropes rubbed his skin raw. “You haven’t healed yourself.”

He turns his wrist so that he can take her hand. Hers are so much smaller. “You needed the magic more.” She frowns at him, as though she wants to protest. Halsin smooths her hair back with his free hand. “Sleep. You should rest.” 

She closes her eyes and leans into his touch. “What about you?” 

“I’ll meditate in a little while,” he says. 

Her frown deepens. Then she shifts in her bed, making as though to sit up. He places a hand on her shoulder. “What are you doing?”

“Moving over,” she says. “Or, trying to.” She pats the place beside her. “Please. The bed is more than big enough for both of us. That chair looks terribly uncomfortable.” 

It’s true. This is one of those large, goose feather and linen affairs. 

He bites back his protests—that he doesn’t wish to harm her by accident, that he doesn’t need sleep. Instead, he carefully lays down beside her. She lets out a small sigh, and curls into him. 

She feels so small beside him. So fragile. 

“I thought I’d lost you,” she whispers. “When Orin came to me and said you’d been taken.”

Halsin wraps an arm around her. He had wished to save this for a time when she is well, but he has wasted far too much time already. “I feared the same.” He takes a breath. His heart pounds with uncertainty, but he needs to say it. “When you were injured... I realized how much time I have wasted. There are things I want to tell you."

She lifts her gaze to his. “You can tell me anything.”

His hand cups her cheek, thumb stroking back and forth. "I love you.” He feels her go still but he forces himself to continue. “I should have said so before, when the nights were calmer. When we might have stolen away for a few hours to ourselves. When we weren’t in a city on the brink of war. But even if the words have come too late, I have to tell you that I love you. You are a wonder and even if you don’t feel the same, I want you to know.”

He half expects her to pull away. But instead, she snuggles closer. “You should have said something earlier, it’s true,” she murmurs. “Or I should have been brave enough to say it first. One of us should have spoken up sooner.” She kisses his hand, and the touch burns through him. “I love you, too.”

Joy fills him. It has been years since he felt such unbridled happiness—there are no demands on him, no responsibilities other than this. He will keep her safe, ensure that she comes through the coming battles alive. “We will live through this,” he murmurs, pulling her close. “I promise you that. And once you are well…”

He hears the smile in her voice. “What are we going to do?” 

He kisses her hair. “Many things, my heart. Many, many things.”

*

When you wake, you’re still in Halsin’s arms.

It is like sleeping near a fire, but not unpleasantly so. You’re cozy beneath the blankets, his arms around you and your face turned into the pillow. You feel a little dizzy, a little giddy. You can’t quite believe that Halsin is beside you, that he loves you as much as you love him. You can’t help yourself; you snuggle closer.

The moment you stir, he rouses. “You’re awake.”

“I am,” you say. Your voice sounds a little rusty from sleep. “How long have I been out?”

“That does not matter. You need the rest,” he says so firmly that you cannot protest. He smooths a hand over your forehead. “No fever, that’s a good sign. How’s the pain?”

You gingerly touch the bandages around your chest. There’s a deep ache, but you know it’ll fade with time. “Not so bad.”

“You’re staying in bed for a few more hours,” he says. “The others are out shopping and collecting information on something to do with rescuing Wyll’s father.”

Your heart lurches. You try to sit up. “I need to help—”

“You will,” he says, gently pressing you back down into the mattress. “But you must recover first. I’ll speak with the others, and don’t fear, my heart, when we go out to rescue Duke Ravengard, you’ll be there.” 

That mollifies you a little. You know he wouldn’t lie to you, even for the sake of keeping you safe. “All right.” Your stomach gurgles loudly and you flush.

“And I’ll see about breakfast,” Halsin says, smiling. 

He begins to rise from the bed, but you catch his hand. “Hey.”

Halsin looks back at you, a question in his eyes. 

“Thank you,” you say. “For taking care of me.”

His face softens. He kneels beside the bed. “Thank you. For always rescuing me.”

You kiss him—and it doesn’t feel like the first time. It feels natural, like slipping into a comfortable shirt. You both fit together perfectly. “We rescue each other,” you whisper. 

End

#halsin #halsin x reader #halsin x tav #baldur's gate 3 #bg3

[rizsu]

carbon copies rin itoshi, rindou haitani, rintaro suna.

extra. tw: d-ath thr-at in rin's ( its not THATTT srs )

“what the fuck are you doing?” concerned and puzzled, you question your boyfriend who's in a position that does not look comfortable for the average human.

rin does nothing but wave off your presence by stretching his arms upwards and tilting his upper body ninety degrees to the right.

it takes one minute of silence (and staring) before you make your way to rin, sitting in front of him with crossed legs and arms. again, you repeat your question but this time with a little sarcasm, “mind telling me what you're doing, mr. yoga-for-all?”

sighing, rin answers you back, “you just answered your own question.” and with that, he closes his eyes to continue his meditation. nothing can stop rin from doing what he does—well...unless you apply enough force to push him onto the floor.

you spend at least twenty-something minutes admiring rin. really, he's pretty and lucky that his face card can defend his attitude. deciding to not bother him any longer, you stand up and dust your knees off before notifying rin.

“rin, i'm going.” “where?” “you haven't leveled up to unlock that information!”

one hand wraps around your wrist and rudely yanks you down to its owner, rin. caging you in with both hands at the side of your frame, he leans in and repeats himself again, “i asked where, y/n.”

one, two, three blinks later you regain the function of thinking. seriously, it's so rare for rin to be so close and whenever he does it, it's at the most unexpected moments. smiling ear to ear, you tease him, “is this a curious rin? the itoshi rin?”

squinting, he sighs before leaning away, deciding it's best to wave you off again and continue his activities but not before he orders, “do as you please but call or text me when you reach.”

standing up again, you nod at him, “i'm just going back to my parents' for the weeknd!” ruffling his hair, you smile again at him to which he returns—just a small one though.

at your parents', you're lazing around in your room, looking through shopping websites while adding things you'll never buy any time soon to cart. it's a nice moment until you see a specific text that mimicked...a death threat..?

in the haitani's home holds two young adults, both share the same ages but different personalities. within a room believed to be the guest bathroom, you can see a whiny rindou and his girlfriend who's furiously dabbing a cotton on his wound.

rindou flinches again, biting his bottom lip hard to suppress any moan. he's currently in regret. does he regret the fight? no, he won. does he regret upsetting you with injury number ten this week? yes, he hates it when you're mad.

“it hurts..” “really? didn't it hurt when you got the injury?”

and to that, rindou stays silent. he knows more than anyone that it's best to not annoy you further but he really does want to answer. it did hurt a lot—like a bitch—but the alcohol and chemicals mixing with the raw injury hurts even more.

enduring more minutes of you (painfully) caring for his wound, he sucks in the tears in shame. i am such a pussy, he thinks. how can he easily take blows to the head but cowers at medical attention!? he believes it to be shameful.

finishing the last wrap of the bandage around his waist, you back off rindou but kept a close distance. close enough so he can't stray his eyes when you begin.

“rindou.” “look, i'm sorry but i'm not sorry for the fight..!”

his reply immediately makes you pinch the bridge of your nose. he's an idiot. your idiot at the very least. placing two hands at his cheeks, you bring him down for a kiss.

flustered, he gladly kisses you back. in fact, he deepens it by softly pushing your head closer with one hand as the other fiddles with the flesh of your waist under your (his) shirt.

“don't,” breaking away, you start your scolding, “ever come back with an injury that bad.”

a smug smile adorns his face. of course she's worried, he thinks with pride. if there's another thing rindou loves it's watching you mask your worry with scoldings.

“looks like someone's worried isn't she?”

rolling your eyes, you jab at his bandaged area before walking out, “don't act like you weren't trying to not cry.”

“you saw that!?”

“hey,” a soft voice speaks, dominating over the silent room. suna pokes you, hoping that you'll wake up. after no repsonse, he does it again, “psstttttt.” again, no response. unfortunately for you, suna does not like to lose so he rolls over onto you.

“get off,” complaining, you weakly push him off but that doesn't work against him. forfeiting, you throw a leg around him, adding a little kick into it before resting it on his hip.

a mischievous smile greets itself on suna. moving your leg, he rolls off, sitting up on his elbow with his head resting on his palm, “there she is!”

you look at him for three seconds before throwing the blanket on him. it's definitely not the hour you or him should be awake. hugging his body, you step back into slumber, convincing him that he should too, “go back to sleep, rin.”

suna looks down at you, using his other hand to poke your cheek. mindlessly continuing to poke at you, he thinks he fell in love again. you look peaceful, unbothered and pretty—he must annoy you. with his mind tracing back to the first time you guys met, suna made it his main mission to annoy you. like a little boy around his crush, he couldn't express his feelings properly so he opted for annoyance.

there's only so much poking you can take until you grab his finger and bite it. clearly someone doesn't know that you're not a fidget toy.

“OW!?” suna yanks his finger, dropping down onto the pillow so he can comfort it with both hands. securing his finger tightly, he looks at you who's laughing as he's in pain.

“are you hungry?!” “NO, STOP POKING ME!” “you must be in hunger.”

#blue lock x reader #tokyo revengers x reader #haikyuu x reader #itoshi rin x reader #rindou haitani x reader #suna rintarou x reader #rin x reader #rindou x reader #suna x reader #rin x you #rindou x you #suna x you #itoshi rin x y/n #rindou x y/n #suna x y/n #bllk x y/n #hq x y/n #tr x y/n #itoshi rin fluff #rindou fluff #suna fluff #rin fluff #blue lock fluff #haikyuu fluff #tokyo revengers fluff #itoshi rin #rindou haitani #suna rintarou

[the-nysh]

Oh Meryl.....:') This will be a longpost commentary on the events of Trimax vol5 & 6 primarily from her perspective, so let's get into it!

Alright, so remember the foreshadowing in Meryl's line about seeing Vash's 'entire enigmatic past' from Trimax vol3?!

Well in Trimax vol5 all that becomes true! When getting 'touched by an angel' directly connects her to Vash's memories through contact with his feathers, she gets a front row seat to personally SEE, feel, and experience ALL the worst pain and trauma Vash has endured over his functionally immortal lifetime of horrors!!! Bearing witness to just how heavy a burden of sorrow and torment he's suffered carried with him that she's always wondered about; now she knows the full context of everything.

From witnessing his lone struggles as a younger child first learning how to use a gun, grinding through all his bloody mistakes, losses, and failures, to the worst calamity that he, as a transformed nonhuman 'gun' himself, became capable of unleashing on the planet: the terrifying destruction of July itself.

As Vash regains his lost memories of July through a meltdown of grief, regrets and revelations of his own (how firing his power inadvertently killed everyone he knew and loved), all at once, his pain while reliving those horrors of the past resonates to become her pain. (Remember this for vol6!)

And just to grab a mic to reiterate, Meryl is only a normal human woman here, with no special powers or superhuman training to prepare her how to handle any of this! (This disaster exceeds her realm of expertise!) She’s also the only one who gets to see, understand, and resonate with the entirety of Vash’s pain and feelings on such a direct, private, and literally mind-melding intimate level of connection. (Linking the human with the inhuman/monstrous.) So of course she’s terrified! Being thrust into such an unprecedented dangerous situation, witnessing inescapable horrors beyond human comprehension, AND by getting a very real demonstration of Vash’s power (on the verge of exploding out of control) and his transformed inhumanity RIGHT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL!  

So it’s truly a testament to her mental fortitude and resilience that she didn’t just break from the information overload or succumb to the level of despair and terror right there--no, she bravely keeps her wits about her, and despite everything she remains on Vash’s side, shooting first to defend him (aiming right for Legato using the gun she picked up from Zazie's corpse) as the one who breaks the multiple-way stalemate between all their enemies instead! GO MERYL!!!!

(It's why this moment's probably one of my top favorites in the whole manga!!! ;o;) Cause the entire time, even while under severe mental distress, crawling through the rubble with his powers and feathers surging everywhere, Vash had kept her safe and physically unharmed within his wings, and then her first action upon surfacing was to take charge to protect him in turn!! I love it; cause even during such a dire emergency and all the mental stress she's put under while in the heat of the moment, her faith and dedication (to fight without hesitation at his side) still aim true~

And even after Legato critically pushes the crisis from bad to worse, to the point Vash is provoked into almost firing his Angel Arm in feral-retaliation to stop him (holy foreshadowing of their future duel!) with Meryl literally stuck in the middle of all this chaos (while shocked, powerless, and terrified--bless her heart) as Vash struggles to regain control of himself...

(Note: even Wolfwood was blown back by the surging energy, but with Meryl literally RIGHT THERE under Vash, it's amazing she didn't get hit being that close to him.) ...she STILL doesn't run away from him once the dust settles, and is in fact the first one to approach him in concern to ask if he's ok after...

(So whew, a relieved round of applause for Meryl remaining strong in the active face of so much strife!!) The immediate aftermath of this whole experience gives her the tangible proof and perspective from Vash to understand and fear that Knives--as his twin in power but having the actual intent to destroy the world behind it, is fully capable of ending humanity's future.

Of course, the experience doesn't also leave her unscathed without any lasting mental scars to cope with...as Trimax vol6 so graciously shows us how things will always Get Worse before they can get better...

Where sure enough, she's already having difficultly sleeping with night terrors and loss of appetite--it's honestly no surprise the terrible experience has given her symptoms of ptsd she'd be made of something unbelievably superhuman if she weren't affected, and consulting with Wolfwood unfortunately doesn't offer her anything (helpful) she doesn't already know...(cause at this point, she's literally seen more of Vash, especially the amount suddenly exposed to all at once, than Wolfwood could possibly know how to advise her on. He's still struggling with plenty of his own fears vs loyalties towards Vash himself.)

Only that he stresses the importance she weighs her options now to make the decision to quit her job while she still can (a choice and the freedom to 'get out' that Wolfwood comparatively doesn't have under direct orders from Knives) to remove herself and Milly from getting further involved with Vash--specifically the life-threatening danger he poses as a living weapon (despite his best intentions and character as a person!) set to explode with the firepower to raze the world--if Meryl values her life.

But truly, how does Meryl feel about that? What does she value and care for more, that'd be most important to her--her life or her job? Is following Vash (surveilling him for 'risk management') more than just a job to her at this point? What about her feelings towards him as a person--the man she already knows, vs her need to reconcile with the truth (that he's not even human!) that she didn't know until just recently. Is the level of imminent danger and risk she's putting herself into, now that she fully understands how dire, truly worth it (for him) this time? And if she still truly cares for him, does it even matter what he is? Despite any pros or cons and conflicting feelings about it, which will ultimately remain the stronger reason compelling her choice to stay?

Whew! She has many things to evaluate and consider going forward, especially if she wants to continue at his side. (And as Wolfwood stresses, continuing puts Milly at risk too, so that's even more weight/responsibility to balance on Meryl's shoulders.) Including processing the very nature of her fears--to identify what it is that truly terrifies her (is it truly Vash or something else?) before she can hope to face or overcome them. Before this biggest hurdle tips the scales to debilitate her resolve or outright prevents her from continuing her job at all. For now, she thinks and relates back to the firepower she gained when she first fired a gun...

And ah, HERE IT IS, she recalls what's scared her the most from her own past memories: "I gained the power of death at my fingertips. It was terrifying." Cause the first time she ever shot a person and realized the weight of the power she holds, she hated it. Shocked, collapsed, paralyzed, coming undone in the streets, closing herself off from others, regretting her action terribly... It was all too much. (Sound...familiar to the guilt and regrets of someone else we know? Meryl's shooting style is also notably non-lethal...because she too doesn't like to kill! When her first time wielding 'death' with her Derringers upset her this badly that she needed to adjust to be able to continue her job that required arming herself with this type of power...)

So remember when she resonated with the pain of Vash's memories? Seeing when he first struggled learning how to use a gun too, and all the blood and loss that accompanied it? However...his experiences didn't just end there, with only his first time shooting a person.....cause the first time he shot his real power (without him knowing what would happen) he caused the destruction of an entire city, killing everyone he loved in it! He didn't just 'gain the power of death at his fingertips,' he literally BECAME it, armed with the power to end the world. Hating and regretting his action so terribly, the catastrophe traumatized him with amnesia and led to a full-blown meltdown in grief and despair once he finally remembered. With Meryl there, witnessing and feeling all of it along with him. (His pain became her pain; his trauma became hers...)

That the sheer magnitude of wielding that kind of terror, as an intrinsic, inseparable part of himself (unlike a handheld gun you can choose to put down; he can't), let alone carrying the fear of it going out of control again if he's not careful, is indescribable. And if Meryl can now understand the gravity of that in relation to her own gun experiences (when the memory of firing her Derringers was already enough crushing weight for her to fear) then as the peace-loving person she knows him to be, who's always tried his hardest not to kill anyone, the crushing multitudes she knows he must feel now upon recovering his memories filled with so much death unleashed by his own hands must be unbearable. Feeling precisely just how much MORE terrifying and overwhelming the burden must be for him. It makes her wonder HOW can he still even bring himself to pull the trigger?!

Just look at Meryl's collapsed posture, it's the same she felt in her own past experiences...only this time it's directed in relation towards him--almost expressed in his place for the crushing weight he must feel. She's outright screaming/crying/bawling for him in empathy for the pain he must feel every time he's forced to fight and shoot someone with so much baggage behind it. Oh Meryl....:') (This is probably the strongest we've seen her cry for him...and it certainly won't be the last she cries in concern to relieve the pain of his burden.)

And Meryl, watching him fight on regardless, becomes struck and speechless for another reason, as she realizes how much his incredible strength and fortitude allow him to push past his unbearable pain to continue his job: "I felt...his determination is even stronger than the regret he carries."

Which is true, for the same stronger feeling that compelled him to stop at nothing, despite being on the verge of total collapse bearing his regrets of July, when he grit and forced himself to continue on his mission to save her from the Dragon's Nest. :') This is how he does it; how he continues to fight for what's important. (And yes she was that important, as the thought of losing her like his loved ones at July, is what fueled his determination back then to keep going.)

However, the struggle is never easy, as Vash, for his own part, masked behind his new goggle-edged glasses and kind Rem-like smiles 'as usual,' has not been coping well behind closed doors at all. (That Meryl could even sense an air of unusually 'off' distant/detached/avoidant behavior from him that she asks Milly about it.) We see him immersing himself in thousands of rounds of (non-lethal) target practice til his hand bleeds, and when drilling that level of focus + exposure isn't enough to take the edge off, he visits a church during service to hear a sermon on forgiveness...only for him to deem it hopeless there's no possible release from his sins when he can't even forgive himself, and there's even evidence he'd been drinking in not-quite-so savory (healthy or responsible) ways--unsettling even Wolfwood that something's uncannily off with him. (All being different attempted coping methods to drown out and escape the pain of his past regrets, but even Vash knows it's impossible now to forget...)

So all it takes is one slip-up when he's depressed off his game for everything to tumble into a trainwreck... Where Meryl seeing him block a bullet with his powers (instead of his usual self-aware dodging?) triggers all that terror to come flooding back into a panic attack.

Where it's truly unfortunate (and oh it hurts...) as an accident, something involuntary--a messy, instinctual reaction completely beyond either of their control. Cause Meryl didn't anticipate her ptsd to manifest and incapacitate her like this! that a single flash of his feathers would remind her of Everything--of all the worst horrors those powers are capable of when unleashed, the weaponized death and terror it represents, and the very moment she felt and experienced all of it while trapped powerless and panicked to do anything... No no no, returning to that headspace is horrible; it's all still too fresh to relive and TOO MUCH trauma for a human like her to bear; she couldn't help coming undone in the streets in a far worse way than she's ever had before (and I don't blame her.)

And Vash didn't mean to publically out himself as a nonhuman 'monster' to everyone either, when tensions were already high following Knives' mass murders for them to link the same culpability towards him, while he's still struggling to get a handle on his newly awakened powers too--ohshit indeed when they suddenly manifest and the truth breaches containment freaking everybody out in a witch-hunting mob of scorn, fear, misunderstandings, and hatred. (Ouch...)

What's more, Vash probably didn't even know Meryl had seen his memories, or had been affected by his trauma to such an overwhelming degree--since the transfer happened more as an autonomous side effect of his powers activating rather than anything he purposely intended....(once again, unintended consequences beyond his control; he never meant to cause any of this harm!!) So from his perspective he probably doesn't fully understand how to interpret her distress (apart from the crowd's?!) or know what to do to help. Cause reactions from strangers are one thing to bear, but if he sees her reaction to him--and his nonhuman display, as anything like theirs...then it's so much worse cause it's Meryl, who's known and been with him since the beginning. She's someone important he cares for...and now she's hurt and visibly scared from yet again another mistake he can't undo. ohno ohno he knows he messed up...

(Plus poor Milly has no context to understand what's wrong, or why Meryl's so upset either, since she'd been knocked out during the later parts of the Dragon's Nest to know what happened. So now she's alarmed and concerned trying to process why everything's suddenly gone to shit, anchoring Meryl the best she can, while shaken by the pain and cruelty Vash endures in such a situation masked with a smile...)

Despite the stones thrown by the crowd (nooo~) Vash's first priority concern is to run straight over to check on Meryl...

*And here's where I scream bloody murder* Cause that single flinch--from reaching towards her with that arm too, probably hurts him more than any of those stones thrown at him in hatred and revulsion that he's a monster. Cause to him it probably reads as a perceived rejection from Meryl (noooo~), and the amount he's hurt from realizing he's the one who hurt her this way....ohhhhh his crushing guilt must be heart-shattering...;A;

But there's no time, as before Meryl's even ready to speak or clarify how she feels, the choice she previously had on whether she wants to leave or stay is taken from her as Vash is the one who's forced to leave her instead. :')) The only thing Vash can do is repeatedly apologize as he runs away he can't even say goodbye--Wolfwood has to say that for him...and admit to Wolfwood how much he 'really feels like crying.'

(And once again poor Milly, left with no other explanations, can only read how much his pained empty mask of a smile has broken...)

What sucks even more, is knowing how much Meryl had already empathized with his pain (she could already feel that strongly for him!) and being in no condition to explain herself or her fears to him, once her panic subsides, she's bound to feel that much more terrible with guilt from realizing how her reaction (especially her flinch) had unintentionally hurt and pushed him away....leading towards a bad result she simply couldn't help and had no power to change...what a disaster.

But is someone as usually brave and tenacious like Meryl going to let that be the end of it? Broken on a disastrous parting and painful misunderstanding (she never meant to 'reject' him!!!) she literally had no say over? What of her brand of determination--especially towards what she feels (and decides) is most important, becoming stronger than the pain and regrets she carries? (Just like Vash! Can she find it within her to continue, or start over, inspired just as he does?)

Her struggle now becomes finding that strength (even a driving belief) to tentatively (re)build that trust and acceptance between them towards recovery. To endure, fight, and conquer those horrors to bridge (reconnect) the gap between the human and monstrous that separates them. (Especially if she truly cares and wants to do it--for the sake of what Matters, for what'll make the effort Worth it.) It'll be huge and seemingly insurmountable for any other person bearing the same strife she carries, but you can do it Meryl, I believe in you~~

#trigun #trigunbookclub #commentary #vashmeryl #long text post #aaaaaaAAAAAA well I Tried :'D #wanted to do this in vol5's week but didn't feel it'd be complete without covering the aftermath in vol6 #and WHEW the repeated 9999 critical hits of emotional damage made this Difficult

[mamawasatesttube]

Do you think Superman ever found out about Superboy trying to drown himself?

so this is one of those thorny questions that rises out of the way dc editorial was like, well superboy and superman are separate books and we don't want superman all over superboy's story all the time. because in the text, there's absolutely no acknowledgment of it from clark, even when mae shows up and rips the s-shield patches off kon's jacket for misrepresenting what superman's crest stands for. if mae's heard of what's going on, surely clark should have heard about it too, right? but that never actually is shown to have happened anywhere in the aftermath of knockout arc.

it goes back to the attitudes prevalent in karl kesel's writing (and in general at dc in the 90s, i mean), with stuff happening to kon that SHOULD make any adult with a degree of common sense and responsibility go "hey! wait a minute!" but that has no real impact because karl kesel as the writer thinks it's nbd. like in superman jr and superboy sr, when clark is written as thinking kon and tana dating is just fine.

like, it's a discrepancy. because superman, the character whose entire thing is like. caring about everybody ever, and who IS shown to care for kon even before they're as close as they get later, ostensibly should have heard about superboy getting tangled up in something with a villain, and gone to investigate, and the fact that he didn't is entirely because editorial didn't let him, and because karl kesel didn't think this was a predatory situation. like yes knockout was written as manipulating and abusing kon, but not in a predatory way - just in the "manipulative and evil woman takes advantage of kind and naive boyfriend who wants to believe her" way. which is insane because she's also written calling him jailbait and all sorts of shit, but. that's just how kesel thinks sexual women are, and that's what he thinks teen boys fantasize about, etc., so it's not written in a fashion that even remotely condemns that behavior as Maybe Not Great.

because like. the thing is. if superman heard that a kid who fights crime wearing the crest of his house got manipulated into defending a villain and then tried to kill himself to take her down, of COURSE he would step in and say something or do something. in annual #2 he literally shows up just to talk to kon about how he's feeling about the paul westfield revelation - the idea that he wouldn't step in re: the knockout situation is absurd. it's completely out of character for him.

so like, no, i don't think he knows. it's the only way to explain him not showing up at any point. which is still hard to actually reconcile with the fact that mae did know, but... when working within the confines of what we're given with by a flawed canon that reflects its authors flawed views, we kinda have to bend stuff here and there a little, right? it's kind of impossible to make sense of, otherwise.

my personal interpretation of events is that clark was kind of avoiding too much news about kon in the early days because he needed some time to process the whole "being nonconsensually cloned while he was dead" thing, but also was in denial that he was upset or feeling violated at all, because he knew it wasn't kon's fault and because he was already fond of kon, and felt quite guilty for having any hangups about how kon came to be. it still takes a little fiddling (for instance, his appearance in annual #2) but it's the best way i've found to keep clark in character while having kon's story remain as it is. (i do find kon's narrative of exploitation and suicidality compelling. he's so kind and so full of joie de vivre and so independent. and at the same time those traits keep getting him taken advantage of. he's a vulnerable child in the spotlight. ough.)

#answers #the-dracologist #kon #clark #suicide cw #grooming cw

[imagines-all-day-everyday]

Robb Stark being protective would include...

first of all, this man is one of the most loyal men in all of Westeros

like, if you are his blood this man would literally walk to the ends of the earth to protect and defend you

robb also believes that sometimes the phrase 'blood is thicker than water' doesn't necessarily always apply

like if you are loyal to him and have been there for him as a friend or confidant, you best believe this man is going to die trying to protect you, even if it's against a member of his family

but now let's talk about protective robb with someone he was in love with because... wow

if you thought he was protective over his family, friends and people of Winterfell....

.......just wait until this man is in love

it would probably first only manifest in small, subtle ways if you weren't together yet

only little things that his family members would pick up on

like when he would try to inquire about what you've been doing

or whenever you would go to walk home at night Robb would conveniently be right beside you to offer to walk you home

because who knows who or what is wondering around in the dark?

catelyn would raise her eyebrows at and jon would try and hide his amusement

that would send arya and sansa into little giggling fits

luckily you would be blissfully unaware, just grateful for Robb's kindness

overtime it would escalate

you'd keep spotting Greywind prowling around you wherever you went

it was getting to the point that you were wondering if he was following you intentionally

there was one incident when you were walking home at night and robb was away on a hunting expedition and a group of men approached you

and Greywind appeared out of no where to bite the hand off the leader before he could rip your dress

robb literally having to hold himself back from destroying his room when he found out

when you told robb what had happened and had identified the men involved, they were never seen again

you didn't ask questions

whenever there was a feast at Winterfell, Robb's eyes would always find your figure, making sure that you were safe and having fun

and if there was dancing? well you best believe that Robb would always happen to be near you to offer to be your partner, only to be polite (of course)

you always wondering why no one else would ever ask you to dance, until one day you turn around just in time to see Robb starring literal daggers at one of his men about to approach you

at first you're upset, thinking that Robb doesn't see you as good enough for any of his men

"is it my status? my looks? what have I done for you to deem me so unworthy that you will not even let your men touch me?"

"unworthy? my men are the fucking unworthy ones. they're lucky they are even allowed to look at you."

a look of pure confusion would cross your face - you were always a bit slow when it came to romance

Robb would just chuckle and shake his head, "honestly love is it not obvious? I've been in love with you since the moment I fucking met you."

once you're together, oh boy

because while he was protective before, you're his now. Not in a controlling or possessive way but in a 'this is my wife and I would die a thousand times over if it means she lives' kind of way

all of winterfell knowing that you're a protected species

a diamond to be handled with the utmost care

Greywind becoming like your second shadow

which you don't mind but sometimes all you want is some peace and quiet and to be left alone

Robb knowing you can handle yourself but struggling to give you space because he knows how fucked up Westeros can be

because he has seen horrors that he prays you will never have to witness in your lifetime

trusting you completely, but the issue is he trusts no one else (apart from his family)

him having to learn to back off - slightly

always making sure he's standing between you and a doorway just incase soldiers come barging in

a hand always touching you whenever you're within arms reach

whenever he has to go away to fight it's always an internal struggle if he should bring you with him or leave you at home

because he doesn't want to drag you towards a war, but what happens if he leaves you at winterfell and isn't there to protect you?

defending you when catelyn makes some sort of insulting remark or comment

jon becoming just as protective of you because you're his brother's soulmate and robb has always been so good to him

which is really sweet but now you have Greywind and Ghost following after you all the time

which is really unnerving for some people

"do not worry about them, they do not bite.... much"

his enemies trying to get to you to get to Robb

the closest they ever got was an assassin trying to take you out on your morning ride

robb was usually not a cruel man but the rumours of what he had done to that assassin spread like wildfire around westeros

it became legend, myth, shrouded in fear and awe

very soon not even the most infamous and fearless assassins would dare go near you, much to cersei and tywin's frustration

not even littlefinger wanted to touch you

"I am afraid even I am not game enough to conjure up a plan to ruin this one, your grace."

oh and you know tyrion would be dying to meet you - the woman that turned the naive and probably too trusting Stark boy into a protective, ruthless leader. the woman who's sparked the fear in the hearts of the most soulless cunts in westeros? yeah he was a big fan

you being the only one who can calm robb down when he gets upset or enraged when someone tries to hurt you

sometimes you don't because sex with robb in protective mode is next level

always holding hands

forehead kisses

like, so so so many forehead kisses

if you were pregnant he would literally never stop touching your belly

he can be a little overbearing sometimes, but it makes you love him more for it

because you know that this man literally worships you and just wants to keep you safe

he tries his hardest to give you independence because at the end of the day he knows you are the strongest person he has ever met and can hold your own

this man would literally die a thousand deaths to keep you out of harms way because god damn it the villains of westeros have already taken away his father and he will be damned if they take you too

#robb stark #game of thrones #robb stark headcannons #game of thrones headcannons #robb stark imagine #robb stark oneshot #robb stark fanfiction #robb stark imagines #robb stark x reader #reader x robb stark #robb x reader #game of thrones imagines #game of thrones fanfiction #game of thrones oneshot #game of thrones imagine #got #got imagine #got fanfiction #got imagines #got oneshot

[cherrycola27]

All Too Well

Series Warnings: Language, drinking, military inaccuracies. Allusions to smut, eventual smut. Unrequited love, enemies to lovers. Adult themes and situations. 18+ Minors DNI

Series Masterlist Previous Part Next Part

...........................................

Chapter 1: I'm Not Fine At All

You weren't going to let Bradley ruin this redemption arc for you. So what if he didn't want to listen to you right now? Maybe you could make him see that you'd changed.

You took your drink and tucked yourself over at the opposite side of the bar. You weren't in the mood for any more words of wisdom from either of your parents. You happily sipped on your drink as you scrolled through your phone, and people watched.

"Evening, Ma'am" a voice drawled from beside you. You slipped your phone in your pocket and looked over to meet a set of emerald eyes and a thousand watt smile. Clad in his service khakis, you read his name tag, "Seresin," you remember your father talking about him.

"Hi there." You responded politely. "Why is a beautiful thing like you sitting all by yourself?" He asked you. "I don't think everyone here is thrilled by my presence." You tell him as you look over his shoulder and jut your chin toward Rooster.

"Bradshaw's been an ornery cock his whole life. Nothing new about that." He tells you. "Well, aside from Rooster tarnishing my reputation, not that I needed any help with that, most guys are too afraid to flirt with me because of who my parents are. It isn't worth them getting banned from their favorite bar or getting a shit duty station for breaking my heart." You tell him as you finish your drink.

"Penny m'dear, another round for her and put it on my tab." Jake says without breaking eye contact with you. Your mom sets down your drink and another beer for him. "Who said I was going to break your heart, darlin?"" He asks as he cocks his head to the side.

"Who said I wouldn't break yours first?" You counter. He chuckles before taking a swig of beer. "You're feisty. I like it." He says. "How about a game of pool?" He asks you.

Now you laugh. "You do know what my callsign is? Don't you Hang—man?" You ask as you draw out the syllables of his. "I sure do—Hustler. Which is exactly why I want you to be my partner. Doubles. Us versus Phoenix and Rooster." Jake states.

"You really think that's a good idea?" You ask him. "Just because we're friends doesn't mean I don't enjoy ruffling Rooster's feathers. You in?" Jake asks you.

"The only way I'm going to play is if I get a little more liquid courage in me." You state. Jake quickly orders two whiskey shots. Your mother rolls her as she sets them down. You toast with Jake and down the amber liquid. It warms you from within. "Alight, let's play." You cheer.

Jake offers you his hand as you hop down from your bar stool and grab your drink. He grabs his beer before placing his free hand on the small of your back and guiding you to the poor table.

"Evening, Pops," Jake says as he tosses Maverick a wink when the two of you walk by.

"Pete Mitchell, so help me if your daughter causes a fight in my bar. You're dealing with it." Penny says as she smacks Maverick with a bar towel.

"Hey! She's not just my daughter." Maverick defends himself. "She is when she starts acting just like you." Penny says as she prepares to watch the enviable chaos unfold.

"Rooster, Phoenix, I found a partner for pool, rack 'em and let's play a round." Hangman says at the two of you walk up the to pool table. You can already see the anger on Rooster's face.

"Y'all this here is Hustler." Jake announces the the group. "Hustler, this is Coyote, Bob, Payback, and Fanboy." Jake says as he introduces you to the men sitting. He pivots and is about to say something but Phoenix cuts him off.

"Hey, Hustler." She says with a small wave. "Hey, Nix." You wave back. "Roo." You nod you head a Rooster.

"Well, now that everyone is acquainted, let's play!" Jake claps his hands together before grabbing a pool cue and handing one to you.

You and Jake win the first round of pool, and Phoenix asks for a rematch. She and Rooster win the second game. You decided to play one last game for the best two out of three. The two tequila-sodas and the whiskey shot are buzzing in your system, making you feel giggly and flirty. You've switched to gingerale so you can ride your bike home later. During this last game of pool, you've been very touchy-feely with Hangman, and Bradley can't stand it. He has a death grip on his pool cue as he watches Jake shamelessly hit on you.

It's the final shot of the game. You call the pocket and line the eight ball up and sink it perfectly. You jump up and down excitedly, and Jake picks you up and spins you around and cheers with you. You give him a victory kiss on the cheek before excusing yourself to the bathroom.

When you come back, you noticed that the bar is a little bit busier than it was when you first got here, and the juke box is playing one of your favorite songs.

You run up to Jake and grab his hand. "Come dance with me." You demand as you drag him to the dance floor.

Jake tosses his beer bottle and follows you without hesitation. He twirls you around the dance floor through a country song and some pop jam, but then someone cues up a hip-hop track and your face lights up as you turn around and press your body to his.

His hands slide to your hips and grip them tightly as you rock against him to the beat. Some song he doesn't recognize comes on after that, but you don't make an effort to change your position. You continue to sway your hips to the music, grinding your ass over his crotch.

Rooster is sitting over in the corner watching the two of you. The jealous anger builds the more he stays nestled on his perch. He feels like he's going to be sick. He keeps hoping Maverick or Penny will do something, but they are still at the bar watching this trainwreck play out.

You slide your arm behind you and curl it around Jake's neck. You slide your fingers in his hair, and he lowers his head just enough to place a few lingering kisses on the side of your neck. He trails them up your skin. He locks eyes with Rooster as he nips your ear before whispering, "Want to get out of here?" You shake your head before replying, "Take me home, Cowboy." Rooster almost snaps the pool cue in half when he sees you lean up on your tip toes and kiss Jake. You stand there and make out with him for half a minute. You pull apart for air. You bit your lip as you savor the taste of him on your lips. He tastes like hops and cinnamon gum, and it's forigen to you.

Jake goes to settle your tabs. You tell him you're going to lock up your bike in your mom's storage shed, and you'll meet him out front.

You went around the back to grab your jacket and helmet to put inside the bar for the night and to secure your bike. You'd have Jake or an Uber bring you back here tomorrow. You were just about to round the corner when you felt a hand encircle your wrist and pull you back before pushing you against the outside wall of the building.

"Bradley!" You gasped when you saw that it was him. His body towered over you, one hand still on your wrist, the other planted beside your head as he kept you in place. "Bradley, what are you doing?" You asked him.

"There's no way in hell you're going home with Bagman." He gritted out. "And why not? I'm an adult Bradley, I can fuck who I want." You sassed him.

You cocked your head to the side and waited for his response. You could see the anger on his face. His jaw was clenched, and a delicious vein was straining in his neck, but he remained silent.

"Bradley, if you can't give me one good reason why I shouldn't let Jake rearrange my organs, then I'm going to need you to move." You told him as you tried to push him out of the way.

Bradley didn't speak. Instead, he pushed you back against the wall and crashed his lip to yours. One of his hands tangled in your hair while the other gripped your waist and pulled you to him.

You moaned, giving him the chance to slot his tongue in your mouth. You tugged on his curls as his mouth worked against yours.

He tasted like beer and wintergreen tobacco, a habit he had picked up in flight school that he just couldn't seem to kick.

His kiss was hot, heavy, and dizzying. It was something you knew all too well.

He pulled back and admired his handy work. You were breathless with flushed cheeks and swollen lips.

"I thought you said we weren't going to start this again." You goaded him. "You and I both know that it was going to end this way. It always does. I never can tell you no, can I?" He says before kissing you again.

"Get on your bike, and I'll follow you back to your place." He tells you. "Why my place? You ask him.

"You can't leave in the middle of the night if you're already home." He says matter of factly.

You smirk at him. "What about Hangman?" You ask. "I'll handle it." Bradley says.

You climb on your bike and meet Bradley in front of the Hard Deck, with Jake no where in sight.

He climbs into his Bronco and follows you to your little beach house.

The second the two of you make it through the door, you're caught up in each other. You manage to lead him to your bedroom as the two of you strip the others clothes off.

The sex between the two of you is mind-blowing. You've done it enough to know how to make each other feel good, even if your feelings had been dead and gone and buried for some time.

After losing count of the number of orgasms you've had, you collapse against the sheets and curl up against Bradley's chest for a good night's sleep.

The next morning, you wake up to a cold bed. You reach out for Bradley only to find that his side of the bed is empty. You get up and see his clothes are gone from your floor. You slip on your robe and check the bathroom. Still no sign of him.

You walk downstairs hoping that he's in your kitchen, but it is empty as well. You look out of your curtains to see that his Bronco is gone from your driveway.

So this is what it feels like to wake up alone. You sigh before taking a seat at your kitchen island. It's then that you notice the note scrawled on a piece of paper.

You open it and immediately recognize the four words written in Bradley's hand writing:

"How does it feel?"

Chapter 1 is here! Hope you guys enjoy it. Also, please don't slash my tires over toxic Bradley.

Tag list: @thedroneranger @roosterscock @shanimallina87 @desert-fern @teacupsandtopgun @mayhemmanaged @lovinglyeternal @lovingbradshawafterdark @wkndwlff @shanimallina87 @roosterforme @daggerspare-standingby @dakotakazansky @startrekfangirl2233 @hecate-steps-on-me @bradshawsbaby @cassiemitchell @na-ta-sh-aa @blueoorchid @milestellerlover @katieshook02 @mak-32 @je-suis-prest-rachel @soulmates8 @ohgodnotagainn @diorrfairy @eli2447 @xoxabs88xox @cornishkat @littlewhiterose @annagraceevanss @djs8891

#cherrycola27 #top gun maverick #top gun #rooster bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster top gun #bradley bradshaw #rooster smut #tgm #lt. bradley bradshaw #rooster x reader #top gun smut #top gun rooster #top gun fanfiction #top gun 2 #tgm fanfiction #tgm fic #all too well

[greeenchrysanthemums]

Your GG AU is so cool I love it so much! Could I request some random Cleo facts?

Thank you! And, yes, of course!

Cleo is a blacksmith who Grian met after his little heist on the castle for supplies failed. She believed in his cause, so she offered to start supplying him with the weaponry he needed under the table.

She heard about the incident through Bdubs, the royal gardener who can't seem to keep his mouth shut. The two of them have been friends since they were children, and they both have a habit of gossiping, which makes Bdubs job at the castle very beneficial to the both of them.

They lost their eye to an infection as a child and had it replaced with a glass one, though they only wear it to interact with customers because they find it to be very uncomfortable. She likes telling grand stories about how she lost it, as well. She was a soldiers, she was a pirate, she fought a dragon or some other manner of monster, etc etc. Their story changes every time, and they enjoy watching people struggle to figure out if it is the truth or not.

Both of her parents, as well as her grandfather, died to the same disease that took her eye, so she was raised by her grandmother. She inherited her business from her grandmother after the elderly woman retired. The two of them live right out of the shop; there is a room in the back that has everything they need in it.

Her and Gem have an. interesting relationship. Gem knows they are up to some shady business that is in some way related to Grian, but she can never prove it; and Cleo thinks it is too fun to tease her with just enough information that she knows she's right but still can't pin them with anything. Gem finds her frustrating and irritating, but she also respects her for her strong personality.

When Cleo first met Etho she thought he was insufferable because he was silent and hard to read, but as they spent more time together, she came to think of him as her best friend within the resistance. She often supplies him with the more intricate pieces for his creations, the parts he is unable to forge himself or is too lazy to. He brings them plans, and they make stuff for him. This includes parts for weaponry and music boxes alike.

Cleo is in no way a fighter. She can wield a sword, but just well enough to defend herself and nothing more. If it came down to it, she would be far more likely to run away than engage in a fight. She is not involved in any of the active resistance efforts, she very much is just there to be their arms dealer.

#zombiecleo #GG rivals au #hermitcraft #life series #if there is anyone/anything else in specific that you all would like to hear about just let me know! #this is so much fun #GG asks

[deathmetalunicorn1]

Henloo! ^^ I was thinking about Charybdis reader stopping the third round. It was said that Adam was told by Brunhilde to keep the reader from watching the fight between Kojiro and Poseidon. But what if she somehow manages to free herself from Adam's grasp and runs up to the arena with the sole purpose of stopping the battle because: 1) Reader doesn’t want to see Kojiro getting hurt anymore and 2) Perhaps catching a glimpse of Poseidon's genuine remorse makes her own heart soften, ever so slightly.

Charybdis, even knowing the risks of getting involved, stands between the two to prevent them from fighting any further, and forces Poseidon to abandon the fight so neither of them dies, begging him to just give up before it escalates any further.

You could always make a recap for context but I would personally like for the request to be about the aftermath of the round, with father and daughter interacting. Charybdis' relationship with Poseidon would definitely be strained and damaged beyond return, but after the reader gives him a harsh (but sincere) speech that feels like a punch in the gut for him, he's granted the chance to make things right; not as a father, but as a God (since she now has Papa Adam). And with no room for any mistakes, by the way!

-Despair and guilt were the only emotions that Poseidon could feel, as well as anger at himself.

-You, his little daughter, was lost. You had found a new family, a new papa and mama in Adam and Eve, calling them such.

-You now had a massive family, between your new parents, the human fighters, the valkyries, and Hercules.

-You no longer needed him. You no longer wanted him.

-He wallowed in his own anguish, all of which was his own causing, hiding away in a private room that he trashed within moments of entering, then sat for what felt like hours.

-Poseidon was in a fog, unable to comprehend any thoughts other than you, what he did to you, and what he didn’t.

-As a king, he kept all emotions locked deep within him, hidden away from the eyes of others, from the eyes of those who look up to him and respect him, even if it is respect out of fear.

-But seeing you, his child, terrified of him and calling another man, a human man of all things, your papa.

-Poseidon longed for a second chance, to go back in time to that point where he walked away from you and your mother, to take you with him instead of abandoning you.

-He longed to be able to go back and defend you against Zeus; Poseidon clutched his chest over his heart as he could only remember your face when you told him that you were just so hungry, and for it, you were severely punished.

-When the first tear landed on his hand, his hands lifted to his face, finding himself crying. He couldn’t remember the last time he cried.

-When it came time for him to fight, none mentioned his bloodshot eyes, the skin rubbed raw around them as he had to regain his image.

-He entered first, hearing the cheers of many gods, but many who were terrified of him, of his notorious temper and ruthlessness.

-The same ruthlessness that drove you into the arms of another papa.

-Kojiro took a while to come out, as you had wrapped your arms around his knees, making him unable to walk as you sobbed, begging him not to fight Poseidon, or as you called him, The Mean God.

-You were being held back by Brunnhilde, her heart breaking as you were reaching out to Kojiro, calling out for him, sobbing loudly.

-Brunnhilde took you back to Adam, telling him to not let you watch this fight.

-Kojiro made no mention of Poseidon’s eyes, he could tell the god had been crying, but he knew of your past, he knew what Poseidon did to you and what he didn’t do.

-Kojiro respected Poseidon enough to acknowledge that he felt regret for his actions, but he also knew that he was in a fight for his life.

-Poseidon was fearsome, his anger turning on Kojiro, all of his negative emotions coming out all at once.

-It made him powerful, but it also made him very sloppy, reckless, within minutes Poseidon had lost an arm already and had a deep gash in his side, but Kojiro was worse off.

-The samurai had a deep gash in his stomach, as well as a stab wound in his shoulder, and was bleeding heavily from a deep slash in his chest.

-You had managed to get away from Adam, and you had seen Kojiro being hurt, startling you so badly that you didn’t breathe for a few long moments before you ran, rushing down the stands while Adam and Brunnhilde were chasing after you, calling out your name.

-Both Kojiro and Poseidon heard Adam scream out your name and they both turned, seeing you leaping from the stands to land hard on the arena they were fighting on, rolling a few feet.

-You weren’t hurt, just a little disoriented, but you quickly stood as the crowd was alight with cries, seeing a child rushing out so recklessly.

-You leapt in front of Kojiro, despite Poseidon being stunned stiff and not moving, your arms spread, “Don’t hurt Kojiro anymore!”

-Kojiro was gasping softly in pain, “Charybdis!” and quickly the whole arena knew who you were. Poseidon looked conflicted, you could see the sadness in his eyes which surprised you, but you remained firm, you weren’t moving- he wasn’t going to hurt Kojiro anymore, “I’m not going to let you hurt anyone else!”

-Your declaration broke Poseidon’s heart, as it was a jab at him, for him abandoning you so long ago, and Kojiro was fully prepared to grab you and run, to protect you.

-Neither of you were prepared to see Poseidon lowering his weapon, his posture relaxing, “Charybdis- daughter, why are you protecting this human?” he couldn’t understand it.

-Your eyes were like fire, feeling so angry, despite the tears flowing from your eyes, “Kojiro and the other humans are nice to me- much nicer than you ever have been or any of you gods, like Zeus! You are all mean and treat humans like they aren’t worthy of protecting! I’m going to protect Kojiro, and if you want to hurt him you’ll have to hurt me again!”

-The cries of outrage were immediate, hearing your pain, as many knew of your past, and what had happened.

-Kojiro kneeled down, dropping his sword as you broke down into sobs and you turned, rushing into his arms and he hugged you softly, stroking your hair.

-Poseidon believed that should have been him comforting you, but you were right- he had done nothing but drive you away and there was no chance at getting you back…unless…

-“I forfeit the fight!” Poseidon’s declaration had everyone stunned stiff and silent, completely shocked and you turned, your eyes wide as Poseidon spoke down at you, “You are right daughter, we haven’t been very good gods. Perhaps it’s time we learn how.” And with that he turned, demanding a meeting of the gods.

-Nobody had ever seen Poseidon looking so serious and seeing this determination had the other gods scrambling to have an immediate meeting.

-You were taking backstage with Kojiro, crying the whole way as he had been hurt and he was patting your head, laughing lightly, “You’re gonna get puffy eyes if you keep crying!” Brunnhilde couldn’t help but smile as well, seeing your bravery, albeit foolish bravery, in stopping the fight and in turn, stopping the whole tournament.

-Poseidon was the one who came to inform you that the tournament was off and that the gods were going to do better, promising that to you. You were hesitant to believe him, and you were surprised that he didn’t try to come back into your life as a father, as he knew he lost that to another, to Adam.

-The others were just as surprised, seeing him respecting your space, reporting to you like you were his boss, showing you that he was being honest with his words and his actions.

-Poseidon’s heart ached, knowing he would never get a chance to have a father-daughter relationship with you ever again, but being with you, showing you that he was trying to be a better person, earning your smiles and praise, was enough for him.

#record of ragnarok #ror x reader #ror poseidon #ror kojiro sasaki #ror adam

[klutzyroses]

Hiii! This is my first time making a request. I was wondering if you could write a fix where the MC (in Ilene Sengoku) stands up for herself instead of having the ML’s do it + Their reactions. I hope I’m not asking for too much. The situation in which she stands up for herself doesn’t have to be extremely specific (In other words you can make it up). Thank you!

I hope I've met your expectations anon~

IkeSen HC: Stand Up MC

How do they react to MC standing up for herself?

Suitors: Nobunaga, Ieyasu, Kenshin, Shingen

Nobunaga

You know he is impressed right from the beginning.

A woman as strong willed as she is noble, hm? She is quite the intrigue to him.

The amount of self respect she has heavily outweighs her fear of people above her and not allowing others to treat her however they wish is a trait most people lack around here, yet it is a characteristic he most closely identifies with her very quickly.

She proves herself very capable of knocking people down a couple of levels, even those most would be afraid to speak back to. She however shows little to no fear.

The fire within her is a sight to behold, her pretty face set hard and firm, just like her clenched fists, almost poised to fight if she absolutely needs to.

Of course, if push comes to shove, he will not allow even one scratch on her being, but it's still commendable that she is undoubtedly prepared to stand her ground, even if the odds aren't in her favour.

This fireball of a woman is definitely a keeper.

Ieyasu

Well...

Knowing how prickly he himself can be, one must have quite the backbone to stand up to him.

He doesn't know what to expect from the young woman when he subjects her to his sharp tongue, but it certainly wasn't that she would put him in his place as hard as she does.

He would never show it, but the way she claps back at him, demanding his respect, and chastising him so harshly for looking down on her that he is rendered silent for a second or two as she storms off without waiting for a response from him.

Her beautifully aggressive voice has a hint of an irritated growl in it as she chided him. It'd be rather sweet to listen to if it wasn't directed at him with scathing words.

He would sooner die than say so, but he does have some form of respect for her...just a little.

Maybe she isn't so weak after all..

Kenshin

This woman...

The warmonger has always been vocal about his...opinion on women. It does however, shift upon meeting this particular maiden.

The unabashed defiance in her eyes as she stands up to him, even fully knowing who he is and what he is capable of doing to her, is something that takes him aback, though he doesn't show it openly.

He is unsure whether she is truly that brave, or that foolish. Either way, she...interests him. She is unlike most, who would cower before him, or run for dear life. She instead looks him dead in the eye with a serious expression, her lips set in a hard line, not a trace of fear in her features.

He almost finds himself wanting to find what her limits would be if he raised the stakes of his threats...yet he doesn't for reasons unknown to even himself.

He will think about it even after the incident has passed, the fiery and stoic woman who met his gaze without so much as a flinch or a tremor staying within his mind. Who was she, that she could stare the Uesugi lord and stand tall rather than cower?

These are the questions that plague him as he contemplates seeing her again.

Shingen

Ah what a fascinating beauty!

He doesn't see women like her come around very often. This is, after all, a time where more demure, quiet women are commonplace.

But that is precisely why she is all the more lovely. Especially when upset or offended when one dares to disrespect her in any way. The way her gorgeous eyes light up with anger and indignation towards the subject of her ire is captivating on it's own.

While he rather see her happy and smiling, her angry and proudly defending herself is a special kind of beautiful he didn't realize he needed to see.

She should expect to be showered in praise for her bravery and dignity...even if he is the one she was just standing up to.

He often wonders what this strong angel would be like against the likes of Kenshin. Or rather, what Kenshin would do against the likes of her.

That is a sight he would like to see indeed.

🌸

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen #ikesen nobunaga #ikesen ieyasu #ikesen kenshin #ikesen shingen #ikesen headcanons #ikemen sengoku headcanons #ikemen sengoku hcs

[4izawas]

— 𝐳𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐠𝐨𝐝 【 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 】.

𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: its midwinter. snow litters the ground, and zhongli sips at a cup of tea imported from the distant shores of inazuma, the scent pleasant and the warmth of the freshly brewed drink seeping into his hands. something within him thrums, and he feels a part of himself almost leak away — and he knows. he knows that the title that he once clung to ever so greedily is no longer his to claim.

𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦: genshin impact | 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: zhongli/f!reader | 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: nsfw ; minors dni | 𝐰/𝐜: 0.82k.

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: fem!reader, angst, canon divergence, former god x new god.

part of the 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐆𝐀𝐙𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐒 miniseries.

— 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐦𝐞 !!

birds chirping more brightly than usual is the only thing of note the morning the geo gnosis changes hands. 

its midwinter. snow litters the ground, and zhongli sips at a cup of tea imported from the distant shores of inazuma, the scent pleasant and the warmth of the freshly brewed drink seeping into his hands. something within him thrums, and he feels a part of himself almost leak away — and he knows. he knows that the title that he once clung to ever so greedily is no longer his to claim. 

he wonders who managed to earn it; all across liyue gods old and new have come to fight for the right to its ownership aside from those he’d managed to seal away, gods and demons, dragons and all other manner of creatures vying for the power that came with the name of archon. 

a hushed silence overtakes the entirety of liyue harbor, and zhongli pauses with his teacup halfway to his lips. the mortals that surrounded him watch as something creeps up the streets, quiet as death and just as blaringly threatening. zhongli turn to where the humans tremble most, a golden glare in his eye as he prepares himself to annihilate the being that had dared to enter one of the places he’d made off limits — the harbor as well as all other mortal settlements were not to be touched in the vicious fights to claim what was once his, he had made that blatantly obvious, therefore anyone found to be breaking the rule would suffer the consequences. 

he watches with a calculating gaze as the humans crowd the streets, stand there, then back away to reveal the figure of an almost ethereal woman  as she walks through their former path. she wears no clothing, molten gold the only thing granting her modesty as it hangs unobstructed within the air and swirls around her form, and zhongli can’t take his eyes off of her. he’d never seen this particular goddess before, and assumes she must be young, but he also recognizes the warmth that seems to emanate from her body as she creeps closer and closer to him: she was the victor. she had defied all odds, had destroyed the competition, and had claimed the gnosis. 

he eyes her curiously, still on guard but also slightly relaxing as she made her way through the crowds with obvious care. the whispers of the mortals around him reach his ears, and his eyes widen slightly when he hears that she has won the gnosis while never having raised a hand in violence against any of her opponents. its almost unbelievable until he listens and understands what was left unsaid: she may have never raised a hand in violence, but that doesn’t mean she raised no weapons or used the molten metal at her beck and call to defend herself. with a soft huff of a laugh, zhongli’s eyes fill with mirth; regardless of what she’d done during the fighting, the goddess before him had ended the short war that had sprung up in the search for the gnosis he had promised to whoever found where it was hidden and kept it for more than ten days’ time. 

he smiles as she quietly walks through the streets of liyue, the people peering out at her nervously. she seemed so unsure of herself despite her victory; zhongli wished he had been so naive once. maybe then his early centuries in power would have been spent basking in worship that came from respect rather than fear. 

 a little girl rushes across the road and runs into her, falling to the ground on her rear with a high pitched cry. the girl’s mother rushing forward only to fall to her knees behind her daughter and begin pleading for forgiveness. zhongli watches attentively, curious as to what her response would be. his eyes soften when he’s pleasantly surprised by her as she kneels before the little girl, helping her up before patting her head and murmuring soft words that zhongli could not hear that have the mother smiling and bowing her head repeatedly in thanks before taking her child and backing away. the goddess goes to stand, looking up at the people gazing at her with interest, and that’s when she locks eyes with him. 

her eyes widen as recognition overcomes her features, and zhongli smiles knowingly as she dips her head in both respect and acknowledgement. zhongli’s eyes glitter as he begins to sip at his tea again, pleased with the way she’d spent time tending to the child and soothing the worried mother, his eyes soften once again at the memory as the goddess begins to make her way through the streets once again. 

she was quite beautiful; mayhaps he would take the time to visit her once the excitement had worn down so he could properly introduce himself to liyue’s new archon. 

𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 © { 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 } 𝐛𝐲 𝟒𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐒. 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐲, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭.

#his gaze softens #zhongli x reader #morax x reader #rex lapis x reader #zhongli x you #morax x you #rex lapis x you #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact x you

[auromelt]

thoughts on if suzaki somehow got adopted by oya????

i see him more as a suzuran guy i don’t actually think he’d fit into oya well unless he was having a Real Serious mental breakdown and they were the ones to help him out of it lol. i can see him being friends with at least fujio though and he knows that if anything happens to him at senomon he’ll have a safe place at oya

i have headcanons though 😭

oya!suzaki:

first he and amagai are Done in this scenario. they’ve split, it’s over. suzaki hates the way they went out, but what can he really do? where will he ever be wanted and needed again?

oya heard about it from their silly little intel guy and it’s just not right. no matter how they individually feel about senomon’s guard dog, he doesn’t deserve to be thrown out with the trash, not after everything he did for amagai. it’s this that drives fujio to extending a hand out for him.

did i mention suzaki would look hot as fuck in black? anyways.

a lot of the oya guys are probably pretty mistrustful of him. i mean, as expected, he did play an active role in abducting and almost killing their #2. i like to imagine fujio would trust him and prompt the others to treat him nicely which nobody really takes kindly to. it’s because of this that fujio might be the only person he’s willing to speak to properly. things do improve with time of course

strangely, of all people, tsukasa is quite fond of him. he’ll make conversation with suzaki too but suzaki is soooo awkward with him because of the aforementioned kidnapping thing

we saw in the movie that suzaki is Strong, like a one-man army, 3-on-1 kinda strong. having him definitely elevates oya’s fighting prowess. he’s a lot like the hope hill guys in the sense that from a very young age he’s had to learn to fight for himself and win a place away from the bottom to survive. without having to protect a useless crybaby, his full potential is unlocked and he essentially displaces fujio at the top. i mean did we watch the same movie? he took on todoroki and odajima at the same time and still had the ability to go against fujio and probably would’ve won if the power of friendship was on his side… or if amagai’s irritating ass didn’t wake the dead

he doesn’t replace fujio as the leader. his experiences with senomon and amagai have built immense loyalty within himself and this loyalty has projected onto fujio now. at his core, suzaki is built to serve and protect. he’ll protect fujio with all he has because fujio was kind to him when no one else was. he helps in defending fujio’s place, never steps beyond that

he doesn’t officially join any factions, he has a hard time with people and everyone’s still kinda scared of him. he mostly works alone and corresponds with fujio. still, despite not having anything to defend but himself, he’s always at the beck and call of tsukasa faction

speaking of todoroki he and suzaki do Not get along. their personalities just clash horribly but rather than conflict, the two just ignore each other unless they need to work together. i think they’d probably have some level of respect for each other and honestly they’re probably more alike than they believe themselves.

suzaki would look so good in black

hm… he’s also strangely nice to jamuo. jamuo is terrified of him but i think suzaki would find him quite interesting. he was never much of an intel guy, that was saboten’s job in senomon and he sucked at it, only ever really able to force information out through beating people up. he’ll absolutely defend jamuo from the people who like picking on him

when amagai actually does find out what suzaki’s been up to, he’s furious of course. but he doesn’t have his guard dog anymore and he’s just stuck with the absolutely useless senomon high students. amagai would absolutely feel like oya stole what’s his, even if he was the one to throw suzaki out in the first place. against what is probably smart, amagai goes directly to oya to find suzaki and confront him and take him back because suzaki was supposed to be a stray dog he wasn’t supposed to move on. amagai can’t stand that.

when he reaches oya, i think yasukiyo would be the ones to greet him 🤔 with a punch to the face. tsukasa handles amagai’s intrusion, telling him to get out before they show him what they do to intruders on their home turf. amagai demands to see suzaki but suzaki won't see him, hiding away within earshot. amagai calls him a coward and tells him it’s not over and that he’ll get back at suzaki somehow. i think oya would probably have their big realisation of what suzaki’s been through at that moment, listening to the way amagai speaks to him and threatens him, seeing the genuine sickness and fear on suzaki’s expression. suddenly, the guard dog looks more like an abandoned puppy.

he does come out as amagai leaves, telling him to leave oya alone. the people standing close to him can see the unbreakable suzaki ryo shake, can see how scared he is, but he defends fujio against the person who scarred him anyways

after that he gets along better with oya, they realise that despite their past, despite everything, suzaki’s loyalty rests with them

you know what? i said i didn’t see the vision so idk how i wrote this much and now i’ve low key kinda convinced myself? 😭 anyways i hope this is satisfactory!

#🦙 anons #high & low #high&low #suzaki ryo #high & low the worst x #high&low the worst x #oya high

[letmetellyouaboutmyfeels]

Well. I guess today is the day I post this.

Putting this all below a cut to spare your dashes.

This statement will seem dramatic. I apologize. I don't know any other way to put this.

For a long time, I've felt unsafe in this fandom as a bisexual person.

At some point we got a new wave of people in this fandom (I can't pinpoint when since I never know anything that goes on in this godforsaken cesspit), and we started to get a growing wave of people talking about Eddie as a gay man, rather than bisexual or queer or ambiguous/unlabeled in his sexuality.

It was something I could easily ignore at first. I didn't agree with it, but I rolled my eyes and kept on keepin' on. It didn't really affect me. I had my own little corner and that was that.

But as time has gone on, it's become so popular and pervasive that every time I turn around, I'm running into it. It seems to be (but might not be, I could be wrong) the more popular interpretation of Eddie.

For example, I got an ask at the beginning of February, asking me what was wrong with gay Eddie, since it seems to be the "general consensus." Additionally, there was a podcast episode an anthropology student made where the host said that they have also seen people have generally decided Eddie is gay, not bi or queer. I'm not the only one who's noticed this and decided this is the general/most popular opinion of the fandom.

And I'm here to say that it's unbelievably hurtful.

It's not a new thing for people to dismiss Shannon. And let me tell you, it brings me no joy to defend her. I deeply, deeply dislike her and always have. But I must, because whether I like her or not doesn't matter as much as her importance to Eddie and her role in his life. Not just as Christopher's mother, but as his first love and as his wife.

However, over the past year or so there's been a serious shift within the fandom to ignore or gloss over Shannon, and to paint Eddie as a gay man who has always been gay, and never been attracted to women, and never wanted to sleep with one. Even though, canonically, he and Shannon jumped right back into bed together and wouldn't stop fucking every time they met up, despite that choice being detrimental to their relationship and preventing them from discussing important things.

Eddie was so busy fucking his wife like a rabbit in springtime that he couldn't settle down and talk with her. He fucked her repeatedly even though he didn't fully trust her with their son anymore. If that's not thinking with your dick I don't know what is.

Eddie's grief over Shannon's loss and his complicated feelings about her (his love for her vs his anger at her choices vs his own poor self-esteem) haunted him throughout season three. It's why he joined the fight club. It haunts him in season four, when he chooses to date Ana to give Chris a substitute mother even though he is not yet ready to date/move on from Shannon.

Even if I put on my Buddie shipper goggles and say, "what about Buck?" I do not think it makes any sense whatsoever for Eddie to be aware of his feelings for Buck pre-shooting. I think that is the moment he realizes what his heart wants and where he's chosen to love again. Not before.

Bobby moving on with Athena does in no way erase his love for his previous wife, and he went through a process similar to Eddie - in fact that similarity is part of why Bobby sees so much of himself in Eddie and why he tries to give Eddie advice on the subject. But I have to wonder, if Bobby had dated Michael instead of Athena, if the fandom would react the same way they do with Eddie - if they would claim Bobby was gay the whole time, and never truly felt sexual attraction for his wife.

I know Shannon is a disliked character by and large (I'm one of the people who dislikes her) and that her relationship with Eddie was complicated. Eddie wasn't always happy in his relationship with her. But neither was Athena, and yet the fact she was once attracted to and in love with Michael is never questioned.

Eddie is simply not allowed nuance in his relationship with Shannon. He is not allowed (as Bobby and Athena are) to have a complicated relationship with his spouse or to move on with another character while not denying his previous attraction to her. Eddie's relationship with Shannon is reduced to something he did because he had to, without any genuine sexual attraction, and without any sexual enjoyment. He is allowed to love her, but to never have been in love with her.

Eddie's biggest arc and piece of character development for two whole seasons (seasons two and three, arguably parts of season four) are erased.

The underlying message, whether intended or not, is that they are erased because they do not matter. And they do not matter because if they did, Eddie would be bi, or queer, or anything except 100% homosexual. And that means that the underlying message is that being gay is more important, more valid, and better than bisexuality.

I'm not saying this message is intentional. Frankly I don't think it is. I'm saying it is there.

And of course, when others have pointed out that this is hurtful and erases a big part of Eddie's history, and that therefore makes them feel ignored and erased as a bisexual person, there's been hostility. Some of it's been openly hostile and frankly feels like fighting for the sake of fighting, the kind of self-righteous love of blood in the water that has kept me a lurker in fandoms for so long.

The more insidious hurt, for me, is the people who refuse to publicly support people who call out the biphobia. They say nothing when people talk about how they're attacked for pointing out the issues with gay!Eddie, or they support both gay!Eddie and bi!Eddie sides, depending on the time of day and who's saying it. It makes me distrusting of a lot of people who try to tell me they support me. How can I believe you when you turn around and agree with the people saying Eddie's gay? Reblogging posts and championing it?

At best it feels like being accidentally hurtful while supporting/being open to multiple headcanons. At worst it feels like lying to placate me.

I don't appreciate being placated.

Fandom can give a skewed perspective on things such as representation in media. I understand that many people who identify as 6 on the Kinsey Scale have struggled deeply with repression, self-loathing, ignorance, and compulsive heterosexuality. I understand wanting that representation, especially in an older character when it feels like a lot of our media is still about queer teenagers rather than queer adults (especially queer adults over the age of thirty). And so with many slash ships having to deal with the existence of opposite-sex love interests in the characters comprising that ship, bisexuality can feel like the norm when in reality, characters who are gay (whether they always knew it or discover it later) are still much more prevalent than bisexual characters in media.

For example, in Our Flag Means Death we have Stede. In IT, Richie is inferred to be gay rather than bi (god forbid they confirm Eddie K's gayness but that's another matter...) In fact, in 9-1-1 alone, we have Michael. There's also the matter of who gets to be gay and who gets to be bi. In Glee, for example, Santana is the one who gets the nuanced coming-out story with drama and depth. Brittany, her bisexual girlfriend, doesn't get nearly as much attention or thought, and off-screen cheats on Santana in a staggering moment of biphobia (a decision the likes of which Ryan Murphy is not-so-affectionately known for).

Yet from people who headcanon Eddie as gay I repeatedly see the rallying cry of "letting us have this," as if 'this' is something they never get, or get less than bisexual people. Again, I understand the way fandom might skew things. But we cannot allow the broken goggles of fandom to, in turn, blinker our reality of the media landscape. Bisexuality is still less represented, and the wounds of "oh being with X man is nothing like all those women I was with, this is special and real" are still fresh (looking at you, Destiel shippers circa 2009-2012).

In fact as I out myself here as uh one of those veterans, I implore people to understand how this was the norm for so, so many years. Fandom has a short memory, I get it. It's hard to keep track of everything. But this embrace of bisexuality is rather recent. You look around and you see, for example, people happily joking about Dean Winchester's bisexuality. That was not always the case. For a long time, it was about perpetuating biphobia and casual misogyny as shippers wrote meta and fic about how no woman could ever make him feel like Cas does.

*pause for war flashbacks*

This was not the only instance or fandom. But I don't have time to name all the examples. My point is that there is a false collective narrative. My point is that when you are hurt, and have struggled, it can be hard to see that others have also been hurt and have also struggled. My point is that there is a continued instinct to put a certain type of character in one box and another type of character in a different box, and to try and expand the boxes, or move one character to another, is treated as a personal attack rather than an expansion of our understanding and a dismantling of our stereotypes.

Why is it always the character who has a lot of sex and/or is super comfortable on the subject of sex, or is very casual about sex, who gets to be bi/pan/fluid in sexuality? Why are bi people never allowed to be reserved, or have only one or two partners in their life?

Why is the character who is casual (or seems like they will be casual) and relaxed about sexuality the one who is labeled bisexual? Why are bisexuals never allowed to have angst around their sexuality or come out later in life? Why is our pain, our internal struggle, never allowed to be discussed?

I'm not saying Buck should be viewed as gay. I think it's correct to talk about him as bi/pan/queer. But I do think it's fair to examine why Buck's relationship with Abby is viewed in its proper important context while Eddie's relationship with Shannon is diminished and ignored.

Buck gets to talk about Abby. He gets to have genuinely been in love with her. He gets to retain that piece of his character. Eddie does not. Eddie's relationship with Shannon ended up hurting him just as much as Buck's relationship with Abby, in fact even more so, and yet people handwave that away as compulsive heterosexuality (which is not restricted to gay people, by the way, bi people experience that as well) and act like he didn't actually fall in love with her and have repeated enthusiastic sex with her.

People love to tout Ana as proof that Eddie is gay, but it doesn't matter what your sexuality is - if you aren't attracted to someone and you don't want them touching you, then you don't want them touching you. If you don't want to have sex with someone, you don't want to have sex with someone. Your sexuality doesn't matter. Just because a man is straight doesn't mean he wants to have sex with all women. Just because a man is gay doesn't mean he wants to have sex with all men. Just because a person is bi doesn't mean they want to have sex with everyone on the planet. And just because someone is asexual doesn't mean they have no libido or would never have sex at all for another reason (intimacy, fun, etc.). Sexual desire and drive are a very personal things, and both romantic and sexual attraction can play various roles or no role at all depending on the individual.

Eddie’s refusal to sleep with Ana or touch her is not a sign of him being gay as opposed to bi or queer or any other sexuality. It’s not a sign of any sexuality at all. It’s a sign that he was forcing himself into that relationship. He didn't want to be with Ana. He didn't love Ana. He didn't want to have sex with Ana.

Now, do I think how he broke up with her - his words about "the idea of us" - is insanely queer? Yes. Yes I do. And yes, for the record, I think that was deliberate on the part of the writers. But that simply says to me that he's queer. Not gay, not bi, not pan, not demi, not anything other than not straight.

To take that speech and those words and to say they could only possibly apply to a fully 100% gay man as opposed to anyone under the queer umbrella is hurtful. People's experiences as gay people are valid, and often, sadly, painful and just like Eddie's. But so are people's experiences as bi people, as pan people, as unlabeled people, as 'queer as in fuck you' people.

To wit: People ignore canonical evidence about Shannon, and claim canonical evidence about Ana as their own and no one else's, in order to support their interpretation of Eddie's sexuality.

That erases the rest of us.

I know that's hard to hear. I know that sounds like it comes with judgment. You are trying to speak your own truth, and you are identifying strongly with a character that you love, and it's hard to then hear that in doing those things, you are hurting or erasing others. I've had to hear that in my time, and I'm sure I'll have to hear it again, and it's never easy. But we must sit with this discomfort as our friend, not our foe, and use it to grow.

However, since fandom is our safe space, we often view anything and everything as a personal attack, and we often make judgments and interpretations based too strongly on our own experiences. Sometimes this is a good thing - I think the number of people who say Buck reminds them of their own ADHD are correct and that it adds great depth to his character. I'm glad Oliver has embraced it. I think the people who say Eddie speaks to their own demisexuality have a great point and I think it adds nuance to his character and behavior.

(In fact I also love trans!Buck headcanons! I think they're neat and I've read some fics I enjoyed that featured that.)

On the other hand, however, it often leads to people adding interpretations onto things that do not reflect canon or the actual character. They then view others pointing out the lack of support for this in canon, or the contradiction with canon, as a personal attack (looking at you, "Chim is abusive" people, go jump in a lake). It's hard to take that breath and recognize that not everything a character is or does or experiences is the same as what you are, or do, or have experienced. Especially when it touches on something as personal and important as our sexuality.

Because of this, I debated a long time on whether I should say something. I tried to identify the difference between what hurt me because it didn't line up with my thoughts and what hurt me because of actual stereotyping. I worked to make sure that this was more than simply taking an innocuous difference of opinion and twisting it into a personal attack.

Which brings me to why I say the word 'unsafe'. That seems like an extreme word. But I've seen people say that they "got a brain" and realized Eddie was gay, not bi. I've seen people take gifsets that mention Eddie being bi and tag them 'okay but I believe in gay!Eddie' or 'I'm a gay!Eddie truther'. I've seen people go out of their way in fics to mention Eddie disliking/being grossed out by female genitalia. I've seen fanartists put Eddie in gay colors/flags as opposed to bi/demi/etc colors/flags, on art that really didn't need it to convey the story - as if one cannot make a piece of art with Eddie on it without declaring one's opinion on his sexuality.

(Yes, I think there's a strong possibility that Eddie is demisexual. I wish people would embrace that idea more. Personally, I think he wouldn't label himself at all and simply say he was queer if asked. But given the discussion we're having right now on this post about gay/bi headcanons, I think it's clear a lot of people actually aren't as ready to embrace or consider minority sexualities as they might like to think.)

I repeat: this is not just happening on a person's own art or post or fanfic. People are reblogging posts, gifsets, and so on that mention bisexual Eddie and saying, okay but I see him as gay. They are not content to live and let live. They are actively saying they disagree. If you disagree, then why reblog the thing that talks about/mentions Eddie as bi? Why not simply leave it be?

I cannot overstate how hurtful this is; how much it feels like erasure, dismissal, and condescension.

You cannot tell me if that was something you saw about your gender, or sexuality, or so on, that you wouldn't begin to feel unsafe. That you wouldn't begin to question if you would be unheard, or dismissed, or viewed as less-than. Tell me you wouldn't start to wonder, if you were a character on a TV show, if people wouldn't erase your sexual and romantic history and ignore a big piece of yourself because certain sexualities just weren't good enough for them.

You cannot tell me that in seeing these things you wouldn't walk away with the idea that bisexuality (or other sexualities in general but bisexuality is the one brought up and to which being gay is compared in regards to Eddie) is viewed as lesser to these people, and to the community at large. You cannot tell me that some people are not internalizing this narrative, no matter what their own sexuality might be.

And, yes, reading that earlier paragraph you might say, "Mads, are you vagueing?" That is not my intention. I want to head off at the pass the rebuttal that this isn't happening. I want to cut off the demand for examples. However, I'm also not going to name names, because I don't wish to cause harm to people who I think, by and large, are well-meaning.

That's what I'm hoping is true, in writing this. That most of the people reading this, and pushing the Eddie-is-gay narrative, are well-meaning. "I'm bi myself!" many of you will say.

Yes, well. I'm a woman and I was perfectly capable of a lot of misogynistic thinking growing up, and I often fell into sexist stereotypes in my headcanons and writing and so on.

But I hope, since most of you are well-meaning, this post will instead cause you to think, and examine, and ponder.

I'm sure many people reading this are rolling their eyes and thinking, "what about the first rule of fandom? Ship and let ship? Kink tomato? Etc? Let people have different headcanons." I've certainly seen such flippant remarks from people before on this very subject in this fandom.

And the thing is, I have really tried to do that. I have tried to take it that way. But I think that it's also entirely fair for me to be hurt when a person's headcanon/interpretation ignores canon and erases a big part of a character's life and history.

I know, I know, we could get into a big philosophical discussion about how slash and femslash shipping by nature does something along those lines. But I feel that in the now-common interpretation of Eddie as gay, there is a pushing of stereotypes about both gay and bisexual people. There is a splitting of hairs on queerness. There is a subtext, whether acknowledged or not by those who push this interpretation, that being gay as opposed to a more fluid sexuality is more painful, more fraught, more challenging. That bisexuality, pansexuality, queerness as an umbrella term - those are less fraught and inherently easier. It's one of the pillars upon which exclusion in the queer community is based.

It also, generally, ignores the idea that one's sexuality can change over time. Maybe I'm wrong and maybe most people with the interpretation of Eddie as gay actually view him as being gay now and that's how he identifies now without erasing his canonical (and important) sexual and romantic attraction to Shannon. But that doesn't seem to be the case, and I certainly don't want to risk myself emotionally by trying to find out.

Not to mention that hey, when people are saying something is hurtful to them, seeing people make posts hand-waving and saying "get over yourselves, relax, take a chill pill" feels beyond condescending and dismissive.

I'd like to make it clear, I'm not asking for people to never write Eddie as gay, and that we should never see Eddie as gay again in this fandom, or that anyone who writes Eddie as gay should be dogpiled. I'm not the boss of anyone, I'm not the fandom police, I don't make the rules. But I think, when a certain behavior brings people pain - and more people than just myself, as I have learned in many private conversations - there comes a time when the least one can do is speak up about it.

Sometimes someone needs to be the one to stand up and say, "this hurts me. I am in pain, and this is why."

Again, especially when people are going out of their way to say "but I disagree, he's gay" on posts, gifsets, and so on mentioning Eddie having a different sexuality. You might feel this post is unnecessary. You might feel it's preachy. You might feel I should shut up and get off my high horse.

But the fact of the matter is when you come into someone's house tracking mud and they tell you to clean it up, you don't get to yell at them and claim they are trying to stop you from playing outside.

I kept my silence on this for a long time and part of that was I didn't want to police anyone. Now, however, we are at a point where people who think Eddie is gay are invading other people's spaces. It's not just that this headcanon is everywhere. It's not just that people are using such dismissive language when the possibility of Eddie liking women comes up. It is also that people are going out of their way to dismiss Eddie's bisexuality and argue that their interpretation is better on posts about Eddie being bi.

So frankly, I don't think anyone gets to walk away from this scoffing "don't like don't read" at me when nobody else around here is offering me that courtesy. If I could avoid reading it, I would. You came into my house, and the house of everyone else who makes a post, a fic, a gif, about Eddie being anything except a Kinsey 6.

Yes, reblogs are turned off for this. Anon is also turned off. You might say that's cutting off discussion, and you would be right. The blunt truth is I don't trust people online to respond with thoughtfulness, good faith, and care. I don't trust people to take their time and think before shooting off an emotional, defensive response. And I don't care to spend my time and energy educating people.

Maybe if I was a better person - a more social, more patient, and less private person - I would be the kind of person who would have the long hard discussions to educate and share my thoughts, to help you see my side. But that's not who I am, and I certainly don't owe it to anyone, not a single person here, to scrounge up my nonexistent trust and goodwill to have that discussion with you.

I've said my piece on this. I'm sure my tone seems harsh. The tone with which this is actually written is weariness, exhaustion, and, yes, nausea. It makes one sick and wears one down, to feel so on edge in a space and yet to try and ignore that to find joy anyway. Because I get a lot of joy in sharing my fics, and reblogging gifsets and meta, and I don't want to lose that joy.

But I suppose it needs to be said. I know others have said it, but I hope that I have said all this with enough calm and articulation that it will truly be understood, and it will not start drama or discourse, because that's not what I want. Truly. I spent enough of 2020 being dragged into one piece of bullshit drama after another. I'm not interested in wading back into that. I've kept pretty extreme radio silence for a reason.

My hope is simply for people to step back and take a long hard look at why they've decided one half of our ship is gay, and one half is bi, and what that might say about their subconscious stereotypes about gay and bi people.

If I've gotten you to do that, then this post is worth it.

I'm sorry I don't have any answers. I'm sure this would be a lot easier for people to read if I ended it with "and here's what to do moving forward." I think the desire to provide answers - for themselves and for others - is what drives people to make posts that condemn, or get aggressive, or seem to simply be out there to shut people up. People want to have a solution. They want the problem to go away.

I don't have a solution. I don't have answers for anyone. I truly wish I did. Part of why I've waited so long in posting this is trying to come up with a way to end this that would give people actionable steps. But at the end of the day, all I can really say is that I hope the people reading this will do some internal searching, and thoughtful discussion, and understand better the subconscious choices we make, the biases we hold, and how we can hurt people without meaning to.

I don't want apologies. I say that with love - I'm not looking for people to self-flagellate before me or make some kind of mea culpa post. I don't think that would help anything, and I don't think anyone owes that to me. Frankly I'm not interested in public discussion, and if there are posts others make about this, I don't want to see them.

You can make posts on your blog ranting about me (just please don't tag me, again, I don't want to see it). You can discuss this in your discord groups. You can vagueblog about me and chat about me in DMs. I don't care. I'd just like people to hear me say, "I am hurt, and you are hurting me, and I know it's not intentional, but this is why." Anything else is up to you. Any changes, in thought or behavior, are up to you. Probably nothing will change. But at least I've said something, and I've tried.

Thank you for reading this far, and I hope you have a great day. Stay safe and take care of yourself.

#I am so sorry this turned into such a manifesto #I tried to keep it succinct while also covering every possible base #to avoid misinterpretation or unkindness #but I suppose at the end of the day I am a long-winded person #who tends to over-explain everything #hopefully that over-explaining has cut down on bad faith assumptions #but with this fandom who knows #I'll probably be off tumblr for a bit because my anxiety is through the roof posting this #mads rants

[battlegroundofdreams]

1

So who are Morpheus & Melinoe? Now you get to find out...

Morpheus craned his neck, listening to the vertebrae pop.  The battle had been bloody, warriors lost, but in the end the wave of nightmare demons that had been plaguing the city had been defeated.  Normally the dream walkers battled in teams and walked in single dreams, but recent upticks in activity had necessitated the change.  After this battle though, things would return to normal.  For Morpheus, that would mean solo fighting.  He was a lone assassin, preferring not to have to depend or defend anyone else.  That was the way that it always had been, and he would keep it that way.  Not that the Dream Gods hadn’t tried to pair him up, he just refused to follow orders when they did, and eventually they just gave up.

As he approached his house he saw a message waiting for him.  What could the almighty Dream Gods want with him now?  Hadn’t he just given and done enough?  He grabbed the scroll from its holder as he unlocked the door and entered.  His home was not huge, but it was comfortable.  After he stowed his weapons, bathed, and got comfortable, he’d see what they had in store for him.  Hopefully it was some time off or an assignment in a remote destination.  It was doubtful, but an assassin could always hope, after all.

After he’d gotten comfortable, he broke the seal and unrolled the seal.  It took a moment for everything to sink in as he read what was written.  In all his years as an assassin of nightmares, never had a partner been an absolute requirement of the job, yet that is what was transpiring now.  If he thought it would do any good, he would have gone directly to his superiors and demanded that they reassign whomever they were giving him somewhere else, but it was included within the verbiage of the scroll that it was not going to happen.  He could either accept it or leave the force.  Apparently they had anticipated his displeasure with their decision, probably not the level of it, but at least that he would be displeased.

Setting the scroll aside he pinched the bridge of his nose.  How was he going to get out of this?  He hated working with other people.  It was one thing when there were large groups, like in the battle that day.  With one other person was a completely different thing and not something that he was interested in at all.  He had a feeling his best option was to try and convince whomever he was assigned with that they did not want to work with him.  Morpheus knew how to make a royal asshole out of himself when he wanted to, and he definitely wanted to at the moment.  He knew the other person was innocent and had done nothing wrong, but it was the best and fastest way to make sure that they didn’t hang around long.

*****

Melinoe had just finished training with another assassin.  A light sheen of sweat was across her brow and her breathing hard when she saw her commanding officer headed towards her.  Unlike normal, his face was displeased, which didn’t give her a good feeling for whatever their discussion was going to be.  Since she was unaware of any issues on her last mission, this must mean that whatever she was about to be assigned to was not going to be pleasant.  Hopefully it would be quick and over so he could go back to being normal.  Or at least as normal as he always was.

“Mel, I have some bad news.”  Well, at least he wasn’t going to beat around the bush.  That was a step in the right direction.  Make it direct and get it over with.

“I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be good from the look on your face.  So, how bad is it?”  Might as well find out.  Once she knew, she could start dealing with the fallout and making a plan of attack. “It has been decided that no one goes out alone.  All agents are to be given partners.  I tried to get you reassigned, but I wasn’t listened to.”  Her commander sighed heavily and it made Melinoe wonder exactly who it could be that she would be paired up with that could be that bad.  They were all dream agents, assassins who kept nightmares from hurting humans.  It wasn’t like any of them were actually bad.  “Tomorrow morning, you’ll meet up with Morpheus for your first training with your new partner.  I’m sorry, Mel.”

For a moment, Melinoe felt like the wind had been completely knocked out of her.  Of all the names that had been rattling around in her head, his had not been one of them.  Morpheus was an asshole and the last person she would have thought they’d pair anyone up with.  He was notorious for making everyone’s life hell when he was on a mission.  Why would they make someone work with him?  There had to be some kind of mistake.

“They have to know that Morpheus is not going to work with me.  He’s not going to work with anyone.  What am I supposed to do when he refuses?”  The frustration, and resignation, were clear in her voice.  She knew that no matter what she did, things were going to be a fight with him.  She just hoped that the higher ups had given some kind of guidance.

“You must find a way to work together.  If you cannot, there will be repercussions, for both of you.  He will have been made aware of this.  There is no way out for either of you.”  It was clear her commander was no more happy about this than she was.  “You were selected because you are his equal.  They are hoping he will recognize that and you’ll be able to form some kind of team.”  His expression showed the regret he felt.

“Being the sacrificial lamb to someone’s ego sucks, you know that?” Her eyes rolled skyward as her head shook.  How anyone thought that Morpheus would agree to be a team with someone was beyond her.  He was truly a skilled assassin, one of the best, the problem was that he knew it.  Melinoe wasn’t intimidated by him, but she found him insufferable.  She had to wonder if she injured him so bad he couldn’t go on missions if she’d be in trouble.  Probably.

“Just do your best and see what you can accomplish.  He is no more thrilled than you are, I’m sure.  If he hasn’t appeared before the Dream Gods already, I’d be surprised.  Play nice, and maybe they’ll just smite him in the end.” Her commander really was at a loss of what more he could do.  Morpheus had to have a partner, and Melinoe was the only one that was suitable.  

#writeblr #my writing #my ocs #fiction #fantasy #scifi #warriors #assassins #adventure #mystery #action #writerblr #writblur #authorblr #women writers #female writers #strangers to friends #dream police #guardians #complicated feelings #complicated relationships #conflict #compromise #original story #original world #original character #original fantasy #original fiction #original writing #teamwork

[manawari]

Sake of convenience.

honorable tags: @julyarya @i-bring-crack @winter-1023

In this world, there were two kingdoms that were in constant throes of war. The Red Flame Empire and the Beast Kingdom. They would clash even in the slightest misunderstanding, so it did not matter which who had started the fight. Even in the history itself said that the two had been warring against each other for centuries. Lord Antares, who was the immortal ruler of the empire, was the embodiment of destruction, he would hesitate to defend himself and his people against those who dared to look down upon them.

The Beast Kingdom, on the other hand, was ruled by the Beast Monarch himself. Their kingdom was known for its wildlife habitat and having wild animals as steads instead of horses, their soldiers were clad in beastly attires and had war paint over their bodies to assert ferocity to their enemies. They rushed for battle with no regrets and valor boiling within their blood. These traits were the things that rivaled the Red Flame Empire's ruthless prowess — these armies never backed down unless it was declared by their superiors.

"The empire had attacked the west and east troops. Luckily, there were no specified deaths yet, but a myriad of warriors had been estimated to be wounded." Min Byung-gyu, the head healer and a personal subordinate, reported.

Commander Baek Yoon-ho sighed and rubbed his left cheek with his hand. He faced his comrade. "And the rest?"

"Perfectly fine. But so far, the army hasn't reached them yet."

"They could be fighting right now." Yoon-ho said. He propped his elbow on the armrest and placed his chin on his calloused palm. If the western and eastern sides had been attacked, it was evident that the north and south would be touched as well. He was stationed in the north, therefore Yoon-ho guaranteed that the enemies would be here in any moment.

"Summon the tanks. Make sure they are in the front of the spearmen and change the warriors' weapons as well. The blacksmiths had finished the new batch." Yoon-ho ordered.

Byung-gyu dipped his head. "Very well."

Min Byung-gyu was his most trusted subordinate, a comrade more or less. He had been around Yoon-ho's life since they were children, hence forming a deep bond as brothers. He was in charge of commanding the healers once it was time to aid the wounded, but he also had a watchful eye on their troops and would be the one to report to Yoon-ho.

Yoon-ho was the descendant of the great Beast Monarch. The only one who shared the Monarch's blood after his mother. He led his warriors to glory and had won battles after starting his training in his youth, he learned how to tear his enemies apart like a wild animal who had gone rampage, everyone feared him as much as they respected him.

He was no stranger to the feud between his kingdom and the Red Flame Empire. He had heard tales of wars even when he was young. So, as expected, he grew hatred against the empire for disrupting the peace in his kingdom and wished he had a way to completely show that the Beast Kingdom was superior among the rest of the kingdoms.

Warriors outside soon began to clamor. Yoon-ho got up from his seat and shoved the curtain aside to leave the tent. His troops were running around the camp and were gathering the wild beasts into their armors as they geared up for battle. The horns blared and it was the telltale sign that the enemy had gone past the border. His heart pounded in his chest while a growl rumbled within his throat, Yoon-ho clenched his hands into fists and summoned his servants to bring his weapon.

The warriors got into their positions. The animals waited amongst them, growling in hunger for the blood of their enemies. The healers wore their protective cloaks, enchanted with a spell to not be easily damaged while they were tending the fighters, and the archers pulled their arrows whilst they stood farther from the rest.

The Red Flame army had arrived.

And with a bellowing roar of the horn, the beast army charged.

The two armies clashed viciously. They tore through each other's sides like two animals tearing into each other's flesh. The Red Flame army had their own magic in their sleeves, they were equipped with dragons that were less bigger than the ones Antares' arsenal, but they were strong enough to battle with the humongous wolves, tigers, lions, and leopards in the Beast Commander's army.

But those were not just the best weapons the Beast Monarch could offer. He had his utmost pride — his descendant.

A flashing light grew somewhere in the battle. A piercing roar shook the wind and the beast warriors shouted in excitement. Then, a handful of Red Flame troops were sent up the air and tumbled like mere sticks on the ground. Yoon-ho, now in his great white tiger form, surged through his enemies and lunged his claws at the dragons to throw them away where the lions pounced on them for the finishing blow.

Since he shared the same blood as his ancestor, Yoon-ho had the ability to transform into a white tiger, which was stronger than when he was in his human form. He could take down a dozen of soldiers if he used all his powers at once. Back in his kingdom, people would cower in fear before him, but when he was in the battlefield, the warriors cheered for him.

Yoon-ho slammed the back of his claw at the knight who was about to strike his sword at him. Satisfaction shrouded in his bright yellow eyes as nobody had landed a single scratch on his body.

. . . But that was until a blinding light arose from the corner of his peripheral.

It was one of empire's strongest fighters. General Cha Hae-in. Yoon-ho knew her as a great swordswoman, taking down her opponents as if she was dancing due to her fast movements.

It was obvious who would be facing her this time.

He lunged at her and blocked her attacks with his claws. Hae-in fixed him with a sharp glare as she thrusted her sword at him. Yoon-ho then grabbed his spear from his back and retaliated at her weapon, maintaining the grin in his beastly jaws as Hae-in clashed against his powers — he quite admired her skills and would even compliment her if they weren't enemies. All the other soldiers were way too easy for him to fight, he would rather face someone who was as strong as the Red Flame Empire's general.

Hae-in managed to land a strong kick on his abdomen and surged her sword forward to make him take a step back. She rose her sword and Yoon-ho blocked it with his spear. He could shove her away using his roar, but Hae-in would still get up and find an open area to scar him, so that would lead him to—

*clash!*

Yoon-ho collided against several of the warriors after a powerful blow got between his match. He quickly got up on his feet and met the one behind the attack.

"I can take it from here, general. Go and aid Tae-gyu against the wolves."

The Red Flame Empire's commander. Choi Jong-in. Otherwise known as Antares' right-hand man due to having the power to control fire. He was known as the "Ultimate Warrior" because of how he could take down his enemies and monsters in a storm of flames. He was the least liked person to Yoon-ho, who found the commander arrogant and holier-than-thou.

On the bright side, his hatred boiled his anger tenfold.

Yoon-ho rushed toward Jong-in. Luckily, he managed to dodge past the blow of fire and lunged his claws at his enemy. . . Only then to be brought to the ground. Jong-in reached his hand down and flames trickled across his hand to form into a fiery sword.

"Let's get on with this, shall we?" He smirked.

Yoon-ho snarled and pounced again.

Just because he was fighting against fire did not mean Jong-in already had the upper hand.

Yoon-ho relied on his physical strength that strengthened his powers, whereas the latter only had his abilities.

If he could break a wrist or two, the Beast Kingdom would certainly win this battle. And with the commander being injured, the Red Flame Empire would crumble into the lowest of ranks.

Yoon-ho could already sense it happening.

He struck Jong-in's arm. But Jong-in quickly landed a sizzling blow at his shoulder. Yoon-ho ignored the agony and continued to rain damages at his enemy. Victory was only a few inches closer. . . He could finish this battle off.

The horn tore through the air.

Everyone stopped fighting. The warriors looked behind them and saw their eagle screeching in the air, gliding in a circular motion.

Yoon-ho widened his eyes. No, that can't be—!

The Beast Kingdom had surrendered.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The Beast Kingdom was anything, but known for backing down. They were ferocious and were willing to fight until their last breath. However, the kingdom had made its very first white flag in history. It left some warriors relieved that they had managed to stay alive, others had been left with dismay, and one walked out in indignation. It was none other than Commander Yoon-ho. All of the warriors had maintained their distance since it was never safe to approach a mad descendant of their monarch.

The rage kept on until they returned to the kingdom. It wasn't long until furnitures were thrown across the lobby, the servants winced in fear as some of them still stood by to assist their superior once he had calmed down. Miraculously, Yoon-ho was back in his human form, otherwise the Beast Monarch himself must deal with the situation.

Christopher Reed, one of the kingdom's prominent fighters, made his way into the palace and ducked his head from the flying vase. He cleared his throat. "Commander Yoon-ho, I apologize for making the decision to surrender without your permi—"

Yoon-ho grabbed him harshly by the neck.

"Hyung!" Byung-gyu exclaimed.

"You dare to go against your commander, you lunatic." Yoon-ho seethed. "You must be ashamed of yourself even though you are one of the kingdom's strongest fighters!"

Christopher grunted against his almost crushing grip.

"That's enough!" Byung-gyu spoke up. "I was the one who told him to announce our defeat!"

"You— what?!"

Yoon-ho released Christopher and left him cough for breath on the ground. The commander walked toward his friend, betrayal shrouding in his bright eyes, and his hands twitched against his sides.

"Eun-seok died." Byung-gyu said. His eyebrows furrowed and pursed his lips together. "They killed Eun-seok. . . If I hadn't ordered Christopher to release the eagle, you could've been killed as well!"

Yoon-ho widened his eyes at the mention of another close friend of his. Eun-seok was stationed in the eastern army, only to receive a tragic end to his life. Him, Yoon-ho, and Byung-gyu spent a lot of time together since they were young, so hearing such news, Yoon-ho didn't think he was angry because of their defeat, but rather, the unexpected death of someone he cared about.

"I will not apologize for it, hyung. I already lost a friend and you know that I can't bear to lose another." Byung-gyu told him. After balling his hands sighed. "I knew we shouldn't have been warring against them — they keep on taking too much lives!"

"You are correct, Healer Byung-gyu."

The two, followed by Christopher, turned their heads and saw the Beast Monarch, who appeared to be in the scene all along and had been listening to the conversation. He was in his human form rather than a large white wolf that he always presented himself to his subjects.

The Monarch stood tall and brute, a bit larger than Yoon-ho, and had spikey black hair and tanned skin. He wore a white fur cape over his shoulders that had two suspenders down to the hem of his pants, thus leaving the rest of his abdomen bare, and a long sword was strapped on his belt. Even though he was ageless, he resembled a man who was in his early thirties.

"Long ago, the Red Flame Empire had an alliance with the kingdom, along with the rest of the kingdoms except for the Shadow Realm, but that was until Antares decided to stab us in the back." The Beast Monarch explained. "We are only protecting what is ours, aren't we? Healer Byung-gyu, my condolences for your loss. That army of lizards had destroyed us enough — however, I believe I have a solution to end this war."

Yoon-ho raised an eyebrow. "What is it, your majesty?"

His ancestor grinned.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"UAHAHAHAHA!" Antares' laughter was loud and could almost shake the ceiling of the throne room. The army had returned not long ago and it had been reported that the Beast Army had chosen to back down from the battle. The Destruction Monarch let out a wicked smirk once he was done guffawing at the news. "My, to think that army of rodents has chosen to declare their defeat against us, what a history to remember!"

"Yes, my Lord," said Jong-in from his seat near the throne

"Brilliant work to everyone." Antares thanked the salient members of the army in the hall. He raised his glass of monstrous blood wine and smiled in satisfaction. "Our empire will thrive and maintain its rank as the most powerful kingdom in the world. Now, next report."

Someone from the crowd cleared his throat and lifted his hand. "I do. However, this is a letter from the Beast Monarch."

"A letter?"

The soldier nodded and made his way to the front and handed the monarch a piece of folded paper that had a stamp of the kingdom's insignia in the center. Antares took it suspiciously and unraveled the paper to read its contents.

Jong-in took his cup and sipped on his herbal tea. The wine was too strong for his liking, so he had chosen to settle for the tea and to also ease his body after all those strong attacks made by his enemy. He too had been shocked to witness the sign of defeat in the beast army, however it looked quite farfetched to bask in triumph — it was an uncalled surrender that left the commander furious and Jong-in thought he was going to land one last attack before walking away.

Though, he had to admit. The commander was too powerful and had managed to go against his flames when most could've fled or burn to their deaths. Jong-in had expected nothing from someone who shared the same blood as the Beast Monarch, he knew he was going to have the toughest fight in his life when he had stepped in and replaced Hae-in's spot.

In the Red Flame Empire, there were humans who had the ability to be awakened into having powers. Choi Jong-in had happened to be one of those fortunate people, his ability was one in a million that no other living person shared the same power, and thus, his statues rose to the ranks of prominent figures in the empire.

He was almost untouchable when he summoned his—

"WHAT IS THIS?!"

Jong-in jolted back to reality and turned to his superior. "Is there something wrong, my Lord?"

Antares gritted his sharp teeth and tossed the paper to his second-in-command. Jong-in picked it up from the floor and scanned the words written in the epistolary. Suddenly, his eyes widened in aghast.

" — if you wish to end this war, bring your lovely general to the palace where a marriage will be commenced?!" Jong-in yelled the last word. "What do you mean they want an arrange marriage between General Cha and the Beast Kingdom's commander? This is an atrocity!"

"What?!"

The whole place erupted into a disorder. All of the council members and honorable guests spared glances at one another, asking various questions and expressing their shock. Meanwhile, Hae-in sat on her seat with an unfathomable expression on her face, not knowing how to respond to the fact that she would miss her chance to feel what would it be like to love just to be thrown away for a loveless marriage with someone.

"This can't be!" Lee Ju-hee, one of the army's healers, fumed. She stared at the commander with a plea. "Please do something! We must not simply give Hae-in away just because she's the only strongest female swordmaster!"

Jong-in gritted his teeth and fisted the letter. "These bastards are fooling us! Do they think we are willing to spare one of our own for this so-called peace?"

"Commander Choi, did you not read the entire message?" Antares said. "If we do not give what it is asked, the Beast Monarch will forge an alliance with the Shadow Realm and summon the Frost Kingdom for war. Are you sure you are prepared for another great war?"

"No. . . We have lost too many of our soldiers in this war." Jong-in grumbled. "So, we are left with no choice."

Hae-in's eyes began to glisten. Ju-hee settled back into her seat to comfort her friend. Everyone else flashed the commander with looks of trepidation while Antares watched him in anticipation.

"We are not going to give Cha Hae-in. Never." Jong-in continued. "But since they want an arrange marriage to form a treaty, we shall give it to them."

Everyone collapsed into murmurs. Antares raised a brow. "What kind of scheme do you have, Commander Choi?"

"The one who shall participates in this marriage is me." Jong-in declared. "I am not just doing this as a commander who is willing to do anything for his land, I am doing this as well as a friend. She does not deserve to be in a loveless bond with someone."

"Jong-in. . . " Hae-in spoke up. For a moment, she felt her heart shatter in the sacrifice her friend had made. "What if the Beast Monarch will not allow this? He can obliterate you and start a war nonetheless!"

Jong-in huffed. "Who cares, Hae-in? I'm the one who fought his lineage, therefore my decision can be reasonable." He turned to Antares. "My Lord?"

Antares hummed. After a moment, he nodded his head as if accepting the empire commander's decision. "You are correct. Perhaps this can be the only chance to unite our armies."

"It has been decided." Jong-in declared. "Ahn Sang-min! Write a letter to the Beast Kingdom."

Ahn Sang-min, the empire's head messenger, dipped his head. "Yes, Commander Choi!"

"I trust that everything will go as you planned?" Antares spoke.

"This marriage is only for unity, my Lord. Unlike General Cha, I do not have desires to fall in love when I had taken an oath to put this empire first and above all." Jong-in said. It did not matter to him if the commander of the Beast Kingdom had other preferences, he was just granting the letter's wish to commence a union.

Besides, he thought it was time to put an end to the ceaseless war for once and for all.

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"I hate this, you know?"

Yoon-ho glanced at Byung-gyu, who sat on the wolf's saddle next to him. He frowned at his friend's crestfallen face. It had been five days since the letter from the Red Flame Empire had arrived, saying that Antares accepted the proposal, but only under one condition — his commander would be the one to wed Yoon-ho, not the general herself. Regardless of the council's reaction, the monarch allowed it and sent another letter to the empire to prepare for the union.

Yoon-ho hated it. He hated how his ancestor used him as a bridge between two kingdoms. He reckoned that just because two representatives would join hands, it did not mean all the grudges he held against the empire would disappear.

"There are other ways to create peace, but marriage? This is too much." Byung-gyu said. "I will never forgive them for killing Eun-seok."

"Neither will I, Byung-gyu," Yoon-ho sighed. "But, since you hate them so much, why do you still chose to come with me?"

"You're the only friend I have left. Who knows what will they do to you if you don't have someone to trust."

His lips curled into a smirk. "You're saying that to the descendant of a monarch. Do you think I won't handle myself once I'm alone?"

"Who will treat your wounds then? A healer from the empire? Not a chance." Byung-gyu scowled.

Yoon-ho chuckled. Deep inside, he wished his friend could've crack a joke instead of expressing his immense hatred against the Red Flame Empire. But Byung-gyu had lost someone dear to him, way before he had met Yoon-ho— Eun-seok could've been still fighting on their to this day.

Perhaps Yoon-ho might've prevented his death.

They arrived in the empire an hour later. The people stood aside and watched the army with meticulous eyes. It appeared Antares had verily prepared the grand union, with red and white flowers adorning the pathway and the soldiers in their armors as they waited for the other party to reach the ceremony.

The Beast Monarch transformed into his human form and was the first one to walk in the aisle. The Red Flame army was settled on the right side while the Beast army would be on the left side. The monarch stood next to Ruler Go Gun-hee, who would officiate the union.

Antares appeared next and went to the front, wearing his Destruction Monarch attire which was a silver and red armor that had a reddish-brown tailcoat. His long red hair traveled down to the back of his waist. Even in his reserved posture, his eyes glowed red as if he was prepared to attack in case someone decided to wreck the ceremony.

Then, there was the commander of the empire. Yoon-ho's soon-to-be wedded.

Jong-in headed to the front and waited with his back facing the crowd. He wore a white suit and a red cloak that had golden ornaments around his shoulders, secured with a gold chain across his chest. Unlike Yoon-ho, who had a white with black stripes fur cape on his shoulders and wore a bronze armor on his upper body and a pair of furred pants. His face was painted with red warpaint under his eyes and on his chin.

Yoon-ho got off from his stead and stood in front of the aisle. All eyes were directed toward him. Taking a deep breath, he made his way across the stone path. It was like everyone was watching every step he took, even his breathing, but Yoon-ho showed no fear.

He was merely doing this for the sake of his kingdom.

He reached the altar and stood on Jong-in's side. He did not spare a single glance at the commander. All he cared about was to end this ceremony and the peace treaty was now officially formed.

After finishing his speech, Go Gun-hee extended his hands to the two commanders. "Allow yourselves to join hands."

They faced each other. Yoon-ho curled his lips into a snarl as he placed his calloused hands on Jong-in's. Gun-hee then placed a white cloth over their hands and wrapped the white fabric around them — the gesture was from the Beast Kingdom's customs — and placed a small circular on top, as per the empire's customs as well.

"Speak your vows." Gun-hee said. "I, Commander Choi Jong-in."

"I, Commander Choi Jong-in," Jong-in repeated the old man's words and began to proceed with his own, "shall take Commander Baek Yoon-ho as my partner and maintain this treaty for the rest of generations. I shall respect and cherish our bond as he is now part of my life."

"I, Commander Baek Yoon-ho, shall accept Commander Choi Jong-in as my partner for the sake of peace. And I will stand and defend him from anyone who dares to defy or ruin his name." Yoon-ho bid his vow.

"With your exchanged vows, you must swear to uphold it until your last breaths. Even in the afterlife." Gun-hee said. He laid his hand on each side of the candle. "Henceforward, may the heavens bless your unity."

And simple as that, the alliance had been commenced.

After taking off the candle and fabric, Gun-hee handed the two commanders their golden rings as the symbol of their union. They was forged by Antares and the engravings were from the Beast Monarch. The crowd clapped their hands in celebration of the peace treaty they had been longing to witness.

The feast was spent within the empire's castle. Many of the troops from both armies began to interact, but Byung-gyu was the only one whom Yoon-ho had not noticed to be participating in the celebration, hence the fact that he had not flashed a single smile in the entire day. Luckily, Christopher was there with him after returning from the crowd. Yoon-ho couldn't comfort his friend as much as he intended to when it was inappropriate to leave his enemy— partner's side.

The ring felt tight in his finger, so Yoon-ho would have to wear it on a chain around his neck once the feast was over.

His ancestor told him that he would stay in the empire until the day of his kingdom's annual festival. So that meant he would be living in the empire for seven months from now. . . Yoon-ho felt like he had been imprisoned.

"I presume this must be the time the army and I shall depart." The Beast Monarch began as Yoon-ho walked with him to the doors. "I expect good reports once we have meet again, my descendant."

"Yes, your majesty," Yoon-ho nodded as he tucked his hands to his back.

He watched the monarch get on his stead and led the army out of the empire. There hadn't been an hour since the feast, Yoon-ho was already missing his home. He wondered why must he be the one who had been sold off to a marriage he never even wanted.

Who knew the easiest way to peace was riskier?

True to his word, Byung-gyu stayed and joined him to follow the servants to the stairs as they would bring the two to their respective chambers. Much to his chagrin, Yoon-ho had to share a room with his "husband" rather than having his own.

When Jong-in saw them, he huffed. "I didn't know you'd still have a personal guard around you."

"He's not a guard. He is a healer." Yoon-ho growled.

"You could've asked for one in the empire." Jong-in said. "But since I have an inkling that you two must be friends, I won't say anything else."

"Your empire killed my friend." Yoon-ho glared icily.

"Yours took many lives in my army." Jong-in bit back. "And as much as I'd like to argue with you, I am exhausted from today's events. So, shall we, husband?"

Yoon-ho wanted to throw up. But since he didn't think he had some energy left to rebuke, he followed Jong-in inside and sent a nod at Byung-gyu in farewell as he went inside of his new quarters.

They laid on the same bed. Yoon-ho had his body to the window where a small part of the moon was peeking from the top. He tried not to turn his head over his shoulder, knowing well which situation he would end up with Jong-in — argue for the rest of the night. And tomorrow would be a big day, considering Antares had mentioned that the rest of the kingdoms would be paying a visit to felicitate the union between the two warring kingdoms.

His hand clutched on his pillow. Yoon-ho despised this treaty to his very cell.

#choi×baek arranged marriage au! #part 2 coming soon? 👀 #solo leveling #choi jong in #baek yoon ho #choibaek #sl fics by rei