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#he’s forming his own harem and i’m a part of it actually
hunterssm00n · 5 months
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NSFW ! Negan hc's
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You need to know your place / cuz it's about to get heavy
*cw include mention of dubcon/noncon, manipulative behavior, dirty talk, explicit language, daddy kink, breeding kink, exhibitionism, mention of degradation, some dark themes* MDNI - 18+
౨ৎ ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
this is specifically about season 7 negan btw
this motherfucker
he just thinks he's gods gift to the world. and that's why we love him, right?
his confidence is off the charts. scratch that - he's just straight up cocky
but at the same time, he’s just so damn charming
he’s able to use that charm in all aspects of his life to get what he wants, and that includes in the bedroom
dirty. talk. he’s a master with his words, and he’ll say things that could make a porn star blush
you’re so tight around my cock, baby, you sure you ain’t a virgin? fuck, thats nice
my slice of cherry pie, gonna lick the cream right out of that sweet center of yours, doll
gimme that ass, baby, lemme be the first one to break you in there
i feel like he can be gentle if he wants to be, but most of the time he can be kind of rough- however, not so rough that it’s not enjoyable
this may be unpopular opinion but I feel like he’s average sized down there rather than massive- maybe a little bit above average. but as the saying goes, it’s not the size of the wave that counts, but the motion of the ocean- and he’s got that part down pat
he’s purely dominant, i feel like almost 100% off the time, if not completely. he wants to be in control, and that’s also in every other aspect of his life as well. so that definitely makes sense for the bedroom also
in that same sense, he would not exactly care a whole lot if he's the only one truly consenting... he's not above using manipulation to get what he wants, and sexual favors fall under the above categories (see his harem of wives from the show). he's able to shut off his morality easier than most people, and doesn't always care about many wants far beyond his own. in other words = selfish.
however, this doesn't mean that he only cares about his pleasure; he will give as good as he gets, if not better. plus, what better form of manipulation than a forced orgasm?
his supermassive inflated ego loves when he's complimented, and treated as a figure of authority- it's another kink of his. he would not turn down being called sir in the bedroom
he refers to himself as daddy, and he also loves being called this in bed.
hairy chest, yummm. dark, coarse hair covers most of his body, and when he’s naked it’s like a roadmap of deliciousness
he has a breeding kink, and i’m pretty sure this is actually canon.
he swears a lot as it is, understatement of the year, but during sex he’s downright filthy. he puts a sailor to shame
not quiet at all during sex, he’s constantly talking, cussing, moaning, growling. and that deep voice sounds so hot when he’s in the zone, like spine-tingling hot, good lord
i feel like he would be into degradation, in which case he’s the one doing the degrading. i go back and forth with this one, but i feel like it’s something he would possibly be into although definitely not as much as the comedian
i don’t think he has a favorite position, probably anything that involves him being in control and just downright being inside
he also isn't above some exhibitionism. the bedroom isn't the only place where fun can be had; this can also happen in his rv, in a car with or without his henchmen present, outside in the woods somewhere, in his 'office'- hell, he'll do it just about anywhere if the mood strikes him
once he’s in, fast and hard is his preferred pace. also, his stamina is pretty good, so it will take him a little bit before he cums, which means he can go multiple rounds
aftercare? honestly, as much of an ass as he is, i feel like he’s pretty decent at aftercare. though of course the thing that he’s best at is being a shit-eating grin-wearing pain in the ass.
౨ৎ ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
hunterssm00n © All rights reserved by me. I do not allow this work to be used or adapted in any way without my permission.
AN: I do not own TWD franchise or any of it's characters. I also do not own the song 'Devil' by Shinedown. The photos above are from pinterest, and have links attached to the original posts.
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blueinkedfrost · 2 years
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If I Am Ever A Reincarnated Girl In An Isekai ...
If the male lead killed me in the first timeline, I will NOT date him in the second timeline. Even if he had understandable reasons for his actions, it was still a traumatic experience.
If the male lead was a dickhead in the first timeline, I will NOT date him in the second timeline. While the butterfly effect may have changed his attitude toward me, he's probably still going to be a dickhead to other people.
If the male lead is related to me or was raised as if he were, I will at least consider the available dating options outside my family before re-enacting the Ptolemaic dynasty's greatest hits.
I will carefully investigate whether other characters in this world are sapient like me, or merely cheap stereotypes. If I find the former, I will treat them with respect.
If any other characters are also reincarnated from twenty first century Earth, I will talk to them at the earliest possible opportunity. We share a unique experience in common and we will resolve any conflicts better if we talk first rather than faff around with our fingers up our bums.
I will NOT support the slave trade under any circumstances. If the narrative forces me to own slaves, I will set them free as soon as possible and join or create a local abolitionist society.
I will reject the sexist stereotype that there must be one good girl and one bad girl at all times. If the narrative has twisted the former female lead into a one dimensional villain, I will first investigate whether I can challenge this shallow narrative before I act to defeat her. However, since gender equality is a good thing, women will be treated equally to men when they act badly.
If I decide to execute a revenge plot and destroy all who have harmed me, quick deaths and secure legal imprisonments will be key features of my plan. I will not let an enemy hang around and continue to have the capacity to harm me just because I'm working up a really fun complicated scheme.
I will import science, technology, economics, law, food and culture from twenty-first-century Earth only to the extent I have actual expertise in the relevant areas and where it's reasonable to believe these innovations will help and not harm the locals. Where I have knowledge gaps, I will learn from local experts and use the scientific method.
If I find myself part of a Love Triangle or other n-dimensional shape, I will speak up about my affections as soon as I am certain of them myself. If I am then romantically rejected, I will accept it gracefully and look for a different fish in the sea.
I will not cheat on my lover or encourage them to cheat with me. If I fancy someone who's already in a relationship, I will leave them alone unless it's a consensual polyamorous thing or after they break up.
If I refuse to believe things that are blatantly obvious to the reader, such as my utter oblivion to a harem forming around me, I will not allow the narrative to describe me as a keen observer.
If I happen to be reincarnated as an overweight person, I will do sufficient exercise to be healthy and snarf up salads to the extent that I want to, but I will not torment myself into an obsessive dietary regime. If the only acceptable me is thin, it's time to challenge some narrow minded beauty standards.
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why485 · 1 year
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From what I can tell, this is the final stretch. The school festival looks to take up this and next volume, with the final volume probably being some kind of wrap up. 
I guess doing this now, I have the benefit of knowing that there is an ending, and when it’ll happen, which has been influencing my thought process. Honestly, if I didn’t already know that the manga was finished I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. Though, I guess I don’t really know for sure that there’s a clear winner. I’m just assuming.
Without further ado, the last Fuutaroubowl update, as of chapter 98.
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Ichika 0% - With moving out and separating herself from the quints, Ichika has in my view conceded. There’s just too much baggage here, and I don’t know, I kind of get the impression that Ichika hates herself. While she recently had a, to put it lightly, lapse in judgement, she’s knows better than to try and start a relationship now.
Nino 5% - That 5% is more just an anime mulligan because she’s so funny and is the one who is still very actively and seriously trying. However, I think because she’s trying so hard is also why she can’t win. She has gotten way more interesting as a character though, so regardless of her chances I think I’m coming around to liking Nino?
Miku 0% - I love Miku so much. She’s super honest with herself and at this point is more just really introverted than shy in any way that causes trouble. She’s finally, in her own way, confessed, but it comes across as much as a bittersweet goodbye as it did a confession. Miku knows what she wants to do, and is willing to go through with it even if it means potentially bowing out of the race. She can’t win, but she’s still my favorite quint.
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Yotsuba 50% - While not narratively the first girl, she was chronologically the first. Unlike everybody else, who feel like they’re at the end of their arcs, Yotsuba is still at the beginning and has several volumes to grow. Itsuki was the only quint that still feels like she might have a chance, but unlike Yotsuba she has no outstanding desire to get together with him, they just get along really well. It is kind of crazy that Yotsuba has held onto feelings for a guy she met literally one time when they were a kid, but to be fair that encounter left a pretty marked impact on her. Talk about dedication, in her own weird way.
Itsuki 35% - How the mighty have fallen. I still really like Itsuki as a character, and I think the relationship she has with Fuutarou is really enjoyable to watch. However, with the Yotsuba reveal and the part Itsuki has played it in, it feels like she’s switched roles with Yotsuba and is the new support. Like most of her sisters, Itsuki has a goal in mind, and is planning to pursue it. She still has a great relationship with Fuutarou, but it’s seeming more and more like Itsuki just doesn’t see him that way.
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Quints 1% - This is back down to 1%, because thematically a goofy anime style harem crazy ending wouldn’t fit. It, surprisingly, feels too grounded for something like to that happen at this point. Each of the sisters (except Yotsuba?) are forming plans and going their own way. Along with accepting that high school is almost over, the reality is that they will in all likelihood get separated as they go after their own dreams. It’s a bit bittersweet, but the realism of it gives the story its weight.
And finally, a note on Fuutarou himself: As the series has gone on, I’ve come to really appreciate the writing of his character. He actually is his own guy, and aside from like one or two things, he doesn’t really fall for typical anime idiot MC tropes. He actually understands the position he’s in right now, that at some point he will have to make a choice, and it’s clearly weighing heavily on his thoughts. I might talk more about this in a future post, but he’s pretty good.
I feel like Yotsuba’s 50% should be higher, because at this point it’s hard to imagine anyone else winning, but it just doesn’t feel right yet. It’s almost more by process of elimination than anything else. That said, if I had to call it right now, it’d be Yotsuba. It’d take a pretty huge twist for somebody else to come back, but this series isn’t above those.
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All my kitty!lino AUs
Warnings: prostitution, slavery. 
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AU 1:
minho is a prized breeding kitty that you're hired to guard as he is a very rare and pure breed and having him breed other pure kitties makes for very profitable offspring
as a result of being treated like royalty all his life, he's super rude to you, a common guard dog
he's always snarky with you and he never listens and you have enough of it one day
you push him down to the floor, your teeth grazing against his delicate neck, showing him that you were not someone to be trampled on
"that's right. you have nothing to say now, brat." you growl, sitting up to look at the frightened kitty
but as you sit back, your ass comes into contact with his boner
arching an eyebrow, you smirk and roll your hips over his clothed dick "now what do we have here?"
minho stays silent, frowning but not making any attempt to push you off
"don't tell me you like this." you tease him, grinding against him harder and pulling breathy little moans from his pouty lips "kitty likes it when I'm mean to him?"
"Yeah you like that pretty kitty? Are you gonna make a mess in your pants for me? Good boy."
you make him cum like that without even touching his dick
minho is shameless after that brazenly getting on your nerves so you'd punish him
he gets so needy that now you're getting him off on the daily, letting him hump your thighs to get off while you degrade him
his insatiable need would be bad enough but now he's outright refusing to breed the cat hybrids anymore
no matter how many times you try to convince the stubborn idiot that he's going to draw attention and ruin you both, he still refuses
until finally you make a deal with him that you'll have sex with him if he continues breeding the cats
he's not fully convinced. why would he waste his seed on other women when you were right there?
"because I'm not your kind, you stupid cat."
but minho doesn't care. all he cares about is getting to breed you
"Fuck you're burning up. Are you going into heat over this? Dumb little kitten thinks he can put babies in my belly."
your words only make him fuck you harder as if he could do it if he tried hard enough
AU 2:
he's the prince's very picky kitty, rarely is a cat good enough for him. he rarely mates at all and the prince doesn't understand it one bit
one day they're walking around shopping in the bazaar when lino catches a whiff of your scent. he follows it to a shady part of the market that he never saw before
that's when he sees you standing there with a heavy chair around your neck and a cheap transparent dress over your body
out of nowhere a short disgusting man appear and he asks him if he wants to see your tits. it's only for a couple of coins
minho shouldn’t say yes. He has a whole harem of much better bred pussies for him to pick and choose from. He didn’t need to pay a disgusting man to see the body of some nameless mongrel
yet here he was hanging the slimey man the coins
the man all but rips your bodice open, eager to please the rich hybrid.
Minho feels an uncomfortable tightness in his pants. His mouth waters at the sight of your full breasts on display for him and he finds himself moving forward to touch, but the man steps in.
“The silver was to see not to touch. Three if you want to touch.”
Minho grunts and gives him what he wants. you don't seem impressed by him.
He cradles your breasts in his hands and leans down to pluck a pert nipple into his mouth, ear perked to the sound of your restrained gasp.
but then he hears the prince calling for him and he rips himself away from you and wipes his mouth harshly, panting as if he was under a spell.
Gulping, he spares your half naked form one last glance before he’s retreating towards his owner. As he slips back into the main room he hears the vendor call after him smugly, “We’ll be waiting for you, my lord.”
He does come back, this time more worked up than last time as he couldn't go to sleep thinking about you and he was reduced to getting himself off multiple time throughout the night just to cool down
his owner catches him this time though. "So this is why you were so eager to come back even though you hate the market. I gotta say I'm surprised by your taste." The prince grins. "Did you mount her yet?"
Minho blanches, feeling humiliated at being caught "of course not. I would never defile myself with such a mongrel."
The prince arches an eyebrow. "It's okay minho. Sometimes you need to slum it down a little. I get that urge too. Cheap prostitutes like her have their draw."
The prince grabs you and pushes her over a table, pulling your skirt up. "Come on kitty. Take her. I know you're dying to."
minho's hesitation evaporate when he sees your pussy exposed and waiting for him. he quickly comes up beind you, pushing his length into you even though you weren't wet. it's uncomfortable but it's not the first time a man shoves his dick into your pussy without bothering to get you wet
it's over soon anyway, the spoiled cat getting overwhelmed by your tight walls and ends up cumming embarrassingly fast. He stumbles away, watching his cum drip from your fucked out hole.
"We'll take her."
Minho looks at him shocked. "I finally have something for my precious pet to fuck. You're so picky."
AU 3:
You were standing outside the gymnasium for a quick smoke when a voice slurs behind you. "Where is your little boyfriend?"
You roll your eyes, already fed up with the boy that is talking to you.
"What, he couldn't stand the thought of fucking you tonight so he ran away?"
You narrow your eyes at him. How did he know you were planning to give your virginity to your Hyunjin tonight? If he had shown up that is.
You don't even know what minho's deal is. He wasn't always like this. You remember a time long, long ago when the two of you were friends. He was so nice and sweet to you when you first met as kids. But then suddenly out of nowhere he turned on you for absolutely no reason.
"Tell me, mutt. What was he gonna give you so he could get between your legs? A pack of cigarettes?" Oh yeah, that’s why. He looks down on you for not being a purebred like him.
You huff the smoke in his face in agitation, still ignoring him.
"Aw, don't be sad. If he won't do it, I can rise to the occasion. Just tell me how much." He goads you. You throw the cigarette to the ground, violently snuffing it out with your heels when an idea pops into your head.
Looking up at him, you reply simply. "50k."
"W-what?"
"You're so fucking obsessed with my sex life so you must really want me. So yeah I'll give it to you for 50k."
"You're a crazy bitch."
you were just messing with him. and he worked. he left you alone
what you never expected was for him to show up the next day at your door, shoving a heavy suitcase into your arms
"what's this?"
"50k." He mumbles.
“Is this a joke?”
“You said you’d give it to me for 50k.” He explains flatly, looking everywhere except at you.
you walk towards him. "You really are a sick pervert, aren't you? Buying my virginity?"
He stays silent, looking at the ground so you grab his jaw and force him to look at you.
"You're not in control. I am. Got it?" You sneer, and he stares for a second, processing that you’re actually agreeing to go through with this, then he nods enthusiastically.
AU 4:
you're a dog hybrid and he's a cat hybrid. He's been kissing you secretly since long ago
You know it's wrong but you like it so you keep it a secret. and you always get so jealous when his heat comes and he goes away to fuck someone else.
When he comes back he's apologetic and spends days trying to make you forgive him. He shouldn't have to. He's not yours.
You touch yourself while you're sleeping next to him a lot. He pretends he doesn't know but it drives him insane
He's waits till you have your first heat. You're supposed to be given to chan but he convinces you not to let your owner know telling you he'll take care of you
You know this is forbidden but you let him fuck you because you're in love with him.
"Oppa this is too much."
"Shh baby take it. You've teased me long enough."
He cums in you but doesn't pull out so he can fuck you more. He's been training himself for this in order to satisfy you.
You get overwhelmed and he laughs at how cute you are. ask him to kiss you so he does
"What a cutie. All mine."
"Open your mouth." He lets a trail of spit fall from his mouth and you obediently open up and take it like you've been taught. He groans and kisses you softly. You whine in his mouth as he fucks you again.
"Not gonna go to that mutt right baby? Only I get to do this to you."
AU 5:
he's the queens pet and you're the leader of a mercenary group the queen has hired to fight a battle for her
he immediately takes an interest in you and follows you around thinking that he's slick
In the beginning, his infatuation was merely amusing to you as you took to teasing him whenever you got the chance--cornering him when the princess wasn't looking and whispering filthy things in his ear. It was both easy and fun to work up the needy kitten.
What you hadn’t expected was for him to walk in on you while you were fucking one of your own hybrids, Chan. The big wolf tended to get rowdy so you were often rough with him to keep him under control, and well that's how the masochistic hybrid liked it too.
You expected him to be terrified of you after that, he certainly looked the part, but he surprised you by coming to you teary eyes and whimpering pleas so moving that you couldn’t resist giving him whatever he asked for, which was badly worded and clueless seeing as he had never been in any kind of physical relationship before.
He’s never done something like this before. His owner, the queen, kept him on a tight leash, untouched and forever pure. He had been taking suppressants ever since his very first heat and, before he met you, he had barely remembered what it was like to feel that painfully delicious pang of pleasure in his belly.
He holds onto you as you pleasure him, one hand fisted in your clothes and the other wrapped around your wrist as if he was afraid you were going to hurt him. If you were to look at his expression, you would think that you were hurting him, a small frown on his face as he whines and whimpers.
You stroke his cheek softly with the back of your fingers, finding it hot to the touch. “What is it, kitten?”
“It hurts.” He sobs.
“I know, baby. I’ll make it go away.” You almost feel guilty for purposefully prolonging his pain, the stimulation you give his cock designed to make him reach the edge at the slowest possible pace, but the truth is you weren’t sorry at all.
“You know, kitten, you should come with me when I leave. I’ll hide you until we’re out of the castle walls. Your princess won’t even realize you’re missing until it’s too late, and when you’re with me, every moment will be filled with pleasure. I’ll take care of you like she never did. I’ll show you a whole world of pleasure. How does that sound, kitty?” You seduce as your thumb flits over his weeping slit, distracting him and seducing him. “Hmm, you wanna come with me?”
“I--I’m not--I don’t know.” He answers nervously, his brain too hazy especially as you finally speed up your strokes, jumbling up all his thought process.
“Don’t think too much, kitten. Don’t you want to feel good?” You purr, tightening your fist around his cock to give him more pleasure.
“Yes, but--”
“No buts, darling. Don’t you wanna be a good kitten for Master?” You ask, referring to yourself and he gasps, his cock jumps in your hand. “Yeah, you like that, don’t you? You’re a dirty little kitten, aren’t you?”
“No!” He cries, shaking his head from side to side, but there is no denying the way his stomach tightens and his hips buck off the bed as his orgasm approaches and his primal senses take over. “I can’t take it! Please, help me. I can’t--”
His seed splatters across his abdomen as he cums, and you talk him through it. “That’s it, baby. Let go for me. Let it all out. Good kitten.”
you ruin him so thoroughly that he gives into her and lets her fuck him in front of the queen herself
"Lino stop that! You sound like a common whore."
"I can't help it. Mistress… is making me burn up." "Ah fuck." He keens
"Your precious kitten is getting fucked regularly, that’s why he sounds like that. He’s nothing but a loose slut right now. I fucking ruined him. Isn’t that right, kitten?"
"Hah... touch my cock." He drools on the sheets under him and you laugh, grabbing his cock from underneath and starting to milk him. “See? Just a dumb slut.”
___________
A/N: one of these will most likely get a proper fic but I couldn’t keep these to myself
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masterhandss · 3 years
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Personally I don't see what you see in Geordo. He seems like such a scumbag to me and is the least likable charater in the whole series. He is always trying to get her alone to push her into things of a sexual/ more romantic nature without taking how she really feels into consideration. Like he "really wants her" and thats enough for him without caring what she really wants. Honestly he is the borderline non-con villian in my mind.
I mean, it's okay if you feel like that. To each their own.
Hmmm when I think about Geordo being sexually aggressive towards Katarina, I only really just think of the anime. The manga is a much more moe-fied and toned down version of the novels, and the novels does an okay job at balancing his desires for Katarina in all aspects. I'm not saying he doesn't have that trait in the other two mediums, I just think that they aren't as intense as the anime, so as someone who consumes all three versions I just tilt my head and go "huh." Of course I'm sure there are people who read the manga and novels that still feel uncomfortable about his behavior and that's valid too.
-> light novel spoilers ahead <-
tldr, there is a lot more going on to him than just someone who offers sweet words and questionable invitations to Katarina's ears, this may not be noticeable or acceptable to some people but we get to know more about how he thinks whenever the novels puts us in his point of view. You're free to dislike him as much as you want, but I like him & don't see him as a scumbag; and here's why:
I at least find it okay that Geordo is very serious about his pursuits for her because he is aware that she is dense and will not get it until you spell it in the sky. Everyone is just walking eggshells around Katarina hoping that the girl would just develop feelings for one of them to win the harem olympics. He knows that being dealt with a good card isn't enough, so he's actively taking action in order to win her heart. I mean I don't always agree with his methods either, like the "fait accompli" line or constantly inviting her to his room alone, but really, how much of that is something he really means to do vs how much of that is his excessive flirting + our minds assuming that he really means to claim her in that way?
Lines like that are really popular with japanese fans because it makes Geordo look "sexy" and "forward", which they enjoy in their fictional stories. He knows that his position gives him an advantage so he'll try to play his cards right and use it to increase his chances in victory.
It actually reminds me of a scene from the Hamefura StoryMe game, (don't really know how canon it is but I remember the JP ver. was advertised by @/hamhura) where Geordo indirectly asked Katarina how to woo a girl he really likes, and Katarina thinking he was referring to Maria, gives all the things he usually does in order to win her heart (visit her home, give her gift, dance with her in parties, be really forward about your feelings etc). I'm not saying Katarina approves of the ways Geordo attempts to win her heart, but there's some hilarity in knowing that Geordo already had and is constantly trying all the known ways to win over a girl in the world from a young age, and still has nothing to show for it. Like no awareness, much less any *feelings* lmao. So trying to make it obvious that he is interested in her romantically and sexually seems like the next logical step to him. I mean if you go by Geordo's logic and considering the time period this takes place in, he's pretty confident that he can get Katarina to love him back and they are engaged anyways so in his head he's in safe waters to attempt to make teases about such advancements if it gives him the smallest chance that Katarina would become at least aware of him through it.
Of course I know that stuff like that won't fly here in the real world, but maybe that's why I'm so lenient personally when it comes to his (debatably) sexual teases and advances, because it's a fictional story for a japanese audience. Doesn't mean I would approve any advances like that if it happens to me, it's just that it's hard to take his actions seriously when Katarina or the story doesn't take them seriously. Like, the girl would be pushed down to a bed by RufuSora and gives her a hickey and she still thinks the man is out for her blood.
He wouldn't even be entirely wrong, knowing the identities of the characters who Katarina knows has romantic interest in her in the novels, actions does speak louder than words when it comes to her. Like I said, whether or not Geordo really means what he says when the story teases the readers with sexual implications in his words and action depends on the reader in my opinion. They are there, I wont pretend they don't but I'd argue about the level of intent depending on what scene you're talking about.
The only scenes on the top of my head where he is very abrasive towards Katarina is the "fait accompli" scene, the Book scene form the anime (S1 EP8), saying he wants to lock her in his room (LN6) and the multiple times Geordo had invited her in his room at night alone (LN6 and LN8, i think).
I've already explained why I am okay with both Keith and Geordo's Book scenes from episode 8 of the first season because they are accurate representations of an exaggerated and unhinged versions of their desires towards Katarina so I won't bore you with those details again.
He mentioned in Volume 6 that he wants to lock Katarina in his room forever and keep her light to himself, which alarmed a few people when the book came out, but he said that in a moment where he feels super grateful and loving towards her because she knew how tired he was despite his fake face and without even saying anything. It was a moment where he felt so infatuated towards her that he wished the moment where he gets to rest in her arms would last forever, thus he made such a comment. I make it sound more dramatic than it was in Volume 6, it was just a quick comment honestly lmao.
For people who don't read the novels, that last part looks very sus and raises a few red flags I know, but to be fair we can't definitively say what his intentions are because Katarina never commits to those visits. Katarina has actually become wary of those invitations, because Keith and Mary have warned her that Geordo's intentions are sexual, but I'm not really trusting the word of the two people who are most distrustful and antagonistic to Geordo. They could be right, of course, but who can really say? We assume that they are correct because they care about Katarina and are wary of Geordo, but hamefura('s novels) is full of unreliable narrators anyways, it's not like Keith or Mary would consider the possibility of it being anything else because when it comes to the third prince they always fear the worst case scenario.
If you think about it, Geordo is probably aware that winning her over with a "fait accompli" won't work at all because it'll put him in a position that will make other people push him for the throne (which he doesn't want) or could ruin his reputation in high society if Katarina or her family react to it negatively. I'm not Geordo though, so I can't really say if he even have such fears and doubts in the first place, that's just my assessment based on the obstacles he has. On the outside he is really sure of himself and confident (which he arguably deserves) and on the inside he is very careful and insecure when it comes to Katarina.
Also like, spoilers but for someone who is very forward when it comes to his physical advances, Geordo is super weak when he is in the receiving end of those touches. He gets super embarrassed and easily flustered when its Katarina who is touching him, as if implying that to some extent that he's all just talk lmao.
I don't really agree that Geordo doesn't care about what Katarina feels at all, in fact his inner dilemma in the novels is that he doesn't know what to do because in every step he takes he might do something that could ruin his image in Katarina's eyes, be it pursuing or abandoning the throne or looking like a monster in front of her. He even halts his plans to make advances towards her during the Keith Kidnapping Arc, but threw it away because he knows how much finding Keith means to Katarina. He puts what Katarina want and doesn't want as his priority, so when what she feels is unclear that's when he acts on his own intuition. The only reason Geordo feels so confident to advance towards her sexually is because Katarina never rejected him before (because she doesn't know what they mean, and all of this is for the sake of simply making her aware in the first place)
I'm not trying to make anyone think that one has to read all the books in order to understand him, I think the manga does okay at conveying his feelings too. The anime really prioritizes on making him look "sexy" for the japanese female audience, so anything he does is sprinkled with spice whether we like it or not.
I'm sorry if it seems like I'm overanalyzing all his actions just to justify them, everyone has the right to be uncomfortable with his advances if it seems too much for you. It's just that his actions, while over the top and unnecessary, are done to please the type of audience that hamefura caters to, and it's hard to take him completely seriously when the story doesn't either in my opinion. Doesn't mean he's right or that any of it is okay, but it's his method of trying to put a dent on Katarina's bakashield. When you're in a race versus your friends who Katarina all loves equally, he's gonna use whatever card he can get in order to win.
I like Geordo; I like how much of his feelings for Katarina forces him to reexamine himself and realize that he isn't a perfect prince at all, that he has lots of problems and flaws that he needs to work out in order to be someone worthy of her. I like the way he falls more and more in love with her in every interaction they have because he finally gets to have a genuinely and caring interaction with someone. I like how Geordo wants to do better and be better for Katarina and the people around him, and he wants to be able to thank Katarina directly for that through being able to show his love. I like that despite how much of a chad he acts in front of her, he's a blushing mess at the thought of Katarina returning his feelings. I find it funny when his "sexual advances" fails and gets thwarted because he's trying them on the densest person and most protected lady to ever live. I like how Geordo is so head-over-heals in love with her and how much comfort and warmth she brings to him by simply being her caring and bubbly self.
I guess it's just a matter of different perspectives. If you find him unlikeable or a villain, then you do you. I try to explain why I personally excuse his actions, but I know it wont fly with everyone. We all see each character differently and absorb the material in different ways. In fact it's probably a bad idea for me to defend him with material that isn't the anime nor manga yet lmao. I mean I'm not that much of a fan of Mary anymore, and I'm kinda scared and wary of her, but I know people don't see her the way I do and I'm okay with that.
Maybe its just me, who is the kind of person who just goes with the flow and doesn't think too hard because it's all fiction anyways
It's hard to tell all this from simply watching the anime, so I laid all my feelings down in hopes that someone out there would understand why I like him so much.
Thank you for the ask, you can ask more questions or call me out if I said anything insensitive or wrong, I know a lot of this is me overanalyzing things which might look like I'm jus stretching. As someone who is aware of the things to come in Hamefura X, I can say that I am both excited and nervous as to how everyone will react for the direction of Geordo's character.
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apricops · 4 years
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writing prompt: the political climate of [your choice of historical period] expressed in the form of office drama
[Interior - an anachronistic office building, equal parts The Name of The Rose and Parks and Rec. Holy Roman Emperor MAXIMILIAN I is in the background, listening to a PETITIONER. Court musicians nearby are playing something soothing as MAXIMILIAN I visibly tries not to lose his shit.
In the foreground, several people are seated around a table. The table is piled high with semi-organized stacks of papers, labeled “Habsburgs,” “Denmark,” and “???” There is a tired-looking COURT LAWYER who is skimming through a document, seated across from a Fancy-Lad DUCAL ENVOY and an old, gray-bearded, Prussian-looking MARGRAVE, who is half-asleep. The COURT LAWYER skims over a few pages in tense, frustrated silence before finally speaking.]
COURT LAWYER: So King Christian I is his own vassal?
[Cut to the COURT LAWYER doing that talking-to-the-camera-like-The-Office thing, because I have never written a TV script before and am fuzzy on the terminology.]
COURT LAWYER: The Holstien case… is hell. The cadet branches just pop up like… like pimples! One minute it’s Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, then it’s Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, then—
[Snap cut back to the table, making it clear the COURT LAWYER could have gone on for hours. The DUCAL ENVOY gestures to a document and starts to explain.]
DUCAL ENVOY: That, ah, that’s from a different case. You see, our illustrious house was rewarded for our service against the Ottomans during the Siege of Thessalonica.
[The MARGRAVE snaps awake.]
MARGRAVE: The Ottomans? Where? Drive back the Turk! Get me the garrison commander! Murm, and a stuffed pastry or two…
[Everyone ignores the MARGRAVE, who falls back asleep after a few more rambles.]
COURT LAWYER: Wasn’t the Siege of Thessalonica a total failure and humiliating defeat on our end?
[The DUCAL ENVOY makes a “yeah, but I’m gonna get mine” gesture. The camera tilts to zoom in on MAXIMILIAN I, who pauses to give a you-are-the-first-to-die-in-my-fantasies glare at the DUCAL ENVOY, then puts his normal expression back on and resumes listening to the PETITIONER.]
[The COURT LAWYER sets the document aside and picks up another one, then winces.]
COURT LAWYER: For god’s sake, Schleswig-Holstein-Liga?
DUCAL ENVOY: I think that one’s just a soccer league, actually.
[The PETITIONER leaves. MAXIMILIAN I signals to the court musicians to stop playing. Suddenly, there is a sense silence. MAXIMILIAN I stands up, takes a deep breath, and screams.]
MAXIMILAN I: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
[He pauses to breathe in again, then starts to storm offscreen, shouting.]
MAXIMILIAN I: *offscreen* If you rat bastards are going to wave forged documents in my face, at least have the goddamn decency to put in a little effort! The Habsburgs wrote the book on forgeries! Don’t TREAT ME LIKE A CHUMP!
RANDOM RETAINER: The, uh, the emperor will not be seeing any more petitioners today.
[The DUCAL ENVOY stands up and, taking his cue to leave, scoots away, opposite the direction the emperor left.]
[Cut to MAXIMILIAN I doing the talking-to-camera thing. Time has clearly passed, and servants are busy cleaning up rage-smashed furniture.]
MAXIMILIAN I: How come everyone who’s on my side sucks? The dukes, the electors, the rich territories, they’re always busy scheming and trying to fuck me over. But an abbey full of old nuns? Oh, we’re on your side, emperor! Anything you want, emperor! Here, here’s a pair of old sandles, that’ll keep the French from conquering Naples!
MAXIMILIAN I: *heavy, wistful sigh* I bet the Sultan doesn’t have to deal with shit like this. I wish I could be like that… with a harem of women, and not having to take any sass from anyone… this is getting edited out, right?
[Snap cut to interior – Topkapi Palace. Ottoman Sultan BAYEZID II is trying not to look guilty as his mother, GÜLBAHAR HATUN, lectures him.]
GÜLBAHAR HATUN: It’s been months, sweetie. Months!
BAYEZID II: *trying not to get snippy* I know, mother, but things have been crazy at work lately, and—
GÜLBAHAR HATUN: That’s what you say every time! I know you’re the head of the House of Osman, but you’re still my little boy too.
BAYEZID II: I’m sorry, it’s just, I’ve been on campaign, mom. I can’t just drop everything and come visit whenever I want. If we don’t control the Peloponnese, how are we going to have enough naval power to compete with the Venetians?
GÜLBAHAR HATUN: *crossing her arms* You care more about those Venetians than your own mother! The woman who gave birth to you!
[In the background, a HAREM LADY scoots by, trying not to be noticed, dressed in expensive but modest clothing. Cut to her doing the talking-to-camera thing.]
HAREM LADY: Look, I don’t know what those horny Austrians told you I did, but I just copy poetry, alright?
----------------------------------------------
Postscripts:
This was delayed because it started with me going “Schleswig-Holstein? That is a funny name, I’m going to use that for this ask, because it is funny” only to find out that it has been involved in insanely complicated legal disputes for basically eight hundred years. I decided to get around the issue by not dealing with it.
Wiki-ing told me that Gülbar Hatun did, in fact, send letters to Bayezid II complaining that he was always too busy emperor-ing to visit her.
I spent too much time and attention at first trying to get the date-overlap right with things but stopped caring after a bit because it was against the spirit of prompts
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Irresistible Danger - Part 54
Synopsis:  After being caught outside the compound on your own, Negan decides to punish you in the best way possible ;)
Words: 3,305
Warnings: nsfw, smut, swearing
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Allies and Foes
You woke up the next morning to an empty bed, the cooled sheets and pillow telling you that Negan had been gone for a while. A quick glance at the clock showed it was almost 9am, and you lazily stretched underneath the red satin, enjoying the ability to sleep in. 
You vaguely remembered Negan waking you up with a kiss to the neck earlier, when it was still mostly dark in the room. He had murmured something about a meeting with his Saviors, and you had responded by turning over and grumbling for him to let you go back to sleep. The last thing you remembered was his low chuckle, and then you were out again. 
Reluctantly rolling out of the ridiculously luxuriant bed (seriously, where did he find such a soft mattress during the apocalypse?!), you started getting dressed. Unfortunately, you only had the outfit from yesterday, which wasn’t the cleanest after being out in the woods, but it would have to do until you returned to your own room. 
The intrusive thought hit that maybe you could leave a few items of clothing here, so that you had more morning-after options for next time. You quickly dashed the thought, not wanting to get ahead of yourself. Sure, you had now spent the past three nights in a row with Negan, and two of those nights had been in his bed, but that didn’t seem like long enough to start moving in items. Just the thought of Negan doing something so domestic as allowing you to start taking over his armoire and bathroom drawers made you chuckle at the ridiculousness of it. 
Though, doing so would mean more events like last night could easily occur, since you wouldn’t have to keep running back to your room for more clothes or other belongings. Your mind flashed to the shower, and what the two of you had done in it the previous evening. How you had gone to your knees and proceeded to blow both his cock and his mind. He had been particularly vocal, his sharp grunts and loud moans echoing off the tiles as he ran shaky fingers through your hair and made you feel like the most seductive woman on the planet.  
Still smiling at the memory, you finished zipping up the boots, grabbed Ricardo, and headed out of the bedroom and across his office to the door. Creaking it open a few inches, you peeked down the hall. Seeing that it was clear, you quietly exited the room, shut the door behind you, and speed-walked down the halls and to the stairwell needed to get back to your room. Letting out a little puff of relief when you made it to your own floor, you slowed down the pace a bit, no longer needing to scurry like a roach caught in the kitchen when the lights turned on. Honestly, the fact that you had yet to run into a Savior or wife while making the morning-after trek to and from Negan’s room was really damn lucky and-
“Hey!”
The sound of a voice just as your hand was reaching out for the door knob to your room caused you to jump about a foot in the air. Whirling around, you saw none other than Maria at the opposite end of the hall, waving her hand in greeting as she came towards you. 
Crap. Couldn’t the universe have at least let you put on clean underwear first? 
Much as you didn’t want to interact with someone at the moment, you couldn’t help but recall the last time Maria had tried to speak with you, in this very hall. It had been after Negan confronted you about the pregnancy test, and you had completely ignored her and rushed past without a word. At the time you had been too emotional to care, but now you knew that she was owed an apology, not to mention the fact that you hadn’t really chatted or hung out with her since the night out at the picnic table. Doing the mental math, you realized that late night conversation had to have been a little over two weeks ago. Yea, you had been a shit friend to Maria lately, and it was totally deserved karma to have her pop up when you weren’t really prepared for social interaction. Well, you would just have to get over it. She didn’t deserve to keep being pushed aside, and you wouldn’t do so to her again. 
Pasting on a grin, you opened the door and gestured for her to come inside. She preceded you into the room and settled on the rickety little bed. You tried to nonchalantly lean Ricardo against the wall, in hopes she wouldn’t ask why you were walking around with a weapon so early in the morning. Thankfully, she seemed too busy scanning the meager surroundings to notice. It had been a while since she was in your space, and you tried to take in the tiny room from her perspective, wondering if she found it lacking. You weren’t sure what the wives’ rooms looked like, since apparently Negan wasn’t keen on them having visitors up there, but if it was anything like the fancy clothes they wore then it was sure to be much nicer than your own room. 
Just thinking about them made a lump of discomfort form in your stomach. It wasn’t as if you had forgotten about the fact that the man you were developing feelings for had a harem of women he called his wives, but it had been a lot easier to push them to the back of your mind when one wasn’t sitting in front of you. 
Not wanting to waste time with small talk, especially when you both were smart enough to know it was a shallow distraction, you dove right in.
“I want to apologize for the other day, when I ignored you. That was shitty of me, and I’m sorry.”
She gave a tiny smile, and you immediately knew that she wasn’t mad. Of course she wasn’t. This was Maria, and she was one of the most forgiving and patient people you had known since the apocalypse began. The fact that she was still willing to even deal with your fickle ass, especially after your last couple of interactions, was proof enough of that. 
“It’s alright,” she replied. “You looked pretty frazzled anyways. Everything okay?”
“I don’t know about everything, but things are alright,” you mumbled, almost hoping she wouldn’t hear the words.
You started picking at a stray thread on the grey cotton sheets, unable to help but compare them to the luxury of Negan’s satiny red ones. Ugh, why didn’t you just stay in his bed all morning, instead. You could’ve enjoyed physical comfort and social isolation there. 
Able to feel the weight of Maria’s gaze, you lifted your head to look at her. As expected, she was watching you closely, the slightest ghost of a smile tipping one corner of her mouth. “What?” you asked, not rudely, but perhaps a bit impatiently. She looked like she knew a secret that you didn’t, and you wanted her to just spit it out already.
“You spent the night with him,” she stated in a gentle tone, and when you jerked in surprise and opened your mouth to say....well, you had no clue what you were going to say, but thankfully she cut you off. “Which means,” she continued with a raised palm, a silent gesture for you to not get defensive just yet, “that considering how negatively you viewed his multiple wives situation, you must also know he stopped sleeping with them.”
Mouth still hanging open, you stared her down for a few seconds before snapping it shut. Making a “go on” gesture with your hand, you waited for her to continue with wherever it was she wanted this conversation to lead. 
She then told you how she had suspected for a while now that the reason why Negan stopped coming to see the wives was due to his interactions with you. Her theory had been confirmed after your late night chat out at the picnic table when you admitted to being in his bedroom, somewhere none of the wives had been allowed to enter.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” you whispered, clutching the bedsheet so tightly your fingers were about to go numb. 
“Honestly? Because you weren’t ready to hear the truth, and I knew you’d have completely shut down at the very thought of it. You still wanted to see him as a monster, so I figured I’d just wait and see how things played out. See if he’d keep allowing you to get close to him, or if one of you would get spooked and run, so to speak.”
You mulled this over. Was she right? If she had told you a couple weeks ago that he had suddenly stopped sleeping with all of the wives, would you have believed it? Doubtful. And even if you had, never in a million years would you have listened to her theory that his drastic change in behavior was because of the few interactions he’d had with you up until that point. 
Much as you hated to admit, Maria had been right to keep quiet about it. Though you did wonder how she thought you had found out. Did she assume Negan had told you? Or maybe she was aware of how Amber had been using Trixie, and had come to the correct conclusion on her own. Maria was intelligent, so there was a good chance she knew more about the goings on around here than people gave her credit for. You wanted to ask how much she knew, but also didn’t want to risk outing Trixie, since she had told you that information in strict confidence.
Instead, you asked, “So now that you think I am ready to hear the truth, is there anything else I should know? Are the others coming up with a plan of how to quietly dispose of me, so that Negan will pay attention to them again?” 
You said it jokingly, but were honestly curious to know how they felt about these recent changes. Amber obviously wasn’t your biggest fan, but what about the others? Did they see you as a threat to the luxuries they enjoyed here? Honestly, if the roles were switched, and they were the ones threatening whatever you had going on with Negan, you’d be tempted to sharpen mini-Ricardo shanks and take them out one by one. Your subconscious whole-heartedly agreed, giving a battle cry and stabbing at the air, as if taking out imaginary opponents, while your brain sighed and rolled its eyes.
“Well actually, we did recently have a group conversation about you.” 
She said this calmly, but it still made your eyes go wide as you exclaimed, “You what?”
“It was a few days ago. Amber had been throwing a real tantrum after she tried to take Negan a dinner tray, and found him already in his office eating with you.”
Oh yea, you remembered that event, vividly. It had been about a week ago, before his last supply run. It was the evening he had confessed to you about his dead wife, and then Amber interrupted by knocking on the door with a tray. It had been apparent she wasn’t happy to see you there, nor to be sent away by Negan, so you weren’t surprised to hear she hadn’t handled it well afterwards. 
Nodding for her to go on, Maria continued. “We let her vent about it for a couple days, since I think we were all hoping she’d eventually let it go the way she does most things that get under her skin. But she was like a dog with a bone this time, and kept running her mouth to all of us about how you were stealing Negan from us, and that if we continued to just sit back and let this happen, we were putting our status here in jeopardy.”
Sweat broke out on the back of your neck at the possibilities of where this story could be going. Just the thought of the wives sitting around talking about you as a potential threat or enemy made your stomach flop, but you stayed quiet and let Maria finish.
“She was really trying to get the rest of us riled up, and then one evening she started telling us all that we better be prepared to start scrubbing toilets for points, since we were willing to just let him toss us to the curb. That was when Sherry finally stepped in and put her foot down.”
“Wait, Sherry?!” you blurted, absolutely shook at this turn of events. 
Maria nodded. “Yep. She told Amber that all she was doing was starting unnecessary drama, and that Negan had never given any indication that we would lose our privileges or have to start working for points just because he isn’t fucking us every night. Amber tried to argue at first, but Sherry held her ground. Told her that she’d gladly go get Negan, so Amber could tell him her concerns face-to-face, rather than continuing to make assumptions behind his back. That shut her up real quick, and she stormed into her bedroom and stayed there the rest of the night. I haven’t heard her say anything else about it since. She’s still sulking around a bit, but at least she’s been quiet.”
Your brain was struggling to take all this in, especially the part where Sherry had not only stood up for you, but done so against another wife. Crap, now you really felt like an asshole for being jealous and internally snarky towards her that day in the kitchen, when she took you to the medic after you cut your finger. 
“Do you actually think she’ll let it go now?” You had a feeling that you already knew the answer, but couldn’t help asking.
Maria sighed. “I can’t say for sure, but Amber doesn’t seem like the kind of person who is okay with not being doted on. I don’t think she has any particularly strong feelings towards Negan, but she enjoys the status of being a wife. It can be a bit of a power trip, to catch the attention of a man like him, even if for shallow reasons.”
“Yea, don’t I know it,” you mumbled under your breath. 
Maria raised an eyebrow, having obviously heard. “I don’t think I’d classify his attention towards you as shallow.” 
Giving a huffed laugh and shrug, you tried to play it off. “Yea, well, is anything about Negan easy enough to classify?”
“Probably not,” she said with a shrug. “But that’s part of what makes him so intriguing, right?”
“If by intriguing you mean confounding as hell, then sure.” 
Despite your annoyed tone, you were genuinely smiling at this point. Part of you wondered if this should feel more weird than it did, talking to a woman who was Negan’s “wife”, and had most likely slept with him, about whatever it was he had going on with you. 
As if reading your thoughts, Maria’s face became more serious. “I hope this doesn’t make you feel like you can’t still talk to me, or see me as a friend.”
If you were being totally honest with yourself, the whole situation didn’t make you feel 100% comfortable, but you were pretty sure that was because of the possessive part of you that wanted him all to yourself. But was that a realistic emotion to even have, with a man like him? Could you be okay with him continuing to publicly have “wives”, even if he wasn’t sleeping with them? And what if he later decided to go back to them? It’s not as if he knew that you were aware he wasn’t sleeping with them at the moment. 
Mentally shoving those questions into the padlocked box with the other unanswered questions, you honestly replied, “I’m not totally sure how I feel about all of this yet, but I definitely still see you as a friend, so no worries on that front.” 
“I’m glad,” Maria said with a nod. “And in case I didn’t make it obvious, no part of me will be upset if Negan decides he doesn’t want to give us the same privileges anymore. Well, so long as you promise to give me a spot in the kitchen, so I’m not stuck scrubbing toilets beside Amber.” 
“Deal,” you said with a laugh, glad that the air had been cleared between the two of you, and that she wasn’t harboring ill feelings towards you for taking Negan’s attention away from her and the other wives. Part of you even wondered if she had spent much alone time with him, since she hadn’t been his wife for very long when he stopped sleeping with them, but some things were just better left unknown. Besides, it’s not like he slept cuddled against any of them all night afterwards, or let them in his bed...or his shower.
Your subconscious was feeling awfully smug at that thought, nose in the air as it strutted around with a superiority complex. Meanwhile, your brain was pointing at the padlocked box of questions in annoyance, a motion which the subconscious purposely ignored. 
You chatted with Maria for a bit longer, the conversation much lighter and more frivolous than before. It felt good to just hang out and discuss random topics, the way you had when the two of you were surviving for weeks out in the woods together. You might’ve each taken very different paths when it came to Sanctuary life, but it was a relief to know that the connection you had formed prior to coming here surpassed those differences. You also appreciated that she didn’t push for more information about you and Negan, and didn't even mention his name again. 
When she left a little while later, a glance at your watch showed that dinner prep was in about two hours. Grateful for the chunk of alone time, you finally changed into fresh clothes and propped yourself up in bed with the copy of Harry Potter. You smiled when removing the little piece of paper you had torn from your notebook as a bookmark. While this one was blank, there was a second little piece of paper that was bookmarking a place closer to the beginning of the book. This piece of paper you had marked in pencil with the letter N, and it held the spot where Negan had stopped reading yesterday morning. You had stuck it in there after he left your room, the book having been face down on your side table where he placed it when you woke up and distracted him. Hoping that he’d return to reading it, especially if you kept his place, you couldn’t help but mark his spot. 
Just the thought of his possible reactions to some of the plot twists had you smiling, at the same time as a devious thought crept into your head. If you made sure to get him hooked on the first book, he’d definitely have to find copies of the other ones in the series to share with you, right? There’s no way someone can read the first book and not need to also read the rest.
Both subconscious and brain nodded in agreement at this theory before cuddling up on either side of you, so that they could also see the opened book. Diving back into the story with a contented sigh, you immersed yourself in the magical world, not planning a return to reality and all the awaiting unanswered questions until it was time to head downstairs for dinner prep.
~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~
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ollieofthebeholder · 3 years
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For We Are Afar With the Dawning: A RQG Fic
Also on AO3. Contains spoilers for Episode 207.
Augusta is floating. Both literally and metaphorically.
Mentally, she’s floating on a peachy-pink cloud of euphoria and warmth and happiness and contentment. It’s an absolutely perfect day, the kind of day she never gets to experience anymore. The sky is a clear blue dotted with puffy white clouds, the sun bright enough to illuminate the scene but not so bright to hurt the eyes, and it’s pleasantly warm without being oppressively hot. The gentle, cooling breeze brings with it the faint scents of something floral; Augusta’s never been all that great with scents per se, but she thinks it might be roses or something.
Physically, she’s in a rowboat in the middle of a glassy lake, lying on her back with her arms folded contentedly over her chest and her head resting on a lap that seems to mostly comprise of white illusion. Augusta herself is wearing a loose-fitting lawn shirt and a pair of trousers, her feet bare. A pair of oars rest in the locks on either side, but nobody is using them.
“You know, Gus, I think you’re going to have a curly crop when this grows out a bit.” Delicate fingers run through Augusta’s delightfully short hair. “You’re going to look quite rakish.”
“Just so you don’t try to get me to wear one of those dreadful outfits you were talking about that boy wearing in your book.” Augusta smiles. “Really, Lou, where’d you come up with that? Nobody actually dresses like that.”
Louisa laughs. “I wanted it to be really clear that there was no way Jo would ever fall in love with him. Why would she love someone who dresses like that?”
“You should have given one of the girls who came to the Christmas play a name,” Augusta says. “And a personality. And a reason to come back.”
“Are you suggesting I should have put you in the book after all? I thought you didn’t like publicity, O Best Beloved.”
“I don’t like being tied to my brother. Being tied to you is different.” Augusta punctuates this by reaching up and twirling a strand of Louisa’s dark hair around a finger.
Louisa swats her hand away, but she’s laughing again. “Are you going to row us back to shore at any point? Mary and Emma should be here soon. Your Sasha was going to take the carriage and go get them.”
“She’s not my Sasha,” Augusta protests.
“She could be, if you asked, I’m sure. You know we’re all just yours for the asking.”
“Oh, stop it. That’s not how this works.”
“You can’t tell me the idea doesn’t appeal to you,” Louisa says relentlessly. “Having your own personal harem of beautiful and brilliant women. Mary for those delightful scientific discussions and Emmuska for solving puzzles and mysteries and Sasha for going on daring adventures and robbing tombs with and me for...well, when you want to be lazy and bored, I suppose.”
“Louisa May Alcott.” Augusta sits up and takes both of Louisa’s hands in hers. “You have no idea how happy I am. Right here. With you. I don’t need anyone else. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Sasha and Mary and Emmuska and I love having them around...and you’re right, Sasha’s so much fun to go poking around places we aren’t wanted with. But if none of them were here, I’d be happy just the same. Maybe more so. Being with you?” She brings Louisa’s hands up and kisses them tenderly. “This is perfect.”
Louisa blushes beautifully, but there’s a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “You’re just saying that because you don’t want to row back to shore.”
Augusta laughs. “You wound me. Right here.” She places one hand over her heart.
She’s joking, but suddenly, it feels like Louisa—or someone—has wounded her. There’s a sudden, sharp, stabbing pain in her heart, and the last thing she sees is Louisa’s sparkling eyes and sweet smile before the world goes white.
It resolves after a moment. Now instead of sitting in a boat, Augusta is sitting on a rock in a clearing in a verdant  forest. Looking up, she can see the night sky and the stars, so many stars, more than she’s ever seen, and the sweep of the Milky Way looks almost green. The moon shines down on the clearing and illuminates her.
Augusta looks down at herself. She’s wearing more practical clothes now—boots, trousers, tunic, leather jacket—actually, it’s a lot like what Sasha Rackett wore when Augusta first met her, nearly two years ago now, except newer and neater. Across her lap is a well-made crossbow.
A big beast swoops overhead, one Augusta can’t identify (she grew up in a city and the only kind of hunting really considered proper for young ladies of her station was foxhunting). A moment later, there’s a rustle in the undergrowth, and a figure pops out into the clearing, a short figure with outsize ears and a drawn bow.
“Wotcher,” the figure says. “Seen a big beastie go by here?”
“It went that way,” Augusta says, pointing the direction she saw the beast fly. “What is it?”
The hunter—she presumes—shrugs. “Dunno. Still haven’t figured it out. Haven’t caught it yet. Maybe once I do, I’ll know. For now I just call it The Beast.”
He doesn’t seem particularly put out by this. He has a hunt, and what exactly he’s hunting doesn’t seem to matter much; he’ll find the answers when he finds the beast. It’s something Augusta feels an odd kinship towards. “How long have you been hunting it?”
The hunter shrugs again. “Dunno. What year is it?”
Augusta tells him. The hunter draws in a breath, then nods. “Well, then...two thousand years, give or take a couple hundred.”
“Ah.” Augusta looks around her. “We’re dead, then.”
“Probably, yeah. Well, I know I am. You probably are too. What were you doing?”
Augusta thinks for a moment. “Dreaming.”
The hunter snorts. “Not the best way to go out.”
“It’s not like I chose to go out that way. I’d rather have gone down fighting.”  Augusta sighs. “At least it was a pleasant dream, though.”
She touches her chest, out of habit, and has a moment of panic when she can’t find what she’s looking for. Frantically, she scrambles at her neck until she finds the fine chain, then pulls it out and breathes a sigh of relief when the heavy silver locket lands in her palm. Just to be sure, she pops it open, and Louisa’s eyes stare back at her.
Augusta smiles back at the picture, then looks up to see the hunter staring at her inscrutably. She coughs and closes the locket. “Sorry. Just...checking.”
The hunter reaches into his own clothing and pulls out a photograph, but doesn’t show it to her—which startles Augusta, as she didn’t think photographs were that old—before putting it back. “It’s important to hold onto these things. Until you find them. Everything dies, after all.”
“That...probably shouldn’t be comforting, and yet…” Augusta takes a deep breath. “Everything does die, doesn’t it? I don’t know that this is exactly her idea of paradise, though.” Then again, she hadn’t realized it was hers, either.
The hunter shrugs. “Probably not theirs, either. But they all connect. I’ve got a camp set up.” He gestures off to one side. “Check in there every few...decades, maybe. Just to see if they’re there yet. It’ll be nice to have a home to come back to, someday, but for now...there’s the hunt.”
Augusta considers that as she tucks the locket back into her shirt, then looks down at the crossbow on her lap. “I’ve never really hunted in forests before, but I’m not bad at hunting in general.”
“I’d be willing to teach you some tactics. If you’re interested. Just until we both find what we’re looking for.”
Augusta stands up, shoulders the crossbow, and holds out her other hand. “My friends call me Gus.”
The hunter grins, red eyes sparkling, as he accepts her handshake. “Grizzop.”
~*~*~*~
Sumutnyerl soars, buoyed up by a thermal, then banks to one side and swoops low, skimming over the grass. This is their favorite form; they love to fly, and it’s a perfect day for it.
Beside them, another eagle tacks and swoops playfully, then sheers off. Sumutnyerl beats her wings to gain a bit of altitude and follows. For a moment, they race one another straight up into the air. Then the other eagle dips backwards into a loop. Sumutnyerl screeches in delight and goes into a spiraling dive, weaving around the other.
They continue this sky-dance for several minutes before the other leads up to the branches of a tree; Sumutnyerl follows and lands on a branch, then transforms back. They’re already laughing with delight. “I never get tired of that.”
“Nor should you.” Oblaitko smiles warmly, their eyes soft and kind. “The day one grows accustomed to the gifts that have been given is the day one ceases to live and begins to only exist.”
“I mean doing it with you.” Sumutnyerl looks out over the rolling meadow. “I would that we could do this forever.”
“We can,” Oblaitko answers. “Our duties are...light. And not incompatible. We needn’t go back to the town at all. You can attend to the Garden, I to the River, and we can spend the rest of our time here.”
Sumutnyerl considers. The idea is...not unwelcome. She feels an utter sense of peace here, with Oblaitko by their side. More than that, they feel like herself, like an individual and not just part of a collective.
“I would like that,” they say at last. “Very much.”
Oblaitko tucks a strand of Sumutnyerl’s hair behind their ear. “As would I.”
“A bargain, then.”
“A bargain,” Oblaitko agrees. “We can ask permission in the morning, but I hardly think the Council will object. It will save resources, after all.”
Sumutnyerl sighs and leans their head on Oblaitko’s shoulder. They place their arm around her shoulders and pull them close, one hand idly resting over their heart.
For just a second, Sumutnyerl wonders if Oblaitko is concealing a blade, because they suddenly feel a sharp, stabbing pain in their chest. They look up in shock, but there’s nothing on Oblaitko’s face to indicate they’re doing anything...and then the world goes white.
When Sumutnyerl’s vision clears, they are no longer in the branches of a tree, but somewhere else, somewhere far too familiar. Awareness settles on Sumutnyerl’s shoulders as they look around the Garden of Yerlick, but not as it is in life—currently or under ordinary circumstances. The flowers bloom as they past, trees put out their hands like old friends, and the spirits of the dead are instantly visible, smiling and calling to them.
Ah. This again.
“Sumutnyerl?”
Sumutnyerl turns and smiles again. Oblaitko stands before them once more, not in the same form as a moment ago—no longer young, their hair white, their back bent with age and the weight of their position—but their eyes are the same warm, kind brown they have always been .Right now, they are wide with shock and not a little sorrow.
“Hello, my dear friend,” Sumutnyerl says.
“Sumutnyerl,” Oblaitko says again. “Why...how are you here? Like this? You—you mustn’t. It isn’t your time.”
“Perhaps not,” Sumutnyerl agrees. They touch their heart, where the phantom pain is fading fast. “I—I believe I may have been stabbed in my sleep.” Like Nik, they think, with a mingling of regret and anger.
“You will be given another chance.” Oblaitko states this quite calmly, as if it is a given fact rather than an opinion...or a hope. “The Garden needs you. Our people need you.”
“Perhaps I shall be given the offer,” Sumutnyerl replies. “And...perhaps I will accept. But...well. There is much that has happened. Perhaps if I am not needed...perhaps if my last great task has been fulfilled after all…” They hold out their hands. “Would you allow me to stay?”
Oblaitko takes Sumutnyerl’s hands, and stares into their eyes, and no other words are necessary.
~*~*~*~
Hamid knows, on some level, that he’s dreaming, if only because Zolf isn’t really one for parties. That doesn’t stop him from being happy, though. Hamid’s sleep for the past few months has been dreamless at best, teeming with nightmares more commonly, and occasionally non-existent at worst. A part of him has started to believe he’ll never have beautiful dreams again, so the fact that this is a good dream means he’s going to enjoy it for all it’s worth.
And the others all look happy, too. Aziza sings beautifully, her eyes sparkling and face expressive, and her husband gazes on her with a proud, adoring smile. Saleh, his wife, and Hamid’s mother are listening to Oscar tell some story, gesturing dramatically with his drink, his other hand being occupied holding Zolf’s. Zolf has a faint smile on his face as he listens to a story he’s probably heard a hundred times—hell, it’s probably one he was there for, those are Oscar’s favorite stories after all—but that he never gets tired of hearing Oscar tell. Hamid’s father looks more relaxed and content than Hamid has seen him...well, ever since he started paying attention anyway, deep in conversation with Saira and Apophis. Azu, wearing the gown she and Hamid designed together for the opening of the so-called Bow Bar, is making a valiant effort at letting Ismail teach her one of the fancy dances he’s learned, while Ishaq enthusiastically does the same with Cel. Skraak and Grizzop have become fast friends, which Hamid isn’t surprised by, and he wonders what they’re talking about and if he’s going to have to help Zolf clean it up later.
Hamid dances. He loves to dance, almost as much as he loves to fly, and he doesn’t really mind that he doesn’t have a partner at the moment. As he spins, putting in one of the fanciest twirls he knows, he catches Sasha’s eye across the room and grins; she grins back and shoots him a double thumbs-up.
Hamid starts in Sasha’s direction. She’s so good on her feet, he thinks, she’ll be really good at dancing, and she’ll love it. Aziza’s just wrapping up the song she’s currently working on, and Hamid’s pretty sure she’s going to go into the aria from Act I of Carmen, which was her first leading role and one she’s quite proud of. Hamid knows with absolute certainty that Sasha will kill it at a tango.
Before he gets to her, he passes his mother and gets a kiss on the cheek. Saleh gives him a friendly poke in the chest as he passes, which actually hurts a lot more than Hamid is expecting, but he tries to laugh it off, especially as Saleh is laughing, too.
Zolf turns to face him. Letting go of Oscar’s hand, he reaches over and touches Hamid’s forehead with one thumb. He’s still smiling a little, and the look in his eyes is one he hasn’t given Hamid in a long time—not since the beach south of Calais, after they survived the storm sailing from Dover. It warms Hamid all the way to his toes.
“It won’t end this way,” he says, and while he sounds like he’s talking at an ordinary volume, Hamid somehow gets the feeling that nobody can hear Zolf’s words but him. “I won’t let it. Your heart’s too big to be destroyed by something like this.”
Hamid feels simultaneously stronger than he has in ages and like something’s being sucked out of his lungs. His wings unfurl from his back before he completely registers that the music is gone.
He blinks. Someone is holding him—it feels like Cel—and it’s dark. The memory of the lights dimming and then going out comes to him...and they’d been heading to the lab, he remembers, because of the tunnel, but what—?
Zolf’s voice comes from not very far in front of him. “Get in in the door, and get safe.”
Hamid blinks again. That’s an order, they’re in the field—he promised he would follow Zolf’s orders in the field, so even if he doesn’t know exactly what’s going on, he’s going to do what he’s just been told and he can ask questions once they’re all safe. Surely Zolf will be right behind him.
He takes in a breath to acknowledge his instructions—and sucks in a lungful of sweet-smelling gas. Instantly, he drops unconscious back into Cel’s arms.
He blinks and he’s at the party again. Zolf is still standing in front of him, smiling as he turns back to the conversation—did he leave for a minute? No, surely not, Hamid’s been here the whole time, he thinks fuzzily.
The song wraps up on a triumphant sting, and there’s a smattering of polite applause, and then just as Hamid suspected, the music starts up and it’s “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” from Carmen. He hurries over to Sasha and holds out a hand. “Sasha, come on, you’ll love this!” he cries.
Laughing, Sasha takes his hand and lets him pull her onto the ballroom floor. She’s a natural at the tango. Hamid would never have dared ask anyone else to do this dance with him; it’s a fiery dance of passion, usually, but this is Sasha and she’s just his favorite sister, as far as he’s concerned, even if she’s not his sister by blood. There’s no romance behind what they’re doing here, no heat. They’re just two kids having fun, really, laughing and taking increasingly flamboyant chances with the flashier moves.
He ends the dance by dipping her, somehow, despite the fact that she’s two feet taller than he is, but they’re both flushed and laughing and having a great time. It doesn’t even matter that they overbalance and fall onto the dance floor. Nobody’s really watching them anyway, which is just the way Hamid wants it right now. He doesn’t have to be the center of attention all the time. Not even most of the time.
“I like your wings,” Sasha says, poking one of them, and when did they come out? Hamid genuinely can’t remember. “This ‘cause you’re a Meritocrat?”
“I’m descended from a dragon,” Hamid corrects her. “I’m not a Meritocrat.”
“Good. But the wings are cool anyway. Do they work?”
“Oh! Yes. Want to see?” Hamid gets to his feet and manages—somehow—to pull Sasha up too. “I can cast fly on you and we can—”
“No,” Sasha interrupts, surprising him. She pulls him into a tight hug, and, oh, Sasha gives the best hugs. Hamid’s always suspected she would, but she’s always been iffy about being touched. If his wings hadn’t already popped out with joy—apparently—they would be bursting out now. He hugs her back just as tightly as she lifts him off the ground with the force of her embrace..
“Don’t you give up, Hamid,” she says in his ear. “Don’t you do it. There’s no dream so good it’s worth losing the whole world for. You get back out there and you fight to make the world this good. Because this right here? This is worth fighting for.”
Just a little of the euphoria peels back from the edges of Hamid’s mind, and he clings to Sasha a little tighter. “I don’t want to lose you again.”
“’M always with you, mate. Just like you were always with me. We’ll meet again. But right now, you’ve got to go save the world for me.” Sasha pulls back enough to smile at him, and her eyes are wet. “Make it a good one.”
Hamid’s eyes snap open.
~*~*~*~
If you had asked Oscar even a year ago, he would never have described this as the most perfect moment of his life. He would have said that the most perfect moment he could imagine is a gala celebrating the opening of his greatest work, a play that will be talked about through the ages and mean his name lives on long after he does, resplendent in his finest clothes, a rapt audience listening to him declaim his opinions—finally being the center of attention for art instead of admin.
But no. He enjoyed that, yes, and he’s looking forward to reading the description of it in the newspapers. But the truly perfect moment is this one. Just a simple, quiet family breakfast the morning after.
Azu is at more or less the opposite side of the round kitchen table they’re using instead of the formal dining table, nursing a hangover bigger than she is; she’s got a glass of tomato juice and a cup of strong black coffee and isn’t really talking to anyone. Cel is scribbling on a piece of paper and muttering under their breath, probably trying to improve or refine the special effects they and the kobolds designed and built for the production. Zolf presides over the stove as usual, his beard done up in one of the intricate braids he only does when he’s in an especially good mood and his shirtsleeves rolled up to expose his forearms. Sasha stands a little way down the counter, beaming as she slices and chops meat and vegetables for him; she’s the only one Zolf allows to help him in the kitchen, and even then only on special occasions. Hamid sits to Oscar’s left, a pile of newspapers between them, his pre-breakfast snack actually half-forgotten at his elbow.
“The reviews look really good, Oscar,” he says, sounding almost as delighted as Oscar feels as he hands over the Times, folded back to the Arts page. “All the criticisms I’ve seen so far have been about the acting, not the play itself.”
“I told you to cast Barnes in the lead instead,” Zolf calls from the stove.
“Not my call, darling. I’m not the casting director.” Oscar reads the article Hamid is handing him, a broad smile blooming across his face as he reads. Hamid’s right, the reviews are glowing, and this is from a critic who’s notoriously hard to please. A particular phrase about halfway down the column catches his eye: Wilde’s masterful words and turn of phrase makes even Johnson’s leaden performance turn to the purest gold.
Turning a few pages on, Oscar opens the society page and is delighted to see that most of it has been given over to a description of the party celebrating the opening. There are even a couple of pictures accompanying the article, and Oscar very carefully folds the paper back so that one of them is more fully visible—Oscar at the center, smiling broadly and holding a drink in one hand, his other arm draped around Zolf’s shoulders, the others arrayed around him looking pleased and proud.
“Have you thought about your next project?” Cel asks, looking up from their notes.
Oscar shakes his head before Cel can launch into an elaboration of the question. “No, not yet. I think I’ll take some time to see how this one does first. It may have opened well, but that doesn’t mean it will end well.” He sighs, a bit dramatically but not entirely put-0n. “Things so rarely do.”
“Things rarely stay good the whole time they’re happening, but that doesn’t mean they won’t end well,” Azu points out. “We got here, didn’t we?”
“And you’ve earned it,” Hamid adds encouragingly. “Happy endings feel a lot better when you have to work for them.”
“Cheers to that.” Sasha tosses her knife into the air; it flips four times and then returns to her hand without her even looking at it, and she goes back to her chopping.
“Have a bit of faith, Wilde,” Zolf chides him.
Oscar smiles fondly at his dwarf as he sets aside the paper. Azu’s faith in Aphrodite is a certainty you can cut your teeth on, but Zolf’s faith in Hope is nearly contagious. Like their happy ending, Zolf has worked for his faith, he’s earned it, and it’s never betrayed him. It’s the only reason any of them are still here, really. It’s the anchor that kept Cel from spiraling with guilt, it’s the keel that steadied Azu when she doubted herself (not her god, never her god), it’s the beacon that led Sasha back to them. And it’s the only reason Oscar and Hamid are still alive, albeit with matching scars—
Wait. Where did that come from?
Shaking his head slightly, Oscar pushes away from the table and passes behind Zolf, touching him first on the shoulder, then the cheek. “I have plenty of faith, dearest. In you if nothing else.”
“Get away from my workspace,” Zolf grumbles, though without any heat.
Oscar smirks and moves down the counter towards the cutting board, ostentatiously reaching for one of the ingredients waiting to be added to whatever Zolf is preparing. Sasha jabs playfully at his chest to make him back off.
She’s too good at what she does to accidentally stab someone when she’s only pretending to, and she wouldn’t stab him, especially not with Zolf’s good tomato knife; she has too much respect for both Zolf and blades to do that. And yet, pain suddenly erupts in Oscar’s heart, as though she’s driven a blade far bigger than the serrated one she’s holding into his chest. He inhales sharply, and the world goes white.
For just a moment, it resolves itself into his flat in Paris from when he was in university, or something similar anyway, but then it swirls into a pink mist. He feels something solid holding onto him, something anchoring him firmly in reality, and warmth floods his entire being. He feels safe and protected and cherished, and it gives him strength.
His eyes open, and he finds himself lying more or less on his back. Zolf kneels next to him, one hand tenderly cradling his jaw, the other pressed to his heart, which hurts like anything.
“Wh—huh—?” Oscar tries to sit up, his mind scrambling to fit this dark and rather crowded antechamber or wherever it is they are in with the light and airy kitchen-slash-breakfast nook he remembers from just a few...moments ago? What’s going on?
Zolf’s face is pale, his blue eyes intent, and there’s a trickle of blood near his hairline that worries Oscar in a vague and distant way. But he doesn’t have time to ask about it before Zolf looks into Oscar’s eyes and says in a voice that crackles faintly with an emotion he can’t place, “Get the others out, and get safe.”
Before Oscar can question it, or protest, or even figure out what it is they’re supposed to be safe from, Zolf half-shoves, half-throws him through a door that’s barely open wide enough for him to get through. He slides a few feet until he’s able to at least drag himself on his hands and feet a little further into the room. Someone runs past him and takes hold of the door, but doesn’t close it.
Oscar blinks hard, shaking his head to clear it. There’s a sweet smell in the air and he almost sniffs at it, almost tries to see what it is, but then his eyes fall on the crumpled figure not far from where he is and it acts like a dash of cold water across his brain. Hamid. Hamid is flopped in a pitiful heap, his new wings draped across the floor, his eyes closed.
He was dreaming. Oscar realizes that in the same moment that he takes in Hamid’s unconscious (oh, gods, please let him only be unconscious, Oscar cannot have failed him a second time) form and the sounds of something that is definitely not making breakfast in the other room. He pushes himself to a standing position and looks around the room. It doesn’t take long to spot the tunnel Hamid spoke of, at the back of the lab. That must be both out and safe.
“Tell the others to follow us,” he calls over his shoulder to the person he now recognizes as Ada, hurrying over to Hamid’s side and hefting him into his arms. The wings make it awkward, but Hamid sort of nestles into Oscar’s arms. Thank the gods, he’s alive.
Oscar runs. He heads down the tunnel, the light fading behind him, but he can’t spare a hand to cast any sort of spell to help him, so he just gets as far as he can. There’s just enough light left for him to see the gate before he runs headlong into it, and he checks, then looks over his shoulder. The others will be coming any moment now, he tells himself. They just have to wait a moment.
He sets Hamid down on the ground and looks him over quickly. He looks...fine, really. A bit disheveled, but fine. Then Oscar notices the bloodied tear in his shirt. Underneath the rend is a scar so new its edges are still shiny, directly over Hamid’s warm and generous heart.
It doesn’t take a genius to guess what happened. And, touching his own chest briefly, Oscar feels the same thing.
He checks Hamid over quickly, and even though he’s a bit rattled, he realizes that the sweet smell he noticed earlier is probably what knocked Hamid out; other than that, he looks fine. Oscar sniffs the air experimentally. It’s a bit fresher down here, so he should be able to…
“Hamid,” he says urgently, shaking the halfling, then slapping his face as gently as possible. “Wake up!”
Hamid’s eyes snap open. There’s a moment of disorientation before his eyes clear. “Oscar?” he says, his voice a bit higher-pitched than normal as he sits up. “What’s—what happened?”
Oscar still has no idea, actually, except for one absolute certainty so strong he sensed it even in his dreams, maybe even before it happened. “Zolf saved us.”
The confusion on Hamid’s face melts into fierce determination. “Then let’s go return the favor.”
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What I would’ve done w/ Lotor’s character
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It’s not exactly a secret to anyone who’s been following me for a while that I’m not the biggest fan of canon Lotor. I had high hopes for the character from his 80s counterpart and intro in season 3 but I was really let down by the direction the writers went with him in canon.
When he was introduced, I was so hoping for him to be this cocky manipulative asshole that’s only out for himself. I love that character archetype so goddamn much.
But in canon he was just kinda boring to me. His personality was bland and his motivations never really made sense. He’s introduced using empty promises of peace and comradery to manipulate people, then its revealed that he actually does want peace and comradery and wants to lead a peaceful empire, then that turns into draining Alteans and wanting to kill all Galra...
I also didn’t like how the writers decide to tack on this whole child abuse plot to explain why he was the way he was. As if that’s the only way to make a villain sympathetic. Yeah other versions of Voltron have touched on Lotor’s childhood before and it was never pleasant, but VLD really leaned into that shit, to the point where it felt like the writers were just shoving angst down our throats thinking that equals good writing.
It takes more than a tragic backstory to make a character compelling. It takes an interesting personally and motivations that make sense. And you can make a character tragic/sympathetic in more subtle ways.
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For me personally, I wanted Lotor to be a sorta fusion of Loki and Littlefinger in space.
Loki is a sly trickster who grew up feeling like an outcast, unaware of his true heritage. He grew up believing he could be king but when his shity father handed it to his perfect brother he felt he had been robbed and decided to take the throne by force.
Littlefinger is a small man from a small house with no power, and after getting the shit beat out of him trying to win the hand of the girl he loved, he decided he would use his intelligence and skills in manipulation to screw over all these noble lords and weasel his way into the throne. And when he did he would finally get vengeance on all those who had looked down on him.
I feel like this fits Lotor well. Lotor is a prince, so he isn’t small in that regard, but he is not respected in the way a prince should be.
He is a lot smaller than the average Galra. And even though Lotor is still quite strong, developing a fighting style that suits his small form and uses his opponents size against them, in a society so heavily based on physical strength that’s still a big blow to your rep.
He employs half breeds, which we know are looked down on in the empire. And there are definitely rumors about Lotor himself being a half breed. I think after 10,000 years Zarkon would’ve done a pretty good job at hiding Lotor’s heritage from the public but just looking at him compared to the average Galra there’s going to be some suspicion there. On that note Lotor is probably considered butt ugly by the Galra.
And Lotor works in the shadows and achieves his goals through lies and trickery, which Lotor himself says are things the empire looks down on.
So yeah, the people in the empire hate Lotor. Even Sendak who’s all ‘Gung ho empire’ has no respect for Lotor. And because of this it would probably be up in the air whether or not Lotor would even be allowed to take the throne if his father were to pass, even though it’s his birthright.
And in the face of all this rampant disrespect, Lotor decides that he is going to overthrow his father and take the throne. And when he does he will take vengeance on everyone who had ever undermined him and expand the empire beyond anything his father could’ve dreamed of.
And don’t try telling me, “oh that’s so out of character! Lotor would never take pleasure in the pain of others!��� Because he does.
Remember Throk? Remember how Lotor sent him away to the worst station in the empire and joked about letting him, “rot with the ice worms?” Remember how Lotor later invaded his station then watched with a grin as he was tortured by Haggar?
Lotor 100% takes pleasure in hurting those who would hurt him, because it makes him feel powerful.
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Now let’s talk about Lotor’s planet. The one given to him and destroyed by Zarkon. I always felt weird about this plot. Obviously it’s a very sad thing to have happen, but I always liked the idea of Lotor’s promises of peace to be empty, a means of manipulating people. So this whole situation being genuine feels weird to me.
In my version, Lotor didn’t get banished for being too kind. He got banished because Zarkon caught him in a plot to betray him.
When Lotor was put in charge of the planet, he seduced and married the princess Ventar. He filled her head with promises that her people would be free and they would rule the universe together and convinced her to secretly round up her armies and send word to her ally planets to do the same, so they could start planning a way to overthrow Zarkon.
It’s left ambiguous whether or not he was being genuine and whether he really loved Ventar and intended to keep his promises to her or if she was just a tool to get the throne. But either way, it ends the same. Zarkon finds out, destroys the planet, kills Ventar, and exiles Lotor.
Still sad/humiliating thing for Lotor, and definitely a story that could gain sympathy from Allura.
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Speaking of Allura and Ventar, let’s talk about Lotor’s relationship with the women in his life.
(Trigger Warning: Brief mention of of a rape scene in GoLion)
In the 80s Lotor was incredibly misogynistic. He walked around with a harem of half naked women, tried repeatedly to kidnap and marry Allura against her will, and in GoLion it’s heavily implied that he raped Romelle because she looked like Allura.
It’s a common joke in the fandom that he went from this to drinking respect women juice in VLD but I don’t know if I’d go that far.
He’s definitely better in VLD than he was in the 80s, but even in VLD he manipulates, uses, and hurts most of the women in his life.
Allura is the obvious example, but you also have his generals. Acxa talks to the paladins, Allura in particular, about how persuasive Lotor could be. Implying that she and the other general were manipulated the same way Allura was.
Well not EXACTLY the same way Allura was, romantically I mean. Though there are people who believe that Acxa was also in love with Lotor and he used that to his advantage, which I can see.
But I feel like it was more about giving them a place in an empire that didn’t care about or accept them.
I hate The Last Jedi but I really feel like the line, “you’re nothing, but not to me,” fits really well. They were outsiders with no place to go until Lotor swooped in and gave them a purpose.
Do I think that there was a part of Lotor that genuinely wanted to help them because he saw a kindred spirit in them? Yeah. But I also think that at the end of the day, they were more tools than real friends. And he had no qualms about killing them if they betrayed him.
The situation with Narti proves that. As well as the fact that Ezor and Zethrid seemed very scared of the prospect of Lotor being alive and coming for them.
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And then you have Allura. Lotor’s lust for Allura has always been a very important part of his character. In the 80s the reason behind his obsession with her was that he had a lot of baggage about his mother and had a thing for women that looked like her. Also the fact that he just didn’t like not getting something he wanted.
There was never any love. He didn’t want to be with her, he wanted to own her.
In VLD, his want for Allura seems to stem more from the fact that she’s Altean than an Oedipus complex. As well as the fact that she’s powerful and skilled in Altean alchemy, which makes her rather useful.
I don’t personally believe that Lotor ever really Loved Allura. I think he liked the idea of her and what she could do for him, but the end of the day she was more a means to an end than anything else.
Allura’s been trough a lot. Zarkon betrayed her family and destroyed her entire planet only about a year ago from her point of view, and she appears to have a pretty bad case of survivors guilt and PTSD. And to make matters worse, while Lotor was on the ship she was fighting with Shiro, someone she clearly cared about. The idea of loosing him after already losing so much must’ve been really painful.
She was hurting, conflicted, and lonely. Which made her all the more vulnerable to Lotor’s manipulation.
He took advantage of her loneliness and insecurities, making her believe she had found someone who understood her and could help her avenge her family and planet. She trusted him, let herself be vulnerable around him, which made it hurt even more when it was revealed to all be a ruse.
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And then you have his relationship with his mother Honerva/Haggar.
I talked a lot about this in my whole rewrite/rant about Honerva, but I’m not a fan of how they made their relationship 100% negative. I feel like it robs the show of a lot of interesting character interaction.
It’s sad. The whole relationship is really tragic. Shit like this is literally my worst nightmare. The thought of looking my mom in the face and have her not recognize me as her daughter keeps me up at night.
But the thing is, in canon the relationship kinda falls flat because Lotor and Haggar/Honerva have no connection. Haggar was awful to Lotor and Lotor hates Haggar. What reason do I have to be invested in their relationship?
So If you haven’t read my Honerva rant, here’s how I would’ve done the Honerva Lotor relationship.
10,000 years ago, when Alfor came to Dibazzal to convince Zarkon to close the rift, Honerva went into labor. Alfor and many Galran doctors tried there best to save her and the baby, but the quintessence had damaged her body so much that she couldn’t be saved and died in childbirth.
Zarkon went ballistic and Alfor had the doctors take baby Lotor somewhere safe, fearing Zarkon would take his grief and anger out on the child.
After Honerva was resurrected as Haggar and throughout Lotor’s childhood, they had a strange sort of relationship. Lotor was an inquisitive child and was always curious about Haggar and her work, making a habit of following her around like a little shadow and watching as she worked. And there was also the fact that, while his father was never friendly, he was calmer when she was around.
Haggar had no idea what to make of this weird child following her around all the time. All these big strong Galra were terrified of her but this tiny child showed no fear as he tugged on her robes and excitedly asked questions about her work. And she never minded. She didn’t know why or how to explain it, but she cared for the child. As much as a soulless undead witch could care for something anyway.
But as time went on there relationship became more and more strained. Lotor was a smart kid he was gonna find out about his mother and deduce what happened to her.
He resented Haggar. Resented her for not remembering him. Resented her for the fact that he had to go through life without a mother while she was right there. And he resented her for being loyal to Zarkon, who had been making his life hell for thousands of years.
Every time she showed him something resembling kindness he’s conflicted. He knows he should feel happy that she cares, but at the same time, why does she care? It’s not like she sees him as her son.
He turned to denial, insisting that Haggar couldn’t possibly be his mother, even though he new the truth deep down, and a part of him always secretly longed for her to remember who she was, who he was, and embrace him as her son. He hates that part of himself.
And when he does meet Honerva for the first time, it’s... tense... to say the least. Having his mother reach out to him and acknowledge him as her son is something he thought would bring him joy, but in that moment all the pain he went through rises back to the surface and he lashes out. He draws his sword and is about to cut her down but he hesitates. He’s trembling with tears in his eyes. He can’t forgive her, but he also can’t bring himself to kill her.
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Then you have his relationship with his father.
It’s no secret that Zarkon is an awful man and a shity father, always has been.
The explanation as to why is kinda shaky. All we get is Zarkon saying Lotor is his greatest shame because he’s Altean but I don’t know about that. Zarkon may hate Alteans but he loved Honerva and I don’t think he would be ashamed of his relationship with her.
He definitely did his best Lotor’s heritage from the public. But I don’t think that’s the reason he hates him.
In my version of the story, Zarkon hates Lotor because Honerva died giving birth to him and Zarkon blames him for her death. He lost his beloved wife and was forced to watch the son that killed her waltz around wearing her face.
It didn’t help that Lotor was a snarky rebellious kid that liked to show off. He did things his own way, didn’t care much for rules, and had a real knack for finding loopholes. All things that made his strict father very angry. He was an embarrassment. Small and rebellious. That’s why Zarkon began training Sendak.
I personally believe the reason Zarkon was so trusting of Sendak and had so much faith in him was because Zarkon had been grooming him to be his “true heir.” Sendak is the epitome of what a Galra should be. Strong, loyal, and brave. He would be the son Zarkon wished he had. The favorite child.
Lotor obviously hates Zarkon, and rightfully so. Zarkon hates him for something he had no control over and constantly disrespects him.
Lotor may not follow the rules, but he passes every trial. He excels at everything he does but Zarkon refuses to see that all because he blames him for Honerva’s death.
Lotor sees Zarkon as an old fool. He knows that he could do a far better job at running the empire.
Lotor dedicated thousands of years of his life to overthrowing Zarkon. His hatred for his father was his motivation, what got him out of bed every morning, so when the deed is done and Zarkon was finally defeated, in the moments after he felt empty.
But he didn’t have time to dwell on that feeling for long. He still had to deal with his father’s men and take the throne that was rightfully his.
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Then you have his plan.
Lotor’s plan in VLD is really weird and over complicated. There was no real reason for the whole draining Alteans thing. Just a lazy way of making him 100% evil.
The plot could’ve been a lot simpler. He gains the paladins trust, gets them to help him build his ships and overthrow Zarkon, and then once he has the throne he pulls an Uno reverse card and is like, “yeah, nothing personal but this was all a trick and imma lock you and your lions up now.”
Obviously more complicated than that but that’s the basic idea.
One of my main problems with VLD is that they had a bad habit of over complicating the plot. People don’t care about VLD because of the plot, they care about the characters and their relationships, the actual plot doesn’t have to be anything spectacular.
It’s strange to say but I feel like the writes tried too hard with Lotor. He had the potential to be an amazing villain but the writers were too focused on tricking the audience and making him angsty that they forgot to make him compelling.
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vecnawrites · 3 years
Text
Harem Of Argus
Hey, this is one of the things that I was telling you guys about! This is a Lancaster one, with more parts coming eventually!
Ecstatic. That was the word Ruby Rose would use if one asked her how she was feeling at this very moment. Ecstatic. Here she was, arm and arm with the boy she had always loved, even back when they were kids and not the young adults they were now. She never thought she would have gained the courage to ask him out. She knew he likely wouldn’t see the signs; after all, he only grew up with sisters, and pretty much his entire friend base was female. He wouldn’t get hints from her since he would likely put anything into a ‘friendly’ zone. And she knew that other girls had been looking at him too, including her own half-sister! But she had asked, and now, she was returning from a wonderful date with him...and she was going to take it further if she could.
The date had been perfect. Jaune had been the utter gentleman, taking her to a restaurant that she had been wanting to go to for a while, a movie she had been wanting to see, and even taking a picture to commemorate the occasion. Now, however, she was going to invite Jaune in...she had been dreaming of him making her his since before she had been legal...now, however...since she was an adult? There was no holding back anymore. By the end of tonight, she was going to be split apart by Jaune’s cock!
“Thank you for tonight, Jaune! I really loved it…” she blushed as she leaned into him, enjoying his warmth as he wrapped his firm arm around her. She received a small laugh in answer. “I was happy too, Ruby...I will admit, I was surprised you actually thought of me that way...I mean, I’m usually the ‘annoying brother’ type, as my sisters say.”
Ruby looked up at Jaune, shaking her head slightly. Jaune truly didn’t see how good a catch he was. But that was okay. It allowed her gather the courage to ask him out, after all. “Well you know now.” she said simply, hugging his arm tightly to her. She wasn’t going to tell him-yet-that there had been actual fights over trying to snag a date with him.
As they reached her doorstep, Jaune smiled down at Ruby. He never expected her to like him in that way, but he wasn’t complaining. She was beautiful, much like the flower that her family took its name after. Delicate, but hardy, and with thorns to protect herself when necessary. She looked more mature than he had ever seen her, wearing a lovely red dress with black accents and the slightest bit of makeup, accentuating her looks and bringing out her eyes.
“Well, here we are...would you like to go out again this weekend, Ruby?” he ventured, hoping that he wasn’t being presumptuous. The smile that formed of Ruby’s face was blinding and breathtaking.
“I’d love to…” Ruby murmured. Seeing him hesitate, she squeezed his hands. She gathered her courage. “W-Would you like to come inside for a bit? You aren’t expected home yet, right?” she knew that his parents were out and the only family member currently at his home was Saphron, so she felt safe keeping him overnight.
She saw Jaune blush, making her happy. Squeezing his hands again, she reached out with one hand and opened the front door. “Come on, my mom, aunt, and Yang are all asleep.” she had milked the fact she was an adult now to make sure that they wouldn’t wait up to greet her.
Leading him through the darkened house and hallways, Ruby felt her heart beating faster and faster as they neared her bedroom; she could tell that Jaune was a bit confused too. Opening her bedroom, she frantically looked around to make sure it was clean, and sighed in relief. She had remembered to clean up before Jaune picked her up that day.
Tugging Jaune along, she closed the door behind them (missing the fact that it didn’t click) and pushed Jaune onto the bed. “I...Jaune...I want to…” she swallowed. Why was she so bad at this?! She shook her head. She was never going to be a great orator, getting all nervous and fumbly, mixing up her words whenever she was forced to speak with people.
Since words wouldn’t work, she decided to go with action. Locking her silver eyes on Jaune’s sapphire blue ones, Ruby reached behind her and grabbed the hidden zipper of her dress, her cheeks warming as she watched Jaune’s eyes widen in shock as a slow ‘zzzzziiiiippppp’ filled the air of her bedroom and she felt air flow in between the satiny fabric and her heated skin. Her core was already warm, her new panties humid.
Pulling the zipper down to the base of her spine, she hummed happily, warmth pooling in her lower belly and a tingly feeling dancing around her skin. She smiled bashfully as she brought her arms up and with an almost casual shrug, her dress slipped off her body, falling around her ankles with a barely heard fwump, revealing what she had been wearing underneath to her boyfriend, and in moments, her lover.
Ruby reveled in Jaune’s stare, and watched in lust as his slacks tented mightily outwards. The moment she had seen this lingerie, she knew that she had to have it. A bikini like red string looped around her neck, connecting to a lace collar running along the tops of her breasts connected to a black band with red ribbon trim over her nipples, a gauzy black material on the underside and hanging over the underside of her breasts.
Her core and pert rear were covered by panties of almost the same style, solid black covering her core, while the black gauze like material covered her mound and most of her bottom.
Rounding out the outfit were stockings with roses and black lines embroidered within them, making her long legs look elegant.
As Jaune’s eyes roamed over her body, Ruby had never felt so beautiful.
Raven Branwen was a lot of things. Ex-Lover to a (sadly) dead man, wiped criminal record from her teenage years, worrywart mother (though she’d fight anyone who even hinted at it), and attempted guiding figure for her own daughter and honorary niece (though she didn’t know how well she was doing at that, Summer was definitely the better mother).
But Summer had fretted about Ruby going out on her first date (despite being overjoyed at the fact she went for the boy she liked), wanting to wait up despite Ruby saying that she didn’t have to. Summer and Yang were currently asleep and, having heard the door and footsteps.
Heaving herself out of bed, she walked quietly towards Ruby’s room, just to peek in and see that Ruby was settling into bed for the night. Reaching her bedroom, she saw that the door was cracked and decided to just peek inside, expecting to see Ruby in her pajamas and curling up to go to sleep. Her eyes widened at what she saw happening inside.
“Hey, Rae...you had the same idea too?” Raven nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard Summer’s voice next to her. Looking to the side, she saw her housemate standing next to her wearing her shorts and a thin tank top that stopped about an inch under her breasts, baring most of her toned belly. “How does Ruby loo-mmph!” Summer released a muffled sound of shock as Raven slapped her hand over her mouth, and jerked her head toward the door.
Leaning over and peeking into Ruby’s bedroom, Summer inhaled sharply, her eyes going wide. She was thankful that Raven’s hand was over her mouth, since it swallowed the squeak she released.
Ruby walked towards her boyfriend with a sway in her hips, having practiced for this moment. Empowered by this she walked up until she was just before her boyfriend, leaning over and kissing him on the lips. “I want to be yours tonight, Jaune…” she lowered herself to her knees and stared hungrily at the large tent sticking out from his pants.
Scooting forwards, she rubbed her cheek against it, while her hands moved up and began undoing his belt. She saw him swallow hard, but knew that when Jaune got into it he would definitely be leading this little dance.
Tugging on his slacks, Ruby smiled sweetly up at Jaune. “I need you to lift your hips, please.” she said, her tone soft and comforting. She was pleased when Jaune did as asked, allowing her to bring his pants down his legs and off, tossing them to the side with her dress, leaving the blonde in his strained boxers and dress shirt.
She hummed, gently tugging on the warm fabric, watching the long spire of flesh bend down towards her as she pulled. She hummed, licking her lips as she imagined how big it might be...THUNK!
Ruby’s eyes widened as she pulled Jaune’s dark blue boxers down and was practically uppercutted by Jaune’s shaft, the wide head slapping into the bottom of her chin.
Moving back, she started shamelessly at what was between Jaune’s legs. He didn’t have a penis, he had a massive throbbing dick! She swallowed and rubbed her thighs together, wetness forming between her legs.
Gently reaching out, she wrapped her dainty hand around his shaft, shuddering as she felt the heat from the shaft seep into her skin.
Jaune was truly blessed. By her best estimate he was between eight and nine inches, thicker than she could close her hand around, and his balls...she swallowed. The large spheres could rival plums in size. How had her boyfriend kept this hidden? Not that she wasn’t grateful that he had kept it secret. If the girls had known about this, she’d have never gotten a chance to gather the courage to ask him out!
Leaning forwards, she rubbed her nose against the shaft, marveling at the immense heat against her cheek, her lungs filling with his scent. A powerful wave of heat flowed through her, her core getting hot and wanting attention. Tilting her head, she pressed her lips to the hard flesh.
Trailing kisses, small and sweet, up and down his hard shaft, Ruby slowly breathed in his thick musk, her core getting warmer and wetter as she did so. She moved down slowly towards where the scent was strongest, burying her nose in his swollen sack and breathing deeply, shuddering as her lungs were filled. Her free hand slipped between her legs, rubbing at the damp spot on her panties, little bolts of pleasure flowing through her body. She squeaked happily, her toes curling.
Jaune was shocked. If one had asked him if he would have sex with his girlfriend (his first girlfriend) the night of their first date, he would have laughed. Not only because that was ludicrous, he knew practically all girls wanted to wait to see if the guy was worth it, but because it was Ruby, the girl who had literally whacked Blake over the head with one of her Ninja’s of Love novels because it was ‘filth’. But obviously the ‘Little Rose’ had some incredibly dirty thoughts of her own, since her face was practically buried in his swollen sack, her nose dragging in his scent deep. He was surprised at how into it she was getting. Seeing her like this was honestly turning him on a great deal, filling him with a deep hunger that he wanted to sate…
Raven watched, eyes wide and mouth dry as her innocent niece wore some of the skimpiest lingerie she had ever seen (and considering some to the stuff she and Summer had worn for Taiyang, that was saying something!), and on her knees before her boyfriend, stroking a massive cock. It seemed she found out why Juniper was always glowing...and why she had so many damn kids!
Summer’s mind was whirling. When had Ruby bought that? Why hadn’t she spoken about this with her? Why hadn’t she asked about birth control options? Where had her innocent little daughter learned this?!
Pulling back a bit, nose permeated with Jaune’s scent, Ruby stared up at her boyfriend with hazy eyes. “Just enjoy...daddy~” she hummed, watching Jaune’s eyes widen as she moved up to the tip, opening her mouth and flicking her tongue out, lapping up the bead of fluid that had formed at the tip. As she sweet bit of liquid flowed over her tongue, she moaned, leaning forwards and pressing a soft kiss to the tip. Then another. And another. Another. Another. Another...shlup! Ruby faintly heard Jaune gasp as she found warm, spongy flesh between her lips and on her tongue.
As the taste of his skin, of the salt and the musk filled her mouth, she felt herself beginning to get more riled up. She wanted to worship this magnificent flesh, to worship Jaune, and be worshiped and claimed by her ‘daddy’ in return. Slowly, she ran her tongue around the bulbous head that was in her mouth, suckling gently as she gave her daddy the tending to he deserved.
Raven’s jaw dropped as she watched her supposedly innocent niece begin to bob her head on a cock thicker than her own wrist, her cheeks hollowing as she sucked, the shaft beginning to shine under the dim light of the room as her saliva began to coat it. Warmth flooded her core as she thought of being in there, sucking that cock…
Summer covered her mouth with her hands as her daughter, her so sweet daughter, who just this morning was telling her how excited she was over the upcoming date that Jaune was taking her on, start taking a cock bigger than she had ever seen in her mouth. Even still, she could shamefully feel wetness pooling in her core...
Ruby hummed happily as her daddy placed his hand on her head, his fingers sliding through her red-tipped locks, sliding around to the back of her head and cupping her, before taking control and slowly sliding her head further and further downwards. Pulling her hand back slightly, she slipped her fingers into her underwear, feeling the sticky wetness of her juices clinging to her slim digits.
“Such a naughty girl you are, Ruby…” she glanced up at her daddy, who was looking down at her with a smirk, one that made her tight little virgin pussy clench, “Pleasing yourself like that...isn’t that daddy’s job?”
Ruby shuddered; carefully removing her wet fingers from her panties and forcing herself to stay away from her aching core. It was going to be hard, since her arousal was only growing as Jaune began to move her head along his cock. Her eyes widened as Jaune pulled her head down, until the fat head of his cock hit her gag reflex. She gagged harshly, her throat spasming around the thick flesh.
Jaune moved her head back, until his cock popped out of her lips, thick strands of saliva and precum mixed together connected to her lips as she coughed a bit. “It’s okay, sweetie...we’ll work on that...train you until you can take my cock all the way in your throat no problem…”
Ruby smiled, leaning forwards and rubbing her cheek against Jaune’s slick cock. “Sounds wonderful, Daddy…” she cooed, before pressing kisses along his cock again, looking up at him with worship in her eyes.
Ruby looked at the pillar of slick flesh before her, before drawing the tip into her mouth again, sucking gently and bobbing her head, keeping her eyes on Jaune’s the entire time as she moved her tongue around, intent on getting her second ‘dessert’ of the night.
She bobbed her head quickly, picking up speed and adding her hand to the mix, stroking the thick cock and humming low in her mouth, her core tingling as Jaune groaned. She hoped that he was going to cum soon. Not only did she want to taste it, her mouth was getting a bit tired.
She was rewarded when Jaune groaned her name and tensed, sucking intently as hot thick fluid began to fill her mouth. She started swallowing quickly, the thick sweet taste coating her tongue and sliding down her throat, filling her belly up with its warmth.
Eventually though, she had to pull back, unable to keep up with the intense bursts of cum that filled her belly. Pulling off with a pop, she closed her eyes immediately as cum sprayed across her face, coating it in a milky mask.
She cooed, shivering and slowly wiping the cum off of her face with her fingers, putting it in her mouth and swallowing it, shuddering every taste she got. “You taste so good, daddy…” she moaned out, shifting on her knees before him.
Jaune, despite breathing hard from how hard he came, smirked as he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it to the floor with his pants. “Get up here, baby girl. It’s time to make you feel good, too.”
Ruby couldn’t deny her core flooded when Jaune looked at her with those deep blue eyes of his. Her mouth went dry as he removed his shirt, leaving him fully naked before her. Standing shakily, she crawled on the bed, releasing a loud “EEP!” as Jaune’s hand impacted on her rump, shuddering as he squeezed her rear possessively.
The red-tipped brunette lay on the bed next to her boyfriend, drumming up from the lessons she had taken...as in, the multitude of porn she had watched...to lay as sexily out on the bed next to him as she could. “What are you going to do to me, daddy?” she asked, rubbing her thighs together as Jaune stared at her hungrily, shifting to loom over her.
Summer and Raven both stared, mouths open in shock as they watched Ruby, sweet innocent Ruby, choking herself on her boyfriend’s cock, gagging around the thick flesh for several long moments, before Jaune moved her head back, letting her cough and they watched her nuzzle up against the large stalk of flesh like a kitten would a stroking hand before continuing.
Both found themselves shivering as she called Jaune, “Daddy”.
But that was nothing compared to the shock that filled them when Jaune came, forcing Ruby to swallow what looked to be a truly massive amount of cum, before Ruby pulled off and received a good sized facial. Raven in particular twitched at that scene. She had always loved it when Tai had a big load for her, and loved teasing him and making him pent up so they payoff was that much bigger when they fucked.
Ruby squeaked as Jaune captured her lips, lying haphazardly across her body, careful not to place his full weight upon her form. Even still, she felt the warmth and comforting weight of his body, even as she found his tongue invading her mouth and wrestling against her own.
She could still faintly taste the chocolate dessert they shared at dinner.
She shuddered as his strong hands moved around her body, so small compared to his, so thin, but he touched her like she was the most precious thing on the earth to him. Her heart thumped powerfully within her breast. She knew Jaune was strong, he worked his family’s farm, but feeling his muscles this close...she whimpered and clutched at her boyfriend, her hands trailing along the planes of muscle along his back.
Breaking the kiss, Ruby tilted her head as Jaune kissed along the chords of her neck, before keening as the blonde licked along her flesh, leaving a wet patch of skin that instantly began to cool under the air of her bedroom. She arched her hips as he dragged his tongue along her collarbone, before dipping into the hollow of her neck. She felt his hand slide underneath her body, sliding up to between her shoulder blades, his callused touch making her giggle. “Tickles!”
Jaune smirked at his girlfriend as his fingers found the catch in the lingerie and popped it open, allowing him to begin to slip it free from Ruby’s body, the flimsy garment flying off to the side somewhere in the room, Ruby’s perky C-cup breasts bared to him.
Jaune licked his lips. Ruby lay underneath him, beautiful silver eyes wide with emotion, cheeks flushed a bright pink, hair flyaway and tussled, breasts heaving as she rapidly inhaled and exhaled, her little pink nipples looking hard enough to etch glass.
Ruby swallowed. “Y-You like them, daddy?” she asked softly, arching her back and presenting her breasts up in offering to her boyfriend. She had always felt self conscious of her bust size, being the smallest in her family of four.
Her boyfriend said nothing, but the fact that he leaned down and began peppering kisses along the tops of her breasts, making her shiver and goosebumps break out along her arms. A whine escaped her as Jaune’s lips moved over her skin, pressing kisses all over her breasts.
Raven shifted in place, wetness beginning to seep into her panties. She knew that she shouldn’t be feeling this way, but damn, if watching didn’t turn her on so much…
Summer wanted to cover her eyes, wanted to walk away, wanted to barge in her precious baby’s room and wrench the two apart, but she couldn’t move. All she could do was watch as her baby was made into a woman. Her nipples bulged outwards, tenting her tanktop obscenely. She had always loved her breasts being played with...it seemed Ruby shared that with her as well, judging by the sounds she made as Jaune suckled on her nipples.
Ruby mewled, fingers and toes curling as Jaune toyed with her sensitive buds, his fingers and tongue driving her wild, her pussy wet and dripping now. “Daddyyy….pleeeeeaaaassseeee…” she cooed, arching her hips up again. “Neeeeeed yoooooouuuuu…” she whined.
A squeak left her as she felt her panties tugged down and flung somewhere, only for her eyes to widen and for her to slap her hand over her mouth as Jaune slipped between her legs, beginning to lap at her soaking pussy, his tongue roaming over her core as he licked up her juices. She trembled as Jaune’s tongue went wild over her leaking slit. Where had Jaune learned to do this? Her eyes rolled back in her head and she released a muffled squeal into her hands as she came hard, bucking upwards into his face. She whined softly as she slumped, Jaune moving up, his face wet as he placed his cock against her soaking core, his lips and chin soaked from her arousal.
She shivered with a whine as her older boyfriend began grinding against her core, making her squirm as she found herself wanting his cock within her. “Please…” she moaned, her thighs closing and trapping her boyfriend’s slick cock between them, providing friction for both. “Don’t make me wait any longer, Daddy…” she looked up at Jaune hopefully, reaching up and placing her hands on his shoulders, gently curling her fingers and pressing lightly into the muscle. Jaune’s smile made her feel warm...as did the fact that his cock moved back and his tip pressed against her wet lips.
“Don’t worry, baby girl…” Jaune started, before thrusting his hips forward with a loud Slickt! “...I won’t keep you waiting…”
Ruby arched as she was suddenly spread and stretched, in ways her fingers or her single foray with a rather phallic shaped marker had prepared her for. A keening whine escaped her mouth as her fingers and toes curled, her core clenching around Jaune’s cock tightly. She gasped and squeaked, trying desperately to center herself as Jaune simply stayed put in her body, thankfully giving her a chance to calm herself.
Summer and Raven swallowed harshly, watching as Ruby arched from being blatantly penetrated by Jaune’s cock. Both knew they were dripping, shameful as it was to admit it…
Jaune hummed low in his chest as he looked down at Ruby, reaching up and cradling her cheek as he kept his cock still, enjoying the deep tight warmth wrapped around it. “You’re perfect, baby girl...how are you feeling?” he tilted his head, seeing the deep flush of her face and wondering if he was too much. He knew his cock was big, after all.
He watched Ruby open her eyes, the silver pools full of emotion. “Umm, Daddy~” he couldn’t deny that hearing that word spill from her plump little pink lips towards him only made his aching cock twitch. He was lucky that Ruby had gotten him off already with her mouth. Her velvety pussy and the way she was looking at him only made him harder and wanting to cum again…
Ruby bore down on Jaune’s cock, both herself and him groaning from the intense sensations that were made. “Please...don’t keep me waiting! Been dreaming of this for months!” she cried out the last word, bucking her hips upwards into Jaune’s.
Jaune chuckled. “As you wish, baby girl.” he spoke, pulling his hips back, before directing them inwards with a clap, making Ruby gasp and arch, crying out.
Jaune wasted no time, beginning to thrust back and forth rapidly as he decided to fuck Ruby’s sexy little ass into her mattress, wanting to mold her pussy until it fit the size and shape of his cock alone. And he loved how eager Ruby was to be dominated by him, how she whined and squirmed underneath him, how she clutched feebly at his shoulders and weakly kicked at the sheets beneath her. Hearing her whimpers and cries of “Daaaaadddddyyyy…” like the sweetest music to his ears.
Ruby was in a state of almost euphoria. She had never felt this good under her own hand before. She leaned up, puckering her lips, she tried to kiss Jaune several times, each time missing just by a hair before Jaune took pity on her and pressed his lips against her own. She moaned happily as their tongues tangled with one another again. She lost, but she didn’t care at all. She had her daddy, and that was all that mattered.
Summer and Raven stared in awe as Jaune plowed Ruby into the mattress. And like it or not, both were envisioning themselves in Ruby’s place. It was easy since neither had had any sort of loving other than the self variety for years. Shamefully, both slid hands into their panties, their fingers digging into and working away at their hot, needy cores, their pussy juices dribbling down their inner thighs.
Ruby keened, feeling that bubbling feeling that she knew was the prelude to her orgasm forming, pooling in her belly and tightening. “J-J-Da-Fuck, Daddy! Gonna...gonna…” she groaned, going taut beneath Jaune’s body, clutching at him and clenching around him tightly, her pussy flexing and rippling hard as Ruby tipped over into the best orgasm she had ever felt.
Jaune growled, his eyes squeezing shut as he came harder than he ever had in his life, his balls erupting and sending every drop of cum into Ruby’s depths. He thrust several times more, short, stilted, rough, unable to be fluid or graceful.
Strength leaving him, Jaune gathered Ruby in his arms and slowly shifted them, rolling onto his side, hugging Ruby close, closing his eyes, and allowing himself to finally relax. “Love you, Ruby…” he murmured, keeping his slowly softening cock inside her. It was too comfortable to leave.
“Love you too, daddy…” Ruby snuggled into Jaune’s slightly sweaty chest, inhaling the smell of their mixed scents, mixed with the scent of sex, filling her lungs. “Perfect…” she moaned softly. Nothing could take this feeling away…
...not even knowing her aunt Raven and her own mother had been watching through the crack in her door like voyeurs the entire time, their hands in their pajamas performing a deed that she had done quite a few times fantasizing about Jaune. ‘Hope you enjoyed watching mom, auntie!’ she giggled to herself as Jaune’s arms wrapped around her, the warmth and comfort lulling her into sleep in her boyfriend’s arms.
Outside, both Summer Rose and Raven Branwen shuddered again as they clenched around her fingers, the scenes of debauchery far more efficient than any porno at getting them off. To her shame, this porno starred their daughter/niece and the boy that not only Ruby, but she knew many others were sweet on.
Giving one more longing glance in the room, imagining themselves in Ruby’s place, both Raven and Summer began to walk off on shaky legs, silent and shameful, intending on heading to their bedrooms, to try and get a warm shower and calm the arousal flooding through her.
...it failed, and the Branwen spent a good portion of the night working her trusty vibrator in her pussy, attempting to cum enough to feel as satisfied as Ruby obviously was by Jaune’s thick cock. As the batteries in her toy died, Raven huffed. It was readily apparent that toys wouldn’t cut it anymore. She wanted, no, needed a nice, hard, throbbing, dick. One that was long enough to hit her deepest spots, and thick enough to stretch her well. Fortunately, one was in the other room right now...and all she had to do was convince Ruby to let her have a go!
...in Summer’s bedroom a similar scene played out, although the elder Rose had her hand clamped over her mouth, whimpering as she worked the dildo in and out of her core. She whined into her hand loudly as she came, clenching around the dildo in her soaking pussy. She felt so shameful, masturbating to mental images of her daughter being plowed by her boyfriend, and imagining herself being in her daughter’s place, being claimed by her…“Daaaadddddyyyyyy~” she cooed softly, cumming hard enough to squirt around the dildo, leaving Summer a sweaty and breathless mess in a wet bed, the air of the room thick with her sex musk.
Closing her eyes, she hoped that in the morning, her lust would be gone...and that she would be able to look her baby girl in the eyes.
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alienahellsparkle · 3 years
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❦ List fandoms of my heart: №3 (the last).
✯ Kuroshitsuji (Dark Butler)
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This anime is my guide to the world of anime, my first of all, and the first that I liked. In addition, I have been watching it since I was 13 (omg, how old I am..).
I can say, from it I learned what anime is. It is one of my favorites and one of those that I can revisit (P.S .: And I'm still waiting for the new season or new full-length films, although no one said anything or promised anything about it).
The advantages of this anime are - interesting plots, 19th century setting mixed with the supernatural, soundtracks and a huge number of different characters for every taste. As I can tell, everyone will find their ideal 2D kun or chan here.
I could single out a lot of cool characters, but I'm afraid they could be spoilers too, so I'll just mention a few of my personal favorites.
Sebastian is a demon butler and another protagonist besides Ciel. A jack of all trades, a cool killer and one of the most real handsome men who stole many hearts from the female audience, who is in many similar tops and sometimes even has leading positions. I can say that he was my very first anime - love.
Prince Soma is an Indian prince. I don't know how many fans he has, but I think not as many as Sebastian and Ciel. Actually, Soma is the one who attracted me much more and my love for Sebastian did not last forever. This is because Soma, in addition to being beautiful and Indian (which was important to me as a lover of Bollywood films and music, and also interested in Indian culture), has a sweet and good personality. Three combos!
Madame Red is a bright woman with a difficult fate. I guess there isn't much more to say here (spoilers, spoilers, damn it).
Pluto is a devilish dog. Cutie, charming, with one cool ability and mine another anime-love (those who know this character and his unusual ability - yes - yes, I know it's weird to fall in love with characters like him).
As I said, the soundtracks are wonderful - some of the tunes have some classic notes in them, and also, the opening can be recognized from a thousand and it is easy to remember which anime it belongs to.
Also, there are elements of detective and crime, which also adds its own special shades and makes this anime even more interesting and aesthetically pleasing.
I look forward to continuing with it and begin to show interest in anime of a similar genre and setting in one (I found something similar, for example, as "House of Shadows").
✯ Dame x Prince 
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Another anime that became my find and I can watch it many times. I liked it so much that after I found it (in 2018 it was a spring novelty), I watched almost all the episodes in one gulp and only later realized that it ends too quickly, because I could not stop in time.
This anime contains everything that I love about the reverse - harems - beautiful drawing, bright colors, romance, elements of comedy and fantasy, attractive male characters and not a stupid main character who can be respected.
We can say that Ani is one of the few normal owners of a harem, but she can be considered a diamond among them. She is encouraged by her courage and the fact that she is not embarrassed when guys compliment her or try to flirt (I could say more about her, but these will be spoilers).
Despite the fact that here the male characters are clichéd, for example - a kind cutie, handsome womanizer, narcissistic rude and so on, they look cool and interesting to watch, it's a pity that we will never know which of them Ani chose in the end.
In addition, there is one more plus in the form of a good plot, after which it helps some characters to reveal themselves.
Even if many people do not always take girly harem animes well and consider them worthless and empty, just to please teenage girls with cute romance in a colorful wrapper, this anime genre also deserves a place to be. Who knows, maybe soon the reverse - harems will evolve even more, at least there are already some anime-worthy options. Everything has its fans..
In general, this is a good and positive anime that can bring more colors to life. And I still hope for season 2.. 
✯ Nanbaka
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When you watch a video on the topic: "Guess the gender of anime characters", you will not think that in this way you will be able to discover a new anime. That's how I found out about Nanbaka, after which I watched the first season in a couple of days.
I associate this anime with the beginning of July 2018 and the dairy drinks Twix, Milky Way and Snickers, which at that time I was finally able to taste.
Nanbaka has several advantages - a cool variety of characters, an element of comedy, and an equally vibrant color scheme. Also, I noticed that all characters have their own special difference - they all have nails painted in a different color and have small fangs.
Despite the fact that there is no romance here and the plot is built around a prison theme, Nanbaka is quite interesting to watch, and in some episodes there are elements of drama and seriousness. However, if the first season is more comical situations, then the second season is a little more serious, at least there are more problems that the heroes solve.
Of the characters, there are not only bisonens and heroes with simple qualities including kindness, cuteness, foolishness, signs of a womanizer, hot temper and severity, but there are also unexpected specimens, such as several LGBTQ characters and even antagonists.
Unfortunately, Nanbaka is not a very popular fandom and most likely there will never be a third season... But this is another solid anime that can be endlessly watched and is one of those that drags on from the first episodes.
✯ Romance Club
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This visual novel often came across to me in YouTube recommendations, in the form of walkthroughs and analysis of Easter eggs from it.
At first, I was not very interested in this, and from the video, my first impression was that this is just an incomprehensible game with characters similar to cardboard figures, but for some reason it became very popular and discussed on social networks.
After some time, I still began to watch the walkthroughs and more or less began to understand what the whole highlight of the game is, and after that, I began to play myself, though at the beginning, then, I had only a plan to while away the rest of summer time until autumn, but I didn’t notice how I began to be drawn into the RC and it became not just a game for one time, it became a habit that is difficult to get rid of.
Now, it's not just a bunch of pretty cardboard character figurines and a joke that RC is a mix of films like "50 Shades of Gray" and "Twilight", made for teenage girls.
Romance Club is - characters for every taste, from whites and Europeans, to Hispanics and Asians, both boys and girls. LGBTQ relationships have not been forgotten here either.
Various stories with any setting - vampires + werewolves, pirates, aliens, 19th-18th century, royal setting, movie stars and fame, Scandinavian mythology, ancient Greek mythology, sea and beach setting, detectives and crime, ancient Japan (geisha and samurai) , angels and demons, everyday life and much more, but the creators continue to delight us with new stories to this day, and I think we still have a lot to see.
Beautiful graphics and drawing of characters, cool design of clothes, and also, here you can learn how to beautifully compose texts and sentences (let's say this can be useful for the writing sphere), since some stories contain wonderful descriptions of some scenes and comparisons of concepts (example. "Stars as luminous points," and the like).
But besides romance, other important topics can be revealed here, such as the concept of friendship, a hard life due to many problems, courage and self-confidence, and sometimes even 18+ topics can be touched upon. In addition, some stories have instructive facts, for example, something about the history of Turkey during the Ottoman Empire. 
Romance Club is scientifically enlightening!
Despite the fact that I refused to play games, since they take a lot of time, during which you can do a bunch of other useful things, RC is the only game (besides the Sims) on which I do not regret wasting my time and it is always interesting to watch new stories and how the old ones will end.
(P.S.: 
here is part 1 https://lenahellsparkle.tumblr.com/post/650656683336548352/list-fandoms-of-my-heart-1
part 2 https://lenahellsparkle.tumblr.com/post/655103141583470593/list-fandoms-of-my-heart-2)
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lovecanbesostrange · 3 years
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Welcome to another installment of random RRCAU fic, from the big, big universe that lives on the Ruby Lucas Harem Discord, because konako got that one random ask that time. (ask us about the insane College AU now, I dare you, we have answers you don’t even want)
So, if you follow that, have another scene. But this one is, heavy, because it’s all about the big dramatic death around the end of the second year. konako made me cry with the short snippet, so I will now repay that favor with the aftermath in a bit of a long form.
(this is towards the end of Ruby’s sophomore year at college, Granny has just died)
Ruby felt numb. If she could even call it feeling. But it’s either this or crying. And this is more helpful to get through tasks on auto-pilot. Sometimes there was the anger, now like an old friend. But it’s snapping at her friends, pounding the sandbag at the gym, running like mad on the field (Coach is a human after all, didn’t even make her do laps after clearly running the wrong plays). The last few days were a hazy blur. Food, hugging, a bit of sport, people, asking for an assignment extension.
And the phone call with Anita.
She was numb during that, too. And it was for the best. They both knew Granny wanted to be cremated. Just like her husband. But Ruby knew that she also wanted her ashes to be scattered like his. And Anita had said no. She had made arrangements for the urn to be buried. A small service and a burial. Ruby had said she’d be there.
“Whatever.”
A response Ruby knew well.
Regina and Mary Margaret had brought her to the airport. She was using up Regina’s miles again. But she didn’t argue. When she landed she thought she’d get herself to the trailer park somehow, maybe a car rental. Ruby hadn’t thought about that. There was something though. And yes, there was, Mary Margaret had told her - Eva was already waiting at the exit.
Another hug. Long. Warm. Welcoming. It brought Ruby out of the haze a bit, so new tears fell. Tears for Granny. Dead. The last bit of happy memories tied to that place her mind kept insisting on calling home.
“... you can sleep in Mary’s room and I’ll take you to the airport day after tomorrow of course.” Eva already had it planned out, telling her in the car. “Ruby? Is that all okay with you?” Ruby tore off her gaze from the scenery outside, pulling her head away from the glass of the passenger’s window.
“Can we go to the Terrace?” Suddenly the name sounded hollow. “I’d like to get a couple of things.” Maybe she would be too late. Maybe Anita had thrown everything out already.
“Right away?”
“If you don’t mind, please.”
“Of course not, honey.” Eva held the steering wheel with her left hand and put her right on Ruby’s knee, squeezing. Comfort. Reassurance. “Tell me what I can do and consider it done.”
The hint of a smile pulled on the corners of Ruby’s mouth. This was Eva. This had always been Eva, even when she didn’t understand it. She got things done for her.
Pulling up at the trailer park felt strange. For one it was because Ruby was sitting in a nice car. Not rushing through the side entrance on her bike. It was also because Ruby could count the times she’d been here in the almost past two years and every time she got away from it, the place seemed smaller and further away. But mostly, without Granny this was just a glorified parking lot with a bit of green.
Eva parked and waited. Ruby unfastened her seat-belt, but she couldn’t get out. She looked over. Ruby didn’t know if she wanted to go in alone. If she could. Was it better to have Eva there as back-up? Or was that disrespectful?
“I… would you… can you maybe come with me? I don’t know if…” She didn’t know if she could even step a foot inside or would crumble at the front door the way she had days ago in front of her dorm.
“I’m right behind you.” Eva smiled. The warm mom-smile.
Ruby didn’t know if Anita would be here now. She didn’t bother knocking though and didn’t need a key. Nobody needed a key to get in, when you knew the lock wasn’t working properly and all you needed to do was lift the front door at the right angle and push hard.
Ruby opened her mouth, but closed it immediately to not say hallo into the void. Everything looked mostly as expected. There were a few empty alcohol bottles stacked next to the kitchen sink, Anita had been digging in. But she still got herself together to not let them lie around. Maybe that was good. Maybe that was something to care about.
Suddenly her home - the trailer - looked depressing. More than usual. Granny wasn’t sitting outside or lying in bed. The tiny tv was not running. That specific background noise missing was a big deal. Sure, Granny had been in and out of the hospital, but the finality was felt.
Ruby breathed in, the hitch alerted Eva and she touched her on her back, steadied her. The smell. Oh the smell was home. The mix of the cheap laundry detergent, the sharp air freshener, the lingering scent of Granny mixed with Anita’s aggressive perfume. It smelt a bit different than she remembered, but that was probably herself missing from this equation for a long time now.
Slowly Ruby stepped towards the bedroom. The smell of Granny got stronger. Without thinking about it she sat down on the bed. The linens crisp and clean, waiting for someone to sleep here again. There were pills on the nightstand. The little tub with daily doses already in order. Ruby picked it up. Monday and Tuesday were empty, she looked at Wednesday and the morning was missing. Right, after that Granny had called an ambulance. Thursday’s pills were untouched. Thursday had been the last time she had seen her. Ever.
Anita hadn’t touched anything in here as far as Ruby could tell. It was a surprise. Maybe she didn’t know what to do with all the stuff. And maybe, just maybe, there was more emotional baggage inside of her and she couldn’t let go of her mother. She had never left either. She could have. She could have let Granny rot alone in here and not just disappear a few days at a time, but forever. And yet Anita had always come back. Despite everything.
Ruby put the pill box back down and grabbed the framed photo. It was Granny’s wedding picture. She had never stopped loving that man that barely had time to get to know his own daughter and who never knew that his memory lived in a granddaughter he never met at all. They were a handsome couple. This was one of three pictures she knew she wanted above all else.
Her hand was already under the bed, searching the shoe box stashed there. Yes. She opened it and was greeted with all the letters she had sent home the last two years. It felt like so little, but she knew it had meant much. Granny had taken the photos from some of these out and put them on the wall next to the tv. But the pictures Ruby was searching were underneath it all.
An old black and white photograph. More brownish actually, genuine sepia, grainy, worn on the edges. It was Granny as a child with her three older brothers. It was the only thing Ruby knew of, that even proved they once had been alive. Before that fateful accident. Three brothers and their father, all gone in one go.
This family was cursed. Mothers and daughters left. And Granny’s mother hadn’t made it much longer on her own. Maybe Granny and Ruby got along, because they skipped a generation between. Mothers and daughters gave each other plenty of resentment.
And then there was the third picture. Granny with her dear husband and a fancy new car. The red Camaro had been out of their price range, but on their anniversary they had gone to the dealership, got a long test drive out of it and made that a date. Granny had talked about that day a lot. Grandfather promised them a brighter future where they would be able to afford a car like that. Not just stealing fake moments, but creating happy ones for real.
That had never happened.
Granny had deserved more and yet life had rejected her. But she had held on. Despite her heart condition, the many losses of family members around her, the slipping into poverty. Granny had always held on. For over 80 years. Nobody had thought that would even be possible. So maybe it was okay to say goodbye now. Now that Ruby understood how Granny could look at a picture of her dead husband for hours and feel nothing but love.
Ruby put the frame into the shoe box, then her gaze fell onto the chair. Granny’s knitted cardigan hung over the back. She’d always worn that grey monstrosity, though it was unflattering even on her. Ruby got to her feet and picked it up. She buried her face in the fabric. Granny. Yes, she wanted this. The pictures, her own letters, the cardigan. It meant something.
Tears began to fall again. Ruby wasn’t numb at all. Breathing in all the memories came rushing back. Sitting on Granny’s lap during Christmas story time; teaching her the sacred lasagna recipe; listening to unimportant happenings at school; the encouraging words when Anita’s indifference turned into vile insults; daydreaming of long trips with fingers on the maps of an old atlas; sitting in front of Granny’s bed, eating something from the microwave and letting Granny catch her up on her soaps. There had been love.
Eva had been silent all this time and given Ruby space. Now she stepped closer and wrapped her up in her arms. Ruby hugged the cardigan and felt Eva kissing her on the head. This was goodbye. But she wouldn’t be alone.
The service was lovely, but what really got to Ruby was seeing people attending. She had thought she’d be there alone with Anita, maybe Eva in the back. But there were a few neighbors. Mrs. Johnson even gave her a quick hug, she had come by like once a month to do Granny’s hair for free, but really it was about the conversation. Nurse Wilcox had retired herself three years ago, but before she had worked at the doctor’s office Granny got her subscriptions from. She had seen the tiny ad in the paper and wanted to pay her respects, remembering one of her favourite patients.
A part of Ruby wanted to scream, because she knew burying the urn in the dirt was wrong. Even though Anita had picked a nice little headstone. Ruby knew this was money she couldn’t really afford to spend. But causing a scene in the cemetery was the last thing she would do. She’d rather run away and not attend at all, while more than a dozen people paid their respects.
There wasn’t much said between Ruby and Anita. Who cared about one more argument and hollow questions about their current living situations? Ruby would remember the way Eva kept holding her hand, let her ramble through incoherent memories and tugged her into Mary’s bed. (Something Ruby rejected by getting up at night to sleep in the treehouse, the cardigan close to her chest.)
And when summer came around, Ruby would clean a whole week out of her schedule. No summer class, no work, not anybody around. Maybe it was irresponsible to blow through a portion of her savings, but she found a car rental that could get her that red 1975 Chevrolet Camaro. And maybe it was called grave robbing, but she dug up Granny’s urn and put her on the passenger’s seat. A week on the road right up to the beach where Granny had scattered her husband’s ashes.
That would be Ruby’s last goodbye. When she finally could let go of the woman, who had mostly raised her. The road trip they had talked about in giggling voices.
Turning into the parking lot was hard. And just when Ruby doubted she could scatter these ashes alone, she spotted Regina waiting for her. She had send so many texts to her friends and called to let them know she was okay, that Regina knew when she would arrive at her destination. Regina, who had been there when Ruby had last spoken to Granny. Fitting. Granny’s final blessing.
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mintvender · 3 years
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UTOPIA [ 3 ]
Pairing: BTS x Y/N
Synopsis: Y/N L/N, the name of the current monarch of Corea. They became the ruler after successfully ending the previous king along with the dynasty as well. In their harem, countless men are present to help balance the court’s power. However, is this truly their intentions? The palace was always a place that needs to be proceeded with caution but as time goes by, recklessness would most likely outweigh it. You found yourself unable to prosper the kingdom without being too connected to it.
HaremAu!
Warning: None
Word Count: 4.1k
A/n: Finally finished part three of Utopia. Feedback are always welcome. Anyways, enjoy 🌿.
Masterlist
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Focusing at the familiar sensation you were feeling on your back, you couldn’t help but let out a low groan. Satisfied with the pressure that is currently being applied, you obediently lay on the bed and let the magic occur. Combined that with the calming scent of lavender with a hint of rosemary, you couldn’t decipher whether or not if this was truly reality.
Continuing to let yourself sink into the mattress, you couldn’t help but be annoyed at the stare that you were getting.
“ A little harder on my shoulder blades?”
Feeling a heavier pressure applied to your tense shoulders, you could only sigh and not enjoy the entire experience because of a particular someone.
Despite you wanting to ignore it, luck was apparently not favouring you today. Well, you should have known that ignoring was never an option.
Hissing at a particular hard jab, you felt the pressure being lifted along with a line of apology. Little shuffles were then heard, until the person was standing a good distance away from you.
“ I… apologize?”
Scrunching your eyebrows at his tone, you were confused why he was using it. Turning your head around to meet his gaze, you offered him a curious look.
“ Do you need anything, Namjoon?”
At the mention of his name, Namjoon uncomfortably directs his gaze anywhere but you, obviously trying to avoid your questioning.
“ You seem weird today,” you commented, “ Do you perhaps have a fever?”
Quickly scanning his body, you tried to find out where the problem lies. Reaching your arm up to position it against his forehead, you tested his body temperature.
Seems normal.
While you were busy trying to come up with a potential reason, Namjoon could feel himself flushed in surprise. Stunned at what you were doing, he couldn’t help but stared at you, wide eyed.
Noticing how shocked he seemed, you removed your hand away, and chuckled.
Raising your left eyebrow, you teased, “ Why are you so stunned?”
Flinching at getting caught, Namjoon’s face continued to burn a crimson color.
“ I-I…”
Seeing how you manage to make the overly wise Namjoon speechless, you decided that it would be better to save your teasing for another day. After all, there are more important things to talk about as of now.
“ I trust that you will be more than capable of taking care of yourself,” turning around, you relax against the soft material, “ If you don’t, I don’t think that you have the ability to be by my side.”
Namjoon, a person who has been with you for years, is also a master in his own rights. Unlike Taehyung, Namjoon is well versed in the realm of medicine. Having memorized countless documents from ancient manuscripts to the most recent, Namjoon could be considered as a living medical dictionary.
With how long you have known each other, you know more than anyone how powerful Namjoon can become if he would put some effort in building his public relations. However, no one could ever be that perfect, every person has at least a flaw of their own.
“ … yes, your majesty.”
There it is again.
“ You don’t have to be so formal, Namjoon,” you reminded him, “ We, basically, have known each other for most of our lives.”
Not only has he learned many valuable information from the countless documents he had read, it had also somewhat affected his ability to be casual with others. Normally, it would only happen when he is with friends and whatnot, but never with you nor Taehyung. However, Namjoon seemed to become much more closed off the moment you guys took up your positions within the palace.
Maybe it was the difference in rank, but knowing Namjoon, he wouldn’t have cared so what’s the actual reason?
“ But, yo—“
You interrupted, “ No, I know what you are going to say… I don’t care if I am your current superior.”
Pushing yourself to your knees, you drowsily sit on the bed, still feeling the impact from earlier.
Sighing, you continued, “ Namjoon… before becoming the monarch, you were my friend first. You should know this better than anyone else, Namjoon… that our roots are intertwined.”
Hesitantly nodding at your word, Namjoon seemed to be more conflicted than before. You, this time however, waited for him to sort those feelings out himself.
The moment he called your name, you nodded and moved on, careful to not make him too uncomfortable.
Rubbing your back, you asked, “ My back is fine, right?”
“ Your back is fine. The soreness you are feeling is your body’s reaction to such an abrupt impact.”
Nodding at the reasonable answer, you reach your right hand over to your left shoulder and massage them, attempting to relieve your shoulders from its tense state.
“ Hwan is really big nowadays, she must’ve thought that she is still a puppy,” you said, finding how cute she is.
However, thinking back to earlier, your body couldn’t help but shudder at the feeling.
Groaning at the heavy weight on top of yourself, you tried to push them off but to no avail. Somewhat having an idea who this could be, you definitely have to handle it with care. If not, someone was going to be extremely mad at you.
Suddenly, you felt a chilling sensation on your left cheek, feeling a shiver wrack your body. Instinctively you brought your hand up to your cheek and wiped the substance off your skin. Wrinkling your face at the substance, you helplessly ruffled the big ball of fluff that was currently nibbling at your neck.
Purring at the feeling, it digs its head to the crevice of your neck and cuddles into you.
Normally, you would have also cuddled into the pile of fur if you were in a more private setting. However, with Taehyung screaming at someone, that scenario seemed far too out of reach, especially with you being stuck under a portable comforter.
Unable to contain your exhaustion, you let out a sigh, wondering why no one was helping you.
Am I really that cuddly? Why does everyone have to hug me today?
You flapped your arms around, silently gesturing for help which was thankfully answered by General Kim’s assistance. Lifting up the large body off you, he also assisted you on your way back to your feet.
Feeling painful pricks continuously nib at your feet, you waited for some moments to get blood to travel back to your asleep lower body.
Patting your attire to get rid of any dirty particles, you looked over to the pile of fur that was now hiding behind a certain person. You would have deceived yourself for its pitiful form if you didn’t see its excited eyes, piercing at you.
Looking up, you met the new arrival’s eyes who was awkwardly rubbing his neck, silently apologizing for his dog’s actions.
“ You should have put her on a leash!”
Taehyung, who had seemed to fully restore all his energy, was full on ranting at the person situated opposite of you, who was now pouting because of the lecture. He then looked over to you, silently sending another apology in the stead of his dog.
“ You don’t have to go that far, Tae,” you reassured him, “ Besides, Hwan didn’t hurt me. I was just taken by surprise by the abrupt greeting.”
Clapping your hands, you looked over to Hwan and signaled her to come over. While waiting for her to enter your arms, you shot Tae a soothing look, hoping to ease him up. As expected, Taehyung could only helplessly sigh and stop his ranting.
Watching your interaction with Hwan, Taehyung couldn’t help but pout. However, that was dismissed by all of you.
After having your share of exercising with Hwan, you look up and smile at the male who was proudly admiring you and Hwan the entirety of your little playtime.
Picking yourself up from your kneeled position, you walked over to the group with Hwan happily following your steps.
“ How have you been, Hoseok?” You greeted.
Smiling in return, Hoseok replied, “ I have been doing well, you’re majesty.”
Happy that he was doing alright, you threw a stick in the opposite direction, waiting for Hwan to go and retrieve it.
“ That’s good to hear. After all the mishaps within the palace, at least someone is doing well.”
“ I’m hoping that I’m not the only one,” Hoseok chuckled at your response, “ How have you been doing, your majesty?”
“ I—“
“ You definitely aren’t the only one doing well.” Taehyung interrupted, “Besides, I am sure that Y/N is doing quite well.”
Not knowing what to do, you could only shut your mouth, and tried your best to give a natural smile.
Immediately after, the atmosphere became a little too awkward for your liking.
Shooting Taehyung a glare, you silently warned him of his actions. However, not only did Taehyung not look apologetic, he even did a little ‘hmph’ to prove his point.
Lucky for you, with Hwan rushing back to the group, placing the stick in front of you, dispersing the tense atmosphere was much more achievable.
“ I’m doing fine, Hoseok,” directing your gaze to meet Hwan’s, “ Hwan is getting so big.”
As if waiting for the particular comment, Hoseok happily nodded, reaching his hand over to pet Hwan.
“ She indeed is,” Hoseok smiled, “ Though, she seemed to be a little puppy yesterday to me.”
Noticing how fond Hoseok is towards Hwan, you silently coo at how closed they were. However, that was cut short once again by the one and only Royal Consort.
“ That dog’s too big, it might even endanger your majesty’s life with its weight,” Taehyung interjected, “ Yeontan is much better.”
Normally, you would have dismissed the comparison if it was between the two of you. However, with Hoseok being here, you cannot just let him act whatever way he wants to. You knew that Taehyung did not fully intend to insult Hwan, but it was enough to offend Hoseok.
Even after your initial warning, he still decided to disobey your words.
Looks like I spoiled him too much.
Instead of repeating your previous reaction, you decided to ignore the male next to you and instead focus on who's opposite of you.
Seeing how awkward things have been, General Kim decided to intervene in an attempt to lift the tension.
“ May this servant ask the Noble Consort the reason for you being here?”
Previously nervously glancing at the bush nearby, Hoseok perked up at his title and smiled in return.
“ Originally, I did not plan to go out today,” Hoseok explained, “ However, this little rascal hasn't quiet down since last night. As a result, I figured to get some exercise while at it.”
Nodding at his response, an idea suddenly came, whooshing into General Kim’s mind.
“ If you do not mind my suggestion, your majesty,” General Kim looked over to you, “ Since the Royal Consort is training his physical body, if we were to have another person join, he would have a partner to practice with.”
Curious at what he was hinting, you urged him to elaborate.
“ To be more specific, I think that the Noble Consort would be the perfect candidate.”
Looking between the two, you contemplated at the suggestion.
Hoseok was quite agile by just how he carried himself. His moves also seemed quite sharp but with him wearing a hanbok, you can’t really figure out if it was true or not.
While you were busy thinking about the possibility, the mentioned couple were glancing at each other, too shocked to say anything. However, before Taehyung could even think about denying it, you beat him to his own game by fiercely glaring at him. Making direct eye contact with you, Taehyung couldn’t help but cowered slightly, unable to utter a witty comment. Looks like your little tiger has lost once again.
Smiling in triumph, you couldn’t help but puff your shoulders slightly, proud of winning your guys’ little game.
“ Hoseok, what do you think?,” you asked, “ Would you mind being Taehyung’s partner?”
Looking at Hoseok, you can immediately sense his nervousness and hesitation at your offer.
If you were being truthful, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have Hoseok accompany Taehyung. However, you weren’t a pushover, you wouldn’t force Hoseok to so something he doesn’t want to. Though, you still hope he accepts your offer.
“... I would be more than happy to do so,” Hoseok said, “ However, would the Royal Consort not mind my presence?”
“ Of co—“
Before Taehyung could reject the idea, you interrupted, “ No, Taehyung definitely would not mine. Am I correct, Taehyung?”
Shivering at your tone, Taehyung immediately nodded.
Satisfied with his response, you happily entrust Taehyung’s training to General Kim and Hoseok.
“ Then I’ll entrust Taehyung to the both of you,” you said.
“ Of course, your majesty.”
“ … Yes, your majesty.”
At the tone of Hoseok’s tone, you were reminded of a certain etiquette used specifically within the palace.
Pretending to be oblivious to his tone, you looked at him, confused.
“ Do… you perhaps need anything, Hoseok?”
Hoseok, realizing that he got caught red-headed, could only sheepishly nod his head.
As expected, you had to fulfill a request of his for the time he would spend with Taehyung.
Although the palace could sometimes be considered to be quite mysterious, whenever it comes to favour, there is no grey space, only black and white. If you have asked a person for a favour, expect that person to do exactly the same to you when they need it. That’s the basic rules that all need to understand when entering the palace.
If not, it’s easier to die than to live within the palace walls.
Knowing this, you had to grant Hoseok one of his requests. Though, until now, you could tell that he is not a malicious person, but it’s better to be extra cautious now that you are always the center of attention.
“ Tell me.”
Not meeting your gaze, your mind immediately branches out to various possibilities.
Maybe he wants me to get him something? Or maybe to grant Minister Jung an audience with me… Maybe he … wants a divorce.
Somehow, your heart unexpectedly tightens at the thought of Hoseok leaving. With just a few months of knowing him, you have grown quite fond of his bright personality. However, your expression still remains composed as you wait for Hoseok’s reply.
“ I would like to go outside.”
“ Hmm?”
Surprised, no shocked at his utterly humble request, you couldn’t help but let out a confused expression. You understand that this man is not like others but how is he so innocent to ask for such a thing?
Seeing your unresponsive state, Hoseok couldn’t help but be uncertain at his request, thinking that it might be too much. As a consort who serves the monarch, he technically can’t have any public relations outside of the palace so he understood that his request was quite absurd. However, he had seen the Royal Consort leave the palace a few times so he figured that it would be alright, but does have to ask for your permission first.
“ You want to go outside?”
Directing his gaze to the voice’s direction, he nodded, confirming Taehyung’s question.
“ Hoseok… you do know that you could go out whenever you want right?” You asked, “ Or was there any misunderstanding that I have yet to catch on to?”
Immediately shaking his head in response to your question, “ No, you did say that but I figured that it was only … out of politeness... I’m sorry.”
You gently waved your hand, dismissing his apologies, “ No it’s fine. If you want to go outside, then go ahead. I don’t restrict people from those types of things.”
Hoseok happily yet hesitantly nodded and thanked you. Somehow, the way you had phrased that particular sentence sounded quite off to him. However, Hoseok ignored it and thanked you for your kindness.
Nodding at his response, it seemed like the perfect time to end the conversation. And with that you went back to caressing Hwan’s soft fur.
Unfortunately, that memory was cut shorter and more abruptly than you would have liked to admit.
“ Y/N? Are you listening to me?”
Flinching at the mention of your name, you were snapped back to reality with Namjoon yelling your name.
“ I apologized. What were you saying?”
Knowing how your mind tends to drift away whenever you just experienced a dramatic scene, all Namjoon could do was helplessly sigh and restart.
“ It’s alright,” he said, turning back to what he was doing, “ This is a combination of lavender and chamomile which would help relax your nervous and digestive system.”
After he had finished combining the two scents, Namjoon makes his way to the chair nearby, settling down on it. Picking up the book on the little table nearby, he gently flipped through the pages to where he previously was.
On the other hand, you have once again lie down on the mattress, your muscles silently aching at every movement you do. Ignoring the pained feeling, you take a moment to inhale the air within the room, noticing how the fragrance was indeed different from the previous one and slowly relaxes your body.
“ You know what Hoseok asked me today in return for being Taehyung’s partner?”
“ The Noble Consort?” Namjoon questioned.
“ Mhm… he asked me to allow him to go outside.”
In response to your comment, Namjoon hummed in interest while still focused on the content of the book.
“ Hoseok, that child, sometimes reminds me of Taehyung,” you said, “ Although they have similar personalities, each of them still shine in their own way. While Taehyung is bubbly and cheeky, Hoseok is … quite innocent when you get close to him.”
“ Innocent and a child? The Noble Consort is only a year younger than you,” Namjoon replied, “ More than that, he is turning twenty-three this year.”
Rolling your eyes at his sarcastic response, you continued to breathe in the calming scent, continuing to feel your body relaxing.
Now that he mentioned that, most of the people that are within your inner circle are quite similar to you in age, with the exception of a few. Maybe it’s because all of you are so young that you guys have bonded through your high ambitions. However, even if they were to be in your age group, they still have to have similar roots as you.
So how did these people manage to befriend me when it has only been 3 months?
Deciding to dismiss the question and postpone to another day, you answered, “ I understand that Hoseok is the same age as you and is an adult. However, the way he carries himself just reminds me of a curious child, especially whenever we talk in depth about a particular subject.”
No, more like a curious child who has been deprived of the most basic education about the way of life.
Somehow, Namjoon found himself nodding in agreement with your observation.
“ Also, with how often he smiles, and so brightly even, just proves the point of how much innocence he has,” you added.
Sometimes, you envy how positive Hoseok is in any situation. Just having a genuine smile in a tense situation can brighten the entire room up. However, not many can be as positive as that.
“ He might seem innocent to you but why would a noble, who has spent his entire existence bathing in riches would suddenly go out to the dirty streets?”
Thinking about what Namjoon just said, it really truly doesn’t make sense. Hoseok, who can have all the things he wants in the world yet still remains to be so innocent and humble. How unbelievable it sounds.
Is this really the real him?
“ I’ll send someone to investigate him further,” you said, sitting up, “ They found almost nothing suspicious about him during the first round of inspection. Maybe, he is hiding something much deeper…”
“... or is working as a spy for Minister Jung within the harem.”
You nodded, expression sharpened at the possible thought. It was a possibility that you have already thought of but ultimately dismissed it after the initial investigation. However, it seems like you should be diving deeper, much deeper. In any case, preventing the worst possible outcome should always be the top priority.
Though, I hope that my intuition is right about you, Hoseok.
“ Be careful, Y/n.” Namjoon warned, “ You never know what or who is involved.”
Silently thanking him, you make your way out of the comfort of your bed and begin walking towards Namjoon.
“ Jungkook.”
At the mention of his name, Jungkook quickly opened the door and entered.
“ Yes, your majesty.”
“ Go and invite Taehyung to come over,” you ordered, “ Quickly.”
Immediately after, Jungkook then greeted you and ran out the door, feeling the need to hurry and bring the Royal Consort back with how urgent you seem.
Knowing this was not the time to question your words, Jungkook focused fully on bringing back the Royal Consort as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, you settled on the seat positioned around the center table, waiting for Taehyung.
After what seemed like quarter of an hour, your chamber doors finally opened.
Normally, you would have waited for Taehyung to even out his breath, but with the possibility of a rat within the harem, there was no time for that.
People might say that you are being too abrupt but with personal experience, how could you repeat the same mistake?
Waving your hand to dismiss Jungkook, “ You can leave, Jungkook. We’ll be fine.”
Nodding at your words, Jungkook then exited the room, knowing to leave your courtyard fully.
You gestured for Taehyung to settle on your right side while Namjoon took the seat left of you.
“ Taehyung, I apologized for suddenly calling y—”
Feeling a light gust of wind entering the closed space, you stopped yourself from saying anything further, “ Looks like we have another guest.”
Quickly standing up from your spot, you quietly make your way towards the shelve on the left side of the room, and grab your sword, that was proudly displayed on the main compartment.
Blazefury, a bonguk geom made especially for you by one of the most skilled blacksmith in the nation, maybe even wider than that.
The single-edge sword was quite long, making it much easier to injure the enemy at a greater distance. Like any other sword, the blade itself is quite sharp. With how much time you put into taking care of your sword, the blade still reflects whatever is put in front of it. The handle of the sword is a deep red, while a scarlet tassel is attached at the hilt, contrasting with the silver metal of the blade.
To say the absolute least, you couldn’t be any more honoured to have this sword within your possession. After all, the sword is a masterpiece on its own, even without having to say who brought this sword to life.
Unsheathing the sword from its leather scabbard, you pointed it towards the window opposite of you.
Smilingly, you slowly close the space between you and whoever was behind the thin windows.
Though, you do find it weird that the person is not moving even after finding out that they have been caught.
How could they be so careless to hide behind a window composed of mostly paper? To spy on me? No, there are other ways. Maybe they just want to finish me?
When you are finally in front of the window, placing your left hand against the window, feeling the rough paper on your fingertips. Gently tracing the outline of the frames, you wickedly lengthen the moment much to other’s displeasure.
To you, however, it truly doesn’t matter if you were to open the window now or later. After all, even if they want to escape, it would be too late to even move a meter.
The only thing that would make you hesitate is if the person would call for backup. You would be able to handle them all, but with Taehyung and Namjoon here, both yet to master any type of martial arts except for the most basic defence exercises. Looks like you have to prepare for the absolute worst.
Finally gathering force to your left hand, you forcefully open the window, purposely creating a large bang.
However, before you could even register what was about to come, the person in front of you dropped their weapon, silently surrendering.
While you on the other hand felt your smile getting wider, eyes sparkling in interest.
“ What are you doing here, Panther?”
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Definition:
Bonguk geom - a type of sword or sword skill. It is said that the phrase ‘bonguk geom’ originated from the Hwarang of the Silla dynasty. As a result, it could even be called as Silla Sword or Singeom. Bonguk geom literally means ‘national sword.’ The appearance of it is quite similar to a katana ( I believe it is the sword used in Yoongi’s track, Daechwita but please correct me if I am wrong).
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shijiujun · 4 years
Note
“you know you’re singing to your headphones out loud, right” au for moshang plz sqh singing modern songs that mbj doesn't know and being hella confused 🥺
Featuring karaoke-loving Shang Qinghua who gets a bit too drunk at a Cang Qiong mountain gathering, and he goes all out. 
Or when Mobei Jun wonders why Shang Qinghua is singing about another man called Liang Shan Bo.
---
Sometimes, he thinks about his old life before he ever had the misfortune of landing in a world of his own creation, with an annoying gaming AI system of sorts hounding his every move (in the beginning) or turning up at the most inopportune times just when he thinks it’s finally gone and left him alone (more recently). 
Shang Qinghua remembers not having many friends when he was still Shang Qinghua, when ‘向天打飞机 Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky’ was still merely his writing Weibo account moniker and when he had millions of people looking up to him for his crucial contributions in writing this amazing story about his son Luo Binghe and the way he overcame all odds to become a success with a harem of gorgeous women at his feet (damn you, Peerless Cucumber bro!).
Back in those days, he lived off cup noodles and instant coffee. If he didn’t have to leave the house, Shang Qinghua would simply curl up in front of his laptop, either writing for his novel or watching shows (clears his throat) - actual shows! Chinese period dramas were his favourite, where a skilled and intelligent consort in the harem would outwit all the other women to be with her one true love, the Emperor, who falls irrevocably in love with her.
And when he got bored, he switched from the laptop to his television to engage in his second most favourite hobby - Chinese karaoke. Going out to a karaoke bar would require some level of socializing, and also a few friends so he gets more bang out of his buck from what he pays for the room, but at home? 
With advanced technology and a tiny ass microphone in either shining gold or silver, Shang Qinghua’s home entertainment system was his very own personal karaoke room, His tiny mic even had that echo-y effect on.
Shang Qinghua has a thing for classic Chinese songs - ‘The New Butterfly Dream’, ‘Liang Shan Bo and Juliet’, The Moon Represents My Heart‘ - and contemporary karaoke must-haves, like Wang Fei. For an embarrassing few days, the Chinese version of Baby Shark was a veritable earworm as well.
After transmigrating into his own story set in ancient times, where he lives without technology, Shang Qinghua would be lying if he said he didn’t miss the Internet. Laptops would be incredibly handy, and so would switches for lights, definitely indoor plumbing for toilets, and induction stoves. Phones too, that would be nice, rather than having to ‘send word’ with letters. 
Of course, there is no karaoke bar or machine for him.
Not all is bad though. At least he transmigrated to Shang Qinghua in this world as a baby, so it’s not as if he was surviving on Internet and technology one day and left to do everything manually the next day since someone was always taking care of him. Peerless Cucumber bro, of course, wasn’t as lucky, but the man has definitely taken to this world (and his son!!) like a fish to water.
And as for himself, Shang Qinghua does not need to envy Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe either, because somehow, he has gotten the man of his dreams too, even if said man was a little cruel and rude to him in the beginning.
He has the love of his life (coughs coughs) and they’re stuck in this world for the rest of his life. What more is there to want? Not to mention how his cup of instant noodles betrayed him at the last moment, resulting in his death! It is slightly safer, ironically, to be in this world instead.
All is good except... well...
===
Shen Qingqiu marvels at the sight before him, torn between wanting to step in to stop Shang Qinghua, or watch this farce unfold. 
He sometimes forgets where he, or where Shang Qinghua, who has been in this world longer than he, came from. They don’t always talk about the past when they meet, and aside from the occasional meetups, Shen Yuan is a part of him that doesn’t surface, not when he is with Luo Binghe. 
Shang Qinghua, on the other hand, grew up here, and aside from referring to Shen Qingqiu by his Weibo account name, he seems otherwise well-adjusted, no hint of modern online writer Shang Qinghua in sight. It doesn’t feel as if he misses their original world either.
This evening, however, memories of modern times slap him in the face, quite literally.
“Shizun!” Luo Binghe calls, frantic, tugging him back into his embrace out of Shang Qinghua’s way. Once Shen Qingqiu is safe in his arms, his eyes narrow at the bumbling, drunk idiot causing a scene in the dinner hall, “Shang Qinghua...”
Shang Qinghua stops where he is, and then before any one can stop him, he picks up a pair of chopsticks, brings it to his mouth, and begins bellowing his way through-
-Jay Chou’s Hair Like Snow.
“Shizun, are you alright?” Luo Binghe fusses, his hands coming up to cup Shen Qingqiu’s face when his Shizun doesn’t so much as respond to him. “Were you hurt? Did he hurt you? How’re you feeling? We’ll go back home now-”
“What is he singing?” Qi Qingqi frowns in disgust.
They all wince when Shang Qinghua attempts to hit a high note, but fails miserably.
Fuck me, Shen Qingqiu thinks, his eyes impossibly wide, who knew Airplane bro was such a karaoke fanatic?
“... maybe he is possessed by a malevolent spirit? Or perhaps this is an unidentified curse?” asks Ming Fan. 
“Or is this some new form of cultivation?” asks Ning Yingying, curious.
Yue Qingyuan, seated at the front of the dining hall, cannot help but be concerned for him as well. “Shall we call Mu-shidi to take a look at him-”
They’ve gathered for their annual meeting - a condition that Yue Qingyuan has set in place a few years ago after Luo Binghe ‘stole’ (married!) him away from Cang Qiong Peak - and although Shang Qinghua said he didn’t mind that Mobei Jun was unable to accompany him today, he spent most of the dinner drinking alcohol while in a melancholic state instead.
Who knew that Shang Qinghua was a singing drunk?!
Hence their current predicament.
At the Sect Master’s words, Shang Qinghua suddenly turns around and looks at Shen Qingqiu. HIccuping twice, he then beams, “Cucumber-”
Shen Qingqiu has never moved that fast in his life. Within a fraction of a second, he has his hand pressed over Shang Qinghua’s mouth, holding onto him from the back.
“Cucumber?” everyone choruses in confusion.
“I believe your Shang-shishu has had a little too much to drink,” Shen Qingqiu clears his throat, nodding at everyone else. “We should... send him back to Mobei. Isn’t that right, Binghe?”
His disciple, his husband, still has on an affronted, murderous look for how Shang Qinghua almost brained Shen Qingqiu with his flailing arms in his drunken fit. The moment Shen Qingqiu asks, however, his expression morphs into something so soft and full of love that everyone who sees it chokes.
“Of course,” Luo Binghe smiles, devotion apparent in his eyes. “Anything Shizun wants.”
===
The words that are tumbling out of Shang Qinghua’s mouth are entirely incomprehensible, and so are the tunes he’s humming into his ear.
Mobei Jun thought he had gotten used to Shang Qinghua’s eccentric mannerisms, and also thought he knew everything about his husband, so many years later. Shang Qinghua is mumbling Chinese alright, but none of the characters put together make any sense.
Who is Liang Shan Bo? And who the hell is Juliet?!
His mood taking a turn for the worse, Mobei Jun hoists Shang Qinghua up further on his back.
After getting so drunk, the idiot had the gall to demand for a piggy-back from the throne room to their bedroom. Mobei Jun has never once suffered such indignity in his years of living. A bridal carry? Of course, anytime. A piggy-back? As if he was some beast to be tamed? 
Well this definitely has to be a first.
While he was stewing in his thoughts, Shang Qinghua switches from that song to another one, and a stream of ‘du du du lu du lu’ emerges from his lips... AND something about... a sha yu? What the hell is that?!
Shang Qinghua lazily lifts his right hand as they approach their room, balls it into a fist and puts it to his mouth, as if he’s holding something, and whatever monstrosity Shang Qinghua is singing, his voice gets even louder.
Mobei Jun tosses Shang Qinghua off his back unceremoniously and onto the soft bed. Interrupted, Shang Qinghua blinks, his vision blurry, and is about to catch his breath and start singing again when his husband climbs in after him. Trapping Shang Qinghua with his entire weight, Mobei Jun seals his lips with a kiss.
“... My king...” Shang Qinghua murmurs in a daze, when Mobei Jun pulls back a few minutes later, his breaths coming out as short, harsh pants. “My king...”
“That’s right,” he says with a glower. “I’m your Da Wang, your husband.”
Mobei Jun doesn’t know who Liang Shan Bo is, but he’s going to make sure no other man’s name ever leaves Shang Qinghua’s lips again when they’re together.
And when his husband finally sobers up, he’s going to have a lot to answer for.
---
Songs Mentioned (YouTube Links in Comments):
The New Butterfly Dream 新鸳鸯蝴蝶梦 - A Chinese classic, sung by Huang An but done beautifully by legendary god of singing Fei Yu Qing and singing partner for the song A Yun Ga
Liang Shan Bo and Juliet 梁山伯与朱丽叶 - A Taiwanese contemporary classic of sorts by Genie Zhuo, most Chinese millennials would definitely have sang this at a karaoke once in their lives - Song is inspired by Liang Shan Bo and Zhu Ying Tai, the Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet to some extent - They both die in the end and become butterflies, so they’re also called the Butterfly Lovers.
The Moon Represents My Heart 月亮代表我的心 - ANOTHER CLASSIC CLASSIC!!!
Baby Shark (Chi. Ver) - ˆThe baby shark hype did move to China, and it’s pretty hilarious LMAO and in Chinese, shark is 鲨鱼 (sha yu) but I’m assuming that in this world, there isn’t a shark kind of animal of sorts? So Mobei Jun and everyone else except SQQ wouldn’t know what a shark is or looks like?!
Hair Like Snow 发如雪 - By Jay Chou, another classic that all Chinese millennials would have sang in a karaoke bar 
Wang Fei 王妃 - Jam Hsiao’s version is known best, and it’s pretty epic, not that anyone can reach any of the high notes in the chorus, but does that stop us from trying?!! Hell no!!!
---
Notes: My first Moshang?!! That didn’t really have a lot of Moshang time?! But thanks anon, hope this sort of works?!
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tomorrowsdrama · 3 years
Text
2020: A Year in Thirst
In 1985, Gabriel Garcia Marquez gave the world Love in the Time of Cholera.  In 2020 (er, I guess it’s now 2021), I give to you, Thirst in the Time of Covid-19 or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Embrace the Thirst, a brief recap of all the dramas I watched in 2020 and whether such dramas made yours truly parched..  
The list contains dramas that premiered in 2020, but also dramas from previous years.  If I watched it or attempted to watch it in 2020, it’s on the list.  
EDIT: Ok, I’m going to have to do this in multiple parts because apparently I watched more dramas in 2020 than I remembered and talking about them all in one post would just be too long.
This also serves as a sort of greeting to all the people who recently followed me.  I don’t know how or why, but thank you for being interested in my thirst, and also so sorry for everything you have/will witness here!  I started this side blog last December 2019 as a place to dump all my fangirl feels and thirst with unbridled abandon and let’s just say, the thirst REALLY ramped up in 2020 during quarantine and all the political chaos/uncertainty.  The state of the world may be uncertain, but my thirst will always be a comforting constant!  LOL. If you want to thirst or fangirl/boy together, I’m all ears.
Anyway, let’s start with the drama that was partially the inspiration for this list. 
1. The Wolf
Brief Summary: Sweet hot boy raised in the wilderness/by wolves meets sweet beautiful girl and they fall in love.  Shitty evil people do shitty evil things to them to cause a misunderstanding and they are separated for years.  Sweet hot boy is given the “Sexy Bloody Tormented Killer Makeover” TM and turns into a VERY VERY BAD HOT Wolf Man after being tortured/brainwashed by an evil asshole king who “adopted” him.  Bad Hot Wolf Man reunites with sweet beautiful girl but because of third party machinations in the past, he thinks that she betrayed him so he is suuuuuuch an ass to her (while still maintaining hotness).  But even beneath the asshattery (and sexy jerky smirks), he can’t help his love for her and it’s just *chefs kiss*. The angst, the pining, the mutual sacrifice for each other, the torment of wanting to be together but not being able to be together because of external forces/circustances, oh I am getting in a tizzy just thinking about it.  I won’t reveal anymore so as not to spoil the drama, but just know the ending may destroy you.
Is she thirsty? Am I thirsty? AM I THIRSTY?  Oh honey, if you don’t know the answer to that, then you must either be new here or you haven’t been paying attention to any of my posts in the past few weeks.  Look, from the first moment the camera panned to Darren Wang’s very well-defined and tan chest and windswept hair, all semblance of shame and dignity I ever tried to feign on this tumblr was immediately thrown out the window.  The feelings that he inspired within me were purely primal.  My cavewoman ancestor from millennia ago stopped gathering food in the harsh wilderness for a brief second to transmigrate into my body and go “me want big strong man!”
I mean, below is literally our introduction to Wolf Boy.  Am I supposed to just witness this and not feel anything?  The director knew what he/she was doing.  Anybody who worked on the drama who says they didn’t intend to exploit Darren Wang’s assets is a BOLD FACED LIAR. And this isn’t even Wolf boy in his hottest form.
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That would be this:
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Damn, your girl needs a moment here.  When Wolf Boy turns into Bad Hot Wolf Man, wheeeeewww.  The things that came out of my mouth and the thoughts that popped up into my head.
Examples of shameless fangirl drooling can be found here: https://tomorrowsdrama.tumblr.com/post/636986055498792960/dangermousie-this-should-be-illegal-i-mean Here: https://tomorrowsdrama.tumblr.com/post/637238885944033280/dangermousie-i-am-fucking-dead-the-end-this Here: https://tomorrowsdrama.tumblr.com/post/637793196830769152/dangermousie-wolfie-acquired-a-kid-omg Here: https://tomorrowsdrama.tumblr.com/post/635272988321775616/dangermousie-i-dont-know-about-you-guys-but and here: https://tomorrowsdrama.tumblr.com/post/637621638524977152/dangermousie-hnnnnnnnngh-i-am-beginning-to-forget
Honestly, just check out The Wolf tag on @dangermousie​ tumblr and you won’t be disappointed.  Prepare to become obsessed, horny, and heartbroken.
Would I watch it minus the thirst traps? Have you ever thirsted so much that you couldn’t separate what reaction was hormonal and what was objective?  Like the guy is so hot to you that when your friends ask you what do you like about him, the first 10 things you can think of are “he’s hot!” and then you try to remind yourself that you’re not a shallow person who actually cares about things other than looks but at the same time you can’t for the life of you think of a non-hot based trait that you like about the guy  Yeah, that’s what happened here so sorry, I can’t give you an objective opinion.  It’s not that there’s nothing objectively good about The Wolf, it’s just that my judgment is too clouded by Darren Wang’s abs and big hands.  But from what I can tell by other people’s posts, even if you didn’t thirst for Darren Wang (Are you made of stone?  But also, can you please teach me your magic so I can go back to being a semi-functional working woman?), The Wolf is still a very enjoyable drama with its own non-Darren Wang related merits.
2. My Beautiful Bride
Brief Summary: A drama about a strait-laced banker who wears a dorky backpack and rides a bicycle everywhere while wearing the dorkiest looking helmet ever and his beautiful bride-to-be whom he is hopelessly devoted to.  This being a kdrama, and an OCN drama at that, things aren’t all what they appear to be.  Yes, you read that right, an OCN. ROMANCE. DRAMA.  Turns out the beautiful bride-to-be has a dangerous past that soon comes back to haunt her and she mysteriously disappears one day from strait-laced banker’s life in the typical kdrama way to protect him.  Part of the reason she leaves him is also because she doesn’t want him to know about her past because she doesn’t think she’s good enough for him.  Little does she know, he knows everything about her past and accepts it all.  The only reason why he doesn’t bring it up is because he knows she doesn’t want him to know about that part of herself and he loves her so much he’s willing to do anything to make her happy.  But also, another thing she doesn’t know is that underneath that boring but perfectly ironed suit, is a finely chiseled, super efficient fighting machine who did his mandatory military service in the special forces.  He is like the terminator meets Liam Neeson’s character in Taken.  He has a very particular set of skills and will stop at nothing to get his bride back.
Is she thirsty?  Please just watch this video and you will have your answer: https://youtu.be/Ut9MhxWadHM
Prior to The Wolf, My Beautiful Bride was probably the most thirst-inducing drama I watched in 2020.
I mean, just look
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at this
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at all of this
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I don’t’ know how Joo Young saw that body and never questioned whether he really was just a banker.  The writers of the drama must be super heterosexual men who are blind because so many of the characters in the drama question why someone as beautiful as Joo Young would ever want to be with someone like the banker. Um..Um...aside from the fact that he is financially well off, treats her well, is loving and respectful of her, and prioritizes her over everything else, JUST LOOK AT HIM.  I was so thirsty for Kim Mu Yeol in this role that I would accidentally tag this drama as My Beautiful Banker sometimes.  The banker was on a relentless one-man mission to take back his bride and turn me on in the process and ooooooh boy was he successful on both fronts.  He is seriously sex on legs every time he beats up a baddie in his quest to find answers about Joo Young’s whereabouts.
Would I watch it minus the thirst traps?  I binged the first six episodes of this drama in one afternoon partly because of my thirst, but also partly because it’s a very well made crime-action-gangster drama.  This is an OCN drama so you can expect a competently made production with well choreographed/bloody action scenes and a solid script.
3. Scarlet Heart Ryeo / Moon Lovers
Brief Summary: IU plays Hae Soo, a modern woman who is somehow transported back in time to the Goryeo period.  There, she gets entangled with a group of royal princes.  Her two main love interests are Wang So (played by Lee Jun Ki) and Wang Wook (played by Kang Ha Neul).  The princes vie for the throne and some of them for Hae Soo’s affection.  Lee Jun Ki does what he does best, which is play a sexy tortured deadly man who looks way too good with blood splattered on his face.  Kang Ha Neul is the seemingly kind prince/daddy long legs character who turns out to be not so kind or daddy long leggy.  Hae Soo is...well IU did the best she could with what she was given (which was a hot inconsistent mess).
Is she thirsty? Scarlet Heart Ryeo is like the honeypot of thirst traps.  It’s essentially a reverse harem set up with a prince for everyone.
Like them young and cute?  Then try the 10th prince, Wang Eun.
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Want them big, tall, and kinda dumb?  Here’s the 14th prince Wang Jung for ya.
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Want an evil bastard with an affinity for guyliner?  Try out 3rd prince Wang Yo.
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Tall, slender, and scholarly? 13th prince Baek-ah will fill your needs.
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Is a kind/gentle man who will ultimately disappoint you because he doesn’t show up when you need him most more your speed?  Well, let me introduce you to 8th prince, Wang Wook.
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Kinda scary but oh so hot and with a ton of baggage?  We’re talking, I overpacked and brought 10 overstuffed large suitcases levels of baggage. 4th prince Wang So is the guy for you.
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And if you prefer someone with no personality, presence, or memorable traits, I got a two-for-one deal for you in the crown prince Wang Mu and 9th prince Wang Won.
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Would I watch it minus the thirst traps?  There is political intrigue, scheming, romance, fluffy hijinks (my least favorite parts of the drama), angst, beautiful costumes, and pretty decent fight scenes.  Scarlet Heart Ryeo is a pretty solid fusion/fantasy sageuk mostly thanks to Lee Jun Ki.  The only person who has ever carried a larger load on his back is Atlas.  I’m not saying all the other actors are horrendous. It’s just very clear that the one elevating the material beyond the inconsistencies/messiness/elementary politics of the script is Lee Jun Ki.  Your enjoyment level of the drama will likely increase if you are a fan of any of the main actors.  
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choerrypuffs · 2 years
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My favorite in the ATLA series 👀👀👀
Okay so my friend and i both agreed that objectively the Renjun one was the best. Like the plot, the CHARACTER DEPTH, and the execution was perfect *chefs kiss*
BUT MY FAVORITE WAS THE HAECHAN ONE AHAHAH His character and the storyline of it was so appealing to me cuz he was like playful and fun but with a ✨vulnerable✨ side, oh and a gang of air bending thieves is always fun. THE SHARING THE BED TROPE IS SUCH AN OVERPLAYED TROPE BUT I LOVE IT ALL THE SAME SO 😩💓
Plus i laughed my ass off when i first thought haechan would be portrayed as a monk that’s bald with arrow tattoos 🤣 (not to mention the addition of the mental image of bald mark, jisung, and chenle LMAOOO)
Oh and sidenote: I remember being very curious about how all the boys’ reactions and interactions wouldve been like if she actually went to each nation and collected them. And then formed her own Team Avatar. That would’ve been hella awesome man ASHDKSMA like a harem but with bending 💯 but not over the top, it would be lowkey only like Ouran Highschool Host Club (a harem anime thats not in your face harem) or smth. I highkey believe that in that scenario Renjun would be the canon love interest just because. 😌
Oki I’m done rambling :DD my fave is the haechan one :D here is a semi bald arrowheaded haechan to prove my point
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omg that's so nice thank you so much 🥺💖 i'm not supposed to have favorites but the renjun fic is super special to me <333 it was my first real attempt at trying to write characters with emotional depth (albeit very surface-level) and that's why i felt the need to write a part 2 for him !! it just felt like his story hadn't been fully completed yet 😌
YESSS HAECHAN WAS BASED OFF JET AND HIS CREW BC HAECHAN SUITED THE ROGUISH BUT LOVEABLE THIEF TROPE SO WELLLL 🤩 and LMFAO the there’s only one bed trope always reminds me of this meme 😭
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JDSFKLSK STOPPPPPP OMFG THIS IS WHY I HAD TO PUT THAT DISCLAIMER ON THE MASTERLIST BC I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO WRITE THE FIC SERIOUSLY IF HAECHAN WAS BALD 💀
HELPDFJSKSKL WHEN I TELL YOU THE BALD HAECHAN PIC HAD ME IN TEARS I AM NOT KIDDING I WAS CRYING LAUGHING PLSSSSSSS 😭😭😭 i had to show cat and moon too bc i was absolutely LOSING MY SHIT over it LMFAO idk why but the kirby pointing at him makes it 10x funnier??? also why does it look like the arrow was drew on with a dry erase marker LOL ugh there’s just so many comedic layers to this pic and i have added it into my favorites album bc i laugh every time i see it tysm for sharing it with me oml 🤧
i’ve thought about it too!! i hate that i missed such a huge opportunity with my atla series 😔 it could’ve made it all interconnected like i did with my pjo series but i just didn’t think about it at the time. i kind attempted it by mentioning doyoung in the fics, but that was about it. when i think back, i feel like i could’ve done a whole spinoff with haechan’s crew. AND HOLY SHIT THAT’S SUCH AN AMAZING IDEA??? ALL OF THE 00 LINE BOYS GATHERING AND FORMING TEAM AVATAR AND THE REVERSE HAREM ELEMENT AS WELL?!?! UGH YOU ARE SUCH A GENIUS, MY LOVE i’m not saying renjun would be the canon love interest bc he was my favorite to write butttttt
ugh this is making me want to revisit everything but my atla series is so old atp so i also kind of want to let it rest in peace 🥴 maybe i’ll do another poll LMAO
thank you so so so much again for this lovely and HILARIOUS ask omg you’ve completely made my life and i will have this haechan pic with me until i die
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