#high sea showdown

[aloesarchives]

Love and Tenacity (Tokyo Revenger One-shot)

Warning: Blood, Spoiler Warning, Angst, Swearing, Violence, Alternative Canon Divergence, Details of injuries, Mentions of Character Deaths, Lots of crying, The author(me) being an annoying narrator, Truck-kun obliterating Kisaki, Inaccurate medical information, Plot armor, super long fic, Mentions of starting a family

Series: Tokyo Revengers

Word Count: 7.2k words

Pairing: Manjiro “Mikey” Sano x Fem!Reader(Romantic), Takamichi x Fem!Reader(Platonic/Best Friends)

Pronouns: She/Her (Mikey call reader Baby and Princess)

Summary: Instead of Emma getting hit by Kisaki, you take the fall for her.

(A/N: This fic could’ve been way shorter then it needs to be but I had to word vomit a lot. Will edit this later. I actually have been planning to write this type of fic for a year now but never started it until like a weeks ago. Sorry for the inconsistent updates!)

[Not proofread! 7:19pmCST 11/29/2023]

As always, please enjoy!

The slight ringing in your ears had dulled out everything around you.

Your eyes were fixated on the sky, not a single cloud could be seen above. Like the gates were wide open for you to enter. No obstacles, no stairs, nothing between you and the endless cerulean sea that never failed to look beautiful every time.

The faint ringing created this humming effect, drowning out all and any noise. It was strange, it was almost comforting in a way you felt a sense of peace.

Your consciousness becomes like the ocean’s tide, rising and falling as time slows down. With your breathing becoming shallow with each passing second, you wondered if what you did would really change anything. What you did could really make a difference that changes everything forever. Takamichi is the only one that can time leap back and forth. Only he knows what you did affected the future. Yet were you able to live and see that reality yourself? Be alive and Takamichi telling you yourself?

Who knows, you wonder.

Face remained parallel with the sky and consciousness became faint, you were completely fazed out of reality. So out of it that you see two figures hovering over you. You can faintly hear bits and pieces of what they are saying, their voices muffled because your consciousness started to slide down the slope.

With blurry vision, you can make out the silhouettes of Emma and Takamichi. Emma, with big beads of tears in her eyes, has her hands covering her mouth to suppress her sobs. Her body shakes as she continues to cry, continuously shouting out your name. Takamichi isn’t any different. Panic and desperation was written all over him with his endless waterfall of tears. As he is hunched over your body, Takamichi continuously pleads for you to stay awake. 

To stay with them. 

You didn’t want to go, you wanted to stay with them. But your head throbbed and the aching feeling taking over your body, forming a response was something your body couldn’t do. Even blinking was hard because closing your eyes was tempting to enter eternal darkness forever.

As your two friends were desperate to save you and keep you leaving forever, your thoughts drift to Mikey and how he was dealing with all of this. Mikey has been through a lot. He lost so much and you have been there for him all the time.

Maybe Mikey was able to sort things out with Izana, or at least get some things across. You only hoped it wouldn’t be the start of leading him down a dark path.

[~~Flashback~~]

The cold winter air nipped at your lips as you made your way to meet Takamichi at the nearby park.

After the events of Bloody Halloween and Christmas Showdown, you wanted to know everything about Takamichi’s plan. You knew there was no way a junior high kid could have that much knowledge. 

There was something about him that made you want to know more about him. Prior to this, you have never met Hangaki Takamichi nor heard of him. You only ran into him when you accompanied Draken and Mikey when Kiyomasa was beating him up. Afterwards, Takamichi became this constant presence everywhere. He fought with the Toman gang when he wasn’t even a member, even saving them multiple times in the gang brawls.

This kid didn’t grow up with any of you guys yet he’s fighting for them like he’s known them for years. He was so persistent and had this conviction unlike any other person you have seen before in your life. You have to admit, Takamitchy wasn’t the strongest, smartest, or a good fighter for that matter. Yet he still goes in no matter what. He knows he’s going to lose but he still fights anyway.

Why?

You wanted that question answered by the boy himself so you asked him to meet up. He didn’t mind but he was concerned about what Mikey would think.

“Trust me, don’t worry about it. Mikey isn’t like that type of person. As long as I tell him the who, where, when, he won’t make a big deal out of it. Plus he’s not worried about you, Takamitchy.”

Is what you said to him on Friday before going home. It’s Saturday and Takamitchy was waiting for you on one of the swingsets. The anxiety was gnawing at him. Should he tell you why he’s really doing all of this? How would you react to it? 

Would you even believe him?

The chains from the swings clinked at his grip. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t know you had already arrived. Takamitchy jerked his head up at the sound of your footsteps. You greeted him and sat on the empty swing next to him. There was a small silence that fell upon the two of you. You couldn’t blame Takamitchy for being reluctant to talk. I mean, you literally pried at him to tell you his real intentions. And to be honest, the way you did it almost made Takamitchy piss his pants. 

It was like that for a moment before Takamitchy stops moving his swing and looks at you.

“Would you believe even if what I’m telling you is true?”

Caught off guard, you looked at Takamitchy with wide eyes before your signature smile made an appearance on your lips.

“I mean, I have to at this point. I’ve never seen anyone so devoted to fight and save even though they’re not powerful. You never purposely lied to them so you wouldn’t lie to me, right Takamitchy?”

Shaking his head, he looks at you with absolute seriousness.

“No, I don’t want to. The things I’m doing aren’t even for me really but they ended up involving everyone. I need to do this because I have to!”

“ *hums* Then tell me about it, Takamitchy.” 

With that, Takamitchy tells you everything about what he’s doing. How, in the future, the consistent deaths of Hana and his friends have haunted him relentlessly. That he has the ability to travel back in time to certain years depending on how much time has passed. The only reason why he got himself involved with Toman was because Hana’s death was linked to the gang. That there were futures where Draken was either dead or on death row, how some of the other members were dead in one. That one person was behind everything that kept creating such bleak futures: Kisaki Tetta.

As you listened and asked for clarification with what Takamitchy was saying, you couldn’t help but feel sympathetic, astonished, and even heartbroken. Astonished in Takamitchy doing all of this and having the willpower to keep going. But you also felt heartbroken and sympathetic because he had to witness the people his friends and the love of his life die right in front of him. You don’t blame him at all for doing what he had to do, and frankly you would do the same if it meant saving the ones you care about.

“And that’s pretty much it, (Y/N). I know it sounds crazy but it’s all true.”

“Isn’t there anyone else, Takamitchy?”

He looked at you quizzically, legitimately not understanding your lack of disbelief of what he was telling you. Instead, you were still questioning him like it was normal.

“What do you mean by that, (Y/N)?”

“As in, who else did you not see in your future timelines? You said that in other timelines, Ken-chin was dead or on death row. Other timelines, everyone else was dead. I feel like we’re missing something here. Like there has to be someone else that plays a role in the downward spiral of Mikey.”

“(Y/N), I don’t see what you’re trying to get at.”

“Takamitchy, think about it. From what you have told me, Mikey goes down this dark path because he loses the people closest in life. Shinichiro, Baji, Draken, what if there’s someone else we are not including. Like what about Emma? Do you know if she’s in the future?”

It took a few seconds to process what you just said, more so the last part. He would have retorted if it weren’t for the realization to hit him.

“(Y-Y/N), you’re not saying Emma dies, are you?”

“Takamitchy, look, I’m no detective. But think about it. If you said everyone is somewhat dead in the future, wouldn’t that include her too? Only you have been to the future, but how come you didn’t question it? You didn’t see her around when you went back to the future at all?”

“I-I…(Y/N)...”

Even though he didn’t give you an answer, his reaction and the fact his eyes are filled with slight panic gave you one. But with this revelation, it meant that Mikey was inevitably going to lose another loved one, specifically his sister. Once that fact settled in for you, your heart sank to the bottom of your soul. Heartache and agony took over your body, if Takamitchy couldn’t save Emma this time, it would guarantee that Mikey would fall into depravity. 

‘Mikey…’

You couldn’t let that happen. No, you just can’t. You loved Mikey so much that you don’t know what to do if you lost him. Just thinking about the future versions of Mikey from Takamichi’s recounts made you nauseous and break out into a cold sweat.

You know that Takamichi can’t do this all on his own. His mission will need all the help that he can get, and you were on board with it. Fuck, you do anything for Mikey and your friends.

“Then we gotta do this, Takamitchy. I may not be strong or anything but I wanna help you with this. You have my full support.”

Takamichi nods his head with his classic determined look that you’ve grown to admire. Though this meeting happened before Izana was added into the picture. Takamichi’s resolve to continue on grew more since you gave him reassurance of your help. And perhaps, this meeting only made your friendship stronger.

[~~Flashback Ends~~]

You knew you had to protect and save Emma of a fate that would lead to her premature death. You were well aware how much Emma meant to Mikey, and her dying meant Mikey losing the last family member that cared for him. 

Plus Emma didn’t deserve such a fate. She wasn’t involved in the gang at all other than being the little sister of Mikey. But even then, this wasn’t outspoken knowledge and kept hidden except for those in their close circle. To get her caught up in all of these was wrong and scumbag-level. So it was no surprise when Mikey opened up to you about Izana and their shared history together. 

But to know that Izana was trying to get Mikey to fight him by any means necessary, you expected foul play to happen. Yet, not where they were going to target someone and get them killed. It was sickening and cruel for this to happen, even in gangs filled with teenagers who were too chicken to even attempt this. But what happened to Pah’s friend and his girlfriend, it could happen.

All the more reasons to keep a close eye on Emma. But there was another reason why you couldn’t let her die. One time, Mikey took you out on his motorcycle through the city. He took you by the ocean as he zoomed and weaved through the streets of Tokyo. As he stopped and parked his bike, you and Mikey were chilling under the night sky while snacking on freshly made Taiyaki. As the two of you were talking, he mentions how he wants Emma to have a nice domestic life with Draken. You question him further and he just states:

“They care about each other. Emma loves Draken, and Draken cares deeply for Emma. It would make sense, and I would be fine with it.”

You never expected Mikey to say something like that. It’s not like he doesn’t have a way with words, it’s more of he never put much thought into it unless it was serious. So for him to say something like this really changed your perspective. Mikey does seem like a selfish and childish person, but in reality he does care for his friends and siblings. He doesn’t like being publicly vulnerable about these things. Even though Emma is his half-sister, he still loves her regardless. Since Shinichiro is gone, it’s just the two of them. So they have a very close sibling relationship.

All the more reason why Emma shouldn’t be endangered, she was a nice girl that deserves to live her life.

She was the reason why you and Mikey are together. So her dying would impossibly crush your heart and soul. You didn’t know how to live with that, more so with trying to be there for Mikey because he tends to push people away.  But you opt to sacrifice yourself in place of Emma. While not a part of the gang, you have been at their meetings and helped them with some of their brawls. So your hands are dirty compared to Emma’s.

Gosh, you’re not just doing this for a dear friend. But you’re also doing this for the boy you loved so dearly and for years. You just hoped the outcome would guarantee a better future for everyone that’s still alive.

You didn’t regret this at all because all you wished for was Mikey to be happy too.

—————————————————————————

It just happened so fast.

Takamichi, Emma, and you were exiting out of the cemetery to grab some drinks in a nearby machine. As the three of you were waiting for Mikey and Inupi to be done talking to Izana, a small humming sound could be heard in the distance. At first, you guys thought it was just the buildings and paid no attention to it. However, it suddenly got louder and the three of you turned your heads towards the street. Out of nowhere, there was a motorcycle speeding and b-lining it down the street towards you three. However, you noticed someone holding a baseball bat while riding the cycle. 

Perhaps it was pure instinct or intuition, but seeing someone holding a bat in the air while being a passenger of a vehicle isn’t a good sign. Suddenly, you shouted for Takamichi to duck while you immediately pulled Emma in front of you and used yourself as a shield. Unfortunately, your body didn’t take the hit but your head certainly did. The metallic ring of the bat and the silence followed by that was absolutely sickening. 

It was barely thirty seconds and so many things had happened. Once the motorcycle had zoomed off, Takamichi turned around and looked horrified. Though Emma was alive, she was hunched over you as she was shaking your body and calling your name. Once the brief shock wore off, Takamichi dashed over and kneeled over you as Emma stood up. She stared frightened as one of her hands had your blood on it. The comotion had caused Mikey and Inupi to come out of the cemetery to find out what was going on. As Izana left quietly, Inupi and Mikey were in a state of shock with the scene in front of them. Emma and Takamichi were crying as Takamichi kept shaking your unmoving body which laid on the asphalt.

Takamichi was trying to explain to Mikey that Kisaki did this to you but his hiccups from his sobs blocked his words. But honestly, even if Takamichi told him, he probably wouldn’t listen because all he cared about was you going to the hospital and being alive. Mikey wasted no time, he told Takamichi to place you on his back so he can run to the hospital with you. Emma wanted to go with them too but Mikey told her only he and Takamichi should go because they would be faster. Plus he told Emma that her shoes wouldn’t allow her to run and she could get hurt while running. Inupi butts in and says he’ll take care of Emma while the two of them take care of you.

The two took off as Mikey and Takamichi sprinted towards the hospital. As they take the side streets and alleyways, the rapid movement causes you to wake up for a bit. Your vision was blurry and your whole body ached, but you recognized that it was Mikey that was carrying you.

“M-Mikey… Is that you?”

Mikey doesn’t pause for a moment but he instantly softens up when he hears you speak.

“Yeah… It’s me, Baby… Don’t worry, you’re going to be okay… Takamitchy is also with us too…”

You shifted your head on Mikey’s shoulder to face Takamichi who’s running alongside him. He doesn’t smile when he sees your eyes on him but you could see the hopefulness in his. You slowly smile at Takamichi as you shift your head once more so your forehead rests on top of Mikey’s shoulder blade.

“Mikey… I don’t think my eyes are working… And my body is hurting all over that it’s hard to move around…”

“I know I know, (Y/N)-chan… Just a little longer… Please… We’re almost there… Just hang on a little more…”

Because of your injury, you couldn’t register what Mikey was saying to you but you just kept smiling. Something that made Takamichi afraid. With your forehead still pressed against him, you still try to talk the best you can.

“Mikey… Tell Emma it’s not her fault… I did this to myself… Tell Draken and the rest they have been great friends, I l-love them like brothers… And Takamichi-kun, please tell Hana that… that she’s a wonderful friend and I appreciate her a lot. Please take… good care… of her… I think you did it right t-this time… It’s up to you now…”

As you kept talking, Mikey involuntarily picked up his pace causing Takamichi to fall behind for a bit. They were so close to the hospital. If you would hold out a little longer, you would be okay.

You would be, right?

Because of the running, Takamichi wouldn’t see it but you felt it from your spaced out consciousness. Mikey was shaking, his whole body was shaking uncontrollably. It was something Mikey couldn’t admit but he was terrified. Terrified that you, the love of his love, the moon to his stars in the night sky, his best friend, would die and be lost from him forever. No, this can’t happen. You’re strong, stronger than most people. You’re one of the strongest people Mikey knows. You couldn’t go down without a fight. Though your will was strong, Mikey’s denial delusions were stronger. He keeps telling himself that you will be okay and make it out alive. That if he gets you to the hospital, it’s fine. But from what you said, the fear of your death grew stronger in him every step he took to save you. There was nothing more terrifying than for someone to see their beloved die right in front of their eyes. Takamichi knew this all too well seeing Hana die right in front of him.

For him to see Mikey go through the same thing was heartbreaking because he was supposed to prevent this from happening. Yet he indirectly caused it to happen by telling you of his time travel ability and the future timelines he witnessed. He becomes guilt-ridden as he played a role in your death, and he’ll suffer the consequences. Takamichi notices the side street that they were on and they were five minutes away from the hospital. As Takamichi caught up with Mikey, your voice became more hoarse and quiet. This wasn’t good. Mikey wished you kept quiet so you could save your strength.

“M-Mikey… You need to start to take… better care of yourself… You can’t just rely on Kenny and Em to do it…”

“(Y/N), princess, what are you talking about? What about you, you take care of me too, don’t you?”

“Yy-yeah… But I think not anymore…”

“(Y-Y/N)-chan, please… You know… I had a dream where it’s just you and me… We have our own place with our own little family… Once you put the little ones to sleep… We hangout with Ken-chin, Takamitchy-kun, Mitsuya, and everyone at our home… We get to eat and drink all the sake we want as you scold me to quiet down because I would wake up the kids… And everyone would be laughing and having a good time as you punk me around…”

You don’t respond right away, which scared Mikey for a bit, but you hummed and spoke up once more.

“That’s such… a nice dream… Mikey…”

“Yeah, baby, I think about it often. I could only imagine that life with you, I wouldn’t know what to do if it wasn’t with you… So (Y/N), please…”

“Manjiro-kun…?”

Oh god, please don’t…

“Yes, (Y/N)...?”

“I love you…”

They were legitimately right in front of the hospital when your body goes slack against Mikey's body. They were right there, if only they were faster.

After that, everything was a blur. Inupi dropped off Emma at the hospital before driving back to Toman’s meeting spot. Not long after, Draken then Hana arrived. The doctor that had his staff take you in didn’t come back out yet. As Takamichi filled them in, the minutes felt like hours. Wondering what condition you’re in, or whether or not you’re still with them or not. Hana was trying to comfort Emma who was sobbing, clearly traumatized from what had happened. Draken stands and stares at the closed ICU doors, and Takamichi stands by the chairs waiting for your news. Meanwhile, Mikey’s seating and is just a shell of himself. His eyes were void of any light and his head hung low to hide his depressive face. He was numb, he doesn’t feel anything nor couldn’t even if he wanted to. The thought of losing you never occurred to him. He always reassured you that he was the strongest, that he could protect you from anyone and anything that dared to harm you. He found out the hard way what happens when he can’t. This is what will happen to you when he’s not careful with you. 

After a few hours, the doctor came out and everyone but Mikey stood up and went over to hear your condition. Are you okay? Are you even still alive? They needed to know.

“ The surgery was a success. Your friend is alive because you brought her in within 15 minutes of what I assume was the accident that caused it.”

The friends wanted to cheer and celebrate making it out alive. But with the weight of the doctor’s eyes, it tells a different story. So all they can do is release a sigh of relief.

“However, her injury did cause some bleeding. I don’t know what object hit her, the force of the object caused her skull to have a depression fracture. That fracture created small fragments where some stabbed her outer brain layer that caused the bleeding. Though her skull will heal naturally, the force of the blunt trauma caused her to have a severe concussion. With that, after the operation, she was placed in a medically-induced coma. We believe this is the best choice for her recovery.”

“Do you know when she will wake up?” Takamichi hesitantly asked.

“I can’t say for sure. The coma is meant to help her body recover and reset her body from what has happened. Even though we placed her under, it’s not strong and she can wake up if her brain allows her to. It could be at least 12 hours or more when she wakes up though.”

The doctor excuses himself as a nurse tells them that only two people at a time can see you. Hana and Emma were the first to go. Draken decided while the girls were seeing you, to ask Mikey to come outside to have a little talk.

But it was anything but one.

There, Draken was laying it on Mikey, whaling him in the face each time. And while Mikey was allowing the blows to come. No flinching or wincing whatsoever. It was like Mikey had shut down completely. Takemitchi was trying to hold back Draken but got shocked in the face in doing so. It was a chaotic scene in the parking lot. Draken was beating the daylights out of Mikey while Takamichi was trying to split them up and ended up bowing his head on the floor. Takamichi apologized profusely to Draken because he was technically there when you got hit so he was responsible for your condition. He hadn’t realized it but Draken was crying as he raised his fist to punch Mikey again. Yet the punch never connected. He stood there, letting his tears freely fall with his lip slightly quivering to keep his sobbing from spilling out. 

“We created Toman to protect our friends, Mikey! But Pah is in jail! Kazutora is in Jail! Baji’s now dead! And (Y/N)–! She’s… She’s in a coma! Who knows when she will wake up! Or if she will wake up… What the hell is the point of creating this gang if we can't protect our family!!!”

Draken was beyond frustrated and terrified. Frustrated as within a year their friends are getting hurt or being sent away to jail. Frustrated that he couldn’t be there to protect his friends when things like this happened. He was also terrified that he was losing them so fast. Being plucked away like they were petals on a flower. The girls were done and were going to retrieve the boys for their turn. When they didn't see them in the waiting room, however, they searched around to come out to the parking lot after hearing Draken’s yelling. They only saw the aftermath but from the bruises on Mikey’s face, Takamichi’s tears, and Draken heaving, they pieced it together. Draken made way to where you were with Takamichi hot on his tail.

It was strange to see you like this. There you laid, on the hospital bed hooked onto a heart monitor and multiple IV drips. You looked so peaceful and serene where you slept, unaware of the chaos that will ensue soon. Maybe it was a good thing that you were like this, of what is to come in the showdown between Tenjuku and Toman. But reality was always uncertain, Takamichi knew this. Things may not go his plan but he’s damn sure that he will try his best.

Draken had a blank expression but his tears kept coming. He has known you as long as he has known Mikey. You and him were practically siblings, always butting heads but backing each other when the other needed help. He always looked out for you in ways you were unaware of because you always had the tendency to care for them before yourself. And now he has seen how your kind and loving heart can be seen as a weakness, people taking advantage of it because they knew you would fight for everyone before you could save yourself.

Draken kept staring while Takamichi knew he had to do it. It was up to him now to lead Toman against Tenjuku as both their commander and vice-commander are currently out of commission. Takamichi had talked with Hana and Emma before leaving. He now had a new motive to keep fight on as this battle wasn’t just for Toman:

This fight is for you too.

—————————————————————————

After rallying any of the remaining Toman members, Takamichi faces off against Tenjuku that night. 

Fuck, it was hard.

Not only being outnumbered by many, but they were down their strongest members. With Mitsuya and Smiley injured and Mikey and Draken not showing up, it seemed like the fight was already decided. But with Takamichi leading, Toman still kept on fighting, being powered by his dauntless spirit. Angry unlocked his sleeping blue orge powers and knocked down three of Tenjuku’s executives with two of them being the Hataini Brothers. Yet they still had one challenge to face.

Izana Kurokawa, the leader of Tenjuku himself.

Like any last boss fight, he was strong. He knocked down all of Toman’s best members, and he seemed unstoppable. Takamichi was getting absolutely rocked by Kakucho. Blood sept out of his mouth and nose, he was hurting all over and knew he had some broken bones, but he didn’t care. Chifuyuu tried to convince him that Toman would never win this fight, they are outnumbered and too injured to carry on. But Takamichi didn’t care about that. His conviction shone brighter than ever that night. His determination, his tenacity, was unwavering when Kisaki aimed his gun point blank at Takamichi’s face. He knew if Toman loses tonight, Tenjuku and Kisaki would win. He would never give it to them no matter what because he was so close to fixing the timeline, he would be able to save everyone. He is not letting that chance slip through, not when he can do it right now.

In the face of Kisaki aiming straight at his forehead, Takamichi wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t afraid of him, nor of Tenjuku, nor of anyone. He wasn’t afraid of you dying anymore because you wouldn’t die on him, die on your friends when they needed you.

That you wouldn’t die on Mikey because you knew he would be lost and devastated without you.

You may not be a leader or one of their strongest, but you were still a part of Toman for a reason. You were a fighter. Fighting for those who can’t fight for themselves, fighting to protect and save your friends, to keep on fighting with such conviction for your family, the Toman gang. Takamichi fully understands why you did what you did and it helped him be fearless against Tenjuku. Provoking and taunting Kisaki in every way he can, even with the gunshot wound to his foot. Takamichi smirked at Kisaki seeing him lose his composure and stood toe to toe with him. In that moment, Toman was fueled by his determination and ignited the spirit of Toman once more. Kisaki trying to save his pride looked down upon Toman for their stupid antics, thinking he’s still on top as the kingpin of everything. That only for Takamichi to give him a well-deserved punch right across his face.

Then Takamichi suddenly stood proudly with his fist up in the air, claiming that he would never give up. Everyone was confused until they followed Takamichi’s line of sight and saw Mikey. Not only that, Draken arrived too with Hina and Emma right behind him. Everyone was beyond shock, Toman for seeing their leaders and Tenjuku seeing Emma alive. They thought Kisaki killed Emma but they guessed wrong since she was standing with them alive and well. It was only then Kisaki realized his mistake, he got you instead of her. Now he knows why Toman is a pain in his side and won’t stay down.

Hina explained to Takamichi that she had to tell them about his time-leaping ability. His mission for a future where all of them lived. How she will die in twelve years time and Takamichi is doing everything he can to save her and everyone else. What she was saying sounded straight out of a movie but it was all true when his desperation and determination was right in front of them. That it was your choice to save Emma from an early death because you knew how much she meant to Draken and Mikey. You wanted to help Takamichi achieve a future where everyone is alive and okay because you loved them so much. 

After Hina told them, Mikey snapped out of his hollow state and walked to where your room was. As the nurse was checking your vitals, she saw him walking towards your window and called him over. Since your condition stabilized, one guest is allowed to see you in your room. As the nurse opened the door for him, Mikey quietly strides to your bedside and stares at you. It may not be an appropriate time but Mikey always thought you looked so beautiful and enthralling no matter what was going on. He just stares a bit more before bending over and placing a small kiss on your forehead.

‘(Y/N), I have to go help Takamichi out. Please wait for me until I help them win. Hold on just a little longer for me.’

He squeezes your hand gently but reassuringly. It was mostly for him to know that you would make it out and wake up for them. As he leaves your room and goes back to Draken, he didn’t see the slight twitch your hand gave when he let go.

Now here he is, with Draken and Toman to aid them in their fight against Tenjuku. Mikey shouldn’t be here but he knew that you would have wanted him here to help Toman then staying with you. As Izana and Mikey battle it out, Takamichi could only watch as they were evenly matched. But as the fight kept going on, Izana started to falter and grew weaker. Mikey was beating him and Izana was slowly losing his mind because of it. In a moment of desperation, Izana snatched Kisaki’s gun and pointed it straight at him. Just like Takamichi, Mikey provoked Izana to shoot him only for Kakucho to smack the gun out of his hand. They argued until a shot was fired and Izana’s face splattered with a bit of blood.

Kisaki had shot Kakucho.

Kisaki was getting annoyed that his master plan was crumbling apart like a sand castle. If he couldn’t use Mikey then he would use Izana. In a fit of rage, Kakucho charges right at Kisaki. Kisaki shot again, this time hitting Izana. But when he tried pulling the trigger again, the gun was jammed and couldn’t fire another shot. Since the gun was useless, Kisaki fell to the ground from the adrenaline rush. The chaos continued to thrive as Tenjuku’s king and his servant laid on the ground, bleeding out. Mucho shouted for an ambulance as everyone remained stunned at what had happened. As the cops and ambulance were coming, everyone was pulling out except for Tenjuku’s executives. As Mikey stares deadly at Kisaki, he looks down at him with such disappointment and disgust for causing all of this… for putting in the hospital.

Before he and Takamichi could approach the bastard, Hanma grabbed Kisaki on his motorcycle and sped off. Takamichi hitches a ride with Draken while Mikey stays with the girls. After crashing, Kisaki was being chased by a determined Takamichi. After duking it out, Kisaki points his gun again at Takamichi. The manipulator was starting to cry out of frustration as Takamichi hit him on the money for why he kept killing Hina in the future. But as always, Takamichi had the upper hand and was able to get Kisaki’s gun and point right back at him. He was so tempted to shoot if it weren’t for Mikey and Hina.

Kisaki used this little distraction to get away but Takamichi was hot on his tail.

“My plan would have been perfect if it wasn't (Y/N) and her virtue signaling! She had what was coming to her instead of letting Emma take the hit! I could have had it all!”

He continues to spout nonsense until he stops in the middle of the crosswalk. He turned back at Takamichi and told him that he was leading him on this whole time; he wasn’t a time leaper.

As Takamichi revels in this new found information, Kisaki gives his shit-eating grin to him before getting slammed by a delivery truck. In a blink of an eye, Kisaki was fatally mangled as he was trying to get back up but his legs were twisted backwards and kneecaps out of place. 

In a flash, Kisaki was dead and that was the end of the battle with Tenjuku. There was only one casualty and that was Kisaki Tetta.

—————————————————————————

It had been two days since you were placed into a coma. Takamichi and everyone came to visit you to see how you were doing. Though you weren’t in any danger, you had not shown any progress of consciousness. While it worried the others, Takamichi and Mikey never lost hope that they would wake up again and come back.

And they were right.

On the third day, Hina and Emma were going to visit you when they were told you were placed in a different room outside of the ICU. Quickly, they made their way to your new room where they found you wide awake. Sipping a capri-sun as you sat up on the bed, turning your head to smile at the teary eyed girls. Emma ran over to you and hugged you tightly, still trying to be careful of your injuries, while Hina grabbed her phone to tell Takamichi the news. Their tears were soon joyed by everyone else as they made their way to the hospital. As Mikey, Takamichi, and Draken practically spirited to your room. As they slid the door open, they were greeted by a crying Emma that was being comforted by you as Hina stands on the other side of your bed talking to you. You didn’t notice them until Mikey whispered out your name, turning your head to smile at them while still holding Emma.

Draken and Takamichi had tears in their eyes. For Draken, you survived and are up back again. For Takamichi, it means that he didn’t fuck it this time. That he was able to save you, Emma, Draken, and Izana from a bleak future. That he finally accomplished what he sought out to do in the very beginning. The closest timeline for Takamichi to give everyone a happy ending. 

He finally did it.

As Hina ushered Emma, Draken, and Takamichi out of the room, it was now just you and Mikey. You can tell he was tired, probably losing sleep on wondering if your condition would get better. As you held out your arms to him, he made haste and hugged you tightly. It was Mikey’s turn to cry as he held you for the first time in three days. His face was buried in your head as his hand held it close to him while his other arm held your upper back. You were rubbing his back and hair softly so he could bask in the reality that you were okay. 

“I was… so scared that I was going to lose you, (Y/N)... That you were going to end up like Shin-ni and Baji…”

“Oh Mikey…”

“ *holds you tighter* I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to protect you… I was supposed to be there with you… I just… Couldn’t imagine my life if you were gone…”

You soften at how vulnerable Mikey was becoming. But you didn’t know the depth of seriousness he had for you until now.

“Well, I’m alive and awake, Mikey. I’m here with you, I’m going anywhere without.”

Mikey sighs, kissing your forehead before placing his on yours with his eyes closed.

“I’m serious about you, princess. I want to be with you forever, I want to have a future with you. A future for us… I need you, (Y/N)... I love you…”

“Oh, I love you too, Majiro-kun… I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

With that, you two sealed the promise with a gentle but loving kiss. You love Mikey and he loves you as well. As you pull away, you hug him again before asking him to let Takamichi talk to you. He goes to get him, not before placing a kiss on your cheek. Takamichi enters the room and you grin ear to ear seeing him as he is happy to see you awake.

“Come on, Takamitchy. You can relax for a bit! You saved everyone!”

“Yeah, but you gave me a heart attack, (Y/N)!! I get why you did what you did but it still doesn’t help that I was constantly thinking about how you were doing!”

“Oh, Takamitchy. I thought I told you to have faith in me! I’m not going down so easily like that! Trust!”

“(Y/N)...”

You drop the peppy and light act and shift towards a solemn one.

“So I heard Kisaki is dead…”

Takamichi nods to confirm your question.

“How did he die? Did you kill him, Takamitchy?”

“I… I actually didn’t…”

You straightened up your posture and stared at him in surprise.

“You didn’t?! Then how—”

“He was struck by a truck at a crosswalk. He died not too long after…”

“Hmmm, I see. At least you didn’t have to get your hands dirty, Takamitchy. I couldn’t imagine you going to jail for his death. I guess even God wanted him dead too so he decided to add some divine intervention into our mix and give us a boost.” You chuckled at the last part. It was a little humorous that Kisaki didn’t die at the hands of either Takamichi or Mikey.  But rather, he died due to being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe God was tired of Kisaki’s shit and decided to help Takamichi out. Who knows? 

But what matters is you’re alive, Takamichi is alive, everyone is alive. You were able to help him save everyone and now everyone can have a future to look forward to.

“I guess your work is done here then. So are you going back to the future after this visit?”

“Most likely…”

“I understand… Thank you for all your hard work, Takamichi… I appreciate all you have done and look forward to this new future that you have set…”

“Yeah… We’ll see (Y/N)...”

As you and Takamichi hug it out and high five each other, you tell him to bring the rest inside to join you two. Draken was salty that he didn’t get a personal moment like the rest did but you told him it will happen soon enough. After visiting you, Takamichi went back to the future that night. As he shook Naoto’s hand one last time, he firmly believed that he created a better future and timeline this time. 

And he was more than correct.

In this timeline, he is getting married to Hina. Draken and Emma are married and already have a baby. You and Mikey already had your wedding and were planning your next decisions for your two’s future. As Takamichi saw how happy and bright Mikey was towards you, he knew he finally stopped the cycle. With everyone alive, he could be happy and rest with the fact that he achieved the future he wanted. Hina is alive, Draken is alive, Emma is alive, and you and Mikey are alive too. Though he wished he could save Baji and Shinichiro, this still was a good outcome from what happened.

Against all odds, Takamichi was able to accomplish his goal in saving Hina and his friends. Though it may not be perfect, it was enough that his sacrifices weren’t in vain as everyone was alive and happy. All thanks to your help and his efforts. 

Now he can fully rest and live in this future as everything is going to be okay from now on.

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

(A/N: I probably edit this later this week because I still don't know how to make good endings for my fics, lol. Sorry again if this was too long to read!)

Thank you for reading!

#x reader #fem reader #reader insert #tokyo revengers #tokyo rev x reader #tokyo revenger x reader #tokyo rev x y/n #tokyo rev x you #mikey x reader #mikey x fem!reader #sano manjiro x reader #tokyo revengers sano manjiro #tokyo revengers spoilers #ken ryuguji #draken #manjiro sano #hanagaki takemichi

[girl-next-door-writes]

I Wanna Be Your Man

Characters: Steve Harrington x reader

Summary:  Amidst playful banter at a High School basketball game, Steve might just find his feelings for you aren’t as unrequited as he believed.

Word Count: 1066 word

Prompt: Sports Game. Wearing their hoodie. Seeing them with kids/baby. “Don’t You Dare.”

A/N: This is the final part of my Build-A-Festive-Fics and this one is a little birthday gift to myself. Thank you to all of you who have sent in prompts and to all who have read my ramblings. I hope you all have a very happy festive period.

**************************************************************

The final game of the year, the high school gymnasium buzzed with infectious holiday spirit as a throng of enthusiastic attendees filled the space. The gymnasium, adorned with twinkling lights and tinsel, emitted a warm glow that added a touch of magic to the atmosphere that heightened the anticipation in the air.

The bleachers were filled with excited spectators, donned in a kaleidoscope of red and green attire, while Santa hats and jingling bells added a playful touch to the crowd. The cheerleading squad energetically led the crowd in spirited cheers, their voices harmonizing with the gentle beats of holiday tunes playing softly in the background. The polished hardwood court shimmered under the brilliant glow of the arena lights, setting the stage for an exhilarating showdown. As both home and away players mentally prepared for the game, even the basketball itself seemed to radiate with a hint of festive enchantment, enhancing the overall sense of excitement and celebration in the gymnasium.

Your gaze swept across the lively crowd, and a gentle smile played on your lips as you identified your friends amidst the sea of faces. Ascending the steps toward them, the familiar sound of good-natured bickering reached your ears, a customary occurrence at these events. The intricate dance of negotiations to secure preferred seating arrangements unfolded before you, a complex strategy that often bordered on chaos, presided over by Steve Harrington. Even Dustin passionately defending his stance on avoiding the end of a row, did not diminish the buoyancy of your mood.

"For the last time, just plant yourself in a seat," Steve huffed, his patience wearing thin as he attempted to corral five spirited teenagers.

"I'll take the end, no big deal. You know I'm not picky about where I sit," you grinned, your arrival causing Steve's frustrated expression to morph into a charming smile.

"Absolutely not. I don't want you getting stuck on the steps when these goofballs start shoving each other," he yielded, stepping aside to let you claim the seat next to the end before finally settling down beside you.

"Hey there, hope these troublemakers haven't been giving you too much grief," you chuckled, playfully nudging your shoulder against his in the snug space.

"Nothing I can't handle."

"Of course not, you're the best babysitter in Hawkins," you teased, prompting an eye roll from Steve.

"Hey, look! It's Lucas!" Max blurted out, enthusiastically pointing to her boyfriend on the court and waving with gusto.

The game started and you were caught up in the electrifying energy of the court. Meanwhile, Steve found himself captivated by you, pleasantly distracted by your presence. His gaze couldn't help but gravitate toward you, a tender, goofy smile dancing on his lips. His feelings for you had been simmering for quite some time, yet the shift from friendship to something more eluded him.

Lucas nailed a three-pointer, prompting the Hawkins High crowd to erupt into cheers, and everyone leapt to their feet in excitement. "That was an insane shot!" you exclaimed, turning to Steve, who had seemingly missed the spectacular basket, his attention wholly fixated on you.

"The kid's good," he acknowledged with a nod, making a deliberate effort to redirect his gaze towards the court.

The game raced on at a frantic pace, maintaining its intensity, and Hawkins High found themselves with a narrow lead as the halftime approached. As soon as the whistle blew, Dustin hurried off to the bathroom, while Mike and Will made a beeline for refreshments, leaving Elle and Max engrossed in animated conversation about Lucas's stellar performance.

As you and Steve rose to allow the others to pass, he observed you shivering. Despite the gymnasium's warmth, you had shed your thick winter coat and sat there in just a thin t-shirt.

"Here," he said softly, swiftly removing his hoodie and extending it toward you as the two of you settled back into your seats.

"Thanks. I thought I'd be okay, but there's a draft in here or something."

"Don't worry about it. I was getting hot anyway."

"Yeah, you were," you teased, injecting a hint of flirtation into your words. His cheeks warmed as he observed you slipping into his hoodie, the sight of you wearing his clothes sending his heart into a rapid rhythm.

He didn't get a chance to respond, though, as a small kid, no more than six years old, stumbled on the steps beside him, accidentally spilling his drink, which ended up partly on Steve and mostly on the floor.

"Shit." Steve sprang to his feet, the cold soda seeping into his jeans. Instead of immediately attending to his own predicament, he bent down to check on the kid. "You okay, buddy? No injuries? We can fix a spilled drink."

Observing this interaction and then witnessing Steve help the boy back to his parents stirred a warm feeling within you. His kindness shone through, and while other guys his age might have grumbled at the inconvenience, he made sure the child was okay.

"How are you single?" you asked playfully, handing him some tissues from your coat pocket as he returned to his seat.

"I guess I'm just not good at the whole 'dating' thing," he shrugged bashfully.

"I'm not buying that. I swear I saw at least three girls swoon when you took care of that kid."

"You did? Which ones? I should go talk to them," he grinned, showing no intention of leaving your side.

"Don't you dare," you chuckled, narrowing your eyes at him in mock warning.

Whatever he was about to say in response was lost as Dustin, Will, and Mike returned, prompting the two of you to once again rise to your feet to let them pass. Determined not to lose the connection that had been building between you, Steve smoothly slipped his arm around your waist, drawing you into his side. He purposefully avoided meeting your gaze, focusing on the game as it started up again. As he felt you subtly lean into him, it became clear that you weren't upset with his spontaneous move, causing his heart to race with a mix of nervous excitement and contentment.

Years from now, Steve couldn't recall the exact score of the game, but he certainly remembered every detail about you. It was a day etched in his memory, marking the moment he decided to seize the opportunity and finally ask you out.

#Steve Harrington #Steve Harrington x reader #build a festive fic #gndw fic

[smudged-red-ink]

Okay but an Artful Dodger Season 2 would actually be so good. I'm not just saying that because I'm obsessed--there's actually so much good plot stuff here to work with.

Season 1 was pretty good, but had its flaws. Here's how Season 2 can be perfect:

Fagin and Jack's reputations are ruined so they have to run away to sea before the gaines' replacement hangs Jack. Jack can relive his navy surgeon days and re-meet up with the original captain who saw his potential. Then Fagin and the navy officer can have a father v. father square up that represents Jack's ongoing internal moral dilema of criminal verses gentleman.

Jack gets to improvise surgeries on the go, all the while missing how Belle helped him prepare.

Back home, Belle is running the hospital on her own, complete with the woman's ward she invisioned in the first season. Her first scene is identical to Jack's introduction, where she opperates on a patient in front of an enthusiastic crowd. BUT then a patient actually dies, and she has to learn that it's not about the glory, it's about caring for the person. She's exploring the theme that Jack brought up in S1 about the consequences of playing God. (i wanted more development for Belle. She came off just a touch sheltered rich girl, and this responsibility could really break her out of it.)

Also, Fanny is finally falling in love with someone legit, and Belle is watching. And remembering.

Jack and Fagin get to back to London where everyone's favorite piece of wet lettuce is waiting. Oliver's out to get them hanged, and they have to find out how to discredit him. They get the rest of Fagin's grown up gang back together to take him down. Jack gets some great bonding moments with his old buddies.

Simultaniously, Jack has to pose in high london society to get to Oliver. No one trusts him as a doctor bc he can't read, but he gradudually shows them how brilliant he is by saving important people's lives.

Okay and then somewhere along the line either the fight between Oliver and Jack is moved back to the colony or Belle comes to London (maybe to learn some more surgery or something? idk). The point is that they have a dramatic getting back together. There's a great showdown with Oliver at the end in which Jack chooses the high road for good. But also Oliver gets discredited and robbed.

These plot lines are spaced appropriately and cleaned up all pretty. And of course there's a lot of Fagin/Dodge and Belle/Dodge banter, medical emergencies, possible sword fighting, and bloodstained sleeves.

#the artful dodger #cinematic ramblings #jack dawkins #fagin #lady belle fox #smudged red ink

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 1, Poll 9

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave here.

Ayda Aquefort-Dimension 20’s Fantasy High

Qualifications:

Autistic queer women/phoenix💜💜

She is Sapphic and canonically on the autism spectrum.

Propaganda:

She's an awesome autistic head-librarian who also happens to be the girlfriend of one Fig Faeth (pc of Emily Axford). She's cute, super-powerful, and her dynamic with Fig is one of the best romantic storylines I know💜💜

Ayda Aguefort (pronounced EYE-da) a half-phoenix divination wizard and head librarian of the Compass Points Library in Leviathan, a vast pirate city in the Celestine Sea, made up of thousands of shipwrecks all connected together to create a floating island. She is described as a resplendent and beautiful young woman, with a striking resemblance to her deadbeat father/legendary wizard Arthur Aguefort. From the knees down she has large, almost metallic golden talons, with digitigrade ankles. Her wings are deep red, turning orange, and as they reach yellow at the ends, flicker with little flames. She is noticeably not a harpy as she has has arms as well as wings. Her arms are tattooed with many orange runes on her dark human skin. Her eyes are pupils set into roiling balls of flame. She has a short shock of fiery red hair at the top of her head. She wears white linen pants with a pirate sash, a vest, and a bandolier which holds two scrolls. She also has two small books strapped under each arm where one might have guns. Ayda has experienced multiple reincarnations due to her abilities as a half-phoenix. She has lived in Leviathan for around 150 years, but is over 300 years old. In one of Ayda's previous reincarnations, she adopted Garthy O'Brien as her child. Her current reincarnation is seventeen, with Garthy now as her guardian. Her past reincarnations have left notes for her future selves to follow, as once she's reborn, she has no memories of her past lives. She previously believed herself to be only 175 years old, and has no idea what she did for the first 125 years of her life, as one of her incarnations destroyed all her notes in an attempt to start fresh. She regretted this decades later and began writing notes again. Ayda is autistic and can be very hard to read as she often behaves in a very transactional way and uses blunt language. Her eyes being balls of fire doesn't help. She's a very intelligent and accomplished wizard, and takes pride in her work at the library, although gets lonely sometimes and is desperate for a friend. She is always looking to expand the library with new knowledge, and asks a lot of questions. Before meeting the Bad Kids, she was very lonely, and is now very excited to have so many transitive best friends, as well as a super awesome/badass punk-rock tiefling bard girlfriend.

Erik-The Tea Dragon Society

Qualifications:

He uses a wheelchair and is queer

Propaganda:

He’s neat, he’s more of a side character but the middle book centers around him more, when he was younger he fought various monsters with his partner (I think its been a while since I’ve read this), now he runs a tea house with his partner Hesekiel. It’s just a really sweet book series in general and the art is so pretty.

#polls #poll #disabled characters #lgbtq characters #disability #lgbtq #lgbtq dcs round 1 #lgbtq dcs wave 1 #ayda aguefort #dimension 20 #dimension 20 fantasy high #erik #the tea dragon society

[just-some-guy-joust]

*the lights flick on to reveal me discarding my lovecore getup*

Welcome to the Deep Sea Fish tournament!

(don't know why you're seeing this on your dash? If you followed lovecore-swag-showdown, surprise! that's me!)

Do YOU love a fish or other creature that lives way down deep in the ocean? Then BOY do I have a COMPETITION for you!

RULES:

Deep sea fish only! For example, you can't submit like. A goldfish. However, they don't have to be a FISH, they can be any deep sea creature

High preference for fucked up freaks that nobody knows about!

HOWEVER. You do not need to worry about submitting a more popular creature! The goal here is not to only get unique nominations. This nomination period exists to judge how popular a creature is. By submitting more popular creatures, you are still helping. Leave the organization and filtering to me, thank you

Multiple submissions are allowed, just don't submit the exact same thing over and over to rig the nomination period

Feel free to send me pictures of the fish you submitted I want to see them

(On that note, I'm sorry but I will not be tagging any scary looking fish. I WILL tag fish pictures as "fish pictures" but I refuse to tag any of them with like, horror or unsettling or whatever. I love those horrific looking guys and that's what this blog is about now)

Nominate a fish here!

Nominations are closed!

#tumblr showdown #tournament #deep sea fish #tumblr competition #nominations link #hi guys! #fish c: #deep sea fish tourney

[thunderbirds-showdown]

Round 1 is over and what a turn out it was! Across 39 polls we had a total of 2,367 votes! I loved reading all of your comments and seeing how involved everyone got. Hopefully we can keep this enthusiasm going until the end of the showdown!

Round 2 will begin later today, so keep your eyes peeled for when the polls are posted!

Now, onto the bit where we say goodbye to our first bunch of eliminated episodes. They put up a good fight, and some of these are surprising to see go so soon! But only one must remain in the end!

The episodes that have been eliminated this round are:

1x03: Space Race

1x04: Crosscut

1x12: Under Pressure

1x19: Extraction

1x20: The Hexpert

1x22: Designated Driver

1x24: Touch and Go

1x25: Undercover

2x01: Earthbreaker

2x03: Deep Search

2x04: City Under the Sea

2x07: Up from the Depths - Part 2

2x08: Lost Kingdom

2x09: Impact

2x10: High Strung

2x11: Weather or Not

2x12: Fight or Flight

2x13: Escape Proof

2x14: Volcano!

2x15: Power Play

2x16: Bolt from the Blue

2x18: Grandma Tourismo

2x21: Inferno

2x24: Rigged for Disaster

2x26: Brains vs. Brawn

3x01: Chaos - Part 1

3x02: Chaos - Part 2

3x03: Path of Destruction

3x04: Night and Day

3x05: Growing Pains

3x07: Rally Raid

3x11: Endgame

3x15: Signals - Part 2

3x16: Chain Reaction

3x17: Getaway

3x19: Upside Down

3x21: Break Out

3x22: Buried Treasure

3x25: The Long Reach - Part 1

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds #thunderfam #tumblr polls #polls showdown #tournament poll #tumblr showdown

[jiubilant]

cw: brief blood mention, horror elements

By the time Colette Marence circles back to his lightless, airless room, the new Archmage of Winterhold has ransacked it.

“Ah,” he rasps with brittle brightness. “Good. Help me with this.”

He’s levering the chest of drawers in the corner—which could very well crush him, thinks a staring Colette, if it wobbles the wrong way—away from the wall with that stupid staff. He’s already upended the bed. It lays in the middle of the room like an overturned beetle, legs in the air; in the bedclothes, trampled and kicked across Colette’s fine, clean floor, sits the flask still filled with his sleeping-draught.

Her colleagues can accuse the man, Colette thinks with exhausted indignation, of spinning a spider’s tale: ghosts, a magic mask, a showdown with the witch-king of buried Bromjunaar. They can accuse him of scheming with Psijics, with Falion and poor Mirabelle, with the Dominion diplomat they’ve dumped into the sea.

But of lacking industry, never.

“Mother’s mercy,” she says with venom, and snaps the door shut behind her. She seldom has the patience to deal with this man, much less this man as a patient—and she has other wounded to tend, and has all night, and will all day tomorrow. “What in the world do you think you’re—”

The Archmage silences her with a sharp wave of the hand. Urag had donated an old tent of a bathrobe, too big, to the cause of clothing him in something clean; dressed in that and bandages, his face haloed all about with filthy hair, the man looks like Galerion’s ghost.

“How does one kill”—he plants his good foot against the wall and, with a rigid smile, heaves his makeshift lever like an oar—“what’s already dead?”

He’s been cracking strained jokes since they peeled him, a few hours ago, from the Hall of the Elements’ floor. Some people are like that when they’ve had a shock, Colette reminds herself, and Ancano had probably given him several.

“I don’t know,” she says virtuously. “How?”

“You don’t know?” The Archmage looks at her over his shoulder, surprised. “You’re Mistress of Restoration—”

The chest of drawers crashes to the floor like a calving glacier. Colette’s hand flies to her mouth. In the incredible silence that follows, the Archmage stands immobile, ears pricked and listening, his face as full of shadows as the corner of the room now bared to air.

“Suppose it rode in on my cloak,” he says, and laughs: a high, quivery laugh, all wrong. “All the way from Bromjunaar. Clingy. Buy a man a drink, first—a little light, please, dear heart.”

He’s talking, Colette realizes with terrible pity, to the staff. He cups it as if shielding a flame. An infant star sizzles to life at its tip, cradled in his palm—then shivers, exhausted, and sputters out.

“That’s all right,” the Archmage murmurs, as if to a child. “You’ve done plenty.”

He props the old butter-churner on the doorjamb and, for reasons unfathomable, picks up one of his boots instead. That does it.

“They’ve put such blather in your head,” Colette snaps, as though it’s his fault. She strides to him and snatches his elbow, steering him back to the storm-tossed bed; at a glare from her, it rights itself and skids sheepishly back against the wall. “Archmage just because you fetched that stick. Well, when I was a girl, I had a terrier—”

The Archmage trails after her, obliging as a terrier himself, though he keeps twisting around. He stares with dreadful resolve at the darkest corner of the room, behind the splintered chest. “Lettie, hush a moment—”

“Sit,” Colette jabs back, ignoring him, “so I can see to your side”—which he’s reopened with his redecorating, she thinks, scowling at the rusty stain spreading across his bandages—“and tell the truth, while I’m at it, about where you’ve been all this—”

The Archmage reaches for her arm. Then he hesitates, thinking, no doubt, what she is thinking: whatever’s caked under his fingernails should not encounter her sleeve.

“Lettie,” he says, his face terrible and calm. Ever his own tyrant, Colette thinks. Only the tremor in his hand, hovering over her wrist like a suspended spider, gives him away. “Aren’t we friends?”

He’s come back a stranger, this man Colette’s quarreled with all year. The skin of his face is stretched taut over the bones like leather on a scraping-horn—and there are new lines in it, tormented and deep, as if the scraper had been careless with the knife. Colette can almost believe that he’d seen spirits, stepped through time, stolen that stupid stick from a king beneath the earth.

“I suppose,” she says, hoarse, blinking. She hadn’t known it before. But a healer anticipates sudden complications; she clears her throat and rallies, the needle of her voice rising to prick. “Yes. And I’m telling you, Ravila, as your—”

The Archmage’s hand settles, with gentle desperation, on her wrist.

“Be my friend, Lettie,” he says, leaning close enough for her to count the bruises on his throat. She hadn’t noticed them before. “Be”—his eyes skitter around the room, and he swallows—“quiet.”

Colette Marence opens her mouth.

Then she closes it.

Then, in the darkness and the silence, something scrapes.

The Archmage’s hand tightens on Colette’s wrist. She holds her breath and listens. In the perfect silence of their vigil, something in the room moves again: scraping, scuttling, scratching in the corner by the chest of drawers.

A rat, Colette thinks, and takes a breath to berate him. All that for a rat.

Then she sees the look on the Archmage’s face, constricted and close to sickness, and something pricks at her chest. She gives him a meaningful look. He stares at her for a moment, struggling with an uncomprehending smile—then the smile jumps once, twice, like a thread being tugged. He nods tightly. Like reflections of each other, they stalk in predatory synchrony to opposite sides of the fallen chest—

—and Colette, with all the pent-up force of five weeks of disaster, gives her side a tremendous kick.

The thing behind the chest bursts out, scrabbling away from Colette’s foot. The Archmage, with a bark of strangled triumph, pounces with the boot: thunk, thunk. Thunk. Thunk—

“It’s dead,” says Colette, alarmed, and circles the chest to catch his arm. “Ravi, it’s—land’s sakes, Ravi, it’s dead.”

The Archmage, his face a rictus, clears his throat as if trying to dislodge a laugh. He coughs on it, instead. “Let it know, and I will be obliged.”

In the darkness, the thing that had been hiding behind the chest looks like a lump of shadow. It has too many legs to be a rat. Colette bends, with a mixture of revulsion and real worry, to inspect the corpse. “I thought you liked spiders—”

She stares. Smashed at their feet lays the crushed carcass of a hand, severed at the wrist, its skin sloughing from the bones like burnt leather.

#skyrim #college of winterhold #microfic #colette marence #oc tag #ravi

[bestgullpoll]

Best Gull Poll: FINAL MATCHUP!

It's time for the final showdown! Who will take home the title of Best Gull?

[Image ID: Two pictures of gulls. The left is a lava gull walking along a concrete ledge. The right is a Ross's gull standing among small rocks by the shore. /End ID]

The lava gull (Leucophaeus fuliginosus) is the rarest gull in the world. They are found only on the Galápagos Islands, predominantly the Santa Cruz, Isabela, San Cristobal, and Genovesa islands, with an estimated population of 300-600 individuals. They typically measure 51-55 cm (20-22 in) in length. Unlike other hooded gulls, their sooty brown-to-black head does not vary by season. They have red eyelids and white eye crescents. Their body is dark grey with paler grey underparts, their bill and legs are black, and their wings are dark grey with a white leading edge. On Genovesa they exploit the kleptoparasitic behavior of the magnificent frigatebird, capitalizing on botched attempts by the frigatebirds to steal fish from other seabirds. Unlike most gulls which nest close together, they are solitary nesters. They are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.

The Ross's gull (Rhodostethia rosea) is a small gull found in the high Arctic of northern North America, northeastern Siberia, and the Bering Sea. They typically measure 29-31 cm (11-12 in) in length and 90-100 cm (35-39 in) in length. They have a white head, black neck ring, white underparts with a pink flush, light grey upperparts and wings, red legs, and small black bill. They have a distinctive wedge-shaped white tail. They feed on small fish, crustaceans, and insects. They also eat biofilm, the mixture of plankton, microbes, and detritus that washes up on beaches and intertidal areas.

lava gull image by budgora

Ross's gull image by Tony Beck

#bestgullpoll #polls #tumblr tournament #birds #birdblr #lava gull #ross's gull

[cerastes]

“Deirdre’s a bit hard to comprehend if you don’t know her. For example, If she tells you something to the effect of ‘I’ll make your blood flow’, that’s good news.”

“...How is it good news that one of the top ranked state-sponsored Gladiators just said she’ll make your blood flow?”

“It’s because she means your literal blood flow, your circulation. Dee wishes to be a master masseur one day. She’s gonna give you a massage, and to be honest? She’s pretty damn good at those. Now, on the other hand, if she promises you ‘plentiful rest’--”

“Oh, that’s when she’s going to disembowel you?”

“That’s when she’s going to disembowel you.”

-- A conversation between a certain visiting Archbishop and a new intern, regarding Deirdre.

Deirdre “Caerbannog” Gutraidh, drawn by the talented Yoko (@Yoko_Yukine04). As a state-sponsored Gladiator, her ring name is “Caerbannog”, but outside the arena, when not fully kitted out in that tough, identity obscuring armor and helmet, she’s just Deirdre Gutraidh, aspiring masseur (or massage artist), usually seen dressed as a janitor around the Holy Gladiatorial Grounds doing this and that, as part of her mandated disguise. It is only during nighttime, when the sea of neon drowns out the stars and the bustling night crowd keeps the blood of commerce and high-stakes leisure pumping in the entertainment districts that Deirdre is allowed some much needed me-time, usually hitting a quiet little bar on the outskirts and drinking the night away while chatting with drinking buddies of hers, a most stalwart group comprised of other bar regulars, or sometimes, if schedules align, her only close friend, a certain Archbishop (who takes proper precautions to not be recognized in the wild in a dinky little bar, of course).

This whole “life” thing would be pretty easy if she didn’t think about it too much: Fight whoever she’s told to fight, make sure to read the fine print that sometimes says “kill him, make it look accidental, we’ll handle the media as usual” or “drop the fight 6 minutes in, make her look good”, and then do as she’s told. It’d be oh so easy to just follow the instructions that her boss and adoptive father, owner of the state-sponsored “Sun Eater Gladiator Club”, lays out for her. Sometimes, someone the state doesn’t like is being a bit too successful, and the brass on top of nation calls in a favor with an attached paycheck to the old goat, and he’d be remiss to deny his old buddies in the Cathedral of the Firmament their satisfaction, so sometimes, someone’s gotta go, and likewise, sometimes the Cathedral goons have put a lot of money behind a certain someone and want to make them big, so chop chop, get making them look good, old goat, and old goat always says yes. What’s a win or a loss, anyways, when no matter what, as long as you do as you’re told, you’ll always have a roof above your head and an easy, leisurely life ahead of you?

Well, if you ask Deirdre, that’s hell. 

The Kingdom of Stars, Attorhia, has many a legend, many a myth, a cultured seeped in folklore. For the school she was attending, it was just an end-of-the-year stage play, a sundry affair, a bothersome tradition, even, but for Deirdre, it became a lifelong inspiration and aspiration: The Pilgrimbreaker.

The story is a staple in Attorhia, about the famous folk hero, the eponymous Pilgrimbreaker, a knight from long ago that fought tirelessly against corruption, her climatic showdown against the entire Gashdyre Cult, her sworn enemies, being the stuff of legends: For 72 hours, she fought against the entirety of the Cult. The Cult congregated every single member it had and went after her at the same time. For anyone but the Pilgrimbreaker, this would’ve been a lynching... Oh, but they failed to realize that all they did was save her the trouble of finding them! 24 hours in, her greatsword dulled out. 48 hours in, she couldn’t feel her muscles. 72 hours in, her senses had given out and she was running on pure instinct, swinging the heavy, dull sword and never missing her mark. The story ends with the Pilgrimbreaker courageously declaring that so long as the selfish desires of the corrupt threatened the honest man and woman of Attorhia, she’d forever keep fighting. This is the story that Deirdre idolized. This is who, what, she wanted to be.

Ah, how mighty can folklore be, to shape the worldview of aspiring do-gooders and children around the world! But Attorhia is less a Kingdom and more a series of cogs nowadays, and the engine that keeps it grinding and turning is capital. Though Deirdre was excited to become a Gladiator in her adoptive father’s Club, as the Pilgrimbreaker herself was a Gladiator in the early verses of her story, she was convinced she’d be paving the way to a better tomorrow, that she’d be honoring the esteemed high officials of the Cathedral, that she’d uphold the values of knighthood and the greater good. The more she fought, the more she was given strange orders such as kill here and lose on purpose here, the more Deirdre came to realize that Gladiatorial Combat was just a stage for political power plays and a boiling pot of ad revenue: “Caerbannog scores yet another crushing victory! Did you know? It is said the mysterious fighter’s chains and hooks were supplied to her by Kizna Heavy Industries, the premier weapons and armor manufacturer! Kizna Heavy Industries, carving the way to an auspicious tomorrow! Check out our catalog at www.kiznaheavy...” This was something she was far too used to by now. And yet, part of her wanted to believe these were just her trials, all paving the way for a future in which she could inspire and protect others properly, a road paved one bloody brick at a time.

If only she knew that soon enough, something would happen that would shatter even that last bit of faith she held with bloodied, splintered fingers, and from the scattered shards, a river of blood would pour forth...

But that is a story for another day.

Deirdre’s magic is simple and straightforward: She can sharpen things. That’s it. It would be rather underwhelming if this wasn’t paired with her immense sheer brute strength and wild, berserker style of fighting. It’s not that she’s lacking in intellect, or that she doesn’t have proper training; retired Gladiator “Eclipse”, her adoptive father and boss, personally trained her in the art of fighting, even passing down his vaunted tridentfighting techniques to her. In fact, her first few matches as a Gladiator had her use a trident. But Deirdre cannot be bound by the desires of others, not even when fighting, thus she quickly put her custom-made trident back on the rack and made herself a pair of makeshift weapons: Composite stagsteel chained hooks. Stagsteel is almost exclusively used as a construction material, and makes for an unorthodox choice of material for a weapon, as it is far too heavy and far too hard, making swinging it difficult and sharpening it an incredibly expensive, time-consuming endeavor. Deirdre’s raw strength and ability to sharpen things, however, make it a perfect match for her. Going wild is just natural for her, and following her sharp instincts is just what’s best for her, she insists. Besides her chained hooks, Deirdre has a penchant for sharpening her fingers to lacerate foes with brutal swipes of her hands.

Her close bonds include a slightly strained relationship with her adoptive father, a close friendship with a certain Archbishop that likes to stick her nose where it doesn’t have any business sniffing around, and casual friendships with some drinking buds of hers, in particular a certain journalist. Of note, Deirdre’s made fast friends with two twins, a brother-sister pair of “League Gladiators” (think pro-wrestlers, their fights are a show instead of actual fights) with high aspirations, and it is from them that her interest in massaging was born. But that, too, is a story for another day.

Despite her wild fighting style, her demeanor is rather amiable, and is surprisingly passionate for things that catch her interest. She likes dressing in what others consider old fashioned clothing, for reasons unknown to anyone except Deirdre herself, and makes it a point to always be sharply dressed if she can help it. “it’s important to keep decorum,” Deirdre says in her immaculate dress, even though she’s just watching hydraulic press videos while slouching over the computer and eating Soritos on her day off.

When “another day” arrives, her story will be told.

#OC #commissions #deirdre caerbannog gutraidh #power word: bnuuy

[wholesome-lesbiab]

#Big fan of the big pirate media trio #Big fan of how they're all losers #One piece #monkey d. luffy #Ofmd #stede bonnet #pirates of the caribbean #Jack Sparrow #vanja.txt

[prima-donna-worm]

d20 battleset bracket masterpost!!

i looove the rick perry (and team) battle sets so so much and now that neverafter is over i want to see what peoples favorites are!

a couple notes

this is ONLY physical sets

(that means freshman year, tuc i, acoc, neverafter, eftbk, tiny heist, and coffin run + the mice and murder main set)

it’s a randomized bracket

first round will be half groups of 3 and half groups of 2 to make the numbers work out

if u skip the battle eps i think ur lame <3

links below the cut!

Round 1:

1. battle of the bloodrush brethren [fantasy high] vs chicanery at shoeby’s casino [tiny heist]

2. rumble road [fantasy high] vs loam hall [mice & murder]

3. havoc on the half-pipe [fantasy high] vs airship ambush [eftbk] vs times squaremageddon [tuc]

4. the tomb of ultimate evil [eftbk] vs chaos in the cathedral [acoc]

5. panic at the art show [tuc] vs grand tournament [acoc] vs the ending of all things [neverafter]

6. arcade ambush [fantasy high] vs feed the beast [coffin run]

7. subway skirmish [tuc] vs ambush on the sucrosi road [acoc] vs attack on the tracks [coffin run]

8. broadway brawl [tuc] vs terror on toy island [neverafter]

9. war of bugs and rats [tuc] vs breaking and entering [tiny heist] vs rescue at buzzybrook [acoc]

10. brawl at the black pit [fantasy high] vs waylaid by werewolves [coffin run]

11. prompacolypse [fantasy high] vs mutant santa melee [tuc] vs no place for a prince or princess [neverafter]

12. blood and bread/for candia! [acoc] vs the curdled web [neverafter]

13. clash of the corn cuties [fantasy high] vs volcano of violence [eftbk] vs in the land of giants [neverafter]

14. sisterly showdown [fantasy high] vs encounter in the ice cream temple [acoc]

15. scramble in the sewers [tuc] vs the great chase [tiny heist] vs deep bleu sea [acoc]

16. showdown at the stock exchange [tuc] vs the baron of bricks [neverafter]

Round 2:

1. TBD

2. TBD

3. TBD

4. TBD

5. TBD

6. TBD

7. TBD

8. TBD

Round 3:

1. TBD

2. TBD

3. TBD

4. TBD

Semi finals:

1. TBD

2. TBD

Finals:

* TBD

#d20 #dimension 20 #fantasy high #eftbk #tuc #tiny heist #acoc #mice and murder #coffin run #neverafter #d20 battleset bracket #polls

[thegoldendoorknob]

Oops did I say another list later I meant now

-

Beware The Forest Mushrooms

Museum of Agony

Spinner

Overdrive

Mondays

It's Pizza Time!

The Death That I Deservioli

Calzonification

Thousand March / Secret

Funiculi Holiday / Unexpectancy 2

Unexpectancy 3

Knights of The Holy Lance

Kashihara

Crawling Chaos

Mementos

Battle With A Dangerous Foe

Orxon

Kagome-Kagome

Faith is for The Transient People

Cemetary of Onbashira

Be of Good Cheer

Infinite Being

Waterfall

Quiet Water

Ghost Battle

Home

An Ending

Boggly Tree

Upkeeper

Time of Parting

Bloody Stream

Moonstruck Blossom

Rocketbelt

Hanglider

What The Forest Taught Me

Spirit of The Night

A Wish

A Bell Is Tolling

Old School Knuckles

Sky Sanctuary

Doomsday Zone

Stardust Speedway Bad Future

Windy Hill

Sonic vs Shadow

For True Story

Babylon Garden

Flame Core

Big Jaw

Undyne

Chaos King

Unfounded Revenge

Strong One

His Highness’ Theme

Marble Zone

Chemical Plant

White Jungle

White Acropolis

Not Safe

Flesh Maze Tango

Burned Bodies

O Rosto De Um Assassino

X-Naut Fortress

Smorgs

Smithy (Second Half)

Who’s There

Keroro OP1

Rigor Mortis Rag

Gloomy Galleon

Grunty Industries

Perplexing Pool

Subcon Forest

The Farthest Land

Cherry Blossom Color Season (Forever)

Seaskape

Doc Gerbil Boat Chase

Ukulele De Chocobo

Knights of The Sea

Let it go

I Don’t Care

Ringing Bell

Lost In Thoughts All Alone (Eng warning)

Still Cleveland

Skeleton Man

Ultimate Showdown

What a Wonderful World

Country Roads

Surface Pressure

Bring Me To Life

Bohemian Rhapsody

Marisa Stole The Precious Thing

#simon #garrett #gil #oc music #don't actually comb through all of these //hit

[ecoamerica]

Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared

The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!

#ACLA24 #ACLA24Leaders #youtube #youtube video #climate leaders #climate solutions #climate action #climate and environment #climate #climate change #climate and health #climate blog #climate justice #climate news #weather and climate #environmental news #environment #environmental awareness #environment and health #environmental #environmental issues #environmental justice #environment protection #environmental health #Youtube

[smokinsid]

Meet Gravewatcher Siobhan. Shiv, to her friends.

Shiv is a paranormal investigator and archaeologist, fascinated with the ancient origins of life on Tyria and the intricacies and interplay of the material world and the Mists. A fast friend to the Deldrimor and a committed Priory scholar, she got her "Dark Souls"-esque name from her habits- rather literally, she watches graves.

During the Risen incursions following Zhaitan's rise to power, she served the Pact in her own grim but highly necessary way- walking between fresh graves with lamp and censer, driving off corruption in the soil, diverting Zhaitan's influence away from fallen soldiers in times where the magic was too rampant to purify.

She remained with the Pact for some time following the showdown in Orr- when news of Zhaitan's fall reached Fort Trinity, she was already on a ship heading toward Siren's Landing for continued investigations.

It wasn't until long after the events that shook Maguuma- she thought it best to sit Mordremoth out, given her already-malleable state of mind- that she left her little patch of Orr to serve the world's best interests again.

The Thunderhead Peaks were calling.

Between Ogden Stonehealer's observations recorded at the Priory, the various ruins she'd explored, and the numerous conspiracy theories she'd entertained herself with while digging up Orr's beaches, she was ready to involve herself in history and get some answers.

Some distinguish themselves with acts of great valor or daring. Shiv rose through the ranks as if steadily walking, one at a time, at a pace she set- an explorer until it served better to be a magister, a magister until her studies called for the access afforded to Priory archons.

It was from this position of magical affluence that she investigated the Great Dwarf- and began to seek linkages between the Eternal Alchemy and rituals of collective consciousness. Her theory held that all things were conscious- and that by mapping that consciousness with techniques similar to those used by Omadd's machine, an individual could- in essence- get a message out to all creation.

More practical means won out- before long the soldiers were beating Kralkatorrik's crystallized blood into spears and swords, and that was a good deal more straightforward than trying to map his brain and then solve it like a Rubik's cube.

But somehow she knew she wasn't done playing with the Eternal Alchemy. Some might've taken Scarlet Briar's dangerous foibles as an object lesson in not playing with cosmology, but when Cantha opened up to the world, she was quick to hop a ship and race to Echovald Forest.

She had heard a thing or two about Wardens, and needed very much to prove a point.

Their unity with Urgoz was a little too similar to the Rite of the Great Dwarf. Were they another inroad to map the way minds could connect?

If there was any hope of finding out, it was swallowed by the crisis in the Jade Sea. She, like everyone else, had to rush east and put her magic to good use to keep the continent- and so much beyond it- from being consumed by dragonvoid.

But now?

Now there's wizards. Wizards explicitly keeping secrets in their flying castle high above Tyria, watching the world churn below.

Shiv wants in. It's time to connect all the red twine on her corkboard and crack the case on whether consciousness in Tyria is all linked, and whether the will of one is the same as the will of the world.

If she can prove this, it has the potential to change everything. Change how Tyrians at large understand each other.

If it takes looking a little crazy to get to that point, she can live with that!

#sylvari #gw2 #guild wars 2 #took a longer post than i thought to cover the whole span of her career from zhaitan to now #but it was fun to write and i hope yall like her! #cause i do

[t1meslayer]

Splatoon: B-Mix (Ch. 1)

Had to give the Mariver army one last surprise for the end of Pride. This is a direct follow-up to "Harmonic Frequencies," so don't miss out on that story before jumping in here!

---

Fandom: Splatoon

Pairing: Marie/Shiver (part of my newly coined "Mariver Madness" series)

Summary: Shiver faces one of their toughest challenges yet: an unexpected date in the heart of Inkopolis where impressing Marie at her own game is a truly uphill battle. Mild language ahead.

Click through the Read More below to get a preview of my latest fic. Thanks for reading <3

Marie turns a nearby street corner, and Shiver catches her eye just in time to see the Inkling's power-walk come to a screeching halt.

If either idol had been carrying a weapon, this would look like a proper showdown at high noon set outside the Sea Biscuit Bakery. It wasn't much of a saloon, but the sun beats down just as harsh. Heat bounces between skyscrapers like a convection oven, goading one of them to sate their itchy trigger fingers.

Marie would obviously win. When a sniper pulls the trigger, someone is sure to be splatted.

This might be the only time Shiver is eager to take that 'L.' They put on a strong front and wave Marie over, but their cheery smirk belies a deeply disturbed understanding of whence their partner's confusion stemmed.

Shiver is overdressed.

Whereas Shiver is slow roasting in a black tube top draped with semi-sheer fabric and torn fishnets wedgied into their shorts, Marie look ready for a cozy evening out on the prairie. She's practically swimming in her orange-brown overalls, with suspenders strapped high over the shoulders of their navy tee that looks straight out of a cranberry juice ad.

Shiver is furious at how effortlessly she pulls it off.

#splatoon #splatoon 3 #nintendo #ao3 #fanfic #fanfiction #splatoon fanfiction #marie #squid sisters #shiver #Deep Cut #mariver #romance #clubbing #texting #dating #agent 4 #new hobby #ceramics #happy pride 🌈 #nonbinary character #story preview #my fics

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 1, Wave 3, Poll 16

A character being totally canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included.

Check out the other polls in this wave and prior here.

Eduoar Corabelli II-The Reader Trilogy / Sea of Ink and Gold

Qualifications:

He's canonically mlm and has depression, and both his relationship with the man he loves and his mental illness are very important to his character and story. Since it's high fantasy the term 'depression' isn't actually available to him, but it's explicitly canon anyway and he just calls it 'melancholia.'

Propaganda:

Ed is like a Disney princess with depression--gentle, kind, loves animals dearly, all that jazz. He's also, when we meet him, being crushed under the weight of responsibility and a familial curse that kills every family member and each person they love before their time, and he's in the most fascinating, sweet, twisted little unspoken relationship. He loves this guy, his childhood friend, but is too scared because of the curse to give voice to those feelings; this guy loves him, but is too reluctant to talk about it, because of the guilt of actively poisoning Ed in a drawn-out assassination attempt and having just killed Ed's last relative. Also, Ed knows he's being poisoned and is gladly going along with it, because he's suicidal. It's complicated; he does get better though. Just know that their love is profound, but not as good as Ed deserves, and when he breaks free of the mental prison of being cursed and leaves the shadow of a man who almost killed him despite that love, he finds he's not just a good person but a capable one

Mod note: apparently according to Mod A “I HAD TO SCROLL THROUGH GOODREADS FOR LIKE TEN MINUTES TO FIND OUT IF THIS GUY EVEN EXISTS”

Eda Clawthorne-The Owl House

Qualifications:

She has a magical chronic disorder which has flare-ups, is mitigated by taking medication (potions), and has similar side effects to many real disorders such as fatigue, greying hair, and physical impairment (drains magic, a natural ability of *most witches). Unlike in other stories however, her condition is NOT ever completely cured. It does evolve and become more manageable over the course of the story, but she still experiences symptoms from it. Eda also loses one of her arms later in the story. She does get a replacement hook, but it is never shown whether she has a functional prosthetic or not. Most likely, she only has one fully functioning arm after this. As for being queer, she is in a relationship with a nonbinary person and is all but confirmed bisexual (has a secret box with the bi flag on it seriously why else would she have this). Also the owl house has a Lot of queer characters in it and I mean. just look at her. I would be surprised if she wasn't queer somehow.

Bisexual, and has a curse that affects her day to day life

Bi & lost arm and has a chronic illness metaphorically

Propaganda:

Has canonically dated both men and a non-binary person. Her curse affects her ability to use magic (and at one point outright stops it), which is very important in witch life. Said curse also causes her body parts to fall off sometimes. Many have said her curse is like a metaphor for depression but really it's more like a magic version of a physical disability (although I wouldn't be surprised if she actually also had depression).

Uuuuh she’s great and stuff idk I can’t propaganda well sorry

#polls #poll #disabled characters #lgbtq characters #disability #lgbtq #lgbtq dcs round 1 #lgbtq dcs wave 3 #eduoar corabelli II #the reader trilogy #sea of ink and gold #eda clawthorne #eda the owl lady #the owl house

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 Enchanted to Meet You Book Review 🦇

❝ I didn't care. I didn't care because I was the Chosen One. Chosen by him. ❞

❓ #QOTD What type of witch are you (cottage/kitchen, storm, hedge, green, cosmic, crystal, sea)? ❓ 🦇 Small-town witch Jessica Gold teams up with a handsome, mysterious stranger to protect her quaint village. As the Chosen One, Jess must find the Bringer of Light, and together, they'll save the town from a demonic rift. While on this magical adventure, tall, grumpy, and handsome witch Derrick harbors a secret from Jessica, despite the instant spark between them—a dangerous distraction from their dire mission. Can Jessica, Derrick, and the Bringer of Light work their magic in time, or is the little town of West Harbor doomed?

[ Read on for my review. Also posted on: Insta | Literal | StoryGraph | Goodreads ]

💜 This spooky season read is bound to enchant and delight many readers. If you're looking for an easy, troped-up "Chosen One" plot just in time to drag out your Halloween decorations, this is it! Meg Cabot creates a cozy, small-town witchy romance that has all the potential of fueling your Buffy the Vampire Slayer or OG Charmed nostalgia...except it doesn't.

🦇 I'm surprised this was categorized as Adult Fiction / Women's Fiction, because Jessica came off as juvenile in the present and her high school flashbacks. Unfortunately, many of the other adult characters didn't come off as mature either. Rosalie still comes off as an elitist snob, and when she doesn't get her way, she breaks down in a childish tantrum. Jessica's ex (now Rosalie's husband) Billy has a bland yet innocent childlike nature as well. The weird, heteronormative jealousy that occurs seems awkward and misplaced. Honestly, the token queer teens, Ester and Gabrielle, come off as more mature than most of the adults. While I love a confident, curvy MC, labeling her as such doesn't make her an instantly loveable character. Unfortunately, the entire cast is very two-dimensional. Our so-called villains crumble at the first sign of...I wouldn't even call it conflict, because the would-be "showdown" scene was resolved with a speech. Cute, and maybe progressive, but a complete let-down for a resolution. The story begins with a dual timeline that suddenly dissolves, secrets are revealed too quickly, and every source of tension or conflict was too short-lived to matter. There's barely any use of magic; it's far too subtle. The characters and plot all lack the magic that truly would have made this story enchanting.

🦇 Recommended for fans of the Princess Diaries series (the maturity level of both MCs feels similar), Sabrina the Teenage Witch, or some quick, cute spooky season vibes.

✨ The Vibes ✨ 🧹 Bras & Broomsticks + Sabrina the Teenage Witch Vibes ✨ Mysterious Stranger With an Ancient Prophecy 🌙 Small Town, Plus-Sized MC 💜 Fake Dating 🎃 Spooky Season Read

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #EnchantedtoMeetYou #NetGalley

#books #reading #book review #book blog #booklr #book: enchanted to meet you #author: meg cabot #batty about books #battyaboutbooks #witchy books