#hmm and I think also because it made me remember how much I disliked and felt alienated by barbies growing up | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kybelles · 2 months

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hi love! I'm feeling devious so for the choose violence asks, 24 and 25

HIII BABY 💞💞 i sincerely hope you don’t mind me answering everything via your ask 🥹 i just didn’t want to spam the tl with my non-stop posting!

1.the character everyone gets wrong

JOKASTE!!! 😩 sooo many times in fan creations she’s a mustache twirling villain and look i get it! she needs to go in order to lamen to be together but i don’t know why each time she needs to cheat on damen…. people can break up for other reasons yk…..

i feel like people don’t really get how much jokaste holds damen in such a high regard. the first time she talked to laurent she was full of praises for damen and yes although the majority of the reason was to taunt laurent, it was too heartfelt to be faked entirely. i find her a quite tragic character honestly. in another world she would be proud and happy to be to be damen’s queen 🙁 i wish more ppl cared about her OR stop portraying her as this cold unfeeling girlboss who was sooo sick of damen’s bs that she punished him by gleefully fucking kastor….. i really really don’t think that’s who she is. she loved damen in her own way. she was also a sentimental woman. (her last letter to damen will never make me not emotional….)

3.screenshot or description of the worst take you've seen on tumblr

SCREENSHOT OMG hats off to any brave soul who actually posts it….. also the collection on bad takes is so rich idk what to choose… ok i got one: so i genuinely don’t remember the details but a few years ago there was a post circulating about how laurent was actually Good All Along (yes even in book one where he drugged damen and then threw him into a rape ring and also had him whipped after intentionally setting him up 🙂 ) and it had so many likes…. i’ll never ever understand the need to whitewash book 1 laurent’s actions. like why do you even stan a controversial character if you don’t like his controversial aspects…. i really believe this is quite the disservice to such a multidimsensional character like laurent. :/

7.what character did you begin to hate not because of canon but because how the fandom acts about them?

hmm i wouldn’t say hate but some posts i read about auguste made me sorta dislike him 😬 idk when and where i read it but there was one post in particular that said they wish auguste would come back to life and beat the shit out of damen and i was like WOAHHH??? you want the mc (who you spent three books with) to be beaten brutally by some canon fodder?? for what crime??? i was honestly weirded out.

there’s also the fact that i genuinely HATE l*uguste (despite not being an anti shipper in general or anything! this ship just rubs me the worst way bc laurent experienced so much trauma from the way ppl made up incest rumors about him and auguste) so any interpretation (even if they aren’t written as a romantic pair intentionally) where auguste and laurent have this unhealthy codependent bond with auguste acting like a ferocious caveman to any potential romantic suitor of laurent and laurent being all meek and allowing this treatment is a big no for me. ✋ so yes even tho i don’t hate auggie boy i can’t say i care a great deal about him. sorry baby i’m sure you are just dandy.

8. common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

that damen is an unreliable narrator 😩i talked about it in my previous post!

12.the unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them

EGERIA THE MF QUEEN OF AKIELOS 🗣️🗣️ i actually like every member of the akielos trio (theomedes-hypermenestra-egeria) sm because their situation reminds me of turkish harem dramas. 🤭 the lack of canon information about them allows me to make various hcs and backstories and idk i just think it’s fun!

13.worst blorboficiation

JFC i’m SOOOO old i’m ANCIENT bc i have no idea what this means….. i’d be happy to answer it if you give me some clarification (hiding my face in shame)

16. you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

oh luckily i already answered it here!

17.there should be more of this type of fic/art

I’m always a huge advocate for bottomianos even though i myself shamefully haven’t made a contribution 💔 as for art i’m beyond grateful for our wonderful artists and i humbly would like to see more of the old gang! (theo, egeria, aleron, hennike etc.)

21.part of canon you think is overhyped

hmm i unfortunately can’t think of an answer for this one, i’m sorry!

24.topic that brings up the most rancid discourse

OH DEAR… so one of the first times i actively participated in the fandom i made a post about how frustrating it was to see theomedes portrayed as an absent father despite the glaring lack of canon evidence while aleron got off the hook much easier despite laurent actually confirming he was an absentee and said i think it was about the way people perceive them (theomedes=brown and toxic, aleron=white and tastefully distant) anyways, some user whom i never talked to before (and they’re still blocked to this day despite the fact i pretty much never block anyone here) said i was “making it up” and right after i blocked them after they continued talking to me in a very rude manner some asks ✨mysteriously✨ appeared in my inbox and the person who sent them called me an “illiterature white bitch” who made up nonexistent drama…….. so yes i guess the colorism issue really ruffles some people’s feathers :) i wonder why :)

25. common fandom complaint that you're sick of hearing

“why didn’t damen figure out the regent’s abuse of laurent sooner is he stupid” setting aside the 574619 different pacat interviews where she talks about how damen needed to be oblivious bc otherwise laurent would never open up to him, why is it so wild to think damen wouldn’t assume the regent would do something like that to his own nephew? as if the entire canon events didn’t happen bc damen believed families would never hurt each other…. just wow

#tysm to everyone who was kind enough to send me a number! 💞 this was honestly so fun #idk if a disclaimer is needed but i hope it's clear i didn't target anyone in particular!#these are just some of the takes i saw repeatedly #captive prince

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padfootastic · 9 months

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hi! i've no idea how i came to your page but i realised i'd read two of your one-shots in ao3 before and had adored them (you'll probably get comments from me in future, btw) and i just wanted to say thank you for your writing and thank you for your prongsfoot<3

i've been very critical of this sort of new, cool and aloof and martyred version of remus lupin for quite a while now (honestly, where did all those traits come from?!) and gosh, you're so eloquent when talking about him!!!

i was wondering what your thoughts were on regulus black? because i think he's getting the same sort of royalty treatment as remus does by making him sort of-- er, perfect? i mean. i've seen so much recently of him basically saving the world single-handedly and i-- ugh. and james is always just there, like a useless idiot? it makes me irrationally angry, and this is coming from someone who enjoys jegulus quite a bit. my problem is that i don't know if this rejection i feel against those two comes from a place of genuine dislike of them or from a place of wishing sirius and james were not done so dirty.

anyway, again, thank you for your writing. it's truly beautiful. hope you have a great day!

omg hello 🥺 i’ve periodically opened tumblr, giggling like a loon, and logging off multiple times just to see this ask,,,,thank u sm , ur way too kind <3 and ur comment on ao3!!! i was just,,,,yeah,,,no words. thank u.

ooooooh i remember being asked something similar a while ago and i took the safe route and basically went ‘remus lupin-ification of regulus’ iirc. that still stands. but but. i’ve also got another answer here! all hail tumblr’s search system today!

i still basically stand by all of it, but adding onto the jegulus + sirius bits of it:

annoys tf outta me when regulus is turned into a victim and like sirius damned him to hell when he left . i have thoughts about the way both of them were treated (which,,,another time,,,this post is already getting too long lol) but i imagine the day sirius left to be a Good One for reg bc he thinks he’ll have his parents undivided attention now. i also think regulus is severely defanged in a lot of characterisations, as if he wasn’t a baby DE, as if he wasn’t a slytherin from the house of black, as if he wasn’t walmart sirius black. like man i’m almost offended on his behalf. i’m sure his shaking his lil fist up at us from wherever he is.

with jegulus…okay, i’ve only read a couple oneshots but that doesn’t mean i haven’t tried. i genuinely went thru so many fics trying to get something, anything to stick and i think the problem is me. fully. completely. without doubt. i just can’t deal with a situation where j&s aren’t each others no.1, or at the very least, equivalent to that. that’s where my issues w wolfstar started, same w this. jegulus also has the added horror of ‘james and reg sneaking behind sirius’ back’ which is just,,,,gosh,,,,i have So Many Thoughts ab that. all personal opinions, but still. they’re strong. it fucks me up just thinking about it. i also think the ship tries wayyyy too hard to fit the ‘best friend’s brother’ trope and ends up sacrificing characterisation for it. which,,,again,,,that’s fine but it’s all the ‘oh this is how it was!’ that gets to me. and then james :/// he gives off such weird energy lol. jegulus gives me drarry vibes, and james is treated almost exactly as harry is in a lot of those. reg also gets the saviour treatment, like draco, and both of their fuckery is toned down until they’re almost normal, like they never did any reprehensible shit. j&r, and d&h are placed on the same moral equivalence and it’s just a bit. hmm. okay. (my issue with this is how it leaks into the writing and suddenly i’m made to sympathise with draco bc harry slashed him w sectumsempra, but we conveniently forget he was gonna use an unforgivable, ykno?) so overall it just feels…pushing reg up and pulling james down to get them on equal footing. very similar to wolfstar lbr.

anyway. that’s a ramble and a half lmao.

also!! ‘a place of genuine dislike of them or from a place of wishing sirius and james were not done so dirty’ in my mind, both of these occupy a similar plane of existence. so very valid. for me, personally, hating remrem started as the latter and i eventually realised it’s also the former lol i was just mad a how sirius is bastardised to justify his ~deification and it eventually moved on to ‘wow i just. do not like him’. damn.

#anti jegulus #jegulus hate #tagging those just to be safe lol #also #haha love it that my hatred of remus is A Proper Thing now #it’s a knife being honed for years #and now i am Attacking #i’m so fed up lmaooo #it doesn’t help i keep being enabled on here 💀#i’ve disliked him for years. but quietly. bc i thought it was just me #and now i’m here and can’t keep shut 😭#it’s a problem lol #it’s also funny bc when i started using tumblr a year ago #i was…so careful #mincing my words and being all apologetic and shit #bc i was like. i don’t wanna step on any toes #‘i don’t want unwanted discourse’#and now look at me #i think it’s mainly also bc i’ve managed to cultivate a niche. where all my anons r wonderful and mutuals r a+.#so i’m insulated from the outside drama #best way to live really #anyway. enough rambling.#obligatory disclaimer: i don’t care if someone is OOC. i just want to it to be indicated to in some capacity so i can choose s’all #that being said: my fav reg characterisation? him as a little loser #it’s the absolute best #he’s so ripe for it #bc he screams disgruntled younger sibling to me tbh #once again!!! thank u sm for being so lovely💜💜#ppb #pen’s asks

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blackjackkent · 30 days

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Come morning, Lae'zel has That Conversation up and ready, rofl.

"Is it me, or have you been looking at me differently?"

Rakha asks the question calmly as they begin to pack up camp for the morning. She can already guess at plenty of reasons why Lae'zel's attitude towards her as changed. The gith disapproved of what happened to Alfira after all. And it's likely she dislikes Rakha's comfort with Astarion, also.

It's a surprisingly troubling thought. More than anyone else really in the camp, except perhaps Wyll, she has found she wants Lae'zel's good opinion. It has impacted her behavior, her perception of the darker urges that threaten to overwhelm her. It has made her want to be more in control and not succumb to that darkness.

But, no doubt, Lae'zel nevertheless disapproves of her, she thinks, and that bothers her.

She is, however, in fact incorrect.

"I have a confession to make," Lae'zel says, her matter-of-fact tone matching Rakha's. "I was too hasty to judge you. I thought you witless. Gutless. Unimpressively bland."

Rakha blinks slowly. "And what about now?" she asks cautiously. These feel like they should be insults, except for the use of the past tense, which implies something has changed.

A muscle twitches in Lae'zel's jaw and her eyes narrow in sudden attentiveness. "Now, well. You've earned my respect. And more still - you've proven your wits. You are efficient and dominant, in and out of battle. You've proven your courage; I swear, you would tear the horns off one dragon to plunge into another."

Her voice has taken on a deeper, throatier note that is unlike her. "And you're hardly bland. Your scent alone is enough to make my neck sweat and my hairs stand on end."

(A/N: Interesting! This is NOT exactly the dialogue for this scene that she got from Hector! This is not even the dialogue that we got on my stream playthrough with Jayce where we're romancing her intentionally. I'm assuming that this is because Rakha's approval with her is higher, which is actually wild. It's a slightly less blunt approach than Hector and Jayce got, just by a smidgen. Fascinating. I love Lae'zel so much.)

Rakha cocks her head slowly to one side. Hmm.

She cannot recall having a conversation like this before, but the words Lae'zel chooses are, as always, deliberate and easy enough to parse.

Just as Rakha automatically remembered how to position herself for battle, how to see the Weave and call its power into her fingers, so she also has an instinctive understanding of what Lae'zel is talking about. Sex. Desire. Physical hunger, of a sort different from that which the beast calls up. Her body remembers these things, even if her mind does not.

"Hold on," she says slowly. "Are you coming on to me?"

Lae'zel gives an exaggerated sigh. "Isn't it obvious?"

Well, it is now.

Lae'zel fixes her with an attentive glare. "I want to taste you," she says, as crisply as if giving a military order. "Perhaps tonight. Perhaps later. But I want it all the same." Her eyes narrow sharply. "Do you?"

Rakha has to sit and think about this for a moment. In truth, she's intrigued. Lae'zel doesn't seem to be offering this out of any particular sentimentality, and Rakha wouldn't really know how to answer if she was. But physically... hm.

Lae'zel is fierce, almost as violent as Rakha herself, and that shared violence is at the root of any attraction between them. Rakha recalls Lae'zel describing a knife twisting in an enemy's belly with a note of relish in her voice, and perhaps the heat it stoked in her own gut was not only the dark urge in her mind, but something warmer. Her pulse thuds a little harder at the memory.

And Lae'zel is one of the few people she trusts in this strange world, one of the few who has given her advice that has shaped her limited worldview. It bothered her to think that she might have broken that bond; she wishes to cultivate it, nurture it, if it is not already lost. And given the damage Rakha has already wrought, Lae'zel is offering trust in her own right - sex requires vulnerability on both sides.

And most of all, she is curious, as always - hungry for experience to provide new pieces of the puzzle that is the world around her and how she fits into it. For new understanding of herself.

"Yes," she says calmly. "I want to share my body with you."

Unlike Astarion's surprise when Rakha opened her throat to him, Lae'zel seems as if she expected this all along - and she's pleased. "Yes," she says with a slight smirk, folding her arms. "Perhaps one night soon, I will come to your bunk and take what is mine. Until that night comes, I shall keep enjoying your scent."

She turns and walks away without another word. Rakha feels a sort of shiver run up her back that, for once, has nothing to do with the beast in her head - and that, too, is intriguing.

-----

On the road, later, she watches Lae'zel with some curiosity; as she has not in the past, she focuses now on taking in the woman's stance, bearing, physical form. Notes, for later use.

"You said I've earned your respect," she comments out of nowhere as they stop for a midday meal. "So why are you so rude all the time?" It's not a complaint, not even really a demand, just an acknowledgment of confusion.

Lae'zel looks almost embarrassed, eyeing the apple in her hand as if it wronged her somehow. "If you must know," she says, "Vlaakith requires everything of her children. I can't count how many bruises I've inflicted, can't measure how much blood I've drawn in the Undying Queen's name. I know only blood-red and death-black. My mind is silver and my body steel. I am what I must be, say what I must be, to survive every beast I face and every wound I bear."

Rakha nods slowly. Yes, she understands that. It is why the two of them connected, right from the beginning. They say what they mean.

It is, if she is honest, why she felt safe in saying yes.

-----

The night is, in the end, a strange and fumbling business. Lae'zel begins in the dominant mode that Rakha expected - but Rakha has no intention of submitting. It is no more in her nature than Lae'zel's. So it is combat, in its way - the same violence that comes as naturally as breathing to them both.

Lae'zel is quicker and lither than Rakha, more experienced; she knows how to turn the tide with a touch in the right place - or a stinging blow at the right moment. Rakha, meanwhile, has the advantage of sheer weight and bulk, an exhilarating dominance of force rather than cunning. It's yet another struggle for control - but for once that struggle is pleasurable. For once the beast is quiet.

It is not romance - whatever Rakha requires for that, she hasn't found it yet. But it is a strange moment of calm. Almost of peace.

For another night, and for yet another reason, she sleeps soundly.

-----

Narrator: You awake in pain. Your back, your hands, even your tongue ache.

The morning has an icy chill to it; she wakes with the prickle of goosebumps on her flesh. Lae'zel is already up and dressed, standing in the doorway of the small ruin where they hid themselves away.

"It's time to rise," she says crisply. "Dawn is upon us."

Rakha considers trying to articulate any of the chaotic thoughts rolling through her mind. That this was an expression of trust, that she is grateful. That she was curious and the curiosity has now been sated. That they were matched in their violence and it invigorated her. That she enjoyed herself, in an odd way she did not expect. That she is cold in the wake of the night's heat.

But there is no sentimentality here - not from her and not from Lae'zel. Their needs have been met. And now it is over.

"Yes, of course," she says gruffly. "We will leave at first light."

#bjk plays bg3 durge #rakha the dark urge #and now for something Rakha handled COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY from Hector #rofl #i did say this was probably likely to happen XD #my understanding is that this doesn't change the possibility of romancing Wyll at all #i'll probably do an official breakup before the tiefling party just to be safe #this is the least sentimental romance scene i have ever written about rofl #but like this is also kind of sweet in a weird way?#rakha wants lae'zel's trust a lot #and was bummed when she thought she didn't have it

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jeanblvd · 2 years

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Phantom of the Night

COLLAB MASTERLIST

My entry for @tsukina ‘s IFHY collab ♥️ lovers to enemies (to lovers?) ♥️ assassinxspy au ♥️ sfw ♥️ warning: cursing, violence, weapons, descriptions of blood, injury, im rlly bad w names

assassin!toji x spy!reader. both on a mission to capture each other. spy!reader is co-workers with spy!gojo. inspired by spyxfamily teehee

word count: 2.0k

THE ASSIGNMENT

You remember the day you were given a new mission with a candid photo of the Night Phantom handed to you. The image revealed his jet black hair which slightly hung over his snake green orbs and a slight cut over the side of his mouth. You thinned your lips, trying not to chuckle at the photo. They chose a bad photo, you thought.

Your co-worker/close friend, Gojo Satoru, stood by with a worried look as your boss—or as Gojo would rather say: ‘higher-up’—listed the skillset of this rugged-looking assassin. If there was anyone capable of fighting him in this whole spy company, it was you.

You, who once worked as an assassin, would be able to enter deep into the mind of one.

Especially one that is your ex.

“The assassin knows you, Agent Gold.” The spy leader warns, “You must be extra cautious with this mission, because…”

“Because you're his mission, too.” Gojo steps up. Your higher-up nods.

“Gojo-senpai,” you assure your friend who’s gnawing on his lip. “I got this.”

However, catching the talented Night Phantom was no easy feat. You would have thought it’d be easier since you were so-called ‘lovers’ in high school.

THE FIRST FIGHT

You walked down a cold, dark valley after exiting a coffee shop, hoping that you drew the attention of your target who had just left the liquor store on the opposite road.

The moon and a few buzzing lamps allowed for some light to illuminate the lonely path. Your senses told you that someone was indeed following you.

Following a trail of soda cans, and abandoned trash on the ground, you hear a shattering noise behind you. Instinctively, you spring your hand up and catch a shard of glass before it hits your temple.

“Night Phantom. Gonna let all that beer go to waste?” You could smell a hint of alcohol from the cold shard of glass.

“[Full Name]. Looking good as ever.” A dark, husky voice echoes from where the glass was thrown. You turn around to see the man you'd never thought you'd see again, emerge from the darkness.

Toji Fushiguro, aka, the Night Phantom. Your ex.

Much taller, more muscular than in the given photo. And more handsome than the last time you’ve met, but you will never admit it. He had the same annoying smirk plastered on his face.

Seeing him brought back a lot of memories when you were younger. Toji was the one who taught you how to defend and fight back. He taught you how to love, but he was also the one who broke your heart when he suddenly cut ties with you. Anger surges in you with that memory.

He never loved you.

Hearing your full name from him made you cringe. “Don’t call me that,” you grit.

He had a blade in one of his hands, twirling it around his fingers in a unique pattern with muscle memory. “What should I call you then?” he asks. His hands continue to play with his knife.

“Agent Gold?” he asks with distaste, rolling his eyes. You knew about his dislike for the spy community. ‘A bunch of stuck up fools who think they can fight' is what the assassin said about them.

“Don’t worry about it,” you begin, sliding out a blade from under your garments and flinging it toward the man’s head. “A dead man wouldn’t be speaking.”

This was an experienced assassin, so it doesn’t surprise you when he cocks his head to the side right on time to dodge your hit. His eyes never leave his shiny blade as he slowly strides closer to you. And you let him corner you into the wall.

“Hmm, I could call you…angel? Cuz you’re real heavenly.” He ignores your threat, breathing down your neck and you took that opportunity to take another hidden blade from the notch of his belt and strike him in the back. However, the assassin is swift and grabs your arm, using his other hand to spin you around, pinning you to the concrete wall. His breath is hot against your skin as he steals the weapon from you.

“Didn’t like that one? Weird. You liked it before.” You try to twist your wrist but he tightens his hold. “Mmm, how about ‘sweetheart’? Would you get used to that, sweetheart? C’mon, for old times sake.”

Feeling his skin brought back memories of you holding hands, cuddling in his old living room couch, or when he’d move closely and whispered secrets and confessions into your ear. What used to feel like heavenly flames igniting under your touch, now feel like scorching burns. That love you had for him was long gone.

You growl, irritated from his teasing. “God, shut up!” He underestimates your strength as you were able to twist yourself from his hold using your feet. When Toji grabs your hand once again, you twist your arm, simultaneously flying your legs up to send a roundhouse kick to the back of his head, knocking him to the ground. Now in a defenseless position, you place your boot on top of his head, adding pressure to your heel.

“The hell are they teaching you at that little spy playground? You’re gonna need a better trainer, Agent Gold.” Then, he suddenly gives you a chance, changing his harsh tone to a more softer one. “Come back.”

But you’re no fool for his tricks. Not anymore.

“No.” You add more pressure to the soles of your foot.

“Honey, you’re fighting skills are lousy. Pfft, the ‘best in the industry’ my ass.” He reiterates the words of what someone said about the Agent Gold. “Guess I shoulda trained you more when we had the chance, eh?” His condescending tone just made you angrier.

“Give me a break.” You roll your eyes.

He grabs your ankle with ease, shoving your leg to the side with his immeasurable strength, sending you to the near wall, but you still found some strength in you to jump right back and throw a massive punch toward his back which could’ve thrown him to the ground. Instead of fighting back, Toji dodges your hit once again. He ticks his tongue.

“So much potential. Come back tomorrow night and we’ll train more. I’m not fighting a weak opponent.”

Train?!?! You wanted to strike him again but he disappears into the dark.

THE LAST FIGHT

Returning from missions empty handed, had you constantly apologizing to your boss. Gojo even asked if you wanted assistance, but you refused any help. This was your mission to complete. Perhaps, deep down, you just wanted to see Toji again and you knew this was the only way. But it’s not like you love him or anything.

After days of ‘fighting’ and Toji disappearing into the fog of the night (he really is a phantom), you find yourself getting the upper hand in these battles more and more. At one point, you almost had him, but he slipped away just in time before you could land your final blow.

This time, you were ready. And he knew. The cut on the side of his lips is accompanied by fresh ones created by the tip of your small yet dangerously sharp blade.

He wipes the bottom of his bleeding lip with the back of his scruffed hand.

“Darlin’, you’re getting better.” A devilish grin adorns his perfectly broken face as he breathlessly chuckles. “Looks like this is our final fight yeah? Now, let’s end this once and for all.”

“Gladly.”

The assassin charges at you with all the strength he had left. This time, you’re prepared, ducking and rolling under him. It results in him toppling over, but he immediately regains his balance, swiftly sweeping a leg under yours to have you falling to the ground. Toji hops over you, legs pressing your thighs down, and hands pinning your arms above you.

But you quickly slide your hands out of his, pointing a sharp blade toward his face. He’s faster, bending his neck and taking the blade between his teeth, ignoring the blood that draws from his lips due to the blade’s tip. He then spits it to the side, tightly gripping your hand back in place.

Like your opponent, you too are also almost at your limit, your limbs helplessly sprawled out. You could taste blood on your tongue, but you’re too focused on the longer blade that Toji draws from his belt.

“It was nice knowing you, angel.” He presses the sharp tip against your neck. One wrong move and he could end it all. “Sad that we ended up like this, [y/n]. In another life, perhaps.” You swore you saw hesitation flash in his eyes.

“W-wait!” you shout, before he punctures the blade into your flesh.

It frustrates you. That he’s treating this like a little game. This was supposed to be a mission. Your mission. To make your co-workers proud. Maybe it was better if he had just used his full power the first time and finished you off, than treat you like a training dummy. Maybe you could never beat him in the end. It was no use. Toji was just too strong. His skills were unmatched, even for someone like you.

He pauses, giving you the decency to speak which was odd. The cold-hearted assassin you knew waited for no one, especially his opponents.

“You could’ve killed me the first time. Why didn’t you? I'm your assignment, too, aren't I?”

His knuckles turn white from gripping the blade too tight. “I said it. I don’t want to fight a weakling. That’s all.”

“Bullshit.” You glare at him, despite the fact that he was the one with a weapon. No one had your bravery, Toji recalls to himself.

He grabs your neck with his other hand while threatening you. “I’ll kill ya right now. Really—.”

“Did you ever love me?” You finally asked the question that lingered in the air, since you had laid your eyes on each other after so many years apart. If there was anything you wanted to know, it was this.

Silence falls over you both, and you took it as his answer.

A tear falls down your cheek. A tear of frustration, of shame, and defeat. Maybe a small part of you had wished he did. Because you definitely felt the rekindling of those flames you once felt on the skin gripped by his calloused hands on your neck.

You close your eyes only to hear a metal clank loudly next to your ear. The blade is no longer in his hands. Toji’s vulnerable state doesn’t go unnoticed by you. Now’s the chance. But you’re hesitating.

With your eyes still shut, you completely switch your position, shoving the hand away and straddling his thighs. Once you opened your eyes, you notice his lashes has been fluttered shut as well.

"I can't," he starts, bringing an arm over his face as he laid, back against the hard ground. The cockiness in his demeanor has disappeared. The soft, timid Toji Fushiguro you saw only when you were together appeared before you again. It was a side of him that was for your eyes only.

Can't what? Love me? you wonder to yourself, frustrated.

Before you could retort, he speaks. “I can’t kill you,” he confesses quietly.

“Why? Can't have that on your conscience, Night Phantom? Or is it because you love me?” you ask the daunting question again, slowly taking a hidden weapon from your thigh strap.

“…Tsh.” Toji doesn’t notice your secretive actions. He still had his eyes covered by his forearm, muscles tensing and jaw clenching. “I fucking hate you, actually. I loathe you. I wish we never met.” His words felt like multiple thorns pricking at your heart.

Unconvinced, you drop your weapon and pushed his arms away from his face to see a pair of angry, teary eyes that wouldn’t dare look into yours.

“Then, why the fuck are you crying?”

This was your first time seeing him cry. And it makes you wonder if all the words he said just now were lies. You peer over his face to read his expression, pulling his chin harshly so that your eyes could meet.

All your doubts were cleared when Toji finally looks at you and he doesn't resist his urge to lean forward and kiss you.

You could've pulled away. You could've stabbed him right then and there. Complete your mission. But, instead, you kiss him back as his hands card through your messy hair, tasting the blood on your lips. There is a bruising pain on your thigh, pressing against his bruised side, but none of you care, too engrossed into the kiss.

"Fuck you," he whispers hotly against your skin which elicits a grunt from you. “Fuck you for making me love you.”

❤️

a/n: ty if you read this far! <3 Likes and reblogs are appreciated.

#3K COLLAB :: IFHY #TY FOR LETTING ME JOIN IN THIS COLLAB TEEHEE #this collab idea made me play 10 things i hate abt you by leah kate lol #also angels like you by miley cyrus #why does this fic feel too short but also too long at the same time? LOL #toji fushiguro 💭💗#toji fushiguro x reader #toji fushiguro #toji fushiguro fic #toji fushiguro fluff #toji fushiguro angst #jjk angst #jjk x reader #jjk hurt/comfort #toji x reader #jjk.📁

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blaacknoir · 1 year

Note

Hey. Sorry to bother, but I'm genuinely curious. Can you explain why you don't like fans calling Homelander 'John'?

I think I kinda get why but I'm also a little confused and if it's because of what I think, I disagree. The first person we see call him that is Vogelbaum, and he has a bit of a bad reaction. But this is Vogelbaum and he doesn't like Vogelbaum so I think the disdain is more from there than anything.

Homelander says he 'gave up' on his secret identity a long time ago to Starlight, but I don't think he hates his name or even dislikes it. (Actually, that scene I would argue more so implies Vought encouraging him to give it up so he can make them profit full time than anything else.)

I say this because there's one person who does call him John and it affects him differently than when Vogelbaum does it. And that's Maeve. And don't get me wrong, it's not particularly great reaction there either though she does also say it a bit mockingly, but it's what he says after that I find more telling.

He says something along the lines of: "Don't you dare fucking 'John' me, you're not going to get the easy way out of this." And I think it implies two things.

If Maeve knows his name, he had to have told her at one point, so his name is probably something he considers very private and personal, only giving to those he really trusts. (Obviously, he never got the choice with Vogelbaum.)

The other thing implied is a sensitivity to hearing his name, but not necessarily in a negative sense. What he says struck me as him being mad enough that hearing his name, even from Maeve, isn't going to soften up anything. But it could also mean she has used his name in the past to soften his anger.

And if she did, and if just hearing his name could do that, it doesn't imply he hates his name, it implies for lack of a better term, that he feels 'humanized' when he hears it. Understandably, I think that would give him mixed feelings about it from different people and that it really depends who's saying it, when and why. But not that he hates it.

Sorry for the TED talk, I clearly have spent too much time rewatching The Boys and micro analyzing every single little micro expression made by Antony Starr and context within each scene and it makes me a weirdo, I know.

It could also just be a personal preference of yours and others and I'm a double weirdo. But I don't know, I kind of like the complexity of emotion that can be explored just with Homelander's civilian name and how he feels about it.

You are never a bother! Sorry this took a bit of time to get to. But here goes. *cracks knuckles*

The first person we see call him that is Vogelbaum, and he has a bit of a bad reaction. But this is Vogelbaum and he doesn't like Vogelbaum so I think the disdain is more from there than anything.

Vogelbaum: How long's it been, John? Homelander: *chuckles* Long enough that nobody calls me John anymore.

This is definitely a case of disdain disguised as nostalgia, so I agree with you there. To me this is a kid going back to his hometown and hearing his kindergarten teacher calling him a pet name. The chuckle implies warmth (and in any other situation, I'd interpret it at face value), but Homelander has nothing but contempt for Vogelbaum.

Homelander: Hey, is that your, uh, secret identity? Starlight: Mm-hmm. Homelander: Charming. Starlight: Thanks. Homelander: Yeah, I-I gave up on mine, oh... a long time ago now.

I can definitely understand how you'd interpret this scene that way, and of course, there's no wrong interpretation. But to me, the tone is one of.. almost dismissal. "I'm fulfilling a social obligation but I'd really prefer it if you were somewhere else." Because remember, this is the scene where he's actually watching Madelyn pumping through the wall. He's only half paying attention to her here, because he's also trying to ogle literal mommy milkers. (I am so sorry I made you all read that 😭)

[All the stuff you said about Maeve.]

I think there is some complexity here, but it doesn't necessarily mean that he still has positive associations with it. I'm just gonna lay out my headcanons and go from there.

So I think that by the time Homey and Maeve start dating, he has given up on "John." We don't hear anyone else call him that. I'm actually willing to bet that the number of people who know his birth name can be counted on one hand. I just don't think he's ever really had any attachment to it; he's been groomed from birth to be the Homelander, so why would he? But I think at one point, Maeve (who is and will always be Maggie first) asked him about it. And she was close to him in a way nobody else was--as an equal. More than that, she's the only person who's ever bothered to ask. So he tells her.

It doesn't build on an attachment to the name, I think it becomes a sort of... a special thing, a secret thing, shared between the two of them. It's a part of himself that he's not attached to, but that nobody else has ever asked to see, and he gently places it in the palm of her hand. And when Homelander fucked everything up (because, surprise! A lifetime of being both manipulated and ass-kissed and isolated and surrounded by yes-men leaves you with no knowledge of how to have and maintain a relationship), Maeve takes that secret thing and gently places it on the table before she leaves.

And Homelander takes it and puts it back inside his heart and never talks about it again. Because despite the fact that it was his fuckup, all he knows is that Maeve hurt him. Emotional pain is all he knows, it's all he has context for, and he (and is it really him? or is it him, the one who talks from the mirror?) will do anything to avoid feeling it. Which means hiding those four letters and their association with him deep inside himself.

I don't think Maeve ever used it to de-escalate things with him. When she calls him "John", it's an appeal to those memories. She takes a fucking stadium light and shines it on that secret thing he gave her, that secret thing that she gave back, and how fucking dare she just grab it again like it was hers the whole time.

And it could have been anything, really. It could have been the fact that he never really had parents. It could have been the fact that he killed his "mother." It could have been the fact that to teach him to fly, the scientists just shoved him off a high surface. But it's his childhood name, and that makes it easy to be used as a tool to manipulate him.

I just don't think it's his name. I think it's a word that used to describe him that doesn't anymore. (And there are a lot of words like that. John, child, scared, alone, helpless—) When he thinks about himself, I think the name he thinks is "the Homelander."

And I sure as hell don't think his last name is fucking Gilman.

#asks #Anonymous #homelander #the boys #long post #vought thoughts #i'll answer your second ask in a sec just sit tight

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defeateddetectives · 15 days

Note

Pick and choose from the following :>

3 for k, 4, 6 for k, 6 for not k, 7, 12, 17, 19, 23, 25

gonna answer the unspecified ones for k as well bc i'm overjoyed about an excuse to choose violence about this (un)dead horse of a fandom over a decade later so thank u :D skipped 4, 19, & 25 bc nothing came to mind or i couldn't remember. rest under cut bc it got long rip

3. screenshot or description of the worst take you’ve seen on tumblr i do not have screenshots of any takes like 11 yrs later but i think everyone who had to put up with me circa 2k12 and the years onwards probably knew it was the whole ~mikoto only cared about one (1) person/thing and everything else was meaningless~ shtick -- the antithesis of which i apparently then made the hill i was gonna die on :)

honourable mention to that one arcade fire lyric being directly attributed to him as a quote as well though. like. what was that

6. which ship fans are the most annoying?

look i am older and wiser than 11 years ago! i will let humans have complexities!!! i am friends with people who ship things i don't ship!!! all ships have rights i suppose!!! it's mktts*

*for legal reasons this is now a joke :')

for non-k...hmmm i remember v*ltron fandom reaching new heights of toxicity i'd never thought possible but i've fortunately eternal sunshined most of that from my memory now!

7. what character did you begin to hate not because of canon but because how how the fandom acts about them?

hmm i dont think hate is the right word. i think if anything, fandom 'flattened' how i saw some characters and i had to like sit with my interpretations in more or less a vacuum to figure them out when writing them. misaki and totsuka come to mind for obvious reasons bc they were so often only considered in the context of a ship and i've had to flesh them out in a way that make sense to me for a while. on the flipside, i couldn't stand the vast majority of the fanon takes on fushimi but he is SUCH a fun playground of a character in canon!

12. the unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them

not unpopular as in disliked but more like overlooked - but i think more people should get obsessed with hidaka like me and then write me super niche hisaru fic!!!!! <3

17. there should be more of this type of fic/art

it would be Really Nice if chiaki and i weren't pretty much carrying the mikoizu fandom on our backs :'))) but my running joke has always been that my relationship with that ship is their relationship with each other ie. IT'S ROTTEN WORK / NOT TO ME NOT IF IT'S THEM 😭

also obvs perpetually manifesting the great izumotatara takeover of 2kforever!!! lbr though i'd be delighted about new k content tailored to any of my biases in the year 2k24 (hint hint to anyone reading!)

23. ship you’ve unwillingly come around to

i wouldn't say 'unwillingly' (lol i feel like i'm answering all these questions Wrong) but once i had sufficient time and space, i do think i have much more appreciation for mktts and s*rumi dynamics and their emotional weight without the background noise of all no good very bad fandom takes in the fandom's heyday!

#*ing things so they dont show up in tags 💀#sigh the meme required me to choose violence so here we are!!!#replies #memetime #project k problems #now thats a throwback tag!

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rickie-the-storyteller · 9 months

Text

Steph's Crew - Part 20: Hold On

Intro:

What's up, folks?

So last time Bret and Steph had a little bit of a moment. Which is bad, because both of them are taken lol. I mean, nothing too crazy happened... but the fact that something almost happened is bad enough, right?

Today, we're going to kind of see the aftermath of this (how it affects the relationships between the group, especially Elise), and we're also going to get a bit more context for Bret and Rachel's fight last time, and development for his family drama. It's going to be quite tense all round, but hopefully still enjoyable!

In the silent study room

(The bell rings for break. Dylan, Alice and Bret are walking into the common room together, when all of a sudden, Elise comes by)

Elise: Morning, folks!

Dylan: Hey, Elise!

Alice: What's up, El?

Elise: (smiles) Oh, nothing much, nothing much.

Bret: Did you have a lesson?

Elise: (immediately stops smiling) Yes. Textiles.

Bret: (awkwardly) Cool.

Elise: Yeah. (pauses) So, I think we should talk. Don't you?

Bret: I guess.

Elise: Great! I'm glad you agree. We'll try and catch up with you guys afterwards, is that ok?

Alice: Uh, yeah. Ok.

Dylan: See you later?

Elise: Of course! Now, come with me. (pulls Bret away to the silent study room)

Dylan: Looks like somebody's in trouble…

Alice: It's Bret. He's used to it by now.

(In the study room, Bret and Elise continue their conversation)

Bret: So…

Elise: So.

Bret: You're upset.

Elise: Obviously!

Bret: Why?

Elise: Are you being serious?

(There's a silence as Bret tries to figure out what to say next)

Bret: …No?

Elise: (sighs) Bret, what's going on? With you, I mean. And your aunt.

Bret: Nothing's going on, El.

Elise: It seemed like a big deal at the time…

Bret: I don't want you to worry about this.

Elise: I wish you'd talk to me. If something is up, you can tell me about it. You know that, don't you? That's what I'm here for.

Bret: I know.

Elise: (takes his hand) Have you and your aunt made up yet?

Bret: Not exactly. But we live together. We've got to get over it at some point, you know?

Elise: Hmm. (pauses) And you didn't mean what you said back then, did you?

Bret: When?

Elise: When I found you at Stevie's?

Bret: What did I say again?

Elise: You don't remember what you said? About how I wouldn't understand your problems because of how privileged I am?

Bret: Ah.

Elise: Yeah. You were all like, "I'd love to see how your life advice applies to someone who hasn't been handed everything on a silver platter. Your life is perfect. You have great friends, a whole family full of legit good people, rich and successful parents, and an older brother with a flat that you can go stay at when your parents are driving you insane. You have a nice car, a big house, perfect grades. You'll probably go on to study at Cambridge next year. You have everything. You won't know what it's like to lose everything. So don't even try to advise that person now."

Bret: Wow. I said all that?

Elise: Yup.

Bret: I don't even remember saying half of that…

Elise: But you did say all of that. And more. That part stuck with me the most, though.

Bret: Huh. It's freaky how good your memory is.

Elise: Adam tells me that all the time.

Bret: Your brother's a hoot.

Elise: Yeah. Look, when you said that, it… well, to be honest, it hurt. A lot. Mostly because I was only trying to help.

Bret: I know you were. Come here. (hugs her) I'm sorry.

Elise: Are you?

Bret: Yeah, of course.

(Elise stops hugging Bret)

Elise: Because not only was it unnecessary, but it was kind of uncalled for. You don't know everything I've been through. You might believe that you do because we've known each other for years, but you don't. And you don't know what my parents have had to go through, either. You know, to get us to where we are now. You haven't seen the journey. All you know is the destination.

Bret: I get that, but-

Elise: No. I don't think you do. Look, as much as I dislike the pressure I tend to get from my family, I understand why I get it. That's all I'll say. My parents made sure Adam and I knew the importance of hard work because that's how they became successful. I appreciate everything my family has, and what my parents do for me. And I do know what loss feels like. You already know about my grandparents. You know, the ones that gifted us that vase you broke?

Bret: Ok, did you really need to bring that up?

Elise: I'm not done yet. I also know a thing or two about dealing with family issues. (sighs) You know about Adam getting his high school girlfriend pregnant, don't you?

Bret: Yeah, you told me about that.

Elise: Did I tell you that he got kicked out of the house because of all that?

Bret: …No. You didn't. Is that the reason why-

Elise: He doesn't live with us anymore. Yeah. He couldn't to go to university like my parents wanted. He got into a bunch of fights with mum and dad about it. Eventually, he couldn't take it anymore. Neither could they.

Bret: Damn…

Elise: To this day, he hasn't said a word to my parents. I'm the only person in my family that's still in contact with Adam. He hasn't got a relationship with anyone else. And I've kind of kept it a secret.

Bret: I… don't know what to say.

Elise: I think you could start by saying something along the lines of, "I suppose even people with certain privileges have to deal with problems in their lives sometimes."

Bret: Yeah, what you said. (laughs)

Elise: I know that I'll probably never truly understand exactly how you feel. I haven't experienced the things that you have. But I promise you, all I want to do is be there for you. 'Cause I love you.

Bret: You do?

Elise: (blushes) Yeah. I do.

Bret: (smiles) 'Kay, now I don't feel embarrassed by what I told Stevie.

Elise: (giggles) What did you tell Stevie? (pauses) Wait, wait. When was this?

Bret: Over the weekend. Before you met me, I went over to his and we hung out for a bit.

Elise: Why, though? You don't work during weekends.

Bret: I know. I just wanted to talk.

Elise: What about?

Bret: About how my aunt was driving me nuts. I just needed a break from being in the house, that's all.

Elise: So, let me get this straight. You needed to talk to somebody about your issues with your aunt, so you go talk to your boss?! Not a friend?

Bret: Stevie WAS my friend before he hired me… he's allowed to be my mate outside of work hours, isn't he?

Elise: I mean, I guess. But seriously? Not anyone else? Like your school friends? Or your girlfriend? It seriously had to be Stevie?

Bret: Dave was there, too. You know Dave - the dude from the record shop next door? And his brother, Colin.

Elise: And you thought that all of those guys were better people to confide in than me…

Bret: It seemed like a good idea at the time, but it didn't work out. But it's ok, 'cause then later on that night, I went to Steph's place.

Elise: What?!

Bret: What?

Elise: You went to my best friend!

Bret: Yeah. I mean, she's my friend, too. What's wrong with that?

Elise: Well, what did she say about it?

Bret: To talk to you.

Elise: Hmm. The only thing that's come out of your mouth that I can fully get behind. And it technically didn't even come from you!

Bret: Huh.

Elise: Only thing is, you should've done that from the get-go. You went to Stevie, Dave, Dave's brother, and Stephanie? You should've just come to me! Why don't you feel comfortable talking to me about deep stuff like this?

Bret: 'Cause I don't want you to worry!

Elise: Bret!

Bret: I hate talking to people about Gordon! It hurts to talk about it. And I don't want to hurt you with all my issues… you care so much about people that you kind of make their problems your own. I guess I just wanted a break from just feeling constant pain… so I went places where I knew I could forget about my problems and feel better instantly, instead of forcing myself to face them.

Elise: Well, you know what? You not being honest with me and coming to me when you need support hurts me a lot more than your problems could. I hate that you feel the need to keep stuff from me, Bret. I don't want you to do that anymore. If this is going to work out, then we need to be straight with each other.

Bret: I agree. I'm sorry. No more secrets?

Elise: No more secrets.

(The two share another warm hug, longer than the first)

Bret: Oh, wait. Since we're being honest, there's something you should probably know real quick.

Elise: Oh, yeah? (breaks the hug) What is it?

Bret: It's about Stephanie.

Elise: Ok…

Bret: When I was hanging out at her place, she and I drank a lot of beer. And then we stayed up late, talking about random stuff.

Elise: I don't know where this is going…

Bret: We had this weird moment where we almost kissed.

Elise: WHAT?!

Bret: But we didn't! Nothing happened. I'm just saying, it almost did.

Elise: Oh my God… oh, my-

Bret: Please don't be too upset… me and Steph weren't going to say anything to anyone, but you wanted us to be honest with each other. I just thought you deserved to know about it.

Elise: I-I… thanks? I guess. I just- I need…

Bret: I'm really sorry!

Elise: I need a minute. Yes! That is what I need. I just need some time, and-and space to just process this whole conversation. Yeah.

Bret: Ok. El, are you alright?

Elise: (shakes her head) Of course. I think I'll go now. Thanks for the talk. I think. (leaves the room)

Bret: Ok. Bye. I- (the door slams shut after Elise leaves) love you, too.

In the common room

(Dylan and Alice are sitting on a table in the common room at break. Alice is showing Dylan a funny cat video on her phone. Stephanie joins them)

Stephanie: Hey!

Alice: Oh, hey! (stands up and hugs her) How are you?

Dylan: Yeah, and where have you been? We haven't seen you in ages! (hugs Stephanie as well)

Alice: Poor Ellie was getting so worried about you… she called you a bunch of times.

Stephanie: Yeah, I know. I called her back as quickly as possible. I've just had to take care of a few things. But I'm good now! Mostly. (pauses) Where is Elise anyway? I haven't seen her yet today. Or Bret.

Alice: Did you just come in now?

Stephanie: Yeah.

Alice: Right, 'cause she was here this morning. You would've seen her then.

Dylan: I actually saw her go to the silent study room with Bret a few minutes ago. So they're probably still there.

Stephanie: Huh. Wonder why.

Alice: To talk?

Dylan: Or to do something else, if you know what I mean…

(He and Stephanie both start laughing at this)

Alice: No, no, 'cause El told me that she and Bret really needed to talk. I think they're going through something right now.

Dylan: Oh, yeah?

Alice: Yeah… she didn't give me any specific details about it, though. I don't know what's going on with them.

Dylan: Man… I hope everything's ok.

Stephanie: (gasps) I think I know what's going on with them.

Alice: Wait, what? How?!

Stephanie: 'Cause Bret came round my place this weekend.

Dylan: My gosh… was he ok? What happened?

Stephanie: A lot of stuff happened. I don't know if I should say everything, though.

Alice: (annoyed) Steph!

Stephanie: What? It's for them to say, not me.

Alice: That's never stopped you before…

Stephanie: I'm trying to turn over a new leaf?

Dylan: Bruh-

Alice: (angry) Don't give me that bullsh-

Elise: Hey, guys.

Alice: (instantly cheers up) Hey! (the two hug)

Dylan: How's it going, El?

Elise: (sighs) Not great. I have no idea what I'm even doing here.

Stephanie: What, in school?

Elise: No, with Bret!

Stephanie, Dylan and Alice: OH.

Elise: It's so weird. I've known him for almost my entire life, and yet, it's like I barely know him at all.

Alice: Oh, honey…

Elise: Yeah. I love him, but I don't understand him. And it's not like he makes it easy. He never tells me anything! Not when it matters… like it does now. Can you be with someone that you don't fully get? Or trust?

Dylan: Hmmmm. Like, I would say yes, since I've experienced that before. You know, with Robyn? But as you guys know, that didn't end too well, so…

Alice: I'm sorry, El. That sucks.

Dylan: What happened between you two, anyway?

Elise: I don't want to talk about it anymore. But hey, here's an idea. (glares at Stephanie) Why don't you ask Steph? (leaves the common room)

(There's an awkward silence between the rest of the group. Stephanie looks shocked and slightly guilty)

Alice: (calls out to Elise as she walks away) But we just did!!

Meet me at our spot (Flashback to the weekend)

(Elise gets off the bus at Tipton Street and spots Bret sitting at a seat outside Stevie's restaurant. He eventually notices her staring at him. After a moment of the two just looking at each other in silence, Elise nervously approaches him and sits down beside him)

Elise: Hey.

Bret: Hey.

Elise: Thought I'd find you here.

Bret: Hmm.

Elise: So, there was a bit of excitement over at your place!

Bret: (sighs) That's one way to put it.

Elise: (chuckles) That's what my dad says every time I fight with my mum. "That was a bit of excitement!" Not the good kind, obviously.

Bret: Nope.

Elise: How are you doing? You ok?

Bret: I don't know.

Elise: You want to talk about it?

Bret: Not particularly, no.

Elise: Why not?

(Bret doesn't answer her. Elise isn't sure of what to say next)

Elise: Look, I know it's not really any of my business, but… I don't think you should keep whatever this is to yourself. Nobody ever solves problems by bottling them.

Bret: I know…

Elise: And I'm here! I'm here for you because I care about you. You know that.

Bret: Yeah.

Elise: So talk to me. I mean, that fight with your aunt sounded pretty crazy.

Bret: It was…

Elise: How are you feeling about it?

Bret: Like nobody in my family has ever given a crap about what I have to say.

Elise: Ok… what do you mean by that?

Bret: Exactly what I said.

Elise: Right. Could you maybe explain that a bit?

Bret: Well… you know that letter you found in the sofa?

Elise: Yeah.

Bret: Well, I read it. And it turns out that it was from my uncle. Gordon Turner.

Elise: Gordon Turner. Why is that name so familiar?

Bret: He worked in broadcasting for a couple of years. And he has a show on the radio.

Elise: Ah! Cool!

Bret: It's not THAT cool. Anyway, neither me nor aunt Rach stand the guy.

Elise: How come?

Bret: Well, he and aunt Rach were married for five years before they split up. She never told me why they split up, necessarily… but I have a few theories.

Elise: Like what, Bret?

Bret: Hang on a sec. (gets his phone out) I've got a whole list on my notes app.

Elise: Oh, for goodness sake-

Bret: Number one - Gordon is a workaholic. Maybe he got so busy with his broadcasting job that he had no time for Rachel. Number two - cheating scandal. Number three -

Elise: STOP! (snatches his phone away) Focus on what's really important right now.

Bret: I am, El! I'm trying to tell you that my uncle sucks.

Elise: Right, well. you could've just said that from the beginning.

Bret: Sorry.

Elise: What's your problem with Gordon?

Bret: Uh, that he sucks. Come on, El. Pay attention!

Elise: Alright, you really need to elaborate on that. I get Rachel's problem with him, but what has he ever done to you?

Bret: Every time he meddles in my life, he ruins it. He's the reason my 13th birthday party went down the drain!

Elise: Oh, yeah! I remember that… The firemen were a ton of fun! They were all so nice.

Bret: And he's the reason my project for the young songwriter competition didn't go through. He knew how important it was for me, and he didn't give a flying fuck-

Elise: Yeah, but there was no full guarantee that you would have won it even if you did submit your song on time. The competition was intense that year.

Bret: That's not the point, El. And he's kind of indirectly responsible for my parents dying, too. But apparently, it's wrong for me to think that, according to aunt Rach. Whatever.

Elise: Wait, he what?!

Bret: He had a party that night. My parents were invited. So they took me to aunt Rach for the night, and then they left. They didn't make it back.

Elise: Wow.

Bret: Yeah.

Elise: So you associate your uncle with pain and loss. That's why it's a bad thing to you that he reached out to your aunt. I see.

Bret: I guess. I never thought of it in that way.

Elise: Did you explain that to your aunt?

Bret: Well, yeah! (pauses) Poorly.

Elise: I'll say.

Bret: (slightly offended) What's that supposed to mean?

Elise: You do love constantly meandering about an issue without properly addressing it. I mean, even now, it's taken you ages to explain this to me with actual information, so I can see why you ended up fighting with your aunt over it-

Bret: (annoyed) What the hell…

Elise: Dude, don't be mad. I'm just telling you as it is. A little word of advice, though - if you actually want to get somewhere with your conflict resolution problems… or just any problem in general, then don't avoid it. Actually be clear on it from the jump. Face it head-on. Don't take any detours. Do go off on unnecessary tangents. Just address the problems you have in a clear but respectful manner. See where things go from there!

Bret: Right. Well, I'd love to see how your life advice applies to someone who hasn't been handed everything on a silver platter.

Elise: (upset) Bret… listen, I'm not saying that-

Bret: No, Elise. You listen to me. Your life is perfect. You have great friends, a whole family full of legit good people, rich and successful parents, and an older brother with a flat that you can go stay at when your parents are driving you insane. You have a nice car, a big house, perfect grades. You'll probably go to study at Cambridge next year. You have everything. You won't know what it's like to lose everything. So don't even try to advise that person now.

Elise: Bret!

Bret: I can't talk about this anymore. Not with you. You won't get it. (sighs) You know what? I'm out of here. Don't follow me. (walks away)

Elise: (welling up with tears) BRET!

Bret: See you at school, El.

(A bus pulls up at the stop where Elise got off. Bret gets on it. Elise watches as it drives off. Tears make their way down her face. She doesn't know what she did to cause this to happen)

Library lunch break

(Alice and Elise are sitting together in the library, studying for an upcoming test. Alice can see that Elise is still upset about her argument with Bret, so she tries her best to take her mind off it)

Alice: I don't know why I chose A level Physics… sixteen-year-old me was a fucking idiot…

Elise: (laughs in spite of herself) Come on, Ally. It's not so bad. You're doing a great job with this stuff. A much better job than I likely would've done.

Alice: Highly doubt that, but thanks for the confidence boost!

Elise: No, I'm being serious. That's why I didn't go for A level Physics.

Alice: Ah… I see.

(The two girls laugh for a bit… before immediately stopping as the librarian passes them)

Alice: Remind me why you think studying in the library is a good idea?

Elise: It's a nice and peaceful space. And it has all the books and supplies we need. And computers. And Wi-Fi!

Alice: Yeah, but the librarian is so creepy…

Elise: Oh, don't start this again-

Alice: Why is she always everywhere?! Always watching, listening, lurking in the shadows… I'm not the only person that feels this way, you know. Ask anybody. Like Dylan. Or Kenny. Or Connor. Or Stephanie.

Elise: Or Bret.

(There's a slightly awkward and sad silence between the two girls)

Alice: Yeah, him too. Ellie… are you ok?

Elise: I don't know. I'm confused. My mind is all over the place… I'm feeling a million things at once. Like, a part of me wants to hate him, but I know that I never will. A part of me never wants to see him again, but another wishes he was here right now.

Alice: But if he WAS, then we wouldn't get no work done, so maybe it's a good thing he ain't around.

Elise: Maybe I'm overreacting. He DID say that nothing happened. And I believe him. But it doesn't change the fact that it COULD'VE happened.

Alice: Yeah, but he came clean. That counts for something, doesn't it?

Elise: He said he wasn't going to say anything, though. He and Stephanie promised each other they wouldn't say anything about it to anyone, but he changed his mind when I told him that I wanted no secrets between us anymore. Which means he was this close to cheating on me with my best friend, and then he planned to keep that from me.

Alice: …But he didn't?

Elise: I know he didn't. And I'm glad he was honest about it. But it still hurts to hear.

Alice: (sighs) I know. You know what, though?

Elise: What?

Alice: We don't know the full story of what happened that night between Bret and Steph. All we know is that they got all drunk and had a moment when they almost kissed.

Elise: It's still bad, though.

Alice: I know. But I just think that you should stop avoiding each other and actually get to the bottom of this once and for all. Have a proper conversation about it, so that you know how serious this whole thing actually is. Maybe if you knew the whole story, you wouldn't be so in your feels about it right now, punishing yourself with all these thoughts. Making it out to be a bigger deal than it actually is.

Elise: I get what you mean. But it still sucks. I feel let down by two of the people I trust more than anything.

Alice: Yeah. This was a big shock to find out. I mean, I'M freaked out by it, and it didn't even happen directly to me. I can only imagine how you're feeling right now. Just keep what I've said in mind, yeah? I mean, you and Bret are so great together. You two care about each other so much. Earlier at break, you said you love him. And that's huge. You shouldn't give up on that just yet.

Elise: (trying to remember) I said that?!

Alice: Yeah! Bret told me he said that to you. But then later on, you said that to the rest of us. You were all like, "I love him, but I don't understand him." Or something like that. And you know I wasn't the only one that was there. Dylan heard it, Steph heard it-

Elise: Oh my gosh…

Alice: What does being in love feel like, Ellie?

Elise: Right now, it sucks. But I'm probably not the best person to ask. (sighs) And the worst part is that I can't even talk to my best friend about it, 'cause she's part of the problem!

Alice: Oh, yeah. I'm sorry, Elise. But you'll always have me! If that's any consolation.

(Elise rests her head on Alice's shoulder, and Alice leans her head on Elise's head in return)

Alice: You're not going to be mad at Stephanie forever, are you?

Elise: Probably not. Mostly, I'm just confused as to how she managed to get involved to begin with. Why would she even want to get with Bret? She has Ben… and Ben's a great guy.

Alice: Maybe she was feeling lonely. Long-distance relationships are difficult.

Elise: I know. But still…

Alice: You can't avoid Steph or Bret. You'll have to face your problems eventually.

Elise: (voice breaking) I know…

Alice: Just talk to them, El. Work this out. You're good at that.

Elise: (smiles) I'll try my best.

Alice: That way, at the end of the week, we can all go to prom together and have fun as besties with no issues at all!

Elise: But Ally, Steph isn't going to prom. Remember?

Alice: Oh, yeah. Right. But the rest of us are, and I want us all to be good by then. Ok?

Elise: Ok.

Alice: You want to come to my place on Friday to get ready for prom? Dylan's going to be there, too. It'll be great fun.

Elise: Sounds like a great idea. I'm in!

Alice: YES!

(The two girls hug. Their mutual friend Dylan comes into the library at this point and heads towards them, but they don't notice)

Elise: Thank you so much, Ally. For everything.

Alice: Anytime.

Dylan: (jokingly) Now, kiss!

Alice and Elise: SHUT UP.

(The three all laugh together as Dylan sits at their table and joins them in their study session)

Evening at the Johnson's house

(It's in the evening, just after dinner. Dylan and Alice are chilling on the sofa at Alice's place. They're both excited for prom tomorrow)

Dylan: So what time are we meant to be at school, again?

Alice: 10 AM. And then they're letting us out like, an hour later so that we can get ready to party at prom! Which I'm pretty sure starts at 7 in the evening.

Dylan: It just sounds so pointless, though… like why not just give us the day off?

Alice: 'Cause they're jerks. But anyways, before I forget, I invited Elise to join us at 12. That's ok, isn't it?

Dylan: Yeah, yeah!

Alice: Cool. (sighs) She really needs this.

Dylan: She does, yeah. I'm kind of worried about her.

Alice: Me too. I hope she's doing alright with everything that's going on with Bret.

Dylan: Yeah. Man, that guy's an idiot. I love him, don't get me wrong. But still.

Alice: I know! How do you mess things up with someone as sweet as El? She doesn't deserve what he's put her through at all…

Dylan: And they've only been together for what? A month now?

Alice: Just about. I don't know how to feel about them. I don't want them to break up, just because I know how much they care for one another. And they love being together so much. You can tell. Their relationship is so special, but at the same time, some things just aren't meant to be.

Dylan: Yeah. Sometimes in life, two people who aren't meant for each other end up finding each other.

Alice: True… that's what happened with Mary and her ex. She's always saying that it's a good thing that it didn't work out between them 'cause they probably weren't meant to date in the first place.

Dylan: Well, the fact that she was keeping that relationship a secret from your parents certainly didn't help matters…

Alice: Yeah… man, for a smart person, my sister can be a real idiot, huh?

Mary: (from across the hall) I heard that!

(Dylan and Alice burst out laughing)

Alice: (calls back) Sorry, sis! (turns back to Dylan) Anyway, they're better off as friends if you ask me. But it's crazy to me how unpredictable life can be. You never know who you're going to meet, or who you're going to fall in love with.

Dylan: Yeah.

Alice: It's scary… I don't want to end up with the wrong person.

Dylan: Nobody wants that, Ally. But I personally don't think you will.

Alice: Why not? You're not just saying that, are you?

Dylan: No, no. I mean, I don't know what's going to happen, but I do know who you are now. You're this amazingly smart, strong and sensible girl. You know what you want out of life, and you know what you're looking for in a person. You've got a good head on your shoulders, and you're more than capable of figuring out any craziness that life throws at you.

Alice: (smiles) Aww. Stop.

Dylan: I mean it. You'll be fine. Nothing can defeat you. Not even heartbreak or failure. You're like an unstoppable force. Never forget that, ok?

Alice: (blushes) You're too kind. Thanks, bro.

(Alice rests her head on Dylan's shoulder. Dylan briefly glances down at her. He swallows, shifting awkwardly in his seat. He slowly moves his hand towards hers, but then stops when Alice starts talking again)

Alice: Well, I think I'm going to go to bed. (yawns) Good night, buddy! (leaves the living room)

Dylan: (sighs, disappointed) Good night.

That's all for today.

Poor El. And Bret. And Dylan at the end lol.

Things aren't looking too good for Brelise... but on the bright side, they've both said the three magic words to each other for the first time (you know... "I love you"). That's a big deal! A month doesn't seem like long enough for this milestone, does it? I looked it up, and I found out that on average it takes about four months to fully fall in love with someone. These two took a quarter of that time haha. But when you take into account the fact that they've known each other for ages, they've been friends for years, they had been spending lots of one-on-one time together before they started going out, etc... it's not SO bad. I wanted to give them a few moments of cuteness before bringing in some more chaos lol. But don't worry too much - next time, it's prom! And everything will be ok by then, I can assure you.

Dylan and Alice get a bit more development in their relationship, too. I'm super proud of that scene at the end. I love moments like this in stories, when two people are comfortable around each other and clearly care about each other a lot, but get nervous while hesitating and trying to make a move. Unfortunately, at this point, it's mostly one-sided lol.

Feel like I should have included more of Steph... especially since she won't be present at all during the prom post lol. But The one right after is actually going to be a Steph-focused one (it's prom night, but from her perspective!), so I'm looking forward to sharing that one with y'all.

See you next time!

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dream-meister-translations · 1 year

Text

WONDER TEA PARTY - PART 1

━

ROUGE : I'm already stressed out!!!! SHAYMIE : Sooo stressed. Hehehe~♪♪ ROUGE : Oh? Shaymie, you know how I feel? It's just too much pressure, I had to drink. EMMA : But Rouge, you usually drink even without any problems? ROUGE : True, but this situation makes me wanna drink even more. Oh, blue~ Blue deeper than the sea~ FELD : Hey, you guys have been really loud for the last few minutes! You've almost downed that whole bottle!

MEL : No amount of whining is going to solve the problem, right? You guys really are useless.

OSCAR : Rouge, you're a grown man, if you want to get drunk that's fine. Just remember to have respect for the food in front of you. VOLKS : Hmm, indeed. It would be a shame to consume such fine food and drink out of mere desperation. They should be cherished. ROUGE : Thank you so much for the delicious food and drinks. See, I respect it very much. I'm sure both of you are a little nervous inside as well?

VOLKS : I wouldn't say that I am nervous, however, it is true that this request is quite challenging. FELD : Oscar…It's been a long time since I've seen you this angry. Just why are we all having a party right now? And why do we all look so upset? The reason for all of this lies in a request I received from a certain royal family to "produce a perfect tea party."

ROUGE : Even though it's supposed to be a tea party, I want it to be relaxed and not too formal. You should be able to lay back and enjoy your time.

ROUGE : Shaymie, let's go with a fun, easy going, up-tempo song. OSCAR : How about a fun and carefree atmosphere with free choice of confectionery? VOLKS : Then the dress code should be fun and loose opposed to the traditional rigid formal attire. ROUGE : We've made a lot of proposals, but they were all rejected! My recommendation of an "all-you-can-drink party" also got rejected, didn't it? EMMA : I think it was fair to reject that one...

EMMA : Your Majesty's opinion is certainly not in line with your concept of "carefree fun." FELD : Are you fucking kidding me!? ROUGE : Of course~ I knew when I heard this job would involve the royal family I'd hate it. VOLKS : The client this time is an excellent politician. But maybe because of that rigidity, he dislikes things that are laid back and fun. It seems some people can't break out of their shells easily. But, I'd like to help him try. OSCAR : Hmm…If this keeps up the tea party attendees will be forced to eat a full course of "nothing."

FELD : Then why not refuse? It's not too late. OSCAR : As much as I'd like to, there is more merit in accepting the offer. We are dealing with a country that produces fine food. Rare food at that. He is prepared to offer some as a reward for this request. It's an investment for the future of the gastronomy guild, so to speak. VOLKS : As a dream weaver, I intend to complete this request as well. His majesty is a good person, if we can break him out of his shell, he will be an even more dignified king. MEL : So you're going to polish him up because he's not good enough? You're still a real sucker, aren't you, Volks? SHAYMIE : And why is Rouge here?

ROUGE : I'm a good poet, and I'm also the kind of poet who always takes on the hardest jobs一 EMMA : They are finally threatening to kick Rouge out of the Moon Wanderers. He has to do this to stay in the guild. I'm his chaperone. SHAYMIE : Aaah! I drew that in my picture diary~! Let's see… Rouge spent a lot of money. Rouge said, "I spent a lot of money." Gran said, "I'm so mad at you!", Rouge replied, "That's why I'm going to work hard even if I hate my job."

FELD : I'm beyond angry, I'm disgusted. MEL : Are you ashamed to be alive~? ROUGE : Don't say something so hurtful in such a silly pose! It's breaking my heart!

I take a sip of my cocktail and watch as Rouge is goaded by the black fairies. EMMA : (Of course, we should take the client's wishes into consideration. Hmm…I'm really not sure what to do.) With every suggestion the royal family rejected, I was beginning to lose hope...

ROUGE : Emma, are you okay? You look a little tired. EMMA : I'm fine! I'm just getting a little impatient… VOLKS : You're doing the best you can, Emma. OSCAR : It's not over yet. You should eat up and get your strength back. EMMA : Thank you very much…

While complaining about how much we hate work, we all enjoyed a drink together. EMMA : (…..Huh……?) A sudden drowsiness hits me, and my vision blurs. EMMA : (….I can't…open….my eyes….) ?? : Wake up, Emma! EMMA : ………..?

ROUGE : Oh, thank goodness! You had me worried sick! SHAYMIE : Emma, are you okay~? EMMA : (I was just having a drink with the guys at Edouard's Castle, I think…So, how did we end up here?) ROUGE : Where the heck are we? I suddenly felt sleepy and when I woke, it was daybreak. SHAYMIE : Hahaha~ Where are we? I don't remember how I got here! EMMA : Rouge…Shaymie…

I'm trying to figure this whole thing out, but I can't help but notice... EMMA : Um…What the heck are those ears!? ROUGE : Hahaha, these? I dunno I just woke up and they were on my head. They're like Rabbit ears or something. SHAYMIE : Jump! Jump! Jump!

EMMA : Shaymie, I don't think this is the time…Why do you both have bunny ears? ROUGE : You have rabbit ears on your head, too. EMMA : Wait, what!? They're really on my head!? FELD : Where the hell am I!? Why am I dressed like this!? EMMA : Feld!? You look so flashy! FELD : It's not my intention! ?? : Hmm….

I heard the sound of a cloak fluttering and when I turned to look, there was Oscar. Clad in an immaculate outfit that would make anyone want to prostrate themselves. OSCAR : What is going on here? ROUGE : Wow, cool! EMMA : So cool! MEL : Hey, what's going on? Why am I suddenly dressed like this? VOLKS : What an interesting outfit, Mel. ROUGE : Wow, yours is nice too Volks! I dig the stylish hat~! EMMA : Yes, it's lovely!

SHAYMIE : Emma is copying Rouge~♪♪ VOLKS : You look lovely too, Emma.

EMMA : Oh, thank you…? MEL : No, seriously, what is going on!? Were we all kidnapped at the same time!? ROUGE & EMMA : Kidnapped!? ROUGE : What are we gonna do, Emma? The Moon Wanderers don't have the money to pay a ransom! EMMA : Calm down, Rouge! We aren't sure we've been kidnapped yet. VOLKS : Right. Let's first get an accurate picture of what is going on. Oscar, do you recognize these woods? OSCAR : I don't know…I know we are nowhere near the castle of Edouard.

?? : Hey…. MEL : Who's there? EMMA : (I think I just heard a voice…Was that coming from my feet?) I glanced down and saw all kinds of brightly colored flowers blooming underfoot. SHAYMIE : Did that flower just speak? FELD : Flowers don't talk. FLOWER 1 : Welcome, welcome! If you want to know anything, I'll tell you everything! If you don't want to know anything, I'll still tell you everything! ROUGE & FELD & MEL : It talked!? FLOWER 2 : Everything is weird here! FLOWER 3 : It's Wondermare!

#Otome #Yumekuro #Yumekuro Translations #YMKR translations #YMKR #Dream Meister Translations #Otome Translations #Dream Meister And The Recollected Black Fairy #Dream Meister And The Recollected Black Fairy translations #tea1

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wakanai · 5 months

Note

i know oda is the blorbo of all time if im remembering correctly, but what's your top 5 bungo favs?

AAAAAA

omygosh!! An ask from you??

Sure!! Hmm.. tbh besides Oda, I haven't really thought about it that much. But I'll think hold on

******************** (pending) *******

5 bungo favs (besides Oda 🤭)

BEAST Atsushi

: ugh. something about how he is literally how Atsushi would be like if Atsushi was in the PM. There's just something that attracts me to him. Like most characters in BSD, he isn't evil and doesn't enjoy the things he does. He's deeply traumatized. He has a shy-kind personality but is placed in the PM where he's made to be a murderer. Interestingly, he isn't as obsessed with BEAST Dazai's approval as Akutagawa was with Canon Dazai (maybe bc Dazai liked Atsushi more? idk..) But BEAST Atsushi has sm going for him and I'm curious about his life after BEAST. I'd like to see more of it ❤️ (don't even get me started on the fanarts of BEAST Atsushi meeting lit. anyone in the Canon world).

2. Verlaine

: This bad boy can fit so much trauma inside him. What makes humans human? What makes him worthy of human dignity when he's just a bunch of codes? Honestly his thoughts and existential crisis is tragic. The fact that he wanted to raise chuuya in the countryside too 😭 and how he helped Chuuya save the world because deep down he knew one person who he thought deserved to live. How he hasn't moved on from said person. How he trains PM assasins to become weapons for the Port Mafia even though he's gone through the same thing. How he (both metaphorically and physically) isn't in the light because he's literally been rotting in a basement for 6 years. No friends. No family. Nothing outside that interests him. With no purpose other than teaching because Rimbaud used to teach too. No one in the mafia can reach him emotionally. He could be like BEAST Dazai tbh. I can see it. Except rimbaud is dead so Verlaine just decided to.. stay in a basement and rot. Someone bring him out of there please 😭😭

(also in another version of BSD I thought of in my head, I gave him a sort of backstory so that increased my personal attachment lol)

And speaking of the guy Verlaine misses...

3. Rimbaud

: This guy... has so much love to give. Idk much about his past but he was a government spy. As I've seen others mention, He may have had to abandon family members for his job. By the time he met Verlaine, he must have been so lonely that he decided to pour all his love into this one partner whom he intended to be with forever. So. Dang. Selfless. Got betrayed by Verlaine. Still went to hell and back for him. Also Verlaine disliked him while he was still alive so there must have been so many moments where he got hurt by Verlaine (like that one birthday gift 😭) but he still kept trying to be a good friend and doing everything to make Verlaine happy. Even when he got amnesia, Verlaine was the one thing he remembered. He didn't even expect Verlaine to apologize!!! Like?? Instead HE was the one who apologized for not understanding Verlaine. He held no grudges whatsoever. My gosh. That's true love right there. He gave Verlaine his all and expected nothing in return. Even when Verlaine betrayed him or didn't appreciate him or was mean to him, he cared sm. Even in his dying moments, his main concern was Verlaine. ouch.

Besides that, he's VERY cool. His ability slays (literally) and his long black hair is just 😫✨

Rimbaud should've picked me instead. I would've treated him much better than Verlaine did 🤭🙄 /j

4: Mori Ogai

OHHHH~ controversial character alert ‼️

Hehe alright. *cracks knuckles*

I initially didn't have much feelings for Mori. I thought he was a pedo and hated him as a villain (cause of how much of a threat he was and what he did to the characters) but I also didn't think about him a lot. And it was hard for me to grasp his character.

Thankfully though, the BSD fandom made me change my mind after a while 🤭

@the-boss-of-the-port-mafia made this amazing compilation of Mori analyses that made me appreciate him more.

also my tumblr bestie @plinko-mori helped me understand him <3

Long story short, tumblr made me realize 2 things:

a. Mori may not actually be a pedo

b. He's more emotional than he lets on

^^ This description was made by Asagiri himself 😶

anyways onto my rambling abt Mori 😭

I like him. I think he's badass. He's giving anti-hero vibes ✨ and he's also tragic in a way because he's doing what he thinks is best for Yokohama and the PM even if he has to be ruthless about it. At heart, he has good intentions. He hates war. He hates needless violence (he disliked the previous bloodthirsty boss; suggested that his death would leave to even more violence during the guild arc; has not once been shown to enjoy committing violence for kicks and giggles; etc). He manipulated Yosano because he thought it was the optimal solution and would result in them winning. He planned Oda's death because again, it was the optimal solution and would result in the mafia winning + less casualties. If there's a conflict, Mori is the guy who will pick the fastest, most convenient solution even if it means getting his hands dirty. He'll always pick the lesser evil with no hesitation.

While characters like Fitzgerald/Dazai/Junichiro would sacrifice the world to save their loved ones, Mori would sacrifice his feelings/loved ones to save the world (not that he's extremely attached to anyone. this guy is very lonely lol. His face when he told Koyou that she could leave the PM and he wouldn't be able to do anything about it shows just how much he's resigned to losing people.)

That being said, it does hurt him when he loses people.

This post by @hina-has-no-life explains very well his regret towards Dazai and Yosano 😭

In BEAST, he didn't have to play the role of the mafia boss hence, he showed his softer sides and treated Atsushi like a son, even admitting that he regrets not being able to help Dazai.

so..yeah. There's something interesting about a villain who forces himself to ignore his emotions for the sake of doing 'the greater good.'

Yes, Mori is manipulative, makes millions from exploiting people via the PM, has done many bad things, will continue to do bad things --but he does have a heart (even if he constantly ignores it lol).

It's also worth mentioning that apparently the management in Yokohama is so bad, the Port Mafia (a literal criminal org) is the one responsible for keeping the crime rate in check (considering bsd Yokohama gets bombed like every month tho, Ig that checks out 😭)

Anywy. Mori. yeah, he's shades of grey (the darker side). Like Dazai, he can act like a silly uncle sometimes. His backstory is so cool with lots of potential.

From military doctor (holy hell. military doctors in history are usually involved in a LOT of shady things) to an underground doctor (uhm. how and why?) to finally, the boss of the Port Mafia.

so interesting. and so much potential.

The quote, "I must be cruel to be kind" suits him quite well.

About the mafia though - I do wonder what he does being filthy rich 🤭 besides the constant ignoring of emotions, I'm sure he must have some greed or ambition in there. That makes him even more nuanced imo.

Ahhhh

and last but not the least:

Mr. Bungou himself

this man, I-

***if I had to insert every single analysis of this guy that I like, my PC would crash LOL***

I won't elaborate too much since Ikyk hehe 🤭

hmm..

I hated Dazai at first cause I felt he was overrated. While watching the anime, I was annoyed that Dazai seemed to be able to solve everything and that no one could defeat him and that he was presented as this 'untouchable figure' of sorts. I'm like, 'WHY DOES HE KEEP WINNING' as if he's omniscient or something like a deus ex machina 😭

overtime, I grew to like him tho (mostly because of Oda LOL 😂)

BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT

his character is interesting (especially in the LNs. I think he's more nuanced in there than in the anime).

I like how he's clearly hiding his heart from everyone around him. He doesn't open up to anyone. Doesn't reveal his plans unless he deems it necessary. manipulates team mates in certain situations (ex: what he did to aku and atsushi). continues to act like a jerk (messes kunikida's plans for fun; belittles akutagawa, etc.)

He's a manipulative jerk with little empathy for strangers but he's trying to fight for the good side. he's trying to save people. he's trying to be better. (and he is actually being better).

Reminds me a lot like Jouno tbh haha.

he's also a little menace with a dark but goofy side to him.

In the BSD rewrite fic I have in my little head, I like to imagine PM Dazai as somewhat like Mahito from jjk. (In the sense that he's an absolute nightmate, truly the "Demon prodigy" whose "blood is blacker than the mafia" but who also has a very childish feel to him).

Ik it's implied that Dazai did in fact commit atrocities like killing innocent people, killing mafia suboordinates who were subpar, torturing people, etc. but I'd like to see more of that. I'd like to see PM Dazai actually hurting someone the audience cares for and being evil instead of it just being told to us by the narrator/other characters.

Like yes, we got bits of his 'evilness' in SB, Dark Era and BEAST but Ig I just want more of that on focus 🤭

like, don't just tell me 'His blood is blacker than the mafia.'

Make me FEEL chills from reading him; make me think, 'oh this kid is really a devil spawn. I hate him' before moving onto dark era and making me surprised that 'dang. i never thought i could feel bad for this dude.'

idk it's prob just a preference I have. 😅

Same with the PM too. I wish we got to see them doing more of their exploitative work to better understand it when characters describe them as 'the demons of Yokohama' or something along those lines. Cause from season 1-3 (of the anime), they kind of...felt less threatening? Season 4-5 was quite a ride though.

ANYWAY MOVING BACK TO DAZAI

The face of BSD. Mr. Bungou 🤭🤭 I think he's a very cool and interesting character. I want him to cry lol.

I want him to LOSE IT in the main manga before the series ends and see what happens.

RN, he's bottling up a lot and is using different masks. It would be interesting to see him being himself more.

aand that's all hehe 🤭😄

Honourable mentions:

✨Adam ✨

"N" <- interesting because despite being who he is, he apparently genuinely cared for his younger brother, Murase. I just find those kinds of things interesting ig..

******

Also it is with great shame that I confess..

I haven't finished reading Stormbringer yet LOL 🤪🤡🤡

(but I did read some spoilers 😂😭)

so if there are any inaccuracies regarding that, please feel free to correct me <33

******* end ******

RANDOM:

Idk I just wanted to share this cause it's funny and (kind of) related.

But a bsd tiktok account I follow used to be named

Ngh~Chuuya~H-Harder~

(yes the fandom is insane 😂😭)

but recently, they changed it to