#it's a hilariously wide flag

[alexpression]

Okay, but imagine...you're a weary traveler and you stumble upon this tiny inn on a remote island only to walk in and be happily greeted by the notorious pirate Blackbeard.

#I can just see him still wearing his leather smiling wide like 'Welcome to Ed & Stede's do you need a room?' #ofmd #our flag means death #it's idea of them running an inn together thinking that nobody is gonna recognize either of them that is hilarious to me #especially with a very obvious grave right in the front yard #like...to someone who does not know what happened...it looks suspicious 🤣

[imsogayhelpme]

Reading the Good Omens 1 star reviews is so fucking funny because...

Look at this shit

"We loved the first season and we're really getting into the second season until they had to make everything gay.

The main love interests through the movie that they are trying to help get together are 2 gay women.

Then they decided at the end to make the two main characters gay for eachother and kiss. There was no indication of them being gay from the original source material.

And then throw in token trans man in a dress for no reason as a character.

It's a shame that Hollywood has to gay wash everything and always be shoving it down our throats. It's out of place. This season killed the franchise as far as I'm concerned. IF, they continue more of this show... We won't be watching it."

And

"Untill that kiss at the end, I'd of given it 5 stars as I adored the acting, the sets, the characters, the plot and the arcs... But.. they didn't need to make it gay!... I loved their friendship, I thought it hilarious and worked really well.. making it gay just ruined everything... There was no need!!!! We'd already had the lesbian couple waving the rainbow flag of 'ooonlook at me we're inclusive " and the brilliant actress of the crippled angel waving the "god's mistakes are also angels and worth while considering!" She was great... But making the two main cast gay... It was just unnecessary and completely ruined the immersion in the characters and made me feel like wasted time with the investment in liking them..

No do not consider me homophobic, I have loved and lost many a times in life from a wide range of people... And it's not because I believe gayness is evil or anything... It just rubs me completely the wrong way that they would do that to those characters.... Their friendship is what MADE the show... And now... It's over.."

I CAN'T AHHSHAHAHSHAHHWHAHAHWHA

ITS JUST SO RIDICULOUS THAT ITS FUNNY?

#good omens #good omens s2 spoilers #gomens #gomens 2 #good omens 2 #good omens season 2 #good omens season 2 spoilers #ineffable husbands #aziracrow #random lol

[art--harridan]

[Image one: The first page of a digital comic about TommyInnit. It begins with a panel of Wilbur’s hand placing a card on the table, and then one of Tommy with his head in his arms, drenched in blood. He asks "what're you up to now?", to which Wilbur replies "seven of hearts. it's a card game... obviously." After this, Tommy says "hilarious. how do you play?". This is followed by an image of Wilbur sitting at the table, blood leaking from his smiling mouth. He's holding a card in one hand, and resting his chin on the other. He casts a shadow on the table, which has "it's like a game of life:" written in it, followed by three hearts. Below the shadow, he explains "you start with 500 points and 7 cards and whatever cards you have at the end... well, you lose accordingly."

Image two: The second page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. Tommy lifts his head up and squints his eyes, asking "accordingly?? you sure you won't just make it up big dubs?". Underneath, there's a panel of Wilbur, grinning while he shrugs nonchalantly. He says "I'm a man of morals Tommy! And there's a precedent for these things:". Smoke billows behind this panel. Below this, Wilbur continues with "the 7 and ace of hearts subtract 150,", which is accompanied by two card-shaped panels depicting Dream and Tommy. They're both devoid of emotion. Next, Wilbur says "jacks take 50,", followed by the Cat disc and the Your Tubbo compass. Then, he says "8s and 2s deduct 25,", followed by a bloody diamond sword and a lit TNT stick. He continues "aces get 15,", which is next to a L'manberg flag, Tommy's red tie, and the tent from Logsteadshire. Finally, he says "the kings, queens and 10s take 10, and the leftovers are 5; nothing really (unless you're on death's door)." Above this, there's Mexican Dream's mask, Jack's melted glasses, and some of Ghostbur's blue.

Image three: The third page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. Tommy says "Great - now I know how to lose. How exactly do I win?". The first line is above a panel showing a bloody prison wall, while the second is above a panel of Tommy carrying a L'manberg flag past some pine trees. Drawn on top of this is Tommy, annoyed. Wilbur tells him "you get rid of your hand before anyone else." Near this is a panel of Wilbur dirty hand holding a lit TNT stick, an explosion behind the panel. Next, Tommy questions "how exactly?", his face falling flat while Wilbur explains. He says "there's a card in the middle, and you take turns adding one.". There's a single card next to this. Finally, he adds "you can only put down the same suit or number as the previous number".

Image four: The fourth page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. "Jacks change the suit." it begins, followed by "They can be the crux of your play, and ruin another's.". There's 4 card-shaped panels in the middle, positioned in a diagonal line. They each show Tommy in different stages of his life. The first shows him in Business Bay, his suit, tie, and sunglasses on. He's got a big grin and his arms stretched wide. Next, he's wearing his L'manberg uniform, with a slightly smaller smile. After is him in Pogtopia, smile turning to a grimace. Finally, there's him while living with Techno, mouth fully closed and barely a smile. He looks nervous. The panels are framed by two arrows. One is descending, a L'manberg coloured arrow that looks worse for wear. It has a green ribbon tied around it. The other one shares a colour palette with Dream, and has a bloody tip.

Image six: The sixth page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. The first sentence is "twos force the person after to pick up 2". Then, there's Wilbur’s hands with four cards between them, seemingly in the midst of dropping them to his bottom palm. The first card has an explosion flying out of it, background the colour of fire. Next, there's a card which has an obsidian/blackstone wall, a bloody diamond sword laying on top of it. The third card shows a bloody arrow floating in water, while the fourth is simply a rectangle of fire. Then, there's a panel of Tommy weeping hard at the bottom, with the sentence "you can stack them until some unlucky bastard picks up 8 cards" accompanying it.

Image eight: The eighth page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. "but why is it called seven of hearts?" Tommy asks, arms crossed. Wilbur puts a finger near his chin and replies "It's simple really... if someone plays the seven of hearts, the round stops.". Furthere down, there's a panel showing Tommy reaching towards Wilbur back. The next panel is similar, but it only shows a diamond sword in the place of Wilbur, and Tommy's hand is pulling back. These are accompanied by the sentences "there's no negotiation, no getting out of that one. it just stops.". Finally, there's two panels showing the pair's reactions. Tommy looks withdrawn while Wil is smiling, shrugging nonchalantly. "that's bullshit." Tommy says, while Wilbur retorts "that's how you win...". This is followed by a lit TNT stick, and Wilbur continuing "(or not).".

Image nine: The ninth page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. There's a split panel of them, Tommy bored and resting his chin on his fist, while Wil looks giddy, leaning to the side. Tommy questions "lovely - any more stupid rules I need to know?", with Wilbur responding "yeah, but they'll make more sense during play. I'll teach you them as we go.". Underneath this, he continues "c'mon then - let's play:". There's panel of Wilbur and Tommy both sitting at a long table in a dark void, cards set out. You can't see either of their faces. Further down, Wilbur turns over a card while saying "first you turn over the card in the middle". The final panel shows that this card is the seven of hearts.

Image ten: The final page of a digital comic about TommyInnit and Wilbur Soot in limbo. There's a closeup of Wilbur’s mouth while he dejectedly tells Tommy "oh. game over.". Below this, there's a panel of a panicking Tommy who's just abruptly stood up from his seat, shoulders bunched up and expression shocked. "no, no, that doesn't make sense." he says. "that isn't fair! this isn't fair!" he continues, near two panels showing his death. One depicts Dream's bloody fist, while the other his bloody corpse. Next to this, he further continues "I didn't even get to play!". Finally, there's a long panel at the bottom. Tommy stands alone in the darkness of limbo, bright with blood and face expressionless. He repeats "I didnt even get to play...", and the comic ends.]

seven of hearts

#☆ #tommyinnit #wilbur soot #dream smp #tommyinnit fanart #wilbur soot fanart #dream smp fanart #digital art #tommys prison arc #exile arc #blood #gore #abuse #death #suicide #corpse #a sequel of sorts to my b brag comic :3 #ive always wanted to do more limbo card games comic since i did that one but i never got around to it lol #seven of hearts is my fave card game tho!!! love it sm <3 (b brag is a close second...) #b4 anyone asks this game is similar to crazy jacks which is the game that inspired uno #anyway if this flops im gonna rb it sm so be prepared for that :') #block my rb tag if u dont wanna see the same comic a billion times a week lol 👍 #oh yeah some clarity for the sake of my brain #this isnt glorifying wilburs suicide attempt as a 'way to win' since the whole explanation is done thru wils lens #ergo it reflects his feelings on it but not mine 👍 #also the vibe for this and the b brag comic were basically like #wilbur is estatic to see his bro and honestly just another person so he tries to teach him card games for fun #and also partakes in brotherely ribbing because they always used to do that #meanwhile tommy literally just died and his brains are falling out of his skull (tho this is somewhere a month or two later) #btw if anyone wants clarification on the rules (also to know what the ones he doesnt mention are) feel free to ask! inbox or messages :)

[pavardscherie]

Can you write for Jules kounde where y/n is on the girls Real Madrid team and they get into a argument because he wants to support barca female team since it’s his team as well so she tells him just to not go at all and he ends up going and he’s wearing her jersey and she dedicates a goal to him? (This is weirdly specific💀)

Anyways stay safe <3

switching jersey, jules kounde

⤷ pairing: jules kounde x female reader ⤷ summary: you have an important match against the female barca team, and jules is completely on the wrong side. after an argument, you don't expect him to even come to your match and support you, but things change quickly.

⤷ izzy's talk: come in and be as specific as possible haha. it only takes longer for me to write because i try to make it as close as possible so it's not the open-minded writing haha. hope you like it!

⤷ requests are open.

hate was such a strong word, and it combined the entirety of bad feelings for someone. but you didn't hate jules for the decision and statements he made. you just could not understand how easy it was to decline you the support you needed. barcelona was his team, no matter if female or male. and it was somewhere understandable that he chose them over your team if he would not be in a relationship with you.

you went to his games, wearing his jersey, and letting the fans in the stands see to whom you belonged. yet, he refused to do the exact same thing for you. it made you furious, the anger bubbled in the pit of your stomach. for merely a second, you even regretted how often you bought a ticket to a game, and surprised him. hidden between the fans, wearing his jersey and waving wildly when he came close enough.

but there was no time left to think about what happened, the referee already walked onto the pitch, accompanied by his three assistants for the important match. it pained you deeply, the misunderstanding between jules and you, and the lack of support, you were allowed to feel. but as the most important striker on the team, you couldn't lose your head. you had to focus on the enemy team, on scoring a goal, and winning the fifth game in a row.

the private life, your relationship, it had to vanish for at least ninety minutes. unnecessary problems had to disappear to assure your excellence was on the pitch. but the first half passed way too quickly. mostly tackled by the enemies, the last chance to keep you away from scoring a goal.

barcelona was the greatest enemy of real madrid. they occupied the first place in the chart currently, and you desperately wanted to change the spots with them. second was good, but not the perfect place. the team you were surrounded with found a better way into the second half. as soon as the referee blew the whistle, the midfielders captured the ball and pushed the barcelona females back into the defense line. to win the game ultimately, you needed at least one goal. two would make it a clear statement. anything above that would be hilarious but also, closed the gap between the first and second place quicker.

twenty minutes into the second half, the right defense players kicked the ball across the midfield, and it fell perfectly into your run. outplaying one, and then a second defensive player, it was you against the goalkeeper. close to the right post, you decided to try for the far post and kicked the ball with the inner surface of your shoe.

the ball flew through the air, bouncing once before the goalline, and jumping straight into the net. the lead goal was scored in the seventy-first minute by you, closing the gap between the two spots in the chart and only being one point behind Barcelona. running towards the corner where the fans already waved their flags, jumped up and down and shouted your name, you raised your arms in the air.

with a wide smile spread across your face, your eyes still skimmed the stands filled with fans in real madrid jersey's for the one familiar face. the features, you could remember with your eyes closed, and the curve of the lips, you loved so dearly.

disappointed filled your empty stomach, the familiar face didn't appear in the crowds. you knew, jules said he wouldn't attend the game because it would be against part of his. it felt like a betrayal to him, but in the end, he chose to betray you. letting your arms fall to the sides, your teammates reached your spot in the corners and jumped on your back. engulfed in a tight hug, you forced yourself to keep the smile on your lips while your squinted gaze hasn't given up on jules yet.

and how lucky you were that your orbs decided against the sadness, and never stop searching. a plastic cup in one of his hands, jules jogged down the stairs in a hurry. the goal happened exactly in the moment when he decided to get a drink. the tightened throat felt dry after shouting your name multiple times, and singing the songs with the real madrid fans. the circle around you dissolved, the team scattered across the field and onto their positions once again to play out the rest of the second half.

yet, you stay for a couple of seconds longer, the corners of your mouth curled further upwards. a smile that glistened with satisfaction and happiness at the sight of him, wearing the all-too-familiar colors of real madrid. turning on the staircase, your name was written in capital letters on his back, and you couldn't help yourself but giggle about it.

slowly talking backward after the barcelona fans already started shouting for you to stop wasting time, you raised your arms and created a heart with your hands towards jules. the goal, you scored a minute ago, was for him. it has always been for him, even if he would have decided against coming to the match.

fortunately, jules changed his mind. decided against being for Barcelona because he played at the same club. nothing mattered more than the kind of bond, he shared with you. and his attendance increased your will to reach the top of the table, just like he and his teammates currently did.

the eagerness of your movements, the gestures of your arms and hands, infected your teammates and the ball came flying forward much more often than attempting to dribble against one of the barcelona females. the clock hit the eighty-eight minute, almost reaching the final whistle of the game, when another perfect ball was played towards you.

running with the ball attached to your foot, you dribbled against the same two defensive players, you outplayed for the first goal. and it happened for a second time. they could not stop you, and neither could the goalkeeper when the ball hit the bar on the inside and flew into the goal. a second time.

immediately, you ran towards the corners, searching for the familiar face of jules, and finding him within seconds. he fought his way towards the front of the crowd, the plastic cup still in his hand but other liquids poured across the jersey from the celebrating people behind him. leaving the pitch, which would result in a booking, you jumped to at least give your boyfriend a successful high-five for the perfect goal scored.

"this one was for you, only you!" you shouted over the loud music, and the screams of the fans. pointing the fingers of your left hand at him, you used your other to send a kiss straight his way. jules watched it in the middle of the air, holding his hand close to his heart. the little gesture meant more than the loud shouts of the fans, celebrating their striker and the win of their team against such a strong enemy.

when you returned to the pitch, you received the booking for leaving the pitch without allowance but shrugged off the yellow card. glancing over your shoulder towards the crowd, jules had the plastic cup between his lips, holding it tightly with his teeth and using his hands to show you a heart. just like you did, when the first goal was scored and his attendance caught you by surprise.

#jules kounde blurb #jules kounde drabble #jules kounde imagine #jules kounde #fc barcelona drabble #fc barca imagine #fc barcelona imagine #fc barcelona #fc barca #french footballers #french national team #football blurb #football drabble #football imagine #football #football fans #football lovers #la liga #jules kounde x reader #jules kounde x you #jules kounde x yn #fc barcelona x reader #fc barcelona x you #football x you #football x reader #football x y/n #requested #request #writing requests

[sorcerersandskillusers]

Why Chuuya Nakahara works so well.

Chuuya’s popularity is crazy. For a character who isn’t even in the main group of protagonists or antagonists Chuuya is still probably the most popular character in the whole manga despite his role in the manga itself being quite small hehe.

I’m sure people are going to say that Chuuya gets loads of attention in the light novels, but thats not the point, he was super popular before the light novels were adapted and widely read, heck i loved him just from season 2 where he fought love craft and he’d only appeared 3 times in the whole series so why is he so likable.

First: He has a good balance of great character traits.

Chuuya has a incredible mix of positive character traits that somehow don’t make him feel like a Mary-sue but instead make him really shine as a complicated and deep character

He’s Really strong but not overpowered, Chuuya is consistently called one of the strongest if not the strongest in the whole series, but somehow he still fights tough opponents so It never feels like he’s invincible or that he never struggles, his opponents Lovecraft, Verlaine, Rimbaud... are all monsters who pushed Chuuya to the very brink to defeat them.

He’s funny, Chuuya and Dazai have some of the funniest dynamics I've seen in manga period, both Dazai’s crazy schemes and jokes as well as Chuuya’s reactions and comebacks are why I loved the 2 of them from the start

He’s loyal, Chuuya shows incredible loyalty not only to the port mafia but to his friends and anyone who helps him out, he’s a person who will go out of his way to help out anyone he feels he owes something even if that person betrays him.

His design is amazing, i’m not personally attracted to him but I can see why he’s got so many of you down bad

He struggles and suffers, Chuuya dispite being the strongest in almost any situation has spent his life being yanked around by other people, first the sheep used him for protection, then Mori manipulated him with hostages, then he spent years being manipulated by Dazai, Verlaine also tried to control Chuuya and his future ect...

He loses so many people close to him, he suffers so much pain, being tortured and beaten in every fight he’s in. he also never really gets support since the people who help him normally end up dead or are cold Mafioso. The flags are killed, the Sheep betray him, his friends die in the Dragon Head conflict, Adam leaves, Dazai makes his life hell and he has no one who just unconditionally loves him like Dazai got with Oda.

He’s smol, he’s a little guy, just a lil dude, a short king, if we met I’d be 30cm taller than him and that’s hilarious, he’s so tiny.

The other thing that makes Chuuya so popular is he doesn’t have a glaring bad character traits either.

He’s not super annoying, stupid, perverted, incopetent, preachy, whiny or really irritiating at all, he might not be your favourite but outside of his fanbase there aren’t many reasons to hate him.

He’s willing to kill but isn’t sadistic and doesn’t kill for fun.

He’s not egotistical even if he’s confident, and doesn’t bully people.

He’s not gross

He doesn’t get all preachy or whiny about how much he’s gone through and the pain he’s suffered even though he’s been through hell.

Sorry for the long post but I’ll just add that Chuuya is one of my favourite characters and if you’ve been wondering why he’s so popular I hope this helped you understand.

#bungou stray dogs #bungo stray dogs #chuuya nakahara #Dazai Osamu #bsd #character analysis #CHUUYA MY BELOVED #bungou stray dogs chuuya #port mafia

[ruthlesslistener]

People dislike Dirk? You're telling the same fandom that popularised the phrase "vriska did nothing wrong" dislikes Dirk? You know sometimes Im kinda glad that I read the comic a year after it concluded and a year before I became active on Tumblr because the fandom in it's heyday seems to span the weirdest talking points

anon the first two sentances was enough to tell me that you weren't on tumblr around 2016 and sooner. 2013 had everyone characterizing him as a brony weeb boy with the usual braindead borderline homophobic ship content of the time, but when I was really into Homestuck, claiming that Dirk was abusive, manipulative, and a narcissist was the common meta and widely-accepted fanon. Additionally, Dirk and Vriska being read as fucking character parallels was a common talking point as well, made popular by an asshole named swamp-wizard who was famous for being 'anti mogai' and basically scum of the fucking earth. People writing him as he actually was in-canon was a rare occurrance. Pretty much all of their 'proof' of him being manipulative and arrogant and him 'forcing' Jake into a relationship came from Hal's logs pre-entry into the session, and pointing this out would have you told that him and Hal were the same, even though Dirk himself fucking hated Hal. Being a Dirk apologist (aka anyone who actually knew his character) was seen as a major red flag and liking/kinning him made people think that you were some sort of condescending, self-important asshole. There was a guy called optimisticDuelist who wrote big meta posts on dirk and jake and dirkjake in general who was slowly working on setting things right, but then the epilogues dropped and everything went to hell.

I seem to be cursed with falling in love with complex characters that are horrifically butchered in fanon, but in Dirk's case, it's probably the worst example because a.) Dirk is hilariously sensitive and sweet in the webcomic, if you looked past how he THOUGHT he saw himself, and b.) The asshole writers on the epilogue team basically made fanon Dirk canon, both to specifically upset people and because they too believed him and Vriska were character parallels (fucking HOW). Which was such a kick in the goddamn nuts to someone like me, who was both a character analyser and a man who shared a lot of Dirk's insecurities/paranoia, struggles with his sexuality, and particular brand of depressive disorder. I don't know how/if the fandom changed, but when the postcanon shit dropped, the monster they made Dirk into basically became the smug 'I told you so' of the fandom. I left because it was legitimately deeply harmful to my mental health. And that's not even TOUCHING how bad people butchered Jake.

(Apparently optimisticDuelist was also on the epilogue/post-canon team and was trying to fight to make Dirk and Jake better, but got literally harassed into silence and kicked off under claims that as a man, him pushing for more nuance was him 'threatning people (women) in the workplace' or some other shit like that. So that gives you an idea of the type of people working on the post-canon content.)

#anon #reply #homestuck #dirk strider #yes im maintagging this fuck you all #i'm fucking right and i have a right to be pissed about this shit still

[elbiotipo]

More details about the ANCE Johann Sebastian Mastropiero, the dear ship of our heroes Beto, Ragua, Suisini and probably some more.

An HA-116 "Barrilete" class ship. Built by Haedo Astronáutica as a strategic multi-role transport, with production massively ramped during the Machine War to supply remote outposts. Widely licensed and appreciated by its rugged nature, there are thousands still on service, many on civilian hands.

Looks like a mix of the Space Shuttle and the Ilyushin Il-76, but in a retro space opera style (sleek yet all "burned" from lots and lots of atmospheric reentries). The size is about of a C-17 Globemaster, with some more crew space.

The engines are fusion rockets working on as of-yet undiscovered tech, but commonplace by the future of the setting (not more complex than modern jet engines). Once in space, to enter FTL, it docks with a drive ring in orbit (common for this kind of ships)

Full travel time for a standard mission, is about 3-5 days until you need refuelling. It all depends of course where and how you want to go but that's about the max without dangerously stretching it.

It takes off and lands from any kind of airfield, even unpaved ones; in fact, this is what the ship was designed for, to deliver any kind of cargo to any place, no matter how remote. As long as there's some kind of flatish surface, it can land and take off.

The interior is very, very cramped. It has 4 cabins for crew and 8 for passengers (with 16 seats/beds), but they are standard "pod" designs, roughy 2x2m; you get your own pod with two acceleration couches, a TV, a hilariously tiny bathroom, and that's it. Think a capsule hotel with some more space. It's not for luxury travel.

No artificial gravity either. Travel is relatively short so you don't have to worry that much about muscle degradation, but there might be some gym equipment stored around.

The cargo bay is the most spacious place, because that's what's the ship's for. It can fit up to 6 shipping containers or equivalent cargo (depends what's in).

When it's empty, it's fun to hang out there (not like there's much space in the ship)

Like I said, outside it's decorated in a fileteado style, with celeste, silver and red, the colors of the Esteloplatense Confederation. It might have some details reminding old Rioplatenses buses and trucks..

Inside, of course, it feels cozy. Beto, of course, has some malvón flowers, a estamptita of San Carlos de los Astronautas, a Mary statue and a crucifix (everything helps) and a flag of River Plate on the cockpit.

Beto's pod cabin is full of whatever memories and stuff he finds on his travels (all safely stored of course). Suisini's pod is basically a sun-room with crystals for focusing different wavelenghts of light, it kinda has a hippie vibe. Ragua has a bathtub, and she finds it depressingly tacky compared to what she's used to.

Now as for its service story (no dates, assumes all this happens around 600-700 years After Gagarin):

Built for the Machine War, served for years (on the command of Beto's grandfather) on many supply missions in the counterspin front, mostly supplying bases and building sensor outposts, but also in a few hostile landing missions.

Returned to the Confederation Astral Prefecture, served as a reserve transport ship for a few more years.

Refitted for civilian service and sold in an auction of surplus military equipment

Bought by a group of former pilots, including Beto's grandpa, who started a transport cooperative. Refitted and put to work once again.

After a crash, it languishes in an hangar at Aerolito for a few more years.

Beto takes a loan, repairs it and rejoin the coop, and it flies once again.

It should be roughly 40-50 years old. And still flying...

#campoestela #cosas mias #worldbuilding #science fiction

[gamergirlbonestaskforce141riot]

Chapter 6 Part 3: Agmine Consectamur (We hunt in packs)

Longer than I expected :( https://archiveofourown.org/works/47442772

Previous / Masterlist / Next

3pm

The atmosphere in Latvia felt heavy, with the cloudy sky over them promising rain at one point in the near future. Ghost wished the temperature was lower. Humidity in a forest would complicate things to cover their tracks. On the other hand, it would be easier to spot the enemy’s presence.

He was standing on the tarmac next to Price, smoking his last cigarette in a while, waiting for Riot. The helicopter that was going to take them to their destiny was already there with a full tank, a grey SH-60B Seahawk with no military colours or flags painted on it. Ghost hadn’t met the pilot yet, but he could see the co-pilot and the sensor operator who were checking the systems and getting the bird ready to fly.

Soap’s silouette appeared from inside the hangar where the small plane that had brought them to Latvia was stored now, being cleaned and refilled. The Sergeant started running at full speed at them, and Price groaned, exhaling smoke slowly while holding his cigar.

‘‘Wonder if he’s missing his tablet’’

Ghost side-eyed his Captain but said nothing, his balaclava hooked over the bridge of his nose while he finished his cigarette. Soap reached them, a wide grin on his face.

‘‘Laswell and Riot are arguing!’’

Price and Ghost looked at each other, and then back to MacTavish. Kate Laswell wasn’t one to raise her voice to anybody, and Riot had proved in the months with the Task Force to be a calm, collected and taciturn individual, which Soap had insisted was not her normal self. Maybe that was why he was grinning.

‘‘What are they arguing about?’’, Price sighed, his free hand pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘‘And why are you happy about that?’’

‘‘I have no idea about why, both of them told me to fuck off of the hangar’’, Soap shrugged, still smiling wide. ‘‘I’m just glad the fire is still there, I was getting worried therapy wasn’t working!’’

‘‘Fire?’’ Ghost threw the butt of his cigarette to the ground and pulled down his balaclava, adjusting the skull plate over it.

‘‘In boot camp she would blow up at the drop of a hat, must be the Spanish blood’’ Soap looked back at the hangar, right when Riot was storming out of it, clearly fuming, with Laswell jogging behind her. They couldn’t make out what they were saying, and kept observing when Sergeant Vega abruptly turned in the middle of the tarmac to spat something back at the Station Chief. ‘‘And I was missing that, she gets fucking hilarious the more furious she gets, she starts forgetting to speak English and ends up yelling at you in Spanish’’

Christine yelling at someone, blue eyes sparkling with fury, blonde hair glorious like a lion’s mane, the lips he had just half seen a pouty red he’d love to appease.

Ghost shook his head slowly, eyes locked on Riot and Laswell while they kept approaching. The Station Chief was clearly not happy, but Riot’s face was unreadable beneath the half balaclava that covered her from neck to below her nose, and the sunglasses with blue coloured lenses.

‘‘The pilot is clearing the flight with the control tower, he’ll be here any minute’’ Laswell’s voice had the same tone as always, but her eyes darted from time to time to Sergeant Vega, who was clearly ignoring her. ‘‘You two have your orders, make contact when you land. I have to make a call’’

When she stepped aside to make that phone call, the three men turned to Riot, who was taking off her sunglasses to rub her eyes.

‘‘Well?’’ Price raised an eyebrow, grunting while fishing his lighter out of his pocket to light his cigar again, but his voice was gentle, seeing how tense Sergeant Vega was. ‘‘Care to explain, love?’’

Soap wrapped an arm around Riot’s shoulders, worried by the haunted look in the blue eyes of his friend. With both Price’s tone and Soap’s touch she seemed to relax slightly, but her eyes searched for Ghost’s.

‘‘She is asking for something I’m not sure I can give anymore. I know this is a test’’ Riot shook her head when Price tried to speak again. ‘‘No, let me finish, sir, Dr. Heather told me I needed to speak up. I know this is a test, and you’re sending me with Ghost because he is more than able to finish whatever I can’t’’

‘‘You can’’ Ghost’s deep voice interrupted her, and he kept talking over her when she started to protest. ‘‘Fucking stop selling yourself short already’’

‘‘But I…’’

‘‘I said STOP’’ He was towering over her now, his brown eyes locked on hers, unblinking. ‘‘Whatever it is that she has asked you to do, you can do it. I’ll be there. End of the discussion’’

A flash of anger crossed her eyes and her jaw clenched visibly under the tight fit of her half balaclava, but it disappeared as fast as it had emerged. Now, there was a look of wonder in her eyes, and Soap was trying hard not to smirk, feeling Ghost’s eyes on him too, daring him to try.

‘‘Aww, the Lt is getting soft…’’ Of course he had to, although he flinched at the freezing cold stare Ghost was giving him. Gabi would love to know.

‘‘I agree with Ghost’’ Price grabbed Riot’s vest straps and dragged her closer, releasing her from Soap’s grip. Once he had her close, looking up at him, Price smiled. ‘‘You’ll do fine, kid. We trust you’’

For a second he thought it had been the wrong thing to say, as her eyes looked sad and glossy instantly, but the way they narrowed showed him maybe he had hit the jackpot. She was smiling under the mask.

‘‘I’ll try to be worthy of that trust, sir’’

‘‘Good girl. Now get ready, once the fucking pilot arrives you both are leaving’’

‘‘Speaking of which... is the pilot the guy speaking with Gaz?’’ Soap pointed in the general way of the air control building, where two men were walking in their direction. One of them was Gaz, the other was a man slightly shorter than him, with curly black hair and tan skin. Both were chatting and looking at something on Gaz’s phone.

‘‘Rojas?’’ Riot blinked, a surprised tone in her voice that made the other three men look at her and then back at the pilot and Gaz. Once they were close enough, the man she had called Rojas smiled widely, showing a flawless white set of teeth and offered his hand to shake while taking of his Rayban aviator -a bit banged- glasses with his free one. His eyes were as dark as his hair, and his smile sincere and a bit cheeky.

‘‘Vega! Nice to see you again!’’ His dark eyes scanned what he could see of her face, stopping at the half balaclava, and Ghost felt himself getting tense. Why did she know him? How long? How close? Why did he care?

‘‘Laswell is still using you?’’ She shook the offered hand firmly, and then turned to look at her teammates. ‘‘This is Diego Rojas, he has been my pilot before’’

My pilot

Why were there ashes in his mouth if he had already thrown his cigarette away?

She was introducing them one by one, all shaking hands, and then it was his turn.

‘‘And this is Lieutenant Riley, you can call him Ghost’’ Her hand fell on his left wrist while he was shaking the pilot’s hand with his right. She hadn’t touched the others when introducing them.

She hadn’t touched the others.

Before he realized what he was doing, his left hand grabbed the back hook of her battle belt and pulled gently, and she stepped back almost nothing, barely noticeable while the others were chattting, to where he wanted her. Close to him. And she allowed it.

Ghost looked down at Riot to find her looking up at him, his hand still grabbing her belt. The corners of her eyes narrowed as her gaze softened, and he felt so stupid and weak that he was tempted to just push her away, but he didn’t, and when she leaned back just a little bit so her shoulder was almost between his arm and side he felt stupid, and weak, but good.

‘‘Are you two ready to go?’’ Rojas asked, and Riot nodded, putting her sunglasses on again.

‘‘As ready as we will be, I guess… Rojas, did you paint her? Oh my God, she looks awful’’ She looked at the Seahawk while they approached it, and patted softly the open door. ‘‘Hi, Stork’’

‘‘Stork?’’ Price snorted, arms crossed while Ghost secured both their backpacks inside. Rojas laughed merrily while putting on his flight jacket and climbing on board to his post.

‘‘That’s my girl! She’s a stork because she delivers babies everywhere!’’

Both Soap and Gaz laughed, helping Ghost check everything was in order while Riot sat down and started fastening her belts, and then both Sergeants returned with Price while the Lieutenant secured himself in his seat.

‘‘Well then deliver my babies safe and sound and back, will you?’’ The Captain sent Soap and Gaz back with Laswell at a safe distance, and approached the open door of the chopper to look at Ghost and Riot. ‘‘Contact me when you land. And remember to be careful and come back. That’s an order’’

‘‘Yes, sir’’ Riot answered, her eyes hidden by her sunglasses but by the tone of her voice Price imagined she was smiling. Ghost just nodded at him, and then the Captain closed the door and hit it twice, signaling the pilot it was secured, and ran back to where his men and Laswell were waiting as the rotors started to girate.

Inside, Ghost and Riot secured the headsets over their heads, switching on the comm so they could speak during the trip.

‘‘You speak with helicopters?’’ He snorted, trying to not sprawl over the tight space too much to allow her space for her legs, but she didn’t seem to care, her knee pads pressed against his thighs.

‘‘I also speak with ghosts’’ She laughed softly. ‘‘Stork has taken me to many missions and brought me back, so I make sure I greet her and thank her so she keeps doing the same’’

As the helicopter rose into the air, Price sent Soap and Gaz to the barracks to rest until they had to take their turn overseeing the communications, and after the two younger men had left, he looked at Laswell.

‘‘You better start explaining why you thought it was a good idea to rile up my Sergeant right before a mission’���

‘‘Don’t puff up your feathers, mother hen’’ Laswell sighed, looking tired. ‘‘Look, John, I can’t tell you all the details, you have no clearance’’

‘‘Bullshit. You start speaking or I contact the pilot and make them turn back’’

Kate Laswell looked at the Captain’s blue eyes that were promising a thunderous gale if she didn’t do as he commanded, rank be damned, kind of friendship be damned. She knew how protective he was, she had bet upon it many times before to get what she needed from him. She just hadn’t expected to be this strong after such a short time.

‘‘I need to know if she’s broken’’

‘‘What?’’ Price blinked, and then crossed his arms, towering over her just with his mere presence more than with his height, frowning.

‘‘I need to know if she still can follow orders and do her job if ordered to’’

‘‘Was she offended because you told her that?’’ Price snorted ‘‘I would be offended’’

‘‘No… she asked me to not break my promise. And I’m afraid I’ll have to. You have to keep her in a tight leash, John. That woman is a wounded wolf and will bite if the opportunity arises’’

‘‘What promise was that, Kate?’’

‘‘I can’t tell you’’ Laswell shook her head, checking her phone when the device pinged at receiving a text message. ‘‘Just keep her leashed. She’ll listen to you’’

#cod mw2 #cod oc #cod original character #cod soap #cod ghost #cod fanfic #cod fanfiction #simon riley x oc #simon ghost riley #cod price #captain john price #captain price #soap mctavish #johnny soap mactavish #soap mw2 #call of duty #call of duty modern warfare #call of duty fanfic #call of duty original character #call of duty modern warfare 2 #call of duty fanfiction

[dark-night-star-light]

Spirit Animals: Heart of the Land (Reread pt. 14)

DISCLAIMER: WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR ENTIRE SERIES EXCEPT TALES OF THE GREAT BEASTS AND THE BOOK OF SHANE.

Masterpost

Chapter 1

“Soon the leaders of the four main governments of Erdas, plus Stetriol, would meet for the first time since they’d gone into hiding during the turmoils of the Devourer’s invasions and the Wyrm’s attack” (1). Didn’t Stetriol participate in those invasions?

“Song remembered to make her steps small and dainty, not the sweeping strides she felt like taking” (1). Isn’t she in her private chamber??? Why does it matter?

“His eyes narrowed as he saw the emerald and ocean of her embroidered robe - green was not a favored color at the moment” (2). Is Song wearing an ocean-toned robe meant to foreshadow her spirit animal being a water dragon? Also, why did Song risk wearing the green if she knew her father would be angry?

“Always he treated her this way, as if she were an object - a beautiful doll - and not his living, breathing daughter” (3). Honestly, Song’s story is so tragic.

Chapter 2

“ . . . each built in the style of one of the four main lands of Erdas. The brightly colored flags of Nilo, Zhong, Eura, and Amaya hung from a wide gateway . . . ” (4). Nothing for Stetriol? Not even a flag?

“If Conor needed her, she vowed to herself, she could be there for him” (5). The Wyrm taking a personal toll on them could be a source of further bonding, I think.

“‘ . . . if a certain black-and-white bear hadn’t stuffed herself with an entire forest of bamboo and then needed three days to recover’” (6). Three days??? From a single meal???

“ . . . Abeke had gone to see Kirat and Cabaro in Nilo” (6). I still don’t like Kirat, but I want to know how Uraza and Cabaro acted around each other . . .

“‘No Greencloak flag,’ Meilin observed” (7). What about a Stetriolan flag?

“ . . . only one of them was Marked . . . ” (7). There’s no way they could know that at first glance.

“‘Its venom turns its victims to stone, and they can only be saved by an antidote’” (7). I love how Spirit Animals made up its own animal.

The Oathbound all having names that are positive qualities is so funny to me.

“‘I’m not a brat,’ Rollan said. He glanced aside at Abeke. ‘Are you a brat?’ ‘No,’ Abeke answered. ‘And I don’t snivel, either’” (8). I love the humor in this series. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard to be funny.

The fact that four kids defeated five adults within ten seconds without drawing blood at all is just. Sad (for the adults). Although most of  the Oathbound aren’t marked, so maybe that’s it . . .

“[Princess Song] turned a frowning gaze on the guards” (11). I wonder if Song ordered the Oathbound to put on this show with her, to get the four to trust her.

“‘She has no intention of coming down here’” (13). Essix being Essix is hilarious.

“‘You, patient?’ Abeke heard Rollan say, and then Meilin said something in response that made him laugh” (14). I want to know what that was.

“ . . . but she walked swiftly, sweepingly . . ” (14). Symbolism for Song disobeying her father? 

“‘We will share a room,’ she said firmly” (15). There’s a line in a later book that implies that they don’t like sharing, so I found this funny.

“‘We are not called the Heroes of Erdas because we spent the Second Devourer War or the struggle against the Wyrm hiding in a bunker . . . ’” (16). Abeke somehow manages to be humorous while doling out threats.

Chapter 3

“ . . . a vision that had led them to victory” (18). Ironic, considering that vision was actually a trick sent by Kovo, to set them up to fail.

“‘We defeat the Wyrm every day that we go on’” (20). Conor having PTSD(?) from the Wyrm’s invasion is so realistic and I love that it’s explored.

“Her bond with Uraza had been shattered” (20). Wasn’t Conor’s bond also technically shattered?

“‘I fought a duel against him, and it was the angriest I’ve ever been in my entire life . . . ’ . . . ‘Shane was my first friend.’ . . . ‘But you are my truest friend’” (20). So like a best friend? Abeke and Conor BFFs canon? Also, complex feelings about Shane, my beloved.

“‘This is where they put us?’” (20). Song’s still pretending she’s on their side, so why did she allow Brunhild to put them in this room?

“ . . . ‘when I tried it I almost cut my own hand off’” (21). Weirdest grammar ever. But also, I want Rollan to use that move in a fight later in the series, as like a full-circle moment.

“‘ . . . then why did they invite us and the other Greencloaks to the Citadel? What is really going on here?’” (22). Meilin being competent, my beloved. Can’t believe she guessed (kind of) what was gonna happen.

Chapter 4

“The imperial princess had helped the four Greencloaks at the gate. If Meilin was right and something strange was going on, then she might be a valuable ally” (23). Meilin being so close but so far is just. *gurgling sounds*

“ . . . then opened a wooden door carved with Zhongese water dragons . . . ” (24). Foreshadowing? 

“Her father had been reporting to the emperor, bringing six-year-old Meilin with him so she could see the vast palaces” (25). I feel like this moment should’ve been expanded on more.

“‘I have admired you for a long time,’ Princess Song said softly” (25). I have a feeling Song’s not lying about this . . .

“She couldn’t stop staring at the spiced bun. If he took a step forward, he would squish it” (26). I love how much thirteen-year-old energy this gives.

“Meilin gave him a bright smile so he wouldn’t suspect that his had been the bun that dropped on the floor” (26). How is that going to make him less suspicious?

“Since Zerif used us to spread the Wyrm’s parasites, across Erdas, there have been big changes in the world” (29). So why can’t he just explain that to the leaders?

“‘As a group beholden to no nation, but with unparalleled access to all of them, they spread this corruption farther than any other force could have . . . ’” (31). Okay, so they’re worried about the Greencloaks’ being allowed everywhere? But isn’t that, like, everyone?

“‘The Nectar of Ninani is no longer needed. The Greencloaks, too, are not needed as they once were’” (32). Honestly, he sort of kind of has a point.

“‘We cannot break up the Greencloaks!’ Princess Song insisted” (33). She’s actually really smart, speaking in defense of the Greencloaks before framing them is a good way to deflect suspicion.

I like how Song only risked her father’s wrath because she knew he’d be dead soon. 

Chapter 5

“Her lithe, pantherlike jaguarundi, an animal from Amaya, crouched and then leaped toward the Ambassador of Stetriol, snarling” (35). I have a feeling Song was only trying to kill her father and just simply trying to scare the other leaders.

“‘Call forth your spirit animals!’ Olvan roared at the other Greencloaks. ‘Defend the leaders!’” (35). Did the other leaders not hear Olvan say this? Or maybe they just thought he was putting on a show?

Okay, so the leaders didn’t let the Greencloaks have their spirit animals out, but allowed them to bring weapons into the meeting? That just seems so stupid. What’s the point of that, then?

The fake Greencloaks literally bolted the second the emperor was dead, which just seems so short-sighted. Like, it was obvious that they were only gunning for the emperor and nobody else.

When Song starts going on about how the Greencloaks’ true color is “bloodred” not green, all I can think about is the Redcloaks, whose true color is actually bloodred. There’s probably some symbolism in there somewhere.

Chapter 6

“As Princess Song issued crisp commands . . . ” (40). Was Song also trying to impress the other world leaders?

“ . . . leaving Lenori and the other Greencloaks to hold off their pursuers” (40). This feels like Olvan and Lenori predicted something like this would happen and had a plan . . . or they’re really quick thinkers.

“She swallowed and then clenched her teeth, as if holding in tears. Then he remembered that she’d seen her own father cut down in the battlefield - maybe the death of the emperor was making her relive that awful moment” (41). Maybe it was because of what Song said to her after her father died? Because Song appeared to be saying something harsh to Meilin . . .

“‘All those Greencloaks were new recruits’” (41). Then why did Olvan bring them??? Isn’t the Greencloak contingent supposed to be made of trusted members? And why weren’t they with the Greencloak contingent? They literally arrived halfway through the meeting.

“‘Someone is trying to sabotage the Greencloaks . . . ’” (41). I love how this ends up being pretty inaccurate, in the end.

“‘For many years, this gift has been passed down from one leader of the Greencloaks to the next . . . ’” (42). Did Tembo find it? He was the founder of the Greencloaks, right?

Chapter 7

“The door had not been there before! Had this Greencloak hidden it somehow?” (45). Anka can hide doors? Also he immediately refers to her as a Greencloak . . . interesting

“‘Yeah, they warned me about you,’ she said sharply” (47). Who? How do the Oathbound know about Rollan’s personality? Maybe it’s just common knowledge? Or maybe Anka actually joined the Greencloaks to keep the masquerade up?

“He grinned back at her. Having Anka around to aggravate was going to be fun” (50). LOL.

“Rollan caught her eye. ‘She’s telling the truth, as far as I can see’” (51). I know Rollan’s intuition isn’t foolproof, but usually he’s only wrong because he’s distracted or overwhelmed or emotional, none of which apply here, so how was he so wrong about Anka?

Chapter 8

“They tracked the five Greencloaks all afternoon . . . she could run for a long time without getting tired” (52). They ran for an entire afternoon??? Okay, I get they have spirit animals, but that seems impossible . . .

“‘They would give it to him, wouldn’t they? They wouldn’t let him die?’” (53). Conor sounds so innocent in this quote . . . I love how he seems cool and herolike to outsiders but he seems so innocent around the other three.

“‘ . . . long ago, the four regions of Erdas bestowed the Greencloaks with gifts as thanks for ending the First Devourer War . . . ’” (54). Okay, so I was sort of right about Tembo, since he was the Greencloaks’ founder, he must’ve gotten the gifts.

“‘Four items,’ Rollan put in. ‘wielded by four heroes?’” (54). Wait, this is literally foreshadowing of the end of the series.

“‘And you didn’t even have to count on your fingers’” (55). Anka is actually hilarious.

“‘Anyway, the four gifts were symbols that the Greencloaks were of and for all of Erdas’” (55). Oh . . . I was wondering why it was significant that this quest should only happen if a Greencloak fights another Greencloak. This is why . . . right??? Also . . . no Stetriol . . . sadness.

I don’t get how finding gifts that are going to make the Greencloaks even more powerful will show the leaders that the Greencloaks should stand united. Like, that seems weird . . . also why don’t they have the gifts with them??? Like they had the talismans at Greenhaven before they got stolen? Why were they hidden?

“‘For the Greencloaks,’ Abeke, Conor, and Rollan repeated” (56). Anka didn’t repeat it . . . red flag.

Chapter 9

“ . . . ‘but what kind of meat?’ ‘The chewy kind,’ Anka answered” (59). LMFAO.

“Conor, Meilin noticed, had fallen asleep already, with his head on Abeke’s shoulder, his dinner uneaten” (59). Truly, we are getting all the Conor-Abeke moments.

“Something drifted across her vision. It was a faint thread, glinting in the moonlight. Sleepily, she watched it unspool across the clearing. Then another silvery thread floated past, just overhead” (60). I know this is the spider, but this kind of reminds me a little of the scene from Jhi’s story in Tales of the Great Beasts, where Yin is watching the sky and sees silver stars that turn out to be Jhi’s eyes.

“Meilin was not afraid of spiders. At least, that’s what she told herself” (61). Meilin has spider-PTSD.

“‘His name might be Just, but he will not treat you fairly . . . ’” (64). Does Kana dislike Wikam??? Yeah, she’s just acting, but she appears to really hate him. Also, his name is Just??? I thought that was a title.

Chapter 10

“And yeah, he wanted in, too, though at the same time he rather liked his slit-pupiled golden eyes, not to mention the muscles he’d put on since he and his black panther spirit animal had merged. The retractable claws were good, too” (66). I really like that Worthy has a nonchalant attitude about the whole merging business. Usually when a character is different they obsess and stress about it so much to the point where it becomes annoying, and this is such a refreshing way to handle that.

“Their late, great leader . . . ” (66). LOL.

“‘So who set them up? Who wants to destroy the Greencloaks?’” (68). I love how we’re made to think that the perpetrator hates the Greencloaks for the majority of the arc. It really sets up the final twist to be even more shocking.

“‘Or a Redcloak?’ Worthy suggested. ‘No,’ Stead said flatly. ‘Definitely not’” (68). Why is Stead so certain of that?

“He wanted to be the hero” (69). Why’s that, though? Also, I don’t know why, but Worthy feels so different from Devin Trunswick. Like, he doesn’t have the same energy. I can’t quite put my finger on why.

“‘The gifts have apparently been lost for many years . . . ’” (69). Yeah, but why??? Why didn’t the Greencloaks just hold onto them?

“‘Rock and claw! Circle! And that other thingie!’” (69). How dare they. How dare the authors spell thingy incorrectly. They have declared war (joking). Also, Yumaris is hilarious.

Chapter 11

“‘I feel closer to you all than I’ve ever felt before’” (71). Ah, Rollan.

“Essix was still tangled, no help to him” (72). Just put her in passive state??? Then take her out again??? This is literally a nonissue-

“ . . . paying the captain extra to finish loading their goods quickly . . . They only had enough money for one cabin . . . ” (74). That’s a weird contradiction to have in the same paragraph. Though I guess it makes sense to some extent.

“‘A cute, little, fluffy, brown mouse,’ Rollan went on, grinning, and Meilin gave in, laughing” (74). This arc is giving us so many ship moments.

“Finally the falcon had stopped struggling and had gone into passive state . . . ” (75). Why did Essix take so long???

“Where the Wyrm was waiting for him” (76). Dun, dun, duuuuuuuun.

“To his astonishment, she pushed his hand aside, leaned closer, and put her lips to the very spot where the Wyrm had marked him” (77). I like how this isn’t really made out by the narrative to be a romantic gesture. It fits very nicely with my Conor-Abeke QPR headcanon.

“But thanks to his friends, he was finally, truly, free of the Wyrm” (78). Not a fan of how quickly he recovers, because healing is always a long process, but that’s slightly nit-picky of me, so.

Chapter 12

“Uraza flexed her claws, and the boy yowled and squirmed, but she didn’t let him up” (80). Parallels to Hunted, when Uraza did the same thing to Devin Trunswick.

“‘Get this overgrown house cat off me, and I’ll tell you’” (80). This is so funny, considering that Devin’s own spirit animal was also an “overgrown house cat”.

“‘The quest for the four gifts is far more important than you realize. You must find them . . . ’” (82). Anka being suspicious . . . she’s the first one to insist they continue the gift search.

“‘Have you forgotten who he really is? Devin Trunswick. He’s a bully, and a liar, and he betrayed all of Trunswick when he joined Zerif.’ ‘I was having a bad day,’ Worthy mumbled” (82). I believe in angry Conor superiority. Also, what kind of a shitty excuse is that??? A bad day?

“No matter what else he had done, Shane had died a hero’s death” (83). This line made me so weirdly sad the first time I read the series. It was, like, the first time I truly processed that Shane was gone.

“‘Meilin, take out the gift,’ Abeke ordered. When her friend had taken out the rock and unwrapped it, Abeke pointed to it. ‘The rock is hidden. Unrevealed, as Olvan said. We have to be the same way. As the Heroes of Erdas, we’re too easy to track. We have to go in disguise. We can’t be Greencloaks anymore’” (85). Abeke is so dramatic, taking out the rock and making comparisons like that. (It’s also a bit cringy, but whatever.)

Chapter 13

“‘Your cloak is basically rags. You should throw it away anyway, and get a new one when this is all over’” (86). I feel like they only started emphasizing Rollan’s connection to Tarik’s cloak in this arc, as preparation for the final climax. I don’t think they really talked about how important it was in the Wyrm arc? 

“ . . . in Stetriol, on what they had thought would be a suicide mission. It has been a matter of life and death. This situation wasn’t so dire” (87). Parallels. Also, Rollan kept his cloak in his pack in that scene in The Evertree, didn’t he?

“His cloak had a patch of leather sewn onto the shoulder so she wouldn’t shred it when she perched there . . . She was not a comfortable passenger” (88). Then how did she perch on his shoulder before he became a Greencloak? Maybe his other cloak also had something similar . . .

“When they didn’t answer, he slumped, as if disappointed. ‘I just want to help, that’s all’” (89). That’s actually kind of sad. And I’m not even a Devin apologist.

“Anka gave them a few coins . . . ” (89). What’s this about having no money, then?

“ . . . Conor looked like a slightly better-dressed Euran visitor” (89). Why is Conor better dressed?

“‘No,’ Conor said hastily. ‘We don’t know anything about Greencloaks. We’ve, uh, never even met a Greencloak.’ He gulped. ‘I’m not even sure we know what-’” (91). How did Conor not realize how awkward he sounded? Like, I know he’s not the best liar, but he appears to be so bad that it feels like he’s deliberately trying to get them caught. Also, was he about to say “We don’t know what a Greencloak is?” Because that’s just. *facepalms*

“‘A lot of these people know that I’m a Greencloak’” (92). Then why aren’t they turning him in?

“His mother, teaching math. He’d seen some strange things in his life, but this was possibly the strangest” (94). Why’s that? Also, imagine teacher assistant Rollan. That would be so cute.

“‘She found us,’ Ngozi began. ‘because we’re-’” (94). His mom traveled and found Marked kids before the Greencloaks?

“‘With that darling girl, Meilin?’ Rollan felt a blush prickling on his face. ‘Mo-om!’ he protested” (95). His mom sees him for the first time in months and immediately asks about Meilin??? Also, wow, a normal mother-son dynamic. 

Chapter 14

“Rollan and Conor. Greencloaks. Stupid. So stupid” (97). I love how he immediately went “Greencloaks are all so fucking dumb”. That energy is what we need.

“Worthy had been following Rollan and Conor since they’d entered the city, hardly noticing the odd looks from passersby” (97). How did Rollan and Conor not notice him with all the looks he’s getting???

“ . . . and really, nobody needed to know about the tail” (97). If you say so.

“ . . . Worthy could see why Shane had been in love with her. Whether he’d admitted it to himself or not” (98). I have. Too much to say. First of all, just. The tragedy of Abeke and Shane. Forced onto opposite sides of a war, where circumstances made them have this complicated relationship. Loving each other throughout. Never quite being able to hate the other. And, wow, people being able to see how much they cared for one another. Like Conor in Blood Ties. And now Worthy. Shane never really getting over himself and constantly wanting to make Abeke proud, I just. It’s too good. Abeke is almost the reason for his redemption, and having that come full circle when he sacrificed himself for her. Just. Amazing. I’ll need to talk about that more when I talk about Shane in depth.

“Six adults, armed and well trained, versus two stupid kids who hadn't even called forth their spirit animals yet. Worthy waited another moment, just so they’d know how much danger they were in before he heroically rescued them” (99). Sir, I think you’re forgetting that they literally saved the world twice. And also, you’ve never even won a single one-on-one duel before??? Where is this ego coming from?

“A move he’d learned from the terrifying Meilin, no doubt” (99). Yeah, wasn’t that the move that Meilin uses on the Oathbound at the beginning of the book?

“Better get in there and be a hero quick, before the Greencloak boys rescued themselves” (100). Yeah, Worthy. 

“ . . . as if they were going to protect him!” (100). Feel like I’ve talked about this before, but I despise characters that are arrogant and overestimate their abilities. I get it’s a character flaw and whatnot, but it just annoys me everytime. Especially when there are more competent characters around. 

“And suddenly it wasn’t about being a hero anymore” (102). Ah.

“They were surprisingly skilled, Worthy could see at once” (103). These kids are being trained for battle and they aren’t even Greencloaks (or Redcloaks) . . . I don’t quite like that??? Like it feels very icky. 

“ . . . not wanting to reveal how pleased he was by Conor’s comment” (105). Poetic, that Worthy, who Conor was once forced to please, is now trying to please Conor.

“It was Dawson for whom Devin had finally decided to be Worthy” (105). Aw. That’s cute.

Chapter 15

“‘Nobody sees me as I am,’ Anka finally said” (108). That went so deep, so suddenly, for no reason.

“‘You’re from Zhong!’ Meilin exclaimed, delighted” (108). Then why is her chameleon named Toey? That’s not a Zhongese name . . . 

“And now she knew another reason why Anka didn’t know how to fight - in Zhong, girls weren’t supposed to study the martial arts” (108). But Anka would’ve studied them when she joined the Greencloaks???

“‘The Oathbound will be on our tail soon. Our trail, I mean’” (110). The insinuation is strong with this one. 

“‘Give me the spit, bear,’ he said” (110). I imagine him saying that almost demandingly but in a funny way.

“All six of them had faced such hardships before” (111). This narration is so weird, it almost feels unreliable. Also, if Anka has faced hardships like this, she definitely should know how to fight.

“‘Can you all please shut up?’” (114). She has a point. They need to stop talking.

“Without the Greencloaks to keep the peace, the great countries of Erdas would fracture” (114). Not necessarily . . . but a little, I guess.

Chapter 16

“The masked boy shrugged. ‘I was only trying to help’” (117). I don’t know why, but Worthy just annoys me. Like I know he’s intentionally that way, but he just grates on me.

“Meilin set aside the sword she’d been sharpening obsessively and got to her feet” (117). Someone’s excited. Also the amount of ship moments in this book, both for Conor and Abeke and for Rollan and Meilin is ridiculous.

“He grinned. ‘Reilin, I mean’” (117). Books that use ship names in the story will never not be incredibly cringy. It’s not the fourth wall break you think it is.

“They went along the stream in awkward silence . . . ” (118). Wow, okay. They can’t even acknowledge that they’re in a relationship?

“Rollan felt half afraid, half excited, and half . . . Wait, that was too many halfs” (119). I like that this is a realistic portrayal of early-teenage romance. It’s so refreshing.

 “There were sounds of shouting and yowling - Worthy - and the roar of a big cat - Uraza - and then the clash of weapons” (119). How did they hear that all the way from the waterfall???

“ . . . when Anka struck the spearman from nowhere . . . ” (120). Do the normal Oathbound know that Anka is a spy for them?

“‘Cowards!’ he shouted at them” (121). A consistency with Devin’s character, at least . . . he yells the same thing in Hunted. So he’s always hated cowards: he’s been morally gray since the beginning.

“‘Wikam the Unjust must know about the Heart of the Land’” (123). How did Song get her hands on that knowledge??? She must’ve known about the saying about Greencloak fighting Greencloak, too . . . 

“‘We have to stick together.’ ‘We have to stay true,’ Conor added, ‘like Olvan said’” (123). They can split up and still stay true to each other, though???

“‘There’s a whole army of Oathbound out there. And they’re coming after us’” (125). The Oathbound have to know about all the gifts, right? Because Anka knows, so . . .

Chapter 17

“Princess Song did not turn from the mirror” (126). It was definitely a choice to refer to her as a princess.

“The proper way to speak to a princess was to call her Your Highness. A ruler - an emperor, a king, a queen - was addressed as Your Majesty” (126). This is actually the first time I’d ever learned of this rule, lol.

“The Oathbound were sworn to serve her” (127). I love how they said “her” and not “the leaders of Erdas”. Kind of foreshadowing.

“The chamber in which her father had been killed. By Greencloaks” (128). Unreliable narrator Song?

“‘The Greencloaks are bad’ was the Euran Queen’s contribution” (129). How did she become queen? If she was born into it, she should’ve been educated.

“Yes, she mourned her father” (129). Unreliable narrator Song continues.

“He could only breathe, and blink” (131). Okay, not to be gross, but how is he eating and using the bathroom?

“‘Why Amaya?’” (132). Why did Song pretend she didn’t know about the Heart? What purpose did that serve?

“You . . . and all the Greencloaks . . . are charged with treason, and with the coldhearted murder of the Emperor of Zhong’” (132). Song defended the Greencloaks during the meeting, so why did she antagonize Olvan? 

Chapter 18

“ . . . Anka had led them through the forest, keeping them invisible so any Oathbound scouts would not be able to track them” (133). I think that should take a physical toll on her.

“Worthy pulled something out of the pack and quickly handed it off to Rollan” (134). Worthy’s redemption arc is stored in Rollan’s cloak.

“When he returned, he was wearing an enormous brown cloak he’d picked up in town. It looked bulky and warm in the Amayan heat . . . ” (134). That means he’s wearing two cloaks, because Tarik’s is underneath??? Also, parallels to Against the Tide, when Rollan complained about the heat and Meilin pointed out that he wasn’t wearing a cloak?

“Abeke saw Meilin pat the pouch where she kept the rock . . . Checking to be sure it was still there” (134). Thinking about how Kaz from Six of Crows talked about how doing that makes a person the perfect target for a thief. And Rollan is a thief . . . could we interpret this as a sign of Meilin’s trust in Rollan? I’m probably reading way too much into this.

“‘You’ve missed exactly one meal,’ Meilin said calmly, and started walking again. ‘You’re hardly starving’” (135). Thank you.

“She was now riding on Rollan’s shoulder, looking ruffled and annoyed” (135). Why isn’t she just in passive state???

“‘Cranky,’ complained Worthy” (135). It’s giving Kovo-describing-Meilin energy.

“As a Redcloak, Worthy had taken on aspects of his spirit animal, the black panther” (137). This sentence sort of implies that only the ex-Conqueror Bile-drinkers are allowed to become Redcloaks.

It just occurred to me that the Heroes, despite not liking Worthy, never actually suspect him or the Redcloaks of being the people behind the attack. Not even once. So there has been some trust built before this arc even started.

Chapter 19

“‘Shut up, Worthy,’ Rollan and Abeke said at the same time” (141). Jinx.

“‘I know, I know,’ Worthy muttered. ‘Shut up, Worthy. But I’m not wrong. This is a completely terrible idea’” (142). He’s graduated to self-awareness.

“‘And . . . and I’m sorry for the way I treated you, Conor. You know, back in Trunswick, and the rest.’ ‘You were having a bad day?’” (143). Funny Conor is almost as good as angry Conor.

“‘When the Wyrm took me, I did bad things. And I thought for a while that it made me a bad person. But it didn’t. I am worthy. And maybe, so are you’” (143). That isn’t comparable at all??? Conor had no choice. Worthy had a choice. (I’m not saying Worthy doesn’t deserve a redemption arc, I’m saying the comparison is completely invalid.)

I genuinely don’t understand why they didn’t just wait for the storm to be over. It’s logically the best move. This is a dumb risk to take.

“Ever since then he’d been a little queasy about heights” (147). He wasn’t queasy during Immortal Guardians when he jumped into the net? That happened after the sleep-walking-and-almost-fell-off-a-tower incident, too.

Chapter 20

“And . . . thank you, Worthy, for handing him the cloak earlier” (149). Worthy’s redemption arc being stored in Rollan’s cloak will never not be funny.

“Zerif had once hoped to bank on these stories by bonding four young Conquerors to imposter legends . . . ” (152). I still find it weird that he chose the Stetriolan frog instead of the Zhongese water dragon.

It’s weird that the spirit just gave them the gift after they swore they were good. Like there was no test? And they can lie?

“Others are seeking the Heart. They will try to take it from you” (155). How does Kikimi know that the four are the “good guys”?

Chapter 21

“ . . . now the Oathbound would try to take it, and then arrest the Greencloaks” (157). Do they know about the other three bond tokens? Anka does, so they should, right?

I don’t like how in this arc, the spirit animals feel a lot like tools. Jhi is almost never called out and Essix pretty much obeys Rollan whenever. I don’t know, it just feels like it goes against the whole partnership idea. In the first arc, the spirit animals had things to “tell” their human partners, but here they just . . . don’t.

“Behind him crouched the faint outline that was Anka. Hiding, not fighting” (159). Red. Flag.

“It had turned to quicksand - just as Worthy had feared!” Why didn’t they fall into it when they crossed the bridge, then???

“‘Listen,’ Meilin said. Unsheathing her sword, she glanced around at her friends and their spirit animals. ‘We don’t have to defeat them. We just have to fight through and escape. All right?’” (160). Meilin assuming the leader role . . . I like it, but it does feel like her character development (and Conor’s) has been nuked. Conor hasn’t been leader-y at all this entire arc. And the last one.

How is Meilin able to help Worthy get out of the quicksand without falling in herself?

Okay . . . never mind, she also gets sucked in.

“‘I’m sorry I ever thought you were scary, Meilin . . . ’” (162). I’m pretty sure Meilin wouldn’t take that as an insult.

“ . . . he grinned wildly, his hair tousled, his brown cloak whipping around him” (163). Why is Rollan described like a YA novel love interest, I can’t-

Chapter 22

“‘For the Greencloaks!’ her friends joined in” (164). Not “her friends and Anka” . . . hm.

“ . . . all bearing sharp-pointed pikes that kept [Wikam] clear of the battle” (165). Honestly, he should be called “Wikam the Brave” because he’s a coward.

Oof, this is the third time Abeke’s had a specific target in mind and something has come in her way. (The first two times were both Zerif and now it’s Wikam.)

Chapter 23

“‘Come to me, Greencloak!’ he shouted. ‘And learn how to die!’” (167). So that means the Oathbound are trying to kill them?

“Conor couldn't fight a madman” (168). LOL.

Chapter 24

“If he could figure out how to use it, they might be able to defeat the Oathbound army” (169). He did, though??? Just slam it down on the earth again?

“He’d already been choked once today - this was really too much!” (171). Rollan gets choked a disproportionate amount of times in this series. Like in The Return, he was choked by the guard.

“ . . . followed by a precise strike at that particular place where boys really don’t want to be hit” (172). How did I miss this on my first read-through, oh my gosh-

“He was fierce, but his movements were slowing” (172). Worthy finally winning in fights? Devin quite literally being a loser to Worthy taking on multiple people at once and winning . . . Shane really did a number on him.

“The attacking Oathbound were flung to their knees. But so were his friends” (173). At least we can say he tried.

“Worthy echoed him, yowling with glee” (173). Awwww. Okay. This is where I start liking Worthy (mostly in the next book, but a little in this one, too).

I like that they show Rollan trying and failing to use the amulet.

Chapter 25

“‘Ooh, arrows!’ Abeke exclaimed. She started gathering them up, stuffing as many as she could into her quiver” (175). Abeke just almost-died and her response is to be like Arrows, I love you. Hilarious. 

“ . . . Worthy ripped off the remains of his mask and let out a sound that was part snarl, part yowl, and fiercely triumphant” (177). Drama king.

“‘I hate this,’ she heard Worthy mutter” (179). He’s back, guys.

“‘It’s really dark in here,’ came Worthy’s complaining voice. Then Meilin heard him mutter, ‘Shut up, Worthy’” (179). Well. I can respect the effort.

“She gave it a reassuring pat. ‘It’s all right,’ she said softly. ‘We’re all scared.’ . . . ‘Thanks, Meilin’” (180). I think my heart just melted.

“The furry rope touched her cheek again, and she reached up quickly, grabbed it, and pulled hard” (180). I love how Meilin’s first instinct when confronted with something new is to just pull on it.

Chapter 26

“‘I’ll ask Uraza to check our tail,’ Abeke said. ‘Our trail, I mean’” (181). I don’t care how overused this joke is, it’ll never stop being funny. Also, is Abeke hinting at knowing about Worthy's tail?

“For some reason, the four Greencloaks and Anka were all smiling at him” (182). Okay, they definitely know about the tail. Also, Worthy doesn’t think of Anka as a Greencloak. Hm.

“‘Farewell. Think kindly of me when I’m gone’” (182). My favorite part of Devin’s personality. His drama. It doesn’t change throughout the story. We love that.

“His own family had once possessed an ancestral sword. It had been modeled after a famous sword from Euran history” (183). The Trunswick Blade? Huh.

“ . . . if there was a record of the real gift, it was likely somewhere in Trunswick. He, Worthy, would lead them to it” (183). Unreliable narrator Worthy? We (and Worthy) know that the Trunswick Manor burned down . . . (Well, I know that. Because I read Tales of the Fallen Beasts before this.)

“‘I wanted to be a hero’” (184). Indeed. 

“‘Worthy has a tail?’” (185). Most iconic way to end a book.

Final thoughts and rating:

In love with the concept behind this arc. Bringing four gifts together to represent unity between the four lands and possibly to stop a war is an astoundingly good premise for a story. I also like that Worthy is in this arc. I complained about him a lot, but I do think he’s a genuinely good addition to this arc. His drama and wanting to be a hero really adds a new level of depth to him that wasn’t there before. His could-care-less attitude toward the Greencloaks also balances out the group and brings new perspectives to the table. His tail and his hiding of it also works as symbolism for the trust between him and the four. Song being an unreliable narrator was a tremendously good move, because it almost makes her seem unstable, not that the reader knows that at this point. It was a risky move, but it was executed almost perfectly, in my opinion. This arc in general is clearly a relationship-development arc, even though the relationships are already established. Especially the romantic relationships, if they can even be called that. I like how the romance isn’t shoved in your face and is a very minor part of the story. It might be the aroace in me talking, but I feel like these books just have the perfect amount of romance and it doesn’t overwhelm the story. I also like that Rollan had to work through some kinks and didn’t get the amulet’s powers right on the first try. 

Although it makes sense in a thematic way, I was not a fan of the fact that the four just immediately jumped on board when Olvan gave them their mission. It wasn’t even explained well??? He just said to stay true to each other and to find the gifts and the four just immediately obeyed him. I also don’t like how literally the group took that message. They heard “stay true to each other” and took it as “we must not ever split up” and that just weirded me out. I’m not a fan of the fact that Anka can apparently create illusions? It makes her way too overpowered, in my opinion. The fact that we know Song knows about the gifts and still questioned Olvan about why the four were headed to Amaya makes no sense. How did that serve her? What is the point in trying to make Olvan believe she doesn’t know about the gifts? That really confused me. Kikimi immediately handing the gift over to the four is my biggest gripe with the story. How did she know that they were the “good guys”? If the Oathbound had climbed up and revealed the Heart, Kikimi probably would’ve let them get away with it, as well. How does she know who’s pure of heart? And being pure of heart isn’t a black and white thing either. Some people believe they’re pure of heart and aren’t and vice versa. I find it stupid that there was no test of anything. The spirit animals in this arc. I . . . don’t like it. It goes against the whole human-animal partnership the first arc worked so hard to build. Jhi is barely present and the other spirit animals are only mentioned when they are being useful. I don’t like how the spirit animals feel like tools in this arc. They don’t have the same weight or persona they had in the first arc. 

Rating: 8/10

#draeyem rereads spirit animals #heart of the land #spirit animals series #spirit animals books #sa spoiler #abeke #conor #meilin #rollan #shane #worthy #anka #wikam the just

[othernaut]

Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society: the funniest fucking Wikipedia article I've ever read.

It starts off so, so strong.

You know you're getting into some prime, dry-narrative/hilarious-subject Wikipedia magic here. The sheer absurdity of the phrase slaps you in the face like a single, tyrannical testicle. But what is the subject, if not Hitler's lonely genital? To quote:

"Hitler Has Only Got One Ball", sometimes known as "The River Kwai March", is a World War II British song, the lyrics of which, sung to the tune of the World War I-era "Colonel Bogey March", impugn the masculinity of Nazi leaders by alleging they had missing, deformed, or undersized testicles."

And again...

"The song has been cited as an example of morally-correct disrespect that used political mockery to boost morale in wartime."

So, in short, a meme song. A World War II meme song. About Hitler's balls. Ball. But Hitler's ball does not stand alone! We have so many other nads to talk about, as the lyrics propose:

"Hitler has only got one ball, Göring has two but very small, Himmler is rather sim'lar, But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all."

And which, being magical, beautiful Wikipedia, came...

... with reference images...

... the world's most beautifully captioned reference images...

... for every single line...

... of the song. Fuck me, I need these printed on a flag, that I might wave it around at protests.

The article then just delves into analysis, the kind of in-depth Hitler Study analysis that comes from generations of bone-dry academics with respected positions and better salaries than me picking apart every single word, reference, and poetic intimation of a four-line World War II meme song. For example...

Suggestions, opinions, papers written about Hitler's one ball. Respected academics whistling the ball song in between measured responses. And what the hell is mad studies?

Well, that's going to be me for the rest of the night. But no! We mustn't get distracted! If we do, we miss the gender theory!

The Shakespeare!

The guy trying to profit off of the meme song!

The apocrypha!

And the second verse!

Rommel has four or five, I guess, No one's quite sure 'bout Rudolf Hess, Schmeling's always yelling, But poor old Goebbels has no balls at all.

Which is where we get into the most wonderfully Wikipedia part of it all as, being a hyperlinked encyclopedia of everything, every single reference, diversion, supposition, paper, field of study, side subject and random-ass tangent links into an evening's worth of wide-eyed eurekae initiated, again, by a World War II meme song about testicles. Nothing has made me want to donate two bucks to Wikipedia more than this.

History is a liquid. It takes the shape of its container, that being the cultural context of the present moment. The most magical moments in history, I find, are those points when people act like people - Pompeii's dirty graffiti, the fart enlightenment poem, the sports riots, the little obsessions, in-jokes, and memes. That jolt of connection when you see a 2,000-year-old dick drawn onto a latrine wall and recognize not only what it is but why it is - that is actually, seriously one of the most compelling feelings of human unity there is. People are still people. People were always people. Farts will always be funny. When we're alone and scared, we'll sing songs about balls, and that's unironically what makes us wonderful.

And so, in the same vein, to the same melody, but for a new time, I'd like to submit...

Bezos' dick fell off in space

Jerkin' it on the human race

Elon's has got no feelin'

I don't think Zuck had one in the first place.

#hitler has only got one ball #jeff bezos dick joke #zuckerberg no-dick joke #all part of the narrative #the dick narrative

[fwoosheye]

papyrus in hyrule :>?

Oh ho ho Nyeh heh heh! This gives me tons of ideas! Get ready for my special attack! (Text wall)

Some TotK spoilers at the end — only stuff one sees in tutorial area and one (1) detail from later in the game that I tried to keep vague. That detail will be written with small letters like this but in blue! I'm gonna try putting the spoilers under a readmore but I've noticed tumblr sometimes show it anyway and I don't know why.

Anyway!

First of all, regardless of where or when in Hyrule he ends up, Papyrus would be initially mistaken for a Stalfos. If he were to appear in a spot with hylians they would probably scream and run away (like they do in TP Castle Town for Wolf Link) and Papyrus would assume they're screaming because they're his fans and running away because they're shy. If he were to appear in an area with monsters the monsters would probably be curious but otherwise mostly leave him alone. Papyrus would probably try to teach them how to fight properly (as in the UT style) and have them perfect not killing their opponent just like him, and have a pretty good success rate on that. He would also try to teach them how to make and solve puzzles, with less success. If he were to end up in a dungeon he would have fun solving all the puzzles, sometimes with accidental cheese because the laws of physics is merely a suggestion to Papyrus.

I'd like to imagine that when Link encounters him he is a little thrown off by a monster talking (unless ofc it's the Link from the Oracle games cause he knows plenty of talking skeletons, or OoT Link if it's after Majora's Mask because of the whole Captain Keeta quest, but most other Links only knows 1-2 talking monsters if any), but mostly because the monster is encouraging him and saying how the Great Papyrus will teach him how to be good etc, and then he'd probably be a bit thrown off by the different style of fighting. If it's early on in Link's quest he might even lose fight and wake up in a cage where the bars are far too wide apart to make it useful.

Perhaps Link have already heard from locals about the Nearby Friendly Stalfos that will treat your injuries and then "spare" you if you lose to it three times. Perhaps they have also heard Papyrus talking about wanting to be a part of the Royal Guards, and think it's a recruit who have risen from the dead with the goal to fulfill its final wish or something. The local kids probably adore him once the locals have stopped fearing him and goes around saying Nyeh heh heh. So I imagine Link would befriend him and have various side quests related to him, like finding/making a Royal Guard uniform for him (ST-style or BotW-style or other), helping with puzzles, and depending on which Hyrule it is he might help with "training" "Papyrus' fans" that have flags with his face on but not acting like a proper Royal Guard (basically, take down pirate bases but without killing the enemies). This could also result in a hilarious conversation between Papyrus and Tetra, even if her flag doesn't have a skull on iirc.

Speaking of Tetra, the moment Papyrus realizes the Zelda he is talking to is a Princess he would probably beg to be a part of their Royal Guard. Tetra would say no because she doesn't see herself as a Royal, but she would probably accept him into his crew (and if he could manage to convince her to add a skull to their flag, future pirate flags would indeed be based on his face which is hilarious imo). Most other Zeldas would probably accept him into the Guard after a bit of hesitation — probably less so from the younger Zeldas.

... Ganondorf would just kill him. No mercy there.

Moving on to side characters/races.

Ravio would probably faint by having a loud skeleton appear in his shop. Papyrus would bemoan how it's a bad habit to take a nap when standing and then tuck Ravio in in a bed, maybe scold him for not listening to his body (because why else would you faint take a nap if it isn't due to being overworked?) and then maybe read fluffy bunny to him too. Papyrus would probably keep an eye socket on Sheerow though because he is small, white and might be the bird version of the Annoying Dog. Papyrus would still befriend them pretty fast, though Ravio would not be as fast because he is terrified for a long while even after Papyrus have declared them friends.

The various versions of Impa would probably be both impressed by his battle skills and exasperated by his naivety.

The Yiga would be horrified by his attempts to make banana spaghetti (because he tried to teach them to be good by using cooking lessons like Undyne did to him. Sorta). They have sworn to stay out of his way because it is not worth the risk of being forced into a "cooking lesson" since none of them can take him on.

Malon would be scared at first and then accept him with open arms. She would teach him a lot about farming and that milk is good for the bones. She might even successfully teach him simpler cooking and/or how to make cheese and butter. Papyrus will be a walking Milk promoter afterwards.

He would totally join the Postman/Running Man on his runs. And have him holler about how great they are while they're at it.

He would probably be sad that Stalhorses disappear at dawn and decide to make his own that doesn't. It doesn't quite look like a horse though (more like a mix between a stalhorse and a small wingless version of his Gaster Blaster in Unexpected Guests by @/undertalethingems) and it tends to act more like a puppy. One who will fall over and ask for belly rubs the moment you touch it, unless it wants to play. He would probably not be permitted to register it in ba stable (if it's the BotW-verse) until Link and/or Zelda stared the Stable owners down so they would make an exception. Not that it would really matter because he wouldn't board it or leave it alone out in nowhere so the stable have to fetch it like Link does, but still.

He would absolutely call the Zoras "Undyne's relatives". And he would probably try to feed Gorons sprinkles because that's what Sans' pet rock ate. Not sure how he would react to the Rito or other non-human races in Hyrule, all I know is that he would be a cool dude about all of them.

He would be shut out from Gerudo Town at first, but he would either get in a technically ("Are you a vai or a voe?" "I'm a skeleton! Nyeh heh heh!"). Or, he would earn a membership card like in OoT because of his fight prowess and/or through hard work and obvious lack of ulterior motives. Heck he might even accidentally help keep creeps away because he "convinces" them to do annoying dumb endless tasks when they get too close (eg sweeping sand away from the road between the town and the bazaar).

Here comes the spoilers if tumblr is silly and skips the readmore:

If he were to end up in Hyrule's founding times, he might think the Zonai are related to Asgore — or Asgore-clones that used dye.

He'd might consider the constructs bad Mettaton copies, but he likes the Construct Stewards because they aren't trying to be copies and have a good work ethic.

Big spoiler tried to be made vague comming up now!

My HC is that Papyrus does know a bit of healing, so to have a bit of angst it could be interesting if Papyrus was nearby when a certain character dies, and when he realises he can't heal it on his own he absorbs their SOUL (only with the intention of it being temporarily though) and tries to heal the damage with the boosted power.

#nyohoho i accidentally deleted the first reply i wrote and had to redo it #so i went to bed and have written this is small bursts during the day today #and somehow it is still not better organised this time lmao #thethrillof #fwoosh answers #long post #Papyrus #hyrule #undertale #loz #legend of zelda #sorry about the text wall

[astroboots]

Does your husband know you write smut about fictional characters? 🧍‍♀️

I was just wondering 😭

Hello love!

Yes he does! 🥰There's nothing about my dumb horny ass he doesn't know. My husband often helps me beta-read most of my stories.

One of the most hilarious things is seeing him in the comments section of my google doc, getting hung up my something complete inane and non-sexual (and then getting into a heated discussion with @thirstworldproblemss about it). In chapter 4 of Red Flags he wrote an essay in the comments margin about how the country code for the blanked out number was wrong.

I also have to mention (cause it's just so fucking funny) I volunteered him to pose for @frannyzooey birthday commission because we couldn't find any photos online that had the right angle of spread legs right. I just want you all to imagine, this poor man being constantly told by me and virtually by @krissology to spread his legs WIDER, until he went: "how wide can I even go?! AT THIS POINT IT IS A SPLIT! THIS HURTS! what kind of blowjob is this?!"

Fandom is something I have openly discussed with him early on, and whether it makes him uncomfortable that I write (let's face it, incredibly detailed pornographic works) about fictional men. His answer is that for him, he views it as not much different than him or any other men (or me) watching porn, so for his part -- he's not uncomfortable.

I know this is a subject that comes up from time to time in fandom: Should you share it with your partners? Some writers do, some don't. Like with everything in life, everyone has a different stance on it. I don't think that there is one right way to do it. 😁

#💌 asks

[faustianbroker]

TIMING: Recent LOCATION: Tír na nÓg PARTIES: Levi (@faustianbroker) & Bridie (@itzbridiebitch) SUMMARY: Bridie picks Chuck out as her meal for the evening, and the pair of them end up having a great time. She’s not exactly sure what she’s playing with, but whatever he is, he’s invited himself back for more. CONTENT WARNINGS: NSFW implied

—

At long last, it was Bridie’s favorite night of the month.

She’d made sure all the lights in the club had been swapped from their neon pinks and purples to blues and greens to fit the tropical theme. She had interspersed her usual music lists with songs that evoked the idea of being on island time. She had made certain that all of the frozen drink machines were operational. She stuck a magnolia flower in her hair, and Tír na nÓg was officially open for Island Night.

The night was in full swing, and Bridie was lapping it up like honey. A bridal party had wandered in an hour or so before, and Bridie had found their Buffett themed attire so hilarious, that she’d danced with them until the maid of honor’s shoe strap broke, and the party poopers went off to the side of the club to attempt to fix the wardrobe malfunction. Her appetite partially sated from the bridal party, she made her way back to the bar on the hunt for a margarita and a fun new way to spend the evening.

Her eyes landed on a man sat at the bar, and her eyebrows shot up on her forehead. Oh, hello. She flagged down Stevie from across the room, pointed to the man, and mouthed “FREE DRINKS” as she walked over to sit down next to him. “I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before.” She chirped to the stranger, snatching up the drink that the bartender had left waiting for her.

—

It didn’t take much to get Levi out of the house for a night, considering how loathe it was to be alone. And now that Zack had gone back to his own apartment, the house was terribly empty once more. Ted had been busy with one thing or another, which turned out just as well—a cursory internet search told the demon that a local club was having a Margaritaville night, even if they legally couldn’t call it that. Never one to turn down an opportunity to feel like it was back somewhere a little more tropical, the sea demon had thrown on his best, loud printed button-up and headed out for the club. 

As was his custom, the man-apparent ordered himself a drink first and settled at the bar for a bit to chat up the bartender and start scoping out the other patrons. He wasn’t going to leave this place alone, that much he knew. 

He’d only been there for ten minutes tops, and turning back to the bar briefly to grab his glass, he failed to see the woman sauntering her way over to him. Her voice begged his attention, though, and he was quick to grant that wish as she slipped into the seat beside him. The bartender was back in a flash, leaving a glass in front of her, and Levi smiled. 

“You haven’t,” he confirmed, smiling around the rim of his glass as he took a sip before gesturing to the rest of the establishment. “Fun place, though—shame I waited this long to check it out.” Leaning one arm onto the bar, he gave her a subtle once-over. “So what, you spend a lot of time here, then?” His polite smile turned into a smirk as he cocked his head at her expectantly. 

—

He was just as handsome up close as he’d been from across the club. And it looked like he knew how to have a good time, based on his shirt. This was going to be fun! “Well thank you! We haven’t been open incredibly long- just long enough to have a few dedicated regulars. But I plan on throwing this event once a month. Mostly because then no one can complain when ‘Volcano’ comes on.” 

Bridie’s face broke into a wide grin. “I do. Kind of have to- I’m the owner of this fine establishment.” She crossed her legs, lifting her glass in a little salute before taking a sip. “I’m supposed to make sure everything’s running smoothly.” Supposed to was a very important part of the phrasing. Supposed to wasn’t a lie. All owners were supposed to oversee their operations. Plus, in her personal opinion, sampling what her customers sampled and partying with them gave her an idea of what kind of experience  they were offering. It was practically quality control!

“You can call me Bridie,” she said, holding out her hand to shake. “What can I call you?” She asked, careful to mind her phrasing. He seemed interesting. She didn’t really want his name. It would make everything so much more complicated if she asked for his name. People weren’t usually keen to party when they’d had their identity stolen.

—

“Hard to disagree with you on that,” Levi said with a laugh. Clearly it had worked on him, if that was any testament to the theme night’s effectiveness. His brows rose as she announced herself as the owner, realizing now that he might have to make an actual effort to not be a bastard, lest he get banned from the place. It could sometimes be a challenge, when the instincts kicked in.

“Oh? I’m flattered to have earned your attention, then,” the sea demon schmoozed, shaking her hand and offering up a quick wink. “Chuck,” he answered in turn. “You know… of all the places to open a nightclub, Wicked’s Rest is an interesting choice.” His smile grew and he gave her a faux-apologetic look, the whole thing undercut by a playful sort of teasing. “Not that I’m complaining! It’s delightful. Much like you, I gather. Is that… a fair assessment?”

—

She grinned as his eyebrows raised. No one expected her to be the owner. Hell, Bridie didn’t expect herself to be the owner. Try as she might (and her trying was questionable at best) she sure didn’t act like the owner. But it worked for her, and so far things were going well. 

“Nice to meet you Chuck.” Bridie winced slightly, before shrugging her shoulders with a laugh. “Well, you know what they say. When life gives you lemons, you open up a nightclub in Maine.” Instead of your now defunct nightclub in New York. A flash of teeth in a slightly feral grin lit up her face at being called delightful. Good to know he has good taste. And speaking of taste… She couldn’t help but wonder what this particular brand of euphoria tasted like. Time to get to work. “Babes, you would be one hundred percent correct in that assessment.” She leaned toward him, her fingers tapping along the stem of her glass. “But I’m pretty sure the same could be said for you. You look like you know how to have a good time- look at you, you even dressed on theme.” She reached out and brushed an invisible speck of dust from his shoulder, an impish gleam lighting up her eyes. 

—

A bizarre feeling came over him then, like he’d had ten drinks instead of one, and he smiled. “I do, I’m very practiced in good times. If that means wearing a ridiculous shirt, well, then so be it.” 

Now, Levi was no expert when it came to magic that wasn’t its own. It knew a thing or two, bits and pieces of interesting information, not not technique. And though it had no way of knowing that Bridie was fae, fae magic happened to be the one it knew the least about. Something about them… their trickery, backhandedness, and even the theory that they had come from greater demons somewhere in the evolutionary line, well… it left a bad taste in the Leviathan’s mouth. It had always made a point to avoid dealings with fae, and as such, never learned much about them. 

Still, when that strange sensation took over and it felt itself losing control of its thoughts in a way that was decidedly different from the usual fare, it was desperately curious and not at all concerned. 

Chuck, the very human man, narrowed his eyes at Bridie, but that grin remained. “What… what is that?” he asked boldly, though the question carried not a single ounce of accusatory weight. It was merely a question that no matter the answer, he would accept at face value. But it still begged to be asked. 

—

She just loved it when that happened. When she pushed her aura outward, and it dragged people down in its undertow. Bridie smiled innocently at the narrowed eyes of the man sitting across from her. 

“What is what?” Bridie asked, cocking her head to the side. “That is a frozen mango margarita, excellent choice by the way, those things are the bomb.” Her eyes flickered to the dance floor as a new song came on. “Ooooor that is the sweet, sweet sound of Lionel Richie- All Night Long is a must for Island Night.” 

“Or,” the innocent look in her eyes gave way to the previous expression of playful impishness. “Or, could you possibly just be referring to my absolutely sparkling personality?” She winked at him before taking a sip of her drink. “If it’s the third, I’ll let you in on a little secret.” Bridie leaned in close, whispering into his ear. “People just have more fun with me. It’s a fact of life.” She sat back in her chair before glancing back at the dance floor. “Do you want to dance with me?” She wouldn’t compel him to dance- she always thought it was more fun when she pushed impulses people already had. Dancing, drinking- it didn’t matter. She was game for any debauchery the night could lead to. 

—

It was hypnotic—the taste on his tongue, the sound in his head, the breath on his ear as she leaned in. “Yeah, I believe it,” he muttered as she leaned back again, finding that he was drawn to follow after, like a pup that’d imprinted on someone. Then she asked to dance, and how could he refuse? “Thought you’d never ask,” came the tease, as if they hadn’t just met. Taking her hand, the demon stood from the seat and tugged her after him, slipping into the crowd of dancers before pulling her close with a grin.

All Night Long had a steady tempo and a catchy beat, making it easy to dance to. Granted, Levi was less focused on his moves than he was his dance partner, who just had this infectious personality that he couldn’t quite put his finger on—but she was right, she was fun. 

One song turned into two, turned into three, and eventually Levi found himself with the bar owner pressed to his front, his lips finding her shoulder, then her neck. “You know, you’re just my type,” he purred into her ear. In fact, he felt quite ready to do whatever she asked, no questions, no bartering, just… obedient. Which was altogether a foreign feeling for the creature, but honestly? New was exciting. 

—

“I’ll bet you do.” She hummed, laughter rumbling in her throat like a purring cat. It was almost too easy, luring them in like this. Pushing her aura out, luring in unsuspecting party people until they were living their best hedonistic lives. She was very curious as to what sort of delightful debauchery she could get into with a man who wore a floral button down to island night, but whatever it was Bridie was certain it was going to be delectable. 

She took his hand and let him tow her back into the sea of bodies that swayed in time with the music. All at once, she was in her element. Dancing, singing along over the loud music, pulling people along to move in time with her. And Chuck was all too eager to follow her, to play along with Bridie’s little game. The music played on, and she allowed herself a little taste. Chuck, she decided, made a good choice in coming to island night. His euphoria was as if a tropical vacation had suckerpunched her in the face. Warm breezes and the salty bite of sea air, with the sugary warmth of rum and the damned mango frozen drink he’d been sipping. She immediately wanted a second taste. 

Now that was something she heard often enough. She shivered as his beard tickled her skin as his mouth pressed against her throat. “I’m everyone’s type, baby.” She grinned, a hand sliding up his back, up, up, up until her fingers laced themselves into his hair. Bridie, once she was in full force, was the life of the goddamn party. A veritable dream on two legs to many who walked through the doors of her club. It wasn’t the first time she heard the words, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be the last…though some small part of her always wondered if they ever meant it. Using the hand in his hair, she pulled him back gently to look at his face. “What do you think sounds like the most fun right now, Chuck?” She asked, impish glee simmering in her eyes. “I’m sure you’ve got tons of fun, wicked little ideas floating around in that gorgeous head of yours.”

—

His edges were sharp. Even in a magic-induced euphoria, his edges could draw blood. Chuck the human, Leviathan the demon, they both stared back at her with a hunger in their eyes that expanded second by second, enveloping their thoughts and pressing against this form that contained them for the sake of, well, everyone. 

“Wanna get you alone,” it growled, baring those perfectly white, straight teeth in a grin. Nothing like the rows of shark’s teeth that tore into wood, metal, and flesh. Nothing like the crocodile jaws that clamped down on the hopes and dreams of those less fortunate, those less powerful, and those who needed someone to tell them what to do. The weary flocks of this world, the reason the demon was always so inclined to stay: they fed it. They kept it entertained. And this one, here? She was entertaining enough all on her own. 

The more she fed, the more she saw, felt, tasted—ocean air gave way to the suffocating pressure of depths no man could reach, all light blocked out by the miles of water overhead. Creatures flitted by in the darkness, blinking with their own lights, and something hissed. The tang of iron danced over her tongue to replace the warm burn of rum.

Leviathan pressed itself outward, relishing the release from that constant little nagging feeling that it had to remain hidden. Chuck answered Bridie further with a kiss, large hands keeping her body close, the strength of the grip poised like a viper just below the surface, ready to strike. It was keyed up in a way it hadn’t been in quite a long time, and the sensation was thrilling. 

—

She’d tasted things that could only be described abstractly before. The sugary sweetness of first love. The bitter tang of heartache. The stinging heat of betrayal. They all twisted the euphoria into a new flavor. Whatever the reason someone had to party, it usually came to the surface after a few tastes. But Bridie had never tasted anything like this. 

This tasted like power. More power than she’d ever possess in her lifetime. And not the power of humans, with their suits and business deals. This was the wrath of the ocean, and she was having a fantastic time drowning in it. Bridie wanted more. Her eyes were blown wide- awe, lust, hunger? She wasn’t quite sure which had more control of her. But this man was definitely something, and he was looking for a damn good time. And who was she to deny him?

Her hands tangled in his hair as he pulled her into a kiss. Strong hands kept her pressed close to him, and she relished in every second of it. The taste of power and him on her tongue was just as intoxicating as any drink they sold at the bar. Probably doubly so. “I have an office in the back,” she breathed, a feral grin greeting the shark’s smile. 

—

“Good,” was all the demon said against her lips, its gaze lifting from her face to see if it was immediately obvious where that was. Sadly no, so rather than throw her over its shoulder like it wanted, Leviathan was made to be patient. “Show me.” It was bursting at the seams, so to speak, fighting to be let out. The ecstasy that had taken hold washed over it in waves, but rather than being a calming or soothing sensation, it made the creature lively. Ravenous. 

Following after her, one of her hands still firmly in its grasp, it showed its impatience once they got to the door to said office. Releasing her hand so she could get it unlocked, its hands found her waist and those teeth found her neck again, determined to leave a mark. The moment the door swung open they were both moving inside, and it was kicked shut again with a careless motion of the leg. 

Picking her up with one arm was easy enough, and Chuck used the other to push aside whatever was cluttering the left half of the desk before setting her down atop it. He just looked at her for a moment with the gaze of a predator, locked in on its prey. And then, a jagged smile. 

The taste shifted and changed. It was like static now, electrifying the room. Something alien drifted through a cold void, and a whisper sounded in both their heads. The voice was infinitely complex, layered atop itself again and again like a mind-bending echo. Lkrak’Oaazhir. Azroqoth. The words were almost like nonsense, but there was purpose behind them. Intent. A wormhole opened, and the static turned to lightning. Above, the stars. Below, a vast and unending sea. 

Leviathan reached for her, eyes that had once been a warm, inviting brown now looking like the aquamarine glimmers of clear, balmy waters. “Anything you want,” it breathed against her skin. That was its favorite thing to say.

—

Bridie was so fucking happy she’d picked this guy to go over to. 

She watched his eyes track around the space, looking for something. Her office, probably. She should really fix the fact that it wasn’t so obvious where it was, because if there was, perhaps a flashing neon sign that said ‘Bridie’s office this way’ they could be there already instead of still standing on the dance floor. 

It took everything in her to not simply sprint to her office. She maintained some small amount of composure as she sauntered off to her office, the weight of a hand around hers sending sparks up her arm. Getting the door unlocked was made more difficult than usual as his mouth found her neck once more. Bridie let out a little gasp at the feeling of teeth- definitely more welcome when she didn’t think she was about to be a juice box- and she cursed quietly, fumbling with the keys. She pushed the door open in a hurry, and before she knew it the door had clicked shut, leaving the two completely alone. 

A squeak of surprise, and she was in the air. The clatter of pens and papers hitting the ground was audible over the distant thumping of the club’s music, and then she was sat on her desk before the man. Though Bridie wasn’t sure she’d call him a man.  The look in his eyes made her go completely still. Wide eyes took in the apex predator before her, and a slow smile worked its way across her face. Holy shit, she’d hit the fucking jackpot. 

The taste has changed too, and if she didn’t know that she was playing with powers greater than herself before, she sure as hell did now. It buzzed and crackled like a live wire. Bridie could feel the goosebumps raise across her arms. She had no idea what the words meant, and if she had any sense in her head at that moment, she would probably be concerned. Maybe even frightened. Instead she was more concerned about why the fuck this being still had on his clothes. 

He reached out for her, and that’s when she noticed his eyes. A surprised breath huffed from her. Blue. They were blue. Blue like what she imagined the sea looked like on one of those idealized versions of a tropic island. Perfect, pristine, blue. Bridie swallowed, trying to remember how the hell to speak in English. Her hands slid up under his shirt, and the maenad grinned. “Everything. Give me everything you’ve got.”

—

He didn’t need telling twice. Taking her hint and grasping the shirt by its collar, Chuck pulled it off over his head and dumped it somewhere on the floor, more interested in slipping the sleeves from her shoulders and reaching around her to untie the bow in the back of the lilac dress. It was pushed down rather unceremoniously to be left circling her middle, and the demon grinned again. 

Whatever cosmic horrors had been unleashed at the dawn of time were settling themselves now, easing into the euphoric high like tired, ancient beings into a hot spring after a long millennia of murder and mayhem. The static cleared, dialing back down to things more of this dimension and finding a home in the spicy cayenne taste of lust. 

Fingers wrapped themselves behind the backs of her knees and tugged her up to the edge of the desk, moving then to her waist to lift and set her just right on the edge. Then the man—or monster, depending on your definition—knelt in front of her. 

The question he’d posed earlier had been swirling around in the back of his mind this whole time, though it had been admittedly temporarily forgotten at the mention of the office. But now, as he slipped her unmentionables down her legs and let them join the other clothing on the floor, he knew.

She was feeding on him. Somehow, he didn’t know the specifics, but this was clearly a give and take sort of situation. And frankly, he didn’t mind it. In fact, he fucking loved it. So let her feed, let her take whatever she needed, while he took what he wanted. And he wanted to taste her just as she’d been tasting him. It was only fair.

—

Bridie bit her lip as her grin grew wider, until she was certain her face would split in two. She watched the fabric of his shirt disappear into the corner, and she skated a hand up his chest, relishing in the feeling of skin against skin. She pulled her arms out of the dress as it pooled around her middle, leaving her in a scrap of sheer lace that could have been described as an undergarment if it was anything other than purely decorational. Reaching behind her, she unclasped it and threw it hastily across the room.

The aura of gluttonous, lustful chaos radiated off of the faun in waves, whispering at the man to come along, to enjoy. Another taste of his euphoria and the abstract had crept closer to a taste she recognized. Even blue eyed beings with words she could not understand could enjoy the euphoric bliss of lust. Smokey and spicy and sweet- she let out a small, pleased noise. 

Bridie giggled, delighted as she was yanked closer to the edge of the desk. She planted her hands slightly behind her, leaning back to watch him as he knelt before her. Her legs fell open so he could settle between them. She wondered if this was what a queen felt like? Or some old time goddess of debauchery, reveling in carnal pleasure. Then she caught the look in his eye again and shivered. No, that wasn’t what this was. Her breathing shallowed out as she waited. This was like watching a lion toy with its next meal. And she was the prey. 

The hands on the desk didn’t stay there for long. They tangled in his hair, nails scraping his scalp ever so slightly, as he gave in to pleasure- her pleasure. Her head tipped back as she drank it down, the power tinged euphoria dancing on her tongue and the feeling of his mouth against her made her feel like electricity sparkled and snapped over her bare skin. 

—

In no time at all, Leviathan’s head was emptied of all thoughts except this very exact moment, as was wont to happen. Powerful and ancient as it was, weakness reigned when it let itself succumb to those carnal urges, and that was… often, to put it nicely. It cared not for anything except making its partner writhe and gasp its name, whatever name it was using that day. It wanted to be remembered even after leaving the bedroom behind—or in this case, the club office. Any old place would do, really. 

Pleasure for one and delight for another slowly morphed into equal parts satisfaction after the last of the clothing had been discarded and Bridie’s legs wrapped around Chuck’s hips. He was an attentive lover, it seemed, but there was nothing being held back. If she wanted a feast, she was going to get one. Maybe that’d have her coming back for more the next time she was hungry—he certainly wasn’t going to turn down a chance to feel this good at every given opportunity. 

The hands of the clock had moved considerably by the time their romp came to a natural conclusion, finding the demon lovingly helping her get dressed again, still very much under her hypnotic spell (but also decidedly making no attempts to break free from it). The shoes were the last to return to their rightful place, with Chuck on his knees in front of her again, lips pressing a kiss to the inside of her thigh as she slipped her foot into his hand. Hm. Maybe he didn’t mind being obedient so much after all.

—

Bridie was no stranger to losing herself in pleasure. Drinking, sex- hell, even losing herself in music with a good beat to dance her night away to. But this was something next level. This was like cliff diving from the heights, and the feeling of being alive that rushed up to meet you when your feet left the ground. This was like walking happily into the lion's den while ringing the dinner bell and holding an apple in between your teeth. This was like having all the power you could possibly imagine laser focused on one single outcome, and that outcome was a damn good time.

That electric power and deep sea taste she had spent what felt like an eternity drowning in still lingered on her tongue as he helped her dress some time later. She laughed softly to herself, practically dizzy from the high of it. She’d glutted herself on this being’s euphoria, reveled in the power, the feeling of skin against skin. A goddamn feast for the senses. Bridie knew this was someone she’d definitely want another bite of. 

She raked a hand lazily through his hair, pushing it back into place as he kissed the inside of her leg. But a question he’d asked her was now weedling in the back of her mind as the haze of lust started to clear. Bridie may have been young, but she wasn’t a fool. And she knew damn well she’d never tasted any euphoria that tasted like a force of nature. So now, so soft it was almost a question for herself she echoed “What is that?”

__

As the fog lifted and the magic that’d buried itself beneath his skin began to recede, the demon let out a shuddering breath. With her clothes safely back in place, he rose to his feet in front of her, running a hand down his face. He couldn’t begin to guess what exactly she was talking about, but if her experience had been anything like his own—

“That’s the essence of a being that’s been around since the universe first blipped into existence.” Maybe before, but it wouldn’t really have a way of knowing that. Still naked himself and not much caring about that, Chuck leaned in closer to run a thumb over her cheekbone, his own gaze narrowed curiously. “You’re lucky, you know… when I lose control like that, I can’t always stop it from getting out.” It being the powerful creature she’d felt behind that blue gaze (that had since returned to its normal color). “It’s a good thing I was really focused on wanting to fuck you.” A smile appeared on his lips and he let his gaze dance over her form once more.

“But you never answered me, not really. And I think that much is owed, at this point. What did you do to me?”

—

Bridie’s eyebrows rose. She knew there were tons of creatures out there. But one from the dawn of time…? That would explain a lot. As his thumb tracked its way across her cheek she searched his eyes, looking for any hint of a lie in them. Brown. She thought, curiously crinkling her face into a confused pout as she tried to put the puzzle together. They had been blue before. Startlingly blue. She swallowed, realizing that it was definitely the truth. And if it wasn’t the truth, then he was a damn good liar.

The terribly foolish side of her, the side that befriended hunters and feasted in plain sight for all to see, caught on a question. The pout gave way to a slow, curious smile. Worrying her lip between her teeth, she wondered “and what would have happened if it had come out to play, too?” She didn’t realize she’d said it aloud until the last word hung in the air. Eyes of an impossibly old soul traced down her figure, and that was enough to distract her from the impossible idiocy of asking hey mister, what would have come out of you’d let it?

“You’re right, I didn’t.” She didn’t usually get asked what it was. And when she did get asked… her mind drifted to a conversation nights prior in different company. One with distrust, and fear, and iron. And being called a ‘weird human goat hybrid’. That particular comment still rubbed the wrong way. Enough that worry flickered over her features for a fraction of a second. She sighed, nodding in agreement. “And you’re right, it’s only fair. You showed me yours, or however the hell that saying goes.” 

It was only a moment. A few seconds in the grand scheme of things. A moment that, if things went wrong, could be summed up to alcohol playing tricks on the mind. Or at least, she hoped that was the case. But for a moment, Bridie let her glamour slip away. She let him see her, since she’d tasted whatever unfathomable power he had. “I’m really just the life of the party. I exude that energy. In waves.” Working the magic once more, all evidence of being a faun was out of sight. She wanted to say more, but she waited for a response. It occurred to her she didn’t really have an exit strategy if this went poorly. 

—

“Oh, darlin’... I would have gobbled you right up,” came the demon’s answer, and it was clear by his tone alone that he meant in a literal sense. There was a dark sort of mischief in Chuck’s gaze as he stepped back to get a better look at her as she agreed to explain. And while her answer was vague in what she said, it was what she showed the demon that did the most talking. 

Ah, fuck, of course. He should have known it. A faun. He’d never experienced a faun’s hypnosis first hand, which was a little bit shocking considering his love of going out and getting fucked up in every establishment in every city he passed through, but… still. There was a first for everything, and boy, what a first it had been. 

“Explains a lot,” Chuck purred, moving close once more. “Maybe next time you won’t hide it from me, hm? Maybe next time, I can show you a bit more of mine.” That shark’s grin returned. “Within reason, of course. Need to keep the biting at a safe intensity.” 

—

Bridie shivered. She ought to have been terrified at the concept, especially since she wasn’t sure that ‘gobbling her up’ was just a turn of phrase. To be honest, she was pretty sure he meant it literally. But why did he have to make it sound so god damn appealing?  A tiny voice in the back of her mind that sounded suspiciously like her mother screamed at her to get some self preservation instincts. Bridie batted the thought away. 

She didn’t know what she was waiting for, exactly. Part of her was probably waiting to hear ‘half goat’ again. Or some sort of variation upon ‘oh my god, what the fuck.’ She didn’t realize her gaze had been downcast until she lifted her eyes to find him studying her. And there wasn’t a hint of disgust. Bridie relaxed. No bargains and iron knives this time. 

Chuck moved back toward her, and a feral grin sprawled across the maenad’s features. She skated a hand up the plane of his chest, nails dragging ever so slightly as they passed over his skin. There in the privacy of her office, she let her glamour slip away. Outside the fae, there were few people Bridie would trust with glimpses. But this man seemed to get ‘honorary fae privilege’ for leaning into the fact that she was not human. “I think I’d like that, next time.”

#. thread ; #. with ; bridie dougherty #. margaritaville ;

[thatconfusedanon]

*walks back in with a comically oversized hairdryer that looks a little too much like a gun and starts blowdrying Altair*

| Altair's eyes grow wide as the anon returns with a hilariously oversized blow-hair-gun-dryer. He opens his mouth to protest but is soon reduced to being blown around from where he dangles, not too unlike a flag billowing in the wind. |

[demetriandelibinaryboyfriends]

Pride Month Character Sexuality Headcanon Moodboards 1. Yasmine - Lesbian 2. Demetri Alexopoulos - Gay 3. Moon - Bisexual 4. Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz - Bisexual

Part of a new series I'm doing for pride month where I make a pride flag moodboard for each cobra kai character (right now just the kids, but I might do the adults eventually) based on whatever sexuality I headcanon they are, and then I ramble about why I hc them the way I do!!! First up is Yas, because I'll be a lesbian Yasmine truther til the day I am gone from this earth and here's why:

Shows 0 interest in any and all potential male love interests prior to Season 3. Even Moon is a bit flirty with boys in Season 1 (First Rory at the pool party, then Hawk at the beach party). But Yasmine??? Pre-Demetri, she never seems romantically interested in boys.

On the subject of Demetri btw. It's actually very common for closet lesbian teens to choose a harmless-seeming guy to project all their romantic interest onto. (like!!! The sheer AMOUNT of notes this post has!!! This is not a rare thing!!!) This absolutely seems to be the case with Yasmine and Demetri in Season 4, since Yasmine is very suddenly into Demetri in this over-the-top, almost hammy way that feels very performative and disingenuous. Almost like she's trying to cover something up...?

For the vast majority of the show, but especially in S1, Yasmine noticeably seems to prefer the company of girls to the company of boys. In S1, her lunch table is all girls. The boys visit them sometimes, but they don't sit together. She also very rarely hangs out with boys outside of school. At big parties (like her birthday bash and the beginning of season pool party) there are boys around, but most of the time she's hanging with either Sam and Moon or just Moon. She's friends with Kyler, but the amount of time we see them actually hanging out is pretty minimal. He seems to be her only real guy friend.

On the topic of Kyler, though! The fact that Yasmine didn't ever get with Kyler after he and Sam broke up is actually very strange to me. Think about it: What better revenge against the two-faced ex-friend who was supposedly talking shit about you than to openly date her ex??? And considering how quickly Yasmine dropped Sam and took Kyler's side, I think she had to have thrown any "girl code" reservations to the wind. And Yasmine and Kyler were at the very top of the school food chain, so like. It's only going to help both their reputations for them to be a power couple. So why weren't they??? Considering how horny Kyler is constantly, I don't think he would have been against it at all. So that means Yasmine, who definitely had it in her power to date Kyler if she wanted, actively chose not to. Not even for clout or to keep up appearances. And given the look she had on her face when Demetri was hitting on her, she definitely wasn't holding out for him. So if Yasmine actively chose not to go out with the objectively best dating option she had available, it indicates to me that she doesn't really want to go out with boys at all.

Even in later seasons, Yasmine barely interacts with boys at all. In S3, we only ever see her talk to Demetri (who is ALSO a closet gay, hilariously). In S4 and S5, she interacts with Demetri's friends sometimes, but that's IT. This is in direct contrast with Moon, who we see flirting (or at least interacting) with a football player in S3 and who has such a wide social circle of both boys and girls that she's able to throw a MASSIVE house party in S5.

She doesn't even mention Demetri in S5! It's like she drops the act of being super "in love" with him as soon as he isn't physically there. The fact that her S4 "24/7 Demetri thirsting" self is a completely different character from her S1, S3, and S5 self further indicates that it's faked to draw attention away from where her attraction really is.

Canonically Demetri and Yasmine fight so much that Yasmine's arm is now completely weighed down with make-up bracelets (which she doesn't even have on when we see her, indicating she probably only wears them around Demetri). Them being that dysfunctional behind closed doors is a pretty stark contrast to what we saw in S4, and is just more evidence Yasmine's S4 behavior was a facade. Also begs the question, if they're truly just a Normal Straight Couple...why do they stay together when they clash that much??? One of the simplest explanations is that both of them just. Do not want to lose their beard. Yasmine especially, considering her decline in popularity left her with not as many dating options, and Demetri's one of the most harmless guys she could be fake-dating.

The "I know what it's like" cast-signing scene with Yasmine and Demetri is so queer-coded. Like think about it. Two people, both of whom have an unusually close attachment with their same-sex best friend, are bonding over how hard it is to be the subject of mass ridicule. Wedgies aside, what other type of ridicule would it be easy for these two to bond over??? And considering the dick-drawing-on-cast bit, Demetri's ridicule even had some implicit homophobia! So what does Yasmine do??? She writes "I, a girl, love your huge, masculine dick!" on his cast. Almost as a way of broadcasting to the world that they're both straight. When Yas says "much better" there's a kind of unspoken "we're both in the clear now." It's such a lovely gay friendship moment and Yas and Demetri have a very underrated platonic dynamic tbh.

Yasmine's raging crush on Moon is a whole essay in of itself, but the tl;dr of it is that Yas really did not have to forgive Moon or take her back after they fell out in S1. And yet not only does she rekindle her friendship with Moon in S3, but it also seems like part of the reason she changes for the better in S3 is because of Moon's influence! As far as we know, Moon was literally the only reason Yasmine ever made an effort to stop being awful. She also is basically never apart from Moon S4 onwards. Like every time Demetri and Yasmine have a scene, Moon is also there!!! Moon gets scenes without Yasmine (e.g. the cheerleading scene in 4x06, the tournament scene with Eli) but Yasmine almost never gets scenes without Moon and/or Sam. Sus.

Also Yasmine and Moon are so absurdly catty when Sam interrupts their weed-smoking date hangout in Season 1. And we're meant to believe they boot her out of the girl gang because she talked shit and was a slut (supposedly), but from how touchy they're getting at that concert...seems like they might have gotten tired of her third-wheeling?

Yasmine interrupts Moon and Hawk's S1 makeout sesh!!! She yells "Moon cmere!" and Moon leaves!!! Then she's still sulking in a jealous huff when Demetri goes over to hit on her later!!! Then she goes over to yell at Aisha when Moon and Hawk are right there being flirty, like. Girl is so gay and jelly it's out of control. She also tries to roast the shit out of Hawk in front of Moon. "Look!!! Look how much I'm the better option!!! Let's get out of here and away from any potential competition I may have!!!"

WAIT ALSO. The way Yasmine's ridicule was also a direct result of her trying to win Moon back??? And it all happened in front of Moon and (to her thinking) lowered Moon's opinion of her??? Adds a new layer to Yasmine saying "after the front wedgie thing, I know what it's like" to Demetri later!!!

Of COURSE she knows what it's like. She knows what it's like to fall for someone who decided they liked the Cobra Kai karate gang better than you, and not be able to get through to them in the moment it mattered the most. She knows what it's like to lose your best friend and get absolutely humiliated in the process.

In any case, it REALLY seems to be Moon and Hawk's interactions that send Yasmine over the edge during that party scene and get her the angriest. Interesting.

Generally speaking, the fact that Moon, who is canonically bisexual, is Yasmine's best friend is very telling. Any queer can tell you that queer kids always manage to find each other, even before they're out!!! Most queers who keep up with their high school and/or childhood friend groups will tell you that most of them are also LGBT. Yasmine's social circle consists of a canonically queer character and two heavily queer-coded characters (Demetri and Eli). Sam and Miguel are probably straight, BUT Miguel she only really hangs out with by proxy and Sam could be either the Token Straight (every queer friend group has one lmao) or a closet bisexual. Point being that with a largely queer friend circle, Yasmine's chances of being totally cishet are...not high tbh.

Just a random little detail and this is probably me wildin, but I find it funny that Moon laughs at Yasmine's little torturing Anthony joke in S5, but Sam didn't. My guess is that Sam is not amused because on some level (even if it's subconscious) she's worried Yas is serious, and is being a bit of a protective older sis. Moon though? She laughs at Yasmine's joke like the smitten simp she is because she knows the whole concept is too absurd to ever happen. BUT ALSO. It sounds a little like a knowing laugh. Like the mere concept of Yasmine being into guys or caring about them working out in the least is absurd. Maybe Moon knows Dem and Yas are faking a straight relationship to keep up appearances (if they confided it to anyone, it would be her!), and that's why she's not really bothered by Yas doing what would otherwise be the equivalent of stringing Moon's other friend along.

*Side note that I will make an exception to my Lesbian Yasmine truthing for Kyler Park and Kyler Park only. He's the only male character on the show she has even an iota of romantic chemistry with, and also the idea of her being "lesbian except for this one trashfire douchebag for some reason" is honestly too funny for me to resist XD Literally any other male character though??? I will start biting before I ship them with Yasmine, and them's the facts.

As always, pic credits available upon request! Happy pride month 🏳️‍🌈

#yasmine cobra kai #cobra kai yasmine #cobra kai #aesthetic #moodboard #ck pride month moodboards #lesbian #wlw #sapphic #cobra kai season 1 #cobra kai season 3 #cobra kai season 4 #cobra kai season 5 #happy pride 🌈 #lgbt #lgbtqia #queer #queer pride

[i-got-the-feels]

BL Tag Game

Yo @ommited-miscellaneously thanks my for the tagging me. I love needing out over these.

All time favorite bl character and why.

Pat Napat - living, breathing green flag. Respects boundaries, draws one when needed, admits to mistakes and changes. He is the first character that made me realise what the term comfort character means.

Kinn Theerpanyakul - the to protect and comfort instinct he brings in is soo strong. Grown to be a shadow of his father, we already see how different he is - passionate (we saw that in first episode when he murdered traitors and gift wrapped them with a bow) , loyal, honest, dependable and emotionally constipated babie of mine :")

What's your one character from a bl you wanted to punt in to the stratosphere?

(I am probably gonna get a lot of hate but let's go) Phupa - it bugs me that till end he did not apologise. And no he took a bullet isn't a justification to me because he would have done that for any civilian, hell team member. But he didn't apologise to tian and instead said non apology crap like "I forgive you", "torfun forgives you" and I was screaming at screen like WHERE IS YOUR APOLOGY MISTER??

Best music moment from a bl.

Please this answer is gonna be soo basic but Pat and Pran rooftop episode 5. Enough said.

AND to my star - the title track being played when he is running home to Seo Jun.

A popular heterosexual text you would like to see adapted in to a bl.

My mind is a blank. That's how long it has been since I've read a book. I thought of 2 Bollywood movies though - Don and Devdas.

Don - Ohm Pawat as Don and Bright as Roma

Devdas - Mile as Devdas, Win as Paro and the dude who played Mork in Fish Under the sky as Chandramukhi because he dances well - and if gulf can dance - gulf because he has got such expressive eyes! (desis I need yalls input on casting and hence tagging yall) @boysbeloving @surajmukhis @7nessasaryevils @sereinartemishan @m0hinii (I am tagging yall for the game as well)

A scene from a bl that always makes you laugh.

(this is low key mean) but the beach kiss as sotus s because they started a ppt??! Like my guys - you guys could have just faded the screen with a wide shot - WE WOULD KNOW THEY WERE KISSING - but instead they started a ppt

Biggest disappointment

None. I watch "No plot just vibes" bls to shut my brain so I know what I am going for.

If you ask me though, tonhon's characters writing - he could be written soo well and layered but instead we got... yeah, well.

What two random bl characters would make hilarious exes.

Sarawat from 2gether and Tharn from TharnType. The soft introvert and loud extrovert.

Who would be the funniest person to watch a BL in its entirety and which one would you make them watch. 

I think my grandmother because she would be too busy processing it.

Best wardrobe moment/or character wardrobe from a bl.

The list is long people. Hold up.

Tang yi - history 3 trapped - THE SUITS. Especially the striped one.

Kinn Theerpanyakul - the helicopter blue shirt, the ombre suits, the black with white stripes when they were at hum bar and he was judging porsche for eating cocokraches. That shirt has me soo feral. I've written smuts in my head based on that shirt.

Fiat - don't say no- the red suit in finale.

I am tagging @morathicain @smittenskitten @snimeat @petevegas @liyazaki @ahdriking and anyone else who wants to do it

#Tag game #Bl ask game #I nerded out