#leadership best motivational books

[makoodles]

ミ tìtunu

i'm so excited to be posting for my man tsu'tey, because he is criminally under-rated. (look at that gif! i'm going feral).

🍓pairing: tsu'tey x fem human reader

🍓word count: 4k

🍓tags: she/her pronouns for reader, alien courting rituals, misunderstandings, mentions of vomiting (not too graphic, but a warning all the same!)

masterlist

part one | part two | part three (nsfw) | part four (nsfw)

reblogs are always enormously appreciated!

Life is not going how Tsu’tey had intended.

It starts with the arrival of Jakesully, the demon’s acceptance into the clan, the ensuing war against the Sky People, and Tsu’tey’s own uncomfortably close brush with death after falling from the human’s large flying machine. His whole life has been disrupted, his plans and motivations, his hopes and his expectations. Jakesully is a moron, but he is Tsu’tey’s brother now. Bonds have been forged in fire and blood as they fought together against the demon invaders from the sky, and Tsu’tey has no choice but to accept his fate. It will take time to become accustomed to his new role within the clan, no longer as a future leader but always as a protector, but he is adjusting as well as he can.

While he has suffered many blows to his pride in recent months, not least his grievous injury that has prevented him from taking part in his usual routine with the rest of the clan’s warriors, he is still a blooded male of the clan. Now that Neytiri has mated with Jakesully, Tsu’tey himself is free to pick a mate of his own, unburdened by the expectations of leadership. It’s both a liberating and humiliating thought, and he has to admit that it does his wounded pride some good to be on the receiving end of mating interest from so many attractive prospects within the clan.

Any of the Omaticayan women that have shown interest in him so far would be perfectly respectable choices. Txisma is one of the best weavers among the People, her creations sturdy and reliable while also colourful and beautiful. Ninat is the best singer of the clan, her voice bright and clear as her songs bring joy to all who listen. Even Saeyla, ever so consistently loyal despite the fact that he has already rejected her, would be a perfectly respectable choice as a mate.

But the real, ultimate indignity of it all is that Tsu’tey can’t manage to drum up any interest in any of them. No matter how much they smile at him so coyly and prettily, no matter how impressive their displays of skill are, no matter how quick and deadly and proficient they are at fighting, he can’t manage to force himself to look at them with anything more than detached appreciation.

Perhaps the Sky People had injured him beyond repair when they had hurt him and pushed him from their enormous metal bird. 

That is the only reason he can think of to explain why the one person who has captured his thoughts so wholly is you, the little human demon that is constantly lurking around the Omaticaya camp.

In the beginning, his fixation is driven by aggravation and fury. After the destruction of Hometree, the People move as one to a spot just south of the Well of Souls and set up a temporary encampment there. When the humans that remain after the RDA have left his planet are invited by Jakesully to their new settlement to spend time with them in a show of tentative co-operation, Tsu’tey spends the whole time scowling in your direction. Jakesully had proven himself a good leader and has earned Tsu’tey’s respect, which is perhaps the only reason that he initially accepted the presence of these Sky People in their new home. Even with his reluctant acceptance, he meets the tiny demons with suspicion and hostility. You, especially.

You infuriate him. Too small, terribly soft and squishy, unable to hold a bow or wield a spear or do anything useful. You came here with the rest of the Sky People, but you are not a warrior like Jakesully. Instead you spend all of your time reading books and studying the plants of his planet. But you don’t even study them in any useful way! You sketch them and take notes, and make frequent exclamations about how wonderful it all is, but you don’t do anything useful, at least as far as Tsu’tey can see.

It had taken him a terribly long time to realise what was happening. 

In the beginning, his eyes had cut towards you with animosity and mistrust – your interest in the plant life and the world around you had seemed so odd after the destruction the rest of your people had caused, and he watched you intently for any signs that you meant to cause harm to the People. But those signs never come.

You were polite, interested in his culture, and awed by nature and Eywa all around. You even learned the language of the People, though admittedly with a heavy accent. It’s… more endearing than it should be.

It takes a while for him to realise that he’s watching you far more than he watches the other little demons that study his people. It gets even worse when you decide to practise your clumsy language skills with the clan – somehow, it leads to you targeting him. Not even his fiercest scowls seem to discourage your attempts to converse with him, and soon he finds himself honestly looking forward to seeing you, to speaking with you.

It is an illness. Some sort of infection that has taken hold in him since his injury in the war against the Sky People. That can be the only reason that he is more preoccupied with you than with the very real mating prospects he has among the People.

He has come to terms with it. At first, he kept his shameful little fixation to himself, but he’s never been the most subtle of men. Others soon notice the direction of his stares, the amount of time he spends with you, the way his ears flick and his tail coils whenever he’s around you. 

Everyone, it seems, except you.

“Hello, little demon,” He murmurs as he approaches you one afternoon, his tail coiled low around his ankles.

You’re sitting close to the edge of the forest, beside one of the large anìheyu plants. All your silly little notebooks are surrounding you, and though your head is ducked as you sketch its likeness in your book, you look up when you hear his voice.

You laugh at his customary greeting, as unbothered by his gruff demeanour as ever. He is grateful that you are not offended; he has never been good at being soft, though he tries.

“Hey, big guy.” You call back, a wide smile beginning to spread across your face. “What are you up to?”

Tsu’tey’s fingers twitch. Your face may be alien, but your features are not so dissimilar from that of the Na’vi. He finds you… attractive, in your own way, though it pains him a little to admit it.

“I wished to join in on the hunt today,” He murmurs as he comes to a stop in front of you, “But Mo’at has forbidden it.”

He is still recovering from his wounds, and he has found himself with an enormous amount of free time to spend; courtesy of Mo’at, who has been borderline vicious in her vehemence that he rests from his duties to heal. It stings his pride, but he respects the Tsa’hik too much to question her orders.

Your eyes drop to his battle scars, and he finds himself flexing subconsciously under your gaze.

“That’s probably fair, right?” You ask, tilting your head. “You’re still healing-”

“I am still strong.�� He interrupts, a little more forcefully than he had intended to. It’s important that you know that.

You just smile, little white teeth poking out as you bite at your lower lip. “I know that.”

That pleases him, and he rolls his shoulders back before sinking down into a crouch in front of you. Your eyes dart from his face to his torso to his legs and then back up again, and he feels his stung pride inflate under the weight of your shy gaze.

“I will not join the rest of the warriors on their hunt,” He murmurs, his gaze resting on your face as he tries to read every expression that flickers across it, “But I still wish to go on a hunt of my own. You.. are welcome to join me.”

You are difficult to read. You do not respond to his more coy flirtations; you never seem to notice when he communicates micro-expressions, his ears flicking back or the playful movements of his tail. And yet you perk up at his invitation, your eyes bright and interested as you carefully set your notes aside.

“Really?” You ask cautiously, your eyes flickering towards the longbow resting across his back.

When Tsu’tey just nods, you shove yourself to your feet with an eager little laugh. It feels like a weight is lifted off his shoulders at your acceptance of his offer – though he manages to keep his expression neutral, he can’t control the anticipatory little flick of his tail.

This is an opportunity he is eager to take advantage of; as he leads the way into the forest, he makes a point of keeping you in his sights at all times. You’re so small and useless, and it’s good to feel as though he can protect someone after his close brush with death.

Marching through the jungle is slow-going. You insist on stopping several times to peer at some of the plants that you’re curious about, and Tsu’tey just stands and waits each time. He wants to display his patience, though it’s admittedly never been one of his strongest virtues.

“Come, small one.” He says, his tail flicking impatiently even as he tries to accommodate your curiosity. Patience, he thinks to himself. 

“What is this?” You ask in your broken Na’vi, your accent heavy and clumsy.

Tsu’tey’s ears twitch. He likes the sound of your stupid accent more than he should.

“Utral utu mauti,” He murmurs, stepping closer to you before saying in his own accented English, “Type of fruit tree.”

You make a soft sound of understanding, before nodding. “I’ve read about these! They grow utumauti fruit, right?”

Tsu’tey hums confirmation, though he’s not looking at the plant. He’s too busy watching your face.

“Come,” He murmurs, “You will watch me hunt.”

The two of you continue on through the jungle. Tsu’tey tracks prints, and you watch him. He adds more flourishes to his tracking and stalking than are entirely necessary; he is hyper-conscious under your curious eyes. 

You are so much smaller than him, barely reaching his navel, so he keeps his pace slow and even to ensure you can keep up with him. 

When the two of you finally catch up to a wild yerik, luckily separated from the herd, Tsu’tey feels his heart beating eagerly in his chest. This is a chance to display his physical prowess. To prove that even injured, he is a fearsome warrior and hunter.

Your eyes are trained on him as he nocks an arrow and prepares to loose. Your gaze trails along his bicep and his chest, and he feels his pride flare all over again. When he looses the arrow, it finds its mark with ease.

He leaps from the cover of the trees and rushes to the fallen animal, snatching his knife from his waist and bending by the yerik’s head to murmur the customary words of thanks before ending the creature’s pain.

Cautiously, you step out after him and stare with wide eyes.

“Wow,” You murmur, stepping close to him. “It’s so big.”

The yerik is not so large or impressive as other prey, such as a talioang, yet your awe pleases Tsu’tey greatly. He can’t suppress the smug expression that grows across his face as he secures his prey with a rope to prepare to haul it back to the village. 

He pauses halfway through tying a knot around the yerik’s middle so that he can look up to you, a self-satisfied sort of lazy smirk curling around his mouth. “I told you I am still strong.”

A surprised laugh bursts out of your mouth, and you avert your eyes all of a sudden. You’re staring down at your feet, your fingers fidgeting together, but he can see that your mouth is smiling.

“Yes,” You say quietly, “Very strong.”

That night, Tsu’tey’s catch is prepared and roasted over the cook fire alongside the catch from the larger hunt. The village is alight with celebration – the People sing and dance, children running around screaming with laughter and younglings leaping about together. The light-natured atmosphere is infectious, and  Tsu’tey finds himself feeling more cautiously upbeat than he has in a while now.

“I should probably head back to the science outpost,” You mention at some point as the village fills with laughter and chat and the smell of succulent meat cooking. “I don’t want to intrude on-”

“Stay.” Tsu’tey interrupts without thinking.

You pause, obviously surprised. He’s been most outspoken about how the small demons should not be allowed to intrude upon the People’s customs or private rituals. No doubt you’re confused by his sudden change of heart – he can’t explain it himself.

But you agree, a tentative smile blooming across your face.

Tsu’tey is not oblivious to the glances that the two of you get as he settles next to you – you’ve chosen to sit a little bit away from the large fire around which the rest of the tribe gathers. No doubt you feel self-conscious of the fact that you don’t belong here, but Tsu’tey is feeling bold tonight. He is content as he settles next to you, despite the curious glances he receives from his People.

In his hands, he carries two portions of yerik meat from his kill wrapped in a leaf – it is a wholesome, healthy meal, and he hands a portion to you with a pleased flick of his tail.

You accept your portion politely, but he notices that you don’t immediately move to eat it. Instead, you spend a moment peering at it as though inspecting the meat carefully.

The longer you go without trying the food he has caught for you, the more antsy he becomes. He bites into his own dinner, casting frequent sideways glances your way as he chews. Was it not cooked to your taste? Did you not like the way it was wrapped in the leaf? Was it the meat itself that was the problem? Perhaps you didn’t even like yerik meat. Was this your way of turning him down?

“You do not like it?” He asks at last, unable to contain himself any longer.

You look up at that, apparently a little startled. “No! I mean, yes! I like it just fine!”

And yet, you haven’t touched it. 

Too late, Tsu’tey realises that you’re still wearing your strange face covering that you need to breathe. Ah, how foolish of him. You aren’t able to take it off to eat.

Embarrassed now, Tsu’tey feels his ears flatten back. It was an obvious oversight on his part, a stupid mistake. How could he not have anticipated this problem? Such a mistake makes him look inconsiderate.

“Ah. Your face covering-” He begins, but he doesn’t get the chance to finish.

“No big deal!” You blurt hastily, sitting up straighter. 

You’re so much smaller than him, dwarfed by his stature as you blink up at him. The size difference is going to Tsu’tey’s head – he can’t stop looking at the way your much smaller hands are wrapped around your food, at the way you’ve pressed a little closer to him.

He watches as you rip some of the meat out with your fingers, before taking a deep breath. You push the mask up for just a second, just long enough to push the food into your mouth before quickly reattaching the mask over your face again. Through the strange clear material protecting your face, Tsu’tey watches as you chew. The sight settles something inside of him, and some of the tension leaks out of his shoulders as he watches you eat his offering.

He’s not the only one watching you eat. The sight of him offering you food, and of you accepting it, has caught the attention of several members of the clan. The connotations are obvious, whether Tsu’tey chooses to think about them or not – if the sight of one of the clan’s foremost warriors participating in tentative courtship rituals with a Sky Person is shocking or disturbing in any way, they hide it well. It’s mainly surprised curiosity in the eyes of their observers.

“It’s good.” You murmur, sending him a quick smile. “The spices are different from anything I’m used to – it’s interesting.”

Tsu’tey’s tail lashes with gratification, satisfied with your acceptance of his advances. He should have known you would be interested in the spices used to cook the food, too. You’re such a curious little thing, always wanting to learn more. Your intelligence is commendable, and sets you apart from the rest of the tawtute.

You take another few bites of food, stuffing little handfuls under your mask quickly before replacing it back. Tsu’tey feels his chest puff the more you eat, his pride assuaged by the sight.

“You are hungry?” He asks, ducking his head a little closer to you. “You would like more?”

“No,” You murmur, but you give him a soft smile to soften your refusal. “Thank you. This is plenty.”

Tsu’tey settles back, his tail flicking in contentment. You may be a little demon that came from the sky, but having you sit huddled at his side eases the knot in his stomach that’s been present since his injury. He tries not to think too much about it.

A quick glance around shows that the eyes that had been watching them have shifted away, and he relaxes a little further. It’s mortifying enough to be offering such advances to a tawtute without the eyes of the clan watching.

You cough, and clear your throat. The sound draws his attention back to you, his eyes flickering carefully over your face. You appear a little flustered, and his brow draws down in a frown.

“What is wrong?” He asks carefully, narrowing his eyes as he watches you.

“Nothing.” You say hastily, but he sees the way you shift next to him. Your expression has changed a little, but he can’t quite interpret it. You lack the long ears and tail of the Na’vi, and so he finds it difficult to analyse your micro-expressions, but even still he can tell that something has changed.

“Tell me.” He demands, shifting to face you head on. “I will fix.”

You smile at him again, but this one seems more forced. It’s almost a grimace. Your hand moves to your stomach, and he follows the motion with a frown.

“It’s nothing, I just…” You wince. “It didn’t occur to me before, but.. I’m not sure how well humans can digest Pandoran meat.”

Tsu’tey’s frown only deepens. “I do not know this word. Digest. What does it mean?”

“It-” You begin, but you cut yourself off as an odd tremor moves across your face.

In a move that startles him into rearing back, you leap to your feet and make a run for the woods. It only takes a moment for Tsu’tey to recover from his surprise, and then he pushes himself up to his feet too. Ignoring the heads that have turned in his direction thanks to the commotion, he takes off after you.

It doesn’t take much effort to catch up to you, considering the difference in the size of your legs. You’ve only just managed to reach the treeline before falling to your knees, and by the time he catches up to you, you’ve torn your breathing mask off to allow you to retch into the vegetation.

Tsu’tey’s ears flick back, watching uneasily as you vomit. He has never been very good at providing comfort, but he reaches out to touch your shoulder all the same.

You retch again, then fumble to put your mask back on so you can breathe.

“Oh no, don’t look at me,” You practically wail, ducking your head down so he can’t see your face. “This is so humiliating.”

“What is wrong?” Tsu’tey asks insistently, lowering himself to crouch beside you as his tail twitches anxiously. “I will call for Mo’at-”

“Don’t you dare!” You gasp, reaching back blindly to grab at him even as you gag again. 

Tsu’tey bares his teeth in frustration, growing increasingly more restless. He hates feeling helpless, and he doesn’t understand what is happening with you. “You are sick.”

“No,” You gasp. The worst of the gagging seems to be over, and you push yourself back to sit clumsily on your behind. “No, it was just… I don’t think Pandoran food is compatible with human digestive systems.”

His tail flicks again as he watches you, growing uneasy. “What does this mean?”

“I can’t eat the same food as you.” You say, before ducking your head and groaning a little as another wave of nausea hits you.

Tsu’tey goes still, watching you close your eyes and wince. The food he had provided you with has made you ill. Humiliation settles low in his stomach. So this is why you were reluctant to try it – you were unsure if it was safe for you to eat.

His attempt to impress you has ended up making you sick. The only thing that saves him from total disgrace is the fact that you’re very visibly flustered and apologetic about it.

“I’m sorry,” You insist, clearly mortified as you raise your head to squint at him through streaming eyes. “Really, it was very nice-!”

 His ears twitch low and his tail wrapped tightly around his leg in contrition. “I did not know-”

“I know you didn’t,” You interrupt hastily. It’s clear that you feel thoroughly embarrassed about the situation – you can hardly meet his eyes. “Please, don’t worry about it.”

Your reassurance helps, but only slightly. He still feels entirely humiliated, and he watches with dismay as you finally push yourself to your feet.

“I think,” You begin without making eye contact, “That I should probably get back to the outpost.”

His stomach plummets, and his pride with it. This has gone so terribly wrong. He’s not even really sure what he was trying to do here – what was he even thinking? 

“Yes.” He says stiffly. “You should.”

Your expression shifts a little, and you nod. The air between you both has changed slightly; gone was the easy camaraderie that you have both worked so hard on for the past few months, to be replaced with an awkward tension.

“I’m sorry,” You say again, your voice low and embarrassed. “I.. the meat was very nice. Thank you. I’m sorry about… you know.”

That… is slightly more promising. 

Tsu’tey stands, then reaches down to offer his hand to help you. For a moment, you just stare at his outstretched hand as though you can’t figure out what he’s doing. He draws on his patience, and is rewarded for it when you reach out and take his hand, allowing him to guide you back to your feet. Your palm is warm and dry against his, your hand so small and soft that he gets momentarily distracted.

You smile at him again, and finally this one seems more genuine, though it’s a little abashed. Tsu’tey’s ears flick towards you cautiously, testingly, and you keep smiling.The knot in his stomach loosens a little.

Perhaps his chances aren’t entirely decimated after all. Next time, he will try gift-giving instead.

#tsu'tey x reader #tsu'tey #tsu'tey imagines #avatar #avatar x reader #avatar way of water #na'vi x reader #na'vi x human #terato #avatar 2009

[after-witch]

Caring Was a Thing With Claws [Yandere Sigma x Reader]

Title: Caring Was a Thing with Claws [Yandere Sigma x Reader]

Synopsis: Sigma is good at caring for Sky Casino. And he finds that he really, really wants to care for you, too.

Word Count: 2000ish

notes: yandere, unhealthy relationship, kidnapped reader, kissing, drugging

You do not belong at the Sky Casino. Sigma knows this the instant that you’re granted access, all nervous smiles and downcast looks at the guards who usher you politely (but by no means meekly--they were hired to keep his clients, his world, secure, after all) through the security system.

Not that you would be the type to be hiding weapons or some secret, dangerous motive. No, no, that’s not you. He gets a read on you instantly, and he doesn’t even have to touch you. Though, he thinks, neither are you some voracious gambler looking for a higher thrill than those found in measly casinos on land. 

So why are you here? It’s curious. A debt you must pay, perhaps? Someone leaving home for the first time, intent on something new and exciting?

Ah, but he doesn’t really have time to be curious about someone that doesn’t pose a security risk, does he? So he shelves away that curiosity with his other unwanted things. Instead, he’ll stick to what he needs to know: your name, what you like, what you dislike. The facts necessary to create a mental shelf that will help you enjoy your time here.

That’s what he does best, make everyone within the casino happy. And safe. Safe as they can be, here in the sky, under his leadership. It’s all he has, this place, this space, these myriads of bells and whistles; sights and sounds that haunt his dreams, ephemeral though they are; now you, too, are part of that machine underneath him. 

--

Your code name is B8934. You don’t belong here.  You don’t fit in.

But he hates it when leave, all the same.

Because you really are different from the others. 

The first time he spoke with you, he almost couldn’t hear your voice. Soft and sweet, a whispering gentle tones that seemed to pull him towards you. But it was you who leaned in towards him, repeating yourself, apologizing for being so quiet. So shy. He told you it was nothing, no problem, and you cleared your throat to repeat your words.

“Your hair.” He had blinked at you, and you stammered out: “I like it, I mean. It’s really pretty.”

A new feeling had come over him then. A strange one. A prickling in his cheeks, a slight pressure. You didn’t realize it at the time, but you’d just stolen his first blush. 

And… it continued from there.  Your attentions. You sought him out, here and there, and at first it raised the creeping ivy of his defenses. Did you think he might rig games in your favor, if you befriended him? You wouldn’t be the first to try and, as he read in a book and spend an hour agonizing over the non-literal meaning, “butter him up.” 

But you weren’t like that. It became clearer and clearer with every day, every meeting, every hour you spent with him. You weren’t looking to manipulate him for anything; you were simply being you. 

You’re sweet. Kind. Entirely out of place here.

And Sigma thinks he might be in love with you. 

Yes, this must be the feeling that swells in his chest every time he sees you. Alone or in a crowd. It makes him feel faintly sick, and sometimes he even catches sweat building on the back of his neck. Words, which don’t always come easily to him anyway, seem to stammer and stutter all the more often.

This awful pressure in his chest, which is perhaps not so awful at all, makes him want to write down everything he can about you. So he does, carefully jotted in a notepad that he’s dedicated entirely to you and no one else. 

You don’t spend a lot of money. Perhaps you don’t have it. You don’t like seafood, but you sometimes eat oysters if someone else buys them and encourages you to down a few. He finds that he hates this, when it happens; hates the sight of you laughing with someone else. You laugh too loudly sometimes and then catch yourself doing it, and you touch your cheeks, even if you’re only talking with him--do your cheeks burn?

All this and more, carefully recorded and organized, so that he can reference it when he needs to; after all, if the casino is under his management and protection, don’t you fall within that carefully drawn up category? His goal is to keep the casino safe. To keep the patrons happy. 

You should be safe and happy too.

But more and more, he finds himself asking that same question: can you be safe and happy if he’s not there to make sure it happens? Who knows what you get up to in the outside world. 

Here, you can be a little too naive. A little too trusting. You sit close to drunk men who edge their greedy fingers on their thighs, and you never notice until they brush your skin and you slap them off. You accept fancy drinks bought by strangers with a grin and a raise of the glass. You bet too much money and drink too many roaming glasses of free champagne, stumbling and woozy by the end of the night.

You are in over your head, clearly.

He sees it, even if you don’t.

And that’s why he slipped a sedative into the cocktail delivered to your table tonight. You downed it without a second thought, which only confirmed his decision. 

You’ll thank him eventually, he thinks. When you realize that this is for the best.

--

The last thing you remember is losing a round of blackjack and downing a pretty pink cocktail that someone (but who?) sent to you. On the house, the waiter said, and that’s all you needed to hear before drinking the entire glass in one undignified gulp.

Maybe that’s why your head hurt so much. (Okay, that, and the multiple cocktails you’ve had tonight.) Maybe that’s why you couldn’t remember how you got here, in… someone’s room, on their nice, soft bed? 

Maybe that’s why there was a chain on your ankle.

Oh.

What?

Your clarity sobers up enough for you to yank hard at your leg, which rattles with the weight of a thick, silver chain attached to a silver bracelet around your ankle. The sight of the chain, the feel of its weight, the realization that something is terribly, terribly wrong all seem to crush your chest at once. 

Sobs come then, wheezy sobs, accompanied by thick tears that drip down your cheeks. 

“It’s… all right. Calm down.”

Your body jerks--Who is it--and your eyes dart until the source of the voice steps into the light.

And just like that, you stop crying. You break into a relieved, shaky smile. 

Because it’s Sigma. Sigma walks out of the shadows and for a brief moment, your heart soars. He’s here to rescue you! You got drugged by some creep and he’s looking out for you, like he always seems to do. He’s kinder than he realizes, and you’ll tell him exactly that after he gets you out of here.

Only he doesn’t seem to be moving towards your chained up ankle. Nor does he seem to look shocked at what he sees. He only looks... concerned, which is reasonable. But 

“I-I promise it’s not permanent,” he says, gesturing towards the chain. “It’s just to make sure you don’t hurt yourself while you’re still… adjusting.” He looks around, eyes downcast and uncomfortable. “You have everything you could ever need here. Good food. A comfortable bed. I’ll make sure you never need anything and never get hurt.” There’s something like pep in his voice that makes you want to puke. “I promise. I’m very good at managing these things. If-if there’s something you don’t like, I can get you some things, some books or--”

“Sigma,” you say, voice cracking. “What’s going on? Why--why am I chained up? What did you do?”

His eyes widen. His mouth opens, then closes.

“I’m going to take care of you.”

“But why?”

And then there’s a pager going off, and he huffs, pulling out his phone and flipping it open with hands that shake. 

“What is it?” You watch his eyebrows furrow. His frown twitch. “I’ll be right there.”

He glances at you, and he looks so sad and worried that some part of you wants to feel sorry for him. But then the reality that you’ve woken up on a bed (his bed?) with a chain on  your leg comes swinging back, and that fades away.

“I’ll be back soon. There’s…” He gestures towards the top of a dresser pushed against the wall, which you can see is littered with snack bags and water bottles. “Just for now, don’t worry, I’ll have real meals brought in. And um.” He stares down at the floor, and a peek flush creeps onto his cheeks. “The chain can reach the… bathroom, if you need to.”

He turns, and you almost get the impression that he’s forcing himself to leave without looking at you. His name dies on your lips before you can speak it.

And just like that, you’re alone.

Chained up.

In an unfamiliar room.

Because of Sigma? But why? Wasn’t he your friend? Or, as close to a friend as you could get, considering he basically owns the place?

And what did he intend to do with you? He didn’t seem like… that kind of guy. He was quiet, shy. A bit like you, except he didn’t drink, which always made you loosen up more. 

Curiosity and fear lead you to slowly step off the bed. Your head is still fuzzy from the drinks or drugs or both. But you don’t stumble as much as you thought you would when you make your way around the room, dragging the silver chain behind you.

There’s a dresser. A nightstand. The bed. A TV, but there’s a layer of dust all over it, and you doubt it’s been used much. 

A desk. Although it’s not messy, it’s terribly cluttered, covered in a few stacks of books and assorted printed pages all bound together. There are all sorts of bookmarks and sticky notes in them, and you can see the traces of pen ink on the margins of them. He’s been studying… something… hard.

A book on nutrition. A printed analysis on the optimum temperature for indoor health and wellness in all seasons from the maker of some heating and cooling system. A vintage volume bound in fabric with the gilded scrawl, “A Conversational Guide to Making Conversation.”

Your fingers just touch the edge of a printed article entitled oh-so-bluntly How to Kiss when the secure door slides open and Sigma steps in.

He stares at you.

You stare at him. 

Then he looks down to see what your fingers touch, to see that you’ve found his stash of reading material, and his skin flushes.

“That’s--it’s just--” And oh, how his stammering might be cute, if you were anywhere but here, in this room, with a chain trailing from your leg. “I wanted to make sure I did things right when I brought you here.”

Things.

Like feeding you. And keeping you warm.

And kissing you?

Heat creeps up from your toes to your scalp.

“I’ve never kissed anyone,” you murmur. Of all your conversations with Sigma--the shows you liked, the books you read, the cat you saw at your neighbor’s apartment window every morning--you’d never touched on anything like this. Why would you? This was something you kept tucked away at the back of your drawer, never to be known to anyone but yourself.

“Of course you haven’t,” he says, and there’s something like eagerness in his voice. “I haven’t either. I mean, I want to--with you--I’ve been waiting.”

Waiting, you think? For me? No, not for me. Waiting until he could take me.

Because that’s what he does. He takes.

He takes a step forward, and you’re afraid to move. Even when he takes another step, and another, and he’s standing so close that you can feel the warmth of his body against yours.

He takes those steps, and then he takes your first kiss. He doesn’t grab you or hurt you or force you, and maybe that makes it hurt more. 

His lips are soft. There’s a faint scent--mint, maybe--that lingers from his breath. He doesn’t stick out his tongue, but only covers your lips with his own, a faint wetness clinging to your lips as he pulls away.

His breath is heavy. So is yours. For different reasons, you imagine. Very different reasons.

You step backward now, chain clinking, until you hit the bed. Your legs give out--this is not the knee buckling that is meant to happen with a kiss, is it?--and you stare ahead. At Sigma, but not at him, all the same. 

The silence between you stretches thin until he clears his throat.

“Are you hungry? Do you need anything?”

You nod, even though the last thing you want right now is food.

“I’ll get something!” He says, perhaps too quickly, because then he’s clearing his throat and repeating himself. “I’ll have a meal brought up. I know all your favorites, and I’ve made sure they’re extra nutritious.” He blinks, then seems to consider something. “Ah, are you cold? I can go get you something warmer, flannel or a blanket or…” 

“Yes,” you answer, not really listening. 

His voice seems far away. You seem far away, even to yourself. 

Your fingers clench the soft, silk sheets underneath you and a slow, rolling thought wraps itself around you like an unwelcome blanket.

That was your first kiss. He took your first kiss. Or you gave it, and maybe here, in his room, with a chain keeping you from going too far, it’s the same damn thing. 

And it won’t just be your first kiss that he takes, is it? No. A glance around the room, a bit of applied thought, can attest to that. He intends to keep you for… forever?

Forever is a long time and so much will slip away from you, right into his hands. Onto his lips, onto his fingers. Sigma will be your first everything. Your first kiss.  Your first cuddle. The first one who tenderly kisses your knuckles and works his way up your arm to your neck, tickling it with peppered touches. 

He’ll be the one to take your virginity, too, and there’s some awful feeling in your stomach as you idly wonder if he’s gotten a book about that particular topic yet. 

#yandere bungou stray dogs #yandere bsd #yandere sigma #sigma x reader #yandere #afterwitch writes

[apollos-boyfriend]

cellbit's books to the ones he cares for: translations

forever

page 1: forever, i don't even know how you must be thinking of me now. if everything has gone to plan, things must have been so weird that you've already started to suspect my infiltration plans. i believe that you're very intelligent.

page 2: the past few days have been a torture greater than i could ever imagine. what the census bureau did to me with that chainsaw couldn't compare to the pain to having to fight and lie every day to the people closest to me. feeling the deception hurts.

page 3: but it was the only way. the initial plan as to surprise you and the census bureau during the trial, but the vivo meme gave me the perfect opportunity to make a scene and make it look like i had some sort of motive to argue.

page 4: the census bureau doesn't understand feelings and wants too well, so this would be sufficient for it to believe my motives. it worked. i've never been so alone, but seeing you take up leadership and fighting so ferociously left me-

page 5: proud. everything is so much more difficult than i thought, but this was the only way for us to get any type of real information. after all this effort, all this fighting, all these enigmas, we still haven't found ANYTHING out about the federation. nothing.

page 6: i hope to be able to be there with you to explain this in person, but if you're reading this book, something probably went wrong. i was made to do things that i never would've done, and made to say things i never would've said.

page 7: and even trying to be apparent about my lies, even trying to make you guys suspect me, in the end, my plan . . . still went bad. and i know that probably no one on this island would trust me again. i burned all my bridges. but it was the only way.

page 8: i left a book to richarlyson in the beginning of it all, i didn't want him to have his heart broken, and maybe that was my biggest failure. but i was willing to sacrifice EVERYTHING to get this egg off this island. everything. and that's what i did.

page 9: tell bad i'm sorry for the things i said about dapper, to max about sofia, and to the french for the suspicion. i'm sorry for what i did to your XP farm, i know how long you and richas worked on it and every spawner that i broke was a-

page 10: stab to my heart. honestly, i think that they were already going to break it because it was SUPER broken [op] . . . but they made ME break it . . . to test if i was really willing to do anything for the federation.

page 11: tomorrow is the day that i'll officially become a part of the federation. it's my "initiation process". we'll finally going to have new information. i'm VERY anxious . . . and nervous.

page 12: i did all of this for richarlyson. i did all of this for felps. i did all of this for the ordem. i did all of this for you guys. i hope that it'll have been worth it.

page 13: explain to bad, to max and to quackity. and tell foolish that he's a gem of a person. sofia's new password is "Regret". and if those federation sons of bitches make the error of letting me live . . .

page 14: i will come back. keep your eyes open, forever.

tazercraft

page 1: gentlemen, i know that our past isn't the best one. i know that you guys must believe that i've turned into that monster again. but that man is no longer me. cell died on that island. i'm not him.

page 2: i missed you two dearly, and wanted to be able to play more rounds of hide-and-seek, and trying to organize an EGG GYMKHANA with you guys in chume labs. i'm sorry for not having been able to. i love you both, and you're amazing parents for richas, too.

page 3: he loves spending time with you both, even if the two of you are stupid*, i think that no one enternains him more than tazer and craft. at least i won't have to take the red wool again.

*used endearingly

page 4: take care of yourselves, guys. and explode this census bureau bitch. yuo guys already took down herobrine, this shitty bear is nothing.

richarlyson

page 1: richas, i tried my best. i'm sorry, son. i just wanted to get you away from this island. this place isn't safe, and the federation won't let us leave here. when i arrived in this place, i never-

page 2: thought that i would have to take care of someone . . . but what you've become was so much bigger than this. i'm sorry for not being able to be there all the time. every neuron that i burned with those cursed enigmas, all those hours that i spend locked up in that office . . .

page 3: it was all for you, richarlyson.

page 4: continue to trust in your daddies forever, pac, and mike . . . and if in any way i've managed to bring him back, in daddy felps, too. nevertheless, your dad quackity really toes love you and wants to protect you. i suspected him at the start, but i've heard the truth in your voice.

page 5: if i'm no longer here . . . daddy quackity now has my 20%, okay? i'm sorry if i've ever made you feel alone in any way. remember when i told you of a moment in my life that i felt completely alone?

page 6: solitude is worse than any prison. worse than what i went through with daddies pac and mike, and worse than this island. i'm sorry for having you suffer this, too. it's my biggest regret.

page 7: i love you, you big-headed* egg. see if you can learn to catch something that's not crabs. immortalyson forever.

*term of endearment, tends to equate to "stubbornly stupid"

bonus:

the book cellbit gave to richarlyson before being attacked by the codes

page 1: i need for[the federation] to trust me. it's the only way. i love you. i love dad forever. i need that [the players] believe the contrary. it's going to hurt, and i'm going to do terrible things. but i will-

page 2: destroy [the federation] from the inside. all of them.

additionally, he left a book for roier, however forever did not open it/read it out to respect their privacy. cellbit titled it "guapito"

#icarus speaks #YIPEEEEE THATS FINALLY DONE #this took. nearly an hour to get out. #like 50 mins #fuck you block people for making me think so much #qsmp translations

[the-joy-of-knowledge]

How to Stop Worrying and Start Winning.

How to Stop Worrying and Start Winning is a book by Dale Carnegie that gives us insight into how to deal with worry, stories of people who quit worrying for good, and techniques to win in life in the most difficult times. This book literally changed my life because I was able to address my worries head-on and do something about them. Exams are in two weeks…okay, do I get all panicky, or do I pick up my books to study and revise? I am worried about my weight, do I say self-loathing things to myself, or do I go to the gym?

On matters of the future…

I focus on the fact that I have 1,440 minutes in a day to live an amazing life. What a gift it is! I wake up determined to seize the day.

I don’t worry about the next day because as long as I achieve my daily goals, the future will sort itself. The future will morphe into my heart’s desires. In fact, the future turns out better than I expect because of serendipity.

I have two-year and five-year goals. I break them down into monthly, weekly, and daily goals. I try to include them in my routine.

On matters of fear…

So there is a part of me that is afraid of making mistakes and this stops me from trying anything new. Meaning I did not learn nor grow and I will never be good at it. So I would ask myself, what is the worst thing that can happen? prepare to accept the worst while improving on the current circumstance.

I also get the facts of my worry. I determine what kind of worry it is. Is it an action-type worry or an acceptance-type worry? If it is an action-type, I just take action instead of worrying. If you need to accept the truth of the story, then accept it and move on. Do not wait on your worries, it has consequences on your health.

Write down your worries, and make your subconscious aware of them. Decide on what you can do and start acting on them.

On matters of Insecurities…

I have insecurities, I am not flawless but why worry about the fact that I am flat-chested with broad shoulders when I know well that I cannot change it. The best thing I did was learn about clothes and figure out what is best for me to wear. I had “role models for looks” women whose bodies were just as similar to mine and this gave me the confidence to change my wardrobe and invest in my beauty.

I used to have stage fright and I would always avoid situations that required me to speak but in the back of my mind, I always envisioned myself as a public speaker. I was insecure around my peers who were magnificent at speaking. So I joined a club in my school and took up a leadership position and It was hard. I would shake and fidget but as time went on I became confident to stand and give presentations, talks, and speeches. Always using one leap to motivate me to the next one.

To be continued…

Black Pearl

#self development #self improvement #books #motivation #preppy #classy #oldmoney #chanel #beauty #luxury #self love #ivy league #budget #motivatedmindset

[hungerpaste]

I was genuinely worried at the end of WoR that the narrative was going to start Adolin on a dark descent after he killed Sadeas. Cause that's what so many books do, like you kill a person who had it coming and it's an inevitable slope into evil. So I held my breath all through Oathbringer but the slippery slope never came. The plot moved forward, Sadeas' faction became small fry side plot and Adolin continued to be a perfect golden boy.

And there's just. So much commentary in that LACK that it makes my brain jitter. Instead of a boring purity of action narrative it explores idealism vs practicality. Dalinar's idealsim saves himself and everyone at the end of Oathbringer. But Adolin's pragmatism(even tho its motivated by passion of the moment) GOT Dalinar there by eliminating a clear threat to unity and safety before the book even starts. Can you imagine trying to face Odium if Sadeas had still been running free attempting assassinations and hoarding resources? Kaladin couldn't kill Sadeas without betraying the ideals he relies on to live, same for Dalinar's who additionally has the weight of leadership and example on him. But Adolin doesn't have either of those, he represents a different format of morality that is more about personal decency. Most of the early books he feels stiff and restricted by his dad's clearer cut codes of conduct, and only followed them out of affection for his dad. But when left on his own he weighed the ideals his father loves and the unabashed low handedness of Sadeas and realized that you don't play nice with opponents who won't return the favor. He betrayed the ideals of his father but by doing so helped them survive another day.

It's interesting to me that the story has barely addressed it, it's just moved right past. Sadeas loomed as a constant threat and he's practically disappeared at this point b/c sometimes the best way to deal with an asshole is to just stab him in an alley.

#realsing as i write this thay this is also what makes adolin perfect for Shallan #power pair of get shit done as cleanly as possible but sometimes we gotta get into muck #stormlight #stormlight archive #stormlight archive spoilers #stormlight spoilers #words of radiance #wor #oathbringer #oathbringer spoilers #brain go brrrrrrrr #time.to.word vomit #words or radiance spoilers

[notalkingbusiness]

The Book of Carol & The Heroine's Journey - Part 1: The Descent

The Descent sees our heroine in crisis. 

Carriger says The Descent’s trademarks include a broken familial network, the heroine’s pleas being ignored, the heroine involuntarily withdrawing from her community, and the heroine’s family being unable to help her. 

Let’s take these one by one and think about how they could be used in TBOC.

(1) Broken familial network. The heroine’s familial network has been broken – someone she loves is in great danger.  More often than not, someone she loves has been taken from her. 

In TBOC, Carol’s familial network is broken because Daryl has been taken from her. 

Carriger says “If you want to set your heroine into motion quickly, take someone she values away from her” – that’s certainly true for Carol, isn’t it?  Nothing would set Carol into motion quicker than Daryl being in danger.

Carol knows in her bones that there’s no innocent explanation for Daryl's absence.

Carol will have more questions than answers at this point in the narrative, but there's one thing she knows for certain: she'll do whatever it takes to get Daryl back. 

She’ll do whatever it takes to bring the man she loves home.

(2) The heroine’s pleas ignored and she abdicates power.

The heroine needs help in bringing her loved one home.  She needs resources and manpower, but she’s unable to get the support she needs from her community.

Will we see Carol's pleas being ignored? I'm not sure. I guess Ezekiel could say that she’s worrying over nothing.

Or someone could really twist the knife in and suggest that Daryl might not want to come back. It would be untrue, of course, but a comment like that would eat away at Carol.

She'd wonder if she did something wrong. If she unknowingly drove him away.

A naysayer's comment could ultimately make Caryl's reunion all the sweeter when Daryl instantly sweeps Carol off her feet.

A passionate, romantic reunion could put some of Carol's demons to bed forever.

(She is enough. He loves her. He'd never abandon her.)

While we might not see Carol's pleas being ignored, abdicating power is undoubtedly part of her story.  We last saw Carol as one of the leaders of the Commonwealth government, but her loved ones will always take priority over work.  She’ll drop her government responsibilities at the drop of a hat to rescue Daryl.

Normally I’d be a bit wary of a story in which a woman abandons her career for a man, but I was never convinced Carol wanted a leadership role in the Commonwealth.  It felt like putting a square peg in a round hole.  Carol doesn’t have to run a settlement just because that’s what Maggie and Michonne did.  Heroines don’t value power and influence, that’s not what’s important to them.

Love is the most important thing to a heroine. They want what’s best for the people they love. They prioritize keeping their loved ones safe and happy above all else.  That’s Carol’s whole personality in a nutshell, right?  Carol’s love has always been and will always be her superpower. 

In TBOC, I’m hoping Daryl asks Carol what she really wants. 

Spoiler Alert: Carol doesn’t want to go back to her desk job at the Commonwealth.  She wants to build a life with Daryl.  She wants new adventures with him.  

(3) The heroine’s withdrawal is involuntary.

The heroine is motivated by the desire to protect her loved one, rather than a desire to travel or seek glory.

This follows on nicely from the point I was making about Carol and leadership – about what Carol wants and values.  Carol’s withdrawal is involuntary because it’s not like Carol has a burning desire to see France.  (New Mexico, on the other hand ...) But if France is where Pookie is, that’s where she’ll go.

Carol has always been driven by love; glory has never been on her radar. We've seen this on the flagship show time and time again. She'll pull off these amazing stunts and she'll still be wondering if she's done enough. Case in point - remember the moment just before the Terminus hug? 

Carol emerges from the woods wordlessly and cautiously. She keeps her distance from the group.

My reading of this scene?

I think, even after saving everyone, Carol was bracing herself for another rejection. Carol was ready to drop Daryl’s crossbow and melt back into the trees, if that was what her family wanted.  She was not expecting a hero’s welcome.

Carol loves fiercely and selflessly, always putting others first.

We need to see Daryl putting her first in TBOC.

We need to see Daryl being as devoted to Carol as she is to him. 

(4) The heroine's family offers aid but no solution.

The heroine’s family is sympathetic, but they can’t solve her problems for her.  They can’t bring her loved one home for her.

I’m not sure how much TBOC will provide on this front, both because of filming constraints and other complicating factors.  I don’t know how much Carol would tell Judith and RJ about her mission.  And, let’s face it, they’d both try and join her if they knew Uncle Daryl was in danger. 

But Carol could have an honest conversation with Lydia.  For instance, Carol could explain the situation to Lydia and ask her to look after the kids.  Lydia wouldn’t want Carol to go alone either.  But Lydia could agree to hold the fort because she knows she’s not ready for a mission like this, not after her recent amputation.  This would very neatly hit the “family offering aid but no solution” beat.  Also, Carol and Lydia screentime was sorely missing in S11 so I’d be very happy if that could be rectified in some small way in TBOC.  I’d love to see Lydia acting as a sort of confidant for Carol. 

Heroines value their relationships with other women, and I really hope TBOC recognizes that central tenet of the Heroine’s Journey.  

Final Thoughts on The Descent:

The Descent will be a bittersweet watch if TBOC is taking Carol's emotions and motivations seriously - if they're not afraid to show just how much Carol loves Daryl. The joy of having Carol back on our screens will be counterbalanced with Carol's deep emotional turmoil. Carol's going to be thinking about all those people she's loved and lost, all those people who went missing and never came home.

TBOC is inherently an emotional journey for Carol - Melissa McBride should be taking the lead when it comes to the emotional core of Carol's story. She's spent over a decade with this character - she knows Carol's headspace and heart space better than anyone else. She is absolutely essential in ensuring character and story integrity.

Over to you!

What do you think Carol values most in the world?  What are her most powerful motivations?

If you’re in favor of TF cameos, who do you think Carol should interact with and why?

Do you have other ideas for what you’d like to see during The Descent section of Carol’s journey?  (Don’t be shy! There are no wrong answers or silly questions.)

Thanks for sticking with me :) I hope you'll join me next time when I'll be talking about The Search.

#caryl #carol peletier #twd caryl #melissa mcbride #the book of carol

[rodricksfilipinagf]

Academia AU Pt.1 (Eris Vanserra x Reader)

After another successful, though exhausting class taught, I clutch my Stanley cup and take it off my desk, eager to make it to the English department meeting. I hoped the meeting would be over soon so that I could make it back to my apartment to read my latest romance novel I checked out from the library. 

As an English professor at Prythian University, my personal interests tend to creep into my curriculum, and I like it that way! I want my students to love reading, and the best way to do that is to get them to read something they’ll be interested in. Something they’ll relate to. Something they’d read already without me getting involved. 

I recently included manga in my curriculum after my brief stint working with kids. My all-time favorite student absolutely loved Naruto. Like, devoured the mangas because he loved the anime. Little kids and university students aren’t that different- intrinsic motivation is the key to reaching them. 

As I reach closer to the room the meeting will be held in, I unscrew my Stanley cup and take a sip. 

“Well, well, well,” a familiar voice drawls, and I almost spit out my water. On him. Although…I might really love that, it might actually make him unfairly hotter. With his bright red hair, amber eyes, and the gorgeous planes of his face, he didn’t need me splashing water onto his white button down, revealing probably ripped abs. Eris Vanserra, the worst English professor at this university. 

It’s not that he’s bad at teaching, although that would be an enormous plus and give me another reason to hate him. He’s actually a huge hardass when it comes to assignments and grading. What’s most infuriating about him is his inability to recognize that what I do matters just as much as what he does. 

“Drag yourself away from lecturing about childrens’ books?” he asks. “You are aware that this is a university, not an elementary school.” Fuck him. Fuck him, fuck him, fuck him. 

“As if children’s literature isn’t a recognized genre,” I say.

“Just admit it. You just want to go easy on your students. Coddle them and give them easy A’s so they’ll like you,” he says. 

My mouth drops open at that insulting remark. How dare he? “What would you have me do? Assign them stuff I know they hate so they won’t read it at all?”

He rolls his eyes. “Ever heard of giving them a poor grade? It’s how they learn not to do that.”

“I’m surprised you still have enough students to fill a class,” I retort. 

“Because my students take their education seriously, unlike yours. Yours wouldn’t last a week in mine.” With that, he breezes into the room, not bothering to talk to anyone else. Why would he? With his father being the Chair of the English Department, he has no reason to schmooze. 

Speaking of, his father, Beron, takes the podium. I quickly find a seat near the front, far, far away from Eris. 

“Welcome, Prythian University English Department. It is with the utmost despondency that I announce my upcoming retirement. Next semester, I will no longer be Chair of the English Department. I’m growing old, and I want to spend my next years away from academia after my many years serving this university. That being said, one of you will be replacing me. I hope the next generation will continue the legacy of this great university,” Beron says. 

I think it over. This is a leadership position, which all my life I’ve always craved. I’d love to get this job. I would still teach my students but also get to impact the curriculum that gets taught here. I have my Romance Novels, Children’s Literature, and my one class dedicated to manga and graphic novels, as well as Creative Writing classes in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction. I could make sure that these classes stay at the university, and that there’s more like them in the future. Not only that, I could make sure that we get advanced playwriting and screenwriting classes, as well as more funding for the more fun and creative classes. 

After Beron goes over all the requirements for the position, the meeting disperses. I gather up my stuff and leave. Unfortunately as soon as I leave the room I run smack into Eris.

“Don’t even think about it, bunny,” he says, tweaking one of my ears. “The position’s mine.”

“Fuck off,” I say. “I deserve this way more than you do.”

“And why’s that?” he raises an eyebrow. 

“Cause you’re tired. Boring. And stale. Oh sorry, I meant what you teach,” I say, suppressing a smile. 

“And in thousands of years, no one will care what you teach,” he says. “Even now what you’re doing’s a waste of time. So why don’t you throw in the towel now so you don’t get hurt.”

“The only one who will get hurt is you when you don’t get the chair position,” I say.

“Oh,” he breathes. “Is that so, bunny?” Before I could react, he backs me into the wall. “You really think what I teach holds no value?”

“I didn’t say no value,” I protest.

“Uh-uh, don’t go back on it,” he wheedles, pressing me into the wall. “You said tired. Boring, and stale, was it? And what do you think is so much better? Those romance novels you teach?”

I let out a breath. “I didn’t know you kept such tabs on my curriculum.”

He chuckles. “How can I not keep track of everything that’s wasting university money that should go to me?”

The sheer arrogance of him. “Sounds like you’re obsessed with me.”

He smirks. “As if you’re not obsessed with me, darling.”

“Fuck. You.”

“Don’t you wish you would,” he whispers. “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.” He runs a thumb over my cheek. “It’s not from one of your romance novels, but you look pretty flustered to me,” he comments. 

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from blushing further. “Fuck off,” I say. Even I’m not immune to a fucking Shakespeare quote, but did he seriously think I was dumb enough not to recognize it?  “I have to plan what I’m going to say to the English department heads to convince them to choose me to be the next chair.”

His eyes darken. “Including my father.”

I snort. “So? I’m not going to give up just because your father might give it to you out of nepotism.”

“You really don’t know my father, do you?” he asks. 

“No,” I admit. “But I know my stuff. So watch out.”

“Oh I will, bunny,” he assures me, his eyes running the length of my body. “I will.”

#eris x reader #eris vanserra #eris acotar #eris vanserra x reader #eris vanserra acotar #eris vanserra x you #eris vanserra fic #acotar fic #acotar fanfiction #acotar #eris x y/n #eris x you

[cross-my-heartt]

Appreciating Rebels Thrawn: Atollon

Okay folks this one is going to be different from my Rewriting Rebels Thrawn series. I wanted to take the time to appreciate this arc because I think it's very in line with what we know about book canon Thrawn.

So this is going to be an analysis of why Atollon works, especially in the sense of what failure looks like for Thrawn, with some teeny tiny scene tweaks and suggestions at the end for how it could be brought even closer to book canon.

So without further ado, let's get into it. (As always, spoilers for the books ahead).

In terms of chronology, we're at a point where Thrawn has recently been promoted and given command of the Seventh Fleet, and been assigned to deal with the rebel threat on Lothal. This is important because it means he's had limited time to handpick and mentor his subordinates. Something that's vital to the success of his convoluted plans.

To put it simply, Thrawn's way of leadership requires trust and competence (both of which he does his damnedest to cultivate in the books). Otherwise his sand castle tactics are likely to fall apart as soon as something minor goes wrong. And a lot of things go wrong at Atollon.

In the books, he's at his most successful when his forces follow his orders to a t. When they trust him to know what he's doing and his officers can keep up with him after working with him long enough and absorbing his teachings.

The best examples of this are Karyn Faro and Eli. And during the Atollon attack, Eli is with the Chiss while Karyn is a later introduction to the franchise that sadly doesn't make an appearance in the show.

All of this to say that Thrawn is now left with Konstantine and Pryce at the helm and, surprise surprise, both of them make huge, costly, stupid mistakes. (Way to go guys.)

There are three major factors to Thrawn's failure:

Konstantine's stupid stunt, resulting in the interdictor's destruction, Ezra's escape and the subsequent arrival of reinforcements

Pryce's handling of Kallus' imprisonment

and the Bendu, ie some serious Deus Ex Machina force shenanigans

And honestly, objectively speaking? None of these are Thrawn's fault. Which is good because after reading about the ridiculous uber talented things he pulls off in the books, we need a damn good reason for him to fail so spectacularly.

Moving on, Konstantine's blunder is the result of him disobeying Thrawn's orders out of pure stupidity. In that moment he's motivated by his own petty ambition, the kind of thing Thrawn doesn't understand (and would have a difficult time foreseeing) because it's not what motivates him.

Pryce's handling of Kallus on the other hand is an emotional reaction. She gets angry, sends Kallus to get killed (something Tharwn would never do because it's a waste of resources) with minimal security and Kallus escapes.

This is again something Tharwn would have a hard time foreseeing because he rarely, if ever, allows emotions to cloud his judgement.

There is also the fact that Pryce is someone Thrawn has to work with not because he wants to but because he has to. She's his political mediator, someone he needs to help him navigate politics and do damage control for his blunders.

Which is a detail I find really neat because it means that a) he can't get rid of her despite her not meeting his standard for competence and b) he's in this position because Pryce dragged him to deal with the rebels on Lothal as part of their deal.

And then we have this moment:

Which is

hands down

MY FAVORITE MOMENT IN THE WHOLE SERIES.

My man is befuddled. He is bamboozled. Baffled. Discombobulated. Stunned. Because for the first time there's been a wrench of such epic proportions thrown into his plans that we see him thwarted in every direction.

This is Thrawn faced with an unknown he couldn't have foreseen or factored into his plans in any way. And I love to see that.

All in all this arc serves to demonstrate how fragile Thrawn's tactics can be. How his plans are not necessarily flawed but their success relies on things going exactly how he needs them to and people doing exactly what he tells them to which isn't always the case.

Back in the Ascendancy his success rate was higher because of the people he worked alongside and the familiarity of his circumstances. Here, he doesn't have that same stable footing and it only makes sense for him to stumble more often as a result.

And this is why I like this arc in general.

Other notable moments are Kallus' 'You talk too much' because yes, Thrawn does indeed talk a lot. He explains, he elaborates, he muses he very much loves including people into these musings and explaining every minor detail of his plans.

Then there is Kallus being present when Thrawn explains how he's found Atollon and for the subsequent battle. Some fics have interpreted that as an necessarily cruel 'making him watch' and 'gloating' moment. Which may very well be the case from Kallus' pov.

But in reality this is a tactic Thrawn often uses in the books: observing his enemies' reactions to things (sometimes events he's gone so far as to fabricate for this very purpose) and using that to extrapolate information. And Kallus' visible reaction to Atollon's location may well have been the final confirmation that Thrawn needed (smh, Yularen would be so disappointed).

I also love the moment where Thrawn cuts Konstantine off and emphasizes the importance of him doing exactly as Thrawn has ordered. Because as we've already said, that's key to the success of his plans. But it also shows that despite Thrawn's difficulty in predicting some people's motivations, he does have a good sense for his subordinates' competence. Part of why he's so good at curating competent crews. And he is not loving Konstantine's vibes here.

As for the things I would (personally!) tweak to bring show and book canon even closer, they're both very minor and have to do with dialogue.

Like Thrawn's line to Kallus:

I do not require glory, only results (this is where I was screaming YES) for my Emperor. (and this is where I was screaming NOOO).

Yes, Thrawn values results over everything. He values results over etiquette (his words to Samakro), he values results over rules and he values results over rewards.

One thing he does struggle with however is convincing Palpatine of his loyalty to the Empire - something that has very real consequences for him in Alliances. That's because Thrawn isn't actually loyal to the Empire. He's loyal to his people first and foremost and when he does try to convince the Emperor, or Vader, of his loyalty it's by arguing that his people's interests coincide with the Empire's.

So this part of his line doesn't sit well with me.

The use of my in 'my Emperor' especially tilts the line towards a personal loyalty to Palpatine which couldn't be further from the truth. Saying 'the Emperor' would be a bit better but I'd remove the Emperor part altogether.

You could argue that he's doing it to create an illusion of loyalty but seeing as he had difficulties doing that with Vader, I don't see why he would bother attempting it with a rebel prisoner.

Thrawn has no trouble lying when it's part of his tactical maneuvering, when it's for the sake of misinformation and positioning an opponent into a trap, but this kind of lie is more in the realm of political manipulation. Currying favor with allies and superiors. And that's an area he notably struggles in.

And finally: 'You misunderstand, Captain. I'm not accepting surrenders at this time. I want you to know failure, utter defeat, and that it is I who delivers it crashing down upon you.'

Again we start off great: Thrawn is blunt and he doesn't hesitate to present his enemies with hard facts, especially when he has them cornered and right where he wants them to. Call it an intimidation tactic or just part of his habit to lay things out.

The next part though, I would cut out completely. Because if there's one thing Tharwn is not, in my opinion, it's gloating. The canon books don't give you the sense that he's a character with a bloated ego or someone who engages in unnecessary comments just for the sake of his own malicious satisfaction. So it's a no for me.

But I'll stop myself here before this becomes too long... or, well, longer. All in all, an amazing arc that gives us great character moments and one I could rewatch many times over.

#thrawn #mitth'raw'nuruodo #grand admiral thrawn #sw rebels #star wars rebels #thrawn books #thrawn trilogy

[theprophetizaiah]

Achilles Come Down | Chapter 1: Pain As a Motive

Summary: Crowley believes Aziraphale died in the bookshop fire. Now, he's sending the armies of hell to avenge him. Based loosely on the story of Achilles and Patroclus.

Warning: None for this chapter! (Aside from some foul language)

Word count: 1.5k (this chapter)

All chapters should be available here! (I haven't written on Tumblr in many moons please forgive me)

To read on AO3, check out my work here!

Crowley burned in the hell he imagined he’d always belonged in. Ashes rained from the heavens. Burning paper engulfed his senses. Black smoke burned in his eyes. He breathed in his dead lover. Misery. Misery for the rest of eternity.

“Somebody killed my best friend!” he was somewhere between a yell and a sob. “Bastards!” Between fury and agony.

They spent the last 6,000 years toeing the line between best friends and lovers. Dining at the Ritz, feeding ducks, saving each other from mortal peril, you know, as friends do. Crowley would know him in any lifetime. From the weight of his step, the smell of his hair, the sound of his breath (it would skip and stutter when he had thought of something clever). The air around Aziraphale was always heavy, but not in the manner of suffocation. Rather, his aura was a heavy wool blanket. Warm, grounded, homey. The closest thing Crowley ever really had to a home.

Before the apocalypse, Crowley recalled their drunken ramblings. Amidst the whiffs of red wine, he remembered how he smelled. Like earl grey, oak, and bourbon: something his barber suggested. He also always smelled a bit like paper. It made the burning around Crowley all the more unbearable. Anthony J. Crowley, fallen angel and Duke of Hell, reeling over the doing of a foreigner’s god. Certainly not the one he knew, or maybe exactly the one he knew.

He laid in the flames, thinking through his new reality. This was a rare moment of clarity for the distraught demon. Who killed him: heaven or hell? Either reality had some sense to it. Heaven could, and would, excommunicate him for working with a demon. Permanent discorporation, or banishment to hell. Hell would kill him just for the sake of it. Just to say they did. Racking his brain, he realized Hell was unfortunately, his best chance of finding Aziraphale, or at least what became of him. Crowley slowly creeped up from the ashen ground. He was unsure how much time had passed, but it seemed that the flames had slowed. In mere moments, he stared between the two escalators. He chose downward. As the escalator carried him into the dank, dark corridors, his anguish gnawed at him, clawing its war from the inside out. He allows a single tear, and immediately wipes it away. Only the damned cry in hell.

Crowley had stopped fighting for hell decades ago. In the presence of his angel, he saw no reason for it. He saw no reason to fill the world with more violence. The humans were better at that anyway. After his bout in Edinborough, he was promptly tortured for the next several decades. Crowley never saw the face of Satan, but he would give it an ethereal, firm uppercut the second he had the chance. He lost faith in his leadership, in the art of mass scale temptation. He preferred the gentle temptation of his beloved. Of asking him out to breakfast, bringing him wine, planting seeds of heavenly doubt in his mind. He thought often about the Greek myth of the origin of love. They were alone together at the edge of the universe, a body of eight limbs, four eyes, and a flutter of feathers. Whoever Crowley was, it was a product of the angel. Whoever Aziraphale was, it was Crowley’s collateral. And beautifully so, their symbiosis carried on through the centuries. The demon had the fight pulled out of him the way the angel unshelved his books. Carefully and with gentle hands. 

But now that he was gone, this was war. If he had nothing, he would still have Aziraphale, but if he didn’t have his angel, he had nothing. His fury craved battle, to make them hurt the same way he did. His wrath could summon the very same fire that had surrounded him in the hours prior. If his beloved really was gone, then he would destroy the heaven that took him.

Crowley barely managed his way through the crowds of demons slowly but surely trudging their way through the crowded corridors of hell. After passing the rest of the high offices he comes to the door of the one and only Beelzebub. For a moment, he questions if he should even knock, let alone open the door. He wonders if any of this is worth it in the first place. What if his Angel didn't care whatsoever about him? What if he didn’t need saving, or worse, he was already long gone? But in reality, he knew that wasn't the case. He’d be damned, more than he is already, if he let Aziraphale die knowing that he could have prevented it. Crowley gulps and burst open the door of Beelzebub's office. Demons were typically not known for their politeness. Inside, he sees Beelzebub sitting upon their throne, legs crossed fancifully, almost as if they were expecting him. Crowley's stomach turns at this realization. 

“How's it going up there?” Beelzebub asks. Crowley puts on his best front and looks Beelzebub dead in the eyes and lies:

 “Fantastic,” he says. “The Antichrist is mere moments from inciting the Apocalypse.” 

Beelzebub smirks. “Wonderful. Great job.” 

Crowley shudders ever so slightly. Not enough for anyone else to notice, but enough for him to feel a profound discomfort. He again looks to Beelzebub, “did you capture the angel? Is he here?”

Beelzebub looks confused. “What do you mean capture the angel?”

“Aziraphale,” Crowley starts. “The other angel that has worked in my same jurisdiction for six thousand years. Did you capture him?”

Beelzebub purses their lips, seemingly scanning their memory. Alas, still confused. “No… Why would you assume that? Why would we let him in here?” They began to look vaguely suspicious of their colleague.

 Crowley pulled something out of his ass. “I saw that the Bookshop was on fire,” he blurted out. “I could have only imagined that it was demonic intervention.” Beelzebub chuckled. 

“It's not always hellfire,” Crowley stifles a laugh, just enough for Beelzebub to think it's genuine. Beelzebub speaks up once more. “Yeah, I don't know about the angel. We don't have ‘im here.” Crowley takes a moment and a step back. He decides to tell the best lie that he's ever told, aside from the fact that he was not madly, disgustingly in love with a forbidden fruit. 

“I want that slimy bastard gone forever,” Crowley spits. “I want that fussy dumbarse to not be anywhere near God's green Earth.”

“Well, I know that much… What are you suggesting?” 

Crowley laughs disingenuously, but trying desperately to seem genuine. “I think we need to raid heaven.”

Beelzebub looks puzzled. “But why do we need to raid the heavens if we have already conquered the Earth, Crowley?” they said. “Why would we postpone destroying Earth to fight this war first?”

“That’s exactly it… they’ll never see it coming,” Crowley says. “We can start with the archangels: Gabriel, Michael, Uriel… There will be no one left to lead their army in such short order. Then we let the Earth burn, and winning their holy war will be easier than dropping the antichrist at the convent.”

His voice grows raspy. Crowley takes a deep breath. “It'll let them know once and for all that their God means nothing.” Crowley sits down in front of Beelzebub. They seem a bit more intrigued. Crowley describes a plot more ambitious than any of his plans to date: to invade the heavens. To crusade his lover’s workplace by summoning a demonic army, comprised of hundreds of damned souls. He plans to force them through the Gates of Heaven to slaughter any angels in their sight. Beelzebub loved this concept, and was almost surprised Crowley came up with it. But, he did dream up the Spanish Inquisition, after all (or so they thought).

“Honestly, why not?” Beelzebub smirks. “If we're all going to be separated for the rest of time anyway, this would be a fun way to go out. If they want us to fight this war, we ought to do it our way. Hell fights dirty.” As the flies buzzed among their crown, they grinned the way a child would when they had come up with the perfect prank. Except this wasn’t a prank. It was the end of the world. Of Crowley’s, at least.

Beelzebub grimaced. Crowley laughed. “Well, I'll go talk about it with head office, and we'll get it sorted. I want it done by the end of the day today. That sound alright?” Beelzebub nodded in excitement. Crowley seems giddy with anticipation but not in the way that you would imagine. The anxiety pulsed through his veins. He was setting into motion the divine war days earlier than was planned, all for a fussy angel he drank wine with one too many times. But at the same time, he knew this was his reality. Crowley couldn’t pretend he didn’t love him anymore. Not when he could be dead. If heaven wanted a war, they were going to get it, god dammit.

#Achilles Come Down #aziraphale #crowley #aziracrow #ineffable husbands #ineffable dumbasses #bookshop fire #good omens #good omens fanfiction #fanfiction #fic #angst #whump #crowley angst #crowley whump #good omens beelzebub #beelzebub #protective crowley #achilles #patroclus #the iliad #achilles/patroclus #ao3 fanfic #ao3 link #ao3 writer #archive of our own #ao3 stuff #gomens #anthony j crowley #somewhat canon compliant

[serenfire]

attention, anyone who cares about the witcher s3's character's motivations with regards to the books but who hasn't then read time of contempt, here is a post for you!

here's some interesting differences between the book and show characters, especially in ep 5 (spoilers for the witcher s3 so far and the books):

since yennefer does not have her s2 beef w aretuza subplot, none of the mages are her direct enemies, and she is a member of the lower circle of leadership within the brotherhood, called the council, with philippa and 3 others who are not in the show. she is also not the one who calls the conclave; she finds out about it while bringing ciri to aretuza, and attends with geralt so that they can draw out the mage who is backing rience. in the book, they're trying to convinced everyone that ciri died at cintra, and haven't been together since then to keep up the illusion, so going to aretuza together will draw out the mage who knows ciri exists and is trying to kill her

vilgefortz is, firstly, the hero of sodden in the books. he's the war hero against nilfgaard, and one of the leaders of the brotherhood. he's also (spoilers for probably the second half of s3) working for nilfgaard now, and not in the way that s1 portrays where he kills his comrade on the battlefield after the battle's over, but in an "even the hero of sodden who singlehandedly saved the north from nilfgaard wants power enough to ally with his enemy" way.

he is the leader of the chapter, which is the highest circle of leadership of the brotherhood. tissaia and francesca findabair are also members, as well as artaud terranova (guy who falls over the champagne glass table in ep 5). in ep 5 he recounts his backstory to geralt, some of it word-for-word, except for an important part: as part of his backstory, he fell in love with an unnamed mage before becoming a sorcerer, and after breaking up with her, decided he should pursue magic. he and tissaia are not together! i cannot stress this enough, in the books the mages are powered by their individual searches for power, and love does not tie them together! it's what sets yen apart: she's one of the only ones willing to sacrifice for another.

FRANCESCA FINDABAIR. member of the chapter/high ranked aretuza member, in the book shows up to the conclave party early, stirring up the northern vs nilfgaardian sentiments by being there. wild that she hasn't appeared there in the show yet. her motives in the show are WHACK. in the books she did not have a baby and did not say she wants to genocide the humans (although that is propaganda against her): she leads the scoia'tael to fight for nonhuman freedom and allies herself with nilfgaard to continue to fight the north, and she will receive a free land for the elves (dol blathanna) in return for the scoia'tael being branded as war criminals and outlawed. in the books she is the catch-22 of stuck between a rock and a hard place: allying with imperialism will save her people but gut her guerilla soldiers who fought for it.

philippa eilhart is so far the best-written character this season (to me) because she is one of the only characters who everyone knows is seeking for power (in the book she's referred to as the one who's really on the redanian throne, backed by dijkstra) and she, directly, says that she's looking to keep power in the north. in the books, most if not every mage's motivations are for power, whether in a king's court or by allying with nilfgaard, and the imperial machinations are what the politics in the books are about, so having a character not be preoccupied with interpersonal reasons and instead directly embody this is refreshing!

however! in the books philippa's position is anti-nilfgaardian invasion, not anti-brotherhood. she's pitted against vilgefortz, who's allied with nilfgaard, instead of against him because he's a leader of the brotherhood. the brotherhood as an institution isn't interrogated as a state (unlike the northern kingdoms and nilfgaard), and her specific grievances against other court mages have to do with the fact that almost every kingdom is goading nilfgaard to attack so they can attack back and vie for power. she's also got redania on a lockdown by killing vizimir right before the conclave party and i don't know how this will play out in the show considering radovid exists as well

also in the books radovid is vizimir's son who ascends to the throne after philippa and dijkstra kill vizimir, and (in the games) he makes it his life mission to kill philippa. he does not physically show up in time of contempt and adding him into the show as vizimir's brother 1) crunches the timeline down to a period of time that makes a bit more sense than the books and 2) allows the show to make up the funniest fucking subplot with jaskier. oh my god none of that happened in the books but wouldn't it have been hilarious. jaskier hooking up with the sweet and sensitive younger prince who's a fan of his music and then smash cut to twelve hours later and he's the fucking king of redania. the comedy potential is unmatched

#i am not including cahir because i fogor. he doesn't show up in TOC but it makes sense for his s3 content to happen in his backstory #that was a lot of words i hope y'all enjoy the parallels. i don't think the show portrays politics as a result of relationships well but #the show does politics as a result of power well. and there's a bit of both this season #but in the books it is exclusively politics as a result of power #the witcher spoilers #the witcher #the witcher netflix #time of contempt #the witcher meta

[featherdawn]

overall thoughts on the book: it was mid at best. frustrating at worst.

things I liked:

- sunbeam. I love u sunbeam my girlie my sweet cheese. I don't even have much to say I just. really like reading about her

- splashtail. he's trying so hard and barely succeeding. he reads like he's so out of his depth. it's so funny. he's intimidating, I guess, in that he killed harelight without hesitation or remorse, but like. he should've killed wasp too if they really wanted me to fear him. this is all going to crumble beneath his feet just u watch

- podlight. it was also kinda funny to see him be a massive cunt to frostpaw, in a fucked up kinda way. evil medicine cat if u squint

- the way it feels like the plot is moving. we saw frostpaw gather support and evidence of splashtails bullshit. it's an incredibly low bar but this is warrior cats

- breezepelts tiny tiny appearance in the beginning

- appleshine and woodsong being cunts. I support women's wrongs

- Squirrelstar. I love u bbg

- edit: oh my god I forgot curlfeather in the prologue. she's so good. i love u queen u are so right about everything.

things I didn't like:

- motives for driving splashtail out. I do not care that he doesn't respect starclan, starclan has given me no reason to respect them either. I care that he is willing to kill his clanmates.

- nightheart. he's not as bad as he used to be in terms of the misogyny and such, but now that his arc is over its clear how fucking useless his pov is to this arc. we gain nothing from it. not only in this book, either; the whole arc. he's an accessory to sunbeam and frostpaw in my mind, and it doesn't help that only 1 chapter involves something that neither of them could witness. get him outta here

- the unwillingness to fight. this is WARRIOR CATS god damn it! I didn't come here for this "I don't wanna spill blood :(" bullshit! if this was the first arc splashtail would've been ripped a new asshole by now!!!

- the unwillingness of the authors to kill. I've mentioned already wasp should've died; we gain nothing from him living. he leaves anyway. use this to show splashtails brutality! have whoever bring his body back as a warning! there was no reason to keep him alive. also leafkit could've died but that one I'm more indifferent to.

- how the berryheart plot line progressed. it felt forgotten about in the second half, only to come back full swing. she's suddenly riverclans deputy??? huh??? why are u there berryheart this isn't like you

- I have an incling fear they're setting up nightheart to be deputy and I do not like it. it should be sunbeam. not just bc I like her but bc she shows more signs of leadership; 2 of her tasks involved leading, the way she went in for leafkit, the way that she will do what's right regardless of the morals (yes, I know they say nightheart will do that too, but recently he only seems to do it when someone else is already doing it too. accessory character.) at the very least she should've gotten to be a mentor. grr

#warrior cats #warrior cats spoilers #wind spoilers

[shoujoboy-restart]

16-year-old non-binary student Nex Benedict was beaten to death at Owasso High School in Oklahoma.

Self-described stochastic terrorist and January 6th Capitol rioter Chaya Raichik, owner of the social media account Libs of TikTok, has become infamous for her viral harassment and moral panic campaigns targeting minorities— with an emphasis on vilifying LGBTQ+ existence. Since 2021, Raichik’s posts targeting advocates for and members of the LGBTQ+ community have been followed with a deluge of violent death threats (including lynching threats against the Los Angeles Unified School District). Nowhere has Raichik’s influence been more visible than Oklahoma, where her anti-LGBTQ+ exploits earned her an official position on the Oklahoma Department of Education’s Library Media Advisory Committee by controversial far-right Superintendent Ryan Walters. Under Walters’ leadership, Oklahoma has been aggressively working to ban books and education on LGBTQ+ issues in schools across the state, with Oklahoma’s Attorney General Gentner Drummond stating that proposed rules to ban LGBTQ+ books and content were “unconstitutional and cannot be enforced.” It’s been confirmed that Raichik’s posts have fueled multiple bomb threats against schools specifically in Oklahoma. Officials from Oklahoma told NBC News that they believe Chaya Raichik’s anti-LGBTQ+ culture warring “sparked threats in their localities with her posts on social media that digitally heckle people such as drag performers, LGBTQ teachers and doctors who treat transgender patients.”   One of these instances was at the Owasso School District (just outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma). In 2022, Chaya Raichik targeted an Owasso teacher for speaking out in support of LGBTQ+ students who lacked acceptance from their parents. Raichik’s post was shared thousands of times on social media and resulted in the teacher getting condemned and harassed until they resigned. The posts Raichik made about the teacher were later deleted, but have been archived. It’s unclear what prompted the deletion of the posts by Raichik. We know Raichik’s Libs of TikTok posts have contributed to a culture of intolerance against LGBTQ+ youth in schools, and now this hate may be manifesting beyond mere threats. This month, a non-binary 16-year-old student at Owasso High School was brutally murdered in the girl’s restroom. According to local news outlets and family, Nex Benedict was beaten by three older female students. The mother of Benedict’s best friend told KJRH News that "one of the girls was pretty much repeatedly beating [Benedict’s] head across the floor.” Reports say Benedict was unable to take themselves to the nurse’s office after a teacher finally intervened in the brutal assault. For reasons that remain unclear, Owasso High School refused to call an ambulance for 16-year-old Nex Benedict, who died from their injuries in the hospital the next day. A motive for this killing has not been shared by law enforcement, but we know that schools in Oklahoma have been specifically pushing violent eliminationist rhetoric against transgender and non-binary youth— a fact exemplified by the state’s hiring of Chaya Raichik following her incitements of terror against the state’s schools over LGBTQ+ rights.  “This is the inevitable result of the anti trans moral panic,” said civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo, who shared an article about Benedict’s death published by the Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents Blog. “This is horrifying, and comes as lawmakers are increasingly spreading fear over trans people in bathrooms,” wrote LGBTQ+ journalist and advocate Erin Reed regarding this murder.

#discourse #politics #lgbtq community #lgbtq #lgbt rights #lgbtq rights #libsoftiktok #libs of tik tok

[cats-mayhem]

My top 5 favorite twst characters and why I like them.

Erm. It's in the title. So let's get into it.

Everything is undercut in case you don't wanna see or somethn.

5. Jamil Viper

Jamil! I honestly think he's one of the most relatable characters. At least in my opinion. He's been told to hold back all his life, and because he does hold back, he thinks he's better than everyone else and thinks that if only he could show his true potential, then everyone will see him as better. BUT He isn't better than everyone. Book 6 really sold me on Jamil since his interactions with Leona felt so real. He isn't better than Leona. He isn't holding back anymore and yet he's still falling behind. And that hits him! He honestly has some of the best development in the series. Also Book 4 is just really good! I like how it delves into Jamil's backstory and his motivations for why he needs an elaborate plan to get Kalim dethroned as Housewarden. He wants to have some level of superiority that doesn't just exist in his head and he deserves it! Give him a break he's been through so much. He's also one of the funniest people in the cast I only say facts.

4. Rook Hunt

First things first. He is French and I'm not defending him from that. ANYWAYS He is also so fucking fun. He's so out of pocket for this game it's insane. He will say something very long-winded and poetic about leadership or beauty. And then the next sentence he's fantasizing about ripping a mans throat out. THAT MOMENT IN THE HALLOWEEN EVENT? Where Sebek is freaking out and Rook places Sebeks hand on his rapidly-beating heart and tells him that despite his calm demenour, he is also panicked but understands that being calm and logical is the best way to go about this. And that calms Sebek down. And then Trey is like "Don't tell me you can also control your heartbeat." and Rook is like "I'll let you decide on that!" LIKE?? HELLO?? He's so funny. On another note, I do like how he is the most mature student in this damn school. He's honest and upfront in his own way. He hardly lies, only really sugarcoats with his unique way of speaking. Vil literally points out that Rook didn't think their performance at the VDC was all that good since he didn't call it "beautiful" and Rook admits to it. He wanted to keep everyones high spirits but also didn't want to lie so he said something along the lines of "It was the best performance we could've given." or something like that. He's just so poetic and FRENCH that he just appeals to me.

3. Leona Kingscholar

Leona!!! Book 2 did my man so dirty and I'll never get the compensation I deserve. There's just something so fascinating about him. He's born as the second prince, gossiped about by the staff of the castle for his signature spell, is told that he'll NEVER get a chance at the crown no matter how talented he is. All while he was a CHILD. So he doesn't try. He's lazy and sleeps around a lot. The only times where he actively TRIES is when it's needed OR if it's for the betterment of the dorm. Malleus is a constant reminder of his failings and has what he'll never have. Despite all of his talent in the school, being one of the strongest mages in it, being one of the smartest not just academically but also socially. And yet, he's still only second best. I think he wanted Savannaclaw to beat Malleus in spelldrive because the spelldrive Savannaclaw team will have a better future. The reason he got held back twice was because of attendance. He doesn't want to leave and go home only to live the rest of his days in his brother's shadow. He doesn't want to live in a future where he knows what's going to happen. Leona's relationship to his future life is SO interesting to me and I wish more people went into it. Leona can fill a two hour analysis video I'm being so for real. He has such depth that wasn't explored enough in the book that was supposed to be about him. Justice for my man! And maybe some anti-depressants.

2. Ruggie Bucchi

POOR BITCHES UNITE!!! I love Ruggie so much he's just a guy. He's just like me fr. Out of all the top 5 this is the one where I don't have a lot to say. I just really like him. I suppose I could go on about how his background made him into one of the most hardworking characters in the whole game. I love how his schemes foil Jack's honesty. I like how much of a little scamp he is! He deserves all the money he gets. I love you Ruggie. THIS IS A PRETTY BAD EXPLANATION ON WHY I LIKE HIM. I JUST DO. I think it's because I relate to him on being poor and having to deal with not having certain luxuries and being a bit salty when seeing other people with those luxuries having a better life than you. And having to suck it up since at the end of the day, those people decide how much your work is worth. What a guy. Maybe I'll make a post about him later detailing how he relates to the socioeconomic themes of twst as a whole.

1. Jack Howl

Literally the most obvious #1 in the whole world. I can sit here for hours and talk about this man it isn't even funny anymore. When you first see him he gives off a big, mean but quite aura to him. But when you actually meet him he's a tsundere. But there is SO much more to him than that. First thing I wanna clear up: He is NOT a himbo, stop characterizing him as such. He's smart in his academics since he constantly studies. He's smart about fitness since it's very important to him. He IS however, socially inept. He always wants to be alone and do things alone mostly due to his big initiative. He always wants to do things the correct way though. He likes following rules and gets very upset when those rules are broken since he views rules as guidelines to better himself.

HOWEVER through book 2 he sees that those rules aren't helping everyone since Leona broke the rules in order to better Savannaclaw as a whole. Despite him being very disappointed in Leona and Ruggie, he still holds a great deal of respect for them. He holds a great deal of respect for all of his upperclassmen, and idolizes them in a way. He wants to be better than Leona. He wants to help Ruggie since Ruggie is basically second in command at Savannaclaw and he doesn't get the same amount of assistance as Leona gets from him. Despite his respect and idolization, he can still point out the wrongdoings of them and can actively criticize them for their actions. He doesn't glorify them. And I think what book 2 was trying to convey with Jack is his realization that sometimes the system is kinda fucked and it's OK to break the rules for the greater good. Unfortunately, it doesn't come across that way due to how badly book 2 was written. But it makes sense to me since in book 3 he actively sacrifices his class time to fight against Azul.

Azul isn't breaking any rules, but what he is doing is pretty fucked up and Jack can see that and wants to help. Of course, he frames it as him being upset that everyone else basically cheated with the exams and didn't take the exams with their own work and studying. He wants to measure his abilities in a fair environment. And honestly I think that IS his main reasoning for helping, but he can also have multiple reasons for doing a lot of things. He is a multi-dimensional character after all.

I know I didn't get into it when I mentioned it earlier but him being bad at socializing is a flaw with him. He can be rather rash and inconsiderate at times, but at other times he can be careful and caring. He just doesn't show that other side of him because he values how other people see him. He wants to be seen as someone big, strong and intimidating just like Leona. He wants to assert himself like that. He wants control over how his image comes across to others and this means suppressing certain parts of himself. Like I said before, a big part of Savannaclaw is the stunt emotional growth of all of the characters. Each one has their own problems that prevent them from going on with their life in a better mindset. Jack is apart of that! We don't know why he's like this, but I'm sure we'll find out eventually! Twst is weird with its lore sometimes. Only time will tell.

And to clarify, this is me being brief about his character. I could go SO MUCH MORE IN DEPTH if I wanted to. But I just wanted to point out some of the things I like about him.

If you made it this far, congrats! Here's a cookie and some fun facts. The cards I used for each character here is actually my favorite card of theirs! Number 6 & 7 were Azul and Jade. Originally wanted to make this a top 10 to include them but I thought top 5 was good enough. I like those two. they're silly. Will I make my top 5 least favorite characters list? Probably not! I don't wanna be attacked for disliking someones favorite.

Anyways bye!!!

#twisted wonderland #jamil viper #rook hunt #leona kingscholar #ruggie bucchi #jack howl

[raspbeyes]

my v3 pregame hcs

another quick one while my wrist still dies

Kaede Akamatsu - A popular girl who conceals her more cynical side. Her classmates adore her for her confident and extraverted personality, and can motivate anyone to follow her strong and calm leadership. However, what people dont notice behind her level-headed fascade is that she is quite dubious and suspicious of others, often trying to find the true hidden despair humanity has so she can never be blind sighted by any harm

Shuichi Saihara - Known online as one of the most deductive arg detective, in real life, shuichi is nothing more than a danganronpa obsessed fan boy. Though a sweet albeit very awkward person, he can get a bit obssessive about talking about danganronpa, leaving non fans speechless by how much a nobody like him can talk abt the topic. He's intrigued by the thrill of murder mysteries danganronpa provides, and tries to apply said detective skills with args he finds online

Kaito Momota - The bully with a smile, Kaito has an odd reputation. Not outright aggressive, but definitely your average jock kind of character who would get violent if push comes to shove. But usually, he gives off a laid back attitude around his friends, which somehow makes him more formidable somehow with how confident he is. But behind the manly exterior, Kaito secretly wishes to find a true passion in life, fearing he is doomed to be nothing more than a high school has-been

Rantaro Amami - Returning after his successful run of season 52, Rantaro is a world wide celebrity for his heroic sacrafice in the final trial. But, he has no recollection of it, nor does he want to see any of the footage of the game. He is far more drained, tired of the constant media attention following him and talking about events he cannot even remember. Compared to his considerate pre-52 self, Rantaro is determined to stay alive and while he preached hope on tv, he has lost faith in others and acts like an aloof celebrity behind his dry smile

Maki Harukawa - Maki is a cool-headed girl, very unlike her aggressive in game self. nothing much can phase her, and while she has a calm smile, maki is truly seeking out her next thrill that can actually make her truly feel alive. As such, maki is quite atheltic, working out and very active in the school tennis club

Himiko Yumeno - Even by pg shuichi standards, himiko is quiet. Most take her for as mute since outside of the occassional peep, himiko refuses to talk. Himiko doesn't want to let others in, scared that others can hurt her, and she tries her best to stay in the sidelines and not draw attention to herself. She has a low opinion of herself, and she is just hoping that someone can be the one to reach out to her first

Angie Yonaga - The student activist of the school and class president known as a buzzkill, those outside her inner circle don’t tend to like Angie for her outspoken opinions on a variety of topics. Due to her religious values, she personally finds the idea of Danganronpa detestable, choosing to go to the interview in order to personally confront its creators and demand it be shut down. But to clarify angie doesn't believe her religous beliefs are above others, she simply wants to create a more peaceful world and has dreams of helping everyone

Gonta Gokuhara - Heir of the wealthy Gokuhara bloodline, Gonta has a lot of expectations placed onto him, and as such, he too has high expectations of the people around him as well. Composed and somewhat stoic, he is typically found reading a book in the courtyard, studying, or working out. He is a man of strict schedule imposed by his family, and as such, many find it best to ignore him. He is very perfectionistic and can be quick to criticize other. But in truth, little see how much Gonta applies those standards to himself, never believing himself to be enough for his prestigious family. In truth, Gonta is intimidated by others and feels himself not worthy to speak with them.

Kirumi Tojo - Kirumi Tojo is poor, but her suck-up and stuck-up attitude sure makes it hrd to have such an impression. Top of her grade in terms of academic test scores, Kirumi pushes herself to rise above her low family income to pursue greater things. She works incredibly hard and dedicates herself greatly to give the appearance of a refined student and student council vice president, growing an ego that she will rise above her class. Though well liked by teachers, some people can find her a tad egotistical underneath her high class demeanor. Her constant comparisons with others can be especially grating. 

Kokichi Oma - A quiet class representative, Kokichi Oma does a lot to help his class out however he can. Through his wide smiles and numerous good deeds, he is often in charge of a lot of responsibilities, almost to his detriment. Never one for confrontation, he hides himself behind lies to appear more likable and helpful than he is: A classic person pleaser to the highest degree. But he’s not stupid, aware that he is often used, but he can’t push himself to say no to any requests. Behind all his non-judgemental words, he tries to suppress his more joke-ish attitude, sometimes seen stifling an immature laugh to himself. 

Korekiyo Shinguji - Kind, studious, but reserved, Korekiyo has many walls up, especially with the fact that nobody has seen the second half of his face. Whispers surround the boy, all of which point to a headline from years ago of an unfortunate tragedy occurring with the death of an upcoming idol that shared the surname of shinguji. Many are convinced Korekiyo is the girl’s younger brother, but without being able to see half of his face and usually hiding behind his hair, there can be no confirmation. But when confronted with such rumors, Korekiyo’s usual collected attitude sours, and he would excuse himself. He appears to be haunted from a ghost of his past. 

Miu Iruma - “The blonde, bimbo chick” is what most think when the name, Miu Iruma, is brought up. Popular and surrounded by numerous shallow friends, Iruma is known for her feisty, playful attitude, especially around the boys. But deep down, her aggression stems from her own perceived inferiority, despising that everybody assumes her as stupid and objectify her. It frustrates her to no end that she can’t be seen for anything past her looks, but with her fake friends surrounding her, she doesn’t feel like she can make such an odd complaint to anyone. More than anything, she wish she was spoken to, rather than treated as a joke. 

Tenko Chabashira - Energetic and hyper, Tenko is sort of a weird one, always chattering about her latest obsession eagerly. She is not as popular as Miu or Kaede nor is she as smart as Kirumi, but she is just a girl with her own passions who wants to hang out with her friends with similar interests. She adores girl idol groups and devours discussion threads and Twitter posts, and just wants to nerd out about it.

Ryoma Hoshi - A delinquent with not a lot going for him, Hoshi is isolated from others with his jaded attitude. As they say, he’s been on the wrong side of the tracks, and usually doesn’t show up to class, typically skipping or found loitering on school grounds. Not many people give him a chance, his reputation exceeding him but he doesn’t seem to mind it. But, when you get to know him, he shows to give good advice and likes any company he can crack a good joke with.

Keebo - Keebo is created by Team Danganronpa and doesn't know about much of life outside of that. He is only loyal and can obey what he is told to do.

Tsumugi Shirogane - A stressed out DR writer in dire who finally has managed to score the role as lead producer for the latest season after her success with season 52. She is dedicated to her job both as a part of its creation but also as a fan, belieivng that her sole purpose is to continue the danganronpa legacy.

#danganronpa #drv3 #pregame drv3 #pregame shuichi #pregame kaito #pregame kokichi #danganronpa v3 #killing harmony

[foxymoxynoona]

MY WRITING

All of my stuff is hosted on AO3 or you can read a lot of it here on tumblr. Thanks for checking out my works!

Check out my update schedule here 

Over the Falls

→ Poolboy Jungkook x Rich Divorcee OC

Read on Tumblr | Read on AO3

Jungkook sees a lot of things as a pool tech. It’s…  fine. It pays the bills between mornings on the water and evenings  rocking out with his garage-band. His favorite thing to see on the job has been Grace Birch –older but a hottie, wealthy but nice, and  unfortunately very married. At least until Grace learns what her husband  has been up to behind her back. Now that she’s free, Jungkook finds  himself wondering: what does it take for a guy like him to catch the eye of a woman like that?

After the Applause

➝ Single Dad Jimin x OC

Read on Tumblr | Read on AO3

Jimin doesn't know how he would have made it this far without the support of his thoughtful, generous neighbor. Hanbyul has lived next to hottie Jimin and his adorable daughter for years now, long enough to remember the wife he was so devoted to and lost far too young. With each safely ensconced on their side of the brick wall of the Parks' grief, it may take an enterprising little scientist to set the stage for a second chance at love.

To Kill A King

➝ Historical Fantasy Prince Jin x OC

Read on Tumblr | Read on Ao3

What's more charming than Prince Seokjin? Nothing, obviously. Except maybe the rotating palace guests who each smile and bow and charm in an attempt to hide their true motives. Fortunately Seokjin has a close circle of friends (well, servants) who watch his back and endure his humor and help him navigate the tumultuous seas of heartbreak, love, and an arranged marriage, not necessarily in that order. If only they had helped him keep a closer eye on his bride-to-be's handmaiden, who arrives with her own agenda... or maybe it would have been better if he had noticed her less? One thing is certain as this royal drama of the heart plays out: there are many people competing to kill a king.

Asunder

Book 2 in Legends of the Red-Lions series, Prequel but can be read first ➝ Warrior Taehyung x Mage OC in Fantasy World AU

Series Masterlist | Read on AO3 | Read Chapter One on Tumblr

As son of the Thane, Teahyung’s life is blessed, his family respected, and his life as a warrior charted from the moment his father claims leadership. As Taehyung’s “blessed years” stack, glued together with violence and tragedy, his life begins to feel less like a gift from the gods and more like a burden. Do the gods really want what’s best for him? Does he really want to be like his father? And when the woman he loves marries his best friend, is he really supposed to just accept it? How is he supposed to choose, Karmen or Jungkook?

Some of these are OT7 series, some of them are member-focused books that have spinoffs featuring other members so I want the worlds organized together.

Birdtan Sonyeondan Series

Masterlist coming early 2023 along with Book 2!

Lone Blue Egg

 ➝ Penguin Hybrid JK x Bird Hybrid OC (complete, words 101,880) Jungkook is a simple man. He goes to work, he hangs out with friends, he worries about finding a mate to take home for his hometown breeding season. Maybe he spends a little more money on cam girls than is fiscally responsible but he has niche tastes. Maybe he feels a bit adrift, but he's a young penguin hybrid, supposedly in his prime, far from his crèche. At least he's good at one thing: taking care of his precious egg. A comfort egg, not a real egg, he's not a real penguin, just a man with penguin DNA and behavioral tendencies. Just like Yoongi isn't actually an owl, even if he does stay up all night and sometimes hoot to fuck with their roommates. But this is a real love story, even if a slightly odd one.

Read on AO3 | Read on Tumblr

The Legends of the Red Lions

OT7 BTS Fantasy AU, books in series focus on individual members

The Avvar are old and the Red-Lion clan goes back to the earliest days, when Tyrdda Bright-Axe refused to join Thelm Gold-Handed in crossing the Waking Sea to plunder the Golden City, the alleged seat of the Old Gods. Instead her people split from the Almarri and became the Avvar clans, settling in the Frostback mountains and the forests and along the coasts and burrowed into nature and found new ways to commune with the gods --sometimes through struggle, sometimes through strife, and many times through victory. There have been many exceptional Avvar over the generations. Thanes, Augurs, Skalds, Warriors, Healers, and Hunters. It is rare though, in one generation, for there to be so many Legendary characters. It may begin to feel like the gods are planning something.

Series Masterlist

Book 1: The Lowlander (Warrior Jungkook x Noble Elf OC) Complete Book 2: Asunder (Taehyung x Mage OC) In Progress + Drabbles (Ongoing, multi-member)

The Secret Song Series

➝ Idol Jungkook x Russian-American OC ➝ Working on side stories for other members as well

Jungkook lost his heart pretty much as soon as he saw Sasha Prazdnikova in Little Bean coffee shop, and hers didn’t actually wait much longer. But life as an idol isn’t easy, and life as an idol’s girlfriend isn’t any easier, especially when Sasha has her own career –as well as her own personal demons from a painful childhood of abuse and trauma. Their love, respect, and support for each other is clear, but is it enough to hold them together through the years? How can a relationship survive when your love story has to be sung through secret songs?

Series Masterlist

Books so far:

Book 1: Little Bean (Done)

Book 2: Flux (Done)

Book 3: My Matryoshka (Starts August 22)

SSP & JK: The B-Sides (drabbles and one-shots)(on-going)

RM: Mono to Stereo (Namjoon-focused collection)(on-going)

V: The Man (Taehyung-focused collection)(on-going) More books, short stories, and drabbles to come

Amended

(complete; 670,676 words) ➝ Police officer!Jungkook x Childhood Friend Single Mom OC

Getting into a bar fight is the least surprising part of Isabella's return home. She sure doesn't expect to run into her childhood friend turned high school enemy, now not just surprisingly a law-abiding citizen but a police officer. Things seem to be going great for him, but Isabella is struggling with more than a bar fight. A single mom with a sick grandmother, an alcoholic mother, an abusive ex, and a short fuse herself, matters are not helped that Jungkook seems to be everywhere. All the time. Especially every time Isabella messes up. Can she really believe him when he says he just wants to help?

Read on AO3 | Read Chapter 1 on Tumblr

⟹ Footnotes & Afterthoughts ➝ Ongoing collection of one shots related to Amended, may focus on side characters/pairings Read all on AO3 | Read on Tumblr:

- JK & Isabella are ready for a baby  - They learn the sex of their baby - Hallowen Night: Zombie Parents Edition - An Afternoon with Namjoon & Sylvie - Wisdom (Teeth) Lost - Taehyung & Kristin: Friends - Pregnancy Announcement #1 - A Domestic Morning - JK & Lily: Ready to Roll - Welcome to the World, Kai - The Milk Murders

Meadow

➝ Alpha Wolf Shifter JK x Omega OC (complete; 558,096 words) Despite being arranged two decades ago, the start of Bronwen and Jungkook's marriage is a difficult one. Misunderstanding, resentment, and a struggle to control unfamiliar instincts threaten to mire them both in a miserable, unhealthy situation. Before they can even begin to reconcile their new intertwined fate, though, Bronwen begins to suspect there's something else holding them back: a lie that threatens everything she's been raised to believe.

Read on Ao3

A Bouquet of Flowers ➝ Ongoing collection of one shots related to Meadow Read all on AO3 |

Read on tumblr:

- Min Yoongi Meets An Animal - Original Character Min Je-Ni (Yoongi's grandmother) drabble: An Arrangement - A Run in with Eun-Kyung - Jungkook's Rut

Sugar Fairy

➝ Bunny!Hybrid JK x Leopard Hybrid OC (Complete; 228,523 words)

Bunny Hybrid Jungkook is at that age... he needs a mate, and it's making life miserable for everyone in the family. The obvious solution is to bring home a girl. The obvious problem is that while it's love at first site for Pippa when he walks into the adoption tent, Jungkook is far more into the sexy cat to her right. Will there ever be peace in the family again?

Read on Ao3

Bite-Sized Sweets ➝ Ongoing collection of Sugar Fairy one shots Read all on AO3 | Read on Tumblr:

- Namjoon Handles Jk's Rut - Need to X-Post: Namjoon & Narae adopt - Need to X-Post: Dae and the dress story

Stories of any length that focus on one member.

A Nice Walk Home

➝ (non-idol) BF Jin x Reader (2283 words) Read on AO3 | Read on Tumblr

-See To Kill A King above.

Dad Yoongi Drabble Collection

➝ (non-idol) husband Yoongi x Reader No rigid story structure, just connected vignettes from the life you and Yoongi navigate together raising your two little ones.

Read all on Ao3 | Read on Tumblr:

A Quiet Morning (3042 words)

Can I Interest You In Some Cookies? (4963 words) 

Are We Ready For Ice Cream? (4878 words)

*Coming Soon*

- Features heavily in “Tell Me What Changed”

An Unexpected Exhibit

➝ (non-idol) rival Namjoon x Reader (5387 words) (G) Read on AO3 | Read on Tumblr

- Features heavily in Sugar Fairy and Amended - See RM: Mono to Stereo under Secret Song Series

Jimin Held Out His Hand

➝ Fairy Lord Jimin x Reader (about 5000 works depending on your choice; two ending options) Read on Tumblr | Read on AO3

After the Applause (See WIP above) 

- Features heavily in Meadow

Spoilers

➝ Pediatric Nurse Tae x Single Mom OC (complete; 32,680 words)

Read on AO3 | Read on Tumblr

It wouldn't be fair to say Jayden is the only pediatric patient Nurse Tae adores, but he's definitely one of his favorites. And Jayden's mom Sydney is the sort of parent who makes a shift in the PICU ward enjoyable, but that's neither here nor there, because at the end of the day, Taehyung is a professional. He has a job to do, a job that is to take care of the children and their families during their stressful stay in the PICU ward. Catching feelings is definitely not allowed.

Regretful Eternal & Yours

➝ God of Death Tae x Goddess of Memories Reader (complete; 4990 words)

Read on Tumblr | Read on AO3

- Features heavily in Sugar Fairy - See Asunder above

Tell Me What Changed 

➝ Fuckboy BFF JK x OC, Special Guest Hoseok (Complete; 261,365 words) Drabbles ongoing, Read on the story masterlist page below

Read on AO3 | Read on Tumblr

Alex and Jungkook have been best friends since childhood --actual best friends. She is NOT in love with him, for real, and wishes people would stop assuming that. Why does no one question if he's in love with her? Huh? But it might have to do with his successful fuckboy status, while Alex is very much... not that. Which is fine and doesn't matter! Until Jimin's impending wedding leaves her eager for a date and willing to put herself out there, and Jungkook can't believe what happens next.

Sea of Indigo

➝ Pibull!Hybrid ex-fighter JK x Human Female Reader (Complete; 240,156 words)

Read on AO3

Pitbull Hybrid Jungkook has finally been freed from the fighting rings, and now finds himself at Marigold Sanctuary & Transition Estate, a place for healing and self-discovery for rescued hybrids. It's stupid, dumb, cheesy, and hell-bent on helping Jungkook "heal" and "find himself" and "decide the course of his life." And right at the center of it is Y/N, a nurse who's got everyone bamboozled that she's like some awesome person. She's not that great. Jungkook hates it here.

+ - Drabble: After You Left or Read on AO3 + A Beautiful Beyond: JK and Y/N Have a Baby or Read on AO3

Insatiable

(complete; 25,149 words)(it’s filthy I am so sorry) ➝ Wolf Hybrid Twin JK(s) x Hyena Hybrid OC

Read on AO3

Emi the abandoned hyena hybrid is at the shelter for two weeks before Seokjin can't stand seeing her so sad for another day. He adopts her, determined to give her a happy home, despite the fact hyenas are matriarchal, demanding, and sexually needy. Several of his friends have hybrids, but it seems too good to be true when Namjoon's wolf hybrid Gukka takes an instant liking to Emi. Unfortunately, so does his idenical twin brother, Jae. And Emi doesn't know how to choose.

DRABBLES

JK X Fan OC Meet at a Concert a little Y/N drabble request, 3k words

Ashtoreth ; Tattooartist!JK x Camgirl reader old drabble/abandoned short story

Features heavily in Asunder

Banner/bars made with photo from Pixabay on pexels

All works are my original work and copyright to me 2020 and beyond, I do not allow translations of my work or reposting anywhere, thanks. If you see something of mine outside of tumblr or ao3, please report for infringement.

#my writing #my masterlist #bts fanfic #bts ff #bts fanfiction #jungkook ff #jeon jungkook ff #jungkook x reader #jungkook smut #namjoon fanfic #taehyung fanfiction #seokjin fics #yoongi fanfiction #jungkook x oc #yoongi x reader #seokjin x reader #seokjin x oc #taehyung x oc #taehyung x reader

[admirableadmiranda]

*annoys you so you're motivated to write meta about the Jiang sect's restrictive 'freedom'*

Okay, okay I’ll get to it. Apparently this was a lot more popular a thing needed than I realized. I was thinking I’d have to see some more posts on how Yu Ziyuan is the only problem in the sect first before we got there!

But very well, let’s talk about Yunmeng Jiang and how the rot was always there at the core even before Yu Ziyuan showed up. I could say I was confused at how people came around to the idea that it was fine or the best sect before Yu Ziyuan married in and ruined everything and made it into this toxic, classist place where Wei Wuxian struggled and if only he’d lived in his father’s Yunmeng Jiang he would have been perfectly happy and never wanted to move to Gusu, but honestly it’s kinda subtle and especially for us westerners for whom freedom and a lack of restrictions is portrayed as ideal, it can be hard to see.

So here, let’s start off this meta with a bang, let us rip aside the facade of supposed freedom and clever mottos and examine what the book shows us about Lotus Pier and the people within.

Given what we know in story, Yunmeng Jiang was likely never a sect of true freedom and if it once was, it hasn’t been for a long time.

In order to explain what I mean, let’s talk about the founder of the sect and then the scraps of information we get from the sect before Jiang Fengmian’s leadership. There’s not a lot, but what we get is damning to the whole image of Yunmeng Jiang in my opinion.

I will preface this with saying we never find out much about any of the sect leaders who either founded or transformed their sects into clans in universe. It happened at least five hundred years ago when Wen Mao proposed elevating the family above the sect and in some sort of order, everyone followed suit.

The founder of the YunmengJiang Sect, Jiang Chi, was born a rogue cultivator. The ways of the sect were honest and unrestrained.

That is all we get of who they were and the sect’s attitude. Honest and unrestrained we do see in equal measures in the Yunmeng Jiang of today. But there is nothing of equality or of a lack of class boundaries that people ascribe to it.

Jiang Chi is the founder of Yunmeng Jiang, we don’t know exactly when but given that the name is inextricably tied to the clan, it would likely be close to the same time as Wen Mao’s reform. What we know of them is that they were a rogue cultivator who settled in Yunmeng and gave the clan its difficult to translate motto that basically comes to “Know what is impossible to do, then do it anyway.” After that what else we know of the sect is that it keeps its gates open so that the commoners can come in and watch the boys training, it was in some sort of decline even before Yu Ziyuan married in and that Jiang Fengmian was pressured into marrying her. But the cracks are there if you look for them, so let me show you a few examples.

Lotus Pier wasn’t as other-worldly as the other sects’ residences, shutting their doors and refusing to let commoners come within a boundary miles away. The docks right in front of Lotus Pier’s entrance often bustled with vendors selling seed pods, water chestnuts and all kinds of pastries. Runny-nosed children from households nearby could also sneak into Lotus Pier’s fields to watch the cultivators practice their swords. They wouldn’t be scolded even if they got caught, either. They could sometimes even play around with the Jiang Sect’s disciples.

Here is our first description of Lotus Pier itself, which on the surface looks pretty good. They let people come in much closer and the children can even come within the sect to watch the cultivators training without being scolded.

But there is still a thread of exclusion in it. They let people come up to sell just outside of the sect, but there’s no mention about them crossing in. The children can sneak in to watch the cultivators practice and sometimes play with the disciples, but there’s no hint of them being taken in or trained.

Lotus Pier lets the common people see them, but there’s little true interaction or crossing over.

There were only five people within the large hall. In front of everyone was a small, square table, on top of which were a few dishes of food. Head lowered, Wei WuXian only had a few mouthfuls as somebody tugged at the corner of his sleeve. Turning around, he saw Jiang YanLi pass over a small dish. Inside the dish was a dozen peeled lotus seeds, soft and white, fresh and succulent.

Even within the halls itself, there is still a great divide between classes that is more subtly noted. Wei Wuxian is allowed to eat with them, but for a sect that is supposedly more relaxed and not classist aside , why do they have a great hall with only five people eating in it?

Madam Yu scolded, “Of course you’ll go! Or else would your sister go? Look at her, still happily peeling lotus seeds. A-Li, stop peeling them. Who are you peeling them for? You’re the mistress, not somebody’s servant!”

Hearing the word ‘servant’, Wei WuXian didn’t mind much. He had finished all of the lotus seeds in the dish all at once, chewing as the soft, refreshing sweetness filled his mouth. Jiang FengMian, on the other hand, raised his head slightly, “My lady.”

Madam Yu, “What, something I said? Servant? You don’t want to hear the word? Jiang FengMian, let me ask you—this time, do you intend to let him go?”

A lot of other people have gone over all the other text that proves that Wei Wuxian is a servant of the Yunmeng Jiang, but here it is again. Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian are close, but it is emphasized that she is the mistress and he is the servant. He is permitted to eat with them, but Jiang Yanli making him some lotus seeds is crossing the line.

Now we could assume that this is all Yu Ziyuan’s influence, but I don’t think so. While she is fierce and assertive, her influence on Yunmeng Jiang is surprisingly minimal for all the noise she makes. She lives in a house alone with other members of her family that she brought from Meishan Yu and her two trusted servants, spends nearly all her time out night hunting and mostly shows up to scream at everyone and leave. What she mostly does is make it louder. It was always there.

Her influence certainly exists in the sect, but she didn’t exactly bring the classism with her. It already existed there with Wei Changze and his reputation, and Jiang Fengmian’s father being interested in arranging a marriage with an old, reputable sect regardless of how his son felt about it. A sect that didn’t care wouldn’t have these details given to us.

“Now, hold on Sangsang,” I can hear you say as you read this, “what about the event with Wang Lingjiao and Madam Yu? Doesn’t that show that it’s her influence that made this happen?” To which I say, no! Not at all. It’s just that the way that servants work in the Jiang sect are a little different from the Wen sect. They are bodyguards and companions to the members of the main family, hence why Wei Wuxian is allowed to eat at the table with them, but it does not equality make.

“After they had finished the tour, Wang LingJiao finally arrived at the main hall. Without anyone’s invitation, she presumed her seat at the head table. She sat for a while. Seeing that nobody was going to serve her, she slammed the table with a frown, demanding, “Where’s the tea?”

Although she was enveloped in lustre, her mannerisms showed no courtesy at all. She acted like a complete buffoon. Having spent the journey with her, everyone was used to seeing this. Madam Yu sat down one seat lower. The wide hems of her robe and sleeves spread out, making her figure appear to be even more slender, her posture even more graceful. JinZhu and YinZhu stood behind her, both wearing light smirks on their faces.

YinZhu replied, “There is no tea. Get it yourself if you want any.”

Wang LingJiao widened her eyes, shocked, “Don’t the Jiang Sect’s servants ever do anything?”

JinZhu, “The Jiang Sect’s servants have more important things to do. Nobody ever needs others to do things like pouring tea. They’re not crippled.”

Wang LingJiao examined them, “Who are you?”

Madam Yu, “My personal maids.”

Wang LingJiao spoke with disdain, “Madam Yu, your Jiang Sect really is outrageous. This can’t be the case. Even maids dare interrupt a conversation in the main hall. Servants like this have their faces slapped in the Wen Sect.”

If this were specifically a trait brought over from Meishan Yu and not something that were baked into the sect to begin with, it would stand out. The scene is two arrogant women taking their preconceived notion of statuses against each other, but there is no doubt in the position of servants and where they stand in Yunmeng Jiang, only what their responsibility is.

The most damning evidence however is most apparent not in Wei Wuxian’s descriptions, but his father’s. And this is consistent throughout the story long before they start calling Wei Wuxian a servant as well.

Wei Changze left the Jiang sect of his own accord before Wei Wuxian was ever born and died as a rogue cultivator who had married the disciple of Baoshan-sanren. By all means that should have been how he was remembered if Yunmeng Jiang really hadn’t had the classism problem before Madam Yu moved in and Wei Wuxian shouldn’t have been equally raised as a servant to Jiang Cheng because Jiang Fengmian had the power to give him status even as a full disciple. In addition, we know from interviews that Jiang Fengmian owes Cangse-sanren a life debt. To take in their son into his family or raise him as a full disciple would be the closest he could get to fulfilling that obligation. Wei Wuxian could have escaped it if Jiang Fengmian were the sort of man I sometimes see him presented as, a perfect man aside from Yu Ziyuan’s changes in the sect who doesn’t

However, even Jiang Fengmian, who does get uncomfortable when Yu Ziyuan shouts servant too much around him, automatically makes him a servant from the beginning, a special playmate for Jiang Cheng. Jiang Fengmian had a personal servant who was close to him as he grew up, someone who he could rely on, and he immediately elects to repeat that. He has a life debt, he supposedly has these morals. But instead he reinforces it and locks Wei Wuxian down into servitude to the Jiang sect and obliges him even at the end of his life to do his duty.

As a wrap up on perspectives, let’s look at this block of text from Poisons.

However, soon afterward, the MeishanYu Sect proposed an alliance through marriage to the YunmengJiang Sect. The leader of the Jiang Sect back then was quite interested, but Jiang FengMian had no such intentions. He didn’t like Yu ZiYuan’s conduct and felt that the two wouldn’t be an appropriate match. He had politely refused the offer a handful of times. However, the MeishanYu Sect set about multiple factors, putting pressure on Jiang FengMian, who was at the time still fairly young and had nothing to lean on. Along with the fact that, not long later, ZangSe SanRen had become cultivation partners with the most loyal servant at Jiang FengMian’s side, Wei ChangZe, and rode off into the sunset, roaming around the world, Jiang FengMian finally gave up.

Although Jiang and Yu were married, they had ever since been a grudging couple. They had always been living apart and held the most disagreeable of conversations. Aside from the strengthening of their sect’s powers, nobody knew what other benefits they had attained.

What we get out of this is that Jiang Fengmian’s father was all for a politically advantageous marriage to a wealthy, old sect, something incongruent with the supposed image of them not caring about status. Nothing actually changes aside from them being married yet not in agreement. But the servants still exist as they did before she married in. Additionally, any claims that Wei Changze might have had status of his own as head disciple or anything like that is roundly defeated by the fact that he is clearly listed as a servant here and will never escape that title even in death.

Yunmeng Jiang is not just a sect in general, it is listed as one of the Five Great Sects. The things they say and the power they wield are accepted and the things they say of the people within or formally of their sect have merit. Jin Guangyao once adopted into Lanling Jin is recognized as a son of the sect for all of the classism surrounding him. Jin Guangyao points out that if Jiang Cheng had stood beside Wei Wuxian, the other sects would have dulled to grumbling and not stood up against them, hence why the division between the two had to be solidified. It stands to reason that were Wei Changze acknowledged as a full fledged, free cultivator, especially before he left the Jiang sect, that would be known. But he is forever a servant in the world’s eyes and that includes the Jiang sect before Yu Ziyuan ever married in. The same thing that damns Wei Wuxian as everyone sees him as rising above his status in a sect that supposedly is supposed to be unrestrained and honest.

They are, they are unrestrained in attitude and honest in their classism.

Wei Wuxian himself never complains about his treatment in Yunmeng Jiang aside from being displeased with the whipping and the only one attacked whenever all the boys are getting into trouble. No matter where he goes, it does act as a barrier, even in Cloud Recesses once the other boys realize that his status prevents them from getting in trouble with him. It’s part of why Lan Wangji accepting punishment alongside him absolutely stuns him and his first reaction is to try and say that Lan Wangji doesn’t deserve it. He knows the narrative, even if he doesn’t actually like it that much.

He has no problem stating that he is a servant, challenging Jiang Cheng on what’s so wrong with it, but it is consistently used to put him down by the world around him, even when he is in that supposed bastion of freedom, Lotus Pier. Just because it has a looser attitude at the seams does not mean that he ever escapes that stranglehold of status no matter where he is and what he does. If it really mattered so little in Yunmeng Jiang, then why is it so well known that he and his father were servants to the sect? It is only once he marries Lan Wangji and their marriage is acknowledged by Gusu Lan that he seems to shake those shackles at last, there is a freedom in his actions post canon only matched by when everyone thought he was Mo Xuanyu and he finally had the ability to breathe.

Very early on, he even has a line that people often seem to forget when talking about how he could act in Yunmeng Jiang, both in people who want to condemn his actions and people who want to say that he was happy in Lotus Pier aside from Madam Yu while he’s gearing up to make a complete mockery of Madam Mo.

“In terms of running wild, Wei Wuxian was definitely a master. In the past, if he wanted to run wild, he would have to keep his status in mind, but now, he was a lunatic anyways, which meant that he could do whatever he wanted to, whichever way he wanted.”

MXTX is big on showing, not telling, but she gives us enough information to be able to make the connections on his status and how ill suited Yunmeng Jiang always was to him. There is a lot of irony, both humorous and dramatic in those early chapters with his statements on how no one would want to marry into Gusu Lan and how he has no need to memorize these rules, but also it’s very clear that he’s having a much better time at the Lectures than he ever was back in Lotus Pier. He is an unrestrained spirit, to be sure, but for all that Yunmeng Jiang professes it in their motto, he and Wei Changze were forever bound by their status even after they both died.

The sect that is initially presented to us as the free sect he should thrive in ties his wings down, the sect built to be honest and unrestrained. But the sect built by an ascetic priest who fell in love is the place where he finally can spread his wings in all their vivid glory, truly free at last.

#mdzs #wei wuxian #yunmeng jiang #jiang sect #jiang fengmian #jiang cheng #canon jiang cheng #yu ziyuan #jiang yanli #mdzs meta #the classism in mdzs setting #the meta I threatened to write before #perhaps once it was the sect that people seemed to think it was #but if that was the case it was much longer ago than it sounds #yu ziyuan didn't break the sect she just revealed what was already there #for all of her attitude she is incompetent in impacting anything on the story #including the sect that definitely had servants that were bound to the sect far more deeply than fandom likes to acknowledge that they were #every single sect is mentioned as having servants #yunmeng jiang is no different #and just because they let people look in doesn't mean they LET them in #if anything it's almost crueler to let them see what they will never be allowed to have #it's still just as barred to the children around lotus pier as it is around jinlintai or cloud recesses #just they get to watch the cultivators practice sometimes and even not get chased away for it