#like damn if you're not gonna narrate then at least SHUT up

[justapanda]

Rewriting Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 236

Needless to say, chapter 236 has sparked a lot of criticism. So, to keep a long story short, I've rewritten chapter 236 to try minimise some of the common issues people have with the chapter, issues that I also personally share.

I've kept a lot of the dialogue the same, but I've added some major tweaks that I believe would drastically improve the execution of this chapter. So if you're one of the ones who are disappointed with chapter 236, I hope you also find this rewrite to be an improvement.

Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 236: Go South

-- Page one --

[Narration text: Gojo stands victorious?!]

Gojo: Well, it's time to get this over with, any last words?

Sukuna faces Gojo with a serious demeanour, struggling to stand upright.

Sukuna: Hmph.

Sukuna: Just one.

Sukuna aims his only remaining arm directly towards Gojo, gesturing his hand in the shape of a knife.

Sukuna: Dismantle.

Gojo smiles arrogantly as Sukuna, in an act of desperation, resorts to using to his default technique in an attempt to harm him.

However, as Sukuna releases his attack, Gojo's smile immediately vanishes, now replaced by a bewildered expression.

-- Page two --

The scene transitions to Gojo's imagination, where a younger Gojo is seen sitting at an airport, wearing the same bewildered expression.

Geto: Yo, Satoru.

Gojo: Blegh!

Gojo: You're kidding me. This sucks.

Gojo sulks, leaning back on an airport chair.

Geto: Pretty rude thing to say after seeing someone's face.

-- Page three --

Gojo: I've always told my students, "when you die, you die alone", so please tell me this is just some stupid dream.

Geto: Does it matter?

Gojo scratches the back of his head in irritation.

Gojo: *Sigh* And I was gonna tell Megumi about his dad too...

Gojo: But I guess I asked Shoko to handle that.

Geto: So, how was the king of curses?

Gojo: Man, he was pretty damn strong. I got the feeling that he had more tricks up his sleeve too.

-- Page four --

Gojo: I wonder how different the outcome would've been if Sukuna didn't have the ten shadows technique.

Geto: It's weird to hear you talking like this, he must've been really strong, huh?

Gojo: Still, I kinda feel sorry for him.

Geto: ?

Gojo: I know all too well, the loneliness that comes with being at the top. There was always a gulf between me and everyone else, even if they adored me.

Gojo: You can admire a blooming flower, but you can't ask it to understand you.

-- Page five --

Gojo looks down at his clenched fist.

Gojo: I really gave it my all to beat him. All my physical training, the techniques I'd mastered. My explosiveness, quick thinking and attempts at humour. I put everything into it, but it still wasn't enough.

An image of Sukuna's cold gaze is shown, surrounded by shadows.

"The loneliness that comes with unrivalled strength. The one who will teach you about love is-"

Gojo is shown with a melancholic smile, still looking at his fist.

Gojo: I had fun.

-- Page six --

Gojo: I couldn't push Sukuna to his limit though, and I think that's sad.

Geto rests his head on his hand.

Geto: I'm jealous. You at least had the satisfaction of going out with a bang.

Gojo: Satisfaction, huh?

An image of an older Geto stands smiling amongst Gojo's friends as they see him off before his final battle.

Gojo: Maybe I would have been satisfied, if you were there to give me a slap on the back as well.

Geto faces down with his eyes shut, still resting his head against his hand, he smiles.

Geto: Heh heh.

-- Page seven --

Gojo: At least I got to die against someone as strong as me, instead of being stuck in that stupid box forever.

Unknown voice: What are you, a samurai?

Gojo is surprised by a familiar voice and looks behind him to see a younger Nanami and Haibara sitting right behind him.

Nanami: Seriously. You should know it's in poor taste to think like that in the present.

Gojo: Huuuh?

Nanami: Then again, that mindset of yours is probably why you outlived me.

Haibara: You and Gojo-san just miscalculated a little bit.

Gojo reaches behind to annoy Nanami by grabbing his head. Nanami tries to wave Gojo's hand off him.

Nanami: I remember once asking Geto why we couldn't just leave everything to you.

Nanami: After all, you didn't care much for jujutsu sorcery, or for protecting people, it was mostly just a game for you.

Gojo appears to be mildly offended by Nanami's blunt criticism.

-- Page eight --

Haibara: Truth is, we all thought that about Gojo-san! But we couldn't bring ourselves to say it out loud.

Nanami: Why are you bringing it up now then...

Haibara: Sooorry!

Nanami: Well, that feeling about you...

Geto: Was just proven right by your actions a second ago.

Gojo looks unnerved.

Gojo: ...

Nanami: Can't say I approve, but I do sympathize.

Gojo: Yeah, yeah, thanks. And how do you feel about your demise?

-- Page nine --

Haibara: Ahhh, I kinda butted in back then...

Nanami: Curses can bring people back to life. The same way sorcery can.

Nanami: I once asked Mei-san about where I should go to live.

Nanami: She said if you'd like to become someone new, go north. If you'd like to return to who you once were, go south.

-- Page ten --

Nanami: Back then, I didn't hesitate on choosing south. I've always looked at the past, so I found it ironic when I died betting on the future.

Nanami: As final moments go, it wasn't bad. I'm grateful to you as well, Haibara.

Haibara awkwardly scratches the back of his head.

Haibara: You're too kind!

Gojo looks down again with a faint smile.

Gojo: I see.

-- Page eleven --

Gojo looks up and spots principal Yaga nearby.

Gojo: Hey, principaaal! 'Thought ya said no jujutsu sorcerer dies without regrets!

Yaga: *Sigh* Even in death, you're too loud.

Gojo laughs with everyone, including Riko and Kuroi who are also shown nearby, and Toji can be seen walking by in the distance.

-- Page twelve --

Gojo walks over to the airport window and looks up at the clear blue sky.

Gojo: I do have one regret though. All you guys will have to take over for me now. Sorry Megumi, it'll be in their hands now to get you back.

Images of Gojo's students are shown as he thinks about each of them, causing him to smile with hope.

Gojo: That's okay though, after all... I have faith in everyone.

Gojo continues to stare at the sky before he closes his eyes.

-- Page thirteen/fourteen --

The scene transitions back to reality. A double page spread shows Gojo's upper body, lying on the ground, staring at the same clear blue sky with lifeless, half-open eyes. Blood can be seen flowing from his mouth as well as being splattered below the upper half of his body.

-- Page fifteen --

Everyone who was spectating the battle is shocked and speechless at what has occurred. Yuji and Yuta are seen particularly distraught. Maki places her arm on Yuta's shoulder as she looks on with a serious expression.

Yuji: Gojo Sensei!!!

Shoko's unfinished cigarette falls from her mouth.

Shoko: How...

Kusakabe: That shouldn't be possible!

Kashimo: It's time.

Kashimo is seen turning away and walking briefly before disappearing from the room at lightning speed.

-- Page sixteen --

Sukuna: Mahoraga's adaptation begins after the first attack. Then it takes time to analyse. Completing adaptation is only a matter of time.

Sukuna: If it receives another identical attack during that calculation period, the adaptation will accelerate.

Sukuna: Once a technique has been adapted to, the analysis doesn't stop there. It continues to adapt further.

Sukuna: What I wanted from Mahoraga was a "model". A model of how to cut through your infinity.

-- Page seventeen --

Sukuna: At first, Mahoraga was altering the nature of its own cursed energy in order to neutralise and nullify your infinity.

Everyone who was watching the battle from the room stands up, still watching, unsure of what to do next.

Sukuna: That was something I was unable to do, so I waited. I waited for Mahoraga to discover another adaptation to counter your infinity, one that I would be able to imitate.

Sukuna: The second adaptation was exactly what I was looking for. Mahoraga was sending slashes like my own, but these slashes could bypass your infinity.

Sukuna: I theorized that Mahoraga was expanding the technique's target. That the target of these slashes wasn't Gojo Satoru, but space itself. Therefore, it could cut everything within those slashes.

-- Page eighteen --

Gojo's entire body is revealed, showing his upper body lying on the floor while his lower half remains standing. It becomes clear that Gojo was cut in half from Sukuna's attack. Gojo's body is covered in blood.

Sukuna remains standing, facing Gojo as he continues his explanation.

Sukuna: As long as you existed within space like everything else, your infinity was powerless to stop my attack.

Sukuna: Even after being shown how it was done, I wasn't sure if I could replicate it myself, so I had to make a gamble.

Sukuna: After being backed into a corner, I waited for you to drop your guard and give me an opportunity. Then, I put all my focus into recreating that attack.

Sukuna: It proved to be an effective model after all.

-- Page nineteen --

Sukuna smiles with satisfaction.

Sukuna: But I have to admit, this is truly the furthest I've ever been pushed. Well done, Gojo Satoru, you have my respect. I won't forget you for as long as I live.

Hearing these words, a faint smile can be seen from Gojo's bloodied mouth. Sukuna turns away.

Sukuna: Now then...

Kashimo can be seen rushing towards to the battlefield from the distance.

Sukuna: I'm in a good mood. So you better entertain me.

[Narration text: Kashimo, the thunder God, dashes toward near-certain death.]

-- Chapter end --

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk #jjk 236 #jujutsu kaisen 236 #jujutsu kaisen chapter 236 #jjk 236 spoilers #jjk spoilers #jujutsu kaisen spoilers #satoru gojo #gojo satoru #sukuna #ryomen sukuna #gojo vs sukuna

[rosiecroz]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💗

whoever sent this, you are so kind! i haven't written in over half a year so this was a nice trip down memory lane <3

in order of posting (most recent to earliest):

a kiss this tender (bernardo/riff, west side story 2021, E rating)

Pins prickle behind Riff’s eyes. His body is not his own. He feels like he’s been doused in gasoline, and Bernardo is holding the match.

i'm sure most people will think this pair is Taboo(TM) considering canon events but this was the last fic i wrote in which i felt really good about my character voices. i'm particularly proud of the way i wrote riff's internal narration during the scene in the shop.

coffee break (keeley jones/roy kent/jamie tartt, ted lasso, T rating)

“What’s this?” Keeley asks. Roy wrinkles his nose when he makes out that familiar, tidy handwriting. “Says right there it’s from that prick, doesn’t it?”

if i don't achieve anything else in life, i can at least say i pioneered the keeley/roy/jamie tag on ao3. this fic is now in super AU land because i wrote it between seasons 1 and 2, but i'm astounded by how many kudos/etc i still get on it even though the series is potentially over. it's warmed my heart to see this ot3 gain its fans :)

rekindle (j. daniel atlas/dylan rhodes, now you see me, T rating)

Rhodes is an unknown variable in his system of chaos. Daniel wants to draw out that fire, extinguish it, then relight the dying embers with the sparks from his own torch.

a super niche pair in a super niche fandom but that's how i roll! i love these silly magician movies and i LOVE daniel and dylan's relationship. people who know me will know that i love writing fics that span canon events and incorporate them into developing (or established) relationships. this is one of those -- and i still love how i weaved mythology and the concept of heroism into this. one of my all-time personal favorites.

you're in my head, you're in my blood (joseph blake/lt. leslie, 1917, E rating)

Joe shuts his eyes. He already knew this was a ridiculous notion, but now that he’s trying and failing to explain it out loud, the absurdity of the ordeal has been cemented in his mind. What’s more, he didn’t even consider if Leslie was single or taken, had automatically assumed that it would be the former. He’ll apologise, hang up, show up by himself to the party, it’s not a big deal— “Okay,” Leslie says. “Okay,” Joe echoes. He blinks. “Okay…?” “You need arm candy to parade around at this party, right? So, okay.”

speaking of niche pairs in niche fandoms... it doesn't get any more niche than joe and leslie, aka the namesake of my url. 1917 is the fandom i fell in love with during the height of the pandemic. without it, i wouldn't have written so much, nor met so many treasured life-long friends. also, this is just one of many joe/leslie fics i've written but it gets a special shoutout because i was deranged and churned it out in one week (betsy can attest).

the long way around (steve harrington/billy hargrove, stranger things, T rating)

Steve turns around. He can’t believe his eyes. “Billy?” It’s weird calling him that, considering they’d never spoken more than a few words (and exchanged a lot of fists), but Steve is so taken aback that he blurts out the name without a second thought. Sure enough, it’s Billy standing there, still sporting the same blond curls, but they’re tied back and a bit longer than before. He still has those damn aviators. At least he knows how to button up a shirt now. “You’re a long way from Hawkins,” Billy says.

i was gonna link a will/tom 1917 fic for my last entry, but ultimately decided on this old harringrove fic. i haven't read it in a while so idk how well it holds up, but harringrove is the pair that made me start writing fic seriously. i had written just one fic previously (and it was many, many years ago), but then season 3 of stranger things happened and the rest is history. this is not the first harringrove fic i wrote but it is my favorite. steve and billy go on a road trip together ten years after the starcourt mall incident (obvious au timeline here) and i still remember constructing a google map for this fic to keep track of the places they stop at. this fic will always have a special place in my heart.

--

thanks to anon for letting me ramble a bit about my old fics!

#writing tag

[bboes]

have the oilers announcers ever heard of narrating the fucking play

#DO YOUR JOBS #oilers lb #they literally talked THROUGH a goal #like damn if you're not gonna narrate then at least SHUT up

[lilxxbrainrot]

I'm sick so I'll write self indulgent scenarios ok?? Ok

❗❗Long ass post. I'm sorry❗❗

So... Some hcs of how I imagine some FMA couples would act. As always, feel free to add something, or to share your own headcanon

This are intended as romantic/non-platonic. It is shippy content.

Also I'm sorry, idk how or why but I changed the narration style midway. 😂

EdAl

Of course when Ed gets sick he tries to brush it off. "It's nothing Al, stop, I'm alright." He's not. He has a fever, an ugly cough that already made his throat soar, and oh gawd he feels so damn tired.

"Brother, you are NOT okay! You're all pale and sweaty. Please go back to bed, you need to rest." Al is worried; he knows just how stubborn Ed can be, and how careless he is with himself, so he needs to take care of him, or else no one else will.

"Yeah yeah, I'm telling you I'm fi-oh fuck" suddenly, Ed got a coughing fit that left him on his knees, grabbing his stomach with one hand, using the other to cover his mouth when he jerked, feeling the need to throw up but (barely) managed to avoid it.

"Brother!" Al hurries and helps Ed to get back on his feet, glaring at him. "I. Told. You. Now you rest, and I'll make you some tea, ok?" his voice gradually became softer, as so did his expression. They walked together to the (cough their) bedroom and he waited for Ed to get comfortable before leaving the room. He returned with a warm cup of ginger and lemon tea he offered his older sibling.

Al sat on the bed, by Ed's side, watching him drink his tea while caressing the blonde's cheek and playing with his bangs, a tiny smile on his lips as he did so.

"Wha'chu smiling for?" Ed asked with false annoyance.

"I just like being able to take care of you once in a while, the same way you always take care of me. I love you, brother" that took the older off guard, which made him blush furiously, but soon he found himself smiling too.

"What you say? You're always taking care of me, Al. I'll be lost without you." They both smiled at each other, their faces slowly getting closer and closer, when Ed... sneezed.

"Oh brother! Ugh, that was disgusting, your germs are all over me!"

"Hey! I didn't do it on purpose! And you never complain when we-"

"Shut up! I'm not kissing you until you're not sick anymore!

"But- but Aaaal!"

AlEd

As soon as Al wakes up today, he realizes that he is sick. It's just a cold, but his head feels like it's about to explode, he can barely manage to keep his eyes opened, so he decides to just sleep a little bit more. When he wakes up he'll grab some light breakfast, a tea, and take some medicine.

Or at least that was his plan.

As soon as Ed realized it was late and Al wasn't up yet, he knew something was wrong. Al had a routine, he always wakes up before Ed, so it was in fact weird he wasn't in the kitchen making breakfast, or reading something in their living room.

Ed walked to their room and found his younger brother still sleeping; it looked like he was having a little bit of trouble breathing. Silently, Ed approached him and touched his forehead to confirm his suspicion: Al was sick. He had a fever.

Al immediately woke up, blinking a couple of times until his vision focused on the other male. "Oh, brother, good mo-"

"Al! You're sick, how are you feeling? Do you need something? Are you hungry? Should I bring you some tea?" Al couldn't help but laugh; Ed always exaggerated things, specially when it came to Al.

"I'm alright brother" it's just a little cold, ok? Don't worry too much"

"Of course I worry! You stay there, I'll bring you something to eat and a tea, worry not, your big brother's gonna take care of you!"

Ed did as he said, brought Al some cereal and milk (he had no time to cook something, ok??) and some random tea he grabbed, it didn't really matter since Al loved tea in general.

"Thank you brother" Al mumbled quietly, sitting on the bed so he could eat.

Ed sat down on the floor besides the bed, and started reading a book. "I'll stay here Al, if you need something, just say it, 'kay?"

Al beamed as he moved his hand towards his brother hair, but Ed was faster and grabbed Al's hand; he moved his face so he could kiss it. He didn't have to look at the younger boy to know he was blushing, and that made Ed smirked.

They spent who knows how much time like that, just enjoying each other's company, holding each other's hand, until Al fell asleep and Ed let go his hand.

EdRoy

Today, Edward is sick. He is coughing and sneezing almost nonstop. "S'just a cold, nothing to worry about." Who does he think he's fooling?

The guy is practically shivering although it's freaking hot. His skin looks pale, a thin layer of sweat covering it. So he does have a fever, thought Roy.

"Fullmetal, are you alright?" he asked the boy, concerned voice. Of course, Ed just shrugged as if that was an appropiate answer.

"F'course, why wouldn't I?"

Roy said nothing. He just got up from his chair, walked towards the door to the exterior office, and closed it. He then directed his steps towards Ed, putting his hands over the boy's shoulders, depositing a kiss on his head, which made Ed's cheeks instantly go red.

"You're sick, Ed. You must be tired; you go rest on the couch. I'll be right here if you need anything, alright?" the older man asked, gently touching the blonde's cheek to know just how much fever he really had.

Ed mumbled something that sounded as "don't go all sap you bastard" but did as told. That was enough proof that Ed wasn't feeling well. He got comfortable on the sofa Roy had in his office, falling asleep almost immediately.

Roy smiled watching him, looking all adorable and stuff. He then asked his men to bring him something so the obviously-not-small man could eat after he woke up.

RoyEd

"Edward, I really am sick, I can't go to work today"

"I don't believe you. You are just trying to ditch work again, ain't you? Lazy ass bastard" Ed said, a grin on his face as he poured himself a cup of coffee, his back facing his lover.

Roy let out an exaggerated gasp. "It hurts to know you think so poorly of me" he said, with an obviously fake hurted tone. Ed snickered, then abruptly stopped when he felt Roy's arms hug him from behind, his chest pressed to his back. He really was sick.

"Oh fuck so you were not kidding, you're hot."

"Well, thank you." ok, that one was Ed's fault, he had phrases that really poorly, although it was no lie.

"Oh you know what I meant. Now you go to bed, I'll make some tea and, where do you have the medicines?" he asked while pushing the older one towards their bedroom so he could go and rest some more.

"In the bathroom. Could you please call-"

"Yeah yeah, I'll call Hawkeye, don't worry, she won't shoot you. Probably." Ed laughed again as he felt Roy shiver at the thought. "Now you wait for the tea, and then you sleep. " Ed bent over, trying to give his boyfriend a little peck on the lips, but he moved long before.

"No Ed, you'll get sick too. You get pretty irritated when you get sick, you know?"

"Oh please, I don't catch colds that easily, ok? I'm not as weak as you so kiss me already or I won't be taking care of you today."

(A few days later)

"So... You don't catch colds that easily, right?"

"Shut up, bastard." said Ed, before sneezing.

(...)

Gah, I meant to write some EdLing too, but I cAN'T STOP SNEEZING and I got tired.

I should be writting my fic for the secret santa exchange, but here I am... Ok thay's it.

#elricest hc #elricest #royed #royedward #edal #aled #edroy #i also want someone to take care of me when i'm sick #but i'm alone #this sucks

[transsexualhamlet]

sherlock holmes reactions part 4 (?) ive lost count already but unsurprisingly ive grown even more attached to him

using this as the cover image because i made him a playlist. cause im awful

no legit this is gonna need a read more because it's SO LONG SHIHEWIESHEFSHIEWHF

Had three mental breakdowns this week and realized i do in fact kin sherlock motherfucking holmes. this does not bode well for anything in my life mentally I've diagnosed him with so many things

Oh boy lol you want the list I think hes autistic (undisputed honestly) plus also adhd but on top of that there's the manic depression and uhhh the bpd lmao I dont even think that's it those are just. the obvious ones

But yeah man's a fucking mess and a shit person but in the same way as me so 👍

Some highlights I thought were very funny:

watson: we are in fact going to be waltzing into a place where people are Shooting People you do not have your gun. this is a problem

sherlock: don't worry watson I have my trusty stick!

watson: visible pain

This clearly happens like every day or so with them

but yeah there were some really honestly sweet scenes with them at the apartment and why am i getting soft over the crusty man being gay

have you considered tho. have you considered them

have you considered sherlock, who usually only plays absolute garbage on his violin serenading watson to sleep when he was tired and in pain and watson being so fucking in love with the man and waxing poetic about falling asleep to his music and waking up to see him fallen asleep on the couch next to him and oh my god them

They're just really sweet together for such a completely dysfunctional couple so much of the time lol I just. Sherlock being like.

Sherlock half of the time: watson you're fucking stupid. no i won't take care of my personal needs stfu. watson get a goddamn life. watson shut up. watson no one cares about your goddamn opinion. no i need to disturb you in the middle of the night it's for science. hey watson mind if i manipulate mansplain malewife

Sherlock the other half of the time: HELLO SIR YOU ARE MY FAVORITE MAN TO EVER MAN HELLO MAY I SPEND THE REST OF MY DAYS WITH YOU HELLO I WILL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU WE ARE PERFECT MATCHES I LOVE YOU AND I NEED YOU YOURE SO MUCH BETTER THAN ME PLEASE MARRY ME

They're... they certainly are.

ALSO OH MY GOD.

THIS ONE TIME WHEN SHERLOCK WAS JUST PACING AROUND THE ROOM AT 3 AM GOING "IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE >:(((" AND HUDSON LIKE BARGED IN TO COMPLAIN AND THEN WATSON WAS LIKE DUDE YOU GOTTA STOP DOING THIS AND PROCEEDS TO SAY THE LINE "YOU ARE KNOCKING YOURSELF UP, OLD MAN"

BAHGHSFHGRHEWHEWHIFEW

BRB SOBBING

CALLING HIM AN OLD MAN???? KNOCKING HIMSELF UP?? I DONT KNOW WHATS FUNNIER

The main highlight of this part was I have now gotten to see him have a great time watching his homo homie get married

Its so fucking funny.......

I was prepared for a funny reaction by yuumori sherlock's face when he said it lol but. Damn i was really not prepared tbh

watson: I'm engaged!

sherlock: *pained groaning*

watson: do you... not like her?

sherlock: no she's fine she's great you'll be wonderful together bUT I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE ARE HETEROSEXUAL WATSON DO I HAVE TO MARRY MYSELF THEN WATSON? ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE ME MARRY MYSELF.

watson: yeah... yeah... fair, I feel really bad because you did this whole case and I got a girlfriend out of it and all you got was me leaving you alone fuck man im sorry what are you gonna do without me

sherlock, highly sarcastic: dont worry watson I've always got my handy cocaine! *pulls it out and gets high in front of watson just as he's about to leave*

watson: *in fucking agony*

sherlock: good for you!

I DONT EVEN- THIS SCENE KILLED ME MULTIPLE TIMES OVER WHAT

ITS SO GODDAMN NONCHELANT ABOUT IT SHERLOCK IS JUST LIKE YEAH I WILL IN FACT NOT BE MENTALLY HEALTHY IF YOU ARE NOT WITH ME 24/7 BUT WHATEVER YOU DO YOU /S

I'd like to apologize to watson on sherlock's behalf lmao. man is being a bit too codependent on main

The last thing about sign of four I do need to address is yeah, there's the Horrific Amounts Of Racism in that one and the whiplash hearing it is just ridiculous because they seem to be so knowledgeable in all other areas and fairly... politically correct, taking sherlock's original misogyny as a purposeful character flaw, but then they just mention someone indigenous once and suddenly its all parrotting racist propaganda and just... really awful shit. There's no way I'm gonna speak for the group that just got absolutely hate crimed here but anyone can tell the author just has no clue what he's fucking talking about and it's physically painful.

And I don't know, it's just so bad it seems out of character? Doyle's making these motherfuckers say shit that honestly, Sherlock would know better about. And especially Watson. Come on, you cannot tell me watson is mentally capable of being prejudiced against someone. Please do not make him that way.

I'm not sure how to handle it specifically, or what's the proper way I should handle something like that in a media I otherwise like. Is it ok to say Doyle was clearly a piece of shit on the matter and separate those characters from his bias or is that insensitive?

I don't know, I was Not a fan of it and I'm glad to see they've at least finally shut up about the guy

But anyway yeah, uhhhh onto the short stories because I'm trying to read those before I get to the final problem

Scandal in Bohemia was a fucking ride, first of all, before we even get to Sherlock's girlboss arc we have to discuss how gay the whole situation was and how Doyle's attempt at making them less gay failed spectacularly

Like he's all "ah yes I need to marry off watson and uhhh make sherlock ummmm interact with a woman so they dont look gay" but he does it SO BADLY that it makes them look EVEN GAYER

cause i mean, even the conversation they had about watson getting married back in sign of four was gay af, but how Doyle handled things afterward was in no way straighter.

Cause you know, the man kind of wrote himself into a corner with the fact of Watson narrating these stories. So Watson has to be around to witness them, and to witness Sherlock's own thought process rather privately, so he has to be around sherlock at night, a lot. But trying to come up with a reason for that happening just... it didn't occur to Doyle. He just went. Ah yes this makes sense. And it's Watson just like Sleeping Over At Sherlock's like every other goddamn day and every time his wife leaves town and having them basically still live that cute domestic home life but they have absolutely no excuses for doing it anymore. It's quite funny

Like it was gay already the way they interacted when they officially lived together but it was like, a necessity for them. Now it's not, Watson just comes over because he goddamn wants to, and it's hilarious to me.

LIKE IDK I THINK THEY KIND OF BROKE UP FOR A YEAR OR SO BC OF WATSON GETTING MARRIED AND THEY LIKE DONT HAVE CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER BUT ONE DAY WATSON JUST INEXPLICABLY HAS THE URGE TO COME VISIT SHERLOCK ON NO NOTICE AND THEN SUDDENLY THEY ARE TOGETHER NEAR 24/7 AGAIN LIKE BARELY ANYTHING CHANGED AHIEHOEWH

SIT DOWN AND TRY TO TELL ME THOSE ARE NOT HOMOSEXUALS

Watson walks in on no fucking notice after a full year and Sherlock is just. In the middle of some experiment obviously but hes like

Sherlock, carrying around unidenfiable chemical mixtures: W A T S O N you look good you look good! i see you've gained seven pounds!!

watson: uh. thanks??? Hey lol *awkwardly waves* Uh um Wanted to Uhm sEe you

Sherlock: ABOUT gODDAMN TIME AND YES WONDERFUL LOOK LOOK SIT DOWN I HAVE THINGS TO INFODUMP ABOUT

watson: :) ok :) *turns to camera* and we were back to the old days

sherlock: makes a deduction

watson: wowwwwwwwwwwww !! so true bestie !!

sherlock: !!!!!!!!! :))) !!!!! :))) uh fuck im supposed to be smooth Its Elementary Lol

watson: *turns to camera* when i stroke his ego like this and compliment him he blushes like a girl like i just complimented his dress so i do it more because he likes it. this is a homie trait

watson: well i should probably get going! my wife will notice that i am gone my dear buddy bro homie!

sherlock: NO DONT LEAVE IM LOST WITHOUT YOU (pretty much a direct quote lol) your. wife doesn't. get back home until monday. I know this because I am smart and definitely have not been stalking you.

watson: alright :)))))

AND THEN HE FUCKING SLEEPS OVER LMAO FUCKING HOMOS

So yeah they're right back where they were before pretty much and there's a case bc of course there is

And honestly I think this short story specifically was so insane mostly just because of how absolutely fast it all went. Yuumori kind of made me believe the original Irene Adler was more of an important character than she really is? And I think that's. Honestly so funny. Motherfucker shows up for ten pages, girlbosses her way around town, and changes sherlock's entire opinion of the female gender while still keeping him gay?

LIKE NO LOL SHES NOT IN ANY WAY A LOVE INTEREST AND WATSON GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO SPECIFY THE FACT THAT IN NO WORLD WOULD THEY HAVE BEEN ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED BECAUSE. SHERLOCK. DIDN'T DATE WOMEN.

HE WAS JUST??? SO IMPRESSED AND SHELL SHOCKED BY HER EXISTENCE HE DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR GIRLBOSS APPRECIATION DAY TODAY AND ALL DAYS HENCEFORTH???

AND THEY HAVE LIKE O N E INTERACTION?? God, the power this woman(?) has. Watson looks at her once like. damb shawty 😳 and she's like "no<3" and he's like FUCK

Like yeah it's pretty much just the king walking up like "help girl the whore is blackmailing me" and sherlock being like "ok lol this will be easy" and then it proceeded to not in fact be easy or even possible

sherlock like... posed as a dead body and tried to get her to give up the location of the photo but she out-acted him and skipped the town the next day after doing the 'good night mr. sherlock holmes' thing with sherlock completely tricked

and she just. sends a letter like "dear sherlock holmes. you're a fucking idiot and i think it's funny that you lost. nice job tho mad respect" and sherlock just SHORT CIRCUITS

the king comes back a bit later like "hey Dude where's my Photo" and sherlock's like oh yeah uhhhhhhhhhhh about that and the king is like HOW COULD IT POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN THAT GODDAMN HARD i would have dated someone more noble if she wasn't so pretty i swear im on a whole different level from her

and then. GIRLBOSSIFIED SHERLOCK HOLMES RESPONDS "from what I have seen of the lady, she seems indeed to be on a very different level from your majesty" ABSEHHESHEFHHFES ROASTED

and the dude just LEAVES

After that I read a few more of the short stories and well the highlights I got from that pretty much were these conversations

Watson: sherlock. honey. have you. eaten anything today

Sherlock: IT DIDNT OCCUR TO ME DEAR WATSON

Watson: ITS FIVE PM

and:

Sherlock: *having one of his Moment Moments at three in the goddamn mornig* GRRRR CRIME ISNT WHAT IT USED TO BE

Watson: MY DEAR SHERCOCK WHAT IS CRIME S U P P O S E D TO BE LIKE ACCORDING TO YOU

Sherlock: no one's original anymore fucking copycats

Watson: so you want the criminals to make things harder for you specifically.

Sherlock, exasperated: yes!

I love them your honor.

#rowan's hyperfixation essays #rowan screams into the void #rowan views moriarty #sherlock holmes

[laurelleghuleh]

𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐅 | 𝐂𝐇. 𝟏𝟕 "𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐦"

𝐚/𝐧:

Read the masterlist first.

The first flashback is narrated in third-person.

Everything here is (and will always be) totally consensual: Daphne’s (/your) character is strong enough to stop Levi or at least to oppose him whenever she wants (as already shown in the previous chapters)… But as you’ll see, she doesn’t want him to stop. The scene in question shouldn’t trigger any of you. Breathplay is involved but I hope you’ll perceive it just as steamy as it’s to me. If not, let me know.

More notes at the end.

𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬: “Make His Pockets Hurt” - jk... “Woman” by Harry Styles, “Tear You Apart” by She Wants Revenge, “She’s My Collar” by Gorillaz and Kali Uchis.

𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤

“Master, that girl... Daphne... She accepted,” said the hooded man, scratching the scar on his chin trying in vain to ease his agitation. A hint of discomfort painted his voice: every time in the presence of that thug he couldn’t help but think if each of his previous choices had not only led him further down, lower, where that maggot reigned.

The Master took a long, noisy sip from his stein, slammed it on the table, and then let out a coarse, belly laugh.

“I knew it. I KNEW IT! That little girl... That little girl really thought she could escape me.”

The hooded man stood motionless, almost paralyzed, in front of the Master. He had just condemned a poor girl he didn’t even know to certain death. He thought he reached his lowest point in life. All around him, the Master’s minions in the room began to laugh and mock the girl in unison, only to impress their boss.

With another smash of his tankard, the Master restored the silence in the room.

“Shut your stupid mouths, you jerks. Who said you could talk about her, huh?”

They obeyed.

“Well, what can I say, Sergeant?” He told the hooded man, “You soldiers are really good at following orders. You always get your job done. Not like these idiots I have to deal with every damn day... Well, here’s your reward, as agreed.”

At that signal, a door on the right opened and a moment later, a girl with long crimson hair, icy eyes, and an equally glacial attitude entered the room. Stoic, calm, and collected in the grip of the two men who were dragging her inside, perhaps now resigned, the girl appeared in all her beauty in front of her now former owner.

The Master, barely reaching her shoulder in height, approached her and roughly stroked her face. “Here is your reward for putting that big mouth of yours to good use for once, Tabitha. You are free now. Happy?”

From above, the girl looked down at him with disgust, as she had always done, but at least now for the last time. She was no longer his.

“Forgive me for the inconvenience, Master, but the Ripper is here.” said one of his lackeys breaking into the room at that point.

Before the Master could say or do anything, another man showed up in the room. His unmistakable beige trench coat, his imperious height, his marked and grim face: Kenny the Ripper had arrived.

“Ah, Kenny! My man!” The Master greeted him vigorously.

“Wo, slow down, gramps. My man my ass. I'm just here on business. Try not to waste any of my precious time and hurry up already.”

𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐧𝐞'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯

“Here it comes!” I shouted at Levi, throwing him an apple.

He caught it on the fly and looked back at me dourly.

“Kindly offered by the kitchen of the barracks. And by kindly offered I mean kindly stolen.” I added with a chuckle.

“From the barracks? Tch , I’d rather drink the water from the drain. Or horse piss. Or shit-” Levi started to grumble, as he swirled the apple in his fingers with a disgusted air.

“Okay, okay. Stop. I got the gist. Geez…” I interrupted him with a snort. “Give it to me…” I said then, taking the apple back. “Are you sure you don’t even want half of it? You haven’t touched anything since yesterday...”

No answer.

“Levi, it’s going to be a very loooong day. You need it.” I insisted.

“Whatever…” Levi finally said, averting his eyes.

So I removed the stem, placed the base of my thumbs on top of the apple, wrapped it with both hands, and began to tighten it with strength and precision.

“What are you doing? You wanna break it with your bare hands?” the Captain commented harshly.

“Even the hardest things can be broken,” I began to say and looked up at him, “If you just know where to apply the right pressure, Levi  ” and with a thunderous crack the apple split in between my hands. His eyes slightly widened in amazement, as did his lips that parted in a small “Not bad”.

“All yours,” I told him, handing him his half.

After leaving the barracks, we poured into a crowded street adjacent to the building. Despite the time, there were already a lot of people around. Voices, heavy rumbling footsteps on the cobblestones, shouts, the deafening toll of hooves on the pavement, the hustle and bustle of the carriages: the district seemed to have woken up long before us.

After a few minutes spent in silence, I took the first bite, asking Levi, “So? Where are we going?”

“In an hour or so, a carriage will take us to a nearby tunnel for the Underground. But first, we have to get some things,” he informed me.

“Like what?” I mumbled with my mouth full.

“I know a place where we can get some bladed weapons, ammo for my gun-”

“Uh, can I get one too?” I asked him enthusiastically, clinging to his jacket.

“Forget it,” he said, taking a bite of his apple and not even deigning to look at me.

“Oh cooome on!”

“Absolutely fucking not,” Levi declared head-on, “Let’s try to avoid any unnecessary fights or else. No firearms, no ogm. Just a regular patrol, we’ll take a look around, and that’s it. My gun is just for caution. One is more than enough.”

“Roger, Captain. Anything else?” I asked him, taking another loud bite.

“Wigs, maybe a hat or a scarf, I don't know, something to make us less recognizable,” then he glanced at me over his shoulder, quickly scanning my figure, “And some clothes for you. I don't know how safe it is to wander around in the Scouts’ uniform…”

“Right... Well, once back I’m gonna need a new uniform for sure,” I commented, tapping my stomach with my fingers. “I think I've put on a few pounds, you know?”

The food of the Survey Corps could not be defined as top-tier, nor substantial, however, it was certainly enough to feed a soldier; enough to fix a body like mine which hadn't seen a decent meal in months, if not years. In the Underground, I had always eaten for survival, never for pleasure. The first time I managed to buy a meal worthy of being called such, I found myself a few minutes later throwing it all up in a toilet. A meal that tasted of queasy guilt, a sin that I should never have to do again. After that, I decided to only ever ingest what was strictly necessary.

At that point, Levi halted in the middle of the road and turned towards me, forcing me to unconsciously do the same. Still lost in those old memories, I didn't realize that a hand was approaching my face. With a delicate gesture of his fingers, Levi took something away from my lips, probably an imperceptible crumb. Then he let his hand linger a little longer around my chin as if to give me a closer look.

“Well. It’s a good sign… ” he pointed out, trying to make it sound like a mere and flat comment. Yet, the expression he had painted on his face betrayed him. He looked so relieved. “It means you're getting healthier,” he added at the end.

I kept staring at him in silence, still, with one hand in midair and the other one in my pocket, my mouth open and my mind completely empty. Seeing me totally panicking, Levi bent down and reached with his mouth the last piece of apple that was left in my hand. Still close to my palm, chewing in silence, he motioned me with his head to resume walking.

After a solid minute, I blinked and came back to my senses, then I quickly joined him. As if nothing had happened, Levi had already taken his quick pace and usual severe posture back.

We walked for what felt like several minutes until we finally found ourselves in front of a small shop. Some dark curtains obscured what was behind them, but a majestic and bizarre sign on the outside spoke clearly: it was the bazaar the Captain had mentioned to me shortly before.

“Here’s the deal. The shop is run by a wrinkled piece of shit, a police lackey. He'll definitely give us a discount just because of Erwin. We go in, we buy what we need, and we get the hell out of here as soon as possible. The less time we waste, the better. All clear?”

“Crystal clear. There is no need to ask every time, you know that right? I can hear you perfectly.” I replied with a hint of malice.

“You never know with you,” he said, raising one of his eyebrows. “Let's go. I’ll do the talking. Go and see if you can find something useful in the meantime. And don’t steal anything else or I'll cut off those hands of yours. I’m not kidding, Daphne.”

“I’ll see what I can do about that stealing thing… Can’t promise anything...”

To that answer, Levi shook his head as an imperceptible smile curled his lips. Without further ado, he opened the door and made his way into the store where we were greeted by the shrill doorbell, a stocky small man with an eccentric air, and a young girl who seemed to want to be everywhere but there.

Levi didn’t miss one second and immediately approached the owner, while I quickly set out to find what we needed. The bazaar was as extravagant as his proprietor. It really seemed like we had just entered another dimension. Chandeliers with all different and bizarre shapes, objects of all kinds, and colorful fabrics were hanging down from the ceiling. The shelves were overflowing with any devilry, from ordinary household utensils to unique pieces of furniture. The whole rear area was instead dedicated to clothing and from a distance, you could already recognize some rather extravagant pieces with feathers and sequins. But before I could get started, a feeble voice caught my attention.

“Welcome, I’m Lisa. Can I help with anything?” said the girl I had seen just before.

Her voice sounded as faint and meek as her appearance. A small stature, very light skin, almost porcelain, hay-colored hair arranged in two long braids, an old pair of glasses clumsily resting on a slightly arched nose: she looked like one of those old dolls. Everything about her seemed so familiar, like a lost memory, as if I already knew her... In fact, I couldn’t help but notice how she resembled a friendly face, a sister I had not seen in a very long time: Eve . That thought struck me so strongly that all of a sudden I remembered how close I was to finally return to the Underground. And that ultimately pushed me to hurry up and do my part. I had no time to waste.

“Hi Lisa, I’m Daphne. Yes, actually I need a lot of stuff, but I don't even know where to start…” I said, giggling. The bazaar was a real mess.

Lisa was more than happy to help me with my research. At my every request, from bladed weapons to wigs, the girl's face seemed to get more and more confused. She must have asked herself from time to time what the hell were we doing there.

~

“Oi. Found anything?” I heard Levi's voice coming from behind my shoulders after a while.

“Yes, look!” I turned around wearing a lilac wig I had just found. Levi's face fell into an annoyed expression.

“You really couldn't find a color more ridiculous than this,” he commented with his arms folded.

“Oh come on! That's not true!” I replied with a shrill voice.

I have to admit that there was something about shopping that made me unexpectedly happy, almost childish. I was literally acting just like a little girl. I had never felt like that before, not even when I thought so. I wasn't at the market with Nina or Saejin, I didn't have to go back to the brothel within thirty minutes, nobody was breathing down my neck. That was the closest thing to freedom I had probably ever experienced.

“Have you already forgotten that we’re, like, trying to keep a low profile?” he argued as I turned to the mirror again to take another look at myself.

“Yeah, I know, buzzkill... But look how pretty it is!”

Levi didn’t deign to answer and continued to silently observe my reflection. His eyes slowly traveled from one corner of the mirror to the other.

“You know, Levi, every now and then you should try to live a little…” I teased him, with my hands on my hips. He just gave me the stink eye in response.

“Come on, just try one!” I encouraged him.

“Look, I'd rather tear my hair out with my bare hands-”

“Oh my God, please don't start now…” I interrupted him as I rummaged through the pile of wigs in front of me. Without thinking too much, I randomly took one and put it on his head. Levi had resisted me quite a bit, stepping back and shaking his head, but in the end, I got the better of him. The result, however, left me breathless.

Levi must have commented once again on the color of that wig, but at that sight, I could not utter a word. Same cut, same length, but this time the captain's hair was light, of an intense ash blonde. I didn't think Levi could look more attractive than that, and yet...

It took me some time to recover. Then I cleared my throat and said, just to interrupt the flow of his criticism, “Now we just need a couple of fake names”

I thought about it for a while, still looking at myself in the mirror. I love this color, Levi doesn’t know what he’s talking about… Maybe I should call myself... Lilian? Lily? Or…

“Lilith. From now on, you shall call me Lilith,” I said satisfied.

Levi’s eyebrows rippled.

“And you, Mr. Party-Pooper, you could be my Adam.”

“Maybe I missed something, but wasn't it Eve? Am I wrong?” The captain asked me, meeting my gaze in the mirror.

So I turned around and started to explain to him: “Chadia told us that before Eve there was Lilith, the first woman, the true, first wife of Adam, created with him, his equal. And unfortunately, also the first creature to be banished from Eden. And do you know why?”

“No, enlighten me,” he asked, intrigued.

“Because she wanted to be exactly like him, treated as an equal. But this was not granted to her, so she rebelled.”

Levi clicked his tongue. He seemed to have grasped the message out of metaphor.

“Interesting, but... I'm torn. I don't know if this is just a big fat lie to sell me these fucking ridiculous wigs or if instead... This is one of your millions of reasons.”

“My millions of reasons?”

“The millions of reasons why-” and there I remembered.

“Levi, please, give me a break.” I stopped him, “If anything, you're the ridiculous one, not these wigs,” I said as I turned back to the mirror.

“And for the record…” I tried to change the subject, “Maybe you really missed something. In the Underground several people dye their hair with some strange concoction or even bleach it just for fun, or boredom. It's actually quite trendy. My friend Finn did it to look like a tough guy. He used to change his hair color every other week... Sooner or later, he's going to be bald... I wonder if that punk is still alive…”

“Finn, ah? You never told me about this Finn ,” the Captain said.

“Oh Levi, there are so many things you still don't know about me…” And then I walked away, towards a wall full of clothes. After a while, Levi joined me.

“So... This Finn ... Is he one of your reasons?”

“Levi, I swear you’re giving me a headache. Stop it already.” I replied in a grumpy tone.

“I'm just curious,” he defended himself.

“I think it’s pronounced extremely childish , not curious.”

Levi stayed silent. As I kept scanning the clothes in front of me, I said: “No, he's not. He’s just a dear, old friend of mine who taught me how to survive in the Underground. And a few good tricks... Like this one.”

On top of a shelf, I noticed a checkered flat cap, took it, and then searched for a razor blade in my pocket. A razor blade that I was planning to steal from the store, but Levi didn’t need to know that part too. Once I found it, I hid it in the fold of the visor and then simply put the hat on his head. This time the Captain did not oppose, perhaps now immersed in that role play we were tacitly doing.

“Finn thinks it’s pretty cool to hide razors and knives in your clothes. They can save your life when you least expect it.”

Levi didn't comment and there was silence again. I began to get nervous.

“Really. Finn is just one of my mates. Nothing more.” I told him, fixing his cap. “What is it? You do not believe me?” I added, “Or worse... Captain, are you jealous ?”

“Please. You can barely handle me, let alone another man…” And so he started picking up random clothes for me to try on.

Chuckling, I started doing the same.

“A skirt?” He asked me at one point, “It might get in your way…”

“I was wearing a skirt even that night... The first night we met. A piece of cloth won’t certainly slow me down, Captain. And I think I will look more harmless dressed like this…”

“If you say so…” Levi commented.

Among the various clothes, I noticed a breathtaking corset with a precious ribbon on the back and a damask fabric that looked way too expensive for us. It reminded me of some refined dresses that only Nina was able to find - well, to steal, actually - at the market. I was so tempted to try it, a childish temptation, but then I stopped right there. We didn’t have time for that.

“Oi. Don’t you wanna try it?” Levi asked, pointing at the corset.

“It’s… Pricey…” I replied under my breath, trying to leave.

Without a second’s delay, Levi grabbed it and threw it at me, telling me, almost like an order: “The dressing room is right there. Get a move on.”

~

“What the hell’s taking you so long to get ready? We don’t have all day”

I snorted, then tried to say: “Yes... It's just... I can't close the corset,”

“Let me see…” I heard him say and a second later I saw him peeking out of the curtain.

“What the hell are you doing?? Get out now!”

Levi looked me straight in the eye, his face completely blank. “I’m not seeing anything that I haven’t seen already...” Then he glanced at the back of the bodice and said: “You skipped two holes. Fuck, you’re a hopeless case.”

The Captain had already begun to untie the corset when I protested, clumsily trying to reach his hands on the back.

“Stop,” he said, blocking me, but undaunted, I kept fidgeting.

“I said stop .” At that point I felt something cold around my wrists, like a silk ribbon, then a firm squeeze and without even realizing it, I found myself with my hands tied.

Through the mirror, I gave the Captain a dirty look, but he didn't seem to get the message.

“Levi. Untie me. Now .”

He smugly looked back at me. “And why on earth?” He leaned in and from above my shoulder he added, “You look so pretty like this…”

In response, I just rolled my eyes. “You're not funny, come on-”

“In fact, you know what? I just had an idea…” he interrupted me. “Since this thing is going to take a while, why don't we play a game?” he started to say, pulling the first threads away up to the point where I must have messed them up. “I'll ask you some questions-”

“What kind of questions?”

“Oh, don't be so naive. You already know what I’m going to ask you.”

“Levi-” I tried to interrupt him.

But he continued, saying, “If your answer satisfies me, I will gradually close the bodice. Otherwise…”

“Otherwise what?” I asked with a hint of annoyance.

“We’ll just stay here all day, I guess,” he replied, continuing to untie the corset.

“Rather than a game, I think this is called interrogation … You even tie me up?! Are you completely out of your mind, Levi?”

The Captain sneered almost imperceptibly. “Let’s say it’s a matter of opinion…” Then he got closer again and whispered, mocking me, “Oh, why don’t you try and live a little , Daphne?”

At that point, the corset was barely holding up around my torso. Levi had already loosened the last intersection and was ready to proceed.

“Well? Shall we start?” he asked me, adjusting and aligning the fabric with precise but light strokes.

“I don't think I have other options…” I said in a hushed voice.

“Let's make it even more fun. You can only answer yes or no . Disobey and I'll start over.”

“At this point, do the fuck you want… Since we’re already here…”

At my words, Levi laughed, nodded his head, lowered it in the direction of my wrists, and gently passed two fingers between my skin and the tape, as if to check that it wasn't too tight. From behind my back, almost hiding from me, he whispered the only rule of that dangerous game from which I couldn’t bring myself to escape:

“Remember, this is just for fun... If you don’t feel like it anymore, know that you are perfectly capable of freeing yourself from this silly knot. Even a suckling could make it out of it... Say the word and I’ll stop.”

I swallowed soundly, nodding at him. In a matter of seconds, the air seemed to have already changed.

“You know, that morning I asked myself a lot of questions... I even thought that you’d come out of the bathroom at any moment. Or from under the bed, out of the wardrobe…”

I got sick to my stomach.

“But you never came back,”

“Levi-” I almost interrupted him.

“What is it? Did you just want a one-night stand?”

“Levi, are you for real?? How- Who do you take me for-” I tried to say, when with a decisive stroke Levi pulled the first thread, making me lose my balance and forcing me to take an unstable step back. Bumping against his chest, I heard him scold me: “Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. Just yes or no , miss.”

“No,” I coldly replied, reaching his gaze in the mirror.

“Then, do you regret it?”

“Regret what?”

“Didn’t they teach you that you can’t answer a question with another question?” he commented, passing the ribbon through the next holes.

“Then why don’t you try to formulate a bit better your fucking questions next time?” I babbled.

He didn’t mind my insolence and asked again, “Did you regret that night?”

“I’ve already told you that-” Only yes or no , I thought. “No.”

Another intersection was done on the back.

“And about leaving without a word?”

I didn't answer, but Levi continued to adjust the stripe in the subsequent holes. Probably my silence was already enough as an answer. The corset was getting tighter and tighter and I was starting to feel that hard velvet cage compressing me little by little.

“Moving on. Do you think I would have done the same thing in your place?”

Again, I stayed silent.

“I'll answer for you. No,” he said with determination, clutching another cross. The stroke was so precise, central, and energetic, it made me wince. A sharp and clear moan slipped from my mouth. I bit my lip and looked down at my feet in shame. Levi immediately caught that reaction.

“You don’t regret it. You’d do it again . Or at least that’s what you told me that day in my office, right? So what... Or maybe who? Who are you afraid of? Of Commander Smith? Were you afraid that what happened between us might have some kind of repercussion? On you? On me?”

“Yes,” the corset wrapped me in its grip. “And yes.” I hissed again through my teeth.

“Well, now that you two are all buddy-buddy, this shouldn't worry you anymore... Or what? You just didn’t want to put me on the spot?” Levi's voice became low and thick.

I could hardly nod at that point.

“Do I look like the type of person who could be easily put on the spot?”

No, Levi definitely wasn’t.

“Are you afraid of me too?” he asked me, almost whispering and pulling me in, against him. The corset tightened again and my head instinctively fell backward on his shoulder, like in the throes of some feverish, indecipherable sensation.

“Because I’m your captain? Because you see me as an obstacle? Because-”

“Yes, yes, yes,” I began to say incessantly, gasping for air between words.

“How ungrateful…” he whispered in my ear, “I’m even taking you back to see your sisters. Does that seem to you like getting in your way, Daphne?”

I shook my head, exasperated.

“Then what? Are you afraid…”

Levi took his time, pondering his next questions on the curve of my neck. His eyes went restlessly from one side to the other, nervously peering down at my chest as it swelled and deflated, impatiently waiting for his new word.

“Are you afraid of getting too attached? Of hurting yourself? Or hurting me? Are you-” the captain seemed caught up in a vertiginous urge to know, the frantic rhythm of his voice started to betray him.

“Yes, yes, yes,” I said under my breath. I closed my eyes and bit my tongue. I was ashamed to death of the expression painted on my face at that point. I was no longer feeling myself.

“Are you afraid that I will eventually find something out?”

At that question, I instinctively opened my eyes again. It seemed to me as if all my senses had suddenly sharpened. I could feel every inch of Levi's body behind me, pressed against mine. His face a few centimeters above my shoulder. His gaze reflected in the direction of mine, scrutinizing me, observing my every little movement, jolt, yielding. His questions, his words warming the curve of my neck, almost piercing my skin. He wasn't even touching me and yet I was completely at his mercy.

“Are you afraid that I will find out something about you? Some secret of yours?” he kept asking, squeezing tighter, leaving me speechless, breathless. “Are you afraid I'll find out something about you that you don't even know about yourself?”

The pressure of the bodice and of his words were going to my head as if I were lightheaded.

“Or are you perhaps afraid of yourself?” Levi formulated against my ear, forcing another moan to escape from my mouth, my legs to clench, pressing one against the other.

“You're afraid of how much you’re actually enjoying all of this, of us, aren't you?” A grin curved Levi’s lips, “It seems to me that… You are the one afraid to start living. You’re afraid you’re going to be too… Selfish, that way. Am I wrong, Daphne?”

With my eyes soaked in tears, I turned my head and looked at him in utter despair. But something unknown seemed to completely cloud Levi's vision and with a quick move of his hand, he grabbed my chin and forced me to look at myself in the mirror.

“Don't be. Don't be afraid and just look at yourself.”

Unfortunately, I indulged him.

“I've already seen that look,” he confessed, as his other hand began to slide along my side, down the fabric, lingering on the edge of the corset and then slipping under it. “You don't have to hold back. I already know what that means. I know, Daphne. I know.”

A sharp sigh broke my silence when I felt his fingers making their way down, over the clumsily mended hem of the skirt. They seemed to know exactly what to do, where and how to touch me. His body and mine already knew each other. Levi knew, he knew everything.

The road to pleasure was paved with guilt and sins, but at that precise moment, I realized that for Levi I would have walked it again, even a thousand times, despite those millions reasons not to do it. At that very moment, I believed that was the same path to freedom. The first bite of that forbidden fruit had already been taken long before and we were already damned without even knowing it.

“You're making too much noise, Daphne. You don't want everyone to hear us, right?”

Before I could protest, Levi silenced that last moan of mine in his mouth, pressing his lips against mine, letting a muffled grunt echo across his chest. His hand around my chin slid down and clung tightly around my neck, surrounding it like a collar, squeezing it gently at each, tiny sound of mine.

Completely glued onto him, he could definitely feel my heart pounding, my skin crawl. I was getting closer and closer to my climax and Levi knew it. But I could feel something too, something hard poking my back, his ache growing every time I  unintentionally ground against him. My hands, still trapped and pressed against Levi’s belly, instinctively glided down to his pants. Once found the bulging shape, I tightened my grip around it, following its contours, making him gasp sharply in my mouth as I kept stimulating him.

“Excuse me, are you alright in there? Do you need a hand?” Lisa's feeble and trembling voice peeked out from the other side of the curtain, outside of the dressing room.

At that sound, we instantly stopped. One still pressed against the other, we panted in secret, as slowly and softly as possible, meditating on what to do. Levi slipped his hand out of the skirt and loosened his grip around my neck with the other. At that point, I almost felt like I was coming back to my senses.

Back to reality, I cleared my throat and said as composedly as I could: “Yes, I’m done. I’m coming out in a second.”

From behind my back, in the meantime Levi was carefully cleaning himself with a handkerchief he had previously pulled out of his pocket. Then, with equal care, he freed my wrists, slightly loosened the corset, and secured the end with a strong knot. Once done, he gingerly pressed a kiss on my shoulder, then another one and another one, one inch at a time, almost exhausted, deeply inhaling through his nostrils. His eyes moved upwards to meet mine in the mirror and on that same strip of skin from which his mouth had just risen, he whispered, “Let's take this one. I like you like this.”

Before walking out of the dressing room, he handed me a tissue and then added, his voice hoarse and lethal, “And this is not over yet.”

When he finally left the room, I felt my legs giving out. I let myself fall backward onto a little chair in the corner, as I tried to pull myself back together. Looking up at the mirror, I caught my reflection indulging in a wide, unexpected smile.

What the fuck had just happened?

Coming out of the dressing room, I was about to place the other clothes on the counter next to Levi, but he seemed quite caught up in a heated conversation with the owner of the bazaar about ammunition. In order not to disturb him, I decided to take another walk around the shop, left what I had in my hands to Lisa, and began to browse the various shelves. Once in front of a glass counter, I paused to examine the jewelry on display. A few moments later, a warm voice tickled my ear.

“See something you like?”

I instinctively put a hand on my chest. Levi had startled me.

“Actually, yes. See that little black collar?”

“Not bad,” he commented from above my shoulder, looking through the glass of the counter. It was a very simple black cord, decorated with a small gem. Nothing too fancy. Lilith would surely have worn it. Maybe I should...?

I slightly rotated my torso towards him and unconsciously bit my lower lip. I don't know why, but the idea of taking advantage of Levi's generosity once more terrified me. Maybe I should just...? and so I asked him, “Can I... Do you think we can get that too?”

Levi blinked, unfazed at my request. He examined my puppy eyes for a few seconds and then dryly said, “No.”

So he went back to the check-out, while from behind his back I pouted and followed him without protesting any further. Literally a piece of string. He bought himself enough ammo for a fucking carnage, that was just a collar...

Back again in front of the owner, Levi looked at me and ordered me not to stay there with that face like I was about to cry and to wait for him outside. In response, I clicked my tongue with annoyance but eventually obeyed, adding a sarcastic “Yes sir!” as I left the shop.

Now on the street, I saw a nice, little bakery right in front of me and without thinking too much about it, I hopped over to its window. I stood there with my eyes glued to that glass for several minutes, completely captured by the intricate preparation of a composition of bread, raisins, and dried fruit.

After a while, I noticed Levi’s silhouette crossing the street to reach me, yet I continued to follow the old lady behind the glass. The Captain silently waited for my reaction but I just shot him a quick and disinterested glance. Then I saw his reflection looking for something inside his pocket, taking it, and approaching me, his hands going up towards my lobes and then two clicks. Suddenly, a couple of enchanting earrings appeared. Simple, yet sophisticated, two small emeralds set in a golden structure. My eyes widened.

I couldn’t help myself from touching them and looking in the mirror in pure amazement. I was simply speechless as I inspected my reflection, almost without believing my own eyes. Oh, if only Nina could see them ... I secretly thought.

Then I turned towards Levi, with that look of surprise still on my face. When I stammered something confused and incomprehensible, he stopped me, saying “Petra was right, green is definitely your color.”

He remembered. Levi remembered that little comment Petra had made sometime ago. And that was enough to make me irretrievably blush. But still, I had the nerve to ask him, with my hands on my hips: “Yeah, okay, but why? If you really didn't like that collar you could have just told me instead of-”

Levi gave me his usual dirty look and with his grim face, he began to lecture me, “A necklace is too dangerous. What if someone tries to choke you with that, you idiot? Tch , you really are the most incompetent, clueless criminal I have ever met.”

After that, he turned his back on me, walked off, and motioned me to follow him, “Come on, we've already wasted too much time for my liking.”

~

Sitting in the carriage, next to each other, we both seemed to be engaged in some silent discussion. And so, seconds passed inexorably. Eager to do or say something, anything, I glanced at that bag under my feet, full of our purchases.

I sighed. “Well, it looks like these two… Erm, what's their name again? Daphne and Levi, right? They have a lot of problems, huh?”

Levi looked at me a bit confused, raising an eyebrow.

“Poor things. You know, I feel sorry for them…” I said, rummaging in the bag. “Too bad they can't live it as freely as we do,” and so I pulled out our wigs, Adam’s and Lilith’s. I slipped on mine, then turned towards Levi and calmly adjusted his. He didn't protest, watching my every move with an almost smug look.

“Don’t you agree?” I asked him, stroking the back of his neck and pulling him in for a short but deep kiss.

“Yeah…” Levi commented as soon as I drew back on my seat.

“I was thinking… Maybe, for the next few days, we could... What if we pretended that all these problems didn’t exist? No titans. No Survey Corps. No sisters. No Commander Smith. No-”

Levi couldn’t hold back, and nodding his head, he brought my lips back to his, pulling me into his arms. Unfortunately, we were soon interrupted by a jolt and then by a decisive bang on the roof. The coachman had just stopped the carriage and we had finally arrived.

I had a very vague memory of the tunnel for the Underground, yet its sight was simply bloodcurdling. At that point a dark passage stood before us, it looked like Hell’s gates. I felt my legs stiffening at every step and so I stopped a few meters from the checkpoint.

Levi walked by my side and, intertwining his hand with mine, he told me, “I'm here, I’m right here.”

My head fell forward. I shut my eyelids and took a deep breath. Once I opened my eyes again, there, under my feet, I saw them. Reflected on the floor, our shadows, merged one with the other, looked like two souls at the gap as we proceeded in the gorge of the underworld, together, for the same, identical condemnation.

𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:

• Lilith is one of my favorite characters of all time. In this chapter I mention the version from the Jewish tradition, but just know that this is not the only one, • The flat cap with the hidden razor blade is (obviously) inspired by the Peaky Blinders, • Levi is not wearing the uniform, he is already in off-duty clothes, • The corset scene vaguely resembles an Interrogation Scene (BDSM), • Yes, the hooded man in the flashback is the soldier from the previous chapter and the man who hired Daphne to kill Levi, Erwin, Farlan, and Isabel, • The relationship between Kenny Ackerman and the Master will be better explained further ahead, don't worry, • Finn's character will be better introduced in the next chapters, • For this chapter I actually learned how to break an apple with my bare hands. Yes, it is possible, even for a pussy like me, but I am not doing it ever again lol

#read on wattpad #read on ao3 #levi x oc #levi fanfic #levi shingeki no kyojin #levi smut #aot smut #aot fanfiction