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typingfool · 1 year

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𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀 / 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐌𝐀 ;; wednesday addams

Pairing ;; Wednesday Addams x gn!winged!Reader

outline —; Confessing to Wednesday Addams is... something else.

word count —: 2.3k

WARNINGS —: cursing, SUGGESTIVE, LIKE VERY.

themes / tags —: reader is gender-neutral. divina is non-binary.

A/N: reblogs and comments are appreciated. there are some other fics i wanted to write for wednesday. have some gender-neutral divina and reader as dorm mates! and some wings too, may i add. enjoy :)

There is no number or word that can describe love. The only way to describe it is to feel it. To be in it. Similarly, love isn’t a never ending circle, going around and saying the same thing. For centuries, science has explained it too – the love for friends, the love for lovers, the love for parents, the love for certain objects.

In history, the Greeks have words for love. Sitting in history lessons in one of the many rooms in Nevermore, your wings folded, your eyes staring directly at the board, as the teacher spoke. A school mate, similar to you with wings of down feathers, smiled in your direction, staring intently.

Some didn’t seem to care about the knowledge they’re learning, some were confused (one of them being you, though, you were just ecstatic that all these people were learning that love isn’t just love). Some were guilty – you knew because you felt them, you felt that they never ‘love’ the way it is expected.

“Ludus is the playful form of love. This may describe your type of romance; teasing, flirting, and teenage love.” The teacher explained, dragging her tone through the room, the class is quiet, accepting the new form of knowledge into their minds.

The first period class really had you smiling. A swelled understandment filled your stomach as if it was thirsty for affection and attention. Who knew the Greeks could understand you? In ways more than one. Besides its occasional tales of myths and legends (that you personally indulge in, though too embarrassed to say anything about it), you were surprised that this knowledge is never passed down unto society.

Only ‘friendship’ and ‘love’ were understood. If the normies altogether had a voice they would probably say; What else is there to it?

The thought made you snicker. Hours passed; preoccupied students were busy shuffling the hallways, getting ready for the falling night. You watched through the infirmary window as the courtyard emptied out. “You bird!” The nurse called, looking at you with wide eyes. This did not surprise you but it did make you jump in your chair, your feathers in alert mode as you felt ants seeping through your skin. “I told you, this girl, here,” She pointed to Yoko, who snickered in response, hiding her laughter. “She is okay! No need to crowd this place! Look at your wings- Giant!” She reached her hand out, pinching a feather, making you hiss in staggerment.

“Okay! Okay! I’m just worried about my friend.” You said, cowering out of the door, waving Yoko a goodbye before she could touch the ends of your feathers too. You huffed, wings fluttering in a shiver. The thumping of your own boots thundered in your ears, silencing any form of thoughts that raced through your mind. Silencing the outside world for a while, walking to your dorm subconsciously.

For a moment, you ceased in a quiet hallway, contemplating whether to comfort Enid in her time of distress. Pending for a second that your wings enclosed in a relaxed position, folding itself. I don’t need to think about this situation, you mentally facepalmed.

You headed to your dorm, waving a slight hello to Divina. They didn’t let you pass the window though, blocking your view of the outside world before you could fly out. Worry flooded their eyes as they frantically blurted out a word. “The nurse wouldn’t let me-”

You intercepted, putting a hand on their shoulder. “Let you see her? Me too but I’ve seen, Tanaka is fine, it’s just an allergic reaction.” You calmly stated, your wings subconsciously wrapping around them into a hug. They wrapped their arms around your shoulders too, unable to decide whether to hold your waist or back. “She’ll be out before you know it.” You pulled away, smiling.

Divina nodded, stepping out of the window. “Tell me how your confession goes.” They teased, opening their closet and picking out a jacket. They headed to the bathroom.

You opened the window, searching for Ophelia Hall in the many buildings until your eyes landed on the half-rainbow cobwebbed window. “Not yours to know,” You yelled in a responsive tone, hands on the railing, keeping your body balanced, poking your head out of the cold air. Making sure that no one is watching, you search left to right as if you were checking a road before crossing. “Nightshades again?” You asked, pushing your head in, grabbing a jacket of your own.

Divina fixed their hair, responding with a nod. “At least look decent, who are you meeting? Enid or Addams?” They blindly asked.

Disbelief left your mouth as a laugh. You loudly shut your closet, running up to the window, shutting it down as if anyone could hear from your own dorm. “Do you think Wednesday would care what I wear?” You emphasized clearly on her name, grabbing a hair brush. You rubbed the back of your neck before remembering the reason for your arrival at their dorm. “And anyway, I wanted to see Enid, she’s upset because of…” Your voice trailed, realizing that Divina is the person you’re talking to. You didn’t want to upset her any further, though luckily, she was busy adjusting her necklace to even listen to you.

Divina smiled playfully. “Well, people say she’s allergic to color. But honestly, she’s pulling off the black and white outfits.” They replied, shrugging. The sneakers they wore dragged a rushed sound. Though it stopped when they turned on their heel to face you again. “Yet, here you are, putting no effort into your fits.”

You huffed, rolling your eyes, as you leaned into the mirror. “I’m pretty decent, if you ask me. Or Wednesday.” You happily affirmed.

Divina shrugged in defeat, waving you off. “Just make sure to be there, Bianca hates you.”

Shaking your head, you opened the window again, jumping up the railing, spreading your wings. “Tell her the feeling is mutual.” With that, you leaped out, snickering at the response ‘that’s jackshit, Xavier hates you too’, spreading your wings to bring yourself up to the window once more, satisfied that Divina took in the words you most definitely meant. You carefully pulled down the window, leaving a big enough gap for your hands to fit in.

You flew higher, the cold air reaching your whole body. Jacket or not, the cold bothered you. Though, post-autumn has finally worn out. The start of cold winds were scaring you for the snow. And god, were you thankful that you didn’t have to shovel it all? Yes, of course, you were.

Your feet landed on the cold ground, as wind slightly pushed you back. You flap your wings in the process, creating a whirlwind that nearly knocked out the musical note stand. Thankfully, you weren’t too far to not catch it and disrupt a loud bang. Cold seeped through your footwarmers, each step you took warmed up your body eventually. Since, you couldn’t fit through the window (credits to the wings you carried), instead, you knocked, poking your head in.

“Enid!” You called on excitedly, only to find her bed empty, neatly arranged. Your head turned to her roommate’s bed. Next to it is a dissatisfied Wednesday, her hands briefly above the typewriter. “Where is she?” You asked, emphasizing your question even more as you raised a brow.

Wednesday sighed, standing up from her chair. “Sulking and complaining to Ajax or Divina,” She explained, leading you out of the window by giving your forehead a gentle flick. You mouthed an ‘oh’ shape, knowing where that would lead to. Your mind wandered if Ajax could comfort Enid in such a way, because, knowing him — it would be an easy yet ineffective display, mostly because of his tiny, little serpents.

The scent of Wednesday Addams attained your senses, though, the spinning of the glass window in front of you distracted it. You can see a new addition to the dorm; a giant detective board, with pictures of disgusting pieces of body parts, it almost made you drop and vomit. Almost, not until Wednesday inquired with a furrowed brow (you could tell); “Why is it your concern?”

You turned, glancing to the back of her head. Walking up to her was easy, taking mental note not to stand too far nor too close, figuring that Wednesday didn’t like close and intimate proximities. “She was upset that Yoko got an allergic reaction again.” You answered truthfully. You saw her shake gently. A swift chance of courage shook your presence. “I also came here to talk to you actually.”

Wednesday’s mouth dropped into a firm line, almost frowning. Her solemn face returned, however, when she looked at you. “Make it quick.” She commanded.

You beamed, wings fluttering in excitement, and Wednesday knew it was going to be a long talk, or night, if you made your move. You propped yourself up at the balcony, sitting comfortably, your eyes straightforward. “Don’t you admire your parent’s love for each other?”

Wednesday is right, she mentally prepared herself for her own upcoming answer, a tiny voice in her throat buried itself until she gave it full thought. “I do, why?”

You bit your inner cheeks, nodding to your side, as you cleared your throat. “Their love is called Pragma; long standing love.” Shifting your sentences to something less obvious isn’t something you had me mind. “They might’ve had a friendship too, which is Philia.”

Wednesday raised her brows, an inquiry isn’t something she’ll speak out in these conversations. But then again, she is an Addams, her opinions most likely matter because of the pressure that she instills on them. “Friendship? Before marriage, there’s… friendship?” She tried not to show the hesitant tone that concluded her sentence, a rushed tone dragged the tension.

You shook your head in a ‘no’, pushing your hair behind your ear. “Not just before marriage, no. It’s something you have before any type of romance.” Without the knowledge of whose dropping these words but you, yourself, obliged you to speak more. Wednesday seemed confounded in your knowledge, conflict reached blood, as it ran cold.

The thought of you having experienced a friendship that turned into… whatever her parents had, or, as you called it; Philia and Pragma. She had to admit, bearing that sight is a nightmare.

Grabbing your wrists, Wednesday stood in front of you, holding your waist as you involuntarily yelped without the support of your hand on the cold marble. Her fingers dug into your side, into your jacket, as her eyes trailed in confusion. The girl in front of you blinked, a stricken flick of anger visible in her expressions. “Have you ever loved someone like that?” Wednesday inquired, glancing up at you, she held your gaze, before averting her own.

The pacing of your heart quickened, lup-dup, lup-dub, lup-dub, lup-dub, lup-dub. Without the huffed breaths, you would’ve fallen in peace. You were certain Wednesday couldn’t catch you, so you managed to stay alive. Taking a breath and moving closer, inch to inch with Wednesday Addams; nose nuzzled, minty breath of yours, mixed with the scent of… coffee? Something of the sort, you couldn’t tell due to your proximity. “You.”

Surprisingly, Wednesday didn’t back away when you stepped in closer, she only closed the gap that accompanied the two of you. Catching your lips into hers, moving in sync with your own. Her other hand accompanied your lower back, rubbing it in circles. Your hands found freedom in her jaw, cold fingers against it, underlining the perfect structure.

Wednesday pulled away, catching her breath, forehead against yours. She gave your lips another peck, which you reciprocated. Your eyes gently shut, recalling the last of what you could see was Wednesday’s half-shut eyes. A flooding warm of heat pulled your stomach down as she deepened the kiss.

Ecstasy engulfed you and (hopefully) Wednesday.

Forgetting that breathing existed is something you would’ve never forgotten, afterall, not after this. You needed air although worry didn’t cross your mind, not once, when this is happening. Nothing could be processed actually. The only thoughts that occupy your mind is Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday.

You pulled away, chest heaving up and down for breaths, a still laugh erupting from your throat. “Who taught you how to kiss like that?” You asked, cockiness reached your lips, quirking upwards into a smile. You were pulled up with a jerk of her shoulders, diminishing the cruelty that settled on your lips, which were puffy and pink now.

Wednesday settled in a firm hug, burying her face into your jacket. A quiet sniffle of laughter carefully rolled out of your tongue. She wrinkled her nose, bringing her chin to your shoulders. She responded, bringing her head up. “My parents, they always kiss in front me and my brother.”

You nodded in understanding, a hum vibrating your chest in response. You closed your eyes in the warmth of her body near you, feeling a tug of your jacket with her fingers. The exposure of your warm, clothed skin to the wind did not make you please. Not until Wednesday’s mouth found closure in your skin, her warm tongue and soft lips sucking on it carefully.

This made your eyes open in shock, a kept groan couldn’t contain itself, leaving your mouth with no permission. “Addams,” You meekly called, averting your eyes to the side, though, your head jerked up; giving her more skin to attack. “Someone- someone will notice.” You warned, fingers circling her back as an attempt to call after her.

Wednesday obliged. Though, she smirked at it, noticing the bruise, pulling your jacket back to its place in your neck. A glimpse of visible purple marks accompanied it. An audible groan left your mouth, hiding your face to the side, as your wings wrapped the two of you. “What?” She asked, closely inspecting the wrapped wings that shook slightly. “Be thankful it’s not your lips, it would’ve been far worse.” She concluded.

Goosebumps overtook your body. Jumping down from your spot, cautious as to not step on Wednesday. You hugged her closely. “What are we now?”

Wednesday raised a brow, you were sure a tender smile attended her features. “Pragma and Philia, as you said.”

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#pax writes 🕯#'ziah writes — wednesday !#wednesday addams #wednesday addams x reader #wednesday addams x you #wednesday addams x yn #wednesday x reader #wednesday fanfic #wednesday fic #wednesday imagine #wednesday fluff

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thefinalcinderella · 5 months

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Tsurune Book 3 Chapter 5 - Declaration (Part 1)

whoa it's been more than a month since i posted here

anyways masamina fans come get ur food

Glossary here

Full list of translations here

Translation Notes

The original Japanese is "生者必滅、会者定離", which contains the characters for kai and hanare

These are all traditional Japanese wind instruments

Takamagahara is the home of the gods in Shintoism

An imina is the real name of a noble or deceased person

Previous | Next

The light rain was falling onto their kyudo raincoats.

Minato and Shuu were visiting the kyudojo where Saionji had taught them when they were young. It was the perfect place for intensive training as they could avoid the public eye. But something unexpected happened.

“Please let us join the Saionji school,” the twins Senichi and Manji said.

“I as well. I would very much like to learn from the master of the Saionji school of kyudo,” Seiya said after them.

Saionji’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “Oh my, you are all being very dramatic, aren’t you? I don’t have such a sign put up, though. Do you have the approval of your current teachers?”

“Yes, there is no problem.” “Please let us become your disciples.” “Please.” The three refused to budge, their heads bowed. Saionji laughed aloud as he looked at the three round heads lined up.

“I’m not taking any disciples, but let us draw our bows together. It’s a pleasure to have more companions. I welcome you all.”

Seiya bowed deeply, and Senichi and Manji pumped their fists.

First, they swept, sang prayers, read sutras, meditated for three minutes, and did warm-up exercises. Then, Saionji told them to do these things at home next time.

“It has been a long time since I’ve held a bow in front of people, but Fujiwara-kun asked me to do it, so I had no choice but to accept it. Please watch my shooting.”

Saionji went before the targets with four arrows. He raised his bow up high. His eyes were half-closed, similar to the Buddha’s meditative state. The genuine article couldn’t hide his brilliance even when he became old. The rain hid the scenery that should have been visible, even erasing the sounds of people that should have been audible.

The drawn bow overflowed with joy and begged him not to let go yet. The kyudo terms “kai” and “hanare” came from the Last Teaching of the Buddha, “Death is the doom of every living thing, those who meet must part.” (1) The truth that no one could overturn, and a proud statement of will by the archer who accepted his mortality but never stopped walking. The bow and archer were together until the very end.

When the arrow landed at twelve o’clock, just before the target frame, Senichi and Manji let out cries of admiration.

The second arrow landed at six o’clock, also right before the target frame.

The third shot hit the target at nine o’clock, near the target frame once again. At this point, Seiya’s body was trembling. “N-No way,” Senichi and Manji muttered. Shuu and Minato were silent.

For the last shot, Saionji hit the target at three o’clock, the arrow just grazing the target frame.

Minato went to collect the arrows. Meanwhile, Senichi and Manji were still extremely excited.

“It’s difficult just to hit the target, but to hit the target in different directions!? That’s superhuman!”

Unusually, Shuu showed emotion on his face. That was no wonder, since his master granted his disciple’s wish. He was intoxicated with this greatest luxury.

“Aim at the target without aiming, while having the skill to hit the spots he’s aiming at. After personifying a hundred shots, he aims for even higher peaks. Awa-hanshi from Zen in the Art of Archery was able to do the same thing, apparently. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to be in this miraculous place.”

“As expected of Shuu’s master. I got goosebumps.”

“It feels like a legend becoming truth, and truth becoming myth.”

Senichi and Manji were speaking enthusiastically, but Seiya felt something like despair.

“I’ve heard about it, but when I actually see it with my own eyes, it just makes me realize how weak I am. No matter how much I practice, I don’t think I’ll ever reach that level.”

When Minato returned from arrow collecting, the five of them sat in front of Saionji.

“My earlier shots are improper, so please don’t copy them. The way of the bow is about perfecting one’s personality and uniting with nature. It is not about hitting a target with arrows. It would be difficult to suddenly free your mind from obstructive thoughts, so the first step is to visualize good form. Believe in yourself and love yourself wholly even if you are hopeless. Then verbalize ‘I can do it’ and fix that into your brain. Your brain will faithfully respond to your words and send commands to each part of your body. If you change your thinking, your body will also change.”

Shuu added, “This is an easy-to-understand example of the placebo effect. If you take a simple nutritional supplement after hearing that it’s ‘medicine,’ your symptoms would recover or be alleviated. It has been medically proven that the expectation or pleasure of a drug activates the part of the brain that boosts the immune system.”

“That’s right. And if we go one step further and follow the voice of our inner soul rather than the voice of our brain, the powers we have as living beings will begin to function. Saying ‘keep at it’ with your heart even when your body is tired will only create an estrangement. Your soul should be telling you that it wants to rest.”

“So, you’re saying that the words uttered by the body, mind, and soul should be the same.”

“We are immature creatures who have not yet matured as humans. It could also be interpreted as saying that we still have room to grow. When we learn to listen to the voices of our inner souls, good situations naturally follow.”

Then, they let out yagoe.

As soon as they released their arrows, they let out a powerful “Yah!”

Minato and Shuu roared without hesitation. It was a lion’s roar. In the other martial arts kendo and judo, one shouted kiai, but this technique had somehow disappeared in kyudo. Seiya, unused to it, was reserved, but Senichi and Manji shouted without hesitation.

“Whoa, this actually feels good.”

Saionji observed everyone’s shooting forms.

“Keep stretching, keep stretching. Yes, that’s perfect.”

“When you reach daisan, your right elbow will remain tense. At kai, the bow hand and sword hand twist, as though wringing a rag.”

They also practiced stretching out their arms and lightly gripping the pillars, then twist their elbows without moving their hands.

After finishing two hours of practice, Minato took out his bento box.

There was takoyaki inside.

“There might not be enough since it was intended for three people. Shuu is around here.”///

Senichi and Manji were glued to Shuu.

“It’s kinda refreshing to see Shuu eating takoyaki in his kyudo clothes.”

“Sen, Man, if you’re not going to eat them, then I’ll have them.”

“Hey, wait, we’re eating them! What, this is really good.”

“They seem to contain the Narumiya family’s secret ingredients.”

“No wonder Shuu loves takoyaki.”

Senichi and Manji devoured them in no time, and Shuu, who was trying to enjoy them thoroughly, stared at the empty bento box.

When they were about to head home, Saionji stopped Minato and Shuu, and asked Seiya, Senichi, and Manji to return home first.

The rain had stopped before they knew it.

The azaleas withstood the weight of their wet petals.

On the scarred floor of the dojo, the long shadows of one man and two boys faced each other.

The sun tilted to the west, dyeing the horizon red, and the sky became a river of deep blue and madder. Purple-tinged clouds dyed by two-colored light flowed slowly along the river. The clouds constantly changed their expressions as they drifted, never remaining in the same shape. Everything returned to the mother sea.

The setting sun gave off its last rays behind Saionji’s shoulders.

“The statute of limitations has already expired. I was hiding something from both of you. In actuality, I told Narumiya-kun’s mother that he was drawing a bow under my tutelage. After the accident, Fujiwara-kun was saddened by the fact that he wasn’t informed of anything. It was a foolish act on my part. I apologize.”

Shuu was ashamed.

“Since Saionji-sensei didn’t say anything, I thought that there must have been some sort of deep reason behind it. I also knew that it wasn’t as though Minato had suddenly lost interest in kyudo.”

Saionji looked into Minato’s eyes and continued.

“Narumiya-kun’s mother once watched a match that you and Fujiwara-kun were in. She told me that she cheered for you both. The promise that you made with your mother has already been fulfilled. Please be rest assured.”

“…Yes, thank you.”

Shuu put his hand on Minato’s shoulder. A faint vibration was felt.

“I guess it was bad of me to keep things a secret… After the accident, I distanced myself from the kyudojo and didn’t contact anyone. Because of that, I made Shuu worry as well. I’m sorry, Shuu.”

“I understand, there’s no problem. I’m glad that your mom was able to watch your shooting.”

He responded by lightly patting Shuu’s hand on his shoulder. Afterwards, something spilled over and wetted his hakama.

Around that time, Kuon, a first-year from Kirisaki, was stretching his legs on a chair. He was watching the footage of the yabusame competition that took place the other day on his phone.

“Fujiwara-senpai, how beautiful you are. In comparisons, how impudent that commoner is!”

On the screen was Minato answering interview questions. Kuon tossed his phone onto the side chair and grabbed several pages of documents.

This was the report from the detective agency.

“Narumiya Minato, born on December 21. Graduated from Kotonoha Elementary School, graduated from Kirisaki Middle School, has a medical history… What, he has such an obvious weakness? This might be useful.”

Kuon uncrossed his legs and stood up. He called for a maid.

“Give this detective his completion bonus. Also, tell him that there are additional requests. The others are incompetent, so keep them out of my sight.”

“Yes, sir.”

When the maid left, the corner of Kuon’s mouth raised.

The sound of a flute resounded through Yata Shrine.

Gagaku music was being performed to the members of the Kazemai kyudo club, who were gathered in the front shrine. Minato and the others, sitting in seiza, waited impatiently for the moment when the performance would begin.

Gagaku was a form of Japanese classical music, and was a unique art that combines traditional Japanese music and dance with music introduced from the continent. It boasted a history of more than 1,200 years, and many people might have heard it at hatsumode or Shinto wedding ceremonies.

The performers were Masa-san, Ren, and Masa-san’s mother. Masa-san’s mother was in charge of the main melody and played the hichiriki, Masa-san played the shou, and Ren played the ryuuteki. (2) They were all made from bamboo. The hichiriki, shou, and ryuuteki were called the “three pipes,” and the taiko, kakko, and shouko were called the “three drums.” The wagon and biwa were also included at times.

The shou represented the sound of heaven, the light that shined from heaven. The ryuuteki was the sound of the sky, the cry of a dragon that rushed between heaven and earth freely. The hichiriki was said to express the sounds of the earth and the voices of the people, and it was believed that by playing these instruments together, it was possible to create the universe.

“I’ve heard that Western music adopts the rhythm of the heartbeat, and Japanese classical music adopts the rhythm of breathing,” Keyaki whispered to Kanbayashi.

“It’s truly elegant music. It sounds like the divine voice of heaven, or the voice of the sobbing dead.”

Ryouhei and Nanao also joined the conversation.

“It’s not the dead, it’s a cute dragon. Pyuu, hyororororo.”

“That’s the sound of a water whistle. Isn’t it more like fuaan, kyuu, bobobobobobo?”

A shadow descended over Kaito’s face.

“You guys talk too much. Shut up and listen.”

The three girls decided not to listen to the boys’ innocent conversations.

After the performance was finished, Minato ran to the performers.

“Masa-san, may I ask you a question?”

“Is it about the priesthood stuff from the other day?”

“No, that’s not it. A long time ago, I read an explanation book on the ‘Heart Sutra’ after Saionji-sensei told me that I didn’t study hard enough, but there’s a part that I was confused about.”

In Buddhism, there were the “six sense organs,” the “six objective fields of the senses,” and the “six consciousnesses.” All together, they were called the “eighteen components of perception.”

The “six sense organs” were the sense organs humans were equipped with—the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind.

The “six objective fields of the senses” were the objects of perception—color, sound, scent, taste, touch, and mental presentation.

The “six consciousnesses” were the perception that arose from the six sense organs perceiving the six objective fields of the senses—seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and reasoning.

“The Buddha gave words to the materials and phenomena of this world, classifying them in detail. He also taught that we should abandon our obsessions. But the Heart Sutra says that the organ called the ‘eye’ perceived ‘color’ and perceived it as ‘beautiful.’ So, it’s saying that all of this is just an illusion, right?”

“Yeah, that’s probably the most common interpretation.”

“I also found it strange that the sixth of the six sense organs was translated as ‘mind.’ The others are names of parts of the body, so why is the sixth one different?”

“I can’t answer that right away due to my lack of study, but I think that what the Heart Sutra was trying to convey wasn’t so much the first half, the empty mind, but the second half. If I were the writer, I would put the important points in the conclusion.”

“The ending is an incantation, right? ‘Let’s all chant it together,’ like that. I thought the theme of the Heart Sutra was to learn the truth and wisdom of the universe, wasn’t it?”

“If you cannot attain enlightenment unless you give up earthly desires, then most people would be unable to reach this state. Because wanting to save people is also greed. Heaven wouldn’t give to man useless things. Kukai taught that the desire for food, sleep, excretion, and sex, are all of the status of a Buddha. If the desire to eat and sleep disappear, the survival of living beings is in danger. The Buddhist teaching to abandon greed means ‘do not covet, do not go too far.’”

Ren, who was listening nearby, laughed lightly.

“Archers have to learn Buddhism too? Sounds busy. Sorry to interrupt, but I think it’s time to call it a night. Masaki, you have another errand to do, don’t you?”

“Yeah, got it. Sorry, Minato, next time.”

Masa-san hurriedly left the scene. The other members were also preparing to go home. Minato realized that he was the only one left behind and was about to follow everyone else.

Suddenly, he felt something like an electric current near his shoulder blade. He turned around and saw Ren with one finger outstretched.

“You’re a sensitive person, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

“I just put my fingers on your back and sent some qi. Is your sensitivity hereditary? Does it run in your family? Actually, Masaki is also sensitive, even more so than me. He can see and hear all sorts of things. Minato-kun, what is the color of the outside lights of Yata Shrine to you?”

“It’s usually rainbow-colored. I’d say the purple is deeper.”

“To most people, myself included, it only looks white or yellowish. You may be one of those people who don’t realize they have a strong connection to the gods, or in other words, nature. Since both of you are spiritually inclined, you should ask a lot of questions now. That guy may not be back for a while. And I don’t know if he’ll continue coaching at Kazemai.”

“…What?”

“It seems that he found something he couldn’t catch if he didn’t chase it now. I don’t think I’ll be able to hold him back.”

“What do you mean, you can’t hold him back?”

“I can’t tell you.”

Ren took off his eboshi hat and put it on Minato’s head, then turned on his heel.

As always, Ren did nothing but tease and didn’t talk about the important parts. To only drop hints and not inform him of anything was too malicious if he was doing this while knowing that it would cause him a lot of stress. It would be fine if it was good news, but that would transform into anger if it was a rejection email.

The sound of the gagaku music lingered in his ears, and the scar on his left side started to itch.

Minato stood there, holding the hat.

One Sunday, Minato was riding his bike.

He was taking a short trip to town to go shopping. He was buying daily necessities for the summer.

The wind caressing his neck felt comfortable. The sky was blue with rising clouds. Flowers were in full bloom in the gardens of the houses he passed, and he saw two cats sleeping snuggled together. A dragonfly was flying parallel to Minato’s speed, but he wondered how far it would follow.

After passing through the crowd, he parked his bike in front of a store. It was a casual clothing store. While looking at the suggestions for coordinated outfits, he proceeded to the department he was here for.

On the way there, someone called out his name.

“Minato?”

“Masa-san.”

“I saw a bike similar to yours in front of the store, but I didn’t think you would really be here. You came all the way here by bike? I thought your house is a long way from here.”

“I also just wanted to ride my bike. There’s a hole in my jeans. Which one do you think is better?”

“Let’s see, you look good in the classic indigo blue, straight-leg style. For the upcoming season, chino shorts would also look good.”

The two looked around the store. They separated for a while and then promised to meet up again at the exit.

Masa-san handed Minato a package.

“If you want, you can take this guy home too. I think it’ll go well with the jeans from earlier.”

“Huh? Oh, t-thanks. Um, actually, I also…”

Minato also held out a gift-wrapped package containing clothes. It was the exact same wrapping, only the color of the ribbon was different. Both people were momentarily speechless.

“We ended up exchanging gifts.”

“Haha, that’s right.”

“Thank you, I’ll try it on as soon as I get home. I’ve also bought some other stuff, so I’ll give them to the other Kazemai members tomorrow. Minato, are you free right now? You can come and pick up the book I was telling you about.”

“Oh, the book that wasn’t for sale.”

Masa-san had come by car, so they loaded Minato’s bike into the car, and Minato sat in the passenger seat. After a while, they arrived at the parking lot of a two-story apartment building. Masa-san’s apartment was a one-bedroom apartment, and it was built not long ago. When Minato first visited, he imagined that Masa-san was living in a four-and-a-half tatami room that was built over thirty years ago. “What kind of image do you have of me?” Masa-san had lamented. There were ornamental plants by the window, Scandinavian-patterned cushions on the couch, and a Shinto altar enshrined on the wall, as expected of a priest. Everything was neat and tidy, but Minato noticed a prescription bag in the corner of the kitchen. What was more, there was something sitting there that didn’t fit the season at all.

“Masa-san, the kotatsu…shouldn’t you be putting that away soon?”

“I was too lazy to clean the kotatsu futon, so I just left it there.”

Masa-san opened the closet and took out three cardboard boxes. He spread his arms out towards them, which looked heavy.

“Search to your heart’s content.”

“Were you tired of searching? Is that why you called me here? That’s what I thought. You’re so lazy.”

He found the book he was looking for when the box was almost empty. After putting it on the table, Minato and Masa-san sat down at the kotatsu facing each other. Their feet were touching, and they both laughed.

Minato was searching for a book titled The Archery Saint Awa Kenzou—The Representative of Heaven, Earth, and Nature by Sakurai Yasunosuke. It was published to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Awa Kenzou’s birth, so it was thick and heavy.

Masa-san slid his long fingertips over the cover, as though caressing something dear.

“Awa-hanshi’s words are difficult to understand unless you have a background in Buddhism, Shinto, or Confucianism, but this book explains the ‘path of shooting’ in detail. Beyond a hundred shots and hundred hits, there are the ‘one shot and expire’ and ‘shari misei.’ Shari misei refers to the inherent manifestation of someone’s inherent Buddha nature or divinity through archery. It involves letting go of negative emotions such as worry and anger, and it emphasizes dantian breathing. He even said that ‘Takamagahara is inside people’s stomachs.’” (3)

“Saionji-sensei told me once to listen to the voice in my stomach, not head. ‘One shot and expire’ is the teaching of ‘you died with a single shot. Now, become a newborn baby.’ So, I wonder if shari misei is growing even further from a baby.”

“In fact, the hundred shot-hundred hit level is the lowest of the five stages called ‘shakai,’ and it’s still at the entry level of ‘learning shooting.’ However, Awa-hanshi says that even if you don’t hit a hundred shots, you can still reach the realm of one shot and expire and shari misei. He also taught kyudo at high schools, and it’s said that he loved young people very much. When his disciples shoot with all their might, he would embrace them and cry with joy.”

“I’ll take my time to read it. …Um, Masa-san, Ren-san said something recently…”

“Did he say something again?”

“Um, something about your eyes.”

“Oh, my eyes are fine. Because I’m living in a place surrounded by so much greenery.”

“That’s right. I also grew up in the mountains.”

It was weird to forcefully ask someone about something they were keeping secret. Nothing was clear yet, so he was sure Masa-san would tell him if it was true.

Minato was about to return the book to where it was before and found another book at the bottom of the box. It was as though it was hidden away. He picked it up.

“There’s a name on this picture book. Maybe it got mixed up with someone else’s book? How do you read this?”

Minato was pointing at a name written in oil-based marker.

It read 玉守正樹.

“It’s ‘Tamamori Masaki.’ My old name.”

“Is it your old last name?”

“I changed it along with my first name. For me, my old name is a cursed name. I don’t really want to remember it.”

Masa-san had a bitter look on his face, which was unlike him.

Just like Ren the other day, these brothers had too many secrets. Minato didn’t care if he didn’t tell him the reason. But, it was too sad that he hated his own name.

“No, it isn’t, right? Iminas were used until the Meiji era, and they were important things that only the lord and his family knew about. The only time someone would tell it to another person is when they are proposing marriage.”*

“…Huh, that’s bad. Seiya would beat me up if he finds out about this. So, can I hear your answer?”

“Answer?”

“Your answer to my proposal.”

“Huh? I-I don’t get that kind of thing.”

“That kind of thing, huh…”

“I’ve never thought about that kind of thing.”

“You’re calling it ‘that kind of thing’ again.”

“You’re a terrible master.”

“Minato, you’re a surprising Urashima’s casket. I can’t even imagine what’s inside you.”

Masa-san chuckled. Apparently, Minato was being made fun of. Ugh, I seriously can’t win against this guy.

Minato stood up.

“I have to go home soon.”

“Shall I give you a ride?”

“It’s okay.”

When he pushed the doorknob, a gray sky spread out before him.

“Oh, it’s raining. I didn’t bring my raincoat today.”

“A rain that’s trying to prevent you from leaving, huh? Do you want some coffee?”

“Sure.”

Minato closed the door.

Previous | Next

#tsurune #tsurune translation

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anarcheamor · 6 months

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Okay, Now I Can Talk About Annette's Vodou

Sike! I have to detour through Maria's summoning first. Spoilers for Nocturne will be said here so please stop reading from here if you haven't finished the show.

I know I watched the trailers and saw her summoning birds and thought it was cool but it still took me aback to see it in the show. And I think it's because, for one, knowing that her mother was a speaker made me question why she didn't know speaker magic and, for two, it was the first set of magic that needed a not-plot-relevant explanation for how it works. In the first show, the only times we got explanations for the magic was when something big was happening and the explanations served as part of the setup such as Doctor Saint Germain in the Multiverse of Madness and The Parent Trap: Alucard's Nightmare Editon. For Maria, there wasn't a plot reason for her powers being explained, it just seemed like the show had to provide one because the question was gonna be asked as we were watching. After all, she was summoning animals from somewhere and no other character we have seen had powers to teleport beings from one place to another so casually. Okay, so we have a daughter of a speaker magician who doesn't use speaker magic and we know that her daddy is definitely not capable of teaching it to her so what gives, right? Thus the show (read writers) felt compelled to break a convention from the first show and give us an explanation so that we could understand Maria's abilities and introduce the existence of other realms- something that was introduced in the first Castlevania via Saint Germain: Into The Germainer-verse. And that's fine, nothing too complicated, her relationship with the animals she summons seems to be something both originating from her magic and also from her using them in every day life. Cool! The alternate realm even has a name: the Other World. Alrighty, so I'm certain that it's that simple and we won't need anything else to be explained.

Except there is... turns out that the Otherworld is part of Celtic/Gaelic/Britonic myth which would explain why Maria's powers are different than her mother's as they most likely stem from her father's side of the family. An odd thing to leave out, no? I almost thought it was like Forgemastery where it was a Castlevania original form of magic. A small dive into the native roots of her magic could have added a bit more to her character and have the double effect of prepping us up mentally for Annette's Vodou especially since the two were directly compared but also to help showcase just how different Vodou is from people's traditional views on faith and magic.

Now I should say that my understanding of Vodou is coming from being an outsider to the faith but still connected to it culturally due to my ancestry, upbringing, hearing stories, etc., and then having to fill in the blanks with some research. This isn't gonna be accurate Vodou info because we're talking about a faith with three major variants that all have been pretty secretive for most of their existence due to religious oppression, demonization, and centuries-long attempts at exploiting and capitalizing on their "exoticness". So with all that said, take what I say with a good amount of salt.

Edouard says that Maria's Otherworld sounds like Annette's ancestral plain which is right in the sense that there is AN ancestral plain similar to the Otherworld. AN as in one because, in Vodou, there's multiple "nations" or families of spirits, with each spirit behaving and acting differently in some accordance to the nation they're in. The first red flage here is that the ancestral plain we see is pretty ambiguous and is just a gaggle of spirits in some ethereal place and the spirits themselves are mostly just diversely colored shadows save for Annette's mambo (teacher), Cecille. The next red flag is that Annette's magic is her own. In Vodou, powers are given by the spirits themselves, there's no level of spiritual genetics that can just imbue you with magical ability. Why? Because a major lesson in Vodou is that our strength comes from those who came before us and we can use them to support us as long as we reach out to them. Removing that aspect of Vodou from the equation just turns Annette's magic in regualr magic but with some Haitian flavor on it. And all of this is made most apparent than the biggest red flag...

THEY BROKE PAPA LEGBA'S NECK!?

So, Papa Legba is one of the most beloved of Lwa. First of all, you can't do much without him being involved as you have to talk to him first. Have you ever lived in a neighborhood and there's this gentle old man always sitting at his porch whose basically everybody's grampa? That's Papa Legba and his "house" is the entirety of the lwa nations (although he's considered to be from the Rada nation, one of the major nations I mentioned earlier). But he ain't no slouch and to cross him is to play one of the biggest FAFO games in your life. He's the head guard of all crossroads, doorways, etc., so him being summoned to deal with a portal to Hell and Forgemastery machine sounds appropriate but who thought it was a good idea to have him die? Is he dead? Just... why? How? Can spirits just die now? Ugh... on top of that, they could have just had him possess her. Usually, when Vodou practitioners want something from a lwa, the lwa can only interact physically through a human body so a rite is performed for the lwa to "dance in the head" of a trained practitioner who personally works with them. I can understand cutting corners in the show so that all Annette has to do is focus and call the name of a lwa but this would have been cool to see, allows greater focus on Annette, and allows you to have Papa Legba there without doing him dirtier than what American Horror Story did to him by having him just stand around until his neck gets turned intoa tetris piece.

You can see why I had to take this long to get to my main point, right? The first Castlevania used the straightforwardness of their magic to great effect but Nocturne introduced two new forms of magic with rocky starts because they don't match the formula established by the first set of magic. I hope that we get to see better representation of both.

#I didn't mention how the otherworld is supposed to be a realm of gods so it being just animals is bit awkward #castlevania nocturne #castlevania anime #annette castlevania #maria castlevania #magic #vodou #haitian vodou #gaelic #otherworld #make sure to read Castlevania's new comic Crisis on Infinite Germains

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joandfriedrich · 1 year

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the March sisters as Greek goddesses? (Beth is Hestia and no one can change my mind)

You just combined of my favorite things together and I am stoked! Also, sorry it took a little while, I wanted to be as accurate as I could in my choices.

Marmee- I am adding her just because, and she would be Rhea, Goddess of the Female Fertility. She is also was the goddess of motherhood and femininity, and was the mother to the Olympians. Marmee has been considered one of literature's best mother figures and Rhea seems to be the best match for her.

Meg- My instinct is to go to Hera, Goddess of Marriage and Women. Meg embraced her femininity, had longed to be married and have children, and actually wanted it from an early age compared to her sisters who never married (Beth), didn't want to (Jo), or marry for wrong reasons (Amy).

Jo- I am sure many people would say ether Athena or Artemis (mostly, I am sure due to their statuses of being unmarried/virgin goddesses) but really, she is closer to Calliope, Muse of Epic Poetry. According to Hesiod, she was the leader of the muses, but also the most assertive, which that is certainly Jo, and her only offspring were two boys, Orpheus and Linus, much like Jo's only children were two boys, Rob and Teddy.

Beth- I agree with you 100%! For those that may not know, Hestia is Goddess of the Hearth, Family, and Home. She is said to be a pretty nice goddess, described as being pure and peaceful, and never married, which ties in my headcanon of Beth being aro-ace. There isn't too many myths about her, but it appeared that there wasn't a god or goddess in all of the Pantheon that had disliked her, which is very true with ho everyone viewed Beth.

Amy- This might be a shock to some people, but her goddess would be Athena, Goddess of Wisdom. As an adult, she displayed her newfound wisdom brilliantly especially to Laurie in Europe, which helped him avoid making a big mistake, and had greatly matured from her childhood into adulthood. Athena is also the goddess of Creativity and was known as a patroness of the arts, which fits the rather artistic Amy.

BONUS: THE MEN

Mr. March- After some digging, I thought that the best fit is Hymenaios, God of Marriage Ceremonies. Given that Mr. March is a pastor who had served as a pastor for his own daughters' weddings (Meg confirmed, and Jo headcanoned), it feels pretty apt that he'd be this god, though not much else is known about this god.

John- I was not expecting to pair John with Hermes, God of Travelers, but it works. Hermes' main job was a messenger for the gods and goddesses, but has also been said to be the first teacher to the mortals, teaching them letters, science, and how to use their intellect, which makes in a way, a tutor, just like one Mr. Brooke.

Friedrich- Admittedly, this one was the toughest one, but the one I choose was someone I least expected, Dionysus, God of Wine and Festivities. Friedrich has always been known to be a easy going and fun man, but just like the god, he was also incredibly kind and helpful to his fellow men. One of Dionysis' titles was known as the "protector of misfits" as he had been an outsider in the Pantheon, which is very similar to Friedrich being seen as an outsider due to being a German in America.

Laurie- This is another one that was super easy to think of, Apollo, God of Music. A little fun fact is that Apollo was also the god of prophecy, which I couldn't help but to think about that scene in the book where Laurie ponders over the idea of Jo resembling the thorny red rose and Amy the thorn-free white rose, certain that it must mean something, which in the end it did.

How do you guys think I did? Is there any other god or goddess you'd think could work?

#answered asks #little women #marmee #mr. march #meg march #john brooke #jo march #friedrich bhaer #beth march #amy march #theodore laurence

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nasuversekinkmeme · 9 months

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Weekly Roundups: Prompts

Kara no Kyoukai

Tsukihime

Everyone is a Saberface? Wrong. Saber is a Kohakuface. Chaos ensues.

Fate/Stay Night

In some early versions of Arthurian Myth, Mordred just straight up wins…and marries Guinevere to legitimize their rule. That’s obviously multiple flavors of absurd in PHH, but hey, so’s most of the actual plot of FGO. Give me Guin and Mo romance and/or fucking, in any situation. Maybe a sweet if kinda messed-up second love at Chaldea, or a dark NTR plot in a flashback, or the first mistaken for the second by the Knights. (“Guin is a Rinface” preferred but not required.)

Yariyumi has gone on a few pool dates before, I would like them to go on another, please.

It turns out that Guinevere is physically identical to Aoi Tohsaka, what does Rin have to say about it?

Archer and Sitonai spend a lot of time together, archer carries her to her room when she falls asleep, they hold hands when walking just cause. Then, it surges a rumor that Archer is dating Sitonai, cue to archer getting bad looks and then having to explain to all of Chaldea that they're brother and sister

Finding that this new Knight Mordred, is in actuality her own Son with Morgan. Saber reflects on the similarities between their origins as the results of an affair (If Artoria even is the result of an affair in the Fate universe anyway) and on how right now in Camelot an affair is going on between her wife and her best Knight even as she speaks. I don't have any idea where this would lead her, I just always thought it was interesting just how commonly affairs come up in Arthurian myth.

Smut, y'know maybe a good majority of the carnage in heaven's feel cold've been prevented if someone got sakura a hitachi magic wand & a subscription to playgirl.

Fate/Extra

one of the other servants (doesn't matter who) sees BB post-slutification and trains her into a proper young lady.

Based on recent events let's get some toxic Yuri up in this bitch and let Kiara fuck Taiga

After the latest reveal in the Seraph manga I want to see Kiara being ripped apart by Unlimited Lost Works.

BB recovers from all the sluttification and realizes she's into it

Emiya Alter sees Jaguar Warrior for the first time and goes through a trauma-induced panic. Only his teacher can bring him back to his senses

BB in complete disgust of the amount of bimbofication and brain drain erotica her master has been reading about her, she just fucking kills Ritsuka because she decides humanity isn't worth salvation anymore

Prillya:

Begging for some Prillya fluff since my partner and I just caught up with the series

Fate/Apocrypha

Smut, I feel we need more bi rep so Sieg gets double teamed my Astolfo and Jeanne. Bonus for strap

Happily asexual Astolfo. Oh sure, they still love making their partners feel good during sex and all that! But that's what they get out of it - making their partners feel good.

FGO

rejoice gudako , for after 5 years of waiting ,you finally have gyaru lancelot!

Yknow how Huang Feihus kids only pop out when he's fighting? What if during one such fight his kids, instead of helping, tell Guda and/or other servants how strong, dependable, and also very very single their dad is

Gender is a game. Astolfo chose not to play, Sexshifting!Ritsuka is winning handily, and Mordred is losing. Badly. Mordred having a complex and adversarial relationship with gender as a concept, experiencing deep envy for, say, both Extremely Female Mata Hari and Extremely Male Fergus and not being at all able to process why. Maybe finally bonding with Artoria over similar experiences.

A male servant walks in on Artemis bathing. Artemis responds with the customary feminisation spell to whoever saw her naked. Problem is, said Servant was doing a stream on Servant-tube when he accidentally walks in, and the spell effects the viewers of that stream, leading to something like half of Chaldea's male heroes getting sex swapped.

Smut, guro, Xiang Yu and Yu Meiren going at it but Xiang Yu being a horse means its really tearing Meiren apart. Good thing her regen ability means she enjoys it!

the super crown in chaldea , what chaos will ensue?

Unfortunately as part of the single wives club, Galatea is constantly hit on by those who he think she'll be easy. Fortunately, Galatea is ace and instead starts infodumping on shoes, clothing, and how lovely her also ace husband is instead

Asclepius getting fucked in the butt so hard call that Assclapius

Everyone talks about overworking the farming supports. Nobody ever talks about overworking the farming payload. I'd like a thing about the big meta farming servants, like Space Ishtar or Edmond Dantes or Zerkerlot, just being put through the wringer.

Smut, ntr, Netorare where castoria peek as Master has a threesome with Morgan and Tonelico, and can't herself but masturbate while crying desiring to be in their place, even better if Morgan notices it and makes sure to show her how better Master feels when having sex with her.

lets give ritsuka fujimaru a reality marble and see what their inner world looks like

A master summons Mata Hari for the Holy Grail War and decides to ditch the whole thing and run away with her instead. Fluffy or angsty and either oc master or canon one up to the writer

it's the day after the biggest rager Chaldea has thrown so far . gudako wakes up in Izou's bed with a hangover that makes BB look pleasant. after a shower & change of clothes , she & izou stagger to the cafeteria for breakfast. turns out not only did goredolf get past 2nd base with MHXX , their party took place during a grail war in fuyuki city. and in the hectic scramble to flee the cops because they trashed this big-ass mansion , they stole that war's saber class servant and their master.

someone gets Columbus's valentines gift, looks him dead in the eye, and drops it in the trash without breaking eye contact.

oberon: his face when he succ all of Britain

Kadoc starts to get feelings for Ritsuka. The problem is that Kadoc knows that Ritsuka won’t feel the same. He wrong.

Smut, Ibuki getting her tits fucked, a lot. If that's cool.

Smut, incest, Since morgan has appeared servants have been keeping an eye on artoria due to some comments artoria makes from time to time, yet she insists that she will not fuck her sister(again) She ends up fucking her sister, merlin involvement is up to the author

blackbeard of all people has been deemed trustworthy enough to be the guard of gudako's porn stash when there's an inspection.

Smut, Morgan gets Railed by Mash and Habenyan. Thats it that's the prompt.

Smut, i need morgan and oberon to have fucked up insane hatesex. hopefully with copious amount of violence and pain. it's fine if one of them dies btw.

I am in desperate need of Artoria and Mordred sitting down and talking things out, reaching an understanding and just… finally coming to terms with each other. Lord knows the actual game writers wont do it at this point…

On the slight chance it's true: Newly summoned Yoshinaka doesn't understand his wife's new hobby but tries his best to support it

Smut, Tonelico desperately tries to hold the moans back when they fuck but when Mash is on top she edges her to DEATH just to be able to hear her screaming her name

Smut, prompt for og Moriarty throwing out his back and Sherlock having to fix him up but instead of using baritsu Sherlock blows his already blown back back into shape. bonus if it somehow works.

Smut, since it is nerofest, the ultra hard gilgamesh exhibition, but instead of fighting him…. enkidu rails gilgamesh SENSELESS.

Smut, There are still 20 days before the fillathon. You know how Euryale is a great counter to Gawain’s boss fight in Camelot? You know how Bhargest is kinda a useless bisexual? Let’s have Euryale domming the absolute hell out of both “Gawains,” much to the relief of both.

Smut, incest, Arjuna and Karna making love. Holding hands, going nice and gentle, kissing battle scars, gazing longingly into each other's eyes... You get the idea. Let them be happy together.

Hello, this is my first time doing this, but how about Kintoki getting hypnotized by a male master? Especially if a little bit of muscle worship is added? Thanks!

Morgan can't simply show her lily form like a normal person. So she makes all saber faces wear tonelico's clothes and it's her husband's/wife's job to choose the correct one

Feet appreciation but it's Guda tearing up over the fact Sumner Cas got 10 toes

Baobhan's partner thinking that she has a foot fetish and so gets a pedicure/puts effort into their feet care. Which is great but - Baobhan doesn't have a foot fetish, but it's too awkward for her to explain the truth. Bonus if they aren't actually together and the other person is trying to seduce Bao with it

Chaldea enters civil war as the lilys and their adult versions begin fighting(Ex: Jeanne, Gil, Saber, Cu, Medea, Medusa, Archer, Draco, Morgan, Maou Nobu)

Unsanitary, Politely asking for male omorashi content please, I have been starved recently

In the Water Margin club (that totally exists cuz they all wanted it and not because Pretender Lizzy cried until they all relented) the other two members are suprised to hear from Lizzy that Li Kui has been summoned. Suprise turns to confusion, however, as Darius walks in, just as confused and wearing what seems to be a glued on beard

FGO 2

Guda summons Tonelico only to not know who she is as they never actually met, considering her some kind of Castoria clone and treating her as such. Both Castoria and Morgan are highly amused

In addition to her impressive strength Baobhan Sith also has Magic Resistance rank EX, meaning that ordinary magecraft can’t even touch her!

Morgan succeeded in capturing and convincing Castoria to join her, naming her the new Tam Lin Mordred. Unfortunately, they are unable to escape their ultimate fates as Mordred brings down Camelot once again

Smut, Guda is horny and gropes castoria, this would be totally fine, if the one he groped was actually castoria. Cue to an extremely angry Tonelico quickly changing into her Morgan form and punishing her Husband (Explicit, Femdom, Sadistic Morgan)

castoria and oberon and morgan get a good view of how guda is when not in lostbelts or singularites with their fairy eyes after being summoned: horny. so fucking horny. all the time about the weirdest things?? about like every of age servant in chaldea and even some of the staff, particularly goredolf. is this some kind of defense mechanism? dont think about everyone youve either watched die or personally killed think about everyone you love and how much you want to fuck them?

Smut, In the lead up to the last fight with Flauros, Jing Ke and Boudicca say words to the effect of “let’s get drinks after this.” Drunken, glad-to-be-“alive” sex surely ensued.

Smut, Selfcest. Medea Lily angrily tops her older self, who is infuriatingly calm about it.

i feel like mephistopheles and leonardo da vinci would make a sexy mechanical waifu doll out of bombs to prank blackbeard at least once. just some absolutely looney tunes shit.

Erice and Tamamo have some sister talk that ends with Erice trying to kill tama for talking shit about her mom

Any

All of the Saberfaces having a BATTLE TO THE DEATH. Only one Saberface wins, everyone else dies

Reason why there is so much saberfaces: Igraine is a time traveler and is the absent mother or father of all them, she also had sex with the moon once, the result was Arcueid.

something not safe for work, in the sense that it's about characters breaking every OSHA regulation known to god and man.

The Mod of the kinkmeme gets a hug from their favorite Nasuverse servant, whoever that is! (mod note: just use any servant you've got my blessign)

"Whelp, here it is. Dunno why you came all this way for it, though. Totally useless, what with all the holes. 'Course, suppose it wouldn't be the Holey Grail if it didn't have them!... what's with the face?"

Anybody at all, from anything Nasuverse: "YOU'RE TOO LATE, HOMOPHOBES, I'M FORKLIFT CERTIFIED!"

#weekly roundup

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lyon-amore · 11 months

Text

The half of me Chapter 24

Chapter 23 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I guess being an actress is more complicated than I thought. I had to repeat several movements because I move the wrong hand, my hair has to be behind my shoulders, if I look directly at the camera... How could Daliah do all this? And that I am still I have not done more scenes than this. I avoid pinching the sleeve of my blouse out of nerves. Because I also must be careful with the wardrobe. “MC, you should have looked at Josh” Carter cuts the scene “, he's talking." "Sorry." I say nervously, I had been thinking about what background music would be perfect for this scene. "Start again." I nod and take a deep breath.

The next scene was a bit easier, I had to be sitting in class pretending to take notes. Daliah doesn't speak here, but she had to be present because she was one more student. It was the introductory scene of the movie; the professor talks about legends and myths. He is passing images and the more terrifying. There's a moment when they talk about the wendigo that I'd love to look away, but right at that moment when the camera turns on me and I have to pretend it doesn't affect me. I'm thankful that I only have to do Daliah's scenes and not the entire movie. As soon as I'm done shooting, I'm out of here. I stay looking at the drawing of 'The man without a face'. I forget to even take the false notes. I'm to blame for not telling that he was Richy. All because I thought I was going to tarnish his image… A criminal… Who put us through terrible things. And I also remember the good times we had. I never knew what to answer if I forgave him or not, at that moment, I didn't know what to say. Jane asks something, immersed in the role and the "professor" answers her. The scene ends and I breathe in, to exhale heavily. "Perfect MC" Ralph tells me, a little clearer ", your expressions of astonishment were almost real." “Yeah, at least this time we were able to shoot this scene without a problem.” Carter smiles. "Well, it's just that you help me a lot." I try to lie, but I'm nervous. "You're doing well, MC" Grace says to me, smiling ", you look like a professional actress." I laugh shyly, I know she's saying it to encourage me to keep going, but I know I wouldn't reach Daliah's level. Besides, I wasn't even acting.

We take a break and I sit on the stairs of the academy to eat. Everyone has their group already, but it doesn't bother me. Oh, I wish my friends were here, although they might have objected to me helping them because of everything I've been through, but I'd feel terrible leaving them stuck without teacher approval for the film festival. I see Mason sit down next to Seo-ah and I smile as he makes her smile with a comment. Then I remember Jake and the chat discussion this morning, how I'll talk to him on the phone. I take out my phone and see that I have messages from him concerned. I bite my lip hard, feeling stupid. I've known Elliot for years, so it's normal for me to side with him a little bit, but at the same time I don't want to be mad at Jake. I decide to write to him, already a little calmer. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MC Jake, sorry about what happened this morning… I'm really sorry But understand that Elliot is my friend, it's normal for me to lose my mind taking his side I even plan on sneaking out again to go to Evergreed to see you and talk it over calmly, okay? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wait for his answer, but he don't answer. Strange, because of his message, he said that he would wait for me to want to talk and now he doesn't say anything. "Can we keep you company?" I look up to see Grace and Ralph, with their respective trays of food. "Sure" I nod, and Grace sits next to me, while Ralph takes a step down, in front of Grace ". I've seen Seo-ah's dolls” Grace looks at me, paying attention “. It’s looks quite similar to the doll that Daliah received." "I know" she admits with a sigh ". I'm scared to think that she sent it to her, it would be horrible, because look at her" she point at her and I see Seo-ah laugh with Mason ", it would be a disappointment to everyone." Jane and Carter walk over to us and she smiles at us. "Can we sign up too?" she asks, not letting go of Carter's hand. “There are plenty of seats.” Ralph replies, pointing to the stairs. Carter sits next to me and Jane next to him. I see that they divide the food and then they kiss. Great… I'm surrounded by couples… This is uncomfortable, especially knowing that Carter cheated on her. “My bet is Carter” Ralph says, then looks at him “, maybe he killed Daliah." "And maybe you're going to be next." Carter snaps back, making Ralph laugh. "Guys, enough" Jane looks at them with a frown ", you can't talk about these things with the MC in front of you-" "Is okay" I answered, concentrating on the food ", also, I don't think you're any of you." "And so?" Grace asks, drinking from her water bottle after her "Anything else to know?" “Well” I clear my throat, prepared to deliver the news “, at the moment there are two suspects: A man named Armando Serrano, a Colville businessman Daliah sometimes worked for, and the alleged son or daughter of Krebs." They all stare at me. Carter's look is scary, like I've said something wrong. Sure, he asks Serrano for money. If it turns out that he is the murderer, he would no longer be able to get money. Grace looks a little pale from the news to which I see her squeeze Ralph's shoulder and Ralph takes her hand lovingly. Jane on the other hand seems the most interested, nodding. "Janis Krebs had a son?" the ash blonde asks me, surprised "How come nobody knew?" "Protection of minors" I quickly answer ". They didn't want the press to ask him or her about his or her father." "And what about Serrano?" Grace asks, resting her head on Ralph's. Yes, they are totally a couple "Have they already asked him?" "I don't know yet" I shrug, brushing my hair away from my face to look at her ", maybe they will today." Whoever Krebs's son is, I think they must be living far from Rosenschwarz by now" Carter takes some of his food and makes a sound as if he's going to continue speaking ". Come on, it would be suicidal to go near this town if you were the son of a child murderer, they would blame you for what your father did. "And if we change the subject?" Grace asks, and I see discomfort in her eyes. "We're just talking" Jane answers ", and you're right, honey, I'd be ashamed to be her daughter. I'm not!" She quickly defends herself. I nod and watch as Grace strokes Ralph's hair, ignoring us. Could it be that… Grace?

After eating, I decide to approach Mason and Seo-ah. I don't want to interrupt the moment they're having, but I'd like to ask her something about her stuffed animal. "Hey guys." I wave, a little nervous. "How are you doing, new Audrey Hepburn?" Mason tells me and I laugh "I hope you're not taking it wrong for replacing Daliah." "It's complicated" I answer ", especially for not knowing where to put your foot or avoid making a strange face." "I'm surprised you agreed to act" Seo-ah gives me a pitying look ". I mean... I wouldn't have minded making the movie from the beginning eliminating Daliah." “Yeah, I think the same thing” Mason looks at her, nodding ". I'm not saying that Daliah was expendable" he looks at me quickly ", but I don't know if is going to be good the day we show this short at the festival" he grits his teeth, looking annoyed ". I think is going to attract more attention because of the publicity they're going to want to give it than because of the plot itself." I nod, knowing what he's trying to say. Everyone will want to see the movie because a girl who died is in it before it was released. And, to top it all off, her twin replaces her in some scenes that she comes out. I hope they really appreciate the talent that Daliah had more than what's supposed to be behind the screen. "Actually, I came to talk to you Seo-ah" I look at the girl and nod ". It's about the dolls you made." "Is something wrong with them?" She asks me concerned "Did Carter say something? We need more?" "No, it's not that" I bite my tongue, trying to find the exact words so she doesn't think I'm accusing her directly, that I just want information ". Actually, Daliah received a doll quite similar to the ones you make." She looks at me starting to turn pale. She seems like she's starting to freak out at my accusation. "Are you insinuating that it's her?" Mason looks at me angrily "Seo-ah can't do that." “I'm not implying, I'm just asking if she knows anything." Seo-ah slowly shakes her head and I can see her looking at me in fear. "Well, I don't know how that's possible" she answers, a little nervous ". I mean... It's not possible since I brought the dolls today-" "I know, but maybe if-" Seo-ah quickly stands up, picking up the food items from her. “Sorry, I have to go over the script for the next scene.” she says with a smile. I stop her by grabbing her wrist. I look into her eyes, so she understands how serious this is. “Enough of the lies” I begg, with my voice shaking ". Please… " I watch her swallow hard and nod. "Can I come to your house tonight?" She asks me, looking around a little uncomfortable "I prefer not to talk here." “Sure” I reply, letting go of her wrist ". If you want, you can stay the night, I would love to have a friend with me." She smiles shy at me, and I hear Mason complain. "And what about me?" He asks embarrassed. "Girls only." She taps his on the forehead playfully ". Boys are off limits." “When I throw a party too, girls will be off limits to her” he says in a proud voice “video games, junk food, and explosion movies." "To think that we girls can't like that is a bit old-fashioned, don't you think?" Seo-ah tells him, with a laugh "See you tonight then, MC." Seo-ah walks away from us, and I watch Mason watch her go. He even lets out a sigh. I smile seeing the scene. It's like watching a romantic teen movie. Only without teenagers. "Is it wrong to say that one day I'll marry her?" He continues watching Seo-ah leave. I shake my head, letting out a laugh. "I think even she thinks the same thing, too." "Really?" He turns his head quickly, like an owl. His eyes sparkle after hearing me say that. "Break is over!" Carter yells from the stairs "Go get ready for the next scene!" “See you inside.” Mason stands up and pats me on the shoulder. I make a noise of agreement and take out my phone again, hoping that Jake has texted me back. Unfortunately, he hasn't said anything to me, maybe he's changed his mind and he's decided it's not worth it anymore because I've sided with Elliot? << But at no point have I said that I love Elliot… >> I look nervously at the screen. What have I done? "Come on MC!" Grace exclaims, coming up next to me "What's wrong? And that face?" "Nothing" I put the phone away nervously, hoping she hadn't seen the conversation ". Seo-ah will come talk to me at the end." "Really?" She looks at me curiously "Do she know something then?" "I don't know, according to her, no." "Hopefully she knows something and tells you" She grabs my arm and pulls me away ". But now, let's go to the next scene" I nod and she laughs, starting to walk quickly ". By the way, who is Jake? “ Oh, so she's seen it? “Someone special?" I look aside. I didn't want anyone to find out, it's too dangerous for him. "More or less" I reply. The list of people who know Jake's name is getting longer, and I don't like it at all. "I remember Daliah hooked up with a guy named Jake years ago." she lets out an exaggerated sigh "God! He was hot! "Yeah, she already told me the same thing" I answered awkwardly ", but I don't think he's the same one we're talking about." "Who knows?" She tells me with a smile "Both sisters are attractive to men." I try to figure out what she means by those words. But I prefer not to think that by chance Jake and Daliah got to know each other at some point in their lives and maybe… No. Stop MC, Jake doesn't like Daliah, you know that. I tried to keep up with her, hoping the next scene would be just like the one before, quiet.

Well…

It is not a peaceful scene. "Well MC" Carter places me in an 'X' on the hallway floor ", in this scene you have to run away from 'The Man Without a Face' " I turn to see the actor playing him and he gives me a smile gentle. As for him not to be afraid of him ". There are some markings in the corridor that will tell you where you have to go, which is to lock yourself in the janitor's closet, okay?" I nod and let the makeup and hairdressers fix me while I listen to Carter "The red marks are the ones you have to act like you trip over, but don't worry, there aren't many and you don't have to fall down either." I try not to touch too much my hair or clothes, which are torn apart as if I've been attacked. "The blood is perfect" Ralph says, looking into the camera ", it doesn't hide her face, so she'll look good" He smiles at me with a thumbs-up ". Perfect." I think he laughs at me. I'm supposed to come out of the corner to prepare to run. I think it will be quite easy. "You'll do fine" the "villain" tells me, putting on his mask ". Good luck.” he punches me in the arm and I groan. He has hit too hard. I prepare to listen to Carter, tuning my ear. I avoid touching my blood make-up, it itches, am I allergic or is it the nerves of knowing that what I feared the most is finally going to persecute me? "Action!"

We repeat the scene at least four times. I've tried to get it right, but I can't. Every time I pretended to trip, I really hurt myself. In the end I ended up with red hands from stopping the ground with it so much. To make matters worse, the wound hurts from doing it. They've done everything they can to hide it, telling me how to position myself so it won't show. "Cut." the way of saying it Carter seems to be tired. It's not my fault, it's complicated "What's wrong? “I can't do it.” I mutter, holding my hand “How do I pretend to trip without actually falling?" "Instead of opening your arms in an exaggerated way" Jane moves her arms just in that exaggerated way and I laugh, calming myself down ", focus more on your feet, look." She bends down and I watch her place my feet ". Trie to think of placing your feet like this, crossed, but watch your knee or you'll fall for real if you hit yourself hard." I nod and they put my hair back on and her blood paints it again, the liquid look it had been gone. I take a breath and wait for Carter to say action again.

Upon hearing it, I run away.

This time, I do better. Looking back from time to time. As far as I know, we have to replay this scene a couple of times from different camera angles, so I try to memorize every move I make, like it's a song. It's easy for me if I think of it that way. I reach the janitor's closet and close the door, just like Carter told me to. "Cut! "He exclaims, with a happy intonation "Perfect!" I smile and when I go to open the door... "What?" I move the latch, but it doesn't open. "MC? You can go out now.” Mason tells me. "I try, but it won't open." I say, trying to open the door again "it won't open! Can you do something?" “Okay, we'll try from outside.” I hear Carter say. I lean back a bit and the sound of a television makes me turn. On screen, Daliah appears crying, with hands around her neck. The screen goes black, as in a movie appearing a few words. <<Say it.>> “I'm sorry.” Daliah says between sobs. <<Say it more convincingly.>> "I'm so sorry!" <<Feeling it is not enough.>> I see him start to squeeze around her neck and she tries to break free. "Don't do it. Please… Please! Don't do it!" It's the same scream that sounded in that call. I start to cry, watching the death of my sister. <<You should have died.>> Little by little I see how Daliah stops breathing. "Daliah!" I scream even though I know it already happened "No, no, no, no!" "MC?" I hear Jane call me "What's wrong?" I walk over to the television and place my hands on the sides of it, as if I want to save it. "Stay with me! Daliah! Don't leave me!" Something on the screen appears. A message. For me. <<One less.>> My tears don’t stop falling. What do I have to do with all this? I was a child! I did what I must do! <<I will finish what I started.>> The screen blacks out and I curl up on the floor. Scared. Shattered. Crying. I can't with this torture. I can't take it anymore... I want it to end once and for all. The door is flung open and someone approaches me. "MC!" I hear Jane approaching me "What's wrong?!" “Da-Daliah…” I try to say as she helps me up “The video… They… were killing her! I have seen her death!" Carter walks over to the television and punches the buttons, trying to turn it on. He even hits it to make it react. “Nothing, it doesn't work.” he says as he sits up. "Who was in charge of the closet, preparing it?" Grace asks "The knob is broken!" I see how he checks that he doesn't get to move enough to open. "Me" We all look at Mason, surprised ". But I checked that it works fine-" "Well, it wasn't! Look at her! She is scared!" Grace walks over to us and looks at me "Are you okay?" "I…" I shake my head "Can I stop recording? I want to go home." "Sure" Carter looks at everyone and raises his voice "Change of plans! Today we shot the scenes for William, Josh and Marcus!"

I leave quickly and hear Mason call my name. "MC! Wait!" "No! I want to go home!" I yell as I headed to the classroom to collect my things. "I just want to apologize!" I enter the classroom and take the clothes that I have in the bag, along with my jacket and my bag. “Listen” Mason stands in the doorway, stopping me “, I swear I didn't leave you locked in there." I stare at him, doubting. He could have made that video since he was dedicated to modifying those of his classmates. Quite possibly he could have made that video of Daliah. He could be the murderer. I move him aside to pass, I want to clean the blood off and change as soon as possible. "I'm telling you the truth" he stops me, grabbing my wrist ", it wasn’t me." "Let her go" Ralph appears and separates our hands ". You look more suspicious, don't you see?" Mason looks from Ralph to me, looking surprised. "I'm sorry, I really-" I push them both and walk away from there.

I go into the bathroom and put the clothes in the sink. I break down crying again when I look in the mirror. I see the image of Daliah crying. Asking forgiveness. I turn on the faucet and start to wipe off the fake blood, though it's hard for me because I don't want to look in the mirror. I can't see myself. I only see Daliah. My hands shake every time I run them over my face, rubbing the paint away. It hurts. It's like a knife was just stuck in my heart and I couldn't get it out. When I finish the face, I continue with the arms and hands, managing to stop seeing myself in the mirror. I hear the notification sound and frantically search for my phone, wishing it was Jake. I need to talk to him.

But they weren't the words I wanted to read... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nym-0s Do not come to Evergreed anymore. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My breath catches reading those words. Now it is as if the dagger Ihad had been pulled out along with the heart. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MC What are you saying? Jake? Please! Don't tell me that! I need you! Now more than ever! I promise I won't side with Elliot again if it's for that! But don't tell me we don't see each other anymore! Please Jake! Don't do this to me now! I love you! Please!

-----Nym-0s has left the chat---- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A gasp escapes me as I read those words. It couldn't be that he really had been mad at me, right? It couldn't be true that over some silly fight about not wanting to risk losing him again. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MC Nymos! Tell me where is Jake!

Nym-0s Scanning user by the name of Jake. … …. ….. …… Scanned name. No user with the name of Jake is detected. Do you want something else?

MC And with the name of Nym-0s?! Please! It's urgent!

Nym-0s Scanning user by the name of Nym-0s. … …. ….. …… Scanned name. No user with the name of Nym-0s is detected. Do you want something else? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I scream and fall to my knees, my phone clutched to my chest. Jake has left me alone. Again, but why? Is it really my fault? Have I lost his trust? I'm so sorry! I didn't want this to happen! I didn't want to fight him! I lean against the wall, leaving the phone on the floor and raising my hands to my head. It hurts me so much to cry, for the things I've seen today. I don't have Daliah. I don't have Jake. I have no one. The door opens and I don't turn to see who is, but the presence of someone sitting next to me doesn't calm me down. "Do you want me to take you home?" I hear Jane ask me. "What… " I look at her still without stopping to cry "What about the short film?" "Carter is now busy giving Mason the talk about what he did" she makes a face ", so he goes long" she offers me her hand and gives me a smile ", shall we go?" I nod and she helps me up. I hug her and she tried to comfort me, stroking my hair. "Everything is going to be fine" she tells me calmly ". You'll see." I cry harder, trying to believe her words. Someone is hurting me in the most terrible way possible and I am powerless to do anything. I have a feeling that everyone wanted to do this with me today, that everyone might be Daliah's killer and I'm the only one with only blood on my hands from not being able to do anything for her.

When I get home, Jane leaves me on the sofa and goes to the kitchen. Seconds later I hear her complain. "MC, the fridge is almost empty!" I listen to her as she returns and picks up her phone from the table " Do you feel like... Some pasta? Or maybe a vegetarian?" "Why has this happened?" I ask without looking for an answer. I already know why all this is happening "Why does they just kill me and that's it?" Jane sighs and puts her phone down on the coffee table, looking at me. "Look, the one who is doing this to you is a first-class psychopath" She looks at me, she is furious ". I don't know what happened in that closet, but whatever it is, I believe you." “It was the video of Daliah being killed” I say, my voice cracking ". Jane... I saw him stop breathing..." "The problem is that that television didn't turn on." she crosses her arms, thoughtful "Why?" "Because they doesn't want anyone except me to see it" I answer, wiping away my tears, "Can I tell you something?" Jane nods and I take a deep breath. "I have access to Daliah's computer" I said slowly ", in it there are files talking about receiving the clippings, the doll... Conversations, a newspaper talking about you all... Everything..." Little by little her face changes. She looks at me scared. "Do you have it here?" She asks me nervously "Why didn't you give it to the police?" "No, I don't have it" I know I'm risking what I'm doing ". The computer couldn't be accessed so I asked a hacker to help me-" "Okay, okay." she moves her hand to stop me "But why are you telling me this? Why me?" I shake my head as I shrug. "Because I'm left alone and I don't know who to trust anymore." I answer, crying again. She sighs and hugs me again. "He left me" I say through tears ". He has left me alone and I don't know what to do..." "I don't know who you're talking about, but I'm sure everything will be fine." she tells me, as she pats me on the back "The FBI won't be after me now that you've told me, will they?" I let out a laugh, although it's not like I'm amused, but I no longer know what's a joke and what's serious. "No, they won't." I pulled her away and brushed my hair out of my face. "I hope so" she picks up the phone again and looks at me ". Ok so we ordered a vegetarian?" I shrug, letting her choose. Not even if I want to, I don’t feel like eating.

Jane stays until nightfall, since she is calm that Seo-ah is coming to my house. According to her, she has promised me not to tell me anything about what I'm doing with Daliah's computer, just to be careful that Elliot doesn't find out what I'm doing or I'll get in trouble with the police again. She understands me better than anyone thanks to the fact that she knows what it is to lose a brother. "Surely if I were in your situation, I would have also hacked into my brother's computer if he had hidden things from me." was what she told me when I explained why I'm doing it. I might really risk ratting us out, but… I really don't know what else to do… I feel completely dejected and without Jake…

I receive a text from Seo-ah and sigh in relief. At least it's okay. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----Seo-ah has connected-----

Seo-ah Sorry, it may take a little longer I've been talking to Mason about what happened 😔 He really isn't feeling well because of what happened to you.

MC No problem But please don't be long

Seo-ah Now I go I collect my things and I'm on my way 😊

MC Okay

Seo-ah See you

-----Seo-ah has disconnected----- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I put down the phone and I wait on the couch, closing my eyes to relax. But every time I do, Daliah shows up. I look at the sofa and get up quickly, remembering that she died on one, so I stay in my room waiting.

I look at the time and Seo-ah doesn't show up, where is she? I decide to send her messages. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MC Seo-ah? Where are you? I've been waiting an hour Let me know if something happened...

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

I leave my phone on loud in case I fall asleep waiting, though I don't think that will happen. I look ahead and see Daliah sitting up in bed, her neck red and her eyes sunken. Her paleness makes her bloodshot eyes stand out. She opens her mouth to speak, but she can't, she has a hard time doing it. I hide my face to avoid seeing her.

Jake…

Why have you left me?

*Jake POV*

I was going to reply to MC's messages telling me that Elliot is her friend and that she wanted to come to Evergreed, I wanted to tell her that it was a bit dangerous at the moment, but the door stopped me from sending her that message. They were knocking so frantically that it made me slowly open the door, finding Mike. "What are you doing here?!" I ask nervously. "We don't have time!" He pushes the door, entering. "Hey! Can you explain to me what is going on?!" Mike stops taking my stuff out of the closet and walks over to me. "Rocco was in class when he saw them through the window" I pay attention to his words, he speaks very quickly ". Men going door to door, some in suits and others in uniforms with the word FBI on it" little by little I start to get nervous ", and they've never been to Evergreed." So I start to go as fast as I can, turning off the computers and starting to put them away. Mike takes my things out of the closet, placing them on the bed and I pile everything into my backpack as best I can. This is not the time to order. "How long do you think they have left to get to the hostel?" I ask nervously, as I put the computers in the bag of what I have left of equipment. "If they were in the school area, probably about forty-five minutes" he closes my backpack as best he can and looks at me ". Thirty if any decide to sing that they has recognized you." I mutter curses under my breath, pulling on my mask and hood. Then put on the gloves. I take out my cell phone and look at the chat. I have to let her know. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nym-0s Do not come to Evergreed anymore. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I send her quickly, to want to continue sending her an explanation. "What are you doing?!" Mike asks me, pointing to the door "You'll explain it to her later!" True, he is right. Unfortunately, it hurts me to read the messages that she has sent me when she notices that I doesn't answer her anymore. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I clench my jaw hard, hoping she will forgive me. But now I cannot use this cell phone, it is not safe. And I decide to do something unthinkable. To disappear from her life again, removing myself from the Nymos chat, leaving it as the program it was before. “Come on, I will give you something to run away with.” I follow Mike running downstairs as we leave the room. On the street, I see a black sidecar. Mike tosses me the key and I catch it. "Here, it will help you to take the equipment." I set the large duffel bag on the seat as I strapped the backpack onto my back, picking up the helmet. "And this too" He hands me a new cell phone and I put it in the bag with the rest of the team. To which I quickly take out the card from my cell phone and destroy it ", the phone PIN is 3618, the number 60421." “Thanks, Mike.” I tell him as I put my helmet on. "And!" He hands me a piece of paper and I read it "Go to Colville. A woman lives in this building who will give you a apartment to hide in" I look at him doubtfully ". Tell her you're on my side and everything will be fine." I nod and raise my hand. “Good luck man, I'll be working on the program." I accept his hand, giving it a shake. I miss doing this again. "If MC comes to Evergreed, make sure she comes back to Rosenschwarz" I tell him in a serious tone ", she does not come here for a while." "I'll keep her far away." I remove my hand and start the sidecar. This is the worst thing that could have happened to me today.

And I am pretty sure who could have done this.

Elliot.

He has broken the deal we had and has given me away again, surely he has tracked my number What an idiot I have been! If he did it once for her, clearly he would do it again to get away from MC.

I have already traveled a long way, I think I can stop for a moment to look at my cell phone. I park and pull away from the road, pulling the item out of the bag. I flip up the visor and turn on the cell phone. At the moment, the only chat there is from Mike. As soon as I get to the safe place where he told me to stay, I will have to reprogram Nymos on my cell phone and contact MC. I just hope that she can forgive me for having sent her that message, I did not have time for further explanations. I put the cell phone away and start the bike again. There are a few kilometers to go. It is a little slower than going by train, but I am sure Mike thought they had been watching the train station. It is already lucky that I was able to evade the police control that was at the exit of Evergreed, I really had to go through alleys until I reached the highway. But the worst thing will be that it will take time to contact MC if I want to reassemble the equipment and program Nymos on the cell phone again. I will not be able to talk to her until tomorrow. A whole year's work wasted. I hope that the copy of the computer accepts to be installed in the new cell phone.

I arrive at the address of Colville. They are part of the suburbs. You can tell that it is a city by the amount of people there. I park the bike and take the travel bag, leaving the helmet on the bike. I call the first floor as indicated on the paper. "Yes? Who is it?" asks an older lady on the intercom. “I am here from Mike Vogt.” I answer, careful not to let anyone else hear me. The lady lets out a sigh and opens the front door. "This son of mine, what has he done now?" She says before hanging up the phone. << Son?>> I enter and the first thing I find is a lady with brown hair with few gray hairs and collected in a bun. She is big and she looks at me like she is glaring at me. "And who are you?" She asks me, in a doubtful tone. "I am just a friend of her son's" I reply, a little uncomfortable to admit. And that she reminds me of when my mother was going to give me the talk for having done something bad ". He said that you could help me-" “I'm not a nun of charity, damn it!” She puts her hand to her head, and then she points to me “Okay, follow me." She turns around at a steady pace and I obey her order. The place is even worse than the hostel, with torn and stained wallpaper. "You would have seen" I hear how he murmurs ", always the same, I don't know who that boy has looks like, but I already tell you no to his father! He was such a wretch." It makes me a little uncomfortable having to listen to this conversation. I do not think Mike would like me to hear his mother talk about these things with a stranger. We arrive at a door, and she takes out some keys with a number, taking 104 from the key ring. "Here." I go to take it, but she pushes her away "But how are you going to pay me?" "Well" I start talking nervously. This woman scares me more than the FBI ", I have some money." "Some money?” She arches an eyebrow, looking at me doubtfully. "It is not much-" "Oh, no!" She puts the key in her neckline and she pushes me " Let's go! Here you pay or nothing!" "The floors!" I quickly exclaimed "I can fix whatever you need in exchange for me staying!" She stops and I see how she looks around the place. After me. "Since my son has left his poor mother alone and helpless in charge of all this" her exaggerated way of speaking is almost pitiful "I suppose a handsome young man could help me in exchange for him staying here safe, yeah" . I sigh with relief. It cannot be that it worked.

I enter the apartment after she enters, showing me the place. Is a bit old too, but at least you can tell she is coming to clean it up. I start to get my equipment out and put everything on the table, turning on Daliah's computer and mine, plugging them back in like before. "Hacker, right?" The lady asks me, whose name she has not told me yet "Now I understand everything…" “I am one of the good guys.” I answer clearly. "Yes, I was too, now I'm retired thanks to the law" I blink surprised and she laugh "What? Did you think that Mike has learned from his father? I've taught that smart boy everything I know.” She holds out hwe hand in greeting ". Rudy Zimmerman" "Delighted." I accept her hand and she looks at me doubtingly. "No name?" "I do not think it is a good idea to tell you" I answer, still without taking off my mask ", it would put you at risk." She chuckles, walking over to the door. "As if I care about risk at this point" she jerks his thumb out ". Remember the deal, tomorrow you start with the boiler room, kid." She winks at me and leaves. I lower the mask and let out a long breath. I would never have thought of accepting help from other people knowing that she would put them at risk, but given the circumstances, I have no choice but to accept. I hope this does not bring consequences to her later.

I take out my cell phone and connect it to the other computer I have, starting to install Nymos.

Please, may MC be okay and they do not go after her again.

Chapter 25

#duskwood #duskwood jake #duskwood mc #duskwood jake x mc #duskwood fanfic #duskwood everbyte #everbyte #everbyte studio

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randomwritingguy · 1 year

Text

The Myth of Y/N (Korra x Reader) Part 21

After months of waiting, the myth has returned.

Thank you all for your patience. I really appreciate it :)

I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

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RECRUITING

Y/N'S POV

SLAM!

"I win...again."

Ugh.

I glance up at my opponent who just kicked my ass.

My best friend, Korra. She has a cocky grin on her smug face, teeth shining in the blinding sunlight. Her hands are crossed on her chest to further emphasise her arrogance.

Arrogance well deserved because she has kicked my butt so many times that I've lost count.

It's been a while since we made the brochures for the recruiting airbenders to join the reborn Air Nation. Since then, we've been travelling across the Earth Kingdom and visiting village to village, town to town, for said recruiting. So far, we've had no new members. The best we've had is some taking our brochures and promising they will think about it. It's better than nothing, I suppose. Still, it's disappointing.

We are currently on our way to yet another village. As of now, Korra is teaching me some airbending moves.

And, by "teaching", I mean kicking my ass.

"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up." I tell her with a sly smile. "You've defeated me again Sifu Korra."

Humming in acknowledgement, Korra lifts her chin up in superiority. "You still have much to learn, my student."

I snort. "Clearly."

Korra's smugness transitions to simple joy as she walks over to me and outstretches her palm to me. I grab her hand and she effortlessly pulls me upward to my feet.

All jokes aside, Korra is a good teacher when she wants to be. She has taught me some of the basics of the motions and techniques airbenders often use. She has also shown me some tricks she herself has used.

"Seriously, though, you did good." My best friend assures me. "Much better start than my training under Tenzin."

Heh. Yeah, her training had a...rocky...start. I can't believe how quick everything has gone.

"You can say that again." I speak. "Still, it is kind of humiliating landing on my butt for the millionth time."

Korra cocks her head to the side, smirking again. "So are you saying you don't want a rematch?"

"Now, I never said that." I reply, sending her a smirk of my own. "Let's go one more time."

With a nod, Korra walks a good distance away from me until we are at the opposite ends of the balcony. She then raises her arms with her palms stretched wide open in a fighting-ready pose.

"Ready?"

I get into a similar pose and take a deep, long breathe. Then, I let go.

"Let's do this."

Korra charges.

With our previous spars, I end up lunging forward as well and begin our spar. I have been acting too aggressive, something an Air Nomad shouldn't be unless necessary. However, my losses have been good lessons on how my best friend fights. Fighting side-by-side with her is a much different experience than actually fighting her. Korra is a bolt of lightning. She desires to end the fight as soon as possible with the deadliest attack. She is quick and relentless. Precise and deadly. I have been foolish to try and match her in that territory. If I am to defeat her, I need to be smarter and more patient.

And that is what I do. As Korra charges at me and produces an air cannon with a throwing punch, I dodge and twirl around her. I be like the leaf and move like the wind.

Korra isn't affected, though, and quickly twirls with a low air kick in an attempt to knock me to the grown.

But I know better.

With a backflip, I easily dodge the attack and as soon as I land on my feet I twirl and rapidly launch an air strike with my arm. Korra dodges with a roll and sends me another blast. Again, I dodge with a twirl.

The spar lasts like that for a while. A synchronised dance of twirls and strikes of wind, rolls, and flips, and more. I know if I try to attack Korra head-on I will lose. She has been trained in fighting her entire life. I may be skilled, but my friend is beyond me Maybe one day I can match her skill but for now I have to be very careful.

"You gonna start attacking, now?" Korra goads, trying to throw me off balance.

She can be so predictable sometimes.

I don't answer her question. I just simply smirk, silently telling her that this isn't going to be like the previous times.

Her eyes narrow slightly in concentration. We both slowly circle each other, trying to analyse and discover any flaws in our stances. I just need to wait for the right moment. Knowing Korra, she is going to get impatient and act irrationally eventually when a fight goes on for too long. She's going to try and do something risky and hope it will pull off.

And it seems like its going to happen at any moment.

Finally, after a moment that felt like an eternity, Korra makes her move. In a blink of an eye, she charges once more and she's ready to twirl and unleash a powerful storm of wind to send me flying to the edge of the balcony.

NOW!

As soon as she begins to twirl, I rush forward with all my might and as she finishes the twirl and unleashes her attack, I drop to my knees and bend backwards and slide right underneath her attack and get right up and close to her. Just before Korra can even register what is happening, I do a quick twirl of my own from below and produce enough wind to knock her balance and causing her to fall to the floor and to ensure she doesn't get back up I straddle her with my knees and pin both her hands to the wooden floor.

"I win." I tell her with a cocky grin, though my smugness is tainted with panting that betrays my tiredness.

Korra is just as bad. Her eyes are absolutely wide, threatening to pop out of her sockets, and is panting just as hard too. Sweat is on her face.

"So, I see." She tells me, sounding breathless.

I then realise that her face and I are inches apart. We are so close that I can feel her fiery breath on my face, engulfing my cheeks into flushed flames. I've never been so up close to her like this before.

"Uh, guys?"

SHIT!

Snapping out from my trance I lunge backward to give Korra some space, all the while standing up and turning to the source of the voice.

It's an eyes wide Mako.

Fuck.

"Yes, Mako?" I ask him, trying to sound nonchalant. I'm failing miserably.

The firebender blinks a few times but then snaps out of his little trance. "We've just arrived at the village."

Oh, really? Sweet!

"Awesome!" Korra exclaims excitedly. She seems to be unfazed by what just happened.

Wait? Did anything really happen? I mean, we were just sparring.

But we DID get really close.

Well, duh, we were sparring. It was bound to happen.

Ugh, think about all of this later. Focus on the task.

"Y/N, you okay?" Korra asks me, noticing that I have been very quiet. Shit, I was too focused in my thoughts to pay attention on what was going on.

"Yeah." I assure her, giving her a smile. "Sorry, just zoned out. Let's find this airbender."

I walk past the two and at the corner of my eye I notice Mako giving me a look. I'm not sure what kind of look he is giving me, but it is making me feel uneasy.

When I reach to the exit of the airship, I see Tenzin waiting by the door. He clearly looks slightly anxious after recruiting no new members. I see him holding the brochure in his right hand.

"Hey, Tenzin." I speak up, getting close to him. "You all right?"

The airbending master jumps slightly at the sound of the voice and turns to me, smoothing out his robes in an attempt to disguise his worry. "Yes, Y/N. I'm fine. Just getting ready."

I breathe tightly through my nose. He may be an Air Nomad but he can be as stubborn as an earthbender sometimes.

"Tenzin." I start, my voice calm and soft. "How about I try this one?"

My suggestion clearly wasn't what he expected as his eyes go wide in surprise. "What?"

I take a step closer. "I know how much this means to you. Really, I do. I know you want this to succeed. But what we're doing so far isn't working. They probably find you intimidating. How about I try? I'm sure meeting a fellow airbender, not an Air Nomad, might make them warm up to me more."

My mentor strokes his beard during my explanation. He seems to be reluctant to agree. "I don't know..."

"Please, Tenzin." I plead. "It's worth a shot."

"I agree." Korra announces as she walks to my side. "I trust Y/N. Do you?"

Tenzin nods. "Of course, I do."

"Then trust them to do this." My best friend tells him, a reassuring smile on her face.

We stand in silence for a few seconds, my friend and I gazing at the airbending master who has his eyes towards the floor. Eventually, he focuses his attention on me.

"Very well." He relents, giving me a small smile. He passes me the brochure and I take it with joy. "The airbender has been reported to live near the centre of the village."

"Thank you, Tenzin." I thank him, displaying my gratitude. "You won't regret this!"

After giving Korra a nod as a silent form of praise for the help, I walk down the metal ramp that leads me to the entrance of the village.

The settlement is nothing much. Just a collection of homes surrounded by a green field. It's much different than my village back at the Southern Water Tri-

-No. Don't think about them right now.

Shaking the intrusive thought away, I begin my search. I avoid the curious glances from the villagers and listen to the details Tenzin gave me. Reaching to the centre, I glance at the various buildings in my vision.

Now what?

Well...I guess I have to be one of those annoying salesmen and knock on doors. Great.

And I do just that, knocking door to door, asking if the one who answered if they or their relatives have recently been gifted with airbending. Most of them give me a flat out "No" and slam the door in my face. Very kind people.

Now, I'm at the very last house. This has got to be the one.

Taking a deep breathe and letting it out in a smooth action, I raise my right hand and knock on the door gently three times.

Please let this be the one. Please.

After a few seconds, the door quickly opens, and I am greeted by the sight of a middle-aged woman. Her eyes are a dim emerald, have light wrinkles on her forehead, and has slightly greying black hair that reaches just below her shoulders.

"Can I help you?" she asks me in a disinterest tone. Her voice is deep and formal.

"Hello!" I greet her, ignoring her detached tone, and put on a wide grin. "I am affiliated with Master Tenzin, son of Avatar Aang, and the new Air Nation. We have gotten reports of an airbender located in this very village. Do you know this individual?"

I notice that when I bring up the Air Nation, I see her left eye twitch for a split second. This must be the house.

Despite my kindness, however, it seems the woman doesn't like what I'm saying. "I do not. Have a good day."

She begins to close the door and crush my hopes once more but then I hear the sounds of footsteps behind the woman.

"Mother?" a young feminine voice speaks out. "Who is it?"

The older woman reluctantly opens the door wide and steps to the side and a new person enters the picture.

She's far younger than her mother, most likely around my age, and has emerald eyes far brighter than the other. She has a small, but jolly, smile on her lips. Her jet-black hair stretches down to her waist, and she wears simple green Earth Kingdom clothing.

"Hello there." I greet to her. "I am affiliated with the Air Nation. We've heard that an airbender has been sighted around here. Do you know this person?"

Her eyes lit up in recognition and excitement. "Yeah, that's me!"

Yes!

I grin. "Awesome! I, too, am an airbender. We are looking for new recruits to join the new Air Nation. We were wondering if you would want to join us."

To my delight and relief, the woman grins to my offer. "I would love to!"

"Eshah!" her mother quietly scolded her. "We've talked about this."

"Come on, mother!" the younger female, Eshah, exclaims. "I'm eighteen!"

"That doesn't matter!" she whispers angrily. "I will not let my only child run away to become some monk!"

I frown slightly at the woman's words. This situation is all too familiar.

"You were born in the Southern Water Tribe, you grew up in the Southern Water Tribe, and had practiced Southern Water Tribe traditions. And now you are abandoning your culture for another!"

No. Not again.

"With all due respect, ma'am." I begin cautiously, trying to stay calm and patient. "Your daughter is an adult. She can make her own decisions."

A rageful glare is the mother's response to my words. "You stay out of this! I will not let you indoctrinate my daughter!"

Indoctrinate?!

"Ma'am, we are not a cult." I tell her with a neutral expression. "We just want to rebuild the Air Nation after its near extinction. This can be a real positive force for the world!"

"You can rebuild your culture all you want!" she exclaims. "But not with my daughter involved!"

I clench my right fist tightly as an attempt to restrain myself.

"You are trying to abandon your tribe, and your mother and I will not tolerate such a betrayal."

Stay calm, Y/N. Stay calm.

"They're right, mother!" Eshah snaps back. "I'm an adult! This is my life! I want to join them and help the world!"

"Why are you so interested in these nomads?!"

"You would know if you actually bothered to care!"

"Don't you dare!"

I can feel the tension between the two women. It's clear they've had history.

"I will dare! You've never really known me at all!"

"I know that I'm doing what is best for you!"

"Bullshit! When have you ever cared what's best for me!"

Okay, I really should try to calm them down. I glance at the mother. "Ma'am, I don't want to cause problems in your family. However, if your daughter wishes to join us then-

My words are interrupted with the slamming of the door right in my face. I can hear the arguing continue from the inside, but their words are muffled.

Great. Just great.

I unclench my right fist and sigh heavily and slowly, releasing the tension that was slowly building within me during my short exchange with that woman. Then, I begin walking back to the airship.

The way Eshah looked so excited. The way her mother refused her to join the Air Nation. It reminded me so much of my parents...

I guess I'm not the only one dealing with parent issues.

"WAIT!"

Huh?

I turn back around, and I see Eshah rushing and stopping before me. She is panting slightly from running but she has determination painted across her features.

"I'm coming with you."

What?!

"Wait, really?" I ask, completely shocked. "But your mother..."

"I don't care." She simply states. "We were never close anyway. When I got airbending, I was so excited. And what you said about making my own decisions and rebuilding the Air Nation gave me the courage to simply walk out."

Really? Our short exchange left that much of an impact on her? She left her mother just like that? Without hesitation? All because of my few words?

"Well, uh, good!" I respond, stretching my hand out. "Welcome aboard. I'm Y/N."

She gladly takes my hand. "Eshah."

During our walk back to the airship, I hand her the brochure and explain the life of an Air Nomad while she reads through it. She seems to be very engaged in the topic as she nods and hums in encouragement and even asked me a few questions. When we finally reach to our destination, Tenzin and Korra are waiting by the entrance. When they see me and our newest member, I can see bright smiles form on their lips, eyes lit with excitement.

"Eshah." I begin when we finally reach them. "This is Master Tenzin, leader of the Air Nation, and Avatar Korra."

"Welcome, Eshah." Tenzin greets her, excitement underlying his formal tone. "It is an honour to meet you."

"It is great to have you." Korra adds on, equally excited.

Before they can say anything else, however, I hear a loud gasp to the side of me and in a blink of an eye I see Eshah up and close shaking hands with Tenzin and Korra very quickly. In the midst of it, I hear excited squeals and statements.

"Oh my god, you are the Avatar! I'm a huge fan!"

"You're the son of Avatar Aang, right? So cool!"

"I always wanted to meet you two!"

"Am I dreaming? I've got to be dreaming!"

I was not expecting that. Clearly, Korra and Tenzin weren't expecting this display of excitement either as their eyes are wide open.

When Eshah finally calms down she stands back slightly and begins rubbing the back of her neck, clearly shy at what she just did. "Oh, uh, sorry. I can get carried away sometimes."

"Well, we're glad you're eager." Korra tells her, chuckling while she does so.

"Indeed." Tenzin agrees. He then gestures to the airship. "Let's welcome you aboard."

"Okay!" Eshah replies. Just before they start walking, the airbending master sends me a gratitude look and nod as a silent "Thank you." Then, they begin advancing towards the ship.

I begin walking as well but abruptly I am pulled into a tight and fierce hug by Korra.

"Thank you." She tells me, sounding so relieved. "You've helped us so much with all of this."

I reciprocate the affection. "Of course. You know how much this means to you and Tenzin. Plus, helping rebuild the Air Nation is the right thing to do."

She pulls back from the hug and gives me a smile. I smile back. The atmosphere is nothing but full of warmth and safety.

"Korra, Y/N." Tenzin's voice emits from the entrance. And, like that, the moment is over.

As we walk back into the airship I see Tenzin and Eshah standing by the rest of the group, the latter full of excited faces.

"Everyone, this is Eshah." Tenzin introduces to them. "She is going to be joining the Air Nation."

"Hello!" the young woman greets with a little wave. "It's nice to meet you all."

I can hear the tsunami of introductions and greets from the crowd. They all sound so relieved that we finally had some success.

I observe the scene playing out with a small, but strained, smile. I am happy. Really, I am. But that whole situation with Eshah and her mother has really shaken me.

She so easily left her mother. She just up and left without a second thought. She pursued her dreams which has probably ruined her relationship with her parent.

As I observe the young woman, all I can hear is the angry declaration of my father.

"The next time we talk, you better tell us you are not joining the Air Nation. If not, don't contact or visit us ever again."

Eshah left her old life behind so easily with such confidence.

Could I do the same?

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And that's it!

I hope you all enjoyed it!

Once again, thank you all so much for your patience.

Feedback is appreciated!

See you all in the next chapter :)

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grandhotelabyss · 4 months

Note

What are some of your favorite literary “what ifs” to contemplate? Keats at 55? Joyce’s “Paradiso?”

Those are two big ones. Keats would have been 55 in 1850. Is there any reason to think, based on what he could do at 25, that he wouldn't have written something better than In Memoriam or Idylls of the King? That, with his Shakespearean sensibility, he might not have approached something like The Ring and the Book? Our whole map of 19th-century literature would look different had Keats lived to fulfill his promise.

The "what if" in Joyce's case is more specific and less world-historical. He said, reports Ellmann, that he wanted to write "something very simple and very short" after Finnegans Wake, and I wonder what a simplicity following that kind of complexity would look like. Not Paradiso, perhaps, but also not Un Coeur Simple either, since he'd already done that in Dubliners and never repeated himself. What then? Something like Beckett's short pieces? And if he had pre-empted Beckett's counter-Joycean minimalism, what would Beckett have done? There's a different "what if" with Joyce too. What if he had pursued his dream (or scheme) of opening a cinema, had devoted himself more seriously to the stage, had gone multimedia? (My old Joyce teacher, acquaintance and biographer of Godard, used to wonder about this: Joyce as Godard before Godard.)

Then there's Austen, dead at 41 (my age), and already starting to sound like Woolf in her final novel. What if Wilde, dead at 46, had lived, lived in Paris into the avant-garde years, calling at 27 rue de Fleurus and devising his own versions of Surrealism or the Theater of Cruelty?

Premature author deaths are interesting, because some feel like enormous losses and others don't quite. Charlotte Brontë, not yet 40 when she died, had much more to do. She'd just finished Villette, a novel itself verging on the Beckettian. What would she have written had she lived into the 1870s? She was only three years older than George Eliot. A Middlemarch that grew out of the specific sensibility her truncated oeuvre demarcates might have been extraordinary, might have pre-empted, if not Beckett, then at least Hardy and (who knows?) Lawrence. Emily Brontë, on the other hand...while the structure and organization and irony of Wuthering Heights outdo even Charlotte's work for intricacy and intelligence, that book still feels more like a channeled myth, somehow collective and impersonal, than like part of a single person's corpus. I wish she had lived, of course, but maybe she would have fallen silent, having channeled her single vision, and then again maybe she would have drifted into Blakean private myth.

It's similar with Keats and Shelley. Shelley was only four years older than Keats was when he died, but he isn't mourned the same way. That's because his canon feels somehow closed, complete, a total vision rounded in on itself. As I hinted in my essay on Shelley, if you told me he'd killed himself after writing "The Triumph of Life," I'd believe you. Or if he'd lived but renounced poetry, like Rimbaud.

Then there are the deaths that didn't happen. Hemingway, killed by his wounds in the Great War at age 18—and no half-century of iceberg minimalism.

Putting aside premature deaths, I wonder about a Henry James who'd succeeded in the theater. First we would be deprived of (dare I say "freed from"?) his novelistic late phase and the dominance its displaced-theatrical formal thinking exerted over 20th-century fiction. Second, he might have extended Wildean Symbolism on the English stage to challenge the standard of Shavian social problem comedy. I haven't actually read a Henry James play, since he didn't succeed, and I understand the ones he did write are more conventional; I'm just imagining what the sensibility that wrote The Ambassadors and The Wings of the Dove would have done with a theater at its disposal.

(Also, what if Henry James's proposed collaboration with H. G. Wells had come to fruition—and had been a "scientific romance"? How would Jamesian Martians think? or a Jamesian Dr. Moreau? We might have had the New Wave of science fiction in the 1890s, not the 1960s.)

Moving forward in time, and back here in America, what about a Ralph Ellison able to rally his forces and produce a Jamesian or Faulknerian or Bellovian procession of novels right through the eras of Civil Rights, Black Power, and political correctness, challenging everybody's racial orthodoxies at every turn and, as the author of Invisible Man, unable to be ignored? Staying within African-American literature but moving back a generation: what if the mind that produced Cane in 1923 and lived until 1967 had kept writing novels, even if under the influence of Gurdjieff and Jung and Quakerism and Scientology?

I could think of more, I'm sure—what if Eliot hadn't converted to Anglicanism, what if he'd kept "turning"? or what if he'd taken the hint of The Waste Land and converted to Buddhism or Hinduism? imagine Eliot chanting sutras right along with Ginsberg in the Beat era!—but this is long enough. Feel free to contribute your own!

#literature #literary criticism #john keats #james joyce #brontë sisters #henry james #ralph ellison

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angedemystere · 5 months

Text

Norse Retellings - Sigyn and Angrboda

A/N: This post has been sitting in my drafts for almost a year, but my opinions are the same. At some later date I might reread The Witch’s Heart to reassess.

I’m jotting down some thoughts I’ve mulled over after finishing Cat Rector’s The Goddess of Nothing at All. It’s a retelling of the Norse myths through Sigyn’s perspective, making tweaks here and there to the stories on the grounds that some details were altered in the later accounts to make her husband Loki more of a villain and herself more of a clueless or complicit bystander.

Reading this book naturally reminded me of Genevieve Gorchec’s The Witch’s Heart. It does something similar but with Angrboda, Loki’s other wife or mistress, depending on how you interpret their relationship. In that book, she’s definitely Loki’s wife. Both books choose to make a wife/lover of Loki into the protagonist, and I’m not sure which version I like better. They each have their pros and cons, but my biggest problem is how similar these characters are despite being from different races and different parts of the Norse myth narrative.

Both of these leads deal with three major issues or arcs:

self-discovery or actualization

being in a relationship with Loki

protecting their children

You can see how sharing not one but three of these can make them seem so alike. There are, fortunately, finer details that distinguish them a bit.

To start, they initially have different motives. Sigyn in GoNAA wants a title to make her a “real” goddess, but Odin has denied it to her for flimsy reasons. She’s so desperate to win his favor and feel empowered that she recruits Loki as her teacher in seidr in exchange for getting him out of exile from Asgard. Angrboda in TWH escapes the Aesir after being “executed” by them to live a peaceful, solitary life. This is complicated by her amnesia, which leaves her uncertain of her own identity. I think Sigyn’s motive makes her more proactive than Angrboda in the beginning.

However, Sigyn’s drive for a title falls by the wayside as she gets wrapped up in Loki’s sheningans and, later, the trials of raising a family. I suppose it offers commentary on how, no matter how much Sigyn wants recognition for herself, her story is more about Loki and her children. The ending promises a bit more for her, so there’s that.

For Angrboda, she isn’t as proactive until later in the story, and it’s still only tangentially related to discovering her identity. Like Sigyn, her arc gets swallowed up by Loki and her children. But Angrboda’s real disadvantage is that she has little involvement in the other Norse myths apart from the ones about her children being taken by the gods and her giving Odin information about Ragnarök. This means she hears more about things than participates in or even witnesses. Sigyn has more to do, so more of the myths directly impact her. Rector also tweaks the story about Angrboda and her children (Hel, Fenrir, Jormungandr) to let Sigyn be more involved, which Gorchec does not do in TWH.

Rector has more success with Sigyn as a protagonist because she’s willing to play around with details from the myths and cast it as the “true” story (or at least Sigyn’s version of things) so that Sigyn can have a greater presence. Gorchec keeps more closely to the original myths, apart from making Angrboda also be Gullveig, Heid, and Hyrrokkin. As with Rector’s Sigyn, these changes allow Angrboda to participate in a few more incidents in Norse myth. I wish she had been willing to take it even further, especially when revealing Angrboda’s backstory beyond the hints we get. Whereas Sigyn’s concern for her family ultimately overshadows her personal ambitions, which in itself can make sense as a character arc, Angrboda’s search for her true identity never disappears but also doesn’t gel with her concern for her family. These two desires keep interrupting each other for attention in the narrative.

All that said, Sigyn and Angrboda in their respective retellings are portrayed as, for lack of better words, the “better” partner to Loki. Angrboda in GoNAA is little more than a witch with a vendetta against the Aesir; that’s the only reason she partners with and has children with Loki. This actually makes her more interesting in my opinion. She does care about her children, but she sees them as tools for revenge, too. Sigyn, by contrast, becomes a more nurturing mother to Fenrir, Hel, and Jormungandr (and Sleipnir) despite not being biologically related (and feeling betrayed by Loki).

Sigyn in TWH ... well, we don’t have much to say about her except what the original myths suggest. She’s Loki’s faithful wife, but she’s understandably appalled by his relationship with Angrboda. She seems naïve and lashes out at Angrboda for being Loki’s “mistress” with monstrous children. While Angrboda never meets Sigyn’s sons, she too takes care of Sleipnir for a time.

In short, Rector and Gorchec are not interested in making the “other woman” more likable than, or even as likable as their heroine. It makes sense, but this contributes to the “sameness” these retellings share. Sigyn and Angrboda are both well-meaning women who fall in love with Loki, love their children, are betrayed by Loki, fall out of love with him, then come to forgive him by the story’s end. They and the “other women” start out disliking each other but develop begrudging empathy.

I think, in the end, while the protagonists could stand to be more uniquely developed beyond familiar “heroine of myth retelling” tropes, Rector is more successful at lending texture to her rendition of Asgard and the other worlds, which definitely doesn’t stick with Viking-Age technology or atmosphere. I rather wish Gorchec had allowed Angborda to interact with more characters, even if they had to be original. I like her portrayals of Skadi and Gerd, but we could have seen more of the giants to better understand their culture and how the perceptions of the Aesir could have been skewed. I prefer the more faithful “ancient” vibe of The Witch’s Heart over the anachronistic world of The Goddess of Nothing At All, but it needed more concrete depth and dimension, not just teasings. Same goes for Angrboda herself. Our leading ladies can be more complicated.

#book review #long post #the witch's heart #the goddess of nothing at all #norse mythology #mythology retelling

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aprilblossomgirl · 2 years

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The Eclipse and the School Curse.

Suppalo uses the school curse to keep things under control. They hope the rumor would make students stay away from violating or, further, questioning the rules. While this approach might have worked in the past, it just doesn't make sense that it would be today when students are becoming more critical. When the World Remembers insisted on protesting the school uniforms, the curse happened to them, from mild events to more dangerous accidents. However, they were aware that there was no curse. No incidents happened by themselves; there must be someone behind it. That's maybe why in one of their next protests, they demand the school catch the bad guys behind those accidents.

And so, the question would be, who's behind it, then? The last few minutes of the last episode showed Akk to be the one behind the supposedly last curse, that is about to be burned, as Kan said. However, it is unclear whether he was also behind those other previous incidents (I know from the special episode he's behind the blood incident, but none indicating the others). Regardless, another question would be, did he do it all on his own or by an order (from the school authority)?

Rewatching the conversations between Akk and Teacher Chadok, I had my suspicion; however, no lines directly indicating that he ordered Akk to carry out the curse. "They have no idea what the curse will do if they keep on being stubborn (episode 3)" was the only line from Teacher Chadok that backed up my thought but still not entirely. Well, in the next episode, we will get to it, that is, if Akk would open to Aye when confronted about it, I think.

Now, back to the curse. I have so many feelings about this since I've started to relate to the narratives built around it.

First, the curse is used to keep something undisturbed by inflicting fear of performing disobedience. In this case, the school uses a curse to scare students and prevent them from violating or criticizing the rules. It was meant as a tool to maintain order in the school. But still, why an outdated approach?

A little out of topic, but this analogy might help understand the use of the curse. The use of the school curse for rules enforcement here is similar to the use of the scary forest myth to make people stay away from entering and even approaching it. In the past, it was known as one of the strategies to protect rural natures, commonly used by the elderly in the local or traditional communities. To some extent, it worked that at least outsiders stayed far or out of the forest, so the forest stayed pristine and undisturbed. A point to understand, though, is at the time, the myth was used with a somewhat 'good intention' to protect nature.

Nowadays, such an intention might hardly exist. With politics added to the motives, the myth is still used, but in the wrong way. It still scares people away, but for a different reason. Before, it was to protect the forest for the sake of nature conservation; now, it was to 'protect' the forest for the sake of nature exploitation by a few greedy groups.

So, to answer why the nonsense approach, it might be either:

the whole school system is run by older people who are simply uninformed of the current development of society in general or education in particular and have no idea of better rules enforcement, which I don't think that's the case, or

to divert the attention from anything possibly more important that’s happening within the school system, or

to deliberately instill fear of disobedience towards the school authority instead of encouraging a positive attitude of critical thinking towards the rules.

All this is to say that, maybe, the whole thing about keeping the regulations and reputation of the school was not about maintaining order but more about maintaining authority. In the first case, an order should allow disorganization or disruption to recreate or redefine the order itself, allowing critique and questioning for improvement. In the second case, however, the rules cater to only a few groups of people, giving flexibility and advantages to them while causing repression and disadvantages to the rest outside the groups. And so now, as I wrote here before, the ultimate question is: who's behind the Suppalo school system?

#the eclipse the series #the eclipse #just thoughts 📝#my text 📝#i just can't not talk into the voids about this #when the narrative is something i'm eerily familiar with #the reason why i take the eclipse not me and atots so personally #i don't want to generalize by region but living in the sea the social commentaries of those series hit close to home #this is taking forever and now i'm tired

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xredxrainx · 1 year

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Bound to You - Slight AU - Complete

Summary: A bond was considered to be a myth. Not real. Yet, here she was, hearing his thoughts, seeing him, feeling him. A bond that kept them closer despite the distance that they were in physically. Something that she was unsure was even real.

Rating: E for explicit

Chapters: 7

Word Count: 43K

Somewhat of a soulmate AU but still set in the normal world of Naruto. Heavily inspired by the 'new' Star Wars trilogy in terms of the force bond - ie. similar gist. I'll be looking at potentially writing some more for this AU, but I don't have the time at the moment.

LINK

Excerpt (First Chapter) below the cut:

“Sasuke-kun, wait!”

He turned to her, dark eyes showing surprise before he vanished, and she was left alone. She felt herself crumble in on herself, falling to the night flowers. She took a heavy breath, shaking her head. Was she going crazy…? How did she see him if she wasn’t…?

Instead of falling apart completely, she grabbed a few of the flowers. She would find an answer later. Or maybe not. Maybe her sadness and lack of proper sleep was affecting her brain. She knew that depression could affect the body in strange ways, but she knew if she said anything to her teacher she would just be off for a long time, left alone to her hungry thoughts and brain. It was something that she did not want – no matter what. She just wanted peace or something.

She had to get stronger to bring him home after all, and if she was allowed to wither away without training, that goal would slip away from her fingertips. The flowers clenched between her fists still glowed, turquoise pollen flooding to the flowery ground.

Her mission was complete.

But her heart was a mess.

LINK (Again)

Notes from me: I'll probably be using Tumblr a bit more to support my fics and any ideas I have. I might even use it to post some unfinished WIP that I have roaming about that may never see the light of day. Not fully sure just yet. Ta~ Happy reading.

#sasusaku #sasusaku fanfiction #complete sasusaku fanfiction #complete fic #smutty fic

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zafirosreverie · 3 years

Text

Must be the eyes (Teacher!Agatha x Fem!Student!Reader)

Here it is! first part of the TxS au! Let’s get this party started!

----

"And who exactly was the villain then, Miss Y/L/N?" You gnashed your teeth when your teacher looked at you behind the frame of her glasses, with her piercing, stupidly beautiful blue eyes and a raised eyebrow.

You flinched a bit from her gaze, but you refused to back down, you never had and you weren't going to start now, no matter how hot your cheeks got or how close this damn woman stood to you.

Agatha Harkness, Westview’s University history professor, terror of the first years and your crush since the first class you had with her. Her blue eyes had captivated you from the first moment, as had her slightly wavy hair and mocking smile. Her sarcastic and dry sense of humor was also something you loved, plus she was incredibly smart and not afraid to show it. Beautiful, smart and taught your favorite subject. Yup, you were completely under her spell.

But you hated it when she argued with you in front of the whole class, especially for things like this. It always made you feel so small and helpless, even if you didn’t show it on the outside.

She had asked your class for an essay on Greek myths, and you had chosen Medusa’s. Miss Harkness had said that you should express your views, with clear and concise arguments, which took you most of the week to investigate. But it seemed that you had not been clear enough.

Either that, or your teacher really hated you and enjoyed challenging you in front of your classmates, expecting you to break up and argue with her, so she could send you to detention. Well, you wouldn't let her win that easy.

You forced a smile and looked up. She was right in front of your chair, looking down at you as she waited for your answer.

"Athena and Poseidon" you said confidently "They are the villains"

"Interesting posture" she smiled, but it was a smile that reminded you of the cheshire cat "Although that doesn't take away the blame for the lives she took, does it?"

"It wasn't her fault either," you said, frowning.

"Oh it wasn’t?" she asked. You suppressed a gasp when she rested her hands on your table and leaned forward. You could feel her minty breath on your face "And whose fault was it, Miss Y/L/N?" she asked.

"Men’s" you gulped "Those who went to look for her"

"Explain" she ordered. Her eyes never once left your face.

"They went looking for her. They tried to kill her, what was she supposed to do? Let herself be killed? Besides, it wasn't her fault that Athena turned her into that, she didn't ask to turn people to stone" you said, crossing your arms and leaning toward back in your seat.

Anyone would think that your gesture was one of challenge, considering that your face was neutral and your eyebrow was raised slightly. But inside you were screaming and having a panic attack.

Agatha smirked in her head at your attitude. She wouldn't tell anyone even if she was under torture, but she loved having these little discussions with you. You were the only student brave enough to argue with her, and you were brilliant in the way you did.

On the other hand, you were also incredibly cute and she would lie if she said that she didn't like to make you blush, your eyes lit up a bit and the red on your cheeks really contrasted beautifully with your skin. She knew it was wrong, that as a teacher she shouldn't find any of her students attractive. But she couldn't help it, there was something about you that just fascinated her.

Most of her fellow teachers had already noticed the strange dynamic she had with you, but they took it as a simple student/teacher rivalry, stemming from the fact that you seemed like a history prodigy, which presented a vast battlefield for Agatha, it was no secret that the woman was competitive, after all.

The only one who seemed a little suspicious of what was really going on was Wanda, the literature teacher. She had been one of the best students in the university and had returned as a teacher 5 years ago and because their subjects shared a field of investigation, she and Agatha ended up spending more and more time together, until they became good friends.

It was fun having someone to judge and gossip about both the staff and the student body. But that also meant having to endure the teasing of the younger woman every time you walked by Agatha.

Of course, she had scolded Wanda for even suggesting that she was attracted to you, a student, and the redhead had apologized, saying that she was only joking, but she wasn't sure how long it would be before her friend became suspicious again. Not that the history teacher was that subtle with the way she looked at you.

Still, Agatha Harkness had certain principles, and she knew that she couldn't flirt with you as long as you were her student, so she was content to make you blush and nervous when she was around you.

“She broke Athena’s rules” she said, almost growling.

“Poseidon raped her. That wasn't her fault” you growled back. You cursed yourself for being so passionate about this. Your classmates probably thought you were an idiot for fighting a teacher.

"You seem quite determined to defend the monster," she accused, frowning. She pushed herself off your bench and turned to the rest of the class, letting you breathe for a second. "Not many people would pay attention to Medusa, a hideous and dangerous creature. But she seems to have won Miss Y/L/N’s heart" she said, making your classmates laugh and you blushed again.

"It must be the eyes" you mumbled without thinking.

Your teacher looked at you for a moment before smirking. Fortunately, it seemed like she didn't have time to keep arguing with you. Blessed heavens for that. You heard the ring bell and sighed in relief, starting to pack your things.

“Remember that the project is due for next monday” Ms Harkness said and you hear some groans from your classmates. You chuckled as you left the classroom.

“It’s not fair” you heard your friend Nick saying beside you “She didn’t give us enough time!”

“What do you mean?” you asked “I finished it three days ago”

“But you don’t count!” he frowned “you’re good at history! I can’t even remember my sister’s birthday!”

“Nick, you don’t have a sister” you rolled your eyes fondly

“And? I wouldn’t remember her birthday anyway”

You laughed and playfully punched his shoulder. You and Nick have been friends since your first day here and you were thankful for that. He was the only one who knew about your crush on Ms Harkness, which was a blessing but also a nightmare. He loved to embarrass you.

“So, what was that Y/N?” He asked suddenly

“What?” you frowned

“The whole Medusa’s thing”

“Well, she wasn’t a monster and-”

“No no, don’t give me a history lesson, I already had enough of that. I was talking about you and ‘Ms magical eyes’ almost kissing” he smirked as you coughed and almost tripped.

“What?!” you hissed “The hell you’re talking about?!”

“Oh c’mon Y/N!!” Nick laughed “She was practically lying over you!”

“That’s not true” you crossed your arms

“It is” he crossed his arms too “Y/N,I love you, but you can be so blind sometimes”

“What is that supposed to mean?” you asked, a little offended

“Y/N, we all could feel the sexual tension between you two” he laughed and left you frozen in the hall.

_____________

“No” Agatha frowned and crossed her arms

“Please” Wanda begged

“No, I’m not going to babysit a bunch of spoiled kids” the older woman said

“Okay, first of all, they’re college students, not from the kindergarden” the redhead frowned “and this could be an amazing opportunity!”

“For what? I already know about the Salem trials, love, I’m more than capable of teach my students about it without having to taking them there”

“But it would be more fun for them” Wanda argued

“I teach history, buttercup, it’s not supposed to be fun for them” the brunette smirked while the other woman rolled her eyes.

“We both know you don’t actually think that. You love your class and want them to love it too”

When the other woman shrugged and started reading again, totally ignoring her, Wanda knew it was time for plan B. She kneeled in front of Agatha and gave her puppy eyes.

“Pleaaaase” she cried “I need another teacher if I want permission to do the trip”

“Then ask Monica” Agatha said, not looking up from her book

“She has a game next week with the basketball team” Wanda said “Besides, as the history teacher, your class is the most similar to mine, it just makes sense if we both go”

“I’m not going Maximoff, period”

Wanda sighed and stood. “Fine.Thanks for nothing, Harkness” she pouted and left the teacher’s room.

Agatha rolled her eyes, she knew the other woman would get over it in a few hours.

____________

“I just say that witches are cool” you said as you and Nick walked through the hall

“They are Y/N, but visiting an old town isn’t exactly my idea for a good summer trip” he said and you rolled your eyes “Why don’t you go to Disneyland instead?” he joked

“Because I hate gigantic amusement parks” you said “And I really want to visit Salem, it was my dream since i was 9 and i read about witches from the first time. But you know I don't have enough money to do both trips. So, Salem it is for me”

Nick sighed “Alright, you do you, history girl” he joked “But try not to get cursed while you’re there, i don’t want my best friend to be a frog”

You laughed and he put an arm around your shoulders. None of you noticed the brunette teacher walking out of the teacher’s room and who totally heard your conversation.

_____________

Wanda jumped when her office door opened with a slam. She looked at a frowning Agatha, who had her arms crossed and let out a sigh.

“Alright, you win” the brunette said “We’re going to Salem”

The redhead smiled and quickly stood up to run to her friend and hug her tightly.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she said.

“But!” Agatha said, gently pushing the younger woman to lock eyes with her “I pick the class we’re taking with us”

“Deal!”

#I really don't know what I'm doing ok #sorry if this sucks ;-;#i think I'm losing my writing abilities #anyway #x reader #reader insert #imagine #agatha harkness #agatha harkness x reader #agatha harkness imagine #agatha harkness x y/n #agnes x reader #agatha harkness x you #request #must be the eyes #mbte

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obsidiancreates · 2 years

Text

Our Museum Of Rot And Love (Part 5)

Giftshop 'Round The Back

"Did pirates actually get married to each other?"

Stede pauses his lecture. "Where did that question come from?"

The student gestures at the photo hung up on the blackboard. "Those two there, I went to that museum the other day and one of the old journals they have said those two were married."

Stede looks at the picture. It's two women, as his lecture today is about the myth that piracy was mainly for men. Plenty of women were involved, such as the infamous Spanish Jackie (oh, she always gave Stede shivers to think about, with her jars of body parts). And some people of indeterminate gender, such as that knife-throwing teacher at the very museum in question.

"Yes, they did. Same-sex relationships weren't uncommon, and pirates did have a form of marriage they sometimes conducted. But others chose to simply engage in their relations without titles. Open relationships were also quite common."

"Really? I thought pirates were very about the whole 'what's mine is mine, fuck off' lifestyle."

"Some were, but some were more open-minded. Monogamous relationships weren't always about possession, either. Are they in today's world? Not always! Humanity may move on and evolve in some ways, but fundamentally, there are similarities throughout the ages. Now, back to the topic at hand, we're going to discuss the reality of the idea of women disguising as men aboard ships."

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

Stede waves to Frenchie as he heads to the calligraphy section. "Hello again, Lucius!"

"Oh, hey." Lucius smiles a little. "Thought you only came once a week?"

"Came to ask you about something a student of mine mentioned, actually. They said they read one of the journals on display?"

"Oh, probably read a copy." Lucius gestures limply over to the back. "We've got copies of most of them in the gift shop."

"Really? Well, I hate to cut this short but-"

"Just go read the books."

Stede wastes no time in speed-walking to the back and perusing the selection in the giftshop. There's quite a few interesting volumes, some compilations of short writings by the victims and survivors of pirates, some by the pirates themselves. It's a shame more pirates didn't know how to read and write, Stede thinks for the millionth time in his life.

"Perusin' for anythin' in particular, sir?" The sudden voice startles Stede so much that he whips around with his fists held up pathetically, form completely copied from something he saw in a book once.

"No need for resortin' to violence," the other man says. "Right, Karl?"

Stede looks up. There is a seagull on the other man's head.

"Sorry." Stede puts his hands down. "Are pets allowed in here, then?"

"Karl's my co-presenter."

"Oh, you work here, then?"

"Buttons." He holds his hand out. "You must be Ca- Mister Bonnet."

"Stede, please. Mister Bonnet was my father." Stede shakes. "Oh. Very wet hand you have there."

"I don' believe in dryin' them after washing. Let the air do that."

"Ah. A naturalist, are you?"

"One could say." Buttons nods, and Karl stays put completely still. It's fascinating. "You ever go moonbathin'?"

Before Stede can even try to figure out what that could possibly mean, he notices Ed restocking some model kits. "Ah, excuse me, my good man, but I have something to ask Ed there."

Buttons turns and look. "Oh, yeah, he'd be proper pissed at me for keepin' you away. Go ahead, Karl and I were just pickin' up some compasses for the kids anyway."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mister Buttons." Stede walks away. "Ed!"

Ed looks up, and his eyes take on that shine that makes Stede's heart race. "Stede, man! What're you doin' here so soon?"

"I was worried a student of mine was touching your exhibits, but Lucius assured me they just read something from the gift shop. f course I had to come take a look myself."

"Yeah? Big gift man?"

"I love giftshops. I'd go anywhere that had one."

"Anywhere, huh? You know, I almost opened a restaurant that had a giftshop in the back."

"Oh, very clever. If you ever do open it I'd love to come."

"I bet you would." Ed nudges Stede playfully. "Lookin' at the books, then?"

"Yes, very impressive selection here. Do you have a personal favorite?" Stede looks at the bookshelf. "I'm not sure where to start."

"Well-" Ed walks back to the bookshelf, and Stede follows. Ed grabs a book. "-if you're looking for some basic shit, this one is mostly British Navy and Spanish Navy records of pirates. Volume two here is more merchants and general travelers. Volume three is from pirates themselves."

"I'll take all three, then. Where's the till?"

"Take 'em, man. On the house."

"Ed! I can't just take your merchandise! I research pirates, I don't emulate them!"

Ed snorts. "I hope not, man. Just take 'em, it's like an investment or some shit. Read 'em to your class, let 'em know to buy some for themselves or whatever."

"Very well. I'll pay you back in recommendations."

"How about recommendations and some lunch?" There's something to Ed's voice there, hidden well, but Stede is surprised to be able to identify it with so much ease it's like he's practiced: nervousness.

And that won't do at all.

"Recommendations and lunch," Stede agrees.

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

There's no gift shop in the restaurant they end up at. But there is some very good crab cakes.

"Not as good as Roach," Ed mumbles around a bite.

"He runs the cooking exhibit, right?"

"Yeah. Met him yet?"

"Not yet, just heard his name in passing."

"Gotta introduce you to everyone sometimes. They're the best fuckin' crew I could hope for."

"Ah, is that what museum staff are called? Crew?"

Ed pauses his eating for a moment, and then sighs and takes a big drink of water. "Nah. Just somethin' we say. Pirate theme."

"Ah, of course." Stede's hand hovers over the cutlery. "Dammit."

"What?"

"Forgot which one's supposed to be a soup spoon again." He doesn't usually go for appetizers, mainly because he doesn't want to bother with extra spoons and forks.

"That one." Ed taps it with the end of his fork. Stede looks at him in surprise, and Ed shrugs. "Picked stuff up in my life, you know. More than just pirate shit."

"I'll have to bring you along to the next mind-numbing academic awards dinner I attend, then." Stede sips his soup. "I always forget which fork's which."

"Really? Don't seem like the type." There's something else to Ed's voice. There's the surprise, yes, and something... sadder. Stede can't possibly imagine why, though.

"Stresses me out too much." Stede wrinkles his nose. "What's the point of it, anyway?"

"Someone once told me dining is pageantry."

"Hmm. I can see that." Stede sips another spoonful. "Still more forks than anyone could ever need, though."

"Oh, yeah. More fuckin' forks than there are fuckin' people sometimes."

"Exactly! There's better ways to show off, surely. Like clothing. If there's one thing I think they had right about all the fancy traditions of the era, it's the clothing."

"I can imagine you in those coats they had."

"Oh, I'd love one. I've looked into having one tailored, actually, but when would I wear it?"

"So? Get it anyway if you want it, man. Wear it just like, laying around doing fuck-all."

"Seems a waste, though. ... I do have some vintage robes. I have this wonderful golden one."

"I've got some robes. Got one that's this fuckin'... shit, can't remember the color."

"Describe it."

"Like a... like a pink that says 'fuck off'."

"Hmm... fuchsia?"

"That's it! Fuchsia with flowers and shit on it. Love that thing."

"I didn't take your for someone who liked floral patterns."

"Full of surprises, aren't I?"

"Wonderful surprises." Stede locks eyes with Ed, and for a moment the food is forgotten, both of them just staring into each other's eyes, and it feels again like something important is happening-

And then the server places down a refill of breadrolls and they both snap out of it. Ed looks down and attacks his crab cakes with his knife, and Stede nearly drowns himself in his soup with how close to it he leans.

The rest of the lunch does go well, and he and Ed part on very nice terms and an agreement to do it again sometime. But for the rest of the day, that big, swelling feeling in Stede's chest haunts him.

What had he just missed out on?

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

Lunch never goes like it used to. It used to be Stede who brought the food, Stede who sometimes handed Ed fine foods he's never tasted before, Stede who explained the meals as he indulged happily.

"I'm not hungry, Ed."

Ed holds out the plate anyway. "Roach's feelings will be hurt if you say no, man."

After a moment, Stede takes the plate. Ed watches him carefully, coaxing Stede along as he takes small bites. Nibbles, really.

"You gotta stop blaming yourself, man."

"... It's more difficult than that." Stede's eyes flick to the corner of the room. When Ed's eyes follow, all he sees is candlelight flickering on the wall.

"Just tell me what's fucking you up, man. I'll figure something out for you."

Stede shakes his head. "I don't even know what's wrong, Ed. Not really. And I don't think I want to talk to anyone who would."

Ed watches Stede pick at the bread for a moment more, and then leaves the cabin. He goes above deck, and up to Buttons at the wheel.

"Set a new course."

"Where to?"

"Barbados." Ed looks out over the ocean. "Think we need to have a chat with ol' fuckin' Mister Bonnet."

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oneisallallisone · 3 years

Text

All I Know, All I Know Greedling x Reader fic Chapter 1

In a land ruled by alchemy, there are some who would call you a sorcerer. You intend to understand what this means. Along your journey you end up getting mixed up with two strange brothers, a military conspiracy, a potentially world-ending event, and the avarice of something more than human.

I wanted to see more Greedling x reader stories in the tag. This one’s going to be a SLOW burn, but we’ll get there. I have plans.

Read on AO3

_______________________________________________________________________

All I Know, All I Know

Chapter 1: Koldun

There are ancient legends: tales that tell of a city disappearing within a single night, stones that hold the power of god, of immortality itself, just to name a few. Myths such as these have been passed down through generations by word of mouth, pen to paper, and are woven into the fabric of everything that fascinates humankind.

There is no name for the legend that you are, however.

Alchemy is the science of understanding, reconstructing, and deconstructing matter. Alkahestry is the art of reading the Dragon’s Pulse, of sensing the flow of energy within yourself and the world around you, and then manipulating it. Both rely on a give and a take. A desire, an exchange, and a result. But you, with your will and your breath and the force that plays at your fingertips, are something else entirely.

No, there is no name in Amestris for you. But there is an ancient Drachman word for what you might be. A word so old and feared that it is uttered in barely a whisper. “Koldun,” they call you. “Sorcerer.” It is the only word that seems to fit what you are, and the way it is spoken is just as cold as the air that bites your ears and the tip of your nose. Drachman winters are harsh. The resentment of Drachman people who don’t understand your nature is harsher.

But enough about the cold. Now you found yourself in the warmer weather of the south, regretting the bearskin cloak you have draped around your shoulders. It might not be fit for a sunny day in Central City, but its weight provides a calming sense of familiarity. A small piece of home that was actually yours to keep.

The journey to Amestris hadn’t been hard, but it had been long. The mountain pass was no longer safe to use, as both Drachman and Amestrian soldiers were posted nearby at all hours of the day. The peace was holding out, for now, although it seemed like things could take a turn for the worse at any moment. So instead of taking the mountain pass, you traveled the road through the forest with a group of merchants who were on their way to Aerugo. They needed to pass through Amestris first. You’d parted ways with them in Central, and they wished you luck despite not knowing the full details of your mission.

How could you have told them, though? They would have left you for dead with nothing but the snow as a blanket for your final rest had you told them what you were. Koldun. The word still didn’t feel right in your mind, but it was the only lead you had to cling to.

So there you were, walking through the streets of Central in your too-hot bearskin cloak and worn leather boots, trying to find the greatest wellspring of information the West had to offer in order to gain some insight into the nature of your existence.

Only when you got to the First Branch of the National Central Library, you found a pile of rubble instead.

“What?” you gasped, barely audible. “No, no!”

You ran up what was left of the charred stairs and into the wreckage.

All around you were mountains of debris and ash. Wooden shelves reduced to nothing, charred husks of books no longer readable and scattered about. You stumbled around every turn, through every crumbling passage that looked once like it might have been a hallway, searching the skeleton of each room for anything that might look like a single page intact, but there was nothing. It was a ruin. You sank to your knees.

“Dammit!”

An involuntary surge of your power shook the room with your cry—violet waves that knocked loose a few pieces of stone that had not yet fallen. You buried your head in your hands and willed yourself not to sob. There had to be another place to find answers about your abilities. There had to be. You couldn’t have come all this way for nothing.

You were muttering this softly to yourself when another voice interrupted you.

“Um, hello?”

You turned sharply to an unexpected sight. A boy with blonde hair and a long red jacket, and…a massive armored fellow? The voice from before, coming from the blonde boy, spoke again. “Are you alright?”

You quickly rubbed your dampening eyes. “Yes. Yes, I’m just fine.”

“We heard a crash,” the armored fellow said in a voice that sounded far more childish than you expected. “Are you sure you’re not injured?”

“Yeah, yeah I was just…throwing some things around. I’m fine. Just frustrated.”

“Did you happen to see who did this?” the blonde boy asked.

You shook your head. “No.”

He narrowed his eyes a little then. “How do we know you didn’t do this?”

“What?” you hissed. “Look, when I got here the place was already a wreck. I didn’t see who or what did this. I swear.”

For a moment it looked as if the boy was going to continue interrogating you, but then his eyes softened. He dropped his shoulders. “Alright, Al.” He turned to the suit of armor. “I guess we’re going to have to figure something else out.”

There was a clanking as the suit of armor, Al, hung his head. “I guess so.”

“Wait,” you said just as the boys were turning to leave. “Do you know if there’s anywhere else in the city that would store knowledge similar to what was in this branch?”

The blonde boy crossed his arms. “What kind of information are you looking for?”

You hesitated for a moment. How were you supposed to explain your predicament to these strangers? “Well…I’m looking for any sort of historical records or myths of people with beyond-human abilities.”

“So you mean like alchemists?”

“Honestly, not quite,” you said hesitantly. “But that wouldn’t be a bad place to start.”

The blonde boy huffed. “Well believe me, when it comes to people with ‘beyond-human abilities,’ alchemists are the only thing you’re going to find. Alchemy isn’t anything supernatural, but it’s the closest thing humans will ever have to augmented abilities.”

“You sound very sure of yourself.”

“Yup. Anything else is just made up.”

The corners of your mouth twitched. Was it pride? Was it spite? The only thing you knew is that you wanted to wipe this guy’s smug smirk right off his face, and you could already feel the power surging to your fingertips.

You hadn’t even called upon it. It knew you.

Raising your hand, you allowed your energy to manifest at your fingertips. Small flickers of purple danced across your skin as you curled and flexed your fingers. It was like passing a coin between your knuckles.

The blonde boy’s mouth flew open, first in shock, then as if he was going to say something, and then settled into shock again. The armored fellow next to him startled.

“Brother…” the metallic voice rang.

“How…how are you doing that?” the blonde asked you.

“They didn’t perform a transmutation or anything!” the armored boy said, partially to his brother but mostly to himself, it seemed.

“I’ve never seen alchemy like that,” the blonde started, “Not even Teacher’s is like that. Seriously, how are you doing that?”

“I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours,” you responded.

“What?”

You pointed at the suit of armor. “What’s his story? I haven’t been in this country for long, but I know that citizens casually going around in full armor isn’t the standard.”

The metal boy shifted uncomfortably. “Oh, I, well…uh…”

A resolute look fell onto the blonde boy’s face. He placed a hand on the armored torso of his companion. “Al, it’s okay. We can think of this as just another equivalent exchange, information for information. And besides,” he lowered his voice, “Whatever their power is, it’s not something we’ve seen before. We’d be idiots not to learn more about it. Maybe they can help us.”

You raised an eyebrow, but neither of the boys saw it.

The armored fellow raised his head to catch your gaze again. “Please just don’t freak out.” He brought his hands up to his helmet and pulled. There was nothing underneath.

At first you thought that the boy inside the armor must have been too short to stand within it. But then you took a few steps closer and realized there was no boy in the armor at all.

“Oh,” you said. “Well that’s not something you see every day.”

“And neither are you,” the blonde said. “We told you ours, now you tell us yours.”

You frowned. “Unfortunately there’s not much to tell. It’s why I came here, actually. I’m trying to learn more about the nature of my abilities, because they are definitely not…what you call alchemy.”

“Well, where do you come from?” he asked. “Maybe it has a different name in your country?”

You shook your head. “Alchemy exists in my country. It is something that is taught. I, however, was not taught any of this.” You lowered your gaze to the floor, preparing to say the words that you had only said to so few. “I am from Drachma. The only word they have for me is Koldun. It translates to sorcerer.”

#me looking at the greedling x reader tag: Fine. I'll do it myself #anyway this entire thing is the result of me listening to the 'loving you is a losing game' song and going 'hmmmmm'#'the greedling/reader vibes this gives....painful'#aha #greedling x reader #fma #fullmetal alchemist #greed x reader #fmab #fullmetal alchemist brotherhood #edward elric #alphonse elric #ling yao #fmab x reader #greedling #fma brotherhood #fmab greed #fma greed

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the-ghost-king · 3 years

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So I'm not going to start like an Anti-Chiron tag because I don't find that enjoyable personally, but every so often people ask why I dislike him so here's essentially a "masterpost" of my thoughts on that situation for when anyone asks, just so I have it to explain some...

This isn't nearly a full list, and there's many more "incidents" that make me less than fond of Chiron, I don't hate the old man but he leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I'm not a fan of that. He's a very twisted character.

- The Lightning Thief

This quote is literally just after Percy's mom "dies", they're all sitting on the porch of the Big House right after he's finally woken up after days of sleeping, and that's the line Chiron pulls out on him.

That's straight up emotional manipulation which was entirely unnecessary in the context of what Chiron was trying to explain. There wasn't a single reason for that, in the slightest.

Immediately following that, and Percy, who canonically has anger issues, does his best to remain calm, he is immediately threatened by Dionysus, and Chiron doesn't even tell Dionysus off for doing that; Chiron just let's it happen. It's Grover who has to speak up to tell Dionysus off...

The only reason Chiron comes out looking like a old guy in this scene is because Dionysus was so much worse in his behavior, at one point intimidating Percy with his power over madness.

- The Titan's Curse

This is the aftermath of when Nico ran away upon confirmation of Bianca's death. When Percy is telling Chiron about the situation, Chiron wishes Nico had been eaten alive rather than recruited into an army.

He'd rather a child be dead than fight against him, and he openly tells this to other children he's in charge of. If Percy went missing would he have said "I hope he was eaten <3" as well?

I don't blame Perry for not delivering the truth here, it was done in an effort to protect Nico; which wasn't something Annabeth had planned on doing... I don't blame Annabeth for that though either, she's been beneath Chiron so long that she probably doesn't realize the shady stuff he does, and to her "going to tell" probably was the "right" move because she was a child...

But the fact that Chiron believes Nico truly would be better off eaten than alive :/

- Tower of Nero

This quote from Tower of Nero shows that Chiron lied to a bunch of young children (most of them were young because the older campers are largely dead because of the war or too old for camp now). It wasn't just a little white lie that adults sometimes tell kids either; they were walking into battle and he told them it was a field trip.

Did he even begin to explain the danger he was putting these kids in? Did the children understand their situation? And how dangerous it was?

Kayla has been blindsided over the years into thinking that telling children they're going on a field trip instead of fighting a battle is something to make a joke of and not be questioned... (Again, I don't blame her she's only like 12 in the book, but still)

Apollo also agrees, which isn't on Chiron but it's a whole mother reason why I can't stand Rick's interpretation of Apollo...

<><><><><>

This isn't me being like "oh Chiron is the worst most evil character ever" I just think that he has numerous flaws which are largely ignored in favor of the "perfect wise teacher" narrative when in fact Chiron and Dumbledore share a lot of.. Offputting qualities.

I do think that some of the situation is simply a result of Chiron having his hands tied behind his back by the gods some. And he even goes so far as to confirm this in a scene of TLT

However many of the scenes in which he exhibits behaviors like that in my first three screenshots are not related to anything the gods require and are, in fact, of Chiron's own free will.

Some things I would blame Zeus and the council for, such as how he withholds information from Percy to an excessive amount for long periods of time even when Percy straight up asks about things. I could easily see that being Zeus trying to prevent Percy from claiming the prophecy as his own, and I could see reasoning that maybe Chiron had sworn over the River Styx or something similar.

But those things don't apply to Chiron making such an unnecessary comment about Percy's mother so close to her "death". It doesn't explain why he would say he hoped Nico had been eaten out loud, and it doesn't cover the fact that he led children into a battlefield without telling them that's what was happening.

I think the context of Chiron's choices and comments would be different if the campers were older. If they were in their late teens or early twenties for the most part, I wouldn't really have much to say about how Chiron handled the situation.

But this man is in charge of children and extremely young teenagers, Percy is only 12 in TLT, maybe if he would have been 16 or 17 then I could give Chiron a pass, but he wasn't. Within the context of the comment he made in the Titan's Curse, Percy is only 14 and Nico is 10 at the beginning of the book... You don't wish a 10 year old had been eaten alive by a monster no matter how bad you think the alternative is, and if you do wish that you don't say it out loud to a group of other children. In the battle from Tower of Nero we get a quick look at the battlefield, and although Ben's age, and the age of another girl fighting alongside him are never confirmed they are implied to be fairly young, and we know Kayla is only 12 at the time too; yet Chiron told them it was a field trip instead of a battle, limiting the time they would have to mentally prepare themselves for what was coming.

On top of that, the nods the reader gets to the fact that Chiron can't act out against the gods depletes over the course of the series. After TLT the amount of times the situation involves the gods interfering with what Chiron is allowed to say lessens, and by the time the Heroes of Olympus series comes around, these limitations on his speech is almost entirely gone. Yet as seen in Tower of Nero he still does morally questionable things in regards to how he treats the campers.

Like I said, I recognize that in many scenes Chiron's hands are tied behind his back because of the gods.. But there are undeniably things he does of his own free will that are, in the nicest manner, very :/

This also isn't a full list of comparisons just a few notable scenes. I don't think Chiron is equally as bad as Dumbledore, but I think it undeniable that Chiron has some significant flaws built into his character design.

A good character has flaws, and there's nothing wrong with having a character that doesn't always conduct themselves properly or have good intentions- it's actually good writing, and I can appreciate that, but for some reason I find myself personally rubbed the wrong way by Chiron. This doesn't make Chiron badly written, or poorly designed, in fact I would say Rick's Chiron is very well designed in lots of ways, but I just don't like how it's never acknowledged by anyone in the series.

Like I said, I'm not starting an anti-Chiron situation, I just think little events like those mentioned, the way he's built a child army, and how he doesn't even try to plead with the gods over raising the ages on campers being allowed to battle is a little sus. But it more so bothers me that there's no attention payed to this problem anywhere in the books, not even by a side character or Luke, nowhere.

I don't actually care that much and this isn't that important to me, but sometimes people ask why I don't like Chiron and this is basically just my explanation to hand off to them... It's not even so much that I dislike Chiron entirely, he's well written and has his "good" moments, I just don't like the way other characters interact with him and his actions.

It's more a personal beef with him rather than an aspect of poor writing or him "being bad"... PJO in general (and HoO/ToA to a much lesser extent) shows that there's not such an inherent good vs bad in the world, and that sometimes people are victims of circumstances in some situations, or they're horribly misguided in their actions, but the series does a good job of showing those people as human still, and I applaud that.

I don't really know how to tie this up in its entirety, but there's nothing wrong with having a morally grey character who does questionable things and in many aspects it is good writing. I think Chiron is a result of Rick not thinking through the implications what he's doing in lots of situations, and I can see a fairly consistent drop in Chiron's characterization from PJO-ToA which is consistent with most other aspects of Rick's work.

I also want to clarify that if you like Chiron and disagree with me, that's absolutely 110% okay, I just personally dislike Chiron and that's on me. Like my problem with many of Rick's other immortal characters, I think he missed important aspects of them in some manner and slightly (or entirely in some cases) mischaracterized them in comparison to their original myths.. Some of these characters he came around on and fixed their character in many aspects to their more "correct" characterization (like Hera), while others (like Chiron and Apollo) he never quite figured them out. Which is a running complaint I have with Rick so I'm just adding this to his tab.

But yeah, I don't hate Chiron I just dislike him and those are different things, and I don't think it's a bad thing to have a morally questionable character, Chiron just personally rubs me the wrong way and I just wanted to explain that more fully because I've been asked about it multiple times.

Also I apologize for not adding a [read more] to this, it's a complaint of mine often when scrolling through the tags but I'm on mobile currently and don't have immediate access to a computer so~

#pjo #Hoo #Chiron pjo #percy jackson #long post

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