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cienie-isengardu · 5 months

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MK1 fanfiction

EDIT: now all chapters will be collected under the title of Cracked mirror of black, cold soul

No one asked for it, but as I did not get enough Bi-Han & Shang Tsung interaction, I was forced to write about them myself. The first part is at least done, we will see if I managed to finish the second. Mainly written as a character study of MK1!Shang Tsung, a bit about his relationship with Damashi, General Shao and potential partnership with Sub-Zero post story-mode.

There was a time when Shang Tsung was nothing more than just a pitiful loser clinging to an even more pathetic life. All he could do to survive was to pretend to be someone else, someone better, wiser; someone worthy of trust, someone people like and listen to. Lying to people was easy. Lying to himself anyone would care if he died came much harder and harder with each passing day.

Then came Damashi and offered him not only power but also kindness, a praise for making progress, be it for fulfilling her plans or for his own growing skills. He would gladly burn the world just to earn her smile, a good word, anything really. She made him for the first time in a long long time feel valued, appreciated, even liked despite who he was under all the polite words and charming smiles.

But that was a lie too. A lie he foolishly fell for, like a stray, hungry dog falls for a kind pat on the head and a little treat before the new owner will kick it for fun.

Shang Tsung was many things but definitely not a dog to be kicked, be it by Liu Kang or his Titan self. If none of the gods cared for him, he wouldn't care for them either. And now, after he ran away from prison and a terrifying storm washed him ashore on a deserted island full of magic secrets to unlock, he had time and means to repay each of his pursuers, to make all the realms if not respect his skills then fear them.

Since Damashi’s - his own Titan self’s - betrayal many days and nights have passed and with each Shang Tsung’s mastery of magic grew stronger, his knowledge deepened, his confidence restored and strengthened. He claimed the island as his new home, the impregnable fortress secured by the most wicked, devilish and brilliant traps he could think about and for the first time in ages, he finally felt like belonging to the right place.

It was as good a life as it could be. Not perfect, as Shang Tsung still needed to figure out how to secure his food supplies before he would tame the wild land, unused for years and maybe the animals lurking in the shadows could be useful too. A domestic cattle would be a great addition for sure, as it was the only type of animal he had any skill to maintain but then again, there was no way he would engage in tedious farming. He had no time nor patience for that kind of work yet he did not want any stranger on his island either. All he could do for now was to eat the catched fishes and some plucked from tree fruits while bringing all the needed ingredients and supplies from a quick trip to the land. Using magic portals was a tricky solution - magic brought unwanted attention and once used, always left some traits to follow but after the last storm he did not feel safe on a boat sailing through the open sea. On the land, he did run into some of his former allies, exchanged important news and some secrets here and there, never truly betraying where he was hiding. The General and his men treated Shang Tsung with suspicion, always demanding more than he offered. On the other hand, he and Quan Chi worked well in the past, but after the last betrayal, Shang Tsung couldn’t trust anyone anymore. Everyone blamed him for his Titan self’s lies, like he was the one lying to them all. The Royal Family wanted his head, the Earthrealm Champions hunted him too. It was a mess, amusing and irritating at the same time.

He was going to deal with that matter too, when the right time came. For now, Shang Tsung enjoyed the new found magic - the power awaiting for those who will dare to reach out for it. A power he didn’t need to share with anyone.

Everything would feel much better though if Sub-Zero didn’t somehow find a way to break into his new home like all the deviously set up traps meant nothing.

Shang Tsung should know something was off the moment he felt coldness creeping into his bones, but in all fairness, it was always cold here. He did not have yet an idea how to heat the interior of an abandoned fortress and as much as he liked to not freeze in his own sleep, luxury like that was not on his priority list. He should be more cautious, more focused on the change in the air about him than walking straight into his own room and then be dumstocked at the sight of Sub-Zero looking through his books as if he had lived here forever and Shang Tsung was the unwanted guest.

“Your security is shitty” was all he got as a greeting. Cold, sharp, uncaring words judging him as an incompetent idiot. The bastard did not even bother to look at him, just kept rummaging through the books like it was the only thing worth this attention.

Shang Tsung wasn’t sure what offended him more - being ignored or watching as his precious belongings were touched without his permission. He liked books way more than he liked people.

In the last few years he killed people for less than that yet he smiled his most charming smile, the gears in his head working fast and furious on how to turn the unpleasant situation for his own advantage. The fact that Sub-Zero allowed him to see himself in the open instead of lurking in the shadows to cut his throat gave Shang Tsung a reason for a bit of optimism. As far as he heard from his former, maybe-still-maybe-not allies, Lin Kuei rejected Liu Kang’s authority and were on their own. It of course did not mean that Sub-Zero was his friend or ally nor that he wouldn't murder Shang Tsung at the end of day, either to reconcile with Fire Lord or to bribe the god to let the Lin Kuei be in peace.

Shang Tsung couldn’t blame Bi-Han for that - in this cruel world, everyone was looking after their own best interest, but the vision of losing his life did not sit well with him at all. He wasn’t afraid of fighting and he did beat down great Champions in the last battle, but out of all opponents, it was Sub-Zero's ice axe that was the closest to beheading him for good.

He did not plan to forget that anytime soon.

“What an unexpected surprise,” he said, all the soft, so sweet smile, velvet voice and sharp eyes analyzing the danger standing before him. “What can I do for you, my friend? Or did you just miss my humble company?”

He teased with feigned innocence because men hated when he said ridiculous stuff like that. Shang Tsung hated it himself, because he knew no one would miss him at all.

“For one, drop the false politeness” came Sub-Zero’s cold reply, a mix of disapproval and command that Shang Tsung was so used to, because this was how people treated him, the real him, all his life. “We are not friends.”

There was a flare of anger in Shang Tsung now, the desire to prove himself the superior, not a pitiful dog anyone could kick and command - but he knew better than to allow this fire to burn inside him. Emotions were a weakness he couldn’t afford. Did the man even know how much he provoked the sorcerer with his cold disdain? Shang Tsung had no idea. He heard a lot of stories about Lin Kuei; even in the backwater hole from which he crawled out everyone heard the terrifying tales of Fire Lord’s secret army. Of the ice demons stealthier than shadows and more deadly than night itself and for a long time Shang Tsung did not think of them as living beings from this world.

Still… Sub-Zero was mortal, wasn’t he? A special one no doubt, with control over ice yet he could bleed too. Shang Tsung wondered for a moment what he could find under the fine, cold skin if he ever had a chance to look for the answer. An ice demon, human or hybrid of both?

“But we are still allies, aren’t we?” he asked, still polite and careful, yet walking up to the other man with his typical swagger. Not close enough to be in arm reach, but close enough to show he wasn’t that easily intimidated.

The great military hero of Edenia always looked down on his movements; how he fought, how he gesticulated, how he walked. No self-respecting soldier would walk like some pleased prostitute after a well-paid job, the General said not once nor twice and all Shang Tsung could do then was to smile the brightest smile and thank him, like his disdain was the best praise he heard that day. The only thing they really have in common, beside the desire to take down Sindel’s regime, was being self-made men for both worked hard to be who they were. Yet General came from an old, aristocratic family with even older military tradition and everything that did not fit his narrow-minded idea of the world was treated with hostility and contempt.

Shang Tsung’s skinny body, swagger, shrewdness, curiosity and wordiness unsurprisingly annoyed the great warrior and to say he took no pleasure in that fact would be a blatant lie. Even if it was childish and unproductive pleasure, it amused him to know how little effort he needed to test the patience of such a stern and manly man.

Sub-Zero reminded him a lot of Shao and he suspected it was the soldier thing; the body built for fight and hardship, no-nonse attitude and the way both men moved - with deadly precision and confidence only a person that in fact killed an enemy in battle could muster. Even the way they spoke sounded similar, a barked command that everyone around instinctively wanted to obey, either out of respect or fear.

For that similarity alone, Shang Tsung expected the Lin Kuei Grandmaster to snarl at him some nasty remark about how his Titan self betrayed them all and thus how little he himself was worth of anyone’s trust. Anything to put the sorcerer down even a bit, to remind him what a failure he was.

“That is yet to be seen” was all the Grandmaster said, finally glancing from the book to Shang Tsung.

It was hard to read anything from the man’s face, as half of it was hidden behind that damned Lin Kuei mask. All he could do was to rely on the move of a brew and the incantation of voice, each syllable, a moment of pause. It was a hard task, as the man showed no emotions and spoke so little so far. But the sorcerer knew there was anger, always lurking in each word spoken by Sub-Zero, but also… an excitement at finally being free of Liu Kang’s control. As Damashi foretold.

Shang Tsung couldn’t help but to think there was something much deeper about Damashi's interest in breaking Lin Kuei from Fire Lord than he ever suspected before. Back then the choice sounded logical - every action that would deprive Liu Kang of the advantage was worth taking so he did not question his benefactor. How could he, really? Now though? The truth burned him to the core and he learned the hard way that each of Damashi’s words had a hidden meaning, each action served a different goal than was promised; the victory he was in fact never part of. Yet… even the deepest shade of lie had a grain of truth. He knew that one well, for he lied all his life.

His Titan self for some reason wanted not so much the Lin Kuei itself as the Sub-Zero specifically on his side. Maybe more than Titan Shang Tsung even wanted his own younger self, corrupted by Liu Kang.

The mere thought made him want to curse all gods alike. There was no difference for him between Liu Kang and his Titan-self, as both played him like some pawn, not even an important figure. Just pawn, to hold away from power, to sacrifice it when times would come.

But there was more to it than just jealous anger and the never ending feeling of never being good enough. If Sub-Zero meant so much, if not in the grand scheme of things itself then just for personal satisfaction of Titan, then maybe he could be important to Shang Tsung’s own plans. Allies were hard to come by and these days he could use some, well, not protection really, he was done with living under someone else's wing but he wouldn’t say no to some partnership or at least casual support. The little favor here and there where things were still thick and troublesome to deal on your own. After all, freedom always came at some cost.

Maybe Sub-Zero came to the same conclusion and his unexpected visit was just a reconnaissance. They were more alike than one would think, as similar desires drove them into this madness of Titans. To prove their own might and skills to all those that looked down on them their whole life. But above everything else, to be free and powerful enough to keep that freedom.

To his own surprise, Shang Tsung took comfort in that thought.

If they were meant to stay allies - or as close two stubborn outcasts with grudge against gods could rely on each other, some sacrifices were to be made. Shang Tsung did something he rarely did - he dropped the false politeness under which he hid himself for years.

“How did you find me?” he asked Sub-Zero directly, raising his chin challengingly. He was not afraid of Lin Kuei, just curious.

“You are not as careful as you think you are” Bi-Han answered with no less challenging stare, yet the flick of an amusement in his eyes was unmistakable. Shang Tsung knew the man was smirking under that damned mask and that thought alone made him puff in anger.

The brown eyes shone even more.

Sub-Zero moved from his place, slowly walking from one bookshelf to another. His fingers traced books, never stopping at any particular volume, but always touching the book spines, like there was something interesting in their textures. The man did not pay attention to Shang Tsung and not really to books either. He was studying the room itself. The sorcerer couldn’t place why it bothered him so much but he knew better than to allow Sub-Zero to learn even the most trivial things about himself or his fortress.

Damashi warned him against that the first day when she spoke about Lin Kuei. They are thieves, the mysterious being said, all grace and patience and praise for the unwanted Shang Tsung who drank in her words like the wisdom of gods, who will steal your fortune, life and secrets. Always be on your guard around them, especially around the one named Sub-Zero. If only he was smarter back then, less in need to please his generous benefactor, maybe he could hear in her sweet voice the longing for something, someone, that was not anymore. For the old partnership that was broken and defiled by Liu Kang’s peaceful vision of the world. But he was a fool who thought her yearning was for him alone.

Shang Tsung was done with being played like a fool.

“Who told you about my island?” he demanded, voice still quiet yet no less burning with an old anger. He would get his answers, whatever kindly or by force.

A long sigh escaped Sub-Zero’s lips and frankly it took him out by surprise. Shang Tsung - or rather his Titan self - knew the man was running on frustration for years, but that sounded as a whole new level of annoyance.

“I heard about it from Havik, who heard that from Rain, who heard that from Reiko, who heard that from Shao, who heard about it from Quan Chi. But the whole Sun Do is full of similar gossip.”

For a moment none of them spoke. Shang Tsung stared at Sub-Zero’s impassive, half-hidden face that still somehow emanated his disgust at their maybe-allies-maybe-not-but-definitely-idiots who apparently couldn’t keep a secret to save their own life. The feeling was mutual, because this was the reason why the sorcerer hated working with others. No one apparently could keep their mouth shut down if you didn’t help make that permanently.

He closed eyes and rubbed his forehead, like that could ward off all the bad thoughts assaulting his mind right now. His fingers were cold, too cold for his liking, unpleasantly stiff and numb. He did not like how the mere presence of a cryomancer affected his body, how it made him shiver and weak. He was an Edenian for fuck’s sake, and Edenia did not even know what winter cold was. He did not know that himself, until Damashi led him to a snow-covered fortress and he almost freezed there the first night.

It took him a moment to realize something bad was happening. He couldn’t focus, all his senses dulled, body so clumsy and weak. As if his energy suddenly dropped to zero and fatigue was taking over. A flash of panic crossed his mind, but he was too tired, too cold to even be afraid for his life.

He had no idea how long he remained in the grip of this piercing soul frost. A few seconds? Days? He couldn’t even say. What mattered was that once the control of his senses came back, he was still alive and Sub-Zero gone.

And the fact the bastard stole a few of his precious scrolls and books.

***

The books showed up on his desk a few days later. There was no thank you or sorry about that note, not even the fuck you, loser. Shang Tsung both admired the man's boldness and hated him for it. Still he appreciated the books were returned in a good condition, as there was not a single scratch on any of them, not even a new page crease. He had no idea if that was some sort of weird Lin Kuei’s way to test him, disrespect or Sub-Zero took the books simply because he wanted to read them but he was a bastard with no sense of social politeness to just ask as any normal human being would. Damashi mentioned cryomancers were naturally difficult like that.

Shang Tsung had better things to do than to wonder what the check was wrong with Sub-Zero yet he was too curious for his own sake. Sadly, the titles alone did not say anything useful on the matter and even though he read each book just in case, there was hardly anything worth the time it took to finish them. No grand secrets revealed, no magic or military knowledge, not even historical value. Just some technical nonsense that bore him to death and if Sub-Zero was into stuff like that then no wonder the man lacked any social grace.

The Grandmaster of Lin Kuei so far did not try to kill him and returned the books so Shang Tsung decided to give him the benefit of doubt and so he did not cross out the man from the list of potential allies. It did not stop him however from improving the traps just in case the man decided to return solely to steal again.

***

The scrolls showed up on his desk three days later. Their appearance actually worried Shang Tsung, not just because the trap again turned out to be useless. He was not worried even by the possibility Sub-Zero found some secret entrance he did not know about yet. No, what worried him was the fact he spent the whole morning in his chamber and walked out for like twenty minutes at best and when he returned, the scrolls WERE. THERE.

That actually unnerved him much more than he wanted to admit.

The scrolls turned out to be written in a language Shang Tsung did not even know and the implication that Lin Kuei could read it only added to the feeling of cold unease. There was however a note left on the scrolls; a small paper with only Royal Army searching the coast written in Shang Tsung’s own language.

He was not afraid of empress Mileena’s army but he did appreciate the warning. Of course, the warning could be a fraud, a means to build trust only to betray him. The common sense advised caution yet there was a weird sense of peace within Shang Tsung. A hope or hunch, he did not know, but deep in his heart he felt everything was alright.

All he could do for now was wait to see if Sub-Zero will lead the enemy to his fortress or not. So he waited.

(The fact that another book disappeared with Sub-Zero did not surprise him much. Irritated, yes, but not worried. For some reason he felt everything was like it should be, like some almost forgotten memory of past life came back to him and the sense of deja vu was weirdly comforting.)

#mortal kombat #shang tsung #bi han #sub zero #cienie's fanfiction #and to think i started to write if for the cat propaganda that i did not use yet lol #i'm here for #bi han and shang tsung #relationship colored by various source material #sub zero's love for ancient scrolls full of secret knowledge though in this fic he steals stuff for sektor's project from the mk1 ending #and how he get inside a highly secured places #and don't tell me i'm the only one to think damashi was special person to shang tsung #also lol at how all of the bad guys gossip no one in mk cast know what secret means or what? XD #as for bi han's powers i was inspired by mk book i guess #and it turned out like he changed the ambient temperature unnoticed until it was too late and then get the hell away with books XD

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eternallovers65 · 7 months

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Thoughts about dramatrio as a forever viewer (and occasionally bad and baghera viewer)

RP WISE!!!! DON'T GO BOTHER THE CC'S

From q!forever's perspective, you can see how the dramatrio was always a duo and not a trio. qbad and qbaghera do not trust forever, and if they do, they don't trust him enough for their secrets.

- They never supported qforever during his presidency (qbad did vote for him, tho). qbad always complained about everything forever did, even tho qforever always tried to listen to him and everyone else.

- qbaghera did not told him the secret about her childhood, but she told qbad. Just like bad didn't tell qforever about the fed worker he kidnapped but he told qbaghera.

- "Oh but qforever took his waystone first" he did that because he asked for an item and no one helped him, so he got tired of helping people but no one helping him

- Also, qbaghera is dapper's mom, and qbad is pomme's dad. qforever was never included in this conversation.

- They say forever will get easily manipulated by the federation because he's the president, but yesterday both bad and baghera said they don't think cucurucho is bad

- They both banned forever from their houses

Anyway, they like to have forever around for the fun part of it, to joke and all but when stuff get serious they don't tell him anything and keep talking about him behind his back. And the only people that actually trust qforever is the favelafive

#i saw people saying that qbaghera was in a lose lose situation yesterday but idk you tell bad but you dont tell forever???#'oh because hes the president“ when did qforever ever betrayed his best friends??? during the whole pill arc he still tried to help cellbit #also the whole argument goes to shit because now bad and baghs are saying cucurucho isnt bad as if he didn't lock up phil or torture cellbi #this was always a duo during the serious moments and only blind people dont see this and say qforever is acting like a child #and i think this started when q!forever hit leo during his attack but even tho he redeemed himself foolish doesnt hate him for that #and has forgiven him somehow baghera and bad dont and they have this idea that forever is impulsive even tho he can be quite the strategist #when he wants and again he always does everything for everyone and theres zero retribution from them i mean forever literally did that part #for bad two days ago and told he would try to make bad and baghera happy even tho he doesnt know whats going on with them bc they dont tell #anyway im tired of forever being the good guy always i need him to actully wake up and just stop caring #qsmp #qbaghera #qbadboyhalo #qforever

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peribytes · 9 months

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THE BITCH IS BACK, BABES !!

#NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#THE ANIMAL IS OUT OF HIS CAGE. THE ANIMAL IS FREE.#FUCK THAT PLACE. SHITHOLE OF A PLACE #i have a word or two for my doctor and it starts with F and Y #i got no help. zero. whatever they said i have already learned from the internet. lol.#also my anxiety was so bad in there i lost 4 pounds from a poor appetite.#and they gave me fuckin. lithium #my parents were SO MAD when i told them over the phone #anyway #i'm home and i couldn't be happier about it #just the thought of being trapped in that place makes me wanna vom <3 #oh yeah i was put in the detox unit instead of the one for mental disorders or whatever it is #my dad was very mad i was put in with the alcoholics and drug addicts but they were very nice people #i was able to come out of my shell and have conversations with them pretty easily #that is the ONLY positive thing i can say about my entrapment #i missed you guys so much. i really missed my family #god and now they're gonna call me tomorrow morning to talk about whateverthefuck #and i gotta call my doctor in a week #god i don't wanna talk to these people anymore. LEAVE ME ALONE

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wildflowercryptid · 3 months

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thinking about florian getting a munna during his stay at bb academy to help with his frequent nightmares...

#you know how munna are drawn to ppl having nightmares & how nightmares can linger on your mind #i like to imagine an abandoned munna happened upon flori during a visit to mainland unova >>>#and would not leave him alone bc he had another nightmare the night before #he'd probably leave it at a pokémon center just incase it was lost but definitely takes it in after he finds out it was abandoned #wait did i forget to mention that florian suffers from nightmares after going to area zero? bc that's a thing #they get worse after going to the underdepths ( especially bc terapagos starts showing up in them )#so him having a munna around to eat up his bad dreams would probably be good #speaking of sleep i should probably go back to bed #hc : (pkmn) mjverse #chara : florian russel cavallari #mj.txt

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the-jam-to-the-unicorn · 4 months

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Here are the issues I have with the book. Since it's a lot, I'll try to keep it as short as possible and only mention my biggest problems with it. So this list is not complete and I could write pages about it.

Let me start by saying that a good autobiography (or any book that highlights a real life person) should be balanced. It should not glorify that person or pretend that person is a god and without mistakes. I also have no problem with critizing Ze, because, let's face it, yes he made mistakes and fucked things up in the past and not every war decision or speech or whatever was good or perfect. The point is: the critique should be fair and balanced (this obviously doesn't apply to bad people in general and the books about them; but since Ze isn't a bad person...you get what I want to say). The portrayal of Ze in the book is anything but fair or balanced. Or true, for that matter (unless literally every person in Ze's life and who knows him better, including the Kvartal fam, Olena, Andriy or people like them, have been lying to everyone for decades).

Throughout the whole book Shuster does say that Ze is Ukrainian (and Jewish) but also always tries to paint him as an "Ukrainian Russian" - so Ze is actually Russian despite being a "Ukrainian" (basically using one of Russia's Propaganda lies). Ze is basically a stubborn "Ukrainian" who kind of deserves all the hate and arrogance he gets from "real Russians" during KVN times (and later) because Ze is an insufferable asshole during his KVN times. And that Russian treated Ukrainian (or from other former Soviet Union countries) teams badly (including racist remarks, looking down on them, treating them like slaves, insulting them, not giving them a fair chance,...) teams awfully is, in Ze's case, deserved. Because Ze was oh so focused on always winning - no matter what and the cost.

Speaking of KVN: According to Shuster, Ze was terrible as a person during his first years of stardom. A maniac who only lived for applause and needs it to survive and was willing to do absolutely everything to win and beat other teams. Because, you know, he's so obsessed with winning. To a point were even he gives a flying fuck about the Kvartal team and their members (Shuster basically hints that they all disliked Ze and he was some kind of group dictator who only wanted to work and win all the time and was reckless and took to many risks and almost destroyed everyones lifes). When Shuster finds something positive to write about, he quotes people from Kvartal but what he quotes are just general statements or people saying what KVN was like during the 1990s and early 2000s. The moment Shuster writes about Ze and was he (allegedly) like during this time it's almost only "team members" and "people who knem him" and "classmates" and all that stuff - so anon sources. Or it's just Shuster telling stuff without saying what his source is or him just have feelings and thoughts and drawing conclusions. If people get named they - surprise, surprise - have a lot of times bad things to say about Ze or are people who we never ever have heard of as being part of Ze's life. Btw, it's not very hard to guess who the "team member", who talked the KVN years and adds a lot of negative talk about Ze, is... . Denys (yes, THAT Denys) contributed to the book with pictures, so chances are high he also talked to Shuster. If you ever wondered if the asshole would ever get over the fact that he fucked up and Ze kicked his ass out of the group - well, the answer is no. He now just tries to cash in on Ze. And since we are talking about Denys' obvious contribution to the book - he, once again, gave out private photos. How much we all wanna bet that he, once again, didn't ask for consent?!

Shuster also tries to paint Ze's family in a bad light. The father a tyrann who sacrified his wife's (Mama Ze) health for his job and money. Also rarely being at home and giving a fuck about his son and family. Mama Ze spoiling her child and making him entitled. Both to unloving and hard and more or less making Ze's life a living hell. Also that Ze's family was suddenly rich. Not to mention indirectly questioning the trauma his family had to go through (and Ze talked about in the past) under Stalin and the Nazis and family members that are suddenly alive (despite Ze stating in the past that they were dead). Also, Shuster sees in the childhood and family of Ze a part of the explanation why Ze is such a horrible person today, to stubborn to just give up and end the fight (and all that nonsense) and won't win this war. Because the parents put Ze in all kind of activities without him finishing any of it but letting him believe he can do everything and always demanding excellent perfomance in every aspect of his life (to keep it short). So of cooourse Ze had to grow up into a maniac who can't loose and always continues despite what people may tell him and who needs the constant validation and love from others.

There are also a ton of negative remarks about Ze as father and husband in regard of his own family. Not to mentiont hat a ton of informations are factually not correct. Things like birth dates or dates in general, how and where Ze's family lived (missing important context several times), Ze basically being as awful as his father, Ze not giving a fuck about his families safety during the war (Olena was the voice of reason who protects the poor, poor children because their father just wants them back for egoistic reasons and doesn't care about their safety) or not seeing anything concerning about his sons military obsession and instead fueling it (again, it's the poor poor wife who has to protect the son from the awful father), Ze giving zero fucks about his relationship with Olena right from the start and that poor, poor, poor woman always staying behind and having to go through hell and hate because of Ze's maniac ambitions and facing an unsave future in the early 2000s because Ze was so full of himself and had the biggest ego,... . (reading several parts you would think that this "poor, poor woman" is trapped in some abuse situation or Ze somehow tied her to himself and the whole marriage is fake and there is no love) (also Olena simultaniously romantizing things and her life and Ukraine but also being the only who who sees the truth about Ze or several parts of their lives but, of course, can't tell her terrible husband because bad, bad Ze) Also Shuster indirectly claiming that Ze and Olena lied about their relationship and they didn't date for eight years but for a shorter period of time. Because suddenly Olena also was a part of KVN long before Ze (???) and was essentially just his work buddy and friend for a while and somehow and for whatever reason they ended up in a relationship one day. (Also prepare yourself to read about a new version of the "Basic Instinct" story we never have heard before...and Ze and Olena never said.)

Btw, the way Ze is portrayed during his KVN years is essentially with little variation how he's portrayed in later stages of his life. Including his presidency and the war (I'm not going to write several more paragraphes because I think you get the picture Shuster tries to paint of Ze).

Only one thing about Ze's war portrayal: Shuster swings back and forth between Ze as wanna be dictator who will turn Ukraine into something bad as soon as the war is over (and is already starting with that) and who already makes his own rules and gives zero fucks about people and is only interested in his own fame and people applauding him and all that stuff. And Ze being the worst President ever because the war and the current state of Ukraine (which is, of course, very bad and they are about to collapse and loose and big Russia and winning and blablabla) are somehow also his fault. Yes, Shuster really manages to make Ze (and with that Ukraine) partly guilty.

Throughout the whole book he also, sometimes more obvious sometimes hidden, Shuster portrays Ukraine in the worst way possible. He does mention how "bad" Russia is but somehow justifying it several times or leaving out important facts and, once again, context. Also the portrayal of Putin, especially in comparsion with how he writes about Ze, is a joke.

Oh, and, the "inside look in the bunker" life Shuster used for his marketing campaign and that the claim of the book - yeah, bullshit. It's nothing now and anon and all that stuff. Also, once again, portraying Ze in a bad light. Like, yeah, the first weeks of war affected him but to such a worrying point (according to Shuster) that Ze was actually unfit to rule any longer as President but continued (because, you know, he loves power sooo much...). And now he's the mini dictator of Bankova who is always grumpy and changed into a (an even more) awful person and... .

What can I say at the end?! As mentioned earlier, the book has a ton of fake news and wrong facts. It's incredibly poorly researched - if sources exist at all. A lot of times it's Shuster just sharing his feelings or thougths or conclusions or interpretations or whatever. Or just saying things without context. Or writing stuff without giving sources. And to be honest, in some parts it also feels like that Shuster just made stuff up.

If you have no idea about Ze and his life or know very little - that's not the book to get informed. If you know a bit more about Ze, you will surprisingly often feel that certain parts of "exclusive interviews" or "when I talked with XYZ" are strangely familiar...with interviews we all know from Ze's (and several other people) past...because it is these interviews. Just a lot of times missing context, shortening what was said, adding stuff or giving it a new meaning.

Speaking of using old stuff: Shuster also really used his old articles to include them in the book...to a point where it's basically almost word for word.

Overall, the book is in large parts poorly written (so poorly that you wonder how he became a TIME journalist in the first place).

In the end, you probably haven't learned anything new or interesting about Ze, his life, the war or Ukraine. When we talk about Ze, I may have read one, maybe two new things I haven't read before (but questioning both of them and will do research if they are true or just made up by Shuster). It's over 300 sites of wasted paper and ink. I know articles who did a better job than this "book". It's a waste of time and money. And in the end it's a Pro-Russia Propaganda book, trying to undermine the support for Ukraine and hurt Ze and his image (as well as Ukraine's). Shuster tries to be subtle at his try to do this but he isn't not. He tries to come off as critical thinker who wants to portray a balanced picture of Ze and also writes about the sides no one dares to talk about. But nothing about this is balanced. It's just 300+ sites of trashing Ze and backstabbing him and using every possible way. Same applies to Ukraine.

#thanks anon!!!#HOLY FUCKING SHIT #😱😨😰#im actually so shocked right now #if this is really the book than this is basically shuster trying to destruct ze and ukraine #ze and olena as well as his kvartal fam probably have better things to do right now but if this book has that many false informations...#...i hope someone at some point starts a law suit #im so shocked about what i just read #i didnt expect much from the book since shuster changed so many things about it #and my expectations were almost zero after his latest articles #but thats...something...#denys being part of that?! i probably should be shocked but after the le monde (?) thing im not really...#also read online that people think people close to poroshenko or other political opponents of ze as well as ares-asshole and people like...#...that are shusters sources #i agree with anon that a “balanced” look at a person is always good in suck a book #but also agree with anon that there is nothing balancing if that is zes portrayal #also agree with anon if this is zes portrayal than something really doesnt match up with what his friends family olena and people close...#...to him of from his life said about him since forever #i think its also highly suspicious that before all that (or presidency if you want to go further back) no one could say a bad word about hi #quite the contrary actually #but suddenly everyone thinks badly about him and hates him and ze is such an awful person and all that stuff #and using already existing interviews and his articles and pretend its exlucive and said it to him and its something new???? thats very wil

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luminisiv · 6 months

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Day 21 of @oc-tober2023: Poison

Two NPCs from my current campaign I'm running, Anahera and Laelia. Their relationship that never came to fruition because Anahera would never be able to let go of her one true love: a thirst for power, and she would take Laelia down with her.

or more literally, toxic yuri LOL

#oc-tober #oc tober #oc-tober2023 #oc stuff #luminis art #i have such an easier time drawing and writing toxic relationships rather than healthy ones. SIGHS #like ohhh i was embarrassed about depicting the genuine love of zero and alastor earlier #and then with this im like you all want to see women who are bad for each other? LMAO #sorry ladies you were doomed from the start. ana is so bad #shes my girlboss <3

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zevrans · 5 months

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#yeah man.. had a few hours of back and forth argument with my friend..idk really if i want to call her that now #but it was an eye opening mess.. it all started with her sending me dreadwolf trailer and i said it's all promises talk #and literally it went downhill from there she claimed that it's been announced like a year ago i said it's been in development for years #it then went to a fandom talk and how she thinks people in fandoms are pathetic and etc bullshit #how being a fan of something is not normal #and being invested in fiction and vgs and fandoms is something ppl with little responsibility do..#man i can't even write out all the stuff she said i genuinely felt so bad after this argument #i don't think i ever want to speak to her again #people having fun in her understanding is pathetic childish and a sign of a person not having enough responsibilities in life??#jfc i never realized just how truly toxic she is...#i mean deep down i did i just didn't want to admit to myself.. her general attitude to people being fans of something is just sickening #i'm determined to not write to her at all unless she reaches out which i doubt #she just shitted on everything despite me trying to expain how fiction can even literally save people #i tried expaining to her why some people are telling other ppl to not buy dreadwolf and pirate instead #i said about the fucked over emplyees of bioware and what she said was #it's a cruel world but idgaf it's business cry me a river - something along these lines #she literally has zero empathy i understand it now #the way she only selectively cares about wars going on in world #i said if people can boycott companies that support wars why cant they also support people who suffer from companies #she said and i qoute 'to compare war to people being fired wow that's something'#i was not comparing i just tried to find empathy in her to no avail #anyways.. i am so dissapointed in her and in myself that i didn't see this sooner #tbd

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opens-up-4-nobody · 7 months

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...

#shout out to crying quietly in a bathroom stall before u have to go teach a room full of 18yo children #my face is v splotchy and if anyone asks if im alright i might burst into tears #y bc i got here at 7am. so i woke up at 5.30 and i teach from 3 to 5 normally #but the person who teaches 5 to 7 is sick so someone needs to substitute and i knew as soon as i saw the email it had to b me #bc no one else is prepared to teach on the 1st day of the week. so i get to do a 12hr day with basically zero breaks #and i have SO much that needs to get done. all the other TAs have all their stuff graded or at least made a start #and im gonna be here until its dark outside. and i probably made everyone feel bad bc my voice was shaking when i volunteered myself #and im not mad at them or blame them. im the obvious choice to do it. i also just so happen to b having #some sort of breakdown so ya kno. not ideal but so it goes #itll b fine. its the topic i study so it should b fine #unrelated #thats thr other thing. its beautiful outside and im not gonna b able to run bc itll b too dark when i leave

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wayward-sherlock · 1 year

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copying and pasting what may be my best fic idea in a while:

i want to write a fic where the party (mostly Mike and will) have a night that they know will be a defining night of their childhood/teenage existence but if they acknowledge it too early they’ll begin to force things to happen so they’re in that weird in between of knowing that THIS is the night that will change their life and their views and will give them a deeper understanding of what it means to be free and to be human and not acknowledging any of those things at all because it will ruin the night if they think about it too much

…hm. (someone tell me to write it)

#or tell me it’s really bad and i should give up writing forever and ever #anyways #copying and pasting from my gc with elli and kiri #i might???#actually write this??#it’s giving landslide vibes i wanna do it so bad #i just dk if i should start it bc i have like zero motivation bc of depresso :/#wayli writes #wayli goes insane #byler #stranger things #will byers #mike wheeler #mike wheeler i know what you are #ao3 #byler fic

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void-kissed · 11 months

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ohhh?? a fifth main??? 👀 is it zero or clio by chance???

selwyn it has been Thirty Seconds

yes it's Clio

#a call from the void #heart of the void #selfshipping #love: crown of clovers (clio)#IN MY DEFENCE I HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON HER A LOT OVER THE PAST.. when did we start fatebreakers. NINE MONTHS #I say that like she's been in it that whole time but she showed up near the start once and then she came back more recently #EITHER WAY #I just feel bad because I made her after the game she was made for went offline #which is part of why i'm so adamant to hear more about missing link. I want to bring her story to something current again #I just love her okay #out of the inbox #selfship asks #selwyn tag!#with zero I have a similar but opposite problem - namely that I can't really think about my selfship with her much yet #because she doesn't show up in the story until *the end of the game* and I am *very much not near that right now*#so while i've been able to have story for my *self-insert* it hasn't been as easy to think of for the *selfship itself*#which is.. not how it normally goes I wouldn't say

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ratgirlcopia · 21 days

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sometimes the greatest blow to the ego is recognizing that my ideal 100k canon compliant copia fic would be boring as all hell.

#copiaposting #real ones may remember the thing i started in. man i dunno. august? earlier? that has since been deleted from my ao3.#because i decided i disliked literally every part of it that related to the ministry having ANY sort of lore.#the ideal version of that really would have just been copia learning how to live alone and go grocery shopping.#and have a thing with that bear i made up.#but because the entire “why is this even happening” justification i came up with for it started to annoy me SO BAD i just had to scrap it.#the plan was to revisit it with a justification i liked better that had zero reliance on fanon nonsense i absorbed via osmosis.#but then i wrote conundrum (favorite fic i've ever written of All Time Ever) instead so no complaints there.#i think long form canon compliant copiafic just isn't in the cards for me but i do like putting out a random short gender fic occasionally.

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odinsblog · 1 year

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#always a nice way to start the day off #with a massive compliment from complete strangers #i was sitting in the bank drive thru @ the atm #singing along to ‘foolish heart’ by steve perry #after a couple of minutes i heard a car honk its horn in the lane next to me #and the horn honker yells ‘ladies yall can listen to him sing later but im running late for work’#and the two girls in the car that was in the lane next to me flipped off the horn honker guy behind them #and pulled up a little and just started clapping and whistling and waving at me #and kept saying - that was great!#ill tell you what … i got all blushy #ha! yall dont know about my karaoke bar days #yall dont know about luther #me and my luther van dross days (i love ballads you can sing to)#too bad i was running late they were cute girls #anyway - i could start every day with getting my ego stroked at 7am #nice people rock #and it costs zero dollars to be kind #you never know when you might make somebodys day #😊

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dimitrscu · 11 months

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i love pride month but at the same time it always makes me feel so bad about myself. just knowing that i’ll never be able to properly come out because my family will turn on me and because of that i will never be able to have a relationship just makes me feel really awful

#i mean there’s other reasons why i can’t get a relationship but that’s mainly because i have zero to offer someone #unless of course anyone wants a useless gf #but yeah the more time goes by the more i start to wonder if i should just settle for some guy instead #sure would make things easier #never mind that’s not what i want but when do we ever get what we want right #there’s a guy at work who’s been wanting to hang out for a while now #i’m not sure how i feel about him tbh but he seems nice enough #i’ve known him for a few months and he’s always been nice to me #idk what to do #when i get zero interest from women but then i get interest from men #fish fear me women don’t want me it seems #it’s 2:30 am and i feel really bad so pls just ignore this #i will delete and tomorrow will act like nothing happened #questioning my sexuality during the early hour of the morning is a dangerous thing to do

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mishy-mashy · 1 year

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So far there's the magician that likes to make fun of Joshua and has problems to sort out, and a kid who causes property damage on a daily basis and obsesses over instruments (OCs)

These aren't the only ones but I just think that of all my fics or Re:Zero OCs, the cutest is about Julius taking in another spirit (look at Pooka or Chamov for an image on the general character concept)

Including:

Julius has a spirit that's like a son to him

"Julius." Emilia turned to the knight with a smile.

Before Julius could give his own greetings, a fluffy head popped up from his left shoulder. Their cute face blinked at them, before a smile spread across their face.

Ho ho!" the demi-humanoid spirit shouted in greeting, holding onto Julius's shoulders without his help.

Subaru screamed.

Playing shop

Sure, he didn't have much idea about money, but that's why he paid attention to what the lady said! As per the rules of Lady Anastasia, money had only three rules!

1. More money is good!

2. Keep as much money to yourself as you can because that's good!

3. High prices aren't good!

With these core principles in mind, the little demi-human-looking spirit stood over a small box that acted as a shop counter.

"How much is this?" Julius asked, crouching in front of the makeshift desk and holding a valuable metia encrusted with gold.

Of course, because high prices are bad, that must mean they're bad for both the seller and buyer!

"Free, because high prices are bad prices!"

"... I see. How much is your most expensive item?"

"1 bronze!"

If his little spirit friend had hands, he surely would've held up a finger instead of his hoof.

"But I like you, so you can have it for free as my most loyal customer!"

Julius was his only customer, but he kept quiet on that.

".... Thank you for your hospitality."

"Thanks for your thievery! Please come again!"

Rule 3.1: Giving things for free is the equivalent of highway robbery.

Spirits can get sick?

"Buuu..."

"Are you okay?"

Said spirit was on the ground, forehead pressed and tiny arms wrapped around its tummy. Even though Julius couldn't see his face, they sounded like they were half-crying already.

"Feels cursed... buhuu..."

Everyone thinks the spirit is a real demi-human so the spirit needs a last name

"What's a last name?" they asked, doing their best to peer over the paper from the too-tall (read: average height) table.

"A name that identifies you to your house."

"My crystal?"

"No... Do you have a name you want?"

"Super-Cool-Mister-Big-Man!!"

"Let me rephrase that—a last name that's ideally one word?"

"Execution!!"

".. Where did you learn that word..." Julius sighed, not surprised.

"Blood! Murder! Explosion! DEATH TO ALL!! MIMI! IRON FANGS!!! TAKE NO SURVIVORS!!!"

Julius grew slightly embarrassed as others started to crane their heads, judging him for apparently teaching a child those words.

At least he knew where his friend learned said words.

Spirit worldbuilding

".. I'm not sure why he hasn't come out since then," Julius murmured, tapping his finger against the magic crystal that housed them.

It shook slightly—the only response he received up until this point.

"Are you okay?" he spoke to the dormant spirit, unsure if they could hear him. Julius could not receive a verbal or telepathic reply either, like with his little spirits.

After all, they were not—

#im still starving but at least i got a cute OC to tide me over for a bit #came up with this yesterday and ran with it because it's so cute and gets really funny #Julius's friendly spirit: the spirit-equivalent of dumb innocence #no title but it'd probably be something like- Julius's very good very happy day #just a feel-good story #the contrast is funny because i have cute little spirit here where nothing bad happens #and suicide murder inferiority complexes and slave trade elsewhere #julius: I've only had them for a day and a half but if anything happened to them I'd kill everyone in this room and then myself #im cooking my own food here and this one is like dessert because it's tooth-rottingly cute #re zero #rezero #re:zero #oc #fanfic #fanfiction #fic #julius juukulius #i'd write this because it's fast and easy but i'd have to read over arc 5+#from arc 5 is when things start getting gritty because of what happens to Julius #spoilers #i did publish a fic tho and plan to do more in the future (oc stuff)#another story / fanfiction preview #snippets #the spirit steals everyones things to play shop and they always get it back by the end of the day if they interact with him as a customer #otherwise he actually will sell them for prices that'd make Anastasia proud

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