#to help the powerless because he understands what its like and i like when his character is equal bruce and bat but i feel like the best

[sugurugetofavoritemonkey]

Hurt to comfort I guess, where Suguru Geto takes care of you when you cry

When Suguru comes back to your shared home, the first thing he hears breaks his heart in less than a second. He follows the sound of your sobs to your mutual bedroom, where you’re laying on your side. Suguru sits calmly on the bed and puts his hand on your shoulder, whispering gently, « Hey sweetheart, what’s happening ? Are you all right ? »

When your crying doesn't stop and your shaking just grows stronger, Suguru feels powerless, he can’t bear to see you this sad, his only goal at the moment is to keep you safe in his arms and erase all those tears from your face. You really didn’t deserve that, whatever was the reason behind your actual state. 

Suguru takes his time to take your form in his hands and makes you sit up smoothly to look at your face and help you get better eventually. « It’s alright precious, I’m here. It’s okay, don't worry. Do you think you can talk to me ? »

You look up at him with tired eyes due to your intense crying and cheeks drenched in your tears, and as you try to articulate some words between hiccups, your boyfriend understands that he doesn't need to make you talk to him for the sake of appeasing you. The only thing you needed right now, was his comforting presence and nothing more. 

His cold fingers take place on your wet face to make you look at him gently, his thumbs tracing random patterns on your cheekbones in order to eventually soothe you and remove your tears from your face at the same time. 

Suguru gets closer to your trembling body to take you in his embrace, his arms enveloping you perfectly with his oh so welcomed warmth as your face nuzzles into his chest, where you can hear his calming heartbeat close to your ear. Your hand grips onto his shirt like he could possibly disappear in any given second, while you let out some more cries that get muffled by his protecting body. 

But these heartbroken sounds that make Suguru’s eyes water, grow to disappear as his calm hands wander up and down your back, oh so slowly but with a certain presence on your body as to remind you that he will always be here to help you in any form, as long as he can bring you peacefulness and love.  

His face finds its way in the crook of your neck where his lips are able to murmur the sweetest things he has in mind in order to calm you down and reassure you, even just a bit. To make you feel at ease and protected with him but mostly to remind you of his love for you. 

“It’s okay angel, I’m here and I’m not going away, you don’t have to explain to me anything that you don’t want to. You’re doing great and I’m proud of you no matter what. Never forget that I’ll always love you, okay ? You’re too dear for me to let you cry like this, that’s why I’ll always take care of you, I promise”

And maybe your crying had indeed stopped, but after hearing what your Suguru had so softly whispered to you, you could not hold back a few tears at the feeling of pure love that he was offering you at the moment.

With silent “thank yous” escaping from your lips, and your now relaxed form melting into his, you were slowly starting to slumber into the arms of Morpheus. With the help of Suguru’s hands caressing your hair and his mouth dropping kisses to your temple, in a tender way. 

As his arms bring you even closer to his heart, Suguru whispers one last thing, whether it be at you or even at himself doesn’t matter, because he will cherish his beloved treasure until his last breath.   

“Because you’re my one and only”

🤍 Suguru Geto Masterlist 🤍

#suguru geto #geto suguru #jujutsu kaisen fluff #suguru geto x reader #suguru geto x y/n #suguru geto x you #geto suguru x y/n #geto suguru x reader #geto suguru x you #geto suguru imagines #suguru geto fic #geto suguru fluff #jujutsu kaisen imagines #jujutsu kaisen x reader #suguru geto reader fluff #jjk x reader #jjk scenarios #jjk fluff #jjk x y/n #jjk x you #jjk reader #jjk imagine #jjk geto suguru #jjk suguru geto #jjk geto #jjk suguru

[0liver-hope]

if you love books, save a library!

I hear people on Tumblr talk a lot about the importance of libraries; now’s your chance to help save one!

At Vermont State University is a newly merging Uni in so-called North America, pushing together three previously separate universities: Castleton University, Northern Vermont University, and Vermont Technical College.

Just last week, the new VTSU administration sent out an email to faculty, staff and students announcing that all the libraries at each of the 5 campuses contained within these universities would be moving to an ‘all-digital’ model. Librarians will lose their jobs if this plan goes ahead; in fact, librarians were only informed of this change 11 minutes before the email was sent out.

We have come to understand that this means that all physical material will be removed from the library. They seem to want to do other things with the space, such as set up ‘a coffee or smoothie bar’ and determine ‘what students want’ to do with the space. This plan would go into effect on July 1st, 2023.

The fact is, students want to keep the library as it is. Quiet, and full of stacks and stacks of physical books. The administration cannot claim they are listening to students when we have demonstrated, via hundreds of emails and impassioned testimonies in front of the administration at a forum last week, that we hate this plan and oppose it vehemently. And the faculty and staff are with us, and they too have been speaking out. Not only that, the communities that surround these colleges greatly value having access to a research library, particularly in rural Vermont, and are opposing the plan as well, because, as far as I know, they will completely lose access to these resources if everything goes digital.

The image of the books above are what I just checked out today. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed browsing the stacks, in one case (not pictured above) finding a tiny book of Milton’s poetry inscribed with a reader’s name and the year 1865. So many important and precious books like that one are to be found in our library. Each book I checked out hasn’t been checked out for at least 10 years, and that’s one of the administration’s excuses for taking all our books away: that circulation is down, and that, somehow, it costs money to let books sit on a shelf. As many people have rebutted, though, just because books aren’t being checked out doesn’t mean they aren’t being read within the library and, most importantly, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have value.

Below I will post some links to various local news article on this subject as well as one radio broadcast that will probably be able to articulate this situation better than I can.

I’m just so angry and upset about this. I’ve seen students and faculty alike crying about this situation, and an old lady braver than me telling the administration that maybe they should consider lowering their own salaries before taking away our books. I think everyone here feels powerless, because the administration isn’t backing down, despite all our protests, because ultimately their goal is profit and to make sure that this new ‘equitable’ University makes as much money as possible.

At the Castleton forum, the president of the University said he was ‘deeply humiliated’, by the outrage, by the heckling, the ‘throwing of verbal tomatoes’ as I have taken to calling it, by having his and his fellow’s bullshit exposed and questioned.

Please, please, if you care about books, about libraries, about the problems with big tech and the way it continues to invade all our lives, replacing physical experiences with their more hollow, less engaging counterparts; if you care about the interests of the people triumphing over the interests of capital, about students, about education, then please -- help save our books by spreading the word however and wherever you can, by flooding the inboxes of the capitalists below; tell them how you feel about this decision and its larger implications for books and libraries in general! Not so much to convince them that they’re wrong (they already know that and don’t care), but to make going forward with this plan more of a nuisance and a PR nightmare than cancelling it would be.

I don’t know if anyone will read or see this post, but please if you do and you care, reblog, educate yourself on what’s going on, and take action if you can.

A few disclaimers:

Any specifics I mention pertain primarily to what I, as a student at Castleton University, have either heard via word of mouth or seen with my own eyes. I am not officially speaking on behalf of anyone but myself.

The only exception to all the physical materials being removed from the libraries seem to be the books deemed ‘most used’ and some valuable historical collections. This was not clear from the beginning and not yet fully clear in any further specificity.

please try not to use violent rhetoric - as much as I’m not into policing people’s speech and anger, I don’t want this to backfire and I don’t want them to crackdown harder on us or make a big stink about it if they receive those kinds of messages

Email addresses of administration officials responsible for this decision:

VTSU President Grewal: [email protected]

VTSU Provost Atkins: [email protected]

VSC Chancellor Zdatny [email protected]

VSC Board of Trustees Chair: Eileen “Lynn” Dickinson [email protected]

News articles + broadcast:

https://www.vermontpublic.org/show/vermont-edition/2023-02-10/vermont-state-university-president-on-move-to-all-digital-libraries-changes-in-athletic-programs

https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/local/castleton-community-protests-vtsu-library-cuts/article_100d9539-c6ca-569e-a9b9-ecd6b3cef0ad.html

https://vtdigger.org/2023/02/08/vermont-state-university-to-close-libraries-downgrade-sports-programs/

http://www.castletonspartan.com/2023/02/12/vtsu-library-plan-sparks-outrage-and-emotion/

#signal boost #save libraries #books #total liberation #my post #anarchism #public services #capitalism #fight back #boost #please help #mutual aid #libraries #libraries are the best #support local libraries #academic libraries #school libraries #librarians #workers rights

[ren1327]

Spoilers!!!

"Loser Baby" frame analysis (1/3) (With lyrics)

I feel obligated to do this with all of my ships. So! With the power of two sugar free redbulls, skinny pop and the homoerotic audacity the makers gave me!

Lets do this!

Red = Husk Pink = Angel Dust Purple = Both Normal = My commentary

 [HUSK] So things look bad, and your back's against the wall Your whole existence seems fuckin' hopeless You're feelin' filthy as a dive bar bathroom stall Can't face the world sober and dopeless You've lost your way, you think your life is wrecked Well, let me just say you're correct

So, Angel just let lose he wants to self destruct to the point of being too broken for Valentino to want him. He has a outburst and Husk is the only one there to see it. So what does kitty boi do? Sing a song, of course. But where Charlie would sing something encouraging and positive...Husk wants reality. He knows Angel plays a role to deal with all the messed up shit he's in. He showed Husk a sliver of his true self. And Husk knows he cant break that wall, Angel has to. So he engages by slapping him with that reality, snapping him out of his funk.

[ANGEL DUST] Wait, what?

[HUSK] You're a...loser, baby

Angel gets into Husk's space often to flirt/piss the bartender off. So why not return that energy to Angel when he's vulnerable and unassuming? Angel often grabs his face, making Husk face and look at him by force. Husk doesn't go that far. Just his finger on his nose. Just enough contact to get Angel's attention and make sure he's paying attention to his words.

A loser, goddamn baby You're a fucked up little whiny bitch

Husk needs more of a reaction, so why not casually insult him? Angel often thinks this about himself; but Husk says it out loud.

[ANGEL DUST] Hey!

And Angel is full on reactive, listening and giving Husk his full attention. It worked.

[HUSK] You're a loser, just like me

[ANGEL DUST] Thanks, asshole

[HUSK] You're a screw's-loose-boozer An only one-star reviews-er You're a power-bottom at rock bottom But you got company

Husk is successfully shifting Angel's sadness out, but also getting on his level, however, notice how his head is lower than Angel's. Angel often sees himself as powerless. Looked down upon. And Husk takes a moment to look up at Angel, showing him he doesn't see him as lower, he sees him as an equal. "You've got company." His issue wasn't Angel being a porn star or promiscuous, like others and even other hotel staff/patrons do. It was him putting on a mask and not being himself towards Husk. Fun thing about cats, they show thier belly to only those they trust. So Husk laying on the filthy ground with his belly to Angel's back, he's allowing himself to be vulnerable right back. (My cat did the same before biting the shit out of my hand, the little demon spawn.)

[ANGEL DUST] This supposed to make me feel better?

[HUSK] There was a time I thought no one could relate To the gruesome ways in which I'm damaged But lettin' walls down, it can sometimes set you straight! We're all livin' in the same shit-sandwich

Husk then sits next to Angel, closer and on his level. They're in similar situations. Not just being in Hell, but signing themselves away.

[ANGEL DUST] I sold my soul to a psychopathic freak

Angel angrily points out the obvious, but to him, its more than a fact. Its a shameful truth he hates. Husk laughs because "same!"

[HUSK] Haha! And you think that makes you unique? Get outta here, man!

He holds a hand out to Angel to help him stand, but its more than that. It's understanding. The loss of control under someone, to one's vices, to ones self destructive wishes.

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel husk #hazbin hotel angel dust #hazbin hotel analysis #huskerdust

[realbeijinger]

Another semi-coherent rant on climate change, the value of idealism, and TGCF (I finally finished!)

Well, I finished Tian Guan Ci Fu. And, oh man, if you read my last post, you’ll know that I was terrified that the entire novel would be a criticism of blind idealism. But I am SO glad I was wrong!!! Looking back on what I wrote before… it’s kind of hilarious how worried I was. I was so sure that I knew where it was going, was so busy preparing myself to be offended/emotionally crushed, that I wouldn’t even entertain the idea that maybe MXTX had a similar worldview to me all along.

In my defense, aside from the line, “Something like saving the common people… although foolish, it is brave,” everything seemed to point toward the idea that trying to do good is pointless. I mean, up until the moment when Xie Lian was lying with a sword in his chest on the streets of Yong’an, all of his efforts to do good had essentially been in vain. He hadn’t been able to help anyone.

And then, when the one guy stopped and gave Xie Lian his hat, I dunno, I just cried. It was so perfect! Like, ugh, damn you, MXTX! So sneaky… destroying us, just to bring us back later!! It was such a small, insignificant win, but it was exactly what Xie Lian (and I) needed. I love the line, “Just one person was enough!” Just one person doing something selfless. It’s enough to give us hope.   

It really resonates with me because I think a lot about how to maintain hope. In terms of the climate crisis, I feel like Xie Lian—completely powerless. I want to stop eating meat, use less plastic, spend more time on environmental activism, but honestly, what do any of these things matter? The meat industry is not going to change because I choose to stop consuming. Even my activism has a completely negligible effect—whether or not I join a protest or write a letter to my congressman will almost certainly not be the deciding factor for any climate legislation, no matter how much effort I put in.  

And yet, I still want to. I love the moment when Xie Lian chooses to get stabbed over and over rather than create a second plague of Human Face Disease, and White No-Face asks him in shock, “Why??”—as in, why would you ever do that? And Xie Lian responds: “I don’t have a reason—just because I want to! Even if I explained it to you… Useless trash like you wouldn’t understand.” This line is so great. Xie Lian can’t explain it to White No-Face, because, in truth, it isn’t entirely logical. It can’t be explained by reason. I want to do my measly, unimportant part to help the world… because I want to. Because it feels right. Because it’s my way of keeping my heart, of maintaining faith that there is some good in this world worth upholding. (As an aside, I love how the English title of the live action drama—which we may never get to see, God damn censorship!!!!—is called “Eternal Faith.” Of course it refers to Hua Cheng and Xie Lian’s faith in each other, but I think it also means having eternal faith in the value of doing good, despite centuries of experience that seem to show its pointlessness.)

As I talked about in my last post, if you zoom out far enough, nothing really seems to matter. Everything we love and care about will one day be gone. And yet, I believe we still have to act like it matters. This is the basic tenant of existentialism, and I think MXTX portrays this philosophical paradox really beautifully.

It’s funny, because I think MXTX has a lot of profound things to say, but in an interview I read, she warned against viewing her work too deeply, saying, “I am not a guru.” I get that she may not want the responsibility of giving people spiritual advice, but I do think she presents some really fascinating, really novel, philosophical ideas. So, sorry MXTX, but I’m about to analyze TGCF like it’s a piece of freakin scripture. Soo here we go…

The main theme she comes back to again and again is that fortune is limited, so the only way you can do good for others is by taking fortune from somebody else. Which leads the characters to a bunch of ethically impossible choices: the people of Yong’an and the people of Xianle can’t all be saved (Xie Lian must choose who to help), neither can the people of Wuyong and the surrounding kingdoms (Prince of Wuyong must choose), and Shi Wudu can’t save his brother from a tragic fate without taking fortune from an innocent person. When the characters try to avoid choosing, and try to “play God” by creating a “third path,” it just invites disaster.

But is this really true? Is fortune actually limited? It’s an idea that reminds me of Buddhism and Daoism, but also seems kind of revolutionary… (I like to think I know something about Chinese philosophy but it could certainly be a thing and I don’t know). I don’t believe in fate, but I do believe in limited resources, and the idea that nature tends toward balance. I think conceiving of it this way, as a pool of fortune, is really interesting.   

It reminds me of this Meme:

In other words, who is the protagonist and who is the villain is entirely based on perspective. And, according to the laws of nature, we all must survive by eating others, or causing others to starve (i.e. avoiding being eaten).

I tried to think if this is really true in all areas of life. I’m a teacher, and one of the ways I convince myself that I am doing good in the world is by helping my students—preparing them well for college so that they can get into good schools and follow their dreams. But then, is this just taking fortune from others? If I do prepare my students well, and as a result they all get into top universities, does that mean they are taking spots away from other students? Am I simply just helping “my own,” at the expense of others?

One place where I see this concept play out very clearly is with our modern, industrialized society. As I mentioned in my last post, we live in a world of abundance. Most of us have enough food to eat, live in houses with electricity and running water, and don’t worry about a whole host of diseases endured by our ancestors. It seems we have done what Xie Lian couldn’t—we have expanded the well of fortune for most of humanity.

But this fortune wasn’t spontaneously created. It was taken from other species. It was borrowed against our own future, when climate change will likely destroy this world of abundance we have created, causing untold suffering. In truth, when it comes to prosperity, there is no such thing as a free lunch.   

Even now, when we ought to be enjoying our fortune, most of us are not happy. We want other things. We take food, clothing, and shelter for granted, creating even bigger, more lofty demands—a bigger car, a better house, a machine that’s sole purpose is to make bread. In fact, it seems like whenever we make things “better,” the goalposts just move. I recently read a book called Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, which mentioned that with the advent of washing machines and vacuum cleaners, everyone assumed there would be more free time. Yet, the real outcome was that standards of cleanliness just changed. Suddenly, people expected you to wear fresh clothes every day and have a perfectly dust-free home, which meant spending just as much time cleaning as in the past.     

And according to psychologists, getting what we want doesn’t really make us happier. Instead, something like getting a promotion causes our happiness to spike, before it quickly returns to baseline. The psychologist Dan Gilbert writes that the purpose of our emotions is to act like a compass—to tell us which direction to go in. If you feel good, you can continue the way you are going. If you feel bad, you should probably turn—make a change. But if you get what you want and become permanently happy, your compass is now broken. It’s stuck in one direction and becomes useless.

All of this is very Buddhist, of course. Suffering is not caused by our external circumstances, but our desire to change them.

Like I said, I don’t necessarily believe in “fate” or “fortune.” But I believe this all points to something deeper that MXTX is getting at: which is that we cannot fundamentally make a better world, for the common people, or for anyone. This idea of “better” doesn’t really exist. The world is as it is. Trying to alter that is like playing God. And like Xie Lian says, “In this world, there are no true gods…”  

So, what do we do? How can we survive this absurdist tragedy of life? I don’t think we can just throw up our hands and not give a shit—that way lies depression and Jun Wu-style cruelty. We cannot lose our heart. But we also can’t try to fix everything.

One thing I find a bit difficult about MXTX is she is very clear about the impossible situations our characters find themselves in, but not really clear about the solution. She seems critical of the characters’ actions (I’m thinking also of Wei Wuxian here), but what exactly does she think they should have done? In other words, what is the point?

I spent a long time thinking about this. And I realized that Xie Lian was able to get back on his feet, find happiness and make peace with himself. How did he do this? Ultimately, I see Xie Lian’s solution as having three parts: self-sacrifice, gratitude, and purpose. Which all sounds very academic and maybe not that profound on an emotional level. But hear me out. Because, in the end, I think these choices are incredibly beautiful. They are the kind of thing that make me feel like reading TGCF was actually a spiritual experience, no matter what MXTX says. That makes me admire Xie Lian and want to follow him (like the God he is).

Okay so first: self-sacrifice. If fortune is limited, and the only way to make others’ lives better is to take fortune from someplace else, then there is really only one place you can take it from without hurting others—yourself.

So, part of Xie Lian’s solution is to take fortune from himself and give it to others. It’s why he asks for a cursed shackle that disperses his fortune, so that his fortune will naturally flow to those around him. It’s, of course, a very small thing. He is no longer playing God, or trying to “fix” the world on a grand scale. He is simply, in his own, quiet way, serving the common people.

My desire to give up meat and to spend more time on activism—these things feel like big sacrifices for me. And yet, they will have a very small impact on the greater situation in the world. They’re a drop in the ocean. I still want to do it, but it’s hard. It’s hard to care, or think that these things matter. Yet, this is the trade-off Xie Lian was willing to make. I really admire him for it.   

I believe self-sacrifice is actually a really important, beautiful thing, that our society has forgotten the value of. We are individualistic—obsessed with our own wants. As I mentioned previously, our expectations have risen, so we buy and buy and buy. We are unwilling to rein in our consumption. I know a lot of people baulk at lifestyle changes as a solution to the climate crisis, and I agree that putting pressure on individuals instead of governments or corporations is misguided. But, first of all, there simply aren’t enough resources on earth to sustain our current levels of consumption. And, second… I don’t think we can completely let individuals off the hook. What is society anyway, but a collection of individuals? If we are going to address this thing, it’s going to take a massive movement—bigger than the civil rights movement or the works’ rights movement or the women’s movement. It’s going to take millions of people worldwide getting out of their own heads, their own lives, and concerning themselves with the greater good. That requires immense sacrifice.

Which takes me to gratitude. In order to be willing to sacrifice, you have to appreciate what you already have.

People often talk about gratitude these days as a path to mental health. Instinctively, it sounds like an uplifting, positive thing. And it is… but it also entails having a relatively negative worldview. It means remembering all the horrible things that exist in this world which we are lucky enough to avoid on a daily basis. You stepped in some dog shit? Well, that sucks, but you could have stepped into an open manhole and broken your neck! So! That’s something to be grateful for.  

We are all so lucky. I’m sure everyone reading this has pains and traumas and challenges. This isn’t to diminish those, but, I hope, at least we all have at least one person to love. That’s all Hua Cheng had, and it’s what kept him going. Just one person was enough. And most of us, I hope, get to eat food every day, get to sleep in a bed, get to play video games or read novels or write poetry when we are sad. Not everyone gets those things.  

Xie Lian, of course, was the king of low expectations, because he knew his future was going to be bad. He had intentionally accepted bad luck for a lifetime. So, there was no point in hoping for things to get better.

I think this attitude is best shown by his interaction with the Venerable of Empty words. The Venerable of Empty Words feeds off people’s fears. But Xie Lian didn’t really have any. When the Venerable of Empty Words warned him that his hut will collapse in two months, his response is, “Two months? If it’s still standing in seven days, then it’ll be a real miracle.” Because his expectations are so low, he’s essentially immune to fear. I can’t help but think that if you could really think this way, it would be a kind of superpower. It reminds me of the famous quote by spiritual teacher Krishnamurti, “Do you know what my secret is? You see, I don’t mind what happens.”

And so Xie Lian is okay with everything. He can sleep anywhere, crash boulders on his chest for money, not eat for three days, regularly suffer corpse poisoning, and still be okay.

Which leads to my third point: purpose. Xie Lian is able to endure such hardship because his expectations are low, but also he knows all his suffering has a purpose. “If I am to become a God of misfortune, then so be it,” he says. “As long as I know deep down that I am not.” He is okay with being laughed at or avoided for his bad luck, because deep down he knows he is doing the right thing. People can withstand a great deal if they feel their suffering has meaning. In Man’s Search for Meaning, the psychiatrist Victor Frankl’s writes about the horrors of living through a concentration camp, and how over and over, it was creating purpose that allowed him, and others, to find motivation to survive. Which I think has an important lesson for self-sacrifice. People are willing to sacrifice a lot, if they feel their sacrifice has purpose.

I get it when MXTX says that she is not a guru, and maybe it’s a lot to ask of a danmei novel to take spiritual advice from it. The book wasn’t necessarily perfect, and I do have some critiques (which I was gonna add here, but this thing is already wayyy too long). But… I do think I found something really meaningful in this story—some inspiration. I want to follow Xie Lian’s example, and live with gratitude and acceptance, while keeping my faith in doing the right thing. In other words, WWXLD! (What Would Xie Lian Do?)

#tgcf #mxtx #heaven official's blessing #tgcf meta #tian guan ci fu #climate change #xie lian #hualian #danmei #chinese bl

[circus4apsycho8]

Oh also did I request a oneshot of the reader taking care if the ninja during child's play cause my more is horrible

𝚊/𝚗: 𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎! 𝚒 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚞𝚋𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝟷 (𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕, 𝚖𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝟸) 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚐𝚘, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚒 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚒𝚝 𝚕𝚘𝚕. 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛!

𝚒 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝟸 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚍𝚔 𝚢𝚎𝚝!

child's play. | ninja & reader

There has to be a story here somewhere. 

You push your way through the sea of bodies clustered on the sidewalk, eyes trying to locate a nearby street sign. Soon enough, you do, taking a moment to ensure that the street name you’re on matches the one on your phone’s map. 

“The museum has to be close,” you mumble, heading down the correct sidewalk. As you do, your eyes occasionally dart to your phone to verify that you’re continuing in the correct direction.

As you round the corner of the block, you notice a few pedestrians milling around, some waiting for the phone booth to open. You pass it, not noticing the hopeful stares of four pairs of eyes looking at you. 

Your mind shifts to the details you had heard concerning the break-in that had occurred within the museum early this morning: the police had caught four children red-handed with a stolen sarcophagus nearby. And although they’re in the process of investigating the museum’s security feed, something about the whole situation seems off. And it’s your job to figure out why and let the world know about it. 

You’re about to cross the street when you hear someone yelling your name from behind you. 

Frowning, you turn, shutting your phone off as you look around. 

“Down here!” 

You shift your stare down, finding four children stationed in front of you. Something about them seems...uncannily familiar, but that couldn’t be because you don’t know any children personally. 

“Hi there,” you greet hesitantly. “What do you need?” 

“You’ve gotta help us!” cries the redheaded boy, eyes wide as he jumps forward and gestures wildly. “We were trying to stop Lord Garmadon from resuscitating the Grundle with the Mega Weapon, but then we got caught up in its spell and it made us kids again and now we’re stuck as kids running from the Grundle but we can’t even go anywhere because we’re kids now!” 

For a moment, you’re speechless as you try to process what he’s saying. You try to be polite, but all that comes out is: “What?” 

The brown-haired boy shoves the redhead roughly. “You can’t just say it like that! She doesn’t even recognize us yet!” 

“My apologies,” adds the white-haired child. “My friend is a bit rattled from the events of the morning. Do you recognize us?” 

“...No?” you wonder, frowning. “Should I?” 

“We’re the ninja!” the black-haired boy cries. “Remember? We work with you a lot during the public conferences!” 

“We just got turned into kids because we were trying to stop Garmadon!” explains the brunet. “Remember? I’m Kai, that’s Jay, Cole, and this is Zane.” 

You’ve got to be kidding me. 

“You work as our journalist! Well, kind of!” adds the redhead – Jay? “You’re about to investigate the museum, because wherever there’s trouble, you follow! And we just happen to be there like eighty percent of the time!” 

“You always help us out with the public press conferences,” Cole notes. “You give us advice on how to reply and join in on our discussions.” 

“Are you kidding me?” you respond. “Wait, wait, so let me make sure I’m understanding you correctly. You’re actually the ninja, and during your fight against Garmadon, you got turned back into children?” 

Kai nods. “Exactly. And now, there’s a revived Grundle preparing to hunt us all down when the sun sets. And we’re basically powerless against it!” 

“Oh my stars,” you mumble, rubbing your forehead. Well...this is certainly not how you expected the day to go. But you know they have to be the ninja now, considering what they told you. “Okay...okay. Fine. What do you need me to do?” 

“We managed to get in contact with a teammate,” Jay notes. “We have to meet him at Buddy’s Pizza in three hours!” 

“Three hours?!” Cole exclaims. “Why so long?!” 

“Because! Lloyd has to get into contact with Sensei Wu and Nya, then find a way to get down here without an adult! Which, as we now know, is much harder than we initially thought!” 

Whew. A few hours with mini ninja. This should be interesting. 

“Okay, so...what do you guys need me to do?” you question. 

“We need a ride, for starters,” Kai answers. “We can’t get around anywhere without an adult.” 

“Well, my car’s parked in a garage a few blocks away,” you note. “We could just use that.” 

“That’s perfect!” Jay chirps. 

“Any chance we can stop for breakfast, by the way?” Cole asks, earning an elbow to the stomach by Jay. “Oof! What was that for?! We’ve been out all night!” 

“You can’t just ask her to do that! That’s rude!” Jay admonishes with a frown. 

“Actually, I'm kind of hungry too,” you note. “Fine. Let’s go. You said we have about three hours, right? So, we have some time to kill.” 

“See! She gets it!” Cole taunts victoriously. 

“Just...just make sure you all stay close. The streets are crowded today, and I don’t want to go losing any of you,” you direct, deciding to follow behind them so you can keep an eye on the four. 

“Yeah, yeah. We’re not actually kids, you know! We still remember adult stuff!” Kai announces. 

You sigh, listening to their banter as the five of you start the trek back to your car. As you watch them, you give them instructions on where and when to switch direction when needed. 

Thankfully, you’re able to make it to the intersection leading to the parking garage without much trouble. 

“There it is!” Kai yells, taking a step towards the street. “Come on, let’s go!” 

Your heart lurches as you spot an oncoming car from the right, hand immediately latching onto Kai’s shoulder before he can walk. The car speeds past, making them gasp. 

“Don’t go until I say it’s okay!” you scold as you let go of his shoulder. “You guys aren’t big enough to see around the cars parked on the street! They block most of your view!” 

Kai chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of his neck as he stares at the car that had passed. “Sorry. Force of habit, I guess.” 

“You should still look both ways on the street, regardless of your age,” you state, watching as the pedestrian light turns to the ‘walk’ signal. You double-check that the road is clear before ushering the group across. 

Now at the entrance of the parking garage, you watch as the ninja fall into a single-file line. 

“We’re headed to the elevator,” you instruct, pointing towards the mentioned object just a few feet ahead. 

“Elevator! Oh my gosh, can I push the button?!” Jay questions, eyes bright again as he proposes the idea. 

“No way, I wanna push it!” Kai butts in, frowning. 

“Not if I push it first!” Cole challenges. 

“Why does it matter?” Zane wonders. 

With that, you find yourself groaning as you listen to the ninja as they start bickering over who gets to push the freaking button. You wonder how to get them to stop when an idea occurs to you. 

“Guys, you’re pushing my buttons!” you grumble before taking a breath. “Okay. How about this? Jay can push the first button, since he was the first to suggest it. Kai can push the floor button, then Cole can push the button that closes the door. Finally, when we get up to the level, Zane can push the button that keeps the door open. Sound good?” 

Thankfully, this manages to satisfy the group as they agree and quiet down. Jay taps the up button, watching as it lights up. 

“Haha! That never gets old!” he laughs, the four watching as the sign showing the elevator’s current level decreases. When it gets to the ground floor, a ding sounds. 

The door opens, revealing a couple inside. You step in front of the boys, blocking them from butting their way inside first. 

“Please, go ahead,” you say, smiling. The strangers thank you as they exit, the ninja filing in moments after. “Kai, press 3A.” 

“Ha! My turn!” Kai shouts, aggressively pushing his designated button. 

“Use your inside voice!” you remind exasperatedly, sighing as Cole closes the door with his button. 

Thankfully, the group quiets down for a moment as the elevator ascends. Though, you notice that they’re sending each other knowing looks. Are they planning something? 

Just as the elevator is about to stop at the target floor, the four jump in unison. You gasp as they land, causing the elevator to shake. 

“We went so high!” Jay exclaims. 

“It would have been better if we had waited slightly longer,” Zane notes, calmly tapping his assigned button. 

You sigh, watching as they exit with excited chatter about the elevator jump. 

“Okay, this way. Stay to the right, and next to me,” you instruct, leading the group to your car. 

“Echo!” Jay yells. “Aw, man, it doesn’t really echo in here. Lame parking garage.” 

You roll your eyes, pulling your keys out and unlocking the car. You open the back door, realizing you have another problem. 

“Wait,” you say, making them all stop. “Let me see...who’s the tallest?” 

“I am,” Zane states. 

“Okay. You’ll sit in the passenger seat, then, because I only have three seat belts in the back.” 

“Aw, come on!” Kai whines. 

“Kai, shut up,” Cole retorts. “Just be grateful that we have a ride that we won’t have to pay for!” 

“Sorry,” Kai mumbles sheepishly. You chuckle, watching as Zane makes his way to the other side. You help the smaller ninja clamber into the vehicle, making sure they’re all buckled up before you shut the door. 

“Okay,” you mutter, opening the driver’s door and entering. You set all of your belongings down on the console before shoving your keys into the ignition. “Everyone’s all buckled up, right?” 

They respond with a chorus of affirmations. 

“Good,” you note. “Okay. Let’s go eat.” 

… 

After designating Zane as the car DJ and letting each of the ninja take turns picking music, you finally arrive at the agreed breakfast place. After you park, the sound of unbuckling takes over the interior before you exit with everyone else. 

“I love this place!” Cole admits as you hold the door open for all of them. 

“So do I,” you agree, following them inside after they enter. 

“Good morning. Just five today?” the host question. 

“Uh, yeah,” you reply. 

“Alright,” he acknowledges, turning around to pull out the needed number of menus. You notice that he only picks out one regular menu, the other four being paper menus accompanied with packs of crayons. “Follow me, please.” 

After being seated, the host distributes the menus before letting you all decide what to order. 

“I remember these!” Jay says, pointing towards the black and white picture of a dinosaur next to the kid’s menu. “Man, why do they assume that just because you’re an adult means you don’t want to color?” 

“Because coloring is lame,” Kai answers, glaring at his picture of Lightning McQueen. 

“I kind of liked it,” Cole admits, opening his crayon pack. You notice that he was given a picture of a cartoony cat. “I bet I can do it even better now.” 

“You are supposed to color the image?” Zane wonders, studying the cute, furry monster on his page. “Perhaps I will give it a try. I have never experienced this.” 

“How about this?” Jay suggests. “Whoever has the best picture wins!” 

“Wins what?” Kai inquires. 

“The glory of being the best artist on the team,” Cole answers. 

You watch in quiet amusement as they all start coloring, quietly discussing amongst themselves. You can't help but giggle upon remembering that these are the destined protectors of Ninjago – fearsome wielders of the Elements of Creation, all participating in a coloring contest at some random breakfast place. What a strange day. 

After the waitress comes by to collect your orders, you elect to watch the four. 

Kai seems to be scribbling in his color loosely, often going outside of the lines but not really caring. At one point, he even snaps his blue crayon in half - much to Jay’s dismay. He decides to put a pair of angry eyebrows on Lightning McQueen before declaring his masterpiece complete. 

Jay appears to be taking their impromptu contest more seriously, taking his time coloring in the dinosaur but also adding some silly features – like a mustache and top hat. He draws a yellow sun with a smiley face in the corner of the paper. 

Cole elects to go a more realistic route – he colors the cat slowly, taking the time to add smaller details that make the picture appear less cartoonish. He even takes the extra step to add a background, too – it appears to be an alleyway, with another cat perched atop a trash bin. You think you even see him trying to blend the colors together. 

Zane seems a bit unsure of how to start, but after a brief chat with Cole, he decides on a simple design for his monster. He makes its body a gradient of green to blue before adding some yellow for the polka dots scattered about the torso. His markings are neat, calculated, and precise. 

You smile softly, sipping on your drink as you observe the group. This could certainly make for an interesting story. 

Eventually, the food arrives, and the drawings are forgotten. The five of you thank the waitress before tucking into your respective meals. 

“Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask,” you start between bites. “You guys said that Garmadon revived a Grundle?” 

“Yeah, he did!” Jay confirms. “It’s gonna hunt us down once the sun sets.” 

“You sound a little less freaked out than I expected,” Kai interjects. 

Jay shrugs. “At least I get to go out after a day of reliving some of my favorite childhood moments. Pushing the elevator button, jumping in it, then coming here to color and eat chicken tenders with honey mustard? It’s not a bad last day, you know.” 

Kai rolls his eyes, finishing up the last few bites of his grilled cheese. “Guys, seriously. What are we going to do about this thing? Our Spinjitzu’s worthless!” 

“We’d better hope that Lloyd has an idea,” Cole adds. “I mean...who would know how to stop an animal that’s supposed to be extinct?!” 

“There is little research about them that I can access at the moment, which only adds to the problem,” Zane chimes in, frowning. “Hopefully Lloyd will be able to contact Sensei and Nya in time.” 

“I hope so,” you mumble. “But we do know for sure that it’s nocturnal, right?” 

“Yes, it is. My assumption is that it will seek shelter until dusk before continuing to track our scents,” Zane explains. 

“Awesome!” you chirp sarcastically. “So, you’re basically just hoping that your friend has an idea?” 

“Pretty much. We’ve gotten pretty good at getting ourselves out of messes like this,” Jay notes. 

“Yeah, I know things look pretty bleak right now, but come on! Of all people, you should have at least a little faith in us!” Cole adds. 

Okay. Fair point – they are good at digging themselves out of situations like this. “Alright, alright. Fine. What should we do next?” 

“I know exactly where to go,” Jay states, grinning wickedly. “I’ll explain on the way!” 

With that, the group finishes up eating before you pay. Before you leave, however, you sneakily collect the ninja’s drawings with a soft smile as an article idea occurs to you. 

… 

Jay’s secret place had turned out to be a random playground. 

“Seriously, Jay?!” Cole wonders. “I thought you said that this place would be secure enough for us to talk!” 

“Is it!” Jay counters. “I mean, who would suspect us to form our game plan on a playground?” 

“You don’t even want to talk about the plan, you just want to go down the slide!” Kai accuses. 

“Haha! And you don’t?!” 

Before you can even say anything, the four are already unbuckling and sailing out of the car. 

“Seriously?” you mumble, sighing. Well, since you have to wait anyway...maybe you can at least get some work done. 

You grab your laptop bag, walking over to one of the picnic tables nearby. You sit down facing the ninja before pulling your computer out. 

Their yells and laughter accompany the chirping of birds, only adding to the inspiration for your new article: 

Tapping into our inner child: what we can learn from the saviors of Ninjago...

#ninjago x reader #ninja x reader #ninja & reader #kai & reader #kai x reader #jay & reader #jay x reader #cole x reader #cole & reader #zane x reader #zane & reader #ninjago & reader

[thewertsearch]

AG: You see John, you and I actually have some things in common, 8ut you couldn't possi8ly understand why yet. AG: So I'm planning on helping you!

Well, she's clearly not talking about their personalities - in fact, when Vriska was first introduced, she struck me as John's natural opposite. From where I'm standing, all they share is a signature color.

EB: ok, i will be sure to let my guard down. EB: psyche!!!!!!!!!

John's never been a complete chump, but - and I mean this in the nicest way possible - his guard is permanently down. I don't think it'll be too hard for Vriska to mess with him, whatever her goals truly are.

EB: if you don't mind, i would like to try to go back to sleep. EB: i was dreaming about something important. AG: You can't sleep now, John! AG: What a8out J8de????????

And it seems she's done her homework. Vriska isn't on a random walk, like Karkat - she's taken the time to study the kids' session and familiarize herself with its events. Any actions she nudges John into taking here will be very deliberate.

AG: Where the hell do you think you're going to go? You don't even have your copy of the game yet! [...] EB: do you know where i am supposed to get it? AG: Easy! Just w8 around for a few minutes. [...] AG: Even though you were going to do this stuff anyway, it turns out I am the reason you were going to do it anyway in the first place! AG: Your timeline is my we8, and suddenly you are all tangled up in it, wriggling and helpless.

I mean, it's kind of arguable. No matter what you do with John, here, you're not really the 'reason' that he was going to do anything. John has to do these things, because the Alpha Timeline says so, and it doesn't care if you approve or not.

Vriska is only able to pretend that she's 'causing' current events because they're what she wants to happen anyway. If she saw a future event that she didn't approve of, though, she'd be powerless to prevent it. Her control isn't real.

EB: so, you seem to like 8's a whole bunch, and i guess you are like, kind of spidery themed or something? AG: Yeah! EB: haha, spiders are gross! AG: Fuck you!!!!!!!!

Heh, he's actually getting to her - but for the record, John is dead wrong. Spiders are awesome.

...could it be? After all this time?

After 2'627 pages, we've finally done it.

Homestuck's original objective has finally been completed!!

#homestuck liveblog #full liveblog #act 5.2 #s55 #2653 #I know technically it was the client copy in the mailbox but shh

[g0nta-g0kuhara]

SORRY to come in askbox and rant but i agree with u so hard about how gonta is treated. the worst of it is when ppl 1. assume he is a dumb and therefore 2. assume that his percieved lack of intelligence means that he cant make decisions for himself. People so easily assume that kokichi *forced* him to kill miu, or that gonta didnt fully understand what he was doing. both of those statements are prove-ably false by his dialogue. he knows what he is doing. he is fully aware of the situation and the consequences, but he believes it to be the right thing to do, and even if he was manipulated it was his decision in the end, because he loved his friends so much and didnt want to see them suffer. and to ignore all that diminishes the themes of the *series as a whole* and it's very saddening to see that ppl legit see him as unintelligent, to the point of ignoring his ability to think for himself

ITS SO IMPORTANT in ch4 to recognize Gonta's autonomy. I strongly believe he wouldn't have done what he did if Kokichi wasn't there but I also believe that he still chose to do it. The idea that he didn't fully understand what he was doing is so ridiculous to me. Like, would someone who didn't know what he was doing know to toss the murder weapon away and to lie and act as natural as possible in front of Shuichi and Tsumugi after he got spotted??

Gonta's deal the entire game was him getting progressively sadder and more desperate as more murders occurred and blaming himself because he couldn't stop them even if there was no reasonable way he could. Two murders back to back in ch3 despite his presence on the student council was the breaking point. When you talk to him at the beginning of ch4 he's already made up his mind to potentially sacrifice himself against monokuma to try and stop the killings. The groundwork was already there for Gonta to do something self-sacrificing and drastic.

He has this huge amount of guilt and powerlessness weighing on him, that Kokichi then used to push him to do what he did. (not to mention also using Gonta's established distrust in him after the insect meet n greet)

Thinking gonta is stupid or doubting his autonomy enough to call him just a tool of Kokichi in this moment because of the way he speaks and his trustful naivete is just. so rancid to me. And it ignores how hard he was trying the entire game to help his friends and again, ignores all serious aspects of his character.

#I do believe that if Gonta on his own found the flashback light and watched it #He would've just fallen into the same depression that everyone else did in ch5 #This part of trial 4 is especially gutting to me #pluto answers #(not even getting into how his powerlessness is pushed by his self esteem problems #he only values himself for his physical strength #cause thats all anyone else values him for either) #drv3 spoilers

[staratdawn]

I thought about au with blind Regulus and deaf Sirius. It is not congenital, most likely acquired after 5 years of Sirius and 4 years of Regulus at Hogwarts. Their mother's unsuccessful punishment spell hit both brothers. Total blindness forever for Regulus, too much damage to do anything about it, even magic is powerless. Sirius rolled down the stairs, hitting his head on all corners, causing serious damage to the head, including the auditory cortex. The predictions of the Black' personal doctor were positive, of course, no one was going to upset them. But the hearing does not return to Sirius in a year or two.

And this difficult for them, almost impossible to make contact, despair splashes, their psycho-emotional state is not just a light wind, it's a fucking storm, like, they never can be ok again. They need more than a one year to talk to each other again. It's been hard before, don't think they don't love each other, we all know true, and yet their family didn't anticipate the possibility of healthy communication among its members. But now it takes a lot more effort to talk. Sirius can't hear, but he can speak. Regulus can speak and hear, but cannot see. So, Sirius speaks. Sometimes Regulus answers and Sirius lip-reads, it gets better and better with the years but never perfect the meaning of some phrases is inevitably lost, but that's something they can at least handle. Sometimes Regulus writes — he remembers good how it's done, but still a little awkward, not nearly as perfect as it used to be, and yet understandable enough. They learn to use it more often. Talk more often. It is important for them not to lose connect. They seem to have lost it all their lives and only learned to fix it when it was too fucking late.This was exactly the moment when Sirius runs away from home and starts living with James. And Regulus needs time, his parents are careful with him, they no longer try to be as cruel as they used to be, mostly just words, and over the years he managed to develop a good immunity, they do not hurt as much as they could. Sirius hates himself for not being able to take Regulus. They still didn't talk back then, it was so difficult for them and Sirius couldn't just ask Regulus to come with him, he didn't believe he could protect him and felt incredibly vulnerable. But he offers in a year and Regulus agrees.

When they get back to Hogwarts, things clearly change. Honestly, even too much. Regulus has a specially trained guide dog, this is a collie named Lyra (actually, in honor of the constellation, but he did not tell anyone about it except Pandora), she is big, soft and fluffy, and she is also smart and really very strong helps him. He also has a cane inlaid with many spells, so he knows Hogwarts quite well, much better than the first years (which is a dubious achievement, but nonetheless).

Sirius is trying to cope with his condition, mostly not really knowing what to do. I'm thinking of a spell he might have found one day to help take notes, literally translate the words spoken by the professor into text (I know there's nothing like that in canon, but it would be fair if there was, and generally, I just don't care about canon, I REALLY don't care, it's there because I made it up right now). He carries around a notepad and pen so that people can write what they want to say to him, but he also often understands what they are saying by watching their lips move. He can also talk, but he can't hear himself, so it's often very loud/very quiet, he prefers to write, but in the company of marauders, he doesn't care if he seems stupid or awkward.

I think Regulus, even after losing his sight, plays the piano, it is important for him to hear and feel the keys under his fingers, it grounds him, calms him down, makes him feel whole. Sometimes it is unbearable, but more often it gets easier than worse. (As he gets older, there are days when his hands shake too much and he can't find the right keys. Then Lily kisses his temple and James puts his hands over Regulus', they play slowly, making Regulus feel more, feel integrity, pushing the keys until he's finally okay)

And sometimes their duet with Sirius is also heartbreaking. Sirius can't hear but can guide his hands, he just feels, he has enough feeling, he doesn't really like to play. He desperately wants to help Regulus. And he sees the keys, he may be his eyes.

So, speaking of marauders. Honestly, James was the first to know. I think Sirius ran away to him somewhere in the middle of summer vacation, so James went to Hogwarts already fluent in sign language and actively continuing his studies. They met Peter during that time, so he definitely found out, even if Sirius didn't want to show it, and sign language was incredibly difficult for Peter, but he tried!! (damn, he tries so hard to be tactful, I just know it, he doesn't want to offend him, he doesn't even speak in his presence, but mostly writes on a notepad to make Sirius comfortable!!!)

Remus only finds out at Hogwarts, not because Sirius doesn't want to tell him, but because Sirius feels bad and doesn't want to appear weak in front of his boyfriend, ok. In this universe, there is no prank, so they are really happy together, but Sirius's disability is very difficult, and he wants to withdraw into himself and never share his burden with anyone. But he still has to do it when they meet on the train, and it's, well, never been easy, ok? Sirius also believes that he is much more fortunate than Regulus and feels guilty because people surround him with care, it seems to him that he does not deserve it. 

I also think that Remus KNOWS sign language very well (I headcanon him with a large family, several younger and one older sister, I think one of his sisters is deaf so he had to learn sign language for her, I can talk about his sisters, in case anyone is wondering, I just love the concept of a big family where Remus is the middle child, and he is the only wizard, except for Lyall, if we are not talking about the fact that Pandora could be his sister. He also suffers from lycanthropy, and I think one of his sisters might, but that's another TALK....but, you know, he'll never be alone and his family is, well, a little wolf-family-pack. ..okay, just let me know if anyone is interested, this isn't even about Remus, I should fucking shut up) so that makes things a little easier? Except that Sirius himself needs time to learn sign language, but it's absolutely in his best interest, so he's trying so hard. Remus really tries to take care of him, he shares his notes with him before Sirius finds that spell (he's never done this before and it was never needed, but now Sirius is so grateful) and he's definitely taking the translator's position a bit with people who do not know sign language, he really is not a burden, because Sirius will never be a burden for him. Never.

And also I think that Regulus has a spell that makes the book read itself, which makes life easier, magic is beautiful. And he definitely learns to read braille later, but I don't think it's very common among wizards (he probably isn't at all. but over time his life is so closely intertwined with muggle world, he can't ignore it)

Let's talk about girls! I like to think that Lily was fluent in sign language before that, as if she seems like someone who will know it, or at least try to learn it. Mary and Marlene absolutely don't know but they are really good friends so they try. And Marlene is in love with being able to write constant notes in a notebook (gives atmosphere. She puts Sirius notes between textbooks, very, very many notes in a day, they become less over time, but she was never going to throw constant gossip with her bestfriend, thanks, even deafness will not interfere with her). Mary also uses her notebook to write for Sirius when she wants to say something.

I also think that Lily absolutely cares about Regulus (platonically or romantically, your choice), but she doesn't know what she can do for him, she just goes with him all the time, almost seems to blend in with the Slytherins. She reads books to him aloud because he likes how soothing her voice sounds, he actually has an amazing memory, he quotes something from what he has read before or from what he heard from Lily.

Evan and Barty don't know how to act at first. But over time it gets easier. Like there's no problem putting things back where they belong so that Regulus can move around the room with ease, at which point they're very clean. They try to spend a lot of time with him, sometimes it's even annoying, he can say it, but honestly he is grateful.

(also Lyra is absolutely delighted with Barty and Pandora, when Regulus is in bed and she doesn't help him anymore, she often goes to Barty's to get her helping strokes)

Dorcas is so excited when she finds out about this, she is actually so mad at his family. One of her best friends will never fucking see anything else because of his family (Regulus never told them the reason but they know. They all know). She is very afraid of how unsafe he can be in his house, but she obviously does not show it, it would be inappropriate and not quite in her character. She tries to be tactful and act like nothing has changed. And she's also very supportive, actually, she's just not clingy like Barty and Evan, for example, she's just expressing help in the little things, I would say. Her help is usually silent, but also surprisingly eloquent.

I didn't say much about Pandora, I'm sorry. They have an amazingly cute duo and an interesting way of getting around, when Regulus assumes his animagus form, he is also blind, but he is literally cat, so she often carries him around in her arms to his destination. It's faster. Oh, and she was the one who helped him find the spell to read!!

Also, I think Sirius's hearing will start to recover at some point, but it will never be good enough, it's just... some sounds, more sounds than total silence. I didn't mention hearing aids before and I don't think they're common among wizards, but he'll definitely use them when they get out in muggle London and, well, it won't give him perfect hearing, but it's a lot better than nothing...

(little bonus: when Sirius wants to be kissed, but he doesn't want to write about it in a notebook or make gestures because it will upset the mood, he puts his finger on his lips or on his forehead or on his cheek, my boy just wants kisses. And he spreads his arms out to the side when he's waiting for a hug and doesn't want to initiate it first. when alone with Remus, sometimes he just reaches out his palms. Oh, and he claps his hands when he tries to get someone's attention. It's easier for him not to talk than to talk so he keeps the conversations to a minimum)

art: likeafunerall

#jegulus #marauders #regulily #jegulily #lily evans #james potter #regulus and pandora #regulus black #sirius black #remus lupin #wolfstar #blind regulus #deaf sirius #pandora lupin #mary macdonald #marlene mckinnon #regulus and dorcas #dorcas meadowes #sirius and marlene

[bonefall]

The car and trail cam interactions made me wonder, what is Firestar's opinion on humans? Like yes he was told to leave them behind and has seen them do horrible things, but he was also socialized as a kitten. He had owners that loved and cared for him.

I don't remember this being something the books covered (Maybe firestars quest? I don't remember) besides him repeating what he was told from day 1 of entering Thunderclan about not being able to live with humans and the clans.

For most of his early life, he was neutral-positive towards them. He knows they aren't all bad, they're WONDERFUL to Smudge, his housefolk adored him and kept him fed and loved. He didn't want to be fixed, but he understands it's really just part of the deal along with having your kits taken at a certain age.

He was the equivalent of 13 when he left, and he likes Clan Culture a lot more than Kittypet Culture in spite of all its flaws, but he did understand Princess' choice, and those like them.

But, you can't just watch everything you've ever loved get bulldozed, lose several loyal warriors, watch children die of starvation, and have your best friend get kidnapped without Reconsidering.

Cats died because of what the humans did, people he really loved. Dappletail taught him how to speak Clanmew. He watched Elderberry grow up and become an aunt. He expected Shrewpaw to become his son-in-law some day. Cricketclaw was mauled helping to defend Sunningrocks when they were thrown from their camp. Through all of this, he was responsible for them, and yet he was powerless to do a thing.

He's much, much less afraid of human things than his Clanmates, but he's not neutral about them anymore. He encourages his cats to stay safe and avoid humans at all costs, and he would NOT be opposed to outright attacking someone who tried to touch one of his cats. He's like Clan Dad, and everyone is one of his kittens.

So, really, it's lasting trauma. Most Clan cats have it, after the Forest is destroyed.

#Millie's radio collar #Better Bones au

[sunflwryu]

warning: yandere, violence | not requested

role

“you’re cheating on me, aren’t you?” felix screams. he knows you’re not, but he can’t help accusing you of it. the reaction he gets out of you everytime is worth it to him.

but something’s different in your eyes this time. he doesn’t like it, not one bit.

you don’t say a thing, instead just staring at him with that strangely defiant look in your eyes, so he decides to spur you on further by taking the nearest vase and hurling it at the ground. it shatters instantly, making a loud crashing sound that doesn’t startle you like it usually does.

“you always do this to me!” he shouts, kneeling on the ground, dangerously close to the glass shards scattered on the floor. he forces the tears to come, letting out pitiful hiccups and sobs as he covers his face with his hands. “you always want to go places without me, making excuses that you’re hanging out with friends! you never want to stay with me because i’m a bad boyfriend!”

“you are.”

it takes everything in him not to break character at the unexpected indifference in your voice. he thought he already molded you into the perfect partner, compliant and saying everything he wants you to, always guiding you back on the right path, pushing you back into the cavity he forced you in when you accepted his confession.

“w-why would you say that? if i-i am, tell me how i can do better! please, darling...i-i’m so sorry!” he begs, sputtering.

and for the first time ever, you glare at him, gaze as sharp as razor blades, a stark contrast to its usual softness. “i know what you’re doing, baby,” you say mockingly, putting sarcastic emphasis on your nickname for him. he grits his teeth, hating how you act like you have power over him when he’s the one who should be commanding you, playing you like a marionette controlled by his hand. you’ve never pulled something like this before, never something so out of pocket like this. he loves you for sure, just not whatever you this was that’s outside his expectations and unpredictable.

but if you could take a step back, apologize, get back to your senses as his little obedient darling, he’d forgive you. heck, even if you just walked out and came back, he’d forgive you too. after all, one mistake here and there, it’s forgivable. he can just teach you again, mold you better, stricter so this doesn’t happen again. it’s his fault for not noticing this earlier, but he’ll fix it. he’ll fix you.

“w-what...? what do you mean, d-darling?” he feigns a stutter, moving his hands away from his eyes as he meets your gaze, letting you see the tears stream down his cheeks and drip onto the floor, the tears that always reeled you back in. you’re going to apologize, he knows it. “i-i just want to know, i r-really don’t understand what—”

“shut up, felix, i know your tricks. we’re fucking over.”

the words hit him like a truck, and he blinks in surprise as you turn around, heading to the door of the house without looking back at him, without hesitation, without anything at all. you’re doing what he absolutely detests the most. he was such a fool to go easy on you and let you have a taste of power over him.

did you think you could leave him? you’re so pathetic, there’s no way in hell he’d let you. now, it’s your own fucking fault what happens after this, not his.

before you can put your hand on the doorknob, he maneuvers around the vase’s shards and tackles you to the ground, ripping a surprised shriek out of your smart little mouth. you’re flailing around like the powerless idiot you are, but he’s too strong for you, too angry to possibly stop, because how fucking dare you do this to him? you were supposed to do what he wanted you to, say what he wanted you to. he’d have to show you that now in a much more...unlikeable manner, unfortunately for you.

he’s so disappointed in you that his hands find themselves wrapping around your neck before he knows it, making your voice fizzle out and your vision swim with dark spots as he presses hard, viciously, mercilessly, bitter hatred and annoyance flashing in his wild eyes.

“it wouldn’t have had to be like this if you just played your role properly, darling...”

note: aka maybe how “chains” would’ve turned out if sunoo was more aggressive and the mc (main character) was less naive?? btw, thanks for 200+ notes on that one, it’s my favorite! i’ve been swamped with writer’s block for a request and my other drafts lol, but dw, i had some fun writing this one. i hope you guys liked this one!! thank you for reading as always.

skz masterlist | main masterlist | by @sunflwryu

#yandere skz #skz yandere #yandere stray kids #lee felix #skz felix #stray kids yandere #stray kids imagines #stray kids fanfic #stray kids fanfiction #skz #yandere felix #yandere kpop #stray kids #felix #skz imagines #skz fanfic #skz fanfiction

[warrioreowynofrohan]

It’s been nearly a month since I read The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England and I’ve had this post in my head for most of that time, but I finally have leisure to write it down. I may have forgotten or misremembered some stuff.

The book is definitely engaging with a lot of the recent discourse around policing, in some obvious and some less obvious ways. I never fully bought into the protagonist’s temporary characterization of himself as a ‘heroic cop’, and didn’t feel that the book bought into it either - it felt from the start like a story with a deeply flawed protagonist who was going to need to grow beyond his past attitudes and assumptions. I did assume that he’d bought the ‘universe’ he was in rather than hiding in it, so that was a surprise.

The characterization of Ryan and its subversion - the initial presentation of him as an ideal hero, followed by the revelations that he’s both a pretty crappy friend and doesn’t care about the people of the medieval-universe - is the most direct way the book deals with cops, since he’s the one cop character who appears in it, but I don’t think it’s the most important way the book engages with the topic. The most important way doesn’t openly mention cops at all.

Near the climax, John realizes that the way organized crime operates is by making people feel weak, powerless; by saying, ‘you have only the power I give you, and the second I take that away, you are nothing’. The crime boss kept John around as an example for that reason. And then, crucially, with Sefawynn’s story it explicitly connects that to Woden and says: he is behaving in the same way. He is sending the message of, ‘you aren’t obedient enough, unquestioning enough, to deserve my protection,’ and leading people like Sefawynn into deception because deception is the only way they can square their support for him with his actions. And at the climax, Sefawynn rejects both that and Woden. In short, the story turns around and says to the reader: look at the way the organized crime boss is acting. What other authorities, ones with social power and status and legitimacy, are in fact behaving in the same way? Which ones are ruling by force and fear, saying that that they’re the only thing that can protect you and give you security, and justifying their actions by saying any of their victims just weren’t good enough, just weren’t obedient enough, compliant enough?

In additionto this, there’s a thread running through the story of what I’ll call the redemptive power of vulnerability and weakness. John comes into the ‘parallel universe’ with virtually no knowledge and no power, and as a result is reliant on the people he meets. This leads to him getting to know them, to value them, to understand them and become friends with them and see them as equals. Ryan, in contrast, comes into the ‘parallel universe’ with all his knowledge and resources intact and is able to recruit the locals - in fact this means he’s still reliant on them, but it doesn’t feel that way to him: to him they’re not equals much less friends, they’re subordinates or tools. As a result, John values and cares about them and Ryan doesn’t. When you’re trained and conditioned and empowered to regard everyone you work around as enemies, tools, or bystanders, you’re not going to end up treating them as equals. You can only treat them as equals if you’re willing and able to be vulnerable to them. It’s why a lot of things in society - not only policing - won’t work right without a shift away from saving/fixing/protecting people to accompanying them, to letting them say “I need X and I want to do Y about it” and people - social workers, teachers, health professionals, child welfare workers - saying “What can I do to help?” rather than saying “I need you to do X, Y, and Z, and I will give you A, B, and C.” There are limits - medical professionals know more about medicine than laypeople do, and if someone says they need herbs to cure their cancer they can be (literally) dead wrong - but working with people rather than to or for them means you’re treating both themselves and yourself more as people rather than positions. Policing’s a heavier version of a similar thing, because avoid vulnerability at all costs is so deeply embedded in its culture. And that’s the reverse of what should be. Anyone whom society gives a gun to needs to be more, not less, willing to be vulnerable, precisely because the power they’ve been given makes others vulnerable to them.

A final thing that stands out in the books that ties in with similar social themes - very openly! - is the way characters from ‘our’ timeline are encouraged to think about those from ‘parallel universes’. There are a host of ways that could have been used to describe the fact that people from ‘our’ timeline can enter the medieval timelines and not vice versa. The choice of describing it as ‘people from these other timeles are less real’ is very much deliberate! It’s a choice that lets them say ‘these people’s lives don’t matter’ - or at least, don’t matter as much as ours. And that’s the narrative that Ryan buys into, and John rejects. (By the way, the satirical send-up of superficial corporate social responsibility in the Handbook excerpts is A+. Buy a bracelet! Feel virtuous! Don’t think about the fact that yes, this is absolutely imperialism!)

#brandon sanderson #ssp2 #politics #policing #black lives matter #year of sanderson #sanderson secret project 2 #ssp2 spoilers #the frugal wizard’s handbook for surviving medieval england

[honeybunniii333]

(SORRY I'VE BEEN DEAD! Also i just realized I never see content for Dez and Ed. Like they have a sibling like relationship (even tho they're cousins), and they're supposedly really close in Canon! But I never saw anything for them, and I decided that needed to be fixed. SO! Here ya go!)

Again, her dad was in the hospital again. It had gotten to where he was there more than home, and that was scary and awful in its own right. But now, because of the sudden dip in his health. He can't take her to their yearly concert! They've gone to one every year since she was four, and it was her favorite part of the summer. They'd already bought their tickets and everything... and then he started getting sick again. Bad enough to land him in the hospital two days before they were supposed to leave... Dez was angry, to say the least. NOT at her dad. She knew better than anyone that the last thing the man ever wanted was to break his little girl's heart. She was mad at life for making this happen. Mad at the cancer for making her poor dad so sick and weak. He didn't deserve this. She felt so lost, so out of control. She didn't know what to do, she had to do something. She was SO tired of feeling powerless. She didn't even think about it as she grabbed the scissors from the counter.

Horror, she felt true horror as she looked in the mirror. Her hair, her pretty hair, was all over the floor and the sink. Oh god, what had she done... her knees buckled, and she sank to the ground, scissors long abandoned on the counter as she cried and wiped at her face. Her eyes were sore, and her throat was raw. She wanted her dad, but he was not there. And someday, probably soon, he'd never be there again, and that thought just made her cry harder. Dez was an independent person generally. She didn't like being genuinely reliant on anyone, but right now, she'd throw her pride aside for some comfort. Her head shot up at the sound of the almost totally open door, creaking the rest of the way open and a startled gasp following it. Someone stood in the doorway, eyes wide, and God did that make her crumble even further. But this time, there were arms wrapping around her, pulling her close and nails, raking through what remained of her hair. She buried her face into their chest and just let herself cry. She cried and cried until she couldn't seem to muster any more tears.

"Dez..." Ed's quiet response came after a moment or two of prolonged silence. "Desiree, talk to me." he insisted when he got nothing but a sniffle in response, pulling her back by the shoulders to get a good look at her. He frowned a bit and brushed some hair off of her cheek. "I..." She choked out. "Oh god, what did I do... my hair..." She sniffled, trying not to cry again. "Hey, hey..." he hushed "Cmon tell me what's up." he reminded as he pulled her with him to rest against the sink cabnit. Still supporting her with an arm around the shoulder. "I... Dad is sick again." She whispered, and he seemed to understand almost immediately. "Yeah..he is..." he nodded solemly.

"I miss him.." She added, closing her eyes and resting against the strong weight beside her. "I know ya do... he misses ya, too." he reminded, and she couldn't help but smile sadly at that. "He's not coming home anytime soon... and this week was.. supposed to be our concert week." She struggled to get her words out with that feeling bubbling up in her throat again. The feeling that everything was falling apart, Edward just squeezed her shoulder in response. "Yeah Tiá was talking about that earlier this week... you guys go every year..."

"Yeah... and now we can't... " she choked harshly but pushed on. "I know it's dumb. I know he can't help it. It's not that big a deal it just.. it kinda made me realize that there's a good chance that we won't get to do a lot of stuff together, and I don't know... I just cracked, and now my hair is a mess, and I'm a mess.. everything's a mess..." She wiped at her eyes furiously as she spoke. "That's alright." He seemed to have decided. "It's okay to be a little bit of a mess sometimes..." And Dez briefly caught herself thinking about how Ed should probably take that sentiment to heart as well. "And I wouldn't say your hair is a mess..." he laughed a little, moving a bit to get a better look. "it's a bit choppy, yeah... but I don't think it looks bad on ya!" she seemed rather skeptical as she glanced up at the older boy. "Really?"

"Yeah! Just needs a bit of touch up, here..." he insisted, pulling her up and directing her to the mirror as he grabbed the scissors that had been discarded on the counter and immediately started cutting away. "Hey!" she tensed a bit, "Just trust me, Dez." he sighed with a roll of his eyes, and soon he set them back down. "See..?" she was a bit scared to look up at first but slowly she opened her eyes (which she hadn't really registered squeezing shut until now) and... he was right... it wasn't awful. "It'll take a little gettin used to, it is a big change." he hummed, fluffing her hair up a bit to check the length. "But I think you might end up liking it... and if you don't... it's just hair. It'll grow back."

She wasn't sure how to feel, standing there with a boy she'd for some reason expected to be mean when first meeting him.. it was a funny thought now. She stood there studying his work, his hands resting comfortingly on her shoulder... She didn't know how to feel, but another gentle squeeze cleared her mind. "Hey..." his voice was soft. "It'll be okay... I know it doesn't feel like it right now... everything's a bit hectic, and it's hard to see it, but... You'll be okay." And somehow, when Edward said it, it sounded a lot more believable. She couldn't help but feel better with the reminder that even when her Dad was gone. Ed would still be there... he was always there... whether she wanted or not... "Hey Eddie?" She whispered after another long pause. Ed had already gotten to cleaning up the mess she'd made. He seemed to do that a lot... "Yeah?" He hummed, not looking up from his task of sweeping up hair. "Would you wanna go to a concert this weekend?" He seemed a bit confused for a moment, but the confusion was short-lived, and he seemed to understand. He smiled fondly to himself and nodded.

"Yeah, I would."

Dez had a feeling that she'd be okay...

#ibvs #ibvs posts #isaac beamer versus the supernatural #edward quinton #dez gonzalez #Its never stated what exactly is wrong with Dez's dad from what i recall #but anytime i think of a sick parent my brain immediately goes to cancer #so thats what i went with #i love them dearly!

[phoenix-downer]

Just This Once (for Vash/Meryl Week 2023)

~2340 words. Vash/Meryl. Set post season 1 of Trigun Stampede, but draws elements from Trimax as well as the 1998 anime to inform some worldbuilding elements and Vash's motivations. Scars, Light Blood, Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Fluff, Mutual Pining. For VashMeryl Week 2023 Day 1: Indirect Kiss.

Summary: Vash patches himself up after a fight and Meryl offers to help. In spite of vowing to never become romantically involved with anyone, he finds himself drawn to her all the same.

Just This Once

Vash was used to people acting like his body was a scientific curiosity, a freakshow, or something to be pitied thanks to all the scars. It was why he covered up and hid that he was an Independent whenever possible.

The stares, the looks of horror, the repulsion, the lack of understanding…he’d seen it all and then some. To the people of this planet, his body did things it wasn’t “supposed” to do, which made them freak out and reject him more often than not. And sticking to his way of life came at a cost. His face might look like he hadn’t aged a bit, but his body was a testament to the years he’d spent on Noman’s Land.

Yeah, he could heal himself like Nai did, but it didn’t feel right. It would be like forgetting all the things that had led to those injuries, those scars. And healing himself would drain his life when he’d rather use his abilities to help others.

He sighed and carefully dug the latest addition to his body out of his side: a bullet from yet another scared person who’d fired his gun prematurely. Rem thought he and Nai were angels sent by God to help humanity. Going by that copy of the Bible Nai had found in the ship, Vash guessed it wasn’t surprising that people tended to freak out when they saw him and Nai. Angels sure seemed like terrifying beings with way more wings than what humans were comfortable with.

He set the bloody bullet on the banged-up bedside table next to him and reached for the bandages he kept in his gear. He’d gotten used to patching himself up the old-fashioned way, and the process was rote and mechanical at this point.

But then his routine was interrupted by a knock on the dingy hotel room door. He hesitated. It was probably a friend because an enemy would’ve just barged in.

“Who is it?” he asked, just to be safe.

“Vash? Are you alright?”

Meryl. What was it about her that wormed its way beneath his defenses? Was it her dogged pursuit of the truth? Her determination to do the right thing, even when it cost her? How she hadn’t judged him when she’d stumbled upon him using his powers, just given him a look of awe and wonder when so many people would’ve stared at him in fear and revulsion and hatred?

Or was it because she’d rescued him back in July? He’d heard her voice calling out to him, and it had pulled him out of Nai’s illusion and snapped him back to his senses. Something about that, something about how weak and powerless she was in comparison to him and Nai and even Doctor Conrad, and yet had been the bravest of them all, staying and fighting for him every way she could despite the risk to her own life—

No. He’d vowed to himself years and years ago to never get involved in any romantic entanglements. That would only end in heartbreak, for him and for her.

“I’m fine,” he replied. “Just patching myself up after that fight earlier.”

“Can I come in?”

He hesitated. He didn’t want her to see him like this, but it would be nice to have someone help with stitching up the wound. He was such a baby about that kind of thing still, and it hurt like hell to do it himself. He’d done it countless times because he had to, but if Meryl was offering…

Plus, maybe this would get her to give up on trying for a romantic relationship with him. No woman would want to be with a freak like him. Seeing his body would repulse Meryl and keep her away. Then he wouldn’t have to worry about breaking her heart.

“Yeah,” he finally said, “but I have to warn you, it’s not a pretty sight—”

The door opened, and Meryl was standing there, wearing a tanktop and sweatpants, her hair damp. Her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open as she took in his scar-riddled torso. The telltale look of horror and revulsion was written all over her face.

Vash chuckled darkly. This was working out exactly as he wanted it to. He would be an object of pity and loathing to Meryl now, but not of attraction or worse, love. “See? What did I tell you?”

She clasped a hand over her mouth, her eyes shimmering with tears. “Oh Vash…I had no idea…”

“Sticking to my ideals comes at a cost,” he said, wincing as he pressed the bandage against the bloody wound.

She rushed over, the door slamming behind her. “Here, let me help,” she said as she sat on the bed next to him, her gentle hands taking over. He tried to ignore how nice it felt when her fingers brushed against his, how good and healing her touch was on his injured side as she carefully cleaned the wound.

“How’d you get so good at this? Were you a doctor in another life?” he asked, half joking, half serious. If he could act like this was just her being good at patching people up in general and had nothing to do with him, then he could pretend his reaction to her had nothing to do with her.

If he couldn’t fool himself, he could at least try to fool her.

“My father’s a doctor, actually,” was Meryl’s reply. She reached for the needle and thread he’d set out. “I always kind of blew him off when he tried to get me to learn more than just basic first aid because I wanted to be a reporter instead, but after July…well, I took his advice a lot more seriously.”

Her lips pulled into a taut line and her eyes were hard. Vash’s heart felt heavy. She still blamed herself for Roberto’s death, didn’t she?

“And your mom?” Vash asked, trying to get her mind off of that.

“She’s my hometown’s schoolteacher…and sheriff.” Meryl carefully threaded the needle and examined his wound as if she were calculating how much thread would be needed to stitch him up.

“So that’s why you’re so tough.” Vash regretted the words as soon as he said them. He was supposed to push her away, not flirt with her.

Meryl chuckled. “Hardly. I was so sheltered, so naive. My family’s status protected me and my town was peaceful. I knew how to shoot a gun and how to handle basic first aid, sure, my parents made sure of that. But I never really had to use those skills until I became a reporter.”

“You don’t have to live like this, you know. You could go back home and live out your days peacefully with your family.” It was an option Vash didn’t have so long as Nai was alive, and he envied Meryl for it.

“What kind of person would I be if I knew what was happening on this planet and did nothing about it?” she said. She smiled ruefully. “I know I’m small and weak compared to the people you’re up against, but I can’t just stand by and do nothing. It wouldn’t be right.”

Vash just stared at her. She said she was small and weak, and yet she had more courage and inner strength in a single moment than most people do in an entire lifetime. Rescuing him back in July was proof enough of that.

“Hold still, this is going to hurt,” she said, and he braced himself. A moment later the needle pierced his skin, and he winced and bit his lip, clutching the old faded blanket on the bed.

Meryl worked quickly and methodically, sewing together the torn skin as if she were simply repairing a ripped jacket or mending a hole in a pair of pants. The blood and the scars all over his body hardly seemed to faze her now. When she was done, she carefully wrapped fresh bandages around the wound. He avoided her eyes because he was worried she’d see just how vulnerable this was making him feel. Touched and taken care of instead of shot at and slapped, punched and pierced, hated and harassed.

She was getting under his skin more than he cared to admit. Was he that starved for love and physical affection?

“If you’d like…I can come in tomorrow morning to put on fresh bandages,” she said softly, her hand lingering on his chest. “I know it’s tricky to change out bandages like these by yourself. Plus I want to make sure the wound doesn’t get infected as it heals.”

What should he say? No? But then who else would do it? Wolfwood’s body did that quick healing thing thanks to his experimentation, so Vash wasn’t sure if he knew how to help patch someone up the normal way, and Milly he didn’t feel comfortable enough around yet to ask for this kind of thing. She was a nice girl, sure, but—

I want it to be Meryl, don’t I? The insight cut through his meandering thoughts like a bullet grazing past his head. This was going down a dangerous path, but a part of him was tempted to say forget it all. Forget it all and let me have just a few decades with someone who cares about me and who I…who I…

“Thank you Meryl, that would be nice,” he said. Meryl was just one person in a long line of people he cared about. That was all. And saying no would hurt her feelings and leave him with the issue of “who else can I ask to do this.”

Still, he couldn’t let her get too close. Nai already despised her in a way that made Vash fear for her life. Despised her the way he despised Rem and Luida for “taking my brother away from me.” So he had to keep her at arm’s length. He had to.

Meryl smiled.

He didn’t want to.

She ducked her head, her cheeks flushing as she tucked a strand of damp hair behind her ear. “Vash, if you don’t mind, there’s one more thing I’d like to do before I go back to my room.”

“What’s that?” he asked, the possibilities raging through his mind right now not at all things he should be saying out loud.

“Oh, just a silly little thing humans do to make an injury feel better. I can’t say it does anything from a medical standpoint, unless we’re counting placebo effects of course, but it’s good for the heart.”

“Oh, um, sure—”

She leaned close and gently kissed the bandages covering the wound. He froze. Sure, it was an indirect kiss because she’d kissed the bandages instead of his actual skin, but still. She’d kissed him. Meryl had looked at his body, horrible and grotesque and littered with scars and old wounds, and thought it deserved to be kissed. And even though her kiss was chaste and sweet, it still felt pretty damn good.

Shit. This was bad. This was really, really bad. He was gonna fall for her at this rate. No, that was a lie. He already had. He had fallen for her ages ago and had just been deceiving himself about it ever since.

And what was worse was that she had feelings for him too. How was he supposed to keep her safe now? She wasn’t gonna leave on her own, and he didn’t want to break her heart to get her to leave. But if Nai suspected just how deep his feelings for her ran, if Nai ever found out—

Meryl leaned back. “There, to make it feel better,” she said softly. She smiled at him again, then stood and carefully cleaned up the supplies they’d used to patch him up.

He was silent. She had no idea how much better he felt. Better and worse at the same time. He couldn’t enjoy what had happened this evening because the fear that Nai would hurt her was always there, lurking at the back of his mind. The fear he would outlive her screamed at him not to get involved. But he already was involved. There was no putting that cat back in the bag, and tonight made that very clear.

“Goodnight, Vash,” Meryl said at last. She was at the door now with her hand on the handle, and she seemed a little wistful.

“Goodnight, Meryl.” He could manage that, at least.

Silence settled over the room for a few moments, then at last she said, “I know you’re probably self-conscious about how you look, but I don’t think you should be. Those scars just show the lengths you’ve gone to save people. They’re nothing to be ashamed of.”

So his plan had backfired on him harder than he could’ve ever imagined. Meryl, instead of being repulsed by him, was more drawn to him than ever. He was more drawn to her too. She accepted him as he was instead of treating him like he was some repulsive monster. It was hard not to be drawn to someone like that after everything he’d been through.

“Yeah, you’re right,” he said at last, allowing himself a small smile. “Thank you.”

She returned the smile, and with that, she was gone.

Vash leaned back against the bed and sighed. He was both relieved he was alone and wished she’d stayed. What a mess. He wasn’t sure how he was gonna get himself out of this one.

Well, he could worry about that tomorrow. For one night at least he’d let himself enjoy whatever it was that was happening between him and Meryl. The plotting and scheming about how best to keep his distance and protect her could come in the morning. Right now he was injured and vulnerable and just for tonight, just this once, he wanted to enjoy a little comfort from someone who loved and accepted him as he was.

Would that really be so wrong?

#vashmeryl #vashmerylweek #vashmerylweek2023 #vash the stampede #meryl stryfe #meryl #vash x meryl #trigun #trigun stampede #phoenix writes #phoenix-downer #romance #fluff #pining #mutual pining #hurt/comfort #long post

[ala-baguette]

If Harry couldn’t be an Auror for whatever reason, what Job do you think he be happy doing instead?

I’ve been mulling over this Ask for some time, trying to come up with an appropriate answer.  But I just… can’t.  Harry’s an Auror. 

(Very minor KWTL spoilers in that to know my opinion on this is to know where I'm going with the story, but I think we're mostly past that anyway)

I know the fandom has assigned him several other alternative careers—most commonly, I think I have heard Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts professor and professional Quidditch player.  I see their merits, but… that’s just not my Harry. I would love him to be in a nice, safe profession like a professor.  And yes—I think the DA proved that he would be great at it.  But honestly, Harry started the DA to stick it to people like Umbridge and Fudge.  Not because he found teaching fulfilling in its own right.  It was his way of fighting back while he was feeling his most powerless.  After Umbridge was gone, Harry showed no interest in continuing the DA.  Neville and Luna even asked him to at the start of HBP, and he still just brushed them off saying there was “no point.”  Maybe he would have come by for the occasional guest lecture gig, but I don’t see him happy sitting behind a desk, grading papers, docking house points, planning lessons, writing exams…  The boy’s just not that patient.  It doesn’t feel like his calling. As for becoming Quidditch star, we all know my boy’s got the skills, and we know he feels passion for Quidditch and for flying.  But in a post-war world, I think that level of fame would be off-putting.  Throughout his youth, Harry has moments where he seems to enjoy being the centre of attention when he feels it is for something he deserves (Quidditch matches, Triwizard Tournament wins), but I do feel stepping into the Quidditch world post-war is a different level.  This is willingly accepting more fame that there’s no turning off or stepping away from.  And while Harry would never consider Quidditch frivolous, I do think he wants his career to mean something more.  While preparing for their career advice in OotP, Hermione scoffs that she doesn’t want to be an Auror because she doesn’t see it as adequately “worthwhile.”  Her scope is big.  She wants to change the world in a more systematic way.  But to Harry, I think being an Auror is “worthwhile.”  To him, saving that one person is worthwhile.  Offering justice to someone who was wronged is worthwhile.  He's not looking to fix all the problems in the world and prevent future ones like Hermione wants to.  He wants to help people directly.  Being an Auror to Harry is about being able to stand up for the little guy.  It’s about being able to protect people from going through the things he’s been through.  It’s about having the opportunity to solve puzzles and track clues and satiate his curiosity.  And let’s be honest, it’s about getting that nice little kick of adrenaline.  Honestly, there’s nothing more “Harry” than all that. I do understand why so many people dislike the idea of Harry becoming an Auror so much.  I get it.  I do.  I understand the reluctance to unite him to the Ministry after all they did to wrong him.  But, at least in my headcanon, this is Kingsley’s Ministry, not Fudge’s or Scrimgeour’s.  While it may have taken a while for Kingsley to prove it to Harry, I have to believe things changed post-war.  And of course, I understand the feeling that Harry went through so much, he deserves to be able to step away from all that pain and fighting and death.  Of course, I want that for him too.  But…  Does Harry deserve the quiet life?  Yes, undoubtedly!  Does Harry want the quiet life?  Possibly.  Sometimes.  Does Harry do what’s good for him?  Never. So I’m sorry, kind Anon.  I suppose all of this is me telling you I can’t answer your Ask.  Harry is an Auror.  He was an Auror in my head before JKR even came out and said he was an Auror, and I’m terribly stuck in my headcanons.  (Though, regarding him going on to become Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, to hell with that, Cursed Child!)

#harry potter headcanon #post war #Harry is an auror #no convincing me otherwise

[luffyvace]

hairo x insecure/shy male reader?

What a duo! Little spoiler but reader is sure to be happy by the end of the hcs with this guy!! :3

there needs to be better gifs for this silly little dude 🍜

💖💞💓

Hairo heals the soul say it with me!!

You’ve lucked up to have the best boyfriend as an insecure/timid individual because surely whatever goal you have will be fulfilled!

what do I mean by that? You ask?

I’m talkin!

about!

the one!

the onlyyyyy…….

HAIROOOOO THE SUPERR BOYFRIEND 🤩🤩🦸🏋️‍♂️

the boyfriend who’ll proudly leap rivers! Fly underwater! Swim in the mountains! And twirl upside down to make you happy!! 👐

Therefore! If your goal is to stay cooped up in your room all day! Super Hairo 🦸 is going to find a way that you can still get enough sunlight and exercise each day!!

(As long as your okay with sitting on the balcony for 30 minutes and a treadmill he bought in your room! :3)

your goal is to interact with others more?!

he’s got ya!

today y’all are gonna for a run in a public place where it’s common to see other runners! Your mission? Tap someone on the back as your passing by and say “keep up the good work!”

Best part is you have an excuse to run away this time! 😆

LOL

your insecure and your goal is to become more comfortable and confident with yourself?!

Gee well he sure knows someone who knows the PERFECT way to help with that seeing as though its his favorite thing!!

(it’s him! Could ya guess?)

exercise is a great way to build confidence‼️

and in the process (if your insecure about your body) you could work on getting your dream body!!

he doesn’t let you call it a ‘dream’ body tho 😯

he says “your thinking too small!! It’s not a dream! It just has yet to become reality!” 🔥🔥🏋️‍♂️💪

if your the type of peep who needs aggressive motivation…he’s your guy!

Literally!

and he’s here to help!

everyday he’ll stand in the mirror with you and yell encouraging words until you believe it!

or he’ll shout inspiring words at you during your workouts

if your insecure about something physically he’ll constantly compliment you on it randomly to beat those bad thoughts to you!

believe him! Trust him!

he loves you and wants you to be happy!

Those bad thoughts dont!

you are brave m/n!! You can do it! Fight back!! You are great!

He’s your knight in shining armor when it comes to any bad thoughts you may have

because your both males he likely understand you a bit more because he knows male struggles

also if your insecurities are specific but not physical he’d do all he can to help, from distraction to professional help……to not so professional help (your friends 😭) to wise advice! (your parents), anything!

if it’s something mental or just personal you have, he may feel a little more powerless about the situation but will continue to try regardless

and the only reason I say he feels that way is because he likely hasn’t experienced it before so he doesn’t know much advice on how to help

even so, if he had experienced it as well it wouldn’t help unless he healed from it and/or figured out a solution :P

these hcs were rather short because there wasn’t much detail in your request so I wasn’t sure if your were looking for something specific. Also why did these get more serious as it went on?? it started out so silly 😭

The face safe rule keeps you alive.

- Hairo Kineshi

#anime #anime and manga #luffyvace #anime headcanons #fluff headcanons #fluff #hairo kineshi #saiki k #saiki k x reader #tdlosk #the disastrous life of saiki k #saiki headcanons #the disastrous life of saiki k. #saiki x reader #saiki k headcanons #saiki k fandom #x reader #x you #relationship headcanons #x male reader #male reader #Saik k x male reader #shy reader #insecure reader

[anystalker707]

Let me hold you

Pairing: Fun Ghoul x [gender neutral] Reader Word count: ~ 800 Genre: Drabble / Comfort / Angst Summary: Ghoul wasn't aware the pain was that bad when he tried to hug you. Kind of content: Intense pain description

Requested by @sw33tsuccubus

MASTERLIST

          “You sure you’ll be fine?”

Jet had xyr eyebrows furrowed together as xe looked at you, keeping crouched behind the car door in order not to be hit or spotted so easily by an enemy. Like you did. You don’t know what came over you, but you were just stuck to the ground when the Drac pointed their gun at you and just shot right on your side. Goddamnit. It would’ve probably been worse if Jet hadn’t shoved you, but xe at least brought you back to the Trans AM to rest on the backseats for now. The wound had you curling up in pain.

“Yeah,” you breathed to Jet, your breath hitching in your throat and being released with a whimper when your clothes grazed the wound. The shot had already burned your skin badly, and it was all so hot in the car. The clothes kept grazing on the wound. Your last meal would sometimes threaten to make its way up your throat.

A loud bang cut through the air and Jet cursed under xyr breath, muttering about being back later before running off with xyr gun in hand.

“You okay? The fuck happened?” The sudden voice made you jump and flinch when your clothes grazed the wound again, but there stood Ghoul, probably knowing about your state because of this damn sixth sense sorta thing he had for you.

You took deep and slow breaths in an attempt to clean your mind and avoid pain; pretty much useless. “I’m fine,” you finally replied. “Just got shot by a Drac. Only a graze.”

Ghoul opened his mouth, about to say something when he just scurried away. Just the usual. You rolled your eyes, looking at the same spot inside that crumpled car that felt a lot like an oven while trying not to throw up all over it and not to pass out due to the pain, sitting as still as possible. The pain was temporary. It would pass. You’d not even remember it later. It is okay. You’ll be fine. Deep breaths.

Footsteps sounded closer and you saw Ghoul in the mirror before he showed up again, sitting on the edge of the seat. “Oh, baby,” Ghoul sighed as he looked at you with a frown. “Do you need cuddles?” he mumbled as he scooted closer you tensed up, but tried to remain still so your clothes wouldn’t graze against the wound again. Ah, shit. “Can I kiss it better?” He just kept moving closer, not getting the hint whenever you avoided the touches. “I’m sure I’ll be able to help if I hold you. Come on, let me—”

The moment Ghoul touched your side, it didn’t only hurt already but the way you shifted also made the clothes rub against the skin. “N-No! ‘M okay, I swear, I’m okay!” Your voice was way louder than you intended it to be as you curled up and your ears were filled with that ringing sound. Your vision went blank, your mind feeling like it would explode, all for those mere minutes that felt like ages; you could swear you’d empty your stomach right then.

Ghoul frowned as he observed you, finally understanding how bad it was. Ah, fuck. He felt so powerless.

          The ride home was troublesome, of course. Poison’s reckless driving had you curling up in pain, though it was inevitable—the risk of having Dracs after you guys was something worse than a short ride home with you curling in pain, as terrible as it sounded. You had to continue curled up on the backseats after arriving back at the diner because standing up alone was still too much.

Ghoul was there with you, whatsoever. He wouldn’t leave your side, not when you were in such a situation. He felt like you’d disappear if he looked away for too long, but he kept holding your hand, sometimes kissing it as softly as possible just so he could show you he was still there.

It felt like forever for both of you until you finally pulled Ghoul closer. He felt all giddy, smiling as he hugged you as gently as possible. He kissed your temple, still worried despite all of it, touching you as if you were made out of glass. The discomfort was still there, thankfully at minor levels. 

“My baby,” Ghoul whispered endearingly, scooping you up on his lap with a sigh. You only hummed in response, head against his shoulder, and Ghoul was relieved you were more active. “I’ll take you back, okay? We’re going to fix this wound of yours and help you feel better,” he whispered gently, peppering your face with kisses and mumbling sweet words between the kisses. “Sorry about earlier, okay?”

You sighed. “It’s fine,” you mumbled in response. “I’ll be okay.”

Ghoul nodded. “I’ll make sure of it, baby.”

 ‿̩͙‿ ༺ ♰ ༻ ‿̩͙‿

#my chemical romance #fun ghoul #x reader #x male reader #x female reader #gender neutral #killjoys #danger days #oneshot #imagine #fan fiction #fan fic