#//Still no shadow because I don't know how to do it

[eclipixels]

Payback

Sylus x reader

Content: You don't like Sylus allowing other girls to flirt with him, so you take matters into your own hands to get back at him

A/N: pt.1 pt.2

[2,911 words]

      You sat with Sylus at the bar, your head resting against his shoulder, the low hum of conversation and clinking glasses filling the air around you. The two of you had arrived earlier than most, and now, as you watched the slow trickle of people filtering in, you couldn’t help but think that maybe Sylus had been right, you should have waited a little longer before coming.

      With a soft sigh, you sat up, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. "I’m gonna go use the bathroom, okay?" you murmured, your fingers lightly squeezing his arm before you slipped away toward the restroom.

      The momentary break was meant to be nothing, just a quick trip before returning to his side. But when you emerged, your heart nearly stopped.

      A woman stood dangerously close to him, tilting her head in that familiar, flirtatious way as she batted her lashes. The dim lighting of the bar only made the moment more intimate, more insufferable. Then, as if to twist the knife deeper, she leaned in, her lips close to his ear as she whispered something you weren’t meant to hear, something that sent a searing pang of jealousy straight through you.

      Did you really believe him when he told you that you were the only woman he wanted? That he never entertained temptation? That he never strayed, even when countless women threw themselves at him?

      You wanted to believe him. You truly did. But watching this unfold, watching him stand there and allow her to linger, to bask in his presence without a single sign of dismissal—it gnawed at you. It didn’t matter if he wasn’t flirting back or even paying her much attention. The fact that he didn’t push her away, that he allowed these moments to exist at all, was what truly got under your skin.

      And who could blame her for being drawn to him? Sylus looked effortlessly breathtaking in his tailored black Versace suit, the sleek fabric clinging to him in all the right ways. He exuded confidence, mystery, an untouchable charm that made heads turn the moment he stepped into a room. If you were in her position, wouldn’t you want a man like him to look at you the way you wished he only looked at you?

      But why? Why couldn’t he make it clear that he was unavailable, that there was no room for anyone else in his orbit? The questions burned in your mind, threatening to spill over into words you weren’t sure you were ready to say aloud.

      Because no matter how much you trusted him, doubt had a way of creeping in like a shadow in the night. And right now, standing there, watching her linger in his space… that shadow felt all-consuming.

      "You okay?" a voice pulled you from your thoughts, and you turned to find yourself looking at some guy. Tall, effortlessly good-looking, with a broody, mysterious air that made him stand out.

      "I'm completely awesome. Just having the time of my life," you replied with a smirk, the sarcasm practically dripping from your words. "I mean, you agree, right? I am awesome. You know what? Don't even answer that."

      He gave you a small smile, the kind that was just barely there but still managed to be annoyingly charming. "As much as I’ve heard about you, you're more than just awesome."

      Your drunken mind barely registered the comment or who exactly had been talking about you. But if he had heard things, well, hopefully, they were good things. He had this whole mysterious, darkly intriguing vibe, and if you weren’t so hopelessly in love with Sylus, maybe—just maybe—something could have happened.

      "Do you wanna dance?" you asked impulsively, tilting your head at him.

      His eyes widened slightly, as if the question had caught him off guard. "I don't think that would be appropriate," he said, his voice polite yet firm.

      Seriously, what was it with men not wanting to dance with you today? You were an amazing dancer.

      "And why exactly wouldn't it be appropriate?" you teased, grabbing his arm before he could protest and pulling him toward the dance floor. Not that you were trying to make Sylus jealous or anything. But, you know, if it happened organically, you wouldn’t be opposed.

      "Just relax. It's just a dance," you grinned, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him a little closer. You giggled as he let out a small breath, clearly debating whether to just go with it or keep resisting.

      Then, as if the universe had a twisted sense of humor, the music shifted into something slow and romantic, one of those songs you'd never heard before but could already tell was meant for lovers lost in each other’s arms.

      Perfect. Just perfect.

      You didn’t want to look. Didn’t want to see if that woman was still talking to Sylus.

      "You know," your dance partner said after a moment, "I learned how to waltz once. It’s been a few years, though."

      You chuckled, tilting your head at him. "Oh yeah? Think you still got it?"

      He smirked slightly. "Guess we’re about to find out."

      For a fleeting second, you felt Sylus’s gaze burning into you from across the room. You could almost hear the unspoken words in his stare. But you ignored it. To hell with him.

      The two of you danced so flawlessly, so effortlessly, that the energy in the room shifted. People took notice. Whispers spread, eyes turned. But you didn’t care. For the first time tonight, you were simply having fun.

      Then, with a fluid motion, he twirled you around, sending a rush of exhilaration through your veins before pulling you back into his arms. And finally, the grand finish—a dip, deep and dramatic. The moment lingered as you locked eyes with him, your breath slightly ragged from the movement.

      A slow smile spread across your face as you straightened up. “I’ve always wanted to do that,” you admitted, a soft laugh escaping your lips.

      "I'm glad I could make that happen," he replied, his own smile warm and genuine.

      Before you could say anything else, the sound of clapping caught your attention. You turned to see Wanda and Tara grinning at you, their faces full of approval and amusement.

      “You were amazing!” Tara cheered, her excitement practically radiating off her.

      Your dance partner chuckled, then took a small step back. “You should go join your friends,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant. “Besides, I wouldn’t want any trouble for you.”

      And just like that, he turned to leave.

      A frown crept onto your face. His words confused you. What kind of trouble? He was fun to be around, easy to talk to. You had a feeling that if nothing else, the two of you could have been good friends. But he was gone before you could ask.

      The thrill of dancing, the lightness of the moment—it all started to fade as the weight of reality crashed back down. For a little while, the music, the movement, the laughter had made you forget. Forget about Sylus. Forget about the ache in your chest.

      But now? Now, it all came rushing back.

      You forced a smile as you said goodnight to Tara and your other hunter friends. They wanted you to stay, to shake off the sadness, but you were drained. Completely and utterly exhausted.

      All you wanted was to be alone. To cry in peace.

      And you didn’t care how you got home.

      Stepping outside, the cool night air did little to soothe the fire burning inside you. But as if the universe hadn’t tormented you enough tonight, there he was—Sylus, leaning against his motorcycle, waiting.

      The last person you wanted to see right now.

      At least he wasn’t with her.

      "What are you doing here?" you asked, voice sharper than intended.

      At the sound of your voice, he turned his head, his expression unreadable—until his eyes met yours. Then, just like that, his gaze hardened.

      "The real question is, what the hell were you doing in there? With that guy?" His tone was sharp, laced with something that almost sounded like jealousy.

      God. The sheer audacity.

      You let out a bitter laugh, shaking your head. "It's called dancing, Sylus. You know, that thing people do when they're having fun?" You crossed your arms, eyes narrowing. "And honestly? The hypocrisy is commendable. Really."

      His brows furrowed. "The hypocrisy? What’s gotten into you, Y/N?"

      Maybe it was the drinks. Maybe it was the adrenaline crashing. Maybe it was the way your heart still ached from watching him with her. But something inside you cracked.

      "You know what? You’re right. I knew what I was getting into with you," you admitted, voice shaking, "but I can’t do it anymore."

      His expression faltered for the first time, but you didn’t let him speak.

      "Is this even a relationship to you, Sylus? Or am I just someone you’re fooling around with until you get bored?" The words came out harsher than you expected, but you didn’t care.

      For a moment, silence hung between you like a storm waiting to break.

      Then, something in his face changed. The sharpness faded, replaced with something else, something you couldn’t quite place.

      Hurt?

      "Is that what you really think of me?" he asked, voice quieter now, almost disbelieving. "Of us?"

      You swallowed hard, but he didn’t stop.

      "Is that what you think I’m doing?" He took a step forward, his usual cocky demeanor nowhere to be seen. "Just stringing you along until I get bored?"

      The way he said it made your chest tighten, but you wouldn’t let him turn this around on you.

      You stepped back, refusing to let your resolve waver.

      "That’s how you made me feel today, Sylus," you snapped, your voice trembling with the weight of everything you had held in. "You made me feel used. You made me feel small—like I was nothing compared to her. Like she mattered to you, and I didn’t."

      Your lips quivered as you tried to hold back the lump forming in your throat, but the words wouldn’t stop now.

      "You can’t let the most gorgeous woman in the room flirt with you, throw it in my face, and then expect me to just stand there and not care," you choked out, barely recognizing your own voice—raw, broken, angry.

      Sylus exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He wasn’t trying to hurt you. You knew that. But that didn’t make it hurt any less. And maybe he hadn’t been ready for this confrontation, but neither were you—you hadn’t asked for this heartbreak.

      "She means nothing to me, Y/N," he said, his voice quieter now. "And she wasn’t the most gorgeous woman in the room."

      You let out a bitter laugh, shaking your head. "Yeah? That’s funny, considering how easily you let her hang all over you."

      His jaw tightened. "Don’t use that tone with me, Y/N."

      And that—that—set you off completely.

      "Fuck off, Sylus," you spat, stepping back, fire burning behind your eyes. "You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to act jealous then get mad when I get the same way."

      As soon as the words left your mouth, Sylus closed the distance between you in an instant, crashing his lips against yours in a kiss that was rough, desperate, and possessive. He had heard enough. He couldn’t lose you like this. He wouldn’t let it happen.

      You wanted to fight back, wanted to push him away, wanted to scream at him for how much he had hurt you tonight—but you didn’t. Instead, you gave in. You kissed him back with just as much fire, all the jealousy, anger, and pain pouring into the way your lips moved against his. You wanted to rip his hair out, but at the same time, you wanted to fuck him senseless.

      His hands gripped your waist as he lifted you effortlessly, and you instinctively wrapped your legs around him. He walked forward until your back hit the wall, trapping you between the cool surface and the warmth of his body. A sharp gasp left your lips as he tangled his fingers in your hair, tugging just enough to tilt your head back, exposing your neck to him. His mouth was on you in an instant, lips and teeth marking you, sucking deep enough to leave bruises. His marks.

      He wasn’t the only jealous one tonight.

      Watching you dance, hearing you laugh so freely with that guy—it had made something primal snap inside him. He wanted to be the one spinning you around, holding you in his arms, making you smile like that. He wanted to be the man who made you happy.

      His hands slid under your dress, gripping your ass roughly as he pressed his hips forward, grinding against you. You gasped at the friction, a moan slipping from your lips as you felt how hard he was through his jeans. You wrapped your legs around him tighter, rolling your hips against his, desperate for something to ease the ache between your legs. You were frustrated, upset, and so fucking turned on all at once.

      Then, before you could stop it, a single tear slipped down your cheek.

      Sylus stilled.

      He heard the soft, broken sob escape your lips, and his chest tightened. His hands, which had been gripping you so possessively just moments ago, suddenly softened their hold. He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against yours as his breathing evened out.

      His thumb brushed the tear from your cheek before he pressed a tender kiss there, his lips lingering. And then, slowly, he set you back down onto your feet.

      The loss of contact made you shiver, but you weren’t ready for this moment to end—not like this.

      “I'm so absolutely sorry for how I made you feel tonight.”

      “I just wish you would push those women away, why don’t you do that?” Your lips quivered. His heart broke, how could he make you feel this way? He was mad at himself.

      “I didn’t think it mattered. I thought you already knew I loved you.” He admits, feeling stupid for not realizing sooner how much it hurt you.

      “Still, it hurts seeing them flirt with you and you do nothing.”

      “I am sincerely sorry my love, I promise, I won’t let it happen anymore.” He closes the distance between you two. He wraps his arms around you tightly "you're my weakness y/n, I never wanted to have one but then you came along.”

      “You’re mine, okay?” You say firmly.

      "I am yours. So beautiful you are, the prettiest. I love the dress princess" he kisses your forehead

      "Thank you love, I got it in your color" you smile.

      "I know but It would look better on the floor” He grins wickedly. Oh my god, you really are stuck with him now.

      “Don’t think I’m forgiving you that easily, though,” you said, your voice firm, your expression stern.

      Sylus paused, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features, but he masked it quickly. “What do I have to do?”

      You took a step closer to him, a sly smile tugging at the corner of your lips. “Beg.”

      His brows furrowed, and he blinked, clearly caught off guard. “What? You can’t be serious.”

      You leaned in, your gaze locking with his, a challenge in your eyes. “You heard me. On your knees. Beg me to forgive you.”

      His lips parted, but he didn’t immediately comply. “Y/n–”

      Before he could say anything else, you shoved him gently but firmly, guiding him to the ground. The sudden action had his breath hitching, but he quickly found his footing, settling on his knees in front of you. He looked up at you, his gaze filled with something between defiance and desperation.

      His thighs flexed as he kneaded his jaw, eyes narrowing in thought. Then, he finally spoke, his voice low and sincere. “Please forgive me, darling. I am so fucking sorry.”

      You raised an eyebrow, not satisfied with the apology.

      Sylus let out a soft groan, his hands resting on his thighs, looking up at you with a vulnerability that made your chest tighten. “I’m so, so sorry.” His voice dropped an octave, heavy with regret.

      And still, something in you wanted more.

      The sincerity in his eyes pulled at something deep inside you, but you weren’t ready to let him off that easy. "I want to hear you say it. I want to hear how much I mean to you. I want to know that you won't let this happen again."

      His breath hitched as his hands moved to the floor for support, his body leaning slightly toward you as if instinctively reaching for you, aching for you. “I won’t let it happen again, I swear to you. I won’t make the same mistake. Please, Y/n, forgive me. I can’t lose you. You mean everything to me.”

      You could see the desperation in his eyes now, the plea for you to believe him.

      "That’s better," you said, nodding slowly. "But words are just that. Show me."

      He lowered his gaze for a moment, then looked back up at you, his posture shifting as if he was preparing to give you all of him. And he did just that, all night long. You drained the life out of him, not stopping until you were satisfied.

[thedivinetarot]

Summer is meant for lovin' and leavin'

Who wants to be your valentine?

☆ How to chose your pile? Here🦪🦪

☆Check this month's offer... 🦪🦪🦪

☆Note:

This reading is suitable for someone on your mind or a future person.

Also, I'm so sorry I couldn't upload this on Valentines day.

Lots of love

Arya

Pile 1 - Cupid

☆ Energy check:

Pls note that this is a general energy check and it doesn't have to resonate but take it as a confirmation. If the energy check didn't resonate you can either skip to the next portion or chose another pile, thank you.

Okay, right of the bat I felt very excited, someone here is up to something new, perhaps a new perosn, crush or business venture and if none applies then inner transformation. I see that this pile have worked so hard on their wounds and other are seeing the fruits of their efforts towards healing. Someone here is a witch and a wizard lol. Anyways, I see that in this pile your energy is being portrayed as something luxurious, maybe you are someone who is physically attractive or work on your overall aesthetic. Someone here is very committed and serious about relationships, you give no time for losers lol. I see that you have shifted something, perhaps a mindset, something inner here. I feel distracted a little bit. Pile 1 do you have ADHD? because I felt excited them I felt distracted. I see also that someone here finally found the joy within themselves without relying on others. You probably reading this out of boredom and not because you are interested in someone that's what I'm sensing. Someone here ended a period or self doubt and insecurity, it is like you put a full stop and started something new. I see also that you tend to get anxious and worried about the slightest things or still struggling with it. Someone here have cultivated self love and understood that real love comes from within yourself and not outside also shadow work, someonehere is doing shadow work regularly which helped them understand where the insecurity come from. I kept singing "now my life is sweet like cinnamon" something here is fresh, like you have shifted your focus inside and now you feel very happy and joyful, I felt happy all of sudden. Also, you understood that betraying yourself won't get you anywhere and when you prioritized self love you felt a huge shift and it made you feel at peace and more emotionally fulfilled. People in this pile are probably singles and reading this for a future person. You are abundant pile 1 and you are capable, I got emotional and proud all of sudden, you have absolutely all the right to be like that after all of this work. Love you pile 1, I'm proud of you too🤍.

Placements for you:

Taurus, Sagittarius, Scorpio and Aquarius, Cancer, Pisces, Virgo. Dominant planets: jupiter, moon, mercury. 2nd, 9th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 4th, 6t house sun or moon.

☆Who?

Ugh, this person is so emotionally desperate. And you know them, unfortunately you know this person. They probably study with you in an official organization like school, college or somewhere you are in either working or studying but studying is more accurate and relevant. I see that this person is emotional and practical at the same time. They are giving off ESFJ, ISFJ, ESFP vibe. Like they are empathetic and kind but practical and think money at the same time. This person is very calm and collected, you see them as a friend or a colleague. They look detached and have this uncertainty to them. They seem unfocused or clumsy at the same time especially around you. This person and you probably meet outside your home town or are far from you. You either work away from home (you travel from a city to another) or they travel for work. I see that this person is very obvious about their feelings to you and they don't even bother hiding them. This person is intuitively drawn to you. They spy on you or take quick glances or you feel that they look at you more than intended. They like you honestly and is very direct with their feelings lol.

☆How do they see you?

Okay, they see that you are very intimidating and you give off the vibe of lone wolf. They might be someone who is popular and recognized by people and unlike them you are a lone wolf, charismatic and confident. Your confidence intimidate them and you make them speechless. They probably stutter or feel anxious around you. I kept laughing, you probably enjoy this aren't you pile 1? That's hilarious, you enjoy making them nervous and they are literally a nerve ball when it comes to you lol. You don't look for validation from people like they do and it make them super confused. I mean they might be someone who is all about societal standards and you are not. You don't seek this validation from society and you make fun out of it. You don't care about last trends, you don't aim to look like a model. Because simply you think this is stupid and useless.

☆ Their intentions:

The bottom of the deck tell me that this person still yearns for you. Like they want something emotionally fulfilling with you. And don't worry they are very honest about their feelings, they don't play around. They want to come in and change the situation with you. They want to act diplomatically and come in and talk to you. They want to take care of you and have emotional bond with you. They want an committed emotional connection. They want to offer their heart and unlock a new chapter in their life with you. They want something nurturing and balanced, they want both of you to take care of one another. They want something drama free and simply equal. That's what I'm getting so good luck with your valentine pile 1. Enjoy💕.

☆ Placements for them:

Cancer, Aquarius, virgo, Pisces, Scorpio. Dominant planets in their chart: Uranus, Neptune, Venus, 4th, 11th, 6th, 12th, 8th house sun or moon.

Pile 2 - Heart

☆Energy check:

The energy check doesn't have to resonates 100% with you, if you feel like none of what I'm writing resonated then skip to the next portion or chose another pile.

Hello pile 2, right of the bat I felt my front lower teeth started to hurt me, something here related to teeth. I feel like this pile are wearing orthodontics and the Dr have pulled them tightly in uncomfortable way. Also, you may be listening to music as a way to cope with pain in your life. I see that someone here invested in a relationship and was very committed the relationship was disturbed then and that bond broke down. I see that you are now in a stagnant contemplative energy. You are trying to isolate yourself from everyone to understand what went wrong. I see that a man or a masculine here will text you very soon. They have news for you. I see that people here have been doubting their intuition and feeling like their head or logic is the only thing that matter, the universe want me to tell you that your intuition is right, you are not gaslighting yourself and you need to listen to it. I see that this pile are actively manifesting abundance, I see someone here is manifesting money and a comfortable lifestyle while you are living your life freely and enjoying the process. My back got tensed all of sudden, pile 2 are you working or studying on a desk? Please consider a more comfortable position because your safety come first. I see that you are overwhelmed and above all disappointed. Someone here is going through a spiritual awakening, they are trying to make sense of things in their life, someone here is feeling confused and overwhelmed by the shift that is happening in their life. I see also that you are resisting change, someone here is going through spiritual awakening and resisting change, why? What make you afraid? Losing people who never cared about you? Or losing your personality (the old version) who was disrespected over and over again? Why? A shift in your mindset is required to maintain a healthy approach to your spiritual awakening.

Placements for you:

Taurus, Virgo, Gemini, Scorpio, Leo, Cancer, Sagittarius. Planets in your: 2nd, 6th, 3rd, 8th, 5th, 4th,9th in your chart. Dominant planet in sun, mercury, Venus. I'm sensing a very strong mercurial energy or mercury in a strong aspects in your chart.

☆Who?

Okay, this person wants to keep themselves hidden from you. They don't want you to know that they are in for you. They hide their feelings from you. I'm sensing a secret admirer here. Someone who is aware of you but you are not aware of them at all. This person has a very fiery and decisive energy. They set their eyes on something and they get it. I'm not getting anything about how do know them but what is most obvious to me is that they are within your social circle. Someone you don't usually pay a lot of attention to. This person is very committed and stable but they are not revealing themselves to me. This person have gone through a lot of back breaking labor. Maybe their job requires them to be active physically? Someone here work in a field of physical labor. Maybe an engineer? Or civil engineer? Someone here in a very good shape, they have muscles and a little bit on the taller side that is admiring you but they keep themselves hidden. I'm getting "you look at me but you don't see me" someone here is within your day to day life... who you look at but never SEE and they know you won't accept them. I see that they refuse making themselves seen to you because they are afraid of rejection. They hope that one day you'll see them and see how much they might be loyal or faithful to you. I'm picking up on enneagram 6,1,9. Someone here is very soft and sweet but appear to be stoic or tired. They don't know a lot of people, they are lonely. They barely have friends too. I'm also getting the mbti ISFP, INFP, ISFJ and ISTJ. This person have a very dynamic and youthful appearance. They might just got the job in your neighborhood or within your community.

☆How do they see you?

Well, that's heartbreaking... they think that you don't see them. They see that you won't even notice them. This person's self-esteem is very low. They don't think you'll ever look at them or want to get to know them. Probably your interactions with them are Far away, like they listen to you talking to your friends but they don't bother to come in or talk to you because they are afraid of rejection. They think you are very smart and fair and you hate seeing injustice. They think you are witty and funny too. And they think you can be imbalanced and stupid at times. They think you are beautiful and no not in a lusty way. They think you are imbalanced and anxious most of the time. They probably watch you over or talk to people around you and you appear anxious or tensed. But they think you'd make a great companion because you are very smart and loyal. Ugh this person is rooting for you and doesn't want you to know their feelings. They are definitely a sweetheart, if you are open to them. Their personality is fiery too, they have prominent mars or fire placements in their chart especially Aries or sagittarius.

☆Their intentions:

First and as I mentioned above they know that their self-esteem is low so they took a promise to be more confident and fix themselves to be able to come and offer you something. This cutie here think that in order for them to get to a Goddess like you (that's what they said they are cheesy idc) they need to be better themselves. I'm sensing that this person is very dedicated to their job or career and they want to earn more money in order for them to have enough confidence and come to whisk you away. When they come they want to appear that confident, financially capable man who can provide for you. Their thoughts are quite interesting, they know the importance of money when it comes to relationships, they won't complain about money to you because they will have enough to spoil you and themselves. They are practical honestly, they know well that him (as a provider) need to be financially capable in order for them to come into your life. They want also to work on their anger, they might have a tendency to blow on people when tired. They also want to have a glow up before coming in and take care of you, offering your emotional fulfillment. Awww this person is a literal sweetheart, they want to have enough confident in themselves in order for them to make you satisfied emotionally. Thank you for reading pile 2, hope this reading resonated with you💕.

☆Placements for them:

Sagittarius, mars in Aries, Cancer, Aries, Mars, Pluto, Saturn dominant in their chart. Planets in their 1st, 4th, 9th and 10th house in their chart.

Pile 3 - Tunnel of love

☆Energy check:

This is a general energy check, if you have read it and it did not resonates then skip to the next portion or chose another pile.

Hello pile 3, I hope you are doing well. I see someone here just got a job opportunity and they are waiting for the job interview or have already gone through it and waiting for their reply. I see that someone here have a very helpless and disappointed energy, someone's energy here is heavy and stagnant. Like you guys don't want to get out of your comfort zone, now I'm not saying that you should because I struggle with that too I'm just describing your energy. Someone here doesn't want to go out of do anything, why are you guys so frustrated... it feels like you expected something but it didn't turn out as you hoped. I see that for the people who expected to be asked out by their crush or someone in their mind is either got asked or will be asked. I see also that this person is very grounded, very smart and social. They like their friend group or it could be you sense the energy can go both ways. I'm picking up also that you are trying to act cool or confident but lately self doubt has consumed you to the point were you feel like the slightest comment could turn offensive to you. Someone here is feeling low and bored, your life is not lifing anymore lol. I see that you feel isolated or lonely, someone here is single for soo long and they feel very disappointed for being overlooked and skipped. It's like you are protecting your peace but get mad and jealous when no one give you attention (I'm sorry if that seemed rude). Someone here got a divorce too, and they are trying to take the child or win the child in court (it doesn't have to be you). But there will be a message that is concerning and whether you can afford raising the child or not, okay now I got it! Someone here is old and about to break their engagement or marriage and you are looking for a job to be able to help raise your child, is that so? (This portion is for someone specific). Anyways, Placements for you:

Capricorn, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Leo, Cancer, strong solar energy especially leo and sun dominant or 5th house dominant in your chart.

☆Who?

Okay, you didn't saw this person coming because the way they arrived is quite sudden and surprise. I'm talking something like cheesy romantic series where someone bumps into the other and an electric current shock them both lol. I see that this person is your spouse, they are coming to you. This is either a soulmate or twin flame coming in your life. This person as traits is very similar to you. You both look very alike and have the same vibe and stuff. When you look at them it feels like you are looking at yourself which can be good or bad depending on your personality and overall vibe and frequency. Anyways, this person value communication, they are straight forward and doesn't like to avoid serious discussions. They are very mental... their personality and brain... I mean they are logical and indecisive... also I'm picking something unexpected or can't be tamed... this person is unpredictable and you don't know how to respond to some things they say or do. If you are quite emotional or sensitive it won't be so good to you but if you value logic over anything else then go ahead dear. This person lives away from you, possibly states or countries. This person have gone through a lot of difficulties and tensions in their life which made them more cold from the outside. They give off ENTP, INTP, and for a very few of you this person is an INTJ with soft enneagram like 9 or 6. Anyways, this person is very assertive and dedicated to their own things (could be a job, hobby, friend group, or anything). They are protective and practical, and above all I see financial stability. I see that they have money but NOT that money, something that is enough and a little more to spare on their loved ones. Anyways, also I'm getting that this person have XSTX mbti, especially (ISTJ and ESTJ) someone logical and practical. They are also (for a few of you) are extroverted.

☆How does they see you?

Okay, this person will sense that you are very anxious and defensive when it comes to your emotions. I mean you may click with him mentally but won't open up to him emotionally because you'll see that he is not the type to contain someone's vulnerability. I see that they'll see that you enjoy your solitude and doesn't mind staying alone and above all you don't give a damn about people's opinions. I see that they'll see that you are emotionally mature, assertive and you'll help them be at peace and open their heart to you. This person will open their heart to you but when it comes to you; you won't be as open to them emotionally which will make them feel uncomfortable. There's a lot of struggle here especially about opening up, I mean you might show this person empathy and kindness but you won't be open to receive anything like that from them you'll be like "no sir, save your love to yourself I'm not opening up to you". There's this sense that you are so closed off and ambiguous. You will try to be as secretive as possible and you won't talk too much about yourself which will make them even more curious to get to know you. I see also that you may be someone who have the tendency to avoid confrontation and don't like to be confronted too which will make them even more curious. Also they sense that you are super guarded and won't open up to them easily. And they hate it and love it at the same time. It is like (the reason why you won't open up) is that you have a specific version or standard in your head about love and relationships and this person doesn't fit any... which will make you feel super secretive and ambiguous about your private life in front of them, especially your own feelings and vulnerability.

☆Their intentions:

Hmmm, Okay... this person want to shift your views on love. I see that they'll have a crush on you for sooo long until they come in and say the three words because you are guarded. They want to take from from your responsibilities and help you with them. They want you to be more relaxed and open with them. And they want to be very clear with you. They might tend to be blunt with people but with your specifically they'll be extra blunt and straightforward with their thoughts so you don't doubt their intentions. They want to keep their intentions hidden from you (not in a bad way it is just they feel that you are not as open to talk about their feelings to you). They will be the typical lover in the relationship. But mainly a crush. I see that they'll tell you that they have a crush on you but when you start to loosen up a little. I see that they want to work as a team with you and divide responsibilities and burdens with you, this person want to show you that they are serious and won't deceive you. They are super straightforward and obvious, no games or manipulation and they freaking hate it. They want you to open up to them, they want to melt the ice on your heart and they want to see you clearly without masks. They want your mask to fall off, they want to see you deeply for who you are.

☆Placements for them:

Gemini, Aquarius, Aries, Virgo, Libra, Dominant planets are mercury, Saturn, Uranus. Sun or moon in the 1st, 3rd, 11th, 6th, 7th house in their chart. They may be air and earth as the most dominant elements in their chart because they are super logical and practical.

Pile 4 - Angelic ceiling

☆ Energy check:

Okay, this is a general energy check so if you felt like none of what you reading resonates then skip to the next portion or chose another pile. Thank you🤍....

I see someone here is finally out of a very bad period or phase in their life. I see that someone here was very overwhelmed and falling in despair. Someone here faced a lot of financial difficulties and setbacks. Someone here is healing using crystals and reiki or going to a professional therapist. I see also that someone here is getting out or moving on from a heartbreak, perhaps it was the reason why you felt super unfocused or like something here is ambiguous. But I do see that in this period you are healing and embracing self-love. Someone here started to recognize their own worth within their community and trying to move on from whatever that caused them disappointed and heartbreak especially within your group or community like your friends, family or colleagues. I see also that someone here is super tired, I started to feel sleepy or drowsy all of sudden. Perhaps your sleeping schedule is messy right now and you need a healthier approach for that. Anyways, I see that alot of you are breaking free and healing their attachment style. Perhaps, you have never had healthy relationships because you were anxious or avoidant but anyways. Someone here also have a close birthday, they want me to tell you "happy birthday, your name" and they wish you the best. Also, I kept have emphasis on new born, your brother had a baby? Someone here was just born. Anyways, I see also that you'll have a fresh start that will help you open up to life. It is like you are telling yourself that this is a new Era of me and I won't back off. Good luck pile 4 I hope you get what you aim for🤍.

☆Placements for you:

Libra, Aquarius, Virgo, Capricorn, Cancer, strong Uranus in big 3. Sun or moon in the 7th, 11th, 6th, 10th, 4th house in your chart. We have also Uranus, Saturn, Mars dominant in your chart.

☆Who?

Okay, I don't think you'll be open to that person much because they might not be your typical go to. Anyways, this person is someone who is boring and pessimistic. They don't have any idea what fun is like. They are very chill, very calm or they used to be like that but I don't think they have a very rich inner world. They give me nerd vibes, someone who knows a lot of stuff and have knowledge. They might surprise you with information that you had no idea about. This person have a problem opening up to people, because someone here rejected them or broke their heart. Also, I see that this person didn't have a lot of relationships and probably is a virgin too. Anyways, this person and despite what they went through they have this confidence to them that make them stand out. There might not be a flashy "look at me" type of confidence, no they display it calmly, they don't pose for the audience, they do that for themselves. I see also that they look very attractive or beautiful but not in the way you might go for. Like... if you usually go for blondes then they may have dark features that stand out and make them super attractive. Anyways, you'll meet this person by a messenge. Also, someone old here will be the reason for your interaction. So maybe someone old will set you up together or something like that. I see that this older person sees that you need a little spice in your life right now and want to help you get in with someone. That's what I'm seeing. Also, this person is very charismatic and cooperative, they like charming people. This person is straightforward and obvious about their intentions, they don't hide stuff because they see that there's no use of playing games. That's what I'm seeing. Also, this person have gone through a lot of problems to settle down by themselves, and they had a lot of money problems, but right now I see thr they are in a more stable phase than before

☆ How will they see you?

I see that at first they might take an impression about you that is not quite what you are but as they get to know you, they'll understand and see you. This person at first will see that you are super ambiguous and unclear. Like you are hiding something. They'll also think that you are very indecisive and cocky. But as they get to know you, they'll see you as someone who is confident and very intuitive. There's this fire and sensuality to you that will draw them in. I see that you might appear to rely on your intuition alot and also they'll see that you are a very cozy person. Someone who make them feel safe and emotionally fulfilled which will make them super happy. I see also that you'll wake up the desire in them. Because as I said that they might be a virgin and haven't had any intimate experiences, they'll see that you are something so sexy and confident in themselves. They see also that you are very content and happy on your own and you don't need people's validation to feel important. I see also that after getting to know you they'll be quite afraid of disappointing you or letting you down because you cut people easily out of your life. They'll think also that you are very idealistic in your approach to relationship and that nothing is always perfect. They'll feel like you in their life is a very fresh start for them to unlock something new. Especially in their romantic life. They'll see also that you are quite funny and extroverted or someone who is talkative. They might struggle to talk about themselves because of their personality but anyways.

☆ Their intentions:

I see that this person will get a tower moment when they get to know you and they'll know that you are the one they want something long term with. They might have been in their solitude or loneliness for a prolonged period of time and when they met you something felt right and clicked immediately. They also hope that you'll be open to be with them long-term because they don't play around at all. First, they'll want to get to know you. Perhaps, romance you up a lot and then they want to rush you into commitment. If you are okay with that then it's fine but if you feel like this is lovebombing then you can step aside and talk to them to slow down. Tell them that long-term relationship need time to develop and that they cannot rush things. Also, because they don't have experiences then they might think that this is love or deep emotional connection. I see that they might not know how to deal with that but they are open to guidance though. They don't want to play around and break hearts, no they want something stable and they hope they can find it with someone who is serious and stable.

☆Placements for them:

Taurus, Leo, Libra, Cancer, Sagittarius. Strong solar energy, sun, mars, Saturn, Venus, jupiter dominant in their chart. 2nd, 4th, 5th, 9th house stallium in their chart.

Post date: 17th Feb-2025 /Mon

*Feedback is appreciated

[heliosunny]

you have written for both hsr and genshin. any plans for zzz? (also anything for yan!alhaitham pls...... NO PRESSURE BTW!!!!)

I played zzz during the time they release Harumasa and stopped after that. My poor phone couldn't handle Genshin either so I stopped at the beginning of Natlan. My poor laptop is holding on for its dear life since I abuse it w Hsr :)))) Maybe I'll watch people play for the story and characters. I don't want to ruin any character and write things without basic knowledge.

Also, here's a short fic for Alhaitham.

Yandere!Alhaitham x Reader

The first letter arrives on a Monday.

You nearly miss it, slipping your textbooks into your bag as the final bell rings. A crisp white envelope sits neatly atop your desk, unmarked except for your name written in precise, elegant handwriting. The paper is thick, too formal for a casual note from a classmate.

Curiosity wins over caution. You unfold the letter, eyes skimming the words written in deep black ink.

You always prefer sitting by the window, even though the sunlight strains your eyes after a while. I wonder—do you realize how often you rub them when you think no one is looking?

You walked to class today with precisely seven minutes to spare, just like always. Routine is something you value, isn't it? It makes you predictable.

You are an anomaly among the ordinary, an equation I find myself drawn to solve. It is only natural for me to observe.

No signature. No indication of who wrote it. But the words feel… meticulous. Too structured to be a prank. Too detailed to be random.

You glance around the now-empty classroom, your pulse picking up speed.

Someone has been watching you.

You clutch the letter tighter, fingers pressing into the fine paper as a chill creeps up your spine. Who would write something like this? And more importantly—how long have they been watching you?

Shoving the letter into your bag, you push your way out of the classroom and down the hall, searching for something, or rather-someone grounding.

Your friends are waiting at your usual spot near the lockers, chatting about the latest test results. Their presence should be comforting, but the words in your bag linger like a shadow at the back of your mind.

“Hey, you okay?” One of them nudges your shoulder, pulling you out of your thoughts.

“Yeah,” you lied “Just tired.”

You’re about to forget it—convince yourself it was a one-time thing, a strange prank—when your eyes flicker across the hallway.

There, leaning against the far wall, flipping through a book like he’s indifferent to the world, is Alhaitham.

The school’s resident genius. Top of every class. Speaks as if the rest of you are equations to be solved rather than people.

You and your friends don’t interact with him much. He’s polite, but distant—aloof in a way that keeps most people at bay. It’s not that anyone dislikes him, but there’s something too precise about him, like he only engages when absolutely necessary.

Yet now… you can’t shake the feeling that his presence is off.

Because for someone so absorbed in his book, his gaze lifts at the exact moment you look at him.

And he holds your stare.

It lasts only a second before he turns the page, unreadable as ever.

You shake off the strange feeling and went home right after.

The second letter appears on Wednesday, slipped neatly into your locker between your notebooks.

You hesitated today before stepping into the classroom. As if something was weighing on your mind. I wonder, was it the letter? You can lie to your friends, but not to me.

After all, I know you better than you think.

This isn’t a joke.

The handwriting is the same, as if each word was chosen with purpose. The unsettling detail is there too, the kind that makes your skin prickle.

You glance around, paranoia creeping in. The hallway is full of students, everyone wrapped up in their own conversations, laughter echoing off the walls.

No one looks suspicious. No one is watching.

Still, you don’t mention it to your friends. Not yet. You tell yourself it’ll stop if you ignore it.

The Third Letter - Friday. This time, it’s waiting in your backpack when you reach for your notes.

You’ve stopped looking around as much. You’re trying to pretend this doesn’t bother you. Smart. But pointless. You will notice me soon.

Your hands are clammy as you shove it deep into your bag, heart hammering.

This is escalating.

Someone has been close enough to touch your things. Close enough to slip a letter into your backpack without you noticing.

You force yourself to act normal. Laugh at your friends’ jokes. Keep your routine. But the unease lingers, curling in your stomach.

---

It happens late on a Tuesday afternoon.

You’ve stayed behind to finish some work in the library, your friends already gone for the day. The school is quieter now, the usual buzz of voices replaced with the rustle of pages and the faint hum of the air conditioning.

You reach for a book from the shelf and—

Something slips out.

A letter.

Your breath catches as it flutters to the ground, face-up.

You recognize the handwriting immediately.

Your fingers shake as you pick it up. But before you can even read it, a shadow falls over you.

“I wouldn’t take that if I were you” a calm voice says.

Slowly, you turn.

Alhaitham stands there, hands in his pockets, unreadable as always. But this time, there’s something else in his gaze—something sharper.

It takes a second too long for you to find your voice. “...What?”

His eyes flicker to the letter in your grip. His expression remains impassive, but the air around him feels off.

“I was going to retrieve that later” he says simply, as if discussing the weather. “But I suppose this works too.”

No.

No way.

But the letter in your hands says otherwise. The handwriting. The way it just happened to be inside a book you grabbed.

It’s been him.

This entire time.

Alhaitham watches you carefully, as if calculating your next move.

“Well,” he murmurs, tilting his head. “Now what will you do?”

[delight-angelsbliss]

hey, i hope youre having a good week!!

im not sure if your requests are open but do you think you could write a sonic or shadow x reader whos a type one diabetic? ive seen maybe one other idea abt it for shadow and id love to see people write about it in more detail!

ofc, if you dont write for that, a general fluff for either of the two hedgies will work fine :3

Warnings: mentiones of syringes, not proofread as always

Precis: Hcs for sonic and shadow with a type one diabetic reader + normal relationship hcs

Notes: my cousin also has type on diabetes I found out in 2023 I only get to see her once a year. Ok so when I wrote like (っ˘ڡ˘ς)  that popped up and why r ppl using Arabic for their symbols?? Why is ت a smiley? And ppl complain abt using the Greek alphabet for symbols but then use the Arabic one as if that isn't hypocritical. Also I used what I've seen from my cousin and she used insulin syringes I've heard there r pills but I've never seen them so I hope this was ok! Hey dear keyboard from my mobile? Can you please stop making any simple present into a simple past or past form? 🥺

Sonic

Sonic isn't really good with memorizing reminders, his carefree attitude and fast pace of the world makes his head focus on other things than reminding people of things

But that doesn't mean he won't try to remind you to take your insulin

He isn't really a genius when it comes to health but he knows some of the basics like not using sweeteners or sugar in tea, making sure you always have insulin on hand and to always keep some before a meal

Sometimes sonic has to make himself look away as you pump a syringe inside your body before eating, no matter how many times he gets used to seeing you do that before eating, it makes him so sad knowing you have to do that everyday

It doesn't matter to sonic what kind of illness you have, as long as you're happy and healthy it makes him happy. He loves all his friends and that doesn't mean you'll get the same love, attention and more from him as his partner

Even when sonic isn't there he puts reminders and notes around your phone to remember stuff (even if you don't really need it) Sonic is trying his best but he knows he isn't able to do much that can help you which makes him sad almost everyday knowing he won't be able to take anything troublesome out your life to make it easier

Sonic still tries to be understanding and makes sure to sometimes drink tea without sugar for moral support no matter how bitter

Even if you chuckle, tell him he can add honey and that it doesn't bother you, he still persists as he tries to make jokes to lighten the mood and make sure you don't think about the mountain of syringes pumped with insulin and the lifelong condition you have

He'll make sure you're happy and remember as much as you can, he'll be the biggest help he can be!

︶ ⏝ ︶ ୨୧ ︶ ⏝ ︶

Relationship hcs

Sonic may not have much time to spend but he makes every moment count, or at least tries to. Since Eggman is always plotting something, it is known as Sonic's "duty" to stop him while also keeping his charismatic personality

Some missions last months while some last a day or two, it varies a bit too much but that doesn't mean he isn't always there for you. I've said this before and I'll say it again: just because he isn't home much doesn't mean he won't think about you

His mind always wanders while fighting, thinking of you, at home waiting for him all alone (you're probably not alone but he likes to think so for his own ego) He doesn't like leaving you all alone but it is how it is

When he is at home he always wants to bring you with him outside. Mobius is such a pretty and sunny place so why not enjoy it? We all know he loves to run but he'd adjust his pace to be able to walk with you and listen to your day or whatever you say

We all know Sonic has immense pride and ego, so it isn't a surprise to other when he shows you off and makes sure everyone knows his love for you and the relationship you two have, to sonic, being yours and you being his is like a blessing. Sonic feels luck everyday knowing he's with someone he fully trusts and loves with his whole heart

Sonic knows that he won't always be there, that there's a lurking danger that he might croak during a battle, so he always tries to make the moment with you a good memory

^ he sees it fit to make many dates for the two of you, trying to make the memory one to hold onto, dinners, cuddles, movie nights, deep conversations while on a walk. You name it! He wants to remember his time with you forever and ever, he wants the same for you and he'll make sure it happens

His pet names for you are: babe, baby, my girl, babygirl (surprisingly), my love

Average teenage romance pet names if you get what I mean

Shadow

Shadow is stubborn, quiet and brooding, but that doesn't mean his memory is bad, he'll still be able to remind you daily to take insulin and actually researches what can make your blood sugar worse

He takes your condition seriously and tries his best to be there for you and help you with whatever you need: a ride to the doctors? Everyone get ready and buckle up! Cuz here we go (jay reference)

Shadow might be brooding but that doesn't mean he won't care for you and your health, he's like that with everyone even if he doesn't show it. His trauma of losing others has made him scared to feel that again so he becomes somewhat overbearing when it comes to your health concerns

He'll act like a mother and make sure you always have your insulin and drink tea without any sweeteners, this can obviously sometimes become too much to handle when he berates you for having high blood sugar or something else

The best way to get rid of that is sitting down and talk, listing a few reasons on why you need that overprotective kind of style to stop

Babes I know most of y'all throw an insult and can't make counter arguments but please learn to do that cuz it's a life long skill you'll need trust me

And you'll also need it here to be able to make him see how you don't like this overbearing behavior and nitpicking

If you do win the argument he'll try his best to tone it down, but that doesn't mean he won't stop helping you deal with it all. He's still too afraid you'll leave him one day or croak

Sometimes he just sits on his bed, thinking about you, it makes him nervous knowing you're dealing with something so horrid. We all know Shadow is more of a homebody so he tries to make dates indoors like a candle lit dinner, movie nights, plain cuddling and more!

︶ ⏝ ︶ ୨୧ ︶ ⏝ ︶

Relationship !!

Shadow is very stubborn as we know (ahem idw) but he's still loving and listens to you/your ideas, he's already figured out what it means to lose people and he doesn't want to make the mistake of underappreciating someone again

He still sometimes has some nightmares of losing the ones he loves, including you, which makes him sometimes sleep on the couch as to not disturb your sleep. His nightmares usually consist of some places like the ark (did I say that right idk I blame the German dub) and his time there, when he does have nightmares he's in a vulnerable position, which he does not like at all, it'd best to console him at that time and hold him close while reassuring him you won't ever leave him

He tries his best to complete missions or outings as fast as possible so he can get back to you and do something together, even if it's just cooking a meal

His favorite things to do with you is definitely starting a new show, some of his favorite genres are definitely those crime involved action shows like 9-1-1 or something similar

His pet names for you are: my darling, love, precious, treasure and more stuff that makes you feel like royalty

[lilyrayaya]

Hi I'm lilyray and this is my podcast and I'm gonna talk a small amount because I have no idea where else to talk about smilk

personal hc I had as to what smilk looked like before corruption before the official look was revealed

I think shadow milk with all his grandiose facade and mischief is really just driven by sheer hatred. For what ? Mortal cookies probably. Crk has given us hints on what he was like before but never a definite answer and from what I know he had followers and at some point started lying to those followers because he realised they'll just eat it up and accept it as their truth because ooohhh, Shadow Milk Cookie said so! Shadow Milk Cookie is the fount of knowledge! Oooohhh! And I don't think smilk was a big fan of that. Or rather the fact that they didn't seek out knowledge as he did but moreso just a fun story they can retell to others.

I think Shadow Milk is once a yapper always a yapper and he was always talking about the things he learned and while he found all the knowledge exciting and fun most of the things he would talk about bored his followers. So. Most never listened. Because his stories were just never enough for anyone to actually engage. So he started giving cookies what they want and making things up. At first those were subtle lies, where he'd just talk about unconfirmed theories as factual knowledge, but the more he saw that his cookies listened the more he made things up and that's what started his spiral into madness.

He blames mortal cookies for his imprisonment because he gave them what they wanted and this is how they repaid him. He sacrificed so much only for them to end up hating him in the end? That really isn't doing it for him.

Because of that he's also really envious of Pure Vanilla I feel because. Huh ? You're telling them the truth? And they still like you and want you around? He half pities half extremely envies him. Smilk both wants to ruin pv and make pv like himself so pv can see how lies are so much more entertaining. That loneliness bs isn't cutting it for me I'm sorry, like, yeah, sure, he would get a little lonely sometimes but for that to be the reason he turns pure vanilla into another being of deceit? Hell no.

Anyway. Hi thanks for watching remember to hit that like and subscribe button and click on the bell for more notifications

[atamascolily]

I found Inu Curry's commentary on the "Prologue in Heaven" shot that haunts me, and it only raised more questions. I don't know what I expected.

Here is what it says as best as I can make out with my fledgling Japanese and a bunch of online references:

逆 さまにった街と穴があいた空。 The upside-down city and the hole in the opened[?] sky.

"Upside-down city" seemingly refers to Walpurgisnacht's goal of turning Mitakihara upside-down both literally and metaphorically by ripping the buildings off their foundations and making them hover in mid-air. It's a little difficult to see in the above sketch, but the finished film version is a little brighter so you can see the buildings in the upper corners.

However, what is "upside-down" depends on our perspective. Is the city upside down because Walpurgisnacht has made it that way, or because we, the audience, are viewing an upside-down image? This is another way in which Walpurgisnacht messes with our heads and confuses our ideas of what constitutes reality.

As for the second part of the sentence, there are a couple of different past tense constructions that are pronounced "aita" (あいた), and I'm not sure which is applicable in this situation because this phrase is written in hiragana. In this context, I'm guessing 開いた ("opened", "emptied") which has considerable overlap with 空いた, with the latter using the same kanji for 空 ("sky") and therefore creating a pun.

空 is a complex character with a lot of meanings, and I think it is doing a lot of load-bearing here, but for now I'll also note the contrast with 穴, which means "hole" in the sense of "cave" or "being underground". Earth and sky might seem like total opposites but given that 空 can also mean "emptiness" or "void", they simultaneously have a lot in common, to the point where 空 even includes the 穴 radical in it.

All this is to say, it feels like there's a lot going on in this line, and I still have a lot of questions. Still, it seems like we have a distinct contrast between the inverted (solid, material) city and the (intangible) "hole in the sky", which might refer to the black circular void at the center of Walpurgisnacht's mandala, which appears to be drawing everything up towards it.

逆 さまの山の頂にワルプルギスの後光。 Walpurgisnacht's halo on the upside-down mountain's peak

Once again we have a juxtaposition between two things, one of which is inverted, but this one is a little more straightforward straightforward, in that the halo is right there and the original Walpurgisnacht celebration was said to take place on Mount Brocken in Germany. And indeed, if you flip the image upside-down, it's much easier to see the "mountain" in this image--the pyramidal shadow upon which the witch's mandala now appears to be resting.

From this perspective, it looks very much like another drawing in the production note of Madoka's witch Kriemhild Gretchen reaching up to the heavens with Walpurgisnacht hovering overhead for scale [as explained in the two boxes immediately above the drawing].

This page is also the source of the famous Inu Curry quote that Walpurgisnacht and Gretchen are like two halves of an hourglass (bottom text), another statement that makes me want to gnaw on the furniture every time I think about it. Why would you do this if there wasn't supposed to be some connection between them??! And why an hourglass, given its associations with one character (Homura) in particular?

This is why I have always interpreted this shot as Walpurgisnacht and Gretchen together in "Heaven", which raises all kinds of fascinating metatexual questions like, "Why did Inu Curry et al. decide to open with this particular image?" and "Is this a frame narrative implying that the entire story is a performance by Walpurgisnacht?" and "If so, why would Walpurgisnacht be its narrator?", etc, etc.

Of course one very obvious answer to all of these questions is "Walpurgisnacht is somehow Homura and the story she is retelling is the story of how she and Madoka came to be united as super-witches in 'heaven' and everything we take as 'real' in-universe is actually inside her labyrinth and has been a staged production from the beginning", but at this point, that's all heavily speculative at best. (It doesn't hurt that the white glare resembles a vinyl record in motion, records are a recurring motif that go round and round, hourglasses are associated with Homura, etc, etc-- but I digress.)

Another is, "Inu Curry thought it looked cool and it's something that may never be fully explained, just like the anime's ending with Homura in the desert and the black wings isn't really explained in Rebellion", which may be correct but would be disappointing in a series where every other detail means something. Also, after a close study of Rebellion, it's clear that Inu Curry doesn't generally do random details--anything that's there has a meaning, even if only to Inu Curry, even if it's not fully elaborated or expanded upon in the finished film or in the production notes. So that seems like it might have happened here as well with this scene--that it's meant to represent something that wasn't ultimately developed in the final version.

It could also be that Inu Curry believes that Homura and Walpurgisnacht are connected, but that doesn't necessarily translate to the script that Gen Urobuchi wrote and so remains ambiguous and unspoken visual subtext. Or this could be something from an earlier draft that stayed in while other things got changed, so its original meaning is no longer relevant.

However, given that in the Rebellion Production Note, Inu Curry associates Homulilly, the "Witch of the Mortal World/Near Shore" with "color" (used in a Buddhist sense to mean form/matter) and Madokami with its opposite, emptiness (which also uses the same character for sky, 空) then it's possible that Walpurgisnacht is the upside-down city and Gretchen is the hole in the sky. This is admittedly a convoluted chain of logic that only works if you assume Homura is Walpurgisnacht, but given that Inu Curry created both of these juxtapositions in the first place, I can't immediately rule it out. Symbols and motifs evolve and change over time (or could mean two different things at once) and Walpurgisnacht is certainly "upside down"; if her labyrinth does contain Mitakihara, well, that's an upside-down city right there. But like I said, this is all purely speculative at this point.

That said, Inu Curry was clearly thinking along similar lines at one point, because an early draft for Walpurgisnacht in the anime production note shows Walpurgisnacht as a "stage" with buildings on it:

(If you're wondering why it's a bubble, it's because in Inu Curry's first drafts, the labyrinths were all spheres with fixed dimensions, which did not carry over to the final version.)

In Walpurgisnacht's final design in the anime, the stage became a giant cog, while the original gears at the base were replaced by the doll body, but at one point, the witch was indeed a city, or a facsimile of one. Her labyrinth disappeared because she is ostensibly too strong to "need" one, but her official goal is to turn the entire world into a drama nonetheless--which, as I read it, means making the entire world her labyrinth and erasing the distinctions between "reality" and "fantasy" entirely.

And given that Rebellion features Homulilly, a witch whose labyrinth takes the form of a city, and that city is initially indistinguishable from the "real" thing--and ends with said labyrinth seemingly encompassing the entire universe--the stage is now set for more reality-bending revelations in Walpurgis no Kaiten from one or both entities with overlapping thematic motifs.

Of course, how much of any of this will end up carrying over to subsequent installments is an open question, but I'm definitely watching closely to see where this ends up going. Since the title and at least the first trailer for Walpurgis no Kaiten suggest that Walpurgisnacht will return and her mysteries will be revealed, I'm hoping we'll finally learn what this cryptic "shot "Prologue in Heaven" shot and its description actually mean--even though I'm also bracing myself in case it ultimately remains unexplained.

[chenlezip]

──★ ˙☕️ !! an annoying customer | a na jaemin smau .

PART 7 : first date, kinda nervous aha..

warning : none i don't think!

annas note : put my whole PUSSY into writing this god damn, its long but i hope its a good read for you guys. the next chapter is definitely another favourite of mine with this one so pls enjoy it as much as i did writing and making.

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jaemin arrived outside of your house, five minutes earlier than the time you both agreed on which made you chuckle a bit, oh he definitely did that on purpose.

you both enjoy the time spent at the arcade, he won you a plush and you cuddled it into you, playing different games and collecting tickets so he could also get himself something he wanted. you both captured a memory with a photobooth strip, conversation flowing naturally between the both of you as you got to know each other a lot better.

you didn’t mention the other night at the party, not wanting to bring up the kiss until it was the right moment. you just enjoyed the time together.

the night ends at the cinema, a bucket of popcorn shared between the two of you and two large cokes placed in the cup holders on the arms of the seats. you both settled in, getting prepared to watch a romantic film - his choice - you only agreed because it was a film you had been wanting to watch so.. it worked out.

as the movie started, the dim glow of the screen cast soft shadows over jaemins face. you could feel the warmth of his arm resting on the armrest beside you, just barely brushing against yours. it wasn’t intentional— or maybe it was?

halfway through the movie, a particularly emotional scene played and you felt yourself unconsciously leaning in, drawn into the moment. jaemin chuckled softly beside you which was barely audible over the films soundtrack and mainly the loud speakers in the cinema.

“you okay?” he whispered, voice low and warm, sending tingles down your spine. you nodded but before you could say anything else, you felt his fingers brush against yours, testing the waters. it was subtle, hesitant and you couldn’t stop your heart from fluttering at the feeling. it felt like a silent question.

for just a moment, neither of you moved. the space between your hands felt charged as if the entire world had faded away, leaving just the two of you in the dimly lit screen room.

then jaemin made the first move, his fingers curled gently around yours, the feeling warm. he didn’t say anything but he didn’t need to because the gesture already spoke so many volumes. you took a small glance his way and all you saw was a hint of a smile tugging at his lips as he continued to watch the movie, pretending he wasn’t aware of what he was doing or how he was making you feel.

you gave his hand a small squeeze, testing to see if he really knew and yeah, he knew exactly what he was doing. his head tilted ever so slightly toward you, his gaze soft as he looked over, his smile deepening.

''you’re not even watching the movie,” he whispered, amusement lacing his voice. his thumb brushed absentmindedly against your skin, and if he noticed the way you tensed, he didn't say a word. you rolled your eyes, turning back to the screen—but you could still feel his gaze lingering on you, warm and unshaken.

his gaze flickered down to your lips for the briefest second but you noticed from the corner of your eye, trying your best to fight the feelings burning up inside of you. he leaned in, his breath fanning softly against your skin. the movie continued in the background, but you couldn’t pay attention anymore. “jaemin.." his name left your lips in barely a whisper, you looked toward him and noticed how close you two were.

his thumb brushed over the back of your hand, slow and deliberate, before he murmured, "tell me to stop." you didn’t. you couldn’t. you wanted this just as badly as he did, and once again, your lips connected. this second kiss though felt more charged than the one at the party.

it was charged, slow, and deliberate. jaemins lips moved against yours with a quiet urgency, like he was memorizing every second of this moment. like he wanted to make sure you felt exactly what he did.

your free hand found its way to his chest, feeling the rapid rise and fall beneath your fingertips. he exhaled softly at your touch, his lips parting just slightly against yours as he pulled you closer, deepening the kiss in the most intoxicating way.

when you finally pulled away, breathless and lightheaded, his forehead rested against yours. the flickering light from the screen cast a soft glow on his features, highlighting the dazed, lovestruck look in his eyes. you smiled sweetly, “i’ve been waiting for you to do that all day..”

“have you, angel?” he asked you as he moved a hand to your hip, smiling, “you don’t know how you make me feel.. there’s something about you that draws me in, i’ve never felt so strongly about someone before in my life. not until i laid eyes on you.”

the credits rolled, but neither of you moved. the warmth of jaemins hand on your hip, the way his eyes held yours like you were the only thing in the world that mattered.. it made you forget everything else.

“come on,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to your lips again before finally pulling away. "let’s get out of here."

the cool night air wrapped around you as you stepped out of the cinema, but the warmth from jaemins hand in yours made it impossible to feel cold. the city lights flickered around you, but your attention was solely on him—the way he walked just a little closer, the way his thumb brushed circles against your skin absentmindedly.

the latter sighed, "i guess i should take you home," he murmured, though there was hesitation in his voice, like he was hoping you'd ask him to stay just a little longer.

you hummed, tilting your head as you looked at him. "yeah... i guess, it is getting pretty late and we both have uni tomorrow.”

jaemin lifted your hand, pressing a soft kiss to your knuckles, then another just a little lower on your wrist. it sent warmth rushing through you, making your breath hitch. his lips lingered against your skin before he finally whispered, “i had the best night with you." your heart swelled at his words, “i did too, this was honestly the best first date ever.”

the drive back was quieter, but not in a way that felt awkward-just peaceful, like words weren't necessary.

when he pulled up in front of your place, he didn't unlock the doors right away. instead, he turned to you, his eyes searching yours in the dim glow of the streetlights.

"i don't want to say goodnight," he admitted softly, his lips quirking into a small, almost shy smile. you chuckled and shook your head, “me neither but we’re going to have to say goodnight.”

“we’ll see each other again soon.” you added as he unlocked the car doors, nodding, “definitely. i want this to be something more..”

reluctantly, you opened the door and stepped out onto the pavement of your street, looking back at jaemin as he rolled down the window, “sweet dreams, angel. i’ll message you when i get home, alright?” you nod. “please do, goodnight jaem, thank you again for tonight.”

and with that, you disappeared inside your house, your heart still racing and mind swirling with so many thoughts. you already were counting down until you could see him again.

taglist : @jeonghansshitester @kukkurookkoo @cigsaftersuh @polarisjisung @injvns @kaosuni @sibwol @n0hyuck @ayukas @phototypee @hyckvr @swee7dream @haechology @holyhaech @blondemrk @222low @njmluvr @urlocalbeaner5 @serenedreamscape

[szariahwroteit]

Girls Need Love: A Kylian Mbappè x Original Character Erotic Series.

18+ Minors DNI

Chapter 6

From the moment Giselle had stirred awake in the silence of an empty bed that morning, a tempest of emotions had stirred within her. The remnants of the previous night clung to her like a heavy fog, swirling with a chaotic blend of feelings. Among them, fear loomed largest, casting a long shadow over her thoughts, while regret wrapped around her heart, tight and suffocating. Memories of passion and tension flickered in her mind, but the haunting ache of unresolved choices refused to let her find peace.

She desired Kylian and wanted to be his, but the walls around her heart, though feeling weak, had to remain. She needed to protect herself at all costs.

“If you want him, why are you making this so hard for yourself?” Camille asked empathetically over FaceTime, her heart heavy as she took in Giselle’s bloodshot eyes and tear-stained cheeks.

“Because I can't have him; I don't know how to be with anyone without putting them in Jalen’s shoes. Having sex with someone is easier than trusting them with your heart,” Giselle sniffled.

“Maybe that’s where you’re going wrong,” Camille replied gently, urging her friend to confront her fears. “You keep comparing Kylian to Jalen, who’re two completely different people. You’re afraid of falling, but you need to give yourself the chance to fly.”

Giselle shifted uncomfortably, the weight of Camille's words pressing into her like a tangible force. “What if I let him in, and it all goes wrong? What if I’m recreating the same patterns? I can’t do it again.”

Camille leaned closer to the screen, her expression sincere. “You won’t know unless you try. Kylian isn't Jalen, and you aren't the girl you were two years ago.”

Giselle let out a shaky breath, her heart pounding as Camille's words resonated within her. They stood as a stark reminder of the growth she’d undergone since that dark chapter, yet the fear still wrapped around her like a vice. Two years had passed, but it felt as though they weighed like a thousand, carrying with them the scars of betrayal, distrust, and heartbreak.

“But what if I get hurt again?” Giselle whispered her voice a blend of vulnerability and defiance.

Camille sighed, her brow furrowed. “That’s life, Giselle. There is no guarantee, but is that a reason to shut it all out?”

Giselle glanced at the window, squinting against the morning light. The beautiful snowy terrain did little to calm her racing mind.

“Cam, I am terrified of being hurt, but I am also scared that I might hurt Kylian, and he doesn't deserve that,” she admitted, her voice trembling. The weight of her fears felt almost unbearable as they hung between them like an invisible barrier.

“Giselle, everyone carries their own baggage,” Camille replied, her tone soothing yet firm. “Kylian deserves your honesty—if he wants you, he’ll understand your struggles and support you through them. But you have to be willing to let him in.”

A part of Giselle wanted to believe that. The other part shivered at the mere thought of vulnerability. “You think he’ll really understand? What if I open up, and it scares him away?” She winced at the thought of Kylian walking away from her because the baggage she carried was too heavy.

She had opened up to Kylian about Jalen before, but even then, she focused more on the physical changes she went through, having to hide bruises and clues of his abuse from the world.

But emotionally and mentally, she wasn't sure how to even begin navigating those waters with him.

Camille watched as Giselle's anxiety began to manifest, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “You won’t know what his reaction will be unless you try,” she urged gently. “It’s no small feat to share wounds, but if you keep everything locked away, you’ll never find healing, let alone love.”

Giselle felt the weight of emptiness settle in her stomach. Kylian deserved better than the shadows that haunted her. How could she lay bare the scars when she was so afraid he might recoil? She opened her mouth to speak, but hesitation held her tongue captive.

“Giselle, if you feel something for him, embrace it,” Camille encouraged, forcing her own thoughts aside to focus on her friend. “What’s the worst that could happen? He’s articulate, kind, handsome, and incredibly rich,” she smirked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Giselle couldn't help but smile at Camille's lighthearted jab, though the bitterness of her thoughts still lingered beneath the surface. “His money has nothing to do with me,” she replied, her attempt at humor faint and wavering.

“Maybe not, but it seems he enjoys spending it on you!” Camille retorted, grinning widely. “But seriously, Giselle, you have to trust yourself. You’ve fought through so much. You’re not the girl who let Jalen treat her like that anymore. You’re stronger now, even if you don’t fully believe it yet.”

“Sometimes I feel like I’m still that girl,” Giselle confessed quietly, her vulnerability seeping through the cracks of her facade. “The girl who let love blind her. The one who clung to the idea of what it should be, ignoring the reality of what was. I’m just afraid… afraid of letting my guard down again.”

Camille's expression softened, her own eyes reflecting understanding. “I get that. But holding onto that fear won’t protect you; it’ll only keep you locked away. You deserve happiness, too, Giselle. Even if it's not Kylian, you deserve to be able to let your guard down.”

“When we leave Switzerland, he's going back to Madrid, and I'm going home to Los Angeles; there is no promise of a future,” Giselle murmured, the weight of their impending separation adding gravity to her already turbulent thoughts. “What if this moment is just a beautiful memory and nothing more?”

“Kylian asked for it not to be. He wants you, and you said no because you are scared.” Camille paused, her voice steady and resolute. “You have to decide if you want to keep running from what could be or if you’re ready to take a leap of faith. You can’t control the future, but you can choose how you respond to the present.”

Giselle felt Camille’s words' warmth seep into her heart, battling against the chill of her fears. “But what if I fall?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Then you get back up,” Camille replied, her tone sure and unwavering. “You’ve done it before, and you can do it again. Falling doesn’t mean you’re weak; it means you’re brave enough to try. And who knows? Maybe this time, you’ll find someone who will catch you.”

Giselle closed her eyes, a tear slipping from the corner of her right as she thought about how far she had come in the last two years, how different she was from the broken and abused woman who used to stare back at her in the mirror.

Camille was right, but when Giselle considered what was at stake, she was scared.

Kylian wasn't Jalen, but the idea of wanting more with him forced her to face her past, which was a daunting prospect. The memories of Jalen's betrayal and the pain that had followed were still fresh, lurking just beneath the surface of her consciousness. Giselle had spent so long building walls to protect herself, and now, the thought of dismantling them felt like standing on the edge of a precipice, staring down into an abyss of uncertainty.

“What if I’m not ready?” Giselle murmured, her voice trembling as she opened her eyes to the reality of her situation. “What if I ruin everything?”

“Then you learn from it,” Camille replied, her voice steady and reassuring. “But you won’t know unless you take that step, Gi. You can’t let fear dictate your life. You deserve to experience life, even if it’s messy and complicated.”

Giselle took a deep breath, the air filling her lungs with a mix of hope and trepidation. “I want to believe that,” she admitted, her heart racing at the thought of Kylian’s smile and how he looked at her. “But what if I’m just setting myself up for heartbreak again?”

“Messing up is a part of life, Giselle. It’s how we grow,” Camille said softly. “But you have to give yourself the chance to feel something real. Kylian is different. He’s shown you kindness and respect. You owe it to yourself to explore that.”

“I guess I can talk to him later; he’s been shooting a commercial all morning,” Giselle explained, using the back of her hand to wipe her tears.

Despite her inner turmoil, Giselle was thankful for Kylian’s team's presence and the full camera crew that occupied the living room and kitchen of the house.

It allowed Giselle the chance to spend most of the day so far, hiding out in the bedroom of the luxurious alpine chalet Kylian shot for Audemars Piguet.

Sitting on the edge of the ornate bed, Giselle wrestled with her thoughts. Light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the elegant lines of the room but failing to penetrate her heart. The echo of Camille's words rang persistently in her ears, urging her to abandon the walls she had so carefully constructed. Yet every time she pictured Kylian's warm gaze, a shiver of uncertainty ran down her spine.

He was everything: charming, handsome, and unafraid to show his desire for her. Yet, the scars of her past clung to her, reminding her of the time she had given her heart so freely, only to have it shattered in the midst of Jalen’s physical and emotional abuse.

The thought of confronting Kylian, of risking the budding connection between them, left her feeling exposed and vulnerable. What if she invited the kind of intimacy they both craved, only to discover that she wasn't capable of giving him her all? The fear twisted in her stomach like a knife, leaving her trembling.

Taking a deep breath, Giselle rubbed her temples, attempting to ease the tension. Camille’s voice had offered clarity yet left her with a decision that felt insurmountable. “What the fuck do you want?” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible.

The clock on the wall ticked steadily, but Giselle felt like time was slipping through her fingers. Every minute that passed brought the reality of their eventual separation closer. Would they return to their respective cities with only an echo of what could have been, or was there something more waiting for them on the other side of her insecurities?

As if summoned by her thoughts, Kylian entered the room, his presence immediately causing her heart to race. The way his shirt clung to his chest after a long morning of filming made her breath hitch. Even with the camera crew bustling in the background, he focused solely on her, his eyes searching hers with an intensity that sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

The second he noticed her red, puffy eyes, he was at Giselle’s side, his hands encircling her waist as he towered over her.

“Giselle, what’s wrong?” His voice was low and smooth, comforting against the tempest of her emotions. Kylian’s concern cut through her anxiety, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

She swallowed hard, her heart pounding against her ribcage as she struggled to shape the swirling thoughts in her mind into words. “I’m sorry about last…,” she managed, her voice trembling slightly as the weight of her fears loomed.

“Talk to me,” he urged his gaze steady and earnest, making her feel seen and cherished in a way that made her ache. The sincerity of his presence compelled her, yet the fear of opening up threatened to swallow her whole.

Giselle hesitated, casting her gaze toward the ground, wrestling with the revelation that hovered on her tongue. The past loomed behind her like a shadow, and she worried that exposing herself would only expose her to pain again. “I don’t know if I can,” she whispered, feeling the tension heavy between them.

Kylian recognized that she still carried the pain of her past. He understood that she was a woman who had faced various forms of abuse, yet this only strengthened his resolve. As he had told her the night before, he wanted her.

“What if we try and you don't like what you find?” Giselle asked.

“What if I like what I have already found?” Kylian smiled softly.

Giselle's heart stuttered at his words, a warmth blooming in her chest. Kylian’s response was simple yet profound, leaving an impression of hope she hadn’t quite allowed herself to entertain. It was as if he were holding out a lifeline, one that she was terrified yet desperate to reach for.

"You really mean that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes glistening. She was afraid to hope, afraid to believe that he genuinely wanted her, baggage and all.

Kylian stepped closer, closing the space between them, his hands cupping her face gently. "I want you. I don’t want you to hide from me.”

His sincerity was disarming, a soft glow amidst the darkness of her thoughts. But the walls she had built were not easily torn down.

“When you return to Los Angeles, and I return to Madrid, I want to know that we will see each other again; I don't want this to end.” Kylian leaned in, his breath warm against her skin, his gaze unwavering. “I want to be the one who knows you—not just the parts you show the world, but the parts that make you who you are, the beautiful and broken pieces.”

Giselle’s heart raced at his words, a mix of longing and fear binding them together. “But what if I can’t give you what you want?” she whispered, the vulnerability of the moment hanging between them like a fragile string.

Kylian's grip on her face tightened, his thumbs brushing gently against her cheeks. “Then we figure it out together. I’m not asking for perfection; I’m asking you for a chance to give this a try. No labels, no pressure, Giselle. I’m not going anywhere.”

Giselle's heart raced in her chest as his words washed over her. In those moments, the noise of her fears began to fade.

She searched Kylian’s face for the reassurance it offered, his expression a blend of patience and resolve. His dark eyes housed warmth and understanding, drawing her in like a moth to a flame. She wanted to feel that warmth, to surrender to the possibility of something new, but the scars etched in her heart tightened their grip, warning her to retreat.

“What if I fuck up?” Giselle asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty. “What if I push you away?”

“Then you let me in again,” he said gently, his thumbs still tracing the line of her jaw.

Pulling his hands away from her face, Kylian wrapped her in a comforting embrace. Giselle melted against Kylian as he pulled her into his arms, her face nestling beneath his chin as his hands traveled the curve of her back. His touch was soothing and gentle.

“Please, no more crying,” Kylian whispered, his voice a tender balm to her frayed emotions. “I’m not Jalen. I’d never want to hurt you.”

The sincerity of his words wrapped around her like a warm embrace, battling against the chill that had settled so deeply in her heart. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to breathe in his comforting scent, feeling a flicker of hope reignite within the shadows of her worries.

“I’m scared,” she admitted, the tension of vulnerability spilling from her lips like a secret. “Scared of letting you in, scared of being hurt, scared of ruining something that feels so good.”

Kylian pulled back slightly, enough to meet her gaze with unyielding intensity. Instead of offering her a worded answer, he pressed his lips to hers in an attempt to silence her racing mind.

The kiss was soft yet imbued with a warmth that ignited the flames of longing in Giselle’s chest. It was an invitation, a promise of safety wrapped in the urgency of desire. As Kylian's lips moved against hers, she felt the weight of her fears begin to lift, even if just for the fleeting moment they shared.

Giselle responded instinctively, leaning into him as she closed her eyes, surrendering to the sensation that enveloped her like a comforting blanket. The taste of him—warm, rich, and utterly intoxicating—filled her senses, pushing away the shadows that lurked at the edges of her mind.

When he finally pulled back, breathless, Kylian searched her eyes with an intensity that made her heart race. “That’s what I want,” he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. “I want you to feel safe with me.”

She bit her lip, a surge of emotion tightening her throat. “I don’t know if I can,” she admitted, her voice shaky.

“Just take it one step at a time,” he urged gently, leaning closer again, his forehead resting against hers. The intimacy of the gesture felt grounding, a tether for her swirling thoughts. “I’m not asking you to bare your soul. Share what you feel comfortable with.”

Giselle nodded slowly, the warmth of his presence soothing her anxiety. Though the memories of Jalen haunted her, there was a flicker of something new, something undeniably real between her and Kylian. She wanted to explore it but was terrified of what lay beneath the surface.

“What if I start to feel things for you that I’m not ready for?” Giselle asked, her brows furrowing with confusion. “What if it becomes too much?”

Kylian’s hand shifted to her cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. “Then we figure it out together,” he replied, his tone earnest. “I need you to be open. Your past doesn’t scare me, Giselle. It shapes who you are, and that’s beautiful.”

“Beautiful?” Giselle echoed, a mix of disbelief and warmth flooding her cheeks. “I don’t feel beautiful.”

“You are,” Kylian said insistently, his eyes never leaving hers. “That strength you carry? It shines through, even when you’re uncertain. I admire that about you.”

“I just feel like I’m a mess,” she admitted, feeling exposed in a way that was both terrifying and liberating. “One moment, I want to embrace what we have, and the next, I‘m too scared to.”

Kylian’s fingers brushed against her hair, tucking a strand behind her ear. “You don’t have to have it all figured out; that’s what makes this moment so real. We’re both scared, but that doesn’t have to stop us from trying.”

Whether or not he had the courage to admit it, Giselle had left her mark on Kylian. He wasn't entirely sure what the future held, but he knew he couldn't let her go.

Their lives were oceans apart, and they had only known one another for around a week, but he wanted her too much to part ways and have this all become a fond memory; he didn't want her to be.

He wanted her to be someone he could hold in his arms, share laughter and long conversations with, someone who could help him navigate the complexities of his own world.

With each moment that passed, Giselle felt the walls she had built around her heart beginning to crack. Kylian was right; she didn’t have to rush into anything, nor did she have to fear the possibility of their connection fizzling out once they returned to their lives in different countries. What mattered was the present, and right now, Kylian was here, and he wanted her.

“Okay,” she whispered, her heart resistant yet hopeful. “I’ll try. I’ll try to let you in.”

Kylian’s expression brightened, an infectious smile breaking across his face. It lit up the entire room, and for a moment, Giselle felt the heavy weight she’d carried for so long begin to lift.

“Good,” he said softly, bringing his hand back to her waist. “Just take it slow, and we’ll figure it out together, I promise.”

Without thinking, Giselle leaned into him once more, and in that moment, their connection surged with newfound intensity. She surrendered herself to the intoxicating warmth emanating from him, feeling the barriers she had erected slowly giving way to the yearning that had been simmering just below the surface.

And perhaps for the first time in a long time, Giselle felt as though she was reclaiming a part of herself that had been lost. She was no longer the broken girl she had once been; she was stronger, more resilient, and ready to embrace the complexities of life once more.

Kylian’s arms tightened around her, and in that embrace, she felt a sense of safety she hadn’t known she craved. For the first time, she allowed herself to envision a future where they could explore the depths of their connection, even against the backdrop of uncertainty.

“Are you going to leave the bedroom with me? You can't stay locked away.” Kylian softly teased, his voice low and playful, as he brushed his fingers along her arm, an invitation to step into the world outside their intimate cocoon.

Giselle chuckled, her cheeks warming at his lightheartedness. “I don't want to get in the way,” she replied.

Kylian shook his head, his laughter mingling with hers in the open space. “You won't be in the way.” His eyes sparkled with mischief, a playful glint that made her heart flutter. “Besides, I think I could use a little of your expertise on set.”

While Kylian was a star, there was no denying Giselle’s celebrity. She had graced the covers of multiple magazines and posed in campaigns and editorials for some of the biggest brands in the world.

“I’m on vacation,” Giselle reminded him playfully, putting up no protest as he guided her out of the bedroom, his face in the crease of her neck as he led her through the door. The laughter faded, giving way to an electrifying tension that hummed beneath the surface of their every interaction. Each step felt like a dance, choreographed by the unspoken desires that had built up between them.

As they entered the elegantly furnished living area filled with the soft chatter of the crew, Giselle felt a rush of warmth wash over her. Kylian’s presence was steadying, grounding her as they stepped into the chaos of cameras and lights.

“Relax,” he murmured, his breath tickling her ear, sending shivers down her spine as he tightened his hold on her.

Kylian couldn't help but smirk as his eyes met with Brice, one of his closest friends and long-time barber, who shot him a knowing smirk.

As Kylian’s confidant, Brice was one of the only people he had spoken to about Giselle, but to see his friend with her—his arms wrapped securely around her waist as he whispered in her ear suggested their were more feelings involved than his brother had originally let on.

Kylian couldnt keep the mischievous smirk off of his face as he caught Brice's eye, who raised an eyebrow suggestively wearing a smirk of his own.

With the cameras rolling, Kylian stood tall, pivoting slightly to shield Giselle from the curious gazes of the crew. Her presence felt good, and it was one he wanted to protect. She leaned into him, comforted by his strong arms, before he let her go so she could go and stand behind the camera and crew.

“Alright, people, let’s get this done!” Kylian called out, his voice ringing with authority, yet playful. His eyes gleamed with mischief, flicking back to Giselle, who looked both fascinated and uncertain.

As the shoot unfolded, Giselle watched in awe as Kylian modeled an array of luxury watches one after the other, his outfits changing to mate the color scheme of each timepiece.

It felt oddly peaceful to sit back and watch from behind the camera for a change, the attention of the room on Kylian as she aimlessly scrolled through Instagram.

He was in his element, exuding the same quiet confidence and charm he always held as he effortlessly navigated through the demands of the shoot. Giselle's stomach fluttered with admiration as he posed, showing off the intricate details of the Audemars Piguet timepieces.

She felt like a spectator in both a dream and a reality—caught up in the ongoing show between cameras and flashes, yet wholly engaged in her feelings for him. The thoughts of her own hesitations started to fade. Kylian’s confidence ignited a spark of joy within her.

“Can you believe this guy?” A voice asked breaking through her thoughts as he moved to stand beside her, his eyes trained on Kylian. “He’s killing it, as always. But you might be making him nervous.” There was an unmistakable teasing lilt to his voice that made Giselle roll her eyes affectionately.

“Nice to meet you, finally,” he smirked, turning to Giselle and holding out her hand. “Brice. Kylian’s best friend and the reason his hair always looks good.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Giselle replied, trying to mirror his easy-going vibe, though her nerves were still a little frayed from their earlier conversation.

Brice was welcoming, it was evident to Giselle in some of the things he said that Kylian had spoken to him about her. There was a familiarity in his manner that made her feel less like an outsider and more like a part of Kylian's world, even if just for a moment.

“You guys met at Elise and Juels’ engagement party, no?” Brice asked, leaning casually against the wall, a playful glint in his eye that hinted at mischief.

Giselle glanced over at Kylian in time to see him falter slightly, a hint of a blush creeping up her cheeks. “We did,” she confirmed, her mind instantly going to the night of passion that followed.

Brice chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I was traveling so I couldn't attend, but when I spoke to him the next day, he would not stop talking about the girl he met.”

Giselle felt her cheeks heat up at the admission, a mix of embarrassment and pride swelling within her as she looked across the room to where Kylian sat being photographed.

“He enjoys your company,” Brice commented, his tone light but serious enough to convey genuine interest.

“I enjoy his too,” Giselle replied, surprised by how readily the admission slipped from her lips.

Brice was strategic in his conversation, using the time to feel out who Giselle was beyond the face she showed the world.

The longer they spoke the more appreant it became why Kylian was so into her. She was strikingly beautiful, but beyond that she was kind, warm, and had a genuine charm that drew people in. Brice could see the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke about Kylian, a detail that deepened his curiosity about their relationship.

“He really likes you, you know,” Brice remarked, leaning closer to Giselle with an encouraging smile. “I haven’t seen him like this in a while.”

In that moment, Giselle felt a mix of elation and apprehension. Being liked by Kylian felt intoxicating yet terrifying. She bit her lip, looking back to where he posed for the camera, his smile infectious and radiating confidence.

“What does that mean for you? I mean, as you both navigate the distance…” Brice continued, folding his arms and watching her closely.

Giselle’s heart sank slightly at the mention of distance. “I honestly don’t know,” she said truthfully.

She'd had a conversation with Kylian in which they seemed to find level ground, but life was always easier in theory.

Giselle felt a pang of anxiety rise within her as the reality of their separation loomed over her heart like a dark cloud. “We’re both busy people,” she admitted, her voice softer now. “He’s got his life in Madrid, and I have mine in Los Angeles. I don’t want to get my hopes up.”

The conversation between Giselle and Brice continued as Kylian moved to different locations around the house, the shoot continuing into the late afternoon before the photographer announced it was over, earning a round of applause from the crew that worked alongside him.

Kylian was frustrated as he entered the living room, looking for Giselle. She was seated on a plush sectional, her legs tucked beneath her, staying out of the way while the set team cleaned up.

Brice gave Kylian a lazy handshake as he passed him, and Kylian dramatically fell into Giselle’s lap, relaxing his body against hers as he pressed his face against her stomach and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Giselle looked down at Kylian, her fingers instinctively brushing over his hair, and she couldn't help but smile. The moment felt intimate and carefree, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions that had occupied her mind earlier.

Kylian lifted his head slightly, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief. "You are the best pillow," he teased, hiding a grin as he settled back against her.

“Are you coming to dinner later?” he asked as he snuggled in closer to Giselle, refusing to even lift his head.

As a thank you for his continued work with the luxury brand, Audemars Piguet were hosting a dinner later that evening for Kylian.

He could feel the warmth radiating from Giselle, and it was exactly what he needed after a long day of shooting.

“I guess so,” she replied, her voice soft as she played with his hair, her fingers tracing over his sharp hairline. “I’ll have to start getting ready soon,” Giselle added, her voice a mix of reluctance and anticipation.

Kylian lifted his head, his expression shifting to one of playful seriousness. “I want you to be there,” he said, his voice low and earnest.

Giselle’s heart fluttered at his earnestness, the weight of his gaze sending sparks of warmth through her. “I’ll be there,” she promised, feeling a wave of sincerity wash over her.

“Good. I mean it,” Kylian replied, his smile softening. “Your presence matters to me, Giselle.”

Taking a moment to let his words sink in, Giselle felt a rush of emotions swirl within her: hope, desire, and a lingering fear. The past still hovered like a specter, but as Kylian returned to rest against her, she felt calmer, lighter—more in control than she had felt in a while.

When it was time to begin getting ready, Brice headed to the room he'd be sleeping in for the night while Kylian and Giselle returned to their, each of them showering before getting dressed ahead of dinner.

When they were ready, they pulled on their coats ready to brave the Swiss winter night as they stepped out into the crisp air, the moon illuminating the snowy landscape around them. The chalet was a stunning backdrop, its wooden beams glowing softly under the twinkling lights strung across the façade. Giselle tucked her arm into Kylian’s as they walked to the awaiting SUV, feeling the warmth radiate from him seeping into her skin.

“Just so you know,” Kylian started, his voice teasing yet sincere, “You look beautiful tonight.”

Giselle blinked, caught off guard by his complement. “Thank you," she replied, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. She could feel the warmth of his gaze on her, and it sent a shiver down her spine. It was moments like these that made the chaos of her thoughts fade, even if just for a heartbeat.

The SUV rolled through the snowy streets, music playing softly in the background, and Kylian kept stealing glances at her, the tension between them palpable. The air was thick with unspoken words, charged with an electricity that made her pulse race.

Dinner wan an intimate setting, including herself, Kylian and Brice there were no more than ten people in the opulent restaurant seated along a long table in the centre of the room.

Giselle was not sure if it was purposefully orchestrated, but she had spent the day fitting seamlessly into his life, further confusing her emotions.

By the time dinner came to an end she felt a slight buzz from the wine she had consumed, Giselle's body felt warm even as they stood outside awaiting the arrival of Kylian's driver so they could head back to the chalet for the night.

Giselle let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as she felt Kylian's hand snake around her waist, his warm breaths on her cheek as he pulled her back against his chest.

The drive back to the house was filled with soft giggles as heated whispers as Kylian and Giselle occupied the back seat, leaving Brice to sit up front with the driver.

“When are you coming to see me in Madrid?” Kylian asked, his voice a husky whisper in her ear, making her shiver.

Giselle leaned into him, her heart racing at the sudden intimacy. “I don’t know yet,” she admitted, her words laced with both excitement and trepidation. “It feels like a lot to think about.”

Kylian tightened his grip around her waist, drawing her closer as the car navigated the winding roads of the Swiss countryside. “We can take our time,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “I just want to know when I can see you again. I want to make it happen.”

Giselle turned to meet his gaze, her breath hitching at the depth of his focus on her. “You really want that?” she asked, searching for confirmation.

“More than anything,” Kylian replied fervently, his expression vulnerable yet unwavering. “You’ve got under my skin, and I don’t want to let go.”

The simplicity of his desire in that moment flipped a switch in Giselle, even if she wasnt sure what the future held for them when they returned home, but for the night, all she wanted was him.

When they arrived back at the chalet, Giselle allowed Kylian to pull her into their shared bedroom, locking the door behind them.

There was absolutely nothing rushed about Giselle and Kylian’s sex; he held her wrists pinned above her head as he rolled his hips into hers, making sure she felt every ridge and vein that lined his thick shaft.

It wasn't the sex of two individuals purely seeking pleasure; it was the sex of two souls completely lost in one another.

Giselle was so wet her arousal pooled beneath her on the sheets, her essence seeping into the thread count as Kylian took his time, the bulbous head of his cock brushing against her cervix with each slow, drawn-out flex of his hips.

Kylian's eyes rolled back slightly as he savored the tight, wet grip of Giselle's pussy, grunting as he placed his hand on the back of her right thigh and pinned it to the bed.

“Fuck, Giselle... you feel so good on my cock. Kylian groaned, his accent thickening with desire as he slowly pumped his hips, savoring the exquisite sensation of her tight walls gripping him.

Leaning down, he captured her lips passionately as he continued his deliberate pace. His tongue dancing with hers, mimicking the slow, sensual rhythm of their sex. Kylian's free hand roamed her body, caressing her curves and leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

They returned to Paris tomorrow afternoon and shortly after that Kylian was heading back to Madrid to resume his football season.

Uncertainty shrouded them both, but something about tonight felt definitive. He needed to feel her physically and emotionally; he felt the overwhelming urge to consume her.

Giselle let out a cry of pleasure as Kylian hit a particularly deep spot inside of her, invoking an indescribable pleasure combined with a dull ache.

“Baby, you're so deep,” she moaned, her nails digging into his back as she tilted her hips towards his, taking every delicious inch of him.

Kylian's eyes snapped open, a fierce intensity burning within them as he stared down at Giselle. His movements became more purposeful, more deliberate, as he began to pick up the pace. The sound of their bodies slapping together filled the room, punctuated by Giselle's breathy moans and Kylian's guttural grunts.

"Fuck, Giselle," he growled, his accent thickening with each thrust. "You're mine. Tonight, tomorrow. I don't care about the distance or the uncertainty."

His words were punctuated by a particularly deep thrust, causing Giselle to cry out in pleasure. Kylian's hand tightened around her thigh, pulling her leg higher up his waist as he continued to fuck into her.

"Say it," he demanded, his voice low and commanding. "Tell me you're mine."

Giselle's body trembled beneath Kylian's, her walls clamping down around his throbbing shaft as he filled her completely. Tears of joy and overwhelming emotion pricked at the corners of her eyes. "I'm yours, Kylian," she whispered, her voice trembling with sincerity.

Her words seemed to ignite something primal within Kylian. With a fierce growl, he captured her lips in a feverish kiss, his tongue dominating hers as he continued to drive into her with wild determination. The room filled with the sounds of their passionate tryst, a testament to the deep connection they shared.

As their bodies moved in perfect harmony, Kylian felt a familiar tension building in his lower abdomen. He knew he was close, but he refused to find his release without Giselle.

"Cum with me, Gi," Kylian rasped, his voice strained with the effort of holding back his own orgasm. "I want to feel you cum my cock. Give yourself to me."

His words, combined with the relentless rolling of his hips, pushed Giselle over the edge. Her body convulsed beneath him, a strangled cry ripping from her throat as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her. Her inner core spasmed, gripping Kylian's shaft as she rode out her climax.

Feeling Giselle's release, Kylian finally let himself go. With a final, powerful thrust, he buried himself deep inside her and came with a roar. His hot seed spilled into her, marking her as his in the most primal way possible. Their bodies shuddered and twitched together, lost in the midst of passion.

Kylian collapsed onto her, their bodies entwined as they both tried to catch their breath, the aftershocks of their climax rippling through them. Giselle's heart raced, her skin flushed and tingling from the intensity of their shared experience. She felt alive, both vulnerable and empowered in the wake of their union.

Kylian peppered soft kisses along her collarbone, each one igniting her senses anew. “You are incredible,” he murmured against her skin, his voice laced with a mix of exhaustion and adoration. “I can’t believe how lucky I am to have you here with me.”

Giselle smiled, a blush creeping across her cheeks as she reveled in the moment. “I feel lucky too,” she confessed, still trying to process the whirlwind of emotions that had enveloped her throughout the night.

They lay in a comfortable silence for a moment, wrapped up in each other amidst the disarray of sheets and blankets, both savoring the warmth that radiated between them.

But as the contentment settled in, the reality of their situation crept back into her mind like an unwelcome guest. Tomorrow loomed with its uncertainty, and the thought left an ache in her heart.

“What are we going to do?” Giselle finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper, the weight of her worries threatening to crush the lightness of their earlier moment.

Kylian propped himself up on one elbow, his brow furrowing as he studied her face. “What do you mean?”

Giselle sighed, threading her fingers through her hair as she turned her gaze away from him. “We have to deal with tomorrow. You’ll be in Madrid, and I’ll be back in Los Angeles. What if this... what we have...”

Kylian's expression softened as he reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Listen to me, Giselle. This doesn’t change just because the sun rises. It was real, and it mattered.”

[shadysubject06]

So I finally saw Sonic 3 last night and I am so....mixed.

This is gonna be a VERY long ramble and definitely will not cover all of my thoughts but I really need to write just any of it down because I cannot rant to myself for another 3 hours.

Firstly, Shadow

Every scene of Shadow is perfect. Period. The fact that he did the first chase on a motorcycle, the fact that he didn't need the motorcycle, the fact that he teleports the motorcycle in the air next to a skyscraper - used his power to make the motorcycle stick to the building so he could ride it up the side - THEN Akira slid off the top and used the motorcycle as a platform to launch himself from?

Perfect.

An element of Shadow that's not utilized as much as it should be is how specifically his "effortless coolness" happens. Sonic will do Extra shit either because it's fun, or because it's cool. Shadow just Does It, and you don't know if he's doing it to be cool or because he just sees something he can use and uses it. There's also how he chose to pick off Team Sonic one by one in the GUN base. He stands in the dark until Knuckles sees him just to scare him, he floats behind Stone and Tails silently with glowing red eyes (can he do that by choice since they didn't glow while sneaking up on Knux?), and while he does take down Sonic much more seriously all of this is still important. Because it shows pieces of how Shadow can be playful in how he does things. He doesn't emote facially or vocally, but he'll still act in a way that's clearly done just to fuck with people. He could have been a bit of a trickster in the past, it's still present in the present, and it can be something he embraces more in the future. (Small Tangent) I know that the Twitter Takeover's are kinda ooc, but they really do feel like a natural development for Shadow's character after all of the trauma and amnesia has been addressed. He thinks he's cooler than everyone, states it as a fact, riles up Sonic for fun, and would still kill and die for any of the cast. He's an opposite to Sonic in attitude but not morals. He feels like a Lego Batman type, with "I'm the Ultimate Lifeform" being his "I'm Batman" where it's not a satisfying answer...but it really is the only one. (tangent over)

The new backstory could have worked really well. I was very surprised by just how much they gutted his og origins, and it lowkey did hurt a bit, but the new backstory isn't bad, just badly executed. Shadow's not a lab experiment created to cure Maria's terminal illness. He was found in a meteor and brought to a GUN lab where they could run tests. Gerald was the head scientist and Maria was there because "he brings her everywhere". Gerald's attachment to Maria is barely touched on other than her death being the reason he wants to kill everyone. He takes her everywhere but we see no scenes of them interacting until her death. Shadow's backstory is told through one exposition dump, one montage flashback, and a final flashback that's just how Maria died. There is so little Shadow in this movie I can't understand it. The exposition dump is done by the Olive Garden Military Guy from Sonic 1. He tells team Sonic that a meteor crashed in Oklahoma years ago, and inside was "a lifeform. The Ultimate Lifeform." He says that they found that Shadow had a huge amount of unstable Chaos energy, and the visuals show that they siphoned it from him by having him run in circles in a giant circular room. We also see his energy filling up a canister. And you need to remember that and what it looks like for the final flashback. But with THIS it's very clear how dehumanized the military is towards Shadow. He's basically running on a hamster wheel. And in the Maria Bonding Flashback Montage, it looks like they would just stick Shadow in tubes of water when they weren't doing tests. There's also another scene where scientists have sensor things on him, and Maria sneaks in and helps him sneak out so that they can have fun. And if there was MORE of that, it would make Maria's presence more impactful. She's not a sick girl trapped in space and slowly dying. (THERE IS NO SPACE COLONY ARK, THEY'RE IN A BUNKER LAB THAT'S FRONT DOOR IS AT GROUND LEVEL) Maria is instead, a normal girl, who just wants to have fun with him and treat him like a friend. They watch a Godzilla-esque movie that says "Beware the Alien Freak", and Shadow gets a horrified look on his face. And in the next convo they have he asks her if she thinks he's dangerous. This is set-up for something the movie never executes. Because in flashback 3, Maria's death, it's Shadow's POWER that kills her. The bullet meant for her misses and hits a container, and if you remember the exposition dump from Olive Garden Guy, and remember what that container looks like, you'll realize what it is. It's Shadow's unstable chaos energy, it gets knicked by the gunshot, explodes, and that's what kills Maria. And am I saying that the movie should have pointed out that it was Shadow's power that caused the explosion? No! But considering how much the movie flops from filler to "direct answer exposition that just tells you what happens", it's just so confusing to finally see something subtle, and it's something that should have been much bigger. Especially because Shadow's main turmoil is 1, he considers himself a dangerous alien, and 2, he's acting on pain and grief that's been stewing for 50 years. But there's a moment that's supposed to play on this directly and obviously, and it's done SO BADLY Also Shadow takes off his inhibitor rings at the end but the movie hasn't even mentioned them, so if you don't know any Shadow lore it means absolutely nothing.

I need to go on a longer rant about the WHOLE GUN HQ SEgMENT, but I'll focus just on the Walters/Olive Garden guy part. The movie made it so that he was a GUN agent stationed at the lab studying Shadow, and even made it where he was there to witness Shadow big put into stasis (That scene? Shadow is conscious and trapped in a tube while it fills with water. That is the energy they needed for the entirety of his backstory). Walters even was a good military goon who tried to stop one out of like 10 guys from firing on "children" (Shadow and Maria) implying that he saw Shadow as a child. But I do not fall for the good guy military shit so boohoo I guess. BIG THING IS?? YOUNG WALTERS LOOKS LIKE TOM. I thought it was James Marsden playing him at first. And remember in the first movie Tom said that a Wachowski has been Green Hills' sherif for 50 years and we all thought Tom was descended from the guy who shot Maria? Yeah that apparently meant nothing. But there's a scene where it SHOULD HAVE BEEN I SWEAR TO GOD Tom is disguised as old Walters, Shadow sees him and assumes that he's Walters The Young Guy Who Froze Me (and he also needs to steal a thing he's holding), and rocks Tom's shit. The disguise powers off and Shadow sees that it's Tom. Sonic pulls up, freaks out, Shadow is reminded of himself when Maria died, and looks sad before resigning to his actions with the "What I had to" line. Because this is supposed to read as Shadow going "I really am a dangerous thing, I've the same grief I have onto Sonic." EXCEPT THAT DOESN'T WORK IF SHADOW WAS INTENTIONALLY ATTACKING THAT OLD MAN. HIM NOT BEING TO OLD MAN HE MEANT TO FUCK UP DOESN'T CHANGE THAT. HE WOULD HAVE PUNCHED AN OLD GUY TO THE HOSPITAL IF IT WAS WALTERS, IT NOT BEING WALTERS DOESN'T SUDDENLY MAKE SHADOW BAD OR EVIL. Because what SHOULD have happened is that Tom doesn't reactivate the disguise before Shadow shows up. He looks like himself. And when Shadow sees Tom in a GUN uniform, looking like young Walters, he gets a flashback of being trapped in the stasis tube as it fills with water - Young Walters staring at him from across the room. Because he's reliving it, he punches forward, trying to break out, and punches Tom on accident. Shadow then grounds himself, realizes where he is, and sees that Tom isn't Walters. Sonic shows up, gets upset that his dad got his shit wrecked, and Shadow is now faced with "even when trying to protect myself I cause pain to others. I really am dangerous", which THEN makes the fact that he tries to goad Sonic into killing him in the final battle hit that much WORSE because not only is that Shadow telling Sonic to give into his revenge and grief, but it's Shadow saying "kill me, I deserve it." And I have many more thoughts but I needed to get that out.

[thefatedthoughtofyou]

Worse Than Anything In The World

Thomas Jopson x Edward Little

Summary: Thomas finds Edward on deck, beaten and bloody. He gets Edward to safety, and then hunts down the culprits who hurt his Edward.

Warnings: vampires. Werewolves. Blood. Violence. Character death, not the main lads. Revenge killing. Blood play (if you squint). Mention of Fitzier!

A/N: @fitzjamesbulletwound HERE IT ISSS! very loosely inspired by THIS ART because i saw it and needed some vamp Jop and wolfie Ned. So it shall be. Also, i don't know how the vampires and the wolves came to be in this au, but i do know Thomas has been a vamp for longer than anyone else on these ships. I also do suspect that whatever happened... it was probably Hickey's fault. Maybe also Sir Johns. Neither of them are in the fic... but i assure you...it was almost definitely their fault. Hahahahaha!

🧛🏻‍♂️🐺🧛🏻‍♂️🐺🧛🏻‍♂️

Edward is bleeding. He can smell it from the captain's quarters.  He could smell it for miles. He could smell it across the ice, all the way back home in England, if he needed too.

But he isn't back home. He's stuck in the ice. With all these others. Crawling over the ships like rats, saying things they shouldn't be, doing things, they shouldn't be.

Crozier dismisses him for the evening. Thomas nods, walks away, his fists clenched so hard he can feel his nails biting through his cold skin, pointed as they are. He stalks through the freezing ship, sliding through the shadows, unseen.

He stops for a moment. Smells Edward's blood on a few of the crew. Digs his claws in harder, forces himself to keep going. He has to find Edward. Now.

He finds him a few moments later. Up on deck. Bruised, and broken, and covered in blood. His coat ripped and torn and tossed aside. He's reaching for it weakly when Thomas finds him. His hand tembling from the cold, and the pain, as he reaches out.

"Edward." The single word makes the man flinch, he curls into himself, hands covering his head.

"It's alright. It's me Edward. It's Thomas. You're alright." Thomas soothes. His hands moving to Edward's shaking shoulders, gentle, avoiding the bruises he can see through the ripped shirt. There's blood pooling under him, it makes Thomas light headed, the scent of him. His Edward. His mouth waters.

He shoves the feeling away. Covering Edward with his coat and lifting him, pulling him into his arms easily. Edward weighing next to nothing.

"Tom." Edward's voice is weak, his fingers curling into Thomas's own coat, pulling himself closer with a whine. His fingers are cold, but still warm against Thomas's skin.

"I'm here." Thomas soothes, and starts walking out over the ice. There's a small camp out there now. Poorly made snow houses containing what's left of the Marines, and one or two Lieutenant's. Tozer is on his feet as soon as Thomas is through the door.

"What's happened?" He growls, eyes glowing in the fire light, Thomas knows the light is casting a shimmer over his own eyes, doesn't care right now, Tozer and the Marine's know him already, besides.

"I don't know." Thomas hisses, not at the Marine, at the pained noise Edward makes when he sets him down.

"But I intend to find out." He crouches, moving his fingers over Edward's forhead, pushing blood soaked hair out of his eyes.

Edward blinks up at him, one of his eyes is full of blood, his lip split. Thomas moves his thumb over the cut, Edward whines. Thomas frowns, brings his thumb to his mouth, and licks it clean. He can taste the pain Edward's in, feels it crawl across his cold skin like lightning across a stormy sky.

"Take care of him. I will return." Thomas tells Tozer. His eyes moving to Lieutenant Irving, he's already edging toward Edward, rags in his hand. Tom Hartnell is at his shoulder, looking concerned. Thomas knows Edward's pack will take care of him. Knows he's in good hands.

He goes to the door. Turns to see Tozer already helping Irving get Edward out of his bloody clothes, Blanky taking the clothes and pressing his folded up coat under Edward's head. Thomas nods to himself, and head's back out onto the ice.

The ship is quiet when he returns. Thomas hears nothing. Almost nothing. He hears heartbeats. Few and far between, as they are now, dwindling every day, the longer the night gets. Thomas closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and follows the scent of Edward's blood.

He finds Des Voeux and Stanley in the dark. Deep below deck. Smelling like Edward. His blood. And his pain. Thomas closes his eyes again, trying to calm the thing that rages inside him.

"Can we help you." Stanley asks, voice cold, and empty, like so many of them are now. Thomas opens his eyes, sees four eyes looking back at him, there's no light down here, to set them shimmering, but Thomas can see them all the same.

"Why?" Is all Thomas says. All he can say. The only word he can force up out of his throat. Des Voeux smirks at him, Thomas curls his nails, his claws, for that's what they are, into his palms again, presses the points into his skin just so.

"What? Upset that we went after your little pet?" Des Voeux asks, head tilting in the dark, that smirk still on his face. Stanley laughs next to him. Thomas feels the growl in his throat before he's conscious of making it happen.

"He's not my pet. And he's a good man." Thomas keeps his voice level, eerily so, no emotion there, though he feels full of it, full of everything. He feels everything all the time, always.

"Please." Stanley spits.

"He's a dog. Just like the rest of them out on the ice." He hisses, tilting his head to the side with a jerk, his neck cracking.

"They are still a part of this crew. No matter what's happened to them. No matter what they've become. They're no different to us." Thomas growls, he can feel blood dripping to the floor from his palms.

"Oh but they are." Stanley says.

"We're as different as night and day." The doctor snarls.

"And they are. Beneath us." He hisses. Des Voeux cackles beside him, the pointed teeth in his mouth should be a threat. Would be. If Thomas didn't have a matching set. And Thomas has been doing this, much, much longer.

He has Des Voeux against the wall before the laugh can die in his throat. His hard pointed nails digging into the soft, cold, skin there. He tries to speak, Thomas squeezes harder, blood dripping slowly down into the hollow of the man's throat.

"What do you think you're doing?" Stanley hisses, coming for Thomas. He moves quickly, before Stanley can react he has him by the throat as well, his arms outstretched, one pinning Des Voeux to the wall, the other holding Stanley up, his toes hovering just above the floor.

"You." Thomas growls, his chest heaving.

"Will never touch him again." His fingers squeeze into Des Voeux again, he gags and coughs, his legs starting to kick as Thomas lifts him off the floor as well.

"So sentive." Stanley chokes out.

"And over a dog, no less." He chuckles. Thomas turns to him, his head tilting slowly as he looks up at the man. Stanley takes that moment, to laugh again. Thomas closes his eyes, one last time, takes a deep breath, and lets go.

He opens his eyes and smiles at Stanley, the smile on the man's face fades, quickly. Thomas growls, deep in his chest, and rips Des Voeux's throat out. He falls to floor, choking, hands grabbing at his neck as blood pools out around him. His body shudders, once, and he stills.

"What have you done?" Stanley chockes out, his own clawed hands grabbing at Thomas's arm now, Thomas grabs one of them, stretches it out to the side as Stanley struggles in grasp.

"He may well be a dog." Thomas says, bringing Stanley closer to him, pulling him right into his face so he can look him in the eyes.

"But he is mine." Thomas growls, low, as he releases Stanley's arm. He shoves his now free hand deep into the man's chest, his fingers curling around the cold heart that lives there. A too sharp smile stretching across his face as he rips it out.

~°~

Crozier finds him there. Not ten minutes later. Blood around his mouth, covering his hands, two bodies lying heartless on the floor beside him.

"Thomas?" The man questions, bringing his lamp closer, lowering himself to look at his steward.

"What happened?" Is all his Captain asks of him, heart hammering in his chest, blood pumping loudly through his veins. He's alive. Still. For now. Thomas has kept him so. For as long as he can.

"They hurt my Edward. They- they almost killed him." Thomas stammers, the blood on his lips sticky now, he runs his tongue over them, and then back of his hand.

"Your-?" Crozier pauses, his eyes filling with realization.

"Oh Thomas." He sighs, reaches out for him, helps him to his feet.

"I couldn't help it. I couldn't stop it. Couldn't stop myself." He breathes, panting now as Crozier pulls out his hankerchief and wipes at Thomas's mouth.

"It's alright Thomas. I understand. I don't blame you. I couldn't. You understand?" He cups Thomas's face.

"Not for this." He looks at him pointedly, until Thomas nods, and sags, his shoulders drooping.

"Is Edward alright?" He asks, straightening Thomas's coat, to have something to do. To his credit, he's never been afriad of Thomas. Not one day since he found out what he was.

"Alive. I took him to his pack." Thomas says, eyes moving over the bodies on the floor.

"I've made a mess." He says, he sounds tired, even to himself. And he feels it. Bone deep. He wants to rest. He wants his Edward.

"That's alright son. We'll get it sorted." Crozier tells him, pats his shoulder gently.

"We can help." A voice from behind Thomas, he doesn't turn. Heard them coming. Lieutenant Hodgson and Mr. Diggle, walking out of the dark into the small circle of light cast by Crozier's lamp, both their eyes shimmering.

"Good lads." Crozier praises, motion them foward. Thomas bends to help, Crozier's hand on his shoulder stops him.

"We've got this Thomas. Go see to your boy." He tells him, serious, and solemn. Thomas can smell Fitzjames on him. Has for awhile now. James was like him now, like Thomas. Crozier didn't seem put off. Thomas knew he wouldn't be able to protect the captain forever, but James would see him right.

Thomas walks toward the darkness, his toes stop just at the edge of the circle of light.

"I am sorry Captain. For the mess." He looks over his shoulder. Crozier waves him off. Hodgson stands next to him, gives him a small smile.

"You've not done anything we didn't all want to do." The Lieutenant tells him, bending again to assist Mr. Diggle. Thomas nods, takes a step.

"Thomas?" Crozier calls, gentle. Thomas turns.

"Yes Captain?" He asks, hands clasped behind his back, out of habit.

"Tell Mr. Blanky he is missed, will you?" Crozier asks with a small smile. Thomas returns the smile, his teeth returned to normal once again.

"Will do, sir." Crozier nods, and Thomas walks into the dark.

~°~

Edward is alseep when he returns. Curled under a pile of blankets, close to the fire. Hartnell sitting at the end of his makeshift bed, Blanky at the head of it. Thomas shoves away the thought that they look like guard dogs. He doesn't think of them that way. Never has.

"How'd it go?" Tozer asks from his place near the door, gun perched in his hands, Thomas doesn't feel threatened, knows he doesn't have to, not here. He's safe here, though he is different than them.

"Taken care of." Thomas mutters, the taste of blood in his mouth fogging his mind for a moment. He wipes his hands down the front of his coat, can feel the dry blood on them. Tozer nods, eyes following Thomas's movements.

"You can get cleaned up if you want. Stay with him." He nods toward the rags in the corner, still stained with Edward's blood, and the bowl of water next to them, and then nods to Edward, who turns and whines in his sleep, pain no doubt shooting through his body when he moves.

"You're sure I'm welcome?" Thomas asks, already moving to take off his coat. Tozer's lips twitch, a smile threatening.

"If I'm right in my assumption, you've just killed at least one of your own kind." Tozer says, taking a step toward him, leaning close, Thomas can feel the others eyes on him.

"And you did it for him." He nods to Edward again.

"So, Mr. Jopson. You're welcome here long as you like." He purses his lips in an awkward, but sincere, smile. And then takes his place back near the opening in their makeshift ice house. Thomas watches him for a moment, then looks around the room, each man his eyes find dipping their heads at him. His eyes land on Mr. Blanky and stay.

"The Captain would like you to know that you are very much missed, sir." Thomas ducks his head. Hears Blanky bark a laugh in that way he has.

"I should think so." He says, smug as ever and smiling brightly at Thomas before moving away from Edward, giving them space.

Thomas cleans himself in the water, staining it a darker brown still, and then moves to sit near Edward's bed.

He moves the blankets down a bit, to get a look at him. He's bruised, and broken, but healing. Thomas can feel it. He curls his fingers around Edward's wrist and just feels him, his blood moving under Thomas's fingers.

"I'm so sorry Edward." He whispers, reaching up, pushing Edward's hair away from his face again, fingertips dragging over his brow genlty.

"If I had known." Thomas takes a deep breathe, leaning forward, pressing his head to Edward's shoulder. Genlty. He hears the uptick in Edward's heartbeat just before he feels his fingers in his hair.

"Thomas." Edward sighs, fingers scratching at his scalp. Thomas sits up, just a bit, staying close to him. Edward smiles at him, much as he can, when Thomas takes his hand.

"Edward." Thomas sighs back, bringing Edward's hand to his mouth, lips pressing to his knuckles. Thomas notes his knuckles aren't bruised, or scraped, at all.

"Why didn't you fight back?" Thomas whispers, lips moving against Edward's skin. The man's eyes fall closed, and then open again, looking at Thomas with sadness, and what Thomas knows is Edward's own personal style of guilt.

"Said they were gonna hurt ya." Edward mumbles, eyes blinking heavily.

"Ned." Thomas sighs, biting into his own lip. He nuzzles his nose against the pulse in Edward's wrist.

"They won't ever hurt you again. I promise." Thomas whispers, lips pressing to the pulse point now, then trailing into his palm. Edward's fingers curl against his cheek, holding Thomas.

"What have you done? You smell like blood." Edward sighs, blinking his eyes hard, clearly fighting to stay awake. Thomas presses forward, holds Edward's hand against his face, cups Edward's cheek with his other hand.

"What I had too. For you." Thomas's head tilts, to the side, into Edward's hand.

"For me hmm?" Edward hums, eyes falling closed, smile curling his lips. Thomas smiles back.

"Yes. For you. All for you." He pets at Edward's hair, pressing it away from his face, Thomas leans forward, getting as close as he can to Edward without hurting him.

"My little wolf." He whispers, scratching behind his ear, snorting when Edward leans into the touch, hums happily, his eyes still closed.

"Yours?" Is all he says, eyes opening after a moment, roaming over Thomas's face. Thomas swallows, hard, keeps his eyes on Edward, he nervously tucks his stray hair behind his ear.

"Yeah. Mine. You're mine." Thomas says, blinking rapidly a few times, doing his best to keep his eyes on Edward's.

"Promise?" Edward asks, his hand sliding down Thomas's neck and grabbing for his hand again. Thomas takes his hand, smiling when Edward squeezes.

"I promise you're mine. I'm keeping you now." Thomas says, smiling. Edward smiles back, big, and bright, and beautiful.

"Forever?" Edward asks, licking his lips, eyes on Thomas's mouth now.

"Even longer if I can manage it, sir." Thomas breathes, his slip into old habits making Edward smile.

"Suits me." Edward says with a shrug and a grimace, pain shooting through him. Thomas squeezes his hand again, his thumb moving over Edward's knuckles once more.

"Good. Me too." Thomas says, matter of fact. He glances around the room, sees that most of the men have left, those still there all looking pointedly elsewhere. Aside from Blanky, who tips Thomas a wink and then looks away. Thomas presses his lips together, holding in a laugh, and looks back to Edward.

His Edward, lying under three blankets, covered in bruises and cuts, but healing. And safe. And his.

Thomas sighs, leans down, and presses his lips to Edward's, genlty, doing his best to avoid causing any pain. Edward hums into the kiss, Thomas hums back, it rumbles through his chest like a purr. Thomas kisses him and he tastes like his. Like Edward, like home.

The blood from the cut on Edward's lip stains Thomas's lip red, Edward's fingers in his hair pulling him closer at the taste. Thomas growls into the kiss, tongue pressing against the cut as Edward whines into his mouth.

Edward's blood in his mouth makes him dizzy, makes him push closer, makes him purr against Edward's chest as the man pulls him closer, despite the pain it causes.

Thomas worries it's too much, that he's too much, like this, enjoying that salty tang and the pain and the blood. And then he feels Edward smile against his lips, feels his fangs dig into Thomas's bottom lip and pull. Drawing blood from Thomas and growling into Thomas mouth when he gasps.

Thomas pulls back, licking their blood from his lips as Edward stares up at him, his heart hammering in his chest beneath Thomas's hands. Thomas smiles, his teeth gone sharp again, Edward smiles back, his fangs catching on his bottom lip, blood shining there, enticing.

Thomas laughs, scratches Edward behind the ear, and dives back down to kiss him again. It's sharp, and it's bloody, and Edward tugs him closer, needing more the same way Thomas needs more. It's bloody, and it's painful, and it feels like coming home.

[carnation-damnation]

hello, i was wondering if you had more of your faker AU you'd be willing to share?

HI. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU JUST DID.

In my head, this AU's story is like 300k words long but I'm incapable of all that so here's some little storybeats and worldbuilding I suppose ...

Hit that read more bc this thang got LONG

So...I got the idea for this AU because I wanted to explore a character I hadn't explored much of yet, with the intent of Shadow and Sonic being forced in each others shoes. Shadow is confronted with a mirror of his trust issues, and how he still struggles to let himself REALLY enjoy the world he and Maria wanted to see so bad, Sonic has the discomforting catharsis of being truly unshackled from what the world expects of him. Sonic doesn't need to be a hero. He isn't one. He doesn't have any friends he needs to worry about.

We follow Shadow as he wakes up in an unfamiliar place. Shadow doesn't know it's the phantom ruby yet, but he knows something isn't right when he sees Maria in what should be Rouge's room. In fact, Rouge and Omega don't seem to exist at all. When asked about them, Shadow's "friends" shoot him confused glances and tilted heads. No, he's not a member of "Team Dark". He's best friends with Amy Rose and Knuckles the Echidna, and together they all help in the on-going fight against Maria's cousin Ivo Robotnik, their greatest enemy. When Shadow asks whatever happened to Sonic and his high-flying companion, Amy's brow furrows and she gives him a sour look. Why are we talking about that blue, hot-heated jerk right now?

Sonic wakes up from a recurring dream about the same facility that he feels he was born in. His cramped, tight living quarters as familiar to him as the metal bands adorning his wrist and ankles. This is how it's always been. It's all he knows. All he remembers. He, his pal Tails, and other young orphaned mobians with "interesting quirks" were taken by G.U.N., Sonic's super speed and reaction to chaos energy being the focus of research. He was tested on, subjected to WAY too much chaos energy (dark sonic.. smiles), and he's constantly monitored in a room that's too small for him. Sonic, Tails, and a few more of the kids tried to escape, which ended in Sonic being the only one captured alive. This is Sonic's strongest memory. It burns in his mind like an afterimage that won't go away. Sonic is no one's friend and no one's ally, he couldn't keep any if he cared to try, not after what it took from him, when he had only one thing that was truly precious. He's quick to anger, and quicker to act before thinking. If typical, usual Sonic is someone who never displays negative emotions, this Sonic is incapable of keeping them IN. Sonic would run through anyone in his way, literally, if the metal bands on his wrist didn't prevent him from doing so, anyhow.

It should be mentioned that Shadow believes that everyone in this phantom-ruby powered version of their world is just as fake and phony as the world itself. Shadow is no longer the naive person he was before. He knows nothing is right here. He plays along. He adopts his own awkward form of Sonic's quips that don't last very long. He commonly sports a big, toothy grin and softens his face. He plays Sonic's role and reaps the benefits of someone so free and self-confident. Someone who has loyal, affectionate friends. Someone who's beloved by the world. Someone who has a sibling-like best friend. It's not THAT easy for him to do it of course, but overtime, he does. If it makes it easier for Shadow to reach his goal, he will adapt. In my head, this story is...months long.

Shadow's friends, Maria especially, don't like when Sonic is brought up. When they're on missions that result in Sonic stepping in to take care of egghead, (sonic has a more vulgar word for him) they do everything to keep them both separate. The world doesn't want them talking to each other. The world doesn't want them both to know more than what's told to them. Sonic's earring is replaced by a device that causes a ringing sound that gives Sonic headaches when Shadow's around. Good. Sonic doesn't want to be around this dork anyway. Shadow takes this as NEEDING to persue Sonic, which he's not a fan of. He can hardly handle Sonic's Sonicisms as he is, and this firey, downright ridiculous imitation grinds on his nerves, too. But the more they get into squabbles, the more Shadow begins to question Sonic's fakeness at all. Maybe that's what he's missing. Maybe he's not the only one stuck here.

[munchmemes]

Bleachers lyrics, Strange Desire edition

▸ i want to be grateful. ▸ i sat with the echoes of the lies that i told. ▸ everything has changed and now it's only you that matters. ▸ why did they have to go and do us like that? ▸ were we there? was i brave? ▸ to think everything must die for anyone to matter. ▸ god, i never thought we'd take it that far. ▸ i'm running and i can't stop anywhere i go. ▸ we were shotgun lovers. ▸ why don't you come a little closer? ▸ some girls, they really just want to hurt you and some boys'll laugh when they break your heart. ▸ if you're feeling small, i will love your shadow. ▸ the heart wants fear so we're looking for a villain. ▸ i know that they have hurt you and i know the love you gave feels cheap and used and i know it's getting harder. ▸ i wanna get better. ▸ i was losing my mind because the love that i gave was wasted on a nice face. ▸ now i'm standing on the overpass screaming at the cars. ▸ i didn't know i was lonely 'til i saw your face. ▸ i didn't know i was broken 'til i wanted to change. ▸ i chase that feeling of an eighteen year old who didn't know what loss was. now i'm a stranger. ▸ i mourn the years before i got carried away. ▸ right from the start i knew, you'd set a fire in me. ▸ i'd rather be sad with you than anywhere away from you. ▸ i can't believe i captured your heart. ▸ if you're lonely, wake me. ▸ i keep finding my way to the harshest words. ▸ give me a chance to remember what i've given up to defend you. ▸ i would burn my dreams away just to stand in the thankless shadows of your reckless love. ▸ get out. stand back. if you don't let go, you're gonna break me. ▸ i'll let you take it. i know you're sorry. you pushed me farther than i've been. ▸ i was better off before you, alone. ▸ love will wake us, love won't break us. ▸ i get the feeling that it's all a dream. ▸ when i fall asleep, i can see your face. ▸ what i lost in you, i will not replace. ▸ i've played the victim for a long, long time. ▸ i know you're gone but still i will remember your light. ▸ if you see me in the darkness, i hope you know i'm not alone. ▸ i carry you with every breath i take. ▸ i thought i wanted to forget my past. ▸ what it cost i ain't ever getting back. ▸ i was feeling like i never was young, followed a dream and a strange desire. ▸ you picked me up in the dead of the night and gave me a chance to move on inside of your myster. ▸ maybe i don't need to understand why your love is such a mystery. ▸ i want to give you something better than i've been. ▸ someday i'm gonna make this right. ▸ snow is falling all the time. snow is smiling all the time. ▸ i'm ready to move on. ▸ i'm tired of replacing my dreams. ▸ i will bleed when you want me to bleed. ▸ i will follow, all made up how you'd like, and love when you want me to love. ▸ i really wanna be grateful for the experience that i've had.

[luciusdaskel]

OMG??? An in-depth analysis sprouted from my in-depth analysis??? Gah???? I never caught on to the whole "good kid" side of it! Thank you for bringing it up!! Actually thinking on it now, it makes so so much sense. Not only that, I think other villains (specifically LBD) knew or guessed about that trigger. I recall LBD using MK's need to be good (driven from Macaque's grooming) against him, so he'd be manipulated ON BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN. And you're right, the past 9 eps and special never once really praised MK, unlike Macaque. I have seen, and full heartedly believe, a theory that Wukong was groomed by Azure Lion as well. We don't see much but that would explain Wukong's emotional distance/lack of complements and lack of touching support, something Macaque used against the two of them. But that's a separate theory altogether.

I fully understand MK's insatiable thirst to be a good person, even it it kills him. No clue if I had a Macaque in my life but I fully get where MK is at through the show. At first just wanting to do it for fun and possibly even just for the glory then it devolves into a need not a want. When you don't get that praise then it becomes a dark hole that only gets bigger until it swallows you whole. Which it nearly did for MK.

Side note, the part of being numb to the grooming could also just be a side effect of the original grooming BUT also possibly a negative from Redson being a villain turned friend. I mean... think about it, you want NEED to be good and also there was a crisis. If he doesn't help Redson, the world could be taken over and or his home city is gone, but if he does help Redson then he could risk being hurt like he was with Macaque but there's a chance that Redson actually means well and therefore if my first enemy can be good and like me then maybe I can be good enough for that other enemy too?? This type of spiral can be subconscious, even if consciously the person says they don't want that person in their life, that abuser still created a irreparable hole. Especially when this void literally only appeared likely a week in advance.

I'm not saying that "Oh Redson being redeemed is bad for MK" but what I'm saying is that without anyone actually adressing Mac's grooming from then, it lead MK into a possible negative side effect that made him hopeful or numb to Macaque's grooming. I'm just trying to see it purely from MK's eyes with the lens of him being groomed. Hm... maybe I should analyze Shadow Play and season 3's Macaque episode. I wonder what nuggets I could gather from season 4... I mean by that point MK out right calls out Macaque for being him feel like shit because of his lessons. Which is valid and really is true when you consider 99% of MK's self-esteem and identity issues really started because of Macaque.

Getting a bit personal here, I am currently in my own emotional hole where I crave someone's validation. Validation I will never get and that hurts and only makes me crave it more by the day, even as I scream again and again that I hate him and I do NOT want him. It hurts, a lot, and I can recognize the effects and what it's doing. The reason I got into psychology is to help people, because if I help people then I feel better with this black hole inside of me. I will do whatever it takes to help someone even if it hurt the ones I do care about and even ruin my own health.

I believe it's called a savior complex and it sucks. So I know exactly how MK feels in the show and not really in the best ways either lol- Not meant to be a vent but just showing my own feelings to express MK's feelings. If that makes sense-

Also LMK rewrite project??? Sign me up!!! Let me know if you'd like help or not, I love being able to help with things and or gathering information or ideas to add to the table!

I didn't hold back here because I didn't know I even could hold back lmao- I just saw it and knew I had to share everything. Sorry for the ramble, I just love your analysis on top of mine!

Macaque Episode Analysis ramble

So I was talking with a friend about the possible psychological and therapeutic take aways from each episode of Lego Monkie Kid, since I love Psychology as a whole, and came to a conclusion. Macaque's episode has a fuck ton of things to analyze. Such as - Not every role model you meet will be a good person Trust your teachers Don't push yourself too hard otherwise you'll get hurt, manipulated and possibly die (let's be real, Macaque would've killed MK if Wukong didn't step in) And, grooming They will all be covered as I explain the episode in depth. When MK first meets Macaque he thought he was Wukong but even after Macaque declines, MK still had stars in his eyes of pure admiration. He clearly looks up to Macaque since he was just as cool if not cooler than Monkey King. Within the very next second Macaque started the process of grooming, after a tiny test to see how strong MK's admiration was. "[...] I thought uh Monkey King was training you. [...] but you can never have too many teachers, I'm sure Monkey King would agree. [...]"

Then Macaque starts to train MK. This shows the duality of Wukong's more MK's current strength and capabilities training versus Macaque's more destructive and dehumanizing training. With Wukong's "Patience and focus, step into the strike", clashing with Macaque's far more brash "You don't use a weapon, you ARE the weapon." This is effective at isolating MK from Wukong and his teachings because MK feels like he is actually powerful now.

As Wukong says, MK's body isn't strong enough to handle the power. This applies to real life too. If someone tries to weight lift something too heavy for their skills, they could get seriously hurt. This is the just magical equivalent of weight lifting. But because of Macaque's influence, MK fights back and isolates himself from Wukong, his trust worthy mentor. This leads Macaque to his final part of his plan, lure MK into a trap with his full hearted trust in him.

Then Macaque finishes his plan by stealing MK's powers. Let's be honest, with how things were going and by our impression of Macaque in this episode, Macaque would have likely killed MK if it weren't for Wukong. OR left MK to die with the staff pressing him against the moutain. What can we gather from this? Well, first and foremost, MK's admiration made him an easy target for manipulation, and what resulted was MK nearly dying from the ordeal. Check for "not ever role model will be a good person", since Wukong is ALSO a role model, but a good one because he doesn't literally groom MK. (More on that in a minute.) Wukong was right and MK does what he taught him then admits his wrongs by the end and opens up on why, which Wukong responds with "Hey, your heart is in the right place, kid. We can work on the rest." MK learned to trust Wukong when he was teaching him something because ultimately that's what saved his life. I'm not saying trust EVERY authority figure, but one that is teaching you something that you trust and know will not hurt you. Get yourself a Wukong for your MK. Macaque's training has lasting impact on MK, making him feel like he needs to give himself up for others. Before this episode, MK never had the need to sacrifice himself or really seemingly blamed himself for anything. Macaque's dehumanizing training left MK with lasting damage to his mental health and also led to MK not being able to pick up the staff, granted that was after Macaque gut-punched the power out of him.

Ouch...

So, I hear you ask, "Ok, you made your point about various things, here but what about grooming? That's a bold word." Yes, it IS a bold word, especially considering the fandom space being primarily for children. However, I will clarify that grooming does not only apply to sexual circumstances.

This is from the official Canada public safety about child grooming. Notice the none sexual tactics.

"Make promises of a better life" - Promises to make MK stronger/a better fighter/hero

"Cause divsion saying "your parents are too strict" or "your parents don't understand you"." - Macaque says "Other people are going to tell you to be patient. They are slowing you down." to directly conflict with Wukong's training, further dividing MK and Wukong.

"May threaten or pressure your child to do what they ask, which could lead to sextortion." - Might not be explicit but it is implied MK had some minor doubts by the end of the training and was literally pushed into battle. Also he threw MK into the weapons rack on their first session, showing that MK was "weak" and prompted him to take up his implicit challenge, his trick. It's unclear if Macaque ever threatened MK while training, but I doubt it and he just pressured him and manipulated his drive and determination.

One that people might argue is "Approach your child online by pretending to be someone they're not - may falsely identify themselves as a person from school, or someone their age, to build a connection." but I believe it applies. - Macaque comes in creating a show with his own kaiju form, either to make himself popular or to attract MK or Wukong. Regardless, he seemed uncomfortable at first but once he prompts up "But you can never have too many teachers", that's when he starts creating a false identity, a trustworthy teacher who knows better than Wukong. That's also neglecting the fact Macaque pretended to not be that smoke demon.

If that's not "pretending to be someone they're not", then I'm not sure what is. Also for specifically adult grooming,

More signs I feel apply are;

"The person becomes withdrawn, or they may seem troubled by something but unwilling to talk about it. Alternatively their emotions might become volatile." - When Wukong points out MK has been running around other mentors, MK sounds calm and cold, like he was withdrawn. Then when Wukong presses on, MK yells at him and doesn't talk about exactly what was bothering him other than "You just don't like that there's someone who actually teaching me what I need to know."

"You notice them using or wearing something new, that you didn't buy [or teach] for them." - I added teach because Wukong points out he never taught MK how to break a wall like that, and was concerned and upset that MK learned that too quickly. Within that same scene, after MK yells at him, that's when Wukong notices the new symbol on MK's jacket and frowns. That's when he knows MK is being groomed, and by who.

"Groomers often aim to isolate their targets from their family or friends." - Well, we never see Mei, Pigsy, Tang, or Sandy in this episode, after the first meeting and they act like MK was gone for a month or more (could easily be a week lol). On top of that, Macaque was causing a divide between MK and Wukong. MK was very clearly pretty isolated already, and so Macaque just had to remove MK for MK's full reliance.

"The person might be spending more time on the phone, or online, than usual. But they won’t say what sites they’re visiting, or who they’re talking to." - This speaks for itself, but it's likely MK was training more and more with Macaque than being around his own friends, especially considering by previous point.

This video goes into great detail on how it happens, why the victim is manipulated easily, and what it does to someone. Granted this video is about a long-time grooming, but I believe the point and the awareness stands. If Macaque had been grooming MK for about a year or more, I feel MK would be closer to these signs than he is in the cannon LMK. Anyways! I hope you had fun with my analysis, and let me know if you'd like more! I love to just ramble about the psychology of certain characters or the takeaways of LMK episodes! I'd love to do Wukong, Macaque as a whole (not just the episode), MK, Xiangliu/Nine mayhaps?? Or even the Focus episode or something else- I have a minor analysis on the focus episode already in my head lol

[rin-may-1103]

[tev-the-random]

"Aw man, what are they gonna do with Shadow now that he got his closure with Maria's wish and everything? What sort of story can he possibly have after that?"

*points frantically at Sonic 06*

[xeversayfishxace]

Music

There is a haze, Xever listens to the rage of Bradford tries to listen as his blood is splattered everywhere but all Xever does is laugh. He is laughing so hard at all of the words coming out of this dog's mouth. Yeah, Xever had been right. He had been right all along. This person at his very core, was just as spiteful, just as terrible, just as uncaring. They may come from opposite sides of the world, opposite sides of society, opposite sides of wealth, yet at the center they were just empty shells with only the smallest thing to cling to. Someone so isolated that they were left to stew in those terrible emotions for years on end with no one reaching out a hand to them.

"Ha...ha...ha...there is none...I know what I am...and now I finally get to see you too. You tried to hide it...you tried to deny it...but deep down...you and I...we're the same. What if you had died then? Would I have cared? Nope! Because why the fuck would I? No one cared about me...no one ever cared about me...and no one cared about you either. Not the real you...just the you they wanted to see..."

Xever was shaking, obviously part of him is scared right now. Yet, he is smiling so strongly looking towards the man who took everything from him because in this moment he won. He got to see that side the bastard locked up tighter than Fort Knox. He got to wear Raz down to the point where that true self was coming out for the first time. So, why not show his real side too? That was what Xever wanted deep down. That was the real reason he was doing this, always had been.

"You had Shredder sure...but look what his care has become now...he treats you like an abused child...while you just stand there and take it. A man like that could never give you what you truly wanted...hell the man is so obsessed with revenge on that rat that he'd watch the whole world burn. Haha...its so funny you call me a rat...god it's so funny...I can't help but laugh...I am a joke too...just like you..."

He's hurt more and more, he is struggling to hold it together. Tears come out from his eyes as he talks the smile never leaves, but the fishman is crying now. Because it is all so funny. Their lives are a creul joke, a joke where the punchline is their very existance. No one could write content like this, because it was so ironic that it hurt.

"I had someone once too...someone I clinged to...someone I put my all for...he was my brother...not my real brother...but he was there for me when no one else was. I pushed myself so hard for him...I made myself into a person I never would have become if not for him. I spent years with him, I went on heists with him...he was my whole world...nothing could ever hurt me so long as he needed me. But, do you know what happened? I made one mistake...one small mistake...and he turned on me...threw out all those years like they were nothing. How was I supposed to react to that? Hahahaha...nope...I just laughed...laughed at how stupid I was..."

As the shadow grows closer and closer Xever's head lulls backwards as he keeps looking into the yellow eyes of the dog of many faces. Chris Bradford, Dogpound and now Rahzar. A man can wear so many faces yet can only ever had only one that was real. The fish kept gripping onto the real face. He wasn't letting it go now that he had it.

"What you hated about me...is plain to see...because no one hates us more than we hate ourselves. Because why wouldn't we? We can lie...we can pretend...we can mush it up as much as we like...but...we are our own worst critics...you still blame yourself don't you? Even now, you still think it deep down...you try to cover it...but you do blame yourself the most...because I do...you are going through what I did with Rajan...and I...can't help but think wow...that's so funny..."

Xever struggled to hold on, he was hanging on so much. And it showed how much effort he was putting into it. He shook his head back and forth the pain was getting to his head now. Yet, still Xever still kept on talking despite how much he has trouble continuing.

"So...you can go ahead and kill me...like you no doubt have wanted to all this time. Kill me for baring your true self to the world...kill me...for always throwing back anything you threw at me. But, I want you to know this Chris Bradford, Dogpound, or Rahzar that if you do that...then you'll lose the only person in the whole damn world who could grow to care about the real you. I admit I am a bastard, I am a heartless bastard...but...when I see you...when I see myself in you...its like looking into a mirror. And at somepoint...you get sick of beating yourself up. You don't have to prove anything to me...you don't have to be your best...you don't have to be a mindless dog...you can just be you...and I will accept you...we might suck right now...but if we suck together we might not be as bad anymore...I am so tired...of being...me all by myself...so if you're there too...then it might be fun..."

That does it.

It’s almost like something sparked within the beast, as if a certain feral bloodlust was awakened. A few of his ‘rah’s’ escaped his throat, the ones that gave him the nickname Rahzar in the first place. A snarl and razor sharp teeth were revealed.

“Listen here, you little trout - You really want to talk to me about not earning anything?  About how everything is just handed to me? A lowlife like you?"

Rahzar was attempting to bend his arm further, putting an immense pressure on it in that moment. Yep, someone unleashed the beast and he lost control of himself. Xever certainly was getting what he wanted now.

“You only survived because of dumb luck and nothing more. I worked my whole life to get to the top! You spend your whole life rotting on the streets and taking things that did not belong to you. You got lucky that Master Shredder offered you a place in our clan, you got lucky that you did not end up dead after you turned into a fish and you got lucky I found Stinkman in the first place.”

His snarls were becoming more sinister and he is currently attempting to push the fish more into the ground.

“You are nothing. You will never know a life of high expectations. You will never know what it is like when people are only with you for who you are at your best! When everyone around you wants you to be at your best all the time and go even beyond that too because anything less than that is not acceptable. Nobody could care about someone like you! You only showed up here because you foolishly got caught stealing Master Shredder's briefcase and then did some of the dirty work for us - I was his greatest student! He wanted me to be one of his successors, I spend years training while you just showed up one day! You think Master Shredder just handed me this position?!”

Although suddenly - a few more loud ‘rah’s echoed through the night air, not necessary because Xever was attempting to strangle him back (and he did try and push his head away as best as he could) but because of his frustration over that last sentence - so instead the wolf lifted his foot in an attempt to kick the fish away and send him fyling - regardless of what would happen, there seemed to be no signs of Rahzar stopping his attacks.

“Don’t you dare whine about how my actions would have killed you when you did the SAME TO ME.”

Oh boy, he sure snapped there. Rahzar was referring to what happened on that roof one night.

“You expect me to care for what happened to you? For nearly suffocating that night and then living inside a tank for a while? You want me to feel bad for that? You really expect me to care after you couldn’t be bothered to do the same?”

Another ‘rah’ and his shadow is looming closer over Xever. So what if it had been a bluff at the time? In his panic he did not realize that. Maybe it couldn’t have been a bluff either. Nobody could be so sure of that when you are already dangling half from the roof and the worst part (aside from the humiliation of being stuck inside a trash can) was that his fate was up to the man who couldn’t care less about him and who would have gladly let him die with a smile.

“You know why I pushed away? Because you are nothing more than that: A dirty little rat and this proved it back then. I don’t work with others because the only person you can ever rely on is yourself!”

He was not sure where all that anger suddenly comes from but it’s there - and he cannot stop.

“After what happened back then, it felt satisfying. You were trapped, your life was up in the hands of others and there was nothing you could do about it! You were vulnerable, humiliated - It was so fitting and served you right that I had to make fun of your predicament like you did with mine.”

It seems like he is just snarling at this point.

"Go on - give me ONE good reason why I should care that you would've died that day."