#;; SHE ISN'T JUST **TOUCHED** ??? SO WHEN SOMEONE DOES REACH OUT . . . TOUCHING HER WITH INTENTION THERE'S THIS SOFT INTAKE OF BREATH

[kaerinio]

how do you need to be touched?

gently.

you need to be held as though you're going to break. you need someone to trace your scars like cracks in a wall, crumbling. their touch is almost painful; you've been without it for too long, without someone to hold you. but, you cannot bring yourself to pull away.

tagged by: the magnificent @h1rul3s 🥹💖 tagging: @sanctissimx (hehe for leander) ; @beaststarved ; @l0mb ; @siphonedshadow ; you!

[dark-konohagakure2]

just aizen and baby trapping... can you see the vision... just him being a yan and breeding his squad member bc she keeps going agasint his word, aizen doesnt want her to ingure herself, after all aizen needs her for his plan..

tw: noncon, breeding, baby trapping, manipulation, power imbalance, abuse, size difference, humiliation, forced orgasm, sensory manipulation

All characters depicted are 18+

Aizen is a very calm man, frighteningly so, it would take the most dire of dire circumstances for him to so much as break a sweat, let alone lose his cold composure. Very few things irritate him, although insubordination is one thing he can't stand for, especially if it's continuously being done by the same person over and over again.

Normally Aizen would murder or mentally break anyone who'd dare to defy him, but he can't do that in this special case, this minion of his is required for his grand plan, and losing her would be a minor setback, a slight annoyance even. She's a tiny piece in his vast puzzle, but even the absence of the smallest of pieces will make the picture look incomplete. So instead of murdering or imprisoning her, Aizen has a different way to force her to remain by his side.

Aizen could easily just use his ability to instil feelings of adoration into her, but that would be too easy, not very fun for him. While usually a very serious man, Aizen does desire some recreation from time to time, and he isn't fully immune to desiring pleasures of the flesh, and if he can use those pleasures to ensure his plan stays on track, then Aizen will gladly indulge himself on her.

Aizen doesn't need to worry about getting her alone, he knows Las Noches inside and out, so if he needs to find her, he'll do so very quickly, whether she's preoccupied or not. Aizen's expression is unreadable, he's smiling like usual, but it doesn't reach his eyes, it never does reach those cold, calculating eyes of his. His touch is deceptively gentle yet firm as he holds her in place, his words as vague as usual.

"Why are you so insistent on defying me, hmm? Are you perhaps upset about not having enough responsibilities in my ranks? Well don't worry, I'll give you the most important responsibility of them all..."

His vagueness doesn't last very long when his intentions become very clear, as he pulls down her underwear, keeping her in place with his superior strength and size. Aizen is only doing this to remind her of his authority and to give her his 'responsibilities', but that doesn't mean he can't have a bit of fun with it, cruelly mocking her for being such a silly girl in thinking she can defy him without consequence, his mockery of her not stopping when when he's balls deep in her.

He isn't gentle, but he isn't rutting into her like an untamed beast in heat, he's not a simpleton who thinks with the head between his legs, instead he'll move at a pace that's somehow both too slow and too fast at the same time, the tip of his long cock brutally poking against her cervix with each thrust as he prepares to bestow her with his progeny.

Somebody walking in on them is a very real possibility, in fact she won't even know if someone is able to see them or is watching them, because Aizen will manipulate her perception to make it impossible for her to see anybody but him, so she has no clue if they're alone or surrounded by spectators. He's feeling especially cruel, so Aizen will tell her how good a show she's putting on for his Espada, even if they're completely alone.

There is one word that can be used to perfectly encapsulate Aizen's entire being: manipulation. Aizen can manipulate people with both his words and his Kyoka Suigetsu. In this case, Aizen will use his Kanzen Saimin to control not her mind, but her bodies reactions. He won't tell her that he's controlling her body of course, letting her believe that she's cumming uncontrollably on his cock all on her own.

"My my, cumming again are we? Your mouth might lie, but your body certainly doesn't... This is precisely why you're more suited for breeding than fighting."

Aizen will walk away from this lovely little encounter feeling very accomplished. Not only did he put a wayward puzzle piece back into it's proper place, but he ensured that it stays there permanenty. He doesn't really care about having a child, children aren't very interesting for him to interact with, but she certainly needs a baby in her fertile little womb, it'll do wonders to keep her compliant.

[hiitsm]

A Reconciliation of Hearts

A Reconciliation of Hearts if for 18+ only.

Smut, Hurt, Toxic relationship, Toxic self thoughts

-

You were feeling anxious.

You were feeling sad.

You were just about to go to sleep.

Then, a message from Alexia lit up your phone screen.

Alexia, your ex-girlfriend.

Alexia, the one who insisted it was best if the two of you went your separate ways.

Alexia, who has a way of reappearing in your life.

And you, who always let her back in. You, who yearns so deeply for her comfort. So deeply for her touch. So deeply to be with her.

She asks if she can come over, and before you can even think, you've already typed out a quick "yes."

You really should consider things more carefully before responding.

You already know where this will lead.

Your ex-girlfriend likely attempted to find solace with someone new. Perhaps it didn't work out as she hoped, or maybe it did, but it wasn't fulfilling. Regardless, she's coming to see you now, likely with the intention of making you lose yourself in the passion and intensity of the night.

But if you are being completely honest with yourself, you know that lately, it hasn’t been about passion and intensity. It has been about rough and fast, something you don’t particularly enjoy.

Alexia should know that after the three years you spent together. She knew you like the back of her hand. But all of that changed when she ended things.

It stopped being a mutual experience and became all about her seeking her own gratification.

She couldn’t care less if you didn't reach that edge.

As long as she did.

As you heard the doorbell ring and opened the door, you couldn't help but notice your ex-girlfriend's demeanor. It was evident she had been with someone new but hadn’t found what she was looking for.

You could tell by the hungry look in her eyes.

You could tell by the tousled state of her hair that wasn't as neatly kept as it used to be.

You could tell by the way she practically pounced on you the moment you opened the door.

And you could tell by the slight bulge of her strap-on through her track pants.

Seeing that bulge shouldn’t stir you up as much as it does. Having Alexia here shouldn’t arouse you as intensely as it does.

This entire situation feels toxic, not just because of the way Alexia is treating you, but also because of how you're allowing yourself to be treated repeatedly.

Yet, resisting seems almost impossible.

Alexia is everything you desire.

Alexia is everything you crave.

Which is why you find yourself letting her use your body. You cherish the sound of her moans of pleasure, knowing deep down that you can satisfy her like no one else can.

It's bittersweet, though, because you wish that she would see you.

You wish that she would acknowledge your needs and not just come here seeking her own satisfaction.

But she broke up with you for a reason, so it's understandable that she might prioritize her own needs. Even though you're uncertain about the reasons behind her decision to end things, your own self-critical thoughts are taking over once more.

You find yourself in your bedroom without quite knowing how you got there, suddenly tossed onto your bed with Alexia hovering over you. A pang of anxiety starts creeping up, but you push it aside. It's Alexia, a familiar comfort.

Yet, your body tells a different story. Since the breakup, it's been fraught with anxiety, sending signals that this isn't healthy. To keep seeing her, to let her use your body like this.

It's tempting to ignore these needy signals from your body.

It’s easy to ignore it.

It's tempting to convince yourself that this is what you want, because it feels like the closest you'll ever be to your ex-girlfriend again.

Alexia helped you out of your clothes and discarded her own beside the bed. Your gaze settles on the strap-on she's wearing.

It's not unfamiliar to you. You and your ex-girlfriend used it many times before. This one is the larger one, a symbol of the exploration of different pleasures you shared. It was something intimate between the two of you, something special.

Seeing her wear it now, knowing she had it on with someone else before coming to you, stirs up emotions you've never quite experienced before.

You swallow those feelings deep down, determined to focus on pleasing her, despite the complexity of your emotions.

Alexia, misreading your emotions, maneuvers you onto your stomach, positioning you a bit off-kilter. She kisses your back with intensity. "Don't worry," she reassures you playfully, "I cleaned it before coming here," referring to the strap.

Instead of easing your mind, her words heighten your anxiety.

You had hoped that she would notice you, that she would start gently. Her kisses were softer this time, raising your hopes even higher. But soon, she was thrusting into you from behind with such intensity that you feared you might break.

You tried to find enjoyment in the moment, and some parts were pleasurable enough to make you moan into your pillow. This seemed to encourage Alexia to adopt an even rougher approach.

"Nobody lets me fuck them like you do," she groaned appreciatively. "Only you," she added softly.

If you hadn't been so anxious beforehand, you might have freaked out and hoped she wanted to reconcile, to end her search for pleasure with others who couldn't satisfy her. But those thoughts were fleeting because suddenly, you felt a sharp sting from where Alexia was thrusting into you.

It was an intense pain, unlike anything you had felt before in that area. It went beyond discomfort.

It was real, searing pain, and you couldn't continue like this. Finally, you made a decision. Before you could fully form the words in your mind, your hand instinctively reached back and grabbed Alexia's hand resting on your hip.

"Alexia, please stop! I'm in pain," your voice trembled slightly, betraying your distress. Alexia halted immediately. You couldn't see her reaction, but you could sense her shock in the sudden stillness that followed.

"I'm pulling out slowly, lo siento, lo siento mucho," Alexia repeats gently as she withdraws from you.

Despite her soft words and actions, you struggle to absorb this gentler side of Alexia. The side she always showed during your relationship. The pain persists, making it difficult to fully appreciate her concern. Moreover, embarrassment washes over you for the situation that unfolded.

As Alexia withdraws gently, she notices small drops of blood on her strap. For a moment, shock registers on her face before her attention returns to you.

She had always promised to take care of you, to be gentle no matter how rough things got between you.

Today, she feels she failed that promise.

Despite breaking up with you for what seemed like a trivial reason, she keeps returning to you. She misses you deeply. She cares about you profoundly. She realizes now that breaking up with you was one of the biggest mistakes of her life because you are everything she ever needs.

You are everything she ever wants.

She was lost in her own selfish thoughts, consumed by doubts that led her to prioritize her own pleasure over yours, and now she has hurt you.

As she snaps out of her reverie, she feels the bedsheets shifting.

You are moving away.

You are moving away from her.

She gently took hold of your arm. "Bebita, please let me take a look," she pleaded softly. "Lo siento mucho, this shouldn't have happened," she added desperately.

Her use of the nickname and her gentle approach overwhelmed you, contrasting sharply with her earlier demeanor. You felt conflicted, unsure which side of Alexia was truly with you in that moment.

"Please let me take care of you. I hurt you," she pleaded again, her voice filled with regret.

"You did hurt me, Alexia, a lot, and it's not just about this moment now," you tell her truthfully, tears welling up in your eyes.

"Lo siento, that's not what you deserve," she chokes out, resting her forehead against yours.

"I'm going to the bathroom. I need a little space for myself, but you can wait here until I get back if you want," you say, feeling uncertain but following what your heart tells you is right in this moment.

"I will wait for you," Alexia sniffles softly. Seeing her cry breaks your heart. You instinctively wipe away her tear with your thumb before walking to the bathroom and closing the door behind you.

You let yourself sink onto the cold bathroom tiles, your body trembling with anxiety.

The cold floor helps calm you down a little.

After a while, you begin to clean yourself up. The intense pain has subsided, leaving only a slight discomfort. You take your time and lose track of it, half-expecting Alexia to have left despite her promise to wait.

Suddenly, you hear her voice from the other side of the door, incredibly soft and tender. "Are you okay? Do you need any help?" Her words draw you closer to her once again.

You still love her.

You still love her so incredibly much.

You open the door and step out of the bathroom. Seeing that Alexia has changed into her clothes, you quickly do the same, pulling on a comfortable tracksuit and hoodie. Afterward, you take Alexia's hands in yours and press your forehead against hers.

"You broke up with me, Alexia," you say, your voice trembling slightly.

"You broke up with me, but you keep coming back." Holding her hands tightly, you don't want her or yourself to walk away.

"I keep wanting you because I'll never be able to get over you," you confess softly, a tear rolling down your cheek.

"But it's not okay for you to keep coming back. You broke up with me, yet you still give me hope that you'll return."

You're unsure if you've conveyed exactly what you wanted to say, but you tried your best to express your feelings.

"I keep coming back because breaking up with you was the stupidest thing I've ever done," she says, choking on her emotions.

"You are all that I want and need," she admits. "I thought I wasn't good for you, or for myself, with all those doubts in my head," she finally confesses, her forehead still pressed against yours.

"I hurt you by not talking about it. I hurt you by walking away, and I'm so sorry that I did," she says, her voice filled with regret.

"And just now, I hurt you again by thinking only about my own desires," she says, her tears flowing freely, her voice heavy with regret.

You stand there, feeling the weight of her sorrow, and pull her into your arms, hugging her tightly.

The two of you cry together, finding solace in each other's embrace.

''I want you back into my life if you let me. I want to stop hurting you. I want to be the partner that you deserve'' she admids and it makes your heart flutter but you also know that you should be realistic.

"I appreciate that, but before we go any further, we need to have some real conversations," you say, your heart breaking once again.

"You slept with someone else before coming here, Alexia. We need to discuss some things, and then maybe we can slowly rebuild what was lost." You know this is the only way forward, despite the pain it brings.

"I'm so sorry," is all she manages to say, her voice muffled against your shoulder.

"Can I stay? Please let me help you and take care of you?" she asks softly, locking eyes with you.

Despite everything, you know you can't resist her.

You can't say no.

Alexia is determined to ensure you won't hurt again, even though you know that it's impossible.

"Okay," you sigh softly, giving in to her earnest plea.

[foli-vora]

the sun will shine again

joel miller x f!reader

A/N: just a little self indulgent something I wrote for comfort when I needed it, but maybe it can be a little reassuring hug for someone here as well? If you're struggling, please reach out to your local helplines, friends, family, doctors, teachers, coworkers - you're worthy of your existence on this planet, and you're not alone ❤️

Word count: 2k

Warnings: heavy themes. Depression, thoughts of suicide and intent, mentions of a weapon (gun), Joel struggles with feelings but he gets the message across, Ellie is Ellie with a little needed comic relief, hurt & much needed comfort

You don't want it anymore. Any of it. You just want peace. You want to be able to wake without the lingering presence of something heavy weighing down on your heart, your soul. You want to be able to smile, and feel it curl on your lips knowing it's nothing but true, and it's not there hiding the ugly thoughts and feelings stirring in your mind. You just want to be happy.

Is that even possible? Does happiness even exist anymore? The world had been torn apart long ago - there is very little to smile for now. Maybe it wasn't worth the effort. Maybe this is all there is.

No.

No, this isn't all of it.

You're sure you feel happiness, even if it doesn't manage to make it across your features most of the time. You feel the tender warmth of it in your chest, the blissful ease of the never ending pressure threatening to crush you under its weight.

It happens now, despite the horrific events that seem to follow your footsteps. Ellie's a sweet thing. She hides it behind her stubbornness and sarcasm, but you spy a slight comfort building within her as time rolls on—a peace.

Joel mirrors it, and he fights it - God does he fight it. Of course you know why he keeps her at arms length, why he desperately fights to keep that void present, but lately, it's wavered. He smiles, laughs even. It's beautiful to witness. He deserves it all and so much more.

You on the other hand? The shadows have seemingly only grown outside of the QZ despite being free, creeping along and filling every vacant space in your mind. It's so damn heavy. Something's there, a presence that seems to know exactly when to strike with its poisonous words, and it's not long until a part of you starts to believe them.

You don't belong here. You don't deserve them. You don't deserve this. You should've died long ago. Why are you still here? They would be better off without you.

It's those thoughts that have you here now, staring numbly at the sun beginning to shine over the horizon with a weight in your hands. There's a harsh chill in the air that bites at your skin through your thick, tattered long sleeve, but you don't care. You won't be here when the snow eventually hits.

You had left your jacket draped over a sleeping Ellie, her cheeks and nose tinged pink from the low temperature. It wouldn't go to waste - she'll get a lot of use out of it. Your pack you'd left in its spot beside Joel's - he'll take whatever they need before they move off. You have nothing else of worth.

They'll be better off. You don't belong here. You don't belong anywhere. Everyone will be better off.

Your gaze drops to your hands where they cradle the handgun, the steel barrel now warm from your touch. You only have one bullet - you left the rest behind. You wouldn't need them, anyway. Joel'll get a use out of them. They'll both be safe.

Safer without you. Better without you.

So why can’t you do it? Why can’t you just get it over with? Why are you hesitating?

The last few months roll through your mind. Blurs of memories, of you and Joel, of you and Ellie, each one rolling through your mind and bringing that sweetly craved warmth back to your chest. You know why you’re hesitating.

It’s a battle between love and darkness, and you hate that the darkness is winning. You’re weak.

They deserve more than you.

“Watching the sunrise?"

The unexpected but familiar gravel has you jumping about a mile high out of your skin. Your head whips to where Joel is approaching quietly from behind, and you discreetly tuck the gun into the waistband of your jeans as you nod, forcing a strained curl of your lips.

"It's a nice view," he continues quietly, voice still roughened from the few hours of sleep he managed to get. "I wasn't expectin' you to be gone so long."

He had been resting when you left the little campsite, eyes closed and merely grunting in reply when you mentioned needing a bit of privacy. How long had it been since you left? How long had you been dragging your feet in carrying this shit out?

"I got distracted," you explain weakly, shifting slightly over on the unforgiving boulder you sit on so he can rest on it beside you, "sorry."

He notices your clear lack of jacket.

"You cold?"

"No," you lie.

He's watching you, studying you. You can feel it. You keep your eye on the horizon, taking in the pastel mix of blues and oranges stretching across the sky as the sun starts to rise further above the landscape in an effort to escape his scrutiny.

"You needin' these?"

Glancing towards him, you watch as he sticks his hand down the front pocket of his jeans before holding it out to you, noting the bullets rolling around his palm. Your bullets. There's something hanging in his gaze as it remains heavily fixed on you. Maybe a slight edge of suspicion? Challenge?

You don't manage to hold it long enough to find out.

"Uh, not that I know of. I think I'm good."

He makes a low noise of thought, "Alright. Well, why don't you let me check. Better to be safe than sorry, right?"

"Joel—"

"Come on."

The cold's long seeped into your bones now. You weren't meant to take this long. Another thing you can't do right. Moving takes a small bit of effort, your fingers now numb as they struggle to keep a firm grip on the weapon and pass it over.

Joel swiftly pops open the cylinder once he has the gun in hand, taking a long, quiet moment to examine the one single bullet residing in there. His thumb briefly brushes over the top surface of it, before readying the other bullets in between the grasp of his fingers.

"Not gettin' far with only one," he comments dryly, nimbly filling the cylinder and then flicking it shut with a noticeable click.

He doesn't give it back to you.

Instead, he reaches behind his back and tucks the gun down the waistband of his jeans beside his own, before fixing his jacket above them. He sighs, a deep heave of breath that blows out from his lips with a wispy cloud that carries away with the breeze as he seems to lose himself in thought.

You say nothing. There's nothing for you to say.

"Don't you ever," he starts thickly, voice cutting suddenly through the quiet, "think about doin' that again, you hear me?"

"Do what?"

You feign ignorance.

Whether it's because you don't want to acknowledge your earlier thoughts, or Joel to know about any of it, you don't know. It's silly—he would've found you eventually anyway. Maybe you're just a coward and don't want to face the reality of what he would think of you.

"Don't play with me—not about this.”

An apology sits on your tongue, but it doesn't make it past your lips. You should've known better than to play him as the fool. Joel's anything but stupid. He probably saw through you the instant he laid eyes on you sitting in the cold morning light without a jacket.

“I don’t say it, and maybe I should start, but I can’t lose you,” he rasps, deep brown eyes falling away from your face to follow the soft swirls of the clouds, “I can’t. And I know that’s selfish of me to say, I know it’s not what I should say when you’re feelin’ like this, but—Jesus. Ellie wants you here, needs you here. I need you here, and I know you’re carryin’ a lot in that head of yours but—I just... I’m here for you, alright?”

“Joel—”

“Quiet.”

Your mouth snaps shut immediately.

“I know it’s a lot, and I know it hurts—believe me honey, I know it fuckin’ hurts, and you’re tired and the other side just seems so damn good… but it’s not. It’s not. You… you can’t do that. God, you just can’t.”

The wind chills the hot tears that spill down your cheeks until they feel like ice. He looks at you then, as if sensing the heart ache making wet paths along your skin.

You’re weak.

His hands are hot as they cradle your face carefully, roughened calloused palms covering your cheeks and soothing away the agony filled droplets with a quick brush of his thumbs.

You can’t help but turn into the touch, your own hands coming to wind around his wrists in an effort to keep him close. He’s so warm. You let out the lungful of oxygen you’d been holding onto in your worry, watching the fog of it hang between your faces before fading away.

“I don’t know what to do, Joel,” you admit in a choked whisper, eyes dropping from something close to shame, “My head… I-I don’t know how to fix this—”

His hands press tighter against your cheeks as he angles and holds your face until your eyes are flicking up to meet his. Sincerity fills them, mixing with the ever present concern he hides behind those high almost impenetrable walls. It’s hard to focus on anything but him.

“It’s gonna take time, and it’s gonna be damn hard, but I want you to put it on me, understand? Put it all on me. I’ll carry what you’re strugglin’ with, alright? Hell, I’ll carry you. For as long as I need to. For the rest of my—fuck. Just—just let me help you. Please.”

He wants to do that? For you?

“What if it’s too much?”

“Then we’ll handle it together, like we’ve handled shit hundreds of times before.”

A few more moments of searching his eyes and you’re breathing a quiet okay. The heaviness still rests unforgivingly on your mind, but maybe you won’t struggle so much if someone was there to help you carry the load. Maybe, with time, it would get lighter.

That’s what you could fight for—the days where it won’t hold you down, and threaten to break you completely. The days where, maybe, it won’t be there anymore. Is that even a possibility? It doesn’t matter, you think you’re willing to find out.

His own eyes flicker between yours when your voice reaches his ears, before he gives a slight, barley there nod. His throat bobs with a swallow and then he’s resting his forehead against yours in apparent relief, lashes brushing his cheeks as his eyes flutter closed.

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t ever need to be.”

“I fucking knew you guys were a thing.”

Ellie’s voice suddenly picks up from the tree line, her heavy feet trudging through the dense forest floor with the crunch of leaves and the snap of branches. Joel’s hands drop as he pulls away with a slight frown, levelling it on the girl making her way over, but it doesn’t seem to deter her in the slightest.

Despite missing the physical reassurance from Joel, you welcome the change Ellie unknowingly brings to the heavy atmosphere. You even manage a small smile, and it doesn’t feel strange as it stretches along your lips. There it is again—that lovely warmth from within you.

This is it. This is what you want, what you have. It’s just buried most of the time, but—but it’s definitely there. You weren’t imagining it. It’s there.

You’ll fight for it. You’ll fight for her, for Joel. You’ll fight for your peace.

“You didn’t need to hide it for so long—I’m not fucking stupid. I appreciate the jacket, by the way, but I don’t need you turning into an ice block on me,” she says, dumping your warm jacket over your shoulders before moving to your side and looking out towards the sunrise. “Holy shit, look at that view.”

[stitchzin]

Sasuke The Demisexual King

I was a bit apprehensive about making this post because English is not my native language. So, apologies in advance. But thank you @kirinlady for the comment.

First of all, being demisexual has nothing to do with being gay or straight; you can be either. Another point is that you can have your headcanon; you are free to do so. But I am focusing on the canon line Kishimoto intended, which was SasuSaku from the start, according to the databooks and the novels.

There is A LOT OF CONTEXT SO GET READY.

Let's start!

In the first part of the Naruto series, Sasuke is very touch-deprived, traumatized by his family's murder by his brother, living in the house where they were killed, and self-isolating. A more correct way to describe it is to say he is touch-starved. Lack of physical touch can lead to feelings of emptiness and loneliness.

Sasuke had been without care for so long that being touched in a non-aggressive way might have given him sensory overload.

It's important to discuss these points when it comes to Sasuke's story. Naruto was also touch-deprived, but he externalized it, while Sasuke internalized it. This context aside:

A good part of the reason why people think Sasuke is gay is because he repels the touch of women and rejects flirtations from many girls. Sasuke doesn't need to feel anything towards these people, no matter their intentions. A man rejecting a girl does not make him gay, just as a girl rejecting a guy does not make her a lesbian. People have the right to their own bodies. It doesn't matter if you or many people would act differently; Sasuke is not that guy.

As I said, you can have your headcanon, but even fictional characters are people. Doubting someone's sexuality just because they don't follow a pattern says more about people in real life than about the character.

A good example is Gaara, who is clearly asexual with clear romantic feelings towards Naruto. I can see that in him more than in Sasuke. But this is my headcanon. I said Asexual no Aromantic.

Back in the series, Sasuke eventually gets more comfortable with Team 7. Kakashi respects his boundaries, Naruto is not the hugging type with him, but Sakura is another story. He can not avoid her like all the girls.

But this time is different. He sees her maturing, becoming a friend to him, and like a sister to Naruto. And this is the part where Sasuke starts to change. Seeing Sakura and Naruto's interactions makes him angry, maybe jealous. Sakura's attention was entirely his, but now it isn't, though a lot of it still is for him.

And this healthy distance makes him realize he misses her, maybe even wants her close. This brings us to the second part of being touch-deprived: What do you do when someone touches you? Mostly, he stands there or keeps his arms still. But he is not annoyed or pushing her away. He could, but he just doesn't want to.

She has such power over him that she can stop him even while he is controlled by Orochimaru's seal. He reaches for her while in pain, he gets mad when she is hurt. We all love the phase "who did this to you". He remembers her hug when he is losing control. She is that light.

They are kids at this point, but I really think he had feelings already. He wanted to protect her as a friend, and as something he did not understand. Lets not mention the blant Jealousy at adate ( =I think that's his name", and feeling powerless when Naruto saves her instead of him. But he had no time to figure out his feelings before being manipulated by Orochimaru's machinations to leave.

Even when he left, Sasuke accepted her feelings but chose to go anyway. But accepting her feelings, doesn't mean he is ready or is the time to act on them.

I have a post on their goodbye.

Now to the point of the post: Is Sasuke demisexual?

Demisexuality means being sexually attracted to someone only when you have an emotional bond with them.

The first part of the post was about 12-year-olds. This part is about 15/16-year-olds. Sasuke could have had any girl, and this is the age where most people's hormones are crazy. But he does not feel that need.

When facing Sakura for the first time, he recognizes her immediately. Sure, her hair is the same, but it has been three years. He is not attacking; he is just looking at her. It could be coldness, or it could be a boy who does not know what to do. I can't know what would have happened if they were alone. Sasuke shifts after Naruto gets there. His voice tone is different; he is not as pleased to see Naruto as he is to see her.

(there are great fics on this cenario, I would love some links because it was the SasuSaku fanfiction golden age)

This part is a more general view, but MOST demisexuals don't flirt like most people. Since it is deeply connected to emotions, there are a lot of acts of service, a lot of stares, and small touches. Much of what Sasuke shows towards Sakura and only Sakura.

And there is Karin. I dont have her, I like her. She is a great charact with great backstory if you don't agree fight me.

But Karin is very disrespectuful at the begning. Maybe that is why there was so much hate.

Sasuke pushes Karin away in a more respectful way than she behaves with him. He is not interested in that. Karin is pretty; anyone would want to be with her, but Sasuke did not because does not have feelings for her, plus she did not respect him. Even traveling with him for some time, she still did not respect his boundaries. Maybe that is why he has no warm feelings towards her. Feelings that would keep him from doing that infamous Danzo scene.

Karin did nothing to harm Sasuke, yet he harmed her because she wasn't important to him. So there were no feelings to hold him back, even a little. The once-manipulated Sasuke, this time by Obito, had no problem getting rid of her.

Yes, he was wrong. Terribly wrong, because she had helped him so many times. But the reason was that she wanted him carnally. And this does not flowrish in Sasuke.

Sakura and Sasuke are on a whole other level. Sasuke was fed up with Naruto and Kakashi because, even though Sakura also wanted him in the village, her methods to pursue him were different on his eyes. Sakura had hugged him, Sakura had begged him to stay. He had a completely different vision of her.

He attacked Naruto first.

But Sakura attacked him first, so he reacted.

I really think "losing Sakura" made him even madder. He dived even deeper into his sadness. She was that one thing he was sure about. Honestly, I think his offer was to push her away because hurting her would hurt him.

Sasuke put those feelings inside once more. But seeing her again at the war, he answers only to her. The more he tries to push her away, the stronger those feelings come. And he is always watching her. He smiles when she destroys the ground, she shakes when she calls him.

And he claims, "I have no reason to be loved by her or to love her," even if that was not what Kakashi said or asked. He said Sakura wanted to help him. Honestly, he brought up the romance card. The moments their eyes clicked, when he came to save her and succeeded, the way he once felt powerless to do as a child. So he puts her to sleep because her words would stop him.

Maybe he could take Naruto in a fight, but he could not handle Sakura's cry one more time.

Because he thinks he does not deserve her. He leaves and travels. Again, he could have had anyone at this time once more. Now a man with crimes pardoned, a respected man. Only when he was complete did he come back.

People talk about Sakura's constant "afterglow" when Sasuke is in the village. They comment that they have pillow talks, the intimacy he craves, and a person to go and call home.

Sasuke never loved another because he had already accepted Sakura's feelings at age 12. Sasuke never wanted another physically because he had wished for only one person. His desires are connected to his emotions.

Sasuke says that no matter how far they are, or how long they haven't seen each other, his feelings for Sakura will never change.

And neither have hers.

Ending with this frame because it shows what I think is the start of his feelings. Look at how beautiful she is; this is Sasuke's vision. I think Sakura is very pretty. But here, she is much prettier than normal.

He sees her as more beautiful than we do.

[ashblooddragons]

This Mysterious Love (Chapter 2/?)

(Sorry this chapter is a day late I hadn't realized yesterday was Monday until like 5pm lol)

Series Masterlist

Alicents pov

I try and almost my heart as I walk towards the King's chambers. Anything and everything that could go wrong rushes through my mind. 

Is the dress too revealing? Father said to wear one of Mother’s, but I'm still not used to showing this much skin. What if the King shuns me, kicks me out, and makes it known I was in his chambers? Did I use too much lip stain or blush? Did I use too little lip stain and blush? Is my hair in an awkward style? What if the King wishes to force himself upon me?

The last thought has me gripping the book in my arms tighter hoping it will shield me from any ill intent from the King. I am so shaken with anxiety and fear I hadn’t realized someone was walking down the corridor as well until I bump into them dropping the very book I was using to hold myself together.

I quickly bend down to pick up the book, turning to apologize to the unnamed lord only to find Prince Daemon sipping from a chalice staring at me with blurry eyes and blown pupils. I bite my lip trying to find the words I was only moments from saying before, but something in his stare makes me wish to rub my thighs together. I can't help but look at his lips, they look so soft, and I know if he were to kiss me it would be wondrous if the words of the ladies he's taken to bed are to be respected. 

Stop it Alicent, he had almost killed your brother and now you wish to kiss him? Pull yourself together! I scold myself with a shake of my head.

“Strange state of dress you are in, Little Hightower.” He says taking in the navy blue low-necked, tight-fitting dress I have donned. 

I snap out of my daze trying to remember the response I had planned if anyone brought up my improper dress choice.

“With the late Queen's passing, I found the thought of my mother's clothes brought some comfort. Lots of…happy, and cruel memories have surfaced, ones I thought a mother's touch could soothe.” 

There is honesty to my words, when the news of the Queen Aemma's death reached my ears the first thing I did when I was alone was bring out my mother's dresses and jewels. For all I wanted was to take in the scent of vanilla that has slowly faded through these couple of years she's been gone.

The Prince only hums as he touches my neck where the necklace he gave me rests upon my slim throat.

“I keep things if my Mother too, I have no memory of her ya know. But I knew, no I know I loved her.” He slurs a bit as he stares into my eyes. 

Is he drunk? I think with a bit of shock, for it is well known the Prince adores his cup or two but to be drunk is something he only partakes in on very rare occasions. Though his Good sister, his Cousin, the Queen has passed. And if that is reason enough to find solace in cups I don't know what is.

“It seems there is no man nor woman who does not desire the comfort of a mother.” I say as I try to get my heart and breathing in check. 

Stop making a fool of yourself Alicent! You are to see the King so you must be your most dignified! I scold myself again before clearing my throat.

“If you will excuse me, my Prince, I must be on my way.” I say side stepping him and walking all but three steps before he grips my arm stopping me in my tracks.

I turn scold him and tell him to let me go. But the demand is stuck in my throat when he rests his brow to mine breathing deeply as he nuzzles his nose to my hair.

I can't decide what to do so I stand there and let him do as he pleases. If he starts touching where he shouldn't I will fight. I tell myself knowing it isn't true if the slick between my thighs is anything to go by.

He opens his eyes and looks into mine and for a moment, I think he will put his lips, but just as quickly as the thought comes, he groans and pushes me away as if I had burned him.

Before I can even open my mouth to ask what had happened he is walking down the hall out of my few. 

It takes me a moment to remember what it is I was doing. When I do I rush towards the King's chambers hoping he is still awake and not in bed finding solace in his dreams from these horrible days.

When I reach his chambers the Kingsguard opens the door announcing me without even being asked. It is this that makes me know he is in my Father's palm or more likely his pocket.

“Lady Alicent, what can I do for you?” The King asks, surprised by my visit. But it is not his question that stops me in my tracks, it is how his eyes move up and down my body, how he kicks his lips. It sends a chill down my spine, I don't feel safe. I wish to take anything and cover my body more, which is why I grip the book tighter to my chest hoping the King will not see the tremble in my legs, arms, or voice. 

I push through and walk towards him and his sculpture of Old Valyria. “I thought I might come and look in on you, Your Grace. I brought a book.” I say gesturing to the book I still have clutched close to my chest as if it will shield me from the very world.

“That’s very kind, thank you.” He says as he continues to ogle me. 

I try not and run out of the room from how he looks at me as if there is nothing more he would want than to rip my Mother’s dress off me and bend me over, whether I wanted it or not. For some reason, I knew he wouldn’t care how loud I screamed, how much I begged, that if he wanted me he would have me. 

“It’s a favorite of mine. I do know how passionate you are for the histories.” I say instead hoping this short visit will be enough to please my Father for a while.

This seems to snap him out of his thoughts as he shacks his head and smiles before saying. “Yes, it is.” 

I take a moment to get my bearings before walking forward and sitting in a chair in front of him, far enough that if he tried to grab me I can run, but close enough to not be perceived as rude.

“When my Mother died,” I feel tears rise to my eyes at just the memory. All I wanted was to wallow away in my chambers my only visiter maids and the darkness. But Rhaenyra forced me to leave it, not for my own good but because ‘she was bored and I've had enough time to mourn.’  I remember thinking she was the most spoiled thing in the world after that sentence only to add how pale I was and how bad I looked. Never out of concern for me, but for her image. 

I decide to restart as I wipe my tears. “When my Mother died, people only ever spoke in riddles to me. All I wanted was for someone to say they were sorry for what happened to me.” I say looking into his eyes seeing he seemed to understand what I am saying, that he himself has experienced this. “I am sorry, Your Grace.” I say before setting the book on the table, bowing to him, and leaving his chambers.

On the way back to my own chambers I find all I want is to cry as my other strokes my hair and tell me I’m safe. But with that thought only a sob leaves my throat, for I will never have that feeling ever again.

Ottos pov

I’m reading the most preposterous proposal of trade from Lord Jason Lannister when a knock comes to my study door. Thinking it is Alicent I respond with a tired. “Come.” But instead greeted by my loyal guard and a young boy I have hired to keep track of the Prince Daemon.

I wave off the guard and tell the boy to come closer. When he does he starts telling me of the toast the Prince made, of how he celebrated the Queen’s death and the death of his nephew. I nod sending the boy on his way with the agreed upon three silver. 

The urge to tell the King of this is large, but then there will be nothing to hold over the Prince, nothing to use to keep him in line as I wish him to be. 

And with that thought, I know I will keep it to myself, that there will be a better time in the future to use this information. More specifically use it against a Prince.

Special thanks to my bestie @sugutoad for making the header for this fic! I swear I'd be lost without you girly!

TAGLIST: @sugutoad @ilikefelines @classicsimpforaaronwarner @sachaa-ff @mmogurl @yn-jackson @dreamlandcreations @baybaybear1 @fictionlurker @nommingonfood @edenfanfictionsuggetions @zara-zara11 @marvel-is-my-obsession @ninihrtss @seaevans

[ilikekidsshows]

Ladynoir is so dead, it's starting to get really funny watching people try to hype up every little moment they share because they don't wanna accept that the real partnership has been changed to Alyanette.

Kudos to those who at least acknowledge it while clinging onto some deeper interpretation, but them speaking is nothing to celebrate

Or Marinette laying a hand on Cat's shoulder as if that's some grand development and not the default since the start

No, this is not the inverse of season 4 just because the temps are not supposed to help with akumas right away. It's a tactical decision, not Marinette sidelining the team for Cat. The moment something happens to him she'll go right back to moving on from him as battle partner, leave him behind vulnerable and call in anyone else.

She didn't give him shit for not being there when no akumas were around because she wanted to see him more often, she tried making him out to be the one in the wrong again for HER behaviour. SHE decided to ditch Adrien at every chance and went against her word that the temps are supposed to help people outside of akumas to have an excuse for why shes faultless for treating her boyfriend like shit. Usual Marinette tactic of wanting to put the blame on Cat when shes in the wrong. At least he got to call that out, truly a miracle. Not that she ever acknowledged that and apologized for regressing in her treatment of him again. Of course not, sweeping under the rug as always.

I blame season 4 for making people believe that her being an aggressive power abuser was her being RIGHT and justified and kind. Now she gets praised for every little thing she does because in comparison to how she treated him in season 4 ANYTHING now looks like shes an loving angel. Bro, shes finally acting on basic decency. She doesn't need to be praised for FINALLY reaching that bar. It only shows how there is no bar at all for how she treats him. Very clearly, she can go right back to blaming him for her actions nd even go back to being aggressive and neglective and people just call it fine.

THAT'S the "normal" bar people are holding her to. "Normal" for her in Ladynoir is abusive and toxic, so any moment she's somewhat better than that is equal to her being a devoted saint.

How sad and pathetic is that. Girl is being praised for touching his shoulder because "normal" would be her hurting him. I would be insulted for her sake, but her writing has is the reason why people are so victim blamey in this fandom. The amount of times ive seen people blame Adrien for reacting badly to Marinette's shit treatment of him in Illustrhater is insane.

This show turns Marinette's fans into actual worse people. Thats WILD.

---

Yeah, like, when the protagonist not ignoring her oldest ally is treated as a sign of true partnership, it’s pathetically clinging to what used to be four seasons ago. When our protagonist admitting she's too childish to date someone is celebrated as a sign of her growing it's basically just showcasing that Marinette can do less than the minimum while still her stans insist she isn't in the wrong, because she's making and effort and had good intentions and she has such low self-esteem. I don't care how the asshole is feeling, because they have no intention of stopping being an asshole. Having poor self-esteem is not a get-out-jail-free card to trample on others’ feelings just because the character says they’re the worst while fully intending to do it again in the future.

The biggest lie Miraculous ever sold to the audience was that Marinette’s usually self-caused, petty problems were on equal ground with or even worse than the problems of all the other characters. After that first lie captured the audience’s sympathy, the rest was easy. The Miraculous fandom has been saying things like “let's not compare who has worse” and “misery isn't a competition” for years and it's obvious now that it's because a lot of other characters' problems, that they handle better than Marinette handles her own, are just worse. But, like, the show is the one comparing, and insisting Marinette making herself miserable because she acted without taking anyone else into account again is the greatest misery ever and the characters Marinette sidelines, treats unfairly and makes feel unloved don't matter, because Marinette feeling bad about causing that is the bigger suffering.

And, like, that's the thing with Marinette's now "better" treatment of Cat Noir. We're being told that everything is better now because Ladybug isn't as bad, and she isn't as bad because she isn't stressed anymore. The most important problem in the universe, Marinette being upsette, has been solved, so everything is perfect now! But, like, not a lot about Marinette's treatment of Cat Noir has changed, he just stopped complaining about it.

Ladynoir has been dead for a while now and yet the fandom cheers when its decomposing corpse gets strapped to a stick and touted around to pathetic applause.

[angy-grrr]

I can't believe Horikoshi decided to parallel togachako with shigaraki and deku, but also with kacchan and izuku, because there are multitudes into their relationship.

Ochahimi has this obvious textual side going on for a long time that its meant to be seen along Shigaraki Tomura and Midoriya Izuku: a hurt villain and a hero who feels the need to stop the pain. Two sides of the same coin. Will they take their hand? How could they reach out? Is there any hope for the rejected? We have different scenes in which its clear Uraraka and Midoriya have this idea of saving someone who is hurt even if they are a villain, the flashbacks of their conversation before the war, but surprisingly Ochako doesn't think of it as much as Izuku in this final battle -clearly stated, is when Himiko is giving her own blood to save her and explaining how she felt like her heart was floating when Uraraka touched her. The flashback reminds us of Izuku talking about how "maybe theres no way to avoid a battle, but I cant ignore what I saw deep inside him".

But Ochako isn't happy even if she got there, even is Toga tells her she made her happy. She's tired, sad, and desperate to stop her when she cant even move.

Its difficult to analyze Izuku's emotions, but once again, we can try to work with what we currently have! As far as we know, Izuku isn't really having that much of a conflict in terms of if he should save Tenko or not -the problem was external. What would the OFA users think? He challenged them by staying true to his inner core, and they accepted him, but we don't see him struggling with the idea of him reaching out to Tenko in itself like Ochako, who actively tried to forget about Himiko.

I interpret his flashbacks to his conversation with Ochako as a reminder of the person behind the villain, because he is also feeling something else: anger. Izuku was really hurt during this battle both physically and, I would argue mostly, mentally. As he himself said, he can't forgive Shigaraki, just try to stop the crying child from hurting, and the reminder of Ochako's own goals and words are a reminder of his own intentions; lets not forget, moments later he took control after seeing Katsuki's dead body, he attacked Shigaraki in ways that would cause severe damage -like in the middle of his chest, causing a hole.

Uraraka doesn't actually try to hurt Toga, but use her martial arts training in order to both dodge and tackle her, so she can hear what she has to say. I re-read the chapters around Katsuki's revival, because I was wondering, "does Izuku remember this before or after he locked eyes with Bakugou?", and the answer is after*. The other time he thought about it was before leaving the togatsuchako battlefield, when Ochako encourages him to not worry and go get Shigaraki.

So, what I mean by this is, Ochako Uraraka and Izuku Midoriya are not the same person, and they don't feel the same way for their main villains, just like Tomura Shigaraki and Himiko Toga don't feel the same for their main heroes, and are not the same. Izuku actually feels resentment and anger for Shigaraki, he cant forgive him, but he also doesn't want to kill and punish like that; he is a savior, if he has to fight he will, but in his heart he knows what he prefers' maintaining peace, and help the ones who are vulnerable. He sees the villain, and he sees the child who grew up abused and sad; he is a sweet boy, ofc he would try to stop the crying somehow. His conflict with him now, Im guessing, is that he doesn't really feel like he actually saved him -after all, he disappeared after the last punch, and he still considered himself the leader of the league who wanted to destroy everything. He gave him his autonomy back and tried his best, but his last words and request feel like a completely different "task" than what he envisioned; it makes him think, about what heroes and villains even mean in their society, and who gets to decide those things. How can he continue with Shigaraki's legacy?

In another hand, Ochako's conflict don't come from her own moral compass, but from what she is supposed to do; before she even saw sadness in her face she thought positive things about her -she has a cute smile, she is really honest with her feelings, and isnt scared to be open with others, and she envies that. She envies the villain Himiko Toga, and relates to her, and feels connected to her. So her pain feels even more personal when it shouldn't; she isnt her family, she is someone who has tried to hurt her and her friends over and over while being so happy about it. She is weird!

Besides the thoughts about society and who helps both heroes and villains, which are really important for her character and goals, the other side of their problem is... the way Ochako was refusing to see and accept her own weirdness. Interacting with Himiko was chaotic, confusing, and left her full of doubts about herself and what she wants, because isnt she even weirder if she wants to be more like her? How can she admit those thoughts out loud? Anyone would agree that behavior is disgusting, but... she can't hate her. She can't try to punch her, or hurt her, and she never was able to no matter how much she tried to convince herself this is the only way.

Her conversation with Izuku opened her mind and heart to start accepting what she truly wants to do to Himiko instead of what she has to do as a hero. What does she want? To stop her. Her hurt. Her tears. To make her happy, and to keep her alive. She wants to see everyone happy, to get peace.

This is why her conflict is both related to Shigaraki and Deku, and Katsuki and Izuku; in one aspect its about morality, heroism, villainy and society as a whole. Himiko will question how things works constantly, and she can't ignore it. And at the same time, there's an emotional side to it; she has multiple confrontations with her, where miscommunication and holding back hurts them both. She pushes herself to be more like others, but it doesn't feel right anymore; Himiko makes her see her own self hatred, and jealousy and care grow more and more. Why can't see just do the right thing to maintain peace?

Just like Izuku was surprised by Katsuki's tears during their second fight, Ochako gets concerned by Himiko's, when she interpreted Uraraka's words as her rejecting her love -and therefore, whole self. Is not until the second war that she even realizes Toga actually loves her in the same way she loves Izuku, being a little clueless herself.

It doesnt sit right with her to do the "normal" thing, because she isn't normal at all; she thinks about making a villain happy, and how lovely her smile is. Her honesty and openness to be unapologetically herself, no matter how much others try to push her down or change her attitude; she hurts others, she knows that's wrong and agrees with that generalized sentiment... but hate her for it? She tries to do it, but it doesn't work. Inside of her heart, she knows what her emotions are telling her, and its not anger.

This is messy, my head hurts, but Im hoping I can write something better and longer in the future. I guess it makes more sense that drawing of Shigaraki, Izuku, Ochako, Himiko and Katsuki all together. I always wondered, if this is about heroism and society, Katsuki shouldn't be there, and if it is about emotions and rivalries, then it would be Tomura.

If you read this far, thank you for your time, and apologies for the confusion the writing could have caused you.

*My internet is going really slow, so im not re-reading all of the chapters after Izuku's arrival in the battlefield, so I cant 100% say this is the very first time he does remember it. Once im able to, or someone checks it for me -wether im right in my statement or not-, I'll edit it to be accurate with the material.

[haeryna]

i feel like reader (especially after being called princess and the two working together to tear down her walls) would be in a dilemma— like a few things came out of them abandoning her but one being just this indescribable feeling of rage and hurt

so upon being in their hold and touch and suguru endearingly calling for her to hear them out, part of her wants to fold SO bad but the other part of her wants to stay unreasonable and not hear them out because it’s just so much easier to be angry at them and paint them as the villains in her life, if she does accept their apology she knows that feeling won’t go away— she’d have to come to terms with how bitter of a person she really was (i mean rightfully so, they did screw her over)

also bless u and ur writing— i don’t see many poly! satosugu x reader stories with a plot that has me biting my finger in absolute investment LMAO love uuuuuu 🫶🏾✨

ANON THANK YOU you perfectly summed it up !! i wanted to write a story where there was a difficult decision that had to be made, with several catalysts involving how everything went down. (splitting this so that it doesn't invade people's feeds with a wall of text LOL)

satoru's "coming out" to his parents: mine were so homophobic that i didn't come to terms with my own sexuality for a long, long time, so i empathized with the sheer panic and trauma that gave him. you don't make rational decisions when your parents are beating the shit out of you, and you also don't make rational decisions when you're 16 years old.

suguru choosing to leave reader behind: they could only withdraw so much money with the limits satoru's parents had placed on his bank account. they had to have enough to eat, to rent an apartment, to actually get away. they had to choose a place far enough so that satoru's parents wouldn't follow, which brings me to

retaliation: there's a unique kind of fear, when you're unsure if someone is hunting you down. there's a kind of terror in realizing they can track you. it's why they got rid of their phones, and immediately upon signing to the same company, received heavily protected ones. only people who had their number could reach them, or even respond.

"they could have said something:" again, they were panicked, satoru had just been beaten by his literal parents, and they were trying to flee as fast as possible. in the moment, they could not have and would not have been able to do that. as alluded to before, they did not live a comfortable life in asia. the beginning was rough as they scraped by. it wasn't until satoru began auditioning that things started looking up for them, and if you're into the kpop scene, you know how brutal training is. suguru ultimately spent all his time caring for satoru and working on the side until he also made it big.

"and what about after?:" honestly sometimes, when you know you fuck up, but you feel like you can't do anything about it anymore? that was them. and you can be upset with it all you want, but it had gotten to the point where they genuinely thought you would never be a part of their lives again. yet the chasm in their chest grew larger and larger, until they realized they couldn't continue on unless they know they at least tried.

that's not to say reader isn't in a predicament as well, like you mentioned nonnie. leaving hurts, and abandonment is worse, so it would be far easier to paint them as the bad guys. it doesn't matter what their intentions were. to reader, they left her alone, and now they're suddenly back for unknown reasons? reader is also not the most stable of mind right now (real); she's working two jobs on top of taking care of her sick parents. for the past five years, she's had to be the one taking care of herself. now satosugu need to prove that they WANT to be the ones taking care of her. i've been in this situation before, as the left party (who eventually ended up forgiving the leaver), so i hope that will help to incorporate realism into the situation.

and i'm glad you like the plot/understood the nuance of the situation! i'm grateful to you and your ask anon, thank you for allowing me to go in depth into the situation <33 i love you too!

[spotlightlowlife]

The Cuphead show could teach Hazbin a helluva lot

First of all, I implore anyone who hasn't watched cuphead or didn't finish it to complete it. It is a complete story and it complements its origin, the game, only stepping away a little to expand on it.

Hazbin, watch the pilot if you haven't or rewatch it, a number of things fall off bytime the series comes about. New isn't bad but the pilot was so loaded and it's rather apparent that it is part of the cannon in how we start off as if we already know these characters. So what we can bring forward and what is no longer cannon? Has there been a time skip?

*spoilers ahead*

The story

A simple story of two humble individuals constantly having to swerve the devils attempts to take a soul he swindled fair and square.

They have many run ins and we meet numberours other comical yet sinister opponents along the way.

Sweet rich girl uses her powers for good. She aims to help the disadvantaged and targeted sinner group by opening a hotel to rehabilitate and redeem them to be heaven worthy.

Charlie has allies but plenty of others don't care for her plans and motives are generally unclear.

The main characters

Cuphead and Mugman, two brothers of ambiguous age who live modestly with an elder in a cottage in he woods. They simply get on with their lives, no goal.

Cup head is immature and foolish, his antics generally land them in danger, Mugman is the more sensible but still chill, not quite babysitter sidekick, someone who could be living trouble free if they weren't dragged into the others havoc, simple association brings unwanted situations and people their way, even when chilling at home.

We are also introduced to the devil himself, who is silly, fun and clearly a whole otherworldly entity in not only abilities but personality and actions. As amusing as his actions are, he does cruel things to people minding their business and enjoys it, he openly exploited his oblivious patrons at the amusement park, before going on to expand business and create the known casino. He has a workforce who we see working. The devil collects souls, a consequence of this is that it makes monsters out of mortals, this is a business, however this business is regulated and dispite how powerful the devil is, he still has to answer to accounts. He can be subdued with magic but ultimately, hell and earth are his playground and aside from the auditor, he answers to no peers or superiors and feels no bitterness or discomfort regarding his home and role, his struggle is simply that one that got away and keeps eluding him. His backstory being irrelevant fits with the quick pace and slapstick, however the latest addition to the game may hint at some mysterious backstory in his bonus boss fight.

Charlie, a youthful woman of ambiguous is the princess of hell and owner of the Hazbin hotel. We don't see much running of a hotel. Charlie is nice, default nice because plot tells us she's helping and cares and she clearly isn't horrible. Charlie wants to help sinners.

First portrayed as hardworking but ill prepared, out of touch hustler, Charlie is now well intentioned, immature dreamer but this doesn't result in trouble, her carelessness doesn't get portrayed as selfish or irritating. Charlie personally has little to lose in her discision making, such as welcoming Alastor, Charlie can have what she wants because everything is set up for her and what she doesn't have is easily in reach, the meeting in heaven attained by guilt tripping her dad being a prime example, but she's not a spoilt brat.

Charlie's other half is Vaggie, her girlfriend who we have to be explicitly told is so if you don't follow the fandom, they have known eachother for years yet Charlie hardly knows Vaggie. Vaggie's degree of interest in Charlie's dreams is unknown, even after her big revelation we still have nothing to show that she's not just the sensible sidekick managing the lead characters silliness.

Not a main but someone very significant, Lucifer, the devil himself and Charlie's dad. He is all powerful, the leader of hell and the one who created this realm, however he is a goofy awkward dad who doesn't appear to be any leader and he hates to the degree of allowing mass slaughter the very people Charlie loves. None of this is an issue. He clearly has or had peers or superiors, he still meets with the angels who serve as the adversaries, with no issue, but this doesn't matter.

The tragic characters

Ms Chalace had it thought throughout life yet tried had to work her way up, she died unexpectedly, nobody cared, she got a second chance to be amongst the living but it comes at a price. Chalice is a charming hustler and entertainer.

In Hazbin, it's everyone, everyone is given trauma, even privileged Charlie who could have been a great spoilt sweet character now didn't have the nice nuclear family upbringing, supportive mother who has a life and supportive yet sceptical dad whose not getting in her way.

Everyone has some history that rendered them a loser in this story however we have yet to learn how anyone got there even though fun, interesting, passing, dismissed Mimzy remembers her life on earth fondly.

The other characters

There is plenty of room to return to this series and feature more characters, but it's no big deal if they don't. This story proudly offers us Saturday villians, only we get to know these charasmatic characters and their villainous motives individually throughout Cuphead and Mugman's misadventures.

This series is fun and life hearted, made for all audiences, there's a lack of real drama yet it manages to not be shallow as we have focus and interactions matter, it is ultimately about Cuphead and the devil, the masses of colour characters we may meet along the way are a fun bonus to and the formula doesn't change, this person brings drama, that's that, now how do they get out of it.

Timing is arguably a major issue with Hazbin, with a big ensemble cast, drama and various plots, it will need a lot of time to cover all that it started, these things being numerous additions to the original story, most of these additions being a whole host of new characters who ultimately don't achieve anything not for lack of trying.

Like its spinoff, this series is big on aquitting those who are there to be liked of their responsibilities and actions, handing blame to someone don't know or have been guided to not like. This strips them of content and growth while makeing their power and influence questionable.

Planning ahead

Rumor has it that The Cuphead show was a complete work of 36 episoses that and broke up into 3 seasons by the big famous platform it's on, to be honest it shows, it is very linear.

Really though, this serves the broadcaster because would keep it in the algorithm longer giving it more time to gain more traction which means more money for the broadcaster and make it look like they're good at renewing projects when this may not entirely be the case.

Releasing the story broken up may have done this show a big disservice as many disappointed reviews were based on how much it deviated from the games and seeming censored, these may not have been concluded had all episodes been released, showing it being to return to its roots by the end.

Still, atleast the story was always going to be told.

As controversial as that situation is, Hazbin too could do with mapping out the beginning, middle and end with a clear and concise story, one with heart that answers questions, balances it's drama, action and comedy and shines some spotlight onto the stories that really need telling. They could do with this already being done or at the very least wrapping up seasons with what we were sold on being relevant.

Planning is well and good but ideas need to be prioritized and coherent. If multiple seasons are planned, this show will need to crack down in order to guarantee them.

[all-pacas]

Would you elaborate on a Chase in The Good Place AU? It's consuming my brain since you mentioned it and I love your AUs

I mean, mostly just an offhand comment on I'd love to have all of them be forced to attend a Chidi philosophy lecture, because it would be fascinating on so many different levels, right? Or just using the Good Place as a shorthand for "surprise! Your life was meaningless and now you're in hell! Change!"

Foreman and Cameron both seem fairly set and certain of their morals and philosophies, but are in different ways hypocritical and inconsistent. They both think of themselves as good people for sure. And I don't know how much critical self reflection either of them do.

Chase is a bit askew of the two of them, not because I think he's much more self aware, but he's also much more morally vague — he doesn't have a ton of stated values or a strict moral code, I'm not even sure how he views himself, how he'd define himself if asked. Cameron would call herself a good person. Foreman would call himself intelligent, a good person. Would Chase? Not out of some enlightened awareness, but just… everyone on the show thinks he's morally vacant, and he knows it too.

(And that's not even touching House or Wilson in the Good Place. House alone, who studies religion and philosophy and both knows his morals and his code and is incredibly ambivalent and self-hating.)

I mean, they're all going to the Bad Place. I think Chase and House would be the least surprised, on a scale: not happy or accepting, but, you know. Sure. (Especially post S6 Chase. He knows he's off to hell.)

Cameron would be horrified, and outraged. She does so much to help people! She's so nice! I think she overlooks or tries to overlook the harm she causes, the ways she can be cruel: they're accidents. They're unintentional. Intent is what matters, and her intents are always good, or at least: she tells herself that they are. Which isn't true. She can behave selfishly, she can behave unkindly. But it's very important to Cameron that she is a good person, both as something to be and something to strive towards. And she is! She is a good person! She does work hard at it! But I do think she ignores her own failings.

Foreman, for his part, strikes me as a utilitarian — he's done net good, so what does it matter if here and there he's bent a rule or hurt someone's feelings? He probably is the one who lies awake and considers himself and his place in the world and how he's doing and what he's done. He wants to be good, but he also wants to be the best, he wants to be admired. (Him and Amber are the same. If they won't like you, you have to be right.) He wants power, partially because he does have that ego; partially because it's a way of proving himself. On the whole, he is a Good Doctor, he Saves Lives, he Helps People. That should outweigh the people he's hurt or been cruel to. That should matter more.

I don't know what sort of philosophy Chase would best fit with. He falls into a sort of … nihilistic hedonism, almost: enjoying himself and wanting to have fun, but only because he also believes that if he's a burden to others he deserves death; because he's Quite Catholic and just sort of accepts when it's over he's going to hell. So what does it matter, right? If he's fucked no matter what, why not sleep around and having a good time? It's sort of a reflection of his talk with House in Cursed: if caring leads to pain, it's better not to care. If you burden others, you have failed.

So they're all in the Bad Place. There was another bus accident or something. And they get to do the fixed version of the game, reincarnating again and again until they reach enlightenment. Foreman's Bad Place seems pretty easy. He's gotta stop caring so much about the opinions of others, getting his self worth via superiority and praise. Cameron's biggest flaw, I think, is that she avoids the consequences from her actions. Runs away and uproots her life repeatedly; ignores the ways she hurts people or ignores their feelings. In a way she's too empathic: she pushes her own feelings and empathy onto others, and assumes they feel the same way she does, need nothing but what she'd need or want. I'm not sure how to make that her personal hell. Chase? He's again the hardest (after House), because I think he'd sort of just accept he was in Hell and that was that: why try to improve? Why try to change? He doesn't try, that's his biggest problem. We know he's incredibly bright, capable of solving cases on his own from early on, but he never tries (because trying means failing which means disappointing others). He stays with House for years after he should have moved on because it's safer and easier. So that's his personal hell: something to make him need to try, want to be better. Put him in a position where he has to.

[lopposting]

I absolutely love your lore theories for LoP! Very new to the fandom :). Stayed up all night reading your posts abt it whahaha please keep making them!

Just wanted to ask what you think, if Camille was the recorded first puppet with an awakened ego and was Carlo's mom... does that mean Geppetto let his wife be experimented on by the alchemists upon her death or???

Another thought, do you think Sophia knew Geppetto's plans? Given that she reached out to P at the very beginning and called him by name ((geppettos puppet)) She knew Simon's plans yeah. But what abt Geppettos?

Thank you so much for your kind ask!!!

I panicked briefly because I thought I lost this ask somewhere. I have a LOT of thoughts surrounding Camille and parts of the game that I struggle to put together really cohesively, so on certain topics, i'm just going to ramble.

So, there is this image from the opening cutscene.

Maybe it isn't literally Camille and Carlo, but it may be alluding to them. [And what are they shown playing here? dundundun]

There is a particular affinity and focus the game has on the Piano as well.

Music is so linked to humanity in this game, i think it's very sweet.

There was also this really interesting post about the blue fairy (in the og collodi novel) that I don't think I can dig up anymore, but I remember it was something like this. It was pointing out that, realistically, the blue fairy really isn't a good parent. She lets a seven year old child be hanged on a tree, she watches by as he is enslaved; she makes him "work" for the right to be a real boy instead of reasonably granting him it, etc. The blue fairy also appears omniscient or goddess-like, appearing as a child, a young woman, a goat, and a mother (in perhaps her most adapted incarnation).

if Sophia's knowledge is endless, couldn't she have warned us about geppetto? wouldn't she know about carlo (someone she knew as a child) being tortured in a box? was it her discretion to let us suffer, because he needs to be able to suffer to be strong? Does that make her a moral or ethical person? Can any personhood with omniscience, who, in a sense, allows evil to happen, be moral or just? Perhaps, herein lies the philosophical, inherent flaw, in any relationship with an omniscient being, but I digress.

However, I think Sophia's endless knowledge that Arlecchino [sadly I write his name wrong every time] refers to is spiritual, or emotional, in a sense: that because she could manipulate time, all of it was at her disposal. When we wake up in the train car, her words are: "There you are, I've been looking all over for you!" She could not have known where we were, if she was searching for us (possibly through the blue butterfly figure we see). Also, I think she could've warned us about Geppetto.. but maybe then we wouldn't have gone to save her, and her goals are to get us to save her from Simon, which I believe she either says or suggests are "selfish" intentions (although I think she is very well within her right to have tbh). I don't think she is all-knowing in the way that Simon's world of truth would be. Maybe it's just a plot hole, perhaps it's just a "flaw" innate in writing any story with an omniscient character, but I don't think she was omniscient in that fashion.

And then coming back to Camille: One of my absolute favourite things about the game is the Saintess of Mercy Statue/Pieta Motif that we see in the Grand Exhibition. And Camille, who is inferred to have been the mother of Carlo, is said to have engineered the statue. She is directly connected to the game's central visual motif of death and rebirth. And then the statue also being diegetically[not a word apparently?] associated with rebirth and renewal ("Bring new life to puppets") in that you are "re-setting" and re-spec your character's stats there??? Equal parts beautiful and spectacular and touching.

[I feel SO sad that apparently, not every gamer got to see the statue. Opening those doors after the phone call riddle and then the camera panning up to the statue is such an amazing and special moment to me, and then the fact that it's also raining (another symbol of birth) too]

I don't know if the Camille puppet was literally the same Camille (who may have been the wife of Giuseppe), though. We know that she seems to have saved a baby from falling, on which afterwards she says "bring me back to my child". Not only is the Camille puppet a devoted mother character, she's also the first puppet to awaken (in other words, being associated with the idea of birth). "Camille" is so tied to the idea of motherhood and birth, that I think the Camille puppet is another connection here, and may not literally be the same Camille who was a technician. Although, I don't put it past Geppetto to be doing nefarious experiments with puppets, even if it were his wife. It might be a little ominous in regards to his attitude to P, that he doesn't see puppets as "people", but he does see people as puppets.

[araneitela]

Deception and manipulation. And quite frankly, why I disagree with fanon's vehement inclusion of both for Kafka's character. I've been sitting on this for quite a while now, and I one day want to write a much longer meta on it, but I wanted to "briefly" touch on it for the ones following me, so that you know what to expect, and well, what not to expect.

Nothing within canon inherently thus far to me, has shown Kafka to be dishonest, and it's actually one of the things that further drew me to her character as I continued into HSR, the fact that she isn't. But, I've been re-watching all of her scenes yet again today to see if I can budge myself on this, but I'm still firmly rooted in my belief that Kafka is not deceptive as people make her out to be, and if anything, I feel even stronger about this today than I did yesterday, despite actively trying to find things that would prove the opposite. All I can see, honestly, is that she actively tells the truth when on screen. This entire belief that she's anything akin to deceptive, manipulative, or dishonest is genuinely just an audience's perception that stems from the general, go-to assumption that someone who has been brandished a 'villain' bears every bad trait in existence. And the audience comes to hold that perception because it's what numerous characters on our screen seem to think (one of the earliest examples of this would be Himeko and March 7th, but primarily the latter). She has a bounty of 10.899 billion credits on her head, yes, so far that's the highest that we've seen, but we also know that the Stellaron Hunters have been closely involved with a lot of chaos that's occurred throughout the cosmos (and the other hunters do not possess the ability that she does). But we need to not interlace bad traits where they, in my opinion, don't belong.

Let me elaborate a little bit on my stance here so I don't go haywire in my tags. Also, please note that this touches on her character/dialogue and what we see within the story, her "games" such as the Jepella Rebellion touch on a different element of her character: boredom. That's for another day. Anyway, yes, I will also touch on her spirit whisper, because I know that's also a huge contender into this 'deception' theory.

The first scene that holds proper and deeper nuance that we're witness to, is when she speaks to the Trailblazer in the very beginning after awakening them. We see 'Listen:' at the very beginning, which we know is something she uses to signify the effects of her spirit whisper. Now if one were to simply take her spirit whisper, at its essence, as manipulative and that's that without taking intent and practice into account, then there's nothing I can say, but I will assume that's not the case here. Not anywhere in the lines that follow (and here are the choices), does Kafka insinuate any specific action for the Trailblazer to take, if anything, she insists on the existence of their own choice and will to 'reach the end of their story'. 'Listen' in this entire sequence is a call to attention, in the way that a person can wave their hand in front of your eyes or snap their fingers near you. The Trailblazer in this context is confused, they've just woken up and are unsure where they are, what's happening and perhaps, even who they are exactly. So the call to attention makes total and utter sense. Her spirit whisper isn't merely hypnosis, if you look at its capabilities, it can be used in various ways. Now outside of her SW, you hear the softer and more authentic tone of her voice (for those unaware of what I mean: here) when she speaks to them, and you actively see a change of expression depending on your answer to her that, quite frankly, is too genuine to me alongside the change of voice to take them in any other way than at direct face value. And lastly, she answers every question posed to her by the TB within the time constraints that they are under. Does she answer them elaborately? Not exactly, but there is quite literally, no need for it. She's not being dishonest, she's not being deceptive, she's actually being quite caring, if one dare use the word (and I do).

Second, the Astral Express visit. For starters, not once does she actively use her SW here in any capacity. She reacts to what Himeko says to her, and even entertains the 'accusations' and even gives away a bit of information that by all accounts is true, the Astral Express and Stellaron Hunters both pursue, in their own ways, the most dangerous objects of the universe. They are in some capacity, two sides of the same coin. From thereon out, she doesn't dwindle or waste any time (hers or theirs), she gets to the point of the Xianzhou Luofu, she says where it is, explains what happened, and what she knows will happen if the crew doesn't go there. She also discloses that she wants to retrieve Blade. Does she disclose the entire 'idea' of how they will end up clearing the Stellaron Hunters' reputation? No, but she has no idea on the reliability of any of them, and two (Himeko, and March 7th) seem 'hostile' towards her, and one (Welt) is hesitant at best; there is absolutely zero grounds for her to entrust them with the steps of their plan. Aside from that, the entire plan that we see unfold after that quite literally never endangers any of them, if anything, it only makes them look good, and guess who the Stellaron Hunters would owe a favor to after all of this? The Astral Express. Who would the Xianzhou owe a favor to? The Astral damned Express. The ones going on a limb here, despite having a 'script', is Kafka and the Stellaron Hunters as a whole. Point me at the genuine dishonesty or manipulation in this, and if you want to add a scoop to it, any ill-intent.

And then we get to the actual Luofu. Honestly, I need someone to tell me where she lies. Even before she ever gets captured, and they're chasing after her; right at the beginning, she literally says why the chase continues, and why she's not stopping yet: 'What a hassle, this place is too far for the diviner. See you up ahead.' Take her at face value, it's what she wants from you. Granted, she can profit if you don't (but at this point, I would beg to differ), but she's not trying to get you to believe any lie, if she was, she'd be telling one.

"Best future? Best for who? As if you'd consider anyone but yourself." — March 7th "If I said 'best for the universe', would you believe me? Best for me, naturally." — Kafka

And as much as one might want to try and rub my nose in "it" at this point, I'd like to ask what anyone is trying to rub my nose into. Again, is she not being pretty forthcoming? She's not saying more than she needs to, but that's not being deceptive. If someone doesn't ask for more information, then why should you give them... more information than necessary?

"I have no interest in the words of wanted criminals - especially those skilled in the art of manipulation." — Fu Xuan.

/shakes the bars of my cage. Yes, she uses spirit whisper, we know that she does. But again, this is an audience's perception of a 'villain' at its definition, rather than a judgement call made for one in specific. I understand Fu Xuan, of course, I do, but I'm not taking an 'in-game' stance, I'm sitting in the audience's seat and dissecting what I see.

I just, where is she dishonest? She proceeds to talk to the Trailblazer at length, and goes as far as to admit that the Stellaron Hunters are not entirely innocent. Not once is it claimed that the SH are void of any blame, she takes it, here and during the Jepella Rebellion trailer (even if, yes, it is a mock trial and she's hypnotizing them, yes, I know, "the proof is in the pudding THERE, Sae!", I'm arguing nuance, not a case of 'Kafka is always honest). Guys, she comes clean entirely. I'm starting to go feral, I know, but I just don't understand. I don't get it. /semi-tugs at hair. We're almost at the end of her scenes, and I still don't see it.

I don't understand. I don't understand. And then in 1.2, Waterscale Gorge, she stops them all from fighting, has them stand down. And when Dan Heng asks her what she did, she answers it well enough. And guess who doesn't question it upon his arrival, witnessing it? The 'hotshot General' in question: Jing Yuan.

I understand 'interpretations', but I fail to see how the massive overwhelming part (if not bordering the entirety) of fanon has such a severe attachment to this concept of Kafka being inherently deceptive, or have her whole existence shrouded therein. I don't see where this is the case. We can even look at her trailer, a Dramatic Irony, and look when she speaks at the end to the last guard in question. Some could argue that she lies to him when she offers the flip of the coin, but she doesn't. She never once actually offers him a chance to live, she never once insinuates that if he guesses correctly, that he could live, that is an assumption that the audience makes, rather than it being a choice that she actively presents. 'As for the ending, want to take a guess?' One might try to argue deception with me here, but I'd like to simply fire back: where is her deception? It only exists if you hear something that she never says, that is not something that she puts in your head; that's a choice that you make. A choice, a choice, a choice. The entire thing that she preaches about since the dawn of time when we awoke as the Trailblazer. Where is she lying? It's easy to call someone else out on something that you, yourself, create in your mind. Now do I think an argument can be made, there? Sure, for I absolutely don't make the case for her to be exceptionally and thoroughly 'transparent', but it's all about nuance. It's about, quite honestly, looking at the imagery of a spider. Where is that little quote I came across a while back— ah yes, here:

“The spider's web: She finds an innocuous corner in which to spin her web. The longer the web takes, the more fabulous its construction. She has no need to chase. She sits quietly, her patience a consummate force; she waits for her prey to come to her on their own, and then she ensnares them, injects them with venom, rendering them unable to escape. Spiders – so needed and yet so misunderstood.” — Donna Lynn Hope

An innocuous corner that can be avoided, she doesn't scheme and try to lure you into a web that would mean your destruction; more often than not, you could see it rather well ahead of you, and the intrigue is that you would walk into it almost willingly. It's alluring, it's tempting to those of curious nature that seek to unravel and explain, it's intricate, it's beautiful, why wouldn't you want to draw yourself into it? But the spider at the center is not the one that coaxes you, even if she's the creator of that ever intricate web. And yet, when you get wrapped up into it, she is all encompassing, and most don't come out alive as we see. And your fate is cruel, just like— well, fate is cruel. But is she, like Kafka, manipulative? Or is she, while you may so strongly want to believe the opposite, much more honest than you wish she was? And is that why she is cruel? Is that not the cruelest?

[sapphire-weapon]

There's actually a scene in re4r that explains alot about how much Leon cares about Ashley. The scene was when Ashley was laid on the altar and Leon was desperately trying to reach her or at least touch her face, you know when saddler was possessing him. When saddler lays his hands on Ashley's faces and let's her face Leon, Leon shouts saddler's name so loud he almost broke saddler's will, but unfortunately it js got worse. Either way I think this scene explains how much Ashley means to Leon. and the fact that when Leon woke up after the las plagas removal procedure all he could think about was Ashley. that explains why when he woke up he just called for her. same thing happens when she woke up when he was next to her. she woke up and just called his name. this explains how both of them care about nothing but eachother and how they also crave eachothers touch. 💕

I was also caught off guard by the way he was calling for her before his eyes were even open all the way or adjusted.

I've said a few times now that there isn't enough acknowledgment of the fact that Ashley makes Leon feel as safe as he does for her, but this moment is definitely the most striking example of it. While it would probably be easy for someone to wave this away as "he was worried about her because that was his mission" I really don't think that it's that simple.

Think about the actual sequence of events, here. Leon came so close to turning that he was actively starting to see into the hivemind, and it's only by sheer force of will that he makes it to Luis's lab with his sanity intact.

This particular scenario has probably been his biggest nightmare for the past six years -- that he would get infected and turn and hurt someone he could have and should have saved. And now he's seconds away from living it.

He manages to make sense of the software attached to the chair and starts the removal process for Ashley, and he holds her hand in both of his the entire time she's forced to go through it. He then confirms that she still has a pulse and that her plaga is destroyed -- and then he collapses on the floor, unable to keep fighting for himself any longer.

Leon wasn't calling for Ashley because he was worried about her. He was calling for her because he was scared.

Remember, Leon wakes up on his back, and the first thing he sees is the radiation arms of the chair and the ceiling -- so he probably hadn't even put together what was happening -- probably wasn't sure if he'd actually ever been unconscious at all. The last thing he would've remembered would've been losing grip on himself and hitting the floor.

It's very likely that his brain was still tricked into thinking that he was still about to lose control and turn -- that's why he's lying down.

And, in that state, Leon calls out for Ashley.

If you listen to his tone, the intention is not to tell her to run or to get away from him -- but rather, to beckon. He wants her there close to him. He's looking for reassurance. For comfort.

And her physical presence brings that, for him.

[tumblingxelian]

I feel like a big part of the issue with Ironwood's imagery is how, fact is, the "It's just how Ironwood views himself" isn't that well communicated at all, and we have every disabled character he's contrasted with either have a less severe disability (Yang) or cured (Winter), making it look as if the disability ITSELF is the problem.

If we count Penny as disabled, then we have her "rewarded" with a flesh body before dying as human (presented as preferable to her living in a mechanical body), while Ironwood's disability is indirectly referenced via Winter casting off her mobility aids to LITERALLY rise above him. With Winter's disability being used to visualize how Atlas has bound her to Ironwood (and the creator commentaries regularly referring to Taiyang's advice to Yang as positive and constructive), and Theodore's own ableism (with him only hating Ironwood for being WEAK as opposed to Ironwood's fascism or duplicity), and it comes across as less "Ironwood himself considers cybernetics a sign of humanity" and more "the writers relied on cybernetics to make their dictator scary and 'other' without considering the fact that there are cyborgs in real life".

Like I've said before, there's a cyborg I follow who actually dropped RWBY over this after Penny was given the flesh body, because everything about how the storyline was presented felt less like a critcism of Ironwood's view of cybernetics and more like the show itself was calling them an inhuman monster for having so much metal in their body.

Thus, if their intention was that Ironwood himself has an uhealthy view of cybernetics, then they fucking failed to convey that.

(There's a reason I have said that Robyn Hill should've been a cyborg instead. Even more visibly than Ironwood.)

(Also, as someone who had to pretend to be allistic to avoid getting bullied, I don't like implication that hiding one's disability to avoid ableist harassment is a moral failing. Especially not when Blake isn't held to that standard when hiding her ears. Remember, the Headmaster Ironwood was EXTREMELY reluctant to call on for help canonically considers disabled people subhuman. All indication is that, in-universe, Ironwood's issues with his prosthetics began and ended with his CRITICS using the "more machine than man" accusation, because what would leftist hypocrisy be without bodyshaming?)

I mean, I completely disagree, I feel it was communicated well, hence the little essay I was easily able to bang out on a whim. While I could give you the severity angle, I also think its a reach given Pietro is like, constantly dying because of what happened to his Aura. & I am sorry swap but I need to stress this so much. Winter was not ever disabled. That was a conclusion you drew that was incorrect.

The writers are not at fault for a headcanon being wrong. What's more, as a result, all of your Winter takes are functionally invalid as a result, because you are drawing the analysis materials from your own imaginings not what is on screen. Sorry but I really need to make that clear. It was a fine headcnon, but it was not canon & so it does not influence the framing or themes of the show.

Similarly, I don't know if Penny is considered disabled, but honestly based on how the show handles her character I honestly don't think the writers wrote her with that lens in mind. I can see the connection, I can see why people think that; but like with Winter that does not mean it was their intent.

Plus as I outlined elsewhere, while Penny enjoys the increased tactile sensations in a huge, she sure as fuck didn't enjoy them when getting blasted by Cinder. & without her mechanical body she was ultimately far more vulnerable and ended up dying. That's not "Being rewarded with a flesh body". That's, "They tried an experimental surgery to keep their friend alive & while it nominally worked, they were far more vulnerable afterwards & as a result died in their next fist fight."

I'm not touching on some of the other stuff mostly because I either haven't read the novels, or in regards to Tai-Yang feel that is both an entirely different subject and also gets far to speculative, IE, if CRWBY's doing a double bluff with him they aren't gonna reveal it in the commentary. Though I will say, Ironwood's prosthetics are never presented as "Scary", literally his most badass and heroic scene has him showing off his prosthetics more than at any other point in the show. Again, this take does not make coherent or thematic sense to me.

Your friend is entitled to their feelings, obviously, but what someone took from it VS what the author intended to communicate VS what was reasonable to extrapolate are all very different things. We don't take people who ditched the series cos Adam was a bastard seriously after all. I am not saying your friend is at that level, just using that to convey my point that "X left this show cos of Y" is not by itself a meaningful statement given how much one's decision making process can be rooted in simply not picking up on a theme or story beat & then being angry about it.

Again, I think they succeeded so (Shrugs)

(I am aware of your desires on the Robyn front, it also has no bearing on this conversation as we are discussing the actual show.)

(Swap, I'm autistic, I have to mask constantly, it sucks & I was very bad at it. Thus I was ostracized for most of my time at school and even outright attacked once; though I was big enough to be able to scare them & other bullies off at least. What's more, I was explicitly targeted by some teachers for harassment to the point where I was suicidal.

Do not try and guilt trip me over something I never said.

I never once indicated Ironwood is a coward because he hid his prosthetics, I highlighted that out of all the cast, Ironwood is the man most discomforted 'by' prosthetics. Hence it making far more sense that the authors statements reflected his biases and not theirs.

What's more, your "His leftist critics" stuff is at best, wild extrapolation from like, a comment of Qrow's that would have applied equally if Ironwood had zero prosthetics. Same for you conflating Ironwood refusing to call for help because of Theodore, even though he never referenced the man, Vacuo or indicated he thought of them as any different to anywhere else. If you do that level of head-canon & then get mad at the show for themes and characters beats it never included, rather than what's actually on screen, then that is on you.

Finally, do not put words in my mouth again. I have zero patience for it.)

[twoidiotwriters1]

Daughter of Olympus (Leo Valdez xFem!Oc)

A/N: Tough day for bad bitches -Danny Words: 2,097 Series' Masterlist Previous Chapter / Next Chapter Listen to: 'Home' -by Catie Turner

XLII: Local Dumbass Knew What She Was Getting Into and Did It Anyways

The last time she dreams of Percy, Ara just opens her eyes and he's there, sitting cross-legged on his bed. He doesn't speak at first, just studies her with curiosity. 

She knows it's him and not a made-up Percy, someone has allowed them to see each other earlier than expected.

"You look like her..." he tilts his head. "But are you really..?"

Ara sits up on her bed, but she moves carefully, afraid to wake up if she makes the wrong move. "Percy, where are you?"

The boy looks around the room ignoring her question. "This is your place?"

"Our place," she knows Percy got his memories stolen just like Jason, so she starts with the basics. "When your mother adopted me, I asked if I could share a room with you just the first few months, cause I'd never slept alone," she tears up a bit. "Now I sleep alone all the time, here and in camp."

Percy smiles. "You are Ara, my sister, right?"

Percy calls her sister all the time, she was used to it already, but it's been months since they last spoke, months since they saw each other, and yet she is still a sister to him.

"I think someone wants us to talk," Ara continues, trying to keep it together. "Dunno what they want us to say."

"You sound kinda different from what I remember," Percy's eyes brighten. "You've been eating your veggies, Birdy?"

Ara abandons her bed in an instant and Percy hugs her as soon as she reaches him. The contact feels so real it makes her sob. She gasps. "I should kick your ass! You've had us worried!"

"I'm not having a blast out there either, you know?" He scoffs, squeezing her smaller frame tighter against him. "But I'm happy to see you, even if you look different."

She holds his face and looks at it hungrily: he also looks different, his features are sharper and he appears to be stronger now, judging by how she struggles to get out of his grip. "Tyson was close to finding you and then he lost track—"

"It's a long story," Percy cuts in. "But I promise you're close to finding me."

"Don't—"

"I promise," he insists, squeezing her shoulder. "Trust me."

"I always do," Ara pouts. "Don't die, Nemo. Or I'll force Hades to spit you out, just so I can kill you myself."

He laughs. "You got it, General."

I speak to Kronos's army using my charmspeak. "As the last child of Olympus, I carry the duty of defending it."

I lift the javelin and pray to any god that's listening to help me out, cause I really need to make an impression, and before anyone has enough time to doubt the reasoning of what I've said, I throw my spear at a Hyperborean. 

I watch him fall, then seize my compass and turn it into Almighty. I raise the sword over my head and scream. "FOR OLYMPUS!"

The monsters are pretty frantic, so Pollux has no problem keeping the hallucination going. I charge towards their army and when Chiron concludes Lily and I have no intention to slow down, he decides to distract Kronos.

My plan also works on most of the demigods from the enemy army. I can't blame them, Achilles never spared a soul, so running away is the smartest choice here. 

Pollux's power isn't strong enough to fool the monsters for long though, so they probably see just a blur, and they can't decide whether to run or stay. 

I jump off of Blackjack when we get close enough to the monsters. He rises from the ground with Pollux holding onto him and I land on top of Ethan Nakamura. As soon as I touch him, he screams in realization. "It's a trap!"

An arrow flies over my head, Lily has stopped a dracaena from ripping my head off. I get up and kick Ethan's stomach for good measure. I use my charmspeak again. "Give up!"

If I hadn't been blessed by my mother in advance, my reach wouldn't have gone as far as it does. The monsters closer to me drop their swords, and some get on their knees begging for mercy. Arrows come down flying all around me, evaporating the monsters on the spot. 

I run forward and a monster tackles me, but then a miracle happens:

Nico Di Angelo's arrival is enough to split the crowd. He's wearing black armor that, to be honest, makes him look really cool. He lifts his sword and kills the monster that has me pinned on the ground. 

I thought I'd failed to convince Hades, and even though I hadn't said anything to Lily, I'd assumed he was determined to let us die. I guess I was wrong. "Sorry for the delay," Nico helps me up. "But I know it's never a good idea to steal the spotlight from an Aphrodite."

It's the first time in days that I manage to smile. "Thank you."

"Son of Hades," Kronos sneers at Nico. "Do you love death so much you wish to experience it?"

"Your death," the boy replies, lifting his sword again. "Would be great for me."

"I'm immortal, you fool! I have escaped Tartarus. You have no business here, and no chance to live."

Nico and I share a look and he picks Almighty from the ground, handing it back to me. "You're gonna kill him, or what?" He asks me casually.

Kronos notices me at last. Luke's eyes haven't looked in my direction in so long, that it hits me like a ton of bricks. It's weird 'cause he doesn't look any different, just... worn out.

But I, on the other hand, am a whole other version of myself.

"You," he seethes. "This is the last time you disrespect me."

"Yeah," I adopt a fighting stance. "It is."

The ground quivers under our feet and skeletons spurt out of every crack, seizing monsters without warning. 

"Drop your weapons and retreat!" I yell, Nico, Lily and I move together. "You're done!"

"HOLD YOUR GROUND!" Kronos screams. "The dead are no match for us!"

"The dead are not the ones you should be worried about, old man," Lily says, aiming two arrows in his direction.

Hades shows up riding his spooky chariot. "Hello, Father. You're looking... young."

"Hades," Kronos glares at him. "I hope you and the ladies have come to pledge your allegiance."

"I'm afraid not," The god looks at Lily, Nico, and me. "My son and his friends convinced me that perhaps I should prioritize my list of enemies." His eyes Percy. "As much as I dislike certain upstart demigods, not all of them are deserving of oblivion. It would not do for Olympus to fall. I would miss bickering with my siblings. And if there is one thing we agree on—it is that you were a TERRIBLE father."

Kronos shortens the magical barrier and leaves most of us out, only a small group remains in it, and my brother is one of them. 

"NO!" I run towards it and Hades does too, but we're both pushed away.

"Are you serious right now?"

"Lily, he knew about Camp Jupiter before any of this happened and he never mentioned it!"

"If Chiron couldn't, what makes you think Nico could?" Lily leaves her dagger on Ara's nightstand and gets up. "His new sister is Roman, right? Perhaps he was afraid to lose his family again if he talked."

"So you're saying I shouldn't tell Annabeth about it?"

"Gods, no! She's having meltdowns left and right! She'll murder Nico! My sister's already way too pressed about the delays, don't freak her out more."

Ara scoffs, obsessively folding and unfolding the clothes she's planning to take on the quest. "I'll murder Nico when I see him—no wonder he never stayed here, he knew Jason would recognize him, that asshole..."

"Hey..." Lily stops her. "You can't be mad at him for wanting to protect his sister..."

"And where is his loyalty to us?" Ara demands grumpily. "He owes us."

Her friend stops her from folding more jeans and shorts. "Are, whenever he visits you're always fighting. You promised Hades he'd be welcomed with open arms—"

"He's the one who continues to act like we're out to get him! If he were nicer—"

"Ara!" Lily stomps her foot in frustration. "You always do this! You push Nico and me into the crowd, telling us it's easy because you have no problem doing it, but it's not fair!"

"You wanna talk fair?" Ara argues. "Nico saw us dying with worry every day for the last six months and said nothing!"

"What could he tell you that Jason hadn't? And being fair, Ara, after you met Leo you left camp like it wasn't important to supervise us anymore, like you'd gotten what you wanted from us so the rest didn't matter."

"I'm sorry?" The girl glares at Lily. "I care about this camp more than you seem to know, Lily. Unlike Nico, who only cares about his reputation!"

"How can you say that after what he did for us during the war?"

"He tried to kill my brother and felt guilty when it didn't work!"

"It wasn't his plan and you know that!"

"I don't wanna go over this again," Ara rolls her eyes and turns away from Lily. "I've got other things to worry about..."

"Like your prophecy?"

Ara freezes. Annabeth must've told Lily about it, so there is no point in asking how she found out. She wonders how long Lily sat with this information, letting it boil until she could spit it out. 

"I was going to tell you," Ara says quietly.

"I doubt it."

"I was going to tell you once I knew what it meant," she clarifies.

Lily starts to leave the room. "You're unbelievable, and I'm done."

"Don't do that!" Ara follows her out. "Why do you have to turn every conversation into a test? Every time I choose wrong, you treat me like I'm still small dumb Ara!"

"Because you keep hiding stuff only to tell us about them at the last second so we have no chance to stop you! You've always been like this, and that's why no one thought you'd be a good leader!"

Ara comes to a halt at the top of the staircase. "Did you?"

"What?" Lily stops midway down the steps.

"Did you think that as well?"

"It doesn't matter," Lily's eyes are cold, like two pieces of sharpened ice. "You move faster than I can think. I struggle to keep up and you don't care if I'm still grieving. Nothing's been enough for you since you became the daughter of Olympus."

"If you could believe in me for just a second, maybe I wouldn't need to do everything on my own."

"I believe in you," Lily's grip tightens on the handrail. "Learn the difference between concern and distrust, Strategus. Whenever you do something foolish is like you don't understand how lucky we are to have—"

"No," Ara replies, anger seeping through her words. "You are lucky to have survived, I worked hard to get here. I earned my place as Olympus's General, don't you dare say I'm here out of mere luck."

Lily looks up at her, eyes darkening. "You used Michael and I to crawl your way up, and you barely made it out," she turns and keeps going, quickly reaching the bottom of the stairs.

Ara stays at the top of the staircase, her chest tight and her head pounding. A girl calls her name downstairs and she immediately rushes down, thinking it's Lily.

She finds Annabeth instead.

"What's wrong?" Ara asks anxiously. "Not another delay?"

Annabeth's eyes are bright and eager. "Get your things. We leave in an hour."

My parents wake up and start fighting, which is something I never thought I'd see, but they're doing a pretty good job. Kronos runs to the entrance of the Empire State, and I lock eyes with Percy.

Clarisse and Chiron are out of the fight, and Annabeth and Thalia are trapped inside the border with him. I see him fall to the conclusion that I must do the one thing he can't.

"You're in charge," he shouts. "Don't make me regret it!" Before leaving, he tells Mrs. O'Leary to look for Chiron under the debris. 

Lily and Nico stand by my side, weapons ready. "Heard him loud and clear," Lily nudges my arm. "So you better do something."

I nod, taking a deep breath. "Hermes, Hephaestus—Take the mortals to safety!" The campers start pushing the people out of our way. I turn to the demigods that are left. "We end the war today," I lift my sword. "Camp Half-blood!"

Cheers and cries of war respond to my call. I roar a second time. "Praise Hades!"

Lily and Nico echo my cry, and some campers repeat it as they charge against the army of monsters. Nico's dad shines brighter, and he attacks Kronos's barrier with renewed force.

Next Chapter ->

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