#'now you and i are mysteries / part human part make-believe' like are you being serious rn

[cherrymoonvol6]

caleb,,,.. andjfhjdnd evely..n.........

[digiflora]

𝐅𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔!

ཐི♡ཋྀ featuring -> luocha, blade, dan heng, jing yuan, gepard landau, welt yang

ཐི♡ཋྀ contains -> soulmate!au, no warnings just fluff (?) and maybe a bit suggestive for welt. ALSO LUOCHA'S IS SO ANGSTY AND FOR WHAT IDK IM SORRY

ཐི♡ཋྀ gia's notes -> ok so you know that soulmate au thing where the moles on ur body are where ur lover in a past life kissed you the most? yeah. i opened star rail for the first time in like 2 weeks today cos i rage quit after getting silver wolf while trying to build pity for luocha and then i did the story quest thingy and brainrot happened. sorry for being gone for so long. have this <3 (ppl who requested stuff two months ago i see you i hear you i'm just a slow writer)

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ LUOCHA has a particularly noticeable mole on the right side of his neck. with his high collar and serious expression, that remains another guarded secret of his that is privy to only his own searching eyes, a secret that raises colour in his cheeks at the insinuation of its placement.

having spent more time around the dead than the living these past few months, love and human connection is not exactly an occurence that can happen naturally within his profession.

and for the most part, that's alright.

yet there are some lonely nights where luocha finds his gloved fingertips grazing the dark spot on his neck, wishing that he could be graced with the same tenderness in this life that he had received in his previous one. if he closed his eyes and concentrated hard enough, he could almost feel the ghostly brush of a pair of lips against his cool skin, the feathery sensation sending a soft shiver down his spine, accompanied by the distant giggle of a past lover in his ear before it slips his grasp and he rolls onto his side in frustration.

that damned spot might as well be placed directly over his heart, considering the amount of influence it held over him.

he could only hope that his dreams tonight would reunite him with the figure that haunts his conscious mind too now, and continue his fruitless search to find them once again in his waking realm.

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ BLADE has moles on his chest and back littered amidst the scars that mar his porcelain skin. always a skeptic, the man has never been one to believe in the fanciful stories of soulmates destined to be, sneering in the face of such notions as fate, preferring to keep his head resolutely on his shoulders and feet planted on the ground.

and in some sense, he's right.

because when he met you, in this current life, you joined him in his rejection of a perfect other half. and then, slowly but surely, you had wormed your way into his heart, and his insistence on not having any such thing as a soulmate seems like such a flimsy rebuttal to the way you gaze at him in adoration, fingers trailing in your lips' wake as they brush over each individual mark on his chest.

he tries not to shiver when he feels your warm lips descend upon the skin of his back, your fingers tracing the faded marks that depict his life story with a silent promise that you'll be there for him, and to count every mark on his skin with tender care.

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ DAN HENG often finds himself staring in wonder at the moles which litter his arms. starting from his wrists, there is a dusting of them that creeps all the way up to his shoulders, placed upon his skin with such deliberate care that it's almost a foreign concept to him.

in the later hours of the night, he allows himself to muse over the possibility of a soulmate, a lover in a past life destined to find him again, trying to solve the mystery of their identity by peering at his arms as if their face is etched into them.

and when he meets you, he feels breathless all over again as your hands interlink with his own, clasping them so fervently that lightning practically runs up his spine as your lips reunite with his skin, once again staking their claim as you make your way from his wrists to the rest of his body.

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ JING YUAN bears his mark with pride, the distinct spot residing comfortly underneath his eye, attracting his attention to it every time he paises to study his reflection.

he wouldn't call himself a vain man, so he appraises that one mole before continuing on with his day, but it's not until you have his face cupped in your palms, and your eyes study his features with an intensity he had not felt until now, that you mention that he has two other moles on his face, albeit fainter.

and you make a point of reaffirming their existence at every chance you get, with you and jing yuan's morning routine involving your lips brushing against the faint mole on the apple of his cheek and bridge of his nose before landing a last one underneath his eye.

those only serve as a mere guidline, though, as you do not hesitate to pepper the rest of his unblemished face with kisses as your symbol of affection.

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ GEPARD does not know what to think of the moles that litter his collarbones. they're rather prominent, and if he lets himself think about them for too long, he'll start blushing.

even the thought of someone kissing him there makes his brain short circuit, so the sensation is definitely one that he will have to get used to with you.

the slightly sadistic part of you revels in the way his blushing face hides itself behind his hands when you kiss him on those marks, a muffled boyish giggle escaping his lips at the ticklish sensation of your lashes brushing against his skin when you lay your head against his chest.

you decide to place a few additional marks for his next life when you kiss the backs of his hands, until your lover relents and reveals his face to you once more, letting you place a final tender kiss to his lips.

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ WELT finds the little triangle of moles on his hipbone more humorous than anything. there's a certain intimacy to their placement that surpasses the more innocent and easily visible marks a person may have been granted by their soulmate, and he fonds himself wondering what kind of person his soulmate is for there to be the most frequent place they kiss.

and it's a pleasant surprise, really, as to how right it feels when you see those marks yourself and giggle, continuing their tradition by dropping a kiss to each in quick succession before grinning up at him with a smile so endearing that welt finds himself desperately committing the scene to memory.

𓏲 ࣪₊♡𓂃 IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY: bound 2 fall in love!

honkai star rail masterlist ♡⸜(˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝

[makedonsgriva]

Some fics and fanarts love depicting Xie Lian as a weak little delicate doll who can't even raise a finger to defend himself and Hua Cheng is his knight in shining armour so as to say and personally that's actually kinda very weird.

XL spent EIGHT HUNDRED (800) years alone. That's like all the way from the 13th century to now. He spent a majority of that time in his own company and with no friends and emotional support system and encountered all sorts of problems from homelessness to starvation to sustaining serious injuries to being buried alive.... you name it. He did it all. ALONE. A L O N E.

Also, XL is canonically stronger than HC. Just because he does not need to use that strength does not mean he cannot. If XL and HC would ever come to blows (which they won't I know, the Earth will start rotating in the opposite direction sooner than that but let us suppose hypothetically) XL would SMOKE HC's ass. That's part of the reason why he never hesitated in following a mysterious ghost bridegroom on Mount Yu Jun: he has full faith in his own abilities and that he can defend himself very easily.

Oh also, XL is the one who defeated Jun Wu at the end. We see HC being very confident in his abilities and HC is no doubt scary strong but even he can't defeat JW. If we are ranking characters by strength, HC comes third. The strongest is XL, followed by JW.

Yall take the strongest character in TGCF and make him the weakest in your stories. As if XL can't snap your neck without even breaking into a sweat if he wants to. XL is a wonderful, amazing and such a kind and gentle soul because despite being capable of being a tyrant and having the reasons to be one, he still believes in goodness and kindness.

Oh and this is definitely not to again mischaracterise XL as a perfect mary su character. XL has his dark side. His benevolence only goes so far. Do not forget he almost did unleash the Human Face Disease on the people of Yong an, that he almost killed a guy once while busking because he talked disrespectfully to him. He is both at once. Anyway, I digress.

I think people need to realise that two strong people who can each hold their ground very well can be in a loving relationship. TikTok's "who did this to you" type shit is wildly weird for HuaLian because XL does not need anyone's protection. HC protects XL not because he thinks XL is weak but because this desire for protecting him comes from a place of love. Because everyone gets tired and HC just wants to be XL's shelter.

[snoopyhq]

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ ARCANE CHARACTERS AND THEIR POKÉMON TEAMS !!!

includes: viktor // jayce // mel // caitlyn // vi // jinx // ekko

a/n: if you guys want a part two with any of the other characters, feel free to lmk which ones :D !!! i had a lot of fun with this, and it kind of went into a whole AU direction with all my ramblings. oops!

tagging @anexcellentshot <3

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ VIKTOR

For his team, I wanted a collection of 'mons that would kill it in a steampunk themed show, so here we are!

GOLURK

Its lore centers around it being an ancient Pokémon built by an ancient civilization, so not much is known about it

To me, this Pokémon would be perfect for Viktor due to its aura of mystery and its creation by human hands

It also fits well with Viktor's arc when he becomes the Arcane Herald (glowing eyes, larger stature, commanding presence, associations with otherwordly abilities)

LUXRAY

I'm a firm believer in the fact that Viktor is a cat person, so of COURSE he gets a feline Pokémon

Luxray is an electric type cat. Need I say more?

Viktor's Luxray hisses at anyone who looks at him wrong. It's very funny. A total lapcat and demands his attention at all times

Everyone else who isn't Viktor can get fucked

KLEFKI

END KLEFKI HATE 2025

Why do people hate Klefki?! Being so serious right now btw... like are they just allergic to fun and whimsy or what. IDGAF if its just a key that became a Pokémon, it's one of my faves forever and always

Anyways. As for its relevance to Viktor, I see it as sort of being a good assistant for him in the lab and such. Carries his keys, yes, but also his tools for him

ALAKAZAM

I'm pretty sure it's the most intelligent Pokémon, and Viktor is a whole genuis

The dots connect!

Alakazam likes watching Viktor work on his various projects, and it oftens plays chess with him. A very intellectually stimulating experience for them both. The score currently is very close, although whose ahead, we'll never know :-)

GALARIAN CORSOLA

OK SO ORIGIN STORY !!!

We know Viktor grew up in the Undercity, and where he was shown had a river with cave systems nearby. I believe him and Corsola found each other the same fateful day he met Rio

They see each other as kindred spirits, having suffered in the environment they were dealt. Viktor is protective of his Corsola, and caring for it makes him feel a sense of accomplishment

Very bittersweet

MAGEARNA

A Pokémon that was also built by human hands, specifically by scientists according to its lore

It also has an ability that makes it a wonderful caretaker of people

That falls in line with Viktor's motivation to use Hextech to improve the lives of the less fortunate, and this Pokémon fits his aesthetic so well. I think Magearna is a wonderful way to end his team with :3

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ JAYCE

His character grew on me. Jayce Talis, you should've been born into a shoujo, not forced to shounen </3

TIMBURR

Very helpful fella to have around a lab! Construction sites! Factories! That's the Talis family specialty!

His first Pokémon, and the two often played with wooden building blocks and LEGOs in his childhood

Specifically choosing the first evolution because I can see Jayce's Timburr growing alongside him in the craft and one day evolving into a Gurdurr, and perhaps even a Conkeldurr

Or maybe it can stay a baby, who knows?

HERDIER

Looks like Heimerdinger. I am GREATLY amused by this

Is the Talis family dog, and followed Jayce when he went off to the Academy

Always sighing like its got bills to pay but that's because it has to watch over Jayce away from home 😭 Get him a martini (dog-friendly) and a long vacation ASAP

Big theme of family and Pokémon with Jayce here hehe

TINKATUFF

Another great Pokémon to help Jayce out with his endeavors!

This one has the most attitude of his team, and only helps with extremely ambitious, daring projects

It wants to improve, and taking up easy shortcuts is an insult

Overall, a diva

He loves it anyways, and always makes sure to express his appreciation because its efforts DO pay off handsomely

DARMANITAN

Jayce works in a forge at some point in the series, so having a Darmanitan with him just fits

It can withstand the high temperatures and has the muscle to help him out

I was debating between this fella and Heatmor but I like Darmanitan's rotund look better, sorry Heatmor

CARBINK

Very mystical Pokémon. Parallels the Mage that saved Jayce and Ximena when he was a child

Also resembles a Hextech crystal lowkey

MELMETAL

I think it's SO funny that it has "Mel" in its name

Also, more continuation of Pokémon that can dabble in craftsmanship

Evolved from a Meltan that snuck into his luggage when he was moving to the Academy district and refused to leave

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ MEL

I wanted a team that serves both cunt AND power, so here is Mel's team! Looking for a transparent BG, full-body picture of her was actually so hard. What the flip. I thought it'd be in her Arcane Fandom Page Gallery, but it wasn't. AUGH

DELPHOX

Fox motif

Also a mystical one too, since its lore states that its burn marks were used in divination long ago

Mel being a mage means she can connect with her Delphox on a deeper level

KOMMO-O

Noxians are people who value raw, physical strength

Ambessa is canonically a warmonger. Mel having a fighting type Pokémon like Kommo-o goes well with that lore

It's powerful, dual-type with DRAGON, and just radiates aura

Also, its scale patterns and her braids can sort of match in style and it also works with Mel's gold accents!

UMBREON

Evolved from her Eevee

It happened around the time Mel left home for Piltover for the first time. Their bond runs deep

Hates being confined to a Pokéball, so it roams out and about at all times

SNEASEL

Devious Troublemaker #1

Smart AND sneaky

It's resourceful with its wits and stealth, like Mel

Tolerates her Fezandipiti

FEZANDIPITI

Devious Troublemaker #2

Abuses its pretty privilege to get away with EVERYTHING (it works)

Best buds with her Sneasel

INDEEDEE

A Pokémon that "never leaves its trainer's side", so it makes sure she stays taken care of and GOD KNOWS she deserves a break

Secretary Pokémon basically

Keeps tracks of her papers, blueprints, speeches, and council talking points

Hovers over her during the duration of those meetings and makes sure she's comfortable

Also really, really good at snooping around and finding out the most incriminating secrets. Memorized everything to the letter

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ CAITLYN

Firm believer that she would be a competitive player in a modern world.

FROSLASS

Cold as hell (figuratively AND metaphorically)

Just like Caitlyn

It's a feminine Pokémon and it's TERRIFYING, I love creepy/non-conventional Pokémon lore

Highkey judgemental. Has purposefully iced out a council membor on more than one occasion. Thinks they're useless

SINISTEA

They're kind of twinning. Tell me you guys see the vision too

Like... same side part and everything !!!

Tea parties and they're both the prettiest princesses. They also talk about the best way to 'get rid of' Salo. It's great

Caitlyn never utilizes her Sinistea in battle. It follows her around instead, offers an off-putting vibe to the function

YUNGOOS

Yes, this is because of the mongoose comment

Also I think it's really funny that you have these elegant and put-together Pokémon on her team, and then there's this guy

Bites ankles

DECIDUEYE

She's a sharpshooter and so is Decidueye

Had it since it was a wee Rowlet, and the runt of its litter (nestmates? flock? i don't know bird terminology)

With her in every shooting competition and practice she attends

Her ace Pokémon. They're so in sync, she doesn't even need to voice moves aloud anymore

GROWLITHE

Enforcer ☹️

CORVISQUIRE

It's intelligent, even compared to other bird Pokémon similar to it

Also has that air of innate curiosity

Caitlyn had her whole detective thing in Season One of the show, so her having a curious corvisquire on her team makes sense to me

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ VI

If Vi has no lovers, I'm DEAD!!! Literally became one of my favorites the second she showed up one screen. I’m also the eldest sibling so maybe I connect to those characters more��� Choso from Jujutsu Kaisen is another absolute faves of mine.

URSHIFU (RAPID STRIKE STYLE)

Matches her boxing fighting style

Very focused and disciplined

Her go-to sparring partner

LOKIX

A good kicker is needed to balance out a team of mostly fist-to-fists combat

Makes sure she does not skip leg day

Not that Vi would ever but it's nice to have someone look after her like an elder sibling for once

ALCREMIE

Similar to Caitlyn having Yungoos on her team, I find it funny to have Alcremie be the contrats on Vi's team

Her calling Caitlyn "cupcake" all the time? Please

Vi dotes on her Alcremie

First Pokémon she caught that wasn't in the Undercity, so it's a little bit of a primadonna, but who cares? It's adorable

Head chef of the team because picturing this little 1'00" Pokémon bustle around a kitchen area and whipping up delicacies makes me laugh

RIOLU

The youngest on the team and has the most to prove

Or at least, that's Riolu's mindset

Follows her Urshifu around like a little shadow, eager to learn and become the strongest of 'em all

Will evolve into a Lucario one day

CHARMELEON

Complements her color palette

I firmly believe she would choose a fire-type starter in any game route

Also has an insatiable fighting spirit, which I believe can be properly nurtured with Vi as its trainer and the rest of her team

Pairs up with her Riolu the most during sparring practices

ALOLAN MAROWAK

Both Vi and Marowak lost their mothers at a young age

Both watched their mothers die, even if the circumstances were slightly different

Not having a Cubone that evolved into a Marowak on her team would've been such a missed opportunity

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ JINX

Her team was the first one I finished putting together in my Google Docs. Very happy with how this one turned out.

BOMBIRDIER

The word "bomb" is kinda in the name

AND that fuckass bird is an asshole, according to it's Pokédex entry

I think it's hilarious, and fits Jinx's antics very well, especially with her first scene after the timeskip in season one

PANCHAM

The Pokedex entry for this one says it finds a Pangoro to look up to and trains relentlessly to get stronger like its mentor

Very much a reflection of how Isha looks (looked) up to Jinx, and wanted to be like her :')

NICKIT

Only surviving kit in the litter of Silco's Theivul

Naturally, it became Jinx’s Pokémon

Messes with her Espurr all the time. Gets lightly scolded, pretends to feel bad, and gets right back to it when her back is turned

Brings her scraps of metal and other shiny valuables it nicked (haha!) from unsuspecting citizens

HISUIAN TYPHLOSION

NOT A GOOD YEAR FOR MY BOY TYPHLOSION

Justice for him for REAL.

But anyways. Colorful flames, extravagant, explosions. It basically spells itself out

Keeps her Nickit in check when it gets too rough with her Espurr

INFERNAPE

Her signature calling card is the graffiti monkey

Her monkey bomb/gadgets !!! Motifs...

The most disciplined of her Pokémon

ESPURR

Look at it and tell me it isn't experiencing the horrors(tm) and the voices(tm) at all times

I think Jinx could see herself in it in a way, and having Espurr on her team is kind of a grounding experience for both of them

They save each other

This lil guy is her PRIDE AND JOY ok

˚ ♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ EKKO

Ekko deserves the entire world and more, I'm being so serious right now. Ekko 4 President.

DRILBUR

Little guy who just enjoys digging. Yeah, put him on the team

Would be very helpful for finding trinkets that Ekko could bring to Benzo's (in a happier timeline, they continue spending their days like this)

When the canon events happen, its role now becomes finding/forming tunnels and escape routes

NOCTOWL

Scout in the air

Goes along with Ekko's owl motif :D

Caitlyn already had Decidueye, and I feel like a tougher, more rugged looking Pokémon like a Noctowl fits the boy savior better

His team is a lot of earthy tones I've realized

Undercity Represent 🗣️🗣️🗣️

CELEBI

Ekko's connection with time, the four seconds, etc. etc.

Celebi is a time traveling Pokémon. It's perfect :3

I think he's the only character with a mythical Pokémon on his team, and you know what? He deserves it. Big Ekko fan! He can have a mythical Pokémon, as a treat

HOUNDOOM

If aura farming was a Pokémon

Looks tough, is an even tougher fighter

The rear-guard of his team. It looks out for the other ones and makes sure they all get to safety whenever it's brought along during one of Ekko's missions

Acts as a heater for the others and Ekko himself

Completely chill with letting Noctowl perch on its back

SKWOVET

Ok hear me out, this is the comedic effect guy

I headcanon that he pulls a Meowth in the anime and taught himself to speak human. NOT for the pursuit of romance this time, but for the pursuit of gossip

One of the tiniest ones recorded, so it sneaks around really easily

Like Mel's Indeedee, it gathers talk and whispers that otherwise would not see the light of day, and relays it all back to Ekko

It keeps him up to date on movements of other political factions and certain people (Jinx)

Has grown spoiled on all the treats it gets fed from being really damn good at its job

KROOKODILE

Found by Ekko during one of his explorations underground with his Drilbur

Battled against his Drilbur, and then his Houndoom when they broke up into the surface

Was eventually caught, and now goes on side quests with Ekko's Drilbur

Gives Ekko some peace of mind knowing that Drilbur has a bigger, more formidable friend watching out for it

Totes the coolest, rivalling Houndoom in levels of chillness

[being-addie]

Online aesthetics and the effects of social media trends

Let's talk about this.

How it can affect young teenagers

Open Tiktok or Instagram and everything on my For You Page now shows "How to achieve a Clean Girl Aesthetic"', "Old Money Aesthetic Hairstyles", "Cottagecore Hobbies", "How to be a Femme Fatale"

It never ends. Trends keep popping up left and right and it's inescapable.

As a young, impressionable teenager, I was, of course, naturally going to be influenced by these ever-changing trends. I'd constantly change my room aesthetic, buy new clothes, and I was never satisfied with my appearance. Why? Because I didn't look like the girls on screen.

News flash. You're never going to look like them. All that content they produce which gets 100k likes is done with excessive attention to detail, expensive lighting and sound equipment, and top-notch editing software. OF COURSE, you can't look like that. It's completely manufactured. It's heartbreaking to see young girls develop body image issues because of the constant bombarding of these "aesthetics" which are basically different beauty standards and stereotypes all wrapped up in a neat little package that is labelled "personality and style". I don't have anything against the concepts of aesthetics. I love how Dark and Light Academia is centred around learning, and how Cottagecore is all about relaxation and not conforming to being part of a 9-5 and just living life. I like how the Clean Girl is focused on being healthy and productive. What I don't like is how all these healthy things, which normal functioning humans should be doing are now turned into "trends" and you must "choose" between them.

Why it's so harmful

Fashion: Since aesthetics keep changing, you're going to find multiple that appeal to you. What happens when you discover you really like cottagecore, but your closet is filled with dark academia tweed? You turn to fast fashion. It's cheap and stylish. But it's horrible for the environment and that floral dress you're wearing was made by a woman in a sweatshop in Bangladesh, while fashion giants like Shein pocket the money.

Makeup: It's always there. Always. You cannot find a "how-to" post regarding aesthetics and makeup is not included. Its always how much blush to apply, why mascara is your best friend, blah blah blah. You know what I want to see? An aesthetic which promotes a clean, fresh face. I do wear makeup, not saying I'm perfect(yes, I wear lip tint and sometimes eyeliner), but it's the ridiculous notion that there's a specific makeup look for each aesthetic, and they say it's not very heavy, but really is concealer, foundation, blush, mascara and lipgloss light makeup?

Other: Then comes the things you should own, the bags, the shoes, the jewellery, the house decor. Did you notice to achieve the look, we're spending money bit by bit? Then you don't even realise it's made a dent in your savings.

Mentality: I hate this part about aesthetics so much. A while ago, I was really interested in Dark Academia and how it was centred around learning and studying. But everything was gloomy and dark and said I should be tired and bitter to achieve this. I'm not a serious person by nature in the first place, but here were blogs telling me to be "mysterious" and how I should be getting only 4 hours of sleep to be true Dark Academia? What is this dystopia? There's this weird obsession with how someone should behave if they like an aesthetic.

Online trends are all consumerism based. It's all to get you to blow your money on things that don't even benefit you.

There's a reason I never include and never will include tags like #clean girl or #pink pilates princess in my posts because it sort of reduces you to a certain aspect. Why confine yourself to these barriers? Wear what you want. Read what you like. The one "aesthetic" I believe in, is "that girl" which in reality is different for everyone, but boils down to being educated, well-mannered, and considerate. I will make a post on this. Being educated and kind is such a flex, not wearing one flowy white dress and "thinking" you're in a meadow. Break out of the pattern of being influenced by algorithms. Don't restrict your identity because of FOMO and the urge to be trendy. You've got this.

<3

[igotanidea]

five years later : Jason Todd x fem!reader

the graphic is not mine, found it on Pinterest, all credit goes to the author.

Another piece of Cheshire!reader!verse aka what happened earlier, when Cheshire (Y/N) found out Jason was not in fact dead.

Other parts are: Cheshire cat and That damn gala and can be read regardless.

Warnings: all of it. Smut. Insecurities and mentions of scars. Angst. Mentions of Jay flings and Y/N unsatisfying relationships. Fluff at the end. MINORS DNI!

Loosely inspired on the song "Lost in the fire" by The Weeknd.

The air in the room was filled with so much tension and palpable electricity that the slightest spark could set it able. Y/N and Jason were sitting on the opposite sides, eyeing each other. She was suspicious, cold and unwavering. He was a bit nervous, shy and unsure what to say.

“So….” she started crossing her arms over chest “ you were dead”

“Yeah.”

“Did you get bored?” she mocked

“What?” the visible hurt in his eyes did not make her change this tone. She was angry, she felt betrayed and most definitely were not going to let him get away with everything he has done easily. “How could you….?”

“did they kick you out of Hell?”

“Y/n…..”

“No, Jace. Did they kick you out? I bet even the devil didn’t want you after he learned you played a trick like that on your family and …. friend….” She hesitated on the last word. Honestly, she had no idea if they were friends? Lovers? Frenemies? Before everything turned to shit they kissed a few times and were trying to become something more but now she wasn’t ready if what they had before was still on.

“Well that is far from a warm welcome I was expecting…..” he looked down a bit depressed. If she did not want him he truly had nowhere else to go. Bats rejected him, he was not going to turn to Bruce and she was his only hope. Apparently gone now.

“Are you serious?” her tone was cold as ice and so was her gaze “it’s been five freaking years, Todd” oh, shit, she was using his last name now. Silent fury, the worst kind. “You were dead. And they I just get a call from Dick with the most mysterious message : he’s alive. And apparently he has been for a while now. Tell me, Red Hood, because that is who you are now, right? Was is fun? Was it worth it?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like? Go on, I’m being merciful here, you have one chance to explain it and then I don’t want to see you again. “

“I was dead” he sighed deeply ��and then…. Then I got resurrected.” He sighed deeply knowing well enough she was not going to believe him

“Don’t give me this religious shit about bringing people back from the dead” she rolled her eyes and stood up in frustration

“Y/N….” he raised to her height as well, now his 6’4 figure towering over her “please, you have to believe me, I’m telling the truth. There’s this place called Lazarus pit. I… I was thrown there and …. came back.” He absentmindedly reached for her hands but she moved away.

“Yeah, I heard a legend about it. But sure as hell you did not crawl there by yourself. Who helped you? Was it someone I know?” Jason muttered something incoherently “sorry? What was that? And don’t try to lie, you know I am a human lie detector.”

“Thalia al Ghul.” He mumbled and his cheeks became a bit flushed

“Shut up!” she let out a desperate laugh.

“It’s true.”

“Oh, I know, I see it in your eyes. And on your whole face. God damn it! Thalia Al Ghul. Like Dami’s assassin mother?” still laughing she raised an eyebrow making sure she put the two dots together and hummed in satisfaction when he nodded “that is crazy. Wait till I tell him……”

“Don’t you dare!” he yelled moving closer to her.

“Oh, there you are. Not so quiet and repentant anymore. Good, nice to know you still got problems with anger management. Now, one more thing. Should I tell Damian that you and his mother actually had an affair?” she smirked with venom in her voice “that you….”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence!!” he was now even closer but she was the one who always liked to play with fire and push on his buttons.

“That you fucked his mother? Because you did, didn’t .....?”

Before she could finish this sentence Jason had her pressed against the wall, his chest moving up and down in frustration, panting

“Auch!”she mocked, but the impact really was painful even if she did expect it.

“You are a brat. Always have been. Guess nothing changed for the last five years.”

“Or maybe your time with League of Assassins exacerbated your temper? I mean you always had issues but now it’s seems completely out of control. Didn’t they teach you how to keep your cool?”

“How do you know about….?” He moved back, surprised with her words. He did not tell anyone what he was doing during the last years.

“Come on. Thalia? You just said it yourself. If she helped you, you definitely stayed there. It’s simple dots connecting. Oh, my god. That would be a spit and disgrace for Bruce if he ever were to find out! I can literally imagine his face right now.” She laughed hard, not moved by the fact that only a second earlier she was brutally pinned against the wall. She was a vigilante, things like that did not bother her.

“Will you just shut up!?” he yelled in frustration.

“Don’t worry. I won’t be the one to tell him. That’s one thing I can do for you” she smirked “Cheshire knows exactly how to keep a secret and yours is safe, all right? Now will you just calm down?”

“How do you expect me to calm down?” his gaze fixed on her and for the first time in a long, long time she was completely frozen by the look in his eyes “Do you know what you are doing to me?” he groaned

“Jason……” her eyes went wider and wider when he started moving towards her again and soon had her cornered. “Fuck!” she hissed. There was nowhere to run now and she mentally facepalmed herself for not taking precautions. She was not scared. Jason could be angered and violent, but he would never hurt her, right? Despite that rational part of her brain, telling her that it was still her Jace, her vigilante instincts got the best of her when she ducked under his arms and moved to the other side of the room.

The sound, the groan that came from the back of his throat when she wriggled out of his reach was not human. God, she always knew how to get on his nerves. So why the fuck did he still love her? Why did he want her? Now. Immediately. He wanted her under him, writhing and moaning his name in indefinite pleasure as he would go down on her, getting exactly where she needed him and giving her everything. He wanted to feel her against him, caressing her perfect body, showing her how much he missed her for those last years.  He needed to feel her and her touch on every scar he got from his fights. He wanted to kiss every place, every square centimeters of her smooth skin, her neck, collarbone, her breasts and belly button. He wanted her lips and those sweet sounds he knew she would make. He wanted to make her feel so fucking good. He craved to assure her that she was the only one on his mind. Ever. He needed to hear her whisper that she was his. He needed to know that she loved him too, that he was the only one for her. Fuck! He saw it in her eyes and if he was someone else he wouldn’t even hesitate just took her right there, right now, without asking, without waiting for her to say yes, just getting what he wanted. That was what Red Hood would do. However, she was still his sweet, beloved Y/N. Unruly and challenging but still he never wanted to break her. And just to her, he didn’t want to be the vigilante, the anti-hero. He wanted to be Jason Todd, the boy she knew before, hoping this would be enough and that she wouldn’t turn him away. Oh, he was getting such dirty thought…. The fact that he spaced out did not pass her

“Jaybird?” his eyes got a bit glassy when her voice switched from Cheshire  mode to concerned words of Y/N as she used his nickname “Jay?”

His lust filled eyes landed on her, pupils blown unnaturally, dark and with so much need and …..love. she involuntarily took a deep breath and just by seeing her like this, now completely vulnerable, with chapped lips, so innocent and frightened made him hard.

“Jay, why are you looking at me like that?” her voice trembled. Was she scared of him? That is not what he wanted. Slowly, carefully not to made her run away from him again he took a step forward. And then another and other, getting braver when she did not move, eyes searching his face “why are you…..?”

“You know I want you…..” he whispered “I always wanted you. Even when I was with…. anyone else, there was only you.” his face was now inches apart from hers and he could tell she wanted him too and were struggling to keep her composure and self-control. That was what she was learned, never give up control.

“Wait, you thought about me when you were having sex with other women? Ugh. That is seriously messed up and sick.”

“Y/N….” he whispered against her skin, brushing his nose over hers “You know I’ve always loved you…. I know I messed up, but give me one chance to fix it.”

“Just…. Just one chance.” She gasped and he leaned to kiss her but she put a finger on his lips  “What do you want to do to me?”

“I want to fuck you. Slow. With the lights on.”

“Ja…. Jay….” She whimpered “I…. I don’t…..” who would have thought that tough and independent Cheshire would suddenly become so shy and embarrassed because of physical intimacy.

“Don’t worry, kitten. I will make you feel good, I promise. I will devour you….” he whispered and finally, finally their lips met when, surprisingly, she was the one who pulled him down to her by his neck. Oh, she still wanted control. Even when he grabbed her hips, lifting her up with no effort and wrapping her legs around his waist making her feel how hard he was for her. She was still fighting for dominance when he bit on her bottom lip and his tongue sneaked into her mouth making her moan so sweetly. She was still resistant when his hands moved under her shirt, up, up, to her breast, cupping and massaging it gently through the thin material making her whole body shiver.

“Jay….” She gasped when his mouth moved down her neck to the collarbone, at the same time pulling the shirt over her head.

“Fuck, I love you…..”  he bit on her pulse point, definitely leaving the hickey. He wanted to mark her whole. “I so fucking love you.” he pulled away only to take her in. Her flushed cheeks, her parted lips, her wide, innocent eyes.

“I love you too Jace. But don’t stop.” she moaned

“I have no intention to do so, baby. I will take my time with you. We have so many years to make up for…..” he carried her towards the bedroom, throwing her onto the bed, losing his own shirt on the way and climbing up to hover above her body. All his scars were now visible and she gently, seductively, but also lovingly traced her fingers over them making him close his eyes. He was still insecure about how his body looked.

“My poor boy. My wonderful boy…..” she whispered “you’ve been through so much, haven’t you?” her hand travelled up to his cheek cupping it “Jace, look at me….”

“I hate them…..” he whispered

“Well I already love them. I love you. I don’t care about those scars. You are beautiful. So, so, beautiful. Each part of you….”

He could not hold it back any longer when he leaned in to kiss her with all passion he had. He wanted her closer, he wanted her to feel the love and longing and every emotion he had for her.

“Tell me what you want, Y/N. I’ll do everything, just tell me.” He kissed her neck again as she played with the hair at the nape of the neck.

“I…. Can we turn the light off?”

“Why?”

“Well, you are not the only one who’s insecure. And…. And I am not as experienced as you, so…..”

“Fuck. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes now. You are a goddess Y/n. I’m gonna show you” his hands moved down and behind her back unclasping her bra and as soon as her breasts were free he started kissing them with feather light kisses switching between left and right one. His tongue circling over her sensitive nipples as she was already falling apart. “Hmmm” he grinned moving down “we’ve only just began and you’re already  a mess. “

“Jay….. please, please…..”

“Don’t worry, princess, I’ll take you over the edge.“ she shivered and barely noticed when he moved down her pants and underwear pulling her legs apart. “so wet for me.”

“Come on!” she urged him, arching her back and moving her hips up to signalize him what she wanted.

“As you wish.” He dropped in between her thighs immediately hitting the perfect spot. She moaned and he grinned “there then?”

“Yes! Fuck! Yes, Jace, please, oh, please, please. I need you…..” she threw her head back and he sped up wanting her to cum, to feel all the pleasure.

“Tell me you’re mine, babygirl. Tell me who do you belong to?”

“You! You Jace! Please, fuck! I’m so close, so fucking close!”

In some other circumstances he would tease her more, but the way she squirmed and begged for release was too much. He just couldn’t keep edging his treasure. She deserved the best. A couple more licks and gentle circles on her clit and a few words “come for me babygirl” and she was over the edge, her vision turning white, her whole world limited to him. Jason. Jace. Jay. Her Jay. It took her a few seconds to get back on earth and the first thing she saw was his smiling face.

“Was that good? Was I good?”

“Fuck, Jay. That was… that was… fuck. I don’t even want to know who taught you that, but you were just phenomenal…..” she gasped locking her hands on his neck making him lean his forehead on hers “I want more…..” she closed her eyes.

“Needy now, huh?”

“Can you blame me? I bet you got enough stamina to keep me satisfied.” She smirked

“’Is that a challenge?”

“Yes.”

“You know I never back down from such. You want me inside you, baby?” he started unzipping his pants and soon they were on the floor along with his boxers, his cock hard and swollen springing out.

“Oh fuck, you’re huge…. I don’t know if….”

“You can do it. I’ll go slow, all right? Just say a word and I stop. No need to rush.” He assured her, capably putting on condom.

“O…ok.”

“Good….” He lined himself against her entrance but once again she stopped him from taking any action.

“Jace…..” she whispered looking anywhere but on him finally making him grab her chin and force her eyes on him

“Second thoughts?”

“No. No, of course not. I…. I trust you.” he melted when she said that, his hands started to shake, heart swelling with love and affection. “I just…..”

“Tell me what you want, baby. What do you want to do? I’m listening.”

“I want on top.”

“Getting confident, now?” he grinned “Can’t lie, I like that.”

“I just…. I’m not sure if I know how to…..”

“You never….? Wait, weren’t there any men?” he muttered and regretted that a second later. If there were anyone else in her life, touching her and loving her he did not want to know.

“A few. But…. Most of the times, even after…. I just had to take care of myself……” she tried to look down but he didn’t let her, softly caressing her cheek.

“You poor thing. Neglected and kept unsatisfied by a bunch of losers.  We’ll make sure it will never happen again. You….” he whimpered “you trust me?”

“Yes.” No hesitation in her voice. Zero inhibitions.

“I’ll make it worth it.” He pulled her up, making her sit on his lap so he could prepare her for his huge cock, his fingers circling her clit at first and soon getting inside. One. Two. three fingers were moving inside her and she was moaning and saying his name like a prayer. “You think you’re ready?”

“I…. Yes. Just… help me with it….”

“Come here” this time it was his turn to groan and moan when he grabbed her hips and guided her onto his cock slowly moving her down. “Fuck! So good, so tight!” she whimpered when he bounced a bit due to his excitement “sorry, baby” a little kiss on the lips “you’re good?”

“I think so….” she smiled shyly and looking more beautiful than ever

“God, you’re so hot. So beautiful. Do you even know it?” he said absolutely hypnotized by her widened eyes, messy hair and lips swollen from the kisses.

“All red and sweaty and sticky?” she laughed “you can’t be serious, Jay….”

“Look at me, babe.” She slowly lifted head to meet his eyes “You. Are. Fucking beautiful. And I’m so lucky you let me make love to you…..”

“Oh, so now we are making love? I though you said something about wanting to fuck me….”

“Changed my mind. You deserve so much more than just fucking.” his grip on her hips tightened when he pulled her closer and she moaned “That’s it baby. Show me how good you feel.”

“Jay…. I want to….”

“Ride me?”

“Yes...." She threw her head back in ecstasy.

“Go on then. You’re in control. Use me. Take what you need.”

“I don’t know…..”

“Just do what you feel like. Don’t worry about me. It’s all about you now, ok?”

“Mhmmmmm…. Ok.” She started to move her hips, slowly, testing the waters. That was new, and she did not want to hurt him or embarrass herself by doing something stupid. However soon it started getting more and more natural and easier.

“You’re doing so good, baby, so good” Jason praised her, fighting the urge to guide her hips to move a bit faster. “you can pick the pace up, its…. Ah, fuck!”

“Enjoying yourself?” she smirked, much more confident now, as she observed his blissful face and his half closed eyes and some sort of pride crept on. She was doing it to him.

“Oh, you little tease.” He moved and she bounced on his cock, squealing when she lost balance and quickly grabbed his neck for support “you first.” He started moving his hips against her, and the heat started building inside her. “close?”

“Mhm. So close. You?”

“Yeah.”

“Together?”

“Always.”

“Come for me baby boy” she used the same  sentence as he did before and with one final snap of their hips, she was sent over the edge, feeling his cock twitch inside her.

“Fuck!” he panted, holding her closer not ready to pull out. “I should…..”

“No…. hold me like this. Just for a while…..” she sneaked her arms around him clutching to his chest and his heart nearly jumped out of his body “I missed you.”

“Well, who am I to deny you this little koala moment?”

“koala?” she chucked against his skin, her laugh so beautiful

“Sorry, I forgot. You’re a kitten.”

“Not just any kitten. Cheshire. I can play with your mind….”

“You don’t even have to try. You already made me crazy for you. " He kissed her temple lovingly. "Now, let me clean you up.” He pulled out, removed and threw away the condom and collected a cloth to clean her up from her own juices. “You have no idea how I missed you.”

“I’m hoping you suffered through the fact you knew I was alive. I was living in grief but in belief I would never get to see you or touch you or…. be more than friends. Cause you know, your death left us in a very ambiguous relation.”

Jason lied on his back, sighing deeply.

“Come here” he urged her and the girl put a head on his chest, tracing patterns on his abdomen, while he run a hand up and down her arm “now you got me back. And if you want to…..”

“Sh. Don’t.” she silenced him “We don’t need to have that conversation now. Let’s just live in the moment for a while. Blissful, peaceful moment before we put a tag on it. And before we figure out how to reconcile my work with your family and you solo Red Hood killing spree. Is that all right with you?"

“Perfectly.”

“Perfectly perfect than….” She muttered slowly drifting off. In his arms. Where she always belonged.

[redsavant]

Apothecary Diaries 13

Okay, I'd felt like things were on kind of a quality decline over the Western Capital arc, with a lot of moving parts that didn't have much to do with the characters' situations in the Central Capital. It felt like a way to put something of a pause on the Central politics and move the characters into a different social milieu, and I guess it worked for that, but it was also a bit tiresome dealing with the Gyoku family's whole deal.

So why am I so upset with volume 13, which brings us back to the Central Capital and the main thrust of the story and should be a nice reset? Unmarked spoilers for at least the three latest volumes.

Put frankly, it's because it feels like the series has become a comedy when I wasn't looking. There were always humorous elements, sure, and it never took itself TOO seriously, but for most of the series' runtime, it handled things like the factional politics, the class divide between Maomao and Jinshi, and the way the other characters are all variously bound by their clan allegiances, in serious ways that fit the tone.

But in Volume 13? I'll get to the main issue in a moment, but practically everyone feels like a comic relief character. Chue has developed fantastically since her introduction, but she's the one with an excuse; her character concept of being intentionally goofy to hide her actual job as an assassin and spy is one that fits. But the Ma clan has gotten completely goofy. Suiren is completely goofy. Yao and En'en used to fit into the series' themes of how hard women have to work to be acknowledged and how precarious their positions are, but they've decided to just stay put in Lahan's manor house for a full year and it's not even a problem for anyone, socially speaking. It's reduced to a punchline about women fighting over Lahan.

But the thing that feels the most wrong, and the thing that makes this whole volume stink:

Everyone and their grandmother, literally, is begging Jinshi to jump Maomao and spark a succession crisis. We KNOW there's a faction that wants Jinshi, the Imperial Younger Brother, to compete with the Emperor and with the Emperor's crown prince. That's why Jinshi branded himself in the first place. So why is the entire Ma clan, the Snake clan headed by Ah-Duo, Suiren, and everyone else going "oh yeah, Jinshi, you go get your dick wet, haha, we love those two crazy kids"? Even if we assume that everyone involved has ironclad faith in Maomao being willing and able to induce an abortion, and thus they are somehow treating this as 100% nothing to worry about kids-wise, they don't even seem to care about any possibility of Maomao being targeted.

I feel like part of this is due to the problem that Lakan represents, and he IS a problem, but he's a symptom/enabling of a bigger issue. Lakan's problem is that he's a blank check. Early on in the series, Maomao had to worry about her social differences. She was slapped, bludgeoned, and even almost killed in the course of solving mysteries. But now that she's been accepted as the daughter of the Grand Commandant, she's a noble. The class difference (for the most part) has been removed, and what's more, Lakan is hailed as a nebulous talent of such power that no one dares to cross him, as it says in volume 13. Which means Maomao can act essentially with impunity in the court. Lampshading that she would hate borrowing her biodad's reputation for that purpose doesn't change the fact that it is what's happening.

In the beginning, Lakan was a tragic, menacing, believably human character with his own goals and desires, a potential threat to Jinshi and a factional player in the Central Palace. Now he's a walking [CARTOON SCRAMBLE SFX] overlaid with "Maomaaaaaaaooooooo" who literally runs after snack cakes like a dog and eats them off the floor. He doesn't serve any narrative purpose anymore except to enable Maomao's indiscretions, which is such a shame for a character with unparalleled potential to be a literal chessmaster, pulling strings for or against Jinshi's faction while feigning the ultimate ignorance. I suppose it's possible this still is what's going on here, but if it is, the cover is too deep. It's not a reveal anymore, it's an asspull.

Overall, this volume was a huge step down in quality in my opinion, to the point that I was actively frustrated in the last third or so of the book. Ah-Duo managed to have a good showing, asking Maomao if she was truly prepared to be chained down, but even then before that she was teasing Maomao about all the rumors around her "love life" and whether she and Jinshi banged in the Western Capital. There's a breath of fresh air at the end of the volume when Maomao approaches potential sex with Jinshi with a literal satchel full of abortifacients and dull resolve to take care of any 'accidents' that happen while he gets his jollies, which seems to snap Jinshi back into his usual writing of someone with understandable desires and longing who nonetheless understands his position and what it would mean... but it's him and Maomao in a sea of characters who feel increasingly flanderized by the volume.

I'd heard this volume was going to be a topic of discussion, but I'd heard that mostly from the perspective of "big things happening for Maomao and Jinshi's relationship" and the fact that she agrees to have sex with him. At the moment it's really starting to feel like Natsu might be desperately laying track in front of the locomotive and losing track of certain things about the setting and the story, in my opinion.

[captain-mj]

Vampire Part 7

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

Ghost and Soap just stared at Price as he started to ramble about his fiance. 

Dark hair. Pale skin. Beautiful and lovely accent. 

“That doesn’t sound like Graves.” Soap asked tentatively, looking confused. He was under the impression they were going swimmingly. 

“Unfortunately… Graves… turned me down.” Price looked close to tears. Eyes going red as bloody tears filled them. “I asked him to marry me two nights ago after a few hours of making the beast of two backs. He told me that it was too soon.” 

Soap shuddered at the use of that metaphor. “You two have known each other like two days.”

“Exactly! Plenty of time to fall in love.” Price grinned. 

Soap sighed. “No. Humans take time. Months. Years even. It’s not something you really do in a day.” 

Price frowned. “Why?”

“We don’t have an infinite amount of time like you guys. If we end up with the wrong person, we could waste out lives. So we have to make sure it’s the right person.” 

Neither Price or Ghost seemed to get that. Both stared blankly at him as if he was talking a different language. 

“Nevermind.” Soap sighed. They didn’t get it. Neither of them were human anyway. Also, if Ghost asked him to marry him, he’d say yes with absolutely no hesitation. Didn’t want to dissuade him in case he wanted to ask. “Is your fiance also a vampire?”

“No! She’s a witch I believe.”

Ghost gasped. “What if she’s just trying to steal your semen? Witches do that quite often.”

“You’d know from personal experience, wouldn’t you Simon?” Price laughed. “That lady had you tied up for…”

“Three days. She sucked. Literally.” Ghost moved away and looked around. “Have you guys considered that we need a cat?”

Soap was trying to come to terms with what he just heard. 

Interviewer: Sorry for not being here yesterday. I was super sick. Everything alright

Soap: Let me catch you up. So…

Interviewer: Oh my god. 

Alejandro: WATCH THE G-WORD

Interviewer: That’s great! I’m so glad you finally got bitten. Will you turn now?

Soap: Unfortunately not.

Interviewer: Uh huh. And what’s with the witches?

Soap: No clue. Let me ask Rodolfo. 

Rodolfo: Witches steal vampire semen. Everyone knows this.

Interviewer: Why?

Rodolfo: For their evil spells!!

Interviewer: What spells require vampire semen?

Rodolfo: Fucking idiots. 

Interviewer notates that he rolled his eyes and left him to continue his interview with Soap. 

Soap heard knocking and excused himself to go handle it. He opened the door to see… a man. A rather tall man with dark features. Tan skin, black hair, dark eyes. He wore a trenchcoat and had a crossbow with silver tipped arrowheads. 

Please do not be anyone’s sires or anyone’s spawn. 

“Hello. My name is Reyes. Religious?”

Soap stared blankly before realizing his cross necklace was out. He hadn’t even realized he had moved it to be visible while interviewing. He must’ve been fidgeting with it. “Ah. Non practicing catholic. Why?”

“You should keep that close. Are you aware that there are monsters in this neighborhood?”

Oh fuck. Oh no. Did he know? “Huh?”

“There is a monster wandering around back yards and down alleys. Harassing people. Stealing from people’s trash.”

Which of his vampires did this dumb shit?? Which one?? They were all so stupid. Rudy would never go through trashcans so it wasn’t him. Alejandro would get chewed out by Rudy. But Ghost didn’t let people observe him and live. Gaz wasn’t monstrous enough. Price had been busy the past few nights with this mysterious fiance. 

“I am of course talking about bigfoot.” Reyes continued.

Soap sighed in relief. “Oh that’s it?” He was all dressed up and had a crossbow for fucking bigfoot?

Reyes frowned. “This is very serious. A monster is loose. There have been multiple sightings. It’s a public safety concern.”

This dude is insane. Certified. Soap knew for a fact that bigfoot isn’t real. “Right. Well, it’s 10 pm and you’ve just given me a lot of information. What do you plan on doing about this?”

“I’m spreading the word in case they’re spotted.” He handed Soap a business card. “If you see anything wrong, just give me a call and I’ll be there. I want to nip this monster in the bud before it can get away again.”

“Again?”

“I’ve been tracking them for months. Following them across the country to try to trap them and I believe in this town, I can finally get them.” 

Soap didn’t know that Bigfoot used they/them pronouns. He was proud of them for coming out. 

“Right. Well, if I see anything, I promise to give you a call, Reyes.”

Unknown to Soap, Alejandro heard the name and felt a summon in his soul. He fled down the stairs and stayed at the edge of the door so he couldn’t be seen by the hunter in the door. 

Reyes nodded. “Thank you. Stay safe. Save your eggshells and crush them up. If you put them in your windows, it’ll keep werewolves out.” 

Alejandro immediately grabbed some eggshells and started to crush them as he waited for him to leave.

Soap noticed and rolled his eyes. “Uh, yeah. Thanks. I’m sure my roommates will be doing that. See you later.”

“Roommates?”

Soap closed the door in his face. “Alejandro.” 

Alejandro was hurried putting the crushed (not to powder, just vaguely crushed) eggshells in the windows. “I’m going to be rid of that dog.” 

Soap found how easily Alejandro could change from intelligent, almost manipulative suave person to a superstitious and… almost goofy guy was interesting. “Why did you come down?”

“Heard his name. My friend Chuy warned me that a hunter was nearby.”

“Chuy? Haven’t heard about him.”

“Yeah, he’s this vampire that dresses up in weird suits and then hangs out in the woods.” 

Soap paused. “Wait, what?” 

“Yeah. Like… the grassy ones. Ghillie suits.”

“Huh. So bigfoot is real. Just… a vampire in a costume.”

“Yeah, exactly. He’s great. Really funny.” Alejandro got out his phone and used siri to call Chuy. He put it on speakerphone but they both heard the ringing coming from upstairs. 

Soap jumped into Alejandro’s arms. “Why is in the house?? With no warning?”

“Look, I didn’t even know he was in town! You’re being really rude right now. Go welcome our guest.”

It occurred to neither of them that someone had to have invited him in if he was a vampire. 

Interviewer: Hi.

Chuy: Hi. 

Interviewer: I love the… antlers on your suit. 

Chuy: Thank you. I fled here to escape a cartel located in Mexico. I was betrayed.

Interviewer: Oh, wow. You’re an open book, I love that. Why were they chasing you?

Chuy: I stole all of their money.

Interviewer: Ah. 

Alejandro slowly crept up the stairs, still carrying Soap.  He planned to use him as a shield if Chuy attacked them. 

“Oh. You’re doing an interview?”

Chuy looked up, wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses. “Oh, yeah. Just… chilling. Why are you toying with your food?”

Alejandro dropped Soap on the ground. “He’s Ghost’s familiar. How are you man?” He pulled up a chair, distracting from the interviewer who just shrugged it off and got up to get himself a coffee. Soap continued to lay on the ground, thinking about something else. 

“Ah, Ghost. Hope he’s doing well.” Chuy stretched, bones popping unnaturally. “I heard Koenig is planning on traveling through this area soon as well. Wonder if we’ll all bump into each other.”

Alejandro frowned. “Lot of vampires have been coming through lately. Price is actually staying right now. There a reason for that?”

Chuy hummed. “Hunters for me and Koenig. Apparently they’ve been trying to crack down on us. Won’t work well for them though… Don’t kill Reyes by the way. He’s not dangerous to anyone but me. He’s a dog with a bone I’ve realized and I want to see how long until he gives up.”

Alejandro nodded slowly, though he looked suspicious. 

Soap dusted himself off and properly introduced himself. “Chuy is it?”

“Well, my actual name is Jesus.” Alejandro flinched when Chuy said that. “But as you can see, it’s a bit of a sensitive name around here so I stick with Chuy.” 

Soap nodded. “They call me Soap.”

“Considering how clean the house is, it’s a fitting nickname.” Chuy smiled kindly at him. 

Soap beamed at the praise but Alejandro quickly took Chuy’s attention to found out more about why he was there. 

Soap went outside for a smoke. The night was young and he was already stressed. Before he could even light it, he heard a whistle and looked over at Graves who was waving him over. He took the invitation, clearing the small space between his front door and Graves’s fence. 

Graves had almost healed bruises on his neck, so it looked like Price had gotten lucky. 

Soap wanted to get this out of the way. “If you’re going to ask me about Price, I’m sorry but he’s got a fiance. I’m really really sorry.” He prepared for high emotions. Sadness. Anger.

Graves just sipped his coffee and nodded. “I didn’t… He didn’t use me to cheat did he?”

“No. They uh… moved fast.”

“Yeah. I’m glad he found someone who’d accept his proposal five minutes into meeting. He kept calling me nicknames and just moving really fast. It was strange. You want a cup?”

Soap could’ve kissed Graves on the fucking mouth. He had money to spare so he always got really nice coffee. The expensive kinds that came in little packs or had to be brewed certain ways. “I’d love to, man.”

Graves smiled and let him inside. “Did the weird religious conspiracy theory guy talk to you?”

It took Soap just a moment to realize he meant Reyes. “Yeah. Dude was definitely out there. Did he give you his card?”

Graves laughed. “Oh, yeah. Monster hunter huh? What’s he going to do? Kill all the vampires in your house?”

Soap froze, staring. Graves didn’t seem to notice, just quietly fixing the cup before sliding it over. 

“Oh, come on Soap. They all have fangs, never come outside during the day and, oh yeah, Price told me. Like immediately. Said I looked like his dead wife.”

“That why you invited me in?” Soap was afraid. He didn’t know why. This was new territory. His neighbor, which was one of the few people he had to hide this from, suddenly knew. 

“No. I invited you in because you looked dead on your feet and I thought you might want to talk.”

Soap took a deep breath. 

Yeah. He did want to talk.

“Monster hunters are so dumb.”

Graves laughed. “Not where I was expecting this to go. But okay.” 

Soap nodded. “They’re so stupid! They just bumble around and sometimes kill someone! I killed a vampire easier than them!”

“You killed a vampire?”

“Don’t tell anyone.” Soap sighed and started to drink the coffee. “I know you won’t which is why I am telling you because I really need to talk to someone about this. And the vampires are so dumb sometimes too! Like certified idiots. The only reason they haven’t walked into the sun is they’re old enough to know better and honestly?? I think they’d forget if not for everyone else.”

Graves sat down to continue listening.

“And now I have to deal with these werewolves, those are real by the way, and they’re great but they just barge in at all times without caring about the fact that I have to clean up after them and try to get the smell out of the carpet.”

“They smell?”

“The vampires think so!” Soap exclaimed, feeling so tired. “I don’t know why they’re like that. All of them are so particular and want everything to be just right and….” He sighed and put his head on the table.

“And you put up with this, why?” 

“I’m their familiar. Ghost is going to make me a vampire.”

“That’s it? I mean… You could probably just find a vampire elsewhere right?”

Soap hesitated. “I mean. Yeah, I could. But they couldn’t know I’m a familiar. It’s improper to turn someone else’s. And Ghost would be upset.”

Graves tilted his head. “Ghost is the masked one, right?”

“Yes.”

“What’s he like?”

“Tall. Hot. Amazing. Dramatic, but I love it about him.”

Graves smiled at him and got up again. He went into his cabinet and Soap noticed some weird bottles of powder. Not quite salt. Just white powder. He really hoped Graves wasn’t an addict. Graves grabbed whatever he was looking for and shrugged. “I hope you get turned soon, friend. See you around.” 

Soap was up and out of there before he really put together how weird of a dismissal that was. It worked well though. 

Graves quietly sharpened a couple of bolts he had for his crossbow. 

What a shame. He’d hate to have to take a different hunter’s kill.

[mr-aftons-rotting-pussy]

I don't know if you're like Joking about the Midnight Motorist being about Into The Pit because if you have Genuine theories I want to hear it 👁️👁️

Also I don't get why people keep saying it's an ~unsolved mystery~ it's William Afton right? Am I just as confused as everyone in the FNAF community rn?

I've heard multiple theories about the midnight motorist, one that the Mustard man is in fact william afton and one that hes someone else entirely, and to that i say: both can be right!

we know that in ITP the rabbit isnt *exactly* william afton, but moreso a reflection of him and the horrors that happened at the freddy fazbears pizzeria years before. which would explain why the sprite is a decidedly yellow colour instead of Wills usual purple, and the fact that the rabbit disguises itself as oswalds father also explaining why the sprite is in the shape of a human man instead of a man sized rabbit.

The car being driven by the Mustard man in the game is a dark purple, in the ITP novel the colour of oswalds car isnt specified but in the game it is red </3 a possible explanation for this being that the car looks purple because its dark which is slightly less believable than the alternative, being the colour of the car is more symbolic 😌 calling back to William afton, which isnt completely unprecedented in the fnafverse generally if something is purple its expected to be connected the aftons in some way(for instance michael aftons corpse sprite being purple etc.)

Now.... Jr's. what could this possibly mean for into the pit? i need you to remember there are multiple endings in the game, ill come back to this in a second, in the game files the lore parts of the midnight motorist is called Later That Night. implying this is something we havent seen yet or possibly a different perspective on something we have seen- SO this COULD be either a) a continuation of something we saw in ITP or b) something entirely new. which brings me back to Jr's- you can remember the multiple game endings now<33

in the novel oswald and his dad dont Actually leave Jeffs Pizza, this could imply that something bad will happen again after the events of the story. and adding the game endings what ACTUALLY happened after everything is extremely vague. i propose that the events of MM happen later after the main events of ITP, and given that oswalds dad only wakes up in the pit After the death of the rabbit and since i already established earlier the rabbit is still alive, i also propose that oswalds father is most likely dead. now HERE IS WHERE JR'S COMES IN W THE IRON CHAIR IM SERIOUS THIS TIME:

Jr's is referenced as a restaurant from one source, but also theorized to be a bar, i dont think the distinction is super important but, the interaction with the green fella is mighty interesting "You're not allowed here, dont make this harder then it has to be" in this context this could be in reference to the scene at the house, the disguised rabbit is no longer allowed into the nearby establishments due to its reputation. 'dont make this harder then it has to be' is SUCH an interesting line too, not only implying that the Mustard man knows exactly why hes no longer allowed here, but also the subtle accusing tone and implying that the reason is not only a burden for the Mustard man to carry but that it also weighs pretty hard on the speaker. whatever it was, its serious.

"You know what you are. dont make this harder than it has to be"

Finally, the scene of the home. with the Mustard man identified as the Rabbit, the person sitting in front of the tv would be oswalds mother. we know from ITP based on how many times its mentioned and such that family tv time is SPECIFICALLY very important for them, so the fact we see her here now alone is very telling.

the Rabbit goes to the other room, the door is closed and cannot be opened, this is the only other room in the home that is accessible.(remember that oswald is an only child) the messages that play out when repeatedly going to the door are in reference to the Act revealed a little later but also symbolic of the thematic relevance of child abuse/abusive and controlling parental figures and dynamics in ITP. at the back of the house the window to the locked room is broken and there are footprints leading into the surrounding woods that being a persons footprints and larger set of what seem to be animatronic footprints, paired with the message "he ran off to that place again, when he gets back he'll be sorry" <- this is the Rabbit referring to the pit, and the boys eventual fate.

Lastly the empty lot and the mound are then symbolic of Jeffs Pizza an empty shadow of the former freddy fazbears pizzeria establishment, the pit itself, and what ended up happening to oswald. giving dual imagery for a rabbit burrow and an unmarked grave. Oswald is dead.

To wrap this all up, a summary: The Mustard man is the ITP Rabbit in a human disguise, after the events of the ITP novel oswalds dad is dead, cue the drive through the woods. at the house oswalds mother sits at the family television alone, talking to ghosts.(realistically you would probably hear your sons rooms window breaking regardless of whether or not its raining *which is still a possibility but just hear me out okay lol*, by the time the rabbit gets back to the home oswald is already dead and his mother knows it) oswalds rooms door is closed and cannot be open, he is not there. at the other end of the house there are a broken window and footprints, that of a child and an animatronic. at the empty lot there is a mound of dirt, cue the bad ending of ITP, the rabbit kills oswald, its over. the rabbit is no longer allowed in the nearby establishments, and most likely just like William afton before him nothing was done about the deaths.(also note the callback to the theme of a broken community and communal isolation in ITP, the community just goes about their normal activities *notice the decently full parking lot at Jr's* simply shunning the rabbit and wishing to forget *now think about the 'dont make this harder than it has to be line, this specific community has seen this tragedy before*)

((ALSO ‼️ dont have the energy to make a whole Bit abt it rn but obv this is all connected to Pizzeria Simulator by the ball pits.

and its lore relevant bc william is supposed to DIE in that game but comes back, which is made clear by the rabbit being in midnight motorist/its story implications n whatever u GET it yeehaw !!!))

but hey....... thats just a theory😏

[armpirate]

The Only One || JJK || Ch. 6

Pairings: mafia!jk x fem!reader

Genre: smut, angst, mafia, contract relationship

Warnings: Prostitution, torture, blood, use of drugs and weapons

Summary: You've always wished for a better life. Every single day at work, you were hoping something would change. Although you didn't think that change would come in the form of one mysterious man and a contract.

His controlling and selfish behaviour only wanted to keep you away from any other man that wasn't him, and you only had to wait for him.

Too bad you really thought you'd be smarter than Jeon Jungkook.

Previous || Next

MASTERLIST

Jungkook stood next to Yejun, who was trying to look for some kind of reassurance to everything that his boss made happen in a matter of hours. He knew his other six partners would hate the idea that Jungkook involved a human being into his deals, just to burst his ego a bit higher than it was days ago, but that confident and serious look he always had, only seemed to grow when she signed the contract.

With only a move of his head, pointing to the tattoo studio, Yejun understood he wanted him to go first to make sure everything was fine -and to leave them both alone as she stepped out of the car.

She was looking at the two men standing in front of her door, and once the long-haired one left, Y/n thought it would be safe to open the door of the car herself, meeting up with Jungkook again. He was still serious, a line forming with his lips, as he looked down at her and closed the car door.

—Why are we here? —she finally asked.

—Well —he tilted his head, looking down at her—, now that you're mine, you should be marked. I want to make sure you're reminded who you belong to, from now on, every day of your life.

She gulped thick again, seeing him turn around and head inside of the tattoo studio. The black shirt fitted into his body perfectly, almost being able to see his back muscles move whenever he motioned his arms. He had such power on Y/n, to the point that she almost forgot she'd be marked like a cow.

She remembered that part of the contract. "The server part would make visible she's now unavailable for anyone else, and make it accessible only for those who try to reach for a further carnal relationship with the server". But she expected a necklace, a chain... not a tattoo.

If she ever stepped back, or if he ever got tired of her, that mark would always be there. It's as if Jungkook wanted her to remember she once belonged to him.

And that was the exact reason behind it.

He could get tired of her, he could throw her away any time he wanted, but the fact that she was once his would never change. Every other man that came after him, and Y/n included, would always know that.

She stepped in the studio behind him, looking at Yejun with curiosity as he talked with a tattooed and pierced man, who was visibly taller than the two men that came with her. Yet the aura Jungkook transmitted made him seem the bigger and toughest one out of the three of them.

The two Asian men talked between them in Korean -Y/n supposed, since she learned through the contract he was living in Seoul-, and later nodded before Jungkook's black eyes were back on her.

—This —the long haired man said to the tattoo artist.

By the expression of confusion on his face, Y/n knew it'd likely be something she'd regret getting -although it wasn't something she didn't agree on beforehand. Jungkook later turned to her, and with a slight move of his head, he tried to make her move towards one of the rooms.

—In that place? —the tattoo artist asked.

—Yes —Jungkook nodded.

Y/n didn't really think it'd be as bad, or at least she tried to convince herself into believing it wouldn't be as bad. At least not until they both got inside the room, and the tattoo artist asked her to take off her t-shirt.

She was fine doing that, it wasn't like she hadn't ever gotten naked in front of a male. And she doubted it was his first time seeing a girl topless, until she turned around and found him with his back turned at her.

—Take off your bra, too —he asked.

With a frown on her face, she took her bra off and threw it next to her t-shirt, just to be told to cover her tits with her forearms, in a way she left some free space in the cleavage where he could be able to work without seeing anything from her. She didn't need to be too smart to guess what was the place that was going to be marked. Gulping thick, she thought of the many times she was told a tattoo in that part hurted like hell -it was one of the main reasons why she'd never get a tattoo, but there she was.

It was weird. But it wasn't like she wanted to oppose it either. Most of her thoughts were focused on the amount of money she'd be getting once all of that was done.

Resting her back on the tattoo chair, and trying to get comfortable on it, she finally told the tattooist she was ready for whatever thing he was told to draw on her. Always with her eyes settled on the black ceiling, she felt something cold pressed on her warm body, and not long after she heard the annoying sound of the machine getting started -and closer to where she was.

Five minutes later, her toes were curling with pain, while she tried her hardest to stay still and hide the fact that she wanted to run away from there. She'd gone through worse. That was nothing compared to it, it was only physical pain, temporary -or so she tried to convince herself.

It really felt as if someone was cutting her body in half -or, at least, her legs. She could feel the pain on every nerve from her chest to the tip of her toes. It was never ending.

Her arms and fingers were tensing on her chest and shoulders, accumulating all the tension from her body on those two spots. Her breathing got heavier and difficult, as she tried to manage to keep it calm and soft -so her chest wouldn't move a lot. Her whole focus was on how high she impulsed her chest with every breath, as if the pain would go away with that. It didn't go away, but it actually helped to make it vanish slightly.

Y/n was so concentrated on that, that she didn't realize Jungkook was there since almost the beginning, watching her taking the pain from the door frame of the room. Arms crossed over his chest, head slightly tilted, while he adored every bit of her body he was able to see.

He smirked when he was aware of her feet moving slightly with every trace the needle did on her skin, and he saw perfectly how she tensed her jaw and pressed her lips together to keep all that pain to herself.

He also knew it'd be easy to convince that tattoo artist to open up so late, Pedro made sure of it when Jugnkook asked for a good tattoo artist while they were having lunch. Of course, he didn't know he was planning on marking one of his girls -he just thought the Korean gangster would find it funny to get a cool tattoo before returning to his country.

Suddenly, the noise stopped, the vibration still going strong in her ears until it stopped completely. Eyes still on the ceiling, she only felt some stinging in between her breasts, until something cold made her back arch when being in contact with the open wound directly.

—You behaved so well —his deep voice praised her.

She recognized that voice almost in the same moment he said the first word. Jungkook took the place of the tattoo artist, and he was the one putting some cream over her new tattoo, looking at his own initials written in cursive with admiration.

His tattooed hand was spreading the lotion over each letter, while the thumb of his other hand cleaned all of the teardrops that started to drop from her eyes at some point. When he tried to move his right hand away, his fingers rubbed against the exposed skin of her breasts, making her squirm under his touch.

—I'll be waiting for you outside —he grinned.

The tattoo artist came back in, just to put over the tattoo a plastic that would protect her skin from anything else that could damage it. And without saying a thing, he moved his chair back and left the room again, not before telling her to get dressed.

It didn't seem like she was totally aware of what she was getting herself into. it just seemed like she was letting everything flow, because she thought it'd work in her favor at some point. It was a chance she couldn't waste by acting petty. It was probably once in a lifetime that she'd be able to get all that money without having to work.

Jungkook was giving her everything she could ever ask for: a better life. And she was in no position to take a step back, or move away from the deal they were making.

She wanted that. And the tattoo was only a small sacrifice she had to do, in order to get what she wanted.

It just worked like that in real life.

Jungkook looked at her, as she walked towards the car again. Her hands moved nervously at the height of her hips, when she let her fingers play with one another at the same time she looked around before getting in the car.

Her duality was insane. The confidence that radiated through every single pore of her body when she performed -or took her Love role- made it seem like she was another person compared to her attitude whenever she didn't have any wig on.

Her duality was driving him insane.

—Are you hungry? —he finally asked, when she got in the car next to him.

—I ate a few hours ago.

—I don't think I asked you that —he clicked his tongue—. Are you hungry? —he repeated the question.

��No —she finally said.

He knew she was lying.

Despite the pain, her stomach was starting a competition with the tattoo machine on what would let out the loudest sound. She also licked her lips and gulped hard with the mere thought of food just in that moment.

—I don't like lies, Y/n —he admitted, with a dark rhythm to his voice.

Nervously, she finally gulped again. Was she seriously that easy to read? Possibly yes, but it made her uncomfortable how he was able to tell everything that was going through her head without looking her in the eyes.

It was scary.

—Yes —she finally admitted.

—Good.

And talking in Korean again, he exchanged a few words with the long haired man that was driving the black car. With just a nod, he got Jungkook placing his back properly on the seat and looking through the window as he had been doing every single time they were in the car.

When they stopped in front of one of the most acclaimed restaurants in Mallorca, that late into the night, she knew he was tripping. There was no way that restaurant would be open for them. But she was proved wrong again when one of the waiters received Jungkook with a wide smile on his face.

The answer was obvious: money.

She clearly wasn't dressed properly for the occasion, he was. But it's not like it was important either way. She'd still be allowed to go in any way.

The restaurant was completely empty, with just a table in one corner of the establishment ready for them. As she was sitting, Jugnkook made a gesture to one of his bodyguards, telling them to keep some distance between them -since it wouldn't be necessary to have them all over their table while they were there.

—I already made the command —he warned her—. Do you mind it?

—No.

Although it heavily depended on what he asked for dinner...

It was a restaurant near the beach, the vibes of the place were already planned to settle the mood and the energy on their table was so strong it made her go dizzy. She was ready for the typical food cliche in those situations: oysters.

But she found herself eating her words again when a plate of steak was planted in front of her, followed by his plate shortly after and two cups of wine.

Jungkook showed no emotion while eating, he just cut and chewed on his food as if it was something he ate every day -and it was something he actually ate almost every day. While he had to find himself controlling his own body with every soft moan and eye rolling she did whenever she took a bite of her food. Y/n wasn't doing it on purpose, but she for sure was the biggest menace in that table in that exact moment.

—It's so good —she finally let out.

But that wasn't the end at all. Once they were done, and the waiter assured Jungkook their desserts would be on the way, he moved next to her. Another cliche was coming to her head: strawberries with whipped cream or chocolate, but she got it wrong again.

They both were served two pieces of brownie with vanilla ice cream.

She needed to stop trying to guess.

—Are you taking me home next? —she finally asked, interrupting his chewing.

—Next, I'm going to fuck you —no previous warnings, no foreplay, he just dropped those words as if had said the most casual thing without even looking in her direction—. I'm going to ruin your pussy so you don't feel like missing me when I'm away —he answered with a low voice, moving his sight slowly to her.

Those words made her thighs press tight against one another, as she tried to digest how sudden and out of nowhere that was.

—Is that okay for you? —he raised both of his eyebrows, waiting for her answer.

She had heard those words, and even worse, in her workplace. Out of it? She'd have slapped anyone who had dared to say that, but he made her be eager to do it. He got her hoping he'd ask for the bill so they'd leave as soon as possible.

—Y/n —he called her.

—Uhum —she nodded.

Holding back his smile, he finally was aware of the thin line of chocolate coating the lower line of her lip. Instead of just swiping the napkin or his thumb, he bent over her body, his warm breath burning her skin while he allowed her scent intoxicate his nostrils.

Her heart was pumping against her chest like crazy, her lips almost moving eager for the kiss. A kiss that never came. Because he moved back on his chair after sucking on that spot down her lip, almost making her moan right there.

It wasn't the time yet.

Taglist: @kaiparkerwifes @sheylamc

[beginningobserver]

[RE:CONNECT - blog v.] Link 12- The faded colors of the truth

[AO3 version]

[CW: Murder mention; body horror mention; child abuse mention]

"He doesn't seem to be the same person I met before... again."

Somehow, Hiroomi was remembering his brief talk with Daisuke about Rui. He didn’t understand why his own words were bugging him, or rather… Why his own beliefs about who Rui was seemed to be completely wrong.

He never had been this close to Rui before Ukkomon appeared. He had been just a scaredy-cat witnessing the bullies pestering Rui. He had wanted to help Rui out, but…

“... Do I know him anyway…?”

The boy sighed. He was just sitting on his scooter's seat and looking at the horizon. He saw people and digimon in the distance, walking to different directions. The bay area had a ton of those critters now… Accompanied by children, teenagers or adults.

“Ayame might know him the best, she’s like him too…” he sighed, “Being a Chosen Child might connect him to other people who’re like him and can relate to his struggles though…”

At this point, he believed even Daisuke was more capable of knowing the real Rui than him.

“He doesn’t trust me, but he can trust Ayame at least.”

He didn't want to feel left behind. But he wouldn't complain, as long as he could help Ayame and Rui with everything within his reach...?

However, the feeling of not being able to understand Rui's feelings bothered him.

“... Maybe I was… rude to them all… Because I can’t get how it is to have a digimon by my side.”

Suddenly, his phone beeped. It was a message…?

“Huh?” He took the phone from his pocket and checked his inbox:

Hey, Koyama. Got a time to talk about something? We will be at Yamatoya Ramen.

“Huh…??” Hiroomi blinked, “What do you want to talk to me, Motomiya-san?”

What would Daisuke want with Hiroomi though? It was simple:

“You know Rui better than me, and there’s still things that are not clear.”

“What do you mean?”

Daisuke sighed, and rested his arms on the counter stool, “Rui told us his part of the story, but we never got to hear it from Ukkomon’s side, or even, yours and Nakajima’s.”

“It sounds like you’re doubting him when you put this way…” the other frowned, somehow doubting Rui's words sounded pretty unfair but…

“It’s not that,” he shook his head, “I want to be fair and listen to your own version of that. You said he ‘changed’ and he kinda mentioned something like that, about how his life simply changed all of a sudden when Ukkomon appeared.”

Hiroomi frowned, “I see…”

V-mon was sitting on the counter stool, being quite silent about it. Yet, he’s still interested in the conversation between the two humans.

Hiroomi felt like he was in one of those murder mystery series, and was just interrogated by the ones investigating the case. At first, it would be exciting but…

He wasn’t really feeling excited about that.

“Rui was… Exactly like I told you before, he used to be bullied at school. He was always wearing long sleeves and pants, we never knew why, maybe his body was sensitive to the weather? He wore those even on the hottest days of summer too…”

Unfortunately, Daisuke knew what was the reason behind that detail.

“He also… Didn’t feel like he was taking care of himself too, but despite everything he would be gentle and friendly to everyone, and yet…”

“... He had no friends, right?” V-mon completed that phrase, making Hiroomi just nod his head in response.

“Yeah, because of the bullies, nobody wanted to get involved with him. Nobody wanted to help him out either…” and another sigh came from him. Then, he continued:

“I wanted to help him but I couldn’t. I was weak and a coward. I’m still a coward, so…”

“Wanting to help but not being able to do anything hurts a lot, but you shouldn’t blame yourself as if you were purposely denying to help him” Daisuke said with a serious tone. And with this Hiroomi noticed that perhaps Daisuke had something in common with him…?

Only those who know Daisuke’s whole story would notice that he was a victim from the Vamdemon army’s invasion on August 3 1999. The reason he wanted so badly to be strong and protect others was because he couldn’t do anything back in time.

“I don’t think you’re a coward if you’re trying to help him now,” he added.

“... Thanks,” the young man said in return.

“He changed, right?” V-mon asked, rhetorically though, “Once Ukkomon appeared everyone got to know him better and he started to be less scary?”

“Yeah, I don’t say he was ‘scary’ but… He really didn’t look like a good person. It was stupid tho, judging him by his appearance like that.”

“You should never judge a book by its cover,” V-mon said, “It’s what Ken said once. If the art of a popular manga is not catchy enough but the story is pretty cool, then why would you judge it by the art?!”

Daisuke didn’t know if V-mon was being serious or just trying to make the poor Hiroomi smile by taking that phrase too literally.

Hiroomi chuckled, “That’s right, you shouldn’t judge manga and people by their looks! But you still have to judge other stuff by their appearance and smell, like vegetables and meat, to know if they’re fresh and not rotten.”

“Yeah yeah…!” V-mon nodded sagely.

Well, I guess it worked…?

“But seriously, Rui changed immediately once Ukkomon appeared. He cut his hair shorter and it was neat. His dad miraculously recovered from whatever the disease he had, his mother was much more lively and joyful… Things that caused a whiplash on everyone around.”

“I see…” Daisuke commented. Yeah, that tracks with Rui’s own story.

“At school, Ukkomon caused another huge impact because everyone had never seen a digimon before, or even knew what a digimon was at all. And then he made the bullies stop bugging Rui, and that… That gave me courage to stand up for Rui and myself too.”

“So, you were bullied too, huh…” Daisuke caught that a bit later though…

“Y-yeah… I was,” he confirmed and then continued, “But Ukkomon taught everyone to not let those bullies bother us anymore, so we all became Rui’s friends…”

“But it wasn’t just because of Ukkomon, right?” Daisuke raised an eyebrow.

“... In my and Ayame’s case, no. We got to know Rui because of Ukkomon… But we really noticed he was just a kid struggling with something . I think it was because of his dad, but I do remember hearing him crying outside on the balcony sometimes…”

And Daisuke discreetly clenched his fist. He also knew why Rui would’ve been crying outside on the balcony though…

“But I’m not sure about the others,” he shrugged, “We weren’t close to them either. Another kid from the building used to get along with us, but I dunno if he liked us and Rui for real.”

“Hmm…” Daisuke and V-mon were thoughtful but still listening to him.

“Pretty sure everyone else only got along with Rui because of Ukkomon and only for Ukkomon. Like when kids see you with a cool toy and only care about the toy and not you at all.”

Rui mentioned that Ukkomon confessed to have been hijacking the minds of people besides of his parents’ brains tho -- Daisuke mused.

“... Everything was going great for us until… He and Ukkomon disappeared.”

V-mon frowned, but Daisuke was still serious and looking at Hiroomi. At this point of the story, he was well aware what was about to happen, and it simply gave him another punch in the gut like it had happened when Rui had narrated that part to them a year ago.

“I wasn’t at home when that happened, but Ayame was. And she heard something weird happening at Rui’s home. She can’t remember the details well, but there were a lot of screams and it made the neighbors, including her and her family, worried.”

“...”

“They called the police and then… The rumors started.”

“Rumors?” that caught Daisuke’s attention, but he did remember Rui had mentioned something like that before too.

“You see, Rui’s parents suddenly died and nobody knew how. The police only found them lifeless in the entrance hall and Rui… Rui was fine but there was something about a monster eye on him, trying to be hidden by toilet paper.”

“I guess Rui had told you what happened that night, right?” V-mon asked.

“Yeah, he did later… Some bad guy tried to rob their house, murdered his parents and Ukkomon managed to protect him by opening a gate or something and throwing it directly in the jail.”

“Hmmmm…”

Daisuke and V-mon were aware that it was a lie, but…

“And he told us he got hurt in that same incident and Ukkomon desperately tried to help him out. Ukkomon gave his own eye to Rui, and this is why they fought, because Rui didn’t want him to do something like that.”

“Yeah, he told us too…” V-mon tried to keep the lie going, but he was grimacing.

“Anyway, he and Ukkomon disappeared and there were rumors about the ‘monster eyed kid from Hikarigaoka’ which made Ayame and I mad. Everyone else talked about it! And Rui wasn’t around anymore…”

“He was left with his relatives,” Daisuke remembered, “And spent the rest of his childhood with them until he finished High School and moved out.”

“He told you then…”

“He did,” the other nodded.

He also said those rumors hit where he was at the moment and made things difficult for him too… -- Daisuke added, but mentally because he wasn’t sure if Rui would be ok sharing that detail. Better leave it to Rui himself, if he ever tells Hiroomi and Ayame about that part.

“We kept trying to find him, but… We had no success” Hiroomi said, a bit melancholically,  “No one knew Rui’s family well enough and we didn’t know if he had relatives either. We didn’t want to think that anything horrible and tragic had happened to him.”

“...”

“And then we all parted ways, Ayame went to a medical university and I was just… attending a technical school with no idea what to do with my life. I got to meet her again two years ago and I learned she got a digimon, Cutemon, in the same year Rui disappeared.”

“The same year…?”

“Yeah, in September.” he elaborated, “The reason she hadn’t told me before was that she feared someone trying to come after Cutemon. It was when we started thinking that maybe someone tried to get Ukkomon that unfortunate night of March 2003.”

“...”

“But now there’s a lot of digimon around, right?” Hiroomi commented, “They’re appearing day by day, so I don’t think it’s easy to commit crimes like murder or kidnapping to steal a digimon when your neighbors or relatives can have one too and assist to protect you, right?”

“Hmm… True,” Daisuke mused.

“But… I think you guys understand him better than I do because of that.”

“Huh…?”

“I’m not a Chosen Child like you guys,” he chuckled nervously, quite sad though, “So I can't understand how the life of having a digimon living at your home or handling difficult cases like world-saving and being a hero is.”

“... It’s pretty normal,” Daisuke replied with a shrug, “People make a big deal of having a digimon but we’re still ourselves. The difference is we got dragged into a big thing at a young age.”

Hiroomi felt like he just messed things up when he had said that.

“But… Even if we got ‘chosen’ by someone or something,” Daisuke continued, “We are the ones who make our own choices. Nobody tells us to go and risk ourselves to protect a digimon or a human. We’re not obliged to fight if we don’t want to.” 

“...”

“I chose to fight because there’s things worth protecting and taking the risks.”

“...!!”

“What I’m saying is… You matter to Rui and Nakajima, with or without a digimon, they just see you by who you are. Your feelings and friendship are important so don’t worry about it.”

Hiroomi silently nodded, he just felt he really had hit a sore point Daisuke potentially hated . But the truth is… Daisuke didn’t want him to feel excluded from anything just for not having a digimon.

Having a digimon does not make us special, it’s what Daisuke meant.

“... I just wish I could do more for you guys though…” he muttered, but since the building was closed and nobody but them were inside, Daisuke clearly heard that.

“I think you’re doing your best and that’s what counts. People can still help without a digimon partner, there’s some people who simply lost theirs but they didn’t give up on helping everyone.”

“People… losing digimon?” and Hiroomi’s eyes widened, “W-what do you mean?!”

“It’s something we didn’t know until two years ago, but… It’s not a set-in-stone rule,” he explained, “three of our digimon seniors lost their partners, there’s something that went off with them and sadly…”

“... That’s horrible…” Now he worried about Cutemon and Ukkomon, also Daisuke’s V-mon and all the digi-friends he made.

“Well, if Taichi-san said it’s not something to worry about and that they will solve this… They will solve this and we shouldn’t think too much about it.”

“But why…?”

“They’re good at solving problems like that, and I trust Taichi-san when he says he will definitely find a way to bring all digimon who parted due to that awful partnership dissolution thing.”

“Yeah!” V-mon nodded, “No one will separate us from our partners forever!”

The other boy was just impressed how Daisuke and V-mon were like beacons of optimism and hope even when something cruel like losing their digimon was a real problem.

“You two really are incredibly inspiring, don’t ya?” he blinked.

“Nah, We’re just easy to understand,” Daisuke grinned.

Maybe thanks to that talk with Daisuke at late hours last night Hiroomi was relieved. But he overslept that morning… He thought he and Daisuke had become a little bit closer, because they didn’t know each other very well at first.

To Daisuke, Koyama Hiroomi was just a goofy funny guy who would sometimes pass by and do some delivery orders for his boss. But now he knew Hiroomi a little better, especially how the other was feeling detached from Rui and Ayame because of not having a digimon partner like them. And he deeply cared about Ukkomon and Cutemon, also V-mon and the others despite that.

And to Hiroomi, Motomiya Daisuke was just a very cool hero who saved the day and was just working at Yamatoya Ramen for some reason, but he did remember Motomiya telling him he wanted to run a Ramen shop too. But now he realized that Daisuke was just a very very ordinary guy dragged into the digi-business but, as Daisuke put it, ‘we’re the ones who make our own choices and we are not obliged to fight if we don’t want to.’ -- and that Daisuke’s choice was to help others because he wanted to.

[toujokaname]

Matrix / Epilogue 1

Author: Akira

Characters: Hiiro, Aira, Mayoi, Tatsumi, HiMERU, Niki, Kohaku

"Hehe, how beautiful, Aira."

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[ Read on my site for a better viewing experience using Ois~su ♪ ]

Season: Winter

Location: Matrix Stage

Hiiro: "♪~♪~♪"

Aira: "~...♪"

Hiiro: Hehe, how beautiful, Aira.

Aira: Eh, wha? Why're you praising me all of a sudden?

Hiiro: Ah, wait, Aira is beautiful, but so is this scenery.

Mayoi: What are these things, some kind of floating lanterns...? The lights floating in the air are beautiful, but since their principles are unknown, it's a bit scaryyy...

Tatsumi: Yes, it's a truly mystical experience. Though calling it a miracle seems somewhat contrived.

Hiiro: I think they're using our hometown's technology to ignore gravity and make lanterns float.

Aira: In the end, we didn't really understand much about Hiro-kun's hometown, did we...

What we've been constantly revolving around, it's like a fake or made out of papier-mâché, right?

Hiro-kun's actual hometown was just a faint outline in the distance. In the end, the most crucial parts remain a mystery.

Hiiro: If you'd like, I can show you around normally someday, Aira.

But according to the rules, only blood relatives are allowed to enter.

So, if you want to visit my hometown, you'd have to join my bloodline—become part of my family.

What I mean is, you'd have to marry me.

Aira: Why is that part seen as commonplace in a backward village...?

Hiiro: You do like that kind of village after all, don't you, Aira? ♪

Aira: Nuh-uh, I've had my fill of it... I just wanna return to my familiar environment and live comfortably.

There's no place like home.

Hiiro: Umu. In that sense, my home has long since become ES or Seisoukan.

I might not be knowledgeable enough to guide anyone around yet, but I think I can at least manage things like food reviews to showcase to everyone.

Aira: Hiro-kun, you've grown too, huh...

Tatsumi: Yes. Truly...♪

Mayoi: Personally, I wish you wouldn't grow! I want you to remain forever innocent and pure, like a child...!

Tatsumi: Mayoi-san.

Mayoi: Eeeek?! I'm sorryy, it was a joke! Even if I was serious, I'll pretend it was a joke!

Tatsumi: Indeed, I recognize that children are adorable, but it's sinful to deny them of their growth.

To not grow is to be as good as dead.

Idols are often expected to embody eternal symbols, but we are living, breathing human beings. And I find that the beauty and charm of humanity lies in that fact.

If there is such a thing as a "real idol," it can only come from a living person.

Only we, as living human beings, can embody the brilliance and preciousness that can never be replicated by machines manufactured in factories.

That's what I believe. Let's hold onto that belief and continue to live as idols today and in the days to come.

Amen. Surely, God wishes for that as well.

Let us follow the example set by the children, repent, and grow to be pure, righteous, and beautiful.

Mayoi: Yes! I'm really scared, so I'll strive to live wholesomely enough to avoid being scolded with Tatsumi-san's sermons ever again! I sweaaar! 

"~♪ ~♪ ~♪"

Tatsumi: "♪~♪~♪"

Fufu. How lovely. Heaven is meant for beings like them.

You think so too, don't you, HiMERU-san?

HiMERU: Why are you asking "me"?

Tatsumi: Well, I wonder why indeed... Both in the past and even now, I feel like you're the person who sympathizes with me the most.

HiMERU: Just as incomprehensible as ever, aren't you.

Well, it's fine, even if it's somewhat bothersome to see Tatsumi looking happy for no reason.

Besides, HiMERU probably doesn't wish for you to be unhappy, either.

Tatsumi: You talk about yourself as if it were someone else's concern.

HiMERU: Because that's the kind of character HiMERU is. At all times, he's a calm and collected idol who can look at himself objectively.

Isn't that right, Shiina? Oukawa?

Niki: "♪~♪~♪"

"Banzaaai~! Banzaaai~! I've got no idea what's going on as usual, but it sounds like there's something to celebrate, so banzaaai~!"

Kohaku: Niki-han, Niki-han, looks like HiMERU-han wants attention.

Niki: Wait, what's this all of a sudden?! I don't really get it, but can you clue me in on how to reply so HiMERU-kun won't flip out?!

Kohaku: I think any compliment'll work for HiMERU-han.

Niki: For real? Then... You're amazing, HiMERU-kun! Kyaaa, calm and collected, sooo cool!

HiMERU: HiMERU's irritated, so he'll punch you.

Niki: Why?! Geez, HiMERU-kun's been absorbing too much of Rinne-kun's ruthless influence lately!

HiMERU: Ruthlessness, huh. Yes, that's exactly right.

Kohaku: That so? Doesn't it seem that this time he was actin' with a good motive, like wantin' to repay a favor to someone who took care of him?

HiMERU: Depending on which part you emphasize, that perception can change. Rinne certainly went to great lengths to repay the debts of gratitude from his past.

However, for that reason, all of us were thoroughly manipulated and pushed around—

As Rinne also made sure to mimic ES as an act of spiteful retaliation, HiMERU can't readily praise him as a fully virtuous person.

Niki: Spiteful?

HiMERU: This time, ES made us do a wrestling performance. They manufactured a nonexistent grudge and arranged for ALKALOID and Crazy:B to face off—

They forced us to enact a phony "fateful showdown," claiming that it was what the fans wanted.

ES tried to twist the stories we've been weaving thus far, disregarding our very lives, and bending them to their convenience.

All for the sake of audience ratings, sales, and other profits.

[ ☆ ]

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[eatmangoesnekkid]

Bellydance Week 7 v.2

Someone I know texted me saying that she thought she saw me biking in the rain on a busy street while undulating my spine and gyrating my shoulders and hips underneath my coat. Was that you?

"Yes it was me, Mama."

I left out a little later than usual hoping that the rain would ease up. It never did. In fact, it was raining so hard by the time I got on my bike that I couldn't see what was right in front of me. Eyes half-closed, I kept pedaling away. It was cold AF. It was rainy AF.. The weather was just....shitty AF. I could have opted out of not going today, blamed it on the weather, and just laid back in the warm bed. It would have made sense and been understood. But I won't melt and I'm no coward, so off I go on my 22 minute bike riding journey in less-than-ideal circumstances. "I'm going to make this bike ride feel good," I thought to myself.

I'm a magical woman, a lover archetype, and a real alchemist. And I understand the assignment of consciousness-how what we do today or how our perceptions today impacts our future to come. With that understanding, I tinker with my body --guide it into believing that I'm in an ideal experience-feeling warmth and lighthearted energy flow through my body, shimmying my shoulders, arching my spine, moving my hips on my bike seat. It all feels so good and what could have been an awful ride in cold rain with me lamenting like on how cold it was turned into me smiling at what was. By the time I got to the studio, my jacket was soaked. My pants were soaked. My scarf was soaked. My face was soaked. And yet my heart was soaked open as part of the wide rainy sky as I kept biking, undulating, and smiling to my destination.

I know that this biking moment in cold rain is actually full of warmth, mystery, and goodness. It is quiet undocumented moments like this that nobody but you ever see that makes a great dancer, artist, writer, teacher, musician, or lover. It is part of the practice.

That's why I don't understand women who resort to being jealous or insecure of other women who put in that work, the spirit, the time to get to their next level. Body goals. Health goals. Flexibility goals. Life goals. Creative goals. Project goals. Abundance goals. Relationship (s) goals. How are you going to be jealous of a woman who will bike in cold ass rain drenched in stained clothes while dancing to the sounds of rainfall without complaint?

I intimately know what it is like to run away from or numb one’s real power. And I know what it is like to stand fully in it again.

Jealousy is a very real and truthful human emotion, and one of the greatest shadows in the female lineage. If you don't alchemise jealousy, this vital life force will burn you in other ways. I have been on both sides of jealousy much of my life, but over the last decade or so, it is not an emotion I personally lean into. If nothing else, I know that it is possible to graduate beyond certain emotions, where the use of them becomes less and less to non-existent.

And the greatest truth is that resilience is built in the hard, unpretty, difficult moments. When life gets undeniably tough in less-than-ideal circumstances, I say quietly to my self "make love to it, Indy....get all that juice and shit out of it!" Sure, biking in warmer sunny weather would be so nice, but it is not what's happening for me right now. And somehow not merely accepting that reality, but drinking the juice from it, gives my body provisional strength and softness. It is this moment that plants a new seed that demonstrate that I'm serious and ready for that next level. --India Ame'ye, Author

[unofficially-ace]

Ivypool’s Heart liveblog yay

So far really enjoying this book, the prologue slapped and I actually feel a sense of mystery with this vision. Even though it’s a travelling book I’m still excited for it

If there’s one thing the Erins can actually write well it’s grief, and they’ve got a lot to play with in this book

The travelling gang is so fun, love all of these guys

Chapter 4 genuinely almost made me tear up, Ivypool and Icewing bonding over their shared grief just got to me ok

Honestly if Rootspring gets with Wrenflight by the end of the book I’ll scream

Ivypool why would you antagonise cats who are giving you information…literally so stupid

Beach the MILF hunter

I’m gonna need everyone to stop hating on the Sisters right now omg they literally have the most interesting culture out of everyone

Aughhhh I’m sick of the Clan cats always being in the right stop trying to make everyone into a Clan!!!! Let them be different I beg

Slate and Beach are basically incompetent uni students and I love them so much, they’re so silly

Why are they giving romance advice to these random guys what is this book

If the Sisters have no fans I am dead

Why do they also call humans ‘Twolegs’ and housecats ‘kittypets’ though…especially when Slate and Beach called them Twopaws earlier??? And greencough???? Why can’t they have different words for things oh my godddd

Warrior cats vs seagulls let’s goooo

Why do they feel the need to explain past plot points to me whenever they come up. I promise I didn’t start reading warrior cats at Ivypool’s Heart

Best part of warrior cats hands down is the attempt to describe human things in the way cats would. Erins when they have to describe a sandwich

I can’t picture this cliff/lake/beach combo for the life of me

Another Jake? Were no other names available?

The cats go to a zoo!

I need to know what type of wildcats these are, are they going to destroy the ecosystem if they’re released

Oh joy, I love retconned lore, welcome to the party Stormclan

If you took a shot every time Ivypool says “Run!” you would be dead

Why are the cats gendering the humans? How do they have any concept of human sex/gender?

Why is there a map at the front of the book that pretty much spoils the whole plot…I mean it’s pretty helpful because I haven’t been able to picture this journey at all but still

TARDIS tree

THE GANG DOES TIME TRAVEL?

This feels like a fanfiction, who tf let their OCs into warrior cats

You’re telling me two whole clans were combined and then left the territories and nobody in Starclan remembers this???? And it was never brought up before?

My enjoyment for this book is rapidly decreasing

This feels like if Once Upon A Time did Warrior Cats

Also we literally had this clan combination plot happen in VOTS are the erins lurking on minecraft roleplay servers or something

At least the characters also think it’s wild that this was all forgotten so I hope we get some answers

Rootspring tries to eat a poisonous jellyfish and fucking dies /j

Power duo Ivypool and Icewing let’s gooo

Ivypool your lesbian is showing

Criteria for any female character in this book is that you have to have at least one dead child (unless you’re Whistlepaw)

I do like the idea that double dead spirits become part of the real world, at least we finally have some explanation for where all these forgotten cats are, but does that also count for the evil guys?

There is literally no good reason for the elders to not believe them are you serious

The river of spirits…yet another lore drop that should’ve been extremely important and relevant before this, and yet this is the first time we’re hearing about it

Wtf is tallstar doing here

If all living cats forgetting someone causes Starclan to forget them too, I feel like there should be far less cats in Starclan

Cats can just be re-remembered back into existence????

Okayyyy overall thoughts: I think it was generally a good book by warriors standards, the character growth was done really well, but aughhhh the retconned lore changes physically pain me and I will not accept Stormclan as canon thank you

[midnight-battiness]

[Vid ID: A news interview with Team 7, with all of the members of said team taking turns speaking about a mysterious mission regarding their whereabouts.]

...I've managed to figure out what exactly was going on that resulted in my teammates' disappearance. But, before that, I should clarify why it has taken so long to return to the public face.

Due to the severity of the situation and those that were involved, we weren't quite able to walk around Noe Town and declare that there is a supposed mythical Pokemon that is now living in the area.

NOT SUPPOSED, IS! Do you NOT know what a Shaymin is?!

Wave... Not now. We have to remain professional during the report. Because of how serious the situation was, everyone involved was asked by the Guild to refrain from using public communications of any kind, just in case someone was put in a compromising position that required us to speak aloud about the details. I've only gained access to both my phone and Connection Orb earlier today due to this reason.

...As it turned out, the Pokemon that asked us to assist xem on a mission, had been working for...

...someone unknown to us Rangers... and wasn't made fully aware of their true intentions.

David? Would you like to take over for a while? Thinking about that scenario still makes me a bit sick...

Don't worry about it!

Like Chris said, the Pokemon, who's name and species we're withholding for the sake of xer safety, was working for someone that... wanted us dead. It was an honest mistake, as the true perpetrator, we now realize, is spectacular at convincing others to work with them.

Specifically, the criminal asked of the other Ranger to lead us into an area where they'd be able to do what they wished to us. As revealed by the Ranger, xe was originally meant to only kidnap Lucas Cubone, expecting the rest of us, as his teammates, to follow shortly after... Which we did.

If it weren't for Chris turning back to ask Dad for permission, I think we would be in a much bigger problem than what happened.

Don't give him too much credit, he didn't even know something was up!

I-I wasn't even aware of what was happening, until it w-was too late to do anything ab-bout it. We were t-trapped with no way out, just like last time. It was scary...

But then Chris came by, w-with Jayden and Mr. Lupin too!

Since no one else has mentioned it, I will.

While we were in the cave, we ended up finding a Shaymin. You know, THE Shaymin. The Pokemon that everyone thought was fake???

After everything was dealt with, we saw them moving funny, and we were LEFT OUT of the meeting, AND weren't able to talk to Shaymin in that time! Only Chris and Lucas were able to go in the building! They didn't even want to tell me about what it was like!

Confidential. And please, you have to how some formality in a situation like this.

...

...Anyways. As it turns out, once we've brought the Shaymin in for interrogation, it was revealed that they were in a similar situation to mine, being an amnesiac. They only remember having a headache prior to the situation that they were found with. However...

I don't believe they're a human. This has horrifying implications, as this proves that Pokemon can lose their memory through natural means, as well.

Due to their unfamiliarity with the world, and the similarities that I happen to have with them, I've been asked by Claude Samurott to take care of him until his memories come back. They claim that their name is Jasper, and it appears that they-

-WANT TO BECOME A PART OF OUR TEAM!!!

Wave-

[The video ends with Chris attempting to cover Wave's mouth with his wing before the Buizurret said something potentially unruly, cutting to a static screen.]

[patheticbatman]

Part Two

I’m very proud of these dolls, and I’m also leaving them at my parents’ house, so I did a little photoshoot with some books as background so I can have nice pictures of them.

This is the second post, so check out the first for more info!

First up we have Pocahontas (real name Matoaka) with Elatsoe, by Darcie Little Badger. It’s a why-dunnit, not a who-dunnit, about a Lipan Apache girl who has some serious ghost powers. Pocahontas was a tough one, but I decided to go with a book I love about a modern Lipan Apache (Indigenous) girl, written by a modern Lipan Apache (Indigenous) woman. I know a lot of people have strong feelings on both the real life Matoaka and the cartoon Pocahontas, and how she symbolizes a lot of sad and terrible changes for Turtle Island. So I thought putting the doll and this book together would provide an interesting contrast, one that the real life Matoaka may find horribly interesting.

Second is Esmeralda with At Night All Blood Is Black, by David Diop (the French title means Soul Brother - I believe that the title is a play on the English Idiom, At Night All Cats Are Grey, meaning you cannot see meaningful differences in the right circumstances). It’s a very interesting though sorrowful novel about a Senegalese Tirailleur (Infantryman) who was sent to France during WWI. I don’t think Esmeralda would read this normally, but if she was in a sad mood, I think the theme of fluctuating humanity during conflict, and being a Person of Color in France (even centuries later!) would interest her.

Third up is Mulan with Lady of Ch’iao Kuo: Warrior of the South, by Laurence Yep. When I drew pictures for Mulan’s poem (years ago now!) I headcanoned in my explanation that Mulan and Lady Xian, princess of the Li Xian people in modern day Guangdong, were close enough in history that they *might* have met and been friendly. Mulan is typically from further North and West than Guangdong, and would be part of the colonizing side in this case sadly, but I feel like they would respect each other as fellow powerful women.

Fourth is Melody (Ariel’s daughter) with A Song Below Water, by Bethany C. Morrow. I think she’d go into the book with certain expectations, like I did, about the plot, and then get drawn in by the real story. Let’s just say the cover gave me assumptions that lead to a great twist for me personally. Also, I think Melody would relate to the mystery of her magical parent’s true background. The book celebrates the lesser known fantasy species, and approaches the danger of traffic stops, police brutality and protesting for Black people, and how that intersects with being a woman, with care and love. If they ever make a live action Little Mermaid 2, I feel like that would also speak to Melody.

Fifth is Kida with The Ones We’re Meant To Find, by Joan He. Kida is from a fantasy ancient civilization, and this book depicts a sci-fi futuristic one, but there’s more similarities than one might initially think. Both exist due to the hubris of humanity, and in reaction to serious pollution topside. And both explore (or at least mention) a relationship between two women separated by the change in their civilization, and with a boy who seems to know too much. I’m not sure Kida would necessarily read this story, aside from its attractive and exotic (to her, at least) take on the world above, which she has not seen for millennia, but this story is similar enough to Kida’s movie that I felt it fell under the adaption category instead.

Sixth is Jane (from Peter Pan 2, Wendy’s daughter) with Peter Pan on Scarlet, by Geraldine McCaughrean. The Disney movie is NOT based on this book, but both do mention Wendy’s family being affected by a World War, though this one has WWI and the movie has WWII. Interestingly, both have a sympathetic Hook initially. ‘Twas a lovely read, and in my opinion matched the original book based on the play.

Seventh is Giselle with The Wind in the Willow, by Kenneth Grahame. I just felt Giselle would enjoy the idea of cute talking animals (but not so much the war storylines of Redwall) so I put her with this book.

Eighth is Tiana (<3) with Wildwood Dancing, by Juliet Marillier. Funnily enough, I do actually have the *sequel* to the book her movie was based off of, but I’ve never read the original, so I decided it doesn’t count. But this is my favorite mixed up fairy tale novel that features a Frog Prince storyline, so I went with it. The villain is also a greedy butt who doesn’t care for his own people, and the protagonist is often underestimated, due to her appearance and gender. In any case, I love this book so much that I illustrated the first chapter, lol.

Ninth is Rapunzel with Rapunzel’s Revenge, by Shannon, Dean and Nathan Hale. I loved this adaption since I was a kid (honestly more than Tangled) and I’m pleased to finally own it.

Last is Merida, with The Edge on the Sword, by Rebecca Tingle. The book is about a warrior princess a thousand years ago in what is England today, with a forced engagement storyline, so I figured this would be right up Merida’s alley.

Part One

Part Three

Part Four