#(also he demanded that I pull out the banner I'd had made for him out for this lol)

[ikkaku-of-heart]

@pxison asked Darter: (here comes Niji to mess with Darter a lil) - "So." Already, the prince alters his voice a bit to sound all too similarly to the man whose hair mirrored his own. Why? To start shit of course! "What kind of stupid moniker is 'Middle Toe Murderer' anyways?" Unprompted

If there was one thing Darter hated, it was copycats. He'd spent years having to hide his true self, conforming in the daylight to society's standards and playing a part. Becoming the Middle Toe Murderer was the only way he'd felt like he'd been able to stand out. To have his own identity. To be unique. Oh, he'd had a copycat or two during his serial killer days, and it had never failed to make his blood boil. He'd always made sure to hunt down those impersonators quickly and handle them viscerally. Darter had refused to lose the one thing he had that let him stand out. The Middle Toe Murderer moniker might have sounded silly, but removing the middle toe of his victims made him stand out. Made him feel noticed and alive.

Ironically, he was pretty sure it was the only thing that kept him anything close to sane.

Only when he'd joined the Heart Pirates, where he'd been able to be authentic and himself and still be accepted; had been able to be happy. True, he'd had to wear a uniform exactly like most of the rest of the crew, but he'd still been able to stand out with his hair, his smile, his skills, and his personality.

So it instantly grated on him when the Germa 66, who already had the same hairstyle as him, came over and copied his voice. Insulted his moniker. Of course, as a Northerner, Darter already was prone to disliking the Germa Kingdom and Germa 66 on principle, but this one? Ohhhh Vinsmoke Niji had just managed to make the trademark friendly smile actually drop from his face.

"A name I earned by removing the middle toe of my victims. What kind of name is 'Electric Shock Blue'?" Darter shot back, gritting his teeth. "It sounds like a crayon name. Is that how you got it? Judge just picked it out of a box of school supplies? And isn't your brother 'Sparking Red'? Makes sense for the second-born to have a second-best, copycat name." Was he being petty? Hell yes, but he didn't care in the slightest. It was either that or attempting to add the second prince to his kill count. That, and it helped him ignore just how unnerving the impersonation of his voice really was.

Glaring at Niji's hair for a moment, he added, "Just like your pompadour's a second-best version of mine, 'Doppelganger Blue'."

[felixcloud6288]

Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 30

We've had one traumatic death, yes. But what about second trauma?

Y'know how Greed said Ed was the type who doesn't mind getting beat up but will lose his cool when others get hurt?

Greed is also that type of person. This is the only time he's been furiously angry, and it's after seeing Loa and Dorchet killed in front of him.

I wonder if Bradley knew Martel was inside Al's armor before she tried to kill him. If she had kept quiet and let Alphonse quietly sneak her out, I wonder if the scene would have ended with Bradley saying something like "Before you go" and then running his sword down Al's chest.

The scene transition after Martel is killed implies Al lost consciousness from the shock. I wonder how that works though. I know falling asleep and being rendered unconscious are two different things, but I'd assume there are some overlapping characteristics that should cause Al to be unable to fall unconscious because of his condition.

I wonder if Martel's blood spilling on Al's bloodrune might have momentarily disrupted the seal and disconnected Al from his armor and if maybe Ed pulling Al's soul might have had something to do with Al not having his memories to begin.

I've got no real ideas with that. If something comes up later, I'll talk about it then.

But Al managed to reach that silhouette of his mother and that's what caused him to lose his whole body.

Bradley demands to know if Ed and Al traded any information or made any deals with Greed and threatens to kill them if they did. Considering what Bradley is, it's pretty wild he'd make that threat. He was willing to kill one of their sacrifices to ensure their plan wasn't found out. Or maybe he was intimidating them into silence.

Al being a suit of armor was probably known to the Homunculi long before this point. Greed found out because of the rumors in East City after the fight with Scar, and Lust was on the train to Resembool. Bradley asking about why Al is a suit of armor might be the first time they considered him as a sacrifice candidate though.

I'm glad Ed pointed out the inconsistency from Bradley saying he wants to find out what the military conspiracy is but then killing a bunch of people who could have been potential leads. Of course we as the readers understand it's because the conspiracy goes all the way to the top at this point.

Wouldn't it suck if you bought a house in Central and there's a window that allows one of those searchlights at Central HQ to beam into your house?

The scene with Riza is playing out like that scene with that white girl in every horror movie, right up until she pulls out a gun and shoots Barry.

I just love how she hid a gun in her grocery bag. Did she put it there after leaving or does the grocery store stock fully loaded revolvers next to the pet food? And where did that other handgun come from? She's not keeping a holster of any kind and just before this panel, she was using her right hand to hold her groceries.

Her grocery bag also had dog food so she canonically has Black Hayate at this point.

There was a missing person flyer for Yoki.

We can still see the bullet holes Danny and Maria gave Barry.

We see the military banner. It's a horned(?) dragon(?) with a winding tail.

It must suck for the people whose office windows are behind the banner.

back

Spoiler Discussion

Bido being established as not at the Devil's Nest during the raid shows how far ahead Arakawa had the story planned.

Arakawa planted a little seed here which would bloom into a major plot point dozens of chapters later. Hindsight and this scene proves she planned to have Greed return and have him betray Father a second time.

[getitinbusan]

When your cheating ex calls months later will you answer?

Jungkook

Cheating, Heartbreak, Angst and Sex

You were just about to fall asleep when your phone went off.  With an exasperated sigh you rolled over wondering which of your friends was in need. You moved for the device a little annoyed but felt obligated to answer, after all,  they'd been there for you no questions asked during the break up. 

The screen lit up "DO NOT ANSWER" and your heart dropped. You'd once read that it was a good idea to rename your ex in your phone so you wouldn't feel temptation to communicate but that was months ago. You made the fatal mistake of not deleting his contact picture and now here he was showing up on your screen. He never did try and call, this was the first time you were faced with the decision of answering.  

Setting your phone down you pulled the covers over your head and tried to block it out of your mind.  A single notification pinged through your duvet and bounced around your head before you surrendered. With a mind of its own your hand snuck out of your blanket fort and picked up the cold device 

JK: Please Y/N, I really need you right now.  

Y/N: Why are you doing this to me Jungkook? I'm finally getting over you.  

JK: I'm selfish and I'm stupid but I'm also the loneliest I've ever been in my life. Our apartment is so empty, I haven't been able to sleep in our bed since you left. 

Y/N: I'm not the one who left Jungkook. You seem to forget that you checked out of this relationship before I packed my boxes.  

JK: Can I please just see you? 

JK: Please 

JK: 

Y/N: Are you really crying right now?  

JK: I haven't stopped since…. Fuck, I know you hate me, its killing me. Please just let me apologize in person 

You knew it was the wrong choice, seeing him was just going to rip your heart in two again.  

Y/N: Send a fucking car

The door man greeted you with a closed mouth smile and a nod. Embarrassment creeped through your being whenever people looked at you with pity, "I'll let Mr. Jeon know you're here."

Meeting you at the elevator he looked a mess. He'd lost some muscle and his skin was pale, his sunken eyes were red and tired. Reaching out to hug you, he thought better and instead jammed his firsts into the pockets of his worn grey track pants.  He was wearing a T-shirt and you were forced to observe his tattoos like a fucking train wreck. They were like a banner, there written across the body you once worshiped, saying, "I fucked someone else."

He noticed you looking at his arm and ran his hand over it, "I guess you haven't seen them yet." He proudly held it out for you. You felt sick to your stomach, "Yeah, I don't really want to look at them Jungkook. You could at least have the decency to put on a fucking sweater or something."

He was puzzled by your reaction but reached for his flannel button down hanging off the back of the couch anyway. The tears came immediately, you needed to make him understand what he'd done. You sobbed his name, "Jungkook, how am I supposed to look at you when her writing is all over you in permanent ink?" 

He dropped to his knees looking up at you pleading, "But you have to, look at me Y/N, I never meant to hurt you. What can I do? I'll do anything to fix this."

The ache that had tormented your heart returned stronger than ever. "How am I supposed to trust you? You told me you were going to Geoje Island to hike Gyeryongsan Park. I didn't question you, I didn't ask you not to go, I wasn't a bad girlfriend Jungkook, I just fucking loved you. All I've been able to do for months is try to figure out how I screwed up… but I didn't, you did.  Now you have the nerve to ask ME how to fix it?"

You crumpled to the floor beside him crying uncontrollably, he was devastated finally seeing the effect his actions had on you. 

"I'm going to fix this, I'm going to put us back together," picking you up he carried you over to the couch and held you against his chest. You were both crying but the comfort of his heartbeat thrumming through you brought you a peace you'd missed so much. 

"All my life I've trained hard, I've done what I was told, I followed the rules and I've had to act as "Jungkook" the idol. The truth is, I don't know who Jeong-guk is. During the break I wasn't under the microscope, I just got to do what I felt like doing, and honestly, it felt really good. I hiked Gyeryongsan with my brother and we met a group of people, they were from the tattoo shop. I decided to just do it… because I wanted to. It took a few days so we got to know them, drank with them, ate with them, they just felt like friends." He paused his story sensing your agitation. 

 "Did you think of me at all Guk?" Your heart was racing, anger creeping back in as you remembered seeing the pictures online.  "We don't get to be seen in public, we don't get to hold hands, we don't get to go out to eat. Why was it okay with her?"

He took a deep breath, "I could because she wasn't you… because I didn't care,  because I wanted to see what would happen" He put his fingers in your hair and brushed it out of your face, "I can't with you, I need to protect you, I need to keep you safe and out of the spotlight so you don't get hurt. The fans can be really mean, I honestly don't know what I'd do if the people I am so grateful for turned on the person I love the most."  

You let your fingers fan out over his chest, just getting to touch him again made your heart race. You didn't want to get sucked back in but here you were, his words were believable and you even felt a little bad for him. He placed his hand on top of yours, his tattoos demanding your attention  "Why didn't you talk to me? You just let me go, let me believe what I saw." 

You traced the outline of the heart with your fingertip and you felt a tear land on your face as he leaned over you. "I was just trying to figure out who I was, I didn't think you'd love ME, especially after what you saw and heard. When we were in New Zealand I did a lot of reflecting, even though I'm struggling to know who I am, I'm less of that person without you. You not only make me more of the man I want to be, you put up with who I have to be." He kissed your forehead and you understood.  

"Guk…I'm so tired, take me to bed." He let out an audible sigh of relief knowing that you were willing to move forward with him.  

Raising your arms over your head he pulled your shirt off your body and replaced it gently with one of his oversized T-shirts. Turning down the sheets you crawled in, it felt like your mind could finally have a rest. Sure that your doubts and sadness would come back, at least for tonight, they had been defeated. He wrapped his arms around you as you both gave in to months of mental exhaustion, sleep conquering sadness, hope turning into dreams that once again dared to reveal themselves.  

The sunlight danced on your eyelids, the scent of Jungkook heavy in the air, you must be dreaming. Afraid to open your eyes, afraid it wouldn't be real you felt his hand on your waist and you couldn't help but smile.  He knew you were awake, nuzzling into your neck he whispered, "It feels like heaven having you back." 

Turning to him you placed your hand on his cheek, "My head is telling me to go but I really want to be here, please make me stay." 

Leaning in he kissed you, god it felt good. You'd blocked out every memory of the pleasure you'd once shared but with one kiss they came flooding back and you wanted him so badly inside of you.  

Roughly you kissed him and began tugging off his clothes. Pulling his shirt over his head the sight of his tattoos fueled an aggression in you to take back what was yours. "Tell me you love me Jungkook," you growled as his cock hardened in your hand.  

"I love you," he panted back, "I fucking love you more than anything."

He sucked your nipple into his mouth as you straddled him sinking down onto his eager dick. Both of you moaning you continued your assault, maybe you could fuck the pain away, "Did she make you feel this fucking good?" 

Like you weighed nothing he immediately flipped you onto your back, laying over top of you he stared frozen. 

"Stop,  just…stop….I didn't fuck her, I didn't do anything with her… I need you to believe that." He was crying, "please believe me"

You did, maybe it was naive but in that moment you really did.  Holding his face you let your lips ghost over his, "I believe you."

Taking control he moved slowly, deliberately, entering you while not breaking his lips away from yours. He rolled his hips deep into a rhythm that rubbed perfectly inside of you and you were lost.  The pleasure elevated by his admissions of love and desire for you as he called your name and moaned in time with his motions.

The raw feelings like electricity heightened your desire, as you let go you cried aloud clenching around him as you both came. "You're so beautiful giving yourself to me, I don't deserve you," he was so emotional, you'd never seen him like this. 

Laying together coming down from the high of passion, life did what it always does, the adrenaline had worn off and the truth came creeping back in. Unsure of what may or may not have happened it was a betrayal nonetheless. Trust had been lost, lies told and promises were broken.  Where did you go from here? 

He lay beside you stroking your hair with a small content grin on his face and you ran you hand over his chest, fingertips across his collar bone and skimming down his arm. The words on his skin screamed at you and sadness draped over you like a blanket of darkness. Noticing the wetness gathering on his chest,  he sat up to see the tears quietly fall down your cheeks. Leaning over he retrieved his long sleeve shirt off the floor and pulled it over his head. "I hope one day you can look at me and it won't hurt. My arms are supposed to protect you and comfort you not make you sad."

You rolled over to face him, " I hope so too."

[ladyknightleyisundercover]

Hi! Could you do another fic with Harry and Hagrid? I love their relationship and how you write it, so I'd love to see something - especially if it has the rest of the trio in it, too. Thanks :)

Happy birthday Hagrid!

“Quick, quick! He’s on the way! Behind this tree!”

“Behind which tree? Where are you?”

“Over here! Ron! Quick! Harry, your feet are sticking out!Put them away!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I’ll just levitate shall I?”

“There’s no need to be—ow! Whose elbow was that?”

“Not me, I don’t have any elbows.”

“I think I’ve got pine needles up my nose.”

“Could be worse, you could have pine needles up your—”

“SSH!”

The three of them stay as still as possible, peering throughthe branches of a particularly large and bushy tree as the door to the GreatHall swings open with a creak and Hagrid shuffles in backwards, puffingslightly as he carries another large Christmas tree into the room. “There shegoes,” he mutters to himself, propping it up along the far wall. “Righ’ then.Tha’s another one done. Let’s get—’ang on a moment.” They watch, collectivelyholding their breath as Hagrid strides over to the teachers’ table, mutteringabout how it wasn’t like that a moment ago.

It certainly wasn’t.

Professor McGonagall had met them at the gates after lunch,smuggling them into the school in a manner that suggested they were about aswelcome as the contraband Wheezes products that turn up everywhere. She’d led them at a rapid pace to the Entrance Hall,demanding that they duck down so as not to be seen “And cause a riot,” as theypassed the Charms classrooms, and, as Ron had muttered (very quietly) inHermione’s ear, it was hard to shake the feeling that she was about to taketwenty points from Gryffindor just for coming up with their plan.

“He’ll be back with another tree in about five minutes,”she’d informed them crisply. “And I need not remind you that you will have tobe out of here by four thirty so as to be out of the way of the house elves,who will need to set up for the evening meal.”

“Of course we will be, Professor,” Harry had assured her.

“For goodness’ sake, Potter,” she’d snapped. “I haven’t beenyour teacher for four years now. You can call me Minerva.”

He’d all but jumped to attention. “Of course, Professor. Er.I mean.”

Her lips had twitched. “Don’t worry. Your father was justthe same. Now, hurry! You don’t have long!”

“Yes, of course,” Harry had said, as Hermione doubled therate at which she was conjuring fully inflated balloons from the end of herwand and Ron gave up making sure the Happy Birthday banner was perfectly leveland just hurled sticking charms at it instead. “Is there anything else?”

“I think that was it,” she’d said, taking her leave.“Except,” she added, pausing in the doorway, “the staff and I all think thatthis is just lovely. And if we didn’t all have teaching responsibilities, we’dbe joining you.”

“We’ll send the leftover cake down to the staff room,” Ronhad promised.

“I look forward to it. I’ve heard much about your bakingability, Mr Weasley.”

Ron, flustered, had nearly dropped the cake he was easingout of the box he’d carefully carried it in. Harry places a couple of nearly wrappedgifts on next to it, whilst Hermione kept watch, and now…here they all are.

Harry glances at the other two and nods. “Surprise!” theyall shout, jumping out from behind a tree.

Hagrid laughs, happy but surprised. They sing Happy Birthdayand gesture to him to blow out the candle on the cake, which was indeed made byRon, but was also iced by Harry, and so says HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAGRID in greenicing. “Make a wish,” Hermione says cheerfully, handing him a knife to cut themall slices.

“What are yeh all doing here?” he asks, taking the knife offher.

“Top secret Auror business,” Ron says promptly. “We heardthere was a very urgent matter at Hogwarts that couldn’t possibly be left toanyone else to deal with. When in doubt, call the best Aurors in the businessout.”

“Wha’s Hermione, then?” Hagrid asks, beard twitching.

“Window dressing,” says Ron, and Harry laughs.

“I never thought so,” Hagrid says gallantly, and Hermionebeams. He cuts them slices, passes them around, and there’s a brief silencewhilst they eat Ron’s divine cake.

“Yeh know,” Hagrid says, finishing first, “yeh really shouldn’thave. Yeh shouldn’t’ve done all this for me. I know how busy yeh all are, like,and I’m not—”

“Never to busy to come back to school,” Ron says quickly. “Youknow I love school.”

“We wanted to see you,” Hermione adds at the same time. “Oh—andGinny wants you to know that, if she wasn’t playing a match in Malaysia right now, she would be here too. Withbells on, she said.”

Hagrid protests—not about Ginny, it’s clear he believes thatof her, but there is still a lingering surprise that they’ve turned up for asnatched hour, on a random Monday, a couple of weeks before Christmas, for him.

“Well, birthdays get a bit forgotten at this time of year,”Harry says, gesturing around him at the trees. Hagrid’s brought them all in, sothere are, as usual, 12 standing around the perimeter of the Great Hall. Thesmell of pine is overpowering—in a good way—but it doesn’t feel like Christmaswithout them being festooned with decorations.

Hagrid tries to protest this too, but now Harry shouts himdown properly. “Trust me,” he says. “I know what it’s like to have a forgottenbirthday.”

“S’not the same,” Hagrid says at once. “My birthday was neverignored. Me old man used to take medown the Hog’s Head every year…I could always get served, somehow. Pint a’butterbeer each, tha’s all. Nothin’ bad. And then, when he was gone, Dumbledoredid the same. Great man, Dumbledore…”

“Well, next year we’ll do the same,” Harry promises.

“You’re buying,” Ron adds, and everyone laughs. Somehow,this breaks the tension enough for them to insist he opens the presents they’vebought him. They’re just a gesture, really: Harry and Ginny have sourced a newwhittling knife—he’d complained, over the summer, Ginny had recalled, that hisown was getting a little blunt—and Ron and Hermione (via Charlie) have got hima new ethically sourced pair of dragon hide gloves that actually fit.

He thanks them all profusely, exclaiming over them, andinvites them down to his house for tea. “I’ve got some rock buns left over,” hesays, “or mebbe we could just have more of that cake…” He eyes Ron’screation, then seems to remember himself. “I mean, I’m sure you’ve all gotstuff to do. Places to go. Yeh don’t have to come to mine. It’s nice enoughthat you’ve done all this.”

“Actually,” Harry says, glancing at Ron and Hermione. Theygive almost imperceptible nods, and he reaches into his pocket, pulling out amagically shrunken sack. As it appears, it grows back to its full height—at leastthree feet, and fully stuffed. He hands it to Hagrid, who looks for all theworld like a Father Christmas who’s forgotten his costume.

“Am I auditionin’?” he asks at once, beard twitching again.

“We said earlier it’s an awkward time to have a birthday,”Harry begins. “People are busy at work, trying to get things finished beforethe break.”

“Or they’re saving all their holiday for Christmas,” Ron adds.

“Not us, of course,” continues Hermione. “We’re happy to seeyou here today. But not everyone could make it.”

“You know what it’s like,” Ron says. “I mean, you’re a Professornow, and all!” Hagrid’s face—what’s visible, at least—turns pink. “You knowwhat it’s like to be busy at this time of year.”

“But a couple of people we asked to come, who couldn’t,asked if they could send you a card,” Hermione says. “And we said we’d be more thanhappy to pass them on.”

“But then, a few more people heard. And then a few more. Imean, we only let them know late last week, it wasn’t like we had this plannedfor months,” adds Ron.

“But word spreads,” Hermione nods. “The old Order crowdwanted to send you a card, the DA. Ex-students, people from Hogsmeade… We’restill trying to work out how word got around, really.”

“So we ended up,” Harry says, piping up again, “planning totake up a cake, maybe a present or two, and instead we got…well…this.” Henods towards the sack, and Hagrid gently pulls it open, taking out the top twoor three cards. There’s all sizes, big and small, thick and thin—but they’veall got his name on the front. He turns the few he’s picked up over a fewtimes, as if this will somehow change if they’re rotated enough times.

“I don’t know this many people,” he says.

“Clearly, you do,” Ron says. “Or maybe this many people knowyou, is that the same thing?”

“Either way, we should probably open them at your place,because Professor McGonagall wants us out of here in ten minutes, and I thinkthis might take longer,” Hermione puts in. “Shall I grab the cake?”

“I’ve got it,” Ron says, so instead she steps forward totake down the balloons, and Ron organises the plates.

“Are you sure…” Hagrid begins, looking at Harry, as theother two subtly busy themselves, but he trails off.

“Do you remember,” Harry says quietly, “in my first year? Myfirst week, you wrote to me and asked me to tea. That was my first piece ofpost. Aside from my school letter, it was my first piece of mail ever.” Hagrid shrugs, but it’s clear hedoes remember. “I was clearing out some of my stuff the other day—Ginny and Iare moving in together next year, once she’s back, so I thought I’d get a headstart—anyway, it’s not important. I just came across it—I’d saved it, yearsago. And I remembered I’d never got you a birthday present—”

“Yeh didn’t have to,” Hagrid says at once, and Harry waveshim off.

“But I wanted to,” Harry insists. “So I mentioned it to Ronand Hermione, and they were on board. And I asked Nev and Ginny and Luna, andall of them wanted to, but they’re all away. So they said they’d send a card,and then the Order heard about it, and most of them said they would—I’d becareful with the one from Mundungus, that’s a bit of a hazard, maybe—and then,well, I guess it’s like Hermione says. Things snowballed a bit.” He nodstowards the enormous sack.

“An’ all these people…they wanted to write to me?” Hagrid asks, and Harry pauses forall of half a second.

“Obviously.”