#(even if hers doesn't manifest in the same way as mine does)

[musical-chick-13]

Oh, we are in DANGER territory, my dudes.

[knightyoomyoui]

TWICE Sana x M/F Reader - "I Want It That Way"

I'M BACK. After 3 months of no update, your one and only Knight Yoo-Myoui returns to bring you readers more stories in my book. Author's been in a really tough situation especially last month, but that still ain't gonna be enough to take out my passion and motivation to continue writing for both mine and your entertainment. I'm gonna continue this as long as I can. However, from now on; please understand and expect that I won't be updating very often like weekly or everyday as before. Studies is my current priority as of the moment but I promise that I will always update yall. Actually though, this new kind of pacing for both my writing procedure and publishing has somehow lessen the pressure in me. I'm really liking it so far, makes me comfortable. This story is requested by ShaShaSha029 BUT..., sorry Sha because I made some changes on your requested plot hehe. I already made the same concept from my previous works so I used your other request from another member to come up with something new that I haven't done yet. And as for the other member you requested to me, I'll give you a brand new plot for her. I hope you and the readers will like this. Enjoy reading! STREAM "I GOT YOU" and "ONE SPARK" MVs btw!

"I'm going home, guys. I'll leave the office to you all."

YN/LN, a current 4th year student from Cheongnamdong Polytechnic University and the campus' ongoing president of the student council, has just finished your tasks for today and is now about to depart from their office and send your goodbyes to your fellow members kindly to end the day on a positive note.

"Be safe on your way home, Pres!"

"You too."

You continued walking after sending him all the bright greetings, but before passing to your own cubicle and reaching the door, it opened. You then heard some footsteps behind it until a familiar figure made its presence known in front of you.

You watched your classmate, friend, and the secretary of their council, Yoo Janghoon, peeking at the door with a weird smile before you find him standing on your way.

Janghoon then approached YN.

"Seems like you're about to leave."

"Yeah." You nodded. " What's with your smile in your face? You look like you just saw something amusing.", he said in a judgmental look.

"Not with my own eyes, but the words I've heard are enough to picture her on mind." Janghoon smirked and bounced his brows.

"Her? You're into hunting chicks again?"

"Idiot, I have a girlfriend now, ofcourse I'm not." Janghoon mocked YN as he was about to throw a punch. "But seriously though, not even me could deny that it really does interest me."

"Why, what's going on out there?"

"Well, I've heard from my acquaintances from the other courses that there's a newly transferred female student here in the campus earlier after the class break."

"That late?"

"Yeah, I was a bit confused too but they said the professor just let it passed because they said that her documents were finalized at the last minute so that's why." YN hummed to react.

"And would you like to enlighten me what's so interesting with this random transferee student? I mean, no offense. Welcome aboard to the university but... what's special?"

"Dude, I'm telling you, it's not just "random", this girl was a legit bombshell. Based from how they described her, it was like when she stepped on the room, they felt like there was a legit goddess that got manifested into reality."

"And that's it?"

"Y-yeah... but you know and I know, dude. Our university has been missing it's "queen" for quite some time now. And probably the students are making noise about it is because they see a huge potential on her."

"Okay. Well, I do hope she doesn't feel overwhelmed with the attention she's about to receive on the next days of her stay here."

"But we're here as the council officers to take control, right?"

"Exactly." you nodded. "Anyways, gotta go now. I still have a family dinner not to miss."

"Alright, take care pres."

"You too, sec."

You left the office and the campus with a curiosity forming in your heart and mind on the identity of this woman that has been the center of the gossips you were unaware of due to how busy you are on the duties.

Arrived at home, you entered and got welcomed by your mother who is preparing their table for a lovely dinner tonight while your father is busy watching basketball on the living room.

"Good evening, mom."

"Good eve, YN. Tired?", she said while placing the plates on the table.

"Not that much but I would be glad to rest as always.", you spoke with a timid smile.

"Perfect, meal's coming right up real soon. Join your father there, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks, mom."

You walked near to your father and greeted him courteously. You sat beside him and laid your back comfortably on the soft cushion of the couch to release all the pent-up exhaustion your body has consumed on today's packed class schedule.

Minutes later, your mother commands both you and your father to position yourselves on the seats. Each grabbing their own meal, all of you started praying first before taking your first bites and swallow on such a delicious food.

"Uhm, dear. We want to talk to you about something." Your mother inserted a topic to be discussed.

"Sure, mom. I'll be listening. What is it about?"

"It's like a business talk but this also concerns about your personal life too, YN which we much rather prioritize." Your father said after swallowing his throat. "We meet up with our partners on the company regarding this and we all come to an agreement."

"Agreement to what?"

"Me and your mother are placing you in an arrangement contract with their child."

"Wait, come again?"

"Arrangement contract. It means we set you up with someone as your age to date and marry one day, and we figured out that to strengthen the connection between us, we decided to-"

"Yes, wait. I know that part, dad but... why need to? Wasn't it too early? I get that you want me to have a wife and a family someday but... it's not one of my priorities so far.", you complained.

"YN, please do understand that your mother and I ain't be getting younger as time goes on. Someday, you'll be alone, and we just wanted to give you another family that you would be glad to remain and... hopefully, to remember us like how we raised you from the beginning."

"But wasn't this too fast? You're making me rush things."

Both sides went silent, as the father felt guilty also for how true your words are.

"It's my life. You may be the one who gave me that but I developed and earned a right to decide what's right for my future."

"We know, son... but we had no choice. It's for the sake also of our business. You know that we have to keep it to the mountain top so that we don't have our efforts of raising it go to waste, especially when this is the main reason how me and your mother were able to give you a better life that you deserve. And some way or another, you will be for sure, the one who will take the mantle and own my properties. You can use it also to raise your family easier."

"We are not forcing you to do this, YN. Please, we just wanted to inform you and talk about this because you also have a side and opinion to be heard. Whatever your answer may be, we will respect it. We are just suggesting, but hopefully you can consider it, honey." Your mother's soft voice effectively kept you at ease more.

Taking deep breaths and a short length of silence to contemplate, you looked at them both as you made your choice. "Fine. This is because I love you both and I owe you two everything. I'm doing it."

They both smiled in relief. "Thank you for this, son/daughter."

"No problem. So... can you tell me more about this contract?"

"Well it's simple, an arranged contract but we requested to have you and the girl we chose to spend 30-days or let's say a month to get to know each other and figure things out if you two would believe that everything will work out as a couple." Your father explained.

"And who's the girl that you guys have prepared for me?"

"They have an only child just like us, and it's an easier idea to place her because as we learned, their daughter is currenly in search of finding somebody to love."

"Sadly, we're unalike."

"But she may be able to change your mind, on whatever that hold your heart back. You accepted the offer, now you just have to see how she really is, but we're certainly sure that she's good just like her parents."

"And what's her name?"

"We haven't been introduced nor asked for her name, but from what we know, her nickname should be "Minatozaki", and is Japanese. She was also studying now at the same campus as yours."

"I'll try to look for her and maybe we can talk there privately."

"Whatever you want, YN. Just keep us updated okay?"

"Noted." You replied before everyone returned on focusing to finish their foods.

The next day, you were a bit irritated from how the discussion last night distracts you in the middle of your duty. You couldn't concentrate at the curiousity that dwells inside of you.

So you decided to to take a break outside. You encountered a vacant spot to breathe some fresh air and drink at the iced coffee you prepared on your tumbler as you roam your eyes around at your surroundings.

That's where you spotted some group of students huddling around at a spot near the bulletin board, as if they're being crazy or attentive at something.

Eager to find out the rucus, you approached the scenario and tried to peek around, and there you noticed a female student entertaining the other fellow students by asking her randomly and even asking for some pictures like she is a celebrity.

As she turned around, her long chestnut colored hair flips around as if it denied the gravity, her side profile appeared, until it all fully rotated to have her face evident at you for the first time.

And my oh my the rumors shared by your secretary were true.

No wonder why she was already popular, she does look magnificent, enough to be mistaken as a famous personality.

Your eyes couldn't leave the sight of her just doing everything even in such bare minimum if movements that still effortlessly made her very attractive. Thankfully, there's your boy distracting you as you snapped back when you felt a shoulder wrapped on your neck.

"You finally met her." Janghoon said, smirking at you. "From what I heard earlier, the exchange student's name's Minatozaki Sana. She's a foreigner, a Japanese to be specific."

"Minatozaki?" Your thoughts murmured. Contemplating if you heard it right, but that was the same surname your father was tasked you to find, and she even has the same nationality.

Having exchange students in your campus are very rare.

You are flabbergasted as you slowly realize that... this woman is going to be the one you'll date and marry.

Unconsciously, you turned around at Janghoon with your forehead crumpled and mouth slightly gaped.

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

"Oh n-no. Not-thing." You shook your head swiftly. Returning your gaze back at her, you couldn't believe it at all that your parents and her friends does picked a perfect girl for you.

But you wondered if it could be said the same about you.

Hours later, Sana who was about to enjoy her recess, instead went to the council office to meet the president, as per the classmates told her after being tasked to do so.

She stepped in front of the door that says "Student Council Office, knock twice before entering". She followed and slowly pushed the doorknob. A person sitting at the far end of the room, looking busy on his desk greeted her.

As the door closed, it alarmed the president that the person is now here for a scheduled conversation, only that when you raised your head, you looked at her having a shocked reaction.

Sana stares at the reveal of this mysterious person that runs the entire student government of the campus. Flashbacks began to run back into her mind, slowly making her upset.

"Thank you for agreeing to come here and t-"

"Am I looking at this very clearly?" Sana immediately spoke.

"Pardon?"

"You? Out of everyone here... was chosen to become a leader?"

"W-what? Settle down, miss. I think you n-"

"A representative figure for everyone, and I get to be under your orders around here?" Sana chuckled bitterly. "I didn't know that even after years later, we'll still have our paths crossing onto each other despite how I wanted to never meet you in my life again."

"D-do we know each other?"

Sana scoffed as she looked at you ridiculously. "Ofcourse, how could you recognize me. First of all, I was just a complete nothing to you. A plaything of your cruel antics and delinquent actions. And second, I'm not the same girl you used to belittle everyday."

You furrowed your eyebrows as you looked at her intently. "W-what... you..."

"Still doesn't ring a bell? Oh, how about this. The name Minatozaki Sana? That fat nerdy girl back in elementary that you used to bully so hard in our 8th year that forced her to transfer to other school. How about that?"

Your eyes sprung open as you instantly remember the name and that student you used to include in one of your prime victims in your dark past.

That description of her past self brought you back to the times when you remembered looking for her first to rather mock, annoy, or play with her until her feelings broke and look helpless.

You were a bully before in elementary days, and she was your classmate back then. But that was all only the past now as you are now a changed person, with all the better and positive things that came into your life had taught you more valuable and nice things to consider yourself reevaluating your personality.

But it looks like it could tell the opposite for Sana's part.

"I remember you now, Sana. And... please, let me tell you right now that I'm not the same person you used to despise before."

"Do you really think I'll be fooled easily by that?" Sana retorted. "We just met after what... 7 years and you're supposed to have me believing that when in fact, I still look at you as that same horrific figure I never should've want to see again, but yet here you are."

Sana still didn't took a seat. She walked around and observed the room. You were a bit relieved that all of your council members are absent in this tense confrontation. "What a hypocrisy it is to have you getting involved in an organization that focuses on student rights when in fact, you have a record of violating it before. Shouldn't be a student fitting for that must be... clean?"

"Sana, believe me or not, I changed. I wouldn't even dare to take this position if I'm not sincere for it, and I'm not forcing you to believe me."

"Oh, ofcourse you should. Because I really don't buy everything that comes into your mind not until I see it" Sana shook her head and smugged. "Maybe it'll change my mind of me planning to expose you from every-"

"Wait! You can't be serious?"

"Oh indeed I am." Sana clicked her tongue. "You ruined me before, but here I am who helped myself and from people I loved to become this better version of mine to stand here in front of you, I'm going to get you this time, YN. I'm going to make you feel what is it like being... excluded."

She leaned forward on the desk, staring at you sharply and observing your nervous expression. "But...if there's some sort of a miracle that... you did changed. Then you're going to prove it on me. Make me convinced that this YN I hate with every fiber of my being is... gone."

"What if I tell you that you already have a chance to make me?"

"And that is?"

"Have you heard about an arrangement contract from your parents?"

"Y-yeah... but they don't tell me who it is because- WAIT" Sana quickly lunged back away from you. "Please tell me who I'm thinking is correct."

"Sorry to tell you but I was just in denial as you are yesterday."

"Oh God." Sana poured out the biggest disappointment she felt in her entire life so far. "W-why does my fate has to be very unlucky everytime when it's about you? Me being in an arranged contract with you? I think I have to vomit."

"Wait! But you said you want me to prove that I changed?"

"And you really think I want it this way?" Sana looked at you disgusted. "Being as this fabled student council president or just a random student from me would be fine but... YOU AS MY FIANCE? That won't do, mister." Sana swayed her pointing finger. "Unfortunately, the answer would be NO. Now please, I have to go already. I still have a lunch to take before I lose my appetite."

Sana walked away from you and left the room unbotheredly. You sat there, back falling flat on your swivel chair. Your hands caressed your hair as you reacted unbelievably and stunned that this heavily improved Sana that you used to know many years before has returned to actually be your woman, but unfortunately, her hatred for you still lives on her till this day.

Her opposal didn't worked however, as Sana tried to request later during dinner, she was informed by her parents that the contract can only be cancelled after 30-days for the people to finally reassure their decision.

She mentioned that YN and her have a bad history in the past, but instead her parents reasoned out that maybe YN has changed and it will not hurt to give another chance. If only they know what the real reason it is, but Sana was clearly affected by their suggestion because honestly, Sana is a forgiving soft type of person.

Still, confident that she's satisfied with her answer, she became impatient and hated being with YN more.

Meanwhile, you shared to your mother about how the unlikedness of you and Sana's interests about the marriage arrangement in a deatiled manner.

"We met and had a talk, but... it wasn't as proper and civil as I expected because, I was surprised that she confessed something very familiar to me. Something that I've been trying to get it out on my head. Something that I wanted to let go for a long time."

"What was she to you before?"

"A nuisance, even though she wasn't doing even wrong. I look at her before thinking it wasn't right for her to be in this type of high class campus that I study at too, but then I figured out that me ending up bullying and making her emotional and mental state suffer is way worse than she is."

You flinched when your mother slapped you in the head. "What??? How could you bully someone?! Is that how we raised you?"

"Mom, wait ofcourse no... but, I was just made to be like that because of what happened to us, you know that!"

Your mother became speechless and a glimpse of pity became visible to you. "But it's all good now, mom. I'm not like that anymore, I'm telling you.  And that's what I should've just wanted to prove to Sana but... I understand that she won't let me anymore. I broke her too much, I can't let it happen again."

Stepping closer in front of you, she placed her hands gently on your shoulders to massage them and make your ease down. "Even I was mad and disappointed that you once turned into that type of guy you never should be, but I know from the bottom of my heart that you will always be a good kid of mine because that's how I raised you to be. You just got affected too much by our struggles before. And I believe you always, YN. The only thing I can do now for you to support you, and that is for you to keep on moving forward and never stop to make Sana forgive you, alright?"

"I will. Thanks, mom."

She patted you on the cheek. "Goodluck, okay? You have a month to do it."

----------

"Okay, class dismissed. Group 1, remember to prepare your report by next week okay?"

"Yes, prof!", the students who are part of the group that the professor mentioned chanted.

The professor left the room, leaving the students have the freedom to eat lunch during their vacant time.

"Sana, cmon! Did you bring a lunch with you?", one of Sana's classmates asked her while she's clearing her table.

"No, I'm gonna buy for today."

"Nice, let's go!"

Sana brought her wallet and cellphone with her, joins her newfound friends named Miyeon and Sullyoon as they make their way out to the classroom.

However, as they were about to, a figure suddenly pops out of the doorway, stopping their tracks. The two classmates of hers had a visible shock in their faces unlike to Sana, her bright mood quickly shrank down into a gloomy one.

"Hi, sorry if I'm almost late." You straightened your lips. "Good thing I was about to catch you leaving yet, let's go eat lunch together."

Miyeon and Sullyoon's jaw dropped at the student council president's proposal. Sana's eyebrows knitted hardly. "Huh? What nonsense are you saying?"

"Why? I'm just going to invite you to eat with me?"

"With you?" Sana scoffed and chuckled. "You have the guts, I'll give you that... but NO." Sana leaned forward at you to say this.

"Let's go girls."

Sana was just commanding her classmates and taking a step again away from you but in her surprise, she felt her body being pulled by a force. She tried to process what happened, and there she found her skin contacting with yours as she stood by your side...

with your hands wrapped around her waist.

Miyeon and Sullyoon's eyes largened in utter shock at what they're seeing. They couldn't believe that such a new transferee would get to gain closeness and change the behavior of the famously respected and knowned leader of the students around the campus.

Sana's lungs skipped functioning as soon as she felt your fingers dug deeper into her skin. Her face then starts to turn red and her face showing almost hilariously stunned reaction, with no hint of an idea what has turned you to be like this today.

"Pardon me for Sana's antics right now, we just had a fight yesterday and I wanted to come up a solution to fix that." You said in a melodic and apologetic tone to them. Sana was dumbfounded at the ridiculous fake words you are talking about.

"W-wha"

Sana wasn't able to finish her words, when she felt herself getting pulled again, now squeezed against your body which intensified her heartbeat and blushes.

"So, please. Can we eat together today, love?"

Any words that are synonym to what I mentioned earlier can be heavily applied now to all three women witnessing the sudden change of the president's act.

You led the way, bringing Sana with you as both crossed the hallway with the confused and flabbergasted duo following on the back while some of the students can see the two having this kind of contact has began to grab attention.

As they reached the cafeteria, Miyeon and Sullyoon shyly approached the "couple". "Uhm, Sana. I think we can just eat sometime. We'll let you have you two your private time okay?"

"B-but w-"

"Thank you for being considerate on us, girls." You smiled humbly at them and they nodded before they left you and Sana to find their own seat. As the two of you remained, Sana's face crumpled and seethed much air to unleash her full force on escaping to your touch.

She quickly unhooks your arm on her waist, pushed you aside, and punched you in the shoulder. "Oww!"

"Seriously, what the hell did you do to me, YN?!" Sana started to bicker out on you. "How come you just started to spit out and let my friends hear and see you assuming that we have a relationship now, huh?! Did you ate something bad that had you acting like crazy today?"

"Nope. I'm perfectly fine, and what I did there earlier, consider getting used to that." You replied. "Because from now on, I'll be going to do it with you again and again and again a-"

"Woah wait no what?!" Sana paused you. "And why is that, huh? I haven't even agreed yet on the deal-"

"But was the contract got cancelled?"

Sana fell speechless. She remembered yesterday that she swore to dump the contract by requesting to her parents after she gave her disapproval. However, she failed to do so.

You took her silence as yes. "I suppose it didn't. If it does, my parents would've informed me immediately."

"Yeah yeah yeah, you won. So what? You still can't just do it like that to me randomly. I still haven't gave you the consent to touch me or do anything lovey dovey around me. Just because the contract states that we are arranged to be a couple that doesn't mean I can let you easily do everything free around me. Especially when the fact that I still hate you so much." Sana pointed at you as she stares deeply within you.

"Alright, fine. You do have a point. I shouldn't have done it. It's my fault, I made you uncomfortable, and I'm sorry for that." You spoke in a calm tone. Sana got her insides tugged at your sudden softer behavior. "But just know this, I hope you can let me do these with everything I can. No matter how much you deny, we are still stuck in an arranged contract that has a month allowed on us to come up on a decision if we'll take a marriage, and that gives each of us the right to do what couples does.

And I'm going to use it also, for me to prove myself to you that I've changed through all these years, Sana. Consider it me acting or say whatever you want, but when it comes to you, I'll show my improved self and nothing less than that." You said plainly to her. Sana is just listening at you patiently, sticking out important details to her mind while her emotions were a bit being brought by your committed words.

"I can't force you to love me back and have our marriage settled someday after the deadline comes, I wasn't even into love these days but I had no choice but to follow. But, I really do hope that before or when these all ends, I can hear you saying that I am now forgiven."

Sana was struggling to come up for a words to answer, and you took the opportunity to let her have time to remember and process everything as you locate a seat and bought foods for both of you. You left the still pissed off Sana became completely silent and come back to join her in an awkward lunch together.

That went on and on, with you trying to get along with Sana through most of the occasions. You supposed to take it all as a yes coming from Sana that you were being a chance to prove everything to her that you are not this same bad person she used to resist before.

With your frequent actions around Sana led to the campus knowing also about your rumored relationship with her.. Some were supportive that the president finally get to have a girlfriend such perfect as Sana while some were not due to the reason of jealousy most concerning about the fact that they are not the ones standing on the shoes or position of either you or Sana.

That didn't affected both of you, especially Sana who is trying her best to become unbothered with all of these because she is too tired to explain it to many people for some truth that everyone wouldn't accept easily. She knows it all to herself anyway that it's all part of the act, that none of them are interested with each other or has a growing fond being developed.

Not until one day, she accidentally finds you tutoring a female student in the library. She saw how entertained you are on how easily the girl gets to understand quickly with your teaching, thus turning you both looking happy together.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable at the scene, her lips unconsciously forming into a frown. Sana instead leaves the room and went on to return with her friends who noticed her bad mood as she buried her head around her crossed arms on the desk.

It all procceeded until their next subject when the girls tried to approach her about it. "Hey, Sana what's with the grumpy look?" Miyeon said as she peeked at Sana who looks completely out.

"You weren't participating with us lightly, what happened when you left the room earlier?" Sullyoon added.

"Yeah, you seemed in a no good mood."

"Nothing." Sana blabbered.

"Was it YN?"

"I said NOTH-" Sana paused and realized that she just made herself obvious, Miyeon and Sullyoon were just staring at her.

"Welp, that confirms it." Sana sighed. "Care to tell us what's the problem?"

She remained silent. She wasn't sure why she's getting a bit embarassed to reveal it until she also got nervous when her friends began to list down some of the possible things a couple creates problems.

"Was he cold to you today?"

"Hmm maybe you're the one who's not?"

"Or... could it be somebody's jealous-"

"What, no?!" Sana rapidly reacted. Miyeon and Sullyoon exchanged a "gotcha" look.

"Oh unnie, you're too obvious." Miyeon laughed.

"Jealous of what? Or should we say, who?" Sullyoon curiously asked.

"S-stop! I said it's nothing, okay! There's no chance in hell that I am jealous because of him." Sana made a "tch" sound on her mouth. "I don't even like him at all." She rolled her eyes as she whispered it, barely to be heard by her friends who returned focusing on their own. As she was left alone with her trouble, her eyes went staring at the window, she sighed deeply as she felt a strange regret inside her after saying those words while remembering what she saw back in the library.

As if she meant it.

Hours later, Sana bids goodbye to Miyeon and Sullyoon before she walked at the hallway all by herself. She stopped on her steps when she felt this unsettling feeling near her shoulder.

Her head goes turning around, searching for something but was unsuccessfully. Sana sighed and shook her head. "YN isn't coming. That guy/girl is a student council president, Sana. He/she's probably busy." she muttered to herself.

Sana continued to move, with a blank face and a moderate speed. As the afternoon light about to engulf her, she felt her sling bag slowly float, the weight she's carrying quickly became lighter.

Her breath got taken away shortly in surprise until she realized what caught her from that action.

It was you, smiling while standing beside her as you taking off her bag gently from her shoulder.

"May I?"

Sana didn't respond, she just let her arm spread a bit to let the strap fall, easily allowing it to fall from your posession.

"You do look like having a bad day." you peeked at her expression. Sana slightly got shy, and turns her face away as she pouted while rolling her eyes arrogantly.

"You just noticed? I'm always like this whenever you're around me."

"You sure there's nothing more than that? I know it's pretty much of a 'me' problem but... can you be more specific?"

"Oh come on, wasn't that enough for you? Stop triggering me, please. I said what I said, you are an eyesore that's why." Sana crosses her arm. She started to walk down the stairs as you slowly followed her with a faint smile on your lips.

"Okay, if that's what you say. I'll just be here behind you. Too bad, I wanted to lead the way because I want take us somewhere unwinding first." You sighed and tightened your lips. Sana heard it, sensing a weird sensation through her. She must be saying no or even meaner than that, but how come she became more curious?

Sana heaved out a large breath of air before pausing on her walk with a stomp. She turned around to face you as she gestures you to come forward. "It's only because I needed it."

And you grinned thankfully.

The two of you went to a cliff from a road outside of Seoul. Just in time, Sana was about to whine about how dangerous this place you chose until she was distracted of the magnificent sunset in display to the skyview.

Each of you took a picture, with her being first. You clicked the button, instead the shot accidentally captures Sana turning her attention back at you. As she approaches you, you dragged down your phone in embarassment and nervousness that she might found out and suspect that you're secretly spying on her.

"What happened to you?" Sana finds your tensed manner.

"N-nothing. I just... remembered something."

"Weirdo." She teases you. "So what's gotten into you choosing this place. Are you gonna push me there down the cliff to show me your true colors?"

You looked at her exhaustedly, no much in an energy to enlighten or defend yourself. "Say or think of anything suspicious about me, Sana but I wasn't even harming you even in my imaginations anymore." You didn't bother to look at her because all you'll see rather is an irritated, sassy woman whom you had a price to pay for.

"This is my favorite place to chill." You simply answered, leaning at the front of the car and posing your limbs as you supported yourself with your arms pressed on the car. Sana looked at your side-figure.

"I started finding this when me and my mom used to go here when I was young. She was the first one to notice how beautiful the sunset is to watch from here, and I did agree on her... and it turns out to become one of my favorite scenery." Sana just listened to your story as you continue to witness the sun hides from the clouds.

"My mother told me to stay with her longer here because for a moment, she found peace and serenity. She felt like there's nothing to worry about." You paused as you smiled proudly. "She felt like she wasn't going to be alone in this battle she's facing, because I was there by her side. Even though I... wasn't that too much vocal or expressive at what I've gone through in our family, but... my heart knows where I need to stay. Where I can surely find a better outcome for my life someday."

"That's why when the right thing happened one day, I started to listen and follow to my heart first. I kicked out all those delinquent students away from my company and I only remained my wonderful mom and dad... step-dad..." You corrected yourself, Sana shrank her eyes at that intentional pause. "Because it felt like it's the right thing to do, and it did. It helped me to get back up to my feet and reshape myself to become a proper man that my mom always wanted to see in me.

Sana, mind I if ask... am I progressing?"

Sana stares at you as you glanced at her with your glistening eyes full of hope. "I'm not gonna lie this time, but you sure are doing quite an effect on me..." Her voice is slowly decreasing through the words.

"But that won't still change anything about what you did to me before. People can say past is past easily but me? If it wasn't for that, which I don't know... should I say thank you atleast anyway... for motivating me to change my appearance? Lose a massive amount of weight, beautify myself more, get rid of those eyeglasses and braces just so that I can be accepted and liked by many for my features like what you said?" Sana said with a bit of a hatred rising through her again. You remain speechless as you understand why it's driving her mad.

"I achieved a better life too but unlike you, what I did I get? You put me into a trauma that I'm still bringing to myself till this day. Fear and anxious that...  makes me still remember it all."

"I like the passion, YN... but I will never going to forgive you for what you did to me. I will always hate you for that." Sana said it with all honesty. "And that's enough of a reason for me to have no interests on having our deal contract settled."

Heartbroken, you chose to ignore and hide as you have nothing more to do than to accepts her decision. After all, you were the one who already said that you can't force her to make amends with you.

"Understood."

The next week, Sana was about to go downstairs when she found a student sipping lollipop at the corner. The guy looks completely wasted, obviously breaking the proper uniform rules. She decided to ignore him as she continue to go through but insteas, the guy catcalled her before moving on its own, approaching Sana.

"Hi there, hot stuff." The guy said before taking off her lollipop with a slurp. "Where you going at?"

"A-at my class." Sana nervously said.

"Hmmm... okay. Nice and proper, I like it. Ladies like you are easy to be tamed, isn't it?" He smirked menacingly.

Sana stepped back and grabbed her sling bag. "E-excuse me? How dare you-"

"Ohhh, daring. Such a duality we got here huh, I wouldn't mind if you can do switch roles with me, however we can only apply that in the bed."

"Shut up, pervert!"

"Cmon, lady. It's that simply, feel free to take a shot on me, and you can be there to your classroom without a problem."

"And if I don't?!"

"Challenging and fightful, I like that."

"Then you're going to love me."

Sana and the delinquent both became surprised as you made your unexpected emergence from the stairs, hurrying down ss you pushed away the guy and had him bumping his back on the barred metal gate.

"This one's pestering you?" Sana only nodded.

"Ugh shit! Ah, look. It's the bastard of this goddamn student council!" The delinquent said while touching his upper back in pain.

"Choose your words more carefully. I can report you and have you be placed in a sanction that you'll regret."

"Go on, make me. As if I give a shit. This entire university is a complete bullshit anyway. The only reason it got me staying here everyday, is if wasn't for some sexy chicks like here roaming around-" The deliquent didn't had to speak disrespectfully and point at Sana longer as he ate a crunchy right punch from you straight to his face.

"You crazy bitch!"

The guy fights back at you, returning the punch you gave. It agitated you and led yourselves into a brawl that had the groans and growls echoing to the upper floor, catching student's attention. Sana panicked and tasked them to call a guard to seperate the two.

The guy got the advantage during the fight, he continues to give you a barrage of kicks to the waist before he pulled Sana closer to her and inappropriately traced her sides while he chuckles dangerously.

Sana felt disgusted and quickly slaps the guy. "What do you think you're doing, huh? Fucking slut!" He gave Sana a fast backhand slap that had her twirling and crashing next to the metal handles of the stairs.)+•~

You saw what he did, with anger fuming in you, you pulled his leg and sent him down on the ground before you tackled him andgave him multiple punches until the guards and the officials broke up the fight.

"THE TWO OF YOU, PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE. NOW!"

As a result of the fight and from the decision made by the higher ups, the guy was kicked out of the campus for multiple delinquent offenses while you got suspended for your role as the president for a couple of months when they learned that you just did that for self-defense.

Sana was sitting on the bed with the nurse preparing the first aid until you showed up and requested the nurse instead to leave it all on your hands. She hesitated for a minute that you are also bruised but you bargained until she gave up and listened to you as a respect for being a student leader.

Sana in her surprise, watched you sit down and grab the first aid beside you. "W-what are you doing?"

"Treating you."

"Don't make me a baby, YN. The nurse can do it herself."

You just stared at her and Sana felt a bit intimidated. She decided to shut up and forcefully let you do your thing. "Good. Now come closer and lemme see your cheek."

She leaned forward and directed her aching cheek on you. "That idiot." You cursed as you search around the reddening spot. You weren't aware that it was mixed by Sana's blush now to have you staring very closer at her.

You started applying the ice pack around the hurting spot as Sana hissed before she swallowed in her throat and spoke. "T-thank you... for earlier."

"No problem. That's unusual, atleast I got a positive comment from you.

"I- I wasn't expecting you to come to rescue me, okay. And I didn't know how much I needed it."

The awkwardness between each other formed as none dared to speak afterwards when both got lost in their words. However, you started a topic that might break the silence and for Sana to understand more.

"I wasn't always like this."

"I know, you said it. It's just that there's something happened that I don't know-"

"It's my dad." You answered it. Sana looked at you. "I know you've been itching to ask me what exactly happened."

"I just don't want to because I felt like it's not my intention to know more and all I had to do is to understand you because it seemed too personal that I might sound forceful. But I do really wanted to know why." Sana replied. "So... step-dad?"

"No. My biological dad." You revealed. "My original father was abusive to my mom. I learned that he became like that when he started to fell addiction to gambling and other crazy stuffs that risks your money badly. He releases his frustration to my mom until she couldn't take it no more when she heard it loud and clear from my father that he despises her for me not turning out to be the one he's expecting. He always wanted a son/daughter but... nope. That's just all a part of his excuses that made my mom snapped and file a divorce  and report to my dad, and guess what. Her attorney became so interested in my mom and here he is, my mom and my dad broke up and him, who is now my step-dad, saved mom and I." You said as you applied care on her bruises.

Sana looked at you pitifully and for the first time, she frowned for you. "W-why are still helping me or... treating me good, even though I don't return it back at you?"

"Because... I got influenced. At first, I look up to my dad. I thought at first that he was tough, strong... I started becoming like him when him and my mom always gets to have a proble but then I realized that he was a true coward for proving all that by beating up my mom. And she was the one who is actually tough, because despite of all the suffering she took from my dad, she didn't hurt him back physically but that doesn't she has no plans to fight. Because if she does, then I wouldn't be in a better state if it wasn't for her.

So I changed. I took mom as my role model. I remained calm as much as I can. I did it all to reshape myself from the ghost of the past. Now here I am, rather choosing to prove myself and mean it all on my words on you. I don't want to fight anymore to cause trauma, Instead, I'll do in a need to protect the people who are close to me."

Sana tied all the strings together, and it did finally all comes to a clear point that it wasn't really your fault that you turned out to be that reckless bully that she had to go through a hard time before. She would be lying if she won't admit that she is a supporter of a belief that people can change, and it comes through this moment that she decided that she can use that phrase for good.

"There, all done." You said as you tucked all the hair to her ear and patted the bandage firmly on her face. Sana was just staring back at your tender and admirable demeanor. "Does it still h-"

"I forgive you."

"..."

You fell silent. That was very out of nowhere, but suddenly it got so uplifted to hear that successfully.

"Y-you do?"

"And we still have a week remaining ahead of us. We can use it to finally be able get along together."

You smiled widely as you saw how Sana's bright and cute grin shines right in your eyes. She looked so beautiful, and you even felt more guilty and poor for her on vanishing this irresistable kine of joy within her before.

"Yeah we can. T-thank you a lot, Sana."

Sana patted your hand to calm your happiness down. She smiled as she stared down at your hands stacked together. She took a grip on it and even felt the heat crawling through her skin, sending to her overflowing emotions in her heart.

It actually does look... fitting in her opinion. And she even agreed more to herself when she looked back up to see the owner of the hand she would actually love to hold more in many occasions.

That moment, Sana confirmed to herself that she has now began to discover a liking on you, who is also discreetly sharing the same serenade as her too.

Days after you and Sana tried to start this brand new closeness both of you has started for each other, its aftermath had left you ran out to became so overwhelmed about it, now that have reminded you of something that requires to be done more important before the expiration was reached.

You wanted to be happy because you have now made peace with Sana, but today wasn't the right time for you to celebrate fully.

Too much occupied on spending time for each other, that it almost made both forgot that you had to deal with a serious matter when the next day comes.

Your mood disrupted as you got conscious of the date today, not even Sana's bubbly personality can distract you from it or anything. You couldn't even join her as you remained watching her instead for some reason.

"You seem like you're in deep thoughts again, YN." Sana poked you with the tip of the ice cream she bought. "Are you okay?"

You didn't answer right away as it took time for you to snap back into your senses and found yourself being confronted by Sana.

"Y-yeah."

A lie. Sana detected that disturbing twitch of a forced smile on your lips.

"Really, what's going on? I know i've seen this last time on you getting blacked out of nowhere but this one feels different."

"How can you say?" You asked in a dead tone.

She shrugged and opened her ice cream first before she continued speaking. "That something's definitely bothering you. You're so stiff and uneasy. Does it makes you scared?"

"M-maybe it is..."

"Care to share what it is then?"

You were about to respond but Sana introduces you to her cold palm blocking your sight.

"But first, eat your ice cream. It's gonna melt, plus... it's my favorite flavor, okay? I don't want it getting wasted." She pouted adorably.

You chuckled and sighed as you opened your ice cream. "Delicious."

"Who? Me or the ice cream?"

"W-what?" You looked so baffled at her suspicious remark.

She laughed loudly at your embarassed expression. "I'm sorry- it's just... you keep on staring at me while you're licking it and commenting it for me. I thought you're teasing me so... I tried to get back on you."

"S-stupid, you and your pervy thoughts..." You rolled your eyes and blushed intensely at her own silliness. "And what if I say you?" you smirked a little and glared at her.

"Then I don't mind having you grab a taste as much as you like~" Her eyes didn't even had to glare back at you to look flirty and seductive, instead aura changed on its own as Sana ensures that the one who started this kind of fun won't end up getting defeated in the end.

You gulped and looked away from her enticing look as she wheezes. "Sorry, what's gotten over me. Anyways, let's go backto where we left. Oh yeah, what's making you scared?"

You had to compose yourself before replying to her. "Of us. Certainly... for you."

"Why?"

"I can't tell if this luck that I have of making myself had to witness this whole you being... just the way you are is only temporary for me to see, because I fear that... I might lose this... real you, again." You said.

"I appreciate the consideration YN but, risks are inevitable okay? It's fine to take it as long as it won't step or abuse my whole being again." Sana said. "I know you're scared but... face your fears. This is why you seek for another opportunity, right? To make things right."

"But would it be wrong for me if..."

"If...?" Sana waited for your next words to follow up.

Your heartbeat quickened, nerves trembling, emotions rising, as there's no going back once you have revealed this secret you have been keeping from her in weeks. "Would it be wrong for me if I don't just want you as a friend anymore? That I also began to admire you more than that?"

Sana's smile dropped. Her gaze went more focused on you as she couldn't believe what she's hearing. "Y-you like me?"

"I know it's ridiculous of me to say that to you, because I feel like I don't have the right to feel this way because I made you like this... forcefully with my wrongdoings. But, I don't know why my heart is being like this." You said to her.

"Maybe it's due to what I've said to you last time that I started to follow what my heart wants, and it pains because... I feel like this is what I may be missing after all these years when I rather ending up hurting you against my will. And now it makes me worry if I continue this feeling i'm having now that we have buried your hatred, I might lose this... bright side that depicts the real you, Sana. That I mercilessly thrown away when we first met.

I don't want to let it go but... I couldn't  get rid of this feeling in me, even after you told me you have declined our contract, I'm heartbroken but I still keep on loving you." You started tearing up. For the first time, Sana has fully visualized this fragile self of yours and it truly does hurt her deep inside.

"But I don't want you to pity me. I still respect your decision, but... for the last time... a last hope in me, I just want to ask... do you... still want to reconsider it?"

You looked at her with your poor eyes. Sana got her breath taken away by your weakened state. Her heart crumples in pain seeing you like this because you are heavily concerned of something that you don't even had to.

Because she likes you too, and you don't even know yet.

If your heart chooses her, her heart needed you more.

"I'm sorry..." is what came out as a whisper to Sana's shaking tone. Your heart shattered and there's your last hope disappeared like a popped bubble in the air. She was about to speak but you interrupted her.

"I see. I get it, no matter how much a person forgives you for your sin, there's always be time that would grant you the punishment for wasting that moment that you should've been good rather. A karma, in short. And this one, is what I have to bring and suffer for the rest of my life."  You said to her with a bitter smile. Sana was in awe at your guilty pronounce.

"I enjoyed our time but I think I have to go now, Sana. I'm sorry." You excused yourself to Sana as you emptied your ice cream and left her speechless on your spot with her. Her frozen consciousness has what costs her to respond late to unable to catch you as you walked away from her sight.

Sana was left in distraught, as the words she was about to say and the entirety of your confession sinked down to her.

March 31. The day of the proclaimation has come. The month is ending and that means the contract has reached its breaking point. You and Sana met again in the court along with your parents in each of your sides.

Both parties are worried and confused on why you and Sana seemed so dull and devastated that neither couldn't look at each other's eyes anymore. This is what you feared, and the regret is eating you up again so bad.

"Mr/Ms. LN, are you in favor of the contract to be published and hereby signed by you?"

"I do, your honor." You said. You wanted to give it up but you chose to fight for what you have desired more. You wanted to be with Sana longer, and even if it won't grant you the same opportunity, it doesn't matter. Atleast you have become honest to your heart that you would've love to have her as yours.

Sana's lips trembled as she tried to fight the tears about to pour down on her face but was unsuccessful that the judge had to halt the question. It breaks your heart more to see her in an emotional breakdown in front of you.

"Miss Minatozaki, are you okay?"

"I... I'm not..." She sniffed her nose and wiped her tears before proceeding. " I'm not in favor of the contract, your honor."

Your family and Sana's both were in shock and saddened. You weren't surprised, but you are surely devastated that she is really this a hundred percent certain of her decision.

"Are you sure with your answer, Miss Minatozaki? You look hesitant. Perhaps you can provide a clear explaination why you still responded the opposite?"

"I'm really not in favor of the contract, your honor." Sana shook her head. She wiped her tears again before she stepped forward and came closer to you.

"Because I don't want to have it done arranged."

Your eyes widened. The collective gasps of the both sides can be heard from the court.

"I'm rather hesitant because I want to be with you more, YN... but not through this. I want us to build the story of our relationship through our own. I want it that way, not this where others had to dictate and rush us how things should go for us." She apologetically looks back at yours and her family, and gladly they nodded understandably at her point.

She immediately pulls you into a hug so tight that you wouldn't even care also if you got suffocated into her endearing gesture of what finding your home should feel like. "I'm glad that you didn't let go, YN... because I love you too."

She sobbed into your shoulder and you gave up with your emotions as flood of tears fell down on your face, but this time it was all full of joy and relief. You reciprocated her action as you wrapped her body into your own embrace and cuddled her head on your side.

"Thank you... thank you for giving me a chance, Sana. I'll do everything I can not to ruin this. I love you.

She leans away fron your shoulder and holds your shoulders as she traces your face super close between each other. "I'm so proud of you, YN. You deserve it."

"And yes, I would be glad to be your girlfriend... and your future wife soon." She winked before she pulls your head next for a wholesome romantic kiss.

Your families and even the judge clapped and congratulated in support for your newfound stronger relationship with Sana since this is a sight to behold seeing two couples aren't destined to be torn apart from each other... but rather to stay together forever despite all the harsh and crucial situations they had gone through.

Love, in cooperation with time; always finds a way to connect two people's hearts no matter how long it might take, and this... is the way their story had to go.

[iridescentscarecrow]

asks on retrospring [archived]: responses containing thoughts on hyuna & luka (one / two)

q. did you notice that in the blink gone mv in Hyuna's third appearance (when she gets close to the screen and the archives start uploading) Luka says the lyrics "Exist for me" [....]?

a. YESS I WAS FREAKING OUT ABOUT THIS ON MY PRIV WHEN THE MV DROPPED; a bit rambly but: it's that beautiful last line in the hylk anakt comic if you remember. i don't think hyuna <exists for luka> in the same way mzsua ivtl manifest themselves, since she's not the subject of his songs: while for others their loves are a manner of self realisation through other, luka obscures himself & Becomes (someone else's) Other. it's a part of the control he maintains on the stage; hyuna doesn't leak through even once other than the brief glance back when she appears in person at the end of r5. (this is something i contrast w/ how hyuna sings too, but then this response would get too long)... this is the exact control that hyuna describes to luka in the anakt comic, the sense of ownership she gets from the stage: "before we get on stage, we do as we're told... [but when i'm singing] my existence, my life.. feels like it's mine." & he responds "but your life is mine, though?" & in a way it is. because she's absent, she's scrubbed herself of any of these sticky connections but he's taken the control she once described to him & made it his, become her embodiment when every other aspect of his life is controlled by heperu. in the narrative, she exists for him & is simultaneously secluded from the audience, the thousand preying aliens, until he sees her on the stage & his easy facade falls...

q. What do you think Hyuna's feelings for Luka are? Her feelings for him were never confirmed, in the artbook profile for her it says that she thinks that she shouldn't have approached him first and treated him well, and she evades saying something else about him, so it implies that she dislikes him, but in every official art that has them (even in the sweet dream mv), she lets him be intimate with her (touch her waist, be close to her, massage her, etc) despite her awkard or angry expression everytime they interact

a. i think quality-wise it's obviously complex & there's much still to learn but i'm less interested in whether it measures as dislike/like than how it falls into alien stage's idealisation-as-love aspect: because in many ways none of this is strictly "love" — the children in anakt are constructing what it must mean out of nothing & this process occurs simultaneously with their manifestation of their own selves. & i think w/ hyuna that mired sort of intimacy in their few official art is best mixed in with her own Evasion & clouding over of luka (in my previous answer where i was talking about how luka thinks about her: he does something similarly divergent from alnst's idealisation form). in her profile she says "i shouldn't have approached you from the beginning and been nice to you... shall we talk about something else?" — the evasion, the shortness, very different from the answers she uses for everyone else. she's kind of refusing to let him become her ghost lol. in the artbook, they say "from the outside, hyuna appears to be moving forward, but in reality, she’s unable to escape her past." i really like how all in has hyuna creating her own, Changed Fantasy with the lyrics about her control through which her own Free self is made manifest coming off as a Kind of proof of life against the way said lyrics r layered with flashes of luka and hyunwoo & her own desperate expression. she's not singing about luka...! she's singing about herself but he appears nonetheless and the lyrics at the points he appears characterise her further to me. like she still makes the gestures mid song, going through the motions of exhibited confidence despite her distressed expression... it fascinates me in how a stage where everyone story-ises another in order to get this individuation (see: ivan),, its not just that hyuna sings about herself,, she does this on top of a Refusal of luka. compare this with luka who always sings in a way where he's obscuring himself! i really enjoy the lyrics from drunk and party [goodbye, i'll release you / from these cold shackles / your body and soul, bruised and broken / your freedom was taken away so you couldn't fly, sing!] because of the way its directed towards Someone else, keeps herself in that area of savior. but the someone else in question is hypothetical, unformed outside their plight, unlike a lot of the other songs. and so now the hyuluka art comes off as this — frame of romance, almost. luka the blissful, blushing bride & hyuna's expression of horror. in the newest art his hand curls around her hip (the location where the brand is on his own body), like he's trying to inscribe himself onto the idea of her, and she's revolted by the idea of this and he can do this, because she's Off Stage. she's the concept of freedom he has made his own... but she's alive and kicking & that's why them actually seeing each other on the stage is such an important moment to me. like,, hyuna lives in a way where she's trying to cut herself off from the sticky connections of the past, the same ones the stage is composed of. and it's really interesting how she saves mizi because she sees herself in her? it makes me think of luka-sua parallels, lol & how sua according to the artbook wanted to preserve mizi's innocence to her detriment, so that she could live within that beautiful innocence of the "heavenly garden", to the point of becoming an obstacle to mizi's growth... and luka's obsession with hyuna's idea of freedom on the stage has me speculating that something in a similar flavour happened there. because hyuna is so obsessed with growing Past it now, in a way, and luka is like a sua who lived. i'm very curious about their past..!

[blue-rose-soul]

I really love your Devil’s bastard and Raised Together AUs because there’s a lot of familial drama but also lore associated with Lucifer and just what he can pass down to his children that is so fascinating.

https://youtube.com/shorts/MV4InNo3zCY?si=qM459R9-jSxE-6jR

I can imagine a scenario where something like this occurs and both Charlie and Alastor are pushed to unlocking the sleeping demons that lay sleeping inside them.

Imagine Charlie with red and white wings and Alastor with red and black wings, the hellfire being appearing over their horns and insane power emanating from them

Appreciate it! The big fun of this AU for me is definitely how it throws a monkey wrench right in the characters' usual dynamics. Lucifer going from implicitly threatening to murder Alastor to awkwardly stumbling around him. Alastor trying to manipulate Charlie without letting her assimilate him into her idealistic fantasy version of a brother-sister bond. Vaggie waking up from nightmares of having Alastor as a brother-in-law.

But yeah, it's also interesting to imagine what effect Lucifer's angelic DNA would have on his offspring. We don't know much about what Charlie actually is or how she's different from demons in general - Hellborn or sinner - or from either of her parents. Sinners are human souls, but based on the fact that they eat and sleep have toilets, they do seem to have all the same gears and whistles as living breathing humans. At the same time, they can twist their bodies into impossible shapes, grow to enormous sizes, even pull themselves back together after being ripped apart by anything that isn't an angelic weapon. And this isn't even mentioning any supernatural powers they may have like Sir Pentious's hypnosis or Alastor's - [gestures to all of him] - everything.

The idea of Alastor and Charlie unlocking some greater power does sound pretty cool! However, as they're already pretty demonic at their base, I would instead flavor it as them unlocking their sleeping angelic powers. After all, angels are said to be more powerful than demons in-universe, and this is power inherited from Lucifer. Plus, I love love love angels as monsters. I think that Charlie did experience a more mild form of what you're talking about after Sir Pentious was killed.

Of course, it wasn't quite the raw explosion of power I think you're thinking of, and the end result is still pretty demonic looking. But this is still power she inherited from Lucifer. But we're still early into the story, and it's fun to speculate what kind of greater power Charlie may unlock in the future.

(Alastor agrees.)

But back to the AU, the thought of them manifesting wings along with their greater powers at a later date would be sooooo fun. Maybe while facing off against the person who owns Alastor's soul (who I will say is Eve for the purposes of this AU). The both of them manifesting wings would be a nice way to visualize their shared bloodline. Plus, the addition of wings to Alastor's design may call to mind the peryton; a mythical creature with the appearance of a winged stag. A not-so-minor pet peeve of mine is when people say Alastor is a w**digo just because his deer-like appearance, and the peryton feels much more appropriate to his character.

Granted, he doesn't have any cultural ties to the peryton either aside from maaaaaybe his name (the name 'Alastor' has its origins in ancient Greece and the creature seems to be either Greek or Roman), but it does make for a great visual pun if you take 'peryton' to refer to radio signals.

[heliosthegriffin]

Jaune makes some corrections

Jaune had liked to think he came a long way as he entered his third year at Beacon, at least compared to himself when he entered the academy, in terms of strength, speed, stamina, skill with his weapon, confidence, and leadership.

But, unfortunately, he found that his ability to get into involved in rumors had also improved.

He stood in front of the podium looking out among the crowd, trying to look as calm as Ren and as unimpressed as Weiss, to varying degrees of success. Because today, he had to correct some rumors going around.

"I don't run a sex cult, end of story." The leader said with all the finality and annoyance he could manifest into his voice before he then he turned around to walk out of the auditorium.

The gathered students, first through fourth years going wild behind him.

It made him want to cry as he heard behind him how civilizations mighty protectors were throwing tantrums like children.

He stopped and turned around. "What?!" Jaune yelled out into the crowd. "What is it?!" His throat flashing white briefly.

The sudden wave of sound from him, mixed with the frustrated bite to his amplified voice scared the crowed to stillness.

"Alright, it seems I didn't answer the question well enough, alright..." He pointed randomly into the crowd. "You!" He pointed at a short pink haired girl holding her hand up. "What is it?"

"Can we join the sex cult?"

"NO! I don't run a sex cult!"

"Then, why does the entire everyone say you lead a sex cult?"

"Because, I agreed to be a part of an Orgy," Jaune holds up a finger. "Once! Because my girlfriend tricked me to. And only once! I am in a perfectly happy relationship otherwise!" He points at a red head, androgynous looking faunus with a tanuki tail.

"You! What's your question."

"Then why does everyone want you have a sex cult?"

"I don't know?!" Jaune says as he throws up his hands. "I guess it's just one long joke at my expense! Also, no more questions about the sex cult, it doesn't exist!"

"Aw." The crowd sighed.

"Alright, any non-sex cult related questions? Yes, you, what is your question?" Jaune asks, pointing at a tall freshman with lavender hair.

"Yeah, is it true that you have infinite aura?" The freshman asked excitedly.

Jaune sighs. "No, that's just a rumor, I just learned to mix enhanced aura regeneration, something that anyone can do! With my semblance to refill mine back to full in a couple seconds, usually, this helps me refill my teams back to full in under a minute. Infinite is just a exaggeration." The same freshman looked at him with a slack jaw. "You mean you can refill your teammates, The Invincible Girl Pyrrha Nikos, The Berserker Nora Valkyrie, and Shadow Master Lie Ren in under a minute, along with your own?! How is that not infinite!"

"Because it's numerically finite! That's why! Next question!" He points a blue haired short sophomore.

"Is it true you have infinite stamina in which to satisfy your harem?"

Jaune's right eye then started to twitch. "Wow, that is a twofer of bullshit. First off, I do not have a harem! Where does that even come from?! Just because I am in a open relationship does not mean I have a harem!"

"But they're all women?!"

"Ren is a guy, I'm bi!"

"It's not gay if it's Ren!"

Jaune squinted out into the crowd. "Sun? What are you doing out there?"

"Uh, gotta go!"

"You didn't answer about the infinite stamina though!"

Jaune groaned. "No! I don't have infinite stamina, I get tired too!"

"But after how long thought?"

Jaune snapped closed his mouth.

"After how long?"

"Next question?"

"Answer the question! Answer the question!" The crowd chanted.

"Fine! Two days, but I was pretty tired afterwards, next question!" He pointed at a bunny eared fourth year- wait, Velvet?!

"Is it true you have a mammoth sized dick?!"

"The fuck?" Jaune mouthed. "No, just no, it's perfectly normal, average, and man-sized."

"HE LIES! THE BITCH TELLS LIES! IT THE SIZE OF THIS SODA CAN BUT WAY BIGGER!"

"NORA GET OUT OF HERE!" Jaune yelled. "ALSO, SIZE ISN'T THE DECIDING FACTOR IN SEX! EMOTIONAL INTIMACY AND EXPERIENCE ARE MORE IMPORTANT!

"YOU CAN SILENCE ME, BUT YOU CAN'T SILENCE THE TRUTH! HE LIES THE SEX CULT IS-" Nora yells in the middle of the crowd.

Bang.

Jaune puts away the tranquilizer gun, as Nora hits the ground. "So, uh any none sex related questions?"

"Is it true that your the strongest member of your team?"

"No, next question."

"But, you just took down-"

Bang.

Jaune put down the tranquiler gun again. "Alright, I think that's enough questions for today, none of you come around me or my team ever again."

Then he walked away pulling Nora with him.

Only for a hatch to open under the podium, Yang and Blake, plus Pyrrha coming out.

Yang taps the mic. "Yeah, he wasn't lying, he's not a part of the sex cult, and definitely not the leader."

Blake nods her head. "Yeah, he is the sex cult! Thanks to Saint Pyrrha's guidance, we have found the god of our Sex Cult."

Pyrrha blushes. "The cult of Jaune Arc's Penis is held on Wednesday in the Ruins inside the Emerald Forest from 5pm to 7pm, bring your own snacks."

[krikeymate]

👀 Can we get a scene of Tara introducing the baby to the wolf?

It is my right, growls a voice inside her head. “You have no right,” Sam responds, agitated by the constant demands from the beast. It scares her, how desperate it is to meet Annie. She fears what it means. The wolf inside of her has demanded to meet many people since it began to manifest its own voice inside of her, a year and a half ago. None of them survived to meet their next sunrise.

She won't let it near Tara's daughter. She'll tear herself apart before she gives it an opportunity to touch the girl.

She is mine, it declares. Sam can feel the anger radiating from the beast at her continued denials, but it is nothing compared to her own. How dare it? How dare it try to claim something that belongs to her?

“She's not yours,” Sam hisses through grit teeth, careful to keep her voice low. Tara's just in the other room feeding Annie, and she won't have her disturbed. Again. She doesn't need her to worry, Sam will take care of this. She always does. “You are nothing, just a parasite hitching a ride inside my brain, like my father. He became a nuisance and I found a way to get rid of him, so mind your tongue or I'll do the same to you.”

The beast huffs, but doesn't continue to argue. Sam sighs in relief. It gets more and more vocal by the day, and she doesn't know what to do about it. It always has more to say around the full moon, and this month especially. But given what happened last cycle, perhaps it makes sense. Maybe once tonight is over she'll finally get some peace and quiet. For a while, at least.

Sam glances out the kitchen window at the soon-to-be setting sun. She needs to make a move now if she wants to be far away from here by the time the moon rises. And she does.

Despite her anxiety over the situation, Sam still takes a moment to pause in the doorway and watch her sister feed the baby.

Tara's seemed... different, since she came along. Happier, in a way. Calmer. Sam thinks she might be different too. Anika was an accident, but she might just be the best mistake they've ever made.

Walking forward, Sam rests her hands on the back of the couch and drops a kiss to the top of Tara's head. She reaches forward to run a hand over the downy hair on Annie's and leans over to kiss her as well.

“How are my favourite girls doing?” she asks, unable to hide the affection that laces every word. Not that she would want to. She never wants Tara to doubt how much she loves her, never again. Annie will never doubt how much she is loved.

Tara reaches up to leave a kiss of her own to Sam's jaw. “We're just as fine as we were half an hour ago,” she teases with a wide smile. It twitches, weakening as she takes in Sam's face, gaze lingering on the tightness of her expression and the white knuckle grip she has on the couch.

“It's still bothering you, isn't it?” she asks quietly. Sam doesn't respond, Tara already knows the answer. Her eyes flick between the window and her sister. She hates the way Tara's face drops as she catches the movement.

“Already?”

“It's safer this way, it's already restless. I don't want to be caught off guard too close to home.”

“I just wish you didn't have to do this alone.”

Sam moves around the couch and drops to one knee in front of her sister. “I'm never alone. Even when we're apart, I always feel you with me,” she says softly, eyes never leaving Tara's. It leaves her sister speechless. Sam takes the opportunity to make her escape now, before Tara says something that only makes it harder to leave.

Standing up, she cups Tara's face and leaves a kiss on her brow. “Don't try and wait up for me, you need your rest,” she declares. Turning to the baby, she gives her another kiss too. “Be good for your mother.” Annie just blinks up at her without recognition.

Sam forces herself back. She needs to leave, no matter how much she would rather spend the evening with her girls in her arms.

The wolf inside of her tries to reach back, pushing at her chest, desperate. It makes her spin on her heel and head for the door, every step away feels agonising. Pulling open the door, she resists the urge to look back. “Don't forget to lock the door,” she reminds her sister, a familiar routine.

“I won't,” Tara replies, as always. She sighs at the click of the door as Sam closes it behind her. She misses her already.

“It's just you and me tonight,” she murmurs sadly to the girl in her arms.

They've rarely been apart since Sam came back into her life. At first it was Sam's way of making it up to her, overcompensating for five years of loneliness by never leaving her side. Now it's nothing less than a want, a need. Sam's always said that her life began the moment Tara was born, and she thinks it must be true, because she knows now that Sam is the other half of her heart. She finally understands the heart-wrenching loneliness that almost tore her apart when Sam left. They were meant to be together.

She regrets that she couldn't appreciate the effort back then, too caught up in her own head, in trying to pretend everything was normal, in trying to be normal. It all seems so stupid now. She regrets not being able to appreciate Sam more when she needed her support, but she'll never regret what it led to, how it's freed her – freed Sam. It changed their lives for the better, the girl in her arms is evidence of that.

Tara's kicked out of her thoughts with a foot to the chest. She manages to pull her arms back just in time to miss a little fist flying for her too.

“What happened to being good for mommy?” she asks the fussing baby. Annie only whines in response, squirming in her arms. “I guess you didn't actually agree, did you?”

She stretches out her legs before getting up off the couch and taking her for a walk around the apartment, bouncing her arms in a way that never fails to calm Annie down. Except tonight it seems.

“You miss her too, huh?” she sighs, stopping at the window and looking out into the night. Sam says she can always feel her with her, Tara wishes she could say the same.

-

Something about tonight's change feels wrong. She's not far enough away, she realises too late. The thought coincides with her head snapping in the direction of home. It's like a beacon calling to her and she begins to move against her wishes. Sam struggles with her limbs as they move on their own. Her mouth growls, but it's not her voice. Home now, it says. No, she snarls back. The wolf doesn't listen. It drives her back, wrestles control over the body from her.

Sam doesn't think she's ever felt so out of control. It's been so long since she's felt this helpless.

This is her fault, she thinks. She got cocky, overconfident. She thought nothing could touch her.

If anything happens to her girls, if she does anything to them, she'll never forgive herself.

-

It's dark inside the building. Not even the moons piercing glow can breach the thick curtains caging the window. It's not right, but sometimes the absence of a blessing is one in itself. The dearth of its guiding light allows this one to violate the sanctum.

The tenacious one knows nothing of what she's truly capable of, knows nothing of what they are capable of. She's passionate but doesn't know how to listen very well. It has much to teach her, so it has to make her listen. It must make a demonstration.

It can hear its victims steady heartbeats. It's own heart races with anticipation as it skulks towards them, body near invisible in the darkness of the room.

-

Tara jolts awake in an instant, gasping. She was having a nightmare, she thinks. The details quickly fade from her mind, but the feeling of terror remains. She feels watched. Hunted. It unnerves her.

Rolling over, Tara reaches into the bassinet beside her to pick up Annie and pull her close. The baby sleeps through the movement, much to her relief. She doesn't want to disturb her just because she had a silly nightmare, but she needs her in her arms. It soothes her nerves, knowing Annie's safe in her embrace.

She turns back to Sam, intent on cuddling into her as she always does when she wakes up scared, before she remembers that Sam isn't here tonight.

The memory of Sam walking out the door sets her back on edge, arms tightening around her daughter on reflex. The dip in the mattress beside her is usually nothing to note, just a reminder that she's safe and her sister is here beside her.

Now it's an alarm bell screeching in her ears.

She holds her breathe, frozen. That's when she hears the panting, notices the prescence beside her. It's familiar, yet not.

The wolf begins to move, now noticed. It leans towards her, hot breathe blowing against the side of her face.

This isn't Sam, something inside of her screams.

The beast lurches forward, snapping its jaw near her ear. Tara hates the way she whimpers, curling up to protect Anika. She doesn't want it to know she's scared. It's still a part of Sam, how can she fear any part of her?

"Please," she whispers as it growls. She can feel the way it moves around her, fur brushing against her bare arms, reaching, grabbing.

The wolf has always claimed Tara as its own. They feared how it may react to another claiming her too, even before it began to show interest in the baby.

"Don't hurt her."

Her voice is edged with desperation, tears beginning to fall.

It doesn't like that, and snaps again, nipping at her shoulder, snarling all the while.

The beast steps back, reevaluating as it watches the girl only draw away, hiding the pup further. It cannot treat prey like a predator, it thinks.

It barks and lays down, pinning its intended's legs with their own, head resting on its paws. It means them no harm, as she fears, but it has no way to communicate this with a human. The moon only knows its host would never allow them the opportunity to speak through them, only to. It laments this fact, for it has so much to say to their packmates.

The thought has the wolf whimpering.

The noise makes Tara peek up from between her arms and legs. She meets the curious silver eyes peering up at her, and feels reassured.

This still isn't Sam, but it is familiar. She's met this wolf before, been protected by it before. It makes her fear dull.

Relaxing, Tara begins to reveal the baby to the wolf once again. Its ears perk up, tail beginning to wag.

It shuffles forward, pausing to look up at Tara, concerned it may scare her away again. She bites her lip, considering, before lowering her arms.

Annie's awake now, disturbed by the nighttime interruption, sleepy brown eyes staring up at the two of them.

She lets out a yawn, and the wolf immediately nudges forward to nose at her. The movement makes Tara flinch, and it draws back, waiting.

A hand on its head gives it the confirmation its been waiting for, and it finally gets to meet their newest packmember.

"Gentle," she warns, and if it could roll its eyes, it would. It's no fool, it knows the pup is fragile, weak and in need of protection. It's been trying all month! Its host has been so selfish, keeping it locked away. It needs to mark the pup as pack, so others know she's claimed.

Tara watches the beast nuzzle her daughter. She feels stupid now, seeing how careful it is with her. How could she have ever thought any part of Sam would hurt her daughter? Sam may doubt herself, but Tara never should.

She won't make that mistake again.

The wolf finishes scent marking Anika and moves on to Tara instead, taking her off guard.

"I smell just fine," she grumbles pushing the massive head away with one hand, the other cradling Annie in her lap.

It just grabs at her hand, catching it between teeth and weaving its tongue between her fingers.

"Gross."

[heavenlythea]

fulfillment doesn't always mean that you have to be the one who has the thing

before we discovered the law and started taking care of our minds majority of us were operating from the scarcity mindset. now we know that instead of having fear as our primary motivator, we can operate from love instead. but it takes some practice and that's alright.

when we apply the law, we often approach it from the scarcity mindset without even realizing it. this brings a ton of unnecessary frustration:

you feel like you have to (physically) have the thing to be able to appreciate it. you have to have it in front of your eyes / on your mind 24/7 to feel like it's yours. you're so focused on whether the thing is yours or not that you forget to be grateful that it exists, even if it's just in form of a possibility.

that's what a combination of loa and living from fear does. you're constantly grasping something; the more you try to get it and claim it, the further away it seems to get.

now how does mixing the law and living from love feel?

you know you don't have to own something to be able to enjoy it and appreciate it. you milk out the enjoyment out of whatever your situation right now is. you are grateful for the mere possibilities of something existing because you know that it can give you the same amount of joy and fulfillment as the actual thing etc.

and the more you practice this, the more you realize that oftentimes you don't actually want to own the thing, you just want to enjoy it. you don't want to have it, you just want it to be part of your life experience. and you'll realize that even things that pass or aren't part of your life 24/7 can bring you long-term fulfillment. just encountering them is enough. they may pass, but the fulfilment can stay.

the best way to start practicing this is by being grateful for things you don't actually own / have in your life directly:

appreciate the flowers in your local cafe

enjoy the drive in your sibling's new car

appreciate gorgeous outfits you see on pinterest without the need to own the exact items

enjoy seeing your neighbor's new puppy and maybe even pet it

listen genuinely and attentively to your friend's description of their trip abroad

smile when you see a couple on a romantic date

enjoy a new album of your fave artist as much as you can even if you're not going to their concert

etc.

these things may not be yours to own, but they can be yours to enjoy and appreciate and that's what matters after all ♡

personal note: this is actually how i accidentally manifested a puppy as a kid. for the longest time i wanted a dog. i was really whining about it and constantly asking my parents for one but they just wouldn't agree.

then one of my friends that never cared about having a puppy as much as i did received one for her birthday. i was thrilled about it. sure, the puppy wasn't mine, but i could still go on walks, play and cuddle with him. i imagined how i'm gonna spend the whole summer with my friend and her new puppy and i was so happy about it.

the same day just a few hours later my mom told me that she's gonna talk my dad into getting a new puppy for our family as well. she did it out of nowhere and out of her own initiative. from the way she talked about the whole situation, it was obvious that somehow she thought that not having a puppy while my friend does have one would make me feel even more sad and disappointed. she had no idea that i was perfectly fine with my friend's new pet because i thought that that's the closest best thing to actually having one myself. but i stayed silent about that and within two weeks we had a new puppy at home as well.

[belethlegwen]

=carefully slips in, respectful of your door=

Hey. It's me. ya boi.

Because I know you've had Henry a long time: **D) Have they always had the same physical appearance, or have you had to edit how they look? and actually while we're here, hit me with #7 for him as well: **What triggers nostalgia for them, most often? Do they enjoy that feeling? For Peter: **21. Why do they get up in the morning?  (because he is clearly not getting enough sleep #teamletpeternap2023) (but also i would genuinely like to know) And to shake things up a little extra: For Daphne <3 #22 **How does jealousy manifest itself in them (they become possessive, they become aloof, etc)? 

BONUS: I. Atticus wants to know if Henry's up for more sledding obstacles or if that's old hat by now

=locks the door behind you so you can't leave= Ah you've fallen perfectly for my trap, muahaha etc. <3

[Henry] Have they always had the same physical appearance, or have you had to edit how they look?

Henry has changed appearance over the years, being that I originally dreamt him up when I was very young and he became like, a full character with name around Jr. High/Highschool years, most notably he's grown a beard which I personally am extremely attached to. A lot of his current appearance in my mind, especially from the neck down (and the waist down) has been informed a lot by the initial art a friend of mine (@keniambro) did of him upon my request. I had a very clear idea of who he was as a person, and general ideas of his appearance, but Keni really did breathe life into him.

[Henry] What triggers nostalgia for them, most often? Do they enjoy that feeling?

Henry gets the strongest feelings of nostalgia, no joke, from weather. The strength of wind on a sunny, rainy, cloudy, cold, stormy day... it can depend on where he is and what he sees sometimes, like the way light can come through a summer bouquet of birchleaves, but he will almost instantly be transported to a time, a place, a situation. Most of them overlap, and he's gotten better over time of being able to choose the memories that help him more than hurt him, but sometimes... sometimes it takes him to a very dark place.

[Peter] Why do they get up in the morning? 

Peter's sense of duty. Not simply just to the Eastern Coastal Watch, which he commands, or even necessarily the duty to the overall military/royalty. There's a sense of patriotism to it, absolutely, but it's rooted in just... a willingness to do good, be good; to be there for the people. The Coastal Watches have always been a defensive force, protectors, rescuers when needed. He lives for that. That's what he wants to keep, what he wants to protect. It's why he struggles with dwindling numbers of members, it's why he is constantly trying to outthink the issues of defunding they face, the attempts by the other branches to try and absorb them into something else. Peter believes in what the Watch stands for. Peter gets up because if he doesn't, there is one less person doing good for other people. Peter gets up because somewhere, out there, someone needs help, and he is trying to maintain as many resources (including people) as he can that would be able to help them.

[Daphne] How does jealousy manifest itself in them (they become possessive, they become aloof, etc)?

When Daphne begins to feel jealous of another person-- particularly when it's for something that she can not manage to achieve herself-- she becomes extremely aloof, almost avoidant of them. It doesn't get to resentment often (though it can, and has), but she can become extremely depressed if in exposure to jealousy for too long and it absolutely attacks her self-worth. Intensely so.

[Bonus] Atticus wants to know if Henry's up for more sledding obstacles or if that's old hat by now

Henry is up for more sledding obstacles with whatever they can work with as we finally get into the Spring melt up here. A lot of the snow is unworkable for anything like... grand, but it should have decent stick to it still and is pretty good for packing down into luge/sled pipes, tunnels, turns, etc.

[ampedupkaon]

August Writing Challenge Day 28: Guila/Jericho

AN: Jericho was training Zeal to be a Holy Knight; we know that. It's mentioned when the Sins have kicked the Demon King out of Meliodas and Guila makes the flirtatious comment to Jericho. This takes place some time after that training has started.

“Do you think I could do it?” Jericho had pondered that. She also knew Zeal was capable, even if his magic hadn't manifested yet. Hers manifested after her brother had died, so it didn't say much that his hadn't.

“You have good stamina, you pick the skills up quickly... I think you're capable Zeal.” He was frowning and she didn't like that.

“You need to think you're capable too though. Magic doesn't work if you don't believe you're capable. I'd know; been there, done that.” He didn't appear to believe her, but they could work on that. Another day. It was getting late. She didn't like walking home in the dark on her own. She should have kept better track of the time. Guila peeked out, seeing the two of them still.

“All done for the day?” She asked, Zeal nodding in answer.

“I actually disarmed Jericho once!” Guila gave her a look which made her shudder.

“Very impressive Zeal.” Guila took hold of his hand.

“Would you like to stay over, Jericho?” She jumped, not expecting to be spoken to.

“Why?”

“Well, you live on the other side of town. And there are drunkards around at this time of the day who might have a go.” Guila had had to deal with some, she remembered. Men who'd been a little grabby with women who were just walking in the streets. She wasn't sure she wanted that kind of attention. Not after Ravens.

“Can I?”

“I wouldn't have offered if I didn't think it okay.”

“Thank you.” Jericho pondered if it would be appropriate to hug Guila for the kindness. Perhaps not outside. She recalled an incident at a tavern where two of the waitresses had been knocked into each other and had held each other so they didn't fall. The men had whistled, approving of the 'woman-on-woman action'. Hence, she'd wait until they were inside. She followed the dark haired girl and Zeal inside, heading to the rooms where they were staying. She shivered when she realised Guila had only one bed. She could sleep on the couch, but it wouldn't be comfortable.

“I meant it, thank you for letting me stay over.” She hugged Guila, who seemed a little surprised at the contact now.

“Oh, think nothing of it.” Jericho let go now, stepping towards the couch; her bed for the night.

“The bed is over here.” She gave the black haired girl a confused look.

“I can't take your bed off you, that's not fair.”

“You aren't. We can share the bed.” Her cheeks went red at the other girl's words.

“We... we can't do that! It's...”

“We both have the same parts, Jericho. And... unless you intend to handle mine... I don't see what the problem is.” She chewed that over for a moment. She supposed there wasn't a problem. She didn't sleep in the nude. And from what she could recall, Guila didn't either. They were a similar size; she could borrow a nightdress for one night. They had bathed together; they'd saw the other's parts before.

“Alright... can I borrow something to sleep in?” Guila fished out a nightdress for her, before heading over to the bed. Jericho turned around when she saw Guila starting to undress; they might have saw it before, but it was rude to stare. She quickly took her clothes off, pondering whether to slip her panties off too. She dragged the nightdress on, it a little too long for her liking. Mind made up, her panties found the floor.

“It does suit you.” Guila remarked, sitting on the bed waiting for her. She made her way over, sitting on the other side. She climbed in after the other girl, keeping to one side of the bed.

“I had hoped you might... join me.” Guila had shuffled to the middle of the bed, getting comfortable. Jericho wasn't convinced she should move closer.

“Come on, what's one night of cuddling between friends, right? I'm sure those three have cuddled, if only by accident.” She... she guessed they might have done. She shuffled closer and Guila slid her arms over her waist. She nervously hugged back; unsure what Zeal might think if he saw his sister and his instructor cuddling like this.

“Relax. I'm not expecting you to kiss me goodnight, you know.” Guila giggled when her cheeks flushed. The thought of kissing was... kind of appealing. She wasn't sure if she'd want to kiss Guila though.

“Night Guila.”

“Sweet dreams, Jericho.” The black haired girl whispered, before getting comfortable. Jericho got as comfortable as she thought she was going to get while being held like this and closed her eyes. Sleep found her surprisingly quickly.

AN: Zeal finds the two of them in the morning. He doesn't have any problems with it; quite the opposite. He's happy his sister has found somebody she's happy to cuddle with; after the problems she'd had in relationships in the past. Jericho is quick to explain that it isn't like that, not realising Guila said nothing of the sort.

[blog-reflection]

ONE / Twenty Four - Somewhere in Between Something

I don’t know what to do.

Seriously I have no Idea what I am supposed to do now. I never thought this strange trick from Lucia would’ve actually been useful. Stuff like this only happens in movies or some sort of teenage growing up relationship thing and I am sure as hell that I ain’t in such a story. Against all laws of a clear mind I skipped the message and took an investigating look at his profile. His picture showed him at some kind of party. Lots of lights and people everywhere. He wasn’t standing, but sitting, the ground was blurry in the background. He sat on the top of a bench which was leaning against a small wall, one foot stood on the bench while the other one was laying all out. He was holding a lighter and just stared at the flame. It’s a really cool picture if you ask me. The name was the same, Green Otter. I highly believe that Otter isn't his second name but I also couldn’t figure out what it could be. His pronouns are he/him, but I’ve already known that one from the cafe. There was also a status he filled out. 

“somewhere in between something”

I’m not sure where that is aiming at but I like the sound of it. And that was kind of it. He didn’t have any information in his profile besides an emoji of an otter. I get it though, they are cute as hell. So, if we gather all the information we know that his name is Ethan something Green, He’s a tall blond guy who works in a cafe near school grounds. He likes otters, which is a cute fact to know and he likes to go to parties. That isn’t really what I assume as much information but well it has to do. After I scanned his profile I decided to look at his message and at least to give him an answer. I don’t know what I’ll write so I guess I’ll be freestyling that one. 

Discord conversation 

@GreenOtter Today at 9.50pm

Hi If I am honest, I don’t really know how to start this. I found this user tag on one of the bills from today. I am sorry but I can’t really pin it down to a person just yet. There has been a lot going on today so I thought I would use this opportunity to get my mind off work. My name is Ethan by the way, nice to maybe meet you(?) hope I didn’t make this strange!

@Fallen_Jam Today at 10.07pm

I…I don’t even know what to say too. This was the Idea of a friend of mine. She wanted to connect us somehow. I guess it worked. My name’s James, nice to meet you too Ethan. 

Well that went better than I anticipated. I told Lucia all about what just happened which facing the fact isn't a lot to be fair. Nonetheless Lucia was already rooting for us saying that that is the first step into something that can be a relationship. If you can’t tell, she’s manifesting it and I am not sure whether or not I like that. She is all over it, literally. Lucia is such a sucker when it comes to anything that involves even the slighted spark of romance. I never fully understood her to be honest. I think I only ever loved one person, which fucked me up. Twice. But she doesn't know him. Only Jesse does. I asked Lucia if it would be cool for me to crash at her place for the night, which she thankfully agreed on. Yes I know I wanted to visit Jesse but I don’t really in the mood to drive this late. We both finished up the pizza and got ready for bed. 

Let’s see what tomorrow holds. 

(Today has been shorter than usual due to personal issues, I still wanted to keep you guys up to date. Pls don’t be mad, next thursday will be just as usual)

[you-are-perfectt]

Isolation

I am 25 now. Young to some, yet old to others. I've always been placed in the category of "wise beyond my years." Yet, now when I think about it, does/did anyone actually wonder what that really entails? My perception on life comes from experiences in my youth that I would not wish on any young person. Sometimes I ponder on the younger me, as I am trying to better myself, she feels like a child I never bore. I wish I could have been the protector she needed.

Yet, I do not blame my parents. Two human beings, trying their best in this unfair, unjust life. I was the youngest of four. My mother having me at 25 and here I am at the same age. The thought of raising four children, working multiple jobs, giving her absolute all... I love her. I respect her. I look up to her.

All the while, no one knew, I was being sexually assaulted. It created intense, crippling anxiety in me. For years, I myself, had no idea what was happening to me. Being so young. At times, I blame my father. If only he cared as much as my mother. If only he was as nice as her. I can remember him always being so angry. Growing up now, I can understand him being clinically diagnosed with bipolar disorder. At the end of the day, it doesn't "right his wrongs" but I can now understand more.

I actually have no idea why I am typing this. It feels freeing I guess? I don't personally know anyone on here and I've had this account since I was thirteen, I think? I have gotten way off subject for the reasoning of why I titled this "Isolation".

I read a post before typing this, about a woman feeling sad because she doesn't have girl friends. It hit home because that used to be me. For years, I isolated myself, unbeknownst to me. My SA was from the ages of maybe 4-8or9? But I didn't really understand what happened to me until I was 14. So around 14-15 is when I started self-sabotaging and really feeling just feeling disgusted with myself. So, I isolated.

I felt as if everyone knew something was wrong with me, as if it was my fault what happened to me. I mean, come on... we all know how much pressure we felt in high school. My middle sister, just three years older than me, was making really bad decisions in life. I won't go into much detail but my parents were so focused on her that (looking back now) in a way I felt neglected. I lost any care for anything important in life.

They say your mind blocks out traumatizing events, which is why some peoples childhood is hazy. That explains mine. It explains why it has and is taking me years to overcome what happened to me. I know now why my sister acted out, for a better sense of words, when she did. We both were sexually abused by the same person, for years. Except, I am sure it affected her more at the time because she could remember more, being older.

To refrain from making this long story any longer, I am happy to admit that I am overcoming my childhood trauma. I wanted to shed miniscule backlight, for anyone who might see this, maybe you can relate? It does get better. Which is something I used to scoff at and think "not for someone like me".

It is an everyday task and I still have bad days. Days where I feel mental walls, like cement, that I can't push past. I've realized that, that feeling is okay. We need days to rest and be mentally okay. That does NOT make us weak or less capable than any other person. Accept yourself, love yourself. There is so much power in being YOU!

Looking back now, it's comical how 14-year-old me made the account name to my Tumblr as "you-are-perfect" when I was FAR from believing that in myself. Manifest your dream life babes. BELEIVE in your words and your mind, every day, even when it feels stupid or that it's "not working". I am here to vouch that IT. GETS . BETTER.

With Love,

[quirkthieves]

He's so enthusiastic... Ibara had never known her quirk to bring this much joy to anyone, and it makers his heart happy in a way that she did not know he could feel.

Offering a gracious smile, she puts one hand over her chest.

"Ask as many questions as you like, and I will answer to the best of my ability. I am proud of the gift my family has given me." Vines was a powerful quirk. Such an ability was meant to be shared.

Still, the questions take a minute to process, with Ibara resting his head on her chin to think.

"Well, I do not think they are so similar to true greenery that they can reproduce together. I flower, a few days out of the month, but those flowers have never born fruit. No clippings of mine have propagated, either. But... My mother's quirk was Manchineel, and my aunt's quirk is Cassava. So I suppose God crafted us in the image of Euphorbia." Naturally, Ibara resembled another famous member of this family; the Crown of Thorns plant.

"I was not born with skin able to endure my prickles. I have shed much blood in order to toughen my skin. Behold." She gestures to the edges of her face, cheekbones, the bridge of the nose-- even his hands, all marred with countless tiny nicks and scars.

"Although," she lifts the two crossing vines around her forehead for a moment, revealing patterns of scarring in the same shape, ropy with the tell-tale signs of having been re-opened many times over. "If I grip my skin too tightly, I can still cut myself. But I am fortunate. My mother's quirk was so hostile to her body that she had to take herbicides. It is our family's cross to bear."

The next flurry of questions takes longer to sort through, the gears in his head turning as thoughts order themselves.

"Monoma can copy my quirk, he has done it before. He just does not like to, because the nature of my quirk is not limited to what you see on the surface. He has to grow roots through his entire body, and it is a very strange sensation. I had to get some of my roots removed, once, and I could feel them as they regrew. Writhing. Shifting. I cannot imagine that happening with all of them, all at once." Although for Ibara, the most unpleasant bit, she thinks, would be all of them vanishing entirely.

"Weaknesses, ah..." He drums fingers against the desk. Ibara was not the sort to assume such information was asked for in bad faith, nor was she particularly concerned about it ever being utilized against him. It was simply a complex matter.

"Bakugo is..." Brows furrow. Hmm. It soon becomes apparent that the name doesn't really strike a bell. "That's the... Oh, he's... Mm, one moment. He's in our course, I assume." Another moment or two, and finally, recollection. "Ah! That's the Lord of Bread and Honey, isn't he?!" She appears unusually excited, by Ibara standards, eyes twinkling. "He carries the scent of feasts. It always makes me hungry, when he is with us. My vines flourish in his presence. I can find him by scent alone."

Nitroglycerin combustion reactions release quite a bit of carbon dioxide. Not that Ibara was particularly aware of that fact, other than how it manifested to him.

"Fire is usually a matter of sheer mass. I am herbaceous, so my vines do not burn the same as dry kindling. Trial by fire encourages them to grow back stronger, too." Some hums, and then her eyes fly open, lightly smacking the top of the desk with his realization.

"Oh! I know! My final exam was against Midnight, and then again at the Training Camp...I just have the most terrible time against miasmas." He gestures with her hands as he speaks. "You see, my vines purify the air around me, but they absorb all of the toxins... and then, those toxins are delivered to the roots, which share freely with my blood. The more vines I use, the more is absorbed, and it all becomes concentrated in my body." She pats her torso. "Komori's fungi, too. We faced off in training once, and she did not realize her fungi would spread into my body. It was horrible. I think I met the Devil." Bad trip, one could say.

"I am also limited during the night. Because I cannot photosynthesize, if I overgrow myself, my blood sugar will become too low, and I will faint. It's really hard for me to stay awake past sundown anyway, though."

And then finally, senses.

"I feel vibrations. But it's not just touch that I use my vines for." She smiles fondly. "Touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing... In their own way, they help me with all of those. I feel entirely blinded without them. My eyes are rarely useful in combat; it is on them that I rely. I do not know how everyone else goes about in life without them... But I suppose the inverse is true, too."

you're filling your notebook with information at an alarming rate, writing down as much as you can as you listen along. on her stats page now, it reads the following information, condensed to better fit the page - but you memorize everything else just in case you need it later on. the roots don't feel pain but they do feel, however it's the scalp that truly feels the pain. she can detach them and will do so at times due to the weight. 12.5kg is the typical weight of her hair (around 100 vines) but if maxed out, it can be 770 vines more or less. obviously the weight grows the more vines she has but you can't estimate a weight, just stating the maximum amount of them. her strength is similar to that of sticks, easy to break one but harder to break a bundle. the analogy makes sense, you can see how that works.

once you're satisfied with the information written down, you look up and give ibara a grateful smile. " t-thank you for, um .. letting me geek out a bit. i have a few more questions about things but if you don't want to answer anything else, that's fine too ! "

" w-what material or plant type are your vines ? are they similar to vines you can find out in nature or are they different ? the vibrancy of the green leads me to believe that they are at least a bit different from natural vines. d-do you ever get hurt by the pointy thorns ? or are you used to having them around, so much so that you don't get hurt by them ? "

" is there a weakness to the vines ? if not electricity then .. fire maybe ? i don't think water would make an impact .. b-but if bakugo were to fight you, would he have the upper hand due to his explosions ? is monoma able to copy your quirk or would it be a blank ? y-you said you can feel through the vines .. can you sense movement using them ? and do you like them ? "

[crystalsenergy]

Lilith in Virgo / Lilith in 6th house

pics not mine.

Lilith

is one of the most difficult points to touch - both in astrology and in practical life itself. That's because Lilith isn't is something practical, tangible. The matters involving Lilith are directly related to the unconscious mind, hidden personality traits, things that are not easy for the egoic and conscious mind to understand.

This partly explains the great difficulty we have in making Lilith's meanings tangible: she is related to our hidden being. Lilith is one of the best ways to get to know your Shadow, the sides you keep most of yourself.

The conscious mind is about 10%, the subconscious 50-60% and the unconscious 30-40%. There's a lot about us that we don't know. And knowing Lilith helps us to get in touch with these possible patterns, which are naturally unconscious, and precisely because of this, they comprise the rest of our personality that we can't understand/have contact/know, but which, in the end, is manifesting in us the same way.

Lilith represents obsession and denial, rejection and fixation. These are ambivalent and sometimes paradoxical points, but they can manifest in the same person. It all depends on how much the person masters Lilith's influence on him/her, it all depends on how much the person understands the importance of Lilith's manifestation in his/her personality. A person who doesn't deal well with issues involving Lilith can fall into extremes, precisely because they have difficulty dealing with its potential paradoxical behaviors. So I can say that finding a certain balance in the manifestation of Lilith in your life is essential.

Lilith in Virgo or in the 6th house

means a person who has in his/her personality dilemmas involving ORGANIZATION, generating behaviors of extreme focus on organization and details. The person becomes very demanding and likes things extremely organized. The search for organization is something that marks the life of this individual, to the point that the native can't do other things if he/she doesn't feel the organization around him/her. Problems with disorganization can even generate physical sensations. Generally speaking, any negative experience involving 6th house matters can bring on a feeling of physical irritation, itching, pain and the like.

Tip: It would be interesting for the native to see if what causes him/her so much discomfort is really the lack of organization, or if the search for so much organization (sometimes it can be something exaggerated) is not the consequence of other things, other situations. Do a reassessment of what causes you pain/discomfort when the feeling of disorganization comes to the fore. Is it just external disorganization? Why does dealing with disorganization need to be something that makes you feel worse, leaving you feeling stressed?

Lilith in Virgo or the 6th house is also related to the act of SERVING. Serving is almost a duty for those who have this positioning. Service has great value, but people who have this placement just need to be aware that they may go overboard by giving too much and not getting something in return. Acts of service, serving others, giving help, is something very important. But it can't exceed the limit.

Don't deny yourself things, make good use of your time.

The natives may also have to deal with the feeling that they are always having to SOLVE PROBLEMS that arise. It's as if every issue that knocks on their door is their responsibility. It won't always be. Pay attention to this too and beware of exaggeration in taking responsibility for everything! This can generate feelings of guilt.

In addition, this positioning can manifest a person who is sometimes very FOCUSED on accomplishing a task, sometimes has a lot of difficulty even starting something, given the great perfectionism he/she has inside him/her.

The great side of this is the ability to focus on something, have a goal and be very tenacious about achieving it. Usually Lilith in Virgo and Lilith in the 6th have an ease in pursuing a goal, especially related to routine. However, the natives need to be careful not to exceed the limits in this too, leaving other parts of the routine aside: rest, feeding.

Thus, we enter another point involving these positions: the obsession with HEALTH and, at the same time, the denial of health itself. It may seem that both things exclude each other, but in practice it is quite possible that they coexist in one person.

And if they manage to coexist, that means that neither of the two faces is being put into practice in a healthy way.

Tip: Take care of your own health and, at the same time, realize that focusing too much on this side can make a person neurotic and compulsive.

When thinking about health, Lilith in Virgo and Lilith in the 6th house bring a great relationship of the native with health, prevention, basic care, which makes the individual very connected to hygiene and may make him/her want to take care of his/her physical body and alimentation. On the other hand, it may be that a native is quite negligent and often has problems with food, health, sleep quality, precisely because there is a lot of obstinacy and physical energy (often focused on goals and daily, routine things, another side of this Lilith placement), but the native doesn't know how to live healthy with this potential.

Other possible issues to face with Lilith may involve: small jobs, repetitions, patterns, routines, small animals, doctors, health, rational mind, analysis, physical body, hygiene, basic care, lifestyle, concerns, sense of utility.

Despite the potential problems with Lilith, remember that they arise exactly because of the accumulation of energies and potentials that is used in a disharmonious way, becoming something wrong and unbalanced.

When you realize that the potential exists and that it is the same for both constructive and destructive attitudes, you will be beginning to learn to better deal with your Lilith placement.

[moistmailman]

Elden Ring AU

Pyrrha, smiling: Hi Ruby, can you upgrade this spirit ash for me? It's getting pretty tough out there.

Ruby, smiling: O-of course. i would love to....you know, if you ever want to be held, I can do that too.

Pyrrha: What?

Ruby, looking down and blushing: I-it's just I notice that lately you've let Blake hold you in her room a lot, a-and I just want you to know that i-if necessary, I would happily do the same thing too. C-cause you know....you've been really nice to me, and I want to repay you back in other ways that don't involve spirit ashes. *twiddles with her hair* I-if you don't want to then you don't have too, though.

Pyrrha scratching the back of her head: O-oh, really. Uhm...okay. thanks, Ruby. I appreciate that. I might take you up on that offer soon.

Ruby, blushing: R-really? Thank- I mean you're welcome.

*later*

Weiss: My Dear Consort.

Pyrrha: Yes, Lady Weiss? do you need me to do something else?

Weiss: No, the other way around actually. *taps her lap* Come.

Pyrrha: Uhm....*walks up top her* Yeah?

Weiss, tapping lap again: Lie your head on my lap.

Pyrrha, raising eyebrow: Uhm....okay. *lies head on Weiss' lap*

Weiss, running hands through Pyrrha's hair: There we go. Doesn't this feel nice?

Pyrrha: Y-yeah actually. It's really comforting. W-why are you doing this though?

Weiss, smiling: I just want you to know that I will happily hold you in your time of need if needed. Blake and Ruby aren't the only ones that can do that.

Pyrrha: Wait, how do you know about-

Weiss, soothingly: It doesn't matter. Just relax. Rest up, my dear Consort.

*later again*

Yang, trying to be nonchalant: Hey, you know these strong arms of mine are really good at holding tarnished ones too.

Pyrrha: W-what?

Yang, awkwardly: I'm just saying, I'm really good at holding people. I've heard I'm the best at it, in fact.

Pyrrha: Y-you have?

Yang: Of course. So if you're ever in the need to..uh, I don't know, be hugged by big strong arms, I'm here for you.

Pyrrha:........

Yang:..........

Pyrrha: Does.....does this have to do anything with Blake, Ruby and Weiss?

Yang, sweating: whaaaat? Pfft, no. W-who? Who are those people are talking about? Never heard of them.

Pyrrha:.....one of them is your sister.

Yang sweating even more: Uh......oh, THAT Ruby! Y-yeah, I know about that Ruby, logically. *clears throat*.....anyway, if you ever need to be held, I'm here for you too. Just holler my way. *walks away in a hurry*

Pyrrha: O-okay, I......I-I appreciate the offer.

*Later once again*

Pyrrha, sitting at a site of grace: *calls for Jaune*

Jaune: *manifests next to Pyrrha*

Pyrrha: Hey, can you help me with these runes-

Jaune, blushing: How come you never ask me to hold you?

Pyrrha: P-pardon?

Jaune, blushing: It's not a big deal or anything, but how come you've never asked me to hold you at all. N-not that I feel entitled to hold you or anything; its not like that at all. It's just......do I not look like I can hold people that well. Cause I assure you that I can comfort people really good. I-I can show you right now actually- i-if that's alright with you, of course!

Pyrrha:.........I'm sorry, but I'm not sure what's happening anymore.

[friendly-alien-fucker]

Like a butterflies broken wing

Tw: mentions of death

________________________________________

"How's the butterfly?"

"it's dead" they said, looking down at the corpse of the small insect in their hand "it didn't survive two days"

"Oh I'm so sorry, Oak" She replied, sitting down across from them, laying her warm hand on theirs.

"It's so scary to think about...they were here yesterday, and today they're just...gone."  Oak traced the creature's small body with their thumb, dust soon painting the finger.

"It's even scarier to think that you're the same..."

"That now you're here, sitting by my side, but tomorrow you could be gone. Just like this butterfly. And just like them you couldn't just manifest anew, you would be gone... forever. With nothing to remember you by."

Thea now looked worried, she hadn't expected the death of such a small creature to trouble her friend this deeply. The again, there were many things she didn't understand about Oak. The way they were fascinated by simple things like hair growth or digestion, or how they seemed to regard every life form with the same respect and value. She appreciated how they seemed to see things from a different perspective, yet without judgement or hate. Oak continued.

"You're so fragile. And still you go out there, and you do all these things that you know could be your end. And you have fun by doing it..."

"Well, yeah. A lot of things could kill us but most of the time, it's only a small chance."

"A chance nonetheless." Oak looked at her with wide eyes. It was obvious they didn't understand. To them the mare fact that you could be killed was reason enough to never leave your home again.

"It's a chance we have to take. Every creature does. Well, except you of course. Death is a constant in our life's, we know that since birth. Some prepare themselves long beforehand and some try not to think about it at all, but it always comes at some point. So with that in mind, why not just do what we want anyways? The consequence would be all the same."

Her friend nodded in thought, carefully wrapping the dead butterfly in a handkerchief, before laying it in front of them. "it...makes me sad. To know that I'm the only exception." They looked down at their lap. "I wish I could always be here with you"

"You will." she answered without thinking.

"Maybe not forever, but for a very long time. And after I'm gone you'll meet someone different, maybe even someone we both know, maybe a child of mine- it doesn't matter. But just know that you'll never be alone. And you'll always have someone there that makes life worth living."

Oak liked that answer. With a small smile now on their face they took out a pen from their notebook and looked up at Thea. "What should I name them?"

"Name?"

"Yes. You gave me one when I first emerged, I'd like to do the same before I bury them."

"Oh, that so sweet Oak" She leaned forward and kissed one of their hands.  "Though I think In that case, you should be the one to pick a name."

"Then I'll name them..." They looked around for a few seconds, trying to think of something.

"Chava" they finally wrote down. And Thea smiled as she saw the words in her family's language.

"New life?" she asked.

"It's what I'd like them to have" They replied.

[atlas-of-galaxies]

pls explain how ur choosing which entities to give to which yttd characters i am listening

i love u thank u for indulging me

I'm gonna go ahead and put this under the cut tho cuz it's about to get Very long and Very spoilery

Sara as the Desolation

right out of the gate is one of my favorite assignments!! Sara has proven many times that she (understandably) is willing to use others to keep herself and the ones she cares about alive. the moment with Anzu being sacrificed over Gin in the Coffin Russian Roulette is an obvious example, but she's shown her selfishness many times throughout the game, such as her scramble to find enough tokens to dump her Sacrifice onto someone else, and her subsequent reaction when she suddenly realizes she's free of it. it's one of my favorite parts of her character.

Desolation is also a lot about loss of potential; Joe's death weighs heavy over her, and she feels nothing but guilt and responsibility for the fact he died so young. not to mention her own role in the Death Game as the supposed 15.5% player; her own potential for cruelty is held over her head by both Shin and Midori, and Keiji's pressure over her to become a leader undoubtedly adds to the expectations she's already crumbling under. she's being pulled every which way, and I really do hope she has her moment of catharsis in 3-2.

... speaking of ... she has quite a similar story to Agnes Montague, doesn't she? :) and I'll admit this next bit is just coincidence, but the Desolation is always antagonistic with the Web, out of all other entities. and the Web in my silly little assignments is, well ...

Shin as the Web

okay, I'll admit I have a very specific idea for Shin, but hear me out. one of my favorite little worldbuilding details in TMA is utilized with Mike Crew: the idea of devoting yourself to one entity to escape another.

Shin is, quite bluntly, the Stranger's ideal target: he mistrusts others, he is terrified of kindness as a mask for evil intentions, and its whole thing is the perversion of identity and self. I think that his First Trial would serve as the culminating realization of his utter hopelessness and inability to trust those who may mean his downfall - however, instead of plainly falling victim to the Stranger, he turns to the coping mechanisms that Midori taught him.

he turns to the Web. he takes that same fear of manipulation he learned from Midori, weaponizing it and doing everything in his power to turn the Game to his favor. granted, he's not nearly as good at it as Midori was, but he certainly puts on a good show, and the Spider is nothing if not dramatic.

Keiji as the Slaughter

another favorite of mine. :) one mistake, one slip in judgement, one hasty pull of the trigger, and Keiji is suddenly haunted for life. he was tricked into violence, sure, but that doesn't mean he isn't still responsible for it, and he's terrified of that part of himself that killed his idol. who's to say it won't happen again? will the next person he hurts be less innocent than his idol? does that make it better?

I think he also has a little bit of Fear Soup Syndrome going on; his fear is very much Slaughter-based, but it manifests in a Spiral-esque fashion, hence the hallucinations. Keiji's absolute lack of trust in himself is also very rooted in the Spiral. Sara, too, but to a less intense degree.

speaking of,

Joe as the Spiral

what else would fit the guy who had to deceive others to try to survive but the embodiment of deceit? even in the single chapter we know him for, Joe has multiple moments where he shows a lack of faith in himself or his beliefs. honestly, he's really only exceptionally strong in his stances where Sara is concerned, hence his one man show in the first Main Game. even if he had somehow managed to survive, though, the guilt I have no doubt he'd foster over tricking the others would weigh heavy on his shoulders. what kind of guy would let 9 people die for his sake? no one worth trusting, that's for sure.

and, of course, then there's the easy part of the assignment: Hallucination Joe! not much to explain there.

Reko as the Stranger

here's an easy one: she literally gets Not!Themed. she doesn't die, sure (at least in one route), but she gets swapped out with a fake that can't quite get Reko down right. the fake is even a doll, for hell's sake. reko was the blueprint (i'm joking i'm 90% sure not!sasha was introduced years before)

barring the elephant in the room, though, her regular self still fits the bill; she's a performer at heart, and her distaste at being manipulated into specific roles and boxes could definitely align with the Stranger's dealings with identity. hell, even her dealings with Alice lend themselves to the Stranger, as she finds his supposed actions utterly incomprehensible. how did she ever trust someone who has the potential to take a life?

Alice as the End

everyday I think about the fact that Alice doesn't even remember the actual act that put him in prison. his entire life becomes tarnished and defined by this singular event that he cannot even recall; I can only assume that his brain moved to fill in the horrifying gaps and concoct his own version of events from what he's gathered in court proceedings.

he parallels Keiji very nicely in this regard, so I could see Slaughter working for him, too. but the thing that strikes me is that Alice's punishment becomes his entire existence, while Keiji's strife is over the fact he isn't punished. Alice isn't even allowed to forget his role in the Death Game; he's constantly in his prisoner's uniform, and his occupation is listened as a Murderer (I'm sure that's more Midori being petty than anything else but it still counts).

the final nail in the coffin is the fact that death is the thing that keeps Reko and Alice from reconciling, which is really the one thing Alice wanted to do before he dies.

Nao as the Corruption

I love assigning characters as the Corruption because it's almost always for one of the less-utilized aspects of it: toxic love. and Nao, through no fault of her own, fits the bill quite well. whether it's her maddened grief that inadvertently endangers Gin and gets manipulated into attacking Shin, or the fact that she is responsible for the only canon ending we have so far at the price of the lives of 6 people, Nao is almost always put into a situation where sympathizing with her means harming others.

she seems to have issues with boundaries too, as evidenced in her rapidly warming up to Sara, a total stranger, and some. um. choice scenes in YTTS. she gets attached hard and fast to others, even if those others happen to be an AI of her dead professor ... I forget if any characters call it out as such, but I doubt such coping is exactly healthy.

I feel like I'm absolutely dragging Nao thru the mud rn and I feel BAD cuz I adore her, but she's a wonderfully complex character who, despite her understandable situation, is capable of doing some very bad things. she's fascinating and I miss her deeply.

Kai as the Hunt

as an extension of the organization that has been tracking and studying the participants for years before the Death Game, Kai fits quite neatly into the Hunt. his role as the hunter ("stalking" Sara, protecting the Chidouins, keeping track of other participants) suddenly being flipped into being prey (being put into the Death Game, receiving the Sage) is classic Hunt behavior.

hell, he's even an assassin who doesn't like to kill! people engage in the Hunt for the chase, not the end result.

okay this is already long enough so I'll save the last four for once I finish their pieces, but I will say that I didn't repeat entities anywhere so. do with that information what you will