#-or enemy without having romantic implications at all

[anxiously-sidequesting]

You know what I love more than just heroes and villains going up against each other is when the hero and villain have a certain respect and acknowledgement to the other, have a special relationship or connection with the other, or just a general interest that's between just THOSE TWO GUYS and not anybody else Grandfather Spider Morganthe Schismist Soldier Duncan Grimwater

Like I could easily see the YW teaming up with almost any of those people (see: only GFS and Morganthe the other two are crazy) not out of maliciousness or because they switched sides but because they're just compatible with them in ways where it just makes sense. Like for example the YW fighting back-to-back with Morganthe or having in depth magical discussions with her because we understand her on a level no one else does. Like in a crazy season finale where the Savior of the Spiral would not even Dream of Ever Working With Those Ruffians but when they have to they're like so magical (no pun intended) together because they just click. Like in the original Teen Titans where Deathstroke and Robin were like fighting in Hell together and they were on the SAME WAVELENGTH despite being bitter enemies THAT'S THE SHIT I LIKE. I think maybe that's the reason why I resonate more with these guys than Malistaire because imo it's just so much more interesting and emotional when we get two people on opposite sides of the morale scale able to come together and work so fluently. This is also me saying I want a Schismist Soldier and YW Roommate Sitcom.

[eternalera]

i hate when people go "why cant people just be friends :((( why cant we have strong platonic bonds anymore?" to ships

and do you wanna know the reason? like do you really wanna know the reason. okay well here we go ig-

(click read more for an actual analysis of why this doesnt happen)

no one writes strong platonic bonds well anymore.

at least they cant do so without it seeming romantic because of one thing.

shipping and romance.

without a doubt it has taken over our society as a whole and this is for quiet a few reasons, we literally have a holiday about romance, one of the many things moments people experience in high school is taking out their crush to a dance (of course many people take friends and make just as fun if not longer lasting memories), influencers share their lives on the daily, most fans are teens going through puberty so yknow what that means, and hollywood.

the main reason being of course hollywood.

with all of these reasons combined hollywood sees this and basically goes "oh look at all of these opportunities for romance and most importantly drama!!" and then they take it, make a romantic bond, get you attached and then proceed to put you through hell with it getting you addicted to it. but why a romantic bond? why not platonic? because its simple, when tv and stuff started pushing out they wanted to get people heavily attached and they didnt think or care about platonic bonds because why have platonic bonds when you can instantly take it to the much "juicier" step? aka romantic bonds?

now im gonna lump in all of our previous reasons together. its no big surprise that our lives TYPICALLY (most likely not for people on the ace spectrum) are heavily centered around romance and sex and so in order to relate to the MAJORITY (from what large companies can tell) of people they tend to make that platonic bond romantic to get people swooning over it and thinking 'oh thats what i want in a partner'

so we tend to perceive these actions as romantic when in reality... theyre typically not, not unless youre kissing or actively having sex these actions arent all that romantic. even holding hands isnt really that romantic. ive had several friends who desire no romantic relationship with each other hold hands and jokingly press their faces close together as if they were being 'romantic' with each other. ive in fact shared a bed with my friend a few times and found that yeah... theyre just my friend. these actions are not romantic. so why do we think that they are?

hollywood, from our past memories and "experiences" (experiences in quotations because lets be honest... its just movie watching) we see these actions as romantic because theyve been dont with romantic undertones. for example let me put the absolute stupidest thing thats been romanticized.

giving someone your jacket or umbrella when its raining. especially when its friend.

yes. hollywood was romanticized basic human decency towards someone that you care about. im 90% sure that anyone reasing this would gladly give their jacket to their friend if it was raining and they didnt want them to catch a cold, or if they had an extra layer to just simply give them. OR if they had an umbrella they would share.

because thats what you do for someone that you care for

but in hollywood this was romanticized by the enemies to lovers trope or the rivals to lovers or... whatever you want to call it- it was romanticized and soon enough they began doing it with everything. friends to lovers. (i dont know which trope made it romantic first so dont quote me on this the main point is that they made it romantic when the gesture itself is NOT)

point being, like it or not romance is something that was heavily implemented into your mind as a child and will always be there. and its why we cant perceive friends as 'just friends' anymore or whatever youd like to call it. the implication of past experiences with media will always be there and guess what? suck it up. its always going to be there and theres nothing you can do about it.

so yeah. thats why people cant perceive things as just friends and why strong platonic bonds quite literally cant really be written well anymore. unless of course they shove it down your throat with the constant 'oh youre my best friend!' but even then- oops it was romanticized by hollywood...

so thats my take on the whole situation. personally i think you should just let people ship whatever they want as long as its legal lol

[roydick]

just saw j*ayroy posts claiming that dickroy is very toxic and therefore bad for roy and that j*yroy is more positive, requesting some instances of dick and roy being nice and wholesome and friendly and caring for each other, specifically of dick being good to roy

Oh boy, I think I know what you're talking about and those do such a disservice to both Dick and Roy, most of the time the comics they're using aren't very good, or are out of context. And they're missing the most important part: Dick and Roy cut each other so deep because they love each other. Platonic, Romantic, whatever, at the core of it is love. They've got a solid foundation of friendship that they've built on, and no matter what has happened between the two of them, they always, always come back to each other and forgive each other.

A lot of the examples I use are so important in context. The two of them hurt each other and in several of the screenshots down below they are actively fighting each other, but context is important and I tried to be as descriptive as I could without overloading this.

It got really long lol, so they're under a cut, and just the ones I already had the screenshots for.

This is all from Nightwing: Old Friends, New Enemies. Roy comes to Dick asking for help and despite knowing Roy is keeping something more from him, he doesn't hesitate. And later when Dick snaps at Roy he is quick to apologize for it, the very next panel in fact.

Dick holding Roy, not much to say on this other than I love it a lot and he doesn't take off after Cheshire instead staying to care for Roy.

After, while Roy's recovering in the hospital, Dick is the one to introduce Lian to Roy, he's so gentle with both of them and listens to Roy's insecurities and does what he can to help alleviate them.

For some Outsiders Era, this is the stuff that's funny to me that they don't include, out of context (and some even in context) a lot of this could be considered toxic, it is their #divorceera after all, but I think the context is so important here, and that's that a lot of this (especially the early stuff) is good matured teasing, and when it's not it's shadowed by the grief they're both sharing from the loss of Donna. Dick also backs Roy in front of the rest of the team, despite agreeing with them, waiting until they're gone to bring it up in a non-confrontational way.

I could talk for hours about Outsiders, the whole run is fantastic and there's a lot that is just text in it as opposed to subtext that I think is fantastic. When Winick does well he really does well.

Finally, I'm going to wrap it up with a bit from the roughest part of Roy's life. All of these come from Justice League: Rise of Arsenal #3. Dick is so careful with Roy, he's in a horrible place at this point, he lost his arm and was not even given a chance to process that before he finds out that he's lost his daughter as well. It's no surprise that he turns back to drugs in an attempt to cope with the physical and mental pain he's in.

Roy has been hallucinating Lian, and attacks Dick (Batman) thinking that he's trying to take her from him. Dick initially reacts only defensively, catching the hits, or avoiding them while he tries to break through to Roy. When, and only when that fails, he takes Roy down quickly and efficiently, before taking him to the only place he can think of that can help him.

While this one is a tough read, I think it showcases the care and concern that Dick has for Roy. Not only is he the one that finds him, but he tries multiple times to deescalate the situation.

There's more in Titans: Villains For Hire with Batman!Dick and Arsenal!Roy, but I don't have those on hand at this moment. I hope these show how they aren't toxic, and it's not a one-way relationship between the two of them.

Sometimes it's the ones who love us most that hurt us, it's the pain that comes from loving someone so deeply. It's how relationships work. They know each other's weaknesses but they trust each other implicitly.

Take it. Take the gun from me, Roy. C'mon. Take it. Three months ago I wouldn't have been able to draw it on you. You saw me grab for it. Take if from me.

[fivewholeminutes]

EIA (the song) feels like preparing for a great battle to me. Is it vessel feeling finally ready and strong enough to fight sleep??

"Swing wide those gates" as in sleep being slowly closed off from vessel and vessel finally taking a stance and daring sleep to try to take control over him again?

"The gods we thought were dying were just sharpening their blades" - sleep being less and less invasive by the end of the trilogy just to sneak up on vessel again, but vessel is ready this time? (Alternatively: sleep and vessel having enemies in other entities, but that's for a different interpretation, the one where sleep is a tad more benevolent)

"Have you been waiting long for me?" being a dare and not a way to express longing, reunion. I imagine vessel behind the gates standing there with his bigass sword, asking sleep this when sleep opens the gates. You know, like a one-liner before an anime boss fight.

"I am the flood" - he used to be just tangled with sleep as branches in a flood, unable to set his own course, but now he is the force of the flood. Sleep's fucked

"And what was missing from those scriptures will be written in my blood" he knows this won't be an easy fight, despite him getting stronger, but he's willing to write that chapter, even if it costs him much to become free

"What good is all this talk of wings when there is nothing left above" deserves its own post tbh i am feral about the euclid references. I will just say that vessel went "fuck this, the glory is not worth it, it comes with pain, there's no great reward (heaven) in this deal, sleep lied, i won't get anywhere with those wings" (OH the icarus implications here)

The entire 3rd verse. Vessel sleep token when i fucking get you is2g--

"No matter how we feel" - they might fuck each other over, but they spent a good few years together. Codependent, i would even say (i don't wanna go into all my [often conflicting] interpretations of their relationship/deal rn, i just like to imagine sleep as one of those gods that will just disappear without any worshippers, so he was dependent on vessel too). So they had their ups and downs. Sleep did kinda give vessel the promised glory and they were there on that journey together. But it still doesn't mean sleep should stay with him

"We've got a taste for one another and a few good years to kill" listen. Listen i know this can be interpreted as romantic, but OHHH i see rivalry here. They've got a taste for each other's blood. For domination over the other in this tremendous relationship. But it will take time. Vessel can fight back now, but he's still up against a fucking deity. He's confident though, doesn't care fighting back might take years (hello mental issues allegory???), he is the final dawn. He is the flood.

"No matter what is real" - oh boy we're still fucking shit up in the dreamscape department, aren't we, sleep

"It seems that even in arcadia you walk beside me still" - okay yes i know this can reference to that someone walking beside him in all the other eia songs BUT here in this context i think of sleep still lingering in his mind. Vessel is safe in arkadia now, right? Sike! The bad things are still there with you, mate, you carry them in your heart (i'm sorry i might be projecting here) and this part goes so well with "i still need a dark side" from past self and "with the shadows longer to me than a lightyear" in look to windward.

So yeah. I see this song as the moment before a battle. One grand battle or just a first battle in the war? We don't know that yet. But it is going to be a tough fight either way.

[ruumiinlaulaja]

So I rewatched Mastermind, specifically the court scene. It's interesting to observe this near constant back and forth between Andrealphus and Vassago. It's quite obvious they know each other. But it's unclear how well they know each other. Just how deep is the connection between them, I wonder?

When we first see them, Andre hasn't even started talking yet, and Vassago is already glaring directly at him. Andre might be looking at Vassago too, it's hard to tell, but it feels significant that they’re directly opposite from one another, on the opposite ends of the room. At this point nobody knows Andre is going to be in the spotlight, but Vassago certainly seems to pay attention to him. Therefore, he absolutely knows this bitch and he knows he's up to something. There is history between the two of them.

The "okay, Vassago, shut the fuck up" line is the most obvious implication about their familiarity. I also find it interesting how Vassago is the only one standing up to Andre and has no problem challenging him or yelling at him. And yet, after Andre's emotional burst, Vassago pretty much dismisses him, apparently knowing there's no point arguing with him. This also implies there is deeper familiarity between them.

After Blitz blurts out ”if I wanted to kill Stolas I would have done it myself” and unintentionally incriminates himself, Andre is looking directly at Vassago to see his reaction. And he smirks. At Vassago. Nobody else. Why does he need to convince Vassago of all people? 🤔 Sus. Also, when Satan sentences Blitz, it’s interesting how they show Andre and Vassago and their reactions almost back to back like that.

Idk it all feels very intentional. It feels like there’s a small story being told through these small details. At least to me it feels significant, because these moments show how they notice each other and watch each other throughout the whole scene, even when neither of them are in the spotlight.

So, what's up? Are they frenemies? Enemies to lovers? Lovers to enemies?? Lovers to enemies and back to lovers??? Ugh just fuck him and shut him up, Vassago.

Of course I might be reading too much into this (probably because I'm pretty desperate to see my silly ship together lmao), but I certainly hope the connection between them is more than ”they know each other from goetian social functions”.

Also, why confirm them as gay if this detail is not going to get explored in any way? Sure, the subject of their sexuality can be handled in many ways (and potentially never get "explored" in canon, as characters can just exist as gay without it being a big deal), and it certainly doesn't have to automatically lead to romantic storylines. I just find it interesting how out of all the goetias it's these two specifically that have been confirmed as gay (in addition to Stolas) - and Vassago's sexuality got confirmed before he even appeared in the show. Surely, that has to mean something?

....please?

tl;dr: I’m going to be really sad if there won’t be any sort of established (past or future) relationship between these two in canon. I really want to see more scenes between Andrealphus and Vassago.

tl;dr2: I really want them to fuck.

[iamnmbr3]

'why do you ship drarry, malfoy bullied him'

malfoy should have been redeemed and they are absolutely OBSESSED with each other. It might as well be romantic

And ppl seem pretty sensible. If a bit too horny

I have thoughts on this. Because the thing is, no one should feel like they need a reason to dislike a ship or to not engage with it. They can have a reason. But it's also just fine to...not vibe with something. That's ok too. There's content and ships that make me super uncomfortable or that just plain dislike. Sometimes for clear specific reasons and sometimes just...because. Sometimes to the point that I hate even scrolling past it on ao3. And that's all ok. What's not ok is harassing other people over or it dictating what other people like or engage with. Wish more people remembered that. It would make fandom so much nicer if people could all do that.

And yeah. I feel like Draco's story needed more closure. I mean, canonically he does get a redemption arc - he changes his views and becomes a better person - but JKR somehow both wrote that and also doesn't acknowledge the implications. Also, after being such a central character and being literally the reason Harry wins his duel against Voldemort it feels weird for him to not at least have a final conversation with Draco where he gives his wand back etc. (And then they fall in love and get married epilogue whom?!)

Also I am more than on board with super dark highly toxic enemies to lovers ships. They aren't for everyone but I like them. To me personally though, drarry doesn't really fall into that category, at least as it is presented in canon. What Harry and Draco have to me feels like a rivalry - a very intense, very hostile one (I mean they do literally end up as soldiers on opposite sides of a war), but a rivalry nonetheless. And there is obviously a grey area between bullying and rivalry. My point is not to dismiss all the ways Harry and Draco have hurt each other. But merely to point out that to me the dynamic feels very different than shipping Snape and Sirius for example, or Draco and Ron for that matter, where it feels like there's more of a clear past bully & victim dynamic. This is not a reason to ship or not to ship any of these ships. To each their own. It's merely a commentary on how I tend to view drarry.

As to the last point. I don't think people can really be "too horny." Sex and sexual desire are just as valid to explore or depict in fiction/art and just as valid a reason to create fiction/art as any other reason. Generally speaking I find that the best and most creative and diverse fandom environments that lead to the greatest quality and diversity of content are the ones where people who want to be 'horny on main TM' in their creative endeavors can be without fear of any type of negative repercussion. That's not to say everyone has to create, enjoy or even engage with that type of content. But its presence is usually a sign of a healthy fandom ecosystem.

[thepenultimateword]

Too Tall Part Six

I missed my awkward space babies

||Part One||Part Two||Part Three||Part Four||Part Five||

Antolin held a hair tie in his teeth as he gathered his hair into a half-knot. His face was still pale, and his leg throbbed like hell, but he finally had the energy for an outing. Though, conscious to preserve that energy, he currently sat on the end of his bed, the wall mirror taken down and propped haphazardly in an open dresser drawer.

He turned his reflection from side to side as he ran his fingers through the top layer of tangles, scrutinizing the deep blue cross-wrap shirt from all angles. It had been a rather long time since he'd been on shore leave, so It had taken forever to find an outfit that wasn't a uniform or lounge clothes. The shirt's neck plunged a little low for comfort. It looked strange. Was that out of unfamiliarity or because it actually looked bad? He hadn't minded the look before, but now after several years of tight, high collars, he felt almost indecently exposed.

“You can’t be serious.”

Antolin briefly met Zae’s glaring eyes in the mirror. “What?" He took the hair tie in his hand and pulled the tail through two and a half times. "It’s just a walk.”

“You aren’t actually interested in that bloodmonger, are you?”

He picked up a hairpin with dangling blue glass beads and paused. Interested? Unai had been interesting since the moment she arrived on-station. But Zae was talking romantically, wasn't she? That was a much harder question. Antolin had always planned on having a relationship with another human--if his job ever gave him the time that was. Unai was about the furthest thing from a typical future that he could imagine. The culture, the planet...the height. Not bad...but complicated. Different. However, he had grown used to her presence. And the idea of going out to do something un-work related did make his heart speed a little fast. Not that any of that was enough to make sense of.

“I don’t know," he said. "Admittedly, it is a little strange. But I do like her. To what extent I’m still not sure. In any case, we're friends."

Zae frowned deeper, folding her long, slender arms. "She’s arrogant."

Antolin offered a half-shrug as he slid the pin into his bun. “She’s arrogant because she has a right to be. She does her job with a proficiency and vigor I’ve rarely seen.”

“Only because she’s trying to impress you. I swear, the rumors I've heard around the station since she's arrived. Does she have no shame?"

Rumors? He'd have to probe around about that once he was up and able again.

“I highly doubt she would have reached the rank of captain without a good work ethic.”

“Alright, but that doesn’t change that she's Ke'turian--an incredibly violent species. They take whatever they want by force. And you're human."

Antolin frowned at the implication. Did everyone see him as weak? He'd proven himself multiple times on the Zenith, enough times to get this position. Yet, sometimes, he had the impression that everyone was simply humoring him. His stripes held the threat of federal discipline, so they did as they were told. But they didn't actually respect him. Obviously whoever was letting in their enemies found him an easy target. And now Zae felt the need to fret over him as if he were a child. He even doubted his own abilities after that terrible fight with the Lasters.

But then there was Unai. She had said she'd battle alongside him. Surely a Ke'turian would know best about battle. It hadn't felt like a lie, even with her abrupt retreat after saying it.

He drew himself up in his seat. "I'm quite capable of defending myself against any threat. Ke'turians included." The cold tone clearly struck Zae because she immediately dropped her gaze. Satisfied, he allowed a little warmth back into his words as turned away from the mirror to face her head-on. "But I can hardly picture Captain Unai attacking me."

Zae remet his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Be careful."

He rolled his eyes. "I will. Promise. Now," he grasped his crutch, shoving himself to his feet and limping a couple feet out from the bed. "How do I look?"

Zae sighed. "Like you think you're going on a date."

***

Unai's long stride had brought her to Hayes's door too quickly. She was at least 15 clicks too early. Knocking on the door now would be an embarrassment, another overeager display of her one-sided affections. That was...if they were one-sided. Because this was a date. Right? She'd at least intended it to be when she originally asked--or tried to ask. She wasn't certain what it was now that Hayes had taken ownership of the excursion.

Unai leaned back against the metal wall. She shouldn't ask. If Hayes hadn't intended anything by proposing a walk--which he probably hadn't--it would be uncomfortable to bring it up. Not to mention the recent gossip on the topic. She'd never been subtle, but it was a little ridiculous that her connection to Hayes was being so blown out of proportion now. She really hoped Hayes hadn't caught wind of any of it. She'd specifically left mention of it out of their conversations in case the bother affected his health or his opinion of her.

She checked her communicator's clock function. Still 13 clicks early. Maybe it was alright to be at least 5 clicks early. Punctuality was a virtue. So that only left 8 to go. Manageable.

She smoothed the front of her plain black tunic for probably the fifth time since putting it on. The collar settled comfortably just below her throat, only a little lower than that of her uniform, but the sleeveless nature of the garment had her a little uneasy. On Ke'tukar, bared arms to a potential mate were as obvious a signal for courtship as shouting it aloud; she doubted Hayes knew that, but it hadn't stopped her from wanting to do so anyway, just as her own personal declaration.

Another glance at her communicator. 5 more clicks. Well, maybe 10 clicks early would actually be fine.

Unai raised her hands to the door and hesitated. She'd been letting herself in these past weeks anyway. And Hayes didn't always hear the knock. Maybe she should simply enter as usual. That might even let Hayes know the stooping level of her expectations.

She pressed the door button, moving forward as the door slid open. And nearly ran into Lt. Zae in the process.

Unai backed up quickly as the Lieutenant's initial surprise faded, and she stepped into the hall, punching the door button back to closed as she did so.

"Captain." Her address was chilled as usual, and her silver eyes roamed up and down Unai's frame with an almost sick regard.

"Lieutenant," Unai returned through gritted teeth.

"Subtle are we?"

"Forgive me, Lieutenant, but I don't understand what you're implying."

Lt. Zae nodded at one of Unai's arms. "Ke'turian females woo the males by exposing their arms. A show of the strength you have to offer. I hope you are not expecting Commander Hayes to fall prey to such a spectacle."

Unai fought down the flutter of her collar and set her jaw.

"My clothing has no intention outside of its flattering fit, and even if it did, I don't see how it's any of your business."

Lt. Zae rose up to her full stringy height--a little higher than midchest--the already pinkish hue of her skin darkening with contempt. "Commander Hayes is my longtime colleague, commander, and friend. You expect me to be delighted at his dalliances with a Ke'turian military officer?"

Unai wished she could roar in the face of this disrespect. Bare her fangs, raise her collar, and challenge Lt. Zae to a combat of honor. But that would only upset Hayes and satisfy the Lieutenant's bad opinion of her. Instead, she let her fangs only show slightly. "Xersians and Ke'turians may have differing ideals, but I never knew a Xersian to be openly prejudiced toward an entire species."

"It's not the Ke'turian species trying to initiate courtship with Antolin. It is only one."

Unai knew it shouldn't matter, but that casual first name drop made her insides twinge. Lt. Zae really was on closer terms with Hayes. But that still did not excuse whatever she was being accused of. "Am I missing something, Lieutenant?"

"You Ke'turian’s are as aggressive when courting as you are when fighting. You expect me to trust a species that takes their mates by force?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play innocent; I've read up on Ke'turian customs. Fighting other females to the death. Taking the males to husband--sometimes by physical force--without allowing any sort of choice. It's disgusting."

“What?” Unai cried, her collar flapping up irritatedly. “Maybe a few centuries ago! Where did you read that, a history book?"

"It was a modern study on various species' courting rituals."

"Written by who? A Xersian?"

"The libraries on Xersa have an extensive collection of research. All of which is heavily peer-reviewed and fact checked."

"Sounds like your libraries are trash, if that counts as heavily fact-checked. Ke'turian courtships are consensual. If I am denied, I will give up my pursuit entirely." It hurt to say aloud, like a rock sinking to the bottom of her stomach. But it was true. Her advances only went as far as Hayes accepted them. Maybe that was another reason she wasn't being totally forward. Once she received the official no, it was done. She'd rather bide her time in hopes of a one-day yes.

Lt. Zae blinked a few times. Taking in the offense and the claim all at once. Her face contorted from enraged, to considering, to flat. "I...will check a few more sources. However, my current trust remains nonexistent. If I hear of anything unsavory occurring on this 'walk', I will use my current commanding power to dismiss you from the station. Clear?"

"Perfectly," Unai growled. She maneuvered around the Xersian, pressing the door button with a large, intentional gesture. As it slid back, she stepped into Hayes' quarters without a second glance at the eyes piercing her back.

Hayes hastily pushed himself up on his crutch as she entered. "Captain Unai!"

"Commander!" she returned, nearly on choking the greeting. He wore a blue tunic-style shirt that cross-wrapped over his chest, but not before dipping just below his clavicle.

No. No. She was not going to be accused of ogling again.

Unai forced her gaze away from his elegant neck and the peeking portion of--despite his months in bed--a toned chest. She didn't know why she had expected him to be in uniform today. Maybe because besides the sleep clothing he wore in his quarters, she'd never seen him in anything else. He seemed like the type who would sleep in his uniform if it weren't for the discomfort and possible damage to the material.

It turned out averting her eyes from the outfit did nothing to save her. Haye's long, dark hair, fell in full curls over his shoulder, and the little tendrils that were too small to be pulled into his half bun framed his face in a messy, tousled sort of way. His eyes, as dark and deep as ever, studied her intensely.

She looked down at the floor before he could see the full extent of her admiration.

You mean attraction, she corrected internally. Who do you think you're kidding?

Well, if this wasn't a date, hopefully Hayes.

After a few moments, when no reproach or teasing remarks came, Unai forced her gaze back up. Hayes was still staring at her. Not the piercing, soul-exposing way he usually looked at her, but like...like he was caught up in a thought.

"Hayes?"

Hayes jolted and cleared his throat. "You, uh, look nice."

Unai mustered every bit of her strength to keep her collar pinned taughtly against her neck. "Thank you. So do you." She awkwardly extended her arm. "Shall we?"

Hayes limped forward and took gentle hold of the crook of her arm with his free hand. He smiled briefly up at her with what seemed like...nerves? No, it was probably just uneasiness about going out for the first time. His leg was probably pretty sore.

"So, Captain, what did you have planned?"

[ripplestitchskein]

I’m still kind of reeling from Stolas living out all of his fantasies because he made the choice to go after Andy on his own. He punches his enemy…a lot. He goes after his daughter despite the consequences. He is rescued by a literal knight in shining armor riding a mighty steed and carrying a sword. He gets a big romantic kiss and then BAM, you still live in reality and have lots of unresolved issues buddy.

It really is a “the character got what they wanted but not what they needed” moment. Do I kind of hate the implication that a character who wants romance and grand gestures can’t have those things for themselves without a brutal reality check? Yes. Do I also thrive on character’s going through the wringer? Also yes.

[sokkastyles]

This is something I've turning around in my mind due to the general discourse around Katara "hating" Zuko, and obviously she doesn't hate him at all after TSR, but do you think she truly even /hated/ him after Ba Sing Se? She was absolutely within her right to be hurt and angry about his choice, and I'm glad the show actually let her hold onto that for awhile b/c so often K has to be the bigger person and manage everyone else's emotions, but being hurt and angry at someone, even lashing out at them b/c of that, isn't the same thing as hating them imo. Like tbh their entire vibe to me from the moment Zuko turns up at the Western Air Temple until TSR is exes after a bad breakup but there's still unresolved feelings there, which was certainly an interesting writing choice for them to go with (only made more so by the textbook romance writing grovelling in TSR.)

Yeah, she isn't mad at him because she hates him, she's mad at him because she cares about him, because she wanted to care about him, and because she thought he cared about her. Even when she tells the gaang that Zuko was "pretending to be a human being" in the catacombs, it gives the impression that she is trying to convince herself that what she's saying is true, that the moment they shared and the vulnerability Zuko showed in that moment wasn't real.

The other thing that gives the lie to the idea that Katara hates Zuko or just sees him as an enemy is that when she confronts him when they are alone, and threatens him, she doesn't react to him like she thinks he's lying about wanting to do the right thing, she confronts him about how "you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past." In front of everyone else, she makes it seem like she thinks Zuko is just evil, but when she's alone with him, she makes it clear that she knows he isn't, and that this is really about how she can't trust him, how he broke her trust. It's personal, not just about him being fire nation.

And the fact that she waited to tell him this in private, while denying her feelings in public, is absolutely romantic coded. I've also pointed out before that the framing of the confrontation mirrors the final scene between Zuko and Mai (or rather, that the Zuko and Mai scene, which is explicitly romantically coded, mirrors this one), Katara standing in the doorway to interrupt Zuko's triumphant moment with a reminder that his past isn't so easily moved past, and a reminder of who he's hurt. It absolutely gives vibes of an ex who you still have feelings for.

Which is why it's hilarious that Bryke made that comment about zutara being a relationship you experience before realizing what you really need (with the implication that Katara really needs Aang and Zuko really needs Mai), because what it actually feels like is two people who were immediately drawn to each other, ended up hurting each other, broke it off, but then still had feelings for each other and ended the series closer than they were before. If Bryke really wanted us to think zutara were not good for each other, then there could have been a moment where, when Zuko and Katara get their closure with each other, there's also the G-rated equivalent of "let's just be friends." Maybe have Katara say something like, "I forgive you, but I can't make the choice you want me to make." This is also in an alternate universe where Zuko more explicitly encourages Katara to kill Yon Rah. But none of that happens. The episode does not tell us that Zuko is not good for Katara or vice versa. It has Katara end the episode by explicitly disagreeing with Aang and enthusiastically embracing Zuko without any hesitation at all.

That hug is so meaningful because it's the release of tension that the narrative has been building up since that moment in the catacombs. It's not that Katara hated Zuko but now cares about him, it's that she wanted to care about him way back in the catacombs and now she's able to express that without being afraid that he'll break her trust.

[yanderes-galore]

Transformers Prime Yandere! Ratchet concept?????

Sure! I love Ratchet :) This is me spilling my thoughts on various things more than an actual plot. I just hope I nailed his character since I like him so much- Probably could've made this longer but was unsure how/what to add.

@trashysimpaa gave me inspiration for how to do this here!

Yandere! TFP! Ratchet Concept

Pairing: Romantic/Platonic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Denial of feelings, Cybertronian/Human and Cybertronian/Cybertronian pairing mentioned, Stalking, Overprotective behavior, Trackers, Manipulation, Isolation, Kidnapping, Violence, Forced companionship, Brief mentions of jealousy, Vague implications of murder, Drugging.

Ratchet is definitely the type of yandere to act different depending on what you are.

When it comes to an Autobot darling he'd be more comfortable to feel fond towards them as they're Cybertronian and an Autobot.

When it comes to a human he'd take time to get used to you before considering anything.

Ratchet hasn't always been the biggest human person until he spent more time on Earth.

He'll come around eventually.

When it comes to a Decepticon! darling you'd get something similar to angst and enemies to (one-sided) lovers/friends.

It would depend on how loyal you are to Megatron and if you're even capable of change.

He can't shake the fact he cares for you despite your beliefs.

Ratchet is a slow yandere in terms of obsession.

He's slow to care for anyone new due to being older.

He's lost so much he doesn't like getting attached.

Although when it comes to you he can't help but worry.

Ratchet would definitely be a yandere who is in denial of how he feels.

No matter how he sees you it happens.

Yet the strongest cases of this would be romantic feelings towards a human or any sort of feelings towards a Decepticon.

Ratchet would be the type to try and ignore how he feels.

Like most Autobots Ratchet is protective of you and his mind often drifts to your safety.

Be it missions or every day life, the fact the world is so dangerous is a truth that sticks in his mind.

Can't really blame him since he's bee through war-

It happens when you lose everyone you love... including your entire home.

Ratchet would try to be subtle with his care towards you.

All Autobots tend to have trackers to see their vitals and location, Ratchet can check it at the base.

Soothing his concerns and checking where you are is easy when you're an Autobot.

Even though he'd prefer you staying at base with him.

Decepticons probably have something similar.

With a hack or two he could probably track you if he really looked into it.

When it comes to a human things are harder.

He can't track you as easily as a Cybertronian.

Which means Ratchet either sneaks to your house in vehicle mode... or sneaks a tracker onto/into you somehow.

It seems very invasive but he tells himself it's for your own good.

In fact that's his driving factor most of the time in his obsession.

Ratchet feels his main responsibility is to keep those he cares about alive.

He doesn't care if that means invading your privacy or locking you away from the world.

Speaking of which, kidnapping could happen with Ratchet but it's uncommon with him.

When it comes to an Autobot darling he could convince you to stay out of missions but even that has its limits.

He wouldn't really kidnap an Autobot.

A human or Decepticon? Most likely.

Kidnapping a human darling would be him convincing you to stay at the base.

It's all for your safety, just for a few hours...

Hours turn to days...

Days to weeks...

Perhaps even months.

He just doesn't let you go.

A Decepticon! darling would be taken in under the guise of prisoner.

In reality it's a way Ratchet can be close to you without much issue.

Ratchet can be seen as either a platonic or romantic yandere for any partner.

He works really well for both roles and would still do just about anything for his darling.

Ratchet may be a medic, one meant to heal... but he is definitely capable of violence.

He can fight and hold his own, he'd be even more willing to do it if it was for his darling.

It doesn't matter how much Energon must be spilled...

As long as he has you he's the happiest he could be.

Ratchet is definitely one to act like he knows more than you.

If you're having arguments he claims he knows so much more than you, that he knows how to take care of you better than yourself.

It's frustrating for the both of you.

Ratchet is stubborn and will not change his mind on things.

If he decides isolation will keep you safe, that's final.

End of story.

That's his form of manipulation.

He won't really make you feel bad, he'll essentially parent you until you comply.

Fighting him is a losing battle.

I can see Ratchet getting jealous at times.

He isn't very vocal about it so he silently thinks on it.

You can tell there's an edge in his voice and he makes small comments on it but he won't kill anyone.

Ratchet isn't the most affectionate Autobot but he'll try.

It's actually a bit funny (and creepy) to hear him grumble about it.

[Edit] I forgot to mention this awhile ago but Ratchet, along with characters like Knock Out and maybe Pharma, would drug his darling.

If you're Cybertronian he bumps up some anesthesia.

If you're human he does research on what drugs affect the human body and how.

He'll give you just enough to make you compliant, he knows exactly how to make you docile.

If he's romantic then he'd try to kiss his darling, often trying to be as gentle as possible.

Especially if you're human.

If he's platonic he's much more like a guardian or parent.

He gives words of encouragement and tries to take care of you.

Overall I believe Ratchet is one of the more stubborn and slower yanderes.

It takes him time to accept the fondness he holds towards you...

Once he does then he doesn't plan on letting you or those feelings go, no matter how hard you try to change his mind.

[foundfamilywhump]

pinned post!

hey hey! decided to do a new pinned post now that my intro post is like two years old at this point. some info about me and this blog here:

i'm gav, he/they, 27. combo of fandom and non-fandom whump posts/reblogs, though i don't really do much with like... specific whump ocs, it's just not something that holds my interest for some reason. i do some giffing, and i'm trying to get more practice with it. my ao3 is at altschmerzes, which is also my main blog and where i follow from ( @altschmerzes ).

i have blog pages which list my tagging system and used tags, my work, and a general about page. some of these pages are under construction, bear with me.

things you will find here:

interpersonal dynamics of the team, found family, enemies to friends, queerplatonic varieties (and more!). big emphasis on platonic intimacy.

some fave tropes include touch starvation, torture, difficult and complicated recovery arcs, whipping, nightmares, characters being helped to bathe/wash after whump, interpersonal abuse, and many many more

comfort and care, and hope if not 'happy' endings

sometimes posts will include whump and whump tropes related to or featuring sexual assault and rape. these posts are always tagged appropriately, and i do my best to tag even implications/heavy vibes. they DO exist though. child abuse/interpersonal abuse is another frequent topic.

things you will NOT find here (sometimes with some exception):

romance. at all. if i make a post, it is always meant without romance. if i reblog a post, i avoid romantic relationships as much as i can. i am an intensely romance repulsed aromantic person.

character death

hurt no comfort

pet whump/bbu type stuff/general 'prolonged captivity where no one ever gets out and the whumpee is fawning and completely brainwashed' vibe stuff

'carewhumpers'. this is such a specific niche beef but i really do not understand the term and i think it makes no sense and kind of sucks and plays into some really uncomfortable and shitty beliefs about abuse and what 'real' harm is and how harm is 'not that bad' if someone doesn't truly mean it or if they're like, nice sometimes. more on that here.

gendered generic whump posts. im sorry, there's just no reason this generic nameless whumpee needs to be a 'he'.

[wandringaesthetic]

Another deleted scene from the fic, this one because I wrote two versions of a campfire scene on accident. I hit some of the notes here with Cecil and Rosa's conversation in bed earlier, and I hope I can hit some of them in one or two future scenes with these characters while I have a chance, but it's not going to work exactly how I have it written here:

***

Cecil sat leaned against the stones with Rosa leaned against his chest. They talked in low voices and listened to Edward play. The air outside the circle of the fire was chill, and their shared body heat gave comfort. Cecil gradually noticed that Rydia was edging closer and closer to them.

"Are you jealous, little one?" he eventually asked. "I have two arms."

Rydia sat against his left side while Rosa sat in the space between his legs and leaned against him. He draped his left arm over Rydia's shoulder.

Strange that he should feel so content and so at peace. The past was a nightmare and the future unknown. They were in the eye of the storm. There was only this moment.

Without thinking about it, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he pressed his lips to Rydia's temple near her hairline. As if she were his. As if they were a family.

Contemplating the implications of what he had done didn't pull him entirely from his contented daze. Rydia seemed to have the same delayed realization, and turned to look at him over her shoulder. No hint of pleasure or displeasure on her face, only a question that she didn't have words for.

Surely holding her like this was more intimate than kissing her head. Surely she had offered him her trust in several ways great and small before now.

She was a child in his care and at his mercy. It would be monstrous not to love her. He had destroyed her entire world. It would be monstrous to love her. He crossed his arm over her body and rubbed his hand down her ribs, tickling her. She squirmed.

Much more monstrous to rescind that love once given, as his father had done to him. It had hurt him in ways he had not yet fully fathomed, and he had been nearly grown when it had happened. Whenever it had begun to happen. He didn't know if his father the king had lost hope in him ever becoming an acceptable heir, whether he had simply perceived that Cecil no longer needed him, or something else entirely, but something had surely changed. Cecil had been too caught up in his own adventures and his own miseries to say precisely when, but at some point King Odin had stopped showing any interest in him at all. Cecil slept and ate at the castle, but he was simply another of King Odin's knights.

Cecil, too, had been an orphan, like Rydia. He had wondered very little about his birth parents as a child. How could they compare to a king? But now he wondered. Of all the orphans in Baron, why him? The popular supposition was that he was truly Odin's bastard son, but that felt unlikely to Cecil from all that he knew of the man, and he bore no physical resemblance to him besides. Was he the son of someone the king had killed? The son of some romantic or political rival, stolen in vengeance? The child of some enemy? Someone that he had felt sorry for having orphaned?

If I ever make it back to Baron, if I ever become king like Cid and Rosa want to make me, they're going to say that I took her in for her power.

Well. Let them.

"Rydia?" Cecil said.

The child squirmed in his arms and turned her face up to look at him.

"I'm not ever going to abandon you. I'm always going to take care of you, alright?"

Rydia didn't say anything, but cuddled into his ribs. Rosa leaned away and turned so she could see Cecil's face, no anger or accusation there, but perhaps a wariness, a curiosity. Are you sure?

"I'm sure," Cecil said aloud. Perhaps he should have spoken to Rosa before he made any grand declarations, but that was his intention regardless of how she felt. He hoped Rosa would come to be something like a mother to her, but if she wouldn't, that was still his resolve and his intent. He and Rosa would hash it out among themselves later.

Rosa sighed, perhaps thinking about what that might mean, for the future, for any of their futures, but she settled back against him, and hugged Cecil's arm, patting him on the wrist. Eventually she reached over and laid her hand on top of Rydia's. Rydia lay her other hand on top of Rosa's, and Rosa reached to lay her other hand on top of that. Rydia pulled her right hand from the bottom of the stack and the process began again, the movement stirring the three of them from their sleepy contentment. Cecil took both of his hands and laid them on top of the pile. Rydia rolled away, giggling.

***

[mad-not-disappointed]

I recently read a fic about a f/f ship, where one of the girls (similarly to Adora) always puts others' needs and wants above her own for years, which, by the time the fic takes place, makes it difficult for her to accept even the most basic nice gestures, like someone asking how she's feeling, and makes her repress her 'selfish' feelings hard, to the point of making her feel like she doesn't deserve love.

Except her love interest actually takes notice of this when they befriend each other, steadily does her best to discourage this behavior (without assuming the role of a therapist and) by both being caring and putting her foot down when neccessary, and, most importantly, she specifically avoids putting her own romantic feelings over her crush's emotional well-being.

From the looks of it, writers of SPOP were trying to do something similar with Adora and Catra in season 5. Except it doesn't work IN THE SLIGHTEST, because: 1) Catra conciously contributed to Adora's savior complex 2) Catra repeatedly puts her feelings over Adora's physical and emotional well-being (whether they are enemies or not).

The implication that Catra is the right person for Adora, because she's the only one who views Adora as a person with her own feelings and wishes, doesn't work, WHEN THE TEXT LITERALLY TELLS US OTHERWISE.

yeah, there are a lot of ships where they handle the whole "falling in love with a hero" trope really well.

another example i can think of is steven and connie from steven universe. connie is actually the only person who doesn't compare steven to his mom or put him on a pedestal. (apart the cool kids, but they weren't that close to steven, unfortunately. i would have liked to see more interactions between them and steven honestly).

and this is actually shown multiple times in the show where she protects steven from danger and comforts him when he needs it. she gets upset when steven sacrifices himself to the diamonds because she sees him as a normal vulnerable child who isn't supposed to be handling all of the universe's issues by himself. (and this is actually effective unlike catra's whole "adora chose shadow weaver over me!" but somehow connie got more hate for it than catra).

connie is honestly the only sense of normalcy that steven has in his life (since even greg tends to mention rose a lot). in this instance, it's accurate to say that connie is the only person who sees steven as a person, and not as a hero. because it's actually true and the narrative shows it time and time again.

catra and adora however. yikes. literally every other person in adora's life treated her better than catra did. even the other princesses, who weren't that close to adora, still had moments where they supported and comforted her.

and yet we're supposed to believe that the person who constantly put adora down, berated her, abused her, controlled her and almost killed her.. is the person who cares about her the most. and the most baffling part of this is that 90% of the fandom believes it.

[stormyoceans]

top of your plot tropes that are absolute cliches but you still love them madly

IM ALREADY GOING TO APOLOGIZE ANON BECAUSE THIS STUMPED ME SO MUCH

mostly because i started to overthink about the definition of 'plot tropes' and i could not decide what to go with ;;;;;;; like is 'enemies to lover' a plot trope? because that would have saved me SO MANY headaches, but my brain kept telling me that that's a romance trope, which is different. and then, when i was finally able to come up with a few things i WOULD consider plot tropes, i didn't like them (for example, amnesia)

so yeah, im afraid this is a bit of a mess ;;;;;; and im not sure if some of these are plot tropes to begin with, but i really couldn't come up with anything else, so. have this top 5!!!!!!

1. the marriage proposal. call me a sap but nothing makes my heart melt more than a queer marriage proposal, possibly even more than the wedding celebration itself. i mean, don’t get me wrong, i LOVE to finally be able to see weddings and queer love being openly celebrated like that in my QLs, but there’s just something in the proposal itself, in that first promise of lifelong love between two characters, that makes me really emotional.

a sort of sub-trope of this that im also seeing emerging (so it’s not quite a cliche yet, but i still wanted to mention it because it has very interesting narrative implications) is the i will get you a better ring in the future trope. it’s when a character kinda already proposes to their partner but it’s with a toy ring, or a piece of wire or thread, so it’s not quite official. it’s interesting to me because it usually means that there’s impending doom about to happen just around the corner, but until now it’s also always been a hint to an eventual happy ending.

2. the surprise birthday party. i can’t talk about this trope without exposing all my deep seated trauma but like. a character who has always been alone/has lost his loved ones/perceives themselves as unlovable getting showered with love and having their very existence into this world celebrated? [chokes back tears] yes, good. on the other hand, this can also be used to highlight how lonely a character actually is even when they are surrounded by people who are supposed to love them (for example, day's birthday party in last twilight).

3. forced proximity. maybe im cheating a little on this one because i don’t always love its execution, but i do think it has a lot of potential and always makes me excited if done right. i feel like a lot of people relate this trope in QLs to cohabition exclusively, and while that’s certainly one form of it, i think it has a broader range, which includes any type of situation where two characters are forced to stick together by the circumstances (for example, two characters at odds with each other getting handcuffed together like in history 3: trapped or kinnporsche). it’s an amazing versatile trope because it can create tension between the characters but also defuse it, it can be what ignites the first spark of romantic feelings or what makes them finally explode. it has countless possibilities, so im always excited to see how it will be used.

4. the beach gateway. does the 98% of QL shows really need a beach gateway episode? not really. do i still enjoy the hell out of it? hell yeah, i do. i know it’s kinda funny to see it happen so often, but it’s actually pretty rare for it not to have some kind of narrative significance. the beach (or better yet, the sea) is the freedom of nature that stands against the suffocating laws of the city. the beach is a refuge for characters who are lost or struggling. it's where they get to be their true selves and love unabashedly. shits happen at the beach, and im always here for it.

5. you’re not alone, you’re not wrong, and there’s joy to be found in being queer. can you tell i didn’t know how to call this? ;;;;;; im also not quite sure how to explain it, but it’s when a character sees other queer people being happy together and open with their love in public spaces, and said character either finds solace in that or it helps in their own journey of self discovery. it’s not as a cliche as other tropes are, mostly because we went from a time where queerness was ‘unique’ and reserved exclusively to the main pairing(s) to a time where (thankfully) queerness is common and characters are mostly already self aware, but i still appreciate it when it happens because representation and community were extremely important for my own journey, and i think they still are for a lot of people who are afraid or questioning themselves.

(i apologize for using mostly GMMTV shows but those are the ones more easily available to me ;;;;;;;)

[saiyuki-chainsmokers]

💚Hakkai x Gojyo fanfictions recommendations!❤️

Just Say Yes by EzraTheBlue

Gojyo has a question. Or two.

First and Third by EzraTheBlue

Hakkai is celebrating, but Gojyo's not sure why.

Belling the Kappa by EzraTheBlue

Hakkai wants things sometimes. At present, to put limiters on Gojyo and not to tell him that he needs them.

Simple Joys by opalmatrix

Gojyo's learning that the right company makes even the mundane joyful.

Careful by Kispexi2

Sanzo gives Gojyo some unexpected advice leading to some interesting consequences.

Bodies in Motion by AbsoluteNegation

Sometimes you have to stop seeing to start perceiving.

Unconditional by summerbutterfly

Hakkai is self-conscious about his looks, but to Gojyo, he'll always be hot

Once in a Blue by EzraTheBlue

Post-Burial Arc. Gojyo claims he gets a weird fever after hanging around youkai sometimes. Hakkai tries to tend to him, only to find out that he might be feeling the heat, too.

Nine-Tenths by theskywasblue

Hakkai is possessive

Hold On by andmydog

Hakkai uses sex to remind Gojyo he's not to run off again - set after the defeat of Kami-sama.

How Fortunate the Man with None by Rroselavy

Coming to terms with abandonment is not Gojyo's strong suit.

Vulnerability by stirlingrequiem

Hakkai wishes he could have absolute faith in Gojyo this time, just like he always has before. Gojyo has always been his rock, someone he can depend on without fail, but when the time comes for him to repay everything Gojyo’s done for him, will he have the strength for it?

Ante Up by Tru

It’s become another bet between them, and Hakkai has raised the stakes thinking Gojyo won’t call.

Tease by Marks

The new youkai mark licks across the back of Gojyo’s throat the same way Hakkai wants to. Is he jealous of the thing that might make Gojyo lose his mind? Well, maybe.

The Doctor by EzraTheBlue

Prompt fill: Gojyo - "I know you love me and all but stop threatening the doctor"

Flowers and Poetry by EzraTheBlue

Hakkai complains that Gojyo isn't putting enough effort into being romantic. Gojyo takes it to heart.

Impulse by devera

An enemy spell goes right, eventually.

Terminal Diagnosis (NOT a death fic) by Despina

Booze, poker, and women just can't hold Gojyo's interest like they used to and his old way of life seems to be dying. He knows why, but before he can accept it, he needs to work through a few issues.

Written on the Skin by emungere, louise_lux

Gojyo gets Hakkai's vines tattooed on him. Hakkai notices.

Killing Ourselves to Live by Rose Argent (roseargent)

Gojyo and Hakkai are drawn into trouble far bigger than they expected. When everything goes wrong, at least one thing goes surprisingly right.

Appreciation by Anna_Fiona

Hakkai and Gojyo spend an evening together and Hakkai realizes his lover has earned some well deserved appreciation.

Dwelling in This Place by kansouame

Gojyo and Hakkai do a little breaking and entering.

Twisting Desire by Despina

Youkai!Hakkai/Gojyo: semi-noncon, vine!sex, heat of the moment, adrenaline, post-fight - Gojyo had harbored fantasies, but he wasn't sure if he was ready for this.

Hearts Afire by Despina

Hakkai struggles emotionally with what Gojyo means to him in light of their previous tryst. Gojyo has had enough of Hakkai’s angst. Follow up to Twisting Desire.

Penultimate by RoAnshi

A serious injury received while fighting youkai reminds Gojyo of another painful incident from his past. Warnings for depictions of child abuse and canon based incest implications. Nongraphic 58.

Over The Moon by EzraTheBlue

Gojyo had a lot of dreams. Most of them died when his daughter was born.

He thought.

Type H by Kirathaune

Gojyo suddenly develops a "type" - could it be for ...brunettes with green eyes?

Demons Dreaming by Briarwolf (Tru)

Gojyo has never really been the type to have pleasant dreams, but he comes to find that maybe it's just that the good ones don't come while he's asleep.

Down from the Red Hills by opalmatrix

When a limiter-less Hakkai chases some fleeing youkai into the hills and doesn't return, Gojyo goes after him. The journey back is much longer than he ever expected.

Pose by Ukoku2012

Walking back in, Gojyo was greeted with a sight that would have made a classical painter weep and scramble for their supplies: Hakkai half stretched out on his front, arms draped across the pillow with his head nestled between them. The lines of his back practically begged the eye to follow them down to where his ass was slipping out from the covers that were tangled around his legs. "Oh, we are not getting out of bed today," Gojyo growled, almost sprinting across the room.

Then Hakkai opened his one visible eye and Gojyo staggered from the disorienting wave of deja vu.

Flash in the Pan by theskywasblue

Gojyo hates washing dishes

Accidental Innocence by Crescentium

Hakkai and Gojyo have lived together for quite some time without actually living together, as it were. It does not mean they have not thought about it. There are accidents, and then there are accidents, and Gojyo might say "Bullshit."

Akin to Admiration or, Hakkai is a Jealous Bastard by tropicsbear

Shān had never been turned down by a man before. Ever. She wasn’t about to let this one get away.

Fire at Midnight by opalmatrix

Their adventuring days were over and that was just fine with Gojyo. Or so he thought.

Fanning the Spark by opalmatrix

A day of play in the fresh snow turns into something serious — and eventually, something else entirely.

Until Something by jedishampoo

After their bout with the Seiten Taisei, Hakkai and Gojyo move into a new kind of relationship.

Keeping Up Appearances by AbsoluteNegation

Two years after the end of the Journey, Gojyo and Hakkai might just be the two people they know least actively involved in getting the two of them together.

Care and Keeping of Your Kappa by EzraTheBlue

What if Gojyo is reverted to a more feral nature under the influence of the Minus Wave? Hakkai must draw on whatever resources he has to maintain his favorite kappa's health and well-being in order to keep him sane until a solution is found. Minor spoilers for recent chapters.

found a place to rest my head by Nakimochiku

"Do you ever feel like something's missing?"

"Something? Like what?"

(Or, the Happy Ending AU where Gojyo and Hakkai get jobs, get married, and adopt children)

There Needs No Ghost by Daegaer

Sanzo has a job for Gojyo and Hakkai. Unfortunately Hakkai has left Gojyo to his own devices, and has gone ghost hunting for some peace and quiet.

A Question of Trust by Sharpeslass

It's Gojyo's birthday, but he's not the only one in for some surprises.

Lauds by Nakimochiku

Hakkai's god is of the body, so he worships him with his body.

Wherever I Find Myself by louise_lux

"This place is a dump," Gojyo said, looking around.

He wasn't wrong. The unmistakable smell of mould curled through the rooms. The floorboards creaked and groaned under every step. The kitchen had been ransacked. Every pot and pan and plate—some of them still containing dried crusts of what had once presumably been food—had been pulled from the tables and cupboards and onto the floor. Clothes were flung about the bedroom; they lay collapsed on the rotting rugs like dead bodies, all covered in dust.

The owner, Mr Chan, stood next to Hakkai. He had a sooty black mole on his bald head. It wasn't a youkai mark. "The last people left in a hurry. I couldn't find any one to rent during the—bad time." He darted his gaze away from Hakkai and fixed it on the mess on the floor.

"It'll take a lot of cleaning," Hakkai said. "I like it."

Proving It by aeternum_vale

As the journey draws near the end, Hakkai and Gojyo finally feel they are different people willing to say what they need to.

The Sinews of the Heart by theskywasblue

Hakkai always assumed he would be the one to go mad.

The World Through a Monocle by Nadare

When one discussion between a pair of friends crosses a line, would you embrace that new change or disregard it? Vague spoilers for Saiyuki Gaiden.

1001 by macavitykitsune

A death sends Hakkai down the path of déja vu and a thousand deaths, but the ending might not be the same.

Negative Movement by Sylvia

Gojyo's been feeling kinda off for a couple days or so. Turns out it's not the flu.

A Momentary Lapse of Reason by Rroselavy

Hakkai does a bad, bad thing. Can Gojyo forgive him?

The Best Medicine by theskywasblue

Hakkai helps Gojyo trade pain for pleasure.

Jealous of Your Cigarette by TJ_Dragonblade

Gojyo's smoking inspires Hakkai

Simple Pleasures by theskywasblue

Sha Gojyo is a simple man.

The Bottom Line by opalmatrix

Gojyo needs some new jeans. Hakkai's going to make sure they get their money's worth.

Proof by emungere

Gojyo/Hakkai, knifeplay or whipping – Hakkai begging reluctant Gojyo to tie him down and hurt him.

One of Those Things by scribblemoose

Playing Doctor by TJ_Dragonblade

Healer Hakkai and Gojyo with a minor wound...

You Can Bend, or You Can Break by Viridian5

Waking up after his youkai fight with Seiten Taisei after Goku’s nearly fatal shooting, Hakkai asks Gojyo for some information and makes some conclusions.

Bound by ehvul_butterfly (summerbutterfly)

Gojyo/Hakkai: bondage - Perhaps it was a bit extreme, but he was tired of Gojyo whoring around without even noticing him.

Need by Sylvia

Sha Gojyo isn't what anyone needs, really. Or is he?

Distant Relations by Sylvia

"Well, well," the water-imp said, a distinct hint of condescension in his tone. "What a surprise."

Rest in Pieces, or What a rescue Ent(r)ails by AbsoluteNegation

One take on what might have happened in the immediate aftermath of Hakkai's daring rescue of Gojyo in the Burial arc. A bit of romance, a touch of humour, and a lot of blood.

Tenacious by Lady_Ganesh

Things don't always go easily on the journey back home.

Other Nights Than This by theskywasblue

Gojyo wonders about the past.

Reflections by Kirathaune

A much-needed haircut gives Gojyo an opportunity to discover something about himself... and Hakkai, too. Minor spoilers for Blast Volume 3.

Déjà Vu by AluraGayle

Even with his limiters in place, Hakkai still battles for control. Sometimes, he can slip.

Home from the Sea, Home from the Hill by emungere

Hakkai is weird.

This, Gojyo feels, is something that people tend to forget. Even Sanzo seems to take Hakkai at face value more often than not, and Hakkai's face always shows the same value. Gojyo knows better.

The Lesson by Lady_Ganesh

Gojyo and Hakkai spend some time in the classroom.

Take the Chill Out by theskywasblue

Gojyo still remembers long winters when he shivered relentlessly, wore every piece of clothing he owned, and smoked to stay warm - felt like that was the only thing there was to do - but these days his joints ache in the deep winter; he’d rather be warm than look like a tough guy.

💚Hakkai x Gojyo❤️x🖤Tenpou x Kenren💜

As it is in heaven by chibi_zoe

The actions of Earth are merely a reflection of the actions in Heaven.

Red Wine Celebration by GloriousGoblinQueen

Kenren gets Tenpou something special for his birthday. A little over 500 years later, something similar occurs.

🖤Tenpou x Kenren💜

Beauty by Lady_Ganesh

The Field Marshal watches his General.

Echoes of a Red Chamber Dream by summerbutterfly

Away from the pressures of Heaven, Tenpou dreams.

The Courtship of Tenpou Gensui by MistressRenet

Kenren knows exactly what he wants. Tenpou resists, for a while.

on your knees, general by antikytheras

Kenren accidentally proposes.

No Me Without You by opalmatrix

When Kenren is seriously injured, Tenpou comes face to face with his feelings about "that person."

The Nature of the Rose by opalmatrix

Sometimes, explanations are helpful. This is not one of those times.

Just like this, forever by ItsAiryBro

Kenren has needs, and Tenpou loves to satisfy them

The Pencil Is Mightier by HelenaHandbasket

"Oftentimes, one can gain the upper hand by simply encouraging the opponent's body to continue in the direction it is naturally inclined to go."

I'm 10 years late, guys, but I'm ready to be a part of this fandom!

[deadbeatbirdmom]

Bumbleby is my OTP aka One True Pairing, my favourite RWBY ship.

I've come to realise that one of my NOTPs aka least favourite pairings is a little strange bearing in mind what my OTP is.

While I can understand why it's a thing, and even why it's aesthetically pleasing, Blake paired with possessed!Yang from Justice League x RWBY Part 2 is a NOTP for me. H%rnet I think the pairing is called, although maybe that's when it's specifically with Negative Blake from Ice Queendom.

Possessed!Yang or Y@ng does look pretty cool with those glowing eyes. I find the whole possession an interesting thing to explore, and might write a fic about possessed!Yang at some stage.

I'll get into why H%rnet's a NOTP for me under a read more cut, because I don't want to rain on the parade of anyone who likes it. I just hope that cut works, I'm not entirely sure they always do.

It's my own personal opinion. There's nothing wrong with liking H%rnet.

Why is it a NOTP for me? It's because Kilg%re is the one possessing Yang. He's the reason her eyes are glowing. He's the one in charge. Yang's trapped in her own body, unable to do anything but watch. Going by what happened to the Flash with his possession in Part 1 and the after effects in Part 2, those possessed are aware of what's happening.

The involvement of Kilg%re in possessed Yang doing anything romantic or sexual with Blake just thoroughly squicks me out (squick being an older general fandom term meaning it personally grosses me out or repulses me without bringing any moral judgement into it).

Then there's how Yang can't consent because she can't say or do anything to give it. I don't think it can be taken as a given, even with Blake as her partner. It's not impossible to get past this issue, because Kilg%re could release his possession for long enough for Yang to speak up, and call a halt to what's going on after that if he can tell Yang's not okay with it anymore.

I've no idea how likely it'd be that Kilg%re would respect those boundaries, I don't know much about him besides that he's a villain who possesses people because he apparently doesn't have a body of his own, and specialises in hacking. He certainly doesn't ask for permission before possessing his enemies.

Anyway, again, there's nothing wrong with liking possessed!Yang and Blake as a pairing. Even with the implications with Yang not being able to consent, there's ways around that. They are also fictional characters. No one is really being hurt.

I fully subscribe to the philosophy of 'don't like, don't read.' That means it's my own responsibility to avoid all things H%rnet. Here on Tumblr that means it's a tag I should filter. It's absolutely not my place to tell anyone their fun is wrong, which is why this is (in theory) behind a read more cut.