#Chase Statement

[diamondsunbursts-and-marblehalls]

percy and annabeth immediately looking at grover when they find out someone needs to drive. grover your "I'm actually 24" is showing.

[cementcornfield]

I've been with [Joe] for a long time now and I ain't never seen him fall off, feel sluggish about himself you know? I don't know if he does but I always pick him up too, doesn't matter if he's seeing it or not, I'm picking him up, he's picking me up...

x

[deadnatura11]

Slow Burn Buddie gon look like:

- Eddie realizes he's gay

- Eddie realizes he is in love with Buck

- Buck realizes he is in love with Eddie

- Eddie goes to pick up Christopher

- Christopher makes Eddie promise he won't do anything to disrupt their family again or something in a way that alludes to Eddie thinking dating Buck, and it not working out, will hurt Chris

- Eddie chooses not to pursue Buck out of some notion that he's protecting Chris

- Buck pursues to get Eddie to realize that them dating won't affect Chris negatively

- Meanwhile Eddie does try to date but keeps it separate from Chris, leading to string of meaningless hook ups (which while good in the moment overall leave him unfulfilled)

- Buck sits Chris down and explains his feelings

- Chris sits Eddie down and they have a conversation about dating Buck and ACTUALLY heal the wounds caused by Shannon's death that still hadn't been healed and were made worse by Kim

- Eddie and Buck go on their first date at the end of the season

- Season 9 kicks off a few months later with the 118 none the wiser that Buck and Eddie are dating, secret relationship, and will only find out at the end of the 3 part premiere

[palmettoshenanigans]

The thing is, "Nothing" isn't something that can feel the ache of loss or lack I think. Like,,, when you introduce things like "something" - where you can have a positive value - you can also have a negative value. You can have ten dollars, and you can owe someone ten dollars. You can have ten more than nothing, or you can have ten less than nothing. Zero becomes somewhat of a doorway i suppose? You never stop at zero and just rest there. Either you're in debt, or you want more. The only solution is to remove Things, Stuff, Etc from the equation. Can't have or owe anyone ten dollars if there be no dollars

When you choose to stop and sit there, at nothing, in the home of Zero, 'more' and 'less' cease to mean anything. Cease to affect you. To me this is oddly similar to the concept of Being Here Now, in the Present Moment, unconcerned with the hauntings of Yesterday or the threats of Tomorrow. I am Here. I Am. Here. Now. That's it.

Now feels very similar to Nothing. Not because there is an emptiness, but because there is a Radical Refusal to engage with ephemeral potentials and what-could-be's. They don't exist. What Is Here and Now exists.

when asked, "what do you want?" the response "nothing" doesn't mean 'there is nothing that i care to want', it means 'i am accepting of what i have Now, and i ask naught for anything else, lest I be distracted from what is Here'.

"Nothing" is like Radical Acceptance. It says "This is what Life has served me. This is what I'm working with. This is where I will focus my attention. Wishing for More of something Good or wishing for Less of something Bad will only serve to create more suffering within me. I choose instead to attend to the matters at hand. The good, the bad, and the ugly."

"I want nothing." == "I am accepting of what I have Now, and I ask naught for anything else."

"I am nothing." == "There are no titles labeling me Greater or Lesser - they are all false. I simply Am."

"This is nothing." == "There is no specialness that makes what is going on between us more or less than. We simply Are."

Andrew does not want. He will simply Be that which he Is, Here Now, with whomever is with him, and he will take them as they Are. And if what Am and Here and Now equates to is something good, well...

He'll take it.

[demigods-posts]

my heart hurts for annabeth knowing that even after everything luke did to her, she still fought to defend him. call it delusion, and you'd be correct. call it naivety, and you'd be correct. but it's also annabeth believing that luke was one of first people who actively chose her (and thalia, whom we love btw, but this ain't about her). luke promised they'd be a family. luke was the one who helped her grieve after thalia's death. luke was the one who comforted her when athena refused to claim her for the first five years of her being a demigod. luke was someone annabeth wanted to keep in her life, and she was heavily grappling with the fact that doing so would actually get her killed.

[realbeefman]

dr daddy issues famously wanting to fuck his dadboss house. and of course everybody is familiar with allison "i can fix him" cameron. but can we please please talk about little ms "took over my old boss's boss's job (being the one he'll lust and pant after like a slobbering dog)" mr king of repressed homoerotic tension eric foreman's Deal. what was going through that man's mind when he tried to fulfill the same role his former boss's girlfriend played. NONE of the og fellows are beating the "in love with house" allegations unfortunately

[missadmyre]

Orange-Tinted Dawn (of Realization)

With the events of the red light district, nightmares began to swarm Randy's mind as he tries to question the past between First Ninja and Chase Young.

First Ninja hides a lot more than he wants to admit, a past event makes him question his feelings towards something he had carefully hidden so deep within his heart.

What would be the answer these two would achieve?

-----------------------------------------------------

The moonlight roared dimly as it shined on a figure. A loud creaking sound was heard over and over again, sounds of breathing playing along with it. The actions being done by the figure was unclear, looking as if it was hunched back and hiding something.

The cabin he finds himself in is very old, cobwebs and dusts littered throughout the place. The windy weather had made itself present in the room, thanks to the open window. As he tries to find out who the figure is, it glanced back at him, it's sharp eyes telling him to leave them alone.

Randy woke up in cold sweat, gasping as his eyes laid wide open. It had been the same dream... again. As his breath began to even out, he sat up as he tried to recollect what he had witnessed. He looked over to the Nomicon, which had been sitting on his desk.

He was about to get himself schloomped into the book when his phone beeped, checking his phone, it was just an alarm he set to get himself to wake up early. "Oh I woke up early, alright..." He rubbed his eyes, getting drowsiness off of his system.

The sun shined brightly as the summer heat began to take toll, the city of Norrisville being hotter. Students chatted among themselves in the hallways, a pair of friends standing beside a locker as they settled their bags in them.

"So let me get this straight, you got yourself into some red district, and met some yokai as old as the First Ninja?" Howard asked, his eyebrows perked up as he grabbed some textbooks.

"Not just that, but somehow I managed to also find some creepy guy that probably had some history with him, can you believe that?" Randy shoved his bag in his locker, a bunch of papers scattering due to force as he groaned, picking them up and putting them back in.

"The guy's 800 years old, he must have met a bunch of wackos throughout history." As the plump ginger slammed his locker door, they proceeded to walk together, "I tried to talk of First Ninja about it but the Nomicon keeps being a shoob about it, not letting me see him and all that."

Howard started talking about other topics, trying to get his ninja biffer off of the topic unless he wants a call from Randy at midnight dishing out some disturbing thoughts about it. While the topic had gotten his curiosity, he just wants his beauty sleep.

Entering their classroom, they sat beside each other as the others began to take seats. While talking, Randy overheard a conversation from other people.

"Have you heard?"

"What?"

"There's a new teacher in our history class, the other girls said he was hot and sexy."

"Ah shit? You sure? You know your taste in men is wonk, right?"

"Oh fuck you, like you're any better. Anyways, gotta check him out, won't mind getting into a relationship with him if he really is the cheese."

"Pssh, whatever."

Randy looked at the board intently, lost in his thoughts, "A new teacher, huh." He muttered. How are they getting a new teacher when it's already nearing quarterly exams? The bell rang, the door opened as the new teacher entered their classroom. He had his dark green hair tied into a ponytail, his sharp jaw and eyes with an unnoticeable slitted pupil had every girl mesmerized.

His outfit consists of a beautifully designed buttoned up shirt, layered with a suit that purposed as a jacket. His pants clung a bit on his skin, showing his physique, his shoes made of leather. Very elegant yet formal and simplistic enough.

To most of them, what they were seeing was a very beautiful man gracing them with his looks, his smirk had them thinking of wonk scenarios. To Randy, it was like having been punched in the gut, dread crawling in him with sweat rolling down on his face. He recognized him.

"Hello everyone, I'm Chase Young but as your teacher, please refer to me as Mr. Young. Please introduce yourself and let us get to know each other." The figure announced, performing a wink which had some of the students blush.

As they introduced themselves, Randy founds himself getting nervous at the sight of the man before him, Chase Young. It was the same guy that he met back at the red light district, that one creepy guy that somehow knew his mentor. What did they have? Are they fond of each other? Do they hate each other? Does First Ninja even know him?

Many questions swirled around the teen's mind that he didn't notice the fact that he was next to be introduced, "Thank you Steve, now, boy with colored  hair, who are you?". He was snapped back into reality, moving to stand up quickly than it should've been and introduced himself as Randy Cunningham.

He sat back on his seat, Chase hummed softly as he let the others continue their introduction. The discussion between him and his students went well, most had attentively listened to him. Most. He noticed the boy, Randy, had been staring at him with a glint of murderous intent. His interest picqued, "What is it that elicit this kind of reaction?".

Chase followed the Ninja onto this quaint town known as Norrisville. Perhaps he's here He sensed lingering magic when he entered the school, following it as it picqued his interests.

When he stepped into the school last night, he saw speckles of magic that seemed to float around the school. Most of it gathering on that one glittering ball on the floor somewhere in the building. He inspected it and tried to remove it, only to be surprised when it didn't budge under his strength.

He left it alone, he would research it when afterschool hits. Then, the presence of old magic had burst somewhere, it reminded him of that man. He tried to find the source but didn't feel any of that magic anywhere when he ventured out of the building.

That Ninja... "Did he have succesors?" Chase thought, holding his chin as he tried to think of any plausible theories. "Can't be, would've known about it since..." His memory jogs back to that scene.

The sight of a naked man struggled beneath him, his breaths emitting clouds of white air as the cold had permitted itself in the dark room had him filled with joy. A candle sat beside them as it lit up to show the man's face, he shivered at the touch of my hands, his face showing a bit of lust.

"Just do it already, dammit..."

He felt a smirk creeping up on his, a wave of heat pooling in his nether regions as he blushed at the thought. "Oh, how I would like to go back and see it again." He said, the hand on his chin had covered his mouth, wanting to hide the lustful smirk he is wearing.

He came back to his senses when the bell rang, his students leaving the classroom as they gave a couple of lovely remarks. Randy glared at him, his fierce look judging his every move. A plump teen, Howard, followed him as he left along with the strange boy, perhaps his best friend.

Somehow, he felt a strange old magic embedded within the plump teen, a deep unidentified aura surrounded him along with Randy. "Strange, but welcomed." The warlock chuckled, maybe they would be useful for his search.

Randy slammed his locker door hard, feeling furious at sight of the green haired man, "Did you see that, Howard?! He followed me here!". Howard was confused at his best friend's outburst, "Why'd you say that? You know the guy?".

"Of course I do, he's that creep in the district that knows First Ninja." The teen ninja's face seethed with anger, how could he let this happen? Letting a dangerous foe like him in Norrisville? What kind of shoob is he?!. He smacked himself in the cheeks, trying to discipline himself.

"Hey! Cunningham! Cut that shit out and listen to me—" Howard grabbed Randy by the wrists, stopping him from hurting himself. He then continued, trying to calm his friend, "—You let the guy follow you here in Norrisville, okay, pretty wonk, but he hasn't done anything yet. You sure that he's after you?".

"No Howard." He removed the worried teen's hands, calming himself before answering "If he isn't interested in me then he wouldn't have followed me here in Norrisville. And have you seen him in class? He keeps observing me! He's hiding something, I'm sure of it."

The bell rings again, Randy and Howard went to their own classes as they had been separated, unaware of the figure that had been listening in their conversation. "How interesting."

The day went on normal, no robots or evil yokais attacking Norrisville. Randy had been able to recollect his thoughts as he tried to figure out Chase's intentions. Lunch happened and both friends sat together at that one table near the corner, "Oh come on Cunningham! You're making us look like one of those unpopular kids!" Howard complained.

"Don't worry, it's only for this day. I'm just worried..." Randy spoke, reassuring Howard while also going back into his deep thoughts. The plump teen disturbed him once more, "Cunningham, if this is about that Chase guy again I swear—" "Of course it's about Chase! I still haven't figured out what he wants."

The Nomicon glowed brightly from his jacket, finally getting a response, he excused himself to the bathroom as he got schloomped into the book. He landed on an unfamiliar place, it was a dark and foggy place, as he ventured deep into the area, he finds an antique Japanese house, smoke coming out from a window.

He carefully snuck to the side, peeking through the window. When he saw what was inside the house, all he found was a shadowy darkness. He was about to leave with disappointment when suddenly, a dragon showed itself and bit off his head, engulfing him as his consciousness landed on to the darkness.

It showed a familiar silhouette, a light flashing behind them. "The First Ninja..." Randy muttered, watching as the silhouette of the First Ninja trudged through a forest with his katana in hand. The silhouette then met up with another familiar silhouette, he recognized it, "Chase..."

The lights go out as it turned itself on, both First and Chase were fighting on top of a roof, a cinematic scene to behold. The teen was at awe, the silhouettes showing off their magical prowess as they attack each other with magic that he has yet to learn.

The lights flicker as he was shown with another scene, both First and Chase were sharing a drink together, Chase's silhouette was laughing as First just chuckled, enjoying each other's presence. "They were close." Randy thought, frowning as he feels as though something is about to happen.

The lights flicker as the silhouette of Chase began to turn into a gigantic monster lizard. First confronted the giant creature, fighting each other as it always ends in a stalemate, both getting injured during the fight.

The lights went off as it turned on, this time, there were no silhouettes but instead he was placed within a realistic bedroom, the vibes were very antique, evident by the old pots and herbs that are scattered throughout the room along with its wooden structure. It's the same room that he always sees in his dream.

The window was opened, letting the wind in as the only source of light seen in the room was the moon casting it's light over the windowsill. Randy looked at the bed, approaching it as he observed it. It had creases, meaning that someone must've been laid there, yet with the use of his accented smell, he realized that there were two scents that was present in the bed.

"Who did it belong to?"

He asked out in the open, suddenly words began to form on the walls, written out of charcoal dust.

  To be at *PEACE* is to >Trust< But with <Trust> is to be ?¿WARY¿?

Trying to understand the meaning behind Nomicon's lesson, Randy squinted to try and figure out what it was trying to convey. "Okay, Peace equals Trust but Trust equals Wary? What the juice Nomicon? I'm just asking what their story together is!".

Having decided to have enough of the teen's complaining, the wick from the candle had been snuffed out, leaving behind a confused Randy sitting on the bathroom stall with drool flowing down his chin.

Wiping it off his face, he put the book in his inner jacket pockets as he went out of the bathroom, sitting next to Howard who was also eating his lunch. "So, what'd they say?" He asked, mouth full of food as he munched on them.

"To be at Peace is to Trust but to Trust is to be Wary. What the juice was that supposed to mean?" Randy groaned, his eyes showing a gloomy expression. He grabbed some chips that are still present in his tray and ate it.

Lunch had ended and they went off to their separate classes, Randy finds himself sitting in English class, waiting the boring lecture that is ahead of him. The teacher came in as he started his discussion, the teen dozing off one too many times due to his uninterested behavior in it.

A loud crash was heard from outside, the ground rumbled as the sound of a potential monster shrieked, getting everyone to cover their ears. Randy looked outside the window and saw a freaky fox-like yokai taking an attacking stance near the entrance of Norrisville High.

Taking it as the chance to escape class, he went outside the classroom and transformed while everyone was distracted. Randy went to the entrance and took out his smokebomb, throwing it out, exploding as smoke comes out, serving as a distraction and a signal for his entrance.

Chase watched the spectacle happening from the faculty window, the other teachers were minding their own business like such occurrences were normal at all.

He observed the Ninja that was attacking the fox monster. In his deduction of their performance, he assumed they were the type to show off, to take every single flashy move out there to prove a point. Yet, as he tried to understand more closely, tactics were actually being done instead of just mindless swinging.

"Taught from the best, I suppose." He muttered from under his breath. The Ninja was flexible, docile but experienced, ready to fight back when timed right. Although they sometimes say their attack out loud and spew out cocky remarks, it didn't devalue the intensity of the fight, seeing as he does occasionally announce his moves when he does showdowns with Omi.

The energy the monster seems to be emitting is similar to an aura of a yokai, something that he felt from someone just an hour ago. Yet, with Chase's sharpened senses, he faintly saw strings attached to the monster, like someone or something had been controlling it. The strings had him take a hike through memory lane.

The groans from the fox monster had been a sign of the fight ending, the creature is panting as they gained massive strikes from the Ninja, bleeding as it fell to the ground. He saw the creature say something to the Ninja before it vanished, red smoke coming out as they were swept away by the winds.

The Ninja remains victorious, dropping a smokebomb as they left the scene. Leaving the students with nothing gawk on, going back to their normal schoolwork as teachers began to sigh a relief. No school property damage to pay for.

Some teachers who had watched the fight went on to their normal work, Chase looked at the piled papers on his desk, not intending to do paperwork. "Perhaps I'll assign someone in the army to do this." He thought, already thinking of candidates from his army that will handle such menial tasks.

From what he saw from the fight, the aura that is present in that event is the same as the aura he felt when he was up to Howard and Randy. He started forming theories inside his mind, one of which had been more plausible than the others.

"Could it be that... one of them is a yokai?" The sight of one of them feeling betrayed as their friend turns out to be one the monsters that terrorizes this town sends joy. He may not be sadistic, but he surely enjoys a good show of betrayal.

Randy sat beside Howard on a bench afterschool. The teen ninja recounted his fight earlier, "And then it said, 'Don't trust the lizard.', like what the juice?". Howard took another sip as he listened to his biffer, also being confused at his statement, don't trust the lizard? It didn't make sense, "What lizard?" Howard asked.

"That's what I have been thinking." Randy sighed as they left the bench, walking down the paved concrete sidelines, heading towards Greg's GameHole and possibly distract themselves. After their little session, they went to their homes, tired from what happened throughout the day.

Randy took a shower, as sprinkles of water began hitting his skin, his mind drifted to forget Chase, insisting to deal with it tomorrow. Yet, as thought of Chase, he felt as though the man looks somewhat familiar, like he had seen someone that looks like him before. He processed the theory.

Green spiky hair...

Sharp jawline...

Pure black eyes with slits...

Yellowish skin color...

Somewhat Chinese origin...

...

"Jake?"

Randy shook his head hard, Jake being Chase? Doesn't sound right to him, but he can't help but wonder if the both of them have any connections to each other. He can't just base on outside appearance, that'll be wonk as hell.

"Is Chase part of Jake's family?". While it doesn't strike him much, it is a greater improvement than he had thought of earlier. He hasn't asked of Jake's lineage, not that planned to for the sake of respecting the guy's privacy.

He then recalled what the fox yokai said to him, "Lizards look like dragons, right?". Far-fetched, but it could work. He isn't sure if the 'lizard' is actually Chase, but a possibility should be considered, no matter how weird it is.

Getting out of the bathroom clothed, he threw himself onto his bed and grabbed his phone, opening up his contacts. He saw Jake's number, should he? He contemplates, "I...".

His thumb is shaking, confused on whether to tap or not, he can't just call his friend and somehow pull out a question regarding his family tree, yet he also can't let go of his lead on Chase. Breathing a heavy sigh... he pressed it.

Jake was sweeping up the floors of his gramp's shop, the dust settling outside as he closed the door. Fu Dog had retired to the storage room to nap, his Gramps had gone to a meeting with the Dragon Council about some matters with the magical community.

"What a boring night." He sighed, he was about to go home when his phone rang. Checking it, he was ecstatic to see Randy calling him, finally, something interesting.

He pressed to call, the teen ninja's voice echoing throughout the shop. "Hey Jake!" He heard from the other side, "Hi Randy, why'd you call all of a sudden?". He heard shuffling from Randy's side as he explained.

"So you know the guy I was partially allies for during my time at the red light district?"

Jake felt his blood boil, "Red light district? You?! Randy—"

"Ah shoob, I didn't tell you about it?" The teen recounted his adventure at the district, how he met Chase during the fight against a jorogumo.

"For a second, I actually thought YOU were doing sex work. Dammit Randy, don't scare me like that, man..." The teen protector let's out a frustrated groan.

Randy snickered, "Nah, I would've killed all my clients if that were to happen. Anyways... the guy I told you, Chase... do you know your family tree?"

"Why're you askin' me that? You think me and him are related?"

"No it's just... nevermind. It's a stupid theory, god why did I think of such thing..."

"No, I... how'd you think we were related to each other?" Jake tried to get a better hold of the situation.

Randy told him all the painfully similar characteristics they both share, the lizard and dragon connection seemingly solidifying the theory. "I'll try to ask Gramps about it when he comes back, though I ain't too sure he'll say anythin' to me if somehow my family is connected with that man."

With a hum from the other side, they proceeded to move on to other topics to lighten the mood up, telling each other what had been happening to them the past week. After an hour of conversation, they hung up, the night sky still clear as ever, trying to lull the teen ninja to sleep. His consciousness faded as he fell asleep, expecting the same dream again.

But...

He finds himself spectating a nightmare, the dark gloomy space had him feel eerie at the place. Then, with a loud crash of thunder, he saw Howard kneeling on the ground, hands clutching his stomach. The teen tried to move to help his best friend yet he feels as though his stuck in one place.

He tried to shout to get the plump teen's attention but no voice seems to come out of his mouth. He watched in horror as his friend painfully transformed into a grotesque form of a bird. Feathers sprout from his body as his face is riddled with suffering, red veins glow brightly from his skin to further prove his pain.

Howard screams in sheer agony, black wings stretching out of his back as it bled, pools of blood staining the ground. His former human appearance did not even remain the slightest bit, his face twisted unnaturally to contort the most hideous and uncomfortable smile in existence.

His friend—No, this monster looked at his way slowly, eyeing him like a predator. He then approached Randy, their feet now resembling a bird's feet. He desperately tried to get away, but the creature had managed to latch onto him, their claws tearing his face apart.

Randy woke up screaming, sitting up quickly as he clutched his face, Howard. He panted, trying to even his breath. He looked around his room, it was normal just like before he went to sleep. "I can't keep having nightmares like these." He bounced his bed back to his bed, covering his eyes with his hands.

The Nomicon glowed, getting him to open it. He got schloomped inside and found First Ninja sitting on a table, drinking from his tea mug, expecting him. Randy sat across him, he watched as his mentor set down his mug and began to conversation.

"It looks like you've experienced the nightmare, didn't you?"

He was aghast at his mentor's question, how did he know?

"From the looks on your face, it seems you did. Let me explain, what you saw is a vision of what would happen if your friend gets possessed by the Tengu for the third time."

The teen looked at the table separating him and the man before him, Howard had been possessed two times. First continued.

"Your friend has great compatibility with the Tengu, seeing as he hadn't died when he got possessed the first time."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

First stood up from his seat, walking away as Randy followed him. He was led to a pool full of sad and suffering faces, trying to get out of the pool but feels as though an unseeable force is stopping them to. The teen was intimidated by the sight.

"This, is the Pool of the Sacrifices. It serves as a grave for those who died after becoming possessed by the Tengu. Almost all of the bearers of the Tengu would've shriveled to death after they would get possessed.

The past ninjas before you had already shattered the Tengu Stone, releasing that bird out of its cage and making it possess their close ones. Yet, none, even you, knew that the Tengu's possessions reaps a hefty sacrifice. The life of the possessed."

With a hush-toned voice, First told the experiences of the past ninjas, how they broke down crying when they realized their actions costed them the lives of their allies. Siblings, friends, lovers, one instance had been that the Tengu possessed the body of a frail child, the son of the 97th Ninja who died after the fight.

"... If you knew they were going to die after becoming possessed, why... why didn't you advise us? Them?! You could've avoided their deaths! You knew after the first one died, so why?!"

Randy was distraught by his mentor's inaction to tell them that information. The First Ninja closed his eyes, "The Tengu's power is becoming more uncontrollable than ever, someone has to contain it.".

"Someone? Why? Isn't the Tengu Stone enough?"

"As I've said before, it had been shattered by the past generations for how many times, it's barrier is withering down bit by bit. A mortal's life is more than enough to satiate the unrest of the Tengu, becoming a vessel in exchange for the soul of the mortal."

Bewildered by the fact, the teen kneeled to the ground, holding his head as he tried to process the situation before him. He almost costed Howard's life because of his recklessness. Tears swelled up in his eyes as First patted his back, trying to comfort the teen.

Randy placed his head over the man's shoulder, tears freely flowing down his cheeks as horrific scenarios in his mind started to play. "Why tell me now?" He asked.

"You are the only one that had received a foreboding of the Tengu's true form. It looks as if it had grew fonder of your friend. If your friend had managed to survive this long after his possession, then he may have the willpower to resist the Tengu's control over him if somehow he gets possessed again."

"... But if he didn't?"

"... Sacrifices shall be made for the greater good, his efforts shall not be in vain."

Silence ensued after that, Randy's eyes had stopped crying, his mind now trying to think of what to do about the new information he was given. Suddenly, a question pops into his mind, something to distract him from the disturbing thoughts.

"Hey First Ninja, what's up with you and Chase Young? You seemed pretty close, the two of you."

Randy swore he saw a vein bulged on First's forehead, looking quite annoyed by the question, "And where did you learn that?". The teen shuffled as he removed his head out of his mentor's shoulder.

"Eheh, well..." Randy told him about his encounter with the man during the mission in the Ishigano Red Light District. About how he wanted greet First and how he followed the teen into Norrisville, serving as a teacher in his school. First clicked his tongue, "We were enemies back in the day, though we still respect each other."

"And your relationship right now with him is?"

"Rivals. That's all there is to it. Don't mind him, don't give in to his presence, I assure you—" First placed his hand on Randy's shoulder, "I will grant you protection from him if he ever dares to harm you." The teen felt the sense of great honor from the man before him. Then, his body began to fade away, a smile on his face as he was sent back to the real world, leaving First Ninja alone.

"Chase huh, he's still pursuing you?" Plopplop asked from behind, making First turn around to see him. "That warlock can't seem to leave me alone even after I left the mortal world." First pinched the bridge of his nose, struggling not to create a wrinkle caused by the mention of him.

"He's marked you—" First stared at him with daggers in his eyes, "Plopplop, my dear friend, I want no mentions of the warlock. Please." Plopplop shut his mouth, not wanting to agitate his friend even more.

First sighed, a hand massaging his temples, "He's already caught on the fact that I exist somewhere in Norrisville, not having ascended to above. If he messes up with Randy, I won't hesitate to skin him alive, even if...". He felt a tingling sensation on his neck and lower regions, a blush forming on his face as he tried to shoo the thought away.

"Tch, to entertain such mem— thoughts."

Plopplop left him alone in his thoughts, as his friend wanted. First walked towards the waterfall he frequents to, sitting on a rock as he fixed his meditating position. Trying to forget the events he had tried so hard to bury, he meditated in hopes of trying to get his mind off of the memory.

...

...

He was shoved to the wall with brute force, without his suit he felt the pain that would usually dissipate in a second but then, he felt something that wedged itself between his neck. A warm something touched his skin, an arousing feeling rising inside him.

First opened his eyes, not wanting it to continue. Resetting his progress as he closed his eyes once more.

...

He screamed, the pounding force making him let out embarrassing sounds that he would rather not reveal in the public. A hand touched his hips and squeezed it tightly, he looked at his face. Cold, sharp, yellow eyes stared at him.

He opened his eyes again, his eyes wide as the memory gave him chills along his entire body. He can't focus because of it. Seeing as he can't escape it, he stopped his meditation, he just sits on the rock and massaged his forehead, "Why can't I just forget about you?".

---

It all started when rumors about a mysterious beast lurking in the northern side of the woods began to take toll on the people of the Village of Norisu. Many warned that whoever steps beyond the marked trees will die being torn to shreds, evident by the corpse of a resident woodcutter they found earlier that morning.

Due to autumn nearing it's end and the winter season coming ahead of them, the people are starting to worry about their supply of kindling, seeing that the northern part of the woods have the most abundant source than any other parts of the woods.

First, wanting his people safe from the unforgivable winter, opted to go investigate the woods to calm the panic. Many disagreed to his actions, he was the only living heir to the Norisu Clan, loved and respected by the people. If something were to happen to him, the whole village will be plunged to deep sorrow.

But, they knew he was strong, stronger than any men in the village, and in the end, they let him go. As he trudged through the forest, he noticed that Chase had also disappeared the same time the rumors started. Not wanting to jump to conclusions unprepared, he only theorized that Chase and the mysterious monster are one in the same. Perhaps it may not be Chase who is the monster but someone or something else.

He saw the rumored marked trees, stepping beyond it, he walked into the dangerous area, his moves careful so as to not alert the monster. With his heightened hearing, he heard fast moving footsteps, eyes stalking him as he tread through the woods. Finally, he saw an old cabin built in the middle of nowhere, the wooden structure weathered down but stable enough for it to still be standing.

Checking for any possible way to look inside the cabin, he tried to look into the windows, he then found one that was clear enough to see the inside. Thanking the moonlight, he peered into the cabin and saw Chase except...

Chase had been trying his hardest to control himself and his animalistic urges. When the full moon struck last week, he had forgotten to get out of the moonlight's way, to shelter himself out of its gaze. With the light of the moon hitting him, he felt his beastial urges surge, his lizard form trying to control his conscience as he fled the forest of where the First Ninja resides, not wanting him in on this mess.

From an old cabin he found during his explorations in the forest, he housed himself in there as he couldn't go back to his lair at this rate. Before long, he removed all of his clothes, finding them constricting and uncomfortable especially in the situation he's into. Sometimes his consciousness would fade in and out, sensing and attacking anything that moves, when he wakes up, he sees the bloodshed he had done.

He wanted to isolate himself. This damn cursed cycle. It turns him into a mindless monster that he so hates. The rut had been eating him from the inside out. Breed. Breed. Breed. That's all he could think about. Since when did he last feel this remarkable powerlessness over himself.

Growling from the arousing pain, locked himself inside the old cabin, not wanting anyone disturbing him from patiently waiting to pass the yearly rut... Yet, a scent hits his nostrils, a far sweeter scent and by far the only good thing he ever gets to experience in this nightmare.

He followed the scent, his mind fixated on finding out what it was. Opening his eyes was... the First Ninja. What was he doing here?

A part of his mind wanted to ravage the man, yet his self-control insisted to not give in to the urges, to warn the man to leave him alone lest he wants more than getting tainted by his own seed. "G-go... away..." He could only muster that much to warn him. Curse him for being this damn vulnerable.

The First Ninja saw Chase, transformed into a hybrid of both his human form and lizard form, larger than he was supposed to be and lying on the floor, being more vulnerable than interaction he had within the past. This Chase... warned him for his own safety. He left the cabin not wanting to induce Chase's wrath to his people.

But, when the next morning arrived, they had found yet another causualty, the death of a huntsman in the northern part of the woods. Torn to shreds. Wanting to stop this madness, he went straight to the library to try and find any records that can identify the warlock's condition.

Plopplop helped him identify books and records about dragons, yet to not avail. He was about to find another more gruesome way to deal with Chase when Plopplop found a hidden scroll from some part of the library. In it described the same conditions the warlock had been experiencing, he read the source of it.

...

"Dragon Rut..." he muttered from under his breath. Plopplop tried to understand what the Norisu heir said but was pushed out of the fight, his friend determined to finish it himself, dignity be damned if it was for the safety of his people.

As the sun began to go down, he went back to the cabin, he sees the cabin door smashed to pieces, a growling creature crashing itself from walls to walls, trying to gain control of itself. Removing his mask, the suit began to disintegrate, it's fabrics slithering out of his body and into the void. "Hey!" he called out to the creature before him.

The creature, Chase, spun around to find the sweet scent present in the room. "Why did he come here?" Chase asked himself, confused as to why the ninja came to him after telling him to go away. Maybe it's because—

"Chase, you can't be suffering alone in this."

Chase was confused, what would he do in this situation?

"Dragon's Rut. A yearly cycle that stimulates a dragon's hormones to help them find a mate. Occurs during the full moon before winter, before the lands become barren. You're hurting under that, aren't you?"

First began to move towards him, inching closer and closer as the sweet scent is becoming harder and harder to resist.

"My people cannot survive through the winter if you keep terrorizing the woods. This rut of yours lasts for a month, but nature doesn't wait. The winter will dwindle the numbers of my people if they can't find enough kindling and food to store. So please..."

He kneeled down on the wooden floor, the warlock wanting to know if his guess about his intent were right. 

"Let me help you get through this, for the benefit of the both of us. My people will survive getting wiped out due to nature, and you will never experience this again. Dragon Rut only happens when a dragon hasn't found a mate yet, right? It'll stop when a dragon has one. So make me."

Chase was flabbergasted by the First Ninja's offer. To sacrifice your body for the sake of everyone... How long has he been waiting for this?

When they first met, Chase would often poke and annoy the First Ninja, simply to test the will of the man. One of his jungle cats had warned him of the ninja, how he singlehandedly beat up the Sorcerer that had been wreaking havoc throughout Japan.

Chase had heard of the Sorcerer before, though he never fought the guy, simply a waste of time in his opinion. But when the news spread that the Sorcerer fled the country and went to this new world, he wanted to see if this 'Sorcerer' has any value in them.

When the news of the Sorcerer being defeated by the Ninja had reached to him, he tried to find this 'Ninja', to see how powerful they were if they were able to defeat the feared Sorcerer. At last, he found the Ninja, he witnessed the strength and cunning the man has, outwitting his enemies and is a swift fighter.

He tried to get the man on his side, he offered anything a normal person would greed for; money, women, strength, chaos. Anything. Yet the Ninja wouldn't budge. He resorted to underhanded tactics, seduction and all that. It was when he messed with the village people, which the Ninja ruled over, had the man snapped and fought against him, challenging him for him to leave the village people alone if the man wins.

It was a tough fight, both Chase and the First Ninja were severely injured. Chase couldn't believe it, since when had been a time when he was this severely beat, wounds and stabs puncturing so deep it takes more than a day to heal? Magic so powerful that the both of them were on equal standing? That he lost to the man before him? How could someone so powerful use it on the side of silly righteousness. Like Monk Guan.

Chase fulfilled his promise, yet he still bothered the Ninja, after all the promise was to leave the village people, not the Ninja. It was an on and off banter, they would bicker the next, then they would have tea together, sitting alongside each other and just enjoying each other's company. Eventually, unecessary feelings grew, though none of them suspected it. Shooing away or scoffing at the mushy feeling, avoiding it like the plague.

Until this night...

"Make me your mate."

How could he say no?

Letting go of the remaining restraint he has, he lunged at the man, his teeth bearing fangs as he ravaged his neck, biting every spot available. He ripped First's kimono and undershirts out of the way, leaving the ninja shirtless with only his pants on.

First was shoved against the wall, the comforter cushioning his fall as he sat on the floor. He looked up and saw the lizard hybrid glooming above him, he checked to see the hybrid's dick, "Fuck..." He cussed in a whispered tone. It's larger than what an ordinary man would have, probably because of the transformation that it had grown to be bigger, but still...

His train of thoughts were crashed back to reality when a hand ran over through the scalp of his hair, grabbing it tightly as it pulled him towards the lizard hybrid's dick. First held his breath before putting the length into his mouth, tasting it as he only managed to get it halfway in.

Chase, not satisfied with what the man is doing, shoved the entire length into his mouth, effectively activating First's gag reflex as he tries to breath. Using the hand that holds First's hair, he began thrusting into the man's throat in and out, First being only able to hold onto Chase's hips to help be stable while sucking him.

Somewhere along the line, the tie that holds First's hair up had been torn, leaving his hair trickling down on his flushed face as Chase released inside him, the man almost choking over the sheer amount of it. "Is this it—" the First Ninja was laid down on the futon, he looked down to see the hybrid putting his claws on the fabric of his pants, threatening to tear them out.

"Damn— Chase don't you dare rip my pants, I'll freeze to death when I get back to my house." He threatened, stomping Chase's head out of the way and quickly removing his pants and undergarments. Due to his aggression with the hybrid, when he finished his action, Chase shoved him down the dirty futon again, this time with more force.

Dust clouded the air as Chase lifted one of First's legs, putting it on his shoulder and admiring his thigh. He sunk his teeth in the plush flesh, the ninja's head arched back, hissing at the pain. Chase continued this action for a few more times before placing his hand on the ninja's hips.

He lined his tongue on First's hole, pushing in as soft wetness enveloped when he entered in it. The man let out a gasp, his eyes rolled back as he shut his eyes. He cupped his hands to his mouth as he tried desperately to cover out any sound that comes out of him as the lizard hybrid' tongue pushed through the man's insides.

After letting the tongue get out of his slick covered hole, Chase lined up his dick towards First's entrance. He looked at the shivering man before him, engraving the face deep into memory as he caressed his cheeks. "Just do it already, dammit."

Impatient. Eager. I can't control myself...

He thrusted inside First hard, leaving First knocked out of his breath as Chase wasted no time pounding harshly inside him, leaving him no room to breathe through as air keeps getting knocked out of him. His insides clenched hard as the hybrid finds himself enjoying the tight fitted hole he had been thrusting in and out to.

First, not being able to control his emotions anymore, letting lust cloud his eyes and letting out a string of moans, tearing up at the break-neck pace Chase has settled in doing. His hair was sprawled on the futon as his dick had been hard the whole time, not having the time to touch it.

Suddenly, Chase positioned First as his back was now faced to the wall, the lizard hybrid continuing to fuck him until he managed to find the man's g-spot. Moans and heavy breathing were to be heard as it echoed throughout the old cabin.

Finally, he felt Chase stopping his movements, thrusting deep into him as he filled First with his seed.  Immediately sinking his teeth on the ninja's neck, the venom emitted from his teeth had blended itself with First's blood, earning the man a permanent bite mark, effectively marking him as per Dragon culture.

The hybrid pumped out the ninja's dick, letting him get his release as they slumped over to the futon. Chase hugged the man tightly on his waist, not letting the ninja get away from him that night. When morning came, Chase noticed the ninja gone from his side, First had been dressing himself up, his pants and undergarments the only remaining clothes he wore because he tore the other clothings to shreds.

He hugged the ninja from behind, "What are we now, Ninja?"  He asked. The First Ninja turned his head around to face the Heylin prince, a faint smirk on his face if one looked closely into it, "Still rivals.".

---

Back at present time, the First Ninja reminisced about the event, still feeling the sensations Chase had given him that time. "What are we, really?" He sighed, not wanting to admit that he missed him.

"Gramps, do you know anything about a man named Chase Young?" Jake asked, shocking his Gramps as he spits out his tea. A cough fit ensued as he cleared his throat, "What did you say?". ------------------------------------------------------

These two have too much pride stuck up their arse and are so emotionally constipated my god—

Think of the children y'all😭

Think about Randy, First! He's the lovechild of this fuckfest of a marriage.

Shut your yapping mouth and kiss already!

(they didn't even kiss ugh!)

On a side note, please do comment if there's anything to improve in my fics, maybe point out if they're ooc or some shit. Thank y'all for reading this.

[gingermintpepper]

Recently read a really fantastic fic on Ao3 by the very talented @hellokittysasuke (Link can be found here - do check it out if you're interested in an exploration of Apollo and his many griefs) and one of the things they mentioned in their wonderful reply to my extremely long comment has been rolling around in my head a bit.

Specifically, it was about readings of the Iliad where people view Apollo's directing of Paris' arrow as an act of mercy - that it was a rare act of compassion from a god that had been otherwise adversarial to Achilles because he, more than any god or mortal, understood the pain of continuing to live after one's soul has already died. I find this interesting for a myriad of reasons - the fact that Achilles' death is not actually portrayed in the text of the Iliad notwithstanding - but chiefly because, well, put plainly, Apollo despises Achilles. And, even more relevantly, in the context of this fic which deals primarily with Apollo writing a letter to Hyacinthus, I felt like it highlights even more intensely what Apollo despised about Achilles.

In Book 24, when Apollo makes a stand against Achilles' prolonged desecration of Hector's corpse and rights as a warrior, he says:

"But murderous Achilles... that man without a shred of decency in his heart... his temper can never bend and change--/Achilles has lost all pity!... No doubt some mortal has suffered a dearer loss than this, a brother born in the same womb, or even a son... " "The Fates have given mortals hearts that can endure."

Because grief affords lenience - just as wrath, or passion or any other myriad of intense, afflicting emotion but Achilles had lost his humanity in his anger, had lost every human decency and thus had to be hunted like a beast and slain with the arrow instead of the sword. And I think the contrast between Achilles' grieving and the other examples that are presented in the fic - Prometheus' anguish as he's eaten alive, primordial man when they were severed down the middle and left yearning, Apollo who must love and lose in perpetuity - are that they are examples of that human quality of endurance. That yes, things hurt - they might even hurt for thousands of years, but eventually, eventually they will stop hurting. The pain that was endured will be alleviated, it will be a memory, it will be a kindness and it must be accepted just as joy and peace and love are accepted.

Anyway, go read hellokittysasuke's fic, it's really good and I cannot stop thinking about it.

[brakingpoint]

HAHAHA PITTING LANDO FOR FASTEST LAP THEY HAVE GIVEN UPPPPPPPPP

[im-the-knight-of-stardust]

I did not expect the latest Taskmaster episode to involve a recent Magnus Protocol monster.

[seaglassdinosaur]

How shocked and terrified and helpless Annabeth must have felt when Percy shut the door on her.

Because she was ready to face the Chimera on her own, maybe to make up for her call of coming to the Arch.

This way though, it’s another sacrifice on her behalf; another friend, a child of the big three who’s laying down their life for her and Grover. Worse, this time she’s old enough to be able to act and fight back. No one expects a seven year old to fight, but she’s older and more experienced now. She feels the weight of responsibility for herself, her actions, the quest, and her friends, and still the choice is taken away from her. Percy closes the door for his final stand, forcing her to accept another demigod laying down their life for her.

[jessicas-pi]

it's actually, genuinely, honestly hilarious that in a fandom where popular ships include characters who are biologically related, characters with a 10+ year age gap who met when one was a teenager or even a child, and characters who have tried to kill each other, people hate on a friends-to-lovers ship with a <2 year age gap where the characters have a deep emotional bond and plenty of romantic subtext, because "they're siblings". my brother in the force they are literally not.

[handkinkbis]

Another note for Shin Yu's possessiveness: Hong Jo tried pulling her hand free after they ran into Jaekyung at the pier but Shin Yu didn't let her.

Shin Yu marking his territory once again 😉

[itspileofgoodthings]

.

[bonefall]

oh i thought misa’s poll was for third place?

I was under that impression too, but I'm not gonna fight about it y'know? I'm pretty sure it's the finals, but even if it isn't, you know this is the real final in our hearts.

Again, LOVE Misa, girlie was done super dirty, reduced to a sexy dumb ditz when she managed to figure out Kira before L himself, so loyal she gave away years of her life for magic eyes, and treated with contempt and scorn by the narrative for having a crush on a guy who doesn't give a shit about her. I'm not downplaying a scrap of how badly she gets treated in Death Note.

That said... Atom Bomb vs Hydrogen Bombs, y'know?

Bumble's short life is in the background of two books. She's dragged back to a domestic abuser for being a useless fat lady, apologizes for being upset about that on her deathbed, and gets gored just so we'd be sad about her serial woman-thrashing murderer's reputation. Everyone who hurts her is a celebrated hero who was never "truly" bad, their constant violence and contempt towards women excused and justified, her life so worthless she's not even tallied under Tom the Wifebeater's crimes... in a book for 10 - 13 year olds.

Cordy's last season is a DARK, EDGEYY character assassination that made everyone on the set uncomfortable, involving adoptive incest, forced birth, and body possession. When the beloved and long-standing character was killed off unceremoniously, cast members were left to speculate why and blame themselves for years, until Charisma Carpenter came out recently to reveal that everything done to her character was possibly (likely) Joss Whedon trying to hurt her through destroying her most beloved and lucrative role.

Like, Misa's got it bad. Cordy IS, and Bumble SHOULD be, LEGENDARY.

[horsemage]

I have got to stop letting the smallest most inconsequential things derail my day