#HE KNOWS AND HE KNOWS AND HE'S SUFFERING

[deathfavor]

@yeonban​ said: With Seiroku's answers of before and today in tow, Soma seems to nearly vanish from the band. Or better said, he seems to be in so many different places that no one is quite sure where exactly he is at any given moment - almost everyone can attest to having seen him during the day (a rare feat outside of the yearly bushi festival, and even then he sometimes didn't attend it) but none did so for more than a few minutes at a time before completely losing sight of him and hearing, hours later, that he was sighted on the other side of the band. The places he's been sighted at vary not unlike the sky and the land, from the hustle and bustle of the band's inner city to several scenic spots he hasn't visited in years, and not even meeting Seiroku on his way to work has managed to hold Soma in place for longer than a minute or two, only really enough for a brief conversation and a kiss away from prying eyes. His nobles had tried and failed to keep track of him & bring him back to deal with the assigned paperwork (none of which is urgent, that much he's thoroughly checked beforehand), whereas his closest vassals had promptly recognized the signs of what their captain is attempting to do and sympathetically chose to keep the peskier of the bunch occupied as to allow Soma enough free time to accomplish what he's decided to.  

The red soul seems to have taken the time out of his schedule to talk to only a certain few men, but upon further questioning no one has managed to pry out the topics they had talked about, merely that the subject seems to have brought a fond smile on Soma's conversation partners' faces. The reason behind their captain's odd stroll remains a mystery thus, and enough of one for the citizens to inquire around - before the incident is ultimately dropped come nightfall alongside Soma's presence in the city. No one has seen him in the past two hours (or at least no one's mentioned it to the others) yet Soma makes a point to find Seiroku on the doctor's way home from work, appearing more leisure in comparison to his hurried self from earlier in the day.  ❛  Seiroku, do you have a moment?  ❜  The question allows for a negative answer, but despite that, he appears to be, underneath the crafted composure, rather restless.

Unbeknownst to the majority, the castle has been flying towards a specific destination since early morning, having just now reached it. A hand grabs hold of Seiroku's wrist when he receives an affirmative answer, and once they're out of the city Soma's hand dives lower, taking proper hold of Seiroku's for the rest of the walk. Only when they arrive in front of the band's outer walls does Soma let go of the other's hand and securely wraps his arm around his waist instead, opting to use his kitetsuto to fly to the band's highest point before carefully letting go of Seiroku once he finds a safe spot for them to land on. In front of them lies the most wondrous sight of Miyagi: the 260 islands of Matsushima, brightly illuminated by the moon and beautifully complimented by the sea surrounding them as far as the eye could see. Even outside of the natural beauty, Seiroku had a penchant for water, didn't he?

Soma allows Seiroku to take in the sight for however long he pleases, focusing his attention on him rather than on the wonder of nature all the while.  ❛  Seiroku.  ❜  He eventually starts, when it looks like the doctor has taken in everything there is to notice about the destination Soma's rushed his retainers to head the castle towards not long after hearing Seiroku's replies to his vague queries.  ❛  No one else will ever hold my heart the way you do. You've made me happier than I've ever been, and you're the only one I can imagine spending the rest of my life with.  ❜   A hand reaches out for Seiroku's again, though Soma only raises it a bit higher and offers it a light squeeze before his free hand reaches inside his haori and pulls out a golden ring, one painstakingly finished today at the hands of the band's most renowned jewelers and created from the finest gold the Date have found in recent years, specifically for the man in front of him. As can be seen, Soma has thought about this for quite some time now, but only today has that process been finalized (he refused to purchase a third-rate, already existent ring, and so he'd had to wait for the custom one to be made - which had also granted him enough time to reconsider his decision several times, and to always arrive at the same conclusion).

❛  Will you do me the honor of marrying me?  ❜  It's a question directly from the heart, and Soma's eyes gaze into Seiroku's while he waits to either place the ring on the other's finger or place it back inside his haori, depending on what answer he'll receive. The before from earlier meant before or after Seiroku's birthday, and the today spoke for itself. Soma openly chooses him over his clan's long-lasting traditions, yet there isn't a single shadow of doubt in the captain's eyes about it. It might not be the preferred course of action from a political standpoint, but that's fine, he can make up for that much through wit and hard work. He doesn't need the possibility of eventually gaining more land by resorting to an arranged marriage, not when the Date already owns plenty of it and he's certain he'll be able to gain more with enough effort. Seiroku is so much more important than any of that, and the red soul can't hope to replicate any of the happiness they've shared with each other with anyone else (nor does he want to try to). His life is bound to be complicated no matter who his spouse is, courtesy of the weighty title he bears and the burdens it brings along with it, so if Soma can have any say in it... he wants Seiroku to be it. To be the one he'll spend the rest of his life with, and who he'll share both his highs and lows with.

   Quite frankly, Seiroku’s not confident if what he’s done is good or bad. But what is done is done, his answers have been given and then Soma practically disappears into thin air. Work calls, but even that does not seem to offer an escape. Not when people are chatting about seeing him here or there and that something must be going on, but know one seems to know anything substantial. Seiroku can’t help but listen though, making notes of places he’s heard people mention spotting him in passing but it’s never much. Even he had seen Soma for a brief moment, a sparrow kiss before the captain was off. At the time he had figured something important was going on. Now? Well, surely it must still be important in some way, but he can’t figure out what way. There’s no panic, no talk of an upcoming battle, nothing. Nothing but confusion and curiosity. Even with his notes of locations, it doesn’t add up to anything more than a list. 

   Seiroku knows when he’s fighting a losing battle, so eventually he decides to abandon any attempt of understanding what was happening and focus himself back on his work. That he understood, and that there was plenty of still even without fights. People got sick or managed to injure themselves (sometimes in very creative ways). So he works with the same professionalism that he always does, entertaining conversation and healing the wounded. At least until his shift comes to an end inevitably. Although the curious chaos from earlier seems to have faded away judging by the calmer tones to the night.  “  Soma!  “  Seiroku greets warmly when he sees Soma approaching him.  “  I do.  “  He confirms. I always do if its you.

   Yet there’s something, something that makes him feel a tiny trace of apprehension in a way he hasn’t felt for so long. He knows how to hide that, to simply offer a quizzical glance but allows himself to be led by the wrist with ease. He follows curiously, unable to help trying to note their path if it correlates to earlier information but that was rather swiftly abandoned once again. Instead he enjoys the warmth of Soma’s hand when their hands find each other again. He’s always warm, comforting. It’s rather silly how much he enjoys simply holding Soma’s hand. But he does, he craves the softness it brings. Even when it’s gone in favor of holding his waist when Soma whisks them away to a new location, he enjoys the simplicity of comfort that Soma’s presence is. That’s his focus until he’s set down and looks around, unable to help the sharp inhale.  “  Soma...  This is...This...  “  He breathes, blue eyes wide with delight, enough so the words elude him but the intention is clear.

   It’s gorgeous. He can’t help himself when his eyes widen and he drinks in the sight, a single step taken forwards as if it’ll help him absorb it all. The world seems to glow in the moon’s silver light, islands like studded gems against the rippling fabric of water. He’d forgotten. He’d forgotten just how stunning the world could be. It wasn’t that he’d ever hated the world. He hadn’t. Some o the things in it, but not the world itself. He still found spots he loved, places he enjoyed, and even when so much of him had died, the affinity for water had never left. But it had been so long since he’d truly been stunned by the beauty of this world. An unconscious smile creeps up to his lips, torn between the diamond studded night sky and silk waves of the ocean. His chest relaxes, suppressed unease forgotten.

   “  Mm?  “  Seiroku tears his eyes away from the scenery to turn towards Soma with a bright smile, shrouded in the fabric of moonlight around him. He smiles...and then it feels like he’s being stabbed. Soma isn’t about to do what he thinks he is, is he? His throat tightens and all he can manage is to gently squeeze Soma’s hand in turn as he watches. He almost feels sick seeing the gold ring that Soma pulls out, so beautiful and knowing Soma, he knows so efforts have been spared for it. Nothing short of perfection would do. It sits there in Soma’s hand as beautiful as this dream he’s living is.

   In another life, he would have been thrilled at all of this. Suddenly everything from the day’s chaos would suddenly make sense and he would feel warm and loved. The warmth in his chest would outshine the sun. Maybe in a kinder future he’d throw his arms around Soma and kiss him between nervous, happy laughter. He’d be overwhelmed with joy. Instead, Seiroku feels sick. Even as his expression looks soft and surprised, betraying nothing of the despair that suddenly stabs him through the chest, he feels sick. Disgustingly, appallingly, sick. He doesn’t deserve this. His legs stand strong but it feels like they want to collapse. He wants to tear himself apart in violent self-loathing. Like self-destruction will atone for what he’s done, like a sacrifice. He wants to bare every ugly secret and lie, every terrible sin, he wants to admit to everything and then show how much he loves Soma even then. How much he cares when he shouldn’t. That even if Soma hates him, he will still love him. He wants to destroy himself and lay every piece at Soma’s feet and let him destroy him if he wants. He wants to tear out the heart he no longer has and let Soma do whatever he wants with it. He deserves nothing but the cruelest actions. If Soma wants to kill him, he’d let him without a fight.

   I’m sorry. I’m so sorry Soma. He feels strangled in a barb-wire noose of his own making. His eyes shift from the ring to Soma’s face. Are you sure? The question rests on his tongue, but he knows even BEFORE he looks up at his love what his answer would be. Soma wasn’t rash, he didn’t charge into things without thinking about them. Much less something as major as marriage when it was hardly the most desirable one to begin with. Of course Soma’s thought about it. Likely for hours, days, maybe weeks. When soft, surprised eyes find Soma’s, the answer is clear. Soma looks so certain of himself, and it kills Seiroku. He can’t say no but it feels monstrously cruel to say yes.

   Soma....You’ve really doomed us now. It is a mournful thought of despair that he hears in sobs from his own mind when he chokes on unshared tears and pain. Soma doesn’t know anything. To him this is a sweet, wonderful, if terrifying moment. He thinks that future they both want is possible. He has no idea the self-destructive torture that this is for Seiroku. Soma doesn’t deserve this. Soma deserves something so much better than this doomed tragedy. I’m so sorry. I wish this was a fairytale for you. I wish this wasn’t doomed from the start. I wish I could give you that happiness for real. I wish we could really have that happy ending that you’re dreaming about. I want that. I want that more than you’ll ever understand. Abruptly his vision grows blurry, and he feels a tear form and fall from his lashes. Happy tears are a normal thing, he’s seen them before. But when was the last time Seiroku had actually cried? He can’t recall. Not just the watery eyes Soma had seen, but tears that fell unrestrained. Back when he still had hope. Before he became one of the obsidian eight surely.  Hope...Forgiveness with teeth, a sweet poison, something kind in its cruelty. Soma’s given Seiroku hope again, he’s given him dreams and kindness and love, he’s made him human again and now he suffers. And even in the agony? Even in the agony, he wouldn’t trade it for anything. Not a single thing.

   In reality, it’s barely been a few seconds. But it feels like eternity as Seiroku uses his free hand to try to wipe at the tears of love and despair. His tears and speechlessness aren’t something to be alarmed about, it’s NOT uncommon to happen in proposals where emotions were real. Either way they were doomed with either answer. But with the ring...Even when tragedy came, he could still have proof. He could still wear it and keep it close, hidden on a chain over his heart. Whatever his heart was, it was long since Soma’s. He didn’t care about the gold or the details, Soma could have given him the cheapest thing available and Seiroku would treat it as a priceless relic. It wasn’t how it looked, it was what is symbolized. And it wasn’t like they were getting married here and now. It was a promise for a future.

   A future that would never come. A future they could never have, nor anyone in this world. Not with the plan in place; not with Seiroku’s long held decision he would not stay after its success.

    Seiroku nods, once, and then nods again, firmer as he struggles to find his voice.  “  Yes.  “  He’s never felt more like a monster. Slaughtering bushi, helping oni? He’d never felt anything. But here? He’s feeding a dream that they can’t have. So there’s a simple promise tucked into this yes. He’ll tell Soma. He’ll tell Soma everything before he has to go.  “  Yes, I will. “  He whispers, not trusting his voice to not shatter even as he smiles at Soma.

   Just....let them be happy a while longer. The world owed them that, didn’t it? If not him, it owed Soma that. Just a while longer. Please.

[batcavescolony]

Katniss is such an unreliable narrator. She says "Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me" girl you deliver strawberries to the Mayor, you hunt and trade for the district, when you fell at Prim being chosen someone caught you, when you went to Prim people parted for you, when you volunteered EVERYONE stopped. Idk how to tell you but I think you're a pillar of the community.

[ruporas]

need to exist in your warmth (id in alt)

[inkskinned]

the thing is that they're so fascinated by sex, they love sex, they can't imagine a world without sex - they need sex to sell things, they need sex to be part of their personality, they need sex to prove their power - but they hate sex. they are disgusted by it.

sex is the only thing that holds their attention, and it is also the thing that can never be discussed directly.

you can't tell a child the normal names for parts of their body, that's sexual in nature, because the body isn't a body, it's a vessel of sex. it doesn't matter that it's been proven in studies (over and over) that kids need to know the names of their genitals; that they internalize sexual shame at a very young age and know it's 'dirty' to have a body; that it overwhelmingly protects children for them to have the correct words to communicate with. what matters is that they're sexual organs. what matters is that it freaks them out to think about kids having body parts - which only exist in the context of sex.

it's gross to talk about a period or how to check for cancer in a testicle or breast. that is nasty, illicit. there will be no pain meds for harsh medical procedures, just because they feature a cervix.

but they will put out an ad of you scantily-clad. you will sell their cars for them, because you have abs, a body. you will drip sex. you will ooze it, like a goo. like you were put on this planet to secrete wealth into their open palms.

they will hit you with that same palm. it will be disgusting that you like leather or leashes, but they will put their movie characters in leather and latex. it will be wrong of you to want sexual freedom, but they will mark their success in the number of people they bed.

they will crow that it's inappropriate for children so there will be no lessons on how to properly apply a condom, even to teens. it's teaching them the wrong things. no lessons on the diversity of sexual organ growth, none on how to obtain consent properly, none on how to recognize when you feel unsafe in your body. if you are a teenager, you have probably already been sexualized at some point in your life. you will have seen someone also-your-age who is splashed across a tv screen or a magazine or married to someone three times your age. you will watch people pull their hair into pigtails so they look like you. so that they can be sexy because of youth. one of the most common pornography searches involves newly-18 young women. girls. the words "barely legal," a hiss of glass sand over your skin.

barely legal. there are bills in place that will not allow people to feel safe in their own bodies. there are people working so hard to punish any person for having sex in a way that isn't god-fearing and submissive. heteronormative. the sex has to be at their feet, on your knees, your eyes wet. when was the first time you saw another person crying in pornography and thought - okay but for real. she looks super unhappy. later, when you are unhappy, you will close your eyes and ignore the feeling and act the role you have been taught to keep playing. they will punish the sex workers, remove the places they can practice their trade safely. they will then make casual jokes about how they sexually harass their nanny.

and they love sex but they hate that you're having sex. you need to have their ornamental, perfunctory, dispassionate sex. so you can't kiss your girlfriend in the bible belt because it is gross to have sex with someone of the same gender. so you can't get your tubes tied in new england because you might change your mind. so you can't admit you were sexually assaulted because real men don't get hurt, you should be grateful. you cannot handle your own body, you cannot handle the risks involved, let other people decide that for you. you aren't ready yet.

but they need you to have sex because you need to have kids. at 15, you are old enough to parent. you are not old enough to hear the word fuck too many times on television.

they are horrified by sex and they never stop talking about it, thinking about it, making everything unnecessarily preverted. the saying - a thief thinks everyone steals. they stand up at their podiums and they look out at the crowd and they sign a bill into place that makes sexwork even more unsafe and they stand up and smile and sign a bill that makes gender-affirming care illegal and they get up and they shrug their shoulders and write don't say gay and they get up, and they make the world about sex, but this horrible, plastic vision of it that they have. this wretched, emotionless thing that holds so much weight it's staggering. they put their whole spine behind it and they push and they say it's normal!

this horrible world they live in. disgusted and also obsessed.

[enigmaris]

Captain Marvel overhears some of the heroes in the Justice League talk about how weird it is that he is the only major hero who hasnt brought in a child protege.

Worried about the threat to his secret identity, he goes to the one person he thinks can help him.

"Hey Danny, wanna pretend to be Marvel Junior? I dont want the Justice League to think I'm weird."

Danny, who has been hanging with Billy as a fellow homeless kid in fawcett, looks up at the sky and thinks for a minute. Other than Billy, he doesn't like the JLA. In fact, he kind of hates their guts.

"That sounds fucking hilarious, count me in."

[nenayaquisieras]

Simon has always been confused on why you gift him toys. Sure, most of the gifts you gave him were some of the things he liked. Bourbon, masks, gloves, make up for him to smudge his eyes with, some daggers and knives. Things that we're useful for him, just him. But later, you gifted him a toy airplane. He makes a comment about it, saying he is not a child anymore and you were better off giving it to Johnny instead.

"No, this is specifically for you, take it."

When he gets to him room, he walks toward his trash can, opening it with the tip of his boot. He gives one more look at the toy, his mood souring before throwing it into the trash. He goes on about his day, training, signing paper work, drills. Doing anything to ignore the pain stinging memories that the toy brought back. Emotions that were buried thousands of feet deep it could reach hell itself. Later, he lies awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, avoiding looking at the cylinder shape that's calling for him in his peripheral.

Fuck.

He pulls the covers off vigorously and stomps over to the trash can. He is standing over it like he's trying to intimidate it, as if it was an enemy he's trying to get rid of in battle. To anyone else, the scene would look comical.

He sighs to himself and reaches down to take out the toy he so cruelly threw away. He sets it on his desk and quickly walks toward his bed, facing away from his desk.

The next day, he wakes up feeling different. He swears he sees his room more vibrant, more lively. That energy follows him through out the day, having his other teammates notice his rather bright mood.

You catch him in the hallway. Pulling him aside to ask him about the paper work you left at his desk this morning. Of course, he notices the way you smile brightly, more so than usual. But he notices that you're not looking at him. More like looking at something next to him.

"What's got you so cheery?"

You turn to look up at him, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"I just..." You take a quick glance at the spot next to him, before bringing your eyes back upon his.

"I just hope you liked your gift." The same bright smile appearing on your face.

He stares at you, examining your words. Your expression.

You think you see his eyes crinkle a bit.

"Yea,"

"I liked it."

[megalomari]

Astarion is living his best life, finally free!

The paladin broke his oath.

This ain't about him.

[teh-inggris]

pvp civ nation...... this aint much but pls take my contribution for this series bc im going insane i love hate this man so much get him out of my head

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Burning Rotten Bridges

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[aesthetic-uni]

Miles “Who’s Morales” vs Gwen “Gwwwwanda” vs Pavtir “You seem like a nice young woman I do not know” FIGHT

[medicalunprofessional]

sorry guys they finally showed me peak fiction . Its called “phantom of the paradise”

[loosethreadsofyoursoul]

[bedforddanes75]

im not american but some of you guys are just fucking stupid ong what do you MEAN youre not gna vote because you disagree with like one part of what youre voting for. like okay me when im fucking thick

[starscream-is-my-wife]

Some Bumblebee and mother Ratchet :)

I dont know if that's the artstyle but is Ratchet crying?? That's kinda sweet if he is 😭

Here's some G1 shots where it's just them cause I'm a sucker for these 3

[incoherentchanting]

this shit is so funny

[justaz]

lol arthur realizes with the other knights after watching merlin flirt and being hit with a wave of deja vu: holy shit you asked me out

merlin and the rest of the knights around a campfire after leaving a village bc lancelot and leon somehow started a brawl in the tavern: ???

arthur points at merlin: after valiant! you asked me to buy you a drink! you were asking me out!

merlin is busy cooking dinner and confused out of his fucking mind: what???…..valiant….oh the knight with the snakes.

gwaine who was slightly tipsy now stone cold sober and sitting up straight against a tree: wait. explain. what do you mean merlin asked you out??

arthur snaps his fingers as he recalls the memory: i apologized for sacking you and you said that if i bought you a drink we’d be even.

merlin now remembering how he had stumbled into camelot, picked a fight with a pigheaded bully which quickly turned homoerotic and flirtatious, and continued their teasing-flirting for days before merlin shot his shot and asked the prince out only to be rejected: oh yeah, i forgot i did that…..wait, you mean you didnt realize what i was asking?

arthur: no?? we argued everyday, how was i supposed to realize you were asking me out??

merlin now abandoning the dinner and staring across the camp at arthur while the rest of the knights watch their back and forth like a game of tennis: to you we were arguing, to me that was very much flirting. i thought you were flirting back so i decided to ask you. then you rejected me

arthur, mentally beating his past self up for fucking up their chance: i didn’t reject you!!! i just didn’t realize what you were asking me. how was i meant to? we fought every chance we got

leon, nudging elyan, glee and excitement riling through him: its happening!!! its finally happening!!! seven long, grueling years is finally paying off!!!

merlin, realizing the misunderstanding and acknowledging the fact that he wasn’t rejected, his flirtations just weren’t noticed - realizing he still has a chance: oh…oh i see. arthur, my dear, our fights were extremely flirtatious. need i remind you of what you said? “do you know how to walk on your knees? would you like me to teach you?” or “i could take you apart with one blow”

arthur, mental capabilities at an all time low: m…my dear….?????????

merlin grinning devilishly as he realizes that his flirtatious persona he had hidden away after falling head over heels for arthur can make a come back: that is what i called you. should i call you something else? say…mine?

percival gags in elyan’s ear: cheesy

elyan hides a laugh: at least they’re finally getting somewhere. better than the hopeless pining

arthur, flushed from head to toe: ah uh no um im uh

merlin thoroughly enjoying himself: oh come now, your majesty. use your words.