#I hope I can just have him as a companion

[cherie-doll]

Cherie luveeee. Wish you good and healthy, beautiful.

I got someting.

You know those retired dog officers that have been trained for jungkies and bombs?? We adopt them while cod characters are away for deployments, because we're lonely and literal scary dog privileges hehe.

And when they're home, our dog gets alert and quite relentless by the smells until we pay the good officer jerky and 2 ice cubes.

It's messy, but hope you understand what I mean.

Dw i see your vision and tried to execute it

⪩⪨ price, ghost, soap, gaz, roach, alejandro, rudy, phillip graves, makarov, keegan, könig, horangi, nikto

No cuz imagine missing that security, yearning for those big strong muscle arms wrapping around you and engulfing your body in theirs >.<

BuT, you’re alone at home, that emptiness roaming the halls and dark rooms as the orange glow of the afternoon sun seeps through the blinds and the most awful melancholy hits you. You grab your keys and go out for a drive not being able to stand the loneliness anymore.

You’re driving around downtown and spot a shelter, you saw a poster on the glass display for cats. Only to walk in and be told that they’ve all been adopted, you’re ready to walk out until a yelp can be heard from one of the kennels and see a German shepherd watching you with his big brown eyes, head laying on his paws. Your heart squeezes and it’s as if you’re made for one another. Without another thought you ask for it and after a few moments you’re walking out with your new companion.

You spend the next couple of weeks bonding with the dog, taking him out on walks and sleeping peacefully on your bed despite your military bf/husband gone because you know the canine sleeping on the bedroom floor will protect you. You even go out a little more often than you would when they're on deployment because you've got your guard dog scaring away those with wrong intentions but is secretly a sweetheart within.

And it isn't until your partner comes back, late at night, that your dog raises his head, ears attentive and listening to the footsteps of heavy boots probably leaving dirt all over the clean entrance hallway and making their way up the stairs to the bedroom. He can sense a strange new smell, much stronger than your subtle scent. The overpowering new scent awakens his instincts and he's at the door in an instant growling and waking you up.

Much to the confusion and frustration of the dog, you're not as wary as you should be. You freely open the door and welcome the soldier who's been away for too long into your arms.

Price would be too engulfed in your embrace to notice the dog growling lowly at him. It would only be when he leans down to put away his shoes and place the duffle bag slung over his shoulder that he'd come face to face with the dog's snout sniffing him over. He'd ask where you got it from and once the dog realized there is no threat they'd get used to each other quickly.

Simon wouldn't appreciate the hair the dog has left on the side of the bed that's usually his. But he commends you for being smart and getting a dog, and not just any fluffy golden retriever, no you got a dog breed he can trust will use the best of their instincts to take care of you. He'll be at ease knowing he's not leaving you alone anymore.

Johnny would have a close call getting bitten by the doggo. Maybe warn him, yeah? But he's all over the dog, petting it, asking what's his name. And he most likely wouldn't get much sleep despite arriving late home. The dog is all excited about a new person in the house and be all over him.

Kyle tries his darn best to earn that dog's trust and convince them he's not a threat. It's not that the dog smells bad intentions from him, he just doesn't like the proximity between the both of you. Noses in between you both while you're giving Kyle a kiss on the lips. After a few treats, he got the dog to calm down and sit at the far end of the room, keeping an eye just in case lol.

Gary loves dogs and tbh he thinks this was a surprise you had planned for him. The dog can't even do his regular routine of sniffing the person because Gary is hugging him, petting and scratching behind the dog's ears. The dog loves the attention though and quickly warms up to him.

Alejandro would get a good scare at this big dog standing in the doorway watching him. Would curse loud enough his mother could surely hear from her grave and rise to throw a chancla at him. He's tired, has had a long drive and in his usual good mood would dote on the dog but not when he's on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion. Doesn't even say anything much after that and just grabs you, collapses into bed with you in his arms and falls asleep.

Rudy's first thought is that a stray dog got in and would be concerned for your safety but then sees the collar around the dog's neck and know right away he's part of the family now. And no matter how tired he is, Rudy would still sit there and with the dog resting on his lap, would ask you how you got him, where, what's his name, how you've been feeling after adopting him, etc.

Phillip doesn't pay mind to the dog, even if its growling at him and even baring teeth. Plenty of people do that to him at work, he's used to it. Man has two things in his mind since pulling into the driveway; you and rest. He takes a quick shower, doesn't even bother putting actual clothes on and just falling asleep in a towel wrapped around his waist. The dog just standing next to the bed at Phillip's side, smelling his face curiously.

Makarov isn't surprised to be greeted by dogs at the door because he's probably already owned a few big dogs but they're usually kept outside. Kicks his shoes off, which distract the snarling dog who goes after his shoes only seeing a new toy. He goes right over and starts getting ready to sleep until he turns to face your side confused to see the dog in between the both of you with his shoe in his mouth.

Keegan couldn't care less, he has no thoughts at the moment. His eyes barely register the dog who won't stop thrusting his nose into his face when he leans down to pull off his boots and socks. He just grumbles something and pushes the dog away who follows after him. He kisses you goodnight or hello, he doesn't know anymore, gives the dog a pat on the head and drifts off to sleep.

König the type to just stand there staring at the dog who stares right back at him. Surely, with how sleep deprived he is he must think it's an hallucination or maybe he's asleep and already dreaming. Reaches out, letting the dog sniff his hand and when he feels the warm breath from the dog's nostrils tickle his hand he simply nods approvingly. He'll make friends with the dog tomorrow.

Horangi would probably set off all of the dog's danger sensors because of his nature of doing things. Like he gets home, slams the door shut, his heavy footsteps making their way to you, throwing his duffle bag on the floor and tackling you (lovingly ofc duh) would make the dog think you're getting attacked.

Nikto would start asking you all sorts of question, interrogating you almost. Asking where the wolf came from, why did you get it, did you not feel safe to wait until he came back? He's asking more because he's genuinely concerned and wants to know if something specific happened that made you feel like you needed a dog as big as the one currently stuffing his nose into the pockets of his jacket.

[forest-hashira]

Keeping Warm

having now recovered from writing smut back in september, i am back with more demon slayer smut! partially joking but writing smut really does take more out of me which is why this one took so long to come out. this is my promised second entry for my autumn leaves anniversary event, which is still open if you would like to contribute something! anyways, i hope you guys enjoy 💜 also big thanks to @awkwardchick87 for beta reading this for me!

event masterlist | read on ao3 | wc: ~2.6k | cw: obamitsu x gn/afab reader (female anatomy but gender neutral pronouns), undefined but implied established relationship, cockwarming, orgasm delay/denial, oral (reader receiving), making out, cowgirl position, slight sub iggy/dom mitsuri (not too heavy tho), creampie

Obanai had never been fond of cold weather. Much like his scaly companion, he preferred the warmth of spring and summer, and spent as much of his time as possible indoors during the fall and winter. If there was a chill in the air, it would cut straight through to his bones, no matter how many layers he wore. He never mentioned it to anyone else, knowing there was little that could be done about his difficulty regulating his own body temperature, but as soon as both you and Mitsuri had wormed your way past his defenses, the two of you had picked up on it, and did everything you could to keep him warm.

Which, he supposed, was how you all wound up the way you were now.

The temperature had dropped before the sun had set, and he had barely finished lighting his fireplace when he heard Mitsuri calling out for him.

“Obanai!” she’d chirped, grinning brightly when he came to the door to greet her. She’d held a thick blanket in one arm, her other hand holding yours. You’d offered the serpent hashira a pleased smile as well, just as happy to see that he was, in fact, home. 

“Hello, Mitsuri,” he’d replied, smiling behind his bandages. He’d greeted you, too, then tilted his head slightly. “Not that I’m not happy to see the two of you, of course, but can I ask what brings you to see me this time?”

“We know you don’t like the cold,” you’d explained. “We wanted to make sure you stayed warm tonight.”

He hadn’t thought much of the way Mitsuri’s eyes glinted when he’d invited the two of you in, assuming she was just excited about having a sleepover with you and him, since those didn’t happen exceedingly often, given your positions in the corps.

Now he was wondering if he should’ve read into that glint a bit more, since she was straddling him as he laid on his back on his futon, you sitting by his head. Clothes had been discarded quickly, so you and Mitsuri were entirely bare, and the only thing Obanai still wore was his bandages.

“We’ll keep you warm, ‘nai,” the love hashira cooed, rolling her hips against his, and he let out a shuddering breath, his hands gripping lightly at her thighs. She paused at the touch, tilting her head slightly. “Wait until you’re given permission, love.”

“Apologies,” he murmured, releasing his hold on her, instead digging his fingers into the futon beneath him.

“All is forgiven,” Mitsuri assured him, slowly beginning to roll her hips again.

Your fingers glided across his forehead, gently brushing his hair from his eyes, and you smiled at him when he looked up at you. “Can I take these off?” you asked quietly, fingers ghosting down his cheek until they reached the edge of his bandages.

There was the tiniest moment of hesitation – less than a second, really – before he nodded. “Yes,” he breathed, remembering that Mitsuri liked when he said the words aloud. “Yes, you can take them off.” 

With nimble fingers, you delicately unwound the bandages from the lower half of his face, setting them off to the side. As always, you were careful not to touch his scars; he was comfortable enough to allow you and Mitsuri to see them in private, but he still didn’t like them to be touched. “Stunning as always, ‘nai,” you said, giggling softly when his face darkened with a blush at your words.

The sound of your laughter sent his heart fluttering, and he smiled slightly back up at you. He still found himself flustered whenever you complimented him, but he never argued, even if he disagreed with your words; how could he, when your eyes always shone with genuine, eager affection?

Mitsuri shifted her weight slightly from her position atop the serpent hashira, and he gasped, his hips bucking the tiniest bit with surprise. Knowing the movement was unintentional, the love hashira chose not to chastise, instead grinning down at him. “Someone’s eager,” she teased, a small laugh tumbling from her lips at the way the older man’s blush spread from his face down his neck to his chest.

“Looks like you’re warming up,” you said, a teasing lilt to your words as well. As you spoke, you carded your fingers through his hair, nails scratching lightly against his scalp. Just as you knew would happen, the touch sent a shiver through the serpent hashira. “Or maybe not.” 

With an exaggerated pout, you looked back up at Mitsuri. “Looks like he’s still cold, ‘Tsuri.”

She fake pouted right back at you. “Well we can’t have that, now can we?” Her gaze dropped to Obanai’s, and she tilted her head slightly. “Do you need more to stay warm?”

“Please,” he answered, nodding eagerly. “Yes, please, Mitsuri.”

Her peridot eyes flashed. “Well, when you ask so nicely…”

When she stopped the slow rolling of her hips, Obanai almost whined, staring up at her pleadingly; you knew from experience he was mere moments away from openly begging, if the love hashira decided to push him even just a tiny bit more. He was in luck this time, though, and she had mercy on him. She raised herself off of him slightly, just enough to wrap her fingers around his hard cock.

He barely stifled a gasp at her touch, and when she began to sink down onto him, his eyes rolled back in his head. The feeling of being inside of either of you was something he knew he would never take for granted; the warmth and intimacy of it was too precious to him. It took him a few moments to catch his breath once Mitsuri was fully seated on him, the heat of her almost unbearable, while somehow also being exactly what he needed. 

The love hashira sat perfectly still atop the serpent hashira, watching as he fought to compose himself once again. She could be patient, and she knew you could, too; besides that, this was far from the first time the three of you had done anything like this, and Obanai had proven each time that he was more than capable of being obedient and taking direction. There was no doubt in her mind that he would manage it again this time. When she saw his two-toned eyes flutter open once again, she smiled down at him.

“‘Nai,” she cooed, slowly trailing her fingers up his stomach and chest, delighting in every minor jump and twitch of his muscles beneath her touch. “You’re doing so well… Can you do something else for me?”

“Anything,” Obanai replied, almost before Mitsuri finished speaking. He was willing to do anything she asked of him, even if all it earned him was a smile. The same went for how he felt about you; maybe holding the two of you so close to his heart would only cause him pain one day, but for now it only brought him peace, so he would make no effort to change how he felt.

Mitsuri’s smile inched closer to a smirk. “I want you to make them feel good.” Her eyes darted up to your face for a moment, though his stayed locked on her.

“How?”

“With your mouth.”

Finally, he tipped his head back slightly to meet your gaze, his pupils blown wide. “I would be honored to pleasure you that way,” he told you, almost reverently.

His words had heat pooling in your gut, and you swallowed thickly. Even if you hadn’t already known how skilled he was with his tongue, you wouldn’t have been able to deny him when he looked so beautiful when he asked. You nodded in response, not quite able to find your voice in the moment.

“Thank you,” he murmured, taking your hand and bringing it to his lips to kiss your knuckles. His eyes never once left your face, and the feeling of his lips against your skin sent a shiver down your spine.

“Don’t keep him waiting,” Mitsuri told you, a faint edge to her voice – not sharp, but motivating nonetheless.

Never one to disagree or deny yourself pleasure from either of your lovers, you carefully pulled yourself away from Obanai, shifting so you were hovering over his face, facing the love hashira. You didn’t lower yourself to be within his reach, though; Mitsuri was still calling the shots, after all.

Obanai felt his mouth begin to water as he looked up at your pussy, so close yet still so far away. He flexed his hands against the futon, eager to devour you but doing his best to be patient.

Apparently getting a thrill from the control she had over the two of you, Mitsuri sat in silence for a moment, simply looking you over, before she said, “You can touch them now, ‘nai.”

The serpent hashira barely remembered to thank her before he locked his arms around your thighs and dragged you down to sit on his face, his mouth already open and eager to please. The first taste of you on his tongue had him moaning against you, and you gasped at the vibration against your cunt.

“Fuck,” you breathed, one hand going to Obanai’s abdomen to steady yourself, the other landing on Mitsuri’s shoulder. You met her gaze, and the heat that had risen to your cheeks spread a bit further when you saw the glint in her eyes.

“He’s quite good at that, isn’t he?” she asked, somewhat teasingly. As she spoke, one of her hands pushed your hair away from your face before coming to cradle your burning cheek. “Feels like he’s keeping you nice and warm, too, hm?”

“Y-yes,” you stammered, lashes fluttering a bit as you felt Obanai trace a pattern across your clit. You couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but if you’d asked, he would have admitted it was his name; an invisible mark stating that you were his as much he was yours and Mitsuri’s.

“Good,” she murmured, smirking slightly as she pressed her thumb to your bottom lip for a moment. When your lips parted slightly at the touch, she pulled you into a kiss. 

Her lips were soft and plush against your own, and in mere seconds you found yourself being devoured from both ends, completely at the mercy of your two ravenous lovers. Your grip on her shoulder tightened as you moaned against her, reciprocating the kiss as best as you were able.

It wasn’t long – an embarrassingly short amount of time, in fact – before your legs were shaking around Obanai’s head. “‘Tsuri,” you whimpered, breaking the heated kiss in an attempt to catch your breath. “I— ah! —I’m close.”

“Already?” she asked, a teasing edge to her voice. When you nodded, she tilted your chin up slightly to meet her eyes again. “I know you’ve earned it,” she added, glancing down at the man beneath you for a moment. ���But do you think he has?”

“Uh-huh,” you answered immediately. “He’s— fuck — making me feel s-so good.” With practically every breath, small moans and whimpers slipped from your lips, and if the serpent hashira’s hold on you had been any less secure, you’d have been grinding down on his tongue, eagerly chasing your release.

Mitsuri seemed to brighten a bit at that. “Good, I’m glad. You deserve to feel good, love.” She grinned when the pet name had you practically melting for her, and she pressed another quick kiss to your lips before turning her attention to her other partner. 

“‘Nai,” she said, tracing a fingertip lightly down his torso. “Once you make them cum, I’ll let you cum, too.” She punctuated her words with a roll of her hips, promising so much more once he did as he was told.

The action drew a loud, wanton moan from the man, which in turn had you gasping and dropping your hand from Mitsuri’s shoulder, leaving both hands now braced against his stomach. He tightened his grip around your thighs, pressing you as close to him as he could as he increased his efforts. 

When he shifted his head slightly and pressed his tongue into you, not giving you a moment to adjust to the feeling before he was fucking you relentlessly with it, you cried out. The sheer amount of pleasure coursing through your body at that moment had you trembling from head to toe, but it wasn’t quite enough to tip you over the edge. You squirmed the tiny amount you were able in his hold, trying to get some sort of stimulation to your clit.

Thankfully, Obanai seemed to get the message, and he loosened his hold on you with one arm. It allowed you to shift a bit more, but the movement wasn’t really necessary once his fingers found your clit. He rubbed quick, almost aggressive circles on it, matching the insistent pace of his tongue inside you. 

“Oh fuck!” you wailed as your orgasm crashed over you, your head dropped forward to rest against your pink haired lover’s chest. Despite having brought you to your peak, your raven haired lover showed no signs of letting up, still devouring you as if his life depended on it.

“Looks like you’ve earned your reward,” Mitsuri mused, beginning to rock her hips, giving Obanai the pleasure she’d promised him. 

It quickly became apparent to you that she was eager for release, too, because within just a few minutes she was fully lifting herself up and down on his cock, little sounds of pleasure slipping from her every time their hips made contact. Managing to come back to yourself a bit, you lifted your head from her chest, dipping in and taking one of her pretty pink nipples into your mouth and sucking hard, the way that always made her whine and plead for more. 

“Oh, yes, keep doing that,” she gasped, beginning to pinch and tug the other nipple herself. The more stimulation she got there, the louder she moaned and whined; she’d always been sensitive there, and you loved the reactions it would pull from her.

When she grew closer to her orgasm, she went back to simply rolling her hips and grinding down on Obanai’s cock, chasing the pleasure she knew awaited her. You decided to take advantage of the change in her movements, reaching between her legs to play with her clit. You were drawing close to another orgasm yourself, and you wanted desperately for all three of you to cum together.

She gasped, crying out your name as she fell apart, riding Obanai even harder to bring him to the heights of pleasure, too. It didn’t take long for him to get there, if the moan he let out against your pussy and the gasp Mitsuri gave were any indication. The vibration of his moan was enough to send you toppling over the edge again, a shuddering, breathless moan escaping you as you released Misturi’s nipple from your lips.

The three of you took a moment to catch your breath, not bothering to move from your positions at first. Eventually, though, both you and Mitsuri crawled off of the serpent hashira, one of you lying on either side of him and curling up as close to him as you could. After a moment, Mitsuri reached behind her, fumbling a bit until she found the blankets, including the extra thick one she’d brought with her. She pulled them over the three of you, and you let out a soft sigh of relief. Obanai wrapped his arms a bit tighter around the two of you, and you eagerly pressed further into his space – you were there to keep him warm, after all.

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[profoundlyfaded]

I’m now thinking about some romance related headcanon’s for Yaryna (MW Reaper) and Emmrich that seem locked in my skull. Yaryna is she/her but I hope anyone who romances Emmrich with another gender identity will enjoy this as well.

At her request, Emmrich calls her by her real name in private. As the Necropolis foundling, her name is the core she built herself around. Her name is important for her.

Their courtship begins after the first visit to the Memorial Gardens, but really ramps up after Wiesshaupt. They often visit many of the other gardens across the Necropolis walking side by side, sometimes with Yaryna’s arm tucked into the crook of his elbow.

Emmrich often leaves flowers in her room, hand picked bunches tied with ribbon; sometimes from the various gardens of the Necropolis, sometimes its flowers growing around the Lighthouse, or from the places they visit. After affirming their relationship, Shrouds Kiss often appears in these arrangements even if they aren’t native companions to the rest of the flowers.

Yaryna starts making Emmrich a death shroud (in my head canon this is an acceptable gift between necromancers in Navarra) as her main project which she would later gift to him when his acceptance of death improves. An ornate work, it features motifs from their adventures both during and after The Veilguard.

They share their first kiss shortly after he shows her the deeper fade. Seeking each other out as promised, their first kiss is on his balcony, slow, tender.

Neve is the first one to realise they are seeing each other; she catches the little glances, the tender but otherwise unnecessary touches, finding the pair together in the library or laughing over the stove as they make a pot of tea.

Harding is the second one to twig, knowing something is different and it’s Neve that spells it out for her.

Davrin is the last to find out, catching them in an intimate dance; he tactfully withdraws to leave them to it but around the table thinking he’s got the news of the century, he gets shot down as the others all tell him they knew/noticed.

The first time they make love is after clearing the Blight Eruption. After catching Yaryna examine the formally dormant flowers, Emmrich knows himself to be utterly taken by this woman. He takes her back to the Necropolis for dinner, ending the night in his apartment (I imagine him having old Oxford style university digs) and he forgoes his morning stretches to stay in bed with Yaryna.

While trapped in the Fade, Emmrich often returns to Yaryna’s room just to be close to her. At first searching for a way to try and communicate with her as she did with Solas. He eventually peaks at a journal she had left on a shelf, apparently bulging with notes - he discovers she’s been pressing some of the flowers he brings her and there are sketches of some of the gifts he’s given her. Her last entry stating ‘will he ever realise I’ll love him no matter what’ breaks his heart.

During her time in the Fade, Emmrich buys an engagement ring, deciding that once he gets her back, he’s never letting anything part them. He proposes a few days after their victory and they marry two months later.

There, there is the brainrot.

As an aside note to the death shroud thing, I can confirm that Yaryna also makes a simpler one for Lucanis, which she sends to him without context a few years after Veilguard ends. It goes over exactly as expected.

[pm-my-beloved]

Durante Sin Predictions

I recall someone (I think @lu-is-not-ok) suggesting that the sins appearing in Durante are sins that both the attached Sephirath and the Sinner need/ed to learn to utilise in order to deal with their personal struggle at the moment and... Yeah I did a delve into that, and all of it just clicks WAY TOO WELL. Starting with what we have, Pigrita (sloth) for Hokma and Heathcliff. I think in this context, the thing they harness from sloth is "Acceptance"

Hokma in Lobcorp had to learn that he cannot be responsible for everything, that he can't take care of everything, and to just accept someones elses will for their path and the future Heathcliff had to accept several things, accept his past and let go of resentment with that, accept help of his companions, and finally, accept Cathy's decision.

Next, We have Superbia, Sin of pride, for Binah and Sancho. And as I said in some other post, Pride is "Conviction"

Binah in lobcorp had no conviction, she engaged in her tasks because it was required of her, until she finally had opportunity to go mad like she wanted to. But after her meltdown, she sees X's drive, part of her gains the Conviction that unlike what she believed, city may be changed. In Sancho's case, it is her needing to have conviction in the rightousness of her own dream, to be able to truly stand against her fathers will. So far it fits, so what do we have next?

I believe for Chesed and Hong Lu, we will tap into Ira, the Sin of wrath, which in this case, gives us strenght to confront the unjust.

In Cheseds case, the lesson he learned during his meltdown is, that nothing will change if people accept world as is, if they won't stand against injustice even if odds seem insurmountable. Simmilarily, for Hong Lu it would manifest in him finally having will to confront his family, rather than constantly be avoidant or accepting, he will directly approach the root of his issues, and possibly uproot them.

Gebura and Ryoshu in my opinion will be learning to use Morostasis, Gloom. For it is Gloom that lets us process our grief.

Gebura was unable to process her grief, her pain, so instead, she lashed out, she struck at abnormalities, and then at whole facility, but after her meltdown, she was finally able to accept the pain that came with her failures, instead of being a blindly striking blade. Ryoshu is escapism addict. If her backstory is accurate to Hells Screen, the core of her issue is grief over a lost child, yet she posseses no gloom. It's because she does everything she can to avoid thinking about it, avoid confronting it, but I believe that in her canto, we will see her come to terms with her pain and accept it.

Meursault and Tiphereth then, will have Gula, Sin of gluttony, one from which desire, hope and drive stems from.

Tiphereth had no expectations, she lived in now, fearing the future, but with her meltdown, what came was Expectation for better future, Hope for a better future, drive to achieve that better future. Meursault lacks such drive, he constantly adjusts himself to wishes of others because its more convenient that way, more comfortable that way, but that does not mean he lacks them. In his canto I believe he will be forced to acknowledge his wants, and gain drive to pursue them regardless of societal judgement

Next on the list is Hod and Outis, seemingly unlikely pick but, what they both lacked, is Invidia, Envy, which here translates into, Humility.

Hod may appear humble at first glance, but its a farce. Her false kindness and humility were not out of the goodness of her heart, but to feed her own ego, her belief in her own goodness, and only after her meltdown does she accept feedback of others, actually strives to improve from whom she was already. Outis also may appear humble at first, with how intensly she follows power dynamics, but that comes from her pride and sloth, she does not believe in her inferiority to her overseers, she's just following the Rightous chain of command. As we can see in the Sasha battle log, she completly and utterly refuses to accept other peoples perspectives. Because of that, I think she will have to tap into sin of envy to accept that sometimes, listening to other peoples perspectives, is needed to become better.

That leaves us with one last set, Netzach, Faust and Luxuria, Lust. This one is harder to succintly put into a single word, but I believe that for those two, Lust will manifest in appreciation of life itself.

With netzach he seems outwardly lustful, but he has no actual enjoyment of what he does, it's just one long lasting suicide attempt. But after his meltdown, and ESPECIALLY in his ruina appearance, he learns that life, in on itself, has value, that to live, is to experience, to laugh to cry etc. Its not just the ends that matter, but the process aswell. And so with Faust, with her access to Gesellschaft she is in constant state of ennui, completly bored. But as we see in warp train event, when separated, she absolutely is able to enjoy the process of learning, of discovery, it brings her happiness. So when her canto comes, I think she will learn to not focus only on results of knowledge accumulation, she will stop trying to achieve climax of knowing that would bring her satisfaction, instead, she will take joy in each small step of learning something new.

Also fast round with not theorising, In games code there is also Angst and Madness sin which can easily be thrown onto Yesod and Malkuth in that order.

[my-deer-friend]

And now I have some answers, too!

Oh, the parallels.

Benjamin Lincoln, Jr. was the eldest son of General Benjamin Lincoln, who John Laurens served under during the siege and capitulation of Charleston in 1780. After Laurens was released from parole and was elected as special envoy to the court of Versailles, he travelled to Massachussetts in early 1781 and enlisted General Lincoln's help in preparing for his voyage.

Abigail Adams recounts to her husband, in a letter dated 28 January 1781, that "Last Evening General Lincoln call’d here introducing to me a Gentleman by the Name of Col. Laurence [sic]". Presumably, Laurens also visited Lincoln's home around that time and met his son.

Ben Jr. was born in 1756 and was the eldest son of eleven. He was an ambitious young man, studying classics as a child and then attending Harvard for law. Per David Bruce Mattern (we love a PhD dissertation; all quotes below from here):

After graduation from Harvard, Ben had gone to Worcester to study law with Levi Lincoln, a prominent local lawyer and distant relation. He reasoned that he could gain more experience at less expense there than in Boston. Now [in 1780], however, Ben wanted to finish his studies in Boston in order to widen his circle of connections and "acquire some further acquaintance with the etiquette of the polite world necessary to unite the Gentleman with the schollar."

Lincoln Sr. was more than willing to help him along.

Lincoln's exposure to southern manners and society and his army service throughout the continent had opened his eyes to the grand opportunities available to ambitious, bright young men like his son. Ben had already outgrown Hingham; soon Massachusetts would no longer hold him. To take advantage of these new opportunities however, a man had to have a continental vision and be accepted in society wherever he went. Thus Lincoln proposed to Ben that they make "a tour of America” to expose him to each state's "constitution, lands, customs, genius and political economy." And he also advised Ben to spend some months "in the best and most polite company" and even to attend a dancing school.

And who should show up on their doorstep in January 1781 if not John Laurens, the very model of the refined southern gentleman-scholar? There's no record that I can find of their meeting, but it's reasonable to assume that the two young men hit it off, and that John was able to give Ben some pointers on his further study. And as for the book, I think we can reasonably conjecture that Laurens brought it back for Ben as a gift from Europe, since he returned via Boston.

But, alas, the story has a tragic ending.

On 18 January [1788], just a week into the convention proceedings, Lincoln's eldest son, Ben, Jr., died of a sudden illness. It was a crushing blow, made all the more so since Ben left a wife and two infant sons, and had launched a promising law career. Lincoln was devastated. "Our loss is great," he wrote his friend Washington. "Our wounds are deep." Lincoln had lost more than a "beloved son, an agreeable companion, and a sincere and confidential friend" in Ben's death; he had lost a great deal of his hopes for the future. His pride in his son's achievements, his hopes for the young man on the threshold of a brilliant public career, his comfort in knowing that Ben would care for him "in the evening of life," had all been blasted.

And there was a further dimension to the tragedy: "One of the first casualties of his son's death was the sale of Ben's fine library, painstakingly acquired over the past ten years." This explains how one of his books ended up in the Adams family's library.

John Adams owned a copy of Rousseau's Social Contract. No big surprise there.

BUT!?

The copy in his collection's was:

Benj. Lincoln Jnr's presented to him by Colo John Laurens

I have so many questions.

[24karatcherrygold]

Orion Crestguard’s life was one of honor and duty, serving as a guardian of the United Reef Kingdoms and the legendary Mace of the Tides. Born into one of the kingdom’s great noble families, Orion was a trusted companion to Prince Kettlestein Gray. The two grew up exploring the coral-laden expanses of the kingdom, forging a bond that ran as deep as the oceans they called home.

When Prince Kettlestein was abducted, Orion was devastated, mourning the loss of his friend along with the rest of the kingdom. Years later, when the prince mysteriously returned, the joy was palpable—but Orion couldn’t shake a gnawing unease. The Kettlestein he had known was vibrant and full of life, yet this new prince, though outwardly charismatic, felt artificial, like a puppet performing a well-rehearsed act.

Orion’s suspicions deepened when the Crestguard family awoke one night to find the Mace of the Tides missing. Following the trail of the thief, Orion confronted "Kettlestein" in a secluded part of the palace. Armed with an old training trident, Orion demanded answers. The confrontation quickly turned into a fight, and Orion realized the truth—this was not his prince. The mimic, Zap, fought with unnatural strength and precision. Despite his best efforts, Orion was outmatched, escaping only by sheer willpower and managing to reclaim the mace before fleeing.

Returning to warn the kingdom, Orion was horrified to discover he had been framed. The mimic spun a convincing story, casting Orion as the traitor who had stolen the kingdom’s most precious artifact. Branded a criminal, Orion had no choice but to flee into exile, carrying the Mace of the Tides with him.

Orion’s journey eventually led him to the Skylanders. There, to his shock and relief, he encountered the real Kettlestein, who had escaped Kaos’ clutches and was fighting alongside the heroic defenders of the Skylands. Their reunion was filled with bittersweet joy as the two old friends vowed to restore their kingdom and confront the mimic that threatened to unravel everything they held dear. Orion, armed with the Mace of the Tides and his unwavering loyalty, joined the Skylanders, determined to protect his friend, his kingdom, and the Skylands themselves.

-Written by Gold

Now this was a design I was actually dreading, I suck at drawing crabs. Like I do everything in my power to avoid it.

But hey! Orion doesn't look too bad compared to my earlier attempts. For Wham-Shell (that's who Orion is btw), I wanted to change up his appearance, make him look more like an actual crustacean. And I think I succeeded. I took some inspiration from other crab characters in the Skylander franchise, as well as a cute little photo I found of a crab's mouth... I am now scarred for life, so I hope it was worth it!

Anyways, in actual reference to the story, we wanted to make the Skylands seem a bit less... expansive. (Which doesn't make that much sense in hindsight.)

We wanted to make the world feel more lived in, where characters knew each other and met each other outside of just being Skylanders. Think of how League of Legends writes their characters, how they connect to each other as much as the world around them.

The games and show make the Skylanders seem like they can go anywhere and do whatever they want, but what if they couldn't. What if their were entire civilizations who despised them. Not every problem or mission can be completed with brute strength.

Sometimes you need to take care of things quietly and without notice.

That's what the United Reef Kingdoms serve as. A reminder that not everyone likes what you offer.

Cherri's TLDR: The United Reef Kingdoms are compromised and off limits to the Skylanders.

Anyways, I hope you all have a great day!

With love

-Cherri

[nabsthevulture]

Buying dog training books because I want to be as prepared as possible in case I can't find reliable dog training near me

[theyoungprinceling]

The excitement Makenshi had about flying might've been contagious had Ling's mind not been all over the place. And then there are a bunch of instructions he has to follow, which makes sense all things considered, because Makenshi is right. Humans don't belong in the sky.

He knew he was going to be picked up but he didn't expect it to be in a way like this. He expected- hoped, rather- it'd be in a less...familiar way. Although, he supposes this position makes most sense.

It's just odd to be carried like this by a stranger. If Makenshi was someone Ling actually knew, he'd have no issues. He does love to be held, but this just feels different. He has to adjust himself in Makenshi's grip to at least try to get comfortable.

"I understand," Ling says in response to to all the instructions and explanations. "Just...tell me when we get there."

And the moment they're off the ground, Ling's grip tightens on his companion, nails practically digging into him. His heartbeat gets faster and he goes completely rigid. He doesn't know if he's suddenly got a fear of heights or if it's something else entirely.

The biggest problem is he can't do any of the exercises his doctor taught him to help in moments like this. He can't do the 333 because he needs to look around. He's not allowed to open his eyes. He probably can't do any of his breathing techniques because he isn't even allowed to speak.

All he can do is hang on and hope this hour goes by as quickly as possible.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ The Misterican finds himself floating a full circle around his companion on instinct as his lets his hands clap together two times as a quick show of happiness. Excellent because anything is better than walking. It's such a waste of time and he doesn't know how the Soil Souls do quite frankly.

"Alright, are you sure? I need you to keep your eyes closed while we're in the sky because human eyes are not meant to be up there and I would hate to have anything get in them and cause undue injury. You can turn your face into me, I don't mind."

He's letting his feet rest on the ground once more as he stands next to this human who is taller than him but what he can only assume is younger than him.

"I'm going to pick you up now. Please hold onto me tightly. Do not worry about the weight. I have carried others much heavier than you."

And the swordsman is bending down at the knees for a moment to lift the human up into his arms so the boy is pulled close to his chest.

"I'll go slower for you, so we'll be in the air for maybe an hour or so. I need to ask you not to speak while we're moving. There are small particles of dust and dirt and other things that exist in the air. Breathing it in doesn't feel pleasant even more so to those not built for the sky."

His mask is flooding forward again as if from thin air to cover the lower half of his face as it had just moments ago.

"I've carried a few of the Amestrians this way, and I promise I won't go faster than a human can handle. If you want me to slow down, feel free to just tug at my sleeve a few times."

And soon they're rising from the ground straight into the sky. It seems the swordsman really is carrying him with ease.

[luna-loveboop]

It's all "links meet aus" and "zeldas meet aus", but where's my "companions meet aus"?

I wanna see midna bash fi and navis heads together for annoying her

I mean can you imagine the sheer chaos of all the Zelda companions meeting and going on a journey together? They're all companions/guides! One of thems a talking hat for hylias sake how are they supposed to take initiative?

I think it'd be like Lu where they all just meet up, but can you imagine the chain just somehow finds out this happened (and twilight is just like guys I am so sorry about midna) (but they're also really oddly touched that all their friends met each other too)

Pretty sure midna would be the sort of leader, since the last time she was in a foreign world she just found the nearest dude and started ordering him around. By like halfway through twilight princess she was literally asking LINK to accompany her to get what she needed.

But like. 90% of the group would be fairies. Which can't heal. One is a talking hat who just needs a head? He can't go on midnas cause she throws him off with her magic hair, poor ezlo is just trying to keep up.

They also have these weird green shadows who come around? They don't talk, but there's a rock, a fish, a bird, and a lady who just appear and stab things and shoot wind water fire and lightning.

Also midnas really confused why wolf link just shows up and kills things every now and then (from botw amibo)

Fi is the one who can talk to Hylia and awaken memories and get guidance and information or whatever, but she only does this by ballerina dancing and the others are always pissed at her anyways "WE DONT KNOW WHAT BATTERIES ARE OR A WII REMOTE WILL YOU PLEASE GO BACK IN SWORD FORM ALREADY" "I detect there is a 90% chance you need a key to open this door" "wow. Your perception is unparalleled fi."

Also there's a boat. A boat. Who is also good at taking charging since he's a king, which causes some friction between him and midna, since she has to grab him by her hair to move him half the time.

And with the fairies. Again. They all offer advice mainly. And with the fairies a lot of their main role is speaking and getting attention and pitching in? They come on an intersection and there's a chorus of bells all shouting the same directions. Ezlo is trying to cover the kings ears from his place on the boats head

Also there's this ghost/spirit of Zelda that everyone just feels REALLY strong loyalty to. But she's just like this kid who wants her body back?! They try to protect her but she can turn into a purple knight and stab things so there's that. I think there's also some animal companions from ooa/oos so.

Side quests are nonexistent they don't care about a village or gathering frogs for a kid they are there to save the world on a mission linear plot it is

And it's interesting because you have so many of them who just vanish and then appear to give loud advice. All at once. And the fighting skills basically fall to those weird green shadows that shoot various elements and fight and randomly disappear. Midna and spirit Zelda can fight, and Fi can too (kind of like how she fights as a sword in hyrule warriors). Also up to you if midna is drop dead gorgeous or devilish imp.

By the end they find whatever enemy so they can go back and midna is so pissed by this point that she hears the word "batteries" from Fi and goes full on fused shadow and just obliterates the jerk

***I have not played all the games so do not know or understand all of the companions and probably got some stuff wrong

Bonus: there is a child in a village named Link who does not have the spirit of the hero. He is stalked for three days until Fi decides his vibes are off and they all stop telling him he's the chosen one

[feroluce]

Had the cutest realization last night- so there's a saying we have in English meaning to get something done by any means necessary. It specifically includes dishonest methods, such as violence or lying. So when you're willing to resort to that kind of thing to achieve your goals, you say you're going to do something

"by hook or by crook"

[ganondoodle]

i was so happy that ganondorf was a character in totk when it was announced but now i am just sad about it honestly, i get that the older games had the trio as a good kids VS evil old guy thing, but i sincerely hoped that how much botw revolutionized(?) about the zelda principle in terms of gameplay they would now have the chance to do so, at least a little bit, in totk with the story

and then, as much as i like his design, hes again just an already very old evil guy that appeared out of nowhere for all we know that needs to be stopped by some kids/really young people and all the crumbs of personality or well ... not even crumbs but pure idea of a backstory we have to interpret into it all from things like manner of speech, animation and design elements bc all he does is some evil monologing that doesnt even serve well for interpretation

like, he was already so old when we first see him, what did he do all his life?? like even if he only turned aggressive once rauru founded this version of hyrule he had to have lived idk 50 years before that, was he just a regular leader of his people before that?? was he just .. some dude?? all we actually know is ... old evil guy shows up and attacks the perfect and good kingdom (tm) dont we? maybe some vague, arbitrary you denied me *generic villain thing like power, rule etc* line but thats it?

(i dont mind having to read between the lines, it can be very fun, but it also depends on if you are reading between lines and theres something intentionally left there or if you are trying really hard to see something but theres nothing actually there for you to find; to be clear, i also like creating your own ideas around stuff, but when you get to know some people from basically birth to their prime time and then theres a guy thats just there to be an endboss and even now in modern games doesnt get anything beyond a neat design and fun bossfight its just ... so flat?sad? i love interpeting but i also wouldnt mind to see something more for once ..)

[8-birdparagon]

I love Baldur’s Gate 3 but I do wish that there was a bit more diversity with the companions. Like they’re all generally well-written and interesting but also:

Out of the 10 total companions, only two of them are not some variation on a human or an elf

Every single origin companion has “I have spent a significant portion of my life in service to a powerful being” as a central part of their backstory

Half of the origin companions were either directly stated or implied to be extremely powerful but got reduced to lvl 1 bc a worm was put in their noggin

2 of the companions are druids (They also overlap a fair amount in terms of backstory)

Some of these points are probably a little nitpicky, but also there’s so many interesting characters that you only meet once who would be so cool as a companion. Let me recruit that one goblin who’s still faithful to Maglubiyet. Let me recruit Barcus and get to know him better while I help him find his friend. I want to bring stone mason Kith along so he can better investigate the Grymforge and also tell me about historical architecture. Z’rell or Aylin could both be really interesting act II additions to the party. The current companions are great, but in comparison to all the possibilities that are in the game they feel kinda bland.

[prettyboykatsuki]

i have many many many critiques about wylls story, most of them being about the fact it's just so lackluster in game when compared to other companions which is a shame. because wyll to me is and has the potential to be an even more emotionally compelling companion. and he was early access!! he was so gritty in ea please bring him back larian i beg of thee. the way he was rewritten has stripped him of so much nuance and depth. wyll to me is such a wonderful character to me because of what he represents, which is heroism so down to his core he never gives up on it even when he ought to

his goodwill and nobility are ceaseless. at the center of his story is betrayal trauma, his agency over himself vanished into thin air. mizora turns him into a monster and there is no turning back. he has become the thing he's despised, the things he's hunted for his entire life. and we know so little about that canonically because of the way his story is set up but its hinted time and time again that he struggles with his reality deeply and even that cannot make him turn away from the city he loves so much.

if larian would go back to clean up and fix his story (which im truly praying to god they do) i want them to touch on what wyll must be going through as he continues to try to ground himself and deal with his newfound reality. i want them to touch on the abandonment he experiences because of his father and the inevitable burden his title as blade and hero has on him. because these things obviously compel him, they're hinted at all the time but they were completely stripped of him in final release and its fucking disheartening... larian please im begging you. thats the love of my life. please.

but for now i will do it with fanfiction and gather enough wyll fans to make a fuss about it . peace and love

[l0ganberry]

Here comes the ☀️Boy☀️

[acourtofquestions]

Dont be angry, Finnula said. Be smart.

[universestreasures]

A Dragon's Reservations (Drabble)

Extension / Spinoff Of This Thread With @shachou

"Thanks for helping tuck me in, Tasuku." The youngest Kaiba speaks, offering the other a weak but genuine smile of thankfulness. Even if his friend's efforts were not quite to his preferences (they were a bit too tight), Mokuba still appreciated the effort. "I...I was never quite good at it. I've always had...help with it."

"You're welcome." Tasuku reacts with smile of his own, a hand gripping the door's knob as he slowly began to close it. "Rest well and good night, Mokuba. If you need anything, don't be afraid to call for us. We'll be right there with you."

Yet again, that reminder is given. It's something that Tasuku's made a point to say over the past few weeks his friend's been here. The purpose of it was to sway any doubts the boy had that he was a 'burden' and encourage him to seek help if (or rather inevitably, considering his frequent night terrors) he needed it. After all, he's heard Mokuba beat himself up needlessly enough since his arrival over the idea of being a 'burden', a sight that made his blood boil as much as it made his heart ache because he knew exactly where such things seemed from.

Or rather...he knew exactly from who they stemmed, the very person whose mistakes continued to cause pain to the one he was supposed to protect and cherish, his only remaining family who cherished him despite the blood on his hands and his many sins...

Kaiba Seto.

Upon closing the door to his bedroom that he was letting Mokuba borrow, he moves to go outside. Fresh air was key in helping him calm himself when he could feel himself getting tense, such tension coming from the anger that was practically waiting to rise from his chest. He goes to the roof of his apartment, stopping to look up at the serenity of the beautiful stars and crescent moon as he breathes in and out slowly. Looking at them, especially the moon, always made him feel calmer for some reason, the lights in the darkness that seemed to always surround him in one way or another.

Sadly, they did little to help this time. The more he sat and looked at them, the more the grip of his negative emotions, his anger, his rage, take hold on his heart and mind. Tasuku promised himself he wouldn't show that side of him in front of his friend, for that would just make things worse, but that meant that the effects of all that repressing he had been doing were taking hold now, with those very repressed feelings bubbling back up to the surface that can be visibly seen by the shaking of a clenched fist.

One might think such feelings of intense disdain for someone you've never met before were unbelievable. Despite being friends with Mokuba for about a year now, he's actually never once met his brother directly. Though, that doesn't mean he hasn't ever seen the CEO in person, or more specifically, hasn't ever seen his direct actions and the effect they have on his younger brother.

Even now as he stood there on the roof, his memories of that day were vivid, replaying in his mind like a perfect video recording. It was a key day in his memory, but not for a good reason. For it was the very day he saw Kaiba Seto's ugliness and cruel heart slowly reveal itself, with innocents, including his own kin, being at the mercy of his cruel and twisted 'games'.

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

After several long weeks of searching, he managed to get his hands on what he had been looking for. It was an invitation to the hottest and most exclusive gaming event Domino had seen yet: the opening ceremonies of Kaiba Land, the first theme park of its kind in Japan, hosted by the Kaiba Corporation. Though, it wasn't his joy of games that brought him to seek out an invitation. Instead it was, of course, his work, something that always took precedence even over his own desires. Yes he had been tasked by Commander I to investigate the event that had been surrounded in many rumors that were of interest to the Buddy Police, specifically ones that may pertain to dangerous games having been secretly built in a place meant for children.

Why was he doing this mission solo? Simple. All of the invited guests to the event were children and only children. No adults who were not employees were permitted in. So, Tasuku had no choice but to go it alone, something he was honestly okay with. Him being on his own, while certainly increased the risk, made him able to do his job much easier. Plus, it would help him maintain his cover, considering he was entering this under a different identity.

Thankfully, he managed to cling to the large crowd of kids who rushed into the facility as soon as it opened after having shown his invitation. Being lost in a crowd made him a lot harder to track, ruby hues eying all the suited security men around the facility. If he was to make any moves, he needs to be careful. While he does have Jack as an ultimate last resort to aid him, the last thing either of them wants is to reveal the dragon's existence needlessly. Doing so could cause a disaster with unforeseen consequences.

So, he opted for the strategy to search the facility from top to bottom while everyone was seemingly busy with the opening ceremony. He went from facility to facility to test out each and every game for any potential signs of danger. Much to his surprise and relief, none of the games he looked at had anything out of the ordinary with them in terms of potential hazards. The closest thing was the realism of the regular virtual reality simulator, but there seemed to be some warnings associated with it, at least.

Were the rumors just rumors after all? Tasuku can't be sure. These areas were publically accessible. If there were illegal, dangerous tech, surely they wouldn't put it out in the open. That's when he remembers he has yet to enter the tower where the opening ceremony had been taking place. Could that be where it was?

With a swift turn, he exits the arcade area he had examined and goes towards the tower instead. Apparently, the action was now on the fourth floor, as indicated by a screen outside the stairwell that now displayed 'Death T 4' in progress'. Just the name 'Death T' was enough to set off his instincts that this is what he was looking for, and after taking a moment to climb up the stairs and enter the stands, his suspicions were proven correct almost immediately.

For what he bore witness to was unlike anything he'd ever seen before, a display that would forever be burned into his heart and ignite his righteous green flames of justice.

Tasuku's eyes scanned over the stadium that was erupting in shock, all seemingly focused on the live image of Kaiba Seto, the CEO of Kaiba Corporation. The Buddy Police Boy Wonder was fully aware of who he was due to his reputation in the gaming world. There were some who said he'd never lost a game before in his life. There were also some who said he was responsible for the death of the previous CEO, Kaiba Gozaboru, a rumor no one could verify the truth of.

"I've been waiting for you, Yugi! Good job. I've gotten bored of these amusements."

"Amusements?"

"Take that path to the elevator and rise to the final stage!"

"I will! Don't you go anywhere! You'll get your game all right, Kaiba!"

That's when Tasuku takes a look around the rest of the space, noticing the colossal fight box in the middle. There he sees a taller boy outside of it (who he presumed was this 'Yugi' Kaiba referred to) and a small child on the inside. Judging by it, it seems the younger of the two had just been defeated in a game of some kind, seemingly an obstacle in Yugi's path to advancement.

But...that wasn't just any child in there. That was...

"Kaiba Mokuba, the Capsule Monsters Chess champion...And the very same person Lady Suzuha mentioned she lost contact with six months ago..."

It was one of those things the heiress mentioned to him during one of their recent encounters. She mentioned that if he ever ran into him, as such a thing might happen due to his line of work, to give her an update on his condition. Thank goodness an innocent like her wasn't here to witness this (little did he know such a thing was intentional on the younger Kaiba's part).

"I've felt your pathetic, clinging, loser's gaze...staring at my back for years...I kept telling you and over over, Mokuba...If you play with fire you'll get burned..."

Even though he can't hear Mokuba's reaction due to the box not being mic'd, Tasuku can just see and feel the fear from what his brother said. He knew nothing about the brother's relationship, but that didn't matter to him. As someone who had a very strong sense of family, he very much despised any mistreatment of a family member, blood or otherwise. Just seeing this cruelty got his blood boiling, but it truly exploded in fury at what would come next.

"You understand, don't you? Only the winner is allowed out of that duel box!" A button is pressed, one that seems to activate some kind of 'smoke' inside the enclosed space in which Mokuba was trapped. "A Penalty Game awaits the loser!! That is the Law of 'Death T'!!"

"A Penalty Game?!" The phrase echoes in his mind as his body is paralyzed as the display unfolds. Virtual projections more realistic than those he saw on the simulator came to life and caused the one trapped inside to scream and cower in absolute terror for his life. "This...This must be what our lead was about! If this was the fourth stage, then that means there must have been more of these dangerous games and punishments on the earlier 'Death T' stages!"

He could feel his body temperature rising and his breath heavying as he watched the torture go on, the sight triggering what appeared to be a panic attack. He normally made a point to try hold himself together while on a job, to steel himself so it wouldn't hold him back but...nothing could have prepared him for what he he was looking at. Seeing Kaiba Mokuba defenseless and calling out for help (presumably for his brother) reminds him of his own experiences when he was stranded on that mountain shortly after the Disaster, calling out for his family to save him and bring him home.

If Jack hadn't come to save him that day, he surely would have perished...just like Kaiba Mokuba might if no one comes to save him from his brother's cruel act...

Realizing that fact causes him to try and take action despite his physical symptoms. Anything was better than doing nothing. He ran through the bleachers, shoving past everyone to try and reach the bottom. With his physical prowess, he just might be able to jump off the bottom and reach the center platform. However, he stops at the edge as soon as the voice of someone else rings through, filled with heroic courage.

"Mokuba!!! Mokuba...take my hand!!"

And there the Buddyfighter bears witness to Yugi, a victim in this entire messed-up creation of the CEO of Kaiba Corporation, go in and drag Kaiba Mokuba out, saving his life and sanity in the process. A wave of relief washes through Tasuku at the sight of the two outside the chamber, his heart still racing through his chest. That demonstration right there gave the officer a large amount of respect for the gamer, who saved his opponent from the penalty of his loss of the game between them. That show of sportsmanship and kindness wasn't often seen in situations such as these with high stakes. Muto Yugi is someone he'll personally have to keep his eye on for certain.

As the amethyst-eyed gamer leaves for his fated battle on the next floor, Tasuku shifts his attention back to the robed boy kneeling on the ground, shaking and sobbing after having experienced such a horrific thing at his brother's hands. Watching him in that state causes his hands to curl into fists at his sides, his body now shaking not in panic but instead in sheer anger that was akin to a dragon's as he bores his fangs behind gritted teeth.

"Kaiba Seto...To think you would stoop so low as to bring harm to your own family...And turn games that are supposed to bring people together in friendly competition and fun into nothing more than death traps..."

"I'll never forgive you for this..."

"I'll never forgive you!!!!!"

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

Those words of anger, the ones that echoed his feelings that still remain today, are the last he hears before he is brought back to the present by the golden light of a Buddyfight card. Jack manifests from his pocket before the boy in his mini form, the dragon's golden eyes showing deep concern. Seems he felt the rage in Tasuku's heart too as the officer was spilling it out in waves after having been buried for so long.

"Jack...I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I'm doing fi-"

"Tasuku, you don't need to hide what you're feeling from me." The dragon cuts the boy off, his words stopping Tasuku's completely. "We're not just buddies, remember? We're family. The day you took me in and accepted me as a part of your own family, your loads became my loads; ones I share with you gladly. So please, please tell me what is on your mind. Although, I have an idea as to what or rather...who it might be."

A sigh escapes the boy's lips. For he knew well there was no arguing when it came to his only remaining family. Deep down, he knew how unhealthy it was to keep these feelings of his bottled up so tightly, wisdom he's given to others in the past to not do. He'd be a hypocrite if he didn't follow his own advice.

"I just...I just can't...I just can't get over the anger I feel when I think about what he's done..."He is clenching his fist now, trying to stabilize himself as he speaks his heart to his most trusted ally. "I don't care if he had a rough past, like Mokuba's said over and over. I don't care if Mokuba forgave him, wanting to try to move forward. No one...No one has the right to emotionally, physically, and psychologically damage their own brother, who did nothing but try to make him happy..."

Everything Mokuba did back then during the time of his separation from Lady Suzuha, all of it had been for the sake of his brother, who ignored and rejected him. He thought that there was no other way to get even an ounce of the happiness and love he once knew unless he also stained his hands. The fact he thought he even had to do such a thing just made Tasuku even more furious. How could anyone be so cruel?

"Then, after it was claimed that he had changed and presumably learned from his past sins, he yells at his brother so harshly and with such animosity to the point of Mokuba running away from home! And for what? Just expressing how he was feeling, like any normal person does? That's not even to mention what he's put so many others through for the sake of his own selfish reasons..."

He has yet to forget about both 'events' Kaiba hosted, 'Death-T' and Battle City, and how they both endangered the lives of innocent multiple times. He's put people into death games. He's kidnapped, lied, and stolen. He's created a trap for dangerous criminals in the form of a tournament that made the entire city a battlefield, without even consulting the Buddy Police. Need he say more?

"Your feelings towards him are understandable, Tasuku. I do not disagree with them. Kaiba Seto has committed actions that are unforgivable. However..." He pauses for a moment, flying over so his golden eyes are looking directly into Tasuku's rubies. "I do think, considering the boy's worsening condition, it might be time to consider a change in our approach to aid him."

"You're talking about what Gao suggested earlier today, aren't you?" He asked, Jack nodding his head in response.

"I understand your reservations about the idea, but...our top priority is to help your friend recover from the nightmares and fear that plague his heart and mind. And if we cannot do so effectively, then we must get the aid of the one who cares for-"

"If he really cared about his brother's well-being, don't you think he would have been here by now to see him?" His words cut off the dragon's, Tasuku's fist continuing to be curled tightly. "Even if he thought he'd be of no help or potentially make things worse, doing something is better than doing nothing at all. And no, sending one of his employees to spy on Mokuba does not count. That's not what Mokuba wants or needs."

"So...you do agree with the notion that the boy needs his brother to truly get through this, then?"

"Yes. We can only do so much without getting to the root of the problem directly."

"Then why did you tell Gao that you disagreed with the idea to begin with?"

"I told Gao that I disagreed with the idea of one of us bringing Kaiba Seto here. I never said I opposed him coming here on his own." Honestly, if he had, this might had been resolved already. "There's a difference between giving someone space and just not taking action. He's clearly staying away because he knows he's the problem, but by doing so, he's not taking responsibility or taking action to try and resolve this. And because of that, Mokuba is now too afraid to even try to contact him, leading to his anxieties and nightmares worsening."

Considering his past experiences, such a reaction from the boy wasn't surprising. He's gotten yelled at for expressing himself before. It only made sense he'd be afraid to do so again, especially after his own actions of running away from his home.

"He needs to be ready and willing to have a true conversation in order to resolve this, not just one to pacify Mokuba and sweep the issue under the rug. That will just make things worse for them both in the future."

This tactic, he suspects, was probably used in the past, considering how both seemingly moved on from the 'Death T' incident so quickly despite its intensity and lingering aftereffects. After all, Tasuku has no doubt Mokuba's recurring nightmares and PTSD symptoms are a consequence of that day. He's heard him almost confirm it himself in what he's mumbled while tossing and turning in his sleep.

"However, to prepare himself accordingly for that, he has his own demons he needs to battle within his heart, just like Mokuba's been doing since he got here. Until he can steel his resolve, win that internal struggle, and come to his own answer that he is ready and willing to share, then it's best he stay far, far away from here. I refuse to have Mokuba suffer any more than he has already..."

"Tasuku..."

Tasuku then moves exists the rooftop to return back inside the apartment, with Jack following suit. After entering the space, he moves to check his friend's phone he had left on the counter to charge. He then picks it up, ruby hues now staring in the face of a photograph of the two brothers that had been made the wallpaper, one of the pair at the construction site for Kaiba Land USA.

"What Mokuba really needs is that big brother he talks so highly of, not a selfish coward who can't own up to his own mistakes or talk things out without resorting to shouting like a child." The internal thought is accompanied by him placing the device down, a hand moving to cross over his heart as he makes yet another silent oath to himself. "And until Kaiba Seto can get his act together and become that person again, it's up to me to fill in that role as best I can in his stead, no matter how long it takes..."