#I really dislike the idea of people getting the safe ending first too

[ozcarma]

combining some endings with a slash as I believe they serve equal narrative purpose. Feel free to elaborate which should go first or be omitted in the tags/comments if you would like :) I omitted the coffin ending as it’s not really an “ending” so much as it is a fail state for the true end

[arabellasleopardcoat]

Winter (Cregan Stark x Reader)

Summary: As a Princess, you aren’t used to rejection. But Cregan, your husband, has vowed to only ever love one woman, and it isn't you. Right?

Warnings: Mature language. Grief. Toddlers. Unreliable narrators. Miscommunication.

A/N: I was so excited about this chapter! These scenes are the ones I wrote first. Also, the biggest hug to anyone who is reading this. I had not expected the amount of love my first chapter got, and I am so grateful!

THERE WAS AN old northern superstition —more like an old wives’ tale, really— that said if there was snow on the wedding day, the marriage was doomed to be a cold one.

It hadn’t been snowing the day Cregan had married you, but his marriage was proving to be icier than the lands beyond the wall. You weren’t interested in spending time with him at all, and you actively tried to avoid him. He had tried to convince you to share rooms, trying to foster some intimacy, to no avail.

Cregan had hoped that if not a loving wife, he would get a caring mother to Rickon. The boy was too small to grow without one, not yet having reached his third nameday. But you hadn’t shown interest in that either. Instead, you pretended the two of them didn’t exist.

He would like to say that the days went on the same way they did before he wed you, but it would be a lie. Winterfell ran much better now there was a lady present. Cregan had been wrong about you. It seemed like you could run a keep, and you did so with ruthless efficiency.

The castle had never been warmer, the meals so well planned. Even the servants seemed happy, now that they didn’t have to follow Cregan’s too broad instructions. It seemed that asking them to clean and cook was a little too vague for their tastes.

As for you, grief still followed you around, like a too long shadow that refused to budge even in the face of Winterfell’s brightest light. Sara had befriended you, with little success. While you had been far more welcoming to her, you still looked constantly tired and sad.

The lack of sunlight had made you lose your southron tan, leaving you with a look of quiet frailty that made Cregan want to wrap you in a thousand blankets and keep you safe. He just was unsure of the execution.

You scared him. He was man enough to admit it. People were often afraid of things they didn’t understand, and Cregan was no exception. You were made of absolute ice. There was no better description. Cold, but as fragile as glass.

He was running out of ideas on how to bond with you. Invitations to tea were denied, nor did you want to ride with him to see his tenants. You seemed at ease enough around Sara, and some other northern ladies, so social interaction wasn’t what you disliked. It was him.

Never had Winterfell’s corridors been filled with so many women. The northern lords already called you Queen Alysanne’s second coming, with your all female court. The only thing missing was your husband. You didn’t have Cregan’s ear, simply because you didn’t wish to. He would support your endeavors if you asked him to. He had offered his help with your attempts to establish a charity, since the North didn’t have Septas to take care of it, but you had proudly rebuffed him.

There was no pleasing you. He was at his wits’ end. Hence, the awful choice he had made that day.

To try to force you to be in his company.

“Why are you ordering my servants around?” You complain, barging into his chambers. While usually the kitchens were the domain of the Lady of the household, Cregan didn’t know you took it so seriously. “Do you not think me capable enough?”

“I do!” Cregan sits up in his bed, bewildered. He had given the orders around lunchtime, hoping you would not find out, yet here you were, less than half a day later. Far more soon than he had expected. “I just want to throw a feast to honor you.”

“You intend to honor me by giving me more work?” You place your hands on your hips, highlighting your figure, and Cregan is but a man. He cannot help himself, his eyes lingering for a second too long, and his brain coming with no response to your statement.

You seem to take his silence for affirmation.

“Seriously? Do you at least have a guest list?”

And your tone is so haughty, your words betraying you believe Cregan to be an absolute imbecile, he cannot help but give a heated retort.

“Of course I have. Truly, I am more than capable of organizing it on my own. Arra let me do it a few times, and I was unmarried for quite a while. I am experienced enough to…”

It is the wrong thing to say. You bare your fangs then, and Cregan has a moment of absolute and utter clarity. You are not a seahorse. Such a puny creature could never hope to deliver the utter destruction that you cause with your next words.

“Yes, and your precious Arra is dead! She is gone! Why can’t you understand it?” You turn on your heel, face absolutely thunderous, and go to rush out of his chambers.

Cregan loses his head fully, then. He grabs you by the arm, hard enough to hurt, and forces you to face him. For a frightening moment, he fears himself. Fears the wolf, the one screaming for him to strike you and remind you of your place.

How dare you come in his chambers, uninvited, after rejecting all his offers of companionship, to lecture him on grief? As if he could forget Arra was dead. It wasn’t so long ago that Rickon cried for his mother still, unable to understand why he didn’t have one. It wasn’t so long ago that Sara had to take over the role of Lady of the House, and suffered mockery from it. And it wasn’t so long ago, Cregan woke with a scream choked in his throat, reliving that awful morning in every dream he had.

He still did, sometimes. Less, now that he had more urgent matters to occupy himself with. Cregan was ashamed to admit it, but before Jacaerys and your arrival here, Winterfell had been far too empty to keep the ghosts away.

Now, with the war, and the flurry of activities that seemed to follow you, Cregan had little time to dwell much in his dark thoughts. Throwing himself into his work had allowed him to begin healing a wound he wasn’t even aware existed.

And wasn’t that a terrible thought? That Cregan was a man who thrived on war and hunger? Winter was coming, after all. It wouldn’t catch him unprepared.

He had sworn a vow to protect you. As long as Jacaerys had no children, you were third in line to the Iron Throne. To think of hurting you was not only to think of staining his honor, but to think of treason.

Cregan holds you there for a second longer, curious about your reaction. His grip must be bruising on your arm, he can feel the delicate bones under your flesh shift with how hard he is holding you. Yet, you show no fear. Your hands are balled into fists.

Were he to strike, you would strike back. Your face is the very picture of anger, your body coiled and ready to tear him apart.

He throws the feast. You sit next to him in icy silence and somehow manage to speak and dance with all the guests but him.

Cregan does no longer dream of trying to hunt a seahorse. Instead, he sees the world at a much lower angle than usual, and runs for his life. Somehow, in the dream, he knows a dragon is hunting him.

OF COURSE IT is today. The only day you actually wish your Lord Husband to be in the castle, and he is not.

You had spent many of your days fervently praying for him to leave on an errand, and yet, the day he does, you cannot even enjoy it.

Because the boy has gotten sick. And look, you have visited the nursery before, it is a part of your duties. You also cannot deny that you had been curious about the tiny version of your husband that will inherit everything.

The boy is cute, you suppose. In the manner all babes are. He is well-behaved, and quiet, and takes well to his teachings, even if they involve only naming things aloud.

Had you not hardened your heart to it already, you would want one of your own. You know, though, that their only inheritance will be tears and petty squabbles over land, so it’s best they are not born at all. It had been so between your husband’s father and uncle, and it was being so between your mother and your uncle Aegon.

The only assurance a woman has in a life spent as little more than property is her children. They are to inherit their father’s lands, and that is supposed to be enough. But for the second sons, said promise is always broken.

You had never, not once, thought you would come to understand Alicent, yet here you were.

You reflect on this as you hurry to the nursery, worried the damn boy will die before you reach it. When you get there, you feel the urge to scream. There is not one, but three serving girls hovering by the door, and the Maester is mixing some herbs in a chalice.

The child sleeps peacefully, unaware the surrounding turmoil. He looks impossibly small in his bed of furs, shirt open and chest covered in strange poultices. The boy… No, Rickon, had taken ill after the first snow. Perhaps he had been spending too much time playing outside, or he lingered too much in his wet clothes. You wouldn't know. You tried to avoid him as much as you could.

After this was over, you would have a stern talk with his maids. They shouldn’t be this careless. This was your husband’s heir. Someone had to care about him.

Not you. Never you.

“Will he be alright?” You ask, as the Maester places a wet cloth on his forehead. You have never liked children, never having had the chance to be one yourself. Your mother’s constant quest for the Iron Throne and her love for Daemon had often left you in the hands of the help. And when you were old enough, you had to take the role of the mature sibling alongside Jacaerys, helping raise your brothers.

Jacaerys. You hoped that wherever he was, he was suffering. You despised this place, and he had dared plot with your mother behind your back to get you here. With your beast of a husband, and this child of a previous marriage, whose existence would forever ensure your future children would inherit nothing.

You weren’t going to have children. Despite loving children, you despise your husband too much to ever lay with him. But most of all, you are beginning to fear you will become a damn Hightower. You feared that if you had children and faced the prospect of them only being second sons, you might be tempted to start a war too.

“He will, Princess.” The Maester, unaware of your inner turmoil, places a reassuring hand on your arm. He surely believes in the gentle hearts of women, or some nonsense like that. “The fever will lower with the tea we gave him, and the cool cloth on his forehead. His lungs are strong. He will breathe normally soon.”

The boy’s chest flutters oddly. His ribs show with each inhale, depicting his trouble breathing. You cast a dubious look at the cool cloth. If this was all they could do, it was no wonder your grandfather had been rotting alive.

“Is that all you have to say? Why do his ribs show?” You do your best to channel your mother, tone imperious. “If this is truly…” Before you can insult him by calling him the worst the Citadel has to offer, a boy comes in. You let out a sigh of relief, your desire to berate the Maester subsiding. It’s the same boy you had sent to Castle Cerwyn to retrieve your husband.

“Princess!” He says, extending a hand to you. Much to your astonishment, he hands back the message you had sent to Lord Cregan. “I have grievous news. The road to Castle Cerwyn is fully blocked. I couldn’t get past the river. I cannot go over it either and avoid the forest, for it is not fully frozen.”

“This cannot be!” You say, crossing your arms over your chest. Cursed your husband, and his plans to visit the Cerwyns’ tenants today, of all days. “You have to get Lord Cregan. Send a more experienced rider.”

“My lady, I would advise not to.” The Maester says, meekly. “Even if the rider does manage to get past, it is very likely Lord Stark is in the village, snowed in.”

“Well, then send a damn search party!” You yell, uncaring your language is unbecoming of a Princess. You cannot be here while the child… While Rickon dies. The child has a parent, and it is your husband, you do not even care for him!

“It is not as simple.” The Maester cringes when you turn on him.

“Of course it isn’t. The only simple thing is the cure for the child’s malady, isn’t it?” You growl. “Do something useful, if you think a rider cannot reach my husband. Get me someone who can, and fix the boy.”

It would be easier for you if the boy died. You could have the children you so craved. The obstacle would have removed itself. Relationships between half brothers are never as strong as between full ones. At the very least, this child could cast out you and any children you birth when Lord Cregan passes. At the very worst, he might have them killed, as your mother intended with her usurper brother.

But you are not so craven as to let an innocent die. He is still a boy, no older than three namedays. He is vulnerable, and his father is not here.

You sit next to the bed, eyes fixed on his chest. Rickon will not die on your watch.

THE SOUND OF a door opening jerks you awake. Disoriented, you sit up on your chair, and check that Rickon still breathes.

He does. He has awakened with the sound of the door opening, just as you did. But unlike you, he has begun wailing. You get him. You would like to cry too.

“What is it?” You snarl at the serving girl who dared enter in such a manner. The sound of Rickon’s cries grate in your ears, shrill and loud, awakening you fully. You try to coax him into laying back down to no avail.

“Milady…” She stammers, holding a breakfast tray. The reason for her interruption becomes clear. Had it been so long already? You remembered standing vigil over Rickon until sundown, and changing the cool compress a few times after, but no further. By the Seven, you were a terrible caretaker. “I… There are…”

Rickon wails harder.

“Father! Father, want father!” He cries. He then attempts to remove the cool cloth from his forehead, and get up, escaping the furs laid over him.

The serving girl stares at the boy. You stare at her. Rickon continues to squirm. When it is clear she is expecting you to soothe him, you sigh and turn to the child.

“Rickon, you have to lay down again.”

“Father! Father!” He wails, face beginning to turn red, his breathing labored. You are unsure if it is his distress or the sickness, but it worries you nonetheless. The child cannot die. You are not prepared to deal with it.

“Shh, Rickon, I know you are hurting.” You tell him, as you pick him up. “Father is not here. He is trapped by the snow.”

At this, he cries harder. You can hear him gasping for air as he squirms in your arms and kicks at you. His snot is getting everywhere. Good Gods, what if he dies? Would your husband actually force you consummate the marriage if he loses his heir? The thought alone is enough to force you into action.

“He is not trapped. He is snowed in, just as when you cannot go out and play. Happens all the time.” You reassure him, rubbing his back. You know your words to be a lie, but the boy doesn’t. The weather has been especially rough this season. The snow storm is unusual in its fierceness. “He will be back soon.”

Rickon perks up at that.

“He will?”

“As soon as he can.” You promise, hoping it is the case. In truth, you do not know. Your husband is unaware Rickon is ill, and holds no fondness for you. You doubt he will be rushing once the road clears. In fact, you think he might be celebrating the weather and praising his northern gods for the excuse to get a respite from you.

Well, too bad. You would send men each hour to check if the storm waned and the road was accessible once more. He would have to come and tend to his child.

“Where is father?” Rickon asks you, a suspicious look in his little face. He is eerily similar to your husband. His sobs have turned more subdued.

“With Lord Cerwyn.”

“Why? Hurts! Father!” The boy demands, petulantly. He is clearly feeling better if his lungs allow him to shriek like that. You are no healer, but his agitation is worrying you. What if he has a fit because he overexerted himself and then dies?

“I want your father too.” You mutter under your breath. “You do not see me wailing.”

“I love father.” He sobs. “Want him.”

And you are not made of stone. You have never been, no matter how hard you pretend. He is still a babe, hands chubby, face round. He still smells like one, a mix of the nursery, and sweet innocence.

Without even realizing it, you have cradled him into your arms and begun rocking the two of you. He keeps wailing, so you begin singing.

“I loved a maid…” There is no need to be a good singer to soothe babies. You are unsure of what they like about it, but you know it works. It had worked for Aegon and Viserys, why not for Rickon? “As fair as summer, who had sunlight in her hair….”

You begin to rock him as you pace through the room. As his tears begin to subside, and he begins to grow curious about the soft song, you realize he is not the threat to your future children you had envisioned. Rickon is beautiful in the manner all babes are, soft and sweet. His little fists cling to your wool cloak, gray eyes meeting yours with fascination.

Charmed by him, you keep singing. Seasons of my love is enlarged and repeated ten times over, and now includes verses about northern babies who look exactly like their father.

“I loved a boy…” You hum, softly. It feels like hours have passed when Rickon’s eyes finally begin to drop. Of course he would enjoy the verses about winter the most. “As white as winter, with moonglow in his hair.”

The door opens, slowly. You hear the wood groan as it does, but Rickon takes no notice. He burrows his head next to your heart, yawning.

You turn to look at the newcomer, pleased that having put the fear of the gods into the maid who had dared enter before had proven fruitful. The pleased smile drops from your face when you realize it is your husband.

Lord Stark is drenched to the bone. His hair is stuck to his head and shoulders, dripping water onto his furs. The cloak he had worn is wet, and he is quick to remove it, leaving him in simple breeches and a jerkin. His face is the picture of worry.

“I rode as hard as I dared.” His voice is low, pleasantly so. You had never considered the northern accent he sported attractive, but when his voice is gruff, and pitched low, you might see the appeal. “How is he?”

He shouldn’t have bothered with the low tone. Rickon would recognize his voice everywhere because he perks up considerably.

“Father! Father!” Rickon claps. He attempts turning in your grip to look at your husband, which makes you fear he might fall, so you perch him on your hip so he can do so.

“The fever has broken.” You hand Rickon back to him, feeling a hint of embarrassment when his eyes linger on the way you had been holding him. “He’ll live.”

“Thank you.” And his voice is earnest and soft, and it makes you wonder what he sees when he looks at you. Is it her still? Does Arra Norrey stand in this room with you, too?

The embarrassment from earlier, and the anger at the thought of your husband being soft because you remind him of her make you snap at him.

“It’s fine. I missed my siblings.” You cross your arms over your chest, awkward. Why does he keep staring at you? Is he… Oh, by the Seven, he is smiling at you? So softly? You cannot stand it. “I will send for a bath for you and Rickon, after washing myself. Less I catch a cold too.”

Look, princesses do not flee. They simply walk hurriedly. Very hurriedly.

[ancientnapdragon]

While I'm finalizing my rough draft for the food peak au, I might start doing a significantly shorter little fic based on an idle thought.

So, like, SY is the biggest LBH apologist to ever exist. But what would it take to make SY hate him? I mulled it over for a while and allowed evil seeds to take root in my brain.

It's gunna be omegaverse cause I feel like that can add some Flavor but I don't think it'll be super like sexualized. It's more an excuse for me to get parent SJ cause I'm still obsessed with him.

Some very rough ramblings about the vague plot and some of the characters below this read more!

How to Break Shen Yuan's Heart: kill his dad.

EZ. Fic over. Read More done!

Okay okay there is more than that.

SY is still a transmigrator but it's like repressed. He just does and says weird things sometimes. People just think he gets that from his mom. He's an Omega and grows up (mostly) on QJP.

His dad is SJ, who is an Alpha. Shocking, I know, since SJ is a very good MILF. But I think he deserves it for being my precious boy. SJ still has this like shit reputation before he gets Omegaverse Married. Which has this whole backstory to it. People 100% believed he forced himself on...

LQG, who is an Omega. Mr Bai Zhan is out here kicking all sorts of ass. The reason they "got together" was sort of a fuck or die thing on a mission, but it worked out. Somehow. Anyway, he is SY's mom. Usually, in cross-Peak births, the mother's Peak would take in the baby, but BZP is too dangerous and LQH away on hunts too often. So SY is mostly raised on QJP.

SJ is a Good Dad. SY knows both his parents love him and would do anything for him, but SJ is like Prime Dad Material. Everyone is kinda weirded out when they realize that Mr Catty Trauma Bitch and Mr Grunts for Communication made such a sweet kid. SY has no idea why people dislike his dad and is like his number 1 defender.

SY is a little overprotected because he's kinda sickly but he's clever and been working on training and stuff since he was a kid thanks to having two Peak Lord Dads. He can be a bit of a badass in this AU since he deserves it and we're putting him through a villain arc. What good is a weak ass villain??

So, SY lives on QJP and is like 11 when LBH is taken in as a disciple. They bond really quick and become friends! SY is still super oblivious tho that lil Alpha Binghe has a crush on him. I don't think any of the greater abuse happened because of SY, but there is still tension and some built up resentment for SJ from LBH by the time the alliance conference happens. SY finally gets a clue and gives LBH like the smallest good luck kiss and makes him promise to be safe and come back. But of course SY still pushes him into the Abyss and there is that whole thing.

SY is heartbroken 💔 but not in the way I WANT just yet. The stuff like LBH is in the abyss happens where he and SQH meet ZL and the seed stuff happens. (SY still doesn't know he's a transmigrator tho, SQH is just his weird uncle). The QJCity stuff happens with SJ getting accused and thrown in the water prison by LBH with his Trauma Encouraging Sword. SY is furious and, when he finds out it was LBH who did it, goes to HHP to confront LBH about it.

They get into like an argument over it and SY flatly rejects LBH's offer of a proper courtship since they're both of age now. LBH has been saving himself because he wanted SY to be his first and only. SY slaps him, says he hates him, and then runs off like crying.

THIS IS WHERE MAJOR CANON DIVERGENCE STUFF STARTS TO HAPPEN?? MORE SO THAN ALREADY??

SY runs off and ends up in the forest again where he first met ZL. And ends up in the cave like crying and hiding and upset. He doesn't wanna go back home because no one is doing anything to help his dad (they are, but SY doesn't see any of that). He ends up meeting ZL again and SY basically cries on his ugly snake form and like spills his guts about everything. He doesn't think that ZL can respond or anything!

Except when it's clear that SY is just gunna huddle up here and suffer, ZL starts to like feed him and brings him notes and stuff sometimes. The notes explain they're being transcribed by someone else but they're (mostly) ZL's words. SY gets curious and asks to meet the mysterious person. ZL is unsure but eventually shows him this tunnel system he's made for himself to slither through. SY has to like crawl through it and suffer claustrophobia before he ends up in this weird dark chamber. A man, who looks real fucked up, is like being crushed by all this stone. SY can only see his hands, feet, and head. The guy introduces himself as TL-J and even if he looks really bad he's at least still alive!

Some bonding stuff happens. SY like half lives down in that weird hole with TLJ and ZL and keeps tp himself. ZL will go and get them food and sometimes venture into town and hear rumors that TLJ will repeat back to SY (since he can't speak snake). One day TLJ repeats back something thay chills SY's blood: his dad is dead and it's LBH's fault. He has a breakdown. He has a qi deviation. He goes sicko mode. With the power of anime and bloodlust, SY takes some (demonic) Cultivation guidance from TLJ and breaks the array keeping him down there. They all run off together to go reclaim the Southern Throne in the demon realm. (And ZL finally has his cute body! Yay!)

Meanwhile, LBH DID kill SJ but it like wasn't 100% his fault. His mental illness eating sword has been ravaging his mind since SY rejected him. Demons started assaulting the area in full force around HHP (thanks ZL!) And it's all chaos. He's gotten MBJ under his thumb with his blood parasites but he's not gotten control of the rest of the demon realm yet. The demons seemed to be targeting SJ specifically, which makes it harder because LQG has ALSO been trying to bust in at all hours and save his husband. LBH went to SJ to try and force information out of him and had a Qi Deviation when SJ refused him. Then SJ exploded his Core to try and kill them both, but it didn't work exactly as planned. So LBH ended up having to leave since now he's accused of murdering a man waiting for trial (which kept being out off because of the attacks) and colluding with the demons who had been trying to break into the prison.

QCS does get SJ's body back this time, and SY is missing, and LQG is like constantly aggressive and causing problems. SQH is burying his head in his hands because how did his story end up this way?? MBJ visits him and and reports that there are problems with the Southern conquest. Two very powerful demons and their Cultivator pet are chewing through every feeble alliance they've managed to make and reclaimed territory like it's nothing. And those two demons? Also Heavenly Demons...

Okay so this is ABOUT as far as I've gotten in mulling stuff over? I have some loose threads on how I want it to end. SY is gunna go full like evil mode for a while tho. I think it would be really fun if maybe HE was the one who tried to combine the realms instead of LBH or TJL cause of how insane he gets for a while. I also like the idea that maybe ZL and TLJ aren't AS interested in being leaders so even if TLJ is TECHNICALLY the Southern Emperor, everyone refers to SY as the Empress (even if he's not claimed or married to either of them) because he's usually the one to handle stuff for those two. Putting all that cunning his dad taught him to work.

Plus, imagine being Binghe and finally beating your way into the throne room and you're crazy with heartbreak and grief. And the person sitting on the Throne is the guy who shattered you heart. Fucked up.

I think it will, ultimately, have a happy ending... but not without a super ton of angst first. Because I DO love me some angst.

Oh, and MOST IMPORTANT FACT, is that YQY is also an Omega cause he gets to be cucked from getting SJ in every way cause I'm evil.

OKAY TY FOR READING MY SLOP HAVE FUN EXPECT THE FIC EVENTUALLY LMAOOOO

[knavesflames]

Hi, can I request a transfem!bodyguard arle for a mafia princess reader smut. They spend alot of time together with arle teasing reader all the time. They gradually fell in love with each other as time passed. So 1 day, reader got into danger & almost died but arle saved her. Reader then decides to act on her feelings for arle.

⭐️anon

Hello ⭐️ anon 😄😄 I do indeed have an idea for this, I’ve been sat on it since I received your ask. Please enjoy!

Word count: 1275

Contents: fingering, orgasm denial, degradation

Nsft utc!

Both of you remember the day you met so well. In your mind, at least, it could have been yesterday. The day your parents realised you didn’t just sit at home and do nothing anymore. You recall the day your father sat you down at the table, and how your eyes locked onto red crosses, Arlecchino’s velvet voice filling the room as she introduced herself. You were angry, at first. Angry that your parents decided suddenly that you couldn’t do what you wanted, that without warning, you’ll have some woman following you wherever you went. A woman with an oddly short temper, too, it seems.

She’s been a woman of few words since you’ve known her. She chooses to stand in silence behind you as you do what you do, only stepping in with a simple sentence every so often. It almost irritates you, yet somehow is more than you could ask for. You’d rather not have someone following you and obsessing over your every move. You just wish she’d talk a little more.

You make it your challenge to get more than a singular sentence out at once, and you do so by doing reckless things over and over again. Or, if you have nothing to do outside of your home, asking her to do things you already know she hates just by the look of her. Eventually, she speaks more than before. Still, barely, compared to everyone else you know. Only slight teasing and a little conversation. Then again, you have everyone else wrapped around your finger, too. How could you not, when your parents would kill them the second they so much as made you frown? It’s been made abundantly clear since the second you were born; if anyone touches a hair on your head in a way you dislike, they’ll be slaughtered before they can even blink. It’s entertaining to you, really. How the grunts started calling you princess after you decided to be a princess for Halloween aged 8. You might as well be one, at this point. You have the power equivalent to a princess, you think. A mafia setting, of course.

Arlecchino struggles to deny her own feelings towards you. She reveals nothing, not a single hint, leaving you and everyone else oblivious to the way her stomach flutters when you wrap your arms around her in a drunken state, or the way she wants to ravish you when she sees you changing in the mornings. If there’s one thing she’s good at, it’s stoicism. However, she finds herself becoming increasingly frustrated at the situations you place yourself in, how you can easily walk into a room with five men who carry guns, only to flick one of them and call them annoying. She thinks you’re asking for a death sentence.

This time, however, you’ve found yourself in a situation you can’t get out of by charm. You managed to irritate the wrong person, and before you knew it, you were cornered with a pistol pointed at your face. It’s a blur, really. The next thing you can recall is Arlecchino harshly dragging you out of there, stepping over the bodies on the floor. Her grip is different, it’s not as loose or distant. It’s angry, like if you’re not careful you’ll end up joining the people on the floor. There’s no teasing remark from her now, no quiet huff of amusement, just pure, blazing anger.

The second she deems you both safe, her hands are quick to shove you against a wall, a growl rumbling in her throat as she snaps at you. “What the fuck was that? Are you trying to get yourself fucking killed, or are you making my job extra hard?”

Your eyes stare up at her from your position, slightly widened, but you’re not scared. Not really, you tell yourself, but the look on her face is something you’ve never seen before. “It was funny, calm down,” your voice is quick to dismiss her, a snicker leaving your lips. “Did you see their faces?”

“Of course. I also saw their faces when I had to murder them before they murdered you. What the hell is wrong with you? Do you not understand how to be safe? Do you not understand that I don’t wish to watch you die?”

The look on your face can only be described as incredulous. Why does she suddenly care? Why is this the most emotion she’s ever shown towards anything? You can’t find it in you to be serious, for once. You’ve never needed to be before. “Why, do you care? Are you secretly in love with me?”

It was a joke, but the look on Arlecchino’s face makes you falter. The way her cheeks flush a light shade of pink, the way her eyes drift to the side before her face hardens again. She goes to speak, but your mouth is already moving, your voice quieter, almost like you don’t want anyone to hear.

“You’re in love with me.”

Arlecchino’s response? Her own lips crashing aggressively against yours. The kiss is full of tongue and teeth and she clearly doesn’t care you could get her killed with a single wave of your hand. If she’s going to die, let her die in bliss with her hands against your skin, she thinks. Her hands move and wander around the body she’s long ago memorised, ripping off clothes with reckless abandon before her hands wrap around the underside of your thighs, lifting you until she can walk with you in her grip. The angry way she throws you against your bed, filled with soft pillows and blankets, does nothing but serve to turn you on more than you already are.

You let her pry your thighs apart, let her snarl out her annoyances while she begins finger fucking you in harsh movements, unrelenting as you gasp and arch against her. The fingers inside of you clearly know what they’re doing, crooking in the perfect angle to elicit sweet noises from your lips. You’re unsure if this is an act of love, annoyance, or punishment. You don’t care which, not at this second. All you care about is chasing the release you’re so desperate to have. You’re getting there, too, your hips moving at the perfect rhythm while your pussy greedily sucks in her fingers.

A low chuckle is felt against your ear when you start clenching around her, a chuckle that sounds almost sadistic as her fingers move harder and faster, bringing you as close as you possibly can get.

“What, do you want to cum?” Arlecchino sounds positively enchanting, even with the rumble in her voice and the bristled tone of her voice. Even so, you can only manage out a whined “please”.

“I see. Well then,” each word, every single syllable is punctuated with another thrust and curl of her fingers. “Cum for me, pretty whore. That’s what you are, hm? Begging for men’s attention. Cum for me.”

Each word sends you closer and the coil in your stomach tightens more until you feel yourself twitching, your moans becoming almost silent. You just about reach where you want to be, and then—

Her fingers pull out of you at record speed, ripping a desperate plea of “no!” from your lips, an almost guttural cry escaping you. Arlecchino is not only in love with you, she is angry, and she’s done the cruellest thing you can think of at this moment. The next time she talks, it’s filled with less venom, and something almost akin to affection. Almost.

“Whore’s can cum when they stop getting themselves into trouble.”

[mikayuumouse]

I really like how you talk about sskk, do you have any reviews about them?

It's super obvious that I love Sskk, and it's true, I do, I'm completely enamored by the ship and I love their relationship dynamic so much (I love Bsd for a plethora of reasons, such as the individual characters, plot, abilities, depictions of mental health, etc, not just sskk ofc, but sskk has always been something that's interested me a lot and it's my favorite ship) so I'd love to give some reviews!

I won't be able to name every reason or review on this ship lol I just have too many, but I'll try to list some of my favorites

I don't ship Akutagawa nor Atsushi with anyone else besides each other, because to me they're soulmates. I adore their symbolism of the yin and yang, Akutagawa being the yin (evil with a bit of good) and Atsushi being the yang (good with a bit of evil). I think they have a very unique duo concept while still fitting as the next generation of Double Black/Soukoku

Also I'll never get over how much they actually like and respect each other. They might bicker and argue, but they've only fought like, twice. The first time was their first meeting and they fought because they weren't personal enemies, they were organization rivals. Then the second time was Atsushi desperately trying to save Kyouka, and people seem to forget that in the beginning Atsushi didn't know his own strength. Until he became an Agency member he wasn't able to control his ability, and he couldn't even remember transforming

A *huge* thing for a view on Sskk's relationship is circumstance. In the main series of Bsd, Atsushi is told to stay away from Akutagawa because he's a Port Mafia member. He isn't told about Akutagawa's personality or who he is as a person, because why would he? He's simply the enemy (at that point in time). Basically, the whole reason they were so adverse to each other was because the only information they were given about each other was to hate each other

Akutagawa never truly hated Atsushi for who he *was*. He was told to dislike Atsushi, along with every single other Agency member. Akutagawa has said he doesn't hate Atsushi twice, once in the manga where he said "I only hated you for your good fortune," as he was jealous of Atsushi and how Dazai treated Atsushi. The second time was in the 55 Minutes light novel

I kinda rambled a lot, but all in all, Atsushi and Akutagawa have never *personally* hated each other. It's all circumstance. Look at BEAST, when Akutagawa and Atsushi meet, they meet at a cafe and have no idea who the other actually is. They get along easily and enjoy each other's company, relating to each other and talking comfortably. It just goes to show that they might clash but in the end, they go so well together and support each other

So that's my review on how they actually don't hate each other lol

I think Akutagawa does respect Atsushi, and vice versa. I think their relationship is something similar to "I wish you never came into my life, because now I can't live without you,"

It's fairly obvious that Atsushi mourned Akutagawa and replayed his death many times in his head after Akutagawa died at Fukuchi's hand. Atsushi might call Akutagawa annoying but he missed him, and even was able to quote Akutagawa's last words back at Akutagawa before dying for him. Atsushi even canonly feels safe around Akutagawa, because he trusts Akutagawa. He trusts Akutagawa won't try to (seriously) hurt him nor kill him (at least until the six months are up)

(actually, regarding that for a second, I highly doubt the promise will actually go through. Or at least they'll pretend to want to fight, and then one of them is going to fold and admit that they don't want to do the death match. They would [and did] literally both die for each other, they're not killing each other any time soon)

Anyways

Their trust runs deep, even if its unspoken. Akutagawa is basically completely vulnerable without his coat/Rashomon, yet he gives it to Atsushi because he *trusts* Atsushi to use Kokko Zessou (the Singularity of their abilities) properly

Also in Wan!, which is to some extent canon btw it's confirmed to just be an alternate chibi universe, Atsushi stalked Akutagawa for a bit to see if he truly wasn't killing anything and then proceeded to comically see Akutagawa not even kill a mosquito. So after he sees that Akutagawa is true to his word he buys some pork buns for Akutagawa and gives them to him as a gift. Akutagawa splits open the bag with Rashomon and takes the food and I just found it really sweet that Akutagawa took the food that Atsushi bought for him. I know it's just Wan! and it's all silly, but idk it warms my heart that he didn't just throw out the food that Atsushi got for him 😭 (btw this is Wan! episode 4/chapter 66) (and even if I'm wrong about Wan!'s canonical credibility, this is still one of my favorite sskk moments and I don't really take it that seriously lol)

Also, Akutagawa has stated that his reason to live is to get Dazai's validation, to have Dazai admit that he is indeed strong and worthy (in BEAST his reason for living was to find Gin). Akutagawa even says he doesn't fear death, but he fears dying before proving himself to Dazai. The thing is, I think Atsushi could become his new reason to live (I know how cheesy this sounds 🙏). Atsushi 100% recognizes Akutagawa as strong and capable, and I just really think that protecting Atsushi and fighting alongside him could be Akutagawa's new reason to live (or at least, *a* reason)

Also another point of how much Akutagawa trusts Atsushi (whether or not he wants to admit it) is that he told Atsushi about his lung condition. Akutagawa is obsessed with power because of how Dazai trained (abused) him. He wants and needs status and to be feared, Atsushi even calls him out for "killing just to look powerful". Why would he keep his lung condition a secret? Because sickness is *weakness.* He despises being seen as weak or defenseless, but with Atsushi? He knows Atsushi won't ever think he's weak. So he tells Atsushi (and inadvertently Fukuchi) about his lung disease, trusting Atsushi with the information

Okay so these are (some) of my reviews on their canon relationship and why I think they're so perfect for each other, and ofc I had more reasons and opinions about sskk (I swear I'm normal about them 😭), it's practically an endless list

Also I love every single depiction I've seen of domestic/no abilities au sskk. I know their relationship isn't necessarily soft, but it could be. The look Atsushi gave Akutagawa before turning into bubbles was very soft.

As a romantic couple, they would be wonderful for each other. They're literally the perfect balance, and I think it would be a healthy and loving relationship just with some (weightless) arguing. That's just their personalities lol

And I think no matter what universe they're in, they're still going to be connected to each other. In BEAST when Atsushi enters the cafe, Akutagawa takes immediate note of him although he looks comparatively normal. Akutagawa senses his strength and notices him. I think even if in a world where they've never met, if Atsushi walked past Akutagawa one day,Akutagawa would turn around to look at him, and vice versa. They're very intertwined and I adore that part of their relationship

Oh, and I'm not saying it's odd or specifically special that Atsushi cares about Akutagawa, after all he's kind and cares about many people like Kyouka, Dazai, Kunikida, Ranpo, etc. But Atsushi has *extreme* trust issues so the fact that he trusts Akutagawa along with caring about him really shows how different their relationship is. Also it goes to show that Atsushi doesn't view the world as black and white, and doesn't only like the "good guys" and hates the "bad guys". Atsushi cares about Akutagawa despite all of Akutagawa's sins and debatable flaws, because he *likes* Akutagawa. And Akutagawa caring about anyone ever is pretty unusual lol. Atsushi, Gin, and his friends from the slums who died might be the only people he actually gives a damn about (he hates Dazai)

Also I do think they have the potential to become canon, it's unlikely due to a bunch of different reasons (such as Bsd isn't a romance manga/anime), but if it did become canon, it would just make a lot of sense. Seeing them navigate their relationship together while also dealing with Fyodor, Amenogozen, The Book, etc and their own internal struggles would be extremely interesting. I just know Asagiri would write it wonderfully

Dear Lord I talk about them too much 😭 anyways thank you sm for asking this and I hope you like my reviews<333

[adventuringblind]

i loved your neurodivergent x oscar sm and i think it’s so cute. i love the way both their dynamics work with each other and it’s relatability!!

i was wondering if you could do more fics based on them in like different situations and how they both would care for each other in their own ways??

maybe you could make a fic based around the early stages of their relationship? i can imagine it being like really cute and both of them having to adapt to some of each others habits that they weren’t used to before, etc, and them both just being really caring and overall adorable towards each other!

i hope you’re having a lovely day btw!

Patterns of You

Oscar Piastrix Autistic!reader

Genre: fluff

Request: yep! I'm open for any ideas y'all have. I've been having fun with the autistic reader, so if you have anything specific in mind, please let me know!

Summary: You and Oscar adapt to eachothers way of living

Warnings: none :)

Notes: written in second person

Masterlist

You and Oscar hit it off

However, it still takes some getting used too for the both of you

Oscar likes trying different foods

You like sticking to the same foods

It took him awhile to learn your preference

He even made a list of things you specifically disliked and hung it on the fridge

He was aware you physically couldn't handle certain things

So he tried his hardest to make things that you both liked or could he made to one's specific preferences

Once he asked you to come with him to a barbecue at a friend's house

The party itself was chill

But the food options made you want to cry

You tired to be polite and eat a little but but you just ended up excusing yourself to the bathroom and gagging

Oscar was well aware of what was happening

He made sure you didn't feel the need to force yourself to eat something you couldn't

When he took you home that night, he purchased your favorite safe food and made it for you

He knew you needed food, and after the stress of everything at the barbecue, he figured your safe food might help to ease your senses

One thing he was not prepared for was the first time you had a meltdown

You'd told him exactly what happens and how you need to calm yourself down so that he wasn't clueless

It didn't stop him from being worried though

When you showed up with Oscar at the paddock for the first time, the journalists were all over you

They were loud, in your face, and in your personal space

It got overwhelming too quick

Your hands immediately cover your ears, and your breathing gets rapid

The worst part is that they follow you

Obviously, they didn't get that you didn't feel like talking to them

Oscar could actively feel your body shutting down

Tears escaping your eyes faster then you could wipe them away

He led you all the way to his driver room without stopping

Immediately, he watched you find the floor and curl into yourself

Oscar just stands guard and makes sure you don't need anything as you attempt to self-soothe

When you feel better, he lets you hold him or be held in whatever way you need

He started to adapt after that

He became Spiderman

It didn't matter where you were, if he was within five minutes of you, he knew if you felt overwhelmed or not

When you moved in with him, he made sure to give you a safe space

Somewhere that other people couldn't go and bother you if you needed time to yourself

Somtimes Oscar himself was your safe space

If you couldn't get away from the environment, he would envelope you in his arms

Letting you bury your face in his chest and breathe in his scent

It wasn't the best way of letting you calm down, but it worked in emergency situations when he couldn't get you out of there

Routine became the most popular shared thing between you two

You both had schedules and stuck to them

He noticed your mini routines inside of your schedule

You would always use the same good morning greeting, so he started using it too

It made you smile when the comforting words fell from his mouth

You always made the bed a specific way, so he memorized how so he could do it also

Vocal tones were the hardest thing for you to learn

Your parents deemed that the way you speak most the time had an ability to sound angry and sassy

This, in turn, made you over explain everything you said because you feared it would get you in trouble

Oscar could not understand for the life of him why one sentence became a three paragraph explanation

He eventually just started listening for keywords you used to get different tones across

When you asked questions about how he was meaning things, he didn't get it at first

When he was talking about work drama, he saw the pure look of confusion on your face

You were trying to decide if he was upset or just gossiping but had yet to figure it out

He understood after that

Needless to say you two eventually found your groove

Communication about communication became a vital point of success in your relationship

Oscar didn't mind having to adapt to something new

He loves you and is willing figure things out

Plus, the patterns you have make you more you

[almost-blondee]

Shit Disturber

Thorfinn x Reader

Reader is Askeladds daughter

Fluff, mentions of the deed, SFW

word count: 1.2k

i might turn this into multiple little stories because i like the idea. Just like different scenarios regarding Thorfinn, Reader, and Askeladd.

If there is grammar mistakes or spelling errors please ignore them, i tried my best to find them all, thank you!

——————————————

Being on so many treacherous journeys just comes with the lifestyle. Having to go on endless marches day in and day out like it’s another walk in the park. Travelling with Askeladd and his group wasn’t exactly the ideal situation but you didn’t really have a choice. Being Askeladds only daughter, he was generally very protective of you and didn’t feel safe leaving you with your mother. You were a product of a one nightstand. Askeladd finding out he had a daughter was an odd thing for him, Although never pursuing a further relationship with your mother, he felt inclined to take up his fathering duty’s and keep you safe. Usually when your father would leave for a trip, you would stay with your mom, in Wales. Unfortunately, in your later teenage years your mother had gotten caught up with dangerous people and creating a not so safe environment for you. When Askeladd heard about this he wasn’t pleased, so he took it upon himself to bring you with him and teach you how to defend yourself. He thought you were old enough to be with him on his travels. What he didn’t expect though, was for you to catch feelings for the only other teenager in his crew. Thorfinn. You not having known what your Dad has done to the poor kid, couldn’t help but develop feelings for the boy. You guys didn’t talk much, if you did it was a quick couple words. Thorfinn doesn’t talk much in the first place so it is hard to engage in a conversation with him. However, you will talk to him any chance you get. He’s injured, perfect you can tend to his wounds. He’s leaving to eat by himself, you make sure he has enough food and water. Since Thorfinn is usually straight faced at all times, you can never tell if he appreciates the gestures or not. He never tells you to stop or tells you off, so you just assume he doesn’t mind.

Thorfinn definitely doesn’t mind the gestures, if anything he enjoys them but is to proud to say anything. Having known you’re Askeladds daughter, at first he was incredibly upset with your existence. But it was not long before he came to the realization that you had nothing to do with what your father had done to him. He still doesn’t recognize his feelings for you, but he knows he feels something and Askeladd was not having it.

He couldn’t believe that his only daughter had fallen for that scoundrel. He admits Thorfinn had been very useful to him and he’s somewhat thankful, but no way in hell he’s going to let him get with his precious daughter. Askeladd did everything in his power to keep you guys separated, but you were too stubborn, always clinging to Thorfinns side. As much as he could see Thorfinn pretending to dislike it, Askeladd knew he was secretly enjoying it

In one particular incident, you had gone to visit Thorfinn while he was eating alone when you guys had stopped in a little village. You had been sat beside him talking his ear off, not that he said anything back. It was getting later than you could realize and you ended up falling asleep on his shoulder. At first he was taken aback, his immediate reaction being to push you off of him. But when he looked a your, oh so beautiful face he couldn’t bring him self to disrupt your peace. As Thorfinn was admiring your face looking at every wrinkle and stray hair that had fallen in front of your face. Askeladd rounded the corner catching the boy tucking your hair behind your ear and caressing it further. Askeladd was enraged that he had the guts to preform such an intimate act on you.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Askeladd spat at Thorfinn in a harsh tone. Thorfinn jumped at the stern voice, he had thought no one would find them out here. The one time he was bold enough to admire you he had been caught, and by the worst person, your dad.

“uhh…. i was just… relaxing?” That was the only thing Thorfinn could muster up. “Relaxing.” Askeladd said in a flat tone. “Relaxing my ass, you were trying to cop a feel.” Thorfinn immediately denied any intention of touching you in any other way, than how he just had. It went silent. Thorfinn had begun glaring at Askeladd for ruining the moment, and Askeladd glaring back at him for touching his daughter. “Take your hands off of her” Askeladd finally spoke up. Thorfinn was confused for a second, his hands weren’t on you anymore. Then he realized that his arm had absentmindedly wrapped its self around you to support your body. Thorfinn rolled his eyes and sighed “No, it’ll wake her, you wouldn’t want to wake your precious daughter would you, old man?” Thorfinn said, his voice dripping in sarcasm.

“oh you little brat!” Askeladd replied, now angrier than before. “i don’t care if it wakes her, get away from her or i’ll rip your arm off”

“jeez okay old man. Don’t get your panties in a twist.” Thorfinn slowly shook you trying to wake you in the most gentle way possible just to make Askeladd more mad. “Hey, (y/n). Wake up, i’ll bring you to a proper bed” He whispered, but made sure it was loud enough for your dad to hear. Askeladd just rolled his eyes trying not to rip Thorfinns head off.

“huh, oh…Thorfinn.” was the first thing you said when you woke up. You looked so pleased to be woken up by him, it made Askeladd sick. “sorry i must have fallen asleep” you apologized. “don’t worry about it, just go find a bed to sleep in.” Thorfinn replied. As you stretched you pushed your head further into Thorfinns neck, keeping it there. Thorfinn could feel your hot breath on his neck, it made his hair stand up. Now this was extra awkward. Thorfinn realized that you hadn’t noticed your dad standing about 2 metres away from you guys.

“ahem…..” Askeladd cleared his throat to make him self noticeable to you. As soon as you heard him you jumped up, looked at your dad and got up from beside Thorfinn. “ohhh, Haha… Dad i didn’t know you were there….” you said in an embarrassed tone. Askeladd hated how you were so smitten with the boy sitting on the ground. Enough to cuddle up to him unprovoked. “we are leaving, you can sleep in my room tonight. If i hear you get up you’re dead.” your dad said in a harsh tone. Meanwhile, Thorfinn was enjoying how angry Askeladd was getting over something so trivial, it’s not like he caught you guys doing the deed. Although that probably would have been funnier, Thorfinn thought. The boy sat on the ground with a smirk waiting for Askeladds next move. Askeladd began to walk away with you tailing, when Thorfinn spoke up and said

“(y/n), you should come sleep with me more often.” purposefully making it sound more lewd then it actually was, in order to make Askeladd more mad. You turned red with embarrassment and looked at your dad, who was fuming. You then looked at Thorfinn and whispered an “okay”.

“ YOU’RE GETTING IT NOW BOY!” Askeladd had snapped, shouting at the boy for who knows how long as Thorfinn sat there trying not to laugh. Once Askeladd was done, he pulled you to his room. You gave Thorfinn a quick wave, and he just nodded. As you retreated you were wondering what you had gotten yourself into…

[deadrlngers]

oc deep dive

i was tagged by @devilbrakers and @ruvviks thank you both soso much <3

tagging (no pressure): @marictheirins @mojaves @lucaanis @faarkas @kibellah @risingsh0t @pawnguild @baelavelaryon @ncytiri @tethrras @aezyrraesh and anyone else that would like to do this!!

What common/uncommon fear do they have?

Abandonment. Her own mother left her when she was nothing but a child so it got ingrained into her system that something about her isn’t right or enough, or both, to make people stick around in the long run.

Forgetting or in general losing her memory. This is mainly a repercussion of what she went through with the relic and Johnny. Basically the idea of missing pieces and bits of her life terrifies her. That leads to the fear of losing her identity, losing herself basically. Who am i? Who was i before this? Am i still myself? etc etc

The ocean. She’s not exactly scared of water (she actually has no problem with swimming or pools for example) but very large bodies of water that she can’t see the end of unsettle her. Also needles don’t really make her feel...relaxed.

Do they have any pet peeves?

Vesper HATES being bossed around, she’s the one bossing around others and she likes to keep it that way lmao

Slow drivers make her road rage explode which is already hanging by a thin thread in a city like night city. Loud chewing/people who eat with their mouth open irk her, it might even make her too disgusted to keep on eating herself.

Being touched by strangers and people she doesn’t know well. Being lied to grinds her balls into dust, especially when the other person knows she’s aware of their lies but they keep on playing the part (this is basically Fenix, sorry).

People that are too passive and don’t take action and sit on the possibilities for too long; she hates waiting around and prefers action to inaction.

Dare i say rich people? But more in the sense of...she’s annoyed by very big displays of wealth. She grew up almost into poverty so she’s very prejudiced towards anyone that instead grew up wealthy (<her own brother for example AND step-siblings). When she hears people mindlessly talk about money Vesper is very quick to judge them as “out of touch with reality”.

What are three items you can find in their bedroom?

Cigarettes, empty packs included because she forgets to throw them away and sometimes she stores things inside the packs like lighters and other small objects (and forgets about them too...)

At least one gun near her nightstand, just to be safe.

Lots of polaroids, mostly taken by someone else and gifted to her. Some date back to her teenage years, some are with old friends no longer in her life, others see her and Fenix back when they first dated. She cares about one that portrays her and Daniel during a dinner most of all: since they grew up separated, that's the very first photo she has with her brother.

What do they notice first in a person?

Demeanor and...their ego, if it makes sense. If their self-esteem or sense of self-importance is sky high she will notice immediately (and already settle on disliking them). Vesper likes confidence, she’s attracted to it, but overdoing it breaks the spell.

Then their intentions–are they here to talk? Attack? Flirt? Ask questions? Basically she’s already scanning for hints that will tell her why they decided to approach her. Body language is a big one as well. Then eyes and smell, if they are close enough.

A beautiful, charming smile catches her eye immediately.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how high is their pain tolerance?

Physically: 9. She wasn’t called the iron maiden for nothing during her boxing days. She can take one hell of a hard beating and still stay on her feet. It doesn’t help that she gets very careless with it at times and she pushes her body to the limit even when she’s already bleeding and in pain (the infamous Akira vs Vesper fight during Hanako’s kidnapping is a good example; Akira is a special trained soldier and has very expensive cyberware that specifically focuses on enhancing their physical strength. Suffice to say Fenix was K.O after a few hits while Vesper stood her ground and even inflicted a few serious hits to Akira. They might be enemies but Akira developed a sense of respect for Vesper after that).

Mentally: 8. Composed, resolved, focused–she doesn’t give a fuck about what you will say to her, quite honestly. Good luck trying to get through her. Vesper is pretty confident, the most you might get out of her is a scoff or a mocking smirk. Bark like a dog you are below me moron type of deal. Plus she went through some Shit her whole life, she’s kind of used to it by now. Also she firmly believes that she needs to be the real strength to her loved ones, too many people look up to her and she can’t allow any weakness.

Emotionally: 4. She tries to hold it together, thinks she’s not showing how upset or hurt she is but it’s very visible on her face. Her main issue is rage–and her first emotional reaction–so she tends to lash out very quickly. She tries to keep in control with the people she loves (and often fails when pushed too far) but she’s a complete tornado with the rest of the world. It’s hard to break through her shell and she doesn’t allow many to get to the core, her heart. Giving someone that much power over her emotions is something that scares her. If hurt by a loved one she will feel that deeply and for a long time…and she isn’t very fair with the making up afterwards.

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure? (Or freeze or fawn?)

In a hostile situation it’s fight, no doubt. She doesn’t shy away from a fight and prefers a physical resolution to mediation.

In any other situation i think maybe freeze, start a verbal fight most likely. She’s not really the type to fawn. More than freeze she shuts down completely and grows this incredibly thick second skin that doesn’t break under any pressure or hit, she will simply go silent and unresponsive.

What animal represents them best?

This is a difficult one for me but i’m going with an otter! A bit uncommon maybe but otters are fairly peaceful animals, some more solitary, but they can be aggressive when necessary and some tend to be territorial which is exactly how i perceive Vesper. Not a danger if you don’t bother her, but show yourself as a threat and she can get very hostile. Also i read somewhere otters love to cuddle, idk if it’s true but it would fit. Also Fenix has her contact saved as otter girl and sends her photos of otters and says “you” so i’m picking them.

How would a stranger likely describe them?

Intimidating. She’s 1.84m with wide shoulders and muscular arms, plus her expression (even when relaxed!) doesn’t look very friendly or approachable. Standoffish, stoic, distant, maybe a touch apathetic. Basically if you approach her you will feel like you are doing the mortal sin of bothering her and for that you will be sentenced to death. This idea can be quickly proved wrong, just please don’t bring to her stupid, time-wasting inquiries.

Interesting but reserved. And a presence that exudes safety also. If you are into the stoic type who doesn’t express much at first you will be naturally attracted to uncovering more of her.

Appearance wise people notice her physical presence, then the few scars on her face and the star tattoo right below her right eye. Also when she was younger she used to have gold fangs that naturally caught people’s eye. It’s not uncommon to see Vesper sporting a few bruises here and there so she’s either perceived as a troublemaker or the “too cool for me to approach” type. Depends on the stranger.

It’s very unlikely that she’d smile at a stranger but her smile would be described as beautiful. The little star tattoo makes the smile look all more warm when it reaches her eyes, the sensation is akin to looking at a twinkling star!!

Do they have any hobbies?

Partying (she’s surprisingly the right company you’d want to have fun with), dancing and specifically ballroom dance (latin mainly; bachata, cha cha cha etc etc), playing her bass guitar, listening to music, tinkering around with her motorbike and boxing. Even if she left that life behind her, Vesper still keeps exercising–both for its usefulness on her line of work and because it’s a great outlet for stress and anger.

Daniel is trying very hard to drag her into gaming, still a work in progress.

[maddy-k-reads-all-day]

The entity is protecting Amanda (theory)

I was just thinking about the entity (the one that is tied to Amanda) and the role it plays in the series and I had an epiphany...

Is the entity protecting Amanda (and maybe even the other kids in the tapes?) Or at least, does it think that's what it's doing?

See, the entity appears and attacks us whenever Amanda is extremely upset.

When we tell her that everything rots, when we say we won't help the lonely kitten, when Amanda is upset about the "treasure", and when she's really upset and having a bad day.

When Amanda tells it to stop, it is hesitant but stops regardless. Notice how these are moments when Amanda is the MOST upset. It's interesting especially in the first game because these are both times we end up telling Amanda that there is no hope for her or that we won't help her.

Now, we all know that Amanda has been through a lot of trauma and her heart is "unfixable" (at least that's what she believes). But what if the entity is trying to protect her heart from more damage. It sees us as someone who is upsetting her. In it's eyes we may be someone trying to hurt her like the people at Hameln, and it sees it best to make us go away.

Furthermore, when we find the "broken tape" and play it, the brokenness of the tape clearly seems to cause Amanda and Wooly pain. Joanne said it was protecting the tapes. It attacked her when she broke one. Is it possible that breaking the tapes hurts Amanda and Wooly (and by extension all the other children in the tapes)? Is it possible that the entity is protecting the tapes from being damaged in order to protect the children trapped inside?

In accordance to this theory:

Did anyone else see this scene in the official Amanda the Adventurer song's music video, Play My Way as somewhat protective. Amanda holding the hands of the trapped children with a sorrowful look... she is much bigger than them... much stronger.

Amanda and the entity in some scenes seem to work together besides that, Amanda is not afraid of the entity, and when she tells it what to do, it listens.

Just like the games slowly revealed that Amanda wasn't some evil creepy tv show character, perhaps the entity isn't evil either. Perhaps it believes it is helping. It is protecting her and her heart from those who dare to hurt her again. Pushing away any potential threats.

Rebecca was the one who summoned these demons... maybe what went wrong with Hameln's little experiment was the fact that the demons are loyal to the person whom they are connected to or who summoned them. That would make sense to me honestly.

This next part of the theory is purely speculative and probably isn't even true but it's a fun idea.

What if the entity started bringing children into Amanda's world to give her friends or to protect them as well from threats of danger. Aside from Hameln's influence (like the meatman and such) this world feels safe like a place a child could play and enjoy. Maybe at one point this world did end up being that place and Hameln ruined it in some way because that wasn't their intentions? Something that could further suggest this is Hameln's lack of involvement in the show... and the opossum. The opossum, implied to be Jordan is a child trapped in the tapes as a character in the show. He spends his time playing, causing chaos, and he seems to be having fun. We don't see any other characters who are sentient like Amanda and Wooly are... perhaps the meatman has destroyed them all? We don't get the meat ending a second time... maybe Jordan is proof of what the entity wanted this world to be. A place where kids like Amanda can play and be happy away from adults who hurt them. (and possibly Wooly too but the entity doesn't seem to like Wooly very much soooo it could also dislike regular Wooly because Amanda dislikes him.) A magical place where the children are never seen again.

Technically there is not enough evidence to prove that though it was just a vague idea and I'm probably somewhat wrong about that. However, the whole idea in general is kind of fun.

As for the entity tied to Wooly... we haven't seen enough of that one to really make a conclusion. Yeah, it tore Joanne to shreds but maybe it doesn't always behave in that way? In the second game the entity that is tied to Amanda showed restraint in killing us... so... they can act differently and we haven't seen enough to be sure. We don't know enough about Wooly to really say anything for sure.

[pomefioredove]

Normally not too interested in noble bell but your writing for the popping into bell instead of nrc and characters and characterizations have captivated me and quite frankly I think its INCREDIBLY fun story so far, interest definitely piqued :]

Love how Crowley extended an invite to reader. Who would have no doubt still ended up in ramshackle i feel like.

Debatably the bell tower is less moldy and rickety than that building yfYGHV

I also adore Clo and Pierrot they are very fun, wet rag and theater kid, im not gonna be surprised whatsoever if they end up tied as favorites for me

Rollo being a stalker for a hot minute is definitely not anxiety enducing for anyone whatsoever ( poor reader has to deal with that probably unintended horror and dread for abit and then The entire school tryna kill them ... rough day wmnjsb)

Hugo is fun and I like em :] goat...

Phoenix is also fun! I enjoy how he showed genuine concern in a way when he noticed reader stop in place, least some people're nice so far to em

Overall i binge read prologue book 1 parts 1 and 2 and have no regrets your writing is pretty nice I think

okay first of all anon hggggggr you guys have no idea how much I love when people analyze my writing like this. I love it sooo muchhhh I love hearing your thoughts!!!! TELL ME EVERYTHING!!!

anyway yes... I really had to include that line about crowley because it goes with my personal headcanon that he was never looking for a way to get yuu home, he just needs a boarder (free labor!) and is actively trying to keep them there as long as possible. I hate/love him so much. the staff of noble bell are just willfully ignorant and not as fun

I found characterizing the boys very difficult because like, NRC? all of the characters there are supposed to be bad people who do bad things. they're based on villains. but, arguably, victor hugo's characters, including claude frollo, are layered, humanized, morally complicated, messy human beings. I want readers to both empathize with, and kinda dislike these guys

NRC has a reputation for having a pretty cruel student body, but Noble Bell doesn't, Noble Bell has a reputation for being traditional, yet modern, in a way. in Glorious Masquerade, Rollo both praises the past of the college and Fleur City, and then says things like "oh, but that's not who we are anymore, now we're a safe and modern and accepting city!" which is obviously not true. not to me, at least. they put up the guise of kindness and tolerance but there's trouble beneath that

what I wanted the characters to be, then, are people who seem intelligent, proper, put-together etc, but who all have something, some flaw that wouldn't be accepted by their society and school, that draws them to Yuu. Rollo included

there'll be a lot more of that in book 2 (ᵕ—ᴗ—)

[slaaverin]

I miss the show, I can’t even rewatch at the moment because I know it ends, it’s been the most comforting and loveliest thing to have to look forward to every week. your edit was so wonderful too, thank you for doing them 💜

I guess one question I’m left with is why they did the show? Not the part about spending time together but why? We may never know but it’s all I keep thinking about. It’s left such an impression on me and us as supporters, such a beautiful thing to be able to see their bond. I will treasure it forever, or as long as I can keep paying my Disney subscription 😭

Ohhh anon, I am delighted by your message 💜 thank you

I will miss the show dearly too 😭

Thankfully there are the behinds coming out soon.

I may only offer my 2 cents about why they decided to do the show, and I may be full delulu, but I think it was a combination of many factors.

Firstly, as you said, they did it for themselves, because they wanted, needed, to spend time together at that time.

They seemed to be having a hard time being separated this much, and they needed the comfort before going into such an uncertain time in their lives.

But there was also that stupid rule before MS, do you remember? They couldn't really leave the country unless it was work related, or something? I don't know if that rule was made up by people or what, but if it was indeed the case then they kinda had no choice but to make a show out of it?

I think that's why Jimin said "This will not air at all" in the first episode.

Because the show was only an excuse at first to be able to travel together. Which was the main thing they wanted, making the show was second.

But I think they didn't dislike the idea of the show either.

With the passing of each year, jikook have become more and more kind to us, not hiding at all anymore the status of their relationship, simply being themselves and not being so afraid of what people might say. They have revealed A LOT.

They know there are haters, of course, and this is where I'm going delulu, but I think they know they have deep supporters too. They are on social media. They are in a relationship. They are not going to watch stuff like stupid tkkers content. It's logical they would watch content and opinions of people that support their bond, not haters. I think they are aware that even if we are not many, there are at least SOME people that see them as they are and enjoy their interactions a lot.

So to me, their show is also like a gift to us, the true supporters. Because really, jikook are simply generous people.

In a way, with this show, they showed a deep level of trust to their fans.

Many words have already been twisted, and they knew it would happen, yet they counted on their true supporters to read between the lines, to get what they were showing.

They know we are not stupid.

Maybe they had a mindset of "whoever will get it will get it, and about the others...who cares, let them imagine whatever they want"

Delulu again but I think they had also enough of all the hiding ("hiding" bcs they never really hid). Honestly if Jimin gave Jungkook permission that man would blurt out in 2 seconds that Jimin is the love of his life. He is always 🤏🏻 this close to outing himself.

You can live your love in the shadows, I mean it's a choice and it's fine, some people can deal with it, but sometimes you see that Jungkook is really dying to scream it over the roofs. I don't think it's really *that* fine for him. It's the same about Jimin, but Jimin is so responsible and careful, not necessarily for his own sake, but for Jungkook's, that he would put his own feelings aside to keep the both of them safe.

And yet, he did the show.

Really un-Jimin of him lol or maybe the most Jimin? This is perhaps his true colors really shining?

So in a way I think this show was also a way for them to say "Fuck it, let's put everything on the table."

Thanfully people are still willfully blind, and jikook have very specific circumstances where everything they do that are really questionable could always be mistaken for something else. They could always dismiss it if asked.

They're walking a very fine line between what's acceptable and outright too much.

I think it's a talent? And luck, because of their societal situation, because of the group's dynamic, because they don't really explain stuff to us anyway, we see things, and make our own conclusions. So anything goes.

In a way I think it was some sort of liberation for them. They liberated themselves from the constraints of a heavy schedule that prevented them so see each other, they freed themselves from the burden of dread about military, they showed everything they'd got about their relationship in a "Fuck everything" moment, and they also set a first stone for the future.

More AYS? Other trips together, reaffirming their commitment to each other (as if spending 18 month in military wasn't enough already lmao).

It was their way to say "This is it. This is who we are. This is what we are to each other. This is how we are happy. We want to be with each other, now and later, and until we are 50 btw, you know everything now. I will go and come back, and my mind will not change, expect more of this, more of us, because it's our reality. Now you know. Do you get it? If you don't, it's ok. If you do, we love you."

That's my feeling anon. And I could be waaay off, but that's what I felt watching this show.

I'm tremendously grateful for all of it.

Like all of us, I deeply care about those two men, I love them unconditionally, I only want to see them happy. It is my greatest joy.

But to think they made a gift such as this show to us, honestly, it touches my heart in deep ways.

Usually I feel it's our job to love them, but this time, more than other times, I truly felt their love for us.

And I think it's quite beautiful.

Ahhh the way I don't regret being a jikooker.

We always get the best piece of the cake! Isn't it lovely? :D

This show will remain the standard for me now. Imagine going back to like 2019, only seeing jikook in a 20 second clip from concerts? Hell no.

They truly opened a door with this show that I feel they won't be closing anymore (bcs they won't want to), and I'm here for it.

Those next month until 2025 might feel long. I will maybe keep making edits if I have inspiration and now I'm dabbling a little into writing, so I hope time goes by fast.

Thankfully we have 8 episodes to re-watch in the winter whenever we feel sad 💔 I will treasure it too 🥺

To many more happy moments to come 🥂

Let's be patient 😌

Thank you anon and take good care 💜 sending you hugs 🫂

[imtrashraccoon]

Here it is...the climax! I think this chapter is actually the longest one so far as well. Got a few bonus chapters left that I'm really looking forward to writing though.

@owl-bones

First Day, Previous Day, & Next Day.

Bad Sansuary: Nightmare - Shield

Word Count: 2,964

It happened suddenly as these things do.

One moment, you were in the middle of making lunch and the next, the lights flickered before going out entirely. You stopped what you were doing and checked a few other light switches just to come to the conclusion that the power was out. Fine, you could handle this.

It was weird that it had happened so suddenly though. The weather was supposed to be perfect today, so maybe it was a freak accident? You guessed someone could've knocked over a hydro pole or a transformer could've blown up.

Then you became aware of the building shaking. You actually lost your balance and several dishes you had left on the table fell, shattering on the floor. Not wanting to have a wall collapse or have glass explode in your face, you crawled into the hallway and huddled against the archway. That was what you were supposed to do in the event of an earthquake, right? Or was it to get in the bathtub with something sturdy on top of you?

The tremors seemed to stop after a couple of minutes and your building seemed to be in one piece, but now there was another problem. You could hear sirens and what sounded like a security alarm going off. There was another sound though, one that filled you with an overwhelming feeling of terror.

A distant but steady roar.

You staggered to your feet and practically yanked your front door off its hinges, desperately hoping you were wrong.

The world outside was nothing like what it should've been. Many hydro poles were down, leaving the power lines dangling dangerously near the ground and you could see large plumes of smoke rising into the air from surrounding neighborhoods.

A couple of your neighbors apparently had the same idea as you and had congregated on the outside walkway as they tried to figure out what was wrong. You could hear murmurings of the phone lines being out, someone's pipes apparently bursting from the initial quakes, and even rumours of a gas leak.

The sky had been torn in twain, like someone had ripped a piece of paper in half. The wind was whipping your hair around and you could see many small objects being sucked up into the black void that was now the atmosphere.

Nothing came back.

You'd been through this before.

Last time you'd tried to flee the city or at least get somewhere safe. With how poorly that had gone, you weren't about to repeat the scenario and die for real this time.

What could you do when the world was coming to an end?

Nothing.

There was literally nothing you could do.

Emergency services were likely swamped as they undoubtedly tried to deal with this disaster. If the phone lines were truly down, you couldn't call anyone to find out if they were okay or if they needed help, not that you had anyone to call anyways save for people that generally disliked you. Since the outside was so dangerous, you basically had no choice but to shelter in place.

So that is what you did. Call it giving up if you wanted, but you weren't about to spend your last living moments running for your life, only to die horribly. If you were going to die, you were going to be as comfortable as was feasibly possible.

You started for your bedroom but hesitated to actually enter. Changing trajectory, you retrieved your favorite romance novel from where you'd previously left it in the living room. It was too dark and you were too frazzled to even think about reading right now, but there was another reason.

In the middle of its pages, you'd been pressing a few of the daisies, forget-me-nots, and yellow tulips Axe had brought you for your birthday months ago. You hadn't seen him for over a week and while you missed him terribly, this was the only thing you had to remind yourself of the good times you'd spent together.

You also pulled your chess set from the game cupboard. While it wasn't something Dust had given you, the fun you'd had playing with him had been enough to give the game a new sort of sentimentality. You frankly missed his random night visits and snarky sense of humor as it wasn't a void either of the others really filled.

With your valuables in hand, you finally returned to your bedroom and closed the door behind yourself to hopefully mitigate the sounds of chaos outside. Although it didn't help much and the roaring of the Void had only seemed to have grown louder.

Depositing the book and game on your bed, you pulled out your favorite pair of leggings, the very ones Killer had somehow gotten mended for you, from their place in the drawer. You slipped them on and your fingers lightly brushed over the knees and the embroidered vines with red hearts. While he had been a metaphorical thorn in your side, you had to admit that it had been fun getting to know him.

You wrapped yourself up in your blankets and clutched the book with the flowers and the chess set to your chest. You'd been trying your best to remain calm but now you could feel tears pooling at the corners of your eyes, threatening to breach the dam and pour down your cheeks. Your breath was coming in ragged gasps and you could feel your body trembling.

You didn't want to die.

You'd learned so many new things and discovered a side to yourself that you'd never dreamed possible. A bolder, more confident side that wouldn't let people walk all over you anymore. Well, you might still have to work on that, but you'd been getting better!

You had met a band of misfits, and while they'd definitely be the type of people your parents wouldn't approve of, they had quickly become close friends. You didn't have to ask, nor did you want to, but you knew in your soul that all of them would do anything to keep you safe, even kill without question. You weren't entirely sure about Nightmare yet but you knew that he wouldn't sit by if you were in danger.

So where was he now?

You'd promised to consider his deal but you'd never been able to give him your answer. Not for a lack of trying mind you but it wasn't something you could take lightly.

What he offered, was for you to drop everything and everyone you had ever known to go with him, to a completely new environment that was unlike anything you'd experienced before. You didn't know much about the multiverse or world codes, but you were vaguely familiar with the multiverse theory.

The main issue you had with his deal was that you didn't know what would happen to you if you accepted it. The multiverse was apparently massive and home to countless people, some of which could actually hop between worlds like Nightmare and his boys. It was boggling to think about but seemed completely normal to them. A boring person like you had no place in a world like that.

You couldn't help but sob as the apartment complex trembled from another series of tremors. You were so scared. You didn't want to die!

In your despair, you let out an anguished scream for the one person who could possibly come find you. "Nightmare!"

But nobody ca-

The room temperature seemed to grow chilly and the shadows swirled before coalescing into the familiar shape of the god of negativity himself. His cyan eyelight seemed to be burning brighter than you'd ever seen it and his tentacles practically writhed with pent up adrenaline. He only needed to glance at your trembling form to understand what was going on and he rapidly moved to the edge of your bed.

"Are you hurt?" he asked in a low voice.

"No," you croaked, "I'm just so glad to see you..."

He exhaled slowly through his teeth and seemed to focus on a specific spot on the ceiling. "You've probably already figured it out, but your world is in the middle of collapsing. I estimate you maybe have a few minutes before everything disappears and is reclaimed by the Void."

His gaze snapped to your own and seemed to pierce into your very soul before he spoke again. "Will you accept the deal and come with me?"

You opened your mouth to respond when a rumbling crash cut you off. In a fraction of a second, several things happened. Nightmare's tentacles snatched you up. You were coated in fine layer of drywall dust. Nightmare used his tentacles to shield you from the roof caving in.

The dust caused you to cough violently when you accidentally breathed it in and when you managed to recover, you found yourself clinging to his body. He was clutching you against his ribcage and continuing to shield you with both himself and his tentacles.

The roof was gone and the sky was now completely black. The sheer force of the wind threatened to blow you away and you could barely hear yourself think above the roaring of the black.

Nightmare's gaze flicked to the darkness above and then back to you. He appeared completely unharmed and only slightly dusty from the rubble, but the ooze that covered his body seemed to be rapidly absorbing it.

"Yes! I accept! Nightmare, please...take me away from here..." you shouted above the clamor of destruction.

He didn't even hesitate.

His tendrils wrapped around your body, basically binding you against him. You just managed to close your eyes before the roar of the Void was replaced with dead silence. The wind had completely ceased blowing too and a numb feeling began to spread over your body.

The numbness persisted for far longer than any teleport had before and yet you didn't notice. In fact, the only thing you could feel besides Nightmare's hold on your body, was the way the box for your chess set and the edges of your book was cutting into your arms.

You felt his hold loosen and the temperature equalize out into a more comfortable one. You could hear laughter from somewhere nearby and the crackling of a fireplace.

"hey, the boss is back!" Killer's unmistakable tenor voice rang out. "what happened for you to leave so suddenly...?"

You quietly glanced over in the direction of his voice. In one of the few times you'd ever seen him speechless, Killer had an odd look on his skull as he seemed to take in your distraught appearance.

Moments later though, he tilted his skull and flashed his trademark smirk at you. "hey angel~ long time no see..." he purred.

Nightmare made a tisk sound and leveled him with a stern frown. "She's slipping into shock. Tell the others she'll be staying and to get things ready." His tone of voice took on a much more commanding tone that you'd never heard before as he spoke.

It was quite effective though or at least you thought it was. Killer's permanent grin widened slightly and he gave a curt nod.

"sure thing." Before turning away, he winked at you in a mildly suggestive way, but knowing him, he was only half serious about it. This guy could barely take things seriously even in a situation as dire as this one it seemed.

Nightmare began carrying off into another part of the...castle? Everything seemed to be made of gray stone and the ceilings were vaulted, but you couldn't be sure. It would certainly suit someone as regal and dramatic as him though.

He'd mentioned you were going into shock. Was that what you were feeling? Sure, your heart was still beating like crazy and your breathing seemed to be shallow, but you didn't think you were actually in danger. You did feel kinda cold, but in a numb sort of way, and maybe you were a bit lightheaded? It was too complicated to think about. You just wanted to go to sleep and wake up to discover that this had all been another bad dream...

You briefly heard Killer relay the news to the others but he didn't get to finish his sentence before they apparently decided to see for themselves.

Nightmare stopped walking and half turned to look behind him. You could feel his grip tighten around your body in an almost possessive way. "No, you'll only overwhelm her," he nearly growled.

You could see Axe and Dust standing barely six feet away, having likely teleported as soon as they found out you were here.

Axe's deep red eyelight had shrunk down significantly to the size of a dime and other than his stiff posture, he was giving off serious kicked puppy vibes. He went to take a step forward, only for Dust to catch his arm and stop him. Although you knew if Axe was truly motivated to get to you, Dust wouldn't have been able to hold him back like that.

The giant of a skeleton clenched his fists and made a quiet sound of frustration. "you'll take good care of her, right?" he asked Nightmare in a low tone that not so subtly sounded like a threat.

"Of course, you can spend time with her all you want once she's calmed down."

Axe let out a heavy sigh and nodded. Turning his attention to you, his gaze softened significantly although his smile was rather tight. "i'll make ya somethin' nice if ya feel like eatin' later, lil' chip," he murmured.

Dust had been silent throughout the whole interaction, although he was practically searing a hole through your head with how intensely he was staring at you. He hadn't even broken eye contact to stop Axe from upsetting Nightmare. You couldn't read what he was thinking at all which was pretty concerning.

He remained in place, just staring at you, as Axe turned to leave. Nightmare let out a low warning growl which seemed to get his attention at least.

Dust tugged his hood tighter over his skull and turned to leave, although not without making a comment of his own. "...you'll be okay, bean." He disappeared immediately afterwards to who knows where.

Nightmare sighed and continued onto his original goal. He ended up bringing you into a frankly extravagant bedroom and only then did he let go of you. He set you on the bed, wrapped you in one of the softest blankets you'd ever felt, and even propped you up with pillows until you were comfortable. At some point, he set the things you'd managed to bring with you on the bedside table.

"This will be your room," he finally said. "You may decorate it as you see fit but do let me know if you need anything."

You weakly nodded.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and took one of your hands in his own, running his thumb along your knuckles. "There is one more thing I need to do, my dear."

He paused for a moment to let his words register. "You are still considered an incode and technically bound to your old world. For your safety, I need to sever the connection between your soul and the old code, which will classify you as an outcode. I would explain more, but I suspect you're not exactly in much of a state to process all of it."

When you frowned, he lightly stroked your cheek with his knuckles in an attempt to reassure you. "It's okay, I'll be as gentle as I can," he said softly. "Just relax and trust me."

Well, now you were certainly feeling the confusion that apparently came with shock, so it was a good thing he wasn't about to info dump on you. It didn't help with making you feel any less anxious though, as you had no idea what severing the connection meant or entailed.

"Okay... I trust you."

Nightmare nodded and moved his hand from your cheek to your chest while keeping hold of your hand with his other. He focused for a moment and you started to feel that familiar pressure before your soul floated from your chest.

It was still so beautiful.

"This might hurt a little," he hummed.

Before you even had the chance to protest, he grasped your soul, causing you to gasp at the suddenness. His cyan eyelight burned brighter for a second and he abruptly yanked your soul slightly away from you.

It hurt more than a little but even spraining your ankle hurt more than severing this had. While you could feel the stinging of tears that threatened to fall, you managed to blink them away.

Nightmare gently guided your soul back into your chest and smiled at you. "There now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" he murmured in that velvety tone you'd come to love.

He moved a few strands of hair behind your ear, his claws affectionately brushing against your skin as he did so. He briefly glanced towards the closed bedroom door before looking back at you.

"I think I'm going to keep you to myself for a bit, my dear. Just until I know you'll be okay after all that excitement." As he spoke, he laid down next to you and wrapped you up in his tendrils, pulling you against his ribcage.

You couldn't have protested even if you wanted to. It was probably a good thing he wasn't about to leave you alone as he seemed to have the power to completely calm you down whenever you were upset. You were going to sleep for a while though.

Maybe things would be better when you woke up.

[myjedimullet]

Fanfic Idea #111

Matt in place of Maria Castle

I both really like this idea and don't really like it? It came after probably reading too many Matt/Frank fics in too short a time lol. The timeline (and everything else) still needs work.

Matt and Frank met after Elektra when Matt was in college. Matt born Mary Matilda Murdock, Matilda was one of the few books her dad had read, and one of fewer that he remembered, and he hoped the name would help little Mary find her way in the world with her mind instead of her fists. Matt disliked it when she was little, but she found after her dad died that people were less likely to feel sorry for blind catholic orphan Matty than they were to feel sorry for Mary. Mary seemed to be just over the top enough to make people feel sorry enough for her to adopt her. And Matty didn't need anyone feeling sorry for her, especially people who didn't even know how to interact with a blind person, much less take care of a blind kid. After Fisk is put away and the streets seem to calming a bit, Frank comes home and Matty thinks she might finally be ready to try starting that family Frank wants. Pregnancy happens and Frank insists on reading this book to the baby, "You know it's not developed enough to be able to hear the story."

"There you go with 'it' again. You know that's our baby you're talking about, not some plant."

"Well, we don't exactly know its gender yet, now do we?"

"Sure we do. She's gonna be a smart, beautiful little baby girl, just like her mom."

Matt's getting to the point where she's making more calls to the police than going out and taking care of things herself, when one fateful day, they decide to go on a picnic. Matt lives, but she doesn't know Frank does and has to deal with everything, so doesn't really think to look into it more than just thinking it's her Murdock luck for thinking she could have nice things. Matt sometimes wonders if it's the name Mary, Matilda, or Murdock that gives her her bad luck. Sometimes she thinks it might be all three. Frank calls her Mary. It's the name she gives him, wanting to get away from the hardness of Matty after Elektra. He sometimes likes to call her his hail Mary. Matt tells him that makes no sense. He tells her must have said enough hail Marys at some point to end up with her. Matt's very quiet when Frank has her chained up to the rooftop. She had been wanting to tell him, but not like this. Then again, she hadn't exactly wanted to learn he was still alive by finding him about to shoot someone and trying to stop him only to get shot herself. "Jesus- I *shot* you-"

"Its okay Frank, you didn't know."

"Like hell it is, I shot you- since when were you running around dressed up like the devil anyways. Thought you were smarter than that." Frank knows about her abilities, at least enough anyways, for her to tell him about Stick and Elektra. She tends to not pay so much attention around Frank though, she feels safe with him. Safe enough to just focus on being together, rather than on everything else. This is why she doesn't figure out what's going down before it's too late during the picnic. Matt and Frank stay out of the headlines, at first Matt assumes it's because they were a smaller part of the whole thing, and the papers being kind enough to leave the grieving widow alone with her sorrow. That is until Frank comes back. They had gotten an apartment in a safer part of town when they found out she was pregnant. One with enough room for a nursery, but not too expensive as she wanted to keep her place for work, and other things. They hadn't really told all that many people about them, in spite of being married. The Nelsons knew, as they celebrated holidays with them, and Frank's marine buddies knew, but the two of them didn't really have any family. Karen knew Matt was married, but she hadn't met him, knew his name was Frank and he was in the military. (Maybe, not so certain about that one) No other house, Frank goes back to their (Matt's) apartment and finds her there. He starts going out as the punisher, but covers his face when around people who would live to identify him

Sorry bits are confusing, it's been a while since I wrote this, so I'm confused too, lol

[self-indulgent-paw-patrol]

Ask game for Chase?

The pupper ever!! Also two other people asked for Chase while I was already working on it XD I'm sorry it's taking me literally days to get them all done, I'm having trouble to think properly on what to say for some stuff in these

My first impression - I'm not tanking this. His car is blue and white, he's a cop and HIS NAME IS CHASE. HMMMM WHERE HAVE I SEEN THIS BEFORE, OH I WONDER--

My impression now - He's precious. No, really. A+ for effort in everything he does but he should learn to relax a little more, just a liiiiiiiittle more

Favorite thing about that character - He's always willing to try new things out of his comfort zone and he always gives it his best, plus his loyalty levels are off the charts

Least favorite thing - He's too much of a people pleaser Istg-- Chase, sweetheart, you're supposed to be a figure of authority XD And this will sound like a dumb thing to dislike but I dislike the fact he's a German Shepherd. I think it's too obvious a breed for police dogs and he doesn't LOOK like one at all for me. When I first saw him without his gear, I was like "Wait is he a Belgian Malinois??? Omg please yes that would be cool to not have a German Shepherd as a Police Dog for ONCE" but yeah my dreams were crushed quickly on my first Google Search on him

Favorite line/scene - It's not specifically the line, but mostly the scene: Have you EVER seen Chase refuse a job or go against Ryder???

I know he ended up changing his mind after that talk with Ryder, but IN THIS MOMENT, he stood his ground and said NO. It's even in his body language: His ears are slightly back, his expression is serious like "don't even try arguing with me on this", his tail isn't relaxed, his paw stomping on the floor to make his point. Notice his frown even deepens as the elevator door closes just before it goes down. This is SO IMPORTANT to me you have no idea, especially considering how much of a people pleaser Chase is and how he holds Ryder as the most important person in his life. We know Chase would do anything for Ryder. But at this exact moment? He was decided to NOT do something for Ryder. This is such a powerful, yet overlooked and underrated scene, as well as character development. It encapsulates perfectly how there's so much more to Chase than any of us knew so far.

Favorite interaction that character has with another - Mighty Movie Skase moment #2 (I think? I counted at least 4 big moments) when Chase goes to check on Skye when she was sulking on the back of the Aircraft Carrier. Her problems there are totally out of his league, he literally cannot relate to anything she's currently going or went through in the past- still he tries to show support the only way he can at the moment, by being there for her, by listening to her. He's a keeper, Skye, go for it XD

A character that I wish that character would interact with more - Marshall and Zuma. They used to play a lot before, but now...? I'm still at the 8th season and I'm seriously missing those fun and slice of life moments

Another character from another fandom that reminds me of that character - Leonardo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, specifically 2012 series

A headcanon about that character - I think Chase was one of those kind of puppies who just didn't know when to fucking STOP. 24/7 playful baby. Also a natural explorer, always sniffing everything, licking everything, maybe biting, touching, scratching, growling, barking at anything new for a while. Ever curious, always being the puppy to go ahead of the others, "exploring the waters to open the way and make sure it's safe for the others to come after him". On a second note, I've seen one too many people returning adopted puppies for this reason here where I live, because "they're a handful and I wasn't expecting this" 🤦🏽‍♀️

A song that reminds of that character - "Nothing Can Stop Me Now"

An unpopular opinion about that character - Idk why all the hate, even if you're ACAB, it's not like Chase even does a cop job at all XD Have you seen him arresting someone outside from movie verse? If anything, you'd WANT your cops to be like him LMAO

Favorite picture - Y'know how in the first movie Chase was in absolute awe when he saw his new car for the very first time? YEAH, like, he KNOWS Ryder designs and gets them crazy cool stuff, and it doesn't stop him from getting UTTERLY AMAZED every time. Tbh I had the same reaction as them all when I saw that sick af Mustang-looking police cruiser like HOLY SHIT YOU GET THE COOLEST TOYS-- AND YOU GET TO CATAPULT THEM DOWN THE HOT WHEELS RAMP AT TOP SPEED TOO??? Win for life.

[eri-pl]

on Elu Thingol

No, I'm not going (at least: I'm trying not to) engage more in the debate of Feanorians vs Sindar, because it has the levels of hostility I try to avoid.

Anyway, thanks to my husband, I think I finally got a coherent mental model of Thingol that explains all his decisions without assuming he's just stupid, and even gives him a character arc. Which is nice, because before I never could conceptualize him well. (long post under the cut)

It starts with Elu being one of the elven emissaries to Valinor, so this would eman he was open-minded, adventurous and had a good insight/vibe-check. Oh, and also he is friends with Finwë. Then he returns and falls in love with Melian, which confirms the concept of him as open-minded and not avoiding a crazy adventure (marrying a Maia).

Then they marry, he builds a beautiful kingdom, and, I think, gets complacent. And (for reasons that would make sense later) I think he gets a little sanctimonious, too. A literal divine being married him, that surely must mean he is morally spotless, right? Doriath is a mini-Valinor in a way, shielded and locked from any external influence. From any corruption, any evil, any mpurity.

I'm sure he (at this point, at elast) is very worshipful about the Valar and listens to Melian's counsuel with great fervor.

At some point, the Sindar meet the Petty Dwarves and start hunting them and later it turns out those are actual people... Hearing about this may be the first breaking point for Thingol. But that whole story semi-canon, I think?

Then everything shatters in a short time — Melian (surely) has some terrible premonitions, Feanorians come to him not willing to explain a lot, they say the Black Rider is back, he's called Morgoth now, and he killed Finwë and the Trees of Valinor, and all that. also, other Finwëans come and there is some terrible secret they aren't telling him—

And eventually Thingol learns that Feanor rebelled against the Valar and his sons (+ other Noldor) murdered Thingol's kinsmen, and since Feanor has turned his back on the Valar, he, and everyone who agrees with his agenda, is no longer welcome, no longer valid, no longer a kin of Finwë, they are blasphemers.

Galadriel and others are fine, they are Finwë's grandchildren, they are welcome, they are pure enough. But not Feanor and his kin, with their blasphemous oath,

(And don't get me wrong, it legit was blasphemous. But yes, I give to Thingol here the kind of general attitude which I really dislike, sorry, he'll get better. Also, he does have good qualities too )

And of course it must be the fault of Feanor, and likely of him making the Silmarils (who the Noldor say are holy, but who knows? capturing the Light sounds a little blasphemous) that Finwë died and Morgoth returned to Beleriand. It is a logical conclusion from Thingol's point of view.

Then Beren comes and he dares to ask for Luthien's hand, and how blasphemous is that, A filthy mortal wanting for a half-Maia, what's next, he's try to capture a Silmaril? hmmm, that's an idea (since I promised Luthien to not kill him *directly*), and my crazy rebelious daughter will be kept safe.

...

(I think this is his lowest point in the "sanctimonious hypocrite" thing. It is influenced by strong emotions, too. also, one of two low points in general, the other being influenced by a curse.)

And then he realizes, gradually that a) he ignored his Maia wife's advice on that, b) it's going to end badly, c) he's not as great and faultless as he thought. Also, at some point someone points to Thingol the irony of him having married a Maia and him now objecting to Beren marrying Luthien. And he realizes how much he'd changed, he'd grown stiff and close-minded and that is not good.

(I suppose his relationship with Feanorians might have improved at this point, if C&C didn't do all the things with Luthien.)

Then Beren returns, Thingol has a change of heart, he realizes that Men have a beauty to them. He remembers his youth. He's beautiful again and, generally, I assume he's pretty cool at this point.

(And, yes, he keeps the Silmaril and doesn't try to contact the Feanorians and give it to them. Because he believes it belonged to the Valar more than to Feanor? Because in general medieval/Silm rights of ownership work differently than modern concept of ownership rights? Because Beren more or less died for the gem? Because it reminds him of his daughter? Because he wants to spite those who tried to assault her? Because he still has a bit of that moral superiority thing and thinks he deserves it? Because Melian says it is important and it will save the Beleriand at one point and they need to keep it? I suppose it was a mix of reasons.)

And then they're gone away from everybody and then he adopts Turin, and Turin— well he does what Turin does...

…and the thing with Dwarves. Oh, the thing with Dwarves.

I think it has to do with Nauglamir and Hurin(?) cursing it, and... i don't remember, but there was some cursing there in general. It does make Thingol more impulsive and greedy.

The house is empty, his daughter gone, adopted son ran away and then died, his marriage is great but it has lasted for so long already and Thingol needs something new… to be even more beautiful, to make his kingdom even more beautiful, to erase the sorrows… he's going to wear the Silmaril, common sense (and Dwarves) be damned.

And so he died.

[feathers-second-face]

Okay theory time!

Not a big one, but I might redo my Lilith theory later (I think my last one has holes). This one's about Susan. 😱

Spoilers

So we all know Rosie and Alastor both dislike Susan, but I wanted to tell you why I think that is.

But first, I'll have to go over what I think I know about the Cannibal Colony. I think they work sort of like a giant family. They all take care of each other and they probably aren't too fond of outsiders, likely killing and eating them if they get too close. They may personally dislike someone in the colony but if an outsider slaps them, they will obliterate them in an instant.

That being said, I think we all know Alastor didn't spawn into hell a part of their colony, and he probably met and befriended Rosie rather quickly after his appearance. Now I think he ended up staying with her during his early days in hell, or at least frequently visited. Everyone would know that he's Rosie's friend so they'd leave him alone, but that likely wouldn't spare him from judgment, and it's beyond likely that Susan gave him a hard time during his early days there.

We see that no one attacks Charlie when Alastor brings her there, and that's probably because they see that she's with him and therefore know not to bother her. However, Susan not only immediately begins mouthing off Charlie three seconds into her stage, but also threatens her ("Leave before I eat those big ass eyes of your!"). We also see that she likely doesn't have this attitude with her own people, as she doesn't say anything bad to or about Rosie (she even yells to bring her back the second she's off stage).

Once you win them over, you're safe with them, as shown in 'Ready For This', but all of this together makes me think that during his early days, Alastor would've had quite a bit of trouble with Susan (and probably a few others) given he was an outsider. Rosie doesn't seem to have a personal grudge against Susan (she never directly insulted her, just agreed with Alastor when he called her a bitch), and really only describes her as 'she's tough' in reference to getting her to agree. She probably hasn't had any bad experiences personally with her, but she's seen how she acts towards people outside the colony and knows her behavior very well.

Long story short, Susan mean and Alastor don't like it.

Maybe I'm putting way too much effort into this oldady but you know what? If I wanna write college essays whenever I have the tiniest idea, I'm gonna do that. Anyways, have a good day! :DD

Obligated bestie pic.