#I wanted to go more into detail with other forms of aggressive affection

[atzloverr]

Chapter 8 - selfish desire

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warning! includes yandere themes, violence, abuse, kidnapping, (see masterlist for more)

“I know she’s not.”

Yeosang took a deep breath, listening attentively to his roommate’s hoarse voice.

“I know she’s not dead.”

He glanced at Wooyoung’s eyes which stared into nothingness. His wide stare made the dark bags under his eyes even more apparent. Yeosang had almost given up on trying to get his roommate to eat for the past few days, seeing as he only got more aggressive for every day that passed. Keyword, almost.

He could barely admit that his friend was in denial, because Yeosang himself didn’t want to realize that you were actually dead. The difference was that Yeosang had started to get used to the thought.

He wanted Wooyoung to be right about you. He wanted you to still be alive somewhere. But he couldn’t let himself dream like that, not even for a second. He already knew what effects it would have.

“She would never give up on me. She would never just admit that I…” Wooyoung stopped mid sentence, his breath hitching in his throat.

The two sat in silence for minutes, the only audible sounds being an occasional sniffle from either of them.

This might’ve been the first time they had been able to hold a conversation without Wooyoung breaking down in sobs, but Yeosang honestly preferred that. This eerie silence didn’t do anything to soothe his nerves.

“Woo—“

“Don’t say it!” Wooyoung shouted, making his roommate almost jump in a start. “Don’t tell me that I need to let it go, or that this isn’t good for me. I can’t—“ Wooyoung’s breath got caught in his throat, tears starting to flow from his eyes once again.


He didn’t get to finish his sentence before getting embraced by Yeosang, not a single word leaving either of their mouths until they finally fell asleep for the night, still holding onto each other.

Hours later, Yeosang could feel himself slowly drifting awake, his heavy eyelids reluctantly opening.

“Yeosang-ah,” Wooyoung shook him. Yeosang sat up quickly at the sudden commotion. “Remember that friend of yours, the one who’s a cop now?”

Yeosang blinked slowly, processing the question in his dazed state. He only replied with a nod. “I have an idea.”

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Jongho couldn’t hide the shock on his face when his old friend barged into his office one day. After years of not talking, here he was, probably looking the least tidied up anyone had ever seen him.

“Hey, been a while hasn’t it,” Yeosang said, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. Jongho nodded slowly, an amused laugh leaving his lips, formed in a small smirk.

When Yeosang explained the reason for his visit, Jongho patiently listened, as his confusion only grew.

“Why are you so interested anyway? Had a crush on the girl or something?”

Yeosang nearly choked at Jongho’s blunt approach, but soon composed himself.

“No… In fact, she’s a… dear friend to me,” Yeosang said, a far away look in his eyes. Although you were Wooyoung’s friend first and foremost, Yeosang had built a fondness of you over the past years. You had become his friend too, and of course, the news of your death had affected his life as well.

Seeing Wooyoung in the state he was in didn’t exactly help with Yeosang’s constant anxiety right now. As much as he wanted to be the perfect friend for Wooyoung and be there for him in these hard times, this had taken a toll on Yeosang’s own mental health.

“Okay… Here’s her file. This is everything we’ve got so far. You’re lucky you’ve got a contact here. This is confidential,” Jongho said, pointing the finger on the table at each syllable of the last word.

Yeosang slowly took your file and opened it up. There was basic information about you and details about the day you had last been seen. Yeosang eyed it further, seeing that there were barely any details about what could’ve happened, or how they even found you in that lake.

“Have the police working on this even tried to solve this?” Yeosang asked, huffing in annoyance. “What do you mean they don’t know how long she was in the lake!? Isn’t there a way to find that out?” Yeosang raged. Jongho’s lips pressed into a thin line.

“Trust me, if I was allowed to interfere, I would,” Jongho sighed. Yeosang closed the file, not even wanting to look at the pictures of your deceased body that were shown in the end.

“Now, could you show me the file of Jeong Yunho?” Yeosang asked, tone serious, looking straight into Jongho’s wide eyes.

Since this was the only thing on Wooyoung’s mind, he had made all types of bizarre connections to other things, trying to make sense of what happened. As much as Yeosang didn’t even want to think it, he had to admit your two cases were very alike, also having happened around the same time, only two weeks in between each other.

“Know the guy?” Jongho asked, searching on his computer. Yeosang looked around the room. “Well, not exactly, but…” Jongho quirked a brow at his odd behavior. “Whatever, I’ll explain it to you once we get the file okay?”

Jongho stood up to go and fetch it, just humming in agreement. He had to admit he would’ve preferred a phone call or text message before getting a sudden visit from his old friend, but what to do…

When Jongho slammed the case file on the table, Yeosang wasted no time in opening it, letting his eyes take in everything. He placed Yunho’s file next to yours, silently comparing the two.

“Look here,” Yeosang alerted the younger male. “Don’t you find this odd? Two victims, going to the same university, get abducted almost exactly two weeks in between each other, and both of them later get found dead. This can’t be a coincidence…” Yeosang ran a hand through his hair. Jongho silently studied Yeosang’s troubled expression.

“I do admit the person responsible probably has some sort of connection to both of them, but I’m not sure if—“

“Do we know that they’re dead?” Jongho’s jaw dropped slightly in shock. “Yes. They have been declared dead by the department, they—“, “Do we know? Have you seen the bodies?”

Jongho coughed slightly at the questions. “Well, no, but I’m not allowed to interfere. It’s not my case to work on.”

Yeosang closed the files, meeting Jongho’s gaze with a fierce expression. “So, who works on it? Have they made any progress with finding the killer?”

“Yeosang, we don’t even know if it’s the same killer, this could just be two completely unrelated events that only cause suspicion in you because you cared about the girl.”

Yeosang’s unforgiving eyes didn’t waver. It made Jongho squirm in his spot.

“Do you really think that’s the way it is?” Yeosang asked, eyebrows furrowing slightly. Jongho sighed deeply. “My opinion on this isn’t necessary, it’s—“

“Tell me, Jongho.”

A silence filled the small office, Jongho continuing to fidget with his sleeves uncomfortably. Another deep sigh was heard from Jongho before he sat down. Yeosang almost made a gesture in happiness. Finally, he had given in.

“Of course I think they’re related. I think almost everyone in the station does. Well, everyone except the ones who are working on it,” Jongho poured out, a huff of frustration leaving his mouth. Yeosang blinked.

“Who are the ones working on it?” Yeosang asked, eyes still plastered on the officer in front of him. “Officer Choi and Lee. They often work together, despite their record of putting cases down when they’re far from solved,” Jongho looked away.

“Full names please.”

“Choi Sangcheol and Lee Mansik,” Jongho said, no longer hesitant to reveal information. Yeosang quickly noted the two names on his phone.

“Thank you for this, Jongho. I don’t think you understand what this means to us,” Yeosang confessed, giving his friend a smile the officer had learned to miss over the years. “Us?” Jongho questioned.

“Remember Wooyoung?” Jongho’s eyes widened at the name, memories of their high school days coming back. “He’s Y/n’s best friend. They’ve known each other for years…”

Jongho gasped slightly and nodded, understanding the situation. “This won’t be our last time speaking, we should meet sometimes, well, outside of your office,” Yeosang giggled. He gained a smile from the officer, before finally waving goodbye.

Yeosang immediately picked up the phone in his pocket, clicking the number one contact on his list. He didn’t even hear a beep before Wooyoung’s voice was heard.

“Choi Sangcheol and Lee Mansik. They’re the officers working on the case.”

Wooyoung was quiet into the phone for a moment.

“Well, looks like we’ve got some digging to do.”

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Hongjoong’s firm hands laid themselves on Seonghwa’s small waist, the small fingers gently digging themselves into the back of his lover. Hongjoong’s eyes were closed, and he couldn’t help but smile when Seonghwa’s slender fingers caressed his neck.

Pulling the man closer, Hongjoong started slowly dancing to the jazzy tune playing from the record player. Seonghwa’s deep voice hummed the song, having memorized it from how often Hongjoong would play it.

“Your voice is so beautiful, my love,” Hongjoong whispered. “Only for me.”

The two continued their slow dancing in the large living room, their hands roaming each other’s bodies more desperately for every second that passed, the slightly seductive mood getting further escalated by the sound of the piano getting gently played in the beautiful music playing.

Your eyes fluttered open, and your head immediately whipped around in panic as you took in the unfamiliar room you found yourself in. Like every time you had woken up in this place, your breath soon quickened, your heartbeat rising as your confusion grew.

Sitting up, you noticed to your surprise that you were not held back by any restraints.


The room was quite small, and had a cozy atmosphere. Bookshelves surrounded the room, a small window with all kinds of complicated locks facing the dark forrest being the only light source expect for the small light on the bedside table. You gazed out the window when you stood up, not wanting to believe that you were in fact surrounded by the deepest forrest you had ever seen, not any other dorm of civilization in sight.

You tip-toed around the room, examining it further, when you suddenly stopped. Music. Music was playing from the bottom floor. You recognized the song. It was a from a jazz vinyl your parents always used to play to you when you were a child.

Your hand rose to your opened mouth, a single tear trickling down your cheek at the familiar sound. You would’ve never found it peculiar that anyone else played this specific song, as it was pretty popular, but with what you had learned about Hongjoong and his stalking tactics so far, you felt goosebumps creeping up your neck.

You heard the sound of someone humming the melody, followed by a few words being exchanged.

Envisioning the living room below you, you were reminded by the events of the night before. You were still wearing that same outfit Hongjoong had picked out for you.

You could practically hear your own screams as you recalled the memory, more tears now exiting your swollen eyes as the song continued to play downstairs.

You quickly wiped your tears away, before walking towards the almost closed door. You made sure to open it as slowly as you could, not wanting to risk making any noise. A creak was heard and you immediately stopped and listened for footsteps, voices, anything. Nothing was heard.

Taking a deep breath through your mouth, you continued to open the door. You wanted to jump in joy when it decided to be silent when you opened it just enough for you to seep through the space.

“My angel,” you heard. You could easily identify it as Hongjoong’s voice. You could tell who it was directed to, having only heard him use that tone with one person before. Seonghwa.

You stood close to the wall before slowly itching closer to the stairs. You tried to properly remember the layout of the house, after only seeing it once, briefly. You knew the stairs led to the living room, meaning that if Hongjoong was there, you were going to be caught if you went down.

You furrowed your eyebrows. There were three other doors on this floor. One seeming to lead to a bathroom, while the others remained unknown. The window in the room you woke up in seemed to have some sort of system, too complicated for you to figure out before getting caught. Surely, not all windows were like that, right?


You slowly walked back into the corridor, heading towards the first room that was not the one you were just in. You tried to open it just as, if not even more carefully as you had the other, still not opening it more than necessary, just enough for you to sneak inside.

Knowing that Seonghwa was downstairs, you figured it was no danger walking in to the other rooms. You had no idea where Yunho was, but you figured he would only help you find an escape if he were to meet you up here.

You snaked yourself inside the gap, almost holding your breath to not make any noise. Your eyes widened as you took in the large room. It was such a contrast to the other room you had been in, the huge bed not being an exception. Your eyes found the window, it too being extraordinary big.

Despite facing the other way, this window also only showed the woods. Where was this place, seriously?

You studied the frame, and noticed it had none of those complicated locks. You were almost shaking with excitement, but soon stopped to take a breath.

What was going to happen to Yunho once you left? Was he going to be tortured endlessly for your wrongdoings? You didn’t even want to think about it.

No. If you got out, you could contact the police and make sure they found him and arrested these two. Your shaky hands reached out to the window. You knew it was pretty high up, but looking down, you saw that it would probably be possible to climb your way down without falling. Well, probably.

You hadn’t noticed the music having stopped playing, too focused on your desperate need to get out, so you didn’t notice the silent footsteps behind you either, as you twisted the handle, getting ready to get yourself out.

Your breath caught in your throat when a large hand covered yours, twisting back the handle harshly, and twisting your wrist in the process, almost making you squeal from the pain. Another hand landed over your mouth, and you felt your body getting pulled into a large chest, arms not wavering despite your constant squirming.

“Shh, it’s me,” a voice whispered. Your head jolted back to find the source. Yunho.

Your eyes widened in confusion. “Please, it’ll just make things easier if you—“

“Well well,” another voice said, making both of your heads snap towards the two men standing in the doorway. Hongjoong stood in front of Seonghwa, whose eyes almost held a sad, betrayed expression. Hongjoong’s eyes however, only made you want to hide away in fear, close your eyes and flee from the reality of the situation. They were filled with pure rage, while his mouth still held an amused smile. As if he enjoyed being this angry.

Yunho’s hands immediately left your body before he took a long step away from you. You glanced at him and felt even more scared now that you had no one to lean on. Hongjoong’s gaze was only fixated on you.

“What an interesting little scene we’ve happened to walk in on, hm?” he said, clearly directing towards Seonghwa, even with his eyes plastered on you. You looked over to Yunho for any kind of ‘help’, but he looked down at the wooden floor instead, avoiding any sort of contact.

Hongjoong gently led Seonghwa into the room before harshly slamming the door behind him, locking it shortly after.

You felt your entire body shake, even though you were well clothed. Beside you, you heard Yunho’s quick breaths, not doing anything to calm you down.

Hongjoong took a few strides towards the two of you, Seonghwa still standing by the door. Now, your eyes had also found the floor, not daring to look anywhere else.

Hongjoong’s feet came into your field of view, and you almost closed your eyes to somewhat brace yourself for what was to come. You lowered your head further, but nothing came. Hongjoong soon walked over to the man standing next to you. Only now did you manage to look up, fearing for Yunho’s life almost, even though it felt as if he had just prevented you from getting yours back.

He had also elevated his gaze, and looked Hongjoong right in the eyes. You wondered how he even dared to.

“What did you do?”

“I prevented her from leaving.”

You felt your bottom lip shivering at their stark and unforgiving voices. In the corner of your eye you spotted Seonghwa, having now sat down on the large bed, silently watching the situation unfold.

“And why did you do that?”

A silence filled the room. You swallowed.

“Because she…”

Yunho’s voice started wavering slightly.

“Because she what?” Hongjoong asked, eyes wider than you had ever seen them before.

“Because she belongs here.”

You shook your head slightly at the words exiting Yunho’s mouth. The shuddering breath leaving your mouth was probably heard by everyone in the room, although no one looked your way.

“That’s right,” Hongjoong praised, his voice suddenly laced with a sort of patronizing and honeyed tone. His hands raised towards Yunho’s head, and you almost darted towards them, but then you noticed the hand’s intent.

Hongjoong’s fingers gently combed through Yunho’s dark locks, pulling it back to reveal his face. With both of his hands tangled in the taller man’s hair, he pulled his head down slightly before letting their lips collide.

You looked at the floor again, and saw the tear falling from your eye to the floor, leaving a small darkened pool on the wood.

“I’m so proud of you,” Hongjoong whispered, but everyone could hear it. “My good boy.”

A quiet sob left your mouth against your will, and even when you kept your eyes on the floor, you could see Hongjoong’s head snapping in your direction. Before you could even react, his hand met your head before slamming it against the wall.

The shock almost outweighed the pain, but after a few seconds, you could feel the aching pounding in your head after the impact.

His fingers found your hair before he pulled you away from the wall harshly, almost causing you to fall. You let out a loud sob at the pain, but soon, a hand was slapped over your mouth. Hongjoong pushed you against the wall once again, this time facing you with his hand over your mouth.

“You,” he said, his voice significantly deeper now. That tone he had just used towards Yunho was long gone. “You ungrateful little brat!”

He slammed you against the wall again, your head taking yet another hit. “Did you really think I left an unguarded and unlocked window so easily accessible to you?” he laughed heartily, while still staring at you with such anger.

“Did you really think that I would just let you escape!?” his tone only got louder and louder, making your legs almost give out from the fear itself.

His hand left your mouth, and you couldn’t even hold back the scream that left you, the pain in your head only growing by the second.

“Shut up!” he yelled, slapping you across the face. You had to admit, the pain from the slap was nothing compared to your head right now, but it was the force of it that made you lose your footing.

You fell to the floor, body slightly leaned against the wall. “What would you have done if you got out, hm? Do you think you would be able to find your way back home!?” he was full on screaming at this point.

“And when you got home, who would be waiting for you? hm? Your parents?” the volume in his voice decreased as he got closer to you, leaning down to talk to you with a low tone.

“They’re glad you’re gone, Y/n. The only person who’ll ever miss you is that pathetic friend of yours, Wooyoung.”

Your eyes widened at the name, your head perking up to meet Hongjoong’s gaze. “Oh! Did you think I didn’t know about your little friend? Your only friend? Oh, it’s okay,” he cooed, looking at your contorted face as you continued sobbing as quietly as you could. “He doesn’t miss you too much.”

In your enraged state, you gained a newfound energy, and raised your leg from where you lay to kick Hongjoong in the stomach. When you expected impact, he managed to dodge your little attack, and backed away from your frustrated self. You let out another weak scream at the pain in your head, your surroundings starting to become blurry.

“Seonghwa,” Hongjoong signaled, and without needing another word to be said, he walked over to Yunho, who had not moved an inch, and led him out of the room, later locking the door behind him. Of course, all the doors needed keys on both sides, this room being no exception.

Just as you felt yourself starting to doze off into unconsciousness, you got kicked in the stomach. You grunted loudly at the sudden pain.

“Oh no no,” Hongjoong said, his voice back to that sweetened, manipulative tone you hated. “I’m far from done with you.”

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Yunho looked down at his plate of food, not daring to ask any questions. Hongjoong had put on another jazz record he loved, as he happily ate the dinner him and Seonghwa had prepared together. Yunho had watched as they romantically cooked together, kissing each other and acting like a normal couple.

It had been five hours since Hongjoong locked you in the master bedroom.

Hongjoong seemed happier than ever, pinching Seonghwa’s cheek and blinking cutely at Yunho ever so often. While Hongjoong and Seonghwa sat next to each other on the square table, Yunho sat next to an empty spot. The one meant to be occupied by you.

Yunho didn’t know what to think. He didn’t dare think the worst.

Hongjoong had spent hours in that room with you, and ever since that door was locked, Yunho and Seonghwa had to hang out on the bottom floor. Hongjoong and Seonghwa’s bedroom had great isolation, so there was no way of knowing what was going on, but from the sight of Hongjoong’s reddened knuckles, it didn’t seem to be beautiful.

“Aren’t you going to eat, honey?” Seonghwa asked. Yunho looked up at him, offering a small smile. “Sorry I’m not that hungry…”

Seonghwa pouted slightly, and looked over at Hongjoong with a confused face when the shorter man started laughing.

He was continually eyed by the other two when he kept laughing loudly. “Oh Yunho,” he said.

Yunho blinked in confusion. “I can see right through you, y’know?” he laughed. Yunho’s eyes widened.

“I know you’re worried sick about her,” Hongjoong sang, smiling widely. Yunho looked away. “Nothing to be shy about, hey,” Hongjoong comforted, reaching over the table to take Yunho’s hand in his.

“Don’t worry about her. She had it coming,” Hongjoong giggled. Yunho couldn’t even muster a fake smile at the comment. Neither could Seonghwa.

“How long are you planning on?…” Yunho trailed off. Seonghwa gave him a sharp glance.

“You’re asking too many questions,” Seonghwa stated. Yunho looked down in shame. “I’m sorry.”

“Until she’s learned her lesson.”

Yunho looked up. He knew that was the worst answers Hongjoong could’ve provided, but the smile never left Hongjoong’s lips as he uttered those words.

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hope you guys enjoyed!!! It was about time I posted a new chapter and I have this newfound flow right now so I’m already halfway done with chapter 9!

[niredsw]

reddit has some good theories yk?

for example: (i was too lazy to take a ss soo i just copy-pasted it)

THEORY NOT MINE!

The phantoms are using memories, emotions, and desires to transform them into phantoms.

Aiden -we probably know that he was suicidal at some point -he almost died in the phantom world, but Ashlyn noticed something wrong with him (he woke up earlier unlike tyler, he was creepily smiling at ashlyn in the phantom world, and the font clearly tells us that something's wrong with him) -it seems that he is somewhat turning more into a phantom but he doesn't know it since he was confused why ashlyn was shaking so much -his situation seems to be a 50/50 (the insane side is him and the more insane is the phantom) so he's like half dead and half alive

Tyler -he became the responsible brother ever since their father's death -we know that he doesn't want to die and leave Tayler and his mom like his dad did -he was severely injured in the phantom world, which put him in a coma (but it was short)

Aiden and Tyler -we know that aiden is acting strange compared to tyler who went through worse (no pun intended) -the fact that the two of them are going through a different situation after their near death experience is really weird

The Phantom Side Taking Control -we see this happen (ep 43) with Logan when he tried to confront his bully -ashlyn found it strange at first (cause logan wasn't that aggressive) but what's more strange is when the rest of tha gang started beating the bullies up and ashlyn can notice the presence of the phantoms around -it's also evident that lights flicker when phantoms are around (in other eps too) -there was also a scene where ashlyn screamed at a phantom to let her go, but the phantom understood her and actually let her go (ep 34) -all of this simply implies that they are slowly turning into phantoms and this is what ashlyn realized when she saw aiden woke up (chap 61)

The Theory -I believe that the phantoms are using their memories, emotions, and desires -logan had enough of his bullies and the phantoms took advantage of the opportunity -it seems that the others were also aggressive because they hated the bullies for what they did to logan -it also explains why Aiden is so different from Tyler -Tyler was always responsible and he didn't want to die so he was put to rest (as in coma) -but aiden wanted to die so he was put in a 50/50 situation -and this situation makes it so easy for him to transform into a phantom

More evidences -we can actually see this happen with Taylor (ep 54) when the parents didn't believe them -it just happen to be a perfect timing when the lights flickered and the parents saw a glimpse of the phantom world, this caused them to believe their children (the lights around taylor were already flickering when she was going through a rampage even before tyler woke up) -another detail is when tyler woke up, the light was flickering and his heart monitor was beeping fast (idk if other forms of electricity are affected too or it's just the lights)

So basically it's like the phantoms are fulfilling wishes, right? Well, no. For me, it's more of a karma situation, you reap what you sow, or be careful what you wish for. It seems that the phantoms are using these memories, emotions, and desires to drive them more insane, aggressive, and uncontrollable just like phantoms.

What about you? What do you think?

[clydesavage-thefox147]

So, a while back I made a post explaining a lesser known part of Virgil and Patton’s beef as of late. [Read here]. I said I would follow it up in more detail as to why I believe they are at odds. Honestly, shocked to have heard other fanders lately speaking on this similar point, so I'll throw in my two cents to see if anyone else picks them up.

This point in particular being about the most recent reason why there's a disconnect between them. That reason being Patton’s new found friendship with Janus. To start off, I think this is a commendable leap for Patton. He went from viewing Janus as a moral obstacle and an opposer to his “good person” image that he pushed harshly onto Thomas. Then, once Janus had explained his motives or at least attempted to, Patton started having a change of heart. He could tell Janus wasn't as such an awful guy as he once thought. Janus actually had sincerity and even helped reassure Patton that making mistakes is okay just as long as you're obviously trying to do better. Patton then later even admitted that Janus wasn't exactly wrong in the matter, proving that he did have a point. This flip in view for Patton is a good one, for both him AND Janus. Patton, with Janus' philosophically nuanced views and his lawful neutral-bridging evil approach, could learn to understand the grays of morality and selfishness. While Janus, with Patton’s softer demeanor and strong empathy, could learn to embrace his own softer side and even take a chance on selflessness towards others. This could be the first step in balancing out Thomas' mind and finding common ground. Despite Thomas' weariness to fully trust Janus, he's willing to give him a chance. This is a positive swing in the right direction. 

However, to Virgil, it may not be. We all know Virgil has his own personal vendetta with Janus, as well as the Dark Sides as a group. He has pushed time and time again that Janus is not good to have around and he isn't to be trusted. Later in Dealing With Intrusive Thoughts, he had admitted to wanting to protect Thomas from the Dark Sides or “The Others” as he called them. This was why he was so persistent in trying to keep them at bay. So, on the surface, he wanted them gone for safety but..his personal views on them are underlining the tension. Particularly with Janus, he has this aggressive behavior whenever Janus is present, showing that his views on Janus aren't very good. This is understandable seeing how it seems that Janus triggers something within him. He constantly pushes the notion that Janus is an untrustworthy, conniving liar. That's how he views him. This is the last image of Janus that’s ingrained in his mind. So, seeing him in a softer light like Patton is now, isn't going to be easy for him.

It's funny that Virgil said that Patton struggles with issues involving the past(which is a valid point to bring up) but..he himself is struggling too. Since he's holding onto these grudges, he can't embrace any form of compromise. Though, he could be valid in these grudges. We have yet to know what really transpired between all of them but it might have been quite tragic or traumatic to say the least. So, it's understandable why Virgil wouldn't want them around. They must've hurt him in such a way that made him outright refuse to view them as anything more than what his warped mind chose to view them as now. That’s why in Perfect Gift, when Janus gave Patton a genuine gift, Virgil didn't know how to exactly respond. His expression gives one of two feelings. Either one of not being able to see Janus in this softer light and finding it off-putting or maybe one of jealousy over Patton being treated nicer than how he might've been treated by Janus. I mean hell, they both gave Patton the same gift albeit years apart. Maybe Virgil saw it as competition for Patton’s affection? Or maybe, could Virgil be thinking that Janus is trying to manipulate Patton as well?

To further add, Virgil could also be feeling a strong sense of failure. He said he wanted to protect Thomas and the other Cores from the Darks but he felt like he failed with them becoming progressively harder to combat. Now, seeing the embodiment of Morality being friends with the embodiment of Deceit could be rubbing salt in the wound. He feels betrayed by Patton here. He constantly pushed that Janus wasn't trustworthy but those warnings were ignored.

Think of it like this: You have a toxic partner/friend/bully in your life and you have routinely ranted about them with your peers. They all agree you should leave them or ignore them. You do and everything seems fine for a while. But, then you turn the corner one day just to see your so-called best friend hanging out with this person. How would you feel? You'd feel hurt wouldn't you? This is how Virgil is feeling. It's a valid feeling. Seeing someone you trusted being with someone you couldn't trust is heartbreaking. Patton was Virgil's first supporter when he first showed up and now seeing Patton trying to accept Janus, his sworn enemy and/or possible ‘abuser’ is painful. Sure, Virgil was pushing Patton away due to previous issues between them but Patton still cared about him and wanted to reconcile. However, it seems like that won't be happening any time soon. Now, by giving Janus a chance, Patton not only pushed Virgil further away but cut a rift between himself and Roman. Now, Roman and Virgil are best friends all because they have a mutual hatred for Janus. We know why Roman hates him, but for Virgil, we don't know the exact reason(s) yet. Hell, Roman and Virgil were calling Thomas a liar throughout FWSA all because he decided to give Janus a chance too. Both Roman and Virgil feel betrayed by Patton here. But, I think Patton is in his right to fire back at Virgil with “Well if I can learn to accept you, why can't I accept Janus?” Then Virgil could either fall silent and not know how to respond, blurt out something so revealing about them, or something subtle yet still telling. Virgil hates the new found friendship Patton and Janus have formed but Janus could be annoyed with Roman and Virgil’s new connection formed around the hatred for him. These four are going to really have a brawl going forward and it could end great or tragic depending..and seeing how things have been escalating... probably tragic

But in summary, Virgil feels betrayed and hurt by Patton's involvement with Janus after repeated attempts to steer him and the others away from the Darks. He's not going to take this lightly at all. However, Virgil's hypocrisy in not being able to move on from his past grudges is blinding him from the positives of the situation and possible reconciliation. But, what do you think, do you pick up the two cents I just threw down?

P.S: I will add more explanation to Pat and Virge’s issues in another installment later hopefully.

[yesimwriting]

hello! I was hoping for a Joel miller imagine where the reader gets hit on in a bar when she’s dating Joel and he sees this and confronts the guy and hits him because he’s aggressive and is all protective over the reader!

I love your writing and this would be amazing thank you xx

A/n first joel request,, slay

update: watched the new episode, bill and frank, still crying 

i feel like this gives post outbreak joel a little more bc of the physical protectiveness,, but i can't remember if there's much/any descriptions of like literal bars in the QZ,, i've only watched the show and i don't remember seeing details,, like ik there's alc/pills available, but actual bars??

idk it's possible i've missed it or forgot bc i have terrible memory

so enjoy my 'makeshift' bar concept as i try my best to deviate from canon as much as possible

not to shamelessly self promo,, but if you like this fic i have another joel fic with what i feel like is a more developed version of this dynamic (bc it’s longer and more internal monologue centered) here and i’m making a part 2 for it so if you like these vibes and want something similar, it’s there, it exists :) 

----

You're staring again, and trying your hardest to convince yourself that you're not. It's more than pointless, it's bordering on ridiculous.

Joel Miller is not some fleeting crush that’d fit somebody in grade school better than it’d fit you. Not anymore. You know what you are. You've had a talk. The kind of talk that you didn't think existed anymore in this world.

It wasn't exactly the rom-com 'what are we', but after a man Joel was dealing with got a little too friendly, it led to an argument. One you didn't fully understand, especially since Tess practically lived by his side.

Don't pretend, you might come off as all innocent, but you're too smart to be that naive. Men like that only have one intention.

And that had rightfully infuriated you, because after weeks of lingering touches that could be justified with a few words but never were and all the goddamn looks, he had no right to lecture you about another man's intentions with you. His intentions don't matter because that has no affect on me and who I am. Why the fuck does it even matter?

Why does it matter? It had been this subtle scoff of a response that made you take a step back. That made your back brush against the wall of his apartment. Because I don't want other men like that lookin' at you, let alone speaking to you.

The world stopped spinning on its axis and all the air preparing to leave your lungs was trapped with no where to go. Too many implications. 'Other men like that', the inclusion of himself in men that had those intentions. Maybe even more importantly, the implication that he’s some sort of exception.

 Even more deafening, your response: Well maybe I wouldn't speak to them if you didn't entertain ev--

The rest of your sentence, whatever it would have been, was lost to his mouth on yours. A snapping of tension that took its time fizzling down to something less consuming. Something that allowed you both to talk enough to make it clear that Joel was yours and you were his.

It wasn't a magical snapping into place like it might have been in a world without the outbreak. In some ways, it added a new layer of hesitance, and in other ways it propelled you forward. There are growing pains with anything new, and the whole relationship thing is definitely new to you. Especially in this world.

If only you could get past staring. Maybe after Joel secures the whiskey-bourbon-hybrid whatever they're passing as alcohol these days from a less than trustworthy trading contact, you'll get buzzed enough to graduate to handholding, or at the very least, you'll be able to do something besides sit there.

You're starting to feel insane. How is making out easier than the small things? Maybe the setting is more at fault here than you. In the outside world, any form of attachment could easily be twisted into weakness. It’s likely best that you keep some distance from Joel here, especially with the way other men keep looking over at the two of you. 

It’s not like you’re never awkward about the little things when confined safely between the walls of Joel’s place, that’s slowly but surely starting to feel like it’s at least partially yours, as well. But the way you get in public is something else entirely. It’s probably for the best. There are already too many eyes on you. 

Like the guy with red hair that glints oddly in the yellow light of the stranger’s building. He’s swaying slightly, a dark looking glass in his hand that he’s yet to release in the entire time you’ve been here. Every time one of his friends leaves him, his gaze returns to yours. 

Your skin crawls each time, but you keep your expression as stoic as possible. Joel’s getting better at trusting you, better at letting you serve as a sort of backup in the way that Tess usually would. You know that if it came down to it, the man that keeps looking at you wouldn’t be an actual issue, and you know Tess wouldn’t let it get to her. 

Ugh. Another thing you want to get yourself to stop doing. Comparison. It’s ugly and so insignificant. Tess didn’t exactly welcome you with open arms when you first showed up, but you get that. And eventually she warmed a little. You think she’d still trade you for a few ration cards, but she doesn’t hate you. She’s, at the very least, no longer skeptical of you. The other day you caught her hiding a smile over a joke you made.

But it’s hard not to compare. They were the closest thing either of them had to a support system for years before you showed up, and you know that they’ve been together casually. Always casual. Joel stressed that part, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy thing to know, especially now. 

You bury the thoughts the way you often do and turn your attention back to Joel. Back to staring. At least you’re consistent.

A man peaks out of the closet that seems to be the source of all the alcohol. He gestures vaguely in your direction. “That’s us,” Joel says, voice flat, “Wait here, I’ll be back.” 

Nodding as if to dismiss your own thoughts, you beg your mind to not create imaginary problems by reading into him telling you to stay. He’s walking a few feet away to get some boxes, it’s not the rejection insecurity is making it out to be. “I’ll hold down the fort, keep away trouble.” 

Joel blinks, turning his head in your direction briefly. The corner of his mouth turns up slightly, which is more of a reaction than he likes to give when in these kinds of places. He shifts his hand casually, his fingers brushing against yours briefly as he stands. The gesture is small but immediately dislodges the lump in your chest. 

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” It’s little more than a whisper, but there’s something hidden beneath the roughness of his tone. A pinch of lighthearted humor that’s only visible to you. 

It eases you even further. Joel turns away, moving behind the long table serving as a sort of bar counter. You tap your fingers against the surface without much thought, taking a second to absorb the easiness of it all. It’s rare that getting anything require so little. You don’t think anything’s ever come as easy as sitting on an uncomfortable bar stool. 

“So...” You blink, posture straightening as your eyes flit to the source of the sound. “Guard dog finally left you alone, princess?” 

Okay. Ew. Of course it’s the guy that’s been staring you down since you first sat down. You have to fight to not let your nose wrinkle. There’s no good in reacting, in escalating the situation. “Not a guard dog.” 

You hope that it’ll be enough to show that you’re not interested. “Aw, not feelin’ too friendly, baby.” Ew. You’re torn between cussing him out or actually punching him. Neither is an actual option. Places like these are a minefield and you refuse to be the one to set off a series of explosions. “Maybe you’ll cheer up after a drink, could get you one.” 

Turning your head, you take a breath before replying. “I have enough friends.” The stranger is clearly apart of a group. You don’t know if you could call them all friends, you’re not sure there’s enough casual trust in the world left for genuine friend groups. But they’re at least acquaintances, or work associates, or maybe they met here, equally inebriated enough to accept each other. It doesn’t matter, the point is they were chatting up a storm before he decided to wander over here and bother you. “And it looks like you do, too.” 

“Fine,” he relents too quickly, “Let’s not be friends, then.” His hand shoots forward, landing firmly--and disgustingly--on your waist. “Let’s be something else.” 

You’re unsure if you’re more repulsed by his hand on you or how terrible that line was. Your own hand clasps his, pushing and pulling in an attempt to create a space. He’s relentless, even when your nails start clawing at him. “If you want to keep your hand, I suggest getting off of me.” 

He blinks at your threat and then grins, flashing a smile that’s missing teeth. And then he laughs. A cold chuckle that makes its way beneath your skin. “God, I like them feisty.” 

Shoving your fingers under his, you manage to pry him off of you. Your foot moves, heels smashing into his toes as subtly as possible. “And I like them when they know how to fuck off.” 

His smile broadens, a cynical undertone to the look that makes it worse than before. “Oh, darling,” his hand finds your arm, tugging you forward, “You’re gonna pay for that.” 

“Pay for what?” Relief washes through you before you’ve even fully registered the familiar, even timber of Joel’s voice. He’s speaking in a lower tone than usual, an icy rage that you can feel in your bones and it’s not even directed at you. “Touching what’s not yours, ‘cause you’re the only one doing that.” 

There’s probably something you should say. A subtle warning to not go beyond scaring off the man that is clearly incapable of respecting a woman’s autonomy outside of another man’s claim over her. To not take it too far because it’s not worth it. Because you have it under control. Relatively.

Instead, you’re silent as the man releases you. He takes his time assessing Joel. The stranger is physically smaller and Joel does have that edge that only comes from someone that’s lost enough to be dangerous to anyone threatening what’s left. 

The man holds his hands up in defense, his glass sitting precariously between his thumb and pointer finger. “Easy, man.” You don’t even have to look at Joel to know that that was the wrong thing to say. “I didn’t mean any harm, if you set the price right, I’d be--” 

The rest of the proposition is taken care of by Joel’s fist connecting with the man’s jaw. You hear the audible crack before your mind can make the connection between Joel’s quick movement and the man’s silence. 

Holy shit. Joel didn’t just throw a punch, he threw a punch meant to shatter bone. He barely glances at you, and you’re too focused on the fact that Joel’s standing there, completely fine like he didn’t exert enough force to knock over a grown man. You blink as Joel extends the arm he’s been using to hold the small case. 

You’re too shocked to do more than take the box. The implication of why he’d hand you the box while still standing there doesn’t settle until Joel’s throwing another punch. Each hit is more committed than the last, even when the stranger’s knees give in and he collapses. 

Yeah, there’s definitely something you should say. Now. Like right now. You’d never ask him to hit anybody once, let alone do whatever he’s doing now. But words like ‘stop’ and ‘okay, think he gets it’ all jam themselves so far down your throat, you wouldn’t be able to pry them out with a wrench. 

All you can do is watch. It’s the kind of morbid fascination that reminds you of what it felt like to drive a little slower when passing a car wreck. You’re rooted in place by a realization that’s always been there at the back of your mind, an implied awareness. Joel’s more than just prone to violence when he needs to be. He’s angry. 

It should scare you. Terrify you. Your stillness should be some byproduct of that. But it’s not. Joe’s not a danger to you, he’s a danger for you. 

It’s a level of protectiveness you never thought you’d experience. Your chest feels warm. You hope you’re not messed up enough to consider this some grand display of love. However, there’s a vulnerability in the violence you can’t deny. You’re in a public place, the kind of morally questionable people that are far from above exploiting vulnerability. And yet here he is, announcing an undeniable attachment. 

Joel finishes, chest heaving and hands still curled into fists. The low light makes the thin layer of sweat on his skin seem like he’s practically glowing. His knuckles are already evidently split and swirling in distinct shades of blue and red. You’re mesmerized. 

“You can’t do that shit here.” 

That’s it. The only reprimand. In the world of before, he would have gotten the cops called on him. He would have gone to jail. 

Joel looks up, mumbles something under his breath that sounds suspiciously close to fuck off. He then looks at you, gestures with a tilt of his head for you to follow, and walks forward. 

You try not to think of what it must look like when you follow, quickening your steps to get closer to him after you’re out of focus. When you reach the door, Joel pulls it open with one hand and reaches for your fingers with the other. 

----

The way your eyebrows draw together when you’re examining an injury is different than the way they pull together for anything else. It’s too focused to be concerned and too concerned to be focused. 

Joel could stare at that expression for longer than he’d ever admit to. He could concentrate on that little line above your forehead and forget about everything else. “I’m fine,” he mutters, knowing that there’s no real point. You’ll do what you’re going to do when it comes to these kinds of things.

You nod absentmindedly, another small sign that you’re not as here as you normally odd. “It’d be awfully sad if you died of something as small as non-fungal infection.” 

He swallows, minding that look behind your eye. Things are still normal, you’ve yet to show any sign of rejection. He kept your fingers locked practically the entire way here and you let him. Never pulled away. 

It’s not like he needs to apologize. Joel did nothing wrong. He even gave you a minute to handle the situation, but the man was relentless. The kind of asshole that takes advantage of a world with little order to prey on women. Joel would do it again. And again. And again. There are no regrets there.

You’re not naive. You know what you signed up for when you accepted him. He’s never hid that from you. That doesn’t change the fact that you’ve always had a pension for forgiveness, a pinch of empathy the world hasn’t managed to snuff. 

“You’re dramatic, anyone ever tell you that?” 

A touch of a smile pulls on the corner of your mouth. “Hm. Think I’ve heard that once or twice from this one guy. Dark hair, dark eyes, cute, but not really my type.” 

Joel smiles, a partial laugh escaping him. “Really?” 

Turning over his hand with a gentleness he still finds difficult to understand, you press a quick kiss to his palm. You move back into your previous position so quickly it almost feels bashful. “I think you know the answer.” You flip his hand so that his knuckles face you again and go back to cleaning them. “You know, you didn’t have to...I wouldn’t have ever asked you to do that.” 

Joel can’t help his partial smile at that. Like there was ever any doubt. “I know,” he manages, “You’re not that.” 

It takes a second for you to understand what he’s implying. That you’re not like him. Yes, you get mad and you have nothing against putting people in their place, but you don’t like hurting people. Your lips part awkwardly, like you want to say he’s not that either, but you can’t. He just proved it to the both of you. 

“Nothing wrong with being like that,” you say, all too casual, “So don’t say it like it’s this big thing.” There is no end to the level of understanding you offer him. He doesn’t deserve it, he never will. “And you’re not like that in the way you mean. That asshole was, you’re not.” 

Joel lets out a low breath. Of course, even this you’d find a way to reframe. “You’d think so.” 

“I’m right.” It’s a quick reply, and the exact kind of response he expected. “You’re not a shitty person just because you beat up some guy or any of the reasons you’re thinking. New world, new morals. Accept it.” 

Your lips pull together into what’s almost a pout in your determination. Always so sure when it comes to him. “Mhm,” he breathes, watching your surprise at his compliancy. You know something’s coming, but not what. Your awareness does little to help you when Joel twists your hand in his pushes you back against the couch. “And what about you?” 

He hasn’t grabbed your hands yet, but you stay still, eyes trained on him. “I am a lot meaner than you think I am.” 

He tilts his head down to hide his amused expression. Your version of mean is fighting back. “You want to prove it?”

[bittersweetcreep]

How I See Yandere!Red Luna!Damian: Like Mother Like Son

The tldr

Damain Yandere Type

Possessive

Manipulation

Self-Indulgent

Impulsive

Stalker

Overly Jealous

Talia Yandere Type

Possessive

Manipulative

Sadistic

Puppet Master

I see Damian being like his mother, so let's talk about Talia first. I see her being the type needing to own and dominate her love Bruce, and becoming aggressive if her ownership is threatened. Will exercise her control and influence over him by using his secrets and weaknesses against him.

Will inflect suffering upon Bruce by bringing about emotional or physical harm to him. She derives pleasure from doing this. She's the type to let her darling escape only to dash his hopes by recapturing him. She's fascinated with the physical, mental, and emotional limitations of her Bruce and how far she can push those limitations. All in all, she just wants to watch her beloved squirm.

Most yanderes rush with their plans to obtain their darling, but she's a lot slower and is more methodological with her approach in obtaining her love. This involves overly complicated schemes that will eventually get her Bruce. Everything she does tends to have an overarching logic to it. She'll do anything for Bruce, She'll do anything to have him in the pawn of her hand.

Now Damian isn't the sadistic or puppet master type, but he is possessive and manipulative. He doesn't like Luna making independent decisions. He wants her dependent on him and will remove all of her safety nets to do so, but their relationship will appear normal to others around them and even Luna herself. He will use Luna's trust to create wedges between her and those that will get between them. Damian is always encouraging co-dependence in any form, to small things like him brushing her hair or getting groceries for her to things not so small like supporting her financially.

Damain gets jealous over everyone, even random strangers Luna will likely never see again. Like that college student working the register? Jealous. That nice elderly man recommending a pastry? Jealous. The librarian helping Luna find a book? Jealous. He even gets jealous over Batman and Nightwing, aka Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, two adult men.

He's selfish, satisfying his own desires and whims without restraint. Acting according to what he wants rather than thinking what's best for Luna or others. He wants Luna to pamper him and gets annoyed when not given praise. Has an "I come first" attitude towards Luna. Imagine having impulsive behavior mix with all of this selfish behavior. Acting in response to his emotions, not thinking or caring for those around him, or how his actions would affect others. He's prone to erratic mood changes, to possessiveness, jealousy, overreacting, kidnapping, and murder.

He likes to keep tabs on Luna. Like the places she would go, what she's doing, and who she's associating with. One way he keeps tabs on her is by following her around without her knowing. Another way is placing a mini microphone tracker on her person and once again without her knowing. He'll also place cameras around her "house" so he can observe her 24/7.

Damian wishes to know everything possible about Luna in the hopes he can catch her eye, like when she sees the cover of the book he's reading and what do you know she's read that book too! Or Damian what's to pick up art but doesn't know how to draw, what you'll teach me? Thanks! Another reason he wants to know what she likes is so he can shower her in gifts that she'll like. He would write all he's learned in a journal so he wouldn't forget a single detail.

[cer-rata]

Hi! I wanted to ask about your process making of Conrad. I been thinking on creating my own oc but I really don't know where to start and when I read "heart of Gotham" he feld like a pretty solid character and very interesting too.

So I'Il like to know, how did you come up with him? Where did you started end how did you follow with his story?

And if you have advice on building a character I would love to hear it, thank you! :D

This is so nice? I think the biggest anxiety around creating a OC-centric fic is that your baby just won't be as interesting as the canon characters, or worse is actively agonizing to witness, so it is nice to see that he stuck out to you positively.

This is a lovely question and I want to give you a thorough answer.

Spoilers? I guess? But only for things I've already published.

On Conrad:

When I'm writing fanfiction, OC or not, I like to look at the existing world building, find a detail that I think is really neat, and then put it somewhere it doesn't belong. I love Star Sapphires conceptually, if not always in execution, and wanted to play with what it means to be powered by love, and to do it differently than the classic obsessive, toxic, homicidal Sapphire that Carol became back in the day before it was a proper corps, and Geoff did his lantern lore tinkering. But I also didn't want to make it a purely heroic, morally unambiguous thing. All emotions are neutral and love can go in a lot of directions. I knew it had to stem from some kind of pain, partially because that is the standard set in canon, and also because I feel that heartbreak is love at its most intense and difficult to control, and that level of extreme emotion is needed to attract a ring.

So I started thinking about the kind of person that would be capable of feeling love that deeply and then I realized that the most emotionally volatile time in most people's lives is the teen years. Especially when it comes to affection. I'm not excluding my ace friends here either, even if it's not romantic or sexual in nature, teenagers tend to form really strong bonds, due in part to the aforementioned emotional volatility. So I knew they needed to be a teenager.

I wanted him to be a boy because I think the love corps being gender biased makes no sense, and playing with masculine stereotypes of what love means interested me. I am a guy, I like to write what I know. I also wanted to play with the idea of what it means to be a guy in the first place. Conrad's boyfriend, Darren was kind of created to be a more standard masculine ideal: Big, strong, uncomplicated, aggressive. I think on a level Conrad envied that and the safety that came with it. Conrad on the other hand was more complicated. There's a lot of softness there, an emotional rawness even before the tragedy, and he doesn't hide that. He's very openly gay, honest and clear about that, but he's also not pressed to present in a certain way. He liked that Darren protected him, and he didn't like conflict. None of that was from a place of confidence necessarily, more an aversion to being inauthentic. He doesn't think highly of himself, but he's also not interested in pretending he's anything else. It's not that he doesn't care what people think of him, but he just can't be anything else than what he is.

Frankly, there's also a tendency to write black boys and men as wildly binary. Either hyper masc and aggressive or toothless and palatable. I didn't want Conrad to be so clearly defined.

So I had the basic outline of his vibe by that point, I didn't have all the specifics but I knew that I needed to create an awful situation for this emotionally vulnerable kid. That's where Gotham came into play. Bad things happen to people every day in Gotham, and despite that, the regular folk keep living their lives. It quickly became important to me that Conrad represent a very average person in a very strange city, with average ambitions and circumstances. Being raised in a working class home was a given, because I didn't want to lean too far into the poverty narrative, but I did want to draw some distinction there, and contrast that kind of worldview to that of the better resourced batfamily. I wanted to make the change in his status quo even more jarring by not making him someone with any ambition to be a superhero, and make his more typical understanding of the world clear and consistent.

I also wanted to make him the child of immigrants, but swerve away from the stereotype of the inflexible, emotionally unavailable first generation parents. They're not perfect, they are distant in how they respond to his sexuality, but it was important that they were smart, fairly progressive, kind people who clearly cared about their son and his happiness. I don't think a parent has to be wildly abusive to cause pain for their kid, sometimes they really are trying their best, and the kid knows they’re loved, but they still leave some sore spots to work through. I tried to take that approach with my characterization of Bruce too, actually.

A lantern ring is an incredibly powerful weapon, and Gotham doesn't usually feature characters that powerful, it doesn't fit the genre, and I knew that. So I kept him from training properly for the story so he was always struggling to figure out what he was doing as a way to not have to start him out with lantern-tier threats. On the note of the ring, I also was specific about countering the classic hypersexualized depictions of Star Sapphires, not out of any moral sensibilities (though I do suppose I’d feel odd putting a sixteen year old in a laser speedo), but because I wanted him to have to build the confidence to be showy if he even wanted that. His insecurities about his body are pretty standard stuff for any teenager, and while not a full on complex, I wanted to be a little realistic about what he was willing to wear. I wanted to emphasize that love is not just about attraction and sexuality…though yes, for him specifically those are factors. But specifically not the only places he draws power from. I like to think they all have a central love that they tether to, and branch from there. Were I to make another Star Sapphire after him, I would most likely go in a completely different direction and focus on a different facet of love to be the core of their power.

Anyway, so then I had "Gay Black Teen Boy from Gotham who is Nice Enough but Not Terribly Interested in Sticking His Neck Out." I then picked a life altering tragedy that was in some ways intended to mirror Bruce's and spark a similarly intense desire, but smaller and more focused in scope.

This may be hard to believe considering I made a character who is literally powered by love, but at that point I had no intention of having Conrad date anyone. The story initially was much more dour and lonely and I didn't anticipate a happy ending. It was going to be bittersweet at best, but tragedy was more likely. I changed my mind a number of times actually, frankly I think the fact that the story logically flows is amazing, because I was writing to at least four different goals over the course of it.

Damian made the most sense to me as a point canon character because of the ages I was going with, and how hard his personality contrasted Conrad's. I put them in the same school and tied him to the tragedy for convenience, honestly. I thought it would be interesting for Damian to be drawn in through his guilt and inability to leave a problem unsolved, and because of that grow to have a civilian friend who was disarming enough to not trigger his defenses, and THEN becomes wildly dangerous, so he'd already accepted him into his sphere and then had to deal with it. I...wrote them with more chemistry than I'd planned to (yes, Damian is a blorbo, I'll admit it okay), and suddenly it became less about the lore implications and impact on Gotham's power balance and more about whether or not either of them were capable of love anymore. For a long time the answer was no, their ill-considered hookup was supposed to hurt both of them to the point of closing off to each other...but I got to a point in my own developing worldview where writing that the answer is "Not everyone gets to get better" became untenable. And I didn't think that kind of pessimism even made sense for the story I'd written, its tone, and how I characterized Conrad and Damian.

He definitely developed as I wrote him. I generally only knew what I was doing two to three chapters in advance, so there was always some uncertainty, but I had a pretty good idea what drove Conrad early on, and knowing what he cared about was helpful. Sometimes when people talk about magic systems, they talk about creating a power ceiling and sticking to it. I kind of wanted to show you exactly what Conrad could be willing to do very early on, so there was always this question about where his center actually was. I assume you're up to date, so you saw the kind of darkness he could reach come up a few times, but notably always stopped before stepping completely off the path and into something more sinister. He's nice, he's so nice, and I wanted to show how nice isn't enough to build a moral framework on, and he's still figuring out what his actually is. That's going to continue being a theme for him even after the fic actually.

Somewhere in there it turned into an AU I wanted to explore more, and then I started projecting Conrad's arc further out, and I did make a few choices in service of that.

Anyway, on general character creation:

I think the most important thing is that a reader kind of understands what a character is about. Not that they should be predictable, but they should feel consistent enough that when you are surprised, you can think back and go "Oooh...no actually yeah, I see how that happened." And that only really happens when you as the writer know the core of what they care about. Conrad wants to feel Safe, and he wants to feel Accepted. That's universal stuff, but it's important because that's where his ambitions end. He doesn't know what he's going to be doing after high school, he doesn't think that far ahead. Darren was his world because he just doesn't think past the present. Because his desires are so simple, so primal, and become so painful for him, then I feel it logically follows that he's willing to break through what he thinks are his boundaries in order to achieve them. You can even threaten either of them separately, but when both are in jeopardy at once, he's willing to do just about anything really. So I as the author always knew what his tipping points were, and could sprinkle them around to watch him trip into them and hurt himself. I want the reader to be able to see where a scene is going and go "Oh. Oh no he's about to do something he'll regret." So consistency of desire is important, because it colors everything else. Then you can make him sacrifice those desires for something he's come to realize is more important, and boom, you have a cathartic/agonizing growth point and can recontextualize from there.

Themes are important for long work, but I like to figure out who the person is first and then pick a theme that they'd struggle with figuring out. Wonder Woman wouldn't struggle with any of this, and as such wouldn't make sense to explore the question through. I'm sure you can come up with a theme first, but I like starting with characters and figuring out what their story is.

Gender, sex, race, orientation, health status: These are all important to know, even if the story isn't about any of those things specifically, because every one of those details imply different experiences and invoke different stereotypes. So don't agonize, but do think about WHY you've made the character this way. Are you leaning on stereotypes? Have you accidentally recreated an unfortunate trope? I am a black writer, but even so, when writing a black character I need to be aware of what ideas I'm perpetuating. I wrote Conrad's anger the way I did specifically because I wanted to avoid supporting the image of an "angry black man," which doesn't mean that he cannot BE angry, but does mean that I need to be mindful of the way he is, and why.

There are a lot of spreadsheets and character question checklists and stuff out there, and I'm sure they're great for some people, but they irritate my ADHD and I feel like if I need to constantly refer back to what my character likes, especially my main character, then I don't have a strong enough sense of who they are, and I really need to, this is an OC, every decision I make is the only canon there will lever be, so I need to have a grip on what I want.

Don't be afraid to make them goofy. Conrad is so goofy, and it is part of why Damian becomes fond of him, but that's not why I made him like that. I made him offbeat and awkward (but not shy), to create a specific dynamic in his dialogue. He's not cool, he doesn't care about being cool, but he is still insecure, and that insecurity manifests in oversharing, in a certain shamelessness. He can't handle sitting with shame, his self esteem is too weak for that. So his lack of guile, and lack of panache are both fun quirks to help me differentiate his dialogue, but also important clues about how he takes things and then I can flatten those out when he's being serious, or scary. If a character starts out cool, and that's never challenged, then it's boring and you get into Mary Sue/Gary Stu territory. It's totally doable to start cool and then add nuance, but I think it's easier to start a little weird and then reveal why they're neat when the situation calls for it. My advice boils down to this: People love fuckups, they love humans, they even love monsters. The greatest sin is for someone to be boring, and being too sad or too perfect is boring. I have to let Batman have a sense of humor for that reason. 

Since creating Conrad I've also taken to picking some scenarios that people have a general standardized reaction to, making a different decision, then figuring out why that makes sense. Really early on I decided that he didn't get jealous easily, notably so, and worked out that it was partially because he doesn't feel entitled to anyone's attention, but also because if he loves someone, he wants them to be happy and that doesn't necessarily have to involve him. So figuring out that Jon had feelings for Damian didn't do anything to him, because, well, Jon is in the 8th grade, that would be ridiculous to feel threatened by at that point, but also because someone loving Damian that much to him is a good thing. He loves Damian, other people should too. Which is...kind of a good trait, if only it didn't stem so much from his lack of self-worth.

I think every character choice should be intentional. They don't all have to be deep, but the more specific you are, the more tools you have to play with, and the more ways you can twist them out of shape. When you make decisions and stick with them, you create limitations, and those limitations are where I think an interesting plot comes from.

Shockingly, I do have more thoughts, but I feel like this is already far more than you asked for, and I do need to finish chapter 12, so I’ll cut it here. 

Also…this ask truly made my evening, and as such I feel compelled to share a tease of how I plan to celebrate the completion of the fic.

Look at him go!

[synergysilhouette]

Small(ish) tweaks I'd make to the Konoha 12 and their senseis

Just a little thought of mine. I sat here pondering changes I'd make to the K12 in order to give them more development and relevance in the story. I find most of them to be underrated. These are just a few brainstorming ideas on how I'd rework them. Lemme know if you have questions!

Kakashi--Controversial idea; remove the sharingan and make his copy ninja reputation a power that the Hatake clan possesses. Plus give more detail on his time with the Anbu and more info on the Anbu in general.

Naruto--I'd probably make him less brash and rude, still being respectful to others. Basically like Asta from Black Clover; it makes sense for him to be respectful to those in power if he wants to be in a position of power someday. I'd also make it known that his father was the 4th Hokage early on; it was kinda obvious from the get-go.

Sasuke--Give him more moments of sympathetic character. He cares about others, but he isn't revered by the village as some hero; rather everyone gives him space out of fear of his power (and revenge agenda) as well as feeling bad for what he went through but not really knowing how to communicate this to him.

Sakura--Make her Inner Sakura character a powerful genjutsu technique passed down from the Haruno clan, maybe in the form of a kekkai genkai--not quite on Byakugan/Sharingan level, but close. I'd also remove her mom since Tsunade becomes more of a mother figure than her mom was in the series. Her dad would be a regular person rather than a ninja, having low self-esteem and accidentally passing this onto Sakura by being critical of her as a ninja. I'd also have her train with Kurenai as well as Tsunade during the time skip to hone her genjutsu skills since her dad can only help her so much. I'd also have her crush on Sasuke be more substantial, as it starts off as a little crush, than sympathy, than full-on respect and love when she joins a team with him. Plus make her less rude and aggressive (outside the battlefield, of course).

Kurenai--Give her more screentime to be characterized as the greatest genjutsu user in the village; the original series really does her dirty. Plus give more on her relationship to Asuma, showing her frequent interactions with his team, leading her to teaching Ino genjutsu as well (kinda fits with the plant theme, huh?)

Shino--Definitely underrated. I'd give more focus on his backstory and showcase both of his parents and his clan, not just his dad (who doesn't get much appearance, anyway). Especially focus on how his abilities work; it's pretty shocking how his clan goes about it.

Kiba--Maybe scale back on how much of a jerk he was originally, and make him a rival to Naruto. Whereas Sasuke was a philosophical rival to Naruto, Kiba is a career rival to Naruto, wanting to be the next Hokage. I always felt bad for forgetting that he wanted to become Hokage and that the series never really focused on it much. Also show more of his clan and give him a deeper backstory (maybe diving more into how his mom ran away his dad and how that affected him).

Hinata--Since Kishimoto apparently only planned for the village to only have 100 ninjas, Hinata is a legacy ninja, being the child of the head of the Hyuga clan, so I'd probably make her a bit more motivated, so that she doesn't always need Naruto in order to get that boost of energy, especially considering how her team supports her. I'd also make her dad kinder to her (seeing how soft he got in Boruto, but hey, that's grandparents for you!), with him only being tough because they're in war and the losses he faced. He doesn't see her as useless, but he doesn't think she's up to leading the clan.

Asuma--DEFINITELY focus more on him being the 3rd Hokage's son. Why is this detail always buried?! Maybe focus more on his childhood as a result of this, as well as his romance with Kurenai, and trying to make sure the next generation of Ino-Shika-Cho carries on their legacy.

Shikamaru--Pretty much the same, but make him skilled in medical ninjutsu, given that his clan has a GIANT medical book. It'd make him an even more awesome ninja, plus it's possible Ino would teach him what she learned from Tsunade (though he does learn some things from his dad). His mom should also make more than just a background appearence, imo.

Choji--The same, except showing his parents more, as well as the legacy he has to uphold, maybe even the issues he faces with people making fun of his weight despite his clan needing to consume a lot of calories.

Ino--Make her more than just a Sasuke stan; maybe it's a little crush that makes a rivalry with Sakura, but they're not nearly as cruel with each other. Learning genjutsu from Kurenai as well as medical training and strength enhancements from Tsunade, I'd definitely say she climbed the ranks of ninja!

Guy--Pretty much the same.

Lee--Pretty much the same, but give more info on his background (ie family) before becoming a ninja.

Neji--Show more of his background, especially the pain of being in the branch family and what happened after his visit with Hiashi following his loss at the chunin exams. I like the idea that he still believes in fate, but believes you make your own, somewhat combining his and Naruto's philosophies.

Tenten--GIVE HER MORE ATTENTION! We don't know anything about her family or life, or how she even learned to be so good with various ninja weapons.

[the-s1lly-corner]

zenyatta brainrot is real... can you do a fic with zenyatta/male reader where zenyatta finds out reader likes them because he can see 'heat signatures' if that makes sense? like, everytime reader blushes or gets flustered etc etc he can tell

Heat Signatures

Wahoo!! I can't do a proper fic since, admittedly, I'm not at all confident in terms of writing actual stories + I'm on mobile

But! To compensate I'll be doing more detailed headcannons and scenarios than what I usually do!! I know it's not what you asked for but I'd rather give you something I can be confident in than something that's totally dog water <\3

Quick warning for a very brief and implied suggestive theme; its not the main focus but I'd rather there still be a warning even if it's only a single vague sentence

It never really crossed your mind that Zenyatta had some form of telling temperatures outside of visual indicators..

I.E. You knew that he knew that "if theres snow it's cold" and other things... you didn't ever think of the possibility that he can pin point the exact temperature of any given thing, *by segments*

So anytime you caught him staring back at you, you'd brush it off as him processing something or getting lost in thought.

Unbeknownst to you; no matter how hard you tried to cover you reddened face and ears he'd still see the shift in temperature even before the color visibly changed.

And Zenyatta wasn't fully oblivious to this... given the fact he's interacted with dozens of people, and really works to understand, he's seen what a crush looks like in several different forms

So regardless of if you're a shy admirer or an aggressive giver of service, he knows

And he returns the affections

The only reason he hasn't yet acted yet isn't because he likes seeing you suffer like this, but rather he is waiting for the right moment to spill everything

He doesn't want there to be an audience, as he doesn't want you to feel pressured to answer in a certain way

A part of him wanted to confirm he was the target of your feelings; he didn't want to risk embarrassment for you if he ended up being wrong

And also... when he confided in Genji, the cyborg provided some tips and above all else; a pick up line of sorts

That's right we're going there

So when the time finally came, and it was just the two of you and his suspicions confirmed; he used the line

Poor guy, he didn't think of the double meaning as he said it; "if you're overheating, I could help cool you off," he said so casually after picking up the temperature in your face rising... but he didn't expect to see it spring up in..

Immediately tries to rectify it by putting his cold hands to your face; which.. were quickly warmed due to your flushed skin

So much for cooling off

Thankfully, it serves as a cute inside joke between the two of you that you can both laugh at later on down the line; now as a couple

You still curse his sensors to this day; you were so close to plotting the perfect confession! ..ah well, at least it all worked out

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

Having to do with Galian Beast. Granted, I adore a variety of designs for how he looks when Vincent transforms (from canon appearances, to fan art designs). And I also adore various concepts of why he exists, from it being a result of trauma + the metamorphosis experiments, an assortment of all of it and other factors, or my main concept since playing Vincent that alongside the procedure to achieve metamorphosis/transformations, Hojo spliced cells of other subjects into him, etc. No matter what canon will turn out to be, if they every give deep enough details, I adore all concepts.

So I think my recent concept, that probably isn't new to others, is that each different look is something that he has had. With the concept that Galian existed outside of Vincent, before, I'd say his original form generally was as we saw in the OG concept--purple, furred, with a red main and dark horns. I sometimes run with the theory that Galian was a mutated Behemoth, smaller in size and body structure more inclined to function as quadrupedal and as bipedal.

Vincent's first transformation was likely the most abnormal, patching skin with scattered fur, the mane choppy in length and various shades as Vincent and Galian were fight for definition. In that form, hair would be a strange mix between white and red and black in spots, body still dark purple, so it would be closest to his EC concept.

The more he gets used to the transformation, the more they level out. The more he's in control, or has more of a presence and Galian is just acting out fleetingly, that is when and why the skin is pale white. That is Vincent projection through stronger. Also why the main turns black, and is fuller and longer, even with red still in there.

Once they've balanced out, the tips of his claws are the darkest purple, and the rest of the purpose extends further and further up his arm, blending in symmetrical patches across the skin into the white. The white will still be there at the core.

Fur and mane growth--a represenation of Galian's mental state, and it's balance with Vincent. At their worst, the fur is a patchy mess too long in some places and too short or just balded in other places, and the man is a matted mess, choppy. When they're more balanced with one another, the fur is smooth and healthy, going from dark to lighter shades of purple as it extends from the darker flesh to the light. And the man is smooth, healthier as he's more content. Seasons have also affected mane and fur growth. Warmer whether means less fur, obviously, and shorter mane. Colder means longer and fuller. And in their more antagonistic years, with Vincent ignoring and containing him, that means things were matted and dirty more often because Galian was not allowed free for that form to go through it's cycle healthily. When they do manage the balance, Vincent takes the time. Galian is the Head Mate he allows free most often, TBH, as he is the one he can reason with and trust to keep calm the most once they've worked out a balance with one another, and in equal measure wants out the most (Hell Masker is usually too unstable unless Vincent can find seclusion, and Death Gigas is content to rest, only occasionally stirred with aggression or curiosity. Chaos flip flops on whether he prefers his consciousness to stay resting until 'needed' by Vincent, and occasionally allowing himself a few hours or a few days to be aware like a shadow over Vincent's shoulder. But Vincent has never truly wanted to allow him free, not before he understood him).

Anyways, that's it! Galian was swimming in my brain, and he is Good Boy, Best Feral Puppy, so I wanted to throw some thoughts out there on my concepts of him for my Vincent!

[the-void-writes]

Kevin!! (sorry if this is a lot lol)

🩹💯🔺🌈🎄🐷🍃🍎❤️💔💙💜🤔

IT’S NOT A LOT, DON’T WORRY 🥹💖 THANK YOU AGAIN

Some images of Kevin. Credit to Naylissah and Wervty for the picrews.

TW for mentions of child abuse under the cut (it’s not described in detail)

🩹 Does your oc have any physical and/or mental disabilities?

Kevin’s eyesight is incredibly poor ever since his mother’s abuse. His eyes are permanently scarred and damaged, though Vesely’s doctors have tried their best to fix it. He has to wear protective goggles and glasses because bright lights give him aggressive headaches.

💯 Share three random facts about your oc that others may not know.

Kevin jokingly flirts with his friends, but he also has a small crush on Will that he won’t act on because he knows that boy is shy to affection and already likes someone else.

The reason Kevin dyes the tips of his hair hot pink is so he doesn’t look at himself in the mirror and see his mother.

He drinks a ton of coffee, mostly iced, because he has insomnia from his fear of waking up in his old house.

🔺 Does your oc know how to use any weapons?

He mostly uses his own momentum to fight. Rio teaches him how to use his arms as a whip.

🌈 What is your oc's sexual orientation/gender identity? What pronouns do they use?

Kevin is proudly pansexual and makes sure that everyone knows he isn’t picky. He uses “he/him” pronouns, but he doesn’t mind being called “they/them” either.

🎄 What is your oc's favorite holiday?

Christmas, for the music and the food, and because he gets to decorate his friends’ dorm and make it feel like a home. He never realized that kids got gifts on Christmas until he started staying with his friends, and now he’s excited to give things.

🐷 What is your oc's favorite animal?

It’s pigs, specifically teacup pigs. Riley always asks Kevin how someone as “flashy and fabulous” as him could love such a messy animal, and Kevin gets so offended.

Long ago, I actually gave him a pet pig. He called it Ham Solo.

🍃 What is/was your oc's favorite subject in school?

Kevin’s favorite class was an elective drama course he had for a year. He loves performing for people and having their positive attention, in an art form where he’s separated by a stage and no one can run up and hurt him.

🍎 Where was your oc born? Do they still live in/around their place of birth or do they live somewhere else? How do they feel about their birthplace?

Kevin was born in Preston, on the outskirts of the main town and suburbs. He acts like he doesn’t care about his old home, but deep down, he’s terrified of the mere idea of going back there. He wouldn’t calm down for his first few weeks of training until Jason swore to him that he wouldn’t return to his parents.

❤️ What are three of your oc's positive traits?

Kevin may act like he enjoys being the center of attention, but he’s actually more humble than people give him credit for. He makes sure his friends get their due respect during training, and even when he brags about his own training, it’s never at someone else’s expense. His loyalty to his friends is limitless.

His personal goal is to make his friends smile and laugh. Whatever they need or want, he’ll do it for them, even if it’s just making himself look like a fool.

Kevin is very patient and understanding. He’ll listen to anyone, no matter how long they take to speak or if they struggle to express themselves. He refuses to make anyone feel dumb or useless.

💔 What are three of your oc's negative traits?

Kevin tends to joke around a little too much. He won’t take certain training exercises seriously, and it ends up getting him hurt.

On that note, Kevin doesn’t care if he injured himself. He thinks he’s indestructible so he charges headfirst into a problem, and he also just has little regard for his own health because he’s been taught to feel insignificant.

Every so often, his aggressive self-loathing comes through. He’ll say the most horrible things about himself when he no longer has the energy to smile through the pain.

💙 Does your oc have any cool/special powers and/or abilities? how are they with magic, if it exists in their world?

The Freak genes that Kevin was born with basically gave his skin and bones rubber-like qualities. He can stretch and squish himself however he sees fit, like how an octopus can squeeze itself through a hole. The further out he stretches, though, the more vulnerable that area is to snapping.

💜 What is your oc's ancestry/genetic background?

Kevin is the only son of the Mallory family. His parents could barely afford their house and food. When Kevin’s powers developed, his mother punished him for it in the cruelest ways possible, nearly blinding her son as a result. His father sat idly by, not lifting a finger to help him. The neighbors were the ones to call the police, and that’s how Vesely heard about him. Jason was the one to bring him in, and he became an important parental figure to Kevin.

Eventually, Kevin gets adopted by a wealthy family, the Valentinas. They’re absolutely guilty of spoiling their new son, but he deserves it after the hell he’s been through.

🤔 What are some of your oc's quirks/mannerisms?

When Kevin is bored, he’ll often stretch and bounce his arm like a yo-yo. If no one else is around, he’ll wrap his arms around himself in a big snake-like hug.

I’m not sure if it counts, but when he laughs at something, it’s a full-on hyena cackle. There is no quiet mode for him when it comes to jokes.

[sentientgopro]

My parents are currently trying to figure out a way for me to not have to share a bedroom with my brother, to the extent of considering a room in the garden. I said its probably just not worth it, Ive managed living in the room with him for many years, Im sure I can make do for another year and a half, and she said to me "You can't just put your life on hold like that for a year and a half until you move out". And she has no clue that had an entirely different meaning to me.

Yes, I DO have to put my life on hold until I move out, in a much more severe and damaging way than she realises, because of her transphobic ass.

But regardless of the twat saying it and the irrelevant context, I've been dwelling on those words. Its already getting kinda difficult a month into cracking doing nothing. Ive still got about another 20 to go before I even START transitioning and thats far from an instant problem fix, isn't it.

And I already wanted to think more in detail about how it will go when they inevitably find out, but this has presented a nice opportunity to think about it a bit more. My Dad will be absolutely pissed, plain and simple, to the extent that I'd have to make sure he finds out from a long distance for my own safety. He's gotten very aggressive over alot less. My mother, on the other hand, is a much more complex question.

She's the only one I've really ever talked to about issues (particularly issues relating to Dad, as well as mental issues), shes a psychologist so she kinda has a bit of idea what shes talking about. and she has said, on many occasions, that she thinks I'm very emotionally intelligent. She thinks I know myself very well. So if I told her about something I know she fundamentally disagrees with, will she just forget all that?

The thing is, she's been locked into conservative beliefs, but she can be reasoned with. One example was of a general discussion over the existance of gender dysphoria and validity of trans people, and I convinced her that gender dysphoria is real, there are scientific explanations behind why trans people feel the way they do. And she cannot find an argument against me so she resorts to "Okay, people like that exist, but I think most just do it because they think its trendy" cool, an entirely unmeasurable, impossible to back up claim that I cant even outright disprove so it pretty much ends up as her being right because she just knows better apparently. But, up to outright convincing her to change her beliefs, she can be reasoned with.

And besides, if Im so emotionally intelligent, surely I should belong to the group of people who aren't faking it, by her logic?

Honestly, if she was just outright never going to accept me like him, itd be easier. But the fact that theres a genuine question here makes it so difficult. Like, her helping cover for me and keep it a secret from my Dad and Brother while I start HRT is a genuine, possible outcome. Its also very unlikely.

But, if I could convince her Im not making it up, which should work in theory, and if she holds the belief that I can't just put my life on hold, its a forseeable outcome. And I don't know how I feel about that.

(Short bit of context for the next bit) One of my Sixth Form teachers has gotten extremely ill, we don't know the details but basically, hes disappearing for a while and we dont know if hes ever coming back. He is the ONLY member of staff in the school capable of teaching the subject. So, my mother arranged a meeting with the head to ask what happens next, and raised concerns over my education. In return, the head tried to ignore it by pinning it on me, saying I'm struggling already, and basically turn it around on me as if our only teacher isnt disappearing.

So I tried defending myself in a few ways, one of them being, since the last round of tests, Ive been feeling like, ALOT better, better motivated, to an extent that is affecting me on a day to day basis and making it easier to get work done, so there should be a massive improvement since my last tests. So after the meeting, naturally, my mother wanted to know what it was exactly that changed, and I realised I fucked up. The thing that changed was realising I was trans and realising that, eventually, I could be happy, and I have something to look forward to and work towards. So now shes gonna keep asking and wanting to talk about what it was. She keeps asking to go on a walk and talk about it.

And it keeps making me imagine, far into the walk, after she keeps poking and prodding, just going, "Fuck it, leap of faith". Because the more I dont tell her, the more suspicious shes probably gonna become.

idk, theres no real end point to this. This is more of a vent than figuring out my feelings. Supportive relatives are great, unsupportive relatives suck, but questionable relatives are fucking anxiety provoking. This is nothing new Im discovering here, really, this is a trans experience thats older than time itself. But I've never been a big risk taker, so Ill probably just take the long route and make sure they find out as late as possible.

[fishingblaze]

What Type of Line for Walleye Fishing 2024? A Complete Guide for Every Angler

Hi there!”

That’s where I am available! Whether you’re a pro angler or simply getting your feet wet, I’m here to guide you through the whole lot you need to understand about what form of line to use for walleye fishing.

From expertise and satisfactory materials to gaining knowledge of how to rig your line nicely, this guide’s got you protected.

Understanding Walleye Behavior: Why the Right Line Matters

Walleye are regarded for being finicky and elusive, making them a difficult but rewarding trap. Understanding their behavior is vital if you want to up your game and increase your chances of landing these prized fish.

Let’s dive into why subtlety and precision are key and how the conduct of walleye immediately impacts your preference of fishing line.

For More detail, Please visit FishingBlaze.com

The Importance of Subtlety and Precision in Walleye Fishing

Walleye are infamous for their eager eyesight and sensitivity to changes in their surroundings. Unlike some other species, they won’t aggressively strike at just something that passes through.

Instead, they’re much more likely to inspect your bait or entice carefully before creating a flow. That’s why the proper fishing line—one that’s nearly invisible and gives the proper quantity of finesse—may be the difference between a successful day trip and going domestic empty-handed.

Subtlety is critical because Walleye can, without difficulty, hit upon unnatural actions or an excessive amount of resistance. A line that’s too heavy or too seen can spook them, inflicting them to pull away from your bait.

On the other hand, a line that’s too mild won’t have the electricity to reel in a walleye once it’s hooked. It’s all about finding the best balance among power and stealth, which frequently requires experimenting with distinct kinds of strains depending on the conditions you’re fishing in.

How Walleye’s Behavior Affects Your Choice of Fishing Line

Walleye are most active at some stage in low-mild conditions, along with dawn, nightfall, or overcast days. Their vision is customized to those environments, giving them an awesome advantage.

over prey and, by extension, over anglers who aren’t organized. With this method, your preference for fishing line needs to account for both the light conditions and the fish’s sharp eyesight.

For example, in clean water, a fluorocarbon line is regularly preferred as it’s nearly invisible underwater, lowering the risk that walleyes will spot it.

However, if you’re fishing in deeper or murkier waters, a braided line is probably a better choice.

preference due to its electricity and sensitivity, permitting you to feel even the slightest nibble at the same time as nonetheless being able to cope with the fight a walleye may put up.

Moreover, walleye are recognized to be backside dwellers, frequently sticking near systems like rocks or plant life in which they are able to ambush prey.

This conduct means your line desires to be abrasion-resistant to deal with the rough terrain. A fluorocarbon line, with its excessive resistance to abrasions, is usually a desirable choice in those conditions.

In particular, the conduct of walleye, characterized by their keen eyesight, choice of low-mild conditions, and tendency to stay near the bottom, makes the selection of fishing line important.

Opting for a line that’s diffused but sturdy and tailored to the specific surroundings can drastically enhance your chances of success on your next walleye fishing journey.

For More detail, Please visit FishingBlaze.com

What Type of Line Is Best for Walleye Fishing?

When it involves walleye fishing, the street you pick out might also have a great impact on your success. With such a lot of options to be had, it is vital to recognize the blessings and cons of each type of line.

similarly to how they relate to Walleye’s particular tendencies. Let’s observe the numerous forms of fishing lines and the essential elements to remember while deciding on the most pleasant line for walleye fishing.

Overview of Different Types of Fishing Lines

Monofilament Line

Monofilament is a famous fishing lure due to its versatility and inexpensive price. It’s made from an unmarried strand of nylon, which presents it with extremely good stability, electricity, stretch, and manipulation. Monofilament has a high degree of stretch, which can be useful even for stopping fish because it offers a buffer to soak up sudden movements. However, its visibility underwater and susceptibility to abrasion are brilliant downsides.

Fluorocarbon Linenbsp;

Fluorocarbon is understood for its near invisibility underwater, making it a top desire for fishing in clean waters in which walleye can spot the road. It’s denser than monofilament, so it sinks quicker, making it pinnacle-notch for bottom fishing.

It is where walleye regularly live. Fluorocarbon is likewise utilized in opposition to abrasion, making it long-lasting in environments with rocks, plant life, or distinct underwater systems. However, it is able to be an entire lot less forgiving due to its stiffness and reduced stretch in comparison to monofilament.

Braided Linenbsp;

Braided strains are made from a couple of strands of artificial fibers, resulting in a line that is especially sturdy and has minimal stretch. This loss of stretch offers pinnacle-notch sensitivity, permitting you to enjoy even the slightest nibble, which is critical when dealing with the diffused bites of walleye.

Braided lines are also thinner in diameter as compared to monofilament and fluorocarbon of the same electricity, which can be tremendous at the same time as casting prolonged distances or fishing in deep waters.

However, braided traces are an opportunity visible underwater, which may not be first-rate in easy water conditions, and they can be more susceptible to tangling.

For More detail, Please visit FishingBlaze.com

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Line for Walleye

Water Clarity

One of the most important considerations while fishing is the quality of the water. In smooth water, walleye can spot a line that’s too visible, which may additionally spook them in an extended manner out of your bait.

In these conditions, a fluorocarbon line is frequently the most popular choice due to its low visibility. In murkier waters, visibility is a wonderful deal less of a hassle, so you could likely select a stronger braided line.

Fishing Depthnbsp;

Walleye are regularly positioned close to the lowest of lakes and rivers, in particular later in the day. If you’re fishing deep, you’ll want a line that sinks quickly and maintains sensitivity.

Fluorocarbon is the number one desire for this because it sinks faster than monofilament and has the right abrasion resistance, which is critical while fishing near the bottom. A braided line can also be effective for deep-water fishing due to its power and sensitivity.

Targeted Walleye Sizenbsp;

The sort of walleye you’re focusing on must have an effect on your line choice. For smaller walleye, a lighter monofilament or fluorocarbon line must likely suffice, supplying enough energy even while being subtle.

For massive, more competitive walleye, you’ll need a more potent line, together with a heavy fluorocarbon or braided line, to make sure you can cope with the fight.

Fishing Techniquenbsp;

Different fishing strategies can also be named for great strains. For example, if you’re jigging, in which sensitivity is vital, a braided line might be your best bet due to its low stretch and immoderate sensitivity.

On the other hand, if you’re trolling, a monofilament line with its stretch and surprise absorption might be more appropriate.

Abrasion Resistancenbsp;

Since walleye are often observed close to systems like rocks, logs, and vegetation, your line desires to resist functional abrasions. Fluorocarbon excels in this vicinity because of its hard outer coating, making it a reliable choice for fishing in environments in which your line may also likely rub against tough surfaces.

The most superb shape of line for walleye fishing is predicated on different factors, which consist of water readability, fishing depth, and your chosen technique.

By knowing the fantastic strains available and thinking about those key elements, you may pick out the road with the purpose of developing a terrific threat of success for your subsequent walleye fishing adventure.

For More detail, Please visit FishingBlaze.com

Monofilament vs. Fluorocarbon vs. Braided Lines

Pros and Cons

Pros

Affordability: Monofilament is commonly the least costly desire.

Ease of Handling: It’s smooth to tie knots with and has genuine stretch, which may be forgiving at the same time as stopping a fish.

Versatility: suitable for various fishing techniques and situations.

Cons

Visibility: Monofilament is more normally seen underwater in contrast to fluorocarbon, which may be a disadvantage in smooth water.

Abrasion Resistance: It’s a great deal less proof towards abrasion, making it more at risk of harm at the same time as fishing close to rocks or other underwater systems.

Stretch: While stretching can be a bonus, too much can reduce sensitivity, making it more difficult to come across diffused bites.

When to Use Monofilament for Walleye

Monofilament is a remarkable preference for novices, or, at the same time, you’re fishing in less disturbing situations. It’s especially effective in murkier waters, where line visibility isn’t an extremely good scenario. Additionally,

Its stretch may be useful whilst trolling or the use of techniques that require a few gives, consisting of live bait fishing, in that you want the walleye to completely take the bait earlier than setting the hook.

Fluorocarbon Line: The Stealthy Choice

Fluorocarbon line is noted for its close-to-invisibility underwater, making it a popular preference for walleye fishing, specifically in calm water. It is constructed from a thick material, just like nylon, but with specific features.

Why Fluorocarbon Might Be the Best for Clear Water

Walleye are sharp, progressive, and prescient, and they may be much more likely to end up aware of your line in clean water. Fluorocarbon’s refractive index is just like that of water.

which means that it’s loads harder for fish to observe. This can be a game-changer, even as targeted at cautious walleye, increasing your possibilities of a hit hookup.

Benefits of Low Visibility and Abrasion Resistance

Low Visibility: Fluorocarbon is almost invisible underwater, making it ideal for clean water conditions where walleye are in all likelihood to be spooked with the useful resource of a visible line.

Abrasion Resistance: It’s more proof against nicks and scratches than monofilament, making it a reliable choice when fishing near rocky structures or vegetation where walleye frequently cowl.

Density and Sensitivity: Fluorocarbon sinks quicker than monofilament; that’s useful at the same time, as you’re centered on bottom-living walleye. Additionally, it has less stretch, offering better sensitivity for detecting bites.

When to Use Fluorocarbon for Walleye

Fluorocarbon is suitable for smooth water conditions where low visibility is important. It’s also the cross-line when you’re fishing close to a shape or in areas with heavy cowls, thanks to its advanced abrasion resistance.

If you’re using finesse techniques like jigging or drop-shotting, fluorocarbon’s sensitivity and coffee stretch will help you experience each movement and chunk, increasing your achievement fee.

Braided Line: Strength and Sensitivity

The braided line is a powerhouse in terms of power and sensitivity. Constructed from more than one strand of synthetic fibers, braided line is known for its immoderate tensile strength and minimum stretch.

For More detail, Please visit FishingBlaze.com

How Braided Line Works in Deeper Waters

The braided line’s loss of stretch makes it fairly sensitive, permitting you to come across even the slightest nibbles from walleye. This is mainly true in deeper waters, where specific strains should possibly lose sensitivity due to the distance and weight.

The thin diameter of braided line also lets you spool more line onto your reel, which is beneficial even when fishing deep or making lengthy casts.

Ideal Scenarios for Using Braille

Deep Water Fishing: Braided line’s sensitivity and electricity make it high-quality for fishing in deeper waters wherein you want to enjoy each bite and make sure you have sufficient line to attain the fish.

Heavy Cover: If you’re fishing in regions with thick vegetation or heavy cowl, braided line’s electricity will help you pull walleye out of hard spots without snapping.

Long Casts: The thin diameter and espresso stretch of the braided line permit longer, extra accurate casts, which might be beneficial when targeting walleye from a distance.

When to Use Braided Line for Walleye

The braided line is exquisite and is applied in conditions in which power and sensitivity are paramount. It’s a superb desire for deep water or heavy cowl fishing, where you need to depend on your line to enjoy the fish and withstand difficult conditions.

However, due to the fact that braided lines are more visible underwater, they’re frequently paired with a fluorocarbon cable to mix the blessings of each trace’s energy and invisibility.

Deciding among monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided traces depends on the precise conditions you’re fishing in and the strategies you plan to use.

Monofilament is a versatile all-rounder; fluorocarbon excels in easy water with stealth and abrasion resistance; and braided line gives unrivaled energy and sensitivity in deeper waters or heavy cover.

By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each, you may make an informed selection that maximizes your chances of catching extra walleye for your next fishing trip.

For More detail, Please visit FishingBlaze.com

[happyfeetfuryroad]

No no no don’t encourage me I get hyperfixated on stuff and I NEVER SHUT U-

Ok so actually I don’t know if I have a lot to say about this because it kinda feels like it’s just canon stuff with very minor details left up for interpretation but I could be wrong ofc

But basically one thing that fascinates me about CoTL lore is that the crowns seem to be at least somewhat sentient? I mean, they emote and move and feed so they’re definitely alive in some way. They just need a host to channel their power and to keep them “fed”, so to speak. It’s a symbiotic relationship of sorts: the crown thrives on the power it gathers from worshiping cult members, and the host gets to use the crown’s powers however they please in return.

And while all the Bishops have been gods for literal ages (to the point where we don’t even know if they ever used to be mortal or not), we know of two crown bearers who at least started out as ordinary mortal animals: Ratau and the Lamb. And the main difference between those two is that Ratau, for what I assume are temperamental reasons, ended up being a poor match for the Red Crown, and thus remained virtually unchanged as he gave up on his role; the Lamb, on the other hand, not only proved to be an excellent crown bearer, but they developed such a strong relationship with the Red Crown as to supplant the one who’d carried it for countless millennia.

And here’s a detail that I find fascinating: bearing a crown, per se, doesn’t seem to be enough to create that symbiotic relationship I was talking about. Let’s not forget, the Lamb (just as Ratau before them) spends most of the story being a mere vessel for The One Who Waits. This implies that, up until Narinder was challenged and defeated, he and the Red Crown were still an unbroken dyad, and the Lamb was little more than a bridge between them to allow their power to affect the mortal realm. It was by cultivating their own affinity with the Red Crown, and vehemently refusing to give it up, that the Lamb was able to break that bond and forge their own.

So, about the physical appearance stuff I was talking about in the tags. The thing that seems to visually separate Gods from mortals in this universe is a) their huge size and b) their grotesque/alien appearance. There are some exceptions to this (i.e. the mini bosses like Amdusias, Valefar etc), but they only seem to have a true eldritch form in the context of their boss fights (which I interpret as them being temporarily granted some of their gods’ powers to protect their temple), so I’m pretty much ignoring them.

The Lamb seems to be an exception to this at first, given that all throughout the game they remain just as small and cutesy as they were at the beginning of the game, but you can clearly see in their intimidate animation (as well as when they refuse to kneel and be sacrificed) that when they turn aggressive, their teeth become sharp like a predator’s, and they growl in a way that is definitely not normal for a sheep.

Sure, it might be just a temporary thing that comes out when they’re summoning the crown’s power, but let’s also keep in mind that the Lamb has only been a crown bearer for a handful of decades at best (centuries, if we want to be generous and assume a very relaxed playthrough). Whichever way you slice it, the symbiotic relationship seems to slowly but surely mold the host to become more like the crown they bear, which simultaneously increases the bearer’s power while also turning them into something monstrous and unfathomable.

And the thing that I like about this is, this change doesn’t seem to go away completely when the bond is severed, either. Sure, Narinder becomes a lot more animal-like in his follower form, but he still has his third eye (or whatever is left of it depending on which sprite you’re considering*), and he’s still incapable of aging. Whatever he might have been before he became a god (if he ever was anything other than a god), the Red Crown has morphed him into something completely different, and he may never truly go back to being an ordinary mortal. And I fucking love it. *come to think of it, why does there seem to be two different Narinder follower sprites floating around the internet? Was it a patch thing? When I played the game I always saw the one where his third eye was closed, but I also saw screenshots where he seems to have a hole where the eye used to be?? So weird

The process of opening Lamb's third eye is anything but pleasant. They cry and bleed black ichor and are in tremendous pain. No soul in earth can help them. It's a "normal" process in the Ascension to Godhood.

[sinfullyrosey]

Aggressive Affection

A concept:

The tweels being roughly affectionate with their partner, but not in a r*pey kind of way. More like in the “I love you so fucking much that I can’t contain all this newfound overflowing affectionate I have for you so let me just nom on you in the hopes that you understand even a fraction of my love towards you” kind of way.

Like, Floyd loves loves loves biting and marking his partner, especially when they squirm beneath him. Loves it even more when when his partner huskily asks him to bite harder. Rough them up a little more. Squeeze their thighs rougher. They writhe and whine for him to not hold back and to just use them as a chew toy already! He toothily grins down at them and coos over how much smaller they are compared to him, how so much more tiny and fragile they are, how much he loves his little shrimpy and loves the sounds they make. Like a prey squealing as he devours them.

Jade is much more reserved compared to his twin... at first. Oh, he tries to keep up appearances, but even he can’t hold back his natural instincts forever. Eventually those soft touches and lingering caresses turn into the desire to latch down his maw onto supple skin, to mark them and hear them keen. His teeth itching and aching with desire. His much taller frame looming over his tiny partner, bending down to properly flash his dangerous smile at them, sending a shiver down their spine, before nuzzling into their neck and giving little nips. 

And that’s not even accounting for their eel forms. Adds a whole new flavor to their unconventional affection. Their tails wrapping around their partner, gently squeezing at first, before tightening more and more, pressing against sensitive spots along their skin. Either twin leaving bite marks on any exposed skin and pressing themselves as close to their partner as possible. It’s positively primal how unrestricted they are towards them, trilling and growling all the while.

This same behavior extends to their instinctual need to protect their mate, to ward off any fool who didn’t get the memo that they’re taken. RIP to anyone who makes the unfortunate mistake of harassing, or worse, assaulting their partner. That person is gonna become nothing but bloody chum. Also RIP to anyone who accuses either twin of being a “hypocritic” and accusing them of ever purposefully harming their partner against their will. Such slander is just asking to get squeezed.

Actually, hold on-

Gonna get some of the others in on this since I’m on a roll.

Leona, the lazy ass, nuzzling into his partner as he uses them as a pillow, rubbing his face against theirs. A deep rumble reverberates from deep in his chest, causing their body to shake in response. The lion just keeps pressing himself against them, putting all his weight on them, pushing them further into the mattress. His ear twitches at the sound of their muffled protests and giggles to get off. But he doesn’t, yawning in his partner’s face and instead licking his rough tongue lazily along their skin. Their quiet moans fill his bedroom as his licks turn into nips and gentle bites at their neck.

Malleus is the worst one once he’s reached a certain point in the relationship, becoming much more openly affectionate. Nuzzling his partner’s neck and chuckling at their little squeak when he lifts them up to hold them. His wings and tail present and wrapping around his partner, caging them against him. Their view blocked by only the sight of the dragon fae grinning down at them mischievously. His tail pulls them closer in his embrace, cooing at the size difference between him and their child of man. Clawed hands begin to wander...

Azul refusing to let his partner see his octo form, reserving himself more so than Jade, limiting his affection to simple hand holding and pecks on the cheek. And yet he still finds himself in his original form, tentacles coiling themselves around his partner, wrapping around them and clutching onto them in desperation. Almost afraid that if he let them go, they’ll leave forever. The suckers are glued to their skin, further trapping them to him. All eight tentacles pull his partner closer to him, pressing them against him. Much like Malleus and his wings, Azul’s tentacles serve as a blanket of inky black, only allowing his partner to see darkness and the bright blue of the octomer.

[notebooks-and-laptops]

I honestly think if Izzy had been at the French party his view of Stede would have significantly shifted enough for him to calm down about the bloke for 5 minutes and the duel might never have happened.

Izzy hates Stede. There are a wide variety of reasons for this that have been much discussed by the fandom. ‘Jealousy’ is probably the main one, but honestly, Izzy hates Stede LONG before Stede even meets Ed in episode 4. By the end of episode 2 there’s already a very clear rivalry set up between these two independent of Edward: This isn’t over Mr Bonnet. 

There are some wonderful posts by others that go into this in way more detail than I will do here but overall, Izzy’s hatred of Stede is in part due to Stede’s aristocratic status, his piracy and the fact that he didn’t ‘earn’ any of it. What kind of fucking idiot runs their ship aground? Izzy asks the moment we meet him. And he gets his answer: an aristocrat playing dress up, pretending to be a pirate. What a perverse misuse of space he comments about the ship. When they have their confrontation in the Jackie’s Bar Stede is wearing the most ridicious outfit ever and just introduced himself as ‘landed gentry’. He can’t even fight! He knocks over the damn nose jar! He’s not a real pirate, he’s playing at being a pirate and it drives Izzy round the twist because it’s going to get them all killed. And then, on top of that, Stede doesn’t have to work for Edward’s affections. Izzy has. Izzy has been Ed’s right hand man, has managed his ‘erratic moods’, has soothed the moods of the crew. He’s been doing that for years and then this entitled rich guy comes along who feels just as entitled to Ed’s life as he is to being a pirate, and Ed lets it happen. 

So. Not the whole picture, but if this is part of the main fuel in the fire so to speak when it comes to Izzy’s hatred of Stede, then going to the French Party would have allowed Izzy to see a bit of a different side. 

Because at the French Party Stede is a) uncomfortable, mocked by his own peers, clearly a bit of an outcast in the social circle which Izzy believes he’s supposed to exist in and b) is willing to let a ship burn down around him. He’s also competent at the party. He knows that shooting everyone isn’t the way to go, and instead puts on a bit of trickery and passive aggression. The French Party shows us another part of why Stede wanted to run away from high society despite liking various aspects of it (like the fine clothes). The French Party shows us that Stede is happy to be violent in his own way and while not trained in a sword is trained in the sort of passive aggression that can take down nobles and is even competent in it. The French Party shows Stede willing to work with those who society deems ‘lesser’ in order to make this happen (the servants who give him the information to use against the rich prats). 

And it’s absolutely tragic because Izzy isn’t there. He’s not there to see any of this. If Ed talks about it afterwards, Izzy is going to think he’s exaggerating because he’s ‘being seduced’. What’s Izzy doing instead? Establishing a rivalry with the other person on the ship who seems closest to Stede in mannerisms and social class. Lucius probably wasn’t an aristocrat, but he also seems to have come from a well off background. He knows how to read and write, and his accent is that of an upper middle class modern boy. He’s also the most resistant to doing any sort of work on the ship and yet is one of the most liked crew members; a lesser form of Stede’s entitlement. 

So Ed’s gotten to see this side of Stede, and we as an audience have, but Izzy is never shown it. Stede remains the guy from episode 2 who runs his ship aground for Izzy for the whole season. He remains entitled to a romantised pirate life he didn’t work for, and for Ed’s affections which (in Izzy’s mind) he didn’t work for. Izzy wasn’t there when Stede and Ed came up with the lighthouse idea together, he wasn’t at the party. Any and all competence Stede exhibits throughout the season Izzy is either unaware of or can attribute entirely to Edward. Stede is just some idiot imbecele who is going to get Edward killed.

[synergysilhouette]

Been on a Naruto streak lately, and I wanted to list some changes I'd have made to Sakura Haruno's character, mostly based on personal preferences, but partially from "what ifs" I've seen online with people speculating aspects of her growth. Namely:

Tone down her aggressiveness towards Naruto. I don't mind if she occasionally blew up at him for not taking things seriously or being disrespectful, but keep the physical abuse to a minimum.

Flesh out her relationship with Sasuke. While I was happy for her, the ship felt forced on Sasuke's part, as they have random intimate moments in the series that feel like they come from almost nowhere. I could imagine her crush starts out shallow at first, and then she becomes a good friend who just listens if he ever has to verbally state his feelings--serving as a counterpart to Naruto, who he uses to physically express his feelings. Eventually the crush turns to friendship which turns to love. During the interim, you can see her feelings shift and change, possibly considering returning Lee and Naruto's affections at different points before she realizes Sasuke is more than a crush (this would be especially apparent after she cuts her hair, symbolically untethering herself from her obsession since she heard a rumor that Sasuke likes girls with long hair). Make Sasuke see her as someone just as important as Naruto because of her love and empathy for him. And honestly, I'd be fine if she offered to join him at the end of the rescue mission, playing the lovesick girl, and Orochimaru lets her stay to distract Sasuke, sending Kabuto to kill her, but she incapacitates him as Sasuke absorbs Orochimaru, and they form Hebe together, with Sasuke planning to use Sakura as an aid if he needs help with dispelling Itachi's genjutsu. She's the only one he trusts to prevent him from being re-traumatized.

Make her a stronger fighter and give her more opportunities to do more. Her fight with Ino, the sound ninja, Gaara, and approaching Sasuke were some of the times when we really could've seen her let loose. It'd be cool to see her train with Kurenai to make use of her genjutsu potential, which would also make her go well with Sasuke, both as a team member and a rival/enemy. She could've tried to stop him before he went to join Orochimaru (either at the gate or joining Naruto in battle). I'd also be fine with a draw between her and Ino at the Chunin Exams, but if she won, maybe we could've seen her face Dosu (who would fight her before he died), or possibly Shino or Shikamaru (seeing as Kankuro forfeited anyway, he could've been the one slated to fight Dosu; Temari could've gone a similar route).

Give us more details into her family/background. Her parents (only seen in an anime movie) thinking she can't make it as a ninja is PERFECT. They'd show up during the Chunin Exam arc and essentially try to make Sakura reconsider because they think she's not strong enough, making her push herself to be stronger. Plus it'd be cool if she had a family jutsu similar to Ino-Shika-Cho and the Uchiha clan. Maybe her power could involve an Inner Sakura genjutsu, making her and Ino's fight even better. Her family having no expectations of her makes her a good foil to other prodigy characters who come from renowned families. In fact, she'd be a great contrast to her team, being the only one to grow up with both of her parents up to this age. This could be used to make her represent the family that Team 7 makes while the other members represent what she stands to lose if she became a kunoichi.