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thebunnednun · 9 months ago

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Shadows in the Night! Trafalgar D. Water Law x Ethereal spirit! Reader (Part 2)

P.S. I do not own any of the images or art!!

Song: Miss Jackson By Panic! At the Disco

Synopsis: While exploring the enigmatic ruins of a lost civilization, Law and his crew inadvertently awaken a hauntingly beautiful spirit. Invisible to everyone but Law, she delights in tormenting him, whispering tantalizingly close and stirring an unsettling desire within him.

Their relationship, fraught with tension and conflict, evolves from enemies to reluctant allies as the spirit reveals a dark truth: they are bound together for all eternity unless he helps her reclaim her physical body hidden within the ruins. Amidst ancient riddles and hidden dangers, the lines between hate and desire blur, creating an intoxicating mix of sexual and romantic tension.

In this gripping tale of supernatural intrigue and forbidden desire, Law’s resolve and sanity are tested. Can he break the curse, or will they remain forever entwined in the shadows of the forgotten ruins, bound by a fate that draws them inexorably closer?

On with the show!!~

------------------Chapter 2: Temptation's Touch-----------------------

The following morning, the crew gathered in the mess hall, their concern for Law evident in their expressions. Dark circles under his eyes and the bandaged hand, courtesy of Chopper, spoke volumes about his restless night.

"Law, you barely slept last night," Luffy said, frowning. "And what happened to your hand?"

"It's nothing, Luffy. Just a minor mishap," Law replied, his voice betraying his fatigue.

Chopper, glancing up from his plate, added gently, "Be careful with that hand, Law. You don't want to reopen the wound."

Robin, ever observant, arched an eyebrow inquisitively. "Is everything alright, Law?" she inquired.

"I'm fine, Robin. Just a bit tired, that's all," Law murmured, though his hollow voice suggested otherwise.

Usopp spoke up from across the table. "Actually, Law, I felt like something was off last night too," he admitted, his eyes darting nervously around the room.

Law's gaze flickered to Usopp, a glimmer of relief mingling with the lingering unease. "You did?" he asked quietly.

Usopp nodded solemnly. "Yeah, it was like... like there was something watching us from the shadows."

The crew fell into a contemplative silence, pondering the implications of Usopp's revelation. Could it be that they were not alone in the ruins after all? Nami and Robin exchanged a worried glance, their concern evident in their furrowed brows.

Nami broke the silence first. "Wait, Law," she interjected, her voice tinged with apprehension. "Shouldn't we consider the possibility that whatever happened last night might happen again? Maybe we should cancel today's expedition and regroup."

Robin nodded in agreement, her expression grave. "She's right, Law. We don't know what we're up against, and it's better to err on the side of caution," she added, her tone measured but firm.

Bepo, ever loyal, spoke up first. "We trust your judgment, Law. But perhaps it would be wise to heed Nami-san and Robin-san's advice." His gaze unwavering as he met Law's eyes. Shachi and Penguin nodded in agreement. "Yeah, boss. We don't want to take any unnecessary risks," Shachi added, his voice tinged with concern.

Law's jaw tightened as he weighed their words, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. On one hand, he was loath to admit defeat, to let fear dictate their actions. But on the other, he couldn't ignore the nagging sense of unease that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness.

Finally, after a long moment of contemplation, Law nodded reluctantly, his decision made. "Alright, we'll cancel today's expedition," he conceded, his tone resigned but determined. "But we'll reconvene tomorrow, first thing in the morning."

Add with that, the crew dispersed, their hearts heavy with worry for their captain. Law, determined yet troubled, couldn't shake the feeling that the shadows of the ruins had followed him back to the submarine.

After breakfast, as Law began to walk back to his office, Luffy made his way through the Polar Tang’s narrow corridors, his usual carefree demeanor tempered by concern for his friend. Reaching Law’s study, he knocked gently on the door before poking his head inside.

“Law?” Luffy called softly, stepping into the room. The soft glow of lamplight cast flickering shadows across the walls, and the cluttered desk bore witness to Law's sleepless night.

Law looked up from the ancient text he was examining, his eyes tired but alert. “Luffy,” he acknowledged, his voice a mix of surprise and curiosity. “What brings you here?”

Luffy sauntered over, his straw hat tilted back slightly. “I wanted to check on you,” he said, his tone uncharacteristically serious. “You didn’t look so good this morning, and everyone’s worried about you.”

Law sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine. Just a bit tired,” he said, trying to downplay the exhaustion that weighed heavily on him.

Luffy frowned, clearly unconvinced. “You’re not just tired, Law. Something’s bothering you. You can talk to me, you know.”

Law hesitated, the memory of the haunting dream and the shattered glass still fresh in his mind. “It’s… complicated,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “Last night, I saw something. Or rather, someone. A spirit, I think. She’s been haunting me since we entered the ruins.”

Luffy’s eyes widened, a mix of curiosity and concern. “A spirit? Like a ghost?”

“Yes,” Law confirmed. “She’s been appearing to me, whispering things, making me feel like I’m losing my mind. And I can’t get a clear look at her face. It’s like she’s always just out of reach.”

Luffy’s frown deepened. “That sounds really creepy, Law. Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

“I didn’t want to alarm anyone,” Law replied, rubbing his temples. “And I thought maybe it was just the stress and lack of sleep. But Usopp mentioned feeling something strange last night too.”

Luffy nodded, his expression thoughtful. “We need to figure this out together. No more keeping things to yourself, okay? We’re a team.”

Law managed a small smile, appreciating Luffy’s unwavering support. “Alright, Luffy. I’ll keep you in the loop from now on.”

Satisfied, Luffy grinned and gave Law a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Good. Now, get some rest. We need you at your best if we’re going to solve this mystery.” Luffy turned to leave before stopping at the door, his brightened with an idea.

“Hey, maybe we should ask Brook about this! He knows all about spirits and stuff. I’ll go find him!” He flashed Law a reassuring grin before running out, his flip-flops slapping harshly against the floor. The sound echoed down the hallway, gradually fading away.

Once alone, Law closed his amber eyes and rubbed his temples, attempting to ease the pounding headache. Just as he began to relax, a soft, mocking voice interrupted the silence.

“So, you’re going to tell everyone about me? How cute!~”

His eyes snapped open, scanning the room, but he saw no one. The same strange feeling washed over him, a cold tingling sensation prickling the back of his neck. “Who’s there?” he demanded, his voice steady but edged with tension.

No response.

Law’s gaze swept across the room, his heart pounding in his chest. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts, and closed his eyes once more. The soft giggling that followed sent a shiver down his spine. It seemed to come from right in front of him.

Without hesitation, Law activated his powers. A transparent barrier materialized around him, designed to trap the owner of the voice inside. As the barrier solidified, he opened his eyes and was met with the sight of the woman from his dreams.

She floated before him, her form shimmering slightly. Her eyes were a deep, entrancing purple, and her hair flowed like a silken cascade around her face. She wore a white dress that seemed to be made of light, moving as though it had a life of its own. Her features were delicate yet haunting, with an air of otherworldly beauty.

“You’re persistent, aren’t you?” she said, her voice a blend of amusement and admiration. Her gaze locked onto his, a mix of challenge and intrigue dancing in her eyes.

Law held her gaze, his mind racing. “Who are you?” he demanded.

“And what do you want from me?”

She tilted her head slightly, a small, enigmatic smile playing on her lips. “I am someone who has been waiting a very long time for someone like you. You have something I need, and we are bound together until you help me reclaim what was lost.”

Law’s eyes narrowed, suspicion and curiosity warring within him.

“Bound together? How?”

The woman floated closer, the air around her growing colder. “You will find out soon enough. But for now, remember this: we are tied by fate, and only by working together can we both find what we seek.”

As she spoke, Law couldn’t help but feel a pull toward her, a magnetic force that both intrigued and unsettled him. He knew that this encounter would test him in ways he had never imagined.

With a lingering look, the woman began to fade, her form dissolving into the air. “Did you miss me, Law?” she whispered, her voice echoing softly in the now-empty room.

Law stood there, his mind reeling from the encounter. The mystery of the ruins had just become infinitely more complicated. Giggling could be heard behind him and he turned in its direction.

She had reappeared near his bookshelf, and as her fingers ghosted over the spines. "Have you read all of them?" she asked, giving a slight head tilt, her voice gentle and lingering.

Law's initial shock quickly gave way to anger, his voice growing cold and sharp. “Why are you here?” he demanded, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with the spirit.

Law's shock was palpable as the woman smiled at him, her form shimmering slightly as she phased out of the barrier effortlessly. His eyes widened in disbelief, the normally composed and calculating surgeon caught completely off guard.

He had meticulously created the barrier, ensuring that it was impenetrable. Yet, here she was, slipping through it as if it were made of air.

"What... how?" he stammered, his voice tinged with a mix of confusion and frustration. His mind raced to understand what he had just witnessed, to find some logical explanation for the impossible sight before him.

The woman, still wearing that enigmatic smile, tilted her head slightly, her eyes glowing with an eerie purple light. "They won’t believe you, ya know?" she said softly, her voice echoing through the chamber like a haunting melody. "No one else can see me."

Her words sent a shiver down Law's spine, the implications sinking in like a cold blade. His crew, his allies—none of them would understand, let alone believe, what he had seen. The realization left him feeling isolated, the weight of the mystery pressing heavily on his shoulders.

He took a step back, his mind working furiously to piece together the puzzle. "Who... what are you?" he demanded, his voice regaining some of its usual authority despite the lingering shock.

The woman only smiled wider, her form beginning to fade into the shadows. "You'll find out soon enough," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But for now, remember: you're not alone, even when you think you are."

Law’s jaw clenched, his frustration mounting. “Oh, so you just want to torment me?”

She giggled, the sound both light and mocking, as she floated closer to the barrier again. “More like your own personal...” She paused, her eyes glinting with mischief as she slowly scanned the room.

“Companion,” she finished, her voice dripping with a mix of seduction and playfulness.

Law's anger simmered beneath the surface, his gaze hardening. His office, a space usually dedicated to logical thought and meticulous research, was now invaded by her presence. Her eyes roamed over the various artifacts and texts scattered around, a blend of curiosity and amusement in her expression.

"Why me?" Law thought, his inner turmoil evident. "What could you possibly want from me?"

She tilted her head, her lips curling into a knowing smile as if she had heard his thoughts. “Because you’re interesting, Law. Strong, intelligent, and... so very, very alone .”

Law’s eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "You’re toying with me," he thought, the realization igniting a fierce determination within him. "I won't let you get to me."

The spirit drifted closer, her presence cold and unsettling. She leaned in, her voice a sultry whisper. “You can’t hide your thoughts from me. I know you’re intrigued, even if you won’t admit it.”

Law’s heart pounded in his chest, a mix of anger and something he couldn’t quite name. He tried to maintain his composure, but her proximity made it difficult. Her presence was invasive, yet oddly compelling.

“You think you can taunt me?” Law spat, his voice steady despite the chaos inside him. “You’re just a ghost. A nuisance.”

Her laughter filled the room, light and melodic, yet laced with a sinister edge. “A nuisance, am I? Or perhaps something more?” She floated around his desk, her fingers trailing over the surface, papers being knocked over.

“I could be anything you need, Law. A guide, a helper... even a lover.”

Law’s breath caught in his throat at her last word, his mind reeling. "Fucking manipulating me," he thought, a mix of anger and fascination swirling within him. "Trying to get under my skin."

She stopped in front of him, her purple eyes locking onto his with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine. “You can’t deny the connection between us,” she said softly, her voice almost tender. “We are bound together, and the sooner you accept it, the easier this will be.”

Law took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “What do you want?” he asked again, his voice low but firm.

Her smile widened, a mix of satisfaction and something darker. “I want you to help me with a little something,” she replied, her voice a soft, persuasive whisper. “And in return, I could possibly help you with whatever you seek in those ruins.”

Law's mind raced, the logical part of him battling the growing sense of intrigue. "This is madness," he said, but he couldn't deny the pull he felt toward her, the strange, inexplicable connection.

The spirit leaned in closer, her breath cold against his skin. “So is life. Think about it, Law. Together, we could uncover secrets beyond your wildest dreams.”

“All you have to do is trust me.”

As she floated back, her form beginning to fade, Law knew he was at a crossroads. The logical part of his mind screamed to resist, but the lure of the unknown, the promise of answers, was too tempting to ignore.

With a final, lingering glance, the spirit disappeared, leaving Law alone in his study, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The mystery of the ruins had just taken a turn he never could have anticipated, and he knew that his journey was far from over.

“Boo!"

Law jerked awake, his heart pounding in his chest as he spun around to confront the source of the voice. He hadn't even realized he'd fallen asleep standing. His hand swiped at the air, but there was nothing there except the lingering echo of her laughter.

"Ah, ah, ah,~" the voice teased. "I thought you learned last night, you can’t touch me." Her giggles danced around the room like a mischievous melody.

Law's heart raced as he spun around, trying to catch her.

She appeared behind him, perched on his desk with a smug smile playing on her lips. Now her form was almost solid, her presence both chilling and alluring. As she leaned in, Law could feel the icy caress of her nails trailing up his spine through his jacket, sending volts of electricity through him.

“But I can touch you.~”

He gasped at the sharpness before turning around.

Finally pinning his glare on her, he saw her smirk. "Hi~" she teased, her voice a seductive purr that would have been cute under different circumstances. She lifted her left hand to allow her fingers to gesture in a small wave.

"What do you fucking want?" Law growled.

She laughed softly, the sound a dangerous symphony. "So tense, Law. I want what we talked about. Help me, and I'll help you with your little ruins."

That stirred something primal within him.

"I want what we talked about. Help me, and I'll help you with your little ruins."

Law's jaw clenched as he considered her words, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. "And if I refuse?" he demanded, his voice a low growl.

Her smile stretched wider, a sinister curve that sent a chill down his spine. Her lips were a captivating sight, possessing an otherworldly allure.

Their plushness, reminiscent of the soft petals of a rose, formed a perfect pout that seemed almost too exquisite to be real. Bathed in a luscious hue of crimson, they exuded an intoxicating allure, drawing him in with their tantalizing beauty.

But as her smile widened, revealing the faintest hint of those hidden canines, the illusion shattered, and he was confronted with the unsettling juxtaposition of beauty and menace.

"Then I'll simply have to linger, won't I? But deep down, you don't want me to depart, do you?"

Her gaze bore into him, filled with a deceptive light that felt unsettlingly artificial. Doubts crept into his mind—is this reality, or had he already succumbed to madness, leaving only the haunting aftermath of his fractured psyche?

"The big bad captain, always sooo lonely, aren't you?" Her voice was a sultry whisper, dripping with temptation as she leaned in closer, just an arm's length away. "I could fix that," she murmured, her words laced with a promise of something darker, something irresistible.

"Shut up," Law rasped, his voice strained as he struggled to catch his breath. The room seemed to close in around him, the once steady glow of the lights now flickering erratically, casting unsettling shadows that danced across the walls.

His vision blurred, spots swirling before his eyes like ominous specters taunting him with their presence. Each breath felt like a battle, the air thick and suffocating as he fought to remain conscious, to cling to the fragile thread of reality slipping through his fingers.

Her gown boasted a daringly low-cut neckline, leaving her shoulders and décolletage bare to the eye. The fabric clung to her curves like a second skin, accentuating every graceful contour of her form. As she leaned closer, the tantalizing glimpse of her exposed skin ignited a primal desire within him.

The feral part of his brain, usually dormant and disciplined, stirred to life at the sight. It yearned to seize her, to pin her against the desk and claim her with a ferocious intensity. His lips tingled with the urge to both bite and kiss, to leave his mark upon her skin as a testament to his possession.

The dichotomy between his civilized facade and the savage instincts clawing at the surface created a tension that pulsed through his veins, urging him to succumb to the raw, untamed passion coursing through him.

“Admit it."

Law's mind was a battlefield of logic and emotion. He couldn't deny the strange pull he felt toward her, the way her presence affected him so profoundly. But he also knew he couldn’t let her win so easily. Both alluring and yet so infuriating.

"Go." he said finally, his voice steely. “I'll find a way to get rid of you."

She floated back, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Oh, Law, I wouldn't dream of it. So for now, let's just enjoy each other's company."

As she faded into the shadows, Law knew his personal hell was only beginning. Crouched in the middle of the floor, he tried desperately to steady his breathing and calm his racing heart. The spirit had just disappeared, leaving him alone with his thoughts and the chill of her presence still lingering in the air.

With a quick motion, Law dropped the barrier, the protective field dissolving around him. He ran a hand through his hair, the tremor in his fingers betraying the turmoil inside him. His mind raced with questions, the woman's words echoing in his ears.

Suddenly, the door to his study burst open, and Luffy, Brook, and Zoro came rushing in. Luffy's wide eyes scanned the room as he bounded over to Law.

"Law! Who were you talking to?" Luffy asked, his voice filled with curiosity and concern.

Brook's skeletal frame clattered as he moved closer. "Yohoho! You look like you saw a ghost, Law-san!"

Zoro, ever the skeptic, crossed his arms and gave Law a measured look. "What's going on, Law? We heard voices."

Law took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to explain. "I... I saw her again. The spirit. She was here, talking to me."

Luffy's eyes widened even further. "A spirit? Really? What did she say?"

Law rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on him. "She said that no one else can see her. That we’re bound together unless I help her with something." Brook's bony jaw dropped in surprise. "A spirit bound to you? That sounds like quite the predicament, yohoho!"

Zoro raised an eyebrow. "And you believe her?" Law's gaze hardened. "I don't know what to believe. But she... she felt real. Cold, like ice. And she said she could read my thoughts."

Luffy frowned, his usual cheerfulness dampened by concern. "What do we do, then? Do we still go to the ruins?"

Law shook his head. "Not today. I need to figure this out first. But we can’t ignore it either. There’s something in those ruins that connects to her." Brook nodded, his eyes hollow but understanding. "We’ll help you, Law-san. Spirits can be tricky, but we’ll figure it out together."

Zoro uncrossed his arms, a look of determination crossing his face. "Yeah, we’ve faced weirder things. We’ll handle this." Luffy grinned, his usual optimism returning. "We'll get to the bottom of this, Law. Don’t worry!"

Law felt a small sense of relief at their support. "Thanks, guys. Just... keep an eye out. If you notice anything strange, let me know immediately."

As tension thickened in the air, Luffy's usually carefree demeanor shifted into a concerned frown. He turned to Brook, his brows furrowing. "Brook, do you have any idea what's happening?"

Brook's bony features twisted in uncertainty, his eye sockets widening slightly. "I'm afraid not, Luffy. This is quite beyond my expertise." Zoro stepped forward, his stance determined. "I'll contact Perona. She might have some insight into this."

Law hesitated, a flicker of concern shadowing his features. "I'm not sure, Zoro. Let's hold off on bringing anyone else into this unless it's absolutely necessary." Zoro nodded in agreement, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "Understood. But if things escalate, we may not have a choice."

Amidst the uncertainty, Bepo and Franky burst into the room, their expressions grim with urgency. "Law, something's sapping the power from the sub," Franky announced, his voice tense. "We'll have to initiate an emergency break using what's left of the power!"

Law's frustration boiled to the surface, his curse sharp with frustration. "Damn it! Alright, let's make it happen."

Luffy, always quick to offer a solution, interjected with optimism. "I can stretch us to safety near the ruins. We'll find a way to make it work!" As Law weighed Luffy's suggestion, his gaze flicked to the sea water coating the sub's exterior. "Luffy, I can't. You'd have to touch the sea water, and that's too risky."

Luffy's brows furrowed in thought before his face lit up with a new idea. "I'll ask Robin! The top of the sub should be dry. Let's go!"

With a newfound sense of purpose, the crew hurried to find Robin, knowing that her abilities might offer a solution to their predicament. As they approached her, Zoro kept a watchful eye on Law, noticing the strain etched on his features.

"Law, you look like you're about to kill over," Zoro remarked, his concern evident. "You should go see Chopper."

Law shook his head, his exhaustion evident in the sag of his shoulders. "I'm fine, Zoro. I just need to—"

Before Law could finish his sentence, Brook interjected with a suggestion of his own. "Why don't you get some rest on our ship, Law? You'll recharge faster if you're with the rest of the crew."

Reluctantly, Law conceded, realizing that his body was reaching its limits. As he made his way to the crew quarters, he caught a glimpse of you, smiling and waving from the dark corner of the navigation room. A sense of comfort washed over him before darkness enveloped his vision, and he succumbed to the embrace of sleep.

“LAW!”

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

Part 1 Here.

Part 3. here

Shout out to @mororona for being one of my biggest supports!

Also posted on the ao3 account.

Be sure to check out my other works and leave likes and comments, they really help. I have a fic for almost everyone here in the master list. Drop a follow as well if you please. Don’t be shy to leave me a little reblog if you want.

My DM's and requests are open!

I promise I bite,~

Seen you soon my loves!!~ <<33

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fellow-travelers-fic-recs · 1 year ago

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Fellow Travelers Fic Recs | Current WIPs: Feb 2024

Active WIPs with most recent updates posted in the past month featuring time travel, road trips, fake dating and some rare pairs. Happy reading!

✨ Be sure to show the authors some love and appreciation with kudos and comments on the fics you enjoyed!

*Authors: if your tumblr (or other socials) isn’t linked, and you'd like it to be, let me know and I'll be happy to add it. Or, if you are linked, and you'd rather not be, please contact me and I will remove it.

✍️ A Disaster, Beyond Measure by drabbleswabbles* [NR, 1K, 1/?] Hawkins Fuller is a campaign manager with a PR disaster on his hands. The solution involves pretending to date none other than Timothy Laughlin.

Featuring: unrealistic portrayals of the life and job of a campaign manager for the sake of the fake dating trope.

✍️ Manhattan by @morulezopelforever | OpelForever [E, 17K, 17/?] This story is based on Tim's brief romance with Father Gallagher when he was still a student at a Jesuit university in New York, a few years before he met Hawk in Washington. I believe that this little tale of a lost first love broke down any boundary that might have stopped Hawk from starting a courtship with Tim.

Part 1 of The Violet and the Rose

✍️ Too old to play (and too young to mess around) by @bejeweledmp3 | ninav [M, 15K, 2/5] Kimberly Fuller goes on a two-week vacation to San Francisco, in which she: drinks excessive amounts of tea, gets betrayed, cries more than she should, eats donuts, and seeks out truth with the help of a man she only knows from a presentation card; not necessarily in that order. But mostly, she finds her father in every least expected place. And learns to make her peace with what that means.

✍️ I Sing the Body Electric by telescape8* [M, 17K, 7/?] Modern AU. It all starts on Election Night 2016. Tim falls hard. Hawk falls harder.

✍️ Sands of Time (Turn Backwards) by @brouill3r | brouiller [NR, 10K, 4/?] 1987 Hawkins Fuller is full of regrets for the life he's lived, though Tim once told him he regrets nothing. Hawk so wishes he could say the same. In the still night air of a hotel room, clutching a cracked paperweight to his chest like it's carved of the finest gold, Hawk gets his wish. Or, a time-travel fix-it fic that nobody asked for.

✍️ What Happens in Washington by Adidastommo* [E, 7K, 4/?] Hawk knew better than to begin an affair with someone who worked with him, let alone someone who worked for him. It was beyond risky. But, when the recent college graduate Tim Laughlin begins working as his assistant, Hawk starts to challenge his better judgment.

✍️ Sempiternal by winstarkasm* [NR, 7K, 5/20] Sempiternal : eternal and unchanging; everlasting “I will find you, openly choose you, love you without conditions, and be the person you deserve.” - Hawkins Zebadiah Fuller

✍️ We’ll be on the road like jack kerouac by @jesterlesbian | captainquint [M, 2K, 1/5] He tried to think of what Tim would do or say. The man who had only spoken to his son a handful of times over one weekend in 1968, but had seemed to understand him far better than Hawk ever had. The business card felt like it was burning a hole in his pocket. An idea burst to life in Hawk’s mind. This was an emergency if he’d ever seen one. “What would you say to coming with me to San Francisco?”

Or, Hawk and Jackson go on a cross-country road trip to San Francisco.

✍️ Beautiful Things by @carrotcakecrumble | LuxLox [M, 1K, 1/4] -- I turn away from the radio I’d just been tuning, there’s a crackle and pop on the wave, but Miller’s ‘Over the rainbow’ is just about spattering through in tune. Kenny says something about how he loves this one. It could be the first time he’s hearing it, for all I know. He falls in love with everything. – A multi-chapter fic following a young Hawk and Kenny throughout their relationship, from beginning to end.

✍️ Send Back the World by Anonymous [NR, 2K, 1/?] There is nothing so bitter as regret. And nothing so sweet as a second chance.

Or, Hawk gets yet another chance to fuck it up again.

#ftficrecs #fellow travelers fic recs #ftfics wips #works in progress #fellow travelers fics #fellow travelers #ftfics collections #ftfics feb24

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cookiesandbiscuits · 2 years ago

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About the Baker: Additional Information

Hi, it's me, your resident baker girl! This post are for those who want to interact with me/want to be moots and wish to know what my interests are!

And so, here we are!

BASIC PERSONAL INFO:

Name: Cookie or Cass (pick whichever you're comfortable with)

Age: 19

Pronouns: She/Her

Likes: chilly weather, books, sweets, sea, music, starry skies, DUCKS!, cats, foxes, forests, hot anime guys/fictional characters

Dislikes: COCKROACHES, garlic, hot weather, annoying noises

INTERESTS:

1. Anime:

- Yumeiro Patisserie

- Toilet Bound Hanako-kun

- Kamisama Kiss

- Cardcaptor Sakura

- Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle

- Gugure! Kokkuri-san

- Hell Girl

- Studio Ghibli movies

2. Manga:

- Toilet Bound Hanako-kun

- Mairimashita! Iruma-kun

- Ouran High School Host Club

- Kamisama Kiss

- Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle

3. Mobile Games:

- Obey Me!

- Ikemen Vampire

- Twisted Wonderland

- Cats Are Liquid

4. Webtoon (there's a LOT ^^;)

- I'm the Grim Reaper

- Siren's Lament

- Eaternal Nocturnal

- Regina Rena: To The Unforgiven

- Lore Olympus

- I'm the Queen in This Life

- The Remarried Empress

- Surviving Romance

- See You in My 19th Life

- Omniscient Reader

- The Guy Upstairs

5. K-drama/Shows:

- Goblin

- Hotel del Luna

- I'm Not a Robot

- Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story

- The Lost Recipe

- Maria Clara at Ibarra

6. Cartoons

- Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir

- Star Vs. The Forces of Evil

- The Owl House

- Amphibia

- Gravity Falls

- Steven Universe

7. Movie Genres:

- Horror/Thriller

- Adventure/Fantasy

- Romance

- Comedy

- Mystery

8. Science, esp. Astronomy, Geology, Biology, Paleontology

9. History!!

10. Arts & Crafts, and Interior Design

FAVORITE CHARACTERS <3333 (not in specific order)

Lucifer (Obey Me!) - Luci!! The love of my life, my starlight, the apple of my eye... My No. 1 husbando (⁠*⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠)⁠/⁠～⁠♡

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Ikemen Vampire) - Mo-Mo!! My lovely prickly pear!! Comes VERY close to Luci when it comes to my levels of simping

Solomon (Obey Me!) - funky magic man!! A guy I would probably have a crush on irl #1

Floyd Leech (Twisted Wonderland) - My tackle hug buddy!! We're a chaos-incarnate when combined >:3

Azul Ashengrotto (Twisted Wonderland) - A guy I would probably have a crush on irl #2

Riddle Rosehearts (Twisted Wonderland) - The character who made me interested in TWST. Also a guy who I'd probably have a love-hate relationship with irl.

Teru Minamoto (Toilet Bound Hanako-kun) - I would defend this guy from his haters!

Tsuchigomori (Toilet Bound Hanako-kun) - He's nice :D

Yako (Toilet Bound Hanako-kun) - A QUEEN! Also very goofy

Joker (Kaitou Joker) - First anime crush but would annoy the hell out of me irl. My darling toebeans.

Howl Jenkins Pendragon (Howl's Moving Castle) - a crushable handsome wizard in the movie, a goofy magic man in the book

Rena Rubel (Regina Rena: To The Unforgiven) - ANOTHER QUEEN!! My TWST Yuusona Elyssabeth Alcyone is based on her

Kalego Naberius (Mairimashita! Iruma-kun) - My secret manga husbando (have you seen him in the manga?? He's hot >///<)

Tomoe (Kamisama Kiss) - I can't believe I forgot to add him here. Malewife material fr.

Arthur Conan Doyle (Ikemen Vampire) - 🥹😘❤️❤️❤️ He's so... he's so... ❤️❤️❤️ I love him so much AAAAAAA!!! Also someone who's VERY close to Luci when it comes to the amount of simping I did over him. Very stinky at first but he'll grow on you. A very very sweet (and traumatized) guy. I would love to marry and take care of him.

Dazai Osamu (Bungo Stray Dogs) - Scared the hell out of me the first time I saw him from Auburn's post. A silly, goofy, and unhinged guy.

#personal!!#a cookie lore?!?!#self introduction

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soranihimawari · 2 years ago

Text

Here in the Neverafter…

A Faery Court AU! & JJK story

Pairing: royal!megumi x f!reader

Word Count: 8.6k

Warnings: 🔞—smut scenes are included in this work

Rating: FMF (fushiguro Megumi fluff)

Neverafter, much like Neverland, is a forest filled with wounderous creatures like fae, fauna, elves, goblins, and even…sorcerers. Time moves slowly here, a half day spent in the forest adds three hours to the material plane. It is sealed away by invisible spells and only those with the blood borne can travel freely between realms until they turn eighteen years of age; afterwards their memories of being in the forest will fade almost immediately once crossing the threshold to return to the villages of mortals and men.

Like tales of old, your story of intrigue, mystery, and love is detailed with the ornate words of

Once Upon a Time:

There was a fair young lady born within the walls of a village. Her parents were charming and full of joy for their first born was graced with hair as light as the silver of the stars and eyes the deepest shade of the midnight sapphire skies. A neighbor had come over to grace the family with a blessing of the fey around their meadow of wildflowers in the easternmost field outside of the communal farm lands. It was a week since your birth as the party for a name-sake day would be held as is customary for this part of the kingdom.

“Glad tidings to the Mino-family,” the neighbor said. Their arms draped in long haori fabrics made from the threads of love and life.

“Keisuke-san?” your father is perplexed, yet your mother, whose breast you still are suckling on, bows in reverence. “Yer a fae?”

“Hai, that I am,” the neighbor smiles as your mother allows the person to come forth. “You had invited me and my kin, so a blessing we shall bestow upon the fruits of your union.”

An infant you coos as your mother tucks her breast away.

“Gentle kid will you be, kind hearted and true to your virtues,” Keisuke says, the swaddle blanket shimmers as you stare with large infantile eyes with a smile. “May you find love and friends early in your adult mortal life.”

Your mother thanks Keisuke as your father answers the door once more for one final late court member’s arrival. A dark crowlike raven man crosses the threshold of your parents’ home. He was the local elven raced butcher who had assisted in making sure your mother had enough meat while you grew in her womb; his mistress was known as the empress of corruption in the court of fey–his gift was a sword and bow.

“Both noble weapons for a young tactician from this humble human village to take up when the time calls for it,” the elf begins. Keisuke acknowledges his gifts, though perplexed more so than your father who is excited to teach you the tricks of raising your own cattle, yet hunting is a skill you will need when you first leave home for celebrations (in case of emergencies).

“Ah, and my lady sends her regards as she is too busy cursing a princess’ family for not inviting her to the royal christening,” the elf continues. “However, when the girl should marry, her lover will be a fair ruler, that is my lady’s gift–a love pure, true, and fated in the heavens.”

Your parents stare at their two neighbors who bestow gifts of virtues on you, which if any other mortals would have realized the lesson the fable would have told. Of course aside from your eternal living godfathers, your parents and grandparents were in attendance as well. Your beauty is natural as another kind fairy of lost things, a white haired raven familiar, Karasu, waits outside for an adult to invite her inside. Your grandmother greets the tailor with an auspicious missing-canine smile. (over the years, you are thankful for your parents observing and believing of the fey court in your small village), Karasu shakes her shoulders. Her mole by her lips is more pronounced as your mother presents the sleeping babe to her.

“My, my,” she peers into the blanket to see the softened babe asleep. “What a gorgeous little human. You did well, YLN-sama…Ah!” With a snap of her fingers, Karasu pinches the cloth and your small humble rag-dress.

“Do we have a name yet?” she inquires.

“Makoto…Mako,” your father looks at his wife with a proud smile. “Right?”

“Mm,” your grandparents and mother concur.

“Well, I, Karasu, of the fey aviary court, bestow the gift of everlasting beauty upon your daughter. May our gifts protect and guide her until the end of her days.”

Together the magics they are familiar with cause your family home to become aglow with mystic light and even bioluminous fauna.

Nineteen years later, you are grown. You have been sent with your father on an outing to the now better-developed city center. The village over the years, more so in the past decade, had been absorbed by the kingdom of the southern isles in the outcomes of a near civil war.

Regardless, your outing to the town square has your father giving you some extra pocket money to buy a small pastry. Your mother may have been a bit more forgiving, your gather your father will give you anything so long as you wish. Their neighbors, who stop by every year on the eve of your birthday, has also filled your head with a little more fascinating stories filled with myths of witches and perhaps in your mind’s eye you’d love to be considered a champion of the enchanted forests from which they were born. Even Karasu, who with your parents’ blessings, had gone out with you to the forest to enjoy your first stag hunting trip solo. You were seventeen.

Alas, that was two years ago, so flash forward, you are now in front of the library and cafe with a wide smile. Your friend, a newer mature face since childhood, has his back toward the glass door. You fix your hair behind your ears, straighten your posture and as you smooth out the wrinkles in the sleeve of your own form flattering haori, you inhale deeply. Upon your exhale, you reach to open the door. It chimes in the wind as you gracefully glide across the floor as your skirt swishes quietly grazing the floor where your flat shoes creep up toward the left of your most trusted companion–young Megumi had, in the earliest years of his life, had been kidnapped by a mercenary hired by the crown. His features seemed familiar of the aging queen who rules the south. She was too old to bear children safely, yet Megumi was raised as a royal though he was received in loving arms at the ripe age of two on the palace doors. The mercenary for hire had made an unworldly deal with a sorcerer of darkness and in that time, an infant of the crown was maimed in a carriage accident.

Megumi, lovely babe he was, had enchanted blood in his veins. He was borne of fae and magical parents, yet to survive in the human world, his mercenary and now most respected teacher was loyal to the Yaga family whose eldest daughter was between realms, fast asleep for the proximity of the years Megumi has been alive. His powers of shadows and darkness manifest as young as six, yet now, thirteen years later, he finds his acquaintanceship with you quite endearing. You are fearless, outspoken in times of injustice in a town shaming a half-ling, your voice, hoarse with outrage, roars for the townspeople to stop the throwing of rotting food to your sweet bosom buddy, Junpei, cursed with body shifting blood, you free him from the contraption. The townspeople, Megumi included, curious with instantaneous disgust as you help Junpei stand make way for you to pass. From then on, Megumi tries to escape the sight of the mercenaries Gojo and Nanami as his personal guard, Itadori heads to training grounds, to hang out in the village furthest away from the castle. He could have done without Yaga’s intimidating presence nor his masterclass of magic and trickery. The unfortunate truth was discovered by him on a whim in the hall of records when trying to cure his sister, it was a druken Gojo who spills the truth when he went to check on the ‘sleeping’ prince’s room. Regardless, as you steady Junpei to lean against you, you stare through Megumi with a stern look, hobbling away into the flower field. That day forward, the young prince learns to classify his emotions as love, purity of such a thing is questioned by Nanami who begin to notice his changed behavior as another suitor is sent away at the door where megumi begins to research the history of the awful curses and faes of darkness. He doesn’t know how close you are to the fae and elven witches of old, it’s not like he needed to know blessings of luck and good fortune that rest in your semi-enchanted features. Your natural brightness as you befriend him one day at Karasu’s tailor shop cements Megumi’s needs to know you more intimately.

“Ya should really try the blueberry tart,” you say when you announce your presence. The baker’s assistant, Nobara, nods while she asks you which tea you prefer this afternoon. “Friendship brew please with another cup for my dearest Megumi-chan.”

You smile and when you’re about to drop some silver coin, Megumi has a minute pouch in his hands he places on the counter.

“I got it, go find a seat,” Megumi whispers to you, ensuring you do not see how harsh the sun dyes his cheeks. The baker’s assistant as you walk away, starts to look from you to him back to you again. Then, she takes an opportunity to tease the strapping young man who comes to wear the same shades of plush blue as your eyes. You sit in the solarium as Megumi is heard stoically saying, “not a word to YLN-san.”

You want to pry as he sits across from you after pulling out a chair in the solarium, yet you don’t. Maybe it’s because you’d confirm his heart wants you two to be as one, so you save the question for another date. An innocent snack date commences as two friends subtly flirt back and forth. Your father, with satchels filled of fruit and vegetables in his hands, passes the cafe with a twinge of a smirk on their face. He leaves his child behind with a sweet thought of the young man coming over to formerly ask for your hand; its been far too long since your dear friend from girlhood, Junpei, had he himself disappeared into the forest all those years ago. You had retrieved a note with your name on it the eve after Junpei’s immediate disappearance made you stay up late at night, crying of joy for learning that he was alive and well with shifters who took him in.

Of course, loneliness had taken its toll on you when none other than Megumi had accidentally ripped your daily garb as he begrudgingly perused the village. It was his first outing after losing Itadori Yuuji in the crowd of travelers. So many horses and carriages for hire blocked the young knight’s line of sight, yet Megumi jogs between families yelling a triumphant, “Four hours! Be here and we can return home, Itadori.”

In such a time, your dress was torn by a quite rude nobleman who seemed to have steady your off balance figure back to a straightened one in a smooth fluid motion. Not very many people had used archaic words of love until Megumi laid hands on your silken hair and the way you’re chest to chest with him as your hands gripped his tunic; your developed chest breathes rapidly out of shock of this bold stranger, yet when you refocus, you’re dangerously closer, almost a hair’s breadth from being nose to nose with the young man, whose breath is uneven. Megumi introduces himself as you clear your throat when you push him off of you–”I’ll pay for the skirt’s repair lady…”

“You better,” you sound bitterly annoyed then. Of course, you both were on the cusp of turning sixteen then. Now, with you both about to be twenty years young, you sit across from each other as the afternoon drolls on. You fill his head with stories about your time with your three godparents in the realms of the Neverafter; there was wonder and terror as the faeries begin to ring in the summer breezes. You’re quite an honorary distinguished guest as you are considered a rare bloom this festive season. As you explain, Megumi is enthralled by your tale of how you become the child chosen to represent the magical realm to the mortals. It was a longshot, as one might have guessed, but Megumi had begun to feed you gaps in his childhood as you peruse the book of names seeking some peace for the noble lod.

“Our tea is almost done,” he says as you pour the last bit of the warm liquid in his cup.

“So it seems,” the tart is now only pastry crumbs. Leaning back in your chair, you seem to relax your shoulders. Megumi’s eyes are dilating in wanton lust as the long rose gold chain with rare gemstone flowers he had sent Nanami to the pearl jeweler fashion a necklace for your previous nineteenth year, decorates your decolletage. The pendant disappears in between the valley of your breasts.

“Oh my gods,” he mumbles to himself. “I want to make you mine.”

You arch your brows at him, sort of cheekily amused by his thoughts being said aloud.

“Bold of you to assume I would refuse, Fushiguro Megumi,” you reply. The blood drains from his flustered face and it rushes southward. You stifle a yawn before you rise out of your seat. You gave him his original name now, it was the only hint the young prince would have when he returns to his home, a bit embarrassed by how his body reacts to your womanly form. Your silhouette, after you press a parting kiss atop his head when you part, livens his heart a bit. Megumi had enough ammunition to grill his adoptive guardians as to why they took him away from his birth family. Gojo steps into the court one day to ease the blow of the pride jewel of the fabled lost fae prince. Familiar hounds had been summoned from shadows.

“It is a tale of a prince and the pauper,” Megumi’s mother-figure says. “Our daughter, your sister is ill with an affliction caused by an aunt of yours. Malediction causes her to sleep for a century, boy, so we did what any selfish humans would do: take a bewitched child of the forest and raise him once we made sure his loose duke father had his mother unbeknownst killed after birthing you.”

“Lies! We are nothing more than strangers thanks to you,” Megumi is equally appalled and disgusted. His brow furrows in woeful melancholy as Gojo suggests pause and a breath as he adds his side of responsibility in causing the lad grief. “What made you even think of taking me of all people?”

“...we needed royal blood boy to take our place when we leave the realm of the living,” the old king strokes his beard.

The dogs bark and whine, confused why their master looked a bit more…feral.

“I need to leave. Do not send anyone after me,” Megumi exhales as his voice returns to a less volatile state. “Itadori! Ready my horse.”

“Yes, your grace.”

Megumi bows, excusing himself from the court, mentioning he will return with a level head when he feels ready or has come with a lover seeking marriage blessing. Gojo moves aside as he watches the young royal, whom he and Nanami helped raise on the training grounds, when Yaga nods, defeated for this day was when the old king loses his once treasured son.

Only in Megumi’s mind and body wishes to know and see is you–the first and only human at this point he trusts. Your kinfolk are by extension the ones he knew he could rest comfortably with for a while. Imagine your surprise when as the moon rises, you are still awake, reading a new copy of Master Herr Dosselmeyer’s copy of a nutcracker tale. You had come home with a flustered appearance just before supper explaining to both Karasu and your mother what your father had gossiped about earlier. Keisuke and his contemporary as well seemed to have sent shockwaves to your father’s heart when they confirmed how a noble youth may have crossed paths with his only daughter. Karasu and your mother giggles over tea, sharing knowing womanly looks when your torn dress was mended by a stranger. However, that is neither here nor there when a horse whinnies not too far from your family cottage. Your parents are already fast asleep when you pause your reading. Instinctively, you grab your saber by the door when a firm deft knock raps at your door.

Ever so quietly, you can barely hear Megumi’s voice sounding so forlorn and to you…he seemed a bit shaken and lost. You open the door, inviting him inside. He greets you with a hug, surprisingly different from the first trip and catch embrace he did at the town transit center, there is a desperation in the way he clutches your dressing gown. There is an underbust vest with a whalebone you wear that his slender fingers desperately hold on to. He’s so distraught to you, even as you maneuver your arms to comfort him, passing a hand over the back of his softened hair. His breathing slows as he listens to your voice reminding him to breathe slowly, in time with you.

“Megumi,” you nudge him away from your shoulder for a moment. “I’m going to make you some warmed milk, ok? You can sleep here and we can figure this all out in the morning.”

Morning comes, you left a note for your parents to explain why Megumi had left a dog of his with them for a little bit. You explain in curt detail where you had gone and when you return, you may be a bit older.

‘No, not eloping,’ you pen. ‘On a quest to return Megumi back to the fae court.’

“Honey! Get Keisuke and the butcher!” Your mother runs out the door, in the distance she sees your riding cloak flutter in the horizon by the border of the faery forest.

“What?! Wh—” he reads the letter and grips hours wife’s shoulders.

“Our daughter challenges the trials of love,” he presses a kiss on your mothers trembling brow. “Remember it wasn’t long before you gave up wings for a mortal man before,” she relaxes as she awaits her child’s safe return. “I suppose you’re right dear. She is more capable than we give her credit for.”

The guard dog whines before your father gives him a head pat.

“Your master will return, believe in him and her.”

Meanwhile you’re seated behind Megumi; a bow and quiver strapped to your back. The horse is a night-mare smoked gray agile in galloping has your arms around Megumi’s natural waist as you gasp, before regaining your breathing. Horse riding is something you haven’t done recently, but you do it for festival competitions, but when your old crush-friend shows up distraught at your doorstep, you do what you think is right.

Hours go by as the sun rises higher in the sky, you calmly pull the reins to slow the horse to a gentle trot.

“Megumi, calm yourself.”

Leaning back into your figure, a defeated sigh escapes his lips.

“We could get lost,” you for warn.

“Wouldn’t be the worst thing,” he shrugs with a lip jutting out.

You chuckle, poking his cheek.

“I know, but we’re in mystical lands now,” your voice reaches a vibrato that pulls him to a dreamlike rest. You hum a lullaby your mother sang when you learned of your parent’s connection to the lands you traverse with.

It’s a few miles later, a curious rabbit in a petticoat bows to you. He seems to be later off a coronation of a young miss, but he offers you a sweet flower crown to the beautiful boy making in your arms. The reins now held by you in one hand and with the flower crown resting upon Megumi‘s head. You smile at the regality it gives him.

Next, upon your travels after you wave off the rabbit down the mushroom kingdom signage, you see a rather tall pearly-ivy skinned woman; sharp features and wide neutral smile waves to the mare. You pause for a moment to converse the fae queen of dark magic.

“Godmother,” your voice is sickeningly poise and rigid as you bow your head.

“Daring child,” she has a predictive orb for her eyes only. “You love him, don’t you?”

“Love? Hmm…” you glance down at the askewd crown and the sleeping prince. His striking features bring a warmth to where he lays exhausted from the night’s antics when the truth he spills last night. “I suppose so, godmother. Who else would leave their home to return their friends to where they’re original families originated?”

Your voice lowers to a whisper, while you raise a free hand to caress his jaw.

“Love, my dear,” your godmother sees the vision of your life with the man here sleeping. “Can be a curse if it proves capricious, but with what you feel for His Highness it’s written in the stars.”

You nod, mouthing a thank you. The lady-like fae entity ruffles your hair.

“Come this way again little bird, I’ll give you a just reward for returning the princeling home.”

You agree out of obligation to the butcher’s mistress. However, as the afternoon continues, Megumi wakes as you guide his steed toward a well traversed path. Groaning, he sits up, half turning to you.

“Where-where are we?” His voice is groggy with fatigue.

“Deeper in the woods where I spent my youth,” you provide comfort he needs to hear. “I learned a lot about my mom’s realm.”

Another hour or so of riding along the path, you find yourself nodding off as you transfer the reins back to Megumi. Megumi doesn’t question the flowers on his head, he just presumed you paused to pick a few to strewn across his dome. You doze off comfortably like a child against his shoulder, humming a short lived, “wake me up when you want to break for camp. Grandfather’s home is a few minutes west…”

Megumi heeds your words until he does see the tailor in their fae creature form flutter about on the lawn of a posh mansion. Ostrich carriages waiting for use line the driveway. Here, your grandfather waves to signal Megumi to come forth. Elvish features and gaunt healthy elderly skin adorn the man, who for lack of better words seems to have passed on the silverly essence of your hair to you.

“Welcome to our family chateau,” your grandfather’s voice wakes you. “You must be that princeling the birds have been speaking about since my granddaughter here bright you into our threshold.”

By this point, the night-mare had been dismounted and you along with Megumi sit across a tired old man. You hold his hand firmly before you recount the night before.

“Fushiguro’s boy? Well that changes things,” your grandfather suddenly seems more lively than before.

“You know my father? Yaga tells me my mother is dead,” your eyes dart between the man to your right and your grandfather who hums.

“She was as pretty as she was wicked smart,” your grandfather muses. “She and i were classmates once in the school of magic and thievery…”

And so the afternoon and evening spent here in your grandparents’ abode appeased the prince who learned the stories of his mother’s love, though ill fated, and of his father who gave him to Gojo to help teach the boy to be a man of his word.

“Exorcisms done by a clan member as talented as the man of shadows is a hefty price,” your grandfather explains. “But Toji was the best in your father’s class dear. The mortals are a twisted group, turning to us for answers i. The realm of sorcery. Your fathers were once close friends, yet in a time of great divide, some darkness seemed to slip into the material mortal plane, Toji fell through the realm cracks sealing his fate and memory here amongst those that survive. The curses, as they are known in our tongue, are the very ones that keep you safe—the mare, the shadow dogs—you being entrusted with care under Gojo’s tutelage and King Yaga’s advice to your single father, Megumi-kun, was ironclad. A deal written in gold ink with all the six eyes Gojo’s technique can create, it cannot bend nor break. Only in unnatural death can you return here fully prepared to walk the line between cursed mortal and immortal.”

Your grandmother returns from the gardens with Karasu’s cousin. You move to greet her as you explain your sudden visit to which the instantaneous reply was as follows:

“Stay as long as you need. We have the records in the library if you wish to see them, Highness.”

“Mm,” Megumi nods before exuding himself from the parlor where you were seated to greet the lady of the house.

“My my, I can see why our dear grandchild loves you,” the woman smiles. “Believe it or not, Mako is a part of this world too.”

You nod when Megumi quirks a brow at you.

“Mother gave up her wings to stay with my father in the material plane.”

Megumi mumbles, “I see.”

“…don’t look so forlorn,” you continue. “I’ll be by your side whichever realm you choose to reside in.”

You smile wide as your grandmother begins to introduce and instruct the staff at the chateau to prepare the guest rooms on the second floor.

“AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE ADJOINING ONES AT THAT!”

You blush furiously as you declare you’ll wash up first seeing as the early dusk is upon you. You had been snacking along the way here after you had dug into your bag to find the sandwiches you packed for Megumi and you enjoyed earlier in the day. Yet here you are, delightfully soaking in a rose water infused bath. The maids wait to scrub you clean all except for one who manages to rub lemon citrus oil over your hair.

“The rogue with you is quite handsome miss,” seems to be the general consensus as they try and dress you for supper.

Megumi on the other hand removed his coat and is delightful to find loose tunics that fit him. The initials on some of the patched cloaks and other shirts have a script of the previous owner—his father stayed here free of charge—it makes sense the old man and crazy bird woman would have you in separate, yet adjoined rooms because lords above, when you open the door to his side of the room, you see a half dressed Megumi next to the bedpost. You don’t make a sound, instead you very, unconsciously, stare at his broadened features, a few scars here and there from rampant training on the grounds of the castle run deep up and down his shoulder blades.

“Perhaps you should say something,” Megumi teases you; he heard the door open right before slowly pulling the shirt overhead.

You say something smart only to suddenly be met with Megumi’s bold lips reaching yours in mere moments. His hands steady your neck as he tilts your face higher and in one movement, his lips part the instant you gasp out of surprise; his left hand slides past your ear and firmly holds a your hair as long you let him; your arms hold the side of his shirt the more you let him guide your back to a wall. You’re about to return his kiss when he reminds you to breathe, nose brushing against your jaw, his lips soft and captivating press against the juncture where your ear and neck meet.

You tilt your head to one side, a hand of yours slips under the tunic and grazes his cool skin. There does your fingertips surpass his abdominals feeling the defined bones of his hips were when he growls a low, “patience morning star,” you know where the coarse hairline leads. You meekly agree with him to continue wherever you left off, his sweet mouth a bit kiss swollen by you nipping his mouth shut when a butler announces dinner is served.

Megumi affirms his thanks while placing a finger to your lips; you automatically pursed said lips of yours, almost gently nibbling on it.

“What happened later?” Megumi caress your face with a haphazard curled finger.

You brush past him, shaking your head, “if you and I expect to keep each other’s bed warm, we’re going to need good food at some point.”

You bow most graciously, humming a tune as you comb a hand through your hair. Megumi follows you out sooner than later, almost bumping into an end table with a tethering vase. He catches up to you, a bit annoyed you left him wanting more of your touch; he compliments your attire as the dining hall is set for four guests. Your grandparents had arrived and taken their place first prior to inviting you both to join them. Over the course of the meal, you mention you might stay a week or so waiting to see what the apparent friend-lover-prince wishes to do.

“Visit my mother’s home. Perhaps explore the fae realms and see elven towns before departing,” your hear Megumi quietly speak in thoughtful sentences. You agree it seemed a bit short of a list until you recall a festival happening then:

“The night parade happens this week, perhaps we should outrun the trickster court? I hear lord Geto will be making an appearance.”

Your grandfather looks uneasy while your grandmother silently looks at him with a bereft smile.

“What a wonderful plan. Take some to rest and relax all you wish. Don’t worry about your parents. We’ll send word in the morning of your safe arrival.”

Dessert and coffees were brought to the table almost immediately after the sixth course (it was a prefix welcoming dinner comprised of smaller traditional fae plates). When dinner was over, your grandfather and grandmother bid both of you goodnight. They mention something about planning for the parade with masks and whatnot.

Megumi rises up from his seat first before extending a hand to you. The moonlight spills from the rather large stained glass windows of the dining hall as you take his hand suggesting a walk in not much smaller when compared to the rest, eastern garden.

There, you wander side by side, a hand never leaving yours alone, conversing about everything, then nothing again.

In between the garden doors and labyrinth style path, Megumi presses short kisses along your temple before you subtly take the hint. You wonder if loving him, body and soul, is the right thing to do. You heard about how dangerous time suspends in the never after realms, and though you’re both in your prime, you can’t help but ask if this is your fate—sweetly caring for a fae with sweeter demon dogs who try as he might to be intimidating, is quite reserved in movements. Even now, when you’re escorted back to his room, with a soft nudge from him, you twist the ornate knob.

Lazily languid and painfully slow kisses pick up the night’s activities. You’re young enough to understand where this leads, old enough to make sure your partner is satisfied in more ways than one. Megumi silently raises you in his arms, once you give him the ok to proceed. He’s stronger than you realize as your skirt bunches around behind your knees.

“What?” Megumi’s breath tickles your exposed collarbone. His lips trace a love line there before you bury your head against his shoulder for a moment. Your hands card through his hair as he feels your teeth graze his pulse point. His hands stiffen as you sink your teeth leaving a lover's bite there. His breathing changes as a groan and curse leaves his mouth.

An exasperated, “careful there,” warns you to keep soothing the ache as you adjust your posture to sit comfortably in his arms. You’re hovering slightly above him, agreeing to be careful as he says. You sheepishly lie as you bite into him a little more aggressively than before and for what it’s worth, his hands clutch the underbust you wear almost tearing the threads apart in an unwarranted yet eager lust. His lips when they find yours, violently kiss you hurriedly; his heart unwavering beyond repair as your hands remove his tunic from his body—it is tossed to the ground as words of “can’t get ‘nough,” and “cut this off me~hah~now,” (in reference to your underbust vest). Megumi practically rips off the piece, freeing you a little more.

Softly sucking on his tongue, you nearly bump foreheads to signal where the ottoman or couch was. Instead, taking a minute to appreciate the wet spot in between your legs, your lovers hand disappears under the side where your leg is most exposed. Rough, yet sturdy, fingers glide higher. High enough to make your breath stutter as his eyes remain open to watching how you react with pinched brows, sighing his name as he lets you roll your hips a second time, this time his hand cups your sex and you chew your bottom lip. An embarrassing whimper of a command makes him wish to sit down with his hands so willingly ready to give in to a desire mostly dreamed of. You feel your essence nearly coating the fabric of your undergarments where a warm hand waits to play with you, yet in your reviere of being teased with, do you notice how Megumi bends to sit with your knees touching the plush mattress of his bed.

You’re straddling the man as he tells you to breathe slow and deep as his fingers, curious and true, slip into your sex with ease. “Come hither” motions and annoyingly wonderful noises has you rutting into his hand the more you ride his hand as they say. You open your eyes just a crack to see how amused the dog beneath your body is and he has sunken flustered cheeks. Megumi says nothing as the tension builds and you silently scream into his collarbone as he makes you fall apart, nails scratching his shoulder as you cry from the way he has obliterated your virtuous need to be fucked thoroughly by a hand.

“Shh,” he whispers. His glossy hand presses against your abdomen. “You did me proud. You’re gorgeous like this, you know that?”

You meekly nod, catching your breath. In that subtle movement, you feel something else protrude beneath you. He wants to continue, or at least his body does, so you tell him when you’re mentally ready to move on, to lay on his back.

“My turn to make you writhe beneath me,” Megumi chuckles at that, the belt and sliding off of fabrics is heard as you take in his beautifully sculpted nude form. You’re no better, removing an outer skirt to reveal the nightly sleepwear and corset work to keep you upright in your sleep, the figure of your body is one to behold—at least the Venus statues abroad were true to form in terms of thickness. You see how defined and constricted the royal is and as you are given the go-ahead to pleasure both him and you, you begin to let your hands become familiar with this terrain. Scars from the past and bruises from training earlier that week are kissed and traced over delicately with affection; Megumi reaches up to steady you by your throat before reiterating a silent, “I trust you,” as you raise your skirt a little higher when you align yourself with his member, slightly raised and leaking to one side.

At first contact, you see him devour your contorted face, “it’s just the t-ip for now, have t’get used to it first,” is all you say the last word having you half-sheath his length in you. His other hand steadies your shoulders until he realizes you’re a bit closer to his thighs now than earlier. Gods you’re warmer and gummier than he thought; when reading books on science and sex, Megumi knew the mechanics of love making thanks to Gojo being a ladies man, yet when it came to you—seeing you, heading your advice to move with your hips rather than against, he picks himself up off the mattress to hold you flush against him. You’re driving him mad. And as he shakes with vitality to find his high, he decides to look you in the eyes so you remember what you do to him. He breaks, almost begging you to climax with him, but alas you too, it seems will wake with the need to fall even further together.

Sheets ruined still basking in post coital bliss, you caress his face. He has this wicked smile as do you; his cheek is regaining color and though you’re still loosely conjoined still, you mention he should remove himself from you.

“Already?” he feins annoyance.

“I’m sure the maids outside my door are waiting to hear about how well you fucked me,” You smirk. He pinches the fat of your bottom, before removing himself from your core, you turn over on your back with a satisfied smile on your face.

Megumi, though, loosely drapes himself with a sheet as you settle beneath the sheets. The soiled ones are not as ruined as you think, yet Megumi returns with a sort of bath towel. The night’s activities with him had worn you out, so much so that you’re already asleep when he calls your name. Caring afterward can be done in the morning, Megumi thinks. For now, he settles beside you, sort of lifting you up and resting your head against his exposed chest; an arm of his shields you from the worries of the dawn.

It takes ten days of staying at your grandparents' chateau before Megumi makes a choice. Of course, coitus happened but only that night, but the morning thereafter and the following night, etc., yet you asked Megumi in the quiet setting sun what his plans are now that he knows his parents, true parents. You sit atop the ottoman in your room this day, Megumi sits across you, holding a biscuit cookie while contemplating his answer:

“… I think I’ll stay here,” you almost drop your saucer, you reflexive movement causes you to catch it in your hand.

“I-I see,” you aren’t angry. No, your shoulders sort of slump. Megumi asks if you’re ok and you try not to look at him directly, afraid of what offensive thing you could say to him.

“Of course ‘m not. You’re choosing to stay here,” your voice wavers like you’re about to break into tears at any moment and for someone who has yet to experience love pure and true, Megumi doesn’t understand how uneasy you’re making him right now.

“We can still be together; it’s not like I’m going to stray from you,” he tries to soothe the ache with words, yet it makes you brush away an embarrassed tear.

This time you look at him and with glass eyes, Megumi truly understands what it means when someone says, ‘’my soul cries.” So, he moves to kneel in front of you to calm you, holding your hands as you explain that by choosing to remain here in this realm, he cannot explicitly return to the material mortal plain.

“But you can,” he is hopeful when he says this.

“Megumi, dear sweet prince of the people,” you lean down to rest your forehead against his. “It’s not that simple. I came with you to provide answers for your questions about your true lineage. You received your answers, yet this visit would be my last until I depart from the land of living,” you go on to explain that mortals don’t do well in the forest. Even if your maternal parent was to hail from here. There are stipulations to fae magic and the courts that comprised the forest of magical entities such as pixies, elves, goblins, etc.

“Sorcerers?” He adds.

You hum. “So I have to leave. I cannot return unless invited back by a caregiver whether it be you or otherwise.”

Your life is in the village; your parents, other friends, even young Itadori and Nobara have become lovely acquaintances too. “I can’t stay because I’m not from here. I smell of mortal plane-ness. I have no claim here.”

Megumi reiterates why he wants to stay; it’s because he is born here does his magic with shadows truly shine.

“I-I know,” you smile, backing away a smidge to press a kiss on his temple. “But when I depart for home tomorrow, I won’t have my memories of my time here with you. That’s all the more tragic, no?”

At this Megumi stands abruptly. He begins pacing and you, you sit there sighing because though you don’t have any claim to the lands here, the magic surrounding the barrier separating the worlds via the entrance borders of the forests instills a memory block motif. You’ll only be able to recall someone helping you out of the forest, not the passionate nights spent with him; the discoveries you help him find about his parents in the records of your grandfather’s library study; the flower crown now wilted on the end table there by the door.

None of the shared intimate moments in the garden, just a warm light as you stare at the forest fills you with confusion and heart break most foul.

“Will I forget you too?” Megumi, pauses his pacing as you rise off the ottoman to face him. You hold his shoulders steady when you shake your head. “Unfortunately the curse works only on the mortal, you’re the sorcerer that belongs here, ‘m not.”

Silence, for the stunning effect it has washed over you both. A sudden reality that you are to leave at dawn and he chooses to stay here to not only hone his craft, visit relatives here while he sets up his abode (according to the deed his mother had left him), forces the following words to be said out of the frowning features of a prince who wished to keep you close to him.

“What do we do?”

“…you let me go.”

“And if I don’t want to?”

“Come find me in the village. Tell me all about your adventures, no matter how much older I become.”

“…time moves differently here…”

You both say that together, bitter sweet laughter escaping your ears.

And so, a year transpired. Megumi leaves the forest in search of someone near and dear to him. It’s not that long of a ride to head to the village where you grew up—he received help from Karasu and your godmother to locate where you are now. He’s ever the more regal in the black and moss green attire when he passes the café that sort of sealed his love for you. Only does he take a deep breath as you’re in the queue for a rose tea and a pastry with a large looking dog—his hound—at your side.

Megumi is behind you and as miss Nobara quirks her brow at the man behind you, she warns you: “mako-chan the man behind you is quite handsome.”

“Nobara, stop it,” you whisper back.

It is then when your acquaintance in the case realizes your don’t recall who he is—your time in the forest had wiped your most recent memories of him. Nobara just nods over your shoulder, encouraging you to play nice and make small talk.

You turn slightly, curious to see who your friend is talking about and for whatever reason you have to look, you feel your heart nervously waver.

“You really are handsome,” you smile effortlessly and kind. The hound at your side barks before nudging his original owner’s hand for a good scratch begins the ears.

“So, mister,” you tilt your head to one side. “Are you just going to stand there and admire a pretty lady like me or are you going to tell me about your adventures in the forest?”

Megumi, as you stand there not remembering who he of or what he means to you, decides capturing your heart all over again will be more worth the trials of the heart. He introduces himself as the prince to these lands, yet being a child of certain shadowy sorcerers, he spent a good time in the forest you lead him to.

“I-I did that?” you are perplexed as you walk to a table. Though Megumi reassured you with a nod, he speaks like he knows the most intimate parts of you: your godmother who is as tall as a building guided you to put grandparents chateau; he explains hope he initiated making hoops intentions known right before and after supper. The details make you blush and flustered as you nervously ring the tea cup to your lips.

“You chose to stay?” your lips are downturned a bit heartbroken about the circumstances of your strained relationship.

Megumi offers a hand to you.

“All the more reason why I sought you out here,” he holds your hands gently caressing the skin of the back of your palm. “I’m stronger now, I can preserve your memories… if you’ll have me?”

His small hopeful smile seeks the tall tale to you; you don’t make a of it, but your head starts to ache just a tad—you ride a night-mare in the forest, a person whom you thought was the butcher passed out infringe of you was not indeed the butcher, but the very young man in front of you.

“Suppose I believe you,” you lace your fingers with his. “Will you make me fall in love again?”

“Mmhm.”

You such as you close your eyes and retract your hand. “Very well then Your Highness. Make an honest woman out of the love you claim you have for me.”

Time pushes forward; your love life had some enchantment filled with ups and downs, yet upon a true coronation for this realm, Megumi finds you asleep in his old bedchamber. Your hair is a bit shorter, the navy silk of your sleep attire consisting of a good old tunic keeps up warm this season. Tonight would be the last time your back will be made of mortal skin. Megumi has been over your house countless times trying to think of a small secure loophole to ensure you’ll always remember your time with him. Your father sighs as he tells your lover of the contracting spell—“when a fae gives up their wings for love boy, it is clipped with the harshest of broadswords.”

Megumi is horrified, yet he doesn’t let it bubble to the surface of his stormy eyes.

“Is there a way to…?”

“Yes, but for that I suggest you let me talk to my wife before you do something wreckless as well.”

That was early this afternoon, yet as you sit in your slumber, you call out his name. He tells you he’s right beside you, scooping you into his arms before he feels the warmth of your body spread. At first he breathed deeply before you make yourself comfortable in his embrace. You kiss him drowsily nodding that there will be time for that too as his hands slip up and under where your breasts lie. Cold fingers and his mouth entertains the back of your neck and between the shoulder blades makes you wake up a bit more.

State duties were always less fun than sorcerer training, but when megumi takes you to the palace to be more familiar with the likes of Gojo, Nanami, and Itadiri, you soak up your incredible fortune. Here, your grandparents’ guardian mirror to their library as a pocket universe within this study causes you to always make a list of spell books for your love to return.

Over the course of your courtship, your memories are returned little by little until one day your parents and immortal kin are asked to celebrate a proposal. The chateau in the woods of the divine Neverafter has a stronger memory preservation spell: a gift from the aging fae. As the announcement commences of your upcoming union seeing as your reality of being unnaturally beautiful forced time to stop for Megumi; an unconscious prank by his personal guards three. It is then your god mother and your own parents nod. You’re confused and elated by all this.

The faerie of shadow and dark makes a short speech about summarizing the trials your love had been through: “when you truly make the conscious decision to leave him a princeling where he belongs, love takes sight, dear one.” Her staff sends ripples of burgundy and deep violet patterns, you are invited into the circle as Megumi presses a confident kiss to your lips.

“Our gift to thee little gem,” your mother hugs as your father looks on proudly. As you watch her back away, you feel the festering slow growth of a cocoon. It is a powerful lightning opal case, but as wings as dark and as translucent as a giant moth’s protrude from the space between your shoulder blades, the cocoon shatters. Your wings outstretch to dry a while, a powerful test flutter makes your parents cry of joy. The wings bestowed upon you were a just reward from the patron of lost things being returned—the wings close on your thought, tucked behind your exposed back like a shawl.

Megumi holds your hands then as the pain of them growing out burns a bit. Yet when the pain subsides when you peer into his sapphire orbs bright eyed and full of joyous tears. He picks you up by the waist hearing you laugh before your wings suspends you in midair; you calm down giggling saying how his love makes you want to be wings.

“I’ll take you far beyond the stars,” you promise him as he leans down to lose himself in your love.

“For all of time and space,” he replies as you bow swearing unyielding fealty to the crown he wears.

Turning to your mystical family members and your mortal parents, you thank them profusely, promising to never forget who they were.

Amongst the shadows of your godmother’s gown, there were her pixies in waiting, shimmering with their moonlit wings outside of your residence as they depart.

Megumi stealthily walks toward you and hugs your waist, pressing a tender kiss by your ear. You turn around, holding his hands to your waist still, smiling up as you tilt your head to one side.

“Care to remind me how much you love me?” You enjoy watching his surprised expression because as he drags you to the bedchambers in the eastern hall practically yelling to Gojo, “don’t you dare interrupt us under any circumstances!”

“Care to remind me how much you love me?” You enjoy watching his surprised expression bc as he drags you to the bedchambers in the eastern hall practically yelling to Gojo, “don’t you dare interrupt us under any circumstances!”

Gojo just laughs as Nanami frowns a bit before asking Itadori if he wanted to go hang out at the pub.

Fin

#🌻— flying around collecting pollen—queue #sora after hours #sora scrbbles 2023 #🔞—nsfw megumi #faery court au x 🎋jjk🎋#sora things: 🎋jjk🎋

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films-for-the-gays · 4 years ago

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Every lgbtq+ movie I have watched ranked!

Since I haven't watched a new movie in like 2 months I am going to rank ALL of the lgbt movies I have ever watched for content :) This can also be used as a reference if you ever want to recommend something and don't know if I've reviewed it already

Each film will be ranked based on how much I personally enjoyed it as opposed to how technically good it is as a film

Also the order may be different from what scores I've given before (eg something I gave an 8 might be below something I gave a 7) cause my opinion might have changed or my scoring at the time was a weee bit biased

I'll probably pin this and add to it whenever I make a new review

I will also be including the tv shows I have reviewed just cause

Black Swan - MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE FILM!!! I am unsure of the general consensus on whether this is an lgbt movie but I count it because the main characters is canonically bisexual basically

The Handmaiden - just found out there's two versions of this! the extended cut is the one I prefer and also the one I was talking ab in my review. it's only 20 minutes longer but the order of the film is different and better imo. the one on Netflix is the theatrical cut but the one on fsharetv is the extended cut and free!

Moonlight - *through tears* BEAUTIFUL

Brokeback Mountain - there's a reason this film is as influential as it is

Portrait of a Lady on Fire - I love the ending so much I know that's not a revolutionary opinion but I love it so much

The Perfection - I have a feeling no one I know would feel the same way as me about this movie

Disobedience - Every time I see Rachel McAdams in a movie I don't realise it's her until like 20 minutes in

Boy Erased - Distressingly good

Gods Own Country - Beware for dicks and dead sheep

Rocky Horror Picture Show - the review on my blog is short enough to go here 'Literally 100 minutes of the best fever dream you've ever had 10/10'

Young Royals - Boarding school upper echelon gays and scholarship(?) commoner boy gays

Holding the Man - be prepared to cry like a fucking baby

Duck Butter - I think this is the third most controversial ranking on this list

Breakfast on Pluto - I love you Cillian Murphy💜💙💚💛❤

Maurice - So ahead of its time

Your Name Engraved Herein - if I hear one more person say this is 'Asian Call Me By Your Name' I will burst into flames (in a bad way)

Pride - this movie will give you so much pride, the title is accurate

Paris is Burning - Best documentary ever made

I Told Sunset About You - So dramatic but worth it

Gia - The worlds first supermodel was a lesbian and that is a win for the lgbtqs

Ideal Home - MY ideal home

My Days of Mercy - Just really good I have nothing else to say

Miseducation of Cameron Post - I prefer the book😎

Beautiful Thing - This film is (a) beautiful (thing)

Call Me by Your Name - I actually watched a really good video essay on this film recently

Another Country - Colin Firth made me a communist

Carol - Arguably not Cate Blanchetts gayest movie (oceans 8)

Kill Your Darlings - Has a special place in my heart

Saltburn - Not for everyone. Tbh there's been enough online discourse online you probably don't need my input 💀

Handsome Devil - I think I only like teen movies if they're not American

Dating Amber - Is it a coincidence that Fionn O'Shea plays basically the same character in two entries right next to each other? We'll never know

Big Eden - normalise fuzzy gay romcoms

My Summer of Love - Lots of style, lots of substance

Crush - gayest teen movie

Lost and Delirious - Boarding school lesbians for the win

Tales of The City - One day I will go to San Francisco and look at all the pretty buildings

Beach Rats - This film continues to baffle me. I truly don't know how I feel about it. I've put it here cause I like the aesthetic

Battle of the Sexes - Lesbian Emma Stone for all my Lesbian Emma Stone fans

Jongens - Who says gays cant do sport?

Booksmart - Best american teen movie

Imagine Me and You - from my review; 'Imagine your basic Hugh grant british rom com but with lesbians'

Love, Simon - Love Actually, Love Rosie, Love Island

Life Partners - The representation we all need

Heartstopper - cute and gay and cute and gay

Rafiki - Made me cry but at the weirdest times

4th Man Out - Even though its not in the middle the is the most average film on this list so use this as a centre point

The Imitation Game - My opinion of this film has gone down immensely since I found out how dirty they did Alan Turing

The Favourite - Most of my enjoyment of this film is just the casting choices

Tangerine - absolute chaos (in a good way) filmed on a couple of iphone fives

Alex Strangelove - The dudes actual name is Alex Truelove so true love is strange do you get it?

The Cakemaker - Type of film you'd watch with a bowl of tomato soup

D.E.B.S - I wish I liked this more I really do

The Way He Looks - Despite what I said in my review I was actually quite bored I'm sorry

Elisa & Marcela - All in black and white. Not fun

Colette - I wish this was more gay

The Power Of The Dog - unfortunately boring soz

The Half of It - It took me a week to finish this

Happy Together - I don't understand why this movie is so loved😭. Second most controversial ranking on this list.

Water Lilies - lets just say Adèle Haenel and Céline Sciamma (writer and director) showed their talents a lot better in Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Hurricane Bianca - The type of film you'd expect (no hate you might like it)

Ek Ladki Ko Dehka Toh Aisa Laga - cute but not for me

Happiest Season - From this point down are movies that I actively dislike

Liberty's Secret - SO disappointed in this. Wtf

The Feels - don't waste your time seriously

My Own Private Idaho - I have a personal grudge against this movie. I hate it so much. Most controversial ranking on this list

N/A The Living End - Didn't actually finish this so I won't rank but just know that I probably wont be finishing it

#lgbtq #pride #lgbt cinema #lgbt movie #lgbt month #pride month #mlm movies #wlw movie #lgbtqia #lgbt content

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leaderoffestivals · 3 years ago

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Antique Legend: Dreams On A Garbage Heap 9

Seiya: [ First off, it’s good manners for me to introduce myself from the start! I’m a super idol, so I may be lacking in common sense and I apologise for that! I am—as everybody knows—Hocchan’s Papa~! ☆ ]

Season: Autumn Author: Akira Characters: Madara, Shu, Seiya

Shu: Anyway. I intend to sell my grandfather’s inheritance at this underground Antique Market at the highest price possible. The proceeds will then be given to Kagehira, who is in need of the money.

Then, that would have been the end of the matter. That was my plan from the start—

—If the two of you hadn’t stuck your noses into my business, that is—you thrice-accursed Double Face.

Madara: Hmm~hm. So Shu-san had no intention of passing any of his personal profits from the Antique Market to the P-Association or to the agency office—

—And was intending to donate it all to Mika-san instead?

Shu: Yes. Anonymously, of course. I was going to sign off the entire donation with “From Daddy-Long-Legs”. (1)

That child is a fool, so I’m sure that he will never suspect a thing. He would just exclaim to me in childish wonder, “So such miracles do exist after all~!” while grinning innocently from ear to ear—

—And I would be side-eyeing Kagehira while he rejoiced like this, chuckling triumphantly to myself at having fooled him successfully—How satisfying that would have been...

Ngggh. I went to all this effort to spin the threads for such a heart-warming story, but the two of you sank your fangs into my plans and ruined it for naught. How are you ever going to make it up to me?

Madara: Hahaha. I can’t help but smile wryly at Shu-san’s overly fairy tale-like thought processes, and there is still a lot that I would like to say to you...

However, for the record, I do think that we have meddled unnecessarily in this matter too, so I won’t add insult to injury by continuing to lecture you at length...

—To that, the most stripped down thing that I will say about this matter is this—it’s only because you guys were behaving suspiciously that we even got mobilised at all—

—And that was due to Shu-san’s childish sense of shame, because of how embarrassed you would be if Mika-san found out how much you cared about him—

—That led to Ibara-san secretly pulling strings for you to make it happen, and making so many behind the scenes negotiations with the P-Association, the organisers of this Antique Market—

—That series of covert actions were just too suspicious, so it caught our attention.

Shu: Hmph! That’s a nauseating theory. Are you saying that bullied children can be bullied because there are reasons to justify bullying them?

It’s always like this with you people; you justify yourselves for overlooking evil actions by claiming that the victim was at fault too!

If there was anything “bad” about the victims, it would only be their “luck” that was bad. That was the only thing that could be construed as ours, and you should not have gone on to commit the shameful act of kicking a dead corpse!

Madara: Yes. No matter what the reason may be, the side who uses violence first is the one that’s always at fault.

That’s why, we are rather apologetic too, and that’s why we have offered to make it up to you like this.

Shu: Are you expecting me to be grateful? We deserve compensation for what you’ve done after all.

Madara: Yes. The underground Antique Market will be starting soon, and we—our Double Face and your Valkyrie—will be performing together on stage.

We will have a live showdown, just like we did on stage the other day—

—And there, Valkyrie will defeat Double Face completely.

Shu: Yes. That is the plan.

Even though it’s called an underground event, it is only the venue that is divided from the main—There is nothing concealed about it. Whatever happens there will be made public, and the information will spread to the whole world immediately.

Madara: That’s right. And although Valkyrie lost to us on stage the other day—

—The information about the results of that stage have been sealed off since then, so it’s not public.

And since this major stage is hosted by the P-Association, the news of today’s outcome will definitely carry more weight and spread further than that one—

And—Valkyrie is much stronger than Double Face—that is how the narrative will go.

Shu: For us, we will be satisfied to have our reputation repaired, of course. However, are the two of you really fine with your outcome? When your utter defeat is publicised as such, won’t that spell trouble for what you do?

Madara: No, no, we aren’t really Yakuza after all... ... On the other hand, we’re inspiring a little too much fear in others right now, so it’s actually a good thing if we could be underestimated a little more.

That way, it would be easier for the unwary to show their true colours and give themselves away—and when the villains let their guard down and start making their move, we’ll be able to hunt them down at our usual level of competence with ease.

Honour once diminished is not easily restored—however, we’ll turn even that to our advantage.

It’s fine if we’re not clean all the time—we don’t mind if we’re entirely smeared with mud either—We’re the only ones who know how to fight like this.

It might be too difficult for Valkyrie or Ryuuseitai to carry out that kind of dirty work, but not for us... Well, Double Face was created for the sake of fulfilling such a role after all.

Shu: You actually look like you’re enjoying yourself, Mikejima.

Madara: This role just suits the person that I am too well, I guess~? Even though I don’t want it to be...

... ... This is not what I dreamt of becoming as a child, not by a long shot.

Shu: That’s just life not always going the way we wish it to, I guess.

Madara: That is so. Sometimes, the moment when you feel that everything’s going well for you—that everything’s gonna be okay—that’s the moment when you fall into an unexpected pit trap.

That’s also part of life, I guess. If that happens, I would hope—at the very least—that I’m strong enough to crawl my way out of that hole again.

Shu: If you’re out of options, I think it’s fine—no matter how compromised you may be—to ask for help from the depths of that hole.

It may very well be that there are neither Gods nor allies of justice in this world—however, there will definitely be someone who will answer and reach out to you in your time of need.

Madara: ... ... ... ...

Seiya: [ Pin Pon Pan Pon ♪

Hello everyone~, are you enjoying yourselves at this Antique Market? —I’m— having a great time! ]

Shu: What’s this, a public broadcast?

Madara: An announcement for a lost child—No, that doesn’t seem to be it. A service announcement, maybe?

That voice belongs to Hidaka Seiya, doesn’t it? He’s from the P-Association, so it’s not unusual for him to be present at this Antique Market at all~...

Oh? Oh my? Hocchan, stay, stay! All of this is being broadcast on air right now, you know?

Everyone’s going to think you’re the worst kind of person who commits domestic violence, are you really fine with that? Let’s put down that hard and heavy object now, shall we? ]

Shu: ... ... What is this travesty even about?

Seiya: [ Yes! Anyway! This news came rather abruptly, however, it is still my job to inform everyone about it!

There will be a high stakes sale of antique items taking place on the newly constructed stage in the ES building soon— ]

Madara: Hmm. So he’s talking about the underground Antique Market, where we’re supposed to perform on stage and liven things up...

Seiya: [ —During this event, I will be exhibiting my own “little treasure”, an item that has been in my possession for a long time!

You can find out more about it on the official SNS account of the Antique Market—Well, I can tell everyone that it’s definitely a rare and precious item that one seldom gets to see!

—And I’m planning to give this treasure away for free, to either Valkyrie or Double Face, both of whom will be performing live here today! ]

Shu: ... ... ...?

Seiya: [ They can sell the treasure away on the spot or take it home—the choice is entirely up to them!

Please think of it as a little gift from a magnificent senior idol—that’s me, yours truly—to his juniors!

However!—Now I’m going to make a threat that sounds like a joke—The unit that is unable to earn this treasure will definitely fall to ruin, probably! ]

Madara: ... ... ... Huh?

Seiya: [ Yes! So! Please fight to the death for this treasure! I want to see young idols locked in mortal conflict, battling each other with all their might!

I’ve seen too many old and worn-out objects in this Antique Market, so I want to taste something fresh as a palate-cleanser! Ahahaha!

—Everyone, you probably feel the same way I do, right? I am a super idol after all, so I know how all my fans’ feel like the back of my hand! ]

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

(To be continued) Previous | Next

Translator’s Notes:

If you Google “Daddy Long Legs”, you will get the title of a novel written in 1912 where the main character, an orphan, receives financial help from an anonymous benefactor. She only saw him once from behind and because he was a tall, long-legged man, she gave him the titular nickname. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddy-Long-Legs_(novel) Yeah, Shu is a pretty romantic porcupine.

Madara’s line in the game describing Shu’s thought process is “Shu-san’s overly märchen thought processes”. Märchen is German for ‘fairy tale’.

The picture of Madara and Shu at the end sums up my feelings exactly.

This is not proofed, so if you spot any mistakes, please PM me.

#Ensemble Stars #enstars tl #Madara Mikejima #Shu Itsuki #Hidaka Seiya #Double Face #Valkyrie #MaM #crazy:b #Antique Legend #Mikejima Madara #pop culture reference #Daddy Long Legs #Yakuza #Foreign Language Use #German

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nemuitoka · 4 years ago

Note

What are your favorte jshk fanfics? also where do you like reading them the most?

Hi Anon!!! today is the day I can finally answer this question😈 ahaha you know how much I enjoy making fic recs so 👀 Let’s go!!!

To answer your second question first, I like reading them on AO3 the most! Mostly because I get almost unlimited number of characters to rant in the comment section........... 😆but also the tagging system is very helpful.

Okay, now to the fun part of this ask😏

You said JSHK, but I mostly read Hananene ones so all of my favs include that pairing... as I already did a fic rec here of my favs, this list will continue that one, so please check that one first hehe ((I apologize in advance..., I would love for people to recommend me some mitsukou ones tbh... I’m really lost when it comes to other pairings orz))

If I’m completely honest with you anon-san, my favorite JSHK fic right now is the one Roxanne ( @istoleyourboat ) wrote based of my art and her snippet:

Star-Crossed and Falling- Where Stars Go to Die by lilaflo

Hanako is Princess Nene’s personal knight 👀. A tale of forbidden love. They slowly fall in love as they exchange a series of gifts, one that includes a pair of matching earrings that remind them of their love when they’re apart. Also, jelly Hanako of Nene’s suitors😏... Oh, but nothing lasts forever and those sweet moments will come to an end when they have to face their cruel reality, in this world, they don’t get to choose neither their battles or the ones they love.

Now more of Roxanne, because I seriously enjoy her work so much (I’m sure everyone knows by now lmao sdkj)

Night of the Phantom King by lilaflo

This one is a spooky one. Nene’s regret for never realizing who she truly loves takes her to mourn her deceased friend Amane and cry on his grave in a Halloween night, then suddenly the Phantom King comes to take her away👀 & he looks suspiciously familiar... Beautiful world building btw, also the ending is just, excellent.

12 Year Romance by lilaflo

Amane meets Nene at the Tanabata festival, she’s older than him, but he falls for her instantly, fast forward, Amane is now in middle school, he’s a troublemaker, & gets constantly into fights, but he swears the new school nurse looks familiar... he then realizes it’s her and thinks it must be fate!!!... This one hits close to home bc I’ve been in this situation irl, so I can confirm all of Nene’s struggles are real (and ofc how a love with an age gap should be handled the correct way, this fic really teaches you many life lessons hahaha)

took a sip then another sip, then you turned and said to me by chivalrousamour

This autor has a bunch of good JSHK fics!! I recommend you check their AO3 out, bec you may find something you like for sure! But, this is my absolute fav from them. Nene is a mangaka, celebrating the finishing of her long serialized manga, while Amane is a delivery boy who happens to find her in a very questionable state in her house👀 (it’s all family friendly ofc, anon, I’m not a slimy pervert like some ghost boy)

Maid for Each Other by corologs ( @corologs )

Courtney has this amazing College AU collection series that I encourage you to check out!!! But Maid for each other is my fav!!! So it’s the Yugi twins birthday, and it’s Tsukasa’s turn to choose where they go to celebrate it... you can already tell where this is going... (let the chaos begin) & as the title said, it involves maids!!! (it has Kaicho wa maid sama vibes if you liked that anime~~)

If I Could Tell Her by corologs

What if the picture perfect arc plan was successful??? Well, this fic explores this idea, and it’s very interesting to read. I like how Amane and Hanako are two separate people here.

the horizon tries but it’s just not as kind on the eyes by sincerelyand ( @sunlightinourheadlights )

(Oh my sweet Karen, she writes such good fics, so go check her AO3 out as well!!) Amane and Yashiro are friends that share an apartment (& they were roommates-- OMG they were roommates), even if Amane has its complains, because Nene can be a handful sometimes (and in denial of her true feelings as always, are we even surprised at this point?) he loves her dearly anyways😭.

for real, this time by sourlemoncandy ( @sour-lemon-candy )

Did somebody say fake dating AU?????? Because hell yeah I did asajj I loved reading this so much!! Nene and Amane are childhood friends, and Nene overhears some girls talking about Amane and how one of them plans to ask him out... but she senses these girls are up to no good so she... well, you gotta read it to find out more~~ it’s no fun If I tell ya everything hehe... so go go go!!

lemon cream by sourlemoncandy

Amane and Nene, just two good friends having a road trip and sharing donuts... what could go wrong?? 😏 seriously, I loved this fic so much!! Instant fav! Also makes me wanna try some good sweet donuts...

Trip Down Memory Lane by insipidenvy ( @insipidenvy )

This fic is so sweet. I have such a huge attachment to it, because I read it when I really needed some fluff in my life hahaha. It’s sort of a collection of memories between Amane and Yashiro’s relationship over the years. So heartwarming... if you need the fluffs you’ll enjoy this very much!!

The Radish Princess and the Toilet Prince by insipidenvy

This is my favorite fic from insipidenvy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know how I am a slut for Royalty AUs so that’s why!!!!! Also Toilet Prince!! hahahaha such a good nickname lmao. I love how they bond over their insecurities, it’s very relatable tbh.

Between Wind and Water by WingSongHalo ( @wingsonghalo )

My beautiful Wing always delivering the good Hananene content, as she should!! This fic is so fun to read!! I laughed so hard at Nene and Hanako being awkward with each other!!! So you know how Hanako is super clingy with Nene, he’s always touching & hugging her, but this time something weird happens and he’s so distant~~ Nene doesn’t want to admit it at first, but she misses his clingy ghost boy~~ you’ll have a good time reading this for sure!

The Monster's Bride by Hammsters ( @uglierdaikon )

Have you heard about the myth of Cupid and Psyche? Well this fic rewrites it in a very Hananene way <3 hehe I loved it so much (as I’m a huge fan of mythology~) To sum it up, Nene is fated to marry a monster that lives in the mountains so she’s devastated... to her surprise, her husband is far from what she expected... she only had one rule to obey and well... we all know how reckless Nene is so... you go find out what happens next now!! hehehe

Morning Reflections by FalalalaLa ( @miss-sternennacht )

So you’ve heard of Hanako watching Nene sleep, but what about Nene watching Amane sleep???!! this fic offers you this and so much more fluff <3 Also Nene remembering how they met and how their relationship evolved during the years, aww <3

Cursed Coin by DaikonSenpai ( @daikonsenpai )

There’s a school dance, Yashiro’s supposed to be dancing with Kou (since she can’t go with Hanako, which causes him to be jelly~~ and bitter), but she loses a coin Aoi gave her for good luck so she goes out and searches for it on the last place she saw it, the school fountain. Suddenly Hanako spots her, what’s she doing outside??? is she drunk or something?? what happens next you may find out when you read it~~~

Between Love and Hope by Baronesscmd (SweeterThanYourDarkestSin) ( @baronesscmd )

Oh to be Nene and get to sleep between the Yugi twins... God really has favorites uh... ISTG, this collection of fics is so cute. I love how Nene loves the twins so much in this AU, they have their little cute family. She ofc is in love with Amane, but their relationship with Tsukasa is so tender... it’s mostly this trio having fluffy moments together to heal your soul... if you need some, you’ll get it here for sure hahaha.

Ghost of You (And All the Futures We've Forgotten) by Indigo_Floof milkteamoon ( @indigosienna , @spades-queen )

So anon you may have been wondering, well this bitch likes fluff only???? how about some angst for a change, uh? DAMN, OKAY THEN, here you have some angst to rip your soul out and wish you never sent me this ask in the 1st place, bec of the emotional damage this fic will leave you sdajjsa, also if you liked “Erased”, you’ll love this fic too!

Hanako of the Opera by zxrstan

Finally, but not less important, me being annoying about Hanako of the Opera & POTO AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!! This fic is based of the AU Aidairo created mostly, it’s really fun to read if you didn’t get much of what was happening during the Hanako of the Opera event, it has a nice ending also! very satisfying I must say.

AAAAND THIS IS THE END OF MY ALL TIME FAV LIST OMG;;;; Kudos for me for searching through all my damn AO3 and Google Chrome history (from both my PC and phone, since I am a FOOL and forgot my AO3 password so I read a lot of these in the past as a guest before recovering my password LMAO, please be patient with me omg, and also if you see me bookmarking them now, you know why 😭)

Kudos to all of my writer homies as well, I love and appreciate all of you so much!! you have no idea! 💖

I hope you find this list useful, anon!! Thank you for sending me this ask and have a wonderful day!

Ps. Please everyone feel free to add more fics to this list if you want! this is all my personal picks, but I’m aware there are a lot more fics that I haven’t read and deserve as much recognition as the ones I listed!

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tsukikento · 4 years ago

Text

Empathetic Chapter 14

Pairing: Bakugou Katsuki x Reader

Summary: After your mom, the number 1 hero in America, gets offered a teaching position at U.A., you two pack up your things and head to Musutafu, Japan to start a new life. Pressure for you in America was at an all-time high, and now you’re in Japan, where almost no one knows you, or your family’s past.

This tale starts on your first day of class where your new teacher decides the best way for you to fit in is to fight against the strongest person in your class: Bakugou Katsuki.

Warnings/Genre: This piece will feature some angst and reference to an abusive parent, if you are ever worried about other tw’s feel free to send me an ask and I will let you know. There will also be fluff, slight angst, pining, and slowburn.

A/N: I’m glad I was able to get another chapter out before school starts for me. Anyways, please let me know what you guys think! I love hearing your thoughts and feelings on the story!

(masterlist)

You woke up on Sunday with a small pit in your stomach.

It only grew bigger as the day continued.

However, it started small. Just a little bit of nerves for your training sessions today. Except, you did not have much time to think about these anxieties because you woke up to an email from Kobayashi.

You went in yesterday to try on the costume, it fits quite well. You loved the style he was able to encapsulate as well as the functionality it allowed. Once he pinned it in a few places and adjust some things, he bid you farewell.

He said his intern, who was a student at U.A., would make the adjustments that day and be able to give it to you for one more look over in the morning. Additionally, this student would be the person you would be contacting if you ever needed any adjustments.

The email, which also had this student in it, detailed where you two would meet up to do any final adjustments if there was anything after the adjustments made yesterday.

The meeting time was set for 10:00 in the morning and it was currently 7:00, giving you ample time to go on a quick run, shower, and eat something.

Although your morning run was usually an opportunity for you to relax, you ended up feeling more nervous than anything. It was during this run that you were able to finally think about your fight against Bakugou.

You were sure in your abilities and skill with your quirk, enough so that you knew you would be safe. However, you also knew that Bakugou has been waiting for weeks for this rematch. If he won, he would surely gloat. If he lost, he would look like an angry Pomeranian as he demanded another fight.

Additionally, this anger would surely pour-over and affect the fight in a way that could be unsafe.

You felt the pit in your stomach grow just a bit more as you turned up your music and increased your running speed in an attempt to calm down.

By the time you finished running and took a shower, you barely had an appetite. The nerves in your stomach were making the idea of a meal seem disgusting and vile. Despite this, you knew you needed to eat something and forced yourself to drink a protein shake and a piece of toast with jam.

Hopefully not having an empty stomach will help my nerves, you thought as you munched on the toast.

Once the clock inched close enough to 10:00, you made your way to the support team’s school building.

Even though it was the weekend, the building was loud and bustling. Students were running through the halls and rooms with metal in their hands. Cautiously, walked through the building to find a specific room where your new costume designer would be.

Once there, you noticed only one other person in the room.

“Iwasaki Kou-san?” You asked while taking in their outfit and style. Their hair was straight, with some strands falling in front of their face. The rest was pulled back into a white hair tie. The dark color of his hair had hints of blue throughout when hit by the light correctly. With that in mind, it was difficult to identify the hair as one solid shade. However, the most noticeable things about him were his deep eyes and thick eyebrows that made him stand out despite no one else being there.

He was nowhere near as fit as the heroes you surrounded yourself with. However, the black t-shirt he had on shaped his form in a quite flattering way.

You stopped your eyes from wandering lower and you instead looked at his surroundings. He was currently tinkering with something, but you weren’t quite sure what it was. On a mannequin behind him was your hero costume, laying limply across the much too small body.

“Yeah,” He casually replied, the smile forming on his lips was kind, inviting, and yet held a mysteriousness that you couldn’t decipher. “Are you Y/L/N-san?” His voice was soft.

You gulped down and nodded, stepping further into the room.

“Perfect,” He took off the thick gloves that covered your hands and wiped the soot off them with a white cloth he kept tucked into his pants. He then held out his now clean hand to shake your own.

You gently took his own, his calloused hands sending shivers up your spine.

Why do I feel so calm and yet so nervous? You questioned as you forced yourself to smile.

“Shall we get started?” He asked.

“Sure!” You excitedly agreed.

Iwasaki immediately moved to the mannequin and unzipped your uniform. Gently, he handed you the fabric. “You can go into that room there to change,” He explained, pointing to a door on the other side of the classroom. “I’ll pull out all the extra items while you change.

You entered the small room to see that it looked quite like a typical changing room. A small ledge to sit on or hold items, a body-length mirror, and a few hooks to hold items.

The tight bodysuit was a deep blue that looked almost black. Sort of like Kou’s hair, you thought as you pulled it on. Throughout the suit were detailed of neon yellow. As Kobayashi explained to you before, the details were the only stylist and were a way to incorporate your family’s colors without being too cheesy. The arms of the suit stopped just after your shoulder to allow for mobility. The legs, additionally, stopped quickly. You had a small metal waist set that could hold swords and expand to protect vital organs. Your pants stopped midthigh.

You remember specifically telling Kobayashi-san that you wanted skin exposed so you could use your quirk when people touch you, without having a hard to manage skirt.

Once you zipped up your suit, you made your way back into the main classroom.

Iwasaki smiled at you once he saw you.

He was currently surrounded by a variety of dark blues and neon yellows that stood out at all your support items.

He handed you the boots to your suit first.

“I tinkered with the boots a bit, but you shouldn’t notice much difference,” Iwasaki explained. “I was just trying to make them lighter.”

You nodded and you took your time to attach them. The boots stopped under your calf, but straps ran up your leg to attach to a knee cap.

“I’m sure Kobayashi-sensei told you, but the straps are to help prevent injuries from any awkward movements or excessive running. The boots and straps will help you to run faster, but it won’t be by too much so you can get used to the boost. If you want, you can also attach weights to them while you train so that you move faster in the field with the weights off.” He paused for a moment before adding, “Oh and the blade feature on your other boots is the same with these.”

You silently nodded, much too focused on putting everything on correctly.

You then attached the compact shoulder pads to your costume.

You the attached metal cuffs to your wrist that you also assembled to help prevent injuries on your hands or arms. It would also help add weight and power to any punches you would have to throw.

Last but certainly not least were your ear and eye protectors.

Kobayashi brilliantly designed your ear attachments with three different functions. When needed, you could use the ear attachments like your earbuds and prevent you from hearing thoughts. The second function was to increase your hearing distance. Although he was unable to increase your hearing distance for thoughts, he was able to help even out the differences. Now you could hear people from as far as 100 ft without needing to take out the earbuds that help prevent you from hearing thoughts. You were also able to zero in on certain sounds if needed. The final function was a simple Bluetooth addition in case you needed to communicate with other heroes on the field.

“Your ear attachments are cool, but I’m really excited to make them better for you,” Kou smiled calmly and brightly at you. “I want to make them perfect because half of your quirk is so based around your ears.”

Appreciatively, you smiled at the boy. “That’s very nice, thank you.”

Iwasaki sheepishly waved you off, “It’s my pleasure! I became a support student for a reason. If I’m able to figure anything out, I might even make it my final analysis and creation project.”

“Are you a third-year?” You asked.

“Yeah,” The boy blushed lightly and scratched at the back of his head, “I am.”

You simply nodded before attaching the shield to your earpiece that protected your eyes.

You then moved over to look at yourself in the full-body mirror.

I look amazing.

“You like it?” Iwasaki asked, interrupting yourself from going on an analytical tangent for each piece of the costume.

“I love it,” You explained, smiling brightly at yourself.

“I’m glad,” He paused briefly. “I saw your original sketches and I was worried you would hate it. Kobayashi-sensei didn’t tell me how much you two collaborated together, so I didn’t know.

You nodded as you looked at the dark black dots on your left shoulder pad. It wasn’t too noticeable from far away, but you could see it up close against the dark blue.

“Yeah,” You started, “He basically lectured me in a face call and told me I needed to think more about my quirk and what would be best for me, rather than what I thought was cool.” You thought over your next words carefully, “I’m still glad a have a place for my swords. And I have my own black shoulder strap for my biggest sword.”

“Thanks,” Kou said, “I actually thought of the metal sword holder and shield expansion feature.”

“Really?” You inquired.

“Yeah,” He ensured, a smile brightening up his face. “But you should also show me the shoulder strap. Maybe I can make it better or make a new one that will help with weight and comfort.”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“You seem to keep forgetting this is literally my job,” He laughed. It sounded beautiful. “My third year is all about helping students and only asking my professors or intern leader for help when I need it.”

You nodded in understanding before adding. “Maybe I will. I’ll make sure to email you about it.”

“Of course,” Kou agreed. “And do you have any other adjustments you want now?”

“No, not really,” You explained, a bright smile plastered across your face.

“Then I guess you are all set if you want to change back,” Iwasaki spoke while slipping on his gloves again.

“Perfect, I’ll be right back then.” You grabbed your suitcase and went back into the small changing room to take off all your support items and costume. When done, you stepped back out, bid Kou a farewell, and left.

You walked back to the dorm with your suitcase, a little bit happier than you expected. The costume fit perfectly at this point, and you were excited to move forward with OOO in all other possible upgrades you could make. Although it wasn’t what you initially envisioned and sketched out when you first met Kobayashi, all the changes he made, with your approval, made the costume much better and more modern.

You reminisced about your first meeting with the designer, where he asked you what kind of hero you wanted to be, a sentiment that OOO was clearly upholding.

After discovery and debate, the new costume that was drawn up fit you much better than you could expect.

It wasn’t until you got back to the dorm that the pit in your stomach reared its ugly head.

The first thing you saw when you opened the large door was a sleepy Bakugou, clearly just woken up.

He was yawning, a small cup of coffee in his hands, and his hair seemed to be more of a mess than usual.

Once he opened his eyes again, he immediately found your own eyes. Although the living room and dining table were crowded with about five other people, he immediately made his way to you.

“You got your hero costume?” He asked. There wasn’t any malicious tinge to his voice, but the gruff sound of his natural voice mixed with the deepness from just waking up made your stomach queasy.

You had half a mind to just run into the bathroom and make yourself puke. However, you swallowed your nerves and nodded, hoping you didn’t look like too much of a fool.

“Maybe we should wear our costumes for our training today,” He smirked at your before eyeing your suitcase that had the number 21 printed on it. “I have a few support items I would love to try out on you.”

The idea sent a shiver up your spine, something that wouldn’t normally happen. Bakugou makes me way too nervous, you thought as you debated over what to make next. In hope of lightening up to conversation a little bit, you asked, “Oh, did Iwasaki make new support items for you too?”

“Iwasaki?” Bakugou spat back, obviously offended. “Not only would I never let that weirdo touch my equipment, but I’m also offended you didn’t realize I made them myself.”

“Iwasaki isn’t weird,” You countered, practically laughing. “He was so nice!”

Bakugou scoffed and looked away from you. “Whatever, I would just rather tinker with my own shit than have him do it. He seems too perfect, that smile of his is so weird.”

Despite still being nervous about the fight, you found yourself laughing at Bakugou’s explanation. “Too perfect?” You spoke in-between laughs. “You really can be funny sometimes, Bakugou—”

You stopped yourself from using an honorific. Not sure if he would prefer a more formal ‘san’ or a friendlier ‘kun’.

Although he clearly noticed your pause and debate on which one to use, he simply glossed over it and replied with an “I am not funny! I am being serious!” The blond groaned in frustration before adding. “You know what? Let’s wear our costumes, and we will actually see how well Iwa-shitty did.”

“Iwasaki barely did anything to my costume,” You reasoned, “He only adjusted a few things, the work is still mostly Kobayashi-san’s.”

“Whatever,” He gruffly replied, “Just bring your damn suitcase so we can change in the lockers beforehand.”

“Whatever your say, Bakugou,” You replied, quietly laughing to yourself at his small and childish fit.

The blond walked away from you without another word, leaving you by yourself with some free time.

The first thing you did was make your way to the kitchen to prepare yourself something to eat. Since it was approaching lunchtime anyway, Iida and Uraraka we currently preparing themselves some food.

“No internship today?” You asked them, remembering seeing each of them go out to internships before.

“Nope!” Uraraka gingerly explained, “We aren’t allowed to have internships on Saturday and Sunday because they want us to have enough time for school.”

“Today is our day off,” Iida added as you watched him mix something in a small, Styrofoam container.

When you got closer, a rank and vile smelled filled your nose. You immediately knew it was coming from the container and backed up while covering your nose.

You had no intention to insult their food preferences, especially because you weren’t from here, but Uraraka immediately noticed your reaction and laughed.

“You’ve never seen natto?” She asked.

You shook your head, not wanting to speak in fear that you would get a bigger sniff of the food.

Iida looked back to see your face. “Sorry,” He spoke.

“No! Don’t worry!” You replied, wanting to be as nice as you could.

Uraraka laughed again. “Natto is fermented soybeans. It might smell weird and the texture is slimy, but it tastes so good in rice, especially with mustard and fish sauce.”

You nodded while peaking over to get a look at the slimy brown beans.

“Do you want to try it?” Iida asked you, turning so you could see his portion of rice and beans.

“Umm,” You mumbled, not sure what to say. You didn’t want to take his food, and you definitely didn’t know if you would like it.

“You should,” Uraraka encouraged. “We can give you just a bit to taste.” She pulled out a bowl from the cabinet and scooped a little of her portion into the bowl. “Even if you don’t like it, you’ll have to get used to it. It’s a cheap, easy, and healthy meal so everyone here eats it often.”

Hesitantly, you grabbed the small bowl and chopsticks she offered you.

“Don’t smell it, “Iida began “Just eat it.”

Listening to Iida, you stopped yourself from smelling the bowl and shoved it into your mouth. Despite 80% of the dish being rice only, the flavor of the natto was most prevalent. You chewed quickly, not sure if it was the type of dish to savor.

You closed your eyes, swallowed the bite, and looked back to your two classmates.

“It looked like you hated it,” Uraraka laughed while munching on her own bowl.

“No,” You countered, “It’s okay. I’m just not used to it.” You got the rest of the rice and bean in-between your chopsticks and finished your bowl. “Thank you for letting my try.”

“No problem,” Iida and Uraraka replied together before they took their leave from the kitchen to seat at the large dining table.

You then scoured the fridge and cupboards for a suitable lunch and settled on fried rice leftovers from dinner the night before. You heated up a bowl and took it upstairs to eat.

Time passed slowly as you worked on homework and had videos playing in the background. Eventually, then the clock read 10 to 3:00pm, you got up from your seat and changed into comfortable workout clothes. You grabbed your suitcase, a large water container, and two different swords before making your way downstairs.

When you got to the front door, Bakugou was already waiting, dressed in comfortable workout clothes. His own suitcase was in his hand as well as two large looking grenades and water.

You didn’t bother even asking what the grenades were for as Bakugou simply waited for you to slip on other shoes.

You followed Bakugou out the door silently. “We’ll start with stretches and then change into our costumes,” Bakugou explained. “I rented out a fourth of the cityscape so we will have plenty of room to move around.”

“Okay,” You replied, “Although I might need some time to warm up with my hero costume because it just got finished today.”

“It can’t be that different, can it?” Bakugou inquired.

“It’s completely different, “You explained. “My older hero uniform was so ugly; it didn’t help my quirk at all and just matched with my family’s theme.”

“Your family has a theme?” He questioned while barking out a laugh. “That’s so cringy.”

“Yeah,” You mumbled, “But it is important to my mom and common in the United States.”

Bakugou simply hummed in response and he brought you to a small field. It was right next to the building that held changing rooms, making it ideal for your short warm-up.

“Do you want to warm up together?” You asked him.

“It’s up to you,” Bakugou replied before setting down his things and beginning his warm-up. It mainly consisted of basic stretches every person typically does.

Following his lead, you dropped your belongings to the side and moved to take off your earbuds.

“You’re taking them off now,” Bakugou asked.

You turned to see him looking at you and replied, “Yeah, is that a problem?”

“Uhh,” Bakugou fumbled, “No, I guess not.”

Ignoring his weird comment, you simply put away the earbuds. I’ll just hear any weird thoughts he has anyway.

What first filled your mind, however, was Bakugou thinking:

Don’t think weird thoughts, don’t think weird thoughts.

You couldn’t stop yourself from laughing at his thoughts which immediately drew his attention.

“What?” He spat out.

“Nothing,” You replied after your laughter died down. I don’t need to tell him about how weird he is being, you told yourself and you began your own stretch routine.

You also needed to warm up your quirk, something you did by focusing on different thoughts around you. Because Bakugou was so close to you, his thoughts we most noticeable. However, it was important to see how far you could take your quirk, so you focused as best your could on different thoughts from people different distances away.

Eventually, when your body felt nice and stretched, you wanted to move on to a jog. After letting Bakugou know, you jogged a few laps around the field while he sprinted to build up a sweat.

Once ready, you made your way into the changing rooms with all your belongings. Bakugou followed shortly behind you.

The second you put it on, you could feel the differences in your hero costume. You felt lighter despite having more on. You took a small lap around the locker room to test your speed. You then tested your earpieces that covered your ears completely. Once satisfied, you attached a dagger to the metal plate around your waist. You brought your largest and heaviest sword today. First, to test out how it works with your costume so you could bring it to Kou with any needed adjustments, and two, to intimidate Bakugou.

No one in your class yet had seen your work with knives, daggers, and swords, making it a surprising advantage if need be. You took another moment to stretch in your hero uniform before exiting the room and meeting back up with Bakugou who was facing away from you and stretching.

Immediately, your eyes found him and stared at his hero costume. It was mainly black, with touches of orange and green. From the first view, it was scary. However, you noticed intricate pieces that made it seem detailed and well thought out. However, what was most interesting to you was how it fit on him.

You would hit yourself if you weren’t so distracted ogling his free arms. They looked much bigger than you had ever seen on him. And yet, they also seemed like the perfect size. He must do a lot of weightlifting, you thought as your eyes then traveled to his waist. It was covered in black cloth, making it impossible to see his abs, but his thin waist was enough to see.

He looks so hot, your thoughts. You were unable to place every piece of his hero costume that made him this attractive, but his arms and waist were the main ones. You gulped down the lump in your throat as you watched him bend over to touch his toes

“Holy shit,” You accidentally spoke aloud.

Immediately, the blond shot up and turned to look at you. “What did you s—?” He began to question before stopping halfway through.

Holy shit, his thoughts similarly echoed yours.

You looked down, very aware that your cheeks were flaring a deep red. Although it definitely boosted your ego to hear him react to your costume like that, it sent waves of anxiety through you. He knows I can hear his thoughts. Why isn’t he stopping himself, you questioned as he thoughtfully admired the way your leg straps hugged your bare thighs.

“Are you ready?” You asked, breaking the thick silence, and hoping to distract him.

You weren’t sure how to feel. On one hand, it felt amazing to hear his thoughts. It was clear he found you attractive. However, that did not mean he liked you as more than a friend, classmate, or whatever he actually thought. You nervously shuffled from one foot to the other and Bakugou shook his head.

You fucking creep, he thought.

“Yeah,” He mumbled. His voice was raspy, and he immediately grabbed his water from the ground and chugged a good portion. He then picked up all his items and you silently followed him to the cityscape.

Both of you were stuck in your own thoughts. You debated whether or not this situation was a good thing or a bad thing. I’ll definitely have to talk to Ashido and Hagakure later. And Bakugou was currently wondering over if you heard him.

What are those things are her ears? Can she hear me with them? Maybe she can’t… I could ask her what they are. No, that’s too obvious!

“So,” You eventually began after Bakugou signed in on a sheet of paper that hung at the entrance of the cityscape. “Are you wanting to do a ruled match? Or are you wanting to do a bad guy versus good guy things?” You were trying to break the awkward silence, hoping that fighting would distract you both from the nerves you were feeling.

“A match,” He simply replied. His voice wavered more than it typically would, however, it evened out more and more as he continued to talk. “It will end when the other person admits defeat or is too injured to play.”

“Oof, that sounds intense,” You jokingly replied. You needed to give this match your all. Bakugou was a competitor and should be treated as a stepping stone for you to improve your quirk usage. Hopefully, Bakugou's thoughts and actions were slow enough for you to interpret and prevent them. That would be the key factor in who won today.

Bakugou laughed in response. The typical bark of a laugh that you had become too quickly acquainted to. “Yeah, well you better be ready.”

You two took your time making it to your designated area and choosing a spot to store your suitcases and waters. Once done, Bakugou put on the grenades he had been carrying onto his forearms.

“What do those do?” You innocently asked.

“I’m not telling you, they’re a surprise for later.”

Similarly, to how Bakugou would, you scoffed at his reply. “That was so cringy,” You added.

In response, Bakugou rolled his eyes and let out a simple, “Whatever.”

You genuinely smiled while you watch him finish securing the large grenades to his forearms.

I wonder what his first attacks will be, you thought. Those grenades can’t be his first attack. It must be something that builds up energy. Smirking, you thought of a way to make his motives clear.

“What’s your first attack against me going to be?” You asked him.

The blond whipped his head around and looked at you with squinted eyes. “Like I would ever tell you.” Don’t think about how you plan to worsen her hearing, you heard him think.

You tried your best not to react to him revealing his thoughts and simply frowned. “I guess it was worth a try.”

Bakugou didn’t bother replying and simply faced you. “Ready?” He asked as he cracked his knuckles and neck.

You simply shrugged, trying your best to look casual. I need to get away from him before he can explode out my eardrums. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” You nonchalantly responded.

You waited for a beat, just enough time to move before Bakugou. Luckily, the straps on your legs helped greatly to increase your speed. It made you feel lighter and helped smooth out your movements enough to save a decent amount of time. You were out of Bakugou’s eyesight in a flash, leaving him baffled. She’s faster than I remember. By the time he recovered enough to chase after you, you had turn multiple corners and climbed up a fire escape attached to one of the skyscrapers.

Bakugou launched himself into the sky to move faster He was clearly looking to attack quickly instead of surprise you. You used the sharp and retractable blades attached to your shoes to smash a window, timing the shattering glass sounds to the sound of his explosions.

You moved into the building, hoping he would be unable to see the shattered glass with him moving so quickly. Inside the building, you drew your dagger, just in case he found you. I’ll throw it at him if need be, you thought and you began moving higher and higher up the floors.

As Bakugou soared through the sky, he found himself analyzing the ground more than anything else. After searching a decent distance, he realized something must be off. She can’t be on the ground if I can see her from here, you hear him think. He then landed on one of the taller buildings and looked around.

I didn’t see any climbing materials on her costume unless those straps are detachable? Bakugou thought over each piece of your costume, noting whether or not they could be used to climb up buildings. He began jumping from building to building, looking for a signal.

And that’s when he saw it.

Shattered glass on the grated ground of a fire escape, teetering from side to side as if recently moved and threatening to fall a floor below.

Excitedly, Bakugou pounced on the building and peered into the room. She isn’t on this floor anymore, he noted while debating to go down or up. I’ll find you soon, he thought as he searched below first. It took him approximately 10 seconds to realize you didn’t move lower down the building. He quickly moved higher and higher, searching through the windows on each floor in hopes of seeing a flash of dark blue and yellow.

She must be on the staircase, he thought after being unable to find you. That’s the only place without windows, he reasoned before debating whether to move into the staircase himself or go to the roof where he presumed you were going to be.

His thoughts were clear to you and did not affect your plan in the slightest. With ease, you made your way to the roof. You didn’t want to tire yourself out too much. You opened the clunky door only to be hit with a gust of wind. This school must be rich to be able to simulate gusts of wind, you thought as you spotted the large fans that were scattered across the walls of this cityscape.

You perched yourself on the metal box that was warm enough to help against the wind.

Now it is just a waiting game, you thought as you simply listened to Bakugou’s thoughts.

Eventually, and predictably, he showed up through the same door you came into. You had positioned yourself behind where he would show up so he initially didn’t see you.

Quietly, you looked around the small building and watched as he peered across the sky.

There’s no way she could have gotten off from here unless she climbed down.

You put away your dagger and de-sheathed your large sword. It was chunky and sharp with a wide and heavy handle to keep it sturdy. Before Bakugou could turn or hear you, you pushed forward and kicked the blond with the bottom of your heavy boot.

He stumbled but did not fall to the floor. You held up your sword, using it to extend your arm. As soon as Bakugou turned to look at you, his neck was greeted by the sharp sword only inches away. He didn’t move for a moment, but quickly recovered and sent a blast your way. Now within a small distance, he sent off multiple small explosions. Not only did you cower to get away from his explosion, but the small explosions made it difficult to hear his thoughts.

You pushed forward despite your nerves to the boy and used the flat edge of your sword to hit him. Not sharp enough to harm him, but still a force to be reckoned with. Additionally, the thin sharp edge that was intended for use may seep in enough from the pressure to give him a small cut.

He shot back instantly, and a small amount of blood dripped from his arm. He was breathing heavily, as were you. Although he was not attacking in this moment, he still set off explosions to impede upon your quirk. You didn’t know Bakugou’s fighting style well, but you knew enough. From what you were able to pick up, you knew he intended to go for hand-to-hand combat.

Idiot, you thought while widening your stance and bending at the kneed to prepare yourself. The 50-foot distance between the two of you closed quickly as he pounced on you. Smoothly, you were able to dodge and keep a good distance with your sword and sharp blades on your shoes.

“You really should listen to my mom’s defensive lectures,” You commented. “Playing an offensive role will only get you so far.” You mocked him, watching his eyebrows turn down in anger and his thoughts rush with the idea of just fucking hit her.

You moved out of the way for each of his attacks, only feeling the heat of an explosion or the brush of his fingertips.

When the time was right, you held your sword with only one hand and pushed forward to grab onto his arm. You twisted it before he could react to make sure he could not send an explosion your way. Currently, you were positioned so your right hand held onto his left forearm. His body was twisted so his back was to your right shoulder. The blond twisted his head to look at you and continued to send off explosions to hopefully distract you.

With every explosion, you felt a pulse through his veins, and you held tightly. He groaned in pain at the action, making you realize that his wrist was a weak spot for him. “Oh, so do you have these protect your forearms and wrists?” You asked, gesturing to the large grenades.

His emotions and thoughts made his arms clear. Not just that, you idiot.

“I am not an idiot,” You replied, feigning offense.

Bakugou scoffed in reply and you laughed back at him.

“I’m winning right now, you know?” You spat back, “I wouldn’t scoff at me when I could end this battle right here.”

“Oh yeah?” Bakugou encouraged, “How?”

“Like this…sleep.” You immediately put him to sleep, something he wasn’t expected. You could tell from his thoughts that he wasn’t thinking much about this part of your quirk. Once asleep, you thought over what to do next.

You dragged his heavy body to the edge of the building, wondering if he would wake up in time to save himself if you threw him off.

I don’t think I should risk it, you thought.

Sighing, you pulled him away from the roof, pushed him farther into sleep and let go. You sat down on the ledge and waited a few minutes for the blond to wake up. You pat yourself on the back for getting him to sleep for so long and casually waited for the time to end.

It took a total of 15 minutes for the blond to finally beginning rising. Another minute for him to realize where he was. He looked up at you with a quizzical face.

“If this wasn’t training and you were a real villain, I would have thrown you off this building,” You explained. “I think I win.”

“Like hell you do,” Bakugou groggily replied while getting up. He moved into a fighting stance and you stayed put. “Are you going to get up?” He yelled at you.

You hummed, debating what to do next. “I don’t feel like it,” You replied, knowing full well how much it would irritate him.

“Then I’ll send you off the roof with an explosion,” He spat back.

“No,” You calmly replied, “I don’t think you will.”

“And why is that?” He asked.

You smirked at the boy. “Because,” You began while letting go of the ledge with your hands and leaning back, “Of this.” Once you finished those words, your body fell back and off the building. You positioned your body as safely as you could.

Obviously, this was a dangerous tactic. It was something you would never do in the field. However, you needed to have fun every now and then and Bakugou was so easy to tease. You knew he had a fast enough reaction time to get you. That was proved correct when you saw his body shoot off the side of the building.

Explosion after explosion was set off until you felt a strong arm wrap around your waist.

You looked down and saw you were about 10 feet to the ground. Bakugou reached out and grabbed onto a fire escape. “Jump down,” Bakugou spoke, his voice low.

His arm slipped away from you as you prepared yourself to fall to the ground. Your shoes, which could absorb shock, helped to make the jump easy and comfortable. Bakugou followed you, dropping a few feet away.

You stood silently as the blond stared at you before practically running up to you.

“What is wrong with you?” He demanded while holding onto your arms and shaking you.

Because of the large gloves on his hands, you weren’t able to feel his emotions. However, you were fairly certain he was worried.

You felt bad.

You felt really bad.

His eyes held more worry than you had seen from him and his thoughts had been rushing so much during these past thirty seconds that it gave you a headache. You were sure he had one too.

“I’m sorry,” You bashfully replied. “I wanted to shock you.”

“Yeah, well you did that perfectly,” He replied. He groaned while looking over your body, wanting to see if you got hurt.

“I’m not hurt,” You mumbled, pulling away from him because of how nervous his staring made you feel.

He reluctantly let go of you and let you step away.

“I didn’t mean to worry you so much,” You commented, stopping there because you weren’t sure whether or not to say sorry. That might be too far, you thought.

Bakugou stiffened immediately. It was clear those words made him nervous.

Worry? You heard him think. Fuck, I am worried. I shouldn’t be worried. I shouldn’t be worried. But I am.

Bakugou scoffed, “I have to worry for stupid idiots like you.” Why am I so worried about her? I wouldn’t be this worried about anyone else.

You simply nodded, not wanting to remind him that you could hear his thoughts. “So,” You began after a short pause, “Are we done for today?”

“After the heart attack you gave me today?” He rhetorically questioned, “Yeah, we are done for today.”

Once again, you nodded and followed Bakugou as he began walking to where you left your bags.

“Next time,” He began as your items came into sight, “Let’s just rent out part of the gym and work on hand-to-hand combat. That way,” He turned to look at you, “You can’t pull any dumb tricks.” He paused for a moment, “Also so you don’t fucking cut me with your sword again.”

“Oh!” You exclaimed, moving closer to the blond to look at his cut. “I forgot!”

Once you got to your item, you opened your suitcase and pulled out rubbing alcohol, a couple of band aids, and a Japanese brand for Neosporin.

“Here,” You began, showing the small first aid kit, “Let me clean it.”

Bakugou reluctantly sat down and allowed you to scoot close to him. You rinsed your hands off by pouring some of your water onto them before grabbing a cotton ball and also putting water onto it. You used the wet cotton ball to clean the blood around the cut, some of it was already dry. You then took another cotton ball and put a small amount of alcohol onto it.

Carefully, you ran the cotton ball over the small cut on his arm. Bakugou took a sharp breath in because of the stinging but stayed still as you cleaned it. You pulled it away and looked up at the blond. Your hands had been holding your arm still, allowing you to feel just how nervous he was.

Unfortunately, because of your quirk, you felt the exact same feelings as him. You tried your best to resist any obvious reactions and let go of his arm, so you were no longer being bombarded with nervousness.

When you looked up at him, you saw pink on his cheeks, and you weren’t sure if it was from the training or the anxiety he felt as you took care of him. Additionally, you were fairly certain you also had a blush because of your empathetic abilities. He looked into your eyes for a moment before you tore your own away and went to grab the ointment.

Cautiously, you spread a small amount onto the cut. You then took a few band-aids and spread them across his arms to cover the wound.

“Thanks,” Bakugou quietly spoke once you finished and started putting away the items.

“No problem,” You simply replied before grabbing your water and taking a swig.

Silently, the two of you grabbed your things and made your way to the lockers. The school provided showers in the locker room and well as all the necessary toiletries to help prevent kids from easily stinking up their dorms. Considering your run today and all the hard work you did, you decided a shower before going back to the dorms would be best.

“You don’t have to wait up for me,” You spoke as you two arrived at the lockers. “I’m going to shower.”

Bakugou hummed in response and entered his respective room. You casually and efficiently changed, washed your body, and put on your workout clothes again. They weren’t smelly from only stretching so it wasn’t bad to wear them.

You pushed your dry hair back, put in your earbuds, and grabbed all your things to make your way out of the locker room.

When you exited, you immediately saw Bakugou, who was leaning against a rail on his phone. His items were placed next to him and his left hand was shoved into the pocket of his sweatpants.

“Took you long enough,” He mumbled while looking at you. “You didn’t even wash your hair, what took you forever?”

“I told you not to wait for me,” You replied, “It is your fault for waiting.”

Bakugou scoffed and grabbed his things. “Whatever,” He mumbled before beginning to walk back to the dorms. “I wanted to talk to you about dinner tomorrow,” He explained, “And I didn’t want to text your later.”

“Wow,” You replied in a dry voice, “You sure do know how to make someone feel special.”

“Shut up idiot,” He spat back. You could once again see pink on his cheeks but chose to ignore it. “Anyways,” He began again, “Meet me in the kitchen at four. Sero will be there at five. I want to see how well you can cook.”

“What are we making?” You asked.

“Rice with umeboshi, miso soup, salad, some other shit,” Bakugou replied. “It’s a lot. I know in America that dishes aren’t broken up as much so I will show you everything tomorrow.”

You nodded, “Thanks. I appreciate you trying to help teach me.”

“Yeah, well I will kick you out just as fast if you suck,” He replied.

You looked to Bakugou and saw the teasing smirk on his face. You laughed at his comment which was soon followed by a few snickers from the blond himself.

By the time you and Bakugou arrived home, the conversation died down. Silently, the two of you filled up your waters and walked upstairs to your respective rooms.

“See ya,” Bakugou lazily spoke before heading into his own room and leaving you to yourself.

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andytheaverage · 4 years ago

Text

The Green Knight (2021)

(CONTAINS SPOILERS)

The Green Knight (2021), with its excellent cast and feast of visual storytelling, does cut a pretty trailer, but it’s hardly the adaptation we’ve all waited nearly 2 years to see. Rather on the slow side, there is plenty of breathing room (often to excess), but often feels wanting. The performances are well-played, albeit terribly subdued, which create interludes that feel tedious. Dev Patel has proven himself time and again that he has the capacity to play a nuanced lead, and he does well here, but it is the side characters that break the monotony and steal the show, most notably Joel Edgerton (Lord), Erin Kellyman (Winifred), and Barry Keoghan (Scavenger).

David Lowery’s “adaptation” explores the journey of an untested and somewhat undeserving not-quite-Sir Gawain, a far-cry from our Hero in the text, more akin to Prince Hal. This change adds elements to the character with which an audience might more easily identify, and should make this a coming-of-age tale, as well as a moral one; though, this film fails as both.

As a coming-of-age tale, Gawain never quite gets there, and it almost doesn’t matter if he does, because it's not really his tale at all. Nor is this film about morality, not even as a cautionary tale. Perhaps it's more accurate to call it an instance of ‘careful what you wish for’. Gawain doesn’t seem to know what he wants. Does he really want to be a Knight? Is this about living an honest life or living up to familial expectations, particularly your mother's? Hard to say, as many of the female characters, including Gawain’s mother (Morgause and Morgan Le Fay made one), are treated as mystery elements themselves. It’s also not clear just how far her control extends, if it has any limitations. Is there anything in this world that is true?

Perhaps we'll never know his mother's true intentions; it clearly wasn't for her son to be his own person and make his own decisions. A man simply doesn’t become a Legend without his mother’s entire fabrication of the quest, it would seem. Does Gawain feel so out of place in his own story because it’s already set out for him? Was Morgan Le Fay simply Lowery’s segue for the concept of Legend as a set path for Gawain to follow? But as such, Gawain’s tale of morality isn’t what it seems, as he doesn’t even have the illusion of choice. Or was it all just a journey back to nature, back to green? Lowery never lets us forget just what color matters most here. There’s even a fun monologue about it! Even the design of the Green Knight is just a little too on the nose; his appearance essentially being that of an ent.

About 2/3 of the way through, The Green Knight actually shows a hint of promise, but it is short-lived. In case you haven’t already lost interest with the lengthy side quests; everything turns sour at the arrival of Lord and Lady Bertilak’s castle (simply titled Lord and Lady), and what should be the bulk of our story, the “exchange of gifts” and Gawain’s true test of morality. The “exchange of gifts” is glossed over for a taste of something completely different, as it takes major liberties with not only a core part of our tale, but arguably what’s most memorable about the original. It becomes Lowery’s convoluted vision of a different sort entirely, one where Gawain seemingly refuses to take part in his own story. While possibly an interesting take in itself, it does a disservice to the text, and accomplishes nothing other than an attempt to be shocking.

There’s something richer in the “exchange of gifts” simply not explored in Lowery’s version, or the compulsive need to “subvert”, and the film is poorer for it. How can you even subvert something which you refuse to touch upon? It’s also extremely odd and honestly baffling, that in this day and age, homosexual themes and undertones would be downplayed or outright rejected (as they are here), rather than embraced and explored. Altogether, this omission seems a poor choice and a clear indication that Lowery holds little to no affection for the original text. Disregarding the “exchange of gifts”, the journey becomes something vain and hollow; perhaps intentionally, but doesn't serve anyone, least of all the story.

Following the tale’s example, the girdle (sans the accompanying scar) is the all-encompassing symbol for Gawain’s shame, but Lowery takes it a step further, in which he is so seduced by its promise of protection that he literally soils it with his lust. But this scene is so abrupt at the all too brief “exchange of gifts” (in a film that stretches everything to excess) that it seems to lack consideration and its only purpose is to disturb. The girdle furthermore becomes a symbol of his unearned and unholy life (which we’re shown), were he to continue to fail to accept his fate and his test, although this too seems superfluous. What’s interesting here is that in either scenario, Gawain remains undeserving. He is not especially virtuous, he’s not even decent from what we can see, and has failed in almost every chivalric aspect; after all, he is “no knight”. Even so, in the original, even the Green Knight can’t begrudge his lack of fidelity in this one aspect; “because you wanted to live, so I blame you the less”.

A message of The Green Knight seems to be acting out of selflessness as the only indicator of a truly good deed, with no expectation of reward. This is evident in the dismissal of the “exchange of gifts” and Winifred’s admonishment, "Why would you ever ask me that?", but this message is so muddled within the world of the film, that it’s somehow also completely out of place. After all, Gawain is rewarded in a way, with several of his trappings, which are returned to him after being stolen. Speaking of rewards for good deeds, religious themes are also notably lacking, favoring the pagan angle (as expected of A24), though which is never expounded upon. There is the decision to keep some not-so-subtle imagery of crippled Christianity; i.e Gawain’s shield (with Mary’s visage on the inside and a small pentangle on the exterior) and a cross at the Green Chapel.

Lowery gets too hung up on a confused mix of vague and painfully obvious ideas of symbolism and makes huge, unwarranted leaps. His work here reeks of self-indulgence, to the point of parody. It’s also simply never clear what anyone’s intentions are, his least of all. His ideas are so flighty and changeable that contradictions abound in the finished product (It’s clear why he needed all that extra time to re-cut). The whole thing is so nebulous that it may fool some into thinking it’s beyond their grasp, but it just reads as pretentious. The thing is, The Green Knight tries to be too many things at once, and in doing so, fails at all of them. Lowery lacks the conviction to support anything he presents and has no sense of narrative structure. Simply put, this film lacked proper direction and would have greatly benefited from fresh eyes on the script.

The Green Knight may question 'What is Honor and if it does exist, what is it worth? For even if there comes a time to prove yourself for Honor’s sake, what is it all for? “Is this all there is?”’, but Lowery drops the concept of Honor as soon as he picks it up and chooses to explore Legacy and Legend, and while it leads us on an interesting journey of interpretation, it’s very heavy-handed. It’s also difficult to answer any of these questions because Gawain is simply not worthy of anything. It’s not just that he is imperfect; he is not good and never acts out of selflessness or for the actual sake of Honor. He doesn’t know the meaning of the word. The original text asks us to stay true, true to our word and our values, in uncertainty and despite our fears (as a Good Knight should, and which Gawain ultimately is.) Lowery, on the other hand, begs us to forget the narrative, because he doesn’t know how to do it, and the search for meaning, because there is none. I’m not even sure he knows what he’s made.

Overall, though heavily burdened by its sluggish pace and lack of structural integrity, The Green Knight, at least on the surface, appears to be a somewhat earnest attempt at exploration within the fantasy/horror genre, asking a lot more questions than it answers. But while its visuals may dazzle, it’s a cold and unfeeling thing, devoid of all charm of the original tale, and can hardly be called an adaptation for many of its choices.

Source: https://letterboxd.com/avega007/film/the-green-knight/

(I wasn’t expecting to go off when I just got a letterboxd, but this film left me heated.)

#the green knight #sir gawain and the green knight #david lowery #dev patel #I really wanted to like it #but it disappointed me #spoilers

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happy-pencil · 4 years ago

Text

Infirmos Caritate

Warning: Mentions of Violence, Non-Con and Mild Spice. You have been warned!

Darkness.

That seemed to be the first thing you’ve gained conscious of before you awoke to the sight of a cold, dim-lit room.

The more you blinked, your eyes started to adjust to your surroundings. You were placed carefully on a soft white bed. To your side, you saw a desk with books and papers scattered on it. The walls, by the looks of it, were gritty and pale. One wall by the bedside had various of plants & trinkets inside mason jars that were placed on top of the shelf. The room itself smelled faintly aquatic, like you were visiting a beach.

You tried to sit up and observe the room you were in before you felt a sharp pain on the right side of your torso. Hissing, you lifted up your crinkled shirt to see large bandages covering over waist. By the looks of it, you also caught note of the bandages that were wrapped around your wrists and forehead. Whoever put you in this room, they made sure to treat you with the upmost care.

To add on, this wasn’t your bedroom was it?

Who put you in their bedroom?

Why were you in their bedroom?

Before you could begin to comprehend the situation, the door suddenly creaked open letting in yellow florescent light onto the floor and to the bed where you were laying at. A large shadow took up almost the entire door frame, barely making it possible to see any light that would’ve entered the room. It seemed to be the figure of a tall man. The one thing that struck out to you was the one shimmering gold light that was twinkling in the darkness where the shadow-man’s face, or eye, was.

The man then started to speak.

“Good Morning. I see you’ve started to wake up.”

You recognized that voice.

The ‘Shadow-Man’, to your horror, was none other than Jade Leech: The Vice President of Octavinelle & the infamous twin of Floyd Leech.

Jade’s a mastermind at both intimidation & manipulation; and he knew it too well. On the outside, he presents himself to be nothing but a gentleman of sorts; always using his charisma and witty thinking to help aid him in the Lounge or with Azul’s contracts.

However, once someone hasn’t fulfilled one of Azul’s deals, a switch seems to flip. That gentlemanly persona of his gets thrown out the window, showcasing a ruthless and feral sadist. Heaven forbid if you ever try and betray him. Jade would love nothing more than for you to go through hell and back just to torture you for his sick pleasure. Once he was done toying with you he would drown you in the ocean, never to resurface again.

It wasn’t like you and Jade were exactly ‘buddy-buddy’ with each other. The two of you barely ever talked face to face. When you did speak with him however, he made it very obvious that you were nothing but another anemone for his personal entertainment. He wasn’t like Floyd by any means. But they both always got a kick out of seeing you struggle with tasks Crowley would set up for you. Even if he was suppose to be the more “polite” twin.

With a man like Jade, you begin to wonder why on Earth you were in his room.

Maybe you just passed out and he was kind enough to lend his bed. You pondered.

Your eyes were then drawn to your wounds.

But you had bandages.

Bandages.

…

Did you get into a fight with him?

The thought of getting into a physical argument with the ‘timid’ Leech Twin filled you with horror. There would’ve been no way you could even beat his ass to the ground, especially with the major height difference between the two of you.

To tell you the truth, it would’ve been hilarious to have witness a tiny non-magical human try and fight a 6′3 merman.

You almost chuckled at the thought, but then another dreary thought popped into your mind.

What if you got in a fight with Jade and he wasn’t done-

His deep honeyed voice clears out into the dark room. The voice leaves you startled as you almost forgot the merman was standing at the door frame in that moment.

Jade turned on the lights & gently shuts the door behind him.

“How are you feeling? Your covered head to tail–head to foot in bruises and scratches. I hope you didn’t mind me patching you up while you were unconscious.”

Jade chuckles at his humorless joke as he puts away his fedora he was wearing from his shift at the Monstro Lounge. He pulls up a chair next to his bed and sits next to your weakened form. You then start to ask him where you were, which he responded to your answer that you were in the Octavinelle dormitory & were resting in his dorm room.

You almost asked him why you were in his room but the moment he sits down next to you, the heavy scent of ocean breeze and copper filled your nostrils. Confused, you tried sitting up to look for the source of the scent but Jade gently pushes you back down.

“Oya oya, Please don’t strain yourself. It would be best if you just laid down a bit. Whatever is the matter?”

You turn to fully look at Jade to ask him why you were in his room-

Until you saw his uniform.

His dormitory clothes, unlike his usual groomed-self, was ragged and crinkled like he was hard at work doing another one of his ‘tasks’. His bow tie was almost undone and his hair was frizzled and unkempt like his twin brother’s.

However, there was one detail that stuck out to you that made you paler than the ghosts that resided in your dormitory. Thick red blood stains, to your horror, drenched his black dormitory coat & some parts of his scarf & gloves. You wanted to believe that it was substance other than blood, but you knew better from how metallic it smelled.

Jade’s expression was calm and reassuring; as a tender smile was graced on his lips. But you knew from the way he stared you down something dangerous lied in those gold & olive heterochromic eyes. His presence at that moment made you sick to your very core.

You knew something wasn’t right and you assumed the worse:

He wasn’t done fighting you yet.

But you would like to ask if he was alright out of concern. Maybe if you play dumb you could get out of this. It would be a risk taker, but you could only see what happens.

Jade followed your sickened gaze to his clothes to which he pointed out the blood stains on his uniform.

“Ah, the blood?”

With a million thoughts and scenarios going through your head, you ask the merman if he was alright & if he needed any of his wounds treated.

He smiles stretches ever so slightly as he chuckles again, catching you off guard for the millionth time that evening.

“…I’m fine. I feel humbled to know that you show concern for me. But I’m afraid the blood isn’t mine.”

You gasp and you face becomes ghastly.

You started to ask if the both of you got into a fight and apologized for anything stupid that you started with him before you passed out. He lets out a laugh to add onto your horror.

It was starting to become harder to breath in that moment.

Before you could even get an answer to who’s blood was on his coat, Jade clasps his large hand over you mouth. He shushes you quietly and puts an index finger up to his lips.

“Quiet down now. Some of our dorm members are asleep at this time. It would be rude to wake them up at this hour.”

Calming down for a moment he releases his hand over your mouth. You apologize for spewing nonsense at Jade and asked him to tell you what happened while you were unconscious. There could be a million reasons why Jade has got blood on him. You hoped and prayed that it wasn’t for your stupidity or for any malicious intentions. You could only hope.

Maybe you were a free bird-!

You snap out of your thoughts and turn to Jade- to which he gives you a puzzled glance.

“…What happened? Don’t you remember, prefect-san?”

Shaking your head ‘no’, Jade sighs quietly as he begins to tell you his tale.

“Last night while you and your friends were at the Lounge, I happened to stumble upon a few certain anemones that just so happened to be visiting today. They were the ones giving you trouble a while back during the Scarabia incident, yes?”

You thought back to what happened yesterday as the memories slowly started to pop up in your mind.

You were visiting the Monstro Lounge that evening after Deuce’s Track & Field practice with himself, Grim, Ace & Jack. You remember seeing the Scarabia students you encountered before Jamil’s Overblotting incident during your stay. As it turns out, they were still pretty upset with what happened back in the past and they wanted a “rematch”, in their words.

With this in mind, you slowly nod at this information allowing Jade to continue further onto the story.

“Grim saw them and tried to insinuate a fight, which ended rather horribly. You tried to break up the fight, but you got knocked out along with Deuce-san.”

Your memory starts to become clearer and your eyes widen.

Grim.

Oh how you wanted to bite that little twerp’s head right off. If it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t be here with Jade & Deuce wouldn’t have been hurt. You made a mental note that he was going to get his punishment as soon as you healed back up. No more tuna for him for a month.

You nodded in agreement once more & Jade continues.

“It was so terrible that Azul asked for me and Floyd to step in. I had to escort the men out of the Lounge and properly dispose of them. Needless to say they won’t be giving you anymore trouble from here on out.”

Jade smiles in content. You didn’t really want to question why he was smiling at that moment.

“I must say, they did put up quiet a fight. But they didn’t even land a scratch on me since Floyd was there to help.”

He looked like he wanted to say more but he stopped himself. He continued when he had found the words he needed to say. He must’ve wanted to go more into depth about the corpses he mutilated- not that he wanted to tell you, but was in fear of your scared reaction. (He wouldn’t mind but he would like to keep you close Prefect-san (; ).

“Once we got back, I offered to let you rest in my room until you’ve awaken and were back to your well-being.”

Jade finishes telling you what happen as you get lost in your thoughts. With this newly found information, you just feel so…

Confused.

Why the hell would some merman that had no business butting into your fight get that physical with those students? For sure, Azul had told him and Floyd to take care of those same students as they were in the Monsto Lounge wanting to fight.

You briefly remember back when Jade and Floyd had to take care of the Scarabia students when you crashed into their dorm a few nights before Jamil’s incident. Other than the occasional bruises or marks he or Floyd left on the students, they never got physical to the point where they got bloody. Though maybe with the exception of Floyd because he’s insanely moody and unpredictable.

You weren’t positive for sure.

You decide to ask Jade why he would even bother to go into all of that trouble just for some silly fight. Jade seemed to tense up the moment you asked & repeated your question in conformation.

“…Why go through all of the trouble?”

You nodded. He remained silent before letting out another deep chuckle in amusement.

“Well, I thought it was obvious, prefect-san.”

…Huh?

Your eyes widen.

What was obvious?

“From the moment I laid eyes on you, I felt my chest being tugged towards you.”

You were starting to feel scared and it was becoming harder to breath in his room. From the sounds of it, he talked about you like you were an infection. Jade carries on his one-sided conversation leaving you to process what he was all saying.

“At first, I ignored the feeling; believing that it was annoyance I was feeling towards you. But as the days progressed I suddenly became more and more invested in you to the point where you occupied my thoughts almost entirely. Truly irritating if I might add,”

He pauses and looks at you to see any response or reaction you might have. You, of course, looked somewhat confused and worried.

You didn’t know if you were going to get out of his bedroom alive or not.

Jade continues.

“-However, I must blame you for some of the effects you have on me. My heart speeds up whenever I hear the sound of your voice. It’s so soothing- so…refreshing,”

…

…oh…

…OH.

Your face heats up.

You knew where this was going & you were nervous.

His face, while calm, you could tell how delirious the eel merman was by just his smile alone. The more he seemed to talk about you, the more his grin grew to reveal those sharp shark-like teeth. He slowly started to become in a dream-like daze the more fixated he was about his feelings over you.

The fact that Jade could ever be daydreaming made you shake a bit.

Was he trying to confess his love for you?

…

…Pfft! No! Of course not! There’s no way~!

But he seemed to be serious about his current feelings for you.

Then again, you weren’t sure if this was another one of his tasks Azul had him do. With Jade, or Floyd, they were both unpredictable. But you knew damn well that this wasn’t the Jade you knew.

“-And you’re always so feisty. Who knew that the school’s only magic-less student could have such courage? You were always unpredictable when you were talking to fellow students or handling certain issues. You always left me wondering what you were going to do next.”

Jade paused again before discussing more in detail his enamored passion for you. His voice lowered ever so slightly as he mumbled. It would’ve been soothing to hear had he not said what he was going to say next.

“I’ve started to follow you around to see what your schedule is like on and off campus grounds,”

Your heart stopped and your blood turned cold.

…What was he doing?

“I would check your Magicam account every-so-often to see if you would post anything new. I got to say, you looked…irresistible in your last post. Why, I could just eat you up.”

Jade chuckled at his last sentence and you became much more alarmed. Being uncomfortable around Jade at this moment would’ve been the understatement of the year. You were so uncomfortable that you couldn’t help but give a nervous laugh yourself; whether or not Jade seemed to notice, you didn’t really care.

He then sighed and brought himself back to reality after daydreaming.

“-But this school is filled to the brim with sharks just wanting to eat you alive after all. I was only trying to ensure you safety by getting rid of those perpetrators. You’re just so delicate and small, it was hard to not defend you right there and then. Not to mention cute~” He purred.

“I was barely lucky enough to have brought you to my dorm room with Azul’s & the Headmaster’s permission,”

He then stopped the conversation and turned to you, as your face revealed to be shocked and displeased. Concerned, he raised his bloody gloved hand to caress your cheek gently. It felt cold to the touch as it made you shiver.

You had no absolutely idea Jade felt this way towards you, and you weren’t sure if you should’ve accepted his “confession” or not. It would’ve been a wholesome moment between the two of you had he not brought up his stalking habit to you.

Maybe if he worded it differently, there would’ve been a different outcome. Or maybe even wait a little longer to confess? You weren’t sure, you were too shocked to even comprehend what you wanted to do.

You were in pain from the fight that had occurred earlier and now that Jade has brought his feelings about you into light, it just made you feel overstimulated. You knew in your heart, however, that Jade was in the wrong for hurting those students like he did and he needed to know that whether or not he was aware of it. Jade starts to question your feelings on the matter.

“…You look upset. Are you unsatisfied?”

After zoning out from his touch, you take his hand off your cheek and found the words you needed to say.

He didn’t need to hurt those students.

“…I didn’t need to hurt them?”

You nodded. He thought for a moment but quickly responded to your statement.

“Ah, but I’m afraid there was no other way around it.”

“Even if I tried to confront those idiotic fingerlings peacefully, they still would’ve gone out of their way to hurt you afterwards. So I made sure to put them in place. Permanently.”

Permanently.

He said that last word with venom and it made you churn anxiously. You weren’t positive is that meant the Scarabia students were dead or alive by how vague he sounded. By how Jade talks about them, he sounds like they were either dead or that he wanted them left for dead.

Either result frightened you to no end.

“It took everything in me to not tie them down and drown them in the darkest depths of the ocean.”

He’s only ever mentioned that once before when it was established that Jade was not to be tampered with.

He kept going on and on, and the more he talked, the more dreadful you felt.

So you decided you wanted to break free and get out of his room and back to your own. You needed to find Grim and your friends and get away from this…weirdo.

So you thought about trying to leave.

Not wanting to stay in Jade’s room anymore, you thanked him for patching you up and looking after you and tried getting up. Not remembering the pain you felt when you first tried to get up, you immediately collapsed back onto Jade’s bed.

Jade tilted his head in confusion.

“…Where do you think you are you going?”

You told Jade that you needed to know where Grim and the others where, as you would like to see them at that moment.

You needed someone there other than Jade.

“Oh? Your friends?”

You nodded.

“I’m afraid they’re not here right now,” Jade stated.

“Floyd and Azul are keeping them busy while you relax for a bit. It’s only for the best.”

That bit of info only made your anxiety worsen.

You knew that things would get out of hand if you left your friends with Floyd and Azul. You weren’t feeling too good and you needed to find them. Now.

As if he was a mind reader, Jade seemed to have caught on to what you were wanting to do.

“You weren’t thinking about leaving in this state, were you?”

You hesitated in that second and told him ‘no’ as you begun to sit up properly by fighting back the pain you were in. You told Jade that your worries would be at ease if you went to see how your friends were doing, especially with Deuce being knocked out.

You went to stand up once more but Jade quickly, and roughly pushed you back onto the bed; his arms and hands pushing down on you shoulders making the pain worsen.

“Ah Ah Ah, Angelfish, back to bed for now. I can’t have you leave while in this state. It would be inappropriate. Not that I would mind~”

Growing aggravated, you told Jade to knock it off as you tried to push him off of you, but he was keen on keeping you in place. You told Jade that there was something wrong and that you needed to see your friends immediately. Jade now started to get annoyed with your behavior and gave an irritated sigh .

“Must you be this stubborn? I told you they were with Floyd and Azul.”

You wouldn’t take that as an answer.

You would be damned if something bad where to happen to your friends.

You then started to wriggle out of Jade’s grasps, causing him to grow more frustrated. He started to raised his voice at you.

“Angelfish. Back. To. Bed. I insist-!”

A harsh ‘SMACK’ echoed through the room. Jade stopped trying to fight you as he lifted his hand to feel the stinging sensation you have made across his face. He was in a state of shock and completely became silent; almost motionless.

As creepy as it was in that moment, it gave you the chance to escape from his grasps.

You pushed Jade out of your field of vision and started to make your way towards the bedroom door. As painful as it was to even get off the bed and make a run for it, you were determined to get the hell out of Octavinelle’s dormitory and back into your own. You would have Crowley look into this issue, regardless of whether or not he actually wanted to.

You made it to the door and were just about to put your hand on the door handle when Jade suddenly cooed out ‘Angelfish~’; his honeyed voice sounding more eerie and cold like a harsh blizzard.

Not wanting to turn around, you felt Jade harshly clasp a hand over your mouth and pick your entire body up. You kicked and tried to scream- even trying to bite his hand, but Jade would not budge one bit. As determined as you were to get to the door, he was damn-near persistent that you were to stay in his room. For however long, you weren’t sure nor did you want to know.

If this was a dream, you’d wish you would wake up.

But you could’ve only beg for mercy in that moment as Jade tosses you back onto his mattress. This time, he decided to get on top of you and bound your hands onto his headboard with his tie. He then moved his hand over to his bandstand and pulled out yet another tie and ties it around your mouth, somewhat silencing your screams. Once finished, he stares down at you with satisfaction.

You both knew you couldn’t get out.

Chuckling once more, Jade leans down to give you a quick peck on the cheek as he caresses your face.

“You know, I find it very inconsiderate to slap someone that happened to save you from such a dreadful incident.”

Jade says that to himself thoughtfully as he stared down at you with hungry eyes.

Even if he didn’t say it, but to him, you looked simply delicious. He wanted to savor his meal as much as he could in that moment without too much interruption or distractions. He just hoped that you would be just as eager to please him like he was about to do to you. In that moment it was made obvious that he was the predator and you were his prey.

In Jade’s eyes, you needed to be punished. You were being ungrateful to him for saving your life from those students. Without him there, you would’ve already been dead, would’ve you? He did all of this for you and you didn’t even thank him once!

Jade starts to speak up.

“They could’ve killed you the moment you lied on the floor unconscious without me there to get rid of those vile guppies, wouldn’t you agree?”

His powerful, icicle voice becomes a soft whisper as Jade then started to kiss your face and make his way down to your neck and collarbone; occasionally leaving a few playful nips with his jagged teeth. The feeling makes you moan and wreath in pain. Jade’s grin widens in victory.

This wasn’t happening.

This has to be a dream-!

“So at least give me some appraisal for my hard work, if you would be so kind.”

You could feel his breath against your pulse as he bites down rather harshly on your neck. You let out a whine and try to squirm away from Jade, but he keeps you in place. His hands were starting to wonder and roam all inches of your body and even in places no other man has touched. You could feel a bulge start to form in Jade’s crotch area as you teared up.

Jade caught wind of this and grinned wickedly.

“Unless, you have other means of showing appraisal?~”

You screamed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#tw: yandere #tw: murder #I had to reupload ;-;#it wasn't showing my posts #twst #twisted wonderland #disney twisted wonderland #yandere jade leech #jade leech #jade leech x reader

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amberenigma · 3 years ago

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@s-talking said: the grieving sky grumbles as it rains, occasionally splashing a breath of brilliant white across the small café that --- even without any customers --- feels strangely enchanting, almost out of an old fairy-tale. min-jun now understands why masato likes to work here. it's quiet, peaceful, leaving much room to get lost in thoughts as the occasional clinks of tea cups only adds to such... séance ambience.

perhaps this is why he came here today, too. " . . . . . . " slowly glancing down, envy's empty eyes peer into the dark ink of his coffee & after a while, after another splash of brilliant white, he finally speaks what he wanted to tell since he entered this solemn place; " .... ---- they still love you.. masato-san... " / inbox call. | accepting.

Although Masato appears to be minding his own business, he remains acutely aware of customers he knows---Envy slips in an out of any place like his shadow, but to see him so.. pleasantly distracted is an observation that brings him his own peace. Otherwise, Masato doesn’t disturb him as he prepares tea bags to steep, in the evitable wake of customers that would come trickling in long after the rain has passed and his shift was over.

Envy’s voice follows the roar of thunder from overhead, and Masato can almost feel the haunting crawl that echoes in his companion’s tone. “They...?” he murmurs in response, as if to not disturb this strange little sanctuary that this café tends to become. It takes a few beats of silence before Masato gently sets down the loose leaf tea in his hands, turning fully to address Envy. “I didn’t think they strayed too far from the headstones, huh..” Needless to say, his expression is warm. Hands caress elbows as he ponders over this information---he was always open to these sorts of things, but perhaps Envy’s medium capabilities don’t surprise him as much as it could have. He simply...seemed like the kind of person who was born with it.

“Hopefully, I’m making them proud, but..” he chuckles softly, albeit sadly, “I don’t imagine they’d be too happy with some of my actions. I take it you’ve always had this kind of sensitivity, eh?” he finishes softly, doubtful even Envy would like such information passively heard by anyone. Even without his hand, Masato figures himself and death simply have a very complicated relationship...

#stalking #asks #( ╳┊ 04. 目ざめ )#( ╳┊ offline. )#i unironically love this........

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nikaidou-stan · 4 years ago

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Song Headcanons

ok fuckers, here’s the valentine’s day event!! God, i’m so excited, this isn’t exactly what i usually post so i hope these will turn out well! In short I picked three songs and the respective verses which I think would describe your relationship with them. I tried to pick songs with no specified pronouns but i forgot how heterosexual the music industry was, so i hope it will work out anyways. Enjoy! (also I didn’t add Hina and Takahashi bc even though they’re 16 in my mind they’re basically children i’m sorry)

WARNINGS: idk angsty songs??? there may be too much sleeping at last, damn

REI KIRIYAMA

- Line Without A Hook (by Ricky Montgomery)

“Oh, all my emotions Feel like explosions when you are around And I've found a way to kill the sounds, oh Oh, baby, I am a wreck when I'm without you I need you here to stay”

- This Side Of Paradise (by Coyote Theory)

“Ask me why my heart's inside my throat I've never been in love, I've been alone Feel like I've been living life asleep Love so strong it makes me feel so weak“

- You Are Enough (by Sleeping At Last)

“You're enough, you're enough, you're enough, you are enough These little words, somehow they're changing us. You're enough, you're enough, you are enough So we let our shadows fall away like dust“

HARUNOBU NIKAIDOU

- Latch (by Disclosure feat. Sam Smith)

“I'm so encaptured, got me wrapped up in your touch Feel so enamored, hold me tight within your clutch How do you do it, you got me losing every breath What did you give me to make my heart beat out my chest?”

- San Francisco (by The Mowgli’s)

“I've been in love with love and the idea of, Something binding us together, You know that love is strong enough, And I've seen time tell tales about that, Systematic drug, yeah that heart that beats as one, It's collectively, unconsciously composed”

- Saturn (by Sleeping At Last)

“With shortness of breath I'll try to explain the infinite And how rare and beautiful it truly is that we exist”

KAI SHIMADA

- Stand By Me (by Ben E. King)

“When the night has come And the land is dark And the moon is the only light we'll see No I won't be afraid Oh, I won't be afraid Just as long as you stand, stand by me”

- Can’t Help Falling In Love (by Elvis Presley)

“Like a river flows Surely to the sea Darling, so it goes Some things are meant to be Take my hand Take my whole life too For I can't help falling in love with you”

- I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing (by Aerosmith)

“Lying close to you, feeling your heart beating And I'm wondering what you're dreaming Wondering if it's me you're seeing Then I kiss your eyes And thank God we're together And I just want to stay with you in this moment forever Forever and ever”

TOUJI SOUYA

- Dawning of Spring (by Anson Seabra)

“I got lost while the sunlight was painting us gold I got lost hoping that we would never get old I got lost when you walked with my hand in your hand I got lost when you asked me if I'd like to dance I got lost in the whispering sound of the breeze I got lost in a daydream of silence and peace I got lost in the moment, the space in between I got lost, I got lost in the dawning of spring“

- Hearing (by Sleeping At Last)

“Love is an echo”

- Sun (by Sleeping At Last)

“The dust of dust We are the apple of God’s eye We are infinite as the universe we hold inside Let there be light, let there be light, let me be alright With golden string Our universe was brought to life That we may fall in love Every time we open up our eyes”

MORIO SHIGETA

- Say You Won’t Let Go (by James Arthur)

“I'm so in love with you And I hope you know Darling, your love is more than worth its weight in gold We've come so far, my dear Look how we've grown And I wanna stay with you until we're grey and old Just say you won't let go”

- Take Your Time (by Sam Hunt)

“I don't wanna steal your freedom I don't wanna change your mind I don't have to make you love me I just want to take your time”

- Jupiter (by Sleeping At Last)

“Make my messes matter Make this chaos count Let every little fracture in me Shatter out loud”

AKARI KAWAMOTO

- Growing Old On Bleecker Street (by AJR)

“We may be lost And gone forever The rain will wash our memory But when we cry We cry together Like it was meant to be”

- She (by dodie)

“She smells like lemongrass and sleep She tastes like apple juice and peach You would find her in a Polaroid picture And she means everything to me”

- Iris (by Goo Goo Dolls)

“And I'd give up forever to touch you 'Cause I know that you feel me somehow You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be And I don't want to go home right now“

KYOUKA KOUDA

- Up To No Good (by The Hoosiers)

“Oh, you think he's looking lovingly at you But it's nowhere near the truth His mind is up to no good Oh, just because you're in the same bed He's with someone else in his head, not a second thought about you”

- Toxic (by Britney Spears)

“With a taste of your lips, I'm on a ride You're toxic, I'm slippin' under With a taste of a poison paradise I'm addicted to you Don't you know that you're toxic? And I love what you do Don't you know that you're toxic?“

- Rumors (by Neffex)

“She's got some nice long hair And you know that she's a bad chick All the boys stare Can't help it it's a habit Clothes that she wears Short skirt and a jacket I just wanna get her all alone On a mattress I just wanna have it I just gotta have it”

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turtleskele · 4 years ago

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So I thought I’d give some Mafia Skeleton Characters a try-mostly for my own amusement. But if anyone wants to ask questions about them my ask box is open: Disclaimer I do not own any Undertale characters:

Mafiatale Sans: Faux (likes it pronounced as Fox rather than Foe, for reasons)

Much like Undertale Sans, Faux is very laid back in personality and it takes a lot to rile him up (or even to do anything really: aka a lazy bones). He loves telling puns and corny jokes, much to the annoyance of Wolf. But like his name suggests, do not let his permanent smile fool you. Just like how his name is pronounced “Fox”, Faux is very sly, cunning, and always one step ahead of everyone. And just like the literal meaning of “Faux” (foe), his smile is anything but genuine. Because of his line of work Faux has a hard time trusting anyone and despite his laidback persona, is riddled with anxieties and paranoias that keep him up at night. He is always tired and can be found napping almost anywhere. Because of this basis of fear and distrust, Faux is rarely able to actually feel any emotion, except for his brother Wolf which is about the only person he does trust. He’s dated multiple people but most of them end after a couple of dates and leave him in a self induced drunken stupor. When he finally does come across his S/O, they are the first person that is able to see behind his front and actually make him feel. They lead him to begin to open up- a little bit at a time and learn to trust people again.

Mafiatale Papyrus: Wolf

Just like Undertale Papyrus, Wolf has a very genial personality. He has high moral standards despite being in the mafia and hates to see innocents hurt. He loves to cook but like the OG; his cooking leaves something to be desired (meaning it’s only somewhat edible). But as his name suggests; do not underestimate him. Despite his kind tendencies and seeming naïveté, he has a very cunning and tactical mind. He ALWAYS knows what’s going on and knows how to play a scene to his benefit. This includes the ability to manipulate feelings effortlessly. He is very comfortable with who he is and knows how many people look up too and think he is very cool and he flaunts it~ Cue a string of admirers and causal relationships. When he finally does meet his s/o he is surprised to find out that they can see straight through his facade and confronts him about it. They end up being the catalyst for him to be his true self.

Mafiafell Sans: Pierce

This Sans was given his name for his “finishing” bone attack during “disputes”. But he also likes to think that it refers to his ability to make anyone fall in love with him. Pierce is a smooth talker and very flirtatious. His tactics have been known to make people swoon. Just like Cupid he’s able to ‘pierce’ their hearts. He loves to joke around make people laugh with his bad puns, corny jokes, and pickup lines (which DO work 98% of the time). But despite all his success, he hasn’t found anything or anyone who’s willing to go beyond a week with him or who isn’t intimidated by his job. Because of having grown up on the streets Pierce’s biggest fear is losing everything he’s gained, or having it taken from him.This has given him a bit of a complex. Those he has dated before, describe him as being possessive, clingy, and very controlling. If Pierce does not have control he falls into fits of anxiety that he expresses through explosive bouts of anger. He reacts on a whim until he feels safe or until the threat to his control has been “taken care of”. It is during one of these bouts that Pierce meets his S/O who was unfortunately involved. He is impressed by how they are able to handle and calm him helping him refocus his anger. As they grow closer his S/O begins to help him loosen his grip a bit-though it is a long process in the making. They are unwilling to bend when it comes to his anger and help him to learn different ways of expressing his anxiety when plans go south. Pierce learns that letting someone else have control doesn’t mean they will take away from him but rather add something more.

Mafiafell Papyrus: Merlot (mer-low)

Just like Underfell Papyrus, Merlot has a very surly personality which scares most and intimidates the rest. Out of all the mafia skeletons (excepting Cabernet), Merlot is the most elegant and refined, taking pride in his appearance; three piece suits, leather shoes- all specially made. He loves to cook (almost more than Wolf) with a preference towards Italian and Asian cuisine and has taken every avenue to ensure that his cooking is impeccable- I.e: His cooking is edible and actually tastes very good. Though being in the mafia has hardened him and toughened his bones, the truth is Merlot still has a very soft heart; though he’ll never admit it and will act like he doesn’t care. He has a deep longing to be able to share with someone who would reciprocate his feelings back; thus he has had a wide variety of relationships in search of this. Sadly he has found that most were only trying to benefit from his status or were merely too intimidated by him to refuse him. This has left him calloused and hardened. When he finally( and literally) bumps into his S/O he is astonished to find how open and up front they are in expressing their emotions-good and bad. They encourage and slowly help him to be open and share with them as well; finally finding the connection he has longed for.

Mafiaswap Sans: Masquerade (Masq for short)

Much like Wolf, Masquerade has a very genial and high spirited personality. He loves cooking but again it leaves something to be desired. Like Wolf he loves to flaunt his inherent coolness and strives to impress everyone he meets. But as his name suggests and much like his Tale counterpart Faux, Masq is not as he seems. In his striving to be perfect and make everyone love him, he has lost his ability to truly connect with anyone. Much like Faux, his permanent smile is never truly one of happiness despite what he wants others to think. Because he seeks to uphold his seeming perfection, he falls into cycles of anxiety, extreme stress, and finally depression when he messes up or fails. He tends to overthink and beat himself up over small details and has been known to act upon instinct during “business endeavors” if things do not go according to plan, which he regrets later. Though he is no stranger to the dating scene many of his past partners described him as clingy and smothering and were unwilling to find out the reason behind it. When he meets his s/o for the first time, in the midst of one of his “episodes”, he is floored by their calm demeanor and ability to talk him off the cliff. As their relationship grows they help him to embrace his imperfections and to simply let go. He begins to learn about the importance of self care what it truly means to connect with people.

Mafiaswap Papyrus: Pokerface (Poke for short)

Much like Underswap Papyrus, Pokerface (Poke) has a very laidback and nonchalant personality. His go with the flow attitude and tendency to procrastinate is a source of frustration and irritation for his brother Masq, who tends to call him a lazy bones. He loves to crack jokes and puns much to the chagrin of his brother. But despite the persona he shows, many leave an interaction with Poke knowing next to nothing about him. He is very good at keeping his true emotions and thoughts to himself and has been described as very distant and standoffish. Unlike most of the other mafia skeletons, Poke is one of the only ones not actively looking for a relationship. Because of his past and his years in the mafia, he has learned to keep to himself and focus only on what matters: doing his job and keeping his brother safe. He is not a risk taker and likes to keep things simple. A partner would only confuse things and just get hurt because of him. But what happens when he finally meets someone he would gladly take a risk for? An S/O that makes him want to open up-even just a little bit?

Mafiafellswap Sans: Cabernet (Caber for short)

Cabernet (Caber) shares a striking likeness with his namesake wine. He is durable and thick “skinned”, able to weather anything that is thrown at him. He is relentless despite the elements around him and like a stone, is immovable, unflappable, and seemingly unfeeling. Because of this inherent tenacity, his territory is the furthest reaching and deeply staked out of all of the skeleton mafias. Much like Merlot, he deeply enjoys cooking and also has taken tremendous efforts to make sure his cooking is flawless. He enjoys Latino and Mediterranean cuisine and is always looking for new dishes to try. He is the pinnacle of high fashion (seconded only by Merlot), and ensures that he has an endless supply of new and expensive clothes at his disposal-all monogrammed and all specially made for him. Much like Merlot, Caber, when he is comfortable and has built up trust, can be charming, sweet, and very soft. Despite the rumors spread about him, he is very sensitive to the plight of others, and often has been known to let witnesses go as long as they don’t speak a word about what they saw (with minor intimidation for good measure). He too longs to be able to find someone he can connect with, but years of being the head of the mafia and several failed attempts at relationships have left him hardened and unlike Merlot make him come off as cold and unfeeling. When he finally sees his S/O for the first time, he is instantly attracted to their vulnerability, but not for the reason most would think. He admires and cherishes the way his S/O can so clearly express what they are feeling and how it sparks positive feelings in his own soul. Slowly as they grow to know each other, they work to help him soften his stony heart.

Mafiafellswap Papyrus: Shadow

Just like fellswap papyrus who shares many traits with swap papyrus and fell Sans, Shadow shares many traits and behaviors with Pierce and Poke. He loves corny jokes and bad puns and will most likely be the only one laughing his ass off if you tell one. He is flirtatious as well but mostly on the down-low. Much like Poke, he likes to keep to himself and is the quietest out of all of the mafia skeletons. He has a very laidback personality, but many leave interactions with him feeling somewhat on edge. Almost as if he is surrounded by a cloud of anxiety. He received his namesake from his brother Caber because of his ability to stalk and follow people without being noticed. But many believe that it has a second meaning that is left unsaid between the two: that he will always live in Caber’s shadow. Because of the pressure to do better from his brother and the uneasy and untrusting nature of his job, Shadow deals with a lot of anxiety and depression. He is a perfectionist, but if he is unable to get it right, would rather not try at all or puts off doing it until he is forced to. He has a lot of self hate and self depreciates often. He doesn’t believe anyone understands him or would want to put up with him. Like Poke, he is not actively looking for a partner; his job and world are dangerous and a partner would complicate things. He also believes he is not good enough for a partner-that he would never be able to fulfill their needs or ever be good enough for them. He doesn’t necessarily meet his S/O, rather he encounters them when he’s on a job. They are trying to comfort a monster child who has gotten lost and by the end of the conversation even Shadow feels uplifted. This is a very rare feeling for the quiet skeleton so he follows them to see more and begins to feel...calm. Maybe someday they’ll uplift him in person~

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rocksandrobots · 5 years ago

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Of Rocks and Robots Ch. 7 - Stories

Varian sat in the spacious den surrounded by piles and piles of books; comic books to be specific. Today was the last day of spring break and Varian was visiting Fred. All of their other friends were busy preparing for tomorrow, but Fred didn’t go to any of the actual classes. He only worked part-time as the school’s mascot, so he had the day free and wanted to teach Varian more about his hobby.

Varian, for his part, was simply bored. He had agreed to meet with Fred since he had spent so much of the last week studying and wanted a break before starting classes for real, but the pages of illustrated stories, about people with god-like powers, just didn’t really interest him.

It made him feel a little guilty really. Fred was so passionate about his interest, much like how Varian enjoyed science, and Varian appreciated that the older teen cared enough to try and include him in that. However, it didn’t stop him from zoning out while Fred rambled on about yet another story or character that Varian had no reference for.

He looked about the room with half-lidded eyes as he rested his face upon his fist. Fred lived in a large mansion. It wasn’t quite as big as Corona’s palace, nor even the size of the castle he grew up in, but it was still very grand and luxurious. Various memorabilia and expensive décor were scattered about and the room he was in now had tons of unique statues, toys, and posters on display referencing various things within pop culture. He assumed they would make for an impressive collection, if he knew what any of them actually were.

“….and so that is how Captain Fancy teamed up with the Fearless Ferret!"

Varian tuned back in just in time to hear Fred conclude his story.

"Oh, yeah, yeah, that’s real interesting” Varian yawned and stretched as he said this, giving away his true feelings on the matter. Then he tried to course correct as soon as he did so.

“Look, Fred, this is all…great, but wouldn't it be better if I just, you know, actually read the stories for myself?” He gently suggested.

“Oh, yeah…I guess I kind of got carried away.” Fred admitted sheepishly. “Ok, then, what did you think about the comics that you’ve read already?” He sat down, facing backwards, upon a swivel office chair as he referred to the two comics that he had bought for Varian on his first day in San Fansokyo.

“They were fine.” Varian said.

Fred leaned in closer, waiting for more but Varian didn’t elaborate.

“Fine? Just fine? You don’t got anything else to add?”

Varian could only shrug in response. He didn’t know what else to say. They were okay stories but not anything to get excited over. They were certainly no Flynn Rider, that was for sure.

“Well what about Miracle Maiden? What did you think of her?"

That was one of the superheroes from the comic he had read. She was a princess from the deep Amazon rain-forest who took an ancient magic spear and armor and traveled from her home to fight against those that wanted to destroy it, helping others along the way.

"Well, she was neat, I guess.” Varian admitted. “I liked how she was also figuring out how the world worked since she’d never left home before. That made her kind of relatable, I just didn’t care for the magic armor giving her super strength. It made her too unbeatable, no one was a real threat; there was no tension."

Fred tilted his head in confusion. He’d never considered that to be a flaw. Superheroes were supposed to be well, super, after all.

"Oookay, so maybe OP golden age style comics aren’t your thing.” Fred consented, “What about the dark aged comic you read, ‘The Avenger’?"

"Oh, I liked that one a lot better. The hero in that had to really struggle and figure stuff out. He didn’t have any powers and the villains were more believable."

"I’d call him more of an anti-hero,” Fred interrupted, “but go on."

The story in question concerned an ex-soldier whose family had been murdered by a rich and powerful man. The villain had used his influence to escape prison and so 'The Avenger’, as he called himself, sought vengeance and along the way helped other poor exploited people get their own revenge against similar oppressors.

"He was relatable too, but in a different way. I just thought the pictures were a little too…graphic.” Varian grimaced as he said that last word. He had always disliked the sight of blood and while the images in the book had only been drawings, they nevertheless were still very in-your-face with the violence and somewhat disturbing to look at. He hadn’t been able to get through the comic without skipping some pages.

“You found a guy, who kills a whole bunch of people, relatable?” Fred asked slowly, trying to piece together what Varian had seen that he had not.

“Well, he lost his family.” Varian said in his defense.

“Yeeeah, but that just makes him sympathetic. In order for him to be relatable you’d also have to have lost … your… ” Fred paused in mid-sentence and looked at the young boy sitting across from himself. Varian held an unreadable expression, something between a pout and a confused glare, and something inside Fred warned him not to continue with that thought.

“Aaaannyways,” Fred said, trying to change the subject, “you like non-super powered heroes, but no gore, so why don’t I lend you one of my Fearless Ferret comics.” And with that the blonde teen hopped up off the chair and went scrounging about the room in search of said book.

As he was throwing various comics and toys around in his quest, Fred tossed a small hardback novel that landed right at Varian’s feet. He had to move them out the way quickly before the flying object could do any harm. He looked down at the offending book rudely, but then his breath caught in his throat at what he saw.

The novel was battered and worn from years of use and the title read The Brothers Grimm on the side. But what caught Varian’s attention was the cover on its front. It bore the image of a girl in a crumbling tower. She sat at the only window forlornly looking out as her long golden hair tumbled down to the ground below.

“Rapunzel.” Varian breathed.

“What?” Fred stopped what he was doing at the sound, but Varian had whispered too low for him to hear it clearly.

“What is this?” Varian asked frantically. His heart pounding in his chest he held up the book for Fred to see.

“Oh that? That’s just an old book of fairy tales I read as a kid."

"Fairy tales?"

"Yeah, you know, old folk tales, like Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel,” Fred turned back to his original search as he absentmindedly listed off the stories he knew, “The Bremen Town Musicians, Rapunzel, that sort of thing."

Varian’s eyes went wide at that last title and he tore open the book and desperately flipped through its pages until he found the accursed name. It was printed in big bold letters at the top of the page and underneath was the story itself printed in smaller type. On the opposite page was another illustration. This one featured the titled character using her hair like a rope as a man used it to scale the tower. They were both dressed in clothing from centuries past that would have been considered old fashioned even in Varian’s own time.

Varian just stared at the page for a minute or two as his brain tried to comprehend what he was seeing.

"This, this can’t be.” He whispered to himself, “How is this here? Why is this here?” He grew increasingly louder as his confusion gave away to anger. “How come she gets a story!? "

He jumped up from the couch he was sitting upon as he yelled this last question, which finally drew Fred’s attention away from his rummaging.

"You ok dude?"

"No, I’m not okay! That no-good, lying, boil-brained, misbegotten, dizzy-eyed, promise breaker has been immortalized in print!” He yelled before glancing back down at the book he was holding, “And they didn’t even get the story right!” He whined after.

Fred could only look on in confusion as Varian launched into another rant. This one about the inaccuracies within the folk tale as he sped read through the story; “Where’s the flower? Where are the rocks? Ha! I wish the King knew he was portrayed as a dirty thief. Eugene’s not a prince! Ew, I don’t why but having your eyes gouged out sounds worse than getting stabbed. Does Rapunzel not have powers in this?”

As he was busy loudly complaining, a viewing screen up on the opposite wall turned on and the image of an old man appeared. He had slicked backed white hair, a white mustache, and his eyes were covered by sunglasses.

“Is everything alright son?” The man queried. “I thought I heard the sound of someone shouting an evil monologue over the surveillance system?"

"Oh hey, Dad!” Fred turned to address the viewing screen while Varian continued on, heedless of who was listening or not, “It’s okay. It’s just my new friend Varian here is apparently really passionate about fairy tales."

"Really? Cause he sounds like a super-villain to me.”

“Aww naw, you got it all wrong he’s just upset cause he doesn’t like the story.” As if to prove this, Fred turned back to Varian interrupting him mid-rant. “Hey, Varian, why do you hate Rapunzel so much?"

Varian stopped and turned to them. His eyes narrowed into an intense glare and his voice dropped to low guttural growl.

"She is my mortal enemy.” He said darkly.

He held their gaze for a moment or two in uneasy silence, before once again noticing yet another inaccuracy upon the page. “Oh, that’s not right!” and he launched into a new wave of angry ranting.

As he went on, outraged, father and son could only look on in perturbed confusion.

“Are you sure he’s not a super-villain?” Mr. Fredrickson asked, neither of them being able to tear their eyes away from the sight of the small raged filled teen.

“Preeety sure…” his son replied in a tone of voice that conveyed that he was anything but.

Fred continued to watch Varian raving as his brain tried to process what had just happened.

“Waaait a minute, if you know the real Rapunzel, then that must mean you’re from a world of fairy tales.” He slowly said as he pieced together the clues. “Which means there must be magic and if there’s magic then there must be..” Fred audibly gasped with joy and ran to Varian, grabbing the younger boy by the shoulders and snapping him out of mid-rant.

“Do you have dragons in your world!? "

Varian could only look back at Fred with surprise at first. "What? No!” he snapped back.

Here he was, in the middle of having an existential crisis, and all his friend could do was ask about mythical creatures?

“There’s no such thing as dragons.” He firmly added before Fred could protest. The older teen looked crestfallen but soon perked back up as he started in on a new line of questioning.

“But there is magic, right?"

"Unfortunately, yes.” Varian said through gritted teeth.

“Are you magic then?” Fred asked, as he circled around Varian and picked up his arm by its sleeve and inspected the length of it.

“No.” Varian answered, now disturbed.

“Then how come you got that blue streak in your hair? Do all people from your world have that?"

Varian looked up at his bangs and then quickly covered said streak with his free hand. "No.” He said, this time less assured.

In truth he didn’t know where his defining blue hair stripe came from. He had had it for as long as he could remember, and had always assumed he got it in an alchemy accident when young. But he didn’t know for sure, and he didn’t like to dwell too much on the subject.

“Oh do you know anyone who has magic, then? Like, do you know any other fairy tale people, like Red Riding Hood or Mother Goose? Oh Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk was always one of my favorites!” Fred pressed on.

“No!"

Fred backed away at the sudden ferociously in Varian’s voice.

"My life’s not a fairy tale Fred!” Varian added just to drive the point home.

“Sorry, man.” Fred said timidly. He hadn’t meant to upset the younger teen, but he knew he could sometimes get carried away.

Varian’s anger all but disappeared at that admission. Fred looked genuinely upset and he suddenly felt guilty for his outburst. It wasn’t his new friend’s fault for not knowing what hell his life had been for the last two years.

“Look, I’m…I’m sorry too, it’s just…I hate magic. Okay?” He tried to explain.

Fred looked thoughtful at that, as if he had never considered that point of view before.

“Well, if you hate magic…Oh I bet you would love science fiction then!” He exclaimed.

Varian looked bewildered at the sudden change in subject, but Fred continued on excitedly.

“We should watch the greatest sci-fi show ever!” Fred ran over to a shelf and pulled off a small thin case and held it up for Varian to see, “Professor What!"

"What?” Varian asked, still confused.

“Exactly! It’s about a mysterious professor, who’s really a shape-shifting alien, who has a time machine that’s also a spaceship and he fights other aliens and…”

“Okay, okay” Varian interrupted. He agreed to go along with Fred’s idea if nothing else than to stop the older teen from launching into yet another confusing ramble.

Fred flashed Varian a wide grin at that and then bid his father goodbye before opening the case and inserting a small shiny disc into the viewer screen. He then dimmed the lights and both he and Varian settled down on the couch to watch the video.

“We’ll just watch the first episode and then go from there.” He said to Varian as odd sounding music filtered through the air and the opening titles flashed before them on the screen. But Varian wasn’t paying much attention.

His mind raced as he was still agitated by the existence of the book. He couldn’t explain it. It wasn’t even a case of being an alternate version of Rapunzel herself. Fred had acted like the whole story was simply just made up. As if he, himself, was nothing but fiction. What’s more the story hadn't mention him, his father, nor the rocks and he didn’t know if this made the situation better or worse.

He took a steadying breath and tried to focus on the screen ahead of him, shoving any uncomfortable questions to the back of his mind.

The tv show was more of the moving pictures he had seen on the internet. Only this looked to be a recording of a staged play instead of the simple funny shorts of animals that he had only seen thus far. There was also no color, which Fred explained was because the film was so old.

The story of the play concerned two school teachers, Cliff and Lola, who followed their new mysterious student home one day, only to stumble upon a bigger mystery. The student, Sue, reminded him of himself. She was super smart but ignorant of what was, to the teachers, common knowledge and it was no surprise when it was revealed that both she and her equally mysterious grandfather, the titular Professor, were from another world. What was a surprise was the way they traveled.

The two teachers forced their way into a small box, no bigger than a magician’s cabinet, only to find a larger room on the inside. Said box was called a phone booth, which used to be used by people before cell phones came about, but the inside was called a STARDIS, a Space, Time, And Relative Dimensions Imperial Ship.

“You mean to tell me that a thing that looks like a phone booth, sitting in the middle of a scrapheap, can travel anywhere through time and space?” He heard the science teacher, Cliff, say incredulously before the impish Professor mischievously pressed a button on the console of the machine, locking the doors and turning the ship on.

A swirl of stars and flashing lights appeared on screen, and like a magic trick, the box was no longer in a junkyard but an icy desert. A looming shadow then appeared and the screen cut to black as the odd music from before started to play and names flew up on the screen.

“What, what happened? Why did it stop?” Varian asked Fred. He was just starting to get interested when it had ended.

“Oh that was only the first episode, you gotta watch multiple in order to get the whole story."

"You mean like chapters in a book? Can, can we watch the next one?"

"You mean you like it?” Fred asked delightedly.

“Well I don’t dislike it, besides I’d at least like to know what that shadow was.” Varian admitted.

So they watched the next three parts. The group of time travelers had been transported to an ancient era, back when man still lived in caves. They were captured by a tribe and forced to make fire for them, all the while being caught in the middle of an ongoing power struggle for leadership. Varian didn’t find the politics of the cavemen particularly interesting but he did find himself on the edge of his seat whenever the STARDIS crew were on screen.

He found them all compelling. The shifty Professor and his grey morals, doing whatever he could to survive and keep his granddaughter safe; Sue’s own fear of being separated from her only family and her mysterious ability for premonitions; Lola’s homesickness and exasperation at being cut off from civilization paired with her compassion for all living beings, even her oppressors; and the noble hero Cliff holding the team together while adhering to science and logic even while having his entire world view challenged.

In the last part they finally escaped the violent cavemen and made it back to the ship. They quickly took off, only to land on another planet entirely. The screen hovered over the console and a dial on the dashboard dropped down into the danger zone indicating all was not well before once again cutting to black and playing the ending credits.

“Welp, that’s it!” Fred cheered. He stood up and stretched and went to take the disc out and put it up.

“That’s it!?” Varian asked disbelievingly. “But what about that new planet and the dial? Do Cliff and Lola ever get home? How was Sue able to sense that her grandfather was in trouble? Also why is he only called the Professor? Does he not have a name? Where did he get the ship? Did he build it? Is he a scientist too like Cliff is?” The questions tumbled out of him in a jumble. He had never seen anything like it before and couldn’t remember being so excited to find out more since the time he read his first Flynn Rider book.

Fred laughed, “So you do like it! Don’t worry there’s more episodes, just that’s the end of that particular serial. The next one is a seven parter though, and you got school tomorrow, remember?"

Varian did remember and his stomach did a little flip flop at the thought.

"I tell you what though,” Fred continued, “I’ve always wanted to do a marathon of the whole show in order. If you’re still interested we could maybe meet up sometimes and watch it together?"

Varian had never had a project that he could do with a friend before, nor someone to share his love of stories with, so the idea appealed to him. Therefore it was agreed; sometime next week they would meet up to watch the next serial and then possibly one day every week after that to watch the rest.

So the day ended with Fred dropping Varian back off at the dorms and with him organizing his things for his first day of school. His excitement for tomorrow drove away any more thoughts of comics, tv shows, or fairy tales. Stories were fun, but none compared to the weirdness of his actual life.

#All the illustrations in this chapter are in the public domain #they're either not my work or edited together from PD photos #varian #Fred Frederickson IV #tangled the series #tts #BH6 the series #bh6 #rapunzel's tangled adventure #rta

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