#Oh and Soul is not the one causing the calamity

[gamegem92]

RBing with more stuff I wanted to add!

The three legendary heroes Soul spoke of may or may not have some resemblance to our Rosham-Bros! These three heroes, when combining their strength, wisdom, and cunning, were able to save both worlds from a great calamity.

The three previous heroes disappeared after their work was done, promising to return once they were needed once more, but they haven’t shown up yet… or have they?

During the parts of the story where the trio has to split up, Soul does that, too! They split themself into three separate versions of themself to follow each one, because they can split up into three separate timelines until they reunite. (Don’t ask how, idk either)

Pencil does show up in the chapter 2 equivalent! Soul knows about Paper’s feelings towards her, and boo totally accepts it. “Hooray! Now we have a member pertaining to intelligence!” “Wait wait wait, I thought I was the intelligent one!” “Well, intelligence and wisdom aren’t exactly the same thing…” (calm down, there’s no Snowgrave route)

Inner demons are fought. Character development occurs.

Rock Paper Scissors community, hear me out…

…DELTARUNE-esque AU.

They just happened to discover the existence of dark worlds, and realized that the balance between light and dark is beginning to shift, thanks to something brand new they encounter… well, someONE, more like.

this someone is meant to be the Soul equivalent, and is basically some form of ghost that follows them around.

the ghost’s name is Soul, short for Soularis Trifecta (Rock came up with the name), and they unintentionally adopt Soul on account of him/her/them (Soul accepts any pronouns, but also accepts ghost neopronouns, AKA booself) indirectly being made of their very souls.

In the past, there were 3 heroes that have warded off the great disaster that Soul has warned them of. These three previous heroes in particular DO look familiar…

[bulletbilltime]

I'm so sane. Only sane people think about "Life is Strange but isekai'd into Paper Mario TTYD". I'm so sane I swear.

[yorsgirl]

Yan!Heian!Sukuna and with Y/N?

Lately, whenever Darling got pregnant she ended up having countless miscarriages, the longest lasting at least 3 months, Sukuna began to suspect these countless coincidences.

He doesn't care about these losses since he didn't want to share Y/N with some brat, but he found it very strange that every time she got pregnant resulted in a miscarriage, so he started investigating and finally found out why this was happening.

He discovered that Y/N was causing her own miscarriages, as she knew that the last thing the world needed was Sukuna's descendants, so he finally confronts her but with that damn psychological terror that he loves to do to her.

Oh my, I love love love this idea!!

I kinda went out on this one, but I hope I did justice to what you were aiming at. Hope you like it :) Also I am sorry for being so late

Playing God

Yandere!Ryomen Sukuna x Fem!Reader

Synopsis: It was a gamble, he was willing to make. To keep you with him, forever, as he wanted. Needed. You had to realize that no other heaven except his arms would be comforting. Even if that meant, breaking your very soul.

Tropes: Dark Romance, horror, angst

Warnings: Implied nsfw(forced), mentions of pregnancy, miscarriage, abduction, cannibalism and isolation. Trauma, mild stockholm syndrome, yandere themes, minor character death(s), gore, gaslighting, manipulation, misogyny, blood, degradation(non-kinky), patriarchal society, unhealthy relationship, implied child birth.

General warnings: Yandere!True form!Husband!Sukuna, Wife!Reader, Heian Era, both Sukuna and reader are a red flag on their own, usage of nicknames, no mentions of y/n.

Word Count: 9.7k

You were digging your own grave.

So you shouldn't have been surprised that your wish would be granted. Yet, if you could have one wish then you'd wish for freedom but no- freedom was a forfeited dream, far beyond your reach. Consideration of that one would never be fruitful. You are trapped even in your dreams.

Playing with fire only gets you burnt.

For long, you played this game and this- this was your compensation. For everything you had done until now, all you are returned with was abandonment. Not that supposedly, betrayal, yes. More appropriate.

Flames surrounded you, crawling up your skin, the screams piercing your ears, your chest heaved up and down. Gaze, once settled on your hearth, now all you saw was the burning hut, the crackling of embers reached your ears. Attire and hands stained with blood of the insolent. The warning shouldn't have been taken lightly. Should have known, the extent of his power.

Eyes held terror, fright, regret- whatever you could name. The multitude of names you received seemed no more than a distant dream, nowhere to be found. All were running away - expectable.

You expected calamity, but you were calm.

Everything went down in flames. Save for you, you weren't burning. Not an spark touched your skin. Was it the distance or the control? Who knows. But one confirmation which you held was that tonight you won't die. Not so soon either.

Careful, not all Gods are worshipped.

The words rang in your ears and as if on cue, you found him again.

In this reverie of madness, he held your sight when you attempted to turn - the eyes tinted with crimson.

.

"I am sorry for your loss, m'lady."

You had seen it all.

You had your fair share of encounters, received news and such. Women losing their mind and sanity after delivered with a news this devastating. Notably, no woman would feel any bliss after knowing that they had lost their child. Lost the chance of motherhood before experiencing it. Violent outbursts was the most probable outcome.

"This is a hard time," The midwife spoke softly. "Yet, you shouldn't neglect your health."

You perceived the softness to be fear. She must have had dealt with situations like these, most of them traumatizing as you assumed. Perhaps, she expected the same from you too.

You tore your gaze off her, leaning back on your bedframe, "I'd like to be left alone."

Your declaration was answered with compliance. Offering a humble bow, she bid you farewell, walking out of your chambers. Once her footsteps seized, you finally let your guard down. Breathing out a sigh of relief, you laid back down on your bed.

"Good riddance," You muttered to yourself. Moments of such vulnerability wasn't rare, considering you were served with loneliness, lately. Save for the times you spent in the presence of Sukuna. His decree, one might say. Your attention shouldn't be wasted on anyone but him. You scoffed recalling his words. Involuntarily, you stroked your belly, the corner of your lip curled up.

Once a house to life, given by your husband; now lay vacant from your doing.

A twisted sense of pride swelled up in your chest, a wide grin stretching on your face. You were successful in your quest, again. Mercilessly, you uprooted the seed of your husband's lineage.

Perhaps, you've truly gone sick.

Yet, this revolt of feelings were miles lesser than the repugnant you encountered when you realized your first pregnancy. You were on the brink of clawing out the creature growing in your womb. You'd have torn it apart with while revelling in the joy of watching its blood drip down on the face of Earth. If not for Sukuna's presence in the room, you might've gone through it.

You lost a fragment of yourself, that day.

Throwing up countless times, dizziness, nausea, even losing your consciousness while walking down. No, they weren't pregnancy side effects. More so, the outcome of the stress accumulating in you.

Sickening. His kin you'd have cradled in your body. To be born and grow up into a revolting, merciless creature like his father. To take up place in your womb, your flesh and blood and combining with his – a living proof of your plight. Disgusting.

Never. You'd never let that happen.

You'd never succumb to such monstrosity.

You had already given up your freedom, your dignity, your alight life to Sukuna in exchange of the lives you held dear. The lives back in your ancestral village, home to your kin.

You were affirmed. An heir of Ryomen Sukuna would never be birthed from you.

Speak of the devil, he appears.

An overwhelming familiar aura surrounded your very being, the doors to your chamber slid open, your captor, your husband strolled inside. Even his mere presence held the malevolence in him. You attempted to rise from your position at his arrival.

"Sit." He commanded.

You silently obeyed his order, keeping your gaze settled on your lap, the energy had your stomach churning with trepidation; at times when you didn't do anything either. And this time, you were guilty. Two moments passed in silence until he spoke.

"I heard from the midwife."

You took in a sharp breath, swallowing a lump in your throat. It was the same ordeal, like the first two times. Yet, you were a tad bit calm since the previous encounters. Probably, due to the fact you were getting used to this role. In this past moons, you had developed into the wife, he was carving you out to be. Giving him just the reactions he wanted, for that saved you a lot of anguish and pain. Even if it came at the price of your self-respect. This was the only way.

With your head hung low, you spoke, "Forgive me, my lord. I am incapable of bearing you an heir. I-It must have been my fau-"

"Not another word."

You instantly stiffened up, his deep voice causing chills to run down your spine. Did you make an error? Was he aware of your tumultuous acts? Was the play not convincing enough?

He held your chin, forcing you to look up at him. All of his four, red eyes bore into you. You bit on your inner cheek, blood coursing in your veins - steadfast.

They say, your fear start to vanish once you've remained in the source of their vicinity too long. That statement is false. For even after staying with your captor for almost two years, you still held your fear.

"The one at fault bore consequences."

That's when you were hit with the faint stench of blood from him. Another one perished. You took the wild guess of it being the midwife. However, instead of amplifying fright, it was lessened. You wouldn't be on the receiving end of his wrath.

"You aren't at fault, wife."

Oh, but you were.

Sukuna held your gaze, cupping your cheek; the rough pad of his thumb trailed a line on your skin. His tone and grip were surprisingly gentle. "There's no need to apologize."

The corners of your eyes crinkled down, you lean into his touch. You assume, it's a good move as you noted the flicker of emotion in his eyes. "It's the third time, my lord. Perhaps, I bear some shortcomings."

"What nonsense," He rolled his eyes. "There's none, not in my eyes. Don't fill your head with such fickle thoughts." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Is that understood?"

He wasn't one for affirmations but maybe- just maybe it was his attempt at comfort, you supposed. The previous losses must had him learning, the threads of condolence. Still, for you, they'd never mean anything less than empty words. The last thing you wanted was to be comforted by your tormentor. You'd rather step into hell willingly.

But you were living under his wing. You have to play according to his whims. You nodded. "Yes, my lord."

His hand left your face, dropping to his thigh. He looked at you, as if sizing you up. You had to keep yourself from making any unnecessary movements. Sukuna wanted you composed, whatever the situation. (Except the times when he bedded you, you were allowed to scream, cry and thrash around then. Cause you were trapped under his immense strength, struggles were futile).

After a while, he asked, "Any wishes?"

You chewed on your bottom lip, eyes flickering down then back to him. You let out a breath, before continuing. "May I visit the shrine... this evening?"

Silence.

You were contemplating whether you had offended him, somehow. Previously, he did allow for your little trips, you wondered if his patience was running thin cause of your repeated incapability of bearing him an heir. Maybe, you ran out of luck.

You were about to mutter an apology but then a smug grin spread across his lips, "Why so?" He asked.

"To-" You swallowed a lump, preparing to answer the practiced dialogue. "To offer prayers for–"

"Why grieve for someone who didn't even take form?" He cut you up, raising an eyebrow. For a tad moment, he sounded curious. It broke into a cruel chuckle, "You humans would make a funeral out of anything, yes?"

If you held an ounce of sympathy then you wouldn't question.

You wanted to say but you knew better. Besides, you still have to keep up the act of being his loyal wife. Heaving a out a deep breath, you replied, "I suppose." You paused, running the tip of your tongue over your lip.

"I'd pray that I can bear you an heir the next time, my lord."

Nay, more so: I'd pray that you receive your end soon, my lord.

Sukuna watched you. No, not look. He watched, like a predator. Then, his lips cracked into a sinister grin. "You've a way with your words, wife."

It caught you off guard. You raised an eyebrow, attempting to voice out your confusion. "What do-"

"I will accompany you."

.

"Sukuna sama, the herbalist you asked for, has arrived."

Sukuna spared a glance at Uraume, who knelt by his feet.

"Bring him."

As on cue, they rose up from their stance, pivoting around towards the door. It parted, two curses had a man in their grasp as he struggled to break free. His eyes widening with terror when it fell on the King, sitting atop his throne.

The man was pushed down to his knees, face meeting the floor in a loud slam. His scuffles were in vain against such power, he knew that. Still, in a situation of life and death, rationality takes it's leave.

Sukuna clicked his tongue in annoyance. All he wanted was some herbalist to answer the flurry of questions in his which had him restless for the past few days. Did this scum think he'd be killed? Maybe he would be, if he deems it necessary or he proves to be useless.

What had him restless was your miscarriages. Counting the most recent would make it a fourth. Where did he go wrong? You were kept in utmost luxury, no toils whatsoever. Still, what was wrong?

—》《—

"Perhaps, there's some faults in her highness."

"Keep your voice down, Mira. Someone may hear you."

"I am a lot quite... but tell me, don't you find it strange? How come she has lost all of her children?"

"I- I suppose. Perhaps, motherhood is not written in her fate."

"Or so, she's simply incapable."

—》《—

Safe to say, those were the last words they uttered before they were turned into a mash of flesh and blood.

Sliced into pieces that even trying to make a proper corpse out of the remnants weren't possible.

At times, Sukuna wished he held the power to bring back someone to life. Then maybe, he'd have given those servants a death, more worthy. Maybe, ripping out their limbs, piece by piece. First the bones would break, ripped from the ligaments, then it'd be the muscles; that was easy to just tear out. And after that happened, he could have just sewn up the blobs of flesh again and repeat the process until they learn their lesson or the life leaves them again.

He deduced the latter would be more probable. Still, it would be fine. They deserved that.

Speaking ill of you in his palace, in his vicinity, in his world was prohibited. A sin, in the words of humans. And a sin never goes unpunished.

You - his consort, his queen, you were heavenly. There isn't a fault in you, it's some external factor, must be. But he can't let go of his growing suspicion either.

Sukuna detested children, it was a known fact. Always ending their lives first, whenever he set foot in a village. They were of no use to him, unless they were served to him on his platter. He couldn't deny, their flesh was flavourful.

Even though, he held great disdain for them, he couldn't help but desire a kinship with you. With the price of letting go of your undivided attention? Hmm, doesn't sound too great. He assumed, he can hire a wet nurse just in case. Still, he desired to see you round with his child, feet swollen as you struggled to walk around. You do not have to worry, he, your husband would joyfully oblige in carrying you in his arms. You were more than perfect, he couldn't even imagine just how beautiful you'll look, during and after carrying your child.

It was destined. You'd extend his lineage or no one else.

You were flawless then why were you causing such errors? Contradicting. It was his question until he started to take a note in your behaviour, and he found–

Sukuna stood up from his throne, walking down the steps of bones, presumably of the ones he killed. They act as a pretty show piece, according to him.

The court resonated with his footsteps, each one carrying a promise of death. The man's struggles seized once he was harshly pulled up by his hair, his eyes met with Sukuna's.

"Yo-your high–ness," The man fumbled with his words, a spine chilling sensation going down his frame.

"Time's wasting," Sukuna said, his glare pointed. The fury evident, though his exterior was calm. "Comply if you don't wish death."

The man nodded frequently, his fingertips trembled with anticipation and horror. "Ye-yes, your highness. It's an honour to s-serve you." The man fell to his feet as he was dropped. Sukuna dismissed the extra company with a wave of his hand.

"Rise," He declared.

The man still on his knees, raises his head. "What can I- I do for you, your highness?"

—》《—

"May I make a request, my lord?"

Sukuna's eyes flickered to you, yours not meeting his. Knelt before him, you gracefully poured the sake in his ochoko.

"Speak."

He marked the squinting in your irises, fingertips trembled when you put the vessel down. Your shoulders rose and fell before you gazed at him, reluctantly. He couldn't help but find your antics inhumanely amusing. 

"Would you be kind enough... to bring me this-" You paused for a fleeting moment. "This herb called... aloe vera?"

—》《—

"Aloe vera," Sukuna tilted his head aside, the upper pair of arms crossed over his chest. "What use does it have?"

"We-well, my lord it's used for heal-healing purposes, burns, cuts, rashes... it heals injuries, yes." He answered, taking a gulp. There was other uses too yet his head was alike a blank canvas, before such a formidable strength. He wasn't even aware if it was satisfactory or why the King of Curses needed to know about such a measly plant. But if it meant he could see the sun for another day then he'll just give whatever he could offer. "I-It can also be used to– to make me-medicated food. N-not a delicacy... I might add."

Sukuna raised an eyebrow, "That's it?"

"N-no, my lord. There- it can cure diges-"

"In pregnancy."

The man stiffened, his mouth parting a tad bit. A whisper leaving his lips, "Yo-your highness...?"

Pregnancy, menstruation, considered taboo. A matter regarding women, spoken in the inner chambers, the men should remain ignorant. A topic whispered in ears not spoken aloud in any hall, let alone the royal court. Certainly, Sukuna was aware of this societal construct, yet he didn't care. The society and its idiotic rules could go to hell. He just needed answers.

"Speak," Sukuna's voice was louder, deeper when the man before him fidgeted in his spot due to discomfort - on speaking such a topic.

"It-Its a... your highness, I d-don't think you-"

"Insolent bastard," His fumbling was interrupted by Sukuna. The warning evident in his profanity. His face grew darker, the four irises glowing with impending danger akin Satan himself. "If you so much as want to live, fucking speak."

The man's blood ran cold as on cue, face turning a shade paler as if winter had started to pool in. Tears prickled the corners of his eyes, "Forgive me, your highness! I will speak, I will- yes- aloe vera its-" He heaved out a deep breath, an attempt to slow down his beating heart. "Any fo-form of it is ill-suited during pregnancy... it can cause... cause pe-pelvic haemorrhage leading to... to  misc-"

"Miscarriage?"

"Yes, miscarriage... can lead to miscarriage, your highness."

A profound silence prevailed. Not a soul spoke neither was a footstep heard. Not a leaf rustled or the howling winds tapped on the window pane - assumed, mother nature had halted its elements from making any noise.

The stakes were high yet an flicker of courage alighted in the man as he raised his head up to glance at Sukuna, "My lor-"

The man's head tumbled down before he could even complete.

He couldn't scream, he couldn't beg, he couldn't apologize, he couldn't even blink. All he could do was watch. Watch as his beheaded body fell limp before his eyes. Watch as the blood poured out like waterfalls staining the carpet with its hues. The red marred bones protruded out amidst the flesh, globs of blood was gushing out of his severed voice box. His body jerked, the remnants of conscious nerves trying to survive.

It was a neat cut. A heavenly sight.

The world started to blur in. And before he knew it, the light was gone from his eyes.

Sukuna didn't even spare a glance as he marched out of his court.

Uraume approached the body, a few maids accompanying them. They casted a disapproving glare at the corpse.

"Not edible, dispose of it."

.

You didn't see or hear from Sukuna for a week.

He didn't visit your chambers at night neither was he present when you sat down for your meals. Even his energy was alike a hushed whisper which would remind you of his presence in the residence, but not reveal himself to you. For some reason, it had you in an unease.

No, you certainly did not miss his presence. But his absence just made the surroundings almost suffocating. There was the looming threat that something had happened or something were to happen. One worse than the other.

Silence was never uneventful.

Insinuating the courage, you had once inquired Uraume about his absence. Presenting a polite bow, they answered, "Sukuna sama doesn't want to be disturbed."

Disturbed... as if he wasn't the cause of all disturbances. A natural disaster in himself. You resisted the urge to scoff and uttered a meek line of gratitude before going about your day. (That extended with you strolling down the halls or garden or just be in your chambers and read the few books Sukuna had bought you).

On the very same day the dark commenced. While you were mesmerized by the fall of twilight over the garden, you heard his voice.

"Don't you love playing with poison, wife?"

The sudden question made you halt your steps, you weren't even aware that he was present–shielded his aura, presumably. You turned around, raising an eyebrow with bewilderment.

"Pardon, my lord?"

Sukuna snorted, walking up to you, a smirk played on his lips. You had to make the effort of tilting your head to gaze up at him. His towering figure loomed over you, his lower left hand snaking around your waist, pulling you closer to him.

"You love poisons, don't you? Or in your words herbs."

Your shoulders grew rigid, eyes widening with realization, a sharp breath hitting your throat. Your fingertips trembled with anticipation. You were sure to be discreet in your affairs, using the isolation he subjected you to at its best. Yet he knew. It was bad. Very much so. And what were to happen now? What would he do to you?

Another night of horror where your screams would be unheard, your resistance proved to be futile, where you'd be left to suffer alone, where another shard of your remaining soul would be plunged by him. Another night where you'd again play into his whims... Or something more vile, leaving you physically disabled? Perhaps, even death...

The foremost was the most heinous one. You silently prayed that he wouldn't resort to that. If you were to be subjected to his torment then you wished he'd just kill you, liberating you for once and for all. Even so, survival is what the mind wants. Piecing through any tactic just to live another day. The play for now should be denial.

Sukuna's affections for you worked as a double edged sword. You aimed to take advantage of it, in every way possible. You instilled a bit of courage, standing your ground, you spoke "I don't understand what you're trying to instigate, my lord."

He looked down on you, a coy smile uplifting his lips. He threaded his fingers through the knot of your kimono, leaning down next to your ear, he inhaled your scent. His lips brushing over your neck.

"I do not believe so, wife." He murmured, his warm breath hitting your skin, a range of goosebumps rising over your arm. "In fact, I think you clearly know, what I speak about."

Before you could let a word out, he straightened up, turning around, he pushed you to walk with him. His large hand still covering your back.

"Come, let me entertain you."

.

You were walking to the gallows.

Not literally, but you were sure your end was near.

The wooden floors creaked with footfalls. Each step heavier than the previous. You hesitantly glimpsed at Sukuna, his gaze was far ahead. Not a word left his mouth in this while. Only his hold remained firm. He pushed you forward every moment your step faltered.

Your breath hitched when you turned a corner - the right wing. A rule, you could say. Sukuna made it clear since the day he held you captive brought you home – never step a foot in the right wing. Despair drowned your curiosity that time, you didn't question, least bothered to. Even later, you didn't dare to defy him; courtesy to the pain you were subjected to once.

Still, you could make the wild guess of what happened in there. The muffled screams kept you awake at midnight, it was easy to put the puzzle pieces together. There he revelled with the sick pleasure of tormenting your kind.

He stopped before a pair of oak doors. That's when he glanced at you, for the first time in a long while. For a moment, he stared at you with an emotion you couldn't decipher. The next moment, he pulled out the Kanzashi from your hair, letting your strands tousle down.

You flinched, pushing away the curls which clouded your vision. Sukuna held the pin in his hand, holding your gaze. He was unmoving.

What happened to him?

"My lord," You called. "What are you-"

"Stay quiet," He handed you the kanzashi back, adjusting your hand to hold it as if it were a dagger. Turning to the door, he spared you a glance. "Don't speak a word." With that, the doors opened.

Dark.

It was dark save for the light of the lantern which illuminated the room. He shoved you forward, the door locking behind as he stood aside you.

"One bite."

Huh? Bite? What did he mean? You slightly turned your head towards him but you were stopped in your tracks. It wasn't only you and Sukuna in this room, seems you had a guest. More appropriate word? A Captive.

Your eyes were wide open. On the corner of the room, sat a young boy, not more than a adolescent - blindfolded. Restrained by chains, his wrists and ankles were cuffed with metal. A small whimper left his lips as he registered the presence of both of you.

You were about to speak but then his words rang in your mind.

Don't speak a word.

Sukuna gripped your wrist, leading you to the boy, "One bite, in the arm."

He wasn't talking to you. To the boy, he kept his eyes. You marked how the boy flinched. The metals clanking on contact.

He turned to you then, motioning to the pin in your hand then the boy's arm. Realization hit you. You tried to shake your head, refuse; but one glare of his and you were compelled. Reluctantly, you turned around, trudging to the boy.

Something was wrong.

You could feel it. Why... why would he want you to stab this poor boy? A picture of misery, he was. You noted he didn't have any sign of bruises in his body - peculiar. Yet, his fragile state was enough to give you a hint that he had been here for days. Perhaps, starved too. The tension was high and all you wanted was to leave this room, in an instant.

Fine, if Sukuna wanted you to just stab the boy. You'd do it. Missing the vital points which could end his life. One, he said. You'll miss the point and done. Its not upon you that you'd pierce the wrong place. His instructions weren't specific—that'd be your excuse.

He won't die. Not from your hands.

You gently held the boy's arm, angling the pointers on the muscles. You drove it in.

Miscalculation.

The boy's body instantly stiffened, a gut wrenching scream erupted from his mouth. He thrashed around, swinging his legs and arms, his body twitching violently.

You recoiled back soon, yanking out the pin, stepping away on instinct. You watched with terror.

Foam rose up the boy's mouth, his shrieks pierced your eardrums. The fluid dripped down his jaw, marring his clothes. He clutched the area where you stabbed him. Scratching at it with all his might. The sound of flesh ripping filled your ears as the boy ruthlessly, tore the muscles.

You were stunted. You couldn't speak or move. You weren't chained but you felt as if a thousand shackles bore you down.

The next seconds were a blur. The screams started to die down, his body losing it's color. Sooner than you could grasp, did the room turn silent again.

The boy was dead.

.

"Enjoyed the show, wife?"

You slapped your hand over your mouth, stumbling a few steps back. You couldn't tear your eyes off the young boy, bile rose up your throat as the room started to spin.

"Wh-what did you-"

No- you couldn't throw up, whatever second thought it was, it refrained you from crumbling to your knees and make a mess. Shivers went down your spine, you struggled to stand straight. The stench of the corpse and the expunging liquids started to fill your nostrils. You were almost on the verge to lose consciousness.

"What... did you do?"

Your eyes flickered to Sukuna. He stood tall, not a sign of emotion on his mien. You regret ever considering mirth to the worst feature on him, cause none was more terrifying.

And he was watching you.

It reminded you of the time, you first saw him -  covered with blood of the lives he had taken, down the river bank. Victim of naivety and ignorance, you didn't know any better than to not let him see you. Wandering towards the peculiar beast, even when a gut wrenching terror asked you to run; you were stubborn. You had asked - are you alright?

"What did you do?" You repeated again.

Tilting his head, he kept his unwavering gaze fixed on you. "As a matter of fact, I didn't do anything, wife." He paused, letting the horror shadow your features, "It was all you."

You needed to run.

The kanzashi– which was till then clasped in your hand firmly– fell down. A clank, you heard.

One step.

One step towards the door. He is standing afore you, the fingers of his upper right arm ran through your open hair, tangling in the roots, he yanked your head back.

"I don't remember, giving you the permission to leave."

Tears prickled your eyes as you tried to break free. Sukuna was having none of it. He dragged you by your hair towards the corpse of the boy. Your nails jabbed into his wrist while whimpers of anguish left your mouth.

Sukuna shoved you down to your knees, tugging your hair back - you were sure, they will be ripped off if he yanked with any more pressure - he made you glance at its face. He crouched beside you. With a flick of his finger, he ripped the blindfold out of the boy.

"Dare to shut your eyes."

Compliance had become second nature.

The body was rigid, skin turning blue. The veins on his arms were bulged out, his mouth wide open, filled with foam, trickling down his cheek, drying on it.

The sight caused you to gag.

Horrifying. His bloodshot eyes were wide open, protruding out of the sockets. Irises dilated in shape, which you considered humanly impossible. But what had your heart hammering in your chest wasn't the vivid details you saw on the corpse. It was the fact, that you recognized the boy. Son of that distant elder cousin, you'd seen once or twice in a year.

"Look at that, love." Sukuna cooed in your ear, forcing you to face the corpse.

You shook your head violently, nails dug into his wrist - desperate to escape. Your heart thumped inside your ribcage, you could hear it in your ears, your guts twisted in numerous ways as sweatbeads trailed down your forehead.

"You did that."

No. No, you didn't. You didn't do it. It wasn't you.

"You killed him."

No, you didn't... he didn't die because of you.

"Take a good look. See what you've done."

You vigorously shook your head. Denying all of his claims cause... cause they were... false, yes, false. They were false.

"No," You stated once you found your voice. "N-no, no... I- no."

Sukuna hummed, twisting a knot in your hair, "Yes, you. You did it."

No. You were innocent. You weren't to be blamed. It wasn't you.

It was... him.

"No, no, I didn't," You refused again, standing your ground. Moving your eyes towards him, you gritted your teeth. "No, I didn't do it. I didn't do anything. It was you."

"Really? How so?"

Fire burnt in your eyes. It was enough. He couldn't make you believe which you didn't commit - you didn't kill him.

"Poison," You said with conviction lacing your tone. "He was poisoned, a stab wouldn't procure such a reaction."

"Observant as ever," He mused, quirking up an eyebrow. A faint smile curled up on his lips. "Still, it doesn't gratify the fact that you were the one to end his life."

Blood boiled inside you, surging through your veins like lava. He had no right to accuse you of something. You didn't kill him, he couldn't make you believe it, whatsoever may happen.

"I may have stabbed him with the kanzashi, but that didn't have any trace of poison in it. I am-"

"Sure of it?"

You could only glare at him. He was toying with you. Tugging the strings of your conscience but you won't have any of it. "I am," You confirmed, staring at him without any falters. "I held it... you held it. If it was really drenched with toxicant as lethal as that, we- we both would be dead."

His grip loosened from your hair, hand falling down. The corners of his eyes crinkled, the smile turning into a smirk.

"It was you," You continued. "You did something to him at first and-"

Sukuna broke into a chortle of laughter. Far from jovial, more so sinister, filled with sheer malevolence. He gripped your jaw, pulling you closer to himself. His sharp canines glinted in the dim light.

"You just keep on fascinating me, wife."

Each second with him was revolting. Just his touch alone had your skin crawling. Yet, you couldn't let him know he has the upper hand.

"We had a pact," You stated firmly. His game was disgusting. What was he trying to do? What was his goal? "If I stay with you, you wouldn't lay a finger on my family, then- h-how could-"

"I would still stand on the ground, that I didn't do anything." He replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. "It was all you, wife. I can assure you that I didn't go back in my words." His canines glinted while he smiled. "Not a flick of pain. Save for..." He paused, his eyes widening, the carmine irises glowed in the dark. "Save for telling him, he'd be killed by a snake bite."

"There was no venom on my pin."

"Know so," He confirmed, a playful smirk on his visage. You wished you could read minds, if possible only of him, that'd been enough. Then where did poison come from? You wanted to question but he beat you to it.

"His fear turned into poison."

You blinked. Once. Twice. You knew he had an urge to play mind games but this was ridiculous. You questioned, shell-shocked, "What?"

"He let his fear get the better of him, assuming your pin to be a snake. He believed it." He explained while you listened without so much as a word. "His conscience caused his body to give out the exact reactions, he imagined. A shock, you might say. That caused his death."

His game was disgusting. If he thought, he could just give you any excuse as this and let you believe his accusations then he was mad wrong. You gritted your teeth, yanking your face away from his grip. For a second, you saw all of his eyes opening wide with surprise. But that didn't extinguish the fire burning in you.

He reached out, dragging you towards him via the arm. A glare resting on his face. "What did I tell about refusi-"

"I don't believe you," You cut him off, hands clenched into fists. It was the first time in a long time, you lost your composure in front of him. No, you wouldn't play as his doll anymore. He broke his promise, its only fair that you do so. "I don't believe a single word you say. You- you did something, you must have. Fear, belief, whatever the fuck, something as trivial as that-"

"So you think fear is trivial, wife?" He sighed, his clutch in your arm remained firm. The rough callouses of his palm, rubbed over your skin. "And here I thought, you might be different than the rest. But you managed to drop below my expectations."

"Maybe that's what I love about you, darling." He continued.

Disgust arose in you yet again. Love. As if he had any of that. He wasn't capable of love. Not in this lifetime. Never. 

He spoke again, "Times you are the smartest I have seen, then you speak such blasphemy which would even embarrass the Gods you worship. Your silence was awarded by him leaning near your ear. He twisted a curl of your hair between his fingers. "Fear, wife..." He whispered to you. "Fear is a mind killer. It makes you believe anything. The small drop of poison which contaminates all the water."

"In the end, belief and fear are sides of the same coin," His top two eyes, flickered to the corpse of the boy. "I made him consume the poison of fear and you-" He turned to you again. "You made him believe it... so, in a way, yes. Yes, I did do something. Save for the part of ending his life. Though I didn't break my part of our pact." A smirk tugged on his lips. "You were the one who killed him. Isn't that great?"

Your breath hitched, throat gone dry. You gazed at him, eyes wide open. Your mind was a blank canvas.

Fear, poison, belief, killing...

He made you kill someone. An innocent boy who didn't even do anything.

Why won't he much rather just end your life?

Sukuna pulled away from you, standing up, he walked over to the lantern placed in the room. The stench of the rotting corpse had long ago started to pool in.

"You made me kill him." You whispered, still knelt, staring at the floor. When greeted with silence, you questioned again, a tone higher, "You made me kill him."

"And?"

His nonchalance had always been infuriating to you.

You could feel him standing a few steps behind you. "If you really wanted to kill my kin, you should've just told me. Getting your herbs was a tiring chore." You didn't miss the emphasis he put on, herbs. The roll of his eyes while speaking floated before your eyes even though you couldn't see him; the expression must had turned to a smirk later. "However, the taste of taking a life– isn't it delicious, wife?"

Guilt gnawed at you, tearing you internally. Your shoulders trembled as you let out ragged breaths, eyes fixed on the bloodied arm of the boy. The same arm where the kanzashi pierced, the muscles torn apart, blood drying on it due to the boy's onslaught. Nausea overrode your senses, bile rose up your throat and the next moment you were throwing up. The wastes ran down your mouth, your nails dug into the wooded boards – bruising your fingertips and chipping the nails. You didn't realize Sukuna stepping up to your side, pulling your hair back while you were caught into the ordeal.

A disapproving grunt left his mouth after you were finished, yanking you up with your wrist. He pulled you towards the door. "Com-"

"No." Your heels remained firm on the ground. You refused him before you could even think. He turned towards you slightly, a scowl resting on his features before he pivoted around. He cast a glare upon you but before he could speak, your mouth opened again.

"You're even lower than scum." Your jaw ticked, hands clenching into fists. "You made me kill an innocent boy. Someone who might have done nothing to you, You– You disgust me, Sukuna."

Done you were with the respect, he demanded. If that angered him, made him want to rip out your heart and watch the life drain from your eyes. He was most welcome.

But it looks like, he wasn't resorting to any of that.

"You made me a murderer." You urged, staying strong in your stance. "You turned me into you."

His eyebrow twitched, a wave of mirth washed over him. "You were always like me, wife."

"I am nothing-"

"You are. You are like me. You are no saint, as you think so of yourself. " He said, leaving no room for argument. His lips pressed tight into a thin line. 

Yet, you refused to believe that. You were nothing like him. Couldn't even dream so. You were not him.

"You kill children in your womb, I kill them after they're born. How is it so different?"

"It is different." You yelled, your jaw clenched, teeth baring out. "This world needs no more of your lineage, it needs no more of you." You jabbed your pointer finger on his chest, tears pooling into your eyes. You refused to shed them. "You kill for your own sake, I do not."

"Then who do you kill for?"

"For everyone." The faint snort of his reached your ears. You couldn't decipher what he found so delightful in this.

"Playing God, are we?" He mocked causing your vexation to rise.

"Maybe I am. For the least, I am not killing innocent people like you."

From where such defiance arose, you weren't sure of. Perhaps, all the frustration, fright, terror which accumulated till now had reached its limit. Moreover, Sukuna's provocation must be the fuel to the fire.

You might be left bleeding– No, you would be left bleeding. You welcomed it with open arms.

.

"Careful," Sukuna pushed a strand of your hair behind your ear. "All Gods aren't worshipped."

He was enjoying himself. In all honesty, your obedience was getting too monotonous. This was better. Your defiance was amusing. Arousing, if there's to add. If he knew, letting you end a few lives would have this effect then he would have resorted to this long ago.

"Better than you." You shoved his hand away, "You are nothing more than a wretched, two-faced curse destroying all of our lives."

He noted your scowl, the way your lips were shut tight, your eyebrows crinkled together. Reasons evident, all he desired was to pull you into his arms smash his lips against yours. Taste the very essence of your being. Consume you wholly, just the way you are. So that in the end, your name, your taste, your scent would be engraved in his very soul. Without your mention, he wouldn't be complete. 

But he refrained from giving in now. His desire extended to a far more sinister route. "I wonder..."

What would it be like to break your conviction? What would it be like to break you?

Oh, he knew.

Would it be right moment to let you know? Maybe he should wait for another, more appropriate time.

Hmm, perhaps he should. But no.

He let you play these games for too long. Tired of this game plan, he was. Maybe, you would just come to your senses if he let you know. So he let the words, flow out:

"I wonder, why this curse keeps protecting your pathetic life from people who would cross rivers to lay siege to your life?"

Worth everything.

Sukuna watched as your face lost its color. The previous boldness you presented him with was replaced by a mask of confusion and. Such a pretty sight, it was. To see you, falter from your stand. Second guess, yourself, be in denial then rage consumes you. And you look at him, like he was the forbearer of your misery. (He is).

Oh, how good he has you memorized.

Even the littlest of reactions you contort on your mien, on your mannerisms; everything has him intrigued. You have him intoxicated.

"You know the ones, the people... your people, for whom you play this God."

Sukuna wished he could capture this moment. He'd have the chance to take a glimpse of it again, whenever he wished to. The horrified look on your face as the weight of his words started to sink in.

Would you still look like this if he tells you the terror he bestowed on them who tried to steal you away from him? What would you say if he vividly describes each imagery of how he slowly, agonizingly burnt them, severed them and tormented them? Leaving them nothing but fragments beyond recognition.

You were his. All of you belonged to him. Without his sanction, no one could even see you, let alone touch you. Ah- just how many sorcerers perished from his hands, the number of villages, bathed in blood; save for yours. (Courtesy to that stupid pact, he forged with you)

Something had told him, that there'd be a better time to put an end to the pitiful lives of your kin.

"Can't speak? What caused so, darling?" His tone was laced with smugness, a twisted joy elicited in him. "Fearful that your play amounted to nothing?"

Your jaw ticked with anger. You were furious. "I don't believe you. You are lying."

Your trust on humans was commendable, he'd give you that. However, there's stark contrast between faith and blind belief. You were inclining towards the latter.

So, what do they do when words fail to convey message? Oh right, you give them a prime example.

"Let me just show it to you then, wife."

It was a gamble, he was willing to make. To keep you with him, forever, as he wanted - he needed you to know that no place other than his arms would be as comforting. Even if that meant breaking your very soul, so be it.

.

You were home.

One moment, Sukuna held your gaze. The next, you are standing before your hearth.

Toes dipping into the familiar black soil, the land where you ran and played during your childhood. Your familial home stood steps away from you. Still looked the same except the visible cracks on the wall, a layer of dust on top of the door and the woods looked worn out. However, what caught your eyes weren't the flaws of your home but the familiar older woman walking into your home.

"Mother…"

She stilled all of a sudden, rotating on her heels, her eyes landed on you. Shell shocked, that's what she was with the widened eyes and parted lips. A small smile curved up on your lips, she still looked the same except the few grey hairs and wrinkles aside her eyes.

"Mother," You called again, taking a step towards her. "I am back."

Sooner than you expected, her eyebrows scrunched up, mouth curving down when she finally registered your presence. You weren't some illusion or her mind playing tricks. "What are you here for?"

The disdainful tone caused you to flinch. You didn't expect this. Returning home, you dreamt of it to be filled with tears of joy and warm embraces. Not this… whatever, she was presenting you with. But- But its fine, you have returned after a two whole years. She must have been worried. The reason of her apprehension. God, you had a lot making up to do.

"Well, you know," You chuckled lightly, scratching the back of your neck. "Back… just back. I have returned."

"Found your way after two years?" She crossed her arms over her chest, staring at you with a look you didn't want to recognize.

You nodded, "Yes. How could I forget my way? Our address, its-"

You were interrupted when your name was spit out from her mouth. Her glare on you was palpable, "I know what it is. What are you here for?"

Her fury even made your skin crawl with fear. You were often on the receiving end of her glare when you were a child, given by your tendencies to run around and cause trouble for others. Yet, those glares, were none like this. This- this- you didn't want to name what it was.

"You are angry," You don't know if its directed towards your mother or yourself as you hold onto the last bit of fragments that not all is lost. "I get it, I really do." You stood on your toes, attempting to look behind her, into your house. "Where's father? Tell him, I am-"

"No more."

As if the air was knocked out of your lungs.

"What?" Your neck craned towards her so fast, it might have left a sprain. Yet, that was the least of your concern. "What do you mean by no more?"

"No more means no more." Your mother's sigh fell heavy on the air, words carried the weight of the world. Laid with pain underneath.

"How- when? Wha-what happened?" You couldn't wrap your mind around the new discovery. No one told you such. Who could've guessed? Such an ordeal to occur in your absence. And what might she be going through, without you. You didn't even get the chance to talk to him, one last time.

"A year ago," She confessed, her voice conveyed her lament and sorrow. Her words felt like a hammered blow on the fragile façade of hope, you had intricately crafted for yourself. However, she wasn't done. Her eyes held scorn, lips curled up to a sneer. "Aren't you satisfied? You finally made your mark. Must tell you," Her voice, once filled with love held nothing save for contempt, directed at you. "Good game, you played, dear." She spit the endearment as if, it were poison.

"No, I- I never wanted any of this. What are you even talking about?" A trembling footfall towards her, you whispered, "M-mother-"

"Don't you dare call me that."

The weight of her judgement felt heavy on you, pressing down, suffocating you alike chains.

"You are no daughter of mine."

You weren't aware since when the tears had sprang up your eyes, breaking the barricades, they shed down. Your throat burnt as you struggled to even breathe, clutching your chest - a searing pain shooting in your heart. Your heart was shattering from the ultimate rejection from your own flesh and blood.

"While you're at it, know this." Your mother continued.

The next words were like a blow to the gut, each syllable lined with the weight of revelations. Ones that hung in the air like a funeral shroud.

"In his last moments, his only regret was bringing a daughter like you in this world."

.

This night just doesn't seem to end, does it?

You were left as a hollow shell. Tethering the steps away from the home you were no more welcomed. Exhaustion reigned heavy on you. Physically and mentally.

Where were you going? You didn't know. Just where your feet would take you, there would you go. Perhaps, you can return to Sukuna. Would he take you back? Most probably not. Considering, your earlier outburst, adding to the fact that you refused to give him what you want; he might just discard you as you proved to be useless.

Funny. It was so damn funny. Once, you wished to escape from his hands whatsoever the price yet now… now you considered returning to him.

You could hear him calling you pathetic. Disgusting. More disgusting, that you agreed with him.

You were truly pathetic.

But before you could spiral down the void of self-hatred, a voice- nah, multiple voices startled you.

"There she is, parading around some meek, innocent girl." A scoff is added. "You are far from it."

"The nerve of you to just walk back into our lives after you betrayed us."

Your neck cranes to your left, an old man - the village elder with a few other men and women following behind; they approached you. "Excuse me?"

"Who do you think you are?" A woman's cry reached your ears. "Returning after you turned your back on us."

You flinched at the accusation thrown. What could be possibly be instigating? To all your knowledge, you were walking in this- in your village after two long years. Anger, disdain and accusatory glares clouded their features. If your mother's insults weren't enough to pierce through your heart then it certainly did now, with all the people, you once called your own to look at you like you were the monster.

You summoned the least bit of courage you had, squared your shoulders and started, "I'd have you know-"

"Traitors don't get to speak." At the center of the crowd was the village elder. He was the pillars of your hamlet, revered for his wisdom and guidance, but now he looked akin a judge ready to deliver his sentence upon you. A sentence which would push you more into this conundrum. "You've been cavorting to that monster. Disgusting."

"I am no traitor." You retorted soon. "You can't accuse me of such when you don't ev-"

"Save it for someone who would care, whore."

The curse had your mouth parted in disbelief, horror etched upon your mien. Sooner than you could compose yourself, did whispers of agreement rippled through the crowd which branded you as a traitor.

"You are just as twisted as him."

"Get out of here if you so much as hold your life dear."

"Don't play as the innocent bitch, now."

The accusation hung in the air like a dark cloud, poisoning the atmosphere with its venomous hatred. Your breath was caught in your throat as you searched desperately for words to defend yourself; the crowd's hostility rendered you speechless. But amidst the cacophony of condemnation, one voice stood out above the rest.

I wonder, why this curse keeps protecting your pathetic life from people who would cross rivers to lay down yours?

Really? Were you really recalling his words now? Now of all times… You truly were pathetic.

For one moment, You just stayed silent - letting their accusations bore you down. Somewhere you wished all of it were just a nightmare. You'll soon wake up on your bed beside Sukun- fuck! Since when did you start to expect to wake up with him? He- He was toying with your mind. This was the only result. But the fact that this was your thought process had you recoil back.

The next moment, everything made sense.

These accusations were stemmed from the fact that you- you were proclaimed to be the wife of the King of curses. Your unwillingness to return, given for the pact you forged with Sukuna, was taken as your cue that you betrayed your family, your home, your people.

Your family despised you. Your people despised you. The very same people you chose to protect were turning their back on you.

Did they truly try to lay down your life?

Amidst your plight, you didn't register when the village elder marched up to you. "Didn't you hea-" His trial at speech was cut off. Nay, his lifeline was cut off. (Humorous, isn't it?)

Numerous red lines appeared on his body before it burst off into a globs of flesh and blood. Blood which splashed onto you, marring your visage and attire with its hues.

He was here. You knew it. You could feel it.

For some reason, it filled you with a sense of relief.

However, your people were on the other end of the rope. The eyes which afore held hatred and disgust, they were now filled with horror and fright. In this reverie as the villagers started to flee, a torch tumbled on the ground - lighting the grass on fire. The winds showed no mercy, as the howls increased, so did the flames.

Provoking him was never the right move.

You were digging your own grave.

So you shouldn't have been surprised that your wish would be granted. Yet, if you could have one wish then you'd wish for freedom but no- freedom was a forfeited dream, far beyond your reach. Consideration of that one would never be fruitful. You are trapped even in your dreams.

Playing with fire only gets you burnt.

For long, you played this game and this- this was your compensation. For everything you had done until now, all you are returned with was abandonment. Not that supposedly, betrayal, yes. More appropriate.

Flames surrounded you, crawling up your skin, the screams piercing your ears, your chest heaved up and down. Gaze, once settled on your hearth, now all you saw were the burning huts, the crackling of embers reached your ears. Attire and hands stained with blood of the insolent.

No one touches what's mine.

The warning shouldn't have been taken lightly. Should have known, the extent of his power.

Eyes held terror, fright, regret- whatever you could name. The multitude of names you received seemed no more than a distant dream, nowhere to be found. All were running away - expectable.

You expected calamity, but you were calm.

The sparks danced over your irises as everything went down in the crimson hues. Save for you, you weren't burning. Not an spark touched your skin. Was it the distance or the control? Who knows. But one confirmation which you held was that - tonight you won't die. Not so soon either.

Careful, not all Gods are worshipped.

The words rang in your ears and as if on cue, you found him again. In this trance of insanity, only one thing held your sight when you attempted to turn - The eyes tinted with crimson.

All of a sudden, something burnt inside you too.

Unbridled rage consumed you. Your chest heaved up and down as ragged breath left your mouth. Their words came back to you, ringing in your ears as if you were pushed into a void.

Who do you think you are? Returning after you turned your back on us.

Would this bitch even be alive if you prioritized yourself?

Don't play as the innocent bitch, now.

Is that the thanks you get for trying to protect them?

Traitors don't get to talk.

Traitor… fine, you'd be the traitor.

With caution you took one step towards him. No reaction. Your chance - you took another. Then another and another. You stood before him, with nothing save for a void etching your features. Amusement flickered over him, the corner of his lip curled up.

"Saw it for yourself wife?"

Seemed like silence was your go-to response lately. From your peripheral, you saw the burning houses, the distant screams reached you. For some reason, the screams were almost soothing. You revelled in this. Their gut wrenching shrieks were like a balm to your essence.

Their predicament was your solace.

Sounded like someone you knew. Someone who had warned you about them but you chose to remain ignorant. Sickening… were you becoming like him?

You were always like me, wife.

You could laugh. Maybe you were like him.

"Let's forge another pact?" You offered, keeping your eyes pinned on him.

"A pact?"

"A pact."

A smirk curved up his lips, the upper pair of arms crossed over his chest, "Humour me, love."

The smirk wasn't directly for you. But he did. So you returned it back. One with an equal malicious intent. Cause in that moment, no second thoughts, no doubts clouded your mind. And so, you uttered the blasphemy:

"You kill them all, each and everyone. In return, I will stay with you, give you an heir. Whatever you want from me."

.

A year later

Screams died down after a gruelling ten hours.

"Good news, Sukuna sama. It's a boy."

A/N: Honestly, I was almost done with this fic, long ago but while writing the climax, I kept chickening out with all the self-doubts but then I just wrote what I wanted. I do understand if the ending is not up to your liking and I sincerely apologize for it.

However, thanks for reading up till the end. I enjoyed writing this a lot. Some feedback is appreciated <3

[i-cant-sing]

I just imagine Baldwin in Heaven going batshit insane whenever Y/N timejumps because erm??

"WHERE DID MY ANGEL GO ITS BEEN A FEW CENTURIES SINCE THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE- oh there you are lol, in the victorian era... YOU GOT PROPOSED!?!?!? AND YOU SAID YYEESSS???!?!? 🤬🤬😭😭"

no cause im crying thinking about baldwin just being an embodiment of a golden retirever, wagging his tail excitedly as he asks God if He could grant him his angel back???? like he just gives God the biggest, bluest eyes and goes- "please God? can I have my darling angel? can you just drop her in my lap again? its been sooo long-" and God just gives him the next big thing- live transmission of u time travelling!

and now he's just lying on his stomach, flapping his legs back and forth as he watches u go through one calamity after another, nearly crying and dying all over again everytime u cry, cheering u for escaping one love interest after another as it further cements in his head that YOU KNOW- your soul knows that you belong with him.

and then u saying yes to silas? i like to imagine baldwin being a "delulu is the solulu" kind of person, or. "the grass is greener where i water it" guy and he thinks u said yes because you miss baldwin and u know that silas, like every other man besides baldwin (aka ur soulmate) will eventually disappoint u, break ur heart, betray u and then kill u!

so this just ur way of speeding things up so that u could meet baldwin ur beloved soon!

[barakat25]

Hello, merciful and generous souls

I am Barakat Al-Taweel

I am communicating with you at a time of unimaginable hardship and fatigue.I am a single young man, 24 years old.I have 12 brothers and sisters in addition to my mother and father.We had a house to shelter us and I was preparing myself for marriage and I had prepared my apartment with great effort.We were living very happily in this small family home and everyone was excited and ready for my wedding🥺💔.Suddenly, without any warning, our lives turned into a hell and conditions beyond human reason.What happened!!!!.Our house was completely destroyed،We were displaced from our place،My brother was martyred on the road during the bombing😢،My apartment, which I had prepared with great and hard work, was destroyed. I am now suffering from major back problems due to the effort I put in at work💔.Oh, that pang in our hearts.At some point, the calm we knew disappeared. The echoes of war destroyed our existence and our being.All that remained for us were the clothes we were wearing and the fragments of our withered dreams.Now we are displaced and suffering from all kinds of pain in life. We lost our home, we lost my brother, and I specifically lost my home, which I was preparing for marriage and settling down. On top of that, we are living in an exorbitantly high cost of living. We need about $100 a day to meet our hunger and needs.Now I have given up my dream of marriage and stability. I have a dream of living with dignity and being able to eat whatever comes to my mind. I also have a dream of traveling abroad to build a new home for my simple family that was lost as a result of the devastating war.Please, consider helping us during these critical times. Every donation, regardless of size, brings us one step closer to safety, stability and a chance to rebuild our lives.With gratitude overflowing from the depths of our hearts, we thank you for every donation, every participation, and every ounce of sympathy you provide to our cause. Your support means more than words can express.together !! We can turn the story of our loss and calamity into a journey of hope and resilience... I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your interest and for your invaluable sou🤲💙

https://gofund.me/8597e73a

[graementality]

Welcome to the Kosmic Entwinement AU!!!

Me and @letardoursprout have been working on this for a little while now, so here's our new cccc au!!

Basically Kosmic Entwinement entails: Cacophony is going as per usual, the Juno incident has just recently gone down and Astreaus (soul) is stressed to their limit. They start to notice small weird 'glitches' and brief flashes of Harmonia in their reflection and such, which all leads up to the two of them eventually glitching into one being: Kosmos! Artemis (heart) and Aelius (mind) develop a bond over their shared distrust in Harmonia/Kosmos and take over the pysche not long after Kosmos appears, leaving Astraeus and Harmonia (now sharing a body) to figure out how the hell to navigate this new situation + eachother.

More below the cut :D

A few things are different in this AU:

Eras:

Calamity -> Animosity

Cacophony -> Antipathy

Concord -> Amity

Names:

Mind -> Aelius (he/him)

Heart -> Artemis (he/it)

Soul -> Astraeus (they/them)

Whole -> Harmonia (he/him)

Soul-Whole -> Kosmos (they/them)

And the timeline is as follows:

Animosity:

• Animosity is essentially the loops; everything that happens before Kosmos appears (causing the timeloop to end now that Harmonia is technically present in the pysche). Also known as Cacophony pt. 1 /silly

• It begins with the recovery of the Juno incident, which happened roughly a couple of weeks ago by now. Artemis and Aelius are barely talking, the house has essentially been in a divide, with Astraeus at the centre of it. It is Tense.

• Artemis and Aelius begin bickering and having minor arguments again, Astraeus is instantly on edge and Paranoid. In this period they start to notice small glitches [eg: seeing themself as Harmonia in reflections for a split second, losing time/memories briefly.] They're Stressing tm

• A fight between Artemis and Aelius eventually breaks out. Astraeus instantly Freaks Out and screams for them to stop. They start glitching out of control, panic attack ensues and Harmonia starts being Present. The other two start bickering again whilst trying to figure out what to do (and also being incredibly confused as to what's happening), this obviously makes things worse and Astreaus just screams; glitching and permanently transforming them into Kosmos.

Antipathy:

• Antipathy follows everything that happens after Kosmos appears, or: Cacophony pt. 2

• After the inital shock of Kosmos' appearance, Artemis and Aelius realise they both hold alot of shared resentment towards Harmonia. Now that he's technically here, they can finally tell him just how much pain he's caused. This leads to the two ids' eventual friendship and their rulership of the psyche together.

• Artemis and Aelius slowly grow closer while they're in power, whilst still dealing with and sorting out their previous issues. They essentially ignore Kosmos during this era, leaving them to themselves (creating a them vs us dynamic almost,, yeah the dissonance isn't over yet)

• Harmonia & Astraeus, now sharing a body, get closer. Astraeus has to get used to the fact that Harmonia is infact, Just A Guy (cue soulwhole weirdness). Harmonia is also Immensly guilty about everything, and has to navigate both Astreaus' initial devotion, as well as the others' hatred towards him.

• (oh yeah! Being two people in one body, Kosmos uses they/them pronouns, leading Astraeus to figure out that they're non binary!)

Amity:

• Concord yay!!

• Time goes by of Artemis and Aelius' rulership, they all slowly grow closer after a long period of dissonance, leading to Kosmos' eventual acceptance into the group. Artemis is the first to accept them, then finally Aelius comes around. They learn to live with eachother as friends and equals, now that the loop is technically over.

• Basically: they're all friends now yippie!!! Oh yeah, and also, Kosmos petre :3 yes this is plot relevant, they're the ouppy ever

[ask-cccc]

{[(Hello...?)}]

[Welcome to our blog.]

(We would love to answer your questions and queries!)

{And perhaps reblog and shit-post here and there...}

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Devil is no longer available to ask!

other than that... Nothing else is going on.

[{( our Discord server!! )}]

Hello! I am the person who runs this blog... You may call me Atlas or kam. It doesn't matter as much to me!! They/them pronouns please, I'm aro/ace and nonbinary :3. Main blog is @kamomille-tea if you'd wish to check out any art I do or other shit... Oh also I've just realised I have a habit of spam answering asks in a short span of time, so sorry chat about just the random activity out of nowhere. I might respond to asks with art... If you're special and/or if I have a vision

Edit: I will try to answer EVERY. and ALL. asks that come by. So if yours hasn't been answered I just need some time to think on what to say to it

RIGHT RIGHT I FORGOT TO SAY. JASHSHIPPING IS ALLOWED. BUT NOTHING TOO LIKE UH... SUGGESTIVE. Bloodorange (soulwhole) and eclipse is very chill.

I like magic anons... Just don't fuck up the timeline too much. After the "effects have worn off, no one remembers :3

There will be events on at times, either caused by I or magic anons. See the bit above this to see what's going on

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Heart: she/he, (speaks like this!) Reference here!

Mind: he/they, [speaks like this.] Reference here! (Old!!!/new reference in progress)

Soul: it/its, {speaks like this-!}

Whole/Harmonia: any, "speaks like this"

Stella/love interest: she/her, "speaks like this"

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Tags I will use...

"(Artemis speaks)" -anything that heart will say

- "[Apollo speaks]" -anything that mind will say

- "(atlas speaks)" -anything that soul will say

- "the psyche" -anything involving just the HMS

- "but when Harmonia shines" - anything whole will say

- "tell me about the sky..." - anything Stella/Li will say

"Mucka blucka" - anything Darrel will say (part of a magic anon ask)

"{Tipsy soul}" - explains itself. Part of an event (for the 2nd anniversary)

"{Calamity}" - intro to the second loop.

[simplegenius042]

Music Monday, WIP Word Train, Top 5 songs on repeat & OC Picrew

Tagged by @direwombat @inafieldofdaisies @josephseedismyfather and @noodlecupcakes

Tagging @imogenkol @socially-awkward-skeleton @adelaidedrubman @josephslittledeputy @raresvtm @cassietrn @g0dspeeed @aceghosts @voidika @cloudofbutterflies92 @derelictheretic @icecutioner @shallow-gravy @strangefable @statichvm @carlosoliveiraa @wrathfulrook @starsandskies @ladyoriza @la-grosse-patate @thewanderer-000 @omen-speaker @alypink @shellibisshe @skoll-sun-eater @afarcryfrommymain @strafethesesinners @turbo-virgins @florbelles @minilev @justasmolbard @yokobai and @seedsplease + anyone else who'd like to join.

Music for The Silver Chronicles, Life, Despair & Monsters and an Original Work. WIP Train for The UnTitledverse and A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore and a Picrew for my The Silver Chronicles OCs in addition to my top 5 most repeated songs on the music app I use. Listen below the cut:

"Some Nights" is a song I can associate with Alexander Khaos, especially post the events of my Ain't It A Joy? WIP, perhaps Alexander's being reflective in Hope County at St. Francis or even in New Eden post-Collapse. Alexander, much like Jacob, knows how your worst, most dehumanizing moments can fundamentally change a person. One thing is clear; although Alexander is a little homesick for his family, he does not miss Wellington Wells at all. Listen below:

"Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck Some nights, I call it a draw Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle Some nights, I wish they'd just fall off But I still wake up, I still see your ghost Oh, Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh ("Oh whoa, oh whoa, oh!") What do I stand for? What do I stand for? Most nights, I don't know anymore

Oh-oh, oh whoa, oh whoa, oh-oh Oh-oh, oh whoa, oh whoa, oh-oh

This is it, boys ("Oh-oh, oh whoa, oh whoa, oh-oh!") This is war What are we waiting for? Why don't we break the rules already? I was never one to believe the hype ("Oh-oh, oh whoa, oh whoa, oh-oh!") Save that for the black and white Try twice as hard and I'm half as liked But here they come again to jack my style

That's alright ("That's alright!") I found a martyr in my bed tonight She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am Oh, who am I?

Well, some nights, I wish that this all would end 'Cause I could use some friends for a change And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again Some nights, I always win ("I always win!") But I still wake up, I still see your ghost Oh, Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh ("Oh whoa, oh whoa, oh!") What do I stand for? What do I stand for? Most nights, I don't know ("Oh, come on!")

So this is it? I sold my soul for this Washed my hands of that for this? I miss my mom and dad for this? ("Oh, come on!") No, when I see stars, when I see stars, that's all they are ("Oh, come on!") When I hear songs, they sound like a swan, so come on Oh, come on, oh, come on, oh, come on

Well, that is it guys ("Oh-oh, oh whoa, oh whoa, oh-oh!") That is all Five minutes in and I'm bored again Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands This one is not for the folks at home ("Oh-oh, oh whoa, oh whoa, oh-oh!") Sorry to leave, mom, I had to go Who the fuck wants to die alone All dried up in the desert sun?

My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she called love And then I look into my nephew's eyes Man, you wouldn't believe The most amazing things That can come from Some terrible nights!"

Life, Despair & Monsters is a series that explores morally grey/dark grey characters and how these morals change as pressure and time force them to adapt. The protagonists begin with fairly selfish goals; whether it be individually personal or collectively out for revenge against Malvolio and his meddling into their lives (especially with a few like Sonya, Jennifer, Hatter, Guenevere and Haoyu, plus some others), while the antagonists often have a benevolent goal (Sir Enigma Malvolio & the Ruins of the Midnight Rise) or even believe what they're doing is for the best (the Court King and Ion), even if their methods and/or understanding is severely flawed, amoral and sometimes even depraved. None of the protagonists want to be present there, but they are put into a circumstance that pushes them to make some capacity to change for the betterment of others, even if it doesn't entirely benefit themselves. All of them have done at least one wrong or another, or are even outright wrong in some one way or another, but they are still people in some way, just broken by circumstances beyond their control, even if some of them had inflicted this on themselves:

"Welcome to the room of people Who have rooms of people that they loved one day, docked away Just because we check the guns at the door Doesn't mean our brains will change from hand grenades

You'll never know the psychopath sitting next to you You'll never know the murderer sitting next to you You think, "How'd I get here, sitting next to you?" But after all I've said, please don't forget

All my friends are heathens, take it slow Wait for them to ask you who you know Please, don't make any sudden moves You don't know the half of the abuse

We don't deal with outsiders very well They say newcomers have a certain smell Yeah, trust issues, not to mention They sayin'' they can smell your intentions

You'll never know the freak show sitting next to you You'll have some weird people sitting next to you You'll think, "How did I get here, sitting next to you?" But after all I've said, please don't forget ("Watch it!") Watch it!"

Lastly a ship song for the main couple of An Old Ballad of Chance and Ember Hearts Original Trilogy; Jade Smith and Jasmine Rafiq. For the first story, it's mostly the two (a) exploring beautiful multiverse, and (b) reconciling with the fact that, despite their soulmate marks fading away (after the system was abolished in Wing And Horns), they still love each other and don't require those marks to define that fact for them, renewing their declaration of love to each other. The second story has them come across strife in the form of Rouske; while Jade and Jasmine explore the multiverse and see nothing but beauty and wonder, Rouske explores it and can only see the pain and suffering, believing it's better off gone altogether. Which leads to an altercation with Rouske that causes Jasmine's death, leading Jade to becoming devastated and the rest of her journey is basically the five stages of grief. In the third and final work, the plot is basically Jade dies and is making her journey through the afterlife, searching to reunite with Jasmine so they both can make their way to the Wheel of Reincarnation together. "Waiting For Love" I think encapsulates that journey quite well I think. Enjoy listening:

"Where there's a will, there's a way, kind of beautiful And every night has its day, so magical And if there's love in this life, there's no obstacle That can't be defeated

For every tyrant, a tear for the vulnerable In every lost soul, the bones of a miracle For every dreamer, a dream we're unstoppable With something to believe in

Monday left me broken Tuesday, I was through with hoping Wednesday, my empty arms were open Thursday, waiting for love, waiting for love

Thank the stars it's Friday I'm burning like a fire gone wild on Saturday Guess I won't be coming to church on Sunday I'll be waiting for love, waiting for love To come around

We are one of a kind, irreplaceable How did I get so blind and so cynical? If there's love in this life, we're unstoppable No, we can't be defeated

Monday left me broken Tuesday, I was through with hoping Wednesday, my empty arms were open Thursday, waiting for love, waiting for love

Thank the stars it's Friday I'm burning like a fire gone wild on Saturday Guess I won't be coming to church on Sunday I'll be waiting for love, waiting for love To come around!"

A little late to the party, but here's my participation in the WIP Train Word game.

rules: for each letter of the word you're given, share an excerpt from a wip that starts with that letter.

Words I was given: FEAR and FIRE. Word I'm gonna give y'all (should you choose to accept): HOPE.

Gonna do FEAR for WIPs from The UnTitledverse series (Mario: Mother's Boy, The Tale of Mario Emmet, the Classroom of the Elite segment of my little What If? series and Chapter 2 of my Jurassic World: Before The Storm fic) and FIRE for the A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore series (The Waters Of Life Flow).

F - Further as the kitchen, the dishes, the books and everything that was once Molly’s was swallowed with her.

Abigail wailed as she fell. Wailed for her to return. Wailed out into the darkness that consumed everything that made the kitchen Molly’s.

And then the fall stopped.

E - Everyone else were more afraid than anything else. Except for Mario, who seemed apologetic rather than enthusiastic.

A - As Ayanokoji began to depart from his desk, he paused. Horikita heard him let out a sigh, and much to her confusion, dropped his bag on top of his desk.

"What are you-?" Horikita wanted to question, but Ayanokoji soon interrupted her.

"Accepting my fate," he disclosed, not with much emotion, but certainly not his regular monotone.

Horikita blinked at him, shaking her head in confusion, "Huh?"

R - Regret.

That is what overcame me when I followed Lisa off the ramp of the ferry.

Once I stood on sturdier ground, the unforgiving heat swept over me quickly.

F - Fear grasped Alph and Amata, the latter of whom hugged Alph closely to her as he weakly tried to push her away, eyes wet from the thought of his failure to protect Amata and find his dad, all the while surrounded by dirty and vile vultures of human beings, who grinned with eager anticipation to reach satisfaction.

I - "I-I think this is it!" she stated aloud, relief and joy flowing out of the laugh she let out. Alph focused forward, really missing his glasses, but through his blurry vision, he could see a mass of metal welded together to form a gate. There was also a robot out the front of it, the corpse of a giant insect full of charred holes only a few feet away from it.

R - Ress' resting spot just happened to be where she needed to get said fresh air.

Ress didn't immediately acknowledge Amata, though the younger of the two wasn't foolish to believe she just didn't hear the vaultie.

Amata exhaled into the cold air as she pretended to admire the morning sky, although a morning sky was better than no sky in her opinion.

"Rough sleep?" Ress inquired from where she laid on the table, head tilted towards Amata's direction.

E - "Ergo," the Arcane Urias narrowed his blazing orange-red eyes on the shaking, frail human before him, "Your usefulness as a follower can no longer considered acceptable, Blackhall."

Without hearing any further excuses from the failure before him, the Arcane Urias gave his apprentice a nod; approved permission to end their acolyte's life.

Some picrews for my holy trinity of Seedfuckers Far Cry 5 OCs (Deputy Silva Omar, Nadi Sinclair, Alexander Khaos) from The Silver Chronicles in addition to Paul Yellowjack.

SILVA OMAR (SILVA'S HOPE, LA ÚLTIMA EN PIE & OLD DUSK [FC5 & FCND])

NADI SINCLAIR (SILVA'S HOPE, OLD DUSK & CALL TO ARMS [FC5, FCND & COD: MW])

ALEXANDER KHAOS (SILVA'S HOPE, OLD DUSK & AIN'T IT A JOY? [FC5, FCND & WE HAPPY FEW])

PAUL YELLOWJACK (LA ÚLTIMA EN PIE & OLD DUSK [FCND])

And lastly my top 5 most repeated song from the music app I use. I don't have the ability to share it through the app, so I'll just use YouTube links of the songs so you can listen to them yourself. Listen below:

"Genghis Khan" - Miike Snow

"This Comes From Inside" - The Living Tombstone

"Love Me Like You Do" - Ellie Goulding

"Stargazing" - Myles Smith

"Ten Thousand Times Before" - Twelve Titans Music

[makedonsgriva]

Random, what are your top favorite fics that you've written (feel free how much that you want to list)? Why they're special to you? Is there a specific inspiration when you wrote them?

Oh this is a pretty cool ask!

I will list five here!

1. We Should Just Kiss (Like Real People Do)

I’m actually pretty proud of this fic because it’s the first one I wrote after a pretty long hiatus and I was very nervous about it because a) it was my first fic for a new fandom b) it has explicit sexual content and I wasn’t sure if could pull it off nicely c) writing calamity xie lian and wu ming was a task alright like this fic took me almost a month i guess?? and d) since it was something I’d written after so long I was nervous my writing would be crappy

But people liked it and even I was very satisfied and pleased with how it turned out in the end! I’m pretty proud of it. Idk how I was inspired to write this fic because I started on a draft of it in the notes app of my phone while I was commuting back to home after my internship (harrowing experience fr)

(Maybe the fic made me channel out all my frustrations caused by the internship via xie lian)

2. I Really Like Your Company

I love this fic because it’s the first multi chapter fic I completed and posted. Also because it was my lifeline fr while I was grappling with many things. I’d started it as a gift for one of my dear friends and then it just became so much more. It’s so warm and comforting.

I was throwing in tropes and all cute stuff I could imagine in it and it made me happy. Writing that fic, getting comments on it made me very happy. I love that fic.

3. Once More We Try

Okay I’m actually still working on this fic and as a matter of fact I was working on its latest chapter before this and I truly think this fic has quickly become one of my favourites because I love writing all the characters in it so much. There’s so much to explore and so much to write and it’s a challenge but such a good challenge!

Idk how I got the inspiration for the fic I was just scrolling through tumblr one day and I randomly got this thought that huh what if SY had died instead of throwing Binghe in the abyss? And then I posted that idea and.

IT BLEW UP?

so I thought whoa why wait for someone else to write it when I can write it so I got down to business and here we are! It’s super fun. I love this fic so much. It’s also my first fic for scum villain fandom and I’m so glad it’s been so well received ❤️

4. Song of The River City

Another TGCF fanfic! I’ve put it on hold for now as I’m planning to complete OMWT before I get back to it. I’m actually very proud of this AU where we have ghost king! Xie Lian who had died during the hundred sword scene and cultivator! Hua Cheng (who had dispersed his soul as Wu Ming and was re incarcerated as the cultivator). I’m planning to do great things with this AU and I also love writing a darker XL.

The inspiration for this fic was that I was just thinking about the hundred sword scene and I thought, huh what if that guy died here? So I got down to work.

I love this fic and writing all the characters in it and plotting out the backstories is very fun! Especially the latest chapter where I’d posted the fengqing backstory is one of my favourites. I’m proud of it.

5. I Remember It

So this is just 100 words long and I love this fic because I feel like I managed to break mine and all its readers hearts in so few words. I love writing drabbles because they are always a good challenge for me and this one is a particular favorite of mine. The inspiration for it was actually a fic idea that I later scrapped away. The fic was supposed to be from the pov of snowbaz’s kid and her experience with them as she got older and they aged too and yeah.. somehow it turned into that.

Thank you so much for the ask!

[shinysparklesapphires]

Showtime precure!

Chapter 43: Constantine’s home! Tragedy’s other half!

🎀: @xryptik @baileypie-writes @harufallinwonderland @lowcallyfruity

“So why do you hate this gurl so much Miss Tragedy?” Calamity rubbed her ear with her index finger.

“She’s an anomaly.” Tragedy sat down on the queen’s throne, putting her feet up in the arm as she smoked.

“Anomaly?” Catastrophe cocked her head to the side.

“Yeah she’s not supposed to exist.” Tragedy crushed the cigarette in her hand.

“Alright we’re back!” Set and Action rushed up to the others, “what did we miss?” Action turned to Encore who was on her knees clutching the ground.

“Encore? Are you ok?” Set reached out to tap her shoulder before Encore smacked it away.

“DONT TOUCH ME!” she screamed, causing Set to stumble back.

Encore’s face softened, “m’sorry…”

“Encore and Tragedy are the same person.” Wright explained.

“Ohhhhh….! Wait- WHAT?!” Action looked at Encore.

“It’s not quite like that,” she corrected. “Long ago, long before Queen Mnemosyne was even born, Tragedy and I were once the same person…”

“Dion!” A little boy rushed over to a young woman, clutching her pant leg.

“Oh! Hey there!” Dion giggled.

“How’d your audition today go?”

“I don’t know yet! But I’ll tell you tommorow, you better get home now okay?” Dion smiled as she waved off the little boy.

“I used to be half of one girl’s soul…..along with that girl. The girl we used to be was weak and naive. Oblivious to the world around her.” Tragedy groaned.

“Wait so you and the precure used to be the same person? What happened?” Calamity bounced on the arm of the throne before Tragedy kicked her off.

“We woke up.”

Dion shut the door to her hose behind her as she sighed. Not even a moment later a letter slipped through under her door. She picked it up ecstatically, eyes full of joy, only for her heart to sink into her stomach when she read its contents.

“Dion? Is that you?” A woman’s voice called from the back room.

“Yess mom! I’m home!” Dion put the letter in the counter as she rushed over to her mother’s side.

“How’d the audition go?” The woman gently stroked Dion’s hair.

“I git rejected..I’m sorry mom I know you just wanted to see me on stage…”

“It’s alright dear…as long as you’re here with me in my final days that’s all that matters…”

“Don’t say that! The doctor will come tomorrow and he’ll make you all better! You’ll see!” She squeezed her mother’s hand as she gently kissed Dion’s forehead.

“Go get some rest dear,” she smiled.

“Wait I don’t get it. How does this relate to you and Tragedy?”

“Showtime!” Wright shushed her.

“Well..the doctor came. He said mom only had a month left, max.” Encore clenched her fist, wiping her tears away. “So we got desperate to find a way to get that audition.”

Dion, wearing a black hood to hide her face looked at the old woman in front of her.

“You’re saying that this box can grant any wish?”

“Yes dear, but it will cost you an awful lot….”

“You can take all the money I have!”

“No I mean…the box can tell what your heart desires, but it’ll take something from you in return.”

“Just give me the box you old hag.”

“Alright, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” The old woman waved Dion out, flipping her off once her back was turned.

“Wait so why didn’t you use the box to cure your mother?” Catastrophe asked Tragedy.

“That was the first thing we tried. Then we managed to take our own wish coin out and it granted us a wish, just not the important one.”

Dion looked at the letter she had gotten and her face lit up with joy, “MOM! MOM! I GOT THE-“ she froze as she realized the silence that had befallen the house.

“…mom?” Dion carefully stepped into the room as she froze. She ran over to her mother’s motionless body sobbing and pleading for her to get up, but it was no use. Then she looked at it again. The box. The wishes. She just needed another coin.

“Thanks for letting me stay at your house while my mom was at work Dion!” The little boy clutched her hand as Dion looked down at him with her sunken eyes.

She opened the door and the boy was met with an intense rotten smell as Dion locked the door behind them.

“Hey Dion, what’s that-“ before the boy could finish Dion reached into his chest and ripped out his wish coin, causing the boy to disintegrate. Dion approached the box, holding up the coin to it as a black shadow emerged and consumed it.

“Bring my mother back.” The box didn’t move. The shadow crawled out and whispered into her ear.

“I can bring her back, but I’ll need more coins! I can’t just do it for free you know!” It giggled as Dion stared at the wall. Eyes lifeless.

“And so, everytime we took another coin our heart would crack, and crack and crack, until one day it just split in half. One side of our heart, the side that still had some sort of morality was me, Comedy. And the other part, the evil part was Tragedy. Tragedy let her body be taken over by the shadow, and it only fed her hunger for more and more coins, and I was locked away in that box. Until you all found me!” Encore smiled at the others.

“Encore…” Cinema walked over and put her hand on her shoulder.

“It’s fine. It won’t bring my mother back. But- I want to help bring Reel’s mother back! I can’t take back all those things I’ve done, but I’ll do my best to atone for them!”

“We’ll help you! Every step of the way!” Showtime gave her a thumbs up as Reel jumped onto her lap, letting her pet him.

“Yeah! We’re your friends! That’ll never change!” Set hugged her.

“You’re nothing like Tragedy! She’s all icky and you’re all…YOU!” Action hugged her too as Wright and Showtime joined in, motioning for Cinema to join too.

“SAWWWW!” Cinema started walking towards them only to free when she saw a Facade sneaking up behind them.

Cinema jumped to push them out of the way, “Guys! Look out-“ STAB!

“Cinema…?” Reel turned to see Cinema’s body impaled by the Facade’s sword, twitching as she turned around crying.

“Atleast….i got to die….protecting you…..my liege….” She gasped as her body went limp.

“….cinema……CINEMA!” Reel turned back to his human form only to feel Cinema’s body was completely cold.

“She- she…” Reel stammered as he saw his tears fog up his glasses, desperately trying to get her to wake up, to give him some sort of sign that she was ok before dropping to his knees.

“This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up. This is all a bad dream. Everyone is fine and I just need to wake up.” He repeated as he gripped his face and his words got more shaky until they evolved into full on sobs.

Encore just froze. “Cinema…!” Her eyes blurred.

“This can’t be happening.” Wright almost threw up staring at Cinema’s lifeless body. Action looked numb. Set felt her throat close up.

“Oh my god.” Was all Showtime could managed to croak out before she started sobbing like the others.

“Oh dear, how tragic.” Catastrophe appeared next to the Facade as she snapped her fingers. “Facade! Take her back to the school with the others!” The Facade complied as it dragged Cinema’s body away, with Catastrophe falling behind.

“No! Don’t take her! Please! Please! Cinema! CINEMAAAAAA!” Reel screamed as he reached out after the Facade.

Showtime put her hand on his shoulder. “We’re going back to school.”

[tarbuchyloewenthal]

Avowed Tinfoil Hat Time

one tiny lore tidbit that is fairly obscure, and actually might have a lot to do with the story of avowed is that the emperor's scepter has an adra jewel which stores the souls of past aedyran kings and queens.

this comes into play in a couple of lines with sargamis from the barbarian gamescom footage, when the player and the oracle speculate a bit on just why the emperor would send our envoy in particular.

could the ancient souls in the scepter, y'know the major icon of aedyran heraldry

could the ancient souls have communicated to the emperor that our godlike envoy might have some connection to the living lands. and could that connection go all the way back to the godless and the origin of the two major ethnic groups in aedyr? both the meadow folk and wood elves are said to have originated in the far north.

north, vitally, being the direction in which lies the living lands. was there some calamity that caused the godless to flee and become the far distant ancestors to the aedyrans?

i don't quite think the timeline would match up, but if it does. . . oh boy oh boy oh boy

[savimatteo2810]

I opened your blog and the first thing i read was “Link OCs”…can i get to know something about them? 👀

ohhhh my fucking GOD i forgot about these guys YES YOU MAY

its been a HOT MINUTE since i spoke abt these FUCKS i MISSED THEM you have opened a yap session and im sorry in advance but you should have seen this coming

BASICALLY secondary links is a linksmeet au i made that BRANCHES from LU but doesnt directly interact (kind of? its complicated but EHE) featuring a lot of the "rejected" links from games that didnt make it in to LU (debatably. im v sure triforce heroes is legend but also what do i know)

There are seven Links (well. "Links" total) in the au! I will say that I have to redo some of those old ref sheets cause they dont fit new hcs GHJDGHDS but yknow

First we have. Well. First! He's a very awkward chill guy who's doing his best! He has a lot of religious trauma and also a lot of chronic illnesses that he doenst know abt yet cause his era doesnt have that shit worked out yet HGDSGDK feat albinism, bad bones, and a bunch of other shit he doesnt really know fun fact: at the au beginning, he's about a year from going into the jail. so hes not a ghost or a more bitter guy (yet)! He is the oldest at about 23

Then there's Calamity! This is Wild pre-calamity, ofc. Not... AoC. Which totally isn't confusing. He's doing his BEST. Team mom, doesn't speak much and rarely emotes but also will just whip out a motivational speech for ZERO reason. Carries the master sword. Guy with all the timeline knowledge. The only reason this group is fed. Or alive, in general. Its hard being a single mom when you are an 18 year old guy w six kids, one of which is 23 years old fun fact: he spends a lot of the au being stressed as FUCK about the calamity coming back! it comes back after the adventure. so he joins first in being on a Fucking Timer

And next is Trainee! From Link's Crossbow Training! No i am not joking i made an oc of that (no regrets hes lowkey my favourite) BASICALLY, i made it so he's the kid of, you guessed it! Twilight! Something between Twi and Midna, idrk, but boom he's their kid. "Oh but why isnt he in the Twili realm?" cause he's part Hylian and while he could SURVIVE in there he's also. just like. he was really sick as a baby abt it so Midna plonked him in the light realm (dont ask how i handwaved it). poor twi is so stressed out poor twi is also fucking DEAD or some shit considering he went missing when trainee was REAL little, so trainee kind of grew up trying to live up to his legacy. and still is 17 years later. he kinda did it to himself. i should yap about him more i ADORE trainee fun fact: he's allergic to pears. i dont remember why he is but he is allergic to them and this is important to me

Next is Spirit! From Spirit Tracks, ofc. He is SO sassy and tired, probably comes from being 16 w a whole full time fuckin JOB, bro has ISSUES. just wants to go home he is missing his fucking shift, he's like the only train server in New Hyrule after shit went down and also his fuckin grandpa Niko is like old as FUCK (seriously how is that guy still alive in ST??) and relies on him just let him go HOME and see his GRANDPA (its ok Soul (his Zelda i didnt like the name phantom so i renamed her) is taking care of Niko in his absence he's fine) Basically. He overdoses on sass and wants to leave. he also sees ghosts! fun fact: i mentioned he lost his hat in the first fic i posted w these guys and thats canon but the excuse is JUST because i didnt want to draw it on his ref sheet

And now we move onto the triplets, who are 13! Ill just shove em together a little cause im tired BUT Gani, Lynn and Zedo! Triforce Heroes!

Gani is the oldest triplet, the red one! He's more representative of power, being more impulsive and physically strong. Bottom of the stack. He's angry, he's a fighter and he says what he damn thinks. Authority issues. Parentified tbh. Lynn (i renamed him from Link i need to update the SHEETS AUGH) is the middle triplet, the green one! He's more representative of courage! He's good at thinking on his feet, organisation and a strategist! Middle of the stack. Makes up for what he lacks in strength by being quick! Has so many issues, also. And last but not least, Zedo! The blue one! The youngest triplet, and he is treated as such. Not very physically strong, but makes up for it by being WAY too fucking intelligent! Not so good at quick thinking or battle strategy, but VERY good at logic, reasoning and puzzles! Also a VERY good shot, rivalling Trainee (hence his placement at the top of the stack)! Neglected youngest child. Mostly by me but also by his bickering brothers. Im sorry Zedo Fun fact: Each triplet has a little artistic hobby! Zedo is a writer, Lynn loves photography and Gani loves sketching, especially dress patterns! Fun fact 2: The triplets are not actually triplets! They are quadruplets! Tehcnically. RIP Vari (purple link).

There is SO much lore about these ocs and i FUCKING love them but god to do all of that would be SO many FUCKING posts

Theres also a LOT of miscellaneous OCs that aren't related to these ones and are more original concepts (i call them the tertiary links :sparkles:) like Mountain, Freedom, Cell, Colour and Mentor,,, some of these are veyr half baked but i think theyre neat so if you wanna ask abt THEM,,, eyes

thanks for asking abt them!!!!!! I forgot how much i loved them omg

[vikcacao]

>:) hehe

Sooooooooo, I thought about some more questions !!

Can you talk a little bit about Yuuji? ( SAW HIS CONCEPT ART IT EATS!!! HES SERVING) I know you said you didn’t have a religion down, but does religion affect the main cast at all? Or the story (is it a bigger role than in THR?)

… familiars you say…. So, how does one go about acquiring a familiar? :) (I WANT A FAMILIAR!!) how do familiars function? Is it like a job or? What can be a familiar (could Yuuji become a familiar or is it only something/someone that’s been summoned?)

HUMANS AGREE TO BEING EXECUTED?????? Is that tied to the religion (still on this lol)?

FREAKY CHEMISTRY MY BELOVED!!!!! <3 🩶❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷

Uh, you said light/dark magic but what does that look like? Like can Megumi manipulate shadows and light? Create darkness or light at will? Move shadows at will, etc?

Speaking of execution, what is it like to be a werewolf? Is it painful? Instinct driven? Etc?

YAYYYYYYY!! Dkjsfhsjsksb!!!! YOUR VIRUS IS LIKE MINE! I mean sorta but like they are both viruses :3 I love it sm sm sm!

Is there other ways to kill a werewolf? Like if they fell of a fucking cliff, would the massive amount of damage kill them or would they survive? Or being burned at the stake? (Thinking about that cause I thought abt witch hunting and translating that to werewolves (WEREWOLF HUNTS??? DO THE YDO THAT??)

How does the virus replicate? Is it like rabies and you have to be infected via saliva? Do werewolves have hydrophobia?

:3 I LOVE YOUR EXPLANATIONS BTW!!! It’s so intricate and cool and amazing >:) fuels my little lizard brain

Does bad public opinion mean persecution? Is being a lycan illegal? Is someone being infected considered a tragedy? Or looked at like a natural calamity (tragic, but unavoidable)

There’s so much I wanna ask about the religion! I will be eagerly waiting and lurking on your page !!

Oh oh oh, final thought: are high elevations bad for witches? Is Megumi living in a low elevation place? Is it easier for them to hyperventilate/panic (like are they more prone to doing that?).

YOURE SO COOL VIK!! AND YOUR STORIES/ AUS TOO!!!!!!!

hehehehehe hi Mari :3

YUUJI TIME

Yuuji is religious, like, very religious. Raised by his grandpa in a small conservative mountain town kinda religious. He's kind, super sweet, and very uneducated lol. Dropped out of middle school kinda uneducated. He's intelligent, just not academically lol

He and his family were animal farmers, they raise goats and sheep ((his close proximity to other mammal animals is the reason why he got infected in the first place)).

A major part of the religion (at least in rural areas) is idolizing witches and alchemists (non-witches who practice magic), so he's kinda obsessed with Megumi in a totally normal and straight way (its not straight, he's very gay but refuses to acknowledge it (internalized homophobia Yuuji canon lol)).

also he has an accent teehee, I find southern and/or mountain accents charming on Yuuji lol

FAMILIARS

Familiars require a lot of time and patience and skill to acquire, and it's essentially someone who practices magic attuning to an animal rather than to an object. Wands and familiars play similar roles since they both store reactants ((like the magical gallbladder witches have)) and also lower the activation energy needed for magical reactions to finish ((like what witches can do naturally)).

Familiars (and wands) are mainly used by non-witch practitioners, which are called alchemists. They allow alchemists to be as efficient as witches when performing magic.

Since the animal becomes attuned to a person, their minds/souls interlock meaning that they can communicate with each other and that the animal will live as long as the human they're attuned to. The communication isn't in human language, its more like expressing thoughts, feelings, and intention to one another via a mental link.

Yuuji can't become a familiar since there's laws against using other humans as familiar candidates, he isn't magically inclined so he'd just be a bad familiar, and Megumi has no need for a familiar since he's already a witch lmao

EXICUTION AND LIFE AS A WEREWOLF

Yeah, the reason why Yuuji would (in theory) agree to being executed is because he's very religious. Although when push comes to shove, he really doesn't want to die.

Execution is painful since it uses silver, and I'll go more into depth on what silver does to a werewolf in a hot second.

Being a werewolf also sucks ass since you're sick 24/7 since you have a viral infection. You can't die since the virus will just heal you, even if you get decapitated your head will just grow back within the next week. Shifting hurts like hell since your cells are flipping from mammalian to viral cells within the span of an hour, you can't even remember your time while shifted since it's no longer you in control it's the virus.

Even when you're yourself the virus still tries to influence you to behave in certain ways, like being out at night, surrounding yourself with other mammals and humans, and weird dog shit.

MEGUMI MAGIC

Megumi can do freaky shadow shit like he does in canon lol, like using the shadows to store stuff, move around, make little "shadow familiars" even though he uses them more like pets and not actual familiars.

He can manipulate color, turn invisible, blind people by just redirecting the light from going into their eyes, etc, etc

and probably more stuff, but he's still learning and researching into his specialty ((totally not an excuse bc I can't think of more shit atm lmfaooo))

HOW TO KILL A WEREWOLF

there are only two (2) ways to kill a werewolf, the first way is with silver, and the second way is with a second werewolf.

Silver behaves as a virus for the lycanthropy virus, it will seek out and distroy viral DNA including the DNA that's mimicking the host. You need a lot of silver to kill a werewolf though, since if you don't have enough the virus will recover after a while

A second werewolf can kill another if they infect a different werewolf with their viral DNA. Like rabies a werewolf froths at the mouth, and that spit is mainly active viral cells. When injected into another werewolf, the two strains of lycanthropy will fight and if the foreign strain is stronger it will kill the infected werewolf. This way isn't a guaranteed death, since if the foreign stain isn't strong enough than the werewolf will just recover again.

VIRUS REPLICATION

It's like rabies. Only when a werewolf if shifted can the virus replicate, and like I mentioned in the previous section a werewolf needs to froth at the mouth in order for their bite to be infectious.

They likely won't be hydrophobic since the virus mimics the host's DNA very well, and most mammals love water lmao. When they're shifted though they do have an aversion to sunlight, since direct UV rays kill the viral cells in the spit much faster than indirect/moonlight.

PUBLIC OPINION PT2

Being lycan isn't really illegal if you're human, it's just your family will be held responsible if you kill/injure/infect anyone else. Keeping infected pets is illegal, if pets or livestock contract lycanthropy they need to be killed asap.

A human getting infected is seen as a tragedy but is also seen as avoidable, since human infections are super rare. Most commonly happen with animal farmers (like Yuuji).

Post infection, human hosts are treated more like animals than human. They need family/outside supervision and approval for almost everything. They can't live alone, they can't enter public spaces alone, can't get medical care alone, etc etc

but that's only for werewolves that are known about, most human hosts don't tell others that they're werewolves out of fear of being killed and/or having their rights stripped

WITCH VS MOUNTAINS

Maintains suck for witches because they already have breathing issues (due to both of their lungs being small (since fun fact, one of your lungs is smaller than the other lol))

The reason why Megumi lives up in a mountain town is because he hates other witches and would rather be left alone so he can do his research in peace. The breathing issues are a worthy sacrifice in order for Megumi to have some peace and quiet.

I love your questions Mari, please keep on sharing them when you get them :D

[solidrockistand]

Praise of God's Law pt 11

81. My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. (My soul longs, yes faints for the courts of the Lord my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Psalms 84:2 ESV)

(Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me. Job 19:27 ESV)

(I have seen the Savior. Luke 2:30 NLT)

82. My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, "when will you comfort me?" (My eyes waste away because of grief; it grows weak because of my foes. Psalms 6:7 ESV)

(You have reduced me to skin and bones, as proof, they say, for my sins. Job16:8 NLT)

(My eyes have grown dim from vexation, and all my members are like a shadow. Job 17:7 ESV)

Vexation: the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried.

83. Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke I do not forget your decrees. (Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me I do not forget your laws. Psalms 119:61 ESV)

(I hold my life in my hands continually, but I did not forget your laws. Psalms 119:109 ESV)

(When I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me. Judges 12:3 ESV)

84. How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors? (My soul is also greatly troubled. But you, O Lord how long? Psalms 6:3 ESV)

(Therefor I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Job 7:11 ESV)

(Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself. Job 9:35 ESV)

85. The arrogant dig pitfalls for me, contrary to your law. (But you, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter and set them apart for the day of slaughter. Jeremiah 12:3 ESV)

(Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous you who tests the minds and hearts, O righteous God! Psalms 7:9 ESV)

(But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart, and the mind let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause. Jeremiah 11:20 ESV)

86. All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for men persecute me without cause. (Help me, O Lord my God! save me according to your steadfast love! Psalms 109:26 ESV)

(Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from the children among man. Psalms 12:1 ESV)

(The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands for the righteous man is taken away from calamity. Isaiah 57:1 ESV)

87. They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. (Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offsprings of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Isaiah 1:4 ESV)

(Am I the sea or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me? Job 7:12 ESV)

88. Preserve my life according to your love, and I will obey the statutes of your mouth. (The Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the wall of his enemies. Psalms 41:2 ESV)

(Because the poor are plundered because the needy groan, I will now arise." says the Lord, I will place him in the safety for which he longs. Psalms 12:5 ESV)

(Again, I saw all the oppression that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. Ecclesiastes 4:1 ESV)

Psalms 119:81-88 NIV

[barakat25]

Hello, merciful and generous souls

I am Barakat Al-Taweel

I am communicating with you at a time of unimaginable hardship and fatigue.I am a single young man, 24 years old.I have 12 brothers and sisters in addition to my mother and father.We had a house to shelter us and I was preparing myself for marriage and I had prepared my apartment with great effort.We were living very happily in this small family home and everyone was excited and ready for my wedding🥺💔.Suddenly, without any warning, our lives turned into a hell and conditions beyond human reason.What happened!!!!.Our house was completely destroyed،We were displaced from our place،My brother was martyred on the road during the bombing😢،My apartment, which I had prepared with great and hard work, was destroyed. I am now suffering from major back problems due to the effort I put in at work💔.Oh, that pang in our hearts.At some point, the calm we knew disappeared. The echoes of war destroyed our existence and our being.All that remained for us were the clothes we were wearing and the fragments of our withered dreams.Now we are displaced and suffering from all kinds of pain in life. We lost our home, we lost my brother, and I specifically lost my home, which I was preparing for marriage and settling down. On top of that, we are living in an exorbitantly high cost of living. We need about $100 a day to meet our hunger and needs.Now I have given up my dream of marriage and stability. I have a dream of living with dignity and being able to eat whatever comes to my mind. I also have a dream of traveling abroad to build a new home for my simple family that was lost as a result of the devastating war.Please, consider helping us during these critical times. Every donation, regardless of size, brings us one step closer to safety, stability and a chance to rebuild our lives.With gratitude overflowing from the depths of our hearts, we thank you for every donation, every participation, and every ounce of sympathy you provide to our cause. Your support means more than words can express.together !! We can turn the story of our loss and calamity into a journey of hope and resilience... I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your interest and for your invaluable sou🤲💙

[blog-of-hubris]

Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 238: Shinjuku Showdown, Part 19

Oh boy oh boy. Another jjk chapter with Sukuna showing off why he is the KING of Curses. Beyond his strength, he speaks like a king to those he defeats, and his meaning is very esoteric.

I'm going to go full fanboy in this post, everyone, so please forgive me if you are here to hear bad things about jjk (you're weird, btw).

Perfection...Beautiful..

Kashimo looking at Sukuna with X-ray and seeing nothing but perfection is exactly what I feel looking at Gege.

But on a serious note.. Finally, seeing Sukuna's true form in action is insane!!! He looks so terrifying, and Kashimo knew that instantly. Sukuna not having any strain on his heart or lungs due to the build of his body is so damn impressive. I love seeing him flexing his perfection to Kashimo and then blitzes him.

I love this moment because it's showing how much Kashimo overestimated his ability to fight Sukuna. I knew Kashimo was a non factor, and Sukuna made it APPARENT. He literally showed Kashimo, he just was not that good, lol. (I was never a Kashimo fan, so this is nice for me).

Sukuna is quite truly beautiful. Gege gave him such a design to reflect him being the peak of jujutsu. I just want to say thank you to gege for following through so thoroughly on this.

Then to go even farther and give us Sukuna's feats against the great sorcerers of the past was even better. He defeated the Sun, Moon, and Stars squad that Uro was once a leader of. I love Gege doing this type of stuff, man!

If you remember, Uro's vision of calamity when talking to Yuta was Sukuna, and when Sukuna revived she knew it was him just based off his cursed energy. Gege made sure that all of this was continued by giving us more lore on Sukuna's final form.

It's these little things that really move me in story telling. Connects those dots for us!

We Are Loved Because We Are Strong

Sukuna's speeches to people after defeating them is becoming one of my favorite things in jujutsu kaisen. I already loved his moment with Jogo + his final words to Gojo, but now we can add Kashimo to this list, lol.

I love Sukuna mentioning Yozoru's words to Kashimo, because it directly reflects the short conversation we saw between Kashimo and Kenjaku. Kashimo wanted to go against Sukuna to feel fulfilled. Initially, I took this as a warrior fighting for the fulfillment of a real fight, or a true fight to the death. Kashimo is similar Gojo, where he felt all the surrounding sorcerers were below him, causing him to separate himself as an entity. However, this was dissatisfying for Kashimo. The difference between him/Gojo and Sukuna, is that the king of curses accepted that as a fact of life. Due to this fact, he saw the world as his playground, and anything that went against his desires were to be destroyed.

“You know the answer you seek, you just can't comprehend it, right..?”

I love this quote by sukuna. Implying that kashimo knew all along the answer to his soul's dilemma.

“Is strength solitude”?

That question is always known by the strong, but I think sukuna's lesson was to deeper understand how to live as the strong.

“You were strong”

I see this as sukuna reminding kashimo that because of his strength, love should be known. Those under you will love you because you are strong. He goes on to tell kashimo that the ones who challenged him did not do so to curse him, but to be recognized and to validate themselves. That itself is love, or maybe an easier word to translate it would be “admiration”.

Admiration however is a product of love. That is how sukuna connects with those below him. I believe Uraume is the example of this, as he/she has been by sukuna's side for seemingly the longest. That love Uraume has is most likely the best execution of love sukuna can have for one below him.

(it makes me wonder why uraume is so special)

Telling kashimo that he was strong, but also lamenting is greedy. Wow, sukuna... when you think about it, sukuna's outlook is very royal and fits that of a being existing on a higher frequency. What Sukuna is trying to relay, is that being the strongest comes with natural love (or being strong in general). It is when you begin to hate that strength or see it as a burden that you begin to lose sight of that love. Those around you love you for your strength, even those that challenge it have some form of admiration and search for recognition from that strength.

This takes me to when Nanami said to Gojo that he also once believed they should just send him out on every mission. Gojo felt that he could never be understood, and that burden carried with him his entire adult life. Before, he had Geto who he saw as his equal, best friend and dare I say other half. That is why he wished that Geto was there, patting him on his back. Gojo felt separated from everyone, even if he loved them, he still felt isolated. I believe that Geto was Gojo's “love” and that is why he could never truly feel satisfaction.. He could never save Geto.

(Sorry to go back to the sadness that is Gojo's separation from others as a human due to his exceptional skills as a sorcerer, but all of this ties in together so well).

Kashimo and Gojo both got “greedy”. They were strong, but also wanted to hate that strength instead of taking everything that came with it and finding true satisfaction within. Gojo felt pure isolation from his talent, while Kashimo felt lament because he could never have an equal. Both of these stemming from feeling the need for others to fulfill them, which is why Sukuna believes that...

Love is Useless...

Sukuna calls love useless. I find this so intriguing, because the “love” he spoke of was surrounded by the motif of “the strong”, and also he straight up says the thought of needing someone else to fulfill him never crossed his mind. He never thought that another person would give him the satisfaction he wanted, instead he put his desires first.

“I live according to my own stature. If that can't be measured or understood, that's not my problem”.

MEGUMI? YOU HEAR THAT?!

My god i hope megumi is listening. I talk with @theanimepsychologist about megumi coming back and also how sukuna is possibly his golden shadow. To expound on this train of thought, I see all of this as Gege playing deeper into Sukuna's role as megumi's catalyst.

In simpler terms, I see Sukuna & Megumi's dynamic on the same level as Mahito & Yuji's. Mahito propelled Yuji's understanding of being a jujutsu sorcerer, while Yuji propelled Mahito as a curse. For Sukuna and Megumi, Sukuna saw Megumi's technique as something to gain. There could possibly be more he plans on doing with the ten shadows specifically, giving him an even more powerful arsenal than he had before.

For Megumi, Sukuna was the first to make him see himself as a stronger person. The words “why did you run away” stuck in megumi's mind from the first fearsome womb chapters. That was when he discovered he could place things in his shadow, and from there he began to elevate each arc.

Sukuna being in Megumi's body right now feels like a terrible journey of enlightenment for megumi. I find it interesting that sukuna states he was born cursed and unwanted. Megumi talks as if he was treated the same way, even believing his father is still alive living it up somewhere. Megumi has no idea he faced his father in shibuya, or that his dad wanted him to be something outside the zenin clan. Even if he did end up there, he believed megumi would be okay because he was talented. Megumi never saw himself as wanted by his family, and his cope for that was Tsumiki.

Sukuna was different, he chased after his desires alone. He believed he could make himself happy, and that there was no one else who could fulfill that. Megumi losing Tsumiki is so difficult for him because he relied on Tsumiki as his heart and conscious. At first, megumi was indifferent, but expressed himself boldly. Tsumiki's positive outlook is what moved megumi, and that was all the family he had. Megumi isn't heartless as sukuna may naturally be, but his decision to save people has left him too selfless.

For megumi to return, I need to see his understanding of self-worth change. He needs to see his strength and importance as an individual to truly understand the love that comes from being strong. In order to save people, you need strength, but you cannot develop that strength without having a stronger sense of self to dismantle any sparks that fly your way.

"Its okay to be selfish"

"A jujutsu sorcerer's growth never comes easy"

(I could continue on about this megumi and sukuna connection but i think my point is made)

That is why Sukuna said love is useless. There is no need to look to another to satisfy yourself. To understand yourself is to understand your desires. And to be true to one's self is to chase after those desires without remorse. He hasn't changed a beat from when he spoke to Jogo, and I love consistency.

What Can You Do...Brat?

The final spread of the chapter was C R A Z Y! Uraume and Hakari break out of the domain with no damage on either person, while Higaruma and Yuij (with scales and claws??) begin to drop.

WTH?

My assumption is that they are going to try to get Sukuna into Higaruma's domain to win a trial and take away Sukuna's CT. This could work, but I'm worried that even without a CT, sukuna is still going to be very proficient in his raw CE usage unlike the other sorcerers Higaruma has faced. Maybe that is all they need to start the process to save megumi, or something else entirely crazy that only gege can come up with!

Truly endless possibilities.

Gege is continuing to Gege (whatever that means) and I will continue to not miss a beat. I believe we have a break coming up, so we will have to digest on this chapter a bit before we figure out what's going on!