#Or start talking to the friends I had before I became a recluse

[thecursedanon]

Rainy Day

Characters: Lee!Yuji, Ler!Nanami, Sukuna(only in Yuji's head), Megumi, Nobara, Inumaki (because I love this little dork, okay? lol) Genre: Comfort <3 Word Count: 3166 Summary: Yuji Is super down today, that and he's not been sleeping well due to the nightmares he's been having. His friends, concerned about him go to Nanami with their concerns, and the stoic teacher takes it upon himself to cheer Itadori up. A/N: Hey, Curse here! This was originally intended to be part of the Amusement Park Aftermath fic, but I couldn't organically fit it in so I split them up... so that's why there are similarities in the setting. Enjoy!

Though the mood had been upbeat and calm in the days before, today it seemed as though a rain cloud loomed over Jujutsu Tech-- both figuratively and literally. Everyone seemed a bit more somber today.

Even Yuji wasn’t immune to the effects as he gazed out his window at the bleak gray sky, winds whipping the trees around and causing the leaves to drift around with reckless abandon.

He sighed softly, leaning over and resting his face on his palms as he watched the gloominess outside from the edge of his bed.

He heard his door open, but didn’t turn around or acknowledge it. Nobara and Megumi had been peeking in on him periodically to make sure he was still alive, clearly unused to the pink haired teen being a recluse.

“He’s still moping.” Megumi sighed.

“Should we go get Gojo sensei?” Nobara asked.

“We want to cheer him up, not make him worse.”

“I dunno, he seems pretty good at this kind of thing...”

Inumaki poked his head into the room with them, signing as he spoke. “Bonito flakes…” Megumi is right… “Mustard Leaf.” Gojo would just overwhelm him more.

“Well, do you have a better idea?”

Inumaki paused, the blonde tapped his chin as he became deep in thought. Nobara shot Megumi a look that screamed; ‘this is who we’re taking ideas from?’ as she gestured to the other teen.

“Tuna mayo?” Maybe Nanami can help?

“If Gojo can’t help, what makes you think Nanami sensei can?”

“He’s right.” Megumi nodded in agreement with Toge’s idea. “Nanami is our best bet. If something serious is going on, Yuji might be more comfortable talking to Nanami about it.”

Inumaki nodded his head, looking quite pleased with himself as Nobara sighed. “Fine, let’s go find him…” With that, the trio headed to Nanami’s classroom and explained the worrying situation to him.

“That explains why he hasn’t been blowing my phone up this morning…” He sighed softly. Yuji had a bad habit of spamming his phone with an overabundance of positive texts, or any and all memes he found that he thought were funny… most of the time they weren’t.

“I’ll go talk to him,” He nodded, standing up from his desk. “Thank you for coming to me.”

Back In Yuji’s room, he had actually started to doze off watching the rain fall down his window when there was a knock at his door. He sighed, trying to ignore their efforts.

There was another knock, this one softer and a bit more hesitant than the first. 

“Guys, I’m not dead in here. you can stop checking on me.” He called out, half asleep.

“Itadori?”

Yuji perked up at the sound of the voice. “Nanamin?”

“Is it alright if I come in?”

The pinkette nodded, but realized he couldn’t see him. “Yeah, you can come in.” he responded, turning around to look at the door.

Nanami walked in and closed the door behind him, assessing Yuji carefully for any signs of distress. “I haven’t heard from you In a while… I wanted to check in on you.” He said, his voice softer than usual.

Itadori smiled a little, and when he did, Nanami could see just how exhausted the teen looked. “Yeah, sorry… I haven’t been on my phone.”

That in and of itself was alarming.

The blonde teacher approached him cautiously. “Yuji, you look like you haven’t been sleeping.” He observed out loud. “Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Itadori brushed off his concern, trying to shake off the fatigue. “Just didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Watching too many Jennifer Lawrence movies, again?” There was a note of teasing on his words as he spoke to the pink haired boy. (Okay, more than a note.)

Yuji felt his face heat up. “Noooo…” He subtly nudged his chair to conceal a stack of Jennifer Lawrence movies he had in fact been watching the night before. 

Nanami, of course, saw this. He let out a small chuckle as he idly picked up one of Itadori’s blankets from the floor, folding it as he spoke. “Yuji, if something is bothering you… you know you can talk to me, right?” He asked, glancing up at the teen as he neatly set it down on the bed. “Even if you think it’s something minor…”

Yuji bit his lip and looked back out the window. “Yeah… I know that…It’s just my thoughts are so scrambled right now… I don’t even know how to start talking about what’s bothering me...”

Nanami frowned, picking up another blanket and approaching the pinkette with it. He carefully draped it around him and sat down next to him. “I understand…”

A memory flickered to the forefront of his mind, he recalled saying something similar to his best friend when he was Yuji’s age. Haibara had responded by looking for the fluffiest, most comforting blanket he could find in their dorm room and damn near smothered Kento with it as he wrapped him up in it and hugged him tightly.  

It was times like this that he wished Yu had still been alive, he’d be much better at this sort of thing than he was… “I’m sorry.” Kento said softly, his hands firmly grasping his students shoulders. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Yuji looked at the window, the rain and wind had kicked up even more outside. “Can I… have a hug?”

Nanami nodded, not hesitating to engulf him in a big protective hug at his request. “Of course you can.”

Yuji smiled, the warmth from the blanket and the warmth radiating from the tight hug was soothing to him. He wrapped his arms around Nanami in response, resting his head on his shoulder. 

As he sat there with him, the room silent save for the rain falling outside and the soft breathing, he felt his racing thoughts slowing down a bit… making more sense rather than being incoherent whispers speaking over each other.

But that soon became a problem too, as the reason for his anguish presented itself.

He was sad.

He was really fucking sad… He missed his grandpa. He was exhausted from trying to put on a brave front all the time, when the truth of the matter was; he was still just a scared, sad kid who missed the only family he had ever truly had...

As Nanami sat there holding the student, he felt him begin to tremble in his arms. “Itadori?” He asked softly, holding the teen tighter to try to silently reassure him he was okay.

“I’m… sorry…” Came the small, whimper of a reply. Small sobs escaped his shaking form as he buried his face in the blonde’s chest, his tears soaking into the blue fabric.

“Hey… don’t be sorry.” Kento responded, keeping his tone low and gentle in an attempt to soothe the boy. “It’s okay… shh… you’re okay.” He began rubbing circles into the pinkette’s back as he spoke. “I’m here with you and I’m not going anywhere…”

If Yuji hadn’t have already been crying, he would have been now. He clung onto his mentor like a scared child as he sobbed harder.

It became clear to Nanami just how much pain the boy was in, his muffled cries sounding anguished and terrified. It absolutely broke his heart, he wasn’t sure how to take the pain away from the usually bright light hearted teen, and he desperately wanted to.

“I’m so tired of being scared, Nanami!” he cried into his chest.

“Yuji… It’s going to be okay, you have nothing to be afraid of here. I’ll protect you.” The usually stoic teacher whispered in response.

“But who will protect you?” Itadori whimpered, burrowing further into his protective hold. “I can’t lose you too!!”

“Yuji…” Nanami felt his heart twist at the student’s outburst, he wished more than anything he could say that he wouldn’t lose him, and that everything would be okay in the end… but he knew from his own experience that wasn’t the case. He knew how cruel this line of work was… it didn’t discriminate with the lives it claimed.

“I can’t lose you…!” The boy sobbed, his frame shaking like a leaf in the blonde teacher’s strong arms. “P-Please…!”

“Shhh… hey, listen to me okay? I have no intentions of going anywhere.” Kento whispered, gently rocking Itadori in his arms. “Why are you so worried about me? I haven’t died yet.”

“I…” Yuji pulled back, looking up at Nanami with tears falling down his face. That also broke his heart. “I-I’ve been having these nightmares… Where y-you… you…”

“Shhh…” Nanami reached forward and gently pulled the crying pinkette back into his warm embrace, stroking his hair gently as he guided his head to rest against his chest. “Yuji, they’re just bad dreams… do you hear that? My heart is still beating. I’m still here. You’re okay… I’ve got you.”

This seemed to soothe some of anguish the boy was feeling, his sobs becoming small whimpers as he began to calm down at the sound of Nanami’s heartbeat in his ear.

They sat there In silence together for a while, the only other sound in the room was the rain hitting Yuji’s window and his sniffles and whimpers.

But soon those would silence too, and Itadori would slowly pull away from Nanami again. His eyes were puffy from all the crying he’d done, and his face was tear stained. “N-Nanamin?”

“Yes?”

“Th-Thank you…”

The blonde smiled softly at him, gently wiping away some of the remaining tears from his face. “Of course…” 

Yuji giggled a bit as Kento grazed against his neck when wiping his tears away, causing the blonde to pause and give him a confused look. “What was that?”

“Nothing.” Itadori said quickly, smiling nervously as his mentor stared at him.

Oh?

Nanami smirked, ghosting his fingers along Itadori’s neck, causing him to squeak and recoil with a giggle. “Nothing? Are you sure about that?”

“Nanami…”

“Itadori… you wouldn’t happen to be… ticklish, would you?”

“W-Well would you look at the time? I’m gonna be late for my training session with Gojo and-- ACK!”

“Oh no you don’t.” Kento grabbed onto the pinkette before he could escape, pulling him back into his arms and pinning him against him. “Even if you did have training with Gojo right now, which you don’t because he’s out of town… I’m not letting you off the hook that easily.”

“Wh-What did I do?”

“I told you I’d protect you… that includes from yourself and your sadness.”

“But Nanamin… I’m not sad any--eeeeehehehehehe!” Yuji’s protests were interrupted by a squeal followed by adorably bubbly giggles as Nanami began to tickle him.

“Oh please, don’t insult my intelligence… I know you’re still sad, you’re just not crying anymore.” Nanami rolled his eyes fondly at the boy, squeezing at his side teasingly.

“Nahahahahanami! Ihihihit tickles!” Itadori whined, but despite his complaints he made no attempts to get away.

Nanami chuckled at his reactions, sneaking his hand underneath Yuji’s shirt to lightly tickle his bare side. “Does it now~? How unfortunate for you… because I have no intentions of stopping until you feel better~”

Yuji giggled harder as he leaned into Nanami’s hold. “Ihihihihi’m not sahahahahad anymore!”

“Itadori, It’s okay to be sad…” Nanami said soothingly, skittering his fingers up and down his ribs as he spoke. “It’s okay to feel what you’re feeling… but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you suffer through it alone.”

The most adorable thing about this whole thing? Yuji wasn’t resisting, he was actually angling himself in ways that would give Nanami more access to his ticklish spots… which he found utterly adorable.

“Itadori, you know… you could at least pretend to want to get away~” Kento chuckled in amusement at his student.

“I dohohoho want to get ahahaway!” Yuji lied… because If he really wanted to get away, he totally could.

“Oh, you do, hm? Is that why you’re rolling around like a puppy trying to get me to scratch its belly?” Nanami couldn’t help but tease the boy, his fingers drifting to Yuji’s stomach. “Is this what you were looking for~?”

Itadori squealed as he felt Nanami’s fingers lightly dance across his toned stomach, practically melting in his mentor's hold as he laughed harder. “EHEHEHEHEEK!”

It’s now coming to Itadori’s attention that he may… and I repeat; may be… enjoying this. (He is.) 

Sure, every once In a while he’ll get the occasional poke here and there, or Gojo will be… well, Gojo… and tickle the absolute snot out of him but… Nanami’s tickles are much more gentle and affectionate. It’s almost relaxing in a sense… plus he never knew his parents, and his grandfather wasn’t exactly the most physically affectionate so it’s kind of healing to his inner child right now to be tickled by someone he views as a father figure.

Also, he just really loves playing around with him like this… this isn’t a side anyone sees of Nanami.

Did I mention Yuji is an adorable ball of sunshine yet? because he totally is.

“Ah, that was definitely what you wanted…” Nanami teased, his fingers tracing teasingly along his stomach, producing the most adorable giggles he’s heard in a very long time.

“Nahahahahanamin! Nohohohoho! Nahahat the behehehelly!” Yuji squealed, covering his face as his half hearted protests fell on deaf ears.

“Not the belly? why not? It seems like as good a spot as any…” Nanami hummed thoughtfully, pretending to consider it for a moment. “Hmm… Nope, sorry. I think I’m going to stay right here for a bit longer, you’re a tough kid, you can take it.”

Yuji squealed again as his stomach was tickled with more vigor.

‘Seriously, brat? He’s not kidding… You really are like a dog who wants his stomach rubbed. The only thing you’re missing is the damn leg kick.’ Sukuna taunted Yuji internally.  

‘Suhuhuhukuna shuhuhuhut up!’ Poor Yuji couldn’t even escape the teasing in his mind.

‘You know you could easily get this to stop, don’t you? Just allow me control and--’

‘Absolutely nahahahat!’

‘Why not? Don’t tell me… you actually ENJOY this, do you?’

‘Ihihihim not gonna lehehehet you hurt him!’

‘How pathetic… you truly are an annoying brat.’

“Nahahahanamihihihi plehehehease!”

The blond relented his attack, allowing the pinkette to catch his breath. “Are you feeling any better yet?” He asked gently, keeping his unofficial son trapped in his grasp as he calmed down.

Yuji nodded, giggling a bit still. “Y-Yeah.. thanks dad.”

Oh fuck.

He didn’t just…

Nanami froze as he heard those words come out of Itadori’s mouth.

Itadori panicked inwardly, his distress making Sukuna chuckle in amusement in the back of his mind. “I-I mean… yeah, thanks dad.” He said much more sarcastically this time, hoping that Nanami would go for it.

He did not. 

“Yuji… did you just… call me dad?”

Yuji felt himself tear up, fearful that he just ruined the relationship he had with Nanami. “Y-Yeah, but I meant it in a joking way.”

Kento frowned, he knew by the way the boy’s voice quivered that he was lying. “Yuji…”

“I-I’m sorry.” Yuji shook his head and closed his eyes, trying to contain his emotions. “I-I didn’t mean to… I-It… It jus-- EEK!”

Yuji shrieked as Nanami resumed his ticklish attack, now holding the teen’s arms above his head and tickling under his arms.

“NAHAHAHAHANAMI?? AHAHAHAHAHAHA! WHYHYHYHYHY ARE YOU TICKLING MEHEHEHE??”

“Because you’re sad again.” Nanami answered simply.

“AHAHAHAHAREN’T YOU MAHAHAHAD AT MEHEHE??”

Nanami leaned down a bit so he could speak directly into Yuji’s ear. “Why would I be mad?” His voice was low and calm, as if he wasn’t completely annihilating Yuji with tickles right now.

“BEHEHEHECAUSE IHIHIHI CALLED YOU-- EeEeEeEeEEEEK!” Yuji shrieked as Nanami blew a raspberry against his neck, cutting him off. “NAHAHAHAHA!!”

“I seem to have missed the part where you did something to make me mad…” Nanami smiled a bit, his fingers not slowing their pace against Itadori’s ticklish armpit whatsoever.

“BUHUHUHUT IHIHI… IHIHI CALLED YOUHUHU DAHAHAD-- AIEEE!”

Itadori was interrupted by another raspberry against his neck. “And?”

“IHIHIHIHIM SOHOHOHORRYEEEEHEHEHEHE!” Yuji shrieked again as he dealt another massive raspberry against his neck. Before he could form semi coherent sentences again, Nanami laid him down on his back on his bed and pinned his arms down above his head.

“Yuji Itadori… If you apologize to me again, you’re going to regret it.” Nanami said sternly, though his green eyes sparkled as his gaze remained gentle on the teen. “My cursed technique isn’t just useful for inflicting pain…It can also be used to make ticklish troublemakers even more ticklish…”

Yuji took a moment to catch his breath, and tried to collect his thoughts before responding. “N-Nanamin… Why aren’t you mad at me…?”

“I told you, you haven’t said anything to upset me.”

“But… I called you… D-Dad… That doesn’t upset you?”

Nanami smiled. “No… It doesn’t.” He let go of Itadori’s arms, and just let him lay there instead.

Yuji frowned, tears quickly flooding his eyes as he looked away. “You can’t possibly mean that… you’re just trying to reassure me-EEEE--” the pinkette squealed and began cackling again as Nanami blew a raspberry on his stomach.

“New rule, every time you apologize for no reason or overthink, I’m going to tickle you.” Kento smirked, watching as the boy composed himself again.

“B-But…”

“Yuji… I’m not just trying to reassure you. I meant that.” Nanami’s voice was gentle as he spoke. “If calling me Dad makes you happy then… you can call me that any time you want.”

Itadori sat up slowly, his eyes still sparkly with tears. “Y-You… really don’t mind?”

“Of course not.” Kento reached forward and wiped Yuji’s tears. “I happen to care about you.”

Welp. That did it… again.

Yuji started sobbing again, leaning forward and burying his face in Nanami’s chest as he ugly cried

Kento pulled him into a comforting hug, rubbing soothing circles into his back. “Shh… It’s okay now… You’re safe.”

‘You truly are a pathetic creature, you know that?’

‘That may be… but at least I’M loved sooo… suck it.’

After a few more minutes Yuji began to calm down, and he pulled back from Nanami. “Thank you… I needed that.” He smiled, wiping his eyes.

“You don’t have to thank me for comforting you, you know…” Nanami mused. “I really don’t mind.”

“Heh… Yeah I guess you’re right… sorry-- EEHEHEHE!” Yuji shrieked as Nanami reached forward and tickled his stomach, after using ratio to make him even more ticklish, of course.

“You never learn, do you?” Nanami sighed, though his words may have come out as disappointed, the playful glimmer in his eyes betrayed him.

It seemed It was going to take some time for Yuji to learn not to be so apologetic and overthink so much, and Nanami was content to keep tickling him until he got that message through his skull… Yuji was also content to let it happen.

[pinkaditty]

Idia Shroud Thoughts (Twisted Wonderland)

summary: a small collection of thoughts about Idia Shroud to cure my endless brainrot. some nsfw, some sfw. either way, 18+.

a/n: okok i promise I AM WORKING ON THE OBEY ME PERV THING ok i am i swear i promise <3. I just recently started playing Twisted Wonderland again after having uninstalled it like, a year or so ago and i immediately reentered my Idia Shroud brainrot bc he's my fav! more for the other of age characters will be coming soon. silent readers won't be blocked but psa that i do love it when you leave comments, likes, and asks!

PLEASE NOTE THAT I WILL NOT WRITE ANYTHING 18+ FOR CHARACTERS THAT ARE CANONICALLY UNDER 18, AND THAT INCLUDES THE CHARACTERS IN TWST, EVEN IF THEY ARE IN COLLEGE. I WILL NOT AGE THEM UP FOR SEXUALIZATION PURPOSES EITHER. IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE. PLEASE RESPECT MY BOUNDARY. thank you! :)

cw: uwaaa as per usual! some smut implication, gn!reader though mention of underwear is present, sub!idia, annnnd i think that's it. please lmk if i missed anything triggering!

also as per usual! MINORS/AGELESS BLOGS DNI. DNI DNI DNI!!! PLEASE RESPECT MY BOUNDARY. YOU WILL BE BLOCKED.

Idia Shroud who is...

Idia Shroud who is nervous.

He wasn’t the one to first approach. He was perfectly fine with watching you from afar, daydreams of you placating his intense yearning, and fantasies of you fueling his wet dreams and satisfying his libido. He was fine just being a background character until you grew closer. His nerves ate him alive whenever you approached, and he almost resorted to his old habit of talking through a tablet. But he managed, and you became friends. Every time you were close, he knew it would never be enough. Even when you got close enough to give the occasional hug or playfully punch him in the shoulder after a crushing video game loss, he knew these touches would only make it worse. But he couldn’t stop. He wanted to milk you dry of all the affection you were willing to give him, because it made him thrive, and only made his pining worse. Helping you with classwork, showing you his favorite video games, and inviting you over to do nothing together… It got worse and worse and worse for him until he was at rock bottom, believing his degeneracy could not get any worse. The dreams, the pretending, the yearning… It had taken its toll. Until you confessed. 

Idia Shroud who is possessive.

Not too possessive, but enough. His insecurities fuel his possessiveness, especially when he sees you talking to popular heartthrob Leona or sly tease Trey. His jealousy rises quickly and he can feel the roots of his hair blaze, turning orange before quickly fading back to blue. He cannot afford to lose his temper. It is times like these when he starts thinking about how you deserve someone better than a shut in, but he cannot bring himself to not cling to you. He simply must. Demonstrate that you love and want him and he’ll be happy. He cannot say that the occasional haunting thought of keeping you all to himself is not attractive, though.

Idia Shroud who is inexperienced. 

He’d had the occasional kindergarten or juvenile “relationship”, in which all it took to get a partner was sharing your snacks and offering a flower during recess. He was more innocent then, and less of a recluse. But over the years, he only found more and more reasons to shut himself in, and continued to find them until he didn’t need excuses anymore. The most he’s ever done is hold hands and hug, but even that was with family or when he was five years old. 

When you so much as lean on his shoulder he short circuits and stiffens, unsure of what he should do. When you grab his hand he freezes in place, wide eyed like a deer in headlights. When you kiss his cheek he jumps, shrinking in on himself and looking at you questioningly. It takes him a long time to even blush at these interactions, realizing that they come from a place of fondness and not emotionlessness or malicious intent. When he’s finally comfortable, doing these things in public will spook him immensely, but doing it in private is just fine. He’ll melt into your touches like he’s never been loved before. The thumping of your heart will be enough to soothe him to rest and a twitch of your fingers will be enough for him to grab yours, intertwining his fingers with them. He will breathe and you will be there and that will be enough. 

Don’t kiss him yet, though. You’d have to wait a few months to do that with him. 

Idia Shroud who is a pervert.

He simply cannot get enough of your smell. He doesn’t even mind if it's strong. It doesn’t matter. He will bury his face in your neck when you two are in private, and will do far worse when he’s alone. He often nicks your dirty clothes when he comes by your dorm. He usually takes worn shirts, hoodies, and bras (if you wear them), but will occasionally take a pair of your intimates. What he does with all those is obvious. He often sleeps with them, holding your clothes close to his face and inhaling your scent, pretending he was brave enough to convince you to stay over. And when a growing need makes itself known in his abdomen and his head starts to spin, he’ll wait til he’s alone before pulling out your intimates and shamefully pressing his face into them, wrapping a hand around his length. 

Idia Shroud who is submissive.

Well yes, he knows what sex is, he’s an adult. What he doesn’t know is all the particulars, how fond and loving it could be, how intense and overstimulating it could be, and just how many breaks he’d need to take. Before being with you, all he’d known was that watching hentai was enough to get him off. He knew what he liked in theory, all the twisted hentai fantasies locked under several layers of encryption on his laptop. But he didn’t know what he actually liked. He had never had anyone truly touch him before. When your fingers run down his arm or press into his thigh, he doesn’t know how to react. And when you touch bare skin, it’s even worse. It took you a long time to even kiss him, and it’ll take far longer to initiate and maintain any sort of extensive physical intimacy. But when he’s finally comfortable, you start out slow. You go no further than his torso for a few months, touching him carefully, paying attention to every hitched breath, gasp, and mumble that came from him, memorizing what he liked. When he says it’s alright, you’ll touch his thighs, and if he’s feeling brave, he’ll let you squeeze them and ghost your fingers close to his groin. With your permission, he’ll press his hands to your chest and hold you by your waist, and if he’s brave enough, he’ll squeeze your hips, too. When he finally lets you see his length, the two of you are limited to mutual masturbation for a while, foreheads pressed together and pleasured sighs mixing together. In the passing months, when he’s ready for more, you’ll start touching him, and he’ll start touching you, getting each other off instead of mutual masturbation. And finally, when he decides he’s truly ready, he’ll tell you, and he’ll let you take the lead and pin him to the nearest piece of furniture. 

Idia Shroud who is insatiable.

You’ve had him once, and you’ll have him again, and again, and again. After the first time, you worked together to see what felt and worked right for both of you, and once it was perfected, it just kept happening. He couldn’t get enough. He loved your touch, your taste, and all the sounds you’d make, and he loved how you made him feel. Each time he finished, whether he was inside or outside of you, under you or over you, taking what you had or doing the work, he always felt overwhelmingly yours. And he wanted to be yours over and over and over again, and he wanted you to remind him that he belonged to you each and every time. After taking control of things his whole life, it is immeasurably pleasurable to leave all the decisions to someone else. To be purely at their mercy, knowing he is safe in their arms. He cannot get enough of that feeling, and it’s all the better that it’s with you.

Idia Shroud who is in love with you.

a/n: screams and yells and kicks my feet i love him sm!! anyways i really really hope u guys like this one bc i actually really like this one. i think i did an exceptionally good job this time. again more will be coming for the other 18+ characs, like Trey and Cater and Vil and Rook and possibly Leona. I'll do the profs if asked, maybe, but the reader WILL NOT be a student. again i do appreciate likes, comments, reblogs, and asks!! thank you all so much!

[khyann]

Can pretty please info dump things about Pearl or Gem or Pearl and Gem from your Champion of Exor au?

There really isnt much for me to info dump either because there just isnt much story to tell or cuz it enters spoiler territory but i'll give what i can 😅

For starters: Neither Pearl nor Gem know about all the other worlds Sausage traveled to in an attempt to save Pearl and stop the Rapture. Scott kept his memories due to a strange convergence with Sausage's dimension-hopping abilities, so everyone in that world is about the same as they were around mid S1 minus the corruption, but some things are different

Starting with Gem she is sadly more formal than friendly with Scott. This is because Scott was pretty reclusive before Xornoth returned and only begun to get close to other people like Gem and Shrub because of it. Since in this world that never happened, from Gem's point of view the reclusive prince of Rivendell suddenly became more open and friendlier towards her and the other rulers. She also isnt as powerful as the Gem from the original world was since she hasn't had any need to gain more power to protect others, but she is just as skilled. And for obvious reasons she doesnt have Violet here.

As for Pearl's situation is kinda the opposite in the sense that while Gem had someone she wasnt close with suddenly wanting to approach her, Pearl had someone close to her now keeping distance aka Sausage. It took Sausage a few months of being in that world to finally start feeling like he wasn't gonna break into hysteric cries everytime he approached Pearl (as much as he'd like to deny it) and it was solely because he found out Xornoth never got corrupted in this world so that means no Rapture and most importantly: No Pearl dying.

But of course Pearl didnt know any of that. All she knew was that her favorite sparring buddy out of nowhere started keeping distance from her, keeping their interactions at the bare minimum and opting to spar alone instead than allowing her to join him for some friendly matches. But she knows Sausage and she knows he wouldn't be acting that way just because and is probably overcompensating for something she isnt aware of yet, so she decided to just give him time and space until he finally started talking with her again.

Angst aside Pearl is basically the same Pearl in canon. Warrior queen always up for a good fight or just having a good time with her friends.

For now there isnt much in the story about either of them since their original selves had to rise to the challenges when Xornoth tried to take over the world and in the case of Champions!Pearl and Champions!Gem they are just living through an age of peace.

Their time to shine will come once Exor's new champion gets contacted by the evil god. Specifically Gem.

[bringthekaos]

What a wonderful experience for Jayce to finally find someone who allowed him to explore himself. I'd like to headcanon that his obsession with an impossible future combined with a little extra sheltering from his mom (an expected result of almost losing your child) led him to face his formative years in relative loneliness. Sure, he had schoolmates and acquisitanses, and the Kiramann were pleasant enough, but he was missing that friends who he could talk freely about his interests, someone who "gets you".

What a wonderful experience for Viktor to find family again, and up in Piltover. To have someone you can let your guard down, someone you can call home again amidst a city that is designed to make you feel like an outsider

Mmmmmm yes good food. Despite Jayce being a charismatic and good looking guy, I think it’s pretty obvious that he didn’t really have many friends. And this is probably for several reasons, one being that he was likely a little reclusive in order to keep his obsession with and study of magic a secret; he only told people he trusted absolutely (so just Caitlyn). Which is why I think he was so easy to manipulate once he became Piltover’s Golden Boy—he was just happy to have a little attention, a little respect, and didn’t know how to spot when someone was taking advantage of him. But I think it’s also what made his bond with Viktor all the more powerful. Viktor didn’t see a naïve genius ripe for the picking, he simply saw genius. And what’s more, he saw misunderstood genius, looked-down-on and brushed-aside genius, which he was intimately familiar with, because he was too.

And while we don’t know if Viktor’s family is still alive in Arcane… I highly doubt it. I think we would have heard him speak about them, especially when Hextech started veering away from helping people. I think during the “there are people who need our help now” argument would have been the perfect time, even if only to guilt Jayce into action with a personal touch—“my family needs help now!” So if they are gone… I imagine his was a fairly lonely life before he met Jayce. Pretty much everyone brushes him off (“I was an outsider the moment I stepped foot in Piltover.”) His only “friend” (really just person/creature that treats him with any amount of decency) being his fucking employer??? Can you imagine your only friend being your fucking boss?

So finding someone who saw him for who he is and not where he’s from, who considered him an equal, a partner within hours of knowing him??? Someone who actually tried to protect him, keep him from going down with the already sinking ship (“no, no, no. You heard the council. If we’re wrong…”), even though Viktor was offering to help him. I think Jayce was a breath of fresh air, for Viktor—he kept expecting this young man to be selfish, to take advantage. But he never did. His dream was genuine, and so was he. So it felt natural, letting him in. He felt like he already knew him.

[shadowphoenixrider]

Killing My Love

(Chance meetings can change your life forever - Shadow and Gambit know this well enough. However, another is about to occur, and it's not going to go nearly as well. Ready for angst and the pair of finest wingmates a person could have? Enjoy!)

It was a good night; the club was excited, the music and lights loud and bright yet not overly stimulating, and the bar was calm enough that Gambit could stay by it and the woman perched on the bar stool next to him.

Getting all the X-Men into one place was difficult, especially the more reclusive types like Beast and Storm, but through some miracle a place had been found where most were content to let their hair down and enjoy the atmosphere.

Gambit really shouldn't have been pushing that luck any further, yet he had to try to get Shadow onto the dance floor - she had declined, regardless of the charm he'd turned on for her. That said, the pleasant discussion about cats they'd found themselves in was a nice diversion too.

The Cajun's gaze had wandered elsewhere in the lull of their conversation, spotting Scott and Jean in a darker, quieter area of the club also in deep talks together, when Shadow moved in the corner of his eye. She sat up to her full height, craning her neck like a bird.

"What's caught ya eye, petite?" Gambit asked as she leaned slightly out of her seat, squinting.

"I...I think..." Another head movement. "I think my ex is here."

A flash of tension shot through Gambit's body before he could stop it. He consciously relaxed himself, trying to follow Shadow's eyeline.

"You think? Where?" He asked, deliberately keeping his tone light.

"Over there, west wall, I think..." Shadow stood up on the bar stool's rung. "Yeah, he's next to the pillar. You see it? Second from the door, closer to us."

Gambit's gaze closed in on a pale-skinned, averagely built man standing somewhat awkwardly by the white square pillar mentioned, dressed mostly in black, minus a light blue shirt.

"Black hair, white face, looks like he jus' here 'cos someone dragged him?" Gambit asked.

"Yeah, that's the guy." Shadow nodded. "This isn't usually his type of place, guess his friends brought him here."

"Hmm." Gambit hummed. The man had a soft, pleasant face, and a smile that brightened his eyes, fake or otherwise. "Good to know ya got a good taste in men, petite." He grinned at her.

Shadow rolled her eyes, trying to pin him with a glare.

"Don't you go getting any ideas Cajun, he's not your type."

Gambit raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Den what be 'my type', petite?" He grinned, which only widened when he saw a flush start to darken on her cheeks.

"I don't mean like that!" Her tone became serious. "I mean he's the type of guy to break out in hives if another man flirts with him."

"That so...?" Gambit's gaze was roving back to the ex when Shadow grabbed his wrist tightly, staring directly into his eyes with an intensity that surprised him.

"Gambit, don't. He's probably already having a shit time, he doesn't need someone deliberately making it worse," she said, more seriously than he'd heard her for a while. Can see why you two were together for ten years.

"Alright, petite." He smiled, gently patting her hand. "Gambit were only gonna talk to him."

"Talk or Talk?" Shadow asked, raising an eyebrow. He noticed that although the young woman's grip had loosened, she hadn't let him go yet.

"Gambit not gonna scare him, if dat be your worry," he said, glancing back to the man by the pillar. "Jus' talk. Gotta admit, be mighty weird dat he jus' happen to turn up here the one time we be here."

"Sure, but sometimes things are just coincidences, Gambit." She pulled away from him, and he found he missed her touch. "Besides, he doesn't know I'm with you guys, and this place was pretty last minute. For all we know, we turned up as his place!"

"Think we woulda been noticed." Gambit replied, gesturing to Beast, engaged in lively conversation further down the bar with Storm. "Not exactly subtle, non?"

"Yeah, but..." Shadow shook her head. "Urgh, fine. Just leave my ex alone, ok? What's done was done, let him exist in peace."

"Whatever ya say, petite." Gambit said, taking a drink.

A companionable silence settled between the two, although the Cajun's eyes returned to the man hovering awkwardly by the pillar. He definitely looked out of his element, and although he seemed to chat with a couple of others, he kept his gaze to himself and the surrounding furniture. Passing time, counting the minutes down.

Maybe Shadow was right. It was just serendipity that two had to turn up at the same place at the same time, unaware of one another. Although they had seemingly left on less than great terms, she'd never insinuated her ex-partner had been dangerous or cruel beyond his need for blissful ignorance. She clearly cared for him, even now, and if she didn't think he'd be anything but an awkward moment waiting to happen...why couldn't he help but feel on edge about it?

Why do you care so much? His thoughts accused him. It's not like a bright spark like her would be interested in a rat like you.

Shadow swung the last dregs of her glass back, placing it back in easy reach of the bartender.

"I just gonna go to bathroom Gambit, I'll be right back," she said, hopping down from the bar stool. "Don't go getting into any trouble!"

"No promises!" He called back, grinning as she gave him the middle finger before she slipped quickly and effortlessly away through the crowd.

The Cajun turned around to survey the club once more. Scott and Jean had left; Scott probably needing to take a break for his head, Logan keeping an eye on Jubilee as she danced excitedly, Rogue chatting with Storm and laughing about something, and Beast also taking a brief leave himself.

Rogue caught his eye at that moment, and excused herself from Storm, making her way over to him, a small smile on her lips.

"Didn't expect you to be all on your own, sugah. Where'd Shadow go?" She asked.

"She jus' gone for a break, she be back soon." Gambit smiled back. "You doin' ok?" Rogue lifted a shoulder.

"Same as always. Least you can hear yourself think in here, though Jubilee'd probably want somethin' a li'l louder."

"She can find dat on her own when she be a bit older." Gambit chuckled. "Jus' glad we got everyone here. Not often dat happens."

"No, it is real nice." Rogue looked back to him with her olive green eyes, studying him a moment. "Alright Remy, spit it out. You look like you got the weight o' the world on ya shoulders!"

"Dat obvious?" He raised an eyebrow.

"You got a face longer than a freight train, sugah. Saw it from a mile away." She folded her arms. "C'mon. What's eatin' you?"

Gambit sighed, running a hand through his hair as he scanned the club once again.

"Shadow's ex partner be here." He saw Rogue tense in the corner of his eye. "It don't look like he be here on purpose for her, an' she don't want us confrontin' him." His eyes found the man, still at his position, although his gaze was in the direction of the bathrooms. "She ever said anythin' to you 'bout him?'"

"No, not that we didn't already know." Rogue said. "Seemed like just two sweethearts in love, one not gettin' the other. Annoyed that it got this far, but she's never mentioned him bein' nasty to her or anythin'." A pause. "You worried he's gonna try somethin'?"

Gambit frowned.

"I don't know. Jus' got a bad feelin' 'bout him bein' here."

"If somethin' happens we'll help out, but Shadow's a big girl." Rogue pointed out. "She can handle her ex on her own."

The Cajun pressed his lips together, frustrated and annoyed and not even quite sure why. Suddenly, the man moved, getting up from his spot and starting to move through the crowd. Gambit's eyes flicked across the heads until he saw a recognisable mop of curly brown hair weaving through the bodies towards them.

"Remy?"

"He's on the move, Rogue." Gambit replied, not daring to turn his head as his gaze flicked back to the man, watching make his way directly to- "Merde! He's goin' for her."

Gambit was on his feet in a second before Rogue's steel grip seized his shirt, stopping him dead.

"Easy there tiger," she said, lowly. "They might just want to talk."

He gritted his teeth, managing to restrain himself. The ex stopped Shadow in her path, and her eyes widened, surprised. They were too far away from Gambit to hear anything of what was being said, although both seemed mostly calm after the initial surprise, most likely catching up with one another.

Maybe I was overreacting...

The crowd obscured them for a moment, yet Gambit saw Shadow shake her head in response to something. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she spoke. The reaction from the man was to gesture something, open-handed - pleading?

That was when Shadow's gaze looked past him, searching and finding Gambit's eyes. They held for a second, and Gambit mouthed 'help?'

She nodded.

"Ah'm right behind ya, sugah." Rogue murmured, letting Gambit lead as the pair made their way over. What had started as a calm discussion was starting to slowly escalate; Shadow folding her arms whilst her ex gestured more frantically, even making a step towards her. Gambit was also aware of eyes on him - probably the other X-Men noticing him and Rogue moving with intent.

"You go first, Rogue." Gambit said, stopping to let her pass. "Look afta Shadow. I can handle de guy."

She gave him a smile, their plan setting into motion as Rogue walked over to Shadow, Gambit in her wake with the most serene smile he could muster on his features.

"There ya are sugah!" Rogue exclaimed, moving to Shadow's side and settling a glove on her shoulder. "We've been lookin' all over for you!"

The sheer relief that flashed in the smaller woman's eyes was more than enough to confirm to Gambit that they'd done the right thing, although he continued to play his part.

"Whose ya friend, petite?" He asked, eyeing the other man as casually as he could. The ex was taller than Shadow by a couple of inches, his green eyes warily flicking between the pair, before they locked onto Gambit's eyes and widened - the penny had dropped.

"Oh, this is my ex, Tom." Shadow replied, playing along with them. "We just happened to bump into one another."

"Nice ta meet ya, Tom." Rogue said brightly, all warm Southern hospitality. "This gal's told us all 'bout ya!"

Tom's gaze flicked from Gambit to Rogue nervously and back again.

"O-Oh, she has?" He said.

"Yeah." Gambit grinned toothily. "Didn't tell us how much of a good lookin' fella ya be though, mon ami."

Shadow gave him a Look, and he returned it with a gaze that he hoped conveyed 'trust me'.

Tom's back stiffened, his initial shock quickly starting to bleed away, and his dark brows furrowed.

"Glad she still thinks of me that way after all these years." Was his frosty response. "I have always loved her very deeply, and I still do."

"Deeply, maybe. But you didn't love all of me, did you?" Shadow shot back hotly.

"I do love you!" Tom pleaded. "Look, I didn't understand how much they meant to you. I just wanted you to have an easier life, after everything you'd been through!" Gambit and Rogue shared a glance.

"By hiding them? So if it'd been my hair that got me ridicule, would you have told me to shave it off?"

"No, of course not! You deserve to keep your gorgeous curls, and anyone who says otherwise can go screw themselves!"

"So what about my powers?"

"Well, that's more complicated-"

"No sugah, it's not." Rogue butted in. "You either love all of her: body, mind, powers an' all, or ya jus' love the idea of her. You can't pick an' choose what ya like of a person."

"Since when was this any of your business?" Tom retorted, glaring between them.

"Since we became her friends, sugah." Replied Rogue dangerously, stepping forward. "Now why don't ya cool ya head 'fore things start gettin' ugly."

"I wouldn't make de lady mad if I were you." Gambit grinned, stepping closer to Shadow. He lowered his head to whisper in her ear. "Doin' alright, petite?"

"Better now you're both here." She whispered back.

Gambit glimpsed Tom's face flash with utter fury, his grip on his glass tightening.

"So I see it didn't take you long to replace me!" Tom spat, glaring at Gambit. "You were everything to me! But it's great to see those ten years we spent together were so easily tossed aside when another man with pretty words came around!"

"Thank you for de compliment, mon ami." Gambit smirked, straightening up and stepping a little closer to Shadow. Tom's face was starting to turn bright red, his spare hand balling into a fist.

"I thought you were better than this." He growled. "That you were smart enough not to let someone like him convince you he was worth your time!"

"Excuse me?!" Rogue cried, clenching her own fists. Now heads really were turning towards them.

"And what are men like him?" Shadow snarled, mirroring Rogue. Gambit would have been flattered at their defence if his own anger hadn't been rising in his chest.

"Men that are only interested in a quick fuck and moving on, that's who!" Tom snapped, pointing square at the Cajun. "You're nothing but a number to him! Another notch on his bedpost! He'll break your heart without a second thought as soon as he gets what he wants."

"Bold assumptions, mon ami." Gambit spoke coldly, venom dripping from his words. "You know nothing about me."

"I know enough about people like you." Tom hissed. "Taking advantage of women just for your own fun."

"Okay, shut the fuck up!" Shadow snapped, stepping in front of Gambit, her shoulders square, and fury burning off her like flames. "It's fucking rich coming from you, claiming that Gambit here just wants to get into bed with me when you're the one who won't fucking acknowledge that I'm a mutant! So it's okay for you to deny a core aspect of my being, but as soon as another guy might take an interest in me, you lose your fucking mind?!"

Shadow began to stalk forward, even Rogue moving aside for her. Gambit joined other patrons in watching this with awe.

"Furthermore, you're acting like I'm still yours when, last I checked, we split up? The hell is it any of your business who I'm dating or fucking?!" Shadow briefly glanced to Gambit. "What? Are you afraid if I date another mutant I might discover someone who understands what it's like to never be truly normal? That I can never turn this off, ever, that society will never, ever let me be anything but a mutant?" She narrowed her eyes. "Or is it because you're frightened that I'm just going to find someone better than you full stop?"

"That's unfair! I know I screwed up, but so did you!" Tom scowled. "You treated me like dirt to begin with, and I took it because I loved you!"

"I know, and I'm sorry." Shadow's fury abated for a moment. "I was young and socially-awkward and had no idea how relationships work - not that was an excuse. We were both young people growing up, trying to understand our place in the world against people who didn't like us and treated us like shit. No wonder we screwed up!" She sighed. "I just thought, of everyone, it'd be you, the man I loved, and went through the same shit I did, who knew what it was like to be hated by people just for being different. And why we couldn't let it change us, or force us to hide - because there was nothing wrong us to begin with!"

Shadow's voice became heavier with sorrow, gesturing widely and frantically. Gambit took a cautious step closer.

"So why, Tom? Why do I have to hide for you? You seemed just fine when I used my powers for you!"

"I wanted you to be safe!" Tom cried. "I love you, I wanted you to want for nothing, and never experience anything like we did at school ever again! I didn't want you to ever be afraid again!"

"That's a nice dream, sugah." Rogue's voice was soft. "But it can only be a dream."

"People ain't things you can jus' lock up an' keep safe." Added Gambit. "'Specially if they don't wanna be."

"So that's it?" Tom spat. "I just have to be fine with the fact the woman I love could be assaulted or taunted or ridiculed at any moment just because 'that's the way things are'?"

"That's not what he meant an' you know it." Rogue growled.

"Of course it fucking sucks that I'm- we're discriminated against for just being mutants!" Shadow gestured broadly. "But we don't get anywhere by hiding! They'll hate me whether I'm behind closed doors or out on the street, so I might as well live as who I am than pretend to be someone I'm not."

Something shifted in Tom's face, and Gambit rested his hand over his trouser pocket. He hoped he wouldn't need the slim deck of cards stashed there, but with how the situation was turning...

"My love never mattered to you, did it?" Tom spoke, new anger dawning over his face like a blood-red sunrise.

"W...What?" Shadow did a double-take. Gambit and Rogue shared a glance. I don't like where this is going.

"Ten years, I loved you! Ten years of caring, wanting you to be safe and happy, and it never mattered to you, did it?!" Tom yelled.

"You fucking what?!" Shadow exclaimed. "Of course it fucking mattered to me! We were together ten years! You think I wanted to split with you?! Why do you think we talked so many times near the end? I was trying to save the relationship with the man I loved, because I thought we were always meant to be! The two sides of the same coin! You were the moon to my sun, the dragon to my phoenix! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have gotten through high school!"

"Yet you still left me. After everything I did for you."

"Because I needed to live, Tom!" Shadow's desperate cry was heavy with emotion. "Because I grew up, I got stronger thanks to you, and I'll never be able to repay you for that, that's true, but I couldn't stay in that cage you wanted for me." She shook her head. "I know I was your everything, but you can't let a person be the one thing your life revolves around, or you suffocate them! I loved you Tom, but you held me so tightly I couldn't breathe!"

"So it's true." Tom replied coldly. "I wasn't everything to you."

"I didn't say that-"

"I'm the only man who could ever love you, Kat." Tom spoke, his tone frosty whilst anger and hate boiled beneath the surface. "Don't you remember?"

"Don't pull this with me Tom, you're talking about a very different person." Shadow growled, squaring her shoulders. "That scared little girl clinging to any affirmation she could get is gone now."

"Is she?" A raised eyebrow. "Is that why you had to go scurrying to your new friends? Is that why you so easily went to that man's bed?"

"Really should stop makin' dose assumptions, couyon. It gettin' embarrassin' now." Gambit hissed lowly.

"Ah have you know we came to her, sugah." Rogue replied, stepping forward. "Not that ah think you know what friends are."

"Well, neither does she!" Tom claimed. "She jumps friend groups all the time!

"Oh, so we're criticizing each other for being socially-awkward, are we?" Shadow laughed bitterly, miming picking up a phone. "Hi pot, this is kettle, I think you'll find you're black as well! Besides," her humourous veneer dropped in an instant, "you have no fucking idea what I've been doing since we broke up, so how about you stop pretending you know, ok?"

"Do they even know what you did?" Tom asked, raising his voice. A cruel grin curled his lips when Shadow hesitated, tension tightening her shoulders. "They don't, do they?"

"Tom, don't do this." Shadow's voice was quiet, and Gambit saw her leg start to tremble.

"Dat's enough." He interjected, stepping in front of Shadow, using his full height to loom over Tom. A card slipped into his fingers and his powers hummed eagerly beneath his skin. "Gambit think you should leave before dis gets ugly, mon ami."

Tom straightened up, and although he was smaller than the Cajun, he held his ground.

"She won't tell you, because she's a liar and a playing you all for fools, pretending to be innocent when she has blood on her hands." Tom said, lifting his chin up. "Kat almost killed someone, you know. Lost her temper and nearly tore their throat out with those powers of hers. She's pretending she's just an innocent little creature, wouldn't hurt anyone, but she would have killed him without hesitation if she wasn't stopped. That's why her powers should be hidden - because otherwise next time she gets pissed, someone's going to die."

Tom grinned triumphantly, the crowd murmuring around them, and Gambit let him enjoy it for a couple seconds. Then he arched his eyebrow, letting his own sly grin grow across his lips.

"Dat's it?" Gambit asked, revelling in the ex's expression starting to falter. He stepped closer, hoping his dark eyes was making him looking every bit Le Diable Blanc he'd been. "What did Gambit tell ya 'bout makin' assumptions?" He held the playing card up - the ace of diamonds - and let his power surge into it, turning it a bright, glowing pink that cast sinister shadows across his face. Its high-pitched hum blended with the crowd's anxious mutterings. "You think Gambit not spilt his own share 'o blood?" His voice lowered, exchanging his tease for something altogether more dangerous. "Gambit know what she did, mon ami. She told him. And dat wasn't very nice to just blurt out in front of everyone."

"Gambit not gonna tell ya again. Walk away, or de lady here gonna deal wit ya." He raised his voice again as he nodded to a very angry Rogue. "She not as nice as Gambit."

"What's going on here?!" Gambit turned his head to see Scott pushing his way through the crowd of spectators, Jean and the others following swiftly behind. He tucked the card under his belt, just in case.

"Everything's under control, sugah." Replied Rogue, folding her arms as she approached Tom as well. "This guy was jus' leavin', wasn't he?"

Gambit stepped back towards Shadow, who seemed to have shrunk a couple of inches, and put his arm around her.

"Oh no you don't!" Rogue suddenly said, and Gambit glimpsed a flash of glass, the crowd uttering a collective gasp. He quickly pulled Shadow into his body, shielding her with his broad back, his card back between his fingers and flaring white with power.

Luckily Rogue had stopped Tom in time, effortlessly holding both of his arms - one with the drink he'd attempted to throw and the other that had made a swing for Rogue herself. Tom's green eyes were wide as saucers, suddenly realizing what a terrible mistake he'd just made.

"Alright big guy, that's it. You've had enough." Rogue announced, casually moving so she could pin both of his wrists together before she lifted him clean off the floor by his shirt. "Time to see the big guys by the door, sugah."

And with that, she was gone, Tom too stunned to even struggle. The crowd started to disperse, chattering amongst themselves, and the rest of the X-Men pushed through, gathering around Gambit and Shadow.

"What the hell happened here?" Scott demanded, although his tone had softened at seeing Shadow pressed against the Cajun's side. Jean immediately went over to the young woman, talking gently to her.

"Dat fils de putain be Shadow's ex-partner." Gambit explained, nodding in the direction Rogue had gone, tucking the now de-powered card back into the deck. "Decided he be wantin' his pound of flesh."

"Looked like a piece of work." Logan growled. "Good riddance."

"An' 'fore ya ask, no, Gambit didn't start anythin'. He caught Shadow comin' back to us - we were on a rescue mission."

"It seems your presence might have had exacerbated the situation, however." Storm spoke. "He reacted extremely badly towards you."

"Hardly Gambit's problem if the guy is too jealous he can't stand to see the girl he isn't even dating be kind to another man." Jubilee pointed out. "Dude's so cuckoo-bananas he probably would have blown up on any one of us."

"A shame a jealous ex-lover has spoiled the evening." Beast commented. "I was finding it very enjoyable."

"Hey now, with that guy thrown outta here, we can still have some fun!" Jubilee commented. "It's not even that late!"

"I...You guys can carry on." Shadow managed to speak up. "I, I think I wanna go back, though."

"That's perfectly understandable." Jean smiled. "Will you be ok to make your own way back, or do you want one of us to come with you?"

"I can take her." Gambit offered. "My bike ain't far, an' I think I might not be too welcome after dis little spat either."

"But you didn't do anything!" Jubilee cried.

"Maybe, but bouncers don't have time to litigate squabbles like that." Logan grunted. "Better to just kick both parties out and let them sort it amongst themselves."

"That's so unfair..."

"You alright to go wit me, petite?" Gambit asked Shadow kindly. "Or you wanna wait for Rogue?"

"N-No, I just wanna go." Her defeated tone almost broke his heart, and part of him hoped Rogue threw the bastard out on his ear. Or into a wall.

"Ok. C'mon den, let's go home."

(Next: "Heal Me")

[apocalypse-cowboy]

Warnings: angsty as HELL. I'm sorry in advance 🙏

Rainwater

If you told Scout that he would move out of Manhattan and go to Summerville with his brother, not only lose his brother, but also losing all contact with the people he considered family well...he wouldn't believe you.

He would call you crazy and say that "There is no plausible way that would ever happen." and call it a day.

Unfortunately for him, that was all true. After Egon passed away, he became recluse. Well, more than he already was. He wanted to desperately try to get into contact with his friends again but after some nasty things being said on both sides, mainly between Peter and himself, he knew it was pointless to even think about trying.

So he didn't talk to them again as a result. Hell, he never really talked to many other people anymore. But, it still hurt him to see his friends just leave him all alone after the good times they had spent together.

The only ones he really kept in contact with was his beloved niece Callie and her children Phoebe and Trevor. Though sometimes he could hardly look any of them in the eye. They all reminded him of Egon in some way or another. But he pushed through the pain and loss, then he began to finish what Egon and him started to work on.

With the high risks of Gozer coming back into the picture and possibly destroying life itself, Scout believed that it was up to him and only him to finish things once and for all.

The Ecto drives down a long dirt road that led to a decent sized house in the middle of nowhere. It was a nice sunny day, well it would be nice if the looming rift storm wasn't mocking everyone and spreading a feeling of doom.

In the passengers seat was Phoebe, Trevor was driving while Ray, Peter and Winston were in the backseat. The air was tense.

"Are you sure this will work? That we can convince him?" Treavor asked. Phoebe only sighed and shrugged "I don't know. But it's worth a try." She looks ahead at the house that is getting closer "Besides, either way, we NEED him for this. He and Egon knew more about this situation than we do." The three men in the back just silently nodded, only slightly listening. Winston took it up on himself to break the tension "Well.." he paused "Here's hoping this won't lead to any funerals." He joked trying to lift the mood. He didn't get any responses.

The car parks in front of the house, it was a cozy cottage home with a chain link fence and a gate surrounding the front yard. There was an old fashioned car parked near the side of the home, a doghouse could be seen slightly next to a large shed in the backyard that also had fencing around it.

Everyone gets out and the first thing they hear is a dog barking.

It was a golden retriever, it looked more happy to see people instead of hostile. Treavor smiled knowing who this is and quickly opened the gate and crouched down to start petting the dog while everyone else got in and closed the gate.

"Hey there Rook!" Treavor said while petting the dog's soft fluffy fur "Do you know where your dad is?" He asked. Rook whined in excitement and her tail started to wag as she quickly ran to the front door. She was very intelligent, Scout had trained her well when he got her as a puppy.

The OG Ghostbusters where surprised to see that Scout owned a dog. They never thought he would ever own an animal before.

Vinkman, being the snarky man he is, decided to poke fun at this "Of course he would prefer an animal's company over people's." He said sarcastically as the others rolled their eyes and shook their heads at his antics. "Well, I think it's sweet that he has a dog!" Ray spoke with enthusiasm.

Trevor finds the spare key that was hidden in under the welcome mat that said "Why can't you trust Atoms? Because they make everything up!" on it and unlocked the front door.

Everyone took a deep breath as the door opened and they went inside. Rook ran inside and went to lay down on her dog bed next to the couch that had various chew toys on it.

As the door shut behind them, they took a good look around the living room. There was a small sofa with a coffee table in front of it there were many pages of notes scattered around it. There was a dresser with a small T.V. that was playing a random game show on low volume. There was also an old grandfather clock near a window, the ticking noise was loud compared to anything else. The windows where blocked with blackout curtains, keeping the privacy of anyone inside.

Peter whistled lowly, "Would you look at this boys." He said while pointing at a wardrobe that held Scout's old tan, Ghostbusters uniform on a hanger. It was left unwrinkled, the patches that had the iconic Ghostbusters logo, "Spengler" was still embroidered onto the chest area and a few other patches that Egon had gifted to him that had a stupid science pun on it or some flower or plant ones where slightly faded due to time.

Ray got the other's attention "He still kept it." He said in awe while he pointed to the photo they had all taken together. They were all on the staircase of the firehouse, Winston and Ray where on the near the bottom while Egon and Scout were a few steps above them. Peter was on the ground leaning against the railing with a smug smile on his face. They all looked so happy in the photo. After it was taken Scout said that he looked stupid in that photo, he said he wouldn't keep it but it looks like he changed his mind.

Next to it was another photo, but it was of just Egon and Scout. They were standing side by side, smiling wide while Scout was holding a smoking ghost trap. In a hasty scribble, courtesy of Egon, the words 'Scout's First Catch' was written at the bottom. "And that one too." Winston said while pointing to the photo of the siblings. They all remembered how proud Egon was that day.

Next to the wardrobe, was a display case that gave anyone a full view of his protron pack. Surprisingly, it was still in a functioning condition and it looked like a few parts were repaired and replaced with newer more 'modern' technology.

The group was broken out of their thoughts when a loud thud came from the room upstairs, followed by a loud and slightly muffled 'FUCK'.

They all slowly made their way up the stairs until they got to a door that had signs that said 'keep out' or 'do not disturb' on them. They all look at each other and Phoebe knocks on the door.

"It's open!" The slightly muffled voice shouted. She opens the door and they boys are shocked at what they see. On the walls, there are various equations, diagrams, graphs and charts sloppily pinned to numerous bulletin boards.

A few tables where filled with various scrap parts and books. Though what shocked them the most was the state that Scout was in. He was hunched over the work desk, scribbling furiously on the paper and sometimes turning his attention to the new ghost trap he was working on. His hair was decently grey and from what they could see right now, he had grown out a short bear due to the obvious lack of proper grooming.

He was also wearing a loose fitting pair of sweatpants and a large T-shirt that looked too big for him.

They all slowly walk over to him, and they took a better look at him. His once healthy skin was now pailer, his eyes were tired and slightly sunken in due to a lack of a stable sleep schedule. He more or less looked like a zombie, but a tad bit more functional.

The man in front of the senses their presence, he clears his throat "It's rude to stare you know?" Scout says in his classic monotonic tone. His voice was slightly scratchy due to a lack of use.

Phoebe nervously picks at her fingers and takes a deep breath "Grunkle Scout?" She asked timidly. He hums in response as he was still focused more on the trap. Phoebe looks to Treavor and he takes over for her "We have some people who want to see you." Scout scoffs, his annoyance clearly showing through "If it's the cops again tell them I'm..." He turns around in his chair and when he sees the other three Ghostbusters, he stops talking. His expression falls falt as he looks at his Grand Niece and Nephew "Phoebe....Treavor..." He points to the trio "What are they doing here?" He hisses, not wanting to see them.

The boys flinch at the harsh tone so Ray tries to start the conversation, "Scout, listen I know you are upset-" "Upset is an understatement Stantz. But go on." Scout cuts off his former friend but signals him to continue. They all cringe when he uses Ray's last name instead of just calling him Ray.

"But, we really need your help with this." He pleaded "Please. I know we all didn't leave on the...best of terms..." He paused looking for the right words to say "But you know the most about what is happening out there. So please, we will do anything! Anything at all to have you help us." He begged.

The room fell silent, the tension was building as Scout thought up a response. He got up from his chair slowly, and approached them as he got up close and personal. There was hard silence as everyone braced for whatever was about to be said.

A stone cold look was on his face and his eyes were unreadable. They haven't seen him like this since college.

"No."

It was a short and quiet response. But to everyone else, it was the loudest thing in the room. Phoebe and Trevor were internally panicking. Winston and Ray held the most sadness in their eyes, but Peter...Oh boy Peter was pissed. And in classic Venkman fashion, he wasn't going to keep his mouth shut.

"So, let me get this straight." He started pointed to Scout "You. Are going to just let Gozer come in here and casually destroy the entire universe?" Scout only crossed his arms, not budging on his words.

Peter scoffed and shrugged "And for what? To be petty and bitter?" He continues to poke and prod hoping to get a response.

"Peter." Winston tried to stop him before it escalated to far "No!" Peter shouted startling everyone except Scout. He knew he would throw some sort of tantrum, he expected as much. "Im not gonna take 'no' as a good answer!" He grabbed the collar of Scout's shirt tightly. Despite the hight difference he had a pretty good grip on him.

"I want you to give me a good reason why." He said while slightly shaking the younger man, slightly getting in his face while he talked.

Scout's face contorted with anger as he harshly yanked Peter's hands off of him. He was pissed. He took a long shaky breath as he tried to compose himself "You want a real answer?" He asked rage slowly coating each word. "I'll give you a good reason." He said while he started to pace "First off, you called us crazy when we said that there was a high probability of Gozer coming back." He waved his arms around while he talked. He was an animated talker no matter what "Second off," he abruptly stopped pacing and pointed at his three former colleagues "You! You all left me alone when I needed you the most!" He shouted. His emotions overwhelming him "I was so scared, when Egon died. I wanted...no...NEEDED someone to turn to but NO!" He started to shout. He was getting emotional, all the stress, grief and rage he had collected over the years coming out all at once

"I NEEDED YOU! I NEEDED THE PEOPLE WHO I TRUSTED THE MOST! AND WHAT DO YOU DO?!" At this point tears where sliding down his face "YOU LEFT ME! THAT'S...That's what you did." He finished his rant. Furiously wiping away the tears of rage, anger and sadness from his face. He didn't like crying in front of people.

He was shaking, crying and on the verge of a panic attack. The boys where stunned at the amount of emotion he had shown. Not in a million years did they think that Scout Spengler was capable of showing this much emotion all at once.

Scout took a shaky breath and slouched slightly "So there. There's your reasons why." He whispered. Any other words being said where interrupted by the violent shake in the ground.

Everyone looked out of the windows of the attic to see the ever growing storm was rapidly growing. Rook was heard barking and whining in distress downstairs. "Dear God." Scout whispered in disbelief. His glasses slightly fogged up from all of the tears.

"What's going on out there?" Winston asked. Scout's focus was on the source of the storm "The portal is opening. All defences have been broken through." He said hastily while running his hands through his long messy hair in distress.

He thought for a moment then sighed "Fine, I'll help." Everyone sighed of relief "But I'm not doing it for you." He looked at his former friends "I'm doing it for them." He motioned twaords Phoebe and Trevor.

Though there was a small part of him that was doing it for the three of them as well, even if he wouldn't say so.

He still cares about them, even after all this time, and all they went through to get to this point.

[hananosami]

Greatest Fear

synopsis: Let us deep dive into Gojo Satoru's subconscious, as he recalls the difficulties he faced right after his best friend's death. Where he's then reminded by the reader, someone who had also suffered the very same lost, that he should continue to live on in his memory, and cherish those that are still alive.

"おかえりさとる。"

word count: 2k +

Author’s Note: This was heavily inspired by a song that I listened to, as I drove back home. Where I imagined how Gojo would look at the reader and slowly come into a realization that his own youth isn't over- that she was still here, someone that remained constant from his youth. That what he should fear the most, would be that if he never felt anything at all after his friend's death. That human emotions, and spending time with those who matter the most, no matter how short their chapter is in his life- should be what he cherished, not feared. Yes, I took parts of my fic and put it in here..

Warning: minor spoilers from Gojo's Arc, Shibuya Incident & JJK 0. Slight angst.

Gojo Satoru is the strongest Jujutsu sorcerer, he always has been. From the moment he was born, the higher-ups knew that he'd either be wrapped around their little fingers, or be the biggest headache they'll ever come to receive. As soon as he was brought into this world, there was that shift in the world and somehow both curses and jujutsu sorcerers knew to fear him. 

He continued to live by his name, as he lived each and every day brimming in confidence. He knew exactly what he was capable of, he knows that he is the strongest and most powerful sorcerer in the Jujutsu World. Sukuna is no easy feat for other Jujutsu Sorcerers, but to Gojo Satoru? Sukuna was nothing more than just a plaything, that if he wanted to, he could easily kill him. He can be the most cold-blooded individual in the battlefield, that if he had no choice, he will choose the destruction of his enemy- even if that meant that the death of many innocent lives; of course, he would never intentionally take the life of an innocent person. 

Yet, he always felt alone.

Gojo Satoru has always been alone, from the day he was born. He never needed anyone, that was before he started going to Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School, where he met the two people that would change his life forever. One would be his best friend, the person he genuinely believed to be his 'one and only'. Therefore it shouldn't be much of a surprise when he took his death harshly, being tasked to execute the one person he could compare to being subpar with himself.

For a year, he became a recluse, hiding himself in his dormitory room- running away from reality. He refused to face it, that he had killed his 'best friend, his one and only'. The only time he would come out, would be because he's been told that he actually has to be a teacher, or he'd be drowning himself in missions as a distraction. But he avoided his colleagues like the plague and the only other woman that was constant in his life, avoiding each and every interaction he'd have with his colleagues that only expressed their worries from him.

When Satoru did come out of his dormitory room, (Y/N) would come rushing to get a chance to talk to him. Asking him how he was, stating, "Satoru, be honest with me. I'm serious, how are you?" To which he'd answer, "I'm fine, (Y/N)! I swear, you worry too much!" Just like that, their conversation would end. And the young woman would stand there, as he watched the silhouette of his back get further and further away from him. 

They were the trio, that's what they had called themselves. 

It's always been him, Geto and you- the three of you against the world; and of course Shoko, if she ever bothered to deal with the three of you. He could still remember as clear as day, the times they've all spent carelessly in happiness- never once thinking of the future and lived in the moment. As days passed and the emotional wounds he sustained tried to heal, Gojo would try to convince himself that he did the right thing. Only to be met with thoughts of self-loathing, the whispers on the back of his mind, stating "you're always meant to be alone, Gojo Satoru."

But he'd be brought back to reality, as he sees that picture frame that sat on a desk in his dormitory. It was a picture of the three of them, before it had all gone downhill. He was laughing his head off, and along side him was Getō Suguru and (Y/N), who was smushed unto his side- as his arm was hooked around her shoulder. It was the seventeen year old Satoru, who had no worries, no sense of responsibility and only thought of himself. And the person he had his arm slung on was Getō Suguru, his best friend, the only friend he ever considered to be a real 'friend'. 

After Suguru's betrayal, the facade he had put up was like a veil that was put on an area where spirits needed to be exorcised. True intentions hidden behind that child-like behavior, laughter to hide that he was hurting too. The trauma that he had dealt with throughout the years, no matter how hard he had tried to hide it behind that happy-go-lucky attitude- you knew he had regrets, several of them. 

But he'd notice, the way you continued to stay by his side.

The way you'd pester him constantly, telling him that he needs to have a better diet. Reminding him that one day his terrible eating habits will come bite his ass, when he's old and no longer at his prime. He'd watch the way you'd look at him with those eyes, ones that never judged someone by their looks- but with their character. The way you'd force him to eat, when he refused to eat, placing the spoon against his lips.

He never understood why you stood by his side, when all he's ever done was push you away constantly. But you'd stay, you'd continue to bring snacks by his dormitory, even if meant just giving him sweets- rather than actual meals. It wasn't just Getō Suguru that you had lost that day after all, you lost Gojo as well. So you stayed patient, consistent, until he allowed you back into his heart. Never once did you ask for anything back, you just hoped that your friend's once gleaming eyes filled with so much playfulness would come back. 

He'd allow you back in.

Although you knew, that Satoru still continued to keep you at arms length. Never once truly letting you get through his infinity, but you'd wait patiently, allowing him to take as much time he needed to recuperate. That time may never come, and from an outside perspective, it seemed like you were just putting yourself through an unneeded hell. 

Yet, you couldn't help but stay. Maybe it was the guilt, the feelings of maybe you could've done something- talked to Suguru about it all. But you did, you tried your hardest- yet he made his choice. And you'd remember one of the last few moments that the two of you had with each other, a final moment spent with each other, before he was killed a few weeks after. 

"You and Gojo, take care of each other." 

You let out a soft laugh, upon hearing his words. "Why do you sound like you're gonna leave us, Sugu?" Silence, when the silence lasted longer than a couple of minutes, you turned your head to face him. You were met with a Suguru who watched the stars that lit up the gloomy night sky, "Suguru..?" You mumbled quietly, as you watched him turn his head towards you and give you a half-smile.

Your heart clenched at the sight, "Are you really planning on leaving us?" Your lips pursing into a thin line, a solemn facial expression plastered unto your face. He let out a bitter chuckle, knowing well enough of his faith and the consequences that were soon going to follow him. He reached a hand up and ruffled your hair, his rough hand eventually reaching your face, his calloused fingers caressing your cheeks. 

"Please, always make sure to take care of each other."

Then on October 31st, 2018, Gojo Satoru has been sealed inside of the prison realm. Only then will Gojo begin to realize how much time he's actually lost, and his heart slowly welled up in appreciation of everything that he had taken for granted. Within this darkness, his only friend were the memories of her. He closed his eyes, as the fleeting memories of you played like a broken jukebox. 

Memories of you sitting in front of your office desk at the apartment that the both of you had just moved into, your back turned to him, as you wrote your report of the recent infestation of curses. Remembering the moment that you had turned your office chair around and smiled at him, "Okaeri, 'Toru." Then there it was, the warmth that had once bothered him, now swole up in his chest. It was nothing more than just a 'welcome home', yet he could still remember the way your hair was pinned up by a hair clip. The way the end of your eyes creased whenever you smiled at him, and that slight pink undertone on your cheeks. 

Years had passed, yet that same warmth always lingered- unchanging. Even when he saw others speak of how they all eventually got bored of their significant other, or they weren't the right person for them- that wasn't the case for him. Even if the two of you had your fair share of fights, he just couldn't help but succumb- it always made him feel uneasy if the two of you didn't make up. How you made him feel never changed, it always felt like the two of you had just started dating and he'd get butterflies in his stomach every time he saw you.

It felt like you were the only thing keeping him sane, within this prison.

Like you were a bright star in the darkest of nights, leading him back to you. He knew he should've kissed you more, maybe even be selfish and didn't go to Shibuya that day. That he should've stayed in bed with you longer, asked you to make him more tamagoyakis. But these were now nothing but regrets, all he can do now is return to your side. 

Besides feeling like his entire world was being torn apart, he couldn't help but feel troubled about what had happened to everyone in Shibuya after he was sealed. Questions as to whether or not his students and colleagues were still alive, or how his once closest friend stood right before him. He knew it wasn't Suguru, he knew that deep in his soul that it wasn't him- that there was no way it could be him. Gojo Satoru killed him, because he still remembered to this day- the absolute devastation that your face had contorted to after hearing the news. He would shake those thoughts away from his headspace, as he continued to stare at the skeletons that were now his only friend in this threshold. He'd feel..

Frustrated. 

He clenched his hands into fists, his knuckles turning white, knowing well that there was nothing he could do. You must've been crying, and that's what infuriated him the most. He had promised to be there for you for the times that you felt like you couldn't deal with the world anymore- but now, here he was, completely helpless. He wanted to be the one there by your side, wiping your tears away, reassuring you that everything would be alright. But he will come back, he had promised you that, he always promised to come back to you no matter the circumstance.

So he did, the moment that Gojo Satoru had escaped that prison- his first thought was to come back to you. What he didn't expect would be the injuries that you had sustained, as he stared at the utter shock splattered unto your face. "'T.. 'Toru?" You'd whisper in disbelief, and he'd watch as you rubbed your bruised eyes with your forearm- as if you were trying to make sure that you weren't seeing things. 

He'd feel that lump build up in his throat, as he eyed your body. The way you had a sling over your shoulder to support your right arm that was wrapped in a cast, or how you had cuts and bruises all over your beautiful face, he'd feel anger well up within him- only to be cut off by the softness of your voice. "Is it really you..?" Still in disbelief, you'd limp towards him, your eyebrows furrowed towards the middle- creating that crease in between your eyebrows. 

"I'm home."

He'd smile, tears threatening to spill from his eyes, as he meets her halfway and wraps his arms around her waist. "I'm sorry for taking so long, didn't mean to keep you waiting..." He'd mumble against her forehead, as he gives her a soft kiss. An apology, not just for being trapped in that realm for so long and keeping her waiting, but also for the way he's treated her for that entire year when she's only meant well.

She'd wrap her uninjured arm around him, her nose against the crook of his neck, intaking in his scent. (Y/N) would weep against his shoulder, feeling the snowy haired man gently rub his hand against her lower back as a sign of comfort. There could be no amount of words that could explain the fullness that he felt well in his heart, as he welcomed the once unwanted warmth that took over his chest. Allowing himself to feel the emotions that he had kept behind that wall, and permitting the woman in front of him to break down those walls he has built up in that year of self-loathing.

"Okaeri, 'Toru.."

[simonnebethel]

Moodboards for Our Demonic Hearts Characters + Some Info

I realized I haven't talked much about my urban fantasy novel, Our Demonic Hearts, as much as AoC so here's some moodboards I made back in November <3

Ana Kravens

Ana is the protagonist of the story. She is a first-born cambion, daughter of an ancient demon known as Marchosias. Mississippi-born and raised, she spent most of her life with her human "dad", Alex Kravens, before being sent to live with her mother in Florida when Alex became terminally ill. While there, sixteen-year-old Ana met not only the Motloes but her real dad, Marchosias, and learned the truth of what kind of magic courses through her veins. She had momentarily become friends with Judas Motloe, but that friendship ended when she learned he had killed her then girlfriend, Ophelia. After that, something happened that left her with a blank space in her memory and unfathomable rage whenever she tries to remember what happened. All she knows is that the Motloes are to blame for ruining her life.

Six years later, she is living in her late human father's house, recovering from a smoking addiction and looking for a part-time job just to appease her worried mother, when a certain Beau Motloe shows up on her door...

Ana is bisexual ^^ I think she is one of my first queer characters. All of these characters are quite old!

Beau Motloe

Beau Motloe, first-born son of Regan Motloe and Emily Motloe, descendant of a reclusive demon only known as Phenix, was perfect in everything. Perfect in school, perfect in magic, perfect in everything else in life...until a chance encounter with Ana Kravens. Living across the street from her mother, Margaret, he knew he would at some point see her cambion daughter, he just didn't expect Ana to somehow steal chunk of his magical core, a cambion's "second heart", and fuse it with hers. He knew it wasn't intentional and purely by accident, but he still couldn't help but feel like she was to blame for turning his life upside down. While he tried to work through his complex feelings for the cambion girl he was forbidden to talk to because of who her father is, his own father deemed him a disappointment and worked desperately to undo his son's mistake, which ultimately led to the traumatic event that led to both physical and mental traumatic scars on Beau's body, hindering him from doing any spells with his hands. Six years have past, and he still fears the purple eyes that haunt his dreams.

He shows up on Ana's doorstep one fateful day, believing he could make things right with her. Despite his chronic anxiety, he agrees to tell Ana what she wants to know about the traumatic event, in exchange for a location spell to help find his missing mother. Remembering what happened that night in the basement often sends him into a panic, and he fears that he would be unable to tell Ana and that she will learn quick enough that he is too fearful to say a word.

Beau is asexual, and his father comes from the Seminole Tribe of Florida. I don't have a face reference for him like the others because I haven't found a good one for him 😅

Judas Motloe

Since the age of ten, Judas Motloe has known that he is the product of his mother's affair with a demon named Crocell. The whole family knows it, the secret hanging above them at every single family dinner. Regan Motloe feels betrayed by his wife, but treats Judas like his own son, believing his real father to be a dangerous demon.

Judas spent most of his teenage years getting into as much trouble as possible, dealing with behavioral issues that Mr. Motloe described as merely being 'teenage hormones', despite Beau not going through the same things as him. During one chilly spring, he met Ana Kravens, a fellow cambion with an estranged father. He ignored Mr. Motloe's warnings and became fast friends with her, going to parties together and sneaking off into the woods to smoke weed late at night. It all seemed to end abruptly, as Ana started a relationship with his middle school nemesis, Ophelia, and stopped hanging out with him. He believed Ophelia did this on purpose to get back at him one final time, and he confronted her one night. One stupid mistake led to another, and Ophelia ended up dead next to a river. Ana caught on quicker than he realized, and their confrontation led to the incident that left him just as scarred as her and Beau.

Six years later, he followed Beau when he visited Ana, believing that Beau's plan was a stupid idea and felt the need to protect him from Marchosias' wrath. The present Ana was different than Ana from six years ago, and so to Judas' disappointment they were still enemies. Ana's anger for what he did to Ophelia only ignited his own, and so every conversation turned into an argument. Ana can't tell how exactly he was affected by the incident, but she has noticed a strange hum following him wherever he goes...

Judas is gay ^^ his father, Crocell, is one of my fave characters. He doesn't show up until the end of book 2 tho 😭

Also, this book is available to read on Wattpad and Royal Road if you're interested. Planning for book 2 will begin sometime during the summer ^^

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for sharing my friend's games?

I (20something M) am a game developer. I met my friend C (also 20something M) at a game jam event a while ago, and we became friends because I really liked the game he was working on. It was so different from what everyone else was doing, and that really drew me in.

The thing with C, though, is that he was always kind of reclusive? And I worried about him, because he didn't seem to value his work very much. He named the trashcan on his desktop to "Important Games Folder", and other stuff like that, even though he's really talented. His games never had any endings, either. He made, like, dozens of variations of one game where you're stuck in a prison, and a game where you just clean on loop. It always felt like C was expressing that he felt trapped, like he wasn't going anywhere.

Eventually I started showing his work to my friends. I wanted to boost his self esteem, y'know? Like, he doesn't need to feel stuck, or like his games don't have value. Especially since I was pretty sure he's depressed, I thought this would help him. I don't think it did, though. After he found out about it, he started making games less frequently, and talking to me less. When he did send me new games, though, it seemed like he was taking my advice to heart. They all ended with a lamppost, like a light at the end of the tunnel. A goal to reach. I thought that must be good, right? He's getting better, he's seeing actual meaning in his work. I was helping him.

Eventually, though, he disappeared for a while. A long time passed before he sent me another game, and when he did, it was nearly impossible to play. I brute-forced my way through the puzzles, though, and found that he left a message for me. Apparently everything I did wasn't helpful. He said I was just projecting my own issues onto him, and that he was actually fine the whole time. He doesn't want me to contact him anymore, and he pretty much said that I was forcing him to add meaning to his games.

I just don't get it. Did I really do anything wrong? I just wanted to help my friend feel better about himself and his work. Sure, maybe I was making myself feel better by helping him, but I was doing it for him. That can't be bad, can it?

[drpanda99]

Reflections on AAPI May and Fandom Racism

I started this entry when I was still feeling really hurt and angry from some stuff that happened early in the month. I’ve since cooled down and have read the beautiful reflections written by the mods of MXTX Diaspora May, so I plan to write about my experience as a creator instead.

Cut for length!

The What

MXTX Diaspora May was started in 2021 to celebrate Chinese diaspora creators and to elevate own-voice works after a number of fandom racism incidents happened. I wasn’t around MDZS fandom at the time of the initial creation of the collection, but I found some of the works when I was lurking on AO3 and reading.

After reading one of the fics, I felt like I was coming home for the first time. Up until that moment, I had not experienced seeing my own experiences and struggles mirrored in fic at all. Many of the works dealt with the idea of feeling “not enough” to be any of our identities - not Chinese enough, not North American enough, not anything enough. I had never felt as seen as I had reading those fic. In days, I read through as much of the collection as I could and I managed to find the Danmei Diaspora Creatives collection and the discord server. Up until then, I felt like I was a single lurker awash in the vast ocean of fandom - there were so many fics and so many creators of such talent that I felt like I my own voice wouldn’t make a difference or perhaps, that it wouldn’t matter. I was someone who spent years being in love with writing, but never feeling like I could ever be good enough - I had felt like a lost a part of my creativity and my mind felt empty of fiction. That’s part of why I started with podfic - it felt better reading someone else’s words rather than my own.

I lurked around the Diaspora discord for quite a while before I felt comfortable talking. But once I did, I realized that there was a whole group of people out there who were like me - normal people with normal lives who had lived through the experience of being forever tied to our motherland through our appearance despite being separated for years or even generations. The Diaspora collection means so much to me because it was a chance to see people like me in the works I consume, something that was incredibly rare and entirely absent as I was growing up.

The Why

I can’t really reflect about fandom without talking about my own life and how I got here.

I found fandom initially when I was very young and feeling very isolated. I was a visibly Chinese kid in a school full of white kids and I had only been in North America for about 3 years. My English was bad and I didn’t have many friends except the other Asian kids, partially because that was expected of me. I think I was pretty quiet and internally focused - I was really struggling with family stuff, but I never had the words to tell anyone else. In the end, I turned to fandom as an escape when I was feeling the most lost and alone. I remember spending many days and many nights reading through as much as I could find voraciously so I could feel and be someone else. Fiction became a magical place that could transport me into any life or any story in an instant. The endless nature of fan fiction kept me coming back for more; some days, the only thing that kept me going was knowing that the fic I was reading wasn’t finished, that I would never know the conclusion to some stories that I loved.

I was probably unhealthily hyper focused on fanfic, but I got through that bit and, as I became more well-adjusted, I had less space in my life for fandom.

Then, in 2021, I got into a pretty serious car accident that derailed my entire life. I became unable to work in the career that I spent over 10 years training to do. With Covid restrictions at its most limiting, I became a recluse at home who could hardly do anything. I became extremely depressed as I started to wonder if my life could ever get back to how it once was. Up until that point, 110% of my energy and focus had gone into my career and it was suddenly gone. Luckily, I had watched CQL and started reading fic just before the accident. Soon, it became the only thing that helped me pass the time.

I don’t know how much I read, but I know that for many days, all I did was lie in bed and read fic in small bursts. Without the ability to do much else (and with limited ability to read at all), it felt like my life was falling apart and I was becoming a useless person.

Fandom helped to pull me out. I started to make podfic because I wanted to make things more accessible (since I also had lots of trouble reading). I was thrown by some of the pronunciation in some podfic since it was so different than what I had heard in the show. There were certainly lots of people who tried their best and I appreciated it each time. I finally had the confidence to add my voice to the mix and the rest is history.

Fandom became the focus of what limited energies I had, whether it was consuming works or making podfic. At some point, as I started to recover, I was able to write again and I started penning some of my first fanfic. For the months that I was completely off work, and the months where I was starting to increase my hours, fandom became an escape and a purpose. My life was uncertain, but I had fic to write and pods to do and each thing I made was another accomplishment.

I’ve been lucky that fandom found me in some of the toughest times in my life and I’ll always love fandom for that.

The How

I participated in Diaspora May 2022 by contributing some podfic. It was all I could manage at the time, but I felt so lucky to be able to participate with a group of people who touched me so much with their fic. I was still nervous to be around fandom spaces since I’d never participated in the community before, but everyone was lovely and welcoming. I had a great time and I received a beautiful gift fic from @dragongirlG. I produced my longest podfic. I read lots of incredible stories in the collection.

This year, I chose to produce podfic instead of writing fic again. I chose to pod works of other diaspora creators so that every work I created would help to make more own-voice stories accessible. I would’ve loved to do a lot more, but time didn’t always allow for it. I’m just a single creator, so I know I don’t make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things, but I told myself that if I helped a meaningful story to reach even a few more people, I would’ve accomplished what I set out to do.

At a time where conversations around racism in fandom are flying around, it’s even more important for us to highlight the own-voices stories. I would love for these works to reach the other people out there, lurkers like the Panda of 2021 who needed to hear them. I’ve really struggled with some of the conversations around racism lately, partially because some of the most oft-cited voices about fandom have considered Asians to “not count” as POC because of the model minority myth. dragongirlG’s essay addresses it much better than I can. I was also hurt when I saw that creators enthusiastically involving themselves with anti-racism work also posted fic that perpetuated unconscious cultural erasure of the Chineseness of the characters. The worst part is knowing that none of that is on purpose - people really do mean their best. Seeing it happen time and time again is exhausting and trying to correct those assumptions is sometimes a thankless task. I’m grateful whenever I have positive interactions around these topics, but my exhaustion is a big part of why I don’t really do much sensitivity reader work.

The Now

At the end of the day, I hope we can highlight the works of creators of colour in fandom. I also hope that fandom will slowly move to improving inclusiveness. I don’t pretend to be a saint or faultless in any of this - I know that I have held and do hold racially biased assumptions based on cultural stereotypes and my upbringing. I want to constantly challenge myself on these assumptions, but I often flounder and make mistakes. I try to learn from them, but I’ll never be a blank slate of perfect anti-racism because stereotypes and assumptions are impossible to disentangle from my upbringing. I think I’ll feel satisfied as long as I keep trying to learn.

Having seen some of the dialogue around racism and being anti-racist of late, I worry that calling out and shunning of people who are considered “racists” will only make those people become more entrenched in their ideology. LIke the spitefic that people have mentioned in MDZS, calling people racists and kicking them out of the group can result in more hurt rather than solving the issue. The more divisive fandom becomes, the more difficult it is to reach the people on the extremes. LIke with research on the radicalization of youth, the more isolated people become, the more vulnerable they will be to extreme views. If we keep kicking out the “racists” in fandom, they’ll look for community elsewhere - the only places these people will be accepted is with the other “racists,” the people we’ve kicked out of the group. I worry this will result in more of the aforementioned spitefic if not outright harassment or worse.

My personal approach is that people need to be allowed to have the opportunity to change and I don’t have to forgive them for hurting me. I’ve struggled for a long time about how to care for people who have hurt others; some may say this is mental gymnastics, but it’s what I need to do. Part of my real life work is specifically with people who have been incarcerated, sometimes for extremely violent crimes. Despite the things they have done, they still deserve a chance to be rehabilitated into the community. At the end of the day, I still need to be there to help them to change if it means preventing them from hurting others in the future; I’m very proud of that. Isolating them more and giving these people fewer choices only makes them return to things that society does not want them doing. I know fandom is not an equivalent comparison, but I believe the same applies - we need to give people the opportunity and space to change even if the people they hurt do not forgive them. And that’s okay.

So where do my ramblings leave us?

-Isolation and shunning only breeds extremism/radicalization

-Racism sucks and still happens in fandom

-Because of upbringing and culture, I hold racist views and so do you

-Combatting them requires constantly challenging yourself to change

-People who are hurt do not have to forgive those that hurt them

-We still need to keep space in fandom for people who have done racist actions if we want to change their views

This is only semi-coherent rambling, but I hope those take homes are meaningful. I’m definitely feeling less hurt and more proud about the Diaspora May collection. I’m grateful to fandom and fandom is also a source of great angst, often because of cultural erasure or racist actions. But I’ll still be here and I’ll still keep trudging on because of the wonderful and kind friends I’ve made. If I can somehow resonate with even a single person out there, then what I’ve created will have meaning.

[deartoru]

the burden of comfort 

++ 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: diluc ragnvindr x gn!reader ++ 𝘀𝘆𝗽𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀: in which diluc gives you more comfort than you could ever know; but it comes with a price you know all too well. ++ 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: angst ++ 𝘁𝘄/𝗰𝘄: self-loathing, angst with no happy ending, second person pov ++ 𝘄𝗰: 604 ++ 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲: i wrote this at 3am and it's the first fanfic related thing i've written in almost a year. i hope u enjoy it <33 it was inspired by a dream i had abt hugging diluc and then i woke up and started crying bc it wasn't real :')

The day you discovered genshin impact, was probably one of the best days of your life. You were hooked to the game as soon as you played it. One character always stuck out to you though — Diluc. 

You never understood why you found such comfort in him, maybe it was because of the way he talked or his in-game demeanor. Nonetheless, he quickly became your favorite character. Farming for him and playing with his characters became a daily routine. The familiarity bringing comfort to you no matter what kind of day you had.

Sooner or later, he began to seep into your everyday life. It started off as random fantasies of him existing in your world, slowly it escalated into more. Regardless, the comfort he brought to you was something you could never dream of in real life. He was a greater comfort to you than you could ever be for yourself. Diluc even slipped his way into your dreams, seeming like a real person that walked, talked and breathed the same air as you; but deep down you knew he wasn’t real and he was only a figment of your imagination. 

-

As pathetic as you were; there you were crying again.

You had met up with some old friends, all of them accomplishing something big in their lives. Of course they all had to be in a good relationship too, but it wasn’t their fault you were a recluse. 

“Your still single? I mean I’m not shocked considering you focused on books rather then putting yourself out there.” One of the ladies amongst you said.

You chuckle ironically, as you avert your gaze to the ground. “I’m single as always..” You mumbled.

“You’ve always preferred those animated characters anyway.” Another mentioned quickly before moving on to another topic.

You always faded into the background like this, no matter what you did. Maybe thats why you so desperately craved the comfort of another person. Reaching out your hand but never finding the grasp of another. For all one knows, this is why you blamed yourself so much. Maybe that’s where this flame of discontent arises in your heart. 

And there you were, lying down on your bed with tears staining your cheeks once again; leaving a bad taste in your mouth. You closed your eyes shut in a desperate attempt to fall asleep. Your escape from the world around you; you miserably waited for sleep to wash over you. Carrying you into your fantasy world and to the character that brought you comfort. 

As soon as you entered your dream, you were greeted by Diluc with a hug. He wiped the tears off of your cheek.

“It’s gonna be alright, it’s okay to feel down.” His soft words soothed you as you halted your sobs pulling him in for a hug. 

"Thank you.." You mumble into his shoulder finding comfort in him once again.

What was a few hours flew away like a second in your dream. Diluc’s presence in your mind was all that you needed. His voice, his touch, his love; gave you everything you ever craved for. No matter what; this flame in your heart never died nor did it dim. It continued to burn with unbelievable rage. 

You are snapped back to reality as you are awoken from your blissful dream, greeted by the pitch-black of your bedroom. You grab onto your pillow in a daze in an attempt to find the warmth of another; extending the feeling of being with Diluc. You know it’s just a fleeting dream and desire of yours.

But at least;

It’s better than nothing. 

[platinumrosetail]

yandere Shadowpeach flamenoodles freenoodles sliktea x fem child Naruto reader x yandere kumra.

Like kumra very worried for her cuz everyone hurting her and she fall into the LMK world and Kumra takes over her body for a minute and battle the peaplo but when they find out that this kumra is part of this child ( in this she is forever trapped with Naruto which I don't mind and became a part of her so like Naruto now has ears and tails hehe)

And keeping her safe and is accidentally spilling everything to them how much she has been hurt how much she's being hunted by akusis ( forgive me I don't know how to spell it) and how they would us her cub and take her away and make the reader a monster and won't let that happen. And they exply they won't and in face they are yandere's lol

I actually had a idea for this but with a adult reader. I wonder how they would react to kurama but I guess we’ll soon know lol.

Warning: noob author, dark theme, female child!reader, yandere platonic characters, and others

Characters: shadowpeach, spicynoodles, FreeNoodles, waterspider/silktea, + kurama.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shadowpeach:

When they met you- or well kurama in this figure of speech it was when they visit their son and daughter who decided to stay on the mainland, kurama had taken over your body and was making sure no one came near you and him with the jutsu he had seen you learn over time in the world y’all came from.

Main and macaque had a bit of a flashback with lbd and thought maybe this was the same case but it isn’t….. ok maybe it is but they had seen and heard on how the one who possessed you is trying to protect you more so than himself so they conclude that the two of you know each other and stuff.

Sun was thinking on doing how he had planned with lbd before they figured out that the creature who ‘possessed’ you actually cared about you was trying to keep you safe from any possible threat and danger and even if that wasn’t what was happening macaque would’ve still stopped sun from doing that along with mk and bai he plus the others.

It took many hours just to finally have the creature let you in on control of your body but after they did they soon all notice on how recluse you are towards them and how you flinch at loud noises.

You don’t them until a year of being their adopted child; they were shocked that anyone would seal a demon into a child that was just born and was treated like trash rather than a hero for it by the villagers, the two even made a silent promise to kill all of them and maybe your friends if they interfere with you and them being a family.

Mmm, and bai he both make sure that you are as comfortable as can be; since bai he knows what it’s like to be possessed while mk make sure to train you in your strength and help each other learn the limits of the powers that you and him were given.

You never want to go back as you seem to have forgotten all about your dreams of becoming a hokage cause of the feeling of finally finding a family and the love that you always wanted but couldn’t; you always envied the ones with parents but finally you get to have that feeling plus with siblings! You had always wanted to see what it’s like to have siblings!

Spicynoodles:

You had attacked one of redson’s bulls or well kurama did as he took over your body after you got into this world.

Since this was a different situation with lbd about possession the two didn’t know what to do about it but try and sweet talk the demon into letting you be in control more so from mk than redson as he would just irritate kurama.

When they finally got you to be the one in control they started asking questions redson asks them in the loud tone while mk asks in a normal tone both overwhelming you on the questions.

When they learned what had happened in your village and how you life was with them and how they acted because of how you got kurama sealed inside you for when you were just born. Kurama made sure to tell them what had happened as you seem to not want to relive through.

They soon adopt you and make sure you never have to go through that ever again and would kill for you; and with the influence from their parents they develop a overprotective attitude towards you and seeing as you never had parents before you just think this is normal behavior and with Kurama justifying their actions so you don’t think much of it.

They treat you more like a family did than grandpa hokage ever tried to be as he could’ve done more from what they had said about it.

You also explained how a group of criminals were coming after you and others like you called the akatsuki’s which made them extremely overprotective than before.

(I honestly forgot that you requested the akatsuki part until now whoops 😂😭)

Freenoodles:

You met them when you found his noodle shop and ate a lot of his noodles; I had to say about 30 to 20 at the very least, tang and you made small talk which lead to him finding out shortly after that you’re from a different world and there for homeless so he suggested that you stayed with them and work here at his husband’s shop of course with the permission of pigsy.

You and mk get along great with each other with the fact that the two have the same energy plus with mei the three of you are chaotic together from tang and pigsy point of view.

You very much like Sandy’s personality though his cats reminds you of that mission with tora the always missing cat that seem to always be a tradition to capture it for the genins.

When they found out about kurama it was when lbd first attacked mk before sun wukong join you guys; kurama almost didn’t let you in control once everyone was safely on the mech (i forget if it was a ship or some kind of flying vehicle thing so bear with me on this one 😅)

Though when he took control he made the four tails version 2 cloak form when attacking lbd and seeing as she never seen it that made her interested in your abilities and want to come after you now which worry the two who adopted before this all went down.

The two made sure to go a little more hard on the not mayor out of aggression of his master wanting their daughter which surprisingly scared him but he tried not to let it show or else they might find enjoyment in him being scared.

Waterspider/silktea:

Mo had found you and calmed you down before you could let kurama in control out of fear of being in a new environment.

Sandy and huntsman didn’t know what to think when Mo came back with you behind him but worry was one of them for sure.

Sandy gives you tea and have the cats surround you while huntsman get you comfortable stuff to be comfortable and situated. After that you only really tell them that you’re from another world and therefore homeless which the two made sure that you’re definitely welcomed here as there’s plenty of room.

When you told them about kurama it was when felt threatened because of a nightmare that had happened in the middle of the night. They were so distraught about how the villagers treated you even though you were just a baby and didn’t have anything to do with that decision.

They’re glad that you had a few people that cared about you but both disagreed and agree with ‘this’ hokage decision with how they escalated to how you came to be raised but also glad that you didn’t turn to revenge.

You like to spend time with the cats even though you get the horrible flashback of tora which resulted kurama to laugh at how you couldn’t hold the cat properly when it was scratching you.

Sometime kurama would take control and would talk with Sandy and on some occasions huntsman to gossip about the embarrassing things you did and also what all that happened if you haven’t fully told them. They also find your big appetite on ramen noodles interesting and sometimes order them on some occasions but also not all the time since that could be bad for you even if you ate them all the time and have kurama help you not get sick.

(A/n: hope you like it! I kinda got distracted when on one of them so that’s why they came out late but I still hope y’all like it!! And hope y’all have a wonderful day/evening/night!!)

[sonicasura]

Too Reach Out

A Digimon/ Star Force Crossover Concept

4 Months

That is how long it's been since The Space Station Peace had been destroyed by some unknown catastrophe in space and all the Astronauts on it pronounced lost at space

Including Geo's Father

Kelvin Stelar

Geo remembers the day so clearly, Geo's Uncle figure Aaron Boreal had come knocking on the door. When Geo's Mother Hope let him inside both Stelar's new something was immediately wrong. Aaron's trade mark smile that could only be matched by Kelvin's was no where too be seen, instead a heart broken frown adorned his face.

Geo remembers how Aaron said that he wanted too speak too Hope alone first, but Geo adamently refused wanting too hear what had shaken his Uncle so badly. Realizing Geo would not leave, Aaron explained too both Geo and Hope the incident of the Space Station Peace.

Geo as clearly as he remembers it, wishes he couldn't remember the night that followed. He cried through the entire night and when he eventually did sleep from the sheer exhaustion he felt, he was only greeted with terrible nightmares.

The crying and nightmares persisted for a few days, before Geo fell into a depression and became reclusive within his room. Hope had remained strong for Geo and acted as his anchor. Hope was always there watching over Geo, along with Aaron who payed regular visits too the Stelar houshold too check up on both Hope and Geo. Helping both Stelar's too the best of his ability by being a shoulder too lean on. This helped out Hope a bit, but Geo seemed too sink deeper and deeper into his depression. Hope had taken some steps too help Geo, with regularly encourgaing Geo too go back outside and let him get his education at home so Geo could study and work at his own pace, too take all the time Geo needed.

All that was 4 Months ago, Geo had started going back outside but he would always go too the same place. Vista Point was were his Father took him too look at all the stars and tell Geo about each one and the meanings some held. Each day Geo looked too those stars while wearing his Father's Visualizer. These glasses were the last thing Geo had of there Father and they were given too him by Aaron who said that Kelvin had planned too give Geo these glasses that were called a Visualizer. Geo never went anywhere without them and always wore them a top his head, these glasses made Geo feel like his father was still there in some way.

Today was just like any other as Geo was heading towards Vista Point. Geo momentarily stopped when he heard some loud chatter near the School and saw a group of three walking together chatting, well the only that was really talking was the girl with two long blonde drills styled in her hair, with the other 2 who were boys temporaily chiming in. This made Geo's thoughts drift as he realized that he had no friends his own age too talk too. He had no one too talk too except his mom, no friends and by extension no one to form a Brother Band with.

Geo had no friends too go too

He had no one

No one....

These thoughts plagued Geo as he made his way too Vista Point, he noticed that he was not alone like usual. There was someone about his age there, there attire was notable because there T-Shirt had a strange symbol on it, along with a Baseball Cap and a pair of Goggles like an aviator would were, along with what looked too be a Tamagatchi device hanging around there neck. Geo just stared at them a bit not really knowing what too say before, the other kid noticed him and spoke.

Sleuth/Tamer: Yo, didn't see ya there! I didn't really think this place got a whole lot of visitors during the day. Gah sorry I realize I didn't introduce myself names Sleuth/Tamer and you are?

Geo: Oh um Geo... I um sorry for...interupting you.... I will..

Sleuth/Tamer: Huh you didn't interupt anything and besides Vista Point is designed too be enjoyed by everyone, so come on enjoy it.

Geo was a bit surprised at the declaration, but did go too look over the Vista and enjoy the breath taking view that it gave. For awhile both Sleuth/Tamer and Geo stood there in comfortable silence before Sleuth/Tamer asked Geo a question.

Sleuth/Tamer: I hear at night that Vista Point is the best place too star gaze and see a whole bunch of constellations and Stars. Is it true, because if it is I would love too see it one night.

Geo: Oh ya, Vista Point is the absolute best place too Star Gaze. I... I like too Star Gaze every night it... it really is beautiful sight.

Sleuth/Tamer: Wow, that sounds amazing! I definitely got too check it out one of these nights. Well I say I have taken up more than enough of your time, gotta bounce.

Geo: Oh a... bye

Sleuth/Tamer: Bye too you to, also before I leave here.

Sleuth/Tamer hands over a small emblem like coin over too Geo

Sleuth/Tamer: I got that over at the local arcade as a prize. It's coin that has the constellation of Delphinus on it, I can tell that you really love stars and constellations so I think you would enjoy it a lot more. Oh and I won't take no for an answer, just think of it as a gift for telling me about the star and constellations that I can see here. Anyway see ya and maybe we will cross paths again, who knows!

As Sleuth/Tamer walked away from Vista Point, Geo just watched them walk away until they were out of sight before turning his sights too the coin. Geo stared at the coin abit admiring it's beaitiful artistic depiction of the Constellation Delphinus

Not even noticing the smallest of smiles that graced his lips

Please tell me what you think!!!

I love too hear it!!!

This is so cute! You did a nice job setting up the scene and mood. Geo honestly would be shy when it comes to meeting someone new but sharing similar interests is one way to help. I'm curious what else you have in store.

[thewolvesof1998]

For the au games!

Eddie is a writer of romantic novels, one of them will be adapted as a movie and Buck gets one of the leading roles 👀👀👀

HIii

Okay so the vibes are inspired by these books:

The Charm Offensive by Allison Cochrun - The "famous" character and the one who works behind the scenes, Also about working on a TV show set and falling involve behind scenes.

You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria - About shooting a film, the two characters do not get on at first, one of them needs a publicity boost, the other is trying to make it big and keep his 7 yr old son out of the paparazzi.

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Date - The "famous" character and the "normal" person.

So Buck is the big actor and Eddie is a novelist whose first book is getting adapted into a Movie, but he's a recluse and he likes it like that; to give Chris a normal childhood (we're just going to accept that authors get enough recognition for this okay?).

Eddie's not sure about Buck getting the role at first, heard he's a fuckboy- Basically he's got a reputation and Eddie doesn't think he's got what it takes to play his serious main lead. There's some tension between them when Buck finds out Eddie didn't want Buck for the role. (Buck got his reputation for a reason but that was before Bobby became his manager and Maddie came back into his life- he just needs his rehabilitate his image and this project is perfect for it.)

But soon Buck's dedication to the role and great acting wins Eddie over and we get 'you're a badass' kind of scene and they become the best of friends. Eddie starts helping Buck with learning his lines and they have lates nights talking about everything.

Bobby is Buck's manager, Chim is his agent. They saved him from his destructive downward spiral. Hen is Eddie's editor so Chris and Denny still have sleepovers. 

During this time we get film set hijinks and we get a scenes if like Chris being on set and Buck treating him like a director/producer. Eddie hanging out in Buck's trailer and they're siting so close and Maddie walks in and is like sorry I interrupted. etc.

Something happens where Buck starts drawing more attention (maybe it's leaked that he's bi?) and so he starts getting followed everywhere and one time he's with Chris and they get corned by some pap and Buck just goes above and beyond to make sure Chris stays safe. We get the line 'Buck, there's nobody in this world I trust with my son more than you' and Eddie realises he loves Buck and they kiss.

I had a lot of fun with this one, I love the niche genre of romance books about filmmaking/film sets/ actors etc. Probably because that's what I studied at Uni - Film not romance books.

Thanks for your ask!

[basedkikuenjoyer]

If we're just gonna talk trans manga for a bit might as well show a little love to two shorter series that hold a special place in my heart. For being good. Just that, no frills they're just good and have something honest to say beyond the normal "be your true self" narrative. Because who gives a shit about trans folk after the fun part right? A big reason I love Kiku's story in One Piece is being a rare subversion...but even then she's only really like, the next steps after that phase.

Today's example, Kanojo ni Naru hi (lit. "The Day He Became She") goes way further. And it does so by using a light sci-fi touch to great effect. In this world, we handwaved the mechanical part of transitioning by just having it be something that can spontaneously happen to any male. The phenomenon is called "Emergence," it's compared to Clownfish, completely perfect and our protagonist Nao is a rarity for it happening as a teenager. Through that lens, we have a world where it's mostly normalized. Weirdly enough, we do also seem to have like, what we think of as "trans" in modern day alongside that. One of our recurring characters you could call an Otokonoko, they do mention "sex change" procedures...Emergence is a layer on top of our world. Which makes this straddle the line between part tale of someone all this comes easier to but also the crux of sci-fi, the world we're headed towards.

And this is a good example of how the sci-fi element works. Emergence still takes a toll on the body so our heroine here like, lags a few years behind as a result of transitioning. She's also a late bloomer as a high schooler. She wasn't asleep she was in a legit cocoon-type thing, so the bigotry is all bug-themed which is a pretty clever inversion of normal butterfly motifs. I always lose it at the friend who calls Nao "Mothra" as a lark. It's a lighter touch than it sounds, nice stand-in for going away for a while or having a rocky, reclusive period. But that was after the actual Emergence; sorta like Senpai is an Otokonoko the author had a one-volume idea that expanded to four. We start with it spontaneously happening and a high school drama with her childhood friend Miyoshi.

But this works so well and really shows the brilliance in the rear view. When you have what the story becomes...it really shows how Nao was originally going through a distinct phase. One a lot of trans women, especially teens today, struggle with. Your ability to look the part isn't everything. And it can cause its own category of troubles when that outstrips your ability to cope with the changes. A theme that continues throughout the series, but it's important here Nao has a chance to go back and you're still living around the environment you grew up in. People are willing to give you a lot of grace and positive reinforcement. Senpai wa Otokonoko sorta tells the opposite story, how it isn't a bad thing to let someone experiment a little. Past that point of no return though? That's where the real game begins.

That's Nao with her Dad. I love this storyline. Well before Emergence, Nao's mother abandoned the family for another lover. This caused him to have a lot of issues with women, and as a high school boy he was pretty shitty about serially dating girls and dumping them the second it got serious. Something that bites her in the ass a few ways as her and Miyoshi navigate being a college couple for most of the series. A big thing for her is that she looks like her mom now. For the record, Dad's just a workaholic that didn't even notice. His response was that Nao always had the same face either way and a totally different everything else.

But this is the magic. How everyone gets caught up in stupid misunderstandings and it's never something grand and dramatic. That's a story that deserves to be told, it already resonated with me a lot as a college student navigating my first relationship with a guy ten years ago. It does so much more now. Like...it's not hard to get why a newly out trans girl might hang around with a male-dominated hobby group she was already a part of for a bit. But this is a series that goes far enough to show you that type of pull coming up way later. How some little spark can trigger an old side of you, or even just...how hard it can be to rectify old traumas as a normal part of growing up when you feel like a completely different person than the one who experienced it.

Or maybe realizing there's more to this than you anticipated. When "Emergence" handwaves bigotry like acting as if HRT does nothing...that would have been useful. As someone who's always been at least kinda athletically inclined, who do you talk to about the sobering reality you got more than you bargained for there? No one wants to accept they're struggling with physical exertion that would have been nothing two years ago. Even the most open-minded girls don't want to hear about getting weaker from you and most guys just plain will not get how you didn't logically sit down and expect all of that from the jump. And you yourself don't even know if you're just being a defiant girl or a disappointed former guy about it.

I wouldn't expect someone fresh out of the closet to get all that subtext beneath a good romance manga, but Kanojo ni Naru hi hits that note in a way I have yet to find anything else that even comes close. What makes it work is that Nao and her sweetie Myoshi are cool people. Like here with a future in-law trying to expose Nao for being a bad wife. She filets a tuna like it's nothing and the house is spotless. It's very much a celebration on how this bizarre concoction of circumstances can create something beautiful.

Your only option for this one is fan translations, Lord knows I'd love an anime adaptation but that ain't happening. There is a sequel series, Kanojo ni Naru hi Another, that focuses on a younger emergee who is more resistant to the change. I can't relate fully because despite transitioning in the same time frame that only happened because I was well aware and accepted it about myself from an early age. If I lived in today's world without an abusive mom I'd be one of those cases that was well past socially transitioning pre-adolescence. But getting to know some teens today I feel like Nao is great representation for the type of trans girl who figures things out as a teen and maybe has to deal more with pressure to move forward outstripping the speed they personally come to terms with that. Especially if like, social transition comes surprisingly easy for you.

Watching one of the best case scenario teens I knew still hit that inflection point and "cocoon" stage on the cusp of adulthood was a real wake-up call to me that even in the best of circumstances this can be a weird journey with very little guidance. It's not wrong to take the easier path of showing someone dealing with baby steps or discrimination, but man did it make this series stand out for traveling the road not taken. And it makes Nao & Miyoshi's romance honestly just one of the best couples in any manga I've read.

[readerofoddities]

More art but this one is more lore centered than the other posts

Reminder: my story is in a world adjacent to the canon books, so I call my cat afterlife SpiritClan. There is also in-lore reasons for it being called that, but I won't elaborate here.

All art was drawn around March 2023

We'll start with a cat we recognize. Jadepaw has two SpiritClan guides because of her special powers to see ghosts.

Blackwing was a medicine cat of WillowClan long ago, before they were driven out by the other Clans. He helps Jadepaw find new and different ways to do things by bringing back his old tactics from ages long since past

Lilytail was more recent. She was Jadepaw’s mentor's mentor and was the first medicine cat in newly reformed WillowClan. She acts as a third mother figure for Jadepaw and checks in on her emotionally

Oddblaze is Rocktooth's guide. Oddblaze was a WillowClan warrior around the time that Blackwing was alive (I believe she was Blackwing's brother Ravenstrike's mentor, but don't quote me on that). Oddblaze is carefree and doesn't hide a lot from Rocktooth, which allows Rocktooth to be very skeptical when other SpiritClan cats talk to her. Nothing gets past Rocktooth when Oddblaze is around.

Next we go back in the past to see a living Lilytail! Her guide was Blackwing's mentor, Urialtail. He helped ancient WillowClan live through a particularly harsh leafbare at the cost of his paw, which developed frostbite and needed to be removed so that he could live. He was the perfect guide for someone like Lilytail, who had only basic knowledge of herbs and healing. He guided her all the way through to the end, when she died of old age

Next we switch Clans to BirchClan in order to meet Darktail and his guide. Darktail was lucky enough to get his uncle, Shatteredsplash (died as Shatteredpaw) as a guide so he had a lot of fun. Darktail needed less someone to teach him herbs as his guide and more someone to teach him how to have fun and get along with others. It's thanks to Shatteredsplash that we have the happy, carefree Darktail instead of a reclusive and snappy Darktail (he was almost on track to be just like his former mentor Ambereyes when he was an apprentice)

Meet Thrushsong, Darktail's apprentice. Thrushsong grew up in a family full of strong warriors, so she needed someone who showed her that she was just as important as her parents and siblings. Ambereyes, one of Darktail's aforementioned former mentors (he had two), taught Thrushsong to become more confident and to come out of her shell. She also taught the young cat to appreciate the world around her and how to identify omens in the little things like dandelion seeds and bramble bushes.

Speaking of Ambereyes, here's her guides! She also could see ghosts like Jadepaw does, so she got two guides.

Moonstar (white cat) was serious and no-nonsense. She taught Ambereyes how to control her power and gave her prophecies she couldn't understand just yet. Moonstar didn't appear to Ambereyes often, but young Ambereyes was always happy when she did. As Ambereyes got older? Well, not so much.

Heathertooth (brown w/ green eyes) was Ambereyes's other mentor. She became a good friend to Ambereyes and taught her to just live life and go with the flow. Very much the opposite of Moonstar. She used to convince young Ambereyes to play pranks on her living mentor all the time, until Ambereyes became more sullen and reclusive, that is

Bluesong was Darktail's other mentor and also was Ambereyes's mentor. He was chill and fun-loving, even well into his old age. His guide was Lavendertail, a long since passed BirchClan warrior and Heathertooth's sister. She taught him valuable lessons about life and how the dead affect the living world. She was a great guide because it grounded Bluesong in reality and helped him think about the future and not just the present.

We need to end here because RowanClan has three former med cats and one living one, so they need their own post