#Responsibilities towards our fellow human beings

[pacificus-pacificator]

The Paradox of Freedom and Intolerance

“The so-called paradox of freedom is the argument that freedom in the sense of absence of any constraining control must lead to very great restraint, since it makes the bully free to enslave the meek. The idea is, in a slightly different form, and with very different tendency, clearly expressed in Plato.

Less well known is the paradox of tolerance:

Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. — In this formulation, I do not imply, for instance, that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force; for it may easily turn out that they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant. We should claim that any movement preaching intolerance places itself outside the law, and we should consider incitement to intolerance and persecution as criminal, in the same way as we should consider incitement to murder, or to kidnapping, or to the revival of the slave trade, as criminal.”

― Karl Raimund Popper, The Open Society and Its Enemies

Comment: We now seem to live in a world where everyone thinks of limitless freedoms and absolute rights — and the toxicity of “social media” has not helped alleviate that at all — on the contrary, it has exacerbated everything. But, there is one thing that some of us learned during middle high school social science, and that was: With freedoms come rights (indeed), but with rights come responsibilities (the part that is all too often forgotten). © Comment by Razz 2024

[moonchildxoxx]

The Gift of a Tiny Life

A/N: You are responsible for your own media consumption.  MDNI 18+ warning: a child lost off scene, child loss being spoken of, Cross Nursing of an infant? a good amount of anguish and cute moments

Pairing: Tsu’teyx Female!Reader, Spider x Mom! Reader

Word count:5,305K

Synopsis: Tsutey and the reader take Spider away from the human's neglect. They wind up adopting him after the loss of their own infant.

[ Request are open]

Master List

Rules

Tsu'tey had been a warrior next in line to be Olo'eyktan. You would never see him with his hands empty for he was always doing something. He taught the young hunters and helped his fellow clan members with menial tasks to lessen their burdens. This was something he did on his path to becoming Olo'eyktan to help his people and continued once he became Olo’eyktan. (Y/N) tried to track him down all morning to force him to take a break and eat.  (Y/N) finally found him at midday The mighty warrior was teaching the young hunters how to throw spears accurately. He was giving them an impromptu lesson when he felt eyes on him and noticed her.

 He didn't say anything, only raised a brow as if asking 'Do you need something, yawne?*. "Finish your lesson then you are going to grab a break and eat " she spoke out loud it was not heard to read her mate. He watched as she gave him a stern look and almost smiled. However, he was still in the middle of a lesson so he kept himself in check. He dismissed his students who walked off to hang out with one another.

He walked up to her and looked down at her. The corners of his lips threatened to curl into a smile. "I thought you would still be sleeping." She smacked him one "Do not think I didn't hear you sneak out of our marui before dawn " A faint flush appeared on Tsu'tey's face at being smacked. He raised a brow as she spoke. He chuckled softly as he rubbed the spot where she hit him."I did not think you had heard me." He said before giving his typical amused smile at her. “You always step on the creaky step when leaving " He let out a huff, shaking his head. Then he placed his hands on your hips and lowered his head, bringing his face close to yours as he leaned down.

"You know I could not sleep because I had too much to do. I would have come to bed, but I did not want to wake you, yawne." "You need sleep like everyone else Tsu'tey you did not have early patrol you had no reason to leave so early" He smiled at her "Don't worry; I've been meaning to eat for a while now."

He'd finished what he was doing. When he was ready to eat, he came back towards her. She gave him the pouch filled with various things. Tsu'tey took it with a grateful smile. It was a shame she had to be his caretaker but he was glad she did it. he pulled out its contents and started eating, breaking a bit to give some to her. "What about you? Do not tell me you did not bring anything for yourself. "Mawey ma Tsu'tey I've already eaten that's why I know you didn't " Tsu'tey stared at her for a few moments. How he had wished to argue with her but she was always one step ahead of him. Still...he liked that. He was more focused on the food now. "Then I suppose I should thank you," he said as he ate.

 She nuzzled him Tsu'tey was surprised at her action as he had not expected it. He set his food down to wrap an arm around her. "you're too good to me, yawntutsyip." “Nonsense ma tsamsiyu” she retorted  "You will spoil me if you continue," he joked with a smile, rubbing her arm with his calloused hands. He leaned closer in a show of affection as his face hovered near hers. She kissed his cheek. He seemed pleased by that action. He tilted his head in an attempt to get her to kiss him on the lips but of course, that proved to be futile. "You could not kiss me on the lips just this once?" He teased, a coy smile on his face. “Finish your food” He chuckled, knowing he wouldn't be able to convince her otherwise. He released a sigh before he returned to eating his food. " you are a demanding one, yawne," he teased, using the affectionate nickname he gave her. Once he finished his food and the pouch was empty of its contents, he leaned back and gave a satisfied sigh “There Satisfied now, yawne?" He teased as he looked up at her. 

She kissed him gently. He was surprised that she had kissed him even when he least expected her to follow through. The contact of their lips caused his heart to speed up, and his breath to get caught in his throat. When she pulled away, he gently pulled her closer to him with a hand on her waist. "you're going to give me an early death." He teased, still breathless from that kiss. He continued to hold her close to him, his grip on her waist tightening. It took all of his willpower not to take her then and there. But they were out in the open. "You are a tease." He accused as he gently nuzzled her. She nuzzled him back. Tsu'tey pulled her into his lap, wrapping an arm around her to hold her close. He nuzzled her neck, a small growl escaping him. "We are not in the safety of our tent, yawne. You need to stop teasing me." She kissed him softly. Tsu'tey's breath hitched when she kissed him again, pulling her closer to him. His tail flicked back and forth, his hands finding the bare skin underneath her top. " you are not being very fair to me," he murmured against her lips. She went to answer but suddenly stopped her ears twitching. Tsu'tey noticed her ears twitch which made him stop as well. 

He could easily tell something was wrong. He sat up, keeping her on his lap still but looking around for whatever it was that worried her. “Do you hear that?" Tsu'tey tried to listen and figure out what it was in question. But all he heard were the ambient noises of Pandora. "I cannot hear anything," he said, furrowing his brows. "What could you hear?" “ It sounds like a baby crying" His ears twitched as he tried to listen again for the sound of a crying baby. To his surprise, he heard the faint sound of a baby's cry. "you're right," he said in disbelief. "I wonder how we can hear it from this far away."

"A baby should not be crying that loud, we're far from the village" That was strange. He understood that the baby was crying loudly enough for them to hear it from a distance. But how far from the village was it? Where was it coming from? "Maybe it is in trouble," he said. "It does not hurt for us to look for it and make sure it is safe." She nodded getting up. Tsu'tey got up with her, taking her hand so they could stick together. He led the way out of the jungle, trying to follow where the sound of the baby's cry was coming from. (Y/N) kept following the sound it eventually led to Hell’s Gate Tsu'tey was getting an uneasy feeling the further they walked from the village. The crying had gotten louder which meant they were close. But when he saw that it had led them to Hell's Gate, Tsu'tey couldn't help but freeze. “Mo'at moved all the injured to the new village "

It then dawned on Tsu'tey as he came to realize that the crying must have been from not one of their own. He gave (Y/N)'s hand a squeeze and turned to her. "We should head back." She shook her head no and moved forward Tsu'tey watched her as she moved forward against his better judgment. He could not stop her, not when the path was set before her. So with a small huff, he followed after her. 

She walked towards the human base ignoring those allowed to stay when they sent the sky people back. Tsu'tey followed her into the human base and looked around in disgust. It was nothing but an abomination to Eywa to have this thing here. He could not understand why (Y/N) was adamant about coming here but he kept close to her.

She went through the doors following the sounds. The sounds led them to the human's infirmary and there they saw the human scientists, and more importantly, a baby that was wailing its head off, in a human baby crib. Tsu'tey knew now why the baby was crying so loudly to the point they could hear it from afar. (Y/N)’s ears folded back completely she looked around to see why the scientists were just ignoring the infant. Tsu'tey noticed (Y/N)'s ears fold back and he too looked to see no humans bothering with the infant who was crying like they didn't care.

"What are these people doing?" He grumbled in disbelief. (Y/N) placed her hand on its little body her hand so large that it covered its whole torso. The baby instantly stopped crying the moment she touched its body. It was silent now and looked at it with big eyes. Tsu'tey walked closer to the both of them, hovering over (Y/N). Seeing the child stop crying so quickly when she touched it was impressive. She clicked gently at the little one. The infant turned towards the clicking, a look of curiosity on its little face now that it had calmed down. Tsu'tey watched the interaction between her and the infant, a small sense of awe taking over him. She lifted it from the cradle. (Y/N) picked up the infant and carried it in her arms like a mother would Cradle her child. The baby instantly

made itself comfortable in her arms, even snuggling into her chest. She sniffed at the little one inspecting. The infant started to babble, moving its little hands as (Y/N) inspected it. It made grabby motions at her, probably seeking affection.

She got close to its lower half and immediately pulled away face scrunching up.

(Y/N)'s reaction caught Tsu'tey off guard. He was surprised to see her making that kind of face. "What is it?" He inquired, getting closer to her. "It's dirty" That was when Tsu'tey's sensitive nose picked up the foul smell and he grimaced. "I assume the humans left the infant in its filth?" He said tasteful look in his eyes.

(Y/N) hissed taking back the infant and left deciding to clean it herself.  Tsu'tey watched her take the infant and head outside, with him following after her. Outside, Tsu'tey could see her take the infant to a river to dunk it in the water to fully clean it. She stripped the infant and cleaned it, The infant made surprised noises at being suddenly dunked in the water and instantly the filth washed away. 

Now that the infant was fully clean, (Y/N) brought it back out of the water in her arms, dripping wet. "Much better," she murmured. Tsu'tey nodded in agreement. At least now the infant no longer reeks of its filth. But seeing the little one now clean and being held by her in such a motherly way, he was having very strange thoughts.

(Y/N) smiled looking at him " your such a cutie" Tsu'tey was snapped out of his thoughts when she said that. He tried to maintain a straight face but a small flush dusted his cheeks at her words. " Me? Or are you saying that to the infant?" "I'm talking to the baby Skawng your face is too ugly for that" Tsu'tey gave her a look of mock offense. "you wound me," he said in a falsely hurt tone. "You  think my face is too ugly for that and the baby is more attractive than me?" "you look like you got whacked by the ugly stick you can't compare yourself to this look at his little face " (Y/N) held the baby underneath his arms he was busy sucking on his fist  "Thanks for the encouragement," Tsu'tey said sarcastically as he looked down at the infant to see it sucking on its fist.

 He was silently envious of the baby. "Yes, yes, that little infant is so adorable. What with its little face and tiny hands. Nothing like me..." As he said that, he couldn't help but glance at her once again. The way she held the infant in her arms. The way she seemed so motherly to it, despite being so young herself and just recently having experienced a loss. And that brought those strange thoughts back into his head once more. She laughed "You hear that little one" 

Tsu'tey's face flushed once again at being teased. He crossed his arms, trying to look offended. The infant made some incoherent noises, still sucking on his little fist. The infant stopped sucking momentarily and looked up at (Y/N) with big eyes. Tsu'tey couldn't help but watch the infant. He still had those strange thoughts in his head, and it only got worse when the infant made a baby sound as it reached out to touch her. She picked up the baby. The infant was content at being in her arms once again. Tsu'tey observed them silently, his hands clenching and unclenching as he felt a strange feeling in his chest. One that was unfamiliar to him. The infant made some more baby sounds, its little hands grabbing onto the fabric of her top as it snuggled into her chest. Tsu'tey felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of it. 

The infant nuzzled into her so comfortably, like it was the most natural thing in the world. She smiled at this "You are such a precious little thing" she cooed "Yes you are stupid sky people don't know what they are missing"  Tsu'tey agreed with her, the infant seemed to be so tiny and fragile. And it was a shame that the humans were so careless about it. "Yes, it is a shame that this little one was left in its filth. What cruel creatures the humans are," he muttered. She turned the baby so he could see

Tsu'tey better Tsu'tey found himself looking into the baby's big eyes as it was now facing him. The infant seemed to be studying him, a look of curiosity now as it stopped suckling its fist.  Tsu'tey felt a mixture of emotions as he looked into the little one's eyes. It was so innocent and pure, completely unaware of the world around it. He felt a strange sense of protectiveness, suddenly wanting to keep it safe and sound.

The infant made another incomprehensible  baby sound, his little hand reaching out once more to grab at his hand. Tsu'tey instinctively held out his hand to the infant, feeling a small sense of awe as its tiny fingers wrapped around his much larger finger. 

"How long do you  think before the scientists come for him?" Tsu'tey's eyes darkened at the mention of the scientists. He let out a huff and gently pulled his finger away from the infant's grip. "I wouldn't doubt they'll come back for it soon. They likely have no idea how to take care of it anyway."

*It took a few days before the humans noticed that the baby was missing *

Norm Spellman one of Jake Sully's friends radioed  Jake in a panic to tell him When Jake heard Norm's voice on the radio, full of panic, he immediately knew something was wrong. He picked up the radio and spoke into it, his voice slightly anxious. "Norm, what's going on?" Norm's voice on the other end sounded frantic and panicked. "Jake, something's come up. You know the baby we were taking care of?" Jake's heart dropped and a sense of dread filled his chest. "Yes, I remember.  What about the baby, Norm?" he asked, his voice now tinged with concern. "Well, it's uh... it's gone," Norm said, his voice growing even more panicked as he spoke. "We don't know what happened, it was here one moment then the next it's just gone. We can't find it anywhere"

Jake's eyes widened in disbelief. How could the baby just disappear like that? It made no sense. "What do you mean it's gone? There's no way it could have just vanished into thin air." Norm's voice sounded even more panicked now. "I know! It's completely insane, we've been searching all over the base, but there's no sign of it anywhere. We don't know what could have happened t to it" Jake pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to think logically. "Okay, calm down, Norm. We'll figure this out.  But first, I need you to tell me everything that happened before the infant disappeared. Any clues could be important." "Right. Well, everything was normal up until we checked on the baby about an hour ago. It was just gone. The crib was empty, and the baby was nowhere to be seen," Norm said, his voice still filled with panic.

 Jake decided that he would let Tsu'tey know about the situation at Hell's Gate before going over to help, Jake made his way to Tsu'tey's hut, his mind still preoccupied with the situation at hand. When he reached the entrance, he called out to him. "Brother, can I speak to you for a moment?" Tsu'tey, who had been inside his hut, heard Jake's voice and quickly stepped out to greet him. "Jake, what is it?" he asked, sensing the serious tone in his voice. Jake took a deep breath before speaking, his eyes filled with worry.

"Something's happened at Hell's Gate," he said. "The infant we were looking after, it's gone. We have no idea what happened  to it, and the humans are freaking out."

 Tsu'tey moved back the tent flap revealing the rest of his tent and towards the back was (Y/N) with the human baby sleeping  "That Infant?" Tsutey spoke Jake's eyes widened as he saw the infant being held in (Y/N)'s arms, and he stepped forward to get a closer look. "Is that...? But how..." Tsu'tey blocked his path "When did your scientist realize it was missing?" Jake was about to object to Tsu'tey's behavior, but the serious look on his face made him decide to answer instead. "About an hour ago. They  were doing routine checks on it, but when they checked again just now, it was gone."  " That's not possible Jake Sully she's had it for three days " Jake stared at (Y/N), his mind trying to process what he had just heard. "What do you mean? You've had it for three whole days? And the humans at Hell's Gate only just realized?"  " His cries could be heard from far we found it in your demon home ignored soiled and starving" Jake was taken aback once again. 

He knew that the scientists at Hell's Gate didn't care much for the infant, but to completely ignore it to the point where it was starving and filthy? It was unthinkable.

"I... l had no idea. I thought the scientists were taking proper care of it," Jake said, his voice laced with disbelief. Tsu'tey huffed, his expression darkening at the thought of the infant being neglected. "It seems like the humans cared more about their experiments than this little one," he said gruffly. Jake couldn't argue with Tsu'tey's words. The fact that humans could let an innocent infant suffer like that was maddening.  Jake looked relieved that the baby had been taken care of, but he was still troubled by the situation at hand. "This is all good news, but we still have to deal with the humans at Hell's Gate.

They're going to want the infant back, and they're not going to be happy to know that she has it." Tsu'tey crossed his arms, his expression darkening even further.

 "Let them come if they wish. We will not hand over the infant to their care. Not after what they've done." Jake knew that Tsu'tey was protective of (Y/N) and wasn’t about to take away the infant now after what she had suffered, but he also knew that the situation was precarious. " you can't just keep it hidden away forever." Tsu'tey crossed his arms, a determined look in his eyes. "Let them be unhappy. This infant was left starving and neglected in their care. We won't let them have it back. And if you need to be reminded we let them stay on the condition that they follow the boundaries we set they follow the Omatikaya way the infant will not be returned to them on the word from the Olo'eyktan "Jake sighed, knowing that Tsu'tey was as stubborn as ever when he made his mind up about something. 

"I understand where you're coming from, But we have to think about the potential consequences of our actions. This could cause tension between the clan and the humans." "The humans will learn to deal with it," Tsu'tey said with a huff. "The infant will be much safer under our care than theirs. And if they have an issue with that, they can take it up with me." Tsu'tey closed the flap making it clear that this discussion was over

Jake stood there for a moment, feeling conflicted about the situation. He understood Tsu'tey's stance on the matter, but he couldn't help but worry about the potential fallout. However, he knew that he couldn't change Tsu'tey's mind once he had made a decision. With a heavy sigh, he turned and exited the tent, his mind still filled with conflicted thoughts. 

(Y/N) looked up as Tsu'tey returned the baby still in her arms Tsu'tey noticed (Y/N) looking up at him, her arms still cradling the infant. He moved closer to her, his eyes scanning over the infant to make sure it was still content. "How is the little one?" he asked, his voice surprisingly softer than usual. She smiled up at him Tsu'tey couldn't help but notice the smile on her face. He huffed quietly, pretending not to be bothered by it. "What are you smiling about?" he asked gruffly. (Y/N) chuckled, used to Tsu'tey's gruff demeanor by now. "just admiring this little one," she said, running a gentle hand over the infant's head. The baby gurgled in response, its tiny hands flailing in mid-air. Tsu'tey's gaze softened slightly as he watched the interaction between (Y/N) and the infant. Despite his rough exterior, he couldn't deny the warm feeling blossoming in his chest. He quietly moved closer, sitting down beside (Y/N). They sat in silence for a moment, Tsu'tey's gaze fixated on the infant. The baby was now looking up at him, its eyes wide and curious. Tsu'tey found himself drawn to the innocent gaze, and he reached out a trembling hand, hesitating for a moment before gently touching the infant's soft hair. The baby gurgled in response, its eyes locking onto Tsu'tey's fingers. Tsu'tey couldn't help but be enchanted by the infant's reaction, his gruff demeanor momentarily vanishing as he continued to caress its tiny head. (Y/N) watched the scene unfold before her, a small smile playing on her lips. Seeing Tsu'tey, who was normally so stern and unforgiving, show such tenderness was heartwarming to witness. (Y/N) nuzzled him purring Tsu'tey felt a warm shiver run down his spine as (Y/N) nuzzled against him, her purrs filling his ears. Despite his usual tough persona, he couldn't resist the affectionate gesture. He let out a low rumble of contentment in response, feeling his guard slipping further. 

The baby in (Y/N)'s arms seemed to notice their display of affection and let out a soft coo, its tiny hands reaching out towards them. Tsu'tey chuckled, gently taking one of the baby's little hands in his much larger one. As he held the baby's hand, Tsu'tey couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness wash over him. This tiny, defenseless creature was under their care, and he was determined to do everything in his power to ensure its safety. He looked up at (Y/N), his eyes filled with a mixture of awe and tenderness. (Y/N) couldn't help but laugh as well, the sight of Tsu'tey holding the baby's hand was something she never thought she'd see. She leaned her head against his shoulder, reveling in the tender moment they were sharing. Tsu'tey couldn't help but grumble a little at (Y/N)'s laughter, but there was no real irritation behind it. He shifted slightly so that (Y/N)'s head fitted more comfortably on his shoulder. The baby in her arms made a soft gurgling sound, seemingly enjoying the warmth and comfort of their Presence.

Tsu'tey glanced down at the baby, his usual stoic expression softening even more. It was odd, the way this tiny creature had managed to worm its way into his heart. He gently stroked its little head with his fingertips, a rare display of tenderness from the fierce warrior. There was a comfortable silence between them as they sat there, the baby gurgling softly in (Y/N)'s arms. Tsu'tey continued to caress the baby's head, his thoughts filled with a mixture of emotions he couldn't fully understand. "Are you hungry little one" The baby let out another gurgle in response to (Y/N)'s question, its tiny hands reaching out towards her. Tsu'tey watched the exchange, a soft huff of amusement escaping his lips. She lifted the little one Tsu'tey watched as (Y/N) lifted the baby, its tiny limbs flailing in mid-air. He couldn't help the slight worry that crept into his mind. "Be careful," he grumbled, his protective instincts kicking in. (Y/N) chuckled at Tsu'tey's concern but assured him, "Don't worry, I've got this." She cradled the baby against her chest, feeling its tiny body warm against hers. The baby snuggled closer, its little hands clenching onto (Y/N)'s shirt. 

"I still have milk I can feed him " she whispered out to Tsu'tey as he reached for the drinking vessel with a thick milk-like substance. Though  the loss was still fresh and a painful memory it was a reality she still had milk to feed the human infant

Tsu'tey's expression darkens as (Y/N) mentions her milk. He can't help but remember her previous pregnancy and the loss of their child. But he also can't help but appreciate her compassion and willingness to care for the infant, even with the painful memory attached to it. "You don't have to," he mumbled, not wanting her to force herself through the pain if she wasn't ready. But deep down, he knew that (Y/N) was stronger than she let on. "

This won’t change what was lost,  Tsu'tey at least a baby is benefiting from it" Tsu'tey's expression softened as (Y/N) spoke. He knew that she was right and that this infant needed care and nutrition. But he still couldn't shake the worry he felt for her well-being. "You're sure?" he asked, his voice gruff but laced with concern. "I know," she replied softly. "But it feels right to do this. It's the least I can do for the little one. And..." she paused, Tsu'tey noticed the pause in her voice and cocked his head slightly. "And what?" he prompted gently, his eyes still fixed on her. (Y/N) took a deep breath before continuing, her voice barely above a whisper. "And it's selfish but it makes me feel a little less...empty." She spoke the word with quiet vulnerability, revealing a hint of the pain she still held inside. Tsu'tey's heart ached as (Y/N) spoke her truth, the raw vulnerability in her voice making his chest tighten. He knew firsthand how devastating the loss was, and how it left an emptiness that seemed impossible to fill. He moved closer to her, his instincts to comfort and protect her resurfacing. "You're not selfish," he said firmly, his voice rough but gentle. "You're strong, (Y/N). Stronger than anyone else could be."He reached out, gently taking one of her hands in his. His large, calloused hand dwarfed hers, but his touch was light and careful. He gently ran his thumb across her knuckles, a silent show of solidarity and comfort. "Besides," he added, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, "the little one is lucky to have you looking after it. Your heart's always been too big for your own good." (Y/N) let out a soft chuckle at Tsu'tey's teasing. Despite his gruff exterior, he had a way of knowing exactly what to say. 

She squeezed his hand gently in response, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood. The baby in (Y/N)'s arms began to make soft whimpering noises, drawing their attention back to the infant's hunger. Tsu'tey looked down at the baby, his expression softening. "You should feed it," he said, his voice low. "It's still hungry."

(Y/N) nodded, shifting the baby to a comfortable position in her arms. She lifted her shirt, ready to feed the infant. Before she did, she looked up at Tsu'tey, a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. Tsu'tey caught the vulnerability in (Y/N)'s gaze and gave her a reassuring nod. He could sense the mix of emotions she was feeling, knowing that the act of feeding the infant was a bittersweet reminder of her loss. He moved closer to her, his proximity a silent offer of support. 

She tried getting the little one to latch The baby protested a little, its tiny mouth refusing to latch onto (Y/N)'s breast at first. Tsu'tey watched with a mixture of concern and amusement, silently musing at the little one's stubbornness. (Y/N), determined as always, continued to try and coax the baby to feed. She gently adjusted her position and the angle of the baby's head, trying to find the perfect position for the child to latch on.  Tsu'tey watched the struggle for a moment longer before stepping in to help. He shifted closer to (Y/N), his large frame towering over hers. He gently took hold of the baby's head, his hands surprisingly gentle considering their size. With his deft touch, he guided the baby's mouth towards (Y/N)'s breast, helping the infant to get a good latch. He could feel (Y/N)'s tense muscles relax a little, grateful for his assistance. The baby, now properly latched on, began to feed greedily. (Y/N) let out a soft sigh of relief, feeling a mix of emotions welling up inside her. The act of feeding the infant was strangely soothing, even if it was a painful reminder of what she lost. Tsu'tey watched as (Y/N) fed the infant, her expression a mix of contentment and bittersweet sadness.

The baby's soft suckling noises and her gentle rocking motions created a peaceful atmosphere in the tent.

Time seemed to slow as they sat there, the world outside forgotten for that brief moment. Tsu'tey, who was usually so serious, found himself mesmerized by the scene unfolding before him. He reached out a hand, gently resting it on (Y/N)'s shoulder, his touch a silent show of support and affection. The baby eventually finished feeding, its tiny mouth releasing (Y/N)'s breast with a soft pop. (Y/N) gently maneuvered the infant, cradling it against her shoulder and softly patting its back to help it burp. Tsu'tey watched with a small smile on his face, his heart feeling strangely full. It was a sight he never thought he'd see so soon, (Y/N) being so nurturing and caring towards an infant.

© Moonchildxoxx 2023 | all rights reserved. do not republish, repost, steal, modify, translate or claim my work as your own.

[itsabouttimex2]

My Alternate Universes

(AF) Primal Moon:

Twice a year; once in spring and once in autumn, a verdant moon rises to bring the bestial instincts of non-humans to light. Celestials and demons alike struggle to keep hold of themselves, something ancient welling up within them and shifting their thoughts and feelings to a more animalistic state.

The spring moon ends on the summer solstice, the autumn moon ends on the winter solstice.

Each week drives non-humans to feral or uninhibited states, leaving them struggling to control themselves. Violence and kidnappings spike during this time, humans as the usual victims. As a result of this, many people hold rather bigoted and fearful views towards demons and Celestials. Some even wish to oust them from society entirely.

(LMK) Monkie Glaive:

Long ago, monsters of terrifying might roamed the land freely. These beasts tore villages asunder and swallowed up the people inside, leaving naught but cinders of destruction in their wake. When a great Black Dragon came to wreak havoc upon humanity with wings spread wide, only one dared to stand against it- the legendary hunter, Sun Wukong! With his lightning-charged glaive held high, the Monkey King summoned a storm and forced the dragon down from the skies, where he overcame it in single combat! Today, in his honor, we hunters train monkeys as our partners to aid us on the field. With them, we overcome our opponents and forge a brighter future for all of humanity!

(Essentially, a Monster Hunter crossover.)

(LMK) Let’s Start Over:

It’s been years since MK’s story ended, and now yours is just beginning. Upgrading his nickname to ‘Monkie Knight’, he’s working hard to shape you into a worthy successor. As the new ‘Monkie Kid’, you are:

1. An everyday mortal, you were gifted a tiny fraction of MK’s power, allowing you to wield the staff and use his skills. Putting yourself in danger leads to the prompt removal of this privilege, and then you’re relegated to chores and stretches until MK thinks you’ve learned your lesson.

2. A Mystic Monkey in disguise, unaware of your true nature. If he finds out, he’s intent on breaking the news early, trying to keep you from having a breakdown like him. He considers you to be a kindred soul, and frequently offers to help with grooming and personal strife.

Given that MK still hasn’t overcome his trauma, he’s grown extremely protective of his successor, trying to force you down a safe and happy path. He dotes on you constantly, acting almost like a surrogate father. Instead of allowing you to explore and fight on your own, he tags along everywhere to keep you safe. He refuses to truly relinquish his responsibilities to you, instead vicariously living through the safety and security he forces onto you.

Until you get the chance to slip away and meet a resurrected villain that MK had hoped to never see again, allowing you to take the first step on your own journey.

(LMK) Taken Aboard:

Upon his visit to the sprawling Emerald Grove; a massive expanse of forest and rivers, Tang Sanzang finds a mischievous demon child living all alone- you. Taking pity on you, the Great Monk prays to Guanyin for her help, and receives two more tightening bands. Upon being ‘gifted’ these golden cuffs, you ask for the monk’s help to put them on- and are promptly dragged into a long and dangerous journey against your will.

Your fellow pilgrims come to view you as a mischievous little sibling, in need of both discipline and love. They won’t stop Sanzang from activating the bands, but are happy to help with the wounds and tears that come afterwards. They also engage in your tutoring, helping to teach you to read and write and perform basic arithmetic.

All the while, you try your hardest to escape and return home.

[thyfleshc0nsumed]

hey crazy question, since you said there is no evil what would you call hitler evil? trump? mussolini? genghis khan? jeffrey dahmer? jeffrey epstein? KKK members? IDF? and if they're evil then i guess you're telling me child rapists are the only ones that shouldn't be called evil? why is that?

I'm gonna ignore your bad faith misreading of my ideas and your attempt to insinuate I am a child abuser and answer your first question for other ppls sake, cuz I think it is a reasonable thing ppl might be grappling with.

In a word, no.

In a few more words, I think the question fails to properly interrogate what I mean when I refer to evil. 'Evil' is a component of a moral framework, and I feel that moral frameworks are by and large shallow and not very useful in furthering for understandings of the world around us, or very conducive to creating material change, from an individual scale to a societal scale.

The central idea I put forward in that post is that it is not some grand moral badness that enables violence and abuse, but rather systems of power. All of your examples speak to this. You mention the wealthy, political leaders, a state backed by a global superpower, and a group that was comprised of people with systemic power over their victims.

Viewing them merely as "evil" is frankly uncurious and in some ways, cyclical and thought terminating. It begs the question: "they're bad because they're bad because they're bad."

We have NO disagreement in the fact that what those people do or did have produced violence and harm, many on a scale which is difficult to fully comprehend the magnitude of. It is equally difficult to understand even how one could act with such cruelty towards fellow human beings. But just because it is difficult to understand does not mean it is impossible. They didn't do those things because they were born with some kind of evil gene or soul.

They, like you and I, were created by the context of the world around them. If Adolf Hitler died as a child, would Germany have been rid of its antisemitism or have lost its imperial ambitions? Would war have been averted? Certainly not. There were specific, relatively measurable conditions which allowed fascism to flower. If not him, someone else would have helmed that movement.

If Adolf Hitler were born in another place and time, he would not be Adolf Hitler in any meaningful sense. A person is more or less a sum of their environment. People cannot exist outside the context that they do in fact exist in.

And so to then declare someone as 'evil' amounts to saying just about nothing. It's zero sum. If people do harm simply because they are evil, then what can be done? Create a list of them and then systematically exterminate them?

Many people have twisted my words and claimed that what I am saying is that we should expose our bellies and allow bigots to gut us, or that I equivocate violence against oppressors and violence against the oppressed. This is categorically untrue. When violence is brought against you, violent response can be prudent.

But what happens after the relations of power have been altered? When the abuser or oppressor no longer has the power to harm you? Is there reason to harm them besides to punish or sate a desire for revenge? If they no longer have the means to do 'evil,' then what purpose does violence against them serve besides for the sake of our own bloodlust?

You will not see me shed a tear for Israeli settlers killed by opposition forces, or for abusers killed by a victim defending themself because those relations of power are still in place. Settlers can leave, soldiers can dodge the draft, and abusers can stop abusing.

But if they settle, kill, and abuse because they are 'evil,' then what choice did they have to begin with? And what can be done to stop colonialism, state violence, and abuse in the future? Are evil people just going to stop being born?

The framework of evil adds nothing, gives no solutions, and hinders progress by giving us amnesty for not looking at our own relationship to power structures. But a materialist, analytical framework provides us tools to deconstruct those structures and hopefully move beyond them.

[spasmsofthought]

starlight (legolas x reader)

A bit (or a lot) philosophical. Indirect allusions to depression/melancholy. Please take care reading and take care of yourself.

IDK word count LOL but not super long, I think.

This idea has been in my drafts for a while, but inspiration came this evening. I hope it's executed well for you. I haven't felt so creative in such a long time and this piece was such a treat to write.

Enjoy and please let me know what you think! Please like, comment, and reblog xo

+++

“My friend, what ails you?” Legolas has not been sure of you, try as he might.

Even though it is just the beginning of the Fellowship’s journey, you walk already battle-weary. You are heavy, it seems, in comparison to your fellow human companions. Aragorn nor Boromir carry themselves this way. Even Frodo, despite the responsibility he carries, retains some of the Hobbit carefree way. It had caused Legolas to wonder, apprehensively in the beginning, if it was the Ring. The more he watched and waited, the more clear it became that it wasn’t. Relief then became mixed with confusion, for if it wasn’t the Ring, what could cause such weight for you to carry? The brief conversations he has shared with you so far have not provided him further insight.

You turn towards him from where you sit. Your face is not unhealthy in anyway, but your eyes are not bright. There is something deep in them for which Legolas does not have the words to explain. You are close enough to be seen from camp, but far enough away that no one has had the heart to disturb you. It is a quiet evening, but even as he approaches, there is something that mixes in with the stillness that is foreign to him.

“Hello, Legolas,” He stands for a moment, unsure. “Please, you are welcome to join.”

You pat the stone next to you as if it is an inviting cushion. It is not.

“Thank you for your inquiry. I am only sad, Legolas.” Your hands settle in your lap. Legolas grows even more confused. Often human weep to express their grief, in his understanding. He has not seen, or heard, you cry once.

You clarify after a moment, sighing and then glancing at him. “There is no cause for it, unfortunately. Otherwise I would ask aid of our Fellowship. It is simply a—” You pause for a moment, trying to find the right words. It takes your brain a short time to unscramble to find something suitable, “condition I endure.”

“The understanding of the complexity of human nature escapes me at this time.”

You laugh is small, “It confounds me often.”

There is a moment, halfway between awkward and friendly, in which you sit together. Trying to explain your feelings to an Elf has not been something anyone ever thought to prepare you for.

Legolas has been an intimidating individual to try and engage for yourself. It has been your own inexperience and reluctance that has caused some of your avoidance of him. Elves had been figures of myths and folklore in the small village where you had been raised. To confront your youth’s inadequate tales against a far different reality has already been mentally exhausting. You always thought Elves would be the kind of stern and serious beings that immortality seemed to produce. Instead, Legolas was often cheery, reveling in merriment.

“There is a type of sadness for humans,” You try to explain. Legolas pays attention, “that can come for us regardless of circumstance or atmosphere. It is different than missing one’s family or saying goodbye, and it is hard to explain and justify even amongst my own kin. What I am feeling now is not something that carries a name for my people; there are a lot who do not try to understand. Some types of human sadness come and go. This type of sadness can be long-lasting. I carry mine with me, it seems, no matter what I go. It stays, though I do not ask it to.”

There is a little bit of shame to your countenance it seems to Legolas, as you glance down at your hands. You are meek in the fading light of the evening.

Legolas is not sure he has seen someone who looks as human as you do, against the backdrop of the trees and earth.

“Your mind seems fragile,” He says.

His words come as a frank observation, although gentled in tone. It is a paradox for something so piercing to be soft. Legolas takes great care to not offend you, even now. You would be offended if another of your race said the same, but there’s something about the way the words come from his mouth that do not make them a personal affront. These words do not seem to change whatever opinion he has of you. (An opinion that seems more positive than one you would give of yourself to him.)

“I suppose you could say that,” Your eyes drift up again to look at the dark sky, small glinting stars beginning to appear through the cracks of the trees. “Most human minds are fragile in some way, I think. We are not made to endure the long passing of time the same as you and your race. We are more effected… more vulnerable, I think. Or rather, vulnerable in different ways.”

Your words are met with Legolas’s silence. The light-hearted elf has turned contemplative. “The burden of human life is not what I have thought it was.”

“I don’t think I quite fully understand it either, thought I bear it,” You respond, lips quirking to the side for a moment. As they meet yours for a short time, Legolas’s eyes shine in the dark. “Although I fear comparison will still leave us lacking. I know little of what it is to be an elf, but I know you and your kind carry grief of your own. It is hard for me to conceive of what it must like to see so much, for so long, and still remain so physically unchanged.”

Legolas hums but then chooses to say nothing about the subject.

“I love the stars,” You say after a brief pause. Legolas does not object, so you continue to talk. “Even in the darkness, when I have had no one else with me, they have comforted me. Sometimes, like tonight, when my heart pulls me inward, they seem to whisper to me and cause my gaze upward.”

There is a companionable silence that follows. You sit next to Legolas, he next to you, as you stare up at the stars glittering across the black expanse of the night.

There is scant touch that comes across your cheek, like a breeze against your skin. A brief warmth follows, fading as quickly as it comes. As you turn your face, Legolas’s hand comes to rest against his side. Your eyes meet and he nods towards the forest path that leads to the camp where the others rest. His gaze is soft on your face.

You don’t think anyone has looked at you as he is now.

“Sleep, ithildin nîn.” You do not know what the words mean but they feel as a balm does, only for your heart and not for your body. “I will keep watch.”

For a little while, you hold his eyes. Legolas does not shy away even though he does not know what the immediate future holds; though he does not know what will become of you, or of him. You nod at his words, gathering your things and standing. You feel his gaze, even through the path you take to camp, on you until you fall asleep.

~~~~

Translation: Ithildin nîn — my starlight.

[evangelic-echo]

ℭ𝔢𝔩𝔢𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔞𝔩 𝔓𝔲𝔫𝔦𝔰𝔥𝔪𝔢𝔫𝔱

Part 3:

Part 2<

You were new to heaven, that part was obvious. Compared to the others you stood out, looking a lot different from the rest.

You were made to fit in more with the humans, God's newest creations. You had only one pair of wings instead of three, making the clear distinction that you were different from the rest. Due to your purpose being taking care of humanity, your appearances were made to fit in more with the humans than your fellow angels. All the other angels had such unique features while you were given boring human characteristics to adhere better to them.

The few, early moments of life was great. Living in harmony with the few angels that had been created along side with you. One of the being Lucifer Morningstar, known to be as God's favourite. However, you knew him to be your greatest friend up here in heaven. Since the moment of your creation he's been there, showing you the ropes and being an overall helping hand with your duties and responsibilities.

Today was the day our Father had announced the creation of humans. They were mortal beings created by the soil of the Earth, residing in The Garden of Eden. As you walked with Lucifer, all you could do was wonder about how things were going to change with the new mortals being now your new priority.

"Birdie?"

You looked to your left to see Lucifer looking at you with a longing look on his face.

"I thought I told you to stop calling me that Luci?"

"You just remind me of a Bird that's all! I love those two wings of yours."

You brought your focus back to the girl before of you, cursing those pitiful thoughts away.

"Hi! It's so so soo nice to meet you! My name is Charlotte but you can call be Charlie, I'm so happy that Heaven is giving us another chance!"

Being preoccupied with your own thoughts, you hadn't noticed that the young woman had gotten up from her seat to greet you. Now that she was more closer to you, you took note of her other features you hadn't noticed before. Like her height for example, she definitely gotten that end of the stick from her mother.

Another thing you noticed is that while greeting you, she kept both her hands behind her back, not showing any effort to properly greet you with a handshake.

Rude...

Deciding to look past it, you extend your hand towards her instead as you introduced yourself. However, Charlie instead looks down to your arm, hesitating to reciprocate.

"Not to be rude, but uh, Adam tried the same to thing during my first meeting with him."

"Excuse me?!"

You would have never of thought that on this Saturday morning, instead of being at home, watering your plants and chilling on your bed. Your instead dealing with Lucifer's daughter, who he apparently didn't think to teach her basic manners.

"I know you're a hologram, you're up there in Heaven while I'm down here in Hell."

Now you're even more confused. Hologram? Was she not up here in Heaven?

Impulsively, you reach for Charlie's arm, but instead of you grabbing onto her scarlet red sleeve, your hand just falls through while her arm glitches out. You call out to the Cherub as you exit the room, seeking answers as to why it was crucial for you to take part in this fancy ass facetime where you essentially spend your whole day in a room alone, because the only other person you'd be speaking to isn't even physically in the room with you.

"You called me Ma'am?"

"Please tell me why both mine and the princesses time is being wasted by making us communicate through these shitty holograms?!"

"Heaven has always communicated with Hell this way Miss. I- uh, can't do anything about that. Sera believes that..."

You started to tune out the Cherub as he mentioned the Seraphim's name, you could care less about whatever the little creature was preaching about. Turning your back towards the angel, you opened a portal to the embassy down in Hell. Your not against technology or whatever, but using holograms instead of basic face to face communication was just too much for you.

"What are you doing?!! Creating a portal to Hell is absolutely unacceptable! If you step through that Sera will..."

You stepped through the portal without a second thought, cutting off the Cherub.

"I didn't think you were coming back"

Looking around you noticed that the embassy here in Hell looked exactly the same one back up in Heaven. If it wasn't for the fact that you could feel a physical difference between here and Heaven, you would've thought you opened a portal to the meeting room you were previously in.

"So sorry for the hiccup dear, I just prefer to speak face to face when it comes to matters such as this."

"Right! Of course, I completely agree. Well- uhm, it's nice to 'officially' meet you"

Without hesitation this time she extends her hand in your direction and you, of course, take her hand into yours, reciprocating her greeting. Internally taking back the initial thoughts you had of her only a few seconds ago.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too Charlotte"

You were sitting on one end on the unusually large table while Charlie was sat on the other, ranting incredibly fast while pitching her Hazbin Hotel to you. You absolutely did not have the heart to tell her this meeting was scheduled to talk about the shit show of the recent extermination. You also had to admit that this hotel had caught your interest after speaking to that Sir Pentious guy. But looking at Charlie now as she tells you about this project so passionately brought you back to those old memories of you and Lucifer as he would tell you about his plans for the Garden of Eden with that same passion and ambition, which honestly weighed down on your heart a lot more than you'd like to admit.

"Even with the destruction of our hotel during the exterminations, it allowed us to undergo huge renovations which have led to the Hotel looking the best it ever has since opening!"

"With all due respect Charlie, but the exterminations were literally yesterday. It's hard to believe you constructed a whole hotel after it got obliterated in a single night."

"With the help with mine and my Dad's magic, as well as the rest of the residents, we were able to build the Hotel from scratch! With even more rooms and wayy better infrastructure! If only I could prove to you how amazing it looks now! I may have a picture on my phone if you give me a second..."

As she pulled out her phone, humming and muttering to herself as she was browsing for said photo. You got up from your seat and walked towards the door, realising that she could in fact show you the new and improved hotel. Noticing that you were walking towards the exit, she lowers her phone as she focuses her gaze on you instead.

"Hey, uhh- I found the picture!"

"Or you could show me your newly renovated hotel now, in person. It's nearby is it not?"

"Really?! Yeah it's a few blocks down but I didn't think you'd want to venture further than this room."

Charlie did have a point, walking out and around on the streets of hell wasn't a great idea considering you weren't from around here. It's possible that the majority wouldn't be able to notice, but it takes just one demon to notice your energy being very different than the traditional hell spawn. But that should be fixed with a quick portal.

"Oh that's no problem at all. Although, I do have certain expectations for when I'm there."

Charlie, evidently excited to show off her hotel to someone new, nodded her head in response as she waited for you to continue.

"I want to see Lucifer."

A/N: It's been sooo long since I posted and I lowkey missed sitting down and just writing. ALSO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE FOLLOWS🫶. The taglist has significantly grown as well. If you want to be added just feel free to just comment and I’ll add you to it on the next update, which I promise is coming soon!!

Taglist: @alientee @froggybich @simbalioness @elementwind91 @tsukiko26 @weirdgirlislonely

[werewolf-witchboy]

Druig X Eternal! Reader

✨ (Gender Neutral) ✨

No Warnings.

After many years of being split up, the Eternals must come together as a team again. Nobody seems to know where you've been all these years, so they've gone to the one person who might know of your whereabouts...

Little did they know that you're a lot closer than they thought.

"You have given me a lot of bad news in one go, my lady." Druig's tone is a lot less welcoming after he's been told the horrible truth.

"You and (Y/n) are the main parts of our big plan. We need you both to get through this." Sersi explained again. "Will you help us?"

"We can't find (Y/n)." Ikaris cut to the chase, obviously not ecstatic about needing Druig.

"All of us have searched across almost the whole planet." Sersi subtly encouraged Ikaris away from Druig, sensing the tension already rising between them. "All of (Y/n)'s favorite countries, every area we've had somekind of special or significant moment, we've even asked elders who've written many books about (Y/n). Found not a trace of where they could possibly be."

Drugs arms stayed crossed. "I don't think it's my business to just give out personal information like that." Once his fellow Eternals showed up, his peace was interrupted and he now has a headache.

He knows he told them to "make themselves at home," but he didn't expect them to drop all of this shocking news on him about their true purpose as Eternals, and then interrogate him about your location.

"Do you all remember this forest? Beautiful." Druig walked around the room with his hands clasped behind his back, trying to make small talk and steer the topic away from (Y/n). "It was the last place that we all lived together." His tone held some sorrow at the memories.

"I've protected these people for 20 generations now. From the outside world, and from themselves."

Druig towered over Kingo's valete, Karun. "Your kind, my friend, you will be responsible for your own extinction one day. Don't you think?"

Karun looked a little intimidated, but he answered honestly.

"I think that we must learn from our mistakes and do better, sir. You must not give up hope."

Druig did not seem to like his answer, expressing so by possessing Kingo's valet and proceeding to throw his camera against a wall, thoroughly frightening Karun and pissing off Kingo.

"Oh, where is your sense of humor Kingo?"

"You are not a god. You know that right?"

"How ironic. Kingo, the movie star."

"I've directed some things too."

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

"Some internet content..."

"How many views?"

"I don't do it for the views-"

"Let's go. He's waisting our time." Ikaris started heading towards the door.

"We need him and (Y/n)." Sersi tried to reason.

"Ikaris!" Druig stepped in front of the taller man's path. "I missed you."

Druig was really pushing it right now. "Are you not gonna charm me or threaten me?"

"There's a third option if you'd prefer that."

"It must be heartbreaking to find out that you're not mothers favorite." Druig taunted about Ikaris not being the next chosen leader.

"I'm sure she'd be real proud about what you've been up to." Ikaris always seemed to fall for the psychic's taunting.

"Druig, this is serious." Sersi tried to butt in once more.

"I'll tell you what's serious." Druig's voice got louder as he seemed to get more annoyed.

"I've just been told that I was sent on a suicide mission for the past 7,000 years, and that my entire existence is a lie." He looked Sersi in the eyes. "So excuse me for not giving a shit about your plan right now."

Athena stepped forward, brushing away Gilgamesh's hand that attempted to stop her from engaging in the conflict. She'd been quiet this whole time, but nobody else seemed to be getting anywhere with the stubborn psychic.

"This is very important. Everything will be lost if we can't stop the celestial birth. You have to admit that we've all gained somekind of admiration for humanity. Not only will the humans be gone, but so will all of the memories we've shared on Earth. Our memories with each other." Athena turned away from the rest of the Eternals, only addressing Druig when she said her next line, hoping that she'll strike a chord in him. "Your memories with (Y/n)."

Everyone was silent.

Druig let out a heavy sigh, but before he could even open his mouth to say anything, the large wooden door creeked open slowly.

"Hey Druig, I-"

Silence still hung heavy in the room amongst the Eternals, but this time it was shock.

There you stood, slightly different from the last time they've seen you many years ago, but still you. It all made sense now, why you were nowhere they searched, even though they've literally checked everywhere.

Your voice got caught in your throat as soon as you entered the cabin filled with your old friends, whom you may also have been technically hiding from.

"Uh...bad timing." Druig's voice rang in your head. Your panicked eyes met his from across the room.

"Holy shit." Kingo was the first to speak up. "(Y/n) has been here with Druig the whole time?!"

You let out an awkward chuckle, not knowing how to reply.

"What have the two of you even been doing here together for all of these years?!" Kingo's arms flailed in the air dramatically, obviously annoyed that all of their searching was for nothing.

"Actually, don't answer that question." Sprite put her hands up when she saw the look you and Druig exchanged.

"Ohmygosh-" Ikaris pinched the bridge of his nose in disgust.

Confused, Kingo looked back and fourth between everyone. "Wha- I wasn't even aware the two of them are a thing."

Everyone turned to look at the man in purple with expressions that read "really?"

"Are you telling me that I'm the only one who didn't know?!" Kingo was still going on about it. "(Y/n) is too kind and cute for Druig!"

You couldn't help but laugh behind your hand as Druig rolled his eyes, fighting a small smirk.

You had to admit that you missed your family.

"Well I for one honestly don't care where (Y/n) has been this whole time. I'm just glad to see them again!" Gilgamesh stomped up to you and scooped you into a big bear hug, fits of giggles escaping you as he squeezed your breath away.

Laughter eventually erupts from everyone, the atmosphere a stark contrast from how it was only 5 minutes ago.

When all was settled down again, Sersi sat you down and told you everything...

The tragic death of Ajak, your wise leader and mother figure.

How your purpose is to keep a planet happy and thriving just to destroy it by creating a celestial.

How all of your memories have been erased countless times, because you've killed planets and birthed celestials countless times.

By the end of it, you were a sobbing mess. You've always been a little more sensitive than the others, so this obviously deeply soured the peppy family reunion mood you were in.

There was no question that you were going along with Phastos's plan. You wanted to keep these memories that you've spent centuries cherishing, and you wanted to watch humanity grow so much more.

When you declared your certainty about going with them, Druig was dragged in by default.

Wherever you went, he went.

You did the same for him when shit hit the fan in Tenochtitlan and he left.

You knew you'd miss the little civilization that you and Druig have helped create, but it'll still be there after you've saved the planet. When it's all over, you can go back with Druig and continue waking up next to him every morning to start a busy day of harvesting crops and handwashing laundry.

For now though, it's back to Olympia.

....................

"Well, look who it is!"

"Didn't think you'd be so glad to see me Phastos." Druig remarked with a smirk.

"I'm not. I was talking about (Y/n)." He brushed past the raven haired Eternal to embrace you.

Makkari elbowed the psychic, who had been grinning like an idiot while watching (Y/n).

"You look like a lovesick puppy." She signed.

Druig rolled his eyes, but his grin never faltered.

"Well, I for one, still can't believe it!" Kingo's appeared on the other side of Druig.

"I've never seen this man smile bigger than that annoying smirk." Kingo playfully leaned an arm on Druig's shoulder.

"I've also had the displeasure of seeing them kiss like 50 times during the time spand of getting here from the Amazon."

"You're just jealous." Makkari joked.

"What?! No! I get tons of babes! I just don't have the time for a committed relationship." Kingo stuck his nose in the air.

You tried not to smile while listening to your friends tease Druig. You continued pretending to pay attention to Phastos's rambling about a new invention idea.

Druig's eyes caught yours.

"Get me outta here!" He pleaded in your head.

"We just got here baby." Your voice is always so gentle and soothing in his brain. Even though he's begging to leave, he doesn't mind staying as long as you're here.

"Alright. You definitely owe me one, love." A smug look dawned his features as he affectively ignored the two Eternals babbling next to him.

You felt your ears and cheeks blush, going thankfully unnoticed by Phastos.

You are going to do absolutely anything to make sure that you both come out of all of this alive and well. There's no way you could possibly imagine a lifetime without Druig.

[c-u-c-koo-4-40k]

Cato Sicarius...needs a reality check

Inspired by the recent "Bullied by Cato" writings.

But I'm gonna have some different kind of fun with this.

Tw: A Slap, Yelling, Cato being an ass but also getting his ass chewed. Angst but the interpersonal kind.

@kit-williams @barn-anon @sleepyfan-blog @egrets-not-regrets @bleedingichorhearts @bispecsual

SMACK!

The loud impact was followed by stunned silence, as the gathered company of Ultramarines could not believe their eyes.

Cato Sicarius, decorated veteran of the Ultramarines, scourge of chaos and Tyranid alike, had just been Slapped.

Struck across the face like a common mouthy brat, by the Terran diplomat they'd been charged with overseeing.

Once again like many other times Lord Sicarius had made some snide remark about how Bothersome it was to escort a non combatant who's only duty and use was their mouth.

Seems this time the diplomat was Not leaving their response at a hurt look or a mild displeased scowl. The latter had been appearing more lately.

The blow clearly hadn't done any true damage, but their 2nd Captain was still utterly taken aback, but that shock was clearly the prelude to a bubbling offended rage.

Surprisingly the Diplomat did not flinch, as Cato refixed his wide angry gaze on them.

"How-Dare-you-"

"How dare I!? How - Dare - I?I"

Well that was unexpected. But the Diplomat did not lose any steam.

"You've been deriding me the Entire time I've been here and YOU have the GALLto act offended when I've Finally had ENOUGH!?"

But before Cato could retort the floodgates openned.

"I don't know if you've noticed Captain, but we are in the middle of a War!"

"Humanity is tumbling towards the darkness, and YOU have the nerve, the Shitting Tumerity, to make My life harder, as the imperium is Scrambling to hold itself together!!"

Cato may have been shocked, but at that he did scoff. "You speak as if the imperium is on the brink of collapse. It's not as if any of our subordinate worlds need your flowery language and fanfare. They know the consequentces for disobedience, as should you..." He glared down at the mortal. "If father had any sense, he'd have cracked down on insolents like you-"

The diplomat cut him off with a humorless laugh of disbelief. "OH! OH ho Ho! And you know SO MUCH OH SO MUCH Lord Sicarius. Perhaps I should tell Lord Gulliman how much more Sense You think you have over your own Primarch!"

"I- I would never!" Cato felt an angry blush erupts over his face at the mere thought of challenging his genesire, followed by a cold dread thrumming in the background.

"Oh but please go On! Tell me how you'd divert soldiers and resources to quell a rebellion that occurred because You stuck your damn foot in your mouth. About how the disruption in our supply chain could inspire further disobedience and Cripple our front lines!"

Cato did take pause, he...hadn't thought about that.

The diplomat continued.

"And even if we could force a world back into compliance, we'd have struggles with rebuilding, Further diverting resources that are currently keeping Your brothers and Cousins from Dying!"

They paused for only a breath.

"Lord Guilliman, and diplomats like me, are struggling Every day, to keep the Imperium from falling apart at the seams! And Yet You! Seem to think that the only thing that matters is your stupid pride!"

That seemed to knock Cato from his shock. "Y-You know Nothing!" He shouted back. "You know nothing of what I've lost! What my brothers have gone through!"

"AND YOU THINK WE HAVE NOT LOST ANYONE!"

Cato again found himself stopped, stunned by the burning rage in the diplomats eyes, excentuated by the budding tears.

"Do you even Know how many of the guard give their lives Everyday! But I guess because they're just baseline humans they're not as Important, as your precious Bloody fellow space marines! When will you wake up and realize THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT YOU!"

"Without agriworlds, there is no nutrient paste nor rations!

Without the forge worlds, your brothers have no armor nor weapons!

Without humanity, there are No NEOPHYTES!

YOU would not exist! If not for the imperium of mankind!"

They fought through tears and heaving breathes, but they did not stop.

"WE ARE ALL FIGHTING TO SAVE HUMANITY! AND YOU SEEM TO THINK WASTING ENERGY HATING ME IS A VALUABLE USE OF YOUR TIME! WHAT DID I EVER EVEN DO TO YOU!?

...

"What...what did I do wrong..." For the first time in this encounter, their voice became small...subdued...

...broken...

That cold dread he'd felt before warped into a different discomfort. But before he could understand or act the diplomat turned from him.

He wanted them to turn back.

They strode quickly, with tears still running down their face.

He wanted to wipe them away.

They made for the exit, only to stop just before leaving.

His hope of them not going was dashed as they spoke their final words. Moderate in volume, but painfully short.

"Stick to beheading Tyranids and traitors Captain Sicarius, and leave the talk of diplomacy to for those who Actually understand what we're fighting for."

With that, they vanished down the hallway, leaving a group of Ultramar's finest standing awkwardly in the meeting room. And one of them feeling like the dirt beneath a writhing Tyranid grub.

Well...shit....

[inkmonster21]

Hearts Across the Divide

18.) Alliance to Save Our Own

Noa x Fem!Human!Reader

Series Masterlist

~oOo~

Noa stumbles into the camp, his body bruised and bloody, his face a mask of exhaustion. He's unsteady on his feet, his legs shaking from the effort of walking, but he pushes onwards, his eyes searching among the gathered apes for you.

Noa's breath catches in his throat as he sees you. You're sitting on a log near a fire, your form illuminated in the warm glow of the flames. Jack is beside you, as he had promised, and Noa's eyes narrow at the sight of him. But his relief at seeing you unharmed outweighs his jealousy.

Noa can feel the weight of Proximus's glare on him. Proximus, a fighter by nature, eyes Noa with suspicion and hostility. Noa lifts his chin defiantly, meeting Proximus's gaze with a steady one of his own.

Rudy, the large male human, approaches Noa with a cruel smirk. He grabs Noa's shoulder roughly, and starts to lead him away from you, back towards the imposing cage.

You watch as Noa is led away, your heart clenching in your chest. You're safe under the guise of Jack's protection, but being separated from Noa feels like a fresh wound ripping open. You want to call out, to run to him, but you know this could lead to further trouble. You feel a mix of helplessness and frustration, desperate to be with Noa but unable to act.

With surprising speed, Noa seizes a small blade from Rudy's belt. The human is clearly intoxicated, his attention focused elsewhere, blissfully ignorant of the theft. Noa grips the blade tightly, its cool touch sending a jolt of adrenaline through his body.

As the door of the cage closes behind Noa, you catch his eyes. Despite his obvious pain and exhaustion, he manages to summon a small, weak smile for you. It's a silent, comforting gesture, one meant to reassure you that he's alright.

Despite his punishment, Noa finds solace in the company of his friends and colleagues. They surround him, offering words of comfort and reassurance. Even Loui displays a hint of relief at Noa's survival. The solidarity of his fellow apes provides him with a measure of comfort in this dark place.

Jack observes you closely, taking note of the way your gaze lingers on Noa. He sees the depth of emotion in your eyes, the silent longing that is visible in your expression. Jack's eyes narrow, a flicker of worry crossing his features. "You care for him." The statement hangs in the air, its simplicity disguising its impact. You're taken aback, but before you can muster a response, Jack continues. "It's obvious, you know," Jack continues, his eyes still fixed on you. "The way you look at him."

You lean a bit closer to Jack, maintaining the pretense of a private conversation. "Jack," you murmur softly, "you're a good person." Your words are sincere, a small attempt to placate the turmoil you sense brewing in him. You grasp his hands. “Have you ever felt love? Real love?”

Jack's eyes meet yours, and for a moment, he looks strangely vulnerable. His hands tighten around yours as he considers your question. "Love," he repeats, as if the word is a knufe to him. "maybe once." Jack holds your gaze for a moment longer, a flicker of sadness crossing his eyes. He hesitates before responding as if the memories are painful. "Her name was Sarah," he says quietly. "She was beautiful, strong. We were foolish."

“What happened?”

Jack's expression darkens at the question, and a shadow passes over his features. "Life," he replies, his voice growing quiet. "It had other plans. The world changed, and so did our relationship. We tried to hold on, but..." He pauses, his gaze drifting off into the distance.

Jack's eyes shift towards Proximus, a hint of anger flickering across his face. "Proximus," he mutters under his breath, his tone laced with venom. It's clear that Proximus's presence and actions are stirring up painful memories within him.

Jack's expression tightens as he looks at Proximus, his fear evident in the tension in his jaw and the slight stiffening of his body. For all his boldness and authority, there's an underlying sense of fear when it comes to Proximus.

“Jack, I’m begging you to please help me.”

Jack looks at you, taken aback by the desperate plea. He can see the desperation in your eyes, hear the pleading in your voice. For a moment, he hesitates, his mind weighing the risks and consequences of such an action.

Jack's hands slip out of yours, his expression hardening slightly. "You're out of your mind," he repeats, his voice filled with skepticism. "Do you seriously think you can get out of here?"

You bow your head, hiding your expression. You have a plan in mind but you're wary of sharing too much. If Jack doesn't agree to help, there's a chance he'll run to Proximus. So, you keep your thoughts close to your chest.

Jack's features harden, and his words cut through the air like a knife. "Move on," he says, his voice gruff. "We all have. Love gets you killed every time." There's a hint of bitterness in his tone, a harshness that comes from a broken heart and a lifetime of loss.

You look up at Jack, your conviction evident in your eyes. You know deep down that Jack's words may resonate for some, but not for you. You're hopeful, determined to find a way out, a chance at a different life. All you need to do is wait for the right opportunity.

You knew that the moment would come that night, at the darkest, quietest hour. The camp would be at its most vulnerable, asleep and unaware. This would be your chance, your opportunity. Moving silently, you crawl through the camp, navigating the space with care and stealth. You reach Rudy, who is clearly passed out and unaware of your presence. You carefully take the key to the cage from his pocket, making sure not to make a sound.

As you move to grab the key, you notice the pistol on Rudy's hip. Instinctively, you reach out and retrieve the weapon, holding it tightly in your hand. It's a risky move, but one that adds to your sense of security and control.

You freeze as Rudy stirs, your heart skipping a beat. You hold your breath, hoping he won't wake up. Thankfully, he doesn't fully rouse but remains asleep, blissfully unaware of your presence.

A small smile creeps onto your face as you stand there, the realization that you've successfully retrieved the key and the pistol sinking in. It's a small victory, but one that fuels your determination to continue.

You make your way to the cage, moving stealthily through the shadows. The camp is still and silent, and the darkness provides adequate cover for your actions.

You reach through the bars of the cage and gently shake Loui, trying to wake him up without making a sound. The cold metal feels uncomfortable under your touch, and the silence of the night is palpable.

Loui's eyes open, and he glares at you, clearly annoyed at being woken from his sleep. His expression is a mix of anger and confusion, probably wondering why you're there in the middle of the night. You smile at him playfully, “Oh come on now, brother. How about a smile when I’m saving your ass?”

Loui's expression softens slightly as he registers your words, and a hint of a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.

The sound of your name on Loui's lips is soft and full of surprise. The other apes begin to stir from their sleep, gathering near you. Noa is there as well, standing beside Loui, his gaze fixed on you.

Noa's voice cuts through the still air, his question tinged with worry. "What are you doing?" he asks, his concern for you apparent in his expression.

A collective gasp echoes through the cage as you hold the key up for all to see. The sight of it seems to bring a glimmer of hope to their eyes, and their gazes are fixed on you, filled with a mixture of awe and anticipation.

"We're going home," you declare, your voice filled with determination.

Noa stands there beside Loui, his eyes locked on you. The pride and admiration in his gaze are hard to miss – he's clearly impressed by your courage and determination. You sense his respect and love towards you, and it strengthens your resolve, knowing that you're doing this for more than just yourself.

Your moment of triumph is suddenly shattered as you're yanked back by your hair, and you're lifted off the ground in one swift motion. The key falls out of your hand, landing several feet away from the cage. Pain shoots through your scalp where your hair is being pulled, making you gasp involuntarily.

Proximus's laughter rings out loudly, echoing across the campsite, as he holds you high in the air like a prize. The other humans seem to wake at the commotion, but none dare to approach, fearing Proximus's wrath.

Noa and Loui frantically pull at the cage, their fingers gripping the metal bars tightly. Their expressions are a mix of anger and helplessness as they watch Proximus hold you captive. The desperation in their eyes is palpable, as they try helplessly to do something, anything to save you.

Proximus dangles you in the air playfully, his voice filled with a condescending tone. "You humans... always so troublesome!" There's a hint of malicious glee in his eyes as he dangles you like a puppet, reveling in your helplessness.

Proximus looks at you, as if contemplating your fate. "What should I do with you? Hm?" he repeats, his voice tinged with a sinister edge. He seems to enjoy your predicament, savoring the sense of power he holds over you. It's clear he's taking pleasure in tormenting you, relishing the control he wields in this moment.

In a desperate act, you reach for the pistol, but Proximus is too fast. He seizes the weapon from your trembling hands, a smug smile on his lips. Proximus looks at the pistol in his hand, then back at you. A realization seems to dawn in his eyes as he speaks the words, "Ah." The implication is clear – he knows exactly what you had planned to do with the pistol and is amused by your failed attempt.

Proximus's gaze hardens, and he wraps his large hands around your neck, applying a tight grip. "Well then," he hisses through clenched teeth. The threat in his voice is clear, and the pressure on your windpipe begins to increase, making it difficult to breathe.

Noa watches in horror as Proximus's hands tighten around your neck, his eyes wild with anger. He slams against the bars of the cage, trying desperately to break free, like a wild animal trying to break out of its cage.

Suddenly, arrows fly towards Proximus, hitting him squarely in the back. He grunts in pain, his grip on your neck loosening slightly but not fully releasing you. A puzzled expression crosses his face as he tries to figure out where the arrows are coming from.

Eagles begin to descend from the sky, swooping down onto the camp. Their wings flap furiously as they dive towards the humans, creating chaos and confusion. The flapping of wings mixes with the panicked cries of men who try to fend off the unexpected aerial attack.

A new sound joins the chaos as hoots and loud gallops of horses can be heard from the nearby forest. The humans, already caught off guard by the eagles, are now further disoriented by the sound of approaching horses.

Jack moves quickly to the cage, his eyes focused and determined. He grabs the key and swiftly unlocks the cage door. As it swings open, he locks eyes with Noa, a silent moment of understanding passing between them. A nod that speaks volumes – a nod of respect.

With a brief moment of realization, Noa dives at Proximus just as an eagle strikes from the sky. The collision knocks Proximus back, who stumbles but quickly regains his composure. Jack, meanwhile, moves swiftly and catches you before you hit the ground, his strong arms preventing you from a painful fall.

From the trees, Wuka’s villagers swing in on vines, their bows and spears at the ready. They unleash a barrage of arrows at the humans, defending their own. On the ground, the Eagle Clan members ride in on horseback, their weapons raised and ready to defend their allies. It's a sight to behold – two tribes, once enemies, now working together as one against their common adversary.

Gemm swings in with a fierce yell, taking down men in her path with ease. Dar rides in on her horse, every bit as fierce and wild as her mount. Together, they form a formidable force against the humans and apes.

Noa, Loui, and Proximus are engaged in a fierce wrestling match, their movements fast and frenzied. The air is filled with the sound of grunting and growling as they slam each other into the ground, each trying to gain the upper hand.

Loui is hurled away from the fray, leaving Noa to face Proximus alone. With his imposing strength, Proximus begins to overpower Noa, his blows landing with a force that drives the wind from Noa's lungs.

Jack nimbly reaches for a mallet lying nearby, swinging it with a force that catches Proximus off guard. The heavy blow connects with Proximus's chin, knocking him off Noa and sending him stumbling backward.

Noa looks at Jack with gratitude as he struggles to catch his breath. The mallet in Jack's hand has given Noa a momentary reprieve, but the fight is far from over. Proximus, now enraged, wipes his mouth and glares at Jack with a look that could kill.

The fight now turns into a three-on-one battle, with Noa, Jack, and Loui teaming up to take on Proximus. The odds seem to be in their favor, but Proximus's strength and ferocity make the fight intense and dangerous.

After a fierce struggle, Noa, Jack, and Loui manage to subdue Proximus, pressing him to the ground with all their might. They hold him down, preventing him from escaping and rendering him immobile.

Proximus continues to struggle with all his strength, flailing his arms and grasping for anything he can use to break free. Every muscle in his body is tense, and his efforts to escape are almost primal, fueled by sheer determination.

Noa locks eyes with Loui, exchanging a silent nod. This is it; there's no turning back now. Noa grips the knife tightly in his hand, determination etched into his features. He knows what this means – he's about to end Proximus's life.

You watch from the sidelines, the scene unfolding before you with a mixture of horror and anticipation. You know that this is a pivotal moment, one that will have lasting consequences.

Gemm, your mother, senses your distress and quickly pulls you into her embrace, shielding you from the gory sight of what's about to unfold. She holds you close, protective and comforting.

Noa stands above Proximus, holding the blade poised and ready to strike. His voice is low and steady when he speaks, a hint of vengeance in his tone. "This is for my people, for my fellowship clan, and my mate," he says, his words filled with determination and anger. Then, in one quick move, he brings the blade down, burying it deep into Proximus's chest.

The air is thick with tension, but also with a sense of justice as Proximus lies there, the blade still embedded in his chest. Loui and Jack, both injured and exhausted, also look down upon Proximus with a mix of satisfaction and relief.

Out of what is left of Proximus's small camp, those who are severely injured have surrendered, not having the strength to continue fighting. Others have simply given up, realizing the battle is lost, and there's no point in resisting further.

Jack collapses onto the ground with a huff, his breathing labored and his shirt now showing a large stain of blood on his abdomen. Despite his exhaustion, he remains vigilant, watching over the surroundings with weary eyes. It becomes apparent that during the struggle to hold down Proximus, Jack had been struck by a stray arrow. The injury is now evident, with the blood staining his shirt and the pain etched on his face.

"Fuck," Jack mutters as he glances down at the injury. The pain must be immense, but he grits his teeth, hiding the full extent of his suffering. Loui kneels beside Jack, concern etched across his face. He assess the wound, "How bad?" He asks, his voice laced with worry.

Noa tears through Jack's shirt, revealing the depth of the injury. There's an alarming amount of blood already. Noa's expression turns grim as he looks at Loui and shakes his head slightly, silently conveying the gravity of the situation.

Jack lets out a laugh, but it's dry and devoid of humor. The pain and shock from the injury seem to be taking a toll on him, but he attempts to remain stoic. Jack turns his attention to Noa, a mixture of pain and admiration in his gaze. Despite his serious injury, he grins weakly. "She's one hell of a woman," he says, his voice rough. "You're lucky to have her."

Noa nods in agreement, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "She is," he says quietly, his gaze shifting towards you. He's thankful for your presence, feeling reassured knowing that you're safe.

Loui looks at Jack with gratitude and pride, his voice filled with respect. "Thank you… for your sacrifice," he says. There's a sense of admiration in his tone, recognizing the bravery and courage that Jack exhibited in their fight against Proximus.

As the last moments pass, Jack lifts his eyes towards the sky, a soft smile spreading across his face. His voice is weak but determined as he utters the words, "Coming home, love." It's a quiet acceptance, a farewell whispered into the sky, as he prepares himself for his final journey.

There's a profound silence that follows Jack's words, a solemn acknowledgement of his sacrifice. Noa clenches his jaw, fighting back the lump in his throat, and Loui stands quietly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

With a mixture of strength and support, Loui helps Noa to his feet. His grip is firm, steadying Noa as he rises, weary from the fight and the emotional toll of the day's events.

Loui extends his hand towards Noa, offering a gesture of surrendering respect. His eyes are filled with a mix of sadness and pride as he looks at Noa, acknowledging the bond they've shared and the battles they've fought together.

Loui's gaze softens as he looks at Noa, a genuine smile gracing his lips. "She is lucky… to have you," he reaffirms. There's a sense of admiration in his tone, recognizing the love and loyalty that Noa has for you. It's a simple yet heartfelt compliment, acknowledging the strength and commitment between mates.

As the dust settles and the victory is won, Dar quickly envelops Noa in a tight embrace. Her relief and joy are palpable as she holds her son safe and alive, glad that he has made it through the chaos unharmed. There's a mother's love and worry in her gaze.

Noa reassures his mother with a gentle smile, "I am fine," he says. Despite the exhaustion and the adrenaline slowly fading away, he takes a moment to hold her, allowing himself to be embraced in her protective arms. It's a brief but heartfelt moment between mother and son.

Noa turns his gaze towards you, seeing you enveloped in the warm embrace of your own family. Loui and Gemm hold you close, their protectiveness and love evident in their gestures. A mixture of relief and affection washes over Noa as he watches the scene, feeling grateful that you're safe and surrounded by those who cherish you.

“Is that her… my son?” Dar asks her son quietly as she follows his gaze. Noa nods silently in response to his mother's question. "Yes… this is my echo… my mate," he confirms. There's a hint of pride and possessiveness in his voice as he answers, a clear sign that he considers you as his own, just as his mother has inquired. “A fighter.” She smiles proudly at her son. Noa smiles faintly at his mother's observation. "She is," he agrees. There's a flicker of admiration in his eyes as he looks at you. "A strong fighter," he adds, the pride evident in his tone. Despite the weary state he's in, there's an undeniable admiration for your courage and resilience, a trait that he deeply values.

As you raise your gaze and rise to your feet, your eyes meet Noa's. There's a moment of intense connection as your gazes lock, a mixture of relief, admiration, and something deeper passing between you. Noa watches you with a weary but watchful expression, his eyes filled with affection and protectiveness.

Dar pushes Noa forward, a clear indication that she wants him to go to you. There's an unspoken understanding in her gesture, recognizing the bond between you and her son. Noa, despite his exhaustion, takes a few tentative steps towards you, his eyes never leaving yours.

With a weary but gentle strength, Noa pulls you into his embrace, sinking to the ground and bringing you into his lap. Your foreheads nuzzle together, a tender and intimate gesture, as he holds you close. The exhaustion is evident on his face, his body carrying the weight of the day, but there's a profound sense of comfort and reassurance in his arms.

Finally, the trial was over. The battle had been fought, and the victory won. It was time to return home, to the place where you and Noa would begin your own life together. The journey back would be filled with reflection and a sense of peace, the recent events leaving a profound impact on both of you.

[popponn]

coincidences and flickers.

ii - blank papers.

notes: fem!burnout artist!reader x pro-player!isagi yoichi ; pro player / post canon au ; self-depreciating thoughts towards one's own work ; fluff, with slight angst (burnout) with a happy ending (a slight hurt/comfort) ; unreliable narrator. a.n. at the end; f!reader but could be read as gn.

summary: you never thought you would find yourself next to isagi yoichi again. yet, like a deja vu, it happened once more.

prev. ; series masterlist. ; next

Going outside, viewing a bright cheerful day filled with fresh air and sounds of laughter around you, several sayings crossed your mind before you finally stopped yourself upon a cafe. Sitting on one of the bar stools and facing yourself towards the people who passed by you from beyond the window, you sat quietly.

The first comment came from yourself, heavily uttered out in your mind, it said, “Ah. Shit. It’s going nowhere.”

Right in front of you, beside a half-empty cup of coffee, was your opened sketchbook filled with unfinished scribbles all over. In some parts, there were hastily drawn squares that illustrated the canvases you would use for your work. Inside those squares were sketches no longer visible, most of their parts were crossed out almost violently under a tangled mess of scratchy lines. Looking at this without your pencil touching the paper, you just wanted to slump down right on top of the table. Thankfully, however, you still remembered what it meant to be appropriate in the middle of a crowded public place.

The second was not quite a comment, actually. It was part of an old professor’s lecture from your student days, a memory that had aged by a few years already. It was said in an empty hall that would soon be used to exhibit students’ works within a few months, right in front of said students. Your professor resembled a smirking, merciless wolf ready to ruin and devour as he stood upright, dressed in black that was more suitable for a funeral than a class.

“The theme is ‘beauty’. Please remember to make it a worthwhile piece. Of course, how you interpret those themes is up in your decisions and angles,” he said. Somehow, those motivating words felt haunting. You remembered how most students paled as the tongue that had ruined so much self-esteem during its career as both a critique and a teacher went on.

“Feel free to show off with size and numbers as much as your space and creativity allow it. I do have high hopes for each of you. After all, ‘beauty’ is one of the most attractive things for an artist, no?”

—sitting at the cafe, years after graduation and even more after that exhibition, you could hardly remember what you drew. Did that professor also leave a scathing so bad your memory repressed it?

Then, the third comment came in the form of your friend, a few glasses behind from being a blackout drunk, but certainly a few glasses too much to still have a filter placed on his mouth. A thick accent laced his slurred voice as he continued his supposed lecture about art and career. “Don’t you get it?! We are artists, but we are human too! Love what you make everyone!!!” he said passionately while standing on top of the restaurant table half naked, his cartoon t-shirt nowhere in sight.

Everyone, just as drunk or a bit less, cheered and agreed with him simultaneously. The stench of fellow art graduates and victims of capitalism’s passions, or perhaps repressed stress, filled the room. From your seat, as the unfortunate yet responsible sober friend of that night’s reunion—chosen via a rigged game of rock paper scissors—could only watch in amusement. Shouting again, your friend stated, “Art is rooted in our emotions as a human! It’s the heart—the heart! Don’t forget that! Express yourself!!!”

Afterward, it spiraled down into even more of a jumbled oration that you couldn’t quite remember. But, certainly, you would wonder if your current self was the one seated there that night. What would this version of you think of those sentences?

Your answer came immediately in the form of a scoff that escaped your mouth bitterly.

“Beautiful things, love, and emotion… huh?” you repeated while staring down at your sketchbook once again. Letting go of your pencil, you buried your face in your palms,“…what am I doing right now then?”

Is there a point for an ‘artist’ who felt nothing when doing something they were supposed to feel so much emotion for?

Is it even okay for someone to make something even when it is not even worthwhile?

“Ugh,” you groaned hoarsely into your hand. Lifting up your face you heaved out one long sigh. As of the moment, you should try again to brainstorm a concept for the needed pieces. Also, you still had illustration work to do. There was no time to whine and feel down. It felt immature, truthfully.

You glared down at the messy, filled-up page of yours. This was the product of your choice, so you had to go on. If the worst comes to worst, you would just consult your client and draw it out as needed. It felt almost like a chokehold that dug itself right inside your trachea, but you reminded yourself once again. “It is work,” you whispered to yourself, “you just have to—”

“Excuse me,” a voice stopped your mutterings right on its track, asking, “is this seat taken?”

You spared a second to berate yourself, once again reminding yourself you were in public that going out was probably the wrong choice for that moment. Then, you faced to your right, answering the voice with a smile, “It is not, please feel free—”

Then, in a manner of a dramatic deja vu, you found the very familiar face of Isagi Yoichi, dressed in casual boyish clothing, right next to you. He paused as he too realized who you were, freezing just as he was about to sit on the stool beside you with a cup of cold drink in his hand.

“Ah.”

“Oh.”

Like a pair of two surprised barely-acquaintances you were, you and Isagi stared at each other in a mix of surprise and recognition. His eyes looked a few shades darker under the shadow of his black cap, however, through tresses that peeked out from under there, you noticed how the bluish tone of his hair got accentuated even further. Dressed in a casual white sweater and grey pants, those hues of his stood out even further.

He looked slightly different compared to the man you met that night, shying away from the party and leaning against the wall. But, even more so, he looked different from the ‘him’ you viewed through the screen three days ago.

A player who truly deserved the titles of ‘Ace’ and ‘Star’ in his name. Someone who without a doubt carried so much passion for what he loves that it couldn’t help but steal your breath away for numerous reasons. It was hilarious in a way, how replaying that one of many matches where Isagi Yoichi played–out of curiosity and a slight remembrance of his name–ended up with your heart thumping almost wildly in your studio.

It was supposed to be a background voice, yet you watched that match with too much enthusiasm, feeling both envious and wishful every time Isagi Yoichi’s face came onto the screen.

Ah–you took in an inconspicuous deep breath–this is no time to think of some soccer match.

Reverting your focus back to the matter at hand, you silently took comfort in the fact that most customers surrounding you either had their ears plugged or were too into their own conversations to care about two people gawking at each other. Forcing your bewilderment within a tidy gulp, you immediately put on your best pleasantry. “What…a surprise to see you here, Isagi. And as I was saying, it is not occupied. Please feel free to have it.”

Quickly enough, the male in front of you followed your cue. Pulling the chair and sitting himself beside you, Isagi offered you a nod that could pass as a half bow as he greeted you by name. “I, uh… didn't expect to see you here too. It’s nice to see you again!”

You nodded back to him, albeit much more slowly, “Indeed, to think I will be able to meet and converse like this with a national soccer superstar, your fans must be seething.”

Isagi chuckled bashfully at your remark, the tense line on his shoulder loosening, “You talk as if you are no one yourself.”

“Having a few websites and prints displaying my name is certainly incomparable to you, please,” you shrugged, turning in your seat slightly to find a more comfortable position to converse with him, “though I am honored to have you know me.”

“Well, I did end up finding out a bit more about you after that party…” Isagi said as put down his iced drink. An iced tea of some kind, if its color was any indication. While your attention shifted slightly towards his drink, Isagi continued a tad bit too miserably, “…but to think you listen to my comments about your painting like that…”

Isagi’s smile crooked ever so slightly, a teasing tone mingled with one that said ‘How could you?’ as light as it should be for a small talk poking. You raised both of your eyebrows as a reply, smiling, “In my defense, you didn’t ask.”

“Hey, I think I did,” Isagi took a sip from his drink. His right cheek twitched. “I definitely did and you just answered vaguely.”

“Then, you probably asked just as vaguely,” you covered your grin with your hand, poorly playing up a faux misery to cover up your growing mirth, “after all, there is no way for a mere painter and illustrator like me to just brag in front of you, Ace Striker.”

“You are…” taking notice of your insistence, Isagi gave up with a sigh. Then, staring at his drink as if he was remembering that party, he continued, “Still that night…”

Hearing him trailing off, you too recalled the condemning comments you spat out that night. “I was… truthfully I just had some shame with that piece of mine. Pardon my manner,” you reasoned, truthfully unsure of how much of it was true.

“Ah, no, I don’t mean it like that, I mean!” Isagi hurriedly added, “I mean, yeah, that happened, but if I know it was your painting…”

Isagi seemed to hesitate to continue his words. You did wonder on what he wanted to say, but letting an awkwardness rise when the both of you still clearly wanted to sit in this spot would be in poor taste. Brushing it off with a wave, you attempted to finish the topic at hand with a good note. “As they say, what happened, happened. So, putting all those aside,” you turned your face fully towards Isagi, starting the conversation from the top once again. “What brings you here?”

If Isagi did notice the shift in conversation, he certainly didn’t bother to mask it. His eyes stayed on you for a moment, but after a brief, nearly unnoticeable moment of silence, Isagi replied to you as he took off his cap, putting it down on the table, “I, well, taking a drink, I guess? I’m supposed to meet up with a friend but…”

As your company furrowed his eyebrows despite holding his smile, you scoffed amiably, leaning your cheek on your palm. “Did they cancel out of the blue?” you asked, out of experience,

“Yeah, his girlfriend and something about an urgent matter,” Isagi said in a way that told you whoever this friend was, it wasn’t exactly a surprising thing for that person to pull. You attempted to cover up your pity at that. Isagi, with hair slightly disheveled by his cap, returned the same question back to you. The forced smile etched on his lips visibly softened as he asked, “How about you, though?”

You took one deep breath as you thought up a response. Answering honestly would just bring the two of you back to the very topic you attempted to run away from–your drawing. But, with a sketchbook being opened in broad daylight like this in front of you, lying would be plain stupid.

You held back a groan. Your headache was probably caused by a rotting mind rather than whatever you thought it was before. This conversation had turned into a devil’s loop.

However, still taking proper manners and such into account, you lightly tapped said sketchbook, “As you can see, work, in a way. I need a change of scenery to try and get new ideas. But, as of now… you could say I’m taking a little break.”

It certainly put so many things mildly, but that answer should do. The last thing you wanted to do would be to express your frustration once again and repeat that night with the same person. Therefore, calling ‘this’ a ‘break’ would suffice.

“Ah, I see,” Isagi’s eyes moved to your sketches. Then, they moved between you and those scribbles a more few times, before with a somewhat timid kind of curiosity, Isagi hummed, “Uh, you don’t have to but… mind if I take a look? At those drawings?”

How you wished you could snap that thing shut and run away.

“Sure,” you pushed it towards him. You hoped your hands didn’t shake. Keeping up your demeanor, you added in a joking manner, “But they are still very messy though–” they are a mess “–I hope you won’t mind.”

“I definitely won’t!” Isagi responded with a grin that carried with it a mysterious confidence. He sounded even more sure than you were. As he flipped the book back to its first page, you immediately bit your tongue. You reminded yourself to appear friendly. “I found some of your work online and I really like them!”

A light flutter touched you upon hearing his praise. It did sound genuine, even if you probably would have thought otherwise. Though, probably, if you looked at your older artworks, you could say that it was made with your whole heart at the very least. Unlike most things you had put out recently.

Idly tracing the pencil you had laid down, you replied, “I’m glad you like them.”

You managed to stop yourself from saying more, somehow, despite the bitter words already hanging at the exit of your mouth. Pushing those words aside, you eventually decided to continue to follow the lines on the pencil’s body once again, feeling the familiar and artificial smoothness on it.

“Woah,” Isagi gaped quietly, turning the pages slowly. You took notice that it was pages of still life studies you did. Just from the number of details on them alone, it was apparent they had been made some long time ago–before the overwhelming weight that made the task of simply opening your sketchbook unpleasant came into your days. There was no way you could muster enough will to put in that much effort.

You stared at those sketches deeply, wondering if you enjoyed making them then. Under your own breath, you murmured, ”Those stuffs, eh…”

“You really are amazing…” Isagi praises easily as he continues to flip through the pages, mouth agape slightly as if your drawings truly were masterpieces. “You are so good.”

Truthfully, the more praise you heard, the more you wondered how you should react. Donning on faux gratitude and humor felt wrong. It truly did lighten your heart to hear it. Hearing that someone spared even a second to appreciate something you make has always been nice. But, even so–

Those drawings were from a time when drawing was easy and filled with love. The you who had walked past that time and looked back at it with nothing but envy had no right to accept those praises. In a way, perhaps you never did deserve those praises.

Many people deserve that title of a ‘pro’ more. They who draw better than you could ever hope to be, they who love drawing much more deeply than you.

You, who dared to say you were in love with your craft once before falling silent this soon–

You have no right to accept those words.

Your fingers drew to a pause, you put a second of consideration before deciding to put that pencil back into your back. “You praise me too much,” you replied, thankful for his kind words nonetheless. However, still unwilling to dwell too much on your drawing, you tried to shift the focus towards Isagi once again, “Also, I’m a bit curious, but do you mind if I ask something?”

“Hm?” Isagi’s head lifted up slightly, removing his attention from your sketchbook for a moment. “Sure, I think. What is it?”

“I thought soccer practice is an everyday thing for pros like you. Are you on break?” you asked casually.

“You could say that,” Isagi said, “two weeks off for a bit before we go back to the usual.”

“I see…” you noted down. Then, the memory of a video you watched a few days ago came to the surface of your mind for the second time. It was a video you played to fill the background silence at your studio, however the cheers of crowds and the close-ups of Isagi Yoichi’s face were played enough times to have an impression of their own. “Still, seeing how hotblooded and passionate you are on the field, I would have thought you would be practicing alone instead of drinking coffee…”

“Wha–” Isagi, unexpectedly, spluttered at your sudden statement.

You blinked. Your hand flew to cover your mouth the moment you realized what you just muttered out loud, “Oh my–I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude–”

“No, no! It’s fine!” Isagi shook both of his hands quickly. The two of you truly were lucky that no one paid attention to your interactions or it would be embarrassing–you noted, your face turning as if you just sucked on something sour. “I mean, I usually kind of do? It’s just, a break is necessary sometimes, you know–those stuffs. And really, it just surprised me for you to say that out of the blue so…aha ha ha…”

As the blue-haired male laughed bashfully, you couldn’t help but to follow it with a hesitant guffaw of your own. Letting the sudden jolt between the two of you dissipate, you soon added, “I truly do mean it as praise, though. Even someone who doesn’t know anything about soccer like me couldn’t help but admire you when you play.”

While you were very much aware of how you worded it out like mere flattery, you truly did mean every bit of your word. Even through a screen, watching a play of something that felt worlds away from yours, seeing someone putting on such a wide victorious grin and focused gaze was a ‘something’. Three days ago, seeing that replay in the silence of your own room, sitting right in front of a blank canvas, it truly was a sight.

“Your dedication and such… I will call you a talented genius, but it was definitely more than that…” you vividly remembered how his eyes shone within those footages. Even outside of the field, the glint that stole your breath that day still held itself across his blue eyes that were right in front of you. “...you are a sight to behold, Isagi Yoichi.”

Isagi’s mouth hung open. Nervously, he rubbed the back of his neck as it morphed into a bright smile–boyish, bashful, yet full of pride that you had come to associate with him after watching that match. And, you supposed, after watching the proof of his hard work, he truly deserved to feel that pride.

“Thanks,” Isagi said, saying your name quietly in gratitude. His eyes escaped towards your sketchbook for a moment, “I think I could say the same about you too, though, you know.”

You blinked. “...Huh?”

“That painting that night and all these sketches,” Isagi continued to flip through the sketchbook, finally arriving on the messiest page of all, yet still looking at it as if it was worthy of something beyond a series of unfinished scribbles and less, “I’m no expert at paintings and drawings too, but I could feel how much of your heart and seriousness you put in it.”

“... is… that so…?” you did not expect to hear such praise. Was it a praise?

Was trying to put your all enough when it amounted to nothing eventually?

When it turned out to be meaningless and–

“Your drawings–” Isagi faced towards you, leaning forward slightly as his eyes crescented, a genuine and sincere glimmer still carrying itself in them, “–I really like them!”

For once, you stilled as you listened to Isagi Yoichi’s compliment.

It was simple and, undoubtedly, very subjective. There was no praise on how he understood it nor on how he thought everything came together. You wondered if this was because you hadn’t heard or tried to seek any opinion of your drawings for a while. Or perhaps it was because you drowned every single one of them with your own comparison and sentiments. You couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. However, you knew that it stilled you because–

It was simply an ‘I like them’. 

For once, however, you couldn’t feel any disgust towards yourself or your drawings coming up. Your brain couldn’t come up with any reason or anything–it stayed silent, as you could only nod and utter out a quiet acceptance. When push comes to shove, who were you to discredit a feeling of ‘liking’?

“...thank you, Isagi,” you nod, looking away back to the window across you with a smile you knew was too shaky and big, feeling lightheaded and flustered, “I’m glad you like them.”

The cafe was bustling and Isagi had returned to your drawings, smiling even as he replied to you with a relaxed manner, “Same to you!”

Yet again, you found yourself unable to reply to that. Letting the conversation died there somehow felt right, oddly enough. Your shoulder relaxed as you took a deep breath once more. In the back of your mind, the grating weight was still there and you knew it would come back much sooner than you hoped it to be. But, for that moment, it was enough.

Sitting next to Isagi Yoichi–whose fervor had gained your respect–who praised you with such sincerity, it was enough for you to think that at that very moment–

It is okay for you to draw, despite everything.

Isagi turned to the next page as you stayed silent, finding yourself only being able to stare blankly at the air between the two of you. “Ah,” Isagi came to a pair of blank pages, clean and unblemished by anything. 

“It seems you reached the end, Isagi,” you lightly said, offering a hand to take back the book.

“Yeah,” Isagi closed it and took it to your hand with a satisfied look, “thanks! It was great!”

“...you really praise me too much,” you repeated once more, this time acknowledging how it felt lighter to say it. “However, thank you. I’m glad you like those studies and idea roughs.”

“...studies…? …roughs?” a pair of blue eyes looked at you in confusion, the owner clearly blurting those words out of question and unfamiliarity.

You couldn’t help but to laugh at that, “The drawings you have seen. They are studies and roughs. An observation drawn on paper and… a messy note of ideas in drawing form, I suppose.”

“Oh–I see, I think I got it!” Isagi said, brightly in understanding, before then shifting slightly in his seat and taking a sip from his drink. “I never heard of those terms before–or maybe I just forgot it after high school, haha…”

You chuckled in sympathy. “It’s okay. I barely remember any rules of soccer either. I do know you can’t use your hand unless you are a goalkeeper, but other than that, I don’t think I even know what offside is.”

With faces turned towards each other, you could clearly see Isagi’s eye crinkling in humor. It was a good look on him, you noted. The lines of laughter on someone’s face always have their own charm visually, you know after all these years, however, it truly suits his face.

“Then, should I tell you?” Isagi offered, quiet rhetorically as he didn’t miss a bit to continue, “So, basically it’s–”

VRRRRT–

Which he would if it wasn’t for the sudden sound of vibration coming from his pocket. Both you and Isagi glanced down. Isagi made an apologetic face that was jumbled along with a grimace and a subtle irritation, earning a nod and an amused smile from you.

Another deja vu. It seemed like that this meeting would end soon too, you thought silently, vacantly looking at the empty pages in your hand. It didn’t feel good. The empty pang where you knew excitement should thrum was still very much there. It still felt like a hole that was simply there to make you suffer.

But, for once, it didn’t feel as terrible as it usually was–you noted. Perhaps, you could fill those pages with something ‘likable’ soon enough.

“Hey, yeah. It’s me. What is it, man?” Isagi picked up the phone with a tone much more casual than the one he used with you. A bit rougher and clearly more impolite too, you realized. “Huh? What–suddenly? Dude. Come on you just dipped out on me–you can’t just–”

You looked away as Isagi seemed to get exasperated not long into the phone call. Remembering your empty cup of coffee, you wondered if you should order another drink or perhaps move on, either back home or somewhere for dinner. You would definitely have to turn back to your work, though, either way. Your teeth felt like biting your tongue ever so slightly at that reminder, though you probably should indeed go home.

However, before that, you did feel like you had to do something beforehand.

Peering over at the phone Isagi’s hand, you wondered how should you go over it.

“Um,” Isagi called out your name, breaking your trance, wearing a description of ‘feeling bad’ on the scrunch of his face, “I’m sorry but that friend of mine…uh, he kinda turns back with his girlfriend and needs me, so…”

“Take it easy, it’s okay,” you hummed in understanding. Isagi wore an obvious guilt on his face still, however, so you added, “Really. While I do pity that I won’t get an explanation from Master Ace Striker himself, I was grateful for our chat. Thank you for humoring me.”

He chuckled at that, “Come on, no need to be that formal. I enjoyed it all too–oh. Wait.”

As Isagi cut himself short, quickly clicking through his phone, you let him be for a moment. You took the chance to put your sketchbook in your bag and scanned over the table for any of your belongings left. From the corner of your eye, you saw a quirk placing itself on Isagi’s lips.

“But, since we already looked each other up,” relaxed and friendly he offered his phone to you, unlocked and displaying the contact screen, Isagi did what you felt like you should do in your stead. “Mind exchanging our number so I can explain about ‘offsides’ and other rules to you through text?”

You were very glad your head had cooled down, or it would be terrible. Is Isagi the friendly oblivious type who doesn’t realize this sort of thing could be translated as flirting? Or it is? Or perhaps, you were simply getting too many things over your head after a few praises.

“Sure, I was about to ask you for the same thing,” you took his offer gladly, admitting your prior intent easily. Accepting his phone, you punched your number in and quickly returned it. “I will look forward to that offside explanation and the other kinds of stuff too.”

“Yeah, yeah. Explain some art stuff to me too later, ‘kay?” 

“Oh. An exchange of information? How transactional.”

“I don’t mean it like that! But… yeah?”

The two of you emitted a simultaneous small laugh, for some reason. Quieting the tickle in your mouth, you shook your head, “I’m joking. I will look forward to another talk with you. It was insightful.”

Isagi’s lips turned into a shape that spelled out amusement in its equal crooked and wry curve. However, just right before he was about to open his mouth, his smile slipped along with the resounding vibration from the device in his hand. Isagi let his mouth hang open for a moment, before finally grimacing, “...well, I should go.”

Never taking your eyes off him as Isagi stepped off his stool, you nodded. “You should. I will be off soon too. Be careful and good evening, Isagi.”

“Then… good evening to you too,” Isagi said as he took backward steps towards the exit, confident and controlled enough as if he could see what was behind him clearly, “I’ll see you around.”

You raised a little wave that was more of a jest than anything, bidding him a farewell, “See you.”

And with that, Isagi turned around swiftly, a slight bounce pushing his first step forward as he went for the door. You were about to take your eyes off him right as he stopped in his rush all of a sudden, turning towards you once again.

“Oh, also–” Isagi said, a bit louder and ignorant to a few glances thrown his way, “–good luck with the idea hunting. Don’t push yourself too hard, ‘kay?”

prev. ; series masterlist. ; next

a.n.: and the second chapter is done!!! it definitely took longer than i thought, haha. maybe i should publish the outtakes for giggles hoho;;; but things are finally moving and looking up. and as a disclaimer, i want to remind you that everyone's burnout is different & this fic will never be the perfect portrayal of those experiences. but, if you are in a slump or a burnout, i wish you a good time soon :3 thank you for @doobea for beta reading this too ;;; this thing wouldn't end up being as coherent as it is without u ily;;;; all in all, i hope you enjoyed this chapter :> please do look forward to the next one, i will look forward to any kinds of feedback & thoughts u may have hehe <3 once again, thank you for reading!

taglist: @doobea @mariyumemi @intheewrld @lazysublimeengineer @coquettemaiden @kreishin @yoisami @takotakigum @themigrainegirll **bolded and italicized means i cannot tag you. please do contact me in case you want to be added or taken out of the taglist :>

[theunsinkableship1]

Something is rotten in Lukolaland

⚠️DISCLAIMER: This is LUKOLALAND only. Skip this if you're not a shipper. This is only my point of view. No harm intended.

This isn’t the post I planned to share today, but I feel compelled to address the rising negativity within our fandom. Recently, I’ve noticed an increase in hate, and I’ve even been accused of encouraging extreme fan behavior, which is far from what I stand for.

Many outside our community are quick to label us as “crazy” simply because we ship real-life actors, and if I can understand their concerns in some ways, this hostility is not entirely deserved and it has pushed many of our own to withdraw from what was a fun and loving space. It’s also disheartening to see so much infighting, and I want to firmly condemn this behavior.

The Lukola fandom, like any other, is built on the love and admiration of two actors and the unique connection they share. However, recent actions by a small group of shippers have crossed the line, overshadowing the very essence of what it means to be part of this community. Harassing the stars, their friends, and their families and co-workers goes against the principles of kindness, respect, and positivity that should define any fandom.

Furthermore, doxing and harassing other creators, just because their views differ, is deeply wrong and damaging. This behavior is not only illegal but also violates basic human decency. It tarnishes the entire fandom and hurts the very people we claim to support.

This space was meant to be a celebration of love, yet lately, it feels like some have infiltrated our ship with the intention of causing chaos and tarnishing our reputation. It's as if they are not true believers in Lukola, but rather individuals trying to stir up negativity and disrupt something beautiful. Let's not allow these disturbances to undermine the genuine passion and support that brought us all here. We need to stand united, stay positive, and protect the essence of what our fandom truly represents.

Our ship is made up of fans who love both Nicola and Luke, and recent events have led to an unacceptable amount of hate directed towards them. This needs to stop immediately. There is no Lukola without either of them, and their current or past relationships do not diminish our belief in their connection as an endgame couple. If you no longer believe in their love, you are free to disembark or go aboard another ship. Please don’t overstay and bring negativity in this Love boat that should be filled with support, positivity, and love. Let's keep our ship sailing smoothly, focused on the joy that brought us together in the first place.

Being part of the Lukola ship is about celebrating the chemistry and bond between Luke and Nicola, appreciating their talent, and sharing the joy their on-screen and off-screen interactions bring. It is not about spreading hate, attacking others, or engaging in toxic behavior. We must remember that our actions reflect on the fandom as a whole, and it’s our responsibility to ensure it remains a space of love, respect, and positive support.

Let’s refocus on the heart of why we are here to celebrate the love and connection we see, and not to bring harm or negativity into the lives of others. We can enjoy our ship while maintaining respect for everyone involved, including the actors, their loved ones, and fellow fans. Let's be better and embody the love that brought us here in the first place.

I will take some time to reflect on my actions and commit to being more mindful in the future. I pledge to not go overboard by being overly invested or overanalyzing every detail, and I will be more thoughtful about the content I share moving forward.

Let's keep our LOVE boat exciting and new.

[nervoustragedyluminary]

If Someone appears to be venting in the transandrophobia tags about facing lateral aggression due to being a trans guy then they hit you with

"why do amabs always behave like this? they always think they're better than us/it's always amabs doing this"

Then that's very likely a terf or someone who is drinking their koolaid and it is probably best to tell them to knock it off and /or block them.

Lateral aggression from trans women and trans fems isn't "amabs using their male privelige to dominate and oppress the deluded weak trans identified feeemales"

it's oppressed people lashing out at the closest safest targets who happen to be fellow trans people often as a response to similar lateral aggression from trans men but generalising all trans men and "afabs" to be exactly like the shitty dude/s who were being transmisogynistic to them.

it's people doing respectability politics

It's classic humans being humans in a crab bucket

its not some magical biological drive or trans women being a hive mind of secret mras

trans women aren't misogynist sleeper agents waiting to hurt trans men and other "afab" assumed trans people, and terfs who keep trying to push this bullshit should know that we see through you and condemn your misogyny and transphobia and stand with our trans sisters and siblings

Beware of anyone equating any crappy behaviour by anyone to their AGAB because that's bioessentialism and it's a cornerstone of terf and misogynistic rhetoric

Just because a trans woman is being a cruel fuckwit that doesn't make her a man,

no trans women aren't "biologically prone towards selfishness more so than other trans people "

Anyone saying that shit is spreading terf rhetoric and trying to prey on people who are hurting to try to isolate them and make them feel like they can't trust other trans people least of all trans women.

It's a grooming tactic ;"you can't trust anyone except fellow afabs" is grooming (similar for the"you can't trust afab trans people crowd) it's an isolation tactic that cuts you off from outside sources of information and experiences that conflict with the simplistic "us vs them" narratives that these high control groups like terfs want to indoctrinate people into

Terfs want us trans guys and assumed "afab" trans people to turn on trans women and fems and assumed "amab" trans people and buy into their fairytale of "male socialisation /behaviour versus afab solidarity uwu sex separatism and violence is feminist" & fuck that to hell

remember to keep an eye out for transmisogyny and point it out for what it is.

Solidarity forever

(The vast majority of people I do see calling it out I just saw a heinous post and needed to vent)

[beardedmrbean]

How can we understand the terrible, self-imposed deprivation now gripping the people of Gaza? The heart-wrenching stampede that unfolded in Gaza last Thursday casts a stark light on the brutal reality of life under Hamas's rule. It is a somber reminder of the urgent need to address the suffering of Gaza's people, but it also serves as a crucial moment to clarify the accountability for Gaza's plight.

The chaos and desperation that led to this tragedy are direct outcomes of Hamas's governance, which prioritizes violence and killing Jews over the welfare of its population. The stampede, occurring during an aid distribution, tragically underscores the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Driven by sheer desperation, people found themselves in a deadly crush, a situation that should never occur.

To pave the way for peace and stability for my brothers and sisters in Gaza, it is essential to acknowledge the root causes of their suffering. Hamas's diversion of resources, suppression of dissent, and neglect of civilian needs must end. The international community, along with the Palestinian people, must demand accountability and seek a future where governance prioritizes human dignity, economic opportunity, and peaceful coexistence. Only through addressing these fundamental issues can we hope to prevent such tragedies and build a brighter future for all Palestinians.

As a Palestinian human rights activist deeply sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinian people and the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I can tell you beyond the shadow of a doubt that the terrorist group Hamas is responsible for the suffering of Gazans.

Outside obfuscators often try to misplace blame for the suffering onto Israel's "blockade" on the Strip, but a brief consideration of the timeline shows the absurdity of this conceit. Israel unilaterally withdrew all of its soldiers and settlers from Gaza in 2005. Within hours, Hamas-aligned looters had stripped bare and destroyed the greenhouses and farms Israel had left behind for local sustenance. In 2007, Hamas seized military control of the strip in a brutal local coup against the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority (PA), throwing its supporters off the roofs of buildings.

Since then, rather than engage in peacemaking and economic development, Hamas, like a Mediterranean North Korea, has diverted all of its resources to warfare. It and its ally, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), have repeatedly fired rocket salvos into central Israel—in 2008-9, 2012, 2014, and 2021. In October 2023, Hamas breached all precedent with an all-out invasion of Southern Israel, massacring over 1,200 innocents in a single day—including 300 young people at an all-night nature dance party celebrating peace.

Rape, torture, and bodily mutilation were reported on a systemic scale, and over 240 innocents were dragged back to Hamas's terror emirate in Gaza as hostages. Hamas is still holding over 130 of these innocents hostage.

As a human rights activist and a human being, I recognize that it defies all rules of geopolitics, morality, and human nature to suggest that Israel not respond militarily to dismantle Hamas and rescue its people, who we now know are being raped and psychologically tortured in captivity.

Read more

I'm a Palestinian. Hamas Alone Is Responsible for the Blood Shed in Gaza

We Palestinians Must Dump Our Leaders and Accept Israel's Offers for Peace

Hamas Is Committing Terrorism Against My Palestinian Brothers and Sisters

And yet, amidst the intensity of the ongoing war, Israel has facilitated the transfer of international aid to Hamas-controlled territory—while Hamas has been seizing these essential supplies and transferring them for military purposes. Hamas has built a massive network of tunnels under the Strip that exceeds the New York subway system in length, where hostages have been kept underground without light and used as human shields to protect terrorist commanders. Hamas's cannibalization of the civilian economy has gone so far as to dig up water pipes and convert them into makeshift rockets to fire into Israeli territory.

Beyond economic manipulation, Hamas's rule in Gaza is marked by a severe crackdown on political dissent. Opposition and press voices are silenced, often violently, with human rights organizations reporting arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings. LGBTQ+ individuals, and anyone else who defies the harsh religious extremism governing all life in the Strip face torture and execution.

The real victims of Hamas's governance are the ordinary people of Gaza, who endure the consequences of their rulers' bloodthirsty actions. The youth, facing unemployment rates that are among the highest in the world, see their futures evaporate in an economy stifled by mismanagement and artificially exacerbated conflict. The sick suffer from a health care system in disarray, with hospitals overwhelmed and under-resourced, in part due to the diversion of medical supplies to serve Hamas's fighters and the repurposing of these healing spaces into military command centers.

As a Palestinian human rights activist, my loyalty lies with the Palestinian people, whose rights and future have been compromised by a cruel leadership that prioritizes military and terrorist objectives over human welfare. For those of us caught in the middle, the path forward requires an honest confrontation with the reality of our situation.

The plight of Gaza is a wound at the heart of the Middle East, a testament to the failures of an international policy that has foolishly coddled a brutal tyrant and implacable foe. Only by dismantling the governing rule of the irredeemable Hamas can we begin to heal this wound and move toward a future where the rights and dignity of all Palestinians are upheld, and peace and economic development alongside our Israeli neighbors can at last bear fruit for both sides.

Bassem Eid is a Palestinian human rights activist. He lives in the West Bank.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.

[robinnsblog]

✨Who did it?✨

Or, as an alternate title:

I can’t believe I have to play Devil’s Advocate for Ozzy…

Yes, your honor, he did haunt Elise until she passed away, ruined Roman’s life as collateral, sort of kidnapped Henri and almost murdered Goldia. I can’t deny that he is, in fact, the main villain in Pocket Mirror and sole responsible for the events in that game.

However!

In Little Goody Two Shoes, he isn’t the only schemer behind the scenes. Our second player is Walpurga — and I don’t think we’re giving her enough credit. It’s easy to misjudge her as a secondary threat in Elise’s path when, actually, she’s the main instigator.

I dare to say that she’s even the one to start it all, the one who led Elise to her eventual downfall! Ozzy just took the merit after she was out of the picture.

But before I go through the events of the game, let’s review what some characters have to say, in special when it comes to the lore. We’re going to be judging…

… their credibility.

Our dear Rozenmarine here is talking about Ozzy by the way, and we have already established that he is, in no shape or form, a benevolent entity. Nonetheless, she’s the most truthful character towards Elise: she even warns her of the heavy price she’ll have to pay for her wish. Not even Walpurga, who is the first one to mention all of this information, alludes to such a thing; in fact, she even outright lies about it when she says that the Gifts will be “all that’s requested in return”.

The other character that gives the most exposition is Father Hans, and like Rozenmarine and Walpurga before him, we have to take his words and judgement with a grain of salt — in special when it comes to Walpurga and her sanctification.

Case in point: if a witch is a human woman and Walpurga is the consciousness of the woodland surrounding Kieferberg, can we truly call Walpurga a witch? Or is a human woman a forest now?

Despite the flaws in his logic, Father Hans doesn’t question much the nature of what he’s trying to summon and when he does, briefly worrying about the possibility of Walpurga being a demonic entity masquerading as a witch, he foolishly believes he’ll be able to take care of it. If you’re aware of one of the endings, you know how well that went.

His judgement, therefore, cannot be trusted.

On one hand, the demons themselves refer to Walpurga as a witch as well — and it’s likely they know more about this than our two faced priest. On the other, they also don’t hide their contempt by calling her creature and wretched thing, so it’s just as probable they’re insulting her and refusing to respect her as a fellow “patron saint”.

Meanwhile, in one bad ending, Rozenmarine is way more respectful and names her “old god”…

Either way, my previous statement about Father Hans still stands. However, does that make the demons a more trustworthy source of information? Several characters —mostly Golden Maidens and Walpurga, who has ulterior motives— disuade Elise from listening to them, and to tell the truth, they don’t reveal much about themselves or their reasons to not raise suspicion. In a twist of irony though, they do reveal the deceit of others more than being deceitful themselves: it’s Murim who points out Walpurga disguising herself as Rozenmarine and being the actual culprit behind the horses and Apfel’s disappearance, after all. And it’s also Ozzy who lets Elise know that Walpurga had been misleading her from the very start — although far too late, at the very end: “You’re yet to pay for what you truly desire! That witch made you think otherwise, did she?”

In conclusion, we can’t take what they say at face value — or at least, not all of it. Still, they do offer important insight into the lore if you know who and what to believe.

An interesting bit I want to highlight and that gives a different interpretation of the game is related to Walpurga’s true identity: if she isn’t a witch, but a being similar to Ozzy and his Marquises, her inactivity during the 18 years Elise was alive could be linked to the need of a witch of her own, since they act as a sort of medium between realms.

Although that raises the question: who could be Walpurga’s witch? Let’s review the story from the beginning first.

Around the time of Elise’s birth, in a far away place, Rozenmarine and her dreams of fate were born as well, while one of the last remnants of Walpurga’s cult was being burnt at the stake — that, instead of Elise being conceived, might have been what truly weakened Walpurga.

Later, during their pilgrimage, her granny taught Rozenmarine everything she knew, including Ozzy’s folk tale. Like His name being lost to time, the reason his story was spread about in Rozenmarine’s coven could also had been forgotten; Elise did mention it sounded like a cautionary tale and perhaps, it originally had been — do demons like competition, I wonder.

As previously said, Elise’s genesis had fascinated Walpurga. She wanted back what was taken from her and also recreate what Ozzy had done that day to no avail. No matter how much that ate at her, in 18 years, she didn’t target Elise yet.

Not even Father Hans, perturbed by Granny Holle’s dead bed confession 10 years ago, acted upon his suspicions until both demons and Walpurga made themselves known in town. Or maybe he did, if Elise saying she felt ostracized after her granny passed away is anything to go by.

It’s when Rozenmarine reached Kieferberg, when everything happened all at once again: she met Flocke and her fateful dreams stopped; Elise got attacked by roots in her own home, but never again, and she dreamt of Ozzy’s realm even before getting the shoes; and a windstorm hir town, stirring Father Hans into action, believing it was the result of Granny Holle’s pact with the demons years ago.

Suddenly, everybody had a bone to pick with Elise. What changed? Rozenmarine.

This scene here is what makes me think Rozenmarine is Walpurga’s witch. In the bad endings where Walpurga kills and possesses Elise, she does so by impaling her with roots or branches like the ones that appear here. Not to mention, it all occurs next to a St. Walpurga’s statue, like it were a macabre foreshadowing of her involvement in the plot. If she could always have done an attack such as this, why then and not before? Elise had been alone for years, living in a house far away from town — nobody would have heard her scream for help. It’s, however, easily explained if Walpurga required of an intermediary to physically manifest.

The curious thing is, like I mentioned earlier, that it doesn’t happen again. For some reason, Walpurga doesn’t get a second chance to attack Elise within her own home. Coincidentally —or not—, in the next morning, we are introduced to Flocke, who mostly stays around the house with Rozenmarine.

That incident, and Rozenmarine’s dreams about fate coming to an end, I believe are related to Flocke’s presence. It would be in Ozzy’s best interest, if Rozenmarine was supposed to aid Walpurga, that she were to be as much confused as possible about her true purpose in Kieferberg — lo and behold, depending on the ending, she has a different idea about what that purpose was.

Thus far, we have a back and forth between Ozzy and Walpurga, and it keeps going: unable to go after Elise directly and following the demon making his move to snatch her first —the shoes—, Walpurga lures the girl into venturing the woodland by telling her about the Gifts.

You’ll think that Ozzy would be pleased with the idea, after all, it played in his favor. But, judging by this mysterious line of his: “Although you didn’t quite need them (the Gifts), did you?” And the look he gives Elise after she returned with the basket, maybe things weren’t going according to plan at all.

This is going to be pure speculation, however, it’s undeniable that Elise and Henri have certain parallelisms between them: their isolation and desire to escape it. Perhaps it goes further than that and Henri’s fate was supposed to be Elise’s as well: I don’t think he had to go through the Trials or sacrifice The Good Company, after all, he wouldn’t have followed her mother’s footsteps had there been someone in his life to alleviate his solitude, and it’s highly doubtful Elise would have told him about the Gifts to begin with. Like Henri, maybe she would have died in her sleep after the deal was sealed and she gave her name as payment, becoming Ozzy’s new loyal servant.

Furthermore, it could be possible that Ozzy only asked for her first born to spite Walpurga, who had been a sore thorn in his side through the whole game. Failing to procure Elise, she lost her only chance to become a woman and bear life in her womb, so what better way to twist the knife than to ask for a child with the sole intention of eating it? Because then, I don’t know how to explain the presence of the moths in the bad endings where he wins otherwise: did Ozzy kill Walpurga offscreen and steal her familiars? Maybe so.

As I said, it’s pure speculation, like Ozzy slowly grooming Henri into a demon, treating his name the same they do their own —with mystery— and giving him duties that eerily resemble what Murim and Aziel are tasked to do. So, in other words, let’s get back in track.

Before Murim was sent to meet Elise, Walpurga had kept herself busy with Eugen’s horses. We later find one, twisted into an enormous monstrosity —inspired by Mari Lwyd, maybe?—, which attacks Elise. It could have been Murim’s doing, however, he had already given Elise the Testament, meaning she had passed the Trial and was free to leave — like in Aziel’s domain. Not only that, the monster only appeared after the reason our heroine stayed —a disguised Walpurga—, finished her creepy monologue.

Walpurga apparently had something to gain if Elise died within the woodland, or else she wouldn’t have forced her back in Murim’s grove to rescue Apfel. In this second incursion, she also made an interesting revelation that supports this theory.

She always wanted the Gifts for herself — like Rozenmarine had explained at the start of the game, they represented Elise’s whole being. If she were to get her hands on the Tender Flesh, she gets Elise’s body; if she gets the Sweetest Nectar, Elise’s blood; and if she gets the Good Company, Elise’s love. And it illustrates so wonderfully why the endings happen the way they happen: if the Tender Flesh and/or Sweetest Nectar are offered, she can’t possess Elise and would rather she died in a pyre or have her turned into a tree; if the three Gifts are correctly offered, Elise is untouchable, the parts representing her under the protection of demonic sigils; and if Elise failed to offer any Gift, because they’re on her person one way or another, Walpurga gets to wear her like a costume.

Why the demons would do nothing after technically being offered and accepting the Gifts in the good endings, is a mystery on its own. Perhaps the commitment they were all on about, was the commitment to love? That brings us to Aziel’s grove and all of its mixed messages.

The next morning Elise rescued Apfel, Flocke can be witnessed throwing a tantrum and promptly leaving — Ozzy obviously displeased with Walpurga interfering so brazenly. The back and forth between the two beings never stops, even if Walpurga makes no further appearances —thanks to Aziel— other than in the endings and those branch attacks inside of Ozzy’s realm which, judging by his sigil after they have already crossed the portals, perhaps he’s trying to dispel instead of summon — the mist is also suspicious, being almost identical to that which follows the moths.

While in her domain, Aziel kept insisting to Elise that she should indulge and dive deeper into her desires, while pointing out that she has yet to discover what they are. It might be a red herring, but after Elise had confessed her wish to the old hag in the beginning of the game, Rozenmarine warned her with urgency that she shouldn’t disclose it to anyone. We’ve got to remember that one of Father Hans’s documents also describes how the woodland —Walpurga— harbored people’s wills, wishes, desires and sins in the past. Was Aziel trying to make our heroine know that her desire had been tampered with? Truth be told, Elise seems to yearn leaving Kieferberg more than riches, giving weak excuses as to why she doesn’t: “… if only it was that easy.” It is, in fact, since in the good endings she just does that. So, it could be possible.

The mixed messages, however, made themselves present during Aziel’s boss fight. After encouraging Elise to pursue her wish until then, Aziel asked to be shown how much Elise cares for her love interest. And if that wasn’t enough, she one-hit kills her if her answers didn’t prioritize her paramour —heavily foreshadowing the requirements for the good endings— while giving her this quote:

“Rather self-serving, aren’t you? You’re not worth my time, let alone His!”

Recalling the scene with the Golden Maidens, you can’t make me believe that some of them truly loved anyone in their lives, lest pass this Aziel’s test. Like, between the three first Golden Girls, who was supposed to be The Good Company: the one being murdered or the one thrown under the bus? The main one fitted the self-serving moniker perfectly and yet, Ozzy was to await for her in his banquet.

The fact that Ozzy would allow the Golden Maidens prowl around and warn Elise left and right is suspect as well. In his defense, he does say that they’re hard to tame.

Did the demons want Elise to succeed? Or perhaps they were quite content with Walpurga losing. If it’s the former, what a plot twist!

Nonetheless, I believe we have answered the original question quite well: who did it? The one who kickstarts the whole conflict is Ozzy, being responsible for Elise’s very existence to begin with, but the one who actually makes the first move to snatch our gal and keeps the pace of the game is Walpurga. Father Hans is also there, aiding Walpurga by ruining people’s livelihoods, when the demons only pulled what amounted to pranks in comparison — crows standing around menacingly and stealing some grain, and floods that caused no lasting damage.

🦋Still, I hope you enjoyed my descent to insanity and that you now appreciate Walpurga as the proactive villainess she is — not everything was Ozzy’s fault, even if he would love you to think so.🦋

[metaphorwritings]

hii! could you mayhaps write about Eupha noticing that the reader likes her brother, Edeni, and tries to make them get together? could be in any format you like :)

"Just tell him how you feel"

Author's note : Omg, I hope you don't mind if I turn this into a 'my best friend's brother' type of trope

Pairing : Edeni Etoreika x GN!Reader Pt. 1 (Fluff, Confession)

Synopsis : Ever since Eupha's return from the temple, she has noticed an awkward tension between you and her brother

Eupha couldn't understand it.

It has only been a few days since the human had attacked the inhabitants of Virga Island, only a few days since her return from the temple, only a few days since she and the outsiders of the village arrived with the Drakodios in hand.

And yet she could tell that things were not the same as they used to be between you and her brother, Edeni. These were the thoughts she currently had on her mind as she meditated in front of her mother's religious shrine, trying to clear her mind and have a better understanding of the situation.

Every time since Edeni's return from stepping down from the tournament of the throne, you'd always have this smile on your face, you seemed calmer and more at ease, but she just thought that it was only because he was the chief of their little village and it was only natural for it's people to feel a sense of calm around their leader.

But Edeni has also been acting ever so strangely, whenever you spoke, he could never seem to form proper sentences and his face would flush a bright red colour.

These thoughts were interrupted when she heard a knock on the wooden door, causing her to open one of her three mustari eyes and look towards the door before uttering "Who is it?"

"It's Y/n", the person on the other side of the door spoke "I brought your supper, Lady Eupha". The door opened and revealed Eupha's most trusted friend since childhood, Y/n, holding a wooden tray of foods for the young girl.

"You do not have to call me that, you know?" She inquired, uncrossing her legs.

"Why not? Can't you handle a little bit of teasing now?" Y/n chuckled as they sat next to Eupha, placing the tray in-between the two, "Besides, I thought you liked to be known as our village priestess"

Eupha couldn't help but chuckle at your cheeky remark, taking a loaf of bread in hand and tearing a bit off "Yes, I suppose so". She then looked back towards the shrine "But I am not a child anymore, I am the village priestess. I need to-"

"-to appear mature for the people. I know" They interrupted as the ruffled Eupha's blonde locks a little "But surely you can make an exception for me, can't you not?"

Eupha giggled under her breath as she took a bite from the loaf of bread in her hands, reminiscing about your time as children, playing games on the beach together and such, telling stories as the fireflies glowed in the air, how the two of you would laugh without a care in the world for such responsibilities that adults had.

Thinking of this, she decided to start the conversation by asking "Do you remember how the two of us and my brother used to eat the bread my mother would bake?", causing their friend to smile and reminisce about their youth.

"Yeah... I remember how Edeni used to get so excited for it..."

As Eupha looked at her friend, she couldn't help but notice how their eyes were averting their gaze from her, a feverish red hue covering her friends' ears, a small that was so smile that you'd need to squint your eyes to notice it.

"Y/n?"

Eupha asked, causing the fellow mustari hum in response.

"Well... How do I put this...? Do you... Perhaps feel a certain way towards my brother?"

The young priestess' question caused her mind to freeze, trying to think of the words to say as blood rushes to their cheeks. "I-I.... Well... I just..." They stammered, clearly flustered. How could Eupha have known? They thought they were being very discreet with their feelings...

"It's alright," Eupha started, placing a hand on your shoulder "I won't tell him"

You looked at her, surprised, confused even. "But", and there it is, there was the catch that caused that weight to fall back on your shoulders "You have to tell him yourself". You sighed and rubbed your temple "... Was it that obvious?"

Eupha chuckled nervously as she tried to encourage you some more "Erm... W-well...". That was all you needed to hear as you placed your hand over your blushing face and groaned in annoyance and embarrassment.

Eupha saw your worry and said, "Listen... If you would like, I can help you finally admit your feelings for him!". You thought about it, how Eupha was smart and your closest friend... So you lifted your head up and whispered...

"...What did you have in mind...?"

Suddenly, without so much as a knock on the already-opened door, a voice came waltzing into the room "Eupha, by chance have you seen-"

It was him.

The man who seemed to make you go quiet without saying a word.

The one whom Eupha had suspected made you a blushing mess every time he walked past.

None other than Eupha's brother, Edeni.

He stopped mid sentence when he saw you were here and his eyes widened as his face grew hot and he stammered "Y-Y/n! H-How are- How a-are y-you...?". You, yourself, were a blushing mess as you looked away and tried to act casually "I'm doing well..."

.

.

.

An awkward silence.

"Well! Um, I suppose I should go and find our visitors some place else!" Edeni suddenly said, a little too loudly as he exited the tree-top hut, "I-it was good to see you!"

You sighed in relief and turned to Eupha, who was trying to stifle her laughter. "What?" You inquired, causing her to sigh.

"The two of you are absolutely oblivious..."

She stood up, lifting the wooden tray in her hand before placing it on a table and shaking her head. She may find the whole ordeal rather frustrating, and slightly, amusing, to watch, but she was happy. Happy for her brother for feeling this way. Happy for you to want such a kind and honest man. Happy that nothing was wrong.

[smol4bluengine]

Edward was helping James with getting accustomed to life at the Hatt's manor. The former red engine was still wobbly on his feet, so he used the wall as support.

Edward lead his fellow toddler to the playroom.

"And this room is where we play. Sir and Lady Hatt got us lots of toys and games." Edward showed James.

"How does playing in this room being useful for the railway"? James asked, confused about the concept of play.

"It isn't, it's just something children do from what Sir Topham Hatt said. Plus, it helps us learn how to get use to our human bodies." Edward explained.

"Come on I'll show you. Sir Topham Hatt helped us build a pillow fort and we are about to play knights and dragons." Edward invited as he helped James towards the fort.

However, when they got there the fort was nothing but a collapsed pile. Edward was shocked.

"What happened to our fort"! Edward asked surprised.

Henry was nearby in a baby walker, he was too young to talk, so his response was just babbling. Henry knew the others weren't able to understand him, so he pointed to the culprit.

There strapped into a baby rocker nearby was Gordon, happily waving around a pillow, the majority of the pile was close by.

"Gordon, why did you destroy the fort"? Edward asked, a little upset.

He waited for a babble of a response, but Gordon starred at Edward for a bit, before dropping the pillow, grabbing his foot and proceeding to put it into his mouth. Edward was perplexed, but the closer he stared at Gordon, the more he realized something was wrong as Gordon continued to happily drool all over his foot without a care in the world.

Edward had to get the Hatt's.