#THIS UH THIS GOT LONG

[deathfavor]

@ofsavior said: “I know things were different back then —” Chifuyu pauses, hesitation catching in his throat before he swallows harshly. “With Hanma. But you don’t… miss it…” There’s an edge of concern to his tone, as if he’s asking himself if he even wants to know the answer. Because if Kazutora says yes, then what does that even mean for them? His eyes search. Kazutora’s expression for answers, but they’re out of Chifuyu’s reach. With a final plea, he asks, “Do you?” (Bonten)

Kazutora tilts his head a fraction towards Chifuyu to show he's listening, but he doesn't look directly at him. Not yet at least. At most he earns a curious glance up from his phone when he hears the unusual hesitation before he looks back down. Chifuyu's pauses strike him more as contemplative than hesitation, like Chifuyu's picking the words to make his point clearer rather than being concerned or fighting to say them.

But when Hanma's name is mentioned, his head jerks up, earring ringing sharply at the violent gesture as he stares directly at Chifuyu.

" Why? What's brought this up? " Kazutora asks, suddenly finding himself defensive at the question. And he knows, he knows, that he's probably bristling over it. He consciously forces his shoulders to relax as he stares at Chifuyu and then looks away. They don't talk about the past terribly often. Or rather, Kazutora doesn't get the luxury to. Chifuyu mentions Toman from time to time, but Kazutora is all but mute on that particular topic. He offers a lending ear but he has little input other than the occasional rare remark. When he does, he always says it carefully, like the words are full of thorns. Valhalla talk had been reserved for the last time he'd seen Chome and Chonbo while in jail. He thinks he mentioned it once and had never said it again after seeing the reaction. But Valhalla wasn't a bad memory for Kazutora. Hanma wasn't a bad memory.

" Chifuyu... " Kazutora has a bad feeling about this. " You mean Valhalla as a whole? Or just Hanma? " He wonders if the distinction even matters to Chifuyu. Probably not. They're probably both bad to him. Just like Kazutora tunes out Toman memories on the occasions others are around to reunite. Except Kazutora simply always wanted to seal that chapter shut and move on. Toman hadn't been his refuge. But the way others speak of Valhalla is never pleasant. It's like a forbidden conversation.

" I don't exactly see myself running around smashing car windows like i did then. I'm not fifteen anymore. " He jokes, letting the sound scratch his throat. He can hear the concern and it feels like he's being tested. Again. " Listen, Chifuyu. I don't know what brought this up considering you avoid talking about Hanma or Valhalla like its the plague. But I was fifteen. I enjoyed it then. Valhalla. Hanma. I liked him. More than I ever had Mikey. It felt like my gang. " He shrugs, turning to look at Chifuyu, but his expression remains guarded.

Does he miss it? Kazutora watches Chifuyu try to read him, but his expression doesn't waver. Kazutora's watching Chifuyu just as intently if not more so. " Sure, I miss the bonds I had in Valhalla. I think that's understandable. I had good memories with Valhalla, Hanma, all that. Of course I miss some of those times. What outcast kid wouldn't when they found somewhere that felt welcoming and had fun? It's the same way you guys miss Toman. " But can Chifuyu get that? Or does the past make it too hard to see? to understand? " It's been gone for years, so what does it matter? They're just memories, Chifuyu. Most people look at memories good memories fondly, doesn't mean anything. I don't know what 'it' you're referring to, Chifuyu. Valhalla? Hanma? Gangs? The violence? My memories with everyone then? What are you REALLY wanting to know? "

He frowns. " So? You going to tell me what brought this up? " He asks, arms folded across his chest as he gives Chifuyu a pointblank stare. " Because it's not fair. You've never asked about Hanma or Valhalla. No one has. No one even says their names for fucks sake. So the fact you are now means something came up. " His frown deepens, shoulders hunching inwards like a shield. " It's not fair that I get to be on trial because I had good memories with my gang at the time and be condemned for that and everyone else gets to have their good memories. " He draws in a shaky breath, finally tearing his gaze away. One or the other. You can't have both. Did that apply to this? He couldn't have good memories of Valhalla AND still like this? No, no. maybe he was just...misunderstanding. The phrase makes his stomach ache. Maybe he's just understanding all of this.

" I thought..." His voice fades. I thought at least you actually believed in me. His head falls for a moment, opening his mouth like he wants to say something more. My mom did this, you know. When I first got out of juvie. Tiptoed around things she wanted to say. Instead he shuts his mouth and lifts his head to look at Chifuyu again with a business-like expression. " So? Can you just tell me what this is about? What you really want to know? Maybe I can answer you better that way. Just........say it. Even if it sounds terrible, I'd rather just hear it then play this game. " He stares at Chifuyu, the stoicism cracking. " Please. "

[sigmadolos]

@nonhumen​​ said: " i said i would get you out alive. "  a calm voice replies from the elevator as sigma is kicked to the safety of solid ground. dazai's eyes are bright, a smile of content on his face as the elevator plunges down.  " i'll leave the rest to you. "  (give me the sigma commentary PLS)

   Was this how he died? Falling. He supposed that was how it was set from the beginning, wasn’t it? The angel with broken wings, plunging to the ground below. Like a modern Icarus, where height and ocean both sought to kill. But there would only be the hard ground to meet him. And there would be nothing of him. The world already thought he was dead other than those inside this prison. What difference did it make where an angel fell? He still fell.

   What?

   His eyes widen when he hears the calm voice in his ear. Impossibly calm considering what all was happening. What did that mea-

   Sigma suddenly feels the force from Dazai that sends him hurling out of the cage. Maybe his wings aren’t shattered beyond uselessness, because he feels himself fly for a moment and hit hard, but dry!, ground. But there is no Dazai that follows. Only haunting words and an even more haunting expression. Why was he smiling like that?

   “  DAZAI !  “  The name shreds his throat as he screams before he can even realize he has, and he scrambles to peer over the edge. Surely Dazai has a plan, right? The elevator will stop any second, and Dazai will crawl out and laugh at his expression. Because that is just something Dazai would do, like the lunatic and genius he was. And then Sigma would......what? Smack him? Hug him? Both, most likely.

   But the elevator doesn’t stop. It plunges into the darkness below to his horror until he can only hear the grating of metal as it freefalls. He holds his breath, but there is nothing. No miracle that appears. This prison is where miracles die in silence. Unanswered and unheard. But...surely...?

“  I’ll leave the rest to you.  “

   Water drips from Sigma’s hair as he stares into the abyss below. 

   “  Why?  “  It’s a hushed, weak whisper into the darkness as his hands clench the edge of the platform while he hangs his head. Dazai shouldn’t have. He should have left Sigma behind and saved himself. Hadn’t Sigma just proved he wasn’t useful? He would have died there if it wasn’t for Dazai. Why was Dazai putting so much faith in him? He’d done nothing to deserve that or earn that faith. He wasn’t a genius, he wasn’t powerful. He’d FAILED. So why-?

The answer comes with a shocking clarity.

   “  I said I would get you out alive.  “

   SIgma’s lips tremble slightly as the thought sinks in. Yes, Dazai had said that. But...Sigma hadn’t thought he’d actually MEANT it. Maybe alive until his usefulness (whatever THAT was) had ran out. No further. Sigma was already prepared to die inside these walls, nameless and forgotten by the rest of the world. Dazai had no reason to keep his word. He had no OBLIGATION to. If Sigma died, no one would be any the wiser. They all thought he was dead as it was. If anything, he was a burden to Dazai. And Dazai had....saved him? Because of some silly little words? Words that Sigma hadn’t even believed, because so many people had said such promising words to him in the past only to use and discard and abandon him. He expected Dazai to be yet another one of those people.

   But he hadn’t.

   He’d kept his word.

    ..........He hadn’t even asked anything of Sigma. It wasn’t a deal. It wasn’t sigma’s life for his ability or doing a certain specified task. Dazai had just...kept his word because he’d said it. The realization stuns Sigma, horror and grief given pause in the face of such shock. No one....had ever done that.... 

   It hurts. His heart feels like it’s being eaten alive and shredded by the cruel teeth of beasts. Fyodor.....Nikolai.....and now Dazai too. Funny how just hours ago he’d have happily done anything asked against him, because Dazai was the enemy. But who was enemy and ally had changed and blurred and twisted beyond recognition. His heart bled with emotions - but there was an unexpected blade of loss. As infuriating as Dazai had been at times....He’d also saved Sigma several times. He’d been there for him. He’d sacrificed more useful tools just to, what,  save Sigma? Someone he didn’t even know. Someone who was by all accounts the enemy.

   Dazai was a genius. What good would Sigma do? He wasn’t even the target but would it cease now or would he still be a wounded bird trying to escape cat claws?

“  I’ll leave the rest to you.  “

   His chest hurts, each breath of precious oxygen helping but also making the pain harder to swallow. 

   “  Okay.  “  Sigma speaks softly into the silent darkness, his voice trembling slightly as he leans back and stands up from the edge.  “  Okay.  I’ll take care of the rest.  “  What, exactly, the rest was, Sigma had no idea. But he wasn’t going to waste this opportunity. Dazai had saved him at his own cost, and sitting here was doing nothing for either of them beyond wasting time and the chance Dazai gave him.  Sigma wasn’t Fyodor, and he wasn’t Dazai. He had to at least try though. At least if he died, it was fighting tooth and claw. Maybe it wouldn’t be enough, but he could say he tried.

   Sigma lingers a moment, swallowing the lump in his throat before turning way to walk down the hallway.  I said I would get you out alive. I’ll leave the rest to you. Words that Sigma sank his claws into and tucked under his ribcage, close to his heart as he moved forwards.

[wishing-well-art]

Pearl's Delivery Service is open for business!

Textless versions of the stamps under the cut!

[eggnoodles0up]

slay the princess is a very serious and existential game

[wasyago]

the brainrot won

[sy-on-boy]

Real talk: the fact that Anya expects to read Demetrius’ mind but sees nothing is kind of sad because Demetrius saw his 6yo brother approach and congratulate him, and had zero thoughts in his brain. But that doesn’t mean Demetrius doesn’t care about him. When Damian stutters, Demetrius initiates conversation by talking about Damian’s grades, showing that he indeed pays attention.

Demetrius seems almost resentful by Damian’s insistence to impress Donovan, giving out a snarky, passive aggressive, teen appropriate response: “How would I know? It’s not as if I’m in regular contact with him.” This is like the passive aggressive version of whatever is going on with Melinda. Damian is a relatively innocent 6yo kid seeking his father’s approval, but both his mother and his brother appear to be seriously affected (in a bad way) by Donovan, and they avoid talking about Donovan even as Damian repeatedly mentions him. Demetrius doesn’t understand Damian’s desire for their father’s approval. He also doesn’t understand his father, hinting at some sort of disconnect between them.

What also saddens me a bit is how Demetrius barely acknowledged Damian’s friends talking to him. Like, they’re six year old kids trying to make a good impression. Still, Demetrius didn’t completely ignore them, just gave a meaningless “oh” and decided to stop thinking about people. It’s very much giving “stressed (and depressed) to the point of apathy”. When facing the innocence (ignorance?) and optimism of 6yo kids, Demetrius doesn’t understand. (And maybe he doesn’t understand friendship, which is what Damian has?)

I mentioned before that characters Anya met are probably “good” characters on the side of Forgers or at least are sympathetic to readers. Because if Anya met a “bad” character and read their mind, she would be too OP and the plot could be quickly solved. It’s like how we all thought Melinda was suspicious when she met Yor, but then Anya met Melinda and read her mind to reveal that she cares about Damian (even if it’s in a twisted way). Demetrius is interesting because he subverts what I said above by thinking very little, so Anya cannot really read him. But so far, I think his portrayal is that of a typical middle schooler with middle school angst, and he cares about Damian even if he has zero thoughts on his brain (and doesn’t like the way Damian craves fatherly approval). He is still a child and presumably a victim of his father’s parenting.

The framing is also interesting. Damian telling his friends to go on without him while he waits for Demetrius. The panel of Demetrius towering over a stuttering Damian. Demetrius going away, showing a panel of him as a small figure in an otherwise blank background. That panel when Anya thinks Damian’s relatives are weird has her looking at Damian while he’s some distance away from her (and the rest of his friends). The brothers feel disconnected. Damian is both eager and nervous to talk to Demetrius. Demetrius is nonchalant and apathetic, but not impolite or outwardly wholly dismissive.

Given Damian’s wacky family situation, I’m glad he has friends at Eden. Ewen and Emile of course are steadfast and loyal companions, always eager to back up their beloved boss man. Anya can read his mind and she knows about his insecurities (and also his weird family).

Becky is also good as a friend because she doesn’t care about sucking up to Damian, she often calls him out, but she also supports Damian when he deserves it. A sweet scene here is Damian saying he’s a Desmond so he’s expected to get a star, and Becky adding “it’s still a great achievement. Congrats!”. Becky is validating his success and telling Damian it’s okay to be proud and happy for himself. Even though she’s usually judgemental towards Damian, she’s still kind to him because that’s who she is as a character.

In the end, Damian still wants his father’s attention. He had no idea Demetrius wasn’t that close to their father… I would assume Demetrius spent most of his time at Eden and this is Damian’s first year at Eden, so he actually gets to interact with his brother instead of hearing things about him?

So far, Demetrius seems like a very jaded character in contrast to Damian who feels like a beam of sunshine now. He’s the heir so he’s got more troubles. But it’s nice that he’s finally debuted and no longer in mystery. Can’t wait to see what Endo has in store for him :)

[bulbabutt]

the one time you try and hype up how blood thirsty your brother is (cuz his wrath isnt focused on you for once) and he ruins it

people who argue about which turtle is better in a fight are boring, theyre just gonna vibe

previous part | all comics in this series (chrono)

[demaparbat-hp]

Almost

[haunted-xander]

GIVE ME MY BODY BACK

[anemonet]

pro tip: you can always put the bugs in little outfits :thumbsup:

[sixohsixoheightfourtwo]

I actually love glass onion being set deep in covid times but where's the post that was like . Glass Onion should have ended with benoit blanc getting home and testing positive for covid . I really think that would've tied the whole thing together

[swordsonnet]

i did not have "james somerton stealing the title for his second apology video from hbomberguy" on my 2024 bingo card

[groenendaze]

these make me feel emotions i dont quite understand

[vesrimm]

woo yeahh woo yeah MAP part where he gives himself Every Disease

[reigobun]

Evelyn Evelyn - a three buckets animatic

[mauv-the-bluest-cat-ever]

test or something