#THe Pedantic Romantic

[thisisnotacreativeusername]

ok guys. i have to be so real with you. luke saying annabeth is like a little sister to him was not just added for the tv show he says that in the book ("she would never... i mean, she's like a little sister to me" (page 223))

[son1c]

a scene from my fanfic: roller coaster escape!!!!

[seaofolives]

day 3 of all-ships ship week by #ficwip!

live to tell

🦁 jeturk bros/laugue, g, ~1.7k

🦁 read it on ao3 or sqwa!

[valtsv]

this is definitely an intersection of my aromanticism and my pedantic nature, but i do enjoy it so much when it's emphasised that it wasn't (usually romantic) love that "fixed" someone or made them "complete", nor was it love that they were missing, but instead comfort, or safety, or a sense of purpose, or simply an opportunity to stop and rest for a while. when far more basic, animal desires take precedence, and are acknowledged to be no less meaningful or worthwhile to pursue. and perhaps love was there, and perhaps it helped to facilitate their fulfilment, but it was never a necessary condition, and its recipients wouldn't have been any less deserving of having their needs met if they weren't loved.

[fandom-hoarder]

Dean literally interrupted Sam's special ceremony with an objection, and then they got married in a handfasting in front of the King of Hell. 🤷‍♀��

Sam and Dean aren't romantic. They're brothers.

Says you. I happen to think they are highkey Romantic Brothers Who Love Romance.

[coilserpent]

astrology observations pt. 13

Hello, everyone! 💜 I am back again with the observations after a long long time away from tumblr; I am taking sidereal birth chart readings, for those contact me at my email: coilserpent@gmail.com. Enjoy!

sidereal cancer is a natural yearner similar to sidereal taurus and libra, however it is not exclusive to a romantic interest. the yearning transcends romance, it goes to the past, friends, family, older versions of the self.

sidereal leo is pedantic about their goals, they like to track their progress and also keep their spaces clean and pleasant looking.

9th and 12th placements are experimental, they may not believe in the concepts presented to them but they do not reject them. 12th housers especially may even try them out and embrace something just to feel what it brings to them as an experience simply,

people put sidereal leo on a pedestal and look up to them because of their skills and the way they carry themselves, their wisdom too (magha nakshatra) but they feel like an impostor often and don’t even like being noticed in that way, they mostly prefer recognition for certain skills.

7th housers can’t learn their most valuable life lessons and develop themselves to their fullest potential without their 1:1 connections. be it business, friendship or romance. they take the wisdom from those unsuccessful relationships and use it to strengthen their 1st - sense of who they are outside of the relationships.

8th housers have a tendency to not let their traumatic experiences go and this stunts their ability to grow emotionally. (2-8 nodes especially here) they have a tendency to always remember the people closest to them did that affected them so deeply where they don’t even get out of this deep whole of negativity, this breeds chronic low self worth (2H) and no motivation to be more.

1st housers when not evolved may be tricked into giving a lot of attention to the 3D and associate 3D themes with what makes them “Them”, they may define themselves as their career and hobbies. this is a recipe for existential crisis because once those 3D elements change (they will) or are no longer interesting to the masses this individual essentially “loses value”.

sidereal taurus moon vs sidereal scorpio moon have polarizing approaches to lively aspirations. due to the exaltation of the Taurus moon and this sense of natural internal security they are born with has its downside, that shows up in someone as not striving for more than the ”comfortable” lifestyle and not really having build any special skills to achieve milestones. this makes them prone to falling into depressions later in life (and issues with overeating/drinking often). sidereal scorpio moons are not “blessed” with this sense of internal comfort, the hardships they face early on makes them motivated to rebuild themselves and acquire skills which are important for success. the other downside is they have to learn how to appreciate their achievements and not just diminish them and going for the next, taking time for a little rest now and then is okay, scorpio.

[im-secretly-a-frog]

Everyone's like: "Percy gave up immortality for Annabeth, that's so romantic!" but that's not actually what happened. Sure, it's sweet, but Annabeth wasn't the main, let alone the only reason he passed up immortality (If we want to be pedantic, he didn't give it up, because that would mean he already had it, but anyway)

He passed up immortality because:

A) He never wanted immortality. His fatal flaw is loyalty. Do you really think living forever while everyone he's ever known ages and dies was an appealing deal to him? I don't.

B) He wanted the gods to stop ignoring their kids. That was the main reason, he openly stated it in the books.

I'm sure he thought about Annabeth, but saying he gave up immortality just for her is blatantly false and ignores his other motivations.

[starwarsbundle]

The Clone Wars Headcannons they probably deserve; pt. 1/6

And we are back, baby!

With what, I hear you ask? Why, THE CHAOTIC SHENANIGANS OF COURSE. Since ya’ll loved my Bad Batch Headcannons so much, now it’s finally time for the Clone Wars!

And who better to start out with than our sad-sassy-b1tch(tm), Obi Wan Kenobi?

(Also if you haven’t simped for this man at SOME point, you’re lying to yourself.)

Obi Wan is the kind of guy who is secretly ripped but no one realizes it - and that’s primarily because he always wears so many layers that he just comes across as soft. It was discovered at some point when he for some reason decided to spar shirtless, and every single Jedi who’d thought he was basically just a soft dad has gone 0_0 - until someone basically has to throw a robe over him like the Birth of Venus to keep everyone from melting in awe.

Drinks caf to live. Even in the low moments of the war, this man is a walking talking stress-bag, who DOESN’T get enough sleep - to the point where Cody has to basically file a restraining order on his General to force him to nap.

Fight flirts and Serious flirts. We all know Kenobi is the biggest sassiest flirt on the face of the earth, but here’s the thing - there’s two different types of flirt he uses, playful-I’m-not-actually-interested-in-you-romantically and seriously-can-you-take-me-on-a-date-or-marry-me-PLS. Cody and Satine mostly get the latter, but it is SO hard to tell the difference to the point where nobody knows whether to take it seriously or not. (Poor Cody takes it seriously)

FUN FACT: Rex is the only one who can tell the difference, and has been trying to help Cody figure it out for a while - with no success.

Is not the serious and sensible one of the Disaster Trio. Oh boy NO. He only looks sensible compared to Anakin - but away from him is basically the biggest disaster and danger magnet EVER SEEN. (Where do you think Anakin-dramatic-ass-Skywalker got it from, hm??)

Has great personal hygiene. Always smells like soft, sweet soap.

Is physically incapable of giving hugs (is touch starved(tm)) but would melt like butter in a hot pan into a hug. Might even cry a little too - he’s only held together by sass, stress, and caf, okay?

Is pedantic about having his robes ironed. He tried to drum this habit into Anakin - with many sighs and no success.

Absolutely has used his Disappointed(tm) Voice on everyone at some point. Cody has picked up on this voice and uses it on Anakin frequently.

Reads romance novels. Take this as you will.

Gimme Gimme Gimme A Man (After Midnight) by ABBA is absolutely his JAM. (Also if you haven’t listened to this song and thought of Kenobi, where’ve you been?)

Has a sweet tooth - and unfortunately no time to indulge it.

Obi Wan Kenobi… I swear everyone new to the SW fandom is like “no I will not simp for this man”, and then has the biggest Obi Wan simp phase ever.

[no-psi-nan]

The event has technically ended but you can make your own PowerPoints any time, post it in the tag, and see what people have posted at #Saiki PPT Party!

Text version of the slides under the cut! :)

Saiki PowerPoint Party!!

Topic ideas:

Why X romantic or platonic rarepair is great

Crackpot theory explanation

Favorite headcanons or themes (ex. ESP as a neurodivergence metaphor)

Deep-dive on a related topic (ex. fashion in the show, yankee subculture for Kuboyasu, Japan culture/history stuff the average viewer might not know, voice actors)

Changes or additions you'd make to the series and why

Fandom / series history, statistics , fun facts, etc.

Character meta / analysis / dynamics with others

Other Saiki media: games, light novels, vomics, movie

Themed recipes like coffee jelly, ramen, blancmange...

Celebration of favorite chapters, arcs, or fanworks

Anything you end up ranting about in the group chat

Things that are fine:

Collaborating with others

PowerPoint / Slides / Canva / Prezi / MS Paint / Pencil & Paper / Cave Painting / Whatever you want

Multiple presentations

Different languages

Adding voiceovers and/or music (ex. Tiktok format)

Any size / aspect ratio that's legible

Memes, drawings, gifs, clip art, stock images, doodles, diagrams, WordArt, stick figures, manga panels, screenshots, just text, etc .

For the fandom or those outside (Ex. "Why u should watch Saiki K" or "Powers in Saiki K vs Other Media")

Be as sillay and/or as needlessly pedantic as your heart desires... As long as you're having a good time!

Rules:

Post your presentation(s) on Saturday, August 3, 2024

Tag it #Saiki PPT Party

Have fun with it!! And be nice.

[sgiandubh]

Hola, hola! Pregunta de novata asombrada: De veras se casó con ese señor? Habláis de certificado de matrimonio que alguien se molestó en buscar? OMG...

Dear Novata Asombrada Anon,

En cuanto a todos mis anónimos hispanos, espero que no te importe que te contestaré en inglés, como muestra de cortesía hacia la gran mayoría de mis lectores. Gracias y aquí vamos con la traducción de tu pregunta. Y, para que no se me olvide, ¡bienvenida!

Hello, hello! Question from a shocked newbie: Did she really marry that man? Are you talking about a marriage certificate that someone bothered to look for? OMG…

Good morning and thank you for asking - you are not the only one today, it would seem. This question is making the rounds again (why?) and let's call this a (fortunate?) coincidence. The Marriage Certificate (MC) was the equivalent of the Great Christian Schism between Rome and Byzantium, in this fandom, mind you. Depending on your own take on the S&C Saga, it has been dreaded, expected, announced with great confidence and actively researched by fans, who simply took advantage of a very relaxed and transparent UK legislation, allowing for basically everyone to order a certified copy by email or snail mail, for a small fee.

The first fan aggressively trumpeting it online was (correct me if I am wrong) an ex-shipper who now goes by the handle of @brian-in-finance, also known as BIF, also known as Kidneystone. In her pedantic and arrogant little voice, she made a point of honor in dissecting absolutely every single detail of that dutifully certified piece of paper issued by the British General Register Office (GRO). A second, short-lived account, @hurleyburly, ordered the same paper and posted it on Tumblr, this time pudically hiding some details under a makeshift post-it. The usual fandom fortunetellers thought the handwriting on that 'post-it' was eerily similar to S's own, but we'll leave it at this. Although, I have to immediately add, I would not discount this possibility. A third prominent shipper account, @boyneriver-fraser, ordered it and made pathetic public amends over her previous shipping stance. Some others imitated them and received the exact same paper, followed by a seemingly endless trail of wrath, confusion and wailings.

People were understandably shocked, hurt and in definite anger over this. Many disembarked the ship, considering they had been either blind/idiot or cynically fooled by our Dynamic Duo, eager to sell the show. Speculation went rife. Some even tried to go the extra mile and believe they found out even more inconsistencies. I shall not speak on their behalf, simply because I was not here at the time and had no idea These Two will become such an (often invading) point of interest in my own life.

But irrespective of any inconsistencies, this paper legally exists. As such, it has legal effects that cannot and should not be discounted. I have always maintained it, as a professional. Likewise, I have consistently explained the Ibiza episode might be anything you could think of, from a romantic (?) picnic on a parking lot with a bird featuring a strange toupee (as per C's tweeted chirp), to a non legally binding handfasting ceremony (remember, LOL, 'some things are just for' Them). I have explained very early after my arrival why I do not think a Spanish marriage was in the cards. This is my final word about that #CarparkIbiza fanfic:

[Link: https://www.tumblr.com/sgiandubh/723029524897529856/i-have-asked-a-few-very-popular-bloggers-this?source=share - July 16, 2023]

More clearly put, national Spanish legislation requires the two foreign citizens to be residents in Spain, if they want to get married there. British consulates do not perform marriage ceremonies, either. And cross-border marriage rules in Europe, at the time applicable to a not yet Brexited UK, would have mandatorily required a transcription of the marriage papers in Britain. This is not the USA, where you can just go to Vegas, have your knot tied by an Elvis lookalike and divorce the next (hungover) morning. Or go to Tijuana and do what Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti did in 1957, to great (bigamous) scandal. Rules are different. Rules exist, as stupid and cold as they might look. And one more time - they have tangible consequences.

At this point in time, you might logically ask yourself why I am still here. Is it because of the feeling of power and self-importance, as some nasty Anons remind me every single day? Is it because of the formidable people I have met in here? Yes, it is also because of them, but not only because of them, of course. And as far as any feeling of power and self-importance go, let's just say it's ridiculous to think so.

The reason I am still here is both simple and complicated to understand: a paper, even certified, does not a marriage make. Mark me, Anon: there is nothing (I repeat: nothing) normal about this one. There are secrets and lies and inconsistencies and gaslighting galore. The shippers know it. The Antis/Mordor know it. The Fencers know it. And every single one of these broad factions apparently has ample supplies of popcorn. And, as far as we go, champagne bottles stashed, plus a firm decision to have a Global Lollapalooza on the Internet the day this awkward situation would come to an end.

I have tried to answer your very legitimate question the best I could. I do not believe in sugarcoating or hiding anything. What I do believe in, is the power of critical thinking and the ability to coldly analyze facts, even if they do not encourage fantasy. You would be surprised of the things that do not click, in that official Narrative. Important things, not speculation. My blog primarily deals in this kind of stuff: things that do not click and paint a very different story than the one officially being peddled around.

And now, dear Shocked Newbie Anon, you are free to disembark, if you think I am still lying to you (what for, may I ask? just to receive every single day violent garbage into my Inbox?). But if you choose to stay with us, the tea is always brewing, somewhere. And mind you, it's often the finest Oolong you could find, because I honestly believe that we have the most formidable and unexpected assortment of witty minds and strong characters, in here.

[redtsundere-writes]

Part 22: Mutual

King!SukunaRyomen x Servant!FemReader

Summary: You used to be just another servant among the army of humans operating under the command of the terrible king, Sukuna Ryomen. An ordinary human who only knows how to wash, clean and cook. Until one day, he notices something in you that you hadn't seen before.

Tags: MDNI. +18. Murder. Blood. Cannibalism. Sukuna Ryomen Is The Warning Itself. Nudity. Sexual Display. Vaginal. Fingering. Sometimes fluff, sometimes angst. Beta read.

Word Count: 3732 words.

Beginning. | ← Previous | Next →

"Bastard, bastard, bastard…" You muttered to yourself, thinking about what had happened with King Sukuna a few hours ago.

You paced back and forth, biting your nails and frowning as your mind stormed in a whirlwind of thoughts. The tyrant’s actions had been disconcerting, contradictory and hypocritical. One moment he was romantic, protective and kind, and the next, cold, pedantic and cruel. A clumsy juggler, delighted in dropping one of your fragile feelings only to see it explode. Every time they took a step in that confusing relationship, Sukuna took three steps back, as if he didn’t want, or was afraid, to reach the goal. You had never wanted to punch and understand someone at the same time.

Not only his actions, but also his words were a turbulent sea. After ignoring you for a whole month, he would return with whispered sweetness that didn't seem to fit his rough character. It was as if he immersed you in a warm sauna only to suddenly throw you into a rapid river. He could fulfill all the promises of luxury and riches he once made you, but none of it mattered to you anymore. Not the jewels, not the dresses, not the flowers...

You stopped next to the vase that stood elegantly next to your bedroom window and noticed that, among the bunches of yellow tulips, daisies were hidden. They weren't red, nor blue, nor yellow. They were white, twenty in total. Now that you thought about it, all the bouquets in the castle treasured white daisies among the refined arrangements. That morning you would have thought they were just another flower in the pile, but after hearing the king's words that were still fresh in your mind, they took on another meaning. You grabbed the bow, another gift from the tyrant, and examined the hilt: a daisy engraved on the wood. “White daisies are a symbol of purity and innocence,” you quoted in your mind.

“Pure and innocent…” You repeated with an offended smile on your face. “So he thinks I’m easy to manipulate.”

It was the only explanation that made sense of his disconcerting attitude. He lured you in with promises, luxuries, and sweet words only to snatch them away later, leaving you with the insatiable desire for more. After all, he was a tyrant. He knew well how to manipulate his subordinates, how to squeeze every last drop of use out of those who were caught in his trick-filled game.

You plucked a daisy and sat on the windowsill. You twirled the stem between your fingers, mesmerized by the swaying of the petals as it spun before your eyes. Gently, you took the first petal and gently plucked it, feeling it slip through your fingers.

“He loves me.” You plucked another petal. “He doesn’t love me.” Another one. “He loves me.”

Petal after petal, they slowly fell out of the window. They tumbled down along with your hopes that the king would ever see you as an equal. You held back the urge to cry as you realized how naive you had been to think, even for an instant, that he truly cared about you. But just as you could accept that Yorozu was a trashy bitch who deserved her tragic end, you could also admit that Sukuna was nothing more than a terrible king, who never cared, cares nor would never care about you.

There was only one petal left on the flower. The reality was clear, and there was no turning back. The war may not have started yet, but the game was already underway. On this board called life, the first move is always crucial. Many believe that chess begins when the first pawn advances; in truth, the game begins when you come face to face with your opponent. When you shake your opponent's hand and study their face in detail. Before making your first move, you had to shake the tyrant's hand, with the understanding that this game had already begun as soon as he sat down.

"He doesn't love me." You sighed from the depths of your soul before throwing the last petal out the window.

The next morning, you walked with a determined step through the cool halls, looking for the king. The morning breeze filtered through the large windows to counteract the afternoon heat. Before leaving, you had sent Mrs. Inoue to the beach to collect seashells, an errand with the simple purpose of distracting her away from your affairs for a while. She refused at first, but agreed when you told her that they would be for the servants in Sukuna's kingdom. Upon reaching the hall, you found Kenjaku, directing curses that were cleansing the imposing fountain at the entrance.

“Good morning, young lady,” your tutor greeted you with a wide smile.

“Have you seen the king?” You asked after greeting him with the same energy.

“He went out to get rid of rebel groups, he will be back in the afternoon.” Kenjaku answered. “Did you need him for something?”

“I wanted to see if he wanted to come with me to the beach, but it seems that will be another day,” you lied.

"I doubt he'll have time, we're all very busy with the organization for the coronation and the renaming of the kingdom," Kenjaku explained, disappointed to disappoint you.

"Don't worry, I understand," you hugged him by the arm that held his documents. You managed to read that the coronation would take place in a couple of days.

The king's absence from the castle was a valuable opportunity that you didn't intend to waste. You quickened your pace through the halls, trying to get to his office before anyone could see you. With relief, you noticed that the door was open. You quickly looked to both sides, making sure that no one was watching as you infiltrated like the breeze itself.

Studying the enemy: the first step, the most crucial. Your gaze studied the place completely. The walls were clean, there were only a few tables with small rock decorations, and there was a large desk in the center of the room. The absence of eccentric luxuries made it seem like no one had been there in a while. You sat down in the leather chair in front of the desk. The surface was bare, but the 7 drawers hid secrets, you sensed it. There was one along the desk and three in each column. You noticed that they were all protected with four-digit combination locks. There were 9,999 possible combinations, and the potential answers seemed endless. Important dates? Memorable events? Even numbers? Consecutive numbers? The possibilities were endless, but time was still running out. The king could return at any moment; you needed to act quickly and accurately.

You began guessing, inserting the code 0500, the year King Sukuna conquered the Kamo Kingdom to make it his own. None of the drawers opened with that hypothesis. Then you entered the date he conquered the Jogo Kingdom, 0998, just last year. Nothing. You sat down on the dark leather chair, thinking of what other possible combinations you could introduce. You held your head before sighing heavily as you realized, again, that you didn't know the king well. You probably never would.

You quickly realized one very important factor as you looked at the volcanic rock decorations. This had been King Jogo's office before your king came. This was the old desk where the volcano king had ordered more humans to be killed to satisfy his curses. For that reason, the tyrant didn't make the combinations. You weren't supposed to think like King Sukuna, but like the late King Jogo.

You realized that was why everyone knew the story of King Jogo, to open the 7 drawers that hid his secrets after his passing. You remembered the mural, made by Kenjaku, that told his story to glory. King Jogo was born on the 22nd day of the seventh month of the year 330, you entered the code 2207. The safety latches clicked, opening the first wide drawer completely before you. There were only office supplies such as fancy pens, reams of blank paper, pencils and official seals. It was the first drawer, you couldn't give up now. You were on the right track.

Day 8 of the eighth month of the year 450, King Jogo led the curses of the southern forest to new lands to the west. You opened the second drawer to discover ancient documents of the late king with no current value. You had to keep trying. On The 30th of the fifth month of the year 455, the Kamo kingdom declared the bloodiest war in history on King Jogo. The third drawer opened, nothing related to King Sukuna again. You went through the important anniversaries, but each drawer contained nothing about the upcoming war. You opened 6 of the 7 drawers with the information available on the mural, but none of them had anything useful to you. Only one drawer was missing, and you had no idea what the passcode could be.

“Think, it must be just as obvious,” you motivated yourself in a whisper, hitting your forehead gently with the palm of your hand.

You reviewed the mural in detail that went from his birth to the creation of the volcano. A record of his entire immaculate life. Everything was there… except his death. It was impossible for King Jogo to know the date of his own death, but the one who defeated him did.

You entered the date of King Jogo’s coronation again. It was a shame that 04/13 would now be remembered as the date of his death and renamed as the day King Sukuna took the lands that King Jogo had spent his entire life to build as his. You couldn't help but feel sorry for King Jogo, it was unfair that someone would come and take in less than a year what another took centuries to create.

You opened the drawer to find a single document. A thick 80-page portfolio titled Phase 3, with that font you already knew so well. You smiled in relief, you had found what you were looking for. Now you understood why Sukuna had spent a month hiding in his office. The document was gigantic and eerily perfect. It was a war plan so detailed, bordering on macabre, describing everything from how he would study the Zen'in's terrain while everyone was busy dancing to the declaration of war after a surprise attack on the castle.

It was impossible for you to read the entire plan before the king arrived, so you only focused on the eye-catching headlines. When you looked at it that way, the plan was relatively simple. Step 1: Study the Zen'in. Step 2: Create the heir. Step 3: Ensure that the heir can replace King Sukuna in the future. Step 4: Surprise attack the Zen'in. Step 5: Declare war on the sorcerer kingdoms.

“He’s going to declare war on the entire world?” You stammered in shock.

This was much worse than you imagined. The king was confident enough that he could defeat the most powerful sorcerers in the world to conquer their lands. You clenched the document in an attempt not to throw it across the room from the helplessness you felt. You were on the side of the greatest monster in the new world. The thought of Sukuna sitting on the corpses of all the kings in the world twisted your stomach.

Despite being a single plan, it was divided into several sections in case something went off the original plan such as: what to do in case the Zen’in or another sorcerer kingdom attacks first, what to do if he doesn’t find a mother for the heir soon or what to do if his future heir dies in infancy. The king seemed to have everything under control. If some of his plans failed, he had already planned his success.

You turned the pages carefully so as not to bend any page or leave any mark that you read it. Something that caught your attention was that the entire document was written in pencil, which was rare for Sukuna because he always uses ink to write his official documents. So this had to be a copy. If this was the copy, the original had to be in the castle of Sukuna's kingdom. That didn't matter now. You already knew the plan, it was time to make the first move. But now you weren't fighting for yourself, but for humanity.

Sukuna returned to the castle after an extensive inspection of the kingdom, making sure there were no more rebel groups that threatened his imminent coronation. He hadn't found a reason to kill any curse, which was favorable for future order, although unsatisfactory for his growing boredom. It had been a long time since he had slit someone's throat, and he was beginning to miss the feeling of possession he felt over the lives of others. Kenjaku greeted him with a solemn bow, accompanying him along with Mahito and Hanami as they made their way through the vast halls of the castle.

“Do you want to eat, a bath, or both?” Kenjaku offered.

“Just the bath,” Sukuna replied as he climbed the spiral staircase to the second floor. “I’ll be writing the log in the office,” he announced.

Sukuna walked through the remaining halls until he reached his new naked office, taking a moment to get used to the space that so reflected his dominance. Opening the door, he paused upon noticing your presence. There you were, leaning over his desk, trying to force open the top drawer with obvious frustration. It seemed you hadn’t yet realized that you had to use a password to open it. With your brow furrowed and whispering threats into the drawer as if you could intimidate him, you had an adorable, defiant air that almost drew a smile from him. But, of course, that wasn’t the point.

"Oh, welcome back..." You stuttered nervously, stepping away from the drawer as if you weren't doing anything wrong.

"Who told you could be here?" Sukuna scolded you coldly, entering the place.

"Nobody," you murmured, avoiding his gaze like a dog who just bit its owner's shoes. "I just wanted to borrow a paper and a pencil."

"For what?" Sukuna crossed his arms over his chest, not very convinced of your true intentions.

"For…" You quickly looked for a good excuse. "To do the homework Kenjaku asked me to do," you answered confidently.

"Nice try. I asked Kenjaku to stop the lessons so he could focus on preparing for the coronation," Sukuna explained. “Damn! Now how do I get out of here?” You were in quicksand, one wrong move, and you'll sink into your own trap.

"You're right, you caught me," you stammered out a confession. “I’m just… planning a surprise for him,” you whispered secretly, even though no one else was in the room.

Sukuna frowned, puzzled. A surprise? For him? Why? He actually hated surprises; the idea that something happening outside his control was deeply irritating to him. However, the fact that this surprise came from you sparked an unexpected and captivating curiosity in him.

“What kind of surprise?” He arched his eyebrow. You let out a laugh full of tenderness.

“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise anymore,” you chuckled.

Sukuna blushed slightly in embarrassment when he realized how silly his question had been. He avoided your gaze completely so that you wouldn’t notice.

“I just need a sheet of paper and a pencil, please,” you asked him politely, smiling from side to side.

Sukuna looked you up and down, evaluating you with that relentless gaze that seemed to cut through any hidden intentions. To his bewilderment, in your eyes he found only an imperturbable innocence, devoid of ulterior motives. Resigned, he walked over to the top drawer and, without further ado, entered the passcode you already knew, unlocking it with a light click. He pulled out a single blank sheet of paper and a black pencil, and handed them to you silently.

“Thank you, my king,” you said goodbye before leaving the office.

You closed the door behind you and smiled at the sight of the materials in your hands. He had taken the fact that you needed only one sheet of paper literally, but it didn’t matter, that alone assured you that the first step would go perfectly. “Twat,” you mocked silently, before hurrying to the library. Thus began phase one of your war plan. Sukuna would never see it coming.

Meanwhile, hot water enveloped Sukuna’s body, scented candles filled the surrounding air, and a damp towel covered his tired eyes. He took a deep breath, letting himself be carried away by the tranquility of the bubble bath. Without realizing it, he had fallen asleep under the soft sound of the fountain in the bathtub. It was not intentional; his eyelids simply closed little by little, and suddenly, the weight of royalty, the pressure of the coronation and the desire for everything to be perfect seemed to abandon him for a moment. The last few months were piling up on him: the planning of the war, the conquest, the imminent coronation... and you. Especially you, who with your innocent look and your strawberry-flavored words had taken him out of his comfort zone, challenging him in a way he was no longer willing to ignore.

He opened his eyes heavily as he felt the cold water that was once warm. He remembered that day when he took a bath with you that he once considered ordinary. His mind conjured up your image. Your cheeks flushed with embarrassment, your soapy hair, your bare skin shining against the water, your arms wrapped around your chest in case he tried to do something lustful. You slowly approached him, positioning yourself between his thighs. You brought your wet fingers to your parted lips to kiss them softly. Sukuna gulped at the sight, his heart in his throat at what was about to happen.

“May I have a kiss, oh my great king?” You asked innocently as you tried to join your fingers to his lips in an indirect kiss.

Sukuna kicked the water out of anger as he returned to harsh reality. From the reflection of the mirror in front of him, he saw his cheeks flushed as he remembered you in such a lustful way when it hadn't happened like that. He only showered you because it seemed annoying to see you dirty, that was all. He threw in the towel so he wouldn't see himself in that hole of love he had sunk into before realizing it. He shook his wet hair like a dog before getting out of the tub. He hung the towel around his waist and reluctantly dried his hair with a smaller one.

He laid down on the bed to watch the starry night that peeked out from the balcony. He was tired of how every time he tried to emotionally detach himself from you, nothing worked. And it was all your fault. Even though he ignored you, was cold to you or left you aside, you still treated him with the same tenderness as always, even more than before. Why couldn't you act like a scared little mouse, like when you were his servant? Had he lost his touch?

Sukuna pulled one of his pillows to lie down comfortably, not taking his eyes off the firmament that accompanied him in his concern. Suddenly, a crunchy sound caught his attention. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of the stowaway in his bed. It was a heart-shaped letter. He immediately took it and sat up to inspect it. It was a square sheet folded in four that was cut at the corners so that it was shaped like a heart that when opened would form a flower. It had a cute frame made of small hand-drawn flowers. It had no name, but it was obvious who it was from. His fingers caressed the paper, wondering if he should open it. He shook his head to think clearly, it was stupid that he was so nervous about opening a stupid letter. He gathered his courage and unfolded it:

Dear King Sukuna:

I hope this letter finds you well. I know I should be brave and tell you this to your face, but I don't have the guts to do so. My heart overflows with excitement and nervousness every time I see you pass by, it is so full of you that I can hardly call it mine. It beats like crazy until I beg it to stop before it kills me with love. It may seem strange to you, but you have grown flowers in my deserted heart. Sometimes I cry out to the moon what I feel for you, and she tells me about the sun in understanding. This feeling confuses and torments me, but I am willing to lose myself for you. I hope you understand my feelings, although I don't expect you to reciprocate, I just wanted to make sure you knew.

With all my love, you already know.

The towel fell from shock, as did his cold demeanor. He read the letter over and over again until he memorized it. His entire face and neck turned a deeper shade of crimson every time his matching eyes reread the letter with great attention. His feet swung in the air like a teenager in love. He had forgotten for a second that he was a cruel tyrant who was capable of killing a nation to transform into a man in love with a sweet princess, something out of a fairy tale. Never in his life did he think he would receive a love letter. A physical proof that someone wanted to be by his side for the rest of their lives. Someone loved Sukuna. That simple sentence sounded like something surreal. Sukuna rolled around in bed as he squealed with excitement, knowing that you felt exactly the same as he felt for you. He laid back down on the bed with a big smile plastered on his face.

“I love you too, Y/n,” he whispered, hugging the letter to his chest.

Next →

Masterlist.

taglist:

Tag list: @bbnbhm @pxnellian @kbirdieee2540 @konigswifeyforlifey @kyo-kyo1 @calico-cheriies @imas1mpp @alone-the-honored-one @vlads-dracula3 @bigraga-sk @neeke-lilac02 @shaazd @airandyeah @energiepie @awkward-walking-potato @delightfully-studying @catobsessedlady @danniwerner

(let me know if you want to be tagged in next chapters!)

[totheidiot]

even though i think that even if they both lived and started getting romantically involved, they would never be the type to have children, a mikalight child is still. a very funny concept to me. take a walk with me and hear me out.

this child is the product of light and mikami, you bet your ass that kid is going to be a Perfectionist. a Total Freak about it as well. the most meticulous and pedantic child you have ever seen in your entire life. top of the class, student council president, to the point where it's annoying. very academic individual, very smart.

light and mikami would totally try to rub their beliefs onto that poor child. from a very young age, they are going to have strong and vocal beliefs about justice and good and bad, very knowledgable on those stuff as well. there is this person on tumblr who will sometimes make jokes about having a marxist son and one of the posts were something about the son talking to their classmates and the classmates bring up the topic of cartoons or other children stuff but all the son is allowed to read. is the communist manifesto. i imagine that mikalight child is something like that, except with law. their classmates will be talking about something like pokemon and they'll turn to the mikalight child and go, "hi :) what's your favorite pokemon" and the child will stare at them and go "oh i don't watch that stuff" and in order to continue the conversation, the classmates would ask "oh! what do you like to do then?" and child is going to pause for a moment and go "hm. lately i have been very interested in analyzing the constitution of japan."

like mikami, i think this child would also help the bullied and the tormented kids as well but they wouldn't get bullied for it though. in my mind, light is like. those monster PTA moms, if a single thing happens to his child, he is going to blow a gasket and start threatening to sue. he would be a very scary parent, people will not be going against his kid.

as for mikami and light as parents: i think they'd be middling. high expectations for their child, they would want them to be a certain way and if the child goes against that, they'll get mad. light as a parent in general, he would definitely follow after soichiro's footsteps exactly. soichiro is the very foundation, he is doing exactly what his father did when he raised him. mikami on the other hand, hm i am not sure how he would do exactly. i do think he would be the antithesis to his own mother. between light and him though, i actually think mikami would be the one more interested in instilling a sense of justice into that kid. light would also try too of course, he would make his beliefs clear and try to set an example for his child but mikami would be the one who is more overzealous about it.

[notmorbid]

the verifiers.

dialogue prompts from the verifiers by jane pek.

you look like someone who makes lists for everything.

i'd like to hear your opinion before i tell you mine.

you're too nice for our family.

you act like you don't know me at all.

how strange that i used to worship ____.

we're not friends. we just pretend.

it's not a proper family gathering until everyone is upset.

killed anyone lately?

that's what i aim for: to be just a little less shitty than people expect me to be.

i feel sort of sleazy.

you're right. i haven't been fully honest with you.

i'm still figuring things out. what they might mean.

between deceiving and being deceived, i prefer the second option.

it always surprises me how surprising death is, when it's the one thing that's inevitable.

you don't know shit. don't try to pretend you do.

not all mistakes can be fixed.

neither admit nor deny. that's a very lawyerly approach.

take it, please. i'll feel better.

believing something for its convenience is at best negligence, and at worst culpability.

i don't trust anyone, except you.

how do you know what i like to read?

do you want me to help you take a picture?

it looks like your party's a success.

you're even sneakier than i thought.

i hate being told what to do.

guilt is the currency that our family traffics in.

i feel like i could ask you about anything, and you'd have something interesting to say.

walk it off. nothing hurt, right?

you've never known any of us.

well? aren't you going to say anything?

you never do anything for me.

don't tell me what i can and can't be like.

you don't deserve it. the way ____ loves you.

writers always talk about their characters like they're real.

let's pretend we're tourists.

i've been all fizzy with happiness, ever since we met.

you call it like it is.

i never meant to hurt you.

you can't always pick your weapons in your duels.

it's too late to change anything.

what if we take turns? we can answer each other's questions.

i know the truth is right there, but i can't see it.

here i am, crazy as ever.

all those little lies just make the truth feel worse.

i didn't mean anything by it. i just wanted it all to go away.

i love you, you little brat.

if you ever went away, there would be a hole in my world.

you millennials are unbelievable. all laziness and instant gratification.

i see you couldn't wait to get into more unnecessary danger.

is that a threat or a warning?

if i tell you, i'll have to get rid of you.

this is bigger than you know.

if you go any deeper, forget about getting out.

is there anywhere to eat in this wasteland of a neighborhood?

why do i feel like i've missed something?

did the english major make you such an annoying pedant, or were you always that way?

what's the point of knowing, if you don't do anything about it?

i always knew you were a romantic.

try to grow some balls.

you love me. i'm sure you do.

you become something, if you act that way for long enough.

is a digression into backstory really necessary?

can we get to the action?

you can be very persuasive.

we told each other everything.

you only ask to hang out when you want something from me.

i want someone like you. who isn't you.

are you having a quarter life crisis?

no matter what, you'll be okay. i'll make sure of it.

i'm having a bodysnatcher moment.

this would make a fantastic setting for a murder mystery.

people are constantly mistaking me for someone else.

i wish more people could think like you.

still trying to save the world?

i want the best for you. i always have.

damn, you're ruthless.

maybe i still don't know you at all.

you have to tell me the rest of it.

people tend to hear what they want to hear.

who do you think i want you to be?

[longer-than-i-should-admit]

(Mildly spoilery ramble about Solavellan and that damned lyre in [one of] Solas' hideout[s] below the cut.)

I am an inconsolable mess thinking about this sad old bastard knowing how to play that thing. For someone several millennia old it only makes sense he might have picked it up at some point a time or two. It's then only a logical extension of supposition to conclude that he might be able to sing, as well, as eloquent and measured with his words and cadence as he is. (Yes this is a Hallelujah post bc the brainrot's real.)

Imagine Rook freeing Solas from the Fade prison in preparation for all the stuff going on. He's weak and tired from the experience and needs to recoup a bit—not bedrest, but Rook hounds him to relax around the Lighthouse for a while and take it easy.

Lavellan's back, advising Rook or helping Varric or w/e. She's doing her best to give him space. It's awkward and it's tense and they barely even exchange words when they do happen to cross paths. (Did this place feel so small before? Rook wonders.)

Solas is obviously going stir crazy. He's read all the books in the library numerous times before. He cannot cast very much if he's to conserve his mana for whatever threats they face. He's decidedly a little burnt out on exploring the Fade, just for a while. He starts micro managing the crew, pedantic and critical at his worst due to boredom, stress, and worry all at once. They plead Rook to distract him, take him out to town somewhere to shop or some shit, anything.

So Rook brings him the lyre from his hideout in Minrathous. It's dusty by then and horribly out of tune, but no one dared to touch it. Rook isn't even sure that the Dread Wolf has any musical capabilities, wonders if this was part of one of his many ruses (never trust the humble guises of Fen'Harel, they think), but it's something to keep his hands busy, his mind occupied, and his mouth shut for a time.

Solas looks displeased, unimpressed. Put upon by Rook's unspoken meaning to keep himself busy and occupied and out of their way. He's unused to relying on others to carry the weight of such a task, but he acknowledges by now that the Veilguard knows what they're doing and does it well. Better than he could manage by himself.

So it works, for a while. They don't see him out and about. He recluses himself into his rooms and only emerges when he's hungry or someone comes to ask him for help—which does visibly improve his mood. Oftentimes he has pigments staining his hands and plaster smudged unconsciously across the glass-sharp arches of his cheeks, too. The furrow between his brows aren't so deep now that he's had some time to decompress, even if it was unwilling at first.

It doesn't last forever. Something happens. Rook defers to Lavellan. Solas overhears and protests. He doesn't want her involved, and Rook knows keenly by now that it's only in vain effort to keep her away from the immediate danger that the Evanuris pose. It's among the first times they've actually had an extended conversation and it's to argue. Varric told Rook that was normal for them—debating was one of their favorite pastimes, once upon a time, though for different reasons. Lavellan would provoke Solas into ranting to ruffle his feathers and to hear his passion. Solas would cave because he knew that even if she did not end up agreeing with his viewpoint on things, she would still hear him out and give him credit where it was due. A balance of the difference between knowledge and wisdom, a scale of moderation between righteous indignation and the humility of admitting the limitation of one's perspective and experience.

It's rife with undertones, however. Pointed remarks that Rook doesn't readily understand but can intuit easily enough. Rook didn't have to know that they were in a complicated (romantic?) situation to tell that there was much tension, history, and uncertainty in the undercurrents of their bickering. Rook steps in before it gets too vicious, watching with trepidation as the battle of wits and logic gave way to old hurts and unhealed wounds of emotions too strong to ignore during as dire times as these.

They part and put the length of the Lighthouse's grounds between them to clear the air. Rook sighs and wonders how in the Void they would be able to stop the end of the world if two lovers could not smooth things over long enough to cooperate.

That night, at supper, Solas emerges with a brumous cloud brewing over his shoulders (not literally, but just about; Rook can feel the charge of his mana as acutely as the tumult of his thoughts in the back of their mind) and takes a set next to the hearth, lyre in hand. Lavellan stiffens from her seat at the end of the table, watching him with wary and skeptical eyes. Solas' fingers thrum over the strings lightly, filling the abruptly silent room with a rasp of harmony...

And he began to sing.

Rook doesn't recognize the song at first, but within the first couple of lines they watch Lavellan's eyes mist over. Soon enough, the meaning becomes clear: it's the tale of the Inquisitor—and thus her connection to Solas, the most he's ever revealed to any of the Veilguard intentionally or indirectly both. But Rook can tell that it means more to the Inquisitor than anyone else. His voice is plaintive and sincere, reverent like he uttered a benediction. Rook sees for the first time the strength that lay between them, the intimacy, the unique relationship only two unwilling religious visionaries could share.

Despite the tears glittering along her lashlines, Lavellan offers Solas a watery smile once he finishes and clears her throat before asking him if he remembered the shanty Maryden used to play in the Herald's Rest. Which one? Solas asks, looking an odd mixture of embarrassed and relieved at once with his ears flushed bright pink. Any of them, Lavellan supplies. I never knew you played. You never asked, Solas says, then amends with a gentler tone, but I never offered, either.

Things get better after that. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that the two finally found some common ground upon which to make amends.

They learned that Lavellan could sing, too.

Their harmonies echoed through the arcane-saturated stones of the Lighthouse on some occasions after that, filling the empty rooms with steady rhythm, but not always in melody. The same cadence that guided Solas' ode to his once unwitting Herald seeped into their every shared conversation, be it about the Fade or anything else.

Rook found that it became one of their favorite songs—a missing piece they never noticed before. That Solas eventually thanked them for it was an added side benefit.

[bedtimegiraffe]

Well, now I guess I'm trying to figure out how to take over the whole Blades continent.

I was trying to dramatically threaten Undermount (because I'm playing general release and they're currently being idiots) while talking to someone and instead of saying, "I could have every throne filled by a party member by the end of the month," I accidentally said, "I could have all my party members on thrones by the end of the month."

Unfortunately, the person I was talking to is extremely pedantic and now I have a responsibility to try and make it make sense.

My thoughts are below, but I would love to hear other people's thoughts!

So here's my pitch:

-There are only so many thrones, people are going to need to double up. Ruling together does not necessarily mean there's anything romantic going on (though there could be). -I'm ignoring any possible romances or party members who very emphatically do not want to rule. Sorry people, that's the game. -I'm keeping the current political boundaries; saying, "MC just takes over the known world," feels like cheating.

Ash Empire:

Valax- She's already on there and doesn't need any help to hold it. This one is the easiest!

Flotilla:

Imtura- Yes, we did just go through all the effort to dismantle their monarchy and she doesn't want to be queen. But in this scenario where I'm forcing it, she's got the best shot! Given how much world saving Imtura is doing, I think she could recentralize the government if she wanted.

Mal- I think he has the right energy for the Flotilla. He's not a pure strength guy, but he and Imtura work well together and he's charming as hell. I also think he's got that rogue cunning that could really keep the orcs on their toes.

Morella:

Aerin- Look, this one's gonna be a hard sell, even though I think he would genuinely be good at ruling. Major points for being a Valleros, major points off for the very public treason. Which is why he needs help to keep this throne from:

MC- Especially if they're a human. But even if you're not, Morella is the most diverse of the kingdoms and MC is the most famous/ popular one in the party. MC has the biggest advantage and honestly, I think Aerin needs the most help.

Undermount:

Tyril- Obviously, son of House Starfury. Very passionate about Undermount even if they're being dumbasses.

Nia- She's human, but very devoted to Light, which makes her best suited to identify with Undermount. She also has a more nuanced understanding of Light and Shadow that could really help them get their act together.

Whimsywood:

Willow- Not really a throne, but a gimme, so we might as well.

Zaradun:

Cherta- I felt too bad putting a non-dwarf on the throne, especially given their history. So Cherta is it! If nothing else, she would love getting her hands on all the Elder's secrets.

Kade- He's incredibly responsible in a way that I think Cherta would need. She seems like too much of a free spirit to be in charge of anything for too long by herself. He's also open minded and a frequent visitor to Zaradun who could help them open up to outsiders again.

[kefirsart]

Your favorite Jojo/Bro pairing? Can be romantic or platonic

My actually only Jojo × Jobro couple that I ship and my favorite of all is Jotakak!

I had a brainrot for them since 2020 when I watched the series for the first time and still didn't lose my interest.

Always liked the contrast between a rebelious always deadpan partner and that one nerdy and pedant that can bring at least some expresion on the other's face.

Yeah, I have a favorite dynamic...